Monday, July 27, 2009

Last July Weekend

Unlike the other weekend which was packed and I had to sacrifice sleep, this weekend was more balanced. I like how refreshed I am on a Monday morning after a great weekend. I hope yours was great, too!

Food. My weekend eats were great. I made double serving of curried veggies on Saturday because curry tastes even better the day after methinks. The food spread at Aki and Jo's Saturday Socials consisted of organic tortillas, salsa, chocolate chip banana bread, and gyouza (pot stickers). I love it that Aki is a healthy foodie so we totally clicked! She shared the banana bread recipe she used which is from a young Japanese lady's blog. Looks like I'll be baking me some banana goodness this week. What is your favorite pastry to bake? In my family, I'm the least talented baker but banana bread is something I can manage. :D

{Chocolate Chip Banana Bread}

On Sunday, I heated the leftover curry with cheese before heading out biking and shopping. Dinner was at friends' party where I also had ice cream. While I don't cook with meat now (and have also stopped cooking fish a few weeks ago), I have a bit of meat/fish at social situations. I'd still prefer meatless options but if there's none available, I do eat a bit like that single piece of gyouza at Aki's and spaghetti with meat sauce at the party. Whatever eater you are (raw, vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, omnivore, etc.), moderation is key. I say, eat healthy. Period. :D

Sleep. I'm not done yet with "The Omnivore's Dilemma" but have started Leo Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina". Cross reading the two very different books is interesting. I'm enjoying reading and it's a great way to make me sleepy when my brain won't just shut down. I got my ideal 7 hours of sleep during the weekend and now feel so much better compared to last Monday. Did you sleep well over the weekend?

Move. Ran 4 miles on Saturday and biked on Sunday. It was my first time running at 3PM and was it hot and humid! :S The heat must have helped because I just wanted to get the run done with quickly. That meant a faster run and therefore faster pace. Score for turning a negative thing to my advantage! Haha. Also, thank you very much for all your encouragement and tips on my first ever 10 miler. It's amazing how much support we receive from people we haven't met in real life, right?

It will be August this coming Saturday! :D Let's rock the last days of July! Have a great week ahead.

19 comments:

  1. Well, I'll say you've had a pretty good weekend! Good eats, good activity, enough sleep!
    And I agree that moderation is the key. I eat healthy most of the time too, so a bit of "junk" food here and there won't kill me!

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  2. glad you had a nice weekend! that banana bread looks wonderful. i am a terrible baker, but one day i am determined to improve.

    i like your philosophy - "eat healthy, period." i agree 100%. no labels necessary! :)

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  3. I agree that it's good to be flexible. Currently I am a vegan who had a bite of fish in the past week - which technically I know means I am not really a vegan, and ideally I really don't want to eat fish right now, but it helps me from being a complete pain in the ass at social situations haha.

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  4. Wow living in Japan must be crazy! I've visited a lot of European countries, but I've never been to Asia. I can't wait to hear more about your life there.

    americangourmande.wordpress.com

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  5. Girl, thanks for the comment :)
    How are you liking "The Omnivore's Dilemma"?
    I don't eat red meat, and don't try to eat a lot of other kinds of meat in general, as well. Its definetely healthier AND cheaper!

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  6. You're right..moderation and balance is key! :D

    And the chocolate chip banana bread looks delicious! I'm a huge fan of banana bread...all the better if chocolate is added! ;)

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  7. I agree--the support here from strangers (for lack of a better word) is astounding. Hands down my favorite part of blogging thus far.

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  8. Thanks for visiting! Your banana bread looks amazing!
    Oh, good luck on your 10 miler! How exciting! I want to do something like that but I just can't fnid hardly any events here in Omaha :(
    -muffy

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  9. OMG I just totally forgot how much I love Japanese curry. My mom used to make it at least once a week.... it is DEFINITELY better the next day, when all the flavors have mixed together. mmmmmm

    and thanks for your sweet comment on my blog; it really cheered me up!

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  10. I like making Armenian Tahini bread rolls. It's a long process but the result is such a unique and delicious flavor. Your banana bread looks so nice!!!

    I can't believe it's almost August already. Where does the time go?

    p.s. thank you for stopping by :) Are you from the Philippines?

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  11. I adore baking banana bread. Yummy. That sounds like such a good weekend. And exciting about the 10 miler... am just in awe of it.

    - Sagan

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  12. aw thank you! And i do! :)
    -muffy

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  13. I'm always reading two books at once! It's killer. And often enough I don't finish one of them haha. I actually almost bought the Omnivore's Dilemma (that or in defense of food) after work today, but told myself to stop it until I finish my current book The Time Traveler's Wife (pretty good).

    That mightve been too much detail for ya but just sharin' :)
    Good job on the baking!

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  14. That chocolate chip banana bread looks amazing!!

    Love the blog from Japan- I wish I could read it!!

    So glad you got good sleep over the weekend!! That is my goal for tonight!

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  15. MMM curry. Reading that made me crave it! I'm guilty of reading two books at a time as well. I took a break from In Defense of Food so I could pick up a lighter/fast read. Sometimes you just need those two things going on at once!

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  16. p.s. I replied to your comment on my post, but I'll just say it again. Ube ice cream is awesome :D

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  17. i love that moderation is key...that is exactly what i try to promote on my blog! that choc banana bread looks AMAZIN!

    http://thehealthyeverythingtarian.wordpress.com

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  18. Choc banana bread = ohmygoodness!! Looks dreamy. Glad you were well rested over the weekend. Running at 3pm can definitely be a sweaty endeavor in the summer!
    Love the moderation is key stuff too - all about that! Happy Tuesday!

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  19. girlie that banana bread looks too good for words!
    and left over curry?! lucky girl.

    congrats on 4 miles! thats amazing.

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