Wednesday, September 17, 2008

i think the food gods hate me

I know it's not easy to lose weight, and you know it's not easy to lose weight. I've tried to keep perspective and keep looking at the long term goal. I go to the gym 5 days a week, 2 of which are the kick butt cycling class days. Besides, I'm trying to remember that last time (after G was born) I barely lost a pound until I stopped nursing her...ok, ok, be patient...

Today I went for the usual workout but completely UNMOTIVATED. Instead of the usual weights I focus solely on abs and then went for the usually cardio. I'm exhausted and the day has only begun! I run home and start to clean and get side tracked because I realize friends are coming over tonight, ok, I'll whip up a batch of cookies to share. I can be little mrs. homemaker...right? G is watching a movie, K is sleeping, I am cooking, everything is good. I take the cookies out of the oven, sample one, and put in the next batch. This is when it happens. I look over at my box of oatmeal and its COVERED in little creepy crawlies. Not just a few but probably at least 50!! I look at my delish cookies and sigh...

So I think, it's probably because I wasn't eating something healthy. So I throw together a nice spinach salad for lunch to make myself feel better: carrots, spinach, garden tomatoes, and a little lite ranch. Ok, feeling better UNTIL I bite into a raunchy, moldy tomato. I couldn't react fast enough and definitely swallowed before I could spit it out. (I'm tired and my reactions are a bit slow) Seriously, can I eat SOMETHING?? I'M STARVING and I feel like the "Gap Girl" played by Chris Farley on SNL.

Movie is over and it's nap time. I give up,

I go get another cookie and shove it down before I can think too much about it.

take that food gods!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

FINALS=get out!

Finals Week! It's a love/hate relationship. The part I hate most is Lance having to spend ALL time not in class, studying. Which means I have to keep myself and the girls as busy as possible. Thanks to our new friends, the Barnette's we went HUCKLEBERRY picking on Saturday. We took the Goodman girls with us and had a blast! I think we ate more than we picked. I've didn't even know huckleberries existed, but believe me it was worth the drive and the time picking them! YUM!! Hmmm, what will I bake next??

being a single mother this week, one kid is attached and the other is on a leash. Look closely at the milk jug tied around my waist (right underneath Kami's feet).


yes, i repeat, she's on a leash



Of course after a while the kids broke down, ready for naps, so I took them to the car and they watched movies while the parents finished up.

Chandler is so squished! but he actually liked it, I think.



See, he likes it!



I LOVE this girl!


Bethany and me picking next to the road, so we could "watch" the kids in the car and pick berries. We actually jumped over several bushes to get the goods and couldn't get out!


jug 'o berries



Thanks mk for the delish huckleberry cheesecake!!

you see, there is some good to finals week!
Gook Luck Lance!

Friday, September 12, 2008

ANOTHER new mile record

6:21
*I'm pretty sure that this time on an eliptical doesn't not really translate to street time, just so you know, but heck ya I'm still proud of it!

**update: 9/22/08
5:58, and I googled translation of elliptical and it's WAY off of street time. I think I'll be lucky to hit 8 minutes in real time. That's my next goal.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

This week...

Went to the zoo with friends. This time we took the back loop and saw all the animals we usually skip out on. We "fed" the birds juice and I think this was Gracie's favorite part!



Look at the expression on my face--GET AWAY! I'm secretly scared of these birds. I'm not afraid of being hurt just getting pooped on! ha ha ha




Don't you wish you were at my house tonight?


Don't these just brighten up your day?
Carry On!


Happy Weekend!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Taking a walk

Walking around the complex after dinner serves two purposes: getting out extra energy and helping me work on my photog skills.





Nat, she needs you!


Waiting for BFF, Kaylee.

Ok, this baby needs a name

Help us out here! You requested photos and you got it!



Um, can you tell she LOVES the automatic door feature?
I think she's going to wear down the motor in the first couple of months!



look at that space! I lOVE my new car!



Ok, leave us the name suggestions. The winner could have our next child named after you. (remember I said COULD)

One of those...

It all started with a pretty productive morning. The usually: gym, phone calls, bill paying, etc. Lunch time it started to hit and I new that I was getting a pretty bad headache. I put the girls down for their naps and laid down praying a nap would take care of it. My luck would never be that good! After naps instead of enjoying the sunshine I pop a movie in for Gracie hoping that Lance will be home before it's over and help out. But being the thoughtful wife I am I think, "Hey, I'll get dinner done early and then we can eat quick and still have time for the park." I throw a basted chicken into the oven and lay down during Mulan....

45 minutes later:
Baste chicken again, set timer for another 15 mintues or so, looking and smelling good by the way.

60 minute mark:
Skin on chicken looks nice and crispy, smells delish...still have headache but don't worry Lance is minutes away so I whip up some couscous. Lay down again...really should have seen Chad this week (my chiro).

120 minute mark:
Time to eat dinner, cut into chicken...NOT DONE. Ok, no biggie, throw it back in the oven it's only 5:20 or so.

150 minutes into "dinner": still raw chicken


ok, ok, i'll stop with the minute marks but it took more than an additional hour for this dang bird to cook. I've made it several times before I couldn't figure out what I did wrong. Good thing I have a smart husband. As he was taking the meat off the fully cooked chicky he informed me that I had left in all of the innards, aka giblets, WHOOPS! But wait, I really have made this SEVERAL times before how could I have forgotten. Was it the headache?

WAIT...i forgot my dear Lance. EVERY other time I have made this dish he has been in the kitchen with me! He was the one to prep the chick while I made the baste. Man, I really miss Lance. I hope this next week and a half passes fast (next week is finals week). I can't wait to have him back all to myself! LOVE YOU BABE. And again, I apologize for the raw dinner.

Oh, and if you are still reading and wanting my delish recipe without the giblets:

2 2lb chickens
2 T sherry (yep, suck it up and go down the alcohol aisle the cooking sherry has TONS of added salt)
2T honey
1T vinegar

Tie legs together with twine. Pour boiling water over chicken to plump the skin then pat dry with paper towels. Mix together sherry, honey and vinegar and baste chicken and season with salt and pepper. Bake on wire rack in roaster pan, 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes. Please don't forget to take out the innards and if you use a bigger chick, plan for longer baking time.

NEW MILE RECORD

6:46

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Friday, September 5, 2008

BFFs

Dear BFF,

I am always excited to see you, even though you drive me crazy sometimes. I feel like we've established a pretty healthy relationship these past few weeks. Working on major problem areas, and really focusing in on what needs the most attention right now. Really what's best for us is to spend some real quality time together. I know Sarah hogs all of the attention, but hey I really like her and she really gets me motivated. Sarah's not going anywhere so you're going to have to learn to deal with sometimes not getting all of my attention. I have to let you know that you hurt me like I've never hurt before. But I've realized that working past the pain, brings great joy. I've never been so happy as when I'm with you. Thank You Stationary Cycle # 12! I LOVE YOU!!

-em