Adventures in Blueberries, part 1.

The title makes it sound much more exciting than it really is.

Noah bought a carton of blueberries on Sunday. Tonight I noticed that a few on the bottom were looking bad so I said to myself that we (translation: Google and I) would create a dessert for Noah. I have made apple crumble quite a few times in the Fall so I decided to use blueberries. I am not a great big fan of all things blueberry (or raspberry for that matter), but Noah gushes over the little blue gems. And I’m open enough to trying new things so I decided Meh? Why not?

Not a Resolution

I am not one for the grand New Year’s Resolution. I have never been one for making them and they feel trivial to me. If I need to make a commitment or a change, then I should be able to make one no matter what time of the year it is. However; I am going to make a commitment. Not a resolution, in the traditional sense, but commitment. 

I want to reach my goal weight by my 25th birthday. I need to realize that this goal is possible, but that it is a marathon; not a sprint. My body shape and weight is not going to take place overnight or over the course of a few weeks. It will take hard work and discipline, but I am going to do this. 

And the Fitness board on pinterest.com has been great motivation so far. 

I’ve not quite lost 20 pounds since I started in September, but I know that I am losing pounds and interests…little at a time. I’ve got the measurements, I’ve got the scales, and I’ve got the tools. I just need to stop reaching for the cookies whenever I get upset or bored. It’s something I’ve been guilty of for a while.

As far as eating out goes, things are improving. I’ve been out a few times for work and date nights, but the number has been drastically reduced and I have almost completely stopped eating at fast food restaurants (maybe one trip to DQ in the past month?)… I’m doing this  

Wish me luck. I’ll keep you updated. 

Challenge Update

My last post was on November 10, 2011 and I wanted to give an update on my progress.

Since the challenge started I have had 2 breakfasts from McDonald’s; one meal at Dairy Queen; one meal at Monical’s (each with Noah); and one trip to El Cactus with Noah and friends. So…not a perfect streak, but definitely progress. I am packing my lunch and finding ways to be creative with leftovers.

I’ve got one month left in the year. I want a majority of the next 91 meals (that’s 3 meals a day for 31 days) to be homemade (or pre-packaged if absolutely necessary!). Can we do it? Yes, we can!

My New Challenge

I eat out a lot. It is so easy to pull into a Subway or drive-thru at a Dairy Queen and grab a quick bite of lunch while traveling from school to school.

Well, my friends, NO more!

I am challenging myself to pack my lunch every work day between now and 2012. I need to save money and cut back on calories. I believe this challenge will help me achieve these goals.

 

So…if you have any good “brown bagging” tips or recipes, please let me know!

 

Apple Crumble Preview

I’ve just put the finishing touches on an apple crumble and I’m now waiting for the oven to heat so that it can go into the oven. Noah helped by cutting the apples and adding a few touches to the finished product. I used Jamie Oliver’s crumble recipe and added nutmeg and cinnamon to complete this recipe.

Turbo Fire Journey (Week 3)

I’m just finishing up my third week of the Turbo Fire workout program and I feel great. I am starting to notice a difference in the way I look and feel. As an added bonus, certain items of clothing are starting to loosen up and it’s a great motivator to continue on.

Goodnight, Sleep Tight, and Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite…

Imagine moving into a new place — the cost of moving, the stress of living from boxes, getting used to the neighborhood, and the time it takes getting used to the surroundings. It can be stressful. But how stressful is this process? Is it enough to make a stable, level-headed person crack under the pressure?

In Ben H. Winters’ (author of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters) latest novel, Bedbugs, from Quirkbooks, Alex and Susan Wendt decide to leave their small one-bedroom apartment and move their family into a larger home in Brooklyn.  If you’re a homeowner or you’ve moved to a new town and needed an apartment to rent, you know the stress of finding “THE ONE” (see my previous posts about home ownership if you have no clue about this experience….).

My Review of Cold Shoulder Peacock Print Top

Originally submitted at Maurices

This cool top has an almost bare, embellished strap shoulder. The dolman sleeve, ruched bottom look is feminine. A peacock print has sparkly silver foiling. Product of USA.

Cold Shoulder Peacock Print Top

Gorgeous and comfortable!

By Audra.astarrynight from Olney, IL on 8/8/2011

 

5out of 5

Sizing: Feels true to size

Pros: Comfortable, Figure Flattering

Best Uses: Date Night/Night Out

Describe Yourself: Trendy/Stylish Dresser

Comfort vs Style: Style Driven

Was this a gift?: No

I love this top! I am in to the one-shoulder look and this is perfect. It’s a combination of figure-flattering, comfy, and stylish. I feel very classy when I go out in this shirt.

(legalese)

A Very ‘Peculiar’ Book Review

A few weeks ago I discovered that my mail was being held at the Post Office. Silly postal service did not get the memo that we had moved. But that’s another story. What matters here is that when I did get my large pile of bills, change of address notices, travel voucher checks, etc. I discovered that I had received my copy of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children had arrived from Quirk Books!

I wish I could say I dug right in and finished the book in a day, but I can’t.  Things have been crazy/busy, so it took some time to dive in. And once I did, I could hardly put this book down. Here’s why:

Notice anything peculiar about the girl in this picture?

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (by Ransom Riggs) is the story of Jacob and his grandfather, Abraham. Like most grandfathers, Jacob’s told stories. These stories were of a particularly bizarre nature. There was the story of a home that orphaned children escaped to during The War (WWII) for protection. This home was a haven for victims of the Holocaust and bombings that had torn their homes — and families — apart.  The children that live in this home, according to Abe, had special gifts. There were siblings who could lift heavy objects with ease, a girl who could hold fire in her hands, a boy with bees living inside of him, and an invisible boy. Not your normal orphan spread. All of these special children lived under the supervision and care of Miss Peregrine, or “The Bird.”

Home Sweet Home?

Hubz and I are officially moved in to our first home. We have been for a few weeks, but with the work we have been putting in to everything, there hasn’t been much time to update this blog (because let’s face it — I’m horrible at updating it when I’m not busy, a fact that I think annoys the FarmWife something fierce…).  Well, I’m here now and ready to tell you, dear reader, about my new home.