Seriously, this time

Growing up, I was one of those skinny kids that never gave a second thought to what I was eating.  I loved my vegetables, but from a young age I learned to like them best the southern way--fried okra, fried squash, and mashed potatoes being at the top of the list.  For most of my life, right up until the last six or seven years, it was no big deal.  I could eat all my favorite things without worry.  Even more than that, I could take exercise (in the form of sports or walking, usually...nothing too strenuous!) or leave it, without a difference in my body or weight.

When Jeremy and I met in 2002, I was at one of the lower points of my college weight, just under 100 lbs.  (Yes, I spent most of high school and some of my college years being just plain skinny.)  While that weight is under where I need, or want, to be, it is far past time for the pounds that have crept on over the years to GO.

As I have aged and my metabolism has slowed, my habits--or lack thereof--have caught up with me.  My weight has settled between 140-145 lbs (yep, just putting it out there!)...which seems to be where I stay without working to do anything about it.  I was at this point when I got pregnant with the girls, then dropped down to about 128 after they were born.  Obviously, over the last four years I didn't change much and it added up again.

So what to do about it?  I am finally at the point where I am really, really ready to change my habits and take control of my weight and my health.

My eating habits are already so much better than they used to be, and they continue to improve.  I am still running on a fairly regular basis, with plans to continue that and finally get to a regular three times a week schedule.  Now it's time to put the two together...and I have a plan.

Some friends at work and I started the Weight Watchers plan in the last week.  (I confess:  we are cheating and not signing up for the actual program.  All of them except me have done it before, so we have the guidelines and food values we need, just not the monthly fee.)  I have also joined an online group, the Biggest Blogging Loser, coordinated by the fabulous Jennie.  It's just an encouragement/competition sort of thing, with each of us doing our own method.

Having never tried the Weight Watchers program, I was pretty excited to start.  It has gone well so far (admittedly, it's only been a few days...but I'm on track to lose at least four pounds this week!), and it feels very manageable.  I make my choices and technically eat whatever I want, as long as I fit the points in to my daily allowance.  I realize just how much mindless snacking I was doing, and I'm learning to let myself be hungry for mealtime, instead of shoving tortilla chips in my face while I'm cooking because I feel like I'm starving.  I managed to eat out over the weekend and enjoyed my meals, while still making pretty good choices overall.

The key to my progress so far seems to be the combination of the diet changes with my running.  Instead of the 170 calories I burn on my evening run cancelling out the brownie I ate in the afternoon, it's coming off my much more reasonable daily intake.  And it's actually making a difference!  Who would have thought?  Seeing progress is a huge motivator for me, so I hope I can keep up the enthusiasm.  Then, by the time I meet my goal weight (around 125, I think), the idea is that my habits will have changed enough that I no longer feel like I'm "dieting".  This will just be how I eat and how I exercise, forever and ever, amen.  (We've all heard the "it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle" spill, which I know is true.)

One more thing that's making all this feel much more manageable...  As of this week, Jeremy is home in the evenings!!  Yes, for the first time in our nearly seven-year marriage, he is now working normal daytime hours, at least most of the time.  It couldn't have happened at a better time, as it's just been in the last few weeks that it has gotten absolutely too hot to run after work.  And the idea of me getting up before work to exercise is just laughable.  Give me 9:00 at night over 6:00 in the morning anytime.  Not only can I make the workout happen, I can actually cook a meal for someone besides myself.  The girls are good to eat most of the things we do, but sometimes it's just so much easier to throw down a bowl of cereal and call it dinner.  I am just thrilled in general to have him home at night, in case you can't tell.  (We'll see if that holds true after a few weeks of losing my evening alone time and having to share the remote....)

So there's what's going on around here.  Lots of salads, skinny ranch, and grilled chicken, basically!  But it will all be worth it, I am confident.

What's going on with you this week??

The State of Affairs: May 2013

How on earth can it possibly be JUNE already?  It seems like May absolutely flew by, but looking back at everything we did during the month, I shouldn't be all that surprised that it passed so quickly.

A sampling of the things we did this month:

• Jeremy and I went to Nashville with friends and ran the 5k Foam Fest.

• I went to a work meeting in Prattville and spent the night in a hotel room ALL TO MYSELF.  It was pretty glorious.  Plus, I got to eat at a few different restaurants with two work buddies.  It was a nice little getaway for the middle of the week.

• Jeremy, my sister, and I went to our first Braves game of the year.

• We surprised the girls with a trip to see Disney on Ice.  They LOVED it.  It helped that it was the princess-themed show, so they were familiar with most of the stories.  We let them wear their princess dresses, which added a touch of fancy to the occasion.

• After Disney on Ice, we went to dinner to celebrate Jeremy's birthday.  We ate at one of our favorite restaurants, but it felt a little more special because we actually remembered to make a reservation this time.  (Making dinner reservations is something we have done only very rarely, so it still makes me feel all grown up and stuff!)

• At the end of the month, J and I surprised the girls (again!) with a return trip to our favorite amusement park.  We told them that morning that we were going somewhere fun, but told them no more than that.  They were surprisingly okay with our keeping it a secret and didn't really ask for many details.  When we pulled in the parking lot and asked if they knew where we were, Mackenzie said, "No, but I see a fair over there that looks like fun!"  Ha!

We had an absolutely fantastic day once again, and my little daredevils were up for any ride we let them get on, including the ferris wheel, the sky lift, and the tilt-a-whirl (!!).  They may be little roller-coaster fans like their daddy...this mama will happily watch from the ground, thankyouverymuch.

• Finally, we wrapped up the month with the year's first trip to Huntsville's Thursday evening Farmer's Market.  There is music, food, lots of people, and of course, free samples.  Win!

Books Read:  3.5

I finished the second half of A Dual Inheritance from April.  Excellent book!  Reviewed here. 

The Silver Star--This one is by Jeannette Walls, who I've heard wrote a fantastic memoir.  This was fiction, but with somewhat of a dark undertone.

 Eleanor & Park--Oh, you guys...please read this book.  I loved it; every single stinkin' word.

Flora--All the action was concentrated in the last 15% of the book.  The rest was pretty slow at times.  

Notables
A & M had their four-year doctor visit at the beginning of May.  All is well with my petite little girls (both were 29 lbs. and 37 1/2 inches tall).  They had to get four shots each, which was pretty miserable.  Addison cried for her sister before she even took her own turn.  As soon as she was done, Mackenzie declared, through her tears, "I am NEVER doing that again!"  Luckily, she doesn't have to for a very long time. 

When J and I were in Nashville, the girls spent their first night with someone other than grandparents.  They stayed the night with our cousin Lindsey and had a blast.  Lindsey has a waterbed, which A & M have long thought is the coolest thing ever, and they finally got the chance to sleep in it...along with the two dogs (poor Lindsey nearly smothered with all that body heat!).  They all stayed up far too late watching movies, then slept until 10:30 the next morning!

Jeremy turned 31 on May 22, and my sister was home for a nice long visit before heading to Tampa for the summer.  All in all, May was a pretty great month.

He's Gone, by Deb Caletti

"The Sunday morning starts like any other, aside from the slight hangover. Dani Keller wakes up on her Seattle houseboat, a headache building behind her eyes from the wine she drank at a party the night before. But on this particular Sunday morning, she’s surprised to see that her husband, Ian, is not home. As the hours pass, Dani fills her day with small things. But still, Ian does not return. Irritation shifts to worry, worry slides almost imperceptibly into panic. And then, like a relentless blackness, the terrible realization hits Dani: He’s gone."  (From the book description)

He's Gone is, I believe, the first adult fiction book from Deb Caletti, who has previously published several YA titles.  She made a good jump here, and this novel didn't have any leftover YA elements at all.  What I mean is, Caletti captured the tone and spirit of her adult characters just as well as she does in her teenage characters in the YA books I've read.  This isn't a "good first attempt at adult literary fiction", it's just a good adult literary fiction novel, period.

That's not to say I didn't have my qualms with this book.  It felt very slow-moving at times, which was also a complaint I had with another book I read by this author.  But at the same time, I don't think the plot and the mystery are really the central elements of this story when all is said and done.  It's a very character-driven, introspective book, mainly focused on Dani and her thought process as she struggles to uncover and understand what happened to her husband. 

Dani and Ian's story, their adulterous beginnings and less-than-picture-perfect relationship, is revealed to the reader in bits at a time, through flashbacks as Dani processes her current situation.  She reflects on their history and the psychology of their relationship to try to piece together what might have happened to Ian--did he leave her as he left his first wife?  Did he choose to just disappear without a trace?  Was there a side to him she knew nothing about?  Or was he a victim, did something horrible actually happen to him?  I found Dani's thought process--her fears, worries, and insecurities--pretty fascinating.  He's Gone definitely doesn't make light of the issues that linger in a relationship with such tumultuous beginnings. 

And the answer to the mystery?  Well, I wasn't blown away, but again, I'm not sure that was meant to be the real focus of the book anyway. 

Give this book a chance when you're ready to dig into something a little more 

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I received a copy of this book for review via TLC Book Tours and the publisher.  All opinions expressed are entirely my own.  For more reviews, check out the full tour post.

New Recipes, Part 2

Apparently I have slacked off on trying new recipes since the beginning of the year.  It's been a busy few weeks, but I am picking up the pace on cooking again.  I am still sure that I have cooked more at home and more from scratch this year than at any other time in my life.  I am learning more about what fresh foods we will use most often, and more and more often, I have most of the items on hand that I need to make a new recipe.  My kitchen finally feels fully stocked, ingredient-wise.

I expect the cooking to pick up in full force again soon, particularly because some work friends and I are starting Weight Watchers next week.  I'm a little nervous (mostly that I will completely and utterly fail at this endeavor), but I am also feeling super encouraged by my friend Kelly, who has just lost nearly 30 pounds.  (You're looking fabulous, my friend!)

Anyway, here are some more new recipes I've tried this year (with only the Pinterest pictures because I'm a terrible blogger):

Source: budgetbytes.blogspot.com via Deanna on Pinterest

• These oven fajitas from Budget Bytes are my absolute favorite right now, and the latest in a string of successful recipes from her blog.  The fajitas are super easy, and I have even used frozen chicken and they turned out just as well.  These are also excellent left over, meaning I make extra to have for lunch during the week. 

• I got hooked on whole wheat egg noodles for awhile there, and I created a Butter Garlic Shrimp Pasta, adapted from this recipe.  I used the same basic ingredients, but left out the peas and only topped mine with Parmesan.  I added shrimp and threw on some steamed stir-fry vegetables.  This one was a definite hit with both Jeremy and me.  (Hey, it turns out I did take a picture of this one!)

•  Taco Pasta was pretty good, just a little on the spicy side.  Jeremy agreed, so we may likely try it again sometime.  We are all taco fans here, so it may just need a little tweaking.

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Deanna on Pinterest

•  I went through a crazy pancake/waffle phase about a month or two ago, and I seriously could not get them off my mind.  When I came across a recipe for Sour Cream Pancakes from the Pioneer Woman, I knew I had to try them.  They are definitely quite different from regular pancakes, but not in a bad way at all.  We finished the batch easily, and I kept the recipe bookmarked.  These won't be my standby pancakes, but definitely worth a repeat.  They are super easy!

•  Finally, in an effort to satisfy my cravings (not pregnant, I feel the need to specify, just hungry!), I made these waffles from Everyday Reading.  It's a great basic waffle recipe that will definitely be a keeper in our house.  I've actually made them three times in the last month or so, and we all love them.  The best part?  The recipe makes enough for me to stick a couple of waffles in the freezer for later.  Always a plus.

• While I have been having a love affair with waffles, Addison & Mackenzie have become a little obsessed with pita pizzas (and apples, which they are eating basically twice a day, but that's a whole other story).  I love how quick and easy it is to throw these together, and they're relatively healthy, too.  Take a pita round (we use whole wheat), drizzle on a bit of olive oil and garlic powder and bake in the oven for a few minutes to let the oil sink in.  Top with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and veggies of choice and bake (on a pizza stone if you have one, it makes the crust just a little crispy) at 450 degrees until all the cheese is melted and toasty.  Delicious and simple...the best combination! 

What are you eating these days??

 

(I hate to do it, but I am going to turn on comment verification for awhile.  I've been getting a TON of spam lately, so I'm willing to try it.  Sorry for the inconvenience; please don't stop commenting!)

Why I Dress My Twins Alike (Most of the Time)

Back when I was pregnant with the girls, I was often asked if I planned to dress them alike.  I think my standard response in those days was, "I think we'll just dress them in whatever we can grab!"  Oh, how true that was at times.  

I did start to notice, though, that if we were going out I liked to dress the girls alike, or at least in coordinating outfits.  I looooved the little cotton rompers that come in packs of two or three.  I could throw one on each baby and have them similarly dressed but not exactly matched.  We got so many clothes as gifts, we had a ton of matching outfits.  People find it hard to resist buying doubles of cute little baby clothes, it seems.  Most of the girls' nicer outfits came in a pair, either because it was gifted or I purchased them myself.  So, from an early age, they have been dressed alike most of the time for church or other "nice clothes" functions.

The 'dressing alike' trend continued and increased when the girls reached the toddler/preschool years.  During the last couple of years, A & M have probably been dressed alike more often than not.  I don't think too hard about it, and neither do they--so hopefully I'm not having too much of an effect on their delicate little psyches here.  When I occasionally ask if they want to wear the same thing or something different, there's about a 50% chance they'll choose the same thing anyway.  Most days, they really just don't seem to care.  M requires a 'twirly dress' nearly every day, but beyond that, neither of them is too very picky.

I will let you in on my big motivator for dressing them alike:  it's easier.  Do I think they're cute as pie in matching outfits?  Sure!  But I think they're cute as pie no matter what they're wearing.  When I'm pulling out clothes for the day (or pajamas for the night), it's just SO much simpler to grab two of the same outfits rather than fussing over who is going to wear which one.  I do still often buy coordinating outfits--the same outfit in different colors, for example--but it's basically the same principle.  M wears the purple and A wears the pink.  (The colors are their choices....I didn't have a whole lot to do with that one!)

Yes, even the pajamas usually match.  I don't want to hear fussing at bedtime either.  And I reason that if they're wearing the same thing, one shouldn't be cold while the other is burning up.  See?  Simplified!

Dressing the girls alike also keeps things simpler in my mind.  Naturally, the girls have certain clothes that are favorites of mine.  Occasionally I will run across an outfit that I just absolutely love and I know I have to buy it for them.  Of course I have to get two, right?  I can't buy Addison an outfit I love and Mackenzie an outfit that I think is just okay.  (I realize no one but me would know that I didn't just love both outfits, but it makes sense in my head, okay?  Just a little neurotic around here.)  If it comes in two colors I like, or if there are two different-but-equally-cute options, I am likely to choose those.  But if not, a duplicate set is added to the cart. 

Getting dressed for church on Sunday morning?  No need to spend time picking out two outfits that are equally cute/equally loved by mom/on the same level of dressiness...just throw a matching set of dresses on and be done.  Simplified again!

I have begun to question if we are maybe reaching the age that it's time to stop dressing them alike so often.  Even if they don't care about the clothes they are wearing and whether they match or not, maybe I need to start making more of an effort in this area.  Surely I can spare an extra few minutes to pick out two outfits versus one in duplicate. 

I'm not saying it's going to happen overnight, and I'm sure there will still be plenty of times when I can't resist buying two of the same outfit.  But at least maybe the girls can start wearing them on different days...

Do you still dress your twins alike (or did you ever)?  What do you think is the "cutoff age" for dressing alike on a regular basis? 

Wednesday Quick Takes

I feel like everything I want to talk about lately can be summed up in a few short sentences.  (That is most definitely an indication of how my mind is working these days!)  So, how about some middle-of-the week bullet points?

• My spring semester is finally finished and officially closed out.  Now I'm starting the hard part of getting ready for summer...with an entirely new textbook.  The next several weeks could get a little stressful, but I'm trying to keep in mind that the stress now will only make fall that much easier.

• We are really beginning to feel the late spring/summer attitudes taking over.  Trips are being planned, activities scheduled, and we are all dreaming of the beach.  Unfortunately, our beach vacation isn't until September again (although it's worth the wait because that is the absolute best time to go, in our humble opinions!).  For a few minutes earlier this week, I thought we might be able to sneak away for a last-minute trip next week, but we couldn't swing it this time.  So we will wait until September and plan lots of other fun in the meantime.  I, for one, can't WAIT to return to my most favorite amusement park ever one weekend soon!

•  Jeremy has a work trip in Nashville next month and I am tagging along for a few days.  I am thinking of bringing the girls up for last part of the week (after I've had a couple of glorious days and nights of doing nothing at all).  Suggestions for fun kid things in Nashville?  

• My sister and I saw The Great Gatsby Sunday night.  That was my Mother's Day request, and it was an excellent one.  I may repeat that idea next year.  : )  LJ and I thought the movie was pretty fantastic.  I am not usually a big fan of Leonardo DiCaprio, but he was perfect as Gatsby.  And I think maybe he's looking better with age?  Why do so many men have that luxury?  I am a big fan of Carey Mulligan, and I enjoyed her portrayal of Daisy.  I have read the book twice, but it's been years, so I had forgotten a lot of the plot.  I did catch one of my favorite quotes at the end:  "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy--They smashed up things and people and then retreated back into their money...."  I recommend the movie...and reading the book first, of course!

• On a long day at home a few weeks ago, I started showing the girls how to cross their eyes.  Addison picked it up pretty quickly and has been freaking Jeremy out with her "trick" ever since (he can't stand to watch anyone do it!).  Mackenzie couldn't quite do it, but she'd try and try, opening her eyes as wide as they'd go, and making me crack up every time.  This past week, she finally got the hang of it, and spent most of dinner the other night making J groan.  Isn't she classy?

Happy Wednesday!
How is your week going so far?

A Dual Inheritance, by Joanna Hershon: Review & Giveaway

Before I read A Dual Inheritance, I had never heard of dual inheritance theory.  Apparently, it's a real thing, defined by Wikipedia as "a theory developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s to explain how human behavior is a product of two different and interacting evolutionary processes: genetic evolution and cultural evolution."

Although the dual inheritance theory is mentioned at the beginning of the book, I didn't really think of it much while I was reading.  It is more in retrospect that I see exactly how Hershon wove the concept into the story.  I do think it's a perfect title...plus, it just sounds nice:  A Dual Inheritance. 

This book totally captivated me from the very beginning.  It's what I like to call an epic story--there's not one huge thing that happens, it's not even necessarily plot-driven.  This is a very character-driven book, and it covers decades, continents, and generations with its characters. 

Ed and Hugh meet one night during their senior year at Harvard, beginning the most unlikely of friendships.  Ed is a slightly hard-edged Jewish student, attending Harvard on scholarship.  He has big dreams and big plans and is determined to make a better life for himself.  Hugh, on the other hand, is from an "old money" family, a member of the envied Boston elite.  Despite all his advantages, Hugh is restless and reluctant to follow the path set out for him.  A Dual Inheritance is the story of these two men, the stages of their friendship (budding, thriving, and then non-existent), and the unexpected effects they have on one another and the lives they each choose to build.

I can't say enough how much I truly enjoyed this book.  From the characterizations to the changing landscapes, to the depiction of the relationships, I thought it was all just fantastically well done.  I recommend reading this one over a long weekend when you can let yourself be truly engrossed in the story...trust me, you won't want to put it down!

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GIVEAWAY!

The publisher, Ballantine Books, has offered a copy of this book to one reader.  To enter, just leave a comment on this post and tell me the last book you really loved.  Be sure to leave an email address if I don't already have yours, so that I will have a way to contact the winner.  At the publisher's request, this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.  

The giveaway will be open through Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. central time. 

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I received a copy of this book for review via TLC Book Tours and the publisher.  All opinions expressed are entirely my own.  For more reviews, check out the full tour post.