End of Week 4 the First day of Week 5

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I did much better limiting my drinking than I have in weekends past.  Although this is technically my 6-week challenge, I have not stuck to it 100%... but you could have figured that out from looking at my logs.  I am just trying to focus on changing bad habits.  Since the start of the challenge I have not had any coffee, no SAD desserts, and have exercised more than I was before.  I think these are definitely good habits I can continue even when the challenge is done.  For the rest of the challenge, I hope to eliminate all processed breads and grains (except for Daves Killer Bread, which I eat only once or twice a week), to increase my bean/legume intake to 1 cup a day (now at 1/2-3/4 cup), and to add more cooked greens to my dinners.  Now on to my daily logs...

Saturday, Day 6 of Week 4
Food Log:

• Breakfast: 1 apple, 1 banana
• Lunch: veggie sandwich with hummus, guacamole, and spicy mango balsamic; 1 slice Greek artisan bread; whole grain chips and hummus; strawberries
• Dinner: salad with cashews and tahini dressing, bean burger on 1 slice of Daves Killer Bread

Exercise Log:  Walking along the beach

How I felt:  On Saturday, Kevin and I went with my parents to go boating on our favorite local lake.  I was a fun day, but at the end of the day I felt a bit dehydrated.  In the evening Kevin and I watched a couple of movies that we have been meaning to get to on Netflix.  Overall it was a good eating day, but perhaps with a bit too much processed bread/chip products.

Sunday, Day 7 of Week 4

Food Log: 

• Breakfast: 4 small plums
• Lunch: green salad with nuts, black beans, and homemade tahini dressing; 1 beer
• Dinner: tomato, onion, and shrimp bruschetta; Red Lobster Cheddar biscuits; 1 beer
• Extras: dessert of homemade vegan strawberry milkshake

Exercise Log: walking around the mall, shopping

How I felt:  We spent most of the day out and about with our couple friend on the North side of Spokane.  This included going to Flamin Joes (wing and burger place), where I ordered a plain garden salad and brought my own nuts, beans, and dressing to add to it.  I was a little ticked, because the menu said "mixed greens" for the salad, but when it came, it was clearly all iceberg lettuce.  Not to be a greens snob, but that is one of the least nutritional of all greens.  I wish it was more of a spinach or spring mix.  Bummer.  After hanging out with our friends for the afternoon, Kevin and I decided to stop in at Red Lobster to use up a gift card my work had given me.  I ended up getting a bruschetta covered with tomatoes, onions, and a little bit of shrimp.  I was happy to see so much tomato on the dish, but unfortunately, I filled up on Cheddar Biscuits (I know!  Its a huge No-No!), so I didnt eat too much of the appetizer I ordered.  Then, in the evening when we got home, I made myself a strawberry smoothie, while Kevin had angel food cake* with strawberries and whipped cream.  At least I didnt cave for that!  Overall, not the healthiest day of eating, but I tried my best and gave in to a little bit of temptation.

Monday, Day 1 of Week 5

Food Log: 

• Breakfast: 1/2 cup blueberries, 1 apple, 1 peach
• Lunch: spinach salad with broccoli, red onion, cashews, black beans, and tahini dressing; tortilla chips
• Dinner: salad with leftover tomato bruschetta
• Extras: 2 beers in the evening

Exercise Log: Engine 2 workout in the morning (Morning!?  I know, I did it!)

How I felt:  Today I felt a bit bloated, probably from a bit of the saltier foods I ate the day before.  Overall, Im feeling optimistic to finish out these last two weeks strong, and probably continue with what I have been doing.  This morning I did a work out before I got ready for work.  Normally I am not a morning exercise person, but I actually kind of liked getting it out of the way.  I made sure not to let it be an excuse not to do well on the other aspects of my day.  Hopefully I can get in 3-4 more solid work outs in before the end of the week.

What time of the day to you try to exercise?  How does it make you feel for the remainder of the day?

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Meet our First House

As I mentioned in my last update post, we are going through the process of buying our first house.  This was exciting, and really frustrating at times.  Without getting into too many gory details, we found that the housing market for buyers in our area is very competitive.  Before we found our house and had our offer accepted, we had tried unsuccessfully to put offers in on four other houses.  For the four we tried, we were beaten out by higher offers, some of which were cash.  Very hard to compete with that when you are a first time home buyer.

When we viewed our house, it was the only one we were interested in that was by appointment only with the owners.  We ended up being the only ones to see it before we put in our offer, and had our offer accepted the next day.  It is a lovely, updated, and well maintained two story home with three bedrooms and two and a half baths.  And the backyard... is amazing!!!  There are three things that I have been most excited for in a house: having a craft room, having a nice kitchen, and having a yard where I can grow all things lovely and/or edible.  With this house, I am getting all three!  Let me share a few pictures with you...

Our adorable house with a large lilac bush in the front as well as some lavender bushes.

My new kitchen!  It has lovely lighter-stained cabinets, a tile countertop and backsplash, a deep two sided porcelain sink, a pot and pan rack on the far wall, a spice rack on the left wall, a window looking out over the backyard, as well as a newer dishwasher, gas stovetop, convection oven/microwave, and nice fridge.  The french doors in this picture lead off to the family/TV room, which will be perfect for cooking and watching football games in the fall.  The paint color is a bit bright for my tastes, so I am hoping to paint not too long after we move in.

A closer view of the pots and pan rack.  Im not sure my miss-matched pots and pans will look quite as nice as their matching set.

A view from the other direction of my kitchen.  I just love the tiling detail that they chose!

This is the view walking into the backyard from the family room slider.  There is a long pergola that has three different types of grapes that grow.  Im not sure what I will do with all of the grapes come fall, but Im hoping to learn how to make preserves and perhaps some wine.  To the left of the extended pergola is our covered detached deck, which the appraisal report called a cabana... so that is what we will forever call it.  I can just imagine thinking this summer, "I cant wait to go home from work and have a glass of wine under my cabana."

Here is another view of the pergola and "cabana".  Ha!  Cabana... I just cant get over it.

Beside the house is a nice area for a planter bench as well as the tranquil pond that will be staying.  Four little fish come with it, and I was told not to name them because fish always seem to go belly up once you name them.  But, seriously, how can I not name them?  Im someone who names squirrels and ducks that I see in my head on a regular basis.  That is, in my head I name them... not that Im seeing imaginary critters.

Here is the planter box to the right of the pergola.  Im hoping to make this one my herb garden this summer.  The trees lining the fence include Rainier and bing cherries, Asian pears, plums, hazelnuts, walnuts, and a four way apple tree.  On the other side of the yard that I dont have any pictures of is another identical planter which I will do tomato plants, green onions, carrots, and some kale.  Around the outter edge on the other side is also three types of raspberries, one type of blackberry, and two types of strawberries.  On the left fense edge is bamboo that has been trained to make a partition for a private garden section.

A more professional picture of the backyard from the right side.

One more picture, from which you can see the bamboo and planter on the farther side.

I hope to be bringing you recipes from my new kitchen as well as showing you all my garden progress through the spring and summer!

Health and Happiness,

Amy

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