I have joined an online community called The Bod Squad. I am so excited about this group. There are 12 ladies who have made a commitment to change their lives to be healthier, and often thinner and more toned. There is so much more to it than that though...this is truly an emotional journey. Anyone who has ever struggled with weight loss can attest to that. Having 11 accountability partners, strong women who aren't afraid to tell you to get your act together, will be an incredible asset to my journey. And I hope that I can be just as helpful and encouraging to them. Although The Bod Squad is at it's capacity of "original" members, this community is an incredible way to gain encouragement on your own journey. Check it out!
If you get to this RIGHT AWAY...I'm not yet up there. Give me until the 7th to get everything to them so they can post it online. But I'm certainly not the only one...in fact, if you already know me, you probably already know my story. Check out everyone else's. Have a great day!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
My new Advent tradition
Yesterday I was given an Advent calendar. I had never really had one, but had always enjoyed the thought of the tradition. As I was driving home with the piece I started to think. I certainly didn't need a piece of candy every day, and I didn't think grapes would last. Suddenly something popped into my head. It's entirely possible that this is not an original idea at all, but I'm really excited about it and I wanted to share. If you are looking for a way to celebrate the season other than empty calories...give this a try!
I ripped up 25 pieces of paper and wrote the names of people in my life on each. I folded each of them up, and tossed them into a hat. Then I pulled them out randomly and without peeking I put one in each of the 25 days of the Advent calendar. Each morning I pull one out and say a special holiday prayer for the person or people listed on the paper.
Like I said, no guarantees on the originality, but if anyone is interested in joining me in this new tradition of mine, you are SO welcome to!
I ripped up 25 pieces of paper and wrote the names of people in my life on each. I folded each of them up, and tossed them into a hat. Then I pulled them out randomly and without peeking I put one in each of the 25 days of the Advent calendar. Each morning I pull one out and say a special holiday prayer for the person or people listed on the paper.
Like I said, no guarantees on the originality, but if anyone is interested in joining me in this new tradition of mine, you are SO welcome to!
Thanksgiving Update
Just wanted to let you all know, because I know you're on pins and needles, Thanksgiving went great! My greatest accomplishment was my shoo fly pie...I haven't had a good one since I was in Pennsylvania. I was SO excited when it came out right! I also did quite a bit of baking...Pannetone, Challah, and Tomato Herb Rolls. The succotash was great, and the salads were tasty tasty. The turkey brine did just what Alton Brown said it would...even the white meat was moist! The only thing that didn't exactly turn out right was the Herb Stuffed Artichokes. The artichokes were great, but the stuffing can be best compared to sand. I guess that's what you get when Weight Watchers tries to turn something sumptuous into something healthy... In all fairness, many of the other recipes were Weight Watchers, and they turned out great. I hope you all enjoyed a feast and a time of Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thanksgiving Feast
Just a quickie...
I am so excited for my Thanksgiving meal. I am doing all of the cooking, which is not necessarily new. What IS new, is the fact that I have incorporated at least 7 pretty ambitious dishes/items into my menu. For those of you who understand my love of the culinary arts, you will understand why this is so exciting for me!
My kitchen has been temporarily transformed into a truly efficient work space (as close as I could get with what I have at least...) and I am ready to get started first thing tomorrow. Actually, the whole process will start tonight.
I hope you are all in a place where you are able to look forward to the holidays and not dread them. I think you would agree this is one of the biggest disservices that our society is doing to our children...the holidays have turned into a commercial rat race, rather than a time to be thankful and reverent.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving...and if anyone is without a table to sit at, my door is open! :-)
I am so excited for my Thanksgiving meal. I am doing all of the cooking, which is not necessarily new. What IS new, is the fact that I have incorporated at least 7 pretty ambitious dishes/items into my menu. For those of you who understand my love of the culinary arts, you will understand why this is so exciting for me!
My kitchen has been temporarily transformed into a truly efficient work space (as close as I could get with what I have at least...) and I am ready to get started first thing tomorrow. Actually, the whole process will start tonight.
I hope you are all in a place where you are able to look forward to the holidays and not dread them. I think you would agree this is one of the biggest disservices that our society is doing to our children...the holidays have turned into a commercial rat race, rather than a time to be thankful and reverent.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving...and if anyone is without a table to sit at, my door is open! :-)
Give Thanks
At this time of year, I am reminded of how many things I truly have to be thankful for. Here is a short laundry list just to get me started!
my faithful Father
My friends:
Shannon
Elizabeth
Lisa
Carissa
Megan
Leanne
Sasha
Kelly
Laura
Jax
Mindy
Alissa
Shari
Dana
Perry
Melanie
Barbara
Chris
Robert
All those who I haven't seen or spoken to in a long time, but you are always on my mind!
(I know I run the HORRIBLE risk of missing someone here, but if I did, please know it's only because I'm rushing through this because I should really be working...)
appropriately, my job
my family
my church
30 Rock
book club
school - being able to attend and excel
children
my animals
my abilities
my weaknesses
my health
There are SO many more, but I have one more post to make before I am done, and I would like to keep my job...seeing as I am so thankful for it, so I should close up for now.
I really encourage anyone, regardless of how silly it may feel, to initiate the roundtable naming of things you are thankful for at your Thanksgiving meal. You will truly be humbled and blessed.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
my faithful Father
My friends:
Shannon
Elizabeth
Lisa
Carissa
Megan
Leanne
Sasha
Kelly
Laura
Jax
Mindy
Alissa
Shari
Dana
Perry
Melanie
Barbara
Chris
Robert
All those who I haven't seen or spoken to in a long time, but you are always on my mind!
(I know I run the HORRIBLE risk of missing someone here, but if I did, please know it's only because I'm rushing through this because I should really be working...)
appropriately, my job
my family
my church
30 Rock
book club
school - being able to attend and excel
children
my animals
my abilities
my weaknesses
my health
There are SO many more, but I have one more post to make before I am done, and I would like to keep my job...seeing as I am so thankful for it, so I should close up for now.
I really encourage anyone, regardless of how silly it may feel, to initiate the roundtable naming of things you are thankful for at your Thanksgiving meal. You will truly be humbled and blessed.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
A dating story
So I had a bit of an ego boost on a date last night and I thought I would share...
As you should know (if not, you need to read further!) I am partaking in a dating service. I had a date last night and it was obvious within the first couple minutes that there was no romantic chemistry. But one thing that I have made a point to do is have fun at each date regardless of long term potential. So we just talked and laughed and said goodnight.
Well, at one point during the conversation we started talking about the actual service. Come to find out he has had a less than incredible experience with this company. So as we continue talking I learn that I am his 2nd date in 3 months (that's NOT a lot). I also learned that a couple weeks ago he talked to the manager of the company and basically told her to put her best people on this, and that he better get someone who would "knock his socks off," (his phrase, which he happened to use about 23 times in the conversation, not mine) or he would make his opinion of the service known to everyone he knows.
I told him I would do my best...
So what did I, the eternal optimist, glass half full girl take from this? My dating service thinks I'm the creme de la creme!! And I'm going to keep that oh so positive thought in my mind 'cause it makes me happy!
As you should know (if not, you need to read further!) I am partaking in a dating service. I had a date last night and it was obvious within the first couple minutes that there was no romantic chemistry. But one thing that I have made a point to do is have fun at each date regardless of long term potential. So we just talked and laughed and said goodnight.
Well, at one point during the conversation we started talking about the actual service. Come to find out he has had a less than incredible experience with this company. So as we continue talking I learn that I am his 2nd date in 3 months (that's NOT a lot). I also learned that a couple weeks ago he talked to the manager of the company and basically told her to put her best people on this, and that he better get someone who would "knock his socks off," (his phrase, which he happened to use about 23 times in the conversation, not mine) or he would make his opinion of the service known to everyone he knows.
I told him I would do my best...
So what did I, the eternal optimist, glass half full girl take from this? My dating service thinks I'm the creme de la creme!! And I'm going to keep that oh so positive thought in my mind 'cause it makes me happy!
Something fun!
I figured if I was going to spend the time filling this out, it might as well be a "get to know me more..." tool. So here's Kristin in a nutshell...I guess...
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Don't remember...
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Sure
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Ham
5.DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Nope
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I would certainly hope so...but I can see how I would drive myself a wee bit nutty
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Who me?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Nope
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No no and another no. I have no fear of being called a ninny in this situation.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Life
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Ben and Jerry's mint chocolate cookie
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Smile
15. RED OR PINK? Couldn't care less
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU? lack of motivation during those rare moments of down time
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST ? friends
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? kind of a mute point considering the fashion in which I'm completing it. But it would be cool if I learned that others thought this was such an neat, original, fantastically desirable way of completing a survey that it ended up on other blogs (because I'm sure NO ONE has ever done this on their blog before...)
19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I wore brown to work, but I have my black slippers on under my desk! :-)
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? oatmeal
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Christmas music
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? probably orange...why...no idea
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? desert rain, lillies, any many others that would occur to me if I were smelling them right now
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? co-worker
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? postively!
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? football
27. HAIR COLOR? blonde
28. EYE COLOR? blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? yes
30. FAVORITE FOOD? really anything
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? not necessarily happy endings, but no scary movies
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? does 24 Redemption count? If not, Quantum Solice
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? brown
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? fall, winter or spring
35. HUGS OR KISSES? both please
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? creme brulee
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? just the lone critter
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Redemption 24, Dancing with the Stars, and Chuck
42. FAVORITE SOUND? laughter
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Europe
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? probably a couple...
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? LA...New Mexico
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Could they ask this question in any other form?
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Don't remember...
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Sure
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Ham
5.DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Nope
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I would certainly hope so...but I can see how I would drive myself a wee bit nutty
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Who me?
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Nope
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No no and another no. I have no fear of being called a ninny in this situation.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Life
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Ben and Jerry's mint chocolate cookie
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Smile
15. RED OR PINK? Couldn't care less
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU? lack of motivation during those rare moments of down time
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST ? friends
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? kind of a mute point considering the fashion in which I'm completing it. But it would be cool if I learned that others thought this was such an neat, original, fantastically desirable way of completing a survey that it ended up on other blogs (because I'm sure NO ONE has ever done this on their blog before...)
19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I wore brown to work, but I have my black slippers on under my desk! :-)
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? oatmeal
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Christmas music
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? probably orange...why...no idea
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? desert rain, lillies, any many others that would occur to me if I were smelling them right now
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? co-worker
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? postively!
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? football
27. HAIR COLOR? blonde
28. EYE COLOR? blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? yes
30. FAVORITE FOOD? really anything
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? not necessarily happy endings, but no scary movies
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? does 24 Redemption count? If not, Quantum Solice
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? brown
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? fall, winter or spring
35. HUGS OR KISSES? both please
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? creme brulee
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? refer to #18
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? refer to #18 and #38
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? a text book...but no fear, I am picking up Marlee and Me tonight...38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? refer to #18 and #38
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? just the lone critter
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Redemption 24, Dancing with the Stars, and Chuck
42. FAVORITE SOUND? laughter
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Europe
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? probably a couple...
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? LA...New Mexico
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Could they ask this question in any other form?
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