{Life} Two weeks.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but it doesn't seem real that the two weeks of carb exile are over.  They flew by.  And the best part?  I lost ten pounds!!

I'm on cloud nine.  As I go into Phase 2, I'm supposed to reintroduce (healthy) carbs and fruit.  I don't really want to, though.  I want to keep this momentum.  Unfortunately, I don't think it works that way.

I've only slipped up a little.  I'll admit it, I did have a few drinks.  Not many, though.  A watermelon mojito, some sake with a sushi dinner, and a glass of wine.  Not too bad over two weeks.  (I'm justifying, I know.)

On Sunday, I went shopping to celebrate, purchasing a gold metallic skirt and sequin shorts.  I loved them and bought them right up without really thinking how I would incorporate these things into my wardrobe.

 I've already warn the sequin shorts.  They make an average day feel sort of fancy.

Happy Thursday, lovers!

{Food} This Post is Going No Where.

Yesterday marked 7 days of eating sugar/grain/starch free.  Meaning no booze, either.  I'm at the halfway point.  And I've never felt better.  Really.  My head feels clear.  My body feels energized (except in the morning. normal.)  I'm amazed.

I've never really disclosed this on the blog, but for years I've struggled with major stomach issues.  Something along the lines of Crohn's disease meets IBS.  They became friends and decided to wreck my gastronomic life; meaning I can't eat anything good (pizza, pasta, fried anything, fatty meats, cheese, etc) without feeling awful.  The upside is, over the past 7 days I've noticed that I don't feel awful.  At all.  I feel great.  I've realized that I actually forgot what normal feels like.  I haven't felt like this since I was 19. (I'm 28, now.) The downside to all of this?  One or more of the things that I really enjoy is triggering the insane stomach pain.  Total bummer.

I love food and wine.  I love dining.  I love trying new things.  I know that feeling healthy is far more important than being a hedonistic food snob.  I know this.  But living off of grilled chicken breasts and steamed veg is not my idea of gastronomic heaven.  I don't want to be that girl at the restaurant that has to order everything on the side (I am not Sally.  You know, from When Harry Met Sally?).  I don't want to be a "dish modifier" kind of person.  I like trying things as they are, as the chef intended.  If the dish has stuff that I think sucks, like goat cheese or sea urchin, I just don't order it.

I realize this all sounds a bit dramatic.  My health is more important.  I'll figure it all out.  I need to focus on the positive.  The positive being that I feel great.

Blog.  Thank you for letting me vent.  I really needed that.

So this is what I've been eating lately.  Simple and tasty.  Why am I even whining?  Sorrrryyyyyyyy, y'all.

{Garlic lemon shrimp, grilled squash, & cauliflower mash.}

{This mash taste very similar to mashed potatoes.  I was happily surprised.}

Chicken Fajita Lettuce Cups.

What do you do with a match, a red bell pepper, and an onion?
1.  Light the stove with said match.
2. Sauté the pepper and onion.
3. Grill chicken on the George Forman.
4. Wrap in lettuce cup.
5. Devour.
I topped my lettuce cups with a smidge of low fat sour cream and a heavy hand of Valentina (my preferred hot sauce.)

No tortilla's, potatoes, or grains in sight.  I'm doing my best to behave on this two week starch/carbohydrate hiatus.

But I really miss these...

{Homemade/sort of, hot, fluffy, and delicious.  For about $2 you get 20 of these babies.  Take that Ortega.}

Happy Friday, you all.  I'm really excited because I get to enjoy Saturday and Sunday off of work.  Two consecutive days off in a row.  Oh my!

What are your weekend plans?