When Is Enough, Enough?

As I sat at the computer clicking through the various picture packages from a recent basketball photo session for G, I was really thinking how do I get out of this? I don't want to buy anymore completely overpriced pictures (and a mug too) that are going to sit in a drawer for all eternity! Of course G thinks he (we) desperately needs to commemorate any and all life events by way of an $11 mug. Then guilt gets the better of me and I order the least expensive package so we'll have at least one and he'll have some to pass out to his friends. Unless I can get a handle on this, I'm pretty sure this will be a lifelong pattern and you can never have too many coffee mugs.

A New Favorite

Last night Goose and S were riding bikes/running. It's been so nice (in the 50's) here that S wanted to take advantage of being outside and Goose wanted to go too. I used that as an opportunity to do a little shopping. I didn't have a lot of time so I went down the street our open air "mall". I usually hit the GAP and Banana Republic because 1.) they're right next to each other and 2.) they're usually having a sale. I found what I was looking for at GAP so no need to go into BR.

Merino Sweater - GAP

The sweater does run quite small and is a little shorter than I would prefer but I can already tell that it's going to be well-loved. I ordered it in an extra large. This would generally be worrisome as I've recently (over the past 6 months) lost a bit of weight and was incredibly happy to not be in an extra-large. The psychology of losing weight? But after reading the reviews on-line it seems that most anyone that ordered this sweater had to size up in order for it to fit. It is incredibly soft and looks like the type of material that won't fade after washing. Bonus: I only paid $15. It was part of their 50% of sale items and since it was Tuesday, I got another 10% off for using my GAP card.

Running/Gym Etiquette

On Wednesdays Goose has basketball practice. It's at a facility that has an indoor track above the basketball courts. After a couple of weeks of sitting in the hard plastic chairs courtside, I thought I'd make a go of actually moving while he was practicing instead of sitting like a bump on a log. Up to the track I went. As I started walking and interacting with all the other gym-goers, I noticed a few things I'd like to share about what people should or shouldn't do at the gym.

• DO follow the rules that are clearly posted on the signs. The arrows that show which way track traffic is supposed to go aren't a suggestion.
• DON'T take up the entire width of the track with your pack of walking/running buddies. You're impeding traffic on the track. Nobody likes to be back-logged.
• DO make every effort to NOT smell. I know, I know you're at the gym and working up a sweat. If I can smell you from three lanes away, that's excessive and you should do something about it. Throw on a little deodorant and you'll be doing everyone a favor.
• DON'T crowd the lanes. There is no need for you to brush up against me when you're passing me. There's plenty of space for you to pass the "slower" runners/walkers without giving them a sweat bath.
• DON'T use the railing that overlooks said basketball practice to get your stretch on. 1. You're interrupting the flow of traffic by standing in the middle of a lane and 2. If I can see your man parts in all their glory, so can the 2nd graders that are right under you. Not appropriate, take it somewhere else.

These are just a few tips that would make the gym experience more pleasant for everyone.

Lazy Girls Guide to the Kitchen - Paprika Chicken

A long time ago I used to spend every waking moment at my best friend's house. I was the youngest of seven and she was an only child so the draw of a chaos free house was very strong. Plus she was (and still is) pretty cool and her wardrobe was (and still is) exponentially better than mine, so there's that too. I loved eating dinner at their house. Her mom always made really yummy food! Of course my culinary bar was pretty low since Hamburger Helper was regular fare at our house.There was one chicken dish that has always been my favorite from the junior high and high school years. Walking into their house after school and smelling the wonderful smells that emanated from the crockpot was quite heavenly. I thought that the recipe must be incredibly complicated but then again what did I know. I was thirteen and my skills were limited to peanut butter sandwiches and a bowl of cereal. Turns out the recipe is stupid simple and has two ingredients, chicken and Italian dressing. It makes for a ridiculously easy dinner when the only thing you have to do is put the chicken breast in a crockpot (on low for 8 hours) and add Italian dressing. I've also been known to mix it up by marinating the chicken while I'm at work and then throwing it on the grill just before S gets home. It's a tasty, easy recipe that I end up making on a regular basis. We call it Paprika Chicken at our house. In the beginning was Goose was weary of the unknown spice and wanted to know what the red spots (from the dressing) were. Rather than risk his refusal to try the recipe, I lied and said it was paprika. For some unknown reason, he had decided early on that paprika was acceptable. If you're a lazy girl in the kitchen (and even if you're not), I highly recommend this recipe. It's delicious.

Staying Active in the Winter

It's no secret that I'm on a mission to lose weight (and be a healthier version of me). I started a jogging regimen in late summer but mother nature is cruel and the days kept getting shorter, colder and eventually the daylight disappeared before S was home from work. Since I'm too self-conscious to join a running group (I'm incredibly slow and would be THAT person) and not brave (or stupid) enough to run outside in the dark. I took it inside. We have a treadmill in the basement that has been working out nicely. Straight running on a treadmill is torture...but I've managed to bypass the boredom by doing a couple of things. First, I do a walk/run. Meaning, I'll walk for one minute and then up the speed and run for four minutes. Second, I use our iPad to watch Netflix. I'll prop it up on the book stand, plug in my earphones and watch away. I try to do a minimum of 30 minutes 5 days a week but regularly do 60+ minutes. I'm super excited that I've been able to stay motivated and moving until I can get back outside. I can't wait for the new season of House of Cards to come out in February!

Honey Chicken

I hate to use the word resolution, but one thing I want to do more of in the new year is to prepare more meals at home. I'm not big on cooking. It's not that I can't follow a recipe, I'd say I'm lacking in the motivation department. Not only is preparing meals at home less expensive than eating out but it's also healthier. One recipe I've wanted to try for awhile is a honey chicken recipe from Red Star Recipe that I found via Pinterest. Click here for the original recipe on the Red Star website.

I have to say it was pretty good. I didn't follow the recipe in its entirety. I left out the red pepper flakes because I didn't have any in the cupboard and next time I'd leave out the cayenne pepper too. For me the added heat was an odd touch and was an unnecessary ingredient for my palate. The recipe also said to use 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts but there was more than enough for at least a couple more pieces of chicken. I used 2 lbs which equated to 3 very thick pieces of chicken. I wanted a thinner slice so I cut the pieces in half (similar to butterflying).

Yummy! Since I'm watching what I eat, I also did a calorie conversion for anyone that's interested. Six ounces of chicken totaled about 309 calories.

Neutrogena Visibly Even BB Cream

In an effort to step up my game and be a little more presentable in public, I'm slowly incorporating different products into my morning workday routing. I blame this new found interest in my appearance on losing weight. I've never really had the patience to do the whole make-up/skincare thing in the morning but as I get older, that neglect has started to settle in and my skin just isn't as "fresh" as it used to be. Sure I use a moisturizer daily and in my younger years and I would put a face on before going out, but generally speaking I'm pretty laid back. I've been using whatever moisturizer S picks out and I've been happy with that system. With the dark spots from breakouts and getting older, my skin is just blah. To dip my toe into the pool, I decided to use Neutrogena Visibly Even Broad Spectrum BB Cream. I picked it because I wanted a daily moisturizer with SPF (it has a SPF of 30) and it was tinted. Throwing a little coverage in the mix sounded alright to me. I have the light to medium, but in hindsight I should've gotten the fair to light for the winter months.

Thoughts on the product:

Good: It does even out my skin tone somewhat but if you're looking for heavy coverage, this isn't it. I can still see some old acne marks after application but I expected this. Even S noticed a difference and said that my skin looked nice. I like the idea of light vs. heavy coverage.

Not So Good: Even though it's a moisturizer, my skin still feels tight. I need to wear my regular moisturizer underneath in order for my skin to feel moisturized. This may be good for the summer when my skin isn't as dry as it is in the cold, dry winter months.

Yes or No: I'll definitely keep using this (at least until the tube is empty). It's an easy first step into a more presentable me. I'm new to this and I'm not ready to add a lot of steps to my routine. I need to master them one or two at a time and my preferences lean towards a more natural look anyway. Honestly, I'd rather concentrate on improving the condition and look of my skin as opposed using something heavier as a cover-up.