Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Congratulations to my hubby...

While I was busy finishing up finals, so was my husband.  And I missed even mentioning it on here because I just spent that weekend in a big brain fart...my brain had been overworked and it was toast...as you can see by this miss.  But that's no excuse, so I owe him one...maybe an ice cold beer...maybe a few ice cold beers!

With that being said, Congrats to you, my wonderful husband.  You have worked so hard to get here, and I know it has not been easy, but you did it, and I am proud of you!  You are such a smart, strong individual and I know you can do anything you put your mind to!  I know you will do so much with your life; you are such a gem, and an interesting individual...I just know you are destined to show the world that!

Congrats, I owe you a beer, and I love you with everything I have!

Monday, March 26, 2012

A year and a few months...

So, last Wednesday I decided that I was going to go hard core with my Weight Watchers tracking (Wednesday’s are my weigh in day)…I haven’t done that since like, umm, last April…I think. I have been a member for over a year, and I will preface with the fact that WW has been at the forefront of my mind, most days. Very rarely am I not cognoscente of the choices I am making…but it has been a while since I have recorded and kept track of everything. But this week I did, successfully! Granted today is not Wednesday, but there is no stopping me now! I feel wonderful, empowered, refreshed.

I would say that starting 10k training has also probably helped, but I just feel great. In a few short days, my pants are fitting better, my stomach feels lighter, and I just feel like me! And boy have I been running! I printed off a schedule and have stuck to it! Every day! I don’t know why it is so easy to fall out of a habit, and so fricken hard to get back into it, especially when the habit feels good. Yeah, it’s hard work, and yeah, sometimes it is the last thing I want to do, but I have to remember to push through and know that in the end, I will love the results, the feeling, and ultimately, the action itself (ie. Working out!).

The one thing I am good at is not lying to myself. I am very real. I love food. I admit that. I know that. I OWN that! I am never going to question why I am a bigger girl…I fricken know why. I love cooking, and baking, and Sunday Family dinner, and eating out, but that also translates well into my Weight Watchers Journey. I am constantly reading blogs, digging for new recipes, and most of them I really enjoy. They have even become staples in my house.

So I have written before about how this will be a lifelong goal...I have a feeling I will always be watching what I eat and making sure I get enough exercise-and I know I am not the only one…I think I am the majority, and that is why I don’t get down on myself too often. And I know there will be ups and downs, I just want to continue to keep it in check! For life! I’m cool with that! I know what my body likes, needs, what have you, and consistent checking in is the best method for me. There will be splurge weekends, and I know I will forget to track or just get lazy in the future, and I am sure there will be months where I just don’t put enough energy into it….but I am making a goal to never be what I was last December…if I hit that number again(unless of course that is the number I hit when I am prego-but let’s hope I can be healthier then that!), the shits gonna hit the fan!

So that's me...for now...who knows what tomorrow holds but I am pretty sure a run, work, and dinner with a friend!  Oh yeah, and cuddling my hubby!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Oh hi there!

Hey there! Friday I turned in my final paper! One more class to go, and I will be done! But I really took the end of last week to just focus on that paper and punch it out! I was happy with the paper, and hopefully can use it for my final course (25 page paper for that baby!), and this teacher was on her A game because grades were up already yesterday when I checked on a whim! 4.0 baby! It felt really good to see that, and now I am all that much closer to graduation!

I have a four week break before my next and last course starts. I really love having the free time and am looking forward to that when I graduate! With my free time, I have been making more dinner at home! We have been eating lots of fresh salads!
And playing around with meals! We bought these Pepridge Farm sandwich thins A. because they are healthier, and B. because we never finish off a pack of buns...they always go to waste! With these cute little fishes, I am able to make sandwiches for lunch, pb&j's for breakfast and just toast with butter. Below is a picture of our sloppy joes and sweet potato tots! I would maybe use regular sandwich thins for sloppy joes since the mouth cutout on the fish makes it a bit flimsy but I loved the taste and texture and it was the right amount of bread!
And I have had more time to run! My <3! I signed up for a 10k on April 28th and have started logging miles! I run slow (whatev's, at least I am running), but I just want to feel GOOD when I run this 10k! I want to be trained so there are no injuries and I want to maybe improve on my speed.
I found a beginner's 10k work out plan online and copied it into a word.doc and played around to make it perfect for me! It includes cross training, which I love, and rest days! Tomorrow will be my first rest day after 3 good, hard days of working out. I am looking forward to it!

I love cross training because personally, I would not be able to run without it. Cross training helps me make sure my muscles are strong, healthy, and ready to pound the pavement. I love incorporating the 30 day shred, yoga, classes at the Y, and other dvds.

So yeah, that's a lot, but I felt like some good catch up was worth it!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

My 26th birthday!

I am so blessed. I have an amazing husband. On a daily basis he makes me feel wonderful, beautiful, and most importantly, loved. I have a family who is always there for me, no matter what. They too provide me with so much care and love. I have friends who are irreplaceable and the most loving kitties in the world. I have roof over my head, a job, nice clothes, and plenty of food. I read a great blog post, and it made me think that I too could give back, and make my birthday extra special...for me, and a few other people! Truly, it feels so good to give, it is a gift in itself!

So I didn't do 26 random acts of kindness, but I did what I could with the resources I had. It felt pretty good, and I did it throughout the day to make the feeling last.

1. I brought my coworkers breakfast, at both my Monday morning meetings.
2. I placed the newspaper in front of the elderly man across the hallways door...he has a bad back, and the newspaper is always thrown halfway down the hall.

3. I got a free coffee from Dunn Brothers so I took the money I would have spent and left a large tip.
4. I mailed off a few "just because" cards

5. In addition to a few "just because" gifts
6. I commissioned my brother to bring a friend who had just had surgery a ballon and some soup...

7. And I made sure to send a few extra dollars so he could treat himself, and to thank him for his good deed!

8. I went through my clothes and purged what I no longer needed or had not worn. I had my sister and her friend come rummage through the donations! They found some good finds!

9. I sent a few perky emails, to brighten some days.

10. I donated to a cause that I love!

11. I purchased two gifts cards and handed one out in the diaper aisle, and the other out in the clothes/food area.
12. I made little gift bags for the people who joined me for dinner, to let them know how much it meant to have them celebrate with me.

13. I sent a few "Great Team" cards at work to thank coworkers for their help!

Hmm...13, half of 26! I will take it! Maybe next year I can strove to do more!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Spring has sprung..

It was a beautiful weekend with both days reaching over 60 degrees. We spent a lot of time outside, and airing out our apartment, letting it breath a little bit.

The cats loved the fresh air and spending time looking outside. Aren't these two just so cute!
And it was fun sprucing up the patio furniture! The bright pillows add a fun pop!

On Saturday, a group of my friends and I ran the Irish for a Day 5k. Second year in a row baby! I smell a tradition! It was amazing this year! Beautiful, sunny whether, completely opposite from the snow storm we ran in last year.

The race, and my friend LeeAnn, have now motivated me to run a 10 k in April so I have my next goal! And today marks day number 2 in my 30 days of working out challenge. I love working out. I love the way I feel. But I just don't prioritize it like I should...but now I am taking a stand to make it important; to make feeling good important!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Wonderful March Weekend...

This weekend was a nice, relaxing, get stuff done weekend.

Friday night I made dinner with my brother who was home from college and we played cards with my grandma. There is nothing better then spending time with family. These are the moments I will always remember.

Saturday morning my mom and I logged a 5.5 mile run. Much more then I expected, but my mom is good at pushing and motivating. I would say I am ready for the 5k next weekend.
I was hit with a migraine afterwards but luckily I had some good medicine and my nice bed to help me recover. Although my head was sore the rest of the evening, I was able to enjoy some Mexican food with my family.

I don't get migraines often, maybe one a year, but when I get them, I am knocked right down! Hopefully it will be a while before the next one.

Today, a perfectly relaxing Sunday, I worked on homework, hung with my family and husband, and did some cleaning and organizing.
That pile to the left is all donate...and that is probably only half of what I will have once I go through my dresser.

Dinner tonight was a delicious taco pizza!
1 package pre-made TJ's pizza dough
1 can TJ's light Organic Salsa Pinto Beans
1 lb. organic hamburger
taco seasoning
3 tbsp. salsa
1.5 cups light Mexican cheese

I pre-baked the crust, topped with the beans, hamburger mixture, salsa and cheese, baked for an additional 5-10 minutes, then topped with lettuce, chips, sour cream, salsa, what have you!

So good, and depending on additional toppings, you get 8 pieces for 6pp each...and the pieces are a nice size! I know I used a lot of Trader Joe's items but you can use your favorite brand.

I finished my night by packing up the tie blanket I made this weekend. I am donating it to a silent auction for a little boy whose family is from my dad's hometown. It sure feels nice to help out where I can!
Sleep good! I am off to bed so I can get up and head to the Y in the morning!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Things I need to make damn it!!!!!

And they are all healthy!

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Breakfast Pizza-You busy tomorrow morning mom?

Huevos Rancheros

Taco Salad Pizza

A Ridic Looking Green Monster Recipe! Yum!

Potato Salad-getting ready for spring

Taco Salad Cups

Summer Corn, Bacon and Potato Chowder

Mini Lasagna Cups

And I bought a mini donut pan so Maple Cinnamon Baked Donuts it is!

I need to take pictures with my nice camera...

I have been busy, and kinda meh...actually, I go through ups and downs, like sometimes I'm super happy, sometimes chill, sometimes relaxed, and sometimes just meh...not unhappy, just meh. Right now I'm kind meh. Bet you couldn't have guessed that. I am sure tonight I will be happy, and maybe even relaxed. The quirks of life! Not the facts of life; just the quirks.

My life has been filled with work, homework, and running. The Irish for a Day 5k is next Saturday and it has been nice to have a reason to run! It has been fun having my mom down the street (they moved in with D. Lo), as we can pop out for a run together!

I have also been doing a bit of cooking. Chaz and I made these egg boats this week. We followed the recipe pretty closely, but only made two loafs...I think you could use a variety of fillings, and for 2 baguettes, we still used 5 or 6 eggs! I don't know where the original poster purchased her loaves but mine were the demi loaves from Target.

And last weekend I got snowed in up in good old Moorhead, Mn. and decided to do some more baking.

Spinach bake

Blackberry Cobbler

Brown Sugar Banana Blueberry Muffins

And other then baking this weekend, Tonya and I went to this cute craft fair where I got some raw honey, and a few other trinkets. I also bought myself a french press which I have put to good use, and on the way home from Moorhead (which was Monday since I got snowed in Sunday), I stopped at this cute little truck stop and bought some delicious organic jelly! Yummy!


And yeah, I know my pictures aren't the best...it is just so handy to use my iPhone instead of pulling out my big camera, but I like taking pictures, and making them look nice, so I should probably stop being so lazy. And maybe I can even commission my husband to take some photos for me!


Thanks gosh it's the weekend! Happy Friday Peeps!