A Brief Intermission

My blog was ugly. Really, really ugly.

I’ve been planning to redesign, switch to a self-hosted WordPress blog, and inundate you with new, smarter, sassier content. But, alas, I’m planning a destination wedding, finishing the move into a new house, earning a living, working on my fitness, and trying to be a better than decent partner to my fiance.

So this is what you get in the interim. Maybe after the wedding I will get to that place where I have spare time to finish the design that I started over a year ago. Maybe then you will be all, “Wow, this is so much better than that ugly design that you used to have.”

And I’ll be all, “Why thank you! It only took me two years, an engagement, a wedding, a honeymoon, and working 60 hour weeks at work to finish.”

And then you’ll be all, “Have you had your medication checked recently?”

Wedding Programs

I’m obsessed with all things paper. It’s been an addiction since I was a kid. I just love paper, which is ironic considering my profession. Pause. Deep moment of reflection.

Ok. Done with that.

I have this vision of what our wedding program will look like. I want it to blend with the other paper pieces from our wedding while being a piece that I can save (hello, my name is Jenny and I’m a hoarder). I don’t have the budget to have someone make the program and I haven’t found any program kits that I really like.

If you’re looking for a wedding program kit I would recommend these sites:

Rexcraft – because, duh.

Wedding Programs Fast – great templates

iDo Graphics – some cute stuff

Because we are having a Catholic wedding the program is a little long. I’m also including a page that outlines the meaning of a Catholic wedding ceremony. I want our guests to know what they are witnessing because even I get confused at Catholic weddings.

My solution is to create my own programs, which will be cheaper than buying a kit or having someone make them. I found this great site that explains how to make your wedding program in Microsoft Word. I’m going to add a navy or green cover to mine, a little ribbon, and a monogram or something.

How to Make Wedding Program in Word

Photos to come in the future if you’re good and eat all your vegetables, do your chores, and act politely.

Month Two, ? Workouts

Lat week I did my fitness testing again to see the progress that I’ve made in the last month. This month was more challenging since I traveled, gave birth (see www.windspireenergy.com, my baby), delved into full on wedding madness and had some emotional ups and downs. I’ve I lost track of how many workouts this would be, but I’m guesstimating that it is around 30?

I still absolutely love working out at MRI and with Camie, my trainer. She is truly one of the most inspirational, genuine, and kind people that I have ever met. It also helps that she laughs at my jokes. Like this morning when I could hardly breathe. I told her I was going to come at her like a Spider Monkey. She laughed and came back at me with a southern drawl. Anyone who gets references to Talladaga Nights is A-Ok in my book.

Anyhoo, here are my results for this month:

Measurement	3/10/10	4/1/10	4/13/2010	5/14/2010	Change
Chest	43 inches	42 inches	41 3/4 inches	41 1/4 inches	1 1/4 inches
Arm	13 3/4 inches	13 1/2 inches	13 1/4 inches	13 1/4	1/2 inch
Waist	40 inches	40 inches	39 inches	39 inches	1 inch
Hip	47 inches	45 1/2 inches	45 1/2 inches	45 1/2 inches	1 1/2 inches
Thigh	28 1/2 inches	27 1/2 inches	26 3/4	26 3/4	1 3/4 inches
Calf	17 inches	16 inches	16 1/4	17	??? Probably all those stairs!
Activity
Push Ups	29	37	40	45	16 more!
Sit Ups (the real kind)	22	26	33	36	14 more!
Mile Run	13:55 minutes	11:45 minutes	N/A	10:54 minutes	3:01 faster!

I have to tell you that originally I was disappointed that I hadn’t lost more inches. It was so motivating last month to see those numbers drop. It got me down for a bit and then I started thinking about other things that I’ve noticed are changing. For instance, my jeans are too big. MY JEANS ARE TOO BIG. My clothes fit. I’m not squeezing into anything. I sleep like a rock. Emotionally, I feel GOOD. Taking that hour or so every morning to move and sweat puts things into perspective, makes me let go of the things that are on my mind. My overall fitness and strength are improving. I ran a freaking mile this morning and I almost did it in 10 minutes. I haven’t done that in years. Really. Years.

I’ve lost 14 15.2 pounds! At my first wedding dress fitting the seamstress had to take in inches from each side. She tried to convince me not to lose anymore weight. My wedding dress zipped up with no problem. In December I had to suck it in to get it on. My body fat is down 4%!

I always find it funny how the universe sends you little signals and signs. After I got done running my mile and could hardly breathe this woman at the gym came up to me. She’s in excellent shape and I can tell she’s an athlete. Maybe a runner or something. She said, “You were busting it on that treadmill. I wasn’t even sure you were breathing.” I kind of giggled, brushing off her compliment like I do so often. Then she said, “No, I’m serious. You were really moving.” Made me feel so good to hear that. Then later another girl who works out at the same time as me said, “You get here earlier than me every morning and you are always busting your ass.”

Yep, I am. Or Camie busts it for me.

So despite the fact that I am not so happy about not losing any inches I realize that this is a journey and part of that journey is gaining confidence and feeling good on the inside. These compliments at the gym mean more to me than these strangers will ever know. And the results that I feel on the inside are almost as good as losing lbs. and inches.

A post for Camie

Tight Buns for Hot Jeans Contest Recipe of the Week

I’m still working on my fitness and I should have new results for you soon. I still feel great, even though our wedding is now 2 months away and is stressing me out and I’ve had a couple of really trying days at work. During these times I find that my body (and mind) feels so much better if I get into the gym. Funny how that works, eh?

Anyway, my amazing trainer Camie, started a contest for her clients and it’s based on results in the gym and tasks that she gives us weekly. This week’s task is to share a favorite recipe.

So, in hopes that I will be a contender in Camie’s Hot Jeans Contest, here’s my favorite fish taco recipe:

A couple of filets of a mild white fish (if you’re in the money go with Halibut, if not Cod or Tilapia will work just fine)
Cumin
Cayenne Pepper
Garlic Powder
Salt
Pepper
1 Mango
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 Red Pepper (diced)

1 tablespoon olive oil
A splash of lime juice
Coleslaw (I buy the kind from the store that has the coleslaw mayonnaise mix, probably the ingredient Camie will cut first)
Corn or Flour tortillas

Instructions

1. Thaw your fish. That kind of sounds like something a Mafia guy would say. Like, “I thawed his fish.” Maybe not?

2. Grill or bake your fish. If you’re baking then I recommend making little packets out of foil. One filet goes in one foil packet. Sprinkle the cumin, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper over each fillet. You could season both sides if you want to be fancy like that. Or not. Whatevs. I bake at 350 for about 15 minutes. You know it’s done when you can flake the fish using a fork.

3. While the fish is cooking start preparing the Mango Salsa. Damn! You didn’t see that one coming did ya? That’s what they would call a “Secret Ingredient” on Iron Chef.

4. You’re going to need to dice a mango. I find this ridiculously hard as mango are quite slippery once they have been peeled. Alas, I use a vegetable peeler, peel the mango and then cut slices off that I later dice up. I try not to lose any fingers in the process. Put these mango pieces in a bowl. Add the white wine vinegar, diced up red pepper, lime juice, a little salt and pepper. Give it a quick stir and put it aside.

5. Make your coleslaw. The directions are on the bag.

6. Add a little fish, a little mango salsa and a little coleslaw. You could also make some black beans if you want. Eat the tacos.

Wish me luck! First prize is a $300 gift certificate to Fine ‘n Funky.