Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! It's 2014!

I don't actually have any resolutions. I've already started trying to change for a better life and a better me. This is simply a continuation.

For example, today, at 4am, I began Insanity. The sweat was dripping down my body and I loved having such a great workout. Didn't love only getting about 4 hours of sleep, but I can catch up when I'm dead, right?

Let me just explain where this post is going. The word "random" is in the title of this blog for a reason.

So, 2013 was a good year, overall. I've been reading some of my friends' posts on Facebook and such. Not all of them had great years. Many are glad for a new beginning. But stay positive, guys. You're alive and that's the first step to changing your life. I think…

Yeah, so 2013. Summed up?

I moved halfway across the country for a job I didn't end up taking.

I got what has become one of the best jobs I've ever had, if not the best.

I strengthened my friendships and became closer with my sister.

I also made some new friends, some of whom, sadly, are leaving today and tomorrow.

I tried several new things and found not all of them to be great, but I still tried them.

I think that about does it. The last 48 hours of 2013 were pretty good. I got some major compliments from guests and managers at work. I also worked 13 hours on the very last day and followed that up with fireworks at Walt Disney World's Epcot. Epcot has the best fireworks for every occasion. Trust me. If you're every not sure which park to go to for New Year's or Independence Day or whatever, just go to Epcot. You cannot go wrong.

Right, so there's 2013.

2014 is going to be my year, though. I know I sound like every other schmuck, but it is. I know it is.

As I said, I started Insanity this morning. I'm also back on Weight Watchers. My cousin is getting married in May and by then I'm going to look better than I did in high school. Take that, 2013!

I also plan on finally finishing Book 2. Yes, that sounds like a resolution, but I've been trying to do that for… 13 years. So, you know. Maybe I can finally do it!

But instead of resolutions, I have a mantra this year. New year, new possibilities, new me.

Until next time…

Happy New Year and Stay Random!

Thankful

I didn't write a post on Thanksgiving. I was rather busy. I had a friend and his roommates visiting from out of town. That whole week was just mad! I WAS SO BUSY! But I loved it.

However, I have had a lot on my mind lately. A lot. Like… a lot, a lot. There's so much I have to think about. It's part of being an adult. Which sucks sometimes. I know this blog was originally for my books, but I feel like posting this post here. Because I can. I have the power…

Yeah, I went there.

So, moving on. The meaning of this post is this. Be thankful. I am one of the luckiest people in the world. Not because I'm rich or famous. Because I'm not. And it's not because I'm dating the perfect guy. Because I'm single.

I'm the luckiest girl in the world because I have the best friends and family anyone could ever hope for. They keep me grounded, but they support me. They tell me when I'm being stupid, but insist that I'm still clever and funny. Which, I don't see, but hey! Who cares? My friends do and that's what matters.

I had amazing Thanksgiving weekend, but there were a few moments where there was so much on my mind, I found it hard to function. Lots of things to do with work and all that. So when I broke down to my friends, they didn't all give me a pat on the back and say things like "Grow up, idiot" or "Oh, it's OK. Just cry it out."

No, some friends were the voice of absolute reason, but with kindness. Others were the ones who said "You'll make it. I know it. I just know it." It didn't matter who said those things, but having all of those friends made me realize that, while none of them had the exact same opinion about all of those things, they all had valid points. Yeah, I know that's confusing. Sorry.

Basically, I have the most amazing friends on the planet. But even better than my friends (no offense, ladies and gents) is my sister. My beautiful, amazing, wonderful, supportive, sassy, funny, kind, smart sister. That's not even half of it, but those are some of the best ways to describe her. For example, I don't completely remember the context of the conversation, but my sixteen-year-old sister gave me this advice:

"Sometimes… sometimes you've gotta sass. You've gotta sass with class… But don't be an ass."

Words to live by, my friends. Words to live by.

So I know that post may not have completely cleared up why I have the best friends and sister in the world. But it is true. They win. You lose. That's it. Go home. Stop trying.

Until next time…

Stay random!

Not So Content

I want to quit my humdrum life and travel the world. Is that so much to ask? I mean, seriously.

OK, so obviously I'm working on Book 2, when I'm not blogging. But I'd give anything to write a travel blog instead. Or at the same time. I love to write and I love to travel. Merging those two just seems natural to me.

So in terms of work, long story short, I'm part time at the biggest employer in the state. I didn't look at statistics, but I think it's safe to say that's accurate. I'm trying to get full time because the hours aren't cutting it. But I also think one of my managers already thinks I'm management material. Duh. I'm awesome-sauce. I'll keep y'all posted on that.

SECOND... Pinterest is so totally my friend. I tried a recipe for Honey Lime Cilantro Chicken. This stuff is the bomb dot com. You don't even know. Better grilled, but you can make it in a skillet too. THIS ONE I actually tried a couple times to be certain, unlike the egg mcmuffin thing from the last post. Follow the link. Do it. You know you want to.

That's all for now.

Kate Brown signing off...

Stay random!

Bake-Ahead Breakfast

Right, so. First on the list is my make-ahead breakfast Egg McMuffin copy cat recipe. Yeah, that's a lot of words. Sorry. I just wanted you to understand. Now, I did this with cheddar cheese and ham as opposed to the same cheese and turkey sausage. I also used Thomas' Lite Multi-Grain English muffins. So that may make the Weight Watchers points number listed on the site a little different. However, it should be around 8 points.

You can find the link here. I won't bore you directly with the details here, but they turned out to be really freaking good! I do have one change. While I listened to the note about scrambling the yolk before baking (which is difficult with Publix eggs for some reason), I also only had to bake them for about 17-18 minutes. They did not take the 25-30 listed on the site. I would just be careful. You don't want to overcook them or they'll be rubbery and no good. But undercooking might be problematic since you're freezing them. Then again, if you're only making one, no need to be that careful. Runny or not you'll be eating it right away.

So there you have it. Add an apple or an orange and a glass of ice water or milk and you've got yourself a balanced breakfast full of protein!

Kate Brown signing off...

Stay random!

*****UPDATE:

These things are not that tasty. Sorry to have given you incorrect information. I tried reheating several times in the oven and microwave and I'm just glad I didn't make more than 6. Don't try it. Don't do it. Just don't.

Just Don't Ask

Where have I been? Yeah, seriously. Don't ask.

I've not been working out as I said I would. I know. Shocker, huh? But I will get back on track soon.

I've also not been working for the last week and a half. Why? Well, I did this little thing called MOVING HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. Yes. I moved. Back to sunny Orlando. Well... Clermont, which is southwest of Orlando. Same thing... sorta.

Anyway, I moved. I transferred locations with my job. Problem is that I signed the papers for a background check Monday... and still haven't heard back. Guys, I'm not a convicted felon or anything! I promise! But they said when I did this the last time that it could take up to 5 business days. Monday will be day 5. So I guess I'm still OK.

I DO have another interview with a different employer on Monday, though. A very special employer down in this part of the state. Pretty sure I don't need to go any further in explaining that. We'll see how it goes. I really do need to start my career in hospitality or become a famous author so I can quit my day job. One of the two. Want to help me with the second choice? Because I'd love that. Really. I would. No, seriously. Go buy my book... Right here. Also available in Nook or Kindle. Yeah. I just added links. So you have no excuse.

Right, so Weight Watchers. Much as it helped the first time 'round. I'm about to quit. I just can't do that tracking thing anymore. Instead, I'm going to try just eating healthy and exercising. I know setting my goals on this blog has clearly not helped me, but maybe it will this time. Who knows? I'd like to work out once a day and get up to doing so twice a day. Even on the days I work. My problem is that if I sit too long after work, my knees get stiff. The drive home is all I can do because after that, if I stay sitting, I'm probably not getting back up.

Plus side, though. I know how to eat right. It was just giving myself a threshold I couldn't cross. That's what Weight Watchers was. And it helped tremendously for those first 50 lbs. Now I have another 35, give or take, and I need to do that on my own. Healthier habits means a healthier life style and that's what I'm really going for.

So what am I trying to say here? I will be making recipes (mostly healthy) from Pinterest and I will review them. Other recipes, I'll relay because I like them or came up with them myself. Let's face it, I'm a genius. But you knew that.

For example, one thing I like to do is get a bag of frozen chicken tenders, a jar of salsa, and some taco seasoning (I make my own secret recipe) and toss it in a crock pot for 4-6 hours. Pull it apart when it's done and pop it in a container in the fridge. You can heat it up and toss it on a salad or into a quesadilla or on bread for a sandwich. Whatever you want to do with it. It's versatile. And it's a lean protein to help keep you full! Add a veggie to make it a full meal, of course.

So there you have it. Tip #1. Now, as I said, I add my own taco seasoning it's no-salt-added, but I won't give out the recipe. However... for a price, I will send you a jar of it with instructions for how to make my famous tacos. E-mail me at mariekbrown89@gmail.com for prices.

Next tip soon!

Until then... Stay Random!

More Beauty

OK, so a bit of an update...

Still doing the workout, eat right thing. Also the lemony scrub I mentioned in the last post. But this post isn't about either of those. It's about mascara. A specific type of mascara...

Cover Girl Lash Blast 24 Hour Mascara. I bought Very Black, but that doesn't matter for our purposes. Ready for the review? Here goes.

Pros:
It definitely lasts 24 hours and then some... Yeah, that's it.

Cons:
DOES NOT COME OFF! No matter what makeup remover or face wash I used, the damn stuff would not come off! Not without a fight, at least.
Clumps. Like crazy. Not even kidding. I can't even get the freaking brush out of the tube without it clumping on the brush! Normally, I can give it a few tries and then the brush comes out pretty smooth. Smooth enough to work. Not this stuff. Nope. This stuff decided to clump on the brush. Just to save me the trouble.
Smells funny. I know mascara doesn't necessarily smell great, but this stuff actually kinda reeks. And I'm putting it around my eyes.
It flakes. Not bad, so it's not the worst on this list. But it flakes. Still won't come off with makeup remover though. How does that work?

To be honest, I guess it made my lashes look blasted... in a good way. But I got that with the other mascara I had been using before. Lash Blast Fusion. The reason I switched was because I'm trying to find the perfect mascara for me. Lash Blast Fusion was pretty good, but this Lash Blast 24 Hour is crap. Beyond crap. It's the fungus beneath the crap. DO NOT BUY. Unless you really don't want your funny-smelling, clumping, flaky mascara to never ever ever ever ever come off. Then buy it. Go for it.

That is all.

Stay random!

Health? And Beauty? Naaaaah....

Oh right... People care about those things...

Well, as y'all saw in my last post, I drink a little. Honestly, there was drinking done for that one, but not an excessive amount. A) Because I'm a bit of a lightweight and 2) Because I don't really like getting hammered. I mean hammered. Not the tipsy "Oh, haha, I feel funny". I mean the oh-lord-I-can't-stand-and-I-really-have-to-pee-but-I'm-dead-weight-and-you-can't-carry-me kind of hammered. Not fun. Also, I'm 23. It's legal for me to drink alcohol. Let me be clear...

I DO NOT CONDONE UNDERAGE DRINKING!

Ok... Now that we have that covered...

Health and beauty. I'm back on it. Back on track with Weight Watchers. We won't say where I am weight-wise because, well... I haven't weighed myself in far too long. I'm waiting until next week. Gives me 5 days to work out, work (which involves lots of stairs and running around), and eat healthy. 5 days. I think that'll help shock my body enough to get back on track. I'll try to post weekly if I can. Especially pertaining to weight loss if there is any.

Goals for the week:

1. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. (I have one large cup that's closer to 2, but if I can drink at least 6 of those, I should be good).
2. Work out every day.
1. Side note here: Because of my gym's weekend hours, I may not always be able to work out on Saturdays and Sundays. I physically cannot do so after work, so it has to be before. I shall do my best, though.
3. Track everything I eat and drink. If I have a beer with a friend, I have to track it on Weight Watchers. Have to. No buts about it.

On to beauty!

Y'all have heard of Pinterest, right? Of course you have. You don't live on Mars! ("I can't go to Pigfarts, Potter. It's on Mars." 10 points if you can name that show). Pinterest is a special place filled with very special... interesting... people. People who can sing and dance... Wait. No. That's wrong.

Pinterest is where I find little tidbits that can help (or hinder) everyday life. One such tip is a sort of facial mask and yours truly is going to try it out.

What you need:

Ground cinnamon

Ground nutmeg

Honey

Lemon juice

You don't really need a lot of any of it, but I didn't really measure and this pin didn't have measurements either. I made a bit too much though. Don't know if it'll save. SO, add a dash of nutmeg and probably about a tablespoon or so of cinnamon. A little honey... maybe a teaspoon? And a few drops of lemon juice. You want a paste, not a full-on liquid. Don't add too much lemon juice though. Acidic! I left the paste on my face for only 5 minutes. I haven't seen any warnings about time limits or how many times a week so we'll see. But at five minutes it wasn't stinging but I could definitely feel the effects.

I wiped mine off with a warm wash cloth. Make sure to get it all. The cinnamon is tough to get off! My skin, which is normally quite dry right after a shower or after I wash it but then gets really oily throughout the day in some areas, felt really smooth and soft. So nice! Not saying I know it worked, but I'll have pictures next week for you. Day 1 to Day 7.

Beauty tip #2! Yes! Two for the price of one! Simple trick. I have severe dark circles underneath my eyes and some acne scars on my left cheek. The scars aren't all that visible, but they bother me. I saw something on Pinterest that said aloe vera gel would help. So when I was finished with that paste, I rubbed in some of my aloe vera gel. I only did my under-eyes and my cheeks and a little of my chin since I'm worried about getting the scars there.

Aloe also moisturizes and I'm taking an antibiotic for acne which dries out my skin like crazy, along with this new face wash. So the moisturizing aloe vera is WAY cheaper than the lotion my doctor recommended.

Also, I have sensitive skin. Certain makeups and washes make me break out. Not necessarily with acne, sometimes it's just a rash. So for those of you with the same problem, I hope this helps.

That's all for now. No pics until next time.

Stay random!

Why is the rum gone?!

Yes. I'm drinking tonight. And watching Harry Potter (I know the title quote is from Pirates). Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, to be specific. And using it for a drinking game. Yes, alone. Not my preference, but I felt the need. If someone wants to join in on the second one, I'd be happy to oblige!

Here's the game. It's really simple, this one.

Drink if:

1. A house name is mentioned

2. Hermione is a know-it-all

3. Harry's dead parents are referenced

4. There is an animal on screen

5. Harry's fame is referenced

6. Voldemort is referenced

7. There is obvious, bad CGI

That last one is odd to me because the CGI isn't really all that bad. But I'll let it slide and go for at least mediocre. Sound good?

Here we go!

20 minutes in and not much drinking has been done. Perhaps this isn't the best version for film #1. Or I just need a stronger drink.

23 minutes in. Stronger drink in hand. Now I'm ready to go!

28 minutes in. Blegh. Too strong. Sorry guys.

34 minutes in. There should be something to do with Dumbledore or one of the professors. Shouldn't there?

35 minutes in. Do I have to drink during the Sorting when they yell out EACH house name for EACH student? Good thing I'm not taking shots.

40 minutes in and I'm warning you that I might fall asleep. Not pass out. Just fall asleep. Cuz I'm tired.

53 minutes in. Yeah, this version doesn't require enough drinking. I mean, it wouldn't be enough if my drink was weaker... But it's not. So I guess I'm OK for now...

57 minutes in. "She needs to sort out her priorities. " NO RON! YOU DO! Clearly school is more important than life itself.

58 minutes. Do the British ONLY wear sweaters? And corduroy? Pretty sure that's all they're ever wearing outside of their robes.

1 hour mark. They were so stinking cute! Weren't they?! Seamus is adorable, especially covered in soot from his burned up feather. Hehe.

1:02. Snape, what are you doing? You sneaky professor.

1:07. Oh! There's the bad CGI. Silly troll.

1:08. You know what I've never understood? Why people don't skirt the water either spraying out of the walls or pipes or lying in a puddle on the floor. Come on, people. WHY?!

1:15. Sorry guys, but I keep pausing it for bathroom breaks so the timing will be off if you're stingy. There are lulls. HUGE lulls between drinks with this one.

1:18. What happened to Lee Jordan in the later movies? And we never freaking meet PEEVES! I LOVE PEEVES!

1:33. Sorry for the long pause. I don't have a lot to say, but does Fluffy count as one of those animals since it's CGI? Or would it be bad CGI? That was random. Fluffy wasn't even on the screen.

1:36. "Do you think this mirror shows the future?" Well... Actually, Harry uses the Resurrection Stone to see his parents again and Ron does do pretty well in Quidditch, right?

1:39. I'm going to fall asleep from exhaustion before I actually get drunk or even reasonably tipsy. Poop.

1:40. Tiny sips. Too strong.

1:43. Totally thought that knocking was in my house, not the movie.

1:44. Does the dragon about to hatch count as one of the animals or bad CGI? See? It's a legit question. I just said legit. CRAP! I just said it again! STOP!

1:52. #1, yeah the centaurs count as bad CGI. #2, I can't help but think of the centaur in AVPS. If you don't know what that is, just leave. Leave now.

1:54. So tired, I don't know if I can make it. NO. I've got this.

2:02. The only time it's OK for Hermione to be a know-it-all... "Devil's Snare hates sunlight!"

2:04. That 'dust' on the broom kinda just looks like flour to me. Maybe it belonged to a baker first.

2:06. Oh now Ron gets to be a know-it-all. Yay Ron!

2:09. That was a weird face, Hermione.

2:10. Now that I know there are no lenses at all in HP's glasses, it bugs me. I notice.

2:13. Did Harry just wink at himself?

2:14. Oh yes, Quirrell, yelling will help. That'll make HP do what you want.

2:15. I had an epiphany.

2:18. Last bathroom break. Promise.

2:23. Yeah, Dumbledore. Why didn't you destroy the damn thing in the first place?

2:24. Haha. "Touch him". Haha.

2:25. I don't think Harry believes Dumbledore about the ear wax flavored bean. I would've at least raised a freaking eyebrow.

2:27. Oh come on. Who cares about the House Cup?

2:28. Oh yeah. Slytherin cares.

2:29. Dumble-freaking-dore! Fryffindor wins by 8 points! *drink*

2:30. Now for a TALL glass of water. Oh wait. Picture book. Dead parents. *drink*

2:31. 'I'm not going home. Not really." Nope. And Hogwarts will always be there for me too.

That's all, folks. Not sure how entertaining that was, but it'll happen again for the rest of the films. Stay tuned!

Also, stay random!

New Method

So, I may have said in my last post that I'm working out. If I didn't (or did and you forgot), here's a summary: I started getting up early every morning to exercise at the gym. I'm up by 5:45 every morning, rain or shine, work or not, to go work out. Two weeks and one day of it so far and I'd like to start going twice a day if I can muster the energy. I did on Monday, but not yesterday. Not sure how I'll feel today.

Honestly, it all depends on my work schedule. Oh and I just started see a chiropractor for my foot and knee issues. Actually, it seems to be helping. Although, my back and neck are a bit sore now. But that should, hopefully, go away soon. At the moment, my foot is doing SO much better. If this happens again, I'm not wasting time on a podiatrist. Seriously. Doc put it perfectly today. "It's better to treat the whole problem, rather than the symptoms." Absolutely right.

I knew that my knee had eventually caused the foot problem and that it would continue to get worse and cause other problems. It was logical. What I didn't know was how extensive it all was. Oh and apparently Doc can fix my neck so I don't keep getting all those headaches. Some were dehydration because I really don't drink enough water, but I didn't notice that to be a problem until the last year or so. But I'd always had bad headaches. Not migraines, but just terrible headaches. Well, they should be lessening!

Um... I think that's it. Weigh-in tomorrow. I'm rather sore today, both from exercise and Doc doing his thing on my back. But I think that's all I have to say for now. Catch ya lata!

Stay random!
Kate

Weight Watchers... Going well!

All right, so I know I haven't kept up with posting about Weight Watchers and for that I apologize. Really. I'm sorry. But I've been really busy with work and writing. No more school (which is really weird), but work and writing have sort of taken over.

So! UPDATE!
As of today, September 10, 2012, I am 35.1 lbs lighter than I was in February. I am also 18.5 inches smaller (all over, not just one area) and I've gone from a size 18 to a size 12. Working toward a 10 by October 31st because I'm a bridesmaid in a wedding.

Last week I started getting up extra early to work out for an hour before work every day. I can't do it on Saturday because stupid *insert gym name here* isn't open 24/7... They're open 24/5. Oh well, I'll go after work on Saturdays. I'm still waking up extra early. Gotta be on a schedule and they say the better your sleep schedule, the easier it is to lose weight.

All sorts of things like that add up. Eating enough fruits and veggies, drinking enough water (both of which I really struggle with), choosing not to eat when bored (also a struggle), making sure you get 8 hours of sleep!!! That last one is the biggest thing I've been trying to change. I have such a weird work schedule that I could get up at 7 on T/R, but not until 10 on W/F and then sleep even later on my days off. Well, I've changed that. Now I'm up by 5:45, work or not, to go exercise at the gym. Even an hour of fast walking on the treadmill is enough to jumpstart my day.

Also, I have a problem with my right knee and left foot. I can't run without messing them up so I do walk at a fast pace on the treadmill and then try to squeeze in some time with weights and abs. I seriously miss running. I used to be able to run 5 miles. Yeah. I could run 5 miles. Me. I know. SHOCKING! But I miss it now that I can't do that.

Anyway, I really hope I can start running again soon, but I've got to get my foot better (tore a ligament in the arch so it's affecting the heel... I have high arches too) and my knee. I've been working on it and running is in the cards soon, hopefully!

Today, I'm making homemade chicken soup. It's a weight watchers recipe that I tweaked just a little. It still ends up being 6-8 points, though. I haven't made it yet and it's still not done, but I'll let you know how it goes. If I remember. Which I hope I will.

I'd love comments! If anyone has them, please let me know!

Stay random!

The Hunger Games - and Racism?

This is not a movie review (although I thought The Hunger Games was amazing). No. This is a rant. Pure and simple. I truly enjoyed the movie, but some people didn't. Some thought it didn't follow the book well enough (though they did a wonderful job by my standards there), some thought they hadn't cast it correctly for Katniss or Peeta or Gale, and still some... people... didn't like that Rue and/or Cinna and/or Thresh were BLACK. First... did you READ the book?

The following is taken from another blog which quotes the book:

On page 45 of Suzanne Collins's book, Katniss sees Rue for the first time:

…And most hauntingly, a twelve-year-old girl from District 11. She has dark brown skin and eyes, but other than that's she's very like Prim in size and demeanor…

Later, she sees Thresh:

The boy tribute from District 11, Thresh, has the same dark skin as Rue, but the resemblance stops there. He's one of the giants, probably six and half feet tall and built like an ox.

Cinna's skin, as pointed out in this blog (link here), isn't talked about. So that was just whoever they wanted to cast and, personally, I liked Lenny Kravitz as that character. Loved him, in fact. I thought he was great.

I already pictured Thresh as black, but I have to admit I obviously didn't pay much attention to Rue's description, though I saw her with dark hair and eyes. Why was there disappointment, though? Because people are dumb. People are stupid. They think that if someone has a different skin color or a different culture or background, they're inferior.

Think about it. How many times do we see evidence of racism in the news and the media? This is the third highest grossing movie (for its opening weekend) of ALL TIME. THE THIRD! And people are scoffing because there were three black actors? Just because YOU didn't pay attention when you were reading and YOU formed the perfect little white girl or boy as an image in your head, does not mean you are right, first off. Second, I must ask why it matters. I'm caucasian. That's my heritage and I grew up in a mostly white city. My school was the same way. But I am not lying when I say that I never thought about the few black or latino kids who attended my school as drastically different. They lived and were raised in the same community. Had the same upbringing. Why does their skin color matter?

SPOILER

Some people said that, after seeing that Rue was black, her death... her brutal and heart wrenching death... was not as sad. It didn't matter because she was black. One tweet read that it had "ruined the movie". If I didn't care about cursing, this post would be littered with foul language. Seriously, people? Why the hell does it matter that Rue is black? You can't love her because of something so simple?

Did you know that, genetically, one white person is more different from another white person than they are from someone of another skin color or race? Tons of studies have been done to show this. So even though my family hails mostly from the UK and Germany, I'm genetically more similar to Rue than another black girl who resembles her. Or at least, I'm more likely to be more similar. Think about that for a minute.

I'm sorry. That wasn't going anywhere, but I hope you at least got the point. That's it for now. The next post will be happier.

Stay random!

First Week on Weight Watchers

Ok, so while I was researching Weight Watchers and the program it uses, I saw that the expected weight loss is about 1-2 lbs per week. So I only expected one so that I wouldn't be disappointed. Well, that wasn't necessary.

Stepped on the scale this morning and I had lost 4.3lbs! 4.3! I am so excited! I've got a cruise coming up at the beginning of June and my goal was just to be 1/3 of the way there, which would be about 27lbs lost. Well it's still about 27, but I may get further!

Gosh, I'm so excited! As a writer, I sit on my butt during my days off of work. But I work at a bakery so I'm on my feet and not sitting on my butt at work. That's a plus, right? I'm sure it helps with weight loss. But because I'm not active, I didn't expect a lot. I did earn 19 activity points this week just by doing the elliptical every other day.

It's a tip. Even if you do 30 minutes of hardcore work (I set it on one of the highest levels and my goal was 500 calories per session), that's a big deal. Our elliptical shows you what you'd burn in an hour if you kept at your current pace and it changes when you do the Random setting because that gives you more or less resistance every 20 seconds. You have to work harder during the low ones to keep the hourly burn rate up. A tip is to try to keep that number at above 1,000. That'll keep your intensity high, trust me.

30 minutes is a lot, but now my goal is an hour every other day or 30 minutes every day. I'd like to do the former so I can get on a schedule, but at least the hour every day allows me to watch a TV show while I work out. Something to keep me entertained if I need it.

Anyway, I hope that helped. Check back later this week. I'll probably update again!

Things to work on

So, I was researching a little and on Weight Watchers, I had 11 points left at the end of the day, plus 3 activity points that I hadn't used. Well, they said that it's best to use all of the daily points so here I am going "even if I don't eat all of them, I need to try." I got all but one for the day, but I learned to spread things out a little more.

It's difficult when I work because I don't have a lot of time to snack, usually. Today, in fact, I brought an already peeled orange with me and didn't even have time to eat one section! I'd only had four of my points with breakfast. I am just learning to try to spread things out a little more so I don't have 20 points left at the end of the day.

Anyway, that's all for now. I just thought I'd point that out to those of you interested in doing Weight Watchers.

Stay random!

Time For a Change... Or Two...

You may have gotten it from the title, but I'm making some changes. For Lent, I gave up soda and sweets (pretty much sugar, as much as possible). But I'm going a step further to get in shape. I'm overweight and I fully admit it. I have been for a while. But I have a goal and I'm sticking to it because, guess what! My family and I are going on a cruise at the end of May and by golly, I will feel sexy in a bathing suit.

That said, I joined Weight Watchers today. I joined online tonight so I was messing around to figure out, using what I ate today, how many points I had used up and how many I had left. I actually came out with 3 points left for the day! Which is a nice little snack. Oh and fruits and veggies? No points so I can eat s many oranges as I want! I love oranges and they're easy to eat at work.

If y'all are looking to lose weight, I've got some tips for you. Yes, tips. I love giving tips, but here goes:

1. Don't completely deprive yourself. Using Weight Watchers, adding up points, etc. I can still indulge a little. For example, something I learned a few years ago is that a great snack can be made with calorie-free butter spray, cinnamon, splenda, and whole wheat tortillas. Just cut the tortillas into sixths (triangles), spray with a couple squirts of the butter spray, sprinkle cinnamon and splenda to your liking (don't overdo it or they won't taste as good) and bake at 375 degrees for about 7-10 minutes. The first batch may take longer in a convection oven, but after that they will only take the minimum. These are AWESOME! And one full tortilla (six triangles) is only 2 points on Weight Watchers because the other ingredients add up to 0. Nice, right?
2. Exercise a little. Even if it's just a half hour each day. I work on my feet so I'm not crazy about it, but I already know it's helped because, in a month and a half, without monitoring what I eat and without exercising, I've lost about 10 or so lbs. I had a doctor's appointment last month and I remember what the scale said. Even leaving room for some discrepancy between the two scales, I am still doing well. Adding in Weight Watchers and exercise can only help!
3. Keep your goals where you can see them. I have a white board hanging in my room that has my current weight, my weight goal and measurements hanging on it. I update it once a week on the same day each week to stay consistent. I've got other goals, like financial things, up there as well. It does help.

That's just a few things I have already learned before this year, but that I'll be putting into affect right.... NOW! GO!

That's it for now! Stay random!

I'm a Bad Catholic... Sometimes

Yes, I was raised Catholic. I'm a bad Catholic, though, I'll admit. The only reason I'm following Lent? To lose weight. Yeah, I know. It's bad.

On the bright side, I'm giving up soda and sweets. Basically sugar, but I like diet sodas usually. Not because they're diet, but because I like the flavor better. I know. I'm weird. Been told a lot. But I have read many many times that soda, whether diet or regular, is still bad for you. Multiple reasons. I'm giving that up. I'm also going to start Weight Watchers. I'm signing up tomorrow and my dad might even do it as well. We had a silly conversation tonight about it.

Dad said "We'll see how it goes. (whether or not he joins) If it works for you, I'll do it your way, but if starving myself and stressing out and exercising a lot works for me, you do that instead." Now, you may have to know my dad to understand his humor. He's not ever going to have any sort of eating disorder. He's too intelligent for that. I said it was deal. :)

Anyway, I'll try to share my experiences and even recipes if you're interested. I know this blog was sort of supposed to be about my book, but I'm using it for everything in life. I'm an author, working in a bakery, trying to lose weight. Crap, that sounds bad. Working in a bakery and trying to lose weight... Giving up sweets for Lent... Yeah... We'll see how that goes.

On another note, I've gotten it into my head that I can go to Australia in about a year and a half if I save up enough money. I'd like to go on a work and holiday visa, so it would be for a year. Big, big goal in terms of money... BUT... I just put $150 in a new savings account today. It's a start. A small start, but a start all the same.

That's all that's new with me in case you were wondering. It was a bit random, but who cares?! That's the name of this blog!

Until next time...

Stay random!

Oh my good, golly, gosh!

Holy crap, have I been gone a while! It's been, what? Four months or so? I apologize. Really.

What's new with me? Well, I'm back from Orlando and in Overland Park once more. I like it here, but I'd still rather be somewhere else. I see Australia or New Zealand in the future, I'm thinking. But that's a ways off. Still, keep an eye out for another blog like What's Under the Kilt? because I may just have some more epic adventures on the horizon.

In the meantime, I'm working for a local bakery back home and I do love it. I love the people I work with and the bakery is doing really well. I came in at just the right time, too because they're expanding and they need more people! Score!

Anyway, I'm also planning on appearing at some schools/libraries/stores(?) in the next few months and will be happy to keep y'all posted because I'd love to meet any fans/readers. This also would give you the chance to purchase a copy and bring it for me to sign! Yay! I may have a few copies with me that I'll be selling, but the better choice is to purchase one in case I run out.

Would y'all be interested in watching short video blogs about what it's like to be a writer? What I've come up against and all that? I wonder who would be interested because I'd also feature more contests that I've been unable to feature thus far. I'm trying to think of ideas for titles at the moment so we'll see what happens once I do that. Gotta have a great name! Something snappy and clever, you know? Something like "Written in Stone" or "Victorious Vernacular". Cliché, yes but catchy.

You may be seeing/hearing about weight loss, eating healthy, etc. in the next few months as well. Just a warning. I'm starting Weight Watchers in the very near future and will more than likely want to talk about it. If you have questions, post them! Doesn't matter what they're about, I'd love to answer them if at all possible!

That's all for now, folks!

Happy Turkey Day!

So, I'm doing Thanksgiving early. Gotta work on Thursday. And with that thought, I also decided to post some of my absolute FAVORITE recipes! So, here goes:

Cheesy Potato Casserole (made with cheesy, potato-y goodness)

32 oz bag frozen hash brown potatoes

1/2 cup melted butter/margarine

1 can dream of chicken soup

10 oz grated cheddar cheese

8 oz sour cream

dash of salt

1 small onion, grated

TOPPING:

2 cups corn flakes

1/4 cup margarine

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

TIP: Try to warm the hash browns a little to prevent the melted butter from hardening and becoming difficult to mix.

Mix all ingredients (except those for the topping) in large bowl. Place in large casserole dish. Top with cornflakes and remaining melted butter (1/4 cup under TOPPING).

Place in oven for 45 minutes. If dish is deeper, cook a little longer.

One of my other favorites is the infamous green bean casserole! Now, the recipe can be found on the back of a box/can of French's fried onions. It's really easy to do, but a tip to drain the green beans, if you got the easy-to-open cans with the little tab? Pop the tab, but don't pull it back yet. Hold the fan sideways so that the tiny slit is vertical and drain into the sink. Then open the can fully. It's easy, mess free, and quick. Also, use the 2/3 cup of French's onions in the main part of the dish, like the recipe says, but then pour what's left over all of the casserole for the topping (after having cooked for 30 minutes as instructed). More onions? More flavor!

My last favorite bit of Thanksgiving (and Christmas at my house) is the frozen, chocolate pie! Mmm. It's really easy and the recipe is inside the box of Baker's German Chocolate. I think it's the bittersweet or semi-sweet box. Here is the recipe copied and pasted from the website.

What You Need

1 pkg. (4 oz.) BAKER'S GERMAN'S Sweet Chocolate

1/3 cup milk, divided

4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

1 HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)

Make It!

Microwave chocolate and 2 Tbsp. of the milk in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 to 2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after each min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add cream cheese, sugar and remaining milk; beat with wire whisk until well blended. Refrigerate 10 min. to cool.

Add whipped topping; stir gently until well blended. Spoon into crust.

Freeze 4 hours or until firm. Let stand at room temperature or in refrigerator about 15 min. or until pie can be cut easily. Store leftover pie in freezer.

What I'll tell you from my experience is this: All you really need is the chocolate, the cream cheese, the Cool Whip and the pie crust. It's sweet enough without adding sugar and the milk isn't enough to do anything.

Next, soften the cream cheese... A LOT. This is the only reason I could see the milk helping. If you add the melted chocolate to cold cream cheese or even slightly cold cream cheese, it'll harden up again and become grainy. Doesn't affect the flavor, just the look of the finished product.

Last, but not least, I like the chocolate graham cracker crust, rather than Oreo (which is still tasty) or regular graham cracker. Regular graham cracker doesn't stick together well when you're trying to smooth out the filling. Trust me. I just ran into this problem today because that was the only kind of crust at the store yesterday.

I think that's it, though. Yep, that's it. Now go enjoy these on Turkey Day!

This is Kate Brown, signing off.

Stay random!!!

VACAY!

OK, so not really vacation time, but sort of... I'm planning for one. A year and a half from now, give or take a month or two. My friend and I are planning a trip to Europe. Backpacking and doing things I may have already done, but need to explore further. Not to plug my book, but the profits I get will help to go toward the trip. The trip where I will further research TRL (The Rose Legends) destinations/locations and find little nuances that, perhaps, my characters will find too.

Remember things like the Eliminator or the football game from Book One? I'm trying to insert those into the second book right now. Things I've seen or done that will make the characters and the places they visit more relatable. It's what makes reading a book that much better. Sure a character could be nice or somewhat interesting, but seeing them in a real place that you know the author has seen or that you've seen yourself? Well that's even better.

Also, I'll be taking suggestions. Remember, I'll be on a budget, but if you have tips or ideas for places (even specific restaurants, etc) to visit, please post them here!

This is Kate Brown, signing off!

Never Forget

Remember 9/11/01 and what happened that day.

Remember those who died.

Remember the heroes who gave their lives.

Remember where you were and what you were doing.

Never forget the flag flying, no matter where it is; in your front yard, in your school, high over the memorial fountains. Keep the families of those lost in your prayers and in your hearts. This is a day we will never repeat. Because we are stronger now. We have come together as a nation to show those responsible for this tragedy that we can only come together during an attack like this. We cannot be divided.

The cowards who caused these attacks; the ones who took not only their own lives, but the lives of nearly 3,000 people. They tried to bring down this nation by tearing us apart. Did they think we would not retaliate? Did they think we were so weak? We are the longest surviving republic of our kind and we will continue to be strong.

In the New York City skyline, there is something missing. We all know it when we see it. Those two towers, which never really stood out to most of us before, are gone. And in their destruction, in the place where they once stood, we see twin fountains, around which the names of the victims and heroes have been etched into the black stone. We are going to soon see the memorial building which is currently under construction. And every time we see that building along the NYC skyline, whether in person, picture, or film, we will remember the strength of the city that lost so much ten years ago. We will remember the families of those we lost; of those who gave their lives for others. We will remember.

Never forget. This is Kate Brown, signing off.

Spicy Pico de Gallo Chicken Pasta

Ready for my first recipe post? Y'all didn't know I could cook, huh? Yeah, I didn't think so. Well, I can!

First off, let me just say that I bought the ingredients at Wal-Mart yesterday and didn't know what I was going to do with it all. A handful of parsley, a yellow onion, some tomatoes and frozen chicken. How does that turn into a fantabulous, spicy pasta? Like this!

Ingredients:
2 frozen chicken breasts
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1-1 1/2 TBSP fresh, chopped cilantro
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1-2 TBSP butter
2 TBSP olive oil
Crushed red pepper
Salt
Black pepper
Dried parsley
Garlic powder
1-1 1/2 cups pasta (any type, though spaghetti and fettuccine are not recommended)
Shredded cheese for garnish (mozzarella is what I used, but you can choose)

Directions:

Thaw frozen chicken breasts.

Heat water for pasta on the stove.

In skillet on medium high heat, melt butter. Add onion and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Try not to caramelize, though it's certainly an option if you like. When onions are softened, add olive oil and thawed chicken breasts. While chicken breasts are cooking, add a few shakes of salt, pepper, and garlic powder to uncooked side. Add a pinch of dried parsley, pinch (or more if you like) of crushed red pepper and all of the chopped cilantro. You can leave a bit of the cilantro for a garnish or simply chop a little extra. Add the diced tomatoes at this stage. Cook chicken for about 5 minutes and then turn. Add the same seasoning to the other side. Cook for about 2-3 minutes.

THIS STEP OPTIONAL
BEFORE the chicken is thoroughly cooked, take both pieces out and cut them on the cutting board. Place back in the skillet to continue cooking.

When chicken is cooked, throw in the pasta and tossed thoroughly. Garnish with cheese, possibly cilantro and any other Mexican-style flavors you can think of!

Serves 2-3 people

BEFORE

AFTER

I've got to say that my taste buds were very happy with this dish. It was spicy and flavorful and filling. Mmm... Well, that's all for now!

This is Kate Brown, signing off. Remember...

Stay random!