I don’t think I have taken that many days in a row off from blogging before! I kind of let everything go for three days…. I vistited my mom, ate Cheesecake Factory cheesecake (!!), didn’t sign into my blog once, and didn’t touch any of my school work. It was wonderful! But that meant todays was…not so wonderful.
I came home yesterday afternoon with bags and bags from our mother-daughter trip to BJs and Trader Joe’s. After hauling everything into the apartment (and thinking repeatedly how much I miss having a driveway leading right to my door), I crashed! I do really well in the morning. I feel good, I have energy, and have (so far) been able to work out. But about 2-3 in the afternoon, I crash! I don’t know what it is about that time of day, but that is when I feel pregnant.
I did nothing after getting home, today, reality hit me hard! I worked out this morning (feeling good). I vacuumed (still feeling good). I dusted (still feeling good). I had lunch (with a yummy Dr. Praeger’s burger on gluten free bread, I was definitely still feeling good!)
But after lunch I started in on the chemistry…and realized how much I do not understand what I’m learning. I worked for 2 1/2 hours before I started crying. At this point it was the dreaded 2:00 hour. Tired + hormones = crying! That’s an equation I understand. Here’s another equation I understand: Pregnancy = PMS X 10
I finally called my brother and left him a message pleading with him to help me tomorrow. Then I gave up and moved on to preparing my microbiology notes. I was just starting in and feeling overwhelmed by how much I have to memorize, when Dave called from LA. I have missed him terribly this week, but you wouldn’t know it by the moody monster who picked up the phone. Sorry sweetie! I was kind of a mess.
But I pushed on and ended up being able to prepare all of my study notes for my very last microbiology test! I had planned to take the test on Wednesday night, but the professor gave us the option to take it during the spring break. So I am cutting myself some slack and letting myself take it a week from monday instead of on Wednesday. So unlike me! But then again…. Pregnancy = my usual productivity / 2.
Dinner tonight was something I had been concoctingin my head while I ran this morning. I added spinach and tomato to 1/4 cup quinoa and cooked it until the quinoa was done. Then, once it had cooled, I added Trader Joe’s canned salmon, artichokes, cucumber, and dried cranberries to the quinoa mixture. It was wonderful!
Its amazing how lots of veggies make one serving of quinoa quite large!
Dessert was inspired by my very favorite French toast topping ( softened apple, pumpkin, and raisins). Remember?
I took that same topping, let it cool, and then added a container of plain Greek yogurt.
I may have also added a generous scoop (or 2!) of fat free Cool Whip to the bowl after snapping this picture! Its my guilty pleassure!
I have a full day of chemistry ahead tomorrow, and hopefully, my brother can work his magic and help me decipher reaction rates. But for right now, I am exhausted and am putting my feet up for the rest of the night.
Have a great start to the week!
Glad to have you back – everyone needs a break from time to time – ahhh Chemistry – that is not fun!
I love those Dr. Praegger burgers!! Such great texture!! I didn’t even realize they are gluten free!! Though I doubt Andrew would be interested… he’s not really a veggie burger guy.
Glad you had some restful time off. I can’t imagine pregnancy hormones.
I can’t believe how much you do. I would have no energy….LOL!
Great eats.
If I know you like I think, I bet you understand a lot more of your work than you think. Take a deep breath and remember that it’s just a class and you’ll get through. Big hugs to you Shannon!
Mid afternoon is when my energy would always start lagging too. And when I would have the “hangover” morning sickness feeling. The joys of building a baby. LOL
Glad you still got the things you needed to finished!
I just read that dried food may help fight wrinkles!! So yeah to those raisins
Ugh, productivity divided by 2? Can’t wait for that! Shannon, I think a break from blogging is totally necessary sometimes, and in fact I’ve done the same, and have not posted since Friday. Oh well! A break was in store for me.
I’m glad you had a nice weekend with your family. Nothing beats MAJOR trips to Trader Joe’s!
Good luck with the studying. I hope your brother pulls through for you!
I’m sorry you’re getting frustrated with your studies
I know you’ll get it, you’re too much of a great student not too! Good luck 
that quinoa looks SO good I love beefing up grains with veggies and fun ingredients
I hope you are feeling better todayy
Oh no! I hate when everything piles up but sometimes you just gotta do it and take that much needed, and much deserved break. This means you are better able to tackle your school work since you have taken some time away from it and are refreshed.
Oh hun, I am sorry to hear that the pregnancy hormones are out of control! I can’t even imagine!
Wow that quinoa dish looks delicious!
I’m glad you had a nice break from everything this weekend! But I always feel the same way after I have some time off, it makes things worse when you first get back to it all. Plus being tired in the afternoons only make it worse. I have so much less patience when I am tired!
Great job on pushing through chickie with your studies and sometimes we all need a little break from blogging…it happens to all of us =)
I’m glad you had a good weekend… But I’m sorry you are tired! I’ve also been really tired lately. It’s only 7:30 here right now and I can barely keep my eyes open. Hang in there girl. It gets better!
We are having quinoa for dinner but that combination looks great!
Will need to try that…
Good for you for taking some time off – it is so hard to do – but so worth it sometimes!