Happy Friday everyone!
Weekend Trip
“M” is for Minneapolis – which is where I’ll be heading to today! YAAAY! A friend of mine that I went to junior high and high school with is getting married in June, and lives in Minni, so all of us girls are heading up for the weekend to celebrate her bachelorette party!! The bride is actually very low-key, so this should be a perfect weekend for relaxing, hanging out with girlfriends and getting to re-visit some of my favorite places in the city. My bag is packed and I’m ready to go!
If you don’t know, I lived in Minneapolis for three years right after college and fell head-over-heels in love with that city. So many unique places to explore, great natural fitness resources (lakes, trails, etc.) amazing shopping and the FOOD! Goodness gracious, the food. I could literally go to 3 different restuarants a day and probably wouldn’t cover half of them in a whole year! Minneapolis is also where I got my first single apartment, had my first real job, where I developed my interest in running and in general – had a freaking blast – so I have a lot of good memories of living there 
Expect pictures galore after this weekend! I’ll try and post on Saturday, but if not – expect a fun re-cap on Sunday.
Finishing Up To-Do List
So, item number two on last night’s to-do list was: Decorate sugar cookies. I had made a batch of sugar cookies in the shape of butterflies (told you this would be a low key bachelorette party 
) and was decorating them when…well…I messed them all up 
So, I took the opportunity to practice some piping. When life gives you lemons…! Knowing that I wasn’t going to take these to the party and that they were so delicious that I would literally eat every single butterfly within days if I kept them out, I shoved them in my freezer – out of sight, out of mind!!!
Workout
I forgot to tell you last night that I took yesterday off from running. As I mentioned, I was running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off and I just couldn’t find the time to get out for a run. Lame excuse I know. However, I am VERY excited, because I’m going to try and make it to my favorite lake in Minneapolis – Lake Calhoun in Uptown – for a run on Saturday morning before all the festivities get started!!! OMG I am getting so excited just thinking about it! It’s a perfect 3 miles around, surrounded by beautiful homes, has great views of downtown and is always packed with other runners!
Updated stats are:
- Monday: 5 mile run
- Tuesday: 10×400 5K pace
- Wednesday: 5.15 miles
- Thursday: rest
- Friday: rest
- Saturday: 3 mile run
- Sunday: 4.25 miles (hoping I can do this when I get home!!)
Workout bag packed and ready to go!
Eats
Back to my Minneapolis inspired bowl of oatmeal! As fuel to get me through my morning and geared up for the trip, I had a bowl of figalicious oats It’s the usual combo of oats, milk/water, vanilla, cinnamon, figgies, banana, toasted coconut & almond and a drizzle of maple syrup. I was literally smiling as I made the “M”. So happy to eat it!
Now, personally I don’t love to eat frozen meals – I just feel like I could eat 10 and never feel full. However, Amy’s frozen meals are DA-BOMB. They are so decadent and filling – and are all-natural and organic! Yesterday when I was at Target I saw all of Amy’s frozen meals on sale for $2.99…$2.99!!! What a steal! I nabbed a Santa Fe Enchilada Bowl for lunch today:
Amy’s own corn tortillas, organic rice, beans, tofu and vegetables, layered with mellow Jack cheese and our special enchilada sauce. This is a real favorite with our friends and family. Gluten free.
THESE ARE SO GOOD. I have seriously never had a bad meal from Amy’s. They also make a really good Indian frozen food line…you guys have to give these a try!
Alright buddies – I’m off! I’ll try and post again later tonight, but if not – have an INCREDIBLE Friday!!
Question: What’s your opinion on frozen meals? Do you like them for portion control, ease of preperation or taste? Or would you rather not eat them?
ps you guys are single-handedly keeping the magazine publishing industry in business!!
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Your weekend getaway sounds fabulous! I bet the lakes are beautiful. I can’t wait to see pictures!
I like frozen meals in a pinch and while I’d rather stay away from them, it certainly beats grabbing a cheeseburger and fries, haha! I think (like everything else), eating them in moderation is totally fine.
And I didn’t comment on your magazine question yesterday but I love magazines! I am totally addicted to trashy celebrity gossip magazines, I confess. I also love Oxygen.
Have a great trip!
Have fun at your bach party this weekend! I was planning to do my long run tomorrow morning at Calhoun too…maybe I will see you there!
I used to live in Minneapolis and have to agree on the restaurants. There are so many good places to eat. We are going back in October for the marathon and I am already thinking about all the yummy places to eat.
I hate frozen meals. I used to eat them all the time and now just freeze my own meals for quick go-to meals. I hate the high amount of sodium that you usually find.
Ooh, have fun this weekend! That breakfast looks delicious. I rarely eat frozen meals. I’d rather just make something myself, because they rarely fill me up. I do like the Amy’s meals I’ve tried though, especially the Indian ones! Those are really tasty.
Have a great weekend away. What was wrong with your cookies? I thought that they looked great. I wish that I could make cookies like those.
I normally do not eat frozen meals, but I do like Amy’s frozen foods. I do find that you have to pad them out a bit, make a salad to go with them. Have you tried Amy’s soups? They are great. Probably my most favourite product from Amy’s.
http://islandgirleats.blogspot.com
Hi!
I have been stopping by your blog for the past week or so (link from Eat Like Me) and I have been enjoying it! I love how you prepare your food (I can tell you have fun doing it too) and I am getting some good ideas for my own meals!
I used to live in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Minneapolis was one of the closest cities (about 8 hours away?). I visited one weekend, and loved it! I wish I could go back, but now I live even further. Hope you have a fun time!
Have a fabulous time in Minneapolis with the girls! I’ve never been to that city before but I’ve got a few friends in the area, I should really visit
Personally I don’t like frozen meals either but I adore Amy’s products. They’re genius and incredible!
I love both of your bags! Have a great time in Minneapolis, sounds like it’ll be a great weekend.
Have fun in Minneapolis! I love running around Lake Calhoun. I like Lake Harriet even better. Have you been to the Great Harvest on Upton and 43rd? That’s my favorite post run treat.
You’re coming to my city! Hope you have a great time!! I love lake calhoun , harriett and the lake of the isles.
My favorite restaurants in Minneapolis are Chang mai tai ,and the good earth!
Have fun!!
Lauren
Ooohhh! You are visiting my home
Sometime when you come up to the Twin Cities we will have to plan a meet up. I love following your blog and would love to connect with some fellow foodie bloggers. Have a great trip and a fabulous weekend.
I also love the Amy’s line of frozen foods – the only frozen meals that I will eat!
I eat frozen meals a couple of times a week. I always have lots of extra veggies with them. I agree that Amy’s is the best. I wish they weren’t so expensive and hard to find here. I tend to buy Lean Cuisines when they’re on sale and sometimes Healthy Choice. I used to buy Weight Watchers but I don’t like them anymore.
I’m on my way out for a l o n g walk.
Just came across your blog. Wow – all of the meals you make look amazing! I eat oatmeal almost everyday, so it’s nice to see some yummy ways to mix it up! I’m going to add you to my blogroll.
http://healthyfitmama.wordpress.com/
Yay Minny!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait. The cookies are SO cute:)
Tragic…I just read the END of the cookies…
I try and eat as little Frozen Dinners as possible. Normally I bring them to work (and stock up when they’re $1.99!). I also only go for the “Blue Menu” ones, which has a lot lower sodium in them, than the regular ones.
Have a great vaca, and good for you for staying on top of your work out schedule while there!
As you well know, I am a frozen meal junkie, perhaps to a fault. Yes, they are sodium-packed. However, they keep me in check from eating even WORSE things. My personal faves, all by Lean Cuisine, are:
Chicken in Peanut Sauce
Orange Chicken
Sesame Chicken
Sounds like you have such a fun weekend planned. Hope you have a fantastic time in Minneappolis with the girls!
I am right there with you on the Amy’s frozen meals. She totally changed my entire mindset on tv dinners. I don’t think I have ever been dissapointed with an Amy’s product, come to think of it.
However, I did just discover Kashi frozen entrees and they are quite tasty as well. The Myan Harvest Vegetable is amazing!
Have a wonderful and safe trip.
I literally just gave away like 6 lean cuisines in my freezer to my aunt b/c i’m never going to eat them! I’m not a fan of the sodium content- and I def don’t get the mental satisfaction or FULL signal that I’d get from a home cooked or more natural meal. I DO have two amy’s burritos and an Amy’s pizza that I am not planning on giving away
Have a safe and fun trip girl!
Oh, have an awesome weekend, so much fun!!!!! And ooh, I want to try those amy’s products!
I’m always afraid that frozen meals are no good for you and aren’t clean eating, but Amy’s makes bomb food…I will have to try that enchilada dish! it’s yum yum yum looking
[...] (my favorite!) to snack on throughout the day and for lunch I brought an Amy’s bowl that Kristen had recommended. Actually, the one she recommended was the Sante Fe Enchilada bowl and I had that one yesterday, [...]
Gosh – did you run?! It was SO COLD!!
YES! Definitely!!!
I’ve never tried the soups! I OD’d on canned soups in college and still can’t bring myself to eat them…maybe I’ll try to re-introduce them via Amy’s though!
So glad you’re reading and getting ideas! Hope you stop back
Mmmm LOVE Chan Mai Thai! I’ve never eated at Good Earth – I’ve never heard of it actually! Where’s it at?!