Smoothie Mother-lode

I've found it! The smoothie mother-lode! Holy Cow! This is awesome!

Her name is Olivia Parker and her book---the mother-lode- is Sensational Smoothies, Drink You Way to Health Deliciously!

I've looked over this wonderful eBook and I can't find one piece of information left out. If there's a question you have about smoothies and their relation to health- it's answered in this book.

Does she include any recipes? DOES SHE?! That's a big Y.E.S.

Besides information, she also includes over 180 recipes! I read through the book myself and found so much information that I hadn't even thought of before. If you're new to the smoothie experience, this is THE book to own!

Olivia even includes recipes that require you to use CHOCOLATE! WHAT?! AND---if you do decide to buy the ebook, Olivia is including 3--THREE--other ebooks for no extra cost! (Geez, I sound like a freaking infomercial). Seriously, it is such a beneficial book for learning all about smoothies!

Y'all can click the banner on this post or the one on my sidebar to get the whole story on Olivia's book(s)! Meanwhile, here's a guest post to check out! 

Low Fat Smoothie Recipes for the Health Conscious You

By: Olivia Parker 

A lot of people are now becoming more conscious of staying and being healthy. They look for ways to improve their diet and incorporate exercise into their lifestyle. And since smoothies are so good, a lot of people are turning to smoothies and learning how to make smoothies that not only taste good but are healthy all around, too.
Smoothies fit a healthy lifestyle perfectly. It allows heath conscious people to enjoy a refreshing drink and lose weight at the same time. If you’re looking for a low-fat food source, it’s the perfect guilt-free treat. It’s also very easy and very convenient to prepare. All you need is a blender where you can mix and combine fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients. You can create recipes that provide you with an energy boost, add lots of fiber, provide your daily dose of minerals and vitamins and so much more.

Health conscious people will be happy to note that smoothies also provide these host of benefits:

-    You can add natural fruit juices that contain vitamin c; studies have also shown it to be beneficial and helpful in the prevention of certain cancers and other debilitating diseases or illnesses.

-    Smoothies made of fruits and vegetables boost your immune system and help speed up metabolism (at least, some fruit juices do)

-    Because fruits and vegetables are broken down, the nutrients are absorbed easily by the body.

-    Smoothies can replace meals and provide you with the energy you need to last the day. This is why smoothie breakfasts are perfect if you need to go to a workout, or before going to work.

-    Smoothies with fruits and vegetables can help correct your body’s acidity or alkalinity balance (since fruits have natural acids and enzymes)

Here are some tried-and-tested smoothies, perfect for the start of your healthy lifestyle:

-          Combine and blend the following ingredients: 1 cup of milk, 1 packet of instant plain oatmeal (or about 1 cup of it), 1 cup of orange juice, and 1 frozen chunked banana. Blend and process for about a minute. Serve immediately.

-          Blend 1 frozen banana (chilled or frozen fruits exude much more of the fruit’s natural sweetness – you don’t even have to put sugar or honey to sweeten your smoothie), ½ cup of low fat milk, ½ a cup of shredded ice, and 2 8-oz. of low-fat yogurt (you can choose your favorite flavor). Blend and serve immediately.

-          If you love apples, you should definitely try this: Blend 6 oz. cold apple juice, 1 cup skimmed milk, 8 oz. of vanilla or plain low-fat yogurt, 3 to 4 crushed ice cubes and a dash of apple pie spice (optional). This yields about 4 cups so it’s perfect for the whole family.

-          If you’re into soy products, then you’re going to love this: Blend 1 cup of soy milk, 1 frozen banana, 2 cups of pineapple juice, 2 tablespoons non-fat dry milk, 2 to 3 ice cubes, 1 tablespoon of coconut milk (or coconut essence/extract), and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. Blend until smooth, and as usual, serve immediately.

Having low-fat smoothies as part of your diet isn’t hard to assimilate. The key is variety - which you can easily achieve these days with books like “Sensational Smoothies: Drink Your Way To Health Deliciously”. Reconcile yourself with the idea that smoothies – although sinfully delicious – are a great way to inject some healthiness in your diet. 


WooHoo! What are you doing to get healthy this week?

Preparation

Preparation has proven to be very beneficial on my path to health and fitness.

For example, I lay out my clothes every night so I can just grab them in the morning and put them on to go run. This simple little prep makes me popular with Tucker who is not a fan of waiting around for the morning outing and gets me out there early enough so that the perspiration isn't bad enough to make a third pond. Plus, if I waited too late my level of participation would be nil. I do not play with hot weather. Pff. 

I would love to tell you that I prepare for my daily running by warming up every single day. But I am a total slacker here. I try to remember to do a pre-run warm up and a post run stretch. But mostly I remember this at night. When the cramps set in. Poo.

When I come home from the grocery store, I prepare the food by washing the fruit and veggies and chopping/slicing what I need chopped or sliced so that, when the munchies hit, I just grab the healthy snacks that are ready for consumption! After the chopping and slicing is completed, I put portions into those little snack sized zip-lock bags. I also do this with the gluten free pretzels and nuts. Perfect!

I prepare meals differently now. I pick out recipes that are healthy/organic/glutenandsugarfree/etc. Often, I will plan my meals for the week so I know what I'm cooking each day. It's helpful to me to know ahead of time. Pragmatic! 

Sometimes, to keep myself on track, I prepare myself a schedule of when to eat; when to exercise; even what the clean on which days.This helps during those times that I am slacking and need to be more productive than I actually feel like being. Primo!

The very first time I started losing weight, I prepared by purging my pantry of all foods such as sugar, white rice, white/bleached flours, etc. Of course, as many of you know, it took less than one year for me to put it all back and pack on the pounds.

This time, I prepared for getting healthy and fit when I purged the pantry. This time, weight loss is a perk.
And those items have not come back. Along with a bunch of others. I won't let them. Phew!

Those are a few ways I prepare myself along this path of daily health and fitness. What are your favorite ways to prep for health and fitness?

This is the sixteenth day of the A-Z April Challenge. I thought I might try a theme this year and focus on my personal journey to health and fitness, including weight loss.

Today's letter is P and my word for the day is PREPARATION.

Spring Chick Challenge Update: Week 3

Time for the weekly update for the Spring Chick Challenge hosted by Stormy at Real Chicks Getting Fit.

Here's my update:

RUNNING:  A little. I ran a total of 1 mile. Only ONE. Over the course of the week---.25 each time I ran. So far, so good. The knee is still fine. This week, we'll see about adding to it. 


WALKING: 

• Monday: 4.75 miles
• Tuesday: 2.54 miles
• Wednesday: 2.76 miles
• Thursday: 4.29 miles
• Friday: 4.25 miles
• Saturday:  2.58 miles
• Sunday: 3.24 miles

That's a so-so on the walking. I'd like to see each day at 5 miles. The warm, humid weather is so un-motivating! (is that even a word?)

My TOTAL HOURS of exercising for the week:7.35


WATER INTAKE: 

• Monday: 80 oz
• Tuesday: 72 oz
• Wednesday: 96 oz
• Thursday: 96 oz
• Friday: 96 oz
• Saturday: 80 oz
• Sunday: 96 oz

CALORIE INTAKE:

• Monday:1375
• Tuesday: 1392
• Wednesday:1379
• Thursday: 1336
• Friday: 1346
• Saturday:1259
• Sunday: 1365

WEEK TOTAL: 9452


I wanted to keep the daily under 1500 so a big YES on that one. Although I really should keep them closer to the 1200 mark. But I always want the weekly total under 10,000 so YES! 


TRACKING: YES- every single day.
EATING AFTER 8:00 PM: More like no eating after 9:00 pm
ORGANIZING: Working on it.
SUPPORTING OTHERS: I can still do so much better on this one.
DAILY WRITING: Yeppers!
WEIGHT: -.5 lbs  TOTAL FOR TWO WEEKS: -4.5 LBS

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT/WEEK 4 GOALS:

1. Support and encouragement off others
2. Exercise- need to add some strength training in there somewhere. AND add distance while walking or running. 
3. The mini challenge is to try and find a new exercise. I saw a girl walking the other day and she stops at each bench and steps up and down on them several times. I might try that. If I think I can do it without breaking my neck.Otherwise, I may try to add 10 squats at each bench or something like that. (There are 6 benches so that would be quite a lot of those nasty squats...)

I'm also linking this post up with Inspire Me Monday with Ramona over at Create With Joy. 

Today, I am inspired by some of the women I see and often talk with while walking. They inspire me to continue because they take the time to stop and tell me that they notice how much weight I am losing. They also want to know what I am doing to accomplish my goals. And it's sort of odd that this would inspire me because, before I had the right mindset for losing the weight, this very thing--people noticing that I am losing- would have acted as sabotage. Go figure.

I was also inspired by a friend this week. I can't tell you who or what because it is going to be a surprise and she reads my blog. Let's just say it involves knitting. 

Click on the button if you've been inspired this week and link up to share your story!

A New Year, A New Challenge

Yep. I'm joining in yet another challenge.

I wasn't going to. I'm bored with tracking calories on livestrong.com every single day. I'm bored with watching every single morsel of food that goes into my mouth. I'm pissed about my knee blow out that is interfering tremendously with my running regimen.

However, I am not finished losing all the weight I need to lose and these darn challenges do help keep me accountable. SO, I'm joining another one. Plus, I've really enjoyed meeting the other challengers. Everyone is so encouraging and uplifting and honest and they try really hard and all of that motivates me.


(THE LAST UPDATE FOR LAST YEAR'S CHALLENGE IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST)

This one is called the Spring Chick Challenge hosted by Stormy at Real Chicks Getting Fit.

Here's my intro info (haha- intro info):

I'm a 53 (crap, 54 on Friday) mom of four amazing daughters who all left the nest to explore life on their own following college. Now it's me, the husband and the cutest little dog EVER. I'm finally adjusting to having an empty nest, though I still don't love it. One of my first discoveries following the emptying of the nest was that there's WAY more to me than necessary.

It's just no fun living a mere 5 minutes from the beach and never go due to all this excess weight. I have tales of loss success and failure. But, since June 5, 2010, I believe I have finally reached the right mindset to make this journey stick once and for all. And it's challenges like this and encouragement from all of you that make the difference.

I've lost 73 pounds since June and I still have a lot yet to lose. But OMGeeOsh do I feel better or what?!

The lifestyle changes and daily diet changes have been amazing for both Hubs and myself. And not just on the weight loss front. We have seen improvements in his ADHD and I have not had a single flare up of my fibromyalgia. Both of us no longer get sluggish in the afternoons and our moods have improved dramatically (Ok, mostly it's my moods that have improved. His were not so bad to begin with).

I chose to go gluten free and somewhat vegetarian- heck, some days we eat a vegan menu. When, on occasion, we do eat meat it is grass fed beef from small farms and vegetarian fed, free range chickens from small farms. We have access to fresh seafood around here so that's never really been off the table.

I have also stopped using cow's milk. Instead, we now use coconut milk (the stuff in the dairy section is coconut drink NOT coconut milk. Actual coconut milk comes in cans). It adds a richness to everything. Olive oil is used when I'm not using high temps because it does release toxins when heated to high temps just like other oils. So, I now use coconut oil for cooking. When you mix 1/4 cup coconut oil with 1/2 tsp of lecithin, nothing sticks to the pan!

Also, we are not using refined, white sugar or artifical sweeteners. I now have us on Coconut sugar (also called palm sugar) and Turbinado (which is raw sugar- it is the sugar that you get after the very first press so there is very little processing).

And that's just some of the dietary changes. I have also switched our health and beauty products.

I could go on (and on, and on, and on) but enough is enough.

Here are my goals for the challenge:

NON-SCALE VICTORY:

•  Run three miles- regardless of time. Let's take this one step at a time, shall we? LOL Seriously, I would love to be able to do this. Someone please inform my knee.

NUTRITIONAL GOALS:

• TRACKING: I will continue to track daily intake of calories, water (64 ozs daily) and exercise on livestrong.com no matter how bored or annoyed I get with it.
• CALORIES: I will keep my daily calories at or under 1500 each and every day.
• NIGHT TIME SNACKING: Is so awesome I will not eat after 8:00 pm every night. (I hate this one).

EXERCISE:

• I will continue to walk every day. Tucker keeps me honest on this one for sure! Some days we walk once but, most days, we get out there twice. Some days it's 3 or 4 miles, other days it's 5. Some days it's walking, some days it's running and, other days, it's both. Regardless, I will keep track of the miles and hours each day on livestrong.com. The hours should be at least ONE HOUR, 7 DAY/WEEK. The miles vary. 
• I will add some form of strength training. Probably. Maybe. Hopefully?

POSTING RESULTS:

• I will post weekly results on the check-in day.
• I will try to be better about visiting other challengers and encourage them.

GENERAL GOALS:

• Get organized
• Write every day

LAST UPDATE FOR Give Yourself the Best Gift

• Drink 64 oz of water daily: YES!
• Exercise at least one hour 7 days/week: YES!
• Keep daily calories between 1200 and 1400: YES!
• Post daily exercise and food on livestrong.com: YES!
• Post weekly results: YES!
• No food after 8:00 pm: NO! But at least is wasn't stuff that was bad for me.
• Eat slower: RIGHT. I give up on this one.
• Three days of strength training exercises: NO

Here's the calorie breakdown:

• Monday: 1364
• Tuesday: 1320
• Wednesday: 1355
• Thursday:1348
• Friday:1213
• Saturday: 1131
• Sunday:1204

Total calories for the week: 8935

Total CARDIO for the week: 25 miles AND 8 hours

Total weight loss for Give Yourself the Best Gift : -24 lbs

A HUGE thanks to the ladies who hosted the holiday challenges! I don't know how they did it but I'm glad they did!
 

More Christmas Goodies!

A word of warning: Neither of these recipes contains anything healthy or low calorie.

Does this mean I will be throwing calorie counting and healthy eating away during the holidays? Absolutely NOT! It just means that I won't be eating some of the goodies.

Do I feel cheated? Absolutely NOT! I spent years eating foods that were not from the 'best choices' category- thus these hundred pounds I still have to lose. Now, it's just not worth it.

 I tasted a smidgey bite of the cheese candy and it didn't taste that great. BUT that was because my tastes are different now, so things taste different--you know, too sweet or sugary or to salty, that kind of thing-- and I don't worry about having them around. The cheese candy used to be one of my favorite things that Aunt Betty makes every year.

These recipes could have been altered but I decided to leave them be for the folks that are still eating whatever they want to eat without worrying about health or calories. The only changes I made were using organic where I could.

Crabbies

1-6 oz. can crabmeat, drained (can use 4 oz. fresh crabmeat)                        

1 jar Old English Cheese spread (not sure that there's a substitute for this)  

1 stick butter (I used Kerry Irish butter from grass fed cows)

1 1/2 tsp. mayonnaise (I just used Duke's because I'm southern and that's what we use)

1/2 tsp. garlic salt (I used garlic powder)

1/2 tsp. seasoned salt

6 English muffins (I used the 100 calories ones--I've not found gluten free ones, but I haven't taken the time to look either)

Split English muffins in half and place on cookie sheet.  Blend remaining ingredients thoroughly and spread evenly on English muffin halves.  Freeze.  Cut each half into 6-8 pieces (triangles).  Broil 5-7 minutes until bubbly.  Makes 72-96 pieces.  You can make these and keep them in the freezer for weeks before cooking and serving them. I estimate each little, tiny wedge to have about 33 calories.

The crabbie ingredients...

all mixed up and ready to spread...

You can cut the English muffins into 6ths before putting them into the freezer OR wait and do it before you broil them. I usually wait and cut them frozen.

Aunt Betty's Cheese Candy

2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

1 large package cream cheese (I used light and organic)

1 box sifted powdered sugar (I used organic)

1 tsp. vanilla

Toast pecans slightly.  Melt cream cheese in double boiler.  Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and pecans to the melted cheese.  Mix thoroughly.  Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto wax paper.  Let become firm before removing from wax paper. I think I ended up with 3 or 4 dozen. I've estimated one piece of cheese candy to contain about 100 calories.

This is what they look like on the wax paper.

Just a close-up view.

AND NOW it's time for the guest blog post for the 25 Days of Christmas Blogshare at MY SIMPLE WALK:

In just 10 days it will be Christmas! Please come join me over at My Simple Walk, for a countdown. I
will have my family's top 10 all-time favorite Christmas movies, the 10 best songs of the holiday season, and 10 last minute, make in less than a day, gift ideas with patterns and instructions for each! Shhhhh....There may be a few other surprises as well.

The Wednesday HOPS!

If you're stopping by for the weight loss portion of today's post, just scroll down.  If you're here for Wednesday Hodge Podge, it's the first HOP today.  If you're here for BOTH, just start reading and keep on to the end!

FIRST is WEDNESDAY HODGE PODGE from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  This one is a great way to get to know some wonderful new bloggy friends and learn more about some old ones...not that I'm calling anyone OLD, mind you.   

1. July 20th marks the anniversary of the first time man stood on the moon. Flash forward 42 years to July 8, 2011 which marked the start of the final Space Shuttle mission. Should we continue to explore space? Should nations devote more or fewer of their resources to exploring space? Would you want to go into space if the opportunity arose? I do appreciate space exploration and I believe we should continue to with the programs---nothing ventured, nothing gained.  However, would I go?  Hell to the N.O.  I'm way too chicken for that!

2. What are three things in your freezer?  Ice, ground turkey, and baby broccoli florets.

3. If you could see any band/artist perform live tonite who would it be? It has to be someone living...no Beatles, Elvis, etc. There are several...a lot of my favorites have actually passed on...and it would totally depend on my mood at the time....David Garrett for sure- not only is he quite talented but he is a fine specimen of the male species.  Fine indeed.  And then there's Sting who has been a feast for my eyes (and ears) for many, many years.  And then there's Jason Mraz whom I heard gives one of the best live concerts.  Probs wouldn't mind seeing a Stones concert again.  Maybe Jack Johnson.  A little James Taylor.  Oh geez, the list just goes on and on...but would not include country or Lady Gaga or Katy Perry or the Jonas Brothers or anything like that.

4. Ice-cubed or crushed? Or are you one of those people who don't like ice? Either way but crushed is my fave!  Wait----there are people who don't like ice?  What?!  When hurricane Hugo blew his nasty self through here in '89 we were lucky because our house was still standing, we suffered VERY LITTLE damage, and we went without power for ONLY 11 days.  But, during those 11 days, the thing I missed MOST was cold beverages.  I never want to go without cold drinks again EVER.

5. The owner of a small restaurant outside of Pittsburgh recently announced he was banning children under six, saying they regularly disrupted other customer's meals. You can read the story in more detail here but isn't this a perfect topic to discuss in our Wednesday Hodgepodge? Have at it friends...what are your thoughts? There was a restaurant here in the Charleston area whose owners discouraged families bringing their children.  We never dined there because of that and, during a storm one year, that restaurant was demolished.  I call it Karma.  However, I will say that the Lovelies were very well behaved in restaurants.  They never talked in loud voices or ran around the place.  They were well-mannered from a young age for some reason unbeknownst to me.  But it was great!  Probably because we never took them anywhere when they were feeling bad or tired or having a bad day or whatever.  Had they misbehaved, we would have removed them from the restaurant immediately.  I have been in places where parents seem to not care how their children behave and it does get annoying.  So, while I understand about the annoying part, I don't think I would patronize a place that banned children.  It's seriously NOT the fault of the children---it's the parents'.

6. What was your first car? How did it come to be yours? I got my first car in 1974 from my granddaddy.  It was a 1965, navy blue, Ford Galaxy 500. 

7. If I had a nickle for every time I said "I told you so" (sometimes it comes out as "What did I say?!" or "What did I tell you?!") I'd be rich. With four daughters and a husband, I get to say this quite often.  And yes, I might get some sick twisted pleasure from saying it.  What can I tell you?  I quite enjoy being right.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  The youngest of the Lovelies will be leaving the teens behind her on Sunday.  This is so depressing.  How did this happen that she should reach 20 in such a short period of time?!  The next to the youngest of the Lovelies leaves us tomorrow for Texas.  I'm having an exciting week of depression.   

The SECOND HOP is from Patrice, at Everyday Ruralty, who hosts Wednesday Words of Weight Loss every Wednesday!  It's a fun HOP that offers encouragement and company on the issue of weight.  It's never too late to join!  Come on, this is your week to join in the FUN!  

Patrice will be back next week with our questions for this fun meme.  Being a farmer's wife and friend and amazing mother of homeschooled lovelies and getting caught in bad traffic--the busyness of life---got in her way this week.  Anyway, Patrice is looking to revamp the meme, or maybe not.  She's looking for suggestions.  Click on the button up there and give her a visit and some input!  

The Wednesday HOPS

If you're stopping by for the weight loss portion of today's post, just scroll down.  If you're here for Wednesday Hodge Podge, it's the first HOP today.  If you're here for BOTH, just start reading and keep on to the end!

FIRST is WEDNESDAY HODGE PODGE from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  This one is a great way to get to know some wonderful new bloggy friends and learn more about some old ones...not that I'm calling anyone OLD, mind you.   

1. How has your hometown changed since you were a kid? What has changed most about the neighborhood you grew up in?  I do visit my hometown from time to time since my aunt still lives there (but, trust me, if she didn't live there, I'd never go back) and NOT ONE SINGLE THING has changed.  The people are all still a bunch of yahoos (and I am not referring to that yummy-lish chocolate flavored drink). 

2. What song makes you laugh? This one:

3. Are you a fan of Harry Potter? Read the books? Seen any/all of the movies? Will you be standing in line somewhere close to midnight later this week? For those of you playing along today who live outside the US or UK is Harry Potter a phenomenon in your part of the world?  I have not read one single word nor have I seen any of the movies.  HOWEVER, every single one of the lovelies has read every single book (multiple times) and they have seen all the movies on the opening night showings at midnight.  And that includes BestSonInLawEVER!  I have no idea why I haven't read and seen all of it but it just never appealed to me.  My BFF says that if I start I will LOVE them.  Maybe after I finish all the LOST episodes. 

4. If the truth hurts, will you tell a lie? Are we better off as a society in a world that allows no form of deception whatsoever? I hate lying and find it extremely difficult to even think about telling one.  However, I did participate in the telling of Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy...even though I still believe in Santa.  But, outside of that kind of thing, no. I tell people that if they don't want to know, then don't ask me because I'm won't even sugar coat anything.  I don't hate people who don't tell the truth but I don't respect them either.  Besides, do any of us really look that good sporting a Pinocchio nose?

5. What is your favorite 'sauteed in garlic and butter' food? Or garlic and olive oil if that makes you feel better.  Shrimp, dahling.  Of course.

6. Attending any reunions this summer/year? High school? family? Other? Do these events stir up excitement or dread?  I do not attend high school reunions because I still dislike all those people.  I don't attend college ones either--undergrad or grad---but I am in touch with my buds from those days!  Every summer we have my mother's family reunion and I LOVE going to it!  They are just the sweetest, kindest folks you'd ever want to meet!  That's Papa (my great grandfather) in the picture at the reunion back in the early to mid 60s. 

7. Lilac, hydrangea, peony...pick one. Most flowers send my allergies into a frenzy so I don't particularly love the really smelly ones.  But I do love Gerber Daisies.  Love, love, love them!

8. Insert your own random thought here.  Preseason will begin in LESS THAN one month!  Did you read that?!  LESS THAN ONE MONTH!  And I am so ready--but then, I'm ALWAYS READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!  

AND last night Birdie and I went to the Adidas store to get some new walking/running shoes.  Everything was going along quite nicely until I turned around and BAM!  There is was.  A full length mirror.  Immediately my inner voice said, "Look at that!  You're still fat!"  Whereupon I immediately replied, "No shit Sherlock."  Which immediately sent my inner voice into shock and I haven't heard from him since.  (Notice how I call my inner voice a 'him'...hahahahaha).   

AND I enjoyed walking in my new shoes this morning.  BUT, DANG!  It's so humid out there that I thought this might be the day that the weather down here actually kills me!  As a matter of fact, just ignore anything I have said previously about the heat because, compared to today, those days were merely warm.  This kind of heat is one of the reasons I never ask, "Could it get any worse?"  Because the answer is always yes! It was in the 80s at 6:00 am!  Right now (it's only 7:30) it's 83 but, with the humidity, it feels like 93 which means that, by lunch time, hello hundreds!  Which is why I will be inside paying homage to my air conditioner!   

AND, Carol over at Facing 50 with Humour has had her FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED--Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines!  Hop on over there and give her a congratulatory shout!  Major congrats Twin!  I am so proud of you!

AND, you will be glad to know, this ends all my random ramblings.  For today.

The SECOND HOP is from Patrice, at Everyday Ruralty, who hosts Wednesday Words of Weight Loss every Wednesday!  It's a fun HOP that offers encouragement and company on the issue of weight.  It's never too late to join!  Come on, this is your week to join in the FUN!  

QUESTIONS

1. Is there someone in your town who makes you turn and walk the other way to avoid  them? Please, please, tell me I'm not alone.  Well, if I lived in the town where I went to high school, I would avoid EVERYONE.  Around here, not so much.  Or, if I do, it's because I have no desire to stand in the heat or at the grocery store and have an indepth conversation about crap I don't care about.  HOWEVER, there are people I knew when, that I would avoid because I would hate to see the look in their eyes when they realized who I was and that I now look like two people instead of one. So, no.  You are NOT alone. 
2. Have you ever tried juicing?  Yes.  We have a juicer and the juice is fantastic!  It gives you a major rush and energy buzz that stays with you for a couple of hours!  I'm not using it lately though because I don't want to count those calories in my daily intake.
3. Do you feel better with long hair, short hair, or something in between? I feel better with medium to long hair even though I twist it into one of those buns Patrice mentioned above every single day of my life.  I look like an elephant with a head the size of a mouse when my hair is short. 
4. Have you ever seen a large fireworks display in person?  Yep. When I was little we used to watch the ones in Charlotte, NC.  When the lovelies were growing up, we always went out to Sullivan's Island and watched the ones in Charleston. 
5. What's the most unusual meal you have made?  You won't find an unusual meal around here because I'm a regular food person.  If it's foreign or gourmet or uses 'interesting' ingredients?  Then I'm not making it OR eating it!  I don't like unusual food. Or, at least, I don't think I do because I've never actually tasted unusual food. LOL

The Wednesday HOPS!

If you're stopping by for the weight loss portion of today's post, just scroll down.  If you're here for Wednesday Hodge Podge, it's the first HOP today.  If you're here for BOTH, just start reading and keep on to the end!

FIRST is WEDNESDAY HODGE PODGE from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  This one is a great way to get to know some wonderful new bloggy friends and learn more about some old ones...not that I'm calling anyone OLD, mind you.   

1. What is the most useful book in your house?  Whichever one I'm reading at any given moment that takes me away...books allow me the escape that real life doesn't. Unless it's a Stephen King book....I don't usually want to go where he sends readers.

2. What's worse-being too hot or too cold?  Being too HOT is worse because I can't get cool.  However, I can get warmed up when I get too cold!  Face it, one can take off just so much and naked around here isn't pretty or cooler. 

3. Share something that made you smile this past weekend.  Birdie playing soccer with the dogs; DoodleBug and her friends who showed us all how to deal with a tragedy.

4. How do you like your hamburgers? Or don't you?  I eat veggie burgers or turkey burgers.  I put a little cheese on them with a dab of mayo.  I have eaten my burgers this way since I was a kid.

5. What's your summer beach read? If it's not summer in your part of the world then tell us what book you're reading in front of the fire while sipping hot cocoa.  Stephen King's (of course) UNDER THE DOME.  I'm reading it slowly because it's good and I don't like for good books to end.

6. How was your birthday celebrated when you were a kid?  We pretty much could have whatever we wanted as far as parties went.  Regardless, we always had a family celebration on the actual birthday complete with gifts, favorite meal, cake and ice cream. 

7. What's something that is totally uncool that you love anyway?  Better keep this a secret. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. Some of you know that a friend of DoodleBug's took her own life on Thursday.  I can't even imagine a tragedy of such proportions as a parent.  This young girl, Kiki, was an amazing young person who will be missed by many.  Over the weekend I watched the men and women's Ultimate Frisbee teams (DoodleBug and Kiki were supposed to co-captain the women's team in the fall) come together in a way that did my heart good.  These kids surrounded each other with an outpouring of love and support the likes of which I have never witnessed before.  Even those who were at home for the summer came back into town.  Kiki's parents also reached out to these wonderful kids.  I am in awe of such warmth, love and support.  It will be a long road of grief but they won't have to travel it alone.  

The SECOND HOP is from Patrice, at Everyday Ruralty, who hosts Wednesday Words of Weight Loss every Wednesday!  It's a fun HOP that offers encouragement and company on the issue of weight.  It's never too late to join!  Come on, this is your week to join in the FUN!  

QUESTIONS  1. How are you doing with your weight goals this summer?  I have stuck to my goals so far.  Even though it's FRUSTRATING because it sure didn't seem to take THIS long to put all this excess baggage on!  It is in situations like this that I completely lack PATIENCE of any kind.  And it is this lack of patience that has led to self sabotage in the past.  Hopefully, NOT THIS TIME.  The Slimmer this Summer Challenge has helped me stay on track.

  2. Has summer been relaxing or just as busy as ever?  My summers have been hot, dull and boring since the last lovely moved away to college.  The youngest lovelies attend(ed) college downtown Charleston but rent their own house and stay there year round for school and jobs.  However, Deanie is helping me pick colors to paint two bedrooms so, I'm thinking the dull and boring parts are about to change.  The hot part is here to stay.

3. How many times have you gone swimming this summer?  That would be an incredible 0.  Zip. Nada. None. Don't do that swimming thing anymore...reason?  I don't think they make bathing suits in my size and, if they do, I wouldn't wear it.

4. Have you been to any of your class reunions?  Hell to the N.O.  I have no desire to attend high school reunions and I am in contact with my college buds so we just connect on our own.

5. If you could choose one of the following ways to spend the day, which would it be?    -a picnic    -a day on a boat    -shopping at a mall    -visiting an old friend There's an old friend I would love to spend the day with. 

The Wednesday HOPS!

If you're stopping by for the weight loss portion of today's post, just scroll down.  If you're here for Wednesday Hodge Podge, it's the first HOP today.  If you're here for BOTH, just start reading and keep on to the end!

Very few pix today...Blogger is being a pain in the rear.

FIRST is WEDNESDAY HODGE PODGE from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  This one is a great way to get to know some wonderful new bloggy friends and learn more about some old ones...not that I'm calling anyone OLD, mind you.   

1. What makes you stand to your feet and cheer?  FOOTBALL BABY!!!  That's right- FOOTBALL!  AND it's only a couple of weeks over one month before preseason starts!!! 

2. What's your favorite patriotic song?  I am somewhat unconventional in this area.

I like this one (and not just because I totally dig John Mellencamp):

And, of course, this one:

3. Do you believe that opposites attract? If you have a significant other are you opposites?  I believe that opposites attract in some cases and in others, not so much.  It all depends on what each individual is looking for in a significant other.  I've known opposites who have made it and opposites who have not.  Same with similar characteristics.  My significant other and I couldn't be more opposite if we tried.  And it has become increasingly annoying through the years.

4. You're going to get a behind the scenes look someplace...where would you like that someplace to be?  I think I would like to go behind the scenes on an organic farm- although I doubt very seriously that I could keep up with the farm life!

I do good just to keep up with our little organic garden!

5. How far would you have to travel to ride a carousel (merry-go-round)? Three hours---to Carowinds. Wait.  Do they even have a carousel? 

6. When was the last time you saw fireworks? What was the occasion? Do you enjoy fireworks? I think it was July 4 of last year.  I can take 'em or leave 'em.

7. Of all the 'beauty products' you own, what item do you consider to be the most overpriced?  Beauty products?  I don't think I own any beauty products to be honest.  I use sunscreen every day, does that count?  I don't wear make-up and I don't use perfumes or smelly lotions. My shampoo isn't that expensive.  I do make use of Miss Clairol to cover this gray that seems to be creeping in and messing with my hair color.  I am allergic to most beauty products and I am convinced that it's a racket.  Besides, down here in the low-country, why bother putting on make-up just to sweat it all off?

8. Insert your own random thought here.  We had such a great weekend with the lovelies and their boytoys.  You can see pictures that feature the highlights here if you'd like.  Every time they come home we have so much fun but the time is just way too short!  I really love having a close knit family like ours! 

The SECOND HOP is from Patrice, at Everyday Ruralty, who hosts Wednesday Words of Weight Loss every Wednesday!  It's a fun HOP that offers encouragement and company on the issue of weight.  It's never too late to join!  Come on, this is your week to join in the FUN!  

QUESTIONS 

1. What are you doing to go "green"?  We have a completely organic garden; we use drip irrigation and rain barrels to water the garden; Hubs make fuel for our vehicles from used veggie and used soy oil.  Our ultimate goal is to go off the grid---we'll see how that goes.  We also recycle and try to use found objects for projects as opposed to buying new.

That's Hubs and Tucker working hard on the garden last year. 

2. If you could try a sport you've never tried before, what would it be?  I've tried all that I'm interested in over the course of these long years--basketball, tennis (although why I do not know because I hate tennis), softball (same as tennis on this one),swimming...Even football!  I used to play with the boys all the time while I was growing up.  But I love watching way more than playing!
3. What's your favorite vegetable and how do you like to prepare it?  Squash, squash and more SQUASH!  I absolutely adore me some squash!  All kinds of squash too!  And how I prepare it depends on which kind of squash it is.  Summer squash and zucchini I love to stir fry with onions.  I also use zucchini in my turkey burgers.  The winter squash recipes depend on my mood of the day! 
4. Do you enjoy thrift shops, consignment shops, or antique stores?  Antique stores = yes.  I love to look at all those beautiful antiques that I can't afford.
5. Who's the most positive person you know?  The most positive person I know in real life is my brother Tony.  He always tries to look on the bright side of life (now that song is going to be running through my head all morning...thanks Monty Python). 

This is Tony when he was much, much younger. Like a whole bunch younger.

That's him now...in the blue jacket.  I love my brother! He's just the best EVER!