Monday, March 31, 2008

Opening Day

It's Opening Day, and the closest I got to Detroit was my picture with the light bulbs.

Today is a personal Holiday. I take it off every year to watch the Detroit Tigers start the season. This year, Kevin took the day off too and we made plans to head downtown and camp out on a bar stool in front of a large TV. Much fun!

Unfortunately, Kevin was sick and he watched most of opening day with his eyes closed and slippers on as he lay in bed.

Dana came by to watch the first couple of innings, but I spent most of opening day watching our TV and ironing. Ella kept me company though, she was more interested in digging in the freshly clean sheets than whether Cabrera was worth the money.

The game lasted forever with suspenseful overtime that lead to heartache, sigh. Baseball season is here and even though today did not go as I planned I am so happy to have the only *sport I truly enjoy talking about back on the tube!

* I also enjoy talking about curling and how I would like to be on the USA Olympic team. "Whoa whoa whooaaaa!" See, I have the yelling part down and I am pretty good with a broom too.

Possibly the best quick meal

Recently my favorite quick meal has become pierogies and peas. It's low on calories and fat, and high in protein and fiber. I love this meal and eat it when I know I am eating a big meal later or have already had a large meal for the day. Bonus: it is quick and easy, has only three ingredients, and tastes like comfort food.

You will need:
Mini Pierogies
Frozen Peas
Pam spray (fat free)

Spray a pan and place on medium heat
Add pierogies a flip them immediately (so they get a bit of Pam on both sides)
Add Peas and let cook uncovered for 3 minutes
Flip and stir contents
Cook until pierogies are lightly browned and hot

Below is the info from the brands I use. Pierogies and Peas are two things Kevin will not eat, so I only make this for one.

Mrs. T's Potato and Cheddar mini Pierogies
Serving: 7 mini pierogies
130 calories
1.5 grams of fat
1 g fiber
4 g protein

Frozen peas
Serving: 2/3 cup
70 calories
0 fat
4 g fiber
5 g protein

Pam Spray:
Serving: 1/3 second burst
0 calories

Meal: 200 calories; 1.5 g fat; 5 g fiber; 9 g protein

Photo from Mrs. T''s

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Buy this Bra

Last weekend I was browsing at Target for a new sports bra. I found this C9 by Champion seamless camisole on the clearance rack. I highly recommend you get it. It is soft and cool to the skin, has adjustable racer back straps, and does not make you feel like you have a uni-boob. I wouldn't wear it for super intense sports, though it did fare quite well at dance class and the gym. For $13.29, I may go back and buy it another color.

Photo from www.target.com

A new camera

I had been asking for a new camera. I wanted a digital SLR, and there are many things that kind of camera can do. I don't know how to do any of them, but I am willing to learn. The only reason I want the camera so badly is that it can take pictures fast, and lots them. I love taking candid pictures and the moment is lost so quickly.

After some NPR listening I learned of another camera I might just have to have too. It is one that while usable by all, it is not covered in pink rhinestones, was designed with women in mind. As I go through the interview I find that cameras are being made that auto-focus at an arms length. That's right, it is designed that way because women love to gather their friends and reach out and snap a picture. The camera will even take three pictures in the one flash so you have a better chance of getting a good smile. This is supposed to be one, I can't find anything that calls out the group shot though.


I know women do this, I have done it and my friends do it too. Heck the picture above is Kevin doing it. And yes, he is doing it because my arm wasn't long enough to get us in the picture. What an awesome idea. Keep the gadgets coming!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Weight loss Wednesdays: No, I did not give up

To any who may have concerns that my refusal to workout would last, it didn't. I started right back up last Thursday and only took Sunday off for Easter.

A note on Karma: Friday night we had our friends over for dinner. After dinner Kevin requested I make some peanut butter cookies. I knew I shouldn't make these beasts, but still everyone thought mmm cookies and I got on board and began pulling together ingredients with our friend. Between batches I wanted to cool the pan so I went to take it outside in that lovely Easter weekend snow.

Big Slip! Crash, splat! There I was all twisted around at the top of the stairs, pan on top. I slept with ice on my swollen ankle and toe. I have a huge ugly bruise on my arm and we had to wash the pan again. Pain and more work. Karma was out to get me. In order get back on the cookie karma's good side I made the group do squats while waiting for the cookies to bake. Hopefully we are even now.

My dedication is pretty high these days. Sure I had a bag of sour patch kids after lunch, but I had a salad, soup (broth not cream) and half a bagel for dinner. I don't even want a snack. I have one all planned out, I usually want an after dinner snack, but tonight I actually recognized feeling full while I was eating my dinner. And, I had the strength to stop eating before I felt stuffed. Small victories.

Mean Jillian Michaels is one of my favorite topics. I find her pretty inspiring. She was once 170 pounds and is now a super-buff fitness and motivational guru. In the shred workout series she talks a lot about what it actually takes to get fit and the kind of commitment it needs to be.

Here is my favorite:

Don’t be afraid to push yourself: “People are so placated by
groups that say ‘Start by taking the stairs,’” says Michaels.
“What? That makes people think ‘I’m so fragile, I can barely
take the staircase.’” In fact, she says, the human body can
withstand a lot, and increasing the intensity of your workout
is one of the fastest ways to burn calories and lose weight.
“The more we hear this false message of lethargy, the more
we believe it,” she says. “As humans, we have evolved to the
point where the sky is not the limit. Your capabilities are, in
fact, limitless.” So that means pushing yourself to do that last
lunge, kicking up the speed on the treadmill, and erring on the
side of exhaustion over caution. - Jillian Michaels
She is a little intense but I have a good feeling she gets it. She really understands what it takes. Maybe I relate to her because she used to be bigger, maybe because she is demanding and makes you feel accountable, the reason is not important. She gets it and helps me get it.

Exciting new things from the week:
I finally wake up hungry. I think that means I am not overeating at night.
I no longer crave sweets every time I see them.
I did not indulge in a single Easter candy.

The exciting yet bad:
I know when I want pop again. My birthday is next month and while some plan to drink on their birthdays I am going out for fountain pop! It will be incredible. For dessert...a macchiato.

The goal this week:
Keep finding time to sleep. I really think it is helping.


Photo can be found at Serta.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Quick Updates

Quick updates: More to come tomorrow for WLW.

1. I am still just like my father. This time we can thank Aunt Dorothy for reminding me. I also think I am just like her. Freaky concepts I know. But I think they, and I are all intelligent somewhat stubborn individuals with strong opinions and valid arguments. We are well-intentioned and good hearted, there may even be some scruples involved...

2. Sometimes when you're depressed, which I am not ashamed to admit I have been battling, you just need to talk about your feelings. Find a good friend that can listen and be patient. Sometimes you just need to be the one to do the talking.

3. I am honored to be standing up in the wedding of Ericia Thrash and Dave Caras. I know how stressful planning all of that jazz can get, but she is handling it so well and is going to be a beautiful bride. I don't have a link to her dress but if you want to see the Maids, check us out here and here. I am pretty sure those are the ones.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Life: It's Known to Giveth and Taketh

Easter is tomorrow, the World should be full of life. Spring flowers, pastel eggs, and buds on trees. It's not. What it is full of is SNOW. March 22 and Michigan is once again the icy mess that is generally reserved for February.

But life, in its attempt to make me happy, threw me a bone. When I walked out to dust off (plow-out) my car this morning, my walk was done, and my driveway! But who? Peterson, nah, he does our walk from time to time, but only because it's on the way to Christine's, a woman I think he'll strive to impress until forever.

While driving to the gym I realized it had to be Dave. I called him right away to tell him how thankful we were. It really was such a nice surprise.

See, I think life had Dave snow-blow for us because they are moving, and since life was busy taketh-ing away our great neighbor, life decided to also giveth a little.