Polyester Makes Me Itchy

The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings.
~Dave Weinbaum

The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat.
~Napoleon Hill

It's never too late. Never too late to start over, never too late to be happy.
~Jane Fonda

So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just don't sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we've satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late.
~Lee Iacocca

Pup and I are going on vacation in January with another couple.

For fun one night while together, the four of us decided that we should get in shape for the trip. From mine and Pup's perspective we KNOW we should get in shape for this trip. We don't want to be the fatties. We want to be the hotties. Well, maybe Pup doesn't really care about being a hotty. I would love to be a hotty.

So we decided to have a little competition. The four of us are going to see who loses the most weight and gets in the best shape. I'm not real certain how we'll discern and select the winner, but I am certain that we have decided that the loser has to wear a leisure suit on the plane to the Dominican Republic.

It will not be me!

It's fall; do you know where your abs are?

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.

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.