Weekend Highlights

Randy had a conference in Ponte Vedra Beach last weekend so we packed our bags and headed a bit north.  Meg's BFF joined us which always makes thing more fun for a "only child."


The girls hit the pool first thing Friday morning which we followed with a bit of exploring and lunch.  We met up with Randy in the early afternoon and the four of us headed down to St. Augustine.  We've been there several times but it was BFFs first visit. We went to the jail and the old General Store, using the train to get around the historic district.  After dinner we wandered the shopping district, ducking in several unique stores.  We all agreed that it was a wonderful day.

Did you know that these are two glasses in one?  As posed, it's a mustache but if you put them on top of your head, it's a unibrow.  Who knew?  *wink*  These two were SO funny.  They strutted around the shopping area like they owned the place and got so many cute comments from passersby.

While poor Randy sat in conferences all day on Saturday, the girls and I headed to the the Jacksonville Zoo.  We all took TONS of photos.  I even took photos of them taking photos...

This one totally cracks me up....

It was another wonderful day.  I have LOADS more photos to share but right now I'm trying to get ready for another trip, this time out west.  More on in a day or two.


Thanks for stopping by!

Dead Halt

Well forget about being a true paying client at Boot Camp.  I got the nix on that...and running...and even "pleasure" walking from my chiropractor.  (Not that limping 5 miles is pleasurable, but I'm stubborn that way.)  I've got loads of spine, pelvic and femur issues and she can't get over my high pain tolerance.  Not the first time I've heard that.  Stubborn, remember?

According to her, my femur head is jammed into my pelvic joint (paraphrasing here) and that's what's causing me so much pain in my groin/leg.  All of these years of running through the pain has taken a toll on the rest of my body by radiating to my lower back and spine.    I've had some initial treatments and am currently wearing an elastic lower back brace.  Life just gets more and more fun.

I refuse to have any kind of surgery and don't want pain killers so her holistic approach is my first choice.  I'll give her plenty of opportunity to "fix" me but do intend to have my pelvic region x-rayed and examined by my orthopedist.  This has been 20 years in the making so a few more weeks won't hurt.  (Well, it actually does hurt otherwise I'd be out there going...and going....and going....like I have for the past 40 years.  Hurts like a ^%*&*&^*&^*!!!!)

Soooo...that's my story right now.

Menu Monday

Today marks our first day as official paying clients at Boot Camp.  We all feel so much better and it's wonderful to have friends for both commiserating and celebrating.  Unfortunately the hitch in my giddy-up and lower back (both on my right side) have been bothering me tremendously.  I have an appointment with a chiropractor tomorrow morning to see if she has any insights.  In the meantime, I keep chugging/limping along.  My solo walking has slowed down quite a bit since starting the exercise program but I did get out yesterday for 5.5 miles of run/walking/limping and managed another 3.0 miles of walking this morning. 


This week's menu is still a work in progress but here's what I have planned so far...

Monday - Pork chops, baked sweet potatoes, veggies
Tuesday - Chicken Fajita Salad Wraps (new recipe)
Wednesday - Spring Ravioli with Pesto and Veggies (new recipe)
Thursday - Eating Out 

Meg has science FCATs this week along with play practice after school each day and gymnastics two evenings a week.  It's keeping us all pretty busy.  

TGIF!

Yes, I'm still here.  The first week of FCATs are over, tonight marks the end of my 5 day/5 week session of Boot Camp and I managed to put together a menu without a large grocery trip this week.  

This Week's Menu...

Monday - Papa John's Pizza (freebie) 

Tuesday - Turkey Burgers, Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce, Baked Beans

Wednesday - Panera's Macaroni & Cheese (recipe from their website) 

Thursday - Ate Out (Meg's Choice - Boston Market)

Friday - Spaghetti and Garlic Bread

Saturday - Pork Chops, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Fridge Veggies 

Sunday - Leftovers

I was really disappointed but not at all surprised that Meg stated that my macaroni and cheese was NOT like Panera's.  Ummm....I followed their recipe to the letter.   I, however, thought it was delicious.  I had a small bowl and froze the rest away since it is not at all diet friendly.

I'll leave you with a layout that's been sitting on my desk all week.  I finally finished it this morning.

I'm not sure I'm really liking it but I'm calling it done and moving on.

Ramblings

FCATS are this week and next.  Don't get me started on that subject.

Today starts Week 5 of BootCamp.  (The final week of my Groupon) My muscles are still sore nearly every day. The hitch in my giddy-up is killing me and it's affecting my lower back.  Lots of naproxen, ginger and heating pads these past few days.

Menu planning is slipping.  Need to be more aggressive. Tonight Randy and Meg will be having free pizza and breadsticks, compliments of Papa John points and a Boy Scout coupon.

That's as good as it gets right now....

My 12 Project

In the "memory keeping world" the year of 2012 has become a year of twelves for assorted scrapbooking/photo album projects.  Different online sites/blogs/designers have all come up with their own versions of Twelve in Twelve.  (Twelve photos/twelfth day//twelve months/twenty-twelve, etc.)  I decided to borrow a little from here and a little from there and create my own version.

My 12 Project entails selecting twelve photos from each of the twelve months in 2012 and creating a double page spread for each month.  Many of the photos are snippets of our day/house/activities that would probably never otherwise be recorded however some of the selected photos will be seen again in future layouts.  When completed, I'm hoping that the album provides a nice overview of our family's year.

Here's my page for January -

and my page for February -

It's time that I got started on March's page.

Gymnastic news - Meg had her regular class on Tuesday and then a private lesson last night which she LOVED.  This afternoon there's an hour tumbling class that she has asked me to take her to.  It looks like I may be spending a lot of time at the Y for awhile.  Thank goodness for books on the IPad.

The Gymnast

Meg started gymnastics last week at the local YMCA and so far, is loving it. She's in a Beginner-Advanced class with about 10 other girls, all ages 8-12. Our YMCA is a big place and parents are on bleachers behind glass off in the North Forty, so I'm apologizing for my Iphone photo in advance.

She's very attentive and always smiling so I'm hoping that she's finally found something that will interest her beyond the first few weeks.   I really think this could be the one.  (crossing my fingers)

On to this week's menu...

Monday - Garden Salads with Mesquite Chicken
Tuesday - Chicken/Brocolli Stir Fry (I added fresh asparagus and shredded carrots to the recipe.  It was really good.)
Wednesday - BLTs for Randy/Meg...Garden Salad for Me
Thursday - Black Beans and Rice
Friday - Pork Chops Diane, Mashed Potatoes/Cauliflower, Veggie
Saturday - Spaghetti

Monday, Monday

As expected, last week was very busy and quite hectic with lots of parties, traveling and Easter preparations.  Today I'm totally playing catch-up.

Last week Meg and I joined my sister and niece for the taping of America's Got Talent in St. Petersburg.  While the talent was disappointing, the experience as a whole was worth the quick trip across state.  The show had a minimum age of 14 for audience members which meant I had to doll Meg up a bit for admittance. She wasn't too happy about the whole makeup thing but she wanted to go so badly that she suffered through it.  

If this is a sign of things to come, her daddy and I are very scared.  Isn't she beautiful?

Later in the week one of Meg's BFFs had a murder mystery birthday party.  The theme centered around beauty pageant contestants so poor Meg was subjected to the "grueling" makeup thing all over again.   She was adamant about only a bare minimum of makeup so all I managed to get on her was mascara (upper lids only) and some lipstick.  The dress is one given to her by one of my BFFs.  I had to pin it in the back but it was totally invisible to the eye.  The shoes are mine and fit her perfectly.  Again, her daddy and I are very, very scared.   

All of the girls looked as pretty as Meg does here and the party was a huge hit. I mean seriously...10-13 year old girls playing the part of pageant contestants with all of the drama that goes along with it?  :)  What's not to love?

Fortunately for Meg, this week is back to reality.  She was happily back at school this morning dressed in her sweat shorts, cute t-shirt, ponytail, sans makeup....the look that is totally her.

Other stuff....

Bootcamp.  Hurts.  Alot.    That pretty much sums it up.  But I'm happy to report that today starts Week 4 and I've dropped exactly 5 pounds.  Trust me, I earned every one.

Menu - I'm still working on this week's menu.  Tonight's dinner will be garden salads with mesquite chicken.  We eat this at least once a week with whatever veggies/fixin's I have on hand and both love it.   I'll post the rest of the week once I've had a chance to figure it out.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, But No Menu

This week is going to be quite hectic with lots of comings and goings by all three of us.  We have gymnastics, play practices (Meg's a stage hand), an evening PTA meeting, a quick turnaround trip to Tampa and back, birthday parties and of course, Bootcamp.  Rather than spend a lot of time creating a menu that I knew would crumble by Day 2, I'm going to just wing it.  Tonight was green salad with lots of veggies and sauteed shrimp.  I'll figure out tomorrow, tomorrow.

On a fun note...I was recently introduced to a friend of a friend whose family has just returned to our area to live after several years in Texas.  As it turns out she's a photographer.  Well, hey now..photography and scrapbooking go hand in hand.  :-) We hit it right off.

Two weeks ago she graciously spent three hours with me teaching me how to use my new DSLR.  We had some kitchen table instructional time followed by a walking tour of the downtown riverfront.  I learned more from her in those three hours than I ever have with all of the manuals I've read, the online tutorials I've tried to follow and the local class I (physically) attended last spring.  I'd like to share some of the photos I've shot recently....all in totally manual mode.  

and finally....

I have so much more to learn but am absolutely thrilled to finally be on my way out of automatic mode!