Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Bachelor Re-enactment
Just what I needed today! I was alerted to this hilarious re-enactment of Bachelor Ben and Courtney's late night rendevous, performed by Kelly Ripa and Daniel Radcliffe. Fast forward to 10:29 for the full Bachelor low-down.
super sandwich!
I'm still chasing my tail, but I'm at least taking breaks to cook meals again. (I have not taken a break to improve photography skills.) 'Sandwiched' between all the craziness, Ed and I had that date a couple of weeks ago which inclued a bike ride to a wine bar. There, I had a delicious panini, which I've recreated with some success above.
Grilled Goat Cheese and Salami sandwich
ingredients:
rye or sourdough bread
goat cheese
salami
butter
steps:
Lightly butter both sides of the bread and toast on a griddle. When lightly toasted, set aside and spread desired amount of goat cheese. Add salami. Assemble sandwhich, put back on griddle, and cook a little longer. Press down a bit on both sides of sandwhich with spatula as you cook.
I find this sandwich goes well with a sliced apple. Enjoy!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Friday Fun
Oh, it's been a tough week. I'm going to spare you the details. I will say I have not prepared a single meal, that's how bad it is (I won't be getting on the scale anytime soon.) My friend Hilary over at Pulling Curls just tagged me though, and as I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I thought it'd be fun to do her meme.
The rules:
1. You must post the rules.
2. Post 6 fun facts about yourself in the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create 6 new questions for the people you tagged.
4. Tag 6 people and link them on your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them.
Here's my answers to her super fun questions:
1. how do you cope with the yucky season where you live (here it's summer, there maybe it's winter)?
Oh Hilary, you know there is no bad weather in San Jose! I do dislike heavy wind. I'd say when it is cold, windy, and rainy I try to embrace it. Make hot chocolate, watch movies, read books and find the *romance* in it.
2. Tell me something you like about me or my blog? (I need a little self esteem boost lately)
I love your sense of humor, dedication to your kids, discipline, and photography skills.
3. Name a movie you can quote several lines from.
Easy. When Harry Met Sally. "I'll have what she's having."
4. Least thing you like about mothering.
Brushing and flossing teeth.
5. Favorite thing about being a wife (keep it G rated, people)
Two things, as I'm feeling generous.
One - always having my best friend around.
Two - those moments when you see your husband after a long day, or perhaps in a different environment, and you are reminded how handsome and charming he is!
6. If you could've majored in anything in college, without thought to what you'd do with it afterwards, what would it have been?
Drama. I had an acting bug. Wouldn't that have been fun?
O.K. now six fun facts:
1. I just started reading Kristin Armstrong's Mile Markers. Maybe this book will get me back 'hooked' on running.
2. Disneyland is a favorite vacation spot.
3. I only own one lipstick.
4. I'm starting to get gray hair. : (
5. Riding my 'beach cruiser' style bike makes me feel like a kid.
6. I'm behind on my goal to write a thank you not a-day for 2012. But, I'm always full of hope!
I tag anyone who has had an insane week. Go ahead and use the same questions. Remember, it's been that kind of week!
The rules:
1. You must post the rules.
2. Post 6 fun facts about yourself in the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create 6 new questions for the people you tagged.
4. Tag 6 people and link them on your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them.
Here's my answers to her super fun questions:
1. how do you cope with the yucky season where you live (here it's summer, there maybe it's winter)?
Oh Hilary, you know there is no bad weather in San Jose! I do dislike heavy wind. I'd say when it is cold, windy, and rainy I try to embrace it. Make hot chocolate, watch movies, read books and find the *romance* in it.
2. Tell me something you like about me or my blog? (I need a little self esteem boost lately)
I love your sense of humor, dedication to your kids, discipline, and photography skills.
3. Name a movie you can quote several lines from.
Easy. When Harry Met Sally. "I'll have what she's having."
4. Least thing you like about mothering.
Brushing and flossing teeth.
5. Favorite thing about being a wife (keep it G rated, people)
Two things, as I'm feeling generous.
One - always having my best friend around.
Two - those moments when you see your husband after a long day, or perhaps in a different environment, and you are reminded how handsome and charming he is!
6. If you could've majored in anything in college, without thought to what you'd do with it afterwards, what would it have been?
Drama. I had an acting bug. Wouldn't that have been fun?
O.K. now six fun facts:
1. I just started reading Kristin Armstrong's Mile Markers. Maybe this book will get me back 'hooked' on running.
2. Disneyland is a favorite vacation spot.
3. I only own one lipstick.
4. I'm starting to get gray hair. : (
5. Riding my 'beach cruiser' style bike makes me feel like a kid.
6. I'm behind on my goal to write a thank you not a-day for 2012. But, I'm always full of hope!
I tag anyone who has had an insane week. Go ahead and use the same questions. Remember, it's been that kind of week!
Monday, January 23, 2012
weekend update
Great weekend! Ed and I had an impromptu date when Miss P was invited to a grandma sleepover. We rode our bikes to a wine bar (no one was saying, 'keep pedaling!' 'good job!' or 'a little to the left') and later had dinner out. In between we caught up on a lot of conversation. We are looking forward to our next date night in 2013 and I'm feeling reassured that E and I will have something to do when P leaves us (11 years from now??)
At the end of date weekend we joined four other families for a 49er party. Oh, so close! Heartbreak in overtime. All 9 kids had a blast.
Moms did too!
At the end of date weekend we joined four other families for a 49er party. Oh, so close! Heartbreak in overtime. All 9 kids had a blast.
Moms did too!Friday, January 20, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Mealtime Monday - CarbLovers Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema
I haven't shared a recipe in a while. This is from one of my new favorite cookbooks - Carb Lovers Diet Cookbook, that I mentioned in one of my last posts. I cheated though lightly fried some flour tortillas - DECADENT! I could only have one.
CarbLovers Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema
Ingredients
1 poundmedium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lime juice
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas, warmed
2 cups shredded lettuce
1/4 cupfinely diced red onion
1 poundmedium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lime juice
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas, warmed
2 cups shredded lettuce
1/4 cupfinely diced red onion
Preparation
In a medium bowl, toss shrimp with chili powder, cumin, and pepper. In a small bowl, stir together sour cream and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; sauté shrimp 3 minutes, turning once, or until done. Remove from heat; toss with 1 tablespoon lime juice. Fill warmed corn tortillas with shredded lettuce, shrimp mixture and diced red onion; drizzle tacos with lime crema.
In a medium bowl, toss shrimp with chili powder, cumin, and pepper. In a small bowl, stir together sour cream and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; sauté shrimp 3 minutes, turning once, or until done. Remove from heat; toss with 1 tablespoon lime juice. Fill warmed corn tortillas with shredded lettuce, shrimp mixture and diced red onion; drizzle tacos with lime crema.
Donuts with Dad 2012
Paige and daddy on a date!
These two love reading Shel Silverstein poetry, eating donuts, watching Kung Fu Panda Legends of Awesomeness, and bike riding together.
These three loving laughing, being goofy and using the word 'weird' (especially the two on the left!)
These two love reading Shel Silverstein poetry, eating donuts, watching Kung Fu Panda Legends of Awesomeness, and bike riding together.
These three loving laughing, being goofy and using the word 'weird' (especially the two on the left!)
2nd grade at it's finest!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
weight loss winners
I'm still home riding the recovery wagon. I considered going back today, but Ed and the doc requested at least one more day at home. I've been doing some catch-up work on the computer and feel a little weight off my shoulders. Aahh. Almost ready to catch up with The Bachelor and the Texas Multi-Mamas and maybe even a nap!
First though, a little update on one of my goals - to get fit by 40, and lose those extra pounds! Something is different about me this January. I was hesitant to commit to a weight loss plan, because I didn't know if I was serious enough about it. As I told my mom, I love my food and I don't know if I have the willpower! When you are healthy, and don't look half-bad, it's harder to feel the sense of urgency. (As Dolvett on Biggest Loser would say, 'where's your sense of urgency??') Well, once I did decide to do it, I have been really motivated! I have been counting calories and trying to eat only 1700 a day. (This may sound like a lot, but I really ate whatever I wanted before, probably 2500 a day). I was going to let myself splurge a bit on weekends, as I told Ed, this has to be a regular way of life that I can maintain, but I found myself not wanting to. (I did have a couple glasses of wine, so I guess that counts as my indulgence.) Anway, I lost 2 pounds! I'm pretty happy about that. I expect the pounds will start to come off slower, hopefully I can stay focused.
One thing that has made it so easy was a few tools I discovered. As a (wannabe) cook and healthy person, I tend to shun freezer meals, and always looked at diets that were all made from whole foods. Then, I would get turned off, because there were so many ingredients, little bits of this and that, and things that I didn't like to eat, or were unfamilar with, and suddenly the whole thing lost its appeal.
Now I've found this...
This The CarbLovers Diet Cookbook is a great cookbook! This has partly answered my question: how do I sastisfy my family's appetite and make something appropriate for myself for dinner? And did I mention, I LOVE CARBS!
This book Eat this, not that supermarket guide has also been amazing for me. I've had such fun toodling around my grocery section of Target considering all sorts of different things, and looking them up in my new companion. Remember how before I said I didn't want any pre-prepared foods? Well, turkey sandwiches also get pretty boring for me, so if I didn't have leftovers from dinner, a lot of times I was caving in at the last minute and getting food out for lunch. EVEN WORSE. So I toodled around checking out some new options and found this:
It cooks up in about a minute and is 320 calories. Add some fruit/veggies and you're set with a tasty, decent lunch. I'm still mostly eating whole foods, but I've found a few other pre-packaged goodies that have far fewer calories than my normal fare and are so easy and yummy.
First though, a little update on one of my goals - to get fit by 40, and lose those extra pounds! Something is different about me this January. I was hesitant to commit to a weight loss plan, because I didn't know if I was serious enough about it. As I told my mom, I love my food and I don't know if I have the willpower! When you are healthy, and don't look half-bad, it's harder to feel the sense of urgency. (As Dolvett on Biggest Loser would say, 'where's your sense of urgency??') Well, once I did decide to do it, I have been really motivated! I have been counting calories and trying to eat only 1700 a day. (This may sound like a lot, but I really ate whatever I wanted before, probably 2500 a day). I was going to let myself splurge a bit on weekends, as I told Ed, this has to be a regular way of life that I can maintain, but I found myself not wanting to. (I did have a couple glasses of wine, so I guess that counts as my indulgence.) Anway, I lost 2 pounds! I'm pretty happy about that. I expect the pounds will start to come off slower, hopefully I can stay focused.
One thing that has made it so easy was a few tools I discovered. As a (wannabe) cook and healthy person, I tend to shun freezer meals, and always looked at diets that were all made from whole foods. Then, I would get turned off, because there were so many ingredients, little bits of this and that, and things that I didn't like to eat, or were unfamilar with, and suddenly the whole thing lost its appeal.
Now I've found this...
This The CarbLovers Diet Cookbook is a great cookbook! This has partly answered my question: how do I sastisfy my family's appetite and make something appropriate for myself for dinner? And did I mention, I LOVE CARBS! This book Eat this, not that supermarket guide has also been amazing for me. I've had such fun toodling around my grocery section of Target considering all sorts of different things, and looking them up in my new companion. Remember how before I said I didn't want any pre-prepared foods? Well, turkey sandwiches also get pretty boring for me, so if I didn't have leftovers from dinner, a lot of times I was caving in at the last minute and getting food out for lunch. EVEN WORSE. So I toodled around checking out some new options and found this:It cooks up in about a minute and is 320 calories. Add some fruit/veggies and you're set with a tasty, decent lunch. I'm still mostly eating whole foods, but I've found a few other pre-packaged goodies that have far fewer calories than my normal fare and are so easy and yummy.
I'll share more soon. I think it's time I checked in with my tv ladies. How are you doing with your resolutions? If one of yours is to get fit, check out this inspring lady - are you kidding me???
Monday, January 9, 2012
a sick day treat!
I'm home with something today - sinus infection? flu? This is day 2 of being out of commission and it wouldn't be any fun at all if not for reality tv. I have found a new guilty pleasure (!) - Texas Multi Mamas - which is a Real Housewives wanna be, focused on moms of multiples in the Plano texas area. It is on the WE channel. I also dabbled a bit in Dance Moms. Have you seen either of these shows??Friday, January 6, 2012
last chance workout!
I've been doing this Jillian Micheals Workout, and let me tell you, it is a killer. It is appealing, as it combines cardio and strength training without any equipment required, and in 16 minutes (although I require a little warm up before launching into the move above!) My body has been sore all week. Out-of-shape, much??
Quick New Year's Recap
We partied it up at our kids and parents New Year's Eve party at our friend's spacious new house.
The kids really stole the show initially with their dance performance (!!! I deleted those pictures!) but the 'grownups' took over finally after bedtime with a Wii dance marathon of their own (no photos taken). I needed a ponytail and change of clothes!Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Latest Read
Over Christmas vacation I read a bunch, inhaling books and magazines like water. In addition to this book, I read and LOVED When Did I Get Like This? so much that I bought it for a couple of girlfriends. I love memoirs and it is laugh out loud HILARIOUS. I highly recommend it.
A movie that did not get good reviews, but that I am anxious to see on direct TV is 'I Don't Know How She Does it.' I read the book and loved it of course. Even if the movie is a little silly I'm thinking I might get a laugh. While my job isn't in a male-oriented dog-eat-dog (or as Gloria would say 'Doggy dog) world, there is still plenty to relate to. Mom power! : )
Monday, January 2, 2012
New Years Resolutions!
Hi Y'all! I still am working on some glitches with uploading photos, so while I don't have any (of my subpar) : ) pictures, I do have my resolutions!
I love resolutions, fresh starts, and plans. I drove everyone crazy determining my resolutions for this year - they had to be just right.
1) I will write a thank you note every day, inspired by the book A Simple Act of Gratitude. I have already written four!
2) I will lose 15 pounds by June 1st. (I'm actually hoping to lose 20, although that is probably a stretch.) I struggled with whether I was actually willing to commit to a diet, since I love my food and have little willpower in that area. Plus, I'm able to carefully camouflage myself in clothing so that I look fine. However, I have found a few more flabby spots in the past 6 months (?), and when I visualize my ideal self 10 and 20 years from now, in addition to the touches of gray, I see a leaner me. Why the June 1st deadline? I turn 4-0 that month and how better to curb the pain than to rock a pair of shorts - or a swimsuit??! I will be calorie counting and using a few trusty books as resources, and doing a Jillian Micheals 20 minute ultra-efficient workout 4-5 times a week.
3) Finally, I will do my darndest to get all of my 29 students to exit kindergarten knowing the entire alphabet. Many are already there, but I am going to take it up a few notches to move those students who are not. It might seem crazy that some kids might still not know the alphabet after 9 months in school. With second language learners, little home support, and learning disabilies it does happen.
What are your resolutions??
I love resolutions, fresh starts, and plans. I drove everyone crazy determining my resolutions for this year - they had to be just right.
1) I will write a thank you note every day, inspired by the book A Simple Act of Gratitude. I have already written four!
2) I will lose 15 pounds by June 1st. (I'm actually hoping to lose 20, although that is probably a stretch.) I struggled with whether I was actually willing to commit to a diet, since I love my food and have little willpower in that area. Plus, I'm able to carefully camouflage myself in clothing so that I look fine. However, I have found a few more flabby spots in the past 6 months (?), and when I visualize my ideal self 10 and 20 years from now, in addition to the touches of gray, I see a leaner me. Why the June 1st deadline? I turn 4-0 that month and how better to curb the pain than to rock a pair of shorts - or a swimsuit??! I will be calorie counting and using a few trusty books as resources, and doing a Jillian Micheals 20 minute ultra-efficient workout 4-5 times a week.
3) Finally, I will do my darndest to get all of my 29 students to exit kindergarten knowing the entire alphabet. Many are already there, but I am going to take it up a few notches to move those students who are not. It might seem crazy that some kids might still not know the alphabet after 9 months in school. With second language learners, little home support, and learning disabilies it does happen.
What are your resolutions??