I feel like Julie!
Another successful recipe from Rachael Ray's 365: No Repeats cookbook.
We cooked #83, Ginger Vegetable Chicken Noodle Bowl. It worked out fantastically because Josh was the chopper and dicer and I was the stirrer and combiner. It was a lot of fun working in the kitchen with Josh, and I didn't have to do the part that I hate.
The noodles were DELICIOUS. Seriously, I had some of the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. It had the perfect amount of ginger. I would add more bean sprouts next time. Josh wants to try it with shrimp too. That'd be so yummy!
I can't wait to make this one again!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Tagged
Del tagged me to do this meme quite a while ago, but I've been trying to compose my post in my head. I'm supposed to list ten things that my readers don't know about me. Ten things is a lot of things! Here goes!
1. I think my husband is a better parent than I am. He has more patience with them and seems to enjoy playing with them more than I do. It makes me sad, but at the same time, it makes me very proud of my husband for being such a great dad!
2. I am the youngest of3 make that 7 , no 9, okay, definitely 5. I have a confusing family! My parents were both married and had 2 kids each before marrying each other, then they had 3 kids together. (7 kids so far) When I was growing up, one of my brothers, who was in the military, got a divorce, and his two kids came to live with us for a while, so that makes 9 kids, but I wasn't the youngest of my niece and nephew! I've actually never met my dad's two sons from his previous marriage, so.... I'm the youngest of 5 kids. My oldest brother is 15 years older than me, and my sister, who is the closest to me in age is 5 years older than me, so it was kind of like I was an only child!
3. I desperately want to move to Australia, but you knew that, didn't you?
4. I ADORE shoes. I know it sounds like a cliche, but I really do. I think it is because there are so many beautiful shoes out there! AND, it is far easier to find gorgeous shoes that fit perfectly than clothes that do!
5. I really like watching reality tv. I know that they are dumb, BUT I enjoy the drama. I like hearing and watching drama, but I HATE being a part of any drama. I am actually passivitistic when it comes be being a part of drama, but watching it and talking about it is fun. :)
6. I love playing poker. I really like any kind of board game or card game. I'm very competitive.
7. I have one leg shorter than the other. It really only becomes evident when my body is tired. Also, when walking in a line, I walk crooked. I could not pass a drunk-walk-the-line-type test.
8. I'm not a morning person. I could easily sleep till noon. I'm not a night person, either. By 10pm, I'm ready for my nightly glass of wine and my bed. I used to be more of a night person-staying up til 2 or 3am during college, but then once I started teaching, I couldn't do that any more. I'm a little more of a morning person than a night person, waking up naturally around 9am. My whole family usually sleep until around 10:30 or 11.
9. I hate, hate, HATE driving or even walking behind someone slow. When I want to go somewhere, even if it is just to another store in the mall, it annoys the hell out of me when someone gets in my way!
10. Josh says that I'm primal... When I'm tired, I'm grumpy RIGHT AWAY. When I'm hungry, I want food RIGHT AWAY. It comes out of nowhere, but it comes on strong!
1. I think my husband is a better parent than I am. He has more patience with them and seems to enjoy playing with them more than I do. It makes me sad, but at the same time, it makes me very proud of my husband for being such a great dad!
2. I am the youngest of
3. I desperately want to move to Australia, but you knew that, didn't you?
4. I ADORE shoes. I know it sounds like a cliche, but I really do. I think it is because there are so many beautiful shoes out there! AND, it is far easier to find gorgeous shoes that fit perfectly than clothes that do!
5. I really like watching reality tv. I know that they are dumb, BUT I enjoy the drama. I like hearing and watching drama, but I HATE being a part of any drama. I am actually passivitistic when it comes be being a part of drama, but watching it and talking about it is fun. :)
6. I love playing poker. I really like any kind of board game or card game. I'm very competitive.
7. I have one leg shorter than the other. It really only becomes evident when my body is tired. Also, when walking in a line, I walk crooked. I could not pass a drunk-walk-the-line-type test.
8. I'm not a morning person. I could easily sleep till noon. I'm not a night person, either. By 10pm, I'm ready for my nightly glass of wine and my bed. I used to be more of a night person-staying up til 2 or 3am during college, but then once I started teaching, I couldn't do that any more. I'm a little more of a morning person than a night person, waking up naturally around 9am. My whole family usually sleep until around 10:30 or 11.
9. I hate, hate, HATE driving or even walking behind someone slow. When I want to go somewhere, even if it is just to another store in the mall, it annoys the hell out of me when someone gets in my way!
10. Josh says that I'm primal... When I'm tired, I'm grumpy RIGHT AWAY. When I'm hungry, I want food RIGHT AWAY. It comes out of nowhere, but it comes on strong!
Friday, July 17, 2009
THAT DREAM
Have you ever had that dream where you are getting ready for work-you have a shower, brush your teeth, get dressed, etc, only to wake up and have to do it all over again?!
Well, last night I had an even WORSE dream! I dreamt that (for some crazy reason) we had a teenager staying with us, and we had set up a bed for her in our room. It was cuddle night, so I was trying to sleep with Night. Night and the other girl kept talking and arguing and keeping me up. WHAT A HORRIBLE DREAM-a dream that you aren't getting any sleep!
To top that off, the dogs actually DID wake me up at their normal time of 5:30am, begging to go outside.
How was your night?!
Well, last night I had an even WORSE dream! I dreamt that (for some crazy reason) we had a teenager staying with us, and we had set up a bed for her in our room. It was cuddle night, so I was trying to sleep with Night. Night and the other girl kept talking and arguing and keeping me up. WHAT A HORRIBLE DREAM-a dream that you aren't getting any sleep!
To top that off, the dogs actually DID wake me up at their normal time of 5:30am, begging to go outside.
How was your night?!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Makin' Mum Proud
Tonight, I made # 69 in Rachael Ray's 365 No Repeats Cookbook, Garlic and Mint Lamb. Oh my gosh, it was delicious!! My host parents in Australia have sheep, so I'm always looking for ways to support them!
I'm actually kind of scared to cook lamb, since many times my meals don't turn out as planned. Lamb is an expensive meat to fuck up! Anyway, it turned out wonderfully, and the recipe made enough for about 5 extra lamb-patties, so we've got enough left overs to last a few days! I'm going to try to find some mint-jelly, which is almost impossible to get around here. It will just make it perfect.
I'm actually kind of scared to cook lamb, since many times my meals don't turn out as planned. Lamb is an expensive meat to fuck up! Anyway, it turned out wonderfully, and the recipe made enough for about 5 extra lamb-patties, so we've got enough left overs to last a few days! I'm going to try to find some mint-jelly, which is almost impossible to get around here. It will just make it perfect.
Friday, July 10, 2009
My Family Left Me...Again
My kids and handsome husband went back up to Indiana to visit his family for about a week. They will be back Sunday night. I stayed here because I had a few inservices for school, but most importantly, we needed someone to take care of the FOUR DOGS (what were we thinking-four dogs?!).
Here is how it has been so far:
Day One: Bliss. It was so quiet, calm. Did I mention QUIET?
Day Two: I cleaned.
Day Three: I got drunk. (Okay-it was Night Three, but that didn't fit the pattern, and I didn't really get drunk, I just had two glasses of wine, but with my new eating style, not having food to buffer the alcohol, it made me drunk!)
Day Four: The novelty of having the house to myself has worn off. I'm counting down the hours until I had have someone to mess it up and make it loud... Well, maybe just one more day to myself will be okay.
Here is how it has been so far:
Day One: Bliss. It was so quiet, calm. Did I mention QUIET?
Day Two: I cleaned.
Day Three: I got drunk. (Okay-it was Night Three, but that didn't fit the pattern, and I didn't really get drunk, I just had two glasses of wine, but with my new eating style, not having food to buffer the alcohol, it made me drunk!)
Day Four: The novelty of having the house to myself has worn off. I'm counting down the hours until I had have someone to mess it up and make it loud... Well, maybe just one more day to myself will be okay.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Why is It?
That when I put the trash out the night before, the trash dumpster doesn't show up until 10:00, but when I forget, he's there promptly at 7:00am?!
Don't worry~I remembered last night!
Don't worry~I remembered last night!
Monday, July 06, 2009
Mid-Week Evaluation
I just feel a sense of FREEDOM from my new way of eating. I haven't felt guilty one time since I've started eating according to my "thintuition." I've eaten pancakes, cookies, salad, biscuits, sandwiches, peanutbutter, apples, chips, cheese, veggies, rice, chicken, Indian food, ice cream (no cupcakes yet, ironically). Whenever I get nice and hungry, I eat whatever sounds delicious at that time. I've even been thinking about baking and cooking, but yesterday's attempt was a disaster, so I might not revisit that idea for awhile!
I like not having to worry about anything. It is nice!
I like not having to worry about anything. It is nice!
Friday, July 03, 2009
Two Cupcakes In One Week
Earlier this week, I was upset because I have gained a few pounds. Gained a few pounds despite working out somewhat regularly and trying to regulate what I eat. I hadn't weighed myself in months, thinking it would just happen. I don't want to be obsessive.
Trying to help me, Josh told me that I can't expect to lose weight when I eat the way I do. To this I became defensive. I've been monitoring my portions quite a bit-for about the last week or so. Before that, I wasn't doing anything. But, before THAT, I was trying to use the Weight Watchers Points system. And, before that, I was eating according to the Body for Life plan. And before that, I don't even remember because we are looking at more than a year ago!
As far as my exercise is concerned, I seem to like to change that up a bit too. Last summer (a year ago), I followed Body for Life religiously. I got into shape. I wasn't thin, but I was strong and healthy-people commented on how good I looked etc. Then, when I finished the 12 week program, it suggested I take a week off. I did. Then another, then another... I loosely stuck with the eating plan eventually, and I dabbled with the exercise program, but I never really went back to it-full force. School had started by this time, and I just didn't have the time or energy to devote myself to it. Then, I didn't exercise at all. Then, we joined a gym again, and I started to dabble, but I never really got into a groove.
A 12-week counseling session came with our gym membership, and I have been seeing Kay for almost that long. When she asked me what my goals were, I told her that I wanted to be healthy. I didn't want to have to obsess over what I eat or how I work out-I just want it to be natural. I want to be a good example for my kids. I don't really have a "goal weight" in mind or a time either. Although, there are days when I want to look like a supermodel TODAY, I am not really into putting in the effort that it requires. In my sessions with Kay, she basically asks me what my eating plan is, what my exercise plan is, and how well I followed it for the week. It seems that each week, I show up with a new plan. I follow it pretty well, but I never stick with the same one.
So, when Josh pointed out that eating two cupcakes in one week is a mortal sin and there is no way that I could lose weight that way, I started to think that I needed to reevaluate. (They are delicious cupcakes, but he pointed out that each one is probably more calories than I should have in a day.) Fine, I would start eating "right" and I would exercise ALL the time. If I just buckle down for a little while, I can get "skinny" and back down on all the exercise and strict eating and then eventually be "normal," which is all that I really want anyway.
During my reevaluation process, I was thinking about what eating "right" means. There is the low-carb approach, the low-cal approach, the Body-for-Life approach, the WW approach, the low-fat approach...... It made me think of an on-going conversation I had with one of my friends who is naturally thin. She was asking which food is better for her. (Like I'm the expert-she is the thin one!) The answer I gave depended on which approach I was following at the time--"don't ever eat bacon!" or "eat all the bacon you can fit into your mouth!"
Why does it have to be so complicated? Why CAN'T I just eat whatever I want? When I was just out of college-living all on my own for the first time, that is exactly what I did. I ate whatever I wanted to eat when I was hungry. (I was following a system developed by a Religious Whack-a-Do, but the eating concept behind it makes sense. Don't get me started on the religious aspect, though.) I lost weight naturally without even really thinking about it.
I've always thought that the concept would work-listen to your body. Shouldn't your BODY know when your BODY needs food? If my body is telling me to eat, shouldn't I eat? In all the photos of pilgrims (*wink), they weren't FAT. They didn't know about calories or fat grams. They were just natural. Look at my kids-they eat whatever they want whenever they get hungry. They aren't fat. I wasn't fat until I started to get older and worry about getting fat!
I just never went back to that way of eating (wait til you are hungry, then eat whatever you want but only eat a little of it) because the woman who introduced me to it was so crazy-religious, and since I have rejected this aspect of my life, I also rejected that way of eating.
I have, however, been looking for some guidance as to how to eat the "right" way, and there is a following called "Intuitive Eating," or "Thintuition" and it is basically the same thing without all the praying and shit. So, this is the beginning of my journey. I CAN eat two cupcakes in one week and I CAN lose weight doing it. I'm currently reading up on the topic. I'll let you know what I find out.
Trying to help me, Josh told me that I can't expect to lose weight when I eat the way I do. To this I became defensive. I've been monitoring my portions quite a bit-for about the last week or so. Before that, I wasn't doing anything. But, before THAT, I was trying to use the Weight Watchers Points system. And, before that, I was eating according to the Body for Life plan. And before that, I don't even remember because we are looking at more than a year ago!
As far as my exercise is concerned, I seem to like to change that up a bit too. Last summer (a year ago), I followed Body for Life religiously. I got into shape. I wasn't thin, but I was strong and healthy-people commented on how good I looked etc. Then, when I finished the 12 week program, it suggested I take a week off. I did. Then another, then another... I loosely stuck with the eating plan eventually, and I dabbled with the exercise program, but I never really went back to it-full force. School had started by this time, and I just didn't have the time or energy to devote myself to it. Then, I didn't exercise at all. Then, we joined a gym again, and I started to dabble, but I never really got into a groove.
A 12-week counseling session came with our gym membership, and I have been seeing Kay for almost that long. When she asked me what my goals were, I told her that I wanted to be healthy. I didn't want to have to obsess over what I eat or how I work out-I just want it to be natural. I want to be a good example for my kids. I don't really have a "goal weight" in mind or a time either. Although, there are days when I want to look like a supermodel TODAY, I am not really into putting in the effort that it requires. In my sessions with Kay, she basically asks me what my eating plan is, what my exercise plan is, and how well I followed it for the week. It seems that each week, I show up with a new plan. I follow it pretty well, but I never stick with the same one.
So, when Josh pointed out that eating two cupcakes in one week is a mortal sin and there is no way that I could lose weight that way, I started to think that I needed to reevaluate. (They are delicious cupcakes, but he pointed out that each one is probably more calories than I should have in a day.) Fine, I would start eating "right" and I would exercise ALL the time. If I just buckle down for a little while, I can get "skinny" and back down on all the exercise and strict eating and then eventually be "normal," which is all that I really want anyway.
During my reevaluation process, I was thinking about what eating "right" means. There is the low-carb approach, the low-cal approach, the Body-for-Life approach, the WW approach, the low-fat approach...... It made me think of an on-going conversation I had with one of my friends who is naturally thin. She was asking which food is better for her. (Like I'm the expert-she is the thin one!) The answer I gave depended on which approach I was following at the time--"don't ever eat bacon!" or "eat all the bacon you can fit into your mouth!"
Why does it have to be so complicated? Why CAN'T I just eat whatever I want? When I was just out of college-living all on my own for the first time, that is exactly what I did. I ate whatever I wanted to eat when I was hungry. (I was following a system developed by a Religious Whack-a-Do, but the eating concept behind it makes sense. Don't get me started on the religious aspect, though.) I lost weight naturally without even really thinking about it.
I've always thought that the concept would work-listen to your body. Shouldn't your BODY know when your BODY needs food? If my body is telling me to eat, shouldn't I eat? In all the photos of pilgrims (*wink), they weren't FAT. They didn't know about calories or fat grams. They were just natural. Look at my kids-they eat whatever they want whenever they get hungry. They aren't fat. I wasn't fat until I started to get older and worry about getting fat!
I just never went back to that way of eating (wait til you are hungry, then eat whatever you want but only eat a little of it) because the woman who introduced me to it was so crazy-religious, and since I have rejected this aspect of my life, I also rejected that way of eating.
I have, however, been looking for some guidance as to how to eat the "right" way, and there is a following called "Intuitive Eating," or "Thintuition" and it is basically the same thing without all the praying and shit. So, this is the beginning of my journey. I CAN eat two cupcakes in one week and I CAN lose weight doing it. I'm currently reading up on the topic. I'll let you know what I find out.
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