Sunday, March 31

making strides

Oh Jesus! Its Easter!

Hahaa!

Oh, are you religious? Sorry.

Hope everyone had a fabulous week!

I've been busy busy and when I had two seconds I couldn't think of anything to write! Nothing witty and funny and intriguing anyway.

First, I think I found a font for one of my new tattoos I'm planning...
Thoughts?

And second, I've made serious strides (literally) in my 5K training.

Today I ran for TWENTY MINUTES! 

IN A ROW!

This is a serious, SERIOUS accomplishment for me in just 5 short weeks! Woo hoo!

And of course now I'm exhausted.

When is why I don't run in the morning.

And now I have to go to Easter Dinner.

But I'm excited for wine.

And lamb.

YUM!

I made some amazeballs Bacon-Jalapeno Deviled Eggs.
See my Instagram feed yonder. ==>

And I worked this morning and was forceably required to put bunny ears on my head.
Also see Instagram feed yonder ==>
All in all, a good week.

Hope you all have a fabulous Sunday. Its 72 and sunny. It is LITERALLY the warmest Easter here in Oregon. Ever. WOOHOO!!

Tasteless, I know.
Cheers!

xoxox McGriddle Pants

Sunday, March 24

sunday funday

I really really  need one more day between Saturday and Sunday.

I almost dread Sunday because I know its the last day before Monday.

And Monday's BLOW.

I work a double Monday AND Tuesday, so I just hate hate hate Mondays.

However.

I feel I was really productive this weekend. I worked both days, but was able to almost finish my weekend TO DO list.

SUCCESS!


Plus, I had a hard time all day today coming up with my "UP" instagram photo of the day for Fat Mum Slims photo challenge. I ended up with something on "up" on my bookcase, but Mr. Man thought "up my nose" would have been better. As seen here:


Hmmmm.... who do you think made the better choice?

I'm pretty sure there's some bats in the cave there. Don't look too closely.

Oh - I also haven't seen this week's The Walking Dead so don't ruin it for me. Okay? We're watching it on Wednesday. Oh the suspense!!

Finally. Via facebook (as always) I found a new poet that I really like.

Poet you say? Who the hell are you and what have you done with Anne?!? hahaa!

Well let's just say it was a quote, and I did some research and found that I love a LOT of them. So I guess I like his whole body of work. Rumi, a 13th century Persian poet, theologian and mystic. (And my "W" isn't working well right now and its pissing me the FUCK. OFF.) wwwwwwwww w w w  w w w wwwwwwwwwwww!

Enjoy.



Well put.

And beautiful.

I really like him.

Happy Monday.

xoxo, McGriddle Pants




Saturday, March 23

run fatty run

Running and me go way back.

I used to run track in middle school and was pretty darn good at it. I went to state once. I even ran a 6 minute mile back in my prime.

During high school I had a dream of playing basketball so I foolishly didn't run track. Since then I haven't done much running unless it was "To The Border" or maybe when camping and I thought I heard a bear.

I've tried to get into shape and a couple times the past few years with no lasting success. I'd do really well for a few months, either with exercise or eating well, but nothing stuck. I went vegetarian for a month. I even went gluten free/vegan for a week. That was hard-ass-hard, let me tell you. What the hell to vegans eat when they don't eat bread?

But I digress...

Where was I? Oh yes. Running. I've come up with a new plan that incorporates both running and getting into shape. I'm a regular Einstein I tell ya.

I've registered for a 5K. Paid the cash, no refunds or exchanges.

To be exact I've signed up for the Color Run, which looks Ah-Ma-Zing-Ly fun! Basically people throw colored corn starch at you the whole time. Here's some pics


I mean, talk about GOOD TIMES! I've even gotten a few friends and my cousin to come along with me.

Psyched!

So, I've started my "Couch to 5K" app on my phone with a goal to not totally embarrass myself. Ultimately I'd love to be able to run the WHOLE TIME, I'm not gonna hold my breath. Right now I'm on week 5 of my training; run 6 minutes - walk 2 - run 5 - walk 2 - run 6 - walk 5. I go about 2.8 miles which is almost a 5K (3.1 miles).

So back to the whole "lose weight" thing.

I've decided that since none of my other attempts have really stuck, I'm just going to train, as opposed to have a goal of losing weight. I know if I keep running, the weight will come off on its own.

As of today, I haven't adjusted my caloric intake at all. I'm just focusing on running 3-4 times per week, improving my distance and time. The 5K is in about 3 weeks, and after then I'll work on cutting back and/or keeping track of my food.

Baby Steps.

I'm also going to sign up for AT LEAST TWO more 5Ks this year, just so I have something else to work towards. Improving my time/etc. I'm also going to try to find other fun runs like the Color Run. There's one in Bend, Oregon thats a "Beer Run" where you run around town to all the (many) Breweries in town and you get a free Growler at the end. Yes!

Why am I telling you this?

Accountability folks.

If I put it "out there" then I'll have to answer to someone besides myself. Plus a little encouragement from my bloggy friends always goes a long way.

I'll keep y'all posted on my progress, but don't worry I won't give you TOO much since it may be boring to some of you. But I'll definitely post pics from the Color Run. I'm SO EXCITED about this one!

Yay to progress! And fitness! BOOM!

xoxo, McGriddle Pants

Friday, March 22

friday, friday, friday

He-rowwww!
Happy Friday All!
Hope you like the new look!
BLOG RE-VAMP!

Its a lazy lazy day here today, as I finally have a WHOLE. DAY. OFF.

And as anyone who has ever worked two jobs knows, those can be hard to come by.

I even got to sleep in. And by sleep in, I mean I slept until 7:15. I still find it funny that I'm old enough that I now consider 7:15 "sleeping in.

So there's nothing much to report here today.

Laundry.

Coffee.

Tivo'd Law & Order.

Sleeping kitties.

And FINALLY a little sunshine. The weather here is very schizophrenic. 65 degrees and sun, record rainfall, freezing temperatures, hurricane force winds, and then, another predicted 60 degree weekend. And that was just this week! Needless to say I haven't started my garden yet, since I have no idea what to expect out there. Or maybe I'm just being lazy.

Oh and I was grating some parmesean cheese on top of some Fettuccine Alfredo made-from-scratch last night and grated the top of my thumb off. YUM! The secret ingredient is love. And maybe a little flesh.

Boring post today, but I am trying to be more regular for those of you who are still there with me!

Here's to the return of,

McGriddle Pants    xoxo

Illustrated truthisms from "Things I've Said To My Children"

Saturday, March 16

procrastination

Things that seem to take me way longer to do than the average person:

Return movies to Netflix.

Fold laundry.

Buy new tires.

Throw away old underwear.

Throw away holey socks.

Vacuum.

Mow the lawn.

Say, "No thanks, I think I've had enough to drink."

Throw away moldy fruit sitting on the kitchen counter.

Empty the litter box.

Pull clothes from the dryer

Get into the new "it" tv show.

Eat a piece of cheesecake (Ha! Had ya going there)

Do my taxes, even though I have a $500 refund coming.

De-bone a chicken.

Finish home improvement projects.

Find a shirt to go with the pants I want to wear.

Find shoes to go with the outfit I want to wear.

Write blog posts.

Happy Saturday Everyone!

xoxo

McGriddle Pants

Thursday, March 14

Liebster - Not to be confused with Bieber

I've recently been struggling for blog fodder here folks. I feel like my life is boring and nothing is really happening besides work work work. Either that, or I get so busy that I have NO TIME to write anything, and then when I finally have five minutes, you can't think of one. single. damn. thing. to write about.

So thankfully, my bloggy sista-from-anotha-mutha Sofia from The Brewery gave me this little award! She's the best isn't she?

And as the award says: 

yay! 

and 

thank you!

Basically its an award you give out to blog friends who you think need more people to know incredibly awesome they are. Like me (uh, right?!). 
Bear with me. 
This was a little like writing War & Peace, so here goes 

Liebster Blog Award Rules: 

1. Share 11 things about yourself 
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you 
3. Choose 11 fellow blogs to nominate {or how ever many you'd like}. The nominees must have under 200 
4. GFC (google friend connect) followers and tell them in a comment on their blog 
5. Think of eleven questions to ask the bloggers you have decided to nominate 
6. Thank the person that nominated you and link back to their blog. 
Note: I didn't entirely follow rule number 3... sorry Lieb 

11 Things about Myself 

1. I am obsessed ~OBSESSED~ with Instagram. I'm on that shit like 2 hours a day.
2. I can't roll my tongue.
3. I hear a serious slug phobia. Ugghh. Can't even look at them. And I know, I know... but its a "phobia" because its irrational, duh.
4. I really want to learn a third language (besides English and Spanish) but I can't decide which one! French? German? Italian? This indecisiveness has prevented me from actually learning one for the last 7 years. I'm an idiot.
5. I loooooooooove yoga. But I only get a chance to do it about once a month. *sigh*
6. I love eating al fresco. We don't get to do it much here in Oregon, but the second it stops raining I want to get out there. Even if I'm wearing a ski jacket and gloves sitting under a heater. My boyfriend hates it when its "too hot" outside, which in his opinion, is pretty much anything over 70 degrees.
7. I have one tattoo. Its inspired by my favorite book, The Alchemist
8. I was never a cat person, until I inherited my aunt's kittens when she passed away. Now I'm one of those cat ladies constantly posting pictures of her furry babies(don't worry, they have their OWN instagram page @ThreeWiseCats... Bahaha!)
9. I collect bar mats (coasters) from everywhere I go. I have several framed collections - from my study abroad trip to France, all New Belgium Brewing, etc
10. I feel like I have absolutely no sense of style. I'm just a t-shirt and jeans and sneakers kind of gal. Not necessarily because I want to, but because I have no idea how to buy wear anything else.
11. I always wear mascara. Even when camping/swimming/snowboarding/crying whenever. Its there.

>My 11 questions from Sofia 

1. If you could do an interview with any person, alive or dead, who would it be and why? 
Well I'm not much of an "interviewer", so how about hang out with? I'd love to hang out with Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Now wait, wait... Not for the "Incredibly good looking it hurts my eyes" that you might be thinking. But because
A. They seem really down-to-earth, funny, genuine and crazy pranksters. They just seem like they'd be fun guys to go out on the town with and have some drinks and shenanigans.
And B. Because they are really into politics, the environment, human rights and all around saving the world and are incredibly intelligent men who I'd love to have some amazing conversations with.
And C. They're so good looking they hurt my eyes. :D

2. What is your favorite TV show? 
Another 3 part answer. Of all time? Seinfeld. Hands down. That's on right now? Bones. That I watch the most because I Tivo them all and watch 2-3 episodes daily? Any Law & Order. Although SVU is my fav.

3. Why do you have a blog? 
Originally, it as to write about my life and send the link to friends and family, so I wouldn't have to write 15 emails every month. (Lazy, no?)

4. Who do people tell you you look like? 
 I used to get Claire Daines a lot. Like back in "My So Called Life" And sometimes Gwenyth Paltrow. In dim light. At the right angle. From far away.

5. What is your biggest pet peeve? 
Phoniness. Be my friend. Or don't. Whatever, just don't fake that you like me. I'm too old for that shit. (Ain't NOBODY got time for THAT! Sorry had to go there) Oh, and stupidity.

6. If you could re-live high school, what would you do differently, if anything?
Play soccer. Be on the swim team. Run track.

7. What is your favorite characteristic about yourself? 
My empathy. I have a great knack for putting myself in to other people's shoes and understand where they're coming from.

8. What is your least favorite characteristic about yourself?
Short temper. Good gravy can I fly off the handle. Hello hormones!! My poor boyfriend.

9. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? 
Gahhhh. Everywhere. Can that be my answer? I love to travel travel travel. Berlin. NYC. Paris. Florence. Buenos Aires. Chicago. Fairbanks. Bangkok. Maui.Homes in each please.

10. What is the best advice you have ever been given?
"Sometimes you have to burn a few bridges, to keep the crazies from following you." (not an original McGriddle Pants quotes, but still good advice)

11. If your house was on fire, and you could only grab three things (not people or pets) on the way out, what would they be?
My laptop, because all my life photos are backed up on there.


My Nominees
Denise @ blah blah blah
Mrs. Ruby @ Ruby Red Slippers
and
Alison @ Alison Claire's

Sorry its not 11... but I just haven't been keeping up on my blogs recently!

My 11 questions for My Nominees 

1. Chunky of creamy peanut butter?
2. Name one food you just can't stand.
3. If you could have three wishes, what would you wish for?
4. What is your usual order at Starbucks (Or similar coffee shop) ?
5. What as the last movie you saw in theaters?
6. Would you rather be an Olympic athlete or win American Idol?
7 what book do you think everyone should read, but no way in hell would you share your own copy?
8 Have you ever gone vegetarian or vegan? If so, how long did it or has it lasted?
9. Skiing or Boarding?
10. Who taught you to drive?
11.Do you have a favorite item of clothing for any reason?

Alrighty! Have fun fellow bloggity bloggers!

xoxo,

 

McGriddle Pants

Sunday, March 10

Pub Crawl Scavenger Hunt

So last night I had the most fun ever. Like pretty much ever.
My book club had a

PUB CRAWL SCAVENGER HUNT

Organized by yours truly.

When I as doing research for this I had a hard time actually finding any ideas, so for shits and giggles I'm posting our list here. I STRONGLY encourage you to use this list and embark on your own hunt.

There were about 20 of us in all, and we broke into three teams. Each of us took this list and we had to take photographic evidence of each activity/drink/item. My plan was to "review" each teams list, but as a participant myself, I was pretty buzzed after 3 and a half hours of scavenging and ended up taking everyone at their word. And honestly,

 If you can't trust drunk book club ladies, who can you trust?


Here's my list, and a few pictures as well. Enjoy! 

Photos of Activities
 Man (not in group) wearing lipstick (5)
 Photo of a woman with a mullet (5)
 Team member on stranger’s shoulders (10)
 A team member sitting on a toilet (5)
 Team Pyramid (15)
 Rock, paper, scissors (5)
 A flag (3)
 Exactly 27 human fingers (3)
 A bear (2)
 Picture of the Queen (2)
 Entire Team wearing shirts inside out (5)
 Clock showing 9:17 (2)
 One mate & stranger w/spoon on noses (5)
 Someone playing a pin ball machine (5)
 Lunging on a dance floor (3)
 An angel (2)
 Put a bird on it! (2)
 Your entire group jumping mid-air (5)
 An unshaven female leg (20)
 Eating a picked egg (10)
 A team mate singing karaoke (5)
 Picture of team member’s reflection in a beer mirror (5)
 Become friends with the Snug Bar bartender, Robbie Wilson  (25)
 Photo proof of visiting each bar, consuming at least one drink, per team, per bar (2 points per bar, 50 points for all 16)

Souvenirs:
 One PBR bottle cap (3)
 An Illinois Quarter (10)
 A sword skewer stick (3)
 Take out menu from China Delight (5)
 A coaster from any bar with the bartender’s signature (limit one per bar) (5)
 Book of matches (2)

Drinks: *Consumed by someone on your team
 Diffusing (drinking) a jager bomb (3)
 A green drink (5)
 A blue drink (5)
 A white drink (10)
 A red drink (10)
 A Beer Sampler (20)
 A margarita (20)
 PBR tall boy (2)
 Drink with an umbrella in it
 Drinking from the beer tap (30)
 Drinking Beer Upside down (15)
 Chugging a beer with a stranger (10)

HIPSTER Bonus Round
 Plaid (1)
 Comic book/cartoon tattoo (2)
 Tattoo that makes no goddamn sense whatsoever, like a fucking scribble or something (10)
 Keys & bike lock hanging from belt loop (5)
 Someone wearing their hood up while indoors (2)
 Ear gauges (2)
 General malnourishment (10)
 American Spirits/other hippie cigarette (5)
 Dude wearing a headband (5)
 Proudly-displayed pit stains (10)
 Chain wallet (2)
 Anyone who brings an iPad into a bar (5)
 Jorts (cuffed or cut-off, scored equally) (20)
 Weather-inappropriate clothing (2)
 Suspenders (5)
 Belt made from a piece of rope (10)
 Unnecessarily high socks (10)
 Earbuds IN/or headphones ON head while in a bar (5)
 Neck beard (10)
On Strangers Shoulders
Drinking Beer Upside Down

Finale
Team Pyramid
Drinking beer from the tap
This was just a really funny picture.

Thursday, March 7

her morning elegance


This is crazy beautiful.

Her Morning Elegance.
Oren Lavie.
Must download.

 Cheers!

xoxo McGriddle Pants