tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66356255947756497382024-03-05T07:07:15.976-08:00Starving With a Side of SassStarving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-40895026902760840032012-08-03T16:55:00.001-07:002012-08-03T16:55:38.261-07:00Down 30 Pounds, Still Starving ... But Overjoyed<br />
Last week, I gained for the first time in a long time and I had to reflect on why that was. Perhaps it is because it's the first time in the whole year of this transformation that I'm truly happy with myself and my life.<br />
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I am immensely blessed. The joy and security that comes with knowing that someone "is in your corner" cannot be expressed, especially since it's been so long since I've felt this way.<br />
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This man is incredible. He is taking me to Maui for my birthday and to Boston to meet his family in September for his sister's wedding. For three weeks, he was traveling and I was in a daze. I craved talking to him and connecting with him, even though we were on opposite coasts.<br />
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These last few months been an interesting time of reflection for me because I didn't think finding someone so awesome who "gets me" was possible, but with God ... all things are possible.<br />
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I'm not beating myself over 1.8 lbs gained, because I've gained so much more than that - a best friend, a partner in crime, someone who tells me I'm beautiful without an ounce of makeup on, a supporter and but at the end of the day, love.<br />
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To love and to be loved is the greatest gift you can give AND receive.<br />
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Have a great weekend everyone!<br />
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-Down 30 and 20 more to go to reach goal<br />Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-74326136215247661892012-04-17T12:23:00.001-07:002012-04-17T12:23:32.147-07:00Closet Overhaul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzi7HIGhRbikxz7XIARZ9NllqYrEG0GQNCRku_l2r6fxV17CS_ucTJDHVQFzLpyt4pE9kytCpPC8GzgchdgoLr5O6ymQE9F5OzDjuk4NF6tNA86Qy1I2Sun-Wuw8Am9PqdLyJVFCKbdA/s1600/Black+pants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlzi7HIGhRbikxz7XIARZ9NllqYrEG0GQNCRku_l2r6fxV17CS_ucTJDHVQFzLpyt4pE9kytCpPC8GzgchdgoLr5O6ymQE9F5OzDjuk4NF6tNA86Qy1I2Sun-Wuw8Am9PqdLyJVFCKbdA/s1600/Black+pants.jpg" /></a></div>
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This weekend, I went shopping. Not just the "oh it's on sale, I should pick it up" shopping. No, the "overhaul, clean EVERY single pair of pants and jeans in your closet and start over, but with a smaller size" kinda shopping.<br />
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And, was it GLORIOUS!!!<br />
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With the invention of stretch, you don 't always know what exactly is your true size, unless you're buying the dreaded DRESS PANTS! Those bad boys won't give an inch so when I was able to try on pants after pants and even dresses in a smaller size, I was so freakin' ecstatic!<br />
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It's really awesome to see results on the scale every week, but only until you go shopping does it really make a difference.<br />
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This week, I'm traveling to the Midwest where it will be bread and carbs galore. I even have Panera catering one of my lunches and oh my goodness, those shortbread cookies can bring this girl to her knees!!!<br />
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This post is really meant to be a reminder to myself to be good and remember the smaller size I was shopping for. May those new pants fit on Saturday when I return home. *Fingers & toes crossed*<br />
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-Down 24.2 pounds since July!Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-74471906072726948502012-04-04T17:58:00.004-07:002012-04-04T17:58:49.038-07:00Still Starving ... But Down 20 PoundsAfter nine months of Weight Watchers, I'm finally down 20 pounds. Losing weight is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but thankfully, at work, I'm surrounding by healthy, athletic people who eat well and exercise. Plus, it doesn't hurt that we only have one cafe in the business park and they serve pretty healthy food.<div>
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Salads with grilled chicken are a mainstay for me at lunch and I always give my four-legged friend Marvin a taste!</div>
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I'm refocusing my goals and I'm thinking it's another 20 more pounds, which will put me at the thinnest ever in my adult life.</div>
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Fingers crossed! Wish me luck!</div>Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-68858201651052726852012-04-04T17:50:00.004-07:002012-04-05T11:19:07.045-07:00Appalled and Utterly SpeechlessI know I haven't written a blog post in a year (gasp, I know) but after what happened to me last night, I had to resurrect my blog just to showcase the ugliness that still exists in some people.<br />
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I met Mr. Gun Show via Match last Tuesday where he winked/emailed me. I thought he was a little young for me (29, gasp!) but he was cute and seemed to have a great profile. He had a great job (Physician's Assistant) and came from a great family. The biggest drawback was that he lived three hours away in Fresno.<br />
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We started texting and he was very consistent with it. We finally spoke two days later and we set up a coffee date for Saturday afternoon, around 3 once he was off work.<br />
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I woke up at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and drove to Fresno. After having lunch and getting pedicures with my girlfriends, he texted and asked if I really wanted to meet him. (RED FLAG #1) I assured him I did and we met at 3:30. I was a few minutes late because I had to drive across town in the rain and he was sitting there at a table. He didn't get up to greet me, just said hi (RED FLAG #2) as I sat down. I had to get up to get my own tea which I had to buy myself (RF #3). Sat down and he had his body completely turned away from me so that his shoulder was facing me. The conversation was stilted and awkward. (TOO MANY RED FLAGS TO CONTINUE TO COUNT)<br />
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Finally, after 45 minutes, we exited Starbucks. It's pouring down rain and he just turns to get into his car without a handshake, "it was nice to meet you", nothing. Just turned around and left.<br />
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The crazy then starts. He texts, "that was so awkward' and "i can't believe i hustled to leave work early for that" to which I replied, "I'm sorry I inconvenienced you by driving three hours to meet you." Finally he calls me so that we're not going back and forth on text.<br />
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He proceeds to berate me for not giving him a chance nor allowing him to get to know me. I know I have walls and I know I have issues, but I was reacting to the vibe he gave off. After about a half hour, he asks if we could have dinner to start over. In my quest to try to break down some of those walls, I relented and agreed. We meet for dinner and had a really great time and ended with a quick peck. Seems normal enough right?<br />
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He decides he wants to drive up to meet me on his day off, which I thought was great. I was looking forward to seeing him again. He texted last night and asked how things were going, to which I replied, "I'm at Bible Study, can I call you at 9:30 when we're done?" "Are u sure u have time for a relationship?" "Yes, I always make time for what's important."<br />
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We finally talk at 10:15 and he tells me that because I go to Bible Study groups and teach preschool, I should become a nun. (Yes, I'll pause while you pick your jaw up off the floor)<br />
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Then he says that he was talking to a friend of his about me and was saying that he thought I was abnormal because religion "is all i ever seem to do." (Disclosure, it plainly outlines this in my Match profile ... since he contacted me, there shouldn't have been any surprises, right?)<br />
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At this point, I'm rendered speechless and tell him he completely disrespected me and I thought he was being mean and hurtful, to which he said he didn't think so. I said "Take care" and hung up on him. Then he texts, "that's why ur single."<br />
<br />
W.O.W.<br />
<br />
I don't respond and then he calls me. Against my better judgement, I picked up the phone to which he says it's rude to hang up on people. We continue to go back and forth arguing and I just tell him that I don't want him to come up, we're too different and we want different things.<br />
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Then I schooled him on picking up the $2 tab for a coffee date and standing up to greet someone and properly saying goodbye.<br />
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Sigh! It's not often I am speechless, but just wow. Oh well, onto bigger and better things.Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-43089450742026207262011-09-14T19:48:00.000-07:002011-09-14T19:48:26.414-07:00Not as Starving ...In June, I made a decision to take better care of myself and also because my birthday trip to Turks and Caicos was looming, and I joined Weight Watchers. Eight weeks later, I'm down close to 15 pounds. While I wasn't completely pleased with my vacation photos from the Caribbean, I know I'm on the right path.<br />
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It's a daily struggle to eat smaller portions and more healthy, but after reading that Weight Watchers spokesperson Jennifer Hudson is now shopping for size 0 clothes, I know it's attainable. I just need to to stick to the eating plan and exercising, but that's the hardest part for me. It's so much more fun to go out for dinner or go drinking.<br />
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Costa Rica will soon be upon me, so I need to kick myself in the butt and ensure that the marathon, not the sprint, is successful!<br />
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I promise to be better at updating my readers on my progress.Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-33712705608801838742011-03-27T21:02:00.000-07:002011-03-27T21:02:50.066-07:00Operation Marriage 2011?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5E0de_IhQsCeaMPiB2vvU7LLbitH6cP7ZzjvF1nwnc_Af4UAfHI3DXbhb83Ey5LxRAM88Mxg9AxU4MpAyM9y91XjhlOzsnfx8prG4xuUkpaO0KeFESTuX405mA7W_fmJ4gig8no16oD8/s1600/Bride-Groom-Notepads-Groom-Tux_7047_r.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5E0de_IhQsCeaMPiB2vvU7LLbitH6cP7ZzjvF1nwnc_Af4UAfHI3DXbhb83Ey5LxRAM88Mxg9AxU4MpAyM9y91XjhlOzsnfx8prG4xuUkpaO0KeFESTuX405mA7W_fmJ4gig8no16oD8/s200/Bride-Groom-Notepads-Groom-Tux_7047_r.gif" width="200" /></a></div><br />
In January, I had a conversation with a friend at church who told me that in 2011, it was going to be her goal to meet someone and get married, if if was God's will, of course. <br />
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So it got me thinking, is this something that you can mentally embark on and will it to happen? <br />
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I had a coversation with my BFF earlier today and she mentioned that she heard of a girl who booked a venue, put down a deposit on a specific date and bought a dress, however she wasn't even dating anyone. She did all of that because she was confident that she would find her happily ever after by her due date. I don't know if she ever did.<br />
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I think there is some societal pressure to get married. If you're not coupled up by a certain age, people think something is wrong with you. Do people really have an expiration date for when they can find love?<br />
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Apparently, my BFF's mom thinks so. She even created a fake profile on a dating site "just to see if there were any guys out there" for her. While her heart was in the right place, I understand why my BFF was upset. IMHO, I think she wants grandchildren and wants to do everything she can to get them, including a little deception. :)<br />
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So at the end of the day, I'm not out to "get married" by the end of year, but I do think that getting out there and meeting people, telling people to set me up is a good start. <br />
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I've made a pact with my BFF that in April, we both have to do something that forces us to make strides to meet new people. My April task is to FINALLY take golf lessons. I have a set of clubs, golf balls and golf shoes. I just have to overcome my fear and just do it. I just need Mr. Sunshine to cooperate.Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-54461843371226129262011-01-27T22:26:00.000-08:002011-01-27T22:26:11.104-08:00Silence Your Inner CriticI had a really interesting conversation with a dear friend and colleague earlier this week when we were chatting about eating healthier and exercising.<br />
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I shared that I wasn't drinking at the happy hour happening that evening because I had too much bubbly over the weekend and felt bloated and fat, to which she admonished me and said I look gorgeous. It made me question why I always put myself down and call myself fat. I would never dream about calling a friend the "f-word" so why is it okay to call myself that?<br />
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In short, it's not ok to constantly put myself down. I need to silence my inner critic and tell myself that I'm beautiful, intelligent, talented, charming and honest. ;) If I don't believe it, no one else will.Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-31395213406518889272011-01-02T21:37:00.000-08:002011-01-02T21:37:49.826-08:00New Year, New Post!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMxlaTM0cbZ-nEkKak4fULcDoIQ9muIV1f_5AffMJ5_RDuqUGAYd4CSY0JmOtJO9tmN17ukFTWCBDNMca7vtzR79GbUMNLVHC2U2c3JAjsh4EQfrLh3kr4U5BZtZMdKZ7Cbg5FwOjEJI/s1600/happy_new_year_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMxlaTM0cbZ-nEkKak4fULcDoIQ9muIV1f_5AffMJ5_RDuqUGAYd4CSY0JmOtJO9tmN17ukFTWCBDNMca7vtzR79GbUMNLVHC2U2c3JAjsh4EQfrLh3kr4U5BZtZMdKZ7Cbg5FwOjEJI/s200/happy_new_year_2011.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Happy New Year 2011!<br />
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A new year means a new start, but I don't believe that you can look forward without one last glance in the rearview mirror. <br />
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So as a final goodbye, I wanted to take a look back at the best of 2010 from my rearview mirror.<br />
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January 1 - The year kicked off in Vietman in Nha Trang with a horrible sunburn after laying out the entire day before. I was with my BFF "St. Louis" and we were on the second leg of our annual international vacation. Unfortunately, I has "srimps" from the NYE dinner and I came down with a horrible food posioning, which required me to take antibiotics after a serious scare on a river boat. I was never so thankful for modern medicine until that point. While a bit unusual, our vacation to Cambodia and Vietnam was one that left me in awe (Angkor Wat and Halong Bay) and sadness (poverty and genocide in Cambodia) but made me so much more aware of the world around me.<br />
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March 19 - "IT'S A GIRL!" My beautiful niece, Sarah Elizabeth was born. I didn't get the call from my mom until after she was born. My mom called my cell and when I didn't answer, she called my landline. Through my earplugged sleepy haze, I hear my mom on my machine telling me to wake up and get to the hospital to meet the new addition to our family. She is just the happiest baby and her laugh and smile makes my heart sing! It's been such a joy this last year to watch her grow. Thankfully she loves to be held and I never get tired of her falling asleep in my arms. I recently had a conversation with my BFF about how you can love someone else's child so much that it hurts your heart and how we can't imagine having our own children to feel that love 100 fold.<br />
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May - Family vacay to Disneyland and San Diego. Disneyland is so much more fun through the eyes of a child. While family vacations are never easy, there is never a shortage of laughs and memories. <br />
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August 29 - Eek, I turned 32, but I'm still in my "early 30's" and I've actually accepted and now celebrate all of my birthdays. I think that each year brings a flood of memories and experiences with your friends and sometimes by yourself. After overimbibing with my designated "fun friend Michelle" I spent the day after reflecting at a spa, pampering with a facial and a massage. Ahh, bliss!<br />
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October 16 - Our family again grew and I gained a sister-in-law. My baby brother got married and the wedding was a blast. Weddings are such a happy occasion to see friends and family that you never get to see.<br />
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Nov. 1 - I witnessed history. I was in the stands at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington for Game 5 of the World Series as the San Francisco Giants won their first World Series since moving to SF. I was there because of the generosity of a friend/client. It was an amazing experience to be there, knowing that all of my friends were so happy that I could be there.<br />
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Mid-November - I vacationed in Oahu and it was stunning. It was a much needed respite to relax, master snorkeling, spend time with my BFF, finally ride a scooter, and experience Leonard's malsadas.<br />
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On this second day of the new year, this blog post just reminds me of how blessed I am and praise and thank <br />
Him for this fabulous life. <br />
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Cheers to you and your family this coming year. I resolve that 2011 will have more than 12 blog posts for the entire year!Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-77497586356423266062010-10-25T21:45:00.000-07:002010-10-25T21:45:53.333-07:00Optimism Contagious?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZeJVsLRqHht2mSuXKOxNVOehk-dP_KrSXgb2XWIGqVW6yesyVsDYBd7YUs2jiBN8TZCcGY8qTI_rwoM1tv73glxVWYfTeE4fK_hJzCppcHZodDkFxEsMhH-J4NMhg9_BfUXIRlGjDbE/s1600/fingers-crossed_sxc-776014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZeJVsLRqHht2mSuXKOxNVOehk-dP_KrSXgb2XWIGqVW6yesyVsDYBd7YUs2jiBN8TZCcGY8qTI_rwoM1tv73glxVWYfTeE4fK_hJzCppcHZodDkFxEsMhH-J4NMhg9_BfUXIRlGjDbE/s200/fingers-crossed_sxc-776014.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>"I've got this friend, who is lonely. She's afraid she'll never find her one and only, " sang Faith Hill.<br />
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This last weekend, I spoke to two of my dearest friends and they both shared that they were struggling with being single. I then shared that for once, I was feeling really optimistic about being single. <br />
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A week ago, I watched my brother (who is seven years younger than me) get married to his lovely fiancee. I couldn't be happier for them! I have a new sister, whom I love. I thought back to a time when I was really struggling. She and I were on the phone chatting about my (then) current guy situation and she simply asked, "Can I pray for you?" I said yes and as she prayed with me, I broke down in tears.<br />
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Looking back, I think that was the start of my new positive outlook. <br />
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This weekend, I was asked how I could maintain my optimism, despite being single. I just replied that I believe that God has a plan for me and my life; I just need to be patient. I shared this with both of my girls over the weekend and I hope it made a diffence in their lives. <br />
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In any case, I hope that my optimism is contagious. Life's too short to worry about where you should be or who you should be with. Enjoy each moment that you've been given.<br />
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Love you dolls!Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-2580592147918912882010-08-29T19:20:00.000-07:002010-08-29T19:20:43.098-07:00Birthday Reflections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVlBeQxaZYn3xh58o8b6Konwddmk7bYzzteyvw00iCTnQC-nWsbbBrxiaVFZypAu_rgRbL5YRDnbKXOLxIIQ_VXcTbZ3O0XT5U13_V2mUZbJIklx9kfMyejeXMfeKO0jrwXAs5ALV0VU/s1600/Birthday+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVlBeQxaZYn3xh58o8b6Konwddmk7bYzzteyvw00iCTnQC-nWsbbBrxiaVFZypAu_rgRbL5YRDnbKXOLxIIQ_VXcTbZ3O0XT5U13_V2mUZbJIklx9kfMyejeXMfeKO0jrwXAs5ALV0VU/s320/Birthday+Cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As another candle was added to the cake, there was no melancholy for once. As I was enjoying my facial and massage today, I couldn't help but think about my life and how truly blessed I am.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Last night I had the privilege of celebrating with family and friends. I had an amazing time and it was very cool that because of Facebook, friends from Asia, Australia and Europe were sending birthday love last night. Throughout the day, my phone was blowing up from all of the texts and notifications of Facebook wall postings.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A high school friend recently passed and it was another reminder to me that life is so precious and you can't tell someone too many times how much they mean to you. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Thank you to all of my family and friends who wished me a very happy birthday. You have no idea how much I appreciate all that you are and all that you do. Thank you for supporting and loving me. This is my ode to you!Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-53782809560201131042010-08-26T21:42:00.000-07:002010-08-26T21:43:26.336-07:00Must Love Camping?!?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzzNoei91zQK-qRDag9BebsFd0Ro4vU4uOT14-WsEL64AA0UL5hq3zs3Llx6WDqkTbdhdJ0vEdwUHO1MZJz0nEmjA5YLUEevfm_hRWF6-xNrDF__gtZKAS1FTzQD3wuJGK0TT-tEudMo/s1600/Couple+Camping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzzNoei91zQK-qRDag9BebsFd0Ro4vU4uOT14-WsEL64AA0UL5hq3zs3Llx6WDqkTbdhdJ0vEdwUHO1MZJz0nEmjA5YLUEevfm_hRWF6-xNrDF__gtZKAS1FTzQD3wuJGK0TT-tEudMo/s320/Couple+Camping.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I recently jumped back into the online dating world and the one common denominator of all of the men who post is their love of CAMPING! </div><br />
If you know me, you KNOW that camping is not really my thing. My idea of camping involves a hot shower and flushing toilets. If I have those things, I can probably camp for a few days. However, I can't say that MY idea of camping is probably what most people think about camping.<br />
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My family really didn't do much camping when I was younger, but there are a few photos that exist but show us in tents in Yosemite with cots. Not exactly roughing it...<br />
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My sister, brother in law and their children are all about camping and visit Yosemite at least once a year. <br />
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What's most ironic is that I have all the gear to go camping: a sleeping bag, a really nice sleeping pad, tent, camp chair and a latern.<br />
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Instead of camping, I'd rather be in a plush hotel room in a fluffy robe, a glass of bubbly in my hands, and a spa appointment for a massage. <br />
<br />
Perhaps Mr. Right can change my mind about camping? I'll guess we'll have to see ...Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-11247757684656254312010-08-12T06:54:00.000-07:002010-08-12T06:56:27.887-07:0010 Pounds!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tVxICwNAPi_NoDuf7yXQWNP4Fm7-h5LTh-n-GTr3Zq3Q_YgUyetskXzXJmN7FOva0TcIfIBR17BwTUz3tKX7f_GpBjFQ4xA9ykAND2fbhbGSmGKkgOpH0bRB-EOEd70LZphWaOvF0c0/s1600/scale_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tVxICwNAPi_NoDuf7yXQWNP4Fm7-h5LTh-n-GTr3Zq3Q_YgUyetskXzXJmN7FOva0TcIfIBR17BwTUz3tKX7f_GpBjFQ4xA9ykAND2fbhbGSmGKkgOpH0bRB-EOEd70LZphWaOvF0c0/s200/scale_1.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>10 pounds! That's the milestone I hit earlier this week.<br />
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It's been nagging me that I've neglected you, my trusty blog, but I wasn't very inspired to write anything until this morning. I woke up a half hour before my alarm rang and just knew.<br />
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Two posts earlier, I was down in the dumps about shopping and how nothing fit. Yesterday morning, I put on a pair of khakis that hadn't fit in over a year and I couldn't believe my eyes! I was so happy that I told everyone at work! But the 10 pounds hasn't been without hard work. I tried a boot camp class and seriously injuired my back, which sidelined me from working out for a week.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I never realized how many of my social activiities involved food, until I embarked on this weight loss journey. It's so easy to say, "let's meet over drinks or dinner," but since I don't eat "regular" food anymore, that isn't an option. Instead, I've had to meet my friends over coffee, go to a movie, or workout with them. It's just as fulfilling, but not filling.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I can see the weight loss in my face. I don't worry about taking photos at a specific angle, as to not get the dreaded double chin. And with the recent weight loss, I've discovered that I have dimples ... or that they've become a little more prominient.<br />
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I still have about 20 more pounds to go, which will put me at the lowest weight in my adult life, but I can't wait to accomplish my goal.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I want to give a shout out to all of my friends who have been so patient with me and those who encourage me. Please know how much I appreciate you asking how I'm doing and complementing me. It's what makes this so much easier, so thank you!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-5182027502021669672010-07-05T21:26:00.000-07:002010-07-05T21:26:36.011-07:00Travel Expands Many Horizons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWKaSmNOHvNtKMm3VJu_6Hx9q11DA5L-gRvPrmSh7kzJSyWPajRMaK5R5DeTMtwwzpdoGloyX0Z3qsTXjrNpQNAFl_9pkIiaFC8fmh8VpBU68L6DA9xlDMKE9V6LP3e_Uv2riKOrOmlc/s200/Egypt.jpg" width="146" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I recently uploaded some photos of a recent trip to NYC to Facebook and one photo in particular caught my eye. It was a photo of my best friend, Starving with a Side of Sass in St. Louis, and our friend TD. We met TD on our Contiki trip to Egypt in December 2009/January 2010 and became fast friends. This was the second time I've been to NYC since we returned from Egypt and both times, I've been able to meet up with TD. The last time, I even stayed with her at her gorgeous apartment in Brooklyn.<br />
<br />
It's pretty amazing that it took a trip on the other side of the world to connect us. We talked about it when we on a sightseeing trip around the city, how oh so "cosmopolitan" that we can say, "Oh I have a friend from NYC/SF that I met while in Egypt and we're going to see each other when I'm/she's in town."<br />
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As I peruse my friend list on Facebook, I see so many friends I've made during my travels. Friends from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia, Brazil, and U.S. make us the myriad of my friendship group.<br />
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More than just making new friends, it's pretty amazing to travel with my BFF. Traveling with Starving with a Side of Sass in St. Louis has been so much fun to share my travel experiences. She will sometimes text me something that we said during our trip and it will make me laugh out loud.<br />
<br />
I've never really created a Top 10 list of our travel, but highlights include:<br />
<ul><li>Almost falling out of our bunk during a really hard stop in the middle of the night during our night train to Luxor</li>
<li>Slipping in the bathtub during our Nile Cruise and creating a slip 'n slide in our bathroom with our shower curtain</li>
<li>Haggling over tunics in the night market in Luxor</li>
<li>Becoming so bron in Nha Trang that it hurt to put clothes on for days after</li>
<li>Seeing her freak out when a baby monkey jumped on her in Cambodia</li>
<li>Realizing I can never trust her with a map while wandering aimlessly in Old Town Hanoi</li>
<li>Treking 12k in Sapa in four hours, through rice paddies with the assistance of pre-teen girls wearing open toe flip flops</li>
</ul>How else has travel enriched your life? Sound off with a comment!Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-66220653914734613492010-06-13T20:31:00.000-07:002010-07-05T20:50:56.985-07:00Haven't Been Starving and It Shows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIzsrBCsKH5M494OVe8y2mA07J25fCdaKSQklUqV04IdhbJghVLl7TR6JwhTEcuT5_GeAIgoMxAT8n_comjvJqGmnEGcx8U7DLJlSpTn5ZqcdsYTZN1LFlddHyhC1qjfKkcRYPdjzoIE/s1600/Too+Tight+Pants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIzsrBCsKH5M494OVe8y2mA07J25fCdaKSQklUqV04IdhbJghVLl7TR6JwhTEcuT5_GeAIgoMxAT8n_comjvJqGmnEGcx8U7DLJlSpTn5ZqcdsYTZN1LFlddHyhC1qjfKkcRYPdjzoIE/s200/Too+Tight+Pants.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I have money ... and it was burning a hole in my pocket. I was in the mood to spend, spend, spend and update my wardrobe. I wanted to pick up some clothes for my upcoming NYC trip but alas, I was fruitless.<br />
<br />
I did so much shopping but only bought one shirt, one skirt, one purse, two pairs of shoes and perfume. The problem was that nothing appealed to me and nothing fit! <br />
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I was so mad because I'm in between sizes and it's not the size I want. A few weeks ago, I had a good week where I worked out four days in a row and then last week, it only was two days of spinning. I have to get back on track with my diet and gym routine. The little blue diet pills aren't working on their own, so it's time to kick it in serious gear and rededicate myself. There are some big winds of change (I think, hope and pray!) coming my way and I'm ready to meet them head on.<br />
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Let's do this!Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-22263687357694655932010-06-04T19:18:00.000-07:002010-06-04T19:18:22.678-07:00To Kiss Or Not To Kiss? That is the Question<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWO-Xmy_FPcFEzP67z-UD6aPPhFlegwhSN2sMB64fz9kyo7MVJP7D1Ve9X2ZCiBEs41f9axe5XIbVLylQOBrByEzQOq9icXDc3Q0YCaZQPXhl-xTFDZLBFGxxffXwA9_dOsEKNstxknE/s1600/couple-kissing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWO-Xmy_FPcFEzP67z-UD6aPPhFlegwhSN2sMB64fz9kyo7MVJP7D1Ve9X2ZCiBEs41f9axe5XIbVLylQOBrByEzQOq9icXDc3Q0YCaZQPXhl-xTFDZLBFGxxffXwA9_dOsEKNstxknE/s200/couple-kissing.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Is it aproprate to kiss on a first date or better to avoid it? On this particular date, my choice was to avoid it. <br />
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Although I had a good time and thought it was possible we'd go again, I wasn't quite there. Since then, we've hung out a handful of times, sometimes alone, other times with a group. I have a great time with him and feel so comfortable but still haven't felt like it was the right time for a first kiss. <br />
<br />
So tonight I opened up explained my conservative nature and told him that I was still healing from a breakup and that I wasn't sure if I was really ready to move on. Even though I put the breaks on things, it seemed to have the opposite affect on him...grabbing my hand after dinner and reaching around me for a hug. <br />
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The moment came when he pulled inf ront of my house and asked for the third time to walk me to my door. Leaving the choice to him he walked me to my door made a silly plight to come inside. That's when it happened he went in for the kiss and I obligied. <br />
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It wasn't great but wasn't terrible, my preference wouldve been to wait especialy regarding my recent past, but now where do we go? I'm ready to press pause but he seems to be stuck on play.<br />
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Starving with a Side of Sass in St. LouisStarving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-27051964774738895522010-05-31T21:08:00.000-07:002010-05-31T21:08:38.078-07:00The Ex Factor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpXMwzNEGMKYZhy3M6zLpeR6UJti9FHEd-hPOQ_L5-dl8dIjYOCcPYS_SeLMMeYXbUFwFUWGs6Oksw8PDD8OPlxirW71Lc4iGJBZw5ZjPPxMpFxskE-ak2hP1X_VuHzE5evz5TH0oCBI/s1600/logo_facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpXMwzNEGMKYZhy3M6zLpeR6UJti9FHEd-hPOQ_L5-dl8dIjYOCcPYS_SeLMMeYXbUFwFUWGs6Oksw8PDD8OPlxirW71Lc4iGJBZw5ZjPPxMpFxskE-ak2hP1X_VuHzE5evz5TH0oCBI/s200/logo_facebook.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Ahhh Facebook...What to do when you get a friend request from an ex? Do you accept it, then block them so they don't see all of your photos or wall?<br />
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I'm blogging about this because tonight I got a friend request from someone I was recently dating. We didn't make it past the three dates/major discussion about religion phase. It didn't end badly, but it ended. I sent the obligatory, "I don't think it'll work out because of X reason ..." So, why does he want to be Facebook friends?<br />
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I only have one ex-boyfriend as a friend on Facebook and I can say he is not a restricted friend. Of course, we are friends and there were/are no hard feelings.<br />
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Thoughts? Should I accept and block? Should I accept with full access? Just some random thoughts on a Sunday night.Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-11266093340264483802010-05-31T20:40:00.000-07:002010-05-31T20:42:08.307-07:00Coco Chanel Was a Genius<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbPlNthsgFv_CjrP_44Quia_Qhyphenhyphenc4Fk-qzRCPWoULhp-r3xx4JOYbuuIl4e_8kHEv7jz-fRfGQvRKMWoI75ao26tvH8s8436n9XNAw7vNsneo3DHJU7G1CRY2faC46QNZoDbDoGfmidk/s1600/Audrey+Hepburn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbPlNthsgFv_CjrP_44Quia_Qhyphenhyphenc4Fk-qzRCPWoULhp-r3xx4JOYbuuIl4e_8kHEv7jz-fRfGQvRKMWoI75ao26tvH8s8436n9XNAw7vNsneo3DHJU7G1CRY2faC46QNZoDbDoGfmidk/s200/Audrey+Hepburn.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>She once famously said, "Dress shabbily, they notice the dress. Dress impeccably, they notice the woman."<br />
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Today, I was planning to workout after I watched Sex and the City 2 (more on that later), so I was wearing yoga pants, T-shirt, grey North Face fleece and some trainers. <br />
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I was a little early for the movie, so I swung by the Kiehl's at the Westfield. My mother recently asked me for some help with finding a cream that removes age and dark spots. I asked for some assistance with one sales team members and I saw him look me up and down. <br />
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While I can't 100 percent say this was the reason, but I felt that because I left the Jimmy Choos at home, I felt I was unfairly judged by what I was wearing. It could be that I just received poor customer service, but at that moment, I felt really strange. I didn't feel like I was dressed shabbily, but I probably could've sassed it up a bit more. I didn't feel that because I wasn't super dressed up, didn't mean that I couldn't afford a $52 cream.<br />
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What do you think? Have you ever had that happen to you? Maybe more when you were a teenager? Sound off and let me know.Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-31101022359958962682010-05-26T22:44:00.000-07:002010-05-26T22:45:09.744-07:00To Sleep, Perchance to Dream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK297SFHi3KqFL2SC0mOZRarC0LpOUdg3sgTHGh5JGvKLThiYNBu4LslkFcRdlO-bUmoDnr15ZvAoYN1g07z9Uj15lIbLPhTuCDeBRMH10XftwEXqBq7F7PiDYVgslTWb66RE4_22KJTM/s1600/sleep+mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK297SFHi3KqFL2SC0mOZRarC0LpOUdg3sgTHGh5JGvKLThiYNBu4LslkFcRdlO-bUmoDnr15ZvAoYN1g07z9Uj15lIbLPhTuCDeBRMH10XftwEXqBq7F7PiDYVgslTWb66RE4_22KJTM/s200/sleep+mask.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This post is courtesy of my BFF who will occasionally guest blog.<br />
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It's 3:30am i'm not sleeping...I've tried my usual tricks, turned on the fan for white noise and gone to the bathroom. <br />
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Instead of turning on the TV, I turned to my iPod. First, I blinded myself with the bright white glow. After getting one eye to adjust, I now have to figure out how to type with my right hand since the left is asleep...if only that was the case for the rest of me. I try laying on my side so I can type with one hand and not hold the iPod, which only leads to a crick in my neck. I fumble with it, clicking back to the main screen only to realize it's upside down, which helped inspire this post. <br />
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I wonder if it's a female thing - not sleeping. I haven't slept since my early twentys. Is it preperation for children? If you ask my mom, she hasn't slept in 33 years. I used to wake up and worry about work, now I just think, "Why can't I sleep?" I'm not thinking about work, although it creeps in there. I'm definitely not thinking about kids (yet). There seems to be nothing in the forefront, so what is it? <br />
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Was it my dinner and the overindulgence of cheese butter spread awesomeness (which was btw NOT on the diet)?<br />
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Obvisouly I haven't gotten my answer...back to fumbling in the dark waiting for sleep to overcome me.<br />
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~Starving and Sleepless in St. LouisStarving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-14049097084734857592010-05-25T23:02:00.000-07:002010-05-25T23:02:16.532-07:00Saying Goodbye to TV Shows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYcXjx33DmkBPXGVdVTjcgxkUz_2XR6ErIzpJcSFGJf9hjO9cOvWczRRrd8qai5drCAXsUs8ry1rR6K7LSLltsU4Bwyqn_G5vrtfislkANxxvPWLz11by27LlDi1W1z3Bd29_Mtcuq0Y/s1600/TV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYcXjx33DmkBPXGVdVTjcgxkUz_2XR6ErIzpJcSFGJf9hjO9cOvWczRRrd8qai5drCAXsUs8ry1rR6K7LSLltsU4Bwyqn_G5vrtfislkANxxvPWLz11by27LlDi1W1z3Bd29_Mtcuq0Y/s200/TV.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Tonight saw the season finale of The Biggest Loser and Parenthood. However in the Fall, these shows will be back. <br />
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But what happens to shows that don't come back?<br />
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The series finale of LOST was on Sunday and it was the topic de jour around the watercooler on Monday. On Tuesday, I said goodbye to Jack Bauer and 24 and a friend (who shall remain nameless) said he got a little misty-eyed at the end.<br />
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The series finale of MASH still remains the most watched series finale, followed by Cheers, Seinfeld and Friends. We invest so much of our time and lives into TV shows that when they're over, there's something that is missing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSW8-gT-O5iPyc5TSi_vlb8XyxW0pClAoi37R8asfcIZLqVgY7cMNqkqi3LmCYOSk1pEtt9YZEygggJnEz_xoHU9z4wdHt2rhYpw1C4Y8tgTWodMkt5eTtH5KaGSBxdaHceouBv5IfEzM/s1600/GilmoreGirlsLogo-400x114.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSW8-gT-O5iPyc5TSi_vlb8XyxW0pClAoi37R8asfcIZLqVgY7cMNqkqi3LmCYOSk1pEtt9YZEygggJnEz_xoHU9z4wdHt2rhYpw1C4Y8tgTWodMkt5eTtH5KaGSBxdaHceouBv5IfEzM/s200/GilmoreGirlsLogo-400x114.gif" width="200" /></a></div>For me, that show is Gilmore Girls. Tuesday nights will never be the same. I don't know what it is about this show that appeals to me so much. The awesome mother/daughter relationship? The obscure pop cultureal reference? The insane pace of the conversation? Small town (idyllic) life of Stars Hollow? The tension between Luke and Lorelai? Seeing Rory got to Yale and thrive? Through DVD's, I've been able to return to Stars Hollow whenever I want ... and lately, I've been visiting a lot (Currently through Season 3).Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6635625594775649738.post-42681969139335362682010-05-25T21:58:00.000-07:002010-05-26T15:11:30.570-07:00Welcome to Starving With a Side of Sass!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuRThIhSr9yd4FrWxtvhehyBRHbN7vQs2ZZMloKr8PLJQWDP1O94-G3RcFoQMK7u1N1R4ZPZNQbTaeVvrf5dwkQo2pCK-tM9dlDT_SbUUNhJJLE1jmveoltNlg9aO6HilvANbuCMPht8/s1600/Golden+Gate+Bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuRThIhSr9yd4FrWxtvhehyBRHbN7vQs2ZZMloKr8PLJQWDP1O94-G3RcFoQMK7u1N1R4ZPZNQbTaeVvrf5dwkQo2pCK-tM9dlDT_SbUUNhJJLE1jmveoltNlg9aO6HilvANbuCMPht8/s320/Golden+Gate+Bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Wishing all of you a hearty welcome to my inaugural blog post, from the city by the bay. <br />
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Thank you for taking this journey with me. I hope you laugh with me (and at me), cry with me, argue with me, but above all, I hope I make you think about your life, blessings, friendships and relationships.<br />
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I don't profess to be an expert, but I'm glad you've chosen to join me on this adventure. It's gonna be a bumpy ride!Starving With a Side of Sasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11179353583399895905noreply@blogger.com0