My Fitness Pal

Inspired at work today during a walk by my friend Stephanie, I decided I would download an app onto my phone called My Fitness Pal.


It's an interesting app where you can keep a food diary that helps keep you within a calorie goal each day (for if you want to lose, gain or maintain weight) and takes into account any exercise you do.  I've entered what I've had so far for the day and was extremely unsurprised to see that, while I am still below my calorie goal, I am already over my daily allotment of sugar (as it tracks such things as this, also).  I was interested to see that my one 8 oz cup of Yoplait Blueberry yogurt had more sugar in it than 5 mini Heath bars!!  5 MINI HEATH BARS which is seriously like a full candy bar equivalent.


I love sugar and know it will be my downfall with this thing.  I hate sugar-free anything.  Of course, I could refrain from eating 5 mini Heath bars but I also sorely lack in self control at times.


I'll try and give updates from time to time on what I continue to think of the app but at this point I think it is pretty nifty.  Oh - and if you are using it feel free to join my friend circle so we can inspire one another!  I am sarah_k0426.

Today I'm Struggling

Motivation to write just isn't here for me.


I did what I believe all writers do in these cases which is procrastinate.  I took a shower.  I looked around on the internet.  I tortured the kitten with pictures.  I harassed my daughter who is now home from Grandma's and Grandpa's and still I continue to struggle with motivation and what I want to write about.


So I've decided to make the blog today an admission of not only my lack of motivation I have but also of an addiction.  I admit it.  I am addicted to facebook quizzes.


As many of you have seen from my facebook I am almost constantly posting quiz results.  What you don't know is that I take pretty much every one I see and am too embarrassed to post all of the results because then you will realize the full extent of my quiz addiction.


As a result, I know what Disney couple matches my personality! (Christoff and Anna), What vampire I am! (Edward Cullen - and yes that retching sound you just heard was me) and a myriad assortment of other things which are as useless to know as I find them intriguing.


I sometimes wonder why I love them so very much and why I am so addicted to clicking on and taking each and every one.  But I have no answers.


Perhaps someone has enlightenment?  Or perhaps someone else would like to share their own addiction to the darn things?  This is a safe environment people - no judgment!

Cucumbers are the Enemy

We eat dinner early on the weekends.  Like, really early.  It's more a combination lunch/dinner than dinner (which I've always wondered - should it be called linner?  or dunch?).  At any rate, we've already eaten as of the time of this post and I now feel like junk!


I made a delicious meatloaf (1 lb ground turkey, cut up onion, crushed up rice Chex, pepper, season salt and ketchup) and to go along with it steamed broccoli, salad and, with all the cucumbers I had from my Bountiful Basket last week I decided to make cucumber and onion salad (cut up the cucumbers and a vadalia onion and marinated them in a dressing of white vinegar, sugar and pepper).


We ate while watching American Horror Story (which, only three episodes in to the first season, is pretty messed up - I likely will write something here about it at some point) and everything tasted delicious.


Now I feel terrible, though.  And I'm sure it's the cucumbers.  See you can pickle the heck out of them and I can eat a ton but fresh?  Always have made me feel terrible.  I tell people I don't like the taste simply because it's easier than this diva mentality but honestly I don't mind the taste it's just every time I eat them fresh I feel like I'm going to lose everything I ate and that feeling can last a very long time.


So yuck to this.  I'm supposed to go out tonight to a friend's and hope I feel better in time.


Stupid cucumbers.  I will not make the mistake of eating you again.

Gluten Free Temptations and Frustrations

So you may have gleaned or even seen somewhere that Joe and I are trying a gluten free diet.  I don't think either of us has celiac disease (in fact I know we don't) but have had stomach issues in the past and are just trying it out to see if it helps.


And, aside from the occasional cravings for cookies and brownies (the full gluten versions readily purchased at the store), we've been doing OK.  I've been feeling a bit better and Joe is also which is a great thing!


There have been some major bumps in the road, though, I'm not gonna' lie.  And this afternoon I was tempted.  Sorely tempted.


I got out of work early which was nice and decided I would get to the grocery store early and get my shopping out of the way.  My normal shopping day is Friday but I usually go about 5:00 so this was something a little different.  I thought it would be a lot less busy than at 5:00 PM but boy was I wrong!  3:00 PM seems to bring out the moms with their packs of screaming children (which they've obviously had enough of from the way they interact with them) and all of the elderly people who like to meander through the aisles.  GAH!  And not helping matters were the hordes of stockers getting their carts of goods in my way.  While I appreciate they want to make sure my store is nicely stocked I would appreciate if they do their magical work when I am not there shopping. 


So what does the above paragraph have to do at all with the rest of this post?  I'm getting to that.  Right now in fact.  One part of shopping at that time is they are handing out samples to tempt you to buy new things.  And today I was offered a cookie and Prego (which, by the way, is Italian for "You're welcome") alfredo sauce dipped in bread.  Boo.  And those things weren't too bad.  I almost got into it with the Prego lady with the temptation to explain that the reason I was declining her offer was that my husband and I are trying gluten free and the bread would be a no-no and the sauce may even be, too, and I was going to regale her with what it was like trying to go gluten free but that fleeting thought in my mind was thankfully quashed by the sensible part of me that doesn't want to be known as the lady that went gluten free and also completely insane as a result.


Now I'm getting to the worst part.  I was proud of myself for declining those offers and not pushing my gluten craziness on one of the sample ladies and I triumphantly checked out and paid for my groceries.  I was wishing the cashier and the bagger a most pleasant day when the worst thing in my gluten free world happened.  The bagger wished me a pleasant day and pointed to a cart behind the checkouts filled with about 50 pumpkin pies and 5 cream cakes.  And advised me those were not going to be able to be sold after today and they are free and I was welcome to take some.


In my mind, I freaked.  I had a vision of me abandoning my cart full of the things I needed and running out of the store with that huge cart of pie and cake.  Because I LOVE pumpkin pie.  And really had the urge to gorge on it.  Outwardly, I remained calm and thanked him for the offer to which he replied that I would regret it because they were delicious.  My vision turned to one of me punching the smiling young punk of a bagger for reading my innermost thoughts of temptation.


Instead, I smiled bigger (probably insanely) and said I probably would regret it and wheeled my sorry gluten free filled cart out of the store.


*whispers*  And I have regretted it since which is why I'm writing this.  I want some pumpkin pie!!

Recipe Time!

So tonight I'm feeling a bit lazy but want to save Incredibly Lame Haiku for when I'm really lazy so what I will give you instead is one of my very favorite recipes!  So easy and so tasty but also kind of lame, too.  :D


Cheese Crisp


Ingredients:


Tortilla (flour works best but I've been doing white corn since we're trying gluten free)
Cheese
Onions and whatever else you may want to throw on top


Heat oven to 350.
Sprinkle cheese and your desired toppings on the tortilla
Bake for 10 minutes.


Delicious!


By the way, if you also use the corn tortillas the concoction cannot rightfully be called a cheese crisp.  It is more of a cheese not so crisp.  Just warning you!

Deconstructing Song Lyrics

I've decided to try something new here that I'm going to call deconstructing song lyrics.  Basically, I'm going to grab the lyrics for whatever random song my Spotify is playing and I'm going to try and interpret them to see if it is really a cool song with meaningful lyrics or if really it is a steaming pile of crap lyrically.  Mind you, at this point these will all be songs on playlists that I created so I will like them all but they may be "lyrically challenged".  I'll comment in bold after each verse while trying this out unless I decide something else may work better. 


So let's find out!


Here's your very first deconstructed song with lyrics courtesy LyricsFreak:

Controversy

by

Prince

I just can't believe all the things people say Controversy
Am I black or white? Am I straight or gay? Controversy
Do I believe in God? Do I believe in me? Controversy
Controversy Controversy
I can't understand human curiosity, Controversy
Was it good for you? Was I what you wanted me to be? Controversy
Do you get high? Does your daddy cry? Controversy
Controversy Controversy

I'm not entirely sure what Prince is going for here in this first verse other than perhaps a few things could be considered controversial.  And does Prince think he's God?  Hmm...

Do I believe in God? Do I believe in me?
Some people want to die so they can be free
(I said) Life is just a game, we're all just the same, do you want to play?
Controversy Controversy Controversy
Controversy Controversy Controversy

OK so besides another possible reference to Prince thinking he is God this verse makes a tad bit more sense although I'm not entirely sure still what this has to do with controversy.  Wait - is this verse about suicide?  I suppose that could be controversial.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever
Controversy Controversy Controversy Controversy
Love Him, Love Him baby
Controversy Controversy Controversy
Controversy Controversy Controversy

Now Prince is praying.  Just praying.  Is this about public prayer being contested?  Or the fact that Prince wants us to love "Him" which I assume from the capitalization means God?  Knowing what I know of other Prince songs I sincerely hope so.  Because Prince is a dirty boy.

Listen
People call me rude, I wish we were all nude
I wish there was no black and white, I wish there were no rules
(repeat 3 times)
Controversy Controversy

See?  Dirty.  He wishes we were all nude.

Now I'm starting to glean that this song may be about why can't we all be the same and why does the color of our skin, the person we love or the being we worship matter.  That's cool.

Do I believe in God? Do I believe in me? Let me tell ya...
Some people want to die so they can be free
(I said) Life is just a game, we're all just the same...don't ya want to play?
Controversy Controversy Controversy Controversy


Aaaannnddd now Prince alludes to the fact again that he is God.  Or maybe he's just questioning who and what he believes in.


My final opinion is that this song is lyrically OK.  I can dig some of the things he sings about if I interpreted them correctly.  And it least it made a bit of sense.


I give the song's lyrics 7 out of 10.


What do you think after reading the lyrics?  Am I crazy?  Any thoughts to add?

Like A Lannister Who Pay Their Debts, I Keep My Promises

As promised, today I am finally going to write about inspiration. Both in inspiring people and also in being inspired myself.



The theme came to me last Wednesday when I was feeling completely terrible and not at all up to writing a whole blog about it. I really wasn’t feeling up to much of anything aside from being a lazy slug laying on the couch watching TV and feeling sorry for myself because I was (insert whiney voice here) SICK. Which being sick really doesn’t seem inspiring and, really, it’s not. It’s not at all what made me want to write about inspiration.



What did it do you ask? While this lazy blob was oozing on the couch there was a noise from the phone notifying me of a new email. A friend on Facebook had tagged me. My blogs inspired her to start writing her blog again after a lengthy absence. And I’m not going to lie that felt pretty darn good and I was pretty darn proud of myself. So this slug propped up and while in the process of attempting to throw my shoulder out of joint patting myself on the back so hard I got another notification on my phone. This time it was a message on Facebook from another friend saying that all my incessant posts about my Bountiful Baskets (ask me about them - I won’t shut up) inspired her to order one for the first time. Which felt even BETTER and I was even MORE proud of myself.



I had inspired two people in the span of a few hours to do something different. And I will say again it’s a good feeling. I like inspiring people. I like challenging them to challenge themselves as I firmly believe the more we believe in/inspire others the more it will inspire us to achieve whatever we desire.



So now that brings me to personal inspiration. What inspires me? Well, my family for one. My friends who I care for more than I ever would admit and that, barring something awful, I will be loyal to until the end. My job that seems to ask more of me all of the time and I am inspired to and strive to meet the challenge. Music that evokes certain times and feelings for me that I want back or simply enjoy reliving once again.
 

A specific inspiration has been at work. A woman there has challenged my team to lose weight. It’s the holidays which most of us realize is an awful time to try and keep weight off much less lose it. But her challenge is rather unique and easy to track and, at least in my mind, extremely inspiring. What we do is set a goal. How much do we want to lose? For me, it’s 10 pounds. We started last week with a weigh in and each week we weigh ourselves again. For each pound we lose, we put a non-perishable food item on our desk. So everyone in the whole area can see the progress we’ve made and we can laud one another‘s accomplishments. Final weigh in is mid-December and every single can of food you’ve “earned” by taking off pounds is put in a pile. If you’ve met your goal, good for you. Yay! If you haven’t met your goal, however, you owe food. Double your original goal. Yipes. But the good thing is then all the food “earned” or “owed” will be taken to a local food bank to help needy families eat. We’re one week into the challenge and although my desk is woefully bereft of any cans yet (I have negative one cans - sad pandas) I know we’re doing this for two good causes - needy families and our own health. 



Now a little bit more about inspiration and then I will let you all free to go about your lives. I started this blog, of course, to try and spark an interest in myself again to work on writing a novel. And I am pleased to report all of this inspiring and inspiration has me thinking again about one of the book concepts I had previously thrown about and I find myself fleshing out characters and ideas and even devising little scenes in my mind. I’m not ready to start committing anything to “paper”, mind you but baby steps…