Literary YouTube

It all started with the Lizzie Bennet Diaries.  A classic story updated for modern time and told across a variety of media platforms.  We all saw it.  I even gave money to the Kickstarter!

Unfortunately, it ended.

But it spawned a new trend!!!

Classic novels told as modern vlogs!!!

I've been watching Emma Approved, brought to you by the same people that brought us the Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

The production is high quality and I'm interesting in actually seeing Jane Fairfax!

But now, there are some new entries into the fold.  And I think they are all from Canada.



Green Gables Fables.  It's Anne of Green Gables.  This happens to be my favorite series of books ever.  (Yeah, I'm a red head).  I just started this series.  It has more of a homemade look, but since Anne is vlogging.. I totally get it.

The Autobiography of Jane Eyre.

It's another Canadian series.  Also, it's very home-made-y.  But I'm enjoying it.  This series I am actually caught up with!

And I stumbled across The March Family Letters about five minutes after I stumbled across Green Gables Fables.

So I don't know about it yet..

I'm astounded!

Are there any more out there?

(Next post:  What vloggers do you follow?)

The Fault in our Friday

It's been quite a week.  

I must admit that I've been down all week.  A quick look at the calendar showed me that "shark week" is fast approaching.

So I know that the whole me being down is largely hormonal.  It helps to know that this to shall pass, but that doesn't make this feeling suck any less.

Of course, I added insult to injury, I listened to the audio book of The Fault in Our Stars.  We have tickets to The Night Before Our Stars.  I've already read the book, but I wanted to read it again before we saw the movie.  (Why an audio book?  So I can "read" a book during my commute and when I run.  It's as simple as that.)  While the story is a wonderful story, it's a tad depressing.  Not a great choice for the week before "shark week."

Listening to the book was a wonderful experience.  I had gotten my hands on an earlier version, narrated by a woman, so it wasn't John Green actually saying his own words.  But I could hear his cadence, and almost familiar sentences in the lines of prose.  I apparently watch too many of his videos.

In other news, I've been linked to a few other Lizze Bennet Diaries type YouTube Channels... so I'm off to explore them!  I'll report back is anything is good!

Make Ahead Dinners

This week the Spousal Equivalent is working a whole lot of overtime.  This means that the dinner turn around will be tight.

So what did I do?  I pre-made some chicken!  Want the recipe?

Crock Pot Shredded Chicken

Ingredients

• one onion, chopped
• a bag of frozen chicken tenders (you know... from the store's freezer section), thawed
• chopped garlic
• 1 can low fat, low sodium chicken stock
• spices

Method

1. Place the thawed chicken in the bottom of a crock pot.
2. cook the onion and garlic in a skillet over medium heat until they soften and brown a bit. 
3. add some spices (salt, pepper, spice blend... I used Mrs. Dash) to the onions and cook it for a minute more.  
4. deglaze the pan with the chicken stock
5. add the whole skillet full to the chicken
6. slap the lid on the crock pot and cook on low for 3-5 hours
7. When the chicken is done, remove the chicken, shred it, and put it back into the broth.

Easy Peasy!

If I wanted to make it Mexican themed, I'd swap out some of the stock for tequila, use a packet of taco seasonings and some lime juice on the chicken.

Currently sitting in my fridge is a LARGE bowl of shredded chicken.  I plan on adding it to stir fry, or making chicken tacos, or putting it on homemade pizza.

but because it's already cooked, it saved me a load of time!

I have 2 years....

(This post is heavily edited... because I had an epiphany at my Weight Watchers Meeting just now)

.... to lose this 20 some odd pounds (if not more)

I got the wake up call this weekend when Monday happened and I got the email:

( Below is what they are refrenceing)




What you see is over 450 West Genesee Band Alumni.  In 2016 they hope to have 500 (it's the 50th anniversary of the founding of the band)

Today in my Weight Watchers meeting we talked about anchors.  Those ideas, objects or memories that you can go to when you need to be reminded of why you are doing this.

That right there is my anchor.  I was significantly lighter the last time I marched.  I need to be lighter.  I need to be healthier.  I need to work as hard as I did when I marched in High School.

So tomorrow I remember to wear my FitBit.  Since I've pre-made a lot of dinners, I can work out when I get home.  (A long walk at the least, running or a workout video at the most).  I can use the guide on my fridge door to choose a healthier dinner.  I can pre-pack my lunch.

I can do this.  I need to.  Because I was once a part of something great, and in two years I again will be a part of something great.

A 5K and the Food and Wine Festival

Today started WAY too damn early.  I got up, and dressed in my official shirt and ran the Chick Fil A 5K through beautiful Mariner's Museum park.

I also got my picture taken with Anna and Elsa.  (Elsa is a friend of mine)

While running I made the decision to become a millionaire and live over near the park.  BEAUTIFUL houses over there!!

I got my bling, decided to skip the line for the free chicken sandwich and went home.

We had better things to do!  We were going to Busch Gardens for lunch!!

Why?

It's the Food and Wine Festival!

I had some eating to do!

We got through the gate and were immediately asked if we wanted to see the next showing of London Rocks.

Of course!

The show is amazing!  I already love the music, but there is this amazing projection that adds so much to the show.

See this?  It's all projection

The Spousal Equivalent took these pictures.

At the end of the show I thanked the tech crew.  That job can't be easy with all the moving lighting and projection parts.  And who ever thinks to thank the crew?

Then it was off to eat.  We started at the new drink place across from the theater:  Union Snacks.  They have a Freestyle machine y'all.   Yes, that was a choir of angels singing.  Vanilla Diet Coke for 99 cent refills?  Yes please!!!

Then it was off to Ireland.  I got lunch at the Ireland Booth:

Bangers with Colcannon  Irish sausage with potato cabbage casserole & Guinness® brown sugar gravy ($5, I happen to love this dish and it didn't disappoint)

The SE got Lunch at the Scandinavian Booth:

Smørrebrød  Open-faced roast beef sandwich on dark rye bread with horseradish & pickled red onions (I didn't catch the price.He wasn't impressed)

We then went to try the American South West Booth:

Chicken Mole Adobo Southwestern marinated chicken with chili chocolate sauce ($6.  Can I have a vat of that sauce?  Seriously... it was amazing!)

I got dessert in Belgium:

Huis van Lum Chocolate Wafel  House of Lum’s rich, chocolate walnut brownie waffle with berry compote ($4 This was heaven.  the waffle was light ans the berries weren't too sweet.  Heaven!)

And he got dessert in France:

Tartelette au Citron   Lemon tartlet (There were raspberries on this too.  I had a bite.... and got whipped cream up my nose... but it was wonderful!)

What I love is that they give you a book to check off what you've tried.  I know were going to be going back again and again before this is over at the end of June.  The portions are small, and a little pricy, but honestly, where can you get food like this?  Each booth has a costumed person there giving directions.  We want to get pictures at each booth when we are there next time!

I also have a desire to eat in Canada

• Macaroni & Cheese with Peameal Bacon Creamy mac & cheese with cornmeal-crusted Canadian bacon
• Venison Sausage & Corn Porridge Wood-fired venison sausage & creamy polenta with apple cider & caramelized onions
• Pumpkin Caramel Mousse  Crème brûlée-style custard, flavored with pumpkin & caramel

 and the Caribbean 

(Jamaican Jerk Chicken  Jerk-marinated chicken drumsticks with guava barbecue & grilled pineapple salsa)

and have the dessert from the American Southwest.  

(Chocolate Lava Cake  Fudge brownie cake with molten Ancho-spiced chocolate filling)

I think we also want to do a wine tasting! ($14.95)  I haven't done one at the park before!

Do I have pictures of my food?  Hell No!  I was too busy eating!

Win some, lose some

Awful weigh in today.  I was bad for like a week and gained 2 pounds.

I actually expected it.  My dad visited, and we had good food and fancy dinners.  With wine.

What did I do in retaliation?  I signed up for a few races...

Living Social had an amazing deal for the Bay Days 8K.  Half price!  It looked like a good race on a beautiful course... and it was half price!  So why not?

I informed the Office Manager of this, she signed up.  Then she mentioned a glow run in a few weeks.  I signed up for that one.

Of course I told everyone in my Weight Watchers group about the Living Social deal.  They in turn told me about the Wounded Warrior 8K.  

I'd sign up for it, because I'm a glutton for punishment... but I ran out of money.

But I think I've slacked off enough.  Time to get back to work... I have a race on Saturday and I haven't gone running in a week!

Aahhh, Saturday

This week has been truly crazy.

We had Monday off, a comp day due to commencement.  I worked on Tuesday and Wednesday.  And on Wednesday night my dad and his partner came into town.  Thursday and Friday we hit all the tourist sites and I walked a million miles.

And today is Saturday.  It doesn't

feel like a Saturday though.

This weekend feels odd.  I have a metric load of housework to do.  I have a race I should be training for.

But I don't want to do any of that.

I'm torn between wanting to hang out with people and waiting to stay home alone and marathoning a show.  Going out isn't an option.  the Spousal Equivalent took the car for the afternoon.  (There was a moment of panic when he left, and I was outside with the dog- sans phone and house keys.  Thankfully the door was unlocked, so he got to live)

I need to exercise, but after my shoulder injury, that holds NO appeal.  (WebMD says I injured my rotator cuff... and the cure?  Resting it!)

I think the word of the day is compromise.  I'm going to stay in, just me and the puppy.  I might marathon the new YouTuber that I just subscribed to, and do some housework in between videos.

As for exercise,  I think I'll take it easy today and rest my shoulder.  I'll run first thing tomorrow.

As for hanging out with people.... I am lonely... but also housebound.

So I'll clean as if I'm having company!