Workouts

I switched up my weight workouts a long time ago, but I forgot to post it. I'm having trouble finding motivation to go to the gym every single day now, so I think it's time to switch the formula up. I'm going to try to work on that this weekend so that I can start anew on Monday.

So, this is what I've been doing lately. My old Mondays have become the new Wednesdays and the old Wednesdays are now the new Fridays. For the most part, the weights stay the same when I moved days. I think the only exception are my new Fridays. Sometimes I can't pull off 70lbs on the lat pulldowns, so I drop the weight to somewhere between 60 and 65 to get through a full set of 12-15 reps. The other thing is the bicep curls using the EZ bar. I can't always get through that many sets using the 40lb bar, but I try to do as many as possible.

The new Mondays go as follows:

• Quadriceps - Squats with 50lb loaded onto the 45lb bar.
  
• Hamstrings - Stiff legged dead lifts using a 60lb bar.
• Calves - Standing calf raises. Loaded 180lb onto the machine.
  
• Chest - Bench press using 25lb dumbbells
• Back - Bent barbell row using 50lb bar
• Shoulders - Rear delt raises using 12.5lb dumbbells
• Biceps - Preacher curls using 40lb bar
• Triceps - Triceps pushdown. Loaded 40lb onto a cable pulley machine.

(If you want to see my progress, here's the old Fridays to compare.)

The preacher curls are KILLER! I don't always make it through the complete set, but I get close. It's a tough one!

I think that I may be overtraining somewhat because sometimes I get very tired. Everything I read says that's probably a sign. Although I do see improvements in my body, I think it needs a new routine to function better. I'll update it as soon as I get it figured out!

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Pesto!

I've never made homemade pesto before, so it was high time I tried it out! It was so, so yummy! When I asked Jason if he liked it, he said "YES!!!" When I asked him if I should make it again, he replied "Oh hell yes!!!"

I think he liked it.

Disclaimer: Although your mouth make thank you, your thighs probably won't. Sorry. My suggestion would be to eat another helping of pesto pasta to shut them up.


Pesto Sauce
2 cups fresh basil
2 Tbsp pine nuts or walnuts (I used walnuts because that's what I had on hand)
1 Tsp salt
1 Cup extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic
1/2 Cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 Tsp black pepper

Remove basil leaves from stems. Place 1 cup basil leaves, pine nuts/walnuts, salt, olive oil, garlic and pepper in a blender. Process until well mixed. Add remaining basil leaves and parmesan cheese and blend well until the mixture is a smooth puree.

And that's it!

I delicately dumped the basil-y goodness over some swirly pasta and topped it with slices of baked chicken breast and a little extra parmesan cheese. It was delightful!

You could also use it as a marinade for chicken before grilling. You can also refrigerate or freeze it if you think you could wait to eat it. Enjoy!

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Movie Review

I saw "The Ugly Truth" today with my friend Shana starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler.

Image courtesy of here

Katherine Heigl plays a controlling type-A TV producer that has trouble in the dating world. Gerard Butler plays a sexist pig of a man who claims that men are simple and go for looks only. He winds up working for KH's TV station against her will and yada yada yada. Boy meets girl. Girl falls for other more "perfect" man. Boy likes girl but can't tell her. Girl realizes she's a dumbass and dumps said "perfect" man. And I think we all know where this is ending.

Even though this was a formula kind of movie, I really enjoyed it. The movie was cute and really funny! I laughed quite a bit. However, I would like to offer a word of advice if you are planning to see this movie:

Don't take your 3-year-old to this movie and let them grab someone's seat and play with their hair. It's rude and insensitive to other's feelings and germaphobias. Who knows where that kid's hands have been?!? I'm just saying. I may or may not have been said person.

And now, I'm off with the husband to hang with some friends and drink some glorious wine. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

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LOL!

You must visit this site. It is freaking hilarious! If I had known that such a sight existed, I would've snapped a pic of the shirtless, stinky man my mom and I saw in the Portland, TX Wal-Mart. And let me tell you people, the "No shirt, No shoes, No service" sign is actually state law. Way to go Wal-Mart for ignoring that one!

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Movies that suck

I've been on a roll picking out really crappy movies lately. It all started this weekend when Jason & I stopped by the closest Redbox (hello $1 movies!) and rented "The International."

Image courtesy of Redbox

This movie seemed promising in the previews, but somehow Jason & I never made it to the theater to see it. There was something in me that just said "wait and see what others thought." Those "others" never thought anything. No one I know went to see it. That should have been my first clue. The movie stars Clive Owen and Naomi Watts and is about a big brother-ish bank that is dealing arms. Clive Owen's character wants to stop the bank and goes on his own vigilante spree to do it. Doesn't sound too bad, right?

Wrong. The problem with this movie is that:

1) It jumps to different locations way too many times, making it hard to keep up.
2) It has a LOT of plots. In fact, most of the plots develop more plots making it even harder to keep things straight.
3) None of said frickin' plots get resolved. NONE.
4) The movie ends suddenly without warning. It's almost as if the production guys said, "Oh lookie here, it's 5pm on Friday and we don't want to go into overtime. Yeah, I think that was enough filming. We'll make it work."

After the movie ended, Jason & I just stared at each other wondering what in the heck we just saw. It was that bad.

My second crappy movie choice of the weekend was "Rachel Getting Married."

Image courtesy of Redbox

Now this movie I decided to watch by myself. I knew it would be hard convincing Jason to watch, so I didn't even bother to try. I knew I would have a hard time watching this movie because it stars Anne Hathaway in a very different role. She plays a hard-core drug addict that has just come home from rehab. I've liked every movie I've seen her in so far, but she always plays a cutesy girl in movies that have happy endings.

This movie did not have that happy ending. Here's how Redbox reviews the movie:

"When Kym (Anne Hathaway) returns to the Buchman family home for the wedding of her sister Rachel, she brings a long history of personal crisis and family conflict along with her."

Yep, that's all it said. Maybe I should have read that first before I rented the movie. Unlike "The International's" crazy long list of plots, "Rachel Getting Married" lacked one completely. The movie just altogether sucked. But since nothing really unfolded in the movie, I guess nothing needed to get resolved. The movie's cinematography was terrible as well. The camera zoomed in and out like they couldn't focus, making it hard to watch. Parts of the movie, such as the rehearsal dinner, were so drawn out that I got bored. This was just one stinker of a movie.

Finally, a couple nights ago, Jason & I went back to our beloved Redbox and rented yet another bomb, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" starring Keanu Reaves, Jennifer Connelly and Kathy Bates.

Image courtesy of Redbox

Yeah, I know. I don't really like Keanu Reaves either, but we've seen most of the good movies in our Redbox by the time we rented this one. In this movie, Keanu plays an emotionless alien that is a friend of the Earth and comes to warn the Earth that it is about to have all the humanpopulation eliminated in order to save the planet. Jennifer Connelly's character befriends him and tries to get him to stop the destruction that has started since the world has treated him as hostile.

And that's about it.

To give the movie some credit, at least there was a plot involved and the movie did end.......sorta. But this movie ended much like "The International" did - it just kind of stopped. I haven't seen the original movie so I can't say how well it followed, but the ending was just anticlimactic. Boring.

The one darn movie that I saw in the past week that I know I liked was on the G4 station under their "Movies That Don't Suck" headline.


With a station that broadcasts such gems like "Cheaters" and "The International Sexy Ladies Show", you would think that they wouldn't know a good movie if it slapped them in the face. But "The Goonies" can never be denied its "Movies That Don't Suck" status.

"Rocky Road" and "Hey you guys!" is in all our vocabularies whether we like to admit it or not. It came from a freaky thing called Sloth! Who could forget Mikie (Sean Astin) always getting air from his inhaler, believing they can find the rich stuff of One-Eyed Willie. Or a young Cory Feldman as Mouth, trying to always look cool and bust out with the smart aleck comments. Or Data, with all of his crazy inventions. "Booty traps!" Best of all, who could forget Chunk doing the Truffle Shuffle?

If you haven't seen this movie, then you are lame.

If you've seen this movie and think this movie is lame, then you are super lame and should probably not read this blog anymore. I can't be friends with you. Seriously.

And finally, if you've seen this movie and love it, then you are moved to fully bloggy love status.

Moral of the story here? Sometimes even $1 can be wasted. Stay at home and watch movies that don't suck.

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Sylvia's 30th birthday

I'm way behind on posts, I know. Sue me.

A couple weekends ago, I went to celebrate my friend Sylvia's 30th birthday. The party was held at her in-law's house in Canyon Lake. At my party in January, Sylvia was nice enough to give me a sash that said "30 and Thrilling!" However, her sister gave me a picture frame that everyone could sign and Sylvia made a misprint. Instead of writing "30 & Thrilling", she wrote "30 and Thriving." I mean, it's not like I'm almost dead. Sheesh.

So, I had to return the favor:

And yes, I made her wear it! I could do a post on how I made the t-shirt, but I think we all know how iron-ons work.

The most fun part of the party was the adult pinata. Here's Syl taking a whack at it (and totally cheating!):


Here's me taking a shot!

The pinata had mini wine and liquor bottles, air fresheners, liquor-filled candy and scratch off tickets! Miles loved picking up the contents!

We then got a group shot with almost everyone. It was impossible to get people to face the same camera! Can you find Jason & I? Jason blends in REALLY well here. Ha ha!

Then we went inside for cake! Look at that adorable cake!!



Afterward, Syl opened presents and we all gabbed til late at night. It was so good to just kick back and relax with friends and just catch up! Here's Syl & I...her with her "30 & Thriving" t-shirt and her "30 & Flirty" sash:

I came home with an air freshener, $20 in winning scratch off tickets and booze. Now that's what I call a successful night! Happy birthday Sylvia!!

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Dad is finally coming home!

After over a week in the hospital, Dad is finally coming home today. His blood oxygen level is back to normal and his lungs sound much better. His blood sugar is still a little elevated from the steroids, but it should still continue its downward trend as weans off of them. Dad still has quite a cough, but it's 500% better than when he came into the hospital. I think he will be home for at least the rest of this week before he attempts to go back to work. Luckily, his boss had some major lung issues many years ago and understands how hard recovery can be. When Dad does come back to work, he'll be taking it slow.

I can't tell you how happy Dad is right now. We thought he was going to come home yesterday and let's just say that Dad was less than happy when he found out he had to stay another night. Right now, he just wants some more peace and quiet. Thank you all for your fervent thoughts and prayers. They are much appreciated!

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