Smoothies, Mowing, and Other Non-Related Stuff

I've joined the smoothie crowd and enjoying every darn one I drink.  In trying to cut down on gluten and dairy to see if they are issues (umm...yes) I tried a gluten free protein powder called tera's whey.  You can get chocolate or vanilla, so of course I have tried both. I  usually have the blueberry/banana/strawberry smoothie combo with protein powder and water.  Very tasty smoothies--although I have to eat something with it, cause I found out the hard way it doesn't keep me full for very long--even with 2 scoops of protein powder in the mix.

Along with the smoothies, I am trying really hard to avoid pasta.  So far, I am doing a good job.  When I do eat it, I can tell and it makes me more determined to just avoid it as much as possible.  Eating lots of protein, veggies, and fruit.  

I'm making limoncello.  This has left me with a dozen lemons without peels, so I've been drinking gallons of lemon-flavored water in the past few weeks.  Two more weeks of lemon peel/vodka infusion, then I'm adding simple syrup and we have touchdown.  I'll post pictures of the lovely summer drink when I have the finished project.

Yard.  Oh God, the yard.  Mowed for the first time tonight and it was a mess.  Filled in a few holes that have mysteriously appeared over the winter, fertilized and seeded.  Flowers this year will be simple and few.  I can see I will have to go back out this week and mercilessly kill weeds.  I hope they enjoy the next few days cause they won't see the sun rise on Saturday.  

Yesterday for Cinco de Mayo I made beergaritas.  I found them on Iowa Girl Eats  and may I say they will knock you on your ass?  Granted, the lime beer is pretty harmless, but add a few shots of hard liquor to it, discover the deliciousness of this combination, and you'll find yourself feeling pleasantly buzzed after 2 drinks.  And I can attest to the fact that eating guacamole and chips while sipping these drinks won't help slow down the booze to brain train.  And I can also say that they will make your boyfriend fall asleep on the couch and be out for at least an hour.  As Bud said this morning, "That is a two-limit drink."  Amen to that.  Let's just say I had a headache this morning.  Oops.  

Mother Nature has finally blessed us with warmer temps and sunshine for many days in a row.  It's nice to go outside without a coat on, and not have the heat on at night.  I'd like to say running has been wonderful, but so many things have been going on in my little corner of the world that I haven't been doing much of it.  But, since I mowed the yard tonight, I will have time to run after work tomorrow and before I get my hair cut.  I know my hairdresser just loves me appearing all sweaty with a lovely mop on my head.  

One crappy thing about warmer weather: open windows.  Open windows and neighbors who have a small child who cries all the damn time!  Jesus!  Feed that kid something to make it sleepy.  It's up past 10pm and cries all the time.  Drives me nuts, and forces me to shut my window.  Living out in the country is looking more and more appealing to me every week.

NaNoWriMo Has Begun And November Is Here!

Devil Print

My plan to stay up late last night, and start my "novel" at midnight fell through when I fell asleep on the couch with Bud at 10 pm.  However, I did get up this morning, and after much dithering, and pondering, and cups of coffee, I sat down, turned on my music, and began to write.  I managed to start with nothing I had written down as a rough outline, so only the Gods know what will come out of my brain and into my fingertips.  I was very proud of myself that I managed over 2000 words this first day.  I'm ahead of the game, and my goal is to keep my count at around 2000 words each day, so if for some reason I don't write for a day or two, I won't fall horribly behind, like I did last year.

And yes, this is a brand spanking new, fresh novel idea.  The one I started last year still sits in Apple Documents.  I haven't looked at it since I stopped writing it last year.  Maybe some day I'll go back, read what I've started, and keep going.

So, November.  The official start to the crazy ride of Christmas.  C-Joy and I made our Christmas cakes yesterday, and mine is now sitting in a cool place, waiting to be bathed in brandy once every week.  We used dates, dried cranberries, apples, and raisins in our mix.  Can't wait to see how it all turns out at Christmas.  It was hard not to lick the spoon, but there was a child present, and I had to set an example.  You know if Turtle hadn't been there C-Joy and I would have licked the spoons and cleaned out the mixing bowl!  I will never be too old to clean out the mixing bowl.  So naner-naner to you :P

Good news on the hamstring front.  I don't have to go back until the end of the month.  Now I have to strengthen my very weak hamstrings with weights, balance balls, and other assorted exercises.  I also have to work on my core--which is buried under a layer of fat.  I promised myself I would make a very concentrated effort to work out 5 times a week, which is what I am supposed to do.  So today it's planks, some hip work, and I'm tossing in some push-ups.  Tomorrow I go to the gym to use some of the equipment I can't afford to have in my house!  Actually,  I would have to turn my garage into a gym, since none of it would fit in my front door.  Wee houses weren't built to hold treadmills and weight benches!  Just wee people.  Who don't eat much.  Cause my kitchen is also very wee.

So what will November bring, besides a small mental breakdown?  And a lot of empty wine bottles to take to the redemption center? Well, hopefully, a novel, some beautiful weather, some quality time with Bud (quantity will be in short supply), and, of course, my beloved Pom-Poms.  And how can I forget some great reading, too?

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