Archives for 2011

Weekend Photos in Review

February 20, 2011 · Photos

I can’t even believe it’s Sunday night already – this weekend has flown by, thank goodness we have an extra day off tomorrow. We’ve had a busy weekend, but save for a few pictures, I feel like my camera has hardly seen the light of day. Here’s a peek of what we’ve been up to – hope your weekend was fabulous!

Get your very own colorful pinwheels at the Dollar Spot at Target. It will make you think that Spring is just around the corner!

She told me she needed this castle backpack because it gave her superhero powers. She was so cute when she said it, I almost gave in. Almost.

Project 365
February 18, 2011, Photo #48

Love that Nick loves these.

Project 365
February 19, 2011, Photo #49
Prep work for some easy, healthy meals this week.

Project 365
February 19, 2011, Photo #50
Love these, but so far I can only find them at our local bagel shop. Go figure.

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Weight Loss: Why This Time was Different

February 17, 2011 · Narrative

A few readers asked awhile back why “this” time losing weight was different. It took me awhile to figure out why, but now that I’ve got it, I’m happy to share. The first time I was super-serious about losing weight, as many readers already know, was a few months before I got married back in 1998. I purposely bought a wedding dress a few sizes too small and bartered with a personal trainer client to shed the pounds (side note and quite apropos: the newest show from the folks behind The Biggest Loser, Shedding for the Wedding, starts 2/23). In under two months, I managed to lose 30 pounds and felt amazing.

Flash forward to our honeymoon, buying a house, having a baby, general life and, I’ll say it, allowing distractions and excuses creep in, and I gained the weight back. And then a bit more for good measure. Although I thought about the extra weight I was carrying all the time (and even now at a 60 lb weight loss, I still think about weight all the time, just in different terms), I wasn’t motivated enough to do anything about it.

Flash forward to early 2004 and my sister’s upcoming wedding. Another goal. Another new fresh mindset to lose the weight. To be completely honest, I didn’t want to ruin her wedding pictures by being in them at an unhealthy weight. I lost around 25 pounds then, and again, felt amazing.

Do you see a pattern emerging? Every time I have lost a significant amount of weight, it has been tied to an upcoming event. This time? When I started Cate Version 2010 last January? No specific event.

I did it for me.

I did it for my kids.

And I did it forever. With that type of mindset.

Not for some celebration coming up.

Not for a date circled in red on the calendar.

And I think that had made all the difference in the world. Especially this time.

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Recipe: Tomato, Avocado, and Hummus Pita Pizza

February 16, 2011 · Narrative

A healthy, clean eating recipe when you’re craving pizza, but don’t want to give in.

I eat a crazy amount of food every day, particularly weekdays. I leave for work in the morning with a small tote bag filled with all sorts of foods to fuel me during the day … yogurt, nuts, granola bars, hard-boiled eggs, fresh fruit. I eat a solid breakfast, mid-morning snacks, lunch, mid-afternoon snacks, and dinner. One of the benefits to clean eating is that as long as you are eating the right food, there is no quantity limit, no calorie counting, none of those shenanigans. Treat your body right, and the rest will take care of itself.

Although it’s not a recipe in the traditional sense, I thought this Tomato, Avocado, and Hummus Pita Pizza would be the perfect thing to share with you. It’s a great way to get a little bit of extra fuel in your body to combat those 3:00-4:00 pm slumps, and you can mix and match the toppings at will. Go wild! Just use fresh ingredients. You know, the good stuff.

Project 365
February 16, 2011, Photo #46
Ran into a little organic store at lunchtime today and Madeline spied these fun little chocolates at the register. I hate when candy is at eye level and arm’s reach of kids. Usually she grabs a few and hightails it to the nearest corner to open the candy in secret. Today I got lucky and she just whined for them.

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Eat. Live. Be. #7: Celeb Advice

February 15, 2011 · Eat. Live. Be.

Welcome my fellow Eat. Live. Be. peeps. Can you believe it’s WEEK 7 already?! My how time has flown. Now before I forget, I was supposed to do my status update last week and it slipped my mind. As you may know, Sarah and I are in a friendly competition to see who is going to lose 40 lbs first. She thinks she has a chance. Let me say it in black and white, just as Nick used to when he was four: No way, Jose. As of last week’s update, I was at a 6 pound weight loss since we started ELB. Hard to stop a moving train, ya know? Booyah!

This week, our topic was sharing celebrity fitness tips, recipes and the like, and I haven’t made the rounds yet, but I’m sure we all interpreted this one from every angle of the spectrum. Dr. Oz may not be the first person you think of when it comes to “celebrity” and “fitness,” but he is definitely at the forefront of getting people interested in their health again. I am a big fan of his method in explaining how things work and what we need to do to take better, more complete, care of ourselves. He breaks it down in easy-to-digest laymen terms that basically leaves us no excuse but to listen and pay attention. Growing up, my Dad always said, “It’s simple. Eat less, move more.” I will, of course, never tell him, but he was definitely on to something. Kind of the same way Dr. Oz explains it. We all know what we should be doing. Actually doing it is another story entirely.

Dr. Oz’s 10 Commandments for Weight Loss Success is another prime example of breaking things down in the easiest manner possible.

1. Thou Shalt Not Wear Pants that Stretch
Your clothing is an early-warning system for weight gain. When it’s getting hard to snap your jeans, you know it’s time to be vigilant. Wearing stretchy clothes allows you to live in ignorance of how your body is growing, making it easier to pack on pounds without knowing it.

2. Thou Shalt Not Keep Fat Clothes in Your Closet
When you keep the clothes you wore at an unhealthy weight, it gives you a back-up plan if the pounds don’t come off. Instead, force yourself to stay on track by 86ing your “fat pants.”

3. Thou Shalt Not Eat Meat That Walks on Four Legs More Than Once a Week
Meat that comes from an animal with 4 legs is higher in saturated fat (the unhealthy kind) than that which comes from 2-legged animals such as chickens, or animals with no legs, like fish. Plus: women who eat large amounts of red meat more than once a week have a 50% higher chance of dying from heart disease and have higher cancer rates.

4. Thou Shalt Not Graze
Plan your meal before you open the refrigerator, get what you need, and close the door. Opening it throughout the day leads to impulsive choices and overeating.

5. Thou Shalt Not Eat After 7:30pm
When you eat late at night you are more likely to be eating in front of the TV (when you won’t pay attention to how much you’re putting in your mouth) and you’re more likely to pick high-calorie snacks.

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Valentine’s Day 2011

February 14, 2011 · Narrative

I could say that Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays, but that wouldn’t exactly be true, because I like them all. I might even go so far as putting Valentine’s Day up in my top three. I have always loved it, single or not, kid or adult. A friend e-mailed me this morning and mentioned the overcommercialization of “another Hallmark holiday,” and I agree with him, but I just turn a blind eye to it and celebrate it my way. Our way. How can you not love a day designed to celebrate love?

Before The Ex and I were married, I used to get together and go out with my girlfriends on Valentine’s Day. And since our divorce, we have parties. Love it. Like seriously love it. And it gives me a chance to teach the kids that Valentine’s Day (or Single Awareness Day as another friend called it) isn’t just about romance with your significant other. It’s about love for your siblings. Your family. Your kids. Everyone. Growing up, my Dad always gave me and my sister a Valentine’s Day card and present that he picked out on his own, independent of the joint gift that my Mom gave us from both of them. He continued well into the first half of my marriage. I loved that.

Of course the fact that I have 33 pictures to show you should attest to my love for today too. Don’t take my word for it – the photos speak for themselves!

Perfect start to the day.

Love notes for my kids’ lunchboxes.

Cookie from my boss at work.

A present from my littlest Valentine.

You know, this one.

The mailboxes in Madeline’s classroom.

Her teacher has the best bulletin boards ever.

Cupcakes at Madeline’s Party.

Goody bags pails for Nick’s class.

Coveting this pan from one of the other class moms.

Biggest strawberries ever.

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Weekend Photos in Review

February 13, 2011 · Narrative

(Madeline’s cake at The Ex’s party)

Movie Night. Casey, Just Go With It. Cute movie, perfect ending, great soundtrack.

(celebrating my sister’s birthday this week)

(celebrating a belated Chinese New Year)

Poor Sophie was sick this weekend and a little downtrodden.

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Letter to My Daughter – Happy 3rd Birthday!

February 11, 2011 · Narrative

My little spitfire turned three today. What a fun little personality you have. Well, it’s fun most of the times. Those other times you really know how to keep my on my toes. Sometimes, I swear, I’m getting glimpses of you as a teenager and it has me a little worried. Mostly because it reminds me of me when I was that age. Mimi (Grandma) says that’s called payback.

You love watching and reading Olivia and adore Ramona and Beezus. I think you’ve been taking one too many cues from Ramona Quimby. You love watching Zoey 101 with your brother, and your newest love is Zumba class. Your first class, of your very own, was last week and you had a blast, moving and grooving and shaking your little tail feathers.

You eat cherry tomatoes like they’re candy and have a crazy sweet tooth. You are constantly foraging through drawers, desks and my purse for candy. You also rifle through my wallet, empty it out and hide the contents in your toy chest. This is not especially fun when twice I have not found out until I was at the store trying to pay for something. To keep you out of my purse and wallet, one of our friends bought you your very own grown-up purse and sparkly gold wallet. So far, so good.

You love cooking and helping the kitchen, just like your brother does. It’s a wonder I get any time at the stove! You love singing along with the radio and ask me to turn it up when one of “your” songs is on, bopping along, all “fly like a G6.”

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Photo Card Randomness

February 10, 2011 · Narrative

Just a few pics and accompanying explanation tonight, because I’ll be here tomorrow to celebrate a very special day with you all. And since I forgot my ELB monthly update this past Monday (and Sarah is likely going to kill me for said omission), I’ll also be sneaking in here on Saturday to share my stats and answer the reader question of “what made this time different?”
When she woke up this morning, she told me that clothes are “not bery comfortable” and ‘jamas were. She wanted to wear hers to school. Who am I to argue? Mismatched ‘jamas and all. After all, it *is* the Week of the Letter P. Purple, pink and pajamas, we got it covered.

“Madeline is a ray of sunshine – I love spending the day with her.” I love when people love my kids as much as I do.

Last week, I found this love note from my oldest little on my desk in the morning.

Project 365
February 10, 2011, Photo #40

Sending this off to a friend who eats too many Tums. The tag? Made from a Starbucks cardboard sleeve. Construction paper I stole from the kids. And twine I bought awhile back. “Why would someone possibly need to buy twine?” Nick asked me. For moments like these.

Review: Red Robin

February 9, 2011 · Narrative

Just as the kids and I fell into reviewing various pizza joints in the area (more coming soon!), my friend Beth and I have fallen into scoping out the best burger joints in our fair state. We already have the next spot picked out for the end of the month. Last year, when I saw there was a Red Robin opening up nearby, we made plans to give it a whirl and see how it stood up against a few of the other places we have tried (smashburger and Bobby Burger Palace are recent examples). Her husband Roger decided to come with … all the more opportunities to try more of the menu!

We all ordered different burgers (I went with their Bleu Ribbon Burger, Roger ordered the Whiskey River BBQ Burger and Beth I think went with the Patty Melt?), and added the towering stack of onion rings, along with their Chili Chili Con Queso Dip with Nachos. I really wanted to try their cupcakes just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything, but Beth scoffed at the idea.

The service was ridiculous. In a mostly good way. They checked up on us so many times that night that Roger actually politely asked the waitress to stop coming back. “Really, we’re fine. I promise.”

My burger arrives and I could barely find the bleu cheese on it. Beth’s order was all wrong, and Roger’s had nary a hint of BBQ. Two out of three went back. Their menu (and wait staff) boasts over 20 versions of “gourmet burgers,” making the decision that much harder. We all agreed, though, that the burger itself had little to no seasoning, and they are relying instead on all the toppings. It might have something to do with the fact that the restaurant has its own seasoning. If they’re relying on their seasoning to up the flavor, then they should mention it at some point. They don’t. Were they the best burgers ever? No. Not bad though.

The onion rings? Delicious. I’m very picky about onion rings and hate ingesting the fat and calories unless they’re stupendous. These were crispy and huge, coming with two dipping sauces. The Queso dip was thick and cheesy and, well, I’m not picky when it comes to melted cheese. You all know that already. The chips were crispy, warm and salty, just the way we like them. I could have made a meal just from the appetizers.

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Photography Tips: Change Your Angles

February 8, 2011 · Narrative, Photography

When it comes to food photography, I think food bloggers have heaps more challenges than the food stylists that set up the shots for magazines, cookbooks and the like. For one, the pictures you see here (and most other food blogs/web sites) are of edible food. It goes from that plate to our mouths. The ones you see in print ads, commercial, magazines et al largely are not. They rely on many tricks of the trade to make the food look mouth watering, but also rendering it inedible. They also don’t have a hungry family or dinner guests waiting for you to “just get one more shot” before they can dig in. It’s a completely different perspective and process for food bloggers, for sure, but we all develop our own method of doing it along the way.

Today my tip for you is to change your angles and your set-up to make sure you get your m-o-n-e-y shot.

Stand on a chair and take an overhead shot.

Take your picture from the left and then the right, giving your plate different lighting each time.

Turn the plate around and take pictures along the circumference.

Change the background.

And the lighting.

And, of course, do this all before your family gets mad that their dinner is getting cold….

Eat. Live. Be. #6 – Getting Out of Your Rut

February 7, 2011 · Narrative

The Eat. Live. Be. topic of the week is about breaking out of your rut, whether it be food, exercise or what have you. With us East Coasters being in the thick of a challenging winter, it can be very easy to fall into the rut of not going out to work out. How do we avoid that? Change it up!

Here are a few suggestions for what has worked for me over the past year or so; would love to hear about your own personal rut-busters.

Change your tunes. If you are plugged into your iPod during your work-outs, go on and ask your facebook friends for their favorite work-out tunes and change what you’re listening to. I have all sorts of different playlists, some mellow, many hard hitting with an energizing beat. Put together a bunch of different ones to suit your different work-outs.
Take a new class. Are you taking the same schedule of classes week after week at your local gym? Scope out the schedule and see what new ones might catch your eye. Break out of your comfort zone and you might discover a new one that you love. That’s how I discovered Zumba for the first time. I needed a break from the treadmill. Since then I’ve taken kickboxing, yoga, pilates and Nia….
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Weekend Photos in Review

February 6, 2011 · Narrative

An insanely busy weekend, but full of happy times, family, friends and rainbows. Lots and lots of rainbows. Madeline’s birthday isn’t until this coming Friday, but we kicked off “birthday week” with her party here this afternoon. Rainbow-themed per her request. She is my daughter, after all. She asked for a rainbow cake and pizza, and I took the reins on the rest of the interpretation. Some pictures now. More to follow. Party started at 1, and the last guests left around 9:30 with Madeline signaling the end by curling up on The Neighbor Wife’s lap with her new dolphin pillow pet and falling asleep. I absolutely love some of her expressions in these pictures. Hope you had an amazing weekend … here’s to a challenge-free week. As if!

Project 365
February 6, 2010, Photo #35
Lunch Friday. Yum.

Nick has been saving his money and doing a lot of extra chores to buy a Wii, and he finally reached his goal on Thursday. And we’ve been dancing, snowboarding and skiing ever since. I am so proud of him.

For Sarah.

Project 365
February 6, 2010, Photo #36
The kids spent the afternoon with The Ex yesterday and Madeline came home and went right to the “seasonal drawer” to dig out her goggles. Guess I’m not the only one counting down to warmer weather.

Beth’s plate. Because mine was too messy.

Project 365
February 6, 2010, Photo #37

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