Sunshine makes me happy

I'm so glad it's going to be another beautiful day!
I went to the gym last night with Jan. Got in a good full body workout and 30 minutes of cardio. I really needed it since  had taken 2 days off. Ahhh, I feel so much better. I think Teagan and I might go take a walk around the neighborhood before lunch.

The Jehovah's Witness people came by, AGAIN. She is such a sweet old lady. I don't mind her " educating" me with her literature. I just don't want to chit-chat for an hour. So anyway, she left me some more reading materials. I may read some of the myths about Jesus...that sounds interesting to me.

Oh, and I was thinking about discontinuing our Netflix subscription. I have had a movie for over a week and still haven't watched it. I did the same thing with the last one.I actually sent the last one back without watching it. I can think of better things to do with the money. 

Bistro Salmon

2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
4 salmon fillets
1/2 cup onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 cup chopped zucchini
1/4 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup red pepper, diced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 cup diced tomato
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 cup chopped spinach
salt and pepper to taste

Heat half the oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Cook fish fillets on both sides, remove from pan, and keep warm. Add remaining oil, heat, and then add onion, garlic, zucchini, celery, bell pepper, and oregano and saute 2 minutes. Stir in tomato and rosemary; cook an additional 2 minutes. Stir in spinach and salt/pepper; cook 1 minute until spinach wilts. Top fish with this mixture and serve.

Per serving
268 calories; 12g fat; 32g protein; 8g carbohydrate; 2g dietary fiber; 81mg cholesterol; 154mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 grain; 4 lean meat; 1 veggie; 2 fat.

Serving suggestion: Sauteed green beans and oven roasted garlicky turnips. (peel and quarter, toss in olive oil, sprinkle with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bake  at 425  for 10 minutes, turn, and bake another 10 minutes. until fork tender)

Broiled Greek Shrimp

 

1 Tbsp olive oil

5 garlic cloves, pressed

1 14 1/2oz can diced tomatoes, drained1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley, divided

1 lbs large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 cup crumbled Feta cheese

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

Preheat broiler.

In a skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and half the parsley. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes. Add shrimp and cook for 5 minutes. Pour mixture into a broiler-proof baking dish and sprinkle with Feta cheese. Broil till nicely melted and slightly brown on top. Watch as it broils. It takes only a second!

Before serving, sprinkle with parsley, lemon juice, and pepper.

Per serving

400 calories; 15g total fat; 53g protein; 1g dietary; 11gcarbohydrate; 378mg cholesterol; 917mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 grain; 7 lean meat; 1 veggies; 1 fruit; 2 fat.

Serving suggestions: Serve on a bed of baked spaghetti squash with a big green salad.

Bowling and boobies

I went over and talk to the new neighbors! They have 2 boys, one a year younger and one a year older than Rylan. So he is excited to have new friends.

Met Heather, Barbara and her friend Jimmy at stars and strike Saturday night. Had so much fun drank way too much. Played some serious guitar hero, air hockey and a couple games of bowling. Thanks Heather for making sure I made it home alive.

I had my consultation at Vinnings today. Their prices are amazing!! Definitely going to The Swan Center though. I faxed my pricing to Emily. She said they would price match. So excited. $3000 is such a deal. Now I just have to decide what size to get. I'm thinking about 570cc. I'm afraid it might be too big but I think I would regret going any smaller.

Now I'm waiting for Rylan to get out of school and we are driving down to Dallas. Going to pick up a tiller. We really plan on doing a serious garden this year!!

Watching from the window

It's only been a day but I feel like I've done so much. Met up with some people at Taco Mac in Alpharetta last night. Had a very interesting Harpoon beer that tasted link ginger...(mental note: don't order that one again)...Had a super yummy shrimp, avocado, jalapeno, feta salad with an oil and vinaigrette dressing.  Then had to drive to Dawsonville to get the kids from Mom's. By the time we got home it was midnight...so, no gym for me )-:

Woke up this morning at 7:30, which is WAY early for me. Went in to work for the garage party event. Ate 6 chicken minis (yes, 6!). Then back home to get Rylan and Teagan to go to football signups. Shawn cut grass and did edging. While he did that I took Rylan to baseball pictures. They told us to be there 15 minute early. They were running at least 30 minutes behind. I felt like I was there FOREVER. Teagan played tag with the baseball team...she thought she was something special.

Came back home...while Shawn was finishing up on the yard I started spraying round up. We discussed our gardening plans for this year. I think we might expand it. Add a little more than tomatoes and garlic. Maybe some okra, cucumbers, squash, eggplant...and maybe an herb garden on the deck.

Oh...The house across the street from us has been for sale since November 2008. I always watch from my living room window. Lots of lookers. Over the last year and a half... Several a day.  I had noticed that there had been the same cars coming and going a lot lately. I kept hoping it was sold. But the for sale sign was still in the yard. I had convinced myself that they must be doing repairs on the house. It was a foreclosure so it needed some love. But to my GREAT surprise the sign was finally gone yesterday!!! Hooray! I'm not sure exactly which people are moving and and which are there to just help. There looks to be several kids. That makes me happy.

After the makeup

So, traffic wasn't bad on the way to the "Girls Night Out" event. I had a wonderful time. I'm so glad that A met me. That had tons of food...Cheeses, breads, olives, fruit, veggies, spinach dips, crab cakes, spinach/goat cheese bread bites, The Melting Pot,  cupcakes, gelato, wine (including chocolate wine!), Grey Goose, Finish Line,  Stella Artois and I'm sure I'm forgetting some. They had some amazing vendors there as well. Free massages, makeup by Dior, spray tans, eyebrow sculpting. You could also purchase the makeup, spray tan memberships, Bellissimo jewelry, Kate Spade, Macy's had a clothing line. Botox and injectables demonstrations. Jezebel Magazine was there. The list goes on and on. It was such a fun filled night. I feel a little guilty spending $90 on the Dior makeup. I bought foundation and mascara... I think I'll go to ULTA online after I'm done typing this to price shop....
Oh yeah..I also won the iPod from the "fan photo" competition. I'm loving it. I got the Classic model which retails for $250... I don't know that much about ipods but i think it's a good one. I'm still trying to figure out how to set it up. They include a quick start manual. But I need the full "ipod for dummies" version. I'm going to have to google it I guess. 

Before the makeup.

Woke up and ate an egg, and cheese toast. I found this amazing bread called "healthy Life". The whole nutrition label is wonderful...top to bottom... AND it taste great.
Went to the gym ran 2 miles laid in the tanning bed for 10 minutes...came home...Teagan took a nap and I put dinner in the crock-pot -Crock Jambalaya. I'll post the recipe later if it turns out ok. I ate a serving of the No-Bake protein bars and a cup of milk. Went to the gym again and ran another mile. Then did weights. I did full body. My butt cheeks are feeling it. I really wish I could get my delts to pop. OH WELL... Lounged in the tub for an hour and read my fitness Bible, Oxygen Magazine. Updating my blog while I'm whiting my teeth. About to have to get ready for Girls Night Out at the Swan Center tonight. I'm excited!! Should be fun. Jan is coming after work and hopefully A. can come since it is her birthday today (HAPPY BIRTHDAY A!!) Alright, update you guys tomorrow...Maybe with some pics.

Today

I had a wonderful night of sleep! This was the first night Teagan slept through the night. She slept from 11pm-9am. She has been weaned for a month but had been waking up twice during the night to get up and go potty. This full night of sleep business looks to be a beautiful thing.

Today was an amazing spring day...75 degrees and sunny. Teagan and I layed outside in the sun I painted her nails and we ate strawberries. Afterward we took a small nap in the yard.

Cleaned up, made dinner...we had turkey picadillo (recipe below). Then I went and had my nails done. The nail salon was slammed. By the time I got done it was 8:50pm. So looks like no gym tonight. It would take at least 2 hours for my toes to be dry enough to put on tennis shoes. And today was cardio day. I guess I'll be running and doing weights tomorrow.

Turkey Piccadillo

1 pound ground turkey
1Tbs olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, pressed
1/2 small red bell pepper
1/2 small carrot, finely chopped
1/4 c white wine, optional
1 Tbs balsamic vinegar
1/2 bay leaf
salt/pepper to taste
1 14 1/2 oz can stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 4 oz can tomatoes sauce

Brown turkey, drain. Remove from pan and set aside. Add oil to pan. Add onion & garlic, cook about 2 minutes. Add bell pepper & carrot, cook 2 more minutes. Add back turkey, then stir in reaming ingredients. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 15 minutes. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Per serving
363 calories; 23g fat; 23g protein; 13g carbs; 3g dietary fiber; 78mg cholesterol; 467mg sodium. Exchanges: 3 lean meat; 2 1/2 veggies; 2 1/2 fat

Serving suggestion:
Serve over Mashed Cauliflower and add steamed Brussels sprouts and sauteed mushrooms.

Mexican Chicken Skillet

Serves 4
1 Tbs olive oil
8 chicken breast tenders
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 c green bell pepper
1/2 c red bell pepper
1 onion, sliced thinly
1/2 c frozen whole kernel corn
1 c salsa

In skillet, heat oil over med-high. Add chicken and stir-fry. Stir in 3 spices.. Remove chicken. Set aside.

Stir-fry peppers & onion.

Return chicken to pan and stir in corn and salsa. Thoroughly heat.

Per serving
347 calories; 17g total fat; 36g protein; 3g dietary fiber; 13g carbs; 100mg cholesterol; 380mg sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 starch; 5 lean meat; 1 1/2 veggie; 1 fat

No-Bake Protein Bars

Serves 8

2 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
4 scoops protein powder (chocolate, vanilla, or cookies'n'cream
1 Tbs ground Flaxseed
1/2 cup water

Knead all together. Line baking dish with wax paper. Spread dough in pan. Spread a thin layer of PB on top. freeze for 30 minutes. Remove from freezer and cut into bars.

Nutrients per serving: Calories 230; total fat 10g; sat fat 2g; trans fat 0; cholesterol 15mg; sodium 20mg; total carbs 21g; dietary fiber 4g; sugars 3g; protein 15g; iron 2mg

DIVORCE AGREEMENT

DIVORCE AGREEMENT


American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists and Obama supporters, et al:

We have stuck together since the late 1950's, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce.... I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course.
Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.
Here is a model separation agreement:
Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.

We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU. Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military.
You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell (You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them).
We'll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot
Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood..

You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us.. You can have the peaceniks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are
under assault, we'll help provide them security.
We'll keep our Judeo-Christian values.. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N.. but we will no longer be paying the bill.

We'll keep the SUVs, pickup trucks and over sized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find.

You can give everyone health-care if you can find any practicing doctors. We'll continue to believe health-care is a luxury and not a
right. We'll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the National Anthem. I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute Imagine, I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, Kum Ba Ya or We Are the World.
We'll practice trickle down economics and you can give trickle up poverty your best shot. Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our history, our name and our flag.
Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you Answer which one of us will need whose help in 15 years.

Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Law Student and an American

P.S. Also, please take Ted Turner, Sean Penn, Martin Sheen, Barbara Streisand, & Jane Fonda with you..
P. S. S. And we won't have to press 1 for English.

Low-carb Italian Wedding Soup

I actually used the whole pack of sausage and the whole bunch of kale so I added a little extra broth and seasoning. Here is the recipe... serves 4.

1/2 lb italian sausage, casing removed (I used mild)
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 cups kale, chopped
1 14oz can of chicken broth
2 zucchini, chopped
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp salt
Dash crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

In soup pot brown sausage, over med-high heat. Stir in onion and garlic; cook until soft. Add kale and cook another 3 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients; bring to boil then lower heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Soup should be quite thick.

per serving:
359 calories; 19g fat; 17d protein; 11g carb; 6g dietary fiber; 43 mg cholesterol; 1562mg sodium. Exchanges: 1 grain/starch; 1 1/2 lean meat; 2 vegetable; 3 fat.
Serving suggestions: Big salad and top w/ ramano cheese

Lets see how it goes...

Well, I thought I'd give this blogging stuff a try. As you can see from the title...it is going to be a little of this and a little of that. Probably me venting, my goals, my accomplishments, partially a fitness journal, a recipe book -and all that falls in between.