Well I haven't had to hit the road in quite a while, but I know that there are many of you hopping on and off of planes each week. As I was checking out CNN's travel site, I came across this resource page that I hope might do some of you a bit of good. Hope that you find the info helpful.

Register to vote TODAY!!!

If you need info on how and where to register or vote, then check out www.voteforchange.com.

I have a confession. I knew that the snacking and unhealthy eating that I've been doing was having an effect on my body. My tummy has been poking and my slacks have been snugger. However, I had been avoiding the scale and promising to do better the next day. Well, this morning I decided to commit to a fresh start with my healthy life-style. In order to do this, then I had to face the music...or shall we say, the numbers. I climbed on and weighed in at 177lbs.

Now some of you may remember that this is only 2 lbs less than when we began the Biggest Loser challenge 10 months ago, and a far cry from the 153 lb at which I ended the competition 7 months ago. How do I feel about this? Of course, I'm sad and disappointed that I undid soooo much of my hard work. I really LOVED my body at the time, and I cannot say the same right now. However, I do feel a bit encouraged. Despite the weight gain my new clothes still fit (though a bit tighter) and my old clothes are still loose). Plus, I am already working out regularly, so I don't have to begin a new regimen. Most important, I already know that I can lose weight, so this doesn't seem like such an insurmountable challenge.

I guess I just wish that I had done a better job with maintaining my weight. I'm kinda tired of being on a 'weight-loss' campaign. I just want to be at my goal or 'happy weight' and stay there. I guess I'll be doing some research on how to maintain weight loss, so be on the lookout for that. In the mean-time, I am back off of sweets and greasy foods. The goal weight is 160 lbs, which is where I was most pleased during the biggest loser. I am mostly focused on losing weight consistently and healthily until I reach my goal weight. However, if I had to set a time line it would be 160 lbs by Christmas. I'll be posting weekly updates to keep myself in check.

Don't worry...the blog is not going back to all weight loss all the time. I kinda like the diversity that I've brought into it, so I'll keep trying to post info that betters us mentally, spiritually, and physically.

You know you want it raw...

LOL! Get your mind out of the gutter ppl. I DID NOT mean it like that. What I mean is you want to eat it raw...ummm...I mean food, you want to try a raw food diet. Whew!

I have heard quite a bit about individuals who only eat raw foods...uncooked, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains. I myself haven't really pursued this lifestyle myself...beyond a salad. However, a few months ago a good friend of mine posted that she was giving raw a try. I meant to speak on this here, but the topic slipped away from me.

I have found that this diet can be very healthful, and I wanted to share some of the facts. Allisa Cohen is a raw foods advocate, and here is some of the information that I found on her website:

-"When food is cooked at over 112 degrees (this temperature can be felt as warm to the touch) we destroy all of its enzymes. This is a problem because we need enzymes for every function in our body. To walk, to talk, to breathe and to move; life itself depends on them. As we age, our bodies natural source of enzymes becomes depleted and we need to replenish this source through the foods we eat. If we do not do this and we continue to eat cooked foods, then we eventually begin to use up our body’s enzyme reserves. Cooking makes it harder for our bodies to break up and digest the foods that we eat. This food then begins to get stored in our bodies as toxins; which can lead to all kinds of diseases and illness."

- "There are numerous benefits to eating a raw and living food diet. Some of these benefits include people healing themselves of diabetes, fibromyalgia, acne, migraines, back pain, neck and joint pain, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypoglycemia, colitis, diverticulitis, Candida, arthritis, serious allergies, depression, anxiety, mood swings, heartburn, gas, bloating, skin diseases, obesity, chronic fatigue, cancers and many more. Excess weight seems to just melt off your body when you eat a raw and living food diet! The raw and living food diet has helped many people feel better when nothing else has worked."

Sooo...in the spirit of giving things the old college try...I am going to prepare a raw meal. Here is what I have selected. Raw walnut tacos:

The shell will be a fresh leaf of romaine lettuce.

The 'meat' filling is as follows:

• 1½ cups raw walnuts, ground in food processor
• 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
• ¾ teaspoon ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons Nama Shoyu or Braggs
• pinch cayenne

The cheese topping is as follows:

• 1 cup raw cashews, sunflower seeds or almonds
• ½ large red bell pepper
• ¼ cup water
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon tahini
• 1½ teaspoons sea salt
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 teaspoons onion powder (or a small slice of onion or 1 Tbsp of green onion)

I'm going to top it with a bit of Pico de Gallo:

• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved or quarterd - depending on size
• ½ small yellow onion, diced
• 1 cup cilantro, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 lemons, juiced
• 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
• ¾ teaspoon ground corriander
• ¾ teaspoon celtic sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne
• 1 tablespoon cold pressed olive oil (optional)

I'll let you know how it comes out. For more info on living raw.. try Alissa Cohen's website or Raw Food Talk.

Waking up feeling grateful and excited for living another year longer = a nice morning boost

Coming outside to find my car window broken and my vehicle vandalized = an unquantifiable blow

Dry cleaning for my white suit after my tears caused my make-up to run all over it = $30

Replacement window = $100

Value of the items stolen = $700

Car wash and vacuum = $19

My goofy azz driving down the expressway to the repair shop w/the heat blasting and mistakenly trying to roll the damn window up to keep in the warmth = PRICELESS

On a serious note: The value of loving parents to call, co-workers who are understanding, friends who have your back, dranking to look forward to, an impromptu day off, and a never-ending hope that tomorrow will be better = Priceless!

Life's interesting turn of events...


2 pm - Find out that my car needs $1100 worth of maintenance :-(

8 pm - Pay $1100 worth of maintenance fees and get to head home after 6 hours of waiting :-(

9 pm - Receive notification of stimulus check's impending arrival :-)

9:15 pm - Do the 'Glory Hallelujah' happy dance :-)

9:30 pm - Television screen turns green and goes blank...no more living room tv :-(


I guess its time for another 'positive' to happen, huh?

On a happy note...hooray for a possible new TV...time to upgrade. Plus in just a few more hours...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEE!!!

TV Debut!!!

Ok - well not my TV debut, but my good friend Tiffany was recently featured on the Rachel Ray show. Check her out!!

Rach to the Rescue Hits Chicago

Sooo...this pretty much describes the way that I feel getting up on any given morning that I have to work. I know that I'm not the only one :-) However, in the spirit of keeping it positive I have been trying to smile and come up with ways to be more excited about the one activity that we spend the majority of our lives doing...working. Here is a quick list of ways to motivate yourself on the job. They may seem kinda corny, but if they save you from a) cussing someone out, b) slamming the door in someone's face, or c) openly drinking in the middle of the day, then they are probably worth it. Check it out..

Motivation At Work: How To Recharge Your Work Mojo

By Lyndsay Swinton

Austin Powers, the fictional movie spy said,

“I'll go back to the 60's, recharge my mojo to beat Dr. Evil and be back in time for tea."

If it was only that easy to regain your motivation at work! Sometimes your work mojo gets so low you think it’s abandoned you forever. Here are five ideas on how to recharge your work mojo and fire up your work motivation.

Five ways to max-up your motivation at work

(Definition – mojo (mowjow) – magic charm or spell.)

1. Keep your ambition in check

The desire to work hard is strong when the incentive to impress and prove yourself is high. However, mismanaged ambition will erode your passion to work hard and burn you out.

Manage your ambition by being smart about whom you impress and how you impress them. Balance effort with payback by making sure your actions are low effort to you and high value to them.

2. Find out how to get from A to B

Fuzzy, unclear goals are a major drain on work motivation. Force your boss to delegate not abdicate work. Get clarity on how to get from A to B, and when. What exactly is the expected end result? Is this achievable? Do you need help?

Planning your route in advance will keep your work juices flowing.

3. Get experience

Who do you aspire to be like? Do you think they know how to do everything themselves?

If you don’t know how to do something, find someone who does and copy him or her. Use all resources to hand – websites, books, colleagues, relations, friends, TV characters, and professionals. Save time and learn from their mistakes, not yours.

Or better still, get someone else to do it.

4. Set boundaries

If the work is taking too long, you’re either doing too much or not doing it right. And wait a minute – was it your job in the first place? Whether you take work upon yourself or have it dropped from a great height, set boundaries in your work life.

Be strict about when you arrive and when you leave work, and all the breaks your body needs in between. Be strict about time to build relationships and time to work and time for all the important stuff in your work life.

Be strict about what is and isn’t your job. We’re all one great big team at work, so make sure the ball is passed around ALL players. You can’t be player of the match every game.

5. Push your limits

Sometimes we get so busy nurturing and developing others, we forget to develop our own skills.

Treat your own development like you would treat your team's or friend’s or partner's. Take time to discover what you want to do with your life and plan your personal development.

Use these tips to regain your motivation at work - recharge your work mojo, beat Dr Evil and be home in time for tea!

By Lyndsay Swinton
Owner, Management for the Rest of Us
www.mftrou.com

P.S. If your motivation at work and mojo is just exhausted, check out these stress management techniques!

Quick mid-morning WTF?

Sooooo...one of my new staff...I mean one step above intern/breast milk still on your breath brand new...had the nerve to comment that we were wasting his time by having him to drive to the burbs when there isn't much work to do. Now mind you ...we all get paid by the mile, which for me comes out to about an add'l $130 per week, AND he still gets his salary and his utilization whether he is actually doing work or not. You already know that I am giving him the side-eye at this point.

I go ahead and intentionally assign him two add'l tasks to keep him busy...hopefully very busy, and this M*!her F*@ker re-assigns the work to another new staff w/o asking or telling. WTF!!!

**singing** "It's been a long time, I shouldn't a left you (left you) w/o a dope crunch to test you (test you...)"

Yeah I know that was really corny, but whatever. The point is that it's been a minute since, I've discussed health or fitness on my 'health and fitness' blog. Truth be told, I really don't have time to 'discuss' it right now. However I did spend a bit of time looking up newer and better workouts. I know that some of you are interested in toning and bulking up...so I've got a nice article on the 'get it right, get it tight' abs work out. On the other hand, there are some of you looking for more of an all around workout that you can do...in a short amount of time or perhaps at the house. I got you! Check 'em out, and let me know how it goes.

For Women
For Men

Ok - last post of the day...promise.

I just want to say that right now I feel like work is SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL. I MUST work this weekend b/c that is the only time that I can focus on 1 complete task at a time w/o a bazillion other tasks popping up and interrupting me...(emails, questions, status updates, etc). If I can just make it through the next 6 hours, then I am home free to get a better hold of the reins.

Whew!

In other less exciting news...this has been a loooong week. My spirits are lifted, but I'm not 100% sure how I will manage until Thanksgiving.

I missed today's AM workout b/c I was up until around mid-night trying to get some work completed before this morning. I'm hoping to get home by around 6 - 6:30, so that I can squeeze it in tonight and still have time to chill. I am doing a 5K AIDS walk tomorrow, so that will be my last bit of cardio for the week.

I found a cheap flight home to visit the fam next weekend, and I was able to finalize my plans for my b-day celebration the weekend following. Sooo...I've got quite a bit to look forward to!

Lastly, on the goals piece...I went to a NABA Membership Reception last night, and was asked to volunteer on the PR committee. They want me to help maintain the website, which I know nothing about. However, the lady who was previously responsible for this position knows even less that I do, and she was able to manage...I think I'll be alright. The important part is that I'm getting out more and expanding my professional network.

Also, I'm playing golf this weekend w/an old high school buddy. My game is weak weak weak, but we're going to a course that is usually pretty empty. Hopefully there won't be a team of ppl right behind us waiting to play each hole. The golf scramble that I attended last week showed that I have a long way to go. However, I haven't completely forgotten everything that I learned in college. We'll see how it goes :-)

Have a great Friday, everyone!

Let me, let me upgrade ya...upgrade ya!!!

A sistah finally placed the order for the new camera. I didn't get to use my Best Buy hookup, but I found the camera that I wanted for $100 less that the BB advertised price...from the vendor, which I always thought would be the most expensive. Anyway...check me out!

Man, I can't wait to get my new Black Sony Cyber-Shot T300 Digital Camera. Check out the specs! Holla, at'cha girl. My pic taking game is about to shoot through the roof. :BigSmile:

A sistah JUST got the call informing me of the 2009 pay raises...let the church say Y'amen!!! Boy, that's the type of news that you need to hear to lift your spirits on a Wednesday afternoon!

Did I really just KILL 2 red velvet cup cakes, an oatmeal cookie, and a rice crispy treat w/in the last 8 hours? :-( Damn.

Sorry for the lack of posts, guys. I really just haven't been motivated, but I am going to try to get back on my game.

I hit the gym this morning only to be told (15 mins into my swim) that the pool was being closed for about an hour. This would not have normally bothered me except that now I have to get up early 1 add'l day of the week in order to make up for the lost workout. :-( I'm tired.

On a happier note, I did get to go golfing last Thursday. The weather was beautiful, and my team tied for 2nd at 5 under par. Plus, I worked the check in table and was acknowledged as part of the team that pulled the event together. Not a bad look in front of the partners, eh?

Lastly, my b-day is two weeks away. Unfortunately I have kind of gotten into a habit of not being excited about my b-day anymore. I guess we were always looking for an excuse to party in college, so everyone's b-day was a big deal. Now I feel like we kind of do the 'same old, same old' every year...and all that it really does is cost everyone money. However, I'm trying to get excited and perked up. I've invited out some of my dearest friends, so I look forward to being able to spend an evening eating, drinking, dancing, and of course...drinking with them.

Tuesday afternoon smile.
The Obamas, Joe Biden, and HRC riding out the day after the election.

Get yo' note taking game up, son!

Ok, so this weekend I found myself in the stationary and office supplies section of my local Target and Staples stores. I was looking for material for a work/crafts project that I'm completing, and of course, I can't buy anything for someone else w/o making a purchase for myself. Soooo I got to looking at the latest and greatest in notebooks when I stumbled upon this little gem. The Red n' Black notebook. I saw a manager rocking one of these a few years ago, but I hadn't found anything comparable or for a decent price.

My biggest problems with my average wb is that pages fall out of the spiral bounds...the paper back covers get ripped and worn...and its tough to keep them in order. This beauty solves ALL of my problems. It is hardback, so it's built to withstand the beating that it will get in my laptop bag. The pages are bound (like those of a book), so they aren't meant to tear or fall out. Me likey! There is a read ribbon book marker attached, so it's easy for me to find my way back to the last notes that I took. AND the inner front cover has a complete 2007, 2008 and 2009 calendar, time zones for the entire globe, and a spot for important contact info. I love it. Now...it did cost about $7 (so more than your ave $3 notebook), but I really do think that it is worth it.

Did you really think that was all that I bought? Come on now.


I also feel in love with the Mead Five Star Advance Notebook. Now this one doesn't have nearly the features that the Red n' Black book had, but the cover is a durable plastic, it has a folder of sorts inside, and best of all...it has little plastic pockets to hold business cards. This is perfect. Do you know how often ppl give me business cards at a meeting that are lost or discarded at the bottom of my laptop bag by the end of the day? This is the solution.

Lastly, I grabbed a basic accordion file folder. It's pretty slim (folds to completely flat), so it doesn't take up much space within my bag. My biggest issue is that I constantly have papers, meeting agendas, policies/procedures, docs, etc that are collected during meetings. These typically get shoved (and eventually demolished) btwn the pages of my notebook. This is a simple/quick/easy way to compile all of those docs in one place, until they are ready to be discarded.

Soooo...I think that I made out pretty well on a Saturday morning :-) Plus, using these items is giving me a rare ray of sunshine in the middle of my workday...whatever works, right?

Life is Hard!!!!!!!

I think that it must be approaching 'that time of the month' b/c I'm just feeling down today.

Last night I met up w/some old friends at a 'downtown' martini bar. I had been to this particular spot a couple of times, but I guess never during 'primetime Saturday night'. It was packed and the doorman was on that bullshyt...anyone willing to throw extra cash his way or buy a couple of bottles can get in no prob...but us avg. Joes...nada. I stood in a line of about 10 ppl for at least 30 mins. Absolutely ridiculous! I would have left, but the ppl that I was meeting were already inside. THEN the azzhole at the door lets the 9 ppl in front of me enter and closes the rope on me. Grrrr! I asked him how long it would be and this mutha-flubber just shrugs w/o even looking at me. I was sooo sooo frustrated and just said..."Is it a capacity issue b/c its really only me." Finally he said, "It's just you? Come on." I was glad to get in (just b/c my peeps were there), and I let it go and had a great night as soon as I got in the door (I really must be growing). However, in retrospect I just hated the whole experience.

I felt...less than. I just felt like, as much as I love myself, he treated me like I wasn't wealthy enough, or popular enough, or pretty enough, or whatever. It really drives me up the wall when ppl of minimal importance/influence try to use that little bit of power to treat others badly. Meh...I'm just rambling, but looking back...my feelings were really hurt. I felt like I try really hard to be a good person and treat others well, and I really don't deserve to be disregarded. I guess that's just life though.

On a happy note...I SMASHED a 4 piece wing from Harold's in about 10 mins at 3 in the am. Delicious!! PLUS I discovered Shop Erotic on late night tv. Now I wasn't looking to make a purchase, but who even knew that HSN sold the goody goodies late a night? You learn something new everyday.

Ok, I know that I haven't been posting my recipe of the week lately, but just b/c I haven't been cooking DOES NOT mean that I haven't been eating. Oh I have.

This afternoon I had the pleasure of dining at Ja'Grill Restaurant & Lounge. A friend recommended it to me as an option for my upcoming b-day, so I decided to check it out this afternoon. Not bad if I do say so myself. I decided to dine at the bar, which was perfect b/c I got to chat it up w/the bar tender and chef. The food was delicious, though not the absolute best that I've ever tasted. I went w/a curry chicken, which was soooo tender that I can't even describe it and a bread pudding for dessert...lovely. However you know me...my favorite was the rum punch. Bwoy...let's just say that I left there w/a smile on my face.

Now that was just the restaurant section, but the basement converts to a lounge on Thurs, Fri, and Sat night. According to the bartender, the DJ (Andju) gets it going w/a mix of dancehall, reggae, r&b and hip-hop. I think that this might be a hit. I haven't made a final decision yet, but it looks like Ja'Grill has made my short list!