Fun Stuff To Read Because It's Friday

It's Friday. It's been an awesome week and literally every single day, multiple times a day I've said to myself --ooh, I need to write a post about that.  My mind is overflowing with ideas and things and but I can't actually get myself to sit down and put them into words.  It happens.  I have 2 amazingly tasty recipes to post, some thoughts on weight loss, a funny story about why Garrett is NOT in marketing,  ridiculous pictures and  a fitness update all sitting in the queue but no time or motivation to actually finish the task.  This week has kind of been a bear, and I've used my free time to do some serious rest and recovery and it always feels good to prioritize that.  I will get there next week but I kind of want to coast into the weekend.

In the meantime, since I'm OBVIOUSLY not contributing anything today but excuses, here are a few interesting reads from around the internet:

How To Make No Churn Honey Cinnamon Ice Cream - I don't know about you but everywhere I look lately there are awesome summer ice cream recipes, alas I have no ice cream maker and hesitate to buy one lest I find an excuse to eat ice cream three meals a day.  I would have no problem rationalizing that.  I'm thinking of trying this one though since there is no special equipment required.  Plus it just sounds tasty!  Honey Ice Cream always reminds me of Hawaii...ah, wish I was there!

Life is Short Manifesto - I've posted this before, but I came across it again this week and I just love every single line.  

photo credit

Fun Pickling Recipes - I don't know what you are doing this weekend but I am playing PRESERVE THE FRICKEN HARVEST.  It's a fun game.  I pulled 14 lbs of tomatoes out of the garden on Sunday only to find 18 lbs the following Wednesday.  You know there will be some tomato canning going on (EEP!  No experience!)  Also, I'm drowning in various different types of cucumbers so I'm just going to roll the dice and see how they pickle even though they aren't specifically "Pickling Cucumbers." Wish me luck!

What It Takes - Last but not least I am totally in love with this post that I just read this morning from Liz over at InnerTeub.  I love the way Liz can really tell it like it is about many things, but I found that on this topic, I could really relate.  I actually wrote an entire post over at Bodies in Motivation about the way weight loss conversations can turn real irritating, real quick.  Over the last year I've been asked by a million different people about what my Weight Loss Secret was, so much so I dedicated an entire series of posts to that secret.   But the truth is, most people don't want to know the secret. They want you to tell them that they can keep doing what the want, and get results.  The truth is if you want to change your life, you have to do just that:  Change Your Life.  Don't keep doing the same workouts, going to the same restaurants, eating the same foods, going to the same happy hours.  Try something new, challenge your mind and body.  Give yourself credit because YOU CAN DO IT.  Wow, I did not think that I was going to get so soapboxy about this.  I guess I just feel like if I can do it, anyone can do it.  But the keyword there is Do It.  It ain't gonna happen sittin on the couch, ya know?

 

Nor does it happen taking crappy quality self portraits in your garage, but you know what I'm saying, right? 

Okay!  Since that got a little heavy, how about a dancing cat video. You have to smile at that don't you?

Hope you all have a good weekend! 
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Fun Links on a Friday

I have been in this crazy stress vortex all week; however, the good news is I have escaped! And it is Friday! And my life is now full of overuse of exclamation points!!!  So since I am feeling so damn chipper I thought I would tell you about some things that have been putting a smile on my face lately. None of these things that have anything to do with each other, but WHO CARES…They're still fun!

For example:


1. This Sea Salt Spray Tutorial – I have incredibly slippery hair. It is super fine and thin and if I don’t wash it every morning it starts to look like I fried bacon in it right around the time I have my second cup of coffee. My hair needs some serious texture intervention but most products weigh it down and we can’t have that now, can we? Enter: Sea Salt Spray. Part of me thinks the idea of “beachy hair” is a myth for folks like me, and I’m not completely convinced I will ever be able to obtain that perfect tousled look, but for about $5, this sea salt spray is giving my hair brilliant texture, and keeping it from looking like breakfast leftovers the next morning.  And -- BONUS -- it is helping me use up my old crappy hair gel that just sits under my bathroom sink with never an excuse to get used. This is exactly what I looked like yesterday morning after using it:

BAHAHAHAHAHA....Moving on...

2. Melissa’s Stove Top Carnitas Recipe – I have linked to this recipe before, but I don’t think I have done it with enough fanfare. YOU GUYS, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MAKE THIS. There, now I feel better.

I make at least one pot of this weekly (Yes, I have started buying 16 lbs of pork shoulder at Costco at any given time. What?) and we box it up in containers, put it on salads, eat it straight out of the pot, you name it.  This is, no exaggeration, my absolute favorite thing to eat lately. Totally worth a couple of hours of boiling on the weekend with very little supervision.

3. So I took my weight and measurements this month (like I do every month) and sadly, this is the first month since July of 2010 that I have gained weight. 4 lbs, actually. BOO.  The good news that you already know if you follow me on Twitter is that with that 4 lb weight gain came a loss of 4 inches. I mean, Holy Mindf*ck, Batman! Right?

I found this post as well as this post (from Everyday Paleo) especially timely in the wake of that news. In my mind I know it is not only about the numbers on the scale, but boy can one sure get focused. These were two hilarious and awe-inspiring reminders that the scale is mostly a useless tool.  Definitely worth a read.

4. So since we are talking about scales, I think that works right into bathing suit shopping.  Can we talk about bathing suits for a minute without everyone getting traumatized? Let's give it a try.  I am going to be totally honest with you when I say that even when I was 80 + lbs heavier, I never really HATED shopping for bathing suits.  Look, I didn't love it either but I think if you just accept the awfulness of it, it makes it much easier to "enjoy". No bathing suit was going to make my thighs look less flabby (still isn’t!) so it was pretty easy for me to surrender the fantasy and put my efforts towards finding one highlighted something I liked on my body. Fat thighs?  Check.  But how about this lycra swathed rack, eh?  Focus on the positive, you know?

Anyway, I walked into Old Navy this week and tried on a few suits and found one that was pretty cute. (Pictured up there on the right, yet mysteriously available nowhere on the website.) At $27, I thought it was a steal, and headed straight to the register! But when they actually rung me up? $9.97! Woo hoo!

That was my long winded way of saying: Item off my Summer Bucket List – CHECK!  Cute bathing suit has been found. 

5. Oh, and speaking of arbitrary items on my Summer Bucket List – I have given up vanity and started wearing a tank top to work out on the regular – CHECK and CHECK! It is just way too hot in the box to NOT wear a tank top and so comfort trumps vanity. I think that means I am officially getting old, but I still maintain if you see me buy a pair of Crocs take me out back and shoot me. 

So - SCORE! -  for getting over the fear of my own arm flab! Now if I could just get over my fear of being a sweaty monster, all would be well.  (In my defense, it was well over 90 degrees that day and the warmup *haha THE WARMUP* involved running a mile outside, among like 10 other things)  But who cares -- because I was sporting a damn tank top in public for the first time in perhaps, over a decade.  WIN! 

6.  And lastly -- my favorite world rocking thing lately is this video.  Mostly because it is true.

I'm sure you have already seen it because I imagine you are much hipper than I am, but on the off chance that you have not, I am willing to look like the last person to the party to make sure you experience its hilarity.

Happy Friday, y'all!

What's been rocking your world lately?  Recipes, videos, links...Do tell!

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Calling In Sick

So -- for the past few days I have been sick as a dog (or...erm, a cat?) and curled up on my couch feeling sorry for myself in between episodes of blowing my nose.  Obviously no one wants me to expand on that anymore than necessary.  You are probably also sick of LOLCatz, and I am agreeing with you in spirit, but it was either a cute picture or an entire post on THE SICK, so I think you will agree that I let you off easy.  Anyway, I thought I'd post some links to some random oldies but goodies in case you are new around here and may have never read them.  

For example:  

I think almost everyone here in the States are experiencing nice(ish) weather, but in case Mother Nature is being a bitch in your neck of the woods here are 12 Songs to Download When You Need Some Sunshine.  It's an old playlist, but a good one. 

Are you feeling like something in your life is right outside of your reach?  Maybe you are closer than you think.  Always something good to keep in perspective. 

Need some dinner inspiration?  I Can Make Anyone Love Brussels Sprouts.  And I have. 

Speaking of food, you've read my weight loss story haven't you?  If not, it starts here.  

Have you read the story of the biggest coincidence of MY LIFE, thus far?  (Pretty pictures of Maui included.  Oh, how I wish I was in Maui?  Are people even allowed to get sick in Maui?)

One of the biggest (and scariest) things I learned last year was that Living with Less Really Can Be More.  Intention really is sort of a radical act of self- love.  Re-reading this post one year later, I'm happy to report it is all still true except IT'S BETTER! 

Hopefully I'll be back on my feet by the end of the week.  Cross your fingers for me, will ya?  My red little nose can't take much more of this!
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Linky-Loo

TGIF, you all.  I don't know about you but I wasn't sure I was going to make it!  I am soooo ready for the weekend.

So we established this week that Old Navy Pants Suck Super Hard, yes?  But guess what, I don't plan to stop shopping there anytime soon.  Know why?  Because all of a sudden Old Navy is rocking some cute jewelry for relatively cheap.  Today I'm wearing this necklace which I bough on clearance for $7.99

Worth it!  Plus, look at all of this.  Cute stuff, I think.  (Thanks to my cousin Kelly for reminding me of all this FUN JEWELRY -- remind me to tell you guys the "fun jewelry" story someday.)  Maybe you aren't dead to me just yet Old Navy.  But be warned, you are on life support. 

So since we are talking about fun stylish things (I almost said "fashion"  BAHAHAHAHA) can we talk about Academichic.  I love this site.  I am generally not that inspired by fashion-y websites because they are always like, "Here is what I wore, it's thrifted and totally vintage and you'll never be able to find it, and I'm going to frolic like I think I'm a model in urban looking locales that are just 'in the neighborhood', aren't you sooo inspired to dress cuter?"  And I usually am not to say the least.  But I think they give good advice on Academichic -- like advice for fashion novices who are intersted in looking pulled together but don't have time to clip out meaningful articles in Vogue.  Plus they are all adorable and don't only talk about fancy, fabulous outfits.  They do a lot of casual, a lot of how-tos, and great inspiration if you are pregnant, IMHO.  (Hat tip for Kateo for turning me on to that site.)

Completely unrelated this list of 75 Things Worth Watching from Netflix made it into my bookmarks recently and there are some fun things on that list.  And if I can interject my own recommendation, we have been making our way through The Up Series and it is super interesting.  It's a series of documentaries about British children starting at age 7 and updated every 7 years.  If you like your documentaries with a Sociology bent, check it out. 

And if you don't care a lick about documentaries, let's talk food for a minute shall we?  Who doesn't like food?  I made a Turkey Curry Sweet Potato Casserole (scroll down for the recipe at the bottom) because I had heard about it on the internet almost as much as I had heard about the Crock Pot Pepperocini Beef.  I realize the name sort of sounds like a mish-mash of random, but it is more accurately a mish mash of AWESOME!  I wanted to use the word awesomesauce right there but I refrained.  You're welcome.  Anyway, it was so good I am counting the minutes until I can consume the leftovers.  I bet they are even better!  Liz  sent the recipe my way and I can't help but think that she just changed the trajectory of my life in some small way -- it was THAT GOOD. I was going to post about it on its own but it is one of those meals that just don't photograph that well.  Aren't those usually the best dishes though? 

Also on my list of recipes I plan to make soon:  this salad.  I'm not usually a salad for dinner type of person but when the weather gets warmer I start to tolerate it.  Doesn't it just sound like a delicious thing to throw together on a warm spring evening (sans croutons for me, but you should totally add them and then tell me all about it!)  Now if we can just have one of those lovely evenings already so I have an excuse to make it.  Link courtesy of @NatalieDaily for just mentioning it on Twitter, which peaked my interest enough to google it.  What?  I get bored at work sometimes. 

My last arbitrary link is to an idea I am thinking about completely stealing to get the creative writing juices flowing.  Have you guys read or followed City Wendy's Alphabet: A History series?  She started it ages ago and it has been one of my favorite little blog features to read.  Obviously she is a great writer which is part of it, but I just think it is a fun way to get to know bits and pieces of a person's life.  She was originally inspired by Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life which is a very fun book if you ever have a chance to read it.  I enjoyed it, and think I may try it that feature out around these parts, so act surprised would ya?

Hope you all enjoy your Fridays!  What are you planning on cooking/watching/reading this weekend?   
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