My Keens are here!

Danielle: I finally ordered a pair of these Keens I've been debating on for years, they were over half off so I gave in.

Amanda: I call those lesbian shoes.

Danielle: Well, I got them for camping and stuff.

Amanda: I call that a lesbian activity.

Danielle: God! I am so sorry Regina Amanda. Really, I don't know why I did this. I guess it's probably because I've got a big *lesbian* crush on you! Suck on THAT! AY-YI-YI-YI-YI!!

So maybe I didn't actually finish this convo a' la Mean Girls, but we did giggle. I can't say I know any lesbians with these shoes, but after wearing them around the house for an evening I can say I'm excited to try out my "lesbian" shoes this summer on our out door adventures!

(And before anyone starts hating, I voted No!)

Tales From the Office: Act 1

Ten and Don are standing at Ten's desk discussing her mittens.

Don: Ten, these look like they are pretty warm. What are they made of? Like, sheep skin or something?

Ten: I think so, but I can't remember I've had them for a while.

Don: These are really nice and soft. Danielle, (who is sitting at the next desk), do you know if this is sheep skin or what these are made out of?

Danielle: I think so, but I can't remember what it's called. It's probably sheep skin or some kind of leather.

Don: Danielle, we've had some discussions about vegetarianism lately- what are your thoughts on leather?

Danielle: Well Don, (Danielle leans over to grab her mad bomber hat and puts in on her head), you see, I don't like the fact that a rabbit had to die to make my hat here, but it sure has kept my head extremely warm this week.

And everyone learned a valuable lesson.

"Foodie" Friday Experiment

This morning as I was grabbing my frozen fruit out of the freezer I realized we have a ton of hidden "gems" shall I say hiding out in there. What are these gems? Well, they are a combination of vegetable scraps (that at one time I had intended to use for vegetable stock) and peppers and other veggies that I decided to freeze for use in things or to eat later so they wouldn't go bad. 

At first, I declared that "I'm finally going to go through the fridge and freezer and take note of what we have!!" but then I settled on giving the vegetable stock a try because I felt it was going to give me the most bang for my sad looking freezer burned veggies and what had about a day or two left in the fridge before it became a science experiment veggies.

One quick google search of "crockpot vegetable stock" and here I was at a site called The Vegan Version. I just had to throw my veggies into the crock pot with some S&P and water basically. I ended up with a very spinach heavy mix, but there is also kale, onion, garlic, celery, carrots, broccoli, asparagus, red pepper, cauliflower and maybe some randoms, but that's about it. Sorry for no pre-broth pictures- I can only imagine the horrified looks on some faces at the site of some of my veggies, lol. But I can give you a look at what is currently brewing!

It feels good to be using those scraps that would just normally go to waste and I can't wait to see what it tastes like in another 12 hours! 

5 Weeks - 5 Workouts - 5 %

I've decided to challenge myself to kick-start my desire to be healthier. Right now, what that means to me is dropping a few pounds so I don't have an episode every time I put on pants in the morning but more so, get into the pattern where cleaner eating and exercise becomes more of a habit and less of a task.

I was reading another blog I follow, and she has challenged her readers to join in a challenge where they put money into a pot and work their little butts off to lose 4% of their weight in 4 weeks. At the the end, they get money back based on their progress.

I won't be putting money in a pot, but I have purchased a few gifts (pre-no spend months) that I can work toward "earning". My goal instead will be to lose 5% in 5 weeks. How did I come up with this goal? Well, I started this endeavor last week and am working towards being 8 pounds lighter by my brother's wedding reception on February 9th. 

The other part of this challenge is to work out (at least) 5 times a week for these 5 weeks. If I achieve my goal, I've got some amazing new work out gear to start rocking!

Next on the list for this challenge is to create some sort of "badges" to work towards- maybe I'll just use the one's that my fitbit comes with, or I can come up with my own more workout oriented ones. Maybe that's something I can tackle this weekend.

If this project of mine is a success, maybe I'll share a little more and put some numbers and images out there. I'm hoping that it is a success and I can use the motivation to continue my quest into getting ready for swim suit season. (Hans is trying to convince me to go to Ipanema and currently the thought of standing on a Brazilian beach infront of a bunch of Giselle looking women in my swim suit is nightmarish.) I'm also trying to gain back the leaner physique I had a few years ago.

***I feel like I should have a huge disclaimer for whoever might come across this. I know that a number on the scale does not make me more or less beautiful and I well understand that it does not define who I am. What this is, is a journey to pick up the health and fitness aspect of my life. It doesn't always help me to say "I'm going to up my veggies and stop drinking soda" and it isn't always motivating to me to just say "I'm going to go to the gym 10 times in the next 14 days". I need to find that something that is going to keep me motivated.

I want something to work towards along side my already current goals of times and distances for races. It also helps me stick to a healthier diet, because I've been known to go to town on some non-healthy goodies.

Cross it off the list

Last year I began the journey that is my 30 Under 30 list. I didn't do too bad, but I didn't do as much as I could have. So now, it's time to evaluate my progress of my 30 Under 30 List and see what I got done in 2012. I also took some time to update the list from my original as my interests have changed and some things aren't as attainable as I thought.

Here are the things I did accomplish in 2012:

6. Spend a Night in a Historic Hotel

• Hans and I spent a lovely day and night in Stillwater. We spent the afternoon on a Foodie on Foot tour where we sampled dishes at many little restaurants and learned a little about the city. We had dinner at a fun little place called Nacho Mama and we spent the night at the Historic Water Street Inn. I was a little disappointed in all of the faux wall paper and finishes around the building, but it was really cool to know little things like the bathrooms in our room was actually a vault at one time.

7. Pay Off My Debt

• This was more of a challenge to myself to put myself on a budget and prove to myself that cutting back and paying things off is not as hard as it may seem.

8. Run a Half Marathon

• I have been loving running races this year with Hans and my friends, and it gets me off my butt and moving. This past year I ran a few 5Ks, a Warrior Dash, a 10K, and (drumroll please) a HALF MARATHON! Hans and I did the half marathon for the Monster Dash this year, it definitely a challenge, but now that I know I can do it I can improve for the Lucky 7 half in March.

11. Get a Massage

• I FINALLY got a massage after 26 years of living. I decided to go to JUUT salon at Southdale and had the Chakra massage. It was unbelievable, and I cannot wait to get another one.

15. See a Show in Las Vegas

• Hans and I went out to Las Vegas for my 28th birthday. It was a blast! We also crossed another task off our list by seeing Coco in Peepshow. It was a good show full of burlesque at it's finest!

23. Take a Dance Class

• My friend Amanda and I took a chair dance class in October to cover this task. It was fun learning something new and different, at the end of the session we got to be in a performance. Our class did a chair dance to "Any Which Way" by the Scissor Sisters.

I think I'm doing pretty good. I've got a few that I think I'll get done early this year even as Hans got me a wine making kit for Christmas, I'm already wrangling a few friends in to do a triathlon with me and I continue to check movies off my list. AND I'm hoping Hans and I can take a trip down to Cancun or Jamaica or somewhere south of the border to get that crossed off! Fingers crossed we can make it happen! :)

Time for another "No Spend" Month or Two...

(third post in a day! what?!)

If you remember in July of 2012, I did a no spend month. I had some debts to pay off, and I felt like it was a good challenge and I was able to get ahead in a few things. Now that Christmas is over and the big sales are long gone, it's to time to do some cut backs. I've decided to use the remainder of January and February as a timeline for round 2 of "no spend".

Refresher/Updates: I still don't have student loads or car payments, but I am sort of paying my share of the mortgage by giving Hans some rent monies. Some of the money I give Hans monthly also goes into our joint saving account and is supposed to be used for food and us stuff. (However, Hans always forgets that debit card and mine doesn't want to work at the moment.)

I still have my other bills too, such as cell phone, internet, gym, food, and Netflix. I don't think there will be any trips between now and the end of February, with the exception of my brother's wedding reception.

Here are the for "No Spend January and February":

1. No new clothes/shoes/jewelry/etc.
2. No new make-up/lotions/soaps/hair products/etc.
3. No online shopping - I'm looking at you Amazon!!!
4. No Groupons/CrowdCuts/LivingSocials/etc.
5. No unnecessary grocery trips- Plan ahead and eat the food you have!!
6. No home goods- unless we NEED it
7. Only 1 lunch and 1 dinner can be eaten out per week
8. Only 1-3 drinks may be purchased at HH's (I tend to stay long)
9. No fancy coffee drinks, only drip coffee if needed- only au bon pain

• The ONLY exceptions are things that I actually need- ie, run out of face wash, running shoes fail on me, gas, dress socks, snow pants, running jacket, new long undies

• Signing up for races is also an exception- if it keeps me working out, it's worth it!!!

I'm sticking to mostly the same rules as before, because they seem to fit now as well. I'm hoping that my DIY and Green plans for the New Year can help cut down the costs of some things. I'm also hoping that our new Costco membership will also help us cut down on a few costs of some things.

I'm hoping too that I will find some projects around the house that will keep my hands occupied and off the computer/in the store. Getting my but to the gym should also help.

Here's to paying off bills, putting money in savings and rediscovering the clothes I already own.

Tis the time for 2013 Resolutions

I've never really been one for resolutions, mostly because I am that person who shoots wayyyy too high and then immediately gets discouraged and/or by mid-February I'm like "What was that thing I'm supposed to do?" I also don't want to have to judge my progress on a scale, I want to feel good about what I did do.

So, this year I've decided that instead of making a list of things to check off (I've got my 30 under 30 for that) I am going to think of some lifestyle choices/changes I can make. I don't feel like challenging myself with numbers of things, or doing something everyday because I am the worst procrastinator and the worst at being like "I'll just do two three four five ten tomorrow". 

1. Wear the clothes you have and like, get rid of the ones you don't.

• Let's face it, if I didn't like it a month ago I probably won't like a month from now.

2. Be a more conscientious with spending my money.

• Buy only what you need so you can do more with what you have and put more into saving.

3. Put more "Green" in my life.

• Ask  myself, "Can I bake/make/diy/use something different?"

4. Get more artsy fartsy.

5. Organize and print my pictures.

6. Don't let health and fitness become something that #trends in and out.

7. Get out more.

And there you have it, my resolutions for 2013. Wish me luck as I start this journey...

An old story, but worth sharing...

Last month my co-worker Amanda over at minnehappilos, asked me what she should wear to her "End of the World" party down in Omaha. She knew of course that I am the person to go to for these types situations, and I did not fail to deliver...

____________

To: Danielle
From: Amanda
Subject: End of World/Holiday Party

What on earth does one wear to such an event?

____________

To: Amanda
From: Danielle
Subject: RE: End of World/Holiday Party

Swim Suit, because apparently the polars of the earth are supposed to shift that day as well. Bring on the heat wave!

Image: Huffington Post

Or, your best Mayan headdress. When else are going to get the opportunity to rock this?!

Image: Cozumel Homes

Or, google image search for “end of the world party dress” suggests this:

Image: Lifes Short Wear a Dress

Or, like Tom Cruise in Risky Business. Because it’s sexy, and if Xenu makes an appearance by your covered.

Image: static.tvtropes

__________

And there you have it! Sorry this was unavailable to you before the possible demise of the world in December, but now that you have it, you'll be ready for the next one. :)