Hello Cupcake!

Today feels like the first day of FALL here and I LOVE it!  It was dark out when my alarm went off at 5:15 am, but, I hopped out of bed to get in my Body for Life HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) run in.  I debated with myself for about 8 minutes on what I felt like doing, then, finally, I told myself I needed to “Just Do It!”

minutes 1 & 2: 3.5 mph
minute 3: 5.0 mph
minute 4: 5.5 mph
minute 5: 6.0 mph
minute 6: 6.5 mph
minute 7: 5.0 mph
minute 8: 5.5 mph
minute 9: 6.0 mph
minute 10: 6.5 mph
minute 11: 4.0 mph
minute 12: 5.0 mph
minute 13: 5.5 mph
minute 14: 6.0 mph
minute 15: 5.0 mph
minute 16: 5.5 mph
minute 17: 6.0 mph
minute 18: 6.5 mph
minute 19: 8.0 mph (level 10 ~ all the way!!!)
minute 20-21: 3.0 mph (cool down) Plus a few more minutes just walking really, really slow

When I got to work I decided to celebrate fall by opening my first jar of the season of Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Butter.  I scooped 1/2 Tbsp over 3/4 c Low-Fat Cottage cheese ~ Pumpkin Cottage cheese is SO GOOD!  I had a Honey Crisp apple and some Starbuck’s decaf on the side.

I did ponder declaring “email bankruptcy” when I walked in to over 200 emails.  I learned about “Email Bankruptcy” from Elise at BlogHerFood09.  Each  month she clears out all her emails and puts them in a folder that may/may not be accessed later.  This way her email box is CLEAN and the pressure to respond to them all is gone. Good idea, no?

I took a break mid morning and had a container of TJ’s 0% Blueberry Greek yogurt with a small handful of TJ’s lightly salted cashews.  MMMM – LOVE this yogurt and the stats are fab too (120 cal, 0 g fat, 0 g fiber, 16g carbs, 13 g protein) – 2 Weight Watcher Points!

I seriously think going back for work on a MONDAY after 9 days off makes the day SOOO LONG!  I had planned to work on some of the cool stuff I learned at BlogHerFood09, but, I decided I NEEDED to get outside instead.  Off to Whole Foods & Trader Joe’s I went.  I was really hoping to get the WF Teriyaki Chicken Bowl that I heard about from Emily , but, the WF by me doesn’t do them – Booo!  So I settled for making up my own meal from the hot bar.

Herb Roasted Turkey Breast

 

1/2 c Brown Rice

A scoop of grilled veggies

 

Asian Slaw

  

All together it was a decent lunch.  The turkey was SO DRY but it had great flavor. 

This afternoon was so fun!  First, my co-workers re-created the rainbow cake I made for The Husband’s birthday.  Didn’t they do a great job?!  LOVE IT!

I also brought in the two containers of the NEW Pillsbury Easy Frost that I got at BlogHerFood09 – Vanilla Dream and Decadent Chocolate Fudge to set up a Cupcake Decorating Station!

I LOVE the concept of these frostings in that they come with the tip already to decorate.  My only complaint is that they contain trans-fats (aka the Hydrogenated Oils).  I know you can’t have perfect ingredients when indulging in treats, but, you can easily avoid ingredients by making your own frosting or finding a brand that excludes them.

Here was our mini Cupcake station!  I baked up a batch of Chocolate Cupcakes last night to bring in and share…..

Then, I let my co-workers go to town decorating.  The only catch was that they had to take a picture :D  HELLO CUPCAKE – Quite possibly the BEST dessert ever created (aside from ice cream of course!)

 

They all did such a fantastic job! My FAVORITE were the Clown Faces!

I have a confession to make ~ I couldn’t resist!!! I am helpless when it comes to frosting!  I could visualize myself squirting this in my mouth like frosting so I HAD TO bring it into work…You know you all have done that!!! :) 

When I got home, I had a cool box waiting for me from FoodBuzz!  I received 2 NEW Nature’s Pride Loafs of bread as part of their Tastemaker Program – woohoo!  I cannot wait to try them out.  I’ll be sure to let you know what I think, but, so far the stats are awesome!

  

Dinner tonight was a new recipe ~ Creamy Grilled Chicken Marsala with Grilled Carrots.  The recipe is up next!

1 day down, 4 to go!  Let the weekend countdown begin.  Tomorrow is a fun day because I am meeting a friend to go to the Farmer’s Market plus lunch.  Then, of course, it’s Biggest Loser night – yahoo!

Have a great night all!