Happy first birthday my sweet pea Evie Bella.
GPOYW - The Birthday Edition
The ladies at work made me a crown to wear all day at work for my big day! Although I have an enormous head that it is having trouble staying put.
One of the best things I’ve received all day.
05.22.10 Warning: I Had Bread!
Per usual, I met up with my sister at Starbucks to chat about life (with my 3 egg omelet & avocado in tupperware). The baristas there know us already and are used to me bringing my breakfast but I always order coffee so they don’t mind at all. And I’ve been experimenting with different coffee strengths with the barista, glad he is patient with me. Today I tried a Pike Place Roast mixed with Komodo Dragon with room for cream and today was the day i asked if they carry heavy whipping cream (and they do!).
I know how odd my lunch looks haha. Okay, so I decided to try a dessert recipe: Coconut Custard. And while I was making it I snacked on half an apple and a tablespoon of almond butter. The result of the coconut custard? It was good, but not delicious. It needs more sweetness. Was going to post the recipe but didn’t see the point if it wasn’t as delicious as I would have liked. So the rest of the lunch ingredients are of me tasting the custard I made.
Then off to celebrate my dad’s 60th birthday at Marmalade Cafe with the family! We decorated everything in Lakers colors because my dad is the biggest Laker fan! Oh and I should mention that earlier today, my siblings and I went on a top secret mission and bought my dad a new 32” Panasonic LCD TV for him and my mom’s room! We snuck it in their house and left it in there with a note while they weren’t home. Mom informed us that my dad came home and was speechless, got teary eyed and insisted that my mom take pictures of it with him on the couch. He even called his sisters in Peru to tell them! He’s so cute.
Anyway, back to the food! Of course they brought bread, and normally I’m perfectly fine passing on it, but today I just had an urge, so I took one. At least they were wheat! They actually had olives baked in, too, but obviously MyPlate wouldn’t have that. Also had an Amstel Light, which wasn’t too bad! My dinner was the Marmalade Burger with onions, tomato, slice of provolone cheese, but without the bun. Got an herb salad on the side and barely dipped into the lemon vinaigrette dressing and also got sweet potato fries on the side that I shared with others. I wasn’t too out of control with my food! My dad’s birthday “cake” was a cake made out of cupcakes decorated in Lakers! The cupcake cake had vanilla cupcakes and chocolate cupcakes. I had one chocolate cupcake with very little frosting. I did it for my dad! I’m not usually a cake/cupcake person period, but these little guys were tasty.
I’m actually VERY surprised I didn’t go over on calories or carbs today! I think it easily is because I had a pretty small lunch, but by the end of dinner I was pretty damn full. The sugar has to be off. And I just noticed the cupcake totals are very off because it says 0g sugar? Lies! I know for a fact the cupcake brought me over on sugars. Well, tomorrow’s another day, and definitely have to get a workout in. Perhaps some beach volleyball in my future?
05.21.10 And Yet Another Birthday Celebration
Damn it, just noticed avocado was inserted twice by accident for breakfast. Anyway, just had myself a plain omelet with avocado and my coffee. Simple, yet delicious.
Went to Charo Chicken for lunch and it was pretty yummy. Again, simple yet delicious. After work I hauled ass to get changed and head to training, which I just posted about, and then hauled ass yet again to shower and change at my sister’s place before heading to my brother’s place to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday.
Clearly I ate quite a bit, but everything I had was at least for the most part primal! Corn isn’t very primal, neither is chili cream cheese dip, or the creme brulee…but sometimes I have to venture off a bit. Not like these things are horrible, or terribly processed junk food, it was quality stuff but I know I may feel it tomorrow (bloated). Brother grilled filet mignon, tilapia, and veggies. He made much more, like baked potatoes, green beans, rice, and peppers, but that was what I had. Somehow I didn’t go over on carbs today even though I went pretty far over on calories. At least I worked out today! And think I will tomorrow at some point also, if I find time because guess what? Another freaking birthday!! Damn it birthday season!!!!!!
Cuban Feast for Mom’s Birthday
Pictured above is what I ordered at the Cuban restaurant we all went to for my mom’s 62nd birthday. That folks is called, “Palomilla Encebollado con platanos fritos y ensalada de aguacate, tomate y cebolla.” Sounds lovely, eh? It’s basically a top sirloin steak topped with garlic, lemon and onions with a side of fried plantains and an avocado, tomato, and onion salad.
They of course brought bread to the table to start, which I had none of, and then sister and I shared “Yucca Frita” (fried cassava sticks) which came with an aioli dipping sauce. I didn’t realize they were breaded and then fried (the one’s my mom makes aren’t) but I had a few anyway, when in Rome right?
My meal was supposed to come with black beans and white rice but I asked the server if she could kindly just add tomatoes, avocado and onions to the side. That is a huge piece of steak but since my lunch was fairly light and I worked my ass off at training, I was pretty hungry and handled that mess like it was my job. I looked at it and thought, “I got this.”
Then there was the love of my life. Here it goes:
Dear Milhojas,
You are the love of my life. I can never say no to you. That’s why I am glad I am only able to indulge in you on special occasions such as tonight. You’re so good to me but not good for me.
With much love and until next time,
Jo
Milhojas translates to “thousand layers/pages”. It is a flaky pastry and in between each layer is manjar blanco (dulce de leche type cream). I don’t like cake and I don’t have a raging sweet tooth, but this *sigh* is like heaven in my mouth.
MY GRANDMA’S 90th BIRTHDAY BALL
This is my sister, BFF and I at Granny’s 90th Ball all dressed up!
These are all my grandma’s grandkids (and their significant others) that live here in the states!
And yes, my grandma is that rad that she has fire dancers at her ball for entertainment!
Look at this woman! She is NINETY! Does not look like it whatsoever, I pray I have her genes!
Blew out her candles like a champ!
And that was me, hair curly and all (which is a big feat for me because my hair does not like to curl or rather stay curled!)
**Sorry for the lag on these pictures that I promised ages ago!
Happy 51st Birthday Chris Hansen!
May you continue to catch predators across America….
I can be forgetful…
Anyway, here is my primal-friendly dinner I had last night at my Tia’s 50th Bday at Kotosh (Peruvian-Japanese Fusion Restaurant).
Lomo Saltado (no french fries though), and a side salad (with questionable dressing but at least it was slightly sprinkled - I didn’t know it came on and didn’t want to be a pain) instead of rice. Very delicious.
03.24.10 My Tia’s 50th Bday Celebration
Well…not the best eating day to say the least. Well all was good until dinner. Let’s start with breakfast. Had some leftover taco seasoned ground turkey that I had last night with couple bacon slices.
Then got news of our dear rabbit, Sunny, is sick so we swooped by Carls and I got a protein style Chicken sandwich, no cheese, no sauce, just ketchup with onions/tomatoes and then an orange. Checked on Sunny…he seems ok, and is drinking water and eating so that is a very good sign. Just worries me because he is old…
Then, since I can be a supreme lagger, rushed after work to get my aunts birthday gift ANd my cousins belated bday gift (I tell you, damn it birthday season). And by the time I got home, I had to get ready for dinner already, so no time to work out *sad face*.
The actual dinner wasn’t too shabby actually (stuck to my primal guns and ordered accordingly - lomo saltado without the fries and replaced rice with a salad)…BUT I couldn’t resist an alfajor (Peruvian little pastry cookie - two shortbread thin cookies with dulce de leche type filling in between). And you know what? I’m not sorry because I rarely ever get to have one of those! And even though I’m not much of a sweets person, I decided to try a cupcake (Aunt had one of those cakes made out of cupcakes).
So yes, as expected I went over on everything (surprisingly not sugar!)…I am also a bit surprised that I only went over 25g on carbs….but I guess the rest of the day I was a good girl, it was just the desserts that did me in. I might feel funky tomorrow because of it, too.
And I just realized I missed GPOYW today…maybe I’ll make it GPOYT this week :) Good night tumblr!
Another sneak peek shot from grandma’s 90th birthday extravaganza.
Pictured: My sister Milena, cousin Katy, and I
I’m baaaack from celebrating my grandma’s 90th birthday ball at the Marriott! Full of dancing, hula dancers, fire dancers, laughing, slideshows, videos, speeches, good people and good food! More details and pictures to come later but I’m tired now and have to work tomorrow, ugh!
So there were homemade fried catfish at a birthday party today and I had some.
And I’m totally okay with it! For two reasons:
- I barely had any even though it was UBER delicious…I had about 4oz at the most.
- 80/20 rule people! According to Mark’s Daily Apple, it’s a good way to live Primal…as long as you are eating well and primal 80% of the time, you have a little 20% of wiggle room on occasion. I try not to use my 20% really and stay focused but I am only human and it’s healthy for me to do so. Little bit of fried catfish isn’t going to ruin the over all picture of my healthy journey.
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