well, hi.

Wow. I am such a shitty, non-committal blogger! Busy, I guess.

What have I been busy doing?

1) Went to cabo with my man snack. It was fab. We are finally living together in the summer. The joy (as well as a bit o'fear) is hard to contain! Took a lot of great pics. Ate a lot, drank a lot, cuddled a lot. :)
2) Turned down a pretty insane, life-changing job offer. Not going to get into too many details, but I chose my lifestyle, friends, and family over money, insane career opportunity, and bragging rights. I'm happy with my choice. Haven't thought twice. Even with the issues I have with my job. It made me realize that I really love my life the way it is and don't feel the need to change. That's a good feeling.
3) Celebrated an amazing Christmas at home with my family. God, they're great. Missed my cousin Stephen; this was our first Christmas without him. It was tough, but we watched a lot of home videos and just laughed and cried.

That's it. Life is good. 2011, I hope you are smoother than 2010. 2010 didn't completely blow, but it wasn't the best either. Losses of loved ones, tough decisions to make.... But a good opportunity to reflect on my life. Which isn't all that bad. :) I resolve in 2011 simply to be healthier. I went to the gym last night. I'm back on the dailyplate tracking my cals. I'm sure my health train will be on the tracks until I fall right off again, but that's the way it is, and that's just something I've learned to accept. My goal is a realistic 15 to 20 pounds within whatever amount of time it takes me to get there. We'll see.

Happy New Year, y'all.

oven-roasted garbanzo beans

...or chick peas, depending on the nomenclature that you prefer. :)

I made these last night. A co-worker had brought some in a few weeks ago, and I tried them and loved them! I couldn't remember at all how she said her friend had made them or what she even used, so I made up my own recipe! I'm sure you really can't go wrong with these... you can tailor and change the recipe to make them more to your liking.

But here's what I did:

Took a can of garbanzo beans and threw them on a cookie sheet that I had put a bit of olive oil on to coat.

On top of the beans, I threw some more olive oil, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, S&P, Greek Seasoning, and Red Pepper flakes.

Baked at somewhere around 420 degrees ( I honestly can't remember where I had it set) for about 15 mins. Then I quickly broiled them also at about 400 for about 5 mins.

The key here is to let them sit for more than a minute or two before inhaling them so they can harden up a bit. They are even BETTER after a night in the fridge as a snack.

I'm enjoying them now with my leftover "Bean So Green" from T. Joe's that I had last night. :)

(pardon the phone pic)

incredi-face

My sister had a $500 gift card to Cashmere Salon Spa in the Gulch (below the ICON). She bid on it in an auction and won. I was lucky enough to be included in the spending of the gift card because I am a kick ass sister. As is she. :)

We went on Saturday to redeem and to have a great sister day at the spa. We had looked on their website prior to making our appointment so we knew what we wanted. She wanted a full highlight and hair cut (was in desperate need) and a pedi and I wanted a facial and a pedi. We figured we'd come close to the $500 (which all needed to be spent in the same visit, mind you) and if we had anything left over we'd add something on at the end.

We absolutely LOVED this place. Every single person in there was super nice, not snobby or elitist, and they were more than happy to help us get to that $500, even though they probably knew that we didn't end up paying anywhere close to the full value of the gift cert at the auction, which is the norm for charity auction items. After my INCREDIBLE facial, Caribbean therapy pedi (mud mask on the feet and everything!) and noley's full highlight and cut, and nicole's planned pedi (I'll get to that in a minute) we were only at $380! I never in a million years thought that I'd have a hard time spending $500 in one day! They were so helpful and kept suggesting other things we could do; it was amazing.

I am extremely loyal to my stylist Courtney (at Salon YaYa, she's the shit) so I didn't want any hair stuff done....so I just had them do a gloss/shine treatment on my hair. My sister was about to start her pedi, and I was about to get a blowout when the power went out. And it didn't come back on. So she'll be going back for her pedi, and I left with wet hair. There was nothing they could do, poor things! At least the water worked and I could get the treatment rinsed!

They knew we were heading out to lunch so they put all this product in my hair and played with it so it would air-dry cute and beachy. I just felt like they actually cared and weren't just putting on a show. It was great. We ended up leaving with awesome products too because even after my facial, noley's hair, and two pedis (one to be had in the future) we still had about $50 left over!

I would definitely recommend this place for facials, let me tell ya. And noley's hair looks incredible too! Rebecca Shaw (who did my facial) is A-MAZING! I got "facial resurfacing" which included, for $125, 7 or 8 different types of creams and cleansers and fabulous things! It's an Aveda salon, so everything was super earthy and herbal and calming. On top of the various layers of fab that went on my face, it also included some sort of procedure that is powered by sound waves to push water deep in the pores to clean it out, an alpha-hydroxy exfoliating mask, AND a photo therapy laser treatment! NOT like the kind I had before where it was traumatic and painful, I couldn't feel this one at all. all of that, ladies, for a $125 price tag. Pretty, pret-t-y, pretty good (you Curb fans will get that one.)

4 or 5 different times, the hot towels went down on the decollete and face, and it was topped off with a massage of the face, chest and upper arms and shoulders, and then this great little spritz of a cool mist that was the perfect way to end it. I can't say enough great things about the experience. I was in there with the facial alone for a good hour. And, my skin looks incredible. I am definitely going to fit this in to my beauty routine somehow.

She mentioned a package where you buy a few and get one free. It was around $250 for the package. I'm doing it. I'll let everyone know when I figure out exactly what the deal is. But yes, I recommend. I DEFINITELY recommend!!

www.cashmerenashville.com

chicken wing? next best thing!

In my constant struggle to stay thin-ish while still enjoying the finer things in life, a.k.a FOOD, I experiment with healthful ways to enjoy the tastes I really, really love but shouldn't eat.

I was honestly (really, honestly) never exposed much to the chicken wings, buffalo sauce, blue cheese combo as a youth. I really wasn't exposed to it until about two years ago. I instantly fell in love with this whole buffalo chicken phenomenon. But it obviously is not a wise food choice if one is trying to keep a girlish figure.

Here's a salad I made for lunch today (and am currently enjoying) that is really the next best thing to a buffalo chicken wing. :)

• Lettuce base, any kind you like. I used baby spring mix.
• Some chopped cucumber
• 1/2 avocado
• Some chopped orange pepper
• 1 morningstar chick'n patty, cooked and chopped up
• a sprinkle or two of any type of cheese (i used trader joe's cheddar/Monterrey jack blend)
• some hot/buffalo wing sauce (I used Kroger brand medium "buffalo wing" sauce)

Mix that shiz all together and you'll almost trick yourself into thinking you're eating something much less healthy. :) No dressing needed, the wing sauce is enough to coat it all - and SPICE THINGS UP! enjoy!

been a while.

it's been a while since i have written anything.... so hello.

i felt like i should give some updates on the health situation, because i'm happy with my progress and i'm in a good frame of mind about it.

i don't really weigh myself (unless i'm on wii fit or at the doctor's), so i can't say how many pounds i've lost, but i know i'm on the right track. i feel great! i've been continuing to eat healthy (even better than I had been) and i've been exercising so much more. i feel fabulous! honestly, i'm really only on week 3 of being good about working out, but i'm doing it, and it's working. i have so much more energy, my body just feels better, and i even am fitting into my clothes a bit differently. i actually felt an ab muscle this morning. wtf.

i think the key in this situation is to just keep a good mind frame about the whole thing. i'm not overdoing it to avoid getting burned out, and i'm going with a buddy. my best buddy, actually - my sister!! we're having a blast, and i've actually talked her into joining the Y, so I feel like it's been good for both of us!

i'm excited about exercise. excited about feeling and looking even better. i'm beginning to feel that when i don't exercise, i feel horrible and sluggish. hopefully, by summer, i will be confident in a bathing suit for the first time in a while.... here's hopin'!

also -I had lean cuisine chicken fried rice for the first time today - pretty good!!! try it!

other updates in my life - i'm moving, AGAIN. while i'm not excited about the actual moving part (ok, well maybe a slight part of me is, i kind of like moving....) I am super excited about my new roomie, Vanessa. We're co-workers, she's the shit, and that's all you need to know. No, getting a roommate wasn't what either of us really wanted (and Cord just wasn't gonna do it; that's a blog for another day), but it's pretty much what we both had to do at this point.

My apartment raised my rent from $650 a month to $750. I had to say good bye. There is no way in hell I can afford that with my other life expenses right now. And by life expenses, I mean bills. My social expenses are minimal at this point. My hopes for getting a roommate are that my rent will come back down to a manageable place where maybe I can go enjoy my life a little. fingers crossed!!

sorry, more food.

i hope you all (if there are any readers out there) aren't sick of my food blogs. but i feel like i'm not alone in the world of trying to be healthy but i'm not rich, not blessed with lots of free time, and i want weight loss to be quick and easy (while I know it's not.)



so, here is yet another food blog. this is an actual recipe! i went to my friend's house last night who is suffering from a broken elbow from a sledding incident (such a rock star, let me tell you!!) and i offered to help her cook a meal. i had no idea what we would be making, but it turned out fantastic. so fantastic, in fact, that i am telling the world about it, and plan on making it over and over again.



let's call it, med-italian (because it's a little bit mediterranean and a bit italian)----so, med-italian brown rice bowl.



ingredients:
-pack of sliced portabella mushrooms, rinsed and chopped into 1 inch chunks, if you will
-a large handful of cherry tomatoes, chopped up/sliced/whatever works.
-1 cup fresh spinach
-garlic - to your liking
-1/2 medium onion, chopped into bite-size chunks (really, whatever works here, people)
-jarred sun-dried tomatoes, crushed (about 1-2 teaspoons full)
-about 15 or so artichoke hearts (we had the kind that were marinated in a glass jar in oil and great spices)
-marsala cooking wine
-olive oil
-brown rice (we used the 90 sec. rice b/c it was quick and easy, and v. good for portion control - perfectly split between two people. it left you wanting more, but if I had more, I would have overeaten!)
-salt and pepper, to taste



How to:
-Saute the onion in some olive oil (no measurements were really taken, as you can tell; we kind of just threw this all together!).
-Add mushrooms and art. hearts
-Then add some of the marsala wine - not sure how much she added b/c i was busy chopping, but it seemed like it covered the food in the pan, it cooked down quite a bit.
-Add chopped tomatoes, sun dried toms, spinach, garlic. cover for about 5 mins so spinach wilts.
-add salt and pepper to taste
-pour over cooked brown rice, and ENJOY!



goes GREAT with red wine. All of the ingredients are healthy and very filling. We really didn't even need any cheese, but I imagine some feta would be amazing on there. But if you're trying to be low-cal, leave it off, it's fine without it.



Here's a pic from my phone:

oh, january.

Hello, friends.
Here are two things i've recently eaten (today and last night, actually) that I highly recommend:

Healthy Choice Frozen Pizza, Cheese:

With only 340 cals (not bad for a filling lunch that is, remember, PIZZA!) and 21 g protein and 5 g fiber, this is a fantastic lunch. Nice and crisp (cook in the provided crisper tray), very cheesy, and well-flavored, and filling, I definitely recommend this meal for those of us who love pizza, but are trying to be healthy too. I know, it's a frozen meal, and there's lots of stuff in it I can't pronounce, but I'm realistic about my income, time, and food talent levels (they're all low), so this works great for me! Enjoy.



Also, THESE are fabulous little desserts!! I am indulging on a york one right now. SUCH a delish treat!! Recommended for the woman who can't go a meal without wanting a dessert, and the woman who has a serious relationship with chocolate, but who is trying to refrain from running into Ben and Jerry's and ordering one of everything, because she knows that's what she really wants. ;-)

All in all, the health train has seen a few obstacles this month. I'm doing REALLY good with the not drinking. I'm really trying to squeeze in exercise (in some form or another), and I'm doing really good with food. Not noticing much yet, but I also had family guests in town two weekends in a row, which probably counteracted any good I've been doing. I've been sickly for a week, so that didn't help either. Hopefully February will be a bit easier for me.

yum, and not so yum.

this is good. so, so, so good. great, even!! i LOVE it, basically. if i wasn't sitting at my desk at work, i'd lick the bowl.

this, is not so good. strange chicken piece i had to spit out, and too much ginger. not so much... wah.

Still truckin' on the health train. It's a-goin.

update. health, 2010: the saga.

So, the update on my overall health situation: (in case you care).

Moles. Well, I didn't get the best news of my life yesterday. It could have been worse, definitely, but it could have been better, too. Out of three moles they removed, one was benign, but two were dysplastic. Which means, abnormal, pre-cancerous, whatever you want to call them. They aren't melanoma, but they aren't good either. The good news is, they're gone. They're off my body and can do no more harm. I will continue to monitor and see if I have anything else grow back from what was removed, and the doc will keep a close eye on my moleys.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to go get a skin check. Health Insurance covers it. It's a doctor's visit, 30 minutes, some medium discomfort if they take any biopsies, but it could really be worth it. It was for me. Had I not gone and gotten those moles checked and removed, they would still be on me, just waiting to get worse. And I will continue to get my annual screenings, because even if a mole isn't bothering me, it could be a bad one that only the doctor will recognize.

Nashville Skin and Cancer. Please call, make an appointment. It might be the best decision you make all year.

In other health news, I am already starting to feel better, now that I'm back from the holidays and being proactive about my health. I'm back on the daily plate (when I can remember) and I'm trying to really focus on my calorie intake (that's what works for me) and get good exercise. My apartment just opened a gym, and it's small. I'd rather be 1 of 200 at the Y, than 1 of 3 in my apt gym, so I don't really know how much I'll be using it.

I've actually been rockin' out on my wii fit this week. I jogged in place last night for 30 mins, and it was a really good workout. It told me I jogged over 3 miles - hmm, if you say so! I have incorporated using my 5 lb hand weights into the step aerobics, and 30 mins of that will definitely work - you feel it the next day for SURE. Adding in a bit of yoga and strength training, and I'm really enjoying it.

I have also only consumed alcohol one night so far this month - 3 beers, I believe, was the total. And I only plan on consuming this weekend (in moderation) because it's my sister's birthday. But I really feel better not drinking. I REALLY miss my evening red wine that I had on occasion, but I'm ok without it. I've been guzzling down the green tea and water at work. I'm drinking a hot cocoa right now. Not feeling too guilty about it because it's my substitute for a dessert.

This morning I woke up and felt thinner. I don't care if it's mental, or if it's really happening. I just felt good, and that's the goal.

GOD I WANT A COOKIE. DAMNIT.

dermatographism

That's what I have. Diagnosed. Official. Even though I was pretty sure that's what it was anyway (I mean, we're living in the online research "be your own doctor" age, aren't we?)

So, I went to the dermatologist today for my annual mole screening (i'll get to that in a minute...ugh) and made sure to ask about this itchy hivey welty insane ruining-my-life thing that has been going on for a little over a year. I had done some research, and figured it was dermatographism, but wasn't 100% sure. It literally means "skin writing," because you can actually write words on your skin formed from hives. It is a form of hives where your skin is allergic to being touched (with heavy pressure) or scratched. I get it even from being cold, hot, and from the slightest scratch on my skin - one scratch of an itch, and my skin becomes a raging field of long, linear hives within minutes. The worst is my bra and waistband area.....always, always, itchy. :(

It only affects 4-5% of the population - wow, am I lucky. If there was a "get wacky health shit" lottery, I'd be a winner with all the crazy health issues I've had in my lifetime. The good news with this anomaly is that it can mostly be managed with anti-histamines. So I will pick up my prescription ASAP to start hopefully feeling some relief. I'm glad I finally have an answer, but not glad that I have to live on anti-histamines forever unless I want these symptoms to come back.

**This is NOT me, just a picture I found on google images....some people use the condition to make art - hey, why not make the most of what you're dealt? It's actually kind of cool if you google image the condition; you'll find some amazing stuff. Some stuff very similar to what my skin looks like most of the time. And while it might sound fun and interesting, don't come trying to write on my skin, because it will work, but I will be hurting and itching for quite a while afterwards. :)

The mole situation: I have a strong family history of cancer, malignant melanoma being one of them. I am pretty "moley," even though most of them aren't raised, so they really don't bother me too much. I actually like them.

But, with the family history, I try to really be aware of my moles and if/when they change, etc as I have a much higher chance of having skin cancer than someone without a family history. I even have them on the bottom of my feet and on my scalp. They took off three of my moleys today. Ugh. One was driving me nuts and itching, bleeding, etc...so I knew it was a goner. One I didn't even know I had, and one I kind of suspected she wouldn't like as it went from brown to black and was rather large. She disliked that one the most, and disliked it strongly - it was rather alarming. And painful. Local anesthetic is ok and all, but it hurts like hell going in, and I am rather uncomfortable (and even a bit shaky) at the moment, given that I have three holes in my neck, stomach, and back. And now lovely scars to go along with it.

Moral of the story: go to the dermatologist, even if you don't have a family history. don't use tanning beds. wear sunscreen, PLEASE. And be aware of and love your skin, as it's the only skin you get. I'll get my results in 7-10 days, so I'll keep everyone posted. I won't worry too much about it - after all, it might be nothing, and if it is anything bad, at least I'll know.

.resolute.

I'm going to be resolute about my 2010 New Year's resolution. My self-inflicted resolution to stop drinking. To stop drinking for a while. Not a pre-determined amount of time. Yes, I will have a beer or a glass of wine on my sisters birthday, but other than that, I'm going to chill out. I am by no means a big drinker, and I can usually keep it down to a few drinks and not get wild. The goal of this resolution is to generally work on my overall health. A big inhibitor of my overall health is alcohol. For example:

**I want to go grab a beer, so I can't go to the gym because I'll get sweaty. I mean COME ON. No more excuses. Get your shit together, Meghann.

**I am drinking, so it's OK if I eat this taco bell so I don't feel like shit tomorrow. OH COME ON. I will feel like even MORE shit if I eat this taco bell. Who am I kidding?

**I want people to think I'm fun, so I'm going to spend money on alcohol I can't afford so my friends don't stop calling me. Really, self? If they are truly my friends, they will still call even if I don't drink and act a fool.

**I can't afford it, but that's ok. NO, it's NOT OK. Screw you stupid credit card..... Yeah, no more of that.

**It's not a girls night without wine. Ok, this one is kind of true, hence the rare glass I will allow myself over the next few months. The purpose of this resolution is not to completely deprive myself of all fun; it's to realize and not believe the stupid excuses or rationalizations I make up that involve alcohol. Every girl deserves her girls night, hello! But I need to stop lying to myself and making up excuses to be unhealthy.

I booked my dermatologist appt, cut out drinking for the most part, and spent $140 on nothing but healthy shit at Kroger. So basically, that health train that got off the tracks? It's back on. I'm choo-chooing around, people, so get outta my way. :)

best. snack. ever.

best snack ever. super healthy (even a little bit of PB is good for ya!) and SO filling and delish. protein-packed and super yum.

i highly recommend. highly.

ingreds:

one apple, whatever kind you prefer
a medium box of raisins
a few big ol' globs of peanut butter, I used reduced fat crunchy jif so i had less guilt
a handful of walnuts, i crunched them up in my hand to spread them out a bit.
a few drizzles of honey

chop up apple, mix all that shiz together, and get ready for your life to change. i swears. the pb makes it hard to get an even ratio b/c it's sticky, but it's great when you get a chunk of it. it tasted EXACTLY like a caramel apple, the kind with the chopped peanuts on the side!! OMG! but much easier to eat :)

best part, you find rogue raisins in the bottom and they totally make your day. :)

enjoy!!!

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!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 :)

am i boring?

...because mostly what I blog about is food? I definitely don't consider this a "food blog" - but I find that that is what is usually on my mind. And if I find something healthy and also yummy, I feel like it is my moral obligation to share it with the world.

So, today's item of indulgence is this. I really wasn't sure about it, so it's been sitting in my freezer for about three weeks. I finally ate it today, and realized that the last three weeks of my life have had no meaning because I hadn't yet enjoyed this amazing feast. It was effing delish. So yeah, a little bit of an overstatement, because the last three weeks have actually been very meaningful, but yes, this meal is a tasty treat. I'm full, I'm happy, and I'm healthy.

Also, I have started making a great drink at the office with things that are here for our enjoyment and do not require an expensive trip to Starbucks. Basically, brew a green tea, add some crystal light lemonade mix, and voila - you have a green tea lemonade, except you didn't pay 500 dollars for it. Ok, I will admit, the s-bucks version does come in a fun cup, and it's really only about $3, but i'd rather have free, thankyouverymuch.

LIFE. Yeah. Pretty much. Went home to MD this weekend. Here's the main gist: Crab feast (you bet your ass), boating with mom (fun until she and her boyfriend got into a screaming match and i wanted to jump off the boat and die), and some good old fashion RELAXIN'. I needed it, but not the wanting to jump off the boat part. Very dramatic argument, totally unnecessary, but I would still rate this trip as a "good" trip home. Not great, but good.

I'm moving this weekend. FUCK.YES. I cannot describe how excited I am. MINE MINE MINE IT'S ALL GONNA BE MIIIIINNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! .

curves in the road

If you haven't noticed, I've been basically MIA from the blog world lately.

I feel like there is just so much going on... I can't even begin to give updates!

Usually my blogging happens on my mini lunch break at the office... but we've been so slammed at work that I haven't been able to! So I'm taking a whopping 10 mins to blog a bit!

Trying to get back on the health train... GOSH, will we ever be happy with our bodies!!? I had this chat with a friend of mine yesterday.... that we will always be wanting to look better than we currently look! Will I be unhappy with my body forever? OR, will I have to become a super health freak and work my ASS off, just to die skinny? When does it become not worth it? I know I can work harder. I should work out more. But I think that I eat fairly healthy - I cheat every now and then... but what's the point to LIVE if you can't enjoy FOOD!!!??? And I'm not talking about being a gluttonous pig, I'm just saying, do I need to feel guilty every time I eat a snack size snickers? Because I do.

Well anyway, I worked out last night. Great workout. I felt great. So I know there is a benefit. It's just hard. Hard to get my ass to the gym!! Hard to go by myself. I have friends that workout, but schedules and all that crap is annoying some times... So now I'm going to pray to the workout gods - please give me the motivation I need!!

Today was a healthy day so far. I had a great b-fast - granola with fresh strawberries and banana, and then a low fat string cheese for snack, then a GREAT lunch that was very random! Lean Cuisine Mac n Cheese + a little bit of tuna + and a little bit of shelled edamame = PROTEIN and YUM! It was like a Tuna Noodle Au Gratin thing!! I loved it!!

Well, I realized that I need to get back to the grind.... and go drop off my Diana film at the lab, so I'm outie... but I will pick this up later!!

are you kidding me?

this is a post i started almost two weeks ago.  since then, i became ill with the 10 day funk, got super busy at work, and really forgot all about blogging until tonight as i sit in my new "cuddle blanket."  i'll elaborate more on that later... :-)

First of all.... my dream last night (at this point is several weeks ago and I have forgotten most of it). I have blogged before about my teeth-related dreams. Last night might have been the mac daddy of teeth dreams. I dreamt that I was losing ALL of my teeth. Every single one. And I could feel them, taste the blood, feel them wiggle.... i could even feel my gums and the roots that were exposed. it was SO real. 

so, mostly what I can remember is that i ended up losing all of my teeth.  i was somewhere that i believe was work.. but Cord was there.... very blurry at this point two weeks later... but I ended up in my old dentist's office back in my hometown because i would obviously need some surgery.   (sidenote - my dentist who was an amazing man and a family friend was diagnosed with lou gherigs' disease several years ago, so the dentist's office that i went to in my youth is no longer...)  So, knowing that it was not going to be the same as it used to, I subconsciously made it in my dream a very trashy, pink-decored, big-haired-women-filled place.  They told me that a full set of veneers would run me about $500k.  I told them there was no way I would be able to take out a loan for that!! They said that it was my only option and that's how much they cost everywhere.

Then I woke up.  

But that left me thinking.... how much would you pay if you lost all of your teeth, and your only option to save them cost you half a million dollars?  Would you go toothless?  Or would you go into serious debt for most or all of your life,  so you could have teeth and live a normal life, even though your life really wouldn't be normal because you'd be in so much debt?? Hmm, I think I'd have to have my teeth? 

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I did not get this for valentine's day, but i think it's freaking hilarious.

http://www.sendapantygram.com/

I did, however, have an amazing v-day with the cordster.  After a nice morning of sleeping in (he worked while I slept) we met up at my place and exchanged gifts.   I got him a great little painting of the city of chicago (just what the map would look like...very cool) and he got me the most THOUGHTFUL, SWEET gift ever.  First off, he gave me a great necklace charm made from a piece of ancient ming dynasty pottery - one of a kind. I have one that i just love and found one online that i loved even better, and he got it for me!! he's a slick one.  The gift that made me cry like a little child cry baby is silly but really meant a lot. 

Before he gave it to me, he asked me what things we do all the time.  I said, "watch movies, talk, and cuddle."  Number three was the winner.  I am constantly telling him that I want cuddles.  It's literally my favorite thing to do.   So, he got me a little red fleece blanket that he had embroidered to say "cuddles"!!!!   i know this is super cheesy and fluffy and lovey, but damnit, i loved it.  i just thought that it was so heartfelt and it really meant a lot.  he said that whenever i want cuddles and he's not there, i will have them whenever i want them...  aaah, the cheese. anyway, yes, a great day of photo-taking around nashville and a fab dinner at sunset grille and a lot of cuddles at night.  a great v-day and 4 year celebration of us being together ;-)

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i worked today even though we had off.  somehow, i felt very unproductive.  i even put that i was there an hour less than i actually was because i was so distracted.  

they bought us mellow mushroom pizza. i had a piece of like super veggie. freaking fab.  then i had a veggie sub from subway for dinner.  a very veggie day. i can't seem to get enough of them lately. i'm a little fruited-out, but i'm all about the veggies, as long as they're prepared for me. i've been very lazy about preparing meals lately.  i need to get with the program. i also need to either start going to the y, or cancel my membership. i think i should go to the y.

does anyone have a CLUE how to be healthy and save money at the same time? i honestly think it's impossible.  i've really been working on my budgets since both of my roommates got engaged in the past month and i will be living solo as of june (insert mini freak out here!). but i'm actually pretty excited about it; just not sure how it will all work financially. i mean, i know i can do it, but i would probably have to live off of cheap, not healthy food.  maybe i'll have my dad come down and plant me a garden?  hmm. 

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i got really creative yesterday and made some of what i'm calling "photo art"....  and i finally did something with my flickr account.  check it out.  be my friend or whatever. i don't know what i'm doing. :)  the "fun with color" are the new fun ones. enjoy.

ok, i'm blogged out.   fin.

mmm freakin' mmmmm

One of the best breakfasts I've had in quite some time.

1 - A nice, warm bowl of these. So delish with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar added on top!
2 - a gorgeous bowl of fresh strawberries, and green and red grapes.
3- a scrumptious, soul-warming Grande Soy Cafe Misto from Starbucks. (just a coffee with steamed milk...but oh so good.)

great start to what I hope will be a great day.

Tonight, I'm going to this. Hosted by the Bacchanalian Soceity of Nashville, it's taking place tonight in the TPAC main lobbies....hopefully, I will be on the winning team, and will win a few hundred bottles of Australian Red!! :-) drinking like the roman gods....oh, how exciting!

go greek and eat beans.

choo choo!

I finally sat myself down this Sunday and made a menu for the week! It was very fun, actually!! I'm kind of enjoying being a homebody at night.... even if I'm by myself sometimes. It's very nice to just RELAX!  :) wow, what a concept!

So, yeah - I made a menu by looking through a few recipe books (why have them if you don't use them, hello?). I went to T. Joe's and Kroger (for those things that Joe's is lacking) and I made a menu for the week!  Here it is, I hope you're excited!

-Black Bean & Pineapple Salad (made with fresh baby spinach, fresh yellow and orange peppers) 

-Marinated Asparagus Salad (with tarragon and lots of herbs and spices!) - from the WW 5 ingredient or 15 minute cookbook!  one of the best cheapo purchases ever!

-Southwestern Two Bean Soup (from the WW cookbook - SO YUMMY and only like 2 WW points!)

-Greek Rice (brown minute rice with fresh chopped tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta cheese and greek seasoning!) also from the WW cookbook - it was delish!!!!  

-Spinach and Mushroom Fettucine Alfredo - I think this is from the WW cookbook too!

So yeah, pretty healthy and something different!!   Buy that cookbook!!