A Knack for Nutrition

The Big Move...www.Knackfornutrition.com is born!

2010-07-18T11:07:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday.

I have some very exciting news. Over the past several weeks I have been working tirelessly to revamp my blog to make it more of a home for me and you. Today, I finally completed the overhaul!

So with no further delay, I present to you all my new home at

www.knackfornutrition.com.

I hope that you will continue to follow my journey of healthy living on my new and improved blog!
(This will be my past post from this address, so please update your google readers!)

I can't wait to share this with you all.

Please let me know what you think of the new layout!

The First Long Run and a Disappointing Farmer's Market.

2010-07-17T17:51:00.010-04:00

Tomorrow morning marks the first long run of my 1/2 marathon training schedule. I have been mentally preparing for this event all week.

To some, 4 miles is a joke. To others, it is unfathomable. To me, well I suppose I will just have to get back to you on that one.
(1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup of almond milk, 1/2 scoop of chia seeds, 1 tbsp almond butter, sprinkle of cacao nibs.)

The first week of training has been tolerable. I ran two 3 milers back to back on the dreadmill and participated in a cycling class and hour of weightlifting yesterday. It makes perfect sense why my body is absolutely exhausted today, and although it took an hour and a half to muster up the strength and determination to go to the gym, I got there. 30 minutes later, I was gone. That is all the schedule dictated and I was glad to be done. (Yes, this is a breakfast. 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 1 cup of organic strawberries, 1/4 cup organic blueberries, 1/4 cup raw oats, 1/2 scoop of chia seeds, 1 black bean brownie square.)

Tonight, I will prepare as if it were a race night because tomorrow I face a new hurdle...the heat. Seeing as the forecast states it will feel like 86F by 8AM I intend to get my butt moving once my feet hit the floor. The goal is to be out the door no later than 6:45AM. That means I am being a cool kid tonight and going to bed super early. But it is fine by me. I am thriving off of the challenge.

(Mixed green salad with hummus and salsa. 2 slices Ezekiel bread with hummus, pineapple tomato, and avocado. All topped with salt and pepper.)

I am looking forward to reuniting with an old friend that has been collecting dust on a shelf in my room for one to many weeks. The beast and I will find our groove in this weather because well, we have no choice. (Roasted sweet potato with cinnamon, Dr. Praeger's vegetable burger with ketchup.)

Hopefully, my clean eating habits of the past two weeks will fuel me through the run.

~~~~~~~~~

I restocked my vegetable supply at the local farmer's market today, so I will be able to stick with the idea that "food is fuel" in the coming days.(Downtown Little Rock aka The Rivermarket.)

Although the heat was blazing today (the car monitor read nearly 100F!) I still made my way to the market because my dad offered to come along. We had a great time, but by the time we got back to the car we were both drenched in sweat. We agreed, never again at 11AM. Show up at 7AM or do not show up at all.

(My sweet dad picking out tomatoes.)

On a slightly different note, I was rather disappointed in the selection and size of the market. I went religiously last year and I just remember it being, for lack of a more appropriate word, better. (The crowd. The heat. The crowd. The heat!)

It was clear that some of the produce was not local. Moreover, when I asked someone at a booth if his cucumbers were organic or sprayed with pesticide killer, he did not know the answer. He actually looked at me as if what I was asking was completely bizarre. I think I will be researching other markets with more knowledgeable vendors to buy my produce for the rest of my time at home. (Organic blueberries [I bought them!] and blackberries.)

In the end, we purchased quite the load of fruits and veggies. Among them were corn, peaches, blueberries, tomatoes, and cherries.(Non-organic Arkansas tomatoes.)

I've gotta go get my game face ready. See y'all tomorrow!

Question: Do you ever "try to get to know your farmer" at farmer's markets? By this, I mean asking questions about what you are purchasing?
Normally, vendors are eager to talk to customers. I think I just ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time. People are really friendly in Arkansas, I promise. :)

~Jenn

The best Green Monster I have ever made.

2010-07-16T22:26:00.003-04:00

Yes, that is a bold statement.
I mean, let us be real, Green Monsters are no joke amongst bloggers.
They are an addiction for many, a cure for some, and a frightening sight for outsiders.
In all, Green Monsters have developed into quite the movement.

I swear by them. Since the day I began blogging I have been posting about the power of the green smoothie.

Today something magical happened in my blender. It may have been a combination of heat and post-work out endorphins kicking in, but I created something special that I must share.

The Recipe
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 frozen banana
3 cups organic baby spinach
1 cup freshly chopped organic mango
1 scoop chia seeds
1 scoop Amazing Grass green superfood powder (berry blend)
1.5 cups ice
1/2 cup water

That is it. Really nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, it was truly extraordinary.
~Jenn

How Sweet Muffins

2010-07-15T11:14:00.005-04:00

Instead of following my normal routine of working out first thing in the morning I decided to forgo exercise and bake. After scouring the web (okay, just my google reader) for a recipe, I landed on one that made my taste buds salivate. I adapted this recipe from Jessica at How Sweet It Is.

Her recipes make me drool on the regular, so I knew I could do no wrong attempting to recreate one of her treats. Originally based off of the Whole Wheat Blueberry Banana Bread Muffin recipe, I made a couple of alterations based on what I had in the pantry.

The bananas I had lying around were ginormous so I only used 3 instead of the recipe's recommendation of 4.

I also used baking powder instead of soda because I don't actually believe there is a difference.
I tasted the batter, because c'mon who doesn't, and I did not think it was sweet enough. So on a whim, I added 1/4 cup of light brown sugar, unpacked.

Finally, strawberries have hit their peak in Arkansas so I had plenty to spare. I switched out the 1/2 cup of blueberries for 1 cup of freshly chopped strawberries.
Because of all the adaptions I made, I was a little nervous as to how these would taste. Let's just say, I was pleasantly surprised. They are dense, chewy, and not overly sweet. In otherwords, my perfect muffin.

The only thing I would change for next time is I would pre-grease the muffin tin or use some sort of non-stick muffin cup because mine stick to the paper.

Happy Baking!

Why I Dislike Wal-Mart

2010-07-15T10:07:00.007-04:00

There are many things I love about America. After living abroad for 6 weeks, I have come to appreciate modern conveniences like dryers, air conditioning, and iPhones in a whole new way. I am proud to be an American in every sense, but I cannot move beyond my extreme dislike of Wal-Mart and what I believe it is doing to this country.(Breakfast: 2 slices Ezekiel toast, 1 tbsp almond butter, 1 banana, cinnamon)

Seeing as the company represents an ever increasing share of the consumer market, I find myself in a complex place between sadness and anger that this is the direction our country is moving toward. Allow me to explain...

Yesterday, I accompanied a friend to our local Wal-Mart Supercenter to help her shop with her 90 year old grandmother. Her grandmother is completely immobile and therefore needs a wheelchair. Wal-Mart had 1 in the entire store and it had no basket on top. So my friend had to push her grandmother while trying to carry everything she needed to buy. When this was explained to a store employee, they simply responded that it was not their problem.

We spent over an hour in the store weaving in and out of the countless aisles. Product after product lined the shelf with price tag's claiming to be the lowest in the city. Indeed, the products may be cheap for you and I to purchase, but what is the real cost hidden in your $5 sleep shorts or $1 plastic dog toy?
(Lunch: 3 egg whites, 1 whole egg {all cage free}, 1/2 de-cobbed corn, 1/2 pineapple tomato, spinach, onion, 1 La Tortilla Factory whole wheat wrap, salsa).

The answer: an entire exploited market of demand driven suppliers that are forced, in a sense, to exploit workers (mostly abroad) to produce products under harsh and often dangerous conditions with no concern for their well-being. You see, in America, Wal-Mart is king, and all others must bow to him to play in his domain.

The story continues as I walked through the frozen food section of the store. There are no less than 5 industrial sized freezer laden aisles stuffed to the brim with "ready in 2 minutes!" meals that contain a slew of unpronounceable ingredients and are just shy of a days worth of caloric intake. As I took it all in, I noticed a common trend. The bright colors and beautiful pictures appear to parallel cheap prices.

The food in the store is cheap. Plain and simple. And at those prices, many American's feel as though they do not have an alternative but to shop at Wal-Mart. They must provide for their families, which in this economy is increasingly difficult. I understand.(Dinner: 1/3 cup teriyaki tofu, 1/2 lentils, oven roasted broccoli, carrots, onion, 2 tbsp hummus).

You and I (I assume) are in a different position than the average Wal-Mart customer. Sure, you may drop into a store every once and a while to pick up an item to save some money. But overall, we have a choice. We are educated in the ways of healthy eating, and know that although fresh, organic, and local produce and meat may cost more, you are paying for what you receive. There are no hidden costs in the form of agricultural subsidies and antibiotic laden meat. Furthermore, we are able to see the long term investment in our health by purchasing what is often labeled "health food."

Going back to the employee's response that the situation "was not her problem," I am left with a host of questions. Who's responsibility is it then to provide for those unable to help themselves? Where do we draw the line at what is marketed toward our families? Should there even be a line, or should people take responsibility for their own lives and decide what to buy and eat for themselves?

Moreover, big companies in general are composed of people. People like you and I. So how did a company full of individuals come to the point where the dollar was more important than the health and safety of the consumer? Is that somewhere they would want to shop?
(Mom's dinner creation: Portabella Mushroom Pizza: portabella mushroom, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, crab meat, and onion).

I do not believe Wal-Mart is entirely at fault for these problems. Americans are the demanders and at some point down the line it was a smart business tactic for the company to respond to demands and provide the products that were asked for. The fact that they are able to edge out the competition by offering the lowest price is simply sound economic principals.
(Dessert: 1/2 cup So Delicious Soy Peanut Butter organic ice cream, 6 black bean brownie bites).

There are no easy answers. I am not sure that regulation (governmental or otherwise) is the right solution. All I know is that I do not like what I see when I walk into Wal-Mart. I do not care for the atmosphere, the products, nor the prices. I would rather pay more and sleep soundly at night knowing my dollar went to someone who needs it and values it.

If you have any opinion, at all, on this topic, please leave it in a comment below. I am very curious to read about how others view Wal-Mart and what it represents.

~Jenn

Independence

2010-07-13T21:51:00.004-04:00

Like so many other bloggers, I often find myself stuck in breakfast ruts. Obviously, the current meal of choice it oatmeal. I really did try to make a change today but it just did not happen. Despite prepping a bowl of overnight oats last night, I just don't care for cold oats, so I ended up microwaving them and adding all of the fixings in a hurry. It's not pretty, but it sure tastes good.

I actually had to transfer my oats into a plastic cup and eat them on the road so I could check on the dog I am watching.

Friends meet Jill. She is the cutest little waddler I have ever seen. :) Apparently, those little legs move awfully fast because I couldn't even capture a still shot of her!

Anyways, I made my normal portion size (1/2 cup) and washed it down with a cup of coffee and then immediately started drinking water in preparation for my first 1/2 marathon training run!Did I mention the Bondi Bands I ordered arrived?! Because they did, and I decided there was no better time to test it out than with a 3 mile run. The run was hard, no lie, but the headband stayed in place the whole time! I was a sweaty mess by the end, but I think it prevented some of it from getting in my face (TMI?). I have a 2 miler planned for tomorrow, so I will test out the other one I bought and report back.

I refueled with a bucket salad for lunch.

(3/4 head of baby spring lettuce, Mary's Crackers, carrots, 1/4 avocado, 1/4 cup hummus, 2 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette, 1/2 pineapple tomato, and leftover corn on the cob [decobbed]).

It was delicious and filled a large portion of my vegetable quotient for the day.

I pretty much worked on schoolwork all afternoon. So nothing exciting to report there. Dinner was composed of some unpictured fruit and sweet and savory wraps. Yes, two wraps.

(Savory: hummus, spinach, and carrots)(Sweet: 1/2 tbsp Dark Chocolate Dreams and 1 tbsp Marshmallow Fluff)

Gah, I miss marshmallow fluff. It's like being transported right back to childhood.

So, I just booked my flight back to school. I am actually going to Buffalo to stay with a friend before we head up to Syracuse. This is in lieu of a road trip with my parents. Honestly, after all of the traveling I have done over the past year, I am just tired of living out of a suitcase. But apparently, I hurt some feelings in deciding to go right to school.
And now, I feel awful. That was not my intention at all.

Which leads to my question of the day...where do you draw the line between being independent and doing what you want and compromising yourself for others?

Busy Busy Bee...

2010-07-12T21:07:00.005-04:00

I really don't know how in the world I became so busy all of the sudden. I think it is just one of those things, ya know, where you either have nothing going on or everything suddenly gets piled on your plate at once.(Dinner last night: grilled veggie burger, corn on the cob, and skewered broccoli, carrot, onion, and mushroom.)

You see, today officially starts Day 1 of my 1/2 marathon training plan. I am following this plan for 13 weeks. I have thrown in an extra week as I like to err on the side of caution. Luckily, Monday calls for strength + stretch so I was able to attend my normal yoga class. Problem was I could not stop my mind from wandering back to all of the things I have to do!

(Breakfast: same as yesterday only with an extra 1/2 tbsp of almond butter to keep me fuller longer.)
Today started bright and early at 7AM. I was up way to late last night working on a project (more details to come...) so I only snagged 5 hours of sleep. I took a friend to the airport and checked on her dogs who I will be babysitting for the next week. Luckily, she lives close by so it is not too much of an inconvenience. Then I rushed off to the dentist, where I received a clean bill of health. Yay for no cavities!

As a reward, I went to Drug Emporium to browse their organic section. Did you know their prices are significantly lower than Whole Foods??

I bought a bunch of new things to try including apple chips, a new (cheaper) brand of dried mango, Mary's cookies, and shotblox for when my runs require fuel.

As mentioned earlier, I have taken on a major project for the remainder of my summer. So far, I am very pleased with the results. I can't wait to share with all of you, but it will take some time as it deals with a completely new field to me. But, I know it is worthwhile.

Moving on to lunch, which did not happen until nearly 2PM. That means my morning oats lasted almost 6 hours! Gah, I cannot explain to y'all how much I love when that happens. I find it difficult to tame my hunger for extended periods of time.

(Lunch: Whole wheat wrap with hummus, salsa (made in Syracuse!!), lettuce, and carrots).

(Lunch: with a side of hard boiled eggs, only the whites, for protein.)

My thought's on Mary's cookies...well I was all excited because the serving size said 2 for 120 calories and not much fat...and then I opened the box. Look at how tiny they are! The flavor is a little wonky as well. Can't win them all I suppose.

I spent the remainder of the afternoon reading for my exercise physiology summer course. I am taking it online and there is a lot of work! I am surprised by how demanding it is. Also, I am by no means a science person, so learning the intricacies of muscle fibers is proving challenging. I think once I get the hang of the terminology I will really like it.

(Dinner: Oven roasted broccoli and carrots.)
Dinner occurred post-yoga. The class was by no means my best. I just wasn't able to concentrate and zone out like usual. Yes, that is ketchup on my grilled broccoli and carrots. Don't knock it until you try it. I think it tastes delicious.

I also wanted to mention a new bar I picked up at Whole Foods the other day. I saw Averie's post about the brand a while back so I thought I would try it out for myself.

I loved it! The bar is almost double the size of a Lara Bar and has a similar flavor profile. It is not overly sweet and had a nice chewy texture. I wish it did not cost so much, but I do understand the price somewhat because of the high quality ingredients used.

Alright, time for me to go check on my friends dogs once again and catch up with my BFF over a bottle of french wine. Not too much though, as I have 3 miles on the schedule first thing in the morning!

Have a nice night everyone!
~Jenn

Learning

2010-07-11T18:11:00.005-04:00

Life is a continuous education whether we realize it or not. We are always learning, evolving, and adapting. Everything we experience, from moving into that first apartment to living abroad fundamentally shapes us. Life throws a lot at us, and often the decisions we make are difficult. But we must have faith and take risks.
Sometimes it is hard to go out on a limb, but I believe that is where all the fruit is. (Pineapple, 1 slice Ezekiel toast, 1/2 tbsp almond butter, 1/2 banana, cinnamon)

I've started thinking about the future. The future that exists beyond college. At this point, all I have are uncertainties and unknowns.

(Banana soft-serve: 1 frozen banana, 1 tbsp almond butter, 1 tbsp cacao nibs)

On the one hand, I will have the whole world ahead of me with a degree in hand. But on the flipside, I will be unemployed and unsure of how to support myself.

(What Sheba has learned: she does not like carrots)

I believe that things happen for a reason. The 18 credits that stand between me and the real world are the buffer that I need to figure everything out.

And I will.

(1/4 cup red-pepper hummus, as many carrots as I could possibly eat)

With this in mind, I plan to continue to learn as much as possible. I want to soak up the knowledge of those around me, work hard in my exercise physiology summer course, and commit to my 1/2 marathon training. I want to progress, both mentally and physically.

(1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/2 almond butter, 1.2 cup water, 1/2 scoop chia seeds, 1/2 tbsp almond butter, 1 tbsp cacao nibs)

Learning is about so much more than memorizing facts in a classroom. It is about living life and being open to new experiences and trying new things.

(Pre-spin class green monster: 3 cups organic spinach, 1 frozen banana, 1 cup pineapple, 1 scoop Amazing Grass powder, 1 tbsp flax seed, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup water, lots of ice)

All I have are my thoughts for the future. There are a lot of tentative ideas in my head yet none have manifested into a concrete plan. And for now, that is alright.

We can only take one day at a time. I choose to learn something today.

(Chocolate vita-top with 1/2 tbsp almond butter. Microwaved for 25 seconds {from frozen}. Do it now.)

Knowledge is power.

So on a lighter note, let's see how much you know...

Do you know what color a newborn Panda is? (Googling the answer is cheating, by the way.)
I'll post the answer at the beginning of tomorrow's post.
Until then,
~Jenn

3 meals a day.

2010-07-09T21:04:00.005-04:00

I did something today that I have not done in a very long time...

called a rest day from working out??...wait that's definitely not it seeing as I did not log one workout during my last week in Strasbourg. No no...today was special because I actually cooked all three meals for myself!

I started off the day with a sweet breakfast. On my last jaunt to Whole Foods, I picked up something I have been seeing around the blogosphere for a while now, Raw Cacao Nibs. I went with oats because, well, they work with just about anything.

(1/2 cup oats, 1/2 almond milk, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 tbsp almond butter, 1/2 tbsp chia seeds, and sprinkle of cacao nibs).

I'm a fan for sure. They taste like healthy chocolate chips! :)

Mid-morning I snacked on a whole mango (it was a baby) and a kiwi.

Lunch consisted of another first for me.
I cooked lentils. Ever since the host mom made me a dish containing lentils I haven't been able to stop thinking about the little guys. I really like the texture of them and they are a great source of protein for vegetarians. (Expect to see a lot of lentils around here!)

(1/2 cup lentils, leftover grilled tofu, steamed broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. Spices: dash of garlic powder, salt, and pepper).

I spent the afternoon running fun errands. And by fun errands, I mean shopping. Clearly it was of the utmost importance that I buy a new day planner (mine ends in July for some reason) and a photo album for my travel photos which should be arriving tomorrow! Then I hit up Kroger for dinner ingredients.

Small aside: The man in front of me at the checkout like caught my eye. I am not one to judge what people purchase at the grocery store, but his selection made me very sad. It was clear that he had walked to Kroger (as he was sweating profusely) and was not well off. Yet, he purchased 10 packages of ramen that were on sale (for around .20 cents each), a package of $4 cigarettes, and a 6 pack of Heineken beer. I was struck by how much more he spent on poisoning his body rather than nurturing it. I guess the point is that I wish all people had the opportunity to learn about health and nutrition and how to properly take care of themselves.

Okay, back to dinner which was based on a recipe that I found on Cara's blog. The moment I saw her post about Zucchini Lasagna I knew I had to replicate it. (Click the link to see the recipe. I don't want to claim ownership of her genius!)

I made a couple of alterations based on what I had in the fridge and cupboard. I omitted the rosemary, used wine + regular vinegar instead of rice wine vinegar, and added spinach to the tomato sauce. I also served my portion on a bed of fresh spinach.This recipe is magic. Seriously, make it. It tastes exactly like the heavy calorie laden lasagna your grandma used to make. I ate half of the pan (the recipe is 2 servings) and I can't wait for leftovers!

Dessert was the norm tonight, but with a fresh twist. Summer berries to be exact!(Blueberry vitatop, 1 tbsp dark chocolate dreams, 1 cup strawberries and blackberries).

On the workout front, I decided to push up my 1/2 marathon training a week. That means I start Monday! Ready or not, it's happening! I'm excited to have something to work toward but I am also intimidated as hell. But I figure adding a week will give me time to adjust as necessary and redo a week if I feel as though I am not ready to move forward.

Until next time,
~Jenn

Grill Master in Training

2010-07-08T20:52:00.005-04:00

I had my alarm set for 7AM to beat the heat. I was going to run 4 miles. It was all planned out in my mind. And then it didn't happen. Instead, I rolled out of bed at the not so early hour of 9AM and made myself a staple pre-workout breakfast. (2 slices of Ezekiel sesame toast, 1 tbsp almond butter, 1 sliced banana, and a generous dash of cinnamon.)

I digested for a bit (read: watched an episode of Nurse Jackie) before throwing on my workout gear and my beast to head out for a run. Now, y'all know I live in Arkansas right? Yes, running at 10:30 was a bad idea. I made it just shy of 2.5 miles (averaging an 11 minute/mile pace) before I felt like dying. My body felt like it was on fire because of the heat. I ran slow and steady the entire time, but the weather just got the best of me.

I spent longer cooling down from the run than I actually spent running. How's that for global warming?

Lunch was created around 1PM because I could not fathom anything but water up until that point. Cool and refreshing summer salad to the rescue!

(Mixed baby greens, red pepper, 1/2 avocado, hummus, and light balsamic vinaigrette.)

I spent the afternoon doing one of the most relaxing activities I know. No, not yoga. Perusing Whole Foods (aka Whole Paycheck) scoping out new products. I ended up with some great new products to try, which I can't wait to review for the blog.

Then, something magical happened. I decided to actually cook dinner. And by cook I mean grill. For the first time ever. Because, well ya know, why not stand over an open flame while it is 90 degrees outside. Brilliant. I digress... I developed on the spot based on what I found in the fridge: Shrimp and vegetable kebabs!

I used raw broccoli, cauliflower, and red onion as for my vegetables. Alongside an entire bag of frozen shrimp and a marinade composed of 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs and a generous dose of Bragg's seasoning. Once everything was one the grill, I doused it in garlic powder to add a kick to it.

The final product was just alright. Next time, I would definitely pre-cook the vegetables a little bit to soften them up and use more butter on the shrimp so they aren't so dry. You can't win them all... The corn I served alongside was a nice way to bulk up the meal. It was also nice to be able to sit down with my parents for dinner during the weeknight. Since everyone follows their own schedule, weeknight family meals are a rarity. I guess my skillz were just no match for the TV tonight. :)

To end on a sweet note, both literally and figuratively, I had dessert. (Banana Nut Vitatop with 1/2 tbsp Dark Chocolate Dreams).

I'm off to order some Bondi Bands. I have heard nothing but great things about the company and their product and I am eager to keep the sweat out of my eyes in this summer heat!

Stay cool out there!

~Jenn

8!

2010-07-07T14:40:00.005-04:00

What comes to mind when you think of the number 8? I'm sure everyone's answer is radically different, but for me it is just one thing...pounds. That's right, dear friends and lurkers. I am here to come clean both literally and figuratively. I'm just going to put this out there...rip it off like a band aid so we can all move forward.

I gained 8 pounds in Strasbourg!
I am not proud of this, but the fact of the matter is I knew that my body was going to change while living abroad. I had almost no control over my food and had a drastic drop in exercise. Sure, there was plenty of walking. But let's be honest here, walking is not going to keep croissants, french bread, and cheese in copious amounts from adding to your waistline.

Ok, now that we are all on the same page, let's move on to how I am going to undo the damage. I believe that going back to what I know, which is a lot of greens, will help me get back to at least feeling comfortable. I want to cut down on portions to accelerate the process.

Breakfast was eaten pre work-out, so I kept it light.(Cherries, pineapple, vanilla yogurt with 1/2 tbsp Chia seeds.)Chia seeds are back in my life! Thanks in part to Averie and her coupon code :) and the excellent service of the people at iHerb, I was able to enjoy an old favorite this morning.
Did you know that chia seeds are full of soluble fiber? If you put a spoonful in a glass of water and leave it for 30 minutes the little guys will soak up the liquid. It is thought that the same process happens in your stomach. In essence, chia seeds are credited with slowing the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar because the gel they form in your stomach acts as a barrier to slow digestion. Fascinating, no?

I digress...after 45 minutes of morning cardio, I came home and plopped myself on the couch to catch up on Nurse Jackie. I love this show! Hunger struck soon after, so I whipped up breakfast #2. (1 cup fresh mango.)
I paired my fresh fruit with some divine oats. I say divine because they cooked perfectly today and were fluffy to the taste.(1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/2 scoop chia seeds).
I am definitely getting in my quota of chia seeds for the day. I also tried another new product that I picked up at the grocery store yesterday. Stevia: health conscious individual's answer to splenda!I am officially a fan. I need some sweet in my life now that my daily petit pain chocolat is no more.

I spent the next couple hours showering, chatting it up with old friends, and procrastinating summer school work (not the best start). When the tummy started rumbling, I fed it some fuel in the form of a very green monster.
I used my other purchase from iHerb in the mix. Nothing like Amazing Grass to make you feel clean! I am not a fan of the original flavor, but when I saw the price of the berry mix, I just couldn't stop myself from adding it to the cart!
I am glad I did too because my monster was so good!
(2 huge handfuls of spinach, 3 kale leaves, 1 scoop Amazing Grass, 1/2 banana, 1 cup almond milk, 1 cup ice.)

Alright, now I have to run to a job interview (not for the real world...just a summer job) and hopefully get out in time to go to a yoga class again tonight! I am so glad health and fitness are back in my life! It's like being reunited with long lost friends!!
Until next time,
~Jenn

These are a few of my favorite things

2010-07-05T18:25:00.008-04:00

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..."

Scratch that. I don't actually like cats. Unless you are talking about my BFF Cat, who I actually love.(Cat in all of her morning glory and her trashed bedroom! Clean that up!)

I much prefer dogs. Big dogs. Dogs that run to the top of the stairs when they hear you walking around first thing in the morning so they can greet you with great big kisses. (Boomer posing. He knows he's handsome.)

"Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens..."

Both will do you no good here. Grab a blender and some ice because we are back in the deep south during the height of summer.

(Reunited with green monsters and it feels so good! And mango just for good measure!)

"Brown paper packages tied up with string..."

All of these groceries were carried home in brown paper bags to my father's dismay. That is how I roll Dad. We are going green! :)

(More than a few of my favorite things. More like a schmorgesboard of happiness.)

"These are a few of my favorite things."
(Lot's of favorite things ahead. Get ready!!)

(Cut up veggies and fruit for the week for easy accessibility. Bottom to top: Cauliflower and broccoli, strawberries and blackberries, cucumber strings, red pepper strings.)

(Lunch of champions: Starbucks Hueveos Rancheros Wrap and a divine unsweetened iced coffee with soy milk.)

Snack plates have come back into my life in full force!
(Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumber, and hummus.)

Welcome home dinner. Yes, you are looking at Ratatouille. Chef Bob (my dad) made it from scratch to "ease me back into American cuisine." Good lookin' out dad.

(Ratatouille, veggie burger with ketchup and corn on the cob.)

Dessert(Chocolate Vitatop, 1 tbsp Dark Choc. Dreams PB, and fresh strawberries.)

My first day home can literally be summed up by what I ate as I was too jetlagged to do much else. Oh, but I did watch a fabulous Michael Pollan documentary on Netflix based on his book "Botany of Desire."

~~~~~~~
Today, I refocused my "knack for nutrition" w/ a little deviation. My healthy living blog has not been so healthy as of late. I don't regret a single petit pain chocolat but damn it feels good to get back into my routine!
Pre work-out breakfast.

(Coffee w/ almond milk. Slice of Ezekiel sesame bread with 1tbsp almond butter and 1/2 banana.)

Following consumption, I went to the gym and broke my first (intentional) sweat in a week. I don't think I have taken a straight week off of working out since high school. Let's just say, things got sweaty pretty fast and running felt like death. But the first workout back (especially after not so healthy eating) is always the worst, so it is all uphill from here!

I munched on a replica snack plate from yesterday before delving into some serious grooming. I mean the whole 9 yards. Straight hair, shaved legs, eyebrow waxing, and a fabulous pedicure that was beyond necessary! Buh-bye gross European feetsies!

(I have unnaturally stubby toes. They just don't grow!)

Then I was off to check out a new frozen yogurt store in Little Rock called Orange Leaf Yogurt. It is very similar to the popular yogurt stores I saw all around DC.

Alright, let me feebly attempt to decipher what went into this cup. Ice creams (as in plural):Chocolate PB swirl and cake batter. Toppings: Rainbow sprinkles, 4 teddy grahams, white chocolate chips, 2 brownie bites, blueberries, strawberries, coconut shavings, and a cherry on top!

I did not even make a dent, y'all. My mom locked my dad out of his car as I was sitting down to inhale my fro-yo (a sign perhaps!?) so I had to rush home to give my dad the other car. Crisis averted. Instead of loading up on sugar, I took advantage of the fully stocked refrigerator.
Linner

(Organic spinach, cucumber, grilled teriyaki tofu, 1 hard-boiled egg, hummus, and balsamic vinaigrette.)
I have since munched on a handful of potato chips and some hummus and spelt pretzels. I don't think my tummy likes dairy anymore, so sadly Orange Leaf will not be getting more of my business.

I am still feeling the jet-lag, so this evening is going to consist of blog-reading and a movie. I am up bright and early in the AM for an intense workout followed by my first day of summer school!

Until tomorrow,
~Jenn

Question: Does anyone else hate their toes?!

God Bless America!

2010-07-03T16:04:00.009-04:00

It is a bizarre thing to wake up in one country and go to sleep in another.(Strasbourg exactly as I wish to remember it).

The morning began bright and early at 5:30AM Strasbourg time. I didn't fall asleep until nearly 1AM, so my body is extra confused today between the lack of sleep and changing time zones. The host mom insisted we sit down for a final petit déjeuner of café and cookies. Yes, you read that right. I said I wasn't hungry and she said that I needed to eat before we left. So we split cookies. I can't wait for my detox that starts as soon as I walk in the door of my house.

I digress. So my 1st flight of the 3 I am taking today went from Strasbourg to Paris with no problems. Très bien. The Paris to my current location (which remains undisclosed for safety reasons) flight was a bit delayed because of some crappy weather in Paris.(Sesame seed bar/cracker combination. Surprisingly sweet.)
The flight was 8 hours and 30 minutes. Needless to say, I am stiff and could really go for a hot yoga class. Anyways, on the flight I sat beside a 23 year old man from Togo, Africa who was immigrating to the US to go to school in Nebraska! How cool is that?! I chatted with him for a bit in French before falling asleep.(Just juice: Pear, raspberry, and apple.)
When I awoke, I struck up a conversation with a nice old Jewish couple that were flying back that were flying back to the US after spending 2 months on the southern coast (rough life right?)(10 euro food magazine that I left on the plane. Doh!! I wanted to make a collage of the food pictures, they were stunning!)
So back to the couple. I chatted with them for the last hour of the flight because we had so much in common. We talked about my interests and how I will be graduating in December with no future plans. This led to a conversation about food and politics of course and then he started telling me about his brother who works at a non-profit food policy organization in California!! I was grinning ear to ear throughout our delightful conversation and by the end of the flight I exchanged contact information with him. You never know, maybe he will be a good contact to have in the future? :)

I went through customs and immigration in 15 minutes flat. Good karma at its finest. I was very relieved and excited to see this sign upon my arrival. All I could think was "Wow. I did it!"

Then I jumped right back into American culture the best way I know how. First stop...Feeding the man...and my tummy! That was quite possibly the best unsweetened iced coffee with soymilk I have ever had. The French need to learn an appreciation for COLD coffee in the summa time. Granted, Starbucks tastes like butt compared to authentic French café, but I look at it as a give and take. And today, I'll take cold coffee thank you.

Re-energized, I ran around the airport for a bit trying to negotiate my way onto an earlier flight. No luck. So I walked to my gate, settled in, and made myself comfortable.Check out my new baby! Gorgeous no?!? It makes me feel so classy to carry this bag! I digress...I chalked up $8 for Wi-Fi and then made myself "perfect oatmeal."
(Cranberries, raisins, and mixed nuts.)
So that was about 2 hours ago. I'm still hanging out with a little under 2 hours until I board for Little Rock. I can already tell my body is going to hate me tomorrow and that I will need a lot of sleep to recover from my sweaty, sleepless nights and a 7 hour time zone adjustment. I think my brain is a little confused already because I got the hunger pains again. Oatmeal never fails me, but I suppose today is just an exception. So I did what I do best.(Au Bon Pain Caprese sandwich: tomato, mozzarella, romaine lettuce, pesto basil spread, whole wheat baguette.)
I find it completely humorous that the only think I wanted to eat after living in France for 6 weeks was another tomato and mozzarella sandwich on a french baguette. Haha, I told y'all I need a detox.

Alright, I'm off to catch up on google reader to pass the time. Next stop...HoMe! :)

Until then,

~Jenn

Le Dernier Nuit et Jour

2010-07-02T14:48:00.009-04:00

Well, the time has come. My last blog post from Strasbourg. I am very sad to be leaving but the fact that I am typing this at 10:00 at night with beads of sweat rolling down my back makes the departure just a tad easier to handle.

Last night, the university hosted a "farewell dinner" at a fancy restaurant called L'Alsace à Table. The food, which I will get to in a minute, was lovely. But how a person is supposed to enjoy a leisurely two and a half hour meal in the corner of a restaurant with NO AIR CONDITIONING is beyond me. I legitimately had to step outside for fresh air between each course. Ok, rant over, sorry. (Chilled tomato basil soup with sweet peppers. It tasted a lot better dipped in fresh french bread.)

(The token vegetarian option. A cruel joke of steaming hot vegetables. Included were onions, green and red pepper, peas, cauliflower, green beans, eggplant, and tomato.)

For the record, I could not even finish this dish because I was sweating so bad. You know it's a serious problem when I am turning down food.

That is a fake smile. All I am thinking is 'get me the eff outta this broiler!'

(Apple tart and vanilla bean ice-cream).

Following dinner, I did what any rational 21 year old girl would do on her final night out in Strasbourg...I drank Alsatian wine while dangling my feet in the River Ile.
And then familiarized myself with "the boat bars," made some new friends from Yugoslavia, and danced the night away.
~~~~~

I awoke this morning to a familiar feeling. It was like being reunited with an old acquaintance that you did not actually miss. Yes, I had a hangover. Not my finest moment.
Solid foods were out of the question, so I commenced hydration instead. Anyone catch the hidden symbolism in my cups of choice today??

The final class was a welcomed relief, as the room had no AC and I was dying. Four hours of sleep + an unnatural body temperature makes for a very cranky Jenn.

I refused to let the heat get the best of me today. I soldiered on and sweat my way through a serious shopping binge.
Do you see what I am holding?!?!?! I am the proud new owner of my very 1st Louis Vuitton bag! I can't believe I actually bought it! I have had my eye on the bag for a while now but have held off from actually buying it because I was saving to come here. Once my debit account was hacked, I pretty much stopped spending money so my account was in better shape at the end of the trip than I had anticipated. Instead of just walking away with my profit, I decided to reward myself.

Say hello to my little friend. I am going to be the classiest un-employed college graduate you have ever seen in 6 months. I am really glad I bought it here though because now it has sentimental value. You see, every time I look at it I will be reminded of my time in Strasbourg and that is a beautiful thing.

The host mom loves the bag, BTW. Speaking of, she created quite a feast for our denier repa ensemble.

(Seafood kabobs: soft-shell crab, scallops, shrimp, and salmon, carrot slaw, and a green summer salad with tomato and avocado).

(Raspberry mousse).

Now all that is left is to make it through this sticky, humid night. I am off to the airport at 6:15AM with an estimated arrival time in Little Rock at 8:15PM. That would be 3AM Strasbourg time which means I will be traveling for just shy of 24 hours. Whew. I've got my game face on.

Warning: sappy Strasbourg conclusion ahead.

This trip has been everything I had ever imagined and so much more. Studying abroad has honestly been one of the best decisions I have ever fought for. I loved the opportunity to meet and interact with people I would have never met otherwise. Of course the host mom is really the foundation for all of this. Without her patience and willingness to take me in a treat me as if I was one of her own, I honestly do not think this experience would have been nearly as wonderful.
The adjustments were difficult, and the challenges really made me appreciate how easy life is in America. But they were all worth it. Shit happens, but rising to the occasion builds character.
I leave here a stronger person than I was just 6 short weeks ago. The confidence that comes with leaping into the unknown and finding happiness within will forever change my outlook on life.

Tomorrow, I move on. But this place, and the wonderful people here will stay with me always. Things in life happen for a reason, and every moment in Strasbourg proves that.

Next time you here from me I will either be trapped in the airport (I tend to be followed by bad airport Karma) or blogging from the comfort of my air-conditioned room. Pray for the latter!

Thank you all for following my journey over the past six-weeks. Stay tuned for the next chapter as things are about to get interesting...

Au Revoir tout le monde! Je t'aime!
~Jenn

Un-Convential Breakfasts

2010-07-01T11:56:00.004-04:00

I had quite an interesting breakfast this morning.

(Petit Pain Chocolat)

You see, the host mom brought home one of these but I just couldn't handle that much sugar at 9AM. It was not happening. Since we don't have the fixings for a Green Monster (only in my dreams at this point!) I went with the next best thing. No, you are not looking at lunch or dinner...this was actually my breakfast.(A bed of quinoa layered with pineapple tomatoes and smoked salmon.)

Although this was not the most appetizing option at that hour, I went with it. I am glad too because it kept me full long enough to get through my first class of the day and walk to a cute little restaurant called Patrick's. I had never eaten there before but I have stopped in on occasion because they are the only place within walking distance of the SU center with to go cups for coffee! Granted the cups are the size of espresso shots, but in a bind it does the trick.
(Shrimp and Avocado salad)

Following lunch, I walked around the area in search of the same farmer's market I went to on Tuesday to get my dried mango fix. No luck today, but I did manage to find a fresh fruit stand on the make-up melting (aka HOT) walk back to class.
(Cherries, a peach, and a camera shy apricot).

Not to worry, I polished off that fruit before my second class even got underway. :)

My shopping trip was once again postponed because I could not fathom walking around in the heat. Instead, I came back to the apartment, took a nice cold bath, and edited my paper.
(74% cocoa organic dark chocolate)

Now that the paper is officially out of my life it is time to celebrate! While getting ready for my night out on the town, the host mom popped by my room to show me what she has been growing all summer.
(The first strawberries off of her plant!)

She also surprised me with un cadeau (gift)!
Dior lipstick, yes please!! She is really too sweet! I will be sure to snap some pictures tonight of me rocking out in my new lip color :)

And with that it is time to live it up for the next 48 hours! I can't believe this is all going to be over soon. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in the Little Rock airport, scared beyond words for what was coming next. Moreover, this trip has been 2 years in the making, so it will be bizarre to not have anything dangling in the future anymore.

I can't dwell on that now though. I'll save those sappy thoughts for another day! Gotta run!
~Jenn

Question: Do you ever eat unconventional breakfasts? I mean something really off the wall? Today was about as far out there as I have gone, but at least it tasted good!

Un Petit Dessert

2010-06-30T14:05:00.009-04:00

Whew, I just finished writing my paper! I busted that thing out in 3 days and I could not be more relieved to have it done. Technically I still have to edit it and whatnot before Friday afternoon, but I have a draft and that is what matters.

In other news, prepare to feast your eyes on some pretty spectacular food porn. The host mom is stepping up her game here in the last week. I think she has just thrown caution to the wind...

Le diner le demain soir

(1/2 avocado in a balsamic reduction for an appetizer.)
Despite the fact that it was hot has hell in Strasbourg yesterday, the host mom deicded to use the oven. When she pulled out the main course I guess I looked a little shocked...(An entire fish.)
She asked why my mom never cooked one for me. All I could think was "it's a shame y'all didn't get to meet. If you had, you would know exactly why my mom has never gutted and cooked a whole fish." (My mom is just a little high maintenance...love you, mom!)(My plate: a green salad with spinach!, fish de mer, green beans, and potatoes.)
Apparently, the host mom has never tried potatoes and ketchup. Don't worry, I fixed that.

Dessert was just as it should be on a hot summer night.

(Farm-fresh strawberries.)(1/2 diced mango! My favorite!)

After a second sticky nights-sleep in a row, I awoke, dropped to the floor for 5 minutes of yoga stretches and prepared myself for another schweaty schweaty day.
Pour le petité dejeuner, j'ai mangeé

(1 peach, 4 strawberries, 3 slices of bread with peanut butter and raspberry jam, and 1 lone raspberry from the host mom's plant.)
Then I was off to the European Court of Human Rights to watch a real live court case! I witnessed one of the best lawyers I have ever seen deliver a profound argument about crucifixes hanging in public classrooms in Italy. He basically said that the issue being discussed was irrelevant and that the Italian government should spend its resources teaching tolerance and acceptance of all religions rather than dealing with court cases.

I was going to head straight to Le Centre-Ville to do some damage to my credit card after court, but something compelled me to go back to the apartment and work on my paper instead. I wrote another 3 pages before feasting on lunch.(An entire bag of mixed greens, tomato, feta cheese, tzatziki sauce, and carrots. Oh and some bread for good measure.)
(A mini chocolate bar goes a long way when writing a paper.)

(Snacked on some strawberries from the farmer's market during the second class of the day.)

I then sat my butt in front of the computer the entire afternoon and early evening to finish this God-forsaken paper. I made a deal with myself. I said "Self. Let's have a chat. You know this is not going to get any easier and it MUST be completed before Friday. So let's just pull ourselves out of this pity party and do the damn thing!" And then...I did it! Woohoo! 14 pages and 4250 words later I have my freedom back!!!

The host mom was oh so proud. So she fed me dinner.(A colorful spread of summer salad, salmon, beets!, white asparagus!, quinoa, spinach, and special tomatoes.)
Special tomatoes you say....These are a delicacy from what I am told. They are called des tomate ananas (pineapple tomatoes). They are slightly sweeter than the red vine ones we normally eat. That was the only real difference I tasted.
I was unprepared for dessert tonight. The host mom did not give me fair warning. May I present the Alsatian answer to ice-cream cake. That is three layers of glacé: vanilla, raspberry, and chocolate.
The ice-cream is sandwiched in between 2 layers of wafer cake and topped with whip cream.
I told y'all I was unprepared.
Needless to say, I filled up on my veggies at dinner and was only able to finish half. It's nice to have a cold treat to look forward to tomorrow as it is supposed to be another hot one!

I am off to relax and hit the hay early. I want to get up and run in the morning before class and the inevitable meltdown that will come mid-day.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a recap of whatever I decided to buy with my hard earned Euros!

Until then,
~Jenn

A Farmer's Market and a Meltdown

2010-06-29T11:25:00.007-04:00

The title of the post sums up the day just so perfectly considering the later has not ended but the former was almost glorious enough to counter it. Confused yet? Me too, a little, but you will have to excuse the ramblings today as the heat has melted my brain and possibly destroyed a little bit of the love I have for Strasbourg.

The day started out innocent enough. After an epic paper writing session (7.5 pages!) and 6 hours of rocky sleep (because it was so warm) I hopped out of bed and hit the floor for some light yoga to stretch out before rummaging through the kitchen for breakfast. (Cherries, organic yogurt with raspberry jam, 2 (!) types of bread with jam, and a kiwi {that went uneaten FYI. I wasn't feeling it})

I can practically taste my green monsters at this point. Oh how soon we shall be reunited!

Morning class was blah, but that is okay because I had the local farmer's market to look forward too! Each Tuesday, my university hosts a picnic where they give a couple of students some euros to purchase whatever strikes their fancy at the local market to feed the group for lunch.

I volunteered to help gather the fixings this week for selfish reasons. I heard from someone who went last week that there was a vendor who sold every type of dried fruit one can imagine.

Found him!! Along with dried strawberries, bananas, kiwis, coconut cubes, mango, apples, and apricots, he also had an enviable array of spices for sale.

But I refused to be distracted by his goodies (not to be confused with these goodies...) and quickly zeroed in on the dried mango and a little dried kiwi. This stuff is addicting y'all. I bought a huge bag to bring back to the states with me this weekend, but between my snacking and those pesky customs laws I am not sure that they are going to make it.

I also picked up a pint of locally grown strawberries to munch on for snacks this week! How can you turn down des fraises especially after the farmer let's you try before you buy!

Then, I did what all food obsessed bloggers do best. Wandered the market and photographed all of the beautiful, colorful (and local!) produce and all of the other things the vendor's had to offer.

(Fish stand.)

(Fruits as far as the eye can see!)

(Mini pears! These were so cute!)

(A bread vendor of course because no one in France ever seems to stray to far from a loaf. Check out the little tot watching the man cut bread. He is adorable!)

(Lettuce, lettuce everywhere!)

Once I stopped drooling over the produce, we headed back to the SU center to set up. There were lots of vegetables to be cleaned, bread to cut, and meats to lay out (not my job, clearly).

When it was all said and done, I managed to have a glorious lunch chock full of vegetables (I may or may not have bought my OWN crown of broccoli to eat alongside everything else...).

(Plate #1: broccoli, carrots, cucumber, tomato, radish, cheese (brie and some other kind), 1 slice whole wheat bread and one slice sesame seed bread).

After replenishing my fiber deficiency of the past 6 weeks in one sitting, I moved onto the lighter fare (aka dessert).

(Cherries, watermelon, and a taste of apricot and cherry tarts).

I was positively stuffed by the end of the meal. There are plenty of leftovers still at the SU center, which is great, because now I have free and healthy things to munch on between meals.

Our afternoon session was at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Visiting with a UN representative in itself was beyond cool, as I have studied the work of this agency in both high school and college. The building is adjacent to the Court of Human Rights (which we are visiting tomorrow to watch a real court case!!) and contains A LOT of windows. This is significant because the building also contains no air conditioning.

If you follow me on Twitter, then you already know what comes next. That's right, I had an absolute meltdown. It was roughly 90 degrees and sunny in Strasbourg today and I just so happen to sit with my back to that wall. That means sun was beating down on me for 2 freaking hours!!! At one point I actually considered just getting up and walking out, it was that bad. Somehow (by the grace of God I assume) the two hours passed by and I bolted.

It is currently still hot as Hades, but living on the 4th floor has the benefit of a nice breeze. I am just trying to think cool thoughts.

I'm off to try and bust out a couple more pages of this paper before passing out. The heat has wiped me. Feel free to distract me with loving comments about your meltdowns, because I know I am not the only one out there having them.

Until tomorrow,
~Jenn

PB & J Oats and a Paper

2010-06-27T13:38:00.005-04:00

Well, I am officially in the final week. This has been assured by the fact that my life is now centered around this 15 page paper that is due by 5 PM on Friday. Well that, and the fact that I ran out of almond milk today and can't decide if it is worthwhile to buy more. I have my priorities straight.

Today also marked my last Sunday in Strasbourg. I woke up around 9 and made a light breakfast before heading out for a run. The goal was to beat the heat, but I kind of just got trapped in it because I did not get up with my alarm.(An orange, a baby peach, kiwi, and 2 slices of baby bread with raspberry jam)

The run ended up going much better than I had anticipated after a Friday and Saturday of not so healthy eats. I was able to cover 5 miles in an hour and that included my walk home. My splits were as follows:
Mile 1: 10:37
Mile 2: 10:34
Mile 3. 10:41
Mile 3.1: 1:08
Mile 4: 12:38
Mile 5: 17:15 (walking home)
I had only intended on completing a 5k (3.1 miles), but I was feeling really good so after I started walking home I just decided to start jogging again. It was nice to find that 'zoned out' place for a little while. It has been challenging to do that here.

After returning a sweaty mess and completing yoga for runners, I took a nice long shower and then whipped up some lunch. The host mom was called away this weekend, so I was on my own with no leftovers to fall back on. The horror! I miss her cooking for me...it is very convenient for my lifestyle here. Anyways, I managed to whip up a pretty uninspired meal.

(Frozen meal (blech!) of brown rice and white fish, served alongside an entire raw zucchini and unpictured hummus.)
I am very much looking forward to big green salads and even bigger green monsters when I get home. I miss my clean eating!

I spent the rest of the afternoon reading and researching for my paper. I have never really struggled this much on a paper before. I am not sure what the deal is but I think it may have something to do with the fact that I don't believe in what I am writing. I gathered a hefty amount of sources (which is good) but so far have only managed to write 2 pages (not so good). At some point during the afternoon, I noshed (snacked).(Organic yogurt with jam, baby bread with PB and jam, and a kiwi).

I think I have developed a liking for the host mom's raspberry jam.

My ADD was in full effect today. I literally could not focus on this paper for the life of me. I move from the bed to the desk and back to the bed about 600 times in an attempt to focus, but it was just a no go.I did manage to stream the Germany v. England game though. All I can say is wow, way to go Allemagne! I could hear people screaming outside of my balcony every time they got a goal! It was pretty entertaining and distracting.

Sigh.

The early evening was once again, spent at the computer trying to make myself focus to no avail. However, I did read some great new blogs and made a lot of new friends on DailyMile!

Dinner was consumed without the host mom so I went with an old standby.(1/2 cup Le Rapidoats, 1 tbsp PB, 1 tbsp raspberry jam, and slivered almonds.)
Oats in front of the computer. I needed some company for dindin and luckily some fine people in my google reader popped up and made the meal lovely.

I am really disappointed I did not get this paper out of the way today. I don't want it looming over my last week in Strasbourg. The plan now is to go to bed super early, wake up even earlier to get in a short run before my class at 10 AM and then spend the rest of the day focused on getting it done.

Sorry for the dull post. It was a dull day.

Until next time,
~Jenn

P.S. I am probably not going to post tomorrow. I want to limit the distractions.

A Final Excursion.

2010-06-26T13:07:00.005-04:00

Today marked the final day trip for our group. It was a trip that I was slightly anxious about, as the agenda called for a trip to Struthof, France to visit the Natzweiler Concentration Camp.

(Monument that was constructed in memory of those who lost their lives in the camp.)

The whole visit was overwhelming. My mom's side of the family is Jewish, so stepping foot into a place where so many people of the same faith were tortured and killed because of their beliefs was very difficult.

(Barbed wire that kept prisoners inside of the camp and the Vosges Mountains in the background that (to me) symbolize freedom.)

I chose to not photograph the actual camp because it just did not seem appropriate. Between the stories we heard (from a camp survivor) and the barracks we walked through, I was left feeling flabbergasted and very emotional.

It was upon reflection that I remembered lyrics by Ben Harper that explained exactly how the camp affected me..."So much sorrow and pain, but still I will not live in vain...I am blessed to be a witness."
I believe that I was meant to see this camp and reflect on how dangerous human beings can be. The pain caused by the Nazi's during WWII is not forgotten. Yet, I choose to process what I have seen and move forward. We are so fortunate for the hand we have been dealt in our lives and today provided an opportunity for me to acknowledge that once again.

~~

Despite the somber mood of the group we moved on from the camp and headed to lunch at a restaurant nestled in the hills of the Vosges Mountains.

(The Farmhouse Inn.)
I once again chose the vegetarian option thinking it would be a lighter meal (and of course meat free) but oh my goodness was I wrong.

(Appetizer: assorted vegetable salad including cucumber, beets, carrot, tomato, and lettuce).

The first course had you fooled right? Me too. But just look at what came next. Legitimately a HUGE pan of potatoes smothered in fresh, pungent Munster cheese.

First of all, I have never eaten fresh French Munster cheese. But I quickly learned that it is strong in both smell and flavor. I honestly did not care for it beyond the first couple bites and luckily there were other offerings provided.

(On top of my Munster potatoes is a green salad with tomatoes, steamed cabbage and carrots, and a few plain potatoes.)
After consuming what felt like a lot of food, I was still left with this heaping pile of potatoes on my plate!

The meal lasted 2+ hours, so by the time dessert was offered I had managed to make a little room :) I am glad I did too because the offering was divine.

(Homemade vanilla, brandy-laced strawberry, and rhubarb ice cream.)

As a small aside I want to mention that the place we had lunch today is actually a duck farm. They are humanely raised, slaughtered, and served all on sight. It was remarkable how happy all of the ducks looked. Although I still consider myself a pescatarian, I had a piece of duck today. My reasoning behind being a pescatarian range from the politics of food in America to the inhumane and artificial way meat is produced. I felt no guilt in tasting the duck today because I believe they are treated with respect and valued by the farmers, chefs, and diners.
If you were wondering, it was delicious.

We hiked for roughly an hour following lunch. This was beyond necessary as we were all so full. I was not expecting the walk to be nearly as breathtaking as it turned out to be.

I quickly fell behind the chatty group and reflected on the day in silence all while taking in the gorgeous scenery.

The last stop of the day was an old Catholic Monastery called The Mont Saint-Odile that sits atop a large mountain.

It has sprawling views of the Rhine River Valley. If you can picture the scene without haze, Strasbourg is located straight ahead and the Black Forest is just beyond that. Moreover, to the left of the photo is the border between Germany and France.

Not a bad view to end the day with.

In all it was an interesting and emotional day.

The more group activities and day trips I take here, the more grateful I become for the great group of people I was placed with in D.C. and my family and friends at home.
I don't really mesh well with this group, so I find that I spend a lot of the time thinking.
This is not a bad thing, but it will be nice to be around some familiar faces in 7 days. :)

Tomorrows agenda calls for a short morning run followed by me camping out in a local café until I make some serious headway in this research paper.

Love you all!
~Jenn

Mes parents à Strasbourg

2010-06-25T14:46:00.006-04:00

Today was a class free Friday pour moi! Woohoo! I didn't ditch for just any old reason though...my parents came to see me!! It was like a breathe of fresh air to see some familiar faces in a foreign country and hang out with people outside of those I attend class with.

We started the day around 9AM with a quick tour of my apartment. I was super antsy for them to get here so I woke up around 7:30 and passed the time with un peu de morning yoga. I did not follow any formal practice, but instead just put on some happy tunes and stretched out.

Once the parentals and I were reunited, we headed out to take a walking tour of the city and catch up. We walked past the European Parliament, Le Parc de L'Orangarie, the SU center, and all the way into the center of town before it was time to stop for a light lunch.We ended up at a bakery/sandwich shop that I know well. They offer a variety of foods from sandwiches and quiche to pretzels and chocolate croissants. My host mom introduced me to them by purchasing some of their healthy breads to keep around the apartment.

I ordered a tomato, mozzarella, and pesto sandwich while my mom noshed on some chocolate concoction. (She is in vacation mode!) The sandwich was beyond fresh and left me completely satisfied.

After a lot of walking (my parents are some serious power walkers!) and taking in the sights of Strasbourg, we opted to check out a cookie store I have walked passed a million times but never entered. It was probably best I never stepped foot in here until now. I shall let the picture explain why.Yes, those are mountains of fresh cookies. I actually ended up purchasing a chocolate one for myself and it was light, flaky, and divine. Not overly sweet or moist either, which is always a plus in my book.

Needless to say, my mom was in heaven. She has quite the sweet tooth and was waiting for this vacation to sample all of the treats that this region of the world has to offer.

She picked up a bag of goodies for herself and then graciously bought a couple of cookies as a thank you present for my host mom!

After more walking and mandatory tourist photoswe headed for the boat tour! The boat goes around the entire River Ile so it serves as a great way to learn fun facts and interesting history about all of the buildings around Strasbourg.(resting my aching feet on the boat!)
It covered about 3/4 of the places I had already shown my parents on foot, only this time they were able to learn the history behind everything. We were hot and tired by the time the tour ended, so we opted to head back to my apartment and unwind for a little while.

Unfortunately, my host mom was called away this weekend at the last minute. Yet she still made sure to make my parents feel welcome by purchasing a bottle of champagne and snacks for their arrival. Last night she showed me (so cute) how to lay everything out for them, so today I did my best presentation in her absence.(Bredzels, dried apples, and Olive cheese chips)
I know they would have both really enjoyed meeting one another and I really wish it had been able to happen, but alas, it was just meant to be.We did a little toast in her honor and sincerely enjoyed the refreshments.

Before I knew it, my parents had to head back to their boat to continue on down the Rhine. It was a really great day and I am so glad that they were able to visit me here. This was a really special day for me (and I am sure for them as well). Saying goodbye was sad, but not overly so because I will be home in just 8 days! Goodness that is hard to believe!

I am heading to bed early tonight, as tomorrow I am off early to go see a real concentration camp. I am filled with nervous anticipation for the day.

Until tomorrow,
~Jenn

A nice little Wednesday evening

2010-06-24T13:01:00.004-04:00

So I finally broke my streak ventured out of the apartment on a weeknight. Really stepping up my game here in the 5th week, I know. What did I give up my plush bed, Franglish (french + english= franglish) conversations with the host mom, and high-speed internet for? The World Cup of course! But did I watch the USA game and all of its epic glory? Nope :) I went to watch Germany take down Ghana with my new German friend.

Fact: Watching the World Cup with Europeans is so much more intense than watching it with Americans.

Anyways, I texted the host mom to see if she would feed me earlier and luckily she agreed. Worth mentioning: I double triple checked my text message before sending it so I legit spent 15 minutes writing a text message in French only to have her walk in the door 5 minutes later. Also worth noting: I will miss her cooking for me once I go back to the states :(

Last nights dinner was a nice little mélange. (Tuna in {gasp!} oil, with basil {?}, and tomatoes)

(Summer salad of greens w/ olive oil dressing, cinnamon bread {YUM}, ratatouille, and carrot salad)

(Fresh mango in the summertime. Is there anything better?)

(Yes, when fresh mango is paired with fresh pineapple.)

That officially concludes the healthy part of the evening. After walking a solid mile to the bar to meet up with the crew, I realized their host families are not as baller as mine...so we ended up sitting down at a restaurant to watch the game so they could order dinner.

Fine by me because as luck would have it, the place we sat down at had a huge beer list to choose from. Lovely. I chose an Austrian brew called Edelweiss. It was a little on the heavy side, but I definitely drank two over the course of the night.

Needless to say, we had a really great time. We watched the game at an outside table since it was such a nice evening out.

It got pretty intense at some points, but Germany was able to pull through. Good thing, because I am pretty sure I would have needed to sedate my German friend had they lost. The night ended there and I walked home. I am noting this because I want y'all to see how creepy my street looks at night.

Yea, I keep mace in my hand. This shot scares the bejesus out of me.

Quick change of subject. Ready...go:

My parents are coming tomorrow and I can't wait! I took the day off of class (with permission) so I can hang with them and do all of the touristy things around Strasbourg I have not done yet. Saturday should be interesting to say the least. The university is taking us all on a day trip to the Struthof concentration camp. I am not excited by any means, but I believe it is something I need to see.

Until then, I need to put some serious time into the research aspect of my paper. The deadline is creeping and I have not done anything.

Catch y'all later!
~Jenn

(*I just read over this and really how spazzy I come off. There are just so many random things on my mind I can't help it! So I am posting it as is!)

Schmorgasboard alert

2010-06-23T06:47:00.005-04:00

Lately, I feel all over the place. I am antsy to get things accomplished and to feel productive, yet most of the time I get so caught up in whatever it is that I am doing, I don't accomplish what I had actually wanted to do during the day. Does this make sense to anyone? It is a weird feeling because I am living in Strasbourg. Here, specifically. (My humble abode)
It is almost like I am supposed to just go with the flow (which I do), but I miss my routine. But this is the second time I am trying to write this post and not get distracted. Sometimes my thoughts are just so jumbled!

Anyways, I think a lot of this stems from the fact that I am not keeping up with my workouts. Sure, I do yoga and run every now and again, but this is nothing in comparison to the workouts I do at home.(Whole wheat nut bread with peanut butter and banana, tangerine, coffee)

This is no ones fault but my own. I am the only one who controls my level of fitness, obviously. I find myself coming up with a host of excuses, from sheer laziness to promising myself I will do something active later, but I never actually do it.

(Picnic lunch at the SU center).

(Farmer's market strawberries and cherries).

(Vegetable Plate: Red and green peppers, cucumber, snap peas, red onion, onion tart, and cheese).
All of the rich food I have been eating lately (well, since moving here really) has left me feeling sluggish. The mental justification behind this is somewhere along the lines of "well I am only here for 6 weeks so I may as well enjoy it!" which I do. I am trying to not have negative self talk but it is getting harder every day.(Ratatouille and a summer salad)
There are just 10 days left until I fly back to America. I know I will fall back into my old habits and that life will go on. I don't really know where I am trying to go with this. This has turned into more of a stream of consciousness/ pity-party than I had originally intended.
(Matching bags of cherries that my host mom and I both purchased yesterday!)
But that is life. Not every day is a good day. You have to take the good with the bad sometimes. Acknowledging these emotions is a good thing, I am sure of it. It is a starting point and a way to move forward.(Today's lunch: Leftover ratatouille, summer salad with hummus, and a slice of whole wheat nut bread).
My parents arrive in Strasbourg for the day on Friday. They have been traveling down the Rhine on a cruise. It will be wonderful to see them! They always put things into perspective for me.

Until then, I will continue to take things as they come and try not to stress about the little things.(Moi, in front of the European Parliament)
After all, this period in my life is full of once and a lifetime opportunities, and I refuse to let a little bit of self doubt ruin that!
Until next time,
~Jenn

Remember When?

2010-06-22T04:50:00.005-04:00

Remember when graduation and the summer before college were filled with anxiety and nervous anticipation?(A summer salad of mixed lettuce, quinoa, tomato, carrot, and a dressing of watered down hummus. Served alongside a fresh roll of bread)

Remember when you spent that first night in the dorm? The feeling of being alone was so gripping and absolutely overpowering you wondered what exactly compelled you to move across the country without knowing a soul.

Remember when you made that first college friend and in a moment of clarity, realized it was going to be okay?(Post yoga snack: slice of nut bread, carrots, and hummus)

Remember when the need for a plan became overwhelming? The decisions about living abroad, your major, and graduation were always in the back of your mind.

Remember when you first applied to live abroad in France and someone actually gave you a scholarship to attend?

Remember when you had to turn it down because it just was not the right time?

(Dinner: 2 egg omelet alongside a summer salad with tomatoes and a light olive dressing.)

Remember when you decided to spend a semester in D.C. and once again apply to live abroad? The workload of fall semester coupled with all of the applications seemed never ending. Yet, you somehow managed to balance it all while having a great fall semester with friends.Remember when you realized the semester in D.C. was about so much more than just an internship? You were living, really living, without regrets or hesitation.

(Dinner roll)

Remember when adjusting became just a little bit easier?Remember when you sprinted for that flight to Paris only to be struck with an immediate fear that filled your entire body? You did not turn back.(Dessert: White french bread with raspberry jam and nutella.)

Remember when you landed in Strasbourg, without luggage or means of communication, yet you made it work?Remember when you realized it will all be over soon and the weight of the real world will come back with vengeance?Remember, although you do not know what comes next, life has a funny way of working itself out. Everything will be okay, because you believe it will. The road ahead is full of unknowns, yet it is the not knowing which makes life worth living.

A Gray Day in Switzerland

2010-06-20T17:30:00.008-04:00

In this episode...I went to Basel, Switzerland.

The highlight of this day was the free lunch. Seriously. Switzerland was boring. I would have much preferred having another long weekend to be able to explore a new city. It's cool though because now I can at least say I have been to Switzerland! And I love that!

The first stop on our "tour" was to take in the views of the Dreilandereck, which is the meeting point of France, Germany, and Switzerland.Germany is to the left of me in the photo while France is to the right. The Rhine River, which I am so conveniently blocking, separates the two.

Here we have the view from the top of the Basel Cathedral. The structure itself looks eerily similar to the Strasbourg Cathedral. Myself and two other girls in the group were actually able to climb the winding stairwells to the very top and take in the view. It was kind of a "right place, right time" kind of thing, so I was lucky that I was able to go. We went up to the very top point that you can see in the photo.I think the weather kind of mimics my feelings on the whole day...just kind of blah. But the photographs turned out great. If you look beyond the roof you can see the Rhine.

Our guide also took us on a walking tour of the Botanical Greenhouse Gardens next to the University of Basel.
I imagine the sign says something along those lines. :) The official language of the region is a mix of German, French, and a unique Swiss dialect. Needless to say, I could not interpret the sign. I liked it there, mostly because they had functioning gardens growing lettuce! Nom, nom, nom...

Speaking of food, let's review the highlight of the day...Lunch at Manger Boire (translates as: to eat, to drink).
Upon entering, I was greeted with a highly amusing sign. Foreshadowing of a good meal, perhaps?
We began with a chilled cucumber pureé. I attempted to decipher the ingredients and so far as I can tell there was definitely a hint of dill. I believe they used a milk base as well. It had a light texture but a very heavy taste.
The main course was the vegetarian option of the day. It was a vegetable tart served with a side of roasted vegetable in a light cream sauce. I really enjoyed the variety of vegetables we were served. The tart included everything from beets and carrots to spinach. The side melangé included both white and green asparagus and eggplant.

Also, brownie points for the presentation of the dish. The meat-eaters of the group enjoyed a beefed-up lasagna. Pun intended.

Dessert was a strawberry and rhubarb mousse alongside candied rhubarb and fresh strawberries. It was a delicate balance of sweet and tart.

After lunch, our group was led to a "cutting-edge contemporary art museum" called Museum Fur Gegenwartskunst. Now I have never been to a modern art museum so I remained open-minded throughout. I waited to form my opinions until after I had read about the artist and his background. Honestly, I see where he was trying to come from with his presentation, but I felt as if the whole thing felt a little flat. His symbolism was masked too heavily in bizarre contraptions that left me feeling confused and unmotivated to delve deeper into thought about the exhibit.

That concludes the extent of my day in Basel. I was tired and hungry when I returned home. Luckily, my host mom once again managed to cook a colorful feast.(Yes, my french dictionary is attached to my side at dinner. We have to communicate somehow.)My plate included a generous serving of broccoli, quinoa, fish (I asked my host mom what kind and she responded "from the sea!") topped with a tomato and onion pureé. I also nibbled on a piece of melon before I realized that my host mom made dessert.Bam. A brightly colored mousse cake type thing that resembles my lunch dessert. Of course, I could not mention that to the host mom, so I ate it and smiled. It was topped with a fresh jam that she made by grinding up strawberries and raspberries.

After digesting, I took the time to honor my body, which I have not done in a while. I completed an hour of seriously relaxing yoga. I was able to completely clear my mind and was left feeling relaxed and sleepy afterwords. I then dozed off for the most restful 9 hours of sleep I have had in a while.

It was quite the busy weekend! Now I need to get back in school mode and bust out this 15 page paper that is due in less than 2 weeks! Eek!

Until next time,
~Jenn

Happy Cows: A day in the Black Forest of Germany

2010-06-19T15:13:00.013-04:00

Today, one of my oldest friends got married. This is the first one of my close high school friends to tie the knot. The whole thing seems kind of surreal to me (and so I can only imagine what she was thinking!), but I was very sad I could not be in Arkansas to celebrate with her today. I wish her and her new hubby all the best though!

It is amazing how different our lives become after high school. While one friend is off getting married the other (me!) was following a completely different life path into the Black Forest of Germany.

The day began like any other with a cup o' joe in my J'adore Strasbourg mug. But after a restless night's sleep an extra caffeine jolt was necessary during the car ride into the Fôret Noir.

The drive was beautiful and since the weather was less than stellar (read: steady downpour) the mountains surrounding us were covered in fog and low hanging clouds. (A traditional Black Forest home with architecture that reflects the amount of snow the region receives each year.)
Our first stop was a visit to Germany's highest waterfalls in the city of Triberg. The specific falls we saw are called the "water's of the Gutach Plunge," and boast over 7 different cascades! We did not hike all the way to the top because it was literally pouring down rain and our feetsies were getting wet (and cold).

We browsed the shops for a while and kept ourselves entertained with the cuckoo clocks that are sold everywhere! Seriously, it is like a thing in the Baden region of Germany to sell cuckoo clocks.

Lunch came after an hour drive further into the forest. This time we stopped in Titisee, Germany, which according to my lovely German friend, is a huge tourist spot. One of my friends was craving pizza, so pizza it was! But first, I had to sneak in a plate of greens of course.

I ordered the vegetarian pizza (well, actually my German friend did all of the ordering, I merely pointed and nodded.)

It came out with less veggies than I had hoped, but I was a hungry girl, so I ate most of it. A point worth noting is the white chunks. I was a little confused as to what vegetable they were...turns out it was white asparagus! Along with eggplant, zucchini, and red peppers, this was definitely one of the more creative vegetable pizzas I have tasted.

With full belly's, we made our way toward the big tourist attraction. Obviously, my food blogger/ADD kicked in at this point and we made a detour into the "local" (read: touristy) shops along the way.

(This is how you know it is a touristy spot. The sign with the American flag on it reads "snacks!" Funny that is the only sign with an American flag on it...hmm)

Once inside, I found the largest loaf of bread I have ever seen in my life!

Followed by mountainous piles of cured meats. (Germany is not the easiest country to be a vegetarian in.)
From there, we made our way to Lake Titisee. It even stopped raining! :) We walked around the area for quite a while and froze our behinds off, which after talking with friends from home, makes me grateful for the cold spell cast over Europe this weekend. Apparently temperatures in Arkansas are in excess of 100 degrees! I digress...I mentioned the cold weather as a transition to our next stop... a local coffee shop for some warm beverages and local desserts!
With a gloriously warm cup of coffee in hand (yes, that makes my 3rd of the day if you are keeping track!) it was time to get down to business and study the menu.If there is one thing this region is known for it is Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte aka Black Forest cake!
Here is a whole cake in all of its sugary glory.
More importantly, here is the piece we ordered to share with one another. Between the rum soaked cherries, the light chocolate cake, and the whipped cream frosting, there really is nothing bad to say about this dessert. I totally understand why it is one of the things you "must try" when in this part of Germany.

Oh, I suppose I should also mention we ordered a piece of apple cake to share as well. It had huge chunks of perfectly sweetened apple throughout. Needless to say, I preferred this one to the Black Forest cake and ate a good portion of it.

After dessert and a riveting discussion about American television (specifically Lost!), we jumped back in the car and headed to our final excursion of the day. This time we ended up in a town called Schwartzwaldbahn to explore the Schwartzwalder Freilicht Museum.

The museum is an outdoor walking tour of old homes and farmstead's that have been preserved since the 1600's. The various homes are meant to depict how people in the Black Forest lived "in the days of yesteryear"-took that quote right from the pamphlet!(A bread making fire pit.)
(Refrigeration system: cold water is pumped up from the ground and goes underneath the shed holding the food you want to keep cold.) This makes perfect sense to me!

(Stove top that makes me oh so glad for modern amenities.)

There are functional gardens all over the museum. My favorite find of the day was definitely the oat grain plants!)

Also worth mentioning...This museum also happens to be the site of a very famous bakery known all around the world for creating the largest Black Forest cake ever in 1992! (Sorry the picture is fuzzy!)

One last thing before I leave you all for the evening. I just wanted to tell you how many happy cows I saw today in Germany. By happy, I mean they were hanging out on big plots of open pasture grazing at their leisure as cows should. A stark contrast from the way cows are raised in America. Just something to think about.

I am off to Basel, Switzerland in the morning, so check back in for a recap tomorrow evening or Monday at the latest!

Your favorite cow loving bloggy,

~Jenn

Greek in Germany!

2010-06-18T17:28:00.004-04:00

Bonne soir tout le monde!

It's Friday! which also means it is the end of my 4th week here in Strasbourg. My how time flies...I will be home before I even have time to take in all of this incredible experience. The first week of the Human Rights course has been very interesting. No one seems to agree on much in the class, whether it be regarding "banning the burka," or "the gypsy roma problem across Europe." The classes are draining mentally, so I find that going on a run after class really helps clear my head. Today, I did 2.41 miles in 25:25. :)

Tonight, I was invited out by the same grad students who made the end of my Paris trip so wonderful! One of the girls is actually from Germany, so when they suggested we cross the Rhine River and go to Kehl for dinner I was so excited!

The town as a whole looks relatively new compared to Strasbourg. We think it is because of where Kehl is situated. If you know anything of the long and complicated battle between France and Germany over the territory surrounding Strasbourg, than the modern buildings should come as no surprise. I am fairly certain that at some point throughout history the town was probably bombed to the extent that the buildings needed to be reconstructed.

(I am holding up a "1" sign because this was the "only" pretty place we found in Kehl.) It is nice though right?! :)

So, as for the motivation behind this spur of the moment jaunt across the border...Food bien sûr!

We dined at a quaint Greek restaurant called...well, whatever that menu says!

I relied completely on my friend to order for me, I am not going to lie! It's kind of cool to be that far out of your element though! I ordered #50 which says something along the lines of greek salad.

Oh, and you know I had to try the local beer! It was a little too sweet for my taste, but decent enough for the moment. By the way, do you see the size of that glass?! Only 3 euros! Things are so much cheaper in Germany than France!

I also ordered an appetizer of Taziki sauce, mostly because there was no hummus to be found (don't worry, I even had my friend ask the waiter for it in German!)

My "salad" ended up being an authentic greek salad, which means doused in oil and served with huge chunks of feta cheese. It was a little to heavy for me, so I only ate about half. Luckily, I had fabulous dinner companions, so the less than stellar meal was quickly forgotten.

At least now I can say I went to a different country for dinner right?!? Haha too cool!

I'm off to bed! Tomorrow the grad students and I are taking a day trip to the Black Forest! I can't wait!!

Until Tomorrow,
~Jenn

Chocolat Chocolat!

2010-06-17T14:59:00.009-04:00

Bonjour tout le monde!!
I have had a chocolate filled day to say the least. Thank goodness I started the day off right with a 3.67 mile run in 41:00 minutes. Not fast by any means, but what can one really expect when the food is taking priority over the fitness? Anyways, before I went on my run through Le Parc de L'Orangarie (click to see some beautiful pictures of the park), I ate a light petite déjeuner of cherries, pineapple, yogurt, and coffee.After a relaxing session of Yoga for Runners, a shower, and watching a film for my class on the gypsy's in Hungary (can you say random?!), I once again found myself hungry. We had no class today, so I met up with a friend to try out a recommended café from a girl who knows good food. Danielle suggested I try Bistro et Chocolat for some healthy grub at a reasonable price.I ordered their Plat du Jour, which just so happened to be a vegetarian quiche with a refreshing side salad tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. The quiche was cooked to perfection. The chef used cheese sparingly and created a light, flaky dough. It was nice to not feel like I had eaten a pile of grease, but rather a healthy spin on an old favorite. My dining companion wanted to try something off of their extensive dessert menu, but I opted out, knowing what the rest of the day had in store. Instead I ordered the Parfum des Îles, which was a combination of vanilla and rooibos.It was perfectly mild and left me feeling refreshed (not jittery as the coffee usually does). After lunch, we procrastinated the afternoon away by exploring more of the Cathedralé.It took a month, but I finally took a stroll through the inside! Oh my gosh, I have been missing out. The architecture is unreal and they even have an astronomical clock that has been refurbished. It is a very peaceful atmosphere, and even though I am not religious, I think I want to try to go to a mass service before I leave. I feel like it would be a nice experience.

Speaking of experiences, let's just talk about my afternoon for a second. The SU center organized a chocolate tasting at a local pâtisserie here in Strasbourg. More specifically, with one of the most respected and coveted chocolatiers in town, Christophé of Pâtisserie Christian.

The man himself!

Talk about passion. The way he described how he made his chocolates and the care he places in ordering cocoa beans is admirable. He works directly with farmers around the world to create fair trade chocolate bars and pralines(the chocolate squares you see pictured). He compared tasting chocolates to wine tastings, which I had never really thought about before, but the analogy actually makes a lot of sense. He told us to roll the chocolate around on our tongues to capture each of the different flavors all while breathing in as to use multiple senses to attain the most enjoyable experience.He graciously educated the group on each element that goes into creating a truly unique chocolate. We tasted raw cocoa beans (which was a first for me!)...
...and then some candied cocoa beans (which they serve alongside each drink you order in the café).
We examined the larger cocoa plant from which the beans are extracted before diving into the mountains of chocolate that were staring us in the face throughout his description of the process.
In all, we sampled 4 different types of chocolate bars that contained cocoa beans from New Guinea, Bolivia, Trinidad, and Ecuador. As we sampled, he explained what our taste buds were sensing, which ranged from bitter to acidic, to smooth and rich. From there, Christophé explained each of the praline chocolates before letting us have samples.
My personal favorites were the ones one the very far right (Ghanan cocoa beans with chestnut honey and nuts from Cyprus)...and the second from the left......which was a cinnamon flavored chocolate (equal parts milk and dark) with a hint of sea salt. I found that the salt really brought out the sweetness of the chocolate. By the time we had sampled them all (and we cut each one in half!), I was in a chocolate food coma. It was a very unique experience and one of the cooler things I have ever done! I think I will definitely be more aware of the chocolate I eat after this!

After a leisurely walk home (which I desperately needed), I came home to find dinner on the table. I was not hungry by any means, which my host mom knew, but she cooked up a feast nonetheless. On tap for tonight...Mussels (ou des moules) fresh from la mér!
There were mountains of other food of course, but they went unpictured tonight. Highlights include a light spinach salad (my favorite!!)

Ok this post has been long enough and it is high time for me to actually go comatose and sleep off all the chocolate!!

Plans for this weekend include a trip to the Black Forest and a day trip to Basil, Switzerland!

Until next time,
~Jenn

Food.

2010-06-16T14:36:00.005-04:00

Catchy title, huh?

We need to catch up on the food front I think. There have been a lot of posts about travel and life lately, and none about just food. I am here to ameliorate that. Therefore I invite you all to ohh and ahh over my and my host mom's (mostly my host mom, which for my fingers' sake will be referred to as HM in this post) creations over the past few days. We begin with a summer salad, tabouli with fresh vegetables (tomatoes and onion from what I can decipher) and a tofu vegetable stir fry (red peppers, mushroom, onion).

A light dessert of strawberries and bananas with homemade whipped cream on top! My HM actually poured milk and a couple of cubes of ice (which she has never told me she has!!!) and blended away in the Arkansas Razorback cup I bought her as a housewarming gift.

At some point since returning from Paris, I ventured over to the Jewish grocery store to replenish my hummus supply. They were out (not cool.) so I picked up these wafer bars instead. Kosher and 100 calories each....these will not last long.

Hot mug of coffee with soy milk, which, by the way, gets extra frothy when you put it in before the coffee pours into your cup.

Served alongside a classic bowl of oats. Nothing y'all haven't seen a thousand times before. They are just soo good every time!

Meals on the run (aka eaten at school) include a petite hummus and lettuce sandwich. I had ulterior motives making this though...

My motive= the hummus container. I finished it off with the sandwich and made my own to-go container because I am to cheap to buy one here! The picture is of leftover tofu and tabouli. I think I like it better cold. This seriously hit the spot yesterday and kept me full for a solid amount of time.

Dinner last night was eaten solo because my HM had a prior engagement. I told her she could take the night off from cooking but she insisted. Here is what I found waiting for me in the kitchen. Mind you, this is a meal for one person.
Yes, that is a lot of food! It was mostly leftovers, which I have been working through for days, but it also included a gorgeous tomato, mozzarella, and basil salad, and that white thing. I was beyond confused as to what this was. Let's take a closer look...
I was scared, y'all. It is just so white. So I did what any normal person would do...I broke out the white french bread to taste!
Turns out it was eggs! Who knew?!? HM is crazy! Those eggs were covered in what I assume is half and half (or any other type of really thick milk you can imagine.) I could not force that down. At least I had the tabouli salad in the background for a back-up meal. Good thinking HM. Provide 2 meals in case I don't like one. Y'all see why I like her now?!

Alright. Onto today's eats. I started with a fresh fruit plate and a greek yogurt/oatmeal combo for dippage.

Lunch was another infamously mediocre SU picnic. I am not sure who decided this constitutes a meal, but whateves.
I snagged a plate of fruit (melon and strawberries) alongside 2 small slices of bread, a nibble of cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, and radishes. I attempted to make a sandwich out of this but it was an epic fail.

Dinner tonight included my HM's company. We talked politics and about her work at a children's rehabilitation center. She does really wonderful work. I assume my french is progressing quite nicely since I was able to carry on this conversation without getting too confused. Anyways, the food.
A summer salad, a lentil concoction that smelled divine (I think there was garlic in the mix), more radishes (!), and smoked salmon. I added leftover tabouli to the plate after this picture, but I think y'all have seen enough of that for one post.

Whew. So there you have it. All caught up! I managed to do an hour of yoga today so I am feeling nice and flexible for my scheduled run in the morning. 3 miles or bust! Gotta counter the food intake somehow!
Catch ya on the flipside!
~Jenn
.

..Et Le Deuxime Jour

2010-06-15T08:33:00.007-04:00

Hello Lovely Friends!
I hope this Tuesday finds you all well. I want to finish my recap of the weekend in Paris so I can resume normal posting. My host mom created an interesting dinner tonight. Let's just say I had to poke around a bit to figure out what it was...

So we left off with me collapsing into bed around 2AM. I did not sleep well, as one of my dear roommates had a little snoring issue, so the morning called for an immediate caffeine fix. Oh...and petite croissants bien sûr :) The group I traveled with decided to start out the day with a multi-course, bread laden breakfast. I opted out, and instead order the croissants pictured above and a beautiful vegetarian omelet.(Egg omelet with tomatoes, green peppers, and green beans!)

With a full tummy, we headed all the way across town because one of the girls that I traveled with was dying to see the Moulin Rouge. Personally, I would have preferred the Panthéon, but I decided to just go with the flow.The actual Moulin Rouge itself was quite underwhelming. It is very small and looks nothing like the movie. There was also no Ewan McGregor to serenade me, so obviously I was disappointed. Moreover, the streets surrounding the area are lined with sex shops. The whole scene made me kind of uncomfortable to be honest with you.Apart from this guy outside of the Erotic Museum, I was not amused. Luckily, a short time later we fled the area and headed to something more appropriate and actually worthy of my time...Le Sacré Coeur!The church is magnificent. They ask that you not take photos inside, but the architecture and painting styles are beautiful. I know a lot of people go there for religious reasons, but I was happy to just reflect on what an amazing church it is. But in order to get to the actual building, one must first climb A LOT of stairs.I do not know how many their actually were, but I do know that I broke a sweat by the time I reached the top. I guess I am not the first person to do that because check out what was just waiting for me upon arrival!Ice cold gelato! To make up for the obvious calorie-deficit I had created, hehe, I ordered myself a cone!I combined two flavors: Nutella and Mint Chocolate Chip! It was not the best gelato I have ever had (the organic gelato shop by the Cathedral in Strasbourg is still #!), but it was refreshing!

From the Sacré Coeur, the group and I headed to the Notre Damé Cathedral.I really wanted to scope out the gargoyles and hidden statues of Esmeralda and Quasimodo at the top of the towers, but the group was not having it. Side note: This trip made me realize how important a good travel companion is. They can make or break a trip. I wanted to go off by myself and explore some of the time because we all had different agendas, but because some people felt uncomfortable navigating the metro by themselves (i.e. wanted me and one other girl to do it for them) they insisted the group not split up.I digress...I did not get to the top of the towers but instead walked around inside for a while, watched part of a baptism, and marveled at the stained-glass windows and high ceilings. Quite spectacular, no?

From there, I took control of the situation and broke with the group despite their wishes. I was only in Paris for 48 hours, so I was determined to see what I had come there to see. Turned out to be a good call, because L'hôtel de Ville is just as grand as I had anticipated.

The literal English translation of L'hôtel de Ville is "city hall," but these days it (or at least the part I saw) is used as an exhibition hall. I moseyed around a free Amnesty International exhibit showcasing human rights atrocities around the world. It was very poignant and fitting, as the course I take over the next 3 weeks is entitled "Human Rights in Europe."

After a long walk back to the hotel, a quick shower, and some deep breathes it was time for dinner. (Une saladé de crevettes with avocado, tomato, and grapefruit.)
We actually met up with some of the graduate students in our program who also traveled to Paris for the weekend. It was refreshing to talk with people I actually have things in common with and the dinner ended up being an absolutely lovely time.(Une tarté pomme)
We all had so much to talk about that myself and one other girl ended up sticking with the grad students the rest of the evening instead of going out to bars around Paris with our group. Can you say "good call?!" because the night turned out to be great!We went back to the Eiffel Tower to see if we could catch the end of the World Cup game they were broadcasting on a large screen in the park. We missed it, but did manage to snag a great picture of the group! We all walked around chatting for about an hour and then sat down for some water at a café. Um...my water order magically turned into this.(Nutella Crêpe)
What can I say? Just that I don't even regret ordering my 3rd (!) dessert of the day for a moment. With great conversation and company all around, it was (literally) icing on the crêpe! :) A perfect way to end my weekend.

Before I knew it, it was Sunday morning and time to catch the train back to Strasbourg. I purchased a disgusting vegetarian quiche from a store in the train station before boarding.Good thing there is a petite pain chocolate hiding out in the background or I may have gone hungry! The horror! The train ride went by in a blur as I was completely engrossed in my newest purchase. Benjamin Button in French! It's getting good!

Whew, it was an exhausting weekend in all, but I am glad I went. I made some new friends and got to see an absolutely gorgeous city!

Normal posting will resume tomorrow with some special pictures of my host mom's latest creations!

Until next time,

~Jenn

An American Girl in Paris! (Day 1)

2010-06-14T05:50:00.010-04:00

I totally jacked the title from the Sex and the City episode, but it just fit so nicely :). I am back from a packed weekend in Paris! Ready, set, recap!

I awoke at the butt crack of dawn on Friday morning in order to catch a 7:15AM TGV (the really fast train!) to Paris. Upon arrival a mere two and a half hours later, my group and I headed to our hotel to drop our bags so that we could conquer the sights. My room was a triple.

Cute right? It was small, but I am on a budget, and a tight one at that, so it did the trick. Honestly, I was just glad to not be staying in a hostel. Anyways, We grabbed some food down the block for lunch and then headed for the Arc de Triomphe.

(Green salad with tomatoes, corn, carrots and cucumbers. Served alongside white bread and honey mustard dressing.) It is a pretty impressive how people merge into the traffic circle surrounding the Arc. There are no traffic lanes, so they just kind of shove themselves in whenever they think there is an open space. After going through the underground tunnel (which is how tourists avoid the traffic circle), I took a bunch of pictures of the beautiful engravings and then headed up the Avenue de Champs Elysées to look at stores that were beyond expensive. Like this one, for instance! It is called "Courir" (which translates into "to run" in English!) and everything is way overpriced. But I love the name! I also browsed a familiar brand while the guys in our group grabbed some food. At this point, I broke from the group to tour one of the main items on my master list... Napoleon's tomb at L'hôtel National des Invalides. It is quite impressive. For such a little man, that sure seems like a whole lot of resting space. The room he is enclosed in is composed of marble carvings and adorned ceilings. It is stunning. Les Invalides is also home to Le Musée de l'Armée. I ended up touring the entire thing!

(A Jewish identification star from WWII).

I learned a significant amount of French history over the course of a couple hours. The history gene runs in my family, so it is no surprise that I stayed there instead of visiting the Lourve with the rest of the group.

While walking to meet up with the people I traveled with, I stumbled upon "The National Exhibit of Russia in Paris 2010" at the Grand Palais. They had Russian nesting dolls surrounding the foyer that were at least 20 feet tall! The exhibit was full of the newest Russian technology from automobiles to spacecrafts. It was very interesting as I know absolutely nothing about Russia.

After departing the Palais, I walked to Le Place de la Concorde to see the Obelisk of Luxor.The monument is over 3,000 years old and contained inscribed hieroglyphics portraying the reigns of the Egyptian pharaohs Ramses II and Ramses III.

Upon reuniting with the group, I was sweaty, exhausted, and hungry! Whew, it had already been quite a long day so we decided to sit down to a nice meal. We found a restaurant off of the Avenue de Champs Elysées that was moderately priced. (Wild Atlantic salmon with spinach tortellini.)

I had not eaten since that wimpy salad so it tasted as anything would after not eating for 8 hours...glorious!! Actually, the fish was a little salty, but I ate it nonetheless.

Après, we decided to rest for a while. I bought a baby bottle of Chardonnay to drink under the Tour Eiffel. (My feetsies were achy, so the shoes came off!)

We stayed under the Tour Eiffel long enough to watch the sunset. Around 10PM, we got in line to buy un billet to the top! I have tons of pictures, but I don't believe they are able to accurately capture the beauty of the city all lit up at night.

I actually overheard a woman crying while I was taking in the view. As it turns out, her boyfriend had just proposed. It was a seriously beautiful moment.

With that, we headed across town and back to the hotel. By the time I crawled into bed, it was almost 2AM. It was a long day but I was able to see a lot!

Check back in later for a Day 2 recap!!
Until then,
~Jenn

The List

2010-06-10T14:46:00.010-04:00

I have been sitting at my computer for the past 2 hours trying to plan an itinerary for Paris this weekend. It is overwhelming to say the least, as it can not all be seen and done in one trip. I have my thoughts narrowed down, but I know I will not get to do it all. Fortunately, I have been to the city of love once before on a family vacation, so some of the biggest tourist attractions need not be visited again.(Le Tour Eiffel will be conquered again though, not to worry. Living on a fourth floor walk-up has adequately prepared me to conquer the climb to the top! p.s. I am in the blue t-shirt.)

(Breakfast #1 was a failed attempt at overnight oats. I used greek yogurt instead of milk because I am special.)

Although I am traveling with a group of 5 other students, I expect that we will not want to do and see the same things. As such, I have packed my cell-phone (with plenty of minutes) and mace in case I decide to explore the city on my own.

(Breakfast #2=success. Fruit salad with an unpictured piece of bread and peanut butter.)
We are staying at a two star hotel in the Latin Quarter, so the location is ideal. After seeing the Paris metro map, I am a wee but intimidated. But if I can figure out one metro (DC) I can figure them all out! I've been studying. :) As to be as prepared as possible, I have listed the metro stops of each place I want to visit on my master tour guide that I created. (NERD ALERT.)
(Tofu and veggies atop carrot salad.)

I packed everything I will need for the weekend in my school backpack. If you know my mother (hi mom!), then you know the gene pool I come from, and therefore understand what a feat this is. Literally, I am only taking what is on my back. How liberating is that idea?! We are only staying two days, but I like to have things around me, so this is very out there pour moi.

(Snack: slice of whole wheat bread topped with a little bit of peanut butter and nutella.)

As for the master list, well, y'all should just see it. It is a mess of ideas, times, locations, prices, and fun tidbits about each location courtesy of Frommer's.

(Dinner: green salad, leftover carrot salad, radishes, mushrooms, tomatoes with feta, a taste of spinach pasta, and a slice of toast.)

The "dream list" highlight's include the Museé d'Orsay, Napolean's Tomb, Sacré Coeur, La Sainte-Chapelle, Père Lachaise Cemetery, Panthéon, Hôtel de Ville, Moulin Rouge, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. What can I say, I am ambitious and willing to go beyond the point of exhaustion. :)

(Dessert: Glace! Also known as ice-cream and the perfect after dinner treat to cool me down after a hot hot hot day.)

I am as organized as one can be when traveling sans technology. I have written out what it vital to remember. Hopefully, this will save me some time navigating the streets. I kind of feel like I am preparing for a race. The prep work, laying out everything I need, double checking my tickets, the early wake-up time (6AM!) ext... I even have the excited/nervous butterflies in my stomach. Paris is a big city, and although I am confident in my abilities to get around, sometimes I get overwhelmed. I just need to remember that I will be back some day (because I dream big!) so I don't have to do it all!(My host mom's flowers off the kitchen balcony.)
With that said, I wanted to thank you all for your concern about my banking situation. There are no new updates to report, which is honestly great news. I refuse to let it damper my stay here, and since I prepared some stow away cash for an emergency such as this, I am okay.

(L'île after a rainstorm.)
Alright, once this is posted I am off to bed (although I doubt sleep will come). I will be without technology for the next couple of days, so don't look for a post until sometime Sunday night or Monday if I am absolutely pooped (which, if you read the same list I did, is very likely!)

Au Revoir!
~Jenn

Positives and Negatives.

2010-06-09T16:03:00.006-04:00

Although this blog has been quite perky as of late, this post is going to deviate from the norm a little bit. I got slapped in the face with some very scary news this evening. Someone hacked into my bank account. Luckily, I caught it right after it happened and had enough minutes on my pre-paid phone to talk with the right people at my bank to handle it, but it has left me very shaken and feeling a little bit violated. The person was using my card in Europe, just in a different country that I have not visited. Not ok.

Before all of that went down, my day started with a positive. My leap into Le Rapidoats was successful. I used the all of the ingredients that were purchased yesterday.

After class, I went running, which counts as a positive and a negative. Positive because I ran 4 miles without stopping and felt very strong, negative because once I stopped running I felt like throwing up and passing out all at the same time. It was extremely warm today and the path I ran provided little shade. Also a negative, I did not stop sweating all afternoon, even après my shower.

(A bed of quinoa with carrot salad, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and feta cheese)

A lunch of healthy, colorful leftover's is always a positive because it saves me time, energy, and money.
As I went in for dessert (aka fresh bread and nutella) I cut my finger on the knife. Definitely a negative, since the cut is so strategically placed that I can feel it when I type.

After another class session and a riveting discussion with my professor, whom I will miss dearly even though he instructed me for a mere three weeks, I was walking home when the universe decided to finally let me know where the Jewish grocery store was hiding! I purchased the biggest tub of hummus I could find, and then positively skipped home to fix myself a classic snack. Delightful.

Another negative: Dinner went unphotographed because I was too busy dealing with the bank and explaining the situation in French to my host mom. On the positive side, it was delicious and there are plenty of leftovers pour mon déjeuner demain that are just waiting to be captured on film.
A fresh fruit salad was provided for dessert. It is a mixture of blackberries, raspberries, pear, peach, cherries, banana, and mango. Light and summery, my fruit was consumed while watching a classic summer storm complete with a lightening show.

Tomorrow includes a trip to the local bank to change my emergency dollars into euros. Thank goodness for planning ahead. Paris would just not be the same without a little spending money. :)

Until tomorrow,
~Jenn

My 100th Post!!

2010-06-08T11:33:00.009-04:00

Eek! I didn't even realize this momentous occasion until I opened my blogger account just now! I had intended to title this post "It is hard to choose a favorite," but I can't pass up the opportunity to celebrate just a little! I mean, this day was good to begin with, and this is just icing on le pain?! My host mom must have known today marked a turning point in my blogging life ;) because check out what was on the table for breakfast this morning! Un petit pain chocolat! A very thoughtful petite dejuner but I prefer to eat something other than straight crack, err, I mean sugar first thing in the morning. Anyways, the point is that it has icing, so I should have known that it would be screaming at me to eat it after class. So far, I have resisted. Let's hope I can keep it up.

For my actual breakfast I went with the same thing as yesterday.
A notable exception was the bread. It was wheat, for the record, and I am pretty sure it was baked about an hour before I sliced myself two pieces. I am aware there is no way to actually prove this, but it literally melted in my mouth. Absolutely divine. I resisted eating the loaf straight up. Is that an improvement, or evidence that this place is making me carb crazy?
I kept my handy dandy "water baby" by my side during breakfast and polished off about half of the bottle. I refer to it as a water baby because I have to cradle it in my hand like a child when I am walking. If I throw it in my purse it completely weighs me down and causes shoulder pain.

In between classes I decided to finally take this breakfast situation into my own hands. Y'all saw what I ate, and yet I was hungry a mere two hours later. Actually, not hungry, famished. So I went to the grocery store determined to find a more suitable alternative. LOOK AT WHAT I FOUND!! I was so happy, y'all have no idea! That would be Greek yogurt, vanilla soy milk, instant oats, and almond slivers! Seriously, I found oats, soy milk, andddd greek yogurt?!?! How does one choose a favorite among them??

I blissfully returned to the SU center for my free lunch. We have picnics once a week, and although free, the choices were pretty much out of my control. I did what I could and threw together a vegetarian sandwich. Served on a whole wheat petit pain with goat cheese, cucumber slices and tomato. It left a lot to be desired. I also munched on some unpictured strawberries that were very good! I love in season fruit!

Following my afternoon class and a quick chat with mon professeur (I am pretty sure I nailed the paper and presentation!), I headed to Le Gare Central (train station) to print out my train tickets for Paris this weekend!!
I am so excited to go. There is so much to see and do that I know one weekend will not be enough. But if y'all have any personal favorite things to see or do, please leave a comment below!

Since I was already on the other side of town, I ran a couple of errands that included adding minutes to my French phone and stopping into another supermarché for gum. Because I am a food blogger, I can never pass up the opportunity to scour the aisles of a new grocery store. I was just browsing until I stumbled upon this...
...PEANUT BUTTER! Can you believe it?!? Me either!I promptly paid 4 freaking euros for the baby jar. At this point, I am just so excited to have a classic American breakfast tomorrow that I am not even going to let the fact that this contains added sugars in the form of HFCS bother me. I will savor each bite of my oatmeal in the morning, I can promise you that.

In other news, I bought my first souvenir of the trip today! Let's just call this a 100th post present shall we? I really wish the picture did this justice because I am absolutely in love.

It says "J <3 Strasbourg." Hehehe.

I am off to plan my weekend!
Au Revoir~
~Jenn

All the colors of the rainbow!

2010-06-07T15:23:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone!
I hope you all had as lovely a Monday as I did. Breakfast this morning was an unhealthy spin on an old, healthy favorite. I have not been able to find any nut butters worth purchasing in France, so I improvised and used Nutella! (I need an intervention!) I also came up with this brilliant idea about 1/2 way through eating ma petite pain, so please excuse the fact that it looks like it has been ravaged. I am really hungry in the morning :)

Post-digestion, I frolicked to class where I gave my presentation on why the Industrialized Food Industry in the US presents a form of modern day structural violence. My interpretation of this course, entitled Conflict Resolution, was very different from the other students in class. Yet, everyone seemed receptive to what I had to say, so I left our morning session feeling accomplished.

I intended to go for a run, but something was feeling off with my back. As much as I could use the cardio to counter my bread intake, I decided to listen to my body and completed 40 minutes of self-guided yoga instead. It was refreshing and relaxing and made me feel 100x better than a run could have today. I imagine my legs would have felt like dead weights after my Tour de France!

My host-mom provided a yummy plate of leftovers for lunch so that I would not have to fend for myself. :) Solid. I had leftover spinach tortellini, quinoa, and steamed spinach. Normal sized portions to boot. Is this some new phase of moderation that I have encountered 1/2 way through the program?? Gah, I hope so!

I finished lunch with this gorgeous rainbow of in season, local produce. In the bowl went strawberries, honeydew melon, and peaches. So light and refreshing.

My afternoon session went by slowly as the excitement of finishing my work for the course had long worn off. It was a beautiful day outside and I was itching to go exploring. As soon as 3:30 hit, I left class tout seule (alone), for the first time I think, and went off in search of a bookstore. Along the way I snack on a PB&J Lara Bar smuggled over from the states. I did not end up buying anything, but I did walk around for an hour and a half window shopping and taking in the sights. It was a lovely afternoon.

I was famished upon my return (surprise surprise) and since I knew my host mom would be arriving late tonight, I ate a substantial snack to hold me over.Two petite slices of bread and an apple all served up with a portion of nutella of course. I think I will be relieved when that jar is empty. I just can't have it around.

Want to see how much I have rubbed off on my host mom in the past 3 weeks? Just take a look at this meal. Eggs with homemade salsa inside, broccilli (!!), more steamed spinach (!!!), quinoa (!!!!), and une salade vert (!!!!!). Yes, that is 3 different types of greens on one plate. I dominated pretty much all of the pictured food and went back for seconds on every type of green. The woman does not like leftovers, what else was I to do? Moderation, schmoderation...I love veggies.

For dessert, I ate an entire unpictured pineapple. It was a baby, but I still ate the whole thing. I am currently typing this with one hand, while holding my food baby with the other. Ughhh...soooo good.

Finally, on a non-food note. I caved and forked over the $2.99 to download the series finale of Lost. So if you need me, you know what I will be doing for the next 83 minutes.

Bonne Nuit!
~Jenn

Le Diner

2010-06-06T16:47:00.005-04:00

I'm back. Seriously though, only for a minute. I just need to tell y'all about my dinner.

We started with a beautifully presented tomato and mozzarella salad. That is fresh basil on top that came directly from my host mom's little garden on the balcony off the kitchen.Next came the main dish, of which I cannot remember the name of to save my life. All I know is that my host mom told me what it was called twice so I could write it on the blog. Fail, Jenn, fail. Anyways, I just tried Googling it to no avail. I had to stop because all of the pastry bread was making me hungry.I won't lie, I was kinda sketched out by this dinner. It is a combination of 3 different types of fish, puff pasteries, mushrooms, and cream. But, I am in France and therefore open to trying new things. It tasted like clam chowder, just a little more fishy. By no means my new favorite weekly dish, but I did manage to eat about 3/4 of it before giving up and moving on. My host mom only served herself 1 puff pastry to my 2. Oh woman, what are you doing to me?!

At least she is catching on quickly to my love of health food. Check out what I had alongside!Quinoa and spinach!!!! It gets better...she made leftovers for my lunch tomorrow so I don't have to eat a white baguette! Love host mom, love.

I was offered bread and cheese for dessert but politely declined and requested fruit. She clearly hit up the supermarket when I was gone yesterday because the apartment is stocked with fruit! My picture came out blurry (annoying that I did not notice that until now), but I am still posting it. Why?Because of that intense red color! These are bio (organic) and intensely flavorful.

Other random musings of the day. I finished both my paper and presentation today (yay!) while it crazy stormed outside!Thunder, lightening, and the whole 9 yards. I was not allowed to use the Internet during the storm because the Ethernet cable is linked to something on the roof. I am chalking up my day of productivity to the fact that I had no Google Reader or Facebook to distract me. That's all!

Bonné Nuit!
~Jenn

My Very Own Tour de France!

2010-06-06T05:56:00.008-04:00

Hi Everybody!
I had the most exhausting, yet exhilirating Saturday ever! As I tweeted on Friday, a friend and I rented bikes for the weekend so that we could explore the area. I did some research throughout the week and was able to find a really cool path that went from Strasbourg to Sarrebourg via a trail through the Vosges Mountains. You can see the entire path here. Although the route is flat, I knew that this would require all of my energy and focus, so I stayed in Friday night to rest and hydrate (aka no beer or wine). :( It was a good decision though, because through it all we biked more than 50 miles! Final Garmin stats will be posted at the end of my recap!

My friend Kate and I met up at 8:30 AM on Saturday morning to head out. Let me just say I had on my capri workout pants but changed last minute into shorts because it was so hot, but I should have gone with my gut on that one. Bike chafing is REAL and it HURTS. Anyways,we headed out with little delay. Immediately we knew this was a great decision, as the views were absolutely breathtaking (as they always tend to be here.) I wore my Garmin the entire throughout the day, but other than that, there was no technology in sight. Only very happy, grass-fed cows.Other animals spotted throughout the day include ducks, geese, swans (!), goats, and frogs!
Around mile 10 we took our first rest break. We stretched out our legs, tried to un-numb our butts, and broke into the Nutella!Lots of exercise calls for lots of extra calories, of which I am always happy to oblige. I bought the baby jar as to keep the chocolaty goodness as a treat, not an everyday occurrence. But I will say, the sugars really helped my energy levels throughout the day. After powering up, we were off again!Seriously, I wish I had a camera that could capture the beautiful sights we were privileged to take in. Kate and I both kept remarking how great the trail we found was and what a perfect day it was for a ride! The miles went by in a blur as we were both so blissfully happy just being.

Lunch occurred just 2 hours after our Nutella feast because we were both starving!! We stopped in Saverne, France which also happened to be mile number 28. It was a very cute town with classic French architecture, a local church, and plenty of sandwich shops.
So I did what I do best living abroad, I ordered a vegetarian sandwich on a huge loaf of white bread. Paired with Powerade (which I never drink at home, but I figured I could use the electrolytes) and a shot of my Beast, lunch never tasted so good! Oh, and I almost forgot...I ordered a side of fries (which I did not finish for fear of making myself sick later), but the couple I did eat were consumed with a baby fork!
As one who tends to eat very fast, I think these little guys are a great invention! You're forced to eat slowly and actually taste the food. Okay, back to the topic at hand...we hit the trail with full bellys and a renewed enthusiasm after re-fueling. I personally believe the miles we covered after lunch were the most beautiful of the day.
Tree-lined paths, plenty of shade, and a winding canal all provided the perfect distraction from our mounting fatigue. Note the man-made brick wall to the right of the above photo. We both thought that was rather interesting because it went for miles. Very unique, to be sure.

Around mile 31 (ish) a momentous feat occurred. We biked into a new region of France! Seriously, we left Alsace, via BIKE!! I felt super hardcore at that moment, I am not going to lie. That is one of the coolest things I have ever done!
We marveled in our accomplishment for all of 2 minutes before pressing on. We knew that there was still much to see and do before returning our bikes (with a 7PM deadline!) so there was no time to mess around.

Somewhere around mile 34, I accidentally hit stop timer on my Beast instead of start. So our trek to and from this really cool unused canal was not recorded. But, I am confident that it was around 5 miles.
From there, serious mental and physical fatigue set in. The highs of the day and the endorphins) were wearing off quickly, so we turned around and headed back to Lutzelbourg, France to figure out the train schedule. We had missed a train by 10 minutes and the next one was not for more than 3 hours. Defeated, we went into town to figure out how to buy tickets. On the bright side, I was so tired at that point I was not a bit self-conscious when speaking French and was able to communicate fairly proficiently. What did I learn, you may ask? Oh, just that the train was not coming until 6:30 PM, which if you will recall, would not allow us to return the bikes by 7PM.

So we did what any good European travelers do, we came up with a plan B. Bad news bears, the alternative had us biking BACK to Saverne (where we ate lunch) to catch a train. That tacked on an extra 5 miles to our trip. At this point, Kate and I stopped talking. I told her I was cranky and just need to have my mental pout alone. On the ride between Lutzelbourg and Saverne, I seriously kept thinking about Matt who RAN 50 miles yesterday and how much more difficult his journey was. I thought of Caitlin who biked 100 miles and made it out alive. And finally, I though of Angela, who's motto "You are so much stronger than you think. You are so much stronger than you know," kept pushing me forward. It may sound silly, but it was literally all I could think of to distract myself from the fatigue.

When we arrived back in Saverne, we saw signs for le gare (train station) and literally both let out a sigh of relief. When the woman said it was only 6 euro for us to hop a ride back to Strasbourg with our bikes, I nearly jumped the counter to hug her!Mon billet is the best 6 euro I have spent since landing in Europe. No joke. After finding our train platform, we finally had a chance to just sit. This pretty much describes how I felt:

Gross, sweaty, tired, relieved, and proud. I think at this point the endorphins came rushing back, because the wait time for the train flew by. Oh wait, maybe that is because I busted out some hip-opening yoga moves in the middle of the train station because I was so sore? Yea, that is definitely part of it. Ahh, pigeon pose...my favorite :)

The train arrived on time and luckily we met a very nice German man with his 4 sons to pass the time back to Strasbourg. You see, the bikes are heavy and therefore very difficult to lift onto the train.That man was our good karma for the day, I am sure of it. He helped us load our bikes and then chatted with us (in English!) about the German education system (his sons are all multilingual!) and American politics from a European perspective.

The train had no air-conditioning by the way, so (and this is probably TMI but I like to be honest) I sweat through my 3rd shirt of the day. When we arrived back in Strasbourg, we had to get BACK on our bikes and ride them downtown to get our deposit back. I almost took out like 5 people because I was not slowing down. I just wanted to get there. Which we eventually did, and received our 200 euro (!!) deposit back!

In all, it was one hell of a experience. My final Garmin statistics (minus the 5 miles I did not record) were:
Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
Distance: 43.84 miles
Calories (which I do not believe are accurate): 2836
Accent: 4388 feet
Decent: 4295 feet

Today, I plan on doing a whole lot of sitting in soft, comfortable chairs while creating my presentation for tomorrow and finishing up my paper.

I hope you enjoyed the recap!

Until next time,
~Jenn

Improvements.

2010-06-03T14:07:00.005-04:00

Hi everyone!
So I just wanted to make sure you all know that I am slowly recovering from my bread comatose the other day. I went on an awesome run yesterday after class that took me sightseeing around the River Ile, Council of Europe, and European Parliament. I even found some regular road (aka not cobblestone) to run on so my shins don't hate me forever! In all I completed a speedy 3.12 miles in 33 minutes. I was very pleased considering my nutrition downward spiral since arriving. Maybe all the carbo-loading is helping?! :)

A girl can dream. I digress...following a much needed shower (which still takes me forever on hair washing days, ugh) I made a stellar lunch of leftovers! Checkout my rainbow plate! My gorgeous dish contained 1/2 head of lettuce, saffron rice, tomato, and leftover Ratatouille. I dominated this plate. Body needs a steady stream of veggies at all time.

But let us be real here for a moment. I am in the land of fresh bread and chocolate. So I promptly broke into my host mom's stash of Nutella and smeared it on un petit pain. The picture is mid-deliciousness obviously.

This week has absolutely flown by. I don't know if it is because I am finally adjusted and love living abroad or the looming paper and presentation deadline that I have successfully avoided? Let's go with a combination. Needless to say, I found an adorable café very close to the SU center to get my study on.Yesterday, I buried myself in a corner and did not leave until I produced 3 pages. Pretty legit right? Yes, well I was no where near finished, so I returned today between classes. Un jus de pomme

Iphoto is fabulous for procrastinating and creeping out Strasbourg locals. I did manage to write another four pages, which I am beyond ecstatic about considering I have no written a legitimate paper since December. Spring 2010 consisted of little academic work, but lots of fun times. Three guesses as to what I ordered for lunch??We're you right?? :) J'adore le pain ici, I don't know what's going on, but I may need an intervention. Post-consumption, and class, a friend and balanced out the breadful (new word? meh) lunch by walking around in search of hummus. We were not successful but it's ok because I think we walked about 2 miles in all. I am always down for unplanned exercise. :) Plus it keeps me from afternoon snacking and lets me see the sights! We found an adorable church, but because I was sans camera, I have no photo. (For shame, too. Bad blogger, bad.)

I returned to the abode around 7:30 and entered to some seriously scrumptious food.Tonight, Madame a fait pour moi eggplant in marinara sauce with cheese, spinach and mozzarella stuffed tortellini, and a beautiful green salad. Here is a close up of my portion.To drink, I had a new treat. Le jus de raisin kind of tasted like grape juice but not quite. It was a little less sweet. Interesting. For dessert, because there is always a dessert with my host mom, she tried to feed me with cheese. Y'all be proud because I said no to a fresh loaf of bread! Instead, I had a light alternative. Peach yogurt with an in season peach! Yum!

So there were some tentative plans for a trip to Munich this weekend but I think the group decided it was not worth the money. Today, I also did some research on a day trip to Luxembourg (solely for the fact that I want to say I have been there) but no trains are running there until Saturday afternoon! Ugh. I suppose that is just not meant to be. So the new plan is to rent a bike for the weekend and hopefully bike to the Black Forrest in Germany and continue touring around Strasbourg!

I am going to finish my paper now so I can enjoy the weekend!
Bon soir mes amis!
~Jenn

I want to vs. I have to...

2010-05-31T07:13:00.004-04:00

The events of the past weekend have definitely changed my perception of my time in Europe. As you all know, the first two days here were rough to say the least and my day trip to Baden-Baden was a complete thrill. The highs and lows of the first week in Strasbourg have not gone by unnoticed. In looking at the big picture, I realized that the difference really comes down to the fact that I now look at this entire 6 weeks as something I want to do vs. something I have to do.

Polyculture at its finest.

Sunday morning brought some unpleasant weather but also the chance to partake in a "Discovering Alsace" tour provided by the university. The rain held off long enough for the group to tour around a small town called Rosheim. Lot's of photos were taken, but I am fond of the candid.
Our tour guide for the day is an assistant director at the SU Strasbourg center and he was excellent! Very knowledgeable about everywhere we toured and willing to take on as many questions as we had. As we approached our second stop, and lunch, I had a fitness/nutrition blogger geek session when I realized our bus was being diverted because of a local triathlon! I was so excited and distracted by the runners approaching the finish line I almost lost my group! Eek!

We ate lunch in Obernai, France at a restaraunt called "La Halle aux Bles". I had the vegetarian option (the pictures did not turn out). You can use your imagination for this though: picture a pound of butter with a side of vegetables, oh and bread of course :). The other veg-heads and I were joking about how the vegetarian option was more filling than the omnivore's dish!

The third stop on our excursion led us to the top of a huge mountain where we came upon a chateau-fort from the middle ages!

The view from the top was breathtaking. I am convinced that no camera, no matter the cost, could ever capture the scene we had a chance to take in. Here is my feeble attempt though just to give you an idea.
The town where the chateau is located is called Haut-Koenigsbourg.

On the way back to the bus I found a health store! Who knew that the people in the mountains of France loved protein powder and health bars as much as I do?!?

(Health)

The last stop of the day was by far my favorite! I went to my first wine tasting in Blienschwille on the "Route du vin" (road of wine). We were taught the basics of tasting wine and were offered 5 different kinds to try. Not to worry, I bought two bottles for my host mom and I to enjoy over some fine food.

I tend to prefer fruitier white wines over full-bodied red wines and therefore purchased a Pinot Gris and a Grand Bru Winzenberg. They are both delicious! I returned home after a 12 hour day absolutely exhausted. My host mom graciously fed me and then sent me to bed :). I slept like a rock.

I really do love it here. Since moving beyond the initial adjustment period and culture shock I have really come into my own here. I feel very comfortable now and I can even start to notice an improvement in my French skills! Score!!

Okay, I must race to class now, but I want to leave you all with my favorite picture of the day:

(A glass of wine is good. But a glass of wine from Alsace is better!)

Until next time,
~Jenn

Klaus!

2010-05-29T17:10:00.009-04:00

Bonjour friends!! I have been on quite the trek today. As I mentioned previously, I planned a trip to Baden-Baden, Germany to go hiking and visit some hot springs. Although I never made it to the springs I definitely partook in my fare share of hiking. Clearly when one knows they are going to hike all day, they carbo load the night before, right?

I ate among friends and discussed our impending travel while enjoying a delicious vegetarian special. I do not remember the name of the dish but it involved a lot of cheese. Go figure. :)

This morning I awoke bright and early because I was so eager to get a jump on the day. I dressed, ate more bread (with butter this time), packed up my backpack, and put on my most touristy outfit for what surely was to be an epic day. After 2 trains and 2 buses and a whole new country in front of us, my crew of 5 fellow SU abroaders landed in Baden-Baden ready to explore to our hearts content. But, of course, we all stopped to eat first. The only vegetarian option was a tomato and mozzarella sandwich, which I devowered in 5 minutes flat. Travel makes one hungry, I am convinced of it.

(A fellow vegetarian enjoying the German sandwich!)

We also split my very first chocolate croissant which was every bit as delicious as I had hoped. The bread is a lot softer in Germany and also seems to have less oil in the mix. Therefore the croissant managed to be effortlessly decadent without leaving us feeling gross. Post meal, the group and I spent a solid 45 minutes at the train station trying to figure out how to reach the castle we read about online.The main problem was that none of us spoke a peep of German. May I just say that all German words look alike? Good, I am glad that is out there. I digress...so after said 45 minutes we finally gave up a grabbed a cab with a very pleasant man named Klaus. (Sitting next to Klaus in the front seat! Can you see him in the mirror??)

He spoke pretty much no English except for the words "castle" and "ya". He took us to legitimately the middle of no where and pointed to the top of the mountain and said "castle." Before departing he gave me his phone number on a business card (which is how I found out his name.) NBD (no big deal) I now have a contact in Germany! Haha! As we hiked to the top of the castle, which we all believe was actually a fortress of some type, we stumbled upon the most breathtaking panoramic view of Germany I could have ever imagined.
Sitting on top of the fort I could not help but reflect upon my life at that exact moment. It was one of those times where you can completely acknowledge your life in the present and really realize how lucky you are. I mean it was Germany! Unreal!!

After we left the castle we hiked around the backwoods/mountains for another 2 hours. I was completely in my element and could not have been happier to be trekking through a forest. Once we left the green zone, we walked through the small town Klaus drove us through hours earlier. While walking down the street a man from his balcony shouted "Bravo!" at us. I am assuming it was because we looked like we had just come out of the boondocks alive! :)

The next hour was spent waiting for a bus that we never thought would arrive. The hours and a half after that was spent trying to navigate the most complicated bus system ever. We really could not wrap our heads around how such a small little town could possibly have so many bus routes! The map looked like the D.C. metro lines x 100! Oh, and of course they were all in German and all the names looked exactly alike.

By the time we had figured out where to go we found ourselves with some time to kill before heading to the train station. So we did what any good college kids in Germany do...found German beer! (The look on our face is nothing more than utter relief for finally figuring out the bus system!)
I ordered a supposed "wheat ale." But what it was actually called was Paulaner Kristallweizen. (I dare you to say that 5 times fast!)
Oh, did I mention we were also starving by this point? I learned today that the German equivalent of a vegetarian meal is a tomato and mozzarella sandwich. How did I learn this? By ordering my second one of the day. Seriously. The ride back to Strasbourg was a blur because I was so exhausted. We ran into the group of SU students who went to Heidelberg for the weekend at the most remote train platform ever near Offenberg, Germany. I think the stop was called "Auffenweire" but after a meticulous Google search I have learned that my spelling was so off Google can't even find it.

The group was headed to dinner upon arrival in Strasbourg. I joined in after purchasing my host mom a bouquet of flowers. Tomorrow is "le fête de mére" (mother's day) and I wanted to express my gratitude for all of her help throughout my first week here.

Everyone was apparently craving Mexican food, which I honestly did not know existed in France, but I was wrong. We ducked into a Tex-Mex restaurant right beside the Cathedral in the center of Strasbourg.

My meal may appear boring, but let me assure you, after a day of cheese and bread greens were exactly what I needed. Dessert followed dinner, as it always seems to in France, and my friend and I headed for gelato. This is the best 4 euro cone of bliss I have ever encountered. It is great for so many reasons, including that they shape it in the form of a flower!

My cone was a mix of chocolate, tiramisu, and chocolate chip. Divine. Oh and mom, don't worry, I promise we will go here when you come visit!

Ok, so if you made it this far, congrats! You made it through this longgg post. Desolée but I just had to recap this day! Oh, and if you were counting, I had 4 meals today not including snacks. NBD.

Must. Sleep. Now.
A tour of the Alsace region is in store for tomorrow followed by a regional wine tasting event!

Until next time,
~Jenn

Faire la lessive! (Do the laundry!)

2010-05-28T11:22:00.006-04:00

This day is entertaining for so many reasons. For starters, I ate another huge chunk of le pain for breakfast along with German yogurt! Now, as a vegetarian I really do not consume that much dairy, apart from my cute little Laughing Cow Wedges, so eating a carton of dairy first thing in the morning was not pleasant but I was desperate for something other than bread! It was mango flavored and even contained little pieces of fruit in the container. C'mon, how does one say no?

I went to class as planned at 9:00AM and concluded the morning seminar with an announcement that we did not have to come back for the afternoon class! I knew I needed to get some things accomplished to feel like "me" again and so I promptly headed out for a solo excursion to le supermarche. I purchased very little, mostly snacks to tide me over between meals. But I must mention that I also grabbed some fresh goodies for lunch because 1. I need to stop eating entire french baguettes mid-day and 2. because it is a lot cheaper than buying french baguettes every day! I made lunch at home today after returning from my first ever run in a foreign country! Cross that off my bucket list! :) I took my map of Strasbourg with me to avoid getting lost and ended up covering a lot of le centre ville. Although I walked a good portion of the time, I still managed to cover 3.60 miles in 54 minutes. But now I have killed two birds with one stone. Navigating the town will be much easier now and I scoped out some great running paths!
I concluded lunch the only way I know how to these days...avec un petit pain smeared with Nutella! And then, to distract myself from eating the entire jar in one sitting I conquered one of my biggest obstacles in Strasbourg.

The Laundry

The washer is cute enough right?After my host mom explained how to use it, in French mind you, I loaded this baby up and proceeded to fiddle with all of the buttons for a solid ten minutes. Once it started I realized it was going to take a hour and a half to wash my clothes so I packed up my things and headed to the SU center to get some reading done. When I returned, it looked like this outside: Clearly not the best weather to line dry clothes. But did I think about that? No of course not. I proceeded to hang everything off the 4th floor balcony and relish in my accomplishment. When I finally got around to looking up I realized my fool's errand and promptly began removing said things (all while praying I did not drop anything because it is a long way down). In conclusion, my room now looks like this:
One day soon, I too will have clean, dry clothes. When that happens I will surely let you all know. In the meantime, can we just acknowledge how grateful I am to not have put this chore off until everything was dirty? Then what would I wear?!?

Until next time,
~Jenn

New Attitude!

2010-05-25T12:37:00.006-04:00

Hi everyone!
So sorry to have started off my jaunt to Strasbourg on such a downer note. That is not to say that the first 48 hours were not the scariest and most out of my element I believe I have ever been, but I think there is something to be said about the power of positive thinking. Therefore, I am coming to you live, from my apartment, with clothes, shoes, and all ready to show you the town!

I have not done extensive sightseeing yet, as I have class chaque jour from 9AM-10:30 and 2PM-3:30. But, I have taken advantage of my morning break and done some walking around. This includes plenty of wrong turns and misreadings of my map, but hey, I am a fresh transplant so I am still learning the ropes...and the language!

Here are some snapshots of my humble abode avec tous mes choses! (with all of my things). My dresser and mirror. The desk, complete with a fresh rose, and pictures from home. My closet with all of the clothing I brought (aren't you proud...that is all of it!)

My favorite part is by far the balcony. Because I am situated on the fourth floor (walkup!) the view is incredible. Perfectly Parisian with a touch of German influence. The comfortable bed comes in close second to the balcony though. ;)
Oh, and thank goodness for earplugs and eyemasks because I sleep with the balcony window open for fresh air and the pidgeons just love to make noise at all hours. Coupled with the fact that it does not get dark until nearly 10PM (I am very far north) and gets light around 5AM I would be so sleep deprived without my little eye pillow! Good call mom!

Once upon a time this little place was home to a food blog. Remember those days of intricate meals?! They are but a distant memory now that my food options are drastically different and almost completely out of my control, but since my host mom slept in this morning I was able to sneak in some breakfast pictures! Prepare yourself for carb overload!Breakfast was a fresh croissant and a small peach. (oh and major caffeine withdrawal :( with no Starbucks in sight) Don't let that cup fool you. Although my host mom does have a coffee machine it produces close to one OUNCE of coffee per filter. I have been dragging...and I know why!

In other news, once I started taking pictures today I just couldn't stop! Lunch was a 5 euro bio (organic) vegetarian sandwich that was more bread than anything else.I also bought a fresh cup of fruit (just apples and strawberries) that escaped the camera.

After lunch and an afternoon session of class I took myself on a sightseeing tour of Strasbourg. It is supposed to be rainy and gross the rest of the week, so I knew today was the day to see the town! C'est moi in front of the Council of Europe!
My first gelato experience of the trip! Which did I choose??Tiramisu! It was rich and creamy and oh so decadent. A perfectly refreshing treat after an exhausting day.

Something from the kitchen smells awfully good right now. My tummy is rumbling!
Until next time,
~Jenn

The past 48 hours...

2010-05-23T14:08:00.004-04:00

..have been interesting to say the least. Let me just start at the beginning because that is honestly easiest. My flight schedule was supposed to have me flying from Little Rock to Atlanta, Atlanta to Paris, and Paris to Strasbourg. I never even made it to Atlanta before things started to go awry. There was bad enough weather in Atlanta to shut down the airport for an hour so my plane was diverted to Knoxville. By the time I made it into Atlanta my 4 hour layover turned into me sprinting across the airport to make my flight. I made it, but just barely. My nerves were getting the best of me at this point, so I took some Benadryl to sleep through the flight. I awoke in Paris, dazed and overwhelmed. I had a 3 hour layover between flights and I fought so hard to stay awake but ended up sleeping in a corner of the airport for an hour! When I finally arrived in Strasbourg, they called my name over the intercom of the flight and told me to talk to the lady outside. I knew before she even asked "Est-ce que vous parlez anglais?" that my luggage was lost.
So I left the airport carrying only my backpack and a purse. To say I was freaked out was an understatement at this point. I have no phone, no house, and no one to tell what had just happened to me. I felt so scared at that moment the only logical thing I could do was go to the Syracuse Center in Strasbourg. So I went and was graciously greeted by the director here who offered me all the help he could. We attempted to trace the bags via the Internet and the only message we received is that they did not know where they were. I won't lie to you guys, at this point I went to the bathroom and cried. I was just so scared.

Later that afternoon I was picked up by my host mother who speaks little to no English. She lives (or I suppose now we live) in a 4th floor walk-up apartment. There is a small kitchen and a bathroom the share (the shower is another story unto itself), a sitting room, her bedroom, and mine. It is small but quaint. The location is wonderful though, very close to the university and several other girls in the program. Pictures will surely follow at a later time.

So yesterday was a cluster to say the least. I ate probably less than 1,000 calories because I was so upset and stressed. Today I also took no food pictures. I think it will just take me a couple of days to get into the swing of things.

My bags God-willing (and please, I am actually asking for prayers) will arrive at the SU center while we are in class. I may just scream of joy the moment we are reunited. I just want to clarify I am by no means a shallow person nor attached to many of my things. But my new surroundings are completely foreign to me so it would be nice to just have my things around me. Oh and ya know, a change of clothes.

Anyways, today our group met up for lunch in Le Petite France which is the historical city center of Strasbourg. Funny story: I thought my host mother was being polite when she dropped me off at 11:15 despite lunch not being until 12 pm. So I wandered through the streets and took pictures and whatnot to busy myself.

Beautiful and breathe taking. Moreso than I could have ever imagined. I clearly took my time and ended up sitting in front of the restaraunt around 15 minutes early. Then I see my director approaching me. He said he had just phones my host mom asking where I was! Apparently, my watch was an hour off! OY. VEY.

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the city, which is more beautiful than I had ever dreamed. I dear fellow program student let me borrow some shorts to sleep in tonight. I once again ate dinner with my host mom, where I am going to either rapidly improve upon my french or fall mute.

C'est tout pour alors. Je suis très fatigue.
Until Tomorrow,
~Jenn

Into the unknown

2010-05-21T12:16:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone,
I am currently sitting at the Little Rock Airport waiting for my flight to board. I have a couple of minutes so I thought I would drop a line. No pictures today...more just a stream of conciousness. More so for me than anyone else so feel free to just skim this.

I cannot believe I am actually on my way to Strasbourg, France. This trip is two years in the making, as my parents were none to pleased when I announced at the end of freshman year that I wanted to travel abroad. Honestly, it has always been a dream of mine to live abroad, but because it took so long to actually organize and plan I never really thought this day would come.

And yet here it is. I do not really know how to describe what I am feeling right now. I think it is a good mix of anticipation, nerves, and excitement. I know just how fortunate I am to get this opportunity. Furthermore, I am completely aware that this is a once and a lifetime experience.

Although I have no idea what I am walking into, from the other students in the program, to the host family, and the classes, I am surprisingly not scared.

Moving to Syracuse from Little Rock was a leap of faith, relocating to D.C. took me out of my comfort zone, and surely Strasbourg will change me in ways that I cannot even fathom at this point.

It is amazing to reflect on how far my journey has taken me up to this point. When I was a little girl, I was not even able to spend the night at a friends house without getting homesick. Every single time I tried to spend the night out my parents would have to come take me home. Yet now, I am completely exhilirated to be going across the world by myself.

At this point there is nothing holding me back except myself. And for the next 6 weeks, I refuse to let that be an excuse for anything. Each day will surely hold a new and unexpected adventure.

This is truly unbelievable. I don't think it will really hit me that I am living abroad until I am settled in with my host family.

Until then,
Au Revoir et souhaitez moi bonne chance!! (Wish me luck!)
~Jenn

Must. Start. Packing.

2010-05-19T20:29:00.004-04:00

So much procrastination has happened today it is unreal. Actually, I don't know that procrastination is technically the right word. It has just been one of those days where try as I might, I just have not gotten as much accomplished as I had originally hoped.

I should have assumed this would happened today, because I woke up to my friend's phone call asking me if I was awake yet. I was so confused because I purposely set not one, but two alarms to wake me in time to eat and digest breakfast before my 8:45AM Cardio Sculpt class.

Despite my late wake-up, I made what is quickly becoming my pre-workout meal. 1 slice of toast, 1tbsp almond butter, 1 small banana, dash of cinnamon. I probably should have digested more before class, that or taken a rest day before doing 1000 squats, because my legs were dragging today! I monitored my heart rate (HR) the entire way through, so I still managed to push myself to my limits but it was a struggle. The HR monitor is great because it does not allow you to have an excuse. You can actually see how hard you are working.

I downed a green monster upon entering the house because despite eating before class, I was still hungry. Guess I did work pretty hard? :) The rest of the morning was very relaxing. I laid by the pool and caught up with some high school friends.

Lunch was quite the portion of spinach. I have a huge box to finish up before Friday morning since no one else in my house eats it. I went pseudo-Mexican for this dish by topping my greens with 1/4 avocado, 1/2 black beans, hummus, and balsamic vinaigrette. Despite the odd pairing of ingredients the salad tasted delicious and I cleaned my plate.

So at this point the day took a 180. I was enjoying my all too common lunch dessert while creating my packing lists and to-do lists with my mom.I prioritized what still had to be done and figured out that I needed to pay my summer school tuition before leaving so I am not charged a late fee. So upon opening the account I realize they were trying to charge me as a non-state resident. Uh...Not so much. A chore that should have taken all of 5 minutes to complete ended up consuming my entire afternoon. By the time I got everything straightened out I was completely exhausted.

On top of the exhaustion, I had yet to mark a single other item off my to do list. Yes, I leave for France in less than 48 hours and I have not started packing! I am trying to keep my cool about this but the whole idea of packing for 6 weeks in one bag freaks me out! It is a lot of pressure but luckily I have tomorrow to really buckle down and focus.

On a happier note, while I was running in circles around my house all afternoon I almost tripped over this little guy who was waiting ever so patiently at the top of the stairs to come say hello!Just look at that face! I swear our dogs know when someone in the family is about to take a trip. Today, Boomer and Sheba were all over me. It is really sweet seeing how much they care. :) I kind of think it looks like Boom is smiling in the picture. Can you see his grin?

On a completely different note, my mother cooked me dinner! My household is a bit nontraditional in that my father loves to cook and therefore my mom is normally off the hook. (rhyme much?) Anyways, she has really been stepping up her foodie game lately (I like to think I played a small role in that, nudge nudge) and tonight she really topped herself. She whipped up a healthy version of Shrimp Scampi!
You can find the recipe here if you are interested in making this for yourself. It was a very savory dish, yet light enough that I did not feel gross and overly full like I normally do after a pasta meal. Good work mom!

With all the craziness that comes with packing and organizing life before a once and a lifetime opportunity like this occurs, I have not really sat down and thought about how drastically different my life will be in just 48 hours. Upon reflection, the major thing that stands out to me is the language barrier. Sure I have been practicing French at my university for the past year and a half, but I am no where near competent, let alone fluent. Moreover, I will be moving into a complete strangers home. I do hope we get along and that they are amiable enough. The nerves have not quite hit yet, and I don't think they will until I board my flight to Paris Friday afternoon. Until then, I am just a bundle of anticipation, anxiety, and excitement!

Until tomorrow,
~Jenn

On My Game!

2010-05-18T16:52:00.004-04:00

Hey y'all,
So I am back and I am feeling refreshed. As you may have noticed, I took yesterday off from blogging because, well, I didn't really have anything to say. Not so today though, as I awoke at a decent hour and whipped up a fabulous, classic blogger breakfast for my friend and I. Breakfast ( yields 2 wildly disproportionate servings, mine is on the left):

1 cup oats
1 banana
1 cup water
1 cup almond milk
1/4 cup egg whites
2 tbsp flax meal
2 tbsp almond butter

I think y'all all know how to make oats by now, so excuse my laziness in not explaining the process. All I have to say is these were some of the finest oats I have ever cooked! I stirred them over a low heat, so that may have something to do with it, but oy! So creamy!
After an hour of digestion and a long overdue catch-up phone call from the D.C. roomie, I hit the road for some interval training. Since I took it easy yesterday (a yoga class and the elliptical), my legs were feeling oh so fresh and new. Here is the breakdown: 2 minutes running at a moderate pace, 1 minute sprint (or until you feel like vomiting), 1 minute walking x 8 repetitions.
Miles 1: 10:55
Mile 2: 11:09
Mile 3: 10:54
Mile 4: (cool down) 0.41 miles in 7:27
My beast captured my final statistics. I was very pleased with this run. I felt strong and light on my feet, which is refreshing after several days of struggles.

I had a serious reflection du jour while cooling down from my run. For the first time since I arrived home from D.C. I have noticed that I feel more like my old self again. This is obviously because I have fallen back into the active lifestyle I was accustomed to before 8 hours at a desk and too many alcoholic beverages on the weekend. This past semester will always be something I look back on fondly, but man it feels nice to have exercise endorphins again. (The fading alcohol bloat is definitely a plus too!)

For lunch today I was craving fresh vegetables (what else is new?!) but I could not decide how to prepare them. Enter my rainbowish snackplate! It contained fresh broccoli, celery, carrots, red bell peppers, and 3 tbsp of garlic hummus.

I just love all of the vibrant colors. But can we just talk about the hummus for a second? I spend a lot of money on hummus. It is obviously one of my favorite foods so I seem to always be able to justify spending $3 on a baby tub and upward of $6 on a big tub. Anyways, I was at Sam's Club yesterday waiting for a prescription to be filled and I was just wandering around the store when suddenly I found this!!!
Yes, that is a biga$$ tub, but just how big?? Well the biggest I have ever purchased to be sure!
Almost two pounds for only $5.97!! I was elated when I found this, I think some people might have even stared at me just smiling at the tub of hummus. (I am obviously not normal but I'm fine with it). Gah, I just love hummus. I know I am leaving in 4 days for Strasbourg, but I intend to put at least a dent in this jar and leave the rest up to my friend who is just as fond of the chickpea. :)

Oh yea, I also had dessert with lunch because I can! Another chocolate Vitatop with 1/2 tbsp Dark Chocolate Dreams melted on top! Get's me every time!

One last thing. I had coffee with a trainer at my gym who I have known for years yesterday. She ran the Boston Marathon last year and is quite the fitness junkie. I was telling her about my Beast and how I really love it but that it is really not suitable for the gym. She has one as well and agreed. She said that because she is so committed to getting fit that she also owns a Polar heart rate monitor. So after coffee what do you think I did?

Yea, I bought one! It may seem ridiculous to have 2 watches, but I love tracking all of my statistics and watching myself get stronger and healthier! I am committed to this lifestyle and therefore I think of them as investment pieces. Polar meet Garmin, Garmin meet Polar. I have a feeling we are all going to be great friends.

I have already tested the watch out in yoga (talk about not letting go!) last night and it said I burned 173 calories, which seems about accurate considering the postures we did. The real time to shine comes tomorrow morning in my Cardio Sculpt class! (gulp!) I'll let y'all know how it goes!

I'm off to meet one of my friends from high school for a walk around the neighborhood to catch-up. I just love friends that enjoy healthy activities! After that we are going to dinner at my favorite restaurant in LR that I used to work at!

Until tomorrow
~Jenn