Day Seven, Food Journal

I won't bore you with food journals for much longer...I just want to get a week or two's worth down on paper; it should help me track progress.

On another note, I'm working remotely today, something I've started to enjoy more and more. I can get started (and finish) earlier, work in my pajamas and be so much more productive.

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Day 7

7:30am Protein bar

10:00am Protein shake, rice cake

12:30pm Shrimp, barilla pasta and Francesco Rinaldi sauce (low sodium)

3:00pm Taco meat and salsa

5:00pm Red chili pepper hummus and peppers (green & red)

7:00pm Chicken over baby spinach with a Tbsp of light greek dressing

8:00pm Bowl of frozen blueberries

Day 6, Food Journal

It's Day Six and I certainly don't feel (or look) any different. Perhaps a bit grumpier because I can't eat any of the foods I love (chips, candy, chocolate!)

I know change is on its way...but it's so hard to keep going without the proper motivation. A change - even a subtle one - would certainly motivate me.

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Food Journal, Day Six

7:00am Protein bar

10:00am Protein shake, rice cake (shake was disgusting...put in too much water)

12:45pm brown rice pasta, grilled chicken and pesto

Wasabi peas throughout the day...to curb hunger

4:00pm Protein shake (chocolate this time...and thick!)

5:00pm handful of wasabi almonds - so good!

7:15pm taco meat and salsa over baby spinach

8:00pm handful of frozen blueberries

Day Four

Did I mention I'm on a new diet? I am desperate to fit into my winter clothes...I just can't afford (nor do I want) to purchase an entirely new wardrobe. That just seems silly.

So as part of my quest, I'm modifying my food intake (we'll see how long it lasts) and hitting the gym more (I hope!). Today's meals included:

8:00am Protein shake and coffee (lovely mix!)

9:30am Protein bar (icky kind...low sugar)

12:00pm steamed shrimp and veggies over brown rice

3:00pm Protein shake

7:00pm Taco meat (turkey) with salsa and salad

9:00pm Frozen blueberries and SF cool whip

I am a machine...

...and food is my fuel. I just need to convince myself of that when I'm staring down a plate of spicy hot, blue cheese-soaked buffalo wings.

In the meantime, here's today's food intake:

4:45am Protein shake on way to gym

6:00am Rice cake, 1/2 apple

7:30am Protein bar

10:00am Handful of almonds (wasabi!), rice cake

12:15pm brown rice pasta, chicken and pesto

2:00pm handful of almonds (wasabi!)

4:00pm Protein shake, chocolate

7:30pm grilled chicken and spinach with a teaspoon of dressing

9:00pm bowl of frozen blueberries, dollop of SF whipped cream

What, me worry?

Asking me to not worry is like asking me to not breathe: it can't be done consciously. I'm hard wired to worry about anything and everything, especially when it comes to my offspring. It's the only reason I despise business travel - I can't go into my kids' rooms at night to make sure they're still breathing.

Sure, I can call. And yes, I can talk to my husband (when he chooses to answer the phone), but it's not the same thing. I'm not comfortable until I can see my girls with my own eyes; lay my hand on their backs and hear their contended sighs.

I knew motherhood was difficult, but I didn't realize that it would hurt this much to be away from my kids. It's such a fierce pain.

Petra and Raya, you remember this: your mother *hated* to be away from you when you were young and would've packed you in her suitcase if it were legal.

Katie's Pepperoni Squares

These things are amazing...and simple to make. Many thanks to Katie for the recipe. I plan to try it out at Pet's birthday party this weekend.

Pepperoni Squares

2 eggs (use egg beaters - it comes out better)
2 cups milk
1 package of sliced pepperoni (cut into quarters)
2 cups flour
2 bags of cheddar cheese

Mix everything together and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until the sides are bubbly and slightly browned. And, voila! Yummy pepperoni squares.

She jumped the shark

Over the course of a week and a half, I devoured 1,700 pages of Stephenie Meyers' dark fantasy novels - Twilight, New Moon & Eclipse - because they were so incredibly good. Obsessively so. Even to an almost-40 victim of fate.

So it was with much excitement and a little trepidation that I went and bought the fourth and last book. I was desperate to read but anxious to be finished with the series. The books are that good. Er, at least they were.

I started reading Breaking Dawn on Sunday and am halfway through the 700+ page novel. Dare I say it? Stephenie Meyers finally jumped the shark. It's not nearly as good as its predecessors...glaringly so. And it feels strange to say this, but this book is just to fantastical. Yes, books about vampires and werewolves tend to be rooted in fantasy, but this...it feels like Meyers stripped away everything that made the first three books so incredible .

I'm not alone in my thinking and actually it wasn't until I read Jennifer Reese's article in Entertainment Weekly that I realized why I was so disenfranchised: The book loses its humanity when...oh, I won't spoil it for those who haven't read it yet. Suffice it to say, the book veers off into left field almost immediately and hasn't recovered...from what I can tell.

I'll update this post when I finish the book, which should be soon. At least we have the movie to look forward to...

Hillshire Farm Commercial - GO MEAT!

This. is. my. favorite. commercial.

And, it's even better when sung by a five-year old.