Health Challenge

I was watching TV yesterday (unlike my brave friend Dori, who gave it up for a week) and I saw a commercial about an upcoming news story. It was about a woman who followed Oprah's advice for one full year. Whu?! I was instantly intrigued. How in the world could she do that? Is she the most self-actualized woman in the world now? In any case, it inspired me to try something. In an effort to get healthy, I'm going to take one issue of Health magazine and do, for one month, at least 12 things that the magazine advises. I haven't looked through the magazine yet, but this mission will include taking advice on beauty products, exercise tips, eating tips, or anything else that I can do without breaking the bank or challenging my lactose intolerance. I'm excited. I can handle a month of doing something out of my usual routine. Plus it's winter and cold and boring... I need a project. So, stay tuned. I'll update my blog with my 12 chosen challenges soon.

Buh Bye 2009

2009 wasn't my favorite. While it brought some great things like my first wedding anniversary and resurrected & new friendships for which I'm incredibly thankful, it also brought a broken foot that tested my patience and almost ruined a vacation, cruddy hardships in my sister's life, the passing of my beautiful Aunt, more minor illnesses than I knew what to do with, and 25 unwanted pounds. So, I say adios 2009.

I do love a new year. It looks different, feels different. It brings a new page to fill with experiences and memories. It brings a renewed energy to do something good for yourself and/or for others. Resolutions aren't something that I usually even think about. I can't even stick with a book most of the time so I don't usually resolve to do anything. But I'm feeling a little wacky this year and am going to commit to try to attempt to maybe do some things this year. I'm putting these resolutions out there - on blast as the kids say - so that I can look back and hopefully not sigh and wonder when I'm going to stick with one thing that I commit to (even if it is just to put change in a change jar instead of the bottom of my sock drawer). Mike recently told me that it seems like I am real good at choosing things to stick to, but not so much on the follow through. Oh no he dihn't! But ya know, it's true, so I can't fault my loving husband for his tough love.

I've been hearing and reading a lot recently about not setting big ol' lofty resolutions along the lines of "Be happy." and "Lose 25 pounds.", so I'm going to make my resolutions nice and specific.



So, without further ado... My resolutions for 2010:

1) Do the Wii Fit Plus every day for at least 30 minutes. And don't just do the Hula Hoop game the whole time even if it is super duper fun.

2) Wear flat shoes as much as possible since they clearly make my back feel better. Dang my physical therapist and her bright ideas. Flats do help dramatically. I need the added height brought by a good pair of chunky Clarks, but I'm going to attempt to do what she suggested and "Embrace my shortness."

3) Count to ten and take a deep breath before speaking when I'm not sure what to say or when I'm peeved. A novel idea. Think before you speak. Gonna try that out and see what all the fuss is about.

4) Cut internet use down at home. No specific time amount here. Just need to spend more time talking and listening to Mike. He is feeling a bit like an internet widow.

I just got itchy typing those four out, so I'm going to stop there and move forward into 2010 with a fighting chance.

What are your realistic resolutions?

Happy New Year!

P.S. Can we please get rid of the phrase "That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!" now that it's 2010?

Shrimp Scampi

After cleaning out the fridge today and discovering that 75% of the fridge contents were tossable, I only had a few things to make for dinner. I decided to make shrimp scampi since I had the makings for it. Mmmmm Good. I love any kind of shrimp. Barbeque shrimp, boiled shrimp, lemon shrimp, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo, pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried...

Oh, and Tora - I watched Julie & Julia today and was definitely inspired to do something similar, but not with Julia Child's cookbook. Maybe a nice, safe Rachael Ray book to start. :P

The scampi picture doesn't do it justice. I need to practice my food art. Those beans look like they slid through an oil slick.

Shrimp Scampi



24 lg. uncooked shrimp (peeled, deveined, leaving tails on)
2 lg. garlic cloves, finely minced
1/2 stick butter
1/2 c. olive oil
1 c. white wine
1 tbsp. chopped parsley (I didn't have parsley. Skipped it.)
Lemon wedges
Italian seasoned bread crumbs

In a skillet, sauté a few spoons of bread crumbs, parsley and garlic in olive oil and butter until lightly browned. (Add garlic after a few moments so that it doesn't get brown.)

Add shrimp, marinade and juice from a couple of lemon wedges and cook until shrimp are pink (a few minutes) and juices in pan are bubbling hot.

Serve shrimp with scampi sauce for dipping, and garnish with lemon wedges.


Lip smackin' good!

Hey there and recipe

Hi there. So it has been a while since I've added a blog post. Along with the cold and dark evenings, winter brings laziness. But I thought I'd check in and say hello. As long as I'm here, I thought I'd blog about a yummalicious dinner that I made this evening.

Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas



It is actually kind of funny where I found the recipe. When I was diagnosed with acid reflux, I bought a book of recipes to help me know what to cook that wouldn't make the reflux worse. This enchilada recipe was from that book. I didn't tell Mike that though. If you like enchiladas at all, I recommend that you try this recipe. It is super easy and soo good. And that's saying a lot since I don't like cheese that much.

Ingredients:
Three boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can of salsa verde
1 c sour cream
4 cups chicken broth
8 oz reduced fat, shredded Monterey Jack cheese
4 medium sized tortillas
1/4 c chopped green onions
Canola cooking spray

Instructions:

1) Add chicken breasts to medium sautee pan. Cover with chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook for 20 minutes.
2) Let chicken cool in chicken broth.
3) Remove chicken from broth and shred with fork.
4) In a mixing bowl, mix chicken with cheese and onions and set aside.
5) Preheat oven to 375 and coat 9 x 13 pan with canola cooking spray.
6) One by one, heat tortillas in nonstick frying pan. Then, lay approximately 1/2 cup of chicken/cheese mixture down the center of each tortilla. Spoon chicken broth down the center over the chicken/cheese mixture.
7) Roll up each tortilla and place, seam side down, in the baking pan.
8) Cover the pan with foil and bake for 22-25 minutes.
9) Mix salsa verde and sour cream in a bowl. Spoon over enchiladas when done. Serve remaining sauce in a small bowl.

You gonna like it!

Start over again?

Can we start November over again puhlease? This has been one craptastic month. I was sick every single day with one thing or another. Not a cool thing to have happen during your birthday month. Although I glossed over it and thus didn't have to think about being one year closer to the big 4 dash 0. This month, I was told that I had a sinus infection, acid reflux, bad allergies, and the ever so popular swine flu. I weaned off of a medication that made my brain feel like it was bobbing and weaving and caused my friends and family worry more than a little bit. But I'm slowly but surely coming out of the fog and happy to be doing so. I always think that when people say, "At least you have your health" that it is the most accurate statement ever. Without your health, life is a tough nut. And then I get shot out the other side just in time for the holiday craziness to begin.

Wow. How many metaphors did I mix around up there?

Thanks for everyone's encouragement and love.



;P

Today's FAIL

I emailed some friends this today:

"I just got the biggest case of The Olds ever when I read this quote: “Aaron Carter: I Grew Up on DWTS”

How do you grow up on Dancing with the Stars? Hasn’t it only been on for like 4 years? *Shakes fist and sits back down on rocking chair*"

My friend emails me back and says, "FAIL. He has grown from this experience!."


Another funny FAIL...

I'd really love just one...

... week of feeling illness-free and I'd be overjoyed! I have been hit with some sucker punches lately interms of my health. It seems like ever since I broke my foot, it has been nonstop challenges. Bad back, Vitamin deficiencies, allergies, sinus infection, quit this med, take this med ... NOT fun. I am just as tired of thinking about it as you are of hearing about it. Trust me. :P But this is my blog and I'll cry if I want to. I would love a good month without waking up and going, "Oh crap. What is wrong NOW?"

I feel and like this a lot: (Turn the volume some down for this one and check out the otter that stands and falls sideways. Heehee.)



And... whining over. Thanks for indulging. Sorry if I've been a bum of a friend during the past few months. It's not you, it's me.

I am totally abusing these lately: ...

Not much has been new and exciting anyway. Mike and I are happy that the Tax Credit for first time homebuyers was extended (Thanks, Barry!) and hope to start looking in the Spring for a new house.

I turned 39. I think that it is definitely time to start reversing the years now.