Snow Day 2.....

Another iced-in day working from home. At least we have food and stocked with wine! LoL
This staying in is NOT good for my "diet"......

BREAKFAST: Turkey Loco Moco

Snow Day 1....

Been stuck indoors, working from home, all day. ALL DAY.

Can you say "cabin fever?"
Well at least Rhonda and I were able to venture down the street to Safeway to pick up some food.
Forgot my cousin lives down the street, so we picked her up on the way back home so she wouldn't be stuck at her place by her lonesome. Last night's dinner:
Rhonda's Sweet & Spicy Pasghetti

I roasted an elephant garlic mixed w/butter, and a balsamic cream, and meditteranean EVOO. Served with French Bread, kalamata olives, and smoked gouda cheese.
YUM! Lynda brought over a Honey Whiskey. SMOOTH! No chaser needed. I think I have a new fave shot (sorry Patron...I need a break).

3 shots each of the Whiskey...which was followed by Rhonda and Lynda finishing what was left of bottle #2. A shot and a half each........

which Rhonda followed with.....

it wasn't even 8PM! LoL. The night continued with more........

Needless to say, we slept well....and EARLY =)

Oh snow day.........

20something & Sheila's Bday

Before the nights festivities begin, I went to the gym to do SOMETHING productive.
Squeezed in 45 min. of arms and abs and 30 min of cardio on the elliptical.

2osomething @ Fremont Studios
Lots of wine to "taste" (some good and a lot of not so good wines) and many wonderful food samples!
I think I've "tasted" at least 10 wines. One wine in particular I "tasted" 3 times! LoL
This event lasted only till 10PM, but it was fun. Different. A wide variety of ages (older than 20something =P) and people.

After 20something, Karen and I headed to HG for Sheila's Bday (and Joe's).

Karen and I left before HG closed and headed to Purple Dot for some much needed food food!

Long night...good convo. We "discovered" some interesting things with our pasts.

More proof that Seattle is just TOO DAMN SMALL!!!

Didn't get home till almost 5AM.

T minus what?

Between work and studying...making time for the gym has been almost impossible.

Monday and Tuesday? Forget it. By the time I left work, I was either too tired and needed the energy to study. OR...
Like Tuesday...I drove to the gym but...because of my busy day and forgetting to eat...I was too light headed and dizzy to work out.
Can you imagine? Me on the elliptical...and then passing out mid-step?
Yeah...probably not a great idea. So after putting my car in park and sitting there for like 15 minutes to see if the dizziness will "pass," I decided to go home.

I DID go yesterday at least, even though I didn't get there till after 8PM.
BUT...I did work out at least. Worked on arms, some legs, and abs. It was a little past 9:30PM by the time I finished and I still had a lot of work to catch up on, not to mention cook for today's potluck.
So...I skipped cardio. *sigh*

Lawrd knows I NEED to get in some cardio. Bad. Doesn't help that I've killed like 3 bottles of wine this week already. =\
Oy.
Bloated. I really need to quit ... er... calm down with the drinking. Right?
Maybe keep it to 1 bottle a week. Unless of course it's split between other folks then...... =)

Today I had WAY too much carbs.
Kim-Chi Fried Rice - Pasta w/olives and mussels - Lemon Rice - Red Velvet Cake - 1 (yes...only 1) glass of Chardonnay.
I was planning on going to the gym after work for a good hour of cardio but...
let's see...it's 7:50PM right now and I am STILL in the office.

And my brother and family + Cali some visitors are on their way over.
No gym tonight. Again.
Tomorrow maybe? We'll see.....

T-minus ...just give it up and try to at least maintain where I'm currently at.
.........................................................................................................

11:04....Family is still here.
Been chatting. Drinking. More chatting. Decided to get started on making my pumpkin crunch to bring to work.
3 glasses of wine. Sleepy.........

Team morale event today: Kaspar's Kitchen.
FUN!

We made:
APPETIZERS
Fresh Vegetable Spring Rolls with Miso Aïoli

SOUPS
Spicy Ginger Carrot Bisque with Cilantro Cream

SALAD DRESSINGS
Ginger Rice Wine Vinaigrette

ENTRÉE
Roasted Quail with Merlot Risotto Stuffing Paella

STARCH
Light Southwestern Gnocchi Roeschti Potatoes (Shredded Potato Pancakes)

DESSERTS
Molten Chocolate Marshmallow Cake


Amy and I stopped by BK to grab some breakfast. We weren't sure if breakfast would be served so we picked up some hashbrown bites and pancake sticks. =)

BUT...they did have freshly made scones. And wine. And coffee. And tea.
My breakfast: BK on the road, then a cup of green tea and a cougar pour of merlot!

After Kaspar's, Amy and I walked around downtown to do some shopping.
Walked off the food and all the wine!

Happy Birthday Krystal.....

Bday Dinner for Krystal @ Monsoon East in Old Bellevue. This place is wonderful! Definitely a place to visit....often.

After dinner we headed to 520 Bar & Grill for one more drink.....

Headed over to Jerome's to catch whoever was left for his housewarming.

Had more wine. 2 or 3 more glasses?

Got home around 3:30am.......

Too tired to go upstairs. Hello couch =P

NYC....T minus 21 days

BREAKFAST (9ish): Blended Protein Shake
SNACK (12ish): Protein shake & handful of raw almonds/walnuts
LATE LUNCH (4:30ish): Lean pocket - Chicken & Artichoke

I did make it to the gym, but I only did legs. No cardio.
Again....starvation took over. And I have a lot of reading to do tonight. So...home earlier than usual.

DINNER: Ground turkey w/cabbage, asparagus, jalapenos, and mushrooms.

How exciting.

Time to study............................

Oh ya! BTW....
Those "7lbs" I thought I gained? When I weighed myself, I was bloated, had a couple glasses of wine, was wearing all my clothes, and had my shoes on.
I'm still at 131lbs *whew* =P

15-20lbs to go....still. Since February. It's just not going ANYWHERE =\

NYC....T minus 22 days

Another busy day but I'm trying to be better with eating SOMETHING...

BREAKFAST (9ish): Oatmeal and 2 bottles of water
LUNCH (12:30ish): 1 Costco Teriyaki Ckn Breast, 4 small pickles, and a plain salad.
2 more bottles of water
ANOTHER "MEAL" (4ish): Progresso Low Sodium Minestrone Soup and Green Tea
More water.....

Went to the gym...but only did 35 min of cardio on the elliptical.
Starvation took over.

DINNER: Sushi Mojo!
Agedash tofu - Salmon slider - Spicy Tuna cali roll - and my fave...Spicy Ahi Pasta

23 days to NYC...

Crazy busy day.

BREAKFAST (9ish): Quaker's Choc Chip Granola Bar and a bottle of water
No snack. Not even water. I made a cup of green tea.... didn't drink that either.
No time.
LUNCH (3ish): Some baby corn, artichokes, half a cup of grilled chicken, and 1 boiled egg from the cafe salad bar. Took me 2 hrs to somewhat finish this small helping of food.

I did stop over to "Samm-J" for a quick drink to Krystal's bday =)

Reading in the bathroom stall? ........................

DINNER: Microwaved TRADER JOE'S 99% FAT FREE BEAN & RICE BURRITO.

Too tired to cook. And would much rather be using that "cooking" time to study.

Ok....back to studying.........

Countdown to NYC....

T minus 24 days to NYC!!!
Now you KNOW I am going to EAT on vacation! A couple places I absolutely NEED to go?

http://www.serendipity3.com/
http://www.noburestaurants.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/grays-papaya-new-york-2 (yes...they DO have a turkey dog. WOOT WOOT!!!)

So...let me lose some weight before I pack on some more!
2 lbs a week for the next 2 weeks? Lots and lots of CARDIO and really watch what I eat.

BREAKFAST: Green Tea and a blueberry bagel
3 bottles of water (23.7 oz bottle)
LATE AFTERNOON SNACK: 2 bags of chips - I really need to quit with this!
2 more bottles of water
BEFORE GYM (5ish) - 1 Costco Teriyaki Chicken Breast
1 more bottle of water

WOTD: 3 sets

Lat Pulldowns (50lbs) - 20 reps

Lat Side Raises (10lb dumbbells) - 15 reps

Chest Fly (45lbs) - 15 reps

Reverse Fly (40 lbs) - 12 reps

Seated Tri Pushdown (90lbs) - 15 reps

Bicep Curl (1o lb dumbbells) - 15 reps

ABS: 3 sets

Swiss Ball Exchange from Feet to Hands - 15 reps

Oblique Crunches (both sides) - 30 reps

CARDIO: 30 min on elliptical (weight loss setting)

Calories burned - 315

DINNER: Egg white omelette w/mushrooms and pico de gallo

And I had a handful of more chips (Kettle Low Sodium BBQ)

2 more bottles of water

Congrats Matt & Julie!

Started the day with Dim-Sum @ Noble Court!
nom nom....
Tasty, sodium filled Chinese Food! Love it.... =)

Picked up Alsu in Woodinville and headed home to start getting ready for the Wedding.
Well....first we killed a bottle of wine and finished off the rest of my smoked Gouda!

Wedding Reception was at http://www.georgetownballroom.com/.
They showed the video of their ceremony in Hawaii....
It couldn't have been any more perfect =)

CONGRATS MATT & JULIE!!!

Food at Reception: Veggies and dip, some cheese, 2 slices of pizza, and a salad. And of course...more WINE! I think I had 3 or 4 glasses the entire night. And no water =P

We stopped by Taco Bell on the way home. I have my usual Caramel Empanada, and Rice & Bean Burrito.

Geez...this isn't helping. Oh did I mention....I've gained 7 lbs this past week and a half =(

*sigh*

Still no time to workout....

THURSDAY:
Picked up Alsu from airport. Met up with Tasha at Issy Coho for lunch. Alsu's friend was not home and DID NOT have her phone on hand so we walked around the highlands for awhile before dropping down at Caffe Ladro so I can log on and get some work done.
Lots to catch up on with work.

Went to the gym but ended up only doing a quick full body workout (45 min) and only 15 min of cardio (I was STARVING)!

FRIDAY:
Moving started today. Stayed at work late. Had some wine and cheese with MT & Millie as we worked.
Dairy and wine...bloated...but oh so delicious.
Headed down to Muck for Mom's bday dinner at 7:30 (dinner was supposed to be AT 7:30).
Late. =\

All you can eat King Crab. YUM! I ate all the legs on my plate...but I didn't make a 2nd trip. I was getting pretty full already, and I still had a 2nd plate of other food.
I'm a waste of $ at buffets......

I ate 2 of those pasta thingies, just the skin of the fried chicken (DUH....the best part!) and a couple bites of the potatoes.

I had to leave SOME kind of room for dessert!
Which...I only had taken a bite or two of each as well.


SATURDAY:
BREAKFAST @ noon: Panda Express! Fried Rice and Sweet & Sour Soup. The ONLY things I like from P.E.

Went to SWAC in W.Seattle for my nephews football games...and both of their teams won! WOOT WOOT!
Congrats Lijee and Devin. Next...PLAYOFFS =)

Ran some errands then off to the Bell Square for a Bang Trim @ 7.
And of course...did some shopping. Found me a dress at Arden B for Matt & Julie's Hawaiian Themed Wedding Recep for Sunday...$5! Ahh yeah!!! Talk about a good deal =)

Ended the night with dinner at Boom Noodle. We had the Edemame Puree, Ahi Tacos, and I had Kimchi Ramen.
Mmm...sodium. So bloated.

No improvement......

Insomnia.
Stress.
Exhaustion.
Spread too thin.

I'm starting my days with protein shakes but....
the rest of the day have consisted of chips, more chips, candy, more candy, and a small plate of salad stuff - but that's usually not till towards the very end of my work day.

Haven't made it in to the gym this week either.
Although...today...I DID go for a 4 mile walk during lunch.
But then... ruined it my munching on 2 bags of M&M's, Sour Patch Kids, and more chips.
Damn halloween candy.

And today is my Mommy's and Alex's 2nd Bday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

But you know what that means -
CAKE! Or in Alex's case...CUPCAKES! nom nom nom....
Red Velvet =)