The Shred-Day 4 and a little yoga with that

Can’t believe another Friday has come and almost gone……

I am happy that the local forecast calls for low to mid 90′s starting today through next week.  The weather has been a lot cooler lately and I was fearing that fall was making its arrival already.  So, I get to enjoy hot weather for at least another week or so.

I did do The Shred today (day 4).  It’s difficult but I feel like I really got a workout even though the workout itself (level one) is only 22 minutes long plus a warm-up and cool down.  I know it says a 20 minute workout, but I timed it and it’s more like 22 minutes not including warm-up/cool down.

I’m working out my push-up issues.  I’m still doing them “girly” style (using my knees) but the form is better and I can feel I’m getting a little better at them.  Hopefully by the end of the 30 days I can at least do a couple of military style push-ups (regular ones).

While I still had my exercise “high” I decided to pop in another dvd before it faded away.

amazon.com

Yes, Ali McGraw-Yoga Mind & Body.  I haven’t done this dvd for a long long time.  I have done yoga poses recently but not a 45 minute routine.  And, as I realized……there is a huge difference!!  It was harder than I remember, but then again I was in better shape last time I attempted it.  Although I had a hard time doing a couple of things, I did finish it and that makes me happy.  My body feels better and I know that I will definitely be doing this routine again….and on a more regular basis.

So, I weighed myself this morning.  I wasn’t going to but thought, why not??  Let’s find out where I’m at for the week.  Well, so far I’ve lost 2 lbs this week.  I was surprised and very very very very happy!!!!  Can you tell I’m happy??!! lol

As for what I’ve eaten today:

breakfast: 2 Pop Tart pastries (woke up late) and Venti sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Latte

lunch: whole grain spaghetti w/ grated parmesan cheese

dinner: 1 turkey burger (2.25 oz), 1 cup grilled eggplant/squash, whole grain spaghetti w/parmesan cheese

dessert: 1 cup Breyer’s Snickers ice cream (yes, I caved)

I am no longer ravenous and only eat when I’m actually feeling hungry.  I’m trying to keep myself very busy so I don’t start grazing–that’s where the problems start!

As for water I have been SO thirsty today.  I drank 4 cups by this afternoon, which is like the old me!!  I have gotten to my 8 cup goal and hopefully I’ll get in another cup before bedtime. Now THIS makes me so very happy!!

Finished reading The Carrie Diaries.  I’ll post a review tomorrow.  I’ll give you a hint……it’s mostly positive.

I started reading another book today….Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin.  So far I like it.  Although I’m only through Chapter 2, a lot has happened and I am already hooked.  It was hard to put it down but I really had a lot to do today.  So, can’t wait to read a little more tonight.  I know I’ll be done with it by tomorrow.  Then I’ll start Something Blue…..yes, I have both books.  I checked them out of the library.  I was on a wait list for both, as well as The Carrie Diaries.  I’m reading them before all of the other books because I know I won’t be able to renew them if I can’t get through them by their due date.

Actually checking books out of the library, rather than buying them, has been a good thing for me (especially when I’ve gotten them after being wait listed) since I know there’s a deadline and if I can’t finish by that date……too damn bad for me!!  I have tons of books all over my house that I’ve purchased over the years waiting and begging to be read.  But since I own them, I know I’ll eventually get around to them……or will I???

Well, the San Francisco Giants baseball game just ended….they lost to the San Diego Padres and I am exhausted!  I really hate Friday night TV because there is nothing on except Say Yes To The Dress on A&E.  So, that’s what I’m going to watch until bedtime.  And, maybe do a little reading….

And, of course, the movie I have been waiting for has finally opened:

I will definitely be seeing it this weekend….probably tomorrow.  And, in the meantime, Oprah is re-airing the Eat Pray Love show with Julia Roberts today.  Well, I missed it this afternoon, but it’s on again in about 20 minutes on a local Sacramento channel and then again at 1:00 am on ABC.  Yes, I already saw it……but I just have to see it again before I go see the movie!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!

Book Reviews

Well, the last book review I did was for Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell.  I have been trying to read Trading Up by Ms Bushnell for over a month, but it’s been very very difficult because, quite frankly, her writing (in my opinion) is so bad!!

I’ve read 3 of her books so far:  Sex and the City, Three Blondes, and Lipstick Jungle.  I haven’t really had good things to say about any of them.  Talk about long winded and boring.  Even worse, her characters are not interesting  so you end up not really caring what happens to them.  How tragic….especially since I love to read and can usually find something good about anything I read!!

Anyway, I really couldn’t “get into” the book, so I set Trading Up aside and tried to read several other books instead.  I read The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it made me a Sophie Kinsella convert.  Better late than never, right?!  It was cute and funny with a bit of a serious side….and a love story.  It’s a great summer read!!

Next I read The Towering World of Jimmy Choo which showed the rise of not only the Jimmy Choo empire but of how the fashion world came to be what it is today.  It was a very interesting read.  I learned a lot about the fashion industry and, honestly, found that I am not a Tamara Mellon fan.

Since I read the book I have scoured the internet looking at all of the designer shoes:  Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, etc.  I found Manolo’s and Louboutin’s that I really really want and are on my wish list….. but, I didn’t find one pair of Choo’s that I “just had to have”, or that I even “kinda” wanted to own.  So, I guess I really don’t get the hoopla over Jimmy Choo’s.  If I’m going to spend that kind of money–I wanna LOVE them!!

So, anyway, the next book I read was Secrets of a Shoe Addict by Beth Harbison.  Kinda appropriate, huh??! lol  I honestly didn’t read the jacket to see what the book was about.  I strictly went by the cover and the title.  Now that I think about it, that’s kind of lame! haha  Yes, I was surprised at the actual subject matter of this book (how 3 women got into debt & how they got together to get those debts paid off), but enjoyed it none-the-less.   It’s not a “fun-loving, summer read” like Sophie Kinsella, but I did like the book.

Next on my list was Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella.  It’s a loooong book but very enjoyable.  I loved both main characters (a dead Great-Aunt and her much alive Great-niece) and the storyline (they are looking for Aunt’s necklace so she can “rest in peace”).  I didn’t want the story to end!  Now, that’s a good book when you don’t want it to end, right?!  I will, at some point, buy this book because I really did love it so much…and will want to read it again.

I just finished Hope In a Jar by Beth Harbison.  Her writing is darker than Sophie Kinsella but much more mature and interesting compared to Candace Bushnell.  I loved her references to ad’s for old products at the beginning of each chapter.  Again, I didn’t really read the jacket to see what the book was about, I picked it solely from the title and cover.  I guess that means Beth Harbison picks great titles and covers!!  It does make you think about class reunions and all the drama from high school.  Excellent book!!

Right now I’m back to reading Trading Up.  It’s still a tough read, but I’m finally about halfway done.  I’m so disappointed because the writing world seems to really like Candace Bushnell but her writing is so incredibly boring and immature….what are these “professionals” thinking??  When I read reader reviews, most of them are harsh!!

She has another book, One Fifth Avenue, that I haven’t checked out (yes I got all of the above from the library) and am afraid to at this point.

I’ve been on a waiting list for The Carrie Diaries since the beginning of June.  It’s finally my turn and I picked up the book from the library yesterday.  Hopefully, I can slog through Trading Up and get it finished by tomorrow so I can get started with the Carrie Diaries  on Sunday.  That’s my plan, anyway.

On top of those, I have a stack of books on my nightstand to keep me busy, 14 in fact!!  Well, I’d better get reading………………

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!!

Tuesday Wrap-Up, RealityTV, & a Book Review

I haven’t been very good at logging my food & everything else this week so far.  Today I haven’t written anything down but it’s pretty easy so here goes:

Sleep:

Last night I slept a total of 7 1/2 hrs, which is a lot for me lately!!  Too bad it wasn’t all at once.  I slept for 6 hrs, was awake for about 45 min’s and then slept again for 1 1/2 hrs.  At least I got over 7 hrs of sleep!  If it’s going to take baby steps to get back on track, then I’ll take it!

Eating:

Breakfast:  1/2 cup Shredded Wheat, 1/2 cup 1% milk, 1/2 cup blueberries

Snack:  Venti sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Latte

Lunch:  1 cup of watermelon, 1 Klondike bar (I know, not good–but I wasn’t really that hungry and ice cream sounded soooo good!)

Snack:  2 Wasa crackers, 1 wedge Laughing Cow cheese

Dinner:  Herb & Gorgonzola Frittata, 1 bottle of Snapple diet Trop-A-Rocka

Dessert:  It’s It (another ice cream sandwich…what can I say??)

Water:

So far I’ve had 4 cups of water and I’m still drinking…..I’m hoping to get to 7-8 cups by bedtime

Exercise:

**crickets**

I only ran once last week but it was a good workout.  The heat has been so bad the past couple of days (Sunday and Monday were both over 100*F.  Today was in the high 90′s.  I really need to start getting up early in the morning to workout otherwise I won’t do it since it’s so hot.  Let’s see what happens tomorrow morning….I really need some motivation!!

As for Tuesday night TV, I am watching the San Francisco Giants get beat by the LA Dodgers.  I’m so NOT happy right now…..I had to change the channel to Hell’s Kitchen.  I watched part of Losing It With Jillian.  Later on I’ll be watching The Hills, The City and Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D List.

Last night I watched Real Housewives of NJ.  What is up with Danielle?  She is the craziest person on TV (well, she’s tied with Kelly from Real Housewives of NY).  But the difference between Danielle and Kelly, I think, is that Kelly is crazy cuckoo and needs to go see a psychiatrist but I don’t think she’s dangerous; whereas Danielle is off-her-rocker, she’s-gonna-snap-at-any-moment, scary crazy.

Both Kelly and Danielle live in their own little worlds, which don’t even come close to reality…..but Danielle is the one I think I would be afraid to be anywhere near at any time!!  Neither one should be on a reality show or anywhere on TV or the public eye.  Hopefully Bravo does what’s best for those two and let’s them out of their contract so they can get the help they desperately need!!

I have been trying to watch The Bachelorette this season since Ali is from the Bay Area.  I’ve never seen this show before this season, but to be honest, I cannot believe people watch it.  Has anyone on the show that matched up ever actually marry each other?? And if so, how many?? It HAS to be a very low number.

This seasons bachelorette, Ali, is a little dim, I think.  She’s very cute and all, but not so bright.  And, as for the guys, I am so NOT impressed!!  I have honestly found this show to be one of the most boring reality shows that I’ve ever seen!!  I’ll see it through to the end, but this is one girl who will not waste another Monday night watching this sham of a show!!  And, I can’t imagine watching the Bachelor where it’s a house full of women.  That would have to be the biggest catfight every single week.  I don’t think I could take it!! haha

I finished reading Lipstick Jungle this weekend.  It started off really slow and took a while for me to warm up to it.  The warm up, however, was lukewarm at best!!  Ms Bushnell has managed to have her characters appear in 3 books:  Four Blondes, Trading Up (which I’m still trying to read) and Lipstick Jungle.  What’s the matter, couldn’t she come up with any original characters??

If the characters were really interesting, then it would be okay.  However, they were cliched Hollywood or wealthy types and I was very disappointed to see them rehashed!!

After reading 3 Candace Bushnell books (Sex & The City, Four Blondes, & Lipstick Jungle), I find her writing sub-par and amateurish at best.  I’m so disappointed considering all of the hype around her and the fact that I am a HUGE Sex & The City TV show and movie fan.  But then, she didn’t write any of those, now, did she??  Thank goodness for that!!

After I finish reading Trading Up (so far just as boring as the others with forgettable characters) I will read The Carrie Diaries.  Luckily I didn’t buy any of these books, but  checked them out of the library.  I’m on a long list for the Carrie Diaries at the local library and it should be my turn in about a month or so…..

I started reading The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella last night.  It’s okay so far but at least it’s more entertaining than what I’ve been reading!!

Reality TV and Reading

I haven’t been reading much the last few days…..I was hoping to be done with Trading Up by now.  Actually I really wasn’t in the mood to read it (it wasn’t holding my interest) so I switched over to Lipstick Jungle.  It’s okay so far, I’m about half done with it.  I never did see the short-lived series so I don’t have anything to compare it to, which is a good thing.

As for TV shows:  So You Think You Can Dance has been a snore so far.  Actually that’s not really fair since I haven’t really been watching it much, so I’ll re-phrase and say that what I’ve seen so far isn’t that inspiring.

I love Bethenny Getting Married?.  It’s a fun reality show compared to all of the Real Housewives drama.  But, truth be told, I am a huge Bethenny fan!!

I’m loving Top Chef so far!!  But I haven’t found a season or episode of this series that I haven’t liked.  I watch any season/episode Bravo re-airs.  I’m not liking Angelo so far, but I’m really liking Kenny!

My favorite on Real Housewives of New Jersey has now left the show so I’m not a happy girl.  Dina Manzo always tried to rise above the fracas and not be a diva.  I hope she comes back.  I’ve come to like Caroline, Jacqueline is okay (although I really dislike her daughter…can you say brat?!), Teresa is just too over the top for me (can any one person be any more gaudy in their taste…ugh!), and then there’s Danielle.  I have no words.  She (along with her white trash friends) need to go far away from this show.  And, I never ever want to see any of them on, or near, a stripper pole again.  Especially Kim G and her white g-string undies.  That was just too gross for words!!!  Luckily, it seemed that Danielle wasn’t in this weeks episode much, so I’m hoping her storyline gets reduced drastically!

I’m really liking Losing It with Jillian.  Anything that has to do with Biggest Loser, Jillian Michael’s or Bob Harper I will watch.  It’s a great show which focuses on one family a week.  With Jillian, Bob and the Biggest Loser leading the way, maybe this country can and will overcome the obesity problem that affects too many people!!!

I’m loving The Hills and The City.  I don’t want The Hills to end.  And the best part……we haven’t had to see Speidi at all! I have not missed them–not even a little.  Their storyline was tired a long time ago when they moved in together.  So glad they are gone.  And, MTV, hopefully you won’t be bringing them back.

Since I watched The Hills/The City, I missed Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List this week.  Usually I plan my TV watching better.  It was the beauty pageant episode.  I really  have to see that!! haha

I’m loving The Next Food Network Star this season.  I have a couple of favorites and feel like the worst of the cooks have gone home.  Well, they still have a few left but the very worst are gone.  Buh-bye……..And, I really like how they added Giada D as a mentor.  She is my favorite Celebrity chef on the Food Network.

Work of Art (on Bravo) is another new reality show I”m watching.  It’s just okay so far.  I love art and they are pretty talented, but the show kind of drags…..same old Bravo formula.  Unfortunately, sometimes it just doesn’t translate.  But I will still watch til the end.

Oh, I have a new reality show obsession:  Cupcake Wars.  Has anyone else seen this show on the Food Network?!  I truly am obsessed and the show makes me want to run to my kitchen and make cupcakes.

And that leaves one other reality show that hasn’t started yet but, like millions of others, I eagerly anticipate it’s premiere every summer:  Big Brother.  I started watching this show during season 7 All-Stars (summer of 2006).  I actually know one of the contestants:  Danielle Reyes, who was originally on season 3 (which I never saw).

I feel like I’m forgetting a show, but I’m exhausted right now and can no longer think straight.  So it’s off to bed for me.  Good night!!

A time to reflect

Another month has passed.  It’s unbelievable to me that half of 2010 is almost over! With the start of a new month I was thinking about what I have (and have not) accomplished so far this year.

The highlight for me has been running in my first 5K last month.  This is something I’ve wanted to do for years but kept putting off until now!  It was an incredible experience and I cannot wait to run another race.  I was planning on running in another 5K this upcoming Saturday, but due to lack of funds I have had to forgo any extracurricular activities until things change.  So, I will continue to train and when the money situation changes I will be ready for  my next race!!

Another accomplishment is spring cleaning.  I have been able to go through each room, clean it thoroughly, and dump a lot of stuff!!  I have reorganized and cleaned all of the nooks & crannies that I normally don’t have time for.  It is a great feeling!

I have been able to read.  One of my favorite pastimes has always been reading and throughout my life I have always made time for this hobby.  However, in the past few years I haven’t had time to read much of anything due to work.   So, I am playing catch-up.  Besides the stack of books at home calling my name, the library has become my second home.

I have started to blog.  This is all still new to me…I’ve only been doing it for a month.  I’m not used to putting myself out there, so this is truly a learning experience that anyone reading my posts can see.  So far I am enjoying the whole process and will get the hang of it soon.

I have a re-found love of cooking.  I have always been fascinated with cooking and enjoyed it growing up.  When I was in college I met my now ex-husband, who is a chef, so as an adult I never had to cook.  No, he rarely cooked at home but either he would bring something home from the restaurant or we would just go out.  The few times I tried to cook during our many years of marriage would be ridiculed so I finally just gave up.

But, thanks to Suzanne Somers and her books, I am enjoying the whole cooking process as well as understanding food.

One of  my biggest failings this year is not losing weight.  I started exercising again this year and have tried changed my eating habits but so far I am only down to 168 lbs (as of this morning).  It’s difficult to do this alone without any support, and I have to be realistic…I am alone in this.  My friends and family have not been supportive.  They say they are…but in practice, uh, not so much.

They all say they need to exercise, but when I try to engage them…they are “too busy” & want me to blow off my workouts to hang with them.  And, when it comes to eating my family and friends eat the worst possible foods and in massive proportions.  Honestly, it makes my life easier to just be by myself for now.

There are many other things I haven’t yet accomplished this year but that is because of one thing I haven’t been able, and need, to accomplish….getting a job.  I know many many people/friends who are unemployed like myself.  A few of them have recently gotten jobs so I know things are starting to look up.  Hopefully it’s just a matter of time before, I too, am an employed member of society again!!

So…..here’s to the start of a new month.  I hope it’s successful for us all……..