the pure interest

Today was day 8, and I didn’t have a chance to post, so I’ll just give it in past tense. I did ok with my eating, although I fudged what I ate for dinner - I just didn’t want any more meat, and I had to stop at my parents to take care of the cats, and all I could think about was the grape nuts and fresh strawberries they had - so that’s what I ate. Not too bad, very healthy, just not what was recommended. I also had the morning snack for my afternoon snack so had no protein smoothy which was sort of a bummer.

Today’s Meals

Breakfast: Egg White and Tomato Omelet (although I actually had multigrain waffle with cottage cheese and fruit)

Snack: 20 almonds (had later with some dried cranberries)

Lunch: Salmon and arugula/romaine salad with light italian (Instead Meghan and I went to Marketplace grill and I had an amazing salad with grilled chicken, light italian, and some parmasan cheese & croutons - I know - i’m bad)

Snack: Strawberry protein smoothie

Dinner: Baked or Broiled Chicken Breast with, frozen peas and carrots (ooooor grape nuts with fresh strawberries and a bit of sugar)

Workout: Cardio Party (I did Cardio Party Remix - 30 min + some weights)

So… how am I? I am really stressed at the agency - things are kind of crazy for me. It’s a good problem, but we keep getting new projects!!! I barely have time to quote them all and get it together, plus work on existing projects that are dragging on.

Physically, I was down another pound and a half this morning which was great. Today, the lower back is a bit achy, but I’m planning on asking for a massage from the hubby. There was so much to do when I got home, so that was a bit overwhelming, and it’s done now (dishes, laundry, cat feedings, litter, etc., blech).

Zelda enjoyed the beautiful sunshine yesterday. She’s taken to a new spot lodged between a window and the armoire. I think she likes it because Tycho is pretty unable to get to her there, and she has the wonderful sunshine warming her. She cozies up in there.

And here are my two favorite photos/things from Niagara-On-The-Lake. Rest of the pics will come sometime this week! The tulips were unreal. So straight, so colorful, so organized. People were all over stopping to take pictures of them. This picture in particular exposed my butt to the entire street, but it was worth it

This was my favorite chair at the cottage. I never actually sat in it… but it was just, so beautiful, antique, perfect.

Plans are food at my parents tonight, and I plan on making an amazing fruit salad. Also we have an “Ultimate Chocolate Cake” from Wegmans. What are you up to? 

The next 3 photos were helped by Danielle both in inspiration and editing. Click on them to go to flickr for more details

• Last night I made this Rachael Ray 30 minute meal, except with chicken instead of pork chops. I am proud to say it really did only take me about 35 minutes. Well, in prep. That doesn’t count the 20 minutes I spent going to Quality Markets only to find they didn’t have any of the fresh green ingredients (rosemary, thyme, argula, etc) and then driving back up Peach Street and wandering Wegmans for another 38 minutes looking for said ingredients, FINALLY finding them! That is my biggest point of wanting to give up on cooking, is not having the fresh ingredients and just feeling overwhelmed and like it’s all a waste of time. I do have to say though, it was AMAZING! And I think worth it, especially when my husband says, wow, this is REALLY good.
• My appetite has been through the roof the last few days. It needs to stop.
• Still very excited about our Niagara Trip.
• Also you can see some pictures I took of Amy’s beautiful finished cupcakes here! I seriously think she has a secret talent and should open a little cupcake shop!

All week I’ll be posting 2-3 pictures a day that are different colors… I’ve just been so visually stunned with all the colors of the season. Unfortunately it’s cold and rainy today and hasn’t been real warm for a few days.

As far as me, here’s been my weekend

• mother’s day was wonderful - especially seeing my grandmother at our little get together. I think it’s the first time she’s been at my mom’s house since she was diagnosed with cancer. 
• My sister made some beaaaaauuutiful cupcakes. She’ll be posting about those later. 
• Danielle/Dave, Brian and I planned our Niagara cottage getaway (leaving on Sunday) and it made me SO SO SO EXCITED!! 
• My dad and I built my little shed this weekend. It was a bit tricky, but so worth it. I am just overjoyed having all the CLUTTER gone from our teensy-weensy backyard. It is refreshing.
• Talked to Michelle. I love you girl. I’m telling you, you can and you will.
• EDIT: This is a shout-out to KRISTIN who is finishing her last paper, projects and finals for her MASTERS degree TODAY by midnight! You can do it and I am so proud of you!

With the country receiving their economic stimulus, it’s interesting for me to learn what people plan to do with theirs. Are they putting it right back into the economy? Paying off federal debt (loans, bills, etc.)? Giving to charity?  Well, this is where half of mine is going. A small 6′ x 3′ shed for our tiny backyard. This is an item that I’ve needed for two years but my hubby has been resistant to spending our household money on, because the outside of the house is sort of my domain - he just doesn’t really concern himself with it. We made a decision that we could each do with our check what we wanted. Some of mine will go on my student loan, and the rest spent on this shed and potentially a small used (cheap) lawnmower.

Interesting and Flashy? Not really.

Necessary? Very.

Brian is using his plus some to add a bunch of cool pedals to his new birthday present, a VOX AC30 Amp, purchased by my family and a friend for him in a SCREAMING good deal. Don’t worry, we’d never ever be able to spend the full retail price on this. When I say screaming deal, I mean 1/4 price. This amp is a beautiful, prized thing for guitarists of his style/genre, and I am so thrilled for him to have his first amp ever! Here are some pictures from when we surprised him with it!

So, where is your economic stimulus check going?

Tune in next week, I plan on doing a color week - one new spring picture of a different color everyday.

I was looking through my most recent Pottery Barn catalog, sort of disappointed as I’m not really into the whole nautical/coastal beachy theme, and the first half of the catalog was themed around that. Some of I thought was downright hoakie, like this console and this bedding. But that is personal preference. However, near the back of the catalog I tunred to this piece and almost had a heart attack.

Isn’t it so beautiful? I would love to have something like in a master bedroom! I just think it is awesome. Maybe one day my home will have more Pottery Barn stuff… for now I’ll have to be content with IKEA

I finally got out to do a bit of photography yesterday at the ever-changing, ever-blooming, ever-colorful little Erie, PA sphere of a world I live in. It is just incredible how QUICKLY things are moving through their blooming/growing cycles. It was like, 2 weeks ago, nothing except a few crocus, then all of a sudden, leaves, trees, flowers, tulips, azaleas, cherry trees, pear trees…. one day I will own at least 2-3 flowering trees. I have my baby Kwanzan cherry tree replacement that came from Burgess yesterday, and I Plan to pot it again. This will be the third attempt and replacement from them. As a side-note, as tempting as their catalog is, I don’t recommend Burgess seed company. 75% of what they’ve sent me has died, and it’s not the case with plants I’ve bought from other sources.  Anyway without further ado…

Things making me happy around Erie

Things making me happy around my house

and things making me happy inside my house (and I think the cats too)…. sunlight.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Hey everyone! I had a rough day yesterday. I’m not sure where I caught it but I had the worst 24+ hour bug I can remember, complete with nausea, the desperate need for Immodium AD, no solid food, dehydration, and a 101.6 fever. My mom had to come over and take care of me while Brian was at work. It was just such a rough and weird day. I can’t describe the feeling of being so uncomfortable and weak, and unable to do a darn thing. Including so many plans of spring cleaning the yard and lots of work. The bright side is that I did drop 3 lbs from it!

Back to normal life today. Before the virus set in, I spent the weekend at IKEA then doing a small remodel of my kitchen! It was a small cost, $60 for the shelves and screws, $10 for Behr paint in Ashwood, and about $30 for a few new accessories for the shelves. I went from this blank and non-useful wall (old picture, sorry)

to this new fun shiny functional and cute wall:

Thank you, thank you Anyway. I need to make up for all the work I missed yesterday. So here I go!