13 of 366

Day 13 – January 13, 2012

Yesterday was a Friday, do you see how I live up my Friday nights? Wild and crazy I tell ya. I’ve never been much of a partier. Even pre-kids I was not one to be at the bars drunk every weekend. The only change that will happen in this scenario is the water is usually a glass of wine and sometimes I watch crap tv instead.

I finished up The Night Circus last night and really enjoyed it. I’m actually disappointed that I read it so fast. I’ll probably reread it again when I can slow down and enjoy it.

Tonight I get to go to my employer’s annual party. Normally I get all spiffed up, new dress, new shoes all the fun stuff. But tonight I’m using what I’ve got. But, I’ll still have a decent time even if I’m not partaking in the cheap bar offerings.

Project 366 Days 10-12

No, I haven’t forgotten about this fun project. I just have been to damned tired at the end of the night to edit my photos and upload and blog. So, tonight I seem to have more energy and busted out three photos to catch me up. Here they are!

Day 10.

I know I’ve already done Castle Rock, but really, it’s so beautiful. I was driving the kids to school and the full moon was setting. I had to pull into one of the turnouts and snap some pictures.  This one was my favorite. I like how it’s sort of dark and moody.

Day 11

Here’s the kids scarfing down dinner. I made a freaking-A Delicious dinner of Pecan Crusted Chicken Breasts, Pear and Mixed Green Salad and Steamed Carrots. Yeah. I loved it, Tyler ate seconds, then thirds then fourths. ( I didn’t really want to give him more because I wanted to eat them for lunch!) Matt even requested it to be in the normal rotation even once I take him off this strict 30 day plan.

Day 12

Here’s the cutie pies on the steps. I thought it would be fun if on the same day each month I took a picture of them in the same spot. I can see how the change over this year, and hopefully get myself into the habit to do it until they graduate high school. Yeah, they’ll probably hate me for it. No, I don’t care.

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

Normal stuff going on here. The Paleo Lifestyle is totally awesome. I feel great, I’m not hungry, I haven’t had cravings. I couldn’t be happier that I finally made this switch. Matt is already looking for ways to make gluten free burritos so that he can have a tortilla. We love our Mexican Food around here. And, for anyone reading who might be intrigued about this Paleo thing, you might want to check out Juli Bauer for some humor, great recipes and smart assedness. I love me a smart ass and I know if I wasn’t being a crazy internet stalker and reading her entire blog we’d be friends! Here’s her site: PaleOMG

Tyler started basketball this weekend and even though I took a bunch of pictures, the crap lighting in the gym mixed with dying camera batteries = way crappier than normal pictures. I might get more this weekend.

Have a great night!

Day Nine!

Wow, I made it 9 days. I took the pictures today, but kept getting blurry shots. I tried taking one of my sweet Ian and I but he was not cooperating. We get home too late in the day to take any outdoor in natural light shots so I was left with a side view of the baby or more pictures of food. So I went with the cute kid. The cute kid who was trying really hard to get his shirt on all by himself.

Things have been good. I’m on day 3 of the Paleo lifestyle and I really haven’t had many cravings. The first day I took two bites of nothing but almond butter but that squashed any craving I had for something sweet. Tonight’s dinner was my favorite yet, although I’m already growing tired of some of the repetitive seasonings in the book I bought. There are more seasonings than dried basil and oregano. So from now on I might take the recipes as my base but spice them up, Angela Style. Which I guess is the best part about cooking. I’m free to make it my own.

I’m changing my meal plan for the week. Instead of making the Moroccan Rockin’ Chicken I prepped up tonight some boneless skinless chicken breasts wrapped around roasted red peppers, spinach, basil and some spices. MMM. I will throw those in the oven tomorrow and make a salad and some steamed broccoli and carrots. Total Yum. If I have time I might make a bernaise sauce, but we’ll see.

I was going to go watch some TV but Matt is watching 24 which was fun to watch the first season, but how many times can Agent Jack Bauer save the world? So I’ll go read my book. Night Circus  by Erin Morgenstern. So far I’m about halfway through and loving it!

Day Eight, Sure is Great!

 

Cheesy, much? Yeah, about as cheesy as my sweet Tyler’s toothless grin. He’s been losing teeth lately. Matt and I were in the garage running wire to move the hot water heater for the great kitchen remodel, (HECK YEAH!) and Tyler came out. We got him laughing and I snapped this picture.

Day 7 – My Paleo Dinner

Today was the first day I switched over to the Paleo diet. It was not nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be. I was well prepared and ate great food all day. The stuff pictured is Spice Rubbed Slow Cook Chicken and Kids Love ‘Slaw. Both from the EveryDay Paleo Book. Tyler really loved it. He ate his plate and asked for more. Matt also ate all of his, but he got his own seconds. YAY for making it through day one!

Continue reading

Project 366 – Day 6 Plus a New Adventure

My day 6 photo is my groceries for the week. I know it’s a pretty mundane picture, but I’m pretty excited about this picture. I have been thinking about it for awhile and have seen results in friends of mine and decided to put my family on a Paleo diet. I’m trying it for 30  days and seeing how I feel. I have a feeling I’ll continue on this path as an 80/20 participant.

Anyway, I got the book Everyday Paleo and it was super helpful. I read it over the last couple days and made my meal plan out today and did the grocery run. I spent more money than I normally would on a week of groceries. But, I also have enough food to pack lunch for my husband and I every day this next week. That means no fast food, no restaurants, no extra money. I have a feeling if I continue to be this organized with it I’ll wind up seeing a savings in the long run.

Tonight after the kids go to bed I’m going to have Matt take my before picture. I’m certain I’ll cry when I see a picture of myself in nothing but a sports bra and shorts, but I need to see the changes over this month. When the cravings hit, I will have proof of the shape my body is in and can motivate myself through the craving.

I loved pushing my cart through the store knowing it was loaded with super healthy foods. Things that were nitrate free. Items that would fuel my family the right way and not cause insulin spikes and cravings to get us through the day.

I’m super excited that Matt is willing to go on this journey with me. But then, he’s getting his lunches packed. haha

I’m going to post the meals and snacks I have planned to. I’ll make sure to come back and let you know if I liked or didn’t like something. I’m not going to post recipes since I didn’t create them and took them straight from the Everyday Paleo book.

Breakfast:
1. Huevos Rancheros
2. Fritata and Strawberries
3. Egg Cupcakes and fruit
4. Egg Cupcakes and fruit
5. Egg Scramble with Bacon
6.  Egg cupcake and Fruit
7. Egg Scramble and Bacon

Dinner:
1. Spice Rub Slow Cook chicken with Kids Love Cabbage Slaw
2. Steak Skewers and ‘Fried Rice’
3. Pecan Crusted Chicken with Fancy Pear Salad
4. Rockin’ Moroccan Chicken
5. Shrimp Tacos
6. Marvelous Meatball with ‘Spaghetti’
7. Spice Rub Chicken and Salad

Lunch:
1. Salmon Salad
2. Salad with leftover chicken and sundried tomato dressing
3. Avocado Tuna Boats
4. Spinach Salad with Chicken
5. Leftover Chicken with almonds
6. Shrimp Salad
7. Salmon Salad

Snacks:
1. Turkey Slices with Avocado
2. Bugs in a Boat and Almonds
3. Leftover Skewers and Almonds
4. Turkey Slices and Avocado
5. Turkey Slices and Avocado
6. Bug Boats and Almonds
7. Turkey and Almonds

I’m sure this is not the most inspired Paleo menu, but for a first go, I feel pretty good about it. I might tweak things as we go along, but this is week one!

5 of 366!

Boy, did I need this coffee today. I made the stop by the local coffee shop to get a coffee. It was the longest short week of my life! So glad to have this coffee!

Where the Hell have I been?

Oh. My. God. I know that this is probably not going to be a news flash to most women over the age of 20, but Grey’s Anatomy is a GREAT SHOW! I don’t know how I missed it when it first came out. I don’t know how I missed it when it had been on for two seasons. I don’t know why I didn’t immediately start watching it when I saw it on Netflix and added it to my instant queue. But, I feel like some culture that I have heard people talk about but was always not entirely sure what was going on has accepted me.

So, maybe I’m being a bit dramatic, but I am now watching Grey’s Anatomy. (And, FYI Grey is the name of a character. See, I had NO IDEA what this show was about) I’m only on season one, about 8 episodes in, but I am loving this show.

Matt wanted to sit with me on the couch last night while I was watching Grey’s. we had a conversation that went something like this:

Me: do you care if I watch another episode of Grey’s?

Him: Do you care if I throw up so much that it fills the living room?

Me: Okay, let’s watch something else.

I don’t usually make a point of forcing him to watch what he dubs. “Crap TV” but there might be times when the threat of vomit does not sway my desire to watch Grey’s.

4 of 366

Today’s photo isn’t all that awesome. It’s a cruddy photo taken after dark when I got home tonight of my soon to be new kitchen. This is half my kitchen. the other half is exactly the same size (too small) and has my sink, fridge and wall oven and cook top. We start the remodel this weekend and I’m super happy. I’m winding up with double the space, an island and a pantry when all is said and done. YAY! We’re going to do all the work ourselves, but we’ll save loads of money. Be prepared for plenty of kitchen progress shots on my project 366 this year!

Project 366 – Day 3

So I’ve managed to make three days in a row! GO ME! I’m really enjoying it so far and haven’t struggled trying to decide what to take a picture of yet. But, I suppose if I ever get stumped I do have three of the cutest kids in the world at my disposal to use when I need to. I won’t keep you waiting with my lackluster photo skills any longer. Here is day three:

Castle Rock on the drive to school. I know I’m super lucky.

Isn’t it amazing? I see that beautiful Pacific Ocean every day on my way to take the kids to school.  Enjoy the picture!

<3′s to you all,

Angela