hobbies

My doc says I need to reduce stress and have more fun.
"Like what?" I asked.
"Do you have a hobby? What do you do for fun?"
"Uhhhh...work?"

If I didn't work so much, what would I do?
Work-out? ...okay, probably not
Become a better sewer and knitter
Garden
Read books to kids
Learn to kayak
Read
Refinish furniture
Thrift shop
Talk to my gramma
Learn how to cook
Bake
Visit my out-of-town friends

...someday maybe

Consumption

Here I am again at that point where I either need to buy some new clothes in a bigger size or find a job that allows me to wear sweatpants everyday. Okay, there may be a third option, but giving up slurpees just sounds unreasonable. Gas station food has been my primary food group for the last 12 months. Hmm I guess that's what happens when you spend 10-15 hours commuting each week.

The real problem is that I am unhappy with how I look right now and deep down I know it is because of my weight. Instead of avoiding the "treat cube" at work and packing my own lunch, I've dyed my hair twice in the last couple months and just this weekend, cut really short in hopes that I'd feel better. Well, it didn't work.

Today, I got a call from my doc who said my bad cholesterol is high and good cholesterol is low. Perhaps gaining 17 pounds in one year's time hasn't been the best for my confidence, but it most certainly has not been best for my health.

Off I go again trying to make better decisions about consuming food and not letting it consume me...

*sigh*...the good kind

After a year of working 6 days a week (M-S), plus church and rest on Sundays, I finally had an obligation free, restful weekend. And the best news? It isn't over yet. Yay for three-day weekends!

Friday, I joined a few coworkers for happy hour to unwind from a busy home and work week. My whole schedule was thrown off at the start of my week. I had to take my car to the shop to fix a dent (thank you, lady in the Walgreen's parking lot) and Jackson to the vet. Jackson and Joe have been sick. I've had to squirt medicine directly into Jackson's eye twice a day. Ughhhhh I hate it. Poor little guy! I feed him lots of treats afterward. (Yes, I will probably do that with my children one day, too. Don't judge me.) Luckily, Joe has been responsible enough to take his own. :) I am proud that he actually went to the doc at all. During the first seven years of our relationship, I don't think he went to the doctor once.

Though it may look like it, that isn't his bunk eye! He's just sleepy there. hehe

Saturday, I weeded our garden...for the first time...ever. Needless to say, it took FOR-EV-ER. Then, I ripped out the rest of these horrible overgrown vine-y plants growing along side our front steps. This was part 2 of 2 on that project. Okay, wait, part 2 of 3. There is still root ball from some type of overgrown weed or tree that I need to dig up. Perhaps, that'll be a project for my hunny. He headed out of town to visit his parents in the midst of my garden-weeding. Later that night, I took advantage of the night alone and invited my momma to a movie. We saw Bridesmaids. HILARIOUS. Though, I probably laughed a little less 'cause I was with my mom. Some inappropriate scenes...awkward. Then, we had breakfast for dinner at Village Inn. Good times.

Where it all began...

Today, I went to church, ran a few errands, watched some of the Casey Anthony trial, and took a long nap. I had planned on doing more yard work, but it has been somewhat cloudy today, which made me feel lazy. The most productive part of my day was cleaning the stove and sorting papers from the desk near our entry. Not too shabby for a Sunday I'll say. :)

I love this stuff. Fabulous for stove cleaning...
and pretty much everything else, too.

Tomorrow, I may get out and do more yard work. Hopefully, Joe will feel well enough to mow our overgrown lawn. I have offered, but he refuses to teach me. He's nervous that I'll fall down the hill. haha I mean, he's probably right, but I have more time these days than he does. I really don't mind taking on that chore.

I wish I had some great pics of my garden, but I don't. And now, it is dark. So, I'll share some pics of our AZ weekend. We were in Mesa last weekend for a very good friend's wedding. It was beautiful. :)

Sarah and her daddy

My handsome husband and me

The beautiful bride and me

Ana and me at her bridal shower two weeks ago
Another good friend getting married this year! :)

I am feeling very relaxed and very blessed.

Thankful

I am thankful for my husband who can still smile in the midst of his incredibly demanding schedule.

I am thankful for our dehumidifier that helps our house not smell like a dirty gym sock.

I am thankful for my job.

I am thankful for teachers and how hard they work year round--yes, even in the summer!

I am thankful again for my husband who cleans up giant tree branches and the cat pee pooling around the toilet after thunderstorms.

Winter's On It's Way Back!

Really?! Snow on Friday? Are you kidding me? Really?! Bah!

Tonight, I decided to go to the gym right after work. Instead of actually going in, I drove through the parking lot to see most of the machines ocupado. I came home and did Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred in the privacy of my very own living room. Lord, help me! That is the hardest 20 minute workout I've ever done. I remember the first day I tried it. "20 minutes? That's it? I'll just do Workouts 1 and 2." Well, 8 minutes into the first workout, I was praying for it to end. I'll let it kick my butt again tomorrow...

...or Thursday.

Day 14 - Leftover Fajitas! YUM! :) Joe did a fabulous job and made enough for lunch and dinner today.

Day 10 and Beyond

Day 10 - A giant bowl of popcorn

Day 11 - A turkey sandwich and two large margaritas

Day 12 - A turtle sundae

Day 13 - I asked Joe to make chicken fajitas. YUM! Hopefully, he doesn't have to work too late. Otherwise, it might be another night of nachos. Also, yum, but not quite as YUM!

Joe is finishing up his degree so that I can have babies and cook dinner every night. He's working so hard--remodeling the attic, working full-time plus extra hours, and going to school full-time. Gee. Now, I feel guilty for asking him to make dinner.

Days 8 & 9

Day 8 - Leftovers: Lasagna from Tuesday/BBQ from Monday

Day 9 - Chips, Cheese, and Salsa

Day 7... Lasagna

Tonight's menu:

Lasagna

Meatballs

Garlic Green Beans

Spinach Salad

Yummmmmmy! (Pictures to come)

I'd never made meatballs ever, but Joe says they were good. And he better! I don't even eat meatballs, but out my love for him, I dug my hands into a bowl of bloody beef.

P.S. Let's pretend that I wrote about days 1-5. :)

40 Days of Cooking...Sorta

Joe and I gave up dining out for lent. Well, I did. Joe picked up Wendy's on Ash Wednesday and La Primavera for lunch on Thursday. Whoops! (Un)Lucky for him, I am still going strong, which means he is still pretty much limited to eating at home (mostly).

As a consequence of not dining out, I must cook more. Blah. It isn't that I don't like to cook necessarily, but more so that I don't know what to cook. Every meal feels like a big production that I don't have time to think up, put together, and clean up. Alas, we will be stuck eating frozen pizzas every night for 40 days if I don't get my act together. (Our Pizzazz has saved us from hunger more nights than I care to share!)

On top of my 40 day restaurant fast, I also started a wellness program at work called the 90 Day Push. I have nutritional and activity goals to meet everyday for which I get one point each. After 30 days, I am allowed one entry into a gift card drawing per 75 points I've earned. Today is Day 13 of that challenge, and I've already earned one entry! The first weekend was pretty rough, because I hadn't started my dining out fast. In fact, I had a carrot walnut muffin from Panera thinking it would only be a couple hundred calories and a rather decent breakfast. It was 500 calories! That was almost half of my daily allotted calories in one meal. Needless to say, it was a bad choice. :(

 (Every time I get an email from the PUSH coordinator, I can't help but think of this song. hehehe

It can be rather distracting at work!)

To help me along in my journey, I checked out Rachael Ray's 365: No Repeats from my local library. I don't plan to get through the entire book 'cause there are lots of meaty recipes, and I don't care much for most meats. Hopefully, I'll get through quite a few over the next few months though.

Last night, I "made" chili fries. Really, there was no cooking involved, but at least it wasn't take-out. :) I just baked some frozen fries, heated up a can of chili, and sprinkled some cheese on top. Easy and tasty.

Tonight, I'm making this....Smashed Peas and Carrots: Crockpot Barbecue Chicken and Oven Fries. Yum yum!

Dare I Say...

I'm missing Chicago today. Tears in my eyes, lump in my throat, ache in my heart kind of missing.