Go Green!

Today, we celebrate Mother Earth. Happy Earth Day!

We had a lovely celebration of Earth Day at work today, where several vendors came out to show us what we can do to help conserve. I learned that I have a below average carbon footprint, which is good news. I also learned that eating meat contributes to global warming.

Unfortunately for Mother Earth, I'm going to continue eating meat...because I'm a carnivore. However, I will try to make an effort to include one meatless meal into my week. That's about all I can stand.

I have tried over the past year to do a few things to do my part to conserve, such as:

1. Using reusable shopping bags
2. Recycling as much as I can
3. Using a Brita instead of buying water bottles
4. Taking shorter showers
5. Growing my little garden

Here are some things I'd love to do, but they're probably not going to happen:

1. Bike to work...it's 29 miles each way
2. Grow a full on vegetable garden...perhaps if my tomato plant survives, I'll move on to a second vegetable
3. Unplug all electronics while not in use...we have so many, it would take me an hour just to unplug them all
4. Eat a vegan diet...I hear it's fantastic for your body, however, I really like meat
5. Compost...I'm just too lazy to do this

Happy Earth Day! And as my favorite tshirt as a teenager during my hippie phase said: "Save Mom"

Get it?

Kitchen Songs

Tonight after dinner, Nile and I were in the kitchen cleaning up and packing lunch for the next day when Nile made a realization. 


Every time we are in the kitchen together working, we break out into song.


At this point, we had already sung the Lifesavers and Crystal Light jingles, and were working on the "I got a pickle, I got a pickle, I got a pickle, hey, hey, hey, hey!" from the Little Rascals (because Nile pulled a jar of pickles out of the fridge...obviously.) Another favorite is the Fat Albert theme song and the Adam Sandler Thanksgiving song, but they didn't make it into tonight's line-up.


Then we realized that we have the screen door open, and because we live in a town house, it makes it quite easy for the neighbors to hear what's going on. 


I wonder what they think about us? 


At any rate, Nile decided to be a culinary master and pack his lunch AND breakfast. I observed while he made himself a scrambled egg concoction for tomorrow morning. It was like observing a monkey outside his natural habitat. I had to take photo evidence.


Also, please note that, yes, he is wearing his Leprechaun tuxedo shirt. It's his "play clothes" and just happened to also be featured in the above post.

Look how happy he is with himself!

Some Photos

Here are a few photos I've been meaning to share. They are a visual representation of some of my past posts.


First, here are some delightful photos from my St. Patty's Day/Birthday Celebration:

Me dancing an Irish jig

Matt and Jenny hanging out with Wiggles

Nile and his co-worker, Kevin, enjoying a beer
NOTE: Nile shaved that terrible hobo beard off since my birthday.

Now, here are some photos of my current gardening adventures. I wanted to document that these plants are alive, in case they meet their demise at some point down the road.

Basil sprouting from seeds that I planted. 

My little garden. Left to right: Lavender, Rosemary, Basil, Tomatoes

And here is an Azalea bush that I did not plant, but have no killed either. That is a great success, seeing as how I killed 2 last year in NJ.

Finally, here is the my new pride and joy...my new car! 2010 Toyota Corolla in Magnetic Grey

 

Black Thumb Turned Green?

Every year, when the weather starts to get warmer, I get the itch to plant something. Last year, I tried my hand at tomatoes, basil, and peppers.

The results? Dead plants and crushed dreams.

This year, I've done a pretty good job of keeping my houseplants alive. That gives me some indication that perhaps my black thumb is showing a tinge of green.

So, here I go again. I went to Home Depot on Sunday and bought the following:

1. 1 tomato plant
2. 1 basil plant
3. 1 lavendar plant
4. 1 rosemary plant

Now, you may say to yourself, "But Heather, you have failed at growing tomatoes and basil. Why would you try again?"

If you ask Nile, it's because I like to waste money. If you ask me, it's because I've done research (on the internets of course), and I believe I have found my mistakes and am ready to fix them.

Each plant is in a pot on my back deck, getting the most sun possible (because the little tag thingys says they need 'full sun'...I think I failed to read that last year.)

It's Day 3...they aren't dead yet. Perhaps if I succeed, I will move on to peppers.

As Seen On TV

The other day, I was strolling through Target, looking for a bottle of Draino to clear a hair clog in our shower drain.

While I was in the home goods section (specifically closet organization), I found an "As Seen On TV" display of products on the aisle endcap. Of course I had to stop and look because I already watch all the infomercials on TV, and have convinced myself I can't live without half of the products.

As I was browsing, I found the Turbosnake. You may have seen the ad, but this handy little device snakes your drain for hair clogs. You shove it down the drain, give it a twist and the velcro-like attachment pulls out the hair. It was $9.99...about the same as a bottle of Draino, but less toxic. So I decided to give it a try.

The verdict?

I would say that my $9.99 was well spent! It was easy to use, and definitely got the hair clog out of the drain. It took a few times of snaking the drain for me to get all the hair (I've been shedding), but it cleared the clog, as promised. And, it comes with a smaller size for clearing sink drains.

But that's not all!

It also comes with a handy plastic hook for easy storage! Woweeeeeeee!

So, in conclusion, if you have some minor hair clogs, I would say pay the $9.99. What have you got to lose?

Fitness Progress

Today was a day of victory. I measured and I'm down an inch in my waist, bringing me to 1.5 inches lost! Woohoo!

Now, you might be wondering why I'm so obsessed with measuring my waist. I'm still interested in my other parts becoming slimmer, however I happen to be cursed with what my sister and I like to call the "Gut, Butt and Gobbler."

Yes, all the women on my mother's side of the family have trouble with these areas. We gain all our weight in our gut first (awesome), butt second (even better), and then we develop that extra flabby skin/fat combo under our chin (impossible to get rid of). It's nice to know I'm not the only one that struggles with this...my family can totally relate (thanks for that gene, Nana :) )

I've started varying up my ab work, which I'm sure is helping. Per Katie's recommendation, I'm laying flat on a mat, with my legs at a 90 degree angle, then Nile stands in front of me and throws my legs down. My objective is to keep them from hitting the ground. This may sound harmless, but it's hardddd! Also, beware, because it pushes all excess gas out of your stomach. I'm just saying.

Also, yesterday I had my first spinning class in two weeks (I hadn't been able to make some of the classes), and there was a new instructor. Now, picture in your mind this image:

• Male
• Approximately 40 years of age
• Skinny, but with awkward muscles
• Cycling jersey with "Spinning" in block letters across the front
• Yellow cycling hat with the brim up
• Black, yellow and white spandex shorts with padding in the front AND the back
• AND the word "Spinning" across the ass

In a word...amazing. And he danced on his bike to the music. Definitely one of the best classes yet. He totally kicked my behind to the point where I could only lay down in a certain position. Totally worth it though...I can just feel the fat melting off the gobbler.