June 2008 Archives
Been a while since I posted a self-portrait...
Addie's been making the rounds on some related blogs, but this will be her first appearance here ;) I confess I didn't take this picture (you'd probably notice it in color uncropped in one of Mar's first posts on her blog.) But I was tinkering with a technique I was learning in Photoshop and needed something deserving of a soft touch-- little Addie is perfect. I hope you enjoy this slightly modified version-- gosh she looks so cozy and soft, makes me want to just curl up in bed. (I guess it's about time to go take some pictures if this adorable little girl...)
Continue reading Lil' Angel Addie.
From a short hike Monday evening. This image doesn't even come close to doing the sunset justice-- there was just this huge band of the most brilliant purplish red going across the sky. I wish I'd had a better camera on me. The SD10 kicks butt at the super macro shots, but for something like this I coulda used a bigger camera. 
Dang. I'm ashamed to say it. I ENJOYED this drink today. Of course I'd prefer the real deal... just not willing to blow the calories on it lately (it's bad enough that it has caffeine). But the fact that I enjoyed it rather than just tolerating it? Kinda bothers me, hehe. Maybe it was that I ate Subway with it. I've determined that Subway is a waste. So not good. I mean diet drink > subway? That's pretty bad. (I like how it says "low calorie mountain dew". the nutrition info says it has zero...)
"It is not what we receive that enriches our lives, it is what we give."
–George Albert Smith
–George Albert Smith
So I was inspired by another blog on Friday-- it had a "daily photo"
section. The photo might be of some detail from that day, or maybe a
photo from some day earlier. Photos were what originally got me started
blogging, and I'll admit that deciding to do a daily photo causes me to
be more aware of my surroundings and look for interest / beauty in the
world around me.
Last summer there was something missing-- no one nearby had a pool to go swimming at outdoors, I don't think I got enough sun and swimming in. So today Steve and I went down to go swimming at the pool where Dan and Shawn live...ahhh. Yeah, Summer is officially here.
Somehow the smell of suntan lotion and chlorine kinda makes me want some red vines or super rope. Ah, childhood memories...
Somehow the smell of suntan lotion and chlorine kinda makes me want some red vines or super rope. Ah, childhood memories...
It was Grandma's 97th birthday last Friday, and she seemed so happy at her birthday party. As I approached her to greet her, someone (I think it was my Aunt Betty Jo) asked her "do you know who that is?", to which grandma replied with something along the lines of: "of course, how could I forget him!" with a big smile-- she warmed my heart.
Continue reading Grandma McKinlay.
With as many comments as I got on the last post, I figured I might as well follow up and let you know the results of phase 1. (I appreciate the support!) I only ate Cafe Rio salad I think 3 times, hehe. I bent the rules once or twice when eating chicken (marinade may not have been so. beach approved), but otherwise I stuck to it. Last night at the dinner table the fresh rolls smelled SO good. Not to mention how good the pies looked (strawberry pie, banana cream pie... I can't fault mom, it was Father's Day :P) I stayed strong and kept my commitment to 2 full weeks.
So anyways. According to the scale this morning I'm at 252, down a good 13 pounds. (Interesting. The guide I read said people lose 8-13 pounds during phase one. Last time I lost 8.) The plan now is to keep it coming off 2-3 pounds a week, which is a more natural and healthy rate. I imagine in the next few weeks I should be able to see a difference in the mirror.
Maybe I'll write up the full account on the fitness blog...
For those of you who DON'T know what normally happens when you get me into a room with both banana cream pie an strawberry pie, I refer you to this gem of a memory. It came up last night as I resisted the temptation to cut the diet short by 12 hours or so by eating pie... looks like it was 3 years ago, not 2.
So anyways. According to the scale this morning I'm at 252, down a good 13 pounds. (Interesting. The guide I read said people lose 8-13 pounds during phase one. Last time I lost 8.) The plan now is to keep it coming off 2-3 pounds a week, which is a more natural and healthy rate. I imagine in the next few weeks I should be able to see a difference in the mirror.
Maybe I'll write up the full account on the fitness blog...
For those of you who DON'T know what normally happens when you get me into a room with both banana cream pie an strawberry pie, I refer you to this gem of a memory. It came up last night as I resisted the temptation to cut the diet short by 12 hours or so by eating pie... looks like it was 3 years ago, not 2.
So yeah. I've reached my all-time heaviest and the pants are getting tight, so
I've resolved that not only do I need to keep up at the gym, but I need
to reform my diet. I like to jump-start it by doing South Beach diet
for a few weeks, the first two weeks of which can be a little rough. In
short, it's low fat, no startch and no sugar for 2 weeks.
Cafe Rio may be my savior for the next couple weeks.
I just get a grilled steak or grilled chicken salad, have them put no rice in it, get black beans (pinto beans are a no-no in phase 1), have them hold the chips, double up the pico salsa, and then I just don't eat the tortilla. To be honest, the tortilla always gets soaked by the black beans and I don't love the rice, so I'm really not eating much different than I usually do at Rio. Seriously-- doubling the salsa negates the need for any dressing at all. It's awesome (and delicious...)
In a couple weeks things will get a little easier when I can add some starches back in and again eat fruit.
(In case you were wondering, I'm at 265 lbs and my body fat, according to the scale this morning which, who knows how accurate it is, is at 33.6%. I've got nothing but progress to make ;) )
Cafe Rio may be my savior for the next couple weeks.
I just get a grilled steak or grilled chicken salad, have them put no rice in it, get black beans (pinto beans are a no-no in phase 1), have them hold the chips, double up the pico salsa, and then I just don't eat the tortilla. To be honest, the tortilla always gets soaked by the black beans and I don't love the rice, so I'm really not eating much different than I usually do at Rio. Seriously-- doubling the salsa negates the need for any dressing at all. It's awesome (and delicious...)
In a couple weeks things will get a little easier when I can add some starches back in and again eat fruit.
(In case you were wondering, I'm at 265 lbs and my body fat, according to the scale this morning which, who knows how accurate it is, is at 33.6%. I've got nothing but progress to make ;) )
