Since I've Been Gone

Bonjour! It's been a while.  Life got super busy! And there's a LOT going on in my world.

Since I last posted...

I became Mayor of Ban Thai Restaurant!

I met my new cousin, Cassie!

Enjoyed a chocolate baklava!  And didn't think twice about how much butter or sugar was in it...

Celebrated Thanksgiving Day with good friends!

Cherisse and David... newlyweds!

My plate:

Apple cobbler for dessert:

And then proceeded to pass out in a food comatose on their couch. Good times!


Tended bar at the Writer's Block Party in Ozona where Non-Local Flow (my step-sister's book) was sold.

They put these two paintings together for the first time and discovered they appear to be painted together.

And a whole lot more!  

I have been exercising here and there, body brushing often, going to bed by 10pm and working many overtime hours through the T-Tapp sales.

Au revoir!

Food, Family & Fun

Ah, Thanksgiving is here! Up early for a morning workout to start my day off right.

I did Basic Workout + Maxi Max #1 Floor for about a 45 minute standing/floor combination workout. It feels great to already have my exercise checked off for the day.

9:30am: green and orange monster

2 servings of veggies!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh spinach
• frozen banana
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 Tbsp organic flax
  

10:30am: egg and cheese on whole wheat English muffin

0.5 serving of veggies!

Morning Supplements:
Alfalfa: 3 caps
Jus: 1 ounce (0.5 serving of veggies!)
Priority Women's Complete Multi: 3 caps

I kinda skipped lunch. We headed over to my Dad's house with puppy in tow. My aunt, uncle and cousins where there from out of state. It was great to see them again and catch up on their lives.

I snacked on some raw veggies (about 1/2 cup, 1/2 serving of veggies!) with a little ranch dip and a cheesy pastry tart, plus had a Bud Select beer (99 calories, 0g fat, 3.1 carbs). Sorry no photos!

The men played croquet in the yard while the women put the finishing touches on our feast. Roxy was absolutely fascinated with the croquet balls! She would've started batting them around if I let her off the leash.

She loves sticking out her tongue!

4:40pm: Thanksgiving feast, glass of Beaujolais Nouveau 2009

2 servings of veggies!

On my plate starting with the turkey going clockwise:

• turkey with a little mushroom gravy
• scoop of mashed garlic potatoes
• healthy green bean casserole
• scoop of stuffing
• roasted sweet potatoes
• 2 bacon wrapped scallops
• fresh homemade cranberry sauce in the middle

The sweet potatoes were fantastic!

Beautiful!

Thanksgiving dinner hands down is my most favorite meal of the year. It's just amazing!


6:20pm: slice of pumpkin pie with homemade whipped cream, coffee with whipped cream/sugar

After dessert we all went for a walk around the neighborhood... and bundled up. It got cold today for Florida (in the lower 60's). We walked down to the water and the wind really picked up, so we headed back to the house to warm up and play some games.

Roxy crashed...

By the time we got home I was hungry again, so I snacked on...

11:30pm: slice of rosemary and pumpernickel bread with brie cheese, roasted garlic and olives

The temperature in Tampa got down to 58-degrees!!! Brrrrrrrrrr!

That's darn cold for Florida natives like me.

Good night!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love that cartoon! Mmm... don't forget the whipped cream. Now I can't wait for some (veggie) pie!

To me Thanksgiving really is a time to reflect on the things that I am thankful for in my life, to spend time with the ones I love and reconnect with each other over an amazing meal.


I am thankful for...

• My puppy - she really does light up my life!
• My boyfriend - he rocks my world.
• My family - they are always there for me and so supportive.
• My friends - for being fun and making me smile.
• Living in Florida near the water and sunshine (I have no idea what a real winter is like.)
  
• 4 day weekends!
• The T-Tapp Workout - for making my body look and feel good.
  
• T'appy Holidays - for keeping me focused.
• Creative expression
  
• AND sooo much more!
  

In the November issue of the T-Tapp e-newsletter Teresa talks about writing a grateful journal. I started a journal similar to this a long time ago and think that's a fabulous idea! Writing a journal of things you are thankful for makes you focus on what really matters to you, the things that make you happy, things that make you smile and feel whole.

As Angela @ OhSheGlows.com wrote in her blog "10 Ways to Beat Holiday Stress":

Stress Busting Tip #6: Make a list and put it in your pocket

Most of all, try to focus on the positives of the holiday. Remind yourself what you are grateful for during those times of high stress.

Before your holiday event, write a short list of 5 things you are happy about in your life. Keep the list in your pocket and read it over whenever you are feeling stressed. Excuse yourself, go to the washroom, lock the door and zone out for a few minutes reading your list and thinking about why you are lucky to be you. Deep breaths. Repeat a mantra like: Ocean, ocean, ocean...

Just breathe! Great advice, yes? Check out her blog for more great tips for the holidays.

Off to get in my morning workout, body brushing and a healthy brekkie before heading over to my Dad's for the day. Roxy's coming too!

Saisissez le jour!

I have the FLU.

It started on Wednesday of last week. You know that little scratch in your throat. The next day I was progressively worse with a very bad sore throat. Then it changed to being a body ache and a raspy sounding cough. The past few days I've been coughing up yellow gunk. What a FUN way to spend Thanksgiving vacation. (Can you hear the sarcasm?)

This whole time I've been eating raw garlic (and garlic infused soups), taking Emergen-C, drinking hot green tea (with lemon and honey) and Kangen water like it's going out of style and staying home doing n-o-t-h-i-n-g. It's driving me mad.

Not to mention that they are working on repainting the outside of my apartment buildings, which you would think wouldn't be that noisy. Oh NO, it just so happens they found damaged spots and have been hammering away at the exterior knocking holes to pull out the damage and replacing it with new material. It sounds like someone is trying to hammer the whole building down. Today they ripped off the screening on my back porch and were working outside the living room window. By 6:00pm they have destroyed the power source to my living room, which means no light or movies this evening. I'll have to call maintenance tomorrow.

I am very restless to say the least, but don't have the energy to do much at all. Taking the pup for walks isn't the same when she wants to jump all over every worker guy she lays her eyes on. Plus, it's COLD for Florida right now and I can't stay out there long.

Here's to my rant and getting better.
(I can't wait to go back to work.)

Happy Turkey Day!

I just love these dogs! They are adorable.

Happy Thanksgiving!