Grizz Light

We've been plugging along on the high fiber diet at our house.

Plugged is the last thing Namath is, but I digress.

10 weeks into the diet, 35 lbs of prescription dog food later, it was time for a new bag and a weigh in.

Starting weight: 71.3

Current weight: 66.8

Lost: 4.5 lbs

About half a pound a week. Shooting to lose fat, not muscle. Key when you're in the security business.

Notice the loose collar.

The emergence of a waistline.

The overall handsomeness.

Good job Grizz! You couldn't have done it without us.

We celebrated with some treats. For us not him. He still has a good 10 lbs to go.

Why am I not surprised he took it on himself to pee on our bedroom floor?

Eastbound and Down

This weekend I traveled over to Atlanta to visit my old roomie, who has since moved to bigger and better things.


Alternate post title: Eating and drinking my way through Atlanta.

Even though I was able to leave work a little early, by hour two of Oprah radio on XM, this girl needed a little boost.

By the end of Atlanta traffic, another drink was in order. I've been wanting to try the Barefoot Bubbly for a while, since I'm a fan of their wine. Granted, I haven't met a bubbly I didn't like, and this one hit the spot.

Yes, I took a picture of the sign in the restaurant bathroom. It was funny. Or maybe that was the bubbly talking.

I had some delicious fish tacos for dinner, but since we were with Laura's cousin and I didn't want to be the weird girl who takes pictures of her food, you'll have to use your imagination. I think I'm last to jump on the fish taco bandwagon, but consider me on board.

After dinner, we headed to Sweet Water for a charity event. $20, one glass, and all the beer you wanted. Not sure who benefitted more, the charity or us.

Apparently it was a luau theme. At least we had on bright colors??

After an unsuccesful attempt to spend some money on clothes, we spent some money on the next best thing. Fried food.

South City Kitchen brought the heat via fried green tomatoes in a cream based marinara sauce.

Fried chicken, greens and mashed potatoes for the win.

I can think of nothing better to follow some southern cooking than a nap. Well, maybe a run, but who does that?

We opted for a lighter dinner. Is there a better light dinner than sushi with salmon and avocado? It's a healthy fat. Words that make my heart sing.

In between bites, we managed to catch up on the past few months, analyze life and the Casey Anthony verdict with no threats and jam out to a cover of Justin Bieber. I came back to Birmingham full, tired and wanting all new beauty products.

Thanks for a good weekend friend!

Security

I don't know if it's the hot weather, all my reading of Skinny Runner, or the hot weather, but I've been craving a good salad. Seeing as this doesnt happen often, I ran with it and met some friends at a restaurant I've been wanting to try.

All the ingredients are fresh and local. The orange roll is now local to my thighs, as I ate every last bite.

I've been dissapointed a time or two in my life, but this was not one of them. Especially when followed by frozen yogurt with frutti pebbles. We did rehash our feelings of the Casey Anthony verdict, which I won't go into. Naturally, like anyone still grasping onto their 20s, I tweeted about the evening when I left. I still don't get twitter. I don't even know if I'm sold on it. And this mention didn't help:

@erinsearson i hope you get food poisoning if you think Casey is guilty. She
has been given a bad rap by people like you.

I double checked my locks and immersed myself in a Primetime: The Appalachians. Happy to report no food poisoning today. Also happy to report I will probably never drink a Mtn. Dew again.

After being, um, complimented, on my run this morning from down an alley and in front of the courthouse, I'm thinking personal security is in order.

I'm thinking we call the diet off and put this guy on the job.

Or maybe I'll just invest in some mace.

Going Out With A Bang

This weekend was Rett and Haley's wedding. It started with cocktails, dinner and toasts at a local art gallery - one of my favorite venues.

Don't you think I need one of the paintings on the back left? I wonder how long it will take my change jar to reach $2200?

Our table. The food was catered by the same man who catered our wedding - so goes without saying we enjoyed it. Three kinds of pasta, hummus, pita and chocolate cake with raspberry. Ironically, my run Saturday was the best it had been in weeks, minus the stifling winds of hell blowing on my face. Bring on Friday pasta nights.

I tried to give Matt some talking points for his speech, per his request, since Mr. Easy Breezy hadn't thought of anything mere moments before he took the mic. "Everyone says the first year of marriage is the hardest. Let me tell you, it really hasn't been that bad." Cue everyone in the room staring at me.

I hope to get dinner or a pedicure out of this.

Seriously, minus putting his foot in his mouth (I HOPE), he did a good job.

As did the groom.

The wedding was at The Club - easily the best view of downtown Birmingham - which despite its abandoned buildings, lack of a major grocery store, and questionable street wanderers, I really love.

I totally coordinated my dress with the sunset.

Prom Pose.

Everyone else had the same idea. Except the bride - thank the Lord. Isn't she stunning?

The evening ended with an incredible fireworks show. It just about beat the 4th of July. If I had a better camera, you could probably appreciate it more. But you'll have to take my word for it.

To steal from MS' speech, its wonderful to see your friends find someone to share their life with. Haley and Rett -here's hoping the first year isn't that bad.

Congratulations!

Tightening the Collar

We've all been there. A few pounds overweight. Workouts feel harder. The body holds on to every calorie.

When I heard the scale hit 72 at his annual appointment, we were advised it was time to get serious and drop 20. The Grizz got sent home with a 55 lb bag of high fiber diet dog food. Thinking about taping this to his crate wall for inspiration.

Namath has seen leaner days - I think after a similar vet appointment - so I know he's got it in him.

What he doesnt have in him is poop. If Fiber One makes a dog food, this is it. He's a 3x a dayer now. Fun for everyone!


We really aren't into the floating head look, but if it keeps him healthy, float away.

Not to Beat a Dead Horse

But it's freaking hot. Yes, that's the scientific term. It's too hot to run, walk to your car or even sit near a window.

Which led to last week's last minute decision to chop my hair off. Ok, it wasn't that long before, but I consider 4 inches a chop.

Excuse the cheesy picture, I sent it to Matt when he was out of town.

Of course he was jealous. That, or after a hot run on Saturday morning that involved stashing Gatorades along the route like a vagabond, a buzz cut seemed like the best idea ever. Rooftop, so there's no hair to clean up. Some birds lucked out big time for their nest.

It was a little stressful. You know, since I've never cut hair before. And it quickly got too dark to see.

Fortunately I had a trusty assistant.

Watch out buddy, you're next.....

Good to the Last Drop

Last week we took these cuties to their swim lessons. I learned a few lessons of my own, such as community pools are filled with kid spit and who knows what else and the fact that this little girl wants to be a cleaning lady when she grows up.

Smart tactic if you ask me. Set the bar low and you'll never dissapoint mom and dad.

It was hard to get them out of the water, so we did what anyone who gets to give the kids back at the end of the night would do - bribe them with ice cream.

With as many toppings as they wanted.

I think it was a hit...