Chautauqua Bound

Good Evening!

We are all packed up and basically ready to go. I have of course, packed too much but last year I did not pack enough warm clothes so I am probably overcompensating for that now but I think we are good to go.

All we have to do now is drop our dog "Gumbo" off at the doggie resort and head to the airport. My mother is going to pick us up in Cleveland, OH and then we will all head up to Chautauqua. I can't wait! I am looking forward to a great week of spending time with the family, going to interesting lectures, hearing great music (ABBA is coming), going to a play, listening to the symphony play and maybe even a little swing dancing! To give you an idea of what this place is like, it is where "Dirty Dancing" was filmed and it is a total throwback to those times. It is a little utopia where the kids are safe, nobody locks their homes, you bike and walk everywhere and there is so much to do.

Why do people come to the Chautauqua Institution? Many of the visitors who return to Chautauqua year after year describe it as an experience rather than a vacation -- a place for renewal. The Chautauqua Institution was founded on the belief that everyone ?has a right to be all that he can be -- to know all that he can know.?

A dramatic lakeside setting and the beauty of its National Historic Landmark architecture make the Chautauqua Institution a thriving community where visitors come to find intellectual and spiritual growth and renewal. It is a summer center that encompasses the arts, education, religion and recreation; a place, removed from the day-to-day world, where some of the leading thinkers of our time come to speak to the concerns and issues of today; a place where music, dance, opera, theater and the visual arts create the "Chautauqua Mix."


Okay... enough about Chautauqua. I am not sure how much blogging I am going to be able to do on my trip but I definitely will do some and have asked my husband to be a guest blogger because he gets WAY into all the lectures and speakers and may have some interesting things to say as well!

So my day of eats today consisted of mostly things that needed to be eaten before we leave. So I finished of the rest of the Fage Greek Yogurt for lunch, by having a Greek Go Lean Crunch Bowl.



Greek Go Lean Crunch Bowl

1/2 cup of Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup Go Lean Crunch
1 tablespoon sliced almonds

Delicious!

The kids and I had to go out and run a few more errands today and must admit it included a trip to Yogurt Planet! I did not have my camera, but for any of you that follow my blog it looked like my normal pick. Tart frozen yogurt topped with kiwi, raspberries, blueberries, mangos, sliced almonds and a few dark chocolate covered pomegranates.

Yum!

I did fit in an hour workout today. I did Interval Training in between my weights and it turned out to be a great workout. We will be traveling all day tomorrow so I am going to try to keep my eating in check and will try to drink lots of water.

Dinner tonight was an awesome use of leftovers:

Chicken Pesto Pepper Pizza + Salad

1 Whole Wheat Pita
1 tablespoon pesto sauce
2 oz of grilled chicken, diced
1/2 cup of red, yellow and orange peppers, diced
1 slice red onion
1/4 cup 2% Milk Italian Mix Cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees, top pita with above toppings and bake for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly. I served it with a Salad on the side.

Awesome! This is one of my favorite dinners. Pizza is pretty much the best!

Below are some of the supplies I will be bringing with me tomorrow:

Smart Water
Larabar- Gingersnap
Luna Bar- Caramel Nut Brownie (excited to try this flavor)
Sahale Snacks-Pomegranate Vanilla Cashews
Himilalia- Goji Berry Crunch
Coach's Oats- 6 packs (yah!)
Baggie of Ground Flaxseed
Dried Cherries
Blue Diamond Oven Roasted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Almonds
Sweet Mint Orbit Gum
Truvia Packets



Once we get to Chautauqua e will be stopping at the grocery store to pick up:

Food for Life Ezekiel English Muffins
a jar of peanut butter or almond butter
Go Lean Crunch
Honey Nut Cherrios
Milk
Boca Burgers
Arnold's Sandwich Thins (if I can find them.... I am hoping to give them a try)

They have a great farmer's market where I can pick up fresh produce daily and then every night the kids and I usually indulge in some fresh ice cream. They have two good spots and the small serving is basically a huge SOFTBALL size! Obviously, I have fond memories of it!

Anyhow, I am off for now and can't wait to show you pictures of Chautauqua and hopefully convince some of you readers to go next year!