Preparing dinner for us is now something I’ve been doing more of.  I’ve never been a good cook so I’m a little intimidated by making a meal.  Lately, after flashing back to my childhood, I have discovered the wonderfulness of SHAKE AND BAKE.

What is Shake & Bake, you ask?  It’s a box that comes with two powder packets as well as two small plastic bags.  You wet the chicken breasts, throw them in the bag, and shake.  The powder coats the chicken and you throw those bad boys into the oven for 20 minutes.  It leaves a crispy coating on the chicken – YUM!

Not only is this totally easy – but I really do love the flavor of chicken that tastes and looks fried but isn’t!

And now I find myself wanting to use it as my “go to” meal every night and just mix up the sides.

Am I totally earning a big fat F in Housewiving?

P.S.  I really am kidding about making it EVERY night.  Sorta. lol

Costco
Taken with my iPhone 4!

Yesterday I received two spam comments on this blog and they are too funny – I have to share!  Long gone are the comment spam with a ton of Viagra links and such.  Now it looks like they have people actually leave you comments so you mistake it for being real!  Too funny!  Here are two I got yesterday:

1. Unless you are very short, burning that enormous number compared with what you’re eating will eventually drive your body into starvation mode, and your metabolism will slow? to almost nothing, and then you’re going to have to work 3x as hard at the gym to lose fat. It’s not an immediate effect like a machine (push a button, make a change)… but if you keep going like this, you are going to see that it will be harder to lose FAT off of your body. It’s just science.

2. What a pathetic person. Seriously, I don’t know how you were raised, but it must have sucked. Ur such a negative speciman.? If you think she is a whore, etc etc. etc. wtf are you doing watching her videos?

Totally random and totally funny!

Week 6 Day 2 is now complete – and I am feeling it this morning!

Today’s workout consisted of two 10 minute jogs with a teeny tiny 3 minute break in between.  The first ten minutes were really tough because I tried to jog slower which only made my calves HATE ME.  I used part of the 3 minute break to stretch and had a much better (and faster) second 10 minute jog.

I wore my BodyBugg during today’s run and it says I burned 377 calories.  I’ll take that!  I’m excited to see how much I burn on our 25 minute run this week!

I can’t believe there are only 3 weeks left after the next run.  Also, I realized I’ve run about 32 miles since I started which is pretty darn exciting.

I have loved the necklaces offered at Magpie Designz for a very long time and last week I finally ordered my first piece.  I decided on the Jane Necklace and got to pick which metals, which type of charm (brushed or hammered) and personalized it with three names, Chris, Rowdy & Dakota.

I was so surprised to receive an e-mail after one week that my item had already shipped!  I am a very impatient person but reminded myself when I placed the order that the website says it can take 2-3 weeks (not including shipping) so it was a pleasant surprise to know I wouldn’t have to wait that long!

I love the look of the multi-charm necklace and the 3 different types of metals make me feel like I can wear it with anything.

I would definitely recommend Magpie Designz.  I’m going to bookmark the site for the next time I need a personalized gift.  The prices are affordable and I love being able to give a custom made gift.

I can’t believe that today marked the beginning of our 6th week on this program.  Today I ran with my new Camelbak water pack for the first time and I think that, while it takes some getting used to, it will be a good thing to have with me on the longer runs now that Wednesday marks the last interval run.

I thought today would be  a breeze because of Friday’s 20 minute run, but it was still very much a challenge.  Wednesday’s run is two 10 minute intervals.  And then one 25 minute run on Friday.  It’s very important that I get a good night’s sleep on Thursday because I’m convinced it makes a HUGE difference.

With my visor, water pack, iPhone arm band, and nice running shoes – I actually feel like a runner!  Whee!

Here’s a list of things I’d like to accomplish on my fitness/running journey!

1. Run a 5K DONE! – Sept 5 10
2. Improve my mile time.  Get it under 10 minutes
3. Run a 10K
4. Run 5 times in one week for at least 20 minutes each run
5. Run 30 miles in one month
6. Complete a half marathon

In 2005, Rowdy fathered a litter of puppies with my aunt’s chihuahua and after much deliberation, we decided that we would adopt one of the puppies.  While Dakota wasn’t the first puppy we had originally picked, I fell in love with her on one of my visits with the puppies and begged my cousin to let me change my “pick of the litter.”  She did, thankfully!

Chris came up with Dakota’s name because at the time, I was totally into Dakota Fanning movies.  The name fits her so well – I can’t imagine her having a different name!

She’s my first female dog and it’s amazing how “girly” she is.  She can stand her own but loves to snuggle, loves to clean Rowdy & us, and loves to gather us all up in the evening so we’re all together at bedtime.

While Rowdy follows me everywhere I go – she’s more independent.  Sometimes I’ll look everywhere and ask Chris if he’s seen her, only to find her in our bed enjoying some quiet time by herself.  She is still very much puppy like and I love it!  She is goofy, clumsy, and silly.  I chase her around the house while she jets here and there.  She loves her bright and early walk with Chris before Rowdy and I are up.

She’s our little baby.  She’s now 5 but I think she’ll always be “the baby”.

Dance like your pic won’t be tagged, love like you’ve never been unfriended, tweet like no one is following!

Source: circling around Twitter