Hat Card!!

Here's a card that is sure to make my mother's day.

It's a Fashion Hat card. The design is from Valita's website. I debated putting a small phrase on the front, but I really like just the hat. It took a while, but most of that was picking out colors. I have issues with that sometimes. I've discovered I really only have two colors of pink paper. Lite and bright. I need to get more pink because I make a lot of cards with pink in them. I've never been a girl that likes pink, except in my cards, then I can't get enough pink.

Congratulations Wales!!!

It was a weekend of maintenance and cardmaking. I cleaned up my bookshelf in the kitchen and organized my recipes into a nice binder. Then I made a bunch of cards while catching up in the 6 Nations Rugby games.

Wales had already defeated Ireland and Scotland earlier this year. And today I watched them go on to defeat England 19-12 to win the Triple Crown. Wales is just two matches away (Italy & France) of winning the Grand Slam.

In the meantime, I was inspired to make a card in Wales' colors (red & white) while watching the game.

I also made some birthday cards that I'd been dying to do.

I made some cards using the "happy" quote stamp set I have. I love the card on the left, and hate the card on the right. It didn't come out the way I envisioned in my mind.

And finally --- I shouldn't be posting this, but I just gotta!!! Below are the cards I made for the next swap in March.

The challenge I gave the group was to do a One Sheet Wonder (OSW). It's when you take one sheet of paper and cut it up, using all of the pieces to make an array of cards. I downloaded a template from online and used a dual-sided piece of paper. The multi-colored pattern is on one side and the purple design is on the other.

At first I was hating it and wished I hadn't posted this challenge, but when I got done I loved it!!! I struggled to start it, but once I got the idea of making five different designs and just doing it in both colors by flipping the paper, it was a breeze. The only big mistake I made was on the "Wonderful You" cards I accidently forgot to turn the paper over on one of the cards so they are both the multi-colored design. But that's trivial since they're both quite nice still.

Stampin' Up Workshop & Card Swaps

Stacey had a Stampin' Up Workshop at her house on the 18th and I'm just getting around to posting the pics from it. Well, the cards from it. Someday I should take a pic of all my card friends, but for now we'll just show you the cards.

Our card swap is getting larger as we drag more people into our circle of Stampin' Up fanatics. We like to share this hobby because it's fun! It doesn't take a long time to make a beautiful card that's better than what you can buy in the store.

This time around we had 8 people in the swap!

These are Jessica's cards. She used the Simply Sent Kit and embellished the cards a little more. She used two different DSP papers - one feminine and one masculine.

These are Judy's cards. She hand-cut out all the circles and made them all with different papers. Very cute!

These are Shirley and Teresa's cards. Shirley's card uses almost exclusively products from the Occasions Mini catalog. Teresa did watercoloring on hers!

These are Stacey and Karen's cards. Stacey's is clean and neat and just lovely! Karen is a newbie to the swap and kudos for originality with the flower. And she colored the basket! Very impressive for a first timer!!

And finally mine. I made the one on the left first, but when it became obvious that Drew wasn't going to make his I made the one on the right for him. The left card is almost all the stuff from the Occasions Mini. The one on the right uses Nestabilities oval and scalloped oval sets to make the "portrait".

At the workshop, Jessica showed us how to make these cards:

I made the ones on the left almost precisely as taught, and as usual, Drew did his variation on a theme. Super pretty cards!!

The next workshop is at Judy's house in March. Next time there will be 10 of us in the swap!! Newbies Christie and Terrie will be trying their hand out at making cards!! Good luck ladies!

Friday: The Work-Week's Happy Ending

Well, I did it. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't particularly inspiring. It wasn't a tribute to any kind of higher athleticism. But I did it.

A half-mile jogging on the treadmill this morning.

I did it in 3 stints: walk, 0.20 mile jog, walk, 0.10 mile jog, walk, 0.20 mile jog, pray for death.

Then I showered and made breakfast. Fiber Now Cereal w/2% milk, English muffin with 1 egg and a wedge of Laughing Cow Low-Fat Chipolte cheese. (I love that cheese. It's the best flavor you can get for 35 calories. And if anyone tells me anything bad about it, I'll murder you with an immersion blender.)

I am full. Very, very full. I'm awake though. And kind of amazed I did all this this morning. Let's see if we keep it up. (Stop laughing. I can do this.)

And here's something else I learned this morning...no matter how early I get up, Drew will be in the shower when I get off the treadmill. I'm pretty sure if I got on the treadmill at 4 am, that Drew will be in the shower at 4:30 when I'm done. HA!

An Update for My Health-Conscious Homies

Just a little update for my buddies who are working out and eating healthy, so if you were expecting cards or cats or a story about how Drew electrocuted himself trying to re-wire the kitchen, just move along!

(FYI - Drew didn't electrocute himself because he hasn't re-wired the kitchen yet. At this point you can't run two things at the same time or you blow a fuse.) (Yeah, Drew! I know! It's breakers, not fuses! It's just an expression! Geez!)

I'm back on the treadmill full-time and not just a couple days a week. We're talking 5-6 mornings a week. I'm up to 0.30 mile jogging. I do it in three 0.10 stints. I have no idea if that's a good idea or what, but it's more than I usually do so it can't be bad. And this morning I feel fantastic!

(As my co-workers have painfully discovered. I'm pretty sure no one likes a happy co-worker who is trying to improve their lives and visibly enjoys doing so.)

When I get to a half mile, I might throw a party. Really. That's my goal for the month.

My eating hasn't been good. I mean, it's not what it used to be, but I have been absolutely terrible on a few occasions. I'm not beating myself up about it. Just being honest. And I know you're allowed your "eff it" days, but I've had more than my share in the past couple weeks. I'm good for breakfast and lunch. It's dinner where I go gonzo occasionally.

Jason's blog today has got me rethinking my breakfast options. Currently I'm following the "protein bar and yogurt on the go" plan. It works well for me. I bring them to work and eat them at my desk. Anything else is like a chore.

The bar and yogurt fill me and I really enjoy them. I do have to have some kind of snack mid-morning or I'm a raging byotch by lunch. It's usually a cheesestick and a 100 calorie pack of cookies. I have no idea if the cookies are healthy, but I love them! I refuse to eat things I don't like or I merely tolerate. If I'm gonna do this the rest of my life, I have to enjoy it.

I think it's time that I sat down and evaluate everything I eat. Figure out the complete nutritional value. So far I've just been watching the calorie count and eating smaller portions and avoiding junk I know I shouldn't eat. It's a good plan. But I want to go further with it. I may have to look for some alternatives and move some things around. Seriously consider doing what I've been avoiding for all of my life...

Get up early enough to make and eat a healthy breakfast with the desired nutritional value.

Ugh. Wish me luck.

Each morning my alarm goes off at 6:10. If it's a good day, I get up at 6:25 and get on the treadmill. If it's a lazy day, I don't. Last week was pretty much a lazy week.

I'm the type of person that needs motivation 24/7 or I won't keep going. Surprisingly enough the idea of losing weight, becoming fit and feeling better doesn't always do it. I think it's because the change is so gradual. And it's supposed to be! But I need something else daily. This week that motivation comes from Afghanistan.

Below is a blog post from Pierce that convinced me that getting up at 6:25 to a 60-degree house and dodging cats to find my always-empty-and-ready-to-go treadmill shouldn't be such an ordeal. And so far on Friday, Saturday and this morning, it's motivated me to get up and go! (Sunday is my down-day.)

Training in Afghanistan - "How I start my day" Week 3

by strictlymotivated

430am... my clock keeps blinking blue and that beeping is not stopping. I roll over groping my way around in the dark to try to shut it off before it wakes my roommate up. I got it.... five more minutes.... oh I can't the clock is ticking now. I have to get to the cardio gym before five or else I will never get a treadmill. I know what your thinking, why not just run outside... Well its 19 degrees out and I hate running in the cold, dusty and polluted desert air.

So here we go, I try to sit up and not make noise in my ten by twenty-foot metal can I live in. We are packed in here tight like tunafish but at least its dry and warm. I try to find my sneakers and then grab my other pair because you can't use the treadmill unless you bring an extra pair of clean shoes. I put on my sweats and hoodie hoping it will be warm enough to make it to the gym. Oh, there is my reflector belt because I wouldn't want to get hit by a car on the way to the gym. Ok, I think that's everything.... iPod, watch, ID, room key, extra shoes, glow belt, ok let's go clock is ticking.

445am.. I step out into the cold and it's still dark. Hard to believe I am in Afghanistan, it's like it hits me every morning I step outside. The cold frigid air freezes me and I know I have to move quickly. I run down the catwalk, down the stairs in hopes I can hit the bathroom before I make it to the gym. Ok I have two minutes....

450am... oh I got to hurry if I don't make it there it will be full and I need to be out of there by 535am... ok let's jog.... man it is still super cold out, I can't feel my hands. It's dark out, I look around to make sure nothing suspicious is going on. A few army guys are out doing crossfit, the sailors are running around trying to stay warm. Oh well I'm making good time now...

455am... I made it, now I have to sign in. I look around 30 treadmills are all purring quietly, insanity in the back corner, cycling on the wall, elliptical machines are always full, oh look jump rope time... ahhh there's one left. I change my shoes quickly, boot up my iPod and run over to the treadmill before anyone else tries to take it.... ok I only have 30 minutes before the gym police comes around and kicks you off ..

503am.. not too bad. now it's time to get busy...

Theres no better time than to do your cardio than first thing in the morning. Kick start your metabolism, burn some fat and give yourself some energy to start the day. You don't have to conquer mountains every time. Consistency here is what eventually will produce results. The fact that your up early doing cardio is a huge step into maintaining your healthy lifestyle.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Today's recipe comes from Kraft Foods website. My mother sent me an email with a bunch of their slow cooker recipes in it.

I decided to try this one. Hugely successful!!!

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

1 lb. beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes

10 oz fresh mushrooms, quartered

1 onion, chopped

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1-1/2 cup beef broth

2 tsp paprika

1 tsp salt

1 cup sour cream

2 heaping TBSP flour

1 TBSP honey mustard

2 TBSP parsley

egg noodles

Mix the meat, mushrooms, onion, garlic, broth, paprika, salt & paprika in the slow cooker. Cook on Low for 7-8 hours or on High for 5 hours.

After it's cooked, stir in the sour cream, flour, mustard and parsley. Cook at least an additional 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the noodles as directed on the package.

Serve the beef mix on the noodles.

I didn't have an onion, so I used 1/4 cup Tastefully Simple Onion Onion. 1 TBSP honey mustard is tangy. I suggest you start with 1/2 TBSP and add more if you think it needs it. We really liked the tanginess, but it kind freaked me out while it was cooking because I thought it was too much. And I don't think the mushrooms do much for this recipe. Next time I'm just throwing in canned mushrooms. It's cheaper and I can stock pile on those. Next time, I'm using lite sour cream. I used regular because that's what we had leftover from Drew's last Tastefully Simple party. I didn't want to waste it.

Because I didn't start the crockpot soon enough, I went for the 5 hours on High cooking technique. I was freaking out after 3 hours because the meat looked done, but it was chewy. I swore after 5 hours it would be tough, but I let it keep going, deciding to trust the recipe. Thank god I did!!! By the time 5 hours was up, the meat was falling apart! It was so amazing!!!

FYI - I don't know one beef cut from the next. I know steak from hamburger, and that's about it. (Alton Brown would be really disappointed in me.) So I got the packaged beef stew meat from Aldi's because that's exactly what the recipe calls for. It's already chopped up and everything. I thought it was expensive at the time at $4.49 per pound, but this recipe will last us 3 meals, easily. So it's really not that expensive after all.

Slow Cooker Ranch Pork Chops

Yes, I'm gonna talk about the slow cooker again!!!

I wanted to try a recipe that didn't call for diced tomatoes. I love them, but seems everything I've been making lately has them. So I made the below.

Slow Cooker Ranch Pork Chops

2-4 Aldi's pork chops, frozen

1 can Fit & Active Cream of Chicken Soup

1 package Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix

Mix the soup and dip in the crock pot. Throw in the pork chops. Stir to coat the pork chops. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Serve with mashed potatoes (made from a box so they are super-wicked thick) on which you can spoon up some of the soup/dip gravy, and a spinach salad (with mandarin oranges, cranberries and feta). Eat everything. Have a religious experience.

That might have been a little too detailed. But that's exactly what I did. I was afraid the pork chops (which were kinda small and thin --- 1/2 inch thick) would dry out. They didn't. When you cut them, they almost flaked like baked fish would. It was divine. Drew took one bite and said to me, "Buy more." I ovulated. It was just incredible.

A word of warning: My pork chop shrunk. A lot. Drew's didn't have much shrinkage. I would have made 4 pork chops, but we only had 2 in the freezer. And because my crock pot is on for 10 hours, I insist on the meat being frozen. I think it helps. I may be delusional in my beliefs, but it's working so who's to judge. (Well, everyone, really. This is the internet. That's what it's for. Anonymously judging people for their boring blather. Oh, and porn.)

This is only three ingredients and it's easily the best thing we've eaten yet. This recipe is a keeper!!!

Incidently, I found this recipe all over the internet, which is why I decided upon it. So no one gets credit. AHA!

Aldi's Fit & Active Protein Bar

My breakfast Monday thru Friday consists of a greek yogurt and a breakfast bar. I don't have time (and don't want to make time) to eat breakfast at home, so I just grab these and head off to work. I eat them at my desk throughout the morning.

My breakfast bar of choice is Aldi's Fit & Active Protein Bar.

It comes in two flavors - Double Chocolate and Chocolate Peanut Butter. I like the latter, but the Double Chocolate is my fave!!!

At $4.69 for 6 bars, it's a bargain. Most bars cost $2+ per bar.

It's 180 calories per bar with 5 grams fiber and 10 grams protein. As far as comparing those figures with other protein bars, it's a little low on the protein side but high on the fiber side. Actually, after googling protein bar comparisons, I'm not sure you can compare one to the other. They are all over the place with the values. I guess you just have to decide what you're looking for in your protein bar and find something in your budget that you don't hate.

It's for breakfast, so I prefer the higher fiber content. And they taste like a treat. I love these!!

If I ever get over to Walmart, I'll try Jason's suggestion : Life Choice, but until then, I'll stick to my Fit & Active.

Crock Pot Preppers

Stacey and I are big fans of Doomsday Preppers. It's a show on Nat Geo Tuesdays at 9 pm. It's about people who are preparing for the end of the world by stockpiling guns, food and water, charting out escape routes, and being really, really odd. Well, that seems to be the running trend on each show.

We like to watch it and rip on it. Some of these people are out there. Some just seem slightly paranoid. We have learned a lot of interesting things though! It's not without educational value. It's just not for us. We've already decided that if armageddon does come to Auburn, NY that we're going to either:

A. Get out a map and find the nearest prepper's house and ask for an autograph (and food and water and vodka).

B. Whore ourselves out for supplies.

C. Find a gun and off ourselves, because we don't really want to live in a post-apocalyptic world. It sounds like it sucks. Especially if it's populated entirely by preppers.

(Except maybe that family in New England that made their own cider. They seemed awful nice.)

I have to admit though...I have a little prepper in me. (I have a bug out bag, but it consists of items for a spontaneous weekend trip. Not exactly 72 hours of survival supplies. Unless you're trying to survive in a 2-star hotel because it does have a wine bottle opener!) My prepping lately has been canned goods.

I live in Auburn, NY and it tends to snow here. A lot. I don't expect to be hit with a snowstorm so bad that I'll be barricaded in my house until Dennis Quaid can rescue me. But there is always the possibility that we will get a massive snowfall overnight and the city will be shut down for a few days until we dig out. It's happened in the past. It's hardly apocalyptic, but I would like to know that if it does happen that I'll be able to eat a hearty meal from my trusty crock pot!

So tonight I stocked up on some crock pot staples. Supplies for my crock pot in the event of a food emergency.

Butter Beans, Chili Beans, Kidney Beans, Diced Tomatoes, Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes, Chili Style Diced Tomatoes, Taco Seasoning, Neufchatel Cheese, Beef Broth, Chicken Broth, Cream of Chicken Soup, Frozen Peas, Angel Hair Pasta, Spaghetti Sauce, Frozen Chicken Boobs...

I am obsessed with my crock pot. And I'm spreading my hellish love for slow cooking with all my friends. Jason is even now blogging about his experiments with the slow cooker! Feel the power of coming home to dinner!!!! Cross the threshold and Smell the glory of not having to cook!! June Cleaver is dead...say hello to your crock pot!

Ok. That got a little weird. But I don't think it's any weirder than hording condoms or learning how to make and shoot a bow so I can eat squirrel. And yet, that's what some people are doing. If they were serious about prepping for the end of the world, they'd get themselves spayed or neutered, and become a vegan. (It's far easier to hunt and trap root vegetables.)

Why even take the chance of getting preggers at all? Who would want to raise a child in a world where they can have no friends or play outside because they have to live in a bunker with ten other people and eat dried corn? I mean, what are you going to do when they hit puberty? Yeah, did you ever think of that??? (Now that I think about it, isn't that the plot of "The Hills Have Eyes"? Ew.) Solution: Chernobyl your womb. Then you don't have to waste space storing feminine hygiene products or Midol either.

Survival at the end of the world is starting to sound like everything now-a-days. Highly overrated. But at least if you have a crock pot, you have a party...and only one dish to clean. That is if you didn't waste all the water making ice for the whiskey sours.

Stay Tuned for our next Episode of Crock Pot Preppers!

Should I buy a generator to run the crock pot

in the event of a loss of electricity in an emergency.

(Yeah, that would kind of be important.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crock Pot Preppers: The Prequel

After yoga, Drew & I went to Aldi's for weekly grocery shopping. For my family in Tennessee and friends in Wales, Aldi's is a discount grocery store. They carry their own line of products at much cheaper prices. Sometimes they have name brand goods, usually for a limited time.

The store is much smaller than the huge chain stores, like Wegmans, Krogers, Publix, Food Lion, Summerfields and Tesco's. The entire store is the equivalent of maybe four aisles in those stores. But they still have just about everything we need. It's amazing how much stuff you can fit in a small store when you don't have to carry twenty brands of the same item. And I like it this way! I don't like making decisions. Comparing twenty labels and prices takes too much time. At Aldi's I can go, "I need ranch dressing," and I only have one place to look and one decision to make --- regular or lite. Because Aldi's does have a lite/healthy brand too called Fit & Active. And honestly, their stuff is pretty good!

Some people would snub their noses at Aldi's. "Discount food! Gross!" Those people have obviously never tried it. Not only have I liked just about everything I've gotten at Aldi's, some things I think are a million times better.

Pork chops. Best in the world. Always tasty and moist. Even after I freeze and thaw it. Just super yummy.

Bell peppers. I don't know how, but they have these huge yellow, orange and red bell peppers that last forever. It's amazing. If I didn't actually eat them, I'd think they were plastic. Sometimes they sit in my fridge a long time before they get used and they're always still good.

Cheese. String, sliced, crumbled, shredded, brick. Any kind. Awesome.

Canned goods. Soup, tomatoes, beans. AMAZING!!! In fact, they're so good I should get a whole bunch in case they run out...

And so it begins...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Absolutely not related to a crock pot in any way...

It was a long day. I woke up with terrible neck and back pain. I had a theory a couple nights ago about why and Drew's agreed to help me test it out. I always sleep on my left side. Always. And it's the left side that's broken. We're going to switch sides of the bed. Why switch sides? Because if I just roll over, then I'm breathing in Drew's face and vice versa. That sucks. So we're gonna switch sides so I can sleep on my right side with my big, fat buttocks still facing him. HaHa!

Late Entry!!!

I just finished this simple card.

I love it!!! Got the idea from Confessions of a Stamping Addict.

Sunday Cards

Yesterday was the benefit for my cousin Stacey and her husband Drew. They lost their house, all their possessions and four cats in a devastating fire. We helped sell tickets and collected donations for them. We went to the benefit and I was looking forward to seeing all the bands, but a couple hours into it I didn't feel very well. We left with the idea that we'd come back a little later. We never made it back. I ended being terrible sick and Drew is medicated for a sinus infection and he slept like the dead.

The good news is the benefit went well and we're both doing much better today. In fact, I'm doing so much better I haven't had any headaches or eye problems today. So I spent a lot of the day making cards!!!

I finished up a couple birthday cards that I'd started a while ago and never finished.

I made some more Fishies In Love cards...

And my big project of the day, two Hearts...

It's a dual-sided card. And it's too big for the normal sized envelopes we use. I don't think it's anything anyone will even want, but everyone will go, "Ooooooo! That's pretty!" I loved making it!

The idea for the card came from Connie Collins. And while mine is different from hers, I still give her credit for the idea because that's where I saw it first.

I also worked on some other projects that I've been tinkering with. Made some owls and little animals to go on some cards someday. And I made a card that I was commissioned to do for a co-worker's anniversary of Fishies In Love in her designated colors.

So the weekend wasn't half bad after all, and it's not done. I'm still making cards... :)

John R. Deal

My dad discovered Google Image search the other day and immediately set about looking for pics of himself and everyone else in the family. To his dismay, no pics of himself. I have no idea if this will end up in the Google Image search, but this is my attempt to get him there.

This is Mom and Dad (John R. Deal) at Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, waiting for the 2008 Heineken Cup Final to start. Shortly after this photo was taken, another 70,000+ people would arrive. And sitting behind us would be crazed fans wearing multi-colored clown wigs who would curse and swear at the referees, then apologize profusely to my mother for their cursing and swearing. When they found out my mother was an American with absolutely no idea how Rugby is played, they would curse and swear then explain to her exactly why they were cursing and swearing. Most polite crazed fans we'd ever met. Very user-friendly and informant. Actually, all Rugby fans are like that, as a rule. My father (John R. Deal) feared we were going to get in a fight. I explained that Rugby and Soccer are not the same sport. We had a magnificent time!

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

My growing arsenal of "Recipes Even I Can't Screw Up" gained another entry tonight. Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup. OMG!!!!!!! Super yummy!!!!!! Drew said it was awesome!!!! The recipe came from allrecipes.com, from which I get daily emails. I did change it just a little bit. To make it easier, of course. For the original recipe, click HERE.

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

1 onion, chopped

16 oz can chili beans, undrained

15 oz can black beans, drained & rinsed

15 oz bag frozen corn

14.5 oz can diced tomatoes w/ green chilies, undrained

12 oz bottle beer

1 packet taco seasoning

2 chicken breasts, whole, frozen or unfrozen

Put everything in a crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours. The chicken breasts will easily come apart when stirring it up.

Optional : serve with shredded cheese, sour cream & crushed tortilla chips.

I used Sam Adams Boston Lager. I served it with warmed up taco shells. We just break them apart to dunk into the soup. I made a very happy mess putting the soup in the taco and eating it that way. Super yummy.

Now, I would have liked more spice. More flavor. But Drew said it was perfect. And the man has a sinus infection right now so if he said the flavor was fine, I will listen to him.

It seems like a make a lot of dishes with chicken, beans, corn and diced tomatoes. But they all taste different and they are all yummy. I have never liked diced tomatoes before. They just gross me out. Don't know why. But lately I just can't get enough of them.

I stocked up at Aldi's on beans and tomatoes and chicken. So these dishes are cheap to make as well as easy and delicious. And there's nothing more heart warming than coming home from a long day at work to a house that smells divine. This is cooking that I not only don't mind, but LOVE!!

I think next week I'm going to see what other different cuisines I can make in a crock pot. Maybe Chinese or Greek. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, let me know. If you can't comment because you don't have one of the account types that it requires (Sorry! But this blog is for free and wicked easy to use!) send me an email at skdeal@gmail.com.

Happy Friday!!!

While home with a migraine today, I watched last Thursday's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. His guest was Dr. David Agus. Not only does Dr. Agus look just like a young Lorne Michaels, he sounds brilliant. I may get this book and just hope that he isn't making up his statistics.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Now I'm going to drug the bleep out of myself and take a nap. My head is throbbing. Peace.

Motivational Soup

I mentioned yesterday I'd made Slow Cooker Potato Soup. We had the leftovers of it again tonight. It was a million times better than the first time! I mean, it was epically good. It thickened in the fridge and was just perfect! So I suggest if you make the soup, make it a day in advance and add a little bacon to it. Just wonderful!!!!

Meanwhile, after a few days of being miserable, in pain and just plain blaaaaaaaaaaaaah, I picked up some motivation from Pierce. (Actually, his name is Jason but I refer to him by his last name so as not to confuse him with my buddy Jason.) Pierce is a Marine with his own fitness blog. I found him one day while I was googling something...don't remember what. I follow his blog StrictlyMotivated because he fascinated me.

He's a super-fit Marine who struggles much like the rest of us do with his health regime. Most times he discusses what he eats and gives great tips for working out, but it usually isn't something I can relate to right now because it's geared towards the already-pretty-fit athlete. Towards guys like Jason and Mike. I'm eating healthy and working out, but I'm not to the point where I can apply his advice. It will come someday though and when it does I'll have Pierce's blog to refer back to for guidance.

Two weeks ago Pierce was deployed to Afghanistan. His journal entry yesterday gave me the motivation I needed this week to get my arse back on track. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I shared it. Especially since I know it will be read by the people I've surrounded myself with who are enjoying their own health kicks. (Thanks Jason, Mike & Jeff!)

Training in Afghanistan: Week 2

by strictlymotivated

Super Bowl Sunday.... wow what a great way to end Week 2 for me. It has been a great start to getting back into training. I was able to get back into the pattern of eating 6 times a day. Nothing but Chicken, Beef, vegetables, and oatmeal and egg whites. This is simply done by cleaning up my diet. The super bowl has a lot of opportunities to cheat on so much good snack foods. That's ok if you cheated a little bit, don't beat yourself up about it. Now just take the time to get back onto your diet and exercise program and stay strictlymotivated. Remember it's a lifestyle, you're not going to change the world overnight. Take it one step at a time.

Surround yourself with people who enjoy staying healthy. I currently am doing cardio with five people in the morning, I do abs with four people at lunch and I am training two people in the gym. There are always people who want to work out or change their eating habits. That's what keeps me going, is seeing other people with results. Excuses don't get you very far you have to keep pushing no matter how hard it is. Nothing is ever going to be easy. Keep very small goals and when you accomplish each one it will feel like your moving forward. That's all you have to do. Keep it simple.

Fish Soup

Two quick items before I head off to Tuesday Night Trivia.

I made Slow Cooker Potato Soup yesterday. We loved it! And it was so easy. Two other women I work with made it this weekend (Hi Joanie & Kelly!!!!). They both agreed that it's awesome! The recipe came from plainchicken.com. You can get it HERE.

I made it exactly as it was written. Next time I will use less chicken broth, since I like my soups super-duper-creamy. And I will probably put chicken in it. Just because I like chicken. Definitely putting Bacon Bacon in it too. Yummers!

And tonight I made an uber-cute card. Just had to share!!!

It's based on a card from Frenchie's site today. My girlfriend at work (who will go unnamed!!) asked if I'd make one like it for her to give her hubby.

Now I'm off to Buffalo Wild Wings for Trivia Night. I'm in a mood most fowl and I'm preparing to demolish the menu there. I'm hungry and cranky. I need to throw myself violently from the wagon for the evening. Hopefully I'll do it so hard I'll bounce back up. Terrible theory, I know, but sometimes you just gotta. At least I'm not kidding myself about it.

Slow Cooked Pork Cacciatore

Joanie pointed out a website to me last week that she knew I'd go crazy over. Crockin Girls (http://crockingirls.com/). It's all about cooking in a crock pot. And they cook everything in a crock pot!!! Appetizers, main course and dessert! Not all in the same crock pot, of course. That would be gross.

I picked a recipe to try this week. I changed it a little bit to make it even easier (aka laaaaaaaaazy). It was delish!!!!!!!!!!!! Drew and I loved it.

Slow Cooked Pork Cacciatore

1 lb. pork chops, cubed

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 can (6 oz) tomato paste

2 bell peppers, diced

1 cup mushrooms, sliced

1/2 onion, diced

1 tsp oregano

salt & pepper

Pasta

Parmesan cheese

Mix everything, except the pasta and parmesan cheese, in a crockpot. Cook on low for 4 hours. Serve over your choice of pasta --- I used egg noodles. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.

And that's it! The original recipe is here:

http://crockingirls.com/recipes/main-dish/italian/slow-cooked-pork-cacciatore.html

I skipped the thickening of the sauce and mine came out just fine.

Duckies!!! Plus more...

It was a good weekend for making cards. I stocked up on ducky cards.

They say "hello baby" on the inside. They are adorable!!!

And I made a collection of "Guy Cards." This was a project I'd thought of a long time ago and my girlfriend Kelly has never let me forget it. It's four cards for husbands/fathers.

The four occasions are Father's Day, Valentine's Day (Three little words...i love you), Anniversary (love you much...happy anniversary) and Happy Birthday (it's your day!). I purposely tried to make the cards less frilly and without bows, flowers and butterflies. It was hard. But I loved making the cards.

Cute!!!

Last night Drew vended his Tastefully Simple wares at an event at the Holiday Inn. It was a Pajama Party to raise funds for one of the YMCA youth groups. He had a good time and got a couple party leads, but he couldn't help texting me updates on the hideous apparel that passed by his table.

While his sense of sight was being offended by bad fashion choices and women in massive denial about their ability to pull off a size Large butt in a size Medium pants, I was at Stacey's enjoying some fine wine and papercrafting.

We had decided instead of making cards to make little things to go on cards. Specifically, these cute little lambs.

Aren't they cute!?!?!

They're based on a picture I found online. I didn't have the exact instructions with me or every punch to duplicate all the cuts, but I think we did pretty good! (For the original, see Frenchie's website --- http://www.frenchiestamps.com/2011/04/little-lamb-to-hold-hersheys-nuggets.html)

I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do with them, but I had to make them! So we did, gosh darnit!

After finishing those, we watched Tosh (Love Tosh!!!), Key & Peele (Love Key!!! Peele and I could be friends too) and Sherlock (LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE EVERYONE ON THAT SHOW!!!!! Except Moriarty. He reminds us too much of an annoying tool we work with.)

Thanks Stacey for having me over!! Had a great time!!! And thanks Drew for managing texts that are more than one word. *wink & smile*

If this had been an actual zombie emergency…

Thursday. Weigh-in night. I’d missed it last week because I’d attended a retirement party, which I very much enjoyed. I didn’t how much I’d miss my Tops Club meeting though. Last night I was excited to go. I actually couldn’t wait to get on the scale. I didn’t feel any thinner. In fact, I felt fatter than ever. But I still wanted to see if there was any improvement.

Lost three and a half pounds. Squee!

After the meeting we came home and ate a healthy meal --- Drew grilled Aldi’s pork chops marinated in Wegman’s Spiedie Sauce --- super yummy!!! (FYI – Aldi’s pork chops are the most tender, juicy pork chops we’ve ever had. I highly recommend them!) Then I pulled up my spreadsheet, charted out a menu for the upcoming week, found some great recipes to try, and declared I was happy and in the groove again!

I should point out that my brains are still trying to escape thru my ocular socket, but it’s not bothering me as much. I’m determined to not let it stop me. This morning I got up and got on the treadmill. And I jogged too! So maybe I'm not turning into a zombie and it was all just a headache induced funk. I still entertain thoughts of murdering the people around me with my bare hands, but now it’s for fun and not because of pure rage. That’s gotta count for something, right?

Meanwhile, I'll just enjoy my pork...yummy, yummy pork...

Just a Theory

Lately I’ve been completely lethargic and run-down. I’ve had no want to do anything. I still do stuff, but I do it with complete disdain. I had been happy and up-beat and joyous. I had been loving cooking and exercising and reveling in the changes I’d made. Now it’s just a depressing chore.

It appears this strange phenomena is not just happening to myself, but has begun happening to other people. Jason experienced an alarming loss in energy recently. Mike has once again fallen off the blog planet, a fact I attribute to a lack of creative energy. (Or maybe he’s just too busy being a rock-n-roll god. Don’t know.) Jeff dispises the entire universe.

I think I know the source of my problems. I’ve been having headaches again. I hate writing that, but it’s true. Nasty little migraines that plague me morning, noon and night. From when I get up until I go to bed. Two days now. It feels like my brain is trying to push out my right-eyeball and I have an overwhelming desire to kill everyone around me. This can only mean one thing…

I am Patient Zero.

It’s only a matter of time until I die (probably at my desk) and come back from the dead to feast on the flesh of the living. Someone should probably take a shotgun to my head now to avoid the impending apocalypse. Or find me some Oxycotin. Or at least some effing gin.

So why is everyone else having problems? Their immune systems have sensed the coming doom and have gone into overdrive to ensure their future survival against the plague, thus sucking up current energy reserves in the process. Obviously.

I’m sure it’ll all be better soon. My apologies for any inconvenience.

~ Stephanie, Queen of the Zombie Horde.