Adopting A Dog

Waiting in line at the DMV… This is why I love my iPhone! So many ways to pass time when you’ve got apps to play with.

Like every other newlywed, I always get asked if I have kids yet. I say “No, but we have 3 dogs.” Then they say, “Well, when are you gonna have a baby? You should do it now while you’re still young.” Here is my answer: “We do plan to start trying next year, and right now I’m 27 so I still have time.” I just LOVE it when non-dog people understand (sarcasm here).

Yes, I have 3 dogs and you know what? We are trying to adopt another one! The rescue volunteer actually came over to our house last night to do the home inspection. Yes, these people inspect your home to make sure you don’t abuse your animals. Ever since the economy tanked the number of homeless pets just went through the roof. Millions of animals are euthanized every day because shelters have no room for them. Our condo may be small, but another small dog won’t take up too much space. I will feel so much joy knowing that I at least saved one animal and gave it a forever home.

Babies? Yes, excited about that, as well as terrified. For now, a homeless animal needs me.

Weight Watchers!

Wow, it has been a while since I last wrote on here.  I often wonder how people with families and full-time jobs can still find the time to blog consistently and publish web articles about the things they are passionate about.  If you are one of those people: kudos to you and keep it up!

Anyhow, on to my new thing: Weight Watchers!  Last week I signed up for the 2-week free trial online.  I have lost 3 lbs. in the first week, considering I was also surrounded by Halloween food and candy!  This is very encouraging for me, and I find it is a lot easier and simpler to keep track of “points” rather than calories.  I think I’m going to stick to it and pay the $17/month fee.  I have watched my co-worker lose 50+ lbs. on Weight Watchers this year and it is just such an inspiration.  I don’t really like to work out much, just walking outside with the dogs is about the only exercise I get.  Eating less and changing habits is the problem–I love and enjoy food waaay to much!

I am very positive about this plan working for me.  To anyone else who’s also trying very hard to lose weight, good luck and keep at it!  I know I benefit a lot from other people’s encouragement, so just passing the ball around =).

*HUGS*

My two favorite things…in one!!

PUGS and SUSHI…I never imagined my two favorite things put into one.  Genius!!  And, just like this woman in the photo,  I have one black pug and one fawn pug of my own (it’s a pug owner thing–you wouldn’t understand unless you’re a pug lover!).  LOVE the ginger, wasabi on wooden tray…everything!!! Haha!!!

From the L.A. Times Halloween Dog Costumes article

Panda Mom and Baby

This photo tickled me.  Just wanted to share =).

Giant panda Lou Sheng rests with her female cub Sept. 18 at the Shaanxi Rare Wildlife Breeding and Research Center in Zhouzhi County, northwest China's Shaanxi province. The mother gave birth to a pair of twin cubs on Aug. 18, and both are growing well.

(From msnbc.com)

Down 4 lbs.! (again)

On July 1st I started a weight loss plan.  I was slowly but surely losing some weight, then August happened and I not only dropped the ball, I threw it away!  I went on two vacations and just didn’t care about what I ate.  At the end of August I started over, and I was exactly back to the weight I was on July 1st.  Today I have lost 4.10 lbs.  Again, slowly but surely!  Here’s my funny-looking weight-loss chart from July 1st through today.   You’ll see that in August I stopped weighing myself then it spiked back up at the end of the month.

Let’s hope I can keep it up and reach my goal by Christmas =).

Great Date Idea

Last week I was looking forward to a “surprise” date with my husband.  He would not tell me anything about what we were going to do, except that he asked me if I wanted to go at 8:30AM (uhhhh, NO!) or around lunchtime.  I said, of course, lunchtime would be better.

So Saturday noon was approaching and I’m all ready to go out.  He told me I should wear comfortable clothing and shoes.  Hmm.  I hope we’re not doing anything sporty!  Me and sports–not that great a combo.  But my husband’s not at all about sports either, so I knew there was a pretty good chance we wouldn’t be doing anything too active.

It’s so exciting to ride in the car with absolutely NO idea where you are going.  I am so lucky to have a husband who likes to keep our relationship fresh with fun activities and surprises like these.  Finally we get to the place: it’s called Dinner Done! and I had never heard of it before!  I thought we were going to take cooking lessons, which I wasn’t too sure about.  We get in and turns out it’s basically a big kitchen with do-it-yourself stations: all kinds of delicious recipes with pre-measured ingredients.  All you have to do is prepare each meal in a baking tray, grab the complementary sauces and condiments, stick the meal in the freezer and move on to the next one!  I had no idea we were going to have so much fun doing this together.  The best part is, after you prepare each meal, you can leave the mess behind! I’ll say it again: make a mess, then leave the mess behind!  Each member of the staff was so alert and helpful with providing all the ingredients and materials and cleaning up after each customer.  I was also very impressed that the place was kept very clean, that there were lovely fresh roses on the tables, washing stations, wrapping and packing stations, and refreshments.  We were there for a total of only 1 hour and 15 minutes, but just look at all the things we made:

Bacon Wrapped Cranberry-Bleu Chicken
Tender chicken breasts are given a flavorful cranberry-bleu cheese filling and then topped with slices of fresh bacon.

Tuscan Beef
Lean beef filets are filled with flavorful layers of our freshly prepared sundried tomato pesto, tangy feta – or mild Monterrey Jack – cheese and leafy spinach and then topped with a delicate sprinkling of herbs.

Peanut Crusted Chicken with Thai Chili Sauce
Fresh, hand-trimmed chicken breasts are given a crunchy peanut-cornflake crust and then topped with homemade Sweet Thai Chili Sauce.

Shrimp & Crab Spring Rolls
Egg rolls brimming with delicious crab, cooked baby shrimp, julienne sliced carrot, green onion and crunchy Napa cabbage. Bake to crisp, golden perfection and serve with homemade Sweet Chili Sauce.

Beef Filets with Herbed Almond Pesto
Flavorful beef filets are simply seasoned and readied for the grill. The finishing touch – and what makes this dish truly special – is an Herbed Almond Pesto that we prepare with fresh-from-the-market herbs and all natural ingredients.

Bourbon Chicken
A healthy alternative to the popular take-out dish! Tender chunks of boneless chicken breast in a lively sweet and sour glaze of orange juice, soy, apple cider vinegar and a touch of ginger and red pepper flakes. Served over the white rice.

Greek Style Shrimp with Pasta
Shrimp are sautéed and simmered in a light, garlic-infused sauce of diced tomatoes flavored with a touch of white wine, fresh basil, oregano, olive oil and delicious feta cheese. Served with pasta.

(Descriptions taken from their website.)

We took home all the pre-made meals and organized them in the freezer.  Most of these are “freezer-to-oven” dishes.  Each meal comes with easy instructions for how to finish cooking at home, and most of them only require you to thaw them and stick them in the oven. I noticed there were a lot of people at Dinner Done! who seemed to know their way around the kitchen–repeat customers.  Some of them were middle-aged women who were quick to go through each station.  I thought “Wow, this must be such a relief for someone who is busy during the week with work and family–just come in, prepare the meals and take them home!”  For the price, it’s definitely worth it–I would spend the same amount, if not more, to drive to the grocery store, buy all the ingredients, and try to make the dishes at home.  Then I would probably have leftover ingredients I would not be able to use again after taking only what I need for each recipe.

So basically, we are set with dinner for like the next couple weeks!  I don’t have to worry about going grocery shopping or cooking dinner for a while.  Best of all, I got to enjoy a Saturday afternoon doing a fun activity with my husband.  Can’t wait to do it again!  Highly suggested for other couples out there looking for a date idea. =)

What is Lifehacking?

Wow, I don’t know where I’ve been the last few years, but apparently there is a word called “Lifehacking”.  And what a great word!

On Google–DEFINE:LIFEHACK

to make one’s day-to-day activities more efficient

I read up a little bit on it (http://www.wynia.org/wordpress/?p=160) and it turns out what started as a “geek” word, for computer people who would create programs to help them get through tedious, redundant tasks quicker, has now turned into a common term people use.  Lifehacking techniques can be applied to anything–day-to-day tasks, your job, even weight loss!

I need to get some lifehacking done!!

Made me smile =)

Sometime a couple of years ago, I surprised my husband with two framed photos: one of the two of us with some song lyrics, and one of our dogs with a funny poem.  I totally forgot he brought them to work and put them on his desk!  He took a photo of his desk with his cell phone and e-mailed it to me.  With the pink background and hearts all over the photos, it just warmed my heart that he’s not embarrassed to put them on display! =)

Back in the swing of things, but struggling

In August I went on two back-to-back, action-packed vacations: first with my family in Cali, then second, in South Carolina for a friend’s wedding.  I had a blast and I promise to post pics soon =).

Anyhow, I don’t know if it’s the rain, or the fact that today is 9/11, but I’m feeling a bit melancholy–not good for a Friday.  If you don’t wanna read about some girl whining about her little problems, then stop here.

I know it probably has to do with the fact that I am struggling with my weight.  In July I was so motivated and I lost 5 lbs. in a couple of weeks.  I gained 4.5 lbs while on vacation and have been fluctuating 1-2 lbs. ever since. My  ultimate goal has been to lose between 35-40 lbs. by the end of this year.

I also have another problem: I have tendonitis on both my  hands/arms.  My wrists and arms hurt a lot and I have to wear splints and ice them twice a day just to deal with the pain.  I am taking some meds, too, but the doc told me I’ll probably have to see a hand specialist to get treated further.  Both my older sisters had the same problem.  One had to have surgery, and the other apparently “healed herself” through meditation and by facing her personal issues head-on.  GREAT.   Neither of those options seem appealing or doable to me.

Just need to keep going, try to get over this negative mood and move forward.  Be positive and stay positive.

I’m Missing It!

Some of my family are driving around Nevada and Arizona this week.

Grand Canyon at Sunset

Nieces and nephew at Monument Valley

3.5 more days before we join them in Cali! Can’t wait!