soooo … the next person to leave a comment stating they would like the yogurt + gift card package, will be the winner!

how were your weekends? wet and rainy? yeah, mine too…

let’s get to the good stuff, shall we? i have a giveaway to announce. but first, some eats…

Saturday morning, I decided to make one of B’s and my new obssession: Green Monsters. After seeing so many of you all in blogland enjoying these delights, I had to try one myself. I even convinced the boy to try it and guess what? he LOVED it & now requests that i make them more often. i’m slowly getting those veggies into his system ;0)

in the food processor: vanilla almond milk, strawberry/banana kefir, tons of spinach, 1 frozen banana

all blended together. lovin those bubbles & green color. some may be freaked out by the color but, i like that it’s green! makes it feel even more healthy somehow.

his & hers. in pint glasses (classy? it’s how we do) such a perfect morning treat. even if the rain was making for a gloomy day.

What are your favorite additons to a Green Monster?

For our dinner on Saturday evening, I decided to put some of our new groceries to good use. I roasted a sweet potato, yellow onion, broccoli, and zuccini in some EVOO w/ s&p @400* for about 40 min. I adore roasting veggies. Absolutely my favorite way to eat them. The flavors of each vegetable come out & infuse together to make a delicious dish. Alongside the veggies we had some chicken baked in the oven with a little EVOO and s&p.

his and hers dinners. on christmas plates. because i will probably still use these plates in the middle of summer. don’t hate

w/ a little ambiance.

plus a little dessert action. because really, when i was younger, i breezed through my dinner to get to dessert. cleaaaarly the most important part of the meal

in the bowl: double chocolate vitatop, bananer slices, nutella “icing” & some whip. absolutely diiiiiivine. the boy was jealous.

now for the good stuff:

dun dun dun…. * drum roll please*

…….

Giant & Yoplait teamed up with MyBlogSpark to bring one lucky reader a prize pack with 4 coupons to purchase Yoplait’s new GREEK yogurt & a $20 GIFT CARD to Giant.

having recently tried the Greek Yogurt from Yoplait, i can honestly tell you that i’m a fan. while i’m a loyal oikos fan, the yoplait version is a great alternative & is generally a little cheaper than the oikos.

(forgive the blackerry photos, i was at work & without my point and shoot)

the flavor is fruity (i had the strawberry), and the texture is thick & creamy (TWSS) – just how i like it. i know many of you who can get down with some greek yog’s. yoatgurt anyone?

For chances to win this fabulous prize pack:

• Leave a comment letting me know your favorite flavor of Greek Yogurt.
• Add me to your google reader/ blog roll & leave me a comment letting me know you did so.
• Leave a comment letting me know your favorite mix-ins for a yogurt mess.
• Talk about this giveaway on your blog & link back (then come back here and leave me a comment letting me know you did so) – if you don’t have a blog, email me and let me know you’re interested.

**** Contest ENDS at 8p.m. on Friday. Will announce the winner over the weekend *****

Hope you all made it through monday & are having a great & delicious start to your weeks! <3

]]> http://eatolive.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/giveaway-announcement/feed/ 2 eatolive IMG_0511 IMG_0513 IMG_0518 IMG_0519 IMG_0520 IMG_0523 IMG_0524 -1 -2 http://eatolive.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/crepes-cameras-and-a-giveaway-oh-my/ http://eatolive.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/crepes-cameras-and-a-giveaway-oh-my/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:23:27 +0000 eatolive http://eatolive.wordpress.com/?p=465 ]]> Hola Chicas!

Okay. So…I haven’t traded my Rebel Xti for a T2i … yet.

I’ve been considering upgrading for a while now. After B brought home his beautiful 50D, I found myself having extreme camera envy. The T2i is aaaaahmazing and I’m on the waiting list at our local Penn Camera for when they receive their next shipment (when I went to the store, all of the brand new T2i’s had been spoken for. I was pretty sad face).

So hopefully, I will receive the call soon & can trade in for a new baby toy :0)

B and I really want to get into digital photography together and I feel as though this will help motivate the both of us to continue in the field.

Enough about that, onto the eats!

After reading Allie‘s post on 3 ingredient oat flour crepes, I knew that I needed to try them tonight as dessert. And I knew exactly what I wanted to fill the crepes.

Nutella + Banana + Whip? No question that it would be amazing.

and amazing they were. especially on christmas plates.

I have a feeling I’ll still be using Christmas plates throughout the summer. Christmas in July?

I failed a bit on the flipping aspect of making these guys but that sure did not screw up the taste. These babies are fantastic. Seriously, make them right now! I can only imagine how many good filling combinations these guy would hold. So simple, easy & amazingly tasty.

In fact, when I brought this beaut to the boy, he exclaimed,

“Wait. You MADE this? This looks amazing!”

*takes bite”

“This IS amazing!”

He pretty much wants them for every meal. Good thing they’re simple & easy, right?

So delish.

Stay tuned for my next post in which i’ll announce a giveaway that includes some Yoplait GREEK yogurt and a giftcard to Giant!

xoxoxo

<3 Ally

Look at her beauty..

Stay Tuned to Find Out!

Belated recognition to this girl who is getting married SO SOON! So excited for you girlie! LOVE the new wedding related fun you’ve added to your posts!

A while ago, that same amazing girl hosted a Secret Bloggie Valentine Swap. Because of the snow, my package arrived late (USPS was very backed up) but the lovely Liz sent fabulous goodies I have been digging into ever since (*ahem* most of them may have been consumed in .2 seconds after they were received. oopsie). Thank you so much for the fabulous goodies, Liz!

fabulous packaging skillz.

the goods. girl must have done her homework. loooove my cashew cookie larabars, zbars, and peppermint stick lunas. and orange + choclate = heaven in a bite.

the most adorable heart bowl (perfect for oats in the morn’!), tj’s chai tea latte (thank you SO much for keeping me away from the bux’! ) and ghiradelli squares. that’s right, ghiradelli. aaaaamaze.

all together now. + a bpa free nalgene which is my new love for the gym!

Speaking of the gym, I have been trying to channel my inner Janetha, B, by getting to the gym at least 5 days/week. While my eats will never be as clean as hers, I know that making it to the gym at least 5/week is something I can accomplish with a little motivation. This warm weather is getting me excited for the soon to come sun & sand time! I’ve decided to make some March Goals as I know some other bloggers do as well. I figure that posting them on here will help me accountable & always thinking about how I can work towards the goals. For the month of March, I want to will:

• Work out 5/days per week. 2 of the 5 days will be 5:30 am workouts before work. (this has worked surprisingly well for me these past two weeks – and I never thought I would say that I actually enjoy, and almost look forward to 5:30 am workouts. But, they really are energizing & leave my evenings open for relaxation & time w/ the boy.)
• Make a conscious effort to eat cleaner & stop the nibbles, bites & licks.
• Bring my lunch to work & not spend crazy $$ on eating out.
• Get at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Preferably, 8 hours.

I know that these goals do not seem like much but, lately I have found myself tired & eating poorly & really need something to help kick start me back into my healthy habits. I know that I can accomplish these and they will make me feel great!

Do you have any goals for march, this year, life?

xoxo,

Ally <3

**** edited to add: CONGRATS to all who ran the Disney Princess Half!!!!

]]> http://eatolive.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/700-years-later/feed/ 4 eatolive IMG_0500 IMG_0503 IMG_0504 IMG_0505 http://eatolive.wordpress.com/2010/02/10/snowvie-snowvechkin-snowmageddon/ http://eatolive.wordpress.com/2010/02/10/snowvie-snowvechkin-snowmageddon/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:39:03 +0000 eatolive http://eatolive.wordpress.com/?p=436 ]]> We are getting pummeled by snow here in the Washington, DC region.

As if the 28 inches we got on Saturday weren’t enough, mother nature is dropping another 10-14 inches right now with wind gusts up to 45 mph.

B and I made it outside to sled, build snowfort igloos and just generally goof around in the white fluffy stuff.

We made sure to bundle up before braving the elements. seksi snow gear if you ask me..

.

…those rain boots are the best purchase i have ever made.

To ensure that we knew how much snow had fallen in rockville at the time, we brought out the trusty yard stick.

25+ inches baby. and this was at about 2:00 pm on saturday. the snow didnt stop until after 5:00 pm. yeaaaahhhh.

We made sure to document the snowfall…

And a clear view of the bus depot (fabulous city view?) outside of our bedroom window. considering snow like this shuts down our city and the buses weren’t running.

hellloooo metrobus.

It’s amazing how trudging through 2+ feet of snow for 2 hours will wear you out. i was sweating by the time we got back inside to our warm and cozy apartment. it might not be the most conventional work out, but i sure felt it in my quads and glutes.

We came home to a fabulously warm cup of deliciousness..

Smores hot chocolate + whip + half a biscotti = heaven on a cold day.

Conveniently served in our matching A & B mugs from Anthro. We’re classy & the B was one of his Christmas presents

As of now, the wind is still blowing the snow around like crazy and I’m enjoying a nice cup of Candy Cane Lane tea while watching 8 Simple Rules. ( anyone watch that ever? )

Hope everyone in the northeast is staying warm indoors and riding out this crazy storm! To all of you in warmer states, send the warmth our way!

Have a great night! xoxo

<3

i had been doing quite well after joining the new gym. i spent at least an hour there 4 or 5 times per week. i felt good. i felt like i was going back into the right direction with my weight loss. hit a snag though. somehow, i strained, or sprained or pulled a muscle in my calf and walking was unbearable. i haven’t been able to work out on it and do not know when i will feel comfortable putting full pressure on it.

i made the mistake of overdoing it yesterday by going downtown to see the National Geographic terracotta exhibit. (aaaahmazing exhibit, btw. seriously awesome.) i had wanted to travel to china to see them in the pits/watch them being excavated but, when i found out they were transporting 15 of them to Nat Geo, i reserved tickets immediately. seriously amazing to see, and i still want to go to china they had a little kit in the gift shop where you can “excavate” your own warrior. i bought one and am pretty darn psyched to work on it!

(source)

the story surrounding the warriors, their purpose, the emperor and his death fascinates me and i was so happy to see that exhibit. definitely worth the money!

my eats have been a bit boring lately. although we did stop at Cafe Asia, a restaurant that was within walking distance from the museum, and my order of pad thai was fit for three. i got my lunch that day, my dinner, and brendan’s dinner out of one serving. and it was delicious.

i’ve been eating one of these for breakfast every day as i run out the door….

not the most complete meal, i know … but it satisfied the hunger pains when i was in a rush..

i did however, feed my belly well when arriving to work..

.

best mid morning snack, ever.

strawbs, strawberry yogs, and quaker granola.

serious party in my mouth right there..i could eat it every day and not get sick of it. amaze.

hope you all are having a fabulous weekend! it’s raining and gloomy here which i suppose is not so bad when i’m couch bound for the rest of the day.

hopefully tomorrow, the leg will be better & i can venture out.

toodles!

OH, you muuust (well actually, don’t because i REALLY want to win this one ) check out Janetha‘s awesomeeee jewelry giveaway here!

xoxoxo <3

My apologies – I was supposed to announce this last night & failed to blog at all! So exhausted! Anyways, let’s get riiight down to business!

It appears a whopping FOUR of you entered (yes, Jenny, I included you in this to make myself feel about the numbers, haha)

Via random.org (which I can’t figure out how to imbed the actual generator thingie into this post…anyone know how??) The winnter of my first giveaway everrrr is…

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 4 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

JANETHA B!

Congratulations girlie! Send me your addy (ally (dot) eckhart (at) gmail (dot) com) so I can pass along the info to Progesso!

Hope you all have a grand and glorious friday! It’d 50 degrees here today! Feels like SPRING!

OH, if you’re interested in a little Valentine’s secret bloggie action, check out Janetha’s post here!

<3

Just poppin in for a quick post of an update on our new home. Unforuntaley, everytime our place is neat & tidy, it’s usually because we are having company & i never have time/remember? to snap some photos before it’s no longer very neat. ( I swear we’re not slobs, just not the most organized all the times…;0) )

With that said (i’ve forwarned you all), all I have are some crappy quality iphone photos from B’s phone of when our apartment was tidy right before our “apartment warming” party. (only one week after moving in, too!) For now, they’re gonna have to do.

Our closet-sized kitchen. Thankfully, as a one bedroom apartment, there are only two of us. However, I would enjoy more cabinet space and/or a pantry. Since this photo was taken, a few things have changed to make it seem more “homey” and welcoming as well as help out with the function of our kitchen. We’ve put up a shelving unit on one wall to house appliances, recycle bins, pots, pans, cookbooks, and more :0) .

The kitchen opens up into our living room/office space.

The boy’s “baby”, his projector, is mounted on wall & the Caps game is on in the background! The L – shaped sofa as well as the IKEA chair (adore IKEA) fit well in the space. Since the photo, we’ve added a dining area in the left corner of this photo (it doesn’t look as though there is much room for it, but there’s more space than the picture shows) as well as some floor length white curtains (that are usually tied back) in the space between the living room and office space. (In the mornings/afternoons, the sun is VERY bright in our apartment and we end up losing sight of the projection when trying to watch TV. The curtains block most of the light so that we can actually see what’s going on)

To the right of this photo is a wall that B has used to display his collection of old cameras, his other “babies.”

(sincerely apologize for the poor quality photos)

Some IKEA shelving, and boatloads of old cameras later … ta da! I think it’s neat & love that he can display all of his finds. Since this photo, we’ve added some artwork to the adjacent wall. For his senior project in college, B created 4 huge images of an old camera. The first in the series is completely drawn out in graphite. The second, has most of the image drawn out in graphit and about 1/3 of it is in dot form. The third has about 2/3 in dots and 1/3 drawn and the fourth image is soley dots. When the images are posted in row, and you stand from a distance, they all look the same & form the complete image of the camera. (you can’t tell that dots are even involved at all until looking closely.)

(click to enlarge)

These pics are from his senior exhibition.

Since there’s obviously only one adjacent wall, we could only put up one of the drawings but our goal for when we move, is to have enough space somewhere to hang all four of them.

Off the living room is the sunroom/our new office space … or as B has claimed it, his ‘man cave.’

He has since added a flat screen monitor on the other side of his IMac and has his PS3 hooked up to it. Boys and their toys….He absolutely loves that space.

Off the living room and next to do the shelving of cameras, is the door to our bedroom…

dun dun dun

Where the magic happens …

There are two doors that lead out of bedroom …

….and straight into our walk in closet! Hallelujah!

It’s rather humorous though, B actually has the majority of the walk-in because I think that his dresser is too ugly to put in the bedroom, so it lives in the closet. Priorities.

The closed door you see leads into our bathroom…

B calls this the place where the magic happens. I know what goes on in there, and none of it is magical.

It’s a pretty generic bathroom, but I’m just happy it’s not closet – sized, and there’s a tub.

That’s all of our 807 sq. feet humble abode. We love it and are very happy we decided on this building. While my commute to work is not ideal (45 minutes there, an hour home), its very much worth it. Trying to get any closer to the city, or in the city for that matter, would put us into crazy debt. Washington, DC is nottttt cheap!

I am however, quite happy with the proximity of our apartment to our new gym. I was happily at the gym for almost 2 hours tonight and reveled in the fact that it only took me 3 minutes to get home. Ah. Maz. Ing.

Hope you all are having a fabulous start to the work week, we’re almost halfway through!

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to enter my Souper You Giveaway! It ends tomorrow at 9:00 pm!

XoXo!

<3

I’m currently watching Platinum Weddings on We and these people are nuts! Goooodness GRACIOUS these weddings are extravagant! Wowza.

Back on track though, it’s finalllly time to announce my first giveaway! Does the title of my post give it away??

dun dun dun…

PROGESSO SOUP SOUPER YOU PRIZE PACK!(woooo!)

MyBlogSpark teamed up with Progresso and was kind enough to send me a sampling of their light and 100 calorie soups to try!

Along with the soups, they send a oversized soup mug and digital jump rope (which also counts your jumps, but also, the calories burned)

Normally, I’m not a huge fan of the high sodium content in canned soup. However, during these super cold months, and because many of these soups have reduced sodium, I decided that making them every once in a while, paired with a side that doesn’t include much sodium at all, it would be a warming and delicious meal. Wow, major run-on sentence there. Forgive me.

Tonight, after spending a cold afternoon traveling down to U Street for lunch and picture taking at Ben’s Chili Bowl (more on that later), I decided a nice warm bowl of soup and fresh, crisp salad would be a fabulous (and easy-peasy) dinner.

I chose the Progresso Reduced-Sodium Chicken Noodle. What I really love about these cans, are the fact that they do not require a can opener. (especially because we don’t even own one yet, oops!) They have the easy pop tops for can opener challenged people such as me.

I love how soup requires minimal preparation. Pour in a pot, place on the stove, heat & eat.

While the soup was heating up, I assembled my hugh jass.

Romaine, Cucs, Maters, Pistachios and a drizzle of balsamic.

I adore the soup and salad combination. Filling, delicious, and healthy.

New soup mug! It even has an indent in the handle for your thumb!

Annnnnnd, all together now!

The soup tasted fantastic. I can usually taste that canned soups have too much sodium in them and this one definitely didn’t have that taste. I didn’t have to feel bad about eating the entire can, and it it warmed me right up after our frigid adventure.

Now, here’s where you beauties come in!

MyBlogSpark and Progresso have teamed up to give one lucky reader two cans of Progresso Soup, the Progesso Soup Mug, and the Digital Jump Rope.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Leave a comment letting me know your favorite food/drink to warm up with on a cold day.

For extra entries (please leave a separate comment for each entry):

1. Add me to your blogroll/google reader. (extra entry)

2. Link back to this post on your blog. (extra entry)

3. If someone posts that they found out about this contest through your blog post, gain an extra 2 entries!

This contest ends on Wenesday, January 13 at 9:00p.m., and I will announce the winner on Thursday.

Good luck loves!

Hope you all had an amazing weekend! (wish it was not almost over..) and stay tuned for a post about our trip to Ben’s, and a tour of our new home!

xoxo

<3