I have a few goals for myself: Not only do I want to workout more and lose fat, but I REALLY need to eat healthier. It’s really bad. So, for now, my goal is to simply EAT more fruits and vegetables. “More” is not really a measurable term, so my literal goal is at least one fruit and one vegetable a day. (I know, the fact that that is a goal just shows you how unhealthy I am.) Confession: I had puppy chow for breakfast and lunch and as a snack in between today… I mean there was real food in there too, but ya. Who does that?! I am going to have clogged arteries by 35.

For the record in case a stranger stumbles upon this blog (and so I don’t have to do the math when I am old and looking back on this) I am 27; 5’6 and my start weight is 140.2. I have an at home “body fat calculator” on my scale. From past experience with a real trainer I know it is not very accurate, but it is consitant, so as long as the number goes down I am happy. Right now it says I am at 33.3 — like I said, it is not accurate. Based in the BMI calculator I found on-line being 140lbs and 5’6 means I stand at 21.3. Either way, I just want it to go down.

My goal is 130 by our first lake day; we normally start going in April, so I will use 4/1 as my deadline; that is 11 weeks away so I have a goal of about a pound a week.

These pictures are my motivation. We were opening wedding presents over at Kyle and Christin’s a few days after the wedding. I want to be more toned than that though.

Here  I am now.  You always have to look bad in your “before” picture, so don’t judge my no makeup-havent left the house all day-face and wardrobe :)

Now I am off for the gym for the first time this year, my goal is 4 miles, wish me luck!!!

http://traininglog.runnersworld.com/logs/8e9b96f43cf64966b9dd655eb6b4f3e0

2. go to Europe [estimated trip summer of 2013]

3. have a plant and a dog and keep them alive

4. take a surf trip as a couple

5. practice practice practice (Josh wanted me to put this)

*that is all I can think of for now :)

It is not much like any other casserole people make, and personally, I like it best. It is always a tough decision when deciding to share a recipe, but since I am trying to start blogging more, I thought now was a good time. :)

First things first || Ingredients:

3 cans french cut green beans
1 can shoepeg corn
1 can water chestnuts-chopped (or you can get sliced and chop them yourself)
Mom uses 1 cup finely diced onions. I use 1/2.
1 can cream of celery
Salt and Pepper as needed

Topping:
1 stick butter, melted
1 roll Crushed townhouse crackers

Drain the 4 cans of veggies and spread in an 8×10 [glass prefeered] cooking dish
Chop onions and water chestputs and spead on top 
I drop the cream of celery soup in about 9 blobs and spread bake 350 for 35-40 minutes

*I changed the recipe a little because I found people tend to like the french onions on top, so I crunch them and ADD them to the top.

First off, I must give credit where credit is due. My all knowing, home making, garden growing, egg hatching mother-in law got me started on making vanilla from “scratch”. She originally gave me a jar at a bridal shower and I was hooked. I give it credit for many of my recipes turning out so well. I am about to make some for my mom for Christmas; she has been asking for some since she saw mine but since the beans and vodka can be pricey, I decided to do it as a formal gift instead of a give away.

Even vanilla extract at the grocery is expensive for its size, running anywhere from $4-$10 depending on brand and purity. So you can guess, as mentioned, that vanilla beans are expensive too, so do yourself a favor and order in bulk. I got mine from Atlantic Spice Company for a good bulk price… and (sidenote)  I hear they have great nuts too. :)

Depending on what size bottle you are going with, you could need anything from 5-15 beans. Even after the package is open you can store the rest to use later.

Today I am making a small amount in about an 8 oz bottle which uses 5 beans and is the perfect size for a gift.

You will been: cheap vodka, vanilla beans, a knife, and a bottle with some sort of secure lid.

Step One) Slice the beans long ways, it helps release the flavor. (I am using 5 beans)

Step two) For this size bottle, you will fold the beans in half so they will fit, then place them in the bottle.

Step Three) Add your vodka.

Close lid.

and you’re done! vuala!

You can deliver it as is, informing your friend to let it steep 6-8 weeks, or make your bottle 2 months in advance so it is ready when you give it. I personally loved “waiting” until mine was ready, so that is what I do.

First off, this is Josh and my first Christmas together. I went shopping AFTER Christmas last year to get most of our decorations, and the rest, well, we can all thank Pinterest. So I have decorated the house, the tree, the kitchen table, and on top of that, never, ever, like in my whole life, have I ever sent Christmas cards. ever.

and this year I did :)

I enjoyed making them so much. From the pictures, to the word web, to the writing on the outside of the envelope. It is just my thing. We sent 60 this year and I have a feeling that # is going to be a one time thing. I just figured since this was the year we got married and so much has changed; it was the appropriate year to go overboard.

I first started out with a picture form all the “big events” this year, but it was just too many images; so, I went with wedding pictures and one of us in the snow. :)

The first few I addressed, I sent out normal; but I wanted to add a little more personality to them so I did. Some people might hate me when they open their card, but I might have sprinkled in the TINIEST bit of glitter. Finally, to top it all off, Christmas lights were needed around the return address.

Okay, that’s it. I promise.

I am so excited for everyone to get them!

oh! I forgot to tell you about our Christmas tree experience! That will have to wait. We are going to Nama’s to get Sushi with friends.

Until then, in short:

We came.

We saw.

We Conquored.

The best part about this run is exactly what you would think… the jingle! Everyone participating was there with bells on.

On their shoes, their wrists, their shirts, their hats and heads; it was so much fun and by the end I hardly even noticed I was jiggling with each step :)

It was a bit on the cold side, which slowed both of us down, but seeings as we just started training the week before, we both did really well. My goal was to end in under 30 minutes and the official timer game me exactly that. 30:00. Now I know technically it was even better time than that since when you first cross the start line you are still walking until people get more spread out.  All in all, it was a good race, and I am looking forward to training and getting in shape for the REAL race in April.

Although it may look like I am smiling, I believe that is a cringe of misery.

xdf  We were a lot happier when it warmed up and we were headed into The Brewery to eat :)

sweat. pain. shortness of breath. cramps. carbs. more sweat. fatigue. and maybe a change in diet.

can you guess?

I am going to run a half marathon!

There is a girlfriend at work who asked me a few weeks ago, and after she did, several others followed! Erica Fair, Sarah Fair, and possibly Beth Lovelace! :) It is going to be a great time.

Valarie and I are going to do the one in Nashville. I hear there are less hills and you get live music :) Not that I will actually be listening to it, because I am a rule breaker and like to run with my ipod.

The training technically starts in January, but Erica and I are running the Jingle Bell 5k this Saturday so I started training today. I ran 3.2 miles in either 32 or 34 minutes… i could tell you better if the treadmill would not have turned off on me at 30:00……..

that was miserable.

Yes, I know a 10 minute mile is slow but that is the first time I have run since….. pre-wedding…. so let’s say MAY.

Yikes.

I am going to be keeping track of my training on one of my pages; I didn’t want to clog up my blog with running and time/weight posts.

If any of you want to join us in our training let me know.

Josh and I were going to wait until next summer -or the summer after that- to start looking for houses, but we found this adorable one in west Knoxville that woke us up from out slumber and started the house search. The one we found has a huge yard at nearly an acre but it not quite as west as we want, so we started looking.

Our goal is to move about April or May, because that is when the condo lease is up and I will have Spring Break/Summer to move in and nest :)

Also, we want a dog. So a big yard, preferrably with a fenced in back yard, would be ideal.It is a little older than I want and I did not love the front porch, but Josh and I already talked about how we would renovate that.

This is the back yard of our first love in west Knoxville:

I love the view to right that isn’t pictured either. It is about 2,280 sq ft, 3 bedroom Cape Cod 2 story with finished basement, Parquet foyer, Greal wood fireplace, formal dining room with triple bay window, finished basement, and did I mention great yard?

Our #2 is a lot smaller, newer, and brick-which I love. It is also in LC, which would be closer to Josh’s work. I am not sure how big the yard is though.

Finally, but surely not the end of the hunt, this is just the beginning, I like another one in LC. It is gorgeous on the outside, hardwood, bigger, but does not seem to have much of a yard.

I am so excited about embarking on this new adventure with my hubby. I am not sure what we are more excited about: a new home to call our own, or an adorable new puppy :)

Okay, at some point you just have to say “really?! What the heck?”

How on earth did it get this bad? How on earth did a 16 year old young man make it to the 10^th grade. How does one get to the point where not only does he obviously not know how to spell self esteem, but cares so little about the English language and vocabulary, that it never dawned on him that how you feel and think about yourself has nothing to do with a vapor.

Oh dear heavens, how did it come to this?
And how will I get through the 40 years of my life teaching?

I’m trying to get back into the swing of things,  but for now, I am just blogging for my own sake as an update and reminder of what is going on in our world.

Josh and I are finally settling int to our new home :) We actually have stuff up on the walls and are slowly finding room for everything. We finished our bedroom (all the way down to the throw pillows)  and I am about to tackle a DIY project to manage some of my jewelry :)

Speaking of managing…He is making me throw more things away… or should I say just making me throw things away…. ?? :)

His new rule is that when I bring something new into the house, I have to get rid of something old….. right now it is easy, because it is just the beginning, but eventually I can see this getting more difficult… so I purge lightly :)

Once I get the house a little cleaner I am going to put pictures on here so I always remember our first home :)  awww

This should be a separate entry, but I know I’ll never get around to it, so I’ll just announce it now:

Our wedding was featured on my dress designers blog! Lea-Ann Belter

I was super excited when she notified me and asked me to tell more about my story about my wedding and my dress.

To read it, visit their site here.

http://www.lea-annbelter.com/blog/2011/09/15/lea-ann-belter-mallory-bride-amy-2/