what a wonderful weekend!

What a fun Saturday!  I started off my morning knocking out some mileage.  One word:  HOT.  

To cool off, I used my happy Metha body wash from Bath and Body Works.  Get some now.  Trust me.

source here

I then went to pick up my cute mom so we could do breakfast.  No family lunch this Saturday since we are doing a Father's Day / Brother-in-law Jay's bday celebration on Sunday.  My cute mom and I went to IHOP.  I ordered the SIMPLE & FIT Blueberry Harvest Grain 'N Nut Combo.  Yum.  I'll just say it right now - my egg substitutes never come out tasting quite like that!  Next we went to see Mr. Popper's Penguins.  I don't know why the rest of my party pooper family members didn't want to see it - it was such a fun movie and we adored it!  I was able to get a diet vanilla root beer at the movie theater - mmmmm.

After the movie, my mom and I ran some errands.  We then ended up at Panera for lunch.  I heart Panera.  I hung out at my parent's house for a while before deciding to rent a couple movies from Red Box on my way home.  I chose I Am Number 4 and Just Go With It.  I enjoyed both movies.

Sunday meant family day. I met up with younger preggo sister Linda, brother-in-law Craig, and their dog Coco at my parent's pool around 12 noon. Of course I brought over my beasts as they desperately needed a play date. Older sister Cathy and brother-in-law Jay joined use a bit later when my mom served us up a yummy lunch. We then hung out, laughing bunches, and later headed to our dinner at Del Friscos in the Galleria area. They were running a pretty awesome special for 2 where each person got to pick a salad and then it came with an 8 oz filet, a crab cake, your choice of side, and your choice of dessert. I coupled of with my mom. We had such a great meal. I just love spending time with my family.

After dinner, we headed back to my parent's house for my dad and Jay to open up presents.  My mom is like Snow White in that animals seem to flock to her.  She is not so welcoming of them.  There are frogs that end up in the grotto under the waterfall in the pool.  There is a bird that keeps nesting in the backyard (my mom is not a bird lover).  Now there is a turtle that has traveled to the front door.  Here she is.  She's shy, clearly.  haha.

It was a wonderful weekend filled with fabulous food, family fun, and movies - what more could a girl ask for?

How was your weekend?

happiness

There are some things that are making me happy this summer.  I thought I would share.

The Voice
Have you seen it?  It's a new singing competition / reality show on NBC this season.  I find the celebrity judges/coaches to be particularly amusing, of course, but some of the talent on the show are truly incredible.  I can't wait to watch the rest of the season!

So You Think You Can Dance
Do you watch it too?  Oh you so should!  My parents got me hooked on this dancing competition / reality show on Fox a few seasons ago and I've been obsessed ever since.  I never realized you could get so caught up in the story line of a dance and that you could be moved to such emotion by the brilliance of choreography.

Movies, in general
Every weekend so far, I have managed to sneak in a movie at the movie theater with my family.  Seeing movies has always been one of my favorite activities anyway, but over the past few years I just haven't made it a priority.  Times have changed!  It's a way to escape this awful summer heat and my cRaZy life for a couple of hours - count me in!  I like to go to the Santikos Silverado theater because it's clean and nice and they have an amazing drink station.  You can get Coke Zero, for example, in 6 different flavors.  sooo cool.

Oatmeal
I want it.  I love it.  Every morning I take my half cup of oats and add in a tablespoon of Splenda brown sugar blend, loads of cinnamon and a cup of water.  I zap it in the microwave for 2 minutes and let my mouth go to its happy place.

Chicken salad
I want it.  I love it.  I bought the pre-seasoned sweet chili chicken breasts from H.E.B.  I boiled them, chopped them up, and added Mayo made with olive oil and then some dill pickle relish.  I found myself some nice multi-grain hearty bread, toasted it up, and piled on my chicken salad.


Crystal Light iced tea
If I'm not drinking water, I'm drinking this delightfulness.  It's refreshing and lovely.

Relax and Sleep
application on my phone.  There are many options to choose to listen to, but I only listen to one - monks chanting - I set the timer for 40 minutes each night and it helps me fall asleep.



C.O. Bigelow Mentha Body Vitamin Body Wash
That Pink Girl mentioned this product in a blog post a couple of months ago.  It sounded like something that would do a hot and sweaty body good.  You see, it's a cool and refreshing body wash that leaves you feeling all tingly and happy.  It definitely helps beat the heat and that puts a smile on my face.  That's all I ask.

I'm gonna be an aunt
Just before Easter weekend, when  our whole immediate family was in town and gathered at my parent's house for dinner, younger sister Linda and brother-in-law Craig announced they are expecting their first child.  This will be my first niece or nephew and our parent's first grandchild.  Our family is on cloud 9.  Linda *finally* lifted the gag order on Tuesday AFTER she informed our grandmother herself, so now we don't have to keep our excitement a secret any longer.  The baby is due December 27th which means for the first time in all of my years, our family will not be traveling to Chicago for Christmas as we want to make sure we are in town for the birth of the newest addition to our family.  I've been wondering what happens in Houston while we are away...


What is making you happy?  Please share!  =)

sleep, hydrate, eat, and MOVE: the plan

So you promised you wouldn't judge me and that's the only reason I'm showing this to you guys...

This year hasn't quite turned out how I had hoped so far with regards to my weight loss and fitness goals. Desperate times call for desperate measures.  No worries...I feel like I'm getting back on the right path, but let's just say some damage has been done and I've had a few set-backs, so I'm working my way back to where I once was so that progress can be made.  In the mean time...survival mode has been put into place.

Step 1 is to get sleep.  I'm getting that.  The goal is 7 to 8 hours a night.

Step 2 is to hydrate.  I'm doing that.  The goal is to drink 1 gallon of fluids a day (combo of water and Crystal Lite iced tea).

Step 3 is to eat right.  Remember the same game I discussed in an earlier post?  I like that concept and that's how I'm working my week days.  Following the South Beach diet, monitoring my calorie intake, taking cravings into consideration (I have a mad need for oatmeal and chicken salad lately) and sticking to my plan.

Step 4 is to MOVE.  I am not in the same shape I once was.  Sad, true story.  My body and my lungs are just not cooperating.  Three bouts of bronchitis in the past 3 months do not a happy, healthy Kim make.  I created a mileage plan and the goal is just to accomplish the mileage whether it be through walking, crawling running, or skipping (haha) my way to completion.
and here it is:

So, there you have it.  For the first time in a long time, I feel motivated and encouraged.  This is a good sign.  I will keep you posted on my progress!  =)

I can see clearly now...

I had a lovely Saturday.  Actually, I've had a lot of lovely Saturdays and for that I am quite thankful.  I need them as they provide me some balance.  They keep me sane.  They, along with Sundays, give me the strength to face the week.

Summers kinda suck in my line of business.  and then they kinda don't.  It's like I have a love/hate relationship with them.  I was an honors student in school.  Back in the day there were certain subjects that were not offered in the "honors" level, like history, for example.  So there was a noticeable difference between my regular history class and my honors math class, if that makes sense.  Well 8 months out of the year my job would be classified as regulars and then about mid May to mid September it's honors.  This means I am challenged which means I'm not bored. like at all.  It also means longer hours and more stress, but it means a certain sense of pride, accomplishment, and empowerment as well.  It's sort of a trade-off, I suppose.  So, this post is not about complaining, but rather explaining and relishing in my weekend, so let's get back to that, shall we?

I know I'm ironically out of focus...

Saturday...ahhhh...Saturday.  I was supposed to get up and run...or walk...heck just move in preparation for my half marathon in August, but since I'm battling yet another bout of bronchitis that didn't happen.  Let's hear it for our lovely air quality, shall we?  Instead, I slept, but it was needed, so I took that.  Then I met up with mi familia for family lunch.  I was able to squeeze in a movie - Super 8 - and then meet up with some friends to celebrate a birthday.  Super 8 was super cute, by the way.  It kind brought me back to E.T. and Goonies days.  I liked that.

Sunday was another lazy Sunday.  Every once in a while those are great to have, but really what is this Kim going to do in less than 8 weeks when her 4th Half Marathon hits, eh?  All I really did was meet up with mi familia again for a fantasmic dinner at Mia Bella (mmmm...) and then I did some grocery shopping and then I formulated my food, hydration, and revised half mary training plan before going to bed for my mandatory 7 hours.

I am starting to feel better - in mind, body, and spirit (well save for this stupid cough, but whatever...).  A wise soul named Brittaney - check out her blog cuz she rocks - offered up a word of advice to me based on my last post - she said to focus on getting sleep so that my mind could be clear.  Whoa buddy she was so right!   What a world of difference when a girl gets 7 to 8 hours a night versus maybe 5!  Sure some of it has been Nyquil-induced, but hey...who is keeping tabs as long as the end result is the same, right?!

Tomorrow, I may just be bold and daring and post my food, hydration, and revised half mary training plan if you promise not to judge me!  ;)

making lemonade

My cute mom has always said if you don't have something nice to say, then you shouldn't say anything at all. Well...I suppose all of our cute moms have told us that a time or two.  I've been kinda quiet lately.  It's so unlike me.  It even makes me uncomfortable when I'm on mute.

Bottom-line is I've just been...blah.

Work has been kicking my booty.  I've been putting in a lot of hours and it doesn't end when I leave the premises.  I feel as though there has been a war waged against me within the organization and there is no waving of a white flag in sight.  I have two choices here.  I can cry over the spilled milk or I can make lemonade.  Me thinks that since milk will surely spoil in this heat, the better bet is lemonade.

Shall we talk about my half marathon training?  It's non existent.  I'm so very proud of this.  not.

We could always discuss my healthy eating...oh, but let's not make a liar of me as healthy eating hasn't been happening here.

Let us not forget about my sleeping habits.  I'm lucky to get 5 hours a night and even if I do, it's interrupted.

Yep, this is why I haven't been blogging cuz I'm a Debbie Downer full of disappointments.

How do I get back on the right track?  Why oh why am I so easily derailed?  How can I be proud of me again?

Several years back I was shopping in Old Town Spring and found this little figurine in a shop.

I had to buy it because I thought it too precious and it came with such a good message - worth reading and remembering.

Today I choose to count my blessings - they are plentiful.  Today I choose to spotlight my accomplishments and not my shortcomings.  Today I choose to celebrate the fact it is a new day filled with new opportunities for change.  Today I choose to walk away from the pity party.  It's time to make lemonade, y'all (but...with Splenda perhaps)  ;)

Cheers to a HAPPY day!

good enough

First, I give you a quote.  I posted this on my dry erase board at work for my employees.


If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.  ~Mary Engelbreit


May Ray in the City posted a blog yesterday about her insecurities.  She posed a question:  "How do you defeat negative thinking?"


This is what I commented:  "I think we are often our own worst enemies as women. It really sucks. Whenever those negative thoughts creep in (and they do way too often), I try to spin it for the positive or counter it with a positive.  I am pretty sure it's a practiced thing.  Let's practice! =)"


Then today happened...more specifically this afternoon.  As I mentioned in my Zen-Kim post, I am making an extreme effort to keep my cool at work.  I've determined that cool, calm, and collected will yield better results than anxious, emotional, reactive Kim.  Then today happened...more specifically this afternoon.


I am a disorganized person.  This is apparent if you come to my home and/or stop by my office.  I have been making an extreme effort to become better organized at work - maybe not in obvious appearance (like my desk still looks like a bomb hit it), but in creating spreadsheets to keep track of things and setting reminders on my Outlook.


What's my point?  I have stepped outside my comfort zone focusing on two things that don't come naturally to me.


1.  Zen-Kim
2.  Organized Kim


Why did I do this?  I wasn't happy with something (myself at work) and so I changed it (me).


I have been proud of myself.  I feel like my work performance has been stellar.  I've eagerly taken on each challenge.  Then today happened...more specifically this afternoon.


Ultimately, Zen-Kim disappeared and was replaced by a crying fool.  Why a fool, you ask?  Well...because I lost sight of my own advice.  I let someone make me insecure about something I feel very secure about (my job performance).  I let other people's negativity overwhelm me.


See what I mean, lady bugs...we are our own worst enemy and our energies would be better put into warding off true enemies...you know, the external ones.  I was fighting the wrong fight.  Now, I may not be able to always change the negative self-talk that creeps up, but I can "spin it for the positive or counter it with a positive."  So with that, I decided to make a list of the things I am good at to make myself feel better after "the incident" that was this afternoon (countering the negative, if you will).


I am a speed reader.


I am a fast and accurate typist.


I have nice lips.


I am witty.


I am a talented home decorator.


I am a creative cook.


I am a super star playing Zuma Blitz.


I have some mad logistical skills.


I am good enough.  Are you?  Make your own list to remind yourself that you are, indeed!  Know it!  Live it!

"The Same Game" and a Recipe

Can you believe I actually cooked?  I know, right?  It's been a long, long time since I've posted a recipe.

I've been kind of disgusted with myself lately...I've so not been on the wagon.  It's quite frustrating because back when I first started my lifestyle changed, I was so committed...so focused and it was...easy.  Then my injury happened and well...I guess I've been in kind of a funk since then.  It seems every week I "try" to recommit only to fail.  Has this ever happened to you?  Please tell me I'm not alone.  I've said it before...I'm terribly undisciplined.  Sure, sure...I have it in me to be disciplined, but it takes soooo much work (can you just hear my whine?).  ;)

I came up with a new idea.  I'm calling it "The Same Game".  I plan on eating basically the same thing for breakfast and lunch every single day with a healthy light meal for dinner (at least that's this week plan - hahaha).  Yeah, I have no idea how long I will be content with this, but for now, here goes:

Breakfast - a Jay Robb smoothie made with unsweetened almond milk and a banana.  I can, of course, opt to turn this into a green monster by adding spinach.

Lunch - a peanut butter and jelly sammy with a Carb Master yogurt and either a colored pepper or a cucumber. I am, of course, using Simply Jif as it has less sugar than regular PB.  My jelly of choice is Polaner's Sugar Free Orange Marmalade.

Snack - fruit.  This week it's blackberries as they were on sale at Kroger for $1.00.

Dinner - a bag of frozen veggies with some kind of light meal preferably sans bread carbs (meaning no rice, pasta, sweet potato, or bread)

I am allowing myself the addition of a Clif's bar or a Larabar on workout days for additional fuel.  I also recognize that because I am a social butterfly of sorts (read:  single girl), there will probably be a dinner outing once a week in which case I will do my best to plan ahead and choose my selections wisely.

Okay, enough about all that business.  Onto my recipe.  Every day Allrecipes.com sends me their recipe of the day.  Today's was Cheesy Chicken Meatballs.  I thought this sounded yummy, so I clicked on the link.  See the original recipe for yourself by going here.

I wouldn't be me if I didn't change up a recipe to make it my own, now would I?  First of all, the grocery store I went to didn't have ground chicken which forced me to make Cheesy Turkey Meatballs instead.  The original recipe also called for vegetable oil to be added to the meat mixture.  This addition didn't make sense to me and seemed unnecessary.  I read the reviews to see if anyone left this ingredient out, but all anyone mentioned was swapping olive oil for the vegetable oil which totally makes sense IF the oil is necessary.  I consulted with younger sister Linda and my cute mom and they both agreed the oil could most likely be nixed (and they were right).

CHEESY TURKEY MEATBALLS

Ingredients

1.25 lbs 97% lean ground turkey
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup of Italian Cheese & Herb Cooking Creme
1/4 cup of Reduced Fat Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup of Panko bread crumbs
1 TBSP Italian seasoning
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp Adobo seasoning

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Spray the bottom of a cookie sheet with Pam.  Mix all the above ingredients together and form into balls.  I used an ice cream scooper and made large meatballs.  Warning - this is VERY messy.  In total, I made 15 meat balls.  Bake for 17-18 minutes.

The Dish

I wanted to make a "pasta" dish with spaghetti squash, but after having no luck in finding a spaghetti squash in two different stores, I gave up and went for zucchini instead.  I sliced up my zucchini in thin slices and then boiled it.  I then drained it and plated it.  Next, I topped my zucchini with fire-roasted diced tomatoes and a bit of shredded Parmesan cheese.  I have to say the dish was delightful and I look forward to having it again tomorrow night.  Oh and yes...it is South Beach Friendly (Phase 2 because of the bread crumbs).

I'm also hoping to post a new recipe each week!

Have you ever played "The Same Game"?