It's been awhile...

Okay, Team Mountain has been super busy and I am completely dropping the ball on this blogging thing. SO, I decided that I would choose a specific topic to blog about during different seasons and then I could always throw in something random and blog-worthy.

I am going to re-visit the topic of getting in shape. I had blogged about polka dot bikinis back in January. I have done an alright job, but last week actually got into it. I detoxed...UGH! Not the most fun thing to do. Only lean mean, veggies, and fruits. It doesn't sound awful until you do it for 10 days and you starve! The first week I was allowed to eat as much as I wanted of those things to curb the hunger part. This week will be the final week of all this. I am now starting to watch how much of all those wonderful things I eat.

Other rules: I can have 2 servings of good carbs (i.e., double fiber english muffin or a cup of whole wheat pasta)....there is an 'if', IF I work out that day. So I can earn those wonderful carbs but working my little butt off. And if I'm working out, I'll need them.

I have started going to cycling classes. My goal is to go Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning. Then anything else I can fit in my schedule.

My little secrets to success...
Mexican Salads: I love a big bed of lettuce with black beans, corn, salsa, and just a pinch of sharp cheddar on top. These are great because the salsa is a super healthy substitute for dressing.

Frozen Applesauce: Seriously! I get the frozen thing from my dad. He prefers everything frozen! I get the No Sugar Added Mott's Applesauce that is either regular, strawberry, pomegranate, or peach flavored. Stick them in the freezer, then it's like sherbet when you eat it! Great low-sugar, 50 calories snack.

Orbitz Gum: If there is something wrong with this little vice I would prefer not know. I can chew on this stuff and not think about eating for hours.

Water: Really, I never used to drink the proper amount of water and I'm trying to nurse bottles of water now all the time. It really does keep me from craving things I ought not. And I'm sure there are a million other health benefits.

Things to do other than eating: Americans are so bad at filling their time with munching. I know I am. So I have picked up little hobbies and watched myself to make sure I don't bring a snack when it's not necessary. Taking pictures, blogging (getting back on that one), reading some of my new favorite magazines (ShopSmart and The Nest), and doing projects around the apartment (repainting stools and decorating.)

All of these things have really helped.

Blaine has been great. He encourages me to get to the gym when I'm just a little shy of enough get-up-and-go. He has also learned how to help me find a healthy alternative when I'm claiming to be famished :)

Driving reasons to get into better shape:

1) It's good for you. Everyone should care about your body. It's a gift from God and I want to do my part to be a good steward.
2) I'm going to PROM! Ha Ha...sounds funny coming from someone who is about to be 25. Blaine and I are going to prom as sponsors and they dress up at this school.
3)Taking 1 year anniversary pictures in June! Can't wait! Blaine and I are going to put our gear back on and take some portraits to celebrate!
4)Summer...come on ladies. We all care.
5)I'm going to be a bridesmaid again! Super cute orange dresses.
6)Orlando! Blaine and I are going to Orlando, Florida in August for an MOG/National Conference retreat. The Conference,Disney World, Universal Studios, and the pool are calling my name!

I'm excited and actually motivated this time. I'll keep everyone up-to-date on how it goes!

Belated Valentines

So Blaine and I finally got to head out for some Valentine adventures. I had been sick the week of and we decided to post pone the festivities. For the longest time I had wanted to go to Buca di Beppo and eat in the kitchen. If you haven't been to Buca then you would not understand this phenomenon. It's a little difficult to explain or try to convince you of how fun it would be to eat in the kitchen if you have never been. In that case, I'll start by urging you to give Buca di Beppo a try. Fun atmosphere and great food.

So, we headed out and had a great time! Here are some of the pictures from our adventure.


Left overs. So much food!


Our cook posed for us and chose to do so with one of their famous 1/2 pound meatballs.


Us at Buca di Beppo, in the kitchen.


Blaine in the car...


Me in the car...

We had so much fun!

If it's not one thing it's another...

And by that I mean it was another. Last week I was very sick and originally thought I had the flu. I didn't go to the doctor because they can't do a whole lot for it. Well 2 1/2 days in I was desperate and in the ER. It was another... another ailment that is. I had a kidney infection. To make matters worse, the medicine I was sent home with didn't work. That night was a nightmare. So the next day my general doctor checked me into the hospital she is located at to make sure I didn't have early stages of appendicitis. CAT scan says, "No." Still kidney infection, just not the right meds. One hospital overnight later, I was on my way back to health. Yikes! Crazy week! Valentines was spent still recovering. Booo. I'm still working on regaining my strength and making sure I'm all well.

Good news! Tomorrow I'm going on a much anticipated date with my wonderful husband! We are going to Buca di Beppo, and we have reservations in the kitchen. If you never been there, that's hard to explain. I can't wait! Yeah Buca!

Team Mountain

Meat-a-balls!

This is one of our favorites!

1 lb Ground Turkey (You can use beef if you wish)
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 egg
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp basil
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper (I prefer fresh cracked pepper)
1/2 box of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
(Or you can cook down fresh spinach, about 1-1 1/2 cups)
Optional: You can also do these with sundried tomatos instead of spinach...mmmmm!

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a baking sheet.

Dump it all together. (Make sure to break the egg yolk.) For my messy people, use your hands. Better yet, let your kids do it. As long as they don't eat it, it will be a lot of fun. For my clean people, I use my KitchenAid mixer.

Make sure all the ingredients are mixed. Then with your hands (sorry clean people) roll meatballs. 1"-2" meatballs work great, just try to get them uniform for cooking-time purposes. Place them on the baking sheet and bake for about 20-25 minutes. They will be brown and when you crack one open there shouldn't be any pink. (Ground turkey will be much lighter than beef.)

Here's the fun part! You can serve them so many different ways!

1)Classic: Over noodles of choice with either marinara sauce or cream sauce.
2)Sandwich Style: On subs with sauce poured over.
3)Do it ahead: You can freeze these after cooking and pull them out later on. You can place them frozen in the crockpot with a large can of Ragu (or other red sauce) and let them simmer in the sauce and heat up. If you are going to be gone all day, add a cup of water and cook on low.

Ta Da! Meat-a-balls!

Buca de Choa

So I have been dropping hints...or straight up telling my husband that all I want to do for Valentines is eat in the kitchen at Buca di Beppo. I have always made sure that he is very aware that they accept reservations far in advanced and only take two or three a night for that table. Numerous times he has assured me that he thinks that's a great idea and he will take care of it.

So being the typical woman that I am, I asked him as we are getting ready to get in bed tonight,"Hey babe, when are you going to make our reservations?"

"Oh, at Buca de Choa?"

Although normally I would be a little dismayed at this response, I could not help but laugh. My husband really tried and in the process he combined two of the best restaurants I have ever visited, Fogo de Chao and Buca di Beppo. Thus, "Buca de Chao." He must have been listening to me at some point because he knows two of my favorites.

"team mountain"

Itsy-Bitsy-Teenie-Weenie-Yellow-Polka-Dot-Bikini Goal

Have you ever seen that commercial where she hangs the little bikini in her room. Every morning she gets up and eats a little thing of yogurt in her towel as she gets ready. Finally you see her wrapped up in her little towel walking out to the pool in the summer. Then she drops the towel and looks fabulous!

Okay, so I'm going to cut portions, hit the gym, and drink lots of water to get in shape for the summer adventures I'm sure are in store for me.

So I like visuals, but only appropriate ones. Have you ever googled "yellow polka dot bikinis?" Don't! It's not appropriate. (I like my blog being family friendly.) So I found this picture...



Priscilla is a Shitzu model for Petsmart in a stunning little get-up! I'm pretty sure I won't be wearing this suit, and I'm not a huge fan of yogurt but I'm going to take on this challenge!

I've done it before... have not strayed too far off track... I can do it again. Let's get that bod in shape for summer!

Join me?

Sweet Relish

Okay, I am not a huge relish user. I don't put it on my hot dogs. For the longest time I thought that was the only thing relish was for. I don't like sweet pickles. That's not what a pickle is suppose to taste like. Zesty Dill Pickles are the only way to go. When you bite into them, they should bite your tongue back. Understand? Okay, so one day I realized they made DILL RELISH. The world has been changed ever since. I get dill relish to prevent having to cut up pickles for chicken salad or tuna salad. Genius! So I go to the store. It is so easy to get the wrong relish. I spend a good 60 seconds in the pickle aisle to make sure I get the correct relish. Sixty seconds may not sound like a long time, but time yourself next time you are shopping. See how much time you spend for each item, especially ones you know you are getting and you are looking for specifically. Sixty seconds. It's very important. So I am pumped, getting ready to make my tuna salad for lunch the next morning. I can taste it, so excited. SWEET RELISH!! As soon as I opened the jar I knew my lunch had died. I could smell it.... So, I spent the next few minutes chopping dill pickles once again. How did I get to this place? What was I doing during that 60 seconds in the pickle aisle. I don't know. It's a shame. Anyone like sweet relish? I am trying to give away a jar.