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Pumpkin Is (almost) Back!!

I started surfing the web to see if I could buy some canned pumpkin online since I can't find it in stores.  So, I thought... Let me check with Libby's pumpkin and...

"We're happy to report that we're harvesting a fresh crop of Libby's Pumpkin

and will have it in your local grocery store by 

October 2010! 

Make sure to pick some up to bake your favorite Classic Libby's Pumpkin recipes."

Wakey, Wakey, Eggs and ... Turkey!!!

I've been MIA, I know!!!  I guess that's what happens when life is good and you're having fun!!!  Things are great in my part of the mitten! 

School started 2 weeks ago and my students are just wonderful!  I think I am going to have a fantastic year.  I feel extraordinarily organized for a change, and my kids LOVE listening to classical music why they work.  I've always played music while my kiddos were working, but this group just really feeds off of it!  I have been playing The Gift of an Angel, which I think actually keeps my stress level down and my productivity up.  One of my students came up to me the first day I played the CD and said, "Mrs. Kluth, thank you so much for playing that music!  It really helped me to concentrate I did a really good job coloring.  Look!"  I kid you not, the most adorable first grader showed me his 'color by number' sheet and sure enough, you could see that he had a few spaces that didn't look so great, and the rest was colored sooo well!  I guess I never realized the music could be THAT effective!! Incredible!

Other than being back into the swing of things at work, I have to say I also had a great summer!  I decided to work at our school's 7 week summer program for our Migrant students, which was very enjoyable (and improved my savings account!).  I started doing Leandro Carvalho's Brazil Butt Lift and saw some incredible results in my first week!!  I completed 4 strong weeks and it felt great!  Since then, I have become a lazy bum and have been slacking on my workouts.  I did BBL here and there throughout the weeks, but IF I have worked out, it's been on the bike so I can zone out into my magazines.  I love 'lazy' cardio on the bike!!! After much slacking and procrastination, I have decided it is time to get back into the swing of working out and eating cleaner (although my food has actually been pretty good!).  Tomorrow (Monday) starts the third week of school and I feel on top of things.  I already got the first head cold and am over the exhaustion of being back to work.  In an effort to get myself back on track, I'm going to try to post more of my eats on my blog.  For some reason, knowing that I will take pics of my food results in cleaner eating for me. So, here was my breakfast this morning:

I only had 4 raw eggs in the fridge, so I put all of them into the pot to share with the hubs.  A typical breakfast for me would be 4 egg whites and one whole egg, topped with ketchup.  With the egg shortage and today being Sunday, I also pulled out some turkey bacon and threw it in the microwave between two paper towels.  I also sprayed a little oil on the turkey strips to help them crisp up a little more.  As for the eggs...

I sprayed the pan before dropping in the eggs.  I add about 2 1/2 tablespoons of water, cover with a lid, and turn the stove onto heat level "8".  On my stove, high would be 9 and medium high would be 7...  After 3-4 minutes, I take the pot off of the hot stove and remove the lid.  I keep the eggs in the pot for another minute or two so the rest of the water/steam can evaporate off of the eggs.  This method almost always results in eggs cooked over-medium.  Delish!

Breakfast for Two!

This meal did not fill me up, so I also made a protein shake with 1 scoop of caramel chocolate whey, 1 packet of Sanka instant decaf (courtesy of the gas station down the road! haha), and 1 tsp Torani sugar free hazelnut syrup.  I blended it up (sans 1/2 banana because I already had a piece of toast) and it was so tasty!!

Pay no attention to last night's teased hair, still tangled from last night! haha

Have a great day, sorry I've been gone so long!  I'm off to do my Sunday grocery shopping!!!

Summer I

OMG I'm soooo far behind!!  Here's my summer recap, Summer I (June)...

First, about me!!!  I'm doing OK... I'm working at our Migrant Ed program this summer, so I'm keeping myself busy and moving around!  My food hasn't been the greatest because it's free for teachers to eat with the kids during the summer program. HOWEVER, I've been bringing boiled chicken and Mrs. Dash to help me modify the free meals.  Since all of our students are Mexican, the cooks try to keep the food in the kids' comfort zone, so we have lots of mexican food, which includes lots of lettuce, tomato, salsa, beans, etc.  I'm making it work while I eat free food! woohoo!  My workouts have been at the all time minimal =  NONE.  I've done some cardio here and there, but in my book, that doesn't even count!  I started a new workout today, but that'll be another blog...

Now, a quick photo recap for the month of May/June:

I planted wilting cucumber plants

I planted tomatoes!

Beefsteak, Better Boy, and Yellow Boys

(Green & Yellow Beans are planted in front here, but not yet visible)

Green, Red & Yellow Bell Peppers

Zucchini

Jalapeno Peppers

Cherry Tomatoes

Becca & I drove down to Chattanooga, TN, to surprise DAWN!  Here are some pics:

I luvz my BEC!

SURPRISE!!!

 Oh my goodness, y'all Dawn is T-I-N-Y in real life!!!! Holy Cow!

We also met one of Becca's online friends, Kendra!  She places 2nd in the bikini tall class!!!

Kendra Warren

Supporting our girls!!

Oh! I also sampled a new treat at Jimmy John's!!

Many of you probably followJULIE'S blog, where she often enjoys the "unwich" at Jimmy John's.  For those of you that don't... You can get your favorite Jimmy John's sandwich as an unwich... this means you eat it as a lettuce wrap rather than in the white bread they are popular for!!  I have to say, I definitely enjoyed my sandwich this way - I was suuuuuper full without the bread!  My friend Shelly enjoyed the full-carb sandwich, as she was running a half marathon the next day and needed her carbs!!

I have much more to blog about, like BECCA and GENIE's journey to their first national competition, NPC Junior Nationals in Rosemont, Illinois!!!  Stay tuned...

xo

Surprise Unveiled

Sorry it took so long for me to get back on here!!!  The surprise, which many of you probably now know by now, BECCA and I drove the long haul down to Chattanooga, TN to surprise fellow Staggs Fitness client DAWN for her first bikini competition!!!  It was a great time, and sooo fabulous to see Dawn work it on stage after losing so much weight and toning up her muscles!!  We are so proud of Dawn!  I thought I had made an amazing transformation, but Dawn, whoa, way to go!!

It's amazing how everyone out there in blogger land feels like 'real life friends'!!  Since I started my blog when I began my journey to the bikini stage, I have "met" so many wonderful women out there!  I appreciate the love, support, and constructive criticism!  Dawn is one of those people that was so eager to hear how my progress was going, but even more, cared so much about what happens after the stage.  I am happy I am hear to help out in any small way that I can.  I am by no means a pro at any of this, but I seem to have found a happy place is weight and size (granted, I still intend to get my butt in gear and tone up these muscles again!)

So, that was the surprise!  I'm sorry I don't have any pictures right now, I'm on my brother's computer, which means no photos.  Which, by the way, I am here because Becca and GENIE are competing on the national stage this weekend!  It's already been a long weekend for me, and I'm just a spectator! haha  Both girls have looked great this weekend, and we'll find out how they officially did at tonight's show!  They're both adorable and silly, these little twinnies!  Not only are they both beautiful dark haired, tan women, but equally silly by nature!  When I showed up at their hotel to do hair and makeup, they were WEARING THE SAME BLACK ROMPER!!  And yes, it was on purprose! haha  Love these girls, so happy I can be here with them!!!

Secret, Secret...

I've got a secret!

Betcha can't wait to find out what it is!!!

SATC2

Did you see SATC 2?  I didn't think it was that great... a bit long and mellow for our naughty little city girls, IMO!!  I did have fun with some coworkers before the show, though!!

Patio seats at the martini bar

Me, Beth, Shelly

Outside the theater, Beth, me, Jen, Shelly

(look at me, still holding onto that small size!!)

Do ya like my dress?  I wish you could see it better, it has a round boat neck with 2 buttons on the collar, cute pleats in the top, and obviously its a straight black dress.  Originally $60, 50% off then gift cards equals a $5.70 sale for me.  Holla!!!