Tag Archives: apples to apples

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Kind Of Like The Brady Bunch

I took a little hiatus from blogging the last few days, reading and writing, because I was enjoying a weekend that was somewhat reminiscent of the Brady Bunch.

On Thursday, after Ryan got home from work, we made our way to New Jersey to visit my mom, her boyfriend, and his four children.

Ryan, Linds and I were packed tightly with games, food and other random entertainment, ready and excited for a post-Thanksgiving break.

We had met two of Jim’s kids, his younger son and daughter, and spent a lot of time with them in the past, but his oldest are very close to Ryan and my age and live in California and South Carolina, meaning there haven’t been many opportunities for ALL of us to get together. So in addition to our clan of my mom, Linds, Ryan and I, Jim had his four children and two of their significant others; 11 people in total, celebrating the holiday, and it was a blast!

We arrived a bit late Thursday, but still enjoyed some time around the fire getting to know one another. Friday, however, we did a Weaber family favorite; bowling.

After a nice walk around the neighborhood, breakfast and a little primping, we piled into two cars and headed to the lanes. I have not bowled in a tremendously long time so my skills were a bit off, but we laughed, joked and had a fantastic time watching the ultra-serious bowler extraordinaire next to us.

Perhaps I should have emulated the stretching routine and star-look-alike follow-through this guy performed after every throw because he was quite the professional.

Super serious bowler, white shirt…can’t you tell!

Alex trying to see if it worked…

A few hours and some friendly competition later, we went home and took advantage of the abnormally beautiful black Friday and took another stroll. It felt so good to get some fresh air, in great company, on a day that felt more like early fall than a month before the winter.

For dinner we went to a restaurant Jim took us to before; a family favorite and I completely understand why.

It is a tiny mom and pop Italian eatery with no more than 25 tables, waiters that treat you like royalty, and food that is out of this world.

I have to take a second to discuss the eating aspect of this restaurant, just because in my severe restriction days you could not pay me to eat at an Italian establishment.

And if by some miracle, or horrific fortune that it was the only choice (um, like when we were actually in Italy) I would compensate with a gazillion miles on the treadmill and a whole ton of negative-self talk.

So the last time we ate at Guerriero’s I ordered a salad, no cheese, and just vinegar on the side (so that meant, lettuce, tomato and vinegar…exciting) and a plain piece of fish with some steamed vegetables.

I barely touched the protein because as Ryan said, it was pretty darn boring, and the I went home starving and grumpy.

This time I am sad to say I had a similar plan. Instead of the fish I was going to go with a bean soup with escarole and chicken broth, but then when I saw a balsamic chicken entrée, featuring sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and mushrooms, my mouth started to water.

How good does that sound?!

I am sorry I didn’t take a picture because it really was fantastic, but afterwards my head was going insane. I felt bloated and embarrassed for eating an entrée (even though everyone else had entrée’s as well) and I just wanted to go away and hide.

Thank gosh for Super Ryan because when we got home we pulled out good old Apples to Apples for some more family fun, and I somewhat (NOT FULLY, BUT SOMEWHAT) snapped out of it.

Have you ever played a game like that with a bunch of twenty-some years olds and then an eight and ten-year old? It makes for some interesting answers I will tell you, but we had a ton of fun and made some good memories.

Saturday we had a leisurely morning; a walk, breakfast, a little football in the yard, and then ventured into town to visit Santa on the Green, do a little Hanukkah shopping (Jim and his family celebrate both holidays) and just enjoy another fantastic November day.

Mid-afternoon we were ready to have some lazy time watching Penn State and later Clemson, and while the boys enjoyed their pig-skin, Jim’s daughter and I made a very special trip to Trader Joes. She had only been there once, so she volunteered to come with me to pick out all the supplies for our dinner; a Mexican Extravaganza!

We made tacos, nachos, salads, soft-shell fajitas, peppers, and had a bar of toppings that rivaled Chipotle.

It was so nice to have a more quiet evening at home, in sweats, at a table where we could all talk, and enjoy one another, rather than in a loud, Saturday-night-filled eatery.

After some desert (which I will totally show you in WIAW!) and another vivacious round of Apples to Apples, I was totally ready for bed.

As much as I wanted to stay up and take in every moment of our last evening with my new family, I really was exhausted.

There were many difficult moments of the past few days, regarding food, exercise, and more personal issues I have yet to work out, but it did prove that family is very very important, and a part of my life I am really starting to appreciate.

I don’t have a normal family dynamic. My biological father is one story and my adopted is another. My mom is my best friend. My sister and I live together, and I am grateful every single day for the new familial members that continue to be added to the tree.

I loved the show the Brady Bunch and think its pretty darn cool that we emulated that model this weekend. I cant wait to see what Christmasakuh is like :-)

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Happy Thanksgiving!

I cannot believe today is Thanksgiving!!!!

Where the heck has this year gone?

We celebrate a little differently in our family because Ryan has a job that does not shut down for anything, and so he works most holidays, which just means we shift around plans here and there so we still get to participate in some of the traditions we all know and love.

Last night we celebrated with his family, so after I got home from work we headed straight over to his parents for the usual Turkey and trimmings, family, friends, and love.

I have noticed the trend today in the blog-world, but the Weabers also start their meal by saying a prayer and going around the table with everyone telling something they are thankful for.

Although I truly believe we should remind ourselves of our blessings every day of the year, I know that is not always realistic, but for today here are just a few things I am grateful for and really need to celebrate.

1. I AM HOME!

Yes I know I told you all this the other day, but it is wonderful to be home for the holidays, watching the Macy’s Day Parade (does anyone else still love this broadcast), spending time with family I don’t get to see much anymore, and enjoying a little down time.

Since today I was home alone, I actually took the time to SLEEP.

In the past three work days I put in a little extra time to get acclimated with my new position, the environment and daily tasks. My mind was literally spinning with numbers, a to-do list, etc. and I seriously needed a mental shut-down.

I am not really a sleeper…I wake up super early, and I very rarely nap, but today I let my body rise naturally, take a nap, and enjoy the quiet. It was weird, but totally refreshing. Exactly what I needed.

2. I am thankful for my body.

I may criticize it a lot but I am very lucky my body has not completely rebelled against me and have more wrong with it medically than it does.

I get very swollen, have some bone-loss and my hair is a bit thin, but big deal. All those things are totally correctable if I play my cards right.

My body lets me dance, move, hug, snuggle, stretch, walk, play. It lets me do a whole heck of a lot of things some people cannot do, and for that, I am extremely grateful.

3. Friends!

You know its weird, but I always said I didn’t need friends.

I didn’t have time for people outside work, school, my crazy-busy schedule, but what I truly meant was that I didn’t have time for friends and an eating disorder.

This year, however, has been amazing because I have developed some of the most wonderful friendships through blogging, Zumba, and just putting myself out there for others to see.

I never thought anyone would want to spend time with me, other than those who have to (haha my poor family!) but I have a GREAT TIME just being around my peers with similar interests, hobbies, and are just overall fabulous people.

I feel so blessed to have all my new friends in my life, because they truly inspire me and help me grow as a woman, every, single day.

Who was I kidding…not needing friends. Obviously that lack of nutrition was totally messing with my brain function.

4. Family!

I don’t really talk about my family dynamic on here because its pretty complicated.

I always joke that I couldn’t believe a “normal” family like Ryan’s would ever be present in my life because mine is a bit different.  But the things I have gone through with my loved ones, have only made me stronger, and my relationships with those who surround, me even better.

I will probably at some point explain a little more of what I am referring to, but today is not the day.

For now, all you need to know is that when my mom moved to NJ I was thrilled to see her happy, but sad to see her go.

She is my best friend in the entire universe and its weird not having her here when I am bored and need someone to talk to, just to stop by on a random whim, or to have coffee with in the mornings while she stands at our breakfast counter in her robe and I am gobbling down some Chobani (I totally have her hooked on my fave yogurt now too!).

But tonight Ryan, my sister and I are piling in the car and heading her way. We are going to celebrate our holiday at her house, with my NEW family of her significant other and his four children (2 of which I am meeting for the very first time!)

In my opinion, the more the merrier so I can’t wait to add a few more to our clan. 

The back of my car is filled with Wii games, Apples to Apples, Taboo, Scattergories, lots of movies, cards, etc. so we can spend some good quality time together. Isn’t that what the holiday is all about?!

And finally….

5. This…

Yup, just a little preview of some upcoming recipe posts…a Ryan favorite, a delicious side for any time of year, and a sinless desert that I am pretty PUMPED to share…

I hope you all have a wonderful day, counting your blessings, enjoying some delicious treats, and just relaxing.  I know I will :-)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

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Weekend Wonderful

I used to absolutely dread weekends.

I am not kidding I hated them.

I hated the down time. I hated the lack of structure. I hated that I didn’t feel accomplished because even though there are a thousand things I COULD be doing; such as cleaning the bead board with a toothbrush (sounds fun doesn’t it?!) sometimes I just did not feel like doing it and that made me feel like an unproductive loser.

But now, even though I am still NOT a party girl by any means, weekends are growing on me.

Before, my off days would consists of a 4:00 a.m. wake up because my stomach was literally growling from the lack of nutrition the previous day. That would result in me eating what I thought was way too much and then a ton of guilt, a treadmill session that was never ever good enough, fast enough, long enough, and being so exhausted that I wanted to go back to sleep but my mind was racing too fast for that to even be possible.

I would then grocery shop, which depending on where I went could take an eternity, since I would browse through the aisles gawking at all the food I could not possibly keep in the house for fear of bingeing a losing complete control.

When this was finished and the purchases were put neatly in the appropriate places (I am seriously weird about my refrigerator and pantry) then I would flip through cook books deciding what to make for the upcoming week’s menu of lunches.

I would then clean (attempt to anyway), run countless errands to avoid being in the house, or work on the computer, watching the clock, wishing it would get to my 11:30 lunch time.

Many who have struggled with an eating disorder will tell you, your belly does not dictate you when its time for a meal or a snack, it’s the clock.

After my pre-sun-rise breakfast, my hunger would actually come back around 9 (go figure since that was more than 4 hours after my last meal) but that was just not acceptable. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE 11:30 get here faster!!!

That was also around the time when Ryan would wake up and I would make him a special breakfast and asked what he wanted to do for the day. This usually included movies, walks or bike rides outside, board games, shopping, seeing family, etc.

These were the highlights of my day because I wasn’t alone. I desperately wanted to be with other people, hoping to escape my mind for any amount of time, but I certainly did not want to have meals with others. We could do an afternoon visit but dinner plans were out of the question.

Thank gosh it was by now close to 5:00 PM, which I could start preparing dinner. Like an old person I always requested dinner by 6:00. The loud grumbles from my tummy were now becoming pretty hostile so they needed something pronto.

Following dinner would always be some sort of activity with Ryan or my sister so I wouldn’t have an anxiety attack about what I had consumed over the course of the day.

We were big fans of Apples to Apples, Scrabble and Taboo. Don’t those games sound like fabulous Saturday nights? Maybe every once in a while but honestly CJ, you are 24 years old.

And my bed would call my name, following snack around 9:30, where I would pass out from exhaustion, a lack of nutrition and just to obtain mental peace. Ryan would either go out with his friends or lay beside me stroking my hair as my life and body slowly deteriorated before his eyes.

It was a pretty morbid and lonely existence.

Now my weekends are way more fun. Not filled with drinking, partying and complete free for alls yet, but I am being way more social, making an effort to connect with friends, enjoying group exercise rather than solo treadmill sessions, and taking naps more frequently.

They are my time to give my body rest, which it totally deserves. If you are anything like me, I thought sleep was unproductive and tried everything I could to function on minimal night’s slumber.  But it catches up and when it does, it is so hard to overcome.

Even though I can’t tell you a super exciting run down of the weekend I am having right now, I will say I went to a movie with Ryan, enjoyed the beautiful weather, ate dinner outside of my kitchen Friday night, ignored my walking machine and opted for Zumba mornings instead, and am meeting up with three fabulous ladies for a lunch and shopping outing following one of our classes this morning.

These activities sound WAY better than wracking my brain to find things to do in order to escape my thoughts, or physically get out of my home (ALONE).

Take the proper step today. Call a friend. Call a family member. Make a plan and stick to it.

Eating disorders are very lonely existences (notice I don’t say lives…). And the more isolated you become, is when you are typically calling out for the most affection.

If you don’t know the right person to start with, write me an e-mail. I will try to be the best support I possibly can be. I know how essential that is, but this is also a tremendous opportunity for you to make some new friends. Step out of the box and venture forward because only you can make that change.

Sunday, funday, right?! :-)