Month: June 2012

This is what the kids do while we chat

Build things out of beer cans and boxes. Awesome!

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Health at What Size? Oh yeah, MY size!!!

So to start, let’s just get this out in the air. I had some scary news 3 months ago. I had my annual physical and my fasting glucose levels were high enough to be considered pre-diabetes. I have a family history of diabetes and I had gestational diabetes which makes me a prime candidate to develop diabetes later in life. (hello Jennifer….it’s later in life)

I am happy to report that my sugar levels are decreasing to normal and my A1C levels are normal. I’ve been flooded with different emotions and fears since early March. So I’ve been trying to get back out there and move my body. I’ve been in the lake swimming, cycling to work and at a horrific gym class or two. I’ve had a lot of flashbacks to my triathlon days. I even  stumbled on this lip balm I bought at my first tri in 2007.

This tiny random lip balm outlasted the socks, water bottles and my own dedication to being active. This may be the only lip balm in the history of my life I haven’t lost, left in a random pocket, or put through the dryer. I digress, as usual.

My hope is that I am finally “back” to making healthy choices.  I refreshed the mantra!

I am not what I eat…I’m what I do.
I am not how much I weigh or how much I’ve gained or how much I’ve lost.
Changing my shape and size won’t make me happy. It may make me poor cause I’ll have to buy new clothes.
Positive thinking about me, you and the world will make me a better person.
I respectfully decline to discuss someone’s size…unless it makes you or me laugh and doesn’t hurt anyone.
I will eat what I want, and move on—slowly or quickly depends on what I ate.
I will move this body every day.
Thin doesn’t mean health. Fat doesn’t mean unhealthy.

Ruff Stuff–Mom and Girl Date

My girl and I have been meaning to take some time, just the two of us to do something special. A friend and colleague of mine told me about a dog game show that we might like to attend. Her dog Scruffy, would be a contestant. The show is called Life’s Ruff and is part of the Dog Saving Network. My girl and I had a blast. She was called up to the stage a few times during the performance to be a contestant with the dogs. I thought she was going to freak out, but she was cute as ever. The dogs were amazing. They had a cartoon sketch artist there to draw pictures of your pooches. We of course had one made….photo to come.
They talked to us about Positive Reinforcement Training for the dogs. I know we don’t do this at our house, but my girl, determined to get Monty and Clementine into the show had me shop for treats, a treat bag and she designed a training booklet to track the dogs’ progress. We almost came home with this guy. She told me she’d give up Budget if we could take him home. Oh yeah, and his name is Chaos. 160 pound of just what we need…..

Training book cover she designed for the dogs.

Devoted dog lover and her sweet talented Scruffy.

My sweet girl and the prize she really wants from the day. Meet Chaos. He’s up for adoption. A 2 year old victim of a bad divorce.

Girl and the Goat Birthday

Last week was my birthday.  I made reservations three months ago for a table of 10 at my favorite Chicago restaurant…Girl and the Goat.  Not a newbie to the place, I knew what to expect, but I absolutely loved sharing the meal with some of my favorite people in the world.  It was so much fun.  We sat Chef side, I got photos with her (crush) and she signed my menu.  Highlights of the meal for me were, as usual, the vegetables.  I can’t believe how she can make such mouth bursting flavors.  I also loved the meats, but I would go back for the veggies.  Oh, and the chocolate cake with pate (don’t knock it till you try it) was incredible.

My favorites:

  •  sauteed green beans (fish sauce vinaigrette . cashews)
  •   pan fried shishito peppers (parmesan . sesame . miso)
  •   roasted cauliflower (pickled peppers . pine nuts . mint)

We also had:

  • kohlrabi salad . (fennel . evalon . toasted almonds . blueberries . ginger dressing)
  • roasted beets (green beans . white anchovy . avocado creme fraiche . bread crumb)
  • wood grilled broccoli (rogue smokey bleu . spiced crispies)
  • diver scallops (braised duck . marcona almond butter . green papaya . green almond nuoc cham
  • Wood Fired Walter’s Chicken (yuzu harissa, fried pickles, brussel slaw, grilled naan)
  • Crisp Braised Pork Shank (butternut-shiitake kimchee, buttermilk dressing)

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