Sephora: The Grand Opening
After months, nay years of waiting, Sephora has finally come to Vancouver. Today at 10 was the grand opening of the Pacific Centre location. I was there at 9:15 with my mom, waiting in line with dozens of other girls, waiting not so patiently to spend money I don’t have.
I’m going to let the pictures speak for themselves.
My Haul.
Sephora is for everyone, even elderly men.
“OMG they have Rosebud Salve” my mom says and waves it in front of my face.
Vancouver girls, were you there? What did you buy??
Bread on a Diet
It’s a well known fact that when you’re on a diet, bread equals bad. Even diet bread can be sketchy. The Weight Watchers 1 point per slice bread has like, 20 ingrediants, none of which I can pronounce. The one exception I have found is the good ol’ english muffin. It’s not just for your British grandma anymore!
An english muffin and peanut butter makes a great Weight Watchers friendly breakfast or lunch. An entire english muffin is only 2 points, and about a tablespoon of peanut butter is the same.
I’ve been obsessed with Peanut Butter & Co peanut butter ever since I had it at their adorable SoHo restaurant. Last year I found it at Vancouver’s Stong’s grocery store, and more recently at Whole Foods. It’s a chemical free all natrual peanut butter that only contains about five ingredients. The best part? No gross oil to stir!
Total Weight Watchers Points: 4
My Weight Watchers Week: Saturday
Breakfast
Living in your boyfriend’s mom’s basement suite has it’s drawbacks, mainly the shame factor, but it’s all worth it for those mornings when you wake up and there’s a sign on the door that says “Free pie upstairs.” I had one piece of sugar free Strawberry for breakfast. Total Weight Watchers Points: 8 - 5 for the crust and 3 for the filling
Lunch
After strolling 4th ave and finally buying a pair of galdiator sandles that I actually like, I met my friend Jamie for lunch at Mandala IKI. I had four pieces of nigiri and a Diet Coke. The food was okay and the service was crummy, but it was dark, air conditioned and Spruce Meadows was on the flat screen. Total Weight Watchers Points: 2 for the sushi and 0 for the diet pop
After lunch Jamie and I drove out to Steveston to get ice cream and watch the fishing boats come in and out. I got some coconut and mango gelato from Mary’s Ice Cream. It was delicious, and has less points that regular ice cream. Total Weight Watchers Points: 3
Dinner
For dinner I went to a friend and former student’s apartment for a birthday party for another teacher at my school. The host made a wonderful salade russe, a special occasion dish from her native Russia. It’s a lot like a potato salad, but also includes chicken and pickles. I don’t even want to guess how many points were in this mayonnaise based dish, and the wine and tart that followed. But of course it was worth it.
My Weight Watchers Week: Friday
Lunch
Once a month at our school, we get to take our students out for an “afternoon activity” after their exam. Today, my new friend who also teaches beginner and I took our classes out to Old Spaghetti Factory in Gastown. The food wasn’t great, and I have no memory of it ever being that good, but English teachers eat for free! How can I pass up that opportunity? I went simple. Spaghetti and meat balls. Total Weight Watchers Points: *gulp* 16. But then again it was a special occasion. Good thing I skipped breakfast.
Afternoon Snack
I was still full when I came home from work, so I just made a cup of Yogi Slim Life Green Tea. Green tea is a diet staple. I’m an Earl Gray addict, but I try to have a least one cup of green a day. Slim Life also includes garcinia, a natural appetite suppressant, to keep you safe from the 4 o’clock sugar rush. While you can get most Yogi teas at Whole Foods, Choices etc. Slim Life is only available in the states (as far as I know). I pick it up during my Target trips. Total Weight Watchers Points: 0
Dinner
At 6 I met my friends downtown to go to my dad’s slide show at SFU. We grabbed a quick dinner beforehand at the So.Cial butcher shop on Water Street in Gastown, my second favourite sandwich spot in the city (the first being Suzette’s Cafe on Richards and Dunsmuir). I had the turkey breast on brown with dijon mustard and aioli, topped with Havarti, lettuce, pickles and banana peppers, tomatoes, onions, as well as a bag of home made chips. Probably not the most healthy choice, but it was Friday! Total Weight Watchers Points: Probably 8 for the cheese, sauce and bread.
image from trufflepig’s flickr
My Weight Watchers Week: Wednesday
Breakfast
I’m not that original when it comes to breakfast on work days. I usually find one or two things that are quick and yummy and eat them every day. Today was the same as yesterday. Yogurt, blueberries and granola. And of course a mug of Earl Gray Total Weight Watchers Points: 3
Lunch
Most work days I eat at the Salad Loop in Harbor Centre. They don’t have the most spectacular options, but tt’s quick, healthy and only about 4 dollars a salad. In my salad today was spinach, cherry tomato, green beans, edemame, cucumber and baby corn, drizzled in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Total Weight Watchers Points: 3
Afternoon Snack
It was such a beautiful day, so after work my boyfriend and I took the sea bus to Lonsdale Quay to watch the tug boats come in and have a bite. I indulged. Lemonade and a piece of Pizza. Total Weight Watchers Points: 7
Dinner
As I said, I can be very unoriginal. Sushi. But can you blame me? I do live in Vancouver. Total Weight Watchers Points: 2
Note: My Weight Watchers points limit is currently 21, if that helps you get a better idea of what these foods are worth.
My Weight Watchers Week: Tuesday
Breakfast
Breakfast was a bowl of Liberte non-fat organic yogurt, with some locally grown Bremner’s frozen blueberries and a touch of granola. Because I’m not eating full fat yogurt, I like to add a little crunch to it to make it more interesting. Total Weight Watcher’s points: 3. 2 for the yogurt and 1 for the tiny touch of granola.
For a midmorning snack I had half a Peanut butter cookie flavor Larabar. These are amazing snack made from only 3 or 4 ingredients. The one I had today was made of peanuts, dates and salt. They’re dairy and gluten free if that appeals to you, and also Kosher. An entire bar is 4 points, which is why I only eat half and save the rest for later. I got mine at Whole Foods, but I’m sure they’re available at Meinhardts and Choices (in Vancouver) as well. Total Weight Watchers points: 2 for half a bar.
Lunch
After a lazy morning I drove to Whole Foods to browse their garden centre. A huge back yard has allowed me to grow a ton of fruit and vegetables. Today I picked up some arugula for myself and catnip for Nibbler. While there I raided Whole Foods buffet bar and made my favourite type of salad, the one with everything in it. Cherry tomatoes, feta, baby spinach, couscous, goat cheese, corn, kale (are you all over this cabbage trend yet?), and a touch of macaroni salad. Then I drizzled the whole thing in olive oil. With the cheese and the few bites of mac, I definitely brought up the points value. Total Weight Watchers points value: let’s say 6
Dinner
Dinner was a quick bite at my favourite Japanese restaurant, Iki on Broadway and McDonald. My boyfriend and I stopped in before his mom’s movie premiere and shared a few salmon and spicy tuna nigiri and sashimi. Total Weight Watchers Points: 2 for 4 pieces. Yes, that’s correct. 2 points.
Don't be fooled by the fancy header. Neon Bible is a blog for poor people. Poor people with credit cards and drawers full of MAC. We write about makeup, models, japanese jewelry, vancouver, and stuff you can buy at shoppers drug mart. Besides the internet, you can find us in Fukuoka, Montreal and Vancity.
