First Week of School

Madelyn had her first day of 1st Grade this week! She had a great day. She likes her teacher, Mrs. Gibson, and has several of her friends from Kindergarten in her class. They played some games, ate lunch together as a class, etc. Trey went down to take her for her first day, along with her mom, and got some great pictures. He hung around Waco for the day, picked her up in the afternoon, and took her for ice cream afterward. What a special day! I can’t believe she is in First Grade – what a big girl!! It will be only a matter of time before she has homework I can’t help with and is spouting out random fun facts and knowledge that I have never heard of!!!

Along with Madelyn starting First Grade, this week marked the start of High School for Jackie and Dani!!! Now this, I REALLY can’t believe! My girls are old enough for high school? Jackie is on the volleyball team, and is a Freshman cheerleader, and Dani is on the volleyball team. They are already so involved and active, and I know they are going to do so great. Poor Dani, though… She fell down the steps at Forever 21 in the mall, (I’ve been in that store and their floors are really slippery), and sprained her ankle really badly. She was on crutches last weekend and then of course had to start high school with a boot! So recently I was thinking – OMG, the girls will have their licenses in a year and half, and be looking at colleges in about two and half years. I just can’t believe what amazing young ladies they’ve become. Madelyn has some great examples to follow!

Go back down to check out LA, Day 2 - I added some pics!

LA, California – Day 3 (Tuesday, Aug 5)

So day 3 began in the same manner as days 1 and 2… wake up (much too early – aren’t we supposed to be sleeping in on vacation?), shower, get dressed – you know the drill. So the differences this morning than the other mornings: 1. there was some added whining about how this bed isn’t quite up to par (minor whining, but whining non the less – and from both mom and me), and 2. this morning we forgo makeup (it’s not like we are trying to impress anyone, after all!). Before we head down to Morsel’s (our new favorite little spot in the hotel) for our regular coffee / latte, and bagel and fresh fruit to split, (we don’t really want to waste any time, nor do either of us feel like sitting down for a lengthy breakfast), I called the valet for the car. The conversation goes something like this:

Sarah (all perky and happy, of course): “HI – I’d like my car brought up, please”
Valet: Sure, what’s the ticket #
Sarah: 123456 (No - that’s not really the #, but I don’t remember it now!)
Valet: Will you be checking out
Sarah: For the 100th time – NO! We’re not checking out yet!! When we check out, I’ll tell you we’re checking out damn it!

Ok – so I wasn’t really that nasty, or nasty at all, but why do they keep asking me if we’re checking out?! It was so annoying. So I just couldn’t wait to call on the day we actually were checking out and finally get to say YES, and wouldn’t you know – when we went to check out the next morning, the concierge offered to have our car pulled up for us and I didn’t even get to call!

So anyway, we get into the car, plug in Gypsy, and get ready to head to the Fashion District. Beyond just wanting to go to check it out and see what we could find, we were also on a mission to each find a cheap travel bag. You see, we over shopped just a little bit, and were both (mom more than me) worried that we wouldn’t be able to fit everything in our suitcases to go home! Well, Gypsy had just about had it with us, because this morning she decided she wasn’t up for playing. So instead of having our usual voice activated directions, we had to wing it. Luckily we’d looked at a little map the hotel gave us that showed the general vicinity of the Fashion District, and we thought we’d surely see signs once we got close, so we just went for it. And we did pretty well – only a few extra twists and turns, and we were there. It was really only a short distance from the hotel (5 – 10 minutes). Once we got there, we realized why everyone said it would be a short experience. It was kind of gross and dirty. First of all, we had to go up this HUGE ramp to park (paying $8, of course), and then walk downstairs in this dark alley-like stairwell. It made me think of a stairwell that bums would go into to pee. So we’re kind of looking at each other like – really?! But we ventured on, being sure to make note of where we parked (the last thing we needed was to get lost in this place!). First we stopped in this little costume jewelry spot where I found a great “fun” necklace for me, and a little something for Madelyn. As we went on, we found shops that had handbags (much like Sam Moon or Harwin) and suitcases / duffels. Well, Mom ended up finding 2 great leather handbags – very fun and different, lots of pockets for her, and I found 1 too. From there, the next shop had suitcases, so we each got a small bag to get all of our goodies home. We wandered from there to Santee Alley. This is where we read that all of the “unique” shopping was. Well, unique it was. We got about 1/4 of the way through and turned around to go back. It was dirty, and felt cheap, and basically every little stop had the same junk as all the others. All in all, it was pretty much a disappointment. But then again, we both got just what we wanted, and weren’t suckered into a bunch of junk we didn’t need, so maybe it wasn’t a disappointment after all! We were definitely ready to go, though!

By now, we were starting to get a little hungry, and needed to decide where to head to next. Whenever we asked for suggestions, several people had said to check out The Grove. So we headed there next. We plugged it into Gypsy (who was now deciding to cooperate). But you see, we didn’t have the exact address, so we put into Gypsy “Grove St.”. About 30 minutes, and towards Glendale she said, so that’s where we headed. As we were getting closer, we kept saying – this doesn’t seem quite right. But it’s what she says, so keep going. Well… sure enough we “arrived at our destination”, and it wasn’t our destination at all!! It was a neighborhood (and not a very nice one at that). We were laughing as I called Jen and said “HELP”. She, all the while laughing at us, looked up the address of The Grove for us, and gave it to us. Well, apparently it makes a difference if you put in “Grove St.” vs “THE Grove St.”. So, another 30 minutes later, and almost back where we started from, we arrived at our INTENDED destination.

When we first arrived, mom wanted to take our picture in the mirrored elevator doors. It was actually quite funny, since twice right as she was taking the picture, the doors opened. People must have thought what goofballs we were! But she finally got one...



Well you can imagine if we were hungry when we first started on this adventure, by now we were starving. We parked and headed first to find food. There is this great restaurant called The Farm (I actually remembered Lauren taking me there for brunch when I visited her, but a different location). We looked over the menu and decided this was good. It was very café like – sandwiches, burgers, salads, etc. We sat inside (again – a wait for outside table) and enjoyed a relaxing lunch together. Next up, we decided just to wander around The Grove. It was a beautiful setup – much like a village – with boutiques, stores, restaurants and lots of trees. We stopped into Barnes and Noble so mom could get my new favorite find – the Hungry Girl cookbook (GREAT investment, by the way!), and some magazines for the plane ride home tomorrow. Next stop was Nordstrom to try to find me new black flip flops (I replaced my brown ones, but was still on the mission for the black ones I wanted – no luck here).


Here is mom hanging out in the fountains at The Grove. Isn't she so cute in her hat?

So now it was getting a little hot, and we felt like we’d seen it, so off to the next adventure we go. We’d been on a mission the last few days to find a Trader Joes at some point. So we plugged that into Gypsy, and boom – one was within 2 miles of where we were. We got some good snacks for the plane, but other than that – it didn’t really live up to the hype. Next stop was to find a Payless so mom could return the tennis shoes she bought for us to work out (ha – that was funny! We walked so much during each of our days, there was NO energy left to workout!). So we plugged that into Gypsy (who was now working like a charm), and boom again – there was one within a mile of where we were. Now, with that done – what to do next?

We were supposed to go to dinner at the Ivy tonight – I’d even made reservations a month ago, but neither of us felt like getting dressed nice and messing with it, so I cancelled our reservation and we went back to the hotel to relax and pack up a little. We decided to go to dinner at The Daily Grill – a restaurant that I went to once before and remember being pretty good, and it was really close to the hotel and didn’t require us to change or get too cleaned up. Well, it ended up being just perfect for our last night. The food was DELICIOUS. We split a grilled artichoke appetizer, wedge salad, and steak with fresh broccoli. It was so yummy, cooked to perfection, and the perfect amount of food. We really enjoyed our last night together!


Here I am just enjoying out dinner together!

And finally, mom and I so loved the lobby of our hotel - there were beautiful fresh floral arrangements every day, and they smelled so good!

Addendum to "Success"

I have to add an addendum to my last blog - Success...

Actually, mom bought one of the cookbooks and I bought one (she bought the more expensive one!). She didn't know it at the time, but she was happy to support my new hobby!

XOXO to you Mom!

Success

Success to me these days is the feeling that I’m getting somewhere towards my goal.

Last week I lost 3 more lbs, and to date since the start of Weight Watchers (about a month), 8 lbs total. It hasn’t been easy, but I have to say I’ve really enjoyed the challenge and the progress. It was the most difficult while I was on vacation – it’s just so hard to eat out and try to monitor portions and ingredients. And while I was determined to do my best, I also wasn’t going to give up eating good things (by good I mean yummy, not necessarily good for me!) while I was on vacation. But I got right back into the swing of things once I got home, and it’s so nice to see it paying off!

I’ve been working out a great deal (about 4 times a week) and although I’ve NEVER been one to “enjoy” going to the gym, I’ve started to really like it!!! I can’t believe it, but I do. Sometimes it’s still hard to be motivated (it would be so much easier to sit on my touchas and watch TV), but I look forward to working out – especially my classes (favorite is Step, but I also love Water Aerobics, and just started a Kickboxing).

The other thing I’ve really been happy with latterly is trying some new recipes.

First, I have to rave about the Hungry Girl cookbook (here is the link to her website http://www.hungry-girl.com/). It is FABULOUS!!! The recipes tend to be “remakes” of traditional things to make them so much better for you. And although it isn’t a Weight Watchers thing, the Hungry Girl is affiliated and gives points values for all of her recipes. So far, I’ve tried several things I love, but especially the Fiber One “fried” chicken, and Fiber One “fried” onion rings. It’s totally like eating fried chicken and onion rings – only better and SO much better for you!

I’ve also pulled some great recipes from the Weight Watchers website. Last week I did a Honey Balsamic Chicken – only 4 points a serving and DELICIOUS! There has been some others too – some great veggie recipes to spice things up a little more, and a few chicken dishes, etc. Desserts have been fun too – I did a brownie topped with marshmallows, graham cracker and chocolate drizzle – soooo good and 2 points! I have a list of several more to get to too.

And finally, this weekend I bought 2 new cookbooks and flagged about 20 recipes in each to try in the coming weeks. I’ve narrowed down the field while shopping for cookbooks by only considering ones that have nutrition information. It’s been super helpful, and I’ve found some really yummy sounding things to try – I’ll keep you all posted!

So that’s my latest craze – I hope I can continue it. Actually, I will continue it! Wish me luck!

LA, California – Day 2 (Monday, Aug 4)

So day 2 began much like day 1... Wake up early, roll out of bed, shower, dress, head downstairs to a little cafe for coffee, bagel and fruit to go that mom and I split, and get moving because we have lots to do. And we did do a ton today!

Here are few pictures of us outside of the hotel, waiting for our car. The day must begin with a few smiles!




First, we headed to Hollywood. I can't even type the word without hearing mom in my ear singing "Hollywood, dun, dun, dun, dun Hollywood" over and over and over and over and over and over again! I think I actually leaned over and smacked her to stop! So, we head to Hollywood and have no problems getting there (Thank You Gypsy!). Mom read about Brooks and Dunn getting their star on the walk of fame, so we wanted to try to see that. Even though neither of us are necessarily big Brooks and Dunn fans, (I at least know some of their songs and what they look like - mom is completely clueless and keeps calling them Dunn and Brooks), we thought what a cool experience that would be. So it was supposed to happen at 11:00, and we got to Hollywood by around 9:30 - plenty of time to find out where we needed to be, right? Well, we walked, and stopped and asked, and walked some more, and stopped and asked, and walked some more. We walked over spots we'd already been 2 and 3 times. Since we had some time to kill and were still looking, we ducked into a few souvenir shops and got goodies to take home. Finally, we duck into the Gap (my good 'ole faithful) and ask a sales associate there if he knows anything about Brooks and Dunn getting their star (so far everyone we asked says "yeah - I heard something about that, but I don't know where it is"). Well, he says he thinks it's all the way down at the other end - surprise, surprise. So now it is getting really close to time and here we thought we were so ahead of the game. We book it back down to the other end of the walk of fame and sure enough, there are the barricades and people waiting.

We got there just in time (luckily not too early after all since we are in the HOT sun, with no shade, and I forgot my hat at the hotel, and you know how the sun doesn't agree with me!). Pretty soon, here comes Brooks and Dunn. You can see in these pictures we really weren't that far away. As mom is taking pictures she keeps saying - "which ones are they?" and "which one is that?". She is so funny. I'm just laughing, especially since we are surrounded by die hard fans (one lady from Australia!) who are going berserk. It turned out that Dr. Phil and his wife were doing the introduction so they were also there. She was all decked out in her boob popping Dolce and 3 inch Louboutin heels. So first we had to hear from the President of the LA Chamber of Commerce, then someone else in a similar sort of role (I can't remember), then Dr. Phil, then his wife... jeez - give us the stars already!!

At this point, I'm sweating, it's so hot, and I am so over this. So, mom and I decide - enough already. We came, we saw, we took the pictures, we're done. Oh, by the way - I almost forgot to say that about halfway through all the nobody's speeches, mom's camera battery died (forgot to charge it the night before - oops), so you can imagine we're REALLY done!

Here are a few pictures from our stardom... The grey haired guy in the middle is some big whig in the LA Chamber of Commerce - whoopty - but as you can see he is totally blocking our view! Look on either side and you can see Brooks and Dunn and the back of Dr. Phil's bald head.


This one is for Allan (I'm not sure if he even reads my blog), but he better appreciate this one - this guy was sweaty and kept trying to talk while I was trying to smile for the picture!


As we're walking back towards the Kodak Theater (home of the "red carpet"), we see along the backside of where all this hooplah was going on that there is a DSW. We duck in, (Let me sidebar really quickly to say that this DSW was HUGE - twice as big as any I've seen and with tons of great stock), and wallah - we have a perfect, air conditioned view of Brooks and Dunn getting their star. But soon, we were REALLY over seeing them pose for pictures and doing basically nothing, so I looked at some really cute handbags, and ended up finding some great Michael Kors shoes that were $100, on sale for 50% off, and with mom's $20 coupon (Thanks Mom!), I only paid $30!

It is now afternoon, and we are finished wandering Hollywood. We're now starving, and decided to head to this restaurant for lunch that my friend Jen recommended - The Alcove. She said it had a great menu - very cafe / bistro like. Sure enough, Gypsy got us there in no time, and just like Jen said - it was a very cute, quaint place with a different and very enticing menu. I ended up having a ham and cheese panini (with a not so common cheese I don't remember) and a side salad with balsamic dressing (still trying to be good). Mom had a turkey and cranberry sandwich with sweet potato fries (which of course I stole a few). It sounds easy enough, but it's difficult to accurately describe. They were made with just enough twist from a normal, boring way - and oh so yummy!! I have been finding something very interesting in our dining experiences in LA... in California, people wait for a table OUTSIDE, in Texas, people wait for a table INSIDE. Just an observation.

After lunch, we debate on what to do next. Mom is very distraught that she doesn't have a camera and even contemplates buying a disposable for the day. But of course, although we have seen 20 CVS along the way - there isn't one to be found now. We end up driving through Beverly Hills and along Rodeo Drive (at this point, we're happy to observe from the car and not have to pay to park to wander the stores we can't afford to shop in). One more thing to cross off the list - check!

As we headed back to the hotel, we came across a mall. Just what we needed, but I really was in need of some new Reef flip flops. My feet were killing me with all the walking we were doing, and my Reefs were 3 summers old, so it was time. We wandered around the mall (because we don't have malls in Texas!), and I did find a new pair of Reefs (made that change and threw my old ones away), and also stumbled across a store called Aldo where I found not 1, but 2 fabulous handbags, a pair or way cool gold sandals, and mom and I both found awesome necklaces. All in all, I spent only about $100 in the store and found some great stuff!

Back at the hotel, we decided to get a recommendation from the Concierge for dinner - something light and casual we tell her, and preferably close by. We remembered how difficult it was to find anything open in downtown at night, and we don't want to have to go far, or go fancy. So she recommended this Italian place called Zucca within a 5 minute drive and offered the hotel car to take us. We thought this was a good idea, but then we have to wait for the car to get back from taking someone else, then we'll have to call them when we're ready to be picked up and wait for them to come back. It's just not worth it and after all, that is why we rented a car. So we drive ourselves and just resound to pay for parking (did I mention you have to pay to park EVERYWHERE in LA and it's crazy expensive?!) We get to Zucca and are looking at each other like - oh no, this is so NOT what we had in mind. I felt very under dressed and it was not laid back at all. But whatever, we're already here now, so we might as well go with it (plus we already paid the $5 or $10 to park!). Mom and I split the eggplant parmigiana appetizer and a fried calamari (so not on my diet), and a margherita pizza. It was good, but NOT great, and definitely not worth the price. But oh well - at least now we're fed and can head back to the hotel to wind down and get some rest.

And we did - I think we crashed by 9:30!!!

What a guy

I have to give major kudos to my husband - he gets a star award tonight. April had dinner with a friend, so it was just the two of us for dinner. A great opportunity for me to try out one of my Weight Watchers shrimp recipes (April doesn't eat shrimp and Trey and I love it). The recipe is for "Baked Shrimp in Lemony Garlic Sauce". Sounds yummy, right?

Here is the breakdown:
1 1/4 lb shrimp
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp light butter, melted
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp lemon pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper
2 Tbsp parsley

Let me preface by saying that my paper I printed on is 3-hole punched, and for some reason this recipe is the only one that I printed that the ingredients are really close to the margin. There is a hole over the "3/4" for the lemon pepper and the "1/4" for the red pepper. Also, I didn't have red pepper, so cayenne pepper should work just as well, right?

The recipe is really easy (let me know if you want it - only 4 points). Basically, mix ingredients, pour over shrimp, bake for 10 minutes.

Well, I had almost 2 lbs of shrimp so I thought I'd close to double the recipe and have a little extra juice so I could serve over a little angel hair pasta. Makes sense, right?

So since I couldn't fully see the measurement of lemon pepper and red pepper, I guessed my best at what it looked like it was. I thought 3/4 tsp lemon pepper (check!), and 1/2 tsp red pepper (wrong!). And since, I was doubling, 1 tsp of cayenne pepper it is. Oh, I should also say that when I poured the Worcestershire sauce, it spilled over a little too, but a little extra won't really hurt anything, right?

Now the shrimp is baking great, the pasta boiling, dinner is almost ready with very little prep time. Trey takes a bite. The look on his face is priceless (did I tell you he doesn't really eat spicy food). I see the look on his face and say "it's not good, is it". He responds with an exuberant NO, and explains that there is something that just has a strong taste. So I taste it. Yep - it's the cayenne pepper. So, we get all settled at the table, and are enjoying dinner. (It's still good - just strong.) As I'm eating more, and reaching more for my drink (now mind you, I really like spicy food), I realize that it is REALLY spicy. Trey not only eats his and enjoys it (or pretends to), he gets up to get MORE!! I keep telling him I can make something else, he doesn't have to eat it, I know it's got to be way to hot for him, etc., and he says he really likes the flavor - it's just a little hot.

As he's helping me clean the kitchen, he thanks me for making dinner, says he LOVES my cooking 99 out of 100 times and so appreciates what I do for him.

What a husband!