Time to keep moving ahead

Last night my brother and I decided to join the new local gym that they put up in the town 10 minutes from us. They are actually putting in a small business complex, complete with a WAL-MART! Do you know how excited I was when I found out that I wouldn't have to drive 30+ minutes just to get to ANY store similiar to a Wal-Mart? BEYOND EXCITED. I have always had to drive what seem forever to get anywhere... just to get something I need, now I only have to drive ten minutes to get to Wal-Mart... YIPPEE!

So, in the small complex they are putting a few new stores, including a AutoZone (already open), Sleepys, some chinese restaurant, two banks (that we really didn't need) a few other stores, and a new Snap-Fitness.

You have read a little about my "weight-loss" journey.. which has dwindled a little in the last month or so. I'd like to blame it on that fact we have been working alot on the house... although I shouldn't have any excuses really. I have lost 50 pounds thus far, give or take a few depending on the day, BUT I still have 50 MORE TO LOSE... yikes.

Some days I try and think about how far I've come.. rather then how far I still have to go. Like my father always says, "Don't look at the big picture, you'll get overwhelmed" Meaning, I need to take it step by step. 10 pounds at a time is what I need to do. Well, I'm ready to get back into the swing of things.. full force, now that I had a little play time.

This gym is 24 hours, exactly what I need. Honestly, the whole schedule thing is what gets me. With my work schedule, I can't make morning work out sessions, or evenings, I'm basically screwed in that aspect, plus the closest YMCA is like 30 minutes. This is why when they put this new gym in, I knew I would join. I should get my access card early next week, then it's on like Donkey Kong and hello cute summer bikini (maybe).

To reach my first goal weight (where I would feel good at) I need to lose 40 pounds, to be at my ultimate goal weight (where I would look smokin' hot) I need to lose 50 pounds. The weight I was at when I graduated high-school. I'll get there, I know I will, I just need to be patient with myself and my body. It's going to take me twice as long, and twice as hard (screw you PCOS) But, I will get there. My goal is to be there by the end of the summer. I think that is TOTALLY doable. That's about 10 pounds a month, if I want to be there by the end of July, if I work really hard, it could be even sooner then that. Shit, if I lose 15 pounds a month (roughly 3-4 pounds a week) I could be there by Mid-June. I know, sounds totally unhealthy, but hey the people on Biggest Loser lose like 10-15 pounds a week!!

Let's hope I can stick to... I need to stick to it.

This weekend is going to be filled with shopping for the house, and working on the yard =)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

A Tasty Pizza Straight from Italy!

Good morning! Today I have a special Bzz review on a new pizza that has hit the grocery stores called, Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza. Most of you know that I participate in an online social marketing company called BzzAgent. It's FREE, and easy to do (so easy, seriously) If you haven't heard of it, you have to check it out. You literally get FREE stuff to try, and all you have to do is give your opinion!

Last night I got to try the new Ristorante Pizza by Dr. Oetker (pronounced "oht-ker"). I got two free coupons to go get myself a tasty treat. They are not available in all grocery stores, yet, but I got mine at the local Weis. If you go to their website, you can find out where the pizzas are available near you. They have six different flavors, Mozzarella, Spinaci, Funghi, Quattro Formaggi, Vegetale, Speciale. They claim to be restaurant-quality pizza, and are the #1 frozen pizza in Italy, and now they have finally made it to the USA. And all I can say it, Yumm.

I decided to go with the Mozzarella and the Spinaci. The Mozzarella has fresh mozzarella, sun-ripened tomatoes and a zesty pesto sauce. The Spinaci has savory leaf spinach, mozzarella and a hearty garlic sauce.

When I picked them up, I do have to say that I was a little disappointed in the size of the pizza. They are more of what I would call a personal size pizza, because I can honestly say I could easily eat a whole one in one sitting, sad, but true! Hopefully, in the future they will start making more of a family size pizza. They are retailed at $4.99 (Weis had them for $4.89), which is a little more then your average frozen small pizza, but the taste is by far much better.

Pizza Spinaci (You can see that they are about the size of your average dinner plate)

Pizza Mozzarella

 

Just so you know, I didn't eat all of each pizza (I did share people!) Although, I kind of didn't want to. They really don't taste like your average frozen pizza. They have a very fresh taste to them. I couldn't get enough of the Spinach pizza, I probably ate half of that one! The hearty garlic sauce was fantastic and went with the spinach perfectly. It was great, that is a pizza that I would definitely consider getting down the road again.

The Mozzarella one was also really good. If you are a pesto fan, you would love this one. My husband and I are not too big on pesto, so although this one was good too, my husband kept saying he felt like he was eating a basil leaf. 

I also noticed that they do not skimp out on the toppings. I hate getting a frozen pizza and when you open it up, you're literally spreading on the toppings so you can have at least one per slice, true story. You can see the pictures below that (especially the spinach one) there are plenty of toppings to go around, no more rationing toppings.

The crust was really good too. It didn't have that cheap doughy taste, and crisped up really nice, and tasted like your local pizzerias thin crust. It's a quick easy meal, they only take 12-14 minutes in the oven.

To sum it up. These pizzas are great, I would actually love to try the other varieties in the future. If you are looking for a quick dinner, that can satisfy your pizza craving, I would definitely try these out. One the other hand, if you have a large family, because of the size and pricing, they might not be for you for a normal weekday dinner. But, if you have a Friday movie night these would be just as good as getting some pizza from your local eatery, and probably cheaper and with their six different varieties, there is a pizza for everyone.

If you are looking to try something new, I would definitely suggest the Ristorante Pizza by Dr. Oetker, go try some for yourself! Learn more about these pizzas here.

Amberlee 

**I hope you found this review informative, I was not compensated for this review. I did receive FREE coupons from BzzAgent to give my honest opinion. Check out BzzAgent today.

A this and that day...

Spring is only two weeks away... I am so ready for warmer weather. Even though we have hardly had a Winter so to speak... I am over the 30 degree or less weather... I feel like every year I begin to hate Winter more and more. If I could pick up everything and move to somewhere warmer (and bring all of my family and friends) I would. I need sun in my life, I need t-shirts, flip flops and the beach. Oh, please hurry Summer.

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Last night we went and hung out with my sister-in-law and nephew, they are leaving to go back to California tomorrow. It's sad, I will miss them, but they will be back around June, so it will only be for a couple of months. At least the next time they come to visit, they will have my brother-in-law with them, which only means he is finally done his deployment. That will be a good day, when he is finally home and on safe grounds! Remember my bracelet that said "Support Our Troops"? Remember I said I would wear it until he came home, safe a sound? Well, I have stuck true to my promise, I haven't take it off once! Once he is home, I will take it off..(but probably still wear it) and that will leave me with one bracelet left to take off, my No One Fights Alone bracelet, for my Grandfather who is fighting Cancer... that will be a great day too.

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I have been thinking alot about photography, I enjoy doing it so much. I don't think I am all that shabby either. I am going to start practicing more, a lot more once it gets warmer out. I have this dream of when we move, my craftroom will have an area for photography shoots, you know lighting, backgrounds, props, the whole nine yards? It would be great, and I have the room for it! We will see what the future holds..

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Within the next week I will be joining the new gym the put in near my house (only 10 minutes away!) I definitely need to get back into getting in shape... it hasn't been a top priority this past month...and it needs to be. I still have a lot more weight I would like to lose. Especially before gasp bathing suit season comes along...oh the agony.

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I've been thinking about getting tatted up again soon. Nothing, actually new new, but an add on of a previous tattoo. I have 4 tattoos, and love them. I love the artistic aspect of a tattoo. I actually did a report in college of the artist side of tattooing. I would like to get the tattoo on my ankle/foot added on to. It is shooting stars, I'd like to get them to wrap around the top of my foot and put the word Believe somewhere in the mist of the stars. What do you think? Every tattoo of mine has some sort of meaning, maybe I will share them with you one day as a post.... stay tuned for that.

Well, I've rambled on enough... Enjoy your Tuesday!

Amberlee

Weekend Review.. Friends, Shopping, Working

Is it Monday already? My weekend was gone in a blink of an eye...

It was filled to the max, but I am content with that. Friday was spent at home relaxing until our good friends came over. We were suppose to have a bonfire, but by time it was later in the evening, it had started to rain and turned cold and yucky, so we skipped the fire and just hung out..

Saturday, I woke up early to have a girl's day with one of my best friends... it consisted of lots of shopping and Olive Garden... ohh how I love me some chicken alfredo. We joked because every time she would bring us bread sticks, it would only be two. Seriously? Didn't the last 3 baskets give you the hint, that two at a time just doesn't cut it? You think a lady would learn.

Then Saturday night, our friends from Friday night came over again.. and we had a bonfire this time! It wasn't too bad out, kind of windy, but we lasted for about two hours and were able to have us some yummy smores and all that. Oh, and jello shots. I totally forgot about the yummy yummy jello shots I made. I made pina colada and margarita jello shots, and they tasted just like the real thing. They were really, really simple.. here are the recipes:

Pina Colada
In a bowl mix 1 cup of hot water with 1 packet of pineapple jello, add 1 cup of cold water and 3/4 cup of Malibu Coconut Rum. Put in little cups, and put in the fridge. Add some cool whip to top them off!

Margarita Shots (This is a double recipe)
Add 2 cups of hot water to 2 packets of Lime jello. (This is where I changed it up) I took 1/2 a cup of cold water and then poured 1/2 a cup of margarita mix together to make 1 cup and then added it to the previous mixture. Then add 3/4 cup of tequila and 1/4 cup of triple sec. Splash of lime juice and you're done! Place in cups and put in fridge!

If you like jello and these drinks, you'll love the jello shots. They're so easy to make, and fun!

Sunday, I spent the day working in the yard at the house, it turned out to be a pretty nice day... after that we just spent the evening relaxing.

How was your weekend?