I'm Going The Salad Way Next Week...

Here's the problem...

I get 1 hour off for lunch.  It takes me 10 minutes to drive home and 10 minutes to drive back.  That leaves me between 35 and 40 minutes to fix something for lunch, let cats in & out, and run any errands I may need to before heading back.  I'm left with either eating leftovers, heating up a frozen sandwich, or stopping at a fast food joint.

 Leftovers are fine until about the second or third day.  After that I need something different.

 The frozen sandwiches are prepackaged which means lots of sodium, preservatives, not much flavor, tons of calories...besides the fact that the bread gets weird from heating them up in the microwave.  They're not cheap either.

Fast food is expensive and not necessarily "fast."  I have been stuck in line so long that I had to take my lunch back to work and eat it and was still late...and that's ordering inside the store. The food, while rather tasty, is always stuffed with calories, high in sodium, and quite often filled with stuff that isn't good for you.

Last week I ate breakfast and lunch at fast food places...every day. At an average of $14 per day, I spent around $70 for five days.  Lunch alone costed between $40 and $50 for the week. Ridiculous!  By Friday I was so done with fast food.  So...I devised a plan.

One of my favorite things to eat is Salads, but I rarely eat them.  It's a "time" issue.  I tried just buying cheap salads at the fast food joint, but always seem to get lured in by the tasty looking pictures of those damn burgers and chicken sandwiches (yes, I am weak.)  However, making a salad at home takes time too, I came up with an alternative to test out next week.

I bought everything I needed to make my own salads to eat for lunch and dinner next week.

My shopping trip:

Aldi's
Two containers of strawberries for $1.79 each.  (They were cheaper than what Harris Teeter had.)
One jar of cashews for $9.99. ( put these in snack bags to take as a snack at work)
One box of Gallon Storage bags - 17 count - for $1.59.  They were just cheaper here than anywhere else.

Harris Teeter
One container Salad Greens for $3.99.  In retrospect, I should have bought two as I can only get three meals out of one container.
One bag Craisins at $2.79.
Two dozen eggs which were buy one get one free or 2 for $1.89.
Two bags Shredded Cheese - 2 for $5.00

Walmart
Two packs flavored individual Tuna - $1.49 each

I managed to get three salads out of the mix which made and put in gallon storage bags.  To that I added about an ounce of Craisins and 1 1/2 ounces of shredded cheese.  I'm guessing I can get around 25 - 30 servings out of that one bag of Craisins and 15 - 20 out of the cheese.  Next I cut up my strawberries and got 8 snack bags out of the two containers I bought (after taking the tops and any bruised parts off.)  That comes out to about .44 per salad.  I'll boil the eggs and use 1/2 and egg per salad which is 4.5 cents per salad.

So far the cost of my salad is about $1.70.  Add .75 for 1/2 a pack of tuna and .20 for dressing and my entire lunch will cost $2.65.  Pretty awesome.   My cost for lunch for the whole week will be about $14.00 which is what I spent in one day last week.

I'm replacing my fast food breakfasts with either oatmeal or grits each morning.

Not only will I be saving money, but...I'll have a healthy meal ready for me to just pour in a bowl and leisurely enjoy as I step away from the "crazy" for just a little while each day.

Watch These Guys...

Prepare to be amazed!

I Just Went For a Cheap Salad...

Today I decided to go to Wendy's and get one of their Right Price Right Size Menu offerings.  I had planned on getting the Side Salad and a small Chili.  Light...fairly healthy...cheap.  That was the plan.  If I had been able to pull right up to the box and order what I wanted, everything would have been fine...but I had to wait in line.  I had to listen to each person order their very own succulent sounding meal.  And then there was the picture.  The gigantic mouth-watering perfectly placed picture of the Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger.  

"It's a quarter-pound of hot 'n juicy beef topped with roasted, chopped tomatoes, creamy, rosemary garlic aioli, fresh spring mix, natural Asiago cheese and applewood-smoked bacon between a toasted Ciabatta bun."

And there I am...at the little box...planning to order my salad and chili.  But...that's not what comes out of my mouth.  Before I know it I've ordered the Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger...and a large Chocolate Frosty.   I pull up to the first window and pay for my ill gotten goods...beginning to feel the guilt building.  Then I pull up to THE window.  Ya know...the one where all the magic happens.  This is where you get the goodies you just paid for...and it's where Hugh is.  Have I mentioned Hugh?  If you ever get near the Jake Alexander Blvd Wendy's in Salisbury, NC, you have to go and visit...just for the "Hugh experience."  Hugh is the BEST reason to go to Wendy's.  Not for the food...not for the drinks...you go to THIS Wendy's for the "Hugh experience."  He is without a doubt the friendliest, most uplifting person I have ever encountered at a fast food place.  I'm not saying there haven't been friendly people at other fast food joints, but Hugh just makes you happy to be at Wendy's.  All I can say, Wendy's, is give that man a raise!  

So...I've made my ridiculous purchase of more calories than I ever intended for this day.  Now I have to eat it.  From the very first bite, I knew it was divine intervention that prompted me to buy this particular sandwich.  It was amazing!  You have to try it.  Honestly, I could have taken the beef patty out and been totally in love with this awesome creation.  I can only imagine what it would taste like with chicken instead of beef (which I would have preferred.)  

But really...if you're in Salisbury...go visit Hugh! 

Exploring New Dining Options with the Mom

Here's the plan:

Once a month I'll be treating my Mom...and myself...to breakfast, lunch, or dinner at a local restaurant we've never been to before.

Today's destination was: Panera Bread on West Innes Street here in Salisbury.

Located right next to Cook Out in a really big and hard to miss building...they've been open for quite a while, but we just haven't been to visit yet.  Discovering they had a Drive-thru made the trip much easier.  I opted for the Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad and an Iced Chai Tea Latte.

Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salad

My salad was really good.  I particularly liked the fact that it did NOT come with tomatoes, since I can't handle the acid in them.  Just the right amount of dressing, croutons, grilled chicken, lettuce, asiago-parmesan cheese and a piece of bread on the side.

We also indulged in the "baker's dozen" bagels and 2 containers of creme cheese.  They were out of the Asiago Cheese ones (which are my favorite)  and opted for Cinnamon Crunch, Blueberry, and French Toast.  I wasn't sure about the French Toast, but it's actually quite good.  Our creme cheese choices were plain and wild blueberry. 

We won't be ordering from them often...it is a lot more bread than I usually eat...but I'm glad we went here first to see what they have to offer. 

Mom had:
Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich with All-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, diced celery, seedless grapes, almonds and special dressing, lettuce and tomotoes on a freshly baked Sesame Semolina Bread. It came with a small bag of chips too.  She gave it high praise, but said the bread was a little hard.  To drink, she got a large Iced Green Tea.  She really like the Green Tea and said she'll be going back just for that.


Conclusion:

I love the fact that they have a drive-thru.
The food is really good.
The prices are fair.
I will recommend them to anyone who asks...although I'm sure everyone has been to visit since they've opened. 

There's Always Something To Be Grateful For...

Quote Me...

When opportunities present themselves, you MUST act! Win or lose, at least you know you tried.

January 6 Blues

I read, or heard, that January 6 is the most depressing day for many people.  Something about the first day or first full week of work after the Holidays.  Well, that's not exactly true for me and I was pretty okay for the most part of the day, but I have felt my mood take a downward swing in the past hour or so...which is kind of odd since I've been watching the Second episode of the Third season of Sherlock and found it quite amusing. (need to take a breath now)  Sadness does, however, seem to be seeping in.

Ever have one of those days when it's not the sad you get tired of seeing/reading on social media...it's the happy?  That's me...at the moment.  Of course I realize that most of it is just posts sad people put up to make them appear like they have their shit together in front of all their friends...and whoever else may see their posts.  It's annoying.  Not always, but today...to me...it is.

It's not that I don't like the happy, you see.  It's just that I don't like being reminded that there are those who have what I've always wanted...what I have worked so hard for...and they didn't have to do any work at all.  Or maybe I'm just reminded of what I could lose.  Could, but won't.  Maybe.

When you want to absorb all the happy that you can, but know that if it's not yours, your body will just reject it...in time.  So...you turn it off...just for a while...to recharge...to renew...to regroup to continue the battle called life another day...maybe tomorrow.  Maybe.

I don't like weddings...

Quote Me...

Is it possible to care too much?  I think not. Give what you want to receive & watch the world open up before you.

100 Tips About Life, People, and Happiness

100 Tips About Life, People, and Happiness

http://inoveryourhead.net/100-tips-about-life/

1. True wisdom and insight is always free.

 2. Give your power over to no one.

 3. Going into the unknown is how you expand what is known.

4. Get a library card.

5. Spend more time around people that both challenge and respect you.

6. Remain skeptical forever.

7. Fight for what matters.

8. There is a method that works. Find it.

9. Join a movement.

10. Drink your coffee black.

11. Never let anyone photoshop a picture of you. It creates a false sense of self-confidence.

12. Read more. Especially things you disagree with.

13. Get used to feeling stupid. It’s a sign of growth.

14. It’s easy for people to talk a good game, so watch how they behave instead.

15. Learn something from everyone.

16. Find things that inspire you and pursue them, even if there’s no money in it.

17. Starve if you have to, for as long as you need to.

18. Survive on a little just to prove you can do it.

19. Get one big success at an early age. It’ll help build your confidence for bigger things.

20. Do what you say you’ll do. No one is reliable anymore.

21. Be comfortable with abandonment, even of parts of your identity.

22. Learn a new language.

23. Eat more protein.

24. Keep people around you that will tell you the truth.

25. Genius gets you nowhere. Execution is everything.

26. If given the choice of equity or cash, always take cash.

27. Meet new people as often as possible. Offer to help them.

28. Don’t discriminate. Connect anyone in your network to anyone else.

29. If you can’t do a pull-up, you have a problem.

30. Nobody likes a know-it-all.

31. Get a passport. Fill it up with stamps no one has ever seen.

32. Quit your horrible job.

33. Read biographies. It’s like having access to the best mentors in history.

34. Go to bed, and wake up, early. No one will bother you, letting your best work emerge.

35. Scare yourself a little bit every day. It will expand your inner map.

36. Learn to climb trees.

37. Don’t buy a lot of stuff, and only buy the stuff you really love.

38. Be humble and curious.

39. Twitter followers don’t keep you warm at night.

40. Be as useful as you can in as many circumstances as possible.

41. Show up.

42. Repeat people’s names when you meet them.

43. Turn internet access off your phone. Wifi is fine.

44. Get a deck of Oblique Strategies cards. Use them.

45. Make your home a place where you feel safe.

46. Take people up on bets. Make more bets yourself.

47. Take cold showers. They’re better than coffee.

48. Learn to enjoy hunger.

49. Make everything either shorter, or longer, than it needs to be.

50. Always remember those who helped you. Deliver two or three times as much value back.

51. But also, help people who have never helped you, and can’t.

52. When you know that pain is temporary, it affects all of your decisions.

53. Get a tattoo. Don’t worry about regret.

54. Commit to things, regularly, that are far beyond your ability.

55. Meet with friends more often than you think you have to.

56. Learn to meditate. Go on a retreat if you have to.

57. Your stories are both more and less interesting than you think.

58. Learn to really listen.

59. Walk more.

60. Ugly is just a step on the way to beautiful.

61. Get to know your neighbours.

62. Don’t take anything personally, ever.

63. Consider avoiding school. Go to lots of conferences instead.

64. As soon as you can, buy some art.

65. Apologize more than you need to.

66. Find out if there will be food there.

67. A good haircut changes everything.

68. Read Man’s Search For Meaning.

69. Say no to projects you don’t care about.

70. Do things that are uncool. Later on, they usually end up becoming cool anyway.

71. Find your voice.

72. Have some manners.

73. Learn to play chess, go, and bridge. They’ll keep you from going senile.

74. Learn about the Tetrapharmakos.

75. Find ways to cheat the system– just don’t cheat people.

76. Be like Jesus, not like his followers. (This applies to all of them.)

77. At least once, date someone that’s out of your league.

78. Examine your jealousy. You’ll learn a lot about yourself.

79. Good connections are about people, not social networks.

80. Address small problems. They will become big problems.

81. Dress like a cooler version of yourself.

82. Yes, there is such a thing as bad press.

83. Add “adventurer” to your Twitter bio. Then, become one.

84. If the internet is the best thing in your life, you have a serious problem.

85. Give away your best work for free.

86. Find mentors. Just don’t call them that.

87. Actually write on your blog. Nobody cares if it’s hard.

88. Download Freedom. Use it for an hour every day.

89. Join a gym. Lift the heaviest you can. (This applies to girls too.)

90. Do some freewriting. It helps you think things through.

91. When you’re having supper with rich people, pick up the cheque.

92. Learn how to speak in public.

93. If you see someone who needs help, stop asking yourself if they need help. Instead, just help.

94. Bring a bottle of wine.

95. The best conversations are had side by side, not one in front of the other.

96. Protect your hearing. Trust me.

97. Do what’s most important first thing in the morning, before you check email.

98. Everyone feels like they’re not good enough. It’s not just you.

99. Courage is a learned skill.

100. Go to Iceland. It’s worth it.

The First Sunday of 2014...

Five days into my New Year and it's raining.  Outside, that is.  Inside, it's warm and cozy and full of whatever I choose to do with my day.

It's +New Media Expo day at my house!  Though I couldn't afford to make the trip (someday I will) with my +Success Freaks team of +R. Mordant Mahon & +Charles McFall this year (someday I will), I am able to watch the keynote speakers online at http://nmxlive.com/2014-lv/watch-keynotes-live/ .  The session with Penn Jillette was amazing and I even had the added surprise of seeing Charles on camera getting to ask a question.  It almost felt like I was there...almost.  Anyway, I'll be right here keeping up with their day as much as I can and retweeting their tweets, posting their pics to all things Success Freaks, and just doing my regular social media stuff.

More to come as my day progresses...

Saturday January 4

It is now January 4 and it's cold where I am. Not as cold as the upper half of the US, but still cold. After doing some shopping, I reworked the outside cats (Chandler) home. We actually have a swing on an A Frame that we've covered with a tarp to keep the cushions from getting destroyed during the winter and Chandler made it his home. So...we put some old comforters over the tarp and another tarp over that...we secured with bungee cords...and added one of those hanging shop lights to the inside to generate some heat for him.  I took some wire hangers and tied them together to form a sort of cross to push the tarp away from the light so nothing will touch the cage the lightbulb is in.

 He was a little annoyed with us for moving it and I'm hoping he'll decide to go back in to stay warm. Now I'm so cold I can't stop shivering.  Totally worth it to make sure he's warm at night.

From Sunday Jan 5:

Chandler seems to love his new heated home.  He didn't come out to see us until after 9:00 a.m. which is really out of character for him. However, after the rain last night, we decided we need to put another tarp (we have some left from the one we cut up to put over his home) to make an awning for his exit route and keep rain from pouring over the sides of the house gutters and essentially "raining on his parade."  All in all, though, he seems to be quite happy and warm. 

The First Day of My 2014

Today has been all about crafting, watching +Doctor Who, baking bread, cooking pork chops, black-eyed peas, collards...watching Lord of The Rings, a wee bit of work, snuggling with the Tink, and chatting with that guy in AZ. Good day, so far.

My crafting was, of all things, a Christmas Wreath made from some of the marked-down ornaments I bought the day after Christmas.  I love the bronze, gold, glittery colors. Don't know that the picture does it justice, but I LOVE the colors. I used a styrofoam ring (which I won't use again) and hot glued about 120 ornaments to it then added a horn (french?), a bell, a glittery "Merry Christmas" ornament and stuffed pieces of tulle I found way back in the closet.  

The Doctor Who watching was just revisiting previous Doctors.  I started back at the Ninth Doctor and just went forward.  I'm a huge Whovian and have been since Tom Baker was The Doctor.  I blame my younger brother Brian for starting me on the journey, but I'm grateful for the adventure.  Can't wait to see what the new Doctor is really like.  

What a fabulous start to my New Year!