Healthy Dreaming

Rabbit Rabbit!

2012-03-01T20:36:00.001-05:00

It feels like 2012 is just whizzing by! I can't believe it's March already.

I took a picture last night to see what my mid-section looked like. I'm aiming to take another one end of March to see where I've toned up.

Don't mind the messy hair and lack of make-up! If you sneak a glance behind me, you see the edge of my weighted hula-hoop. I like to hula-hoop while watching T.V. because it makes me feel like I'm doing something other than sitting around.

I picked up this habit in high school when my mom handed me the hula hoop and said that it'll help me flatten my stomach.

I like to use the space in the master bedroom to work out. Now that the full-length mirror is there, I scrutinize myself when I'm doing my workout videos. On one hand I like what I'm seeing, On the other hand, I see parts that are a work in progress.

Since I don't take measurements, I use how my clothes fit and photos as a tool to see how far I've come. Even though I weigh myself daily, I tend to only focus on the bigger picture.

In the past, dropping the weight wasn't the issue. The huge issue was maintaining the loss. I was either depriving myself and "dieting" or going all out and rewarding my loss by eating whatever I wanted. I had the mentality that I knew how to lose weight but it wasn't a priority. I was full of excuses.

This time around I was determined to figure out how I was going to approach weight loss as a permanent and long-term lifestyle change instead of a temporary fix. Other people seemed to be able to maintain the same weight. Why couldn't I?

I started off as a calorie counter and quickly found out that calories add up quick if I don't watch out. I learned what a portion looked like and how many calories I should eat in a day. I learned what I needed to eat to fuel my work-outs. I learned that I actually enjoyed working out and pushing myself. I bet my PE teachers would be shocked to learn this.

The most important thing I learned was to aim for healthy weight-loss every week. My goal was 1-2 lbs a week - sometimes I lost more, sometimes I lost less. The important thing was that it was a downward trend.

I remember the pounds came off so fast in the beginning. I was so stoked at my progress and excited to learn that I could enjoy my meals and still lose weight.

Nowadays, I'm more of an intuitive eater since I cook almost all my meals (unless I'm traveling) and exercise fairly regularly. I am very aware of what my body feels, needs and wants.

Here's a trip down memory lane since I've been on this healthier approach.

I debated whether or not to post this picture or not since it isn't the most flattering picture. I realized that I do want to show this picture because it's a reminder of where I was only a few years ago.

October 2009

This is about 10 lbs down from my peak starting weight (this time around).

I wanted to celebrate my first 10 lbs loss so I took this picture.

February 2010

I was about 4 months into my journey approximately 25 lbs higher than now.

These pictures were taken on our family trip to Hiroshima, Japan.

February 2011

These pictures were taken approximately 15 lbs higher than now.

These were taken on our vacation to New Zealand.

As you can see, my weight-loss hasn't been super fast but I'm ok with that because it's the longest I've ever maintained a loss. I did it on MY terms.

What are you goals for the new month?

A glimpse into my food this week.

2012-02-29T19:49:00.000-05:00

Growing up, family meals were really important to my dad. It was the only time of day he could sit with the entire family after a long day at work. My mom had dinner ready every night at 6 pm and we were expected to help set the table around 5:55pm. The television was always off and our family would exchange stories about our day. I took those days for granted but now looking back, I miss it terribly.

Now, my sister lives in New York City, my parents live in Taipei and my brother and I live in Tampa. We try to see each other often but having the five of us together is very hard. This summer, we'll finally all be back in Taipei together.

I still make family dinner a priority in my house even though it's just me, my brother and my boyfriend. I want to instill in my brother the idea of sitting down to a meal and talking about his day. I like listening to him ramble about silly things. I try to make all my dinners special and tasty.

Nothing makes me happier than when my brother chirps, "This is good!" It's a small victory considering when he was in Taipei, he ate out all the time. Food in Taipei is amazing so I know he misses it a great deal. My mom cooked more when all of us lived under the same roof. Now that he lives with me, he definitely had to get used to the fact that I don't eat out that often.

He really enjoys learning about cooking and food. He jumps at the opportunity to go grocery shopping with me. I like to teach him about nutrition labels, how much things cost, and picking out good produce. We baked brownies together on Tuesday. I managed to only eat one piece saving the rest for his packed lunch.

I get excited packing his lunch every morning. Tomorrow, I set aside some leftover shredded chicken and I'm going to make a BBQ Chicken Calzone with my homemade whole wheat pizza dough. I'm trying to use up all the cheese in my fridge because the boyfriend gave up cheese for Lent.

Speaking of Lent, you'll notice the absence of red meat from all my dinners this week. Chicken is so versatile so I'm definitely not bored of it yet. I'm going to make sure to pick up some seafood this weekend though.

Thai Shredded Chicken with Julienned Vegetables

Thai Tofu Coconut Curry

Turkey Meatballs with Whole Wheat Pasta and Zucchini

Tonight's Dinner

Steamed Broccoli and Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Spiced Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters

Spiced Black Beans, Peppers, Corn and Brown Rice

Do you make family meals a priority?

It fits (again)!

2012-02-28T21:37:00.001-05:00

My full length mirror finally was delivered today from CB2. I'm totally in love with it because it fits the space perfectly. This is our first full length mirror in the house. I've been getting dressed by standing on top of the ledge of my bathtub (between that and asking my boyfriend, "How do I look?")

It's fitting that on the first night I get my full length mirror, I find out that I fit into my "skinny" jeans again. There is still a small muffin top but the fact that I would actually consider wearing it outside is testament that the scale is not the only tool to use on my journey.

Even if you are doing everything right, there are still plenty of reasons why the scale won't budge. I'm happy to find out my clothes are fitting better and I look leaner.

I'll be going to NYC in a little over a week to visit my sister and close friends. I'm excited to pack for cooler weather. I get to layer my clothes and rock my winter wardrobe. I don't get to do that very often in Florida. I'm packing my leather boots!

I bought this blazer last year online. When it arrived, I wasn't sure what to do with it. I wasn't sure if I could pull the look off and what to wear with it. I was going through my wardrobe last week (picking out what to toss and donate) and I found this with the tags still on it. I find myself really loving it because it's something different.

Do you enjoy trying new styles or do you stick to the same cuts that you know will work?

I definitely know one of the biggest motivators on my journey was fashion. I made an effort to look presentable even at my highest weight but I wasn't confident with how I looked. My younger sister has been trim all her life so I used to buy clothes for her that I secretly wished I could wear. I lived vicariously through her. I swear she would look good in a potato sack.

My new infinity mirror!

Fast Food, and Other Musings

2012-02-28T13:09:00.000-05:00

I remember when I was growing up, I would look forward to our family visits to a Fast Food restaurant. I remember sharing the two cheeseburger and french fries meal with my sister when my mom would order a Big Mac meal for herself. It was a treat because we didn't eat fast food that often.

In college, all the fast food restaurants downtown were open late to tempt bar-hoppers who craved a late night bite or studious students staying up to prep for exams. I am guilty of buying a ridiculous amount of food from McDonald's late at night.

I don't eat at Fast Food restaurants very often anymore. It's mostly a last minute resort when we're on a road-trip or stuck in an airport. I try to avoid it at all costs because of the questionable chemicals and preservatives found in their food not to mention the crazy calorie counts on all the menu items.

Last Saturday, we stopped by McDonald's for breakfast before heading back to Disney World. I know better than to skip breakfast and go into the parks hungry. I tend to regret my food choices when I let myself feel very hungry.

Since I gave up red meat for Lent, I chose an Egg McMuffin without ham. I had it with a bite of my boyfriend's hashbrown that was too greasy for my liking and a large coffee.

The Egg McMuffin without ham was 259 calories (90 of it from fat), 3.8g of saturated fat, 5g of unsaturated fat, 470 mg sodium, 28g carbohydrates, and 12.8g protein.

It's definitely not the healthiest but in terms of something to keep me satisfied until lunch, it did the trick.

My brother had his first Sausage and Egg McMuffin ever. This sandwich was my favorite breakfast item from their menu.

Do you know what's the nutritional breakdown of this sandwich?
450 Calories - 27g Fat (10g Saturated), 920 mg Sodium (1/2 of daily recommended allowance), 30g Carbohydrates, and 21g Protein

YIKES! I'm amazed this was my go-to breakfast choice from McDonald's WITH a hash-brown which is 150 calories and 9g of fat.

700 calories for breakfast? This is hardly something I would consider filling and it takes up more than 1/2 of my daily calorie allowance.

He said he enjoyed the sandwich.

In retrospect, I'm happy with my choice and the scale reflected it on Monday when I didn't gain from my weekend getaway. Tuesday morning even showed an 1 pound drop since last week so I'm glad I found a good balance between enjoying my vacation and staying true to my health goals.

How often do you eat at fast food restaurants?

Have you checked out your favorite menu item's nutritional information?

I'm sure people have seen this but this is the "meat paste" they formed into Chicken McNuggets

(another favorite of mine from the past).

Edit: Apparently McDonald's no longer mechanically separates the meat since 2003. Thanks Kris for the heads up.

Chicken Nugget Nutritional Info

276 calories (155 calories from fat)

17 grams of fat (3g unsaturated)

600 mg Sodium

16g Carbohydrates

14g Protein

I think we all need to be more aware of what we're putting in our mouth.

Let's treat our bodies with love and kindness.

A brief magical getaway to Disney World

2012-02-27T14:28:00.001-05:00

Since we live in Tampa, I'm only a short drive away from Orlando. This is our second year with the Disney World annual pass because my brother wanted to go this year. I don't think we're renewing next year because we're looking into other annual passes at other amusement parks (probably the Sea World/Adventure Island/Busch Gardens package). I'll miss going to Disney World whenever we feel like it but I'll be sure to get my Disney fill the next few months until it expires.

We stayed overnight at the Omni Resort at ChampionsGate that's about four exits away from Disney World so it was a quick drive to and from the parks. I loved the resort because it felt like a mini-vacation with their incredible service, amenities and views.

We spent the morning and afternoon at the parks before checking into our resort. We spent a few hours enjoying their heated pools: a lazy river, a water slide and a general pool.

I don't like this picture at all but I'm posting this in the spirit of being transparent.

After the pool, we got dressed and went back to Magic Kingdom to enjoy the rest of the night.

The following day we went to Hollywood Studios to enjoy a few rides before heading to lunch at Sweet Tomatoes.
If you haven't been to Sweet Tomatoes, it's buffet that serves all sorts of salads, toppings, soups, pastas, fresh made breads and dessert. I love going here between the parks because it's super affordable and I can eat a lot of fresh vegetables.

After lunch, we went to Downtown Disney to walk around and enjoy Disney Quest: an indoor arcade filled with interactive games as well as video games.

All in all, I think it was a great mini-getaway to unwind. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

The two of them grabbing a bite in Epcot while I sip my coffee

The bf and brother shared the beef tacos while I took pictures and nibbled on chips.

(Staying true to my NO red meat for Lent vow)

Enjoying my side of Lentil Salad in "Morocco"

Indulging in a Lemon Tart from the Boulangerie Patisserie

(I can't wait to try to make this at home. The shortbread cookie shell was divine!)

Sitting in "Germany" while my boyfriend enjoys his Pilsner

Pagoda in Japan at World Showcase

Our room at the Omni Resort

Heading down to the heated pools

The gorgeous view from the lobby

Perfect picture of my brother coming down the slide

The heated Lazy River

Cinderella's Castle at Magic Kingdom

I let my brother "drive" for the first time.

I loathe the day we have to teach him how to drive for real!

Taking a picture before the teacups started to spin.

Outside the Rock'n'Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios

Before we got on the ride

I travel quite a bit and it's always important to me to maintain some sort of routine while I'm on break. It keeps me feeling refreshed and looking my best.

Healthy Tips while Traveling

1. Stay hydrated!

If I'm staying in a hotel, I always stop by the closest store and pick up a few large bottles of water. It's always cheaper than the water being sold in the hotel. I make sure I drink a few cups of water in the morning before I head out and drink a few cups before I go to sleep. During the day, I make sure to stay hydrated too. Carrying a bottle is not always feasible but I do try to if I can.

At our resort, the bottled water sitting in a room cost $6.00. I read the label and it was imported from Italy. I bought two large bottles of water from Publix for $0.89.

2. Research the restaurant options beforehand

I always have a good idea of what restaurant options are nearby where I stay. Amusement park food is notoriously unhealthy and overpriced. A large supermarket and Subway were right outside my resort so I had great go-to options. Near Disney World, I found a Sweet Tomatoes that serves fresh salads and soups.

There are a few great options in Disney World though like salads, and vegetarian sandwiches. My favorite restaurants to go to in Disney World are the Tangierine Cafe in Epcot which serves Moroccan food and Tusker's House in Animal Kingdom which is an ethnic buffet restaurant.

3. Bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes

There is nothing worse than not being able to walk comfortably while on vacation. I know I've been guilty of trying to look cute and end up slowing down the group.

4. Enjoy yourself and relax!

Since you ARE on vacation, it's ok to live a little. I chose to indulge on my Lemon Tart on Saturday and enjoyed every bite. I shared a bit with my brother too. I am super picky on what I choose to indulge on because I want my food to be worth it.

What are some of your go-to tips when you travel?

Hollywood's Most Glamorous Night - THE OSCARS!

2012-02-25T11:00:00.000-05:00

I am so jealous of everyone who is HOSTING or ATTENDING an Oscar party! I'm going to resolve myself to watching it in my pajamas Sunday night with my boyfriend after we get back from Disney World.

What movies have you seen that are nominated? Who do you hope wins?

I've actually been really behind on the newest movies so I have to watch them after they come out on video but the ones that REALLY interest me are The Help, Midnight in Paris and The Artist. They just seem like very heartwarming movies.

The news outlets are all reporting glimpses of what they predict people will be wearing, who will win the coveted award and what will Wolfgang Puck be serving! It's his 18th consecutive year creating the menu for the Academy Awards Governor Ball.

Apparently this year, Chef Puck will be serving 50 different dishes!

I googled his 2011 menu and it was QUITE extensive! If anyone wants to get some inspiration for what to serve or bring to their get-together this weekend, here you go! Executive Pastry Chef Sherry Yard created the desserts.

Picture from Zimbio.com

83rd Annual Academy Awards® Governors Ball Menu 2011
Reception Stations
Sushi:
Maki Rolls – Spicy Tuna, Sweet Shrimp, Crab, Vegetable
Nigiri – Tuna, Sweet Shrimp, Yellowtail, Salmon, Snapper
Sashimi – Tuna, Yellowtail, Salmon, Snapper
Cucumber Salad – Edamame, Wasabi, Soy and Pickled Ginger

Shellfish:
Shrimp, Oysters, and Crab
Cocktail Sauce, Mustard Sauce and Mignonette

Tray-Passed:
Smoked Salmon on Oscar® Flatbread with Caviar and Crème Fraiche
Spicy Tuna Tartare in Sesame Miso Cones with Masago
Mini Kobe Cheeseburger with Remoulade and Aged Cheddar
Taro Root Taco with Smoked Lobster, Avocado and Pickled Jalapeno
Crispy Rice with Hamachi, Yuzu Aioli, Soy and Edamame
Quince Truffle Crisp
Black Truffle Pizza with Ricotta and Thyme

First Course
Trio of Wolfgang’s Signature Salads:
Artichoke Salad with Confit Tomato, Shaved Parmesan, Arugula, Lemon
Heirloom Beets with Oranges, Almonds, Goat Cheese, Citrus Shallot Vinaigrette
Asparagus with Iberico Ham, Black Truffle Aioli and Mizuna Leaves

Entrée
Pan Roasted Dover Sole with Fennel, Olives, Haricot Vert, Tomatoes, Lemon, Sherry, and Olive Oil
Butler-served Vegetable Paella with Saffron, White Wine, Chili, Parsley

Sherry’s Sweet Bouquet — Dessert
Layers of Lemon Cheesecake, Raspberry Cremieux, Cassis Gelee, Valrhona Ivoire
24 Karat Chocolate Oscar®

Now that the food is out of the way, let's talk FASHION! Who are you excited to see walk the red carpet? I've compiled a few gorgeous dresses I remember from the last decade or so.

Do you have a favorite Oscar moment? Are you having a get-together? What's on the menu!?

Partners in Life

2012-02-24T11:31:00.001-05:00

I really do love reading all the comments I get from readers. I was especially touched when some people could relate to being in an interracial relationship. I'm not even sure my relationship is considered interracial because we're both Asian: Indian and Taiwanese. I do know I get a lot of comments from both strangers and people. One rude comment was on a cruise when this drunkard who was hitting on me said, "You don't normally see an Asian girl with ...." I don't recollect how he ended that sentence but I do know it was inappropriate. I'm pretty good at shrugging and ignoring these comments.

When I was in Taiwan, I took my boyfriend and brother for a haircut. I was sitting on the side reading magazines when I overheard a mom with a young daughter whisper about my boyfriend. They mistook him for being African American which is not an issue except he's not. They jumped to the conclusion that he was living in Taiwan to teach English (a lot of foreigners come into the country to do this). I jumped into their conversation and said..

"My boyfriend is Indian. We're here to meet my parents. He's a program manager for his company."

I hate having to prove anything to ANYONE but when people automatically assume things, it makes my blood boil.

We've been through thick and thin both literally...

and figuratively.

In the beginning of the relationship, we both gained what I would call "love weight." There are actually studies about couples and weight gain. It seems that women have a higher chance of gaining weight than men do. Another finding is that having a closer relationship with an obese person, whether a friend or a spouse, makes you more likely to become obese. (Time Magazine Article: First Comes Love, Then Comes Obesity?)

I don't know if this study can apply to the general public but I do know it does hold some truth for us. When we were in college, we definitely ate too much and didn't exercise regularly. I didn't care as much that I was gaining weight because I had someone who loved me so who was I trying to impress? If my boyfriend thought I was pretty, isn't that enough?

Yes my boyfriend would hint at shedding some pounds but he didn't want to hurt my feelings. I'm surprised that he stayed with me because I can easily say I gained close to 60 lbs in a short amount of time.

During my weight loss this time around, I had a hard time dealing with the fact that I was more serious about losing weight than he was. I was so angry when I saw him skipping workouts or eating something "unplanned" but I think it was just my resentment that I didn't have support.

I almost drove him crazy in the beginning because I wouldn't stop obsessing about calories, exercise and weight loss. I learned that I needed to find a positive way to vent and let it all out. This is when I found forums and the blogging world where like minded people were dealing with the SAME things.

I also learned that everyone's journey is their own. He will get healthy his own way and I will choose to do it my way. I'm okay with the fact he loses weight faster because he's a man and has more muscle. I also have to remind myself not to become the food police. He needs to learn how to portion control himself. I'm just in charge of preparing the healthy foods.

One thing I'm thankful for is he eats whatever I cook for him.

Nowadays, I've learned to do my own workouts during the day and go at the intensity that I want to go at. I then keep an hour or so open in the evening if he wants to workout. He likes to workout together and I don't mind doing it. We end up either popping in a P90X video, dancing to Kinect, running around the neighborhood, gardening or playing badminton.

We encourage each other to be healthy! This Lent, I decided to give up red meat and my boyfriend decided to give up cheese. It's kind of funny because we'll probably meld the two so we're giving up both red meat and cheese. (My baby brother is giving up sugary drinks.)

How involved is your significant other with your healthy living?

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! We're going to Disney World for two days to take advantage of our annual pass. We're staying overnight at a golf resort so I'm packing sunscreen and our suits.

Dinner and YES it's CHICKEN again!

2012-02-23T19:19:00.000-05:00

I recently bought a Crockpot and I've been having fun experimenting with different things in it! So far I've mostly made pulled chicken, pulled pork and chili but I'm excited to try new things!

What are your favorite things to cook in a Crockpot?

BBQ Pulled Chicken Breast over Flax Seed Tortilla

Sides: Oven roasted Sweet Potatoes &

Green Beans and Tomato Sauteed with Balsamic Vinegar

Four chicken breasts seasoned with spices and slow cooked for 4 hours

(I added 1/2 cup red wine and 1/2 sliced onion)

Sauteed Green Beans and Grape Tomatoes

Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes

(Tossed lightly with vegetable oil and salt)

My brother's dessert - Fresh Strawberries and Vanilla Ice Cream

What's for dinner tonight?

Being on the same page

2012-02-23T16:12:00.002-05:00

Last year around this time, I broke it to my parents that I was dating an Indian man. I prepared for the worst case scenario. I had this whole dramatic situation in my head about being kicked out of the family for years until our (future) children were grown and could say "grandma" to melt away the ice that surrounded my mother's heart. Yes.... very dramatic.

My mom reacted exactly how I imagined - irrationally, hurtfully, loudly, ....downright crazy.

My dad actually surprised me by telling me that he trusted me and wished me the best. He told my mom that he'd seen a change in my personality over the years and thinks the reason is that my boyfriend is a good influence. My mom was infuriated that my dad wasn't on the same page.

My mom calmed down after a few days and wanted me to let her interact with Jason more. She stated that she isn't giving her approval but she's not shutting the door either. This surprised me because my mom was actually reasonable about this.

A year has passed since then and it's crazy how things have turned out. The most surprising thing is my parents LOVE my boyfriend like a son. They have him on a pedestal. My mom plans family vacations with him in mind. She makes lists of places she wants to take him to since our entire family loves traveling. On our trip to Taipei, my parents spared no expense to show him a good time.

It's definitely an interesting experience melding two families together. He's met some of my relatives and I've met some of his but we're not finished yet. I hope we get to meet everyone soon but with everyone living all over the world, it's very hard!

Webcam pictures taken first month we started dating Dec '06

Us at my peak weight - Spring 2008

Us Now

If I were to go back and give myself advice at the beginning of the relationship, I would tell myself to

- Love myself more

- Deal with my issues productively

- Trust my boyfriend

- Give my boyfriend more freedom to do what he wants.

- Relinquish control

Since I can't change how I behaved in the past, all I can do is be a better partner to him in the present!

I had a huge amount of fear and anxiety when I was in my early twenties. I hated myself so I would take it out on myself and the people around me. It took a long time for me to let go of this anxiety and live again. There was a part of me that thought I didn't deserve love both from my family and my boyfriend. I thought if they knew who I really was, they would hate me and leave me. Food was my comfort back then.

I still feel fear nowadays but it's not as bad as before. My boyfriend is very calm and collected so he keeps me sane. When I feel tension or overwhelmed, I exercise or talk it out.

It's definitely a work in progress but I'd like to think I'm improving.

P.S. My bf doesn't read my blog (if you guys are wondering).

Recipe: Wine Braised Chicken Thighs

2012-02-22T19:02:00.002-05:00

Last week, my boyfriend popped open a bottle of red wine for our Valentine's Day Dinner at home. We had a bit left over so I wanted to find a lovely way to use it.

I decided to use about a cup of it for tonight's dinner along with other things sitting in my fridge. The results were delicious!

Braised Chicken Thighs

served alongside pasta and steamed broccoli

Wine Braised Chicken Thighs

Ingredients

6 Skinless Chicken Bone-In Thighs (~2 lbs)

3 Celery Sticks (finely diced)

1 Carrot (finely diced)

1/2 Large Onion (finely diced)

3 cloves Garlic (minced)

1 tsp Dried Rosemary

Salt and Pepper (to taste)

1 1/2 cups Red Wine

1 Tbsp Heavy Cream

1 cup Tomato Sauce

1 tsp Vegetable Oil

2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes *optional

1.) Season chicken with salt and pepper

2.) Heat oil in a deep skillet on high heat

3.) Brown chicken in the skillet about 2-3 minutes on each side

4.) Remove chicken and allow it to rest (it isn't completely cooked through)

5.) Lower heat to medium

6.) Sauté celery, onions, carrots and garlic in the skillet for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender (make sure all brown bits are picked up from the pan)

7.) Add wine and simmer with the vegetables for 3 minutes to reduce the liquid

8.) Add tomato sauce, red pepper flakes* and rosemary to skillet

9.) Using an immersion blender, purée the braising liquid

10.) Stir in heavy cream

11.) Nestle the chicken thighs back in the liquid and cover with a lid

12.) Lower the heat to low and allow the chicken to cook through for at least thirty minutes

13.) Turn off the heat and serve warm alongside desired sides

Hope you give it a go. I have no leftovers tonight which is always a good sign!

What are you giving up?

2012-02-22T09:01:00.002-05:00

Today is Ash Wednesday and I am not Catholic but I do like the idea of giving up something for forty+ days.

Last year I tried to give up swearing for Lent. This was not a realistic goal and I failed on the first day. It was very sad actually. It actually made me aware that I may have a swearing problem and I've been trying to work on it all year.

This year I thought about it and I want to give up red meat for Lent. I think this will be a challenge since I do love beef and pork. I also want to explore more vegetarian dishes. I've never been vegetarian so I want to learn more about it before committing to something finite. I want to learn more about proper nutrition before I change the way I eat radically! I think I can cut out meat for 40+ days :)

Have you ever given up something for a certain amount of time? How did that go?

I haven't asked how my boyfriend and brother will feel about the lack of red meat on the menu but I don't mind making a big pot of vegetarian curry for me to eat during the week. My boyfriend actually loves chicken but I know my brother will miss his pork and beef. We all love seafood and tofu though.

Are you vegetarian? If so, how do you make sure you get all your essential vitamins and minerals?

Recipe: Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Pretzels Recipe

2012-02-21T21:09:00.000-05:00

My boyfriend LOVES his stuffed pretzels especially if it's spicy and cheesy. I searched the web for something I could make from scratch because I wanted to challenge myself!

I made these Saturday afternoon to bring to a goodbye party! I love parties where I can test out recipes without having leftovers in the fridge! That's one of the major reasons I don't bake very much unless people are coming over.

I found this recipe on http://www.celebrationgeneration.com.

The only things I found after making it was...
*I have to make sure I seal it better next time so cheese doesn't ooze out (I was in a rush)
*The dough can be made ahead of time and put in the fridge (just allow it to poof at room temperature a few hours before)
*The filling did not taste spicy at all so I might not seed the jalapenos next time
*The fillings can be changed up for other flavors! I am a huge fan of the dough recipe

Other than that, the entire container of them were gobbled up at the party I attended this week!

Here are some pictures during the making of these addictive pretzel bites!

The filling being rolled up into individual balls (~46)

Dough wrapped around the cheese ball then carefully rolled into an oblong shape

Pretzels after being boiled in water and baking soda

Hot out of the oven! (You can see the ones that *exploded*)

I still have some dough left over and I want to try to make sweet pretzels with them for my brother's lunch!

Home Decor + other musings about retail therapy

2012-02-21T13:30:00.002-05:00

Since we purchased our first home in September, we went into a decorating slump near the end of the year. We were burnt out after the whole house hunt, closing, moving and buying the initial things for the house. We had to tackle the immediate needs first and by the time we finished those, the holidays were upon us and we took a break from decorating.

I don't know if it's the new year or the fact that everyone has been wanting to see the new house. My boyfriend and I are feeling super motivated to find pieces to fill up the house and make it homey.

My boyfriend is very specific about what he likes and dislikes which is great because we make quick decisions. I know exactly what I like and dislike too. So far we haven't gotten into major disagreements over the direction we're going.

He actually let me introduce the color BLUE in our living room this weekend. It really is all about the small victories!

What is your home decor style? Does your significant other have any say?

Here are some items we've gotten the last two weeks...

Photo frames for our breakfast nook

Two side tables and lamps for our bed

Bar buffet that we can pull out as extra hangout space

Oil painting for our hallway

Metal art piece for our dining room

I counted the things we're waiting to be delivered and there are ten things!

- 1 Rug

- 3 Mirrors

- 2 Bar Stools

- 2 Armchairs

- 1 Clock

- 1 Shoe Rack

Mirror that will go over our bar table

Infinity mirror (32" x 76") for our bedroom

Rug for our dining room (8' x 11')

Two white leather chairs for our living room

We've also come up with two bags of clothes to donate to Goodwill!

My mom, sister and I all have the tendency to hoard things. My boyfriend hates clutter so he stops me a lot from buying unnecessary things. Now I automatically hear his voice when I make purchases!

Do I really need this?

How do I justify this purchase to my boyfriend?

Will my boyfriend like it?

How often will I use it?

Can I wait until it goes on sale?

I admit though that some things do slip through the cracks and I end up making impulse purchases! I bought a fondue pot last week because I've ALWAYS wanted to host a fondue party. I also bought a Le Creuset Casserole Dish in red because I love that brand! It's a work in progress but I think I'm getting better!

Does my packed lunch make the cut?

2012-02-17T07:08:00.000-05:00

Recently, I read an article about how a North Carolina pre-schooler was told to buy the school's lunch because her packed lunch didn't meet the FDA's requirements by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Apparently an

Her packed lunch consisted of a turkey and cheese sandwich, a banana, potato chips, and apple juice.

She ended up eating three chicken nuggets from the school lunch and threw the rest away. Her mom was billed $1.25.

The Division of Child Development and Early Education at the Department of Health and Human Services requires all lunches served in pre-kindergarten programs - including in-home day care centers - to meet USDA guidelines. That means lunches must consist of one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain, and two servings of fruit or vegetables, even if the lunches are brought from home.

When home-packed lunches do not include all of the required items, child care providers must supplement them with the missing ones.

The girl's mother - who said she wishes to remain anonymous to protect her daughter from retaliation - said she received a note from the school stating that students who did not bring a "healthy lunch" would be offered the missing portions, which could result in a fee from the cafeteria, in her case $1.25.

The full article can be read at Carolina Journal Online: Preschooler's Homemade Lunch Replaced with Cafeteria "Nuggets".

Since the news article was released, there have been public outrage at the government intervening in what children are being fed.

How do you feel about this story?

The agency now has backpedaled and said the story is not accurate. No one "forced' the child to buy a meal. Currently, the agency is still investigating this case. (Agency response to the outrage. Article: Lunch replacement for Hoke County girl called mix-up by school, state)

When I first read the article, I immediately wondered if the lunches I've been packing my 11 y/o brother have been adequate. After some self-evaluation, I determined I need to start being more well-prepared for lunch. I normally just do sandwiches or pack leftovers from the night before. Other things that show up in his lunch boxes include fresh fruit, chips, soups/stews, a piece of Halloween candy, homemade baked goods, and string cheese. I only pack water for his lunches. I'm not a fan of sugary drinks for him regularly.

I do make an effort to keep it healthy. I think if you see what he eats by the end of the day, you'd agree it's pretty balanced and healthy. He eats breakfast and a glass of milk every morning. Dinner always consists of a lot of vegetables. We have sweets and snacks around the house but he doesn't have the same problem with binge eating like I did growing up. He has a lot of self control. After dinner, I ask him if he wants something for dessert. Sometimes he turns me down, and sometimes he says yes.

When he's full, he stops eating. I make him finish his vegetables but I don't force him to finish the rest of his plate.

I've included some pictures of packed lunches I've packed.

Korean Beef Stir-Fry over Brown Rice

Roasted Salmon with Reduced Cream Sauce (over rice with a side of sugar snap peas)

Homemade Whole-Wheat Pizza Rolls (experimentation)

Turkey Wrap with Fresh Veggies

Occasionally, I let him eat lunch at school. This happens a few times a month. He says he prefers my packed lunches. He says my lunches are healthier. I've tried to keep the meals "un-weird" so he doesn't get teased at school.

I'll start taking more pictures of what I pack my 11 year old. When I first became a pseudo-parent, I jumped at the opportunity thinking this was great training for me when I'm a mom. I try to find a balance between being a good older sister and a guardian. Hopefully, I'm not screwing up too much.

Do you guys pack lunches for your family? What are some of your go-to things to bring?

Photo from The Kitchn

I told my brother I'd pack him a lunch that looked like that and he turned me down.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T22:04:00.000-05:00

Table setting with my homemade chocolate custard cake

Beets, Goat Cheese, Spinach Salad

Corn Chowder with crumbled reduced fat Bacon

Filet Mignon, Sauteed Vegetables, Individual Mashed Potatoes

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day or a great Tuesday :)

My bf surprised me with a vase of red roses after work. He hasn't bought me flowers in years so it was a nice surprise. Even better, it came in its own vase so I didn't have to find one for it.

Even though we ate at home, I didn't see any reason why we couldn't dress up for the occasion. I had a nice surprise when I was dressing myself!

What's even better than fitting into new clothes is finding you fit better in OLD clothes. I wore this red dress early November to attend a wedding. I remember needing to wear Spanx to keep everything smooth. I did not need to wear any today.

I feel a lot more toned recently because I'm back to good portion sizes and consistent exercise.

My bf said I looked great but then again he's supposed to say that so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

I told my mom I wanted to lose a bit more weight and surprisingly she said, "Isn't that losing too much?"

Moms can be super critical and mine is no exception. This was the nicest thing she's ever said to me. She thinks I look great.

I didn't lose weight for anyone but myself but it's always nice to have a wonderful support network.

Me wearing the dress in November 2011 with Spanx! It's a subtle difference but I see it. I felt it too when I was zipping up.

Florida State Fair Recap

2012-02-13T13:20:00.002-05:00

It seems like winter has finally reached Florida this week with our morning starting in the high 30s. It'll pass by the end of this week but I've been doing my best to keep everyone in the family healthy! Efforts were futile however with both the boyfriend and the brother coming down with small cold.

I'm knocking on wood right now but I can't help but think that healthy eating and consistent exercise attributes to my better immune system.

I foresee a lot of stews and healthy comfort meals this week (with recipes to follow).

We went to the Florida State Fair Saturday enjoying the insane food offerings, rides, farm animals and crowd. We shared dishes like onion rings, curly fries, corn dogs, funnel cake, cheeseburger, and lemonade among the three of us. There were crazy options like fried oreos, krispy kreme cheeseburger and giant butter basted elephant ears (which we didn't indulge in). My boyfriend said some things are better not tried.

My stomach was not happy with me at the end of the day. I hoped to quiet it down with a lot of hot tea and a giant fresh salad with my homemade Greek vinaigrette. It definitely helped. I don't know how people eat fried foods every day.

I didn't overeat at the state fair in terms of volume. I know overall it was probably a calorie bomb though.

We had a blast because it was our first real fair! I didn't go on any of the rides though because they all looked like a bad idea. My brother did do a few things like paddle boat with my bf and play on the zip line. I love making him happy since he is my baby brother.

Sharing a funnel cake

What a romantic excursion :)

Posing in my coral sweater from Barneys

He LOVED the zipline

Cutest Alpacas

Fresh cut curly fries

It was HUGE.

The rest of the week consisted of shopping for home decor, grocery shopping, yard work, and a lot of exercise.

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I have my menu set with my cheesecake layer baking as we speak.

2012 VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER

Starters

Beet, Goat Cheese, Spinach Salad

Corn Chowder

Entree

Seared Filet Mignon w/ Creamy Pepper Sauce

Individual Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Vegetables

Dessert

Chocolate Cheesecake Layer Cake

What does everyone have planned for Valentine's Day?

Fired-Up Friday

2012-02-10T07:48:00.000-05:00

Here's me sans make-up after a workout. I love the natural glow I get after my workout. The only thing on my face is my moisturizer I put on in the morning (SPF 15).

I've read that habits can be made from 18 days of consistently repeating the behavior. I don't know how legitimate this statement is. What I do know is that when I stop exercising for a long time, it takes me a long time to be motivated to start again. Once I get in my groove again, I feel weird skipping it.

I'm happy to report that I GOT MY GROOVE BACK! I'm slowly adding intensity to my workouts so I don't hurt myself. My body is responding with slight soreness and tightness but I make sure I do my morning stretches in the morning to work out the kinks. I want to avoid injury at all costs.

Even though weight-loss is calories in vs calories out, I find that exercise helps me eat healthy. I don't overeat or overindulge because it feels counterproductive. I also don't under-eat because I need the energy to workout. I'm more in tune with what my body needs.

My mom is trying to lose weight lately. Her history with weight-loss and eating is a whole different blog series altogether. The cliff notes version is that she's had a huge impact on my beliefs, habits and feelings of self-worth when I was younger. She doesn't even remember some of the things she said to me but I know they stuck with me. It took me years to get to a healthier place of self-acceptance and honesty by letting go with past angers.

My mom is too stubborn to listen to my advice. Weight loss is such a personal journey. I know I'll try my best to be encouraging and offer help if asked.

How have you influenced the people around you to get healthy? Have you inspired anyone?

Inspiration taken from Pinterest

Everyone have a WONDERFUL weekend staying true to our goals.

Because we are worth it!

Hair Story

2012-02-09T18:24:00.001-05:00

I've had basically the same hairstyle since college. Long hair with layers and highlights. It's a style that I've grown comfortable with but I wonder if I should change it up.

I have basically two options before me.
1.) Different cut
2.) Different coloring
..or a mix of both (ok so there's three options)

Here's some pix of my hair from the last year in order.

I'm leaning towards different coloring because I miss my bright highlights from the beginning of the year. I still get highlights every other month but I think my colorist must be playing it safe recently.

How long have you guys gone with the same hairstyle?

Two celebrity hairstyles that I would try are.....

Shoulder-length Bob or Dramatic Bangs

If you could trade hair with anyone in the world who would it be?

Recipe: Spanakopita Bites

2012-02-08T11:56:00.000-05:00

Last week at my dinner party, I served these delicious morsels as hors d'oeuvres. It was very popular and it was gobbled up in no time. Since I was unsure of the head count, I made a lot of filling ahead of time. I bought boxes of pre-made phyllo cups I found in the freezer aisle ready to be popped into the oven depending on number of people who showed up.

I adapted the recipe from the one I found online here from about.com featuring Greek Foods. I didn't want to make the real spanikopita because not only is it labor intensive, I would probably end up with a lot of leftovers.

Spanakopita Bites (makes about 50)
Ingredients
2 packages of frozen chopped spinach (thawed, and drained)
1 large onion (dice
5 cloves garlic (minced)
2 sprigs fresh oregano
1/4 cup fresh parsley (diced)
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbsp olive oil

1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 eggs (beaten)

1.) Heat olive oil in a saute pan on medium-high heat
2.) Saute onions and garlic for 3-4 minutes until tender
3.) Make sure spinach is well-drained and add to the pan
4.) Saute along with onions and garlic until most of the moisture is evaporated
5.) Add fresh herbs and season with salt and pepper. Saute thoroughly.
6.) Turn off heat and set aside to cool
7.) In a large mixing bowl, mix togther ricotta cheese, feta cheese and eggs
8.) Mix cheese mixture together with cooled spinach mixture
9.) Pre-heat an oven at 350 degrees
10.) Spoon 1-2 tsp of the mixture into the small phyllo cup
11.) Space cups evenly on a baking sheet and bake for ~15 minutes or until cups are golden brown

These were a hit at the dinner party and quickly disappeared!

I found myself with a lot of extra filling so I kept it in the fridge to use for whole wheat lasagna later that weekend. My boyfriend raved about it!

Perfect Valentine's Day?

2012-02-07T20:20:00.001-05:00

(Picture source: Good Gravy Designs)

As Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching, I find myself wondering how I should celebrate this year.

I've been with my boyfriend for a little over five years and I can't remember any specific Valentine's day that comes to mind except the first one.

We had a snowstorm and our college called off classes the entire day. It was a great Valentine's day and I remember staying in all day just enjoying each other's company. No frills.

The last two years I've been out of the country visiting my family in Taiwan. I mentioned this to my boyfriend today when I realized we haven't spent Valentine's Day together in two years. He mumbled some response.

My mom thinks it's more important to show love year round than only on specific days. She's very realistic about special occasions. I feel like my boyfriend is in the same boat.

I'm not a huge fan of vying for reservations at a restaurant on busy nights of the year. I would much rather cook an amazing meal with all the bells and whistles then do something quiet together. I'm the type of person to venture to hot restaurants in the middle of the week just so I don't have to wait in lines. If a reservation is allowed, I'm always the one making it. I hate standing around waiting. It's not my idea of a good time.

I'm in the midst of planning my Valentine's day meal. I want to make sure there is a starter, salad, entree and dessert. I've been using Pinterest to feel inspired.

Pinterest is a site that allows people to "pin" photos they either see on the web or from other sites. The great thing is that you can follow like-minded people who post amazing pictures about fashion, food, destinations, interior design, pets (to name a few). It's a great inspiration board for me to organize my thoughts! It's even more addictive than Facebook. Let me know if you guys want an invite. I can e-mail you guys the invitation to check it out (it's currently invite only or you request to be invited).

Some amazing DIY ideas for hosting a dinner party or event I've come across.

DIY Chocolate Dessert Cups

S'More Party Favors (Brilliant!)

What are your plans for Valentine's Day?

Do you love it, hate it, don't care about it?

Keeping it fun

2012-02-06T11:53:00.001-05:00

This past weekend was pretty relaxing since we all felt like we needed to stay put and not travel anywhere.

We made a few minor purchases in the spirit of staying fit as a family. We bought badminton rackets & shuttlecocks, a soccer ball, and a basketball. My brother is only 11 so we really want to instill in him a love for staying active. I remember equating exercise to torture in the past. My, how things have changed.

Another thing we purchased was Just Dance 3 for the Kinect. It's a dance game where you try to mimic the movements on the screen as different songs come on. We had a blast yesterday trying it out and all of us broke a sweat! We probably look ridiculous doing it but it's fun nonetheless.

We attended a hockey game on Saturday (Lightning vs. Panthers) because my brother has never been to a real sporting event. It was an amazing game (final score 6:3) with all the big players St Louis, Stamkos and LeCavalier scoring! My boyfriend called my brother a lucky charm.

Food at sporting events aren't exactly healthy so I decided to skip dinner Saturday. I ate one chip from my brother's nacho plate and found it too salty. By the time I came home, it was already late so I went to bed instead of eating. I made sure to eat breakfast first thing in the morning though.

Super Bowl Sunday didn't consist of a giant menu since it was just the three of us. I tried to have a healthier version of standard tailgate fare.

Greek Salad with homemade vinaigrette

Mini-Sliders with lean beef

Homemade Pizza with Whole Wheat Crust

Spicy Chili, Guacamole and Chips

How did everyone enjoy the Super Bowl game? It was definitely a very close match so that kept it interesting. I was looking forward to the half-time show because of MADONNA! She looked fantastic and did a great job. The stage and special effects were amazing!

I really enjoyed watching the commercials! I've included a few if you missed it!

Drop It Like It's Hot

2012-02-04T07:58:00.000-05:00

Since Monday, my weight has been consistently going down. I'm two weeks into getting back in the groove and that means the weight is dropping faster.

I know most of it is water weight but it makes me feel good knowing I'm on the right track and getting to my lowest weight. After that, I need to push myself past my comfort zone with no excuses.

How did you guys establish a goal weight?

In the beginning at my peak weight, I couldn't wrap my head around the amount of weight I would have to lose to get to "normal" BMI. I set my goal at 135 and left it at that. I didn't know if I could ever reach it. I didn't know what my body was capable of.

It felt very daunting knowing I had to lose so much. What I did to make it easier was break it into doable mini-goals.

I aimed to lose 1-2 lbs a week.
I celebrated every 5 lb and 10 lb loss.
I aimed for a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise a day.
I tracked my food and calories.
I didn't eat out.
I only drank coffee, milk, green tea and water.

One thing I had to do in the beginning was eliminate junk food in the house. I was so used to mindless eating that tracking food really held me accountable. Nowadays, I have junk food around the house and I don't track my food. It's nice to know I don't binge like I used to.

Another factor that helped me succeed is I was very aware of what my body was telling me. If I was sore, I stretched and did yoga instead of anything vigorous. If I was craving something, I would have a small piece and track it. There were no banned foods. I just had to limit the portion.

I remember 3-4 months into it. My bf and I were craving pizza from Pizza Hut because we used to order it all the time in college (and wings....and soda....and cheesy breadsticks but I digress). We ordered one medium stuffed crust pepperoni pizza. I ate two pieces without the crust and I tracked it. It was close to 800 calories which basically killed my calorie allowance for the day.

I found it just wasn't worth it. Since then, I make my own pizza at home now with a whole-wheat crust and an assortment of toppings. It's not only diet-friendly, it's also budget friendly. I pair it with a large salad where the salad becomes the entree and the pizza is a side dish.

I've been in the normal BMI range for a while now. There are articles about how BMI is just one tool to use and it's not an accurate gauge of how healthy someone is. People can be thin and lead unhealthy lifestyles. My original weight goal has long been passed so everything now is new territory for me.

I'm currently very curious on how far I can challenge myself.

“Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.”
“Don't be afraid to fail. Don't waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge. It's OK to fail. If you're not failing, you're not growing.”
“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.”

It's Friday!

2012-02-03T16:20:00.000-05:00

This weekend went by so fast for me considering I was mindful about eating and exercising every day. I'm loving this renewed vigor. I'm happy to report I have no cravings (let's just hope this keeps up).

After hosting my dinner party yesterday, I'm looking forward to my next get together. In the spirit of being a great hostess, I bought two things for the house.

Cheese Board and Grill Set

Is everyone having a Super Bowl get-together? What's on the menu?

Have a great weekend! I'm adding a few articles I read this week that were interesting.

Battling Sugar as a Public Health Hazard
Researchers at the University of California argue that sugar is causing a global epidemic of various diseases.

5 Common Injury-Making Mistakes (Shape Magazine)
This piqued my interested because I'm always careful not to over-exercise and hurt myself.

How to Get Your Metabolism Moving (Health.com)

Playing Hostess

2012-02-02T22:03:00.003-05:00

I'm super tired from a long day of prepping, cleaning, cooking, and hosting a dinner party. I can't wait to host my next one. Thirty minutes after the dinner is over, my house is back to normal. Everything is washed, cleaned, swept and put away. Overall it was an amazing day.

I'll let the food speak for itself.

I'll post recipes soon.

How was everyone's Thursday?

Spanikopita Bites

Herb Roasted Potatoes with Parmesan

Greek Orzo Salad

Thai Chicken Skewers (served with Peanut Coconut Sauce)

Greek Beef Kebabs (served with Tzatziki Sauce)

Apple Crisp w/ Vanilla Ice Cream

Fresh Fruit

Simplifying things

2012-02-01T14:31:00.001-05:00

I've been in a cleaning frenzy the last couple of days trying to get the house in order. I normally clean on a weekly basis but I really did a thorough job this week.

One of the things I tackled is re-organizing my pantry so that it makes sense. I'm really the only one in the household who uses it so no one will notice the difference but me.

We're having a group of friends over on Thursday for dinner. It's the first time we've had this large of a group at our new house since we moved in September.

My boyfriend says our house is never messy to begin with but I feel calmer when I know I've scrubbed, wiped, and dusted every corner of the house.

It's great exercise too!

I've been feeling very energetic lately because I've been exercising and eating healthy. Portion sizes are under control and I've had zero cravings. I have my eyes on the prize which is the satisfaction that I'm reversing the 6 lb gain since May. I've already seen the scale moving down since Monday!

There's still a few things I need to do around the house before I'm ready to entertain. The menu is already planned. It's Greek inspired so I'll share with you what I have planned

Dinner Party Menu (~10 people)
Appetizers
Spanikopita Bites
Pita Chips with Hummus and Homemade Tzatziki
Greek Orzo Salad

Entree/Side
Beef and Chicken Kebabs
Roasted Herbed Parmesan Potatoes

Dessert
Bread Pudding w/ Vanilla Sauce
Apple Crisp w/ option of Vanilla Ice Cream
Fresh Fruit

Drinks
Fruit Punch with Fresh Fruit Slices (Peaches, Apples, Grapes, Strawberries)

It seems like a lot but most of the stuff will be made tonight. I'll prep tonight too so I won't be overwhelmed tomorrow.

I simply love playing hostess. Do you guys?

Someone posted this on Facebook yesterday and I loved it!

I'm not sure the source but I think it's great advice!

Recipe: Slow-cooked Spiced Beef Tacos

2012-01-31T18:51:00.000-05:00

I recently became a Costco member and now find myself with large packages of meat. I've learned how to divvy up the package, and freeze what I'll use at a later time.

This week, I found myself with a 3.7 lb package of chuck beef and decided to separate it for 3 different meals. My family size is 3 at the moment with one man, one growing boy and me. It's important for me to gauge a correct portion size because I don't want to starve my family nor do I want to overfeed them.

The nice thing is if I have leftovers, I can always eat it for lunch the next day.

This recipe is very easy! Even though it's slow-cooked, most of the time I left it alone on the stove.

Slow-Cooked Beef Chuck

Ingredients

1.5 lbs Beef Chuck (cut into bite sized pieces)

1 Tbsp Brown Sugar

2 tsp Chili Powder

1 tsp Ground Cumin

1 tsp Paprika

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Black Pepper

1 Onion (finely diced)

5 cloves Garlic (minced)

1 cup White Wine

1 tsp Canola Oil

1. In a small ramekin, mix together the spice mixture

2. Massage the spice mixture all over the meat

3. Pre-heat an oven safe skillet with lid on high heat

4. Add oil

5. Saute beef in pan for 1-2 minutes

6. Lower heat to medium

7. Add onions and garlic into mixture and saute thoroughly (approximately 2 minutes)

8. Pour wine over the mixture to pick up 'brown bits' from the bottom of the pan.

9. Bring to a simmer

10. Cover the whole thing with a lid and turn the heat down to low

11. Leave the pan alone for 1 hour

12. Scrape up the caramelized glaze on bottom and serve

When I went to check on it, I found myself with caramelized onions, reduced glazed and super tender beef. I served it alongside romaine lettuce, avocado, salsa, cheese and blue corn flax-seed tortillas (100 cal/each).

Let's be candid

2012-01-31T13:22:00.001-05:00

How does everyone feel about candid photos? The real ones.

Not the ones people take pretending to be candid. You know, the ones where people are pretending to be natural yet they are sucking in and posing in their most flattering stance.

I happen to see myself in an album someone posted on Facebook from the party last weekend. I had no idea I was included in some of the photos because I happen to be behind the people actually being photographed.

I have a love/hate relationship with candids. I think the good thing about them is that they aren't fake. I can actually see what other people see when people look at me. I also see what I look like naturally.

The bad thing about them is that sometimes the most unflattering photos show up online tagged with your name on it.

Case in point...

If you cant't see why I hate this photo, then I have to direct your attention to my arm.

I have two problem areas where I feel self conscious about.

A.) My arms

B.) My stomach/muffin top

My first reaction yesterday when I saw these photos was one of despair.

My second reaction was using this as motivation like I do with my before shots.

I woke up this morning and a quote was tweeted to me:

"If you look at the mirror and don't like what you see, don't blame the mirror. If you look at the world and don't like what you see, don't blame the world."

Sh*t Healthy Living Bloggers Say

2012-01-30T17:31:00.001-05:00

Since the first video got released on youtube called, Sh*t Girls Say, there's been an explosion of videos on youtube of various groups posting parodies.
I stumbled upon one that seemed like something we can all relate to.

How many things are you guilty of saying? I know I'm guilty of a few :)

Faced the music

2012-01-30T11:01:00.000-05:00

I've been avoiding the scale for months now. I used the excuse that my clothes still fit (albeit slightly snug) as an excuse not to look.

After two weeks of being back on plan and feeling like myself again, I stepped on it this morning.

Yes, I gained. Is it the end of the world? No.

I know what I need to do to get back on track and that's what is important.

I texted my boyfriend to inform him of my gain and he replied, "That's not bad considering you haven't weighed yourself since summer. We can get fit together!"

I'm definitely more than just a number. In the past, I would have felt terrible about the gain and beat myself over it. I'm not going to let that number dictate how I feel about myself. I'm going to turn this around and use it as motivation!

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” - Maria Robinson

My version of Jennifer Hudson's WW advertisements

2012-01-29T10:00:00.002-05:00

I've been fascinated with seeing Jennifer Hudson's transformation. She's always been a very talented singer and actor but seeing her turn her life around has been inspirational. I've never followed WW before but I read several blogs where it's been very successful for individual people.

I'm so used to seeing her new svelte figure that I've forgotten how far she's come. I enjoy reading and listening to her interviews. She talks about how she's enjoying dressing her new figure and how sometimes she forgets and grabs the largest sizes when she shops. It's very relatable!

I spent years feeling disgusted with myself at my inability to lose weight and keep the weight off. I made several excuses trying to make myself feel better. I tried crash dieting only to give up or stop after reaching some arbitrary goal. The weight loss was never permanent because I didn't make any long-term behavioral changes.

I was about to reach my mid 20s when I found myself unable to fit into a pair of jeans again. You can read about what brought about the start of my journey in the blog post, The phone call that changed my life...

Nowadays, my plan is basically to eat 3 balanced meals a day followed by exercise 5-7 times a week. I try to stay active even if its 30 minutes of yoga because I find myself a healthier eater when I exercise.

It's much easier to eat on plan when I prepare most of my meals. I rarely eat out unless I'm traveling or it's a special occasion. Restaurant food is always calorie-laden and full of fat. I do enjoy eating at great restaurants though but not on a daily occurrence.

Maintenance is also a learning process for me because it's not as gratifying as the beginning of the journey when the pounds seem to be flying off. There's a real 'wow factor' involved when you lose 20 lbs whereas when you maintain, there's less of an impact. People stop complimenting you. You forget how much you have achieved. You become complacent and think you can get away with less exercise and more eating.

The story of my life.... (for the last few months).

I feel rejuvenated again to continue on this journey. I definitely don't have all the answers yet but the year is just beginning. :)

Maneuvering a Party

2012-01-28T18:35:00.006-05:00

I attended a party today this morning to celebrate Gasparilla Pirate Fest 2012. (Yes you read right, this morning).

After the party, the group headed towards the parade route where hoards of pirates and wenches were out in full force. People really went ALL-OUT in their pirate attire. I wore a simple black and white sundress and sandals because I didn't know what to expect.

People were drinking since 9 am in the morning and I saw plenty of evidence of that when I was walking around the Tampa SoHo area.

I have never been a huge drinker so abstaining from drinking has never been a challenge. I do enjoy an occasional glass of wine and super fruity drink but it's rare and not the norm. My annual drink count hasn't been above 20 since college. (In this picture, I'm enjoying my diet coke and ice....no one has to know it's not a mixed drink.)

What normally kills me at parties is the food spread because I can't help but munch throughout the night at the amazing spread my hosts always have out. I've come up with some sure-fire ways to enjoy parties without over-indulging.

My Diet-Friendly Party Survival Guide

Pre-Party

1. Exercise in the morning before the big event

Something about exercising always keeps my appetite at bay. I think it has to do with not wanting to waste my time and also the added energy boost. I also feel better about how I look at parties knowing I spent an extra 30 minutes that morning breaking a sweat.

2. Eating before I head out.

I always make sure I have a healthy and satisfying meal before I head out so I don't arrive at a party starving. Since party food is normally high in carbs and sugar, I limit my carbs the night before and during the day before the party.

3. Stay hydrated

I always make sure I'm drinking enough water and hot tea throughout the day. Hunger is normally just a sign of dehydration.

4. Wear form-fitting clothes

No explanation needed, right?

During the Party

1. Bring a healthy dish

Sometimes party hosts are more than happy that someone wants to chip in and bring something. You should ask so it doesn't look rude. Things you could bring is a fruit platter or a raw veggies platter with an assortment of dips.

2. Be picky

When I check out the food spread, I pick and choose what looks amazing and what doesn't. If it doesn't taste good, stop eating it. I'd rather waste food than waste calories. (I wouldn't be grabbing a large amount of food in the first place).

3. Location. Location. Location.

I find if I'm standing around the food table, I tend to unconsciously eat more because I'm right there. I've learned to physically stand as far away from the table as possible and engage in conversation. Out of sight, out of mind right?

4. Nurse your drink.

I always hold a drink in my hand so people don't offer to "grab me something." Like the picture above, I always pour myself a glass of diet soda and nurse it all night. Everyone is more absorbed in what they're drinking than what I'm doing.

5. Don't deprive yourself.

This goes for before, during and after the party. I find when I deprive myself of something (like chocolate), when I see it at a party, I can't stop thinking about it. It's better to practice moderation throughout your journey.

6. Focus on the non-food activities at the party

There must be more going on at your get together than eating. Engage in good conversation!

7. Grab the smallest serving dish

If I have the option of a salad or dinner plate, I always grab the salad plate so I can't fit too much on it at once. On occasion, I just use a napkin to hold that one thing I've been eyeing all night.

So you over-indulged at the party...now what?

Post-Party Tips

1. Don't beat yourself up

Instead of feeling bad about your night, celebrate the little things you did succeed at.

2. Stay hydrated

Drinking water will help flush out the excess salt you may have consumed.

3. Get back on the wagon

Progress not perfection, right?

Sidenote: What is Gasparilla?

Gasparilla started to pay homage to Jose Gaspar, "the Last of the Buccaneers", that sailed in Western Florida in the late 18th century and early 19th century.

More about the History of Gasparilla

Pictures of last year's parade.

Getting my butt moving!

2012-01-26T12:40:00.004-05:00

Since my birthday, I've made a conscious effort to get back in shape which means tackling both my eating habits and my exercise routine.

The most important thing I had to remind myself was that it's not an overnight process. I can't rush things and expect to see changes overnight.

It took a while to detox my body because my body was used to the large portions, sugar overload and lack of exercise. My body craved sugar and it was tough fighting through that.

I find that it is easier to eat healthy when I am consistently exercising. The energy boost I get from exercise is unbeatable. I've been doing yoga, cardio, and strength training around the house. Another way I've been getting exercise is cleaning the house regularly (3-4 times a week).

My skin is finally glowing again! My mood has definitely improved too since I've been exercising. Nothing like kickboxing to let out pent up frustration.

Playing with make-up.

Happy Lunar (Chinese) New Year!

2012-01-23T09:11:00.006-05:00

Happy Lunar New Year!

(aka Chinese New Year)

My favorite time growing up in Taiwan was definitely celebrating Chinese New Year with my family. Traditionally, many Asian countries celebrate this as the start of their new year. Local schools don't get their winter break until Chinese New Year. Since we follow the Lunar calendar, the start of the new year is actually today.

There are many traditions and customs this time of year and I try to follow as many as I can. My mom is a professional at this because it's up to 15 days of celebrating with different must-dos every day.

What I remember as a child is red envelopes and lots of good food. Red envelopes contain money and are given to children or younger generations by elders for good luck in the upcoming year. Red is a color of good luck and fortune.

I remember when my brother was a toddler, we would swipe out the money and substitute it with candy. He loved it regardless.

Once you start earning a salary, you stop receiving red envelopes during Chinese New Year and you are expected to give it instead.

I made a traditional Chinese New Year meal yesterday to the best of my ability. There are just a few things that are best left up to the pros who've spent years mastering their knife and culinary skills.

Glutinous Rice Dish

Sticky rice with sausage, small shrimp, chau siu (roast pork), onions, garlic

soy sauce, rice wine, scallions

Steamed Whole Fish - Fish steamed topped with scallions, ginger, garlic and soy sauce

Lion's Head - Ground Pork Meatballs with Napa Cabbage

Stir-Fried Rice Cakes with Shitake Mushrooms, Bamboo Shoots and Chinese Sausage

Pork Spare Rib and Daikon (White Radish) Soup

Dishes or ingredients popularly used in Chinese New Year cuisine have names that sound similar to good fortune, good luck, money or prosperity.

Fish (魚, yu) - sounds like "surplus" so a whole fish is always served at dinner on Chinese New Year Eve. The dish is always left unfinished or untouched just to symbolize for hope that the new year is not lacking. My mom used to fry a whole fish and leave it in front of our alter for the gods and ancestors all week.

Oranges (金橘子, jīnjúzi) - symbolizes gold or good luck.

Radish ((菜頭, chhài-thâu) - Sounds like good fortune

Rice Cakes (年糕, niao gao) - "Nian" means year and "gao" means "cake" or "higher" so it's eaten to bless the upcoming year.

Pork and chicken (meats) are served to also show abundance and surplus.

I'm so glad my boyfriend embraced these traditions and I can only hope I continue to learn more about what is expected of me from my mom.

Birthday Recap

2012-01-20T08:10:00.007-05:00

My boyfriend's family put together a last minute birthday surprise for me. I didn't want to tell them it was my birthday so we were visiting them and my bf blurted it out. I was very grateful and moved by their gesture though!

A slice of the cheesecake I made! My boyfriend's favorite.

What I wore for my birthday dinner! Don't we clean up nice?

We went to Berns Steakhouse, a Tampa institution, for my birthday dinner. It's my favorite steakhouse in Tampa because I love their old school ways. They have the largest private collection of wine in the world and they are known for their great cuts of meat.

No trip to Berns would be complete without a visit to the Harry Waugh Dessert Room upstairs for dessert. Each table in the dessert room is built around a refurbished wine crate. Every room also has its own personal music choices. Our favorites were the live piano and classical channels.

Another reason I love going to Berns is that we have to dress up. I've been meaning to wear this dress for ages but never found the occasion to do so. It's too close to white for me to feel comfortable wearing it as a wedding guest. It's also too formal for "going out" in. I couldn't resist buying it at the time though because it fit so nicely and accentuated my assets and covered up my "problem" areas.

My salad with vegetables from their 14-acre organic farm with citrus vinaigrette

My Special Chateaubriand Steak served with fried onion rings, zucchini and carrots. I didn't take a picture but it also included a baked potato topped with chives, butter, sour cream and bacon bits.

Before dessert, we asked to get a tour of the kitchen and their wine cellar. It was so efficient and hectic! Their grill top can handle up to 200 pieces of steak at once.

Pieces of steak ready to be grilled to perfection!

We headed up to the Harry Waugh Dessert Room for our after dinner dessert. The wine crates-turned-rooms are pictured here.

I enjoyed my Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle immensely. It was featured on Food Network's Best Thing I Ever Ate. I couldn't finish it though because it was too rich. My boyfriend enjoyed his Dessert Coffee with Liqueur - Minted Chocolate Coffee. My brother enjoyed his Strawberry Shortcake!

I don't really enjoy my birthdays anymore because it's a reminder that I'm getting older. I know I'm being dramatic but it feels like time is going by so fast. I actually enjoy celebrating other people's birthdays more because I can go all out without feeling self-absorbed.

How do you feel about birthdays now that you are older? Do you get excited?

Strawberry Shortcake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle

Returning to normalcy

2012-01-05T08:36:00.007-05:00

Travel always throws off my routine. This trip to Taipei was particularly disruptive because I wanted to make sure my boyfriend experienced Taipei fully. What would normally could have been done at a leisurely pace, needed to be jammed pack into a two week vacation. We ate out at least twice a day. I normally take one week to adjust to jetlag so I barely adjusted to my jetlag before heading back to the US to re-adjust again.

The innocent victim from all of this chaos? My Skin.

I think a combination of inadequate sleep, lack of water/fruit/vegetables, minimal exercise and overeating (especially on sugar) caused my skin to be the worse I've ever seen it. I may sound dramatic but I've taken great pride in my skincare routine believing it to be the foundation of my make-up. No amount of make-up can cover up bad skin.

It's day four of being back on my routine and I'm slowly seeing the improvement. The important thing is to be consistent.

- Increase water intake (Including a lot of green tea)
- SPF 30+ every day (even on a cloudy/cold day)
- Plenty of beauty sleep
- Increase intake of fruits and vegetables
- Reduce or eliminate simple sugars from diet
- Never skip my morning and night skin regimen

Things I plan to incorporate as soon as possible: exercise. Nothing is better for the skin than breaking a sweat.

I need to go pick up toner (Shiseido) and retinol night cream (Philosophy) to complete my arsenal.

Here's another teaser picture taken from my cellphone of my photo shoot in Taipei. I went for the retro-glam look.

What is your beauty regimen? How high-maintenance are you?

Happy New Year! I'm back from Asia!

2012-01-04T10:35:00.013-05:00

Cheers to new beginnings! 2011 was a whirlwind of a year with plenty of things going on in both my personal life and in the world. I hope everyone had a great holiday break and didn't overindulge (too much).

We got back from our Taipei trip three nights ago. With the 13 hr time difference, I've been adjusting my jetlag all week. My boyfriend and brother don't seem to have problems with it.

Here are some pictures to capture a bit of what went on our two week journey visiting my parents. It was also my boyfriend's first time meeting my father in person (prior "meetings" have been via webcam, email, phone and social media.)

First morning after we arrived, my boyfriend and father went to play

a round of golf at The Orient Golf and Country Club.

Rated #1 Golf Course in Taiwan

Our 2nd day in Taipei consisted of a day of getting dolled up and photographed. My boyfriend and I took formal photographs that won't be revealed until a later date. We scheduled this shoot to coincide with our trip to Taipei because it's been a dream of mine since I was a little girl to take engagement photos in Taipei. We took our photos at LinLi, one of the top companies in Taiwan specializing in these photos.

This photo was taken with my cell at the beginning of the shoot. The first look of the day. We did a total of 5 looks.

I can't wait to show you guys the photos. I requested both the unphotoshopped and photoshopped photos of myself to see how big the difference is. There are many photos that I chose at the end that I kept unphotoshopped. I'll be showing a few side-by-side comparisons for you guys to see. I was pleased to know they didn't need to edit too much. (Some photos my boyfriend can't even tell the difference)

I strategically booked this shoot at the beginning of our trip because I knew we would be doing a food tour for my boyfriend. I wanted to feel my best!

Dinner after our long day of photographing. I still have make-up on and my boyfriend can barely summon up the strength to smile. Jetlag has set in and we can't wait to get to bed.

I showed my boyfriend the Xin Yi district the next day where a lot of the new construction is going on. It is the location of the 2nd tallest building in the world - Taipei 101. We enjoyed a lovely dinner at Spice Market - a Thai restaurant - before venturing up Taipei 101 (via the fastest elevator in the world) to enjoy the view of Taipei at night. The building is only 2nd to the new building in Dubai.

The weather was slightly foggy but I think he enjoyed it.

Taipei is a huge metropolitan city with a population of 6.9 million people located in the country of Taiwan. We have a fantastic choice of international restaurants ranging from budget friendly street food to 5-star restaurants.

My parents were eager to show my boyfriend a good time so we ate out every single meal.

Taipei 101 Wind Dampener

I felt like a tourist on this trip but it was very fun. We are at S. Y. S. Memorial Hall that has a clear view of Taipei 101 too.

Venturing to YehLiu Geopark enjoying the rock formations near the coast. Later that night we went to Spring Resort to enjoy the natural Hot Springs in Beitou. I had a kick looking at my boyfriend in a sea of little Taiwanese men. He had a blast!

My first time going on the Miramar Ferris Wheel! It was definitely a trip of firsts because I was trying to show my boyfriend a good time.

Enjoying dinner at Robin's Teppan at the Regent Taipei Hotel with my family. We had a private room where a hibachi chef cooked a 5 course French Meal on the Hibachi Grill for us. It was fantastic!

My boyfriend can't wait to for our next visit back especially with promises of excursions to Japan, and Thailand this time - weather permitting. We were originally going to Thailand but the floods made my mom nervous.

Now that we're back, it's all about making new goals for 2012. We are writing our new year's resolutions today and putting it in an envelope! I'm brainstorming as we speak.

So much has happened in 2011 but the most important thing is my boyfriend and I took the next major step (after dating for 5 years) to introduce each other to our parents. I was apprehensive on how my parents would take it but they've surprised me. They've not only accepted my boyfriend, but they love him like one of their own. I'm so grateful to have such supportive parents.

I look forward to 2012 and wish great things for everyone :)

#1 Resolution - Blog more consistently!

'Tis the Season

2011-12-13T10:47:00.007-05:00

I love this time of year when everyone seems to be in happy (albeit chaotic) mood.

The malls are crazy this time of year so I try to avoid it at all costs. Online shopping is the way to go!

What are some of your favorite sites?

I love shopping at designer deals on sites like ruelala.com, ideeli.com, gilt.com, hautelook.com, jossandmain.com and thefoundary.com. (The last two are homegoods so it's perfect when I have a new house to decorate.

I also love amazon.com for general items! You can find practically everything on that site!

My neighbors have had their lights up since the end of Thanksgiving. I haven't decorated our house this year because we won't even be home for Christmas. This normally wouldn't stop me but my boyfriend insisted. He told me I can "go all out" next year. I wonder if he knows what he's agreeing to?

I am no where as talented as whoever put this up but a girl can dream.

There's so much to do before our vacation so I'm in a cleaning frenzy among other things. The goal is NOT to overpack because I want to shop in Taipei!

Also, I'm on a mission to use up all the things in my fridge before we leave.

Today's dinner is going to be Chili and Cornbread along with a salad and roasted vegetables. The chili should last us at least 2 days.

I love making Jalapeno Cornbread Loaf. The recipe doesn't make a large amount so it's perfect for a small family. I've attached the recipe!

Jalapeno Cornbread Loaf
Ingredients
1/2 cup Cornmeal
1/2 cup All-Purpose flour
2 Tbsp Sugar
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Milk
2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 Jalapeno, seeded and diced (optional)

1. Pre-heat an oven at 425°F
2. Spray nonstick cooking spray on a loaf pan
3. In a medium mixing bowl, beat egg and mix with milk, vegetable oil and jalepeno
4. In another bowl, mix together dry ingredients: cornmeal, AP flour, baking soda, salt and sugar
5. Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients until incorporated (don't over mix)
6. Pour batter into the loaf pan
7. Bake for around 16 minutes or until golden brown

Have a fantastic Tuesday!

Belated Thanksgiving Update

2011-12-12T13:11:00.004-05:00

The Holidays are upon us and I hope everyone is doing well finding a balance between indulgence and being healthy.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year because it's all about family and food. My boyfriend and I hosted a small gathering this year with my sister, brother, my boyfriend's brother. Since it was just the five of us, I didn't cook a lot. I stuck to the traditional dishes seen on this holiday. We were invited to other family's houses but I really wanted to host my first Thanksgiving in our new home. Maybe next year, I'll relinquish the need to control everything and go to someone else's house but this year, I thought it was important for it to be in our new home.

How did you spend your Thanksgiving?

Appetizer: Cheese Plate, Fresh Fruit and Crackers

Turkey and Stuffing finishing up in the oven

Sides: Goat Cheese + Beet Salad, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Cornbread,

Gravy, Sausage Stuffing and Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Whole Table! - I love my dining table that has a built in Lazy Susan in the middle

Homemade Cheesecake and Apple Pie Crumble

In case you all were wondering if I had fallen off the bandwagon, I have not. I'm still around the same size even though I felt less toned than I was a few months ago. I have been back on routine since Thanksgiving until now with controlled portions, frequent exercise and catching up on sleep. Those three things are imperative for me to feel healthy both mentally and physically.

This is a recent picture of me at Ghirardelli's in Downtown Disney. I split this sundae with my boyfriend.

I'm going to be traveling to Taipei end of this week with my brother and boyfriend. It's going to be my boyfriend's FIRST time being there and meeting my dad. I'm so excited about the whole thing and cannot wait to show him a good time.

We are also taking professional shots in a salon together. It's been a dream of mine to take glamour shots in Taipei since I was a little girl. I'm just thrilled my boyfriend is indulging me. Those pictures will not be shown until a certain date because traditionally, these are taken when you are engaged or about to get married. - in due time -

Taipei is famous for amazing food and restaurants ranging from cheap street food to five star eating so we're going to be living it up for two weeks. I'm just relieved my mom scheduled our photo shoot at the beginning of our vacation and not the tail-end of it.

More updates soon on other things that have been going on the last few months.

Carnival Cruise to the Western Caribbeans (Part 3)

2011-12-01T22:00:00.004-05:00

To finish up my summary about the group cruise we took in August, I bring you part three of the series. My boyfriend and I went with nine other people and it was our first group cruise.

We were on the Carnival Inspiration for 5 days and 5 nights out of Tampa heading towards Cozumel and the Grand Cayman Islands.

The last part of our adventure took us to Cozumel followed by a day at sea before we headed back to Florida.

Our group wanted to walk around Cozumel and hit up the bars. It's definitely not my idea of fun but because we got to do what I wanted to in the Grand Cayman Islands, I was more than willing to oblige. I don't like to drink to get drunk. I will enjoy an occasional fruity cocktail because it tastes good. I don't like being a buzz kill but I'm happy that I stayed sober and smart considering my boyfriend drank enough for the both of us.

He's just lucky I love him enough not to leave him in Cozumel.

Our ship and another ship docked in Cozumel! They look so beautiful

Taking a quick picture before leaving the port area.

They had a 2-for-1 deal at this bar and both those beers are my bfs. I was just posing with one.

My idea of a good time: GELATO!

Cozumel is so commercialized so there were a lot of stores selling souvenirs.

After our time in Cozumel, we enjoyed our day at sea by unwinding and relaxing. Some people were probably nursing their hangovers. Since I let my boyfriend do whatever he wanted to do the previous day, I got to dictate our agenda for the whole day.

Learning how to fold their towel animals

Enjoying lunch

Dessert buffet! The theme was Chocolate

Fondue!

Chocolate sushi? I passed but managed to snap a picture

Sipping my pina colada while wearing my new bikini! (I'm slightly nervous posting this!)

Photo opportunity in the hot tub. It was scalding but I got in just for the photo.

Last dinner on our cruise.

My crab cake.

Tomato, Mozzarella Salad

Chilled asparagus soup

Steak with grilled vegetables

Grilled salmon with individual gratin

Ice Cream Dessert

What we found in our stateroom when we got back to our room!

I'm thrilled we went on this trip before my boyfriend had to start his new position in his company! I had a lot of fun and I managed to indulge in the yummy food without going overboard!

Since this was not my first cruise, I knew that a lot of the food is repetitive. There is no reason to eat everything during one sitting because you can enjoy it tomorrow. I also ordered different things that my boyfriend and shared our dishes. This way we could try something different without stuffing ourselves. I also stayed active using the ship's amenities like the gym and the steam room (free facial!).

We want to try to take another cruise in 2012 with a lot of our family members present. It would be such a great way for our two families to bond and relax.

Related Posts

Carnival Cruise - Part 1

Carnival Cruise -Part 2

Welcome to the neighborhood!

2011-10-05T08:43:00.004-04:00

When buying a new house, they tell you one of the most important things is

location, location, location.

We live in a very family-friendly neighborhood that's less than 10 minutes commute from my boyfriend's work place. I see a lot of people around our neighborhood running, jogging, strolling, biking or walking their dogs. It's a great reminder that I need to get my butt moving too.

I'm happy to report that I jogged a little over 3 miles yesterday while checking out my neighbors front yard. Many people have started putting out their Halloween decorations so I'm excited about doing the same (I just need to persuade my boyfriend that it's a necessity...).

Yesterday, someone rang our doorbell and left a plastic Halloween pumpkin filled with treats and a note from the "Phantom Ghost" with instructions to make 2 more for unsuspecting neighbors. My brother and I are super excited to get on that!

I've become friendly with a few of the families living around my house. To thank them for their warm welcome, I made a large batch of rice krispie treats for them. All three of them have young children around my brother's age so I figured it would be something they would enjoy.

I'm always nervous about giving people food because I'm unsure of their preferences and allergies. I included a list of ingredients in my thank-you note to make sure the parents are aware what I used to make my treats.

All three families happily reported to me that the treats didn't last 2 days in the house. I'm so relieved.

Fruity Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
3 cups Fruity Pebbles Cereal
3 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
1/4 cup Butter
10.5 oz Marshmallows

1) In a deep sauce-pan, melt the butter on medium-low heat
2) Stir in the marshmallows and continuously stir with a spatula until evenly melted (about 2-3 minutes)
3) Turn off heat and slowly incorporate cereal (fold it in so as to not crush the cereal)
4) Pour into a 8x8 baking dish and press it down with the spatula
5) Allow to cool in the fridge for 30 minutes before slicing it into the desired size

My Thank-You presents for the neighbors

Where have you been all my life?

2011-09-30T11:49:00.002-04:00

TGIF! What is everyone's weekend plans?

Now that my mom is not here, the bf and I can finally start focusing on getting our house presentable again. Of course that won't get in the way of FOOTBALL Saturday. My bf will be glued to the tv for the majority of the day. I will probably be taking my little brother to do some errands and go to the bookstore.

Today I received my much anticipated present to myself...

A panini/sandwich press!

I've always wanted one but my boyfriend said to wait until we had a house. He hates clutter so he thinks it's unnecessary. After I made my first sandwich for lunch today, I am a convert!

What are you favorite things to make on the panini press?

On the weight-loss front, I finally stepped on the scale yesterday and I've gained about 6 lbs since early August. YIKES!

Nothing like a gain to make me realize I need to control myself better. Clothes are definitely more snug now than they were two months ago.

I plan on posting some new recipes soon for the fall. Florida is far from being "cool" but at least it's not blistering hot anymore. I foresee a lot of homemade soups and sandwich lunches.

Stay tuned :)

Sore but enjoying every minute of it.

2011-09-28T10:06:00.003-04:00

Here is a recent picture of me at Red Lobster hiding behind my boyfriend. It's a classic sign of feeling insecure of my body right now.

I'm not one to fish for compliments because I know when I look good and I know when i look bad. I recognize signs that I look bloated and flabby.

I'm super psyched to be back on the wagon though because there is no use beating myself up for not being as strict with myself in the last month or so.

The important thing is to move on and get back to it!

In total, I did about 5 miles of jogging/power walking yesterday. I'm slightly sore today which is a sure sign that I'm out of shape because this would have been easy-peazy in the past.

Today I woke up and did some light stretching followed up with chores around the house to keep the house spic 'n' span.

The plan of action today for the exercise front is gardening, mowing the lawn and some weeding. When the bf and brother get home, we'll probably go for some jogging around the neighborhood.

I find that the scale budges when I am vigilant about food intake though so I was good all week (so far) with what I've been putting in my mouth. Exercise helps me stay on plan because I feel like I've wasted my hard work if I overeat.

I was debating whether or not to toss the remaining junk food in the house but I realize that I should have the will-power to resist (and I have). Once the junk food is gone, I will not replace it with more.

I'm eager to get back on the scale and see what my damage is. Who knows, I may go ahead and weigh myself tomorrow morning instead of waiting for Monday. What goes up must comes down! Staying positive and taking responsibility for myself is key.

Currently my motivation is coming from.... SHOPPING. With the weather cooling down in Florida, I'm looking forward to rocking some cute fall outfits.

Halloween is JUST around the corner. My boyfriend and I had the goal of having the house ready by then so that our house-warming party can coincide with Halloween festivities. I have no idea what I want to dress as but I do know I want to look GOOD in whatever I wear.

Do you dress up for Halloween? Do you have plans already?

My brother has NEVER celebrated Halloween in the US before so I'm excited to go trick or treating with him around our neighborhood. He has a costume in mind already but I don't want to spoil the surprise!

The rug I ordered for our living room arrived 2 weeks ago and it fits perfectly with our modern/contemporary theme.

Thanks for the lovely comments yesterday. I look forward to catching up with all of your blogs!

Excuses...excuses... excuses

2011-09-27T10:43:00.002-04:00

After a month hiatus, I've been seriously MIA from the blogging world.

After a month+ visit, my mom is in NYC now visiting my sister before she heads back home to Taipei and my dad.

On top of that, home ownership is not easy. It feels like the to-do list is never ending.

My living room!

I'm seriously in love with my dining table. It's from Scan Design and the middle is a built-in Lazy Susan which is PERFECT for family-style dining.

I still have a lot of decorating to do but now that I'm not longer hosting my mom, I'm hoping I have more time to be productive.

On the healthy living front, I've been too indulgent and lax with myself. Today is day two of being back on the wagon and being more vigilant.

I went on a 3 mile run this morning around my neighborhood. I'm looking forward to making this an almost-daily occurrence. My mom is a junk food hoarder so having her around meant having a lot of temptation around. This is not an excuse because I should know better.

I step on the scale this coming Monday to see the damage. While I still fit into my clothes, I do notice slight flabbiness and pants fitting a little too snug for comfort.

It's time to buckle down. My boyfriend has been "feeling fat" lately so he's as eager as me to get serious. I look forward to exercising both alone and with my brother and boyfriend. I also look forward to cooking ALL my meals again.

I hope you guys have all been doing well. Thanks for being patient with me.

Do you pack your child's lunch?

2011-08-29T08:54:00.003-04:00

I'm new to this mommy business since promising to take care of my 11 y/o brother for the next 1-2 years while he improves his English in the US.

I opted to pack his lunch instead of paying for school lunch while I gauge what kind of food they are serving. He went to school with my packed lunch last week and came home to report what other students were eating.

One lunch was Macaroni and Pizza

Another lunch was Pizza and Salad

Another example was Salad and 5 Chicken Nuggets

These are the ones I remember from the top of my head. I also remember him telling me they would also get some jello and a fruit cup. Another day they got a chocolate cupcake.

I asked him if he preferred to eat lunch at school or wanted me to pack something. He wanted me to pack something.

I'm still getting the hang of it but so far I'm alternating between sandwiches and wraps. Slowly when the chaos of moving into the new house settles down, I'm going to start doing warm meals too. I'm trying not to pack anything too "weird" so he doesn't get picked on.

He said his classmates eyed his lunch enviously and stole bites of his fresh fruit and homemade cookies. Of course, I was happy to hear that!

Today's lunch: Club Sandwich Wrap, Fresh Fruit (Apples and Grapes)

Two homemade cookies and a bottle of water

What are some of your favorite lunches to pack?

I'm excited to explore this area. I consider this a great way to practice before I have my own children.

Carnival Cruise to the Western Caribbeans (Part 2)

2011-08-28T08:31:00.002-04:00

Continuing on from my last post about my cruise early August with my boyfriend and friends...

The next day was formal night so my boyfriend and I got prettied up and went to dinner promptly after taking picture!

Coordinating our outfits is always part of our pre-travel routine.

Example:
"Honey, I'm wearing the blue dress for formal night. What color are you going to wear"
"I guess I'll wear the grey suit and blue shirt to match you."

Clashing is not allowed (at least we try not to). I'm just glad my boyfriend also takes an interest in being put together. We also go shopping together! He actually has a good eye and knows exactly what he likes and dislikes (concerning my wardrobe too.)

My favorite part of travel is dressing up! Of course after a few days, it does get tiring but getting glammed up is always fun now and then. Some people forget to take pictures whereas some people's camera serves as a second appendage. I belong the latter group. My train of thought is that I want to take plenty of pictures when I'm feeling young so I can look back and remember everything. This habit also resulted in having lots of "before" pictures to look at when I was trying to get healthy and fit!

After dinner was over, we slept early to revitalize for our early arrival in Grand Cayman at 8 am. I was not going to skip swimming with sting rays for anything! I told my boyfriend I'm ok with going with the flow during the rest of the trip with the group (9 other people) but the one thing I won't compromise was swimming with sting rays. I will go with or without them.

Instead of booking the excursion through the cruise line, the group wanted to get off the port and directly book with a local vendor so we wouldn't have to pay the processing fee. This isn't something I would normally risk but I made my boyfriend promise to take me on a cruise if we missed out on sting rays (I was momentarily appeased).

Thankfully it all worked out and we did find a great company to take us on the tour. The tour consisted of a 45 minute boat ride out to the sand bar, 30-45 minutes of swimming with the sting rays and then 30 minutes of snorkeling in another area where there was coral and fish.

Some of the pictures were taken by the professional photographer for an additional price (I opted to buy them because of how special the occasion was!) The other pictures were taken by my underwater digital camera.

I'm watching the approach to Grand Cayman Island and the sunrise by myself (again).

I was also on my way to grab breakfast for my boyfriend and myself.

Beautiful sunrise at sea.

Crystal blue water.

Super excited to see the sting rays so I was the first ones jumping off the boat.

The sandbar area where other companies were also there with their tourists.

We had ropes separating the different groups so no one ever got mixed up.

Holding a squid contemplating whether or not I really want to feed it.

After feeding the sting ray, it came back to frisk me!

Only time I went back to my boyfriend was for a photo op. Other girlfriends clung to their boyfriends for help but I was running off taking pictures. My boyfriend had to reign me in and remind me to be careful.

Look at how BIG the sting rays are! I'm so glad we didn't miss it.

Apparently it's seven years good luck when you kiss one! I'm going to re-cruise before my 7 years is up (that's for sure).

Snorkeling in another area of the beautiful water.

My boyfriend loves his fish. I stayed in the water for maybe half the time they gave us whereas my boyfriend had to be lured back on the boat.

My highlight of the trip was definitely the sting rays!

While we waited to get back on the boat, we bought fresh coconut water from a local stand ($3).

It was so refreshing!

When we got back to the boat, we showered, ate lunch and took a nap. When I woke up, I opted to go to the steam room to pamper myself because harsh sea water and sun isn't great for the skin over time.

Later, we dressed for dinner! This is one of my favorite dresses that I bought in December. It is slightly getting too loose for me though so I'm hoping I can tailor it to fit again.

Related Posts
Carnival Cruise - Part 1
Carnival Cruise - Part 3

Carnival Cruise to the Western Caribbeans (Part 1)

2011-08-25T11:04:00.010-04:00

My boyfriend and I took a cruise with 9 other people early August. The cruise was with Carnival leaving from Tampa heading to Cozumel and Grand Cayman. The entire cruise was 5-full days/nights. We've cruised three times prior to this but it was the first time with a large group.

Prior to the trip, I made the best investment in my life! I bought the Sony Cybershot TX10 that's waterproof up to 5 meters, 16.2 MP, 3D Sweep Panorama and Full HD 1080/60i Video. It looks just like a regular digital camera! We took many pool pictures and ocean pictures with this camera. I loved not having to worry about avoiding water.

Group travel definitely has a different set of pros and cons. For one thing, coordinating things was more difficult since everyone has different vacation styles.

My style is extremely structured and precise. I am a morning person so I was the only one in our tour who woke up before 8 am every day. I even managed to go to the gym a few times. I love using the ship's amenities like the steam room, the room service, the gym. I did make a personal promise to my boyfriend and myself that I would try to "go with the flow" since it isn't just my vacation anymore.

That being said, my favorite time of day was early mornings when the ship is quiet and I can enjoy the views of the water and take pictures of the sunrise. I love peace and quiet.

I did learn a few new things on this trip that I wouldn't have if I stuck to my style.

- It is ok not to book excursions through the ship because it's often overpriced.

- Taxis in Cozumel are relatively cheap but you should negotiate/ask the price before you get on. ($7 to get to "downtown" where there are a lot of shops, restaurants and bars.)

- Someone has to be the sober/responsible one and normally ends up being me.

- I love my boyfriend enough not to leave him in Cozumel.

Passing the Tampa Sunshine Skyway Bridge about 1-2 hours after leaving the Port of Tampa.

(A nice couple volunteered to photograph us)

Our first drink on vacation!

He had a Margarita and I had a Sex on the Beach (raunchy, I know)

First night having dinner.

Two desserts (put on one plate): chocolate melting cake w/ vanilla ice cream and black forest cake. Both were delicious and I "shared" them with my boyfriend who doesn't have a sweet tooth.

The towel animal in my stateroom when I got back from dinner!

I woke up, watched the sunrise and went to the gym and ran 5 miles.

Afterwards, I relaxed in the steam room. My skin felt fabulous after!

Proof that I RAN while I was on vacation. It felt odd power walking with the boat swaying but I couldn't feel any waves when I was running.

I could not resist the overpriced silly drink of the day.

It came in a plastic puffer fish that I could keep!

My boyfriend obliged me and bought one too.

It's going to be my brother's new SIPPY CUP!

Testing out my camera in the pool before arriving in Grand Cayman

Related Posts
Carnival Cruise - Part 2
Carnival Cruise - Part 3

I thought this day would NEVER come.

2011-08-25T10:48:00.003-04:00

I'm officially a HOMEOWNER (with my boyfriend). Since being back from vacation, I've had my hands full with my mom and 11 y/o brother visiting, packing up my apartment, closing on our house, slowly moving into our house and buying things for the house.

Moving from an one bedroom apartment to a three bedroom house has definitely been an eye-opening experience so far.

We actually had to overcome some obstacles while house hunting. We were originally buying another house only to find out the seller was withholding information about his finances so he didn't have the right to sell the house. The delay definitely took an emotional toll on me but I'm glad we finally found something we love.

Our to-do list seems never ending but I'm not doing it alone so it feels less daunting. If anything, I feel terrible for my boyfriend who is doing all the heavy-lifting.

It was also my boyfriend's first time meeting my mom and brother so that alone was slightly nerve-wracking. They have written e-mails, talked on the phone and video conferenced via Skype but I was still nervous about the outcome.

I was worried for nothing on that front though. My boyfriend is a sweetheart so he's getting along fabulously with my family.

I enrolled my little brother in the middle school and they started school this Tuesday. We closed on Thursday and I registered him on Friday.

It's his first time studying in the United States but my parents are hoping his English improves with my boyfriend's and my help.

I've been packing his lunch on a daily basis since Tuesday. A sandwich, bottle of water and some freshly cut fruit. I'm going to slowly change it up but right now my apartment looks like organized chaos with different piles of things throughout the apartment.

I was extremely nervous on his first day of school because I opted not to put him in the ESL program. He's doing well even getting 100% on his math test yesterday (the teacher used his paper as the answer sheet for the rest of the class).

I'm going to help tutor him, go over his homework, and give him additional workbooks. Watching my boyfriend interact with my baby brother has been very heartwarming. I have no doubt he is going to be a wonderful father some day. He has the patience I lack.

I'm back now with a vengeance. My brother is used to eating out in Taiwan so home cooked meals are something new for him. He had an extremely busy schedule back home so eating out was a daily occurrence. It's also cheaper to eat out in Taiwan than it is to cook at home. ($1 bowl of noodle soup). I'm still in the process of gauging the amount of food my brother eats because I hate leftovers. I like cooking just enough for us (this is also great for portion control).

Hope you guys are doing well!

Back from vacation!

2011-08-15T07:15:00.008-04:00

Back to blogging again. I feel like it's been ages since I've had time in front of a computer.

My boyfriend and I were on vacation the past two weeks. The first half we went on a 5 day cruise out of Tampa to Grand Cayman and Cozumel with 9 other people.

The 2nd half of the trip we did a northeast tour of NYC, Philly and DC where I met my boyfriend's parents for the first time as well as meet other relatives and catch up with mutual friends.

This month is turning out to be a busy month and I literally do not have much time to unwind before another set of events are coming up.

My boyfriend is meeting my mom for the first time Wednesday when she flies over from Asia along with my 11 y/o brother. She's staying with us for a good three weeks.

I plan on doing a series of vacation recap posts interspersed with real-time blog entries so my blog doesn't get bombarded with vacation pics nor does it ignore the fact that I was on vacation in the first place.

I wish I planned better in hindsight and had some posts lined up. Next time I will for sure!

I am back and itching to get back on routine. Eating, sleeping, exercise has taken a beating because of traveling. On the cruise, I think I did a good job of balancing the three. I even made it to the gym 3 of the 5 full days on the ship. I loved the ship's steam room. Instead of ordering 2-3 entrees to try, my boyfriend and I would split two entrees. We got to enjoy the food without overindulging. The second half of the trip was much harder to stay on plan because I was never eating alone. Many meals were cooked for me so I had to make do with what was put in front of me.

I've never missed vegetables so much!

I promise you I have fantastic posts lined up but for now.. I leave you with

Panorama of the ocean that my boyfriend took on the ship

Stuffed Mushrooms

2011-07-27T18:29:00.004-04:00

I made a simple stuffed mushroom the other day when I had invited people over. This can be whipped up in a matter of 15 minutes if you have all the ingredients on hand.

Even my boyfriend who doesn't like mushrooms (he used to wrinkle his nose and go "it's a fungus") loved it because it had bacon and gooey cheese in it.

In my picture, the other side I also made some roasted butternut squash which is one of my favorite vegetables (it tastes like candy!) I have a recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash posted also in an previous entry!

Stuffed White Mushrooms

Ingredients

1 16-oz package of white mushrooms

1/8 cup Low-Fat Ricotta Cheese

1/8 cup Shredded Low-Fat Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese

1 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese

1/8 cup Fresh Parsley (chopped)

4 slices Bacon

Salt and Pepper (to taste)

1. Clean the mushrooms by using a damp towel and wiping them off thoroughly. (Washing mushrooms can cause them to become waterlogged)

2. Tear off the mushroom stems leaving the mushroom caps ready to be stuffed

3. Put the mushrooms in a small pot with lid and immerse in water

4. Bring water to a boil and boil mushrooms for 2-3 minutes or until slightly tender

5. While water is boiling, fry up bacon in a frying pan in its own fat (approximately 1-2 minutes on each side)

6. Drain bacon on paper towels then break them apart

7. Drain mushrooms and pat them dry with a towel or paper towels

8. In a small mixing bowl, mix together cheeses, bacon bits, parsley and a pinch of salt and pepper

9. Line a baking sheet with foil and start filling about 1-2 tsp of filling in each mushroom cap

10. When all mushrooms are stuffed, broil in the broiler for 2-3 minutes (do not leave unattended) until the top is bubbly and brown

11. Serve as appetizers

*If you have extra filling, it would be great in an omelette for breakfast! If you don't have ricotta cheese, you can either double the mozzarella cheese or substitute with a little cream cheese.

What are some of your favorite sides?

AskMen.Com: The Great Fe/Male Survey

2011-07-26T17:08:00.004-04:00

AskMen.com recently did a survey for both men and women on a variety of subjects and general poll questions.

They described their male poll as "Who is "the modern man"? What does he look for in a partner, and does he make an effort to be romantic? How much effort does he put into his appearance, how does he stay in touch with friends and what standards of professionalism does he hold himself to? Instead of getting a social critic to tell you who you are, we decided to ask you. This summer, more than 70,000 of you (and your female counterparts) responded to the 2011 Great Male Survey and the 2011 Great Female Survey on our partner site Cosmopolitan.com."

So a pool of 70,000 people were surveyed so the legitimacy of this survey is highly debatable but that doesn't mean it's not interesting!

The Great Male Survey 2011

The Great Female Survey 2011

The question that got the Today Show's attention was the fact that 53% of the men surveyed would "dump a girlfriend if she got fat" whereas only 20% of women would do the same thing.

Without over-analyzing a simple pole question, it is interesting that half of the men would "dump" their significant others versus 1/5 of women who would do the same. Some things that probably would need clarification what men would consider to be fat?

Take me for example. I gained 70 lbs while dating my current boyfriend. I asked him once after I got my weight back under control.

"Did you consider leaving me?"

He replied, "Yes."

"Did you find me unattractive?"

He replied, "Yes."

"Why didn't you leave?"

He replied, "I felt responsible you got that way."

Gaining weight is so much more than just physical. Oftentimes it's a result of underlying emotional and internal struggles. I know I reached for food for comfort when I was feeling stressed, overwhelmed and very unhappy.

I was happy my boyfriend was honest with me. I know I put him through hell when I was so unhappy. I wasn't just physically unattractive. I knew I was emotionally draining to be around. I was terribly insecure, controlling, angry, scared and irrational.

He stayed and tried to make it better but I think it was a downward spiral for both of us. It's terrible when two people who love each other end up just hurting each other or being a negative influence.

Thankfully, we're in a happier place now. Yes we still have days we want to tear each other apart (we're only human) but I'm happy to say that nowadays we're a much better influence on each other!

With that being said, I want to congratulate my boo for finishing his two year rotational program with his company! Now onto 2.5 weeks of vacation starting with our 5 night cruise Saturday out of Tampa (port stops at Grand Cayman and Cozumel).

Go read some of the links I posted in this post! It's actually quite entertaining to see some of the responses men and women had for the same questions!

What? Where does my fat go?

2011-07-22T16:12:00.002-04:00

I always head to CNN.com throughout the day to get my world news. I like knowing what's going on in the world even if I don't read all the articles, I do enjoy reading headlines.

This article caught my attention today

CNN.com Health: When you're losing weight, where does the fat go?

Some of the information I already knew about but enjoy re-reading just to reaffirm what I think I know.

- You can't target where you lose weight. Every person is different.

- In general, men gain weight around their stomach (apple shaped) and women gain weight around their hips and thighs (pear shaped).

- Stomach fat (visceral fat) is the most dangerous kind of fat because it surrounds our internal organs and is known to lead to heart disease.

What threw me off guard is the idea that I have the same number of fat cells as I did 70 lbs ago.

"Humans carry about 10 billion to 30 billion fat cells. People who are obese can have up to 100 billion.
"If anyone of us overeats long and hard enough, we can increase the number of fat cells in our body," Fried said. "When we lose weight, we don't lose the number of fat cells."
The size of the cells shrinks, but the capacity to expand is always there.
Liposuction can remove fat cells, but this procedure is ideally for people who are not obese."

I guess a part of me already knew this considering some parts of my stomach is loose when I get in plank position (I see it hanging...). I also know my mom ultimately turned to getting a tummy tuck to get rid of the excess stomach pooch flap she got from carrying three babies and gaining more than 60 lbs per pregnancy (she uses pregnancy as a reason to overindulge).

I'm actually grateful my body isn't as flabby as I originally thought which I attribute to the fact that I'm still young, I exercise and I lost the weight gradually. My stomach is still a work in progress but I am a lot more content with my body now than I ever was in my entire life.

That doesn't mean I don't have days I just feel...blah. Hey! I'm only human.

I would love to get a microscopic picture of what my stomach looks like with the smaller fat cells that used to be bigger 70+ lbs ago.

My 5-day cruise out of Tampa with my boyfriend and friends is in a week. I will be donning swimsuits every day for a couple of hours at least. I feel slightly shy not being covered up but I will try my best to take pictures and POST it to the world to see. I did purchase a few cute cover ups.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend. STAY COOL AND HYDRATED!

Roasted Chicken - Inspired by what's on sale

2011-07-19T18:34:00.004-04:00

Whole chicken was on sale this week at my grocery store. I got the entire bird for less than $5 which was great in my book!

I wanted to roast the chicken along with vegetables. I planned to make it all week and finally decided to tackle it today. I plan on shredding leftovers for salads or sandwiches (if there are any!)

Wrestling with a wet, slimy chicken takes mental preparedness!

Ingredients

1 Whole Chicken ~ 5 lbs

Spice Rub - 1 Tbsp Salt, 1 Tbsp Pepper, 1 Tbsp Lemon Pepper, 2 tsp Paprika, 1 tsp Dried Thyme

1 Large Sweet Potato (peeled and roughly chopped)

1 Large Potato (peeled and roughly chopped)

1 Onion (roughly chopped)

4 Carrots (peeled and roughly chopped)

4 cloves Garlic (minced)

2 tsp Dried Rosemary

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Pepper

1. Preheat oven to 425°

2. First prepared the seasoning blend of salt, pepper, lemon pepper, thyme and paprika in a bowl. (I didn't want to contaminate my spice jars with my raw chicken fingers.)

3. Clean off my counter top and prepare cutting board.

4. Unwrapped the chicken and take out the giblets.

5. Rinse the chicken both inside and out. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.

6. Take a pair of kitchen shears and cut out the spinal cord of the chicken (you can save this part for chicken stock).

7. Cover the entire chicken both beneath the skin, inside the cavity, and outside the skin with the spice rub.

8. In a large roasting dish, evenly mix the onions, sweet potatoes, garlic and potatoes.

9. Season vegetables with salt, pepper and olive oil

10. Lay chicken breast side up over bed of vegetables

11. Roast in oven uncovered for 90 minutes (or until juices run clear)

12. Cover chicken with aluminum oil and allow it to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving

Dinner is served along with sides of sauteed vegetables and Homemade Tzatziki

Golf Party and thoughts about lifestyle choices

2011-07-18T08:45:00.006-04:00

We were invited to a golf-themed party this past weekend. My boyfriend and I wanted to dress the part. He even shaved his facial hair into the Tiger Woods goatee. He told me to accessorize with a crow bar but I told him I would be forced to use it!

We've been meaning to take golf lessons for a while now. Tampa is full of beautiful golf courses and we really wanted to take advantage of that. We plan on taking lessons in the fall. I knew we would need golf clothes soon so I didn't feel so bad buying the real thing at Dick's this past weekend.

Do we look like golfers?

My dad plays golf 3-4 times a month and he enjoys it immensely. He's always wanted to teach his children so he was very enthusiastic at the prospect of us taking classes. When my boyfriend ventures to Taipei with me this coming December, I look forward to playing golf with my father and boyfriend.

Cupcakes I made for the party!

Bailey's Irish Cream butter cream, Kahlua chocolate ganache filled chocolate cupcakes.

Sunday was the day after the party and I felt like lazing around in bed because I felt tired from going to bed so late the night before. I willed myself to wake up and re-hydrate with green tea and coffee. I decided I wanted to get a run in to wake my body up. I urged my boyfriend to go with me and he was very reluctant at first but he came around to it. I got a great 4 mile run in and he got 25 minutes of elliptical work in.

I'm really content in how we support each other nowadays. I think it's great that we keep each other in check when it comes to making healthy choices. When I know my boyfriend is also trying to get fit and lose weight, I try to make choices with that goal in mind. We don't have junk food around the house. We only eat out 1-2 times a month (if that) unless we are traveling. I cook most of my food from scratch.

One of the main reasons it was so hard to lose weight growing up was because I felt like I was being punished. Our house was filled with junk food that the other members were allowed to eat because they were skinny. I would secretly buy the food I wasn't allowed to eat and binge in secret. I was embarrassed to eat in front of other people because I felt like I was being judged. I would walk farther away from my house to buy the junk food so people didn't recognize me.

I wonder what kind of household I want to have when I have children one day. I know one thing is for the entire family to be on the same page. I think leading by example is the best message I can send my children.

Putting my cake decorating skills to the test!

2011-07-13T17:34:00.003-04:00

One of my friends recently found out she was having a baby boy so I wanted to surprise her with a cake.

I had a secret agenda which was to practice my cake decorating and baking skills without having the cake lying around the house to tempt me. Letting a group of people eat it was the perfect solution for me to do just that!

Finished Product!

I wasn't pleased with my penmanship but it's something I should have practiced first before decorating directly on the cake. I'm pleased with my free hand baby carriage.

It's definitely still amateur at best but overall I enjoyed making it!

Blue Velvet Cake (looked turquoise..)

Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Ganache and Cream Cheese Buttercream

Alternating layers of blue velvet and chocolate cake

Frosted cake with chocolate ganache

The surprise when you cut into it!

All in moderation

2011-07-11T16:24:00.006-04:00

I admit I love food.

I have to thank my mom for passing on this culinary passion to all my siblings. We love trying new restaurants, different cuisines, recreating dishes at home and planning our next gastro-adventure.

My mom said I had a love of cake growing up so we would buy a cake when we felt the urge for a sugary cake. People would ask us whose birthday it is? I would reply my mouth's birthday!

It was cute when I was little but not so much when I found myself with a huge addiction to junk food and sugary sweets.

Growing up I thought a diet meant depriving myself from all good foods. I had to eliminate all tasty food for cardboard masquerading as food.

I would congratulate myself if I had the will power to resist indulging in "bad" foods but it wouldn't be sustainable.

I would then feel so disappointed in myself for lacking the discipline to follow through. I would hate myself. I was obviously too gluttonous and self-indulgent lacking the will-power to want to be beautiful, skinny and healthy.

Why is it so easy for other people? I would wonder.

Nowadays, I still struggle from time to time with overeating and overindulging especially when I'm stressed or tired. It's easier to stay on track if I'm sleeping enough, exercising consistently and emotionally calm.

It's gotten a lot easier the last 2.5 years since I committed myself to making permanent lifestyle changes. There are no "bad foods" and "good foods." All that matters is for me to make smart, conscious choices.

When I'm binging, I realized it wasn't because I loved food. It was because I was using it to make myself feel better. It filled a void and comforted me when I was stressed, sad, overwhelmed and depressed.

I read Bethenny Frankel's book Naturally Thin and it definitely resonated with me. She had a theory of point of diminishing returns. It's the point when the bite you just took didn't taste as good as the bite you took before it. She theorizes that bites reach a height of pure indulgence and slowly lessens because the excitement of eating it has waned.

"Why keep eating it and adding more calories to your bank account? It's never going to get any better. Anything after that is just a waste of calories....Now it's over, so stop eating and move on with your life" (Naturally Thin; Chapter 1 pg. 28)

I was watching Rachel Ray's Week in a Day episode today and she said coming home from a long day's of a work and seeing _____ (dish she is making) is like a hug.

You know what? It's not a hug.

A hug is when someone I care about wraps their arms around me and non-verbally communicates "it's going to be okay."

I celebrate the changes I see in my habits now. I'm able to have certain snacks around the house and they last for weeks.

I have a Breyer's No-Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream sitting in my fridge (1/2 cup = 120 calories compared to 240 calories of Ben and Jerry's) and it's been a week and it's barely touched. I indulge by eating a little of it and I feel satisfied because I listened to what my body wanted.

Cereal is still something that is more like dessert than a health food so I try not to have it around the house. I need protein in the morning so a bowl of cereal doesn't keep me full long enough to last me until lunch.

I'm still constantly learning new things about myself. The important thing is to not let minor setbacks derail my best efforts! Keep going forward.

It will be okay.

"F as in Fat"

2011-07-10T19:07:00.003-04:00

Recently, a report done by Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) revealed that obesity is on the rise in the United States.

Article - F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2011

Adult Obesity Rates

Childhood Obesity Rates

Graphs taken from Article

According to the report, obesity rates increased in 16 states and no decline in any state. Twelve states now have obesity rates above 30% (four years ago only one state was above 30%).

How did your state do?

I live in Florida now and it's the 29th most obese state.

I was most curious about comparing the % rates of the past and present.

According to the study...

STATE-BY-STATE ADULT OBESITY RANKINGS 2011

1.Mississippi (34.4%); 2. Alabama (32.3%); 3. West Virginia* (32.2%); 4. Tennessee (31.9%); 5. Louisiana (31.6%); 6. Kentucky** (31.5%); 7. Oklahoma** (31.4%); 8. South Carolina* (30.9%); 9. Arkansas (30.6%); 10. Michigan* (30.5%); 11. Missouri* (30.3%); 12. Texas** (30.1%); 13. Ohio (29.6%); 14. North Carolina (29.4%); 15. Indiana* (29.1%); 16. Kansas** (29.0%); 17. (tie) Georgia (28.7%); and South Dakota (28.7%); 19. Pennsylvania (28.5%); 20. Iowa (28.1%); 21. (tie) Delaware (28.0%); and North Dakota (28.0%); 23. Illinois** (27.7%); 24. Nebraska (27.6%); 25. Wisconsin (27.4%); 26. Maryland (27.1%); 27. Maine** (26.5%); 28. Washington (26.4%); 29. Florida** (26.1%); 30. (tie) Alaska (25.9%); and Virginia (25.9%); 32. Idaho (25.7%); 33. (tie) New Hampshire (25.6%); and New Mexico (25.6%); 35. (tie) Arizona (25.4%); Oregon (25.4%); and Wyoming (25.4%); 38. Minnesota (25.3%); 39. Nevada (25.0%); 40. California (24.8%); 41. New York (24.7%); 42. Rhode Island** (24.3%); 43. New Jersey (24.1%); 44. Montana (23.8%); 45. Vermont** (23.5%); 46. Utah (23.4%); 47. Hawaii (23.1%); 48. Massachusetts** (22.3%); 49. Connecticut (21.8%); 50. District of Columbia (21.7%); 51. Colorado* (19.8%).

STATE-BY-STATE ADULT OBESITY RANKINGS IN 1995

1. Mississippi (19.4%); 2. Indiana (18.3%); 3. West Virginia* (17.7%); 4. Michigan (17.2%); 5. (tie) Arkansas* (17.0%); and Louisiana* (17.0%); 7. Missouri (16.9%); 8. (tie) Kentucky** (16.6%); and South Carolina* (16.6%); 10. (tie) Tennessee** (16.4%); and Wisconsin (16.4%); 12. North Carolina* (16.3%); 13. (tie) Iowa (16.2%); and Pennsylvania (16.2%); 15. Ohio* (16.1%); 16. Texas* (16.0%); 17. (tie) Alabama*** (15.7%); and Alaska (15.7%); 19. Illinois* (15.3%); 20 (tie) Delaware* (15.2%); Nebraska* (15.2%); and North Dakota* (15.2%); 23. Maryland* (15.0%); 24. Minnesota (14.6%); 25. South Dakota** (14.5%); 26. (tie) Florida* (14.3%); Maine* (14.3%); and New York (14.3%); 29. Virginia* (14.2%); 30. Idaho* (14.1%); 31. Wyoming* (14.0%); 32. (tie) California (13.9%); and Washington** (13.9%); 34. Georgia*** (13.8%); 35. Oregon* (13.6%); 36. Kansas*** (13.5%); 37. Vermont (13.4%); 38. Nevada** (13.1%); 39. Montana* (13.0%); 40. (tie) New Hampshire (12.9%); and Oklahoma*** (12.9%); 42. (tie) District of Columbia (12.8%); and Rhode Island** (12.8%); 44. Arizona*** (12.6%); 45. New Jersey** (12.3%); 46. Utah** (12.0%); 47. Connecticut* (11.8%); 48 (tie) Massachusetts** (11.6%); and New Mexico*** (11.6%); 50. Colorado* (10.7%); 51. Hawaii*** (10.6%).

Reports from "F as in Fat"

What has changed from 1995 'til now?

I was discussing this with my boyfriend in detail over dinner. We both agree it's a variety of things that contribute to the upward trend.

Sedentary lifestyles
Availability of cheap processed food
Lack of nutritional education
Large bang-for-your-buck portion sizes
Fast Food
Social Economic Status

I'm curious to see what's going to be done with this report.

Kisses

2011-07-06T17:36:00.004-04:00

My sister informed me that today is International Kissing Day

I've never heard of this before so I quickly googled it which is my response for most things that require clarification.

Apparently this holiday originated in the United Kingdom but was quickly adopted world wide.

Don't know something? Google it

According to Wikipedia, "The idea behind the International Kissing Day is that many people may have forgotten the simple pleasures associated with kissing for kissing's sake, as opposed to kissing as mere social formality or prelude to other activities. Kissing can be an enjoyable experience in and of itself. It is an expression and experience of intimacy. International Kissing Day is not as commercialized as Valentine's Day."

I found out some fun facts about kissing from the wonderful WWW

The earliest literary evidence for kissing comes from India’s Vedic Sanskrit texts, dating back 3,500 years.
A passionate kiss can make our pupils dilate – probably one reason so many of us close our eyes.
Two-thirds of us tilt our heads to the right when we kiss, and it’s not correlated with right-handedness.
A man is far more likely to prefer sloppy tongue kisses than a woman. The added testosterone from his saliva may serve to enhance her libido over time.
We are not the only species to engage in kissing-like behaviors. Great apes press their lips together to express excitement, affection, or reconciliation.
In studies, people remember more of the details about a first kiss than first sexual experience.
Kissing works like a drug in our bodies, and can promote dopamine – the same neurotransmitter stimulated from addictive drugs like cocaine.
Our lips are packed with sensitive nerve endings so even a slight brush can send a cascade of pleasurable signals to the brain encouraging us to continue under the right circumstances.
Full Article about International Kissing Day

My boyfriend and I use the date of our first kiss as our anniversary. Since we were friends, the line between friends hanging out and romantic dating was very blurred. It was only after a kiss that we both had to face the reality that we were't "just friends" anymore.

Since then we've lost count of how many kisses we've had but I definitely remember our first one.

Do you remember your first kiss?

New York Cheesecake

2011-07-06T08:52:00.001-04:00

I love baking but I always end up making cheesecake. My boyfriend does not have a sweet tooth (I do, unfortunately) and the only dessert he will voluntarily eat is a cheesecake.

I make it very anniversary, birthday, or special event. When I make cheesecake, it's a sign that things are good in my household - relationship wise. The great things about cheesecake is that it can be in the fridge for up to 2-3 weeks and still taste amazing. For a small household, it's a godsend not having to polish off the entire cake within a short amount of time.

He says I am free to make whatever dessert I want but unless he lets me know what dessert he likes, I don't see any reason for me to bake anything else (unless I'm hosting a dinner party or attending a potluck).

Do you have any dessert you always end up making for whatever reason?

Ingredients

Crust
2 cups Crushed Graham Cracker
1/2 cup of Butter
1 9”-10” Springform Pan
Filling
3 (8-oz) Packaged Neufchatel Cream Cheese (1/3 less fat)
1 cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 cup Skim Milk
3 Eggs
1/2 cup Sour Cream
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
3 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour

(1) Melt the butter in a microwave approx 30-40 sec at high (watch closely so not to burn the butter)
(2) With a fork, mix butter and graham cracker crumbs thoroughly
(3) Pour mix into pan and spread evenly (use the bottom of a measuring cup)
(4) Put the pan in the freezer until ready to use (I did it the day before and it was fine)

(5) Allow cream cheese, eggs get to room temperature
(6) Preheat oven to 350F
(7) Wrap the bottom of the pan with aluminum foil so water cannot seap in the bottom (double or triple layer if necessary)
(8) Mix cream cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl until smooth with a hand-held mixer
(9) Use a rubber spatula to fold down the sides and fold thoroughly for a no-lump cake
(10) Pour in milk and incorporate 1 egg at at time (just mix until smooth, no need to overbeat)
(11) Fold in vanilla, sourcream, and flour until smooth
(12) Pour cheesecake batter in the pre-made crust
(13) Set the cheesecake carefully into a larger pan (lasagna, casserole..etc) that allows room for a waterbath
(14) Place the cheesecake in the oven and carefully pour hot water in the outside pan until it immerses 3/4”-1” of the cheesecake.
(19) Close the oven and allow cheesecake to bake undisturbed for 60 minutes. Turn off the oven, crack open the oven door and allow the cheesecake to rest in the oven for 1 hours
(20) Set the cheesecake on a cooling rack at room temperature for 1 hour before putting it in the fridge
(21) Chill the cheesecake for at least 3-4 hours before you attempt to remove it from the pan. (I baked the cake the day before and didn’t touch it until the morning after). Cut along the sides of the cake with a clean knife before you remove it.

To get this swirl effect, reserve 2-3 cups of cheesecake batter into two separate bowls. Color it with food color of your choice (I did red and blue). When pouring batter into the pan, pour 1/2 the plain batter in the pan then slowly pour small dollops of colored batter around the plan batter. Using a skewer, run it through the batter to create swirl patterns. Carefully distribute the remaining plan batter around the pan, dollop the remaining colored batter and swirl with a bamboo skewer.

This design was made with whipped cream piped out with tip 18 (star tip). I beat 1 cup of heavy whipping cream with 1/8 cup granulated sugar until stiff peaks are formed. I first put a thin layer of whipped cream on the top of the cheesecake. I then placed the fruit to the position I desired. I then piped the waves around the fruit design to create the flag design for Fourth of July.

Enjoy!

Happy Fourth of July!

2011-07-05T08:04:00.003-04:00

My Patriotic Cheesecake!

I had a lot of fun this weekend with my boyfriend. We even coordinated outfits Monday night when we went to watch fireworks with our friends in downtown Tampa at Channelside.

On Saturday, we went to Orlando to Typhoon Lagoon, a Disney Water Park. My boyfriend is a big fan of the wave pool. I used it as an opportunity to workout because I would swim against the waves, be brought back by the giant wave, hug my boyfriend (because I'm too short for the 5'6 depth), then repeat for about two hours. Afterwards, we went to Animal Kingdom for a nice walk and lunch at Tusker's House (our favorite lunch spot). I went for a 5 mile run when we got home on the treadmill.

Sunday was a lazy Sunday where we bummed around the house and relaxed. We ran a few errands. I also decided to bake a cake so I could practice my "decorating skills". My boyfriend doesn't have a sweet tooth so the only dessert he actually will voluntarily eat is cheesecake. That's exactly what I ended up making!

I will be posting a recipe later this week!

We hung out with some friends Monday and watched fireworks. It was the perfect fourth of July weekend.

God Bless America! Thank you to all our troops both from the past and present allowing me to enjoy the freedom I do today.

Yesterday is history

Tomorrow is a mystery

Today is a gift

..that's why they call it the present!

Start right now!

2011-07-01T08:30:00.003-04:00

I can't believe it's July. Did June fly by for everyone like it did for me?

Weight-wise I'm the same I was the beginning of June. That in itself is not a terrible thing for me considering I've been struggling with emotional/stress eating recently.

I don't think I will ever be one of those people who can be completely over emotional eating. This doesn't mean some days aren't easier than others. I can go for weeks (sometimes months) with no urge to turn to comfort foods. Then one little slip up where I eat an extra bowl or two of cereal makes me feel I've come undone.

Move on. It happened. Now I need to figure out what is making me turn to food for comfort.

I'm sad to say July is not going to be less stressful for me than June was. I have a secret wish to fast forward a few months to catch of glimpse of my future (don't we all). My boyfriend says everything works out in the end and that I need to keep an open-mind.

Easier said than done. I will try though.

There is no reason my health should suffer because of external issues that are beyond my control.

I finally hit the gym yesterday after almost a week being away from it. Part of that week I was in California so I didn't exercise. The other part I was recovering from lack of sleep and over-eating so I wanted to tackle my eating and sleeping before I started working out.

It felt amazing to be working out after a few minutes of warm-up. I did struggle putting on my gym clothes and willing myself to go though. Once I was there, I wondered why I put it off for so long.

I feel better when I work out. I should know that by now but a few days off plan makes it easy to delay my return to the gym.

I love it when my readers give me advice I often give to others reading their struggles. This is why I blog.

I'm not perfect nor do I wish to be. I want to be aware of my faults and weaknesses. I want to be strong for others when they struggle but realize that I too will need support sometimes.

I'm digging deep and remembering why I was successful this time around losing the weight and not reverting back to my yo-yo dieting patterns. Sometimes reflecting on the beginning is a great way to get re-focused.

I remember writing a list on WHY I wanted to lose the weight. One of the major reasons was I wanted to be a great mom for my future babies. I didn't think the way I was spiraling out of control was heading in that direction.

Other reasons
- Tired of feeling held back by the weight
- Wanted to take control of my life and not regret later in my life
- Wanted to be healthy emotionally, physically and mentally.
- Wanted to try more outdoor activities and not scared my weight won't allow me to
- Wanted to be a better girlfriend, sister, friend, daughter
- Wanted to shop in any store and have fun doing it
- Wanted to prove haters wrong

What are your reasons?

This is me with my niece at the wedding last weekend. Isn't she precious at just seven months old?

Happy July 4th Weekend!
I don't have any plans but I do know this month is all about kicking my butt into gear.

Wilton's Cake Decorating Class #4

2011-06-28T21:53:00.002-04:00

I barely had anytime to rest after my trip to California before needing to prep things for my final class for the Basic Cake Decorating Class.

I had to bake a cake, ice the cake and bring in different icing ready to decorate. I used a simple box mix since I wouldn't be eating the cake. I still don't find the icing tempting at all. If anything, it reminds me of play dough.

Today's class was all about learning how to write messages on the cake and learning how to make a ribbon rose. I was rather pleased with how my letters came out on the practice sheet. The secret is to first press the icing on the surface and lift it up for each stroke so the icing is nice and even. If you write with the tip on the surface throughout, the lettering can seem anemic and frail.

The base of the ribbon rose (Hersey Kiss shaped)

Finished product!

The edges of the roses were not smooth like I wanted. My friend and I were discussing how to fix that. All the people in the class had this issue. I'm thinking the icing needs to be thinner consistency than stiff. I also think some piping gel put in the icing will help the icing stick together (like the icing I used to write text).

Overall I think it was a great class to take. The instructor did have some nice tips for us and if I didn't have a scheduled class like this, I wouldn't have the discipline to practice on my own. This made me have to prep everything on a weekly basis.

Now I can't wait for the need to put my decorating skills to good use!

Cali Wedding Recap

2011-06-27T13:44:00.007-04:00

I was in Los Angeles this past weekend celebrating my cousin's wedding with my family. I was thrilled I could see my sister for the weekend before she flies off to Taipei in July to see my parents and baby brother.

My sister and I are only 18 months apart and we are very close. I'm loving the dress she decided to wear for the wedding. We love discussing what we plan to pack and wear for events such as these. She lives in NYC and I live in Tampa but we talk almost daily.

I got my dress a few months ago and I finally decided on what hairstyle I wanted to achieve last week after browsing some websites and magazines.

I had to part my hair on the opposite side because of where the bow of the dress was positioned. I bought my dress online on ideeli.com (other places I love to shop online are hautelook.com, giltgroupe.com and ruelala.com). These websites feature designer deals of the day at a fraction of the cost!

I pinned my hair with a vintage pearl pin I found in my mom's vanity last year. My mom has some amazing clothes and accessories that I'm excited to raid next time I'm back in Taiwan. I'm also wearing a pair of earrings my boyfriend bought for me last year.

This hairstyle was so easy because it just required curling all my hair with a large barrel curler to one side. I didn't want the curls to be overly tight because I wanted it flowy and romantic. This dress could have made me look dated if I had gone with a tight hairstyle.

The venue was at a golf resort outside of Los Angeles. My sister and I stayed there for the entire weekend loving the tranquil surrounding and bonding with our extended family.

I went for a walk in the morning to see the venue before the actual event. I planned on wearing 4" heels so I wanted to see how far a walk it would be from the resort to the wedding gazebo.

Dessert Buffet (It was delicious and gorgeous!)

Photo Booth Wacky Props

We took 3 sets of these for fun! It was such a great idea for the wedding.

I was thrilled to be invited to this wedding. The only thing that happens at family functions is the older aunts and uncles love playing the game... who is NEXT?

Apparently, it's me even though there are still a few cousins older than me! I don't feel the pressure to conform though.

It'll happen when it happens.

Pre-Travel Check List

2011-06-23T19:21:00.005-04:00

I finally think I have an idea on what I'll do with my hair on Saturday at my cousin's wedding in Los Angeles.

Alexis Mabille's Fall 2011 Runway Look

Other Fall 2001 Runway Looks to Rock via stylecaster.com

I think with my long hair I can pull off the curls to one side and a pretty clip on the side where I have a bow detail on my one-shouldered dress.

I was flattered because a cousin four years younger than me asked if I could curl her hair. I've invited her to get dressed in the room my sister and I will be sharing. I'll take pictures of her hair if I do a good job!

I always have a list of things I tackle before I travel. I had to add getting a manicure and pedicure on that list since I wanted to be polished and put together. If I've learned anything from fashion bloggers that I follow, it's the importance of paying attention to the small details!

For my toes, I went for a neutral shade. My shoes are closed toe for the actual wedding but there are events before and after the main event where I'll be wearing sandals or wedges.

Can you believe my first pedicure EVER was a few months ago? I've never been a fan of my feet so I thought it was weird someone touching them. I live in Florida now and everyone has their toes beautifully manicured and painted. My friend asked me to go with her so I felt less scared to go by myself. Now I love getting my pedicures.

My manicurist recommended me to splurge a little on gel tips which is $17 on top of my $12 flat manicure fee.

I googled the difference and found a great article that weighs the pros and cons of gel versus acrylic (Artificial Nails: Gel Nails)

Gel nails are a form of artificial nail application. Gel can be applied directly to the nail bed or used with a nail tip to extend the length of the nail. Once the gel is applied to the nail, it is then cured under a special UV light to harden the gel. When using tips to extend nail length, the tip is glued to the nail, then the gel is applied over the nail and cured. Without a tip, the gel is applied directly to the nail and cured. This method is great for strengthening your natural nail, while allowing your nails to grow.

My manicurist said these nails should last me 2 weeks if not the entire wedding weekend and that got me sold! The thing I hate about manicures is the fact that unless I have people carrying things for me, doing my hair, dressing me, feeding me, cleaning up after me, I risk chipping my nails. I'm hoping this is the solution to nails that will stand the test of ...this weekend.

She applied some gel-like polish on lower half of my nails and let me place my hands under the UV light. Afterwards she applied two coats of white and shaped them with a brush and nail polish remover. Afterwards she did two thick layers of what I believe to be the gel top coating. I had to let it sit under the UV light machine for a while. The final touch was to wipe the nails with some nail polish remover to make sure it's not sticky. They feel very hard and durable.

My nails were actually longer but I broke 3 this week so I wanted them all to be even. It always seems that when I try to grow my nails out, they'll break the WEEK of my event. They look amazing the week prior but something always happens for them to chip, tear or break.

Have you ever had gel tips? What was your experience with them?

Wilton's Cake Decorating Class #3

2011-06-22T09:26:00.002-04:00

I'm one class away from finishing Course 1: Basic Cake Decorating with Wilton's.

Class #3 was focused on learning how to decorations like leaves, shells, stars, drop flowers, rosettes, shaggy mums and pompom flowers.

We had to bringing in 6 cupcakes and a lot of icing pre-colored into 4 colors (light blue, dark blue, green and color of our choice).

Next week is going to be focusing on putting everything we learned together and learning how to do ribbon roses and lettering. We have to bring in a pre-iced 8" cake and icing.

I'm not sure yet if I will go on to take Course #2: Flowers and Cake Design or Course #3: Gum Paste and Fondant. There are some great blog reviews out there of people who have taken the classes. I'm looking at them and wondering if I will ever need those skills. Regardless, if I were to take the class in July, it would be on a Thursday night or Friday night so I'm not a fan of those times. It'll definitely be something I'd be open to in future.

Icing nicely separated into bags ready to be used

Practicing drop flowers and rosettes on the practice board

Practicing the shell border (a lot harder than it looks)

Pompom Flower

Buttercream leaves are so fun to do!

Decorating cupcakes!

After I went home, I realized I still had a lot of icing leftover from class. I didn't want to waste a batch of icing so I decided to stay up a little later and practice (like a nerd).

My boyfriend was curious so he ventured into the kitchen.

He wrote his name so I wrote mine under it :)

I'm definitely getting better at rosettes!

It's all about a confident and steady pressure and stroke.

Twirling my Hair

2011-06-21T14:08:00.001-04:00

I love my long hair and have had hair pass my shoulders for years now.

I've always flirted with the idea of cutting it short only to chicken out and get it trimmed. Nowadays I trim my hair once every 2-3 months to keep it neat. I also get it re-highlighted every 3 months or so to give my hair more depth. The highlights are a dark brown/caramel color.

The dress I'm wearing when I attend my cousin's wedding is one shoulder so I've been debating how to wear my hair.

The final decision is not in yet but I know I want to keep it clean and simple. I do know I don't want anything too curly and take away from the simple lines of the dress (I will take pictures!)

I like the hair Angelina Jolie had in the Tourist so maybe some variation of it.

How would you style your hair if you were wearing an one shoulder dress?

The dress is form fitting so I bought two pairs of Spanx this weekend to keep everything in place. I used to be adverse to the idea but then again what's the difference between Spanx and a great bra to keep the ladies in place? It's all about the illusion right?

I also would like the piece of mind when I sit down to keep everything smooth and not lumpy.

Celebrities wearing Spanx

I can't believe today is the official first day of Summer!
Do you guys have any exciting summer plans?

Weekend recap and other musings

2011-06-20T08:53:00.006-04:00

Grocery shopping is always on the agenda for the weekends. I look forward to making my rounds between the local grocery store and ethnic grocery stores to restock my fridge.

I normally don't buy organic to keep costs down but I saw that apples (one of my favorite things to have around the house) were high on the dirty dozen list of foods with high pesticides. I was curious to see how expensive organic apples would be and I was happy to see that it was within reason. A bag of organic apples for under $5 is fine in my book.

Organic Apples

Do you only purchase organic food? What items do you ONLY go organic?

"The Dirty Dozen" - List of 12 foods with the highest concentrations of pesticide
1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Imported Nectarines
7. Imported Grapes
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Domestic Blueberries
11. Lettuce
12. Kale and other types of collard greens

Clean Foods - List of foods with lowest pesticide residues
1. Onions
2. Sweet corn
3.Pineapples
4. Avocado
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet peas
7. Mangoes
8. Eggplants
9. Cantaloupe (domestic)
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet potatoes
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushrooms

Source: The Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org/)

One of my friends wanted to go look at puppies and I jumped at the opportunity! Doesn't this 4-week old maltipoo look like a stuffed teddy bear?

I would love to have a puppy but I realize at this point in my life that I wouldn't be the best mommy for a puppy. I'm traveling every few months and enjoy the freedom to do so. I also live in a carpeted apartment at the moment which I hope to change in the VERY near future.

I would be lying if I told you I didn't feel like putting down a deposit for a puppy from the same litter.

Reason won over emotion in this case where I decided against it. I love my sister's dog but I see the amount of time, money and energy that's required for a dog. I don't want to be a horrible dog owner because the one thing I hate is making irresponsible and rash decisions.

I do hope to live vicariously through my friend having a puppy though. I also volunteered to be a dog sitter whenever I was needed.

Saturday night I had some friends over for dinner. I was busy all day with errands and puppy hunting so dinner was slightly unfocused but I'd like to say it was delicious.

Entrees: Chicken Tikka Masala, Beef Biryani, Roasted Pork "Fried Rice"

Sides: Bean Sprouts and Roasted Butternut Squash

I love getting comments from people who read my blog! I appreciate every single comment! Most of the time I like to go back to the person's blog to reply to any questions but this question I felt applied to most of us.

Have you ever lost your momentum and almost come full stop for a prolonged period of time? I just found myself unable to do anything, unwanting unmoving, and stressed... How do you battle that?

I've been feeling unbelievable stress and anxiety the last few weeks and I'd be lying if I told you I was 100% committed to eating healthy and exercise. Some days I literally feel like throwing in the towel and reaching for comfort food. The stress and anxiety is out of my control and has nothing to do with weight loss.

How I've dealt with it is targeting what is the source of my lack of motivation, stress and general funk. I sort it into two categories: things I can control and things I can't control.

If I can't control it, there is no use in stressing over it. My boyfriend is the forever optimist who thinks everything works out in the end and I think that mentality is keeping me calm right now over all the uncertainty and fear of the future I'm having at the moment.

If I can control it, I feel slightly empowered because the ball is in MY court.

The important thing is there is not letting the shame and guilt of falling off the wagon stop you from picking up the pieces and getting right back to it.

I'm not looking for perfection.

Right now, the only thing I feel like I can control in life is my eating and my exercise. It keeps me in a calm place when I have those things in order. I feel like I have more strength to meet any challenge and obstacle thrown at me if I can get certain things done throughout the day.

Water - check

Healthy portions - check

40+ minutes exercise/day - check

Adequate sleep - check

Clean apartment - check

Replying to e-mails in a timely manner - check

Prioritize and realize we are human and we make mistakes!

If you feel something is overwhelming, break it up into do-able pieces. I remember starting off I had 70+ lbs to lose and feeling completely overwhelmed.

I realize it seemed less daunting if I focused on every single day instead of looking at the long-term commitment. Those days on plan turned into weeks on plan which turned into months on plan. Soon the 1-2 lb loss per week added up into a significant weight loss over time. Sure I also had weeks with no loss or a gain but the important thing was to get back to it and keep going.

I wish everyone a wonderful week. I leave for California Friday night and come back Monday morning - it's my cousin's wedding weekend!

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T08:15:00.003-04:00

Taiwan doesn't celebrate Father's Day today so my dad was surprised when I told him HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! He's going golfing today. The day we celebrate father's day is August 8th (8/8) because in Chinese it sounds like dad: bah-bah.

My parents and I may not always see eye to eye but communication is always encouraged in our family. Growing up, my dad made it a point where meals had to be a certain time and the entire family had to be there. The TV had to be turned off and we sat and talked about our day. Our entire family is very talkative so getting a word in is an art-form. Our family conversations can literally have 5 topics going at any moment and we're quick to pick up what we're talking about too.

People get confused when they eavesdrop on my sister and my conversation because we literally change topics at the drop of a pin then go back and carry on to a previous topic (seamlessly).

My family and I video conference almost on a daily basis via Skype. Thankfully it 's a free service!

I'm also extremely thankful for my dad for allowing my siblings to have the opportunity to travel so much. My brother is going to Europe next weekend with my mom for 10 days. I can't wait to see the pictures! My sister and I will be at a wedding in California for the weekend.

My family in Japan February 2010

This is a picture of us wearing our "yukatas" (浴衣) before heading off to the Japanese baths. A traditional Japanese bath is communal. You sit on little stools on the side with individual shower heads and bath products. You get clean then immerse yourself in the steaming hot baths sometimes infused with citrus oils or other scents. It's said to be great for health and circulation. The natural hot springs are a huge tourist destination in Japan when you go where beautiful hotels are built around the natural hot springs. Nudity is a must in these communal baths. If you wear a swimsuit, you will be stared at. Women of all ages are present.

My sister calls it "SKIN TO THE WIND!"

We were in Hiroshima and surrounding areas for about 5 days that year. My dad is a huge fan of Japan so we go there often since the flight from Taipei is only a few hours.

This hotel was our favorite of the 5 days we were there. My sister and I shared a huge tatami room (weaved mat floor). My parents and little brother shared the room next to ours. When we bathed, attendants rolled out comfy blankets out and put away the tables and floor-level seats. When we woke up, the attendants rolled up the blankets and hide them in the storage units along the wall. It's very space efficient. We had the ground level room so we could walk out into our own zen garden. It was gorgeous.

Hot and Sweaty

2011-06-17T09:19:00.003-04:00

Tampa is unbelievably humid and hot right now. This is going to be a long summer where I avoid going outside between the hours of 1pm - 6pm.

I do sweat when I exercise but it's always controlled. Yesterday was the first time I felt like I should have brought a towel. I only did 65 minutes of cardio indoors (split between the treadmill and the elliptical) and I was drenched in sweat.

The proof is in the pudding...

How sweaty do you get when you work out?

I've been very consistent about exercise this month aiming to exercise daily (sometimes I do skip 1 day or 2). Once I get a routine going, it becomes second nature to head to the gym at certain hours.

Some things that help me stay motivated...

1. Not allowing myself to shower until I break a sweat.

2. Reading success stories on blogs!

3. Give myself a mental pep talk (You can do this! You NEED to do this..)

4. Weigh myself

5. Drinking plenty of water (or tea)

6. Getting adequate sleep

7. Eating 1-2 hours before my workout (a small snack or meal that won't induce a food coma)

8. Online shopping (visual eye candy) to think about what I want to reward myself with

9. Thinking about near future trips/events where I want to look good

Cousin's Wedding/HUGE Family Reunion in LA (June 24-26th)
Cruise with boyfriend's co-workers/friends end of July
Mom and brother visiting FL mid-August = lots of mini-trips

10. Downloading great workout songs

Current Favs

Lady Gaga - The Edge of Glory
Kelly Roland feat. Lil' Wayne - Motivation
Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude
Taio Cruz - Dynamite
Katy Perry - E.T.
Pitbull - Give Me Everything
Enrique Inglesias - I Like It
Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
Keri Hilson - Knock You Down
Big Sean - My All
Jennifer Lopez - On The Floor
Rihanna - Only Girl
Lupe Fiasco - The Show Goes On
LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
Rihanna - S&M
Far East Movement - So What
Black Eyed Peas - The Time
Ke$ha - TiK ToK
Tinie Tempah - Written in the Stars
Chris Brown - Yeah 3x

What's playing in your ears when you exercise?

There's something about exercising that gives me such a boost of energy and motivation. I eat better when I'm consistently exercising. If I skip working out, I tend to overeat.

The weekend is here! I'm excited even though I have no set plans.

French Toast Bread Pudding Casserole

2011-06-16T19:00:00.000-04:00

I remember my mom making my sister and me French Toast in the morning on the weekends when we lived in Seattle. It's her favorite breakfast food so she'd always make it for us too. My mom is not a morning person so I remember in elementary school having to get my sister and myself ready for the school bus. Our breakfast was a glass of cold milk (if that.)

Once in a while we'd miss the bus. We would stare at the bus as it drove away and we'd timidly wake our mom up and go "Mommy, we missed the bus." Thankfully we lived really close to the school and the school bus had several stops to make so we were never late. My mom would stop by the local Starbucks. She'd pick up a double shot Mocha and two small hot chocolates. It was one of my favorite memories growing up.

The drinks were always hot but my mom was too impatient to wait for us to finish it. She'd make us gulp it down within a matter of seconds and send us on our way.

Like I said, my mom is not a morning person.

I am a morning person though so I look forward to prepping breakfast and pack lunches for my future family. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day (for me at least). It definitely sets the tone for the rest of the day.

What did your family make for breakfast growing up?

I like to make a French Toast Bread Pudding Casserole whenever I have visitors because it's something I can prep the night before and pop in the oven. It serves a lot of people at once (or perfect for leftovers) and it has all the traditional flavors found in a french toast. It frees up my stove so I can make other sides like sausage, and eggs.

This recipe would be a great dish for Father's Day brunch this weekend! Leftovers can easily be re-heated in the microwave to enjoy for the rest of the week.

I consider this recipe an indulgence so I rarely make it but it's perfect for special occasions!

French Toast Bread Pudding Casserole
Ingredients
1 loaf of Challah Bread or French Bread (cubed into 1"-2" pieces)
8 Eggs (or 4 cups Egg Substitute)
3 cups Skim Milk (or whatever milk on hand)
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup Chocolate Chips *Optional

Cinnamon Sugar: 1 Tbsp Sugar + 2 tsp Cinnamon

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract
2. Add cubed bread and allow mixture to soak up the contents. Fold in chocolate chips (optional)
3. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray
4. Pour contents of mixing bowl into the baking dish
5. Cover and refrigerate overnight
Next morning
6. Preheat an oven at 350°
7. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the bread pudding casserole
8. Bake uncovered for 50 minutes or until the top is crispy and golden
9. Serve with real maple syrup

Different Mindset

2011-06-15T22:16:00.008-04:00

I remember all these years equating weight loss with misery, discipline, deprivation and hunger. I also viewed exercise as punishment and loathsome.

What changed since then was realizing that I didn't want to spend a lifetime losing and gaining the same pounds. There must be some happy medium. I looked at my peers whose weight never fluctuated very much and wondered what they were doing different.

Some people are blessed with amazing metabolisms (don't get me wrong) but the vast majority realize that their lifestyle was soon catching up to them and their metabolism can't keep up. I think it's easy to think other people have it easy or that they are naturally blessed to be naturally skinny but I think that's a cop out.

I know I spent years making excuses.

There is a happy medium between pure gluttony and militant control. The most important thing is to find something that you can see yourself doing for months, years to come. Sometimes I do go back to a few days where I track and record just to remind myself what a portion size should look like. I also restrict from eating out for a few weeks when I feel I've over-indulged.

When I first started out, exercise was just aiming for 30 minutes of light exercise a day. Normally that was just fast walking on the treadmill followed by some stretching and easy pilates. I pushed myself a little bit each time by jogging a bit. I remember not being able to jog for more than a few minutes starting out. Consistency is key whether that has to do with exercise or eating. I'm a big believer of consistent exercise being better for you than one day spending hours at the gym. Your body can only take so much at one time. It's less efficient to spend 4 hours at the gym one day and end up being too sore for the rest of the week to exercise. I think giving it your all in 30 minutes but committing yourself to going multiple times a week will make a bigger impact!

I never overexert myself on a single workout. There is no point in hurting myself physically and ending up not being able to exercise for weeks to come. The minute I feel slightly "off" I stop and call it a day. That is why good nutrition and adequate calorie intake is so important. If I starved myself, there is no way I would have the energy to workout. If I stuffed my face, there is no way I could exercise without feeling nauseous.

Stay Well Secrets: 10 Tips from Skinny Women

(Read Full Article from iVillage)

1. Eat until you are satisfied - not stuffed
2. Be picky about what you put on your plate
3. Don't deprive yourself
4. Snag quality sleep
5. Squeeze in exercise whenever you can
6. Don't eat your emotions
7. Pile your plate with produce
8. Break for breakfast
9. Don't be scared of the scale
10. Don't worry about your weight

Other Interesting Articles

Restaurant Survival Strategies (Eat This Not That Page)
23 Ways to Eat Better (Women's Health Magazine)
10 Breakfasts for Healthy Skin (Prevention Magazine)
100 Ways to cut 100 Calories (Prevention Magazine)
When Does Your Metabolism Really Change? (Self Magazine)

Tardy for the party?

2011-06-15T10:37:00.006-04:00

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

I need an hour minimum to get ready to go out.

That said, I strive to be on time for everything. It bothers me when other people are late. It bothers me MORE when I am late. I think my sister and I share this quality because our dad made it a big deal growing up to be "considerate of others" and just because other people behave badly doesn't mean we have to.

I used to think it's a lack of respect when someone wastes my time. Once in a while it's okay but there are definitely people who are perpetually late and they think it's fine and a simple sorry will suffice (or worse, people who don't apologize.)

I realize now that when people are running late it's not about me. It's them so I shouldn't take it personally when they do it to everyone else. It would bother me though if people equated me with constant tardiness.

Yesterday's cake decorating class had a lot of leftover icing (I also call it idiot-proof sugar concrete). I didn't want to toss it out without practicing with it more so after breakfast today, I promptly started again what I was aiming for yesterday.

Yesterday's (sad) attempt

Second attempt

Practicing at home with Wilton's templates

I look forward to practicing more in the future. It's actually fun to decorate but the annoying part is the clean up! I felt less guilty today because it was leftover icing. Next week requires us to use 2 lbs of powdered sugar for buttercream flowers, and cupcake decorating.

Wilton's Cake Decorating Class #2

2011-06-14T21:30:00.010-04:00

I just came back from my cake decorating class! My hands are SORE! I saved some leftover icing to practice this week.

Next week's class moves onto cupcake decorating and flowers! I can't wait!

Pre-baked 8" box cake

Leveled the cake, inverted the top so it's the bottom now and filled the middle with icing I re-used from last week's practice (gross but aesthetically acceptable).

In the middle of icing the cake. Tip: cover the top of the cake thoroughly before smoothing out and shaving off extra icing. This prevents crumbs from showing through.

Finished product. I was much more OCD about this than anyone else being one of the last ones finished.

A peer's cake (notice they skipped practicing filling the middle)

Practicing my squiggles

Using piping gel to transfer a guide onto the top of my cake

My icing was too hard at this point so it was hurting my hands to decorate. The decorating portion of my cake needs a lot of practice and more patience. The horrible circle around the cake was my attempt to use up my icing so I had an easier clean-up.

The same peer (who iced the cake in picture 5) did a fantastic job in her decoration! I wish I had more time. I didn't want to NOT finish.

Cutting into my finished product to see how I did with leveling.

Better in there than in anyone's mouth.

I know it seems like a huge waste of cake but I bought the cheapest (on sale) box cake there was. I also made 2 batches of icing. Each batch called for 1 cup shortening and 1 lb of confectioner's sugar. 1 Tbsp of shortening is 110 calories (pure fat). This is the icing they wanted us to work with.

There is no way that cake would have tasted good. I also filled the center with the icing they told us to buy last week. I scooped up my piped stars and put it back in the container to be used this week.

The classroom at Michael's is also used for other craft classes and I don't think that sink was sanitary by any means.

I'm sorry if it feels like I wasted a perfectly good cake!

Disclaimer to anyone who wants to take this class: there are a lot of supplies outside of the kit that you are encouraged to purchase. Here is what I ended up buying this weekend costing around $85 (after 10% discount)

Listed in booklet: Cake Circles, Piping Gel. Turn Table, Cake Leveler, Icing Colors

Optional: Baking Tins (4 tier), Piping Bag Holder

Another thing to note that slightly bothered my friend and me is that after 30 minutes of "instruction" the instructor let us decorate basically independently. People who finished early could clean up and go. I'm sorry but this class is a two hour class. I felt felt our instructor wasn't willing to go above and beyond for us. The other people who finished early actually made me feel embarrassed to be so slow and lagging behind.

Self-Evaluation

Making the icing: A (It crusted like it needed to and stayed relatively the correct consistency)

Cake leveling: A

Icing Cake: A- (slight crumbs but with practice it'll get better)

Filling piping bags: B (need to be cleaner)

Tracing desired design with piping Gel: A

Coloring icing: C (need to get the right color and make sure the color runs throughout)

Decorating Cake: D (NEEDS IMPROVEMENT)

Sidenote: I do eat dessert. This wasn't worth it in my opinion :)