Sadie: A Future Pig?

Look what I found at PetSmart when I took Sadie to get her nails clipped after work today…

Doggie Halloween costumes!

I wanted to wait to purchase Sadie’s Halloween costume with Ryan, but I have a feeling this one may be the winner:

Not only is the costume pink and totally adorable, but Sadie actually has a thing for pigs. Her first toy was a stuffed pig and her grandmas have added to her pig collection.

Puppy Sadie flash back… 

She was the cutest lil’ puppy in the world!

Unfortunately for Sadie, this particular trip to PetSmart was not all fun and games.

We had business to attend to.

 

Sadie’s nails were in desperate need of clipping. Nail clipping and Sadie simply do not mix.

Get me outta here!!!

Luckily, we can turn her over to the people at PetSmart and within 10 minutes we have our dog back sans talons.

While I waited for Sadie, I visited the other animals and had to pry myself away from the kittens. They were so stinkin’ cute!

I thought Sadie would be done sooner than she was, so I wasted time creating this Where’s Waldo picture for you guys:

Where’s Julie?

Okay, so I wasn’t exactly well camouflaged… 😉

Eventually Sadie was done and in a much better mood! She wanted to sniff and explore, so we spent some time wandering around the store before stopping by the puppy training class to say hello.

Sadie actually graduated from the puppy training class at PetSmart about two and a half years ago.

She’s a good little shaker. 😀

Dinner

With clipped nails and wagging tails (Sadie, not me), we headed home to get crackin’ in the kitchen.

On the menu this evening was Hormel peppercorn pork tenderloin with roasted Brussels sprouts and zucchini.

Ryan picked up the pork at the grocery store yesterday and we both thought it had a ton of potential. It smelled fantastic as it was cooking in the oven.

Unfortunately the end result was way too salty for me. I ate my portion, but wouldn’t buy this tenderloin again.

At least the veggies were great! Ya can’t go wrong with simple roasted vegetables.

I’m off to polish off the second half of yet another cookie from my bridal shower. These things are the JAM!

Sleep well tonight, friends!

Sadie Loves Animals, Animals Don’t Love Sadie

Good morning!

Wake Up, Orlando!

Isn’t downtown Orlando pretty before 7 a.m.?

Workout

This morning Ryan and I headed to the gym and split up do do our respective workouts. We workout together, but not together. 😉 While I took a BodyPump class, Ryan hit the stair-stepper, bike and treadmill for a cardio workout. Ryan almost always does weights only at the gym. He gets his cardio during weekly soccer games and soccer practices, but is on a mission to integrate more cardio into his daily workouts.

Just like many women seem to struggle with integrating weights into their exercise regimen, I think many men may struggle with incorporating more cardio into their routines. It’s kinda funny how each gender seems to have a different “go to” exercise.

After our respective workouts, we came home and gathered up the pup for a 2.5 mile walk.

Walk, Walk, Walk

No Standing??? Psssh. Such a Rebel.

It was nice to enjoy some calm with Ryan and Sadie before the workday madness sets in.

Sadie seemed to enjoy the walk as well… though she seemed to prefer stalking the birds and squirrels to actually walking.

"Oh Swanyyyy. Come Out and Plaaaay..."

Much to her chagrin, the animals didn’t seem to reciprocate her interest and all made a beeline for treetops or the lake at the sight of her gangly body and the sound of her overly-excited wheezes.

Maybe next time, Sadie. 😉

Breakfast

Breakfast once again paid hommage to Tuesday’s delicious pumpkin peanut butter French toast.

I made myself a pumpkin peanut butter sandwich that included banana slices since I had a banana that basically had one foot in the grave and needed to be used.

PB & P & B

Before inhaling this breakfast, I dusted the sandwich with pumpkin pie spice because it make it look so perdy and taste that much better.

Open Faced

Eat Me!

I wonder when I’ll get sick of this pumpkin and peanut butter combo? If it’s anything like my love of peanut butter, I don’t see it fading any time soon.

Healthy Eating in College Follow Up

Before signing off, I want to take a minute to thank you guys for sharing some amazing tips for eating healthy while away from home at college. If you’re looking for more quality tips and advice, definitely check out the comments section of yesterday’s post. You readers are so wise. 🙂

I also received some additional requests for posts about the following topics:

• How to maintain an exercise regimen in college
• How to eat healthy on the cheap

Stay tuned! 😀

Of Possible Interest

• 5 Healthy Squash Recipes That Celebrate Fall (My butternut squash pancakes are mentioned!) – FitSugar.com
• The Facebook Workout – FitBottomedGirls.com
• The Importance of Rest – FaithFitnessFun.com

Pig-Pen

Today’s workday ended on a good note when I got a call from Ryan saying he wasn’t working late tonight. That meant we would have ample time to head to the dog park with Sadie!

It’s been a while since we’ve paid a visit to the ol’ park, and Sadie was ready and rearin’ to go!

Is that the face of a happy dawg or what?

Sadie’s face wasn’t the only happy one at the park tonight…

After I snapped this picture of Ryan he said, “I feel like Pig-Pen!”

 

He wasn’t lying. The noseeums were out in full force tonight!

I can’t wait until the weather cools off a bit and the pesky bugs are gone. They attack me every time I go outside to take pictures of my food in our backyard. Not fun. The only thing I like about them is watching baby ducklings jump into the air to try to eat them with their little beaks. Adorable!

We played with Sadie at the park for just under an hour before heading home for dinner.

Dinner

Tonight was quite the unusual night: I wanted something cold for dinner.

A “throw a little bit of everything in a bowl” salad sounded good to me!

My salad included:

• Cabbage
• 1 large red pepper
• 1/2 medium zucchini
• 1/2 plum tomato
• Large handful shoestring carrots
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 3 oz. shrimp, chopped
• Kraft Light Asian Toasted Sesame dressing

It hit the spot!

Pumpkin, Pumpkin Everywhere!

Good news!

Not only are pumpkin spice beverages available at Starbucks now (I have a serious obsession with light pumpkin spice Frappuccinos), but other places are stocking up on fall decorations, treats and more.

Check out the lovely autumn display I saw at Bath and Body Works this evening when I stopped by to nab some soap for our kitchen:

I spent a good 20 minutes smelling all of the fall-scented candles. A new favorite: Creamy pumpkin.

I absolutely adore the smell of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Any candle that combines those scents is a winner in my book.

Here’s hoping grocery stores begin stocking canned pumpkin soon…

Tonight

I’m off to update our wedding registry and add some new dish towels to the list because Ryan someone burnt a hole in one of our nice ones tonight. 😉

See ya on FRIDAY morning! 😀

Pumpkin Enchiladas

Today’s evening activities started with puppy play time followed by a 2.5 mile walk with Sadie.

Don’t even think about it…

Just tryyyy to take it…

It was hot outside but not Sahara-hot, so we were able to enjoy our walk around the lake near our apartment without sweating too much.

Victory!

Dinner

When we arrived back at our apartment, I got to work in the kitchen.

On the menu this evening: Pumpkin enchiladas.

Using a recipe I found on Janetha’s blog, I began making the enchiladas by chopping up an onion. I proceeded to break down in tears because onions always make me cry.

Usually onion chopping is Ryan’s job, but he was in the shower and I needed a chopped onion STAT!

Once the onion was sautéing in the pan, my tears subsided and I was able to continue with the recipe.

Janetha’s recipe called for turkey, but I substituted the meat for kidney beans.

I prepped a 9×9 pan and filled whole wheat tortillas with the pumpkin and bean mixture.

After placing the enchiladas in the pan and topping them with the pumpkiny filling, I sprinkled them with cheese and baked them for about 10 minutes, until the cheese melted.

The result was a flavorful, healthy, veggie-packed enchilada.

 

When I first told Ryan that pumpkin enchiladas were on the menu for dinner this evening, he seemed a little skeptical. I think he previously associated pumpkin with sweet treats like his favorite pumpkin spice cookies and didn’t realize it could be prepared in a savory way as well.

After asking his opinion on tonight’s dish, he replied, “They tasted like real enchiladas!” He also said he’d gladly eat them again, which is a good sign.

Oh how I love healthified Mexican food! 😀

Pumpkin Enchiladas (adapted from Janetha’s recipe)

Ingredients:

• 3/4 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• One 10 oz can of red enchilada sauce
• 1 can pure pumpkin (about 2 1/2 c.) 
• 1 c. black or kidney beans
• Large bunch of cilantro, chopped
• 1 1/2 tbsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese
• 5 ounces 0% greek yogurt
• 3 large whole wheat tortillas

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Sauté onion and garlic in a pan sprayed with cooking spray
• Stir in enchilada sauce
• Add pumpkin and stir until combined
• Add cilantro, cumin and chili powder
• Spread a light layer of sauce on the bottom of an 8×8 or 9×9 pan
• Fill tortillas with an even amount of sauce and beans
• Roll tortillas and place in the pan with the folded edges facing down to keep them closed
• Top with remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese
• Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese melts
• Serve with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream if desired

First Time Dog Owners: What We Didn’t Expect

As I took Sadie on a walk this morning, I day dreamed about breakfast.

I was seriously craving eggs and made myself an egg white, cheese and Canadian bacon bagelwich right when we got home.

Egg White + Cheese + Canadian Bacon

I love the Toufayan everything-flavored thin bagels. All of the little seeds add so much flavor and give the bagel a deliciously nutty texture.

Check Out the Goods

Bagelwich

This bagelwich totally hit the spot!

Chomp!

Workout

I was surprised that I had a good workout this morning.

By the time Ryan and I climbed into bed last night I was exhausted. Apparently a weekend of wedding-related decisions, activities and errands took a lot out of me!

As I groggily walked to the gym this morning, I wasn’t anticipating a fantastic workout, so I was pleasantly surprised when I felt a surge of energy during BodyPump.

It felt great to get into the gym after two days off and sweat it out!

I followed up the ‘Pump with a 40 minute walk with Sadie.

Strike a Pose

Yesterday as Ryan and I drove back to Orlando, we started talking about Sadie.

Though my parents had a great dane when I was born, and Ryan’s family owned a cocker spaniel when he was younger, we both basically feel like first-time dog owners.

I asked Ryan what has been the most unexpected thing he has experienced or noticed since Sadie came into our lives and he said he was shocked at how needy Sadie is and how he feels guilty if he doesn’t give her attention.

We both started laughing because we pictured ourselves owning a dog that would sit happily at our feet as we sat in the backyard. Little did we know we’d be blessed with a total nut job!

He then asked me the same question and I said I was shocked about two things.

First, I cannot believe how funny Sadie is. She makes us laugh constantly and I had no idea she’d bring so much joy into our lives.

"I'm a Hoot!"

Second, I had no idea I could love an animal so much. I know it sounds corny, but it’s true! Sadie really does feel like a member of our family and I love her to death.

Question of the Morning

If you are a pet owner, what surprised you the most about owning an animal?