Gratitude, Day 2

Good morning and happy Monday!

In today’s installment:

• Letting someone in
• Finding time to breathe
• Day #2 of 30 Days of Gratitude

Yesterday I did something that I don’t know I’ve done before.  I let someone do something for me that I was perfectly capable of doing on my own. 

I know your jaw is on the floor.  Pick it up. 

Yes, I let the man help me.  In my home.  It was eye-opening.  And efficient.  While he put the bookcase together, I got some other things done that moved along my completion of Mission Office Organization.  Now, I am sitting in my organized office with everything in its place feeling mighty proud of myself.  And cared for. 

He saw that there were some things that I wanted to get done and did not hesitate to offer his assistance.  Sure, part of it is that he loves my office (really – it’s about as much office as it is library - and I’m fairly sure he just see’s wall-to-wall books and a collection of Teacher’s Editions of English textbooks, which he’s completely taken with)and thinks it’s a great place to hang out.  It’s also that he’s just a good guy who wants to help. 

Well, blow me over.  Not sure what has my head spinning more…that I’ve landed in the company of a man that is not only smart, funny, reads more than me, is taller than me AND is genuinely nice or that I allowed this smart, funny, tall, and nice reading gentleman to do something for me.  Whatever it is, I know it’s me breaking through some boundaries and growing.

In other news…

In the midst of me being in task-master mode this past week, I came upon a piece of art that spoke to me in many ways.  It also happens to be a DIY project I stumbled upon while cruising Pinterest.  I took some time yesterday to get started with step one…gathering snippets of food pictures.

So, what else could I do on a glorious Sunday afternoon but camp out on the living room floor surrounded by crashing piles of Bon Appétit, Cooking Light, Clean Eating and Whole Living and cutting out pictures of delectable delights.  So as not to be completely uninspired, I put on “Julie & Julia” for my entertainment pleasure.  Oh, it was perfect.

Which brings me to…

30 Days of Gratitude, Day #2:

1.      Learning to grow beyond my own boundaries

2.      Taking time to do something not on the to-do list

3.      The man that gently helped me break down a wall of my own making

Go get ‘em, tigers!

Sick Day

Originally Published April 25, 2012


I woke up with a sinus infection, it just started raining, and I'm determined to make it through this ON PROGRAM. 

I did a quick trip to the store for some comfort food - some Sunrise Orange Crystal Light (which I dilute the daylights out of...there's calories in that stuff - the nerve!), some romaine lettuce to throw my buffalo chicken on (I really do believe that spicing things up helps clear the nastiness out) and a 12 pack of Diet Mug Root Beer.  

That's right.  There were no donuts, ice cream, Hi-C Orange Drink, or monster breakfast sandwiches on my list - and they didn't even sneak in the cart - despite the lovely stuffed head that had me feeling like I was weaving through the store like a drunk!  Nope...just things that I can happily include in my day(s) no guilt and lots of pleasure.  I did tell you yesterday what I do with that Root Beer, right?  Oh, it's just fabulous!

Now, I'm going to run out for 5 minutes to pick up discs 1 & 2 of season 2 of Downton Abbey that are waiting for me at the library.  Then, it's pajamas, big sweater, fleece blanket, chai latte with hot tea, my chair and the dvds...with a nap or two thrown in for good measure!

Drinks and Veggies and Buffalo Chicken, Oh My!

Originally Published April 19, 2012


Ah...it's a happy Day 4 and all is right in my world.  I'm down 8.7 since Monday and I've sailed through the day.  I even got a nap in this afternoon.  

I've been playing around with my drinks this week.  I have a PILE of Chai Latte because I ordered a bunch of the Coffee House Gift Sets with my last order in an attempt to be economically savvy.  Every time I have a Chai Latte, I try it with a different tea.  Well, my new favorite is Apple Cinnamon.  Oh my!  That is tasty.  Also, I've always made my meals into shakes...but for the past two days I've been doing my Cappuccino, Hot Cocoa and Chai Latte as intended...hot.  It's been chilly and damp in these parts, so it's helped to keep the chill out of my bones.

I made a trip to the grocery store tonight and you wouldn't believe the stockpile of frozen veggies I came home with.  There was a 10 for $10 sale and I went a little crazy.  Add to that the coupons I had for 2 other brands and I am set for greens for a while!  There is a lot of mashed cauliflower in my future...and that's a-okay with me!  And, I got in a whole lot of walking because I played a little game - alternating sides of the store on my list and crossing the store about 10 times to complete my list.  Those steps added up and the fitbit is very happy!

Right now, I have some Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken going in the Crock Pot to cook overnight.  Oh, how I love that stuff!  I used a 3-lb. bag of frozen chick breasts, so I'll be freezing some of the final product for future meals.  I know that I'm going to go crazy when I can start smelling that hot sauce - but I'll be so much less crazy when I have dinners prepared when I go back to school next week.

Okay...time to kick back with my Hot Cocoa and a dvd from the library.

Happy Medifasting, friends!