That time I went wake boarding

Remember that one time where I actually chose to try snowboarding?

It was rough and it was tough. And sadly, I haven't strapped into a board since that fateful Winter.

Since then, no matter what Aaron tried to say to coax me into trying it, I just couldn't bare another bruise/muscle-ache-fest.  Oh the bruises, the amount of ibuprofen consumed, the anger as I tumbled down the hill.  Oh the horror and inhumanity!

So imagine my surprise when I agreed (yes, begrudgingly at first) to try wake boarding this Summer.

I managed to escape the first planned trip because of shark week (my loving term for "that time of the month"), but this time I ran out of excuses and time.

Everyone and everything said "JUST DO IT!"  So I said "fine."
(what can I say? I'm obedient, if nothing else.)

So the first step was to find a bathing suit and board shorts I would want to wear in public. I HATE bathing suits and as a result, was hoping for something like this:



Women in bathing suits on Collaroy Beach, 1908 via

But I ended up in something quite different (but still maybe with the same coverage): Board shorts to my knees and a tank top to cover my demure one piece suit.

Something more like this:



I kid you not...my outfit was pretty much like this

     Talk about sexy, yo.

(sorry , no real pictures were taken of me this fine day...too bad...)

But I digress.  Soon enough, it was go-time and so I hopped in the boat.  I watched several people take their runs and tried to analyze their approach to getting up.  It looked easy enough.  I was even educated on the art of standing up, what I should feel when in the water and what moves I should make.  This is all I can remember:

• Lay back in the water with my knees bent and keep my arms held out straight in front of me.
•  As soon as I felt pressure from the water, "stand up" in the water and turn the board
• Voila! Stand up!

Here's what happened:

I went to get in the life vest and it was found that it was too small.  ALL of them were too small.  Nice.  Real nice.  Apparently there was nothing on the boat to contain the girls and I.  So I had to wait.  Yes I was embarrassed.  No, I wasn't disappointed that I barely escaped my impending doom.  Should I have been?

But no one would give up that easy.  Soon enough, another bigger (much bigger, even on me) life vest was wrangled up and it was officially my turn.

(yay)

So I strapped in so someones board with bindings that were way to big.  I plunged into the water and floated to the top.  All the while, I had at least 4 different people yelling pointers out to me.

I secretly felt confident that I would nail this maneuver in one move but also didn't believe it at the same time.

I yelled "go" and the boat moved ahead.  Despite my warm, fuzzy and positive feelings, I failed.

Big time.

Instead, I was jerked this way or that and most of the time, I plunged into the water head first, sometimes even backwards.  My sinuses (and every other cavity in/on my body for that matter) were washed clean, made new, if you will with every cleansing dip as I fell, slipped or was yanked into the dirty lake water.

A super cute lil' guy on the boat yelled at me as I gasped and floated on the side of the boat " You just really need to hold on harder!"  I laughed to myself and thought, "this is supposed to be fun?"

But there was something different.  Even though I failed time and time again, I still kind of enjoyed it (not so much the choking and gasping on the rushing waters going down my nose and throat) and wanted to keep trying it.

Sadly, my body and my weak T-Rex arms did not agree and I could handle no more.  That night I felt muscles I've never felt become sore.  But, I slept well knowing I tried.  The next day I decided to try again.

The second time was a little better.  I didn't swallow as much nasty water and I almost, ALMOST got up. But my abs, then my arms could handle no more and soon enough I couldn't even make a fist.

The handle got yanked out of my weak hands and I quit.  I was weak man, weak.

Sadly, it's a bit too chilly for me to get out into the water to try again, but I really want to try and try again until I get my "AHA" moment and stand up on the water.

It won't be anything close to what Jesus did, but no doubt that moment will still go down in history

(I really hope you know I'm joking on that last part...)

Ding, dong...zucchini

Hello? Are you still out there?  I guess I should warn you before I take a leave of absence, hmm?

Well, I'm back with a few (mind you, only a few...) ideas for the blog in me head.

So..........................Today's topic is zucchini.

Word on the street is that this time of year, most people who've planted zucchini end up having more than they know what to do with.  So much so, that they search high and low for anyone (anyone?!) who would take it off their hands. I've heard of some people actually ringing a doorbell, droppin' zucchini like it's hot on the doorstep and high-tailing it out of there before anyone can protest.  A woman down our street just placed a literal mound of zucchinis in her driveway with a free sign.

Me? I got some from my grandma's neighbor and my next door neighbor.

But I asked for it.

Great right? Just saute it with some garlic and olive oil and voila!?

Been there, done that many-a-time.  But you can only do that so much.

Plus, Aaron doesn't even like it (he gave it a valiant effort) and so I was the one stuck with too many zucchini. 

I thought about making zucchini bread.  But then a thought came about: "what about cookies?"

So an internet search was done and I found some tasty sounding cookies and gave them a try!

They were a crowd pleaser, let me tell you. Here's the recipe (sadly I wrote it down and forgot where I got it from) if you'd like to give it a try.

Chocolate Oatmeal Zucchini cookies

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups shredded zucchini
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup oats
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325.   Line or grease a cookie sheet.  Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.  Stir in the egg and vanilla.  Mix well.  Stir in the shredded zucchini.  In a separate bowl, sift the dry ingredients together.  Stir in the dry ingredients, then the oats and then the chocolate chips. Bake for 11 minutes (mine had to go for closer to 14 min.)  Enjoy!

My outfit Monday

Slowly, but surely, every. single. pound. I lost a couple years back has returned.

(maybe you didn't even know I had lost poundage, but I did)

I'm not sure when OR how...but those cursed pounds are back.

And so are the loose and "comfy" clothes.

Case in point:




Cardigan: Maurices; Dress: JC Penneys
Shoes: TJ Maxx



Anyway,  I decided to tell you the above story because it's my way of explaining why outfit posts have been so sparse and why they probably will be for a while.  You see, I 'm not loving my non-maternity, maternity outfits, the way they fit, OR even the pictures I see of them or myself in them right now.

Please don't see this as a cry for sympathy or even that I'm really feeling bad about things, or myself.

Nope.  Neither of those really.

The above story (and picture) is also a reminder to myself of what needs to be done and a way to move me (once again) into a forward motion.

Pretty simple.  Just like this ol' outfit.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

I've been fascinated with this recipe ever since I saw the movie Serendipity, where they went to a restaurant by the same name (hint: Serendipity) and had a wonderful frozen treat...that's right: Frozen hot chocolate.  This recipe is adapted from epicurious.com- with a few additions of my own (they will be in parentheses).  It was delightful.  Give it a try if you like before it gets too cold out!

photo borrowed from this blog

Ingredients

6 half-ounce pieces of a variety of your favorite chocolates ( I just used good ol' Nestles)

2 teaspoons store bought hot chocolate mix ( I just used a full pouch of instant cocoa mix for a more chocolaty taste)

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 cups milk

3 cups ice

(4-5 scoops of ice cream)

Whipped cream

Chocolate shavings

Preparation

Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place it in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring occasionally until melted.

Add the cocoa and sugar, stirring constantly until thoroughly blended. Remove from heat and slowly add 1/2 cup of the milk and stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

In a blender place the remaining cup of milk, the room temperature chocolate mixture, ice cream and the ice.

Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Pour into a giant goblet and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Enjoy with a spoon or a straw. . . .or both! I had no chocolate shavings, whipped cream OR goblets.  But it was delicious all the same.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Frrrozen-Hot-Chocolate-Serendipitys-Best-Kept-Secret-109560#ixzz26PaiZjG8

Friday Favorites!



Maxi skirts are by no means new to the clothing world ( I dare not say fashion because I know nothing of  "fashion"- only what I like). And maxi skirts are what I LOVE right now!  Seriously, they are like dressed up, liquid, sweatpants. One can dress them up or down. You can wear them at home or when you go out.....you can literally wear them anywhere and still feel okay.

Pinterest



Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  I had my first latte last Friday and was not disappointed by any means.  I look forward to my next one, then the next, then the next.  You get the idea...

This song piques my interest every. time.  Unfortunately, I ask my husband the name of the band every. time.

Neither one ever gets old. 

 By the way the name of the band is Imagine Dragons.  The name of the song is It's time.  The video is kind of boring, so if you just close your eyes and listen you'll be happier in the end.



Films by Merchant Ivory productions.  They are slow, and tell quite a story, but sometimes leave you thinking "that's it?"

I've only seen a few, one being "Remains of the day," and I loved it.  Aaron was bored out of his poor A.D.D. mind. Not me.

That's it for now!  Have a lovely weekend and I'll catch up with you later.

Words to live by (this month and maybe always)

I heard these words quoted by an excellent speaker this past weekend and I can not get them out of my head.  They have become somewhat of a personal anthem for me.



Pinterest



Deep, huh?  But let's not stop there.  Then I stumbled upon this one that felt the same way about it!



Pinterest



I know, right!? But wait for it....then there's this simple truth:

Pinterest

What/where/how did these people think these things up on their own?!!

And last, but certainly not least

(long, tired nights full of tears can attest to this one...so I've heard...)

Pinterest, pinterest, pinterest

So those are the words of wisdom I stumbled upon on (you guessed it) Pinterest, that I wanted to share!

Have a good one!

My outfit Monday

My photos still leave much to be desired

(is that the way the phrase goes...?)

The location, focus and poses are just not right.

But to be honest, I can't promise improvements will be made anytime soon.

 We'll See.  In the meantime, here are a couple recent summer outfits.



Top: Maurices; Shorts: Old Navy (old); Shoes: Payless (old)



Pay no attention to the mess in the background of the next photo.  It's called my closet...and it is a messy one.  I can only wonder who could have done this to an otherwise ship-shape closet.  But as a side note, we had guests and I felt silly snapping photos of myself when they were around....thus the closet.

Cardigan: Maurices; Top: Maurices(old)
Skirt: Old Navy; Shoes: Old Navy (old)