Fitness

By no choice of my own, I was sick for a lot of the break.  I was never deathly ill stuck to my bed, but I was not feeling good enough to run or work up any type of heart rate for a lot of the days.   I was kinda lazy for a few of the days after I started feeling better and didn't want to exert much energy. So all in all, I didn't work out as much as I would have liked, but its ok, I did what I could and now that I have taken adequate time to rest and am feeling 100% better, I'm seriously looking forward to this week and my workouts! For the last few months, I have been tracking my workouts almost every day in the Fitness tab on my page.  I have now archived that page and have begun a new 2010 fitness  page.  I'm not doing anything special on this page, just logging my workouts. I thought it would be fun to start from scratch for the new year.  I got a heart rate monitor for Christmas, but it didn't have a distance tracker, so we sent it back and today I am going to try and pick out a monitor that logs, distance, calories and heart rate, etc. 
(any suggestions for a good one around $175/180?) 
We're going to have to spend a bit more to add the distance tracker, but I'd really like to have it. My hopes are to incorporate more running into my workouts, if my body will allow.  So far I've done great and have had no pain, but I am a bit hesitant to get super excited about running since I've had problems in the past with my back.  I am going to take it slow and see how I feel and set goals based on my body and how It reacts. If possible I'd love to run a few races and build my distance.  Speaking of races, why do they cost so stinking much? There is a race called the "Ragnar" that Dave and I have been thinking about running, but it is $100 a person. Blah. Maybe if it was just me running it wouldn't seem so bad, but $200 for us to run a race….I just don't like the sound of that.  I think $25 or $50 a person is more like it.  There is a race in San Francisco called The 12k across the bay, which I'd love to do. We did it once a few years ago and it was so much fun! We met my parents in San Fran and shared a hotel room. We hit all the hot spots, ate at yummy restaurants and then ran the race on our last day there.  We had not trained at ALL and by the time we made it to the airport that night we were both limping, Dave so bad that he thought he broke his foot. I had to push him in a wheel chair around the airport.  After a few days we both ended up being just fine…but that's what we get for not training for a 12k run.  We hadn't even really even been exercising.  What were we thinking??
There is also another race i'd love to do. It's a 1/2 marathon in May. It starts in the canyon and the trail goes around a large damn and then down the canyon…it would be so beautiful. I guess I'll have to play it by ear and see how my body does. My tentative plan is to run 3x a week and strength train 2x a week. I plan on taking Friday's  and Sunday's off.  I think this schedule will keep me motivated, strong, and give me the rest in between that I need. It's just a tentative plan, but a plan it is.

Goals

 Tonight Dave and I are going to have Family Home Evening. Click on the link to learn what Family Home Evening is.
We are going to review our goals from last year and see how we've done. We have of course reviewed our goals throughout the year, but we still like to sit down and review them at the end/beginning of the year and see how we've done.  I'm excited to see what we have accomplished and excited to set some new challenging goals.  I love the new year.  Even though I'm really unhappy about being at work right now, I'm happy about today and about starting a new year. I'm excited for 2010 and everything that will happen.  Living in our new house, a new baby (not mine, sissys), lots of vacations, holidays, summer, new traditions……there is just so much to look forward to! I'm excited for a year full of healthy living, positive attitude and continued improvements.  I think 2010 will be my best year so far.  

Check out this bucket list I posted on my personal blog a few years ago. The highlighted items are all things I've done. This is not a personal list I created, just a random bucket list that was fun to do.  I've been able to add a few  highlighted items to this list since then.  I'll underline the one's I've done since originally posting this (there are 4 new ones).

Started your own blog
Slept under the stars
Played in a band
Visited Hawaii
Watched a meteor shower
Given more than you can afford to charity
Been to Disneyland
Climbed a mountain
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Taught yourself an art from scratch
Adopted a child
Had food poisoning
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown your own vegetables
Slept on an overnight train
Hitch hiked
Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Run a Marathon
Seen a total eclipse
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Hit a home run
Been on a cruise
Seen Niagara Falls in person
Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
Seen an Amish community
Fired a rifle, shotgun or pistol
Michelangelo’s David
Sung karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Bought a stranger a meal
Visited Africa
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted (drawn)
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling-
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Gone to a drive-in theater
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Taken a martial arts class
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
Sold Girl Scout Cookies
Gone whale watching
Got flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
Bounced a check
Flown in a helicopter
Saved a favorite childhood toy
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten Caviar
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Been fired from a job
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
Been on a speeding motorcycle
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published something
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem
Visited the White House
Had chickenpox
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club
Lost a loved one
Had a baby
Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Ocean
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee
Seen Mount Rushmore in person
Learned to play an instrument
Held a tarantula
Touched an iceberg
Changed a baby’s diaper
Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
Had a food fight
Had a snowball fight
Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
Ridden a roller coaster
Visited all 50 states
Taken a road-trip
Milked a cow
Been in a movie
Crashed a party
Made cookies from scratch
Gotten a tattoo
Rafted the Snake River
Performed on stage
Been to Las Vegas
Eaten shark
Bought a house
Been in a combat zone
Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
Touched a stingray
Broken a bone
Ridden a horse
Eaten sushi
Had your picture in the newspaper
Gone back to school
Eaten fried green tomatoes
Killed and prepared an animal for eating
Dyed your hair
Caused a car accident
Saved someone’s life!

That was fun for me to read through all of them and remember each memory one by one.  There are still quite a few things on this list that I'd love to do. Here they are..

Bungee jumped
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown your own vegetables
Run a Marathon
Seen Niagara Falls in person
Visited Africa
Visited the Great Wall of China
Taken a martial arts class
Served at a soup kitchen
Gone sky diving
Stood in Times Square
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Had a baby
Visited all 50 states
Taken a road-trip
Saved someone’s life!

There are obviously many more things not shown on the list above that are on "My list of things to do", but I'll save that list  for another day.

Vacations

Every year over our anniversary Dave and I go on a tropical vacation to celebrate.  Around this time each year, I start making the arrangements. This year we aren't sure where we want to go. We've been to Maui twice and last year we did an all inclusive in Mexico. Since we just bought a new home, we need to try and find something a little less expensive this year.  We still want to go tropical, but have not yet decided exactly what to do or where to go. 
Any IDEAS???  We've thrown around the idea of a cruise…but to where? I've been A LOT of cruises and but Dave has only been on one, so this may be the right way for us to go this year…??? 
If you have any great cruise spots, or any vacation ideas, let me know!

We had an awesome Christmas. Sick and all.  We didn't end up opening presents until 1:00pm.  We woke up late since we hardly slept much the night before.  We showered got ready, opened presents and then laid right back down afterwards.  We needed more rest.  Here are a few pics we took with Dave's Iphone. They aren't the best quality, but oh well.  We have some cute pics from my parents but I'll have to get them from my Dad's camera.

Dave told me he only got me one present, and then hid all the other ones in these decorative boxes.  He totally tricked me.

He really wanted this coat the other week but I talked him out of it so I could go back and buy it for him for Christmas.  He was super excited!

We have turty some cat nip for Christmas…she loved it.

Can't have too many lotions right?

The end for now.  We went to my parents last night and I forgot my camera…AGAIN! Dangit!

Dave and I are still in our pajamas and it is 3:00 pm.  We've laid around watching tv and movies (life time movies of course) since 9:00 am this morning. It's been so much fun. We may or may not get up and go to an early movie and dinner, we haven't decided just yet. Well, I better go so I can get back to what I was doing.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend too!

ps….i'll recap our holidays, workouts and my AMAZING break from work next week at work

A few days late. I didn't feel like blogging the last few days. In fact, I haven't even opened my computer.
We had a wonderful Christmas and days surrounding! Dave and I laid low on Christmas eve at our house and watched some fun Christmas movies, drank sparkling cider, ate a yummy dinner and relaxed, just the two of us. It was really nice! Dave was pretty sick so that threw a wrench in a few of our plans, but it was still wonderful!  We opened presents Christmas around noon on Christmas (since we were both up all night sick) and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and trying to recover. I got the heart rate monitor that I wanted…yay! I also got some yummy lotions!! Oh and a brand new house of course!!  Christmas afternoon we went to my parents where we enjoyed a crab and lobster feast! It was wonderful!  We hung out, exchanged gifts, and watched a really nice movie about the birth of Christ..just lovely!  The rest of our weekend has been pretty relaxed since we are now both sick! Blah!  We did have a Christmas party at our house last night with my friends from high school and their husbands and that was really fun!  I'm not going back to work until next Monday and I couldn't be happier!  I'm not sure what I plan on doing this week, but I'm sure whatever I do i'll have fun jut not being at work!!  I may or may not blog. Kinda depends on how I feel I guess!  I think I left my camera at my parents so I'll have to post my pictures from Christmas when I get it back!  Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have enjoyed a break from the norm!  I hope I feel better in the next few days, because I've been dying to get outside and do some running and use my new monitor!!  I'll let ya know how it goes! bye for now.

I heard this song on the Radio this morning and it made me smile. Do you LOVE this cartoon? I love love love it!

I ran outside yesterday and loved it. It was pretty cold, but I was dressed warm and felt great. My ears got a bit cold, but other than that it was awesome. I'm starting to figure out that switching up my exercise every so often excites me and really motivates me. I haven't run for quite a while. I had to stop when I hurt my foot and I've only done it a few times since then. I am really loving it…and GUESS WHAT?!! My back doesn't hurt after wards! That's right. I've now run three times in the last week and have had zero back pain. This is exciting news for me! It means that maybe I can run pain free! I don't want to wear myself out, so I'm going to take it easy, but I'm excited to keep at it. Yesterday as I ran I felt so strong! It's like I could have gone forever. I love the cold crisp air and the quietness of the snow…its so peaceful! I pulled out my ipod for half of the run (I haven't used that thing in 7 or 8 months!). It was fun to run to the music, I'm pretty sure it made me pick up my speed quite a bit.

I used to hate running. Mostly because I couldn't do it and I thought it was boring. It's not an easy thing to get used to doing . I still suck at it, but I do love doing it. I'm not "a runner" nor do I plan on becoming one, I just like it when i'm in the mood to run and feel good doing it! We've been having so many parties and luncheons lately that it's been hard to not eat a lot of unnecessary things. I felt really great after yesterdays run, it gave me lots of motivation to continue tokeep active, especially durning the holidays when goodies and laziness are around every corner!! It's so easy to tell yourself "it's the holidays" or..I'll start exercising when January comes around.  Its so crazy to think about past Christmas's or holidays….it used to be a free for all. I'd eat crap all day long and never exercise.  I always ended up feeling guilty and plotting out my next "diet".  I"m so glad I don't burden myself with that kind of behavior anymore! I love feeling good, eating healthy and staying active, I love even more that I want to do these things because of how they make me feel today and everyday and not because of how I want to look or feel in the future.  It makes the holidays that much more enjoyable!

Today is my last day of work, until the 4th of January!! I hope the day goes by fast!! Dave's sicko and I'm crossing my fingers that he doesn't pass it off to me. I've been saving up my vacation time to take all of this time off during Christmas break. If I'm sick, I will not be too happy.

Ok, so ya know how I said yesterday we would be closing on our house? I lied. Not on purpose though. Today is the big day. Today at 3:30pm. Finally the wait will be over!

My nose is starting to act funny and runny. EEEERRRRRRR. Say a prayer for me.

QA:  What do you want for Christmas?  I want a heart rate monitor/milage counter/calorie counter/zone monitor

Ever seen what about bob?  Remember this clip? That is how I felt this weekend, only with baking. Dave was out working in the garage and I went out and said…honey, I'm a baker…I bake.  He looked at me kinda weird and said what he thought I wanted to hear….oh, good job honey! lol! We had a FUN FUN weekend!  Here are some ( a ton) of pictures! (Sorry for the horrible quality. We have still not found the charger for our good camera, so the only camera I have is an OLD crapy crapy one that I can barley get to focus)

I spent the morning on Friday printing out yummy recipes.

I three hole punched them so I could add them to my future recipe book.

I love Christmas time because when I get home there always seems to be something waiting for me at my front door!

After I opened up the packages, I turned on the fire place, got my lap top and turned on my favorite Christmas music. After Renee sent me an email about personalizing a cook book, I remembered that my mother in-law had done this same sort of thing for me a few Christmas's back. I just had to find it! Since I haven't ever loved cooking/baking and haven't had a kitchen to cook or bake in I haven't put it to use just yet.  It is perfect though! Just what I needed! Thanks Julie!

Tabs for all the different categories

She had set it up perfectly! I added my new Christmas cookie recipes to the book and got started!
Dang my stupid old camera. Blurry every time. It's not me I swear!

In junior high and high school, our cooks would make Molasses cookies that were to die for. They were my all time favorite cookie so I decided I would give making them a try.

I'm messy.

I had to try the dough. I look cross eyed in this pic! lol

Finished product. Oh, they are so cute huh? Or am I just proud I baked something that didn't come from a premade mix?

Yum! They were really good. A little strong in the molasses area, but very tasty.  Dave didn't like them  much. He is more of a chocolate chip kinda guy.

Later that day, I wrapped Dave's Christmas presents and put them under the tree.  His are the ones with actual wrapping paper. The other perfectly square red and green boxes are just decoration.

Later that night we went and saw Avatar. It was really good. I loved it. I didn't think I'd like it that much, but seriously I loved it. The graphics were amazing.  Ever since I've known Dave, I've had a new appreciation for computer graphics. Since I now kinda understand how it works, it AMAZES me when something is done so well. This show was amazing visually and had such a great story. I seem to think everyone will like it!

Saturday was spent laying around watching movies for most of the day. Have you seen "The Holiday"…what a cute movie. I really liked it. Later in the day Dave worked on his four wheeler and I did some more baking.  Ever had Magic Bars? I think they really are magic.

They consist of  a buttery gram cracker crust, sweet and condensed milk, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips and coconut.  OOOOHHHHHH MMMMYYYYYY GGGGGOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH these things are the best dessert I have ever tasted!

Would you think we were crazy if I told you we ate 12 of the 15 bars in just 2 days? That's 3 bars a day each. I think it was more like 4 for Dave 2 for me.  They are so good. Oh my. It was impossible to not eat them. IMPOSSIBLE I tell you.

Later that night, we headed to the mall to get some presents to complete our Christmas shopping yippe!  Look what else we got…
I Love yummy smelling soaps! 3 for $10…awesome!

After shopping we went to Olive garden where we split a meal. My grandma gave us a gift card and since spilt a meal, we will be able to go to eat twice with just one card! It was perfect and even though we split the meal, we left completely full!!

Last but not least when we got hoome, we put up Christmas lights on our pillars!! You can't really see them too well cus of the stupid camera but you get the idea.

Although you can't tell, the lights look really cute. I was super happy we got them up…just in the nic of time.

One more thing….I know I said I was going to deliver my PFM food this weekend, but there has been a change in plans.

On Wednesday night I saw a story about a family on the news whose home had caught on fire. They had no insurance and had lost everything. To make matters even worse, this was not their first tragedy this year.  Two months ago they had a 9yr old daughter die from swine flu complications. My heart broke as I listened to this story. After we turned off the tv and went to bed, I laid there not being able to sleep feeling so upset and heart broken for this poor family.  I wished there was something I could do. Just as I soon as I realized there wasn't much I could do..I had an Idea and realized there WAS something I could do. 

I took some time Thursday and Friday calling family, friends and co-workers asking them if they had any items around the house that they would be willing to donate to the family. They have nothing and need everything.  I figured everyone has something lying around the house, extra towels, blankets, bowls, etc.!  Yesterday we had a family party and I was able to gather a TON of stuff. Today at work people have been bringing me tons of stuff too!  Dave and I plan on delivering the items this Wednesday to the family.  What does this have to do with PFM you ask? Well, I decided that instead of dropping my items off at the bank, I would give them to this family.  My sisters and parents are doing the same thing.  It worked out perfectly, almost like it was supposed to be this way.  Because of Project Feed Me, between me, my sisters and my parents, we will be able to give this family over 100 items of food.  Not to mention hundreds of house hold items that everyone has pitched in to donate. I know most of you don't live in Utah and aren't able to donate any items, but if you can and would like to help, you can make donations to a pay pal account set up in their name.  Here is the account name: shahlufu@gmail.com . Any amount, even a dollar will help!  Or if you know any family or friends in Utah that may want to help, please spread the word!

I'll make sure to take some pictures of all the items that are donated. It seriously blows me away how willing people are to help! YOU are one of them. Thank you all for your efforts with PFM and with this family.  It is so wonderful to see people pull together to help those in need!  Like I said, our weekend was awesome. It was filled with everything christmasy and joyful. 

I plan on making another batch of the oh so magical magic bars tonight to take to my grandmas Christmas party.  These suckers are too good not to share! (and too dangerous to leave hanging around the house).  I also hope to get a little run in before the party BUT we are closing on our house today so I don't know if there will be time.  Ya, I haven't mentioned it, but we haven't close on our house yet. Crazy right? We have been in it for 6 weeks rent free and are just now closing. It has been a NIGHTMARE trying to get everything worked out since it's a short sale, but in the same breath it has been in our favor because we got to live for free for 6 weeks and we got a super low interest rate!  

I hope you all have a MERRY MERRY Christmas week! HO HO HO!!

PS…. If you live in Utah and would like to donate any items to this family, it's not to late. Please call me. I am not delivering the items until Wednesday afternoon. If you can't make it to me, I'd be happy to pick up the items from you!

QA: Since I'm now a baker (ha ha), I'd like some great baking Ideas.  So,what is your favorite holiday treat??

Look what I caught Dave wearing last night ….

I had to get a picture! Too funny!  He bought me this snuggie a few years ago and I LOVE it! Everytime we watched the snuggie commercials we would laugh our heads off, but deep down I seceretly wanted one.  What better way to keep warm, I mean seriously! I don't love the color of this one, but at the time there weren't very many colors to choose from.

When I asked him to turn around so i could take a picture, he struck this pose. I love this guy.

even if he is mad at me

This email made my day….

"Hi Natalie!
I just wanted to share a pic with you ….we participated in the Project Feed Me at our workplace at a local beverage container recycling center. We loved it so much that we are going to carry on with project all year thru! Thanks for inspiring us!
Take Care and have a Merry Christmas!"

Melinda and the gang

Melinda and gang…thanks so much for participating! You guys are awesome. I love this picture!  How wonderful that you are continuing to keep PFM alive! You guys are AWESOME!!

Nicole over at Healthy Chow has been so great sending me pictures and updating me on your PFM progress throught the entire 9 weeks and I have loved it!  Here are her cute pics! Thanks so much Nicole! You're awesome!

Thank you for sending me your pictures guys! Keep em coming!!

Yesterday (Tuesday) when I got home early from work I changed into my workout clothes and cuddled up on the couch while I waited for my workout buddy to get home.  After I gave Dave a hug he immediately said…"I don't feel like working out today"… my response…"me too!"  Problem is we didn't work out Monday either.  We tossed the idea around of not working out again around and decided that it would not be the end of the world if we skipped yet another day.  Dave had four wheeler plow on his mind and I wanted to relax and cook a good dinner.  So we both went our way doing our things.  I decided to make Tofu for the first time. I was pretty excited. I used Caitlin's recipe and was excited to see the outcome.  I cooked some brown rice and an artichoke to go with it. 

5 minutes into the cooking of the Tofu, Dave came in and told me he didn't have the tools necessary to put the plow together.  He really wanted to get the tool right then so, out of the oven came the tofu. I wrapped it in foil and put it in the fridge. I'd finish cooking when we got back home.  3 stores and 2 hours later we were back at home with a bag of take out Taco Bell and a tool for the snow plow. Our appetite got the best of us and we caved. I got a grilled chicken gordita and Dave got some crunch soft taco thing.  We ate and then snuggled up on the couch to watch a movie.
 I might have accidentally mixed up a batch of these in between cuddling and the movie. 

Is it just me or do you eat more brownie/cookie, mix/dough than the actual brownie or cookie? By the time i've baked the stuff I can barley eat one piece. I love the batter!!

I haven't worked out for two days, I ate taco bell for dinner and then topped it off with brownies…when I got home from work, I had good intentions of working out and cooking us a healthy dinner, but then life happend. I guess sometimes good intentions will have to do!

I wrote this post yesterday but didn't get a chance to post it.  Yesterday afternoon Dave and I went for a run. We suited up and ran around the neighborhood for 45 minutes. It felt AMAZING. Not sure if it was the crisp air, or the fact that I haven't run in a while, or that it had been three days since I last worked out…but I was LOVING IT! When we got back home I went out for another 15 minutes because it felt so great!  Sometimes I feel so random with my workouts. I want to be disciplined and stick to something for a certain amount of time, but I guess I get sick of doing the same thing and I crave variety.  I'm beginning to realize that I need variety to stay motivated and excited about exercise.  Doing the same thing all the time is not my recipe for success.

How about you??

ps…the tofu was a BUST! I hated it. I tried to like it and eat it but each bite made me shiver. I even tried to cook it in a different spice, but guys…I just couldn't handle it. I threw it all out.  I don't think tofu is for me unless it looks like a noodle and is found in my Chinese hot and sour soup. Darn…I really wanted to like it.

My go to girl Cindy at A Sparkle Day sent me these cute pictures yesterday and I couldn't wait to share them! She told me she tried to get JJ her little boy to sit still long enough to get him to pose but he just wanted to play with the food and tell her to cook.  Too cute! Thanks so much for your support and friendship!

Faith from Thought 4 food also sent me a picture of her PFM stash! Faith has been so great to help get others involved just like the rest of you and I can't thank her and everyone else enough.  Here is Faiths PFM collection:

ps…love your table Faith, its beautiful!!
pss…I just found out what gender baby my sister is having! I'm so excited I can't stand it. I'm not sharing yet because I want to make sure she gets to tell everyone before I go blabbing it to the world!! CONGRATS SISTER!!
psss… We just had a work luncheon at an all you can eat brazilian restaurant where they bring you every meat you can think of. I think I ate enough for the rest of year..or my life. It was fun and really good though..