Work It Out Weekend

Someone asked me a couple of days ago how my half-marathon training is going. Since I know most of you don't read my running blog, I decided to throw an update on this blog every once in a while. So to do that, I'm going to borrow Wishcake's Work It Out Weekends (with permission of course) because I just love the header.

I just finished week four (of twelve) of half-marathon training and am still getting into the swing of things. I do great Monday and Tuesday but for some reason Wednesday rolls around, and I feel like it's a good day to get my "rest" in. Too bad when I make Wednesday a rest day, Thursday and Friday typically want to become rest days as well. I've been getting in at least two runs a week, which isn't great but it's better than nothing.

Here's the rundown of this week. I was supposed to run 3 1/2 Monday/Wednesday and 5 on Saturday with cross training and strength Tuesday/Thursday. I didn't do half bad (more like half good).

Monday- Ran 5 miles

Tuesday- 45 minutes on the elliptical and 20 minutes of abs

Wednesday- Rest (this ruins me)

Thursday- Rest

Friday- Rest

Saturday- Ran 5 miles and played a basketball game

So I got about half of my workouts in. Next week's going to be better. My cruise is in two weeks, and I'm determined to look amazing in the cute new bathing suits I bought (pictures next week).

My goals for next week are:

Run 3 (and maybe even 4) times. This should include two 4-milers and one 6-miler.

Crosstrain at least once plus my basketball game on Saturday

Abs/arms twice (I found a great new ab workout this week. I was sore for days).

So as you can see it's going well. I'm right where I should be according to my training plan and feel like I'm actually going to make it. And I'm down another three lbs. Only two more to go.

Celebrating Reality

I have something to say. Some of you may completely disagree and that's fine, but I feel the need to say something.

I'll get to that in a minute.

I watch a lot of reality TV. One of my favorites is Americal Idol and can I just say that for the last two weeks America has gotten it exactly right. My two favorites are (sorry Danny), Adam and Kris. Very different but both great in their own way.

So on to what this post is really about.

Every week during our WW meeting the leader goes around and asks who's celebrating? You know what celebrating means? Any accomplishment regardless of how small. Some people say they lost .4 lbs, others lost 3. And what do we all do- we clap and cheer because everything is an accomplishment worth celebrating.

I was reading through my blogroll and saw a blog post about Dane from the Biggest Loser being "The Biggest Liar" because NBC made it look like he ran a marathon after he got kicked off last night (which was the dumbest decision ever by the way). Apparently NBC stopped him during the course with his wife to do some filming, and because he wasn't going to make it within the 6-hour time limit, a van drove him from mile 17 to mile 20, and he finished out the marathon with his wife.

And people all over the internet are complaining about how he should be ashamed because he lied about finishing a marathon. That he should have just admitted that he was too out of shape to finish a marathon.

And all I can think is WHO CARES if a van drove him three miles? Why do people automatically assume that he couldn't have run the whole thing if not held up by NBC? Just clap and congratulate him for losing over 100 lbs and running 23 miles. Because if losing .5 lbs is an accomplishment, running 23 miles is like achieving a lifetime goal. And I'm sure the next goal will be to run the full marathon so that all of those people out there complaining about this will have nothing left to say other than wow.

So just like that WW meeting, I say let's just clap, cheer, and say well done.

Close Encounters with the CEO

Since I started my job eight months ago I've had exactly two real conversations with the CEO of our company.

The first was ten days after I started, and half of the company went to a food bank to box up food. I didn't really know many people at the office yet and started working with three people on an assembly line of reviewing the contents of boxes, taping up boxes, and labeling them. More than that, I kind of took charge to make sure that everyone was doing their job (whether it was packing the boxes or labeling the boxes) correctly. More than once I told the guy working next to me that he labeled a box wrong and that he needed to pay attention to what he was doing.

Yes, that guy was the CEO.

And today, my second encounter, was not much better. I woke up early this morning and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to get an early start at work and got in around 8:00 AM. Our office doesn't 8:30 AM. I of course forgot my key card that opens the door to the office. Rather than driving the ten minutes home to get my key, I decided to just hang out in front of the door and hope someone came by soon. Someone came up the elevator five minutes later, and I asked if I could follow him in because I forgot my key.

And yes, that someone was the CEO.

Good thing I never introduced myself.

Up or Down? To or Fro? This or That? Stop or Go?

Conceited or Self-conscious?
Looking in the mirror every time you walk by.

Delicious or Disgusting?
Peanut butter sandwich with honey and BBQ chips.

Horrific or Heavenly?
Early morning workouts.

Great Sense of Style or Shouldn't Be Done
Painting your walls dark red.

Time Saver or Too Much TV Watched
Recording all of your favorite shows with TiVo/DVR

Best Way to Travel or Best Way to Gain 10 lbs
Going on a cruise with friends or family

Lickity-Split Good or Lacking in Flavor
Low-fat (or slow churned) ice cream or ice cream treats

Dumb or Dumber
Running five miles right before it's time for bed

Going Green or Get Away From Me
Wearing green on St. Patrick's Day

A Waste of Time or A Necessity
Writing and checking off to-do lists (I just checked one off- update blog!)

And The Award Goes To...

I'm sitting here watching the Oscars and thoroughly enjoying myself. I think one of the best lines of the night was Jack Black about betting his Dreamworks salary on Pixar winning the award for the best animated film every year. Only one of the many times I've laughed out loud so far.

Since I've only seen one of the five movies nominated for Best Picture I decided to make a list of my own. So without further delay, here are my favorite movies from 2008 in order of how much I enjoyed them.

1. The Dark Knight
2. Twilight
3. Iron Man
4. Dan in Real Life
5. Fireproof
6. Get Smart
7. Definitely, Maybe
8. Run Fat Boy Run
9. Kung Fu Panda
10. Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Three of the worst:

1. Mamma Mia
2. Indiana Jones
3. Nights in Rodanthe

And five on my need to see list:

1. 27 Dresses
2. Wall-E (it's sitting on my tv stand now)
3. Horton Hears a Who
4. Marley & Me
5. Narnia- Prince Caspian

What was your favorite movie of 2008? Are there any movies I'm missing on "to see" list?

*Disclaimer- These lists are my opinion. This is not to say these are the best movies, just the ones I enjoyed the most.

What Do You Eat When You Don't Feel Like Eating?

About a month ago I went to the doctor for my annual checkup and came out diagnosed with an illness I never would have even suspected. Thank goodness for doctors that know what they're doing. It's nothing serious so don't worry about me. It's just something I'm going to learn how to live with, and I'm glad I found out now rather than later.

Along with the diagnosis, my doctor prescribed some pills for me that I'll probably be taking for the next year. I started taking them two weeks ago.

And I haven't been hungry since. I'm running a ton and still just not hungry. All that ever sounds good is fruit (and fruity things like popsicles) and water. So I've been eating a lot of fruit and drinking a lot of water, and that's about it. Richie asks me every night what we're having for dinner, and I just can't come up with anything because nothing sounds good. So I don't cook.

And I don't eat. Well not really. I snack all day but nothing ever actually sounds good.

So what do you eat when you don't feel like eating?

The Best Gifts Are the Ones You Don't Ask For

I read somewhere recently that your husband (or significant other) should be able to get you a gift without you having to tell him what you want. And that those are the gifts that mean the most because it means they really know you.

That's what I got for Valentine's Day. A husband that proved me knows me well. And I couldn't ask for a better gift. Or husband. So here's a poetic tribute to his successful efforts to surprise and woo me on our third Valentine's Day together.

The first gift of the day was breakfast in bed on a metal tray,
Yogurt, granola, orange juice, and an egg all made my way.
After breakfast I decided I wanted to go shop,
And my second gift was not telling me to stop.

So I left him at home to study his law book,
While I went to H&M to find a new look.
I came home with four sweaters and pretty pink pair of heels,
And he didn't even shake his head while I told him about the deals.

When I got home dishes were done and pizza was made,
And the lights outside were just about to fade.
I had to choose between two more gifts, both a yummy treat,
But in the end I of course got both of them to eat.

Gift number five was something I've needed for a while,
The same banana holder I'd picked without him definitely made me smile.
The second to last gift was not only a card but also a game to play,
And jokes that made me laugh, and a love note that made my day.

But the final gift of the day was the one that shows he knows me the best,
I began Midnight Sun Friday, and Saturday he let me read the rest.
What more can I say about this husband who knows me better that I do,
It was a Valentine's Day to remember; Richie, I love you.

Time Travel Tuesday #1: Valetine's Day 2005

How many times have you seen an old picture or heard a song on the radio that made you laugh out loud? Or that gave you the chills just thinking about it. Meet the inspiration for my new idea.

I realized that I never write about my past in this blog. It's all about the present and the future. And I never post pictures. That changes starting now. Every week (or maybe every other week) I'm going to post some picture or song from my past life (before I moved to DC) and write away. Hopefully you'll get a little more insight to me, and I'll get to remember some of the best times of my life.

So here goes. These pictures are from Valentine's Day weekend four years ago.

My sophomore year at BYU I came this (imagine me holding my fingers very close together) close to transferring to the University of Wyoming to finish out my bachelor's. Want to know why? See pictures above. Every time I made the six hour trip up to Wyoming we had a blast. A blast that completely blew any experiences I was having at BYU out of the water (three of my four roommates were engaged).

My brother and sister-in-law and three sets of aunts and uncles (all in their mid 20s) were all there. The amount of family I had at BYU- zero. And then there may have been a guy (again see above) influencing my decision. And maybe not. Matty is one of my brother's best friends and to this day, one of the best guys I've ever met. I mean who hasn't had a crush on their older brother's best friend? I've had plenty.

We'll never know for sure why I ever even considered it. But I did. Valentine's Day weekend I definitely did as we went tubing, rock climbing, and had our own Valentine's Day dance. It all just felt right.

So I made the decision to go to UW. I filled out the application, found a roommate, and even registered for classes. And the night before I went to Spain three months later(story for another day), I broke down and realized that I couldn't imagine not coming back to BYU to finish out my degree. I woke my mom up at 4 AM and asked if it was okay to stay at BYU. The next morning before boarding a plane to Spain, I called my brother and told him I wasn't coming.

It was the best decision I've ever made. I met my husband less than a year later at BYU. And I know he wouldn't have found me in Wyoming. It amazes me how each decision we make, big or small, affects the rest of our lives. All of my family is still in Wyoming, Matty is at dental school at Creighton, and I'm living an amazing life with my husband in DC. The girl in the pictures above could never have guessed where life would eventually take her. And she still doesn't.

The Week It All Went Right

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted. I'd been doing great posting at least every other day this year. Oh well. I guess I was just out doing more important things. Or I didn't want to jinx my good luck.

This week was one of those ones where you're just waiting for something horrible to happpen because it was so good. Incredible really. Here's a quick rundown.

Monday- I officially hit my pre-wedding weight and stayed there all week. Three lbs to go.

Tuesday- Found out my quarterly bonus potential at work is doubled this year. That's hard to beat, especially in this economy. Just another reason I love my job.

Wednesday- Had the most amazing French Dip sandwich and baked goat cheese at Wildfire.

Thursday- Ran 4 miles (my third run of the week and my long run) and felt GREAT!

Friday- I got my first quarterly bonus for my new job. That coupled with a paycheck made for a nice increase in my bank account. I also found out that Stephanie Meyer posted the first half (not just the first chapter) of Midnight Sun (Edward's version of Twilight) on her website. Didn't get much sleep.

Saturday- Valentine's day of course (post on that tomorrow). And then we made a final decision that we're going to Europe this summer. We've been discussing the idea for a while now, but we made the final decision to go for two weeks in August. Spain, Italy, and France here we come. I of course decided I needed to plan our entire itinerary and didn't go to sleep until, well late.

Sunday- Made a decision that it was time to buy a new laptop (lots of decision making this weekend) and got on the Dell website to look for different options. Of course they were having a President's day sale ($250 off my laptop of choice) that ended at 6 AM Monday morning. So what'd I do? Bought it of course. My current laptop is going on seven years old and ready to be retired, so it was the only logical course of action. My new best friend should get here next week.

Today- Treated myself to a heavenly massage and facial at a new spa in Old town. I'm not sure I've ever felt better. Amazing really.

And that's where I've been all week- enjoying life. And hoping you are too.

Hello Skinny Jeans

After work last week my husband told me, "Those jeans are way too big. They're baggy." He was talking about the jeans I just bought over Christmas because I wore holes in my last pair.

Last summer I put a bunch of clothes in a box because they were too depressing to have around.

Last night I opened that box. Other than one pair of pants - I bought them the weekend of my wedding, and they barely fit then - everything else fits. It's like I have a whole new wardrobe.

And at 17 lbs lighter than I was in November, a whole new body. I've still got a good five to ten lbs to go to hit my ideal weight, but that should be doable with my half-marathon training.

So for now I'm going to celebrate with a fudgesicle and strut my stuff in those size 4 jeans. Those baggy jeans are getting put away for when, and only when, I'm pregnant.

Lost in a World of Snobs

I think we are all snobs in one way or another. Some of us look down on other people for one reason or another. Some of us look down on cheap restaurants. Some of us look down on low quality clothes or shoes. Whatever it is, I think that the majority of us are a snob in our own right. I definitely am.

Since moving to DC, we've had a chance to go to some amazing restaurants and hotels in the area; fast food just doesn't cut it anymore.

Part I: Confessions of a Grocery Store Snob

But the bigger issue is that I'm a complete snob when it comes to grocery stores, especially the fresh food in grocery stores. I tried out five different grocery stores this weekend and walked right through the fresh food (produce, meat, etc.) sections of Safeway, Shoppers, and Giant. I could not even get myself to stop and take a second look. I'm a Harris Teeter/Whole Foods (and Wegman's if there was one closer) girl. I'll pay a little more for excellent customer service, a clean store, and delicious produce. And even though I could probably get good produce for a cheaper price at one of the other three stores, I'd rather just stick to what I know is good even if it breaks the bank.

Part II: The Irony

I'll pay $2.00/lb extra for a lb of grapes at HT, but I don't understand why someone in their right mind would pay $100 for a shirt (or any article of clothing other than maybe running shoes). A shirt that will last a whole lot longer than those grapes. When I see something cute at the store I tend to look at the price tag first- if there are three digits, it's a goner. If the first digit is higher than a 2, it's gone. And even getting myself to pay $20-$25 for something doesn't happen very often.

I went to the Old Town boutique warehouse sale Saturday morning because it promised to have great deals on home furnishings, clothes, and accessories. I've been in the market for headbands ever since I cut my hair so I thought it'd be a great chance to pick up some cute ones. (I did get some by the way). I was definitely not prepared for the world of boutique shopping. The clothes and jewelry items were mostly 50-75% off and still cost $50-100 each. To me, saying a shirt is on clearance for $50 is a lie. I don't care how expensive it was to begin with. But the line was out the door with women my age dying to get in. Stripping off their clothes in the back room to make sure the $100 shirt fit. At least they tried them on before dropping the cash.

So I guess the moral of the story is that maybe I'm not a snob after all. Maybe I just like good food. What about you?

Home Alone

Richie left this afternoon to go to NYC for the weekend and won't be back until Saturday night. This will be the first time since we've been married (and probably since we've met) that I've been alone. I've left him alone multiple times to go visit family or friends, but I've never been the one home alone.

It reminds me of why I got married in the first place. I may be independent but I HATE being alone. I came home tonight and ate pita bread and hummus instead of dinner, watched the Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice event (while working out), and bought groceries I shouldn't have bought.

I really should do the dishes or pick up my bedroom floor but all I want to do is take a hot shower, snuggle up in my robe, read a good book, and go to bed. And maybe when I wake up, it'll be Saturday night, and my husband will be home.

I know, I'm pathetic. I guess I'll just enjoy the time to read, watch TV, and be lazy and forget that I'm going to have to sleep alone tonight.

What I Believe...

I'm borrowing this idea from Amanda's cute blog.

I believe...

...all toilet paper holders should have two ends and allow toilet paper to be pulled off easily.

...it's okay to not be able to see my bedroom floor.

...it's okay to only work out because I feel like I should not because I want to.

...it's okay to come home from work and snuggle up in a snuggie instead of making dinner.

...it's okay to be addicted to the CW. And CVS.

...it's okay to pay a little more for good produce.

...it's okay to order out after a long day at work.

...it's okay to tell my boss I'm not too busy so he still gives me the big projects.

...it's okay to think people are dumb and incompetent sometimes. But only think.

...there's a secret to motivation out there somewhere waiting to be found.

...it's okay to pray for help every day.

...it's okay to splurge on an experience.

...the Wii Fit lies. And I'm okay with it.

...that hot tea with honey is the best remedy for anything.

...it's time for me to go run.

What do you believe today?

What Would You Do In My Shoes

The past couple of months I've been put in situations that I had to make difficult decisions. I want to know what you would do if put in my shoes?

I was taking the Vamoose bus home from NYC. Apparently they just keep booking seats and ordering more busses rather than selling out a particular time and making people buy tickets for the next bus. So I got to the bus station and there were hundreds of people waiting for a bus to come. A bus came every 5-10 minutes, filled up with people, and left. Another bus followed five minutes later.

So I was standing in line behind this girl who just kept complaining about how she couldn't believe that Vamoose did this. She then turns to me and asks if I can watch her bag while she runs around the corner to buy a magazine. I told her sure, assuming she would be back quickly. Ten minutes pass and another bus shows up. The girl is still not back.

As we're moving closer to the front of the line, I realize the girl is not going to make it back before it's time for me to get on the bus.

So put yourself in my shoes (cute purple Ann Taylor flats) and tell me... what would you do?

Fashion 911

I have a fashion crisis...

...what color shoes do you wear with navy blue dress pants??

Super Bowl Snacks

I'm OCD when it comes to hosting parties and get-togethers. I'm OCD about one thing- making sure there is plenty of food. This probably comes from the fact that I'm always starving and wish that there was always food available so I make sure there is plenty of food available whenever people come to my place.

We had two couples come over last night to watch the game, and I of course decided to make all sorts of snacks. On top of having your typical snack food (Chex Mix, chips and dip, veggies and ranch dressing), I made buffalo wings, spiced nuts, rice krispy treats, and yummy potato skins. And unlike the cookies I threw in the trash, they all turned out delicious. And for once in my life I wasn't worried that people were hungry.

Enjoy :)

Boneless Buffalo Wings (courtesy of Eating Well/Food Network)
3 tablespoons nonfat buttermilk
3 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar divided
2 pounds chicken tenders
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 TBS milk
2 tablespoons canola oil divided
2 cups peeled carrot sticks
2 cups celery sticks

Whisk buttermilk, 2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce and 2 tablespoons vinegar in a large bowl until combined. Add chicken; toss to coat. Transfer to the refrigerator and let marinate for at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, whisk flour and spices in a shallow dish. Whisk the remaining 1 tablespoon hot sauce and 1 tablespoon vinegar in a small bowl.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and roll in the flour mixture until evenly coated. Dip in egg mixture then back into flour mixture.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the chicken, placing each in a little oil. Cook until golden brown and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving platter. Repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and chicken, reducing the heat if necessary. Transfer to the platter. Drizzle the chicken with the reserved hot sauce mixture.

Spiced Nuts (courtesy of Emeril Lagasse)
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups mixed nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts and almonds

Mix spices and reserve.

Heat nuts in a dry skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until begin to toast, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Add the butter, sugar, water and spices to the hot skillet and cook, stirring, until a glaze forms, about 1 minute. Return the nuts to the skillet and toss to combine with the glaze. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes, or until the nuts are glazed and golden brown.

Remove from the heat and transfer to a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, separating with a fork. Let rest until cooled and the sugar has hardened, about 10 minutes. Store in an airtight container.

Yummy Potato Skins (courtesy of Recipebazaar)
4 large baking potatoes, baked
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon pepper
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (8 ounces)

Cut potatoes in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp and discard (or save for another use) leaving 1/4-inch shell.

Place on a greased baking sheet.

Combine oil, Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic powder, paprika and pepper and brush all over potato skins.

Bake at 475° for about 8 minutes and turn over. Bake for another 8 minutes or so and then turn right side up.

Sprinkle bacon and cheddar evenly inside of skins. Bake 2 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Resolution Review #1

I've decided that at the beginning of every month I'm going to check up on my new year's resolutions to keep myself motivated (or at least thinking about what I wanted to do this year). So here's how I'm doing so far.

Run a half-marathon (at least one) with my dad.- I was doing really well the beginnig of this month. I stuck to my training for two weeks and have taken the past two weeks off. But I wrote out a training schedule and picked a new half. It's going to happen.

Lose another 10 lbs to get back to my healthy weight. - I've lost an additional four since Christmas, which means only 6 more to go. I'm hopeful on this one.

Save enough money to pay for our trip to Europe in August. - Haven't quite figured out how to do this one yet since our incomce pays for the bare minimums without savings. Must find a way to earn more money.

Learn how to play Stay by Sugarland on the guitar. - I've been practicing the singing :)

Keep a record of the year by writing on this blog and/or in a journal. - 18 posts in 28 days isn't too bad. Maybe next month I'll work on the journal.

Start dating my husband again. -We've been out to dinner mutiple times and tried to go see Marley & Me three different times but only got as far as the car before turning around. Next month there will be real dates.

Try a new recipe at least 1x a week. - I've cooked more in the past month than the past year probably. Lasagna rolls, chicken and wild rice soup, tomato sauce with chickpeas. And they've all been delicious!

Simplify my life so I have time for the things that really matter.- I think I've gotten too good at this one. I've simplified my life taking the things that don't and the things that do matter out. Oops.

Try not to hurt people with my words (this means I have to think before I speak). -Not sure I can really measure this, but I didn't do great this month as I hurt at least one person.

Renew and strengthen my relationships with the people that mean the most to me.- This will be the goal for next month.