Ripley Eats

Cupcakes!

2012-06-04T09:30:00.003-07:00

My dear friend Jo and her partner Cath are expecting their first little bundle of joy and I couldn't be more excited for them! I can't wait to meet the little man!

But this weekend was the baby shower extravaganza which meant one thing... cupcakes.

The frosting colors were soft and pretty. Yellow, blue, orange and green. I think the orange reads too pink in these pictures but these were created and photographed under extenuating circumstances. Read: humidity and hot oven = melting frosting and an emergency rigging of a window air conditioning unit. I still laugh when I think of my 8 month pregnant friend standing outside trying to keep the ac unit from falling through the window while I fumble around trying to fit it in the correct way. While at the same time the oven is beeping telling us the cupcakes are done and her phone blowing up from either her partner, concerned about us putting this AC unit or her mother calling with yet another decision Jo needs to make about the shower.

I actually really enjoyed decorating the cupcakes. Edible arts and crafts. You know I love me some crafting! And I was happy Jo was excited about what I was doing because, of course, I wanted her to be happy with my work. But I also loved that I was doing this for him. The little one who started the whole thing. This little creature inside my friend who is already so insanely loved and cherished. This little boy to whom I am lucky enough to get to play Auntie Sarah.

Plus, I love any time when I get to hang out with my friend. ♥

I *think* we ended up with around 120 cupcakes in all.

Not all of them made it to the party...obviously. But I thought they turned out pretty cute!

My job was a snap compared to what it took for the rest of the party. I took pictures but something about the lighting made things fuzzed out (kind of like the picture above) and it deserved better representation than that in my opinion.

I had a lovely time. I'm glad I could contribute something. But most of all I'm just so blessed to have such amazing friends who are exactly the family I always wanted.

There was also a table for onesie and bib decorating... You know I was on that like glue!

Made by the beautiful Aysha

Mine

Keep on cooking little Finnegan! I'm so excited to meet you!!

(P.S. Sometimes I really hate Blogger's formatting issues. That is all)

Body Love

2012-05-31T12:58:00.000-07:00

I came across this today and it made me smile!

It's true though...quit hatin'.

<3

*Image from The Whoa! which is not usually safe for work but an AWESOME website none the less.

Bacon dog

2012-05-30T14:48:00.003-07:00

I'm a little embarrassed by the sheer amount of bacon I purchased at the store the other day. It was a really good deal though! And, if you didn't know...bacon freezes beautifully.

Yummy!

Trader Joe's has my heart. Though I might have made up a story about a bacon party at the checkout station...

Mmm, bacon party!

It's been a long time since I dusted off the ol' blog thus, it's been a long time since I posted gratuitous pictures of Ripley. For your viewing pleasure...the most loved and supremely talented Mr. Ripley! (Not to be confused with Jude Law)

See, talent! Or, I'll do anything for a piece of chicken!

It's like he can see inside your soul.

Hunting for the best spot to lay in the sun.

It's summer. Which means adventure. Which means more sh*t to blog about! Welcome back me!

Kickin' it CaveWoman style!

2012-03-12T15:35:00.000-07:00

Let's talk about eating issues again shall we?! Good times!

I've been eating fully Primal for almost a year now but I have to confess there was a slight diversion from plan not too long ago when emotional eating found me shoving my face full of crazy processed carby delights. It happens I guess and I'm attempting to not kick myself for it. BUT I had an a-ha moment one weekend while nursing a bag of ultimate food crack...

Trader Joe's World's Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs. * See below

I know! I have a problem!

Anyway, we all have our things right? I've dated people who couldn't put down a pint of Ben and Jerry's until the entire carton was licked clean whereas (back in the day of dairy consumption) I was satisfied with a few spoonfuls before putting the carton in the freezer.

Used to be my favorite...amazing!

People who visit my workplace will eat chocolate butter mint after chocolate butter mint and comment about how they have to keep eating them once they start. They all ask how I can have the bowl in front of me without eating the whole thing. Truth be told I haven't eaten one since the first few weeks I started working here over four years ago.

Everyone has their food loves and perhaps experience varying degrees of food addiction. But some people truly have a psychological addiction to food. *waves hand in the air* It's good fun if you had any doubts. :)

As far as my particular puff problem; I can take down an entire bag in one sitting. NOT GOOD. I calculated the calorie total and refuse to divulge it here. Horrifying! But I would use it as a reward for the end of a hard week or as a treat for my weekend. Or both which means 2 bags. I couldn't enter the store without thinking about this purchase of mine and looking forward to the first puff. The particular weekend of my eureka! moment I was hauling out a handful of puffs and asked myself what the hell I was doing. I saw myself coated in white power, unable to lose any puffed morsel...crazy and wild eyed...drooling and foaming at the mouth. I knew I was in trouble and had a serious problem. I didn't like myself while on puffs. I didn't like how they made me feel weirdly empty afterwards instead of warm and fuzzy and full. I didn't like how I felt like I had to hide my addiction and only let a select few see me shoving it in my face. Puff shame I began to call it. I didn't like how I was ignoring what my body needed and was pumping it full of what amounts to poison in my digestive situation. I didn't like how I was eating to try to heal something that couldn't be healed that way. That last day of puffs I knew I had to love myself more than a bag of puffed grain.

I'm happy to announce that I've been puff free for 2 months now!

Gratuitous shot of Ripley because he makes me happy.

I pat myself on the back and congratulate myself for putting my health and wellness above all else when I walk out of TJ's sans the crinkly bag of puffs. It's the little victories along the journey ya know? It might seem silly to focus on one particular thing when food in general is an issue but these puffs represent the worst of the worst. That pinnacle focus beyond which all other issues tumble.

I'm also happy to say that since that fated giving up the puffs day I've maintained a 98% primal diet. Some paleolithic based diets allow dairy but being intolerant my dairy consumption is nil. Therefore, I eat primarily meat and veggies, some fruit as well as nuts and seeds.

Marinated kale salad with veggie and chicken breast...mmmm!

I'd like to say I've seen results like these but I haven't yet. But I think my incredible Naturopath and I may have it figured out. So stay tuned for The Leptin Reset adventures!

Oh! And I just thought of a quote from one of my favorite movies Fried Green Tomatoes. Jessica Tandy (heart her!) says to Cathy Bates (heart her too!) "A candy bar ain't gonna hurt ya none" and Cathy Bates replies "One no. But 10 or 11?"

Precisely.

*All opinions are based on my own experience and should not be taken as a reflection of these puffs in general. Trader Joe's - I love you, I shop at you constantly. There is nothing wrong with your puffs. A person with normal food attachments would be remiss to deny themselves the delicious indulgence. I just cannot eat them myself.

The where of it...

2012-02-29T15:14:00.001-08:00

I'm BAAACK!! Ain't it grand?!

I can't really tell you where I've been since my last post. Physically I've been in the same ol' spot. Mentally however, I've been all over the map. Ain't it always the way?

There's been a TON of this:

Couch cuddling!

Sleepy Ripley Face

I have a giant nose!

And there's been a TON of walking/wogging going on:

Sometimes I just can't get over that face!!

I've also been cooking cooking cooking!

I'm roasting my own chickens and then...get this...I'm making my own STOCK from the bones. I won't even try to convey how accomplished this makes me feel.

See that little robot guy? A whimiscal tea dispenser I got for Christmas from my sister. He's too cute! But he also represents my kicking of the coffee habit! I've been strictly tea (black, green and herbal) for awhile now. Yay! Sometimes I crave a thick, chewy roast with plenty of half & half to smooth the bitterness out of a well pulled espresso shot...*drool*. Mostly I miss the rituals around the habit. But for the most part I'm content with tea and my body is much happier with me!

There's been a little mulling over of a redirection as far as what I want to be doing:

I'm still pounding out a plan. But it will happen. Oh yes, it will happen.

And then there's been a bunch of this:

Let's read this as attempting to get enough sleep despite my tendency towards insomnia. I've been reading everything I can get my mitts on just to fill the darkest hours of night. I'm not complaining!

And then there's the diet tweaks. It's a never endingn process but I have high hopes for this one. More about that later but here's a peek!

I like it sideways.

Now I'm ready for a nap...

Or a warm cup of tea and a window to gaze through longingly.

Noooo!

2011-11-15T16:11:00.001-08:00

This is what I get for living in the Pacific Northwest!

But this is also what I get...

Used under Creative Commons Punchbowl Falls, Eagle Creek by Rob DeGraff

Hmm... never mind, I'll take it!

Looks like the treadmill and I are going to become very close friends this week.

Also...

The flowers tell me it's almost time for sunshine!!

Kickin' Butt Super Hero Style!

2011-11-10T15:49:00.001-08:00

Well hello again my arch nemesis Emotional Eating! I was hoping you were finished for good and yet you've crept quietly back into my life like the stinky low life that you are! Quiet that is until you exploded in my face...a bomb of unexpected force.

BUT WAIT!

Zap!

Bam!

I'm kicking you to the curb...you're not getting away with it this time!

This week my eating went to shit as well as my training. It's been a rough ride.

But, I forgive myself for my mistakes and I take heart in the fact that tomorrow will be another day to conquer The EE monster.

Mayo Clinic describes emotional eating as: a way to suppress or soothe negative emotions, such as stress, anger, fear, boredom, sadness and loneliness. Both major life events and the hassles of daily life can trigger negative emotions that lead to emotional eating and disrupt your weight-loss efforts.

Yep, sounds about right to me.

And then there's this: Whatever emotions drive you to overeat, the end result is often the same. The emotions return, and you may also now bear the additional burden of guilt about setting back your weight-loss goal.

Ugh.

It's no brainer stuff. It really is! The idea is simple. Execution is...formidable.

Shall we have another helping of obvious? Why not! It's calorie and fat free!

Mayo suggests these tips to gain control:

Tame your stress. If stress contributes to your emotional eating, try a stress management technique, such as yoga, meditation or relaxation.
Have a hunger reality check. Is your hunger physical or emotional? If you ate just a few hours ago and don't have a rumbling stomach, you're probably not really hungry. Give the craving a little time to pass.
Keep a food diary. Write down what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, how you're feeling when you eat and how hungry you are. Over time, you may see patterns emerge that reveal the connection between mood and food.
Get support. You're more likely to give in to emotional eating if you lack a good support network. Lean on family and friends or consider joining a support group.
Fight boredom. Instead of snacking when you're not truly hungry, distract yourself. Take a walk, watch a movie, play with your cat, listen to music, read, surf the Internet or call a friend.
Take away temptation. Don't keep supplies of comfort foods in your home if they're hard for you to resist. And if you feel angry or blue, postpone your trip to the grocery store until you're sure that you have your emotions in check.
Don't deprive yourself. When you're trying to achieve a weight-loss goal, you may limit your calories too much, eat the same foods frequently and banish the treats you enjoy. This may just serve to increase your food cravings, especially in response to emotions. Let yourself enjoy an occasional treat and get plenty of variety to help curb cravings.
Snack healthy. If you feel the urge to eat between meals, choose a low-fat, low-calorie snack, such as fresh fruit, vegetables with fat-free dip, or unbuttered popcorn. Or try low-fat, lower calorie versions of your favorite foods to see if they satisfy your craving.
Get enough sleep. If you're constantly tired, you might snack to try to give yourself an energy boost. Take a nap or go to bed earlier instead.
Seek therapy. If you've tried self-help options but you still can't get control of your emotional eating, consider therapy with a professional mental health provider. Therapy can help you understand the motivations behind your emotional eating and help you learn new coping skills. Therapy can also help you discover whether you may have an eating disorder, which is sometimes connected to emotional eating.
It may be duh! stuff but maybe it will be helpful to have a resource to come back to if/when the bane of my existence reappears.

Sushi, I love you so but you are my kryptonite.

Virtual 5K

2011-11-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

Oiy it's been a big day. I registered for the Shamrock Run in March.... 15k here I come! Go Team 1975! :)

But, in preparation there's all sorts of fun things I can do like this:

A virtual 5K on Thanksgiving! You can get the deets here on A Journey to Thin's blog. I think this is an amazing idea! Winter is hard on my body and my mind. I know I will struggle this year to maintain my healthy habits because frankly, I'd rather be snuggled on the couch under soft blankets sipping hot chocolate and shoving baked goods into my facehole.

But I have the ultimate goal in mind...that damn race in Spring.

And I have ideas to spruce up my in "home gym" space that should provide some motivation. Thanks Pinterest!

Source: allwomenstalk.com via Sarah on Pinterest

But mostly, I have to win the mind game of trying to talk myself out of my warm bed at the butt crack of dawn. Or talk myself into running after a long day at work...

Not easy! But I'm gonna do it.

Halloween and Treadmills...

2011-11-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

Wanna see my Halloween Costume?

Make up and Photo Credits to Aysha Crain

For me today (the day after Halloween) is a fusion of Día de los Muertos and All Saints Day and other cultural representations of honoring the dead. I'm one for dates. I tend to remember when someone died and as that date draws near I think of them and mourn them with more sadness than anything.

Make up and Photo Credits to Aysha Crain

But this combination of religious and spiritual ritual makes it easier for me to think of all those I've lost and celebrate them. I typically make an alter of some sort with flowers, candles, pictures and food. It's healing for me to remember how each person has shaped who I am and remember them with smiles.

Make up and Photo Credits to Aysha Crain

And just in case someone is hanging around it's nice to placate their spirits too. ;)

This weekend my roommate and I acquired a (new to us) treadmill! Grand ideas of exercising everyday, NO EXCUSES, have been uttered from our lips. We will not fail.

We stuck her in the garage...pictures to follow. It's lovely and cool out there...it may not be the most beautiful place to run but it does the trick.

This morning I booted up the laptop that I donated to the cause and fired up some Netflix action. Season 1 Episode 1 of Grey's Anatomy! I used to be a fan and then sort of stopped watching TV for awhile so now I'm starting over and can't wait to see what happens next!

I told my gym buddy Kelsey this morning that it's much easier to talk myself out of bed at 5:30am to "watch tv" instead of "run on the treadmill".

BUT I am determined that this is what will happen. I refuse to let the winter pass in a blur of comfort eating and hibernation blubber.

Plus, I can't embarrass myself on race day! I want to be prepared and this baby is going to help me get there while the weather is gross.

Now to get Ripley used to walking on it...

2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving!

2011-10-27T09:51:00.000-07:00

It's actually been a couple weeks I think and I'm just now getting around to posting about it. But eh, better late than never!

The Winner of Best Pumpkin!

I'm attempting to have a better attitude about holidays. I mean, why not? I got nothing to lose but a good time!

I'm not really sure why I hesitate. I guess I tend to shy away from being exuberant about most things. (I almost wrote moist which made me laugh. I most defiantly do not shy away from moist things.)

I didn't get permission to post pictures of actual people and frankly I'm too lazy to do so right now so just the pumpkins will suffice.

There was much laughter and eating of delicious things. It was fun to concentrate on being creative and enjoy the company of friends.

My pumpkin! :)

All in all it was an awesome day and I can't wait to do it again next year!

Slow runner

2011-10-26T15:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I did it. My first interval run in my half marathon training.

What half marathon training you ask? I KNOW!

It's very hard for me to talk about, mostly because I'm afraid I will fail. 13 miles is a VERY LONG TIME TO RUN. But the goal right now is to train for a half marathon so that I can KILL at the 15k Shamrock Run in March and then go on to run a half with a friend in the following months.

I think I just gagged.

Running isn't easy. I don't hate it. I don't love it. Right now I'm just doing it. Slowly. I walk 3 miles faster than I run them. Yea, wrap your brain around that! I'm using the Galloway Method of running to get me to my ultimate goal. I think the running part makes the walking part slower...or something.

But, here's the thing. I did it! And that's awesome!

And I did it with other people watching. Not creepy watching me with binoculars or anything of course. What I mean is I was OUT IN PUBLIC running the sidewalks of NoPo. Me. And my dog. And my gigantic chest.

No one laughed (to my face anyway, thanks everyone!) and no one cried out for this insanity to come to an end. In fact no one really paid any attention to this red face bobbing down the street at a pace just a hair slower than a turtle yet huffing it up the hill nonetheless.

That's a very good thing. :)

I once had someone yell out the car window to me "Hey Fat Ass!" while throwing out an empty carton of Kools, sexy I know! However, my brain is a pro at being my protector and filtered this succulent exclamation into "Hey, Nice Ass!" and I was able to continue my walk with just a little more swagger than normal. The alternative was to crumple to the ground, crawl home and never ever leave ever again.

I had a "Hey Nice Ass" run last night.

Here's to many, many, many MANY more!

Tracked with RunKeeper

Music: Gaelic Storm (Album- How Are We Getting Home?)

((Don't be fooled...it's hardcore awesomeness with accordions and a sick beats))

(((The above may be an overstatement but I like 'em!)))

It really is my favorite time of year...

2011-10-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

I meant to just take a quick walk around the block towards the end of my lunch break.

The sun was shining which will become more and more rare as the days progress into Winter here in the Pacific Northwest

It called to me! I couldn't help myself. That shiny happy buttery sunshine...

Then I stepped in a pile of leaves and was undone. The crunch alone made me start to smile. So I kicked my feet up just to make even more of a mess and watch the colored leave swirl around.

I had a split second of childish fun in a pile of leaves and was able to walk back into my adult life a little more restored.

Though now all I want to do is get a big group of people together to go play outside in the leaves again. Remember the futility of throwing leaves at others? Perhaps something called Corporate Recess could be instituted?

Hopefully Ripley and I find crunchy leaves to play in later this afternoon on our walk!

Did you say WALK Momma?!

Lettuce do this thang...

2011-09-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

I've been highly unmotivated to do anything but eat and sleep since I arrived home from my INCREDIBLE trip to South Dakota. This means that lazy bones here hasn't truly cleaned up her pictures from her 2 storage cards....nope, not at all. I did manage to upload my cell phone pictures though so that's what we're going with for now.

Let's map it first: We flew into Rapid City, took 3 days to trek through the Badlands National Park and visited the Minuteman Missile Historic site (creepy!) then went back to Rapid City as home base while we explored the Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park and those two caves you see listed: Jewel and Wind. We did not go to Devil's Tower but I have that on my next time list.

Behold! Fuzzy pictures of a stranger in the Midwest!

What? You don't request a window seat so that you can take pictures?

Sunrise is my favorite time to fly. Not just because the crowds are sleepy and conversations are low and lulling but because you get to see a beautiful thing like a sunrise unencumbered by buildings and power lines. And with mountains in the distance?! Pshaw...amazing.

I know! I dig it too! :)

We rented a sweet little cabin just outside of the Badlands. Little did we know that we were really on the wrong side...eh, what's an hour's drive to hike?

The cabins were perfect for what we needed and the "Lobby" was a hoot! Look at this place!

That's my Mum and Sister to the left taking full advantage of the continental breakfast

Hard boiled egg...the only thing provided that I could eat.

It's enough to give one heartburn....

The lobby consisted of the "Front Desk" and the breakfast nook and then an entire warehouse of space jam packed with silly doodads, dead animals and more fireworks than I've ever seen in one place. Seriously, the picture below was just one side of 4 aisles. Why you ask? I HAVE NO IDEA!!!!!!

But I was charmed by the family of owners who deeply cared for what they were doing and it showed. Their attention to detail was spot on. A full review of the place will come...sometime.

I was exhausted by the time we finally got there but couldn't wait to strap on my walking shoes and take in this thing I had only heard about and seen a few pictures of...the Badlands. Sends shivers down your spine doesn't it?

I was in love immediately. I was so confused! Am I in the desert? The mountains? The grasslands? Prairie? What the hell is this place?!

My first impression was that it was an area of desolation and little color. One note you might say.

But, as I sat there and just tried to take it all in something happened. Sounds of life sprang up from all around me. This crumbly, cracked, parched, bleached out land started to sing and I couldn't stop listening.

When we took our first real exploratory hike (after scouring the visitor center and gaining tips from the rangers of course! I ♥ National Park Rangers!) I fell deeper and deeper...

There is a constant wind blowing in the Badlands and it eats away at all the "rock" you see. It's all tightly packed sediment really and erodes to the tune of 1 inch a year. It's a constantly changing and shifting landscape. Which is precisely how I describe my inner being. See, I was already connected from the moment I stepped foot on the land!

Anyway...while on this exploratory trail we were able to witness a super isolated rain storm over the desert! Crazy!

I even got a few droplets on my face...Really, it doesn't take much to capture me folks! I'm enamored with the rain in this place yet curse the rain in the middle of the winter in the Pacific Northwest.

My first sunset in the Badlands

There was much hiking (Explorer Mum)

A little yoga (Yogi Sister)

Much exploring and adrenaline junkie acting

There were sweet pot bellied prairie dogs

And T-Rex's

But mostly there was savoring the landscape

And fear

and getting creative with self portraits while trying to not die

And pushing past what we thought we were capable of.

Add caption

Now, this Notch Trail...so innocent and innocuous...it beckoned us with it's gorgeous spires of crumbly rock. We tackled it early and we tackled it hard. That rope ladder pictured above starts off a mind bending trail of wall jumping and scrambling to keep your feet on the "trail" instead of rolling off the edge of the cliff.

Yes, that's the "trail"

But we were rewarded by climbing to the top of the world. No picture could perfectly portray just how precariously perched I was. But see that little peak in the background? Yea, that thing is HUGE.

This picture makes me laugh...My sister holding onto my Mum's hood to make sure she doesn't blow off the edge. It was really windy as evidenced here:

And here:

We said at the end that we wanted T-Shirts that said "I conquered The Notch". This accomplishment served as a reminder the entire week when we came up against something we were unsure we could handle. After The Notch everything else was child's play! (Let's note please that Mum is pushing 62. Thank you.)

Grasslands!

Wild Turkeys!

Cactus!

I know....it doesn't look like much but trust me...

It's dangerously beautiful!

Backpacking through here was the most amazing experience... Little did I know it was going to get EVEN BETTER

Onward to Mt. Rushmore National Park, Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park

Okay, I'll admit. I purposefully took this picture to capture the 1 other lesbian I saw on this trip.

So tiny that Mt. Rushmore!

Buffalo! Just a baby though. The herd surrounded our car and we could do nothing but watch these humongous creatures amble around...it was incredible!

They liked us and our organic banana chips!

Let me explain. I do not condone disturbing wildlife in any way. I stand by the rule that if the animal is reacting to you you're too close. HOWEVER...every published document told us to bring food for the burros. The park rangers told us not to miss feeding the Burros. Everyone was in full support of feeding the Burros. Therefore I broke my steadfast rule and fed the buggers. And they were SO so cute. :)

They were also insistent. I was a little nervous to exit the car but I just couldn't resist...

My friend the Burro.

This little guy fell asleep on his feet while I patted his head. We loved each other, what can I say?

That's my Father in the background. Hilarious pictures of him and the burros will be posted as soon as I clean up my storage cards.

This picture was taken just outside of a cabin build on National Park land where a Poet Laureate lived. This exceptional place couldn't be captured by my cell phone but I could easily live there even with no running water. It was beautiful and I think that man was the most lucky human being ever to live in this place where buffalo and elk and coyotes and all sorts of other creatures roam.

My Warrior pose across two rocks. That's right. I'm awesome.

These next two pictures defy explanation. So many amazing things happened on this land for me...maybe some day I'll be able to share them. For now they serve as reminders of beautiful places.

We took a scenic drive to an area near Spearfish to see the following...

My Mum is a huge fan of the movie and really wanted to see where bits of the film were made. I have other pictures...on my storage disk.

But it was a beautiful place!

And totally worth the drive whether or not a fan of the film. :) And really, how could you not be...Tatanka!

10 days away from my bed. 10 days with family. And I was ready for the sweet feeling of coming home that settled on my heart when this sight was beheld by mine eyes. Oh Portland Airport...I heart thee too!

And just in case you were wondering!

Thus ends the cell phone picture portion of my trip...

Imagine the possibilities that exist for the next round! (and give me at least 2 weeks)

And I'm back!

2011-09-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a quick and dirty post. It's almost so quick it could barely be called a post.

But I'm home from my vacation in South Dakota and I had an amazing time! Once I get my head back together and I fully come back to reality I'm going to bore everyone silly with pictures of fuzzy buffalo dots on the side of a hill...and many many self portraits taken from various precarious positions. Excited? I know you are!

The hardest part...

2011-08-31T11:02:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I leave for my hiking vacation in South Dakota. I'm super excited and can't wait to be surrounded by beauty!

But it's hard to leave. It's hard to leave my framily and my bed and my kitchen. It's hard to leave my routine and safe spaces. It's hard to live out of a suitcase and be so far away from everything I love.

But what makes my heart squish with anguish is leaving this behind...

But he will have fun hanging with his friend Tilly...

Such a lady!

and her two Mommas. He will be in good hands and I totally trust that he will be well loved and stiflingly babied...just as he deserves!

This doesn't mean that I won't bawl my eyes out the entire way from their house back to mine though.

I miss you already sweet baby boy!!

It's okay to be jealous...

2011-08-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

Sunrise yoga on the river. Yup, had that this weekend. And yup, it was lovely.

What a weekend! I'm exhausted and sore and very much wishing to sleep Monday away but I must be productive over the next few days in getting ready for my trip to South Dakota. I refuse to pay to check a bag so much creative packing must be contemplated and attempted. I'm going to channel my inner minimalist (which is in complete opposition to my normal hoarding tendency) and make it work....somehow.

Another favorite from this weekend...

I ♥ campfires!!

That is all.

Got Pho?

2011-08-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

Oh yea, I got Pho alright!

For fun lunch today (yay payday!) my gorgeous friend Kelsey and I decided to mix things up and try a new restaurant.

Delicious hot tea!

Got Pho? is one of those lovely hole in the wall places tucked into a tiny strip mall. And it's delicious!
As an appetizer I ordered something completely off diet and loved every deep fried bite!

Vietnamese deep-fried egg rolls w/ shrimp, pork & vegetable

SO GOOD!

Shrimp & sliced pork salad rolls (2) w/ house peanut dipping sauce

Kelsey went a little bit healthier with salad rolls. She had it in her mouth before I could snap a photo! ;)

Then for the main event...my body has literally been crazing Pho for weeks now. And I could have died a happy woman when this was set before me...

PHỎ TÁI Slices of steak

Aaahhhhhh!! Perfection in a bowl! Don't be fooled...there are rice noodles in there too. When I go big, I go big!

Add a side of vegetables and the usual fixin's for Pho that I don't usually touch. Except one basil leaf and the lime. Mmmm, lime!

Kelsey went with this beauty...

XÀO THẬP CẨM House special stir-fried dish w/ beef, chicken, shrimp, broccoli, cabbage, carrot and onion.

A little more tea and we were fully satisfied with our delicious meal! It's amazing how a bowl of soup can be so satiating and comforting. Especially when it's been craved for so long. Yum!

Thank you too to the wonderful employees at Got Pho? who were exceptionally nice and attentive. It was a pleasure dining with you!

And all of this will become my lunch tomorrow. Two meals in one? I'll take it.

In other news....

This weather brings out the best and the worst in nature. It is fully spider season in Portland and my battle to remain spider free has begun in earnest.

You see that?? That is a spider, eating a bee, attached to MY chair on the back porch. Ripley is not amused either.

I've got a jam packed weekend coming up! Karaoke, Company picnic/camping, various meetings and laundry....how will I fit it all in while also attempting to get ready for my trip to South Dakota?! I guess we'll find out.

Be safe!

To Paleo or Not to Paleo

2011-08-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the blurry picture. And for the messy table.

It's difficult to balance a dog on your lap in 90 degree heat, read a book and take a picture in low light. Whew, I'm stressed just thinking about it!

What's not difficult is reading this book The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf. I enjoy his humorous and easy to understand (but not dumbed down) approach to writing. I haven't gotten very far yet but Ripley and I enjoyed reading about the mechanics of digestion last night. It's amazing what our bodies do honestly. It's such a complex operation that we don't think about when we put food into our mouths. Fascinating stuff! I know I learned all this in high school health class but I'm pretty sure I was too distracted by the chapter on sexual anatomy to pay attention.

I'm not 100% Paleo.... yet? I don't know exactly but since I'm not eating grains it seems a natural progression. I'm hoping this book will enlighten me and give me more options than I feel I currently have. And perhaps give me inspiration for that final push to Paleo.

We shall see!

Is it Friday yet?

Nap time?

2011-08-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

You said it kid! Life can be exhausting sometimes. Especially for those of us with a little thing called insomnia.

The upside? I get to read TONS of books. The downside? I am a zombie for brains much of the day. Everything feels mushy and fuzzy and no amount of caffeine can wake this dead.

The funny thing is though that I tend to spend the day in a better mood the nights I sleep the least. Overcompensation perhaps?

Here's the super bummer...physical exhaustion = a desperate lack of desire to exercise.

Its a hard balance to find between pushing myself for good or pushing myself for evil. There's a certain amount of trusting my body to let me know what it needs that I lack. My brain screams "lazy bones!"when I'm actually trying to convince myself that it's not a great idea to take a 6 mile walk with the dog in 90 degree heat when I've slept about 20 minutes in the last 34 hours.

In any case, I think there's going to be a lot of this...

and a little of this...

Prosciutto wrapped Cantaloupe!

And not much else after work.

Please, sleep, grace me with your presence this evening!

Edited to say: Yahoo! Happy 100th Post to me!

It's about this time...

2011-08-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

Every single day...

When I get so hungry I contemplate eating various body parts and/or shoes...for their leather, you understand.

(Used under creative commons, Thank you Squid!)

Thanks Nick for the Creative Commons heads up!

I've worked out most of my day of eating -

Breakfast: Hard boiled egg, string cheese?, apple, Chia water?, other variations of fruit as available

coffee somewhere in here (Terrible! I know!)

Second Breakfast: Mediclear Protein Shake - Yes, it tastes as bad as it sounds but cinnamon and honey make it more bearable. I'm using Almond milk right now...not my favorite either.

Lunch: A ginormous salad with as many veggies as possible jammed in and some form of animal protein...my favorite is steak...and some variation of nuts/dried fruits or Chia seeds. Or all of them frankly. It's a party in my mouth after all

The beginnings of my beautiful salad

Second Lunch: ??????? Some variation of fruit, fruit and nuts, jerky... argh! This used to be my oatmeal time before I had to limit my grain consumption. Oatmeal was the perfect afternoon snack. Since having to say goodbye to my oaty friend I've been flailing in starving waters. Starving I tell ya! No, that's not true. But I have been tempted by not so good for me foods because I do get so hungry at this time of the day and I don't have an easy option. I gotta work this out!! Today I consumed 2 different banana things (banana chips and bananas flattened both of the Trader Joe's variety), some nuts and dried fruit. It's not enough. I need something heartier! Like a steak.

Dinner: Meat and veggies. Delicious!

My mission tonight will be to sift through some recipes to figure out what to eat for second lunch!

Any suggestions for non grain, non dairy, non sugar, non processed, non soy food fun?

Yea, me neither.

In other news, this is kind of fun WikipediaVision (beta) From the site: "Anonymous edits to Wikipedia (almost) in real time." People editing Wikipedia articles all over the world...while you watch!

Sometimes you have to leave...

2011-08-22T13:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend was all about getting away. There was a drive to escape the heat of our non air conditioned abode. And there was a drive to escape personal conflicts and heartbreaks. It was a weekend of recharging. And it was lovely.

It was decided that the river was necessary for survival and oh, how right we were!

Seriously, look at this place...

It's like magic.

We laughed. We cried. We took ridiculous self portraits and laughed more.

We remembered loved ones who have passed and celebrated loved ones still with us.

We napped in the sand...

And sprayed copious amounts of sunscreen on very pale skin.

Truly, I think this face says it all...

Sometimes you have to leave to enjoy the feeling of coming home again.

This made me laugh...

2011-08-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

Someone found my site by doing a Google search for "Cute Animals with Guns". What???

Almost as funny is the Google search for Fat Girl Bike. Pretty sure I Googled that too when I was first thinking about bike commuting to work. Surely there has to be a plus sized bike out there. Not so said the doe! The regular thing does the trick!

Speaking of which...I MISS MY BIKE!!! We did a hearty garage cleaning this past weekend...it was necessary. Once it was clear and less....fragrant... I was able to assess the wear and tear on Bubbles, The Bike. I realized that I'm going to have to get her to a pressurized air pump to shoot enough air in the tires to not bust my rims on the first uneven pavement we hit. But while I was checking her out I thought about how long it had been since we'd been on a good long ride and it made me sad. I miss her!! And to be honest...I'm not entirely certain why I completely stopped riding her in the first place.

I hope sometime this week to get her road ready and take her out to a trail near the house for a good workout.

Then maybe ride to work a few times...save some gas, save the planet! (Insert peace sign here)

And to avoid this being the most boring post ever I've included Ripley pictures for your enjoyment. No, Ripley does not believe in guns.

Wait! That's not Ripley!

I've been dreaming of Hawaii... I want to snorkel with whales! Just so there is no confusion, this picture is not of a whale. This picture is of a dolphin who swam with our boat out to Captain Cook Monument. Hawaii is so beautiful it hurts my heart and I cannot wait to go back!

Adventures!

2011-08-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

Sport	Fitness walking
Start Time	Aug 11, 2011 5:50 PM
Distance	4.79 miles
Duration	57m:08s
Avg Speed	5.0 mph
Max Speed	6.2 mph
Calories	646 kcal

Last night I took Mr. Ripley out for a walk. I had only intended to fulfill my second 15 minute time chunk to accomplish my 30 minute total for the day. Somehow though I made a left instead of a right, jogged a little, power walked a lot and ended up near the Columbia Slough Trail. I suppose my subconscious wanted a heftier workout and my camera wanted beautiful things to capture.

Our first adventure was crossing a busy busy street with no light or crosswalk. Our second was waiting for this behemoth.

I choo choo choo choose you!

Pardon my goopy eye.

Once the train (finally!) passed we were free to make our way onto the trail.

I failed to get pictures of the beginning because I was being suspicious of a man walking on the trail sort of right behind me. He made me nervous for no good reason so my concentration was on walking through the thicker forest part of the trail as fast as my little legs could carry me to put some distance between me and the man who later on down the trail turned out to be extremely nice and looked a little like Willie Nelson. But, a girl and her dog can never be too careful and in situations like this, even if it's irrational, I gotta trust my gut.

After the forest-y part you get this - A bridge over the water which hosts everything from blue herons to beavers and otters. Upstream is a wildlife conservation area and sometimes the animals like to slum it with the regular folk and float downriver. Sadly today I only got to visit with grasshoppers and squirrels.

Bridge Over Not So Troubled Water

Once you cross the river you have to make a choice. Make a left and you can take a very long hike to said wildlife conservation area complete with lakes and things or you can make a right and follow a shorter trail that butts up against a golf course and "ends" near a race track.

I opted for right.

Golf it up!

This picture was taken at our turning around point on accident. I kind of liked it so I included it. At this point I was a sweaty mess. It's hot with that sun beating on your back!!

Hello teeth!

But not as hot as having the sun on your face though!

Train Tressel - reminds me of the kind we used to play on in my parent's town in Missouri.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

So, on our way back out we cut across the flower fields. Partly because it's beautiful and partly because I wanted to show you this...

All this beauty is cultivated around a Portland Waste Water Treatment Facility. No joke. It's kind of gross if you REALLY think about it but I actually really love it. This area could have easily just been left as swampy field, probably overrun with blackberry bushes and prickle burrs as most natural spaces around industrial areas trend towards. Instead, if you avert your eyes from industry you can experience an expanse of natural beauty with excellently maintained trail, barely even noticing you're walking past tanks of raw sewer. Sorry, I had to!

And no, to answer your question, it doesn't stink.

And there are neat little installments all over...like this etched boulder.

He's so cute. Disregard the leash...it's hard to juggle!

A group of people put a lot of time and energy into planning this beautiful space for all to enjoy. And this girl and her dog very much appreciate it!

After our 15 minute turned hour long jaunt we were HUNGRY! Do you ever have those days where none of the food in your house sounds appetizing? I had this happen last night so I ended up heading to the East Side Delicatessen for delicious sandwiches for dear Ms. Aysha (who wasn't feeling her food options either) and me. I cut off her order in the picture but it was a meatball Parmesan sub. Amazing.

You can't beat their meat! That's what she said...

I inhaled my food too quickly to snap a picture but believe me, it was delicious and yes, I ate the Asiago Cheese Roll that my meat was so lovingly packed into and seasoned with spicy mustard and pickles and onions. No shame in my game. ;) Oh Asiago Cheese Roll...why must you taste so good and be so bad for my belly at the same time?!

The rest of my night was spent sprawled on the couch flipping between So You Think You Can Dance (Yay Melanie!) and Project Runway (Yay Stilt Ladies!) before I slid into bed and read a few chapters of this amazing book I'm reading called Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. I fell asleep with glasses on my face and book in my hand. I woke up a few hours later and was so startled to find I was in the same position I had been in when I fell asleep.

All in all, an excellent night.

The End!

What I've become...

2011-08-10T14:47:00.000-07:00

There was a time in my life, during my teenage years, when I was incredibly judgmental about appearance. I had to have brand name everything and if I wasn't perfectly put together before I left the house I would cry in shame. My mother eventually refused to shop with me because I would have meltdowns about not being allowed to purchase an ugly mustard yellow shirt with the word ESPRIT stamped across the chest. Not a proud moment in my life. But it's all a road to self discovery right?

Anyway, this ridiculous attitude also projected outward to other people...downtown women were walking around during their lunch breaks in dark clothes, black nylons and white athletic shoes. Umm, gag me with a spoon and take me to the mall!

Luckily, this phase of my life passed pretty quickly. I figured out pretty quick that my heart just wasn't happy being that person.

But I laughed at myself when I realized that I have become THAT woman, walking on her work break, in dark clothes and white athletic shoes.

Behold!

Yes, I really do have gigantic calves in real life.

In a black skirt even!

Obviously I'm wearing both my work shoe and my walking shoe to show the contrast between...oh, forget it.

When the realization smacked me across the face that I was THAT woman I got a little self conscious and wondered which teenager was snickering behind my back.

Then my brain said "fuck it" and I turned up my Dance Pop Radio Pandora station and speed walked my merry way around the neighborhood without a care.

This "fuck it" wisdom is new for me. I might have shed my outward brand name, judgmental attitude but my internal opinion has always remained harsh. It's only been within the last few years that I've been able to enter a restaurant and not panic that everyone is staring at the fat person that doesn't deserve to eat.

I'm serious.

It is a constant work in progress and sometimes feels like an uphill battle, but moments like today show me just how far I've come instead of struggling with how far I have yet to go.

Random thing I'm lusting over at the present time: THIS CAMERA

I am becoming less and less enamored with my cell phone camera by the minute. The shot looks okay on the teeny Droid screen but blown out and grainy and unfocused once it's uploaded to my computer. As someone who used to be an avid photographer I'm itching to get back into it which of course means NEW TOYS!!! In reality, I will brush off my old Kodak and in the immortal words of Tim Gunn "Make it work". I've done it before. :)

Sometimes technology fails me...

2011-08-09T16:28:00.000-07:00

For example: when I try to upload my afternoon walk photos they are half picture/half black smudge. Repeatedly. Another example: my GPS tracker measured a little over 8 minutes of walking and a distance of .26 miles. Needles to say I've all but given up relying on gadgetry today and plan to rely on old fashioned methods measurement and documentation for the time being.

For my afternoon walk I did a little walk/run action. Actually, I ran the stairs in work's parking structure and briskly walked the distance between stairwells.

It's a little creepy in there, I'll be honest. I've come across more than one homeless person napping on the top levels and no matter what time of year or time of day every stairwell smells like urine.

Ahhh, delightful!

However, it is close to work so I don't have to spend too much of my 15 minute break getting there and if I push it hard I can do three circuits and get my heart rate pretty high pretty quick. Then I get to walk back to work a sweaty mess...win win!

Plus....look at this day!

My one non-fail photo. :)

Any moment spent out there is a gift.

Gratuitous Ripley Pictures from last week:

We love the hammock! In fact, you'll probably find us there in about an hour.