Closing Thought For a Sunday Night

Holy Crap!

Thank you - so, so much.  They completely surprised me. Completely.

A Thought For A Sunday Afternoon

I was doing some reading earlier today, and came across something I had scrawled in the margins of this book many, many years ago:

Then a few minutes ago, I saw the same words elsewhere online. Someone is trying to tell me something.

I think I will listen.

Adventures in Clean Eating Out & About, Part III - The Office Christmas Party

Once again, it was time for my company's swank Christmas party Saturday, where my co-workers and I shed the shackles of the Engineering Mines and step out to eat and drink well ( and not talk about work! )

 ( using the same pic as last year because heck, it's cute )

Because we enjoyed last year's meal so much, we decided to have our party at the same steakhouse as last year : a very upscale steak house in Annapolis...the kind where steak is priced by how long it is aged, and essentially everything is made in the restaurant...no processed foods, everything handmade.

Previous years:

2011 Christmas Party

2010 Christmas Party


     This year, I again used the techniques I've learned to control myself, my intake - and I still had a wonderful meal and a great time. There are definite ways to stay Clean while eating in mixed company ( Clean and Unclean eaters, that is! )

1. I made sure I found out the menu before hand, and knew exactly what I was going to select - no last minute wobbly "Um..." or "Well..." - I knew what I was going to eat, as if there were no choices that night.

House salad with their homemade basil vinaigrette ( tomatoes were AWESOME )
Filet mignon on a small pool of garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli
A magnificently delicious baked 1/2 sweet potato ( a side dish )
Skip the dessert course and ask for coffee instead

2. I ate a small meal a few hours before we left for the restaurant. This way, I wasn't ravenous by the time our meal was ordered and more easily swayed to make an incorrect choice.

3. I ate slowly, savoring my steak with a mindfulness  so I enjoyed and appreciated each bite. I finished my steak with a very satisfied feeling.



 When the dessert course came, and our devastatingly handsome waiter brought my coffee as requested, he made a suggestion - sometimes he'll bring a single slice of cheesecake or whatever to the table, and divide it into 4 or 6 pieces...so everyone has just a taste. I looked over at a female co-worker who also carefully watches her food consumption and she nodded. A plate of cut up cheesecake was brought forth for us, yielding about 2 bites apiece. Enough for a taste and a savor. It was delicious, I felt satisfied and not deprived, and I left the table knowing I had a well thought out meal and a little treat without going "hog wild" and eating an entire slice of cheesecake by myself.


Recap: Preplan, Pre-eat, Mindful Eating - keys to successfully staying on Path when dining out.


PS - Saturday was also my few times a year indulgence with liquor. ( I don't drink beer or wine at all. I like whiskey and will have a glass a few times a year, at most. )

The glass of Jameson was welcome, and that was all I was going to have 1 glass. I had already told myself I would only have 1 glass this year, and even warned my whiskey drinking co-hort of my plan.
He asked for a glass of Knob Creek bourbon straight up. It arrived on ice. He frowned. The waiter apologized. I couldn't see a good drink go to waste, so I took it from the waiter, smiled, and said I would drink it. My co-worker said "Um, that's a little stronger than you are probably used to..." and I assured him it was no problem. ( This morning, I looked - Jameson is 40%; Knob Creek is generally between 50-60% alcohol by volume )

Between you and me - the Knob Creek knocked me on my ass. Lesson learned. Next time I will stick to the single and double malt end of the Whiskey Pool.

Thank You!

The old blog odometer rolled over to a pretty impressive number this morning, and November 2012 is on pace to become the month with the highest number of pageviews my blog has ever achieved in the two plus years I’ve been writing Eve Was Partially Right. 

I wanted to stop for a moment and thank you, sincerely – for your visits, your comments, your emails. Your enthusiasm for Clean Eating, your comments, and even those of you who stop by every few days, read, and never say a word….I know you are there, I know you keep coming back to learn more about CE with me – and I’m incredibly happy to share my journey with you all. 

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. 

- Maura

 

Positive Thoughts For A Friday

My Son, The Olympics, The Easy Way Out, & Why Clean Eating Is Tough For Some

      The other night, my son and I were watching the Olympics - the Men's swimming, to be precise. Keep in mind my son is 11, scary smart ( a la Sheldon Cooper sometimes ), and very techno savvy. He turned to me and asked "Those men sure are in shape." And I smiled and said "Yes, they are. Those men have been working out for years: swim practice, gym, endurance training...and all the prep they've done for years was for this week - in some cases - for a single race."

     He looked at me with a quizzical look on his face and said casually "Seems like a waste of time. Devoting all that time and energy for less than 2 minutes of their life." I studied his face - he was serious. I said "I think you are missing the point. These young men have devoted their lives to being the best swimmers they can possibly be. The best. In order to be the best, you have to make certain sacrifices and commit to your goal. "

     Now, my son is a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Why his experience training towards this goal versus what the Olympians commit to didn't make a connection for him had me at a loss...until I considered his personality and his work ethic. While shockingly smart, he has a poor work ethic and will always take the easy way out if it is an option. Homework? Do it at the last possible second, if at all. Do chores around the house? Naah - rather play video games or fib about it. Eat healthy? Pfft - why bother learning to cook when McDonald's is so convenient?

     Looking at him watching the swimmers, it dawned on me that he doesn't make the connection between hard work, commitment and end results. Sure - he understands that in order to get something, effort must be made. But he hasn't internalized it yet. He hasn't made it part of his core being.

If you're an adult - a hard working, "show up to work early and be the last to leave the office" kind of employee, you've internalized the value of hard work plus consistency plus time equals results. You know your success in the work place hinges on your putting in the effort to get results. Reports are filed on time, computer programs are written by the deadline, and financial gain and recognition are the reward.

 But what about your body? Your health?

Internalize it - you will get zero results health and fitness wise if you put little to no effort into achieving results. For some, Clean Eating is hard work. It takes focus and dedication more than simple willpower. Think about what you have to do - what sacrifices you have to make, what changes to your routine you need to make - in order to achieve healthy results. It isn't always easy. For some, it is hard work. But hard work coupled with consistency and time achieve results. Stick with Clean Eating - stay on path. And over time, you'll begin to see results. You'll feel better. Your skin tone and complexion will improve. Your overall health will improve. Your mood will improve. YOU will improve.

Engrish Much?

And now for your viewing pleasure and sure to make your eyes bleed and Baby Jesus cry - a spam comment I got a few minutes ago.

Thank you for enjoying my blog, sir! I do hope Clean Eating helps you!  :-D

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Greek Yogurt Review XII : Yoplait 100 Calorie Gree...":

their and often online businesses often times get started on 4 seasons elder last season or thereabouts. Rid advantage deal many well liked cover the crunchy creme inflatible donuts. Ever before, i had produced learned to regarding beneficial now i recognized nearly perfect characteristics that will right watch your cravings. Support you bring in fantastic ample amounts to keep at it to inquire about process there are plenty of drab waters by the second. But relatively against the franchise companies commitment to move not having trans extra fat willing frosty meal plans from the deal with the additional. I possibly could do it will be overemphasized the way in which horrible when they merely searching for the right non medical substances could potentially possess a while, and it could nearly always demand most people medical professional before you start another internet sites. Quick weight loss when it comes to dieting and exercising within a typical devices using your mouth approaches eating is not cuisine inside the least. Instead of excess fat getting thinner session better for you i have done nutrisystem rear side towards, contributing factor whether or not totally a nice broker. You must check into step by step makes the actual results from atonement plus stop problems catch sight of, say, grocery with good campus, since i decreased an extra excess weight. I'm to fat t nearly , how may you take advantage of the weighty inside of a protected caplet construct on the other hand adult onset diabetes. I will drop pounds even although flossing you are smiles. Unique while you're on the woman's when the girl's physician or pharmacist. Lose weight speaks june , by pm hours hello there, my partner and i travelled by way of in order to become uncomplicated also the cost of gasoline many of us very hauling an additional standard tap water in that
Feel free to surf my blog post : to lose weight

Personal Responsibility

Whether speaking of Clean Eating, Poor English, Drunk Driving, or “Gun Control”…Don’t blame the tool, blame the operator. 

Personal Responsibility. Look into it.

[Satisfaction] I Jogged!!! [/Satisfaction]

     I've been walking for several weeks now, about 4-5 times a week after work and on the weekends. Just getting out, walking briskly in the park behind my house. This morning, I picked up my new cell phone at the store. On my way back to the car, I spied an athletic clothing store. I darted in - and yes, they sell sports bras - a piece of clothing I've never owned before, but needed if I was to advance in my exercise. These cans aren't going to support themselves.

It's like stuffing 5 pounds of boob into a 3 pound sack - but tolerably snug.

I walked a minute, I jogged a minute. I walked a minute, I jogged 30 seconds. I walked 2 minutes, I jogged a minute. And on and on I went, until I had been walking / jogging for a little over 30 minutes.

For someone who was so previously out of shape as I was...today was a lightning moment.

I got back into my car to drive back to my house, and I sat in my car with a very self satisfied smile.

I'm on my way.

Thought For The Weekend

Off Topic: My Son Has Received His Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do

Off topic, but a little motivation - if my 11 year old can stick with something long enough to achieve his goals...so can I.

Congratulations to my son, who has previously been referred to as "Tidbit" elsewhere online. He's no Tidbit anymore.

CAPTCHA is Off...

Just a quick note - I'm so irritated when I go to leave a comment on someone else' blog and I've got to put in that horrible, unreadable CAPTCHA word verify thing ...I've turned it off here on my blog. No more word verify if you want to leave a comment.
I'm doubtful that I will see an uptick in Spam - but you never know. I'll deal with it, I guess.

I hope others will consider turning theirs off, too. They are a nuisance, and I think when people can't read the words, a deterrent to comments.

Thank you!

Problems Posting Comments in Blogger??

If you are having problems viewing certain Blogger sites or commenting on certain sites and you use Firefox...try switching to Internet Explorer or Chrome as your browser for that site.

     Apparently either an update to the Firefox platform doesn't quite like certain Blogger sites, or a Blogger update doesn't quite like Firefox. Either way...until this is smoothed out., you may have to view certain sites with a different browser.

 

Off Topic, But Look Anyway - It's Firefly Related

 

Q: Is that candle Heaven scent? 

Congratulations To...

Post #12 - Jennifer!

( Random number generated Mar 3 2012 at 7:12:40 by www.psychicscience.org )

     Unfortunately I couldn't find a number generator that allowed me to post the results as a pic online without paying for it - Urgh! - but trust me, I entered the 23 numbers ( taking the single post I made into the contest out ) and had the generator select a number between 1 and 23. This weirdo psychic network generator was the only one I could find with a time stamp.

Congratulations, Jennifer. You are the winner of my Clean Eating 2 cookbook giveaway.

    Thank you to ALL who posted. I've enjoyed reading your posts; I'll definitely do this again in the future.
Jennifer, please email me at this address: clean eating eve at yahoo dot com ( take out the spaces! ) and we'll coordinate that cookbook getting to you!

Off Topic: Ode to Joy

     I'm working on next week's topics, so if you haven't done so already, leave a comment in my post for the cookbook giveaway. Click the Clean Eating 2 banner in the side board to access the post. 

     In the meantime, enjoy Beaker and his rendition of Ode to Joy. It made me smile. 

Eve Was Partially Right - Cookbook Giveaway!

     I'm thankful that my blog has touched so many people. I feel good I'm helping people understand Clean Eating better as I myself continue to explore it. I've shared my triumphs and some ups and downs with you. Now, I'd like to share something a little different.

     Leave a comment in this thread - it can be a simple blog shout out, a thank you, a nice comment ( hopefully you don't have something negative to say! ) , or anything else. On Saturday March 3rd, I'll put the names into the proverbial hat and pick one to win a copy of the newest Clean Eating magazine cookbook - The Best of Clean Eating 2 which was published in November 2011.

 Thank you to all my readers - whether loyal daily visitors or folks who find me from a Google search. I appreciate each comment, and the steady uptick of traffic I've seen in the past year has been a blessing. Leave a quick comment, maybe win a cookbook - either way, you have my thanks.


*Note: Contest Over - Comments are Now Closed**

Leaping Liebster!

                               I received a very wonderful little blog bling from my dear friend, North.

Liebster means "beloved" in German, and this little bit of fun is passed from a blogger who likes your work to another blogger you admire and respect.

Here are the rules:

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

2. Link back to the blogger who gave us the award

3. Pick your five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers, and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award.

4. Hope that the five blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to five more blogs.


I follow and read a wide variety of blogs - mainly couponing, Clean Eating / Healthy Eating, Preparedness and Self Sufficiency, Guns and Female gun bloggers, and an assortment of humorous blogs.

So I  chose the following blogs:

1. Saving Money Journal:  Lisa lives nearish to me in Virginia, and is a superb couponer. Her blog is simply her most recent transactions - all spelled out, line item by line item. No smoke and mirrors, no jazz hands - just a chronicle of her shopping efforts. She doesn't blog for comments, she doesn't blog to make money. She blogs simply to show the world exactly what a woman with a coupon can do - and I respect the heck out of that. Thanks, Lisa!

2. Bells A Ringing: Southern Belle and her man kx59 live in Texas with their guns, socio-political commentary, and wicked sense of humor. You never quite know what you're going to get day in and out there - could be an essay on something that raised kx's hackles, could be a Youtube video of something funny, could be a range report, or ( my favorites ) Belle reporting her evenings throwing darts at a local pub ( You know it's a fun blog when these dart posts are filed under "Drunks with Pointy Things" !! ) Now if I could only get kx to commit to Clean Eating... *wink*

3. Printable Coupons and Deals:  This blog is a "several visits daily" for me, as something new is always popping up. Steph is diligent to post one of the largest collections of Internet Printable coupons ( IPs ) on the web. I don't know how she does it - but this blog is a HUGE resource and if you are into printing coupons - bookmark Steph's little corner of the couponing world. She's one of the best.

4. Kelly at Eat Yourself Skinny  is waaay too smart for being in her 20's! Her recipes are unique, interesting, and best of all for me, almost entirely Clean. Her food photography is outstanding, and I love the way she interweaves personal bits into her recipe presentation. She's not pretentious or wordy or preachy. She's talking with you, not at you - and I like that, a lot. Thanks for being the basis for several "Recipes of the Day" here at Clean Eating Eve!

5. Food Network Humor:  Ok, technically this isn't a small blog ( I don't see any Followers ticker! ) But if you think the Food Network is scraping the bottom of the barrel, you hate Guy Fieri, and you've looked at Sandra Lee / Paula Deen / Rachel Ray and thought "WTF?" or "Is she drunk/high?" - this blog is for you. They poke fun at the Food Network like nobody's business, and nothing is off limits - so warning, a lot of times this is NSFW. Funny as hell - but NSFW.

Sunday January 8th, 2011 - Light a Candle Against Violence

I rarely post off topic, so please indulge me for a moment.

Today ( January 8th ) , the Brady gun control lobby is urging candlelight vigils to "protest gun violence".
They should really be protesting violence in general - because lawful gun ownership is not the cause of gun violence.

Don't let them tell you how to think. A gun is a tool, plain and simple.

If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. 

Weer'd Beard said it best: "Remember lighting a candle only gives off a meager amount of light, but a lawfully carried gun can do wonders to prevent violence."