Thankful Thursday

It's thankful Thursday friends.  Here are the top 5 things I am thankful for this week.  These are in no particular order....

1.  My Son Cory and his soon to be bride Brittany.  They are getting married tomorrow and they are just perfect for each other.  I couldn't be more proud of them both.

2.  My husband Tommy.  He has to put up with me, which is not an easy task.  He is very social and he likes to talk.  A.  Lot.   He can stop a total stranger and talk to him for an hour.  True story. 

I find myself becoming more of a hermit....I don't like going in crowds of people.  For instance, he said, "Let's go to Great America!"  I was like....."Noooooooo!"  I just don't like being around ALL those people.  Am I getting old or what?!  Don't answer that.

3.  My Daddy.  He is so good to me.  He stops up at work almost daily to see if I need help with anything or just to make my bank deposit if I need it.  I appreciate him immensely. 

4.  A good foot day.  Ok, so I did over dose on Advil to get through my monitoring for Jazzercise today..... but, I passed my monitoring so I'm good for another year.  I don't let it worry me like I used to.  I try to remember, I am getting monitored to make sure I am teaching quality classes.   

5.  Levi.  Levi was our chocolate lab.  He was 10 1/2 when we had to put him down this past Monday.  It's funny the things you miss when they are gone.  The little things I would get after him for, like drinking and eating out of the little dogs bowl....waking us up at 2 or 3am to go potty....barking NONSTOP as soon as my feet hit the floor in the morning until I got downstairs to let him out....I only wish those things could happen now.

Life is so darn short and it is so easy to take all that for granted every day.  Treasure each moment you have friends because we truly don't know just how long we have to share this life with each other.


What are you thankful for this week?

Kindness matters

Hi friends,

It's been a while since I have blogged and I'm going to do something about that.  I've decided to start a Meatless Monday post and a Thankful Thursday post.

As most of you know, I am a vegetarian and I am teetering on the side of becoming a vegan but just haven't gone there yet.  I find myself steering away from dairy more and more because it just does not agree with my body most of the time.  I am just sick with the way we treat animals for meat and dairy and that lays heavy on my heart sometimes.  

I thought you might like to try some different recipes and make your Mondays meatless with me.

Trying to stay positive and realize what I am thankful each week will keep me in check with the great things around me.  Sometimes, I think we get so caught up in "this thing we call life", that the great things can pass right by us without acknowledgement.  I'm going to try not to let that happen.

Today, I want to talk about kindness.  Lately, it seems our world need a bigger dose of kindness.  The other day, I was driving east down J street and turning into the Verizon store right on the intersection of J and Lincolnway.  I turned on my turn signal to go into the parking lot, and immediately realized, this would NOT be a good spot to turn in.  I was almost rear ended three times and I was about to just keep going straight and just turn around when I caught a little break between cars.  I turned in as fast as I could, but not without the SUV I turned in front of laying on the horn the entire time past me.  Now, I did not in any way endanger the SUV.  However, they let me know how unhappy they were because I turned in front of them. 
It just made me think how unnecessary it was to lay on the horn.  Couldn't they see, I was in a very dangerous spot and maybe slow down and wave me in?  Or at the very least, not blow the horn like I had cut them off.   They could have practiced just a little kindness. 

I think sometimes, we have to remember that we don't know what is going on in everyone's lives around us.  If we practice kindness everywhere we go, kindness will prevail.  Stop acting like you own the road and share the love.  Relax, slow down...smile.  A little smile and kindness will go a long way.

Peace,
j

Foodie pen pal

This is what I received this month from my foodie pen pal.  It all looks so delicious but I have to confess since I am on the no sugar challenge for this month, I have not tried it yet.  There is some granola, cherry butter, chocolate :) and coffee!!  I was going to try the coffee until I discovered I was out of coffee filters.  Darn.  Thanks to my foodie pen pal and as of tomorrow, I can try my goodies :)

Are you interested in participating in a foodie pen pal?  Click HERE. 

I enjoy participating and finding different things to send to my foodie pen pal and receiving a box in the mail is like celebrating my birthday!!!!

That's it for tonight friends,
peace out,
j

Foodie Pen Pals and no sugar challenge

This is what was in my box of glorious goodies!  My foodie pen pal was the BEST!!  Her name was Melissa and she was right when she said "Big Love comes in small packages!"  I told her "It's like she knew me!!" 
 I Heart Justin's almond butter packets.  They are all different flavors and these are puurfect to accompany an apple.  Mostly because I tend to eat WAY too much peanut butter when scooping out of the jar.   I also love the Justin's organic peanut butter cups.  I received a bag of Brickle.  Ooooooh, it's a good thing I ate this Before starting my no sugar challenge this month because it was hard to put down!  But it is gone now so I have nothing to worry about!  I also received a bag of mixed nuts and chocolate covered sour cherries.  I don't know how she knew I loved cherries because I forgot to mention that in the email, but she was right on!!  Thanks Melissa!!
This is the third time I have participated in the foodie pen pal and I just Love it.  It's like Christmas every month :)  If you think you might be interested check out the details below!

And now it's time for some details about Foodie Penpals.  In case you’re a new reader, here’s a reminder of what the program is all about:

-On the 5th of every month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal! 
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you are to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. 
-Foodie Penplas is open to US, Canadian & European residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. Same with Europeans. We've determined things might get too slow and backed up if we're trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. 

If you’re from the US or Canada and are participating for May, pleaseCLICK HERE  to fill out the participation form and read the terms and conditions. 

You must submit your information by April 4th as pairings will be emailed on April 5th!

*If you're from Europe, please CLICK HERE (www.thisisrocksalt.com/foodie-penpals/) to signup. 

I am starting a 30 day no sugar/junk food/fast food challenge.  I'd like you to join me.  Throw out all that easter candy or hide it in the freezer behind the frozen veggies.

So when I say no sugar, I mean no sugar or sugar IN products.  Read your labels friends.  No more drive thru and no more junk food (c'mon you know what junk food is).  Good luck and I will be checking in with you!

In light and love,
j

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Are you going to eat that?

Last week my Dad had a check up with the oncologist..(which turned out well).  Afterwards, he asked if I wanted to get something to eat.  He wanted pancakes so we went to IHOP.  Once we were seated, our waitress brought us our menus along with their "special menu".  They had 3 new griddle sandwiches and when I saw this one, my immediate thought was, "healthy". Being a vegetarian, I noticed the spinach and roasted red peppers first, which made me think this might be a good sandwich.  However, after I noticed how much cheese was in it, I thought I'd better look up the nutrition facts. 

  

New! Spinach, Roasted Red Pepper & Cheese Griddle Melt

One-of-a-kind. That's this new, hand-crafted breakfast Griddle Melt with sautéed spinach and onion in a fluffy omelette, layered with roasted red peppers and melted Provolone, Parmesan and Pepper Jack cheeses on grilled, sourdough artisan bread. Served with your choice of hash browns, seasoned fries or seasonal fruit.

 

  Well, I almost fell out of my chair.  Check out the stats:

 

1590  Calories    55  Protein  109 Fat  100  Carbs 

Calories from Fat 970  Saturated Fat 43

Trans Fat 2.5  Cholesterol 575  Fiber 9  Sugar 5 (notice they don't tell us sodium content??!!)

 

This is the stats for the sandwich ONLY!!!  So if you get fries or hash browns, you are in for an even deeper shock.  The other two sandwiches are up to 100- 200 calories less than this one and they have ham in them.  Kudos to them for offering fresh fruit but seriously....who needs a sandwich with this many calories??  They do offer half a sandwich for those that don't want a full serving.  Oh Yay, so I can eat 795 calories and still be hungry?!  This does go to show you, just because it is vegetarian, does not mean it is healthy. 

 

Wondering what I ate?  I was really wanting multi- grain pancakes so I settled for one instead of the stack of four.  I eat my pancakes dry.  I'm not a big fan of syrup although I have been known to put peanut butter on my cakes.  That one pancake cost me 247 calories...normally they come in a four stack for 990 calories!!!  And that is without syrup or butter!!!  Gah!!!!!! 

 

 

 

I also had the oatmeal with banana.  This rang up to be 260 calories.  It also came with a huge scoop of butter and brown sugar and milk.  I used just a touch of brown sugar. 

 

 

The waitress kept trying to give me margarine and sugar free syrup and it upsets me that she believes those items are supposed to be good for me??!!  NOT!!  Margarine is horrible for you and what exactly is in that sugar free syrup?  It's not going in this body. 

I escaped with 507 calories vs 1590 calories plus that I could have eaten had I not checked.  Check your stats when you go out to eat my friends.  If you don't have a smart phone, check online before you leave or ask your waiter for the nutrition information. 

If you are trying to lose weight and you tend to eat out a lot...you might be shocked at what you think you are consuming verses what you are consuming. 

Stay educated my friends.

With love,
j

 

Grumpy cat? No, grumpy j.

 

Decide today to not let your circumstances control your attitude. ~ Joyce Meyer Ministries

 

That quote screamed my name when I read it on facebook.  Yep, she was talking to me.  Have you ever felt like your aura has changed?  Or you went to bed as a positive person and woke up a completely different person....I'm grumpy j.  My circumstances are totally controlling my attitude.

 

I know this has a lot to do the fact that I haven't jazzercised in what feels like a year but truly is close to 5 months now.  I did have a two week spot in there that I was able to jazz but my feet gave out and it was time for another surgery.  I was, "in a perfect world", supposed to be able to go back to jazzercise last Wednesday.  However, my feet are not going to let that happen.  I am still in too much pain.  Doc says, I am physically ready whenever my pain is gone but to "listen to my body" before going back to my feet pounding torture  workout.  Listen to my body?!!! That is something we fitness gurus tell our clients...not something we follow.  Pffffff!!!!

 

There are so many circumstances that have changed my attitude in the last year.  Things at work, things at home.....life is hard. 

 

I keep thinking, "at least I don't have a terminal illness", "at least I have food on the table and a roof over my head", "at least, at least...."  I can play that game all day but that doesn't change the fact that

 I. Feel. Grumpy.  Most of the time.

 

When I was 14, I got a job at The Candy Emporium.  Do you remember that store?  It was on Lincolnway, the same block as jazzercise.  It is now a bicycle shop.  The gal that hired me was named Mary Lou.  Mary Lou became sort of a surrogate mother to me.  When I was quiet for too long, she knew something was bothering me.  She would painfully drag it out of me. 

 

In other words...I haven't blogged for a while.....when you have nothing nice to say, you don't say anything at all right?! Hmph! 

 

So I've decided to tell you 10 things that I am thankful for this week....will this make me feel better.  No.  But it looks good on paper.  These are not in any particular order.

 

1. Lunch with my son Cory

2. Yoga class (my feet allowed me to do down dog)

3. Talking with my friend Tammy

4. My four legged babies snuggling with me 

5. Reflexology

6. jazzercise of LaPorte AND New Carlisle

7. Free oil change at Cannons

8. Good nights sleep

9. Coffee

10. Headache free week

 

I've been having headaches almost daily.  My jaw hurts when I wake and I'm sure I am clenching my jaw while sleeping.  I am also having nightly nightmares.  I seem to have them right before I wake up so I remember every detail.  They are disturbing and horrible.  This of course puts me in a great mood to start the day.  It's weird how a dream can feel so real and throw you off for a duration of the day. 

 

Ok, let's move on shall we? Here is something positive.... I got my new outfit from Ellie last week. 

 

Despite the fact that those pants look like they could fit a two year old, the entire outfit is AWESOME!!  Yes, they fit me.  It's called stretch.......lol.  I absolutely LOVE this Ellie.com.  I have not received an outfit that I do not like or that I think was not worth it.  The material on these workout clothes are of the best material. 

 

As you know, I am the worlds worst blogger.  I was supposed to post my foodie pen pal goodies on Feb 28th, but that post never happened.  My biggest apology to my foodie pen pal.  I received this in the mail last month....

 

 

Janet from Michigan sent me these goodies.  The chocolate was delicious! The package in the top right are caramel ginger drops.  They are SO good!!!  I love the trail mix and the granola too!  I have not received a package of goodies I have not liked yet.  It is like getting a Christmas present once a month.  I should be receiving this months package any day.  I will post the results of that package on April 1st.  I promise. 

 

I guess that is enough for my first day back in 5 weeks. 

 

One day at a time.  One day at time.

 

Peace and love,

j

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PV Body now Ellie

I got my shipment for this month.  Sammy wanted to be in the picture which is odd because when you pull out the camera Sammy usually runs....or turns his head the other way.   Now that I look at it, this is not a very good picture.  Sorry, looked way better on my phone.  Well, the top is a pretty purple, a little small but it does fit.  Last month my white top was a little big but fit and they both are medium.  I guess that is the chance I take.  I like the capri's here too.  Will be perfect for when I get back to running.  Yes, I will be running again soon. 

 

So if you didn't see my blog post last month, I signed up for a monthly auto shipment for a workout outfit.  For $49.95 and I get a complete outfit.  I see now, they have the option to let you pick out your outfit.  You can even pick two tops or two bottoms for that price and get free shipping.  I may have to check that out.  You can find this now at www.ellie.com.