Bloggy salad

I think the idea of "blog salad" is pretty witty... for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, it's when you post about random little things, kind of like all the miscellaneous ingredients in a salad. So, here goes.
I went to the laundromat yesterday to do several loads of clothes, and I had about $6 in quarters already and a $20 was my next smallest bill. And of course, I'd need to break the 20 to finish up, leaving me with about $19 in quarters. I also had an errand to run at the local supermarket (right across from said laundromat) and when I checked out, I apologized to the checker about paying for half the amount in quarters. This, this small, insignificant thing would have made me utterly embarrassed when I was younger, compounded by the clerk's reaction. She was so irate that I put the hard task of counting change on her I suppose. The interesting thing was, earlier in my shopping trip, I had the privilege of helping an elderly gentleman with some items, and the act of serving made me so happy, and I was saddened by this young woman's negative attitude. Yes, I can see that 70+ coins to count could be mildly trying, but it could have been funny, too, a chance to laugh or be grateful I don't live like this all the time, you know? Perspective is just a funny thing, eh?
Less interesting but more relevant to the theme of salad is the fact that I spent all of yesterday morning up to my elbows in pumpkin puree! I gutted and steamed and pureed 4 small pumpkins, and my hands are still orange to prove it! We roasted the seeds, and they are so yummy. I made two batches: a naked (olive oil and salt) version and a spicy chili-thyme version. So simple, so yummy, so nutritious! We got a 30-pound for our porch (that I plan on planting a pot of mums in) so it'll be interesting to see how many seeds we get out of that!
On the physical front, I'm down another pound (5 total so far), and I'm thrilled to be combining my hope to lose weight with a cause I believe in, so I'm going to walk (not run, yet) in the Water is Basic 5k.
Still to come... photos of one of my handmade gifts, a yarn surprise I recieved in the mail, and Fall craftiness from Bear!

Looking Fine in 2009

Remember this post where I bloviated mentioned I was ready to lose weight For Real? Umm, I still haven't lost any. So, when I saw the Fine by 2009 challenge I knew I just had to join. My roller coaster attempts to lose weight are frustrating, and I am not always confident in my ability to lose the weight, but a counselor I saw once told me that I use my weight as a security blanket, and to a great extent, I think she is right. I don't enjoy being fat, but I tell myself if I don't try then I can't fail, which resonates a lot with my inner perfectionist. However, one of the things that moving to the Big D was all about was getting a partner to help me: sis B! She and I are on a mission to lose weight together, which I'm actually pretty excited about. Not the losing weight part (though that, too), but the her-as-buddy part. But you guys should have seen us when we were in 9th grade P.E. together. We FOUGHT like cats and dogs... Iwe were (was) always competing and so we'd get mad if the other one had a faster time or whatnot. Gosh, I'm glad that Maturity Happens. Anyway, inspired by the Fine '09 challenge, I am pledging to do the unthinkable: actually lose weight and when I do, I will show you guys the amazing results. Bathing Suit and all. So, for a little accountability, I am pledging to the following:
STOP eating after 8:00 at night. This gives me time for a snack if I must (baby steps, people) but not so late that I'm sleeping on it;
STOP having Hunny run out and get me chocolate or junk food, and not buy it myself either;
START eating all the veggies we buy, and limit the processed stuff;
START drinking only water-no Crack Zeros, or diet soda, just water. (no tea to begin with either.. I really need to detox from caffeine and artificial sweeteners to make sure they are not a contributing factor in my migraines).
START exercising-I'm planning on walking/jogging a mile every day that Hunny is home, or do my exercise video when he's not and while the boys are sleeping.



If you, too, want to join, Head on over to The Daily Mish Mash and sign the Mr Linky!

Dr. Diet and Mrs. Hide my Bottom, please

Ummm, I'm a horrible dieter. I think the problem is in that word, "diet." Or at least that's what all the diet books would have you believe. So I've been attempting to do the lower-carb approach again to kick-start my weight-loss efforts (and RESULTS), but I suck at this. I always want what I want: you know, the whole have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too syndrome. But I literally want to have my cake. And eat it. And the fries. And the chocolate. I think I have a problem.
The thing is, other than wanting sweets (every minute of every day), a high-fat/low-carb diet should be great because of all the flavor options. However, I am not a historically good meat eater, I don't like eggs, and I insist on eating vegetables and fruit. The benefits of this diet are butter, mayonnaise, and cheese. With these three condiments, I ought to be able to muster down anything else, right?
Last night's dinner was actually really yummy. I bribed Hunny into grilling chicken breasts, and even though he'd just come in from playing a soccer game and was sunburned to a crisp, he still slaved over the smoking grill as well as kept Bear from too much trouble-making. While that was going on, I prepared the creamy mashed cauliflower, and it was amazing. Between the chili rubbed chicken and heart attack inducing agent, er, heavy-cream-laced cauliflower, there was flavor galore. I could get used to this! (I might add that the texture of the cauliflower was dreamy thanks to my new blender/processor kitchen gadget!)
Now, if I could just stop waking up in the morning desiring a sabotage-chip cookie, that would be great.

What is "elbow grease" anyway?

Whenever my mom used to get mad at my sisters and me for not cleaning our rooms or the dishes well enough, she used to tell us to "put some elbow grease into it." What a strange choice of words when you take it literally. And cleaning isn't the only thing it applies to, apparently. I now have to lose weight the old-fashioned way, with lots and lots of elbow grease. I forfeited my place in the Combat the Fat challenge, as funds were lacking, and now I realize that Hunny's travel schedule was not very accomodating to a Monday THRU Friday program. Oh well. Bummer, but I'm still determined to get this weight off finally. I talked to sis B today and we are gonna do this, elbow grease and all. I wonder something, though: why is it when I watch The Biggest Loser, or similar shows, that I get both inspired like crazy and totally depressed? It's like I'm in awe THEY can lose the weight, but somehow I am excluded. And I feel this way across the board... that other mommies are the best mommies, that other smart people truly have something intelligent to say, that God only loves others. Somehow, I know in my heart this isn't true, but there are times when I'm hard to convince otherwise. Anyway, self-image issues aside, I'm trying to learn-and believe-that I am not the exception to every rule out there. And I'm assuming at the end of the day, elbow grease and conviction are simply that: elbow grease and conviction. I've got to want to lose this weight so badly that I will do nothing to compromise that goal and everything to attain it. So far in my life, I've wanted that but not badly enough to change my habits. I mean, I am an excellent baker, people. And I love food... I secretly consider myself a real foodie, though I don't always have opportunities to exercise this quiet passion. I'm sort of a hodge-podge, make-myself-up-as-I-go-along kind of girl in that I am a vegetarian, but not for everyone else's reasons, and I love natural, holistic living as long as it is convenient (!).... so basically, I am going to have to learn to pick a side. Learn to love one side a little more than the other, and I think it's gotta be healthy living, natural, unpolluted foods, and a lot of hard work. However, I'm totally going to reward myself for my successes along the way, and I think that alone will build me up and help me realize that I don't have to be like the people on Biggest Loser or even fit into an all-natural camp; all I have to do is live my life one day at a time, be about my business both in my home and in my "temple," and maybe, just maybe, all that elbow grease applied in the right areas will come together and pay off! This starts with my making good eating choices and choosing to do the hard thing, and not the lazy thing when it comes to getting off the couch and DOING physical things. I'm sure I will be my own worst critic, and that's ok, too, as long as I love myself in the process. I think that's what I want to walk away from all of this in the long run anyway.

Combat the Fat Challenge!

2008 is going to be a weight-loss get in shape year for me.
How do I know this? Because I've won a spot in a local "biggest loser" type competition to help 9 other overweight people like myself lose weight and turn their lives around. It's the Combat the Fat challenge from USMCbootcamp, a local fitness center. Only 10 applicants, and I'm one of them! I'm very much hoping to be the winner (who loses greatest % of body fat) as that will entitle me to $5000! I could so spend that on new clothes. and bills. and fun stuff. So for the last new year's resolution ever, I'm going to get in shape!!! Just wanted to share!!

When 2+2 does not = 4!

Today was lovely... just lovely. At least compared to the freezing weather we've had of late, 60 degrees felt downright balmy, so I decided to combat cabin fever by going on a little walk with the kiddos. So in goes Bunkin in my maya wrap, and up climbs Bear into the jogging stroller that has never actually been jogged with, and off we go. I was reprimanded for taking my children out for a walk in this "cold weather" (this by a woman who walks her Pomeranian five times a day smoking at least that many cigarettes in a walk). Other than that, lovely walk.
So why is it that I immediately ripped up all the nice effects of exercise by eating frozen pizza for dinner and topped it off w/ some KrispyKreme mini cruellers?? I think they definitely ruled each other out! Such is the life of a stay-at-home mommy sometimes, eh? My new year's resolution to lose weight don't seem to be making an impact on my willpower to indulge in yummy foods (not of the low-fat variety!). That being said, I'm still thrilled that I got off the couch when it would have been much easier to watch the last 30 minutes of Oprah. Since Hunny comes home tomorrow, I've justified my computer time today by looking up some scrumptious vegetarian recipes. As Scarlett said, Tomorrow is another day, and tomorrow we will eat Red Lentil Patties with Cilantro Sauce, as seen on Albion Cooks blog. I cannot wait to make these. I'll know true victory when Bear does NOT throw them on the floor in toddler defiance and a desire for more frozen pizza!!