Shred Day 1 - 2 & Melissa Makes Brunch

Day One of the 30 DAY SHRED: Guitar Girl (my daughter) and I decided to start the 30 DAY SHRED this morning. She bought the DVD yesterday and we moved the coffee table out of the way first thing this morning. Guitar Girl is training for a triathlon and ran her first 10 mile loop Saturday. The last marathon (and only one) I ran was a few years ago and it was a 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles). It was a proud moment for me and I would like to do one again this fall.
So...Guitar Girl is in training for the triathlon and I am in training for living the rest of my life as flab-free as I can get while also having a life!

If you are doing the SHRED, I would love to hear how it's going for you and what your results have been.

Update for Day 2 of the SHRED: It was early and still dark when Guitar Girl poked her head in my bedroom and in a hushed tone whispered, "It's time."

"Coffee," I mumbled.
I arose, muscles begging to be left alone, donned my sports bra and running shoes, grabbed my weights and the SHRED ensued.

P.S. In addition to the sports bra and shoes, I also wore running shorts and a tank top. ;>)

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At 9:00 last night I was watching The Next Food Network Star (TNFNS). "My Girl Melissa" finished in the top 3 after preparing a Mother's Day Brunch. After a bit of drama, and what seemed like jealousy on the part of another contestant, Melissa was still safe!

Melissa D. ~ stay at home "cooking" mom from TX

If "My Girl Melissa" ends up going home, then I may be cheering on Jamika.

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Official photo & bio from http://foodnetwork.com

Jamika, 30 (Atlanta, Ga.), a certified personal chef and businesswoman, loves exploring international cuisines in the kitchen. Family, friends, and clients rave about her bold twists on traditional dishes, especially those of her Caribbean heritage. Innovative style, sassy personality, and inspiring tenacity are Jamika's key ingredients to the magic she produces in the kitchen.

View Jamica's video here.

It's Baaaaack! ~ The Next FoodNetwork Star

I don't watch Lost. I don't watch 24. In fact the whole 24 thing is totally Lost on me ;>.

But what I do watch from the comfort of my bed and propped against pillows is....THE NEXT FOODNETWORK STAR! And it's back, people!

(That's me up there pretending to be a FoodNetwork Star. Read about it here.)

When I casually mentioned to my husband, while jumping up and down followed by a backflip, (Not really. I didn't actually jump up and down.) that TNFNS was premiering this Sunday night, he asked, "Why aren't you on that show?" Bless that man!

My dejected reply, "They don't have home cooks. They have chefs, culinary students, restaurant people and such..."

But...TAH DAH!!! Enter Melissa d'Arabian, stay at home~cooking~mom from Texas.

(photo from Food Network)

Official Bio from The FoodNetwork site: Melissa, 40 (Keller, Texas), pairs her varied culinary and life experiences to provide food lifestyle solutions and approachable recipes for today's families. As a stay-at-home mom to four young daughters, she efficiently budgets time and money to prepare the finest in fresh, home-cooked meals every day. Melissa finds culinary inspiration in family, friends, cooking classes, and world travels.

In the first challenge, she made the dessert for a catered event. Her dish was Apple Tarts.

Melissa lists her "food specialty" as Family Cooking At Its Finest.

All I have to say to that is this: Amen & Amen.

Can I get a witness? So until I have cause to change my mind. Which I might. Cause you never know with reality tv, my vote is for Melissa. And isn't it kind of spooky that our names begin with the same first 3 letters? And our last names begin with the same first letter. Except hers is a lowercase "d."

To see Melissa's audition video, go here. In her video, Melissa says cooking with interruptions shouldn't be a problem for her.

No problema for me, either!

Hellooooo...while writing this post, I was fixing breakfast for, newly released from school, kids who rolled out of bed at 10 a.m. Talk about blogging with interruptions...I mean cooking with interruptions!

So, did you watch TNFNWS last night? Who is your fave?

In honor of stay at home~cooking~moms everywhere, I'll be posting a recipe for a delicious black bean soup. Check back for that!

Is it just me, or is it hot in the kitchen?