Yum Yum...Cauliflower?

I can honestly say I am not  a lover of this cruciferous vegetable (say that 3 times fast). The first time I made this recipe was about 5 or 6 years ago (I am not a fan of rosemary, so I have never used it).   I thought maybe the 16 cloves will make it taste better.  Something magical happens to cauliflower when you roast it. This is one of my family favorite recipes. I have to use 2 heads of cauliflower otherwise the kids devour it and I don't get any. As I was searching the web I came across this website (look around, lots of fun stuff). She has the same idea just without the garlic.  I never thought to dip it in ketchup.  Even better.
Try them both and let me know  what you think.  Maybe you too will become a cauliflower lover.
Here is my version.
 2 heads of cauliflower washed and cut in to bite sized pieces
16 cloves of garlic (I don't double this, but you could).
1 teaspoon salt, to taste
1/2 teaspoon pepper, to taste
1/4-1/2 cup olive oil (I drizzle until coated)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Toss cauliflower, garlic, oil, salt and pepper in large roasting pan.
Put in oven for 30-40 minutes,depending on how brown you want the cauliflower, stirring tossing every 10 minutes, browning all sizes.

I usually like them a little more brown, the kids were begging me to take them out.

 

Now for an update on my run.  I ran 9 miles today.  Whew.  It was hot towards the end, but all and all the run went very well. I may have to get up at 5:30 instead of 6:00 because of the heat. I also placed 3 extra water bottles night before along my route so I would not run out. Will have to do that from now on, the water was warm but I was not thirsty. I am feeling good about my training and  I should be prepared for the 1/2 marathon in September. I have also gone the extra crazy mile (no pun intended) and signed myself up for a marathon in November. My first ever. It's FREE,  I can't miss out on a deal like that, right?  The marathon I am running is here.  I really am excited about this. Maybe I will see you there?

 

It's getting HOT over here

I usually run in capri workout pants. I have been fine in doing so, but lately it's been getting hotter and HOTTER.  I usually run about 6 in the morning but after a 7 mile run I am burning up, roasting, hot.  Today the temperature  reached 111, hot right?  Okay, so you get it, it has been getting hot in the desert.  I decided to step out of my capris and buy myself a pair of shorts.  I looked at them at the store and thought they seemed a little too short.  My older girls looked at me, rolled their eyes, and said "mom really? Who are you trying to impress? They will look fine on you". Seven bucks for a pair of shorts...Why not?.  I tried them on when I got home.  Ummm they are way too short, my legs look like road maps.  Older girls "GEEZ mom you look fine. Nobody is paying attention to you".  This weekend I put on these shorts for my Sunday run. Maybe I will get some color on my pasty white legs.

Short shorts.  I always run with a shirt I just wanted to show you my stomach getting smaller.

I felt so self conscious the entire run. Are the shorts riding up?  Are my legs jiggling too much?  Is my butt falling out? Is that kid laughing hysterically? All these thoughts, constantly, for the 5 miles I ran.  I think it was one of my worst runs.  As soon as I finished my warm up and started running all those negative thoughts weighed me down. So capris it will be for now, until  I will feel more comfortable. Maybe 10 pounds from now.  I will keep you posted.

Old Navy flip flop sale and a birthday present for Stephanie

Last weekend Old Navy had their famous 1 dollar flip flop sale.  After I was done with my 7 mile run (yep I am getting up there in miles) I packed three of the kids up in the car and  was ready to stand in line and battle the crowds for some flip flops. We got there early, low and behold they were already open.  People were walking out with their flip flops all bagged up.  No crowd,  no lines  OH YEAH!  We went in got all the colors we wanted and walked out with our 20 pairs.  Your thinking 20 pairs!!!! are you kidding? right?  Nope, I got 20 pairs, there are 5 of us that makes 4 pairs each.  We wear flip flops year round here, you can never have too many.

With all these flip flops I have it got me thinking about a pin I saw on pinterest, for flip flop hangers (great tutorial here).  All these people walking out of Old Navy I should have a booth set up and selling them, I could make a killing.  Maybe next year. 

One of my co-workers just had a birthday and we were talking about the flip flop hangers, and she thought it was a great idea.  So her birthday present was in the works.

I bent a few hangers until I found one that I liked the best.

 

 

 

 

Gather your materials. Hangers, wire cutters, wire benders, paint, and ribbon.

Cut hangers.

Bend hangers.  Not that easy.

Used the hanger in the first picture as a guide to bend the hangers in the same way.

All bent.

Then, I painted them to look more girlie. I sprayed one side, waited 10 minutes then sprayed the other.

Final touch I added a bow.  

I think she will like them, don't you?

Finally the RESULTS

  We did have some down days , but between the two of us I think we did pretty darn good. 

The pictures are arranged after THEN before

When Sam looked at the pictures she decided that the shorts in the after pictures were not the best choice.

Now her numbers
May 20, 2012                                        June 24,2012
Weight 210.4                                         Weight  202
Bust                 43 1/2 inches                  Bust            41 1/2
Stomach          45 in                               Stomach      41
Hips                47 1/2 in                         Hips             46 1/2
Upper arm      15 in                               Upper Arm   15
Upper leg        28                                  Upper Leg     27 3/4
Sam was dedicated for the first two weeks and then kinda lost attention.  She did like what she saw on the scales and that has kept her motivated.  She continues to walk and is losing weight. More pictures will continue.
 GO SAM!!!!
Now for me.

This is my favorite.

My results
May 20, 2012                         June 24, 2012
Weight  198.6                         Weight  190.4
Bust             40 1/2                 Bust  39 1/4
Stomach       36                      Stomach  33 1/2
Hips             50 1/2                Hips  47 1/2
Upper arm   14                      Upper arm  13
Upper leg     29                     Upper leg  28 1/4
I am very happy with the results.
I too have been more dedicated with working out.  As I mentioned in my first post I am training for a half marathon in September.  I then figured I could rule the world and a couple of weeks ago I signed up for a FULL marathon in November (it is free, I can not resist a deal like that). You all will be hearing my trials and tribulations from my runs.  I feel much better than when I had started all this, and I have not regretted working out once.  This past weekend on Saturday I ran 7 miles. Whew, that sounds like a lot.

Where Did We Go?

I start a blog and then end up disappearing for a few weeks.  Many of you will understand  this...I have been moving.  The kids and I have moved from a nice, big house across the street from a park to massive downsizing into a lesser house and an okay neighborhood.

Have we been shredding?  YES,  we never stopped.  We (Sam and I) took two days off while we (me and all the kids) moved the heavy stuff, but we kept going.  Sam had a few more lazy days than I did, but we kept at it.  We are now on the third part of the video.  We did not master each level before we moved up.  After awhile you get sick and tired of hearing the same prompts from Jillian and start mocking her.  At that point we move on.  I can't wait to share with you the results and pictures.  I have been saving them for the last.

Time To SHRED

One of my daughters (Sam) and I are doing the 30 day shred by Jillian Michaels.
I looked up the definition of shred, noun: A strip of some material, such as paper, cloth, or food, that has been torn, cut, or scraped from something larger.
Use it in a sentence.
My thighs were in shreds after the workout.

 I am a 40 something, with 4 kids and weight to lose.  She is 18, no kids and some weight to lose.  We took our pictures yesterday.  Those will follow after the 30 days. Hopefully to see the transformation.  We have also decided that we are changing our eating habits as well. We are giving up all sugars, breads, pastas, and grains (like rice). 
Day 1
20 minute workout.  That's easy.  I just ran 5 miles last Saturday (I am starting to train for a 1/2 marathon in September) how tough can this be?
It's a workout.  I felt it in my legs (thighs were quivering).  I was sweating.  I felt it was, a workout.
My daughter who does not really workout, she felt it was challenging, you need to be motivated to do it.

We shall continue and keep you posted.  Please keep your fingers crossed for us.  We are to be in bathing suits this weekend!