Hey everyone! Some updates for ya since I have not been able to post as often as I’d like.
I first wanted to thank everyone for all the great comments on my post Friday. I will keep you all in the loop! So far, so good, and it probably has to do with the fact that I was out almost all weekend drinking Octoberfest beer and eating lots 
Success!
I am not one of those types of “healthy living blogger’s” who is afraid to go out and drink and eat at restaurants. I love, love, love to go out, drink wine, beer, cocktails, etc. and order off different menu’s, and oh yeah, indulge in fried calamari – my favorite! I just love spending time with my favorite people and eating and drinking out is just all a part of that experience. Eating out has just never scared me or worried me. I can ALWAYS find something “Eva-Friendly” off of the menu.
So yes, I had a great weekend out in NYC and then at a co-workers BBQ yesterday. Can’t you just feel the Fall air? Love it.
This certainly makes a Marvelous in my Monday, and thank you to Katie @ Healthy Diva Eats for hosting!
Before we get into two awesome things I made this weekend, let’s look at some fun pics:
At the Stamford Train station heading to NYC. French Vanilla with whole milk iced coffee in my hands – couldn’t resist after an awesome Zumba class Saturday morning at LA Fitness Stamford!
This leads me to Saturday’s Playlist:
I admit, I kick my own a$$ in this playlist. I LOVE IT. Anyone have suggestions for old songs they want back?! I am trying to get one or two new ones for NEXT week, so stay tuned.
Fun times with Friends in NYC:
I was all over the place on Saturday in the beloved NYC: Brother Jimmy’s, McSorley’s, and honestly do not know the name of the 3rd bar. Ha. Pictures can speak for themselves. Fun times!!
Look at this! My new shopping cart!! I can’t tell you how much easier this makes grocery shopping when you live apartment style. I am slightly obsessed.
This made carrying in my groceries from my car SO-MUCH-EASIER. Thank you, Walmart.
WEEKEND BAKING:
I was heading to some co-worker’s BBQ on Sunday so I decided to bring a dessert. I whipped up these baby’s exactly from this recipe via Skinny Taste: Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies. I did not make one substitution and need to give Gina all the credit!
It’s funny because I made Nick try one first, and he goes “Eva, did you make these ‘healthier”? I immediately got defensive because usually Nick isn’t a fan of my cooking, and I thought because he asked that, it meant he didn’t like them because he thought there were healthy freak-ish substitutions (ie, he HATES my protein pancakes). HA.
Typical.
Anyway – I ate FOUR of them I enjoyed them. I think others liked them, and Nick decided he DID like them after all Success!
Despite the orange-ish appearance, they really were so good (at least, in my opinion). I can’t get enough of pumpkin spice, so maybe I am biased.
I also made some egg white “muffins” that my BFF Alicia and my most recent roommate before Nicholas would make all the time. I LOVE THESE! I can’t believe I never did this earlier:
Directions:
- Pour a quart size container egg whites into muffin tins, pouring evenly into each circle.
- Put in dollops of cooked spinach (I microwaved a bag of frozen spinach)
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 or so minutes – AH I am so bad at timing things. I have no idea how long it really was, but it definitely took longer than I thought… maybe even 30 minutes? Alicia – are you reading this? how long to bake for? ha.
I guess that is my weekend and past few days of updates in a nutshell! So far increasing calories is going well, slowly and steady. Weekend was great and I couldn’t be happier.
Just got home from my BRAND NEW awesome Zumba class in New Canaan with my beloved old dancing school, Walter Schalk. MY LOCAL READERS!! Come check out this class!! Please?!
Tomorrow is not Double Zumba as I am taking a little break. Only teaching at Step N Out – so again, local peeps, don’t miss it! Only $10 a class!
Questions:
1 – do you have a favorite pumpkin cookie type recipe?
2 – Do you bake egg muffins? If so – what do you put in them?!
3 – Does going out to eat or drink make you anxious? Why?
4 – Do you have one of my grandma shopping carts? Please tell I am not the only one!
I love hearing your stories! Let’s make this a great week. Cheers!
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
Can I just tell you how much I LOVE egg white muffins? I make the all the time! I basically clean out the produce bin and put whatever I have in a pan and sauté with a little bit of olive oil (or now – coconut oil!) and cook it up – usually baby spinach, onions, peppers, and mushrooms. Sometimes I break up veggie sausage patties or chop up turkey bacon to add to them. I usually spray the muffin tins, put the veggies in the bottom, then pour the egg whites on top. (Sometimes if I’m feeling “bad” I’ll add some shredded cheese…). Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or so. They puff up, but then flatten out again. I cool them off and store them in a Ziploc bag in the fridge and heat them up for breakfast in the mornings when I’m in a rush – alternate with my oatmeal!
I can’t wait to try new pumpkin recipes…hello fall!! I’ve made pumpkin protein bars that are really good – I’ll have to post those soon.
Have a great week!!
Hey Brenda! I totally failed to mention that I sprayed the tin with cooking spray first, ha. I love your ideas of breaking up sausage in them, too.. great flavor and adds more protein! I actually was craving cheddar cheese in them, also, and wish I had some on hand…next time! I think these will be awesome to eat alongside oatmeal, too..extra protein!
Please posst the pumpkin protein bars soon!!!
I NEED that cart!! Where did you get it?! It’s my first night in the new place!!! It’s been such an exhausting weekend!!
Those pumpkin cookies look delish and its sooo pumpkin season so I need to get on those asap (once I figure out this oven.)
Let me know when you make a trip to 16 handles next – I’ll come meet you!
I love my indulgences too!! Gotta live! 
Hi Maria!
Congrats on the new place!! how are you liking it so far? I got the cart off of walmart.com! Let’s go to 16handles VERY SOON!!! maybe sometime next week?!!!! I appreciate your comment on my other post and have some questions for you!
What a awesome weekend! I love fall Saturdays at Brother Jimmy’s! Love that you have zero problem letting loose and indulging in everything the weekend offered. I need to make those pumpkin spice cookies–they look divine! So fun catching up with you through your posts
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Hey gorgeous! I can’t wait to hear about your weekend via the blog
We so need a get together also at Brother Jimmy’s… it was so fun! Really good food, too. Cookies were super easy, thank you to skinny taste, I also am going to make your pizza soon & can’t wait!
I LOVE pumpkin choc chip cookies! You should try adding white choc chips sometimes if you like white choc..its an amazing combo!! And I really enjoy going out and drinking cocktails, wine etc and eating out! Usually I do this on the weekends. Lately, I have been eating out a lot on weekends and although I do sometimes choose a healthier option, I do like to enjoy special dishes (whether they are fried or not prepared the healthiest way) and eat more desserts typically on the weekend! I think if I go out to eat, I may as well have whatever I want or something I do not prepare for myself regularly!
OHH thank you for the suggestion of white choc.chips! I just may do that! I agree with you – I like to get food out that I don’t make at home for myself.. you nailed it! hellooooo fried calamari! haha! sounds like you have a good balance, too, my dear!
Love the fun packed weekend! I think it is awesome that you are not afraid to admit you like to have a fun weekend and enjoy some drinks and dinners out! Nothing wrong with that! When I lived in NYC I totally had one of the grocery carts because it just makes life so much easier! You are totally not the only one! I used to love making those egg muffins too and having them on hand for the week for breakfasts! They are really good with spinach and cooked sweet potato in them too!
Thanks, Danielle…life is about livin’ it up, right?! HA so glad you had a cart, too.. it seriously makes life so much easier. I am freakin loving these egg things – and LOVE the idea of sweet potato in then, too! THANKS!
Those egg white muffins are such a great idea!! Can`t believe I`ve never tried it. I usually just make a big quiche/ frittata (quiche with no pastry!) but I`m gonna try that now.
No zumba tonight??? Of course, the one night i could actually make it to your class! Hope they have a sub…..
Thanks, Debi! I owe this all to my girl Alicia
Ohhh quiche/frittata sounds awesome, and you can get so many meals out of those!
No zumba tonight for me at LA tonight, just Step N Out, and LA has a sub. I will be at LA thursday, though!
I made egg muffins once and they were seriously good! I dont know why I havent done it since but I need to change that. I am craving some pumpkin bread too so I need to get moving on that one!
These are kind of addcinting now, lol. Do you have a good recipe you love for pumpkin bread?! so want to make that, too!
OOO I’ve seen egg muffin recipes lately.. these look good! I have a favorite pumpkin bread recipe
with chocolate chips :p
OHHH is the recipe on your blog?! Love pumpkin bread!
That is awesome about your Monday class in NC, I need to check it out. I used to use one of those carts when I lived in NYC, they are great, and I don’t think they are very grandma-sh haha. Love egg white muffins… reminds me to make those again
You should totally come, Jessica! Great studio and great group of people
ummm i love enjoying good food and drink too plus call me maybe is my favorite song ever right now so i’m totally loving it was on your zumba play list!!
LOL!! My class LOVES when I do call me maybe, haha! its such a cute routine and obviously the song is super addicting!! Wish you could come to my class
I never thought about baking eggs in muffin tins. What a great idea!
Hey Nicole! I have to thank my lovely bff/previous roomie for this idea!! they are so filling!
That cart is seriously adorable!! Id use it just because I could…even though I dont need it. At all lol. And pumpkin cookies…mmmm. I had a friend who used to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and bring them to school for lunch. She’d pack two, and just eat them in front of us. What a jerk lol
LOL you are so funny – even though you don’t need it you should totally get it, ha! she didn’t share the cookies?! that is insane!
I’ve been meaning to make egg whites in a muffin pan, thanks for reminding me love <3 Thank you for your honesty of your indulgements over the weekend. I feel as if there are healthy bloggers out there who don't think it's okay to share some "unhealthy" foods they may of eaten over the weekend or throughout the week. So glad you had such a wonderful time <3
hey love! welcome back! I think life is all about moderation, obviously, and I am not about to sugar coat anything on my blog.. I think going out to eat is a very normal thing and I read a lot of bloggers who are afraid to do so..NOT THIS GAL. haha. Hope you had a great vacation!
i spy eggins! and I spy a pretty lady. You look great. Happy and at peace.
Thanks so much, Lindsay! so sweet of you! AND RIGHT BACK ATCHA
“I am not one of those types of “healthy living blogger’s” who is afraid to go out and drink and eat at restaurants.”
I love you for that. A life without those fun indulgences is no life at all!
I make what I call “eggfins.” I mix anything in ‘em – from spinach, to red pepper, to cottage cheese!
HA it’s so true though – life would be NO FUN if we didn’t get to eat and drink at FUN PLACES! LOVE eggins and eggfins as you call them – I have some ricotta cheese and I kinda want to put it in them next time, since I love omelettes with ricotta cheese, why not eggfins?!
Loving the egg white idea Eva… and so versatile too! Pumpkin cookies? umm yes to those, pumpkin has certainly made its return and I could not be more thrilled!
You nailed it – VERSATILE. It is awesome how many different things you can put in these little suckers. Certainly has become a staple in my house now!
I am truly addicted to everything pumpkin spiced so this is my season.
I’m hoping to make some pumpkin muffins this weekend so I will let you know how they turn out.
Though, I may try those cookies as well.
Egg whites in a muffin tin is genius glad you shared the recipe because I need something new on the weekends so going to have to try this!
I never get anxious about going out becuase I know my limits.
I went to a wedding this weekend and had my organci cereal and brought a protein bar and alomnds just in case the food was bad (which it was).
But I did not hesitate to have 3 cookies and a piece of cake!
I’m most bummed about not being able to go to Zumba as I have a new tattoo and cannot exercise..so that makes my meal choices during this week a little healthier to avoid guilt!
But I think you look great so stop worrying about those calories!
Life is too short to drive oursleves nuts about everything so I’m trying to stop my self guilt trips and just enjoy!
Hey girl! Definitely let me know if you try to egg muffins!! you can get creative and seriously add ANYTHING to them.
I always carry snacks with me just like you do for reasons “just in case” – ie, bad wedding food, ha. And dessert is always GOOD, so glad you enjoyed it!
I am bummed you won’t be at Zumba but there is always next week! And thank you for the compliments – means a lot! and you are right, NO MORE GUILT trips..life is wayyyyy too short! xo
Ohhh pumpkin cookies..YES!! I used to get whoaa anxious going out to eat, but now I don’t becasue I run a lot. I still get anxious drinking anything other than water, probably becasue of all the sugars and the bad effects alcohol has. I should lighten up a bit, I have turned into a mega grandma! Speaking of g-ma I love the shopping cart!
I am glad you don’t get as anxious anymore… and honestly, nothing good really does come out of drinking alcohol, I just love it, haha. But, being anxious over it is definitely something to get passed.. labeling all foods and drinks either good or bad always set me up for failure..now? NO LABELING! ha. Thanks for commenting!
I have never seen egg white muffins before…who am I?! Those look awesome and so easy. Thanks for sharing!
Going out to eat and drink used to make me sooo anxious. Back when I was a senior in college, I had some disordered eating issues, and when I couldn’t control what was cooked, it freaked me out a little bit. I was also drinking a lot more back then (college) and would then come home and pulverize my kitchen. Vicious cycle…I am soo glad that way of thinking and eating/drinking is in the past.
Hey Sara! so need to make egg muffins – so easy and so good!
I am glad you are so passed that vicious cycle.. I HAVE BEEN THERE! It is the worst feeling restricting, and then at night losing all control. So not worth it. I have been there more times than I care to admit re: eating the kitchen, ha. You seem GREAT on your blog and so happy to “see” it!
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