Hello friends! Well I have been extremely productive today! I slept in (ahh-mazing!) getting up at 4:30 every morning is starting to wear me down a bit. Then I packed up all my dirty laundry... I had like 7 loads! I counted out all the change in my change jar, 34.46! I packed up my car and went off. First stop, the bank, then the post office, then Krogers, then the laundry mat. Now, I don't know how many of you frequent a laundry mat, but it can be quite an interesting experience. Take today for example... I brought in all my laundry, freaked out about the prices (seriously $5 to use a washing machine??), then I sat down. I noticed a little boy sitting near me. He was about 7, a red head, cute little freckles, a white wife beater tank top, skinny jeans, and flip flops... basically I was sitting next to a baby hipster! He was playing video games on an iPod touch, which I later found out he got for his birthday... I then proceeded to learn that he was a broadway actor from New York traveling with the Beauty and the Beast show currently playing at TPAC. Ohh yeah, and he's naturally a brunette! So funny! I was listening to him tell me his life story, and I was amazed. This little kid has accomplished quite a lot in his short 7 years on this earth. then it made me kind of sad for him too... what kind of childhood is that? Traveling around, living out of hotels, WORKING!! I hope I don't see him 20 years from now on one of those VH1 specials on screwed up child stars.
After my laundry was finished, I headed home for some much needed cleaning. now if you know me well, you know that I HATE cleaning. But i buckled down today, quit complaining, and cleaned the kitchen, did all the dishes, cleaned the living room, the bathroom, and finally my room. I also reorganized all my clothes, and sorted through some boxes! I got a lot done! Now im sitting in the kitchen baking cupcakes for David's birthday! Tonight I am taking him on a special surprise date... he doesn't know where we are going but i'll tell u guys. At Cheekwood Botanical Gardens right now they are having an exhibit from a man named Chihuly, he is a glass blower and has put up a huge installation in the gardens. Cheekwood is showing his exhibit by day, and by night! At night its all lit up, and you can walk through the gardens and see the work, I have heard it is absolutely, breathtakingly amazing! I'll let u know how it goes!!
So weight watchers update! The first week I lost 1.8 lbs, and last week I only lost .2. It's not much but its a start and I know why my weight loss wasn't so great last week, so i'm going to be better about tracking, and watching the snack foods. But hey .2 is still a loss so I'm excited! I really like the eating plan so far, its pretty simple once you get used to the points system, and I am finding lots of new recipes that are really yummy and fit into my points allowance! Here are 3 of my new favorites!
White Cupcakes:
1 box Dunkin Heines white cake mix
1 jar Dunkin Heines whipped white frosting
1 can Fresca
Mix cake mix and Fresca together. Place cupcake paper cups in cupcake pan. Fill cups 2/3 full of batter. Bake at 325 for 20 minutes. Let cool and cover with 1 tbsp of whipped frosting! Makes 24 cupcakes. Total Weight Watchers Points: 3
Turkey Snack Wrap:
1 Ole' Tortilla (you can find them at Kroger)
6 slices shaved sandwich turkey
Spinach
Kroger Brand Honey Mustard (the generic brand with only 10 calories per serving)
Place honey mustard, spinach and turkey on wrap. Roll up and enjoy!
Total Weight Watchers Points: 2
Turkey Burgers:
1 Jennie'O frozen turkey burger
1 Arnold's honey wheat roll
spinach
Green tomato
Onions
Dale's seasoning
Place Jennie'O frozen turkey burger in skillet with light veggie oil. Add Dales to taste. Slice green tomatoes and cook with burger. Let burger cook for approximately 7 minutes on each side. Place burger on Arnold's Bun with spinach and onions. Top with cooked green tomato slices.
Total Weight Watchers Points: 5
Hope you guys get a chance to try some of these quick and delicious recipes! If you do let me know what you think!
Much Love,
-E
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Redeeming Love
Hello friends... happy hump day! I have lierally run out of things to do at work, so I figured this would be as good a time as any to update!
I just finished, for the 2nd time, the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Please if you havn't read it, please drop everything your doing (after u finish this post of course) and go buy it! It is one of the best books I have ever read. The premisis on the surface is about a young woman, Angel, in the mid 1800's who was sold into prostitution as a young child. She is living in a brothel basically in slavery. Michael, a farmer from a town near where she lives, comes into town one day to sell his produce and see's her. When he does, he realizes that this is the woman God has chosen for him to be his wife. He procedes to try and convince Angel that he is different from the other men she has known in her life and to leave with him. He finally gets her out of the brothel and marries her. The rest of the book centers around his struggles to get her to stay and trust and find the Lord. The book is such as amazing testament to God's overwhelming and never failing love for us. You compare the main characters relationship to that of God's love and devotion for the lost. No matter what you have done, are doing, believe or don't believe, God is always waiting for you to come to him, believe in him, and reach for him. He forgives all things! It is such an amazing read, if you do or have read it leave me a comment about your thoughts!
The book also brings up another subject that has been weighing on my mind lately... marriage. No I'm not getting married, in fact David and I aren't even talking about it. What I mean is the entire idea, and premises of marriage. Why do people get married and what is it all supposed to truly mean? How do you know when your ready to get married, and what does God say about it? I don't really know why it has entered my mind so heavily recently. I assume it has something to do with everyone I know getting married. Ok, not everyone but a lot of them. Here is what I do know...
I want to get married one day
I want a FIREPROOF marriage
I want to be my husbands world, and I want him to be mine
I don't want to get married until I know that its about a MARRIAGE, not a WEDDING!!
The rest of it though, is just so confusing. Redeeming Love, exemplifies the kind of marriage I want. Michael is so deeply in love with Angel, he prays for her, guides her, trusts her, and believes in her. Yes they argue, and yes its not always easy, but he never gives up on her. I want that so bad. I dont ever want to go through what my parents went through. I believe that human being ARE supposed to be monogamous. I don't know if I believe there is only one person for everyone, but I believe that God will lead you to someone he has chosen for you if you just trust and have faith in his timing and will. But how do you know when you have truly found this person? I believe it can be very difficult to separate your wants from God's will when it comes to relationships. When you feel so in love with someone, how can you distinguish if thats God's will or yours?
This book is also set in a much different time. It was easier, not as hurried, and much less complicated. You found someone, you fell in love, got married and stayed together. Divorce wasn't very popular, and although cheating has always existed, it wasn't as easily accomplished. Now we have cell phones, computers, iPads, txt messaging, e-mail, snail mail... you get the idea. How do you have an 1850's marriage in the 2010's?
I don't have the answers to all these questions... but I do know what I want eventually. I do know that if I just have faith, believe, and wait, that my prayers and desires will be answered one day in some fashion. It is hard though, and i think especially hard here in the South. Getting married is all anyone my age talks about and does. At 23, I feel behind the 8 ball because I'm not married, or engaged. I think here it is a status symbol, a special priveledge saved for the best and most beautiful southern belles and their southern gentlemen. The rest of us... who knows where we fall. But I have never been one to do something just because everyone else is doing it, and luckily I have someone who loves me just the way I am. We are in no hurry to take the plunge, and we know that it will come for both of us one day, whether its together or not. But I do know that when that day does come, I will marry the love of my life and best friend.
Much Love,
-E
I just finished, for the 2nd time, the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Please if you havn't read it, please drop everything your doing (after u finish this post of course) and go buy it! It is one of the best books I have ever read. The premisis on the surface is about a young woman, Angel, in the mid 1800's who was sold into prostitution as a young child. She is living in a brothel basically in slavery. Michael, a farmer from a town near where she lives, comes into town one day to sell his produce and see's her. When he does, he realizes that this is the woman God has chosen for him to be his wife. He procedes to try and convince Angel that he is different from the other men she has known in her life and to leave with him. He finally gets her out of the brothel and marries her. The rest of the book centers around his struggles to get her to stay and trust and find the Lord. The book is such as amazing testament to God's overwhelming and never failing love for us. You compare the main characters relationship to that of God's love and devotion for the lost. No matter what you have done, are doing, believe or don't believe, God is always waiting for you to come to him, believe in him, and reach for him. He forgives all things! It is such an amazing read, if you do or have read it leave me a comment about your thoughts!
The book also brings up another subject that has been weighing on my mind lately... marriage. No I'm not getting married, in fact David and I aren't even talking about it. What I mean is the entire idea, and premises of marriage. Why do people get married and what is it all supposed to truly mean? How do you know when your ready to get married, and what does God say about it? I don't really know why it has entered my mind so heavily recently. I assume it has something to do with everyone I know getting married. Ok, not everyone but a lot of them. Here is what I do know...
I want to get married one day
I want a FIREPROOF marriage
I want to be my husbands world, and I want him to be mine
I don't want to get married until I know that its about a MARRIAGE, not a WEDDING!!
The rest of it though, is just so confusing. Redeeming Love, exemplifies the kind of marriage I want. Michael is so deeply in love with Angel, he prays for her, guides her, trusts her, and believes in her. Yes they argue, and yes its not always easy, but he never gives up on her. I want that so bad. I dont ever want to go through what my parents went through. I believe that human being ARE supposed to be monogamous. I don't know if I believe there is only one person for everyone, but I believe that God will lead you to someone he has chosen for you if you just trust and have faith in his timing and will. But how do you know when you have truly found this person? I believe it can be very difficult to separate your wants from God's will when it comes to relationships. When you feel so in love with someone, how can you distinguish if thats God's will or yours?
This book is also set in a much different time. It was easier, not as hurried, and much less complicated. You found someone, you fell in love, got married and stayed together. Divorce wasn't very popular, and although cheating has always existed, it wasn't as easily accomplished. Now we have cell phones, computers, iPads, txt messaging, e-mail, snail mail... you get the idea. How do you have an 1850's marriage in the 2010's?
I don't have the answers to all these questions... but I do know what I want eventually. I do know that if I just have faith, believe, and wait, that my prayers and desires will be answered one day in some fashion. It is hard though, and i think especially hard here in the South. Getting married is all anyone my age talks about and does. At 23, I feel behind the 8 ball because I'm not married, or engaged. I think here it is a status symbol, a special priveledge saved for the best and most beautiful southern belles and their southern gentlemen. The rest of us... who knows where we fall. But I have never been one to do something just because everyone else is doing it, and luckily I have someone who loves me just the way I am. We are in no hurry to take the plunge, and we know that it will come for both of us one day, whether its together or not. But I do know that when that day does come, I will marry the love of my life and best friend.
Much Love,
-E
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Along The Wall
So I fixed up the layout... I liked the other one but I needed a change... I don't know if I'll keep this one or not just trying it out for now!
So tonight is my first official Weight Watchers meeting. I'm getting all my information tonight and start bright and early tomorrow! I am really really excited, but also nervous. I feel like over the past 5 years I have hidden behind this person I am today, hidden behind my imperfections and short comings that I knew I could change and improve, but have chosen not to out of fear or self loathing. I have basically told myself for a long time that i don't deserve to be my best, I don't deserve to feel good about myself, but I'm so tired of hating on myself. If I don't make the necessary steps to treat myself right how can I ever expect anyone else to treat me right??? I am ready for this change, but still scared of having nothing to hide behind anymore. I can't make excuses anymore. I really want to be the best person I can be and this is where it starts, here with me , now, today. It's not a vanity thing, I'm not doing this to get attention or to make other people think better about me, I'm doing this for myself. I want to feel better and BE better, and right now I know I'm not living up to that potential I have... besides you are only young once, and I feel like I should use my youthfullness to it's fullest extent!
Fun fact today: Did you know that monkey's always open bananas from the bottom? The top is too unreliable, but a banana will ALWAYS peel from the bottom! Try it =)
Much Love,
-E
So tonight is my first official Weight Watchers meeting. I'm getting all my information tonight and start bright and early tomorrow! I am really really excited, but also nervous. I feel like over the past 5 years I have hidden behind this person I am today, hidden behind my imperfections and short comings that I knew I could change and improve, but have chosen not to out of fear or self loathing. I have basically told myself for a long time that i don't deserve to be my best, I don't deserve to feel good about myself, but I'm so tired of hating on myself. If I don't make the necessary steps to treat myself right how can I ever expect anyone else to treat me right??? I am ready for this change, but still scared of having nothing to hide behind anymore. I can't make excuses anymore. I really want to be the best person I can be and this is where it starts, here with me , now, today. It's not a vanity thing, I'm not doing this to get attention or to make other people think better about me, I'm doing this for myself. I want to feel better and BE better, and right now I know I'm not living up to that potential I have... besides you are only young once, and I feel like I should use my youthfullness to it's fullest extent!
Fun fact today: Did you know that monkey's always open bananas from the bottom? The top is too unreliable, but a banana will ALWAYS peel from the bottom! Try it =)
Much Love,
-E
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
June
Hey all! I'm at work right now waiting on a staff meeting and thought I would update! I'm going to work on my layout today, so tell me what you think when it's done... I think the text is just a little hard to read.
Hope everyone had a great memorial day weekend! I went kayaking with David and hiking and swimming and camping... it was awesome! 4 day weekends never last as long as you think they will. Being back at work is nice though, I really love my job. Everyday I feel more confident in what I'm doing and am learning ALOT. on a side note if you want to see something funny go to http://www.neuticles.com/! so funny.
My computer at work is currently down. They decided it needed to be rebuilt and the IT guy came yesterday and ripped her guts out and left and I havn't seen him since. he said he would be back to fix her around 11 today and well, I think he's late. I just got a new mousepad and calendar in the mail yesterday so im sad I have to sit at another desk right now... im going to bring some flowers and a vase and some other office decorations with me tomorrow and I'll post a picture of my work area once its fixed up!
So I've been running and riding my bike a lot and I'm down 9 lbs from 2 weeks ago! I started at 166 and am not at 157. My doctor has me on a crazy restrictive diet for a condition I have called Candida... google it it's pretty interesting (gross). The diet is only for another week and a half, and I start Weight Watchers TOMORROW!!! I'm so pumped... I don't think I'll know what to do with myself once i reach my goal weight (135). Guess we will just have to wait and see what happens with it all!
Much Love,
-E
Hope everyone had a great memorial day weekend! I went kayaking with David and hiking and swimming and camping... it was awesome! 4 day weekends never last as long as you think they will. Being back at work is nice though, I really love my job. Everyday I feel more confident in what I'm doing and am learning ALOT. on a side note if you want to see something funny go to http://www.neuticles.com/! so funny.
My computer at work is currently down. They decided it needed to be rebuilt and the IT guy came yesterday and ripped her guts out and left and I havn't seen him since. he said he would be back to fix her around 11 today and well, I think he's late. I just got a new mousepad and calendar in the mail yesterday so im sad I have to sit at another desk right now... im going to bring some flowers and a vase and some other office decorations with me tomorrow and I'll post a picture of my work area once its fixed up!
So I've been running and riding my bike a lot and I'm down 9 lbs from 2 weeks ago! I started at 166 and am not at 157. My doctor has me on a crazy restrictive diet for a condition I have called Candida... google it it's pretty interesting (gross). The diet is only for another week and a half, and I start Weight Watchers TOMORROW!!! I'm so pumped... I don't think I'll know what to do with myself once i reach my goal weight (135). Guess we will just have to wait and see what happens with it all!
Much Love,
-E
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