Bison burgers

Bison Burgers!! (I think this is going to be my new curse phrase - it just flows)

These are real bison/buffalo burgers!! While trying to figure out what to have for dinner last night I stumbled upon these little treasures in the frozen food section and decided that my family is having burgers for dinner. Now at $8 for 2 patties my sweet children did not have buffalo burgers (somethign I'm sure they are bummed grateful for), AND I did get out chicken breasts for my sweet hubby but lo and behold, HE ATE A BISON BURGER!!! I can't get the man to eat ground turkey but he'll eat a buffalo!! Must be some manly hunter thing.

The package suggested we baste the burger frequently to keep it moist so there is some bbq sauce on the burger (which is not clean eating I know Tosca ) but it was good . I mean I really wouldn't have know the difference if I hadn't bought it.  I'll probably stick with chicken breasts because of the price but it was fun to try something healthy and different. (FYI bison is extremely lean meat. The box claims more so than beef AND chicken although I'm skeptical about the chicken claim)

This company, Blackwing Meats,  even has ostrich meat products!!!! I'll let you know if I try that.

Today I'm trying Christy's 3 x 2mile run idea. You run three 2 mile intervals at your half marathon pace with a minute walking rest in between. Lets get something straight. I don't have a half marathon pace, I've never done it before. But the 5.75 miles I've done I've been able to run at 9:00min/mile. I have not idea if I can do that or 13ish miles or not but that is the time I'm aiming for today. If my family finds me in a crumpled heap at the end of the treadmill you'll know it didn't work.

 

Hey Draz - you've got to tell me how you add the cute arrows and voice bubbles to your pictures!!!

 

Have an adventurous day!!

Adventures in life! My running goals

Thanks to dirt road runner Dirt Road Runner I'm working abs this morning after my cardio - she's completely ripped!!
I ran yesterday on my treadmill (I love my treadmill the way Laura Belle loves beer . - I'm thinking I should name it Brad, as in Pitt, the way the rest of you name things)
Anyhoo .... I ran 5.75 miles yesterday, working up to a half marathon in the fall (13miles for you non runners). The run felt great but even with good music I get bored! Probably running outside would help with the boredom but I can't leave my kids alone for an hour they're not quite old enough and i's significantly harder outside. So I may have to get the d d player out there again but I have to remember to watch upbeat action flicks or comedies. The English Patient just doesn't inspire me to run quickly!
I'm planning to run a 5K in July. Here's the description:
One of the most unusual courses you will ever run! The race goes through the Center for Emergency Preparedness Center, used to train fire fighters, police and other emergency responders. You will run by a full size Jet airplane, burning tankers and SWAT team houses!
Course Description
Course is flat loop course through and around a training area on paved and gravel roads.
Racing Strategy
Watch out for the airplane!
Doesn't that sound cool! (I don't like the idea of a loop course but maybe I'll get to run past the firefighters 2x or 3x - it's all good then!)
Before this bog becomes a novel I'll finish up.
Have an adventure today!

Reinvention

I'm changing my moniker in blogland. I realized that my blogs have been more about me than about parenting so in the new future my title will be Adventures in Life. (I know, so creative!!) but today I will blog about Lessons Learned in Mommyland.

I wanted children, there was no way around it, somehow I would have kids. Luckily getting pregnant was easy, I loved those 9 months and I was as big as a house! Giving birth was an ordeal but manageable. Parenting is the challenge of my life.

I'm sure the nurses laugh as they teach us Lamaze breathing, knowing full well it DOESN'T do s**t during labor BUT it does help you not to lose your freakin' mind as your children grow and test the boundaries! I am a champion Lamaze breather now!

I have two lovely children:a 10 yr old girl in the throes of puberty, who is so confident and independent I am in awe of her and an 8 yr old sporty mamas boy who is the love of my life.

So.. On to Lessons learned:

Always say "yes"
My kids hear the word no and lose all sense of self restraint. For example; Yes you can have a pony, when pigs fly. Yes, you can eat all the chocolate in your Halloween bag but you'll have to do it 1 piece a day for the next 365 days.
Somehow it works!!

Everyday homework
After some serious hw battles my kids now know that they will do some hw every wk day even through the summer. Not hours, in fact it usually works out to 30mins in the summer but it's helped tremendously. It's just a great routine.

Make Memories
This could be called stop and smell the roses.
We have silly dance parties in our house complete with cheap spinning disco ball. Why? Because it's fun and they love it! My dad and I are taking my son to a major league ball game soon. It's expensive but he's so excited and he'll remember that feeling, if not the actual
event, for a while.


I thought I could go on and on forever but for now I'm out of parenting tips I've learned!

Tomorrow begins my new blog about life in general. For now I'm off to run, just me and my treadmill!

Sunday June 26 (I think)

BYOC- Bring Your Own Crazy

It's FRIDAY so that means it's BYOC - Bring Your Own Crazy!  We answer a couple of questions in an effort to get to know each other better and to give our blogging brains a break!  Copy and paste and answer in your own blogs if you'd like!! 



1.  What’s your favorite room in your house?

I spend the most time in the kitchen so it must be the kitchen. I can see the tv, the kids in the backyard and I have access to 3 types of internet capable gadgets, oooh not to mention wine in the fridge.
I wish I had a tiny little reading room, with a great big papasan chair to snuggle up in and read but who's kidding who, I'd just end up in the kitchen again making snacks, solving disputes...... school's in again in 57 days!!! Woot Woot

2.  Picture question (or describe if you don't have a camera).  Show us a pic of your current favorite earrings!

They're cheap little crystal type hoops but since I never remember to change my earrings these are great because they're a little sparkly and I can wear them night and day, even to sleep in.


3. What’s your dress code at work? If you stay at home and went back to work outside the home, what dress code would you prefer?
I'm a substitute teacher so when I work I enjoy dressy black pants or a cute little skirt. The other days I'm a stay-at-home mom so its cotton pants or workout clothes (LOVE lululemon!!! www.lululemon.com  or www.athleta.com - has anyone tried their clothes, I want to order some but I'm not ready to commit without feedback). Working part time gives me an excuse to wear something a little dressier.

4.  Summarize your week in real life and in blog land. 

In blogland I've enjoyed reading everyone's new posts. I've started following two new blogs: Pale Skin is In - chronicalling Tina's battle with Melanoma, http://www.paleskinisin.com/2011/06/tinas-first-week-home.html and Our Family's Journey with Melanoma, http://thewilemansjourney.blogspot.com/2011/06/well-i-am-writing-from-hotel-in-memphis.html.
I'm not sure why I'm so focussed on cancer these days but it allows me to count my blessings (and remember sunscreen)
In real life, it was my sweet boy's 8th birthday this week (and my 41st birthday) so it was busy with celebration type events. Friday was his party and I made a fabulous (looking and tasting) cake made with Marshmallow fondant!! Yummo

The party was a great success as the 6 boys played baseball in the backyard for almost 2.5hrs!! I actually found myself bored during the party - THAT NEVER HAPPENS!!
Unfortunately with all the marshmallow fondant around I ate my weight in CRAP food. Losing 15lbs when I was sick last month was FABULOUSO but I'm sabatoging myself when I binge on this junk!!!! Time to have a date with my treadmill, its the only think that's saving my waistline (actually its the junk in my trunk - the waistline is not the issue).

Happy Blogging

BYOC

1. Do you make your bed every day? Tell us about or show us a picture of your bed comforter?
I do. My rule is, the last one out of bed makes it, but no one follows my rules anyway so I make all of them. I'm kind of particular about it which is really kinda freaky 'cause I can ignore the dust bunnies that multiply under it for weeks!
I'd love an Asian print bedspread but my hubby is a little bit country
so we went shabby chic and then had to miss match as things got old... So now I just throw on what's clean and fits. At least until we buy a house and have a beautiful new bedroom.

 

2. Johnny Cash or Elvis? Thin crust pizza or deep dish? Coke or Pepsi? Beer or wine or neither?

Neither Johnny Cash or Elvis. They're just not my cup of tea  wine.

I don't really have a preference for pop, I don't drink it anymore and I didn't care when I did.

A cold beer on a hot day is refreshing, although one sip is enough for me I don't really like it. I'm a sweet wine girl although I'll take a Mike's Hard Lemonade any day of the week and two on Sunday!

 

3.  I want to start following some more new blogs. Who’s your fave lately? Funniest? Most inspiring? Can you link them for me??

I have to say http://justmedrazil.blogspot.com/ is my daily smile. I wish I could write like that!

http://dhwilson2.blogspot.com/ is an incredible blog about Lauren's spirit, pink leopard print and cancer.

I follow several others http://drakeslandinghoney.blogspot.com/, http://bigmamamandy.blogspot.com/, http://healthyschmealthy.blogspot.com/, http://shewriteslikeagirl.blogspot.com/

4. Repeat question: Summarize your life in blog land and in real life.I seem to only blog after BYOC is posted elsewhere! I guess that means real life is: busy, relatively healthy and BUSY!
I started this blog to chronicle my son's health challenges with gastro issues. Thankfully it turns out he just has sluggish bowels and I'm not blogging about that! Then I had a health conundrum (ok it was hammertoe surgery but the resulting craziness was blogworthy I think). The dr.s thought it was all in my head, then said it was EBV and now I'm hearing that it was probably Drug Induced Hepatitis from the anaesthia! The good news is I'm healthy again and likely to stay that way unless I have surgery again.
So I blog about the mundane things that happen in my daily life while all the while wishing I could make it sound EXCITING :)

 

 

Summer Travels and BYOC

Day 4 of our return to Toronto to visit Everyone!
It's been 6 months since we were home at Christmas!! We went to the " beach" - Musselman's ( love it!), timber creek mini putt,batting cages and gem mining!, and to center island yesterday. Today is birthday party day for number one son and ME! The only gift I ask for year after year... St. Clair ice cream fruits. Yum with a capital Y! They are ice cream frozen in the shape of fruits and they're solo good. Tomorrow I'm off to the glee concert with my bestie and I'm excited ( best of all, is at 3pm so my 40 yr old self will be wide awake and energized enough to enjoy it!)

Ok a little BYOC - with thanks to Sheniqua for the motivation and ideas.
1. How and why did you first start blogging? And how long have you been blogging?
I started blogging in the fall when my son was having a multitude of tests to find out why he was constipated and having belly pain. The blog allowed me to reach out to others and talk about my fears without boring my friends and family. Said son is fine just has super tough poops ( aren't you glad you know) so we now contribute to the Miralax dynasty regularly and life is regular!
Now I blog to hear myself talk and connect with others!

2. Tell me about your perfect mate – if you could invent him/her?
I'm not really sure. I tend to like sporty guys - esp. Hockey players but not true wilderness guys as I love me some luxury too.
A romantic would be heaven - love notes, flowers, picnics in the park...
Truthfully I'm in awe of Sheniqua, 9 days at home with your hubby and you're excited?! I'd be pulling my hair out. The man has no hobbies!!

3. Do you wear fake eyelashes? Do you want to? Do you use glue or self-stick ones? Do you like how they look?
I've only worn them once for my sister's wedding. I love the idea (esp since I've burned off my eye lashes several times ((now that story's blog worry)) and they're kinda sparse ) but truly I can't be bothered.

4. Let’s say money was no object and neither was time off to recover – are you an advocate of plastic surgery after weight loss?
HELL ya! If you work hard to lose weight you should be proud of your body.
I had lipo after my 2 nd pregnancy to become more preportioned (I'm kinda pear shaped). I don't broadcast this fact but I'm not ashamed of it. Now that I'm older and feel more mortal I won't consider more cosmetic surgery but I truly believe in feeling good about yourself however you need to. It's the reason we pick out specific clothes in the morning and wear make up

It is now time to get my workout in. Today is jog day - I'm missing my treadmill but will make the best with the one I've got today. The next big question is should I work legs-I really want to tone up those suckers, or should I do my favorite chest/back workout?!
Happy Saturday all.

Procrastination

I am the Queen of Procrastination!!! I have a to do list - its sitting right in front of me and its LONG!! Even so, I can still find any number of fascinating things to do instead. Maybe I should add those to my list just so I can feel like I accomplished something.  I confess I do that!

I am inspired by other blogs to confess:
I confess that I stand on the scale when my hair is soaking wet just so I can claim any extra weight is water!

I confess that I can not take credit for my 15lb weight loss last month but I am totally loving it AND thinking my EBV flare up was almost worth all the pain for that 15lb loss!!! 

I confess that I am procrastinating by writing this blog when I should be working on assignments for my online class even though they may not satisfy the "board"'s requirements to renew my license. I have already paid for it, but it was through paypal so that doesn't count, right?! Kinda like eating chocolate in the dark or while standing up or eating someone else's ice cream - the calories don't count!  Paypal is cyberspace it's not real money, right?! AND my husband will completely understand when I explain it to him that way, right?!

I confess that I totally love it when my hubby is out in the evenings. I let the kids eat in front of the tv, I let them crawl into bed with me and they let me fall asleep cuddling and that's enough for them!!  That never happens when my DH is home. So I say, "You're not home for dinner tonight? I understand. Hope the work function isn't too dreary! I'll try to wait up" with my fingers crossed!

I confess that I am out of confessions! Until I think up more. Come on all you bloggers update your blog today, give me something to do other than the "To Do List"!!!!