Back in action with a little challenge for you

So the past few weeks...okay...months, I've been slacking. I did so good over the spring and summer dropping 50 pounds, but I fell off the wagon back at the beginning of fall. It's time to climb back on though. So this morning, I got up and ran two miles.

Luckily I hadn't gotten so far as to gain all my weight back, and I did do boot camp. It was just the eating well hadn't been there. So today, I decided to cut out the bad stuff again. My goal is to be relatively good through December, and then hit it really hard again in January. In the meantime I'll be hitting the gym more and getting back in fighting shape.

I'm normally not a runner, but I think it would be good to get into. There are always 5Ks going on in the area, and I would like to actually be able to run one. I've walked several and run/walked a couple, but to run one the entire time would be nice. So that's one of my mini-goals. I do think it's a little easier to get out of bed to go run as well. It means that I get to shower and get ready in my own house instead of in the locker room at the gym, which is nice.

In order to get up and get going tomorrow, I should head to bed, but I want to leave you with a challenge. After posting about my run on Twitter this morning, a couple ladies and I decided to create a little workout challenge. It's not all about losing pounds but about getting out there and move. The pounds lost are just an added bonus. So do you want to join in? Please feel free to join in the Twitter #TTCers Tighten Up!

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Football night in Nashville

What a game! I was worried there for a bit, but the Titans pulled it out with a fourth down play with only seconds left on the clock. I should have known it was going to be a good game, when my dad found us a tailgate to visit that had free Jack Daniels. That's right...free! Since the Hubs and I enjoy a good JD drink, we had fun. They also had these really cool stir sticks that had Mr. Daniels on them. I swiped three to bring home.

After the jump, there are a few more pics from our fun time at the game. Some of them are a bit fuzzy because my little camera doesn't do the best at digital zooming.

Huddle up, Titans

Playing a little offense

And a little defense

Kurt Warner (in the grey sweats) was out from a concussion he suffered last week. So Matt Leinart (7) was QB for Arizona.

But just as he did back in college, Vince Young was able to beat Leinart on a last second play.

Go Titans!

Mom and Dad

Nick and I

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We're home

It's so good to be home. We were traveling along really well until we got just north of our destination. That's when we hit traffic. It went on for miles, and we don't really know why. Once we got through it went picked up the Taiders, called in an order for Mexican food, picked that up and then pulled in the driveway.

It really is true that there is no place like home.

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Day after Thanksgiving

While lots of people went out to hit the sales, I've been sitting at the in-laws house hitting the online sales. I could drive up to the mall, but I wasn't really feeling like battling the crowds. Also, the Hubs took the car to go shoot guns with his dad. It's not Thanksgiving without some gun shooting I guess. So I've tried to fill my day with things other than dozing on the couch.


While sitting here with the Food Channel on full-blast volume, I have been productive. I updated my computer's virus software, finished shopping for the Hubs's birthday and Christmas presents, bought a little something for myself (Twilight DVD was only $8), and helped clean the MIL's kitchen. I tried not to make too much noise because she was dozing on the couch, but I figured it would be nice of me to clean up after our lunch of Thanksgiving leftovers.

What has been exciting is watching the Black Friday deals coming up each hour on Amazon.com's Black Friday deals*. I don't need a new GPS unit, but I did get tempted to buy a new TV. Since the Hubs and I just had a talk about saving money, I resisted, but it was hard. I'm now waiting to see how low the Mad Men - Season One on blu-ray will be. If it's below $10, I'm buying.

While doing my shopping, I've gotten to catch up on about three episodes of Say Yes to the Dress, a couple episodes of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, but now I've taken control of the remote, while the MIL does her knee exercises. It might not be the most girly thing, but I really wanted to watch the Auburn vs. Alabama game. For me and my SEC-loving self, it's one of the biggest games of the season. For those that aren't up on their football lingo, that's the Southeastern Conference. These yankees up here just don't understand real football. As the carpool says, the Big Ten is like football in slow motion, and compared to the tradition and excitement of SEC, I agree. Yes, I did go to Michigan State, and I will cheer for them while cheering against Univ. of Michigan and Ohio State, my heart will always live in the SEC.

I will also argue that it's the best conference in the country. What other conference has as many top teams in it? Love it! Yep, I'm one of those girls that love some football, knows what the option is and a nickel defense, can yell at the refs when they make a piss-poor call because I know what the rules are, and loves it all!

Well, I was hoping to sit and enjoy the game, but the MIL wants me to work on her computer. I guess I should be a good DIL and go take a look.

*I'm an affiliate of Amazon, but I wouldn't write about something if I didn't love it. They really do have good prices going on.

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I'm thankful today

We now sit and watch football, but earlier today we were busy in the kitchen. With the mother-in-law laid up with a bum knee, my sister-in-law and I took over the kitchen to make a yummy Thanksgiving dinner. It turned out great, if I do say so myself.

To the left you can see the carnage that was left over, but first let me give you a tour of some of the things that were made.


For me it started on Tuesday night with the baking of the desserts - pumpkin caramel cheesecake with a gingersnap crust, apple dumplings and a pecan pie. I also took my first foray into bread with the preparation of the dough for the dinner rolls.

mixing

bread rising

Those items were then packed up in a cooler and transported up to Michigan with us. On the way, I talked to SIL to plan the rest of the dinner which would include corn pudding, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes and apples, and other sides. Oh, and the most important thing - the turkey! She came over to the house, and we got to cooking.

the starting of good stuffing

sweet potatoes with apples and walnuts

this is before they cooked

the Hubs got in on the action with a little potato peeling

Since I'd never ventured into bread-making territory before other than the occasional banana bread or zucchinni bread, I was a little worried. I mean the whole yeast thing just scared me a bit. Just in case we had brought some back-up Parker House Rolls, but we didn't need them. After baking one batch of my dinner rolls that look more like muffins, we decided to go with them. They were a hit...or the family was just trying to make me feel good. They ate them at least.

If you can't tell, I'm pretty proud of these little guys. Yeah, they aren't the prettiest rolls that'll ever appear on a dinner table, but they were pretty tasty. Next time though I might tweak the recipe because they were a bit heavy.

So everything was done, and we were ready to eat. So let's dig in.

At this time I had to put the camera down so I could get in on that action. I have to say I sure am glad I had some room in my pants because I ate. We all did. In the end there were only two survivors left at the table along with the carnage.

As you can see, we had plenty of food. I think we might have overdone it, but hey, it's Thanksgiving and who doesn't love Thanksgiving leftovers?

You would think we would be done at this point. Oh no...there's always dessert, and after taking a break, we dug into that as well.

pumpkin cheesecake

pecan pie

apple dumplings

Overall, I have to say good job to the SIL and me. Everyone seemed to have a great time and full bellies. We might have set the bar too high though. This sort of thing might become expected of us.

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To the in-laws house we go

The desserts are baked, the dinner roll dough is hopefully rising, the back-up dinner rolls are packed, and everything is in the car. So we're about to head out on our fun adventure north. The fun has already started with the arrival of my little friend.

My lovely AF showed up yesterday with a vengeance. I'd only had slight warning but not my usual cramps. It wasn't a slow start either with a slight tint of pink on the TP but a full on crimson tide. Today, the cramps have come. {sarcasm font} Yah for that! {/sarcasm font} So as I look forward to my nine-hour drive, I'm also looking at my leftover pain pills. I didn't use them all after my secret garden's invasion, and they are looking kind of lovely.

No, I'm not a prescription drug abuser. It's just that the usual pain killers don't take care of my cramps. Since going off the pill, they have decided to pain me even more than before - sharp shooting pain. I also know that those little lovely drops from heaven will knock me out for the car ride. I have absolutely no problem falling asleep in the car. The Hubs will tell you that if we are driving more than five minuts, my head falls back and my mouth falls open as I take a little catnap. It's so true.

If I'm not driving the carpool, I sometimes struggle staying awake on our 30 minute commute. I don't trust those guys enough to fall asleep. Knowing them, I would have something drawn on my face or they would throw things at me. I also have a tendency to drool, and no one needs to see that.

Anyway, I really do promise I'm not an abuser. Heck, these pills have been in my pantry for about two months now. I just need to dull the pain (both figuratively and literally).

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Taiders is going on his own adventure

Unfortunately, this little guy can't go to Michigan with us, but don't worry, the Taiders is going on his own adventure to MeMe and Bears. When we go out of town, he gets to hang out without a leash at my parents' house. That means chasing squirrels, running in the woods and lots of Cheez-Its. Not only will he get to hang out there, but he'll also get to see his girlfriend, Ginger. Taiders has had the hots for that blonde since he first set eyes on her. He doesn't care that she's more than quadruple his size or that she is about two feet taller than him. All he needs is an ottoman to stand on. We may never know exactly what sort of trouble he gets into, but I just hope he doesn't leave his mark everywhere he goes.

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