Has anyone ever tried to Meal Plan? Because it's impossible.
Every week since I have been married (5 months last week!) I have thought "next week, I am going to make a meal plan" and then I try and realize how hard it will be because these are the things it needs to have.
1200 calories for me (unless I start working out)
2000 calories for the meeker
dinners that can be turned into work lunches
foods that take less then 1 hour to make
meat (for meeker) that i can cook (so far, chicken and ground turkey)
and low on the dairy products and
nothing processed if possible.
Incorporates Juices and Smoothies...
and after reviewing all that i think "I don't have time to make a meal plan" .
-So I just Google search "meal plans" and find a ton of really intricate meals that I would have to quit my job and devote my life to cooking and grocery shopping.
-So I Google search "meal plans for busy people" and I either find meals that feed a family of 5, or are full of casseroles, cheese, milk, and overly processed food.
-So I Google search "healthy meal plans" or "whole food meal plans" and run into the same issue as the first Google search.
-So I ordered Jillian Michael's cookbook with a meal plan for busy people, but it had a lot of processed food and or milk/dairy products or meat that I didn't know how to cook.
-So I then I asked a friend and they gave me a meal plan program sample (the basic 5 or something) meal plan for busy families but again, it's portion sizes are for 4 not 2.
So I think I am actually going to have to make one myself. Which I probably could have done in the amount of time that it took me to Google search. Live and learn.
I actually found the Fit2Fat2Fit to be the best one to meet our needs if I tweak it a bunch and cook everything on Sunday, but may need to add calories to it for the hubby since its really low calorie and my big guy needs a lot more since he does all those boot camp workouts.. we shall see.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Other things I want to Blog about but probably won't get to
I have other things I would love to write about on here.
But who has the time!? Seriously, how do these Bloggers do it?
I feel like if I write the ideas down on the blog its like I am blogging about it. So here it goes.
1. Ode To Kroger - My love for the Kroger grocery store, their gas station, and their reward system.
2. Grocery Store Loyalty Dilemma - Despite my love for Kroger, I am thinking about switching to Trader Joes and Whole Foods and the Farmers Market because I can only shop in 1 aisle at Kroger because everything else is full of the evil ingredients. And Trader Joes is funny (have you seen the way they name things?!) Problem is that Whole Foods and Trader Joes are totally out of the way, the Farmers Market is only on Saturday and Kroger is across the street and open 24/7. (First World Problem Alert).
3. WORK STORIES! - I have the funniest job. People call in with the craziest problems and I want to document them! And Quote them ("I have bipolarism" "I feel smothercated")! And make fun of them! or feel sorry for them. But I can't because I will get fired and probably lose my license because it's in "poor taste" and controlled by "HIPPA" :-)
4. Co-worker stories- Again same problem. But come on, fake weddings, a luau party in Feb, the refrigerator thief, stomach wrap weight loss stories! It's like an episode of the office every day. I would feel horrible if they ever read this though, just like I would feel horrible if I read a blog that was making fun of me. So I will refrain!
5. Caller Email Address- people have the weirdest email addresses, and I write all of the funny ones down. I want to list them on here. The best are from stay-at-home moms that have some form of the word "patootie" in their handle. Again that "HIPPA" thing.. and my whole "license thing" and my "steady income thing"...
6. My Old Dating Stories- Not to brag or anything, but I think I have had some of the worst dates ever. Or weirdest, or creepiest, etc.. but again, I would feel really bad if one of the past dates ever read this.
That's all. I would say most of these would just be making fun of other people, which is cheap humor.. and not very creative (but super enjoyable to read). So I am not sure what that says about my heart. I may need to go examine why I have a desire to make fun of others so much (it's funny!). But I will harness my inner-bully and make my blog a nicey.
But who has the time!? Seriously, how do these Bloggers do it?
I feel like if I write the ideas down on the blog its like I am blogging about it. So here it goes.
1. Ode To Kroger - My love for the Kroger grocery store, their gas station, and their reward system.
2. Grocery Store Loyalty Dilemma - Despite my love for Kroger, I am thinking about switching to Trader Joes and Whole Foods and the Farmers Market because I can only shop in 1 aisle at Kroger because everything else is full of the evil ingredients. And Trader Joes is funny (have you seen the way they name things?!) Problem is that Whole Foods and Trader Joes are totally out of the way, the Farmers Market is only on Saturday and Kroger is across the street and open 24/7. (First World Problem Alert).
3. WORK STORIES! - I have the funniest job. People call in with the craziest problems and I want to document them! And Quote them ("I have bipolarism" "I feel smothercated")! And make fun of them! or feel sorry for them. But I can't because I will get fired and probably lose my license because it's in "poor taste" and controlled by "HIPPA" :-)
4. Co-worker stories- Again same problem. But come on, fake weddings, a luau party in Feb, the refrigerator thief, stomach wrap weight loss stories! It's like an episode of the office every day. I would feel horrible if they ever read this though, just like I would feel horrible if I read a blog that was making fun of me. So I will refrain!
5. Caller Email Address- people have the weirdest email addresses, and I write all of the funny ones down. I want to list them on here. The best are from stay-at-home moms that have some form of the word "patootie" in their handle. Again that "HIPPA" thing.. and my whole "license thing" and my "steady income thing"...
6. My Old Dating Stories- Not to brag or anything, but I think I have had some of the worst dates ever. Or weirdest, or creepiest, etc.. but again, I would feel really bad if one of the past dates ever read this.
That's all. I would say most of these would just be making fun of other people, which is cheap humor.. and not very creative (but super enjoyable to read). So I am not sure what that says about my heart. I may need to go examine why I have a desire to make fun of others so much (it's funny!). But I will harness my inner-bully and make my blog a nicey.
Monday, March 4, 2013
it's happening.
I have been wanting to blog lately but I haven't really had anything to write about.. (except transitioning into marriage... but that's so 2012!).
I was going to blog about our Juice Fast (which was inspired by Fat Sick and Nearly Dead) but it only lasted 2 1/2 days and ended with a meal at Cheese Cake Factory--So I didn't think that would be too inspiring.
I also thought about blogging about me trying to learn how to cook but also thought that would be too Julia + Julie movie (what was that called?).. but I know what I am going to write about now:
NETFLIX DOCUMENTARIES!
yah. that's actually the real thing I am going to blog about not a joke. I have watched probably a million (14) in the last month and I want to document them so I don't forget what I learned. And so I can recommend them to other people (Kimi).
So that's whats happening but I'm probably not going to get around to it until Saturday. Get excited.
I was going to blog about our Juice Fast (which was inspired by Fat Sick and Nearly Dead) but it only lasted 2 1/2 days and ended with a meal at Cheese Cake Factory--So I didn't think that would be too inspiring.
I also thought about blogging about me trying to learn how to cook but also thought that would be too Julia + Julie movie (what was that called?).. but I know what I am going to write about now:
NETFLIX DOCUMENTARIES!
yah. that's actually the real thing I am going to blog about not a joke. I have watched probably a million (14) in the last month and I want to document them so I don't forget what I learned. And so I can recommend them to other people (Kimi).
So that's whats happening but I'm probably not going to get around to it until Saturday. Get excited.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
No TV day 2-23
Okay, so obviously, blogging my progress has not been a priority!!!
Mainly because I always forget the password to get into this site....
Anyways,
No TV is AWESOME! Things are going really well. Meeker and I decided to go the rest of the summer without TV.
I think the first week was the hardest of them all, after that, I didn't really notice it...
Some memorable moments...
1. On day 2 Meeker was so bored that he went to bed at 8:30pm.
2. Memorial Day - Meeker came over and we were bored- he didn't bring a bathing suit so we couldn't go to the pool, so normally we would have just watched TV. Instead, we set up a table outside and played 90s trivial pursuit and drank lemonade and listened to pandora stations! it was sooo fun!
Reflections
-Initially, I think I just found other ways to waste time instead of actually being productive- doing a puzzle, reading harry potter, and listening to every episode of This American Life via podcast... but all of those things were a little more stimulating then sitting on the couch..
-I really do not miss TV that much. There are some days that I want to just come home and zone out, usually on stressful days or when I feel overwhelmed. I didn't realize how much I was using TV to cope with stress..
-Not watching tv has also helped me reconnect with friends- I think I made TV a "friend" because if Meeker couldn't hang out I would just catch up on the DVR or watch netflix instead of engaging with other people...
-I realize now how lazy TV makes me- physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
anyway, I wanted to update my list of things I wanted to accomplish
These are the things I wish to accomplish
1. stay on top of my paperwork (not as good as I had hoped, but def moving in the right direction)
2. keep my desk organized at home (nope!)
3. Read Harry Potter 2 (yes, and I am now on book 4!)
4. finish the puzzle on my desk (almost)
5. finalize my budget (no)
6. clear out my email (yes)
7. talk to more friends on the phone (yes)
8. do a bible study with my mom. (not yet)
9. Read "on death and dying" (i think i want to work for hospice). (1/2 way)
I start volunteering for hospice soon! yaya
okay, that is all for now.. .i hope i post more.. i definitely have time!
Mainly because I always forget the password to get into this site....
Anyways,
No TV is AWESOME! Things are going really well. Meeker and I decided to go the rest of the summer without TV.
I think the first week was the hardest of them all, after that, I didn't really notice it...
Some memorable moments...
1. On day 2 Meeker was so bored that he went to bed at 8:30pm.
2. Memorial Day - Meeker came over and we were bored- he didn't bring a bathing suit so we couldn't go to the pool, so normally we would have just watched TV. Instead, we set up a table outside and played 90s trivial pursuit and drank lemonade and listened to pandora stations! it was sooo fun!
Reflections
-Initially, I think I just found other ways to waste time instead of actually being productive- doing a puzzle, reading harry potter, and listening to every episode of This American Life via podcast... but all of those things were a little more stimulating then sitting on the couch..
-I really do not miss TV that much. There are some days that I want to just come home and zone out, usually on stressful days or when I feel overwhelmed. I didn't realize how much I was using TV to cope with stress..
-Not watching tv has also helped me reconnect with friends- I think I made TV a "friend" because if Meeker couldn't hang out I would just catch up on the DVR or watch netflix instead of engaging with other people...
-I realize now how lazy TV makes me- physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
anyway, I wanted to update my list of things I wanted to accomplish
These are the things I wish to accomplish
1. stay on top of my paperwork (not as good as I had hoped, but def moving in the right direction)
2. keep my desk organized at home (nope!)
3. Read Harry Potter 2 (yes, and I am now on book 4!)
4. finish the puzzle on my desk (almost)
5. finalize my budget (no)
6. clear out my email (yes)
7. talk to more friends on the phone (yes)
8. do a bible study with my mom. (not yet)
9. Read "on death and dying" (i think i want to work for hospice). (1/2 way)
I start volunteering for hospice soon! yaya
okay, that is all for now.. .i hope i post more.. i definitely have time!
Monday, May 23, 2011
TV Fast! Day 1.
My asheville friends and I rented a cabin in the NC mountains this past weekend and it was wonderful! Beautiful weather, no time constraints, great food- Amazing. On the way home, Meeker and I decided that we should stop watching TV. This is something that I have been thinking about for a couple months, but never got around too.. (lots of good stuff on the TV right now!) So, when Meeker brought it up, I jumped at the idea.
Then, when we got home, we watched 4 hours of Monk on Netflix.. but we definitely decided that Monday was the best day to start the fast.
So today is day 1!
The Rules
1. No Screens for one month- TV, Netflix, Hulu, or online tv via internet or phone. (also including no dvds of TV shows or movies).
2. We can only watch Movies if it is at a theater, or on the lawn (out in public).
3. If we are with a group of friends and they decide that the activity is to watch a movie/tv at someone's house, that is okay.
This morning I unhooked the cable from the box to the TV so it will be a hassle to watch and netflix is on hold!
So far so good. I really wanted to watch TV when I got home and even sat in my normal place in front of it while I was waiting for my dinner to cook.. I decided to just hang out in my room where there would be less temptation. I talked on the phone, worked on a half finished puzzle that has been sitting on my desk for 6 months, and listened to "this American life" on NPR.com
I was thinking through all the extra things I can do with my time, and I remembered my BLOG! and Blogs seem to be a good way to track things.. so last year- no shampoo, this year no tv...
These are the things I wish to accomplish
1. stay on top of my paperwork
2. keep my desk organized at home
3. Read Harry Potter 2
4. finish the puzzle on my desk
5. finalize my budget
6. clear out my email
7. talk to more friends on the phone
8. do a bible study with my mom.
9. Read "on death and dying" (i think i want to work for hospice).
thats all i can thing of so far... we shall see how this goes!
Then, when we got home, we watched 4 hours of Monk on Netflix.. but we definitely decided that Monday was the best day to start the fast.
So today is day 1!
The Rules
1. No Screens for one month- TV, Netflix, Hulu, or online tv via internet or phone. (also including no dvds of TV shows or movies).
2. We can only watch Movies if it is at a theater, or on the lawn (out in public).
3. If we are with a group of friends and they decide that the activity is to watch a movie/tv at someone's house, that is okay.
This morning I unhooked the cable from the box to the TV so it will be a hassle to watch and netflix is on hold!
So far so good. I really wanted to watch TV when I got home and even sat in my normal place in front of it while I was waiting for my dinner to cook.. I decided to just hang out in my room where there would be less temptation. I talked on the phone, worked on a half finished puzzle that has been sitting on my desk for 6 months, and listened to "this American life" on NPR.com
I was thinking through all the extra things I can do with my time, and I remembered my BLOG! and Blogs seem to be a good way to track things.. so last year- no shampoo, this year no tv...
These are the things I wish to accomplish
1. stay on top of my paperwork
2. keep my desk organized at home
3. Read Harry Potter 2
4. finish the puzzle on my desk
5. finalize my budget
6. clear out my email
7. talk to more friends on the phone
8. do a bible study with my mom.
9. Read "on death and dying" (i think i want to work for hospice).
thats all i can thing of so far... we shall see how this goes!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
To Beep or Not to Beep
So, I am having trouble deciding what the appropriate use of the car horn is...
Are there specific rules for beeping? What was the horn's original purpose?
I never used to use my horn- not even to let people know I was sitting outside of their house. I just felt like it was a little too assertive and loud.. maybe even rude/mean. (my horn also sounds like a clown car horn or what beeker's nose sounds like when you squeeze it...).
So a couple years ago, I started to feel more comfortable honking at other cars when they were about to cut me off or if I knew someone and wanted to wave "hi". I would also honk if I wanted to scare a BFF who was walking in front of my turned off car and didn't know anyone was inside (if you have never done this, i highly suggest you try it at least once)!
Well I think I have crossed over the line and have become an obnoxious horn user. Here are 2 recent incidents of inappropriate honking:
1. I was in a long line of cars waiting for the green arrow to make a left turn.. this is the longest light ever and if you miss the first round it takes FOREVER to get to the next cycle (maybe even 2 min!). So we get the green arrow and it looks like I am about to make it when all the sudden the car in front of me starts to slow down... NOOO! what are you doing!!! then the car almost comes to a stop... so naturally, I proceed to LAY on my horn.. the next thing I know, the driver leans out his window and hands some loose change to the homeless guy at the corner... whoops.. i felt a little ashamed when I had to drive by the homeless man.. (but i did make the light)!
2. I was driving home and there was this big white car stopped at the top of the hill not moving in my lane- even though the light was green. As I got closer I decided to honk at him just to let him know that he was stupid and in the way.. but then as I passed him I realized it was a police man helping the car in front of him who had broken down.... whoops again.
so maybe I will just go back to honking at friends? it's a tough world we live in..
Are there specific rules for beeping? What was the horn's original purpose?
I never used to use my horn- not even to let people know I was sitting outside of their house. I just felt like it was a little too assertive and loud.. maybe even rude/mean. (my horn also sounds like a clown car horn or what beeker's nose sounds like when you squeeze it...).
So a couple years ago, I started to feel more comfortable honking at other cars when they were about to cut me off or if I knew someone and wanted to wave "hi". I would also honk if I wanted to scare a BFF who was walking in front of my turned off car and didn't know anyone was inside (if you have never done this, i highly suggest you try it at least once)!
Well I think I have crossed over the line and have become an obnoxious horn user. Here are 2 recent incidents of inappropriate honking:
1. I was in a long line of cars waiting for the green arrow to make a left turn.. this is the longest light ever and if you miss the first round it takes FOREVER to get to the next cycle (maybe even 2 min!). So we get the green arrow and it looks like I am about to make it when all the sudden the car in front of me starts to slow down... NOOO! what are you doing!!! then the car almost comes to a stop... so naturally, I proceed to LAY on my horn.. the next thing I know, the driver leans out his window and hands some loose change to the homeless guy at the corner... whoops.. i felt a little ashamed when I had to drive by the homeless man.. (but i did make the light)!
2. I was driving home and there was this big white car stopped at the top of the hill not moving in my lane- even though the light was green. As I got closer I decided to honk at him just to let him know that he was stupid and in the way.. but then as I passed him I realized it was a police man helping the car in front of him who had broken down.... whoops again.
so maybe I will just go back to honking at friends? it's a tough world we live in..
Monday, August 9, 2010
And now for something completely different...
so.. i am kind of bored about blogging about my hair.. I did buy some shampoo from whole foods "audrey organics" brand, because it had all natural oily stuff.. i like! although, my hair smells like a hippy.. and still mostly using baking soda/acv.
anyways..
Earlier this summer I found my old Agenda/Journal from 1996- which is the year I moved back from Brazil to the United States. Brazilian Journals (called agendas) are different than American ones- in Brazil you buy a day planner and make that your journal- you decorate it with pictures, magazine pics or any souvenirs from that day and you attach things with paper clips so the book gets fat..
This was a really interesting journal to read through because that was such a hard year for me- moving back to the home land..
so anyway, I wanted to see what I wrote on today's date and here is the entry:
(I was visiting my friend Kristen in Boston..and I will translate the portuguese words in parenthesis..)
"we had muitos (a lot) of mix ups. Primeiro (first), we kept missing Alli. Ela foi para (she went to) Harvard Square but we woke up late, so we got there and she had left, so we left but then she had gone back, so we went back but she left, but we called her so she came back. Then we went to this party but it's tomorrow. Kris and I streaked our hair purple and that's why I'm writing in it (purple marker). I got a zero shirt for Alina. coool. Like, Ashleigh"
haha..wow!
some observations:
1. I talk exactly the same as I did when I was 14.
2. Life before cell phones was hard.
3. I thought it would be funny to sign like, ashleigh instead of love, ashleigh.
4. I streaked my hair purple! haha so funny. i wonder what i would have been like if i went to public school in boston intead of private school in annapolis... hmmmm.
5. I miss speaking half english/portuguese.
I think I will periodically post things from that agenda or journal- i found my 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ones which have been hilarious to read through!
like, ash.
anyways..
Earlier this summer I found my old Agenda/Journal from 1996- which is the year I moved back from Brazil to the United States. Brazilian Journals (called agendas) are different than American ones- in Brazil you buy a day planner and make that your journal- you decorate it with pictures, magazine pics or any souvenirs from that day and you attach things with paper clips so the book gets fat..
This was a really interesting journal to read through because that was such a hard year for me- moving back to the home land..
so anyway, I wanted to see what I wrote on today's date and here is the entry:
(I was visiting my friend Kristen in Boston..and I will translate the portuguese words in parenthesis..)
"we had muitos (a lot) of mix ups. Primeiro (first), we kept missing Alli. Ela foi para (she went to) Harvard Square but we woke up late, so we got there and she had left, so we left but then she had gone back, so we went back but she left, but we called her so she came back. Then we went to this party but it's tomorrow. Kris and I streaked our hair purple and that's why I'm writing in it (purple marker). I got a zero shirt for Alina. coool. Like, Ashleigh"
haha..wow!
some observations:
1. I talk exactly the same as I did when I was 14.
2. Life before cell phones was hard.
3. I thought it would be funny to sign like, ashleigh instead of love, ashleigh.
4. I streaked my hair purple! haha so funny. i wonder what i would have been like if i went to public school in boston intead of private school in annapolis... hmmmm.
5. I miss speaking half english/portuguese.
I think I will periodically post things from that agenda or journal- i found my 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ones which have been hilarious to read through!
like, ash.
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