Challenge of the week: Vitamins

Yep... that's right. Take a vitamin. Don't care what kind, when you take it etc... just TAKE IT!

How are the challenges going? Haven't had too many people reporting in on a weekly basis...

Fun for the whole family

We're enjoying the Great American Trip on NBC. Yous should check it out!

An apple a day...

This week's challenge:
Eat an apple every day.
I just read in Health Magazine that if you eat an apple 15-20 minutes before eating a meal, you will eat less during that meal. Worth a try, right?

Laundry advice?

What's your favorite stain remover?

Got Milk?

This week's challenge:
Have 3 servings of dairy every day.

Flipped Out

I'm dying to try this, but OF COURSE, can't find it at any of our grocery stores. If you see it... will you try it and tell me how horrible it is? I think that will make me feel better.

Help! Popsicle Emergency!

I bought a popsicle maker similar to this one at Target this week. (I know, you're thinking... who is this Martha Stewart wanna be?) It was $3.99 and caught my eye while walking through the store, don't get too excited. Anyway, I poured some OJ into the maker and popped it into the freezer. My problem? I'm having a very hard time getting the popsicles out of their plastic containers. The sticks just pull right out without bringing the popsicles with them. Any suggestions as to how I can pull one popsicle out at a time without the stick breaking off?

Clean it out!

This week's challenge isn't directly related to fitness, but... you'll see where I'm coming from. This week, clean out your food cabinets, pantry, fridge, freezer... anywhere where food is kept. I'm not saying throw everything away, but... get your food organized. Take inventory (can be a mental list, doesn't have to be written down) of what you have. Throw away old food and make and try to incorporate the food you already have into your meals. This challenge came about after I found a bottle of herbs in my cabinet that I had from college... yikes! Time to pitch that!
Already extremely organized in the food department? Then I guess you mastered this challenge, did you?

Laundry Advice

I have some smelly wet clothes that sat too long on the floor before they made it into the washer. I've washed them twice and they still smell :( Any idea how to get them un-smelly?

If I were a rich...???

Huh... who knew?

Fitness Challenge: Week 3

Week 2 go alright? Let me know how you did...

Week 3:
Do at least 10 minutes of Yoga a day. And then tell me how rested and relaxed you feel!

What I learned from People

This week's People Magazine gave me lots to talk about... so here goes...
#1 Hammertime:
A reality television show focusing on Hammer, his wife of 24 years and raising their 6 children. On A&E premiering on June 14 (10/9C) if you're interested in watching.
My questions to you are these: A&E picked this show up?? And... how, possibly, can this show be good? Will you watch?

I can't wait to see The Hangover. A movie about a bunch of guys who go to Vegas for a bachelor party. I know, I know... I can already predict the entire movie, but I'm a sucker for all things wedding related... and I heart Bradley Cooper.
Have you heard about this show? Top Chef Masters? 6 celebrity chefs do something (not quite sure what), premieres June 10th at 10/9 central on Bravo.

One to watch? Raising the Bar:
Mondays 10/9 central... something about lawyers, but the main character is played by Zack from Saved By the Bell. I think I have to pass, no offense, Zack.

Nurse Jackie:
Did you watch? My opinion? Carmella Soprano in a nurses outfit. I'm not hooked.

I don't follow this show, but I don't live in a hole either. She had 8 children... someone please tell me she had a tummy tuck.

Week 2

So, how'd week 1 go? Don't forget to comment (either here or on week 1's post) to let me know if you completed the challenge.

For week 2:
Make a meal plan for the week & stick with it.
I know that life often gets in the way of a well planned schedule, but do your best. If you have to stray a time or two, so be it. But "I needed a Big Mac" doesn't count.

Bad News for the Fitness Challenge

Need I say more?

Challenge #1

Everytime you eat... sit at a table, without the tv, computer or other electronic distraction...

** Sidenote** the purpose of this challenge is to eliminate mindless eating. And often times when you are sitting in front of the tv (etc) you are not paying attention to what you eat or how much you eat. If you are concentrating on something else, you are not enjoying your food. If you aren't enjoying your food, you are not going to be satisfied and you will want to eat more later. Make sense? Do with it what you will.

Natalie's Fitness Challenge: Summer 2009 Rules

The Summer Challenge has officially started!I have pondered for a week about how I'm going to run this challenge... here are the rules:
1. The Challenge will run from May 29-August 14th (12 weeks)

2. Weekly Challenge: On Friday of each week a new challenge will be announced. If you complete that week's challenge you will leave a comment stating you've completed that week's challenge & your name will be entered to win the grand prize at the end of the challenge. Each week you complete the challenge, your name will be entered for a chance to win. 3. If you would like to set an additional fitness goal for yourself (perhaps training for a 5k, triathlon, etc.), leave me a comment letting me know of your personal fitness goal. Each person who achieves their personal fitness goal will win an additional prize at the end of the challenge.
Questions?

Coming Soon: Project Runway

Ok... maybe not soon enough, but Season 6 will begin on August 20th
After disputes by their past and future networks, the show will be on Lifetime and set in LA.

Natalie's Fitness Challenge Returns (AGAIN)

Why now? You ask?
I put my bathing suit on today.
Any more questions?

I didn't think so.

I'm trying to think of ways to spice up the challenge. All of my past challenges could be used again (drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables etc etc etc)... but we KNOW all that. We know we SHOULD do all that. I'm looking for something new and fresh. Maybe with prizes involved. But, I'm just a click away from that one great idea... can't... quite... get... there...

Any thoughts? I'll be accepting ideas until Thursday.
Friday The Challenge will begin.

Check it out: The Cake Boss on TLC

Buddy Valastro is one of the most successful and renowned cake artists in the United States. Master baker of Carlo's City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey, Buddy is the cake boss.
He supervises a team that includes his mother, four older sisters and three brothers-in-law. And when you're working with family on a daily basis, there is bound to be a lot of drama. The Valastros know drama but and at the end of the day they also know love.
Cake Boss chronicles Buddy's over-arching desire to achieve his late father's dream of making Carlo's Bake Shop a household name with or without the help of his family.
Premieres May 25 @ 10/9c on TLC

Boom Boom Pow!

...Love the Black Eyed Peas (even more since Fergie married my man, Josh Duhamel). But the guy in the bottom of their band picture seriously creeps me out. Shiver.

See? It could always be worse.

Pregnant woman, 66, defends right to give birth
LONDON - A 66-year-old pregnant British woman has defended her right to have a baby at her age.
Elizabeth Adeney, who is believed to be around eight months pregnant after undergoing fertility treatment, is expected to become Britain's oldest mother when she gives birth.
Read the rest of the story here

Until next season...

Broadway in Chicago

Break out your checkbooks... I just got the new season of shows coming to Broadway in Chicago and it's AWESOME! These are the shows I want to see (or I think Bo would like to see). Gulp. For more info check out www.broadwayinchicago.com

Are you a bore?

According to an online article I just read, unless you LIKE being boring... don't bring up these 7 topics while conversing with others:
1. A dream.
2. The recent changes in your child’s nap schedule.
3. The route you took to get here.
4. An excellent meal you once had at a restaurant.
5. The latest additions to your wine cellar.
6. An account of your last tennis game.
7. The plot of a movie, play or book—in particular, the funny parts.

Ouch. I talk about my dreams all the time. How did I miss the yawns?

Know what's awesome?

Our new panini press. Don't have one? You should get one. Seriously.

I should be ashamed to admit this, but today (first day we've used it), we tried a peanut butter & jelly panini, grilled cheese panini, chicken panini, roast beef panini and a mozzarella, tomato and basil panini. Mmm. Good.

Do you have a favorite pen?

Because I do... but it's an old Cartronix pen (which doesn't exist anymore) and I know I'm going to need a new one soon.

Any suggestions? Or do you just use any old pen laying around?

Coca Cola Jello

This is my mom's recipe... I forgot how good (and easy) it is.


2 cans crushed pineapple
2 cans Coke, boiled
2 cans cherry pie filling
2 large pkgs cherry jello

Boil coke, mix with jello. Add pineapple and pie filling. Chill

** to make this recipe diabetic friendly use diet Coke & Jello with nutrasweet

Spelling Lessons

Do you have words that you don't ever spell right?
Some of my favs are:

restaurant (I spell resturaunt)
separate (I spell seperate)

Despite the numerous amounts of times I fix those two words with spell check...I always spell them wrong. Always.

Sorry copy editors... this post will probably drive you crazy.

See "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past"

No comment necessary.

Get Ready...

May 21st...
So You Think You Can Dance!

If you don't already watch this show, you NEED to watch it this season!
I'm not kidding!

Will you try it?

I should be appalled at Domino's Pasta Breadbowls. I mean, seriously, how horrible must these be for you? But... (head hung low), I kinda think they look awesome.

Question of the Day

What's your favorite way to eat a potato?

For the Record...

After I've watched the season finale of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, I will no longer be watching shows about doctors or hospitals. Ever. If these shows wouldn't have story lines about sick/dying kids, I might continue to watch, but, they haven't taken my advice (via numerous emails) to drop these story lines ... so, your loss shows~ I will never watch you again.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Striped Delight

Ingredients:
35 OREO Cookies
6 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. cold milk
1 tub (12 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
3-1/4 cups cold milk
2 pkg. (3.9 oz. each) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding

Make It!
PROCESS cookies in food processor until fine crumbs form. Transfer to medium bowl; mix in butter. Press onto bottom of 13x9-inch dish. Refrigerate until ready to use.
WHISK cream cheese, sugar and 2 Tbsp. milk in medium bowl until blended. Stir in 1-1/4 cups COOL WHIP; spread over crust.
BEAT pudding mixes and 3-1/4 cups milk with whisk 2 min.; pour over cream cheese layer. Let stand 5 min. or until thickened; cover with remaining COOL WHIP. Refrigerate 4 hours.