One more thing - 20% off from my website on all Gold Canyon orders placed online plus FREE SHIPPING for all items until December 17th.
www.mygc.com/oodles
Enter Promotion Code DEC25 at checkout
Find Gold Canyon candles,holders, pod warmers, Emerge body line, Homeology cleaning products - all on sale!
Some of my favorite Gold Canyon scents are:
Days of Christmas
Boughs and Berries
Spruce and Citrus
Frosted Woodland
Warm Apple Crisp
Monday, December 15, 2008
Did you miss me?
Yeah - I didn't think so. I am not sure who even reads this thing but I decided I needed to fess up to the horrible record I have accumulated in the past few weeks. If for no one else, it is accountablility to myself.
First, let's start with vacation...packing my bags I was adamant that I had to have my workout gear. I was going to be one of "those" people on vacation. Shoes - check, sports bra - check, cute spandex outfit - HELL NO. I am not insane or trying to make anyone sick and my 4 weeks of training have not allowed me the use of spandex - yet (except sometimes when I am completely alone and in my basement and decide to jog in my sports bra but that is mainly because my laundry is never completely done and by saving one t-shirt from the pile it could be the difference that allows me to wash, fold and put away everything. Too much information? I thought so...)
So I put in a few shorts and t-shirts and told myself I would work out 3 -4 days while in paradise. We arrived. I scoped out the fitness area, strutted around, made small talk with one of the other fitness crazies and headed off to consume a margarita vowing to be back soon. I did return, once. ONE lousy day is all I can claim. We walked a lot so that counts for something but the buckets of Corona (not even light) and guacamole sabatoged any and all efforts to "lose weight" while on vacation. Bet you couldn't see that coming could you?
Which brings me to last week. I return to Iowa rested, tanned, rejuvenated and ready to get back on track. So what happened? Nothing. Zilch. I have no idea why. I didn't even pretend to try last week. I hosted a cookie baking party one night and tried one of every item we made. I quickly learned I needed to freeze those babies or I would be in huge trouble. They are in the freezer but I know they are there and I swear I hear them screaming "eat me, eat me" from their icy cave.
Today is a new day. Freezing cold (although not like Fargo - sorry Carrie!) and a great day to hibernate in my basement, jogging on the treadmill and thinking of anything but food or sweets. Especially those Almond Shortbread Cookies in my freezer.
And if it isn't enough to be beating myself up, I have a substitute coworker who may be the death of me. He is a runner and I mean a RUNNER. He owns a running store for pete's sake. Why me? He likes to run outside (even in the winter.) He rides his bike like a madman -snow, ice, rain it doesn't matter. Kind of like the old US Postal Service motto. He snowshoes, cross country skis and bottom line LOVES to exercise. I made the mistake of mentioning my "training" and now he thinks I am one of "them." It may pay off in the future but right now I am hoping for a snow day so he and his bike are stranded at home.
Pathetic. I am well aware...
And just in case you were interested...
Almond Glazed Sugar Cookies
- These taste like shortbread! - Yum
1 cup softened butter
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp Almond extract
2 cups flour
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine butter, sugar, and almond extract. Beat until creamy. Reduce speed to low, add remaining ingredients; mix.
Roll into 1 inch balls. Flatten with glass dipped in sugar.
Bake 7-9 minutes. Cool then frost with glaze. Decorate as desired.
Almond Glaze
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 tsp Almond extract
4-5 tsp water
Sliced almonds
Stir together, decorate cookies as desired.
First, let's start with vacation...packing my bags I was adamant that I had to have my workout gear. I was going to be one of "those" people on vacation. Shoes - check, sports bra - check, cute spandex outfit - HELL NO. I am not insane or trying to make anyone sick and my 4 weeks of training have not allowed me the use of spandex - yet (except sometimes when I am completely alone and in my basement and decide to jog in my sports bra but that is mainly because my laundry is never completely done and by saving one t-shirt from the pile it could be the difference that allows me to wash, fold and put away everything. Too much information? I thought so...)
So I put in a few shorts and t-shirts and told myself I would work out 3 -4 days while in paradise. We arrived. I scoped out the fitness area, strutted around, made small talk with one of the other fitness crazies and headed off to consume a margarita vowing to be back soon. I did return, once. ONE lousy day is all I can claim. We walked a lot so that counts for something but the buckets of Corona (not even light) and guacamole sabatoged any and all efforts to "lose weight" while on vacation. Bet you couldn't see that coming could you?
Which brings me to last week. I return to Iowa rested, tanned, rejuvenated and ready to get back on track. So what happened? Nothing. Zilch. I have no idea why. I didn't even pretend to try last week. I hosted a cookie baking party one night and tried one of every item we made. I quickly learned I needed to freeze those babies or I would be in huge trouble. They are in the freezer but I know they are there and I swear I hear them screaming "eat me, eat me" from their icy cave.
Today is a new day. Freezing cold (although not like Fargo - sorry Carrie!) and a great day to hibernate in my basement, jogging on the treadmill and thinking of anything but food or sweets. Especially those Almond Shortbread Cookies in my freezer.
And if it isn't enough to be beating myself up, I have a substitute coworker who may be the death of me. He is a runner and I mean a RUNNER. He owns a running store for pete's sake. Why me? He likes to run outside (even in the winter.) He rides his bike like a madman -snow, ice, rain it doesn't matter. Kind of like the old US Postal Service motto. He snowshoes, cross country skis and bottom line LOVES to exercise. I made the mistake of mentioning my "training" and now he thinks I am one of "them." It may pay off in the future but right now I am hoping for a snow day so he and his bike are stranded at home.
Pathetic. I am well aware...
And just in case you were interested...
Almond Glazed Sugar Cookies
- These taste like shortbread! - Yum
1 cup softened butter
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp Almond extract
2 cups flour
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine butter, sugar, and almond extract. Beat until creamy. Reduce speed to low, add remaining ingredients; mix.
Roll into 1 inch balls. Flatten with glass dipped in sugar.
Bake 7-9 minutes. Cool then frost with glaze. Decorate as desired.
Almond Glaze
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 tsp Almond extract
4-5 tsp water
Sliced almonds
Stir together, decorate cookies as desired.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Who doesn't love broccoli trees??
Direct from Wikipedia (the web's source for anything and everything. What did we do before the web? We actually had to look things up in books or just make it up! But I digress - on to broccoli)
..."Broccoli possesses abundant fleshy flower heads, usually green in color, arranged in a tree-like fashion on branches sprouting from a thick, edible stalk. The large mass of flower heads is surrounded by leaves." Mm, mm good! This is my snack of choice this week. I stocked up on the jumbo bag at Sam's Club which is enough broccoli for an army. If I can eat all that, I deserve to lose at LEAST 5 pounds this week.
I have decided eating healthy is a lot of work. Fresh foods mean more trips to the grocery store which never has you leave with only what you came for but usually a whole lot more! Kind of like when you go to Target for toilet paper and end up with $120 worth of other "essentials." Those bullseye people know what they are doing. I know, steer clear of the center aisles where all the processed goodness lies and stick to the perimeter.
Today officially kicks off Week 2 of my Couch to 5K training. My first workout will be tonight for the next level. Woo hoo! I can imagine what I will be thinking when I get to week 9 - "what a pansy complaining about those first workouts", then think about it when I start the 1/2 marathon training I might not even recognize my thought pattern anymore. I will become a woman of steel! Hear me Roar!!
Stay strong friends -
..."Broccoli possesses abundant fleshy flower heads, usually green in color, arranged in a tree-like fashion on branches sprouting from a thick, edible stalk. The large mass of flower heads is surrounded by leaves." Mm, mm good! This is my snack of choice this week. I stocked up on the jumbo bag at Sam's Club which is enough broccoli for an army. If I can eat all that, I deserve to lose at LEAST 5 pounds this week.
I have decided eating healthy is a lot of work. Fresh foods mean more trips to the grocery store which never has you leave with only what you came for but usually a whole lot more! Kind of like when you go to Target for toilet paper and end up with $120 worth of other "essentials." Those bullseye people know what they are doing. I know, steer clear of the center aisles where all the processed goodness lies and stick to the perimeter.
Today officially kicks off Week 2 of my Couch to 5K training. My first workout will be tonight for the next level. Woo hoo! I can imagine what I will be thinking when I get to week 9 - "what a pansy complaining about those first workouts", then think about it when I start the 1/2 marathon training I might not even recognize my thought pattern anymore. I will become a woman of steel! Hear me Roar!!
Stay strong friends -
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
"You're doing WHAT?"
Oh yes - that is the response I have been getting.
Me: "Guess what? I am running a 1/2 marathon next October."
Others: "You're doing what?"
"Why?"
"Are you crazy?"
Sometimes they even ask "Whose idea was that?" - but I won't throw any of my friends under the bus. I will take full responsibility for the lapse in judgement when deciding this would be a great bonding experience. I am sure it will be if I am alive at the finish line to see it!
The power of positive thinking...I think I can, I think I can.
Have no fear personal trainers...I have committed myself to doing this. The fact that I am even telling people that I am planning on this adventure is one hurdle crossed. I did my first week of workouts from Couch to 5K all 60 minutes total of them. It is somewhat pathetic when you look at how little that really amounted to and how much I complained about gearing up to do it. It was 60 minutes - I spend that much time in my morning beauty routine. Good lord - buck up camper!
Me: "Guess what? I am running a 1/2 marathon next October."
Others: "You're doing what?"
"Why?"
"Are you crazy?"
Sometimes they even ask "Whose idea was that?" - but I won't throw any of my friends under the bus. I will take full responsibility for the lapse in judgement when deciding this would be a great bonding experience. I am sure it will be if I am alive at the finish line to see it!
The power of positive thinking...I think I can, I think I can.
Have no fear personal trainers...I have committed myself to doing this. The fact that I am even telling people that I am planning on this adventure is one hurdle crossed. I did my first week of workouts from Couch to 5K all 60 minutes total of them. It is somewhat pathetic when you look at how little that really amounted to and how much I complained about gearing up to do it. It was 60 minutes - I spend that much time in my morning beauty routine. Good lord - buck up camper!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Work out, schmerk out
Welcome!
I am a newbie - I admit it - almost like it should say "virgin" next to my name or something -
I am slowly entering the world of technology! I realize it is a much more lengthy process for me than most but the way I see it, everything will continue to change and I will have time to catch up eventually! (I can't believe I wrote that - I sound 80 or something. What kind of thinking is that???)
Speaking of technology, I have been considering a new cell phone with the key pad or "qwerty" as true techie people know it since I am just beginning to realize the great benefits of "texting." It wasn't too long ago that I chastised the texters of the world and now they can look at me and say "told ya' so." Yes, it is addicting and Yes, I actually do enjoy a good text message. There, I said it - Hypocrite - I know. I have even discovered the joy of NOT spelling out entire words like L8R or LOL! It used to annoy me and I was contributing it to the downfall of society when adolescents didn't spell things out - what happened to the 3 R's in education? Are they too lazy to spell out "you are" but things change and sometimes we eat crow. "UR rite" and I am wrong!
Which brings me here to a blog...
I wonder what I should do with it? For now, I think it will really be as it is named - a lot of nothing! One of my favorite words for some reason is oodles so there you have it - oodles of nothing. I apologize in advance if you have high hopes for something extraordinary. I may find a recipe or two to post, maybe relate a funny story or two but solving the issues of the world is highly unlikely.
One thing I can guarantee is that I will use this as my personal sounding board for motivation to work out. I need you! You see I have these awesome friends who have convinced me to take the plunge and train for a freakin' 1/2 marathon. What??? I like to complain, am horribly out of shape, am 34 years old and have decided to do WHAT? I have 11 months to go and already I am thinking "what have I gotten myself into???" This oughta be good - stay tuned.
Your posts are welcome - they might help me see through the craziness.
P.S. - I did my first workout from Couch to 5K tonight - I can see myself crossing the finish line - arms in the air just like on Chariots of Fire - go ahead, sing the theme song. You know you want to!
I am a newbie - I admit it - almost like it should say "virgin" next to my name or something -
I am slowly entering the world of technology! I realize it is a much more lengthy process for me than most but the way I see it, everything will continue to change and I will have time to catch up eventually! (I can't believe I wrote that - I sound 80 or something. What kind of thinking is that???)
Speaking of technology, I have been considering a new cell phone with the key pad or "qwerty" as true techie people know it since I am just beginning to realize the great benefits of "texting." It wasn't too long ago that I chastised the texters of the world and now they can look at me and say "told ya' so." Yes, it is addicting and Yes, I actually do enjoy a good text message. There, I said it - Hypocrite - I know. I have even discovered the joy of NOT spelling out entire words like L8R or LOL! It used to annoy me and I was contributing it to the downfall of society when adolescents didn't spell things out - what happened to the 3 R's in education? Are they too lazy to spell out "you are" but things change and sometimes we eat crow. "UR rite" and I am wrong!
Which brings me here to a blog...
I wonder what I should do with it? For now, I think it will really be as it is named - a lot of nothing! One of my favorite words for some reason is oodles so there you have it - oodles of nothing. I apologize in advance if you have high hopes for something extraordinary. I may find a recipe or two to post, maybe relate a funny story or two but solving the issues of the world is highly unlikely.
One thing I can guarantee is that I will use this as my personal sounding board for motivation to work out. I need you! You see I have these awesome friends who have convinced me to take the plunge and train for a freakin' 1/2 marathon. What??? I like to complain, am horribly out of shape, am 34 years old and have decided to do WHAT? I have 11 months to go and already I am thinking "what have I gotten myself into???" This oughta be good - stay tuned.
Your posts are welcome - they might help me see through the craziness.
P.S. - I did my first workout from Couch to 5K tonight - I can see myself crossing the finish line - arms in the air just like on Chariots of Fire - go ahead, sing the theme song. You know you want to!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)