Working It Out

Via

 

I'm in the orange category.

 

As you know I've been doing a dumb diet.

It's been about two months and I've lost about 10-12 pounds.

I got frustrated because I plateaued at 10ish pounds

(of course it couldn't have anything to do with

the fact that I don't really want to stop

eating yummy food!)

 

So Todd and I caved and bought a gym membership.

So far we have worked out 3 days out of 3 days planned.

Here's the thing,

I really kind of like it.

I definitely feel better after working out,

and in just 3 days I've been able to bump

up weights in my circuits anywhere from 10-20 pounds.

Plus, theoretically, if I work out enough

I can eat more of the foods I like

(I'm just not there yet).

 

So why am I telling you this?

Because you might see a little less of me on here,

or possibly the posts may be added later in the evening.

I haven't quite figured out the logistics yet.

Rest assured, however, that I will still be

posting during the week.

 

Are you working out?

If so, what is your favorite exercise?

 

 

Mother's Day

I hope all my mom friends out there had a wonderful day.

As always, I was spoiled rotten, 

and my kids don't even live here any more.

They showed me the love by posting a wonderful

message on Facebook for me, and emailing me.

So thoughtful!

Todd took me out to a brunch buffet, 

with flowers, chocolate and specialty cupcakes included.

Then Todd helped his mom out for a few hours,

and I got to have some "me" time.

What did I do you ask?

Well...cleaned my dresser, did a load of laundry,

surfed the net for a dress for a wedding Lexx is in,

and that's about it.

Playing on the computer.

When evening rolled around, Anne (Todd's mother),

wanted to eat at Sizzler, so we all headed down to 

enjoy a good hardy meal - and one we didn't have to cook at that!

We at too much, of course, and talked, 

and when it started to get dark, we all headed home.

Soon to be sister-in-law Amber, me, mother-in-law Anne.

(I'll have you know I was practically laying down 

so we could all fit in the picture!)

Todd and Anne

It was such a nice relaxing day.

The only thing that was missing was my mom.

Miss you Mom!

She is out of town, so we are going to have

 to celebrate when she returns.

So what did you do for Mother's Day?

Coffee...

Via

 

Enough said.

I'm getting me one of these for the weekend!

 

Unbelievable Tattoos

Okay, let me start off by saying I'm

not a huge tattoo fan.

I thought about getting a small tattoo of a dolphin

on my hip when I was 18, but decided against it and

instead got my ears pierced three times.

(I'm so glad I didn't because that dolphin

would have turned into a whale).

 

With that being said I think

the following tats are amazing.

Some are truly a work of art.

See what you think.

 

All tattoo pictures from here.

 

 

 

 

This one is my personal favorite.

 

So what do you think?

Do you like any of them?

If so, which one is your favorite?

Strawberry Jam

Did you guess what it was that Lexx and I made?

No - here is another clue...

 

 

We took a little time two Saturdays ago and

made homemade strawberry jam.

 

I had tried making it about a year ago

with pectin, and it was a disaster.

So I asked one of my coworkers who

makes homemade jam regularly

what recipe she used.

She directed me to

Martha Stewart's website,

but said that she modified the recipe

and made it very simple.

I thought I would share the recipe I used,

and if you wanted to go to Martha's website

you could do that as well.

 

Ingredients

 

6 cups halved strawberries

3 cups sugar

1/2 a lemon

 

Take strawberries, sugar, and juice from half a lemon

and combine in a large non reactive pot

and cook over medium heat.

Stir with a wooden spoon until

ingredients are mixed together.

 

 

Then take a potato masher (or whatever works for you)

and mush down the strawberries .

Cook for about 5 minutes.

Mixture should start to boil.

At this point you want to stir pretty consistently.

 

 

The mixture should turn from bright red to deep red.

This takes between 15-20 minutes

and the mixture will thicken.  If you

have a candy thermometer, the temperature

should register around 220 degrees.

If you are unsure if your mixture is done,

you can do a gel test.

I take a spoon that I placed in the freezer

and scoop the mixture in the spoon. 

If the mixture sticks to the spoon,

your jam should be done.

 

When the mixture is ready,

poor it into the jars and seal and then

give them a water bath.

 

And TADA

homemade strawberry jam.

 

You should make it - it's delicious!

May the Fourth

 

So did you do anything exciting for

May the Fourth Be With You day?

 

Fr - Fra - Friday!

I can't believe the weather change this week!

We basically went from the 50's to the low 90's

within four days.  And today - 70's.

Apparently I'm a fragile little rose petal like

Todd calls me because I caught a cold/cough

in the middle of the week.

Of course, it could have been when the kids 

were home last weekend and both brought

their cesspool of germs along with them.

I have a little project that Lexx that and I did and

I'm going to share with you next week,

but until then, here is a little sneak peek.

Can you guess what we did?