your daily quote

There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.

Friedrich Nietzsche

things

Things that aren't cool before Halloween:

1. Temperatures in the low 30s
2. Snow
3. Salt covered parking lots
4. The beginning of perpetually gray skies (for the next 6-7 months)

Things that are cool always and forever:

1. Our local grocery store just started carrying Mount Olive Pickles!!  My life is complete!!

your daily quote

God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way.

C. S. Lewis

plain chicken

When I discovered Plain Chicken I decided to pretty much hijack all her recipes and try them.  I must say that I am thrilled with how simple and delicious they are.  Here are the ones I've made so far :)

I made Mississippi Sin on Saturday night.  Might be my favorite dip.  Ever.

Buttermilk Baked Chicken was Monday night.

And Family Style Calzone was tonight.

All of the recipes and photo cred go to Plain Chicken.  Sorry I'm too lazy to take and post my own pictures.  The last two recipes are great for week night dinners, the baked chicken requires minimal planning ahead.  Enjoy!

your daily quote

found here

your daily quote

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.

E.E. Cummings

kudos to my hubs

On Sunday we came across this article.  If you read this blog I would really appreciate you reading that article.  John works in that lab and I'm pretty freaking proud of him and the rest of the team for what they've accomplished.  I teared up when I read it.  It's a good reminder that what he's doing here and all the sacrifices we've made are really going towards something.  Love my husband and couldn't be more proud :)

the shred

Sorry I've been MIA so far this week.  When I get home from work I usually Shred, then cook/heat up leftovers, zone out on Facebook/Pinterest/stalking blogs, shower and go to bed.  Pretty exciting, right?  Yep, try not to be jealous.

Anyway, to the Shred report: it's intense.  I'm keeping it low key this week and sticking to the Level One workout.  I don't want to hurt myself too bad, ya know?  I started on Sunday and I'm happy to report that today is the first day that I didn't have to go down the stairs like a 94 year old woman.  That's how much the muscles in my thighs were aching.  And the first couple of days I could feel my abs (there's actually muscles there?) contract with every move I made.  But I really like it, like a lot.  I like that Jillian is intense and the workouts are rather quick.  I told my sister that when I approach the workout out I think "I can do anything for 20 minutes".  She questioned that.  To be fair, there are some things I couldn't do for 20 minutes but when it comes to exercise I like to think that I could.  Confidence is where it's at ya'll.  After each workout I really feel like I've given it my all and the workout has in turn kicked my butt.  A good kind of butt kickin.  So I'm definitely sticking with it, although I'll be taking Fridays off to kind of give myself a little break. 

your daily quote

found here

your daily quote

You just need to have a love for what you’re doing. It’s not about thinking that it’s the cool thing; it’s about really believing in it.

Anna Wintour

want(need) this now

So I came across these pretty young things the other day and I thought: "OMG TOMS!  And they're leopard print! Could this get any more perfect?!".  And the answer is yes, it could get more perfect.  The dang price could drop about $50 or so.  You know they're only $95 at Neiman Marcus.  No big deal, right?  Wrong.  I mean holy cow I really do LOVE these things.  Like I'm pretty sure I would wear them all the time.  Because they're freaking leopard print.  And TOMS.  But come on, I think like 3 kids should be getting a pair of shoes when it costs this much.  Just sayin...

Or I wouldn't mind having these Snow Leopard print shoes...

I mean they are so similar, yet a solid $40 cheaper.  Either way...Santa, if you're reading this...I would be a really happy gal if these came to me on Christmas morning...or a few a days after Christmas (cough cough Mom). 

weak in the knees

So I'm sad to say that I'm thinking about cutting back on the running.  Not that I was ever an extreme runner but it's going to have to be my secondary form of exercise because my knees are not taking too well to it.  Like, they really hurt.  Here's the deal; I was trying to run every other day and wasn't seeing the results I wanted.  After consulting John on the issue he told me that I was basically just running to sustain the shape that I was in, not really increase my endurance/strength.  Sooo I decided to run every day except Friday (rest day at the end of the work week, duh) and let's just say that didn't go too well.  It was a really hurt knee here, screaming shins there, and a couple of weak ankles every now and again.  And I'm sure that it doesn't help that I regularly walk a dog that thinks she was born to pull a sled through icy tundra.  I got to thinking and realized I didn't want to have to have knee replacement surgery before 30 just because I wanted to prove to myself that I could run.  Now I kind of feel like a failure (term is to be taken lightly...kind of) because I couldn't keep up the running but again with the knee replacements before 30.  Which brings me to this...

I've been looking around and this seems to be a pretty intense work out.  Which is what I want.  I want to be kicked into shape.  I want to be fit and strong not skinny minny.  So as you can see from the picture this is a 30 day workout.  Each workout is less than 30 minutes (totally doable) and guaranteed to whip me into better shape (per the reviews).  I saw where one blogger took her measurements (hips, legs, bust, tummy, etc.) before she began The Shred (let's call it The Shred, ok?) and continued to take (and post on her blog) them week after week while she continued the workout.  I'd like to do that and measure my success by inches lost/body changing instead of pounds lost/gained because I don't think that's always telling.  However, I will not be posting my measurements online, sorry people, I'm just not that into sharing personal details on the internets.  I will post my total lost inches (pllllease lose inches) at the end.  So that's what I'm thinking...what do ya'll think?  Have you done this workout or heard of it?  What do you know about it?  Am I total failure for not continuing to run?





*Obviously I will continue with The Shred or some other workout after the initial 30 days.

your daily quote

found on pinterest

flake

This is the song that made me fall in love with Jack Johnson.  I was listening to it today and thought I would share it with ya'll :)

books, lately

Great book.  It basically follows the lives of two best friends through three decades.  Focuses on female friendships and the other relationships in their lives.  I really love how you see the characters evolve throughout the decades.  I thought Hannah painted a very realistic picture of women's lives and all that really goes on with full inner dialogue and everything.  It reminded me a lot of an Elin Hilderbrand novel.  I really enjoyed it :)

Oh my goodness.  This book was described as a "psychological thriller" which of course hooked me.  And thriller it was, I've been glued to this book for the past few days!  Lots of twists and turns.  I mean, I literally couldn't turn the pages quick enough.  Here's a peek (taken from goodreads.com): 

So begins The Doctor's Wife, a stunning debut novel about four people and the cataclysmic intersection of their lives. Michael is a rising OB/GYN at a prominent private practice in Albany, New York; he also moonlights at a local women's health clinic. But Annie, his wife, has become tired of her workaholic husband's absences, and the soccer-mom lifestyle has worn thin. She begins a passionate love affair with bad-boy, fading celebrity painter Simon Haas an affair that quickly goes awry when Simon's wife Lydia, who is also the model upon whom he built his career, discovers the truth. Abortion, local evangelism, marital disenchantment, and the rifts of social class: Brundage takes on the fault lines of our era with a deft hand.

diva

If ya'll thought I could be a diva you clearly haven't met my dog.  She is the ultimate diva.

(probably barking at me because something didn't go her way)

She has her diva tendencies from day to day but she has been in full on Diva Mode the past two days.  You see, John's parents were here this past weekend (we had a wonderful time with them) and I am convinced that Dixie's best friend is John's mom, Kathy.  Dixie looooves her.  (Probably because she knows that Kathy suggested her cute little name.)  Nonetheless, Kathy loves Dixie very much too.  This translates to Diva that she has a playmate 24/7.  You should have seen her this weekend.  She wouldn't let Kathy sit down without a ball instantly being thrown in her lap.  If Kathy got up, Dixie got up.  Dixie would even go as far to bark (bad girl!) when Kathy didn't throw the ball as quickly as Diva wished. 

Now that they've traveled back to TN Dixie is in full swing.  Yesterday, when I tried to take her on a walk she refused and tried to drag me back to the house twice.  There were no loud noises, no impending danger...I'm guessing it's because her buddy wasn't with us and she simply didn't see the point in a walk.  We've got her pretty well trained that we'll play with her for a bit but after that she doesn't need to annoy the crap out of us with her ball.  Au contraire my friend.  She's been throwing the ball in my lap (read: face) all night tonight.  When I just let it stay there instead of throwing the sliminess back towards her she deliberately barked real loud-like in my face.  Umm no.  Not cool, Diva.  Just a few minutes ago she slumped down on the ground and flailed her body while simultaneously letting out the biggest sigh I've ever heard.  Poor Princess.  Nobody is attending to her every need.  Now I'm off to indulge her and do a little ball throwing...Lord help me.

your daily quote

If you don't like something, change it.  If you can't change it, change your attitude.  Don't complain.

Maya Angelou

your daily quote

found here

squirrel on the loose!

Since baseball has been on nonstop lately (side eye, husband) I happened to look up and catch this the other night (last night?). Sooo funny!  I'm sure the fact that I think this is hilarious is a defining moment in the official decline of my cool factor...oh well. Also, people are really trying to catch this thing? Really? I mean, really?  Yuck.  Just let him do his thing. 

your daily quote

Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.

John Lennon

the lion king 3D & new bucket list item

 

Ever since I saw the preview for The Lion King 3D at Glee 3D, I knew I had to go see it!  And seeing as it's John's fave Disney movie, I knew we had a date night in the near future.  Tonight was the night.  It was sooooo wonderful!  I think it was part-amazing story and part-reliving our childhoods.  I loved it, I really did.  And I may have cried...twice.  Once when Simba was introduced to the kingdom and once when (spoiler alert) Mufasa dies.  Sad times people, sad times.  But all in all it was definitely worth the inflated price for the 3D viewing.  Although, judging from the previews I won't be going to see any more 3D movies in the near future.  Slim pickins.  And can I get an amen on being sick that everything is 3D now?  

Also, during the movie I made a major life decision.  Which brings us to.....

18. When we have a child I will present him/her to our family as Simba was presented to the kingdom.  

No I'm not kidding.  No, I didn't consult John nor do I plan to, he will simply agree that it's a necessity.  Family, be prepared.  

your daily quote

found here

it got cold real quick-like

Which means this weekend has consisted of:

• chicken pot pie
• cleaning the house
• washing clothes
• plenty of coffee
• pumpkin spice muffins
• sweatpants and hoodies
• potato soup & cornbread
• warm autumn salad
• decorating the house for fall

Welcome fall!  Happy you're here :)

your daily quote

The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when one asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer.

Henry David Thoreau