Isa Conehead

My dog is in a cone.  She hurt her leg (nothing major) and kept licking the wound.

She has been going around with a mournful, betrayed look.

Anyhow, I discovered this website: www.odosketch.com
I did a picture in her honor.

I also did a version of Ireland.  I'm no pro-- but it's like coloring for grown ups.  Must limit myself to lunchtime artistry.  This could become addicting.

Sweet Tooth Solution

I have a major sweet tooth.  I'm pretty sure it would classify as an addiction.  Detoxing cold turkey, in this case, has not worked for me.  So, instead, I'm going to wean.

So, the first phase is to drop sweeteners such as sugar, agave, honey and maple syrup.  I want to rely solely on the natural sweetness in foods.

So, when recently faced with a sweets craving, instead of calling Chris and convincing him to allow me to ruin my diet for the day, I reached into my fridge and pulled out two things for an incredibly satisfying snack at just around 150 calories.

Recipe (it's debatable whether you can really call it that... but I'm going to anyhow):

1 Ataulfo Mango (med) -- According to livestrong's calorie counter, this is about 107 calores
1 date 25-30 cal

Cut the mango however you like.  I use this method.
Pull the pit out of the date.  Cut it into smaller pieces if you'd like.

Put everything nicely on a plate or in a bowl and enjoy.

The mangos are so rich and creamy and the dates are intensely sweet.

Honestly, you could really call this decadent and share-- but you might not want to.

Add warm tea and you have yourself an indulgence without guilt.

Lime-alicious Smoothie

A recipe, from me to you.

The Lime-alicious Smoothie

I LOVE all things citrus.  So, yesterday when I had lunch for breakfast and then was deciding what to do for lunch, I thought I'd take advantage of the beautiful day and smoothie things up a bit with the quickly-approaching-overripe banana and avocado in my kitchen.

1 RIPE Banana
1/2 Avocado
1 lime, peel and pith removed
1 lemon, peel and pith removed
1/4-1/2 c apple juice (Sometimes if I have fruit that's over-ripe I'll juice it and freeze it into ice cubes.  I had some juice from Fuji apples on hand, so it was about 5-6 ice cubes total)
1/4-1/2 cup non-dairy milk (we had coconut milk with no added sweeteners from Trader Joe's-- it's a new product and it worked marvelously-- I'm sure regular milk would work as well if that's your preference)
1 Date (for sweetness, you could probably use sugar, agave, honey... whatever you have on hand that floats your boat)
1 bunch Watercress (you can use spinach as well)-- you won't even notice it's there and it adds a wonderful nutritional punch.


Blend everything in your blender and enjoy!

You might have to play with the apple juice/milk ratios to get your preferred consistency.  Also, I like to have at least one frozen ingredient to blend into my smoothies to keep them nice and cold.  In this case it was the apple juice, but you could freeze your banana or avocado in advance as well, or just blend in ice.

It's not low-cal, but it's filling and satisfying and a better way to satisfy a sweet tooth than processed-sugar laden fare.  

I finished something!

Me and Chris when we were rowing and fitter.

I will admit, I have started MANY workout programs.  I've even made good progress with them.  But yesterday was the first time in my life I've ever seen one through to completion-- and I have to say, it feels good.  It was a small workout program-- only 21 days.  "Three Weeks to a 30 minute Running Habit."

Here's what's happened in the past-- I start something with grand ideas and a verbally firm resolution.  I'm going to workout every time no matter what!  And then I get started on something that is, frankly, outside my realm of physical prowess (P90X anyone?) and I HURT for the first few days, then the second week I'm doing ok, but about 3.5 weeks into it I am so tired, run down, hungry (leading to eating too much and therefore not actually losing weight) and frustrated that my disillusioned self throws in the towel in the name of survival and it takes me a while to believe that working out and getting fit are possible goals to maintain.

So, this time around, I realized that starting small might be a good way to go.  I found a running program online (free) that sent emails daily with that day's work out.  I had to talk myself out of trying something more difficult-- that ego of mine likes to get in the way.  But, I did this one and I'm glad I did.  I saw progress with this that I haven't seen before.  My heart rate is more steady and recovering quicker, I can handle the big hills in my neighborhood much better than before and I actually am looking forward to continuing to the second program-- three weeks into it and I am looking forward to more progress, which is, in itself, progress.

On my off days I do yoga-- but I've been keeping my workouts between 30-45 minutes overall.  I'm trying to set myself up for long term success, which requires patience-- something I don't actually have in abundance.  

The second change with benefits-- diet.  We signed up for Nature's Garden Delivered-- an organic produce delivery company.  I signed up for the biggest box they have and add more fruits and veggies every week.  This is pretty much my entire diet, fresh fruits and veggies for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I make vegetable juice every day, eat big salads, snack on tangerines, etc.  We've had a few hiccups recently with dining out, but overall I've lost 7 lbs this way in about 3 weeks.  Also, on the days that I really stick to mostly raw, all produce eating I feel GOOD.  For me, this feels like a wonderful novelty.

Since I'm not over-taxing and mutilating my body in the name of fitness-- I'm also not feeling like I have to eat everything in the house (sugar being the biggest hurdle).

Surprisingly, the biggest help in the appetite fight seems to be having switched to liquid supplements.  Honestly, for whatever reason, it seems to help significantly.  About half way through the day I can tell if I've skipped them that morning or took a pill instead because I'm hungry for all the wrong things.  I might blog more on that later-- but I'm really happy with the way things are going.

Today I'm going to do a juice fast.  I've noticed lately that I just can't seem to get enough juice-- so why not make a day of it?  

Chris and I are going to sign up for a 5k in April, which will give me about 8 weeks to train for it.  

The truth about blogging...

Commitment and routine, though good for me, are not my strong suit.  I began this blog as an attempt to integrate those things more thoroughly into my life and have attempted to restart the blog on several occasions.  I've also thought about just shutting the whole thing down and sticking to a journal that only I can see.  Blogging is such an important skill, though, and I do enjoy writing.  I would rather cut my teeth on a personal blog that I can promote or not at my discretion.  I also have to do this with my company blog, which I find much more daunting.

So, here's my plan to blog in 2012. 


1) Set time aside at least three days a week. 
2) Do it when I wake up in the morning, which will involve setting an alarm.
3) Keep my desk area clutter free, in the hopes that my mind then can reflect my surroundings.
4) Drink enough water. :)  This one, a throw back to mom advise and too many Woman's Health articles, is something that I am REALLY bad at.  But, if I'm constantly dehydrated I assume my body is going to be concentrating on something other than giving me provoking thoughts.  So, I think it's worth adding to this list.
5) Meditation.  This is something that I've been integrating into my life recently with noticeable results.  I've blogged about it before.  I think it's a mistake to consider our minds something separate and unaffected by our bodies.  Meditation, at it's most basic, is just a way of using our physical bodies to affect and control our minds.  When we recently went through a very stressful time in our little family, I found that by meditating at least once a day I was able to manage the stress much more effectively.  When life was feeling entirely out of control, it was a welcome blessing.  A clear mind will result in clear things to say.

So, that's my list of 5 that I will integrate to get this blog rolling.  Wish me luck!

You see in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend...

1) I really like quotes-- a lot.  You might have to deal with it.

2) I am dedicating myself to one thing starting NOW.  That thing would be open-mindedness.  That means, I'm gonna try new things and give them the benefit of the doubt.  I'm going to meet new people and give THEM the benefit of the doubt.  That is my intention.

3) I've been meditating.  I have noticed distinct change in my own inner workings since starting.  It ain't easy, folks.  It's HARD.  It's just you and yourself on a pilla', and sometimes my legs fall asleep and sometimes my back protests because I didn't take the time to really make sure I was comfy before starting and sometimes my head gets bizarrely tingly.  Also, my eyes water-- and I'm not sure why.  Have I convinced you to try it yet?  I didn't think so.  I'm beginning a time of exploration-- and I think the first thing I have to face is that better and easier are NOT synonyms.

Honestly, it's kinda like this in my head--title and all:

And this brings me to

4) "You see in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend. Those with loaded guns, and those who dig..." When it comes to happiness, I'm coming the conclusion that it's more battlefield than meadow-- and there are casualties and tough decisions and a need to arm and shield yourself so that you can stay soft where it counts. It's about being compassionate but not foolish. Add to that that FEELING foolish and BEING foolish are not the same thing.

It's about learning to love and surrender without being weak. It's hard and grueling and messy business-- but it's good and worthwhile. And if you don't actively learn to do what you must for happiness, then you dig, and dig and dig until the hole is so deep you don't know how you'll get out. But...

5) You can always get out. Even if you can't see the light looming up above you-- you CAN get out. And, that's what I'm learning.

28 And Creepy

So-- Creepy thing #1: above you'll find a photo taken at my birthday party.  Yes, it's creepy.  Flash in low light and I suppose the angle = soul stealing birthday photo.

To be honest, 28 is turning out to be a creepy sort of year.  Let me count the ways.

Creepy thing # 2) I have become addicted to a new TV show.  It's not my typical fare, it's not geared towards my age group and it's not exactly creating brain cells for me.  However, after coming across here and there the show "Supernatural,"

I decided to give it a shot just for giggles.  I am hooked.  I can't help it.  I gave up coffee, don't make me give this up too.  To be honest, I'm such a horror light-weight that I had to have Chris narrate the dark and scary parts to me for about the first 10 episodes... then I got a little bolder,

peeked around my fingers and started watching it for myself.  It's not nearly as bad as I expected, but I'm jumpy-- always jumpy.  Can't break that habit.

Creepy thing #3:  I am now in my LATE 20's, officially and fully.  (I suppose 27 counts, but that can still kinda be considered mid-20s).  I am rapidly nearing 30.  Woah.  Makes this guy look like a walk in the park...

Just kidding.  I don't think I'm really that weirded out by turning 30 overall.  It just seems like such a liminal time.  Yes, I'm still in my 20's, but all those things for which the 20's are known for-- they don't seem to apply so much anymore.  Also, I'm not entirely sure what I want to do when I grow up... STILL.  I think this might be the year for some serious soul-searching.