Hi guys!! How are ya? Thank you so much for your sweet comments today. It was kind of a rough one and I don’t want any of ya’ll to feel sorry for me because I chose this lifestyle (and 99.99999% of the time, adore it)… but on the rare occasions when I need to vent, I’m always surrounded with virtual hugs and appreciate it so much <3
Last night, when I got home from work, I was greeted with foodgasms.
Someone BAKING when I got home?!?
Pilot, you may have some competition 
My auntie said because it was starting to feel like fall outside, she felt like baking. She made banana bread and pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting. Just imagine how amazing the house smelled 
I was happy to be a taste tester…
and today, (hopefully) returned the favor 
Butternut squash and goat cheese lasagna, my spin on *this recipe*, which is heating up in the oven along with roasted vegetables.
For the lasagna, I used this little butternut beast.
Publix was ENTIRELY out of B-nut squashes, and when I asked if they had any in the back, the produce manager drove to another store and brought me one.
I know right?! So kind of him.
Earlier this morning, I went to Barnes and Noble (aka Beefcake and Noble, because when my friends and I were in college we used to go *study* there) and worked on the new book proposal for 3 hours.
I got a coffee with one shot of pumpkin spice, which the barista thought meant twelve. Holy caffeine and sugar buzz.
Lunch:
Amy’s tamale meal with lettuce and hot sauce
Now I’m back at the casa, after a lovely night at DANCE TRANCE (!) and am about to pour a glass of vino and have some salad while dinner heats up.
Have a great night <3
xoxo,
Gina
Hi, I'm Gina. Welcome to The Fitnessista! I love blogging about my adventures as a new mom, military wife and fitness instructor, as well as sharing new workouts and recipes. Check out the About page for more info - thanks for stopping by!
Please post your version of that recipe! It sounds so good
I’ve never even cooked a squash before, that would be out of my comfort zone!
wow, awesome customer service for that Publix produce manager! That’s amazing!!
How sweet of the Publix manager! So while you were waiting in the store he drove to another location? That is awesome!
Will your Aunt do a giveaway for those cookies?
yes, while i finished my shopping he went to go get me one- it was amazing
haha i’ll ask her! they were so good!
DANG !! HE DROVE TO ANOTHER STORE??
I thought I was persuasive… together we could be unstoppable!! 
those cookies look GOOD, and I want that lasagna Right Now.
GOOD NIGHT <3
i didn’t even ask him- he offered to! i was blown away
night friend <3
I have two huge butternut squash at my house and was having a hard time figuring out how to use them. Well not anymore, that lasagna looks delicious! Thanks so much
Good luck with the book!
I’d buy your book!!! Hope it all works out for you!
Too funny about “Beefcake and Noble.” My friends and I used to do the same thing. Sometimes we’d even hang out around the medical science isles to try and snag ourselves a “smarty.”
Makes me wonder how many people “studying” there are really just prowlin’…
LOL. seriously!
Glad you’re feeling better <3 Have a good night!
Love coffee with a pump of pumpkin. It tastes just like a pumpkin spice latte except less sweet and better for you (well, if they put in the right amount of pumpkin).
We also used to *study* at Barnes & Noble in college. There was a Border’s right next door but we would drive out to the Barnes & Noble since we felt that the *study sessions* at Barnes and Noble tended to be more consistent in terms of quality :p
I’m very intrigued by what your new book proposal is. I know you can’t share it because it needs to be under wraps for you to present it to possible agents/publishers…but I bet its great!
He drove to get it?! That’s incredible! The things people do…
Your dinner sounds delicious!
There are never any cute guys at our Barnes and Noble!
any chance we can get the recipe for those pumpkin cookies? they look incredible! and so does the lasagna!
holy crap, that’s amazing, wish my Publix had service like that. Lots of the employees don’t even speak English
Don’t get me wrong, they are very nice but it’s hard when you can’t even communicate with the people working!
the employees at the publix are kinda ridiculous- i’m always amazed by how friendly and helpful they are!
the smell of baking in the fall is amazing, also on a cold Saskatchewan winter day, warms you up on the inside
Enjoy that glass of vino! Make it a couple, actually
“banana bread and pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting”–omg heavenly!!! and cream cheese frosting is something I could eat with a spoon. And never stop! hah!
So kind of your auntie to bake for you; you deserve it. And clearly the Publix guy like you, that’s unheard of! wow!
The book proposal…way to go, nose to the grindstone, get ‘er done. It WILL happen for you!!!
please consider asking your aunt for the pumpkin cookie recipe! they look AMAZING.
good luck with the book proposal! you can do it girl
I always say that I wish I could just go behind the counter and make my own coffee, specifically for reasons like that! haha
Go PILOT! And if you want a set of eyes on that new pitch, I’m totally offering. And I promise to be much cooler about it than before.
<3 you!!!
Good luck with the book proposal!
I am sure it will be fab.
Please post that recipe! Sounds so good! =)
I love when you make this! How disappointing when the store is out of the MAIN ingredient! Ugh, so annoying. But glad it all still worked out for you.
any chance we can get the recipe for those pumpkin cookies? they look so yummy!
wow, that’s awesome! i’m so used to being the one cooking when my hubby gets home…i love it when he returns the favor
Wowee those cookies look divine–maybe she’d share the recipe!!?
That lasagna sounds great. OK, and that manager? He deserves a gold star. That’s total dedication there. I’d go to Publix if there were any around me!
Aww, I love publix. They’re always so nice to my mom and I when we go <3
Your squash lasagna sounds fantastic, and I totally support Maria's request for a recipe.
Good luck with your book proposal!
Your Aunties cookies look like a recipe I have for pumpkin puffs – if they taste the same, then I know that they are DELICIOUS!!
Best of luck writing your book proposal. Hope all is well lady- haven’t heard from you in while. xoxo
I love LOVE cream cheese frosting. on anything. like even your lasagna. love it!
Those cookies look good! I could eat cream cheese frosting by the spoonful!
I am so impressed with Publix! They have the best customer service…I always here stories like that about Publix. Those cooking look delicious!