Food Network Fun in the Sun

Here was my day in a nutshell.
-Went to the Tasting Event today. Started off with a show for Bobby Flay.
-Went to a book signing of his. He is really nice. Got my wine glass signed and a book.
-Walked around a little and got in line about 45 minutes early for a Rachel Ray book signing. My son Parker has a crush on her so had to meet her. She signed my wine glass and book and took several pictures.
-Went to the tasting tent and tried all kinds of wonderful food. I am very picky, but told Keith I would try anything except Octopus. Guess what? I even tried that.
-Went and got in line early to meet Anthony Bourdain. Met Anthony. He is very nice. Having a 10 month old daughter has done wonders for him.
-Went to Guy Fieri's show. He was the winner of The Next Food Network star in season 1.
-Next we saw Ming Tsai. He was our favorite demonstration. He has a show called Simply Ming. He is so funny.
-Last show for the day was Anthony Bourdain. He was so funny. It was a free for all. He just talked and people asked questions.
-Out of protest for how Emeril was last night I did not go to his show. I went to Ming instead and am so glad.
-Heading to the pool now.
-More later.

Emeril not as cool as Cat!! :-(

Well, we went to Emeril's Sugar Shack event tonight. The desserts were fabulous. Keith saw that Emeril came out, so I ran over with my camera and went to get a picture with him. He took a couple pictures and then said very rudely, "Don't start mobbing me. Don't start with the pictures. Can we wait 5 minutes? Give me a break here." He talked to the people that he was with, walked to a cabana, stayed in there most of the party and then left to go to a private party. Very disappointing, but the best part of the night is that I got to meet Anthony Bourdain. He was with his wife (at least I hope it was his wife) having a private moment with friends. He was getting up to leave and I stuck out my hand to shake his and said, "Hi, I'm a big fan." He said thank you.

Keith and I started something new. When we travel without the kids we take a little stuffed animal or an action figure and take pictures of people and things with the figure or animal. I am travelling with a small smiley face figure. I said to Anthony, "If you don't mind could you take a picture with this for my kids?
Anthony: It's for your kids?
Me: Yes
Anthony: Then I'll do it.
Me: Thank you so much.
Anthony: No problem
Me: (after picture taken) Thanks again. I hope to talk to you more tomorrow at the tasting event.
Anthony: Hope to see you there.

It was wonderful. I also got to talk to Ted Allen. Here is how our conversation went:




Me: (to Keith) Keith, look that looks like so and so's friend.
Keith: go, go, go
Me: (to said person) Hi, are you from Chicago. Do you know so and so?
Mystery man: I spent some years in Chicago, but I don't know that person.
Me: Hmmmm, well you look really familiar.
Mystery man: Well maybe it's because I'm on Top Chef and Iron Chef.
Me: Oh yeah, that's probably it. What's your name?
Ted: Ted
Me: You sure you don't know so and so you from Chicago? (at this point I was just trying to save face)
Ted: No, it's been awhile since I've been there and never heard of him.
Me: I'm sorry. I knew you looked familiar though. Good night!
Ted: Don't worry about it. Good night.

Back at our table.

Me: Keith that wasn't so and so's friend. That's Ted from Top Chef and Iron Chef (he judges on the show).
Keith: I knew after you ran after him who he was, but you were already talking to him.
Me: I'm so embarassed. Why didn't you tell me? All you said was GO, GO, GO. I thought you agreed with me.
Keith: I wasn't sure who he was, but I knew he looked familiar so I told you to go, but then I figured it out.
Me: Thanks honey for letting me embarass myself.

I felt so stupid, but now I have a fun story to tell. I realized after getting back to our hotel room he looks nothing like so and so's friend.

Anyway Emeril was a HUGE let down, but I got to meet Anthony, got to meet Ted Allen sort of :-), and had great desserts. We also sat with a couple from Pennsylvania that ended up being a lot of fun.

Gotta get some sleep.

Cat Cora's Cool

We went to a book signing today and met Cat Cora. If you watch Iron Chef America she is the one and only female Iron Chef. We were first in line and she was very sweet. Parker wanted me to meet her, so we got pictures of her for him. Tonight we are off to dessert with Emeril. BAM!! To be continued.

Another fun weekend! BAM!!!

Keith won a trip for two (thats him and me) to go to the Food Network Wine and Food Festival this weekend in Miami Florida. We are leaving tomorrow (Thursday) and getting back Sunday Night.




One of the highlights for me is getting to eat dessert with Emeril. BAM!! We get to meet him and take a picture with him. It will be fun. That is on Friday Night. On Saturday we are going to a tasting village that showcases many of the chefs from Food Network. We will see Bobby Flay (a family favorite on Iron Chef), Guy Fieri, Tyler Florence, Paula Deen, Giada DeLaurentiis, Rachel Ray, Jaime Oliver, and ANTHONY BOURDAIN. He is one of my favorites and I hope I can meet him. He has a show on Travel Channel called ANTHONY BOURDAIN-NO RESERVATIONS.



Other chefs that I am bummed I will miss are Mario Battali (another Iron Chef favorite), Moromoti (again from Iron Chef) and anothe personal favorite of mine is Robert Irvine from Dinner Impossible. The two chefs I was dying to meet were Anthony Bourdain and Robert Irvine. Robert Irvine did not work out with our schedule and what we were able to get tickets to, so I am thankful that I get to meet at least one of the two. :-)



Sunday we are going to a cheese seminar. For those of you who do know my son Parker you know that he has loved cheese since he got his first teeth. We are going to this seminar to learn how to cook wonderful things with normal everyday cheeses. We get to taste everthing that is made.

I will be sure to blog about both my adventures when I get home. I will also be blogging on some decisions I have made about my triathlon career, but you will have to wait until I get home to find out about that.

WW Update and I'm off to . . .

WW update:
I gained back the 1.6 that I lost last week. That's ok. Hakuna Matata. That means NO WORRIES. :-)

I'm off to. . . .
Walt Disney World without the kids. WaaaaHoooo!! Hubby has a conference at the Grand Floridian, so I thougt I would be a good wife and accompany him on this trip. We are flying out tonight (first class) and won't be home till late Tuesday night. I'll blog when I get home. I'll be walking so much at WDW that I"m sure I'll lose that 1.6 and then some.

As Pooh Bear would say: Tah Tah For Now

As Buzz Lightyear would say: To Infinity and Beyond

And as I would say: I'm going to DISNEYWORLD!!! EEEEeeeeeeeeee!!!

I deserve it!!

I wrote this poem back in July of 2005. I am glad that I found it again. Enjoy!!

I Deserve it!!
by Melissa

I used to tell myself that I was not good
that losing weight, I never would.

I didn't like myself or looking in the mirror.
Being fat my whole life was a real fear.

This fear I never did anything about.
I ate when I was sad, angry, happy or just wanted to pout.

Dr Phil says, "Get real and excited about your life,"
but until I acknowleged the problem all I had was strife.

I picked up his book and started to read,
right thinking is on of his 7 keys.

First I dismissed all those people who said I'd never lose weight.
I dismissed the thoughts that being skinny was the only way to be great.

All those people over the years that said, "You have a pretty face,"
didn't realize it hurt me and set me back a pace.

You know what they mean when they say that to you,
but really you want to be beautiful all the way through.

So all my negative dialog I've thrown out the door
because I know I"m worthy and I deserve much more.

I deserve to be excited about my life.
I deserve to learn good ways of coping with strife.

I deserve to like what I see in the mirrior.
I walk out the door head held high with no fear.

I'm excited about my days!
I'm excited about getting fit!

This is a life I love
and you know what?
I DESERVE IT!!

Haiku Monday on Tuesday and my thoughts on my first Tri club event.

Last night I went to do my Haiku Monday post and couldn't because blogger wouldn't let me sign on for some reason, so here it is a day late.

I went to tri club
We spun for 90 minutes
I am sore today

Is tri club for me?
I feel inadequate
I feel too big

I talked to the girls
after my tri spinning class
they encouraged me

I will not give up
I deserve to be healthy
I am proud of me

As you can tell by my Haikus I went to my first tri club activity. It was a 90 minute spinning class. I managed to stay on that bike for the whole 90 minutes, but was sore and cried at one point because I really felt self conscience and felt like I was too much of a beginner to be in there and too big. I know that no one cared about my size in there. I know that it is just me being insecure. I know that I am making a change and that everyone is proud of me, but it is just my dumb insecurities creeping back in. I talked to the three girls that are running the club after the spinning class. One of them lost 90 pounds to be wehre she is today and one of them used to battle a weight problem. They were great. I told them that I am tired of being the biggest person in all of the classes I am taking. I'm tired of feeling like people are looking at me. They pointed out all the positive things that I am doing in my life and that I made it to class and stayed on the bike for 90 minutes. The Tri Club has 120 people that signed up and there was probably 15-20 people at the spin class, so I guess me making it to class is a big deal. They told me to quit focusing on the fact that I'm the biggest person in class. I know that I need to do that. I know that I need to not worry about what others think, but it is hard. On December 22, 2007 I vowed to myself to change and to be a better person both physically and mentally. I have lost weight every week since that date and I have been in the gym on a regular basis since then. I am spending more time with God. Everything is going great and that is why I am confused on why all these insecurities are creeping back in. I've been and will be praying more because I know that I can get through this with God's help. I know that this is just a phase and I am not going to let anyone or anything get in the way of my goals this time. Could it be that I'm scared about the changes that lie ahead. I have been this size for so long that subconsciously I don't want to change? I don't know, but with God I know that it will all work out. I truly believe that I am significant because of who I am in Christ, not by what size I am or what number is on the scale or what event I am doing, but truly significant because of who I am in Christ and what I am doing for Him. With Him as my focus I know that I can get through this. He is my rock and my foundation. He is the one that helps me through my training and my events and He is the one that will get me through this.

Katie, Kristan, and Becky, Thank you so much for your encouragement last night after our spinning class. I really was ready to not come back. I'm glad that I stayed and talked to you. I know that God has brought you three into my life for a reason and that God led me to this tri club and I believe that "I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength." That includes spinning, triathlon training, and my events.

Let's see where this journey is going. Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement.

Follow you Heart in all you do!!

This was my favorite ad from the Super Bowl. Kinda Gross, but I loved it!! Let me know what you think.

Here is my other favorite:

Weight Watchers Update

I lost 1.6 pounds. That was over the last two weeks because I didn't weigh in last week.

Starting Weight: 306.2
Todays Weight: 293.6
Total Loss: 12.6

GO ME!!!!

By next week I will be in the 280's in time for my trip to Walt Disney World without kids. :-)

Hanna Montana and the Super Bowl. What a weekend.

Well, I'm off to Indiana to pick up my 8 year old niece, so she can come with me and 3 other kids to see the Hannah Montana Concert Movie in 3D tomorrow. I watch the show with my kids and tried to get concert tickets at face value and couldn't get them, so this was my answer to not being able to get the real concert tickets. I refuse to pay more than face value. Tickets for the movie were $15 and the movie is "allegedly" only out for a week. It's on a big screen and in 3D. Ohhhh can't wait to wear those glasses.

Then I get to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday.

What a weekend. I can hardly wait. :-) Does it get any better than this?

Probably won't check in here until after the weekend.

Have a great weekend.

13 Thursday

For those of you who don't know thirteen Thursday is a day where I take time out to share 13 positive things with you. It was something I did everyweek and I am going to try and do that again. Here is this week's 13 Thursday.

My theme this week is the gym and working out

1. I am thankful that I am in a place in my life where I can afford a gym membership.
2. I am thankful for friends I make at the gym. Joy, you ROCK and make me laugh everytime I see you.
3. I am thankful for the lady that Shuuush's my girlfriend and I. She is an older woman and I think it is awesome that at her age she still works out.
4. I am thankful that my gym added on a pool a few years back.
5. I am thankful for updated machines with their own TV's.
6. I am thankful for personal trainers who help me between clients because I cannot afford one right now.
7. I am thankful for my workout buddy, Cindy, who even when I don't want to go she helps get me there.
8. I am thankful that I am fortunate enough to have an IPOD that I loaded with incredible music to make my workouts more productive.
9. I am thankful that my foot injury last week ended up being nothing and that I can be back in the gym this week.
10. I am thankful for my Rockin' Chiropractor who worked on my foot to get me back in the gym.
11. I am thankful for the front desk people who know me by name and give me a smile every time I walk through that door and tell me good job on the way out.
12. I am thankful for the new tri club that my gym started.
13. I am thankful for new motivation and a desire to get to the gym and workout. I love this new journey and cannot wait to see what happens.

Have a great day and take time to think of the positive things in your life and if you are still having a bad day watch the youtube video in my last post. It never fails to make me smile. :-) Happy Thursday!!

I may have to download this song to my Ipod :-)

I hope this makes you smile today. Make surre you pause the video to the right and than play this. Enjoy!!

Haiku Monday on Tuesday

My son Parker got
another stripe in Kung Fu
He rocks at Kung Fu

Sore Foot I have had
I am going to the doc
even though it's well

My kids make me laugh
they give me inspiration
to journey forward

Sunday my friend said,
"Have you lost some weight, my friend?"
I could have kissed her.

I have decided
no more fast food for me now.
It has too much fat.


The next five Haikus are based on a true story. Well all my Haikus are today, but this is a story that happend yesterday.

Shoveled snow I did
for my bro and sis- n-law
everything melted

so they will not know
that I shoveled their driveway
unless I tell them

How was I supposed
to know the weather would be
warm? Watch a report?

I am glad the snow
is all gone and that it was
warm enough to wear

no jacket outside.
Look on the bright side, I got
a great workout too.

Happy Haiku Monday (on Tuesday). Show me what you got. Remember they have to be 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables. It's fun!!

The question I've been looking forward to answering

Today at church someone asked me,

"Have you lost weight? You look thinner?"

I could have hugged and kissed that woman, but I didn't. I just said, "Yes, I've lost 12 pounds.

Then another lady told me she can tell that I've lost weight.

I really needed this today. It is such a motivation booster.

In fact, after church I really wanted to get take out, but I didn't and I took a route home where I didn't pass any restaraunts.

I'm very proud of myself. :-)

I have no Weight Watchers update this week because I did not go yesterday due to a foot injury and kid stuff I had to attend to.

Stay tune for a great weight watchers update next Saturday.

As far as the foot injury I could barely walk on Thursday and Friday. I went to the doc yesterday and he said he thinks it's a bone spur, but I don't think it is. I think it is something with my achellies tendon or the muscles around it. I'm getting an xray tomorrow and going to see my chiropractor to see what she says. Today I can walk fine and it's like nothing was wrong. So we will see what happens. I'll keep you all posted.

I feel like I'm back in Junior High and 13 Thursday

Remember I told you I tried a class called Zumba. It is a latin dance/aerobics class and I loved it. I went with my girlfriend and we were in the back just having a good time. We signed up to take the remaining 6 classes. Well somebody told somebody that told someone else who told my friend's neighbor that we were too loud and obnoxious. Today was my class and I feel so dumb, but I had major anxiety going into there. I told my friend I would tone it down, but not change who I am, but I must say that my insecurities about my size are creeping back in to my mindset. I noticed that quite a few women that were there last week weren't here this week, so I assume it is because of me. I know it could be because we are having the coldest weather in a long time or maybe their sick, but I feel like it's because they don't want to come to a class that I am in. I hate that these insecurities are creeping back in my mindset and I really think it is because I am finally losing weight and it is the old me trying to get back in here. The thing that bugs me the most is that when someone talked to my friend's neighbor it was pure gossip because my friend's neighbor was not in my class. I pride myself on not gossiping and I just think it is so petty. Grow up.

Here are 13+ things that are keeping me going during this:

1. I deserve to be healthy and fit.
2. I deserve to go to an excersise class witha friend and have fun.
3. I'm proud of myself because I signed up for a Tri club and a group class. Not something I would have done.
4. I have a loving husband and family and very supportive friends.
5. I have two kids that are my life and are very proud of me.
6. I'm healthy enough to be working out and I thank God for that.
7. I have food on my table and a house over my head.
8. I will not let the gossip of others affect my new motivation for working out and getting healthy.
9. I have lost 12 pounds in 4 weeks.
10. I'm a very outgoing, fun, encouraging, person and that's what people like about me. I will not let this gossip take that away from me.
11. I am going to do 3 triathlons this summer.
12. I am already signed up for a 5k in March.
13. I am blessed beyond all measure.
14. I am significant because of who I am in Christ and not what people think of me.
15. I am victorious.
16. I am woman. Hear me roar. RRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Thanks for listening. I feel so much better!! I'm off to be Mommy now.

Ytri club

I don't have a lot of time to write right now, but I am so excited because a YMCA by me started a tri club. This Y is by my daughter's school, so it is a little further of a ride for me, but it is worth it. As excited as I am, I am also scared to death. I've always been a lone workout person. Taking classes or working in groups intimidates me because of how big I am. I know it shouldn't, but after awhile you get tired of being the biggest one in class. Even with these fears I am signed up and moving forward with this. It is something I need to do. I'll tell you more about it later. I DO NOT want to go to the gym today, but I am and told my friend to be here by 9:00 and that is only 7 minutes away.

Have a great day!!!

Haiku Monday

Why is it hard to
get out of bed on Monday
and go to the gym?

I'm feeling thinner.
I have more energy too.
Goodbye the old me.

I am not a fan
but to you my cheesehead friends
I am so sorry

Remember if you want to write a Haiku you can. The first line needs to be 5 syllables, second line 7 syllables, and the last line 5 syallbles again. It's fun. You know you want to write one. Have a great week everyone and remember to smile and take time to enjoy the little things in life like my Haikus.

Weight Watchers Update

I lost .4 this week.
That's not a big loss, but I'm happy because that is the fourth week in a row that I have lost weight.

Last week I was 295.6
This week I'm 295.2
Total weightloss 11.8 pounds in the last 4 weeks. Not bad!!

I was kind of bummed because of not missing a day at the gym I thought I would lose more, but then my WW leader told me that I lost two sticks of butter. When you visualize things that way it really helps.

I have decided that my goal is to lose everyweek and even if it is .2 or .4 I will celebrate because every pound is another step towards my longterm goal of 100 pounds lost.

Well, it has been a long day. I'm off to bed.

5 for 5 and my favorite spinning instructor.

I had a great week at the gym.
I worked out Monday through Friday. That's 5 for 5 baby!!
Mon. - Wed. it was a total mental battle, but I won and made it to the gym.
I tried a new class on Thursday. It is called Zumba and it rocks. It is Latin dance moves and aerobics. I cannot dance, but my girlfriend and I went and we were in the back of the class and we just improvised when we couldn't do it. We just kept moving the whole hour. I was proud of myself and I have never had so much fun in a class. I would recommend it to everyone to try.

I also did strength training Mon. Wed. and Fri. I'm back and it feels so good. I cannot wait to see how much more weight I will lose tomorrow at Weight Watchers.

One bummer at the gym today. I found out my favorite spinning teacher is not going to be teaching anymore. His name is Jeff and he really means a lot to me. He was always encouraging and bought me my click in biking shoes a couple years back as a reward for sticking with spinning when I wanted to give up. No matter where I was in my journey he was always there for me to encourage me and never gave me a hard time He was not just my spinning teacher he was my friend and he will be missed. When he told me he was leaving today I cried. I felt so silly, but that's how much he means to me. He asked me if I could please cry in front of his boss. :-) I don't think I mentioned how funny he was too.

Jeff if you read this thanks for everything. I'll miss you, but I am happy for your next journey. Have fun and take care!!

Shamrock Shuffle

I just signed up for my first race in 2008. I am doing the Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago on March 30. I'm doing the 5K walk with my best buddy Darlene. I'm excited!! It will be fun!!

I can tell 2008 is going to be great.

Keep on Keepin' on!!