Two New Recipes For You!

I tried 2 new recipes last night and I wanted to share them with you.

Applesauce Pork Chops

4-5 boneless pork chops
1 T oil
2-3 apples, peeled, cored and chopped (I didn't use these)
1 1/2 cups applesauce
1 cup water
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 T worcestershire
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tsp cornstarch
2 T water

Heat the oil and brown the pork chops on both sides. Drain excess oil then add the apples, applesauce, water, onion, worcestershire, garlic, and pepper. Stir, bring to a simmer, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Take the pork chops out onto a platter. Stir together the cornstarch and water and add that to the apple mixture. Stir and simmer a few minutes then put the pork chops back in and heat through.

This was very good and very healthy. I used natural applesauce and since you drain the oil, there's virtually no grease. Of course, I use olive oil for all cooking anyway. It's a nice way to jazz up ordinary pork chops. I love pork, by the way. I think I could eat it every night. Mr likes it too, which is a good thing since I've been buying pork chops in bulk!

This next recipe is unbelievably easy since you do it in the crockpot.

Zesty New Potatoes

3 pounds (small) new potatoes, unpeeled (I only used a 1 lb. bag or else we'd have been eating these for weeks)
1 T olive oil
1 envelope zesty Italian dressing mix

**Potatoes should be the size of golf balls. If not, cut in half or quarter.**

Pour the oil in a plastic bag and add the potatoes. Shake well to coat. Add the salad dressing mix and shake well until all the potatoes are coated. Place potatoes in crock. Cook and cover. Low: 7 to 8 hours OR High: 4 hours

I would add, I think next time I will spray the crock with nonstick spray. Even though none of the potatoes stuck, I think they might have if I hadn't been here to stir them. It's unbelievable that they cook with no water, but they are super soft and yummy. Again, very nutritious because new potatoes are better for you than white potatoes.

Try one or both tonight for dinner. You won't be disappointed!

The Mrs likes to...

Here's what YOU do:

a. Go to Google
b. Type your name and the words "likes to" all in quotation marks. (ie: "Steve likes to")
c. Report back on the first 12 things that come up for your name.


1. The MRS likes to think of itself as an international academic/scientific organisation

2. It depends on what the Mrs. likes to do for entertainment

3. My hobbies include, but not limited to, Music, Movies, Techno dork stuff (the Mrs. likes to point out every time I'm sitting here)

4. There is a nice sitting area by the stained glass doors that lead out to the balcony, where the 'Mrs' likes to take tea.

5. However, the Mrs. likes to get the occasional $10 off grocery orders coupons so she gives them the real deal.

6. But yesterday I did notice.... some of those tough, bulb flowers that the MRs. likes to plant were peaking through the ground.

7. the Mrs likes to watch TV in the dark, cinema-style

8. have to balance that out with all the biking and such that the mrs likes to do

9. The Mrs likes to blab on VoIP softphone and Skype.

10. The Mrs likes to have company while she is bathing.

11. The Mrs. likes to follow "Strongest Man of the World" (or wherever) (and yes, I know, ask her, not me. She sure managed to hook up.

12. hey Matt if the Mrs likes to travel in style,ill have to come and pick you two up in ours,when we head down to the beach in perth

Inches update

1.75 inches lost this week. Total inches lost: 6.25 Yay!

Checking in on the right day

Well, I held off until today like I said I would last week. It wasn't too hard because I sure didn't eat the best over the weekend. I was still very moderate in my portions, but not the healthiest food choices. I haven't measured myself yet, but I have lost 2 more pounds bringing my total weight loss so far to 8 lbs!!! Yay! I'm very pumped this morning. It makes all of the sweat, straining, sore muscles and cussing at the DVD player worth it. Now, just 10 more pounds until I reach my goal weight. Rock on!

Facebook

You all know how much I love my Facebook (FB for short). I've talked about how great it is to be able to stay involved--somewhat, anyway--in people's lives who I don't get to see regularly. Well, recently I've had some reservations about my beloved FB.

I've had some people seek me out from my past, namely high school. Now, my high school days certainly weren't my happiest days. Looking back, the happiest, most carefree days of my life were in college. Don't misunderstand me--I am extremely happy with my life now and Mr, but in college, there was the lack of responsibilities, the freedom from stretching my wings for the first time ever, the thrill of meeting new people, and the excitement that, in my opinion, can only be experienced when your life stretches out before you with endless possibilities. That feeling can't be recaptured or re-experienced no matter how happy your circumstances are currently. High school...not so much.

Although there were good times and good friends in high school, I don't look back on it fondly. I felt awkward, unsure of myself, out of place. The person I was in high school doesn't resemble the person I am now and frankly, I don't want to remember that insecure girl from high school. Reconnecting with high school friends brings all of that back up which is another reason I haven't gone to any of my hs reunions. Who wants to remember and relive that crap? Not me.

So, when my first hs friend friended me on FB, I was reluctant to accept. Truly, after almost 25 years, what could I possibly have in common with these people? I decided to accept, dug up some old pics from hs and smiled over some memories. After her, I fished around and found a few more people and some found me. It's neat to see pictures of their kids, pictures of them now and what they've been doing in their lives. Plus, with FB, your level of "involvement" can be customized, meaning, I don't have to comment on their page every day or they on mine. I don't have to check their status or be overly involved in the day-in-day-out stuff that I am with people who are actively in my life now. It's not so bad.

Do you feel lucky, punk?

Mr and I felt lucky yesterday. Well, actually, that's not true. I feel lucky on Friday the 13ths. I think I shared that with you last Friday when we proceeded to go to the casino and I won $100. Yesterday I didn't feel so lucky but Mr did. We went to Louisville for the National Houseboat show and on our way home, we hit the Horseshoe where Mr proceeded to win $100. Then he wanted to hit Belterra where he played and won a little over $200. We figured that for the day, we actually were ahead. We had a full day at the houseboat show which included 2 entries, parking, and lunch, which was surprisingly expensive for BBQ sandwiches. Then we gambled at 2 places, losing money prior to his wins and also ate the seafood buffet at Belterra. Doing all that, we came home with more money in our pockets than when we left. That, my friends, is a good day!

Here's just a couple pics I took at the houseboat show. This big daddy is 20 feet wide and 100 feet long. You wouldn't believe how gorgeous it was on the inside. Price tag: $675,000. We're trying to decide whether we should order 2 or settle on just 1!

This is Mr, my aunt and her main squeeze on a fake houseboat front. We were getting ready to leave and it was super cold outside which is why my aunt has her hood on.

Here they are on the front of one of the houseboats. UK was playing Tennessee Saturday and we were in Louisville. When in Louisville, one must always wear UK stuff to counteract the peckerhead shirts.

Yeah, right.

So, I think I'm going to order this bikini in preparation for me looking like this by spring. Of course, that is dependent on me winning the lottery and recovering quickly from whole body plastic surgery, but....it could happen.

Strolling down memory lane

On Tuesday, I got to spend some time with an old friend, someone I met early on in my college career. How we got to be friends is kinda funny because I was put in a room with a senior as my very first roommate. She wasn't happy to be paired with me because a. she was a senior and who wants to deal with a freshman and b. she had requested a private room and they stuck her with me. Anyway, my old friend (Greta) was friends with this roommate. Greta regarded me with disdain initially, still not really sure why, but it turns out that my old roommate moved on and lived out the rest of her life and Greta and I became friends! Isn't life weird?

So, through the wonderful advent of Facebook, Greta and I reconnected. We'd always sent yearly Christmas cards over the years, but we figure we haven't seen each other in at least 15 years. There's something so nice and comforting about reconnecting with an old friend. Of course, there's always the fear that when you haven't seen someone in such a long time, will you still like them; will they still like you; will you have anything to talk about except for old memories? Well, I'm happy to say that I do still like her; you'd have to ask her if she still likes me; and there was lots to talk about other than memories, although a good walk down memory lane every now and again is good for the soul. We had a great time and promised to meet up again soon.

Just for laughs, here's a picture of me and Greta "back in the day"--1988 to be exact.

YouTube Tuesday Returns

Title: Why AARP offers insurance



Video courtesy of Bean

A Love/hate relationship

Has anyone else noticed that when I started talking about my healthy eating plan/weight loss journey that my weigh-ins and measurements took place on Tuesdays and now they're taking place on Mondays? I just noticed this trend and it's not a good one. Typically I don't stay on plan as strictly over the weekends like I do during the week and I don't work out. So, logic would say that I am probably my "fattest" on Mondays, yet here I am--weighing and measuring on Mondays. This needs to stop.

Today my love/hate relationship with the scale is in the love category because it seems to have gone down another pound to pound and a half. However, my measurements haven't changed one iota. One would think that if the weight was down, the measurements would certainly be down. It appears that losing weight is an flaky thing.

To re-affirm my weight loss thus far, I had Mr put me into my wedding gown last night. Now, those who read regularly may remember the dress fiasco several months ago when, to my horror, I discovered that I no longer fit into my gown, as in, it wouldn't even zip up. To think that I'd gained that much weight in such a short time was absolutely horrifying. Well, I'm pleased to announce that last night not only did it fit, but it was looser than it was on my wedding day! Yay! Now that, my friends, is progress no matter what the scale or the tape measure says.

Happy Valentine's Day

Thanks to Pam for sending me this lovely Valentine so I could share it with you all!

Friday the 13th

Yes, it is Friday the 13th. I have to say, I haven't been superstitious of them. In the past, I've tended to be pretty lucky on Friday the 13ths. I've been gambling on them before and done pretty well. It seems there have been other occasions where they have been pretty lucky for me, too. We'll see how today turns out.

Mr returned from a work trip late last night. In celebration of his return and also Valentine's day, I tried my first attempt at homemade cherry cobbler, his favorite. Since he didn't get home until super late last night, he didn't get to try any of it so I have no idea if it's good or will end up in the garbage. I have to say that it's not entirely homemade. I used the canned cherry pie filling, but the rest is homemade. I would take a picture of it, but this morning some of the inordinate amount of butter I had to add coagulated on the top of the cobbler making it look less than appealing. I picked some of it off mainly because I want Mr to enjoy it; I don't want it to kill him. I figure we've been eating healthy for a while so a little "bad" treat won't hurt him. Plus, I know he loves it. I really hope it turns out well. The added bonus for me is I don't like it so I'm not tempted to eat any of it, thereby keeping my weight loss train on track.

In my photography class last night, I finally learned how I could've corrected this:

There is a setting on my camera that counteracts the yellow that fluorescent lighting gives off. I knew there had to be some way around it, but sometimes when I'm in the middle of shooting, I get nervous and can't find anything on my camera, even if I know where it is. This time I didn't know where it is, but I do now so hopefully I'll be able to fix it the next time I'm in this situation. In the meantime, I bumped down the saturation, which washes the colors out some, but at least she doesn't look like she has jaundice.

Wacky weather

We had another weird weather event here yesterday. We were under a severe thunderstorm warning and some areas were under a tornado watch. After seeing that there was a rainbow in the area, I grabbed my camera and ran outside. Apparently, I missed the rainbow, but got these weird cloud formations instead.





Mr has been out of town since Monday so it was a little scary being here last night by myself during the wind. I've been afraid of storms ever since I was little. My typical storm routine is to get all of my irreplaceables, namely my wedding rings, camera, photos, dog, husband (if he's home) and head to the basement. I got smart and have moved all of my photos, except for the wedding pictures, down to the basement already. It was becoming quite a process to haul them down every storm so I decided to leave them down there. Yesterday's actual storm was so short, I barely got downstairs and it was over. The wind continued all night, though.

I've joined a photographer's group. Have you all heard of this website called meetup.com? I recently got turned onto it and discovered this group here in my area. I've been intimidated to join it because it's a combination of professional photographers and amateurs like me, but even their discussion boards are talking about things I have no idea about. They are doing a shoot in March at an area that we will be told right before the shoot and then we will have 15 min. to survey the area to set up our shots and then 2 minutes per photog to shoot our photos. I'm very nervous mainly because of my lack of experience. I figure there's no way to solve the lack of experience problem except to get more experience so I'm going, but I'm still very nervous. I'll be sure and let you know how it turns out.

Shameless plug for my little girl

I've entered Daisy into a local contest to see if I can get her picture on the front of our yellow pages companion book. It was so hard to pick just one picture because she is cute in all of her pictures (at least to me she is), but I picked the one I thought most other people would find cute. You don't have to live in the area to vote and you can vote once a day until the end of February. I sure would appreciate your help to get her face all over the area!

http://www.windstreamcoverdogdalton.com/Dog_Detail.aspx?ID=1322

Check in

This week's weigh-in/measurements weren't so hot. Looks like I only lost a total of 1 inch and maybe 1/2 pound. I guess that's good given that I was out of town and didn't eat the way I have normally been eating. I am also bloated this week so I think that has something to do with it the inch loss being virtually nill. I'm still continuing with my workouts, although last week I only worked out 3 times due to me being lazy on Tuesday (I took off a day early) and didn't factor in that I wouldn't have time to make it up on Friday since we left. It was soooo hard to motivate myself to work out yesterday, but I did it. It feels so good to get it done for the day.

I'm really ticked at walmart online. I ordered my 30 day shred DVD and it was supposed to be here no later than yesterday. I've sent them 2 emails trying to figure out why it's still not here and all I get back are standard replies. I won't be ordering from them again. I know once I can get back on the shred, the inches will be moving out of here.

Eagle Weekend Recap

Mr and I had an awesome weekend watching the eagles. All in all, the official total was 23 mature eagles, 17 immature and 1 golden eagle. Our viewing count was higher, though, because on the boat cruise out, there was a naturalist helping spot the eagles and on the way back, they didn't do that but we were still spotting them. In addition, we drove down by Lake Barkley dam and saw an eagle's nest and one flying. We figure in total, we probably saw 45 to 50 of them. It was so awesome to see them flying and in their natural state. Mr got to see one dive down and get a fish. Unfortunately I missed that one. I took over 270 photos of the whole weekend so obviously I can't share all of them, but here are some. I finally figured out how to crop the pictures so they would zoom up on the eagle.

This is an immature eagle. We learned that they don't get the white head and tail until they're 4 to 5 years old.

The eager eagle enthusiast keeping his eyes peeled for eagles!

This is the bald eagle and the golden eagle flying. The golden eagle kept trying to attack the bald eagle. It was so cool to see them together.

The golden eagle flying.

The boat that we took the tour on.

Fly like an eagle

Mr and I are going away for the weekend to go eagle watching in western Kentucky. Hopefully I will return with pictures as good as the one above!

As many of you have probably heard on the news, western Kentucky took the brunt of the recent ice storm. It's so bad that we had to be moved from our original lodge to another state lodge down the road about 15 miles because the original lodge has no electric. In addition, we were scheduled to take a boat tour and a van tour and the van tour has been cancelled. I can only guess it's because there are so many trees down that the road to the lookout point is closed. On top of all that, there is a very famous restaurant that Mr has been raving about for years--Patti's--that is also closed due to no electric. We are super bummed about that because their food is supposedly out of this world. What can you do? We thought about cancelling the trip because it's quite a drive down there for us, but have decided instead to go ahead and go. It will be nice to get away for the weekend and Mr and I usually never have any trouble finding stuff to do in a new city.

I'm really excited and truly hope I can get some great pictures of eagles. If nothing else, they are having a program on one of the nights where someone brings in rehabilitated eagles so I will get a picture of an eagle one way or another. It would be really cool to get one in the wild, though. You know I'll be sure and share the pictures when we get back.

Small things that make me happy

Today I painted my nails. It was the first time in a long time--probably since the wedding last April. I realized that I love it when my nails are painted, especially if it's been a long time since I've done it. It got me thinking about other small things that make me happy:

1. Receiving a comment on Facebook, MySpace or blog
2. Having a long phone call or visit with a good friend
3. Hearing from someone I haven't heard from in a while
4. Fresh flowers, either bought by myself or even better, given to me as a gift from someone else
5. A card in the mail for no reason that makes me smile
6. Sending a card in the mail for no reason that hopefully makes the recipient smile
7. Watching the snow fall and realizing I don't have to go anywhere
8. Cooking a good meal that Mr really enjoys
9. Finding a parking space up close when it's crappy weather
10. Buying something at a store and when it's rung up, it's even cheaper than the tag says
11. Curling up with a book and reading all day
12. Playing with and snuggling on the couch with my dog
13. Taking a picture that I think is really good
14. Laughing until I cry, can hardly get my breath and snorting
15. Actually getting to mark things off my to-do list
16. Looking at old pictures
17. Sweats
18. Clean sheets
19. Going to sleep each night with Mr next to me
20. My robe

Super Bowl Monday

I took my measurements this morning since I measured last Monday. It seems I am down some inches--a combined total of 4 1/2 inches to be exact. That's kind of exciting. It would really be interesting to see how many total inches I was down if I'd started measuring from the get-go. Of course, since I was doing the measuring thing, I decided to hop on the scale a day early. It appears I've lost 1 1/2 to 2 pounds. I say that range because I can't really tell from the scale--the little lines are too close together! Either way, at least the scale is moving in the right direction!

I had to order the 30 day shred dvd from Walmart and of course I screwed around in ordering it so hopefully it will be here sometime this week. I'm disappointed because I was making some noticeable progress in my workouts and I don't want to lose that. Today I'm going to try to do something similar so I don't lose ground. I also managed to work out 4 times last week. I initially was going to move up to 5 days this week, but I think I'm going to stay at the 4. I enjoy taking Wednesday off--it breaks up the week nicely and gives me something to look forward to!

Onto other things...did you all watch the Super Bowl last night? I actually watched it from start to finish. What a disappointing end. Mr and I were rooting for the Cardinals so you can imagine our disappointment at the final score.

Let's talk about the important stuff about the Super Bowl, though--the commercials and entertainment. Personally, I was very disappointed in the commercials. Although there were several that Mr and I laughed out loud at, none were phenomenally good. I've seen better in other years. What about Jennifer Hudson's National Anthem? I thought she was awesome. If you can sing that song, you can sing! Of course, the Boss was awesome during the halftime show. I'm not a huge Springsteen fan--I haven't seen him in concert and am not hankering to do so--mainly because I don't know enough of his songs, but I love the songs I do know. I thoroughly enjoyed his performance and I thought he really re-charged the halftime show--without showing any boobs!