Chili competition

I had the displeasure of taking today off so I could work on Saturday. I struggle with staying positive about that. 

I took the day to be productive. I went to body pump. I got the oil changed. I also went to lunch with a friend. 

I had a beer with that lunch. 

Then I went home to make the chili for Friday's chili champ competition at work. (See work isn't all that bad. I just hate working Saturdays.) 

I suffered through chopping the onion with the bread knife. I need to buy a real knife set. I guess I'm too cheap and or too lazy to be bothered with buying proper utensils for my kitchen. 

I managed to chop it all up. 

A smattering of ingredients. I'm not sure how I decided to ensure no labels could possibly be seen. 

Ground beef browning to perfection!

Mix in the veggies to simmer. 

The final beautiful product. Now click the link to Kristin's blog stuff and things in my side bar. It's called company chili on her website and there is a secret ingredient not shown here. 

Snickerdoodles were also made for Friday's festivities. We will have full bellies and I will be popular with my cookies. 

Cheers to the weekend!

It's half marathon weekend for me too!

High Five for Friday!

1- I love Fridays. They are my favorite days of the week. Work seems easier or less stressful and the weekend feels so fresh and exciting. 2- I've been taking workout classes at my local gym and I've been sore in a very good way. Hopefully the scale or my clothes will notice the extra work. 3- I made it out with Runhers for national running day! 4- Beer and summer make me very happy.

5- I have no plans this weekend but to hang out with my hubby and possibly check out the Paseo First Friday arts festival. It will be a good weekend.
Chomps says "hi"

Weight Loss Wednesday

I haven't been on the scale for over a week and I don't plan to weigh in until May 18. This last weekend was indulgent. I was in Texas drinking Texas drinks and eating unhealthy food. Portions were large but smaller than before. I snacked less than usual.

I drank a large quantity of calories from Straw-ber-Rita's from Bud Light. The only workouts were playing the piano. I checked out the hotel gym and it was a disgrace. A stationary bike and weight training machine. I tried to do some weight training but I was uninspired.

On the way back I stocked up on Bud Light Lime-a-Rita's. My last meal should have been a salad but instead I ate a burger on a wheat bun with sweet potato fries. I'm a sucker for sweet potatoes.

I'm on day 3 of this 30 day ab challenge. It's gonna be a long tough month.

Finally, I'm finding myfitnesspal is helping me plan my calories. There's control and I can plan treats. I don't feel deprived. Please join me at esthernorine. I'm looking for guest posters, blog swaps, guest posting for other blogs for weight loss Wednesday. 

Linking up with Erin.

High five for Friday

Hello cool people!
Friday is my ultimate favorite day of the week. The promise of a good weekend is fresh and invigorating. Our weekend plans tend to low key and relaxing. The break from work is welcome. The feeling of accomplishment is a great ego boost when I scratch something off the to do list.

I have no plans but what about you? I love talking about the weekend.

Silly Saturday

Do you have weekend traditions? We do! Generally the weekend includes catching up on TV, playing Yahtzee and drinking good drinks. We have fun every weekend and in a marriage that's very important.

Love you hunny!

High Five For Friday!

Welcome to High Five For Friday, the beginning of the weekend. I don't usually count Friday as a typical work weekday since I'm ready to party down once I leave work. I hope you join me. Please follow me on twitter at @esthernorine for some tweeting fun. I usually fill everyone's stream with retweets of all kinds. There is no limit to what I'm retweeting and there's no rules.

Top Three  1-I'm super excited to be blogging on my new computer (the geologists doesn't like to share sadly.) 2-I'm having breakfast tomorrow with a friend at a crazy vegetarian cafe. It will be fun to catch up and eat yummy food. 3-I love hanging out with my geologist. We have tons of fun together.

Alrighty, its your turn to share your top three! I love reading your comments. Linking up with top blogger Lauren at From My Grey Desk Please stay tuned for Silly Saturday!

Silly Saturday

 I have been traumatized by dentists. I'm only thinking of this since I just had a fake crown installed and its been sore. I had an emergency root canal the day and time I was supposed to help R pack the uhaul for the move to Oklahoma City. Nobody was happy that day. I had major surgery with sutchures and couldn't eat or drink for about a month. The cavities are countless. When my wisdom teeth were removed, the dentist let me drive home in a drugged up state. Once home, I couldn't figure out how to swallow. That was some serious drugs! Mom came to the rescue that day. I have had two appointments in my adult life that had no issues to report. I'm wondering, are these dentists making stuff up to torture me financially and physically? Dentists. Perhaps untrustworthy but definitely questionable. I swear I take care of my teeth but clearly my teeth don't take care of me. Linking up with Jilly at Hi! It's Jilly for the Weekend Blog Hop. Please stay tuned for Serious Sunday a story of Hawaii.

Chomps and Kirby, "We never have teeth problems. We don't mind telling you that every day."

High Five For Friday

I am so excited for tomorrow! I am getting my hair colored! I am ready to look awesome and perhaps I'll share with you all how good I'm looking. This week was fairly successful in the kitchen and I was over calories but just barely most days. Here's to a good weigh in tomorrow. Are you excited for the weekend too? I am linking up with the best blogger Lauren at From My Grey Desk. Please stay tuned for Silly Saturday.

High Five for Friday

It's high five for Friday! Woohoo! Made it through another week. I would like to say congratulations to everyone who made it to Friday and thank subway for the nutritious lunches. Now for my top five: 1- I finished the race for the cure and that felt good. 2- I donated a photo to an art gallery for an auction and that felt good. 3- I had communion with my church on Wednesday and that felt good. 4- I had a successful week in the kitchen and that felt good. 5- I enjoyed a Gingerbread Chai from Starbucks in my first red cup of the season this morning and that felt good. I had some trials this week too but today's energy will be spent on positivity. So what's your top five? Linking up with Lauren From My Grey Desk