Beans, beans – the magical fruit!

(or is it musical fruit?)

I also had a wRAP. 

It was a fun dance party in my mouth. Because I love love love beans!

Today I am rocking two things at the office:

• my iPod
• straight hair (that would rather be curly)

In honor of this, I’ve decided to write about some of the bands I enjoy. I’ve been doing this gradually on Twitter and after an email from a very cool blogger this morning, I was inspired to jot down some of my favorite bands.

There are three things I tend to like when it comes to music:

• a good drum beat
• solid lyrics
• a synthesizer sound

As of recently, music has become this thing in my life. I used to always appreciate music and when I met Bill, I was introduced to more bands than I could remember. Back then, I was keenly interested and fascinated. But lately, music has a different role in my life.

I can feel it now.

I can’t explain it.

But it moves me, shapes me and makes me feel different about the situation I’m in and the way I think.

Lately I just want to pick up an instrument and be able to play it. I’ve always liked music but never had the willpower to learn.

Anyway. Here are some of my favorite bands. I will try to group them according to sound, but sometimes I am not the best at describing these things.

Among my top favorite performers of all time are Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. I don’t think I need to say anymore on that.

I like bands like The Smiths and Joy Division for the sad music. They remind me of a time I didn’t live through – but would have embraced if I had. 

Then there is the “good music for running category.” These usually include the good drumbeat and/or the synthesizer. My go-to bands include: LCD Soundsystem, MGMT and the Roots.

I am going to call the next bands easy listening. Because are the easiest for me to listen to over and over again on repeat: Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Bon Iver and TV on the Radio.

Of course I have my hippy jam bands. I am sort of out of that phase at the moment but still enjoy Phish and the Grateful Dead.

Oldest favorites: Built to Spill, the Hold Steady, Interpol, Drive by Truckers

Newest favorites: the Dirty Projectors, Death from Above 1979

Among my local favorites/friends include Endless Mike and the Beagle Club, Sweet Dirt, Lo-Fi Lion, Red Sammy and Caleb Stine & the Brakemen

Tell me about your music taste.

Hope I haven’t overwhelmed you.

Today’s oatmeal post carries a big message in a not-so-glamorous way. TAL . a.k.a: Thanks a lot.

I wanted to say “thanks a lot” to all of you in the food blog community. Over the past few days, some of my insecurities came out, and your response was incredibly positive and complimentary. You really know how to make a person feel good again.

Your response to my blog making the newspaper was even more overwhelming. It’s so wonderful to be able to share news with a group that is excited for everyone’s achievements, no matter how small or big.

I also thank my family and friends for reading my blog day in and day out. For taking an interest in what I eat and how I live. And for always being there. To All of you.

And since this post is way too sappy for the morning, let me just ask – anyone named Al around here?

Or how about this, for your next oatmeal-inspired tattoo?

In closing, just wanted to say Thanks A Lot one more time to everyone reading this now.

And speaking of self awareness and empowerment, you should check out Operation Breaking Glass, a child project based on Operation Beautiful.

I love all the love around here.

Big news! On a Lobster Placemat made it on Washington Post Express’s Blog Log this morning! It’s in the upper left-hand corner.

“I’ve been cheating on oatmeal. But I just can’t get over how filling and satisfying PB&J toast can be. It’s also a lot easier to make certain mornings.”

It was very cool to be included in the paper today! When I rode the metro daily, this was one of my favorite parts of the paper.

Below my quote, they wrote that I prefer a “less mature and likely less healthy breakfast option for now.”

I wanted to respond to this.

It seems like PB & Jelly gets a bad rap and is considered “less healthy” than other meals.

That is simply not the case.

I made this toast using Maranatha All-Natural Nut Butter, homemade organic jam, flaxseed and Ezekiel bread, made from freshly-sprouted organic grains. All ingredients are natural, organic and do not contain preservatives.

I would never intentionally serve something “less healthy” on my lobster placemat for breakfast. My placemat doesn’t deserve it! You all know how I roll when it comes to healthy living.

Nevertheless, I wouldn’t disagree that a less mature meal sometimes equals a more FUN meal. And why eat if it’s not fun once in a while?

Thanks again, Washington Post Express, for reading my blog and including it

Lunch

Today’s lunch was an ode to the pickle. I bought a wrap from the deli.

It was good but massive. I only ate one side, and I’m saving the other half for later.

Lunch break = over!

….you turn them into limes?

I’m not sure when lemons got such a bad rap, but somewhere along the way it happened (i.e. the lemon law for vehicles, the decreasing popularity of lemonade as a drink, etc.)

Everything is limeade this or limeade that. It seems lemons have gotten the short end of the stick.

I can’t say too much. Because when I thought about making a lemon-lime oatmeal, I decided to just stick with the lime because it looked nicer. Besides, I needed the lemon for more practical uses – like cooking dinner later.

Have I judged a fruit by its cover?

Ok, let’s play a game. You fill in the blanks below:

When life gives you lemons, you _______________________.

When life gives you limes, you _________________________.

Here are my answers:

When life gives you lemons, you cook with them!

When life gives you limes, you have a dance party!

Either way, it’s about having fun.

I had a quick dinner at Panera tonight because I was on a mission: find.a.dress. I actually needed two. And I think I did find what I needed. For now at least. Until I change my mind and find something I like better and return these

Beautiful chicken salad. Ultra fresh and tasty tonight

So I was thinking about saving these for the events, but I decided to share them to get some feedback. PLEASE NOTE: My hair is not this large! I didn’t put product in my hair today since I worked from home, and I’m also not wearing make-up. This is all-natural right here.

My hair will be better tamed for the Healthy Living Summit. Trust me.

Ironically, both dresses are roughly the same color. The first dress is for a very casual wedding in August. (Look at my little pal wondering around in the background)

And slightly more fitted and pink is the dress I decided to go with for the Summit cocktail party. I’m not a pink wearer in terms of dresses (normally go with black!) but I couldn’t find a black dress that fit right.

Bill took these photos and said I looked too stiff. So I decided to take a picture to show you the party face you’re going to see after I drink two glasses of wine at the cocktail party. Get ready, hotel roomies. Things are going to be crazy.

And now that I’ve thoroughly embarrassed myself in more ways than one, it’s time for reading in bed.

Night all!

Today’s been the kind of day where I’m so busy I forget about eating lunch. I work at a university, and I can tell it’s getting closer to the start of school now. I manage a publication, and my submissions are through the rough! A 15-minute lunch break is necessary on a day like this.

For lunch, I finished up some leftovers I’ve had since over the weekend. More Mexican-inspired food in the form of a black bean and recipe taco!

Still tastes just as good a few days later. The contents of the tortilla are actually from a rice and bean plate from Baja Fresh. It cost $1.69 – but don’t let the price fool you (like it did me). This is a whopping plate.

Ok, back to the grindstone. But first, if you are a blogger from NY, NJ, PA, DE, or MD and want to participate in Blog it Forward to Fight Hunger, let me know.

Special big thanks to everyone who commented on my post! We reached 30 comments within a day which means that 30 boxes of cereal will be donated to an area food bank!

I’ll admit it. I’ve been cheating on oatmeal. But I just can’t get over how filling and satisfying PB + Jelly toast can be. It’s also a lot easier to make certain mornings
I ate from a new location in the apartment today. Last night, we performed an entire rehaul of the space. We just really needed a change.

It took us two hours and most of the time was spent cleaning off the bookshelf. Look at this stack.

That’s about half of them. Not kidding.

It was crazy to see the book shelf without anything on it. Scone seemed to enjoy himself.

The biggest reason for moving things around is because I’ve always wanted the dining room table to be close to a window for natural light. You bloggers/photographers know how it is Here’s what the entire space looks like now…

The bookshelf used to be behind the couch, blocking off that section of the room with Bill’s music equipment/desk/office. Now his office is in the corner and the dining room is more open.

View from the other side.

Our next project? Beautifying the place a bit more with more artistic features. We don’t have a lot, so we want to do more with it!

Have you ever done a complete rehaul on your place?

Tonight we set up a little taco bar in the apartment. My dad brought us some ground beef from my grandmother’s farm, so we wanted to use it up. Nothing better than farm to table.

Here’s our spread. (Sorry for the blurry photos – my camera batteries are on the fritz!)

Two essentials: tortillas and cheese.

Bill added some salsa to his. I went without.

I turned mine into a taco salad of sorts.

But then when I sat down, I ended up wrapping it anyway. I love a good taco!

It’s been forever since I’ve eaten red meat, and this was really good. It shows me that although I eat mostly vegetarian, I do still like meat every once in a while. I eat mostly vegetarian because it bothers me not knowing where my meat is from (especially since seeing Food, Inc.) With this, it was much easier because I knew exactly what farm this was coming from. Thanks, Gram and Pap!

Do you have access to farm foods?

This certainly isn’t a $25,000 sandwich, but hey – I’m not trying to be creative just yet. What makes me happier than ever is that I’m now using deli meat I can trust.

The folks from Mezetta sent Bill and I a few sandwich add-on’s, and we’re excited to test them out sometime this week. It’s funny – I really like making crazy oatmeal and things like that, but when it comes to a good, solid and creative recipe… I tend to get freaked out. I’m still learning what foods go well together and what flavors jive.

I also had some leftover bean salad on the side. Yes, Erica – if you’re reading – I do eat chickpeas all the time. And with good reason. Right, Monica?

All together on my not-dull placemat. (I have been looking for replacement placemats, but I’m not sure who designed these. The name says Kay Dee Designs on the tag, and I’m not sure if it’s them?)

A filling lunch. We have a party this afternoon where I think there will be cake. Hum. Should have thought of that before I ate the chocolate chips this AM

Blog it Forward to Fight Hunger

A representative from Shop Rite sent me a link yesterday about Partners in Caring, a program that has donated $2 million annually to local food banks over the past 10 years. This year, they’ve decided to raise awareness about the issue of hunger through a program called Bloggers In Caring, and they asked if I’d like to participate.

“Of course,” I said.

And so I am spreading the word on my blog.

This email hit me at a strange time. In all honesty – I hadn’t thought about hunger or poverty in a while. I find that I get so caught up in eating the right foods and choosing the best quality that I forget that hunger and poverty even exist. I take for granted what I eat and how I live. I get so stressed about what I shouldn’t be eating and never think about the people who don’t get a choice.

This email reminded me. This mission encouraged me.

Next time you a box with food donations, throw something in. It’s that easy and makes a world of difference.

Or help here…

General Mills and ShopRite will donate one box of cereal to a food bank in ShopRite’s trading area for the first 30 comments I receive on this post.

EDITED TO ADD: If you’re a blogger in NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD and want to participate in Blog it Forward to Fight Hunger, let me know.

What are your thoughts on hunger?

There’s something really comforting about chocolate chips in the morning.

It feels like a forbidden fruit. Not something you eat in the morning. Not something you should start your day with.

I’m so happy I now believe in moderation. Because I can do things like this every once in a while. In the past, this would have never been a thought in my mind. I also didn’t eat oatmeal back then

Although foods seem to lump themselves into categories (breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, etc.), it seemsthat foods are intermixed now more than ever. Pancakes for dinner. Chocolate in the morning.

Is there a food you eat “out of order”? Substituting breakfast for dinner sort of thing?