On my days off, I like to sleep in. The first thing I do upon waking up is wash my face and brush my teeth. But less than a second after, I make coffee.
After that I water my babies.
Then, I set up shop on our dining room chairs and read blogs, write, and do whatever internet related errands I’ve put off for the past few days.
All while enjoying coffee.
Coffee topped with froth and cocoa, to be exact. At least, that’s what I did on Friday.
I also had the last piece of my pumpkin banana bread. It’s created quite the buzz in the blogworld, which is evidence enough of how tasty it is…but in case you still don’t believe me, how’s this for a glamour shot.
I drizzled creamy peanut butter on top of the warm heel piece. While I’m sad this loaf is gone, I still have the other loaf in the freezer to enjoy in the coming week (hooray!). I try to make extra portions of my meals, baked goods, just about anything and everything to freeze and save. It’s especially helpful during the work week, to have already prepared, home-cooked food, that requires nothing more than a quick session in the microwave. Easy peasy.
Lunch was a different kind of sammie.
Layers of fall and breakfast.
You see, I had some fall items on hand, but wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to the AM part of the day…
…hence the breakfast ingredients in the sandwich.
Daiya love it? I do. I also love avocado.
This was the weirdest avocado I’ve ever seen. When I tried to split it open, the entire skin came off the one side, leaving the fruit in tact. As a result, I had a tough time slicing it, and resorted to using the entire top portion.
One half avocado, one half winter squash. This frikin’ gourd was the most impossible thing to cook by the way. I went to desperate places, involving Halloween-inspired knife maneuvers, multiple microwave intervals, and quite a bit of sweat. I actually gave up half way through the first time I tried cooking it.
[Photo evidence] I seriously couldn’t get the knife out of the dang gourd for a few hours. And since I was starving at the time, I gave up and came back to it the next day.
After a few different sessions on the microwave, I was finally able to get the knife through it.
And look how pathetic the yield was? That little amount of flesh was hardly worth the effort. In other words, this may be my last gourd purchase.
Cool looking? Affirmative. Worth it? Negative.
But because I am persistent above all else, I vowed to use it in some way. Thus, the following sandwich.
After caking each half with avo and gourd guts, I topped it with an egg and vegan cheese.
Fall breakfast sandwich
- 1/2 avocado
- winter squash, mashed (ie butternut, delicata, chayote, etc.)
- 1 egg, sunny side up
- Daiya cheddar cheese (or whatever cheese you want)
- sprouted bread (I used Ezekiel 7 grain)
Fold the egg, give the bread a quick smoosh, and dig in.
I usually cut my sammies in half to make them easier to eat. Heaven forbid the ingredients slide out…
And I always eat the smaller half first, because that way once I’m done I don’t get sad, because I still have the BIGGER half left. I’m a freak, I know.
This sando was good, but next time I will use a different squash. Maybe one that doesn’t require 2 days of prep?
I ended lunch on a sweet note. An extra special one, at that.
OH. MY. PEAS.
To say this was a treat would be an understatement. So where did this delicious looking cookie come from?
I thought this family couldn’t get any cuter, but I was wrong.
Mama Pea you have outdone yourself… The cookies are light, moist, and flavorful. Not too crumbly, not too chewy, but rather a perfect hybrid of both characteristics. There was a subtle ginger flavor, which I loved, but the outer sugar crystals were the best part. And somehow they weren’t overly sweet either. Brilliant!
I have no doubt Mama Pea’s imminent cookbook is going to be a huge success. After tasting this recipe, I’m beyond thrilled for it’s release. Her reci-peas are gonna be the next best thing since sliced bread Ezekiel english muffins.
After digesting another cookie and a half :) I went for a run. I try not to force exercise in on work days (unless I feel up to it), because I have way more energy on my days off and I prefer saving it for a more productive session. I think that pushing myself to do a half-a$$ workout when I don’t have much energy is pointless. Even if this philosophy means fewer workouts and less time exercising as a whole, I’m pretty sure my body gets way more out of a workout when I’m giving 100%. Granted I’m not doing the kind of mileage that really requires recovery time, but I’m sure the days off don’t hurt with that either.
Post run (and post shower), I had some vegan fudge. Then Ethel came over and we went for a romantic stroll.
We enjoyed the sunset from Ocean Ave, and then walked back to la casita. On the way home this happened:
Ick. How gross am I for showing my foot on the blog? The blood just wouldn’t stop. Rather than freak out, I couldn’t help but brag at how vascular my toe was. What seemed like a simple stub looked like a Dexter-esque blow. My hands and feet are almost always 15 degrees cooler than my body’s core temp, so I sometimes worry that I have crappy circulation. But this blood-fest confirms it – I’m a very vascualr girl. If I had diabetes or if I smoked my toe would’ve produced maybe a drop…but no…I’m a healthy bleeder. Perhaps I’ve taken my cardiac nursing too far…
Back to the food.
WF prepared eats!!!
The end of the work week needs to be celebrated, right? Ok, ok, so I didn’t even work on Friday…whatever…any excuse will do.
I got the tofu fumi salad and Asian sesame tofu too.
So greasy!
Ordinarily, WF is know for it’s fresh, local, organic, clean prepared eats, but let’s not forget they have perfectly delicious hangover food too. Not that I was hungover while eating this, but that’s kinda the genre I put certain foods in. And Whole Foods’ prepared tofu is the perfect meal when you are craving super greasy Chinese food (which – and I’m sorry to make this association – is sometimes a post-boozing necessity). While still insanely oily, it’s a good alternative to a generic Chinese take-out order. I mean, for one, there’s no MSG, plus, there’s no hydrogenated nastiness, unhealthy oils, and the produce involved in the fumi salad is quality produce.
After dinner, Ethel got out her goods for a major girly night.
My toe finally stopped bleeding enough for her to give me a pedicure. Now that’s a good friend!!
Plus my fingies. I’m in a purple phase.
***********************
Ok, so now, about the post title…(yes, it’s a giveaway)!
CSN has generously offered to give one HHH reader $65 to use on any of their goods (which is pretty sweet considering they have everything under the sun available). Check it out for yourself, CSN Stores literally has anything you could ever want, with over 1 million products and 200+ online stores…it’s basically free money in your pocket.
I will announce the winner Monday evening (Nov. 1st), so get your entries in stat!
The only thing you have to do to enter is comment telling me your favorite thing to do on your day off.
*Bonus entry for tweeting the giveaway and then commenting here to tell me you did so.
That WF tofu looks amazing!
My favorite thing to do on my day off is read foodie magazines (e.g., Clean Eating).
I definitely have that lilac Essie nail polish. It’s a favorite. 🙂
My favorite thing to do on days off it NOT set my alarm clock. Whatever time my body wants to wake up is what time I wake up. It is glorious.
Cook! I spend a lot of time in the kitchen as it is, but when I have nothing else to do I spend even more time there 😀
I love being able to make a big breakfast in the morning when I don’t have somewhere I need to rush off to. Even if that breakfast is at noon after I’ve slept in entirely too long 🙂
Hi! I recently came across your blog and I’m loving it so far! (I went to UCLA and now living in NYC and it looks like my next transfer is going to be to SF – so I found we have quite a few things in common).
Anyway, I definitely eat the smaller half of my sandwiches first for the exact same reason. It isn’t strange, it’s just smart 🙂
My favorite thing to do on my day off is baking and cooking! Most days off you will find me in my kitchen.
Crazy picture of your bloody foot!
On my free days I like to read leisurely and make time consuming food that I can’t normally prepare on my busy days.
I love going for a long 5 mile-ish run (which is long for me =) ) and taking my time showering. Those long hot showers after the run are my favorite part of the day – esp when its chilly outside. Then I pop in an ep of a favorite show (lately it’s been Veronica Mars) and get ready nice and slow. You know because its so important to have my hair did just to put back on pajamas and read cases for law school!
Nicole G
hee – I am just the opposite !! I can not eat A LOT at one time (weird, I know…) so I eat the BIGGER side of the sando first, so I can keep the other half for later if need be. 😀
my favorite thing to do on my day off… *spend it with Jason and Basil* awwww ! 😀 my last day off I painted. and cooked. it was perfect.
i love to go browsing books at barnes & noble with a grande latte from the attached starbucks 🙂
My favorite thing to do on a day off is catch up on guilty-pleasure DVR shows that have accumulated during my productive days 🙂
My favorite thing to do on my days off is cook recipes that are more time intensive and prep foods (dressings, soups, etc) for weekday lunches. Super dorky I know! 🙂
I love to spend my days off catching up on missed tv and spending time outdoors with the fam!
my favorite stuff to do on a day off — sleep in, make a yummy brunch, maybe go browse at the bookstore or go for a long drive with my husband (one of the rare chances we get to talk since our babies fall asleep in the backseat!)
Favorite thing to do on a day off is hang out at Point Dume, maybe some yoga on the beach, and head to a local coffee hop and/or bookstore.
My favorite day off activities are to curl up in bed with a good book and grocery shopping.
If by “day off”, you mean no kids to take care of, I would say get a massage, pedi, the works!
My favorite thing to do is sleep in–big time! I’m at UCD and struggle the quarter system which doesn’t allow for more than 6 hours of sleep per night. sigghh
I love to go hiking and to the farmers market on my day off!
i like to just sleep in and read 🙂
On my days off, I love to sleep in, go for a long run, and eat a nice big breakfast while lounging for most of the afternoon!
i love not setting an alarm! and then being lazy and eating breakfast while reading blogs!
My favorite thing to do on my day off is go to a coffee shop and read celebrity/fashion (i.e., mindless!) magazines!
Catching up with friends and reading the blogs I love 🙂
I love to sleep in and have a quiet morning reading blogs, books and magazines. Glorious! Thanks for the giveaway!
Sigh.. as I’m sure you remember well, students never exactly have days entirely off, but when I can take one (or half of one… or a few hours.. you know how it is), I catch up on sleep, extra-sweaty workouts, phone chats with friends and family, and baking and cooking!
On my day off I looooove to go to the library with a cup of starbucks and browse the new releases. I’m such a book nerd at heart 🙂
My favorite thing to do on my day off is attend the gym for a good sweat session. For some reason, I can enjoy a work out on my day off so much more than when I’m working. Must be that I can take my time and really get a good sweat going!
Oh! I also tweeted this giveaway!!
My favorite things to do on a day off are grocery shopping and hiking. I am so lucky that my hubby loves grocery shopping with me and we turn it into a date night! Thanks for the giveaway! I hope I win!
I, too, eat the smaller half of the sandwich (or cookie, whatever) first, for the EXACT same reason that you did!! Haha I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one 😉 It makes complete sense to me…
That pumpkin bread looks amazing!
My perfect day off would involve a nice long run, flipping through some magazines with a soy latte, a nap and a bath!
read magazines and chillax with sappy romance novels. 🙂
I like to go to the beach and read a good book. 🙂
I can’t believe that tiny cut produced all of that blood, ugh!
My weekends off include 1) shopping/cleaning and 2) watching football ALL day Sunday (redzone is crack) with the family.
Question – do you try the stuff from the hot bar first (they let you, yes?) or do you trust the goodness? Have you ever been disappointed?
Take my puppy, Ty, on a walk around a local lake and follow with a trip to Starbucks for their famous Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate!!! Then, meet my mom at a local vegg restaurant for some grub and go home to read blogs all afternoon. Love it!
SLEEP, bake, and get a long (un-rushed) workout in. oh, and catch up on the 03428792873 things that have inevitably accumulated on my “random domestic task” list.
exciting giveaway! i’ve definitely had the same gory experience with stubbed toes that look like stab wounds. woo circulation!
Cook real food! I eat a healthy diet, but during the week I eat a ton of simple prep, unexciting food. It’s nice to cook a coherent meal on the weekends.
Fav thing to do on day off —uhhh, currently unemployed so every day is a “day off” and you don’t appreciate all these days off, but when I worked I loved to spend my days off getting outside.
I’m so glad you liked the cookies. You are too kind to say such sweet things! Love you guys!
My favorite thing to do on my day off is cook!
Thanks 🙂
fave thing to do on my day off….catch up on all the crap i need to do from housework to errands to spending time w/ my fam!
i happen to LOVE that tofu from WF’s. They dont make it that often at my WFs and since i rarely go into WFs these days, i almost never have it. Back in the day, I used to live off that stuff when I could justify $9 for a few pieces of tofu in a plastic tub 🙂
Some stores make it greasier than others. Honestly the ones here, they arent greasy. I dont think grease when i eat it; I think sodium 🙂
The Pea cookie looks awesome. Wow. Lucky girl you are!
As lame as this may sound, one of my favorite activities on days off is catching up on tv shows online. Preferably while a baked good is in the oven while I give myself a mani/pedi. Awesome.
My favorite thing to do on my day off is to do things at my own pace and on my own schedule!
I totally do the bigger half/smaller half thing, too! I guess that makes two of us ;).
My favorite thing to do on my day off is bake. It makes the house smell yummy, and my friends and family are always more than happy to receive the fruits of my labor.
Have a lovely day!
xox
P.S. Does being a “good-bleeder” mean you don’t have poor circulation? If so, wahoo! 😛
Some of the things I like to do on my days off is sleep in! I feel like I deserve it after a long week. Then I take my time to enjoy my breakfast and browse the internet then I might go browse the mall [:
I like to run, read, watch sports on tv, go food shopping, and eat. and then snuggle with the boy.
Sleep! There is something so peaceful to waking up without an alarm!!
okay, that’s it — making that banana bread! you’ve sold me. that money shot worked it’s magic.
and on my days off i love to cook! i make food for the week, usually. like i did today. millet madness!
My days off are spent at the state park with my dog. So many great hiking trails and beautiful scenery 🙂
I love to sleep as long as I can (no alarm), tackle my household chores (aka clean my room) and buy groceries (total stress relief). Getting these things out of the way allows me to enjoy the rest of my free time doing things I love, like going to the beach and exploring the new city I live in (LA yeah!).
Definitely sleep, veg, catch up on my favorite shows and my favorite blogs!!! And surround myself with family, good friends, and warm tea 🙂
Days off should be just that: a day OFF! Love getting up and doing a leisurely workout, then coming home to shower and get back in my pj’s ALL DAY LONG! Unless I go out, of course 😉
Oh my, gnarly toe! Ouch! I hate it when I stub my toes, but luckily, I have never had a stub that bad.
On a more appetizing note, that sandwich looks really good. I love the combination of avocado and eggs. That might just be going in my tummy sometime soon!
Now, for the giveaway…
on my day off from work and/or school I like to go out of town to shop at Whole Foods and/or Trader Joe’s. If I don’t have sufficient funds at the time (ha, like always), I will spend my free time with my boyfriend, or cleaning my room, doing dishes, laundry. It’s the little things in life that excite me. 🙂
Favorite thing to do on my day off is be lazy and hang around the house. sad, right?
Hey!! My favorite thing to do on my day off is to go to Yoga… then after Yoga I like to lay around and watch tv or movies as much as possible!!
I love catching up on my trashy TV shows, going to classes I’ve missed at the gym during the week (body pump), grocery shopping, going out to dinner with DBF. Pretty much anything that life and work gets in the way of during the week!
Sadly, I am in grad school so I don’t really get days off… But I love when I have some extra time to take my dog for a super-long walk in the park!
Relax at the beach with a good book!
Visit the farmers breakfast and go to our favorite breakfast spot.
go out to breakfast with my boyfriend and then stroll around Santa Monica. 🙂
I like to wander random grocery stores, catch up on my DVR and lounge on the couch. 🙂
My Favorite thing to do on a day off is/are:
1) bake random things
2) watch TV shows from netflix
3) extended lunch outings with friends 🙂
The best thing to do on a day off is relax with a cup of coffee or hit the gym for a work out session that’s not rushed.
I almost immediately start my AM with coffee too — yours looks so good with that cocoa on top!
Let’s see, my fave thing to do on my day off would be meeting up with some girlfriends for coffee, socializing, and a walk! 🙂
Read! I can polish off an entire book on a day off; it’s fantastic.
I like to bake on my day off. Some of my favorite things to bake are banana bread, poppy seed loaf, and pumpkin rolls. They are delicious. Your recipe looks great too!
I would definitely do a ton of gardening and then of course, cook! There is nothing better than tasty food that you can take the time to prepare.
I love to go on long walks with my dog on my days off.
The BEST thing to do on my day off is grab sour dough pancakes at the local bake shop in my town… yummmm!
i have a very similar morning routine, but coffee precedes the face and teeth…brews as i’m in the bathroom. i then browse the web while watching morning news shows, then morning talk shows, then bravo and food network. at some point i visit the gym or go for a run, and love not being rushed. very rarely, i’ll decide to lie in bed and a nap will happen. now THAT is nice. i just love not having any plans, doing as i please, taking my time, and catching up on tons of tv and trashy magazines.
i love your commitment to the gourd. i wish for your sake there was more meatier ness to it though!
egg + cado is one of the best combos evah.
what i don’t love is your noncommitment to our football relationship right now.
Favorite thing to do on my day off (when home): make pancakes for breakfast, sip coffee with the momz, lay in the sun, read a good magazine and maybe go for a hike?! No obligations, just bliss 🙂
Ps I adoreee the purple nails. Adore!
Not to mention that pb-topped pumpkin bread looks sort of INCREDIBLE. Bookmarked it!
I have never heard of CSN, but I could totally blow some $$ there! AND, Nov. 1st just happens to be my birthday, so I think I need to win this giveaway 🙂
On my days off I love to get in a good workout and then cook and clean and get organized. Nerdy, I know, but I love it!
Courtney
fave thing to do on my day off is sleep in, enjoy good food, and take my dog on long walks!
sleep, cook, and work out!
hahah this post was chock full of good stuff. i kind of lost my train of thought. let’s see.. oh yeah! i do that same thiing with sandwiches! you are so not weird. or i am just not normal, right there with you. i loved the bloody foot shot immediately followed by “back to the food”– i laughed so hard. sorry about the foot though.
favorite thing to do on my day off is hang out with my dogs. they get neglected during the work week!
i drank out of that coffee mug today 🙂
ouch your toe looks sore, hope it is better now :0)
Fav. thing to do w/ a day off is either to work on my rubber band ball or practice my Polka. 🙂
Ok, well might not be entirely true. I like to go people watch & swing my golf balls 🙂
I have never associated Chinese Food w/ hangovers, but that might be because Chinese Food makes me feel like I have a hangover. I wonder what would consume for a Chinese Food hangover….
Hope the toe is healing!!!
my favorite thing to do on my day off is not to rush in the morning and workout a little later than usual.
On my day off I love to do a “fun” workout like run with friends or bike (or hoola hoop!). Then I love to leisurely eat and relax. I usually end an afternoon off by cooking a delicious meal or a healthy treat!
My favorite thing to do on my day off (after I sleep in, of coures), is exercise and sloooowly grocery shop. Those are the 2 things that I normally love to do, but often resent when I feel rushed to do them after work.
Your toe shot was very appropriate for Halloween!
My days off tend to be baking and cooking bonanza days – all day in the kitchen and garden, apron on and usually barefooted. Total therapy for me when I’m not working!
My favorite thing to do on my day off is make good food to eat!
I looooove to get in a nice, long workout session in on my days off. And I’m always sure to get my pup to the dog park! 🙂
On my days off, I like to sleep in (until 7:00 am), and then I rotate taking one of four girls shopping for one on one time with Mom.
On my days off I like to take a 89475 hour long shower and shop. and bake vegan things =]
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Favorite thing to do on a day off is to watch desperate housewives. for hourrsss
My favorite day-off activity is getting to sleep in and/or treat myself to Starbucks!
My favorite thing to do on my day off is to go hiking or to have a mellow breakfast in santa monica!
Day off? What is a day off??? As a new mom, that term isn’t in my vocabulary but in my dreams, I would sleep a ton, workout, get a massage and facial and then head to a great dinner.
I forgot to include: My favorite thing to do on my day off is bake while watching food network. I love the challenges of vegan baking but it usually takes more than one batch to get it right… hence the day long extravaganza.
I like $ in my pocket. My favorite thing to do on my day off is take a nice long walk with my puppy after lunch.
My favorite thing to do on my day off is SLEEP IN. Even if that means only sleeping until 7am anymore, I’ll take it.
Cook!…..and clean! I am a neat freak, so I feel so much better when my kitchen is clean. Even when I know I am going to be making a mess, I still always clean it first….makes me feel so much calmer seeing a clean kitchen. 🙂
My favorite thing to do on my day off is nothing!! Just stay in my pjs, read, do laundry, and watch tv
My days off MUST include: pancakes, dog walks, romantic comedies, a jar of dark chocolate peanut butter, and a spoon. 🙂
My favorite thing to do is hike with the hubs and pooch – but seeing as winter is too cold for that it is knit by the fire
My favorite thing to do is go for a run and read magazines and have some quality alone time.
My favorite thing to do on a day off is be flexible-wake up when I want, work out when I want, take my dog on a walk, and catch up on tv.
Oh my goodness, I will have to make the pumpkin bread. It looks amazing with the peanut butter on top! Are those the Mama Pea Pumpkin Ginger Snaps? I’m making some for a friend this week. I can’t wait to try them.
For the giveaway, my favorite thing to do on my day off is laze around, ride my bike, and then do craft projects while watching Netflix streaming. I work four days a week, so that’s my typical Friday.
Take my dog for a walk and go grocery shopping/cook up a food storm…and watch hours of Bravo and Showtime. BAM
Cook ridiculous amounts of food making awesome from scratch meals and organize my house (nerd).
Sleep in, cook and cuddle with my dog. 🙂
YUM. I’m loving sandwiches JUST like yours lately. Somehow, I had forgotten how awesome eggs are in sandwiches until recently! and black beans, too! <3
anyway, I was just telling Janetha, I feel like I miss so much over the weekend when I "unplug", but then again, it's so cool to have all the blog catch up to look forward to on monday mornings! 🙂
NOT to mention your awesome givewaway!
if I won, I'd invest in one of those awesome electric skillets (http://www.csnstores.com/Small-Appliances-C419242.html) so I could make your butternut banana oatcakes! <3
also tweeted! @cox_2446
My favorite thing to do on my day off is to reconnect with as many friends as I can, weather it’s through phone, getting together, etc.
I like to sleep in, catch up on DVR’d shows and spend time with my family.
My favorite thing to do on my day off is catch up on my favorite foodie blogs (yours included, obvs!) and make more involved recipes than I usually have time to make on work nights.
Good Morning Miss Hippie!
My fav thing to do on my day off is tor ide my bike to my local coffee shop for a big frothy cup of joe and a crunchy bagel. I always bring a book and linger as long as my little ADD brain will allow!
Thanks for the contest, and keep up the lovely work.
Meghan
I agree that WF has a wealth of delicious hangover food!
My favorite thing to do on a day off is cuddle with my pup and read a book 🙂
I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE to sleep in on my days off. I usually take advantage of the extra energy and clean, grocery shop and do any errands. 🙂
I tweeted about your give-away!!! 🙂
My account is @Chocotweet
oops…I meant “Chocotweet89”
My favorite thing to do on a day off is sleep in! And bake. It just so happens I took off last Friday too and made some of your Banana Pumpkin bread. It was sooooo good. I’m going to make another batch this week. Thanks for the recipe!
on my days off i LOVE
wow okay my comment got posted before i hit submit.
anyways i LOVE making breakfast on the stove top and watching the JETS receivers blow games..
My favorite thing to do on my days off? Savor the morning! I love sitting outside with my laptop, sipping my coffee and eating breakfast. The morning holds so much possibility as to what the day may bring. =) LOVE IT!
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thanks for holding this wonderful giveaway! my favorite thing to do on the weekend is visiting my local farmer’s market right after enjoying an amazing brunch!
On my day off I love to take walks because my new job is dreadfully sedentary!! I also love to sleep on my days off. Pregnancy is just another great reason to sleeeeeeeeeep.
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