Welcome to the Weekend
Wahoo! Welcome to the weekend! We made it! 
Lunch
I ate lunch while I worked away at my desk. I actually don’t mind eating my lunch at my desk, especially if it gets me out of work a little bit earlier! 
For lunch, I started with a homemade salad of arugula, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, red bell peppers, celery, black-eyed peas, and black olives. It was delish!
Then, I had a couple of Oatmeal Raisin Cookies that I whipped up this morning in honor of Cookie Friday. I may or may not have eaten a couple with breakfast, too!
Lunch also included a container of Fage yogurt to which I added a few squirts of agave nectar.
Mid-afternoon, I made myself a mug of sugar-free hot cocoa from the office stash.
And, when I got home from NuVal, I munched on an Uncle Jerry’s pretzel. There’s also some cantaloup in my future– just need to cut it up after my conference call.
Ask Me Anything
I hope you guys enjoyed Ask Me Anything! This is my very last answer post.
Your picture looks like your bellybutton is pierced, is it? Also, any tattoos?
Yes, my bellybutton is pierced. I actually don’t really like it, but it has a fun memory tied to it. (I got it done in Scotland.) I don’t have any tattoos.
Do you ever get self-conscious taking pictures of your food?
When I first started blogging, I was self-conscious about taking pictures of my food, but now that I’ve been doing it for over 2 years now, I don’t give it a second thought.
Do you ever get sick of eating oatmeal?
Hardly ever.
What crowd did you hang out with in high school?
I went to a really small high school, so I hung out with a lot of different crowds. But, if I had to pick, I’d say either the smart kids or the soccer girls. If you ask my husband or my sister, I was part of a dork crowd. They still make fun of me.
Are you happy with your decision to switch jobs? Was it as great as you thought it would be?
Yes and yes. I’m still juggling a million things, but I really enjoy what I am doing. I also respect the work that NuVal does, so it’s nice to work for a company that I believe in. Plus, part of my job includes blogging. What more could I ask for?!
Have you traveled outside of the country? If so, where and when?
Yep! I did quite a lot of traveling during my semester abroad in York, England. While there, I visited Ireland, Scotland, Prague, Amsterdam, Belgium, and Italy. I’ve visited Montreal a number of times and Victoria, British Columbia last summer. Mal’s family has an apartment in Paris, so I also spent 2 weeks there in June 2006. And, I spent the first couple of years of my life in Italy. My family was stationed there when my dad was in the Army.
Did you have any other long-term boyfriends before you met and fell in love with Mal?
Yes, I had one other high school boyfriend, and, in college, I had a couple of long-term relationships.
Have you ever been recognized by one of your readers?
Yep, a number of times, actually. Usually, readers recognize me in the Boston area, but there was one time someone recognized me in Seattle. That was weird.
What type of camera do you use?
I actually use two cameras. My “fancy” camera is the Nikon D40, which I use for special occasions and when there is good lighting. My everyday, does-all-the-work-for-you camera is the Canon PowerShot S90, which I absolutely LOVE! I originally bought it because the lighting in my old apartment was terrible, but this camera has been my savior, especially when dining out. A good example of its low-lighting capabilities is when I went to Drink. It was SO dark inside, but I was still able to take a number of photos without the flash. The camera seems to pick up on even the smallest sources of light. It’s awesome!
I know you don’t count calories, but do you have an approximate break down of how you spread out your calories during the day?
It depends on the day. But, generally, I split-up my meals and snacks like this:
- Breakfast: 500 – 600
- Snack: 100
- Lunch: 400 – 500
- Snack: 100 – 200
- Dinner: 500 – 600
- Dessert: 200
Do you and Mal plan to have kids?
Yes, we plan to have kids. But, not for awhile. Basically, Mal and I want to be settled before we start thinking about children. I realize that there is never really a “right” time to start a family, but our lives are too crazy to add baby into the mix. Some days, we can barely handle Murphy– and you can’t put a kid in a crate when he’s driving you nuts! Plus, most of our friends aren’t even married– let alone thinking about kids– so (Quinn said it best), I don’t want to be the first changing diapers!
If you didn’t see your question answered, be sure to check out my FAQs, Weight Loss Q & A, and my previous responses to your Ask Me Anything questions. The answer may be there!
Tags: Ask Me Anything, Cookie Friday
Madeline @ greensandjeans — February 26, 2010 @ 4:12 pm
I wish my family had an apartment in Paris! That is so cool!
Meg @ Be Fit Be Full — February 26, 2010 @ 4:14 pm
I’m so jealous of all the places you traveled! One of the reasons my husband and I don’t have kids yet (I’m 30 ) is so we can do more travelling. I have been to Paris though which is one of my favorite cities! I would die if my in-laws had an apartment there
Shannon (The Daily Balance) — February 26, 2010 @ 4:18 pm
your salad looks so delish! minus the olives! blech
how convienent that you guys have family in such fun places!
Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com — February 26, 2010 @ 4:19 pm
:O I always wanted my belly button pierced, I think it looks really pretty – I’m too scared of the pain though! And that camera question is brilliant – I need a new one cos my current one is TERRIBLE!! I’ll look into the one you’ve got
Nicole (dishin') — February 26, 2010 @ 4:19 pm
Your salad looks so fresh! Happy weekend!
Food Makes Fun Fuel — February 26, 2010 @ 4:20 pm
Who could ever get sick of oatmeal? Good answer
Hannah — February 26, 2010 @ 4:23 pm
Teehee, I love that you quoted Glee! Made my night
Wish I had some of those cookies though… and the ability to taste them…
Kelly — February 26, 2010 @ 4:24 pm
I randomly think about what age I’ll be when I decide to take my bb ring out. How old is too old to have it pierced? I guess when you get preggers?
Kara (@ Kara's Marathon) — February 26, 2010 @ 4:28 pm
Nothing wrong with hanging with the dorks in HS!
I’m with you totally on the kids thing – I’m itching to have babies now, but we’re nowhere near settled enough to start a family at this point. Plus, our NYC apartment is overcrowded with the three of us (me, husband and dog) – it would be crazy with a kid and all of their stuff!
Ameena — February 26, 2010 @ 4:30 pm
I wish my family had a place in Paris too…it is one of my most favorite cities in the world!
Great info…I love learning new things about people.
Cynthia (It All Changes) — February 26, 2010 @ 4:32 pm
An apartment in Paris!?! How nice is that.
I love your answer for kids. We want them but not yet. I’m glad that other friends of mine are deciding to have them before us. I can enjoy being a great “aunt”.
Heather (Heather's Dish) — February 26, 2010 @ 4:37 pm
great answer on the kiddo question – my husband and I are from the South where it seems like everyone started having kids at 23…we’ve had so much pressure from family and friends there that think we’re crazy to be “so old” and having kids (I’m 26…seriously?!) i think it’s great to wait until YOU’RE ready…otherwise it could just be disaster!
happy weekend girl
Allison K — February 26, 2010 @ 4:47 pm
You are lucky! So many of my friends are married (well..so am I) and have kids already! I don’t mind, and I love their kids…but your life changes so much and I sometimes feel like my Husband and I are the only ones NOT changing diapers! I think it’s a regional/rural thing.
Light Delight with TouTou — February 26, 2010 @ 4:47 pm
Like your ask me anything part
feel like know you more as a real person
the salad looks really colorful and healthy
Lisa @ Early Morning Run — February 26, 2010 @ 4:50 pm
Great to know what cameras you use! I need to buy a new one and your photos are always fantastic!
Kelly — February 26, 2010 @ 4:56 pm
That’s hilarious that you said “you can’t put a kid in a crate”! I may have said that once or twice myself. It usually goes something like this: “Dogs are great to have before you transition to having babies, but…” you know the rest.
Nicole, RD — February 26, 2010 @ 4:57 pm
The salad looks wonderful! Love your Q&A — so fun that people recognize you out in public! You’re famous!
GurlOnA"Diet" — February 26, 2010 @ 5:03 pm
I love fage- is that ur fav brand of greek yogurt?
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is — February 26, 2010 @ 5:07 pm
LOVE arugula and fage. Fage is my fave greek yogurt. It is just so creamy!
Tina — February 26, 2010 @ 5:07 pm
@GurlOnA”Diet”: Whatever is one sale!
Hallie — February 26, 2010 @ 5:09 pm
I know you can’t put kids in a crate…but the image is really funny! I am really glad my dog doesn’t need crating though, that would make me really sad (I know some dogs love them but she would hate it).
Nicole @ Making Good Choices — February 26, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
I love adding agave into my yogurt, it makes it taste (almost) like dessert! I feel the same way about having a baby, I love my life right now and I’m not ready to share it…is that way too selfish to say outloud? I hope not. Have a great weekend.
Kelly — February 26, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
I hear you on the kids thing- I feel the exact same way. I DEFINITELY don’t want to be the first one changing diapers!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) — February 26, 2010 @ 5:12 pm
You lunch looks delicious! Love the combination. As for the kids…wait! We were the first to have kids. We were young and we didn’t really have a group, so it did not impact us. I am glad we started young, but we weren’t busy then so it did not matter. Now, we both just turned 35, and all of our friends are just now having kids. It is kind of weird, because I am so exhausted at the thought of having kids now (we are done), but everyone else is still fresh and a lot more settled. We have many ups and downs along the way and I am so thankful for what I have, but you should feel good about your decision to wait until you are “ready”…trust me, you will know!
amanda @ fake ginger — February 26, 2010 @ 5:14 pm
The salad looks fantastic. I’ve never thought to put black eyed peas on one.
Cassandra — February 26, 2010 @ 5:17 pm
I love olives and olives in a salad is even better
you can never go wrong with a cookie in the morning!
Cookies with breakfast are the best
hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Quinn — February 26, 2010 @ 5:19 pm
I’m so glad you’re with me on the kids thing. I’m going to a bridal shower on Sunday – at this point, I can only handle Crate & Barrel – not Babies ‘r Us.
Have a fabulous weekend!
iga@thedelishdish — February 26, 2010 @ 5:44 pm
i have a canon s90 and love it as well…completely agree that it is a savior in low light conditions. have a great weekend!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) — February 26, 2010 @ 5:53 pm
I didn’t know that you don’t take your SLR with you everywhere. Why not? Is it just too bulky?
Leena — February 26, 2010 @ 5:58 pm
your salad looks so incredibly fresh and refreshing! so colorful! i love salads like that! and those oatmeal cookies look delicious too! happy cookie friday
Lynn (The Actors Diet) — February 26, 2010 @ 6:11 pm
i don’t mind eating at my desk either, well….i wouldn’t if i had a work desk! what i mean is, i don’t need to be sitting a table – i’m fine being distracted by work/tv/computer.
Cassie — February 26, 2010 @ 6:11 pm
Hahaha my belly button’s pierced too! It’s annoying though, it’s been about 7 months and the darn thing hasn’t healed yet. Whoop-de-doop.
I’m thinking of doing my own version of “cookie friday”! I used to limit myself to “treats” on only one day of the week, but I seem to be allowing myself to have them a bit more frequently lately
Great post~
Katharine — February 26, 2010 @ 6:19 pm
I don’t mind eating at my desk, either, as long as I change it up every once in a while. Makes me feel a little more productive!
Staceyhttp://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ — February 26, 2010 @ 6:19 pm
You made cookies this morning before work, how do find the time. They looked good and so did lunch.
Sara @ Our Private Kitchen — February 26, 2010 @ 6:37 pm
I have serious salad envy. Your salads always look so good!!
Lauren @ eater not a runner — February 26, 2010 @ 6:53 pm
Great Q&A, I have my belly button pierced too but I don’t really like it either haha
ann — February 26, 2010 @ 7:17 pm
Can’t wait to see some pictures of your new place!
Lisa (bakebikeblog) — February 26, 2010 @ 7:19 pm
What a beautifully colourful lunch
Love it!
Julie @ Pickley Pear — February 26, 2010 @ 7:24 pm
Thanks for the Ask Me Anything! I enjoyed your responses. I have my belly button pierced too (spring break senior year) and though I’m over it, I can’t part with it!
amanda — February 26, 2010 @ 7:35 pm
Thanks for the Q/A section lately…I have been enjoying learning more about you and your blog
Meghan@traveleatlove — February 26, 2010 @ 7:37 pm
Phew, love your kids response! Couldn’t agree more. Lots of days getting myself out the door is quite enough!
Natalie — February 27, 2010 @ 1:06 am
I like the salads you have for lunch but I’ve noticed they don’t glisten with any sort of dressing…do you dress your salads? If so, with what? If not….why?!
Tina — February 27, 2010 @ 6:10 am
@Allie (Live Laugh Eat): Yea, it’s too bulky and it doesn’t do well in low-light.
Tina — February 27, 2010 @ 6:11 am
@Natalie: I don’t normally use dressing on my salads. If I do, it’s balsamic vinegar.
Jessica @ WHY DONTCHA RUN — February 27, 2010 @ 6:43 am
I love your answer about children – that’s pretty much how I respond to people when they feel the need to ask. You’ve obviously gotten the same speech about how there’s never a “good” time to have kids – don’t you just want to shake people sometimes and say “it’s none of your business and we know!!”.
Ok, maybe not shake them, but you get my point. LOL It can get frustrating.
Lauren — February 27, 2010 @ 7:38 am
I totally echo your response to the kids question! My boyfriend and I aren’t even married yet, but I have STILL had people ask us when we plan to have kids?!? I know marriage isn’t a prerequisite for kids, but still! It seems very odd for people to ask me that question.