April 23, 2010

Fun with my Co-workers


Because my agency has 4 different offices, every quarter we get together for a meeting. And every April we have a full day All Staff (it used to be called retreat, but I don't think we're allowed to call it that anymore). I am on the committee to plan this event every year and yesterday was the culmination of all our efforts :)

In the morning our Program Adminstrators led various trainings about learning styles, team work, and effective listening. Then we have activities in the afternoon. Our All Staff is held at the Heard Museum in McKinney, TX and the last two years we have been down by the ropes course. Last year in the afternoon, our team did a nature walk, but this year some of us were anxious to try something a little more active! So about half of the people in my office and I went Zip Lining!

We had so much fun and I really do feel like it was a great team building experience, even though each person goes individually. Each person is cheering everyone on and helping friends work through their fears and frustrations.


Then we had some indoor (more relaxing) activities such as Yoga, Massage, Painting, and a self defense course. My friend Stephanie and I ended up being the only ones at our yoga... and neither of us are what you would call flexible, so that was a little entertaining too!

It was a great afternoon with some of my favorite people! (even if I am sore all over the next day...)





April 11, 2010

Soda Addict


So Lent ended last Sunday and my soda addiction is back in full force! After my 40 days of just water, I was looking forward to drinking caffeine again when I needed a kick. Unfortunately only a week in and I am already back to getting at least one a day. I'm trying to pace myself and not get addicted again, so hopefully now that they are back in my life for good I won't feel like I need them every day lol

Last year, I also gave up soda for Lent and after years of being addicted to Dr Pepper, when I could finally drink soda again I didn't like the way Dr Pepper tasted anymore. I still drink it occasionally, but I started to prefer Coke to Dr Pepper which I never would have expected.

Well in case you can't see where this is going now I no longer like the taste of Coke. I have had a Dr Pepper and it's still not my favorite either. So you would thin since I no longer like my 2 favorite drinks, it would be easy to just not drink soda...

Yeah, you would think that I guess. I have been thoroughly enjoying being reaquainted with Sonic drinks! I love Diet Dr Pepper and it has been great to drink it with some wonderful Sonic Ice.

Sorry to write a post all about soda. I just find it weird how much my taste buds change in those short 40 days.

And in case you didn't keep track, I gave up a total of 64 drinks during Lent and saved about $90!

Crazy how much money I spend on something that seems so cheap and easy to get...

April 3, 2010

Baking, weight loss, and Spring!

I know I have said before how much I absolutely love to bake! I love getting to put on an apron and use my Kitchenaid mixer to create something absolutely delicious. I love trying new recipes and trying some difficult techniques to make the desserts look good. I definitely have several kitchen mishaps and make an absolute mess when I bake, but for me that's part of the fun... then I clean up and my kitchen is cleaner than when I started and I have something to eat!

I haven't done much baking lately because when I bake then I have all of these yummy high sugar high fat creations. And I have been trying very hard (some weeks it seems without success) to be healthier this year. I know that this has been paying off because I definitely feel better. I am making healthier choices about what I eat, not eating out as much, and working out basically every day. And as of this morning I have lost 20 pounds since before Christmas. I almost cried when I got on the scale this morning and saw that... I've been weighing myself every Saturday since January 1 and the last few weeks even though I was eating well and exercising, the number just wasn't showing it. But I knew I felt better and my clothes were fitting looser and I even had 2 co-workers tell me this week that they could tell I lost weight. So I decided not to worry about what the number said, but that number today sure felt good. Not to brag or get caught up about weight... it's just something I've struggled with for a long time and worked hard for this year and I still have a ways to go before I'm at my goal, but I feel good about how consistent I have been.

ANYWAY... so as I said, baking and weight loss don't really go hand in hand. But with Easter coming tomorrow, my mom is having a lunch at her house for our family and several of her good friends and she needed an extra dessert. So I of course jumped at the opportunity to break out the Kitchenaid again!

I am in the process of baking some time-intense Carrot Cake Cheesecake Little Fellas from my Juniors Cheesecake cookbook. Basically you make little cheesecake cupcakes. You bake about 1/3 a cupcake full of carrot cake (from scratch) for the "crust." Then you make cheesecake from scratch and fill the rest and bake those. Then after 2 hours of wire rack cooling and an hour in the freezer, you put cream cheese butter cream frosting on top. Definitely NOT diet friendly ;) but a fun dessert for a Spring Celebration!!

And speaking of Spring... oh Heavens am I loving this weather!! Praise God for the beautiful days we've had and the long walks Allie and I have been enjoying! The rest of this afternoon is being spent with our windows all open, finishing baking and doing some cleaning!


April 2, 2010

Good Friday

Up Calvary’s mountain one dreadful morn
Walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn
Facing for sinners death on the cross
That He might save them from endless loss

Blessed Redeemer, precious Redeemer
Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree
Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading
Blind and unheeding, dying for me

“Father, forgive them,” my Savior prayed
Even while His lifeblood flowed fast away
Praying for sinners while in such woe
No one but Jesus ever loved so

Dying for me

Oh how I love Him, Savior and friend
How can my praises ever find end
Through years unnumbered on Heaven’s shore
My songs shall praise Him forevermore