..but i'm too fat to be pretty!

I'll be back with more later....

k, finally made it back...not going in to great details as to why but let's leave it at 'SOMETIMES I WISH I WAS A MAN!'

Last week I was complimented by a fellow who comes into work quite often. *Now don't go jumping to conclusions that it's anything untowards or i'm gonna be steppin' out on my Harry!*

This fellow is happily married as well and just an honestly nice guy who has a way of making one think.

Anyways, after he complimented me I quickly scoffed (as is usually a normal response to compliments for me..don't know how to take them, working on it) and said "But i'm to fat to be pretty!"

He asked why I would think that of myself and told him well it's how I feel, actually it's how I allow society to let me feel. That beautiful belongs to women who look like models, etc. but that I do have some very attractive friends.

"Are they all size 2's?"

"No, but they just are. They are kind, caring, compassionate and fun to be around."

"You're not any of these things? You're telling me that you don't care about people? You're cold and unfeeling? You're no fun to be around?"

"Well that's not what I meant and I suppose the next words from you are going to be 'Beauty is only skin deep' right?"

"I know a lot of women like you describe and some of them are the ugliest people I know. Beauty comes from inside too. It's the whole package and Hal is a very lucky man and so am I. We have the real deal.:

____________________________

Needless to say he did get me thinking about why we allow ourselves to be told what is beautiful and what isn't. Part of what i've been struggling with alongside of weight loss is self image. Now some may say that they are one and the same but they're not.

I remember in my 20's looking in the mirror and seeing a young woman that I thought was overweight and that I could stand to lose more. I'm 5'8" tall and at that time weighed 134 lbs. wore a loose size 9. It led to me getting very sick. I look at pictures now and think "Oh god, I really thought I was fat back then but the person looking back is not healthy looking at all!"

So where i'm going with this is that i've now set a goal for myself in this weight loss journey to becoming even more beautiful. The goal is to lose an average of 7 lbs a month for the next 9 months (realistic and attainable), get more physically active and continue to improve on cooking and eating healthier.

Too all of my pretty, wonderful and amazing friends....You're all beautiful to me and thank you for being exactly who you are!!

xo Pen

Hangin' with Auntie and Uncle

Hal and I often wonder why the kids love coming to hang out with us.....

"Cool fort!"

"Kali, close the door....here comes that small horse!"

"Oooh, he's getting closer! Close it fast!!!"

"Ummm Auntie, how is our dinner gonna fit through these bars?"

"Where's the Milk!"


"Open Sesame!"

"Bustin' loose!"

These two little bundles of love are awesome to take care of. Parker ate a hearty dinner, played for a bit and then went to bed at 7:45 and was sound asleep by 7:52!! He fussed for less then a minute, just had to get comfy and that was it!

Kali hung with Auntie for some one on one time and we played Animals on the bus, hospital and Kali's Kitchen. Then it was time to get her ready for bed so it was 'tinkle time' then jammies and brush teeth. While reading a story and snuggling on the couch little Miss K got antsy and let a ripper go. I asked her if she had to go poop and she says very quietly "No, I jis tooted" but she kept moving and wiggling so I said to her that she needed to tinkle before we read the last story.

I remember Shari saying that Kali needs space while doing her business so made sure that I needed to tidy the kitchen and for her to holler at me when she was done tinkling. She was singing and chatting away and then it got quiet so I asked if she was finished tinkling.

"Auntie, I no tinkle I hadda BIG POOP, it smelly too!"

Let's just say the mouthful of water I'd just taken quite beautifully and painfully shot out my nose and mouth, all the while through sputtering and coughing was the biggest laughing fit i've had in awhile.

Kids are good medicine!

MEAL PLAN MONDAY

SUNDAY - PIZZA, WINGS AND CUP OF EVERYTHING COOKIES

MONDAY - STEAK, TWICE BAKED POTATO, CEASAR SALAD

TUESDAY - TURKEY SPAGHETTI, VEGGIE KEBABS, WHOLE GRAIN GARLIC BREAD

WEDNESDAY - CHICKEN FAJITAS WITH GARDEN SALAD

THURSDAY - STEAMED FISH, RICE AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH LEMON PEPPER

FRIDAY - GLAZED BALSAMIC CHICKEN , ASIAN NOODLES AND VEGGIE CHOP SUEY

SATURDAY - SWEDISH MEATBALLS, RICE AND BAKED BROWN BEANS


Recipe for Glazed Balsamic Chicken:

This juicy chicken, with its sweet and sour glaze, from the May 2004 issue of Canadian Living ("Yes, Have Chicken Tonight!") is so simple that you can make it from start to finish in 15 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes or noodles.

1/4 cup (50 mL) all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp (1 mL) each salt and pepper
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1-1/2 lb/750 g)
2 tbsp (25 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp (2 mL) crumbled dried sage or rosemary
1 cup (250 mL) chicken stock
2 tbsp (25 mL) balsamic vinegar
2 tsp (10 mL) liquid honey
1 tbsp (15 mL) chopped fresh parsley

Preparation:
In shallow dish or plastic bag, combine flour, salt and pepper. Add chicken and turn or shake to coat.

In large nonstick skillet, heat half of the oil over medium heat; fry chicken, turning once, until no longer pink inside, 12 minutes. Remove to plate and keep warm.

Add remaining oil to pan; cook garlic and sage just until golden, about 1 minute.
Sprinkle with any remaining flour; cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.

Stir in stock, vinegar and honey; cook until thickened enough to coat back of spoon.

Return chicken and any accumulated juices to pan, turning to coat; cook until chicken is glazed, about 1 minute.

Sprinkle with parsley.

DOWN WITH WINTER and IS ANYONE OUT THERE??

k, so I've realized that a bit of the winter blues had set in and left me feeling uninspired, grouchy, negative and hibernation mode. I get up and ready for work, go to work, come home, cook dinner and get lost in tv land or surfing the net.

Winter hasn't been as long this year so far but with so much more snow, the ankle injury, Quade's hip and one vehicle i've been housebound and feeling sorry for myself. The last few days with the sun shining, longer days and an overall feeling of 'waking up' has me feeling more inspired and alive.

I know the blog has been boring and a lot about Quade and what's going on but hope to get back on track with Meal Plan Monday, want to join in on Time Travel Tuesday (or something else if I can get creative) and to see what else is out there.

Hopefully some of you are still reading this, I know Shari, Jenny and Sue read and comment but it doesn't seem like there's anyone else out there so ladies perhaps this blog will get a bit more interesting and back to life!

I had to add this little montage about where we are at in regards to Quade. I think it pretty much sums it up better then I could say....


One More Day

Off to open the windows, air out the house and do some housework and then it's nap time. 5 hours sleep did not cut it last night, lol.

Sunday's at our house..

Ahhhh, this morning I got to sleep in! Well..............I was awake at the usual time of 7:00 a.m. but flipped back over and dozed. Cleo and Quade started rousing at their usual time of 7:10 a.m. (I swear you could set you clock by the two of them!!) and Hal got up as he had promised to do 'daddy doggy duty'.

Those of you who know Hal know that he is not a morning person but he was awesome. He fed them, made coffee while they were eating and then took them out to do their business. I could hear him talking to them and playing etc. and then off Hal and Quade went to hang out downstairs because Quade thought it was time to squeeze the crap out of his Wubba so downstairs they went with it.

I have to admit that it was hard not to get up and supervise because we have our own routine but then said to myself "Hal has to establish his own routine with them and they will all survive...your way is not the only way" Got up, went to the washroom and then jumped back in bed, fell asleep until 9:30 a.m.! OMG it felt wonderful. Woke up to Weenie (Willow) and Cleo snuggled up with me in bed, lol. Furry little buggers taking advantage I tell ya.

Hal came upstairs around then as well and peeked his head in the bedroom and saw his 3 chicks snuggling, said good morning, disappeared and then reappeared with a hot mug of coffee....sigh, life and love is good.

While Has was cleaning up the guy room I made us eggs benny and hashbrowns for breakfast. By then it was time to shower and get ready for Puppy class.

Quade is doing really well in class but not as good as Cleo did. She's such a pleaser though and a bit of a chicken shit too, lol. She was also older then him but he's already so stubborn that sooner is better then later for Obedience. We've finished OB 1 and are now doing OB 2. Once Quade's hip is fixed we'll see about getting him his CGC (Canine Good Citizen) and then more in regards to Therapy type stuff. I hope his personality will be the type for Therapy.

We took some pictures last night of the dogs and yes even Cleo. She hates the camera as you can see by her picture. We try to sneak pictures of her and still it's a rare thing to get a really good shot. She was even growling at the camera last night when I turned it on, lol. This was the best shot we could get of our Diva!