The day I tied the knot......

I'm linking up here with Holly and Melanie!



Well, here we go:

Location-- May 2, 1999 - At an old mill from the 1700's in Weston, CT.   We were married outside.  It was the perfect day and as we were saying our vows, two large Swan's swam by.  Truth! We had about 75-80 people and I liked knowing every single person there.   We were originally going to get married on 10/10/99 - but we found out that our wedding at the first place we booked, was being torn down the day after our wedding!!!  We thought that was a sign to have it somewhere else and sooner.  Then we found the Cobb's Mill and the rest is history. The entire wedding was planned in five months.

Bridal Party-- We had a a mixed bag.  There are the BFF's and of course the obligatory family that have a total shit fest when they aren't asked. So you ask them.  

Colors-- My bridesmaids wore lilac, long floor length dresses with lilac bouquets. They looked so pretty!

First Dance-- Was Shania Twain's From this Moment.  Not the single version, the duet.  Later, my hubby had the DJ play True Companion by Marc Cohn.  I felt like I was floating the entire song. 

What Would I Change?--
The first thing I would have done is NOT go to Miami the week before my wedding on business and get 1st degree sunburn while working over lunch (and in bikinis without lotion). My milk white skin was RED PURPLE and I went into convulsions after a shower.  I was pretty much medicated until I flew home.  My bridesmaids were scrubbing the dead skin off my arms the morning of our wedding!  

Honeymoon-- St. Martin, the French West Indies. But the story is, we paid for our wedding ourselves so we were basically broke after the wedding.  We opened the gifts and cards that night and called a travel agent the next day.   We went for five days and loved every minute of it. Especially the topless sunbathing..because clearly I didn't learn my lesson in Miami!!!

And there you have it!

a little thing called a hot flash

Someone shoot me.  I had a complete abdominal hysterectomy on April 22nd. The week before I turned the big 40!

The doctors did tell me that after the surgery, I would at some point go into menopause.
They said it might be months.
Possibly even years.

THEY WERE WRONG!

Not even a month after my surgery, I was sitting at the computer when I swear something happened I could have never 1. anticipated and 2. control.  It was a hot flash!

Let me try explain what a hot flash feels like...if that is even remotely possible.

Out of nowwhere, you feel like someone turned on a hair dryer on the inside of your body. For me it starts on the inside of my chest and it feels like i'm going to burn from the inside out.  Drinking water doesn't help, fanning yourself seems to make it hotter and for a few minutes you contemplate moving everything you own to Alaska.  I wish I were lying.

And...they are not considerate of when they happen.  Like when your at church with no a/c on, or at your daughter's school during a rehersal, or at night when you are trying to sleep.  Instead I am flipping the covers on and flipping the covers off - flipping on...flipping off.......all.night.long.

Here is the upside.  I don't think I have had one while I've been doing the elliptical or working out.  Hmmm, maybe I should work out more :)

Here is what I did at the gym today:

704 calories in an hour...not bad..i'll take that!!!

and I looked like this after

pretty, huh!?  My head was soaked as was my t-shirt.  I love that!  That bic-band I'm wearing not only keeps my hair back but the sweat too, not to mention it's chevron :)

Well, thanks for coming back - you are out there right ?!?!

perhaps the best give a way EVER!

Found this today when I was checking in on Mama Laughlin's blog.

Seriously, I may have screeched a wee bit..
I would DIE to win this since this is very, very new to me.

Check it out on any of these posts!!
http://www.twothirdshazel.com/
http://www.mamalaughlin.com/
http://www.myshineproject.com/
http://www.livinginyellow.com/
http://houseofroseblog.com/
http://www.iworeyogapants.com/
http://www.mykeepcalmandcarryon.com/
http://www.dontquotetheraven.com/
http://www.auniesauce.com/
http://www.dontquotetheraven.com/
http://www.thedailytay.com/
http://www.snhblog.com/
http://becauseshannasaidso.blogspot.com/
http://www.glossyblonde.com/

I love finding new blogs, check them out and enter!!

Good luck!

determination and.......Garden Pesto Chicken

So Sunday, I was preparing the recipe below and as I was cleaning up, I dropped a GINORMUS, freshly sharpened kitchen knife on my foot.  It looked like someone was stabbed to death on my kitchen floor.  I called 911 because there was so much blood and I was thinking I hit an artery.  I didn't.  It probably needs stitches but, since I just had a complete abdominal hysterectomy - I'm avoiding needles and hospitals like the plague.  The wonderful EMS people wrapped it up like this:

So when I woke up Monday it hurt, a little.  The hubs put steri-strips and a large bandage and I limped most of the day.  I had a workout scheduled with my trainer and all those dang voices in my head started "don't workout, it might  make your foot start bleeding, your sore from boot camp, take another day off.  I told the voices to basically, eff off, got my stuff on went - with kids in toe.

And I killed it.  1/2 hour on the elliptical then 1/2 hour working triceps and biceps then rolling out my muscles on legs and 100 stomach crunches.  I was sore and felt awesome when I was done.   To top it off, I did a Kris Freytag sexy abs workout for 39 minutes after dinner.

Never listen to those voices. Do the exact opposite of whatever they are saying.   I'm slowly learning not too!

After that workout, I came home and prepared dinner...a Garden Pesto Chicken and Ravioli (for the girls).

I have a pretty small, but plentiful herb and tomato garden.  I was craving pesto, but not all the calories that are tucked away in traditional pesto.  I used it as a marinade overnight for chicken breast.

flavor.flavor.flavor!

Garden Pesto

2 cups basil ( I used a variety of basils i.e. Italian basil, Thai basil, purple basis, bush basil)
bunch/handful of cilantro
bunch/handful of flat leaf parsley
couple of oregano leaves
couple of tarragon leaves
a few pinches of lemon thyme
a few pinches of spicy Mexican oregano (that is what we happen to have)
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper for taste
4 cloves of garlic or more depending on your preference
juice from 1 lemon
dash of Mrs. Dash lemon pepper

Wash herbs.  Put all ingredients into a food processor and puree until everything is saucy like this:

If I was serving this as a meal - I would just add hot pasta to it, add some grated cheese and serve.

I'm used this as a marinade for my chicken breast so I added in chicken, stirred it all together, covered it and put it in the fridge for 24 hours.

Preheat oven to 400.

In a baking pan, line it with a long enough piece of parchment paper to make a package.  Lay all the chicken in like this:

and wrap it up like this:

Cook for 25 minutes.

Discard any unused pesto - you cannot reuse this!!

I served this along with handmade spinach ravioli and it was AAAAAhhhhMMAAAAZZZzing!

This is what it looks like when it is all cooked. The girls couldn't get enough.

The marinade got into all the nooks and crannies!

Next time I make it I am going to prepare a great pasta salad with whole wheat pasta,  fresh mozzarella, fresh zucchini, white beans and sun dried tomatoes and bring it to the beach!  This beats a greasy burger and frozen french fries any day!!

Have a great Wednesday!

xo
Chris

hello there...

Hey there!  My name is Christine.  Those that know and love me call me Chris.

I'm a 40 year old wife, a mom to two girls, Big B and Little B, an Aunt, Sister and friend to many. 

Both of my girls names begin with B.  This is Big B!

 and this is little B!

This is my very own little piece of the Internet.

I plan on sharing my weight loss journey, recipes, DIY/crafts and will post many pictures of my ridiculously gorgeous children.  I have also just had a complete hysterectomy a week after I turned 40 and will be sharing my accounts with hot flashes from hell....thank.you.very.much!!!  Also some random life bits  as I see fit :)

I am an opinionated optimist and guess what, I am not perfect!  I may cuss so consider yourself warned.  I promise to try....and  keep it classy but mostly I want this to be REAL blog. 

As of today i am down 35 pounds since December 2012.  21 of those pounds have come off since I made myself a promise to get my act together on March 13 of this year.  Since then I have been working out and busting my ass till I'm dripping at least 4-5 days a week.   I am going to lose 90 pounds.  I have 55 left to go!!  


I'm attending my first boot camp class today.  So far the weather is cooperating and I am scared and excited at the same time.  

Well, here goes!  And don't forget to grab my button :) and come back soon!!
xo
Chris