LIFE IS A BALANCING ACT!!!

Monday, January 6, 2014

Baby it's cold outside!!!  Many parts of the country are experiencing an extreme cold the likes of which have not been seen in many many years, if ever.  I feel like we are pretty fortunate here in the PNW because although it is cold, it is our normal cold of 20's and 30's.

These temps call for soup.  Tonight I will be having chicken tortilla soup with hominy, avocado & queso fresco.  I have actually started using a recipe and ingredient delivery service called Blue Apron and I love it!!  I have not had a bad meal yet.  I am learning much already in just the short 2 weeks I have used them.  For me I wanted to learn more about herbs and the balance of acid and such in cooking.

So far so yummy!!!!  :-)

Sunday, January 5, 2014

HAPPY 2014!!!

I must say 2013 was a life changing year for me.  Some changes were good and some were not.

I lost my Mom on September 23rd, and having lost Dad in 2004, I was suddenly a 48 year old orphan.  It is a very interesting place to be mentally when you suddenly have no living parents on God's green earth, no matter how old you are.  I have 6 siblings but no one can take the place of a parent.

Speaking of siblings I will be together will all of them except 1 (I will miss you Kevin!!) the end of next week.  It is time to tackle the monumental task of packing up a lifetime that is currently sitting in a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom rambler up on the hill in Milton.  A lifetime created by my Mom and Dad.  To some it would not be much  but to me it is a fortune.  It is years of experiences they shared together.  Gifts received.  Gifts given.  Possessions that traveled across the country when they moved to Washington State when I was 2 years old.  Mind boggling to say the least.

On a better note 2013 was the year that I was blessed with success in my weight loss and quest to a healthier life.  I began using myfitnesspal.com on July 5th and I am down 60 pounds.  I just need to do that very thing 2 more times and I will be very close to goal.  I am doing this crazy plan called eating real food and calorie tracking, drinking water and exercising.  Such a novel concept....who would have thunk it.

Last year I participated in my first ever 5K.  It was held on Thanksgiving day in Elk Grove, CA.  I am at the walking stage but who knows....someday I just might give running a shot.  For now the majority of my exercise is walking and riding my stationary bike that I purchases in September.  This year I will be looking into some weight lifting to go along with the cardio side of things. 

The ultimate health goal for me will be after I have skin surgery and have the lap band that is sitting inside me removed.  I had it completely emptied in August of 2012.  There goes $15,000 down the drain.  Oh well, can't take it with ya, right?  LOL  If going through that experience was part of what led me to where I am now....it was worth every penny.

I am so looking forward to 2014.  I am planning a birthday weekend to my Sister's in Omaha, NE in May.  In late October I will be in Arizona at another Sister's for the MS Walk.  This is gonna be a great year!!!!!!

Elizabeth Ann