Hi guys,
So sorry for my absence yesterday! I had a pretty uneventful day (food-wise included) and had to crash pretty early, since I had to be up at 7:00 a.m. and ready to drive up here:
Boston State House!
As some of you may know, I’m taking a community organizing class this semester, which by the way, is the new smart career choice, according to the New York Times. And my school is mentioned in the article as well 
So today, some other students and I attended a Legislative Advocacy Day for Jane Doe Inc., the Massachusetts coalition against sexual assault and domestic violence.
We spent the day meeting with Senators and Representatives to talk about crucial bills and the much needed funding for such services as rape crisis counseling hotlines and centers, especially in today’s social environment. Our headquarters for the day were in the Great Hall, which I love!
Rallying us up before we unleash on the Reps!
Since my body can’t comprehend anything that early in the morning, I packed breakfast to eat in the car: overnight pumpkin oats.
1/2 cup oats, 2 TBS unsweetened almond milk, 1/3 cup pumpkin, 2 TBS ff plain yogurt, chocolate chips, flax seed, pecans, coconut & crunchy PB for topping.
Before we went to our legislative appointments, I snagged some fruit salad provided by the organization 
In between our appointments in the afternoon, we had time to run out to a deli and grab some lunch. I didn’t get the name of the place but this was a sign inside of it:
I got a bbq chicken whole wheat sub with part skim mozz cheese, green peppers, mushrooms, lettuce & tomato.
Not only was it warm and melty, but I was famished! So it all worked out well
While eating my lunch dessert, we debated: do you eat the fur of the kiwi or not?
Although the state’s budget looks pretty grim, I think all in all it was a successful legislative advocacy day. We drove back to Amherst just in time for dinner.
I was craving veggies and needed it to be quick, so this creation came to life:
Sauteed frozen veggies, a crumbled veggie burger, lots of spinach, lots of spicy spices, some white beans, the last of my millet groats & salsa for topping.
For dessert, Liz and I tried the highly anticipated dark chocolate with lavender.
The verdict: The taste is best described as interesting. There’s just a hint of lavender, not enough to taste what scented soap or a candle (I imagine) tastes like, but enough for you to go “hhhmmm?” and struggle to figure out what the hell you just put in your mouth. I’m glad I tried it, but I wouldn’t buy a whole bar to actually enjoy it. I don’t think the actual taste is the problem here, but rather, the association I have with lavender (smells great, looks great), as opposed to dark chocolate (tastes great). They never interesect on a reasonable boundary for me.
Either way, Liz thought that it did, in fact, taste like a scented candle.
I’m so excited for the end of this week because I’m going back to Brooklyn to see my godparents, who have just arrived to visit us from Ukraine! Please direct all the rage of me having boring meals in an attempt to clear my fridge of leftovers for the next few days onto them. Thanks.
Well, homework’s calling my name…or maybe it’s my bed
See you tomorrow!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!! I’ll be reading yours more often
I can’t stand lavender either!
Wow, you’re taking a community organizing class?!
I’d love to know more. My husband is a community organizer.
What a fun day, and great eats!
Not sure about the kiwi, but last spring in Nicaragua I learned to eat Mango skin. Delicious!
If kiwis are alike a lot of fruit, there may be a lot of nutrients in the skin. I know that is true for apples.
V. cool event!
Have fun with the grandparents. How exciting!
Sounds like a great time, and that hoagie looked warm and yummy.
No, kiwis get peeled or I will gag. Ick!
What a cool and interesting day!
I go both ways with the kiwi. I only eat the skin if I feel like having a little fur on my tongue. Gosh, that sounds filthy.
I wish I had been with your group, because I do infact eat the kiwi fur. I think it adds a lot to the kiwi experience, though I don’t eat the area where the ends are hard.
People eat kiwi fur? What the heck?!?
I love lavender flavored things: cookies, ice cream, chocolate, you name it!
Great cause! That’s awesome that you got to do that.
The sub looks so good, melty and hot anything is always so good!
And so glad you had a fun day, I wish I could go to something like that around here!
what a fun day! sounds like an amazing experience to go there!
and interesting about the chocolate…i think i might associate it with soap too…don’t know that you could get me to eat it!
Hope your week flies so you can get back to Brooklyn to see the fam!
I’m not a fan of lavender either! It’s too strong for me. =/
Haha, love the “Parking for Greeks only” sign
I’m not a huge fan of lavender either.
Alison! Add me and my mother to that list – we can’t STAND lavender. at all. please get it away thank you!
but anyways olga – what a fun day! your dinner looks soooo fabulous. i loooove veggies!
sounds like a cool day!
that chocolate bar looks awesome. I’ve tried a dark chocolate/lavendar truffle before and it was amazing, but very different, for sure.
have so much fun with your godparents! How fun
What a fun day! Your overnight oats look really good. I may just try that! Thanks for listing exactly what you put in it.
I’ve never been a big lavender fan. It’s beautiful, but I think I’m the only female who can’t stand the smell of it.
Toducohwn! That’s a really cool way of putting it!