Husband and Wife Date

The upcoming weekends are going to be horribly busy for both Andy and myself, so we decided to take full advantage of our last peaceful weekend for awhile. Here's what we did.

Friday - went out to dinner.

Saturday - saw The Maze Runner at our favorite movie theater (with the recliners). I had finished the book earlier that day... the movie didn't follow the book at all so that was a little disappointing.

Sunday - Husband and Wife date! The Wine and Culinary Center was having a "Harvest Festival" and I had signed us up for some cooking classes. We made a vegan roasted vegetable stew and some pork. Everything turned out really well and we had a lot of fun!

Grapes on the vine

Recipe and ingredients for the stew

Chef Andy

Time for pork!

Real chef monitoring Chef Andy

The finished product - delicious!

Needless to say our trip to the Culinary Center sparked our desire to cook more at home. Last night we made this really delicious recipe I found on Pinterest.

Sausage and Tortellini

It definitely wasn't the healthiest thing we've ever made, but it sure tasted good!! Sundays and Mondays are definitely my favorite days because we have time to make/eat dinner together. :-)

Looking ahead - this week I have my usual work schedule for Job #1 and #2. On Wednesday I get to go to a special anniversary party at Job #2 for people who have worked 5 years or more, so that is kind of cool. Andy's playing concerts on Thursday and Saturday night. And on Sunday I have to observe a youth orchestra rehearsal (barf). When will I find time to watch Parks and Rec?! ;-)

Candy Corn Pancakes

Yikes, I really let time go by without showing up here, didn't I. Sorry about that.

Life's been pretty busy - Job #1 is one month into the new season so things are all a buzz. Job #2 is still Job #2. And somehow I feel like I don't have much free time at all, probably because I don't really... but what free time I do have has been dedicated to watching Parks and Recreation. I love that show.

So instead of trying to catch you up on everything, I'll just share some pics from last night. My friend Alyssa's birthday is this weekend, so a few of my girl friends threw her a birthday brinner bash last night.

Birthday Girl Alyssa making pancakes!

Yeah.... 

Those pancakes are banana walnut. Mmmm

Alyssa brought her dog, Cooper!

It was really fun! Tomorrow is Friday... thank goodness. Andy and I have our first "husband and wife" date planned for Sunday. We are taking a cooking class at the Wine and Culinary Center, so we're really looking forward to that. I promise to update again sooner!!

PS - I just remembered the name of my blog is RunnerBabs.... probably should change that, but I did run a 5k over the weekend, so it's not an entirely a false title!

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have made it ONE YEAR without drinking Diet Coke. Do you know how amazing that is?!?!?

As a matter of fact, I haven't had any fake sugar (to my knowledge) for a year.

Do you know how many foods and drinks have fake sugar in them? A lot. I've had to read a lot of labels, and at the end of the day, it's meant I don't eat any reduced fat/diet/fat free foods anymore.

Today also marks one year (and one week) of not measuring or weighing any of food or calculating any calories.

I know it seems silly, but these are big changes for me, and I'm really proud that I made it the entire year. Also.... it was so hard (I STILL want a Diet Coke), there's no way I'm turning back now.

Good job Babs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm baaaaaaaack!

WOW! I abandoned the ol' blog for a REALLY long time, but cut me some slack.... I was pretty busy getting maaaaaaaarried.

Seriously. It took a ton of work, and I could not have done it without my parents help - they flew out two weeks before the big day and worked pretty much 24/7. It was all worth it though. Our wedding was about as perfect (in my opinion) as it could have been. As much as I'd like to share a thousand pictures with you now, I'm running short of time, so....

Instead I will simply address the two people who asked about the blog's status.

Mom - Tada!!!!!

Rebecca - YOUR BIRTHDAY WISH HAS COME TRUE!!!!!

* Today is Rebecca's 30th birthday and she asked for the return of the blog. *

So with that....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REBECCA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stay tuned for more. :-)

Dear Baby Jesus...

Let's see how few words I can use to describe what's been going on.

This weekend I felt like...

...which led to...

And now I feel like...

:-(

So this is what's happening now...

Dear Baby Jesus. Help me find the strength to lose 20 pounds in 25 days...... 

(fyi that green juice is disgusting)

Back

I just got off the phone with Rebecca - we have phone dates from time to time, which I thoroughly enjoy. Out of no where she requested I bring the blog back to life. So, here we go. This one's for you, Rebecca!

Clearly shaming myself into eating well by posting pictures of my food was NOT a success - which I'm sure you gathered since it lasted a whole of one day and then I disappeared. Enough of that. Moving on.

This is how I've been feeling lately...

Blaaaaaaah

I've been feeling tired, blah, and like my facial features are hiding under a layer of fat (much like Mama June). That's like, the opposite of how I imagine a 'bride to be' should feel. She's supposed to feel like this....

Skinny and Ecstatic

Instead I am trapped between the two.

I just want to be skinny, I just want to be skinny... wait, frozen yogurt? CAN'T SAY NO.

I can't wait for my parents to get here. Having them with me is the only way I feel like I'll stop eating food. Needless to say, the food part's not going too well. However I am happy to say I am still exercising. So, that's good at least.

What else has been going on?

Job #1 - Our janitor died. Another woman "resigned" effective immediately. And the person in the office that I can't stand the most is moving into the office next to mine in two weeks. And getting a promotion. Joy.

Job #2 - Tonight is my second to last Thursday working there, so I'm looking forward to that ending soon. I am only resigning from Thursday nights, not Job #2 entirely. Don't get too excited.

Job #3 - Yes. Job #3. This is now what I'm calling my wedding because it's basically become a full time job now. I'm blown away by how many details are involved. My brain feels like a swirling mess of wedding thoughts. But things are coming together. We are finally set with musicians for the ceremony (thank you Lisa and Anna!). The cake stuff is all set. Chair/tent rental is done. And the RSVPs are coming in (although there are still a lot of delinquents out there... come on people, get those in the mail!).

Ok that's about all for now. Sorry Rebecca - I'm sure you were hoping this would be more entertaining/informative but.... well... ok, I will leave you with this video of me trying to do push-ups. Frankly, I think my form is not too shabby for a girl with an incredibly weak upper body, but Andy laughs every time I do them, so this is at least entertaining to him!

Food/Exercise Photo Journal - day 1

So here we go - below you will see what I ate and how I exercised on Wednesday, July 2nd (45 days until the wedding).

Full disclosure. Wednesday morning I weighed 160.0. My goal weight is 145.0 (although to be completely honest, anything under the 150's would be just fine). That means 15 pounds in 45 days. It's going to take a lot of focus, but I know it's possible as long as I try my hardest and don't give up. Let's get this journey started.

Here we go with my food/exercise photo journal - day 1.

Coffee w/almond milk!

Breakfast: Cantaloupe and Watermelon

Lunch: Salad and Banana

Exercise: 2 mile walk after lunch

Snack: dried fruit and almonds

Exercise: T25 - Rip't Circuit

Snack: Nectarine

Dinner: Tons o' veggies

Exercise: 20 minute walk

Chai tea w/almond milk before bed

There you have it! Day one! As I'm writing this the following day I can tell you I weighed the exact same today (160.0) and am honestly a little pissed! But whatever. Stay tuned - hopefully that number will go down soon.