Lo-Mein

I made this lightened up version of shrimp lo-mein from my million dollar magazine last night. It was super easy, the hardest part was peeling garlic! The recipe was very simple and very tasty despite it's limited ingredients. In case you want to give it a try, I've shared the recipe from "Eat This" below - it comes in at about 300 calories per serving. Enjoy! 

Ingredients
12 oz lo mein noodles (or whole wheat spaghetti - I found they had about the same calorie and carb content)
1 tbsp peanut or vegetable oil (I used sesame oil and garlic olive oil)
2 cloves garlic, minced (I used way more than suggested because I LOVE it!)
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger (I omitted this as I can't stand it)
4 scallions, whites and greens separated, chopped
4 oz shiitake mushrooms (I omitted as I somehow didn't think the recipe called for them - oops!)
2 medium carrots, cut into thin slices
½ red bell pepper, sliced
¾ lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 Tbsp oyster sauce (I used 1 tbsp and found it tasty!)
2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

Directions
1) Prepare the noodles according to the package instructions.

2) In a wok or large skillet, heat the oil over high heat.

3) When the oil is lightly smoking, add the garlic, ginger, and scallion whites and stir-fry for 30 seconds, until lightly golden.

4) Add the mushrooms, carrots, and bell pepper, and continue cooking for 3 to 4 minutes, using a metal spatula to keep the vegetables in near-constant motion.

5) Toss in the shrimp and cook until just pink and slightly firm.

6) Add the cooked noodles, oyster sauce, and soy sauce to the pan.

7) Cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, until the sauce is thickened and covers the noodles in a light sheen.

8) Divide the mixture among 4 plates and garnish with the scallion greens.

Monday

I don't think I've worked a full week of work since November so this week may be a bit of an adjustment for me, returning to the office grind full time. Thankfully in my time off I've been, or at least felt, productive. I'm 95% caught up on laundry, I've grocery shopped based on an actual meal plan for the week and my house is in somewhat decent order. I've ran every errand on my list and I even went to bed early last night in order to prepare for a 4am wake up call (in order to attend a 5am workout class). 

Yes, I was full of great expectations as to how my first Monday of the new year would go. I wanted to be "bright eyed and bushy tailed" and an inspiration for all who interact with me. You know, glowing and full of new year cheer! But the reality is, I'm tired. I didn't sleep well, not much at all really, and I'm just plain tired. It would have been easy to throw in the towel on my scheduled workout but then I'd just be pissed at myself in addition to being tired. And well, that's not a fun or constructive way to spend the day. 

So, here's to Monday! You came whether we wanted you to or not, and I will conquer you - tired or not. Fingers crossed for a better night's sleep tonight. 

Classics

My "AFI" page, within this blog, is a listing and dedication of my own to watch the then published (2011?) American Film Institute's top 100 films. Over the years I've casually worked on this goal and continue to mark movies off one by one. Thankfully, Turner Classic Movies in conjunction with Fathom Events release a monthly "classic" to be shown in select theaters for two days only. Yes! I get to see (some of) the classics as they were meant to be seen, on the big screen! I'm excited to see that this month's release is the yet to be seen (by me) movie, "An American in Paris"! 

What's your favorite classic?


1.CITIZEN KANE (1941)

2.CASABLANCA (1942)

3.GODFATHER, THE (1972)

4.GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)

5.LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)

6.WIZARD OF OZ, THE (1939)

7.GRADUATE, THE (1967)

8.ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)

9.SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)

10.SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)

11.IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

12.SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)

13.BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, THE (1957)

14.SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)

15.STAR WARS (1977)

16.ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)

17.AFRICAN QUEEN, THE (1951)

18.PSYCHO (1960)

19.CHINATOWN (1974)

20.ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)

21.GRAPES OF WRATH, THE (1940)

22.2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)

23.MALTESE FALCON, THE (1941)

24.RAGING BULL (1980)

25.E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)

26.DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)

27.BONNIE & CLYDE (1967)

28.APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)

29.MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)

30.TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)

31.ANNIE HALL (1977)

32.GODFATHER PART II, THE (1974)

33.HIGH NOON (1952)

34.TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)

35.IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)

36.MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)

37.BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, THE (1946)

38.DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)

39.DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)

40.NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)

41.WEST SIDE STORY (1961)

42.REAR WINDOW (1954)

43.KING KONG (1933)

44.BIRTH OF A NATION, THE (1915)

45.STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, A (1951)

46.CLOCKWORK ORANGE, A (1971)

47.TAXI DRIVER (1976)

48.JAWS (1975)

49.SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)

50.BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)

51.PHILADELPHIA STORY, THE(1940)

52.FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)

53.AMADEUS (1984)

54.ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)

55.SOUND OF MUSIC, THE (1965)

56.M*A*S*H(1970)

57.THIRD MAN, THE (1949)

58.FANTASIA (1940)

59.REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)

60.RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)

61.VERTIGO (1958)

62.TOOTSIE (1982)

63.STAGECOACH (1939)

64.CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)

65.SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE (1991)

66.NETWORK (1976)

67.MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, THE (1962)

68.AMERICAN IN PARIS, AN (1951)

69.SHANE (1953)

70.FRENCH CONNECTION, THE (1971)

71.FORREST GUMP (1994)

72.BEN-HUR (1959)

73.WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)

74.GOLD RUSH, THE (1925)

75.DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)

76.CITY LIGHTS (1931)

77.AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)

78.ROCKY (1976)

79.DEER HUNTER, THE (1978)

80.WILD BUNCH, THE (1969)

81.MODERN TIMES (1936)

82.GIANT (1956)

83.PLATOON (1986)

84.FARGO (1996)

85.DUCK SOUP (1933)

86.MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)

87.FRANKENSTEIN (1931)

88.EASY RIDER (1969)

89.PATTON (1970)

90.JAZZ SINGER, THE (1927)

91.MY FAIR LADY (1964)

92.PLACE IN THE SUN, A(1951)

93.APARTMENT, THE (1960)

94.GOODFELLAS (1990)

95.PULP FICTION (1994)

96.SEARCHERS, THE (1956)

97.BRINGING UP BABY (1938)

98.UNFORGIVEN (1992)

99.GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)

100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

Frozen...

And just like that, I'm signed up for my first 5K of the year! 

Wish me luck and warm temperatures!

Mambo

I don't know who Jared Sawyer is, but I like his ideas above. Taking his advice, I planned a lunch date with one of my besties at Mambo Italiano yesterday. It was amazing food, but more amazing to catch up and get the year started out on the right foot!  Four hours of conversation over a basic, but totally delish, pasta marinara with meatballs = fabulous!

I am going to do my best to schedule the other items on his list as well. I know I'll struggle with the social media piece perhaps, but I also look forward to it. I have a feeling hiking or snowshoeing will be on the list of my "to dos" for the day outdoors. 

What's on your list for this month? 

Yum!

Sticker Shock

Proud of myself for shopping mostly fresh produce and adding healthy items to my cart, I impulsively added this magazine to the conveyor belt upon checkout at my local grocery store. I figured hey, what's an additional four or five dollars for some new, healthy recipe ideas? Well apparently it's been a few decades since I've purchased any type of magazine as I did not account for the cost of inflation. People, this little beauty cost me $12.99!  That's right, $12.99 for a magazine. Yikes!

I can say one thing about "Eat This". For the price it cost me, I've now committed to getting my money's worth and making as many recipes as I can! I can already smell the homemade shrimp lo-mein, lettuce wraps and pork tacos cooking! Bon appetite!

Lift...

It's another January 1st and I have so many random things flowing around my head. Of course there's the typical thoughts of resolutions and fresh starts but in addition to all that new year positivity, I've added a word of intention for 2020 to my mindset. I want to LIFT.  What would be your word or mantra for 2019?

I heard someone once say, "Lift as you climb." and it has stuck with me for many years. I've probably blogged about it before, but it bears repeating. We all need to lift others as we climb to our successes. Whether it's at a job or personally - take the time to help others and "lift" them up. Not only do I want to follow this practice, help lift others, but I can apply the word "lift" to so many other aspects of my life.

I want to lift more weights (get stronger in the gym). I want to lift my head up in pride by working hard at my job and doing work that I can be proud of. I want my thoughts to be lifted and to be more positive, including internal self talk. I want to lift my face with more smiles and recommit to the things that make me the happiest. In order to lift though, I have to have some type of game plan, so here goes...


Get healthy...mentally and physically. 
- Commit to working out 2-3 times a week.
- Stay away from negative people.
- Make more play-dates with positive people.
- Complain less.

- Participate in one 5K per month.
- Eat clean(er).
- Stretch.

Read more.
- Read one book per month.
- Stop buying new books!
- Set aside 30 minutes a day via lunch or bedtime to read.

Bucket List Items...continued from 2011.
- Attend Cubs Spring training.
- Travel (Italy, Spain, Germany, Bora Bora)
- Hike Piccachu Peak, AZ.

Personal
- Go to the chiropractor more.
- Book a spa service per month.
- Remain grateful and practice gratitude daily.
- Commit to a schedule of chores and add help services as needed to make life easier.

Happy 2020 to you and me.
Cheers!