Goodness! Where did the last month go?! It's literally flown by, but it's been one of the happiest months I've had in a long time. My divorce was finalized on 1/29/2013, A & I started going back to church and I *love* it, A put in his move-out notice with our apartments, so we're officially moving in together as of 4/1/2013. Ekk! :-) Oh! And, we bought a new car. I'll post pictures this weekend.
However, with another new month comes another set of goals. :-)
Here are my goals for February.
Health
1. Run a 28 miles... That's only 1 mile per day. Totally doable. I *must* start focusing my training for the half marathon in May.
2. DRINK MORE WATER! Another *must* do goal!
3. Limit Starbucks to only one per week.
4. Cancel 24 Hour Fitness. I'm paying $50 and working out at home anyways.
Home
1. Make a minimum of one new recipe for dinner.
2. Menu plan, and stick to it.
3. Only go out to eat ONE day a week!
4. Bring lunch to work a minimum of 4 days a week.
5. Create a personal budget and stick to it.
Personal
1. Sign up for professional pictures. Pick a date with Shani. 2. Enjoy my first Valentine's Day with Alex.
3. Read two + books for fun.
4. Accomplish at least 4 items from my 101 things list.
Friday, February 1, 2013
January Goals - Recap
So January didn't go so well... it started off strong, and then school started, and things went WAY down hill from there. But, in an effort to be honest, here's where my goals ended up...
Health
1. Run a minimum of 31 miles... That's only 1 mile per day. Totally doable. This didn't happen. I slacked. I started off strong, ran 8 miles in the first 8 days, and then bam. Nothing since. FAIL.
2. DRINK MORE WATER! Another fail. It didn't happen.
3. No Starbucks for the entire month. A & I went to Teavana and bought some healthy teas, so I'm going to make it a point to drink that tea for the month, and stay away from Starbucks. I made it through the first 18 days, which for me was a RECORD! I've had three chais in the month of January, but coming from drinking one a day, I'd say this was a pretty good accomplishment. However, since I did have at least one, I'm marking this one as a fail too.
4. Cancel 24 Hour Fitness, sign up for a new gym membership at LA Fitness. FAIL! I'll get to it this week.
5. Keep up with the UG Challenge(s) for the month. Another thing I started off strong with, but managed to screw up by the end of the month. Ahhh!
Home
1. Make a minimum of one new recipe for dinner. I'm kind of proud of myself for this one... I've made not only one new recipe for dinner, but 4 new recipes for dinner. :-) I need to blog about them. I'll add that to my "to do" list.
2. Menu plan, and stick to it. I menu planned, but we deviated from the plan, and ate out a lot more than I had originally wanted to do.
3. Go through closet, get rid of clothes that are too big, and stuff that I just don't wear anymore. Done! I managed to go through my closet and get rid of two large trash bags full of clothes. I took them to Carie to see if she wanted any of the clothes, and donated the rest of them to a donation drive at church.
Personal
1. Get a massage. FAIL! Didn't happen, should have happened, but didn't happen.
2. Organize calendar with 2013 Spring school schedule. Done. But then again, I'm anal, so who didn't figure that would happen.
3. Read two + books for fun. Another thing I accomplished. I read The Host by Stephanie Meyer and Insatiable by Meg Cabot.
4. Accomplish at least 4 items from my 101 things list. So for my 101 things... I reached a goal weight of 170, Alex & I went to the aquarium, Alex & I bought a new car, and I added three new recipes to my "try 12 new recipes." I wasn't able to completely mark that one off the list, BUT, I did make progress, so I'm counting that as a success!
Health
1. Run a minimum of 31 miles... That's only 1 mile per day. Totally doable. This didn't happen. I slacked. I started off strong, ran 8 miles in the first 8 days, and then bam. Nothing since. FAIL.
2. DRINK MORE WATER! Another fail. It didn't happen.
3. No Starbucks for the entire month. A & I went to Teavana and bought some healthy teas, so I'm going to make it a point to drink that tea for the month, and stay away from Starbucks. I made it through the first 18 days, which for me was a RECORD! I've had three chais in the month of January, but coming from drinking one a day, I'd say this was a pretty good accomplishment. However, since I did have at least one, I'm marking this one as a fail too.
4. Cancel 24 Hour Fitness, sign up for a new gym membership at LA Fitness. FAIL! I'll get to it this week.
5. Keep up with the UG Challenge(s) for the month. Another thing I started off strong with, but managed to screw up by the end of the month. Ahhh!
Home
2. Menu plan, and stick to it. I menu planned, but we deviated from the plan, and ate out a lot more than I had originally wanted to do.
Personal
1. Get a massage. FAIL! Didn't happen, should have happened, but didn't happen.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Strawberry Jello Cake
This recipe is kind of two fold... today, on my way to get my nails filled, I expressed to A the desire to bake something, and asked him what he wanted. He said Strawberry Jello Cake. Uh, say what?! I've never even heard of Strawberry Jello Cake. He sent me a recipe for one. Okay - it looked easy enough AND it would help fulfill one of my January goals to try a new recipe. I grabbed the ingredients and headed home.
D
He sent me the recipe from Chef Shell's Catering & Roadside Cafe... from Michigan, nonetheless, which if you knew A would shock you that he'd dare send a recipe from somewhere in Michigan. Here's the direct link... Strawberry Jello Cake.
In typical ME fashion - the first attempt... A DISASTER! I did exactly as the recipe said to do... put the "crust" in the oven at 375* for 30-35 minutes. My "crust" looked more like a disc you'd throw in track, and I'm fairly certain just as hard. So back to the store I went for a second cake mix.
Here's the recipe with my modifications...
Cake Crust
1 16.5 ounce Strawberry Cake Mix (none of the cake mixes I found were 18.5 ounces)
1 Stick of Butter (Melted)
1 Egg
Filing
2 cup Boiling Water
1 6 ounce Package Strawberry Jell-o
20 ounces Frozen Strawberries (Thawed) (For this, I ended up buying a 24 ounce container of frozen strawberries, and using the additional 4 ounces for the topping)
1/4 cup Sugar
Topping
1 8 ounce Cream Cheese (room temp)
1/4 cup Sugar
1 12 oz Whipped Topping
4 ounces Frozen Strawberries
Pre-heat oven to 375*.
In a large bowl, mix cake mix, melted butter and egg until blended. Press into a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Let cool.
Dissolve jell-o and sugar in boiling water. Make sure it is completely dissolved before adding the strawberries. (Cool slightly.) (Mine was completely cool before I poured it over the cake, due to having to make the 2nd crust.) Pour strawberries over cake and refrigerate until set.
With an electric hand blender or stand mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, and frozen strawberries until well blended. Add whipped topping and continue to whip until smooth and creamy. Top cake and chill for 3 - 4 hours.
The recipe as a whole was super easy, once I figured out the length of time to bake the crust.
I will update with a final determination on taste one it's completely chilled, as well as additional pictures. The good news is that A is happy because he'll get his Strawberry Jello Cake, and I'm happy because I met ONE of my January goals. :-)
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
January Goals
It's always fun to be able to manage to keep your resolutions on the 1st day of the year. Hah. Ideally, I'd like to have 5 goals for each category - but if it doesn't happen, oh well. So here goes nothing...
Here are my goals for January...
Health
1. Run a minimum of 31 miles... That's only 1 mile per day. Totally doable.
2. DRINK MORE WATER!
3. No Starbucks for the entire month. A & I went to Teavana and bought some healthy teas, so I'm going to make it a point to drink that tea for the month, and stay away from Starbucks.
4. Cancel 24 Hour Fitness, sign up for a new gym membership at LA Fitness.
5. Keep up with the UG Challenge(s) for the month.
Home
1. Make a minimum of one new recipe for dinner.
2. Menu plan, and stick to it.
3. Go through closet, get rid of clothes that are too big, and stuff that I just don't wear anymore.
Personal
1. Get a massage.
2. Organize calendar with 2013 Spring school schedule.
3. Read two + books for fun.
4. Accomplish at least 4 items from my 101 things list.
Here are my goals for January...
Health
1. Run a minimum of 31 miles... That's only 1 mile per day. Totally doable.
2. DRINK MORE WATER!
3. No Starbucks for the entire month. A & I went to Teavana and bought some healthy teas, so I'm going to make it a point to drink that tea for the month, and stay away from Starbucks.
4. Cancel 24 Hour Fitness, sign up for a new gym membership at LA Fitness.
5. Keep up with the UG Challenge(s) for the month.
Home
1. Make a minimum of one new recipe for dinner.
2. Menu plan, and stick to it.
3. Go through closet, get rid of clothes that are too big, and stuff that I just don't wear anymore.
Personal
1. Get a massage.
2. Organize calendar with 2013 Spring school schedule.
3. Read two + books for fun.
4. Accomplish at least 4 items from my 101 things list.
2013 Resolution(s)
Resolutions are such a funny thing... I think so at least. Each year starts with a clean slate, a fresh start, a new beginning, and an opportunity for all of us to make "resolutions" that we may or may not keep. A definition of a resolution is a formal expression of an intention. So here's my formal expression of my 2013 intentions...
1. Be healthy. I think I post this resolution or some form of it each and every year. This year won't be any different. From the beginning of 2012 to now, I've managed to drop another 20 lbs, and I'd like to continue that path. My sincerest desire is to be close to my goal weight by my 30th birthday.
2. Focus on me. That sounds ridiculous, I know that. But 2012 was a lot of time spent focused on a lot of other things including divorce, moving, and a ton of other changes in my world. It seems like I wasn't able to really spend much time enjoying the things that *I* like to do, and the things that make me happy. I want to make time for that this year.
3. Set monthly goals. Blog about those goals at the beginning and ending of each month. I really miss doing this. It was a great way to keep myself accountable for the things I want to accomplish.
4. Focus on my 101 things to do in 1001 days list. I need to re-evaluate the list, and make some minor updates, but I want to finish it in 2014, so I really need to spend some time focused on it during 2013.
5. Just enjoy life. Enjoy spending time with family and friends. Stop stressing over things I can not change, and make it a point to be more thankful and appreciative of the experiences.
1. Be healthy. I think I post this resolution or some form of it each and every year. This year won't be any different. From the beginning of 2012 to now, I've managed to drop another 20 lbs, and I'd like to continue that path. My sincerest desire is to be close to my goal weight by my 30th birthday.
2. Focus on me. That sounds ridiculous, I know that. But 2012 was a lot of time spent focused on a lot of other things including divorce, moving, and a ton of other changes in my world. It seems like I wasn't able to really spend much time enjoying the things that *I* like to do, and the things that make me happy. I want to make time for that this year.
3. Set monthly goals. Blog about those goals at the beginning and ending of each month. I really miss doing this. It was a great way to keep myself accountable for the things I want to accomplish.
4. Focus on my 101 things to do in 1001 days list. I need to re-evaluate the list, and make some minor updates, but I want to finish it in 2014, so I really need to spend some time focused on it during 2013.
5. Just enjoy life. Enjoy spending time with family and friends. Stop stressing over things I can not change, and make it a point to be more thankful and appreciative of the experiences.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Looking back...
Today is December 31st. The last day of 2012. I usually don't sit down to type "reflective" posts, even though I should do it more often. I try to keep things around here less serious than real life. But then I was thinking today about what a whirlwind 2012 has been, and I thought it might be nice to put my thoughts down on paper.
2012 started with M and I moving into a new house in Crowley... one we picked out together, furnished together, etc. It was a promising start to a new year. At the end of January, I started a new job with Weir. The first half of the year was pretty mild... not much happening, other than work and school, rinse and repeat.
July came with the news of a pending divorce which really shook my world in the beginning. I wasn't heartbroken in the sense that most people are when they are faced with a divorce. I've felt that M and I should have gone our separate ways several times over the past 10 years. Why either of us held on, I'll never know. So I moved out in the middle of the month, and made the 60 mile one way drive from Dallas for about 6 weeks. I'll be forever grateful to my friend, Carie, for letting me crash at her apartment, and essentially take over 1/2 of her space. Without her, I don't know that I would have made it... well, really, without my entire circle of friends and family.
There was tons of drama, but that's a little more than I want to share here.
On August 22nd, I got the keys to my new place and moved in that evening. My mom came down to be here with the movers, help me unpack and get settled in. My brother, his girlfriend, and my parents came back on Saturday to help again, and we went to dinner to celebrate my new found freedom, and the start of my newest journey. I truly have an amazing family. I'll always be grateful for them.
In September, I finally put a name to the face of "hottie neighbor guy (HNG)" as he was referred to for several weeks after numerous conversations about my dog, Chloe. (I'm still laughing at my inability to see that he was interested in me, and not just Chloe). We had our first official date in October, and have been pretty much inseparable ever sense. He's an incredible person, and I'm excited to continue to get to know him, spend time with him, etc.
Work continues to be stressful - but I guess that's the nature of the beast.
It's been a really long time I've been truly excited for the start of a new year, but I'm thrilled to ring in 2013. It'll be a low key NYE around here - but that's okay.
In 2013 - I will run my first half marathon, I will turn 30, I will graduate with my 2nd Master's degree, I will take a vacation with A to Boston, maybe a trip to Vegas to celebrate turning 30, I'd really like to move across the country to pursue a new career in one of the financial hubs of this country but only time will tell if that'll happen. 2013 is truly going to be a fantastic year!!
2012 started with M and I moving into a new house in Crowley... one we picked out together, furnished together, etc. It was a promising start to a new year. At the end of January, I started a new job with Weir. The first half of the year was pretty mild... not much happening, other than work and school, rinse and repeat.
July came with the news of a pending divorce which really shook my world in the beginning. I wasn't heartbroken in the sense that most people are when they are faced with a divorce. I've felt that M and I should have gone our separate ways several times over the past 10 years. Why either of us held on, I'll never know. So I moved out in the middle of the month, and made the 60 mile one way drive from Dallas for about 6 weeks. I'll be forever grateful to my friend, Carie, for letting me crash at her apartment, and essentially take over 1/2 of her space. Without her, I don't know that I would have made it... well, really, without my entire circle of friends and family.
There was tons of drama, but that's a little more than I want to share here.
On August 22nd, I got the keys to my new place and moved in that evening. My mom came down to be here with the movers, help me unpack and get settled in. My brother, his girlfriend, and my parents came back on Saturday to help again, and we went to dinner to celebrate my new found freedom, and the start of my newest journey. I truly have an amazing family. I'll always be grateful for them.
In September, I finally put a name to the face of "hottie neighbor guy (HNG)" as he was referred to for several weeks after numerous conversations about my dog, Chloe. (I'm still laughing at my inability to see that he was interested in me, and not just Chloe). We had our first official date in October, and have been pretty much inseparable ever sense. He's an incredible person, and I'm excited to continue to get to know him, spend time with him, etc.
Work continues to be stressful - but I guess that's the nature of the beast.
It's been a really long time I've been truly excited for the start of a new year, but I'm thrilled to ring in 2013. It'll be a low key NYE around here - but that's okay.
In 2013 - I will run my first half marathon, I will turn 30, I will graduate with my 2nd Master's degree, I will take a vacation with A to Boston, maybe a trip to Vegas to celebrate turning 30, I'd really like to move across the country to pursue a new career in one of the financial hubs of this country but only time will tell if that'll happen. 2013 is truly going to be a fantastic year!!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Sour Cream Parmesan Chicken
Here's the main course for tonight's dinner... so yummy! I found this one on Pinterest too, but the link associated with the recipe was broken. This is another recipe that I'd love to be able to give credit where credit is due... so if anyone finds it, PLEASE let me know.
Sour Cream Parmesan Chicken
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup parmesan
Italian bread crumbs
Chicken breasts
INSTRUCTIONS FROM PINTEREST
Simply mix 1/2 cup of sour cream and 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese. Spread over chicken breast in a baking dish. Sprinkle Italian bread crumbs on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
MY INSTRUCTIONS
I seasoned the chicken on both sides first, using onion powder, garlic powder, Lawry's, salt and pepper. I mixed up the sour cream and the parmesan mixture, and spread it evenly over three chicken breasts in a glass baking dish. I sprinkled the Italian bread crumbs on top of that, and put it in the oven, uncovered, @ 350* for 45 minutes.
Sour Cream Parmesan Chicken
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup parmesan
Italian bread crumbs
Chicken breasts
INSTRUCTIONS FROM PINTEREST
Simply mix 1/2 cup of sour cream and 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese. Spread over chicken breast in a baking dish. Sprinkle Italian bread crumbs on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
MY INSTRUCTIONS
I seasoned the chicken on both sides first, using onion powder, garlic powder, Lawry's, salt and pepper. I mixed up the sour cream and the parmesan mixture, and spread it evenly over three chicken breasts in a glass baking dish. I sprinkled the Italian bread crumbs on top of that, and put it in the oven, uncovered, @ 350* for 45 minutes.
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