Andrea, over at Bella Eats had requested a comprhensive recap of the grocery challenge – and I thought – WHAT A GREAT IDEA!

Here’s a breakout of what we spent:

• Target – 11/5 – $10.70
• Walmart/Aldi – 11/10 – $42.23
• Aldi’s – 11/18 – $34.00
• Aldi’s - 11/22 – $13.32
• Marc’s/Aldi’s – 11/26 – $21.75

BRINGING OUR GRAND TOTAL TO:  $122.00

We were under our proposed goal by $4!  Here are a few factors that help us reach our goal, as well as a few take-aways from doing the challenge

• Allowing ourselves the “1 dinner out a week” – really really helped keep us under goal
• Generosity during the holidays was another factor that kept us afloat
• Free meals from your parents are still totally allowed, it doesn’t matter your age
• I spend way too much on groceries
• We can still eat well and in a healthy fashion, but the grocery bill should never be over $200

That’s about it.  I think I might continue this over into December, but I haven’t completely decided yet.

Also, sorry I don’t have any food pics for you today.  I’ve felt like I was coming down with the flu since last night around 5pm, so I really have done nothing but sleep.  To keep it visually interesting, I’m giving you you’re Friday fix – two days late:
see more puppies

more animals

I know I’m two days late – that’s how busy I’ve been!

I apologize in advance – I did some experimenting with my Dad’s cool new camera, so some pictures posted LARGE even though I didn’t want them to be!  

Thanksgiving Morning we got up and did The Nakon Foundation’s Turkey Dash!

The race is a 5k for the a local foundation that supports breast cancer.  When I woke up, my neck was still hurting, but it was definitely an improvement from the day before.   Here’s me and my boys before we left for the race:

I’m really happy with how the race went – I ran my fastest mile to date!  It was about 35 degrees outside at the start of the race, and the cold was really hurting my lungs, so I wasn’t sure how I was doing.   When I hit mile marker 1 – and heard the timer say 9:40, I was absolutely stoked.  I know it’s not the fastest time in the world, but it’s a personal best for me, so I’m really happy.

Shortly after mile marker 2, my iPod died.  Totally, completely, permanently DIED.  I know I shouldn’t have let it affect me, but I started walking for about 2 minutes while I tried to screw around with it.    I hit the 3 mile marker and saw my handsome husband there, rooting me on!  I ended up crossing the finish line at 32:28, which overall, I was very happy with. With the combination of cold and neck pain, I really wasn’t sure how well I would do.  I average a 12 minute mile, so anything below 34 minutes I was going to be happy with!   Here’s me finishing the race – I’m behind the lady in white – she got in my way right as my Dad was snapping the picture:

Here’s the whole gang after the race:

Such a great way to start the day!   We will definitely be doing it again next year!  We went home and showered, and then headed over to my mom’s.  I brought 4 items to contribute to to the family’s Thanksgiving (AND STAYED BELOW GOAL FOR THE CHALLENGE TOO!).  I brought a veggie tray, a salad, cherry angelfood cupcakes, and pomegrante bark:

Here’s the whole appetizer spread:

I started out the afternoon with a small glass of merlot, but ended up drinking a whole lot of diet coke before dinner since that glass of wine made me tired.

Here’s my dinner plate:

I had some green beans, salad, a little bit of corn, and a little bit of turkey.  When I finished my plate, I decided to splurge on some mashed taters!

After dinner, the wine started flowing, I kept making “spritzers” so that I wasn’t drinking too much.  I would pour a half glass of chardonnay, and a half glass of Fresca.  Everyone else loved the idea as well – here’s me and my aunt – mid-Fresca-hand-off!  

It’s become a Thanksgiving tradition, that Mike and I have all the cousins over to our house for “after hours drinking”.   Needless to say – there was way too much alcohol consumed over the evening, and then with all my siblings and cousins home on break, we basically repeated the same thing last night too!

Which explains why I have been out of commission.  I can’t “party” like that anymore, so two straight days of food, family, lack of sleep, and a lot of booze has totally caught up to me!   That’s it for now, I’ll do a grocery challenge recap really soon!   Hope you all had an absolutely wonderful holiday!

Is bad luck twice – enough to qualify for a curse?  Because if so – I’m screwed!  

I had signed up to run a half marathon in September, and like clockwork – my gallbladder (which was removed and no longer supposed to be a problem) – flared up and put me back in the hospital for 5 days.  Needless to say, I was in no shape to run 13.1 miles after having been out of the hospital only 2 days.

Fast forward to yesterday.   Yesterday morning, I had a pinched nerve in my neck.  It hurt pretty bad, but I was still able to turn my head an all that sort of stuff. 

I’m not sure if I told you, but Mike and I (and a whole lot of my family) are running a 5k – The Turkey Dash – on Thanksgiving morning.  It’s my first race since July, and I have been super excited about it.

Add up the last two things I just told you, and you’ve got bad news.  Last night, I went to play volleyball for my Tuesday night league.  I knew I should have probably taken it easy (especially with a pinched nerve in my neck), especially considering there is so much jumping, twisting, fast movement in volleyball.   Did I heed the little voice in my head?   No. 

So guess what?  I hurt it even worse, and today I can barely walk because I’m in so much pain.  I can’t turn my head to the left or the right (so driving sucks), and I barely slept last night.  

So – what do you all think?  Am I cursed?  Do any of you have any great tricks that can help me feel better?   If you do, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE share with me!

My eats continue to be boring since I haven’t gone to the store, as I’m waiting for the Thanksgiving Challenge to end!

For lunch yesterday, I snacked on some dried cherries, and some pepper sticks with my own homemade buffalo ranch:

And then a few hours later, had some classic Campbell’s Chicken and Stars (SUCH a boring picture!)

For dinner, I made almost the same dinner as the night before, just this time I added black beans

This was so yummy!  I really had forgotten how much I loved Boca burgers, I hadn’t bougth one in a while.  I think I could eat this ever night for dinner – but now that wouldn’t be very much fun for you guys to look at! 

For breakfast, I decided to get fancy with the few staples I have left in the house, and made some egg white french toast

It totally hit the spot and I have to say, I’m quite full now!

I’m off to finish up my work week!  Can’t wait to see all your posts tomorrow!  Please give me any pinched nerve advice you can!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING A DAY EARLY!