The Prodigal Blogger Returns

The other night I was thinking: I wonder why the hell I ever stopped blogging.....then I snapped back to reality where I'm a mom now!  The last time I posted was waaaaay back when I first found out I was preggers with my sweet baby love Skylar Helen.  Um, she's 10 months old now...it's time to get back to it.  Obviously my life has changed dramastically (to quote a new fav TV show, see below) and it's gonna take more than just one post to update.  However, I've been reading back over some of my previous posts from 2009-2011 and just happened upon this gem from November 19, 2010.  I figured I'd just re-answer the questions as a mini recap of my last 20 months...

Here goes:
1. What time did you get up this morning?
- 7 am (work at 9...and I actually had to wake Skylar up right before I took her to daycare; strange since she's usually up before me)
2. How do you like your steak?
- medium to medium rare
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
- Ted, when it first came out I saw it with DJ...it was one of our first times together away from baby Sky and she was almost 3 months at the time
4. What is your favorite TV show?
- it changes frequently but right now it's Raising Hope
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
-I said Florence or Amsterdam last time I did this, which is still true but I've also got a yearning to live closer to my bestie Holly and she's back in the City of Angels with Kelly (her hubby!!! more on that later...)
6. What did you have for breakfast?
- coffee (naughty that I've fallen off the breakfast train...I gotta get back into that)
7. What is your favorite cuisine?
-still true: the all-inclusive and vague, Asian...especially sushi, Mongolian beef, crab rangoon, etc
8. What foods do you dislike?
-broccoli.  oh yea and those wafer cookies that come in vanilla, strawberry and chocolate: BARF
9. Favorite Place to Eat?
-I said Zoni Kitchen last time, which would still be true except that they closed down last summer :(  So now I would say definitely Buffalo Wild Wings as far as frequency but I LOVE LOVE LOVE me some Granite City or Braccos
10. Favorite dressing?
-balsamic vinaigrette, still
11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
-a blue 1995 Chevy Corsica...I call it Dimples the Chevy Storm due to the hail damaged hood.  She's not pretty but she still gets me where I need to go
12. What are your favorite clothes?
-my maternity tank tops...the ruche side seams and extra length make these "wife-beaters" hella comfy
13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
-as aforementioned, my Holly is in Cali, so to Cali I would go
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
-full most of the time
15. Where would you want to retire?
-the beach
16. Favorite time of day?
-morning 
17. What is your favorite sport to watch?
-I don't like to watch sports.  And you can't make me...  The Super Bowl was last Sunday and I didn't even watch the commercials.
18-20. totally irrelevant: SKIP!
21. Bird watcher?
-sure, if I see one I like
22. Do you consider yourself attractive?
-most of the time
23. Pets?
-I'm still an avid fish owner only now I'm down to just 1 of my Chicago fish my standard koi, Nathan, who is waaaay too large for his 55 gallon home at a whopping 15 inches long.  I also have 1 betta right now named Fletcher I got last fall(I got one named Stanley at the same time but he died after just a few days)
24. Any new and exciting news that you'd like to share?
- I will be moving out of my apartment in less than 3 weeks which will mark the official "callin-it-quits" date for DJ and I...more on that subject to come
25. What did you want to be when you were little?
-an astronaut, a veterinarian, and a cake decorator...simultaneously
26. What is your best childhood memory?

-basking in the dining room patches of sun with my dog Baxter as my pillow and a good book in hand 
27. Are you a cat or dog person?
-I'd say dogs, since I'm slightly allergic to cats (though I still like em) 
28. Are you married?
-no, and won't be for the foreseeable future
29. Always wear your seat belt?
-yep 
30. Been in a car accident?
-a few actually...nothing too serious though and all when I was in high school
31. Any pet peeves?
-Everything about my current living situation EXCEPT my darling Sky
32. Favorite pizza topping?
-I'm a big fan of variety these days...I love concocting my own delicious homemade pies anymore, but when I'm out-n-about I love a good buffalo chicken pizza
33. Favorite Flower?
-irises
34. Favorite ice cream?
-anything with heath bites or chocolate covered peanut butter in it
35. Favorite fast food?
-The BK Lounge...but I love me some Culvers cheese curds
36. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
-I passed on the first try
37. From whom did you get your last email?
-the last time I checked it would have been from google help since my endeavors last night to restart blogging was hindered by the red tape of account fraud protection (I started this blog using an email addy that doesn't exist anymore and couldn't remember my password.  Also I already have a google account with my yahoo addy so I couldn't change the primary addy in the old account...with a lil smarts I got it to work, though I'm stuck with 2 google accounts now and no way to link them)
38. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
-either Blick or Utrecht... and I know now I could definitely max out at Michaels
39. Do anything spontaneous lately?
-not especially (which sucks, I should change that!)
40. Like your job?
-definitely...though obviously retail can really suck too.  For the record, I am back with Michaels (since about the end of my 1st trimester).  I worked there and at Jimmy Johns, both part-time, thru the duration of my pregnancy.  After my ridiculously short maternity leave (12 days), I was able to go back to work at Michaels part-time for about a week before being promoted to full-time framer in early May last year.  Our department manager Linda finally made the move to Arizona as she'd been talking about for ages, opening up her position for Angela and Angela's position for me.  It's nice to finally have a full-time job with benefits (though I waited 6 months for them!)
41. What was your favorite vacation?
-still gonna be my road trip in May 2009 from LA to Chi with my Holly
42. How about who's your favorite actor/actress?
-Johnny Depp/Angelica Huston
43. Last person you went out to dinner with?
-no dinners lately but I had breakfast with my mom and baby on Saturday; oh and lunch with my sister, her kiddo and mine last Thursday
44. What are you listening to right now?
-the burbling water of the fishtank
45. What is your favorite color?
-yellow
46. How many tattoos do you have?
-still 5, but I've got idears wiggling around upstairs that will come to fruition with the onset of some extra cash
47. Coffee drinker?
-an avid one...but I have to limit myself to just a cup or 2 in the morning
48. How many children do you have?
-one, Skylar Helen is my heart.

It's about damn time, right?

So I've been thinking about posting for a really long time.  Life's been crazy busy and surprising.  I know it's been over 2 months since my last post and that's because of a few things.  I went back and read that I had updated about my 2 new jobs.  Well, I kept all 4 jobs until the end of August.  I even ended up working 22 days in a row without even 1 day off.  I ended up quitting the lowest paying job (Michaels) despite it being one of the more relevant ones to my field of study.  However, I was in a financial pickle after letting the situation at my brother's go on for so long.  So now, I work still at the Washington Pavilion from time to time and then part-time at JJs and part-time in direct sales for a local cable company.

I'm still seeing Mr. Nice, much more seriously now.  For awhile I was attributing my prolonged fatigue to the fact that I was juggling 4 jobs and a boyfriend.  Come to find out (about 6 weeks ago) that I'm pregnant with his oopsy baby.  SURPRISE!  Now obviously that was pretty unexpected and definitely not planned.  However, our relationship is going really well as is the pregnancy.  By my calculations, I'm 12 weeks along which was confirmed by my doctor on Thursday at my first ultrasound.  The difference between this one and the one I had last year was night and day.  I got to see my baby moving around there, active and healthy and normal!  I wish my guy could have been there but he still lives an hour away and the scheduling just didn't work.  He is making plans to save money and move here whenever it works best.  Until then I still get to see him every weekend.  Actually I've been at his place this whole weekend.  He still does the night shift while I do the day so he's still sleeping now while I'm wide awake.  I don't usually have any problem staying asleep late with him but I did take a little nap last night while he was playing his video game.  Plus I was getting really hungry so I made some sticky buns.  He's gonna have to get up soon if he wants some...  :P  Side effects of this bun in my oven is the overwhelming urge to eat far more often than I've ever felt before.  I've had some nausea and dizzy spells.  Morning sickness hasn't affected me as much in the way of barfing all the time as just generally feeling crappy for days on end.  This week's had some crazy temperature and weather changes and I've been sick because of it all week.  I thought it started out as a sinus thing but now my symptoms are more like the bronchitis that Terri was sporting last week.  Or maybe it's just a 'faux sickness' like my friend Jessica said.  Whatever it is, I'm hoping it'll be gone very very soon.  I've gotta catch up on some work this week.  I think I'll at least have some more energy now that I'm almost out of the first trimester.  It's been terribly hard not to always give in to the incredible urge to sleep between jobs.  That's when I don't get nearly as much done in the day.

I've been wanting my artistic release back, wanting to do something for art's sake (to borrow a phrase).  So the title of this post is multipurpose then.  I received some unbelievably sad news last Sunday that my dear friend and neighbor from college Will passed away.  I wept for the world's loss of a beautiful soul and a talented individual who simply didn't understand his true worth in life.  The loss of someone so great makes me feel like time really is short and I have to make the most of what I've got.  I have to be able to find a balance between the busy of life and family and maintaining the art that is my true life-blood.  I decided to start organizing my collection of items and bits from college.  I found a lot of things that reminded me of Will and our group of friends and all the great times we had together.  And not just in the college partying friends way; also the way that we were fellow artists working side by side and together in this world to make a mark.  I don't want to lose what I've worked for so I've made a command decision to make art a part of every single day.  I ended up stopping by my aunt Jen's house on Tuesday this week.  She's always been one of my biggest creative inspirations.  I stopped by because I saw her outside and because I was RSVPing to a jewelry party invite for Thursday.  We talked for almost 2 hours and in that time she managed to inspire me yet again.  She showed me a wonderful little scrapbook she'd made completely by hand.  It, to me, was much more like an artist book than some scrapbook.  It was beautifully crafted with delicate details and features like pockets and inserts.  And the basic structure of the book was paper lunch sacks.  She is planning on helping me get started on a book of my own.  It seemed so perfectly synchronized that I should be organizing the items I want to put into a variety of artist's books the 2 nights prior to my aunt offering to help me get started on them.  I always curse myself for not taking that book-making class in college.  I should have realized that a lot of my art is better in book format.  At any rate, I got some supplies at Michaels the other night when I went in to show some of my old coworkers my ultrasound pictures.  I spent more than I should have but I got a couple of nice frames for Aaron and Terri.  I had promised birthday presents to them months ago when I was much more broke.  I finally got what I'd planned to awhile ago.  Now I just need to sew Z's little baby romper to a nice fitted piece of matboard and put it in the 12" x 16" black shadowbox I got for Terri and give Aaron the black shot glass collector case I got for him.  I've also been crocheting and knitting a little more here and there.   I want to get my baby hat inventory up for this winter.  So in the past week, my artistic spirit has been soooooooaring.  I hope the baby can feel the arty energy.

Speaking of arty energy, I think I may put something on the tv and crochet, but first...another sticky bun, and maybe a quick cleanup.  This man has a serious bachelor pad.  I actually really want to post again soon.  Maybe it'll be good for the arting to keep posting.  And so I shall.

Quick Update

So I'm done watching Z and I moved out of my brother's place on the 1st and where I'm living now we don't have internet yet.  I got 2 more jobs and I've been working a ton.  I also have still been seeing Mr. Nice every weekend.  I even went to visit him in his hometown for the 4th of July (I met one of his sisters and his parents!!!!).  I've been going to the library for web access but I'm seriously hoping to get it going at the new place ASAP.  One of my new jobs is at the nearby JJ's...I thought it would suck going back but it's fun and easy and there's plenty of opportunity to move up.  The other job I start training at next week since this week I was booked solid.  I really don't know when my next day off will be but I'll still be seeing Mr. Nice this weekend.  I'll try to update again the next time I'm on the net...but I won't make any promises (seeing as it's been almost a month since my last post).  That's all for now.

Another Awesome

Ok, it's pretty much a done deal.  I'm smitten like a kitten!  Mr. Nice and I have hung out the last 2 nights and I already want to see him again.  Unfortunately (but not really since I need money) I started my second class at the pavilion this morning so we weren't able to hang out today too.  And I already want to see him again.  He's going to a show tonight but I work at Michaels tonight so the odds of me going are pretty slim.  He says he's looking for jobs in SooFoo cuz he's tired of living an hour away from his friends and the 'city' and wants to move back.  That would make things sooooo much easier and we could spend time during the week getting to know each other.  I have to say that so far, he hasn't done or said even one thing that's made me uneasy or unsure about him.  I really think that this could definitely go somewhere.  I got the words straight from the horse's mouth that Mr. Nice is beyond the 'one-night-stand' phase and that monogamy is a must for him (like it is for me).  I can still hardly believe how lucky I was to meet him...the universe sure has a strange sense of time and humor but hey, I'll take it!

Omg, I could stay on here and gush for hours but I've got packing to do.  Moving out by the end of the month...another AWESOME for ASHLEY.  YES!

Butterflies

I got 'em...there, I said it.  Mr. Nice and I are going out tomorrow and I'm really excited.  We've only talked once since last weekend but we've texted back and forth throughout the whole week and I know he's looking forward to it too.  I had an extremely crappy afternoon with Z and just the thought of tomorrow made me smile.  It still does.  Though I'm kinda being a nut job a little.  By this I mean I've been cleaning and packing and whatnot for the last few nights on the off chance that he comes here tomorrow.  I'm less that 2 weeks away from moving so obviously packing is a good idea at this point.  However, the vigorous cleaning and packing away of things is because I'm definitely not ready to reveal all my crazy on the first real date.  I really like him so I don't wanna scare him away right away.  I say this slightly in jest but also seriously.  I don't know why I haven't had any decent luck keeping a man in my life so far.  Looking back now at 25, my longest relationship ever was only 8 months...and that was a stretch, believe me.  That relationship was doomed after 5 months, even 4 maybe.  So, my nerves about blowing things with Mr. Nice too soon are understandable.  At least I'm not carrying any baggage from my past...I'm sure that should be at least a little bit of a plus for him.  I've been single pretty much steady for close to 3 years so I think it's about time something good happened for me.  Curse these wretched nerves! haha  The cool part is that I'm totally enjoying all the funky feelings that are the resulting feelings from a mutual like interest.  I suppose after this ramble I can't really say 'I won't say much' but I will say that I have every intention of keeping the real details to myself.  Secrets like that are the best because you're the only one that knows them.  I would, however, like to sum up that I have overall been very happy and excited all week all because of Mr. Nice.  Preparations for my folks' anniversary luau coming up tomorrow has been a great distraction so far to keep me from metaphorically grasping for tomorrow night desperately.  I really am more of a romantic than a cynic so I'll end with the cliche: I just can't wait! :D

News-full June

I know it's been a couple weeks since my last few posts...life gets crazy sometimes:

I didn't completely stop doing my food diary.  I did, however, stop being so diligent with the calorie counting.  I have every intention of returning to the habit a little more resolutely come July.  But with all that's going on and will go on by then who knows what will happen?  For the record though, the calorie counting does work...I lost 7 lbs during the month of May making my grand total since New Years 18 lbs.  Go me!  Now I've stayed the same for the past 3 weeks, which is good considering all of the occasions...I do plan on getting back into my exercising and workout plan, which has been on hold because of all the craziness.


First on the list of crazy things:  I'm finally moving out of my brother and sister-in-law's basement.  I'll be moving in with Matt's cousin Justin.  He's 21, just bought his first house.  He's got money, but not a clue.  So Angela and I have taken it upon ourselves to take charge of the house before I move in to get it in order and make it a little more like a home and a little less like a dumpy bachelor pad.  We've spent a fair amount of time over there cleaning and whatnot.  We (as in Angela and me) will be picking paint (which Justin's going to buy) and painting the whole place soon.  I plan on being totally moved in there by July 1st.  Lucky for me he's pretty flexible about when I move in and when I pay rent which will be affordable as soon as I get a better job.  I've been looking for awhile now and have had a couple responses.

The main reason I don't already have a new job is because June is the month of my summer classes at the Washington Pavilion.  I had my Canvas Creations painting class last week and have my Art Explorers class next week.  Last week was insane having my class every afternoon still watching Z on three of the days and working at Michaels on two of the nights.  Also, Wednesday was my 25th birthday.  Wooty woot!  It was Terri's birthday too, and Thursday was Aaron's birthday.  We had a family cookout on Tuesday night.  Dad made ribs on the grill; Mom made homemade mashed potatoes, her tasty coleslaw salad.  We had fruit and chocolate ice cream cake and everyone was there.  On my actual b-day Matt and Angela took me out to Bracco's for half-off drinks.  We splurged on some "Jamaican-me-crazy"s, nachos and a Bob Marley-tini.  We also stopped off at Woody's for another drink.  I didn't feel that great during class the next day but I had a great time.

The birthday celebrating continued on into the weekend when Marcy went into labor on Saturday night.  Samantha Cadence Seaman, daughter of Jon and Marcella Seaman, was born Sunday at 12:34 in the afternoon; 6 lb 2 oz and 19 in long.  I was working at the time and though the new parents were accepting visitors that night, most of the family waited to go up to the hospital until yesterday before lunch.  She's beautiful and tiny.  I'm so excited to be an auntie again!  1 nephew and now 3 nieces!!!

And now, as if all of this excitement wasn't enough, something else incredible happened to me on Saturday:  I met someone.  I don't want to jinx it or anything so I'm not going to get into a lot of details (ie his name).  I'm gonna play it like Carrie on Sex in the City when she's writing her column; you don't really know Mr. Big's real name is John until the last episode.  So I'm going to call this guy Mr. Nice.  I will say that I'm really glad that I went out on Saturday night.  I had gone painting at Jon and Marcy's in the morning (completely unsuspecting that she'd be popping in less that 24 hours!), and worked the rest of the day at Michaels.  Angela called before my shift was over and said that Sara's new beau had a guy friend that I should meet and that they were going out for drinks that night.  Lucky for me I had my flip-flops and a different shirt in my car.  AND despite being unshowered, with grody failing make-up, my huge work pants and a baggy, rather unflattering top on, I'm fairly certain that Mr. Nice is genuinely into me.  I guess it's just my charming personality (haha).  I'd say that considering all I knew about him before meeting him was his name and all he knew was my name and that I'm kinda chatty, we hit it off like most people wish their fix-ups between friends would go.  I know I said I wouldn't get into much detail so I'll just say that Mr. Nice lives about an hour away from here meaning he'll be mostly available to see on the weekends when he quite frequently comes to SooFoo to hang with friends.  This is actually perfect for me the relationship-tard...It means we've got time to get to know each other without being too serious about it right away and that I'll still have time to do all the crap that I already have to do.  That's one thing about relationships that I haven't figured out since I haven't had anything even close to one in over 3 years.  How do you have time to do everything?  I guess that sounds kinda bad: it's not that I don't want to see Mr. Nice until next weekend.  However, I've been in a fantastic mood since we met and just the few sweet texts he's sent have been enough to make me all fluttery inside.  There's no need to rush the good feelings that come with something new and exciting.  I'm really looking forward to seeing him again this weekend...
Though I can't image he'll be down for coming to my parents' (6-months-early) 30th wedding anniversary Tahitian luau which is Saturday night.  It would be amazing if he did, but I hardly expect something like that from a guy I just met especially considering I've never actually introduced my folks to anyone I've dated before.  I'm pretty confident I'll be seeing him again this weekend, we'll just have to wait and see when.  At any rate...GO ME!  While for right now, financially, I'm fucked, I at least have a lot of great things in my life to keep me happy through the struggle...I'll try not to wait so long til my next post but I can't guarantee anything. ;)

A Food Journal: Day 31

Breakfast: (180)
Special K cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk (150)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (325)
whole wheat pita pepperoni pizza (150+15+60+100)
diet coke

Dinner: (565)
sesame chicken with carrots, green beans, broccoli (90+200+25)
white rice (160)
1 cup skim milk (90)

Snacks: (360)
string cheese (80)
coleslaw/ramen salad (150)
Cheese-it pack (100)

Workout:
Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred: Level 1 (25 min)
weights (10 min)

(1400)

A Food Journal: Day 30

Breakfast: (130)
homemade wheat banana bread (100)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (815)
cheeseburger with ketchup and mayo (330+110+60+15+30)
Multi-grain Pringles (70)
coleslaw/ramen salad (100)
rhubarb crisp (100)
diet pepsi

Dinner: (280)
whole wheat pita with homemade hummus (150+50)
string cheese (80)

Snacks: (80)
string cheese (80)


(1305)

A Food Journal: Day 29

Breakfast: (150)
Special K cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk (150)
diet coke

Lunch: (345)
pear (85)
2 string cheese (160)
Cheese-it pack (100)

Dinner: (350)
Michelina's Lean Gourmet Shrimp Scampi (290)
1 slice of American cheese (60)

Snacks: (300)
2 slices of homemade wheat banana bread (200)
cookie pack (100)


(1145)

A Food Journal: Day 28

Breakfast: (255)
2 slices of homemade wheat banana bread (210)
coffee with cream and Truvia (45)

Lunch: (approx. 610)
Leonardo's Pizza (at Washington Pavilion), 2 narrow slices of pepperoni (educated guess: approx. 610)
diet coke

Dinner: (300)
orange curry garlic chicken with onions, carrots, green beans (300)

Snacks: (245)
pear (85)
2 string cheese (160)


(1410)

A Food Journal: Day 27

Breakfast: (195)
Special K cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk (150)
coffee with cream and Truvia (45)

Lunch: (280)
spinach, 1/4 cup shredded cheese blend, 1/4 cup cottage cheese, 1 mushroom, hard-boiled egg, 2 wheat saltines, carrots, and balsamic vinaigrette (10+100+40+70+20+20+20)

Dinner: (745)
cheeseburger with mayo and ketchup (330+120+60+45+30)
sweet potato fries (160)
diet coke

Snacks: (215)
cookie (30)
string cheese (80)
1 slice homemade wheat banana bread (105)

Workout:
P90X: Plyometrics (60 min)


(1435)

A Food Journal: Day 26

Breakfast: (180)
Special K cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk (150)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (390)
2 scrambled eggs with mozzarella (240)
hash brown potatoes (150)

Dinner: (535)
bag of Gardetto's (375)
Fiber 1 bar (150)

Snacks: (440)
2 string cheese (160)
cookie pack (70)
1 cup of grapes (110)
Cheese-it pack (100)

Workout:
P90X: Shoulders and Arms (60 min)


(1535)

A Food Journal: Day 25

Breakfast: (275)
Special K cereal with 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 banana (110+90+45)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (185)
romaine lettuce, 1/4 cup mozzarella, 1/4 cup cottage cheese, deli sliced turkey, 2 Ritz crackers, balsamic vinaigrette (5+80+40+20+30+10)

Dinner: (310)
orange curry garlic chicken with onions, carrots, and green beans (160)
brown rice (150)

Snacks: (480)
cookie pack (100)
string cheese (80)
wheat pita with homemade hummus (150+50)
Cheese-it pack (100)


(1250)

A Food Journal: Day 24

Breakfast: (180)
Special K cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk (150)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (380)
wheat pita pizza with 1/3 cup mozzarella, 2 Tbsp sauce, and 1 Tbsp Parmesan (150+120+15+10)
orange (85)

Dinner: (405)
El Dorado taco bake with tortilla chips, mozzarella, sour cream, sausage, green chilis (315)
1 cup milk (90)

Snacks: (620)
2 string cheese (160)
chocolate cake (for Erin's birthday) (300)
1 slice American cheese (60)
Cheese-it pack (100)

Workout:
P90X: Kenpo X


(1585)

A Food Journal: Day 23

Breakfast: (340)
sesame bagel with neufchatel cheese (240+70)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (420)
garlic and onion chicken and mushrooms (170)
brown rice (150)
Keebler cookie pack (100)

Dinner: (275)
Romaine with 1/4 cup mozzarella, 4 baby carrots, pulled chicken and 1 Tbsp fat-free balsamic vinaigrette (5+80+20+60+10)
grapes (100)

Snacks: (70)
1 slice of American cheese (70)


Workout:
yoga and weights (45 min)


(1105)

A Food Journal: Day 22

Breakfast: (150)
Special K with 1/2 cup skim milk (150)
diet coke

Lunch: (320)
garlic and onion chicken and mushrooms (170)
brown rice (150)

Dinner: (265)
Michelina's Lean Gourmet Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and gravy (180)
pear (85)

Snacks: (480)
Cheese-it pack (100)
2 string cheese (180)
wheat pita pocket with homemade hummus (90+30)
cookie pack (100)
Oats'n'honey cereal dry (150)


Workout:
Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred: Level 1 (20 min)
Yoga and abs (30 min)


(1365)

A Food Journal: Day 21

Breakfast: (210)
1/2 honey wheat bagel with neufchatel cheese (120+40)
coffee with cream and Truvia (50)

Lunch: (325)
turkey and American cheese sandwich with lite mayo and homemade hummus (50+60+90+20+15)
banana (90)

Dinner: (830)
Jimmy John's Vito, special (510+60)
Reduced fat potato chips (260)

Snacks: (5)
stick of gum (5)


(1370)

Seventh Frog

This frog will eventually be a height chart for Z.  For now the frog itself is finished.

Sixth Frog

 

Fifth Frog

Fourth Frog

I finished painting this frog for Zidane's nursery mural the weekend of Valentine's Day but I just uploaded the pics off the camera tonight (and back then I was in one of my dry spells of blogger posting).  So here's the progress shots:

 

 

A Food Journal: Day 20

Breakfast: ( 180)
Special K cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk (150)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (520)
Zesty turkey burger on wheat bun with American cheese slice, ketchup, mayo (290+60+15+45)
fries with olive oil cooking spray (110)

Dinner: (320)
sauteed garlic and onion chicken and mushrooms (170)
rice (150)
diet coke

Snacks: (295)
banana (90)
string cheese (80)
wheat pita pocket with homemade hummus (90+30)
stick of gum (5)

Workout:
P90X: Shoulders and Arms (60 min)


(1315)

A Food Journal: Day 19

Breakfast: (95)
apple (65)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (255)
wheat pita pocket with turkey, hummus and mozzarella (90+25+60+40)
1/4 cup cottage cheese (40)

Dinner: (685)
sesame bagel with neufchatel cheese (240+70)
bag of Gardettos (375)

Snacks: (300)
slice of wheat crust pepperoni pizza (120)
string cheese (80)
banana (90)
2 sticks of gum (10)

Workout:
yoga and weights (approx 45 min)


(1335)

A Food Journal: Day 18

Breakfast: (210)
Oats'n'Honey cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk (180)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (325)
wheat pita pocket pizza, sauce, pepperoni, an mozzarella (180+15+50+80)

Dinner: (610)
Subway Club 6" on wheat with provolone, lettuce, onion and light mayo (310+50+40)
Garden Salsa Sunchips (210)

Snacks: (280)
grapes (50)
string cheese (80)
wheat pita pocket with slice of American cheese (90+60)

Workout:
yoga and weights (45 min)


(1425)

A Food Journal: Day 17

Breakfast: (190)
Oats'n'Honey cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk (170)
coffee with cream and Truvia (20)

Lunch: (385)
2 eggs scrambled with 1/8 cup mozzarella (140+40)
2 pieces of whole wheat toast (140)
3/4 banana (65)

Dinner: (355)
grilled pork chop with marinade (130+65)
rice with sauteed veggies (75+85)

Snacks: (360)
2 string cheese (160)
slice of fruit pizza (approx 100)
Cheese nips pack (100)


(1290)

A Food Journal: Day 16

Breakfast: (200)
Oats'n'Honey cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk (180)
coffee with cream and Truvia (20)

Lunch: (460)
Turkey/American cheese/mayo/lettuce on sesame bagel (140+240)
1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese (80)

Dinner: (420)
grilled chicken with noodles and soy sauce (150+100+15)
veggie medley cooked in olive oil- celery, carrots, green pepper, green/yellow onion, mushroom, garlic, water chestnut (80+75)

Snacks: (105)
Cheese nips pack (100)
stick of gum (5)

Workout:
1.8 mile walk
(5 hours of housework)


(1205)

A Food Journal: Day 15

Breakfast: (260)
oatmeal with 1/2 cup skim milk (160+50)
coffee with cream and Truvia (50)

Lunch: (395)
salmon (110+60)
sweet potato fries (225)

Dinner: (350)
Michelina's chicken and fettuccine alfredo (250)
Oreo pack (100)
diet coke

Snacks: (360)
2 string cheese (160)
penne with alfredo (200)

Workout:
Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred: Level 1 (20 min)



(1365)

A Food Journal: Day 14

Breakfast: (230)
Oats'n'Honey cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk (170)
coffee with cream and Truvia (60)

Lunch: (415)
bread wrapped cheesy turkey bratwurst   with ketchup (400+15)
diet coke

Dinner: (200)
grilled cheese sandwich (200)
small orange (45)

Snacks: (360)
2 string cheese (160)
Oreo pack(100)
Cheese Nips pack (100)



(1250)

A Food Journal: Day 13

Breakfast: (265)
Oats'n'Honey cereal with 1 cup skim milk (130+90)
coffee with cream and Truvia (45)

Lunch: (825)
Subway foot-long sweet onion chicken teriyaki on whole wheat with provolone and lettuce (750)
lite mayo (75)
diet coke

Dinner: (730)
hamburger on bun with American cheese, ketchup, lite mayo (330+15+45+120+60)
sweet potato fries (160)

Snacks: (-)


Workout:
P90X: Kenpo X (60 min)
weight lifting (20)
(rummage sale, all day)

(1820)

A Food Journal: Day 12

Breakfast: (320)
sesame bagel with neufchatel cheese (270)
coffee with cream and Truvia (50)

Lunch: (480)
Huhot: beef/chicken, cabbage, carrots, sunflower seeds and sauces (380)
white rice (100)
diet coke

Dinner: (470)
cheesy turkey bratwurst wrapped in bread, pigs-in-a-blanket-style (400)
garlic/green onion mashed potato/cauliflower (70)

Snacks: (180)
string cheese (80)
Oreo pack (100)


(1450)

A Food Journal: Day 11

Breakfast: (200)
Oats'n'Honey with 1/2 cup skim milk (170)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (130)
1/2 cup garlic/green onion mashed cauliflower with 1/8 cup mozzarella cheese (45+20)
1/2 hot dog (65)

Dinner: (590)
Shake'n'bake chicken with alfredo penne and mozzarella cheese (40+150+110+180+40)+30)
1/2 cup pineapple (40)
diet coke

Snacks: (320)
string cheese (80)
5 Ritz crackers (80)
slice of American cheese (60)
oreo snack pack (100)

Workout:
Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred Level 1 (20 min)
6-pack Ab Calorie Burn (10 min)
Bikini Blast Circuit (30 min)



(1340)

Homemade Hoisin Marinade and Mongolian Beef (pork) Recipe

Marinade 1 lb of cubed beef or pork for 1-2 hrs in:
4 Tbsp rice vinegar
3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp chopped garlic
1 Tbsp peanut butter (low sodium)
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp sesame oil or tahini
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)

Strain mean; set marinade aside.
Saute meat in  2-3 tsp extra virgin olive oil.
Remove meat from pan, keep warm.
Saute 5 chopped green  onions in rest of oil,
3-5 min until crispy.

Add to marinade and blend till smooth:
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp sesame oil or tahini

Add Mixture to onions and boil for 2 min,
until thick.  Add meat, heat through.


Prepare 4 servings of either 5-minute brown rice
or slow-cooking brown rice (45-50 min).

Serve.

Makes 4-5 servings (260-300 calories)

*******
I made an addition to my recipe this evening.  After removing the meat from the pan but before sauteing the onions, I sauteed chopped asparagus (1" spears) for about 5 minutes in a little of the oil.  I used only 2 tsp of oil on the meat and saved 1 tsp for the asparagus to get a nice sear before putting the sauce back in to reduce.  I also mixed the rice right into the meat and sauce mixture.  It really was delicious...I look forward to the leftovers.

A Food Journal: Day 10

Breakfast: (200)
Oats'n'Honey with 1/2 cup skim milk (170)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (290)
Michelina's Lean Gourmet Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and gravy (190)
grapes (100)
diet coke

Dinner: (385)
Mongolian beef with asparagus and brown rice (260)
Vitamin Water (125)

Snacks: (425)
3 string cheese (240)
banana (100)
pita chips (70)
3 sticks of gum (15)

Workout:
Namaste Yoga (15 min)
5 mile walk


(1300)

I used a few recipes I found online with a few tweaks to make it healthier and made a most masterfully amazing Mongolian beef with brown rice and asparagus.  It's shocking how healthy it turned out to be.  I'll post the recipe later.  It was totally worth the hot'n'sweaty hike down Cliff hill to the market and then back up it pushing Z in the stroller the whole way.  I needed soy sauce but Terri didn't leave me the carseat so we had to walk to the closest local that carried it 2.25 miles away.  I got sunburned like whoa too.

A Food Journal: Day 9

Breakfast: (200)
Oats'n'Honey cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk (170)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (595)
banana (100)
turkey/cheese/lite mayo sandwich on sesame bagel (75+160+20+240)
diet coke

Dinner: (185)
cantaloupe (100)
1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese (80)
cauliflower (5)

Snacks: (355)
3 sticks of gum (15)
string cheese (80)
honey wheat pita with homemade hummus (90+50)
2 slices of American cheese (120)



(1335)


I didn't get a workout in today because I got called in to work early again because Linda called in sick. Again.  I got an extra 4 hours in, which was nice but I used the morning to purge my closet again for our rummage sale.  I do have the next 4 days at home with Z with no work (unless I get called in, knock on wood).  I can tight the strings on the diet and do multiple workouts.  Plus playing with Z can be a workout in itself.

Jungle Babies Nursery Mural

I don't think I ever got around to posting pictures of the Jungle nursery mural I did for Ella's room.  I'm still working on Z's frog mural and I've got an aquarium themed mural for Jon and Marcy's little one.  The album that is this slide show has all the progress shots in backwards order.  One of these days I'll get the originals back on my computer and upload individual final shots to post.  For now:

Consumption

This whole food journal thing isn't the first time I keep track of what I ate over a period of time...
Back in 2007, I participated in a basic drawing class homework exercise that I initially thought was bullshit.  It was early in the semester and I was still feeling out the teacher a little bit in terms of his methods, discussion tactics, and leniency in terms of interpretation/attendance.  I remember the class was a Monday/Wednesday-nights-from-6-9pm class.  He gave us the basic task of tracking everything that we ate or drank (as I took to mean consume in general) from the end of class one Wednesday night til the following Monday's class.  Five days.  I was pretty pissy about the assignment and used my frustration to spur a strange abstraction of what I really consumed that week.  The drawings are geometric deconstructions of everything that passed my lips during that 5 days.  Upon returning to class, I found I was one of the half in the class that actually accomplished the assignment and one of the very few who took it very seriously.  Like I said, my frustration with being assigned such a juvenile task drove me to invent a way to make it more interesting to me.  I feel it turned into playful depiction of a third-year art school student's diet.  Knowing what foods I consumed then makes me cringe now a little but really that's part of the college experience.  I mean, I'm pretty sure one of these drawings represents a strawberry strudel pastry and blazing buffalo Doritos!  At any rate, I rarely get to share the book that this project spawned one of my few prized artist books.
So here it is: Consumption

A Food Journal: Day 8

I thought earlier when I posted that I wasn't going to do well today, but I stayed under 1500 calories (though admittedly a lot of what I ate wasn't the best for me).  Again, it was a holiday.  And, I've got to be able to splurge now and then.  As long as I make up for it with a vigorous workout or two, it's fine.  So here's today's tally:

Breakfast: (540)
honey oat bagel with neufchatel cheese (310)
fruit with Wilton chocolate melts, pineapple, strawberry, apple, cantaloupe (120+30+10+25+15)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (290)
2 string cheese (160)
pineapple ring (30)
cheese nips (100)
diet coke

Dinner: (425)
2 slices of gyro pizza from Big Cheese (approx. 425)

Snacks: (70)
2 Twizzlers (70)

Workout:
P90X: Cardio X (45 min)
6-pack Ab Calorie Burn (10 min)
Strong and Sexy Upper Body Burn (10 min)


(1325)


As an aside, Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there.  Especially mine, because she's the best.  And all others who were supposed to be mothers once but aren't now...this day didn't really feel that great in that respect.  For that, I'm having a glass of wine to toast my dead child and I'm not going to count it.  So there.

A Food Journal: Day 7

It's days like yesterday that I knew I wouldn't want to do this but just to prove myself wrong I will anyways.  I went with all my family ladies and kids, ie: Mom, Jess and Ella, Marcy and Chloe, Terri and Z to the annual Avera Race Against Breast Cancer.  We did the family fun 1.5 mile walk as per usual.  I wish we could do the 3 mile walk again like we did before all the kids were born.  But Marcy is 33 weeks along in her pregnancy so with the addition of the walk from and to the cars the 1.5 mile walk was plenty.  The one big downfall of the whole morning was the consumption of our traditional post-race breakfast.  We went to Perkins like usual (it used to be Denny's until it became overrun with other race-goers).  And against my better judgment, I ordered based on what I was craving rather than what I knew would be better for me.  That's how I pretty much blew this whole day calorie-wise.  Just goes to show how much eating out can affect your whole plan...  In my defense, though I know it's not a good excuse, it was a celebration and a tradition to go out.  Plus Marcy's baby shower in the afternoon didn't help the diet...I guess it's my cheat day.  And I have a whole week now to bust ass before next week's weigh in.

Breakfast: (130)
banana (100)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (1700)
Perkins Buffalo Chicken Wrap with fries (1700)
2 diet coke

Dinner: (225+)
Pineapple, watermelon (30+15)
carrots, cauliflower, veggie dip (10+5+20)
fruit salsa with cinnamon pita chips (approx 150)
2 party mints, handful of mixed nuts, homemade chocolate chip cookie ball (unknown)


Snacks: (340)
2 sticks of gum (10)
string cheese (80)
pita chips and homemade hummus (250)

Workout:
Avera Race Against Breast Cancer (2 hrs)
P90X: Kenpo X (60 min)


(2395+)

Bad Ashley.  I tried to burn as many calories as possible during the day to balance my intake.  For example, I put Chloe up on my shoulders for the warmup before the race and for the stretch of the race where we walked past her other grandmother's house.  I actually didn't do it intentionally but Jessica noticed that Kathy was out on her driveway half a block off the race path waving so Chloe was able to see her from up on my shoulders and wave back.  She was kinda wild up there, especially watching what Ella was doing on Jessica's shoulders.  Of course Ella's a lot smaller.  Chloe, at 36 lbs, was plenty of weight lifting.  I was pretty sweaty by the end since it got warm out so quickly.  Last year it was frigid cold.  We showed up but we didn't actually do the walk since we had 2 new babies and Terri still recovering from her C-section.  So this year we were all pretty famished by the end of it.  Maybe next year I'll suggest we change the tradition a little again and go somewhere healthier.  Also after I let my big lunch settle in a little I did Kenpo X with long sleeves and pants on.  I thought that would be a great way to sweat out some of the ridiculous sodium that was in that wrap and fries.  I inadvertently wiped myself out though and ended up in bed around 10, asleep by 10:30.  I got up late and went to breakfast at Mom and Dad's for Mother's Day around 10 this morning.  Now, I've gotta go squeeze in a workout before I have to get ready for work.  I'll post later on today's food consumption entry...

A Food Journal: Day 6

Breakfast: (310)
Oats'n'Honey cereal with 1 cup skim milk and 1/2 a banana (130+90+60)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (285)
honey wheat pita pocket pizza (90+100+45)
1 cup of strawberries(50)

Dinner: (220)
Michelina's Lean Gourmet cheese stuffed rigatoni (220)
Vitamin Water Zero

Snacks: (425)
3 sticks of gum (15)
2 string cheese(160)
pita chips and hummus (250)

Workout:
Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred Level 2 (20 min)



(1340)

A Food Journal: Day 5

Breakfast: (135)
banana (100)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (455)
sauteed salmon with onion and garlic (110+15+40+30)
1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese (80)
pita chips and homemade hummus (140+40)

Dinner: (620)
turkey and American cheese sandwich on wheat with lettuce and lite mayo (50+20+60+140)
Chevy's tortilla chips and salsa (350)

Snacks: (395)
string cheese (80)
Oreo thin crisps (100)
3 sticks of gum (15)
shredded wheat cereal (200)


(1605)

Tasty Lentils and Rice Recipe

When I first made this recipe it was when Terri was in Vegas.  Aaron didn't like it all that well but even he could appreciate that it was pretty damn healthy.

Mujadrah: Spicy Lentils and Rice Recipe

A Food Journal: Day 4

Breakfast: (280)
lightly frosted shredded wheat with skim milk (220)
coffee with cream and Truvia (60)

Lunch: (360)
bagel with fried egg and 1 slice American cheese (230+70+60)
2 diet coke

Dinner: (410)
Chicken breast marinaded in pineapple/garlic/Worcestershire sauce (120+80)
Caribbean jerk baked potato fries and 1 tablespoon fat-free sour cream (100+40+15)
1 cup cantaloupe (55)

Snacks: (485)
string cheese (80)
cheese nips (100)
banana (100)
gum (5)
shredded wheat (200)

Workout:
Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred Level 1 (20 min)


(1535)

A goal has been set which will be reached.

I've decided that if I can keep up with my new short-term goal, I most certainly can update my blog more than once per month.  I don't really have any good excuses for not posting in my free time...just that the weather is finally nice enough to enjoy going for walks and riding my bike outside, so those have been bigger priorities.  That and the rest of my workout/diet plan.  I'm down to the last month before summer and if I want to reach my New Year's Resolution goal of a sexy beach body with some ab definition, to be strong and lean by June, I need to up my game.  Soooo... the goal now is to keep diligent track of what I'm eating and what I'm doing for a workout.  I've given myself the short-term goal of May 31st.  I started May 1st (will back post food entries).  If I get where I want to be by the end of the month, I may continue to track myself for awhile just to keep training myself to maintain.  Being only 4 days in so far, I already think this is going to be the key to losing those last pesky pounds.  While I am primarily keeping track in a small notebook, I'm doing a lot of research online on the foods I'm consuming and how they work together to help me reach my goal.  I also plan on sharing my diet and exercise journal here on my blog.  I've found countless tips from many a blog about fitness and exercise; so here's adding my application of various methods of losing weight to the collective unconscious of the internet.  Maybe some who needs help reaching their weight loss goals will read it and be educated.  Anyways, that's my cheesy goal.  But I will reach it, damn it!

A Food Journal: Day 3

Breakfast: (235)
oatmeal with skim milk (205)
coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (380)
whole wheat pita pizza with sauce, 6 pepperoni and 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella (150+100+55+15)
strawberries (55)

Dinner: (460)
brown rice with soy/garlic/ginger/onion chicken breast (150+60+150)
banana (100)

Snacks: (370)
2 string cheese (160)
2 sticks of gum (10)
1 cup shredded wheat (200)

Workout:
P90X: Yoga X (90 min)


(1445)

A Food Journal: Day 2

Breakfast: (235)
Oatmeal with 1/2 cup skim milk (205)
Coffee with cream and Truvia (30)

Lunch: (315)
Lentils and Rice + turkey sausage + shredded mozzarella (200+75+40)
Diet coke

Dinner: (680)
microwave pizza (380)
~
tomato basil bagel with neufchatel cheese (300)

Snacks: (375)
2 string cheese (160)
banana (100)
3 sticks of gum (15)

Workout:
P90X: Kenpo X (60 min)


(1505)

A Food Journal: Day 1

Today is the first day of my food journal.  I'm keeping track of all my food and my workouts for the month of May in a little notebook.  I decided to share on here my blog because I really think it'll be the tool that helps me get rid of these pesky last pounds.  That and I want a more public record of my efforts.  This first day is not to be a testament of the future days and weeks.  Totally unforeseen by me, I ended up at Buffalo Wild Wings tonight with Matt, Angela, and Jon...

Breakfast: (360)
Tomato basil bagel with neufchatel cheese (300)
Hazelnut coffee with cream andTruvia x2 (60)

Lunch: (480)
1 1/2 whole wheat pita bread with homemade hummus (220+100)
2 string cheese (160)
pomegranate green tea with Truvia

Dinner: (1120)
Buffalo Wild Wings Buffalo Chicken Ranch Wrap (1020)
tortilla chips with salsa (100)
2 diet coke

Snacks: (110)
1/2 cup baby carrots (10)
orange (85)
3 sticks of gum (15)

Workout:
 Jillian's 30 Day Shred: Level 1 (20 min)

(2070)