1 Dozen Pounds

Once again it's time for my weekly diet post.

This week was really tough, especially in the food department. Due to a serious case of PMS, I had the munchies BAD! I managed to stay under 1800 calories each day, but it sure wasn't easy. Exercise was once again minimal. I have been walking with a girl in my neighborhood and between the two of us we managed to have too much going on to put forth the effort. We did walk three days, but once we stopped to watch a deer and twice we went after school with the kids and they were only slightly distracting.
Which is why I am gonna start the Couch to 5K program on Monday. Supposedly if you follow it exactly you can be 5K ready in 3 months. Now, while I won't be entering any races, I am curious to see if I am up to the challenge. I am also looking to start weight training again. This time I will be doing it on my own as opposed to having a trainer. I have had 2 trainers the last few years, one was major 80's complete with Jane Fonda leotard. The other was a giant power lifter who had me lifting lots of heavy weights. Jane only had me do 10 minutes of cardio a day and power lifter told me to eat alot* and he wanted me taking supplements. I only lost 5 pounds with Jane and zero with the power lifter. This time I am gonna research it and develop my own program.
And, while I did eat more than normal I am still making healthier choices. I attempted to cook healthier meals for my family as well. When I first started this "program" I was eating what they were, just skipping the starchy side dishes and pasta. Instead opting for meats and veggies. This week I tried two new meals: turkey burgers with sweet potato fries, great burger, AWFUL fries. And the other was a chicken fajita salad. It was so good, (pats self on back)! I will definitely make it again. I also discovered a new snack, Chex Mix Bars. They are made with whole grains and are only 140 calories a bar. You get the chocolate you're craving minus the calories of a candy bar.
And, now what you've probably already know from the title of this post: I have now lost 12 pounds! Yay me! And, in case you are interested, here's my salad "recipe". I use the term recipe loosely, simply because it was thrown together, but still yummy. And, best of all, it is simple to make.


**Ashley's Amazingly Yummy and Hopefully Healthy Chicken Fajita Salad**

1 package pre-cooked and seasoned chicken fajita meat sauteed with 1/2 an onion (in olive oil)
1 can kidney beans, drained (heat as well)
iceberg and romaine lettuce
shredded cheese (I used sharp cheddar made with 2% milk)
tomato
avocado
light sour cream
salsa
baked Tostitos

After heating up the chicken and onion, I just arranged the lettuce, tomato, and chips on a plate and added a few chicken strips and onions, 1 and 1/2 tbsp. each of kidney beans, shredded cheese, and salsa. Then I tossed on a few avocado chunks, and 1 tsp. of sour cream and voila! Dinner is served. It was super good and very filling.

*p.s. never tell a food addict to eat alot, it will have a negative effect.

9 Lives

This post is dedicated to cat lovers and cat haters. Both of whom will totally understand... And to my cat Pedro, dude... what's your deal?

Obviously I am not a cat, so I don't know what goes through their teeny little brains, but I have lived with cats for most of my life, and they all have the same annoying habit: acting like they are starving when they have food in their bowls.
It starts every morning. The minute I get up I have to go pee, and I ALWAYS forget to shut the bathroom door all the way. And, without fail, Pedro always comes in meowing, purring. He must hear my feet hit the floor because he is on my heels literally the moment my feet go from carpet to tile. And, not to offer TMI, but it's just all sorts of wrong to be on the toilet and have a cat purring around your feet and standing up with his paws on your knees while you are trying to pee. It feels weird. He must not get me either. I would totally not go hang out staring at him and talking to him while he's in the litter box. As a matter of fact I usually run away when he's in "the bathroom", but only after I laugh at the insane look he gets on his face. Anyway- back to the point.
After I have been violated by Pedro, I flush and head to the sink to wash my hands. But, by then I have been tripped 5 times already. And, the sink is only 7 feet from the toilet. Then, he trips me about 15 more times before we get to the kitchen where his food is. Let's not forget that he is meowing so much that it sounds like one loooong meow instead of the 431 it really is. Dude, I hear you and I know you are about to die of starvation. Please hang on and shut up! I am kinda a mean cat owner. If there's food in his bowl, I REFUSE to add more. Why does he need it topped off? Why do cats do this? I have tried to trick him and act like I am adding fresh food, and he won't eat until I really put more in. I wonder if he's smarter than I realize? Ok no. Because in addition to the annoying I am starving to death routine. There's the drinking out of the faucet while I am washing dishes, the playing with the bubbles when I am in the tub, the eating out of the dishes in the sink, the constant running and sliding on the hard floors. And, every day he is so anxious to get out that he runs into the front door, only to walk away in a daze. If you look hard enough you can see stars above his head. Then on the rare occasion that he does escape, he goes to the same spot and eats grass. Maybe he has brain damage? Oh yeah, he also drinks out of the toilet and the fish bowls...

Let the game begin....

In just 30 short minutes, the Red River Shootout will begin.

****Go Sooners!****

I'm sure this will be an exciting game. May the best team (Sooners) win!

Click here for a history of the game.

Free Ice Cream!

Not for you silly, for Hayden! At Hayden's school they are trying to get as many Box Tops for Education as possible, so they are doing a drive. Box Tops for Education are these tiny little coupons on the tops of alot of foods you probably eat everyday. They are worth 10 cents each for the school, so if every kid brings as many as possible, that can add up quick. The money pays for cool things like field trips, supplies, playground equipment, etc. Last year neither Chloe or Hayden got to do a field trip because of funds. So, we are trying to make up for it. If you have any box tops that Hayden can have, he would really appreciate it. Just clip 'em out, stick 'em in an envelope and send them on!! His class can get a free ice cream sundae party if they collect the most box tops. He has already filled up one whole sheet. The drive ends October 24th, so e-mail me and I can get you my address. And, obviously if you have kids in school send the box tops to their teacher. Every school WANTS box top coupons! But, if you don't have kids in school or just want to be really generous, send them on. Hayden might just share his ice cream with you. Ok, not really. He won't even share with me and I birthed that kid!



Read all about Box Tops for Education and the participating products HERE!

Excuse me ma'am, are you homeless?

Normally when I run errands I try to spruce up a little bit, I mean I don't wear heels or anything. And, I am most definitely not one of those chicks who looks like they are going clubbing when they are just going to Target. Normal shopping attire: nice top, jeans, flats, makeup, wedding ring, studs. If I have been to lunch with the spousal unit or dinner with the girls, then I might stop at Kroger for milk afterwards and look like a total babe. But, today I wasn't in the mood to mess with it, so I do something I rarely do, I went shopping with a naked face. No wedding ring, no jewelry, dark circles, I think I even had bad breath. Note to self: no more Lean Cuisine Rigatoni. Basically, ever since I was mistaken for a lesbian, I try not to leave my house without "my mud on." I guess it's a self esteem thing, maybe a vanity thing. And of course I ALWAYS think it's a weight thing. For some reason people are more accepting of a nice looking fat chick more so than a sloppy one. Not sure why? Anyway, I hate looking like the poor, lonely, chubby girl who dresses bad and has a cart full of chips and ice cream. Today was especially bad, I got stared at alot. I was so embarrassed! I kept thinking I had a booger or something. I clean up pretty well, I think. I don't even think I look that bad without makeup, but for some reason today I turned heads and not in a good way. It made me feel bad. Why do people stare? Am I the only one this happens to? And, do you wonder what goes through people's minds when they're gawking at you? More important: do you stare? I totally do, but I am smooth enough to not get caught.

For your viewing pleasure, I am including a photo of me taken the moment I came in from shopping. FYI, I NEVER post pics of me looking like this so don't get used to it. Be afraid, be very afraid....






P.S. yes, that is Hayden in the background. I think he was doing Jazzercise along with Spongebob or something??

2010: a party planner's dream

I love to throw parties, showers, dinners, etc. And, I usually go overboard. But, I am afraid I can't wrap my little brain around all that needs to be celebrated in 2010. I seriously need to start rolling pennies or selling plasma so I can afford all these parties. Or get a loan and open a party planning business. Except, that wouldn't make much sense if I was the client AND the hired help now would it? Here's the official LIST of all the awesomeness coming in 2010:

Jon turns 40!
Chan turns 18!
My lil' sis Amy turns 30!
My parent's 50th wedding anniversary!
My mom turns 70!
My big bro Ken turns 50!
Chandler graduates from high school, did you hear me? HIGH SCHOOL!!!

See what I mean? That's a lot of cake and punch! I am starting to plan in my head already. 2009 is gonna be busy too, just not as much. Hunter turns 13, my dad turns 70 as well, and my sister's husband Bryce turns 30. Whew, I may go see if McDonald's is hiring. Ok, maybe Chick-Fil-A, they are closed Sundays and they have infinitely better food.

P.S. family, please let me know if I have forgotten anything, and if I forgot YOU, I apologize.

What's for dinner?

So, I am doing one of those casserole swap thingies. And, I am CLUELESS! I need lots of ideas, STAT! I have never done this before. I need recipes, tips, etc. I am not doing the actual swap til next Tuesday, but need to email what I am bringing asap. Help! Have you ever done this? What about soup? What's a good casserole that freezes and cooks up well but still tastes yummy and fresh?