I had SUCH a great day! Nothing too amazing, but nice nonetheless. Thank you so much for the comments on my last post. Once again, please visit Faces of Beauty to support such a fabulous movement. I also couldn’t stop smiling from knowing September awaits just around the corner. All of you showing interest and looking forward to it as well puts me in a great mood as well. Thank you for that! 🙂

Another good part of the day involved restocking the kitchen and figuring out a new schedule that suits me much better. I thrive on routines and schedules. I don’t tie myself to them, but I do like having some sort of go-to plan to guide my week – with workouts, errands, blog/writing/tutoring/lesson planning/etc work. It helps me be more productive because I don’t have to take time deciding what to do each day. However, if my plan has to alter for some reason, I adjust accordingly because I keep things flexible. The set-up works well for me.

Today I switched things up by not going to the gym for spin in the morning and hitting up the grocery store instead. I avoided Monday morning spin, along with its bike thieves and overcrowdedness, and filled up our fridge and pantry.

I picked up the inevitable haul of produce, cage-free eggs, milk + almond milk, Kashi Honey Sunshine cereal, NEW! Hot & Spicy veggie sausages,  yogurts and cheeses, deli meat, a few canned goods, etc for our meals this week.

I also admit to picking up a couple guilty pleasures. Caffeine free Diet Coke, Skinny Cows, and a Lean Cuisine. I don’t feel bad having these on occasion. I have nothing to hide and I’ve already told you before how some days just call for a frozen pizza or some carbonation. Not every day but some days, yes!

I also did some restocking outside of the kitchen. I restocked my body with nutrients after a bunch of snacking on Oreo Balls and Veggie Bars Saturday and then having NO appetite whatsoever yesterday. I made a great lunch of a Cracked Pepper Turkey sandwich (with guac, baby bella mushrooms, tomato slices, turkey, and cheese) alongside a plum and some raspberries. And okay…one leftover Oreo truffle! 😀

The restocking theme continued by restocking my energy with a great Turbo Kick workout DVD. I was only able to workout 2 times last week, so it felt amazing to move my body. Now, time to restock my pockets! I have the first tutoring session of the school year tonight. Such easy money and I can do something I enjoy. Teaching without all the bureaucracy. Have a good night all!

• Do you enjoy schedules? I’m guessing most of you will say yes based on your comments about getting stressed when behind on thing. 😉 I feel you!
• What is something you love to do but working in it ruins it (or you fear could ruin it)? I really did love teaching Spanish, but the actual job killed it for me. It felt like I was being paid to go to meetings and keep up with paperwork, NOT teach.

Shall I serenade you all? You’re right. It may be best to leave that to Sinead O’Connor.

You know what I think? Nothing compares to old 80s and 90s music. I never get sick of listening to it. Give the video a play. I dare you to try not to sing along.

Today’s lunch held a few treasures which, in my mind, nothing (or at least very little) can compare to. I met a friend for lunch at a cute little cafe in one of those quaint “downtown” areas.

I would rather wander the streets and find myself in a kitschy place like this, than go through the hassle of reservations months in advance and valet parking for a high-end, well-known eatery any day. Nothing compares to the food or the atmosphere. Or tea with mint in it. What a perfect summer beverage!

I had such a hard time deciding what to order. Stuffed portabella caps, spinach quiches, wraps and salads galore all leaped off the page and proceeded to do a little arm-waving dance while shouting “pick me! pick me! pick me!”. Yes, that really happened. 😉

I finally opted for the Cherry Bleu Chicken Wrap with their “famous” lobster bisque on the side.

Let’s just say…nothing compares. I will allow the pictures to do the talking.

Speaking of which, nothing compares to natural sunlight for food pictures either. I want to eat that lunch all over again. Although not the way cows do it. That’s gross. So I guess I’ll play Patient Patty until I can get myself back there.

I savored this meal alongside a heavy course of catching up with a good friend. We haven’t seen each other in MONTHS, and don’t talk nearly enough, but easily slid back into our conversation like into an old pair of favorite jeans. Nothing compares to friendship like that. We lived together a few years at the end of college and just after, then took somewhat different paths. Even though we have grown into different people, our friendship still has a luster to it. It was nice give it a little spit shine today.

Something else with no comparison – a leftover piece of cake for a snack. Sometimes you just gotta!

• Finish the sentence – nothing compares to _____?
• What style or era of music always makes you smile?
• Be sure to enter the THERMOS GIVEAWAY!