Ready, Set, Goal!

Am I a cheeseball or what?! :-D

I was Tweeted a FREE handy little goal sheet weeks ago! Now I am sharing it with you! I printed out two copies... because I do not like writing with pencil... and I don't like things marked out on my page. A little insane? Perhaps!

Download yours here!

From the site (www.isetmygoals.com):

Your 5 Steps for setting goals

  1. Download, print, and fold the booklet
  2. Write down your SMART goals:
    • Specific
    • Measurable
    • Attainable
    • Relevant
    • Time-bound
  3. Review regularly (at least weekly)
  4. Check-off when achieving goals
  5. Reward yourself

Keep your "5x5p5 Goals"

in your wallet !!!

Goal types

Health & Fitness: diet, losing weight, health care, physical fitness, physical training, ...

Family & Relationship: spouse, kids, parents, friends, community, ...

Education & Training: personal development, training courses, career goals, career change, professional goals, ...

Financial: make money, investment, buying, business goals...

Recreation & Leisure: artistic, creative, travel, ...

Beer & Babies

Just a quick post, while I sip on a loverrrly Coors Light.

I briefly touched on life plans in my earlier post today. I had a feeling this would happen... Rest assured, Seth and I aren't talking about baby making just yet!! I just wanted to clear the air there. I know there was some wondering goin' on. :)

Have a great night, y'all! It looks like I will get Thursday (and Friday, of course!) off work after all, and I am TOTALLY EXCITED!

Hugs and butterfly kisses! :-D

Phat to Fat?!

Happy holidays Bloggerfam!!!

I was just looking at my blog and I realized that I have not really posted anything in quite a while... any substance, at least. I'm doing okay over here in Genieland, enjoying holiday treats and festivities, watching my shoulders grow, feeling my back get bigger, and inevitably feeling myself get softer. We all know it has to happen. Being 5'6" and 111.8 pounds is not ideal or healthy, but yet, I'm still not happy with the extra padding I have accumulated. I am happy, however, enjoying life, spending time with friends and family, not having to "miss out" on things I truly want to partake in. I often remind myself that I need these extra calories to focus on building those lagging body parts.

I have been doing a lot of reading... soaking up whatever info I can. Why? I'm not sure. I'm not going to follow these random diets that I am looking over (LOL!), but I do enjoy reading about them... It's amazing what useful info you can pull from a diet that you have no intentions of following.

I have also been looking at a lot of pics. The thought of hitting the national stage is daunting and intimidating, but I am willing to bust my ass to try to look the part. Gah! Pictures of ladies in last callouts look amazing. I think what in THE world have I got myself into? I find myself looking at suits and their crazy price tags. Then my mind starts to calculate show costs. Entry fees are outrageous at that level (why?!), travelling, hotels, Becca better be there to tan me so that I don't have to spend $100 on tanning (LOL!), do I need new shoes? Mine are pretty narsty. Maybe I will just wear the same suit and save dough. OOooh! That's a pretty suit.

See what's going on in my crazy head? Seth and I have been discussing some major life decisions as well. It can get overwhelming, but somehow I am staying calm (for now!). All I know is that I am going to my 2010 the best year I possibly can. *deep breath*


Menu Planning Monday - Christmas is almost here!

Just a quick post... Since this will (hopefully) be a short work week, I have to fit five days of work into three days. AHHHH!


Monday: Chicken thighs, baked potato topped w/ 2% Fage, lots of broccoli, and shredded cheese (rice cheese for me)

Tuesday: Baked crab cakes (using Ezekiel bread and egg whites, recipe to be determined), salad, soup (from pantry)

Wednesday: Chicken soft tacos

Thursday: Tuna melt on Ezekiel bread (no cheese for me), steamed broccoli, sweet potato fries

Friday: Chicken & Dumplings (low fat recipe -- This was my husband's Christmas dinner request.)

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Sirloin, baked potato, salad

I recently read about a $25 per week grocery challenge. You can only spend $25 per person per week on groceries... I decided to give it a try this week! So far, so good! :) I also love that it encourages me to use what we have instead of buying more of other things. Our pantry is pretty stocked. I think we have almost 20 cans of tuna. LOL! That is not normal! So far we have spent $48. This does not include Christmas dinner, but I think we can pick up what I need for under $2... We'll see!

Check out more menus over at I'm an Organizing Junkee.

Amazing Grass

Yeehaw!!

Amazing Grass is having a sale!! 25% off! Just enter code "HolidaySale" at checkout.

Seriously, guys, this stuff is GREAT! I use it every day, and I even got my dad hooked! I just ordered him some for Christmas. He's not the epitome of health and fitness, far from it, so it's not just us health nuts who like it. Good stuff right here!

Click the pic below to purchase! :) Of course, I picked a pic of my favorite Chocolate Infusion SuperFood!

Booty Busters!

Just a quick poll. :o) I've been slacking in blog land.

What is your favorite exercise that targets your glutes?

Currently, my favorite... STEP-UPS! I grab some DBs and a flat bench, and I'm good to go. Funny, I used to hate them.

"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials." -- Chinese Proverb

Snarky, but I like it

Today I will do what you won't, so that tomorrow I can do what you can't. -- Jerry Rice

I found that quote today while going through an old notebook. I just had to share!

I hope you all are having wonderful fulfilling days! :) I'm excited because tomorrow I am trying a new method of journaling, a la Melissa Cunningham! Find her blog and amazing journey to the Pro stage here.

Just out of curiosity... What do you like to see on blogs? I'm always at a loss as to what to focus on, so I'm a bit all over the place... but that's how I am in "real" life, too. :)

Menu Planning Monday - Trying new things

I'm feeling uninspired! Here's the menu for the week. I'm trying to cut down on after work/after workout cooking, so my Monday through Friday meals are super quick and easy. I'm trying several new budget & time friendly recipes this week. I hope they are good!



Monday: chicken breasts, baked potatoes w/ sour cream and cheddar (rice cheese for me!), broccoli

Tuesday: adobo chicken, rice, Prince Edward mix from Aldi

Wednesday: crockpot chili, cornbread or noodles (to be determined!)

Thursday: pork tenderloin, sweet potatoes, green beans

Friday: slow cooker beef stroganoff, broccoli



For more menu ideas, hop on over to I'm and Organizing Junkie's Menu Planning Monday!

Gear


Thought this was hilarious, so I had to share!! Ignore the incorrect "your".

Rock

Have you ever had one of those days where you just want to crawl under a rock? That was my day yesterday. I won't get into it. It's over (thankfully) and behind me. I'm declaring today my fresh start! and not just on the fitness front. Man, isn't it nice that you can have one of those each day that you need one?!

Be the change you wish to see in the world. -- Gandhi

This is my favorite quote at the moment. I am trying to apply it as often as I can. Sometimes I just forget.

So, here's your moment. Grab it! Hold on to it! Be the change!! Whether it's fitness related or not. Grab life by the balls and go for it.

Anything is Possible

"The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible. " -- Richard M. DeVos

Tortoise & Menu Planning Monday

I ran my first mile this weekend.

How lame does that sound? LOL! My goal was to do it in 10:00 or less. I managed to finish it in 8:36. I can't wait to bring that down. I definitely could have started off faster, but I was scared I wouldn't be able to finish. I have always been FAST, but I can't go fast for very long. I'm looking forward to improving!

Now on to this week's menu.

Pork and chicken was on sale last week, so that's the reason for the lack of variety. :)

Monday: chicken breasts, baked potato fries, roasted Brussels sprouts

Tuesday: pork tenderloin roast w/ carrots; green beans & mashed sweet potatoes on the side (I am using an adapted version of this recipe -- hope it's good!)

Wednesday: chicken soft tacos

Thursday: chicken parmesan (baked chicken!) w/ whole wheat pasta for hubby and corn pasta for me

Friday: date night! Who knows. ;)

Saturday: home made calzones! I have been dying to try out a spelt pizza crust recipe. :)

Sunday: pulled pork (homemade BBQ sauce -- yikes, this could get interesting! LOL!) on multi-grain buns; side of green beans and corn on the cob

For more menu ideas, hop on over to I'm and Organizing Junkie's Menu Planning Monday!


Thank You!

Thank you all for your comments and views regarding the Arnold. You pretty much confirmed what I was feeling. While I was really looking forward to it, I knew that I needed time to build to bring a better package to the national stage. When you aren't completely content with a decision you've made, it really helps to hear that others have very similar opinions. So, thank you for that, and thank you for your support.

Now where's that national schedule?! :)

P.S. I'm selling a suit on Diva. It's new, but I didn't get to wear it. I can't fill it out... at all. LOL!

If you follow my blog, and you are interested, make me an offer. :) I'm trying to raise money to travel to compete next year. THANKS GUYS! xoxo!

A Penny for Your Thoughts

Guys. I don't know what I'm doing.

FACT: National Qualifications are only good until the end of the following calendar year. It used to be two years.

I have been very excited about the possibility of competing at the Arnold Amateur... just to say I did it. The Arnolds are in March, if ya didn't already know.

PROBLEM: That leaves very little time to build, and I feel like I lost quite a bit of muscle when I dropped the 25 pounds during my last round of dieting. It happens.

I do want to compete at the National level while I have the opportunity. What if this chance never happens again? I would like to be competitive. In order to do so, I think I would need more muscle... would definitely need more of a backside.

Do I push aside my desire to compete at the Arnold Amateur to bring a better package at the National level?

What would my Bloggerfam do? I'm on the fence. Actually, I'm leaning in a direction that will remain secret for now. I want to hear what you all think.

Crumby not Crummy!

Hi guys!! Shoo yesterday was hectic, as is EVERY SINGLE WEDNESDAY. Heck, every day, but I can usually take 3-5 minutes away from work to post a blog. It's a nice little outlet that keeps me from going loony at work.

Confession: I ate all of my Newman's Own Organics Chocolate Chocolate Chip Champion Chip Cookies (say that 5 times fast) without snapping a pic of them. I ate the LAST cookie only to realize that the bottom of the bag was ALL CRUMBS.

These cookies are tiny little crumbly cookies full of chocolate goodness. They are not too sweet, and while I am a soft cookie kinda gal, I really love this crumbly texture... it reminds me of pecan sandies.

So, guess what I did with my crumbs? I made a layered dessert! Cottage cheese, brown sugar, and CRUMBS!!


Seriously, so good. Who doesn't love dessert as a meal? I should've chased it down with some Amazing Grass to get my veggies in!

One of my favorite things about Newman's Own Organics is not only do I feel good about eating organic treats, I know the profits are going to a good cause!! Check out the sticker on the front of the bag!!

Paul Newman has given over $200 MILLION to thousands of charities world wide since 1982

How can you NOT feel all warm and fuzzy inside supporting a company like that?

I know what all you fitness fanatics are wondering... What are the nutritional stats?!


I tried working them in by eating only 2 (half a serving) at a time... but they are so dang good that it is hard to stop at just two!

Overall, what do I think? I love'em!

Will I repurchase? Most definitely! but I will probably repurchase the Newman's Own Organic Hint 'O Mint Newman-Os first. ;)

Cheapskate

Oh yeah. I am totally a cheapskate. I have been racking up points and redeeming them for gift cards... to use for Christmas shopping. WOO!

I just redeemed some SWAGBUCKS points for $10 worth of Amazon gift cards. SCHWEEEET!

Swagbucks is a free site that lets you earn points by searching through their search engine, you can trade in old phones for points, all kinds of stuff!!

If you check it out, please use my referral banner below so I can... duh, get more POINTS! WEEE!!

Search & Win

Not Your Granny's Apples!

I am a master procrastinator. Oh yes. I am procrastinating, again!

Yesterday, I came home to a delightful package from Peggy at Old World Enterprise Group, the makers of Bare Fruit Snacks. Thanks Peggy!!

My husband and I are both CRAZY about the Granny Smith bake-dried apples.


Yes, I was so excited that I didn't even snap the pic before ripping open the bag. These are SO TASTY! OH MY GOSH!! Go buy a bag NOW! Seriously! Seth said they are even BETTER than apples. I have to agree.

But wait, they ARE just apples.


How the heck did they get so tasty?

Best. Dried. Fruit. Ever. Handsdown.



We ate the bag in less than 24 hours. They are THAT good!

I even had some for a meal today mixed with Oikos Honey and slivered almonds. It was perfect! Crunchy, sweet, tart, creamy...


I love these. No added sugar, preservatives, additives... No added junk whatsoever. Just crunchy natural goodness.


I WILL be ordering these when my stash runs out. Most definitely. No question about it.

To find out more about Bare Fruit Snacks, check out their site: http://www.barefruitsnacks.com/ . Don't forget to check out their store while you're there! :)

I plan on trying the mango tomorrow. YUM!

Becoming Sane

Morning Bloggerfam!! I hope you had a WONDERFUL night's sleep. I forced myself to bed early and woke up to a 1/2 slice of Ezekiel bread, some ANPB, and some coffee. Then I hit the treadmill for some 5k training action.

Actually, I didn't hop on the treadmill as quickly as I would have liked. I was a bit pissy. I have started a couple 5k programs MANY MANY times, and I simply do not stick with them. I then remembered Einstein's quote.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. -- Albert Einstein

Duh! Why would I force myself to do the SAME program that I did not enjoy in the past? I won't stick to something if I don't enjoy it.

I'm trying a NEW program. And, I like that I am starting it on a Tuesday. This makes my "long" runs fall on Saturdays -- perfect! Check out the Spark Your Way to a 5k Jogging Program. Today's run was only a 1/2 mile. I actually enjoyed myself, though, and that is what it's about! I could probably run a 5k, but if I started with that I would be a miserable mess, and I would never want to run again!

After my very brief jog I hit up Youtube for a yoga abs session. I didn't really like the video I chose, but that's okay. At least I feel like I accomplished something! and I got a great reward -- BREAKFAST!

Blueberry Spelt Loaf
4 egg whites
17g Organic Spelt Flour
17g Organic Spelt Flakes
1g Stevia
25g Wild Blueberries (I used frozen)

It wasn't as good as a blueberry muffin from a coffee shop, or even as good as a blueberry muffin with a yummy whey blend, but I'm trying to limit my protein powder consumption... only because I don't want to eat so much processed filler.


Bake on 350* until cooked through. I'm not sure how long I baked it. I finished packing my meals for the day then ate! :D


YUM!


Didn't live up to the hype!

Do you ever look forward to a meal... I mean, REALLY REALLY look forward to a meal? I was excited about dinner tonight, but it was missing something.

Spinach and mushrooms sauteed in garlic and olive oil, topped with garlic & herb goat cheese and grilled chicken. On the side, spicy sweet potato fries. I could eat those all day long! :)



Dessert?

HERMITS! Newman's Own Organics chewy soft molasses raisin cookies. I wub these. I finished off the bag tonight. *sniff sniff* I didn't see them at my local store, but I am definitely keeping and eye out for them. I love brown sugar, molasses, sorghum... that kinda sweet sticky stuff. I guess it's the Southern in me.



Yum!



Come clooooooserrrrr



They are calorie dense per cookie, but they are packed with flavor and goodness. I try to limit myself to two in one sitting.

False Start

Leave it to me to not jump into my challenge as strong as I would have liked. I woke up this morning at 3:36... not because I was gung ho and ready for cardio, but because something had my guts twisted and up in my throat. I ran for the restroom, spewing my guts out. WTF?! Who does that? I laid in bed until it was time to get ready for work... cold and sweating, the room spinning, all while taking occasional breaks to stare into the porcelain god. Nice. I'm fine now. SO BIZARRE! I don't know if it was something I ate or a bug. I have been sick a LOT since prep. I need to get my immune system up! I think that gaining some weight probably wouldn't hurt.

So... my challenge is off to a rough start. I have updated my weekly schedule to reflect my lackluster start. LOL! It's all good. I think this may work out better anyways. ;)

Is your week off to a great start?! I hope so!

Menu Planning Monday - No Leftovers!

Anyone else sick of turkey?! I know I am!




This week I went to the grocery store without a shopping list or any idea of what I was cooking. Dangerous! We were also quite low on many essentials. Oh well, such is life!

Monday: chicken breast; sautéed mushrooms and spinach topped with garlic & herb goat cheese; sweet potato wedges

Tuesday: beef & broccoli over brown rice

Wednesday: chicken & brown rice soup (crockpot - using leftover chicken and brown rice); I may make some fresh spelt rolls to go along with it, depending on if I am completely exhausted.

Thursday: oven fried pork topped with chipotle gouda; asparagus; baked potato

Friday: spaghetti on whole wheat pasta (hubby) or corn pasta (me!)

Saturday: venison stew; cornbread

Sunday: homemade pizza - recipe to be determined :)

For more menu ideas, hop on over to I'm and Organizing Junkie's Menu Planning Monday!

2009 Holiday Challenge - Day 1



It's HEEEeeeeere! Are you Crazy Cool Cats ready to reel yourselves in from the gluttony that is Thanksgiving? I know I am.

Do you have your daily or weekly goals ready? No? Get to them!

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.” - Alan Lakein

How's that for today's motto? :)


Today I will:
  1. Eat whole, unprocessed foods
  2. Lift (heavy legs day!)
  3. Cardio -- nothing strenuous, but I have to get this body moving!
  4. Drink 1.5 gallons of water
My tentative plan for the week can be found below. I have learned to not be a stickler with my plans. Life happens and you have to be able to roll with it if you want to succeed.


Week 1
Sunday:
(AM) Off
(PM) Legs (booty concentration!)

Monday:
(AM) Off
(PM) abs; yoga

Tuesday:
(AM) 30:00 cardio - warm-up 5:00 + alternate run 2:00/walk 3:00 for 25:00;
(PM) Chest/Shoulders; stretch

Wednesday:
(AM) Pilates; Calves
(PM) Bis & Tris; stretch

Thursday:
(AM) 30:00 cardio - warm-up 5:00 + alternate run 2:00/walk 3:00 for 25:00;
(PM) Yoga

Friday
(AM) Off
(PM) Back; Stretch

Saturday
(AM) 40:00 cardio - warm-up 5:00 + alternate run 2:00/walk 3:00 for 35:00; Calves
(PM) Abs & Calves; stretch

At first glance it looks like I may be hitting it a little too hard. I do not want to overtrain. I will pay close attention to how I feel. Since I am not dieting, I should have plenty of food to recover. We'll see! Also, this week is a little different. I usually have Sundays as complete rest days, but due to the holidays, I have had plenty of those. ;)

What are your daily and weekly goals?


When I met Sally

Words are not coming to me today. I must be in a food coma.

Dinner has been served. I have eaten at least four times my bodyweight. It only sounds like a lot. I don't weigh much. Bwah! I am sitting here unwinding with my dad, father-in-law, mother-in-law, husband, and a glass of my favorite egg nog... Evan Williams pre-mixed is where it's at. I think this is the fourth (or fifth?) open bottle in 24 hours. The men have been throwing it down the hatch. They made me go out late last night to restock. I am having my first glass of the day! FABULOUS!

My belly has been full and happy today. Yesterday my belly was happy as well... because I ate a little too many Newman's Own Organics goodies. Oopsy!

I came home on Tuesday to a shaved cat and a box full of Newman's Own Organics. Oh boy!

Miss Kitty approves!



How stinking cute is she? I love my cuddly kitty!

Kissy kissy!



I totally look alien-ish in this pic! It does not look like me at all!

ANYWAYS! Back to Newman's Own Organics!

Sally from NOO was kind enough to send me a box of goodies. Thanks Sally! I must also say that Sally is one of those people you just like to get email from. There is just something about her. So, Sally, if you are reading this, thanks for the goodies, and thank you for being you!

Oh yeah, I am easily sidetracked today... back to the review. ;)

As I was unpacking the bounty, I heard a *RIP* then a *CRUNCH*... Seth had already found his way into a bag of soy crisps. I told him that if he was gonna eat the WHOLE bag, he was gonna have to write the review. I had a couple crisps, but I foresee a Seth guest post in the future! LOL!

What did I find that caught my attention?! Oh. My. Goodness. You MUST try Newman's Own Organics Mint Creme Filled Chocolate Cookies. MUST. These little guys are perfect! Seriously! It's like an Oreo made with wholesome ingredients, and they punched the flavor up a notch with mint goodness. Hint-O-Mint is RIGHT!!! These Newman-O's have made me a customer for like -- no joke!



Let's take a look at the label:



Guys, please remember, THIS IS A COOKIE. This is a treat. So what if it doesn't have the nutritional breakdown of 100g of celery and a side of boiled chicken breast? It's a COOKIE. LOL! I'm cool with the macronutrients on these. I can work them into my meal plan. I like that I get two cookies in a serving, and the sugar content is not crazy crazy high. There a many protein bars out there with more than 10g of sugar per serving.

Mmmmm coookies.



I can't wait to tell you about the other Newman's Own Organics products I have tried. They have been fabulous, and, if you are a mint chocolate fan like me, then these are sure to please!

You can find out more about Newman-Os here.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! :)

2009 Holiday Challenge

Sleighbells ring, are ya listenin'?
In the gym, sweaty guys are whistlin'.
It's a beautiful sight;
Our guts our still tight.
Walkin' in a winter wonderland.

Bet ya'll didn't know I was such a lyricist, huh? LOL! I crack myself up sometimes. :P

Today work has been AWESOMEnot. *channeling Borat* I still do not know if I have Friday off. I guess I will find out as I leave. Have I mentioned that I love my jobnot? Obviously, it is causing my brain to turn to mush.

ON WITH THE CHALLENGE!

I have decided that going sugar free and sugar-free free was not for me. I refuse to live this holiday season depriving myself of things I want. I love my sweets. I can be more mindful and not eat as much! And I can choose my sweets wisely, like sticking to natural sweet goodies like SUGAR (damn right I said sugar) and stevia... honey... etc. I don't do well with rules like "no sugar" or "no sweetener" or "no white shoes after Labor Day" because it makes me want those things.

Another reason I chose not to do the sugar-free challenge is I plan on starting prep January 1st. I will be limiting that stuff plenty then. You all are more then welcome to do this challenge, and if ya do, please keep me posted! :)

What challenge am I doing?!!

On the food front:

I'm going to start READING LABELS. HAHA! Sounds lame, huh? Well, as I was ingesting some "healthy" food, I was thinking about all the narsty chemicals I was putting into my body. Now, I'm not one to knock things. I really do believe most things are okay in moderation, but I am going to use this challenge to FUEL MY BODY with GOODNESS, not chemicals and processed crap. I want to get myself reacquainted with label reading. I always read the nutrition facts, but I just mindlessly look at the ingredients... I guess in hopes that by simply looking and not reading the list, my brain will absorb the information. So far it hasn't worked. So, I'm saying no to high fructose corn syrup, aspartame and the like, and any other ingredient that resembles this: kafjpieprmapkp. This is a bit contradictory because I am making a rule, but when do you seriously crave... uhm... Yellow Dye #5? That's what I thought.

On the fitness front:

I will DO SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS WANTED to do!

I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller, I wish I had a girl that looked good, I would call her... okay, maybe that last little bit isn't true.

What do I wish? Well, I've always wanted to be better at endurance! I also want to be a nimble little yogini. I have the little part down. LOL! And, Hell, let's be frank, I also want a nice set of abs. I want to be able to lift up my shirt, take a picture, send it to my friend and say Becca, I HAZ ABZ, knowing that she would understand. Because I am that lame awesome.

So, I will:

1. Begin a run/walk program... again.
2. Practice yoga 1-3 times a week
3. Do abs 2 times a week (probably pilates once and one ab workout at the gym)

Now, I CHALLENGE YOU to pick things you have always wanted to do, or set your mind on certain goals you want to achieve, and GROW SOME STINKIN' CAJONES and just go for it!! What's stopping you?

You may also steal my challenge and do exactly what I am doing. :o)

So, what's everyone gonna do to better themselves this holiday season?

Weak Week

Shooo. I feel like a GIRL at the gym this week. :-D I am glad to be back on track, though. Hopefully this little holiday we have sneaking up on us won't be too detrimental to my progress. I've jam-packed this week w/ weights so I should be done by tomorrow! It's times like this that planning ahead really pays off.

Anyways, I wanted to post yet another Oikos review!! I love LOVE this stuff, and now I have had the chance to try every flavor. My favorite is easily the Fruit on the Bottom variety. Strawberry is my fav, then blueberry. This is surprising because usually I'm a blueberry kinda gal.





How can you NOT love all that strawberry goodness?


The nutrition facts aren't too shabby either. (I would post a pic here, but my pic is blurry! LOL!)

HOLIDAY CHALLENGE

I have had a lot of people comment, email, IM, etc. me about the possibility of a holiday challenge. It looks like a healthy split between something like a sugar-free challenge and a workout challenge. I think a combo may be in order!

I will post the details BEFORE Thanksgiving so that we can get all of our ducks in a row! :)



Menu Planning Monday - Cleaning out the fridge!

Oof! I have been a busy bee this morning. I must get organized. I keep thinking of blogging ideas that slip my mind. I just can't find time to write.





The name of the game this week is CLEANING OUT THE FRIDGE! Gotta make room for the Thanksgiving feast and leftovers.

Monday: Spaghetti w/ a lean ground turkey and lean ground Italian turkey sausage combo, whole wheat noodles for the hubby and corn noodles for me, crushed tomatoes as a sauce base... hope it's good. I have never used crushed tomatoes and seasoning only for a sauce.

Tuesday: Sweet & sour pork stir-fry w/ brown rice (homemade sauce using sugar-free preserves... Jamie Eason tweeted about this the other day, and I want to try it out! :) )

Wednesday: Tuna salad on Ezekiel bread for me, white bread for the hubs. I want to keep the ovens and stove tops FREE this day because I will be preparing so much food for Thanksgiving day.

Thursday: Uhm, turkey, what else? :P

The rest of the week is a toss up! We will be on the road. I don't know what food will be served. I'm going to adopt the Body for Life mentality while traveling -- protein the size of your palm, carbs the size of a fist, and the rest vegetables. I doubt I will stick to it 100%, but it's all good.

Are you looking for more menu ideas? Check out Menu Planning Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Shakin' in mah bootz!

Gah!! Nationals this weekend... WOW!!

First, let me announce that I would make a terrible, terrible NPC judge. LMAO!

Second, holy macaroni, I would have got my ass stomped, then trampled, then kicked to crap at Nationals this weekend. I was sad that I wasn't competing, but yowzah! These girls look ah-mazing! Phew! I got my work cut out for me... but that is okay. I like having goals and having spots to build on. It makes my workouts seem that much more important.

Shoulders, yes, I have them, but not like these girls. Back, eh, I need more V! For some reason I have bigger and better front lats than back lats. Maybe this is a posing issue. Third, I suffer from noassitol. No ass at all. LOL!

I see a lot of posing issues that I need to fix, too, but that is okay. That is "easy" and totally in my control... just takes practice... something that I do not do much of when it comes to posing.

Building has begun. I need it. Hopefully I will have enough time to build in the remaining month so that I can begin dieting January 1 to hit the stage early early Spring. Now, this also means that I can't gain much fat. I don't know how much I will be able to build these areas up without packing on the poundage, not that more fat means more muscle... Ahhh, the contradictory thoughts flying through my measly brain. :-D

So, tomorrow begins clean eats, more eats, but still clean. I do have some "dirties" that I need to eat up, but (hehehe) that should not be a problem. After Turkey Day I plan on beginning my "challenge"... I'm debating between a sugar-free (all sweeteners) challenge or a challenge more on the workout front... like pick something you don't usually do and do it 1-3 times a week (I would pick yoga & pilates). I don't know. If you would be interested in joining such a challenge, lemme know in a comment... perhaps I will draw something up more official. I'd love to include my bloggerfam in this, instead of just doing a challenge all by my sad, lonesome self *sniff* *sniff*. Do I get any sympathy challenge-joiners for that? I would like some cheese with that wine... I mean, whine. Ha!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! I spent mine in the basement... doing renovations... more like demo. Man, it is a mess down there!!

Let's make this week a great one! Press towards your goals! You can do anything you put your mind to... well, for the most part. Please don't jump out a window thinking you can fly because you put your mind to it. :)

Orange

Orange ya glad it's Friday?

TGIF Bloggerfam!!

I had to quickly snap a pic of the food I packed this morning. It made me giggle -- everything was... ORANGE! I apologize for the poor pic quality. My digital camera was dead, and I made due with my crappy camera phone.



I must say, I have totally fallen off the wagon. Last week I went to the gym one time. I was battling the stomach flu most of the week! Then KY Muscle rolled around, so I didn't work out.

This week, I went to the gym hoarse on Monday, thinking it was just the traveling, but it really was an awful cough/cold. I'm still on the mend.

I am making tomorrow my FRESH START! I know, kinda crazy with Turkey Day around the corner, but I need my mojo back, and gosh darnit, I want it back sooner than later. Even if I am still sick tomorrow, I must do something active. MUST!

I'm also thinking some kind of challenge between Thanksgiving and Christmas would be fun, right? Kick start to the New Year? I don't know... just tossing out ideas (and trying to avoid work).

Have a fabulous weekend!! I've been a poop head all day, but I'm going to have FUN after work. Greek pizza and Guinness at one of my favorite joints! WOO HOO!

Wordless Wednesday -- Awards Pic! Finally!

Yum Yum Gimme Some!!

I had the most amazing breakfast Friday. Yes, I am just now telling you about it. I'm a slacker! :-D Actually, I just didn't want to bombard you with a ton of Amazing Grass and Oikos posts, like I was some sort of brainwashed broken record... but, actually, I am. I can't get enough of either!!

BEHOLD


Oikos and Amazing Grass unite!!! for an Amazingly delicious breakfast.

I mixed together two of my favs, Oikos Honey and Amazing Grass Chocolate Infusion Amazing Meal. It was a match made in breakfast heaven.


Oh, but I couldn't just stop there... I had to top it with dark chocolate chips, dried coconut, and frozen banana slices. Perfection. If I wasn't out of Amazing Grass Chocolate Infusion Amazing Meal, I would have it again on Friday... it was a perfect way to start the end of the week. I like making Fridays feel extra special. I'm cheesy like that.

I want to eat Amazing Grass products and Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt with EVERYTHING. I wish I was joking. It's getting a bit ridiculous.





Menu Planning Monday

What what what? I haz resurrected the blogging schedule... for today anyways. Bwahahaha.





Oh guess what guys, I woke up late this morning and desperately needed to wash my hair... but I had no time. I broke out the dry shampoo, which I normally hate, but today it worked WONDERS!

Okay, that has nothing to do with menus.

Here we go!

Monday: leftover banana bread muffins, bourbon balls. Don't judge. Hehehe

Tuesday: Philly cheese steak sammiches, except it will be chicken... and smoked provolone veggie cheese, on a crusty loaf from the bakery that I have been dying to use. Chicken, cheese, peppers, onions, light mayo, all broiled into a melty goodness, with a side of roasted asparagus drizzled with grapeseed oil, topped with smoked sea salt and cracked black pepper. *drools* Wish I had mushrooms for the sandwich, but I do not!

Wednesday: Black & Bleu (Gorgonzola, since that's what we have) salad w/ a side of baked sweet potato fries

Thursday:
Lemon herb chicken, scalloped potatoes, roasted cauliflower

Friday:
Date night @ CJ Maggies -- I'm having a Greek pizza and draft Guinness

Saturday:
Chicken Parmesan

Sunday:
Chicken fajitas w/ a ton of toppings -- buffet style (This helps me w/ veggie prep for the rest of the week since I will be chopping and sauteing tons of veggies for this meal.)

If you'd like a recipe to any of these, leave me a comment and ask! :) I'm a wing it as a I go cook a lot of the time, but I can pay attention and tell you the steps after the meal!... that is, if it ends up edible. LOL!

Tomorrow morning for breakfast I totally am wanting to fry up some organic egg substitute and top it w/ that smoked provolone veggie cheese I mentioned earlier. It just sounds like the right thing to do. Maybe I will chase it down with some Amazing Grass Chocolate SuperFood!

Are you looking for more menu ideas? Check out Menu Planning Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

I am a Compulsive Liar




Yeehaw! I feel special. And cold, but that's not the point.

It's that time again. The beautiful Alyson at "Nourished Fitness" and my twinnytwintwin Becca at "A Mile in These Shoes" both awarded me with the Honest Scrap Award. I have to divulge 10 truths then tag seven bloggers who I think will also tell the truth.

1. I had a muffin and bourbon balls for dinner. Diet FAIL! but it was tasty, and I am way underweight, which leads me to #2.

2. I can justify anything to myself.

3. I have to go to CVS, but I am totally procrastinating. I wonder what time they close.

4. When I blog, log, journal, email, etc., it is total word vomit, straight to my fingers... somehow all the words go straight to my fingers, completely bypassing my brain.

5. My closest girl friends are online.

6. Gone are the days that I could squat 300+ pounds multiple times without a blink or hesitation. I will get that back.

7. When I look at my last show pics, I can't believe it's me. That's not how I see myself. And, my waist is not that small, and my muscles are not that big. I don't know who's body that is, but I sure am glad that they let me borrow it for the show.

8. I do not get grossed out by "dirty" foods. I love them. I love healthy food, too, so it's all good.

9. While watching KY Muscle, I was sad that I was not competing. I am also sad that I am not doing Nationals this weekend. WTF BBQ?

10. I wear house shoes to work nearly every day... just don't tell my boss they are house shoes. I don't think he knows any better.

And, let's not discriminate! I'm gonna open this up to some non-fitness related bloggers. I follow all sorts of blogs! :) I will try not to do duplicates... this is gonna be tough!!

1. First goes to my darling, dearest friend Kathie. She keeps changing her blog name, so I'm not even gonna try to post the name because it will probably change by the time she sees the link. LOL

2. Amber at Finding Body After Baby. She's been a wonderful support system for me throughout the past couple years. She is a new mother and got back to her prepreg weight in NO TIME! Go Amber! Can't wait to see you hit that stage again!

3. Jamie at I am a Money Magnet, a fellow KY resident! Her blog was one of the first blogs I ever discovered, and her blog has helped me save so much dough!! Thanks Jamie!!

4. Dana, you've been tagged!! I got the pleasure of meeting Dana at her first show (my 2nd) at the Bluegrass Classic. She tore it up, too! I want to know more about ya, girlie!

5. Sohee, who is on a "commercial break" from blogging. I hope she suddenly finds some spare time to share some intriguing tidbits about her life. I always love her posts!

6. Melissa, a spicy ;) newlywed who loves food, fitness, and travel. An awesome chickie!

and

7. Last, but definitely not least, my girl Jenn, who has the dreams, aspirations, and DRIVE to become a Pro. Get it girl!! WOO! I hope to meet you on that National stage next year!!

Okay, for realz. I gotta go to CVS. I have so many bloggy ideas running through my brain, but no time! AHHHH!

Hugz! and let's make this week a great one, okay?

Two Casualties...


Two casualties occurred in my kitchen early yesterday. After a brief mourning session, I composed myself and picked up the pieces.

Let me start off by saying that I LOVE Oikos Greek Yogurt! Love it! However, it is HARD TO COME BY around these parts. And, when I do run across it, I never find any fun flavors. In comes Kristina from Stonyfield Farms (they make this wonderful yogurt!) to save the day!! She was kind and generous enough to send me a sampling of the flavors! Thank you SO MUCH Kristina!!




Upon opening my big box of refrigerated goodness, I noticed that one of the yogurts had a leak! OH NO!!! I knew at that moment I had to consume it IMMEDIATELY! I couldn't let it go rancid, now could I?! I ingested a big dollop of Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt in Plain. This stuff is THICK, RICH, and CREAMY! The website ain't lyin' when it says it! YUM!

You all know I have to get creative with my food, right? Tons of flavor combos rush through my brain!

Flavor concoction #1: Oikos Organic Plain Greek Yogurt, cinnamon bun protein powder, raisins, chopped walnuts, coconut flakes, Saigon Cinnamon

YUM! Who needs sugary, fattening, processed desserts when you can have this rich creamy goodness?! Seriously! So tasty! And the best part? This massive 5.3oz container has some killer nutritional stats! Check out the low carb and sugar stats!! and SUPAH DUPAH high protein in this HUGE container:

plain - Oikos organic - Greek yogurt

Serving Size 1 containerAmount Per Serving 150gCalories 80Calories from Fat 0 % Daily Value*Total Fat 0g0%Trans Fat 0gSat Fat 0g0%Cholesterol 0mg0%Sodium 60mg3%Potassium 230mg7%Total Carbohydrate 6g2%Dietary Fiber 0g0%Sugars 6gProtein 15g30% Vitamin A 0%Vitamin C 0%Calcium 20%Iron 0%Thiamin 6%Riboflavin 20%Vitamin B6 2%Vitamin B12 15%Pantothenic Acid 8%Phosphorus 20%Magnesium 4% *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
OUR FAMILY RECIPE:

CULTURED PASTEURIZED ORGANIC NONFAT MILK. CONTAINS FIVE LIVE AND ACTIVE CULTURES INCLUDING L. ACIDOPHILUS, BIFIDUS, AND L. CASEI.


Now, I tried taking a picture, but my sloppy mixing skills left me with an unappealing photo. I will be neater next time.

On to the second casualty...

As I was neatly placing my remaining containers into the fridge, Butterfingers (that would be me) managed to forcefully drop one on the floor. SPLAT! Instant yogurt crisis! This time it was the vanilla flavor. I cleaned up my floor and placed the unharmed remnants (a good 3.6oz, I measured! LOL!) in a container. This brings me to my next tasty concoction!

Flavor concoction #2: Oikos Organic Vanilla Greek Yogurt, vanilla protein powder, frozen wild blueberries

I mixed it all up and placed it in the freezer for an evening snack. This was GREAT! An even healthier version of frozen yogurt! We know the sugar content of frozen yogurts can get pretty scary... we won't even go into the chemical content in most... ;) I love the light sweetness in the Vanilla flavored Oikos, and of course, you still get every bit of the rich creamy goodness that the Plain has.

While the carbs and sugar is a little higher than plain, it is still a LOT lower than regular yogurt. Plus it's creamier, thicker, and just plain better... Have I mentioned the protein is higher?

vanilla - Oikos organic - Greek yogurt

Serving Size 1 containerAmount Per Serving 150gCalories 110Calories from Fat 0 % Daily Value*Total Fat 0g0%Trans Fat 0gSat Fat 0g0%Cholesterol 0mg0%Sodium 60mg3%Potassium 220mg6%Total Carbohydrate 12g4%Dietary Fiber 0g0%Sugars 11gProtein 15g30% Vitamin A 0%Vitamin C 0%Calcium 20%Iron 0%Thiamin 4%Riboflavin 20%Vitamin B6 2%Vitamin B12 10%Pantothenic Acid 8%Phosphorus 20%Magnesium 4% *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
OUR FAMILY RECIPE:

CULTURED PASTEURIZED ORGANIC NONFAT MILK, ORGANIC SUGAR, ORGANIC NATURAL VANILLA FLAVOR. CONTAINS FIVE LIVE AND ACTIVE CULTURES INCLUDING L. ACIDOPHILUS, BIFIDUS, AND L. CASEI.



Obviously, I could go on and on about how much I love this yogurt. Heck, I have went on and on about it... and I've only tested two of the fabulous flavors! If you want to know more about this indulgent treat that is actually healthy!! check out their site at www.oikosorganic.com ... Get the scoop on the flavors, some recipes, AND there are even COUPONS!! $$$