5/26: Meals and fitness + adventures in home improvement
Anyone else obsessed with Home Improvement growing up?
JTT was my LOVE. I had posters from Tiger Beat plastered all over my wall, would write him letters and send little trinkets. Hashtag fan girl.
While I wasn’t the hugest fan of actual actual home improvement projects -I really just didn’t love Home Depot very much, and we were there often since my dad is an architect- I loved the show. It cracked me up and I got to see my JTT. On a side note, does anyone else question the humor of old sitcoms? I used to think they were SO funny, and now if I watch a rerun of Full House, I definitely don’t laugh like I used to. But, I remember that my parents used to laugh with us. Were they just being nice, was it just because I was in elementary school and everything was funny, or has humor evolved that much?
My attitude of home improvement projects has changed dramatically since we bought a house. I used to feel sad about them since we were always renting, always moving, and couldn’t do much to personalize our temporary living space. It’s been a huge treat to be able to make any changes we want, even though we still aren’t sure if we’ll be here in Tucson for a while, or moving this time next year. Our gears are always turning for little things to do, and the list is a mile long, but it’s always fun to check something new off the list. We did our wood floors, and lately we’ve been working on organizing the laundry room.
It became kind of a catch-all for random things, and we wanted to add in some cabinets for the things that actually belong in there, like bath tissue, cleaning towels and laundry detergent.
We went to Lowe’s
and got 3 cabinets + some wood stain.
The Pilot stained the cabinets, and as I write this post, he’s installing them. I’ll be sure to post an after pic when everything is finished!
Next on our list is trying to figure out what to do with this:
The play set was here when we moved in, and while it works, the wood was already rotted beyond repair. Time to say goodbye, play set.
In it’s place, we were thinking of a few options: a shaded patio (comfy lounge chairs and tables) with BQQ built into the side wall, or a lagoon pool with a gate around it. Both will take some serious planning and budgeting, but the wheels are turning….
Today, we’re doing a little cleanstravaganza, BBQing and then I’m off to teach Zumba.
Here’s what’s on the fitness plan this week:
Sunday: Teach Zumba (pm)
Monday: OFF
Tuesday: HIIT + Upper body
Wednesday: Teach Zumba + teach Barre (legs)
Thursday: Teach DJ dance
Friday: OFF
Saturday: Teach World Beat + teach Zumba
LOTS of dancing planned this week! I love it 🙂
Here’s our tentative meal plan:
Prep ahead:
-Make tempeh bacon
-Make protein fudge
-Grill chicken
-Chop veggies
-Make quinoa
Meal plan:
Sunday: BBQ at home
Monday: BBQ at friends’
Tuesday: Baby meal for a friend (+ one for us!). Not sure what I’m making yet…
Wednesday: Chicken enchiladas, black beans and rice (in the slow cooker since I can make it on my lunch break)
Thursday: Hot bar night
Friday: Rosemary turkey meatballs and pasta, lemon asparagus
What’s on your menu this week? Are you trying any new recipes? Take a few moments to jot down a tentative idea of what you want to accomplish this week. Having a plan makes it so much easier to succeed!
Any adventures in home improvement lately?
Have a happy Sunday!
xoxo
Gina
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I vividly remember getting into heated arguments in 5th grade with other girls over who loved JTT the most.
It seems like everyone is doing home improvement projects this weekend! My mom is painting our kitchen tomorrow and my dad is finally going to (hopefully!) finish remodeling our fireplace that started over 4 months ago! My menu this week is not going to be very healthy as I have my last finals of my high school career this week so late night study sessions with candy and junk to keep me awake is a must! But going to TRY to stick to the SSU as best as I can this week. Next week, I will do better!
Scratch the painting! Mom didn’t get the paint yesterday and the store is closed on Sundays and closed for memorial day. Instead, we are going to plant our flowers for the front porch! I have a black thumb so I will mostly be inside studying my a$$ off for finals. Here’s to a great day!
I def don’t laugh as much when I watch full house now!! Lol
My dad was a hobby-carpenter so I spent a loooot of time in home improvement stores when I was little, and I HATED them after that. But now that I’m getting into setting up with own place with my SO and planning to stay here for a few years, I’m starting to get more into them. At least the gardening section 😉
PS: I know you’ve been working on monetizing your blog, which I understand and support, but that huge banner ad at the top of your page is super, super distracting. I really don’t mind the advertisements off to the side but the big ones at the top with all sorts of videos and roll outs like the ones I keep getting are really offputting, at least to easily distracted readers like me. And I think it takes away from the blog design and makes it look kinda tacky. Of course that’s just my take and maybe others don’t mind, but I thought you might like feedback.
thank you for your feedback- i always appreciate it! i can’t do anything to remove the ad -it’s filled through my ad provider, blogher- and while it’s large and annoying, the company isn’t inappropriate or anything like that. it bothers me, too, but once i scroll down, it’s gone. i apologize for the ad! thank you for reading and supporting the blog.
xo
I definitely think that senses of humor evolve over time. I use to LOVE Full House, but now I really don’t find it funny at all, and when I was a kid, I hated Roseanne, but now I get so excited when a marathon is on tv because I think the show is the funniest thing!
LOVE Roseanne! I always have a bunch recorded for a rainy day 🙂
I still love King of Queens. It’s so old but I still die, everytime I watch it.
A patio with lounge sounds like such a great idea, I can already picture it 🙂
I created a new carrot-beefburger recipe this weekend and I will have some leftovers this week – delicious. And I discovered e new Toning Class (Power Hour) on Monday night it’s so fun amd a great balance to my heavy weight sessions.
You could do so much with that big backyard of yours!
I’m planning on making some protein fudge tonight! 🙂
I definitely feel the same way when I watch reruns of my childhood shows – my parents must have just been being nice because they are not that funny!! My dad still is a home improvement addict, so it tends to get a little annoying when he doesn’t ever finish projects, but I’ve learned a lot from him and enjoy updating my apartment, even if it’s simple touches like paint or repurposing something old.
Yah, I completely remember Full House being the best show ever, but now with all the competing shows, it’s definitely not as good. But, I do love it since it reminds me of childhood so much!
I can’t wait to try out some new recipe this week! I’ve had a lot on my radar!
I use to watch Full House but I was never huge into JTT. Instead, I loved Devon Sawa. That scene in “Casper” when he turns into Devon Sawa- the 10 year old in me swooned.
Good luck on your home improvements. I definitely feel the pain of them right now- in the past year my boyfriend and I have knocked out a wall in our basement, painted our entire house, built a new bathroom, and he had to replace a foundation wall outside (so for about 3 months we had no wall protecting us from the outdoors- thankfully thieves stayed away). We’re now in the midst of landscaping improvements. Always worth it in the end- but so painful during the process.
No home improvements lately because we are moving from Texas to the Bay Area.
I took a picture of an ice cream flavor that was named “Olivia” in Europe and thought of your baby girl. She is growing up so fast.
how cute is that! best of luck to you with the move <3
Can I ask what part of the Bay Area? I have family in Alameda. Visited there for the first time last summer. I NEVER wanted to leave it was so beautiful! Enjoy it!
I always wonder the same thing about those shows. Have the shows changed, or have I changed? Probably both, I suppose…
Hey, REALLY random question. Several months ago, you posted a picture of you in a new headband– I think you had worn it to yoga. It was pretty wide, a bohemian print, possibly (but not definitely) orangy colors. Do you know what I’m talking about? I’ve tried to look back and find it, but I think it was long enough ago that it would take a long time to scroll through every post. But I keep thinking about it and want to maybe get one for myself. Any info would be appreciated. 🙂
Can’t wait for SSU!
YOu are like the prettiest blogger ever….honest (and I mean that in a girl/friend noncreepy way 🙂
okay, big question (cause I love your blog):
Any thoughts on 1-3 day fruit fasts?
I’m interested in juice cleanses but A) can’t afford the 3-day ones, B) don’t own a juicer.
Possible to detox WITHOUT a blender or juicer?
I need a detox/cleanse badly…terribly constipated, I don’t exercise due to issues, and keep binging at night…I’ve found a few here: would love love your thoughts…I NEED to try something, so seriously, just your initial thoughts on these or another? I need hope:
– http://losing-every-extra-pound.tumblr.com/post/15290361759
– http://burnfatloseweightgetskinnyfeelgreat.blogspot.ca/2013/05/4-day-meal-plans-lose-7-lbs-week-detox.html
– http://www.bestofthislife.com/2012/07/3-day-clean-eating-detox-plan-html.html
– or know of any yourself? Again, I know this will be a lifelong process (and I will be going to CBT therapy soon) but in the meantime I need to rid myself of the waste matter (constipated) and brain fog and feeling out of sorts with uncertainty of what to eat…I need some hope…
Also, any thoughts on these? http://www.arthursfresh.com/en/
Thanks. LOVE your blog.
I loved Tim Allen. I love his new show too. Seems humor has changed over the years. I have the bumper off Tim’s hot rod in my garage. Cost us a fortune. I should have had him sign it.
How about just a swing for Liv? It would not take up too much room and you could still have your area too. You could make one out of metal tubing and just concrete it into the ground, get a few chains and a seat. Voila. LOL I know easier said than done. I know I regret taking out my daughter jungle gym. Would be perfect for chin ups etc.
I slow cook a ton of veggies with different herbs and spices along with turkey muffins and chili! I love to have food on hand 🙂 I am kind of obsessed with meatloaf right now, I make it with oatmeal instead of bread crumbs for a tasty treat! Hope you enjoy your Memorial Day 🙂 Love + Shine CourtStar
Ha ha, Home Depot somehow always makes me super tired. The minute I walk in, I want to wander over to the patio furniture section and take a nap. I think it’s just completely overwhelming 🙂
This week I’m making Tempeh Helper from Appetite for Reduction (ultimate comfort food!) and a roasted veggie salad with spicy almond dressing. Love short work weeks!
I definitely think humor has changed because my dad LOVED Home Improvement, and would crack up every time. I was a big TGIF fan, too, but I don’t find those shows as funny anymore… but then again, Steve Urkel’s “Did I do that?” still gets me laughing up. 🙂
I’ve been obsessed with my back yard this year… seriously obsessed. I’ve got a major garden project going on and my husband is totally overwhelmed by it 🙂
Ah, LOVED JTT! I too had posters of him on my wall. Ha! And now I just think of his hairstyle parted right down the middle…
I was SO in love with JTT too! haha I still have a scrapbook full of pictures and love letters I wrote to him. I remember making them with my friend who was in love with Jonathan Brandis. Too funny!
I love anything and everything home improvement! I’ve been renovating the houses I’ve lived in for the last 5 years. It gets tiring after awhile and our current house is almost completely done!! (for now haha)
I totally think you should put a gated pool in the back area. That would be amazing!!
Oh, JTT – he still makes my heart swoon. Hahaha
My friend and I used to battle it out over who was dreamier – JTT vs. Andrew Keegan. I’m not sure who won? I wonder what happened to all of those teen heart throbs?
My husband’s FAVORITE thing to work on is home improvements – he’s completely reno’d our entire house, including designing and building a kitchen all by himself. He’s nice. Right now, he’s working on our organic backyard garden, by building a pallet wall of herbs. 🙂
Have a great week!
I used to love Home Improvement (the TV show) too! When I go back and watch a lot of old shows, they just don’t seem as funny to me either. I have a feeling that Full House was NEVER funny.
Home improvements are so exciting! Josh and I don’t have a house to renovate yet but this weekend has been filled with wedding arts and crafts and planning!
My older sister used to love home improvement! I for some reason wasn’t a big fan, but I definitely loved JTT. Me and my friends all had his picture on our walls, such fun memories!
I definitely understand how difficult it is regarding home renovations. Every time we do something, I say I’m never going to move again, but at the same time, each project MAKES me want to move to a place that doesn’t need any improvements!
oh i am going to have plenty of home adventures very very soon. we are reno-ing a 1920s style home and i’m going full gatsby on it. we’re actually pretty handy since we gutted and built and entire kitchen by ourselves a few years ago (a nearly 3 month process?! yikes) so this time around should be much easier now that we know what to do! i love finding vintage items i can re-purpose as decor and will be documenting the entire process on the blog this summer!
Loved Full House and Home Improvement! My kids and I love watching the reruns, too 🙂
I’m so impressed with your green grass…bet that’s hard to maintain in the AZ heat.
This weekend we installed a new chandelier in our great room, ceiling fan in our bedroom and a brand new shiny kitchen faucet. I love it!
Home Depot is the death of me. I really can think of maybe one other store my parents used to drag me to that I hated as much (West Marine for boat supplies-gag!). We still rent so we don’t have much need for home improvement stores but, like you, I want to put down more roots and personalize my space a bit more. As a result, home improvement stores are looking a little (small, tinsy bit) less repulsive but we will see what happens when we finally own!
Umm, I LOVED JTT and was just talking about him to a coworker last week, what a coincidence! When we were younger, we would play house and JTT was always my husband, haha Love it!
We are currently remodeling our kitchen which includes tearing out a load-bearing wall. As of last night all the cupboards were bare and we were eating/cooking out of the “summer kitchen” (camper in our driveway). Going to be a long 3 weeks I’m sure, but a ‘fun’ experience and worth it in the end! Hopefully. As a result all dinners will be composed of meat on the grill and leftovers for lunch.