I've Created a Monster

Thursday, May 17, 2012

I was experimenting in the my laboratory [oops I mean kitchen] last night. Something sinister was a cooking...Muahahahahahahaha [cue the lightning bolt and the clap of thunder]. The DH has the look of terror on his face when I unveiled my latest creation.... Quinoa.


This was the first time I've ever tried it, not bad but I didn't care for the garlic flavor, it was too overpowering. I'm all about trying something new, at least once. DH ate a couple bites but he wasn't crazy about it. Next time I will flavor it myself and throw in some onions and veggies. I'm gonna keep experimenting with quinoa til I get it right.


Ground chicken patties with grilled pineapples turned out fabulous. I mixed ground chicken with garlic, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs, 1 egg and a tad of shredded parmesan cheese and grilled to perfrection, topped with grilled pineapples, served with a side of sweet and sour sauce and the leftover squash I had cooked the night before. Can you tell I LOVE TO EAT? It is so nice knowing I can have a plate of healthy food and be full and satisfied...
Satisfied in knowing I ate healthy and that I'm finding the joy of cooking. [Did I really just say that?]


This morning I decided to make my morning protein shake "GREEN". I've heard if you add spinach to a smoothie you can't taste it, well it's taken me about 2 months to work up the nerve to try this and... you CAN'T taste the spinach, unbelievable. It was pineapple vanilla flavored, but it was green, that kinda played tricks on my mind, almost thought I was drinking something lime by looking at it. So getting used to the color green is gonna take some work. Don't know what the health benefits of adding spinach to your smoothie are because 1/4 cup is only 2 calories and no other nutrition values that I could find. But that is all the rave now... Green Smoothies - I'm gonna call it a "Shrek-Shake".

Guess I've turned green, muahahahahaha.



Happy day to all.

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

Life in the SPARK Lane

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

This blog was inspired by a road rage incident that happened to me yesterday on my way home. I was driving the speed limit (35) and this car was on my tail, and I mean on my tail [back-off Buster]. I dare not exceed the speed limit because I know this road is a speed trap, I travel this way every day and there is always a police officer strategically placed to catch the hot rods. I wish I had one of those digital signs in my rear window to inform the tailgating jack-arse that the speed limit is only 35, HELLO !!!!!

[Couldn't find the exact pic I was looking for, but you get the point]


I wanted to just throw my hands up and say, what the heck? [well not my exact words, lol]



He eventually went around me and gave me the one-finger wave, well sheesh, how rude. Anyhoo, I was thinking.....

Everyone is always in such a hurry. Whether in a hurry to get somewhere on the road, in a hurry to eat, whatever the hurry, it's always RUSH, RUSH, RUSH. Let me just say, that "life in the fast lane" will burn you out quick and "surely make you lose your mind".

[Make sure to crank up the volume, if you dare before clicking the link]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyBXz0-reaY

Looking back on my life, BEFORE beginning my SPARK journey, I was always in a hurry for something... running errands, kids to sports practice, dash in the market and pick up a frozen pizza, etc. Does this sound like your life? Being in the fast lane had its consequences, just to mention a few...

No time to plan - just wing it, I can always do it later [later never comes]
No time to prepare a meal - stop at the fast food drive-thru [that really packed on the pounds]
No time for exercise - well I'll just skip it [I never exercised, not a priority]
No time for me - I'll just take care of everyone else and not worry about me [you become your last priority]

Over 3 years ago I decided to take a detour from the fast lane and merge on over into the slower lane, I even took an exit I had never traveled before...



There was a huge WELCOME CENTER at the bottom of the exit ramp. I stopped to see what this was all about. There were lots of friendly tour guides [fellow Sparkers], and they were happy to explain their experiences on the Road to Success. The SPARK Guy gave me a huge welcome and directed me to just keep following the road. He said the road was filled with curves, hair pin turns, steep hills, an occasional road block, a couple of detours, etc., but assured me that if I kept going I would eventually reach my destination.

Along this road I have discovered it is so much better than the fast lane...no rushing, no erratic drivers, just happy sparkers all headed for the same destination.... SUCCESS. This path has allowed me to slow down and enjoy the scenery. In the SPARK Lane, I ...

Plan - no more wingin it, I plan weekly outings, physical activities, meals, etc.
Prepare a meal - I enjoy healthy meals and have learned to love cooking [somewhat, lol] - no drive-thrus for me
Exercise - it's a daily part of life, No. 1 on the priority list
Me - I have made myself the No. 1 priority, it takes some flexibility to carve out the time, but I've realized... I'm Worth It. I have discovered that I can amaze myself with the things I never thought I could do... and I'm Doing Them.

Most of all I have truly made myself HAPPY. You'll find me in this lane most of the time....Runner's Lane.



I encourage everyone.... Take your foot off the accelerator for a while - stop being in such a hurry - share this roadmap with others. Take the exit to SUCCESS, merge on over into.... LIFE IN THE SPARK LANE. You won't regret it.

Images from google.

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

Are Your Pants TOO Big or Are You LOSING WEIGHT?

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

BOTH. This blog is dedicated to a favorite SPARKETTE - SAMI199, she's kinda shy but she recently revealed to me that she had to donate all of her old pants, they are toooo big , she also revealed she's lost 30 whopping pounds, another big...


You know your pants are too big when....

1. your capris are now full length.
2. you can take them off without unzipping or unbuttoning.
3. you have to pull a belt so tight it cuts off your circulation.
4. you buy stock in safety pins
5. you can't keep your keys and your cell phone in your pocket, they make your pants fall down.
6. your boss asks "who's pants are you wearing?"
7. you feel like your could shout... "Can't Touch This" after you've put them on
8. you trip up the stairs when carrying a laundry basket because your pants have literally fallen down.
9. you are using office supplies to hold your pants up (staples, binder clips, etc.)
10. you run across the crosswalk at Walmart with your purse in one hand and your waistband in the other.

Let's make today BAGGY PANTS DAY and celebrate !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Give me a shout out if your wearing baggy pants.

Hop on over to congratulate SAMI199 on her hard work. YEAH SAMI !!!!

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

Mother's Day 5K and Weekend Wrap-Up

Monday, May 14, 2012

Hope everyone enjoyed a great Mother's Day, I know I sure did, it was a super weekend. It started with a 15-mile run....

15-Mile Run: Friday morning 15-miler turned into a 14-miler. Our toes were killing us, and I mean killing us, felt like our toenails were gonna come off, ouch. We need bigger shoes....darn it, we didn't make the 15 miles but we did finish our 14-miler almost 30 minutes faster than last weekend, big improvement when you set your mind to it and just run, no lolligagging. Enjoy the rest of the day lounging in the sun.

Saturday: District Track meet with GD, it wasn't her best race but she still made it to the district finals. Maybe next year. Continued the sun worship most of the afternoon, then dinner out with the kids and a movie. Went to see AVENGERS, I love super heros - especially Iron Man and Capt. America.

Sunday: Enjoyed a super morning watching "We Bought A Zoo", what a tear-jerker, then mowed the lawn (had to get some fitness minutes in) and 2-1/2 hours of laying in the sun reading a book (ahhhh life is good). Family arrived for dinner, my SIL had brought his running gear so he asked if I would like to go on a Mother's Day Run, how sweet, now that's a super gift [more fitness minutes]...

Got to wear my new running skirt, and I will never wear it again for a run, those shorts underneath kept "creeping", definitely not a good thing, so I will wear it out and about to "look athletic", lol. Great 3-mile run with the SIL, he signed up for his first half-marathon in the fall and I'm running it with him, woo hoo.

This is my Daughter and her family....

My Son and his family...

And of course, my chunky pie enjoying some outside time with his mom-mom....


The kids got me a cookie cake and a figurine, so nice.


The only thing missing was my DD, she had to work ALL day, she was definitely missed. She got home around 9:00 last night. She gave me a picture frame for my desk with a photo collage of her. She did a photo shoot with a friend and I just loved the pics, here's one of my fav...



All smiley faces accounted for....WOO HOO 13/14. Not much on the calendar
this week, gonna be a quiet week, time for lots of workouts and healthy dinners, starting tonight when I get home.... 5 mile easy run.

DETERMINED to get bufff no excuses

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

We're Having Asparagus "What"

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Told DH we were having Chef Meg's Phyllo-Wrapped Asparagus. He gave me "the look" and said "asparagus what", lol. I knew right then that he wasn't going to be a fan and then the DD was crinkling her nose up too. Well I saw this recipe last week and for some crazy reason I have not been able to think about anything else but asparagus. So in honor of "Wacky Wednesday" yesterday I decided to make everyone at the house think I'm "WHACKED" by trying a new recipe.



Dinner consisted of sirloin steaks, baked potato and fresh broccoli and of course the new asparagus. I put the potatos in the oven to bake, so that gave me an hour to prepare the asparagus, and it took quite a bit of time to prepare it. I've never used Phyllo dough before, it was a little difficult to manage, but I'm sure there's a secret to it, I just don't know it yet. [Note to Self: I will never be a pastry chef since it involves Phyllo dough]. Followed the recipe to a T, then put them in the oven, I probably should have cooked them just a tad longer so they would have been a little more crispy, but I didn't want to burn or overcook, but next time I will. And YES....there will be a next time. The reviews are in.....

DH: "OMG Lisa, these are so good" [He repeated it like 50 times, while eating 6 more of then]

DD: She had never tried asparagus before, she's a picky one and won't try anything new, but I convinced her to take a bite. "Mom, these are soooooo good, I can't believe I like asparagus, I can't wait to share this recipe with my BF's mom".

My Review: They were every bit as delicious as I dreamed they would be, ahhhhh I was in heaven - a healthy food with such a sinful taste. They make a great appetizer, but it took quite a lot of preparation. I don't mind spending the time in the kitchen, when I have time. A definite do-over for an afternoon snack.

Well TOOT TOOT for me, guess I did pretty good in the kitchen last night [even though I overcooked the steaks a tad ]

Here's the link - recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detai
l.asp?recipe=2022411

CONFESSIONAL TIME: 8 of 9 Smileys for May. I gave myself a for the day yesterday. I ate a couple of these after dinner..... . I have forgiven myself and moved on, today is another day.

Great weekend ahead: I'm off tomorrow so I will see all of you on Monday. Big 15-mile run planned for tomorrow on my day off, a district track meet with my GD, and a wonderful Mother's Day dinner [I don't have to cook, yeah] - blog on Monday for a weekend wrap up.

Wishing you all a Happy Mother's Day weekend, love to all.

DETERMINED to get bufff no excuses


P.S. Anyone out there think this recipe could be made and then frozen before baking it - thoughts ??????

  Member Comments About This Blog Post: