Does life ever slow down? It seems like the older I get, the busier I become. Between work, school, church, callings, keeping up with Luke’s social life and everything in between I’m pining for spare time to do things I enjoy (or at least I used to.) Man, I don’t even have children yet…I’m in for a rude awakening! But basically this is just an excuse for me to make another list.
Things I’d like to do if I had more time:
-Exercise like a mad woman
-Volunteer at St. John’s Hospital
-Bake something every week and give it away
-Work on a tan (Can I work on it if I don’t have one yet?)
-Try more new healthy recipes and prepare 3 complete balanced meals/day
-Read for pleasure
-Make more friends
-Start new hobbies (I’ve been mentally toying with the idea of cycling for a while)
-Go rollerblading at the beach
-Pluck my eyebrows more than once in a blue moon
-Take an art class
-Be outside
-Entertain more guests
-Maintain a perfectly spotless home (seriously, how does it get so dirty with just 2 people living there? I’m terrified to think what adding kids will do!)
-Visit my grandparents more often
-Garden (this would also require space that we do not have)
-Find an equally dedicated sushi partner as both of mine have moved away
My next month of Saturdays is already booked up and I have finals, spring cleaning, friend’s wedding and out of town guests all to consider. Maybe one day I’ll have an evening free to pick up a good book!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Eating habits, "skinny" fat people and end of anemia era!
Warning: This will be a lengthy rant that may or may not make sense. Do yourself a favor and skip it.
I’ve decided that engagement and marriage have destroyed my healthy life routine. A few years ago, I made significant changes to my diet and exercise habits. Like eating balanced meals and snacks based on lean proteins, fruits/veggies and a complex carb every now and again. And basically I learned that exercise was more than just lifting a few weights or comfortably gliding on an elliptical for 20 minutes…did you know that exercise means getting your heart rate up, breathing hard, sweating (ew…I still try to avoid that) for more like 60-90 minutes? Other “rules” that I made up were saying goodbye to fast foods, red meat, drinking any sort of beverage with calories, etc. etc. I went from looking like this:
To this:
I also went through a lot of internal changes. I took a dance class, started running 5/10ks, climbing mountains, feeling [more] comfortable in a swim suit, being more confident and actually liking myself. All great things. Then I met Luke. When we got engaged, my schedule became super hectic. Somehow, my carefully planned snacks and meals all turned to Red Vines and Diet Dr. Pepper. (Is that really a bad way to go?) I’ve heard physical trainers talk about “skinny” fat people. Basically, there are people who spend their daily caloric intake eating foods with no nutritional value (apparently licorice falls into this category)…they aren’t gaining weight, but they don’t have the nutrients to support muscle growth or body functions.
After being on a licorice/caffeine diet for 6 months my body decided to rebel. I knew I felt tired all the time, but I assumed it was from working, being a full-time student, and planning a wedding. Some time after the wedding, I attempted to donate blood, but was rejected. Lots of blood tests, iron supplements and 3 months later, I was referred to a hematologist for iron infusions. Yes, I want to be a nurse, but that does not mean I like to get poked with needles! It just means that I’m ok with poking someone else with a needle! Anyways, iron infusions aren’t the most pleasant thing in the world. A. I don’t like to sit with an IV in my arm for 45 min. and then get an extra B12 shot B. I’d rather spend my $20 co-pay on something better, like shoes! C. One of the side effects that I experience is joint pain. It’s the weirdest thing. After an infusion, I’ll feel like a 90 year old grandma! My knees and elbows get all hurty and I can barely bend down to pick something up off the floor.
ANYWAYS…I’m declaring this to be the end of my anemia era! My levels are starting to pick up. I’m feeling much more like myself, having more energy and am starting to think about exercise (but let’s not push it, really people.) I’m hoping to start back up at the gym and probably start my “Couch to 5k” program again. It’s just very frustrating to have to start ALL over again. I’ve noticed that my lovely toned legs have turned to mush and that the scale is tipping almost 10 lbs heavier post marriage. So I really need to reel myself back in, get back into my healthy habits and be accountable to me. Since marriage, I’ve found our eating habits to have merged…like I’m eating more pizza and cereal at all hours of the day. No one, especially me, needs a bowl of Frosted Flakes at midnight. Anyone have any thoughts on maintaining a healthful diet while living with someone who is less inclined to follow the same routine? Yes, I know that I make the dinners so I can make something healthy, but I like both of us to be satisfied, plus its really fun to spontaneously indulge on naughty food with your significant other.
So goodbye anemia, delicious, but unhealthy foods and hello gym, whole food, energy, self-esteem and the Whitney as you knew her!
I’ve decided that engagement and marriage have destroyed my healthy life routine. A few years ago, I made significant changes to my diet and exercise habits. Like eating balanced meals and snacks based on lean proteins, fruits/veggies and a complex carb every now and again. And basically I learned that exercise was more than just lifting a few weights or comfortably gliding on an elliptical for 20 minutes…did you know that exercise means getting your heart rate up, breathing hard, sweating (ew…I still try to avoid that) for more like 60-90 minutes? Other “rules” that I made up were saying goodbye to fast foods, red meat, drinking any sort of beverage with calories, etc. etc. I went from looking like this:
To this:
I also went through a lot of internal changes. I took a dance class, started running 5/10ks, climbing mountains, feeling [more] comfortable in a swim suit, being more confident and actually liking myself. All great things. Then I met Luke. When we got engaged, my schedule became super hectic. Somehow, my carefully planned snacks and meals all turned to Red Vines and Diet Dr. Pepper. (Is that really a bad way to go?) I’ve heard physical trainers talk about “skinny” fat people. Basically, there are people who spend their daily caloric intake eating foods with no nutritional value (apparently licorice falls into this category)…they aren’t gaining weight, but they don’t have the nutrients to support muscle growth or body functions.
After being on a licorice/caffeine diet for 6 months my body decided to rebel. I knew I felt tired all the time, but I assumed it was from working, being a full-time student, and planning a wedding. Some time after the wedding, I attempted to donate blood, but was rejected. Lots of blood tests, iron supplements and 3 months later, I was referred to a hematologist for iron infusions. Yes, I want to be a nurse, but that does not mean I like to get poked with needles! It just means that I’m ok with poking someone else with a needle! Anyways, iron infusions aren’t the most pleasant thing in the world. A. I don’t like to sit with an IV in my arm for 45 min. and then get an extra B12 shot B. I’d rather spend my $20 co-pay on something better, like shoes! C. One of the side effects that I experience is joint pain. It’s the weirdest thing. After an infusion, I’ll feel like a 90 year old grandma! My knees and elbows get all hurty and I can barely bend down to pick something up off the floor.
ANYWAYS…I’m declaring this to be the end of my anemia era! My levels are starting to pick up. I’m feeling much more like myself, having more energy and am starting to think about exercise (but let’s not push it, really people.) I’m hoping to start back up at the gym and probably start my “Couch to 5k” program again. It’s just very frustrating to have to start ALL over again. I’ve noticed that my lovely toned legs have turned to mush and that the scale is tipping almost 10 lbs heavier post marriage. So I really need to reel myself back in, get back into my healthy habits and be accountable to me. Since marriage, I’ve found our eating habits to have merged…like I’m eating more pizza and cereal at all hours of the day. No one, especially me, needs a bowl of Frosted Flakes at midnight. Anyone have any thoughts on maintaining a healthful diet while living with someone who is less inclined to follow the same routine? Yes, I know that I make the dinners so I can make something healthy, but I like both of us to be satisfied, plus its really fun to spontaneously indulge on naughty food with your significant other.
So goodbye anemia, delicious, but unhealthy foods and hello gym, whole food, energy, self-esteem and the Whitney as you knew her!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Lemon Love Affair
I hosted Easter dinner at our apartment and had planned the menu well in advance…I like planning and list making. And planning usually means I get to make more lists, which is just a blissful thing. For dessert I decided to try a new recipe for lemon crème brulee. I picked about 2-3 lemons at my parent’s house, just enough for what I needed.
I should have known better than to leave them unguarded on the counter, but the next thing I know…they’re gone! What should I have expected? I live with a man who adores his citrus and the only thing he wanted when we spent our wedding gift cards was a citrus juicer. He quickly rectified the situation though, by bringing me a grocery bag full of lemons! Considering that I only used about 3 for my Easter meal, we had tons of lemons leftover.
Normally, I don’t use a lot of lemon in my cooking, but I’ve been seeking out lemon recipes to use up our stores. And let me say…I’ve fallen in love with lemons! Not just a little bit, but I’m head over heels, smitten with lemon! It can be such a light, delicate flavor, or it can pack a punch a really zing those taste buds. Basically, it’s heavenly. We’ve tried the lemon crème brulee (probably one of my new favorite non chocolate dessert recipes,) lemonade, lemon pasta, and my latest experiment: lemon cream puffs.
We still have quite the collection of lemons hanging out in our kitchen and I’m still on the hunt for recipes worthy of this divine fruit. So if you have any, please share!
Please note: This blog post and several yummy desserts were made possible by Robert and Vickie Erickson and their backyard lemon tree. Thank you!
I should have known better than to leave them unguarded on the counter, but the next thing I know…they’re gone! What should I have expected? I live with a man who adores his citrus and the only thing he wanted when we spent our wedding gift cards was a citrus juicer. He quickly rectified the situation though, by bringing me a grocery bag full of lemons! Considering that I only used about 3 for my Easter meal, we had tons of lemons leftover.
Normally, I don’t use a lot of lemon in my cooking, but I’ve been seeking out lemon recipes to use up our stores. And let me say…I’ve fallen in love with lemons! Not just a little bit, but I’m head over heels, smitten with lemon! It can be such a light, delicate flavor, or it can pack a punch a really zing those taste buds. Basically, it’s heavenly. We’ve tried the lemon crème brulee (probably one of my new favorite non chocolate dessert recipes,) lemonade, lemon pasta, and my latest experiment: lemon cream puffs.
We still have quite the collection of lemons hanging out in our kitchen and I’m still on the hunt for recipes worthy of this divine fruit. So if you have any, please share!
Please note: This blog post and several yummy desserts were made possible by Robert and Vickie Erickson and their backyard lemon tree. Thank you!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
A Horrible Blogger
Back in January I was really motivated to start blogging and fill in memorable events from 2009. In fact, I wrote a lengthy account of my Mt. Whitney adventure only to have it mysteriously vanish from my computer screen. In those 2 seconds my motivation for blogging died. Four months later, I'm having the urge to blog again so I'm going to attempt some posts. My expectations are pretty low. Yours should be too.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Honeymoon
Let's face it, any blog post titled "Honeymoon," makes you nervous. Or intrigued, if you're the nosy type. But don't worry, I'm sparing the world the juicy details, but I did want to report on our awesome adventures in Mexico!
We boarded our Royal Carribean cruise on and had access to unlimited food at any hour of the day. I think this may have been my favorite part of the trip. They had a buffet that was open 24 hours a day...it didn't really float my boat, but Luke loved it and committed himself to eat at least one hamburger per day. I was more partial to the fancy 3 course meals for dinner. The service was impeccable, everything was Sir or Madam. Each night we had our choice of any or all options of appetizers, entrees and desserts. I got to try escargot for the first time (definitely not a fan, but I've always wanted to try it.) I also loved the unlimited free soft serve by the pool area. I'm only sorry that I discovered it halfway through the cruise. But probably my favorite thing was ordering room service! Luke had thought ahead and brought his laptop with a bunch of movies and TV shows on our trip. Every night we would watch a movie, order hot chocolate and cookies and snuggle! Best vacation ever!
Our three ports were Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerta Vallarta. In Cabo, it was really hot. We walked around the markets and did a little shopping. Puerta Vallarta was my favorite port because we'd planned an excursion. We took a boat to the Marietta Islands to do some snorkeling. We also asked a local where we could get the best tacos in Puerta Vallarta. After an interesting journey, we settled for a taco shack near the best tacos in Puerta Vallarta. Now, when I say taco shack, I mean just that. No running water in these things. No plastic gloves. Just some Mexican lady smashing dough with her bare hands into tortillas. It's a public health nightmare. And yet, it was so delicious. I'm not sure what Luke ordered me...all I know was that I was in taco heaven with a Coca Cola light on the side.
It was so nice to get away after planning the wedding and spending a week together just us. It really was the perfect honeymoon!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Our Story
I had no idea that on March 14, 2008, I would meet my future husband. Had I known, I might have gotten my hair done or worn something different, but whatever, it worked out. Luke and I met at a pie party on 3/14 (get it, pie on pi day...haha?) hosted by a mutual friend. I only knew the hostess of the party, so I was drowning in a sea of small talk with "average LDS young single adults" that did not intrigue me whatsoever. Finally, two huge guys walk into the party and they immediately capture my attention. Up to that point, everyone else had been politely serving themselves individual slices of pie onto separate plates. These two guys walked in like they owned the place and began to shovel pie straight from the tins into their mouths. Now, that's what I'm talkin' about!
One of these guys was Luke, of course. Eventually he came and sat next to me on a couch and we started talking (only much later do I find out that he only sat next to me to play "wingman" for his friend to try and separate me from my friend.) And well, I wish I could say that we hit it off right away, but we really didn't see eachother for a few months after that.
Later that summer, I got kicked out of my home ward and started going to the single's ward again. I had started going on tennis dates with another guy in the ward when Luke invited himself to play with us. I was pretty irritated that he would just invite himself on our date...the nerve! (he actually had no clue it was a date, so he says.) So we ended up playing tennis once a week even after I stopped seeing the other guy.
Then in December, I was preparing for my company's holiday party. My best friend and I always get super dressed up and go with dates, but her date cancelled on her at the last minute and she needed a replacement....so I called Luke. Luke went with her and I went with my date. A week later, Luke asks me out on a date, which floored me! I had no idea he was interested.
We ended up driving out to Beverly Hills to see a movie called Happy Go Lucky for our first date. We watched the movie, got milkshakes and ended up talking in his car until about 3 am (just talking, I promise!) I guess he had a good time because we kept going on dates and well, we've been hanging out ever since!
One of these guys was Luke, of course. Eventually he came and sat next to me on a couch and we started talking (only much later do I find out that he only sat next to me to play "wingman" for his friend to try and separate me from my friend.) And well, I wish I could say that we hit it off right away, but we really didn't see eachother for a few months after that.
Later that summer, I got kicked out of my home ward and started going to the single's ward again. I had started going on tennis dates with another guy in the ward when Luke invited himself to play with us. I was pretty irritated that he would just invite himself on our date...the nerve! (he actually had no clue it was a date, so he says.) So we ended up playing tennis once a week even after I stopped seeing the other guy.
Then in December, I was preparing for my company's holiday party. My best friend and I always get super dressed up and go with dates, but her date cancelled on her at the last minute and she needed a replacement....so I called Luke. Luke went with her and I went with my date. A week later, Luke asks me out on a date, which floored me! I had no idea he was interested.
We ended up driving out to Beverly Hills to see a movie called Happy Go Lucky for our first date. We watched the movie, got milkshakes and ended up talking in his car until about 3 am (just talking, I promise!) I guess he had a good time because we kept going on dates and well, we've been hanging out ever since!
First Blog
Ok, so long story short, I've met the man of my dreams. He proposed and we're getting married Jan. 2, 2010 (precisely 59 days from now.) And well, I figured all the cool married couples start "cutsie little family blogs" that I just think are irresistable and I can't help but hop on the band wagon. Granted, I'm severely lacking in the cleverness/creativity department, but I figure maybe one day I'll want to reminisce on what kind of shenanigans Luke and I were up to prior to getting married.
I'm hoping that I'll figure out how to use this thing called Blogspot and go back and fill in some key areas of the past year or so in Luke and my courtship...
I'm hoping that I'll figure out how to use this thing called Blogspot and go back and fill in some key areas of the past year or so in Luke and my courtship...
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