Lesson Learned

Thanks to Christmas Break, I got a little too used to sleeping in and skipping my 5 a.m. workouts. Therefore, it was a shock to my system when my alarm went off Monday morning. My response? I immediately turned it off and slept in another 2 hours, telling myself I would go to the gym after work. The thing is, I have this complex where if I don't go first thing in the morning, it doesn't happen. Last night was no different.

8 p.m. rolled around and I still hadn't made it to the gym. Instead, I'd polished off some leftover Chinese food and was sitting on my couch, Facebooking, maybe or not eating a cookie or two, when my friend posted the following:

Yup, that's her posing in a bikini in a calendar. As you can see, I found my motivation to go to the gym. Unfortunately, the most difficult part of working out was not just getting out the front door. I couldn't remember the last time I did a p.m. workout and last night I was reminded why. I nearly lost my dinner while on the treadmill. Thrice. And at 10 p.m. after my workout I did not feel my normal reinvigorated and recharged self. Instead, I felt bloated and nauseous. Ew.

The only plus? I got to sleep-in this morning and get ready in a record 20 minutes since I showered the night before. Oh, and there's better TV programming on at the gym around 9 p.m. compared to the paid programming at 5 a.m.

Still, will be sticking to a.m. workouts from here on out.

Soup a la Shrek

What happens when Shrek makes homemade soup...

Homemade Chicken and Veggie Noodle Soup

...we end up with enough to feed a small army!!

Cozy

Snapped these photos before stepping out today in my Christmas presents - a jacket and scarf - from Shrek.

Love, love, love!

Referring of course to Shrek, not the gifts. ;) ...but I like them an awful lot, too.

Hunting Jacket by Barbour (Recognize it?)

Scarf by Burberry

Denim by Citizens of Humanity

Riding Boots by Frye

Shoulder Bag by Badgley Mischka

Headband by J Crew

Checked Scarf by Burberry

I may have literally stumbled upon the jacket when it was delivered way back in November (very sheepish about that one!) but the scarf is completely unexpected, lovely, and luxurious. Especially coupled with the jacket. Kept me very cozy while running around wine tasting and picking up groceries today. It was our first outing in 48+ hours since we were both holed up in the apartment, sick on Christmas Day.

Let me tell you, being sick on Christmas SUCKS. I was actually out of the office sick Monday and Tuesday, the whole time thinking, hoping, I'd recuperate in time for Mama Shrek's roasted lamb on Christmas Day. Not so much. I had a relapse on Christmas Day. By that time Shrek had the same bug as I and we missed out on the family's gathering since they all said to stay home and not get them sick. Bah humbug.

Still, sincerely hope you all had a happy, healthy, holly-jolly holiday and sending warm wishes your way for the upcoming new year.

xoxo -M

On A Roll

Tried my hand at homemade sushi and it turned out fantastic, if I may say so myself.

Next time I'll be more adventurous, but here's how I made homemade Philladelphia Rolls.

First, gather your ingredients:

• 2-3 cups cooked sticky rice, cooled
• Lox
• Cream cheese in a brick 
• Nori (seaweed)
• Sesame Seeds
• Lettuce
• Optional: Soy Sauce
• Optional: Wasabi
• Optional: Sake :)

Tools:

• Saran wrap
• Bamboo Sushi Roller
• Sharp knife
• Cereal bowl filled with warm water

Instructions:

1. Wrap plastic wrap tightly around bamboo sushi roller. Place on flat surface.

2. Sprinkle Sesame Seeds in same shape of Nori sheet.

(You may want to cut it down a little, since you don't want your roll too wide)

3. Dips fingers in water to keep rice from sticking and shape rice over Sesame Seeds

4. Place Nori rough side down, followed by lettuce, long rectangular slices of cream cheese, and lox

5. Grasp front (edge closest to you) of bamboo roller and roll tightly towards middle,

ensuring that front and back edges of rice meet

6. Slice roll with a wet knife. I cleaned it off in between each slice and left the blade wet

Depending on your preference, serve with wasabi, soy sauce and sake.

Shrek also grilled up some Chicken Yakitori with green onions for the occasion.

YUM!

Thumbprint Cookies Filled with Jam

Although I am a confessed Chocoholic, my mom's Thumbprint Cookies are still a holiday favorite of mine and require no chocolate whatsoever. 

Thumbprints front and center

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp almond extract

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup finely chopped nuts

about 1/2 cup preserves or jam

Directions:

1. Combine butter and sugar; beat until light and fluffy.  Blend in  almond extract.  Add flour and salt; mix well.

Shape level tablespoonfuls of dough into balls

Roll in nuts

Place on ungreased cookie sheets

 Indent centers. 

I know I said use your thumb before (hence the thumbprint), 

but a teaspoon dipped in flour ensures an even print each time

Fill with 1 scant tsp. jam

Bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes or just until lightly browned

Thumbprints front and center!

Less is More

Case in point: my closet.

Since moving in 2+ years ago, I've been in the (slow) process of creating an oasis of some sorts out of my "closet." Really, it's the second bedroom of my two-bedroom apartment that I share with Shrek, but I managed to strong-arm him into the entire room to myself. Don't feel bad for him; he's taken over the entire dining table and transformed it into his personal entertainment/work space.

Shrek's dining room domain

Back to the closet. This is what the room looked like right after I moved in September of '07.

Yikes! Was it messy and cluttered! Now that I look back, though, it totally resembled my life at that time; my then husband and I had just separated for good and, well, my life was messy and cluttered.

Fast forward two years. Although the room's basic layout and large furniture remain in place, the room certainly has a more serene and polished look and feel. Those earlier photos just make me cringe.

I love the details of this handmade vase.

I picked it up at Cost Plus World Market for $30.

Flowers from Michaels. $50  Arranged by Shrek. $0.

Lamp from Pier 1 Imports. $50.

Blue curtains are from Pier 1 Imports. $80.

White curtains are from Ikea. $15.

 PS I still want this chaise!

Oof

All that indulging/imbibing/gym slacking/Netflix viewing finally caught up to me last weekend when I noticed my favorite pair of skinny Citizens were a little too snug. Annoyed, I pulled my scale out, dusted it off (for reals!), and timidly hopped on. I was 119.8 - six pounds heavier than the last time I weighed-in back in October. Oof. That's quite a bit for just the past two months.

The good news is that I can write I was 119.8 pounds, because that was Monday. It's now Friday and I'm down to 115.8 leaving only two more pounds to go. My jeans are once again fitting comfortably and the mini Buddah belly I was developing? Gone! Gotta love how resilient the human body is. I didn't even have to do anything drastic aside from exercising my motivation and willpower. By that, I mean:

• I started running again - my usual walk/run off and on for 10 mins
• I made over breakfast: I traded in my usual waffles/peanut butter/syrup for a single packet of Quaker oatmeal (Maple and Brown Sugar is my favorite) and a Satsuma Orange. Okay, yesterday I slipped and ate two chocolate chip cookies instead, but they've got Quaker oats in them!
• I kept my usual morning snack: yogurt sprinkled with granola and almonds or 1 Jimmy Dean D-light breakfast sandwich, hold half of the english muffin.
• I made over lunch: so long to my beloved Tuscan Tomato Basil Soup from Safeway. The reason it was so good? 29 grams of fat per serving. Oof. Now I'm lunching on Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup. Two grams of fat and 70 calories makes a big difference. I also really like Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers as far as microwave meals go. The Sweet Sesame Chicken is my favorite so far.
• Afternoon snack: a handful of raw almonds and a Satsuma Orange
• Dinner: I'm just watching portions more carefully. We had pasta and chicken on Monday. Went out for sushi on Tuesday. Shrek grilled shrimp and made pasta with an alfredo sauce Thursday night.
• Drinks: Now this part is no fun, but I was a total teetotaler this past week; water, green tea, and the occasional skinny latte (to get me through the day) were my only drinks of choice. Sorry, folks, but it really makes a difference! Especially if you like sweets as much as I...
• Dessert: I've been allowing myself a cookie or two a day. I even had a scoop of Ben and Jerry's Caramel Chunk last night while walking around Santana Row. It is the holidays, after all! 

An Apple A Day...

Perhaps my greatest chocolate creation right behind the cake bites are these suckers. They're knock-offs of the Royal Dessert Apples I used to make for the Cascade Candy Company when I was a teen in Washington State. Of course they are not nearly as pretty as the originals since I had to make due without temperers. Plus, this was my first attempt in 7+ years! Anyways, a little photo montage of the process...

Heavenly

While researching destinations for a mini holiday getaway with Shrek I came across this place called the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur. It looks positively spectacular and it receives glowing reviews by Conde Nast and Yelpers alike.

As soon as I make my millions, that's where you'll find me as my own home is being constructed a few cliffs over. For now, I'm searching for something a little less steep, money-wise.