I've been neglecting this lovely slice of blogland lately. Life is so busy and full, I miss what it feels like to just be, without rushing off to do something else. 

On the top of the recent events list, the hubster's birthday was this past weekend. This picture. Could you just die from cuteness overload?

 He turned 28. What an old man, at least for 19 days until I join him, being all close to 30 and stuff. <----(30?! Seriously - not cool man. Not cool.) I'm in denial about age, so.....

 

Kills me dead. Every. Time. Gosh we are gonna have cute kids!

Anyways, Hubster didn't want a big celebration, just a couple friends and family for a low key BBQ, which is what we did. I decided to indulge him and make (among tons of other dishes) no less than 5 million jalapeño poppers stuffed with cheddar and wrapped with bacon. I don't eat poppers, but I hear they were delish. 

It was also a strictly no make-up casual day. Don't judge. 

     

Finish the Sentence Linkup

Today I am linking up with Jake and Holly for a fun little finish the sentence go 'round!

If I had one extra hour in the day... I’d like to say I’d do something productive, but I’m pretty sure I would happily sleep that hour away!

 I wish my name... was original. Jessica has to be the most popular girls name EVER. But, at least I can always find my name on those lovely personalized touristy key chains!

I think anything chevron is... amazeballs. I love it. I want to paint my house in pink and aqua chevron. Don’t think the landlord (or my hubby) would appreciate that.

My last nightmare... consisted of me trying to find someone. That’s about all I remember. But I woke up sweating and my body was all stressed. It must have been intense!

Sometimes... I wonder when I missed the class on how to be rich by doing nothing. I’d really love to know if the class is going to be rescheduled and if I can sign up pronto.

My last meal on earth would be... Cake. Cupcakes. Any combination of flour, sugar, egg, and frosting. A little chocolate wouldn’t bother me. And a venti raspberry mocha. How I miss those….

I would much rather...clean my house instead of going to the gym. Then I get lazy and don’t do either! 

Mayonnaise... is banned from the Garcia household. BANNED. Unless it’s on a fired egg sandwich with toasted bread. Then I’ll allow it.

10 years ago, I didn't think... 10 years would go by this fast. My 10 year high school reunion is Saturday…. That’s just scary. I also thought I’d be a mom by now.

Selfishly...I want someone at my beck and call to rub my feet. If I was rich, I would totally hire a 24 hour on call foot massager. I wouldn’t even care if they didn’t have a personal life…. I would pay them well though ;-)

My favorite show on TV right now... Big Brother. This season is extra trashy, which makes it highly entertaining for me!

And, George Zimmerman... is old news. I am getting so frustrated with all the coverage this is getting. It’s very sad that a child died. It always is. But can we take a look at ALL the children who are dying on a daily basis and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? We should be using this awareness towards doing something about the violence so many children are involved in daily instead of focusing the coverage on Zimmerman and whether the jury made the wrong call or not. They made the call and that’s that. They don’t always get it right, but it’s time to MOVE ON.

Weigh In Wednesday - Link Up!

I'm participating in the Weigh In Wednesday link-up! My weight loss total for the week is from yesterday morning, because I am trying to weigh myself only once a week! If you thought I was actually going to post my current weight, and not my weekly weight loss, you are sorely mistaking! Someday maybe I will share my highest weight ever, (which is my starting weight) but I'm not there yet. Thinking about it makes me want to curl up in fetal position and rock back and forth, no exaggeration. When it's a distant memory and I am far away from it.... we'll see. So, total weekly weight loss, drumroll please........

6.8 lbs!

Totally stoked with that number. I know it's not going to keep up at that pace, but I am thrilled with this loss right now in this moment. On to next week!

     

Photo Dump - Food Edition

If you follow me on Instagram, you have a pretty good idea of what I've been eating the past week. I find it I take photos of my food, I am keeping myself accountable because everyone and their mom can see exactly what I'm eating through out the day. If you don't follow me on Instagram, you should - bottleduplightning is the username. (I also post other things besides just pictures of food, in case that's not your thing!) Follow that 'ish!

I've been starting out every morning with a Yoplait Greek 100 calorie yogurt with a small handful of blueberries thrown in. My fav right now is the vanilla, but any flavor is tasty. 

Watermelon, cucumber, chicken, and feta cheese salad. This is exactly what it sounds like, plus a little balsamic dressing drizzled on top. I am currently using Kens Lite Balsamic Vinaigrette, but am looking for some fresher alternatives for the future.  I have a feeling I will be making this salad regularly for the rest of the summer!

Frozen grapes and frozen blueberries. Uh-maze-balls. Not joking. Something about freezing the fruit makes the sugar more concentrated or some crap like that. All I know, is it tastes like I am eating a bunch of healthy Starbursts candies! Perfect for a 3 pm snack when I am craving something sweet. 

Shrimp, zucchini, and squash. All I did for this was put a drop (literately a tiny drop, I promise it will do the trick) of olive oil in a skillet and sauteed the zucchini and squash for 2 minutes, then added the shrimp. Shake some Old Bay seasoning, garlic, and a bit of cumin and I'm telling you this dinner will surprise you with how good it is. Also, if you don't have Old Bay seasoning, I highly suggest it. Anything you put it on will be packed with flavor!

A non-food related photo, just because I found this on my phone and it cracked me up! Love those crazy silly nieces of mine!

     

Leibster Award!

I've been bad. I've neglected my blog. Again. I've been so busy I'm not gonna make excuses, movin' on!

A little while back, Heather from Pretty Strong Medicine nominated me for a Liebster award. Squeal! This is reserved for bloggers with less than 200 followers.

These are your marching orders: 

Acknowledge the blog that nominated you (THANK YOU HEATHER!)

Tell 11 facts about yourself

Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger created

List 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you believe deserve some recognition

Post 11 questions for them to answer

Notify them that they've been nominated

You can't nominate the blog that nominated you

11 Facts About Me!

I am a diehard 12th(wo)man. Trash talk about the Seahawks in my home and I will have you promptly removed, with force if necessary. My husband likes the Texans, he’s from the Houston area, but knows to be careful when talking about my hawks. I am a self-diagnosed victim of Seahawks-Turrets. During a game, I cannot control what comes flying out of my mouth, it’s completely uncontrollable. Small children should not be present. SEA-HAWKS!

My name is Jess, and I’m a Starbucks addict. It’s kind of a joke in our house; don’t mess with me until I've had my Starbucks! 

I love me some reality TV. Real Housewives of --------, (which ever city Bravo graces with it’s presence… except for Atlanta. HATE RHOA) and Big Brother. I love it. It’s mindless trashy TV and I get to escape for an hour into a pretend world. I also usually feel much better about myself at the end of the show.

I tend to overreact in most situations from sheer paranoia something will go wrong. When my husband exterminated a wasp hive, my first thought was to have my phone ready to call 911 because he might get stung 5 million times and need a trip to the hospital. He didn’t get stung, not once.

I am not a mother, yet, however I treat our furbaby Bruce Wayne as if he was a real baby. He’s spoiled, and when he gets hurt or sick, I hurt. He’s usually front and center in Christmas cards.

My husband and went to high school together, and frankly didn’t like each other at all. I like to call us post-high school sweethearts. I thought he was a know-it-all, he thought I was obnoxious (which I am). How’d we end up married and incredibly happy? One will never know!

I like to read “fluff” books aka books with no moral compass. The Confessions of a Shopaholic are a fave of mine. Maybe because I identify with the main character so easily? Don’t even get me started on Fifty Shades…Hubba-Hubba. Is it hot in here?

I am a country music fanatic. Name an artist, I’ve probably seen them in concert, at least once. Keith Urban? Hot damn. Happily met him a ton of times… only gets hotter with age!

I love to play pretend photographer. I say pretend because I’m not very good at it yet, but I love it all the same.

I feel at home when I'm at the ocean. I am blessed to live in the Pacific Northwest and have water all around, all the time. Hawaiian beaches aren’t too bad either ;-)

I have a best friend I’ve known since 8^th grade. We’ve been through a ton of crap, but I am proud to be able to look at her like a sister. Don’t think I would have been able to keep my sanity through the years had she not been there for me!

11 Questions from Pretty Strong Medicine:

1. If you could be a Disney Princess, which one would you be?

Can I be Minnie Mouse? Does she count, cause I would totally rock the ears and the twirly-swirly dresses like a freakin’ pro. If Minnie doesn’t count, then Merida, because the chick has got awesome hair and can kick arse just like the boys!

2. What is one food you could survive on the rest of your life?

Mac and Cheese. From a box. Nasty I know, but it just does it for me! ;-) Which now that I think about it, I probably couldn't actually survive on it, that stuff might kill me!

3. Describe yourself in three words.

Cautious, caring, and invested.

4. What's your favorite summer activity?

Fireworks on the Fjord – it’s a local fireworks show on July 3^rd. I get to see my giant fireworks display and then July 4^th can be spent watching my husband and his brothers try to blow each other’s arms off. No joke…. A couple years ago I think they came close!

5. If you were famous, what would you be famous for?

I’d like to say by doing something awesome, but I would more than likely be making a fool out of myself and then have it go viral.

6. What's your biggest pet peeve?

People who lie and 1-uppers. If I EVER 1-up anyone PLEASE call me out on it!

7. What would you do if you were invisible?

Disappear, duh!

8. What was your favorite class in school?

Choir or Drama. Nothing really intellectual ;-)

9. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? 

England. Ireland. Italy. France. All of those. Anyone want to send me on an all-expense paid trip to Europe? ;-)

10. What's at the top of your bucket list?

Becoming a mom.

Losing this weight.

11. What's your biggest fear?

My first response would be spiders, because let's get real for a sec... those suckers are nasty.Seriously though my greatest fears are ending up alone and not ever being able to become a mom. Whoa. I just got real there.

Here are 11 lovely blogs I nominate!

1. Ramblings of a _____ Girl 
2. Miss Sarah Lou 
3. Hear Me Roar!
4. The Fat Girl Fighting 
5. Sweet Southern Mel 
6. 24 to 30 
7. A Healthy Makeover Journey 
8. Mission Possible: From Fat to Fit 
9. Sexy Heffer 
10. My Very Own Modern Family 
11. Traveling On...

Here are my questions:

1. If you could do one thing over in your life, what would it be and why?
2. If you had to evacuate your home immediately, what would you take with you?
3. What do you consider your best qualities?
4. What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
5. If you could, what age would you want to stay stuck at forever and why?
6. What would you name the autobiography of your life?
7. Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?
8. If today was your last day on earth, what would you spend it doing?
9. If you could be an element, which would you be?
10. Chocolate or Vanilla?
11. If you were granted 3 wishes, what would they be?

     

Walk-a-Bout

This evening, the temps outside reached around 80. Initially I wanted to come home, put on sweats and be lazy. I'm exhausted. Then I walked through the door, saw Bruce Wayne and decided before I had a chance to be lazy, I changed into my new Old Navy compression capris (Which are amazing. Get some. Now.) and headed down to the park with the pupster in tow. 

How beautiful is puget sound!? I love that this is 1 minute from my house!

I do have to say trying to speed walk/jog with a dog as friendly and lovable as mine, created a ton of "stops". A little boy kept calling him "little baby puppy" over and over again while rubbing his hands all over Bruce's face. Of course Bruce took it like a champ and loved all over him.

I just had to add the photo below.When I saw this on my phone, I actually laughed out loud. This was my attempt at getting a picture with Bruce....... enjoy a laugh at my expense. Seriously, the longer I look at this, the more hilarious it gets!

I think it's safe to assume I also gained approximately 237 new freckles from my short jaunt out into the sun. Too bad all those fabulous little brown spots never ran together to create one giant epic tan like my mom promised me they would when I was little!

     

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Zumba Rush

I love doing Zumba, but I rarely do it. The local YMCA's scheduled classes really do not fit with my schedule at all so it's hard for me to get to a class. But when I do, it kicks my butt. 

I've tried other fitness games, and even have the Biggest Loser game for the Kinect. I end up getting really annoyed because they don't read my movements correctly or my little avatar in the corner that is tracking my body movements resembles Patrick from Spongebob, so naturally I quit the game. I had been eyeing Zumba Rush for a while and finally bought it pre-owned.

I had such high hopes and excitement for the game. Even Bruce Wayne was excited (and also decided to photo bomb me).

What ended up happening is I made it through 4 songs (the full length class was 14.....epic fail) which resulted in an extremely sore left hamstring with me flat on the floor thinking that I might die. 

The game was a ton of fun though, and I will definitely being doing on a regular basis because it gets you up, moving, and brings the sweat!

I wasn't gonna let my short workout go to waste, so my dinner consisted of baked salmon and a large spinach, heirloom tomato, and apple salad. 

A bunch of little changes will eventually lead to big changes in my body and lifestyle!

It's a journey not a sprint people!