Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Day 120: Wedding Wednesday

Since my sister's wedding is over, my life has taken a turn for the chaotic. With less than 6 weeks before the wedding we're going on a mini vacation!! Yikes! But I'm sure things will be fine and we'll get everything squared away when we're back in town.

This week I have been working on getting my invitations ready and my programs all typed up.

My cousins are working on our invitations for us, and I'm going to stuff envelopes, stamp, and address them during the 19 hours we'll be spending in the car this weekend...I'm really hoping I can get them mailed out by Monday at the very latest.

And I've been trying to figure out how I want to do the programs for the wedding. I feel like one thing I'm really good at is creating pretty things on the computer, so I really want our programs to look special. I have some fun ideas that will look really nice if we can execute them properly. We shall see.

This week I've realized just how difficult life becomes when you have children. I've been splitting time with my mom watching my six-year-old cousin who is dear to my heart and probably about the cutest kid ever made....but I now know that there is absolutely no way I can ever expect to have a daily blog...or possibly even a daily shower, when children come into the picture. I think it will be worth the trade-off, though, because Joshua has been so much fun to have around.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Day 118: A Gushing Post that Could Likely Make You Puke (Sorry)

Sometimes you just have to dote on the one you love. It's inevitable. And some people love hearing about it....and some people think you're dithguthting (as my little cousin Joshua would say).

I've learned that love makes you turn into a person you never thought you'd be. In my case, that's a lovey dovey mushy gushy girl with stars in her eyes. It's not that I'm a hypocrite...just that I didn't know myself as well as I thought I did.

I just have to say that Adam is wonderful. I've known this for quite some time, but it was made abundantly clear this weekend amidst all the chaos and stress of my sister's wedding.

He takes such good care of me.

Whether it's the 2 bouquets of flowers he brought me Thursday night when he came to town....that's right...two bouquets!

Or the way he willingly took on the responsibility of parking approximately 90 cars in a space built for 5.

Or the way he stood out in the humidity and heat for at least a good 9 hours total directing traffic and parking cars and making sure operations were running smoothly.

Maybe it's the fact that he voluntarily cleaned my house the day after the wedding, after a bunch of guys had stayed there the previous night. Just so that I could come home from an exhausting weekend to a spotless and stress-free environment.

Or perhaps it's the way he lovingly played with my six year old cousin last night and tolerated being jumped on and climbed on for hours.

Or even the way he allowed me to lean on him and take a little nap on Sunday afternoon, even though he was more tired than I was, and he wasn't in a comfortable position to fall asleep himself.

All I know is that I'm going to be well cared for by my husband for the rest of my life, and I don't need to worry about a thing. He makes me so happy and I am so grateful that he has chosen me. I can't believe I get to marry him and I am so excited for our wedding....SO excited!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Day 117: Nap Time!

Today I am feeling oh-so exhausted! The wedding was perfect and beautiful and....sweltering.

We were up until about 1:00 in the morning cleaning up and visiting with friends and family. Then we got up and spent a couple more hours in the humidity today cleaning up.

I know that I'm going to sleep like a rock the next few days because I am so tired!

And I really hope I do get some rest because Adam and I are taking a long July 4th weekend and visiting family, so I'm going to need some energy!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Day 116: My Sister's Getting Married!

Today is the day! Ten months of preparation and planning have gone into making this day happen, and I'm very excited for my little sister.

We had the rehearsal last night and everything is going to be absolutely, breath-takingly beautiful.

I teared up during the rehearsal, so that means I need to be sure to bring some kleenex with me as I walk down the aisle. It's an emotional day, but a wonderful one.

To Rachel and Karsten, I wish you all the happiness in the world. And I'm glad you can finally be together as husband and wife forever.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Day 115: I'm a Failure Because I Haven't Got a Brain

Fifteen points to anyone who can name what movie script that line is from without Googling!

So, I forgot to blog yesterday. Woopsie! I am not planning on this becoming a growing trend, although I should warn you that I will not be blogging (or using any Internet) from our cruise ship on our honeymoon....so there will probably be a week's worth of no posts on my behalf. But that's still 6 weeks away (YIKES!) and I'm still here....so let's get to it.

This is going to be a chaotic and wonderful weekend. My baby sister is getting married! Today we have bachelorette pampering, followed by the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and a bunch of girly pajama party time with the bride tonight. It should be a lot of fun...hopefully my sister will enjoy herself.

She needs a little bit of a breather because some of the companies she's working with have not pulled through like anyone would have hoped or expected. But I hope she can take it all in stride and just enjoy the day.

That's about all I have for today, folks...I'm already tired and the real crazy stuff hasn't even started yet!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Day 113: Wedding Wednesday

The wedding is fast approaching, but we still seem to have gotten most things accomplished (or at least figured out) as far as this wedding goes....Here are some things we've taken care of in the past week or so.

1. Ordered ties for the groom, groomsmen, and ring bearer. I don't want to give anything
away...but I will tell you that they're blue...and they're awesome!
2. Figured out what we're going to do for wedding favors: Did you really think I would tell you?
The wedding and the Illinois reception will have a certain kind of favor and the Tennessee
reception will have something different. They're going to be quite a bit of work, but I know
we can pull it off (thanks, Mom, for your help!). I imagine we'll get started on them next
week.
3. I got my dress for the rehearsal. Adam thinks it's silly to buy dresses for every separate
occasion of the wedding, but he just doesn't understand....he's been gracious, though, even
though it doesn't make sense.
4. Adam is in the process of figuring out how we're going to valet cars at our wedding. He'll get a lot of practice since he's in charge of parking for my sister's wedding this weekend.

And that's what I really want to talk about on this post....a different wedding! My sister is getting married this weekend and I'm so excited for her! Her wedding is going to be beautiful and I can't wait.

I know she and Karsten really make each other happy, and I'm very glad that she gets to spend the rest of her life with the man she loves.

I'm going to miss her, though, because he's taking her to Chicago. But I'm sure they'll be back to visit frequently.

I'm really looking forward to celebrating their marriage this weekend and to welcome a new brother into the family. This is a really special time for her, and she's worked really hard with putting everything together for her wedding and I know it's going to be perfect.

For those of you who are coming, I can't wait to see you Saturday!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Day 112: Tuesday Treasures - Uni-Ball Jetstream Pens



Today I will reveal something about myself that you may or may not already know: I'm a geek about office supplies, which makes me a nerd in general, I believe. If you want a breakdown on the whole nerd versus geek thing, you'll have to ask my fiance.

I get a thrill out of walking into Staples and perusing the aisles for the latest and greatest innovations for the office. And my favorite time of year is Back to School because you can smell the school supplies from 100 feet away at Target.

A couple years ago I came across a writing utensil that has changed my life....or at least my writing.

See: the Uni-Ball Jetstream pen. This pen writes so smoothly. It's almost as if you're writing with a gel pen, only without the risk of goopiness or smearing that comes with gel ink. The ink writes like a gel pen, but it has the consistency of a ball point.

They are a little on the expensive side when it comes to disposable pens...they're going to cost more than your standard Bic or Papermate, but I contend that it's worth the extra to not have to constantly scratch the pen on paper (or on the bottom of your shoe) to try to get it to work.

These pens last a very long time, too. I would say a person who writes a fairly average amount could make the pen last a good four months or so.

You can occasionally find these pens at Target, but you're more likely to find them at Staples or an office supply store. You can always find them on Staples.com.

I urge you to check out the Uni-Ball Jetstream the next time you are in the market for a new writing utensil. Your life will never be the same.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Day 111: Champion Chow - Arnold Sandwich Thins

A revolution has happened in the bread world and most of us don't even know it!

Do you love bread, but hate the carbohydrate load they carry? Do you nearly pass out from ecstacy as you make your way through the bakery section at the grocery store? Do you avoid eating breads at all costs to reserve those extra calories for other foods?

If any of those statements applies to you, you are in luck. Your life is about to change.

Enter, Arnold's Sandwich Thins. These sandwich thins are very thinly sliced pieces of bread that offer a wholesome and filling taste with half the fat, calories and carbs of their full-sized counterparts.

When I first picked up a package of the Arnold's Thins, I was a bit skeptical. I didn't think it would be enough bread to satisfy my hungry tummy. But I had heard several Weight Watchers ladies rave about these things so into my cart they went.

To be honest, the Thins don't look like there's anything to them. They're packaged similarly to hamburger buns with the top and bottom stacked on top of one another. And stacked together they're only slightly thicker than a regular pita pocket. I was nervous.

But to my surprise one Sandwich Thin with peanut butter on it was able to fill me up completely until my next meal. I'll blame it on the whole grains.

Arnold's Sandwich Thins come in 5 different flavors:
100% Whole Wheat
Honey Wheat
Whole Grain White
MultiGrain
and Seedless Rye

Now, all of the varieties are going to have different nutritional information, but they all contain roughly:

100 Calories
1g Fat
5g Fiber
4g Protein

Per roll--that means top AND bottom!

I've only tried the Honey Wheat so far, but I am convinced that this will become a kitchen staple for me. Bye Bye, Butternut! So long, Sunbeam! Arnold's Thins are taking your place!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Day 110: Happy Father's Day

This post is dedicated to my dad. I enjoyed celebrating him today,and preparing for this post I enjoyed thinking of all the memories I have of my dad.

Like when he would "make my baby fly" by taking my favorite doll and throwing her so hard on the ground that she would bounce back up.

Or like Rachel playing her favorite game with him "Chinese Capanese" (she made up the name)....where he would sit in the floor on one spot and she would run around him trying not to let him catch her. I would occasionally, very tentatively join in...I'm not much of a wrastlin' kind of gal.

Or the time when my dad had an ice cream cone from Dairy Queen and bent down to let the dog lick it, and then commence eating it as if that wasn't disgusting.

I remember my dad being loving with us, hugs and kisses were abundant in our household. And I also remember stern discipline when it was needed. I'm thankful for both....affection and discipline are necessary components to child-rearing.

I'm fortunate enough to be able to spend hours with my dad every single day since we work together. We do butt heads sometimes, but I'm glad I get to share that closeness and see him every single day.

I know I have a lot more memories to come with my dad and I'm grateful for that. But this Father's Day feels extra sentimental to me. This was our last Father's day as just our family unit...Just Dad, Mom, 2 girls and a boy.

My dad is getting ready to give away both of his daughters in the next seven weeks. I know there will be many more Father's Days to come, but next year there will be husbands and not too long after that there will be grandchildren.

Dad, I hope your Father's Days continue to get better with time and you can draw your family around you to celebrate the Dad you are! I love you!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Day 109: Weekly Weigh-In

Today was such a great day! I had my first bridal shower and it was so much fun. My bridesmaids did a great job of putting everything together. From the decorations to the lemon-raspberry cupcakes (yummy!) to the fun games...it was perfect! I am so grateful to have family and friends who always shower me with love and support. I'll never stop being thankful for that.

One game we played was terrible, though....fun for everyone else, I suppose. But I had to answer questions about Adam and for every question I answered wrong, I had to chew a piece of bubblegum. I got 9 questions wrong. Really, I only got 7 of them wrong, but one had 3 answers. It was gross. And I don't think I'll be chewing any bubblegum for awhile. I thought I was going to choke.

I had my weigh-in yesterday. I stayed exactly the same. I'm okay with that given the fact that I was bed-ridden for most of the week due to my back problems. I'm not going to be able to get to Weight Watchers for the next couple of weeks, so I'm really going to have to watch it and make sure I don't backslide.

My back is feeling much, much better today. It's bothered me a little bit, but not nearly as debilitating as it was earlier in the week.

I really want to thank everyone for stopping in and reading this. It means a lot.

Day 108: Junk Food Junkie

I had some really great things happen today and some not so great things. I will share them in list form and you can decipher the good from the bad.....
Got to see Adam
Chinese buffet
lots of water
gardettos
really good premarital counseling session
birth control discussion
skittles
bridge mix
driving in a thunderstorm....both ways

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Day 107: Ouchie!

I have been dealing with some pretty acute back pain over the last couple of days, and I think it's because of sciatica.

The pain is completely concentrated in my low back....until it shoots down my right leg occasionally.

I've been spending the last couple of evenings in bed, just relaxing. The pain subsides when I lie down for a long time.

But sitting in my office chair at work is the worst!

I'm not sure what I did to cause the pain, but I think it happened when I was at my sister's recital, sitting in those old theater seats. I remember first feeling the pain when I left the theater that day.

Does anyone have a remedy for this type of pain, or any exercises I can do to help alleviate my symptoms?

I'm at a loss, and I haven't been able to exercise or do much of anything this week.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Day 106: Wedding Wednesday

There's not too much new to report this week...but here goes.

We are getting some engagement pictures taken when we're in Tennessee over July 4th weekend. We're trying to figure out what we should wear...does anyone have any suggestions? I don't think we want to go too dressy, but we don't want to be out there in t-shirts and shorts, either. We'll have these pictures back in time for the wedding and the receptions, so we're looking forward to showing them off.

Our beautiful invitations are in the works, so we'll hopefully be ready to mail them in a short time.

Musicians are getting lined up and we're excited about all of that.

I guess that's about it. Things have slowed down considerably on the wedding front, which is nice.

One recommendation I have for anyone who's planning a wedding, don't sign up for the website TheKnot. They litter you with a thousand emails a day. I've already unsubscribed twice and I'm still receiving them. Mainly I get emails from them and their affiliates trying to sell me things.

And I really didn't find their site to be that helpful at all. There's just too much there and they don't cater to your specific needs, unless your specific needs are to have a lavish wedding of the century, in which case, you've probably already hired a planner to take care of all that stuff for you.

Just a word of caution.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Day 105: Tuesday Treasures - All that Jazz

I think by now most people in North America have heard of Michael Buble. They may not know his music intimately, but I'm sure most people have at least heard the name.

I just want to take a moment to encourage you to explore his music. He sings with such a charming passion and charisma that you're instantly drawn in and taken back to the olden days.

His latest album is called Crazy Love, and it's beautiful. Clicking the link will take you to Amazon where you can preview this album and purchase it in digital form or a hard copy.

Michael Buble will be at our wedding....if not in person, at least his music will make an appearance.

My other favorite jazz artist is Harry Connick, Jr. Mmmmmmmmmm....if I wasn't a betrothed woman and he wasn't previously committed, I would have a huge crush on him. Okay, maybe I still do.

I. love. Harry Connick, Jr. Always have. His music makes me feel happy. Your Songs is Harry's latest album. Unfortunately I don't have the pleasure of owning it yet, but soon, my friends.

Also, if you haven't seen the movie Hope Floats in awhile (or, God Forbid--ever!), you should probably whip out the old VCR and watch it. That movie warms my heart more than I care to admit.

Next on the list is a more obscure artist named Jamie Cullum. He hasn't gained quite the notoriety of the previous two, but he's still worth checking out. His voice is so unique and soothing. Thanks to my friend Kim for introducing me to Jamie's music so many years ago. Twentysomething is not Jamie's latest offering, but it is incredible!

And finally, a female artist to round out my jazz recommendations for the day. Adele has recently come into the spotlight (by recently I mean over the last two years or so...I'm behind the times a little). Her album 19 is breathtaking. There isn't a track on there that I don't adore. And if you haven't had the pleasure of getting to know Adele's music yet, please do.

It's looking like jazz will be an unintentional, but warmly-welcomed, theme at our wedding. That makes me happy.

I hope everyone takes the opportunity to preview a few of the artists I've mentioned. Give Jazz a chance!

Day 104: Champion Chow - Watermelon

It's a good thing I was stricken with a bout of insomnia tonight because I completely forgot about my blog today! Woops!

I've been on a bit of a watermelon kick lately. I love the taste and the refreshment a juicy slice brings, but even more so, I think I love the feelings watermelon provides.

It reminds me of summertime. Especially summertime as a child. Where sitting on the front porch and having a slice of watermelon was the perfect way to cool down on a hot day.

Watermelon brings happiness.

Who doesn't love watermelon? The texture, the pretty pink and green, the sweet juicy flavor....I challenge you to find five people who don't like it.

Did you know that one wedge of watermelon (approximately 1/16 of the entire thing) contains only 86 calories and 0.4 grams of fat? It makes a very nutritional breakfast or mid-day pick-me-up.

In addition to its low calorie and fat content, though, watermelon also contains some powerful benefits.

  • 1 cup of watermelon contains about 25% of your total daily Vitamin C need, along with strong portions of Vitamins A, B6, B1, Potassium and Magnesium.
  • Watermelon contains several powerful antioxidants that help prevent illness and keep you healthy.
  • Watermelon is a great source of lycopene, a particularly notable cancer-fighting agent.
  • Studies have shown that eating 3 or more servings of fruit a day can help to reduce your risk for macular degeneration.

One word of caution, though....some people, like my father, have allergies when it comes to various types of melon. When my dad eats melon often times his throat will swell and he coughs and hacks and can't breathe. We think this is due more to the pesticides used on the fruits than the actual melon itself. Perhaps trying an organic melon would help with these symptoms. We have to try that experiment sometime.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Day 103: Pita Pizzas

Want a yummy and super easy dinnertime treat? Try my Pita Pizzas. You can use whatever toppings you want and calculate calories accordingly. My favorite is to get Carl Buddig deli meat (like ham) and dice a couple of slices, along with some of my favorite veggies.

Ingredients:
1 Whole Wheat Pita (about 120 Calories, 1.7g Fat, 4.7g Fiber)
2 Tbsp. Pizza Sauce (about 10 Calories, 0g Fat, 0g Fiber)
1oz. Part-Skim Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (about 72 Calories, 4.5g Fat, 0g Fiber)
2 Slices Buddig Ham (about 24 Calories, 1.5g Fat, 0g Fiber)
A little bit of diced green pepper
A little bit of diced onion
Seasonings to your taste (like oregano or garlic powder)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Top pita with pizza sauce, then sprinkle with cheese
Place toppings on top of the cheese and season to your liking.
Bake for about 7 minutes, or until cheese is oozy and melted.

Enjoy!

Nutrition Information (approximate, depending on the brands you use):
Calories: 226
Fat: 7.7g
Fiber: 4.7g

Points Value: 4!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Day 102: Weekly Weigh-In

I think I'm going to prefer having meetings on Friday nights instead of Mondays. It just makes the week go by more smoothly. And today, for example, I was able to eat conservatively throughout the day so I could enjoy pizza for dinner with friends this evening. I don't know why, but it's some kind of mind game with me.

This week: -0.8lbs.
Total: -14.4lbs.

I must say that I feel like this loss isn't completely deserved. I only tracked my food points once this week and I haven't been exercising at all. Again, it's some kind of mind game. I just have to make a decision that I'm going to get disciplined like I was at the beginning of Weight Watchers and I'm going to make myself do it.

This is my week, I tell you! I'm going to get back to tracking the points...my Weight Watchers app on my iPhone is getting an update as I type this.

It's crunch time...8 weeks until my wedding. I don't want to try and do a crash diet for my wedding and then do whatever I want once the wedding is over, though. I want to continue my plan even into my marriage and continue to move toward a healthier body and lifestyle. But one thing that's really important to me is that I want to feel pretty on my wedding day. I don't want to worry about the size of my arms in every picture I'm taking, or wonder what I look like from behind while I'm reciting my vows. None of it is about that....and I want to do what I can right now to make sure I'm not so concerned about all of that.

So my goal for this week is to seriously get back on track. The hem-hawing around is over. Right now.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Day 101: A Surprise Date!

Shortblog tonight because I'm on my phone.

Date Night is every Friday night and this week we were kind of at a loss as to what to do. We finally settled on putt putt golfing, but neither of us was super excited about the idea.

But Adam called me today and said we had a change in plans and I should wear outside clothes. I kind of thought we would end up at a carnival or something until I hopped in his car and he told me we were going to a Peoria Chiefs baseball game!

I love baseball games....so needless to say I was really excited.

The game was muggy, but a lot of fun. We had a really good time. I'll let you in on a little secret: I act like I hate when he surprises me, but I think deep down I really love it!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Day 100!!

Well, it's official! My daily blogging life has lasted 100 days! And I've only technically missed 2 of them (according to my count!).

I'll admit sometimes the blogging life can get a little boring. There have been days where I simply didn't know what to write about or how to convey it.

But I pushed through (case in point: Day 95).....some posts weren't as good as others, but that's okay.

I just want to thank everyone for stopping by to read the blog every day...or several days at a time. It means a lot to know that people care that much about what's going on in my life.

This fitness journey has been a series of ups and downs, but I'm glad to say that writing this, I'm lighter and more fit than I was on Day 1 way back in March.

But I feel like over the last 100 days I have gotten a sense of how to eat healthy (I don't always choose to do that), and how to push myself physically when it comes to exercise (I don't always do that, either).

Now comes the tricky part...I know HOW to get where I want to be; I just have to figure out how to discipline myself to actually GO there!

Self-discipline is hard for most people, I think. It's easier to follow rules if someone else makes them and expects you to obey. But establishing rules for yourself is tougher because there's no accountability. If I tell myself that I'm not going to eat junk food for an entire month that's great....but who's going to be there to throw down the consequences when I break that rule?

So maybe the next 100 days can be a journey of self-discipline...and figuring out exactly how to put all of my knowledge about good health into practice.

Thanks again for reading, and I hope you keep stopping by! The daily blog is supposed to go for 6 months, which means I have a little less than 3 months left....

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Day 99: Wedding Wednesday

The count down is on! Only 59 days until I marry a man who is better than I could have ever dreamed....

I am so excited!

Plans are still coming together perfectly.

I have so many people working so hard to help me out with everything:

My friend (and bridesmaid) Amanda and I got together this week and made a bunch of beautiful hair accessories for all the girls to wear.

My sister is putting together a personal shower for me, and dealing with all of the rigamarole associated with that.

My Aunts are planning me a bridal shower that I'm so excited about.

Out of the blue I was informed that some ladies from Adam's church wanted to throw me a shower.

My cousin Karie is custom making the most beautiful wedding invitations I've ever seen.

And I'm just sitting back with my feet perched on the desk, having a good old time.

Well, not really. But I do delight in having so many people help me out with so many different aspects of the wedding. I'm actually able to enjoy the planning and not feel like I'm too stressed.

I've been focusing this week on details and little pretties I can get to make the wedding even more lovely.

So thanks to everyone who is lending their support and help right now...it means the world and I'm so grateful for you all!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Day 98: Tuesday Treasures

So, normally I do my "Weekly Weigh-In" on Tuesdays because it's the day after my Weight Watchers meeting and it's the time when I can update everyone with my progress.

BUT

My mom and I have decided that Monday night Weight Watcher meetings just aren't working out for us. Even if I have a really good week, if I mess up on the weekends it shows on the scale on Monday. But if we were to go later in the week I'd be able to make up for those weekend slip-ups by working out a little harder during the week.

SO

We decided that we're going to go to Friday afternoon meetings instead. This does not give us a license to eat whatever we please on the weekends (I know I still need to do better and be more disciplined). But it will at least afford us the opportunity of relaxing on the weekends and not spending Sunday nights moping around because we don't want to go to our meeting the next day (I keep saying "we", but I think the real problem is just myself...sorry, Mom.).

So the Weekly Weigh-In post will now be on Saturdays. Which means I have an opening for a topic on Tuesdays.

I've decided that Tuesdays blogs will not be about weight loss or wedding stuff necessarily. I just want to use it to share some little gems I've found...whether it's a new product I found at the store, a new website, or just some new information. And I'll call them Tuesday Treasures.

Our first Tuesday Treasure is a site I've come across while doing some detail planning for the wedding. Etsy.com is a site where artisans can put their handmade crafts on the web and sell them.

You can find everything on there from jewelry to clothing, to wedding supplies and, toys, vintage items, music, and the list goes on and on.

Some of the stuff is terribly over priced...but some of the stuff is VERY inexpensive! I've been considering buying a dress I found for $195, but I was mortified by that price tag. I really didn't want to spend that much. I'm not sure that I've ever spent that much on a dress. So I did some searching on Etsy and found one that's similar, but better, for less than half that price! I'm very excited, and I'm working with the seller right now to figure out colors and everything so she can make the dress CUSTOM for me!

I would highly recommend checking out this site if you like unique, pretty, handmade items. You won't be disappointed.

Day 97: Champion Chow - SOBE!

I usually try to drink water, rather than sugary juices or teas. But sometimes you just need a little something more. Enter, Sobe Lifewater.
This stuff is a delicious drink that will satisfy your sweet craving and prevent you from grabbing raiding the fridge for a soda. The best part: They have 0 calories and 0 artificial sweeteners!

My Aunt Janine introduced me to these wonderful little morsels several months ago, and I've been hooked ever since. Now, when it comes to fruity drinks, I have a little bit of a picky palate. So there are a few flavors that I'm not too crazy about. But there are several that I absolutely love. My favorite is Fuji Apple Pear, followed closely by Mango Melon and Yumberry Pomegranate (I'm not sure that I've ever come across a Yumberry in real life, but I imagine they're amazing).

Sometimes you can find Sobe Lifewater on sale at Target or Wal-Mart for $1 apiece. I've even seen them at Target before for $1 and if you bought 10 of them, they have you a $5 gift card! If you don't find them on sale, you can expect to pay about $1.50 each for them, which is okay if you're only buying a couple, I guess.

They're definitely worth checking out.

Alternatively, if you want a little more flavor bang for your caloric buck, Sobe does have some options with fuller flavors and only a few calories. The Agave Lemonade is my absolute favorite. It has a refreshing, almost Sprite-like flavor. They also have an Orange-Tangerine that is delicious. These bottles contain about 40 calories per serving and each bottle has about 2 1/2 servings in it. So you're talking 100 Calories for the entire bottle (still only 2 Points). I tried to put a photograph on here of these bottles, but it's not working. The 0 Calorie bottles have white labels, though, and the ones with calories have colored labels. Agave Lemonade is green and Orange Tangerine is orange (obviously).

One tip I learned from Janine: these drinks make great frozen drinks! Just stick the bottle in the freezer (I would say no more than an hour). And your drink turns a little slushy. In my opinion, the 0 calorie drinks don't slush as well as the others. They tend to freeze more into one whole ice cube....but perhaps that could be remedied by freezing it for a shorter amount of time.

However you take 'em, they come highly recommended and they're delicious!

Day 96: Summertime Marinated Veggies


Sorry this blog is so late being posted....my blog site was experiencing outages in select areas (I guess I was "select") on Sunday and Monday, so it's Tuesday now...today is really Sunday's blog. And don't count it against me as misssing a day because I had it all ready to go...I just wasn't able to post.


My mom always makes marinated vegetables as a side dish in the summertime. It's cool and refreshing and healthy. Here's the super-simple recipe!


Ingredients:

Whatever veggies you want (carrots, cauliflower, bell peppers, onion, cucumber, etc.)...enough to fill a large mixing bowl when chopped.

1/2c. Olive Oil

1/8c. Cider Vinegar

1/8c. Sugar (or Splenda)

Salt and Pepper

Whatever seasonings you like (I used a couple of tablespoons of Italian Seasoning)


Directions:

Slice all the veggies and mix them in the bowl.

Mix all the marinade ingredients together and pour over veggies.

Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours or more.

Serve cold.


You can mix it up with the seasonings...try garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, or ginger, for example. The possibilities are endless.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Day 95: A Fitness Limerick

There once was a girl with a blog
She spent her week being a hog
Her elliptical she tried
But it squeaked and it cried
She should have just gone for a jog.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Day 94: Survival Strategies.....The MONTHLY!

Ok, ladies....I have recently become very open and honest on this blog (VERY open and honest)....and I figured we might as well continue with this trend.

I want to know how you incorporate healthy living into your monthly cycle.

For me, it seems like I start getting really, really hungry all the time....for junk food about a week before my period starts. And I continue craving this food all the way through the period. During this time I can eat and eat and never feel satisfied. It seems like that's an awfully long time to be eating so much unhealthy food.

And during the period I usually get moderately painful cramps. Cramps that make me tired and take away any desire to exercise at all.

So basically, if I catch myself on a month when I'm not disciplined (like this month), I'm eating whatever the crap I want to shove into my mouth for 2 weeks straight and not exercising for at least 4 days or so.

That just can't continue if I want to lose weight.

I'm sure that these symptoms are real. I know taht a lot of women deal with PMS and other symptoms leading up to and during their periods. But I think sometimes I like to cling to that excuse as a crutch to eat whatever I want and to do whatever I want.

I've always joked that there are a lot of women who use PMS as an excuse to be cranky to whomever they please. But now I realize that I'm the pot and they're the kettle.....I use PMS as an excuse to eat.

Nobody ever said you have to give in to every craving that enters your brain. I'm not going to die if I don't allow myself to have that King Size Snickers bar that's calling my name in the grocery checkout.

I know from personal experience that exercising and being active helps to minimize or alleviate menstrual cramps....so why can't I make myself do it?

Does anybody else have any ways they conquer their "monthly"?

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Day 93: Same Ol' Same Ol'

Last week was a great exercise week for me. I worked out 4 times in the morning and then did a weights workout on the days when I didn't do a "real" workout. I really liked that system. I was getting out of bed early and taking care of it in the morning, and then feeling great all day.

But this week my exercise has taken a back seat to sleeping, cramping, bloating, and blah. I can tell a difference, too. I don't feel as energetic and lively during the day if I don't get in that exercise.

I have to remember this when the alarm clock goes off and my bed is so comfy and warm. It pays off in the long run to get up and get it done (I resisted using the popular Larry the Cable Guy saying here because, well, I think it's obnoxious).

So wish me luck...hopefully now that the monthly stuff is coming to an end, I'll have some more energy to get up and go in the mornings.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Day 92: Wedding Wednesday

There haven't been too many developments with the wedding planning in the past week because everything is pretty much together.

I did drive about 20 minutes out of my way to another town to see a guy about chairs, which ended up being about $1 more than I thought they would be for each chair. AND to add insult to injury, I realized he had lured me there hoping to entice a bride into renting a bunch of wedding crap from his wife's fledgling wedding business. That was more than a little frustrating. If I'm there to look at chairs, don't try to sell me table linens, pillars, back drops, hooks, candles, center pieces, lamps, out door lighting, signs, and everything else you can think of that I might possibly need as someone who is planning a wedding. Oy! Needless to say, we went with a different company for our chairs, and they will end up being $100 less or so....plus I don't have to worry about pushy salespeople.

I also bought a bunch of feathers, much to my groom's chagrin.....The wedding has a peacock theme, and how can you do a peacock theme without some peacock feathers? They'll be here soon and we'll start figuring out what we're going to do with them. One bridesmaid and I already have plans for several of them....but I'm not telling.

We made arrangements for our cruise add-ons, too. We bought a soda package (that is ridiculous, in my opinion, that you should have to pay for soda when you're paying that much for the cruise, but we'll enjoy the trip anyway....and you better believe that souvenir cup will not be leaving our side the entire time. We also decided that we're going to give snorkeling a try. I'm really excited about that. I think it will be fun. And as Adam said, the minimum age is 6 for the snorkeling adventure....so if a 6 year old can do it, I'm sure we can, too!

I think that's about all the updates I have this week....everything is coming together beautifully, and I can't wait!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Day 91: Weekly Weigh-In

My mom and I skipped Weight Watchers last Monday, so we went and weighed in on Friday instead. We have to stop skipping these meetings just because we know what the scale is going to say. It's counterproductive to manipulate the program like that.

We decided we're not skipping anymore meetings until after my wedding.....

But regardless of our delinquency, and in spite of my monthly (as my cousin Katy likes to say),
This week: -0.6lbs.
Total: -13.6lbs.

So, that's good news. I still want to lose another 16.3lbs before my wedding. I think I can do it if I make myself stick with the program a little while longer.