I Walk In This World

Hi blog peeps.

I seem to have not taken photos of my Sunday eats (which were boring anyway), so all I have for food-wise so far is this morning’s smoothie.

• almond milk
• 4 ice cubes
• handful of NJ blueberries
• frozen mixed fruit
• half a small banana

The other day I went for a walk here at work, and snapped some pics of a wetland on the property.  So I’m going to make you all wetland ecologists today.  I promise it’s easy. 

A wetland is normally a lowland area that is saturated with moisture.  They are “wet” areas because they are located in lands where ground water is close to the ground surface and therefore creates pockets of wet soils.  Wetlands are special because they host specialized plants that are adapted to living in wet conditions.  And they offer special habitats for a variety of wildlife for eating, resting, etc.

This is called a forested wetland.  It’s a wetland that occurs within a forest.  It’s cool, right?!

This is called Japanese stilt grass.  It often grows in wetlands, and on the edges of wetlands where they transition into upland areas.

This is skunk cabbage.  Maybe you recognize it?  It is a definite plant indicator that you are in a wetland.  So if you’re out hiking, and you see them, you can now know you’re in a wetland area!

See all the skunk cabbages.

This is some kind of sedge.  Sedges Have Edges.  This little rhyme always helps me know I’m looking at a sedge.  If you run your fingers up the length of the stem, you will feel very definitive edges, kind of like the stem is a triangle, and you are feeling the triangle edges.  Sedges grow in wetlands, and are great indicators that you are in one!

This is a deer trail going through the wetland.  Can you see the little path the deer have made?

This is where the deer have bedded down.  Can you see the smushed down grasses?

This is a type of rush.  I’m not sure which one, without my wetland plant identification key, but it’s a rush because Rushes Are Round.  This is another little word trick.  Sedges Have Edges (their stem) and Rushes Are Round (also their stem).  These plants are also good indicators that you are in a wetland.

This is called sensitive fern and is a definite indicator that you’re in a wetland.  I love it’s broad fern leaves. 

So, now you’ve got some wetland tips and can all go out into the world as micro wetland ecologists…at least for today.  And if you do find yourself in a wetland, take pretty pictures, but please tread lightly.  These are sensitive special places.

♥,

Your treehugging blog friend Erin

Today it’s come to my attention that I am *that* person that people make fun of.  I spent my lunch hour shopping at the super cute pet boutique here in town where I work.  The reason for my trip, you ask?  Tomorrow is Hillary’s 5th birthday and I needed a cake.   

Pause.

In my defense, I’ve only had this precious being for 10 months.  We adopted her from a Westie Rescue (in Annapolis) last September.  So even though it’s her 5th birthday tomorrow, it’s the FIRST one we’ll get to celebrate with her.

Hence the need for a doggy cake.

And maybe a cupcake.

And perhaps a new toy.

But c’mon.  Doesn’t she deserve it! 

Now that you’re all making fun of me, I’ll just move on to my lunch.  Eaten while blogging in my cube.  I’m SO bored with lunch right now.  I decided to treat myself to a gigundo salad bar salad today.  It was well worth it!

1. romaine + organic spring mix
2. cherry maters
3. red onion
4. carrot
5. orange bell pepper
6. peas
7. mushrooms
8. cukes
9. broccoli
10. chickpeas
11. kindey beans
12. pickles
13. pickled beets
14. hb egg
15. spoonful of imitation crab (I love this)
16. sunflower seeds

Now, in my expert eating opinion, it is very hard to beat a meal that offers a salad with 16 ingredients!!  It was delicious!

I also had that super tasty and fun bag of Cheddar POPCHIPS (thanks so much POPCHIPS!).  And bowl full o that are on their last leg.

It always excites me when I see the topic of Ethical Eating getting mainstream media coverage.  It means that people are paying attention enough for the media to put effort into a story about this movement!  Click here for an easy-to-read article on the St. Louis Today website.  What is most interesting to me, are the comments at the bottom.  There you can really get a feel for how much of a debate this topic still is!

I got a big work thing done today, and can now spend the work afternoon at a normal work pace.

Breks!

• a smoothie with…
• ice
• almond milk
• frozen lope, honeydew, grapes, peaches
• half a nanner 
• a heaping spoonful of strawberry Stonyfield yogurt

Ok, lunch break ovah.

Do any of you pet people do this crazy stuff for your pets?

Giveaway Winners, be sure to send me your mailing info to receive your applesauce winnings!

And this, blog friends, is my kind of short cut dinner.

TJs Pav Bhaji…in a box!

Mixed up with diced chicken (free range), slivered (local) zucchini, and onion.  Served over a teeny smidge of wild rice, a side of farmer’s market corn, and a slice of whole grain bread (baked in NJ).

This ended up being SUPA spicey, which was an unexpected and fabulous surprise!  I LOVE spice!  Since I used cooked chicken, this meal took about 10 mins, front to back, to prepare.  I think it took the longest to toast the bread, lol!

We had Core Power Yoga xs 2 tonight, with a his and hers performance.  Which mat do you think is mine?

Hubz made it thru the first 17 mins and then stopped.  This is some hard shit.  Definitely not beginners yoga.

I was SOAKED.  See!

Afta work, I swung thru the local farmers’ market and here’s my loot:

• $1.49 cherries from Washington (from Shop Rite, not the farmers’ market)
• local white corn
• local maters
• local mixed bag of whole grain rolls
• lemon tarts
• a granola bar dog treat for Hillary

All for less than $20, including the 5lbs of cherries I bought!

My afternoon snack came via a fabulous box of GNU Flavor & Fiber bars from the kind and generous folks at GNU Foods!

I had the chocolate brownie bar (half) and it was very good!  A very pleasant surprise, and this beaut kept me full from 3pm-8pm!!!

Lunch in da cube farm.  How sad, right?

• leftover eggplant roll from the Italian spot nearby.  This was JUST as good reheated several days lata.
• my boring everyday carrot topped with supa special pecan butter
• cantaFABulope with local blueberries

Breks today was a little special cuz it involved Chocolate.  A choco banana smoothie with almond milk and ice.  What a lovely Thursday treat.

Happy Friday to everyone!

As quoted from Hubz while shoveling one of my whole wheat blueberry muffins into his chomper.  I was preening about, reveling in the beauty of these gems PLUS how healthy they are.  And he was NOT having it.  He likes thinking some of this healthy stuff I feed him is bad. 

So ginorm props to Jenna for sharing her fab recipe.  One quick note, be sure to use baking POWDER as opposed to baking soda as listed in her ingredients listing.  I’m pretty sure it’s a typo, and I used the powder and our muffins turned out a-mazing.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins ala Jenna!

I haven’t had one yet but maybe will for Breks tomorrow.  I’m on Day 2 of not having much of an appetite.  What the hay is going on Tummy?

Din wasn’t too exciting b/c it was leftovers from Monday night.  Great tasting, just not exciting b/c it was a repeat.

• leftover Griggstown Farm sundried tomato/basil chicken sausage + shitake mushrooms + white beans in a white wine garlic glaze
• ginorm romaine salad with cuke, mater, carrot, peanut, aged cheddar, and hummus Dr. Krackers

The salad was perfect but I had to force the plate of food.  ??? 

I ran for 30mins on the treadmill before Din.  For me, that is a LONG time.  Icing the ankle as I blog.

Today I added running a 5K to my Bucket List.  Does anyone else have a bucket list?  This IS something I was to accomplish before I kick the bucket, lol!

Lunch.

• flat out wrap with turkey bacon, cheese, garlic hummus, spinach, and avocado
• carrot + tomato with more hummus
• blueberries + a peach

Need I point out how faboosh that wrap was?!

My Breks was a boring smoothie compared to the gloriousness that was Quinn’s Berry Parfait Banana Waffles!

• ice
• low fat vanilla almond milk
• mango
• blueberries
• ff vanilla yogurt

I like the gritty texture the blueberries give smoothies.  Fun.