Like Veggies? Check this Recipe...

When I'm trying to drop a few pounds I try my best to add lots of vegetables to my diet. Most nights, while dieting, I choose to skip regular dinner to eat a heaping plate of lightly sauteed onions, zucchini, and red peppers. I love this meal...I really do! But, if given the choice, I'd eat pasta, cheese, and bread for every meal.

Several YEARS ago I used to spend a lot of time watching the Food Network, and occasionally, I would print out recipes I would see on TV. I found this recipe in my recipe book the other day and decided it was the perfect compromise between like and LOVE =)

It's Giada's Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables...YUM!!

LOTS of vegetables tossed with olive oil and Italian seasoning ready to head into the oven...

The final product.

Beware: it's a HUGE dish that will feed a regular sized family for days!

Happy Birthday to ME!

The day (Thursday, the 17th) started off with me sleeping in a bit. The kids played quietly while I got up on my own terms...it was great. I finally rolled out of bed around 9ish and started the day. My MIL and SIL were planning to come sometime in the late morning to take me out to lunch, so I had time to spare. While frosting the cake my husband made the night before (for me), the phone rang and I had the joy of spending the next hour chatting with one out of the four of my dearest Grandmothers. We set a lunch date for next week and said our goodbyes. By now it's about 10:30 and I've got to hurry and get ready before my in-laws arrive to poke fun at tardiness. Halfway through I get a call from another one of my dearest Grandmothers. By now I'm feeling pretty special and the day is only beginning! We chat a while, my in-laws arrive, and I finish getting ready for the day.

The kids were enjoying spending some time with their cousin Alice and ogling over new baby Cash. I received some lovely gifts and another deliciously homemade CAKE! It's not even noon yet and I've got visitors, 3 phone calls (one also from my mom), gifts, and TWO cakes! We all hop in the car and head into town to get some lunch.

I didn't want to eat anything big since I knew that dinner was going to be even bigger and my newest weight loss strategy was/is working fabulously. Ruining my weekly weigh-in on an overindulgent birthday just wasn't part of the day's goal. Since we had 3+ kids with us, we opted to pick up sandwiches at Weesie's shop and go to Tapiola Park. We all stopped in to visit with Mom and Elise, and Mom and I made sandwiches to go. I even had the pleasure of being sung to by one of the Wheelhouse Coffee regulars!

We ate, the kids played...did I mention it was a beautiful day!? Anyway, we headed back to my house to eat some of the cake my MIL made. I allowed myself a sliver...*sigh* it was good. We continued to visit and Adam came home. I had told him the week before NOT to get me a gift since his gift to me would be purchasing the remainder of the flooring that wasn't going to be covered by various birthday gifts of money (will explain in a bit). It was just like him to buy me something anyway. Fortunately, it was something inexpensive that I needed...a shop light for my little work area in the garage. It may not seem like something you would want...but to me, it was a very thoughtful gift.

Cash, Alice, Synnove, Soren

We said goodbye to Patty, Faith, Alice, and Cash and headed into Warrenton for a big birthday dinner. A day or two prior to my birthday my dad smoked his 4-H bacon. So, I decided that breakfast for dinner would be the perfect birthday meal. I was dying to try Dad's newest smoked treat, and eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns are likely my favorite menu items EVER! Why I have never asked for breakfast as my birthday dinner in the past is really quite puzzling to me. It's a new tradition! Dinner was hands-down awesome and I ate way too much. I even had a piece of the cake Adam and the kids made me. It was a very nice time...even Grandma Barb came!

It's after 7:00 and the day still isn't over. In fact, we've gotten to the best part...the part where we take a trip to Costco to buy new laminate flooring for Synnove's room!!! I was, and still am beyond excited about this purchase. If you are a regular "In The Sticks" reader, you know how badly I've been itching to do various projects in the house...but funds have fizzled, and unnecessary projects have been put on hold...indefinitely. It's a depressing prospect that has me searching for ways to, well...*ahem*...get my way. Long story short, after some searching, I decided upon flooring I found at Costco that was going on sale ON my birthday! All of the generous gifts of money I received went towards the purchase (a little over half the total!).

This year my Birthday was made extra special by many of the loving people in my extra-large family. I loved it! There was never a dull moment in my day...even at 10:30 PM when I ate my 3rd "sliver" of cake!

Weightloss...Revisited

As much as I thought blogging would help my progress, I have still failed. I have a handful of excuses, but none of them are great enough to heal all of the bumps and bruises I collected when I fell off the wagon this time.

The beginning of the end happened in late February when the cold/flu season decided to reign supreme on the Brown Household for a couple of months. But, we've been healthy for at least 6 weeks now, and I haven't found the motivation to start up again, full speed ahead. I tried, really, I did. I lost my momentum and got discouraged. I will say, however, that my attitude towards diet/exercise has evolved into something much more healthy, and I'm not beating myself up about my failure....too much.

In diets passed, I have often let myself go...completely. I end up gaining much of the weight back. This time, I only gained 5 back....but I'm still eating like a horse who likes to eat cake, cheese, and lots of bread and butter. Initially, when the sicknesses started to come, I maintained fairly well. Then one cold turned into 4+ colds! In fact, I'm battling a cold right now...and winning :)

Anyway, for some odd reason, I just didn't have ANY motivation to do much of anything. I don't know why...in fact, I found it kinda weird. I wasn't even motivated to do my normal housework, or do any of the fun projects I have waiting for me. Slowly, my motivation is returning, and I feel fairly confident that I can start up again successfully. Summer is fast approaching, and I don't do well with focused diet/exercise in the summer...so I need to start now so that I have some decent momentum by the time summer really hits. We'll see.

I'm gonna try my best to start up tomorrow. Wish me luck!!

Month 2 Was a Complete Loss...Oh Well...

The diet and exercise have been put on the back burner for a while. This ALWAYS happens to me. I get off to a great start and then I get sick. I'm now working on my second cold in the last month. I'm not even exaggerating when I say that my family has been sick for a month. I'm praying that I'm the last to get the latest cold. I had been fighting it quite well with Zicam for several days and I thought I had escaped it completely. Zicam really works. I started trying it out about 7 years ago when I was working as a preschool teacher, and I've prevented many colds! This time I tapered off too soon and the cold finally caught me. It isn't as bad as the last one...but still a bother.

It's a disappointment, as I was actually feeling quite motivated to start up full speed ahead this week. I was feeling pretty down because I knew that I HAD to have gained a small chunk of the weight back since I've been slacking for the last 3 weeks. I bit my lip and got on the scale on Sunday to see the damage. My mouth dropped as I looked at the number....NO damage!!! I guess that's the benefit of healthy weight loss =)

Downstairs Makeover Continued

Sorry blogfans...it's almost been a week! I've been either busy or haven't had much inspiration for a new post. So, here's what we've been doing...

The diet/exercise regime is going well. I haven't been exercising as much as I should, but I do it when I find the time. And if it doesn't happen in the morning...it doesn't happen at all. Saturday was one of those "blah" days. Adam went outside to cut some trees and branches, but I just wasn't into it. I went on the elliptical in the morning and then helped him outside for about 20 minutes before it was time to go in for lunch. I spent the remainder of the day doing cross-stitch and cleaning my disastrous house.

Sunday we all went to church, and then went to Hillsboro so that Adam could take care of some business with his dad. We didn't leave Astoria till like 1:30 or 2 because of of lunch and a hold-up on the bridge. Obviously, it was going to be a quick trip. Both the kids were (and still are) battling a cold and we needed to make sure we got home at a decent time so they could have some good sleep. There wasn't really anything that I needed to get in the "big city," but I needed to kill a couple of hours while waiting for Adam. So, what do I do? Shop...with money we don't necessarily have.

My basement, though completely painted, was still not completely finished. I had put a hodge-podge of pictures on the wall that seemed to go well...but everything lacked color and finality. For Christmas, my mother gave me an awesome chocolate colored slipcover for my garage-sale love seat, and after some sizing and return issues, I finally received it last week. And, for a slipcover, it looks quite nice. My other couch dates back to the 70's (I think) and the colors actually go well with the basement decor. Eventually, I'd like to get the same slipcover for that couch as well...but for now, it's fine. Anyway, with that and a little HGTV, I got new inspiration. So, while in Hillsboro, I took advantage of the time by going to Ross for some new throw pillows and frames, and went to Jo-Ann's for ribbon, remnants, and anything else that I could find to inspire me to decorate my basement.

Like all of my many projects, this one started the minute I woke on Monday morning. I couldn't wait to start putting things together. I worked ALL day until the kids went to bed. I didn't necessarily have a plan...but this some of what I came up with on a small budget....

So, here are the pillows I picked up at Ross (together about $25)...they are sitting on the newly slip covered love seat.

I picked up this BLACK frame at Ross for $7. The black was too stark, so I used some light green interior house paint that the previous homeowners left behind to paint a shabby finish over the black. I already had the lace...something I picked up at Goodwill Outlet a few years back, and the welcome sign below it was a gift.

These pictures were already up, I just did some rearranging and added the blue ceramic flower sconce that my mom-in-law made and the "family" magnet (yes...it's a magnet!). I filled the sconce with dried flowers from my sister's wedding and others I had laying around.

This valance just sorta happened. I already had the ivory colored valance on the window. It was left here by the previous owners along with curtains (I obviously took them down). I had picked up a yard of super-on-sale upholstery fabric at Jo-Ann's on Sunday ($3!!) and was looking for ways to incorporate it in the room. I tossed around some ideas, including pillows, curtains, and using it in a frame. I took the valance down to start brainstorming. I even got out my brand new sewing machine that hasn't even been opened from last Christmas! But, I didn't know how to use it, and was too anxious to get this project done, so I got out the stitch witchery!! I LOVE that stuff! I started with just the greenish fabric (took me at least an hour), but that wasn't enough. So, I got out the spools of ribbon that I also picked up on my trip. 45 minutes later, my valance was finished. With the remaining fabric I plan to make throw pillow and drapery ties for the panels on the sliding glass door. But, my mom has to give me a sewing tutorial first =)

This was a fun monogram project that I also picked up at Jo-Ann's for $3. It came as a little canvas with a design drawn on it with paint. I didn't use the paint provided, but got out my own acrylics. I had to do some mixing here and there, but I think it turned out nicely. I added the ribbon with tacky glue around the perimeter of the canvas. I put it on the wall in a collage with several other pictures, sconce-shelves (Target clearance), candles (Goodwill), etc.

I couple of months ago, I picked up this picture at Jo-Ann's on sale for $13. It wasn't big enough for the space, so I went searching for candle sconces. Fred Meyer had a bunch, but I wasn't willing to pay the $20-30 to get them. While on a Goodwill spree with my mom last week, I searched for something that would work. Within MINUTES of me telling my mom what I was looking for, she found these sconces! But, one was black, and one was silver. They were like $4 a piece (a bit spendy for Goodwill, if you ask me) and I spray-painted them with some of my mom's leftovers from Elise's wedding. I ordered some glass holders online and should be getting them today....so the candles won't melt with the heat of the wood stove. AND, I got the candles (after much searching for a good color at about 4 stores) at WinCo of all places. It's hard to tell, but they are kind of a light blue-green.

So, that's what I've been doing, along with a trip to Longview with my mom yesterday. It was just meant to be a quick trip to pick up something my mom ordered at WalMart and to to WinCo. By the end of the day, the Tahoe was filled with furniture, huge wall-art, and groceries. NO, it wasn't all mine. Although, I did pick up a new ottoman for the couch upstairs. I tried telling myself I couldn't buy it, but I couldn't pass it up. LOVE it!!

Exercise Woes

About 3 years ago my darling husband bought me an elliptical trainer for my birthday. It was something I really REALLY wanted and was ecstatic to get it. It arrived at our house in Cornelius while I was at the store and they just dumped it in my driveway. This was no wimpy trainer like the ones they sell on infomercials...this was the real deal. So, you can imagine how incredibly heavy it was. It arrived in several pieces, but the base was fully assembled. I can honestly say it was the heaviest thing I have EVER lifted. Adam and I had to carry it all the way upstairs to our bedroom. We put it together...I think it took 2 or 3 hours. There were several parts broken, mostly the superficial plastic parts, so I was still able to get on it. It sounded horrible...grinding at every step.

Needless to say, I was frustrated. The next day I called the company and they had to send out a technician to look at it. Over a week later a sweet old man came to my door smelling strongly of Ivory soap and carrying a tool bag. He was probably in his mid to late seventies and he was the ONLY tech within reasonable driving distance (Salem) paid for by the manufacturer. Of course, he had to order parts, wait for them to come, and come back another time. Two weeks later he came again and fixed it. It sounded like a dream...smooth and quiet.

After he left, I put baby Novie down for a nap and decided to start my daily workouts. I was sooo excited to finally shed some baby weight!! Ten minutes into my first stint it started to squeak at every other step. It was extremely annoying. I couldn't hear the show I was watching, couldn't concentrate, and was in fear of waking my sleeping angel. Heaven forbid! It bothered me so much that I had to get off and couldn't get back on till it was fixed. So, I called the company again and they sent the sweet little old man again. He came a week later, took it apart, and had to order another part. So, he came back days later and basically jury rigged it into not squeaking anymore (the part didn't completely fix it). He told me stories of his grandkids and raising his kids on a farm and becoming very handy fixing tractors and implements. He left, I got on, and it seemed to work fine.

I went on it daily for a few weeks...mind you, the squeak DID come back, but I tried to ignore it. Obviously, it was a chronic problem that was never going to go away. I looked online to find customer reviews on the same machine and everyone else seemed satisfied..."such a quiet machine that works great!" Why do I always get the dud!!?? THEN, it got a problem with the console and we had to order a whole new one...blah blah blah. Despite my efforts to continue my daily regime, the squeak got the better of me and I just couldn't do it anymore. Then I got pregnant again and got into the no-exercise mode.

That poor machine that cost us an arm and a leg just sat in our room collecting dust for 2 years! Thankfully, we didn't have to move it downstairs and into our new home....the movers had to. I was actually excited to get it into our new house because I could do a workout downstairs while the kids played and I could be in the same room with them. They could be a distraction to the squeak, and I wouldn't have to worry about waking either of them.

We finally got around to putting it together a couple of weeks ago, only to find that two major pieces were missing. We looked EVERYwhere for them and in every box packed by the movers. They were nowhere to be found. Of course, when the movers leave your home, they make you sign a form saying that all your stuff arrived safe and sound. Yeah right, like I could go through all the boxes in a few hours and take an instant inventory. Both the pieces were steel shafts that they probably stole to sell and buy meth with...who knows. Thankfully, you can still order parts for it, so $111 later we got them in the mail. Adam began putting it all together when he realized ANOTHER piece was missing...not to mention all the plastic that was broken off the pedals in the move. Another $35 later, it's finally all put together!

I had no doubt that the squeak would still be there...and for sure, it's there. And yes, the kids and the TV are a welcome distraction and it doesn't bother me as much. At least it works! And even though it cost me a whopping $146 to fix what the movers stole/broke/lost, I'm thankful I wasn't the one who had the move it =)