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Archive for October, 2010

Yep, I Did It Again Author: Oct 22

It’s been a week without blogging, and 5QF is here to give me a swift kick in the rear. I swear I intend to blog, but right now, the babe’s and my schedule is far too busy for that. I don’t like that, but until swim lessons are over, there isn’t a whole lot I can do to change that. Unfortunately, lessons don’t end until December, so these will be interesting times. This post is already off to an interesting start, because I’m not sure I’ve ever used the word “that” so many times in such a short span of text.

The only remarkable event of the past week is my daughter’s nose meeting the carpet at school and getting a nasty rug burn. It’s gross and I feel so bad for her, but it doesn’t seem to bother her at all. In the mean time, I find myself cuddling her more, and my husband is buying her fave foods and toys, to make her feel better. She feels fine, we’re the ones who feel bad. Such is the life of a parent…

On to the main attraction.

1. Who is the better cook, you or your spouse?
I really don’t think either of us is better than the other. I cook more often, which can lead to frequently repeating recipes, and I prefer sweet things, so it can be difficult for me to find dinner inspiration. My husband enjoys creating complicated menus, or “discovering” a meal by digging through the pantry until inspiration hits.

2. How often do you talk to your mom?
Almost every day. Wait, do you mean literally talk to my mom? If so, probly three times per week, but my mom and I text nearly every day.

3. Are you adventurous in the kitchen or stick to the recipe?
I don’t seem to know how to follow a recipe. It almost pains me to do so. There’s always an ingredient where I’m like, “Oh! I prefer this to these.” Or, “Wow, that’s a lot of fat, let’s trim that down a little.”

4. Is your second toe longer than your big toe?
Yes, and people think I’m a freak for this. I don’t care.

5. Do you dress up for Halloween? (Bonus question: What will you be this year?)
Generally, no, I do not dress up for Halloween. If there’s a themed party, sure. Otherwise, not so much. I prefer fall decorations and family Thanksgivings to trying to scare the crap out of people and stuffing ourselves with candy.

Category: 5QF, Getting to know me  | One Comment
It’s That Time of Week Again! Author: Oct 14

It seems like I really only feel like writing when 5QF rolls around. No, that’s not right. I’m so surprised that time goes by as quickly as it does that before I know it, it’s Thursday night and the sneak peek is showing up in my Reader.

We’re still in our routine of 5 days on and 2 days off, which keeps us pretty busy. Since there wasn’t Story Time at the library this week, we took a trip to the beach instead. It’s amazing how relaxing the beach is, even when if I don’t glop on sunscreen I turn into a lobster. The babe is still afraid of the water, but we get a little better every time.

We also did the hour plus drive without toys for the babe. I’m trying to prepare her for the super long car trip we have planned to NY for Thanksgiving. I’m hoping the ride itself will amuse her for awhile, then we can start the DVD player or open up a coloring book. If any one has other suggestions for amusing an almost 2 year old in the car, they are greatly appreciated. Also, if you know any great places to stop just off the highway from Florida to New York, those recommendations are appreciated as well.

Enough of my rambling, you’re here to see my responses to Mama’s 5QF!

1. What is your favorite Halloween candy?
I love most candy. There is not a Halloween candy that I would want that I can’t get at another time during the year. My favorite sweet treat to eat during the Halloween season is the home made treats I make. Candy corn cookies and pumpkin tea cakes were a hit this year, and I still have another trick or two up my sleeve before I switch to Thanksgiving treats.

2. Do you fold your socks?
I always fold my socks. That statement is a little misleading though, because I generally don’t wear socks. I wear socks to the Y. So folding one or two pair(s) of socks is cake. My daughter doesn’t wear socks very much either, so hers aren’t a chore. My husband’s annoy the crap out of me. He used to have a thousand pairs of socks that were all different kinds so they all only had ONE match. This has improved, but folding his socks is still the most hated moments of my laundry time.

3. What is something that you wish you had been warned about?
Exactly how many changes my body would make after pregnancy. I’m sure the other moms out there are nodding their heads with me. They tell you things won’t be the same, and they mean it, in every way possible. You just don’t realize how many ways there are until it happens.

4. What is the most significant difference between you and your significant other?
Ummm… I don’t know. Our spending habits? He buys every thing he can come up with a solid reason for, and I don’t buy anything over $20 without a mile long list of reasons that it’s a good idea. Even with a mile long list of reasons, I don’t always make high dollar purchases. Hell, I’m having a hard time filling up the gas tank in my new SUV without feeling “bad.”

5. What are three words you would use to describe yourself? (And, just for fun…if your significant other is around, ask him/her what 3 words they would use to describe you!!)
I hate these questions. Caring. Loyal. Well, those 2 were easy, now a third… I’m trying to be positive… Friendly.

Caring, loyal, and friendly.

Really. 😉

Category: 5QF, Getting to know me  | One Comment
A Very Very Late 5QF Author: Oct 11

No, today isn’t Friday, nor is it even within the McLinky time frame, but since EVERYTHING today has been behind schedule, I’m going to go ahead and post my answers to Mama’s 5QF. It’s kind of a if you can’t beat’em, join’em mentality for me today. Enjoy!

1. What do you listen to while driving?
The radio. Mostly the local mix station, but I also listen to oldies, top 40, and country on occasion. The only thing I don’t listen to very often (and especially not with the babe in the car) is rap music with controversial lyrics.

2. What is your least favorite thing about Fall?
The sun setting earlier. Now that the weather is finally nice enough to enjoy, it’s getting too dark to take a toddler outside and enjoy it. 🙁

3. What does your dream house look like, inside and out?
Like a slightly larger version of the one I own. 😉 Open layout with a huge kitchen, a den for my husband to use as a home office, at least one guest room, good sized patio for entertaining, and a whirlpool tub in the master bath. Of course this means I also want a master bedroom and one for my daughter and any future children

4. Would you ever own a minivan?
I can’t say never, cuz it might happen, but I’d REALLY like to avoid it. I just got a Mazda CX-9 which seats 7 and has as much storage as a minivan, but it’s labeled an SUV, so I should be able to avoid the mom van *cheer*

5. Do you wash new clothes before wearing them?
Usually. On occasion I either forget to wash something, or bought it because I need to wear it in the very near future and don’t have time to wash it. I’d prefer my new clothes be washed first. 🙂

Category: 5QF, Getting to know me  | 2 Comments
My Thoughts on The Hunger Diaries Author: Oct 06

I am not a member of the Healthy Living Blog (HLB) community. I have no desire to be. However, I frequent a couple of the blogs bashed by the article in Marie Claire’s November issue, The Hunger Diaries. The two I read with regularity are Carrots’n’Cake and Healthy Tipping Point. I have also read a few posts at KathEats and Meals and Miles.

They do not deserve what has been heaped upon them. I think it’s horrible that they’ve been labeled as having eating disorders and THAT is why they blog the way they do. But I’m not writing this to talk about eating disorders that I have no experience with, I’m writing this to put in my two cents on WHY I take time out of my day to read these blogs.

These blogs highlight happy, healthy, self-confident women. Every woman in the world wants to be just that: happy, healthy and self-confident. When there are good role models out there that started at a low point just like the rest of us, it’s good to see exactly how they’ve accomplished their goals. It inspires others to obtain the goals that they have for themselves, no matter how big or small they may be.

When I read these blogs, I see women who have found things they’re passionate about (generally, food, exercise and photography) and have found a creative outlet to share what they have discovered with the world. I see women who balance their careers, marriages, hobbies, and even their finances in the public eye in an attempt to help others who want to achieve similar life goals.

Many of these goals involve running as a way to be healthy. Running requires fuel whether it’s to the mailbox, or to the next town. The longer the distance, the more fuel you need. The more fuel you need, the more stops you have to make. The more stops you make, the more you change your time. The more you change your time, the more uncertain your stop time is.

Does that sound like a familiar pattern to anyone? I’ve recently compared long distance (10K+, in my book) running to taking a road trip in a car with a young child. Think about it. Before starting a road trip, you need to eat a healthy meal to minimize junk food snacking in the car and fill up the car’s fuel tank. A car can only go so far on one tank of fuel, so you need to have some idea of where the next stop will be. You also need to realize that the car may be able to go so far, but the child may not. So you have to consider the possibility of extra stops as well to appease the child. This pattern of fueling, going, and stopping will repeat until your final destination is reached. Just like a runner needs to know where to get more fuel or needs to know a safe spot to stop and stretch. A map must be drawn and followed both to highlight a safe route and to make sure the necessary fuel is available.

That is how I view a lot of the HLB community’s blog posts. As ways to show the need to fuel the exercise and what foods have worked for them. It’s a personal choice if oatmeal with peanut butter provides the fuel you need to start a run, or if a black bean brownie will work to help you recover from your run. If it does, great! You now have go to meals waiting for you at home or in the car when you’re done for the day. Based on your activity level, your body needs certain ratios of carbs, protein, sugar, vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. While some of these meals and snacks are a little odd, if they accomplish the ratio goal and sit well on the stomach, that’s all that matters. It’s all about sharing information.

Personally, I will not be snacking on black bean brownies or green monster smoothies. I don’t see the need. But that is MY personal choice. I have made a few of the recipes featured on Carrots’n’Cake and have enjoyed them all. Not just for the taste, but for the BALANCE of the item as well. I love finding new ways to introduce foods to my family (specifically my young daughter).

I’m sorry if this is too long or if I rambled a bit too much, but I’ve spent days just shaking my head over this insanity, so I figured I’d let my thoughts out. For those of you who have stuck with me to the end, a heartfelt, Thanks. 🙂

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