COLD AIR! YES COLD AIR!

THE A/C IS FIXED!! 

THANK YOU JOHN! 

THANK YOU LORD!

I’ve barely slept the last 2 nights (in this sauna) and this morning I missed my women’s bible study.  DARN IT!  But I was sooooo tired and sore from using the hedger yesterday.  My arms hurt so bad!  I wasn’t going to go outside yesterday because it was so hot but I gave in.   Today I woke up to a 90 degree house.  What I wanted to do was get in my car, crank up the a/c and just drive around.  But I came to my senses and just waited for my friend John to come over and fix the a/c.

I had ICED coffee to start my day.

My 2nd glass

My 2nd glass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t remember the last time I ate pasta.  I indulged in carb overload today.  Had cold pasta for lunch and then for dinner.  I added some broccoli, carrots, tomatoes and garlic.  Whipped up a quickie dressing that included: olive oil, vinegar, mayo, mustard. 

veggies n pasta

veggies n pasta

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

quickie dressing

quickie dressing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More carbs….mango/oj smoothie….nice and cold!

My favorite smoothie, mango!

My favorite smoothie, mango!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Now I plan on sleeping for the next 8-10 hours!
 
Eat well, live long and thank God for your countless blessings!

I’m sore, but it feels good! not really, it hurts.

Did I say that?  I’m sore but it feels good?  I’m definitely sore and it hurts.  But yes in a satisfaction kind of way it feels good knowing I worked out hard and that’s the reason for the good pain.

I’m really enjoying starting my days with my Bible, cup of coffee and lots of silence, no noise, unplugged.

Plugging into God daily

Plugging into God daily

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breakfast needed to be major fuel because today I  started week 3 of the C25K program  and I put in an hour of yardwork.  (that’s why I’m so sore).  I mixed up some plain greek yogurt and some vanilla Chobani, added a banana, raisins, blueberries, Kashi honey sunshine, agave and cinnamon.

Greek vanilla Chobani yogurt

Greek vanilla Chobani yogurt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORNING FUEL!!

MORNING FUEL!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I did the week 3, day one of the c25k workout and felt great!  It wasn’t until my yardwork workout that I started to feel some pain.  The bending, squatting, pulling just seems to kick my butt!!! Literally my butt!  It hurts!  But not in a “I pulled something” kind of way, it hurts in a “wow, I worked my butt off” kind of way.  I keep telling myself it’s good pain.  What’s that saying, no pain-no gain.  I guess I’m gaining!

I was exhausted because it’s really hot here in South Florida and finally went inside for a much needed smoothie.

MORE FUEL!

MORE FUEL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GREEN SMOOTHIE:

  • 1 1/2 cup of spinach
  • frozen strawberries
  • frozen mango
  • cup O.J.
  • 2 tbsp plain Oikos yogurt
  • tsp agave nectar

I drank two of these babies (yes another liquid lunch) and 1/2 an apple with some peanut butter.

I was really tempted to take a nap but I showered and had some job applications to fill out.  This blog gig I’m applying for would be great.  Can you imagine someone paying you $5k each month to write a daily blog???  THAT’S WHY I NEED YOUR VOTE!!!!  click here. thanks!

Dinner was a quick chicken n veggie wrap.  Grilled chicken breasts, onions, carrots, edamame.  Spread some hummus on the whole wheat  wrap, added tomato, avocado.  Melted some mozzarella cheese on the chicken and threw it all together.  Quick, easy and super tasty and healthy.

carrots and edamame sauteeing

carrots and edamame sauteeing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chicken carrots edamame

Chicken carrots edamame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepping the wrap

Prepping the wrap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melted fatfree mozzarella on the chicken

Melted fatfree mozzarella on the chicken

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toss it all together and wrap it up!

Toss it all together and wrap it up!

Eat well, live long and VOTE FOR ME to be employed!

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

Well today I actually wanted to sleep in but my son set the alarm early and I got up to make him some breakfast.  So much for sleeping late.  I got ready and headed for the Farmer’s Market in Pembroke Pines.  There were about 30 vendors selling not just fruit and veggies but all kinds of things.  This is South Florida after all and we have lots of different cultures blended together here.  There was even a vendor selling organic coffee made from a mushroom (MLM). I walked around for a bit, but it was really hot out today.  Here’s a lil’ sampling:

OCT3 PPfarmersmarket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A beautiful day

A beautiful day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OCT3 PPfarmersmarket

 

 

 

 

 

 

this thing was huge n tasted like raw potato..blahh

this thing was huge n tasted like raw potato..blahh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

my fave booth-smoothies

my fave booth-smoothies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

beautiful orchids

beautiful orchids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OCT3 PPfarmersmarket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was really really hot out and the fruit didn’t look very appetizing, so no pics of fruits.  I drove a couple of blocks to do some window shopping at my favorite budget design store….Kirklands!  I love Kirklands! They already have Xmas decorations up.  I love these java tin like wall hangings.

cute huh?

cute huh?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve heard of a farmer’s market in SW Ranches, and on my way home I decided to drive around and look for it.  SW Ranches is a few blocks from my house.  I didn’t find the market but ran into some MEGA-HUGOMONGOUS-MANSIONS.  Who the heck needs so much living space?  My house would fit into one of their living rooms.  Check this out:

I couldn't fit the entire house in the frame

I couldn't fit the entire house in the frame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously, this is ONE house and I couldn’t even fit the whole thing in the frame. 

OCT3 swranches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a small part of an entrance to another mega mansion.

And then there were these pretty horsies…..there’s lots of horses in this area.

OCT3 swranches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was getting hungry, mostly thirsty because I forgot to bring my water bottle so I headed home.  I quickly made a liquid lunch ….spinach, strawberries, blueberries, mango, banana and oj.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mmmmmmmmmm

mmmmmmmmmm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love FREE stuff!  In the mail was a Kashi sample:

free Kashi Sunshine

free Kashi Sunshine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and freebies from Walmart.  

 

free samples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A friend’s daughter was celebrating her sweet 16’s and on the way to her house God blessed me with yet another gorgeous sunset.

heavenly

heavenly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

oct3 sunset

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had some BDay cake, goodies and a yummy mojito.  It was great reuniting with some friends from back in the day.

oct3 Bianca's sweet 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pastelitos de queso

Pastelitos de queso

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 oct3 sweet 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Headed home and called it a night!

 Eat well, live long and catch a beautiful sunset!

Caffeined up!

Starting this month I will be divulging more detailed information about my weight loss journey.  I’ve been enjoying this new healthy eating so much that I have neglected to give details about my specific weight loss goals.  I truly am enjoying putting together fruits and veggies and creating some yummy snacks and meals that are lo-calorie.  Even though it’s time consuming, I will be putting together a ‘recipe’ page with my quick and easy creations.  Your suggestions are welcomed.

Friday I slept in and I hate when I do that because I tend to feel sleepier when I get too much sleep.  Normally I get up at 6:30 with my son, sometimes make him a quickie breakfast  and then start my morning.  Yesterday I went back to sleep at 7a and woke up at 10a…yikes!  I had a small cup of yogurt, banana and cinnamon.  Then I did my C25K walk/run  for 30 minutes.  I spent some time on my job search (need a job badly), made some phone calls and before I knew it I was hungry again.  

  Lunch was a green smoothie that turned brown because of the blueberries and a yummy salad drizzled with balsamic dressing.

spinach, strawberries, blueberries, mango, oj

spinach, strawberries, blueberries, mango, oj

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ready to blend

ready to blend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

spinach, tomatoes,cucumber,avocado, edamame

spinach, tomatoes,cucumber,avocado, edamame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

green smoothie n salad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this lunch because it’s light but filling.  The edamame has lots of protein.

Later in the afternoon I “craved” coffee.  Since caffeine keeps me up, I don’t usually drink coffee any later than 5p unless it’s decaf.  I brewed  a cup and sat and ‘designed’ my front and backyard landscaping.  I’ve been working on my yard and have a visual of what I want it to look like.  So I sat with my favorite magazine and cup of coffee.

FLA DESIGN MAG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh boy the caffeine kicked in and I felt an urge to  move furniture.  So I FINALLY moved the dead treadmill  into the garage and moved a sofa into its place.

sofa replaced treadmill

sofa replaced treadmill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I mopped the floor in my family room (aren’t they shiny)  and did some laundry.  I’ve been using vinegar to clean my floors and I love how shiny it leaves them.  Whenever I sit and look at a design magazine I get ideas and so I started to rearrange a few things in the kitchen.  Brought in some fresh flowers from the yard and voila, ready for fall.

I worked up an appetite after all that work and dinner was a yummy veggie wrap.  I sauteed broccoli, asparagus, carrots  and onions in a tbsp of olive oil and spicy teriyaki sauce.  Then I spread my homemade hummus on a whole wheat wrap and filled it with the veggies.  I only ate half of the wrap.  Chelsea ate the other half.  That girl (my son’s gf) can eat!  She’s tiny but eats like a man, a big man!

veggie wrap

 

 

 

 

 

 

yummy veggie wrap

yummy veggie wrap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later I snacked on walnuts while catching up on Grey’s Anatomy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That coffee kept me up pretty late. I think I finally went to bed around 2am.  See, I told ya the caffeine kicks my butt.

A 5K in my near future

I’m so excited!  I found a 5K I can do Oct 31st!!  This gives me more incentive to get up and move more!!  I’ve been doing the C25K program but haven’t been consistent.  So today I started week 2 AGAIN! It feels soooo good.  I know that you ‘runners’ are giggling at that but I’m just beginning and everyone has to start somewhere, right? 

My goal for the 1st 5k I did in February was to just finish.  And I did.  This time my goal is to be able to run at least 1/2 the distance and walk when I have to.  I’ve been eating really good stuff and I have so much more energy. This morning began with an egg white, 2 slices turkey bacon and spinach dip spread on 1 slice of whole grain bread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh and a cup of yummy coffee.

Morning fuel

Morning fuel

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I had a wasa cracker with spinach dip after my run/walk and for lunch I was satisfied with a mango/spinach smoothie.  One of Hunter’s friends was here and he reluctantly tried the smoothie and loved it.  They’re becoming a hit around here.   I think dinner tonight will be leftovers ( baked chicken,broccoli).
Well, if you’re local to me I hope you’ll join me and sign up for the 5K.  It’s fun and supports a great organization.

Mama comes for a visit

Got a visit from my mama today.  And she brought goodies. 

Lots of avocados means lots of guac.  I made a few batches and gave some away.

avocados

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holy, canoly, guacamole!

Holy, canoly, guacamole!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My mama also brought me some of her guava marmalade.  I’m going to have to watch myself with this one.

Guava!

Guava!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

guava marmalade

guava marmalade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treat # 3 is her fish croquettes….OMG these ROCK!  It’s actually a long process to make these that I’m not quite ready for but the end result is delish.  They’re spicy and would go great with a nice cold beer.  I heated some olive oil (super hot), fried them for a couple of minutes and they’re done!  YES I said fried, but I really didn’t use that much oil.

spicy fish croquette

spicy fish croquette

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I served up 2 croquettes with some avocado for lunch. So good.

Later in the afternoon I enjoyed a cup of mango/spinach/smoothie and then in the early evening I went for a 30 minute walk around the neighborhood.  It was so muggy out tonight. 

I’m going to catch up on Biggest Looser.   I didn’t like it when Jillian grabbed Shay’s shirt last week and dragged her like she’s a dog on a leash.  I know they need tough love but that was a bit much.  I like Bob.

What do you think of Bob n Jillian’s tough love?

The boys take over the kitchen

There was no school today and I was lucky enough (I mean that) to have my nephews over for the day.  The day started out beautifully.  Andrew slept until 11:30am and Ryan was building a bridge for his cars, which kept him busy for a couple of hours. 

When Andy woke up his sweet brother Ryan wanted to make him pancakes.  He did pretty good because Andy devoured them.

Chef Ryan doing his thing

Chef Ryan doing his thing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RYAN MAKING PANCAKES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chef Ry getting ready to flip those cakes

Chef Ry getting ready to flip those cakes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pancake Monster devoured them!

Pancake Monster devoured them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan’s been a devoted follower of my blog and has seen my smoothies.   Andrew decided he wanted to try a “super woosie version” of a mango green monster.

Andy put 7 spinach leaves in the smoothie

Andy put 7 spinach leaves in the smoothie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the blender went a BIG chunk of frozen mango, blackberries, 7 spinach leaves and some mango juice.

BOYS MAKING SMOOTHIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THUMBS UP!! HE LIKEY!!

THUMBS UP!! HE LIKEY!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For dinner we made turkey burgers and some baked plantains….all were eaten before I could take a pic.  These were my best turkey burgers!  It was a great start to what will be an awesome week!

Eat well, live long and make some pancakes!

 

Who needs a gym workout??Come to my yard

Who the heck needs a gym workout when you have an overgrown and unattended yard??!  It rained a lot this weekend and that just fuels up the weeds, plants and trees in my yard.  I decided that I would spend an hour out in the yard and I ended up with quite the workout:

Arms….pulling weeds, branches, swinging the machete since I broke the garden big scissor thingy.  I hope I can pick up a pencil tomorrow, cuz they hurt.

legs & butt……squatting, bending, squatting, bending, and lunging at some points.

God is merciful tho….he gave me a much needed rainfall (minus lightning) to refresh me.  He knew I wouldn’t have lasted 20 minutes without that shower.  Felt so good to just be in the rain.

These are some of the branches that no longer live in my yard. 

some of my work!

some of my work!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These purple things  are taking over!

pretty but they MULTIPLY fast!

pretty but they MULTIPLY fast!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

more purple plants

more purple plants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I picked some roses….

I love roses

I love roses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and some of these pretty white (insert name here if you know it) flowers.

pretty white flowers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and made a bouquet for my neighbor…..hope it lifts her spirits a bit.

flowers for a friend

flowers for a friend

I came inside and QUICKLY made a snack before I passed out!  A Wasa cracker, hummus, tomato…..and.. 
energizer snack
and a Mango Green Monster:
Mango, 1 1/2 cups spinach, 1/4 cup OJ, 1/4 cup milk, agave nectar. 
Soooooooo refreshing! I love love love this one!
                                                                              
 MANGO GREEN MONSTER
In a big martini glass
I started my morning with Peanut butter and pumpkin butter on whole grain thins.  I love pumpkin and this butter is soooooo   good.  Plus a nice cup of coffee.
PB BFAST
I’m not sure what dinner will be…..hhhhmmmmmm….
Eat well, live long and do some yardwork!!