Thursday, February 28, 2013

#FoodiePenPals

So I got the idea to try out #FoodiePenPals from some of my Twitter buddies.  You can read all about it here

They basic gist is: You sign up. Get randomly paired with someone who you will send a box of goodies to. And get randomly paired with a person who will send a box of goodies to you. Then each of you blog about what you sent and what you got at the end of the month.  (Box must contain something hand written and cost around $15.)

Sounds great, right?

Well...

...maybe for some. But not me.

At first the problem was totally mine. I typed my email address wrong on the entry form. Then when I didn't get an email back right away I didn't contact the person in charge like it said to if this happens. My fault. But it was quickly resolved with a few quick emails & tweets. 

I emailed my matches and told them the error with my email address was and what my correct contact information was. (Then I quickly google-stalked them, as I do everyone I come in contact with. Yes, everyone. It's likely I've done it to you. Yes, you. Deal with it.)

I was paired with a vegitarian stay-at-home mome in California with 2 kids and she sent me a very excited email about what kinds of foods her family liked as options to send her.

I decided to send her some of my local favorite foods. And because I am not bright, I didn't take a picture of the box before I sent it so here is a rough run down of what I included...

Willamette Valley Granola Chips: Never tried them...but there was a $1 off coupon attached so I thought what the hell.

Columbia Empire Marionberry preserves: The jar I sent was double this size.  I couldn't find one smaller.
Moonstruck Chocolate: I sent the Mayan chocolate bar as it is Man's favorite. They have 4 other flavors. I should have sent the coffee one as thats what my pal likes...but I couldnt' find it.

Beaver Mustard Deli mustard:  The best on grilled bratwurst.
Bob's Red Mill Pancake Mix:  I know you can get this just about anywhere but the factory is less than a mile from my house.  I drive by it every day.
I also threw in a baggie of local hazelnuts that I had in the house as well as a hand written note on a pretty card saying I hope she enjoyed everything and explaining that it was all local stuff.
According to the rules my package was soposed to be mailed no later than the 15th, but I was late and couldn't get to the post office until the 20th. So I paid for additional shipping to get it to her by Friday.  My tracking shows it was delivered.....but I have't heard from my pal so I dont know if she got it or liked it.

I have not heard a word from my other pal since I replied to her email asking for what kinds of foods I like.  That email was sent on February 5th.  I did not recieve a package. Yes, I'm bitter about this regardless of whether or not there was a warning on the website that it might happen. 

Other than not getting a box, I am upset that neither person I'm paired with are bloggers or on Twitter (one is on Twitter...but is not active). I was hoping this would be a fun social networking experience. But nope. Turns out, I just spent $30 to mail a box of food to a stranger with no recourse.

Whateves.

I'll get over it.

Doubt I will participate in #FoodiePenPals again though.


Monday, February 25, 2013

Monday Madness


After a lovely weekend, I have plenty to download.  Enjoy the random bullet points of thought going through my brain this morning...

  • I am SO sore from the core work I did on Friday. It was the good sore on Saturday. Today it is an annoying sore. I did core work...why the eff do my inner thighs and shoulder blades hurt like a mo fo?
  • Saturday night I went to a going away party for a college friend.  It was at a bar. Like the noisy, meat market, country music karaoke in between dance songs kind of bar. I haven't been to one in years. All 20 of our classmates were invited and only 3 showed up. I'm mildly disappointed in them. We all claimed to be there for each other and never lose touch but here it is, two months later and people can't be bothered to some say farewell to a dear friend. Anyway, I had 2 drinks total and danced like I did in my early 20s. It was a blast! Now that I think about it, that's likely why my inner thighs hurt. Dancing like that in 5 inch heels...um, yea. I got home at 2 am. It was delightful, but I am too old for that crap.
  • Vacation is just 5 weeks away.  I'm dying of excitement. I want to get out of town so badly! (I know the pic says 4 weeks...but I messed up..and corrected it...but was too lazy to take another picture.)
  • I've started weighing myself twice a week. Monday's and Thursday's.  Reason: I forget all my goals on Saturday and Sunday and am super focused during the week.  By Thursday the scale shows a beautiful number and on Monday is it up from there.  Which is why I am floating in between 152 and 150 each week, but never going below 150. That being said, I can see changes in the shape of my body from the elliptical work I have been doing, so I am okay with it.  Still....I want to be below 150 if I am putting on a swimsuit. Especially a bikini.
  • So a good friend's sister whom I have known her whole life has decided to start losing weight. She signed up for a gym and MyFitnessPal, which is great. But that's where the greatness stops.  She has lost 19lbs in 2 weeks. She eats 100 calories a day, and burns over 800.  I have sent her several notes telling her to slow down, focus on being healthy, and work on a plan that is maintainable not a crash diet. She told me that since she takes several vitamins a day what she is doing is completely healthy, and she is in nursing school so she knows this as fact. I told her "Well, its your body, destroy it if you want to. But you will never maintain your goals with that approach." I was then immediately blocked on FB and MFP.  Which makes me laugh. SO mature. Whatever. I know her well enough to know that this is just a phase she is going through.  Just like her jewelry making "business" and "equestrian training" she will get bored and quit. Which is sad because she is obese and does need to lose weight, it is good because what she is doing is even more unhealthy than being large (in my opinion). 
  • On Friday I will post about my #FoodiePenPals experience. I'm going to start drafting that blog tomorrow as it won't be polite and it will take several edits to remove the Bitch-factor.
  • I love Trader Joe's. Like LOVE.  We went for the first time last Sunday, and again yesterday. I have their pre-made salads for lunch all this week, plus lots of other goodies for dinner.
  • This weeks menu:
    • Monday: Shrimp salad for lunch. Broccoli Beef with brown rice for dinner. (Elliptical)
    • Tuesday: Santa Fe salad for lunch. Grilled chicken with Cheese Tortellini & tomato sauce for dinner. (Elliptical)
    • Wednesday: Lunch will be fruit with yogurt & hard boiled eggs. Taking the Man to my favorite Lebanese restaurant for dinner. (This will be my splurge meal of the week.)
    • Thursday: Greek salad for lunch.  Spinach, feta, and red pepper stuffed flank steaks with roasted potatoes for dinner. (Elliptical)
    • Friday: Another salad for lunch (forgot what flavor). Leftovers for dinner. (Elliptical)
    • Saturday: Late lunch/early dinner at fave BBQ restaurant followed by shoe shopping. (Elliptical)
    • Sunday: Corned Beef & Cabbage in the crock pot.
  • Speaking of the elliptical.  I need a nag buddy. I got on it Monday, Wednesday & Thursday last week. Meant to get on it Friday...did ab work instead. Said I would do it Saturday and didn't.  Promised I would do it Sunday and didn't. I'm a liar. This week I WILL haul my ass up there 4 days. I should really do the ab video that I found on Friday too.
Have a great week everyone!  XOXOX

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

February Update

Here is another fun filled bullet point heavy brain dump...

  • I weigh the exact same amount this month as I did last month at this time.  Which is fine...I guess...but I really wanted to be closer to my dream weight for the cruise we have planned for the first week in April.
  • Speaking of...as part of my hormonal spending spree I bought a 7-night Mexico cruise.  The husband and I haven't been on a real vacation just the two of us since our last cruise...I think that was 4 years ago.  (It's funny, I can't remember the year, but I know exactly how much I weighed on that cruise. It was a lot. I had just reached my 10% goal weight loss on WW...and promptly quit.) I am SUPER excited about this trip and have the plan in my head to buy & wear a bikini.  I'm not exactly bikini ready yet, but I'm working on it (see next bullet point). 
  • We finally set up the elliptical in our bedroom.  I have been on it 3 times a week ever since.  I love it so fricken much!  When I first got on it I wanted to die after 30 minutes on the lowest resistance, but now I am up to 45 minutes at half max resistance.  My goal is to get comfortable at an hour time length at this resistance, then increase from there with more resistance and incline.  I also bought some 2lb arm weights with the hope that it adds a little extra burn power.  Haven't noticed any change there yet.  Overall, I feel great.  I feel better about myself and thinner even if the scale doesn't agree.  I want to feel good in my nearly naked skin when we go to Mexico.  I know there is nothing to be done about the cellulite on the back of my thighs, but hopefully toning and slimming make a small difference in the dimply-ness. 
  • So, Fitbloggin is in Portland in June, and I live in Portland.  While I would LOVE to go, the topics are more focused for bloggers with actual followers and fitness related topics.  That being said, reviewing the list of people attending there are a TON of people going who I would die to meet.  People I follow on Twitter especially.  I'm torn.  I don't want to pay a bunch of money just to meet these people and get the swag.  I can make myself 100% available during the entire event for ANY person who wants to hang out.  I am also available for chauffeur services.  I will likely be paying close attention for last minute cancellations with people offering up their tickets. 
  • I have no idea what "Harlem Shake" or "Catfish" is. Nor do I care.
  • Downton Abbey is no longer my favorite show. It gives me rage.
  • I still haven't bought the Sperry's I mentioned last month.  But I did spend quite a bit on a new Coach wallet and some shirts from Forever21.  I still want the shoes.  And I also want this... (But with mine & Man's initials)
  • I signed up to do Foodie Pen Pals this month.  At first I was super excited about it, but so far I am not impressed.  My pen pal that I send stuff too AND the pen pal I get stuff from are both not bloggers or on Twitter.  I sent off my box to my pen pal today (forgot to take a picture to post).  It was late so I paid extra to rush delivery to her.  The pen pal who is supposed to send me something has not contacted me.  I doubt she will either.
  • I wish my blog was awesome and popular enough that companies would give me free shit to review.  I would like a free plane ticket specifically.  But I will also take shoes, food, accessories, technology, beverages, or anything really. 
That's all for now my lovelies.  xoxo