Morning Shake

So I decided I would try a morning shake.  It makes sense really, to have as much fruit and veggies as possible and having tried one before, I know that green smoothies aren't too bad.  

But here's the thing.  I'm not going to spend $500 on a blender.  I have a cheap blender from Walmart but it sucks and doesn't chop ice.  And I just got my husband a food processor for his birthday last month. (He never used the old one so I sold it, and then the one time a year he uses it, he got mad at me for selling it.) But I read the instructions and it says, "Don't chop ice".  What the heck?  I feel like the world is ganging up on me to buy more kitchen equipment just for a damn smoothie!!  Maybe if I can do these smoothies long enough I'll consider upgrading.

So yesterday when I searched out my ingredients I was kind of amused and annoyed.  It seems like a lot of people are doing the green smoothie thing for their New Years Resolutions so it was hard to even find spinach.  (OK, so I'm one of those people I'm annoyed at).  I also couldn't find fresh strawberries and peaches, although I know the Commissary stocked them the day before! So I figured frozen would do.

This morning I whipped out the frozen strawberries and peaches and let them thaw a little since my food processor doesn't like frozen things.  When they were a lot less solid I added a handful of spinach, a banana, a tablespoon of greek yogurt, a little honey, and a splash of almond milk and blended it all together.  It wasn't too bad - a little thick since I omitted the ice so I can add more milk next time.  But the favor wasn't bad at all, and it's very filling.  I forgot the blueberries which will make it even more delicious and an even more funky color.  And I'm pretty sure the texture and color would be different if I had a blender instead, but for now it will do.

I can't take credit for it, so here's the link: http://www.singforyoursupperblog.com/2011/07/19/green-er-brown-ish-monster-smoothies/ 

Maybe I'll stick with it.  It really is a logical way of getting more fruits and veggies.

I've been doing more crunches too - it really helped my back when I was doing it during my streak last year.  I had no back pain until Christmas when I was forced to sit on crappy chairs and lay on a crappy mattress. That's enough to kill anyone's back. The pains still there, but not that intense, crippling pain that I'm usually stuck with.  I'm thinking about going for a run this afternoon too, but it's damn cold and I'm a wuss. Maybe cycling.  Something while I'm motivated.  And this 60 Day Plan just isn't cutting it right now.  I mean, Day 1 was 20 jumping jacks and 10 crunches, and today was 30 jumping jacks and 15 crunches.  Maybe that's a good thing because maybe some people would find that challenging.  I'll stick with it though since the last day of the challenge is brutal.

Oh, so I'm back to being worried about Mikey.  He got off the bus yesterday holding the side of his head by his ear.  I eventually got it out of him that this first grader was being mean to him on the bus and punched him on the side of the head.  He asked Mikey to punch him too, but Mikey refused. (Yay Mikey!), but of course Mikey didn't say anything to the bus driver.  It could just be boys being boys, and I didn't want to make a big stink over it.  I wrote a note to his teacher to make them aware of the situation and to monitor it, and if something else happens then I will make a big stink. It's horrible that he was being bullied, but I'm proud that he didn't fight back.  Worried that he didn't say anything though, and it makes me wonder if there are other things going on.

2012...Let's start over

So last time that I blogged I was doing really well doing the 30 Day Shred and Couch to 5K.  But the shin splits sucked bootie...and things were going too well.

And then my husband decided to jump out of a plane and break his leg right before Thanksgiving.  Unfortunately it was his right leg, so I immediately became his nurse and chauffeur because the sucker couldn't drive. Luckily it was only his fibula and his big toe which broke so he got to have an uber sexy boot (Army issued of course) instead of a cast.

Right before we headed home, I wound up sick.  A delightful case of post-nasal drip and a virus.  And then as I was just starting to get better, Jeremy got sick.  As in REALLY sick.  At first they said it was a virus...then the flu...or pneumonia, or bronchitis, or salmonella, a blood infection....In other words, they didn't have a clue.  He was so ill, and I didn't see him for a few weeks.  I had to sleep on the couch for about 3 weeks, and keep the kids away from him because they just didn't know what it was.  It turned out that it was/is Hepatitis A, which is crazy because he's a cook and had been vaccinated against it.  He's starting to get better - he's not yellow anymore and he's eating and being pretty productive.

It was a pretty lonely time, I'm not going to lie.  It's worse than a deployment because you're doing everything, and nursing him, and it's like he's not there even though he is.  And right around Christmas too when you just want to be together as a family.  I just can't wait until the blood test turns out negative so that we can move on.

So back to where I was before I started rambling...I still want to run a 5k.  And I will.  But I am going to get back to exercising everyday starting with a 60 day program I can do at home.  And I'll get to eating right again...no more soup and sandwich for dinner!

Week 2!

Today I did the Couch to 5K, Week 2.  My shin splints suck - they could be worse, but the actual run was much better.  I have also discovered that it is much easier to run without the dog, but the dog is mad at me.  He loves going with me so much and will follow me closely in excitement until I clip his leash on.  Today I just about shut his nose in the door way on my way out.  He really thought he was coming with me. 

I'll have to take a break tomorrow as I'll have both kids home with the 4 day weekend, and I'll be getting the van back (with luck).  We took it in to get repaired after the lady rear-ended us.  She's officially been found at fault, but our insurance company is still trying to contact the owner of the vehicle to accept responsibility.

This HHR we've been driving as a rental is so not working for me.  While unlocking Mikey's door at school I knocked the horn so I completely lost cool points there. Mental Note: Tall people should not drive little cars.

Jeremy is heading to Boston tomorrow morning for a week which means silent evenings for me.  I've got pretty used to him being home, so I'm not sure I'll like it.  It's going to be a week of pizza, soup and grilled cheese and burgers for the kids, and I dunno...salad for me.

Frustration

So, it's been a few months since my husband got home, and with that came a common complaint: weight gain.  Now, I'd worked my butt off to take 10 lbs off when he was gone, and now it's all back.  Grrrrr. 

So about 1 1/2 weeks ago I decided enough is enough, and started working out.  I went out and got the Perfect Abs machine.  I have issues doing crunches because it hurts my neck and back.  But with this machine it gets me in the right position and supports my neck.  So I get an effective workout, and I don't have that additional pain.  I have also been doing the 30 Day Shred every night (I'm on Level 2 now), and I've been doing the Couch to 5K again.  On my off running days I've been doing bike rides or walking the dog.  But I had to take a little rest from running as I was getting shin splints.

You would think that doing all that, plus tracking calories that I would lose some weight.  NO!!  Nothing!!  In 2 weeks NOTHING!! I don't understand.  I really don't .  It's so frustrating. What am I doing wrong.  I've gone from doing not much at all, to doing some form of exercise 3 times a day and I've seen no change!! The exercise is getting easier so I know I'm doing something, but why won't my body change??

I'm going to try to keep it up, but I'm hurt.

Halloween Evenings

I'm not really a fan of scary movies.  At all.  Sometimes I don't mind funny, "scary" movies, but I just don't like being scared, and mostly I think they are stupid. Each to their own though.  

But one thing I LOVE about Halloween is the kids shows and movies.  I've had to watch the Dora Trick or Treat episode a million times over the past 5 years, and I can't say I mind.  It's fun watching little Mikey watch it and interact and now it's Mia watching it and singing along.  (And Mikey too - he was off school today and happily watched Dora with Mia.)  

My personal favorite is Spookly the Square Pumpkin.  For starters, he is adorable, and it makes me want my own square pumpkin.  He's the outcast of the patch because he's square, and he tries to compete in the Jack A Lympics to be the best in patch.  But the contests are designed more for round pumpkins.  He's got 3 spiders helping him out called Edgar, Allen and Poe (teehee).  And at the end of the movie Spookly saves the day and all is well.  It's really sweet actually.  But the best part is snuggling on the couch with the kids, Halloween cake baking and just having a good time together.  In fact, that's what we're doing right now.

My AFS Year

During my last year of high school I left to go to Sweden for a year. It really was the best year of my life and changed me a lot. Before I left, I was the quiet music geek who was over-protected.  If it wasn't related to music or theater, you wouldn't find me there after school.  But in August 1997 I left for Sweden.

My first impression was me wondering why there were Swedish flags everywhere.  I found out later that it was because it was a national holiday. And flying over Sweden you will see some of the most breathtaking scenery.  

My first family didn't really work out well.  I lived in this 4 story building in the middle of nowhere that was being restored. It was an old orphanage and heavens only knows what else it was in the past.  Very creepy to say the least.  And they owned horses which were pretty cool actually. It just wasn't working out for me, but I did wind up with the best host family known to man once I moved into Karlstad.

To this day I still miss Pappa sitting down and explaining things to me.  Both in Swedish and in English.  I appreciate so much how he would tell me how it is, and then take the time to explain why things are the way they are. He really opened my eyes to some issues, both political and cultural which have really shaped the way I view things.  (And is the reason why my kids are going to be out of the house when they finish High School).

Mamma was the best cook ever! I can't wait until I can take my family there and we can all cook and eat together - I know her and Jeremy would have a blast together.  And secretly I hope he learns how to make the Cod dish with carrots and leeks because it was delicious and I miss it. And she always managed to make holidays so special with all the traditions, songs, meals, stories. 

And then there were my siblings.  My little brother towered over me last time I saw him which freaked me out, and Martin has 3 adorable kids now too.  And Helena really is just like my sister....we even bickered over how to cut carrots when she was visiting in New Zealand.  Fun times. I can just imagine all our kids getting together now.

I don't what has got me thinking of Sweden today.  I'm getting updates from AFS about all these people who are having the time of their lives now, and how decades later they still value their experiences. There are so many things I screwed up when I was there that I wish I could change.  But I can't dwell on it.  Thanks to Facebook I still have contact people I met over there, and Maggie and I are still close. And yes, I never really did reintergrate back into New Zealand - I had a wicked case of reverse culture shock.  I've only lived at "home" for 4 years since leaving Sweden in June 1998. This probably contributes to my feelings of not fitting in back home anymore.

I'm still the shy kid, but at least I'm the well traveled geek.  I've had so many experiences in that one year of my life which has helped me survive 3 deployments in America, and given me a lot of strength and insight. And maybe it's time to return "home" soon.  And to start brushing up on my Swedish.....

So remember a few weeks ago....

I posted about hating couponers at the grocery store.  Well, not that I have the time and energy to go extreme, but I have made a coupon folder in the past few weeks, and today Jeremy and I are going to........A Couponing Class!!!  

So, the story with the couponing folder is that it's actually a lot easier than one of those coupon wallet things - you can lay it all out in front of you and see them all, without having to stop and sort through them all.  Time saver.  

And the couponing class is free and we get an hour or so away from the kids.  And everyone wants to save some money.  I still maintain that I will never be extreme since I have no need to buy 50 of some items, I don't want a massive stockpile, and we don't eat a whole lot of junk food.  But if we can save money on cleaning supplies and canned goods, dairy products etc then it may be worth it.  And if it doesn't help, then it didn't cost us anything.

Anyway, yesterday Jeremy and I did something very scary and grown up.  We picked out a granite slab that will eventually be our kitchen countertop. Now, I don't know how many of you have actually gone and looked at granite, but it's very overwhelming and well....if you make a mistake it's an extremely expensive mistake.  There are grades varying from grade 1 to exotic.  Level 1 is very common, and the patterns and colors get more intricate and complex due to the patterns and rarity.  Apparently I have an eye for the exotic ones.  Then you have to take into account your floor color, backsplash color, your wall color, your cabinet color, and the color the person who buys the house next may like.  Then there are the patterns that looks like patterned tortishell cats, or look like a paintbrush have been flicked at it; larger uniform patterns; patterns with movement......AAAAAAaaaaaarrrrggghhh!! Talk about stressful! 

So we ended up picking out a level 5 granite which was about $700 more than a level 1, but nothing really did it for me.  And when it comes down to it, what's $700 more when we are paying out the ass for a new kitchen anyhow.  I may as well love what I get.  Right? So we got one which has a pale green, beige and brown which is relatively light which has both pattern and movement in it.  It really is beautiful, and I hope that it looks right in our kitchen.  I hope, I hope, I hope.  The check is written to finish the cabinets which is by far the largest check we have ever written.  I don't want to think about it.  It makes me ill.  Just hopefully in a few years when we sell the house and PCS again that it will increase our property value, and help the house to sell quickly.  And at least we have a few years to really enjoy it.  Let's face it, I hate it for people when they make all these improvements on their houses just to sell it, when they could have enjoyed the fruits of their labor years ago.

So now you all know why we need to go to this couponing class.  We'll need it to avoid ramen noodle dinners for the next few months.  OK, so that statement is a little on the dramatic side but you know what I mean.