Happy New Year's Eve & Top Ten of 2009

I was inspired by a fellow blogger to share some of the top highlights from 2009. Create a David Letterman sort of Top 10 like... "The Top Ten Moments of 2009 according to Cassie" or as I like to say trying to remember what happened in the past year. I must admit I had to get some help from iPhoto or I would have struggled to come up with my list. There are many moments that were special this past year but for me these were some of the best:
1. I think Robb and I grew even closer this year. I believe it was a decision I made to want to be more a part of his life and in doing so I would have to do the things he does. In particular hiking and reaching for new peaks or peakbagging as it's called. It's not a goal of mine to get peaks, as I am such a home buddy and at any particular moment would prefer to snuggle up on the sofa, but I have thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors, appreciated the exercise, and been inspired by the sights. And as this list will show it's brought me more joy and accomplishment than I have experienced in a long time.
Okay that first one was a bit long but on to number 2.
2. Seeing my nephew play his 1st Championship Game in soccer. Awesome Coach, Great effort and improvement by Thomas, just great soccer and good fun!!
3. Climbing my first fourteener or a peak that over 14,ooo feet above sea level...White Mountain...not feeling all that well that day but am so glad I finished it.
4. A nasty sunburn hiking in the Baldy Area, probably the worst sunburn I've ever had.
5. Hiking to the top of Red Slate Mountain. 360 degree of god's country...best view from a peak in 2009 or ever possibly:-).
6. Almost killing our dog and ourselves on a hot hot day on Catalina Island to get to the top of Silver peak and back down before the ferry left. Wow did we underestimate the power of nature that day. Lessons learned and thankfully no harm done to any of us.
7. Also in the Baldy area walking through thousands of ladybugs hatching. Quite an experience.
8. Well I can't have a best of 2009 about my Thomas without one about my Tia. It had to be seeing Tia catch a fly ball to end a 3 hour softball game to win the Championship game. This might have been a first Championship game for her as well.
9. I don't really care for running but I thought I needed to push myself to do more, so I did my first and probably only 10k run....the Love Run to help Seniors in our area. A good cause and another great achievement for me in 2009.
10. Well most of the list would not have been possible if Robb and I hadn't joined our meetup group to complete some of our hikes. So thanks to Kathy and Meetup.com. Cheers too to the Wine Snobs of Thousand Oaks and beyond!
So that's about it for 2009!! Happy New Year!!

Good Day

A quick recap of the day...
Work: It was a rather busy day and if it is a good day it goes by quickly so hence it was a good day. I also like to feel like I accomplished something and feel better when I am busy. I also am doing a task I normally don't do and it's a welcome change of pace. I think keeping busy makes the day go by quicker than most anything else. I do wish there was more time as I had planned to read some of my book The Abs Diet for Women. I'm reading this to get another way of looking at health and weightloss and so far I like it.
After work: Well Brad and I met after wok at the mall for a quick visit to our former co-worker. She's always a joy to see and brings back some memories of times long gone. Then a little shopping of course. Bought some small candles that smell of the forest and trees at Bath and Body works. Most of the scents in there make my eyes water terribly but this scent (i think Forest Green or something) and Moonlight Path are two of the bearable ones.
Then on to Williams-Sonoma for another quest of more Forest Green products, this time it's a Room Freshener. The choices get limited when it's 3 days after Christmas and most Christmas items are half off. So room freshener it was. I've never bought it before, so I look forward to a bad smell to come into the house :-) I know weird. Anyway left the mall and on to home.
Home: I do love coming home and tonight is no exception. A warm and friendly greeting by Matilda and a kiss for hubby. Then some wine and cheese before dinner and a quick shower and all is good.
Then another delicious dinner made by my hubby. Tonight Salmon Belle Mar, available @ Trader Joe's, covered in a little alfredo sauce. Also a little broccoli and a salad with leftover carrots and snap peas from our appetizers on Christmas. Wish I had time for photos but I do hope to get more efficient with time and upcoming projects in the days ahead. It's sort of a resolution with me. But more on that later. Too much at once and nothing will get done.
Goodnight!!

Nighly Walk with Matilda

Just got back from my nightly walk with Matilda. I am trying to train her to NOT be the pack leader. I am afraid Robb and I have created a monster in the form of a pack leader. She gets the exact opposite of what the Dog Whisperer recommends...He says, exercise, discipline and then affection. She gets too much affection, a little discipline, and some exercise. So I am working on the commands we learned in Dog Training class and I am not sure it is working. I did manage to get a treat from a kind neighbor who leaves treats out for the taking. So I used the power of food to rehearse the commands and she is getting back in the swing of things, but it will be a slow process.

Joined the DailyMile.com tonight for some help with the new fitness regime I hope to get to in the New Year. Also bought a calendar to schedule my exercise time. Much to my disappointment I found out the group fitness classes at the gym won't resume till January 4th. So I will have to put some effort into working out at home, on the treadmills or on the roads.

Well that about does it for today. Another 2 days of work and then another 4 day weekend. I am looking forward to it. Some more time to catch up on things and start the new year off right.

Night all.

Christmas Mattie

Here's our adorable doggie, Matilda. Looking a little sad but oh so cute. Photo courtesy of hubby.

To Blog or not to Blog

Been thinking about a New Year's resolution to start this blog up again. Seems antiquated but more redundant than anything when you can update your status on Facebook and/or twitter every second if you like. The New Year is fast approaching and not much time to decide. I'd like to see if I could stick to it. Let's give it a try for a few days before the new year and see what happens. More thoughts tomorrow. Off for a tamale lunch now and some magazine reading.

2009

WOW. I just happened to be checking my blog and noticed that it has been quite awhile since I posted anything. I was warned to update or I fear this will be lost forever. So here I am posting a little something. Let's just start with the beginning of the year. As usual most people decide on some sort of resolutions at the start of a new year. I find I am not exception. My resolution year after year always seems to be centered around health, but specifically weight. I have struggled since my teen age years. I have successfully dropped 30lbs from my heaviest...so for that I am proud. I have decided to make it a 3 prong approach this year to my weight loss...food, fitness and life. Well food is difficult but I need to eat slowly...my hubby says I eat chips really fast and i never thought about it but I do stuff them in my mouth like PacMan. It makes you think when someone else observes how you eat....it was eye-opening. Also part of this would be to recognize when I am hungry and evaluate why I want that food...think before eating. The next is fitness and that is simply to get out and exercise more. Finally life is a bit more of a challenge...but I have decided to be less judgemental and more positive about others actions, regardless if I "approve" of them or not. Also I plan on just being more positive in general and grateful for what i have. Part of making my life better is to relieve the stress on money matters, so another life goal is to pay off my debt. Well I actually have to get back to work...perhaps more posts later.

Not so Long Ago

I used to keep up on this blog but life has a way of getting in the way of keeping up with it by writing about it as well. Summer went by quickly and before I knew it it was August and we finally went on vacation. It was a great week of touring the Northwest. Long days but enjoyable with our doggie. Mattie is seen on the beach in Astoria...my favorite town we visited. There is also a picture of the sunset from Newport...although a nice place to stay the hotel was not the best. They had a place to start a fire but no one seemed to want to do it. Too bad as it would have been cool to sit by a roaring fire and get warm by the beach. I have to say that I am growing fond of Oregon. I like it up there. But for the time being we are set to stay where we are for now. I am an alien in Seattle. I 'll post more pictures later. That's about it for now.

Mattie at Sunrise

My hubby took this beautiful picture of our dog Mattie this morning at sunrise while on his hike with her. Isn't she the cutest thing. She just loves the outdoors you can just tell by this picture.

Awesome picture babe!

Sleep

I never thought sleep was so important till we got our Mattie. Oh my goodness...she is such a love but she is so demanding of our time, attention and love. Most of the time I don't mind. She is fun to play with and watch but I tell you at 2:30 in the morning it is a whole different story. This morning she woke at 2:30...I took her out and she did her business but she would not settle down once we put her in her crate. I thought she might settle down..but no...so unfortunately for my hubby he decided to get up with her. I tried to sleep more...but really did not get fully back to sleep. I think it was enough of some sort of rest as I feel pretty good this morning. All I have to say is sleep is good.
Oh and I must add though that our Mattie did great on her first long hike. We went on the Sage Brush Park Loop Trail. She absolutely loved running through the brush and climbing over the many rocks found along the trail. She was a trooper...she began to tire a bit towards the end but she, like myself, slowed down but plugged away till we were finished. She did so well we are already planning more hiking for her on easy trails. Robb took her on one this morning I believe, but I not sure how it went. So tonight when I get home I may take her on a short trail by our house that runs along the creek that parallels the road to the top of the hill where will live. It is a short walk but she will enjoy the brush and the smells of the outdoors. I guess that's about it for now. Back to work I must go.

Abs Diet

Look fab with the 'Abs Diet for Women'
In his new book, David Zinczenko lists how to banish belly fat in 6 weeks
TODAY
Updated: 8:16 a.m. PT May 23, 2007
With spring finally here, now is the perfect time to tone your tummy for bikini season. Men's Health Editor-in-Chief David Zinczenko — the man known as the architect of abs — helped millions of Americans banish belly fat with his best-selling book, "The Abs Diet." Now his latest book, "The Abs Diet for Women: The Six-Week Plan to Flatten Your Belly and Firm Up Your Body for Life," tackles the specific needs and concerns of today's busy women — from those who work late in the office, to moms juggling school and soccer schedules. Here's an excerpt:

The Abs Diet for Women
You Have Abs. Yes, You.

When you think of abs, you may think of Brad Pitt or Janet Jackson. You may think of magazine covers and underwear commercials. You may think of six-packs, washboards, and a belly so tight that you could bounce a diamond off it. Your cynical side may also think of airbrushing, starvation diets, and an exercise regimen so time-consuming it would violate labor laws. Abs, you assume, are reserved for athletes, for models, for bodybuilders, for trainers, for rappers, for the half-dressed “talent” on infomercials, for genetic freaks, for the liposuctioned, and for people who would classify celery as a dessert.

Your conclusion: You have a better chance of finishing the Boston Marathon barefoot than you do of getting great abs and a flat belly.

As the editor-in-chief of Men’s Health magazine, I know that you-no matter how big, round, or droopy your belly, how many diets you’ve tried, or how tempting the Boston barefoot challenge sounds-can develop a flat stomach. See, I analyze health and fitness information the way brokers analyze the market. It’s my job to find the fastest, best, and smartest ways for you to make tremendous gains in your most important investment: your body. So when I think about flat stomachs, the only thing I think about is this: how you can get one.

I understand the struggle. You look down, see a Jell-O mold implanted in your stomach or thighs, and figure that your days of having a flat belly vanished the day you graduated from high school or gave birth to Junior. Even if it’s been decades since you’ve made any kind of contact, the physiological fact remains: You have abs.

The Abs Diet is going to help you flatten your stomach so you can find them.

Belly Fat will Kill You
Many of us tend to store fat in our bellies, and that’s where the health dangers of excess weight begin. Some of us store it above the belt, while others store it below the belt. In any case, abdominal fat doesn’t just sit there and do nothing; it’s active. It functions like a separate organ, releasing substances that can be harmful to your body. Abdominal fat bears the blame for many health problems because it resides within striking distance of your heart, liver, and other organs-pressing on them, feeding them poisons, and messing with their daily function.

But you can save yourself from belly fat!

The Abs Diet Guidelines
You’ve probably got one burning question in your mind: Hey, when can we eat?
So let’s get right to it, because eating more of the right foods more often is the basis of the Abs Diet. Remember: MORE FOOD + MORE MUSCLE = LESS FLAB

Guideline 1: Eat Six Meals a Day
We’re so used to hearing people talk about eating less food that it’s become weight-loss doctrine. But as you remember from the physiology of metabolism, you have to eat more often to change your body composition. The new philosophy I want you to keep in mind is “energy balance.”

There’s science to support the fact that more meals work, but the plain-speak reason it works is because it does something that many diets don’t do: It keeps you full and satiated, which will reduce the likelihood of a diet-destroying binge.

Guideline 2: Make These 12 Abs Diet Powerfoods the Staples of Your Diet
The Abs Diet will teach you to focus on (not restrict yourself to) a handful of food types--the Abs Diet Power 12--to fulfill your core nutritional needs. These foods are all good for you. They’re so good, in fact, that they’ll just about single-handedly exchange your fat for a toned, lean body (provided you’ve kept your receipt). Just as important, I’ve designed the Power 12 to include literally thousands of food combinations. There are hundreds of dairy products, fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and other choices to satisfy your tastes. Incorporating these Powerfoods into your six meals a day will satiate your tastes and cravings and keep you from feasting on the dangerous fat promoters in your diet.

You’ll read more about these Powerfoods below. For now, I just want you to remember:

Almonds and other nuts

Beans and legumes

Spinach and other green vegetables

Dairy (fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese)

Instant oatmeal (unsweetened, unflavored)

Eggs

Turkey and other lean meats

Peanut butter

Olive oil

Whole-grain breads and cereals

Extra-protein (whey) powder

Raspberries and other berries

Guideline 3: Drink Smoothies Regularly
When you consider that changing your body takes time, motivation, and knowledge, consider your blender to be one of your most powerful tools in this plan. Smoothies made with a mixture of the Abs Diet Powerfoods can act as meal substitutions and as potent snacks, and they work for a few reasons.

• They require little time.

• Adding berries, flavored whey powder, or peanut butter will make them taste like dessert, which will satisfy your sweet cravings.

• Their thickness takes up a lot of space in your stomach.

How it works: Drink an 8-ounce smoothie for breakfast, as a meal substitute, or as a snack before or after your workout.

Guideline 4: Stop Counting
Though calorie burning is paramount to losing fat, calorie counting will make you lose focus and motivation. By eating the 12 Abs Diet Powerfoods and their many relatives, the foods themselves will, in a way, count your calories for you. They’ll keep you healthy and feeling full and satisfied. Plus, the most energy- efficient foods are almost like doormen at a nightclub: They’re not going to let any of the riffraff in without your approval.

Guideline 5: Know What to Drink-And What Not To
I hate to tell you to drink water, but drinking about eight glasses a day has a lot of benefits. It helps keep you satiated. (A lot of times what we interpret as hunger is really thirst.) Water flushes the waste products your body makes when it breaks down fat for energy or when it processes protein. You also need water to transport nutrients to your muscles, to help digest food, and to keep your metabolism clicking.

Guideline 6: For One Meal a Week, Forget the First Five Guidelines
I would never advocate cheating on your spouse, your employer, or your taxes. But I want you to cheat on this diet. I want you to take one meal during the week and forget everything about good carbohydrates and good fats. Have half a pizza, Kit Kats, Alfredo sauce, or whatever it is that you miss the most while you’re on this plan. Have it, savor it, and then dig back in for another week. I want you to cheat for a couple reasons. One, I want you to control when you cheat. Plan your cheat meal for the week-whether it’s Saturday night out, a neighbor’s cookout, or whenever. But if you keep it planned, you’ll stick to it.


Power 12
Meet the powerfoods that will shrink your belly and keep you healthy for life

The Power 12 are the foods that have been proven to do one or more of the following:

Build muscle
Help promote weight loss
Strengthens bone
Lower blood pressure
Fight cancer
Improves immune function
Fights heart disease
#1: Almonds and Other Nuts
Superpowers: builds muscle, fights cravings

Secret weapons: protein, monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, fiber, magnesium, folate (peanuts), phosphorus

Fights against: obesity, heart disease, muscle loss, wrinkles, cancer, high blood pressure

Sidekicks: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, avocados

Imposters: salted or smoked nuts

#2: Beans and Legumes
Superpowers: builds muscle, helps burn fat, regulates digestion

Secret weapons: fiber, protein, iron, folate

Fights against: obesity, colon cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure

Sidekicks: lentils, peas, bean dips, hummus, edamame

Imposters: refried beans, which are high in saturated fats; baked beans, which are high in sugar

#3: Spinach and Other Green Vegetables
Superpowers: neutralizes free radicals, which are molecules that accelerate the aging process

Secret weapons: vitamins including A, C, and K; folate; minerals including calcium and magnesium; fiber; beta-carotene

Fights against: cancer, heart disease, stroke, obesity, osteoporosis

Sidekicks: cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and brussels sprouts; green, yellow, red, and orange vegetables like asparagus, peppers, and yellow beans

Imposters: none, as long as you don’t fry them or smother them in fatty cheeses

#4: Dairy (Fat-Free or Low-Fat Milk, Yogurt, Cheese, and Cottage Cheese)
Superpowers: builds strong bones, fires up weight loss

Secret weapons: calcium, vitamins A and B12, riboflavin, phosphorus, potassium

Fights against: osteoporosis, obesity, high blood pressure, cancer

Sidekicks: none

Imposters: whole milk, frozen yogurt

#5: Instant Oatmeal (Unsweetened, Unflavored)
Superpowers: boosts energy and sex drive, reduces cholesterol, maintains blood sugar levels

Secret weapons: complex carbohydrates and fiber

Fights against: heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, obesity

Sidekicks: high-fiber cereals like All-Bran and Fiber One

Imposters: cereals with added sugar and high-fructose corn syrup

#6: Eggs
Superpowers: builds muscle, burns fat

Secret weapons: protein, vitamin B12, vitamin A

Fights against: obesity

Sidekicks: none

Imposters: none

#7: Turkey and Other Lean Meats (Lean Steak, Chicken, and Fish)
Superpowers: builds muscle, improves the immune system

Secret weapons: protein, iron, zinc, creatine (beef), omega-3 fatty acids (fish), vitamins B6 (chicken and fish) and B12, phosphorus, potassium

Fights against: obesity, various diseases

Sidekicks: shellfish, Canadian bacon

Imposters: sausage, bacon, cured meats, ham, fatty cuts of steak like T-bone and rib-eye

#8: Peanut Butter (All-Natural, Sugar-Free)
Superpowers: boosts testosterone, builds muscle, burns fat

Secret weapons: protein, monounsaturated fat, vitamin E, niacin, magnesium

Fights against: obesity, muscle loss, wrinkles, cardiovascular disease

Sidekicks: cashew and almond butters

Imposters: mass-produced sugary and trans fatty peanut butters

#9: Olive Oil
Superpowers: lowers cholesterol, boosts the immune system

Secret weapons: monounsaturated fat, vitamin E

Fights against: obesity, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure

Sidekicks: canola oil, peanut oil, sesame oil

Imposters: vegetable and hydrogenated vegetable oils, trans fatty acids, margarine

#10: Whole-Grain Breads and Cereals
Superpower: prevents your body from storing fat

Secret weapons: fiber, protein, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, vitamin E, magnesium, zinc, potassium, iron, calcium

Fights against: obesity, cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease

Sidekicks: brown rice, whole-wheat pretzels, whole-wheat pastas

Imposters: processed bakery products like white bread, bagels, and doughnuts; breads labeled wheat instead of whole wheat

#11: Extra-Protein (Whey) Powder
Superpowers: builds muscle, burns fat

Secret weapons: protein, cysteine, glutathione

Fights against: obesity

Sidekick: ricotta cheese

Imposter: soy protein

#12: Raspberries and Other Berries
Superpowers: protects your heart; enhances eyesight; improves balance, coordination, and short-term memory; prevents cravings

Secret weapons: antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C, tannins (cranberries)

Fights against: heart disease, cancer, obesity

Sidekicks: most other fruits, especially apples and grapefruit

Imposters: jellies, most of which eliminate fiber and add sugar

The Abs Diet Workout Principles
Having worked at Men’s Health for more than 10 years, I know all the latest trends in exercise, but I also scour the latest and most credible scientific research measuring the effectiveness of various workout plans. With that knowledge, I’ve constructed the exercise portion of the plan to help you burn fat at the highest levels possible in the least amount of time.

These are the workout principles:

Focus on your diet first
The first 2 weeks of exercise are optional. If you already exercise regularly, you can jump right into the Abs Diet Workout, and you should, because you’ll burn even more fat than with the Abs Diet alone. But if you’re a beginner or you haven’t exercised in a long time, take the first 2 weeks to adjust to your new eating plan before starting the workout. If you’re champing at the bit to begin maximizing your weight loss, start getting in the exercise habit by walking briskly for up to 30 minutes a day.

Focus on muscles
I know a lot of people who have tries to lose weight by running, but many of them don’t accomplish that even after following a good running program. They’ve either stayed at the same weight or gained some. I think that happens for a couple of reasons. For one, steady-state cardiovascular exercise doesn’t burn fat the way strength training does. Plus, when you work your larger muscles, you fire up your metabolism by creating a longer calorie afterburn—one that can last right up to your very next workout!

Focus on spending less time in the gym
The Abs Diet Workout employs two simple concepts to maximize muscle growth and fat-burning and minimize the time you spend exercising.

Circuit training
This term refers to the practice of performing different exercises one right after another. For example, we’ll have you do a set of leg exercises followed immediately by a set of an upper-body exercise, until you do 8 to 10 different exercises in a row. There are two reasons circuit training works. First, by keeping you moving and cutting down the rest periods between exercises, circuit training keeps your heart rate elevated throughout your training session, maximizing your fat burn while providing tremendous cardiovascular fitness benefits. Second, circuit training keeps your workout short—you won’t waste time resting between sets of an exercise, which means you can get on with the rest of your busy life.

Compound exercises. Another key part of the strength-training program is compound exercises, that is, exercises that call into play multiple muscle groups rather than just focusing on one. For example, with the Abs Diet Workout, we don’t want you to exercise your chest, and then your shoulders, and then your triceps, and then your forearms. We want you to hit many different muscles at the same time and then get out of the gym. What’s best is that workouts that build 2 to 3 pounds of lean muscle for women take only 20 minutes three times a week.

Focus on intensity. Time and time again, research has shown that higher-intensity workouts promote weight loss better than steady-state activities.


Copyright © 2007 by David Zinczenko and Ted Spiker. Excerpted from "The Abs Diet for Women: The Six-Week Plan to Flatten Your Belly and Firm Up Your Body for Life" by David Zinczenko and Ted Spiker. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission from Rodale.

© 2007 MSNBC Interactive
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Long time

It's been a bit crazy since the arrival of our rambunctious but adorable puppy Mattie. It seems like I don't have the time or energy sometimes to do the things I once wanted to be committed to doing...like making an entry into this blog on a daily basis. So here I am at work with an opportunity to finally make an entry.
Here are some thoughts about what has been going on for the past little while.

Life with Mattie: She is absolutely the cutest and most of the time the best dog. She just loves to be around people. She goes up to anybody to get some affection. When I'm at home she follows me everywhere. It gets some getting used to. I have accidentally stepped on her paws and have come close to completely squashing her. It's most difficult when doing laundry. We used to have to keep up a kiddie gate all the time, so when doing laundry it was a bit of a struggle to get the laundry basket over the gate. Just a little harder but doable. The one thing she has improved on the best is her potty training. It only took a day and half for her to learn the trick of the puppy door. She is so smart. So doing laundry is now much easier especially now that we don't have to worry as much about her having an accident. The one thing that is still a struggle is her hyperactivity around 4 am and 8 pm. She goes wild. It's fun to watch her run like a lightning bolt in the house but she also barks sometimes when she wants someone to play with...so that's not my favorite thing. All in all if I get enough sleep it's all good. Life is good with Mattie.

Life with Robb: I have the best husband. I am so looking forward to tomorrow. Our date Friday. We are going to have a light snack, go to the movies to see No Reservations and then have a nice dinner out. It's going to be great.

Work: Work is work. Trip to China Lake postponed again. Kind of a drag. Then one girl quitting and another getting hired...more work for me for a bit I suppose. so not that bad most days and it pays the bills.

My Thomas and Tia: They are growing up. They have camp now and they are in the sun most of the time. Their skin is so tanned, it's amazing. White butt cheeks and tanned skin...too cute. Thomas is really into Monopoly these days and always wants to be the one to get Boardwalk. Last time we played Grandma got lucky and got it.
Tia is a joy as well. She had a ballet recital almost two weeks ago and she was the best...singing and dancing to Swinging' on a Star with the cutest hat and red glittered dress. I should get pics posted soon. So I just enjoy them so much.

Exercise and Working Out: Well this is going well for the most part. Yesterday was not a good day...too tired. But this morning plugged away at the gym doing circuit training...trying to remember some moves from my Jillian Micheal's DVDs to get my heart pumping. No significant weight loss but I hope I am toning up. My mom told me today about a report on the TV about abdominal fat and The Abs Diet for Women. I had heard about the Abs Diet as Brad had tried the one for men. This one sounds intriguing and I am hoping if Mother does buy the book I can read it. I will copy an excerpt from NBC about it in the next post.

Well time to get my things together and leave work to head home to get food for Mattie, Diet Coke, and fruit and then pick up my hubby and head to Brad's for dinner. It will be a fun night and I'm looking forward to relaxing.

Sanoodi

I found this new website today. It was actually a different one than I intended to go to but both sites I think are great. I just heard about it on Jillian Michaels show. You can track/create routes around the world using Google Maps. The url is http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/.
While looking at this site I saw another one. The url is http://www.sanoodi.com/ . I created one route while on here. I did my BIG bike loop starting at my house and going into North Ranch then around Westlake and then up and around Lake Sherwood and continuing down Westlake Blvd. and then back up Lakeview to my house. All together it turns out it is a 20.3 mile bike ride. The cool thing you can also do is record the time it takes you to complete the route. Seems like it would be a great training tool to track progress. So next time I am out I will track my time and then create the route on line to see how far it is or vice versa.
Well my man is resting...he was kind enough to spend some time with our Mattie girl this morning...as I did yesterday. So when he wakes up I hope to go on some errands to get some things for the house. I am tempted to take a quick snooze myself but I want to make the most of today. Well I am going now to try to add the route I created to my blog...we will see what happens. I figured out how to add the route...so here it is:

More of Mattie

Well it's still an adjustment for me to have Mattie in the house. Lack of sleep is a major issue right now. Also training her to be a good puppy. She continues to have accidents in the house which really really bothers me because I have no one to blame but myself and I don't want the house to smell. More crate time is what I think should happen. I think because we let her out too much she rules the house. So I will try that when I am home. Today she is the lonely girl...I'm at work and Robb's out caching in Santa Barbara. Anyway here are some pics taken by Brad on the Fourth of July!! Brad just sent me a picture of his cat so I am including that as well. Isn't she a cutie too. Her name is Boozer. Hello Miss Boozer Kitty.

Our Mattie

I finally have a few pictures of Mattie to post.
She is our little puppy and she is so cute. She is quirky, funny and a bit of a handful at times but really cool.

Happy 10 Month Anniversary

Well today marks the 10th month my hubby and I have been married. It has been a wonderful 10 months. My Robb is the best. He is always thinking of me and taking care of me. I am a lucky girl. I love you baby!! Since we won't be together tonight we celebrated last night. Let me tell you the meal we had was delicious. We had Filet Mignon wrapped with bacon, a creamy noodle side dish with veggies and a salad. Mmm Mmm!!
Well as far as other things that have been happening, we have our new dog and she is adjusting better day by day. She is the best puppy (well most of the time) she has her moments. She's teething right now so it's a bit challenging to keep her from chewing on everything. Plus she misses us too when we are gone...we feel so bad. She should have an exciting day tomorrow when Robb takes her to school for a few hours.
She got her workout yesterday when Thomas and Tia came over to see her. The kids wore Mattie out. She was a tired puppy. Tia was a natural with her, while Thomas was a bit more timid. They both enjoyed her so much.
Well back to work...just wanted to give some love to my hubby and update the blog a bit.

Our New Puppy

We finally got our puppy. She is a cutie. She was a bit timid when we got her home. She explored the patio and we had her chase us around the patio. She seemed to enjoy that until I accidentally stepped on her and she whimpered away. Poor girl was shaking even more. She came around after I picked her up and held her in my lap wrapped in a towel. I just petted her and she rested her eyes. She stopped shaking and was all better. We had a nice quiet time while we ate dinner and watched TV but when we started to get ready for bed it was a different story. We had initially wanted to have her stay in the carrier in the kitchen. It was only about 15 minutes before we decided to have her stay in our bed. It worked well until about 3am when she woke up and wanted to play. I had an instinct to let her go to the kitchen to do her business...but it was too late she peed on our bed. I had to get her in the kitchen in case she had more to do and then strip the bedding and put cleaner on it and then soak it in the washer. I had wanted to get up and exercise at 4 but by the time I got in bed it was 3:40 and I thought oh well. I still love our Mattie. So I managed to get a bit more sleep. But had to get going on the day. Poor Mattie was crying when I left and I can only imagine how it was for Robb. Anyway she's the best.

Nice Long Weekend....

But not long enough. It seems work or something drags us back. On Friday Robb and I headed up to Buellton, Solvang, and Santa Ynes to do some wine tasting and of course cache. I figured it was all good since it was my hubby's birthday weekend. So we started our day off packing and then headed to Marmalade Cafe for some breakfast. We figured we would eat there as we had a coupon to buy one breakfast and get one free. Robb enjoyed his bagel topped with cream cheese (I think) , salmon, tomatoes, huge rings of red onions and capers. I on the other hand had the classic french toast. I must say this was the beginning of a bad weekend of eating. I always seem to have a justification...oh it's my hubby's birthday, etc. So as of this writing I am back on track. After our nice breakfast we headed up towards Santa Barbara for our first couple of caches and we had success with getting a few. Headed further up the coast and visited Nojoqui Falls Park It was a beautiful place and a nice walk up to the falls. With our light rainfall this year I was not expecting much but there was a small trickle of water coming down. The picture shown is not one we took...so it was a very small trickle. We headed for some more caches and made our way to Los Alamos...a one street, one off ramp kind of town. We managed to get a few caches here and then found a local dive called Charlie's...not really a dive and we figured if the locals were there the food must be pretty good. We enjoyed our lunch in the patio at Charlies and listened to the locals talking horses and work and what not. It was a pleasant place with a fountain and an outdoor bar. After that we headed towards another cache and our first wine tasting stop at Rancho Sisquoc . A good bargain at $7.00 dollars (including glass) for 11 tastings. I must say I can smell the difference among wines but I am not very good at distinguishing the different smells within one wine. I can't tell if it smells like peaches or grapefruit. I did enjoy some of their wines and if you want one man's opinions visit my hubby's site for his analysis. He should have his reports from our wine tasting adventures up soon. We then drove some more and came across another winery my hubby wanted to visit ...Curtis Winery. I thought the grounds were beautiful unfortunately at the time because of a lack of a special liquor license you can't drink wine except in the tasting room. ...not so nice if you want to have a lunch and drink some wine but anyway. The tasting here was $10 dollars for about 5 or 6 wines and it includes the glass and a free tasting at Firestone which is down the road. So not a bad deal. The wines at Curtis were not as good in my opinion as Rancho but my hubby like the red wines they offered. We even ran into some fellow cachers here so quite an adventure. We then headed over to Firestone thinking why not? We barely made it for the last tasting at 4:45. Again not thrilled myself with these wines but then again I am not really a wine drinker. I also wanted to be careful not to mix so many wines as I have gotten sick before. We both loved the chardonnay and jalapeno mustard they offered with pretzel sticks...enough even to buy some. We also noticed they sell their own JARHEAD RED wine to support fallen Marines children. So we thought it being Memorial Day weekend, we would do a little to help our fallen heroes. As it was getting late we thought it best to check into our hotel at the famous Split Pea Anderson's so we could get to our dinner at the Brothers Restaurant at Mattei's Tavern. A delicious dinner. Again look to my hubby's log for details as I fear my entry is long enough. So I think I will end it here for now. A most productive Friday and it was so wonderful to get away with the man I love.

Thomas's Last Game

It was Thomas's last game yesterday and he did awesome. He has been wanting to try pitching and he finally got his chance. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical but he came a long way from throwing not so hard and far to getting it over home plate. I was a proud Auntie. He walked the first two players and then struck out the next two which was very impressive for his first time. HE DID FANTASTIC!! His dad was beaming with pride too. It was an emotional moment I won't forget. Here are some pictures from the afternoon. Oh and Tia lost her first tooth so there are some pics of that as well and some goofy pictures of Thomas. Today we head out to wine country in Santa Barbara County and the Solvang area to do some winetasting of course and of course also for some caching. It will be nice to get away. I feel bad I won't be around this afternoon...Tia is doing the Three Piggy Opera and we have been practicing. I wish her well. I know she will do great and I can't wait to see the videotape. Well I best get to my workout because I have a feeling I am not going to eat so good tonight...I will do my best though. I feel so much better when I exercise. Bye for now.

Kickbox Again

I did the Cardio Kickboxing again on Sunday and it was a lot better this time around. I still had to stop a couple of times as my heart was pounding hard. I know that will change in time as I get stronger. So tonight I do another cardio kickbox set but not before I do my circuit training. I am so looking forward to getting out of here. Anyway time to go.

Rest Day Afterall

Well it wasn't intended to be a rest day but I had to go to the lab to give blood and I had to fast so I was very not up to working out before I gave blood. Then I got busy getting a bunch of things done here and there. I decided it might be a good idea to get the car an oil change and then wash it and finally get gas for our trip to wine country next weekend for my hubby's b-day. So it was a busy afternoon. Then Karen said she would be out...so she made it out and we did some shopping for us as it turned out rather than for her mom's birthday coming up next Monday. My Robb's b-day is Sunday and we haven't yet decided what we are going to do so, except have dinner with the folks. Then Monday we will celebrate again except with my mom. So yesterday was a pretty productive day except no workout...so tomorrow double workout.

Cardio KickBox

Yesterday I did the Cardio Kick Box that I wanted to do on my rest day Wednesday. It was a good workout. A little fast paced for me. I think I kept up pretty well again for following it for the first time. I am begining to think I need a step...for those hard pylos I think she call them. So we will see about getting one.
To top this tough workout I followed it up with the first of the maximize dvd workouts. That was a bit tough but well worth it when you feel that you worked hard.
So just a little something from my fitness diary that I am keeping on the Jillian Michaels website.
Have a couple more things to do before I leave work. This day might be too hectic for a workout but tomrrow for sure.

Killer Workouts

I got home late but decided to try Shape Up BackSide(Disc 2) in the 5 Disc pack from Jillian Michaels. After the first one (Shape Up - Frontside) I knew it would be hard and it was....another killer workout. 30 minutes of my heart beating out of my chest. Duration was 35 minutes give or take and 200 calories burned. I had to stop a couple of times but felt I kept up pretty well for never watching the DVD before. I hope to do better the next time around. I will also be trying out the Maximize Discs and we will see how those go. Oh and I am enjoying my membership to Jillian's Weight Loss Program. I will
have to see how much longer I will keep it but at least through June. Well back to work.

Happy Mother's Day

Another great weekend with the kiddos and my hubby and of course my momma. Well it was a busy Saturday. Two softball games to go to one in the AM and one in the afternoon. It was Tia's last game. The team played really well and had a lot of fun. Paul, Tia's dad is a great coach and all the parents expressed their pleasure at his coaching at the brunch we had after the game. It was very touching what Paul had to say about all the girls on the team as he handed out their trophies. Of course, it was especially moving when he was talking about our little Tia. So here are some pics. Then off to run home and get ready for Mother's Day lots to do. I wanted to take a nap but I had a lot to do. Anyway got a few things done and then off to meet Brad for lunch. I wasn't really hungry as I ate a bit much at the brunch. So off to Baja and then over to see Tom's game. We have a few pics of him too. They are just so adorable. I just love them so much. So after the game we ran over to Target to get some essentials. By now I am getting really tired. So we head up to the house to relax, but I still have more to do. So I get busy cleaning but finally sit down to watch some Ghost Whisperer...but I am barely hanging on and nod off and I know I missed part of it...but oh well. So we had a great dinner cooked by my hubby and watched CSI Miami. So it was a nice evening. After Brad left and Robb went to bed I still was busy here and there getting stuff done. I ended up going to bed at 2 in the morning. I got stuck with our TIVO remote not working and completely wigging out on me. I just got into a mindset that I had to fix it and fix it now. So needless to say on Sunday I was a tired girl but everything was done. Robb was a busy boy getting all the food ready to go for our brunch for Mother's Day. It turned out so awesome. The food was good and we had a really nice time together. So after all left I hit the hay and I needed it. Woke up and cleaned up from the visit. I really just wanted to rest and watch some TV but I felt like I needed to get some stuff done before I relaxed even more. The power of now rang through my head. Just do it and then it's done. I wish I had that motivation for my workouts but it's a choice. So tonight workout and then relax and enjoy the evening with my wonderful man. Speaking of which...KUDOS to you Robb you would have made Chef Ramsey Proud!!! Hee Hee. Seriously though you made it a fantastic day for our moms and I appreciate that so much.

Long Day

Well it is going to be a long day. My hubby and I are working an ASE mechanics test. It could run till 11 at night. We both like the extra money and need it for our summer trip and for Robb to go back to school to get a Master's...but it makes for a long day. I am though looking forward to spending time with my Robb. So I hope to get the same room, otherwise I will be administering a test myself and I've never done that...and I don't want to but if that happens so be it. I finally got my 5 DVD set from Jillian Michaels. It is a 5 day disc program for working all your body parts twice a week and then a cardio workout as well. I am looking forward to viewing it soon. I heard it is a killer workout. I also decided to join her website for weightloss. I only have to commit to 5 weeks and for 20 bucks that's not too bad. I also get a week free. I have only had a few minutes to look at it but it looks good so far. I really like her approach.

Now to this weekend and all the things I have to do. It's going to be a busy one. I work Friday and then I want to get plants for the front of the house to make it look pretty for our moms for Mother's Day...get my mom a gift too. Then Saturday I might work and then I have baseball games to go to. First is Tia's and it's her last game and then we are having a little brunch thing after and then in the afternoon we have Thomas's game at 2:15...so the day is full and then I have cleaning and stuff to do for Sunday. Brad wants to get a bike ride in too, but we will see as his arm is bothering him...so I'm a busy girl...but I like it that way. Only 1/2 hour left for today and then I head to the valley. So I better post this and finish up my day here.

King is Good!

Why do I say this...well it's because we finally got our new KING bed and it is fantastic. I had the hardest time getting out of it this morning. I love it. My back didn't hurt and I slept well...although I did get a bit hot. We have a pillow top mattress, then a mattress pad, feather bed, and then our sheets. It is heaven. On a another wonderful note. I have the best husband. We had another great weekend...although we went separate ways on Saturday we had a great Sunday. Thanks babe for all your help with the bed. We also had a great dinner again last night. My hubby made a great broccoli and cauliflower with spinach salad and a nice ribeye. Yummy! Thanks babe. Well it's time to go home. I am just finishing this at the end of my day here. So off to run errands and then home to exercise....and of course to be with my awesome hubby. See you soon babe!!

Confessions of an Adrenaline Addict

Well I've been a busy girl lately and I've just had enough of looking at these dang contract folders and besides it's almost time to go home...so I thought let's post something. Anyway I attended a great workshop at the training center here on base called Confessions of an Adrenaline Addict. It was part of a Career and Professional day at the base. The speaker Debra Deras was so enthusiastic and encouraging. I wouldn't say I am an adrenaline addict but when I saw the class I thought immediately of my dear hubby who is a Type A person all the way. When I got to the class and read the flyer she had I thought this classl would be good for me too as it helps those of us who procrastinate and those of us who want to be more organized. She also focused a bit of the energy of the world and the whole Secret thing, which I am not a fan of but I can see where it applies sometimes. It basically boils down to making choices. So I felt so uplifted by her. It was cool.

Caught my eye!

I just received an email from someone I was working with to closeout a contract. What caught my eye was a line from the end of her email that read the following:
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
I don't know but it is so true. It reminds me of a story I heard on the radio awhile ago but I still remember it. It's about a man on a subway heading home with his two kids. His kids were jumping around and goofing off and just plain loud. Another passenger was annoyed at the behavior of the children and even more so at the father's unwillingness to do anything about it. He was just sitting there letting them behave like this. The other passenger had to do something and confronted the dad to tell him to tell his children to simmer down. The man looked up and simply replied "I'm sorry we just came from the hospital where their mom just died." I'm not the best storyteller but the point should come across. Be kind. More to come later I've got to get back to work.

Daily Affirmations

I really like take aways as they are called. I've been reading Jillian Michael's new book and I just came across a section titled daily affirmations. In her book she describes an affirmation as a statement directed toward yourself. Basically it confirms that what you want to happen is happening. Basically it's the opposite of negative self talk. I tend to do this alot. I say "what a dope I was for doing this thing or that." It may not seem that big a deal but what I am learning is that it is a big deal. It goes straight to our subconscious mind. So what we do with daily affirmations is transform those negative beliefs into postive one. This will help build our self-confidence. The affirmations must be in the present tense. Say I have now not I am going to have or I would like to have. It's a mind game. So I liked this little tid bit of information from the book so I am going to take it and do something with it.
Daily Affirmation 1 : I will have an awesome workout.

A Bit of Sadness

Well life is not always good to all of us. As was the case today when I heard that Baby Oscar (a child from the family we adopted at Christmas time) stopped breathing and was rushed to the hospital...he passed away a short time later. We all know that losing a child is the most devastating loss of all. I do though think that he is not suffering anymore, which his parents should find comfort in at this terrible time. Rest in Peace.

The Scale

I got on the scale and 1/2 pound up. :-( I have no one to blame but myself. Although I ate well I didn't exercise as much as I should have. I did try out the Jillian Michael's beginner's DVD. I was skeptical that it would be challenging enough, but trust me it was. I did the backside portion and 1/3 of the frontside. Boy was I sore and still am. I wanted to work out this morning, but the alarm went off at 4 and I thought I am too tired. I stayed up late watching a portion of the Celebrity Fit Club that just started, however much to my chagrin the MOXI didn't record it all. It was programmed but didn't record. Oh well ...so I came in on it at 9:22 so I did see most of it. I will be anxious to see what happens on the show especially with Maureen McCormick. I can't believe she is 50. Just watching a bit of it last night, I thought these people seem to be a bit defensive and confrontational, but thinking about it today...in a way it makes sense. Being overweight doesn't make you feel good about yourself...and don't believe those heavy people that say they are happy the way they are; it's a bunch of you know what. So there's the guy from Saved by the Bell...well he may be just an arrogant son of a gun...but would you be happy being overweight and all you are known for is a goofy character Screech and a sex tape. So we will see what happens...I hear they kick him off the show. Then there's Da Brat...the name alone should tell you enough about how she behaves.
Anyway tired from staying up late to watch the show and I thought I would have time after work but I realized Thomas has a game...so no workout for me. I may go for a qucik walk if the game gets out early. At any rate I'll be up early tomorrow to work the frontside. Better get back to work.

Happiness is a Moral Obligation

In the spirit of my husband's new view on keeping his blog all about the good things. I thought I would follow suit.
Who doesn't want to be happy? So I thought I would take excerpts and general ideas from Dennis Prager's book on happiness called "Happiness is a Serious Problem and write them here.
Let's start at the beginning. Dennis Prager is a radio talk show host and he talks about the importance of happiness frequently and always in the 2nd hour of his show on Fridays. So some comments from me first. I thoroughly believe that we decide if we want to be happy. My sister seems to believe lately given her own circumstances that she should be the victim and I think that stems from unhappiness. I don't think she reads this so it won't matter so much for her, but it does for me. It reminds me how much work it is to be happy. It is so easy to blame others and be unhappy. Some out there would say the opposite but I think not. It also brings to my mind personal responsibility.
Dennis Prager in the first chapter of his book "Happiness is a Serious Problem" describes happiness as a moral obligation. In that sense it is up to us to change out mindset and consciously be happy. It is important to be happy for ourselves but as Prager states "We owe it to our husband, wife, our fellow workers, our children, our friends, indeed to everyone who comes into our lives, to be as happy as we can be....We owe it to others to work on our happiness." It is a moral obligation. He believes that we act more decently when we are happy.
Just think about those in your life that have a sour attitude or who always focus on the negative. Do you want to be around them? I don't. So something to think about. More to come.

Rainy Friday...Hopefully

We are expecting some rain today...80-90% chance so for us that means it might actually rain. I did get a few sprinkles hitting my car at the ungodly hour of 5am here at work. So I think the rain is on its way. I also think I saw some lightning high in the mountains. I do wish I was home if it rains but I do love this OT thing and I have to keep it going as long as I can. I actually think we will get lots of OT this year as they want our records to be clean for the conversion to the new accounting system. Anyway...that's so boring...let's move on.
I received my new Jillian Michael's book and DVD. I got sidetracked yesterday during lunch so I did not get a lot of time to look it over. I am excited to read more. I will review the dvds too. I heard that watching them through the first time is helpful. So I am looking foward to some time to catch up on things. The tivo is out of control too. Too many programs and not enough time to watch them. I should have some timne today after work. I will be out of by 11:30 and then over to see Tia perform a poem. I forgot a camera...darn it. okay well I think that's enough for now. I was supposed to go to a game today bit it looks like it will be cancelled. So we will have to figure our plans for tonight. Anyway back to work.

Lots of Energy

I feel energetic today...not so much this morning but just as the day has been going on. Which make s me wonder if my blood pressure medication is going into effect. I stopped taking it but when I tested my BP it was high so I hope to be on it for awhile and then gradually get off as I lose more weight, I am getting really excited about Jillian's new book. I should have just picked a copy up at the store but I thought I would order it so I could get her beginner workout dvd's and not have to pay shipping but when you don't pay shipping they take longer to ship...oh well. Hopefully by the weekend. I am also hoping that I can get some cardio in tonight or some weight training at the gym after watching the kiddos, but it is unpredictable about the time I will get done with the kiddos. Anyway I am looking forward to getting out of here and off to watch Tia play her TBall game...she is such a cutie. Then tomorrow and Friday Thomas has games also. It will be a busy week.
So the day has been great. I stopped listening to the coverage about the campus shooting as it was depressing me I think...just like Dr. Laura does sometimes...when I listen to her and then think about my sister and my kiddos...it makes me angry, disgusted and worried all at the same time...too much stress for me. I can only make my life wonderful and it is. I am blessed to have my Robb and my family...drama and all. Just wish there was less drama, less selfishness and more respect and caring. Well off to toast my bread for PB&J. Yummy.
I also found another tracker this time for our 1st year anniversary.

Tragic Monday

I've been listening and watching coverage of the shooting at Virginia Tech and it saddens me as it is so senseless. I worry about my Robb too as he teaches in a school and all it takes is one crazy loon as my Robb says. So I am excited to get out of here and home to my man.
I hope to have time to do some weights tonight. I need to help my momma file her tax returns. I finally got mine done and we are looking forward to the money we are getting back. I was worried we might owe as it is the first time we filed as married :-). It worked out great. So king bed here we come and also some schooling for my Robb and some in the savings hopefully. Anyway time to get out of here and get home.

Happy Sunday

It's a cool morning this wonderful Sunday. We slept in after working half day yesterday giving the ACT. Not a bad way to make some extra money. The kids were pretty good. The more I do this proctoring thing the more confident I feel about it...it's not so bad. So all in all it went smoothly. I was hoping to be with Robb but I had to do my own group. We were anxious to get out of there as our stomachs were begging for some food. It seems like tradition after the ACT we go and get Sushi...well Robb does and I usually get something cooked (if they have something). I decided on a Sushi place that cook kabobs of different things ranging from asparagus to chicken to salmon to mushrooms...so I enjoy the lunch more and Robb thought it was a good idea too...so we had a very nice lunch and then came home to nap. We needed it. Then woke up did a few things and before we knew it was dinner time and more yummy black bean soup. Checked the TIVO and not much going on. Robb didn't want to watch the Ghost Whisperer because he thought Jennifer Love would be preachy but the show is not Touched by an Angel...she deals with the dead and crossing them over...no preaching just helping people see the light. Anyway we then checked HBO and found UNITED 93...I think our nation as forgotten the tremendous act of evil that was...I think we still have a naivete about terrorism. Anyway I liked the movie as it makes me remember and it makes me feel good that Americans stood up to that evil...well enough soap box for me...it's time to run some errands with my man. I better go as the day is a wastin'.