Start your mornings off right

I couldn't sleep anymore so I got up early and went to the gym.  I feel great and energized and nothing is more refreshing than taking a shower in the morning.  I think I should make this my new pattern. 

The goal is to look at those somethings about you (physical or internal) that you you loathe, don't like, hate and learn to say something nice to yourself.  Say "thank you" for your crooked smile or big, strong, legs.  Work them.  All those "imperfections" make you who you are.  Learn to be at ease with yourself and others will be more at ease with you as well.  

Advice from Mom

My mom has told me multiple times that the single most valuable thing you can give a person is forgiveness and redemption.  

I think my generation lives too much in dreamland.  Products of the Disney Chanel, having princesses for role models is misleading to a young girl.  We are taught that we are strong, beautiful and smart, females and will naturally be the envy of evil step sisters and a wicked stepmother.  Men vying for our love and adoration became everyday occurrences for the select few of purple blood, but only Prince Charming can really appreciate our worth.  Since once in a lifetime only comes once in a lifetime a princess must be ready to ride off into the sunset at any moment.  


261 days ago a prince charming took control of the saddle and off he rode with his beloved princess to his kingdom.  


What they don't tell you in the movies is that it is far too easy for a princess to get swept off her feet when she is looking for love and Mr. Right in every corner.  


Perhaps the princess should have read the sequel.  Then she might know what really happens in "Happily Ever After." 

Cold Peanut-Noodle Salad Recipe

I found this recipe for Cold Peanut-Noodle Salad by searching for recipes with the ingredient cilantro. I had some leftover from Scallop Ceviche (which I highly recommend) and I could simply not let such flavor go to waste.  The concept sounded delicious and the picture was enticing.  Peanuts?  Yes please.  However, read the ingredients...there is no peanut butter in this dish.  What could possibly be better than peanut butter?  Exactly.  


I made a few changes at the recommendation of the BF.  Instead of buying all the veggies (Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, scallions) he bought a broccoli / cabbage slaw mix from Trader Joe's.  The rationale of this decision being why do all the work, when someone else can do it for you? Everything else about the recipe I followed.


Verdict?  The BF loved it and is taking it for work tomorrow.  He did, however, suggest more salt and possibly peanut butter be added next time.  I couldn't agree more with that suggestion, but overall I was not blown away.  This is so easy to make that if I could find a good "dressing" for the noodles then this could be an fast, quick dinner recipe.  Plus you get lots of fiber from the whole wheat noodles and veggies.  


P.S. The croutons are still amazing.  Why did I ever think to diet when there is so much good food in this world?  


My next mission is to master a copycat to Houston's AMAZING veggie burger.  

I Quit!

I simply cannot starve anymore so I quit. I lasted through day 3 of
breakfast and ate extra veggies for lunch. But come on...1 apple, 5
saltines, and 1 oz of reduced fat cheddar was not going to hold me
over. Hell, I'm on my feet for at least 70% of my workday.
As long as the clothes fit I'm not stepping on a scale.

Day 2

(Most) Everything I ate...

1 organic brown egg - 70 calories / 4.5 g fat / 1 g carbs / 6 g protein

1.5 pieces of Trader Joe's Low Calorie Light Wheat Bread - 60 calories / 16.5 g carbs / 7.5 g fiber / 4.5 g protein

1/2 of a small banana - 45 calories / 0.2 g fat / 11.5 g carbs / 1.3 g fiber / 0.6 g protein

1/4 cup raw broccoli - 7.5 calories / 0.1 g fat / 1.5 g carbs / 0.6 g fiber / 0.6 g protein

1 cup fat free cottage cheese - 160 calories / 12 g carbs / 26 g protein

5 Multi-grain Saltine Crackers - 60 calories / 1.5 g fat / 10 g carbs / 1 g protein

2 Oscar Mayer Light Beef Franks - 180 calories / 14 g fat / 4 g carbs / 10 g protein

1/2 cup raw baby carrots - 35 calories / 8 g carbs / 3 g fiber

1.5 cups steamed broccoli florets - 36 calories / 0.8 g fat / 4.7 g carbs / 4.5 g fiber / 6 g protein

2 tsp yellow mustard - 6 calories / 0.6 g carbs / 0.4 g fiber / 0.4 g protein

1 tsp spicy mustard - 5 calories

1/2 of a small banana - 45 calories / 0.2 g fat / 11.5 g carbs / 1.3 g fiber / 0.6 g protein

1/2 cup Breyer's "1/2 the fat" vanilla ice cream - 110 calories / 3.5 g fat / 16 carbs / 3 g protein

2 cups raw baby carrots - 140 calories / 24 g carbs / 12 g fiber

Total: 959.5 calories / 10 g fat / 121.3 g carbs / 30.6 g fiber / 58.7 g protein

(*Higher due to unlisted nutritional value for my snacks)

Breakfast

One word: BLAND!

The only person I know that eats "dry" bread is my momma.  I do not recommend it unless you have no choice.  (Now I'm starting to wish I got the butter spray.)  I made an over medium egg, with cooking spray of course, because let's face it, dry bread needs some ooey-gooey, oh so cholesterol laden egg yolk.  If I didn't have that option I would have used a ripe banana and smashed it up and covered it on the toast.  

ADDED Snack*

I cheated.  Sue me.  I had 1/4 cup raw broccoli and 10 of my homemade deliciously, awesome croutons.  I couldn't help it.  Also I had a few sips (but only sips) of the BF's strawberry milkshake.  Hello, that's my favorite!  And, I had carrots and mustard before bed, but I included those in the calorie count.  

Lunch

If you don't like cottage cheese you are going to hate this plan!  I mean hate it.  With Passion.  At least I'm truly full, but perhaps that was due to the snack of 1/4 cup raw broccoli and 4 homemade croutons I had before it.  

Dinner...

was awesome.  I ate wieners and mustard.  Plus broccoli is great steamed with a dash of Mrs.  Dash.  However, after looking at the amount of calories I took in I'm pretty sure I could have dressed the broccoli up in cheese sauce.  Oh well, live and learn.  

Tomorrow looks more calorie restricted then today (see I needed the snacks). This should be fun (insert sarcasm).  

Good tip from Better Homes And Garden

Hungry? Eat an apple. If you're not hungry enough to eat an apple,
then you're not really hungry

Being on a diet is nothing, but will power

Homemade Crouton recipe

If you want to know the nutritional value of this, I have no idear.  All I know is I make awesome croutons.  One of the many good ways to use up old bread.  


Recipe:
- 1/4-1/2 cup olive oil, more if you have a lot of bread
- Any stale bread from baguettes to sandwich bread to English Muffins.  (FYI: stale means old, not moldy.  Through the moldy stuff out!)
- Seasoning to your preference. Some ideas:
     • salt
     • pepper
     • garlic
     • Mrs. Dash
     • Italian seasoning
     • oregano
     • parsley
- Parmesan cheese 


Note: For this batch I used salt, pepper, seasoned salt, oregano


1. Preheat oven to 300
2. Mix olive oil and desired spices in large bowl (Note: bowl should be large enough to hold all pieces of bread with room to mix them)
3. Cut up the bread into bite size pieces 

4. Through all the bread in the oil and mix until the bread has absorbed the oil mixture (Note: many websites tell you to spread the oil on the bread, which may be beneficial if you are trying to shave off calories, but good croutons need to be somewhat saturated in oil.)

5. Spread bread pieces on a baking sheet

6. Bake for 20 minutes and then flip croutons
7. Bake 20 minutes longer and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese for 5 more minutes of cook time (Total: 45 minutes, but more or less depending on width of bread)
8. Let cool and enjoy!


These croutons are good for 2 weeks as long as you keep them in a ziploc bag or other airtight container.  

Tip on eating with a group

I definitely don't recommend going to get food and or drinks with people who consume more than they are willing to pay for.  If this doesn't bother you, then right on.  I find this behavior annoying and unless you HAVE to go to an event I recommend one of the following:

• Don't go
• Get your own bill (I could care less if people get upset about this, but I really don't like paying more than I ate / drank)
• Take the time to figure out exactly what you ordered and don't forget to leave a tip.  If the people you are with can't figure this out, then do it for them. (Most of the time they can, but they just don't want to)
• My personal favorite: Go out with people who are cool, fun, and aren't stingy on the cash

Day 1 - Calories consumed and recap

• 3 pieces of Trader Joe's Low Calorie Light Wheat Bread: 120 calories / 33 g carbs / 15 g fiber / 9 g protein
• 2 tablespoons Trader Joe's Valencia Peanut Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds: 200 calories / 16 g fat / 5 g carbs / 3 g fiber / 9 g protein
• 1/2 Grapefruit: 53 calories / 0.2 g fat / 13.4 g carbs / 1.8 g fiber / 1 g protein
• 1/2 cup Chunk White Albacore (1 small can): 120 calories / 2 g fat / 24 g protein
• 1 cup canned beets (salt free): 80 calories / 16 g carbs / 2 g fiber / 2 g protein
• 1 cup green beans: 44 calories / 0.4 g fat / 9.9 g carbs / 4 g fiber / 2.4 g protein
• 3 ounces chicken breast: 140 calories / 3.1 g fat / 26.4 g protein
• 1 apple: 77 calories / 0.3 g fat / 20.6 g carbs / 3.6 g fiber / 0.4 g protein
• 1 cup ice cream (I mixed a "1/2 the fat" vanilla and full fat cookies and cream): 376.2 calories / 17.2 g fat / 47.8 g carbs / 8.5 g protein
• 2 cup (approx as I did not measure out my food) Orville Redenbacher's Tender White popcorn: 80 calories / 6 g fat / 8 g carbs / <2 g fiber / <2 g protein

Total: 1290.2 calories* / 45.2 g fat / 153.7 g carbs / 31.4 g fiber / 84.7 g protein


So as you can see this is not a starvation diet.  To loose weight one must have a caloric deficit. 1200 calories a day is the minimum recommended calories on a weight loss plan.  Those who are larger or are more physically active may very well need a base of calories that is higher than 1200.  In terms of fiber, I consumed the recommend amount of 30 g per day simply by food consumption.  I'm not sure I've done that in a long time.  The only thing I question is the amount of daily fat consumed.  The American Heart Association recommends no more than 30% of your calories consumed by fat calories.  I've read on multiple websites that it is anywhere from 30 g fat total to 60 g total.  If anyone knows the answer to this question let me know.  If there is a next time I would try to make sure all my fats are the fat-free or low-fat versions.  


Without the popcorn and extra scoop of ice cream I would have consumed 1200 calories.  Despite cheating, I'm very happy with how day 1 went.  


*My calories, and perhaps fats, carbs, fiber, and protein, were most likely higher because I consumed sugar free lemonade in large quantities, which has trace calories per serving.  Also all the above is approximates.  

Din Din

So I apologize in advance for not taking a picture of dinner.  All I could think about was how in todo el mundo am I going to be able to tolerate eating beets?  Perhaps this diet requires you to eat something foul tasting so you loose all desire to consume anything?  Now that would be an idear.


So how did I eat 1 whole cup of beets?  Let's face it, without salt they are not edible.  And they stain things so be careful with them.  The beets were alright with white vinegar, but the salt adds to them quite significantly.  I also tried them with Mrs. Dash, which was a bad idea.  The last thing I tried was salted beets with balsamic vinegar.  Perhaps it is just because I'm a vinegar whore, but those were edible.  I'm not going to go out of my way in the future to eat beets, but if you try a diet like this, balsamic and salt is what I recommend.  And you probably don't want to eat them from the can, but desperate times call for desperate measures.  


So beets, 1 cup of green beans with scant salt, and a Gorge Foremaned (it's a word for the grilling generation) chicken breast complete with salt, pepper, and Mrs. Dash and I'm feeling content.  I still have an apple and 1 cup of ice cream ordered for the day, but at this point I'm full.  Those two will be a nice snack later.  


I didn't know how to eyeball 3 ounces of chicken, but this website was quite helpful.  In fact, it tells you how to eyeball a number of foods.


What I like so far about this diet is I do feel content after meals.  I think a part of it is to teach one appropriate portions.  I see a few people who claim that you loose weight on this diet because you are starved of calories, so I'll approximate how much I ate for the total day in an entry to come.  


Update: I mixed 3/4 cup Breyer's "1/2 the fat" Vanilla and approximately 1/3 c regular fat Cookies and Cream.  I was initially full after this, but I think the sweetness of the Cookies and Cream triggered my hunger.  When the BF made popcorn I shared some, which was not part of the diet.  Perhaps I should have only consumed Vanilla ice cream then a cup of tea to curb the cravings?  

Runch time

After my bike ride I chugged a large glass of sugar-free lemonade.  I remembered that you can drink sugar-free and diet drinks.  Then for lunch I had the following:

1 slice bread (remember mine is the low cal so I have a little extra), 1/2 cup albacore tuna in water, and a cup of Oolong tea.  

First off I was shocked that a can of tuna is 1/2 cup.  That is protein to the extreme and definitely contributes to feeling contently full.  Since tuna is quite bland on its own I added a dash of pepper and Mrs. Dash salt-free seasoning blend in Lemon Pepper.  

The extra pepper and Mrs. Dash made the tuna tolerable.  I still prefer mayo with my tuna, but sometimes you have to just say, "I have willpower!"  This was actually my first time trying Mrs. Dash.  I see people at work use it and it's not bad considering it is salt-free.  The reason I chose the Lemon Pepper flavor is because it is suggested seasoning for fish, eggs, vegetables, shellfish, turkey, and tuna. The diet requires you to eat a ton of veggies (I'm already gagging at the thought of beat), eggs, tuna, etc., so I think this seasoning will come in handy.  The alternative was a butter spray, but I have a feeling I'm not allowed to use that for flavoring.  

Another large glass of sugar-free lemonade followed by the Oolong and that is lunch.  The verdict?  I feel content and am satisfied.  

Day 1 - Most important meal of the day

I woke up around 9am-ish and then had a cup of black coffee.  Black coffee in my book has none of my beloved half-n-haf and just a tiny amount of Splenda.  If you have good coffee, I recommend Trader Joe's Colombia Supremo, then this is doable.  Also a good coffee pot is essential.  If you are using an old, crappy one, you should ask yourself why?A good coffee pot does coffee right and saves you a good deal of money in the end.   


Since I went shopping to pick up all my necessary items I didn't eat until 10:40am.  Normally I eat 2 hours or more after waking, but I read that you are supposed to eat within an hour of rising.  Que sera.  


On to breakfast.  Ta-dah!

1/2 a grapefruit and 1 slice of bread with 2 TABLESPOONS PEANUT BUTTER

Seriously that looks good.  

I happen to love grapefruit so I had no problem eating the white grapefruit plain (I even drink all the leftover juice).  My tip for cutting the sections of the grapefruit is to cut the membrane between the actually fruit and peel with a small, sharp knife.  Make sure to cut nice and deep.  Then cut each small membrane that lines the grapefruit segments.  When you are done, success.  The slices can be scooped out one by one.  

In terms of why you see 1.5 slices of bread, I chose to do this because the bread in my house is the Trader Joe's whole wheat low cal bread, which is 40 calories per slice.  Bread is normally 90 calories per slice or much higher.  Hey, I'm just trying to follow what the diet says to eat ;) .  And frankly, 2 tablespoons of PB is a lot!  This is like crunchy, peanut butter heaven!  If you haven't tried Trader Joe's Valencia Peanut Butter with Roasted Flaxseeds then you are missing out on life.  My mom suggested it to me and it has been my favorite ever since.  

Lastly I finished off my meal with black coffee (remember black means just a little Splenda) with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top (see health benefits below* or via this link).  This time drinking it I wish I had half-n-half, but over all I feel full and content.  This breakfast is a winner.  

*Health benefits of cinnamon include the following: 

• Cassia cinnamon is used for: colds; the uncontrolled farts; diarrhea; painful menstrual periods; and improving energy, vitality, circulation.  
• Ayurveda cinnamon is used as a remedy for diabetes, indigestion, colds, and helping aid the digestion of fruit and dairy products.  
• Cinnamon in general has been shown in medical studies to reduce fasting blood glucose and triglycerides while improving LDL cholestrol (that's the one you want high) when test subjects consumed 0.25 - 1 teaspoons daily. Also, other medical studies have suggested some link with cinnamon and antifungal properties.  

My own side note: Pregnant women should definitely consider taking cinnamon since yeast infections are part of pregnancy.  Also, those women who are at risk for GDM should consider this to potentially help prevent this condition or at least manage it.  

It's been awhile...time for a DIET!

I'm going to chronicle something that is slightly embarrassing to me, but if I put it out in the open I cannot back out of it or "cheat" if you will.  I have steadily gained some pounds since stopping a medication I was prescribed, which had the lovely side effect of helping decrease my naturally ravenous appetite.  In the end I lost weight and felt very comfortable with myself.  I think I needed a little aid to get back there, or start the process of getting back there.  I don't want to do it the unhealthy way or medical or OTC option to get me back to comfortable.  I'm just going to eat well.  I'm doing it the right way: diet and exercise.  


So what am I talking about?  The Kaiser Permanente diet plan.  Yes, Kaiser.  I was given this diet years ago (probably close to a decade) and I remember doing it, but never having the will power to complete it.  Thankfully, things have changed and I have a will power of steel, well perhaps aluminum.  I do, however, have a very supportive partner and parents so I think I can succeed at something for 3 days.  


So hear it is, the diet (the website I found it on also has user feedback, which I find helpful):

Day 1

• Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, 2 tbs. peanut butter, 1 slice toast
• Lunch: 1/2 cup tuna, 1 slice toast, a coffee/tea
• Dinner: 3 ozs. meat, 1 cup green beans, 1 cup beets, 1 small apple, 1 cup vanilla ice cream

Day 2

• Breakfast: 1/2 banana, 1 egg, 1 slice toast
• Lunch: 1 cup cottage cheese, 5 saltine crackers
• Dinner: 2 hot dogs, 1 cup broccoli, 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream

Day 3

• Breakfast: 1 hard boiled egg, 1 slice toast
• Lunch: 1 oz. cheddar cheese, 5 saltine crackers, 1 small apple
• Dinner: 1 cup tuna, 1 cup beets, 1 cup cauliflower, 1/2 cantaloupe, 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream

Apparently with this diet you are supposed to loose 10 lbs in 3 days.  I'm not trying to go that extreme.  I've gained 6 lbs from the weight I've been for at least 6 months.  I haven't been eating well, which is a contributor.  I just want to drop a lb or 2 and I would be content. 


Off to buy groceries and then try this out.  Wish me luck!  

Secrets to a happy marriage

When I was at one of the boyfriend's coworkers house, he told me his secrets for a happy marriage.  It's amusing.

1. Name your kids what your wife wants to name them.
2. Live where your wife wants to live.
3. You only need to be great on 6 days.  The rest you can get away being good.  Those days are (in no particular order since they are ALL important): 
1. Valentine's Day
2. Wedding Anniversary
3. Christmas
4. Thanksgiving
5. Wife's Birthday
6. Mother's Day
7. Mother in Laws Day.  (He said it was more important for the mom to like you than the dad.  I think both are important personally.)  

You're welcome.  

Starbucks

On the Starbucks bag it says if you recycle the bag at a Starbucks
location you can get a free tall coffee.

The fine print: free tall coffee with purchase.

Nothing is free.

Names

This is what it says about my name on urbandictionary.com.  Pretty funny and awesome.  

1. Individual and artistic, a Justine usually doesn't give a crap about what anybody thinks of her.
Innovative and sincere, a Justine is a jack of all trades and appears to succeed in all that she puts her mind to or at least appear to. ;)  Thus, insecure people will either hate on a Justine just for breathing or feel safe under a Justine's wing. ( due to a Justine's natural paternal nature)

 

"Oh my god, did you see Justine today? She always looks good without even trying! I HATE her sometimes..."
"I can't do that! Why don't we ask Justine, she's supposed to be really good at that kind of stuff, right?"
"Man, it isn't a party until Justine walks through that door!"

 

2. Goddess that looks after guys getting drunk in their basement, and keeps them from dying.
Also provides a local taxi service. 

3. Honest, down-to-earth girl. Blonde but doesn't have the stupidity commonly associated with them. Dates older guys because of advanced maturity. Much unlike definition number 3, yet the dating is, in fact, true due to aforementioned state of high maturity.

 

4.  A vibrant girl, who's very easy on the eyes. She's the kind of girl every guy wants to be with. She's someone you want to know even if only for a short time. She brightens up your day and leaves you wanting more. CAPTIVATING and SELF ASSURED.

 

Pretty awesome. 

Friends

If you are blessed with having good friends thank them.  

So to all my friends: thank you for making my life that much richer by being the awesome people you are! 

Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners. - Laurence Sterne

 If I can only give you one piece of advice it would be to be respectful of yourself and others and to never compromise your morals.  You can make compromises, which is good to do, life needs comprise. However, if someone asks you to dishonor your beliefs they are not friend and most likely foe.  Someone who loves you would never ask you to do such a thing.  Someone who loves you would have the respect for these deep held beliefs that are a critical element in the basis of you.  They would go out of their way to make sure they are respecting your needs above their own base, momentary desires.  There is a reason we learn manners as a child and develop personal moral codes as we grow.  They have impact. 

Our new couch!

How much should you really exercise?

I found this article from healthywomen.org to be informative:

Q: I work a lot of hours and just can't seem to find time to work out more than one day a week. If my exercise routine is limited to one day a week, what are the best exercises for me to explore? What exercise will give me the greatest return?

 

A:  It's helpful to think in terms of physical activity, not exercise. Many people think they don't have time for exercise but are surprised to realize how much they can increase their daily physical activity outside of an official "exercise routine." That boost, even in small amounts of time, pays off for your body.

To maintain health, the national guidelines for physical activity set forth by the American College of Sports Medicine and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend adding 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (brisk walking), five or more days per week, or 20 minutes of vigorous intensity activity (running), three or more days per week. If you want to lose weight, you will need to burn an additional 500 to 700 calories per day.
Think this would take up a lot of time? Relax! You don't need to find a free half-hour. Research shows that you will gain the same benefit if you complete the daily activity in three 10-minute bouts. Here are great moderate and vigorous activities that take only 10 minutes and can be incorporated into your day:

• Jumping rope
• Gardening or raking
• Dancing
• Brisk walking or jogging
• Vacuuming
• Stair climbing or marching in place
• Push-ups and sit-ups
• Jumping jacks
• Bike riding for errands or short commutes
• Incorporating activity into your workday—use the stairs instead of the elevator, walk to talk with co-workers instead of e-mailing, stand (it burns more calories) when you would usually sit

Push-ups may remind you of the terrors of high school gym class, but they're a terrific strength training activity for women that can be done at home (or almost anywhere else) easily, at your own speed. Try them for a 10-minute session:

• Lie on the floor, facing chest down. Put your hands flat on the ground, at shoulder level. Place your feet together and parallel. Throughout the push-up, always look forward and not down at the floor.
• Straighten your arms as you push your body up off the floor and exhale. Keep your body straight. Do not bend or arch your upper or lower back as you push up.
• For a classic push-up, balance in a straight line from your toes. If you have trouble with that, try a modified version: pivot up from your knees instead of your toes.
• Slowly lower your body until your chest touches the floor. If you are pivoting from your toes, keep your knees off the floor. For either position, keep your body straight and your feet together. Repeat.

If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no, you can't "be friends". A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend. - Oprah

Rise - The Frames

  Breathing in the night
There's nothing else I'm needing now
The wind is at my side
And so you
Together we will rise
Above all these words and promises we couldn't keep
Together we will fly
Above it all now
But sometimes we will fall
From the light
But it shines on us tonight
Together we will rise
Together we will rise
Surely it's a sign now
That everything's in tune to some kind of higher plan
Yeah surely it's a sign
That you were right
There's this secret line
That we've been denied
And we're crossing it tonight
And together we will rise
And together we will rise
Sometimes we will fall
From the light
But it shines on us tonight
And together will rise
Past this light
And we'll cross it here tonight
And together we will rise

Positivity

I really do believe that good things happen to good people.  That if you think positive and work hard, you will be both benefited and rewarded.  It's the balance of life.  It makes sense after all. 

Truth

"Have you ever wanted something very badly then gotten it? Then you
know that winning is many things, but it is never the thing you
thought it would be."
- No One Belongs Here More Than You

Unthinkable (I'm Ready)

Without a doubt, my favorite song of the moment.  Alicia Keys is the woman.  

Moment of honesty

Someones gotta take the lead tonight
Whose it gonna be?
I'm gonna sit right here
And tell u while it comes to me
If u have something to say
U should say it right now

U give me a feeling that I never felt before
And I deserve it, I know I deserve it
Its become something that's impossible to ignore
And I can't take it
I was wondering maybe
Could I make you my baby
If we do the unthinkable will it make us look crazy
If you ask me I'm ready
If you ask me I'm ready

I know u said to me
"This is exactly how it should feel when its meant to be"
Time is only wasting so why wait for eventually
If we gonna do something about it
We should do it right now

U give me a feeling that I never felt before
And I deserve it, I know I deserve it
Its become something that's impossible to ignore
Its what we make it
I was wondering maybe
Could I make you my baby
If we do the unthinkable will it make us look crazy
Or would it be so beautiful either way I'm sayin
If you ask me I'm ready
If you ask me I'm ready

Why give up before we try
Feel the lows before the highs
Clip our wings before we fly away
I can't say I can't compare
I'm suspended it the air
Won't u come be in the sky with me

I was wondering maybe
Could I make you my baby
If we do the unthinkable will it make us look crazy
Or would it be so beautiful either way I'm sayin
If you ask me I'm ready
If you ask me I'm ready

Beef Wellington

I may not have had any water last night, but never fear.  I was still able to make this mock Ground Beef Wellington with the help of my lovely assistant, aka the boyfriend.

It was pretty damn good.  Only thing I would change is I wouldn't use their suggestion to cover the Wellington in their mushroom sauce.  I would incorporate all the sauce with the meat mixture and then make a mushroom gravy.  Also I would add more mushrooms to the filling.  Once I figure out the best way to make this recipee the most tasty I will update. 

This recipee honestly was so easy and would be great for a nice dinner party.

Recipe here. 

Precious and Yes Man

Two very different types of movies, but boy did I enjoy both.


Precious is by far one of the saddest and moving movies I have seen in a long time.  I had high expectations for the this film and generally when I have high hopes I tend to be disappointed.  This film far surpassed my presumptions. 


The acting is phenomenal.  

• Gabourey Sidibe is amazing in her breakthrough role.  She is real and relatable and you just want to wrap her in your arms.
• Mo'Noique plays one of the most dispicable characters I have seen in a long time.  Her relationship with Precious and her monologue at the end of the film brought me to tears.  
• Paula Patton, who I initally thought was Alicia Keys (oops), is amazing.  She is tender, kind.  Who knew she could act? (Remember Deja Vu with Denzel Washinton?  That was her.)
• Ditto for Mariah Carey who plays the social worker so well.  She is in a role where she is not all done up as we are used to seeing her and she is amazing.  No one can give her shit for Glitter anymore.  
• RN John was great and what makes the acting by this character even sweeter was that he was played by THE Lenny Kravitz.  I was blown away.  I'm pretty sure this was Lenny's first time professionally acting and he's got skill.  From one RN to another, if even fictional, I love the murses.  

If you have not seen Precious, I highly recommend it.  You will not be disappointed.  


Yes Man, on the other hand, was a film I thought would be nothing special, yet I was happily surprised.  It was entertaining and hilarious.  It's definitely a good comedy choice.  One of the better ones I've seen in a long while.  

Men's eyes were meant to look. Let them gaze. I will not budge for no man's pleasure.

Love

I'm supposed to be working out, but sometimes, supposed to can go out the window.  I think I'm still working with this acceptance concept.  The more I think about it, or perhaps not think about it and go with it, the more at ease I am with the environment.  I'm less concerned about me and what I may fail to do, and certainly less annoyed my others and their short comings.  I am exactly the way I'm supposed to be.  I'm healthy.  I'm blessed by wonderful people who love and support me.  I have a job in a poor economy.  I'm in a loving and supportive partnership.  There are things to thank the universe for.  Time to the enjoy the ride. 

But this is not where I wanted to go with my post.  

Long story short, YouTube sent me an email about a video I had posted.  So I follow the links because why would I get a virus?  Thankfully, the email was legit.  I started searching for videos instead of doing abs because I wanted to find a video posted with better visual quality than mine.  The audio wasn't as good, but with slam poetry, the entire presentation is important.  This is one of my favorite poems ever.  EVER! 

Love by Beau Sia

This made me chuckle

A group of senior citizens were talking over the breakfast table in a nursing home. "My arms are so weak, I can hardly lift this cup of coffee," said the first.

"Yes, I know," agreed the second. "My cataracts are so bad I can't even see my coffee."

"I can't turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck," said a third, to which several nodded weakly in agreement.

"My blood pressure pills make me dizzy," another went on.

"I guess that's the price we pay for getting old," winced an old man as he slowly shook his head.

"Well, it's not all bad," said one woman cheerfully. "At least we can still drive!"         

Tip

Once you're comfortable being by yourself, you learn to be more at
ease with others.

Acceptance

I'm going to take baby steps.

Today's topic: Acceptance

People try to control everything and in reality we can influence very little.  We try to build damns and the elements cause them to break.  We care so much what others think of us, but  if you think about it for a moment, it's rather pointless.  You will never know what goes on in the head of another.  You cannot read their thoughts.  You can think you perceive their inner thinkings from what you observe, but the reality is you can never really know what they are thinking even if they tell you I am thinking _____________ (fill in the blank as you desire).  So if someone says, "I love you"  accept it to mean they have affection for you.  "I hate you," then perhaps they are angry.  Take it for what it is and nothing more. 

Another thing in terms of acceptance.  It's important to remember that no one can control you.  Too easily do we give up our control for others.  You control your thoughts and feelings.  You are responsible for them, no one else.  Be responsible for yourself, take accountability.  By the same token, do not try to control another.  When you try to take someone's power, you are giving up your own control.  You become obsessed with their inner thoughts, feelings, and actions and in turn you are giving up your own power and control.  Your own moves and thoughts become dictated by the perceived notions of another.  And once again, you don't ever really know what goes on in another person's head. 

I guess one would deviate from hear and discuss the need to trust all.  This is not the point I'm going to make.  I think it is important to learn to accept that all you really can control is yourself, so be the best person you can.  Don't be fake, don't be cruel or mean.  Be loving, be compassionate, respect nature, family, and loyalty.  Live by laws of personal integrity.  On a simple level trust another when they tell you something.  By the same token, it doesn't mean that you should let people control you or be naive.  Perhaps just take life as it comes.  Be smart. 

I've been feeling really low lately. I've been alternating between
feelings of anger, sadness, restentment, insecurity, etc. I'm giving
myself a month to find forgiveness, peace, and tranquility. Let the
growth begin...

Just because someone puts on the mask doesn't mean they are going to live up to the role. 

Poor rittle Mini

Dorthy: [To Toto] Now I... I know we're not in Kansas! 

This is the worst snow storm we have had yet.  Too bad I'm still craving pizza since I'm pretty sure no one delivers in this weather.  Oh to be back in "Kansas."  

Pedometer

I've been wearing a pedometer that was given to me to help me make sure to walk more.  I was under the impression that you were supposed to walk 10,000 steps a day, but low and behold it's much simpler than a walking all day long (because that is about how long it takes to get 10,000 steps!).

Buy a pedometer, clip it to your belt, and aim for an extra 1,000 steps a day.  On average, sedentary people take only 2,000 to 3,000 steps a day. Adding 2,000 steps will help you maintain your current weight and stop gaining weight; adding more than that will help you lose weight.

Who knew loosing weight could be so easy and affordable.  Pedometers are cheap, and all you need are a comfy pair of kicks.  


I also thought this was another good tip to help you stay at your ideal weight:

Bring the color blue into your life more often. There's a good reason you won't see many fast-food restaurants decorated in blue: Believe it or not, the color blue functions as an appetite suppressant. So serve up dinner on blue plates, dress in blue while you eat, and cover your table with a blue tablecloth. Conversely, avoid red, yellow, and orange in your dining areas. Studies find they encourage eating. 

And the best tip yet if you have a snuggle buddy:

Passionately kiss your partner 10 times a day. According to the 1991 Kinsey Institute New Report on Sex, a passionate kiss burns 6.4 calories per minute. Ten minutes a day of kissing equates to about 23,000 calories -- or eight pounds -- a year! 

This calls for a soundtrack. 

For more tips click here.

Fwd: Create Your Own Luck by Changing Your Perspective [Self Improvement]

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/pEUzzkZzWWE/create-your-own-luck-by-changing-your-perspective

Think you have no control over how lucky you are in life? Psychologist Richard Wiseman says think again. Turns out you can learn to be a luckier person just by changing how you look at the world around you.

Photo by superfantastic.

Wiseman studied the lives of 400 people over the course of 10 years and watched for any lucky breaks or chance encounters—both good and bad—they had along the way. He discovered that some people are prone to worse luck than others, but it may be possible to create your own good fortune by tweaking your perspective on things.

In interviews with the study's volunteers, he realized that unlucky people are typically more anxious and tend to more hyperfocused on the specifics of a situation. Lucky people, on the other hand, are more laid-back and open to whatever opportunities present themselves.

My research revealed that lucky people generate good fortune via four basic principles. They are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities, make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition, create self-fulfilling prophesies via positive expectations, and adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good.

Wiseman says by honing skills like listening to your intuition and simply expecting to be lucky, you can actually increase the chance good fortune will find its way to you. In fact, 80% of the volunteers in his study group who tried this approach, ended up feeling like their luck had changed for the better.

I Love, You Love

I love this song.  I almost don't know what to make of it.  Is is an uplifting love song or a sad yearning melody?  Perhaps it is medley of both?  In one sense it seems to serve the purpose of putting someone in the amorousness mood.  In contrast it can easily be listened to on repeat, aiding a broken heart the needs a good release of tears.  Read the lyrics, they can be taken many ways.  This is one of John Legend's best ballads.  A man with the voice of siren.  It is hard not to be drawn to this lullaby. 

Hush my baby, Don't you cry.

I'll dry your eyes. Fulfill your heart's desire.
Let's go in. Try again.
Careful this time. Broken promises linger in our mind.

I'll give in completely. Hearts break so easy.
I know. Believe me. Oh, I've tried.
But my arms can hold you. My kiss console you.
I'll come and love you tonight.

And I...
I love, I love, I love
Love hurts sometimes
But this feels right.

You...
You love, you love, you love
Though you've been burned
You still return.

Come and share my house, my home, and all I own.
I'd love to give to you.
Aren't you tired of going along this lonely road?
It takes its toll on you.

Give me your emotion, your heart's devotion.
Give anything you like.
And I'll give understanding. Life's so demanding.
I'm all you need to get by.

And I...
I love, I love, I love
Love hurts sometimes
But this feels right.

And You...
You love, you love, you love
Though you've been burned
You still return.

I love, I love, I love
Love hurts sometimes
But this feels right.

And You...
You love you love you love
Though you've been burned
You still return.

Still return
Still return to love (Oh)
Keep coming back to love (Ah oh)

Breathe

I see your face in my mind as I drive away
'Cause none of us thought it was gonna end that way
People are people and sometimes we change our minds
But it's killing me to see you go after all this time

Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm
Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm

Music starts playin' like the end of a sad movie
It's the kinda ending you don't really wanna see
'Cause it's tragedy and it'll only bring you down
Now I don't know what to be without you around

And we know it's never simple, never easy
Never a clean break, no one here to save me
You're the only thing I know like the back of my hand

And I can't breathe
Without you, but I have to
Breathe
Without you, but I have to

Never wanted this, never want to see you hurt
Every little bump in the road I tried to swerve
People are people and sometimes it doesn't work out
Nothing we say is gonna save us from the fall out

And we know it's never simple, never easy
Never a clean break, no one here to save me
You're the only thing I know like the back of my hand

And I can't breathe
Without you, but I have to
Breathe
Without you, but I have to

It's two a.m., feelin' like I just lost a friend
Hope you know it's not easy, easy for me
It's two a.m., feelin' like I just lost a friend
Hope you know this ain't easy, easy for me

And we know it's never simple, never easy
Never a clean break, no one here to save me, oh

I can't breathe
Without you, but I have to
Breathe
Without you, but I have to
Breathe
Without you, but I have to

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry

I should take a picture of myself.  I am ridiculously dark.  Yes, there is no better word to describe the beauty that is my hot, sexy, deep, gorgeous tan skin then ridiculously, which happens to be a great verb in this case.  I would take a picture, but then I would have stalkers for life and we just can't have that.  So I will give you pictures of things that can't possibly cause people to stalk me.  Fewf! *wipes brow*

The view from the 18th floor of this ridiculously priced hotel.  Yes, even the NHL people stayed here and had their party.  Who knew En Vouge was still around?  It's a swanky place and they know how to make the most amazing pigs in a blanket.  No joke.  

It's nice to get to read an awesome mystery (Midnight in Madrid) on my awesome Kindle while taking breaks to look at the ocean.  All this while being protected by a wind guard.  AWESOME!  I know, I know...my life sucks big time.  

I'm very tempted to lay in the tub, read MIM, while hearing the soothing sounds of Kenny Ocean accompanied by the Blue Water Ft. Lauderdale Orchestra.  I still have an hour before gym time to do this.  I ate to much awesome salad and chicken fingers so the tummy has to rest.  

And let's just save this cool coffee maker for last.  HAVE YOU SEEN ONE?  They are amazing.  They make a perfect cup of Starbucks or tea.  This would be an amazing I love my J$, daughter, girlfriend, ________ (fill in the blank), etc. gift.  I'm not picky.