Afternoon!  I’ve had a relaxing, easy-going morning till clock struck 12:01 pm.  From then on I’ve been productive!  That’s my ideal Saturday!

Work yesterday was busy, slow, busy, slow.  That’s how it can be with outpatient.  I thought I was leading my last patient of the day back out to the waiting room, but then a nurse and dietitian hit me up instantly to ask if I could take a diabetes patient.  I of course said yes but asked to give me a minute to set down my last patient’s chart.  I got halfway down the hall to find my boss waiting for me to give me a paper stating what my annual raise is and my new salary (good side tracking!).

My last patient of the day spoke only Spanish, so an interpreter was used.  I minored in Spanish, but it’s so much more efficient to use an interpreter.  I don’t use my Spanish enough to speak fluently, especially medical Spanish.  I am able to write out example menus and write notes in Spanish for the patient.  Once they see this, I’m usually asked how I know Spanish.  I could be wrong, but I think my patients appreciate that I know their language (of course not on an expert level!).

The best part of my day was when a cardiac rehab coworker gave me some of her leftover caramel praline bread pudding!  (Ok and there was that patient who told me he had a beagle which redirected our conversation completely which perked up my day, too.)

I had a light lunch of greens + leftover salmon and half a sweet potato.  I felt it was acceptable to eat every bit of the bread pudding with lunch!  I may have felt like a needed a nap though once I sat back down at my desk (do you think maintenance would build me a George Castanza desk-bed underneath my desk?).

I always have the best intentions of being productive on Friday nights but it rarely happens.  Instead I watched 4 episodes of Grey’s last night.  I made a super quick dinner in between episodes.

Quick egg sandwich with greens.  My Friday dinners typically involve leftover bits and pieces from dinners earlier in the week.

Luckily my Saturday has been much more productive than plowing my way through season 6 of Grey’s via Netflix.  I Shredded for a quick workout.  Up next I made Mama Pea’s pumpkin spice protein bars.  I am with her on the saving $1 for a single energy bar at the store.

I made a lot of substitutions.  Instead of protein powder I used a mixture of ground walnuts and more oat flour; subbed out tofu for 2 flax eggs; and subbed out stevia extract for sugar. 

It turned out better than expected since I made three substitutions.  I think next time I’d add a tablespoon of brown sugar to give a bit of sweetness to the bars. 

Now it’s time to blow dry my hair (which is a chore in itself) and head out into the danger city to hit up the mall, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, and maybe the grocery store. 

Enjoy your Saturday!