Slim Fast or Fat Chance?

ow do you lose weight quickly? How do you lose weight quickly when you don't work out regularly and you like to eat carne asada chips from Muchas Gracias? I'm giving up on eating. I'm going on the mostly liquid diet. I'm going to try the Slim Fast Diet.

That's right; a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch, and a sensible dinner. Just like Tommy Lasorda. I've done the Slim Fast thing before, and it worked out alright for me. I didn't cheat, and I lost weight. My only downfall was that when I ran out of shakes, I would go back to eating like garbage.

I think that the Slim Fast will work well for me at this time in my life. I don't eat a lot these days because I just don't have the time. This results in me being lethargic; too tired to work out, and binge eating at night. This is probably the worse combination of fasting / eating that I can think of. For breakfast I usually have 2 or 3 bites of oatmeal or cream of wheat while I am testing the temperature. My lunch is normally the crust of a peanut butter & jelly sandwich. If I have a snack it could be called nothing less than ravaging a box of cheese crackers. For dinner, I pig out on over-sized portions of fast food or homemade, deep-fried meat.

My solution? Slim Fast. I'm too busy to eat, so a meal in a can will work great for me.
I eat cheese crackers for snack because A) I really do love them, and B) because they don't have to be prepared. My solution? Carrot sticks, fruit, or other healthy things that don't need to be prepped. Dinner is the only meal that I really have time to prepare, and since Shawn is doing a biggest loser competition at work; we could both benefit from healthier choices.

So, this week I am going to start my Slim Fast diet. I'll keep you posted on how well it works.

Jillian Michaels is a Jerk

illian Michaels is my new personal trainer. She has some workout routines on Exercise TV on demand. They are only about 20 minutes long, but they are so hardcore! She is expecting way too much from me. Every time I stop to take a break she yells at me and tells me "The finish line is not where you quit! It's where you finish strong!" Then she makes me jump with an invisible rope and do jumping jacks; which I hate. Can you believe she told me, "If you're looking for a modified jumping jack - you're not going to find it here! I have 400 pound people that jump; you can, too!" I mean seriously, how rude.

She's got a good record of successes with her clients, so I guess I will keep her around. I'm glad that I did the workout today. I've been wanting to restart my workout and weight loss goals. Shawn has started a Biggest Loser contest at work and I think he is going to the gym tonight, which means I might not get the time to go myself.

I probably definitely could have gotten a way better workout at the gym though. Bane thought that my dumbbells were some wonderful new chew toy that I was obviously keeping from him. Caleb thought that when I was lunging I was obviously making a really cool obstacle course for him. Between an 80 lbs pitbull trying to pull my weights out of my hand and Caleb doing figure eights around my ankles I didn't get to stay very focused. I did work up a good sweat though.

I would have liked to have done more chest exercises, but every time I tried to do a push up the dog and the baby would attack me. Bane tried to squish himself between me and the floor and Caleb tried to climb on top of me to play horsey. If I do make it to the gym tonight, I will have to get in some chest machines.

Crystalology

his is a Q & A post I got from Janell on MySpace. I thought it was pretty fun, and since we both thought it was cool enough that we put off doing things we really needed to get done; I thought I would post it on here. Enjoy!

********FOODOLOGY***************
What is your salad dressing of choice?
Annies Natural Goddess - dumb name; yummy flavor


What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Depends on what I am in the mood for. I like Olive Garden, El Tapatio, Thien Hong, McGrath's Fish House, Red Robin, nothing too fancy.


What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it?
Turkey Sandwiches from paradise bakery... ooh or their Walnut Chicken Salad. Come to think of it, I believe I actually HAVE eaten those for 2 weeks straight.


What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Candian Bacon & Pineapple..Mmmmm - Janell and I have so much in common


What do you like to put on your toast?
Jam


***********TECHNOLOGY***************
How many televisions are in your house?
One great big TV


What color cell phone do you have?
Red & Black


What color of ipod do you have?
White


***************BIOLOGY******************
Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Right handed.


Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Caleb was removed.


What is the last heavy item you lifted?
A big giant bulky stroller, to replace it with a new sleak awesome stroller


Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
No, but I've seen it happen to quite a few people.


************BULLOLOGY**************
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
Eh, no. I don't think so.


If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
I'd change it to my middle name


Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
Add a couple more zeros and you've got a deal.


************DUMBOLOGY******************
How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
3 or 4 and I was thinking yesterday that I'd like another pair. Have you seen those fuzzy slippers that are flip flops? How cute!


Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
Hmmm... not counting Sunday mornings at church and times when the undercovers are following us around......... I dunno, but I'm sure I was being unfairly harassed!


Last person you talked to:
My husband; we're talking right now... about how many cops are in camas, nonetheless


Last person you hugged?
Caleb whenever he crawls this way.


**************FAVORITOLOGY****************
Season?
Autumn - everything but the rain and soggy ground


Holiday?
Christmas, for sure


Day of the week?
Saturday

Month?
December


***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************
Missing someone?
Shawn, because he just hung up the phone =[


Mood?
amused


What are you listening to?
The Hoobs singing a song about being a penguin.


Watching?
The Hoobs

Worrying about?
Am I getting hearburn?


***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************
First place you went this morning?
Caleb's room


What's the last movie you saw?
Blade Trinity for the millionth time. Thanks Shawn...


Do you smile often?
Whenever I look at Mr. Caleb


Do you always answer your phone?
I almost always answer my home phone, but my cell phone has been dead for almost a week... so, not that one.


If you could change your eye color what would it be?
I don't think I would. If I really wanted to, I could go get those color-changing contacts.


What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
cherry limeade


Do you own a digital camera?
yeah a big fat broken one!


Have you ever had a pet fish?
Yes, Caleb has a little tiny goldfish named Mr. Wigglesworth.


Favorite Christmas song?
The First Noel


Can you do push ups?
Just a few


Can you do a chin up?
One time I did one.



Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Janell's memory verse. Philippians 4:6-7



Do you have any saved texts? Who are they from and what do they say?
I have saved the texts that Brian sent me when Bethany was in Labor.
They say "out" and "loud"


Ever been in a car wreck?
I keep getting rearended


Do you have an accent?
A Northwestern accent, or so I have been told.


What is the last song to make you cry?
OMGsh when I was preggers I cried to Bruce Springsteen's Santa Claus is Coming to Town - then I got angry because it was so stupid.


Plans tonight?
Gym perhaps?


Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
Been there... many times.


Name 3 things you bought yesterday..
Easy. Milk, juice, soup.


Have you ever been given roses?
A few here and there. I like other flowers more.


Current worry?
not worried


Current hate right now?
Muddy dog feet


Met someone who changed your life recently?
Not recently


How did you bring in the New Year?
I don't wanna brag. You can check out my MySpace pictures.


What song represents you?
Shoot - I have a whole soundtrack


Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
I think about it a lot, going back in time and doing everything right; but I wouldn't change anything if it meant I wouldn't have what and who I have now.


Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
I think I probably have done that... Shawn and I will have our 10 year anniversary this week.


Do you have any tattoo/piercing?
yeah yeah, old news.


Will you be in a relationship 4 months from now?
Yes, till death do us part! =]


Does anyone love you?
I'm a pretty loveable person.


Would you be a pirate?
Pirates are mean and evil people who kill and steal, even if the ship is carrying food and goods that are meant to go to their own home's needy people! Pirates are REAL people, and they are murderers and theives.


What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don't. Our walls are paper thin!


Ever had someone sing to you?
yeah....every year I stand in front of a cake and people sing to me! LOL --- hahah I love your answer Janell!!!! I hate the stupid birthday song!


When did you last cry?
I think it was Dec 1st 2007 when I found out I had to have an emergency c section


Have you held hands with anyone today?
Not yet, but I think I will do that.


Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Victoria, my cute little niece.


What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school?
NOT NKOTB. I didn't like them until high school! haha


Do you believe in staying close with your exes?
Pshhhh I believe in pretending they don't exist until you eventually forget their names.


Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
Most are relatively new.


Do you like pulpy orange juice?
Yes!


What is something your friends make fun of you for?
Kia says I always say, "Here's the deal with _______"


Have you ever ridden an elephant?
YES! and I want to do it again!


Do you like to play Scrabble?
I don't think I have ever done that.


What are you saving your money up for right now?
Family reunion in Califis this summer and Mississippi this fall


When is the last time you ate peanut butter and jelly?
Not too long ago


What song do you want played at your funeral?
I think I want someone to find a recording of my grandpa playing "Let the Lower Lights be Burning" I'm sure there is one out there. Then everyone can CRY and I'll be dead so I'll be fine! mwa ha ha ha


What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Telling myself I should have gone to bed an hour ago.


What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
I'll just sleep another half hour.

A Little Facelift

new look for a new year. The holidays are over and I can almost relax. I can't believe that I actually had the time to work on this layout. I did not, however; have the time to change any of my old posts to fit with the new layout. Sorry, they are just going to have to look bad forever. Hopefully, I will be able to post enough that the old, ugly posts will just fade into the background.

I am more than ready to put 2008 behind me and I'm looking forward to 2009! The year is already looking promising. There are a lot of things that went wrong last year, and things can only get better, I'm sure. Even the failing economy is going to work out well for me. I am currently stuck in an ARM, and if the economy stays bad and the feds keep the rates low, I can hopefully make it to a refi without my payments sky-rocketing!

• My brother, who was laid off last year, started a new and WAY better job at the Public Utilities Department. He's in the union now! Sadly, neither he, nor I, receive a discount on our electricity...
• Shawn is probably going to be getting a WAY better job himself. It's pretty much a no-brainer how that is going to help out; he's my husband!
• My sister moved back in with my parents and got away from her irresponsible / hopelessly luckless roommates. Her land lady even let them out of their lease without a penalty.
• I found pot holders with cupcakes on them, which I took as a sign that I indeed; should decorate my kitchen in cupcakes, no matter what Shawn says.

The list goes on...

I think that 2009 will be filled with happy posts!

WARNING!!! EXTREME HAZARD! EXPLODING EGG GRENADES!

ggs can explode! I put 3 eggs in a pot to boil and I forgot about them. I went about the rest of my day. It was probably 2 hours later that I started to smell burnt eggs. I came down stairs puzzled at first, but then I suddenly remembered my eggs!

I have forgotten eggs on the stove before. The water evaporates away and the shell burns a little, the whole egg tastes burned and gross. That is what I expected to see this time. When I looked in the pot I saw 2 eggs and a ... yolk? What the heck? I was holding the pot in my hand looking straight into it when I whispered the words... "it exploded?"

It was then that I knew I was doomed. I was looking into a pot of two live egg grenades. I tried to gently pull the pot away from my face, but one of the eggs shifted and POP it exploded! Right in my face! Thank GOD it didn't get in my eyes! Extremely hot egg went everywhere and stuck! It stuck to the wall, to my hair, to the skin on my arms and burned me. Eggs shell went flying across the room like little shards of eggrenade shrapnel.

I screamed which attracted the dogs. They pounced on the little bits of egg on the floor and stuck to the cabinet doors. I stood in shock - dead still - knowing that there was still one live eggrenade in the pot. I managed to set it down on the stove without detonating it. I poured a mug of cold water into the pot and it sizzled and sputteredas it cooled the egg; disarming it.

I have learned a valuable lesson. Use a timer.

Love,

Caleb's Birthday

I'm not even sure how to put all of this into words.

Caleb turned 1 this week. Monday was his first birthday and we mostly spent it at home alone as a little family. We only left home for a little while, and when we got home we spent the rest of the afternoon and night inside. It wasn't very eventful as far as birthdays go. Maybe that is why I didn't feel as if a lot had changed when the day was over.

Shawn had the day off of work and we needed to bring the car back to the dealership for some warranty work. While we were waiting for the work to be done, we walked to a nearby Mexican restaurant for lunch. Caleb managed to charm the few other people in the place with his new found love of waving and saying "hi!" Shawn and I took turns feeding him and, surprisingly, he stayed awake the whole way home from Sandy, Or.

When we got home that afternoon, we let him open some presents and play with them for a while. I let him feed himself dinner, which I don't normally do. He really enjoyed feeding himself and now he wants to do it all the time. He had popcorn chicken that I made and he did a great job of eating it all up. He kept cramming as many as he could into his mouth all at once. Of course, I got it on video! =]

He played after dinner for a bit and then we gave him a little cupcake for dessert. Again, I let him feed himself, and again, he crammed as much into his mouth at one time as possible. He ate almost every little bit of his cake and didn't make a very big mess, either.

Even though we did all kinds of birthday things, it still didn't seem real until I was going to bed. Shawn and I went into Caleb's room to check on him and tuck him in before we went to bed. There was my little baby toddler. He looked like such a big boy lying there in his crib. I gazed at him in amazement and then thought to myself, "it's time to lower the mattress the rest of the way."

Tonight we celebrated his birthday with family and friends. We went to another Mexican restaurant; Caleb's favorite. We have been going there since before he was born, and everyone there loves him to pieces. He is pretty much allowed to do whatever he wants and they always treat us like family.

We had a pretty big turn out, 20 people, and a banquet room all to ourselves (gratis, of course). We passed Caleb around, had a great time talking and laughing, and a fabulous meal. After dinner, Caleb opened his toys and was playing with them when some of the restaurant staff came in to sing him Happy Birthday. They put a little sombrero on his head and they were very careful to take a really cute Polaroid for us. They usually bring a cinnamon & sugar tostada thing with berry syrup for birthdays, but since Caleb is such a favorite, they brought him a huge scoop of fried ice cream!

We cut the cake and fed Caleb his big honkin' corner piece first. He ate it in huge bites and dazzled everyone with how much he could fit into his mouth at once. Then he tug o' warred with Uncey Monkey over a paper plate of frosting, laughing and shrieking with happiness the whole time. After cake, most everyone left, but the other parents stayed to visit and let the kids play. Grandma and Grandpa stuck around to visit and watch the kids.

When we finally got home, we let Cal stay up extra late playing with his new toys. I went upstairs and lowered his mattress all the way. I was remaking his bed when it all became real to me. He is so big. I was picking up some toys in his room listening to him make truck noises downstairs, when I realized, he is too big for most of the toys in his toy basket now. His rattles and dangley car seat toys are no longer interesting to him. He really is growing up.

I lifted the railing of the crib and took comfort in that, it is still a crib. I folded some of his pajamas and put them away... size 18 months ... but they are still measured in months. I refilled the diaper hanger, size 3 diapers; they get much bigger you know, he'll still be in diapers for a while longer.

I went downstairs and watched him push around his new trucks. He plays with them just like a big boy. He puts a hand on top of each of them and pushes them around on his knees, almost using the trucks as roller skates for his hands. He crashes them together and makes car noises as they go. He even makes a screeching tire noise when he turns them.

The whole time I was watching him, it felt so bittersweet. Is he my baby, or my big boy? He plays with trucks and toy computers... big boy... Just before 10:30 he crawled over to my feet on the couch and climbed up my leg. He sat down next to me on the couch and watched a few minutes of a Christmas movie on TV. I remember when he first sat up and how excited I was, now he sits on the couch and watches TV... big boy... After about 5 or so minutes he climbed into my lap and snuggled in my arms. Well, he just goes where he wants to go and does what he wants to do... big boy... Another 2 or 3 minutes and he turned around in my lap, wrapped his arms around my neck, laid his head on my chest, closed his eyes and fell asleep... my baby.

Love,

What's for Dinner?

hanksgiving day has come and gone, and we are all still wearing pants with elastic waistbands. In light of this overstuffed holiday, this weeks frugal Friday tip is about saving money on your grocery bill this week.

These days, the average Thanksgiving dinner costs around $45.00. That's less than the tab if you were to go out an eat at a restaurant, but it's still a big chunk of change. I can sometimes squish my grocery list down to $50.00 for about a week and a half's worth of food, so $45.00 will pretty much blow my budget.

Lucky for Shawn and I, we live close enough to both of our families, that we get to have 2 Thanksgiving dinners and lots of left overs. Once we get home, I am very careful to use everything we get. I don't want a single morsel to go wasted. Even if you only get one dinner, or worse if you're the one footing the bill, the question still remains, "what am I going to do with all of this food?"

My brother is the type of guy who will eat a traditional Thanksgiving meal made of left overs until he slowly runs out of each item. By the end of the week he is toting a plate of cranberry sauce and turkey skin to the sofa. If you pefer a little variety in your left overs, here are some links I found that will give you some great tips on how to use everything you've got without eating the same dinner over and over again.

• Turkey Vegetable Soup, Turkey Waldorf Salad, and Cranberry Carrot-Muffins to name a few.
  
• Paula Dean's Left Over Recipes
  
• Alton Brown's Day After Thanksgiving Breakfast Hash
  

Love,