Wednesday, October 22, 2008

PICTURES!

This was the aftermath of the Streetlight Manifesto concert.


Notice the plumpness. This will be used as my "before picture". I could vomit knowing this is what people see when they look at me. But I'm not dwelling on it. This will not be "me" for very much longer. On a side note, have you ever noticed how typically "before pictures" are taken of people eating, or by food? Is that a sign?? Gag.

The rest of these are from Kim's Grad Party.







Tuesday, October 21, 2008

I Could Kill Them

The girls at my dermatologist's office. They called again and left another message. So I called back. "We sent one of your moles out for a second opinion and it came back negative." Thank you very much for getting me all nervous and then telling me something that I didn't need to know. Dumb girls.



And...someone named Anonymous just bursted my bubble.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Another Update From A Scatter-Brained Crazy Lady

I have been so scatter-brained and here and there and everywhere that I haven't kept you updated. My deepest apologies. I know your weekday doesn't start until you know of the latest happenings in the lives of the Goodells. ;)

Tuesday (Weight Doctor): I went to a doctor's appointment, someone my friend Kim referred me to. This doctor, Dr. D, specializes in weight. I got a body analysis (weight, lean body mass, fat body mass, amount of water retention, etc.) that we will use to track my progress every month, I got a B-6/B-12 shot in the arm (those are hurty!), and a diet analysis. Now I'm eating lots throughout the day, every two hours to be exact (NO mayo or butter, and minimal carbs). I also am supposed to walk 30 minutes a day. None of this is rocket science, or measuring proportions, or counting calories, or overworking myself with exercise. It's simple. Hopefully it will work - of course I'll keep you posted.
---- On a side note, the reason I haven't posted a weigh-in recently is because I was on my mom's scale, then we were at the other Gold's, and now we have our own scale that I've been using this week. I'm going to the original Gold's, with my original scale, on Wednesday. I'll find out what I weigh on that one and then go home and compare it to my new scale, and we'll be up and running again. ----

Wednesday (Gym): After class and dinner, Jed and I went to the 9th East Gold's with Amanda and worked out (Yay!). Watched a little of the tube when we got home, and then went to bed.

Thursday (Concert): After class, Jed and I went to Madeline's Steakhouse for dinner. It was oh-so-yummy! I got a salad with citrus vinaigrette dressing (I wish I could find some at the store, but they don't sell it. I'm going to try some recipes from allrecipes.com and see if I can't get a good one. If not, Brianna's Blush Wine is always a good choice.) and grilled chicken with BBQ sauce and diced tomatoes and onions on top. SO delicious! AND I only cheated my diet with the one roll I ate, but it was swimming in garlic butter... :(The main reason we went to Madeline's was because it was on the way to Jed's favorite band (Streetlight Manifesto)'s concert in SLC, at this crappy, hole-in-the-wall venue called The Avalon Theater. It's an old theater (hence the name) that they turned into a venue. But there are black stadium benches in it and people were tripping all over them. Dumb. Anyways, we got there in time to see the last opening band, Fear Nuttin Band. Jed and I both really liked their style (even though we couldn't make out half of the lyrics because of their strong Jamacian accents) and were even going to buy a CD, but we didn't have any cash. :( Then Streetlight came on and the crowd went wild. We were in the mosh pit with a hundred smelly, sweaty, grungy dudes with long nappy hair, pushing us, jumping up and down, and whipping their long, sweaty hair around. Reminded me of high school all over again and going to loud concerts. Memories. :)Friday (Graduation Party): Our dear friend Kim just graduated from nursing school and we went to her house to celebrate. Her family was in town (such a treat to hang out with them and to see her mom again) and we had a great night. The guys grilled outside while us girls chatted it up inside. The food was yummy and then after most people left, we watched the Office (Jed and I missed it because of the concert, so they let us watch it since they TiVo'd it. Then we played Rock Band into the night. The party was a blast, and we're so proud of Kim. Way to go!! PS- We have LOTS of pictures from this night. They'll make an appearance soon.
Saturday (No Stress): Meals and I got together (I swear it had been a whole month since I had seen her) for breakfast - Kneader's all-you-can-eat french toast. Death by french toast. Actually we did really well, only 2-3 pieces each. But those were definitely the best 2.5 pieces of french toast I've ever had. It was SO good to be with Meals and catch up on everything and have a girls date. :) I love that girl. I'm going to be super sad when they move. Might even spiral into a depression and lie in bed for weeks on end. It could happen, let's not kid ourselves.
I went home and Jed had cleaned the house in the two hours I was gone. It was so refreshing, and such a weight off my shoulders. I have the best hubby. The rest of the day was, as usual, a "no stress Saturday" - we went shopping and bummed around the house. That night we went on a walk by the temple. Exercise and a view. Wonderful.

Sunday (Dinner Guest): After church, where I was introduced in RS for like the fourth time (I've been sick/out of town a bit since we moved here), Jed and I made dinner together (I'm so grateful that Jed helps out). Mexican lasagne and salad, with my famous cookies for dessert. Jed went and picked up his brother, Nathan, who lives pretty close, and he joined us for dinner. It was really yummy if I do say so myself. Then we watched Simpsons and Family Guy and just hung out the rest of the night.

Mexican Lasagne:
1lb. ground beef
lasagne noodles
taco seasoning
1/8c. water
1c. medium salsa
1c. olives
1 sm. can green chiles (opt - will make it a bit hotter)
2c. cheddar cheese
1c. jalapenos (opt - even hotter)

Brown meat and cook noodles while you cut up olives. Drain meat and add taco seasoning and water. Add salsa, olives, and chiles.
Cover bottom of 9x13 pan with meat mixture (it can't be too thick or you'll run out of meat mixture), then a layer of noodles, then cheese. Repeat and then end with a layer of noodles, and cheese on top. Sprinkle jalapenos on top and bake at 400* for 40 minutes. Top layer of noodles may be a bit crispy.
**You can substitute flour tortilla strips for noodles - bake 20 minutes** (I haven't tried this way)

Friday, October 17, 2008

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Ohio Trip - Late


























The Skinny on my Skin

I left my phone home all day yesterday and when I got home last night there was a missed call from my dermatologist (see this post), who by the way told me that they would only call if there was something to be worried about (ie skin cancer). Yeah, it's 7:00 at night, the office is closed, and I am FREAKING OUT. Actually I was trying not to think about it. But if I had, I would have been freaking out. I started thinking about it as I was lying in bed and some tears were shed. (No rhyming intended)

This morning I called the doctor's office and was on hold for an eternity. My clothes are out of style and no longer fit (because I've gotten so skinny) by the time the nurse gets on the phone! So it turns out those moles I had taken off were borderline cancer, and it's a good thing I had them taken off. Now I have to check for discoloration of the removal sites and go in every six months for the next two years to get checked. Phew! Sigh of relief! So there's the skinny on my skin.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Global Warming?

Step outside and tell me that freezing in the middle of October constitutes global warming. I think not.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Some of My Skin is GONE

About three years ago, when I lived with Emily for the summer, I went to the dermatologist because I had a huge mole on the small of my back and I wanted to get it checked out. *Not to mention the fact that I had been tanning a lot in my years AND that my mom's father had melanoma...* So I went in and had that beast of a mole removed. Turns out it was benign. Thank goodness!

Well I'm sad to admit that I've been tanning since then. I know, I will stop now that I'm married and don't have to impress single boys anymore. ;) So I decided that I should probably get that area where the mole had been checked out again because it was looking kind of funny.

I went to the doctor today and he said the mole was growing back. He checked some other moles and decided to cut off the beast that was starting to come back, and another new mole. Two moles - gone. It didn't hurt, but I got light-headed and had to lay down for a while. Phew... I'll know the results in a few days. I'm crossing my fingers.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Free Purse

Who wouldn't want something free? Especially a free purse!
Go to www.handbagplanet.com and register for the drawing!! :)

Monday Memoirs

(I wrote this one Monday, and was waiting to upload pictures from Angela's HC, but we have no way of uploading them here in Ohio.)

We went with my friend Chad and his date, Meg?, to the Hale Center Theater's version of AIDA on Thursday night. I had seen it in San Antonio, and also on Broadway - I love this musical. Their version was a little different than I had seen, a little more "hip"? "groovy"? Anyways, I thought it was pretty well-done and I think all four of us enjoyed it very much.

On Friday night, Jed and I went to see a hypnotist! It was SO much fun!! Neither of us had ever been to a hypnotist show, and we were both a little bit nervous that he might make us come up on stage and make fools of ourselves. Nope, he asked for volunteers and we got to be spectators. :) The show was hilarious! *Too bad you guys couldn't make it, Meals. You would have liked it a lot.*

Saurday morning, bright and early, Jed took me to the airport to fly out to Ohio. I'm going to be here until Sunday. A whole week away from my husband, and we've only been married for two months!! :( It's harder on Jed because he's stuck home alone and still going to school and work, whereas I'm with family and friends, no work, and I get to take time off and do whatever I want. Poor guy. I'm having a great time though. Sorry, hunny.

Saturday night I went over to the Senders' house to help my little sister, Angela, and Haley Sender get ready for homecoming. Then we went over to the Barnes' to take pictures and for their big group of girls to have dinner before the dance. The girls all looked gorgeous and I heard they had a great time. While they were at the dance and Jeff was at the Priesthood session of our Church's General Conference, Joan Sender and I took her son, Zach, out to dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. It was good to catch up with her.

Sunday was spent watching General Conference at the Senders' home. We were there all day, and then they had a birthday party for their son, Nathan, who turned 18. During the party Joan and I stayed inside and watched House. I had never really gotten in to it. I still don't think I'll be rushing home to watch it any time soon, but it was entertaining.

Today I got up, took Jeff to school (Angela gets a ride with Nathan Sender after Seminary), came home, and DIDN'T GO BACK TO SLEEP! I totally could have, but I refrained. (Go me!) I worked out and watched some TV, got some homework done. Pretty chill and relaxing - which of course I love! Pepper, our dog, has been keeping me company. I can't wait for the kids to come home so we can play!!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Three More

According to my mom's scale (and I know her scale might not be exactly the same as the one at Gold's Gym) I'm down another 3 pounds, for a total of FOUR POUNDS!!

I'm on my way. Thanks for all of your love and support. :)

Friday, October 3, 2008

Thankful Thursday - Friday Edition

This weekend was so much fun. Sorry I'm so late posting about it, and sorry there are lots of pictures, but who doesn't like to see pictures?This week I am thankful that Jed & I were able to snag a GREAT deal, thanks to THIS BLOG. We went to the Cornbelly's Corn Maze (for a whopping dollar!!) with the Keays and Justin McDaniel. Justin's wife, Amanda, couldn't go because she had to work a booth at this fun (not so fun for her) market(?) in Pleasant Grove called The Holy Cow Boutique.






Can you see Justin punching the monster's hangy ball??


This was an action shot




This was the trampoline blob. It's hard to describe. It's like a trampoline bubble that comes out of the ground.


Now this little gem [see below, not the trailer above] is something I picked up at the Holy Cow Boutique. We went to visit Amanda since she was stuck working and couldn't go to the corn maze with us, and there were *tons* of cute booths and fun crafts. It reminded me so much of Texas.
It's kind of dark and hard to read (sorry) but it says "Where families become forever" and it's got a picture of three of the steeples of the Salt Lake temple, where Jed and I were married. It's hanging in our living room if you want to see it in real life. ;)