DivergNOT

I've been taking a break on the blog because I just haven't had a lot to say.  My eating is going so-so.  Still mostly vegan, but also still struggling a bit to get that devil named Cheese out of my life.  I'm not losing any weight, but no one else in the diet challenge is either, so I still have a chance to win it.  The problem with having a diet challenge with your family is that we all share the same DNA to eat badly.  This might be the first diet challenge where the winner is the one who GAINED the least amount of weight.

Fortunately, the movie Divergent has pulled me out of my writing slump as I absolutely must comment.

We went to see the movie with my visiting nieces and nephews on Saturday night.  I had caught on to all of the buzz about it being the new Hunger Games, and I wanted to check it out.  I should have known that it wasn't going to be all that when the only truly excited person in our group to see it was my sister.  She wasn't exactly in the movies demographic.  The teenagers were all willing to see it, but they actually chose to just sit around at the grandparents house instead of seeing it on the opening weekend.  You can imagine how exciting that would have been. The suggestion was actually "you can go downstairs and play on the singing machine."  However, my sister won the battle and off we went to diverge.

The story is something about factions and having free will but still being told what to do, etc, etc.  I finally was able to fully relate to my father's experience when he first saw The Matrix.  During The Matrix, he kept saying, "Will someone please tell me what is going on?"  I had to say that about 20 times to my niece.  Who are the Erythromycin and isn't that an antibiotic?  I finally gave up trying to understand and chowed down on my Sour Patch Kids.  

Many rolling of the eyes, sighing, and Hubs whispering "someone in this theater might actually be enjoying this movie" later, I gave up and just went with it.  I think the whole crowd felt the same way because the 2nd part was way more fun.  Made me miss the days of Mystery Science Theater 3000 because this movie was perfect for it.  Kate Winslet looked embarrassed. Ashley Judd seemed grateful to be killed.  She barely had any wounds.  More of a she didn't need the cash that bad for another movie kind of a death. And, the most surprising part is that none of the 4million people that Triss told she was a divergent to seemed to spill the beans.  Or maybe they did, and because everyone else knew it wasn't even worth gossiping about.  And, despite an all out mind taking over war with people being shot in cold blood on the street, the train still ran on time.  Because I'm Dauntless, B*TCHES!

All in all we had a great time.  I'm sure the book is great, but I'll stick with my chick lit and leave the YA to the young adults.  So, my recommendation is if you see it go with your snarkiest friend, sit on the back row, and be prepared to laugh as quietly as you can. 

Par-tay Planning

I am making major progress on our Little House on the Prairie birthday party.

Thank goodness that amazon sells pretty much everything.  Including this...

You might wonder how we can justify an expense of a washboard for a one time party.  Well, I just have to say we are one step closer in fulfilling my lifetime dream of having a bluegrass band.  This item was not purchased in the Home category, but rather, in the musical instruments.  

And this...

So, this is a purchase for Bruiser.  Not sure why they need sexy coonskin cap, but I guess sex sells even in the child's hat category.

I can't wait for this party!  If only now I could find a butter churn and and old timey cash register, we would be set.  It mostly feels good to be planning a party in advance of actually having it.  We are typically flying by the seat of our pants at all times, so this is a nice feeling.  I've got the invites figured out, just need to print and send. Hubs recommended that we include a copy of the first Little House tv movie as he believes that most little girls don't know about the Ingalls. Don't know what planet he is living on...not knowing Caroline and Charles and Mary and Laura and baby carrie and baby grace and Mr. Edwards and Nellie Olsen and Albert...ludicrous I tell ya!  

In the world of eating, yesterday was great.  The bus is about to come so I don't have time to post pics, but I was very vegany.  Oatmeal, veggies for lunch, and our famous chili for dinner.  I did have a mishap with my oats in the morning.  Work BFF sorted me out.  The top of my bowl cover completely flattened in the microwave and absolutely would not come off.  I was about to declare it a muffin day when she came up the brilliant idea to have me heat it back up.  Sadly, it worked. 

Some extra tips

I'm getting back on track with the whole diet thing.  Yesterday was a good day.  Not a great day, but better than drowning in cheese.

I was hoping to get a double workout in as I've decided that excessive exercise is definitely where this party needs to head.  I got an elliptical workout in the morning and was very much looking forward to doing a class called Bodyflow at 7 after hubs got home.  Everything was on track until....dum dum dum....2 extras gigs came across the screen.  Must apply, need new pictures, panic, frenzy.   This bring me to my first lesson in booking extras work in ATL:

1--ALWAYS have good pictures ready to go at all times.

Booking a gig is dependent mostly by the speed to which you apply.  Taking new pictures, downloading, and posting all takes time.  It is best if you can keep some good shots on the cloud so they are ready to go with no trouble.  Hubs has the best pictures going (thanks to the good photog work of our nanny), and I can just forward previous submissions to the new address--the best thing is that he has both bearded kinds and clean shaven which definitely comes in handy (particularly since halt and catch fire which is currently filming wants a more bearded man.)  Just take out the dates, make a more relevant joke with some kind of emoticon, and press send.  The kids and myself have had a more difficult time as all of our pictures have been taken in a frenzy of wanting to submit quickly.  I need to arrange time to gussy up and get some good outside shots for posting in the future.  I will say that this is not always true in that the pic I submitted for Bruiser for D&D2 was a pic of him covered in green paint.  I think what got him the gig in the end is that I submitted quickly, and he had long hair.  I also sent the link to his wildly successful DumbandDumberToddlers youtube video (and I am saying that tongue in cheek.) If that tipped the scales his way, then we are totally awesome...like for real.

Anyway, the frenzy of submitting the pics caused me to miss my class.  Oh, well.

One of my fave meals of all time is a veggie Moe's burrito, particularly on Moe Monday.  No cheese, believe it or not.  In the cup is tea.  I think I've beat the coke addiction down.

For dinner, I was inspired by our good friends.  I finally made spaghetti squash! It was great, but you can see my crackbread all lined up like little soldiers ready for battle of my caloric intake.  I really just need to be hypnotized to not like bread.  I think that will be the only way. 

Meatless at least

I've already gotten a little lazy on taking pictures of everything I eat.  Of course, part of that may be subliminal self-sabotage because I don't want to post a picture of me eating a mound of cheese.

Friday ended up being a truly fantastic day both food and exercise wise.  I discovered the joy of the double work-out.  It was fantastic, and it helped me lose a pound!!  I went to the gym in the morning and just did the elliptical, but on my way out I ran into an old friend who was signing the praises of Spin.  So, we went to spin Friday night.  I felt good, and it made me want to attempt to get double workouts almost every day.

Naturally, life got in the way of the double workout plan.  Saturday we did a big volunteer morning with our church.  It was great fun, but not exactly cardio.  Then, we had a party all night with our besties which involved a lot of me sitting at a table watching friend do all the work.  If only she had had a weight machine in her kitchen--I would have looked at it and still done nothing.  The cheese also started to make its march towards glory on Saturday.  We picked up cheese pizza for the kids to eat while friend was making healthy vegan spaghetti for us.  Sadly, the cheese pizza kept calling my name, and I kept responding dutifully.

Sunday was rainy and made me want to go back to my true roots of being completely lazy.  And, so that is what we did.  I read a book while the hubs worked feverishly putting together a clip of his extra gig that finally aired last Sunday.  Unfortunately, because of our ignorance of the non-disclosure agreement he had to sign, we have no idea if we can post it or not.  So, if you want to see it, you'll have to come to our house.  Sunday, I consumed more cheese as well.  Because once it starts I can't stop.

But, I did have some wins:

1--No meat (and I had plenty of opportunity)--of course a real vegan, would describe cheese as liquid meat, but I won't go there yet.

2--No coke

3--Lots of Little House on the Prairie watching.  We are starting in 1974 and we aren't stopping until Shannon Dougherty shows up and Albert goes to rehab.  What other show can really take you from the shaggy hair of the 70s to the awesome divas of the 80s and still rock it out Pioneer style??

This might be the last time she smiled, but how can you not smile in Walnut Grove.  Way better than that other zip code

Rock it out, Manly.  That is some good looking hair

The Binge

It all started out so innocently.  I made sure to put my oatmeal/banana/walnut combo in my lunch bag to eat at work.  But, then it all went so wrong.

Somehow, I failed to eat breakfast.  I fully blame my work BFF.  I depend on her to raz me about my usual breakfast choice (double chocolate chip muffin--yum) and that gives me a reminder to get the oatmeal started.  But, it was a busy day in the office, and time just got away from me.  Of course, by lunchtime, I announced to everyone I saw that I was eating whatever the heck I wanted and for them to keep their traps shut.  Work BFF and I walked down to the cafeteria, and I saw steak, and I wanted it.  Thankfully, an image of the horrible feces filled animal feed lots filled my mind, and I went for a veggie plate instead.  But, I didn't go vegan.  That cheesy goodness you see pictured is hashbrown casserole.  It was great.  Fortunately, I didn't end up eating too many of the okra since fried is bad (and work BFF gave me more heck for them then she did me possibly getting a steak.)

Sadly, that was the only good decision of my eating day.  The rest of my hours were a blur of cookies and sour patch kids and chick fil a.  YUCK!  (For some reason the poorly treated chickens living in darkness that aren't even able to walk don't flood my brain like those poor cows do--must be the eyes.)  

There was a bright side to all of this.  I didn't drink coke.  That's the only win I had, but it is a big one.  If I slide back down to the coke side, there might be no coming back.

I couldn't bring myself to weigh this morning.  The cookies I consumed alone were like 900 calories + the chick-fil-a meal was probably a 1,000.  But, tomorrow is another day, and I can already look into the future and see that it is going to be a good one.  It involves my usual breakfast and a great workout. I still have until April 30th to crush my siblings in the weight challenge.  That's plenty of time! 

Meat Eater

So, while yesterday was not quite a vegan day, today was definitely not a vegan day.  Disappointment abounds.  And, I've gained a pound, but I'll cry over my first world problems another day.  Here's the gory truth.

Breakfast was at least my usual oatmeal.  That's one thing I don't kill any animals for.

I got off the day to a good start actually.  I even made my own lunch.  A PB&J with carrots and hummus. Not too shaby.  However, all of my good intentions went awry one bite into the sandwich.  I had to use jelly of an unknown date of origin.  I thought it would be fine.  I was wrong.  It was disgusting.  Apparently, old jelly just sort of congeals and then disintegrates in your mouth in a very awful manner.  Jelly jar out of fridge and sandwich was thrown away.

Fortunately, the cafeteria was just 500 steps away (thank you fitbit.)  I got a veggie tray with another piece of crackbread.

I had a snack of cashew crunches.  

Then, came murder of the animal kind.  I go to church dinner every Wed and while I didn't have to eat the chicken I went ahead and did it anyway.  It was super delish.  I also had sweet tea and 2 croissants.  I think you could describe this meal as being a little off track. 

I finished the night off with an apple with caramel (again, non-vegan.)  So because of all of this bread I eat, I'm up a pound.  I am getting more nutrients than my usual diet, but I am also getting more calories.  Not the ideal combo.  I can give you a sneak peak that the next day isn't going to be much better, but what's a girl to do.  I always do better on days that I don't work, so here's to hoping I can get back on track.

Prairie Dresses Ordered!

First things first....I've got our Little House on the Prairie dresses ordered for the party.  We are going full Ingalls here people.  Sister and I will have matching dresses.  As pictured here...

I ordered them from a lady in Kalamazoo.  I decided to go matching to really ratchet the geek factor up a bit.  Mostly, because I have realized that I have missed geeking it out since high school.  Dressing up and acting "in character" to the point of making people feel uncomfortable is my thing.  So, it's time to do it up right.

Still need to plan lots of the details, but at least we have the time sensitive piece taken care of.  I just wish I could sew so that I could make aprons for all the girls coming.  Oh, well.  There's not time left for me, but there's still time left for Sister to learn how to sew (don't you love how you can live your life through your children??)

In diet news, yesterday I had more of a vegetarian day rather than vegan.  Oatmeal for breakfast--I sparing you the reposting of pictures.

For lunch, I had veggies from the hospital cafeteria.  People rag on hospital food, but I find it simply tantalizing.  Sadly, the breaded zucchini probably has egg in it and the cornbread would, too.  And, I couldn't resist a little parkay.  Don't fear, I wasn't a total glut.  I ended up getting too many parkays.  

For dinner, we had Tofurkey for the first time ever.  It was good.  I try to avoid processed soy products because they really aren't any better than other processed foods, but I wanted to try it out.  It was sort of a meatball for our spaghetti.  I also gorged out on the last pieces of the bread.  Thank goodness.  Won't purchase it again as fancy bread is my weakness.

Only thing not pictured is an apply with some caramel dip (which had milk product in it.)  So, not total vegan, but at least no animals were killed in the making of my meal.  Harmed, probably, but not killed.

Day 3--Weight Confessional

The hits just keep on coming!

As promised, I said I would put a weight confessional out there today.  So, here it goes, cyber space.

At the beginning of the Sibling Weight Challenge 2014 ('cause Lord knows we'll have gained anything back that we've lost by next year, so we might as well make this an annual occurrence), my weight was 148.2.  That 0.2 is very important, as I am now down to 148.0.  I've lost 0.2 pounds!!  Hey, I'll take whatever I can get as my sister has lost a whopping 5 pounds on some kind to ketogenic diet (which as Fancy Nancy would say is fancy for Atkins.)  So, I've got some stiff competition to collect the pot.

With that being said, here is my log.  Breakfast:  Oatmeal, surprise, surprise

I went to work on Monday when I should have been eating bon bons at home; therefore, I indulged in some dark chocolate covered blueberries to keep me going.

I made it home in time for lunch, so I had leftover "Heaven" from last night.  You can see our ever present oatmeal stain on the cooktop in back.  I do like to stir lots of pots, but that is not one of them.  Followed up lunch with exactly 5 chocolate covered pretzels (not pictured.)

Dinner, I will have to admit was definitely short of heaven.  It was supposed to be biscuit pot pie.  We just ended up smothering it in BBQ sauce and choking it down.  It wasn't my worst vegan recipe ever. That is reserved for the Italian "Eat" Balls.  Here's your juicy tip for the day, if a recipe tries to make a pun in its name, avoid at all costs.  That also goes for any vegan recipe called Cheesy--just run far away and don't look back.

Ended the day with a few snagged apples with a bit of caramel sauce that the kids were enjoying and a little dark chocolate to ease my nerves during our final episodes of Breaking Bad.  Truly, if you haven't watched that show, then do it now.  I spent a good portion of what should have been sleeping looking up Lily of the Valley berries vs ricin.  Good stuff, I tell ya.

Day 2

Yesterday was a great day all around, except for the pesky change to daylights savings.  Beautiful weather, and we even made progress on our next youtube project.  Of course, that means that a million more important things didn't get done, like laundry and cleaning house...but, youtube is so much more worth it.  Sadly, my editor is not a teenager who can edit in 5 seconds.  He is a middle age man who is easily cast as a zombie, so we work a little more slowly around here.

Of course, yesterday's eating all started with my typical oatmeal.

I choose to have my smoothies at lunchtime.  They really do pick me up.  If you haven't heard us sign the praises of our vita-mix enough, then just you wait.  It truly is my all-time fave kitchen appliance.

This is what I call my vegan junk food lunch.  An Amy's burrito and chips with gauc.  It's awfully good, but not that light on the calories.  Of course, I had to use our Darryl glass since it was TWD night (not that we get to watch it--no cable, no Darryl.)

 My downfall in the afternoon came when I let myself get ravenous before dinner.  I got my favorite loaf of bread from Bi-lo and chowed down.  Now, you'll understand why I can't lose weight.  The problem with this vegan stuff is that you are pretty much hungry all day.  I must do better about keeping ahead of it.

And, for dinner, we had what the Princess calls "heaven."  It's the Happy Herbivore mini meatloaf with homemade mashed potatoes with BBQ sauce.  It's super easy to make and tastes great, too.

I finished up the night with 5 chocolate covered pretzels whilst watching another Sunday night show we couldn't watch on cable, Breaking Bad. Thank goodness for Netflix. 

So, I'm doing ok on the vegan, but awful on trying to be a Forks over Knives vegan.  Oil really is awesome after all.  I totally failed to weight myself this morning, so I'll have to update that tomorrow.

We spent a lot of time yesterday trying to book another extras gig for the Hubs.  He is oddly in hot demand.  Sadly, they really wanted him for 4 days which is a no go for us.  As much as he does enjoy making minimum wage, we have to be a little more choosy about how he spends his time.  Otherwise, our youtube video will really never get made, and we keep our priorities straight around here.

Day 1

As promised, here is my food journal from yesterday.  

This breakfast is going to get old after a while, but I love it.  Steel cut oats with a banana and some walnuts.  How I start my mornings.

I was all ready for a wonderful Saturday at home.  Was just about to leave for the gym when I remembered that I had to go to work.  What a bummer!!  But, at least I got a very delightful black bean and avocado sandwich from au bon pain.  Sadly, I later found out that it is not vegan as it contains eggs whites and casein. 

My bad work habits.  I always have 2 pieces of gum.  A Big Red, followed by a doublemint.  My favorite combo, but they aren't sugar free.  Oh, well.  It beats my other bad work habits of chick fil a and a double chococlate chip muffin.

Last night, we went to my all time favorite restaurant, Ghengis Grill.  Loads of veggies and brown rice.  I LOVE it!

I had a billion technical issues with these pictures.  Things still just aren't quite as easy as they should be.  

But, I'm back now.  I'll post weight, etc, tomorrow.  We had a busy start to our morning as Hubs was frantically running around trying to get better pictures for a possible extras gig.  And, daylights savings time messed us up, as per usual.  I've got my vegan menu planned for the week, so there is no where to go but up...or rather my weight should be coming down.

And we're live..

Took a bit of a break due to feeling very uninspirational.   But, tomorrow is the dawn of a new day.

I have entered into a diet challenge with my siblings, and it is time to kick it into high gear.  So, from now on, I will be posting a picture of everything I consume for the next 30 days.

Also, I'm planning a big Little House on the Prairie themed party for my little girl, so I'll be posting on that as well because there is nothing I love more than reading blogs with party ideas.

In addition, I'll be starting a weekly posting on how to book gigs being an extra in Atlanta.  Let's face it, I have a lot of experience with that now.  And, I have success stories (hubs) and fail stories (me), so I feel like I have a good understanding of how they pick people.

So, stay tuned to some big excitement on the blog.