Peter Piper picked...

Since moving into my new place, Sundays have pretty much been reserved for laundry, getting my work outfits planned, making meals and trying to catch up on anything I may have missed doing during the week.  My most favorite part about the day is spending time in my bigger kitchen creating my homemade breakfasts, lunches and/or dinners for the week ahead.  Besides being a big time planner, doing this saves me a lot of time during the week since I am working more hours and saves me from spending too much money going out every day, plus let's just face it, I love experimenting and creating culinary masterpieces (ok, probably not, but I have made some noteworthy meals) now that I have room to move in this kitchen.

While we were working out today, KP and I were talking about this past weekend and since we both have a love of cooking we both mentioned our adventures in the kitchen.  I told her about the pizza stuff green peppers I made for dinner this week and she told me about the steak fajita dinner she made for her mom's birthday.  Besides being an awesome friend, KP also tries to make mostly healthy meals and we compare notes on different techniques or recipes.  I ooohhed and aaahhed over her dinner and she was eager to try my take on stuffed green peppers. 

What's a girl to do when someone wants to try your culinary creation?  Why of course you pack a pepper for her to enjoy!  I'm excited that she asked me to bring in a sample and even more antsy to hear about what she thinks.  It's nothing extraordinary, but they are hearty and quite delicious and packed with lots of veggies.  This may be just what I needed when I said I should start cooking for the work group.  It may be even more apparent now that we started our "Gettin' Fit Challenge." 

Hmm, I may need to keep working on that!

I'm no food stylist or photographer and they don't look as pretty from my phone's camera, but I can attest these peppers are yummy!

Early bird catches the....

Election day is right around the corner and while I'm not the most political person, I do still try to vote in all the major elections.  Up until a few days ago I was wondering how I was going to be able to vote this year considering I leave for the gym and then work at 4:30 am and the polls don't open until 6 am here and usually I never make it home in enough time in order to hit the polling place after work.  However, with living on the other side of the river for this election, this great state gives its residents the ability to participate in Early Bird Voting starting earlier this week.  I had to make a trip to Village Hall this morning to drop off my utility payment and decided why not get my civic duty out of the way so I don't have to worry about switching around my schedule on Election Day.  Let me tell you, it worked perfectly, no hiccups and I was in and out of there within minutes.  (Of course, since I try to be the model of efficiency and time effectiveness, I studied and researched my specimen ballot last week...remember?)

Now, I just wish I could stop all of the political bulk mailings that are clogging my tiny mailbox and the slanderous tv ads.....ugh, annoying!

This week's randomness

Ok so let's not talk about how my Cardinals completely flubbed up the last 3 games of the NLCS series and looked like they started their winter vacation early after Thursday's game.  Or the fact that during last night's game I was so uninterested in baseball that I actually researched all of my officials for the upcoming election and tried to decipher the specimen ballot sent to me by the county.  (True story!)

Let's talk about something much more exciting, shall we?
Who am I kidding....there is not much excitement going on right now.  But I can give you a rundown of some of the normal stuff going on.
The girls and I have been formulating a workout plan for our lunch-time gym sessions.  Last Wednesday we were weighed in and our measurements were taken along with getting all of our membership "stuff" taken care of.  I started showing the girls some simple workouts for toning and getting into shape also.  KP and I worked on lunges and squats our second day (Thursday) and then KP couldn't walk without being sore until yesterday (Monday...whoops!).  On the other hand, squats and lunges are great exercises to get your legs in shape (and KP would agree).  Yesterday we worked arms, back and shoulders and had a little bit better luck with me not hurting her.
Our goal through the holidays is to get in 3-4 days of working out at lunch and then 1 day off, typically for Friday work family lunch.  For me, this is perfect paired with my morning sessions.  Well, maybe not this week considering I had a half day today and Friday is fall potluck day.  (Eeeeek!)  But I'm pumped to join the girls for tomorrow's workout....and we're still trying to convince the boys it is ok to workout with us every now and again.

As for today's half day, it really wasn't for anything fun  I had a doctor's appointment this afternoon and was going to ask off a bit early as it was.  My boss, knowing how much I've been working to get everything in order with my two companies over the last few months, insisted I leave at noon today.  It was a "thank you for your dedication" half day.  (I like those kinda days!)  I did get to stop in at Kohl's before my appointment and pick up a few things.  The rest of the afternoon I prepped (for my Food Network friends, mise en place) for my potluck dishes I need to make for Friday.  It was nice to have a few extra hours free and it was really good to get back into the kitchen and go crazy with the amount of food I prepped.  This cooking for just me has proven most difficult lately.  I'm still cooking for a family of 4 and then eating the same thing all week long because I don't want it to go to waste and I'm running out of freezer space (mental note to self: start cooking less of a dish!).  I'm starting to think I should just cook lunch for my group one day a week just to satisfy my need to be in the kitchen.  (hmm....another mental note, that is if I could get them to agree on the weekly meal idea!)

Other than that, it's been pretty much the same here.
Oh and in case you're wondering, I'm rooting for Detroit in the World Series.  Why you may ask?  Well D. Rob is originally from Michigan and an avid fan of all Detroit teams and since I still need his help on a daily basis for nearly all things involving logistics at work, I felt it was best to root for the Tigers.  Good reasoning, right?!?

Intrigued by an infomercial

I have to admit, I was intrigued by the infomercial one morning during my weekend warrior workout.  So much so that I did some research, got a few friends to like the Facebook page and got a 50% off coupon to try out this creative invention.  Last week I finally made my purchase and have anxiously been awaiting its delivery.  Finally last night my package showed up at home!  Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting this device to work miracles, but after losing 80 lbs and making huge strides in working my core during nearly every single workout, I do need a little bit of assistance to get the last little bit of toning and firming for my mid-section complete.  It just comes with the territory of spending a good portion of my life over-weight, however I'm not accepting the fact that I can't do anything about it.

The newest addition to my fitness and healthiness journey:

Source

It's been charging as instructed for the last 24 hours and tonight for the first time, I'm trying out this bad boy!  Think I can eventually look like one of the spokesmodels?!?  jk!!

Just speaking the truth

Found this in my Facebook feed earlier tonight and I had to giggle.  I probably do have to agree with this card, I'm more in love with the post-season play of my home team than the political circus right now.  This afternoon I was offered a ticket to the game.  The only reason why I politely declined was due to the fact that it was supposed to be less than ideal weather-wise at game time and I didn't want to be sitting in the GREEN seats (the expensive, catered 12 rows behind home plate) when the storms came through.  Yes, I'm dedicated to my team but STL storms scare the bejeesus out of me.  As luck would have it, much of the game has been played before the rain started.  And 3 hours later, I'm waiting for the last few innings to be called or the game to restart.  Yep, I'm glad I came home.  There are two more games here this week...maybe I'll luck into another ticket.

In any case, I'm excitedly rooting on my Cards!!  Let's go Birds!!!

Gettin' fit with the work fam

I've been religiously working out for nearly 4 years now.  When I lived in my apartment, I was only 7 minutes away from the gym and I was only about 3 minutes away when I worked at my two previous employers.  Those facts alone made it much easier to get my butt into the gym nearly every single day.  I learned to love working out and when life (or work) became too stressful, the gym became my haven (seriously there were some weeks I logged 15, 16, 17 hours there).  With the new job and having a 30 minute commute, I've lost out on some time I used to spend working out.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still at my new gym at 5 am every morning but I only get an hour long workout Monday thru Friday and then I try to make up some of the lost time with my 3 hour weekend warrior workouts each Saturday and Sunday.  Right now it works, but some weeks I really wish I was able to pick up a bit more time just for the heck of it but again, there are other priorities besides being a gym rat.

Last week my company offered free gym memberships for all employees if we wanted to workout at the facility located on another floor of our skyscraper building.  My entire group jumped at this opportunity.  For me its a chance to pick up some extra gym time I've been craving.  For KP its about getting into stellar shape for her wedding next year, B. Dilly just wants to start making good (healthy) choices and the boys are realizing they aren't quite a young any more and can't eat and drink like they did when they were in their early 20s, so starting tomorrow this group is beginning on our lunchtime fitness journey.  I've got my gym bag ready and an idea of what my morning and lunchtime workout plans will be and its time for me to show my group how dedicated I am to staying healthy.  I'm super pumped! 

Now if we can just convince the boys to take Zumba with us on Friday....

Defeating the odds

I can not believe what I just watched....

Source: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

 Welcome to the NLCS STL Cardinals!!!

So superly crazy but that seems to be how this team plays.  Largest comeback win?  Of course, that's what makes these wins so sweet!  Last year I jumped on the Allen Craig fan bandwagon.  This year it just might be Daniel Descalso or Pete Kozma.  (For now at least!)

Way to go Birds!!!!

I'll have an another exciting update when I'm not 100% tired and nerve-wracked from watching a baseball game.

Turn on the light

For Father's Day, I found my Dad one of the greatest gifts ever (his words not mine).

We had a home-made one of these at home and when my parents divorced Dad left it.  He always talked about what a cool gadget it was and how he wished he had either taken it with him or had my Grandpa make him another one.  When Father's Day rolled around, I'd seen these advertised online and thought it would be a perfect surprise for Dad.  Indeed it was and he still talks about my awesome find even months later.

Now I'm left with topping the perfect gift as Dad's birthday is next Wednesday and let me tell you, I'm stumped.  My Dad is non-materialistic and a simple, minimalist kind of guy.  Of course, I'm planning on making him dinner and a pumpkin cheesecake but I also wanted to buy him something he wanted and/or needed.  Dad never asks for much, so this is proving way more difficult that I had hoped.

I sent a text to my Bro this afternoon and asked if he knew of something to get for Dad.
His response....No idea.

Big help Bro, big help.  I've got a couple more days to shop and come up with something but after month-end on Monday and a super busy week in general, my brain is mush.  I'm hoping the lightbulb in my head decides to flip on soon.