Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Back from Hiatus

I took a brief blogging hiatus, but I'm sure your all thrilled that I have returned. I, or should I say we've, gotten A LOT accomplished over my blogging break. We've officially got all of our furniture moved in, except that we are getting a new dining room table...so still no table in the house :(  Not that we ever actually eat at a dining table, I'm just sick of looking at that big empty space where it belongs. Everything is still a total mess right now, but mark my words, that will change by Friday! I plan on doing some unpacking each night this week so we can fully enjoy the upcoming weekend. We are supposed to have glorious weather here in southwest Florida, low 80s on Saturday...and you know what that means, right? BOATING! Can't. Wait. 


Other than unpacking, I completed this little project this weekend as well...
Thats right...I put that gigantic bookshelf together all by myself. Actually, let's be honest, it's REALLY tiny...but it's just the right size for that corner, plus we don't have that many books anyway.


Valentine's Day was a blast. We had dinner with our former neighbors. We lived next door to them for over 3 years while at the condo and they are the sweetest couple you'll ever meet, Mel and Joy. They're roughly 75 years old and both Scott and I just love listening to their stories. Mel mad us his specialty for dinner, Mel-aroni, which was delightfully full of carbs. I also had a side salad, and proceeded to indulge in 2 small bowls of mint ice cream for dessert. Thats right, not just 1 bowl, 2 bowls. But it was totally not my fault. Here's what happened: Joy went to the kitchen after we'd finished our main courses and started dipping out the ice cream. We didn't exactly know what she was doing...Scott hates anything minty (except toothpaste and gum, thank goodness). So when she brought out the finished product, complete with minty sauce, he asked if he could have a plain bowl. That meant that there was one minty bowl extra. I think it might be against my religion to let ice cream go to waste, so I obliged. When we got home I found a beautiful bouquet of flowers waiting for me...
Scotty knows me all too well. These are my favorite kind, bright pinks and yellows, and a little mixed up. We were also going to see a movie last night, but ended up staying at Mel and Joys telling and listening to stories too long. So, I decided to take a rain check on the movie until this weekend.


Today will be my first day exercising, except for walking the dog which doesn't count, in....(gasp) 5 days!!!! We've just been so busy, and I swear, moving boxes up and down 4 flights of stairs can constitute a workout. Needless to say, I'm itching to get a good sweat on. I still have tons left to do though, so today will just be the old faithful stair stepper at home, some light upper body weights and abs...and probably a trot around the block with the pup.
She's a smart girl...always sitting on a rug, she obviously doesn't like her little bum to be cold. This was her last night begging for some peanuts, crazy thing. 


Well, I'm headed home! It's good to be back, and back on track! Ta ta!


Whitney

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Fickle, I am

I am a very fickle girl. I would not consider this one of my better qualities.


I actually posted yesterday afternoon, which is an extreme rarity for me, just to let you all know that I had a change of plans. Well, guess what? Those plans had a change of plans as well. I don't know what went on in my head on the drive home from work, must have been a combination of procrastination and complete un-motivation, but I decided to take a rest day. I was a little disappointed in myself until I thought about it and realized that I've worked out for 5 straight days. Then I realized that needing a rest day was probably exactly why I was being so fickle and wishy-washy. I needed to recuperate both mentally and physically, and that is just what I did. As a matter of fact, I was in bed at 10pm which NEVER happens in my household, but it felt oh so good. 


Dinner plans changed again as well. I didn't feel like really cooking, so I just threw together a home made casear salad with a few slivers of left over beef roast. It hit the spot and I thought I was on the couch for the rest of the night...until I got a hankerin' to scrape Scotty's pan of chicken and rice casserole clean. Bad idea...I should be more disciplined than to consume crazy amounts of carbs on a rest day. But, I quickly got over my guilt and indulged in an episode of "Jerseylicious" on TV. It's no Jersey Shore, but still entertaining none the less. Hmmm...wonder what I'd look like with a Jersey-makeover? 


Today is a new day and I am itching for some sweatin'! I will most definitely, 100%, without a doubt hit the gym on a mission today. I usually get there around 5:40pm, spin class on Wednesday night starts at 6pm (which I haven't been to in ages so I'm really excited to go!), so that leaves me about 15 minutes to spare after changing clothes. I plan on hitting the elliptical or arc trainer hard before making my way to the spin room. I've also got some major catching up to do on the upper body strengthening plan.


Breakfast today was turkey sausage links and a big juicy orange.
There was actually 4 links, but I scarfed 2 down before taking this picture.

I will also admit to you that I made a stop at Dunkin Donuts on the way to work for my morning coffee...only because I was out of creamer at home though!

I was feeling pretty snacky at lunch and couldn't decide on a meal, so I just munched on some turkey pepperoni, almonds, a string cheese stick...and for dessert I had one of these little babies.
They taste JUST LIKE a Snickers bar, but with only 130 calories and 2 net carbs. Delicious!

After the gym I PLAN (but we all know how those things go) on making the dinner that I thought about last night...turkey keilbasa with veggies and a little sprinkle of shredded cheese. After that...its TAX TIME! Hate filling out all that paper work but love getting the return! Thats all for me today...Ta ta!

Whitney

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Change of Plans

As the day went on, I had a few changes in the plans.


For starters, I subbed my planned on Progresso Parmesan Tomato soup for this delicious bowl of nutritious goodness...
By far the best decision I've made all day. It made the perfect companion for my chicken wrap.


Secondly, although I enjoyed the delicious aforementioned lunch and even had a heaping handful of almonds for a snack, I am starving. So, looks like I'll be headed home to whip up some dinner before working it out on the treadmill. I've decided on some turkey kielbasa, stir fried with garbanzos, diced tomatoes and chilis, mushrooms and a smidgen (wow, can't believe that's actually a word!) of shredded cheese. I've also got some Cozy Shack no-sugar-added tapioca that's a calling my name for dessert. I can hear it from 20 miles away. Hmmm...maybe I'll save that as a post-run treat. 

For some reason, I feel guilty about pushing my work out back, even though I'm a pretty firm believe in the concept of it doesn't matter what time it happens, just as long as it does. So, I'm going to do some more intense upper-body strengthening instead of the light routine I mentioned earlier this morning.


Ok, now that I fulfilled the need to update you on every little detail of my life, I am off to finish my work day (40 minutes left!) and get the heck outta here! Hope the snow-bird traffic feels like cooperating today!


Ta ta,
Whitney

I'm slowly getting better

I feel better today, not 100%, but getting there. It's just a game and like everyone keeps reminding me...there's always next year! Yeah, but that is so far away and that means we have to start ALL OVER AGAIN. Boo! Oh well, I'm just going with it.
Here's a picture to prove to you that I really am overcoming my grief. You wouldn't have wanted to see me yesterday, I think I actually had little horns growing out of my head. (and I'm not sure why it looks like a section of this picture is missing, but whatever, I'm still figuring this whole picture thing out I guess)

But how can this not lift my spirits?
I guess I am pretty lucky that I get to see this gorg view on my way to work every day.

When I walked into the gym last night the guy behind the desk immediately said, "I'm sorry about your loss"...I think this is how you know you are obsessed. Not sure what was up, but I had a major case of exercise ADHD. I spent 20 minutes on the elliptical before I felt like jumping off the cardio balcony, then moved on to 10 minutes on the stair mill, and finished with 12 minutes of arc trainer. I just couldn't get into the groove. So I went home and did some squats, "sumo" squats, lunges and crunches before dinner. I also had a lady come buy a bedroom set that I was selling on craigslist, heck yeah. Now I can go spend more money on crap for the house. When really I'd just like to blow it all on running shoes and Nike t-shirts.

Dinner was very boring. I had a salad, a few bits of beef roast that had been simmering in the crock pot all day and a few multi-grain saltines. Woah, really branching out there.

I can already tell that it won't be difficult to get in that groove at the gym. I'm really wishing I was there right now to tell the truth. I'm going to spend some time with the trusty old treadmill and get a good sweat going. Then I'll head home for some light upper body weights, high reps.

Breakfast today was 2 slices of wheat toast with whipped PB and coffee. Lunch is a chicken wrap and tomato soup. I've got a banana and almonds for snacks and once again no dinner plan (I think I need to change this little habit...sometimes not having a plan is when I fall off the wagon).

On a totally random note, here is the cute little bakers rack that Scott and I put together this weekend. I just love it and can't wait to actually find stuff to put on it, haha.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Ta ta!
Whitney

Monday, February 7, 2011

Sad Day in Steeler Nation

Ok, so technically I'm not located in Steeler nation, but my heart is :'( . And it is a very very sad day. Although a very exciting Super Bowl, the outcome was not as I had hoped. But how can you expect to win with 3 turnovers? You just can't against a good team.


Anyways...Friday night my little Scottster had to work really late. Actually he got to come home, had to go back in at 10pm and didn't get home until almost 3. He is a project engineer for a construction company. He's on a road project right now and there was an accident on the job site Friday morning. Repairing the problem required night work, and my man was volunteered for the job. Needless to say, Saturday was a sleep-in kinda day for him. I woke up fairly early and ate a quick bite and hit the gym for 5.5 miles on the treadmill. It felt pretty darn good and I was glad I made myself do it. We were supposed to get lots of stuff moved over to the house this weekend, but guess what? Didn't happen. Between Scotty working and just being tired, plus he has a hurt back...and just being lazy I guess, not much was accomplished. We did put together my new bakers rack which looks really cute. 


Saturday night I went ahead and made the big holiday style feast. No pictures unfortunately because I was lazy and forgetful. We enjoyed it alone, just a romantic dinner for two, lol. And the scale the next day proved that we didn't need to invite friends over to help us eat the feast because I ate enough for them too!


We hit the gym together after Sunday breakfast. It was a quickie but a goodie. I did a quick, but all-out, 20 minutes on the elliptical, followed by leg extensions, leg curls, calf raises, leg presses and the butt blaster machine. When I was finished with that Scotty's back was really bothering him, so we just headed home. We ate a little lunch and walked the pup a bit and went on to the beloved household chores. Prep for the Super Bowl included throwing together a couple of personal pan sized home made pizzas (yum) and sitting on the couch watching the pre-game show. 


We all know how the game went down, so you can imagine how I felt when it was over. I was a grumpasaurus and pretty much went straight to bed. But today is a new day and I'm trying not to dwell on the fact that we lost, even though all of my football fan co-workers who hate the Steelers keep reminding me. 


Today I enjoyed a Special K protein bar with coffee for breakfast, a banana for a mid-morning snack, a ham rollup and some Progresso tomato parmesan soup for lunch, string cheese will have to suffice as an afternoon snack before I down an Atkins caramel nougat bar for a pre-work out energy boost. Dinner is still a mystery as of now, probably nothing very exciting. 


Hopefully I will be in a little better mood tomorrow and have more interesting things to talk about. For now though, I am off to wallow in my misery.


Whitney

Friday, February 4, 2011

A much needed day off and a Happy Friday!!!

Ah, I can't even tell you how much I am looking forward to this weekend...it is in fact one of the greatest of the year. Ya know why? It's Super Bowl weekend, duh! As if that wasn't great enough, MY team is playing in the big game!!! Woohoo!!! I have a great feeling about it. I really think it's going to be an exciting game. For the first time in a few years I even find myself looking forward to the half time show, the Black Eyed Peas. It's about time the NFL does something current, I'm exhausted with these old guys of the past few years trying to entertain me...


After the gym tonight I'll be hitting the grocery store for a few Super Bowl essentials...STEELERS balloons, plates and cups to decorate the house & home made pizza ingredients, thats what I've settled on for game day dinner. I've also been talked into cooking up a feast for Saturday evening so I'll be grabbing all the ingredients for that too. One of Scotty-o's buddies is coming over to help us move in more furniture and also change the brakes on the boat trailer, so we are treating him to a delicious home cooked meal. I'm talking like a Christmas dinner feast with ham and all the fixins. Have I mentioned that I love cooking for people?


Yesterday was a mucho productive day. I woke up early and made breakfast and had a last minute cram session before my final exam, which didn't really help that much. I did average, definitely not what I was hoping for, but good enough I guess. I was a little bummed after that and needed some major retail therapy. I went and bought some new accessories for the house and then home. I ate a little lunch (bowl of frosted mini-wheats...haven't had them in forever and I must say that I have seriously been missing out), then I started painting. I touched up the dining room, kitchen, both guest bedrooms and the guest bath. All thats left as far as painting goes this weekend is the master bed and bath and living room. Can't wait to get all the painting knocked out because I 100% despise painting. 


Shortly after I was finished painting Scotty was home from work. We had a little snack and then hit the gym. I didn't really have a plan before we got there, so I decided on 30 minutes on the elliptical, 20 minutes on the treadmill and 10 minutes on the arc trainer. My cardio was followed up 3 sets of crunches and 3 sets of hanging knee raises. 


We went home and surprisingly I wasn't very hungry, so I decided on a very odd vegetarian dinner. I had a whole can of garbanzo beans and some steamed green peas, with a tapioca pudding cup for dessert. 


We ended the night on the couch watching Vampire Diaries, great episode last night. I just love that show. We skipped out on Jersey Shore, so don't tell me what happened! It's on the DVR waiting to be watched this evening. I think I'm also going to hit up the RedBox and see if there are any movies worth watching tonight.


I plan on sleeping in a bit tomorrow morning and then sweating it out in the gym, I need to put in a 6-miler (probably on the treadmill) and I also need to do some squats, lunges, etc. because I've been putting them off all week. Then, it's on to the painting and moving. 


Here's hoping everyone has a very productive Friday and weekend and also finds some time to relax...and cheer on those Steelers!!! Here we go Steelers, here we go!!!


Ta ta!
Whitney


PS--I also saw a HUGE black snake in our front yard yesterday which liked to scare the pee outta me!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Feeling refreshed

Ahhh...today is a much better day than yesterday. I don't know what got into me but I was definitely a Ms. Crabby Patty (sorry for the Sponge Bob reference but I have an 8 year old brother). I've managed to snap out of it and I'm looking at the next 2 days with a new found optimism. I had quite the productive evening, even though I did decide to skip the gym, which at first made me even more grumpy and frumpy feeling, but then I realized that some things in life take precedence...not failing a final would be one of these things. So, instead I ate dinner and put in a couple of hours of studying while Scotty was at the gym (lucky) and I'm beginning to feel much more prepared. I'm planning on taking about a half hour to study during the lunch break today, hitting the gym after work ( I NEEEEEEED this today), and more and more studying after dinner. I'll also wake up a few minutes early tomorrow morning for some last minute cramming before the exam at 9am.


Last night dinner was thrown together very simply and quickly. I had a big 'ol salad, some fresh broccoli and cauliflower with hummus and some whole grain saltines. I also downed a big juicy Cameo apple for an evening snack (wow...I'd never been partial to Cameos before, but it was yummy). 


This morning I hit the snooze button a few too many times but still managed to have enough time to take a shower and wash my hair and even style it a tad...don't get your hopes up, this was as good as it gets...


I also had a very tasty breakfast on the run. I've proven to myself now that a delicious and nutritious breakfast in the car is possible. I mixed a light strawberry yogurt, a spoonful of sugar-free strawberry jam, wild berry granola with flax and some sliced almonds together to create a delightful little morning parfait. Definitely the best idea I've had so far today. 
You're loving the styrofoam cup right, keeping in classy!
 
Lunch is whipped peanut butter on a sandwich thin, a banana and a string cheese. Afternoon snack is one of my new favorites, chili lime skinless almonds (delish!), and dinner is still up in the air...I guess it'll be whatever I can scrape together from the pantry/freezer. 


I can't wait to get my butt in the gym today. I've got a minimum 5-miler, hopefully 6 planned and then some lower body strengthening. Hope everyone is having a fantastic Hump Day- half way through the work week! Ta ta!


Whitney

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Running on empty...

I know I've been MIA for the past few days and that is because there is just SO much going on. I'm trying to keep it all together but it's getting difficult and I'm starting to feel things crumbling...not a good feeling. I've got a HUGE test on Thursday morning that I feel overwhelmingly unprepared for, I'm trying to get things done around the house, cook dinner, make sure to get my work outs in and find time to spend with Scotty. That last one definitely feels like it's slipping through the cracks, so somethings gotta give! 


Let me back up a lil bit...we had a blast in Miami on Friday. 

We were crunched for time on the way down there so we didn't have time for dinner (not a good situation). We grabbed a couple of smoothies from the Tropical Smoothie Cafe, aka the most wonderful place on the planet, and sped our way down Alligator Alley. 
My smoothie was a Hawaiian Breeze. It has an orangey, pineappley, banana-ey flavor. It's blended with Splenda and I had them toss in a scoop of whey protein to help it last longer...didn't work.

It looks really far away, but our seats were really awesome.

We got to see an incredibly exciting game, it came down to the very last seconds with the Heat pulling off a victory by 1 point. Score ended up 88-87 and we almost got to see LeBron have a 40 point game. He ended up with 39. On the down side, Chris Bosh and D. Wade were both injured so we only got to see them sit the bench. 

After the game we were both starved and I just wanted to eat at the first place we saw, didn't matter what it was. It took us forever to get away from the stadium, sooooo much traffic. I was afraid that we wouldn't be able to find anything open at 11:30pm, but we finally settled on TGI Fridays, which was a good choice. I had a Cobb Salad with Ranch dressing, regular ranch, not light...and it was scrumptious. I also had a few tortilla chips and salsa which hit the spot. We finally rolled into the driveway around 2:30am. 

Saturday we slept in and walked Mercedes for about 3 miles first thing. Then I ate a nutritious breakfast of plain oats mixed with PB, Splenda and a sliced banana before we hit the gym. I put in a little over 5 miles on the TM and then we came home for lunch. Before dinner time Scotty took a quick run and I did the same route walking with Mercedes again, ended up being a little over 1.5 miles. Needless to say I was pretty pooped at the end of the day so we just lazed around and watched TV, did a little studying, and Scotty of course played a lil XBox.

Sunday was a more productive day. We did lots of straightening up and cleaning around the house. My pool boy vacuumed the pool out and I did some more studying. We then went to buy some more stuff for the house, mainly cosmetic things, all the big things are just about complete. We decided to head back to the smoothie cafe for a late afternoon snack, which might have been the best decision of the weekend. I think this smoothie was even better than the first. We also passed my old boss on the way down there and flagged her down to join us. It was great to catch up with her, I miss seeing her every day. She truly made my transition to the Florida lifestyle much easier. 

This week has started off crazy as ever...busy with work, and mainly stressed about school. I NEED to ace this final and I just don't have the feeling that it's gonna happen. I need to devote 24 hours a day into studying today and tomorrow but obviously that is impossible. Thankfully I have all day Thursday off from work, so I plan on totally relaxing and getting a few things accomplished on the home front after the test. 

In more exciting news...the SUPER BOWL IS SUNDAY!!!!!! GO STEELERS!!!! I plan on sporting Steelers gear all week long. Check out my new shirt...I love it!!!! Can't wait for the weekend!!!

Thats all I've got for now...hopefully I will be more interesting once all the madness dies down!

Ta ta...
Whitney