Still here

No, I didn't fall off the face of the planet. I've been absent from blog land for a while and I've missed you all. I have lots of good posts stored up between my ears - now I just have to get them posted. The last two weeks have been l-o-n-g. Details to come.

Help!

I need your input. Does anyone have personal experience with buying grass fed beef? If so, how and where did you purchase the beef? 

What's for dinner?

Happy Independence Day!

If your family is anything like mine - and I'm guessing that it is, food is the centerpiece of your celebration today. I was in the kitchen prepping for this evening's meal with my most helpful assistant - daughter of skinny friend. We washed strawberries, green beans, potatoes, and carrots. I put her to work on the green beans, snapping the ends off. We were side by side at the sink and she watched me closely as we made small talk. Finally she looked at me and asked, "Why are you shaving those carrots?" I laughed and explained that I was peeling and chopping the carrots for pot roast. She was satisfied with that answer and we continued working but never had more than a five second break in conversation. She then related her analysis of this morning's boot camp workout (she was watching from the sidelines). She said,"You were really doing good on your squats today, you were fast too. I'm sorry that you had to run so many times." Then our conversation turned to fireworks, dessert, and the antics of my one year old daughter, Sugar Bee. She helped Sugar Bee negotiate the step stool without falling and then sent her on her merry way with a little hug and a word of instruction,"Now go play with your toys." That's when it dawned on me. This sweet fiery haired girl at just seven years old is a sponge. She's learning from working alongside her momma, her aunt Misty, and other women in her life who are willing to invest the time to teach her what it means to be a lady, a home keeper, a momma, a wife, and a friend. Could I have finished that task faster working alone? Yes, but I would have missed the opportunity to invest just a little bit of myself into a lady-in-the-making. I stood back in the kitchen watching the kids play. I observed that same sweet red head plunge her entire hand into her lemonade glass, retrieve a whole ice cube, and chomp it down. She's such a curious mix of little lady and little girl. Spend some time with a young lady in your life. I can promise two things: You won't be bored and she won't forget it.

My work in the kitchen is done for now. The veggies have been washed, shaved, and chopped. They're tucked safely into the oven with the roast. Later we'll make corn casserole, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole, rolls, desserts, tea, and lemonade.

What's on the menu at your place tonight?



Freedom

Thank you for your thoughtful comments on the previous post about freedom. Keep them coming! Here's my take:

Freedom is...

purchased with blood.



I want your feedback. Fill in the blank.

Freedom is...

Cheater, cheater, french toast eater!

You're all familiar with boot camp but there's one juicy little tidbit I've yet to share:

The weekly cheat (aahh ahhh ahhhh).

Did you hear the angelic voices? I thought you would! I'll spare you the science behind it (don't you dare doubt that there is science behind it - because there really is and you know that I would never, ever lie about junk food) but I get one two hour cheat window per week. During this time I can eat whatever I've been craving. This is trainer sanctioned cheating, folks. Does it get any better than that?

After a long week of protein shakes, chicken, asparagus, lettuce, and more lettuce, I was ready for a hearty breakfast. I had been dreaming of short stacks, bacon, potatoes, and juice all week. Seriously, I stood in my kitchen and inhaled the steam wafting from my kids' cinnamon waffles one day last week. I savored every second of that aroma. I eyed the maple syrup. It was all so tempting but I didn't indulge. I resolved to wait until Friday night. Friday date night finally arrived and the hubs took me to Mimi's Cafe. I ordered freshly squeezed orange juice and this plate of deliciousness:

Cinnamon Brioche French Toast

My fellow diners didn't seem amused by the fact that I was taking a picture of my food with my cell phone, but I didn't mind. This was basically french toast made from a cinnamon roll...swoon. It was so sweet that it didn't even need syrup. I also removed that shovel load of butter right away. The good news - every bite was delicious. The bad news - I left 2/3 of it on my plate. Wait a minute! Maybe that last part is really good news too. I ate a small portion of the meal and drank all of my juice. You know what happened? I felt miserable. My stomach felt like it was full of cement - reminiscent of post Thanksgiving tummy.

I left the restaurant with my craving satisfied and the realization that this boot camp regimen is really changing me. My body has grown accustomed to my new healthy habits. I can't believe it! I know that this isn't a quick fix or a magic potion. I'm developing a healthier lifestyle and it feels great. I can still enjoy a sweet treat or indulge a craving, I just can't do it every day.

P.S. Don't be dismayed by the thought of wasted french toast. The hubs ate it for dessert.



Freebie

Vistaprint's Daily Deal is a sweet one. Order business cards for free using THIS LINK. Choose from more than 40 designs and customize to suit your needs. The cards are free and you have three shipping options starting around $4.

Need a great gift idea for a fellow mom? Try creating mommy contact cards. Customize a business card with her name, her kids' names, her contact info, and maybe even a few short details about her (pageant mom, little league mom, home room mom, loves to bake, etc.). I met a mom in Target a few months ago and we struck up a conversation over toddler toys. We discovered that we shared common interests and said that we should get together. Instead of writing phone numbers down she just handed me her card. It was fantastic. Order some for yourself or for a friend. Enjoy!