No Excuses!

Against all my better judgment I've gotten involved in the Biggest Loser saga again this season.

Dangit. 

I tuned in to one episode because I wanted to see who replaced Anna Kournikova, who replaced my beloved Jillian. Turns out Bob Harper's trainer-competitor this season is this guy:

Dolvett Quince

Well...who the heck are you?! You can't just show up on the Biggest Loser ranch and expect me to love you more than my second-best-to-Jillian, Bob!

Hello, you gorgeous blonde man (so not my type.)! 

Anyways, the theme this Spring is No Excuses, and I'm hooked already. Sometimes I have so many excuses for every possible issue in my life, I get tired of hearing myself talk. My favorites are hunger and boredom --- they are my quintessential excuses for some of the messes I get myself into.

I got invited to be a +1 to a wedding shower in New Braunfels in early February by someone I spent some time with in Colorado a few years back. Perfect reason to enact my own little Biggest Loser No Excuses ordeal.

If I could get as obsessed with my own healthy living as I do with these strangers, I'd be in great, great shape.

I'm off to see this little film tonight:

I lost a bet and he got to choose when, where and what movie we would go see. Otherwise I would NOT be seeing a Cold War movie...on a Wednesday night at 7...in a very cramped theater. ...But I'm also kind of not mad about it. ;)

Soups of our Lives

...One Life to Soup?
...As the Soup Turns?

Oh whatever, this is a post about soup.

I am not a food blogger or photographer; I'm the first to admit these pictures do not make this look meal look appetizing, so you just have to trust my impeccable judgment.

This is a little dish I've eaten at least the last four days in a row. It's quasi-healthy, and more importantly, it tastes like a million bucks. This guy recommended it to me.



Ingredients: head of broccoli (chopped), EVOO, garlic (chopped) and salt. [This is how Rachel Ray does her starting lineup for Week in a Day. Respek.]



Add to simmering water. [Yes, I agree that broccoli in water is not appetizing. This picture is no exception.] Only let it go for 3-5 minutes.

Offer Pug the last bit of the carrot you were munching on.

Regret the offer when pandemonium ensues.

Drain brocc.

Add to your favorite brand of tomato soup (mine is organic and comes in a box). Add cheese, scoop with saltines.

 Yum. Lately it's been followed up with Haagen Dazs strawberry and lemon sorbets.

Tonight after much backing and forthing with myself, I shredded and then lifted some weights. I only did it because I made a list and forced myself to work out before I could do any of the subsequent fun things on the list (that means you, bloggy!).

1. Sometimes lists are necessary.
2. Sometimes it's fun just to write your list out so you can cross stuff off of it and have a sense of accomplishment. 

Now I'm going to get my clothes ready for tomorrow (yes, that was another fun thing on the list!), meditate, journal and read. And maybe paint my nails (that was an optional fun thing). Good night!

A Massage for my Heart

I'm going to work on upping the sappy factor of my blog post titles next year. I feel I'm on the right track with this one.

Yesterday was my second to last work day of the year. That made it the second best day of the year so far. Can you guess where today ranks?

Yesterday was also the first time I've ever gotten a massage. I was nervous. I told everyone at the chiropractic office where I was getting it done. I kept on as many clothes as possible (eventually I had to take my scarf off). I asked the masseuse a lot of awkward questions. I didn't relax for the first 40 minutes of the hour-long thing. And...it was painful! I've been informed by experienced massagees that the pain is normal and good, but I was really shocked at just HOW painful it was! At one point he spent 5 minutes pinching and pulling and pounding my right tricep. My tricep!

All in all, I liked it. It's not my favorite thing, but it was probably something my body needed and appreciated. 

With my body all loose and relaxed, it was time for a massage of the heart with THE LADIES CHRISTMAS DINNER GIFT EXCHANGE 2011. 

These women... 

...have made...

...this year....

...a cut above the rest.

The food was amazing (wow, Damian's), the wine was amazing, and the presents - the Penzey's spices and homemade cranberry vodka and lemoncello and other adult beverage goodies - the presents were so special and perfect!

After dinner we rolled ourselves back to our prospective homes, where I tried to read but ended up passing out in no time. The first annual THE LADIES CHRISTMAS DINNER GIFT EXCHANGE 2011 was a major, major highlight of the holidays!

Friendmas!

This week is Christmas party mania, which makes working out that much more important but also that much harder to squeeze in. I flew to the gym immediately after work, plopped on a bike for 30 minutes, then ran for another 30 minutes. They were both exceptionally boring. End of story.

What wasn't boring was the rest of my night...

OJ filled her home with lots of Christmas cheer and then had a bunch of people over to celebrate Friendmas last night! I'm all about the cheese at OJ's events. Her taste in wine+her guests' taste in cheese always makes a happy home for the holidays.

Her home might be from a magazine. Everything is perfect!

I love this tree and this girl...and our sorority sister pose. Cha!

Ninja, who is most assuredly on the naughty list every year, walked away from the White Elephant with the best prize: a new wine decanter! I am now the proud owner of snap-on pants-hemmers. There is no justice!

Ninja and I also split 3 pieces of cake after taste-testing two different kinds of cookies. This is Polly and I really enjoying an amazing carrot cake. (Polly is the most adorable name, and it belongs to the most adorable girl.)

The dessert bar. If you live in Houston, kindly make your way to Dessert Gallery stat. Like, now. Tonight. Go. Wait, invite me over and pull a blanket over me when I'm passed out in a food coma on your couch at the end of the night.  

Lily was there in the background but she was too busy scavenging to take pictures with me.

I did not weigh myself this morning because I'm sure the holiday happiness bloat I'm experiencing would have made me at least 5 lbs heavier than I actually am.

In other news, I found out yesterday I got into grad school! In three little years I'll be Amy Still, Master of Educational Psychology! Night school, here I come!

Thankful Thursday

1. Awkward moments. Always, always thankful for awkward moments.

About to plant a big wet one on Ms. Dale...when all of the sudden...



CAUGHT! Interrupted by a very embarrassed Logan's waiter. Obviously we snapped back as though everything was tooootally normal. Love akward moments!!

2. Jackie Evancho. Don't ask. When you're in a hotel in a foreign place against your will, strange things happen; in Odessa, I fell in love with peanuts and Jackie Evancho, this 10-year-old opera (?!) prodigy. Why do I love this? I don't know, but I listened to her on PBS for like an hour tonight. Here she is belting out Angel by Sarah McLachlan.  



3. Going home to boys in Christmas sweaters!

I really just want to kiss him on the lips right now!

Benny is busting out at the seams of his sweater. His is more of a cowl-neck. :) Hi squishy boy!

My mini-goal for the day - to eat a little less and leave a little food on the plate - was a success at lunch and dinner. For some semblance of a workout, I did three rounds of this Bodyrock circuit. It really did rain sweat!

Our flight doesn't land until around 7 tomorrow evening. This will be the first weekend in forever that I don't have to wake up at 5 am (or earlier) on Saturday morning for a run! Add that to the things-to-be-thankful-for list! My mom and I are going to do some work moving out of my apartment and then treat ourselves to something lovely and relaxing. A good weekend ensues, my friends!



Gone Again

Yesterday I hopped on another little plane and took off for Odessa. Work trip.

I was at the very front of the plane. I can't tell if pilots have an easy or a hard job - all those buttons look complicated but I wonder how many they actually have to push.

After a quick nap, we landed and immediately went to dinner.

Score. Love me some West Texas hick town!

I ate a thousand peanuts and then pulled my act together for dinner: small salad with fresh vegetables as a side. I was so proud of myself that when my travelling buddy asked if we could go to Sonic, I not only said we MUST but I downed a chocolate sundae...and then a chocolate chip cookie once we got to the hotel.

I feel I spat in the face of this woman with my late night snafu. I went to bed angry at myself and a little terrified of visions of Jillian reaming me out in my dreams.

Sigh. The food guilt lingers today, but I can't let it get me down. New day. New opportunities.

Eating right and exercising is always a pain on work trips, but my goal today is just to eat a little less. Make smart choices at lunch and dinner, and leave a little on the plate. Gentle goals. Kind goals. Any average Jane can do this goals. Fortunately I'm here only until Friday.

Since there wasn't a Post-It Wisdom Wednesday yesterday, I'll leave you with this:

Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that
Which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate,
But strong in will to strive, to seek,
To find and not to yield.

I don't know who wrote those lines, but I know they were important to this man:

Andre the Figurative Giant

A quick commentary about Open, Andre Agassi's autobio. I really, really enjoyed this book. I am amazed at people who are uber-talented at completely opposite things, like tennis and writing. There was a LOT of tennis-talk and match-recaps in the book, and I thought for sure I'd get bored, but he had the perfect amount of fact and emotion. It was the perfect blend of autobiography and memoir. Definitely recommend.

Okay, off to school some good ol' boys!

Last Night in Anchorage (and what a RICO experience!)

Lauren and I set out for our last night on the town. First stop, chocolate!

I was obsessed with this store. You'll see why in a few seconds.

Just us 3 little bears! (Yep, still wearing my signature Alaska gear.)

Drooooooool.

THIS is why I love this store. The chocolate bar. Zomg. (Please focus your attention on the choco-rista behind the counter there. He plays a starring role in the events of tonight.)

He forced us to try chocolate covered bacon. Not a fan. Nope.

Those Kokamakalekurumu (the pronunciation is debatable) caramels were my Alaskan obsesh. I ate my weight in these salted morsels. Yumm!

Having an Eyes Wide Shut experience with my caramels.

And now, my favorite moment in Alaska: the choco-rista, Rico G., TOTALLY slipped Lauren his number! Sham-on!

Tonight was the best way to end this perfect vacation. Lauren and I indulged in chocolates of all sorts, Lauren got some digits from an Alaskan stallion and then we consumed ridiculously delicious Thai food. All in all, I give this trip 8 out of 8 stars. Alaska, the Last Frontier, was everything I expected and wanted and needed and more.

Back to the airport so soon, le sigh. Twelve hours of travel and I'll be back home, tired and totally satisfied. Alaska siempre!



A Down Homer Thanksgiving

What do you bring to Thanksgiving when you're in Alaska and don't have an oven? Truffles, DUH!

Lauren workin her magic, makin truffles!



Me workin my muscles, makin a mess!

These were the bomb. The Thanksgiving, chocolate-covered-oreo+cream cheese bomb.

Last night we had a blast at a Displaced Thanksgiving potluck, and Lauren made her most amazing Oreo truffles. I ate more than my fair share...a few times over.

Homer continues to blow my mind. Fortunately the internet is hella slow so I can't even upload all the pictures I've taken that would make everyone want to move up here stat. It's unreal, fo real. I love it!

Oops gotta go. Elf is on TV. Hey, Thanksgiving's over, and it gets dark at 5 pm here. Let the Christmas flicks roll!

Kindly remember:

1. Treat everyday like Christmas.

2. There's room for everyone on the nice list.

3. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!

3 sticks of butter and some sausage balls later...

Well, Thanksgiving is in full swing. I decided four Thanksgivings would be just about right for me this year: work, church, family and Lauren.

This little gem from Nothing Bundt Cakes was the crowning glory of Worksgiving. Don't get me wrong, there was a whole conference room of food, but this little cake cutie with its icing toupe just stole my heart.

Who's the cutest little lemon bundt cake? You are! You are!

Seriously, it was stupid delicious. First Thanksgiving: success.

This morning, I ran a dreaded 10 miler. At this point, little runs like this are so mentally draining, I consider running more just to make it worth my while. Every step sucked.

Consequently, I learned how much I operate on rewards-based systems. For example, this was my 10 mile reward:

Pizzafest at 8:30 in the morning, followed by a healthy dose of Kindle action....

...With these two squishies by my side. (Ummm we keep a stepladder in our kitchen because it turns out really tall kitchen cabinets are kind of a pain for short people).

Two naps and a PBJ later, it was time to get to work on my contribution to Thanksgiving #2: church.

Pumpkin pie bites that admittedly do not look delicious but that definitely delivered to the t-buds

And blurry chocolate chip cheesecake cups. (I AM NOT A FOOD BLOGGER.)

I baked, and sampled, and baked, and melted butter, and popped chocolate chips, and baked all afternoon. Roger and Benny loved it. I loved it. We turned on this movie:

And then we almost immediately turned it off. Super sucked. I HATE seeing boobs in movies. I'll spare you my rant on modesty and stuff; suffice it to say, I have strong feelings on the subject. Movie, off.

So, then it was time to leave.

Insert puggy guilt.

Oh, but before I left, I dropped the entire platter of mini pumpkin pie bites FTW. Thanksgiving curses and bah-humbugging ensued.

Thankschurching was legit. I was almost never without a sausage ball the entire time I was there. That's when you know something beautiful is going down. Speaking of beautiful...

Inger C - Capitan of the ladies of 323. Rockin' the specs!

Sauuuusaageee Baaaalllls (bottom right). Works of art.

Crystal M. Resident athletic badass.

Just making ourselves at home! What? It's THANKSGIVING for pete's sake! (Hey, fellas, lookin' for two hot dates?)

Yayyy Bible study girls!

Dear Monica, with your cute haircut and your brand spankin new 20 miler, you make me laugh. Or whatever this is.

Thanksgiving #2: even better than the first. I have high hopes for tomorrow and next week.

Austin with the family for T#3.

Alaska with Lauren for T#4.

Go holiday or go home. I'm goin' holiday all the way, behbeh!