CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

Dropping Knowledge at #Blogalicious12

Today I spoke at a blog conference! (OMG!) A little shpiel (I guess in English, that would be a blurb?) for you, to better explain:

"The annual Blogalicious Weekend is THE go-to destination for influential multicultural women social media enthusiasts from all over the world to collaborate, connect and uplift one another. Blogalicious Weekend is not just a conference; its a celebration."

I had a BLAST. Thank you to all those who contributed ideas and came to the panel today. And thank you to my co-panelists, Barbara, Angela and Stefania. We did it! 

To check out our presentation deck, simply look below. If you'd like to download a copy for your very own, click here. 

Working with PR, Brands and Blog Networks

What Happens in Vegas....

Well I am feeling particularly cheerful right now. I am smiley and sleepy. I am having SUCH a good time here at "Blogalicious" and I've met some REALLY incredible ladies. 

Tonight, after a film screening, I sat with six other women I'd just met and talked til almost 1am. We laughed a lot and it was rather fabulous sharing stories with them and listening to them. 

I came back to the room and decided that despite it being so late, I simply HAD to take advantage of the glorious bathtub. I enjoyed a particularly gruesome episode of CSI during. Why? BECAUSE THERE IS A TV IN THE BATHROOM, PEOPLE! Isn't that marvelous? I'd get one at home but I'd probably end up spending way more time on the toilet than necessary. (TMI much? Sorry.)

So this is how I came to be here, sleepy and smiley and about to go to bed. 

But first -- just now on the phoe with the hotel operator:

Me: Can I get a wake up call at 7am?

Him: Yes, miss. You're in room XXXX?

Me: Well I sure hope so, otherwise we've got a bigger problem than my needing to be awake in less than six hours. 

Him: Well, it is Vegas.

Me: Fair point.

I do love you, Las Vegas. Having a blast.

Being a goofball at #Blogalicious12

So glad I found my friends Chris and Ricca to hang out with today! Not that I haven't already met some FABULOUS new friends! 

I had to share -- Ricca and I got a little goofy in the Crest Smile Booth at lunchtime:

Okay, she's clearly NOT goofing off but isn't she adorable? I, however, am a giant nerd. *wink*

The Fifth and Final Day!

I miss my morning food deliveries already! 

Of course, my fifth day of Paleta came on the heels of my triumphant walk sans ankle pain and I was feeling particularly invigorated. I was also battling a tinger of the sads, because I really enjoyed participating in this program and was bummed I couldn't anymore!

My fifth and final Paleta breakfast was hot breakfast cereal (oatmeal, I suppose) with fresh oranges (had to take those off - my allergies struck me) with turkey sausage patties and a fresh melon salad. The hot cereal was delicious. And it was nice to have something warm and thick in the morning. I wanted to sprinkle some brown sugar on it but resisted. 

And lunch was delicious, if not the prettiest one I've had so far! They sent a thai chicken salad with rainbow cabbage and crisp romaine with taosted almond slivers and a spicy peanut sauce. Some carrots were on the side. They looked a little sad but I do love carrots - they were great.

Again, I wish my camera took better photos -- this looks off to me. But it was like art in a bowl. It was delightful. 

My Day 5 snacks were new experiences. My strawberries came with a black bean chocolate cupcake that was a mystery to me. I still don't know if I liked it. But I was surprised that I liked my afternoon snack so much -- zucchini latkes with roasted bell pepper coulis. 

Dinner was nice. Because I have this weird, random childhood memory associated with Mahi Mahi, so it was a nice surprise for dinner. And even though I don't like cucumbers, I liked the mango cucumber salsa that came with it. The coconut jasmine rice was fantastic. I could not finish the spinach. Something about its scent got to me and I was too full to force myself to finish it. 

This will not be the last time I talk about Paleta but I'm still bidding it adieu for the time being so I must thank Chef Kelly for taking an interest in me and being so kind and supporting. I must thank Paleta's killer PR team at NMPR for coordinating this for me. 

My suggestion would be to go into it as honest as possible. They give you the opportunity to tell them what foods you don't like and are allergic to -- do not hold back. Make sure you tell them if you aren't a fan of zucchini or spinach or whatever because odds are, a food you opted not to menion will turn up.

But beyond that, my next bit of advice would be to try everything they send because you might find a new food to love (quinoa!) and you might end up liking something you'd previously hated. 

I hope you'll take a look at this delicious, nutritious program. I recognize it's pricey but I think even if you just popped for it for a week, it's well worth it just to jump start your personal motivation to take care of yourself. The program I did, 1600 calories a day, comes to about $54/day but there are other options and plans. 

Thank you so much, Paleta. I truly enjoyed it. I may see you again at my door yet! 

 

Quote of the Day... About the Hockey

"They're having a dick measuring contest and both sides are afraid to pull down their pants."

-My brother on the NHL lockout

On Day 4, I Learned to Pronounce Quinoa

Last night, a minor triumph. I was sitting on the couch, zoning out, when I noticed that my ankle was not the swollen mess it was a week ago. I could make out its shape and its curve and I felt pretty happy about that. This was an especially nasty flare-up and it was all on me having walked the streets of Seattle on my vacation and spending a long day at Disneyland just days later. Too much on-my-feet time. (You may not know about my ankle "condition" - click here.)

And I was super excited because I had walking plans with friends last night. We conquered a pretty good walk (5000 steps or so according to my friend's pedometer) and afterward, not only was I not in any substantial pain, but when I woke up today, I wasn't walking like a grandma with a walker (this has happened - it's horrible to wake up that way). 

It's the little things.

That, coupled with a fabulous fourth day of Paleta meals, really felt great. I have concluded all of my meals yesterday were just delightful surprises -- all things I did not at all think I would enjoy and then, mostly did. 

Would you put arugula in your breakfast meal? I wouldn't. But they did.

Arugula Breakfast Casserole, Spicy Marinara, Fresh Fruit

I'm not gonna lie -- I don't have a CLUE what kind of berries those are, but they were delicious! 

My morning snack was a weird twist. I know I've had peaches but I'm not even sure I've ever had a nectarine before, let alone a GRILLED one...

Grilled Nextarines w/ Raspberry Coulis and Toasted Pepitas

No, I did not know what Pepitas were. I totally laughed when I saw they were pumpkin seeds. I thought I hated pumpkin seeds. And I still don't know what Coulis is, but it was tasty. :)

Lunch was RIGHT up there with the bison-burgers from Day 3. You'd never believe this if you knew me, though. 

Golden Semolina Quinoa & Spinach Cakes, Salad with Fresh Mozzarella and Basil Vinaigrette

Well first of all -- I had to learn the embarassing way that it is pronounced KEEN-WAH, not Qui-no-ah. Whoops. But however you pronounce it, I effing LOVED it. Can I buy this? Can I make it? Can I just eat it all day? How do you prepare it? I have so many questions. I may stock up soon. I'm going to be the Queen of Quinoa.

And lumps of fresh cheese? Please. It's like chocolate to most women for me. 

Ok, to be fair, I knew I would love my afternoon snack. Bleu cheese was involved.

Buffalo Chicken Nuggets, Yogurt Bleu Cheese Dip, Fresh Celery

Dinner had me the most skeptical. Cause I could not remember how I felt about pork chops. I am sure my mother made them for dinner now and then, but I was still iffy. And I was definitely iffy on "pickled figs."

Sage Rubbed Pork Chops, Balsamic Pickled Figs, Scallion Smashed Potatoes, Sauteed Kale

I'm sorry to say, I do not like Kale. I tried and tried - even forking it with the potatoes, but it wasn't doing it for me. Too bad -- it looks lovely on a plate. But I DID love the pork chops, potatoes and figs. (For the record, I finished the Kale anyway -- it's good for me. I read it's loaded with vitamins and all that good stuff.)

And now, TGIF! I have a packed, crazy weekend ahead and I just want to get it overwith.

 

Quote of the Day

Thank you, Lindsey.

In Which I Decide @Uber Needs a New Campaign

Uber is an on-demand private driver -- it's an app you can download on your iPhone or Android. I've not even used it (yet?) but I feel like they should be taking advantage of this surge in celebrity driving disasters to promote their services. So I made them an ad:

Effective, right?