[images via www.dustontodd.com]
those colors. that couple. the dress. the leaves. sigh...
"autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower" - albert camus
Thursday, January 15, 2009
falllling...
[images via www.dustontodd.com]
those colors. that couple. the dress. the leaves. sigh...
"autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower" - albert camus
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
a bit of variety
i have never wanted a fancy wedding cake. truth be told, i never wanted a traditional wedding cake at all. i've always tried my best to live simply and i felt like it should transpire to all aspects of the wedding, but especially the cake. so here's the plan:
[image via http://www.punambean.com/]
[image via http://www.countryliving.com/]
j and i felt like this option would be best because it gives everyone a different option of flavor, we can have some vegan selections, and it's so cute! ok, well maybe that last part is mostly my opinion - ha. and while i'm confessing things, i guess i should also admit that building a collection of cake stands also makes the multiple cakes idea sound a little bit sweeter!
i also thought it would be great to have our relatives each make their "infamous" desserts so we could have some of the desserts we both grew up loving. for instance, my great aunt makes the best strawberry shortcake east of the mississippi. j's aunt makes killer pound "puppy" (j used to call it that when he was little - how cute!) cake. j's mom makes amazing pies [at least so i've heard, because as delicious as they look...i don't like pies sadly]. anyways, suffice it to say we'd be well covered!
and of course to complicate things, we also love the cupcake possibility. hmm - i guess we have time to make up our minds [and then change them many times too] before our wedding.
[image via happiness in a bite]
hmm - we could always do both...even if we did one at the reception and one at the rehearsal dinner. ok, enough about cake cause it's no good to talk about cake while you're trying to lose weight!
[image via http://www.punambean.com/]
[image via http://www.countryliving.com/]
j and i felt like this option would be best because it gives everyone a different option of flavor, we can have some vegan selections, and it's so cute! ok, well maybe that last part is mostly my opinion - ha. and while i'm confessing things, i guess i should also admit that building a collection of cake stands also makes the multiple cakes idea sound a little bit sweeter!
i also thought it would be great to have our relatives each make their "infamous" desserts so we could have some of the desserts we both grew up loving. for instance, my great aunt makes the best strawberry shortcake east of the mississippi. j's aunt makes killer pound "puppy" (j used to call it that when he was little - how cute!) cake. j's mom makes amazing pies [at least so i've heard, because as delicious as they look...i don't like pies sadly]. anyways, suffice it to say we'd be well covered!
and of course to complicate things, we also love the cupcake possibility. hmm - i guess we have time to make up our minds [and then change them many times too] before our wedding.
[image via happiness in a bite]
hmm - we could always do both...even if we did one at the reception and one at the rehearsal dinner. ok, enough about cake cause it's no good to talk about cake while you're trying to lose weight!
unacceptable
[image via http://www.keepcalmgallery.com/]
how have i already let a week go by without updating this thing! it has been a very hectic week and i just now finally feel like i can breathe a bit.
some exciting things have been happening lately! i haven't mentioned that j and i are trying to buy a house! we've been looking for a little over a month and it's been a bit discouraging, but we now have a favorite but it's out of our price range so we've been trying to figure out a budget. i think we're going to try to make an offer, because it's better to at least try than to never try at all [and always wonder what could have happened]. there are 1 or 2 others that would do, but they don't come close to the one. so fingers crossed...
in other wonderful news, we have officially booked our photographer! we signed the contract last night and put down the first deposit yesterday and we could not be any happier! the wonderful matt miller will be shooting our wedding next october and it's going to be a blast! please check out some of matt's amazing work!
[images via matt miller at http://www.thefivemilegrace.com/ or http://www.matthewmillerphotography.com/]
cheers! xo
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
barefoot in the kitchen
for j's birthday, i got him the book :"Be the Change You Want to See in the World. 365 Things You Can Do for Yourself and Your Planet" written by Julie Fisher-McGarry.
there is an entry for every day of the year with various inspirational quotes, vegetarian recipes, tips, and more! so far we have both really enjoyed this book! for today the entry is a costa rican black bean soup recipe and i'm so excited to eat it! we've got about 30 minutes left to go! i'm also making some vegan jalapeno cornbread to go with it. yummmy.
i should mention that this is the first time i've ever made dried back beans. i'm super embarrassed to tell you that; however, better late than never. after becoming vegetarian in october of 2007, black beans became an consistent staple in our diets. i had always been so accustomed to canned black beans; however, i am trying to get away from as much canned and processed food as possible! the sodium alone is bad enough, let alone all of the products that you can't pronounce! although the dried black beans are much more of an effort - the health benefits are worth it. i hope i can say the same about the taste!
anyways, if you're looking for a great book to keep you motivated for 2009, please read this book! and if you're looking for a black bean soup recipe, just email me and i'll send it over!
there is an entry for every day of the year with various inspirational quotes, vegetarian recipes, tips, and more! so far we have both really enjoyed this book! for today the entry is a costa rican black bean soup recipe and i'm so excited to eat it! we've got about 30 minutes left to go! i'm also making some vegan jalapeno cornbread to go with it. yummmy.
i should mention that this is the first time i've ever made dried back beans. i'm super embarrassed to tell you that; however, better late than never. after becoming vegetarian in october of 2007, black beans became an consistent staple in our diets. i had always been so accustomed to canned black beans; however, i am trying to get away from as much canned and processed food as possible! the sodium alone is bad enough, let alone all of the products that you can't pronounce! although the dried black beans are much more of an effort - the health benefits are worth it. i hope i can say the same about the taste!
anyways, if you're looking for a great book to keep you motivated for 2009, please read this book! and if you're looking for a black bean soup recipe, just email me and i'll send it over!
the list
to follow the trend, i've decided to determine how many of the below items i have successful fulfilled. i took this from bel's blog!
anything that is italicized has been completed!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - i've been to Disneyworld?
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - going down was horrifying for me!
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - someone sketched my portrait once when i was a hostess at a restaurant and i didn't know until they gave it to me when they left! weird!
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason - on Monday!!! <3>64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year's Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
great - now i even have more to add to my "to do" list! just when i thought you couldn't add anything else...
anything that is italicized has been completed!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - i've been to Disneyworld?
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - going down was horrifying for me!
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - someone sketched my portrait once when i was a hostess at a restaurant and i didn't know until they gave it to me when they left! weird!
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason - on Monday!!! <3>64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year's Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
great - now i even have more to add to my "to do" list! just when i thought you couldn't add anything else...
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
walk at home
like 99% of the population (especially girls getting married this year) i have made the resolution to get healthy and in shape. and by saying i want to be in shape, i'm really just trying to make the fact that i need to lose weight sound better! so anyways, i have started keeping a food journal to help monitor what i'm eating (based on the weight watchers system). i am also trying to train to run a 5K (another resolution!) this year. i also need to get back into the routine of going to my ymca gym. sadly, there were numerous times in 2008 that i was really getting in shape and felt wonderful, but i would get comfortable with my weight, my weight would stabilize temporarily, and then before i knew it all efforts had been lost. so this year my goal is not to diet, but to revolutionize my lifestyle when it comes to working out and eating properly.
to help me acheive this objective, i will be taking advantage of the following things:
1. the ymca's "coach approach" - an exercise support process designed to teach new and returning members how to start and stick with their exercise program.
2. classes at the ymca -with a focus on yoga (another resolution! yessss!)
3. the outdoors - enough said.
4. leslie sansone's walk at home video - i know what you're thinking - walking at home? walking indoors? i was a skeptic too, but after my [super skinny] best friend kept insisting that this video was an intense workout, i figured that i would give it a shot. to my surprise, by the end of the 4th mile, i was sweating bullets and completely worn out due to a great, low impact workout! i would definitely recommend this for those days when it's ugly outside or you can't get motivated to go to the gym. the best part about the below video is that you can do all 4 miles when you want a longer/ more intense workout (the video even includes a fitness band that is used during the 4th mile); however, if you aren't wanting to really exert yourself one day, you can only do 1 mile! 1 mile is better than no miles, right?
are there any specific workouts or exercises that have really helped you reach/ maintain your weight goals? if so, please share!
to help me acheive this objective, i will be taking advantage of the following things:
1. the ymca's "coach approach" - an exercise support process designed to teach new and returning members how to start and stick with their exercise program.
2. classes at the ymca -with a focus on yoga (another resolution! yessss!)
3. the outdoors - enough said.
4. leslie sansone's walk at home video - i know what you're thinking - walking at home? walking indoors? i was a skeptic too, but after my [super skinny] best friend kept insisting that this video was an intense workout, i figured that i would give it a shot. to my surprise, by the end of the 4th mile, i was sweating bullets and completely worn out due to a great, low impact workout! i would definitely recommend this for those days when it's ugly outside or you can't get motivated to go to the gym. the best part about the below video is that you can do all 4 miles when you want a longer/ more intense workout (the video even includes a fitness band that is used during the 4th mile); however, if you aren't wanting to really exert yourself one day, you can only do 1 mile! 1 mile is better than no miles, right?
are there any specific workouts or exercises that have really helped you reach/ maintain your weight goals? if so, please share!
second guesses
this new orleans wedding is absolutely stunning. i am this close to making our wedding a new orleans destination celebration...well not really, but this wedding makes it so tempting. hope you enjoy the fantastic eye candy as much as i did. i love the veil and bicycle ribbons! since we will be staying at the b&b after the wedding there will not be a formal exit; however, if we had an exit, hands down it would have to be a tandem bicycle!
have you seen a more beautiful bride? happiness just radiates from the bride and groom.
j has never been to new orleans and i know he'd absolutely love it. maybe we'll try to make it down there sometime this year, because after seeing this wedding i feel like a walk in the french quarter and a beignet at cafe du monde are in order!
[images by http://www.abryanphoto.blogspot.com/]
have you seen a more beautiful bride? happiness just radiates from the bride and groom.
j has never been to new orleans and i know he'd absolutely love it. maybe we'll try to make it down there sometime this year, because after seeing this wedding i feel like a walk in the french quarter and a beignet at cafe du monde are in order!
[images by http://www.abryanphoto.blogspot.com/]
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