Eating in a Chinese Restaurant

I have loved Chinese food all my life. Well, the type of Chinese food you can get in Minnesota anyway.

When I was in high school my friends and I would have lunch at the Minneapolis Nankin as often as we shopped downtown (often I have to say) and I always felt so grown-ass womanlike sitting on the balcony with a little delightful teacup and teapot sitting on our table while I ate pork chow mein and crunched on egg rolls.

Minneapolis Nankin 1958

The whole experience, every time, would make me feel seriously grownup and I would take my little paper box home with me and eat the leftovers directly out of the box like I had seen in movies shot in New York where all New Yorkers could order takeout (there was no such thing as Chinese delivery when I was in high school)

My momma loved to eat at the House of Wong in St. Paul (the website says Roseville, which is technically true). She and I ate there hundreds of times and when my girls got old enough I took them there with us.

I had a girlfriend when I was in my 20s and she and I would meet for lunch there every week. We both worked nights at the time and it was a great way to catch up and have leftovers to bring to work. In a little paper box.

When my mom was so sick back in 2004 I would bring take out from House of Wong to her house in North Branch, Minnesota on most Sundays and we would eat out of the little paper boxes. So good. Some really good memories for me now that she is gone.

Not much to look at on the outside, but awesomeness on the inside.

We still go there and now it's Pup and his momma I drag with me. Momma Betty loves her some chicken chow mein and Pup is a big fan of their turkey dinner. I know, I know. He isn't a fan of Chinese so Momma B and I are happy he has something to eat when we go there.

Last night Pup, Momma Betty, Lorenzo, and I headed out. It had been planned for a week or so, but I was thinking all week, "what will I order??" Let's face it, Chinese isn't the best choice when you're starting a new and whole food approach to your eating.

I poked around the menu a while and found that egg foo yong isn't a bad choice at all. Made of mostly vegis and eggs it seemed perfect. I had a bit of rice along with it as well. Stayed away from the fried rice (which I'd arm wrestle you for normally).

Came away from the experience with a full tummy and a guilt-free mind. And a little paper box.

Big-Arse Breakfast

Check out my post and ingredients for a protein-loaded beginning to the day.

Ground Beef Scramble

Ground Beef Scramble

Part of my fledgling lifestyle is eating better. I'm adapting a Primal/Paleo (I'm navigating my way through the things I need and the things I don't need from each one) and one thing I see over and over in my research is a big-ass breakfast.

The point being that if you eat enough protein and good fat in your big-ass breakfast you will be satiated for a long time during your day and will not even think about snacking thereby foregoing any bad decisions.

It's true. When I do eat one of my big-ass breakfasts I don't think about eating for the better part of the remainder of the day. If I'm at home I don't find myself rummaging around in the cupboards looking for something naughty.

It's another tool to help me in this fat-fight. Protein and fat are going to make be slim. I believe this.

This is what I made this morning.

It's one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast.

I know lots of us (me included) think we cannot eat a big breakfast. "I'm not hungry when I get up, I'm not in the mood for something so big, I am a whiner . . ." Oh wait, that last one was only me. I am, as we all know, the best whiner. :)

To make this I start with ground beef from a grass-fed source. Pup and I bought 1/4 of a cow a bit ago and we've been enjoying it so so much. The hamburger is especially nummy.

To the ground beef I add a couple of eggs, some Parmigiano-Reggiano, sea salt, pepper, and I added some chopped green onions on this go.

Mix it all until ingredients are integrated.

Throw it in a pan with foaming butter and cook about 3 minutes each side on medium-high heat.

I'd show a photo of my plate after I finished eating, but it's kinda embarrassing to let everyone see exactly how much I lick the plates when I'm finished.

Yep, I really am that classy.

FitFluential

I  just posted about my new ambassadorship with FitFluential on my other blog. I am EXCITED to begin this partnership with such fun peeps. I'm thinking I better get out of my own way now babies. I'm here and it's happening!

This is today's big-ass breakfast. Still in love with the scrambleds.

I am soon to be heading down to the workout room I affectionately call the dungeon. If you don't see me in a couple of hours, please come get me. You know how I can get lost in a workout. hehehe

smooches

FitFluential

Congratulate me! I am one of the latest Ambassadors to the newest brainchild of fitness blogger Kelly Olexa, FitFluential.

This is what the website says about FitFluential:

FitFluential is a nationwide network of fitness enthusiasts sharing their journey both online and offline through multiple social media platforms. Founded in April of 2011 by Kelly Olexa, FitFluential was designed to connect health and wellness brands with their ideal target market through customized, long-term experiential and contextual marketing campaigns.

Kelly asked me to be part of this group a couple of weeks ago and I was not only flattered, I was excited! I've been stumbling and tumbling along on my fitness/health quest for the LONGEST time and I am thrilled to be a part of a resource to assist me and others on this quest.

I'm fielding my way through what it means to be a part of this new family and I'd love it if you guys would share your fitness stories with me. Leave your cliff notes version in the comments section. Or share whatever it is that you do to keep your fitness and health at a level you like.

I'm hoping that my 50-something take on a fitness journey can help some of us that are in a similar age grouping. There are so many young uns out there that we of a certain age need some help and guidance as well. Or at least a story that we can relate to!

I'll be telling my story on my other blog, but will, of course, be blogging updates right here on Fashion Plate.

Okay now, come on and give me smooches. I'm going to need every one of them.

Sunday at the Chez Emerson

It was a good week.

I discovered I loved My Week with Marilyn and hated Contraband.

I discovered nothing is quite as delicious as a Maker's Mark Old Fashioned.

I added a few things to my list.

I crossed a few things off my list.

I bought a few things.

I donated a few things.

I hugged.

I cried.

I laughed.

I organized.

I procrastinated.

All in all, just another week.

Thrifting a Go-Go

Check out my disco-ball owl!

Remember Avon? Or maybe you guys still buy Avon? I haven't really thought about Avon for years, but there was a time when I bought lots and lots of Avon in my 20s. This little dude is from back then I do think. He's full of weird-smelling powder that immediately made me remember my Avon days. Isn't Avon known for it's super good skin care line right now? Maybe it's time to revisit Avon.

Did I use the word Avon enough?

Bella and I went thrifting yesterday and had such a good time. Flaked on photos which is unfortunate cuz we saw a few weird things. As you always do when thrifting.

This is my favorite find of the trip. He's sitting in my office making me pretty happy right about now.

Watch Your Step

I'm reading a lot about cravings, binge eating, and sleep issues. I may be more confused than I was before. Ha!

What I'm not confused about is the past week was definitely not #faileo. I have thought this before, but I get into a thought-gully where I feel if I'm not PERFECT than I've fucked everything. It's such a weird thought-gully. I'd rather throw everything out the window because I did a little something off plan? I need to keep the big picture in mind and not go totally monkey-crazy when I have a blip. Concentrate on the glides and don't let the blips get the upper hand.

I have totally rediscovered the joy of drinking water infused with lemon. I make a pitcher in the morning and drink it during the time I'm at home. It's so delicious and makes supplement taking just that more bearable.

Grokking onward and downward my hooches.

If I Knew How to Get There I Wouldn't Have to Ask

I don't know when I first saw that or thought it up, but I do know that I have used that particular phrase/motto/helpful-saying quite a few times during the last 10 years of my life.

It makes sense that this would resonate with me since I'm lost most of the time. For real. Lost.

I will be first in line when they make a GPS that can be inserted into your head.

I own a GPS and seriously couldn't get ANYWHERE without it. I know, that's sad. There is something missing in my brain. The know-where-you-are gene/ability/talent.

I mean, I even get lost at any doctor office I've ever been in. If it weren't for the EXIT signs I wouldn't know how to get back to the lobby.

I used to work in downtown Minneapolis, for 11 years actually. Minneapolis downtown is connected by an awesome array of 'skyways.' Meaning that you can walk from building to building from a second floor entry using a remarkable set of glassed walkways.

Incredible yes?

Except for the immediate skyways I used on a daily basis, I had to wander around downtown with a map of the skyways. A map that I would have to turn as I was turning. So the map was always in line with the way I was facing.

I blame it all on being lefthanded.

So the fact that I stumble around lost in other areas of my life is no huge surprise to me. At all. Nope. No surprise there.

So, while I bumble about, finding my way with this new and highly need/wanted/coveted way of living, I hope that any of you that are perhaps getting a bit exasperated with me will take me with a grain of GPS. Know that I'm checking that map often.

I'm getting there. It's going to be good.

Make It, Don't Break It

If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.
~ Yogi Berra

Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges, wish for more wisdom.
~ Jim Rohn

You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough people get what they want.
~ Zig Ziglar

You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.
~ Les Brown

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.
~ Author Unknown

Keep your face to the sun, and you will never see the shadows.
~ Helen Keller

Happiness is a habit – cultivate it.
~ Elbert Hubbard

We are one week into the new year. How are you meeting your goals? Do you have an action plan? Do you have motivation enough? Are you keeping your momentum?

Goals are the mitigating factor in all success. I want to keep the goal ahead in my windshield and the obstacles behind me in the rear-view mirror.

Holiday Detoxing

Whew I say! Even after the holidays there are things aplenty to F me up. I keep thinking I have rid myself of temptations and something pops out at me to trip me up.

I am not tripping. Oh I'm tripping, but not on THAT. Ha! Lame Deborah - very lame.

Insomnia is still on and off. The off days are so good! I am tired of the on days. There isn't much to do at 3:00 in the morning. You'd think I'd be all creative and blog posting like a mo-fo.

Nothing creative sprouting out today anyway.

Lameo-sameo

But on track. Keeping with my Fitday tracking and keeping active. The devilish sugar and wheat are not a factor and hey hey hey for that.

New Year, New Rear

We brought in the new year with friends.

First going to a great movie (Mission Impossible - sooooo good!) then heading back to our house to have steak, yams for the girls, potatoes for the boys, salad, wine, and assorted snacks.

It started snowing around 11:00 and since we haven't seen hardly any this year (so weird) we all ran like little kids (well, Pup and his friend Doug did anyway) to look at it.

It was sticking to all the bare trees and grasses and seriously turning our little neighborhood in the hood into a beautiful paradise.

That's why we live here. When just something as simple as an one inch snowfall can turn brown and dumpy into white and glittery - well, it's enchanting.

Cut to this morning.

I wish I was a get-it-all-cleaned-up-before-I-go-to-bed girl. I always want to be. Truth is, when the fun evening is over, I want to get to bed with my Pup and snuggle in the big huge bed.

But then you wake up to this.

So . . . right now Pup is whining that I better hurry and get my arse ready cuz he wants some breakfast at Denny's (can you believe?) because he knows there will be no breakfast-making in this kitchen right now.

Yes sweetie, right after I wake up.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Whether you resolution or not, whether you celebrated big or small, have the best first day of the new year. It's all good my hooches.

smooches