What's the point?

So this morning I colored my hair, went to the gym, ran 2 miles on the elliptical, then did  60 crunches at home, took a shower and ran some errands with my dad.  Fairly productive, right?

Then, we stopped at Cinnabon on the way home, and I ate one of these-

For lunch.

Then when my husband got home he wanted this-

For his lunch, which of course I had to have a bite of.


Then for dinner I made this-

Back to the Gym in the morning I go! Normally it's every other day, this week, I'm going to need a few extra days, from today's eating alone! Especially since today was 81, and I laid out tanning in the back yard (inside the privacy fence of course) and felt like I needed to suck in my stomach the entire time, just for my own peace of mind.  Tomorrow will be a better day!

Sunday thoughts

The Blue Sky and Sunshine out our Den Window

Two quotes from church this morning....

From Sunday School/Lifegroup-

"Forgiveness is giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me"

Sermon-

"The cross shouldn't just be a symbol of a religion, but of a relationship"

Now I'm off to find something to do outside on this beautiful sunny, Sunday afternoon. :)

Whine Warning

So I'm probably going to start making people mad at me, but I don't have enough stuff to do, literally.

I'm only working about 18 hours a week.  We don't have our own place, so I only have two rooms and a bathroom I have to take care of.  I only have to cook once or twice a week because other nights everyone's working or my mom cooks for everyone.  I'm meeting with one new student tonight, but as of right now, that's all I have.  We got involved in a couples Sunday school class, but outside of class they only really have every other week to monthly social things.  My husband is just starting to get on the schedule for work, so he's home 4 days a week and bored out of his mind.  Because of the lack of work, there's a major lack of funds, so I can't really pick up a new hobby, or go shopping, or do much.  Because of the nice yellow coating of pollen torturing the area I'm finding it difficult to work out, even indoors, as sneezing while doing almost any form of exercise makes it impossible to breathe, not to mention makes you feel like you're going faceplant while running on an incline!

I need more to do. More work, more housework, more ministry, just more.....

Contentment seems to be the lesson of the month, I just seem to be a slow learner.

Yes, today I'm in a whiny mood of discontentment, I'm working on it, but rather than make my husband feel bad about everything he wants more of too, I'm whining on here, instead of to him, sorry, but I don't have to live with my readers, if you're annoyed it's not so painful.

What do you think?

Is it a good thing when your new boss, of 2 1/2 weeks, keeps giving you extra hours and switching you with other people so you're there when they have the most people in the store?

Of course since I have to buy at least one dress by tomorrow night, as we're focusing on dresses in the store for the next week and I can't just wear the same two over and over again, for 6 shifts (could, but won't) the extra hours are quite helpful!

Happy Birthday to me

So today is my birthday, not that I want any hype made of it, because seriously, I don't, I hate making a big deal of it, but it is a somewhat big one.  I hit my quarter century today.....

We celebrated by opening a new checking account, paying bills, running errands, and so forth.... Don't you just love being a responsible adult?

My husband got me one of my favorite old classic movies....

 

And we got my mom to take a few new pictures of us. I'm still a little nervous about posting pictures of us after my last blog, but I really want to share, because I like the way they came out, but still, okay, maybe one, shrunk really tiny....

And now we're going out to dinner at a Texas Steakhouse, so I've got to run, and enjoy, and get over my online stalker freak phobias someday.

Treadmills, Taco Dip, Tanning and the Remains of a Raspberry Bundt Cake

So this morning I actually got to run in a fun way! The last few times I've gone to the gym the track (1/8 mile indoor) is always full of really old people walking, in groups, two and three across and sometimes using walkers.  Do you know how hard it is to keep any kind of decent or even pace when you're weaving in and out around 80 year olds? Not fun! So, last week I tried the treadmill, kind of, (and by kind of, I mean massively!) hated it! I ran for what felt like 4 hours, looked down at the counter thing and discovered it had only been 14 minutes.  I used to take hour runs all the time (7 years ago) and 30 minute runs have never been a problem, I usually stop there due to lack of time, not energy and motivation.  So, basically, treadmills are out, two runs like that and I gave up, pathetic I know.  So, Tuesday I went to the gym and tried an elliptical instead, as all the treadmills were taken and the walker trio (what I refer to the three little old ladies who always come together) were on the track.

Let's just say, it was amazing!  I started the resistance kind of low and did one song on my Ipod with the forward motion, one song backwards, and repeated to 2 miles.  It was amazing! I went back today and the results were the same. I'm so doing that from now on, maybe only every two or three days though as I can already feel the tops of my thighs from the backwards, but, if it can burn that much 2 hours later it must be doing something.  The nice thing was, my heart rate didn't even get up all that high for me, like 135, which I don't really feel that much.

So, I rewarded myself with some of this...

(Taco Dip)

For lunch today.  And then I'm going to go lay out in this....

And get some sun.


And maybe, if I decide to treat myself, I'll eat some of this....

(Raspberry Bundt Cake)

Before work tonight as a reward.  Don't worry, that's not my piece, that's all that's left from making it Wednesday night.

Taco Dip Recipe-
1 Block 1/3 Fat or Fat Free Cream Cheese
1 Can Hormel Fat Free Turkey Chili with Beans
1 8oz Bag Shredded Taco/Mexican Blend Cheese

Soften Cream Cheese in Microwave for one minute in the bottom of a glass pie pan.  Spread evenly. Cover in can of Chili and Shredded Cheese. Microwave another 4-5 minutes or until cheese is bubbling.  Serve with Tortilla Chips.

Raspberry Bundt Cake Recipe-
1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
1 Stick Softened Butter
3 Eggs
1/2 Cup Vanilla Coffee Creamer
1/2 Cup Milk
1/3 Brown Sugar
Dash of Cinnamon
Dash of Nutmeg
2 Containers (little plastic, half pints?) Raspberries.

Preheat Oven to 350. Generously grease and flour Bundt cake pan.
Beat first five ingredients.  Fold in Sugar and Spices.  Fold in half of the raspberries.  Pour into greased pan.  Cover batter with remaining raspberries and push into batter with spatula.  Bake 40-45 minutes, or until it passed the "toothpick test".  Let cool 10 minutes, flip out of pan and let cool on plate or wire rack for an hour to drizzle with frosting, or sprinkle with powdered sugar immediately.

Enjoy!

While my

Duke Blue Devils are #1 in their region for the NCAA March Madness Tournament

The 

North Carolina Tarheels didn't even make the big tournament!

And I couldn't be happier!!!

Anyone who wants in on my husband and mine's brackets this year just shoot me an email or leave a comment in the next 24 hours, brackets have to be done by end of tomorrow.

Seriously?

So, in my first three shifts, I've met my share of interesting people. Technically this was my fourth shift, but one was in the stock room, so that hardly counts.

Anyways, my interesting stories....

First "solo sales" day; little old lady comes into the store carrying a black and white skirt. I asked her if I could help her find something to go with it, and she said it was for a funeral, but she didn't want all black.  I offered my apologies about the occasion and began pulling a few pieces while she looked around.  I met her back in the fitting room and she explained that it was for her husband's funeral, but he wasn't dead yet, but would be soon because he was on his 4th round of cancer and in hospice, but he was happy to die and the skirt we were matching too was his favorite thing in her closet.  She also had me get her a more supportive undergarment as she'd just had a mastectomy and was battling her 3rd round of breast cancer and was hoping that she could be buried in whatever I helped her with that day.  Fun day of shopping huh? I can't imagine going through that with a smile and being excited to find the perfect outfit for my husband's and my own deaths. 

If you think about it, her name was Eja, she sounded Scandinavian, and she was very sweet, I don't think she'd mind a few prayers.

Today, on shift number four, with only 45 minutes to go on my shift, a very frantic looking woman with an eight year old boy came in, desperate for something for a rehearsal dinner and bridesmaids luncheon for a wedding she's going to be in this weekend out of town.  She had me find a place for her son to sit then proceeded to pull up her facebook on her phone and show me a picture of her highschool sweetheart who she just found out is her "corresponding groomsman", and he's recently divorced and she's currently separated, but her son doesn't know she's checking out her ex at the wedding, so she needed a "hot" outfit without him knowing that's what she was shopping for so he didn't tell his dad.

Yeah, fun stuff....

I seem to be a magnet for people who want to share their interesting lives with me through their clothing purchases.

More Deep Thoughts

So, two more Sundays in an amazing Sunday School class, and my mind is wandering in deep directions again.....

So, in Sunday School and Service we've been studying alot about responsibility and  how cause and effect is very much a spiritual thing.

When we feel defeated it's because we didn't trust God to get us through some disappointment.

When someone wrongs us, it's because we made a poor relationship decision.

When we're broke or in debt it's because we weren't responsible enough with our money.

When we feel like we're undervalued it's because we did not act in a way that God says is noteworthy.


All of the consequences we get hit with are based on the behaviors we exhibit.

What consequences would you like to get rid of?  Just a thought, you don't have to answer publicly, but I will pray for things if you email.

I'm a working girl!

So, it's just retail, but it's fun retail! And I get major job perks, like 50% off full prices, 20% off sale, bonuses for signing up credit cards or helping make months, and the fun of wearing nice clothing and working with all women.  I honestly didn't know if that part would be fun, but so far it is, besides the one lady who started two days before me and acts all experienced while asking me how to do stuff on the computer and kept asking how I was married, how old are my kids, was this my first job, etc....some people just assume because you're young, you're messed up.....

But, other than her it's great, my manager is a Christian, as are two of the other girls I work with, one of whom I may start teaching piano to soon, as she's a singer on her church worship team and has always wanted to be able to sing and play at the same time.

Anyways, lots more on my mind, and I'm off tomorrow, so I'll try to put stuff into words then.

I'm employed!

And, at a store with amazing clothes and major discounts!  This will be fun, and the fun starts Monday!  Yay!!!

Brownie Recipe!

So, dinner did not end up being Crockpot Chicken and Rice Soup and Scratch Biscuits because it was nearly 70 and sunny here, and seriously, that's not a soup night for a northern girl!

So I turned the leftover chicken into Quesadillas, but made the frosted brownies this afternoon anyways.

Here's the recipe-

Brownie Batter-
Ingredients-
4oz. Unsweetened Chocolate
2/3 C Butter
4 Eggs
2 C Sugar
2 Ts Vanilla
1 1/3 C Flour
1 Ts Baking Powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9x13" pan.

Melt Chocolate for one minute in microwaveable dish, add Butter, melt one more minute, stir, set aside.

In medium mixing bowl, beat Eggs and Sugar. 
Add Chocolate Mixture and Vanilla.
Stir in Flour and Baking Powder.

Bake 25 minutes.

Frosting-
1/3 C Softened Butter  *(leave out remaining 1/3 Cup to soften when making batter)*
Roughly 2 C Confectioners Sugar
2 TBS Milk Chocolate Instant Jello Mix
1 Ts Vanilla
Enough Milk to make it spreadable.

Beat all ingredients together, gradually adding milk until it reaches the desired consistency.

Spread on cooled brownies.

ENJOY!

And no, I did not get back to them with my camera until after they had been dug into. :) Of course I did some of the digging to pay off the guy who helped us unload the cube two weeks ago.

Banana Bread

I have a strange feeling this recipe already made it to my old blog, but since it is no more, I'll start reposting alot of my recipes as I bake again.

And yes, this is how I keep recipes and follow them, I'm so not a detail oriented cook!

Why......

is running on a treadmill so much harder than running on road?

Is it the boredom of not actually moving?

Is it the distractions of the people on the machines near you?

Is it the hum of the actual machines interfering with the songs on your Ipod?

Is it trying to find the right pace and incline instead of just dealing with whatever you come up to?

Or is it all just mental?

I can't do it so it seems!

For one thing, I ran out of breath at a half mile, totally not like me, I can usually go close to 2 miles without really feeling it.  Of course I haven't really run in 6 months, so some of that probably isn't the treadmill's fault, but it just felt harder to breathe without the wind in my face, almost like I had to remind myself to do so.

Anyone have any breathing tips, especially for indoor running?  Should I try an elliptical instead of a treadmill and what are the major differences in the workout they give you? My old playlist was not holding my attention this time, anyone have a good motivational workout song with a decent beat?

Oh well, tomorrow's a new day and I'll go see how long I can keep it going again then. 

Job Search

So the finalizing of jobs is happening for both of us tomorrow, or so we've been led to believe.

My husband goes for his final full day of training at the Country Club tomorrow at 10:00, and I have my followup interview for the Retail job at 3:30.

We're both hoping to get on schedules no later than Monday.

Also, we get to find out how much of my husband's remaining vacation, personal time and sick time he's getting paid for as whatever they're paying him should be showing up in our checking account via direct deposit tomorrow. Here's to crossing our fingers and saying a prayer that they're paying the full amount, otherwise, we'll be broke until one of us gets a paycheck.  The nice thing about my husband's soon to be job is that it also brings in alot of cash flow.  I know we have to keep track and set stuff aside for taxes next year, but if we use more at first to hold us over til I get a paycheck, we can make it up later.

Hopefully I'll have some good news to post tomorrow, also, my scratch brownie and frosting recipes when I'm baking, as well as a repost of the crockpot Chicken and Rice Soup and a first time post on scratch Biscuits.

Lots of good food coming tomorrow!

Results

So my mom made it through the stress test!  I know worrying was dumb, but after two stopped ones, and having her last one stopped 3 minutes in because her heart rate was going nuts, did make me a bit nervous. The results were good, she just has to wait til her normal cardiologist goes over the results to see to what level she can work out.  I'm hoping she can at least go on brisker longer walks again, because then we can go use the track at the gym together. I typically walk a song, run a song, repeat for 30 minutes when I work out, so I could walk a lap with her and then run two alone, then walk one again with and so forth.

Here's to hoping for positive results!

Prayers Please

I just dropped my mom off for a nucleo-something or other stress test. Prayers would be appreciated!  She's "failed" two stress tests already, if she fails this one, the next step is an angiogram, which is alot more invasive and has a higher risk to it. As is, this one gives her like a 2% chance of having it trigger a heart attack and getting her sent to the cardio department of the hospital.  And, I'm not a huge fan of the idea of the angio because her best friend's dad died of cardiac arrest during one when he was all of 7 years older than my mom is now.

She's taking them all the get permission to start excersizing again, as her primary told her she needs to lose weight to bring her cholesterol down, and improve her overall health, but her cardiologist (she's had a couple of scares before) won't let her work out and she doesn't want to have to try to lose weight (like 15-20 pounds) with dieting alone.

So, please be praying she passes this one!

So we're both almost employed!!!

So my husband went in for training today and got hired on the spot for full time hours at a high class private golf club, which will pay basically double what he used to make, HUGE RELIEF!!  He has another interview/training thing Wednesday for a different job, that he'll still go to, but he's supposed to call the first back Thursday morning to get on the schedule and take care of paperwork. YAY!!!!

I applied and had a preliminary interview with the interim manager for a job and she scheduled me with a supervising manager for a final interview on Thursday!

So exciting! Things are falling into place rather quickly all of a sudden and I'm so much more at peace!

Prayers answered! If you will, keep praying for my final interview on Thursday!