Mommy Review Monday: Panera Bread App

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Liz

It’s been a while since I’ve written a Mommy Review Monday but was spurred into thinking of it today because this app is something I feel I should share. Since I’m on the road this week, I enjoyed a lovely meal from Panera Bread. (Half Turkey BLT and Half Green Goddess Salad). I pulled out my phone and opened my Panera Bread app. I quickly placed my order for rapid pickup and it was ready for me, bagged up and ready to go within minutes. It reminded me that there may be a few of you out there who don’t know about it and how great it is.

Here’s what I like about it:

Easy to use app with good layout
Choose whether to order for rapid pickup, delivery, or order from your table
Rapid pickup allows you to pick it up in a bag, packed and ready to take out
The delivery is super convenient
The “order from your table” option allows you to go secure a table during busy times and order there rather than waiting in line to order- even though their new kiosks are quite convenient.
I can order assorted boxes of bagels with cream cheese options for pickup quickly for an easy breakfast meeting snack/light breakfast.
It shows you where the nearest cafes are.
It keeps up with your Panera Bread rewards and shows you what you’ve already used and what you have available. I’ve already earned a free drink, free cookie, and a discount.
You can look up the menu. The menu shows you the nutritional facts. If you’re tracking your calories or nutrition, this is very helpful.
You can easily customize your order to include what you do and don’t want…even things you didn’t know were options.
You can save your credit card on there for fast ordering. I think you can use Apple Pay too.
You can see some of the screen shots below.

What I would change:

I’d love to see the option to order for in-house dining (like rapid delivery but instead of being packaged to leave be ready to eat at your table.) Sometimes I’ll order online for rapid pickup but feel guilty having it in disposable takeout bowls rather than the reusable ones.
I’d love to see them add more group meal options for box lunches, drinks, etc. It’s easy enough to just call those in but, in true millennial-style, I’d live to just do it online or on my phone to get a quick confirmation. I agree that this is very much a first world problem.
That’s honestly all I can think of right now to be improved.

Like I said before, it’s pretty fantastic. If you eat at Panera Bread on a somewhat regular basis, this app is totally for you. It’s my go-to for when I’m on the road because I can consistently get a good meal, both from a taste and nutritional standpoint. The convenience of it, along with free WiFi available when I need to pull out my laptop for work, makes it an amazing cafe choice, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

If you like this app, you’ll also live the Starbucks app. Check out my post about it as well.

Happy Mommy Review Monday. I hope yours was as awesome as mine!

Wellness Wednesday: Eating Healthy on the Road

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Liz

I’m on the road a lot for work. Eating healthy on the road is hard. Extra hard when you love food and you use food as a way to keep you entertained and/or you have a 3-4 hour drive.

Here’s what I’ve been doing lately to make it work:

Pack my lunch and snacks when I can. Keeping easy-to-grab stuff is good. Examples are:
Yogurt
Fruits such as apples, bananas, and clementines that are prepackaged and easy to take with you
Light popcorn
Bags or containers of easy to munch on veggies. My favorites are carrots and sweet snap peas.
Boiled eggs. See my post on cooking these in an instant pot.
Healthy muffins
Nuts. I actually don’t do this because I don’t feel like the “juice is worth the squeeze” calories-wise but these are super healthy for you in moderation.
Pre-made salads or bistro boxes. I’ve not done this yet but I know a lot of people that do.
I’m still scoping out the best places to eat out but my favorite go-to is Panera Bread. There are so many healthy options there and I always get a fruit cup as my side.
When I eat at a place with customers, there are typically not all that many great options- even the salads are horrendously high in calories and fat. I stick mostly to the vegetables- as long as they aren’t a casserole or in a sauce. If I can’t find anything, I’ll go with a baked potato (sweet potato if they have it) with sour cream on the side and a side salad with extra tomatoes, no cheese, and dressing on the side. It’s hard. I’m not going to lie.
When they sit those chips and salsa down in front of me or that delicious smelling loaf of bread, its soooo tempting. I try to think about my end goal and resist. I drink a sip of water every time I want a bite of it.
If I have a customer that says they don’t want to choose or I know they like sushi or seafood, I’ll often times suggest this because it’s an easy one for me.
If I’m spending the night out of town, I try to stay in a place that has a mini fridge and microwave. I can either pack something in my cooler to bring along or I’ll sometimes make a run to the grocery store for a frozen dinner and some fruit or yogurt for a sweet ending.
I pack a couple of drink mixes (either Crystal Light or Kroger’s brand) with me to satisfy my sweet cravings and help my water intake. Win-win.
Sometimes when I’m in a hurry and don’t have time for getting a healthy meal but know I need to have something decent, I’ll run into a convenience store and grab a banana and a Muscle Milk protein shake. Most stores now have bananas (and if I’m lucky a few other options too).

What are you’re beat healthy eating tips for the road? I could use the recommendations!!!

Happy Wellness Wednesday!

Snacking Healthy: Salted Chocolate Coconut DeLight

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Liz

My adventure on Noom and my new healthy lifestyle continues. (if I was saying this out loud I would’ve used air quotes around healthy lifestyle) And as I continue to Noom right along, I’m learning how to better use my very limited calories to the ensure I’m satisfied from not only a hunger standpoint but also a craving side as well.

You see, I have a sweet tooth. Actually, I’m pretty sure all but about five of my teeth may be sweet teeth- two for breads and carbs, one for burgers, one for seafood, and one for prime rib. You get the picture though. I need my sweets.

And I don’t mean fresh fruit….although I do enjoy that.

Because of my sweet teeth, I’m always looking for a good way to satisfy them. And I found one that I’m currently obsessed with. I actually plan the rest of my day’s meals around this sweet snack.

Yes, I really think it’s that good. And I’m going to share it with you because, unlike the two toddlers running around my house, I like to share things. So here it goes.

I call it Salted Chocolate Coconut DeLight and it’s only two ingredients:

Dannon Light and Fit Greek Yogurt- Toasted Coconut Vanilla (only 80 calories)
Endangered Species Chocolate Bark- Salted Hazelnut (about half a serving or two larger size pieces) crumbled

That’s it. You probably thought as much as I praised this sweet treat that it would be something complicated. Instead it only takes a few minutes to put together. And even less to clean up. That’s a winner in my books.

Plus, I buy these Greek yogurt cups at Sam’s in a box with Lemon Merengue and Strawberry Cheesecake, which are also pretty fantastic. The bark came from Walmart and wasn’t cheap but was worth it.

Enjoy and happy snacking!

Dashboard Randomness: Sunrises and Bluebonnets

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Liz

Today I had a golf tournament for one of the regional associations I’m part of in San Antonio. Usually, when I go to San Antonio I will drive down the night before but I have been on the go so much lately I decided to just wake up early and drive this morning. And, boy, did four o’clock a.m. come early?!?

However, I really enjoyed drive. I got the opportunity to be let my mind wander and through anything and everything. No music. No audiobook audiobook. No podcast. No phone calls.

Just me and the open road, a beautiful sunrise, and miles and miles of beautiful bluebonnets.

The 130 loop around Austin is absolutely gorgeous right now. That might not seem like a logical place to go look at bluebonnets but there are miles of them in the huge median between the north and sound sides of the tollway.

Add to that, this afternoon I got to play golf on a beautiful course with some awesome customers, who made it a blast!

The only thing that would be better would be to be at home tucking my kiddos in tonight because I sure do miss them (and Garen too)! I guess you can’t have your cake and eat it too, right?!? Thank goodness for FaceTime!

Carry On

Posted on March 14, 2018 by Liz

Driving down (actually up but I always want to say I’m driving down somewhere for some reason) 35N on my way home today Carry On by Pat Green came on.

It’s a Texas Country classic, in my mind. Honestly, I’ve not ever put much thought into it besides that it reminds me of driving the backroads of Hamilton County in my high school days. I realize that dates me and I’m fine with that.

But today I missed the first of the song and only caught the end:

OK, alright,

I’m OK, I’m alright,

Oh carry on, yeah –

As it finished, I thought to myself what a great reminder it is. I sometimes get caught up in negativity. But as I heard this song, I though we all need a reminder.

I’m ok. I’m alright.

Carry on.

Dashboard Randomness.

Sweet Saturday: In the Kitchen

Posted on January 6, 2018 by Liz

Today was a great day with the girls. They love to “pay kitten” (aka Play Kitchen). They’re very creative and I only had to retrieve one chewed up plastic French fry from Kate’s mouth. I call that a success.

People often ask if they get along well. And I always answer with “Eh.” Their personalities are very much their own, as are their looks but on occasion we will catch a few super sweet moments between the two sisters when they think no one is watching.

And it warms my heart!

As you can see, we moved their rooms around so that they now have Anna’s kitchen and table that she’s “too big for” now. If it didn’t make these two so happy that might make me a bit sad. Such is life!

Downstairs in the real kitchen, I’ve almost made it a whole week back on Weight Watchers. My goal is to get healthy and fit back into my old clothes, at least the few pre-twin pieces left after last year’s KonMari-phase cleared out my closet of anything that “I didn’t love.”

This year I’m not doing resolutions since last year failed so miserably. I think the Balanced app is a great idea but took too much time. I quit about a month in.

In 2018, I’m just trying to get back on track with goal setting and one of my goals is to get healthy. Weight Watchers has been good to me before. I lost 40 lbs in college.

And now I get to lose it all over again. What a great opportunity (typed in very sarcastic tone)! The good things is, Weight Watchers seems to have done some good updates and the app is super user friendly.

I’ll probably be finding all kinds of tricks to eat as much as I can for as little points as I can so stay tuned!

P.S. If anyone has any tips on replacing tasty coffee creamers with a low point alternative, PLEASE let me know!

Photo Friday: Colorado- Where the Wild Things Live- Part 1

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Liz

Garen and I had the MCAA Midyear Meeting in Steamboat, CO in August and we decided to take a few days off before it to go to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Of course, we had a great time and, of course, Garen took some awesome photos. These are only a few because my phone is having technical difficulties (I’m sure it’s not user error).