Guess who was staring back at me when I opened the paper yesterday?
Me! HA! The Datebook is a weekly, local publication, that includes entertainment information, movie times and special features, among other things. Yesterday’s edition was all about movie theater reviews in the area (an homage to the Oscar’s) and guess who was on the cover? Yours truly! All in the name of taking myself out of my comfort zone! 
When I saw it, I started laughing hysterically. How you could you not?! I’m throwing popcorn in the air due to a very exciting scene in the 3-D movie I’m “watching”. Here’s a link to see a smaller picture on their website. Ohhh, good times – thanks Datebook! 
In other news, I took a trip back to childhood this morning and made Almond Butter & Jelly Oatmeal!
In the mix:
- 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
- 2/3 cup water
- 1/2 Tablespoon chia seeds
- cinnamon
- 1 banana
- Almond butter
Holy cow!
How is it that I’ve waited this long to combine the awesome powers of everyone’s childhood favorites – peanut (almond) butter and jelly?
This was phenomenal!!!
Creamy, thick almond butter + sweet, sassy jam = as close to the real thing as you can get. (well, except for a peanut butter & jelly larabar, of course!)
I tried to savor each and every bite, but it was really good – you know?! Oatmealers – try this combo!
In more exciting food news, I’m got some Vegetarian Enchiladas on tap for lunch today!
The filling is really hearty, actually, for having no meat in it!
I may have taken a little extra liberty with the cheese on top, but I didn’t put it in the filling…sooo, give and take.
I also packed a Raspberry Chobani Yogurt.
Raspberry yogurt is by far my favorite flavor of any kind of yogurt – so the Chobani type is sure to please. I cannot wait to try it!
Oh gosh, I am stuffed. Time to roll to work, peeps. Oh, TGIF! 
Got any fun plans this weekend? My agenda is clear, except for a date with my Mom on Saturday to make some gyozas. You’ll see!
Have a fabulous FRIDAY!
~~~~~
Did you get “hot lunch” growing up, or did you bring your lunch to school everyday? What was your favorite thing to eat?
My brothers and I brought our lunches every day. We were all assigned a (cooled) burner on the stove, and every night we would set out the stuff that was going to go inside our lunch box the next day. I can still, literally smell the inside of my lunchbox as I opened it up each day. Ahhh, memories.
At any rate, my faaaaavorite thing, I mean FAAAAAAVORITE thing, was to find a fruit roll up my Mom had snuck inside our lunchbox! This maybe happened 4 times my entire 6 years in elementary school (my Mom didn’t believe in fruit rollups/gushers/etc, I know – tragic) but I’m telling you, those were the best 4 days ever!
The magazine cover is so cool! You have to tell us how you got on there? Are you a model or did these opportunities come after the blog?
I was just gonna ask the same thing as Jill…are you a model? The cover pic is so flippin’ cute!!
Mmm! PB&J oats! I bet they would be good with strawberry jam, too!
I can’t wait to see what gyozas are!
I packed my lunches most of the time as a kid…well, my Mom packed them for me. It used to be a HUGE treat to get a Lunchables Pizza kit at the store! I loved those things!! I also LOVED dunkaroos! Tehehe.
That is awesome you are on the front page, girl!
You are super cute!!!
haha at the picture, that’s brilliant! How did you get that done!? I always had to have school dinners when I was little, which I HATED – I think it was cos my mum didn’t have time to make me a proper lunch and I was too small to do it myself
When I went to High School, she gave me money for lunch – which went in the vending machine!! Thankfully my habits have improved now, and I pack my own lunch wherever I go – so it’s normally cold. I love it!
Congrats on the Datebook cover. How fun! I will have to pick one up!
The PB&J Larabars are my favorite and I LOVE oatmeal, so I will have to try one a try!
You’re so cute!!! Congrats on the cover
I keep looking for you every time I see an allergy ad too!
I brought my lunch every day except for the occasional pizza day. Then I’d get pizza and chocolate milk!
I was actually reading the Register online last night (living near DC now, but I still like to see what’s going on back home).. I saw the Datebook image and thought, “hey, that gal on the cover looks kinda familiar..” but I got distracted by something and didn’t investigate further. Too funny!
That oatmeal looks awesome! I would’ve never thought to have mixed those ingredients, but I’m definitely going to try it now!!!
I used to eat the dreaded school food when I was younger, and then when in Highschool I skipped lunch altogether. Not a smart choice, lol.
Enjoy your weekend!
Datebook cover is so cute!!!! I just tried almond butter and jelly oatmeal yesterday for lunch. Had about 2 TBS. of Barney Butter left in the jar and added smucker’s sugar-free raspberry jelly. Should of added a banana too – it was so creamy and filling!
HAHA what a funny picture!!
Love the magazine cover, so cute!!
We didn’t have “hot lunch” or whatever until high school, so I brought a PB sandwich every day
i saw the photo online and tweeted you a message about it
my husband was on the cover of juice last week!
i always took “cold lunch” to school. i think my favorite thing was pudding cups or little debbie snacks, but i only got those every once in a while!
Great photo shoot. You’re a star!
Love the enchiladas. What a treat.
I used to go between hot lunch and bagging it. My fave: Apple sammy. Weird but good.
I always had hot lunch…the only time I packed a lunch was on field trip days! In fact, I don’t remember any kids really bringing their lunch…
Have you seen the ingredient list for sugar free jelly?
It is TERRIBLE! There is very little actual fruit in it. There are a couple other fruit jellys (I don’t recall the brand names off the top of my head) which are more expensive, BUT their ingredient lists are the fruit and pectin (which is what helps jelly be jelly). Might check out your local jelly isle…just thought I’d point it out since I know you like simple ingredient lists. 
(And really – fruit and pectin is really truly “sugar” free, except for the natural sweetener that occurs in fruit anyway!)
Those PB&J oats look so good!
Growing up we went back and forth between buying and bringing. We were mostly a home-packed family but there was a year or two in there where we all go a little lazy and ending up buying a lot more…but I will say I loved packing my lunch, goldfish were always a staple!
LoL, I was flipping through the Datebook over lunch yesterday and I didn’t even recognize that was you! Must’ve been the 3-D glasses.
Congrats on the adorable cover! You are just too cute
Who knows maybe Self & Shape Magazine will be calling next!
That is so funny! You look very into the movie you were “watching”
I always packed my lunch too. Cafeteria food always grossed me out. Even when I was little.
congrats on making the cover! Whats next, SI swimsuit addition? Get it girl! haha
Your oats look amazing, I might just have to make me a batch right now! Reminds me of being a kid
xo-Molly
http://www.givinganythingbutup.wordpress.com
Looove the magazine cover!! How did that happen?!
PB & J oats are the BEST! YUM!!! I always got a hot lunch in elementary school, packing my lunch was “special.” But once I got to middle school, I always packed my lunch. I’ve noticed that more kids bring their lunches to school now… maybe because the quality of school lunches has gone down?! Or maybe that’s just my opinion..
I had the school food, which in those days was excellent HOMEMADE stuff, cooked up right there in the school kitchen. Pizza, spaghetti, shrimp shapes (not to be confused w/real shrimp!), stuff my mom didn’t cook! At home we had fried meats, taters & gravy, also excellent, but it was good to get the chance to try “new” foods at school. The old metal “Ludwig the Duck” (who is that anyway?) lunch box was pretty much for back yard picnics with my little neighbor friend. I remember that odd yet pleasant lunch box smell too! Ha! Ahhh….the memories………
Congrats on being on the cover of a magazine!! That’s really cool- even if you are throwing popcorn in the air
I always brought my own lunch but then proceeded to buy fries/nachos in the lunch line. *Sigh*
I have followed in my mom’s footsteps as far as “school lunches” are concerned (and many other ways too for that matter)…….as a working mom, like my mom, I did not have time to make lunches everyday for my daughter so she eats school lunch just as I did most of my growning up years! I liked it for the most part, espically when I was old enough to have the Salad Bar! =) However, while leaving with my Dad for a short time my Step-Mom did make my lunches and I enjoyed those a lot as she always left little notes in them for me that I couldn’t wait to read everyday.
Congrats on being a semi-celeb!
I was wondering, what is your take on low-carb diets? I am in the beginning stages of trying it as I have heard nothing but great things about the weight-loss results. Do you have any product/recipe recommendations for this type of lifestyle?
Thanks, I appreciate it!
Nice cover! I saw the tweet they sent out but wasn’t brave enough :/
I’m excited to see these gyozas.
I always brought a Lunchable! It was my favorite
I love the raspberry chobani and am so glad they’re widely available now. I just wish the sugar weren’t higher than raspberries for ingredients
Ha, I always got hot lunch, but now I’m mortified by the thought of it… no wonder I was a chunky kid!!!! My favorite was pizza, or the chicken sandwich with mustard, mayo, and ketchup all on top of it. I also LOVED the chocolate milk, and the tater tots!!!! I was always jealous of those kids who brought their lunch though, and who had fun notes from their mom inside. And, my favorite thing that they brought was peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches… I had a friend who hated crust, and I would eat her crust just to get a taste of it… my mom NEVER would have let me have that stuff!!!!
So neat Cover Girl! Haha
I love PB&J Oatmeal! Yum!! I always brought my lunch to school too. I wasn’t too big on sandwiches though so I always had a bunch of random stuff! The only day I would buy lunch was if it was “taco day” Best taco salad ever!
Similar to your fruit rollups, I would love when my mom would tuck a seasonal chocolate in my lunch. You know those 3D turkeys and Santas that are hollow? LOVED finding one of those!
LOL! Love that cover shot! I would definitely be too self conscious to do something like that – and I’m a musician! I can handle cameras when I play, but I’m no model.
And I love your oats! That’s my favourite combo – PB&J! With banana! Yummers.
No plans this weekend, which is a huge change from previous weekends. Aside from my scheduled run and yoga, I plan on doing absolutely nothing.
K
Hot lunch everyday until high school…. rotund…
I think I mentioned peanut butter and jelly oatmeal in a comment last week and will pretend you subconsciously remembered that idea. I tried it too after I thought of it, and it was phenomenal!
GOOD LORD I tried that oats combo today, minus chia as I’m out, but it was SOOOO good. why hasn’t that been brought to my attention sooner?! well anyway, thanks for the pbj and naner combo– amazing!
My mom made us get the hot lunch. We could choose 1 day a week to bring our lunch from home. I hated hot lunches – they were so gross at our school! I think my favorite treat was getting a lunchable – it only happened like once a year, so it was very special. Once I got to high school, I brought my own lunch every day or had the salad bar.
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