Takin' Shots and Chewin' the Fat

Thank you all SO much for your advice on being tired! I am ashamed to admit in a moment of haste, I picked this sucker up at the drug store.

I know, I know.....bad, bad, bad! But I was desperate to try it out. I'm tired of being tired! Okay, I'm done whining.

I chugged half of the bad boy before working out yesterday. The verdict? Might have been a coincidence, but I was fully charged throughout my workout!! I will say "7 hours" is deceiving, as I crashed about 5 hours after drinking the stuff. But, I'll take it. Don't worry - I'm not planning on making a habit out of this, but I just wanted to see if the caffeine helped (and it did!).

I will definitely get caught up on my sleep this weekend (yayyyy!), and I might try playing around with my food, too. Maybe I need more protein? Who knows.

And now, an ode to HEAB.

Up until the past year or two, I was terribly afraid of "fattening" foods. Which is quite funny as now I can't go ONE DAY without peanut butter or almond butter.

Anywho, I've been seeing a lot of avocados 'round the blog world lately. Here are just SOME of the benefits from avocados, taken from here:

One-fifth of a medium avocado, or about one ounce, has 50 calories and contributes nearly 20 beneficial nutrients to the diet.

Avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are thought to help prevent many chronic diseases.

Avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, including 4% of the recommended Daily Value (DV) for vitamin E, 4% vitamin C, 8% folate, 4% fiber, 2% iron, 4% potassium, with 81 micrograms of lutein and 19 micrograms of beta-carotene.

Avocados act as a "nutrient booster" by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha- and beta-carotene as well as lutein, in foods that are eaten with the fruit.

So I thought, why not? This week I added it to my crack wrap...

....and with tofu. Sounds gross but it was very yummy!

I am in love!! This stuff keeps you full, and you don't need very much of it.

I'm SO EXCITED to have today off work! Hopefully I'll be somewhat productive and get a really good tanget some yard work done.

Happy (early) Fourth of July to all you Americans! Tomorrow will be filled with good food, friends, and GREAT beer. Be safe and enjoy your holiday...and for the rest of you, enjoy your weekend!

I am thankful for:

- My freedom
- Eating sushi with friends
- Daydreaming about future vacations

Monkey See, Monkey Do

I am turning into a monkey.

I tend to hoard bananas since I eat ripe ones in my oatmeal every morning and in my smoothies. OBVIOUSLY I have a fear that I will run out, go to the grocery, and they will only have green naners - bleehh! So I stock up at least twice a week to ensure this doesn't happen.

Do you hoard any foods? There are certain foods I canNOT go without and always make sure I have extras - PB (obvi), apples, and greek yogurt (mmmmm).

On a side note, I have been absolutely exhausted lately. We aren't just talking one day a week, but every single morning and afternoon I am just beat. In the evenings a lot of times I get sort of a second wind, but not always. In true Holly fashion, I've already tried to diagnose myself. I'm thinking it might be one of the following reasons:

1. Not getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night (I've been getting between 6 and 6 1/2)

2. Not drinking caffeine everyday (I usually drink it 2-3 times a week)

3. Anemia? Far fetch but my iron levels are sometimes too low to give blood.

4. Pregnancy? hahaha JUST KIDDING.

5. Not sleeping as soundly at night (my neighbor's dog...ugh!)

6. Being kept up by an insanely hot man who won't keep his hands off me

Do you ever have periods where you are exhausted and can't wake up?

Today I am thankful for:

- 4th of July falling on the weekend!

- Jeans Days at work - I am easily pleased.

- New CD's/Music!

Amazing (?) Grass

Since I've been drinking Green Monsters almost everyday, I decided to get on the Amazing Grass bandwagon and give them a whirl. I looked up on their website where the AG products were sold, and amazingly found that they were available at a health food store a few miles from where I work. The only sample they had was one packet of the Green Super Food powder for $1.50. I snatched it up and put it in my GM this weekend.

Hmmmm.

Now, I have to say I added crunchy PB to the mix for the first time. But really, I didn't like it all that much! Not sure if it was the PB or the Amazing Grass powder. I'd be willing to give their other flavors a shot, but maybe not in a GM.

Have you tried any Amazing Grass products? If so, what's your favorite?

A Different Kind of 5-K

My sister, Kelly, asked me to walk a 5-K with her and her 2 daughters yesterday (her hubby was running in it). The 5-K is part of the Annual Fishers Freedom Festival. Fishers is a cute little "town" in the suburbs about 25 miles from downtown Indianapolis. I really love it here....lots of families and people are always outside doing something. Love that!

I cherish all of the time I have with my nieces and was excited to go to the 5-K, but a part of me really just wanted to be out there running it. I hate that I let my pride get in the way, and really just told myself that life is TOO SHORT and who cares if I can't run in this race? I can still enjoy the time with my nieces and sistah.

My cute carmates - Clare Bear....

...and Gracie Girl.

The Family of Four

Me and the Crew

Clare came armed with her racing gear - Cardinals baseball cap? Check. Snacks for the road? Check. Sippy cup o' milk? Check check and check.


During the race, we passed a lady in a wheelchair - not a racing wheelchair, mind you, but a regular wheelchair. Now, I've never been in a wheelchair before, but I can only imagine how difficult this must be. She kept having to stop and I felt very guilty for hesitating to do the race only because I couldn't run. I'm a true believer in signs, and not to sound preachy, but I do think God put her there to remind me that I need to be thankful I am not more injured than I am.

Today I am thankful for:

- Getting 8 hours of sleep for the first time in weeks!

- Taking a nap yesterday (for one since I had the flu in January...I forgot how much I LOVE them!)

- Green grass

Check out Run to the Finish's Amazing Grass Giveaway!

Me Gusta Enchilasagna

I grew up having lasagna at least once or twice a month - LOVE it. So when I saw this recipe for Enchilasagna, I had to give it a try.

The layering part is SO much fun for me. Like an art project or something.

As you can see, this feeds an ARMY. Even after my serving, I have enough for the rest of the week! Actually, it's nice because I don't really have time to cook during the week. Or....I am just too tired/lazy when I get home from work. ;-)

What is your favorite Mexican dish? Or do you like Mexican food at all? My tummy can be bothered with it sometimes, but in the end I love a good black bean enchillada!

On a different note, my sisters and I grew up dancing to MJ's music. We even had the "Thriller" RECORD. Rest in peace, Michael. I think I'm going to download some MJ tunes on my iPod now.

Today I am thankful for:

- Nip/Tuck on DVD

- "Magic" knee tape (more to come on that later!)

- Michael Jackson's music.....especially "Thriller." And who can forget that VIDEO??!


Check out Iowa Girl Eat's Real Simple & Pure Bars Giveaway!

Baking With Aunt H

First, of all - thank you all so much for your comments on my last post! It's like, free therapy, I swear. :-) I'm just a natural worrier, so I tend to muse things over so long and then I really doubt myself. I will keep you all posted on what I decide (or if!) for sure.

This weekend my niece, Reese, spent the night with me. She is my only niece who hasn't stayed over yet at my new house, and she was so excited.

Guess what I got her to try?!

I was making a GM and, with wide eyes she asked, "Can I have some, Aunt Holly?"

After I picked myself off the ground from fainting, I gladly gave her the glass and eagerly awaited her response. This is the girl who only likes macaroni and cheese or PB&J sandwiches!

After a sip I took the glass back, she asked for another sip. And then another!

I was completely flabbergasted, and I loved showing my sister the picture of what she drank at my house. My sister freaked! lol. Then I assured her how TASTY they are (she still didn't totally believe me, but then at a glance they do look scary).

Anyway, after Reese woke me up at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning, I thought....what better thing to do with your fun, cool aunt at 6 a.m. on a Sunday morning than bake cookies?!

My friend's birthday was Monday and these are her favorite cookies, so I baked them for her and for my pops (for Father's Day). I grew up making these only at Christmas time. But as I get older I realize that life is too short to only bake your favorite things once a year. Are ya with me?

I also grew up thinking this was my grandma's original recipe. My mom burst that bubble when she told me it's actual the recipe of a neighbor of my grandma. Oh well. I still call 'em grandma's sugar cookies.

Grandma's (Neighbor's) Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

3 1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup margarine (I used butter)

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup sour cream

Combine flour, soda and salt in small bowl and set aside. Cream together sugar, margarine and egg. Add in vanilla and sour cream. Pour half of flour mixture and beat together. Pour in other half and beat. Roll out dough with rolling pin and cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes. Let cool and frost away!

In order to prevent snacking on the dough, I had one of these bad boys. Don't hate. The trick worked!

However I wish I could say the same for my lovely assistant.

She begged me to "test" the dough, and who am I to say no?

Fresh out of the oven....

Mmmm mmmmm good!


Today I am thankful for:

- Feeling sore from lifting yesterday (I'm gettin' stronger!)

- My sister who helped me hang pictures in my bedroom (I've only lived here....8 months)

- Ice, cold water

Check out Missy's Amazing Grass Giveaway!

What to Do...

I am not a risk taker.

I never have been, and probably never will be. And I am okay with that. I like my feet on the ground, I like to know tonight what I'm eating for breakfast in the morning, and I like to follow the beaten path.

I am also one of the most indecisive people I know.

But, I am also very unhappy in my job.

Don't get me wrong...it's a "great" job in terms of stability, the people I've met, and it pays the bills. It's even made it possible for me to buy a home last fall. But at then end of the day, it's a JOB. Not a career; not something I have any passion for whatsoever.

I've thought about a million different things to pursue: returning to teaching, finding another office job at a non-profit agency, personal training, etc. Unfortunately, as a new homeowner I know have to think realistically about finding a career that will, um, help me keep my house. (I don't want Freddie and Fannie gettin' their hands on my home!)

There IS one common tie to the careers I keep thinking about: they all involve helping people in some way. I know that sounds incredibly cheesy, but that's the "teacher" in me. That's the nurturing side. The one career that I keep debating in my head would be one that will help me keep my house AND help people. I've been thinking about becoming a nurse!

The scary shiz is that I would have to quit my job for 2 years to complete the nursing program. This means: (GULP) loans. I am very blessed in that my parents paid for my undergraduate education, and other than my mortgage, I don't have a current loan of any type. I am TERRIFIED of taking out a loan, especially because I'm not 100% convinced that I want to be a nurse. I love the field of health, helping others, the flexibility of nursing schedules, and the great benefits that come along with the job....but it's scary because I'm not 100% certain. But are we ever certain when we do something outside of the norm?

One day I feel like I could conquer the world, and I am 100% for quitting my job and pursuing my nursing degree.

The very next day I feel like I would be WAY too stressed to undertake something like this.

I just wish someone would tell me what to do! lol. That's always been my answer/response to things: "Just tell me what to do." Like I said....Ms. Indecisive, comin' at ya.

Are you currently happy in your job/career? If you're not working, do you have a career in mind that you think might suit you best?

Check out Missy's Amazing Grass Giveaway!