Make Your Own Racerback Workout Shirt

I saw a post and video on how to make your own racerback shirt on Blogilates and decided to give it a try since I was already planning on cutting off the sleeves of a few shirts specifically for Camp Gladiator. Those long heavy sleeves are constricting and I'd like some air flow through my shirt considering it's 100+ outside now!


Here's the Blogilates video:

I didn't do a spectacular job of documenting this - I was too involved in what I was doing so if you want to take a stab at this, you should totally watch the Blogilates video for direction!


I probably didn't cut off enough here, because the straps are still pretty chunky. 

Make sure your sides match

Ta da! Yeah, these could stand to lose another 2 inches at least. Random fact, I get so many t-shirts for free since I'm in advertising. We are swimming with station swag. I don't remember where Mega 95.5 - "all the hits" came from. Maybe Austin? The other shirt I cut the sleeves off was 97.9 The Beat!

So then you cut off the bottom of the shirt, like this:

Then cut that piece in two:

Then before wrapping the string part around the shirt you need to a) pull on it to stretch it out and b) cut a V in the back of the shirt.


Then you can start wrapping the string around the back so it ends up looking like this:

Cut the neck a little deeper, circular, V-neck, whatever you want. And ta da! You made your own racerback shirt!

I think I just really wanted to cut up a shirt =)

Let's play "Who Wants to be an American Citizen!"

I need to know the answers to 99 preset questions, of which 10 will be asked, and I only need to get six right to pass.

Let's play "Who Wants to be an American Citizen!" (Make sure when you say this in your head, the voice sounds like Joey Tribbiani saying "Let's play Bamboozled!")

Question of the day: What is the name of US President now?

(Really, if you don't know the name of your country's leader (regardless of whether you like/support/hate/oppose/whatever him) you're a disgrace to your nation)

(I'm just sayin', sorry if it's harsh. Get informed, people!)

Friday Fun Facts

Happy Friday!! Let's chat. . .

• Tom and Katie are divorcing! I'm surprised, but not really.
• I went to lunch at Freebirds with some co-workers. I got a burrito bowl to see if it compared to Chipotle. It really wasn't bad!! I'd go again.
• I finally remembered to bring Katie Kow out of the closet. Has she made an appearance on the blog before? If not, she's about to!
• I'm still so addicted to Mega Run on my iPhone.
• I'm still reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and I'm liking it. I didn't finish it in time for book club this week though =(
• Payday, payday, woo!!
• Rik and T's going away party is tomorrow =(
• We are going to see Ted tonight - 815pm at the movie grill. Must. Resist. Nachos.
• I've been feeling a little hyper all day long. I woke up to "I'm so excited" playing in my head. Yes, my head, not the radio. I'm weird. Or just in a weird mood. Or maybe that's a good thing that I'm happy to be alive? Wow, rambling much?
• I need to start studying for my citizenship test. I seem to end up quizzing everyone else who's already American instead of having them quiz me. Oops.
• I entered the Tone It Up Bikini Series Contest which I'm super excited about and I would really like to win something. I worked super hard, but then again so did 1,000 other girls. Positive thoughts appreciated =)
• Mom is measuring me this weekend. Hope I do well. Perhaps I'll hit the gym before the movie to counteract any nacho inflicted damage.
• 5K in the AM. Go!
• I wish there was more time in the day to do everything I want and still get plenty of sleep.
• Jennie Shaw @ Well Shut The Front Door has some pretty awesome nail designs going on. I have nail envy.

Have a SUPER weekend. All those blog posts I promised you are coming, but see the second to last bullet as to why they aren't posted yet =)

xoxo,
Gossip Girl
(see, I'm totally in a weird mood)

TWLC3 Update - 6/28

I should have written this on Monday, but I didn't. Because I didn't do well last week and I'm tired of recapping crappy weeks. You know what would change that? Sticking to the dang plan and achieving my goals, duh.
This week I resolved to do 150% better. I'm tired of waiting to use my purse, so I took action and I'm happy to say it paid off. I actually did weigh in less than the previous week, but as of 3 days later, I've doubled my weight loss which is awesome. Plus I reached the 165 benchmark, so that means Enzo Angiolini shoes are free to be worn!!! Guess what's on my feet today =)

I don't want to just write about the positives. Losing weight is hard and I wanted to share my bad weeks, my failures and set backs in addition to the good weeks, the achievements and the sucessess. One thing I count as a major success for me is that since 4/28 I have run a 5K every weekend but one. Just a personal one, on a treadmill. But I've committed to that and have kept with it and I see my stamina and endurance increasing which is great!

I have struggled a little these past few weeks, but I can say with some confidence that I'm 100% refocused and ready to keep on at it! Lezzdoit.

Working Out in the Blistering Heat

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram (@Bubblymuppet for both), you've already seen these pictures.

It was 106 degrees yesterday afternoon in the hot and toasty sauna called Dallas.

Looks like it's gonna stay that way most of the week. I bet Saturday and Sunday end up being over 100 too. I'll keep you posted. Yesterday was the "off-week" Pre July 4th Camp Gladiator Stars & Stripes workout. It was SO HOT outside. Luckily we took it underneath a bridge and then we got to have a water balloon "fight" aka "Get the trainer!"

Here's me, post workout, in my new hat thanks to the parents.

Since I've signed up for the July camp, I can only imagine it'll be hotter than hell every week here on out!!

WIAW #24

Happy Wednesday aka WIAW aka Hump Day!

I got my replacement order of Perfect Fit, and no offense, but this round tastes SO much better. I'm not a fan of pea and rice protein powder blend. But the regular vanilla brown rice blend is delicious.

Breakfast = pancake!

Have I mentioned how much I love this combination? Spaghetti squash and gluten free, all natural vodka sauce topped with green onions. Oh Em Gee. LOVE!

Sensible snacking. Love my Fuji apples!

Yummy dinners. Lots of veggies! Chicken and veggie kebabs, with pineapple I cut up myself! And a veggie medley with onions, mushrooms, asparagus and broccoli. 

My co-worker makes a killer Tres Leches cake, so I had to try and piece. Ah-may-zing. Love it.

Make sure to visit Jenn @ Peas and Crayons and check out everyone else's delicious eats!

Disgusted

I'm 99.9% sure that when I drove through our complex gate tonight I saw a woman leave her big dog's poop in the middle of the road. I looked in my rearview to see if she picked it back up. She didn't. I'm really sick and tired of the irresponsible pet owners around here. Either dogs are barking at 2am because the owners got tired of hearing it, so they stick it outside for us all to hear OR there's poop left in the grass and now on the road!

Is it just me?

And yes, I'm sure it was poop.

Quick Update & A Cat Picture

It's almost Wednesday, which means we're almost halfway through the week, and one day closer to payday! Gimme that money!

I managed to wake up yesterday and today to do a quick workout AND I made it through all of yesterday without chocolate despite the fact I bought three bags of Ghirardelli squares on Sunday. Don't ask me why. Camp Gladiator tonight, woo! I feel like I have so much to do and not enough time to do it, sigh. Happy Tuesday!

R Carlos Nakai Trio

My mom loves the Native American culture. She especially likes the flute music, so Saturday night we went to see the R Carlos Nakai Trio at Unity Church of Dallas. R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton & Will Clipman make up the trio and have been playing together for some 20 years.

They didn't allow flash photography and all my photos sans flash came out blurry =( It was a nice little set up on the stage of the church. R. Carlos had at least 10 Native American flutes ranging in size and he would play two or three within a piece. William Eaton plays a harp/guitar combo instrument which is really cool. Kinda looks like this:

Source

Will Clipman was on percussions, and my favorite thing was when he played his udu, made by Buffalo Moon Flutes in Austin!

Source

They were really impressive. I especially liked their improv piece. You have to have great talent to be able to play improv as a trio! I also really liked their song called Feather, Stone and Light. It's just so relaxing and spiritual. Perfect yoga music!

If you get a chance to listen to any of their music, you should. It's on Spotify!

Sunday's Random Tidbits

Happy Sunday! Here are my thoughts for the day.

• I'm working on several posts about several different things and really I just need to focus on one and GET. IT. DONE. 
• After seeing Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter on Friday night, I came right home and downloaded the book on my Kindle. It's already very different than the movie, but I'm liking it so far. 
• We went to Dallas Aquarium today, which was nice and different. 
• I'm getting more comfortable running a mile at a time, so this week I'm going to try and push myself to either run farther or run the mile faster. 
• I'm making chicken and veggie kebob's right now and the house is smelling delicious. I'm sure S will disagree when he gets home. 
• This is the off week for CG. They are having a special session on Wednesday (apparently involving water balloons!) but I really need to challenge myself with my own workouts. I better be up for TIU Booty Call every day!
• I need to find a new TV series for the summer. I barely have time to watch anything, but sometimes when I don't have the brain power for blogging or will fall asleep reading, I just want to veg out and relax on the couch. 
• It's gettin' hot in hurrrr. First 100 degree day in the books! It only gets worse from here. 106 on Friday. 
• I haven't had nearly enough water today, although I had a rather delicious cup of coffee this AM. Haven't had coffee in awhile, so it was nice to use the Keurig. Still the best present ever*. 
• I'm going to cut the sleeves off a few t-shirts so when I'm working out outside I don't die of heat exhaustion and t-shirt constriction. It'd be nice to have a breeze through my shirt. Why did it just occur to me right now that I should post pics of that on here. Duh.
• You never notice how much you touch/knock/bump a body part until it's injured or hurt and you end up screaming "OW!" every time!
• R & T's going away party is in one week. Sad Panda. I need to save my money for a plane ticket. It's actually a drivable distance, although probably not by myself. 
• I found a new iPhone game I'm hooked on - Mega Run. Cute little monster collects coins, gems and stars. My kinda thing. 

Hope ya'll had a super weekend! Stay cool (especially if you're in the south with me!!)

*probably not EVER because I've received some pretty awesome presents, but it's at the top of the list! Thanks parents!

Quote

A Facebook friend posted this quote, taken from a high school graduation speech. It's true, life is totally a mess, but I think the rest is up to you.

"What you should prepare for is mess. Life’s a mess. You are not entitled to expect anything from it. Life is not fair. Everything does not balance out in the end. Life happens, and you have no control over it. Good and bad things happen to you day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. Your degree is a poor armour against fate.

Don’t expect anything. Erase all life expectancies. Just live. Your life is over as of today. At this point in time, you have grown as tall as you will ever be, you are physically the fittest you will ever be in your entire life and you are probably looking the best that you will ever look. This is as good as it gets. It is all downhill from here. Or up. No one knows."

Dear Person

To The Person Who Empties The Fridge At 5pm (even though most of us don't leave work until at least 530pm):

Thank you for putting my nice, fairly new cooler on the kitchen trash can, balancing on the edges with all the rotting garbage below. I have never forgotten to take my lunch bag home so I take offense to you putting it ON THE OPEN TRASH CAN. Like the table next to fridge wasn't good enough? UGH!

Sincerely,

Angered Emma

Friday Fun Facts

I'm so glad it's Friday, I just feel like I need to sleep for a week!

• Going to see Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter tonight, after a nice long nap.
• I ate Mexican for lunch and now I feel sick.
• My mom and I are going to see some guy play Native American flutes tomorrow night. Should be interesting and I get to hang out with mom =)
• It's hot and it's only getting hotter. Hello, 100+ degree day next week!
• I need to pick a new book to read. I did buy the next Hannah Swenson novel, but I don't know if I'm ready to start it yet. I should really read what else is on my Kindle before I buy more.
• Is it just me, or is giving employees a day off in the middle of the week odd? We have July 4th off, which is a Wednesday. I feel like that's gonna really confuse me.
• I'm going to cut the sleeves off a few t-shirts, becuase working out outside in giant t-shirts that constrict my arms and air flow sucks. I think that's a good contributing factor to my over heating issue. I don't even care if my arms flab. Whatev.
•  Anyone watch Game 5 last night? Seems to me like the Thunder just never showed up. They sure didn't look like a team worthy of the NBA Finals. I wanted to support Durant though, since he's a Longhorn!
• I love my new makeup. It makes my skin look pretty awesom and flawless. The blush is the perfect color for me. I'll remember to do a haul post eventually!
• I'm so tired of work right now. Too busy. Dislike. I need a vacation!

Have a great weekend!!

Book Club Friday - Surface Tension

It's Book Club Friday and I managed to get a whole book read this week!!

 

This week I read Surface Tension by Christine Kling.

Source

Synopsis:
In this strong suspense debut, Seychelle Sullivan owns a salvage tug near Fort Lauderdale, and makes a precarious living piloting luxury yachts and sportfishing boats in the Florida waters. When her radio picks up a distress call from the Top Ten, she hurries to the scene, hoping to net a windfall. The luxurious yacht is skippered by her former lover, Neal, who seems to have abandoned ship and left a dead body behind. Who is the dead girl, where is Neal, why do the police suspect Seychelle, and how much can she hope to recover for salvaging the yacht? When she finds her modest cottage has been searched and her stash of emergency money is missing, she figures Neal must be alive, hiding from the police or from the girl's killer. The Top Ten's representative offers a paltry sum to settle the salvage claim, so Seychelle decides to find out who the real owner is and go to arbitration. As the tension and suspense build, Seychelle's existence becomes increasingly precarious.

My thoughts:
I enjoyed this book and I'm glad after the last flop. If you've read my other book reviews, I'm sure you can tell I'm into mystery and suspense and this was just that. It was different because of all the boat and sailing terminology, so I feel like I learnt a little something!


The main character, Seychelle, is pretty likable and I was rooting for her the whole book. Seemed like she just couldn't catch a break (obviously)! I have determined that I suspect every single character until they either prove themselves or the real suspect is found. I even suspected Seychelle's best friend! Trust issues much?


Bottom line, I liked this book and I believe this is a series too, so I may check out the second installment!

Camp Gladiator - Round 2

So I've signed up for another month of CG, saving a whole $4, woo! I'm really enjoying this and I can slightly tell I'm getting stronger, but the thing I notice the most is my endurance with running. We do warm up laps every time and I notice improvement on those; we do sprints and I've noticed a slight improvement there; and our laps around the parking lot after each round or set, I can definitely tell I've improved. It's good to work hard and see results. I'm hoping this second round will really help  me bust this plateau I always get stuck at (combined with Tone It Up I don't see how it couldn't!)

CG what what!

This is a picture we took during the free preview week. I circled myself =)

WIAW #23

Happy WIAW - the what I ate this weekend edition! 
I started off my long weekend with a nice, big, healthy salad.  

It was pretty much downhill from here. . . Friday and Sunday breakfasts highlighted here.

A breakfast sandwich from Starbucks and an omelet with cucumber, sun dried tomatoes, goat cheese and chives with smoked salmon and hollandaise sauce on top. Delicious, it was. Healthy, it was not.

Burgers and fro-yo. The "fast food" collage. I just love In N Out and fro-yo.

Macaroni Grill for dinner on Saturday. Started with tapas - fried mac and cheese bites and pesto shrimp and avocado bruschetta. YUM!! For the main course I had whole wheat pasta with tomatoes, broccolini, grilled chicken and some cheese. I also tried a glass of Seven Sisters Moscato and it was yummy!

The sweets collage - cake ball at the mall, chocolate cake and canolli at Macaroni Grill and the vodka soaked gummy bears we tried to make. Man, were they potent and slimy.

I found this awesome snack last week and decided to give it some spotlight. These are low sugar and fat free. Ingredients were literally just apple and caramel flavor. Really yummy - I might go over to whole foods and stock up!

Don't forget to head over and visit Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to see what everyone else has been eating!

Happy Tuesday

I love fluffy things!

Source

Happy Tuesday!

TWLC Update - 6/18

I did pretty good last week, working out everyday and eating ok but then A*D came to visit and I veered off my eating plan. I did do some yoga Friday morning but I was in some pain after Camp Gladiator on Thursday so I just did a short session. Saturday I did my 5k but it wasn't enough It wasn't her fault, I obviously chose what to put into my mouth. I skipped this weeks measurement session, which perhaps I shouldn't have done. It would be good to know if my weight goes up, do I add inches back on?

This week will be about damage control! I'm really trying not to eat chocolate. I usually add chocolate chips to my breakfast but I decided to skip them today. Show myself I mean business! I only had about 5 hours of sleep last night so I feel pretty exhausted today. I think I'm going to take a nap when I get home and then do at least 30 minutes of exercise followed by some major food prep to hopefully cut down on my slip ups.

I tried on swim suits at Target this weekend, and it still bummed me out. I still have a long way to go until I'll be happy in a swim suit. At least I'm getting comfortable in other clothes. I washed my jeans hoping they'll tighten up, at least for a little bit. That's a good problem to have.

I failed on my goals for last week, so I'm not recapping. I need to put in some real effort this week and get back on track. No more slacking, even a little bit. So no weight-loss rewards. I'm still sitting here dreaming of my cute purse that is stuck in the bag in the closet =(

Great Dad Ad's

It's the obligatory occasional Advertising related post. I'm sitting here crying at my desk thanks to these dad related ads posted on AdFreak. Seriously, don't watch if you're a softie like me.

I've never seen this VW Polo ad before but this is the one that got me going.

Never seen this Oreo commercial either, but it kept me going.

This Subaru is one of my favorites - I know my dad looked at me like this when I drove away for the first time in my brand new car.

And this one, Dear Sophie - an ad for Google Chrome, makes me cry harder than any of them.

It's not even like a real cry, it's just tears running down my face. If these don't tug at your heart strings, you don't have a heart!

Sunday's Random Tidbits

Sorry it's been a bit quiet around here. A*D and I did SO MUCH STUFF. But now I'm back =)

• Camp Gladiator on Thursday made my booty and thighs hurt for two days. It was pretty painful to get up from sitting =/ But that should mean I end up super toned, right? No pain, no gain and all that?
• Friday was fun, with the super secret surprise and shopping and dinner! Post of A*D's visit to come. 
• I shopped so much this weekend. I have a hidden skill of spending my entire paycheck within two days of receiving it. I'm so awesome. Don't worry, I paid my bills. 
• I guess I need to do a haul post with all my new purchases!
• We got pedis and I messed up my right big toe before even leaving the salon. 
• Lots of yummy food was had, so this weeks WIAW will be a "weekend" edition.
• I can't believe this weekend is over already - I need at least one day to recover!
• We played quite a bit of guitar hero. I thought we'd unlock better songs. I'm kinda bummed we didn't.
• S downloaded a Kinect game demo (after we found out the disc ordered from Gamefly was broken - lame!) where you have superpowers and have to defeat your opponent to win their superpowers. I totally beat my opponent faster than both boys. Not a bad game, but I still like Kinect Sports better
• I needed to get some things done before Monday morning for work, but when I turned on my computer I couldn't get my buying software to show up on the screen. . . for some reason it's opening up on my second monitor at the office even though I know I turned it off. Weird. 
• Gave my dad a book of the NYT Sunday crosswords. I think he's semi cursing me right now ;-)
• S, mini S and I are going out to see That's My Boy. They already saw it and swear it's great, so they're going again this time with me. I'll let you know. 

Hope you had an awesome weekend!!

Happy Fathers Day

My dad is awesome. Happy Fathers Day to him and all the great dads out there!

Weekend Teaser

I pinned it so I did it

Project vodka gummy bears is underway!

Quick State of the Union

It's my Friday!! A*D is coming to visit!! We're going to do fun things!! I like exclamation points!!

I have a surprise for A*D and I'm super excited about it. I think it will be fun. Also, I like shopping. We both like Target, so that's definitely on the itinerary.

This week has been crazy busy at work so I have had very little time to do anything. I don't have a book club post for tomorrow =( This makes me sad because that means I haven't had any down time to read!

I hope I get to catch up on some sleep this weekend too, because I feel so tired. Camp Gladiator tonight will be hard, but worth it as always.

I'm just really excited to see my friend, YAY!!

My baby brother is moving

My baby brother is moving to Denver. He was offered a super awesome new job that pays much more monies and I'm very proud of him. I know his girlfriend is happy because her family is there.

I'm trying to be happy for them, but I'm sad because he's going to be far, far away. He's never been more than a few hours drive. He currently lives about 10 minutes away. We didn't take enough advantage of that. It'll be fun to visit Denver, especially because my bff from high school's parents live there, so we can do a meet up, but still.

I'm going to miss you more than you know, baby bro.

When boys unload the dishwasher

Things either end up on shelves that my 5'3" small self cannot reach, or. . .

Not exactly the way I would have organized this shelf.

Tone It Up! Nutritional Plan

I just happened to stumble upon the Tone It Up girls, Karena and Katrina, on YouTube a few months ago and in regards to eating and exercise, they are one of the best things that has ever happened to me!

The plan is a clean eating plan, and they outline when you should eat certain foods, like dairy and starches in order to get the most out of the food you take in and keep your metabolism going and blood sugar steady. The main rule is lean, clean and green - no processed foods, artificial sweeteners or bad fats. Green (and all) veggies are your friend and so is fruit. One of my favorite quotes from the girls is "a piece of fruit never made anyone fat." 

I'd love to rave all about the plan and share the nitty gritty details, but since it's a one time fee for a lifetime membership, the girls ask that we don't share the diet plan because it wouldn't be fair and I totally get that. They put a lot of work into this! For a one time cost of $150, you gain access to the TIU nutritional plan and any and all updates that come along with it for life. They have a Beach Babe plan right now for getting into shape for bikini season and that eating plan goes in hand with their bikini series exercises on YouTube and their Beach Babe DVD (which I LOVE.) They have tips and tricks for college students, for the holidays, and working out. They upload workout videos to Youtube, or you can download a printable to take to the gym with you!

I definitely don't regret paying for this for one second. I feel so much better since I've started eating this way and "toning it up"! I rarely feel unsatisfied or hungry after eating a meal. I love their protein pancakes for breakfast and wraps for lunch. I've always loved fruit, so that's always my go-to snack. And Zico chocolate coconut water is my favorite hydrating drink! I've lost some weight and I've toned up a little too. I've received compliments from several people and that just validates the work that I've been doing and the plan that I've chosen - this one! 

There's an online community where the girls encourage you to check in with your daily meals and work outs, and there's a members only group where you can talk about the ins and outs of the meal plan know only to those who have paid for the plan. I try to check in daily on twitter (@ToneItUp - Karena & Katrina, @Bubblymuppet - me!), and sometimes on the online community and I feel like it does help keep me accountable, and I especially love when the girls respond or retweet me. Who doesn't love to be noticed or to be given validation?!

Another one of my favorite quotes: "If you don't want to tweet it, don't eat it!" I really should adhere to this quote more, because I do eat things that I don't want to share. . . cupcakes, too much chocolate. But even with the chocolate, I've gotten much better at the whole "moderation" thing! It just feels good to eat food that is fresh and healthy and good for you too! It's even better when you find exercise you enjoy doing - so much easier to stay motivated!!


Me with my Beach Babe DVD!

I feel like this plan and these girls have changed the way I think and feel about food and exercise for the better and I don't think I could thank them enough for helping me change my life and to stay focused and motivated on losing the weight for good =)

Disclaimer: Just because the Tone It Up! nutritional plan worked for me doesn’t mean it will work for everybody, nor am I suggesting everyone should go out and buy this plan. I'm not a nutritionist by any means, I'm just a person who has struggled with weight for a long time and finally found something that worked for me and that I love.

TWLC3 Update - 6/11

It's Monday which means it's time for my weekly, hold myself accountable, TWLC3 update and recap.
No weight lost this week. It's the dreaded plateau. When I first started my weight loss journey in 2007 I did really well, losing about 30-35 pounds before getting stuck in the dreaded 160's and here I am again. I think this is the reason I never lose more weight is because my body likes it here.

Well, too bad, body! You're going to shed these pounds dammit! I'm just going to keep trying, keep motivated and focused and eventually it has to come off, right??

This wasn't a great week goal-wise. I'd recap, but there's not much point. I didn't wake up one single morning for a work out. I did ok with the PM work outs but I did not so good on the eating when I got home from work. No rewards because I sucked it up.

I'm off to a decent start this week, with my morning work out done and almost 40oz of water consumed. I'm really just focused on my purse. When I'm running laps at Camp Gladiator, I picture my purse to keep on pushing. Hey, it works. If only I was even a little bit closer to being able to use it!!

Sunday's Random Tidbits - The "I Forgot To Post This on Sunday" Edition

Oops!! Totally forgot to hit post, so you have my Sunday thoughts today =)
Once again, Sunday comes too soon (and Monday in this case). But at least it can be nice and relaxing!

• I'm finally almost caught up with Private Practice. Two episodes to go!
• I've had a slightly indulgent weekend, and although I don't feel guilty I know the scale won't be friendly come tomorrow morning. 
• A*D will be here in FOUR days, woo!! I have some fun things planned =)
• I'm going to confess, we like watching The Legends of Korra on Nickelodeon on Saturday mornings. Yes, it's a cartoon. What of it!? ;-)
• I tried to ask Siri "Where can I find organic mushrooms near me" and she thought I said "Where can I find again Englishmen". No joke.
• Yesterday my uncle from England was in town so I spent the day at my parents hanging out with him, my family and a few of his friends. It was so, so great to see him. I hope he comes back soon!
• It's funny because my uncle is called Richard, but mostly goes by Rich and my brother is called Richard, but goes by Rik and my dad just keeps getting confused between his brother and his son. I guess you have to be there =)
• I'm painting my nails green. Mojito Madness. Thought you'd like to know. 
• Oh, we saw Prometheus yesterday. S really liked it, I thought it was stupid. I'm all for fiction and people using their imagination to create things that are far fetched, but I just couldn't get on board with this. 
• We went to a local bowling alley and my suspicions were confirmed. I suck at bowling. I might have scored a 50? Maybe.
• We also took mini S to see Battleship. I still liked it but I think it was still too fresh in my mind from a few weeks ago so I was a little restless. At least I could get up to use the bathroom and not be afraid I'd miss something!
• Mad Men. Was that a finale? Am I just used to shock and awe of broadcast tv? I'm feeling a little underwhelmed.

I hope you had a super weekend and great start to the week!!

100 Things to Eat Before You Die

I found this list via Jenna at That Wife who found it via Grace at Opinionation and had to borrow/steal to see how adventurous I am with food and what I really need to try. New experiences and all that. The ones in red are the foods I'm certain I've had.

100 Things to Eat Before You Die

1. Abalone

2. Absinthe

3. Alligator

4. Baba Ghanoush - Recently tried this at a local Mediterranean restaurant. I liked it, but agree with Grace, hummus is better.

5. Bagel and lox - I am a big fan.

6. Baklava - I know that I've had this. I feel like it was in England, or made by mom?

7. Barbecue Ribs - I live it Texas. That's a yes.

8. Bellini - Yep, at various Italian restaurants.

9. Bird's Nest Soup - I'm not sure I can swallow this (pun intended)

10. Biscuits and gravy - Again, I live in the South. Done and done.

11. Black pudding - I don't recall eating this, but my Dad has. Does that count?

12. Black truffle -

13. Borscht -

14. Calamari - "Yes, but I don't like it. To me, it tastes like rubber bands." Couldn't agree more.

15. Carp -

16. Caviar - Yes, on top/mashed into the Ahi Tuna Tower at Blue Fish Sushi

17. Cheese Fondue -

18. Chicken & Waffles - Yes, and it was so good!! At Cadillac Ranch in Irving, TX

19. Chicken Tikka Masala - I basically grew up on this ;-)

20. Chile Relleno - Yep!

21. Chitterlings/Chitlins -

22. Churros - Sweet, deep fried goodness.

23. Clam Chowder - Yes, and I suprisingly liked it.

24. Cognac -

25. Crabcake - Looooove crab cake.

26. Crickets - Gross.

27. Currywurst -

28. Dandelion wine -

29. Dulce de leche - I've had Dulce de Leche cake - does that count? 

30. Durian - I want to say yes on this one, but I don't have a vivid memory.

31. Eel - At a sushi joint in San Francisco.

32. Eggs Benedict - At Benedicts a few months back. Yum!

33. Fish Tacos - Yes

34. Foie Gras - Yes

35. Fresh Spring Rolls -

36. Fried Catfish - I will probably never eat this.

37. Fried Green Tomatoes -

38. Fried Plantain -

39. Frito Pie - Yep, used to make it in college.

40. Frog's Legs - I'm not sure I can do this either.

41. Fugu (Pufferfish) -

42. Funnel Cake - Yeah. Did you know you can get this at your local Jack in the Box. True story.

43. Gazpacho -

44. Goat -

45. Goat's Milk -

46. Goulash - I feel like my mom used to make this back in England. 

47. Gumbo -

48. Haggis -

49. Head cheese -

50. Heirloom Tomatoes - yes, I love tomatoes

51. Honeycomb - like a real honeycomb or the cereal? I've not had either. . .

52. Hostess Fruit Pie -

53. Huevos Rancheros -

54. Jerk Chicken - Yes, at Bahama Breeze in Irving, before it closed down and became Cadillac Ranch!

55. Kangaroo - this makes me sad.

56. Key Lime Pie - Yes, and lots of it.  

57. Kobe Beef -

58. Lassi - No, but I have a recipe I've been wanting to try

59. Lobster - I have, but it wasn't all that. And I'm not really a fan of things dripping in butter just so it will have some flavor.

60. Mimosa - Yum, yum.

61. Moon Pie -

62. Morel Mushrooms -

63. Nettle Tea -

64. Octopus - Rubbery and never again

65. Oxtail Soup -

66. Paella -

67. Paneer -

68. Pastrami on Rye -

69. Pavlova - Mom used to make this for dinner parties.

70. Phaal - If they can make it mild, sure. I just recently tried a Vindaloo!

71. Philly Cheesesteak - Hello, Texadelphia!

72. Pho - Yep, in Dallas and Los Angeles.

73. Pineapple Cottage Cheese - maybe not literal pineapple cottage cheese, but I've eaten plain cottage cheese with pineapple chunks. Is that what they meant?

74. Pistachio Ice Cream - I. Love. This.

75. Po' Boy -

76. Pocky - Yes. It wasn't that great. I'd rather have Hello Panda.

77. Polenta -

78. Prickly Pear -

79. Rabbit Stew -

80. Raw Oysters -

81. Root Beer Float - I don't like root beer, so this presents a problem. I've had a coke float!

82. S'Mores - Love s'mores!

83. Sauerkraut - Yes, on a hot dog.

84. Sea Urchin -

85. Shark -

86. Snail -

87. Snake - yes, at a ranch type place in Pheonix, AZ. (It was a rattlesnake, in case anyone is wondering)

88. Soft Shell Crab -

89. Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad) -

90. Spaetzle -

91. Spam -

92. Squirrel -

93. Steak Tartare -

94. Sweet Potato Fries - I much prefer these to regular french fries. Love sweet potatoes.

95. Sweetbreads -

96. Tom Yum -

97. Umeboshi -

98. Venison - Had a venison burger at Twisted Root.

99. Wasabi Peas - yes. Do not like wasabi.

100. Zucchini Flowers -

Why is half this stuff nasty or intenstinal? Would you eat it?

Friday's Fun Facts

This has been the longest week ever!

• My brother told me I looked like I lost weight at Camp Gladiator yesterday. That about just made my week and gave me such validation for all the hard work I've been putting in.
• My favorite uncle will be in town from England TOMORROW! (He's my only blood uncle, so I don't feel bad saying "favorite") He's been doing a car rally with his friends, two Americans and one other Brit. He's only here for one night before heading back up to NY and then home. I haven't seen him since 2008 and I CAN'T WAIT!
• I'm going over to my parents a little early to help prep food. So far I've been tasked with the tomato and mozzarella salad (or Caprese, if you wanna be fancy). I forget what my mom said she was making for dessert, but I've been scouring Pinterest looking for a quick, easy yummy dessert. Nothing has really caught my eye yet. Maybe I'll just stick with fruit.
• I love my green santoku knife, but I'm terrified of it knowing how clumsy I am and how sharp it is.
• Went to Camp Gladiator last night and pushed myself really hard. As I was running laps I'd picture my Coach purse in my mind and keep focused on it until I made the lap.
• I'm starting the countdown now - days until A*D gets here (she gets here Thursday, so today through wednesday) SIX DAYS!
• Also, she just gave me a tour of her new apartment via iPhone video. Oh, the wonders of technology!
• I just can't get on board with this kale obsession. I think it tastes nasty. I tried, really I did. I tried it raw and I tried kale chips. I just don't see how the taste would change that much by wilting it down or something. Not. A Fan.
• I just read a post where a kid rolled his little toy tractor down the stairs while sitting on it and busted his lip. Reminds me of the time in Denmark where I fell up the stairs, busted my lip (still got a scar), pushed several teeth back up into my gum, one of which turned black. Fun times, let me tell you.
• I feel like I'm waddling when I walk thanks to being sore from last nights workout.
• Had lunch with several girls from the office. We sat out on a patio enjoying this rare nice, fair, breezy Texas weather. Now back to the grindstone. . .

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend - enjoy!

Book Club Friday - Foxy's Tale

It's Friday, which means it's time for Book Club!

This week I read Foxy's Tale by Karen Cantwell

Synopsis:

Former beauty queen Foxy Anders has fallen on hard times. Her new tenant, mysterious, bumbling Myron Standlish carries wads of cash and hoards vials of blood. Her new assistant, Knot Knudsen, loves shoes and conservative politicians, but man can he sell Foxy’s antiques. Amanda, Foxy’s teenage daughter, thinks they’re all crazy. But, when she hooks up with Nick, a cute guy at school, she’s in for some crazy of her own.

Ultimately, they’re all in for some romance with a dash of suspense and a sprinkle of supernatural. And laughs ... as an added bonus. (Amazon)

My thoughts:

I thought this would be like the Barbara Marr mysteries that I previously read by Karen Cantwell. I was wrong. This book was weird. It started off slow and didn't seem to be going anywhere, then it got a little better and I was interested enough to keep reading. Then vampires got brought into the story and my honest reaction (and I might have even said this out loud) was "WTF". After the vampires were introduced the book just snowballed to the end. It felt rushed. Like they were trying to wrap it up and be done with it. I realize it's fiction, and I don't tend to analyze fiction because, well, it's someone else's imagination, but this was just too slightly out there and left too many questions for me.

Honestly, I'm just glad I finished so I can move onto some other great (hopefully) titles waiting for me on my Kindle!

Crazy Dream

I had such a crazy dream last, I have to share.
I was in a random house, a big house, with two people I know, one toddler and someone I don't recall knowing. We were inside and there was a storm raging outside and I believe we were hiding from someone? So when the lightening cracked, I saw a shadow in the window. Screaming ensued etc etc. Next thing I know this guy has launched himself through the window, the rain is pouring into the house, he attacks one of the other people in the room.

I don't even know how this happened, but I ended up stabbing the guy. He died. I saved everyone. I don't even really remember what else happened. And I don't even know what this stems from, but my subconscious is severely over active right now.

WIAW #22

Happy WIAW everyone! Let's start off with a protein pancake topped with half a sliced peach. I'm totally promoting the new protein powder I used, Perfect Fit by the Tone It Up Girls. It's pretty good for a protein powder. And this pancake stayed together, unlike my others which tend to crumble.

My sensible, quick snack at the office! Very gingery and spicey. Like.

Mid morning drink hit. I hadn't tried the hibiscus flavor before - it was pretty good! Still love the strawberry more.

Sushi. I love sushi. I actually only ate half the rice. I probably wouldn't have eaten any of it except I paid for it and it wasn't cheap!

I managed to sear a tuna steak without setting off the smoke alarm, or burning the tuna! I made a wrap from the Tone It Up nutrition plan with a collard green leaf, some ahi tuna and some pineapple salsa (homemade of course).YUM!

Mid afternoon drink hit. I am in love with this chocolate coconut water. Where have you been all my life!?

Another TIU recipe for dinner (not suprisingly, I'm on their plan) - hawaiian grilled chicken. One marinated & grilled chicken breast, some grilled pineapple slices (fresh, I chopped that sucker up myself!) and some pineapple salsa. Good think I love pineapple!

I was craving a grilled cheese so I threw together this delicious monster. Two slices of Ezekiel bread, 2oz of Roasted Red Pepper Monterey Jack cheese, a little shredded Colby Jack and some sliced roma tomatoes. Side of hummus. Random, I know but really, really good.

Here are my desserts aka fails for the week. Slightly worth it ;-) Sonic ice cream cone! Hey, at least it's not a big ol' blast with oreos and snickers. . . what was I saying?

I needed a cupcake hit, so I went to Gigi's. One strawberry margarita cupcake later, I'm satisfied.

Don't forget to check out Jenn @ Peas and Crayons and see what everyone else has been eating!!