It is hard to vacation.

Jim and I returned from our trip to New Mexico on Thursday. It was really nice to be home with both of our families. I miss them already. On the way down we took I-5 and I hated every minute of it. I hate California. Blah. That state is just way to flipping big. It seems to never end. We stayed there one night and then drove the rest of the way to NM and finally got in at midnight. We spend our time just relaxing, eating tons of Mexican food and visiting everyone. We left early Tuesday Morning and drove through Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. It took us three days but I loved it. It made me really want Jim to get a job in Colorado so we could live there. I thought it was gorgeous. Fort Collins is just a fantastic place.

We are glad to be home though. I really missed my Tempurpedic. Once you sleep on one you never ever want to sleep on anything else.

Now its back to working out full time and waiting until Megan and I fly to Hawaii for our girls vacation in September. I am so excited!

Tonight is Trueblood night so Megan and I are having our usual girls night. Im excited to see my friend.


On a sad note my very best and crazy friend Beth is leaving this week. :( I am so sad about this. I really really dont want you to move away Beth. What will I do without my Birthday Twin? Im hoping I can make a trip to see her in Georgia sometime but who knows with everything else going on.

In one year and one day Jim will be out of the Navy. I cant believe that it has gone so quickly. It feels like he just left bootcamp but that was 5 years ago. In a few months he will be searching for jobs and I will be looking at colleges. It makes me nervous but also really excited to start our life. I really feel like things have been put on hold.

Okay im off to do all the things I do on Duty days. Have a great week everyone. :D

5 1/2 lbs down!

Its crazy what happens when you bump up your exercise and start eating more. I feel like I eat all day long. In the past I was eating just meals with maybe a bad for me snack somewhere in there. I'm not sure what my calorie intake was before I started sparkpeople.com but I'm sure it wasn't good. Now that I'm making sure to have enough protein and fat (omg Fat?) and making sure to do something to burn calories every day I am so much happier. My thighs are rock hard from all the miles I walk and spin class. Its crazy! I'm so excited to lose weight again!

Our trip home to New Mexico is just a measly 11 days away. We are getting so excited to see our families but not really for the driving. We get on each others nerves in such a confined space. We will have Jellibean with us so we have to stop every 4 hours or so. Its going to be a long couple of days.

I'm feeling a little crafty today which isn't normal for me so I'm thinking of going to Joann's and buying fabric or something. I'm bored. Jim is on duty so I have to keep myself busy.

Its Trueblood night so I'm a happy camper. I loved the Season 3 opener, if you didn't watch it you should. I love Alexander Skarsgard as Erik. GROWL! :D

Okay off to walk my miles and then make something yummy for lunch. Have a great week everyone!

Working on my fitness!

As some people know I lost about 40 lbs over the past couple of years. At my heaviest I believe I was at 190 but I never weighed myself so it could possibly be more but I know I never went over 200. I was a size sixteen and really unhappy with myself. I am 5'1 so I was carrying a lot of weight. I slowly started changing the way Jim and I ate but I never went on a diet. I started moving. Swimming, walking whatever. So after I started losing a little at a time I finally plunged right in last year and started running and really counting my calories. I also did 2 kickboxing classes a week and lifted weights. Jim was deployed so I wanted to look my best when he got home in July. One of the happiest moments of my weight loss was shopping with my Bestie Beth for a homecoming outfit. We went into the Gap and I was able to put on a pair of size 10 jeans. I was freaking thrilled. Its hard to see the changes in yourself but everyone around me was calling me skinny or complimenting me. I didn't see it until Jim came home and he took a ton of pictures of me. It was amazing. Sadly I gained a little bit of the weight back b/c winter came back around and I got lazy.

This week I decided I really really want to lose 28 lbs before I head to Hawaii in September. It seems like a really big amount but its 2 1/2 lbs a week. I REALLY want to be there and looking great. Before anyone gets all crazy on me I'm doing it the right way like I have done all along. I'm just stepping up my exercise every day and making all of my meals count. Using sparkpeople.com is really helping me. I can see how much I have eaten throughout the day and what I have leftover. If I want something bad for me I can budget my calories accordingly.

I am really doing it. By September 20Th I WILL be down 28 lbs.

I have to be a little cautious when we travel home in 22 days b/c the lure of Mexican food could make me go off course but I think if I plan my calories and eat healthy every meal I should be able to maintain my goal.

Hopefully by my birthday in October I will be a size 6!

This Girl is going to Hawaii!

Yes you can be jealous. Its okay. In September my wonderful friend Megan and I will be flying off to Hawaii for 5 days and 4 nights of beach bliss. Her husband won not one but two vacations while they were on leave. Unfortunatley for him he cannot take so much leave but happily for me Megan invited me along! I have never been and I cannot believe that she invited me. I feel like I won the lottery. We are in the process of deciding which hotel we would like to stay at and flights but I am seriously over joyed. I wish we could go now!

We leave for New Mexico on July 1st and I am so happy. I really miss my family and old friends. We are planning on driving down I-5 and then getting on I-10 into NM. Less than a month to go before we are home. EEEEK! How exciting. I would really like to lose another 10lbs before we go home but ill be happy with any weight loss.

Still no job but its okay with me. Maybe after my vacations this summer something with come up.

It's raining and pouring...

Like always. Sigh. All I can think about when we have weeks of straight rain is New Mexico. Hot, dry, sunny New Mexico. Especially in May. School gets out in May in NM so we would have already gone camping at Elephant Butte. We would have started swimming at the public pool or at a lake or river b/c its already 80-90 degrees. After almost 4 years here I'm still not used to the rain and the cold weather. Seriously my heater is on right now. Its May 26Th. Go away rain! I do not like this 50 degree weather!

Jim and I are hoping that his leave is approved and that we will be heading to NM around 4Th of July. Now it has been over a year since I was home and more than 2 since Jim was home. We are dying for Mexican food. I would give jellibean away for a #22 at Kountry Kitchen with a huge side of chips and salsa all for me!

Oh this is Jellibean by the way. My 3 lb 6 year old chihuahua.

Okay maybe I wouldn't give her away since she is my baby but I would really really like some authentic Mexican food.

I think I am going to spend the rest of my day watching Trueblood and drooling over this hunk. Yummy! Eric from Trueblood. The Southern Vampire series or Sookie books as I call them are way better but I like some eye candy.

Watching the time fly...

Where has this year gone? Seriously it will be June soon. Wasn't it just January? I'm excited that winter seems to be slowing leaving us here in the Pacific Northwest. I need to put all of my cold weather clothes away and start bringing out all the dresses and tank tops.

This time last year I was anxiously counting down the days until Jim would come home in July. I was spending a month in New Mexico and was getting ready to fly back out here. Thankfully those months went quickly and Jim and I finished our last deployment in the Navy. It seems so incredible that in just a year Jim's time in the Navy will be over. 5 years ago it seemed like it would be the longest amount of time known to man. There were some rough patches but mostly it has flown by. 5 years! 5 Years! Holy crap it just blows my mind.

Lately I have been really bored and lonely. I'm looking for a part time job since its almost been a year since I left the nursing home. I loved working there and I would go back in a heartbeat if the management would change. I feel sometimes like life is just passing me by. I feel as if I'm always waiting for something. They next weekend, next birthday, next season and so on. I have a really hard time living in the moment. Maybe its because my life is just kind of stale right now. I wish I could enjoy life more. I'm just not sure how to go about it. Jim and I were talking and realized that for him in just 7 short years he will be 30. Sure that seems far away but I swear we were just 15 and 16 making out in the band room. How can life have gone so quickly? Time makes me so nervous. I'm afraid I will never do the things I love. What if my life is the same always. I know its cliche but life is terribly short. My mom has always told me this but it never meant anything until now.

Keep your fingers crossed that a job appears soon!

First picture: Alaskan cruise Summer 09!
2nd pic. Age 16 and 17 at a band event.

8 Things. Copied from Beths blog.

8 T.V. Shows I like to Watch:

1. True Blood. My all-time favorite.
2. Hoarders
3. Deadliest Catch
4. The Office
5. Big Bang Theory
6. How I met your Mother
7. Will and Grace
8. The Ellen Degeneres Show

8 Favorite Places to Eat & Drink:

1. Kountry Kitchen
2. Silver City Brewery
3.Sawtady Thai
4. Origami Sushi
5. JJ's Fish House
6. The Grinder Mill
7. Cheesecake Factory
8. Dianes

8 Things I look Forward to:

1. Jims escape, I mean last day in the Navy.
2. Buying our first home.
3. Traveling around the world with Jim.
4. The day I make up my mind on what I want to go to school for.
5. Getting a Nook.
6. Losing the last 15lbs
7. Getting home to see our families
8. Having a big yard!




8 Things I like about Fall (Change it to your favorite season):

1.My Birthday
2.Leaves changing colors
3.Pumpkin Pies
4.Thanksgiving
5. Corn mazes
6. Crisp fall air
7.Kids are back in school

8 Things on my Wish List:

1. Nook from Barnes and Noble
2. New Camping gear
3.New couch
4. New Cell phone
5. Mercedes
6. Bose Sound system
7. All new High Heels
8. A big garden

Peasant Pasta

Most of my recipes come from the weight watchers cookbook. I love the nutrition info at the bottom of every recipe. It makes it so easy to watch my weight.

Makes 4 servings:

4 tsp Olive Oil
2 onions, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
1 (10 oz) bag of spinach
2 cups coarsley chopped Swiss Chard
1/4 tsp salt
Fresh ground pepper to taste
2 cups whole wheat pasta such as Penne
fresh lemon juice

1. In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Saute the onons and garlic until soft about 5 minutes. Add the broth cook until most of broth evaportates. About 3-5 minutes.

2. Place the spinach and chard in a steamer basket. Set in a large sauce pan over 1 inch of boiling water. Cover and steam for 5 minutes or until tender.

3. Remove the greens from steamer and drain any excess moisture. Stir it into the onion mixture add salt and pepper. Set aside and keep warm.

4. Cook the pasta according to the package directions; drain and place in large serving bowl. Add the greens and sprinkle with lemon juice.


If you cannot find swiss chard just substitue another bag of spinach. I add a sprinkle of fresh parmesan over the top also.

Nutrition info. 1/4 of the pasta: 285 calories, 5g fat, 350 mg sodium. Points value: 5

I suck.

So I really wanted to keep on top of this blog but after my widom teeth removal and all the issues I had afterwards I just kinda forgot about this. Jim and I have been pretty busy getting back into working out every day. We bought a bike yesterday for me so we are going to try and ride every day and make some fun trips over the weekend. We really want to bike to this brewery here in WA and bike back. I also want to hit up the winery right across the street. Hey we can burn off all the alcohol calories just biking back home!

We had our good friends Sean and Maria over last night for dinner. Their son Liam also joined the party. I made Peasant pasta, grilled veggie kabobs and grilled chicken. Maria brought the wine so of course we drank most of the bottle and were pretty tipsy. We devoured dinner and Liam ate every noodle in his bowl. Im so glad they were able to come over.

Jims birthday is fast approaching and its his first one home since he was 18. He will be 23! We still dont have a plan of what we want to do but some options are having a big bbq here at our house, taking a 3 day camping trip, going to some type of sporting event and a few other small ideas. I know whatever ever we do it will involve my homemade yellow cake with chocolate frosting. It is so good.

Today is a busy day so I better get started. Im doing a deep clean of the upstairs and then lots of exercise. Have a great day!

A favorite pasta recipe.

Pasta Fra Diavlo or Spicy sauce of the Devil. I got this from the Weight Watchers Cookbook.

You will need.

2 tsps olive oil
1 onion chopped
3 garlic cloves minced
1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes
3 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp dry red wine (I used Columbia Crest Merlot)
1/2 tsp Sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4-1/2 tsp Red pepper flakes ( I used way more but I love spicy food)
1/2 lb of linguine ( I used bow ties since it was all I had)

In a large nonstick saucepan over medium heat, heat the oil. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently until golden about 8 minutes.

Add tomatoes,tomato paste,wine,sugar,salt and red pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile cook pasta and drain. Add to sauce and Voila!

Nutrition: 1 cup Pasta and 3/4 cup of sauce equals 300 calories.

Enjoy!

Oh look I started a blog too! 4/20/10

I had to jump on the band wagon. I have been thinking about starting a blog for awhile and including things like healthy food recipes, places and pictures of things Jim and I do here and many other things. Im not sure if many people will read this but its worth a shot. I mean it can only help to clear my head right?

I guess I can start with an introduction. Im Stevi and was born and raised in the desert of New Mexico. I come from a very large family and they all still live in the same town. Im married to an incredibly good looking guy named Jim. He is one hot cookie! He is a sailor aboard an aircraft carrier and he does smart things on the boat. We have been married for over 4 years (5 in November!) and have been together for almost 7 years. The Navy has been a part of our lives for almost 5 years. Its a crazy journey with moving from our hometown to a down home southern place to this rain forest they call WA state. Im currently unemployed but looking for something to keep me occupied until I can start nursing school in 2011. We dont have children and are undecided on ever having them but we do have a 3 lb chihuahua named Jellibean and a floppy cat we call Mooch.

Im silly and I laugh alot. Im generally in a good mood and have a bright and positive outlook but like everyone I have my rough moments and days.

Well I hope im not boring you already this is just the beginning!