Diary of a Semi-Health Nut

ramblings + recipes of a semi-healthy nut

{WIAW #44} Happy Halloween

by

 

 

Hello Friends!

Friday was the first time I ever ever carved a pumpkin by myself.

Really. 

You think I’m joking?  Would you like to make fun of me like the cashier did at HyVee Friday night?

 

“Any big plans this evening?” cashier says as he is scanning my pumpkin and carving kit.
“Just carving pumpkins with some friends.”
“Oh nice, with kids?” he asks raising his eyebrows.
“Um nope.  Just a group of adults..” and I stammer something about how it’s a tradition we started awhile back, trying to excuse the fact that a group of adults get together each year to carve pumpkins.


Okay he wasn’t mean about it but I thought it was funny how this is one of those activities that is supposed to be for kids, but really, who is going to give a kid a knife to start hacking away at a pumpkin?

Anywho, since this is a WIAW (What I Ate Wednesday) post (more info about my WIAW post here), I’m going to share a little bit about my weekend eats.


Spooky Snacks and Healthy Halloween Treats
 

Breakfast: Are we surprised?  My usual PB&J toast (photo borrowed from an olllld post…it’s always weird looking back to see how much my blog has changed…especially with the addition of a fancy camera.)

Lunch: These chunky soups were on sale and I could not resist stocking up!  These were super easy for me to make during homework breaks, not to mention it is pure delight drinking up the hot broth on a chilly autumn day.

On the weekends I immerse myself in my online Nutrition classes (I actually have a post coming that has to do with one of our recent discussions) and I LOVE it.

It’s not that I have nothing better to do on weekends, but during the week…my life is Chemistry class (and fitness class…but that requires little brain power).

Homework break snacks this weekend included some leftovers from the enormous trays of fruit and veggies I brought to the party.

My favorite part about the veggie tray was the peppers!  They were sweet and crunchy and paired perfectly with the ranch dip!

Yes, be impressed that I did not bring a dessert to the party!  The hostess Hannah is a wonderful baker, so I thought I’d let her do her thing while I bring some healthy snacks to the gig.  (I definitely had 3 of her cookies on Friday!)

Since I did indulge, I was happy I had veggies and fruit to munch on with dinner Friday. 

A yummy dinner I had Saturday was a slight twist on a regular chicken salad.  Tenders on a bed of spinach and cottage cheese with churritos, a food I got at the Mexican store I visited for my nutrition project.

 

Those things are addicting!  The chile lime flavor is tart and spicy…pure zingy awesomeness.

Drink concoction:

Have you ever tried Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV?  If you have, you’ll know it has a distinctly tart flavor. I used it in my Apple Cider Cupcakes, but in a very small amount because it can be very over powering.  I mixed one “shot” or about an ounce with an 8oz can of v8 fusion energy and fill up my drink with a water cooler for  some fizz.

NOTE:  Since ACV can help move your digestive system along, I don’t recommend you have more than one of these drinks in a day…lest you benefit TOO much from its effects.

But back to the carving pumpkins…I am so proud I did this all by myself!  (Okay, Hannah’s hubby cut out the top for me…but I gutted and carved the thing!)

I went looking for a pumpkin at my grocery store and realized…I have to carry this thing by myself…usually Dave (the BF) is here for that.  He’s also the one that carves it.  I’m pretty sure I just go to socialize each year.

But I did it!  And besides the Halloween party I attended as my current favorite heroine from a book, that will be all of my celebrating for this year.  I have a Chemistry test the day following Halloween, so you can bet your booty I will be studying all evening.

And that’s okay.  I think I’ve accomplished the necessary holiday rituals this year. 🙂

 

 

Amanda aka Semi–Health Nut

What are your plans for Halloween?  Did you or are you dressing up?

What’s your favorite candy? Mine is pretty much anything chocolate.  I wish I could still trick-or-treat. 😉

PS Join me for my #30DaysofThanks Challenge!

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Some of my friends in LA would have Halloween weekend brunches and we’d eat yummy foods, hang out and then carve pumpkins. It was AWESOME!

  2. Way to go Amanda! I really wish we could’ve been there (gotta love UP, eh?) I hope you had a fun time! Now you can cross that one off your bucket list ; )

  3. Way to go Amanda! I really wish we could’ve been there (gotta love UP, eh?) I hope you had a fun time! Now you can cross that one off your bucket list ; )

  5. Hahaha I love your disclaimer about ACV. 🙂

    I am actually shocked you had leftover fruits and veggies. Probably because I tend to plant myself next to the fruit and veggie trays at partied and munch until my stomach hurts.

    Oops.

  6. Hahaha I love your disclaimer about ACV. 🙂

    I am actually shocked you had leftover fruits and veggies. Probably because I tend to plant myself next to the fruit and veggie trays at partied and munch until my stomach hurts.

    Oops.

  7. Some of my friends in LA would have Halloween weekend brunches and we’d eat yummy foods, hang out and then carve pumpkins. It was AWESOME!

  8. Happy Halloween! I’ve never carved one for myself as an adult, but I have carved a few with the art direction of toddlers. (Feet on a pumpkin…that was an interesting thing to try to include!).

    My favorite candy are probably Bottle Caps. Soooo good!

  9. Happy Halloween! I’ve never carved one for myself as an adult, but I have carved a few with the art direction of toddlers. (Feet on a pumpkin…that was an interesting thing to try to include!).

    My favorite candy are probably Bottle Caps. Soooo good!

  13. Aw dang. Well I just realized we never went to the pumpkin patch this year…next year! 🙂

  14. Disclaimer is necessary. My stomach will agree. 😉

    And I was happy with leftovers! 🙂

  16. Good job! Haha. I always had the darnest time carving pumpkins. It takes some real skill and brute force with the carver! I always wanted to try doing one of those pre-made patterns, but I think I would have epically failed 😀

    Chocolate and Halloween do kind of go hand-in-hand. My favorite chocolate candy as kid was probably dark chocolate kit-kats!

    http://eating4balance.wordpress.com

  17. Good job! Haha. I always had the darnest time carving pumpkins. It takes some real skill and brute force with the carver! I always wanted to try doing one of those pre-made patterns, but I think I would have epically failed 😀

    Chocolate and Halloween do kind of go hand-in-hand. My favorite chocolate candy as kid was probably dark chocolate kit-kats!

    http://eating4balance.wordpress.com

  20. carving pumpkins is for adults too! then we can throw the pulp at each other and act like kids. that counts, right? Love to the ACV, but i use it with tea in the morning. and yes, a little goes a long way! haha

  21. carving pumpkins is for adults too! then we can throw the pulp at each other and act like kids. that counts, right? Love to the ACV, but i use it with tea in the morning. and yes, a little goes a long way! haha

  25. Those pumpkins look so good! Seriously, it’s really hard to get them to look like that!!! I’m impressed:)

  26. Those pumpkins look so good! Seriously, it’s really hard to get them to look like that!!! I’m impressed:)