big cups

Yesterday afternoon my coworkers and I were all craving chocolate.  We started naming all the candy we wanted to eat and I threw out "reese's big cup."

They had never heard of it!  This morning I swung by CVS on my way to work to bring big cups for my coworkers... only to find that one of my coworkers brought them, too!  Now we each have two big cups to enjoy for the day!! This day is already a winner!

August run total: 140 miles

eventually

Currently our entryway smells like cardboard (which I really kind of love).  Eventually all those ginormous boxes will become the following:

So far we've got a footstool and an uncovered chair put together... but they also both came pre-assembled.  We picked them up in the "as-is" section of IKEA for an additional 20% off the already-reduced price!  We just needed to get a slipcover for them!

But furniture-assembly is currently impeded by the fact that I'm in the cubicle again for 3 days.  Speaking of which, the unheard of happened this morning:

I put creamer in my coffee.  This hasn't happened in about 2 years.  My coworker made an Italian roast so strong my eyes watered and I thought something was growing on my tongue.  Even with the addition of creamer I only made it through half.  (Isn't my mug awesome?)

How do you drink your coffee?

fancypants

My cube got outfitted with awesomeness this morning:

Love love love it!  The previous monitor I had was a leftover from my college days.  It was HUGE and clunky, not to mention mostly broken.  The screen was often green-tinged and would sometimes collapse.  If I smacked my fist on the desk enough times, it would jostle it back to the right position.  It was really helpful.

Not the monitor I had, but close enough.  Picture something from the early 90s.  Enormous.

This new screen is SO bright and beautiful!  I'm giddy about it.

Off to enjoy some leftover lunch - millet, bean taco filling, and tomato paste.  Plus an apple.  I'm eating at my desk so I can leave a little early, hit the grocery store, then get home and make vegetarian calzones before our geriatric-early bedtime.  I'm out of flour.  And I know a certain man who's going to want pepperoni in his un-vegetarian calzone.

Check back tomorrow morning for the recipe/review!

unplugged

Around 9:30am a storm blew through town and we lost power in the office.  By 10:45 most of our laptops had died (with our job computers are pretty much essential)!  We got word that a transformer had blown and that power was estimated to be back on around 12.  So my coworkers and I decided to head out for lunch to kill the time.

First stop: Moe's.  I got a junior Art Vandalay burrito with rice, black beans, guac, lettuce, and toms.

And then, because the power was out:

I got a mixer with reese's pb cups, of course.

I now feel kind of oversugared and gross.  Happy cubicle afternoon... and the power is back on.  There went those "go home early" hopes.

cube visitor

One of the reasons I like when Dave comes to visit me at the office:

Starbucks mocha light frappe.  I have all my fake sugar I need right here.  Happiness.

lunch in the cube

I ate in-office today.  Dave and I used my lunch break to go over to an antique store to find side-rails for our bed (we have a headboard and a footboard).  Success!  We'll pick them up tomorrow to take back home.  $35.  I like that price!

Leftover cracked wheat in tomato/veggie sauce (with vegan "parmesan cheese") and a sliced pear.  I've got some melon in the fridge for an afternoon snack.

Do you pack a lunch for the office?  What do you pack?

office snacks

I love snacks.  I typically (not always) eat a snack in the morning and one in the afternoon.  I try to only have snacks when I'm hungry, but honestly, when I'm in the office snacks happen if I'm hungry or not.  Sometimes I just get so antsy in the cubicle that a snack helps keep me sane.  Any cubie-workers out there understand this??

A few of my favorite cubie snacks: raisins, cheerios (yes, I'm a 5 year old), an apple/pear/clementine/banana or the like.  Some of my more "messy" snacks are cottage cheese and leftover veggie skillet (sometimes I'll make a larger veggie skillet in the morning and save half for office snack).

What are your go-to snacks, in-office or not?

office math

4 hour meeting + 1 working lunch + drab office walls + 69 degree temps = 1 done girl.

And yes, they seriously keep our office that cold.  I'm wearing khakis and a long-sleeve cardigan today.  It's 90 degrees outside but yeah, I'm still wearing what I wear in the wintertime.  Excellent.

How's your day been?

nerd alert

I picked up the newest edition of the APA Manual today for work.

(source)

The english/writing major in me is totally overjoyed to have this and to look through.  It's not even that I want to read it so much... just to know I have the newest edition.  It's weird, I know.

It's also weird to be back in the office after a 2 week hiatus.  Guess what?  I didn't miss it.  Shocker.  I especially didn't miss the drive - I was really fighting falling asleep this morning.  I got the third Lord of the Rings book on CD to listen to but had to turn it off because I was too drowsy to pay attention.  Some fun country music kept me going, and listening to radio people go on and on about flash flooding.  The office itself isn't so bad - not many people are here today because vacation days restart July 1, so everyone is using up days.  They haven't even turned on all the overhead lights, so I'm in the dark in my cubicle, save for the computer screens.  This is totally fine with me - I enjoy being hidden and undisturbed!  I'm headed to lunch soon and maybe scouting out some coffee then, too.  I'm still so tired!  Yardwork, not having a mattress, and not having a normal schedule last week has really messed me up!

so close

Tomorrow we leave for vacation with all of Dave's family.  I'm so excited to get away and relax, and to spend time on the beaches of Michigan!  I'm planning some sandy runs, lots of sun time, reading, games, and fun!

I'm in the cubicle today, which has left me time to plan what I need to pack for the trip, and also what I need to get done before we leave in order to make packing next weekend (and moving next week) go smoothly.  Tuesday morning is going to be full or errands, I think - setting up utilities to switch over, grabbing groceries and making yogurt and pb granola for vacation, stopping by the school to say goodbye to all the kindergarteners, and a couple other things that I can't think of now but wrote down earlier.  Maybe I'll save the run for when we hit vacation!

Work randomness: I bought a dozen eggs off a coworker - apparently their chickens are making more than they can eat!  Fresh eggs!

My legs are finally feeling a little sore today - tightness in my quads, ankles, and along the front of my shins.  But it's a pleasant soreness, one that a good downdog and a run could really shake out.  I'll have to settle for the downdog, since a run isn't going to fit in today, unless I run alongside the car on the way home.  I've already found myself desperately trying to find another marathon to run before the Presque Isle in September, and maybe one in October and one in November, too.  I need a side job just to support my love of races!

Happy Monday Vacation Week!

office buddy

I have a friend in the office today!

Once a month Dave tries to come down to Marion with me.  It's so nice to let him drive and to just sit and eat oatmeal, drink coffee, and talk.  And sometimes I sneak in pre-work naps!

I made zucchini hummus yesterday for the first time and it was sooo good - tangy and garlicy!  We had a church meeting last night and everyone brought finger foods.  I brought the hummus, some crackers, and some homemade bread - a super easy no-rise pizza dough recipe from my mom.  I baked it and then cut it into pieces - perfect for dipping!  Unfortunately, I was in a rush so I didn't take pictures of the hummus or the bread... whoops!

Back to work!

my new coffee mug

Have you seen this website?  http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/

A bacon mug filled with cheddar cheese?

Or how bout bacon wrapped Girl Scout cookies, deep fried, covered in syrup and powdered sugar?

Seriously?  There is some nasty, fascinating stuff on there!

I'm in the office today, with my non-baconated coffee mug, my dented tin water bottle, and a whole lot of "wish I could be outside instead of this drab cubicle" attitude.  Outside like yesterday, post Melody's graduation, hanging out with family.

It was a long day and after being gone and busy most of the weekend, I was sad to leave Dave this morning to come down for work.  Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, audio CD helped the drive  I've got 17 hours of material there.

Jealous moment: my sister and her husband acquired six chickens this past weekend.  I would LOVE to have chickens for eggs and for playing!!  I don't think they'd fit in our little apartment very well... or enjoy the fire escape to hang out on.

What's your jealous moment of the day?

playlist

Let's be honest, I'm scrounging for things to talk about today because I have neither pictures (camera is at home) or much for fodder (I'm sitting in a cubicle, waiting for someone to get back to me about a course).  I swam this morning.  It felt great.  I'm drinking water.  I'm hungry for lunch.  I had coffee.  I did have cinnamon banana oatmeal this morning.  It was delicious.  I love oats.

So I've been listening to music again lately and I was going to post my running music list... but the ipod is at home, so I can't quite do that.  Good news!  I'm going to attempt to remember the songs anyway!  Don't judge me for the music I listen to when I run...

A Little Bit of Riddim - Michael Franti and Spearhead
Tik Tok - Ke$ha
United States of Pop 2009 - DJ Earworm
Shut Up and Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
Telephone - Lady Gaga and Beyonce
You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift
Party in the U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus
Jump On It - Sir Mix-A-Lot
Disturbia - Rihanna
4 Minutes - Maddona, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland
Waking Up In Vegas - Katy Perry
You Can't Stop The Beat - Hairspray
It Happens - Sugarland
So What - P!nk
Take Me or Leave Me - Rent
Hot N Cold - Katy Perry
Womanizer - Britney Spears
When I Grow Up - Pussycat Dolls

There's some other songs on there, too, but these are in the first half of the list and get listened to the most.  What song do you love to listen to when you run?  I'll get on a song kick and just push repeat for miles.  For awhile I would listen to 4 Minutes over and over and over again.  Right now I repeat A Little Bit of Riddim and Tik Tok at least a few times each before I move on to the other songs.

Monday Randoms

1.  I got a Reese's Big Cup today at office devotions because my birthday is in April.  Afternoon After lunch treat?  Yes, please!
2.  On my way back from lunch, I saw a mother duck with about 8 or 9 baby ducks.  I was going to take a picture with my phone, but didn't because I was too afraid the mother duck might attack my face I didn't want to disturb the little family.
3.  It's a pretty boring day in the office.  That's all for now!

this might be mundane

I don't really have anything much to say.  It's Monday, although everyone in the office seems to be in an unusually good mood today.  There's lots of joking, Erick has been standing on his desk, we keep chanting "Fashion show!  Fashion show!  Fashion show at work!" (from The Office), we made up alternate personalities for Jerry, and the guys determined that I'm pregnant because I had salad, fruit, and soft serve ice cream for lunch (which is what I have for lunch every single Monday).  Right, so basically we're a bunch of crazies and that probably all just sounds weird, but I promise it's been funny and a good day in the office.

And Dave came down to Marion with me, which means I got to sleep for 20 minutes on the drive!  I love napping before 8am!

Tonight we're having a "make your own pizza" party with friends - we're going to Meijer after work to get the crusts, sauce, veggies, and meat.  It'll be so fun!

And the quote of the day: a guy I work with said today, "you cut your hair!  I'm not sure if I like it or not."  Rude, yes?  I seem to have experiences like this a lot at work... I tend to work with a lot of Michael Scott-like characters.  How bout you?

miscellaneous Monday

What makes for a good start to a Monday morning?  Chocolate cake!!!  A girl in my office is an aspiring cake decorator and occasionally brings in practice cakes for the office to enjoy.  Today's was a double layer chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and chocolate buttercream frosting.  Yes, I had some before 8:30am even hit.  It totally made my day and my attitude better.

Last night the pain in my legs continued to increase - I pretty much felt like I was getting stabbed through the kneecaps.  I haven't had knee pain in years and years, so it was uncomfortable and really frustrating.  I ended up emailing Brooks, telling them how disappointed I was in the GTS 9's, and asking for a refund or discount on future shoes.  We'll see how they respond?

In the meantime, I did some research on the new GTS 10's and found that they've gotten very good reviews for being closer to the GTS 8 model, which was very popular (and which I would buy again but couldn't find online in my size).  I ordered a pair of GTS 10's from endless.com.  They'll get here on Wednesday.  I should hear back from Brooks by then and if they do offer me a discount or refund, I'll return the shoes to endless (free shipping and free returns!) and go through Brooks.  But this way if Brooks offers me nothing, I'll have a good pair of shoes to run in.  And look how pretty these are!

Purple!!  Well, "blackberry" technically, but pretty all the same!

So all in all my Monday is feeling pretty good right now.  Chocolate cake, new purple shoes, and a new purple swimsuit to testdrive after work tonight!

What's making your Monday?

office oats

Now that is a good office morning.  Unpictured: coffee.

I was going to run after work yesterday but it was cold, rainy, and windy.  I hadn't packed the right clothes and thought I would probably be really cold while I was running.  I didn't want to go to the gym because I didn't want to have a foot flare-up from switching back and forth again.  So instead I swam!  I got a good hour of laps in.  Unfortunately, my swimsuit is causing me some pain.  I've had this suit for over a year (maybe two?) and I really like it (Speedo Endurance... which has somehow not fallen apart even though they tend to over-chemical the pool here.).  But it's too big now and it tends to rub all along the seam that runs from my shoulder down under my arm.  So last night when I got out of the pool I had a nice red line.  This morning I swam again.  I put a healthy glob of Vaseline all along the line in hopes to minimize the friction, but I've got some serious angry red burn marks under my arm.  Fantastic.  They feel really good, too.

So.  Priority for today: find new swimsuit.  If ordering, make sure it will be here by next Tuesday.  Anyone know where to find good swimsuits at a decent price?  I'll be sure to share what I end up getting!

Gmorning, Monday.

Remember those pretty yellow flowers Dave bought me for my office cubicle?

They apparently need a little more sunshine and less fluorescence.

Poor little things.

It's been a slow morning.  I drank a green smoothie on the way down, but I didn't have as much spinach as I thought, so the smoothie was smaller than normal.  That, coupled with cubicle boredom and a longish run last night, makes for a hungry Kim.  I've already eaten two carrot pb cookies (I've decided I really love them) and an apple and I'm anxiously anticipating 11:30AM (lunch!!!).  The university cafeteria has a surprisingly awesome salad bar (with fantastic hummus, too) that I can't wait to dig in to!  And maybe the ice cream machine, as well...

How is your Monday?  I'm looking forward to getting out of the office and going for a run later, then hanging out with friends!

office surprise!

Dave came down to Marion with me this morning, making the drive WAY more fun for the following reasons (in no particular order):

• I ate my oatmeal with less danger of causing a car accident.
• A real live person to talk to!  (Bonus points that it's my best friend!)
• I got to take a 20 minute nap.  
• I rode shotgun and didn't have to drive.

One of my coworkers is out today so I took her space heater from her cube and it's awesome!  I'm actually WARM in the office!  A miracle!

I went with my coworkers to the university cafeteria for lunch.  You'd think this would make for a subpar lunch but it's quite the opposite.  I had a delicious spinach and greens salad with black beans, peas, sunflower seeds, tomatoes, and super delicious hummus.  Also pear, apple sauce, and a little bit of soft serve with chocolate chips.  So good!

This afternoon Dave surprised me with a visit... and came with gifts!  (Photo courtesy of my low-quality cell phone.)

A sweet card, raspberry chocolate, and flowers!  I have the best husband, yes?

Tonight we're going with friends to a frozen custard place and hanging out.  Yes, they serve more than frozen custard... although I wouldn't complain if they didn't.

All in all, a pretty dang good Monday!  Maybe I need another square of that chocolate?

top ten

Welcome to Boring Cubicle Tuesday, where we come up with fun things to occupy ourselves with for the duration of the workday.

My Top Ten Favorite Foods (at least right this minute... it might change depending on the hour and cravings)... and in no particular order because it would be too hard:

1. Oatmeal.  I have a serious love and addiction to oatmeal.  I have them for breakfast every morning.  And in the small chance I might not have them for breakfast, I have them for lunch or dinner.  I also like them for a snack.  Or because I'm cold.  Or just because.  Oatmeal with a little plain yogurt and then any (or all!) of the following: fruit, applesauce, cinnamon, spinach water, apple pie, apple butter, peanut butter, almond butter, and anything else I discover/find/crave.
2. Apples.  The perfect crunchy/sweet snack, with cheese, with bread, with peanut butter, with bananas, or just on their own.
3. Cake.  Homemade or store bought (although if it's store bought I'm really just in it for the icing).  My mom's chocolate sheet cake.  Wedding cake (love love love).
4. Almonds.  Roasted, unsalted are my favorite.  I have at least one handful a day.
5. Raspberries.  I am a raspberry monster (which is unfortunate since they're never cheap).  I can put down a pound or more by myself, easy.
6. Broccoli.  Steamed, with a little salt or a little parmesan.  YUM.
7. Baba gannouj/egg/avocado sandwiches.  A new obsession.  Always delicious.
8. Soup/stew/chili.  Loaded with veggies and beans and served with cornbread or bread.  YUM.  Curries also fall under this.  And african nut stew.  Pretty much anything chunky/stewy/soupy/beany/steaming hot.
9. Popcorn.  How did I almost forget this?  Popped on the stove, with coconut oil, with salt and nutritional yeast to top.  Although let's face it, I don't really have standards and I'll have it any old way - from Target concession stand, at sports games in a box or bag, microwave cardboard kind, whatever. And I never stop at one bowl (or two).
10. Reese's pb cups (or similar).  PB and chocolate?  Yes, please.

Others to mention: pesto, cookies (chocolate chip, peanut butter, mom's lard cookies with frosting, molasses, gingerbread), all fruit, peanut butter, crackers (right now we're really digging the parmesan basil Wheat Thins),  and probably about a million other desserts.

Thanks for passing time with me!  What are your favorite foods?