beans, beans....

I'm obsessed with beans right now. Hence all the gas I've had lately, but whatever. It's good for me, right!?

So, here's a new recipe I totally created. I'm sure it's not the most difficult thing to create, but I was proud of it! I didn't take any measurements, I just messed around until I had it the way I liked it.



Ingredients:
1 can garbanzo beans (rinsed/drained)
1 can black eyed peas (rinsed/drained)
1 can cannelinni beans (white kidney beans) (rinsed/drained)
a bit o' chopped red onion
about 15 sliced green olives
big spoonful of minced garlic. (yes, i buy the refrigerated kind. what of it?) :)
enough Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing to moisten everything...it gives it a really nice flavor!!






and a bit of tarragon - just a few shakes....
some salt and pepper, just a bit.


Mix it all together. Eat. Enjoy. I really like the garbanzo beans in this salad because they are a little stronger, I guess you could say, than some other beans so they hold up better through all the stirring.

It's delish. Enjoy!!

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Something else I've been enjoying lately.... Uncle Ben's Ready Rice!! It's great for a dinner on those busy weeknights, or also as a filling side to a chicken breast and some veggies. I'm obsessed!! There isn't a flavor that I've had yet that has disappointed!!

food review

Healthy Choice Sweet Asian Potstickers - buy this, eat it, love it like I did!! tres magnifique!!

very very good - I wish it were a bit bigger portion, but I understand why it can't be a 3 lb. serving, because it would no longer make it healthy. a bit salty, but it's Asian food, which is usually pretty salty anyway, right?

love it!

also, great pork recipe I made this weekend:

Ingredients:

Pork Chops
Soy Sauce
Garlic (lots o')
**Key ingredient - Wok Oil - like this brand that we used - Wok Oil is great because it comes fully stocked with great flavors like onion, garlic, and cilantro - it is basically pre-seasoned with fabulousness!! Much better flavors than traditional veggie or olive oil. I got mine at Kroger, and it was VERY worth the purchase! You can really spiff up some regular stuff with this great oil.

How To:

Marinade pork in the soy and chopped garlic for about 5-10 mins.... cover the bottom of a skillet with the Wok Oil and cook until done! Eat, ENJOY. Fab-ness.

***WARNING: this WILL give you garlic breath!! haha!

losing it

weight, that is!!

I've lost somewhere around 9 pounds since Memorial Day. I know this isn't a crazy amazing triumph given that it's been over a month, but I think I'm doing it the right way - just being healthier. I'm exercising much much more, and continuing to eat as healthy as I can, so it's just working. I'm really pleased. I'm wearing a dress today that I've never really liked on myself. It's amazing what a little 9 pounds will do! I want to keep losing, nice and slow like this. I finally had a few people who don't see me every day notice that I looked thinner. That was a great feeling :) Because I knew they could notice when I had gotten a little more plump and were too nice to say anything (thank god. i would have lost it). :)

I just feel better. At least through my constant struggle with weight, I now know what works for me. EXERCISE. If I don't do it, I gain weight. If I do it, I lose weight. It's a very simple equation for me. Thank goodness. It could be a lot worse. It's just a matter of actually doing it. But I've been doing pretty good so far, so we'll see. July 24th is my "due date" for this little health train. I go to the beach the following week, and that day is the day I get this awesome full body lymphatic drainage cellulite reduction treatment thingy done, so I really wanted it to pay off when I got it. So my goal was to try and get in as best (realistic) shape as possible by July 24th, just in time for my treatment and the beach trip. I'll keep you posted on my progress!

The trip home to MD was amazing. So relaxing, perfect weather (mid 70's with an insane cool breeze) and I did everything on my goal list (see below post). Watching fireworks on the chesapeake bay from a yacht was the perfect way to spend my 4th. Got drunk and dropped my sister's camera, so didn't get as many pictures as I had hoped, but hopefully we can salvage some. We'll see. Prob. will be a while.

Anyway, that's all for now. I'm going to a Bunco night with some of my old college girlfriends tomorrow, so that should be exciting! I've never played, so hopefully I won't suck :)

i'm going home. :)

home to MD for the weekend. my mini-holiday begins in nineteen minutes. i can't wait.

priorities (in no particular order):

smiling
breathing (slowly and with purpose)
sunshine on my bod.
alcohol - ok that's a pretty high priority, i mean really....
the chesapeake bay (sigh!)
family
water.
a yacht. yes. be j.
jewell (the doggie)
relaxation
happy.

happy america day.