The Perfect Body?

Body image is a difficult issue.

I struggle with it. Almost everyone I know struggles with it in some form or another.

I also pride myself as an athlete. Am I an Olympian? Buahaha! Absolutely not. But I do love anything fun and active.

My sister-in-law recently forwarded this article on to me. It's photographic proof that there is no ideal body type, even for Olympic athletes---and these people use their bodies to make a living.

Check out this article and flip through the pictures. Good stuff!

http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/03/09/the-perfect-body-as-illustrated-by-olympic-athletes/

Does this assuage all my fears about the perfect body image? No. But it does help.

Superbowl Cookies

I know, I know, the Superbowl was a week ago---but I'm finally getting to my pictures. Last Sunday was cold and snowy, so chocolate chip cookies were in order.

Baking with the roomies (well, I baked... we all ate):

Cookies! One batch has chopped pecans.

Roomies in the kitchen

We ate a couple as they were cooling down.

I look amazing on Sunday mornings, ch-obviously.



Our team mascot, Kaiser.

 The cookies were at hit at one of the two Superbowl parties we attended (the batch was eaten before the second party). They were even used to make some... unique... sandwiches. I can't explain it, just know that candle wax was used as a topping . Yummy?

Music

I'm behind on pop culture. I haven't been to a theater in ages and I have a hard time sitting down for movies as it is. However, I love corny, poppy, booty-shakin' music where I can rock out in the car or at the gym.

Some of my favorite songs/videos lately:




Bruno Mars, Grenade (I rock out to this every time!)




Rock Mafia, The Big Bang (this video startled me---not what I was expecting)




Jerrod Niemann, Lover, Lover (a little country for y'all)




Marry Me, Train (a sweet song and video that speaks to the inner romantic in me)

Dear Kindle: Happy Valentine's Day. I Heart You.

Why, hello handsome! I'm talking about the Kindle here. Yeah, that's it. Ahem, definitely looking at the Kindle...

I've already told y'all many times how much I love and adore my Kindle. But my buddy, Matt, was just debating on whether or not to get one himself. So, for him and everyone else out here, let me explain why it's so awesome. The reason is simple:

I read more.

Honestly, I read 10-times more now with the Kindle than I did with paper books. Before I would get bored or frustrated with a title, set it down, and never read anything because I felt guilty for not finishing the one book. With the Kindle, I just go to the menu and pick another title that suits my mood.

For example, books that I have read over the past few months (an asterisk by the title name means that I recommend it!):

Top-Sellers:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (The original title is "Men Who Hate Women." That is a much more apt description of this book.)
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
*The Help by Kathryn Stockett
*Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
*Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
My Horizonal Life by Chelsea Handler
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

I admit that love corny chic-lit and romance novels. They're quick, easy, and fun. (I read academic texts for work, so anything that's a departure from that then I'm all about it!)

Nora Roberts (Every single Roberts story has the same plot-line and basic character set, but its a formula that always pleases. Just don't put too much thought into it.)
Bed of Roses
Savor the Moment
Happily Ever After

J.R. Ward (A mix between vampires, special-ops, sci-fi, and romance. Slightly more thinking involved than Roberts and therefore slightly more fun.)
*Crave
Covet
Dark Lover

Other cheesy romance titles:
*Enchanting the Lady, My Unfair Lady, and the Firelord's Lover by Kathryn Kennedy

Mixed titles:
The Trump Card by Ivanka Trump
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
*The Virginian by Owen Wister (one of my all-time favorite books)

Of course, I have opinions about each and every title---but I won't bore you with them now. If you're interested in a reading one of these books and would like to know my thoughts then shoot me a line! I'd be happy to talk about it. (Internet book club, holla!)

The final thing that contributes to my love affair with the Kindle is that you can get cute accessories for it. This is where the awesomeness that is Etsy comes into play: cute Kindle sleeves.

Happy reading!

Focus

I feel like my life has been very much "in limbo" lately. I'm trying to figure everything out (whatever that means). What are my next steps? Where do I want to go from here? What are the opportunities that are available to me? What are the opportunities that I need to create?

My head is going to explode just thinking about it.

So, in the meantime I've been trying to take one day at a time. What are the little steps I can take? What are the things I enjoy?

For example, this weekend has been excellent. I've been able to cook, eat lots of food, spend time with family and friends, and also focus on myself (and focus on my growing pile of laundry).

Here are some great pics from my Saturday morning hike with family and friends. It was 60-degrees in Denver---in January! Heaven.

View from our hike in Deer Creek Canyon

My brother, Peter, his wife, Alissa, and their awesome dogs Dublin and Rowdy

Adam and his huskies, Deuce and Maverick

Peter and I

Adam and I

I also headed to Downtown Denver on Saturday night for a friend's birthday party. We started the evening with dinner and desserts at The D Bar (short for The Dessert Bar). Oh. My. God. The place was amazing. It's tiny and seats about 8 people, but the wait was worth it. Go there. Now.

My cooking conquests also continue. I love cooking because it's a challenge for me. I started not long ago knowing nothing. I could barely boil a pot of pasta. With every new recipe I feel like I've accomplished something... I learned something... I grew in a small way. It's all about baby steps.

Since the weather is getting colder again, I dusted off the Crockpot and made some homemade chili and cornbread.

Steaming chili

Skillet cornbread

Yum!

I'm trying to take one day at a time and celebrate the little accomplishments as they come. So far, it's working.

Clueless with a Camera

I haven't posted in a while; since around the new year---obviously. And, to be honest, I have nothing new or informative or exciting to write about. Everything's good, just, ya know, nothing new. I've been busy with work and family and friends. All positive, just not blog-worthy.

Since I have my fancy new camera, here are a few things that have been going on:

My gorgeous new car!

Emily scored some 4th row tickets for the Avs game! Opening faceoff.

At the Mammoth game for Em's bday!

Union Station, downtown Denver.

2011 Denver Stock Show! Some cowboy booty.

Colorado sunrise

Family fun at the Brewery Bar II

Kitchen conquest! Skillet pork chops with apples and red onions.

Yummy!

Babysitting the kiddos! Ava and Andrew.



Happy New Year!

My niece, Ava, ringing in the New Year!

I am super-excited for 2011. Last year seemed to be a tough year for most people. Admittedly, it was a tough year for me. Not that everything will change at the stroke of midnight, but the initial outlook and excitement of a new year is inspiring.  I have a number of things that I'd like to work on or strive toward, but I don't want to call them "resolutions." This is because I always have goals for myself and because the word "resolution" often equates to failure. We laugh at people's feeble attempts to work out every day or eat perfectly or whatever. However, I believe that working towards self-improvement, whether you do or don't finish a specific task, should never mean failure. The action of doing something alone means that you are a step ahead!  That's my pep talk for this year. 
One of my goals for 2011 is to continue cooking and to try even more recipes. So, this morning I dragged myself to the gym (I'm an out-of-shape mofo! Another thing to work on...), ran to the grocery store, and came home to make a spicy Thai green curry dish. This stuff is soooo good and sooooo spicy that it was making me sweat. Yum!  I adapted the recipe from here. I can tell I'm becoming a better cook when I now can look at a recipe and easily adapt it according to my tastes and what is in my kitchen.

Score!!! Pictures! (Taken with my new, awesome camera that Santa brought for Christmas.)

Thai Green Curry in the skillet. Lots and lots of food. Yum!

Heaven, anyone?

Random, but here's a picture of my roommate, Miles.
This man lives on cereal and his TV. True story. Love it!