Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Blogs Galore And No More...

Have you ever noticed how many blogs are in the WWW?  I've been checking the "next blog" every day and every time I do, I find loads of blogs out there.  But... none of them are updated.  The ones that are updated are obviously for family to keep in touch or of a religious demeanor.  Well, I don't want to read about other people's families.  I've got my own and of my family, three of us already have our own blogs that have relatively little to do with family.  And... if I want a blessing, I'll go to church.  I don't want to be bombarded with quotes from proverbs.

Aside from stalking the blogs I am following, how does one find quirky, witty blogs???  If anybody knows, throw me a shout.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Exercise - Really???

I managed to get three days of exercise in this weekend.  And I was pooped after every excursion.  Just wiped out.  If I could have taken a nap after every session, I would have,  but unfortunately, my boyfriend doesn’t' play like that.  He's hardcore.  He runs about 10 miles a session.  If we go into the gym he'll do about 40 minutes of running and will then do about 20 minutes of circuit training.  I get exhausted just looking at him..  Shoot, I'm exhausted just thinking about. it.  Anybody up for a nap?

Well, my sessions went like this, an hour at the gym on Friday, 50 minute hike on Saturday and a 45 minute leisurely walk on Sunday.  I believe I’m supposed to add time every time I work out and not have it dissipate.  I’m not looking forward to the exercise I’ll be required to do once I move in two weeks, but a I am still gaining weight, I’ll be starting my exercise routine immediately after moving; ½ an hour in the morning before going to work and 45 minutes to an hour after work. 

This is the model of what I'd like to look like after losing weight.  Now imagine almost 70 lbs extra with the weight focused on thighs, hips and gut and not as much up on top and you have me.  Not pretty...

I refuse to purchase new clothes in the next size up.  I have loads of nice clothes at home – that have managed to shrink over the years.  Okay… so they haven’t quite shrunk.  More like I’ve “grown” out of.  But, I’d love to be able to wear them again before they are so out of style that they are in style for my daughter.

Two side notes:

1.       Boyfriend and I have almost ALL of our Christmas shopping done.  Only three more gifts to get. 
2.      One of my sisters had a Saturday Thanksgiving dinner at her place.  First one for her.  I offered to contribute a cheese ball for the soiree.  Apparently it was a hit!!!  And it was really simple to make so… I’m thinking I may put the Swiss Colony out of business this year with my own cheese spread gifts. 

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Atkins Thanksgiving

About 3 years ago I was on an Atkins kick.  I stuck with it even through Thanksgiving.  I ignored the yummy delicious food, at my grandmother’s, house so that I could stay on track that evening.  I didn’t even have any ham or turkey for fear of ruining my appetite.
So I race home with kids in tow and started to steam my cauliflower for my “faux” potatoes.   As they are steaming I start to work on my low-carb sausage stuffing.  I’ve already made my Atkins Pumpkin pie and homemade whipped cream. 
Well, little did I know how “faux” these potatoes would be.   I mean… everybody on the Atkins blog raved about them and stated how much they tasted “just like real mashed potatoes!!!”  They not only didn’t taste like them, they didn’t even resemble them.  That’s okay, I figure… I have more food coming down the pike…
The stuffing… was a greasy disaster.  Again, it was a variation of the side dish of stuffing.  There was no bread in it, but loads of meat and grease.  I tried to burn off the grease, but nothing helped.  Not even placing this “stuffing” on a load of paper towels and patting it dry could fix it. 
Well all is not lost because I have ham steak for us.  By the time we got to our so-called thanksgiving dinner, the ham steak was cold.  I did try to warm it up and it just got dry instead.  At this point, I’m still making an effort to salvage my Atkins Thanksgiving dinner so I take a safe taste of each item (safe; as in barely placing any food on my tongue.)  It all revolted me.  I actually told the kids not to even try the food.  My boyfriend is such a sweetie.  He actually ate a full plate of everything.  Kids and I ate Mac-N-Cheese.
There was one saving grace.  My pie.  It was actually really delicious!  I think I ended up getting filled up on that sucker.  Maybe it was also good because I was starving.   Moral of this story is: no matter stringent your diet is or you are trying to get healthy and lose weight, there are some holidays that are not meant for diets.  Thanksgiving is one of them.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Happy Unanniversary

Yesterday was my unanniversary.  I'm sure you are wondering what that is.  Well... technically it was my wedding anniversary - but I'm not married anymore.  I picked my day to start a wedding tradition.  Little did I know that I would truly follow the tradition of bad marriages for that date.  See... my grandparents married on that date (horrible marriage) as did my parents.  Sadly, they too are divorced.  I figured I would break the chain, but keep the date.  Well, unfortunately, I kept all the traditions.  So... since my mom is very much alive and kicking, we've been celebrating our unanniversary for the past 10 years.  Oh my gosh - 10 years already?!?

Usually, we go out to a nice lunch, but this year we thought we'd keep in on the down-low.  You know, we are just tired of painting the town red every night.  Two single women of our looks and caliber is too much for the men of our town.  So... I may be exaggerating a "little" bit.  We did decide to keep it pretty mellow this year.  Steak and potatoes for dinner and TV time.  Kids were with their dad, so we have complete peace for about 3 hours.  Ah... bliss...


Friday, November 18, 2011

The Transfer

I've been waiting for this job transfer for over a year now.  Not hoping for it... but waiting for it.  I've been waiting for the date my start date for my new job.  And it has been provided!!!  Yeah!!!  This job is 200 miles away from my hometown.  So it is a big thing to be transferring.  But it is also very bittersweet (that'll have to be another conversation). 

My BF and I purchased a house back in the early summer.  After looking at hundreds of homes, we finally settled on our home.  It's a beauty and has enough room for my children to have their own space, a yard for me to do my gardening, a place for my bf to put his feet up at the end of the day, enoughs square footage for my cats to run around and plenty of space for visitors.  The one major downfall?  My job hadn't tranfered yet.  Essentially, I've been living out of a suitcase for three months and then livning with mom for the past month.  It hasn't been easy, but we have all made it through it. 

home-sweet-home

Well let me tell you, that living out of a suitcase wreaks havoc on your pocket book.  Well actually eating fastfood for three meals a day - for three people - is very expensive.  But at least I didn't balloon up like Aunt Marge did on Harry Potter.

Aunt Marge

In a week, all my planning and scheming will fall into place.  I'll be able to eat properly and exercise every day.  I'm sure you are wondering that if I've been living out of a suitcase, why didn't I use some of this free time to go to the gym at least.  Suffice it to say, that I've had tremendous guilt over leaving my kids in a motel room while I go to the gym.  Something about that just didn't seem right to me.  And... on the days I didn't have the kids with me, I usually stayed with friends or family and I wasn't about to come and go as I pleased.  I'm just not set up like that. 

So my Christmas gift to myself (aside from the food processor I plan on purchasing this weekend) will be to start eating healthy and to exercise EVERY DAY. 

Gym Membership - Check
Slim in 6 DVD - Check
Zumba DVD - Check
Silly gym clothes - Not! 
Pair of sweats, t-shirts and sneakers - Check

BTW... I forgot to past a link to the blogsite that provided the One Minute Blogging.  it is: http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/

Thursday, November 17, 2011

One Minute Blogging - News

I got this tip from one of my sister's and liked the blogger enough to follow it.  So I'm gonig to write any and all thoughts regarding a new related issue in one minute.  Here I go...

Sandusky - Creep, perv, killer of childhood.  He states he never raped/harmed kids because he loves them and is like a big kid himself.  Sorry... but my kids don't do any of the things he's done and are also repulsed by his actions.  Sicko...

Okay... that's my one-minute report. 

blog on eating to come later in the day - when my darned picture finally uploads...

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Technical Difficulties

I'm ashamed to say that I'm not computer literate.  I'm much more than my boyfriend, but that doesn't really say much.  Well it's taking me a while to get this blogging thing down pat.  I think I can finally see my followers (yeah to my sister) and now I'll know when anybody is stalking me.  Now my only hope is to get a cult following like my sister. If anybody has any suggestions, like subjects to ramble about or help with my page, then yell them out to me.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Changing your lifestyle sucks!

I've gone a whole week without eating any fast food.  Yay for me!!!  I went two days without any soda, but immediately found out that I need to ween myself off instead of going cold turkey.  I've discovered that I develop UTIs without my soda.  Apparently I don't drink enough water on regular basis.  For some reason I can't stand plain water.  Imagine that!  So... I've gone back to having soda every day, but I'm now weening myself off slowly.  I'm also resorting to crystal light to flavor my water and fake out my palette. 

On a side note, I am enjoying the fact that my meals aren't burgers and tacos any more.  But how long until I'm sick of baked potatoes and tortellini. 

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Daugher's Not Exactly Sweet Sixteen

My daughter turned 16 yesterday at 7:14 am.  My precious baby,  the girl that has helped with all the gray in my hair.  Since the girl is only 16 we are going to call her Ailish.  I always wanted to name a daughter this name, but my ex thought it was a little out there.  It's actually a gaelic version of my name.  Anyways, I digress. 

My daughter has been asking for a sweet sixteen party ever since she realized she wasn't going to get a quince.  And let me tell you, it has been almost her whole life of her planning this non-existant "party."  This has been a very rough year for my daughter.  She's gotten herself in trouble and it looks like she has finally learned her lesson.  Last year she go herself in soooo much trouble that her birthday was cancelled.  CANCELLED!  That should tell you how bad she was.  This year, she didn't exactly earn the rights to a big bash, but I would have loved to have had a Chuck E. Cheese party for her or something.  And in case you think she is too old for the big Mouse.  She already went to another Mouse's House the week before as my gift to her.  Apparently Chuck is popular with the 16 - 23 year old crowd.  Don't ask... I'm amazed myself. 

So... we had a very quiet and private dinner for her at home instead.  What did she want to eat?  Comfort food.  Tunafish Casserole, baked carrots and homemade tres leche cake.  It was all divine!!!  Mom (grandma to my Ailish) made the dinner and Ailish and I made dessert.    So divine that I HAD to have a second piece of cake.  thankfully, the pieces of cake were about 1/4 of the slice they sell you in the panderia (Mexican Bakery). 

Alish's dad came over for the meal and was actually friendly.  (Brief overview of ex and I - we are on speaking terms and sometimes that is it.)  He had pleasant conversation with my mom and myself and it almost appeared as if there was no animosity between the two of us.  It made for a very nice birthday event.  One of my sister's also came over to celebrate with us.  :-)  Needless to say, it wasn't exactly the party bus my daughter had envisioned for her birthday, but at least she got her parents to celebrate at the same table for the same meal and not throw eye daggers at the other.  What more should she ask for?

On a side note - I stuck to my no soda plan yesterday (and so far today) and I did not go to any fastfood joints either.  But, I was starving by the time I got home.  I think I ate far more casserole than I should have, but then again, my stomach didn't complain.