Randomness

I have a new love and it is in the form of Godiva Chocolatier Biscuits. Dallas' student from China,who now attends UL, gave us a gift basket from Godiva. If you are like most choco-holics , you are thinking, "Oh my gosh, that is the best gift EVER!" But, my first thought was, "oh". Don't get me wrong, I LOVE MOST ANYTHING CHOCOLATE! But, what I don't like are those mixed chocolate boxes where you might bite into some yucky orange cream or heaven forbid, a cherry cordial (ewwwww)! If you are to ever give me a box of chocolates, all you need to do is get me one with all caramels. OK, back to the gift basket. We get home and start unwrapping everything....the large box of assorted chocolates, a smaller gold box of chocolates (still not sure what those are), a chocolate Santa, hot chocolate, and a box of 12 Chocolatier biscuits. These are little thin cookies with a piece of heavenly chocolate on top. I opened up the box, thinking the cookie would be nasty or the chocolate would just be ok, but what I got was a mouth full of heaven on earth. I was able to limit myself to just 2 that night. The next day 4 and so on until yesterday when I finished the last one. You must go out and try these...magnificent!

Since we are on the subject of food...steamed artichokes sooooo rock!! I haven't had one in years. Our friends (you know who you are) had us over for dinner about a month ago and we had these as a first course with 3 dipping sauces: lemon butter, mayo/dijon mustard, and a vinaigrette. It was amazing. So much so that tonight I steamed some for Dallas' parents. They were so good...again, go out and try them.

I got my cholesterol checked today. My sister found out that hers was high and both of my parents are slightly high. I have been meaning to go to a walk-in clinic to get it checked but kept forgetting to. Today, I drove up to Whole Foods to get some yummy Seeduction bread (the best bread in the world) and some organic cereal for Elias. As I was pulling in, I saw little signs all over saying "Get your Cholesterol checked in just 5 minutes". So I did. Mine was 233 (normal is below 200)! But triglycerides, glucose, and the total ratio were all normal. The guys didn't seem that concerned but I told my sister and she gasped! My mom put some Red Yeast Rice in our stockings this year for Christmas. This is a natural drug developed by the Chinese to help lower bad chol. and raise the good. I just checked and I can't take it because I am still breastfeeding. POOP. I guess I will have to lower it the old fashion way...diet and exercise.

I hate diets and am convinced they don't work. The new issue of Real Simple had on its cover "The never DIET again diet". Hummmm.....it was all stuff you already know....eat more whole grains and plant oils, eat a lot of veggies and fruits, have 1-3 servings of dairy, eat a variety of fish, chicken, etc..., and limit red meat, butter, refined sugar, and white bread, rice, potatoes. No food group is totally eliminated and everything should be in moderation. No counting calories or fat grams. It is SO simple but is so hard when faced with Godiva Chocolatier biscuits b/c I can't just have one!

I also really want to start running again. Most of you know this but I ran a half marathon in Beijing (I also ran a 10K in Pattaya, Thailand). I had never run before in my life, especially because I have asthma and thought I couldn't. A group of us decided we would train and do it. We started in May and the race was mid-October. My best friend, Jessica and I trained together. It was perfect, because, like me, she had also never run and we ran the same pace. We ran through the streets of Tianjin, in the rain, in hot humid nasty, and in the cold. (Race day, a cold front came through and it ended up around freezing.) Back to the training, we actually stuck to a schedule and did it! I ran 13 miles in 2 hours and 36 minutes. I think about that and I can't believe I am talking about myself. Needlesstosay, we ran some after the race and once I got back to America, I never have. I NEED someone to run with me, to motive each other to get off of our lazy asses, put down the Godiva Chocolatier biscuit and run! Any takers???

Last thing...I got my haircut today. I chopped 4 1/2-5 inches off. I started growing my hair out in China and have kept it long ever since. Before that, I have had mostly shorter styles. I really needed a change and I got the thumbs up from my husband. (Do all guys like women with long hair?) So, it is fun and bouncy and cute.

That is the end of my thoughts...I realize I could have easily chopped up this post into smaller posts, but I have never had a really long post, so here ya go! (Is this considered really long?)