Packages

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Andrea

For those I have to send packages too, I have not forgotten you! I’m gathering the proper envelopes and labels from the post office, which is what’s taking me so long. I had some of them already addressed when I realized that apparently there were directions on the envelopes that I did not follow. Who knew that one had to stand on their head and recite the Declaration of Independence backwards in order for the Post Office Gods to accept a package?! So I’m sorry that my 9th grade Civics class has failed me and I forgot a passage, thus rendering the packages unmailable (OHC HQ declares this a word.). I will get the packages out to you soon!

Except for TJ’s, they accepted his straight away. T, your OHC mail is on its way!

February 24th, 2009: Dinner

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Andrea

Whoa! I just typed December up there instead of February. Wha the wha??? That was weird. Sorry I didn’t post last night guys but I was just too wiped out.

Before leaving for MT class, I had a wee bit of yogurt for a snack.

yummy

I ate that while reading. 2% fage, bear naked, and some raisins. And then it was class time! So far my foot is doing okay but my shin guard irritates it. The shin guards also come down over our feet and that’s the part that rubs on my bruise. I had a guy in class last night say to me, “You’re looking really fit.” :lol: Aww he was so nice about it too and I could tell he was trying to be cautious because you can’t approach chicks about their weight, right? Too cute. I thanked him and then we started punching each other because it was time to start the drill.

February 24th, 2009: Breakfast and lunch

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Andrea

Hi guys! Happy Tuesday! Last night I got loads of reading time in because Scott was moving my office set up around for me. It took him awhile and actually added to his crankiness. When he was done and we were heading to the couch he said, “Not to be a bad influence or anything, but I’m having a beer.” Awww my hunnies.

drunk fish

He had a honey porter and I pulled out some fishies because I was a little snacky. I actually asked him to drink the honey porter so I guess I’m the bad influence! :p He was going to have a Christmas Ale but I wanted a sip or two and my mouth was saying honey porter. I had a few sips as we watched the first two periods of a Pens game and had a few fishies. By 10:30 I was calling it a night.

Oh 6am on Tuesdays, why are you so early in the morning? I had an Okay sleep last night, but there was some tossing and turning for a bit. I woke up freezing and was so annoyed when I came downstairs. Annoyed at the cold because I am so over cold. I got Rocks taken care of and then came in to make a warm breakfast! It was a toss up between oatbran or regular oats. I was leaning more towards regular oats since I’m low on oatbran but at the last second I switched to the oatbran.

Tuesday Tip: Take the time to read ingredients labels

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Andrea

Check it twice

This post is something I’ve had on the backburner to talk about and Olga helped push it to the forefront! She just happened to be reading the ingredient list on her box of All Bran when she discovered it had High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) in it. Naturally she was shocked because, hello, it’s All Bran. HFCS shouldn’t be anywhere near that stuff and yet there it was.

Ingredient lists can be an interesting thing and they haven’t been mandatory in the US for all that long. I actually remember when it started getting more focus and companies were grumbling because they didn’t want to list all the ingredients on the package. Sort of leaves you feeling a bit uneasy, doesn’t it? However, my Google-Fu is failing me and I can’t find out exactly when listing ingredients came into effect. If you know, please share!

Ingredients are listed by weight and this is true no matter what you’re looking at (I actually discovered this information when I was researching dog foods and was shocked to find that typically corn or some other filler was first in the list.), people food or pet food. This means that the first ingredient on the list makes up the majority of the product you are reading about. A good rule of thumb is that the first 3-5 ingredients listed on the package are generally what the product consists of. If sugar is listed as one of the top ingredients, bad news. And by sugar, I mean refined white sugar, corn syrup, or HFCS. HFCS is just bad all around, I don’t care what the corn growers tell you.

February 23rd, 2009: Dinner

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Andrea

Hi guys! Laundry is done (the clothes at least) but still needs folded. And I’m still going strong. I have some more things to work on and chores to get done which include cutting Scott’s hair and moving the office around. I’m also trying not to be stressed because some drama has popped up and I HATE dealing with drama in my life. It throws things out of whack and makes me want to run away somewhere and hide until it’s over. Preferably that “somewhere” has a hot tub and allows me to have access to wine. Anyway, I’m desperately trying to not let it stress me the hell out. In the middle of doing chores, I took a small snack break.

stay regular

Two prunes and three TrueNorth crack squares.

Scott and I were talking about (albeit very vaguely but I’m pretending it was serious because that makes me happy) planning out a road trip so we can start exploring some different areas for potential living. I love when we talk about moving because it means getting away from here and possibly finding our “forever” home and setting up shop. I’m ready to put down roots some place and make a “home”. The tricky part with road tripping is Rocks because he goes with us. So that means pet friendly hotels which aren’t always high quality if you get what I’m saying. But like I said, it was just in the “talking” stage but I still squeed a tiny bit inside.

February 23rd, 2009: Breakfast and lunch

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Andrea

Hi guys! Last night Scott and I made a dent in our DVR’d stuff or at least it seemed that way. :p We knocked out another Pens game and they finally squeaked out a win. Lord. Then we watched some other shows. While watching TV we had some red.

wine&chocolate

That is actually my second glass, and I only ate the the two maltballs, not the peppermint square. The maltballs were enough sweetness for me. At 10:30, I called it a night and headed up to warm flannel bliss.

I got up at 7:30 this morning to everything covered with a dusting of snow. Meh. I took care of Rocks and made myself some breakfast.

wake up

Coffee + creamer and a bowl of yogurt mess.

2% fage
Vanilla protein powder
1 TBSP of ground flax
Cranberries
Fruit and nut granola
1/2 a banana sliced

Very yummy and perfect this morning! I love having yogurt everyday and when I don’t have it, I sort of get bummed out. I did some work stuffs and basic morning stuff, checking email and that sort of thing. Then I headed up to get Scotty-love up for his work day. After that I got dressed and started busting ass around the house cleaning and organizing. I feel like my life is in constant clean-up, organize, and discard mode around here. Like it’s never ending. Our “give away” pile of clothes just keeps growing and growing. As soon as Scott takes pictures of everything for tax purposes, that stuff is gone.

February 22nd, 2009: Dinner

Posted on February 22, 2009 by Andrea

Hi guys! Scott and I braved the elements and got Rocky walked. It was nasty outside. Windy and snow changing to rain and then back to snow again. It’s been doing that most of the day. When I took Rocky out after dinner, the deck was covered in snow with a layer of ice under it. Loverly. So glad I decided on a summertime dinner theme! And it was a first for me and I admit I was a little nervous.

beer can chicken

Beer can chicken! Doesn’t it look funny sitting like that? Well Scott and I don’t drink beer from a can so it’s actually a pop can that I put beer in. We have 7up at the house in case we have someone over who drinks pop. I dumped out the 7up and filled the can half way with Killian’s. The chicken also had a nice rub on it that it got to know all day long in the fridge. In the bottom of the roasting pan was a little more beer, chicken stock, and some buffalo sauce. And carrots, celery, and a jalapeno just for an added kick.

February 22nd, 2009: Breakfast and lunch

Posted on February 22, 2009 by Andrea

Hi guys! I hope you are having a glorious Sunday. Mine is going by too fast. Boo! Last night Scott and I finished one of the most horrific Pens’ games we have seen so far this season. It’s best to just leave it in the past where it belongs.

lovely combo

I did have a glass of red and some dark chocolate last night. In that little bowl is some dark chocolate chips and a broken up square of 86% dark chocolate. I had a few chips and 1piece of the square. I made it to about 11pm and called it quits for the night. For whatever reason I was passing out.

I woke up at 7:30 this morning and pulled myself out of bed. It was cold and windy making me not want to go running. I took care of Rocks and then debated with myself about heading out for a run.

Shrimp and Scallops with garlic wine sauce

Posted on February 22, 2009 by Andrea

Must have

I grew up in a very small town in Southwestern PA. Very. Small. The kind of small town where the “fancy” restaurant is The Red Lobster (always pronounced as The Red Lobster because there can be only one.) that you had to travel 1/2 an hour to get to. One of my very favorite things to get at The Red Lobster was the scampi.

I always felt a little decadent and grown up eating scampi. I mean after all it did have wine in it right? It said so right on the menu! You have to be mature to handle a dish like that, or so I told myself. And when the pathetic little dish of scampi arrived with the overcooked super tiny balls of shrimp, I was in heaven. And you best believe I ate all that sauce too. “Come ‘ere cheddar biscuits and help a sister out!”

February 21st, 2009

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Andrea

Hi lovies! I know it’s another full day recap post but I didn’t have time to post breakfast before leaving for MT class this morning.

I begrudgingly got up at 7am this morning. That’s what I get for staying up past my bedtime to read! I ran Rocks out for his potty run and man it was cold. Brrr! I came back in and has some coffee.

wake up

While sipping on that I surfed some blogs and also did my post from last night. Eventually I got hungry and made some fuel before class.

fuel

Hello oatbran! I made a little more this morning using the 1/2 C of oatbran to 1 1/4 C soymilk. I ended up adding another splash of soy at the end because it was a bit on the thick side. There is a TBSP of ground flax and a small scoop of vanilla protein powder mixed in. And this pot I split with Scott (which I do with all my oats and oatbran breakfasts). My mix-ins were sliced banana, cranberries, and a small scoop of dark chocolate PB. It was so yummy! Again, could have used more soymilk but otherwise very pleasing and I wolfed down that entire bowl. Yum!