Monday, 27 August 2012

• Bad Blogger Updates

  I know, I know, it has been quite some time since I updated  I am a very bad blogger.  Anyway, some updates.

  Some of you may not know, but unfortunately Mr. W has been let go from his job earlier this month.  He has submitted all his paperwork for unemployment, mortgage assistance, updated his resumé and applied for several jobs in his field.  This is a bit of a set back in the scheme of life, and we're very concerned, but we know that when one door closes, another is waiting to be opened.  I know that is what happened to me.  I was let go, but I was able to find a new job a few weeks later.  The pay was less, but it offered a regular early schedule (7:30 AM to 4 PM), weekends off, paid holidays and vacation, health and life insurance.  The best thing about it, is that I like all my coworkers, there isn't one of them I wouldn't be comfortable eating lunch with.  And we do.  Sometimes the company buys lunch and we all gather in the break area.  I know he was not happy at his job for a while now, and he wanted to find another job but he was concerned about the bills and the job offered a steady paycheck, up until recently.

  8/16: Mr. W and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary  It seems like we've been married for much longer than that, but maybe it's because we've been together for 12 years now.  Did I just say TWELVE years?  Wow. And we haven't killed each other yet?  A friend asked recently what we think the secret to a long, happy marriage is.  We told her that we don't really know because we've only been married for 4 years.  Then she asked how do we make things work.  Well, the long and short of it is that we all have our issues, but the most important thing is that we remember why we got married in the first place, and how we manage the issues when they arise.  So, that day we spent the day at Disneyland.  It was our last day before our annual passes expired.  It was a nice day, a little crowded and mostly warm but the day was a bit overcast in the afternoon so it wasn't that bad.  We got to see the new Cars Land.  It was adorable, the section was made to look like the street exactly like the movie!  We spent all day there, and we were exhausted by the time we came home!  Good thing I asked for the day off...on Friday.  Usually we'd like to take a vacation once a year, but the money has been tight in the last few so we've only been doing things around town.  I miss vacationing, but I know there are more important things to be concerned about.

  8/17: We stayed home and chilled out, but I had to bake a cake.

  

   

  This cake is a quarter sheet carrot cake, filled with cream cheese frosting and coated in vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream frosting.  My friend, R, contacted me for this cake as her boyfriend came back 8/16 from visiting his family in Israel for 5 weeks.  It seemed like an eternity!  We missed him at the weekly Magic the Gathering games.  He has a unique sense of humor and so does she.  Hence, the "Catch Up" Ketchup Bottle cake.  I thought about carving the cake into a ketchup bottle shape, but the cake is really delicate and soft, unlike most other carrot cakes recipes...and I didn't feel like using 1/2 a bottle of gel food coloring to make the red icing, which was pretty difficult to achieve.  Good thing I decided to add some cocoa powder to the red icing to darken it.  Sorry for the crappy picture.  I usually take pictures at home with my camera but I was in a hurry and forgot, so this picture of the cake was taken with my phone at the party, after it has been sitting at room temperature for a few hours.

  8/18: Day of Catch Up Homecoming Party!  It was a pajama party, I'd have to say that it was a fun idea, and it easy when we got home, just jump in bed!  LOL.  We had lots of fun--we revisited all the events he missed while he was away.  Various birthdays, bon fire at the beach and the fair.

  Ongoing: People who know me know that I've been struggling with my weight for a long time.  And I've been on diets and exercise plans.  Sometimes, I just feel so pumped and other times not so much.  So, per the health charts and whatnot, for someone who is 5'4", I should weigh between 120 and 145 pounds.  Of course, I am way over.  So, my main goal for now is to get down to my high school weight (which was 12 years ago) of 160. That means I need to lose about 30 pounds.  I feel the charts are ridiculously inaccurate, so I feel this goal is pretty realistic for now.  When I reach the goal, I plan on reevaluating my situation.  I hope to reach this goal by my birthday (3/29).  I had planned on reaching this goal last March for my 30th birthday but that didn't happen.  I've tried many times, but this time I am feeling pretty confident and motivated to stick to the exercise plan and monitor my calorie intake.  I know I can't diet and exercise like mad just to lose the weight and then quitting.  This has to be a lifestyle change.  So, for now, I've either power walking or doing Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred video in the morning before work.  So far it has worked for me to exercise in the morning.  I know if I tried in the afternoon it would never happen, mostly because of the heat and being worn out from being at work.  Some days I just don't want to get out of bed to exercise, but I've found that on those days, I don't have any energy.  Working out in the morning helps keep me on track.  I am more aware of what I put in my body, and I am more productive when I come home from work--to do chores.  In terms of food and drink, I am limiting my sugar intake--especially soda and sweets.  I can't completely cut them out so I will allow myself some treats every now and then.  I know if I avoid them completely, I will break one day and binge.  That just sets me up for failure.

  Last week: Nothing particularly exciting happened last week.  Sigh.  Oh well, sometimes, that is a good thing.  Especially, after been bombarded with too much excitement.

  Thursday: Matt had some of the guys over for Magic in the evening.  I decided to make Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies because I wanted something sweet.  I've never made them before and I was a bit skeptical about working because it only had a few ingredients.  (Picture was also taken on my phone, copied from my Facebook post.)

  

  Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
  1 cup peanut butter
  1 cup sugar
  1 egg
  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  Combine all the ingredients in a medium mixing bowl; stir to combine.  I used the hand mixer...because I like it so much.  I can't seem to not use it when I am baking something, even though this is easily mixed with a wooden spoon.  Scoop the dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake in an oven preheated to 350°F 10 to 12 minutes.  Let cookies cool 10 minutes before eating.  I made cross marks with a fork, but you don't have to.  Whenever I make the regular peanut butter cookies, I don't.

  Friday: Husband went with guys to celebrate their friend H's 30th birthday.  My friend, ST messaged me earlier asking if I was going to the event, but I am not.  I had no idea that I was invited, I thought it was a guys thing.  Anyway, ST, I haven't actually met.  She's the girlfriend of a classmate who seems to have an appreciation for cats, cupcakes and makeup...just like me!  So, we've been chatting online ever since and making men roll their eyes.  Because we discuss cats, cupcakes and makeup LOL.  She has been looking for a new foundation, but no luck so far.  The old one she was using was making her face flaky.  "Having a baby changes everything!  Even your skin!!!"  Her son, he is so adorable!  She also mentioned that he is kind of beating herself up for being "one of those moms."  She's referring to moms who talk about their kid all day and posts a million pictures on Facebook of their child.  LOL!  I actually love seeing pictures of people's kids.  I even like the funny stories of what the kids say or do.  But I can do without the stories that involve vomit, urine or feces.

  Saturday: I started my morning with some coffee, over easy eggs on wheat toast and Pinterest.  I then went for a full body massage, I really needed it after a relatively stressful week--mostly because Mr. W has a knack for giving me anxiety sometimes.  But thank goodness for Groupon.  3- 1 hour massages for $90.  Apparently my back was full of knots!  My back is a little sore though but nice and loosened up.  We went to Frisco's afterward and hit up Home Depot for a ceiling fan for the dining room.  Decent food, not my favorite but nostalgic.  Mr. W and I used to go there when we were first dating.  Came home, some of the guys came over for more Magic.  I did some grocery shopping and decided I wanted to experiment in the kitchen.  I made some dessert egg rolls.

  
  Left to Right: Peach Cheesecake, Banana Caramel, Raspberry Cheesecake

  
  I like making things when friends visit, I can get feedback right away from several people.  I think the general consensus was that the peach cheesecake one is the favorite.  It is cream cheese mixed with a little sugar and vanilla.  Peaches were sliced up, placed on an egg roll wrapper and rolled up.  I deep fried them in the little fryer we got for Christmas.

  Sunday was another chill day, I knew I had to do some laundry...but I wasn't having it.  So, I gotta do that today.

   

  So...how is everyone?  How have you all been lately?

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