Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Happy House

Officially I have become a full time realtor! One of my first sales was our new house! Moving out of Chicago was a big step, but for me it was leaving a chaotic environment behind!

Since I have been working from home, I have been able to tackle a couple household projects!

Project # 1
Turning an old, dingy nightstand into an elegant side table.




















Project # 2
New look for an old chair






Project #3

Bathroom accent stripe and new towel rod








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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Professional Wedding Guest

I am for hire.  I am a professional wedding guest and bridesmaid.  I was listening to the podcast "Stuff your Mom Never Told You" on their episode The Amateur Wedding Guest and it made me start counting....  I counted all of the weddings I have been to since I could remember.  I am sure there are more, but here is a list of them in no particular order.


  • Laura / Rick: Flower Girl
  • Sherri / Jim: Flower Girl
  • Rich / Irene
  • Megan / Brian: Bridesmaid
  • Lisa / Ex: Bridesmaid 
  • Kimmi / Ex
  • Nina / Buddy: Bridesmaid



  • Julie / Joe: Bridesmaid
  • Stephanie / Tony: Bridesmaid
  • Carlo / Jenny
  • Chris / Donna
  • John / Elissa
  • Audrey / Kevin: Maid of Honor
  • Andrea / Vinny
  • Katie / Patrick
  • Robyn / Jake
  • Lisa / Sal
  • Sarah / Terry
  • Tony / Ashley
  • Tanya / John














  • Kevin / Jessica
  • Mark / Shelley
  • Don / Audrey
  • Laura / Jimmy
  • Ashleigh / Mathew: Reader
  • Mai Lynn / Jon
  • Jeremey / Jackie
  • Laura / Ex
  • Dave / Katie: Bridesmaid


  • Dave / Katie Round 2


  • Tim / Maureen
  • Steven / Mariana
  • Derek / Anthony
  • Jeff / Justyna
  • Christina / Mike


















  • Trisha / Mike
  • Crystal / Michael
  • Jimmy / ?
  • My mom's cousin
  • TO BE CONTINUED


Monday, October 13, 2014

Mindless Eating

After listening to the book Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think by Brian Wansink, I have stopped counting every single calorie I eat.  Instead I am following some of the advice from the book.  

All of the following tips help you eat less:

- A lack of variety in foods 
- Only 2 foods on plate at a time
- Smaller dishes
- Tablescape (mini size boxes or bowls)
- Use tall thin glasses
- Make healthy foods easy to see
- Make unhealthy food harder to see
- Make unhealthy foods inconvenient
- Don't keep any foods out on your desk. Keep foods away from your desk. 
- Dim lights when eating

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

What the Eff, Weight Watchers?

This is my 4th month doing the Weight Watchers program (both meetings and online / app tracking).  I am officially a pound heavier than when I started.  This has worked in the past for me, but I am in a lull.  Any ideas to help kick start my system?  

I am going to try the following things this week that I was not doing last week:


  • Write down everything I eat, and I mean write with a pen!  No more scanning / tracking for me.  I feel as though because I could be lazy with tracking, I could be lazy with my food choices.
  • Measuring or weighing what I eat.  I guesstamate all the time.  Maybe by actually measuring, I could gain some momentum with my weight loss.
  • NOT eating my activity points.  I workout regularly.  Unfortunately I think that I overestimate how hard I workout.
  • Taking the good with the bad.  I am not sure why I feel like someone will be looking at my food log, but I need to write down the "bad" days.  
  • Go to my meeting which I have not done in over a month.
Hopefully this will help me to get on the "write" track!!!!

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Day 3 #21DayFix

So far so good! I did my dirty 30 video on my laptop while I watched (or listened) to House!

The food plan went not well today! I consciously ate but I still could have used the containers more!!!

My helpers below!


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Friday, July 25, 2014

Day 2 of the #21DayFix

So Day 1 obviously wasn't too hard considering it was the first day. My eating plan went well today. I was more prepared than yesterday!

I again tried to wake up early to workout. That did not happen at all! It is so hard to come home on a Friday and do a workout video. Once I actually got started, Cardio Fix was great. I was sweating within the first 5 minutes. I would suggest a mat if you have hardwood floors. After years of running my knees hurt on hardwood floors.

Tomorrow is the Dirty 30. I am excited to wake up and workout!




After workout pic!


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Thursday, July 24, 2014

21 Day Fix

I bought the 21 day fix over 21 days ago.  I am not sure why I can't commit to something for just 3 weeks, but here is my attempt.  



A little about the program:

It is a 21 day program that integrates an eating plan with daily workout DVDs.  I found a "Beachbody" Coach through Facebook.  Her name is Alison, and she is great.  We have a "secret" 21 Day Fix page with members from across the US.  Alison helped me order my products which turns out being cheaper than buying them direct from www.beachbody.com.  I don't post much (or at all) in our secret page, but I do read the posts a lot.  It is great to see normal people getting results using this system.  

The Food Plan

The Food Plan is interesting.  It consists of little, colored containers. When I say little, I mean little.  These containers represent portion sizes.  At first when you get the containers, you will be shocked at how small your "carb" container is! Depending on your weight, you get a certain number of containers each day.  

This is the formula to determine which container group you are in and a great website for more nutrition questions can be found here.

Weight x 11 = X
X +400 (expected calories lost from videos) = Y
Y - 750 (caloric deficit) = Your Calorie Target

Once you have your Calorie Target, that will help you determine how many containers you get each day



















After you determine how many containers you get, you should figure out what goes into them.  
















In the book you receive with your 21 Day Fix, they provide a list of "typical" foods for each container.  

I think that the hardest part of this fix is being prepared for 21 days.  If I slip a little, it will not be the end of the world.  I am going to try to stay as close to the food plan as possible though.  
Below is an example of the food plan:  


There is an option to buy shakeology.  I did not use that.  It is like a protein drink with vitamins  and nutrients.  Maybe I will try them in the future, but for now I am good.

The Fix Videos

There are 2 DVDs that come with the Fix.  I have done selected workouts, but not all of them.  I really like them so far.  All you need are light weights, heavy weights, a resistance band, and a mat.  Each video takes about 30 minutes.  You start with a warm up and end with a cool down.  Autumn (the fixer) is really energetic and not annoying.  I like her.  












Please note that there is an additional video called the Dirty 30.  It is amazing! 

My schedule is as follows for each day:

Sunday: Yoga Fix
Monday: Total Body Cardio Fix
Tuesday: Upper Fix
Wednesday: Lower Fix
Thursday: Pilates Fix
Friday: Cardio Fix
Saturday: Dirty 30 Fix


Day 1

I am off to a good start.  I have filled my containers for my work day.  I am going to do the Pilates Fix tonight.  My beachbody trainer told me that since I am used to running / swimming already continue to do my normal runs / swims each day.  The fix should be an additional workout.  I already weighed myself, but I still have to take measurements of my body.  

I will try to update this later in the day to let you all know how my 1st day is going!

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Mini Zucchini Quiches

Quick and easy snack recipe.


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Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Homemade Granola Bars

Homemade Granola Bars

2 1/2 C Rolled Oats
1/4 C Raisins
1/2 C Almonds (chopped)
1/2 C Agave Nectar
1/2 C Almond Butter

Hand mix oats, raisins, and almonds in a bowl.

In saucepan, simmer almond butter and agave until mixed.

Pour syrup mix into the oats and stir until coated.

Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper. Press the mixture into the dish and bake for 20 mins on 350.

Take out and cool completely.

Cut into 10 bars.



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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

A Cake Made for Pearl

Pearl is my grandma.  Well, she is my mom's mom.  I don't remember my grandma.  She passed away when I was 1 years old.  From what I know, my mom is a lot like my grandma.  To me my grandma Pearl represents hopes, dreams, support, and inspiration which is why I am starting a small business in her name.  

My first 3 tiered cake was completely inspired by my mom and my grandma.

This is the beginning of the process. Covering the cakes and stenciling anything into the fondant.




Step 2 in the process was applying all of the pearls to the cake.

 



Gum Paste Flowers had to be made ahead of time.


String work with pearl accents.  I love string work!


 
Side by Side Comparisons


My flowers starting to be applied to the top tier.





Final Rose in the middle!





My cake will be displayed for the next 6 months at the college I took my course.