I am on #12 for the day. 12 down, 88 more to go.

On the up side, only 15 cal each!

Did you know the old factory for these was in Riverside, right near my place? No wonder I am loving them right now-

p.s.!

Last night, Faisal helped me make a mango sorbet with some pineapple juice, coconut milk, lime juice, and organic cane sugar. Most of it was chopped over ripe mangoes that we found at Stater Bro's while I was getting other things.

I wish I had pictures for y'all but it keeps going too fast!

my night

work was long and hurt my back (I can't sit in a chair all day long at all- scoliosis, ADD, um..too much going on- ouch)

school- math test- ehhh...easier than I thought but I forgot 2 VERY SIMPLE formulas that automatically made my grade at least a B, and I bet I didn't ace it anyway-

yoga- REALLY GOOD

after yoga- AMAZING workout, relational time with a gal from my class struggling in her own diet, and a five minute sesh with my acupuncturist

BEFORE yoga- I made home made sorbet with pineapple, cherries, and coconut milk. I added blue agave syrup as a sweetener, and some lime juice...which brings me to now.

YUM


shower time and today is gonna happen all over again tomorrow, sans the math test

updates!

Hey everyone! Here's three big updates for me-

1- I start my new job tomorrow and am in service all week long with meetings, orientations, first-aid, CPR, and room cleaning. Yup- a real teacher (kind of)!

2- I start a new small group this Wednesday with people in the outreach area of Sandals. I am not officially resigning from my small group, but checking this one out a few times. It kind of just fell into my lap serendipitously as I was getting an article for an art function going. BUT, I am excited- God works in some cool ways!

3- I am meeting with a rep from PIBC (Pacific Islands Bible College) in LA this October to discuss some things regarding me working there next year. Yup- a year from now, I would be in the Pacific Islands (and prob. NOT Guam but close!) If this goes as we hope it does, I will start fund raising, letter writing, and preparing for a really cool trip. If it does not go how we are all hoping for, I am keeping the Peace Corps and Thailand on the table. Well, Thailand is always on the table- for the rest of my life. I was there last year at this time, and am missing it a lot right now. It will work its way into my trips.

ANYWAY- those are my three huge things. Please pray for me!!

one year ago

I am sad, this one year anniversary has HIT me.

being Christian

Being a Christian has brought so many blessings into my life- especially after joining Sandals church. I have been feeling sick all week and almost opted out of small group tonight, until I went at the last minute.

I am so glad I did- I need God in big ways right now.

Life is

Last week, I bought new shoes and shorts at Lady Foot Locker. The minute I get home and jump on line, I have a $15 dollar off and $20 dollar off coupon from them in my inbox.
I have NEVER received coupons in my email from Lady Foot Locker- and I already spent my money


Today, I got a cookie from Subway (yup- cheating on the diet, whatever, it was amazing). I usually don't get cookies. I had this strange feeling that I should peel off the sticker from my drink to see if I won anything, but I didn't. I get home, and win 1 free cookie.
What the heck?




OH, some good updates on http://melting4life.blogspot.com - makes me re think that cookie!

done, done, and DONE

I got so much accomplished today while sitting down in an hour between lunch and class- I am really proud of myself, the laziness has NOT taken over!

My day-
Woke up to the cat kneading me, got dressed- went to jazzercise

Made a friend at jazzercise

Came home, went on a bike ride

Showered, did hair, went to Punjab Palace (Indian food)

Face and I stopped by to visit the aunt and grandma, came home w/ delicious green grapes from the garden

Made appointment for TB test, fingerprinting for my new job

Printed out my new schedule for my new job (which includes full days all next week for the beginning of the school year)

Finalized 4 great classes, 2 of the teachers I absolutely love, for next quarter


Scheduled insurance info pick up from my acupuncturist

Emailed people to set up volunteer time and office time

Figured out that Friday will be beach day (FINALLY! and, in Carlsbad!)

Went to math and UNDERSTOOD it (and didn't do as horrible on my test as I thought- but still failed it...)


And now, I am getting ready for yoga and updated pics for my diet blog.



If you know me, you know that laziness is one of my core sins- and by that I mean laziness as in "wait til the last minute" or "assess the importance of a task"- Yes, I work out religiously, but when it comes to other important things- I never get them done how I want to! I am tackling this and getting good results. Tomorrow is another busy day where I actually follow through with my appointments and plans, but for me, getting them on the books is the hard part. I guess this is what Mondays are like!

I just got tickets to see the love of my life a month from now- COMMON- with N.E.R.D. SWEET!!

camping

(photo credit: Faisal)

I spent the last two nights camping in Big Bear with Faisal, Jesse, and Jesse's dad Doug. I had such a good time (despite being sick) and can't wait to do it again- except this time with an air mattress. We are leaving to visit my sister Esther in Santa Barbara tomorrow morning. Pray for a safe trip!

squash

I got a summer squash from my Dad's house (that looks just like this and is about the size of a pint of Ben and Jerry's) two weeks ago when I went up to visit. It kept well, and today, after a night of camping, and an achy morning of jazzercise, climbing, and car washing, I cut this baby up and cooked it.

I sauteed it with olive oil, then steamed it with a quarter cup of bouillon and water, then sauteed it again until the liquid evaporated. Its mighty delicious!

Rice Drink!

This has changed my life, and definitely helped me cut back on dairy. I started buying Trader Joe's "Rice Drink" in the original flavor..for about 2 bucks a container, and only started using it once I ran out of regular organic milk. I already poured a bowl of Cheerios and figured, "hey, I have this...might as well use it"

The thing is- it tastes like milk, and my cat can't even tell the difference! She waits for me to finish my cereal, and I give her whats left. AND, there's no soy in it, its vegan, there's added B vitamins, and a whole list of perks. The biggest perk is that its NON DAIRY and I have been trying to kick my dairy habit(dairy is bad for us!)

I challenge you all to try it- its pretty awesome! (OH, and you can buy a bunch since it doesn't go bad until ten days after its opened-)

Baptism Slide Show

http://www.balboaphotography.com/Slideshows/Baptism208/


My Baptism, Feb 08

the moment of truth

Hey everyone- I have another blog, which I don't think I told too many of you about-

http://melting4life.blogspot.com

I am on my workout and calorie counting routine- again- but this time, with pictures, and a LOT of accountability (aka you). If you want to help keep track of me I would appreciate it! I should be fit just in time for the end of September...but I need some help. Thanks!

new tread

My front tires and tennis shoes have been worn down for quite some time. Both, going with me on many trips where they are needed, have provided a lot of support and safety over this past year. Today, I went in for a simple tire rotation and met up with a friend at the mall for lunch during. Well, I really needed two front tires, so why not?

After lunch of a soup and salad Valerie and I headed to Lady Foot Locker, then all around the mall, and back to Lady Foot Locker in search of new sneakers (if you are very active you need to change your sneaks about once every six months- or else bad things happen to your feet, back, etc). We tried on all kinds of pairs and ended up with the same pair, on sale! I went back to pick up my car, and here I am in my new shoes getting ready to drive over to the gym.

Well...as life would have it, I get home, check my email, and find two coupons for Lady Foot Locker (they never send me anything!)- but I can't complain, and I will use them (seeing as my work and workout stuff is the same!).

On a related and side note, I have been very blessed lately. I am happy about my shoes and tires, like everything else, that I will run into the ground before replacing.

Happy 80th, Grandma R!

Its nice to have the family together <3 and the cake was good too

Hiking- Auburn, Ca