Holiday

  By Ellen | February 18, 2012 - 2:42 PM | vacation
2 Comments

I will be unplugged and on vacation until February 27th. I’m using this static page as an opportunity to remind you that for those who currently use or are looking for Google Friend Connect, that option will no longer be available as of March 1st and as you can tell, I’ve already removed it from my homepage. I am hoping that Google Reader continues to update my blog for those of you who use it, but since I am on WordPress and not Blogger (who is apparently not affected by these changes) we’ll have to wait until March 1st comes to see if any further bugs need fixing.

In the meantime, here is a reminder of other ways to connect with me so I don’t lose touch with any of you:

*Sign up for email. Located on my sidebar.

*Get updates via Twitter – located at the top right-hand side of my homepage.

*RSS Feed – located next to the Twitter icon.

*And new: Pinterest. For those of you who don’t know much about Pinterest, it’s like looking at a visual extension of my blog. You know those posts that we bloggers do sometimes when we are asked to list random things about ourselves? Well, I look at Pinterest like that. From there, through visual images, you can view random things about me: my artwork, my recipes that link back to this blog, personal photos, favorite things, etc. You do NOT have to follow me to see my pin boards; only if you want to interact with me from there will you have to request an invite.  If YOU happen to be on Pinterest, please let me know so that I can follow you. 

Have a great week, everyone.  I will miss connecting with you but plan on returning with a fresh perspective and a calmer mind – both of which will make my blog better, for me and for you. 

XO,

~Ellen

Thirty-Two (Plus Ten)

  By Ellen | February 16, 2012 - 10:21 AM | Diary-Style
39 Comments

So, tomorrow is my birthday.  I’m happy to report that I will be turning 32 (um, plus 10).  Ah, the thirties.  How grand they were, all way back when…..  Sigh. 

If you’ve been reading my blog long enough then you already know that I have bad mojo when it comes to my birthday. Cursed. Black Cloud. Hexed. Whatever you want to call it, February 17th is generally my Day of Doom (looks a lot more menacing in bold lettering, doesn’t it?)  While last year’s post concentrated on how cursed my birthdays have always been, I have made marked progress in my way of thinking since then.

Have you ever watched a 3 year old trying to fit a round peg into a square hole? The frustration and confusion as to why it isn’t working gets so overwhelming that eventually, she might just freak out and chuck the whole toy across the room. Or maybe, she just loses interest and decides to play with something completely different instead. This big girl has decided to do the latter. I’m doing things different; I’m celebrating by not really celebrating. Instead, I’m giving the gift of a trip out of town to my husband who needs a warmer place to nurse his back and his Seasonal Affective Disorder.  Oh, I’m going too.  For supervision purposes, of course.  lol

If this works out as well as I hope it will, we may just do this every year.  I like the idea of no pressure. No hype. No letdown. No worries. 

 

Believe it or not, I have already received a wonderful gift for my birthday this year – no worms!! 

No, I haven’t been drinking.   Or smoking anything. 

If you remember a few weeks ago, I posted that my sweet dog Emmie (now’s a good time to insert her face, I think)………

…………….had acquired hookworm.  While she was being treated with her first round of medication, my vet cautiously mentioned to me that because I was in such close contact with her while she was ill, there was a slight possibility that I may contract the parasite. 

Uh, say that again? 

When my husband and I returned home, we looked on the calendar and worked a little math in our heads.  Then I turned to him, eyes wide and said, ‘You realize when the incubation period is over, don’t you?’  He just stared at me.   ‘If I contract it, it will be right around my birthday!’ I laughed and I laughed. 

I half expected him to slowly back away from me, his fingers making the sign of the cross. ‘Oh, that would be over the top!’  I said, getting a little bit more hysterical.  ‘Hookworm on my birthday!’  This would definitely put all of my previous birthday disasters to shame.

I happened to mention this to Munchberry after my visit with the vet.  For weeks now, she’s been emailing me every so often with the question: ‘Any sign of worms, yet?’  Gotta love that gal. 

Well, I am happy to report that unless something happens within the next 24 hours or so, I will have survived my 42nd birthday free from any bloodsucking parasites.  LOL

(I hope I didn’t just jinx myself.)

 

I’ll see you back here on Saturday for a quick post before we leave. 

Celebrate for me by doing something good for yourself. 

XO,

~Ellen

A Love Letter

  By Ellen | February 14, 2012 - 9:14 AM | Anything Goes
14 Comments

I love Hobby Lobby.  I could shop there all day long.

I love Paul Rudd.

I get a little buzzy kind of high when I find a great bargain.

I love chocolate-filled (fill-in-the-blank).

I love watching movies that make me laugh out loud.

I get excited when I find a great piece of furniture that’s been discarded by the side of the road.

I love how strong I feel when I leave a Yoga class.

After eleven years, I’m still crazy about my husband. 

I  love my dogs, even though they’re both breathing inches from my face right now. 

I am a sucker for a romantic gesture. 

and today…..

I love the fact that I have such intelligent, caring and thoughtful readers.

I love your comments.

I appreciate every word you write.

I’m thankful for your advice, your tips and your stories. 

I feel grateful when you take the time out of your busy day to let me know you read my posts. 

So,

To you – my readers….

I am thankful for You. 

Happy Valentines Day. 

XOXO,

~Ellen

 

Tea for Me. And maybe for you!

  By Ellen | February 13, 2012 - 8:24 AM | Food
28 Comments

I’ve posted before about how much I love tea, but I don’t think I’ve ever given you an inside look at my love for tea.  If you’re not a tea drinker keep reading anyway, because you may just change your mind after this post.  (I know, I’m being terribly sure of myself, aren’t I?)

I started drinking tea after realizing that coffee made my anxiety worse.  First I switched over to decaf coffee, but it just wasn’t the same.  I love flavored coffee and there weren’t enough flavors to keep me interested.  I mean, one can only drink so much Vanilla-flavored decaf, am I right?  Plus, I felt like I was wasting calories when drinking coffee.  A good cup can be made a hundred different ways, and I liked mine with flavored creamers – count ‘em, three of those little tubs of heaven.  At thirty calories a splash, that was 90 calories I was putting in my 12 oz. cup.  I tried switching to skim milk and a sugar substitute, but I could never get used to the taste no matter how much I tried. 

Then one day while shopping in Indianapolis I came across a loose leaf tea shop.  The scent of clove and berries brought me in.  Behind the counter were rows upon rows of huge tea tins with names like Amandine Rose and Toasted Nut Oolong.  I pointed to a tin and the woman behind the counter pulled it out, flipped it upside down, then right-side up again.  Then, she lifted the lid and fanned the fragrance towards me.  The aroma was intoxicating.  I had no idea how to use loose leaf tea but I did know one thing: no teabag I ever bought smelled like that.  After sampling some freshly steeped tea, I was hooked.

 

A lot of people are intimidated by loose leaf tea.  Believe me, I was too.   I’ve been mixing my own blends for a couple of years now, and I still don’t consider myself an expert.  I just know what I like; plus, it’s fun to mix different flavors.  Anyway, today I thought you might like to follow my little morning ritual. 

 

This is where I keep my loose teas.

 

Each tea tin is large enough to hold 2 oz. of tea and keeps the air out, which is important.  Tea can stay fresh for up to a year when it is properly sealed.  Plus, these tins just look cute, don’t they? 

 

In the beginning I fumbled with my share of tea strainers, tea balls and the like and they all seemed like too much work.  Then, I found this:

Seriously, the best invention for tea lovers – ever.  This makes brewing tea a snap.  I bought mine at Teavana, but there are other places that sell similar designs as well.  This is what you do:  First, scoop out a teaspoon of leaves per 8 oz. cup of tea.  Here, you can mix flavors together and make a blend that is completely unique to you.  I generally use a heaping spoonful because I like my tea a big stronger.  The tea I’m using below is called Grenada and it’s by Lupicia Tea.

 

Next, you put the leaves into the tea maker. 

 

Then, you fill the chamber with water. 

 

Now, here is where most people begin to get a bit intimidated.  There are basic rules to consider when steeping tea.  Water temperature and how long you steep your tea will affect how it tastes.  For example, boiling water is too hot for white and green teas and will make them taste bitter because their leaves are more delicate and are apt to burn.  Also, if you let the leaves sit in water for too long, your tea can end up tasting bitter.  There are tea charts that will show you the appropriate water temperature to steep time to leaf-type ratio but frankly, if I had looked at a chart like that beforehand, I might have reconsidered the whole idea altogether.   I learned how to steep through trial and error.  I figured, what’s the worst thing that can happen?  I’ve brewed plenty of coffee that tasted too bitter, too weak, too strong, and I didn’t let that stop me!  It didn’t take long at all to learn how hot I needed my water; and even though I used a timer at first, now I know when I’ve steeped my leaves long enough by looking at the color of the water. 

Okay, back to our tea maker.  Here is the ingenious part about this little contraption.  When you’re done steeping your tea, you just place it on top of your favorite mug and……

….it strains the tea into your mug while leaving the tea leaves in the tea maker.  You’re left with a perfect cup of tea (which, for me happens to be with a bit of fat-free Half&Half and some sweetener). 

Unlike teabags, most loose leaf teas can be steeped more than once without losing flavor.  If you want to steep another cup later in the day, simply put your tea maker – leaves and all, into the refrigerator.  Then, just pull it out when you’re ready.  When you’re done, simply discard your leaves into the trash, rinse with water and sit out to dry. 

What’s your must-have beverage in the AM?  Are you a tea drinker or do you firmly stand behind Team Coffee?  

Peanut Butter substitutes, why do you taunt me, so?

  By Ellen | February 10, 2012 - 1:11 PM | Food
32 Comments

I’m getting better.  I REALLY am.  I have not shared this with you because I don’t want to jinx myself, but I have been able to keep REAL peanut butter in this house for a normal length of time.  And, I have been able to eat one serving at a time without feeling tempted to go back for more. 

Still.  That calorie-count is dreadful to me.  Whenever I eat a serving, my days of Weight Watchers come back to me and I get visions of all the other things I could be eating for the same amount of calories.  I’m sure you’ve seen magazine photos, with headlines that read: 

You could eat THIS: (showing a donut and a latte)

Or, you could eat all of THIS: (showing mounds of carrot sticks, a big salad with diced chicken, black coffee and pudding cup.)

Partly out of habit, and partly because of the remarkable progress that’s been made in the last 10 years on low calorie foods, I keep searching for an alternative to peanut butter.  Something that tastes like it, but doesn’t have all the calories within it.

I’ve done a post on this before.  I’ve bought Better N’ Peanut Butter, Fitnutz, and PB2.  I’ve conducted side-by-side comparisons.  Nothing, though – nothing disappointed me more than my most recent purchase:

Now, I take full responsibility for this.  What should have tipped me off was the nutrition label on the back:

Just in case you can’t read it:  Zero calories per 1/4 cup serving.  ZERO!  The number one ingredient is purified water, followed by vegetable fiber.  No wonder it had sort of a…gelatinous texture to it.  And, dare I say – a kind of ‘tangy’ aftertaste?  Maybe that part was just me.  I was pretty messed up by my second spoonful, I can’t really say for sure. 

I hate to badmouth any company.  Really.  There are some people who have no choice but to eat alternatives to the foods they love, but I have never found anything from Walden Farms that I found remotely satisfying.  Have you?  I’d love to know if you find something enjoyable from this brand. 

Luckily, my shopping excursion for the day wasn’t totally lost.  I did have a MAJOR peanut butter find that knocked my socks off:

 

This cereal is absolutely delicious.  I wouldn’t dare ruin it with milk, either.  Pouring myself a serving, which is 3/4 of a cupful and munching on a single O at a time is incredibly satisfying.  Tastes just like peanut butter.  Right now I’m imagining a pie crust made solely from this cereal.  I read somewhere that you can substitute a little milk for butter (so the crust will hold together) and no one would be the wiser.  Gotta try that sometime.  Anyway, back to reality – here’s the stats:

So, my alternative-to-peanut-butter quest was not a complete Fail.  Who would have thought that Cheerios could save the day? 

Have you found any new products recently that have knocked your socks off? 

Countdown to the End of Google Friend Connect

  By Ellen | February 8, 2012 - 8:01 PM | Blogging
27 Comments

 

To my wonderful, supportive Google Friend Connect Followers: 

Were you aware that Google Friend Connect is eliminating their services for all non-Blogger blogs? As of March 1st, the box to the right that displays those who follow my blog will disappear, and so will my connection with all of those followers. 

So, what does this mean? 

Well, there are other sites out there that allow a similar service, like Linky Followers and BlogLovin’ and of course there is still the option to keep up with my posts through email subscription and RSS feed.  But before I decided what to do, I thought I’d ask all of my readers:  how do you read this blog?

  • Do you visit at random, checking to see if there’s been an update when you think about it?
  • Do you follow in a reader (like Google Reader?)
  • Do you subscribe via email or RSS feed? 
  • Do you link over from another blogger’s website? 
  • Do you receive notices of new posts through Twitter?

 

Of course, Google would like to see those of us losing their service move over to Google+, which has a similar feel to Facebook.   I’m upset at the thought of losing my followers, but do not want to make a decision for an alternative solution without your input.  To my blogger friends who are not blogging through Blogger – what are you doing to prepare for Google Friend Connect’s demise? 

Thank you for your thoughts on this!

~Ellen

The S Word

  By Ellen | February 6, 2012 - 9:50 AM | Diary-Style
41 Comments

 

 

Surgery.

 

Now, there’s a word that commands attention, doesn’t it?  But there can be some humor in it, too. 

The last time I had surgery for my endometriosis, my gynecologist’s nurse called a few days before and asked if I wanted a videotape of the surgery.  ‘You mean, with me lying there?’ 

‘No,’ she said, laughing.  ‘The doctor uses a telescopic rod lens that’s attached to a very small video camera. The images will be displayed onto a television which can be recorded.  If you’d like, you can have a copy, showing exactly what he did during surgery.’ 

‘Oh!’ I said.  (Of course that would make more sense, wouldn’t it?)   ‘A copy would be great. Thank you.’

‘Okay, then,’ she said.  ‘You will need to bring a blank videotape to the hospital on the day of your surgery. Did you have any other questions?’ 

I told her I’d heard that nausea was a side effect from the anesthesia, and asked if that were true. 

‘Some people do become nauseated after they wake up,’ she said.  ‘But what I’ve found that works wonders is having an empty bowel before surgery.  If you are worried about nausea, I recommend that you buy a Fleet Enema and use it the day before surgery.  That will safeguard against any nausea.’ 

Um…an ene-wha???

I thanked her for the advice, she wished me good luck and I hung up the phone.  I wondered if it were really necessary to give myself an enema.  But then, the more I thought about it, the more I realized this: at least I’d be in charge of the enema; heaving my guts out post-op…not so much.  I decided to be a big girl about it and just do it. 

Fast-forward to 24 hours before surgery.  I went into my local pharmacy where there were two clerks working the check-out.  One of the workers I did not care for.  She had a habit of commenting on everything she rang up.   If you bought gum, she not only announced how much it was but also wanted to know if it tasted good or not.  If you bought milk, she announced the price and then commented on the fact that it was fat-free instead of 2%.  I’m sure she was probably just trying to make conversation with her customers but sometimes I couldn’t help but feel like my choice of products was on trial or something. 

I walked over to Isle 9 where the household goods were.  Videotape – check. 

Then I quickly moved through the isle that was set aside for those things no one likes to be seen with at the store: suppositories, hemmorrhoidal cream, diarrhea medication.  I don’t know anyone who casually browses that section of the store, and I was no exception.  I scanned around for the enemas, grabbed my Fleet and headed to the checkout. 

The line was long.  I, fortunately, was deep in thought ticking off the boxes from the checklist in my head; I wanted to make sure that everything was in order before my surgery.  When I finally got up to the cash registers wouldn’t you know, the overly chatty employee was the one that happened to be free. 

I set my things on the counter and immediately started reaching into my bag to grab my wallet.  As I’m rooting around in my purse, I hear her say, ‘One videotape: $2.99.  This is a good brand.  The recording comes out crystal clear.’   -Beep-  went the scanner.

‘…and one Fleet Enema.   These are…..’  she started to comment, then stopped.  I looked up at her realizing at the same time that she did, what two items I’d just bought together, and then noticed the several people behind me, watching.  I could tell we were all trying to process what was happening.

My thoughts: Wait.  You don’t think I’m going to use these items at the same time, do you?

Clerk’s obvious thoughts:  Hold on here….is this freak going to give herself an enema – and record it? 

I must have turned three shades of red as I watched her scan that box with very tight lips and place it into the bag with the videotape.  At least she didn’t make any more comments.  I thought it was best to just keep my mouth shut.  I paid for my pervert items and left the store as fast as my legs could carry me.    Do you know, the next time I saw that cashier, I noticed that she didn’t make nearly as many comments about the items she rang up. 

 

It’s been over two years since anyone in my house has had surgery.  Within the next month however, both my husband and I will be having surgical consultations. 

My husband’s back went out.  Again.  An MRI has revealed three bulging discs and he is currently on restrictive duty at work.  He has an appointment with a spine surgeon this week.

I have an appointment early next month to discuss a hysterectomy. I’ve avoided this discussion with various doctors for over 20 years, but the past two weeks has surely been a sign that it’s time.  I am finally waving my white flag of surrender.

My blog is very important to me and it brings me a great deal of joy, connecting with each of you.  I have no plans whatsoever to stop blogging; however, my posts may be less reliable for the next few weeks.  What this means is that I will be posting once or twice a week instead of my usual three times a week.  To those of you who have blogs, commenting may be a bit less frequent as well but I will be reading as usual.  

Thanks for your continued love, support and patience. 

XO,

~Ellen

To Whom It May Concern

  By Ellen | February 2, 2012 - 9:07 PM | overeating
25 Comments

February 2nd. 2012

Dear Indulgence Pastry Shop and Café,

I am writing to let you know the effect your bakery has had on me over the past few weeks.  You are very conveniently located right across the street from where I practice yoga, and your bright red sign catches my eye while driving to work as well. I have enjoyed every minute of walking through your front doors while the scent of cinnamon, yeast and chocolate overwhelm my senses.  Exiting your store however, has left me silently comparing myself to a recovering alcoholic walking into a local bar.

I was first introduced to your establishment when my employer was gifted a box of your oatmeal raisin cookies.  She loved them so much, she recently began asking me to drive to your store so that I can pick up some of those ‘wonderfully crunchy on the outside yet chewy on the inside bundles of love’.  Giving her order to one of your staff members is easy.  The girls are always pleasant.  However, I have issues when I am asked the question that always follows:  ‘Will there be anything else?’  That is when the proverbial cookie begins to crumble. 

Lately, I have been unable to say, ‘No thank you, that will be all.’  Instead, my eyes fixate on the soft and buttery sugar cookies that look like they’ve just stepped out of Martha Stewart’s kitchen.  They are always in the window casing, sitting pretty with pale yellow, blue and pink icings just waiting for me to call their name.  My eyes then shift to the large white boxes of Day Old Breakfast Sweets that never taste like their a day old; they simply taste like More.  When I ask to peek inside one of the boxes (which has a sign marked $6.95 per box) I gaze upon a loaf of Monkey Bread drizzled with a cinnamon sugar glaze, 2 blueberry muffins, 2 blackberry Danish, and three chocolate cream cheese croissants. 

I am ashamed to admit it, but the box came home with me.  I knew better.  I know better.  But I talked myself into believing that I had a plan: I would simply divide each pastry in half, then into separate baggies and put them all into the freezer which happens to be inconveniently located in my garage.  I could then indulge myself a bit at a time like a normal person.  That didn’t happen, however.  I found myself walking to and from the freezer so often I think I wore a path in the floor. Before long my stash had vanished, leaving me feeling embarrassed, a bit humiliated, and a lot heavier than I was just 3 weeks ago.  I should have stopped as soon as I began hiding your goods so that my husband couldn’t see what I was doing to myself.  Instead, I went back to your café for more.

Being an emotional eater with stress being my biggest trigger, the past few weeks have brought on a massive nutritional breakdown.  I went completely out- of-control and used your desserts as a form of mind-numbing medication.  Mr. Baker, I love your pastry shop and café.  Too much.  Which is why I can no longer afford to give you my business.  In my years of maintenance I’ve managed to say no to countless desserts and second helpings literally hundreds of times.  I’ve gained the knowledge of what it means to exercise as much as I consume so that I can maintain my weight.  But sadly, I haven’t been doing that lately.  Instead, I’ve been feeding my anxiety with your decadent foods which could quickly ruin all my years of hard work. 

No worries to you Mr. Baker; you’ll never lay eyes upon this letter.  I am instead writing it for myself because I have a certain responsibility to fight for my body and my health, even though I’ve been doing a very good job at ignoring that.  Secrets can be dangerous things, which is why I’m posting this letter on my blog.  Now that my secret is open to all who read it, I can no longer pretend that things are fine when clearly, they are not. 

Keep doing what you do, Mr. Baker. Keep serving to those who can sit back satisfied after one cookie and a cup of coffee. I, on the other hand will be marking a red X on my calendar at day’s end, serving as my visual reminder that I have survived my second day of being back in control. Tomorrow when my head is clearer still, I hope to be the slightest bit stronger than I am today, learn something from my recent bender, and once again, work on finding other ways to calm my nerves. 

Sincerely,

Ellen, a fat girl wearing thin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Three bloggers were at work this past week, helping me in ways they don’t even realize. It was because of these three that I didn’t head back to that damnable bakery for another box of day-olds. 

The first: on January 27th I told someone what I was doing.  Munchberry (for better or for worse) happened to be on the receiving end of my confession.  Her response, being both kind yet firm, was exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. 

Then, on January 30th  I came across Karen’s blog, where the following words hit me square on top of the head. I have since copied them so that I can refer back to them:

  • The words you choose create your reality.
  • You only need enough guilt to prevent you from torturing and killing other people.
  • Dieting is a Band-Aid for a deep wound.
  • Change occurs in the moment.
  • Abusing food cuts our heads off from our bodies.
  • Criticism (from others or from oneself) never motivates.
  • It’s not the food that hurts you, it’s the self-loathing.
  • If you keep saying, “I can’t eat ________” or “If I eat ________, I’ll never stop” or “I can’t have ________ in the house or I’ll eat it all” those things will be true.
  • Once you label yourself, you look for experiences that will prove it.
  • In order to protect ourselves from outside criticism, we start doing it to ourselves.

Finally, on January 31st I read this post, written by Cammy. It served as my reminder that I will never be perfect, and allowed me the freedom to write today’s ‘letter’ without shame.   I will always have failures both big and small, but thanks to Cammy’s post I am learning that I can Fail Better. 

Final Farewell to The Hate-Loss Challenge

  By Ellen | January 31, 2012 - 9:43 AM | Hate-Loss Challenge 2012
14 Comments

Self Reflection is one of the hardest things to do because we’re forced to stop and take a look at who we really are, both inside and out. We spent the month of January staring down our reflections and standing up for ourselves.  I am proud of what we’ve accomplished here this month and I hope you think so, too. 

Before we officially retire our HL Challenge badge for the year, I’d like to say:

….thanks to those who provided me with feedback (positive and negative) on what you liked and didn’t like about the Challenge.   Your comments will help shape next year’s challenge and make it even better. 

….congratulations to those of you who completed exercises that were especially difficult.

Just a few of the things that participants accomplished this month:

  • you committed yourself to setting dates that you’ve been avoiding.  One of you decided it was time for a major move to another state. 
  • you posted a vlog.
  • you treated yourselves to some very deserving things like new nail polish and massages. 
  • you performed random acts of kindness from helping your elderly neighbors to assisting strangers in picking out stationary, to driving 4 hours round trip in order to help out a friend in need. 
  • You realized that there is no perfect moment. You decided it was time for a long overdue portrait with a photographer; you let go of your long locks and gave yourself a short (and beautiful) new haircut.
  • you planted and nurtured a small, inner seed that grew every time you said to yourself, I am beautiful; I am worthy; I am remarkable.
  • you conquered some inner demons, let go of some bad memories and forgave yourself for past mistakes.  
  • you committed yourself to doing a challenge – and you despise challenges!

 

There is so much more I could write, but really, the main thing I want remembered is this: I hope you all move into the month of February – this month of love – respecting, appreciating and admiring yourselves half as much as I do you. 

Be proud of yourselves….

bonafideblog

 

The comments section today will be left WIDE open for suggestions, questions, reactions, whatever you want to say about this Challenge.    Now is your time to take the platform and give me feedback on where we succeeded as well as where we dropped the ball. 

Would you like to see this challenge become a yearly event? 

Were the exercises too difficult?  Too easy? Too personal?  Right on target?

What did you like most about this Challenge?  What did you like least? 

Did you follow through with the daily affirmations?  Should we have dedicated more time to that topic or was it just enough? 

 

Any and all feedback will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for being part of a great month here on my blog.  I couldn’t have done it without you Smile

 

XO,

~Ellen

TAG! I’m Late…

  By Ellen | January 30, 2012 - 11:28 AM | Anything Goes
23 Comments

My dear friend Karen over at Waisting Time tagged me in what seems like many, many moons ago.   She had some very good questions that I thought shouldn’t go unanswered – I mean, she partly had me in mind (along with the other 10 bloggers she tagged) when thinking of these questions so, it’s only fair that I should answer them, regardless of how late I am in the process, right?

Rules: 

Write eleven random things about myself.  I can do that.

Answer the eleven questions that Karen asked me.  I can do that, too.

Tag eleven others and come up with eleven new questions for them to answer.  Doing that will be very difficult since many of the blogs I read have already been tagged.  Instead, I’ve come up with something slightly different thanks to an idea that Michele had on her blog when she was tagged. 

Okay, here we go: 

Karen’s Questions:

What is the most memorable meal you ever ate?   September, 2001 at a castle called Chateau Neercanne, which is located on the Belgian border.  The meal served in the massive dining room was unbelievable, but the most memorable meal I had was when we were taken to the wine caves beforehand and served cocktails and appetizers.  There was no electricity down there.  Only candlelight.  It’s still one of those things that I have to remind myself, ‘I did that!’   Here’s a photo:

 

What TV show(s) are you embarrassed to admit you watch?  I rarely watch TV.  Out of the shows I do watch, none are particularly embarrassing.  I suppose if I had to pick the most embarrassing show I’ve ever watched, it would be the Dukes of Hazzard.  And I never missed an episode of the Love Boat (I had a crush on Gopher). Wow.  That IS embarrassing. 

Would you rather hire a trainer, chef, house cleaner, or personal shopper?  Easy question: a chef.  I am not the greatest cook.  I tend to make the same things over and over again, and by the time I get home from work I have no desire to cook. If I had a personal chef, I’d probably have no difficulty staying at my goal weight because I’d have him/her prepare all healthy, good-for-me foods. 

Share a favorite childhood memory.  Since my grandmother just passed away, I’ve been thinking a lot about my time with her as a child.  I really enjoyed helping her harvest her vegetables from the garden and helping to prepare them for that night’s supper.  It was so cool to see exactly where my food came from. 

What destination would you love to visit?  Hawaii is my number one destination, followed closely by Alaska.  Third would be Ireland. 

What’s one food you think you don’t like but you’ve never actually tried?  Raw Oysters.  The whole slimy aspect of them just sounds awful to me.

What modern technology that you didn’t grow up with could you now not live without?  My IPhone, hands down. 

List the 5 websites you visit most often. I am going to exclude blogs here, even though they are the sites I most visit.  Actual websites that I frequent would be:  Groupon, Amazon for shopping, my Yahoo Home Page for news and Tripadvisor for the goods on travel. 

Who would you like to meet (living, dead, fictional character, blogger, anyone…)?  I’ve always, always wished I could have met and spent time with Charles Schulz while he was still drawing Peanuts.  That would have been a dream come true.  Also, to have been able to stand behind Vincent Van Gogh and Da Vinci and watch them work would have been amazing. 

What’s your favorite spot in your house and why?    My favorite spot at my house is actually on my deck.  When the weather is warm, I’m out there from the time I get home from work until it gets dark outside. 

How long on average does it take you to write a blog post? At the very least, one hour.   The longest post I’ve ever written took well over 3 hours and several drafts to finish. 

Eleven Random things about me:

1.  Many times when I’m singing to myself I pick up the harmony part of a song and will sing that.  Not really an interesting random thing about me, except that I can’t carry a tune even when I hum, so imagine what it sounds like when someone who can’t sing anyway, sings the harmony part.  Ouch…the ears!

2.  One of my pet peeves is having dirty dishes laying out on the countertop or in the sink.  Every dish, utensil and glass has to be in the dishwasher when dinner is over or I can’t relax till it’s done. 

3.  My hair has three personalities:  my bangs are straight as an arrow, the sides of my hair are barely wavy, and from behind the ears to the back of my head, my hair is really curly. 

4.  I have been secretly making greeting cards, using prints of my artwork and best photography.  My hope is to sell them somewhere on my blog when I figure out the business end of the whole thing.

5.   I’ve been reading aloud to my employer for over 10 years.  Within the past 3 or so, I’ve developed the ability to read to her while concentrating on something completely different.  I do this when the book is especially boring. 

6.  My absolute favorite fashion tip EVER is this:  when you don’t feel like messing with your hair in the morning, put on a hat that matches your outfit and wear it all day.  I used to think I looked horrible in hats and never wore one until just a few years ago.  Turns out I was just trying on the wrong styles.  Now I have like, 10 hats and I wear one at least once a week.  My hair could look like a rat’s nest under there and no one would be the wiser.  Shhhh. 

7.  They say that when you turn 40, your eyes begin changing pretty rapidly, then will level off for a while.  I have found this to be completely and utterly true.  In less than a week I will be going to the eye doctor to have my yearly check-up.  I’m trying to get comfortable with the word: Bifocals.  

8.  I have heard from SO many people about the benefits of a Neti Pot (one of those small pots that resembles a teapot that one uses to run a salt and water saline solution into their noses to clean out the sinuses).  I cannot bring myself to use one and won’t even consider it because I am too chicken.  It reminds me too much of the feeling of drowning.  My husband recently read a news article to me from CNN the other day about two people dying from using unsterile water in their Neti pots.  The water had deadly amoeba in it which attacked the brain.  What I learned from this:  ANOTHER fear to add to my list.  What you normal people should remember:  use sterile water when using a Neti pot.

9.   What I secretly wanted for Christmas but didn’t get:  a GIANT (and I mean HUGE) plush Snoopy that Hallmark had during the holidays. He was $150 (yikes!)   When I picked him up I couldn’t wrap my arms around his whole body.  Oh, did I want to bring him home, but I wouldn’t have had anywhere to put him.  I hope whoever got him is treating him as well as I would have.  lol

10.  I have the same nightmare several times a year.  In my dream I see a tornado coming right towards me.  There are always people around me, but they always seem to be oblivious to the fact that they are in danger.  I spend all my time trying to convince everyone to get to safety, but no one listens. 

11.  I have an addictive relationship with flavored teas.  Specifically, flavored black teas.  More specifically, dessert-flavored black teas.  My current favorite is called Cookie and it tastes just like fresh baked caramel cookies.  With a splash of milk it is heavenly.

 

Instead of choosing eleven blogs to tag, I’m going to post a few random questions of my own that anyone can answer in the comments section below.  This will give me a good chance to get to know something about you that I may not already know.  Answer as few or as many as you’d like!

 

1.  Did you have a nickname growing up, and if so, what was it and why? 

2.  How did you find out that Santa Claus might not have been the one leaving all of those presents under your tree? 

3.  What was the last movie you watched and was it any good?

4. If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to? 

5.  What’s your guilty pleasure?

6.  What is your biggest pet peeve? 

7.  What traits in others are you attracted to?

 

I was thrilled to learn a few days ago that one of my favorite bloggers is back up and posting again:  Leslie from Grownup University  (Welcome Back!!!)  Stop by if you get a chance.  She’d love to hear from you.

I’ll be back tomorrow with a final post on this year’s Hate-Loss Challenge.

XO,

~Ellen