Halloween 2009

Trev and I have never really been into getting into costumes and the whole Halloween thing. Neither of us did it as kids and I have to say, I really don't get it. That said, this year for the first time in a long time we did make the effort. Our friends Aaron and Lyn who we met in Mexico were having a party and as it was Saturday night we decided we would go. We were told if we didn't dress up that they'd do it for us when we got there. Friday night we went up to the Halloween store, but I was shocked that every outfit was about $40 and that was without all the wigs, shoes and makeup. Rip off. Seriously.

During the day I was off shopping with a couple of friends and thought I had settled on dressing up as Trev as that was easy but then my friend Leslie, who's Scottish, suggested a St Trinian's school girl. I thought that was hilarious - especially as a) I wouldn't need to style my hair and b) stilettos, white shirt and makeup is all you really need. Trev was stuck too....but we found something:)

We had a great time, check out our pics below (here's a link to youtube if you need a St Trinian's explanation)

10-31-09 Halloween at Lyn and Aaron's

The best shortbread

Since Trev isn't working we've been experimenting with different recipes for cookies. Our challenge is that we make our treats, not buy them. Some have been good, some have been bad.... this is awesome:

Shortbread
This is actually a Barefoot Contessa recipe from foodtv.com - I didn't all the chocolate dipping stuff, and I made these with just regular cooking margarine. They were awesome. They freeze well (you can also eat straight from the freezer), and fresh they didn't go "off". Here's the quick version:

3 sticks cooking margarine at room temperature
1 cup sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1/4 teaspoon salt

1) Cream the marg and sugar until combined
2) Add the vanilla extract, flour and salt. Mix on low speed until dough is combined
3) Drop dough on worktop and pat together, wrap in clingfilm and refridgerate for 30mins
4) After the half hour, set oven to 350F to preheat
5) Take out dough, roll out to the depth you want (round disks about 1/3rd inch are good)
6) Use a cookie cutter to create the discs, keeping rolling out the dough til there's none left.
7) Put on an ungreased pan, sprinkle with sugar, and bake for about 15-20mins until edges are golden
8) Remove from oven, let cool to room temperature

Me - October 2009

So, I had to do it. In preparation for Mum and Dad coming to visit we're rearranging the spare bedroom and doing a bit of a clear out and in my needlework basket were a couple of pairs of pants that needed hemming. "Great!" thought I - I can take them up and add them to my limited wardrobe.... yeah well - that worked til I realized they were way way way too big.

How cool - almost 5 years to the day since I committed to being healthier and joined a gym in St Louis. October 14th was the day...... I've dropped 3 dress sizes, can bike and run and much as I need and can do a full 2 hour strength workout - and survive. What I love the most - is that I can completely overindulge (this past weekend being a good example!!! I'm on a detox week!) and still not feel like a failure.

For the first time in my life I truly feel like I could write a book about how to change your life - realistically!

First....our crappy weekend

It really doesn't matter how much you want to keep a smile on your face sometimes the world smacks you in the face! What a shitty weekend..... I keep telling myself "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

On Saturday afternoon after a rather taxing workout I went off to the shopping mall - when I got back Trev's bike had been stolen. I actually thought he'd gone out.....until I walked in the apartment. From our apartment garage - the door of the garage was left open for no more than 30 minutes. It was locked too - they jimmied it open, and left the lock on the floor right next to my bike.

Oh my - it was terrible. Poor Trev - talk about kicking someone in the nuts when he's down. He was completely distraught! It was awful.... then he cracked a tooth today.

Usually we'd find a new bike and replace it - just not quite so easy right now. Why couldn't the freaking thief just have taken my bike.......

Nevermind - it could be worse! Right?

Gotta love this cooking thing...

So since we're trying to cut costs we've stopped buying cookies and stuff - we are experimenting with making them instead....so each weekend we do something.

I'm pretty good at making oatmeal cookies - chucking in chopped apples is awesome. I'm also experimenting with what oatmeal to use (ie ideally the cheapest)....so the first week we used up all the old instant oatmeal which was great. Then I found a good website for cheap recipes.

But this cake..........awesome!

Preparing for Mrs. O'Shea

On November 14th Rachel and Mike get married in Chicago - it's been a fun run up to the wedding and I can't believe it's nearly here. Admittedly it's been more of a challenge with Trev not working but I'm really starting to look forward to seeing everyone soon.

It's weird feeling so removed from the wedding preparations - Rach is so, so organized (a chip off the old block we think!) and has everything under control. It's been fun listening, watching, participating and watching it all come together. Being so far away it's hard to be useful, but we have our responsibilities - my last one is to design and print the programs for the church service. We've picked out the design (well, one or two to choose from) - all we have to do now is put it together and print it.

I've had my dress for months - in 2 sizes ... and I'm pleased to report it's in the smaller size. I think I'm still going to get Spanx.....need to look fab in the pics, right? What I don't have is shoes or a bag - and I really don't like the jacket I have.....but I'm going to have to find time to shop.....

Trev's losing too - he got a couple of inches off the shoulders, and recently is now showing 11lb of weightloss. We're both going to be terrific.

On the work front, Trev is making some great connections and at some point soon I'm sure he'll have something, just it's a bit tough going into the holidays .... but I tell myself that others have it much worse than us. It's been good for us to be focused on what we really want - and it's preparing us to put everything to good use.

I also had an MRI on my knee last week as it wasn't getting better - but brilliant news - there's no tears or rips, and while it's sore, there's no arthritis or anything. So, as I've taken up running (albeit slowly) I can continue that...

More updates here as things happen ...

Busy busy September

My world is flying by at such a pace I'm not getting any time to catch everyone up here - while I like my life full...I feel it may be running away from me. I did do a bunk on Friday and we went up to see our friend Melissa in Connecticut. It's only a couple of hours away, but it feels so different. Large spaces, dogs, cat, green grass and quiet. It was lovely.

Trevor drove while I caught up with some work, then after a quick brunch Melissa and I went off shopping while Trev rested and played with the dogs. Well....sounds boring for him, but he prefers it to going around stores. There are a few things that I need right now - first, shoes for Rachel's wedding. I thought I had the shoes, but when I tried them on they're way too big - my feet have shrunk. Weird eh? The other thing is that I need are tops. I spent the first half of the year buying pants as i kept dropping sizes, then it stabilized over the summer. Now my boobs have shrunk ... and my tops are all too big - to the point where my bra shows too much at work. Funny, but true. I've never looked forward to cold weather before - because right now I'd really rather not be buying too much.

Onto news....

Work - it's been CRAZY. I cannot say that enough. While I would be bored if there wasn't so much to do, it's been really hard to balance work and home life. it seems to be squaring away now, but this year has been one for the record books. I am involved in many projects - and the more I get involved in, the more I have to get involved in.

Trevor - he's still looking. He has good days and bad - but over the past 2 weeks he's been back in contact with people that we both used to work with. It's been a positive week for him, and that really helps. He's so talented and it's a shame that it's taking so long. I'm thankful that we are able to continue to live here without too much stress. Of course, if he's still not working by the new year, it'll be a different kettle of fish - but for now it's ok.

Car- we've decided to get rid of our car as we don't drive it. We actually thought we'd sold the lease really quickly - we signed the paperwork etc etc - and the little arsehole dropped out at the last minute. We were totally bummed. I'm still hoping that we get rid of it as it's a waste of several hundred dollars a month.

Health - we're both doing good. We're so fit these days it's kinda scary......i think we've both finally accepted we're not the lard-ass anymore....but it is very difficult to change your view of yourself. My ankle/knee is kinda crappy but I think we're about to finalize the therapy so that we can start a lawsuit! Hopefully that'll mean big bucks!!

Rachel's wedding - well, she has the dress, i have mine, we all look fab - so we're very excited that on November 14th Mike and her will be married. Mum, Dad and Tim are coming over and that'll be cool too. I just have to figure out how to get all my vacation time in before the end of the year:)

Rachel's Batchelorette Weekend

Two weeks ago we all went back to Iowa over Labor Day weekend. We had a blast. There are lots of photos - we got a lot done in the few days we were there.

09-05-09 Rachel's Batchelorette Weekend

Friday we met up with some friends, Saturday celebrations started with tailgating at 7am along with flippy cup and cheese puffs - I did pass on the football game, and we went off to meet BJ and Paul. That evening, a bar crawl - was pretty funny especially when playing "I never..." - reminded me of a time playing that game in Cedar Rapids when I learnt that a girlfriend of a friend of mine had actually been paid for sex. It takes a lot for Penny AND I to be surprised, but believe me - that did it.

It was awesome - just need to lose a few pounds to get in my fabulous dress!

2 things I've learnt

1) Muscle Milk (ie protein shake) makes you stronger when you're working out

2) I'm allergic to hydrogenated soy bean oil

At the age of 42, it's kinda weird to actually learn stuff about yourself, right? By now, don't you know it all? Well.....as you know the past several months we've been strength training with Billy at home - which basically results in 1.5 to 2 hours of hardass strength training twice a week....it's a killer. What we were finding is that we couldn't eat enough (without feeling sick) to sustain our energy through that. Billy suggested that we try a protein shake.....and both Trev and I are big sceptics about this kind of thing....anyway, we're converted. Muscle Milk is the brand - it's just over $20 delivered for about 3lbs of powder that you make up with water. The banana flavour seems to be the favourite.....so that's what we're sticking with. It's cool.

The other thing that's driving me nuts is that I kept getting puffy, red and itchy eyes - for the past few years. I've always put it down to hairspray or moisturizer...until a colleague mentioned this "hydrogenated soy bean oil". I've been aware for a while and have steered clear of the stuff - but today, for the first time in freaking ages I had an outbreak. After working out this morning I was hungry - but rather than craving eggs like usual, I wanted something crappy - and the choice today was a boxed soup - noodle soup. Not even the one with chicken bits. i've eaten this for years, although not this particular store bought version - let's face it, it's about once a year I eat this kind of thing. Anyway, made it, got ready to head out to the hairdressers - and whaddaya know - in less than 10 mins I look like I've cried for a week, with big red itchy eyes. While at the hairdressers, my eyes got bigger and bigger......so I guess tonight it's going to be 2 Benadryl and go to bed - just so i can get rid of the itching.....

In other news, Trev's still looking for a job, we're off to Cedar Rapids next weekend for Rachel's batchelorette party - so we're sneaking in an old haunt the night before - I'm so excited to be going back to Muddy Waters.......old times are such fabulous memories!