Five for Friday, vol 54

1. You're an excellent nurse.

2. Rar!

3. You like anything that Fab or Woot is selling.

4. You're so disappointed that your giant pumpkin plants are withering in this heat, but you have one left and you're treating it like it will produce gold.

5. You break into spontaneous dance when I least expect it.

I love you.

McDonald's of the Soul

Kenny and I are currently having giggle fits over Jim Gaffigan's Mr Universe on Netflix. You should too.

“I’m tired of people acting like they’re better than McDonald’s. It’s like, you may have never set foot in McDonald’s but you have your own McDonald’s. Maybe instead of buying a Big Mac you read Us Weekly. Hey, that’s still McDonald’s, it’s just served up a little different. Maybe your McDonald’s is telling yourself that a Starbucks frappuccino is not a milkshake. Or maybe you watch Glee. It’s all McDonald’s. McDonald’s of the soul.”
— Jim Gaffigan, Mr. Universe

This made me think about my McDonald's. Real Housewives tops the list, without question. Self serve fro yo. Taking one million paper napkins at restaurants. Hitting the snooze button 12 times daily. Going to the dentist today for the first time in three years.

Yes, three years. But I am still cavity-free and just in need of a cleaning (which is Thursday). Don't judge. You know you have a McDonald's too.

What's yours? Fess up!

Instagram Life, June 16-22

peaches and fro yo

hair cut! out and about #photoadayjune

Something you don't know about me - in my very first pair of glasses, this lens was clear. #photoadayjune

oops.

this is not a motion shot.  she just hangs out like that in the morning.

where i sleep.  #photoadayjune

gogyrogo

the souvenir kenny brought me from a bachelor party in como.

stag ice at the motion city concert

fleur de lis at the firebird

breakfast. no shame in my game

art (by kenny's cousin) #photoadayjune

the most comfortable dog in the world

girls weekend

my roommate, bella

super awkward tan lines

Dress Code

I get a lot of enjoyment out of shopping and putting together clothes, both for myself and other people. I don't claim to be the most fashionable or trendy person or anything, but it's taken me a long time to land on a style that makes me happy, confident, and comfortable. I don't know what you'd call that style (girly, preppy, colorful, practically no pants?), but I think Stacy & Clinton would be happy with me most days.

I did some shopping this weekend, and am very pleased with some great finds: a svelte black dress at Banana for $17 (!!) and the elusive white pencil skirt I've been hunting for some time. Spoiler alert: you'll probably be seeing them both soon. Win-win!

So here's what I wore last week (at least the three days I remembered to snap pictures.)

What kind of style do you go for? Find any good deals lately?

Five for Friday, vol 53

1. "Bonus milkshake."

2. "Dammit, I need a better punch line."

3. Left to my own devices, I watch things like Real Housewives. Left to your own devices, you watch Bloomberg Report.

4. You are going to do whatever you can to stretch your fast failing 3Gs to when the iPhone 5 is released.

5. You think it's cute that I dance like a spaz at concerts.

I love you.

Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup

Ridiculously easy! It practically made itself.

I know it's not exactly traditional soup season, but I could still eat it almost every day.  Maybe it's the over-air conditioned office, but it always hits the spot.

Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup
3 lbs fresh broccoli spears
32 oz chicken broth
14 oz beef broth
1-2 cans Rotel tomatoes and green chilis, undrained
1 C water
32 oz Velveeta Light, cubed
1 T minced garlic

Combine broccoli, broth, tomatoes, and water and simmer for 1 hour.  Remove from heat and add cheese and garlic. Stir until melted.  Blend in batches in a blender, or with an immersion blender.  

Enjoy!  Freeze in individual portions for easy weekday lunches. 

Costco Crazies

We are watching a CNBC documentary about Costco and their business model.   I am a huge nerd for shopper psychology and consumer insights (this happens when you work for a consumer packaged goods company, I think), plus I love love love Costco.  The show is doing nothing but reaffirming my love.  Prices 30% lower than most grocery chains? Awesome.  The company pays higher wages and benefits to 90% of its employees?  I can support that.

And we love Costco.  We're executive members.  We go once a month.  We buy tons of things there: organic produce, toothpaste, peanut butter, paper towels.  We got our Christmas cards and our treadmill there.  When our air conditioner went out last month, the replacement came from Costco.  We're hooked.  Just like this lady. 

For example,

 

 This is a screenshot of a palette of Advil that was highlighted in an interview.  The journalist noted that, sold in any other store, 90% of consumers would never buy a 360-count bottle of pain relievers.

But when it's at Costco?

 

 90% of consumers (myself included) will buy it.

Kenny is the other 10% in the latter half of this example.  He thought I was ridiculous ("Why do you need an Advil for every day of the year?!").  Nope, I'm normal! CNBC said so!

Do you shop at Costco or other warehouse stores?  What is your favorite thing you've bought there?

Buns Up.

I got an interesting text from my sister last night: "Are you watching Bunheads yet?"

I was immediately intrigued. I mean, the previews I'd seen for the new ABC Family show looked terrible, like a Gilmore Girls with lots of pink tights and top knots (it even has the Gilmore Grandma and Loralei/Rory look-alikes).  This is no Center Stage or Dirty Dancing, people.  There will be no dancing what you're feeling.  Baby has been put in the corner.  This is obviously ABC Family's attempt to attract a very specific audience member (much like Greek and That-One-About-the-Gymnasts).  But of my sister was watching Bunheads, maybe it had a chance.

"We turned it into a drinking game ... And it's only episode 2."

Oh.

Well.

AWESOME.

The only thing better than a cable TV hit is a cable TV trainwreck. The rules of the Buns Up Drinking Recital are simple, according to Seester:



As the season progresses, I am also calling shots for inspiring rally-the-point-shoe-troops speeches and any episode that follows a "I hate you a little but then you did something nice and now I secretly like you" storyline.  Based on the 10 minutes I watched last night, I can tell you on good faith that they are bound to happen. 

And then there's THIS:

This is a legitimate plot point.  I am kind of waiting for a so excited-so excited-so scared Jesse Spano to pop out somewhere.  In which case we'll all just finish our drinks, mmkay?

Get your cocktails ready and gird your livers. It'll be like an interpretive dance ... but with booze.  I recommend a Shock Top Lemon Shandy, by the way.  It's delightful.

Bunheads is on ABC Family at 8PM CST on Mondays. Will you be dance-drinking with us?

Chocolate Duo Cookies

Do you ever find yourself facing the tough choice between a classic chocolate chip cookie and a delicious chocolately brownie cookie?  Is this just me?  I mean, every time I walk through the line at Panera they try to push a baked treat on me and the choice is always between the two.  

Well now you don't have to choose.

Duo Cookies

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 C granulated sugar

1/2 C firmly packed brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

3 3/4 C flour

2 tsp baking soda

4 oz semi sweet baking chocolate, melted and cooled

6 oz white baking chocolate, chopped

1/2 C chopped pecans

8 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended, and then add vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating just until blended after each addition. Divide dough in half; place in separate bowls. Add melted semi-sweet chocolate, chopped white chocolate and pecans to dough in 1 bowl; mix well. Stir chopped semi-sweet chocolate into dough in second bowl. Drop a heaping teaspoonful of each dough, side by side, onto ungreased baking sheet. Lightly shape into flat ball. Continue with remaining dough, placing balls, 2 inches apart, on baking sheet.  Bake 8 to 10 min. or until lightly browned. Cool 1 min. on baking sheets. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.  Adapted from Kraft.

Enjoy! 

Le Meal Plan, June 18

I'm still not feeling well today.  I'd love to shake this thing, whatever it is.But in the meantime I am trying to still eat well, which is kind of a challenge.  Starve a fever, feed a cold ... with macaroni and cheese.

Monday: artichoke-and-goat cheese stuffed chicken breast
Tuesday: creamy tortellini with peas
Wednesday: crockpot Mongolian beef
Thursday:chicken with garlic sauce
Friday: chicken bow tie primavera

What are you cooking this week?

Instagram Life, June 9-15

oh hai.

new shirt and no makeup face

beach hat for Jerz

Friday ... first day all week with makeup

Fun.

yellow lilies

from a low angle

flop

coordination

grilled cheese noms

post-groomers

Fun.

Someone got to my 2nd pb cup before me.

his spot

Fun.

the first time I ever ate fish tacos

cherry season

Happy Father's Day

To a man who taught me what being photogenic is all about.

Answers.

And now ... the answers to your burning questions!

Stacy - Who is your favorite ggrouper and why?

This is a very unfair question.  It's like asking to choose amongst my children.  I am probably biased towards those whom I've met in person, and that list is growing over time.

Kim - I love your work outfits - where do you shop?

Goodness, I shop everywhere! When I used to have to wear suits every day, The Limited was my one-stop shop, but I can get away with a broader range of things now.  I seem to be perpetually between sizes, so I try to buy things I like and make me feel good, but not really investment-type prices.  That means a lot of Old Navy, TJ Maxx/Marshalls, and anything I can find on sale via Shop It To Me.  I tell myself that once I am in my goal size (getting there!) I will spend more money on classic pieces, but I cannot lie - I love quantity.  I love JCrew, Nordstrom, Anthro, Boden, Urban Outfitters, ON, Gap, Banana, Shop Bop, Express, Loft, Victoria's Secret, Target, TJ Maxx ...  I am an equal opportunity shopper, really.

 I have two rules for myself when I am clothes shopping:

1.  No wishful shopping.  It has to be my RIGHT NOW size and I have to have a legit place to wear it.   I accumulated way too many things that were too small, for a social life I do not maintain before adopting this mantra.

2.  No matter what the price or size, I have to think of three different ways to wear something before I buy it.  Otherwise I get into really bad ruts. 

And if you've seen a white pencil skirt around anywhere, let me know.  I am on the hunt.

Anonymous - I read your blog daily and enjoy it completely....I have left a comment under "anonymous"once and not because I am a "creepers" as you say..lol...but I don't know how to answer using my e-mail address...I am not that good with computers..I love that you love your furry friends as much as I love mine...I love the way you take the time each week to tell Kenny 5 reasons you love him...and I love love love your style...where do you get your clothes?...I am on Weight Watchers and have them same problem as you..that scale does not move enough...I am in the process of buying the dvd's you spoke of, DDP...have you used them?...hope you and Kenny are feeling well soon....Beth..(anonymous..lol)

Just a joke, I promise.  Thank you for commenting regardless - I love love love comments.  Like they seriously make my day, especially since I don't get a ton.  I haven't bought the DDP Yoga dvds yet, but I think they look really cool!  They are on my wishlist, and that video I posted about it recently is something I look at a lot.  So inspiring!  You will have to come back and tell me about the DDP dvds please, and best of luck with WW!

Anonymous - when are you going to have kiddos?

This was a popular question! It's kind of hard to answer it.  In a lot of ways, we're ready, but then again, not at all.  We talk about it a lot, and we know that we want to have little cheesetots some day sooner as opposed to later. 

The short answer is: later. Most likely at least a year before we can start the whole get-pregnant-on-purpose process.  Although I know you can never be 100% ready, we have some ducks to line up with insurance (a new HSA plan that needs funding).  It would be nice to tackle some big house projects and take a vacation or two first, too.  I'm in the place of really liking the idea of a baby and really enjoying other people's kids right now.  I will be the first to admit that I have baby fever, but it's a manageable case that's mostly satiated by getting googly over my friends' and coworkers' babies.  With all due respect to having a timeline, I also know that it will happen when it happens. 

Devon - I see you haven't read any of your 35 books for your 2012 reading challenge. Have you just not updated it?

My button only seems to update about half the time.  I've actually read almost 30 books already this year!  I am on Goodreads nearly everyday.  My to-read shelf is bananas.

Devon - Why do you drink so many protein shakes? They are high in calories, just thought maybe substituting food would be a bit better.

I initially joined the protein shake bandwagon when I tried the GNC Lean plan.  I liked the idea of supplementing a meal with a shake - super convenient.  I've gotten away from the GNC brand to something with higher protein and actually fewer calories: Muscle Milk chocolate and Cryosport vanilla whey powders.  I can buy them in bulk at Costco for a lot cheaper than GNC brand. 

Since I am doing this whole high-calorie plan to force a maintain right now, I actually NEED those higher-calorie, lower volume meals.  I can't say I am good at it yet, but protein shakes help. It's actually hard to hit 2500-2600 calories in a day while still trying to keep the junk down.  In that context, a 140ish calorie protein shake is actually low-calorie. They are also fantastic for recovery after a workout. 

Devon - I love your Angel Chicken recipe. Where do you go most often for your recipes? 

 I collect recipes kind of like I shop: everywhere.  I subscribe to a lot of magazines and blogs, and those are probably the biggest sources.  Cooking Light, Bon Appetit, Food Network, Rachael Ray, Martha Stewart, Taste of Home are my favorites. I also have a serious cookbook addiction. I try to cite where I get something from, but some of them have been torn/printed out so long ago that I don't remember!  I've been building my recipe collection since I was in college and I just haven't kept good track of where a lot of things come from.

Devon - Post more often, we love reading. More posts, less dogs. Thanks for being honest about your struggle with weight loss, it's something so many of us face.

I know, I know.  I've become a lazy blogger lately.  When I am feeling uninspired to write, I typically post a picture of the dogs or my meals for the day instead.  It's kind of a placeholder so I can stay in the habit of posting and hopefully keep people coming back.  Writing about the wedding was easy since there was a constant flow of data.  Everyday life isn't always so ... flowy.  I blog for myself as much as for anyone else, but if there is something else you'd like to read about, what would that be?  Maybe you can help get some things flowing again. 

JennyAZ - I don't really have any questions to ask, but wanted to say, I love pictures of your dogs. If I think of anything, I'll come back later. Hope you two get to feeling better!

Finally feeling like a normal human today.  I even put makeup on yesterday.  Thanks!

Amy - What are your fav TV shows? Maybe you should talk about those sometimes and give us your opinion on them. Maybe an "Entertainment" section?

I like to say that I avoid trashy reality TV, but I have a weakness for the Real Housewives of Everywhere and My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.  I have a deep love of What Not to Wear - I take Stacy and Clinton's word as gospel when I am shopping.  I also love New Girl, Mad Men, Happy Endings, Once Upon a Time, Big Bang Theory, Downton Abby, How I Met Your Mother, 30 Rock, Project Runway, and Top Chef.  I would have told you that I don't watch a lot of TV, but I guess this list proves me wrong.

 

Crystal - What hair products do you use? Your hair always looks so shiny and frizz free! :)

You have no idea how flattered I am that you say this, because I actually really dislike my hair aside from the color.  It's very fine and flat of it's own volition.  First off, I have a fantastic stylist.  My hair does well with this inverted bob cut, and she helps me keep it up and looking nice.  Growing my hair out for the wedding was the worst.  Never again.  I wash my hair no more than every other day, which means I only blow dry and flat iron it that frequently too.  Cutting back on how much heat I apply to my hair (even though you can pry my straightener from my cold, dead hands), has really helped reduce breakage and shedding in general.

For shampoo and conditioner, I can't decide if I want to spend a ton of money on soap or not, so I go back and forth between Organix Coconut (cheap) and Davines Volu (spendy).  I love both of them, they smell fantastic, they do great things for my hair, and they last forever.  My stylist has me completely sold on pretty much all of Davines products - they are European and fancy and more gentle than American products.  I use the Davines Volu misting spray and mousse whenever I wash my hair - these are the only volumizing products I have ever tried that actually volumize.  Once a week I do a Davines deep conditioning mask too - this is to make up for the fact that I tease the crap out of it on a regular basis.  I use cheapy dry shampoo by Tresseme on non-wash days, but I am not really that wild about it.  Sephora sells a black dry shampoo that works better, but I have been too lazy (cheap) to go out of my way to pick some up.

Anonymous - Why do you always sleep on the right side of the bed? Why does penny always fall asleep on you? And what are you overall feeling regarding jet packs? Why can't I get a saint Bernard?

Because it's more comfortable.  Because she likes me best. Absolutely not. Because you don't even like yorkie-sized poop.

Anonymous - P.s. the food on the blog tastes even better than it look.

Thank goodness it does, because some of those pictures are terrible.

Thank you for everyone who commented (and Kenny too).  This was fun!  And I love getting comments, so keep them coming in the future!

Five for Friday, vol 52

1. You like ordering different things from restaurants and sharing.

2. Your idea of sick care items from Walgreens involve vitamin C packs, Kleenex, and peanut butter cups.

3. You are incredibly proud that the aforementioned box of Kleenex matches the bathroom.

4. You're the best lunch date.

5. You kill all the bugs (except spiders, which aren't bugs, you remind me) even if it means bug guts on my ceiling.

I love you.

Ask me anything.

Kenny and I are both under the weather. Summer colds - what with the sniffling and the scratchy throats and the groggy brain and the boogers - currently top my list of Things That Are the Worst.

So I am going to be a super lazy blogger and open things up to strangers on the Internet. If you leave a comment with a question, I'll answer it in the next couple days. I even enabled anonymous comments, for all you creepers out there.

Now make me feel better by validating my need for attention.

On the Weigh: Two

WI: +2

Two weeks of reset.  Two-pound gain.  My first gain since starting the TDEE reset.  It's weird to say it, but I don't think I gained because I am eating more, I gained because I have not been eating well.  Too much junk, too much takeout, WAYYY too much sodium.  I've been a little bit like a kid in a candy store, if the candy store sold pizza and grilled cheese.  Hitting 2600 calories everyday is a lot harder than I thought it would be, at least if you're trying to do it with healthy foods.  I feel like I've been slacking on exercise in addition to my food choices being pretty poor, so it's a double whammy. 

Time to reign it in. 

• Get moving.  The goal is 4-5 45-minute workouts.  The MFP group has discussed reducing cardio during this time, which is confusing to me.  Regardless, I have factored my activity level into the TDEE number, so I should stop being so lazy.  Feel free to ask me if I've woken up early to work out.  It really is the best time for me, even if I don't like to admit it.
• Eat WELL.  Time to meal plan and pre-track again!  That is so helpful to me and I have no excuse not to utilize this tool while I am adjusting to my new intake.  I'm looking forward to going to the grocery store this weekend to stock up.

What's most amazing about this whole process so far is how little I am bothered by this gain, and by the number on the scale in general. I'm still weighing myself fairly frequently, but no longer everyday.

Instagram Life, June 2 - 8