July 29, 2009

Leggo my eggo-plant!

Dinner tonight is looking much more promising than the previous.

Homegrown and everything, thanks to a co-worker. And it is YJDKIY-sized to boot!



I think it will shape into something like this, or this.


EVENING UPDATE

Or this, my own concoction of saute, garlic, tomatoes and cheese:


Tasted decent, but I think I will leave eggplant cooking to YJDKIY readers with more experience.

July 28, 2009

Kinda like baby food...

But grown up and crunchy.

This:


Plus this:


and this:


and this too:


Results in smushy banana nutbutter sunflower seed snack, scratch that, dinner! Better with oats, but I forgot those. Nom nom nom...

In my quest to find perfection



that has consequently left me with SIX bottles of half used shampoo, I give you:

Esencia by Samy

Mmm...love the orangey scent when I flip my hair around. Love the natural no sulfates. But, boo on the slightly dry and limp feeling and ridiculous amount of time it took to rinse.

Probably wouldn't make this $7.99 purchase again, but at least this one gets refunded thanks to the 'try it free' offer on the cap.

July 23, 2009

My Continual Goals for Healthy Living

Hello, I'd like you to meet my soapbox.

RIGHT OUT OF THE KITCHEN SINK

1. Drink only water
Coffee and tea, in moderation (with absolutely no cream, sugar, syrup, fake sugar, etc) do count! Not bottled, not fancy, not expensive, everywhere you go! If you need a little change every now and then, try a herbal tea flavor (cold!) or on rare occasions, use a Propel packet for ONE glass of flavored water. Or, opt for well-hydrated fruits and veggies such as watermelon, cucumber, and celery. By doing this, you'll already be working on #2. For a real challenge, don't just replace other beverages with water, actually make a point to increase your water intake!

READ THE LABELS - it's a whole 'nother language back there!

2. Cut sugar intake
In all forms, not just sweets (do cut those too!) such as ice cream, brownies and cookies, but additive sugar like high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, crystalline, mannitol, sorbitol (see #5!). It hides in everything from bread, stuffing, "fruit" juice drinks, cereal (big bad offender see #6), ketchup, crackers, yogurt, pickles, lunch meat, salad dressing, etc. etc. If you haven't seen King Corn (opens with music), Netflix it now.

3. Cut sodium intake
Do you know how much you are supposed to have a day? Less than 2400 milligrams. That is about 1 teaspoon of table salt a day, but that amount includes all sodium consumed! It's not the chips and nuts that will get you, it's lurking in the foods you least expect as preservative and a flavoring agent. And it isn't that bad for you, until you pick up a few items and add it up. A few grocery store examples: Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup, 890 mg; Butterball Thin-sliced Honey Roasted Turkey breast lunch meat (4 slices!), 550 mg; Prego Traditional Italian Sauce (1/2 c.), 580 mg.; Special K original cereal (1c.), 220 mg; Lean Cuisine Chicken Teriyaki, 690 mg. Restaurant examples? Gladly: Starbucks Grande Mocha Frap, 230 mg; McDonald's Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken and Dressing, 1300mg; Panera Turkey Artichoke Panini, 2340 mg. Did you get that? 98% of your RDA in ONE sandwich. Ick. Edumacate yourself folks, that's the only way you're going to realize what you put in directly affects what you get out.

4. Increase Fiber
25-40 grams a day. You'll feel full, longer with less calories. Your body will um, process stuff cleaner and easier. It will help maintain your blood sugar. It's good for your heart and has a modest effect on cholesterol. Look for whole grains (#5 again!), apples, oatmeal, Wasa, seeds, Greek yogurt, bran, and fresh veggies. Avoid quick fixes, which I like to call the tourist traps of the food industry such as Fiber One bars that claim to be a good source of fiber, but have a ton of sugar (including HFCS, among others), sodium, fat and low protein.

5. Fewer extras, more naturals
This is a big one. Try to eat foods in the most "natural" state possible. The fewer hands and machines that had to touch it, the better. I know local organic farmers' market is expensive, but take baby steps. Eat an orange instead of orange juice. Eat a grilled steak instead of a hamburger. Eat an apple instead of a granola bar. Craving Papa Johns? Grab a pita, some tomatoes, veggies & cheese and make your own. Eating a colorful (I mean that...lots of vibrantly colored vegetables, earthy grains, lean fresh proteins) will ensure that you get the vitamins and minerals needed without having to take [processed] diet supplements. And, you'll lessen your risks for cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. You'll save on calories, sugar, sodium, trans-fats, and junk. By junk I mean all the chemical additives used to get your food from the farm in Washington, to the plant in Texas to the distributer in Virginia to the grocery store in North Carolina, for, your convenience? There are other reasons too! Here is a great article to get you started on this topic (I could go on forever...)

6. Start with a healthy breakfast
Food for thought. Metabolism. Energy. All good reasons to spend 10 minutes with a protein rich, whole food, delicious breakfast. And I don't mean a bowl of Cheerios or a Poptart. Yogurt, berries, oats, nut butter, eggs, all good. Just try to find two cereals on that aisle that don't have sugar in the top 3 ingredients. And while you're at it, bring a snack for mid morning. 200-300 calories 4-6 times a day is much better than binging on two or three meals.

AC-TIV-IA!

7. Sit less, move more
How many hours a day do you sit at a desk, in a car, on a couch? When you really start paying attention, is your life sedentary? Mine was. Find little ways to move throughout the day. Take the stairs, don't look for the closest parking spot, stand up while you're bopping around the internet, carry your groceries instead of using a cart, sit on an exercise ball in front of the TV, take a walk after dinner, dance, do isometrics while cooking, clean your house. There are endless ways to create movement and HOW long ago did Newton tell us: An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion... When you do have to sit, make sure you have proper posture and take stretch breaks.

8. Find something that works
I hate gyms, I hate group fitness, I hate running, my back hurts sometimes, its too humid and hot to breath outside. But I signed up for a session with a trainer and it worked, now I see her two days a week. I don't hate the gym so much, I feel confident in group fitness, I can keep up if someone sets the pace, I trudge through the hurt and baby it when I need to, and riding a bike cools me off more than walking. Keep trying, you'll like something eventually. It doesn't have to be expensive. Look for seasonal gym discounts, student trainers, (reputable) internet trainers, Wii workouts, or just some cinder blocks that need moving. Sweat out the toxins one way or another. As a side, note, lift some weight! You're not going to bulk up unless you are male and trying to do so. It's good for your muscles (which are good for your metabolism!) and good for bone density. And who doesn't need more of that?

9. Namaste
Yoga is the best way to get your blood flowing, release the tension of the day and keep your body nimble and flexible. The focused stretching and breathing forces you to release whatever is holding you back! Again, nothing fancy, check out Netflix's watch instantly section for yoga right in your own living room.

ENOUGH ALREADY

10. Break the rules
Don’t beat yourself up if you are off a day or miss a goal. I break every single one of these, at least weekly, that's why they are continual goals. Allow yourself to enjoy a meal at a nice restaurant or swing through the fast food line once a month. Don’t stress out if you only feel like 20 minutes on the elliptical today instead of 30. In fact, ditch the scales too. Base your progress on how your clothes fit and how you feel. Look back over 6-12 months worth of pictures. Does that make you feel better or worse? Six months ago, I could barely do one push-up, and this morning I knocked out at least 20 burnout push-ups AFTER my upper body workout. In that same six months, I haven't been sick once. Now that's getting somewhere in my book.

I'm starting to see a pattern here!

**




**Ignore messy crammed closet and focus on ROYGBIV!

July 21, 2009

It's July 21

Why are there this many "fall" leaves in my yard?


YJDKIY is happily accepting any of these as gifts - now through November.

July 20, 2009

If I can't go to Charleston...

This will have to do.



At least from the culinary perspective. (YJDKIY is not eating so healthy tonight!)

Low-country Shrimp & Grits

1 c. quick cook grits
3/4 lb. shrimp peeled
3-4 slices of bacon
1 large shallot
3 cloves garlic
1/2 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 small tomato chopped

Add the grits to 3 c. boiling water with a pinch of salt, reduce to low-medium heat, cover, cook 5-8 mins. Heat the bacon over med-high heat in frying pan, remove and saute the shallot and garlic in bacon grease for no more than 1 minute. Add the shrimp and continue to cook until white and onions/garlic caramelize (about 3-5 minutes). Mix bacon and onion/garlic mixture into grits, stir in cheese until melted. Top with shrimp and chopped tomato.

What the KALE is that green stuff in the side dish? (amusing link, you should click through).

July 17, 2009

I say: I need a lighter weight day...

Kim says: Ok, we'll do this then:

Today:


(what? you thought there would actually be a video of ME doing those?! HAHAHHA)

Next:



My favorite part is using dog leashes instead!

July 16, 2009

Police unknowingly arrest undercover officer



Statesville is home to the best and the brightest! The law selling drugs to the law. Who kept the drugs?

Police unknowingly arrest undercover officer

1. Statesville served as the temporary capital of North Carolina during the final months of the Civil War when Union troops occupied Raleigh and forced Gov. Zebulon Vance to relocate the confederate state government.

2. By 1858, Statesville was growing rapidly and soon afterward began leading the state in the production of tobacco and tobacco products, the manufacture and blending of whiskey, and became a large distribution center for roots and herbs.

3. Home to NASCAR driver Ryan Newman

July 15, 2009

It's not light when I get up anymore :(

Rising and setting times for the Sun (Raleigh)

Length of day Solar noon
Date Sunrise Sunset This day Difference Time Altitude Distance
(106 km)
Jul 15, 2009 6:10 AM 8:31 PM 14h 20m 39s − 1m 07s 1:21 PM 75.6° 152.048
Jul 16, 2009 6:11 AM 8:30 PM 14h 19m 30s − 1m 09s 1:21 PM 75.5° 152.041
Jul 17, 2009 6:11 AM 8:30 PM 14h 18m 18s − 1m 12s 1:21 PM 75.3° 152.033
Jul 18, 2009 6:12 AM 8:29 PM 14h 17m 03s − 1m 14s 1:21 PM 75.1° 152.024
Jul 19, 2009 6:13 AM 8:29 PM 14h 15m 47s − 1m 16s 1:21 PM 74.9° 152.015
Jul 20, 2009 6:14 AM 8:28 PM 14h 14m 28s − 1m 18s 1:21 PM 74.8° 152.004
Jul 21, 2009 6:14 AM 8:27 PM 14h 13m 07s − 1m 20s 1:21 PM 74.6° 151.993

July 14, 2009

Lucky North Carolinians: His release date is Nov. 14, 2139.

Madoff arrives at N.C. prison

Federal prison bureau says financier who pleaded guilty to 11 counts related to running a Ponzi scheme has been transferred to a facility in Butner.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Bernard Madoff, the convicted Ponzi mastermind, was transferred to a federal prison in Butner, N.C. on Tuesday, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

(YJDKIY graphic special!)

Local 2000 and late

You're kidding? People still use these? They really pay someone to walk around and trespass and litter?











1. I don't even have a phone in my home and thanks, but I'll stick to my iPhone or goog411.
2. www.internets.com
3. Massive amounts of paper and ink, plastic bags, cars to drive around and deliver.


Dear Bell South,
It might be time to consider plan B.
Sincerely,
Everyone I know under 55?

It's for science....really...

I'm not quite sure how this is different from silly Facebook quizzes, but apparently it is.

My Results: The Celebrity Similarity Test: Who Am I Most Similar To?

I dunno who this lady is!

The project: The Celebrity Similarity Test: Who Am I Most Similar To?

July 13, 2009

Two-fold





This post has two purposes. Please read the article below and then reflect on:

1. Holy wildlife in my back yard Batman!

2. What the eff are these people talking about in the comment section? I'm really not exactly sure who these bottom readers** are, but way to non-sequitur, people.

Bear sighted in western Winston-Salem


**see Steve 2:46's comment/entry on my most favorite blog!

July 6, 2009

I love this more than I should...



And I don't know why.



I just do.



It always always makes me laugh.



Please don't judge me.

July 3, 2009

Maybe she got knocked up...

I do not want to disappoint anyone with my decision; all I can ask is that you TRUST me with this decision – but it’s no more “politics as usual”.

-Sarah Palin announcement

PLEASE PLEASE go away, otherwise I will be disappointed.

I totally stold this...

From KERF, but I modified it a bit for a little more challenge. Great 10-15 minute energy boost.

Circuit One
* Push-ups (as many as you can do)
* Squats (with weightsor jump squats)
* REPEAT

Circuit Two
* Bicycle Crunches (as many as you can do)
* Reverse Crunches (ditto)
* Lunges with optional bicep curl (or curl and press)
* REPEAT

Circuit Three
* Chair Tricep Dips (feet up or down)
* Wall Squat (hold as long as you can)
* REPEAT

FINISH!
* Hold a plank as long as you can (optional raises)

July 2, 2009

Sanford heading to Florida for the Fourth - Sanford - The State

This man is a PR nightmare. Aren't SC's sandy beaches, golf courses, and private communities heavily marketed as vacation destinations?


Sanford heading to Florida for the Fourth - Sanford - The State

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