...my poor baby has the Swine Flu.

Poor kid. She's just miserable. She's all stuffed up and can't keep anything down. She's in amazingly good spirits despite it all though.

It makes me remember when I was sick as a kid. I got to stay in my Mom's bed and watch TV. She'd bring me all my favorite things – grape juice and ramen noodles. It actually makes my memories of being sick as a kid good ones.

I hope I can create that for my daughter. These days they have chocolate Pediasure (her favorite) and one of the only things she can keep down. PediaSure also makes popsicles with electrolytes and she doesn't know the difference.

Today we watched Monsters Vs. Aliens and just about every show on the Disney Channel. But one of the best things I heard her say was that she really hoped to go back to school because she missed it. I love it.

So, tomorrow we'll stay home together and cuddle on the couch. Healing her and making memories.

...realized I need to do a lot more listening and a lot less talking.

Ugh. My iPhone comes with an audio recorder. I've found it's easier to record meetings than try to take notes or remember all the key points. That way - I can go back later and prepare reports based on the full recording. Today I was preparing a memo and ended up learning is that recording yourself is the best damn tool for improving yourself as a communicator.

It's actually painful to listen to how much I talk and how I talk. However, rather than be annoyed by it, I've decided to record myself more often. I've found it helps me be more self aware. Hopefully, one day I'll listen to a recording of myself that doesn't make me cringe...

fell in love with Portland again.

I always forget how much I love fall. When summer starts to end I get all sad, but then remember why autumn is pretty damn great too. Especially in Portland. All the different trees with all the different changing colors of leaves makes my commute a lot more enjoyable.

Who couldn't love Portland really? Even the rain can be charming. Portland is a hip, pretty city. The only thing it's missing is something really fun to do for Halloween.

Check out Travel Portland's video about the city. It's pretty cute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PC5PDlKKIo

Bon Jovi Widget

...was wondering how it's possible to do it all.

Wow... to do list. Ever-growing.

I'm a list maker. I have lists for everything. It's the only way I can keep all my commitments and responsibilities straight. But, as I look over the list I wonder if there is anyone that can do it all. I know this is the age-old issue for women - how can you be a great Mom, rise to the top of your profession, take care of your house, have a social life, stay fit and stay up on everything current?

I don't know how to do it all, but today I decided to try. Try to be the best I can at each of it. I'm writing this at the end of the day and I definitely wasn't perfect, but having a goal to kick-ass at everything gave me drive and I feel like I accomplished a lot though I crossed very few things off my to-do lists.

My most important accomplishments today:

• Getting Meagan to school close to on-time;
• Picking her up from art class close to on-time;
• Having a dance party with her at home;
• Playing around with her on the computer;
• Reading with her;
• Laughing with her;
• Getting new business leads at work;
• Making it to the gym;
  
• Finding time to talk to some of my favorite people in the world; AND
  
• UPDATING MY BLOG!
  

Sure, my list of urgent past-due items is long, but who can say my day wasn't successful when I can list all that off? Why is it I still feel I haven't done enough? Maybe if I find a way to sleep less I can do more.

Off to check more items off my list...

...remembered I should practice what I preach.

I really wanted my blog to be daily - or, at least, a lot more frequent than it has been. But, life tends to get in the way – work, daughter, friends, family, exercise... and maybe, some TV...

Anyway, I also started thinking that Twitter (I'm @Allison1j) was my new blog. Then I realized sometimes I want to say more than 140 characters worth of chatter.

In my line of work I tell people they have to update their blogs somewhat frequently or it's pointless to have one.

I'm re-inspired by my friend's plan to document every day of the first year of living with her boyfriend. She's hilarious so I can't wait to turn in to her little daily "reality show" type musings.

Here is the link if you want to check it out: http://365dayslivingwithboyfriend.blogspot.com/

Maybe I'll just post frequent links to her site with my own opinions(-: .. boy, she is brave to talk publicly about her relationships...

...wanted to tell the world of female runners to only buy Nike running shorts

Seriously. I have a few different brands of running shorts (Nike, Adidas and Lucy). The others aren't even in the same class. Not only are Nike shorts the cutest and most flattering (most important characteristics, after all), but they are the most comfortable, breathable and functional. I want every color.

If you run and you don't have them, buy them. However, 90% of female runners seem to have them and there is no doubt why.

...felt pretty damn good.

Still sticking to the raw foods diet and feeling pretty proud. It may be completely psychological, but I feel darn healthy. I can see why people get addicted to this.

Here's what I ate today:

Breakfast - a smoothie a made from a banana, orange, pineapple, mango, strawberries, water and whey protein.

Snack - fresh blueberries from my Mom's yard and Rainier cherries

Lunch - squash and homemade basil pesto

Dinner - Greek salad with raw feta, olives, red onion, spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, olive oil, vinegar

Dessert - Oregon strawberries

Yummm...

...am loving this raw foods diet.

Not only do I feel better I've lost 6 pounds since I started. I was afraid I wouldn't have enough energy for running, but I ran 13 miles for the first time in probably a year. I did cheat a little however and decide to have a cup of coffee a half hour before every run. I know it's supposed to provide a little boost to runners so I decided it's the one way I'll cheat.

Whenever I tell anyone I am doing this diet I get a little frowny face. Either people think it sounds growth or it's unhealthy. I only plan to do it for 2 more weeks because I will miss my steaks and halibut and seared tuna too much, but I have to say I have really enjoyed the food. Fresh fruit is delicious and I love that I'm supposed to eat 6lbs of it a day. Last night I had guacamole for dinner. Today for lunch I had a apple and raw blue cheese. Delish.

So to all the haters - go ahead an hate, but I don't feel deprived, I just feel like I'm kicking ass and loving it.

Peace.

...was determined to stick to my temporary raw foods diet.

The other day, while stuck on a runway at JFK for 6 hours, I got to talking to the girl next to me who told me about the raw foods diet. I am never one to buy into hoakie diets, but I just thought it sounded delicious and I only planned to do it for 3 weeks anyway.

All I have to do is eat raw fruits and vegetables, raw cheeses, nuts, smoothies, salads. It just actually sounded delicious. Especially after being on vacation for a week and eating everything bad in sight - not to mention drinking. A bit...

This will be my 3rd day on the diet. I feel great, just like she said I would. However, I am not sure I can keep giving up coffee. Yesterday I was sooo tired, but that could have been because I still needed to make up for the lack of sleep on my vacation.

I was worried about energy, but was able to run 3.5 miles in 85 degree weather. We'll see how I do today in air conditioning. My goal is 6 miles. I need to do it too, because I am trying to beat a friend in another Nike+ challenge.

I'm most worried about getting enough protein on this diet because I don't want to lose muscle tone. We shall see, it's fun so far...

...thought - how can I avoid eating food today?

So, I am going to Miami in 2 weeks - the land of the beautiful. I will be in a swimsuit most of the time. Scary.

For the last week-and-a-half relatives have been visiting and when relatives visit you eat. A lot. I looked in the mirror yesterday and freaked out. How they heck can I lose 10 pounds in 10 days? Ugh. I seem to have no self control when it comes to desserts.

I'm going to do it though. Many might think it's bad, but what I think, is that I can suffer for 10 days to look good for the 10 I am on vacation. Why not? It's only 10 days out of my life.

Now, I wish there was a door I could lock to my kitchen...

Blipped.

I recognize I have several addictions. This Blog is like a confessional... But one of my newest addictions is Blip.FM. Blip.FM is Twitter for music.

If you are a Tweeter you can connect it to your Twitter account and your musical Blips will be posted in your feed. It's like the coolest live streaming radio station 24 hours a day where everyone can be a DJ. You get listeners and you become other DJ's listeners. I listen to Blip DJs everywhere (Ireland, Switzerland, Brazil etc.).

Today, while on the public feed I heard a new fave and ReBlipped it. You can get and give props for Blips (Your musical Tweets). So far I have 86 listeners. I think that makes me pretty cool, but most others have hundreds or thousands so, as usual, I'm not as cool as I think I am.

I don't even mind all the glitches the site has. There is nothing else like it. Blip has definitely expanded my musical horizons. It keeps me entertained while working on my computer all day and all night and it's given me Twitter material when there was nothing in my head (much to the dismay of my Father - one of my Twitter followers).

So, I recommend it. Some addictions are good to have. Addictions that make you cool.

...realized I was obsessed with my Nike+ Challenge.

It makes sense that two of the world's greatest companies would come up with a perfect pairing - Nike + Apple makes running an obsession for me. More true - it makes competition an obsession for me.

A friend of mine recently challenged me to see who could run the most miles by July 20th. I can't stand to lose. So this morning, I had a million things to get done, but after getting Meagan off to the various social activities she had planned, my most important to do item was to get in a run. A good run. No piddly one would keep me ahead. My challenger is too good.

So, this Nike+ stuff is brilliant. I highly recommend it, but make sure you have people to challenge. Even better. Nothing gets me working out more. If you buy the Nike+ kit for a Nike+ shoe and you have the latest iPhone or a Nano, you can join in. Improvements in the Nike+ functionality could be made, but it's pretty great as is. Not only does it track every run you do, but it tells you have fast you ran on average, how many calories you've burned, encourages and congratulations you for beating your PRs, but it gives you a little mini avatar to use on your Facebook and other sites. It also encourages you to trash talk your challenger.

So, tomorrow morning when I wake up, I'll get my running shoes on and give in to my obsession again.

...felt pretty guilty

A friend asked me a month ago why I quit updating my blog. How embarrassing. I actually have the blog address listed in my Twitter bio. Who knows how many times the link has been clicked on. Not too impressive, I know.

There are no excuses good, enough, but I have to confess that I had started to forget about my blog the more addicted I became to Twitter and worse yet – Tweetdeck. It's like Twitter on crack. Updating a micro blog is a billion times easier than updating a real one. However, spending as much time as I do on Twitter I have come full circle and believe there is value in also having a blog that let's me post more than 140 characters and more than one picture.

In a quest to do everything better in my life, I am pledging to update this blog a couple times a week. It's likely to remain pretty random because that's the way my mind works.

made the best banana bread. ever.

This banana bread is my daughter's favorite thing to eat. It's really best when you add chocolate chips and the butter sugarish topping (an idea I kind of stole from an ex-boyfriend who would never tell me his Mom's secret recipe).

OVEN 350°
BANANA BREAD:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose
flour
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking
powder
1/2 teaspoon baking
soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe
banana (2 to 3 medium
bananas)
1/3 cup shortening,
margarine, or butter
2 tablespoons milk
2 eggs
1/4 cup chopped nuts
(optional)

In large mixer bowl combine 1 cup of the flour, the sugar,
baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add mashed banana;
shortening, margarine or butter and milk. Beat with an
electric mixer on low speed till blended, then on high speed for
2 minutes. Add eggs and remaining flour, beat till blended.
Stir in nuts.
Pour batter into a greased 8x4x2-inch loaf pan. Bake for 55 to
60 minutes or till a toothpick inserted near the center comes
out clean. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack. Remove from
the pan; cool thoroughly on a wire rack. Wrap and store
overnight before slicing.
Makes 1 loaf (16 servings).

Allison’s Way (inspired by ex's mother):
Add chocolate chips to batter. When bread has 20 minutes left
add mixture of 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and 1
tablespoon (approxImately) of margarine to top of bread

...realize I have no power over my cravings for Girl Scout Cookie ice cream

I curse those little Girl Scouts! How dare they create such delicious, horrible for you cookies THEN put them in ice cream! I stupidly bought a tub of it yesterday and I have heard it calling my name ever since.

I do think that the Samoa Cookie ice cream by Dreyer's might be one of the best things ever, or the worst. Either way, I am not walking down that ice cream aisle again....

wondered why I only crave things I should not eat.

I have been craving everything bad for me like crazy. I blame my sister. It started when she brought me several bags of Mother's Circus Animal Cookies. She got them on a deal because the company went out of business. We all freaked out because we love those cookies. Sure enough, I couldn't resist opening the bag. In just a few days I had polished it off.

If I didn't have a 5-year-old I think I would removed everything I should be eating from my house because that would be the only thing that would stop me from giving into temptation. Damn.

...my co-worker is totally kicking my butt with her weight loss

It sucks to be 10 years older than the person you are competing with in a weight loss challenge. My coworker lost 8 pounds last week. I lost two. Boo. It's a good thing there is no money on this.

I am loving the new tool Medifast has on it's site for providing your daily caloric balance information and projected weight loss for the day after you enter in your food intake. It keeps me on track when I think I want to cheat badly.

If I stay on track today I will lose .4 lbs by tomorrow!

Yep, getting a little obsessed...

...was glad I found a way to bring the trim Challenge into New Year's Eve celebrating.

I love Bellinis so I decided to try to make them with the Tree Top trim Mango Peach juice. It was pretty good! I drank a whole bottle of champagne and felt great in the morning. PLUS, it's a lot less calories than a regular Bellini. I think it will be my new drink of choice.

Happy New Year!

Cheers!