Weekend recap

Friday, Geof and I went to Alfredo’s for pizza to treat ourselves since we had been good all week. They have some of the best pizza around. We had mushroom as the topping and it was yummy. After dinner, we met up with our friends Merrick and Jill for some bowling. They had two of their other friends come along and we had a nice time. It was “glow bowling” night, so they had the blacklights on and the music pumping. I’m a terrible bowler, but I have so much fun being silly when I go. After bowling, we went to Barnaby’s (a.k.a. our favorite watering hole) for some drinks and met up with more friends. I met some nice people and we had a great night. My only regret was that I got home way later than I wanted to.


Me after I got my one and only strike of the night!

Saturday was the ice show and it went better than I could have even imagined. I got nervous because the practice before the show went a little longer than expected and I didn’t think we would start on time. Everything worked out, the kids did great, we had no technical issues with the music or announcements and I could tell the kids were really proud of themselves. We received many compliments on how well the show was put together from parents and guests. I felt so accomplished and relieved! I have been stressed over this for weeks. After the show, my mom, Geof and I went to Applebee’s and then my mom came over and we watched Sex and the City the movie. It was very nice to relax after such a long day.


Some of our students...so cute!


Rachel who I've taught since she was 11. She is graduating high school this year!

Sunday, our friend Cory and his girlfriend Laura came over and we all played Rock Band. I have finally figured out how to get somewhat coordinated to play the guitar. At last I can enjoy this game like the rest of the world. Now I can see why Geof spends hours in the man cave playing it. After our Rock Band extravaganza, I made BBQ Bacon Meatloaf out of our Biggest Loser cookbook. It was good, but I think it could have used a little more BBQ sauce.


Sunday night dinner

I got on the scale this morning and I was up 3 pounds from my 7 pound loss last week, which means I am still down 4. That is the optimistic side that I’m trying to view it from anyway. I think I may have overdone it some my first week and am trying to take it slow and steady. My goal this week is to lose 2 pounds, but I will be happy with even 1. I am still going to keep eating healthy, go to the gym and use Friday as my little reward/treat day.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and has a wonderful week!

Breaking Dawn

I finally finished! This has been a running joke with my girlfriends. I got through the first three books in no time and this one has taken me forever. I’m glad I took my time and read when I was able to though. I must say that reading these books made me want to read. I have never been a bookworm or someone that reads as a hobby. I can see why people do now. It is a fun escape from reality and it lets you use your imagination. I already have more books lined up that I want to start.

The entire Twilight series has been wonderful. I enjoyed each book so much and loved reading about the love between Edward and Bella. Some things in the books were foreshadowed and predictable, but it didn’t make them any less entertaining. To me it truly was a kind of modern day Romeo and Juliet.

I look forward to the making of the next three movies, but I am sure they won’t compare to the books. Robert Pattinson is such eye candy, so that makes it much more entertaining. He definitely brings out my inner “tween”.

Kate Spade 30% off sale

I received a coupon from Kate Spade for 30% off everything including sale items through March 30th. I thought I would pass it along is case anyone is in a shopping mood. The coupon code is SFF3263E

Here are some things I would love to get:

Sea Island Starfish and Pearl Earrings


Patchin Place Large Heddy in Pink w/Red Polka Dots


Haig Point Kei


Tickled Pink Candle

Random Thursday musings

1. My car is back in the shop and I’m really hoping this is the last repair for awhile. I won’t get it back until sometime tomorrow.
2. Due to said car being in the shop, I have to work from home again tomorrow and cannot attend the happy hour festivities at work.
3. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!
4. The ice show is this weekend and I’m excited/nervous about it. I really want the kids to look good out there.
5. I’ve gone to the Lenten service at church the past 2 weeks and it has been great and given me a lot to think about.
6. I'm getting into a routine at the gym and want to keep it up.
7. My Florida trip with my mom is less than a month away and I cannot wait!
8. I think I will watch Twilight again this weekend. I made my mom watch it with me last weekend and she actually liked it. She thinks Edward is handsome.
9. I wish it would stop raining.

Zombies Ahead!

Are you scared? I would be. Seriously though, some computer genius hacked into the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation system and got control over the messaging system where some construction sites were set up in Bucks County. If I were driving and saw that, I don’t know whether I would laugh or get scared for a second. It was on the news and I couldn’t help but get a good chuckle out of it.

Healthy BLT Burgers

First, sorry I have been blog M.I.A. the past few days. I have been so busy and got behind in all of my posting and reading. I’m trying to catch up as much as I can tonight!

Geof made BLT Burgers for us last night for dinner. We found the recipe in our new Biggest Loser Cookbook. It was so full of flavor and delicious! I was pleasantly surprised. He made the entire recipe which is 4 servings and we both brought the leftovers to work for lunch today.

Here is the recipe:

Though you might be tempted to try to save money by buying 93% lean ground beef instead of 96% lean, don’t. Though they don’t sound very different, 93% lean has almost twice the fat of 96%. One 4-ounce serving of 93% lean has about 180 calories and 8 grams of fat. The 96% lean has 150 calories and only 4 1/2 grams of fat.

Makes 4 servings

4 strips extra-lean turkey bacon, each cut in half

1 pound 96% lean ground beef

4 whole grain or whole wheat hamburger buns, split (we used WW whole wheat buns)

1 cup chopped fresh spinach leaves

4 large or 8 to 12 small thin tomato slices

4 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise

Preheat a grill to high heat.

Place a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the bacon strips. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until crisp. Remove from the pan and cover to keep warm.

Divide the beef into 4 equal portions and shape into balls, packing them tightly as you do. Press each into a patty that is about 1⁄2" larger than the diameter of the buns.

Grill the burgers for about 2 minutes per side for medium rare, or until desired doneness (do not smash the burgers with a spatula). Place the bun halves, cut sides down, on the upper grill rack or away from direct flame until toasted, about 20 seconds.

Place each toasted bun bottom on a plate. Top with the spinach, tomato, patties, then 2 pieces of bacon each. Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise evenly on each bun top, flip atop the patties, and serve.

Nutrition at a GlancePer serving: 295 calories, 29 g protein, 25 g carbohydrates, 9 g fat (2 g saturated), 70 mg cholesterol, 4 g fiber, 547 mg sodium

In other news, I lost 7 pounds last week! I cannot believe it. I know the first week is always the biggest, but it is definitely motivating me to keep it up. I'll be very happy to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week.

Things I’m looking forward to this weekend…

Free Rita’s Water Ice

Yep, that’s right…it’s the first day of spring and my favorite water ice place is giving them away for free. Sugar-free Root Beer for me, please!

Twilight

Finally comes out on dvd! I will definitely be picking it up this weekend. I saw it in the movies twice and am hanging on to the last 30 pages of Breaking Dawn. I think I’ll be sad when I finish. Pathetic, I know.

Going food shopping

Our kitchen is pretty empty. We’re in some serious need of food. Our goal is to save some money and eat better by cooking at home more.

Going out with hubby and friends on Saturday

I need a night out and hopefully we will have some fun!

Happy Friday & happy first day of spring! I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Coach trip

I had a coupon to Coach last week that I had no business using, but did anyway. I have been in need of a little retail therapy and that was a perfect excuse.

Here is what I got:

Heritage Stripe Slip Jacket and Planner

So cute and pink! It will definitely keep me organized.

Coach Body Splash in Peony

They call it a body splash, but it seems more concentrated like a perfume and it comes in a big 8.1 Ounce bottle. This will be perfect for summer.

Coach Lip Gloss in Orchid

It is a nice sheer color that I can mix or wear alone over the summer. I always like a lighter color like this when I get a tan.

I’ve been feeling good this week. I skated today and went to the gym Tuesday and Wednesday. I have also been really watching what I eat. Hopefully I can keep it up through the weekend. I also went to a Lenten service at church last night. There was a great fellowship and a wonderful message during the service that spoke of sacrifice and commitment. I felt great when I left.

I am ready for the first day of spring to officially arrive tomorrow and for the weekend to start!

Late weekend recap & my Tuesday at the gym

Friday night I got home from work later than usual and forgot that my mom was coming over to treat Geof and me. She made dinner for us and we had taco salads. I forgot how much I missed her cooking. It always seems to taste a little better when it comes from home. We had dinner, caught up on life, watched television and then I baked cupcakes for my ladies night on Saturday.

Saturday was ice skating and we’re two weeks away from the show. I cannot believe it! I think everything will turn out fine, but the stress level is still there. After skating I came home and got ready to meet up with the girls for ladies night at Melissa’s. We had a blast. After that, I decided I wasn’t ready to go home just yet and met up with my friend Kelly at Barnaby’s for a drink. I ran into a few people I knew and we had a nice time.

Sunday, I must have been more tired that I thought because I slept in very late. My friend Jessica came over and we all went out. First, we went to the YMCA so that Geof and I could join. We’ve been talking about this for awhile now and finally did it. I’m really proud of both of us for taking the first step and will be even prouder when we put our membership to good use. After the gym, the 3 of us went out to dinner at Olive Garden. Now at least I have a gym to work off those breadsticks!

**TUESDAY UPDATE**

We went to the gym for the first time tonight and I feel pretty good. I hate to admit it, but it’s been a long time since I stepped foot into a gym. I feel out of shape and this is the kick I need to get me feeling better. My night consisted of 45 minutes of cardio (30 minutes on the elliptical, 15 on the bikes). I was feeling it on the elliptical, but pushed through. I know it’s not much, but definitely a start. I need to get a heart rate monitor to see where I’m really at, but the machines said I burned about 380 calories.

I love playing volleyball (we play beach volleyball every Tuesday in the summer at our pool). I was happy to see they have pick-up games every Tuesday and Thursday night at the gym. I like the fact that I can switch things up from doing sports, cardio on the machines, weights, classes and swimming. My biggest challenge is staying motivated. I hope that by posting and talking about it from time to time here will give me what I need to stay focused. I’ve watched one too many “Biggest Loser” episodes and I think my mind is in the right place now for the first time in a long time. It takes a lot for me to post this and put myself out there. If anyone has any great workout tips or motivational tips, I would love to hear them!

PMS Calendar

Here we have it, another invention that I should have thought of - the PMS Calendar. I really could have used this last week and the week before that. Each month I try to explain to Geof how horrible I’m feeling from sad to sore. Some months he is more understanding than others. Don’t you think this calendar will solve everything? Ha!

Hoda and Kathie Lee were talking about this on the Today show last week and I had to post about it. Apparently this calendar, “helps couples communicate at optimal levels through one of the most trying phases of each month. On a colorful grid, women note their varying degrees of discomfort and learn how to clue men in to their needs.” They also say that it, “combines humor, insight and compassion for him & her”. I find this hilarious!

Girls night in

I love girls nights…it is seriously one of my favorite things. I’ve managed to make some really great friends through work. Some of the ladies have moved on and we don’t work together anymore, but we’ve managed to keep in touch and make time for one another. It’s always great to catch up, have girl talk and lots of laughs.

We went to our friend Melissa’s house and had a great time. We usually plan on watching a movie or playing games, but get so caught up in chatting that it never happens. Last night was no exception. We all got together, brought some delicious food and began the festivities. The spread was ridiculous. We had hoagie dip, cheese/olives, bruschetta, spinach & artichoke dip, sausage meatballs and chicken caesar burgers. The wine was flowing all night long. For dessert we had cupcakes and strawberry shortcake. We left very tired and full!

In my opinion, girlfriends are so important. Being an only child makes them even more so for me. The relationships I have with my friends mean so much to me and I value each one. I feel blessed to have some great ladies in my life!


The ladies and I

The appetizers Cupcakes I made

Do you “Tweet”?

I am still pretty new to Twitter, but am slowly getting accustomed to it. Its fun and I can see how it can be addicting. I would love to follow you ladies. My name is ChicnPink on Twitter. Find me and let’s “Tweet” together.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Random, but doesn’t this little birdie key ring from Coach look like the Twitter bird?

Target finds

The other day, I went shopping at Target on my lunch break with my friend. I love finding fun things there, especially when they’re on sale. I always go into Target for one or two things and wind up coming out with way more. I originally went for just a birthday card!

Green jersey "batwing" top. It's funny they call it that, but it makes sense. It was only $10.48 and it will be nice and light for spring. They had a ton of different colors.

Cream jacket will ruffle sleeves. I love this jacket. I got it on clearance for $8.74!

I couldn't resist these seersucker kitchen towels.

Cute little pink makeup bag. I needed something like this for my purse. I tend to carry around a lot of lip gloss.

So Sweet!

Angela over at Sweet Tea Diaries thought it would be nice to “pay it forward” and send little notes and treats to some of her blogger friends. I got on the list and my package arrived Monday. It was the perfect ending to a great day. She wrote me a sweet card and sent me a really cute sign that says, “Do Something Everyday That Makes You Happy”. I love it so much and will be hanging this in my kitchen.

I thought this a truly nice idea and would like to do the same thing for some of my blogger friends. The first three people to comment on this post with their email address will receive a note and a little treat from yours truly. It can really make someone’s day. I will definitely be sending something to Angela to express my gratitude for this nice gesture.

Kreativ Blogger award

The very sweet Carie over at The Life of Carie presented me with the Kreativ Blogger award. She is so cute and you must check out her blog.

Here are the award rules: List 7 things that you love, and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you love! Be sure to tag them and let them know that they have won. You can copy the picture of the award and paste it on your sideboard letting the whole world know...you are Kreativ!

1. My husband
2. Sunsets
3. My pink Curve
4. Subway
5. Coach
6. Chapstick
7. Diet Coke

I now present this award to the following bloggers:

1. Nicole @ Simply Chic
2. Tasha @ Biology Gal
3. Preppy 101 @ All Things Southern & Preppy
4. Christina @ This Girl’s Life
5. Lindsey @ Learning to be a Wife
6. Jill @ Peeptoe Pumps and Pearls
7. Angela @ Sweet Tea Diaries

Nickelback concert

Last night Geof took me to the Nickelback concert at The Wachovia Center and it was wonderful. I noticed awhile ago that they were coming into town and really wanted to go. I have loved Nickelback since I was 21 and they came out with the song, “How You Remind Me”. Their music has spanned throughout my 20’s and brings back some great memories. I think they’re very talented and I really enjoy listening to their music.

We were able to get club box tickets (my favorite) and a dinner package. We arrived at The Wachovia Center around 6:30pm and had dinner at the buffet in the club box. The food was surprisingly good. We had Stromboli’s, spinach & artichoke dip, veggies/cheese, famous Chickie’s & Pete’s Crab Fries (my favorite) and some sweets. If you ever come to visit Philadelphia, I highly recommend a visit to Chickie’s & Pete’s.

The opening band, Saving Abel came on at 7:00pm and played for a little more that a half hour. They were decent, but weren’t really my thing. Around 8:00pm, Seether came on and they were really good. Going into the concert, I didn’t think I knew any songs by them and it turns out I knew about 5 and never realized they were by Seether.

Shortly after 9:00pm, Nickelback came on and they were fantastic! Chad Kroger’s voice was amazing and they were great live. They played for about 2 hours and sang 17 songs with few breaks. Chad really interacted with the audience, which is something I always appreciate. Here is the list of songs that they sang in order:

Something in Your Mouth
Too Damn Good
Photograph
Figured You Out
Fallen (I love this song!)
Far Away
Cover of Hey Man, Nice Shot by Filter that Shawn from Seether sang with Nickelback
Gotta Be Somebody
If Everyone Cared
This Afternoon
Rockstar
Cover of Sad but True by Metallica instrumental while the crew shot out t-shirts
Burn it to the Ground
How You Remind Me
Too Bad (amazing)

Encore:
Cover of Use Somebody by Kings of Leon that Ryan from Nickelback sang
Someday (great song)
Animals

The stage was really cool and they had some great pyrotechnics.

The crowd was really into the show and people of all ages attended. This will stay in my memory for a long time and I was happy I got to share the night with hubby by my side. If you’re a Nickelback fan, I highly recommend this concert.


A little blurry, but pic of the band when they moved towards the end of the stage.


The band


Us at the concert

Random musings from the weekend

1. Losing an hour makes the weekend feel a whole lot shorter.
2. Preparing all the kids for the ice show is way more work that I thought it would be.
3. I got to break out my Reef flip flops for the first time since last summer...so comfortable.
4. Wearing said flip flops made me realize I need a pedicure.
5. Hubby made some delicious tacos for dinner on Saturday night.
6. Cape Fear is a crazy movie. I watched it for the first time on Sunday.
7. Having a weekend without plans and obligations is really nice for a change.
8. I finally found the orange pashmina at Target that I have been looking for the past month.
9. I forgot how good pink Peeps are. This is why I love Easter.
10. Taking the dogs for a long walk does everyone good. They enjoyed it so much.

Highlights

Spring is almost here and with that, it’s time for a full head of highlights. My hair is naturally a medium blonde and I get highlights one to two times per year to lighten up my look. It can change the entire look of my face. I tend to feel washed out and dull at this point in the winter. Once I get highlights, I feel like a new person. I’ll be scheduling an appointment with my hairstylist as soon as possible.

Here is some “blonde-spiration” (not a word, but you know what I mean) for the time being.

Are there any treatments or things you like to do that make you feel better?


Carrie always looks great to me. This is what I wish I could wake up everyday and have my hair look like.


Love Gretchen's shade of blonde. It doesn't look brassy and is so bright.


Reese had such a pretty baby blonde shade to her hair.

Unconventional beauty tips

I dvr'd Ellen today and watched it this evening because Melissa from The Bachelor was on and I was dying to hear what she had to say. Overall, she looks great and seems to be doing well.

After Melissa, this woman Kym Douglas came on and shared beauty secrets from her latest book "The Black Book of Hollywood Pregnancy Secrets". The secrets she shared could really be for anyone and I was intrigued, so I thought I would share.

1. Instead of using pore strips for your nose, spread Elmer’s glue across your nose, let it dry and peel it off. It is supposed to remove all blackheads. I remember putting glue on my fingers when I was little and then peeling it off, so I could actually see this working.

2. The next tip was something called a “belly band” that celebs supposedly use after having a baby or when they have packed on a few pounds. It is supposed to make the stomach muscles remember where they were pre-weight gain and get you back in shape faster.

3. Next was an at home facial treatment made of graham flour, crushed/peeled cucumber and egg white or Vegenaise. You are to mix the ingredients together and it makes your skin glow. The graham flour works as an exfoliant, the cucumber as an astringent and the egg white or Vegenaise as a moisturizer.

4. Beer is supposed to be great for your hair (I’ve heard this one before). The hops help give natural volume to your tresses. You can pour a bottle on your head in the shower, work through and then rinse out and shampoo/condition as normal.

5. Last, if you have leftover wine from a party you pour it in the tub and use it as a soak. It is supposed to soften and plump your skin.

The best part of this segment was that the author did all of these tips/tricks as she was talking about them and was super energetic. She was really fun! By the end of the segment she had paste on her face, the homemade skin concoction on, the belly band around her waist, beer dripping from her hair and ended up in the tub of wine.

I may give one or two of these ideas a try!

Brit’s back!

Last night Britney Spears kicked off her Circus Tour in New Orleans and I would love to have been there. I was about 19 when Brit came onto the pop music scene and I’ve been a fan ever since. She has been through some crazy times, but I think this is her comeback. Who knows how much longer she will keep making music, but I’m certainly enjoying it while it lasts.

The concert is getting mixed reviews and I don’t believe she sings live at all, however I would still like to see it for sheer entertainment value. She is a performer and that can make a show.

Sadly, she is not coming to the Philadelphia area. I’m contemplating going to North Jersey or DC to check it out. I’ve always wanted to see her in concert. Are any of you ladies going when the tour comes through your city? Perhaps I can live vicariously through you if you go!

This sounds corny, but I loved so much of the music that was out when Britney began her career. It was a time of Christina Aguilera’s “Genie In A Bottle”, Backstreet Boys “I Want It That Way”, N’Syncs’ “I Want You Back” and some good songs by Mandy Moore, TLC and J-Lo. Those were the days!

Four Month Anniversary

Today marks four months since the day we said our “I Do’s”. Hubby and I were talking about it last night and both said that we feel like it was yesterday and cannot believe how quickly the time has flown by. I have a wonderful man and appreciate him so much. He always makes me smile when I’m feeling down and helps me through any situation. He gets me and is my best friend. We have a wonderful time when we’re together and I feel blessed to have him in my life.

I received our photos from my very talented photographer, Cindy Guessford and thought I would share a few. I’ll try to remember to do this each month on our anniversary leading up to our 1st Anniversary.


My dress and shoes just waiting to be put on


My beautiful Bouquet of Roses and Stephanotis


Hubby getting ready for the day


Me all ready to go


The boys minus one. One of our Groomsmen had to go to the ER the day of the wedding and missed pre-ceremony pics. He had cut his hand and luckily made it in time for the rest of the day!


The ladies


The happy couple


Geof helping me with my dress


The ceremony. I love the look of his face in this pic.


We're married!


The reception


The cake


The matching baby cake