Pintester Movement - May 30th Vootbeer float

I had planned to do something completely different today. But after a really long day at work. I also was in New Orleans last week and it would be nice to have a cocktail tonight. So I decided I would try a fun little drink.

All you need is 2 oz of vanilla vodka, root beer, ice, whipped cream and a cherry. Well guess who didn't have whipped cream or cherries? Not to mention who wants ice in the float? I wanted ice cream. So I decided to improvise a little. I added ice cream and left out the whipped cream and cherries.

I even found a wide mouthed mason jar to add a little special touch.
Here is the finished project:

The only bad thing about this drink is that I shouldn't have had any dinner. It was very rich and filling! NAILED IT!!!!

Check out more Pintester Movement posts:
 http://pintester.com/2013/05/the-pintester-movement-craft-all-the-things

I want to remember...

Last week one of my favorite scrapbook gurus posted in her blog, "I want to remember...", and then she posted random everyday things about her kids.  I loved this idea.  I always have a really hard time journaling in my scrapbooks and writing blog entries. By using those four words I think I can write our family stories much better.  I won't have just scrapbooks filled with birthdays and holidays but actual everyday stories that make my family who they are.  So here is the first in what I hope will be any entries.

What I want to remember about this weekend and today:

This weekend we went to the a geocaching event, the Fall Picnic at Lieber State Recreation Area. Not only was it a great weekend with friends and family but it made for some wonderful memories.
From this weekend I will remember these moments the most.

• Lindsay was the leader of one of the kids GeoSurvivor events and she was so encouraging with her younger teammates. She really makes a great big sister and is so sweet with kids that are younger than her.  It makes me wonder if she wouldn't make a wonderful teacher.
•  Jordan made a wonderful new friend, Kellan.  We had never met his parents before, so we made new friends as well.  Jordan and Kellan were almost inseparable when we got back to the campground and are going to keep in touch over the internet.  Neither one of them have stopped talking about the other. I love had easy my kids make friends.
• Sunday morning Katie, Dave, Fred, Bernice and Daryl and I sat around just chatting.  I love the fact that I could have cared less if my hair was done or not.  We just sat around and shared great conversation.  We also had wonderful stories around the campfire the night before.  It is so hard for us to even go to bed when we are having such a wonderful time.

Lindsay encouraging her younger teammate

What a whirlwind!

So I'm back.  I didn't think I was going to be gone so long but things happen.  I can't even remember the last time I wrote anything down, so I guess I will just start from where I am right now. LOL

Life has been pretty crazy lately.  About the middle of July I decided that we wouldn't be sending Jordan and Lindsay back to Holy Cross next year.  I really think Lindsay needs to learn to work on her education as opposed to socialization.  And if I'm going to have one at home, might as well have two.  Of course that meant that I was going to have to find a new school and make sure that they are still going to be getting the same level of education that they were receiving at Holy Cross.  We finally decided on Connections Academy.  So I will be doing school at home, but with a public curriculum.  Before we left for vacation I had to get all the documents into Connections so the enrollment process could start.  Needless to say I was very busy.  And then we ran into the problem with Lindsay's immunizations being recorded wrong.  So now we are enrolled, teachers have been assigned and lesson plans scheduled, and I am still waiting on the call from the doctor we haven't seen in 10 years to find her chart in storage.  Hopefully that will be done soon.  However, the kids are really excited and ready to start next week.  I am trying to not to freak out. I have set their schedules today and I am starting to feel like we are organized and ready to go. 

On another hand Dave and I went to Bash the last week of July.  We had such a good time, but 5 days is a long time to be camping.  I don't think there was an actual day where I felt like I wasn't on a time schedule of some kind.  But it was really fun.  I can't even began to explain the complete craziness that we did while we were there. And that was basically just the beginning of the geocaching season.  We have so many fun events coming up!

On the diet front I feel like I am doing alright.  I haven't been as diligent about juicing as I could have been...but I have stayed on the plant based diet at least 97% of the time.  I did have a small amount of meat at Bash...but not much.  The hardest part of doing the vegan thing at Bash was that we just really didn't have time to eat at all.  I did have some of my friend Katie's meatballs - which are awesome!  And on Saturday I had tacos.  And that was all the meat I have had in over a month.  Since I have been home I did have a very small amount of cheese.  Since I got home I have lost about 3 more lbs, which is pretty good.  I really need to get more organized to get my juice going in the morning.  But I'm sure this will happen next week when I have to get up so early to get Adam off to school.  I am starting to miss certain foods, such as sandwiches and popcorn.  I have found whole grain pitas that I really like and I love putting veggies in them.  I have found that I like Boca burgers, but I really need to make sure I am getting plenty of vegetables instead of starches.  I was missing peanut butter today - so I added some to some apple slices today. I start worrying about adding things like that - and then I remember I haven't eaten any of the crap I used to.  So I am doing just fine.  I want to add exercise, and then I think the weight loss will probably go faster.  Now, I only need to find the time.  I feel pretty good that I am still going!  It's been over a month - it does seem to be getting easier to choose the right foods.

I think I am getting bored.

Today for breakfast, I did not juice.  I was running late and really just needed to get out of the house. So I grabbed some carrots and away I went.  I don't think it was that bad of a choice.  When I got home I was in a hurry - as always - to get Jordan to Wildcat.  So I grabbed an apple and headed out the door. Both times I made sure to take water. 
I think just juicing and juicing might drive me bonkers.  Yesterday I only juiced once.  But I didn't eat badly either.  Today we headed to the food coop to look for some vegan alternatives.  I have been reading labels at my regular grocery store as well, just to see what is going to be doable in the future.  While I was at the coop I got some Boca burgers and whole wheat vegan buns.  So tonight for dinner I am going to have a veggie burger and sweet potatoes. I am really looking forward to it.  It will be a different taste I haven't had in my mouth in several days.  I still had a large salad for lunch....so I am still right on my program.  Tonight I add a little grain.  We shall see how I feel. 

What I learned today...

I learned that cantaloupe is better for eating rather than juicing.  It tasted kind of weird, and it made my morning juice more like a smoothie.

I learned that Quaker Steak and Lube has very little in the way of vegetarian meals.

I learned that I can resist the 4 wheeler at Quaker Steak and Lube, which consists of onion rings, fried pickles, mozzarella sticks, and soft pretzels.  Used to love all those things.  Tonight we went and I didn't have a bite.

I learned that I can resist birthday cake and ice cream even if it is from my own kid's cake.

I also learned this weekend that I need to be more vigilant about my water.  My weight loss has slowed, and I'm sure it's because I haven't been drinking my water like I should be.

It's been an interesting weekend with grilling, eating out and cake, but I have resisted it all.  I find myself thinking, "Surely I can have one thing..."  but I haven't had anything that isn't on my list yet.  I hope I can keep up with this program for at least another 10 days.

Day 9 of the Reboot!

I am really bad about this blogging thing.  I get so busy and don't find time to write. And I know I really should blog and get out all the crazy things that run around inside my head.  Especially now that I have been doing the juice reboot.  I have been juicing for 9 complete days now.  I honestly didn't think I would make it this far. But lo and behold here I am. So after 9 days I have lost 13 lbs.  I feel wonderful.  I think this program has been so easy for me because I really like vegetables.  In the morning I usually have a couple of apples and carrots with maybe some celery added in.  For lunch I have mostly vegetables, celery, spinach, cucumbers, carrots, and maybe an apple thrown in. Sometimes I don't have the apple.  For dinner I have a salad or stir fried vegetables.  I have added in a few black beans in my stir fries and salads for some extra fiber.  The only place I seem to be having problem is getting in all my water.  However, I figured out a solution to that problem.  Starting tomorrow I will be filling up a 2-liter bottle with my water and make sure I get every drop into my body.  I know I can do this! 
The best part about this whole thing is that all the swelling is gone from my legs.  I never even thought of how swollen they were until I could push on them and move the muscles in my calves.  Another bonus is that I no longer need an afternoon nap.  I have even tried to take one and I don't fall asleep. 
The hardest part I have encountered is the amazing smells that come from my kitchen when the kids' meals are being prepare.  I thought I was going to lose it the other night when they were having spaghetti with my homemade spaghetti sauce and garlic bread!  OMG that was hard.  And then this weekend we had Jordan's birthday party, we grilled hot dogs and there were chips, snack mix, smores and M&Ms.  I have no idea how I made it through, but I did.  I didn't even lick my fingers when they were covered with sticky marshmallow.  Tomorrow the family comes for cake and ice cream...I will not have any!
Tomorrow will mark the end of my 10 day phase.  I told myself I was going to take this 10 days at a time.  I went to the store and bought more veggies for juicing...so I am about to embark on another 10 days.  I am planning on doing at least 30 days and then I believe I will switch over to Engine 2 diet, which is basically eating a plant based diet, concentrating on whole foods.  I will probably at least continue to juice once a day.

Day 2 of Reboot

About two weeks ago I watched the movie, "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead."  I was quite inspirational and I really thought it was about time to get my self together and lose the weight that is making me so unhealthy.  I plan on juicing for 10 days and see where I am. I am hoping to lose at least 10 lbs in this first phase.  At the end of the 10 days I will probably go for another 10.  I really want to lose a total of 20 lbs this month! I think by losing a chunk (so to speak) at the beginning it will inspire me to keep going.  I want to lose at least 120 lbs. Although I have to admit I would be thrilled with 100.  As soon as the first few days are up I plan on getting on an exercise plan as well.  A friend of mine is doing the coach to 5K plan which seems to be working very well.  Good for her! I have to give her kudos for continuing in this heat. It's been at least 95 or hotter every day for the last week.  Hopefully the heat wave will break before we head to Bash - which is 4 days of camping on a fairgrounds.  Not a lot of shade.  We don't want to melt this year!