30 Day Challenge: Day 14

Thoughts on my body image...

Well, I'm starting on week 7 (of 12) of P90X and so far I've lost a whopping 0 pounds and feel a whopping 0% more fit...so, my thoughts right now are "WTF?"

If you haven't heard of P90X, it's essentially a slew of dvd's (yoga, kick boxing, weightlifting, cardio, plyos, etc.) that you're supposed to rotate daily (6-7 days a week) for 12 weeks. According to the YouTube testimonials (go watch them) I should look like an aerobics instructor (minus the sweatbands) by the end of week 12. Being as though I'm now over halfway through with no changes, I'm going to holler "Phooey!" on this one.

OR...maybe something is supposed to magically happen on the last day??? I won't hold my breath.

Aside from that, my thoughts on my body image are "ho-hum". As in boring...routine. I'm confident that its something I'll spend my life working (not obsessing) on. I'm an eater. I enjoy cooking. Those 2 things probably won't change.

I'd consider myself athletic. I like to move (it, move it). My "perfect body" (for myself) is athletic with a little muscle. I have no desire to be stick-thin. That's not realistic (for me), healthy or attractive (in my opinion).

I think there's something to be said about being able to pull your own weight (literally) and knowing that I can take care of things on my own. It's true. I don't have Paul around to carry heavy things for me. I have him around because I like him...and he does my laundry!

Needless to say, I could stand to lose a few...or maybe my scale is broken?

K+P

It's Our 1st Anniversary!

It's hard to believe it went SO fast...but it was a really fun year for us!

To celebrate, we whipped out the top tier of our wedding cake - It had been in my parents' chest freezer for the last year! As good as the cake was on the day of our wedding, it's hard to imagine it could really be that good after a YEAR...in a FREEZER, but for the sake of tradition, we're going to cut into it tonight and give it a whirl! Wish us luck!
(I made a double batch of pumpkin devil's food cupcakes, just in case the cake was a flop!)

Since this weekend has been GORGEOUS...we spent yesterday at the Edina Art Fair, then had dinner at Capital Grille downtown. Today, we had breakfast at our favorite local greasy spoon and ended the day by grilling out on our deck. What a nice, relaxing weekend!

Here's to another great year of marriage!

P+K

Happy Mother's Day!

Today, Paul & I hosted Mother's Day at our house for the Rasmusson side of our family!

Yesterday, while in New Prague, we picked up some beef and pork burgers, along with some fun flavored brats and seasoning for today's grill-out.

Above: baked beans and Italian-seasoned potatoes.

The weather didn't turn out so nice, so Paul grilled the meat under the shelter of the garage and I cooked the sides indoors, safe from the rain.

Above: garlic yellow squash, onions and button mushrooms

Above: pita chips, hummus, potato chips, carrot sticks and ranch dip


I had hoped we could eat outside on the deck, but again the rain dampered our plans...so, I added a couple leaves to the table and we ate inside. Do the tablecloth and napkins look familiar? Well, they should!

They are the hankerchiefs we used as table decorations at our wedding! Paul's mom sewed some together to make a tablecloth and we kept some separate to serve as matching napkins!

Cute, huh?

Joey's place setting!

Joey & Ty enjoyed dinner and the playtime that followed!

2 Mothers and the children that earned them the title!

Happy Mother's Day!

K+P

Did anyone else notice...

...that this is my 14th blog post this month? What? 14? That's a record, people!

Someone has been quite the blabber-mouth lately. Well, what did you expect?!?

So, in class (Social Media Marketing) we've been learning about "post trees", as in a blog post schedule that details what you'll write about/discuss in your blog....so it's like putting together a regular content schedule. A sample post tree would look something like this:

Sunday: Discuss physics
Monday: Post photos of Paul's baseball card collection
Tuesday: Try to explain mathematical equations in a foreign language
Wednesday: Post YouTube clips of cats falling out of trees
Thursday: Write a gruesomely personal story about our friends & family
Friday: Recount kitchen horror stories of recipes gone bad
Saturday: Day Off

Obviously, this is a pretty "interesting" sample post tree, but you get the idea. Should I be doing this? Are you guys looking for some consistency from us? Are we boring you with the normal details of our lives that we usually post? (probably...)

Paul & I have toyed with some real topics that we could discuss (with some level of knowledge/interest)....
- Paul could write a weekly post called "Better Off Read" where he'd review a book he's reading. (He does a lot of reading!...and I love nerds!)
- I could write a weekly post called "What's in a name?" where I'd post names...of people or businesses and then analyze them. If you don't already know this about me. I am a self-proclaimed "nameologist". I consider myself a baby/pet/business naming expert. I could also use this post to share clever word plays or punny business names (i.e. Curry in a Hurry). Believe it or not but these are the thoughts that stream through my head on a day-to-day basis....don't even ask about my idea to start a restaurant overlooking a lake that would be called "Czech on a Deck".
- Paul could also write a weekly sports related post where he'd discuss his perspective on teams, athletes, the ups and downs of fantasy sports, etc. (you wouldn't have to read on these days, if you don't want too - ha! Just Kidding, Paul!)
- I could also write a weekly post on a new recipe to try (if I ever decide to start following them) OR a vacation idea OR a home renovation/project we're working on...These are some of my most favorite topics!

Would this be fun to read? Or is the current flow just fine?

If you don't reply, we'll follow the first "sample" post tree I wrote above...get your pocket protectors ready cuz come next Sunday....it's physics, baby! (kidding...I'm no good at physics!)

K+P

Pizza Date Night!

Last weekend we were invited to Pizza Date Night with Jeff & Kerri!

Apparently no one ever told the boys that plastic produce bags don't make good accessories. Trying to toss the pizza dough in the air. The finished product! The post-its were Jeff's idea...dropping the camera in the pizza was Kerri's idea! Kendra is spelled with a "Ch" in southern MN. Paul is a rapper in southern MN. Only YOU can prevent oven fires.

Behind the scenes...Kerri's pizza heads off to the oven.

Jeff's is ready too!

Adding their fixins.

Mine is the one on the right that looks like a salad.

Not only was this super fun and delicous BUT we were sent home with parting gifts....2 more homemade pizzas to toss in the freezer for another time. "Another time" happened the following evening when we had friends over....more on that in my next post "Pierogi Party!".

K+P

BIG news from our kitchen:

Us: WE HAVE A MICROWAVE AGAIN!

You: Great. Why didn't you have a microwave? That technology came about in 1946. You're only 65 years behind on this...

Well...almost a YEAR ago (yes, 12 months) our microwave went kaput (well, actually it flashed, sparked and nearly started on fire) and since it's an above-the-range model it wasn't as simple as "toss it out and buy a new one". (Plus...did I mention? We aren't the most handy folks in town!)

Anyway, we sorta made it a challenge for ourselves to see how long we could go without a microwave. We had many offers from kind friends and family members to have their extra countertop microwaves, BUT we have a small kitchen and just coudn't give up ANY counterspace...plus we were getting along just fine without one. We learned to heat up leftovers on the stove top or in the toaster oven and we didn't make a single bag of popcorn that entire year! (gasp!)

THEN, Black Friday happened and in my mad dash for a washer & dryer, I snagged a great deal on an above-the-range microwave too. It was great! Except then we had to figure out how to remove the old microwave and hang the new one. (It was intimidating...)

I'm happy to say that I took (read: tore) down the old one on my own, while Paul was at work one day! But, putting up the new one was something we put off until we had an "expert" to help...i.e. my brother. So, a "short" 3 months later (yesterday), my super generous brother and Paul worked together to put the new microwave up. I'm glad we had Jeff to help because it ended up being a little harder than I hoped. BUT...we have a microwave again!

I can't even describe how excited we were (it's the small things, people!) After the microwave was up last night, we made chips n' cheese and this morning we nuked my mom's famous rolled breakfast sandwiches...and of course, we both stood there watching that magical glass plate revolve....Amazing.

Now, on to things that weren't a success...

I attempted to make homemade almond milk yogurt in my slow cooker this weekend. I read about it here.

It started out great...and ended up soupy and frightening. Sadly, I tossed it out BUT I plan to try it again!

We're batting 50% in our kitchen this week...which translates to a glass HALF full in my book!

K+P

Goodbye Green. Hello Red.

Yesterday was Wednesday but sadly, our CSA deliveries are over for the year...sniff, sniff. No fresh vegetables waiting on the stoop. No crisp apples or juicy watermelons either. Now what?

Let's look back on the "good old days" (2 weeks ago or so) to the last delivery AND CSA Day At The Farm in Northfield!


Wagon ride with my niece, Madison & baby Mason!


Our nephew, Brady, shoveling corn!


"American Gothic" - Madison & Brady style!

The LAST CSA delivery for the year...

A sink full o' fun!

To end on a happier note...I just checked our stoop and a good friend (who works at a wine distributor) just dropped off a box full of bottles of RED wine!

What? Wine is made of fruit!

Stay healthy,

K+P