Summer Project

The date is set... MAY 31! Memorial day weekend marks the beginning of summer for most. For me it will mark the beginning of my summer project. I'm pulling the plug. Turning off the TV. Disconnecting the cable.
I love me some good trashy tv, the faker the better for me... gossip girl, melrose place (round one and the new rendition,) grey's, desperate housewives, anything food network or HGTV.... the list goes on and on. My DVR box is ready to bust.
There are so many things I want to do. I have a list of projects, sites to see, new foods to try and I'm going to learn how to read again. Similar to church I some how got it set into my head that reading was a chore and who likes doing chores. Maybe I will try church  again... who knows!  haha... It is going to be a fun filled summer full of adventures and definitely some good reading. I have a book list and movies and so much to do.

Stay tuned! (hehe)


What is one thing that you don't think you could ever give up?

The Perfect Sunday Afternoon

The Tourne/Cafe Metro, Denville, NJ

 

The views were nice and apparently I like to climb things. Poor Frankie had to climb things too. Well, kind of. Well, not really he was just placed there.

 

 

 

 

Cafe Metro was a fun time. The food was great and Frankie was even allowed to join us. I love the warm weather it make owning a dog much more fun. He loves people and watching but we are working on the barking. I have to imagine that it is frustrating for him. He barks at people as if he is talking to them. I'm sure he has lots to say. He's a smart dog.

(Fresh calamari lightly sauteed with extra virgin olive oil, roasted and hot peppers, kalamata olives, garlic, lemon, fresh herbs, and balsamic vinegar)

We started with the Summer Wind Calamari. It was very spicy but we were very hungry and ate it all. The calamari was perfectly cooked. Maybe slightly over seasoned but the heat kind of numbed that out.

I ordered the Marinated Grilled Tofu and Jessica had the Grilled Chicken and Eggplant we decided to share.  

(Marinated Grilled Tofu topped with grilled zucchini, sundried tomatoes, marinara, and regular or soy mozzarella cheese, served with a side of pasta)

(Grilled chicken breast topped with grilled eggplant, roasted peppers, marinara, and mozzarella cheese, served with a side of pasta)

 

We finished with a piece of vegan chocolate raspberry cake. It was surprisingly dense, chocolaty goodness.  Over all another really nice weekend with good food, trails and friends. 

JOCKEY HOLLOW

Jen and I went hiking today at Jockey Hollow. It was such a beautiful day. We followed the long loop (the white squares, which was about 6 miles. Not expecting the mud was difficult and slightly wet, Frankie loves it. Since when are Pomeranians water dogs? He really loves the water and apparently mud. Belly deep in the mud, stopping to smell the skunk cabbage and having a ball.

Frankie has his new summer name... The Trail Blazer.... jersey shore inspired of course. It was just beautiful in the woods and the trails were clearly marked despite our poor sense of direction.

The log vs. Frankie - woo hoo Frankie won! I thought pulling would work.

 Jenn decided to give a helping hand. Thanks! He is a trooper. Under all the poof he's a real dogs dog. He went right though the water and mud. He even scratched his eye lid on a thorny bush... Poor baby.

We found a tree that had fallen about 20 ft over high over the trail. We decided to climb on it and take pictures. I was convinced it was going to break. I would get stuck underneath and some how have to explain to a cute EMT why I thought it would be cool to climb out on a fallen log and take my picture.

And then we found this little guy. I named him Harry. There was a fallen tree that had created a pool of water that all the frogs and at least a couple dozen eggs were thriving there. It was so neat. This little guy had burrowed himself into the cool mud and was just chilling. They were so vibrantly green. I loved them.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Lesson of the Day

I've realized this, well a while ago, that cheating on my diet really isn't cheating anyone or on anything. There really is no point. Cheating is supposed to be bad and fun. Eating twice as much as I should is neither bad nor fun. Well, maybe a little fun but it really depends on the binge. Cato Corner Farm cheese... definitely worth the binge. Pasta and cake, not so much.

I wanted two whole wheat banana flax seed muffins this morning. (Mind you they denser than a hockey puck, have too much stevia in them and are just in general not a culinary masterpiece.) I put one back. I just didn't need two. I have pinpointed my issues being portion control and eating too fast. You can never have too much of a good thing, right? Well, it's generally not going anywhere and if it does you can always get more.

Frankie and I binged on whole grain saltines and smart balance the other night. Who does that, and why do I have to drag an innocent dog into my masochistic binging? Am I a terrible person? Ok, I don't really think I'm a terrible person, I'm just being a little dramatic.

Lesson of the day – Cheating on your diet is generally a stupid waste of time.

Day 30

Today is day 30. Yesterday was weigh in day. I'm down a total of 19 pounds!!! I have been busy and not writing. I will work on balancing life better, but I feel great. I'm hoping for another 19 pounds in the next 30 days. I'm going to look like a whole new person.

I have recipes and photos from last weekend that I'm dying to get up but I have been mentally checking out after work. Fortunately my desk jockey, mentally stressful like does not prohibit me from mindlessly ellipting away at all hours. A little OCD yes but in a good way. I am entering the busy season at work. I'm trying very hard to keep up with this social networking, work and the diet.

Check out some fun links while I'm working on recipes and yummy pictures.

V-day Love
 How to buy and store bulk foods
I'm intruged by theInfluenza Sorbet
bathroom to brighten up your day
BLOATED?
Photoshop shortcuts
What I want for my birthday party!
NEAT RUG
I just ordered... great coffee table reading.
to make your mouth water...

Hamster Wheel

Mini Home Exercise Cycle
I know you're probably laughing right now but I'm thinking it might be a good idea (note: do not combine with the balanceball chair that I'm also eying up.) Could I put it under my desk and just peddle away while I work? I could transform my "fish bowl" into a hamster cage OR is it just silly/borderline lazy. I'm not thinking it would replace any other form of exercise just getting a little extra for my under used desk jockey legs. Any thoughts, opinions, giggles?... There are several different versions ranging from $25-$100. check them out

Day 10

Yesterday was good. Exercising is getting a little easier. I tried pilates. I do not like the Danskin portable Pilates Kit I got. I picked it because of the 3 ten minute workouts. Sounds painless, right! Well my abs kind of hurt today and my chest like my boob muscles but I didn't really care for the video. SO I splurged on the Gaiam Coreplus Reformer (I was told Mari Wisnor DVD was good), Gaiam Total Body Balance Ball Kit AND I splurged on the Extreme Fat Smash Diet book. It was only five and change. I deserve it because I fit comfortably into my skinny jeans today. They are even kind of falling off my ass when I walk. Not necessarily desirable, or fashionable for that matter, but it made me feel good this morning. I can't wait to get my loot in the mail tomorrow. Nothing like spending Friday night blowing up balance balls and pilating (is that a word? it is now!)

Oh and I started TWEETING yesterday! (ladibug_32) I couldn't help it. I might already be addicted. I'm scared for myself. I was noticing this am that my "phone" has six different methods for getting a hold of me.... facebook, email, sms, bbm, the seldom used call feature and now twitter... THAT IS SCARY!

Day 8

This weekend went well. I went out for dinner Saturday and had my family over for dinner Sunday.
I was feeling motivated Saturday. I woke up decided to exercise and get it out of the way before my day started. I really did make me feel better. The Thai restaurant was good. I had a salad, grilled fish, a martini and a whole lot of water! Over all a fun time had while still maintaining my routine.
Sunday was a little bit of a rush and blur but I was still able to stick to the plan. I made grilled chicken, which I cut and pounded into smaller serving sized pieces. Then, I roasted a lots of carrots, broccoli and cauliflower with a little bit of olive oil, salt/pepper and garlic. I had used one snack on some soup for lunch and wanted to save the other for the mint and grapefruit granita dessert so I did not have any. Just salad and chicken for me, but I did save some broccoli that I'm going to roast for dinner tonight.
Yesterday was Monday and crazy as usual. It was a rest day which was nice and this morning I managed to get up and do 30 min of cardio.... YES at 6 am. I'm going to walk with the girls at lunch and then go out to dinner and a movie. I was debating where I wanted to go for dinner. I was thinking Panera but the bread is evil. I think I might suggest the diner for a grilled chicken salad. Hopefully they have a FF or low fat dressing. Eight days in and I'm officially down 10 lbs. I don't really feel it but I'm hoping I do soon.

Since the start, yes, it has only been eight days, I have been making it a point to talk about it in hope that my peers will keep me motivated. For the most part everyone has been encouraging, minus a few self-centered "friends" we will not name. I have observed that everyone seems to have an opinion diets or what I should do. I enjoy that everyone wants to share what is working for them or what they like or some of their favorite recipes. After all, this is how I started and what got me motivated to do this diet in the first place. Then, there are the people that start out by saying "why don't you just...." or "all you have to do is....". People operate differently and by saying well why don't you just... or all you have to do is... is really discouraging and slightly degrading. Since when did you become a nutritionist or maybe you are a closet dietitian? I'm not mad I just think people, probably including myself, need to think before they speak.

4 day diet - day one

Day one was good. The food was ehhh but tomorrow I get to have eggs... wooo! hahaha I did 45 min of ellipting 5 whole minutes more than suggested. Fankie sat there watching the elliptical machine go back and forth. When I stopped he barked... who put him up to that?! On to day two. My twenty pound goal is a fish tank. haha yea I want a fish tank and some pretty fishies. I like fish. To eat and to watch. Two months = fish tank and closer to my July 11th birthday goal!!!