Close Up
Sadly, my French toast souffle breakfast didn’t hold me over until lunch. Meh. Even though it was a very tasty breakfast, it didn’t have the same staying-power as my usual bowl of oats + peanut butter. Around 10:30, my mind started to wander to food… and by 11:15, my stomach was grumbling. I waited until about 11:30 before digging into my lunch, which was only about 30 minutes earlier than I usually eat, but my mind was on food all morning long! Oh well, it was still nice to change things up at breakfast!
Today’s lunch was one of those grab-and-go meals that I throw together at the last-minute on my way out the door to work. What I came up with today was a 3-part lunch: (1) an open-face peanut butter and banana sandwich on Arnold’s Sandwich Thins,…
(2) carrots sticks,…
and (3) a Key Lime Pie Larabar.
The Key Lime Pie bar was easily the highlight of today’s lunch. This bar definitely ranks near the top of my Larabar list! 
The flavor is a mix of tangy lime and sweet coconut– both of which are very strong. The bar has a light color to it, which is very key lime pie-esque, but not like the usual dark date color of other Larabar flavors. Bits of white coconut and tiny almond pieces are mixed throughout the bar. The consistency is very much like the other Larabar flavors: soft, moist, chewy, and a tad sticky. Overall, the Key Lime Pie flavor is fantastic! I highly recommend it! 
All together… 1+2+3 = lunch.
Reading Recommendations
I’m happy to report that I have been reading for pleasure again! When things got super busy with the personal training/career change, studying for the NASM exam, working at Healthworks, blogging, etc., I completely stopped reading for fun. I find reading to be an incredibly relaxing hobby, but it’s always the first thing to go for me when things get busy. I’m glad that I am making time for it again!
I’m just about finished with Marion Nestle’s What to Eat, and I am looking for some new book recommendations. I’m actually in the mood for a girly novel that I can read on my commute. Any recommendations?
Lucky Duck
Mr. Mal just called to tell me that he’s out of work early today! A water pipe broke in the school, and he was sent home!
Tuesday is slowly coming to an end. I have one more meeting for the day, and then I am home free! See you guys tonight!
Posted by: Tina 59 comments
Posted in: Uncategorized
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Yummy lunch! I like bananas in sammies
Eat, Pray, Love is good by Elizabeth Gilbert. I just finished it this past weekend.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Have you read the Twilight books? I’m 26 and really enjoy them for some light, girly reading. Also, if you haven’t read anything by Janet Evanovich, check out the Stephanie Plum books. They are so light and funny. I laugh out loud every time!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
You’ve probably already read them but any of the Emily Giffin books. Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof…they’re all great chick lit!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
mmm I want to try that key lime pie lara! My favorite so far is the apple pie (which I just had last week!). Mal is lucky- I’m super jealous!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Not girly in a romantic sense, but the James Patterson Women’s Murder Club series is AWESOME! Very easy to read and get into.
Also, if you like Christian fiction, the Dee Henderson O’Malley series is amazing, and Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love is one of my favorite books of all time.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
i REALLY liked Twilight by Stephanie Meyer– longish but i could NOT put it down. and it’s also coming out as a movie, so good timing to read it first
it’s REALLY good… a mix of mystery and intrigue and interesting and looooove hehe.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I had a Key Lime Pie larabar today too! Quite good!
You should read _The Time Travelers Wife_ by Audrey Niffenegger. Amazing!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I’m with Maggie I really liked Eat, Pray, Love. It was refreshing! My roommates can not stop raving about Twilight like Amy said. That is actually next on my book list to read. Do any of you watch that show True Blood? I am totally addicted and sounds like a similar idea to Twilight.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Hey Tina..Good in Bed and the sequel Some Girls are two super good books! I also LOVE the book Burnt Toast by Teri Hatcher! Those are my fave super girly books.
I know you’re a Boston girl (like me!!) and I was wondering if you had any reccomendations for places to eat in the South End? I’m taking my roomie out to dinner around that area soon and I am stuck on where to go! We live in the North End so we thought we’d venture out a bit.. any ideas?!
Thanks
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
My all time favorite book is She’s Come Undone, which you’ve probably read since it’s old…but if not, try it. I also loved My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I also recommend Eat, Pray, Love. The Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella is also great…really light, funny reading. I believe the first one is called Confessions of a Shopaholic and they’re making it into a movie soon!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Also, I really loved the novel Jemima J which is pretty girly in nature… :p
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I am the queen of good girl books – not poorly written ones. and my top favorite is by FAR “Something Borrowed” by Emily Giffin. SO GOOD, you won’t be able to put it down. I also loved “Prep” by Curtis Sittenfield.
ps- I finally found Arnold’s Sandwhich thins at my grocery store – love em! Thanks!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
oooh I just saw that Krista recommended the Emily Giffin books too – she has written four acutally (love the one your with is the fourth) and they are all EXCELLENT. must read now that you have two of us recommending!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I fourth Eat, Pray, Love – amazing book.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Nora Ephron (wrote the screenplays for When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail etc.) has a great book – I Feel Bad About My Neck. It’s hilarious. It’s a quick read but well worth it.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I LOVE the Shoppaholic Seires by Sophie Kinsella. If you’re looking for a fun girly books, those are the way to go. They are also a quick read so you can finish a book in about a week if you have a lengthy commute.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Tina:
I have some great book recommendations for a girly, fun read!
1. Bitter is the New Black (Jenn Lancaster) – hilarious!
2. 365 Nights (story of woman giving husband sex every day for a year)
2. Chasing Harry Winston (Lauren Weisberger)
Loooved all three of these!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I think nut butters are the key to a satisfying breakfast. I’m so used to having them first thing in the morning that I miss them all day – physically and emotionally!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Twilight, Twilight, Twilight!!! You won’t be able to stop
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I just read American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld and loved it. She’s a great author; her other books are good too.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I’m a huge fan of the Key Lime Pie lara bars!
Definitely read the Twilight series!!! It’s SO hard to put down and it’s a great love story. Plus the movie’s coming out this weekend…woohoo.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I’m glad you’re enjoying reading again!
Have a great afternoon!
I am an ultimate nerds and actually read textbooks and reference books for fun (yes, you can make fun of me!), so I don’t think I have any good recommendations, but I thoroughly enjoyed “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer. Even the boyfriend liked it!
Have you tried the Lemon Bar Larabar? It’s like the key lime flavor, but with even more of a citrus punch!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I’m glad you’re enjoying reading again!
Have a great afternoon!
I am an ultimate nerd and actually read textbooks and reference books for fun (yes, you can make fun of me!), so I don’t think I have any good recommendations, but I thoroughly enjoyed “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer. Even the boyfriend liked it!
Have you tried the Lemon Bar Larabar? It’s like the key lime flavor, but with even more of a citrus punch!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I’m with all of the readers about ‘Twilight’…I told my fiancee that I wish he was a vampire (he thinks I’m crazy now, haha!)
Also, Summer Sisters by Judy Blume is still one of my all time favorites. The Time Traveler’s Wife is great, too…
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I am echoing all of the Twilight readers-great series, even if it’s meant for teenagers!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
LOVE that “lucky duck” was its own heading hahah. your hubbie IS a lucky duck!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Tina – looks like you had a good lunch. I was the same way this morning… starving
Hope you have a good rest of the day.
zesty
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I am dying to try those sandwich thins! I cannot find them in any of the stores in my area. I have the Arnold/Brownberry breads, even the new ones with more protein and Omegas but no thins. Boo!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I’m so sorry that you breakfast didn’t hold you! It looked so good! And I loved the pug picture (I’m obvi just getting caught up on your posts)
I wish I could recommend a good girly novel, but none are coming to mind…I do always love a David Sedaris collection though!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Love the close-ups!!
***”Girly” read = The Gossip Girl books!!!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
ooh! I am with Laura, “Summer Sisters” by Judy Blume is fantastic. So are the Twilight books and if you want super girly the “Confessions of a Shopaholic” books are pretty good.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I’m reading Eat, Pray and Love and I like it! It makes me laugh a lot!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I just went to a talk by Emily Giffin and loved her even more once I met her, her books are great! Also, all of Marion Keyes’ books are wonderful – they are def. more “intelligent” chick lit. Bergdorf Blondes is also a great fluffy read.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
anything by emily griffin or sophie kinsella!!
have a wonderful day!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I love Nicholas Sparks…I just finished Dear John by him and it was so good!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
BOOK! my sisters keeper love this book, also the time travelers wife, barefoot, anything david sedaris: me talk pretty one day is great and a holiday book: holidays on ice is hilarious!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
If you’re looking for a girly read, the Twilight series can’t be beat!! I bet if you start today you could finish the first one in time for the movie on Friday! Seriously, I’m not joking — I read all four 500 + page books in a week and a half!! They are THAT good.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Anything by Jodi Picoult (ok- minus Salem falls). I just started to read her books and have found that even when I don’t like the backs description I always become consumed with her characters. Also, Swapping Lives is girly fun- it is about a single British writer and a east coast mom that switch places. Target is a great place to wander for books- they always have what you described.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I just want to say that I wish I could read on my commute, but I drive the crazy freeways over here!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield was really good.
Also, Love Walked In by Maria de los Santos was amazing. A perfect girly book.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
For something really funny – “Are you there vodka? It’s me Chelsea” – by Chelsea Handler. I also really liked Eat Pray Love, The Other Boleyn Girl …
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I read What to Eat earlier this year and LOVED it. It was fascinating. As for other books, Eat Pray Love was a more serious thoughtful memoir, but one that I have passed around to all of my friends. I think every woman can relate in some way to her writings and it’s a must read! Otherwise I think we all read the same chick-lit books. All great recommendations here.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I’m with everyone else…read the Twilight series! If you’re an animal lover, Marley & Me, is a great book too.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
I loved the Jen Lancaster books, I am reading Thin is the new happy by Valerie Frankel and I think it’s good so far, anything by David Sedaris. I LOVE DAVID!!! I loved the shopaholic series but I hate when books are made into movies because they ruin them. Those are my suggestions.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Okay, well not exactly a ‘novel’ Meditteranean Women Stay Slim Too was pretty great. It’s kind of in the same vein as that uber popular french women book but without all the pretentiousness. Other than that the only ‘girly’ novels I tend to read are like… twilight age and younger- when I want an easy read I mean Easy!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I recommend Emily Giffen books also! I read two of them on flights from Seattle to Ohio, and they’re great, I can’t put them down!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I hope you ande Mal have a great evening together!
BTW, I wanted to let you know that I gave you an award!
http://bitesoflife.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/awarded/
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I just wanted to leave a comment saying that I read your blog everyday and out of the many that I read, yours is my favorite. I love that you eat healthy meals but also indulge on occasion. I LOVE that you lost weight by eating around 1800-2200 cals a day! I’m also 5’3″ and I think I saw that you said you’re around 130? Perhaps I’m wrong about that. I’m a little bit less than that but I have a lot to lose. Are you SURE that’s what you weigh? You seem so tiny! I really just wanted to say that you have the best blog…thanks so much for all that you share.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Hi Tina,
That Key Lime Pie Larabar is on my list of Larabar’s to try! I’m glad you liked it! I love Emily Giffin books. They are hysterical and so light and upbeat. I also recommend Sophie Kinsella. Her books are also so wonderful. They’re great reads after a crazy work day!!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Oh, boy, do I love this question!!!
*The Shopaholic series, by Sophie Kinsella (or anything by this author… they’re all pretty good!)
*Anything by: Jennifer Weiner, Emily Giffin, Jane Green, Jodi Picoult, Cathy Kelly, Lauren Weisberger, or Marian Keyes
*The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, by Rebecca Wells
I can’t wait to hear what you decide to pick!!!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
‘stupid…..and contagious’ and ‘forget about it’ both by caprice crane are hysterical chick books that i highly recommend.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I just got “Chasing Harry Winston” by Lauren Weisberger. (She’s the author of the Devil Wears Prada) It is hilarious – a great girly novel. I can’t put it down!!!
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I like Jennifer Weiner for light girly books.
on Nov 18th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Eat, Pray, Love!
on Nov 19th, 2008 at 6:16 am
Just finished Time of my Life by Allison Winn Scotch. It was great! Also, the Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger was excellent.
on Nov 19th, 2008 at 7:32 am
I would suggest:
1. Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger (author of The Devil Wears Prada)
2. I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloane Crosley (she reads like a female David Sedaris), and speaking of…
3. Anything by David Sedaris! You’ll be laughing out loud during your commute.
4. Dishwasher by Pete Jordan (not necessarily a girly novel, but a true story about a guy who “busted suds” all over the United States)
All of these are in my library if you want to borrow them!
on Nov 19th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Leah,
We should totally do a book exchange! Let’s do lunch/coffee after Turkey Day sometime? I don’t think I’ve seen you since our BC days!
on Nov 19th, 2008 at 9:23 am
All,
THANK YOU for all of these recommendations!!!!! I just copied and pasted them in an email to myself as a reminder!