I did the strangest thing when I woke up – read for awhile on the floor with my cat while doing leg lifts and a bunch of other leg exercises. That was pretty random! I didn’t want to eat that early (5:00) so I hung out with my little pudding pie for a couple hours before making breakfast. Look at how pretty the sunrise was today!
The days are definitely getting longer. This didn’t happen until 7:00!
15 minutes later…
Andrea, do you ever miss the big sky?
I knew I didn’t want oatmeal today, so I just opened the fridge and stared at its contents until inspiration hit. I made an omelet using 3/4 cup egg whites and one Laughing Cow light herb cheese mashed in with the whites. Then I stuffed it with spinach, lots of basil, red onion, and red pepper chunks. Yum! I topped it with peach chipotle salsa.
And I paired it with a slice of Rudi’s ww bread with sf apricot preserves.
I read ALL morning. Probably for five hours. Ew! I love to read…just not research articles w/ tons of stats!
My morning snack: a little pluot and an Oikos.
I cleaned the entire house before making a big lunch. Sometimes when I make a salad, I get tempted to put in EVERYTHING I can think of. Today I had to hold off. I almost added quinoa, corn, sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, artichokes, cottage cheese, etc.!
Instead, I threw in:
- baby spinach
- broccoli slaw
- yellow bell pepper
- tons of basil
- red onion
- tofu turkey
- sweet pickles
- jalapenos
- sprouts
I rolled some of it into a Flat-Out (I love doing this with salad). I also had half a baby apple.
Warning: that is the first in a series of blurry pictures
After lunch, Rob and I ran a bunch of errands together. We had to go down to my office to fix something at my desk (the drawer handle, for those interested) and I ended up cleaning all the furniture and dusting all horizontal surfaces, which is the perfect way to start the week. I LOVE TO CLEAN. I also love to bargain shop! We hit Target and I got some stickers (for my class), a beard trimmer (for my lumberjack hub), and a maxi dress (for your bloated friend Erin). I got it a couple days ago in another color. If you like shapeless dresses to wear in hot weather, check it out – it’s Mossimo and costs about $22!
We had to bounce out of Target, because I could feel some major hangriness approaching!
I was in the mood for hummus, so I had a nice blob of that (Sabra’s) with a couple carrots and some of last night’s corn. I also tossed in a few prunes for some sweet!
And then it was time to work. 
I try not to do that on Sundays (when Rob’s awake, anyway) but I had a lot of reading to do.
I made pizzas tonight inspired by both Em and Rose! I used a Flat-Out for the crust (Em’s technique) and toppings inspired by Rose, who makes one fresh pizza! I included the blogger secret ingredient that Heather announced today: tomatoes!
Mediterranean Pizza (in 5-10 minutes)
Crust: Flat-Out Multigrain wrap, sprayed with olive oil spray and seasoned with garlic, oregano, and chili pepper flakes
Toppings:
- spinach
- basil
- 1/2 cup garbanzo beans
- 2 T feta
- red onion
- sliced sun-dried tomatoes
- thinly sliced zucchini
Instructions: Bake at 350-400 for 5-10 minutes, depending on how hot your oven is and how much crunch you want.
I actually don’t like raw tomatoes at all; I think they’re revolting. They make my throat close up (unless they’re sweet 100s, which I’ve only had twice). But I am so down with SDTs! They’re so chewy, sweet, and intense! You can buy them dehydrated or packed in oil. I usually get the dehydrated variety, but the ones in oil are plump and melty and the oil in the jar works great as a marinade or salad dressing.
After dinner I did yoga. I didn’t go to the gym today 
but I’m not freaking out over it. Partly because all that cleaning sorta felt like a workout.
After dinner, I baked lots of tofu, watched a DVR’d Hills episode, groomed, changed the sheets, cleaned up the kitchen, and spent some quality time with my animals. Just being near them is very calming and wonderful for me. I also took this picture for you guys – it seemed appropriate, given how I started this post!
Not bad, huh?
Then it was time for a snack! I had frozen grapes (which I left out to defrost for a little bit) and a mixture of 1/2 cup pumpkin and 1/2 cup nf plain yogurt. I also drank an all-bran pink lemonade.
I’m actually excited to tackle this week! How about you guys?
I’ve decided to end my posts with a question, because I’m interested in all of you and I love the dialogue that goes on in the comments section. I see other bloggers do it and I really like it! I’m not sure that all of mine will be related to food and exercise, though. And I might forget to do it sometimes.
Here’s my first one: Do you have a pet? If so, please describe! 
Night guys!
Posted by Danielle on September 7, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I hate sun-dried tomatoes! Everything about them, the taste, the consistency, the way they look, ew. From now on, I will send you every SDT I encounter… as long as I get a few juicy raw ones back
A: Two amazing puppies puppies! The older one, Sable, is three years. She’s a skinny little mutt (beagle and rat terrier) with course brown hair and has more energy then the Energizer Bunny. The younger one, Colby, is only one year old and is a white westie. He’s a more laid back. Together they’re the cutest and cuddliest pair! I miss them
Posted by Andrea on September 7, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Yay for a meatless day! You should do one a week
Just a suggestion from a dedicated reader. You know, I don’t really think about the big sky much, so I guess I don’t miss it.
A: I have three pets. 2 pugs and a husband. The pugs are fully trained, but I’m still working on the husband.
Posted by eatingbender on September 7, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Omelette + Laughing Cow = dreamy!
I love sun-dried tomatoes! That Mediterranean pizza sounds incredible – I have some frozen pizza crust in my freezer (obviously) back in the Chi-town so I will be making something like this upon my return!
Frozen grapes – score!!
I love the questions – and I think it’s a good idea to make them about anything and everything…Well, I don’t have a pet because my dad is seriously allergic to anything and everything furry – and the asthma makes it worse. I know, I’m Debbie Downer. Anywho, once I DID have some fish and some turtles…and we also had a parakeet for quite a long time but he died when I was a freshman in college
Sigh. Debbie Downer!
Posted by HangryPants on September 8, 2008 at 3:30 am
Excellent use of the secret ingredient. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of someone having such strong feelings toward tomatoes.
I am currently without a pet because my kitty Cyrus stayed behind in N.J. It’s ok – he has a nice life there.
Posted by glidingcalm on September 8, 2008 at 4:30 am
go flat out pizzaaaaaaaaaaas!!! yours looks so gourmet and fancy!!!
and yes, I have two kitties back home (miles and miles away
), but the roomie here also has two young kitties…but they kinda bug me. super annoying.
HAPPY MONDDDDDDDO ERIN!
Posted by Christie on September 8, 2008 at 5:17 am
I love the flat out wraps to make pizza they are os great and so easy and you can make them different each time.. the medditerianian one looks great!
Posted by VeggieGirl on September 8, 2008 at 5:18 am
Yep, the days ARE certainly getting longer – gorgeous sunrise photographs!!
I too love cleaning
Mmm, pluots, prunes, flat-out pizza (love Em’s and Rose’s ideas!! And hooray for using the new Secret Ingredient this week!!), green grapes… yum!
I DID have a pet – you may read all about her here, if you’d like:
http://veggiegirlvegan.blogspot.com/2008/06/beloved-miracle-gone-too-soon.html
Posted by Erin on September 8, 2008 at 5:20 am
Danielle – How is that possible?! YOUR DOGS SOUND SO CUTE! Especially that beagle mix.
Andrea – I hear this elusive “man breed” is impossible to train.
Jenn – Your dad is really cramping your style, huh! I KID! RIP Jenn’s parakeet.
Heather – Glad you approve! Cyrus – I love that name.
Em – I learned from the pro (you). Sorry your roomie’s cats are annoying! Kittens have so much energy huh!
Posted by Rose on September 8, 2008 at 6:14 am
Love that you tried out the chickpea method on pizza. It looks great! And I love flat outs…
In regards to pets.. sadly, no. Unless you count my six or seven plants… which I know are not pets, but I am pretending in training for a puppy or kitty.
Posted by Erin on September 8, 2008 at 8:52 am
Christie – Yeah!
VG – Oh wow, I forgot about that. Thanks for resending me that link. Kiwi was a beautiful dog and that’s a beautiful tribute to her. RIP Kiwi!
Rose – Hell yeah plants count! So does husbands/boyfriends/partners!
Posted by hopiek on September 8, 2008 at 10:36 am
ooooh yuM!!! i LOVE the looks of your flat-out wrap
and obvi your dessert…since it was the exact same as mine 
(PS- adding some choco. chips is a lovely little addition, too 
)
happy monday! love those pics! I was a freshman at UT last year…before transferring to Boston College this year to be back in the New England…but I did love Austin
Posted by Erin on September 9, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Hope – Too bad for me! We could totally meet up if you were still in Austin!
Posted by ttfn300 on September 14, 2008 at 5:09 pm
that pizza looks great
and no pets right now… i anxiously await the time when i’m home enough and have enough yard for a dog…