Christmas Vacation

I had a wonderful time this break but it was hard to stay on my health kick. I felt like we were s busy the entire time and it was impossible to stick to the routine. I don't feel guilty about what I ate, but I know I splurged and did some delicious indulging. I ate cookies, and drank margaritas, I had beer and enjoyed chocolate. I did not cut myself off from the holiday experiences, but I am glad to be done. I miss my routine, I miss feeling healthy. I can't wait to go to the gym tomorrow!!! I haven't been able to workout for weeks and I am ready to get back into serious health mode.

It was so hard to keep up with my blog and I definitely learned my lesson on waiting to blog. Along with my reinforced Health Kick I will make sure to keep up on here, it's hard catching up when you're behind!

I am super excited for my classes tomorrow, and am ready for another great quarter. my focus Group is filled to the max, with 18 people signed up and today alone I had 3 people asking if there was any room even though it was closed for registration. I'm a little nervous, but confident it will go well! Goodnight!

Day 111 (Jan 3rd)

Being that we stayed up until 4 in the morning, we were all pretty tired this morning. I woke up early to take Ally into town, she had plans with some friends. While I was out I made a grocery run and got the basics, eggs, bread, english muffins, our usual.

For breakfast: two eggs, and one piece dry toast. Coffee.

We didn't eat until after noon and by the time we were finished and were relaxing on the couch, Cassi and I had to get ready to go. We went to Aunt Andi and Brooks' house for dinner tonight. We drove down straight from Arlington. We played with the kids and caught up with Andrea, and had a lovely dinner.

For Dinner: Roast Beef, with Carrots and Potatoes, with Broccoli and a lovely green salad. I had about a half of a glass of wine and simply couldn't do much more.

So tired, and can't believe we have school tomorrow, it went by too fast!

Day 110 (Jan 2nd)

I forgot to mention that we watched a movie last night with everybody and we munched. Candy, Kettle Corn, and some chocolate. ugh.

Woke up this morning and got some coffee.

For Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, and wheat toast

Ally, Cassi and I made a run to the store to get some ingredients for the Dinner, we had the Erickson family over all, 7, or 8 including Cael, he's 3 months old! Geez, what a cutie!

We spent all day prepping, slicing, chopping, marinating.

For Dinner: Fajita, and Taco Bar with Char-grilled chicken (by the grill masters, Dad and me) with Grilled Onions and Bell Peppers, with slow cooked pinto and black beans (cooked with V8, amazing) we had homemade spanish rice, Cassi's guacamole, La Hacienda chips and salsa. Pico De Gallo. It was the works! Not to mention, Mom's signature Margaritas and a back up Corona. Everything turned out amazing, it was delicious, and because it was set up like a "make your own" type buffet style, I could choose what I wanted. I chose almost everything.

We stayed up half the night playing catch phrase with everyone and jammin out, it was a great night.

Day 109 (Jan 1st)

We met Ally and Shay for Breakfast today at Portage Bay Cafe. This place is awesome. Sustainable, organic, local ingredients made up into some darn good breakfast chow!

For Breakfast: Crab Cake Benedict, with fresh fruit, and the hollandaise on the side. Coffee. It was great, and I'm sure fattening enough to put back a few pounds, along with a lot of the stuff I have eaten this break.

Cassi and I both got scheduled to work a double today. It was so, slow, I got phased after having just two tables. January is always slow. I got called off for dinner, and Cassi and I were out of there by 7:30.

For Dinner: Insalata Del Fattore: Romaine, radicchio, cannellini beans, cucumber, tomato, and avocado, with a fresh vinaigrette, and a grilled chicken breast.

Shay and Ally picked us up and we headed straight up to Arlington!

Day 108 (Dec 31st)

Cassi worked during the morning and I decided it was time to go grocery shopping and get the house back in order before schools starts up again. I met dad for lunch, which is again, the first thing I ate.

For Lunch: a Grilled Shrimp Taco salad from Tacos Guaymas. So good.

I went to work and Cassi let me be first off so I could go meet up with Ally and Shay for New Years eve. Cassi ended up being done only 20 minutes after me. At work we toasted with champagne, it was fun, it's a tradition!

We met up with Ally and Shay at Six Arms, a great Brewery and Restaurant on Capitol Hill in Seattle. I had a couple of beers and we ate some great food.

For Dinner: garden burger with a side salad with a raspberry vinaigrette. I don't usually order garden burgers, this was so good and I would recommend it if you're going there! We also had some sweet potato fries for the table. I ate some, this is the first fried food item I have eaten since september, I think. I can't remember if I had, but I am pretty sure that was it. I love sweet potato fries, and these were really good, but a horrible thing for weight loss , as is beer and all that other good stuff!

We walked up to Capitol Club and had a couple more drinks and did some dancing, and after the clock struck midnight, we celebrated and soon after ended up back at our apartment for a round of catchphrase and some market spice tea. Happy New Year!

Day 107 (Dec 30th)

I worked another double today, It was okay, not that busy. Cassi came downtown and met Jesse and Emily for a bite, and when I got off of my first shift I met up with them and then went to Cafe Nordstrom for Lunch.

For Lunch: Salmon Nacoise. I know, how redundant am I? But once you're on a kick, you're on a kick I guess.

The night shift wasn't too busy either. I was tired at the end of the night though. I don't know if it's from working more or what, but after today I knee had hurt quite badly, and is pretty darn swollen. I think I just need some rest, but I hope it feels better soon.

For Dinner: I grabbed my complimentary meal from work, just chicken breast and broccoli, again. It's my safest bet and one of my only choices that isn't pasta, pizza, or risotto.

Day 106 (Dec 29th)

For breakfast: Coffee.

We went over to bellevue to give the kids (Cassi's cousins) their christmas presents. Jesse and Emily were there, and we all hung out with the kids for a little bit, it was nice. On our way back we stopped by Nancy's to say hello. Nancy is a woman that Cassi paints for. I had some hot tea, but still didn't have much of anything to eat.

By the time we got home Cassi had to get ready for work and I decided to cook for myself, it had been a while. I made my very own Nacoise salad.

For Dinner: Ahi Nacoise salad. Ahi steak cooked on my grill pan, with roasted red potatoes, Haricot Vert green beans, tomato, hard boiled egg, capers, and olives. With a homemade Dijon Vinaigrette. This was very good, and very time consuing to make, but worth it, and it was nice to cook myself something at home that was healthy and controlled. Cassi like it too!!!!

Day 105 (Dec 28th)

Today Cassi and I had plans to hang out with her brother and his girlfriend, Emily. We spent the whole day together and it was great! We started at the Pancake Corral (Jesse's favorite breakfast spot, we go every time he's home.

For Breakfast:One egg, one piece of bacon, and 1/2 order of hashbrowns, with wheat toast, this is called the "ladies plate". Coffee.

We went to pike place Market and looked at all of the great produce and fresh fish. It was fun to do some of the more touristy things, Emily had not been to Seattle since she was much younger so we got to tag along as they explored the city. After pike place we went back to the apartment and relaxed for a while. we had some market spice tea and lounged around. It's awesome when Jesse comes up to hang out, he lives in LA and we don't get to see him very often. He is so wonderful and supportive, we love having him around, I wish he were here more often.

After a while we decided to go to dinner at Il Fornaio. We sat in the fancy part and had a wonderful dinner. Cassi and I never eat up there so it wasn't a boring place for us to go, plus it's good to go to a place that will take special requests when you're watching what you're eating.

For Dinner: Kettle Gimlet (vodka and muddled lime Martini) and we started with a caesar salad, for dinner I had a grilled double breasted chicken, grilled on the open flame and served with broccolini and carrots, with a spicy sauce. also, a Doppio espresso.

After dinner we didn't want to say goodbye quite yet, so we went out for another beer at a brewery in Fremont. I had a christmas ale, and it was good, but way too heavy, I almost couldn't finish it. Then to sleep!

Day 104 (Dec 27th)

I worked a double today. I have been so horrible about eating breakfast since I have been on break. My routine has gone out the window. Anyways, I worked all day, and munched at work and then got off in time to meet Cassi, Ally, Tim, and Shay over at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard to watch a friend of Shay's play music. After that we went to happy hour at The Matador, I had the blackened fish tacos, a small dish, and I had a margarita too! At the Tractor Tavern I had two beers, I was feeling pretty good! No drinking alcohol for 3 months and my tolerance was almost gone completely, Cassi too, we're cheap dates.

Day 103 (Dec 26th)

Cassi and I woke up early because Cassi had to go to work, So I drove her down to the Everett Station and she took the bus downtown. I ended up getting called into to work that night and had to head down myself anyways though. I didn't eat too much today because I felt a little nauseous. At work I ordered some food because by the end of the night I was starvin'marvin.

For Dinner: Grilled Chicken Breast and a side of broccoli.