Breakfast--yum yum

Hi. Meet my breakfast! It's a two egg omelete with 1 oz of sliced deli ham with one slice of pesto pepper jack cheese, topped with fresh pico de gallo that I made. It is very filling, and when accompanied by a sliced up green apple, well, my morning always gets off to a good start.

Since joining Weight Watchers, I have been focusing on eating small portions of food that are more filling. It's nice to eat a little 2 PointsPlus fiber bar, but you'll be hungry shortly there after. This breakfast has really helped me stay fuller for longer where I only have to bring one snack to work (besides my lunch).

I'm trying new recipes from the WW website; both Marshall and I really like them. Tonight I'm doing a turkey and vegetable chili that is going to last us the rest of the weekend. If you're not in need of a plan like I do with WW, it is still a good habit to discover what foods really make you feel satisfied, which ones taste good but leave you wanting more, and those that do not benefit your body at all. I have no doubt that your body will respond well with your new choices.

Update on 101/1001

Here's how what I've been accomplishing regarding my 101/1001 list.

1. Have donated food to the local food bank for 6 months in a row!

20. I did a baby Zumba class called Cardio Dance Party for 6 weeks straight. I was so close to making it 8 weeks to reach my goal. I stopped because I tried out the 1 hour class right before it called Camp24, which is cardio and strength training. I'm burning calories and toning my muscles, which is better for my body than just cardio. The Cardio Dance Party class has gotten really popular; there seems to be little room in there now. I did really well while I was doing it. It was a challenage; it kicked my butt and I liked it. I will consider this task accomplished when I can do both a Camp24 and Cardio Dance Party class back to back on Monday nights. Sound like a good compromise?

22. Holy smokes! I couldn't believe it. I did a mile on the eliptical Sunday morning at the gym in 6:55! My goal was to reach 7:30, this was really impressive to me. Now let me see myself do it on the treadmill. :)

40. I found a delicious recipe called Antipasti Chicken that involves artichokes. I've also included them on pizza and in quiche. Marshall loves them all!

42. I've lowered my BMI by 1.9 points since December 17th! I've accomplished this by eatting better, exercising and doing Weight Watchers. By mid-April I hope to have it down a total of 4.3 points.

50. I'm planning a trip for my husband, sister, nephew and myself (Matt may or may not be able to make it) to go to my parents' house in Salem, Oregon in mid-August. Going in November and around the holidays would just be insane financially and with being able to leave work. While we are at our parents' house, Mom is going to cook a Thanksgiving meal (her favorite to do). When this happens, I'm marking this task as complete!

97. I changed this one to "Participate in a 5K." I'm thinking of doing the Couch to 5K challenage and be ready for Austin's Bun Run on May 1st.

Austin and Beyond

I reminded Marshall today as we went for a walk that we've been in Austin now for 1.5 years. We're fairly confident we'll be moving from here in another 8-9 years. Some of the places we're considering and are going to look into are:
*Spokane, Washington
*Colorado
*South Minnesota
*Southern Missouri
*Iowa
*Nebraska
*Coure d'Alene, Idaho

Of course these are just places that we want to look more into over the next few years. We obviously don't need to make a decision any time soon. We just want a town with good schools, that has a low crime rate, beautiful surroundings, potential to grow and jobs for both of us.

Vacation Ideas

We have some vacation ideas that we'd like to see through before we start expanding our family in 2013. Marshall's school schedule gives us limited windows so he doesn't have to miss classes. Here is what's on the table:
2011
*Trip in mid-August to Salem, Oregon to see my parents, youngest sister, Sherri and our nephew Kyan. My brother Matt will make it if he can.
*Trip to the Int'l Balloon Festival in New Mexico during the first weekend in October. We'd travel mostly by train.
2012
*Trip to Washington, DC for at least 4 days.
*Trip to Marshall's family cabin in NW Wyoming.
2013
*Trip for youngest sister Rachael's graduation party.
*Trip for youngest brother Eric's graduation party.
*Trip to northern Europe in June/July to celebrate Marshall's college graduation.
20??
*Trip to North Dakota.
*Alaskan Cruise out of Seattle.

We know a Europe trip would be fairly expensive, and as much as we'd like to go while it would be just the two of us, I'm wondering if it is a good idea to spend all that money as we TTC. I really want to see Denmark; Marshall wants Germany; and we'd like to see Stockholm too.

2013 sounds so far away to be planning trips, but considering that we have two graduations to fly/drive to within a few weeks of each other that year, we really do need to start thinking of some options. We'd like to take a "hurray, Marshall's finally out of school" trip before he would start a full time job (if that's the path he takes). If his business takes off and is earning enough income, well, maybe we wouldn't have to take it right then. *shrug This is what happens when you're a planner by nature.

Package O'Fun

My brother Matt, who is currently deployed overseas right now, should be receiving the package we put together for him. It has a lot of silly gag stuff in it like plastic gun that shoots ping-pong ball sized amo and fake tattoos. We put in their a package of fortune cookies, a window paint marker, some rabbit ears for Easter, a mesh laundry bag and some cracker jacks. His package is going to have some coffee in it that is made in Austin. I look forward to hearing about what he does with all the stuff made for pranks. It should bring a smile to his face, plus make Matt the most popular guy in camp because he has fake tattoos.

Health Update

I had another successful week with WW. I'm down 6.8 pounds in 4 weeks. I only have another 4 pounds to go until I hit my 5% body weight loss goal. I'm also going to participate in Austin 5K Bun Run on May 1st. I'll walk and jog it, and am looking forward to being a part of this event. Marshall is going to go with me. :)

I'm seeing great results in Marshall from his efforts put in at the gym multiple times a week. His upper arms feel rock hard to me! He's feeling better about himself, and is so glad that I suggested we start going back to the gym.

Cats still chase each other while playing, so they're getting their exercise too. :) Everyone is happy in the Reeske household.

#60 Expanding My Vocabulary

Number 60 on my 101/1001 list is to expand my vocabulary by 100 words. I have recruited the help of Savethewords.org, which is a website dedicated to bringing English words that are on the brink of extinction back into everyday vernacular. You "adopt" a word and promise to use it as often as possible, essentially sharing it with others.

My first word is "prandicle," which I had never heard in my life. It means "small meal." For example: My morning prandicle consisted of a banana and half a bagel.

How would you use prandicle in a sentence? ;)

*update*
I've adopted two new words! I'm adding to my brood. "Icasm" means 'figurative expression,' sort of like a metaphor. Here's a good one for Scrabble--quaeritate--which means 'to ask.'