One of the nice things about living in Michigan is access to Canadian television. There are a few shows that the channel airs that are pretty solid. One such show is call 'Best Recipes Ever' and is, obviously, a cooking show. Last week Kari, the host, made these incredible looking honey garlic meatballs and I just had to try them. I love garlic, I love honey, I love meatballs...how could these be bad? After making the recipe I found them to be an adequate meatball in a delicious sauce!
You will need:
1 egg
1 small onion, grated
1/4 sweet red peppers, finely diced
1/4 cup (50 mL) dry bread crumbs
2 tsp (10 mL) soy sauce
2 tsp (10 mL) Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp (1 mL) pepper
1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef ( you could also use ground turkey or pork for these)
1 cup (250 mL) beef stock
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 tsp (18 mL) liquid honey
1 tbsp (15 mL) cornstarch
1 dash hot pepper sauce
1 green onions, chopped
In bowl, whisk together egg, onion, red pepper, bread crumbs, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and pepper; mix in beef. Roll by rounded tablespoonfuls (15 mL) into balls; place on greased rimmed baking sheet. Bake in 450°F oven until no longer pink inside, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, in large skillet, whisk beef stock, garlic, honey, cornstarch and hot pepper sauce; cook, whisking, over medium heat until thickened, 2 minutes.
Add meatballs and any accumulated juices to pan, stirring to coat. Serve sprinkled with onion.
The only change I made was instead of hot pepper sauce in the glaze I used red pepper flakes, mostly because I didn't have any hot sauce on hand. The recipe also suggests serving these over cooked egg noodles, which I had, but I used the last of my leftover rice from my stir fry last night. The meatballs and sauce went so well with the rice that instead of making noodles I just decided to make up another batch of rice and eat them that way. These would be great eaten on their own or with any other starch of your choice. They are sweet and just a little spicy, which I like. I might toy with the base of the meatball itself (for just a bit more flavor) but the glaze is perfect, in my humble opinion.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Whoa...
Happy Monday morning! I hope that everybody had a nice and refreshing weekend and is ready for week. I had a very pleasant weekend. I didn't accomplish much, I desperately need to so some serious work in my apartment, however, I got in some much needed rest and relaxation. I also got some really good sleep!! I haven't been sleeping well lately, shocking I know, and I got almost 10 hours of sleep both Friday and Saturday nights! I think I'm caught up because I was wide awake at 3:45 this morning...boo! Oh well, it made getting out of bed at 4:30 a lot easier.
So, whoa, right? I have to admit to having a few whoa moments this past week and of course I have to share them with you!
Whoa moment number 1: I realized yesterday that I had a real hesitation about going to the pool at my apartment complex and it had nothing to do with being self conscious. I have been looking forward to some poolside R&R for weeks and yesterday was the first day that I've been able to make it there. As I was getting changed into my suit and getting all sun screened I started to feel sick to my stomach and kept trying to talk myself into just hanging out and reading my new book on the deck of my apartment. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me until I got to the pool and it hit me. The last time I was at the pool was the day of my mom's surgery last summer. In fact, I was at the pool in the very same chair that I was in yesterday the last time that I spoke to my mom. It was a very hard moment but I made it through and hopefully won't have anymore aversions to the pool this summer.
Whoa moment number 2: and a much happier, if not unexpected moment. My sister Karla, the one who's getting married in October, found out that she's pregnant. Needless to say that this blessed event occurred a little sooner than they were expecting/hoping for (the idea was to go off birth control right after the wedding and start trying) but now that everything has sunk in Karla and Justin are both very excited about this next phase in their life together. The family is equally excited and we can't wait for the newest addition to the family.
Whoa moment number 3: I think I like tofu. I didn't want to believe it was possible but as I'm trying to be more healthy I'm trying to add new foods/dishes to my arsenal and I figured that this was the next logical healthy staple to try. Now, don't get me wrong, I never plan to stop eating meat, eggs, dairy and animal products in general but it's nice to know that in a stir fry there is a non-meat protein alternative that I like. I have a recipe that I'll be sharing at some point if you're ever feeling brave enough to try it.
Whoa moment number 4: I cannot believe how horrible I felt yesterday after eating pizza. It's not like I even over ate pizza. I had 2 pieces at lunch with a salad and then 2 pieces at dinner and last night and even into this morning I felt miserable. I don't know if it was from the grease, the salt of the 2.6 pounds of water weight that I gained over night (which I totally blame the pizza for) but my belly still isn't happy. I'm hoping that the broccoli-tofu stir fry that I have for lunch will help settle it. It just seems crazy to me how fast your body adjusts to eating relatively well and rebels when you eat too much junk. Don't get me wrong, the pizza tasted delicious and I plan to eat the remaining half pizza that's currently living in my freezer but I think I'll stick to a single meal instead of having it twice in one day.
Whoa moment number 5: I was in the grocery store yesterday and had to buy cat litter. The litter I like comes in a 25-pound box and of course the last box was on the way bottom shelf all of the way to the back. By the time I got it out and then into my cart I was thinking to myself 'holy hell that was a lot of work.' Then it hit me that I've lost 2.5 boxes of litter. No friggen wonder I never had energy and couldn't get into a walk/run program 63 pounds ago. I can't imagine strapping 2.5 boxes of cat litter on and then going for a walk let alone a jog. Mind boggling, I tell ya!
Well, I think that's all of the whoa moments that I have for you today. I hope that you all have a wonderful week and enjoy some beautiful summer weather!
So, whoa, right? I have to admit to having a few whoa moments this past week and of course I have to share them with you!
Whoa moment number 1: I realized yesterday that I had a real hesitation about going to the pool at my apartment complex and it had nothing to do with being self conscious. I have been looking forward to some poolside R&R for weeks and yesterday was the first day that I've been able to make it there. As I was getting changed into my suit and getting all sun screened I started to feel sick to my stomach and kept trying to talk myself into just hanging out and reading my new book on the deck of my apartment. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me until I got to the pool and it hit me. The last time I was at the pool was the day of my mom's surgery last summer. In fact, I was at the pool in the very same chair that I was in yesterday the last time that I spoke to my mom. It was a very hard moment but I made it through and hopefully won't have anymore aversions to the pool this summer.
Whoa moment number 2: and a much happier, if not unexpected moment. My sister Karla, the one who's getting married in October, found out that she's pregnant. Needless to say that this blessed event occurred a little sooner than they were expecting/hoping for (the idea was to go off birth control right after the wedding and start trying) but now that everything has sunk in Karla and Justin are both very excited about this next phase in their life together. The family is equally excited and we can't wait for the newest addition to the family.
Whoa moment number 3: I think I like tofu. I didn't want to believe it was possible but as I'm trying to be more healthy I'm trying to add new foods/dishes to my arsenal and I figured that this was the next logical healthy staple to try. Now, don't get me wrong, I never plan to stop eating meat, eggs, dairy and animal products in general but it's nice to know that in a stir fry there is a non-meat protein alternative that I like. I have a recipe that I'll be sharing at some point if you're ever feeling brave enough to try it.
Whoa moment number 4: I cannot believe how horrible I felt yesterday after eating pizza. It's not like I even over ate pizza. I had 2 pieces at lunch with a salad and then 2 pieces at dinner and last night and even into this morning I felt miserable. I don't know if it was from the grease, the salt of the 2.6 pounds of water weight that I gained over night (which I totally blame the pizza for) but my belly still isn't happy. I'm hoping that the broccoli-tofu stir fry that I have for lunch will help settle it. It just seems crazy to me how fast your body adjusts to eating relatively well and rebels when you eat too much junk. Don't get me wrong, the pizza tasted delicious and I plan to eat the remaining half pizza that's currently living in my freezer but I think I'll stick to a single meal instead of having it twice in one day.
Whoa moment number 5: I was in the grocery store yesterday and had to buy cat litter. The litter I like comes in a 25-pound box and of course the last box was on the way bottom shelf all of the way to the back. By the time I got it out and then into my cart I was thinking to myself 'holy hell that was a lot of work.' Then it hit me that I've lost 2.5 boxes of litter. No friggen wonder I never had energy and couldn't get into a walk/run program 63 pounds ago. I can't imagine strapping 2.5 boxes of cat litter on and then going for a walk let alone a jog. Mind boggling, I tell ya!
Well, I think that's all of the whoa moments that I have for you today. I hope that you all have a wonderful week and enjoy some beautiful summer weather!
Friday, June 24, 2011
It's almost the weekend!!
TGIF! Not that it's been an overly taxing week but I always enjoy a good weekend! I don't have anything super fun planned, just a workout or two but I like being able to do what I want when I want!
The first week of summer has been a bit of a let down, truth be told. I'm ready for some warm and sunny weather. I got a nice start of a tan while I was home and haven't been able to add to it since. Drat this rainy weather! On the plus side, being forced to remain indoors has afforded me the time to finish a book and get caught up on some movie watching.
I've had a few Netflix chick flicks hanging around for a while and over the last week and a half finally got to watch them. I have to admit I felt fairly meh about all three. It's not that any of them were overtly bad movies, I just didn't really get into them as much as I thought I might. The first movie I watched was called 'Blind Dating' and the only reason I got it was because Chris Pine played the main guy and let's face it...he's hot! The movie was really not great and I won't tell you to not see it but I'm also not going to say you should.
'Morning Glory' starring Rachel McAdams and Patrick Wilson was a decent chick flick. The romance side of things wasn't a huge part of the plot so much as her tendency to overwork. It was from the makers of 'The Devil Wears Prada' and if you've seen that movie then you'll have a good idea of how this plays out. It was enjoyable enough that I didn't mind watching it but I'll probably never watch it again. The same goes for 'Love and Other Drugs.' I actually had really high hopes for this movie and again, walked away feeling like it wasn't what I wanted. The movie wasn't bad per se but I remember as I watched it thinking that it was quite long and that much of it was just filler. Also, I couldn't help but wonder if Anne Hathaway took her role simply to break away even further from her princess persona. I honestly think she was naked more than she was clothed in this movie. Anyway, it's alright and you could probably see it if you wanted to.
While I have luke warm feelings about the movies I've watch, I have very positive feelings about the book I just finished. The novel is called 'The Messenger' and it's by Jan Burke who is one of my favorite authors. She writes a mystery thriller series, which just released it's latest book this week, but this is a stand alone novel. It's more paranormal than her previous work but I really liked it. My only complaint is that I feel like she rushed the ending, otherwise it was a great read about a man who can hear and convey the final thoughts of dying men and women. He's also immortal which makes it very hard to connect to people therefore he leads a very lonely life. It was a good book and I would recommend it if you like a bit of mystery.
The only other news is that I've finished the second week of the C25k program which might not seem like a lot but it's the furthest I've ever made it in a walk to run program. It hasn't been that challenging, this week was only 1.5 minute run intervals and I'm going at a pretty slow pace, but I'm proud of my accomplishments. I've been a little frustrated in the weight loss category lately. I feel like I've been losing and gaining the same 1.6 pounds again and again for the last 2 weeks. I'm still down almost 6-8 pounds from where I was a month ago but it's driving me crazy. Even after all this time it's hard to not let my self pity run away with me and do some damage with crappy eating. I just need to remember how far I've come and that it's not a race to accomplish my goals. It will happen, it just takes time. Damn me and my lack of patience!!!
Alright, I think that's it. Have a great weekend ladies!
The first week of summer has been a bit of a let down, truth be told. I'm ready for some warm and sunny weather. I got a nice start of a tan while I was home and haven't been able to add to it since. Drat this rainy weather! On the plus side, being forced to remain indoors has afforded me the time to finish a book and get caught up on some movie watching.
I've had a few Netflix chick flicks hanging around for a while and over the last week and a half finally got to watch them. I have to admit I felt fairly meh about all three. It's not that any of them were overtly bad movies, I just didn't really get into them as much as I thought I might. The first movie I watched was called 'Blind Dating' and the only reason I got it was because Chris Pine played the main guy and let's face it...he's hot! The movie was really not great and I won't tell you to not see it but I'm also not going to say you should.
'Morning Glory' starring Rachel McAdams and Patrick Wilson was a decent chick flick. The romance side of things wasn't a huge part of the plot so much as her tendency to overwork. It was from the makers of 'The Devil Wears Prada' and if you've seen that movie then you'll have a good idea of how this plays out. It was enjoyable enough that I didn't mind watching it but I'll probably never watch it again. The same goes for 'Love and Other Drugs.' I actually had really high hopes for this movie and again, walked away feeling like it wasn't what I wanted. The movie wasn't bad per se but I remember as I watched it thinking that it was quite long and that much of it was just filler. Also, I couldn't help but wonder if Anne Hathaway took her role simply to break away even further from her princess persona. I honestly think she was naked more than she was clothed in this movie. Anyway, it's alright and you could probably see it if you wanted to.
While I have luke warm feelings about the movies I've watch, I have very positive feelings about the book I just finished. The novel is called 'The Messenger' and it's by Jan Burke who is one of my favorite authors. She writes a mystery thriller series, which just released it's latest book this week, but this is a stand alone novel. It's more paranormal than her previous work but I really liked it. My only complaint is that I feel like she rushed the ending, otherwise it was a great read about a man who can hear and convey the final thoughts of dying men and women. He's also immortal which makes it very hard to connect to people therefore he leads a very lonely life. It was a good book and I would recommend it if you like a bit of mystery.
The only other news is that I've finished the second week of the C25k program which might not seem like a lot but it's the furthest I've ever made it in a walk to run program. It hasn't been that challenging, this week was only 1.5 minute run intervals and I'm going at a pretty slow pace, but I'm proud of my accomplishments. I've been a little frustrated in the weight loss category lately. I feel like I've been losing and gaining the same 1.6 pounds again and again for the last 2 weeks. I'm still down almost 6-8 pounds from where I was a month ago but it's driving me crazy. Even after all this time it's hard to not let my self pity run away with me and do some damage with crappy eating. I just need to remember how far I've come and that it's not a race to accomplish my goals. It will happen, it just takes time. Damn me and my lack of patience!!!
Alright, I think that's it. Have a great weekend ladies!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Recipe: salt and vinegar grilled potatoes
I don't know about you ladies but I LOVE salt and vinegar potato chips. I was looking for some recipes last week and I stumble across a website that didn't seem to promising. I was about to click off the page and the words salt and vinegar caught my eye. As soon as I saw the picture I knew I had to try these tart and salty potatoes. I made them for dinner last night with my grilled cod and OMG, were they delicious! They certainly aren't for the faint of heart, although they weren't as strong as I feared they would be, but they a perfect healthier fix for those of us who do, in fact, like salt and vinegar chips.
You will need:
Waxy potatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick (large fingerlings work well)
white vinegar
sea salt
canola oil
pepper
Slice your potatoes and layer them in a pot. Pour in enough vinegar over the potatoes to cover them. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes. They should be tender but not fully cooked or they won't hold their shape when being grilled.
Pour vinegar off of potatoes and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Toss in a bowl with 1-2 tbs. canola or olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on grill and cook until first side is brown and crispy (3-5 minutes), turn and repeat on second side.
I really liked these potatoes and thought that they went well with the lemon garlic cod I made. My only complaint is that the flavor was strong and heavy and it almost needed something fresh to balance that out and cut the acid of the vinegar. I think when I eat the leftovers tonight I might take a bit of sour cream with some scallions (green onion tops) and just to open up the flavor a little more. Either way, delicious!!
You will need:
Waxy potatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick (large fingerlings work well)
white vinegar
sea salt
canola oil
pepper
Slice your potatoes and layer them in a pot. Pour in enough vinegar over the potatoes to cover them. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes. They should be tender but not fully cooked or they won't hold their shape when being grilled.
Pour vinegar off of potatoes and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Toss in a bowl with 1-2 tbs. canola or olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on grill and cook until first side is brown and crispy (3-5 minutes), turn and repeat on second side.
I really liked these potatoes and thought that they went well with the lemon garlic cod I made. My only complaint is that the flavor was strong and heavy and it almost needed something fresh to balance that out and cut the acid of the vinegar. I think when I eat the leftovers tonight I might take a bit of sour cream with some scallions (green onion tops) and just to open up the flavor a little more. Either way, delicious!!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
C25K
Don't be fooled by the seemingly random title of my blog, C25K is a real thing. I've been meaning to increase the intensity of my exercise routine for a while now and just haven't had the desire or motivation to really challenge myself. However, my dear friend Rishy is rocking it out on the bike trails and just completed her first 20 mile bike ride this last weekend, go Rishy!!! While I'm ridiculously proud of her and uber supportive, her accomplishments have kicked in a bit of my competitiveness, which is impressive because I'm not a crazy competitive person.
Anyway, I don't like cycling so I have no desire to run out and buy a bike, however, now that I'm down 63 pounds I feel like it's finally time to get myself moving in the direction of jogging/running. Enter C25K. This is one of the many, many, many walk to run interval programs out there. C25K, which stands for couch to 5K, is a program that is designed to have anybody going from the couch to running 30 minutes (almost a 5K at a pace of 10 minute miles) in 9 weeks. I decided to go with this program over the others because everybody on Lose It has set their sights on C25K and I figure support in numbers and all.
I did the first workout this morning and it went really well. I've done some 1 minute interval runs so I'm not surprised that this morning was good bordering on easy. However, I don't want to get too cocky because I know that it's going to start getting more difficult. My desire is to be able to accomplish this program in the 9 weeks it's supposed to take but I figure I'm in no rush and if I need to repeat some workouts or even weeks I will. Like everything else I'm trying do this the right way and that means that I have to take the time I need.
Anywho, that's all I really have. I just like to keep you up to date with what I'm doing. I apologize in advance for any OMG this sucks posts that might come out of this experience!
Anyway, I don't like cycling so I have no desire to run out and buy a bike, however, now that I'm down 63 pounds I feel like it's finally time to get myself moving in the direction of jogging/running. Enter C25K. This is one of the many, many, many walk to run interval programs out there. C25K, which stands for couch to 5K, is a program that is designed to have anybody going from the couch to running 30 minutes (almost a 5K at a pace of 10 minute miles) in 9 weeks. I decided to go with this program over the others because everybody on Lose It has set their sights on C25K and I figure support in numbers and all.
I did the first workout this morning and it went really well. I've done some 1 minute interval runs so I'm not surprised that this morning was good bordering on easy. However, I don't want to get too cocky because I know that it's going to start getting more difficult. My desire is to be able to accomplish this program in the 9 weeks it's supposed to take but I figure I'm in no rush and if I need to repeat some workouts or even weeks I will. Like everything else I'm trying do this the right way and that means that I have to take the time I need.
Anywho, that's all I really have. I just like to keep you up to date with what I'm doing. I apologize in advance for any OMG this sucks posts that might come out of this experience!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Recipe: French dip and provolone subs
It's been a couple of weeks since I shared a recipe on here mostly because with my trip and having to feed children and a step dad who are all much pickier than me, I haven't tried anything new. However, I'm back and I already have one new recipe on the books and another waiting in the wings (which will probably be made tomorrow night and consumed on Wednesday)!
A co-worker came into the lab on Friday and was gushing about this new recipe for French dip subs that he and his wife had made earlier in the week. I don't eat a lot of red meat (it's so expensive) but try and get some in a few times each month. I love French dip subs and I figured by making them at home I could make a few tweaks so they were still delicious and bit on the lighter side. I'll give the recipe as it's written and then let you know my changes!
You will need:
3/4 lb. shaved roast beef lunch meat
1 can (10.5 oz.) Campbell's French onion soup
1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
4 slices provolone cheese
4 hoagie rolls
banana pepper rings (optional)
Pre-heat oven to 350.
Over medium-high heat combine roast beef, soup and Worcestershire sauce, cooking for 5 minutes. Evenly divide the beef over the 4 rolls. Top with pepper rings and 1 slice of provolone. Bake in oven for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Like I said above, I made a few changes to my recipe but the idea is the same. I used lower sodium roast beef which was slightly more expensive than the regular. I used reduced fat provolone. Lastly, instead of hoagie rolls which ran about 210 calories each, I used the Sara Lee Delightful Wheat buns. They are about 80 calories and have 6 grams of fiber. They aren't exactly the right texture for a classic French dip but I liked saving 130 calories (150 cals saved when you add in the cheese).
Healthy changes and all I really liked these sandwiches! I served them with spicy ranch potatoes (cut up fingerling potatoes tossed with a bit of oil and spicy ranch dip mix and then baked for 35 minutes at 400) and a nice salad. It was satisfying and it kind of felt like I was having a cheat meal but I came in on budget! The best part is it's all quick and easy for those nights when you're tired and don't want to cook and it's a lot better for you than take out. I'm guessing you could make mock French dip with turkey or chicken if you didn't want to have the beef and it would still be delicious!
A co-worker came into the lab on Friday and was gushing about this new recipe for French dip subs that he and his wife had made earlier in the week. I don't eat a lot of red meat (it's so expensive) but try and get some in a few times each month. I love French dip subs and I figured by making them at home I could make a few tweaks so they were still delicious and bit on the lighter side. I'll give the recipe as it's written and then let you know my changes!
You will need:
3/4 lb. shaved roast beef lunch meat
1 can (10.5 oz.) Campbell's French onion soup
1 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
4 slices provolone cheese
4 hoagie rolls
banana pepper rings (optional)
Pre-heat oven to 350.
Over medium-high heat combine roast beef, soup and Worcestershire sauce, cooking for 5 minutes. Evenly divide the beef over the 4 rolls. Top with pepper rings and 1 slice of provolone. Bake in oven for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Like I said above, I made a few changes to my recipe but the idea is the same. I used lower sodium roast beef which was slightly more expensive than the regular. I used reduced fat provolone. Lastly, instead of hoagie rolls which ran about 210 calories each, I used the Sara Lee Delightful Wheat buns. They are about 80 calories and have 6 grams of fiber. They aren't exactly the right texture for a classic French dip but I liked saving 130 calories (150 cals saved when you add in the cheese).
Healthy changes and all I really liked these sandwiches! I served them with spicy ranch potatoes (cut up fingerling potatoes tossed with a bit of oil and spicy ranch dip mix and then baked for 35 minutes at 400) and a nice salad. It was satisfying and it kind of felt like I was having a cheat meal but I came in on budget! The best part is it's all quick and easy for those nights when you're tired and don't want to cook and it's a lot better for you than take out. I'm guessing you could make mock French dip with turkey or chicken if you didn't want to have the beef and it would still be delicious!
Friday, June 10, 2011
It's official...
61.2 POUNDS AS OF THIS MORNING!!!
OK, I might be a little bit excited but I feel like this is a good thing to get excited about! There is an article floating around the Lose It forums about interesting ways to represent weight lost and I thought to celebrate this auspicious event I would share some of the fun with you! So, here you go!
Things that weigh 60 pounds:
*1 elephant's penis...great!
*40 dozen Krisy Kreme glazed donuts
*The amount of cheese the average American eats in 1 year + the average 2 y.o. + a chihuahua
* 30 racks of baby back ribs
*20 average human brains
*15 ostrich eggs
*10 complete sets of human skin (ick)
*A small bale of hay and the amount of chemical additives an American consumes each year
*half of the amount of trash the average American throws out in 1 month
*40 dozen large eggs
*An average human leg + an automobile tire
*An elephant's heart + a sperm whale's brain (yes, an elephant penis weighs more than a brain)
*A mid sized microwave + a 3 gallon tub of super premium ice cream
Anyway, that'll give you something to think about! Have a great day and weekend ladies!
OK, I might be a little bit excited but I feel like this is a good thing to get excited about! There is an article floating around the Lose It forums about interesting ways to represent weight lost and I thought to celebrate this auspicious event I would share some of the fun with you! So, here you go!
Things that weigh 60 pounds:
*1 elephant's penis...great!
*40 dozen Krisy Kreme glazed donuts
*The amount of cheese the average American eats in 1 year + the average 2 y.o. + a chihuahua
* 30 racks of baby back ribs
*20 average human brains
*15 ostrich eggs
*10 complete sets of human skin (ick)
*A small bale of hay and the amount of chemical additives an American consumes each year
*half of the amount of trash the average American throws out in 1 month
*40 dozen large eggs
*An average human leg + an automobile tire
*An elephant's heart + a sperm whale's brain (yes, an elephant penis weighs more than a brain)
*A mid sized microwave + a 3 gallon tub of super premium ice cream
Anyway, that'll give you something to think about! Have a great day and weekend ladies!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
And I'm back...
Howdy folks! I have to start out by saying that I'm not totally thrilled to be back in Michigan. I did enjoy sleeping in my own bed last night and it was nice to see Willow but it's sad when my bed and cat are the things I miss most in the entire state of Michigan. Oh well, Sheena was really happy to see me today so that's nice!
OK...just a warning, this might be long, there's just so much to share!
I had an absolutely amazing time in Iowa/Minnesota. It was so hard to make myself leave. I wish I would have had more time to spend with friends but I got in a lot of good family time and I never feel like I get to see them enough.
Memorial Day weekend was amazing. Kayaking was awesome and nobody ended up dumping their kayaks (Kevin almost did as he was getting in the water but he saved it at the last minute)! I did miss the bank when I was trying to get out of the river and had it not been for Ben I might have been washed much further downstream than I wanted but he saved me...my hero! We were on the water for about 3 hours and it was a perfect day with bright sunshine and warm temps. I even managed to start a nice tan that I cultivated over my trip.
That Sunday was a BBQ at Amanda's just outside of Austin. I was a good time, as most drinking events with my friends are, even though everybody stayed full clothed this time. I guess we only strip when Jenny's around. There was a weird vibe between Kevin and myself, which is no uncommon when he starts to drink. He gets very touchy feely when he drinks and spent the greater part of the night glued to my side. Of course, when everybody was sober the next morning he maintained a comfortable distance, which is also normal. I sometimes wonder about that boy. Oh well, I can't get hung up on a boy who's only interested in me when he's drinking. I am way to good for that!
Memorial Day brought the start of my week with the kids. I had so much fun with them I can't even begin to explain. I only took the 3 older kids, I don't think Brooklyn would have done well without her mommy and daddy for a whole week, and it was a crazy fun and exhausting week. We had picnics, walked/rode bikes to the cemetery to visit grandma (it's literally .5 miles from the house), went to the park to play on the toys and see the animals (at Fontana), went fishing, watched movies, played in the sprinkler, went swimming in the creek behind the house etc. We didn't even get everything in that we wanted to before the week ended. I also bought them a book to read before bed each night. I got a Roald Dahl classic, 'The Twits.' The kids absolutely loved it. I don't know who had it harder on Sunday when they went home and I went to Waterloo with Karla. I was very sad to see them go but they didn't want Aunt Coley to leave either. In fact, after having said good-bye to Hailee 3 times, I got a frantic call from my brother when we were both on the road. He was mad because he couldn't believe I left without saying good-bye to her and she was sobbing in the back. I told her good-bye again and promised that I would stop in and see her once more before I left. Fortunately Karla and I were heading by Charles City on Monday because her wedding dress was in. I got a few more calls from her before I left but I think she's good now.
I could go on and on about the shower and the bachelorette party but I feel like I'm working on a novel here and let's face it, the pictures pretty much tell the story. It was an amazing day. There were a few tears shed at the shower when Karla opened a gift that my grandpa picked out from my late grandma's collection of dishes and when she opened her pearls. Other than those few moments the day as full of joy and happiness. The bachelorette party was fantastic right up until Cody got pulled over downtown Oelwein. He was a DD so that was fine but the cop was a jack ass and it put a damper on the evening after that. We still managed to have a good night and Karla had an amazing and memorable time!
I had fun right up until the end. On Monday, my last day at home, I went with Karla to try on her wedding dress! It fit pretty well, they might not have to make any alterations at all! Later that night she and Justin took me out for Mexican in Waterloo and we saw the new Pirates movie. I enjoyed it and felt that it was thoroughly entertaining. There was one storyline I don't think they wrapped up well but other than that I have no major complaints. It's pretty cool in 3D so if you like the Pirates movies I would recommend seeing it in the theater, however it could definitely wait for home viewing.
Well, I think that's it, you're all updated. I guess the only thing I didn't mention is that I didn't do any damage to my weight loss while I was away. I thought for sure I would have put on some weight because there were a few days of questionable eating (especially with the shower and bachelorette party...alcohol is bad) and I was a bit scared to step on the scale this morning but I actually lost 0.7pounds over the last 11 days!! I guess chasing 3 kids around all week is a good way to maintain a weight loss regimen! I'm getting close to the 60 pound mark and I can't wait!!
OK, have a great rest of your week!
OK...just a warning, this might be long, there's just so much to share!
I had an absolutely amazing time in Iowa/Minnesota. It was so hard to make myself leave. I wish I would have had more time to spend with friends but I got in a lot of good family time and I never feel like I get to see them enough.
Memorial Day weekend was amazing. Kayaking was awesome and nobody ended up dumping their kayaks (Kevin almost did as he was getting in the water but he saved it at the last minute)! I did miss the bank when I was trying to get out of the river and had it not been for Ben I might have been washed much further downstream than I wanted but he saved me...my hero! We were on the water for about 3 hours and it was a perfect day with bright sunshine and warm temps. I even managed to start a nice tan that I cultivated over my trip.
That Sunday was a BBQ at Amanda's just outside of Austin. I was a good time, as most drinking events with my friends are, even though everybody stayed full clothed this time. I guess we only strip when Jenny's around. There was a weird vibe between Kevin and myself, which is no uncommon when he starts to drink. He gets very touchy feely when he drinks and spent the greater part of the night glued to my side. Of course, when everybody was sober the next morning he maintained a comfortable distance, which is also normal. I sometimes wonder about that boy. Oh well, I can't get hung up on a boy who's only interested in me when he's drinking. I am way to good for that!
Memorial Day brought the start of my week with the kids. I had so much fun with them I can't even begin to explain. I only took the 3 older kids, I don't think Brooklyn would have done well without her mommy and daddy for a whole week, and it was a crazy fun and exhausting week. We had picnics, walked/rode bikes to the cemetery to visit grandma (it's literally .5 miles from the house), went to the park to play on the toys and see the animals (at Fontana), went fishing, watched movies, played in the sprinkler, went swimming in the creek behind the house etc. We didn't even get everything in that we wanted to before the week ended. I also bought them a book to read before bed each night. I got a Roald Dahl classic, 'The Twits.' The kids absolutely loved it. I don't know who had it harder on Sunday when they went home and I went to Waterloo with Karla. I was very sad to see them go but they didn't want Aunt Coley to leave either. In fact, after having said good-bye to Hailee 3 times, I got a frantic call from my brother when we were both on the road. He was mad because he couldn't believe I left without saying good-bye to her and she was sobbing in the back. I told her good-bye again and promised that I would stop in and see her once more before I left. Fortunately Karla and I were heading by Charles City on Monday because her wedding dress was in. I got a few more calls from her before I left but I think she's good now.
I could go on and on about the shower and the bachelorette party but I feel like I'm working on a novel here and let's face it, the pictures pretty much tell the story. It was an amazing day. There were a few tears shed at the shower when Karla opened a gift that my grandpa picked out from my late grandma's collection of dishes and when she opened her pearls. Other than those few moments the day as full of joy and happiness. The bachelorette party was fantastic right up until Cody got pulled over downtown Oelwein. He was a DD so that was fine but the cop was a jack ass and it put a damper on the evening after that. We still managed to have a good night and Karla had an amazing and memorable time!
I had fun right up until the end. On Monday, my last day at home, I went with Karla to try on her wedding dress! It fit pretty well, they might not have to make any alterations at all! Later that night she and Justin took me out for Mexican in Waterloo and we saw the new Pirates movie. I enjoyed it and felt that it was thoroughly entertaining. There was one storyline I don't think they wrapped up well but other than that I have no major complaints. It's pretty cool in 3D so if you like the Pirates movies I would recommend seeing it in the theater, however it could definitely wait for home viewing.
Well, I think that's it, you're all updated. I guess the only thing I didn't mention is that I didn't do any damage to my weight loss while I was away. I thought for sure I would have put on some weight because there were a few days of questionable eating (especially with the shower and bachelorette party...alcohol is bad) and I was a bit scared to step on the scale this morning but I actually lost 0.7pounds over the last 11 days!! I guess chasing 3 kids around all week is a good way to maintain a weight loss regimen! I'm getting close to the 60 pound mark and I can't wait!!
OK, have a great rest of your week!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Thank You Chase Identity Protector
Hey all:
I woke up this morning and decided to sort through some mail. I saw a letter from Chase...I expected it to be junk mail but lo and behold, it was an urgent letter from my Identity Protection account. Seems like someone from Columbus Ohio is trying to use my information to open cell phone accounts and credit cards. Fortunately they have not been successful but it's still scary to see how many times they've tried to do so in the past several months. I still have to call Lowe's tomorrow because a credit card at that business was their most recent attempt on June 3. Grr. Thank god I pay attention to my credit report each month. FYI...get a credit report ASAP if you haven't.
Day 2 of Summer Youth Fitness was decent too. I wasn't walking around as much though since I was on the phone a lot trying to figure out the credit issue explained above. I have made good headway with the t-shirt design and order for the program. I'm waiting for ISU to officially approve our design so a local shop can create 150 of them. I'm hoping the storms and rain tomorrow will cool things off. The kids have tolerated the heat well and my employees have done a great job with hydration.
I'm not entirely thrilled about my schedule for the weekend and for next week. I teach at DMACC Saturday morning....bleh. I'm the recreation person for vacation bible school next week. I am usually done at ISU around 5pm and I need to be down in Ankeny by 6pm. I can be a little bit late since my recreation duties don't start until after 7pm but there will be a sense of urgency. I have to at least shower before I depart from Ames though...I'm extremely gross after SYF due to the heat inside and outside the buildling. I haven't done any planning yet for bible school either. Sigh.
That's enough venting for now...I'm off to read some Stephen King!
I woke up this morning and decided to sort through some mail. I saw a letter from Chase...I expected it to be junk mail but lo and behold, it was an urgent letter from my Identity Protection account. Seems like someone from Columbus Ohio is trying to use my information to open cell phone accounts and credit cards. Fortunately they have not been successful but it's still scary to see how many times they've tried to do so in the past several months. I still have to call Lowe's tomorrow because a credit card at that business was their most recent attempt on June 3. Grr. Thank god I pay attention to my credit report each month. FYI...get a credit report ASAP if you haven't.
Day 2 of Summer Youth Fitness was decent too. I wasn't walking around as much though since I was on the phone a lot trying to figure out the credit issue explained above. I have made good headway with the t-shirt design and order for the program. I'm waiting for ISU to officially approve our design so a local shop can create 150 of them. I'm hoping the storms and rain tomorrow will cool things off. The kids have tolerated the heat well and my employees have done a great job with hydration.
I'm not entirely thrilled about my schedule for the weekend and for next week. I teach at DMACC Saturday morning....bleh. I'm the recreation person for vacation bible school next week. I am usually done at ISU around 5pm and I need to be down in Ankeny by 6pm. I can be a little bit late since my recreation duties don't start until after 7pm but there will be a sense of urgency. I have to at least shower before I depart from Ames though...I'm extremely gross after SYF due to the heat inside and outside the buildling. I haven't done any planning yet for bible school either. Sigh.
That's enough venting for now...I'm off to read some Stephen King!
Survival!!
Hey all:
Sadly it's 12:15am and I'm wide awake. After today's activities, I fell asleep at 7pm. I woke up at 11:00 due to the lack of AC. It must have shut off for an extended period of time because I woke up warm and sweaty. Today was the first day of Summer Youth Fitness. I spread out the prep work nicely. I only had a few things to do this morning prior to the controlled chaos. Hopefully the freeze pops that I put in the freezer are frozen tomorrow so the kids can get a treat since once again it's supposed to be in the mid 90s with an incredible heat index.
I was amazed how well the first part of the program went...we are establishing a routine that has the kids and parents meet in a large gym. Each group of kids meets in an area of the gym. It worked nicely...my only distractor was families handing me checks and paperwork. I've already misplaced one check this month so it made me leery collecting all that stuff at once.
I borrowed and bought some buckets so we can do water activities oustide. Also bought 1500 water balloons so groups could do games with those. The repairs for the pool have been approved too! They tentatively think the pool will be usable by July 5th. I'm not holding my breath on that one. I'm just happy that we will possibly have swim lessons in July at some point.
I was exhausted by 5pm but I had a nice level of energy throughout the afternoon. I think I had a lot of adreneline pulsing through my body too since I was all stressed about the first day. I'm hoping my energy levels remain high each afternoon so I can successfully bop around and check on each group and help when needed. We only had one discipline issues today (which surprised me for it being the first day). The parents weren't pleased that their child was causing issues so early in the program.
I got a nice look at the pictures that Nicole posted during her trip to Iowa. The bachelorette party looked fun! How can an event like that not be fun if it include Play-Doh penises and an inflatible penis? I'm assuming your time went fast but looks like you had a lot of time with family and friends. I'm sad we couldn't see each other but I was fortunate to see you earlier in the year. Surprisingly I was able to see Tiffany the other night. I stopped by her brother's house in Waukee for about an hour to chit chat.
I'm sure you'll be reading a lot of blogs in the upcoming 2 months that include Summer Youth Fitness updates. It's so exciting to be a director of a program and this will be a great avenue to vent about challenges or boast about successes. Hopefully it doesn't get too sickening.
Sadly it's 12:15am and I'm wide awake. After today's activities, I fell asleep at 7pm. I woke up at 11:00 due to the lack of AC. It must have shut off for an extended period of time because I woke up warm and sweaty. Today was the first day of Summer Youth Fitness. I spread out the prep work nicely. I only had a few things to do this morning prior to the controlled chaos. Hopefully the freeze pops that I put in the freezer are frozen tomorrow so the kids can get a treat since once again it's supposed to be in the mid 90s with an incredible heat index.
I was amazed how well the first part of the program went...we are establishing a routine that has the kids and parents meet in a large gym. Each group of kids meets in an area of the gym. It worked nicely...my only distractor was families handing me checks and paperwork. I've already misplaced one check this month so it made me leery collecting all that stuff at once.
I borrowed and bought some buckets so we can do water activities oustide. Also bought 1500 water balloons so groups could do games with those. The repairs for the pool have been approved too! They tentatively think the pool will be usable by July 5th. I'm not holding my breath on that one. I'm just happy that we will possibly have swim lessons in July at some point.
I was exhausted by 5pm but I had a nice level of energy throughout the afternoon. I think I had a lot of adreneline pulsing through my body too since I was all stressed about the first day. I'm hoping my energy levels remain high each afternoon so I can successfully bop around and check on each group and help when needed. We only had one discipline issues today (which surprised me for it being the first day). The parents weren't pleased that their child was causing issues so early in the program.
I got a nice look at the pictures that Nicole posted during her trip to Iowa. The bachelorette party looked fun! How can an event like that not be fun if it include Play-Doh penises and an inflatible penis? I'm assuming your time went fast but looks like you had a lot of time with family and friends. I'm sad we couldn't see each other but I was fortunate to see you earlier in the year. Surprisingly I was able to see Tiffany the other night. I stopped by her brother's house in Waukee for about an hour to chit chat.
I'm sure you'll be reading a lot of blogs in the upcoming 2 months that include Summer Youth Fitness updates. It's so exciting to be a director of a program and this will be a great avenue to vent about challenges or boast about successes. Hopefully it doesn't get too sickening.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Literary Update
It occured to me today that I haven't commented on the books I've read or started reading. I'm proud to say that I finished Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series last week. It took me longer than expected to finish the seventh book but then again, it was 800+ pages long. I have to say that the series was excellent. Stephen King created it as his personal "Lord of the Rings" type of story. It was an excellent quest to follow. Parts of the story did get boring at times but I realized at the end that everything was critical....even the dull tidbits. I was truly surprised by the ending though. It was a crafty way to end the series. I bet it angered a lot of Stephen King's readers. He started the series in the 70s and ended it in 2006 I believe. I plan to reread it later in life after all the fine details get fuzzy or forgotten.
I have checked out another Stephen King book called "The Stand". It's only a meer 1135 pages long. I haven't started it yet. I tried reading it a few years ago but it never tripped my trigger. It didn't help that I had no idea what the topic of the book was when I tried back then. My interest was sparked because some scenes from "The Stand" are included in the "Dark Tower" series. King included other portions of numerous novels throughout the series whether it be settings or characters. The premise for "The Stand" is that a superflu hits the world and wipes out mankind for the most part. There is a lot of military mumbo-jumbo in the beginning of the book so I need to get through that (that's what turned me off the first time I tried to read it).
While picking up my latest Stephen King read, another book caught my attention. A librarian had strategically placed it at the end of a shelf of books and the title sucked me in. It's called "The Particular Saddness of Lemon Cake" by Aimee Bender. I'm not sure if the bakery item called to me or what but I grabbed it. I've almost finished it reading it. It starts with a little girl trying her mother's lemon cake and suddenly realizing that she can sense her mother's emotions through her cooking/baking. It really freaks her out of course because she realizes how unhappy her mother is. She adapts and actually has to avoid a lot of her mom's cooking through the years but realizes during adolescence that her mom is having an affair. The book includes a separate story about her older brother but I'm having a hard time getting into that part of the book. It wasn't the best book but it was interesting and a nice little break from the horror genre.
Some other happenings are as follows:
--Gavin started a basketball camp today through the Ames High School Booster Club. He was not pleased to have to go somewhere on his first day of summer vacation. Fortunately he was happy when I picked him up and he enjoyed his time. I was surprised by how ticked he was that he had to go be active this week. His first week of 4H camp begins on June 12.
--I endured more rudeness today at work. I was seriously shocked by a conversation I had with a parent via phone. I had been in communication with the father via email (about the broken pool). His wife sent me an email this morning and asked me to call her. I figured it would be the routine, apologetic discussion and she'd accept the situation. Holy cow I was wrong. She started the conversation by simply asking "When are you going to start doing your job as director and remedy this situation?" I was honestly speechless. She thinks it's beyond unacceptable that I don't have a plan B that allows the kids to swim every day. She wants me to transfer the kids to the Ames Aquatic Center each day. I tried explaining that it would be too expensive....I know darn well that Ames would charge the usual rate for each child. I cannot afford to rent vans or transportation either. And on top of that, I cannot guarantee the proper supervision of all the children since the pool is bombarded with a ton of people each day. She was just pissed off and wasn't willing to think logicially. I really had to bite my tongue since she kept jabbing at my ability to direct the oveall program.
--I've been craving taco pizza for months. I truly miss the Happy Joe's that used to exist less than a mile away. I had a piece of taco pizza from Pizza Hut at a previous Red Cross meeting and didn't mind it so I ordered a medium from them tonight. They actually have a meatless version that tripped my trigger immediately. It was okay but the proportion of "white cheese" to "cheddar cheese" disappointed me.
--Jon and I are planning a trip to Chicago at the end of June. The "Taste of Chicago" is taking place during that week into July. We are trying to figure out if we can stay downtown or if we need to stay in a suburb. I know I'll need a little get-away by that point since it will be the midway point of the summer program at ISU. It will give us a chance to visit with his friend Murph and do some sight-seeing.
--I invested in another bible study that I will be doing in a long distance manner with Tiffany. It's called "Stepping Up" and it utilizes the Psalms portion of the Bible. (Written by Beth Moore) I'm hoping my somewhat self-study will create more peace in my life. It will be fun to discuss parts of the study with Tiffany since she also needs comfort in Maryland. I'm still doing a study called "Crazy Love" through my church but I've never really latched onto it. It's a good book....I need to re-read the first few chapters and I'm sure it would be more meaningful. We've had good discussions at our monthly women's ministry gathering.
I think that's it for now. I'm going to wander off to bed and read more about lemon cake. Take care!
I have checked out another Stephen King book called "The Stand". It's only a meer 1135 pages long. I haven't started it yet. I tried reading it a few years ago but it never tripped my trigger. It didn't help that I had no idea what the topic of the book was when I tried back then. My interest was sparked because some scenes from "The Stand" are included in the "Dark Tower" series. King included other portions of numerous novels throughout the series whether it be settings or characters. The premise for "The Stand" is that a superflu hits the world and wipes out mankind for the most part. There is a lot of military mumbo-jumbo in the beginning of the book so I need to get through that (that's what turned me off the first time I tried to read it).
While picking up my latest Stephen King read, another book caught my attention. A librarian had strategically placed it at the end of a shelf of books and the title sucked me in. It's called "The Particular Saddness of Lemon Cake" by Aimee Bender. I'm not sure if the bakery item called to me or what but I grabbed it. I've almost finished it reading it. It starts with a little girl trying her mother's lemon cake and suddenly realizing that she can sense her mother's emotions through her cooking/baking. It really freaks her out of course because she realizes how unhappy her mother is. She adapts and actually has to avoid a lot of her mom's cooking through the years but realizes during adolescence that her mom is having an affair. The book includes a separate story about her older brother but I'm having a hard time getting into that part of the book. It wasn't the best book but it was interesting and a nice little break from the horror genre.
Some other happenings are as follows:
--Gavin started a basketball camp today through the Ames High School Booster Club. He was not pleased to have to go somewhere on his first day of summer vacation. Fortunately he was happy when I picked him up and he enjoyed his time. I was surprised by how ticked he was that he had to go be active this week. His first week of 4H camp begins on June 12.
--I endured more rudeness today at work. I was seriously shocked by a conversation I had with a parent via phone. I had been in communication with the father via email (about the broken pool). His wife sent me an email this morning and asked me to call her. I figured it would be the routine, apologetic discussion and she'd accept the situation. Holy cow I was wrong. She started the conversation by simply asking "When are you going to start doing your job as director and remedy this situation?" I was honestly speechless. She thinks it's beyond unacceptable that I don't have a plan B that allows the kids to swim every day. She wants me to transfer the kids to the Ames Aquatic Center each day. I tried explaining that it would be too expensive....I know darn well that Ames would charge the usual rate for each child. I cannot afford to rent vans or transportation either. And on top of that, I cannot guarantee the proper supervision of all the children since the pool is bombarded with a ton of people each day. She was just pissed off and wasn't willing to think logicially. I really had to bite my tongue since she kept jabbing at my ability to direct the oveall program.
--I've been craving taco pizza for months. I truly miss the Happy Joe's that used to exist less than a mile away. I had a piece of taco pizza from Pizza Hut at a previous Red Cross meeting and didn't mind it so I ordered a medium from them tonight. They actually have a meatless version that tripped my trigger immediately. It was okay but the proportion of "white cheese" to "cheddar cheese" disappointed me.
--Jon and I are planning a trip to Chicago at the end of June. The "Taste of Chicago" is taking place during that week into July. We are trying to figure out if we can stay downtown or if we need to stay in a suburb. I know I'll need a little get-away by that point since it will be the midway point of the summer program at ISU. It will give us a chance to visit with his friend Murph and do some sight-seeing.
--I invested in another bible study that I will be doing in a long distance manner with Tiffany. It's called "Stepping Up" and it utilizes the Psalms portion of the Bible. (Written by Beth Moore) I'm hoping my somewhat self-study will create more peace in my life. It will be fun to discuss parts of the study with Tiffany since she also needs comfort in Maryland. I'm still doing a study called "Crazy Love" through my church but I've never really latched onto it. It's a good book....I need to re-read the first few chapters and I'm sure it would be more meaningful. We've had good discussions at our monthly women's ministry gathering.
I think that's it for now. I'm going to wander off to bed and read more about lemon cake. Take care!
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