Aloha Friday #1

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend.

I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

My question is: WHAT FOOD TASTES BETTER AS LEFTOVERS???
My response: Hands down, PIZZA!! To me there is just something about cold pizza that is so satisfying! I have been known to hide a few pieces to ensure I have leftovers the next morning ~

Leave your response in my comments and if you would like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link here.

Blushing...

After having healed my wounds from the Viking loss on Sunday I am glad to report some happy news!

My new friend Nicolasa over at Low Expectations honored me with this sweet award!! Nicholasa writes such fun blogs depicting her life as an elementary school teacher, crafter and doggie Mom to Daisy! She is also a fantastic photographer... She inspires me to push myself at being more creative in my own photography. Check out her blogs!!


Just like with all good things, I need to pay it forward and here is how this works:

1. List 10 things that make you happy.
2. Try to do at least one thing on the list today.
3. List 10 bloggers who brighten your day.
4. Those of you who receive this award are to link back to my blog and create your own list of happiness

10 things that make me happy:

1. My husband!! He is my best friend and I love sharing my life with him!!

2. My daughter! She is my sunshine and I am so happy that I get to call her my friend!

3. My son! He is my little spark plug - always makes me laugh!

4. My son-in-law! He brings such happiness to my daughter and he has such a great spirit!

5. My son's girlfriend! She makes my son so happy and she has the cutest laugh!

6. My health! I feel fortunate to be able to do things that I want to do!
7. Seeing family pictures around my home - They always make me smile at the good times!

8. FOOD!! I love to cook especially for others, it makes me VERY happy!

9. My home! Happy to have a warm home filled with such love!

10. My new blogger friends! I love how we have clicked and find new things to chat about daily!

Bloggers that brighten my day !!

Alicia @ New England Girl

Angie @ Messy Cars & Muddy Shoes

Brittany @ Our Little Family

Bridgette @ Life's a Beach

Amanda @ Amanda's Thoughts

Katie @ Katy's "Life"

Tracy @ Then I Got to Thinking

Kristen @ All the Drama


Thank you ladies for brightening my day !!!

VIKINGS + BRETT FAVRE = GAME DAY!!!

Well guys, it's game ON!!!

Big game today in New Orleanes...

I simply adore watching Brett play! He plays with a love of the game that you seldom see; he plays with a Pop Warner player's enthusiasm... I wish for this 40 year old to lead his team to another Super Bowl this year!

I will be glued to my TV on Sunday afternoon cheering on the Vikings, cheering on Brett and praying for another WIN!!!

Back to work... NOT!!!

Yesterday was my first day back at work following my tennis elbow release surgery. I had been off work since November 20th and was quite excited to return to my normal scheduled days!!

When my boss came to me after reading my Doctor's Release that stated NO repetive motion, she asked "why are you here?" I suppose I should have read the note!! DOH!!! After a call to verify with the Doc, it was decided that I had to return home for another 6 weeks! My job IS repetitive motion; I'm an Accounts Payable Technician.

I will continue to rest my arm, go to physical therapy and train for my 10k!! I am working on talking The Fireguy into running a half marathon as a team!! I think that I could do 6.5 miles by March???

The weather has been awful here in CA, so I am also busying myself with movies (LOVE The Redbox)!!!

10k Training update 1a

On January 1st I began a training program prepared for me by my 'Marathon Maniac' daughter.

The program is a 16 week program with the ending goal being me running a 10k (6 miles) race. I have run plenty of 5k's (3 miles) but have never gone beyond that. I don't consider myself a runner, so this is really a challenge for me; I have rather short legs and don't run very fast. I have changed my mindset to FINISH, which is my goal!

Although it is early into my training, I wanted to get my progress posted so that I can be held accountable :-) !!

With the help of Dailymile I am able to track my training ~ So for the first two weeks I have logged the following:

Running ~ 13.4 miles
Cycle ~ 41.9 miles
Other Fitness (Walking, elliptical machine, rollerblade) ~ 12.21 miles

Total of 67.51 miles first two weeks of training !!!! YEAH ME!!!

Check back for updates ~

You can't sleep... What do you turn to in hopes of falling asleep or embracing your insomnia?

I am about at my wits end... Do any of you feel ready to sleep around 8 o'clock in the evening? However, by the time you get the house closed down & get ready for bed and lay down you are wide awake??? I have tried the following:

* sleep aids (oral tablets) that I power right through, meaning they don't put me to sleep.
* tea (chamomile, lavender, mint) which only seem to make me get up and piddle a couple of times through the night
* staying up later - which is really tough since my alarm goes off at 4:10AM...

I can usually get in a couple hours of true sleep, but then around 11PM or 2AM I start tossing & turning and then my brain starts churning and I have a difficult time turning it off.

What I would give for a full 6-7 hours of uninterrupted sleep!!

Any suggestions????

White Chicken Chili & Urijah Faber

The weather has continued to have me craving soups!!

I had heard about White Chicken Chili and modified it for the crockpot. Nothing beats a Sunday holed up inside, watching football and smelling your dinner cooking all afternoon!!! The Fireguy was feeling a bit under the weather so we laid pretty low this weekend.

While I was learning HTML codes I had the Cardinals/Packers game on. What a game that turned out to be! I was really hoping that GB could pull off the win, but it was not meant to be. Next weekend I will be watching with undivided attention as the Vikings take on the Cowboys. I SO want Brett to get to the Super Bowl this year...

In my haste to serve up dinner (complete with corn muffins!) I neglected to take a picture ~ The photo below was taken from the internet at allrecipes.com. This recipe was super simple and very hearty!! For a cost of approx $12 we are going to get several meals out of it!!

I had dinner prepared to serve up in time for us to watch the WEC fights from Sacramento! We are not huge fight fans, but a local boy "The California Kid" Urijah Faber was set to compete. Urijah is really fun to watch and he ended up winning! The fight was set for three rounds and he won by submission with little over a minute left in round three. Good job Urijah~~
I hope you all had a great weekend too!

What Color is Your Mood Ring Right Now?

I was watching some old skool music videos today and took a little trip down memory lane. I thought about some of the 'hip' clothing and jewelry back then and how many are back in style now. One of the things that I suppose really never went "out' were mood rings ~ Funny little item... to think that you could possibly control your emotions by what color your mood jewelry turned! I had a good snicker, but thought I'd ask you this question ~ So what color are you right now?

Use the chart below to help you~

Black - Stressed, Cold, Uptight, Tense
Brown - Nervous, Anxious, Puzzled
Red - Energized, Restless, Distracted
Amber - Hopeful, Mixed Emotions, Unpredictable
Green - Amused, Upbeat, Cheerful
Blue - Relaxed, Calm, Love, Tranquil
Dark Blue / Purple - Passionate, Hot, Excited

P.S. Almost forgot to report that my mood ring is GREEN

Favorite Things - December

Yes indeed it is that time when I get to share some of my favorite things found in December!!

Since I have been wearing more makeup I wanted to be sure that I get my face REALLY clean and I got tired of leaving my face towel all dirty after one use. Thanks to my daughter (the knower of all things makeup!) I have found Neutrogena to produce a great product. One towelette nightly and my face is free of the days makeup.

These little babies are ONION GOGGLES and I simply cannot say enough about them. I love using onions while cooking, but can't stand cutting/chopping them as they get me all teary (usually pass that chore off to my Fireguy..) Trust me they are the best thing since sliced bread ~

Next up is a great wine... Beaujolais Nouveau!! This wine is sold but once a year at one of our local specialty stores. Usually brought out the week before Thanksgiving ~ The wine was recommended to me by a dear friend, and of course she did not dissapoint. Probably too late for this year, but you should check it out next holiday season.

And of course one needs a way to open their special wine, right? I received this amazing addition for Christmas; an Automatic Wine Bottle Opener!! Once charged this doll will open 30 bottles before needing a recharge. Simply hold the unit over the wine bottle and press a button; WAH LAH, wine is open! Simply perfect cork removal ~

pictures from:

amazon

jericowines

brookstone

A goal for 2010 !!!

I hope this posts comes across as positive and not negative!
(P.S. Remember to pause my player at the bottom of the blog to enjoy the video clip)

It is with such excitement that I share with you my desire to follow through with 'letting go' of things from the past. I'm not going to air my dirty laundry here, but I want to share that I will stop letting history run my life. For too long I have let things that people have said and done affect me personally. I try to make other people happy ALL THE TIME, sometimes by not being myself. I need to be true to myself and be me.. Let's face it nobody is perfect, we all have 'ghosts and skeletons' in our closets! I say so what!!! I have accepted my faults, changed what I needed to and have moved on.

I like me!! I love seeing the fruits of my labor in my children! I am walking forward, holding my head high and leaving it all behind!! NO MORE PAIN!!! I'm gonna let it go!!! Nobody sings it better than Tim McGraw, either...

The Unveiling...

I have decided to do Project 365!!! Basically the goal is to take and post a photo everyday for 365 days.

I want to commemorate my 50th birthday year by keeping a daily picture log of my life this year. Yes indeed, I am embracing my 50th year walking this earth (half of a century!!) and will forever be able to return to it on "Lollygaggin'". I am also hoping that this will give me the opportunity to learn more about picture taking and seeing the world around me!!

Please hop over to Lollygaggin and follow along, won't you?!?!?

~ Thanks to Nicolasa who inspired me to do this ~