Neck Update and a Couscous Salad!

Hi, friends!

*neck update* I went to the chiropractor and my doctor said that I am suffering from a neck strain. He gave me a really good, "dumbed-down" explanation, which helped me to understand what had happened and what was causing me such pain. It was explained that it only took sleeping "wrong" for a few hours for the tissue (?) between the vertebrae in my neck to get inflamed and cause SERIOUS pain. It can be caused by sleeping on your stomach (I'm guilty of this), or slouching in a cushy couch for too long (also guilty...oops). My chiropractor gave me an excellent neck massage/adjustment, and gave me directions to put an ice pack or bag of peas on my neck for 10-minute intervals throughout the day. He also suggested ibuprofen, which I purchased a few hours ago! He told me to keep an eye on the pain level, and to check back with him in a few days if the discomfort hasn't decreased.
Overall: feeling better! Still some slight, achy pain...but nowhere near as miserable as I was this morning!

Due to my lack of car, I've been pretty immobile. Thankfully, my best friend Alyssa came to my rescue! She came over around noon, and I got started making us lunch!

let's get cooking!

couscous a-brownin!

I decided to make baked chicken and couscous salad...all right out of my head! So proud. :)

so fresh!

moist and flavorful chickens!

lunch!

Veggie Cous Cous Salad

• 1 cup of cooked couscous
• 1/2 chopped green pepper
• 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
• 2 carrots, shredded
• 2 tbsp fat free italian dressing
• 2 tbsp Goddess dressing
• mix and serve cold over a spinach salad!

YUM!! :)

After lunch and a little Bed, Bath, and Beyond shopping, and a successful visit to the chiropractor,  Alyssa dropped me off at my tutoring center. I purchased a new Tervis Tumbler! And immediately filled it with lots of ice and diet coke. Ahhhh yum. 

almost gone!

I tutored for a few hours, then my man friend, Ben, came to collect me from tutoring. I am SO thankful I have friends and a husband who will drive me around while my car is out of commission. The good news is that I have an appointment to get an estimate for repairs at a collision center tomorrow...which means then my car will be on it's way to recovery! It's so sad, sitting in the driveway, undriveable. 

Dinner was quick and easy: a sandwich thin with cranberry apple butter and mozzarella cheese, and a little yogurt bowl topped with blueberries and mini reese's pieces. <--- those need to be gone SOON...they're so good!

a very Peanut Butter Fingers sandwich! 

Have a good night, friends!

what a pain in the neck!

Literally.

cute, right?

I woke up with throbbing pain in my neck. I'm not sure what caused it, though I did spend several hours slouched on the couch yesterday... but I do that all the time, and I never have severe, shooting neck pains! Ouch.
I got up, carefully maneuvered my way down the stairs and to the kitchen, where I found my ice pack and promptly wrapped it around my neck. Ahhhh. I also took a few tylenols, but I after some internet research, found that ibuprofen or aspirin would be better. However, I only have tylenol in my medicine cabinet these days, so that'll have to do.
I was determined not to let this sore neck ruin my first day of summer vacation, so I threw together a bowl of whipped banana oats!

festive!

First Day of Vacation Oats

• 1/3 cup steel-cut oats
• 1/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 medium banana (1/2 whipped into the oats, 1/2 on top)
• splash of vanilla
• blueberries
• sprinkles
• mini reese's pieces
• spoonful of peanut butter

It was such a great breakfast! I'm still full, 3 hours later. Perfect! 

I sat on the couch, digesting and blogging for a few minutes, and then decided that my neck pain had diminished and it was time for a walk! It's a beautiful morning in North Carolina, and I couldn't help but get out there and enjoy the cool (70 degrees) morning.

I walked through my neighborhood, across a busy street and into another neighborhood. I had my iPod going, I was enjoying the morning and my long walk, and then all of a sudden...BLAM. My shoe caught the edge of the sidewalk and I was thrown forward! I threw my hands out and tried to stabilize myself, and thankfully I just sort of scuttled a few feet and was able to right myself, never actually falling down. *PHEW* But once I righted myself, I realized that my neck pain was back, tenfold. There were sharp, searing pains shooting through my neck, and I could barely turn my head left and right. I almost started crying, but pulled myself together and walked the few blocks back to my house. OUCH. 

I've been on the phone with my chiropractor, and I'm hoping to get an appointment this afternoon before I tutor. 

So much for that amazing, first day of vacation!! Oh well. I'm going to take a shower, and hang out with a girlfriend for a few hours before heading to the chiropractor.