Here’s the video from the Ask Aida episode on Food Network where I ask a question about steak!

Ok so it’s only for 1 minute, but I’ll be on the Ask Aida show on Food Network this Saturday at 12:30pm Eastern asking a question about steak!

I cooked a turkey last night. Madness ensued!

I just checked the Food Network calendar. Ask Aida debuts August 2 at 12:30pm with the Hot Off the Grill episode. I think the episode my question is on will air August 9 (the Steak and Potato episode). I’m supposed to drive to the beach that day so I may not even get to see my own Food Network debut! Wah! Somebody tape it for me! LOL either that or I’m going to have to pull over somewhere in NC and knock on someone’s door and beg to watch food network!

I didn’t go anywhere but my friend was in town this weekend so I was barely online. I got a new TV to replace the one that died. I had been watching tv on my old college TV - it was tiny! So it’s nice to have a new one! I also got the Martha Stewart kitchen island from K-mart (yes, K-mart!). I love it! We put it together last night and remarkably it’s still standing!

I had a great time this weekend so now I’m going to get back into the swing of things. I’ve got a beach trip next month so that will be the next big event! I’ll probably take a day or two to recuperate and then I’ll try to get the cookbook finished up ASAP!

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned on here (I’ve talked about it in the forums) but I’m also going to have a product that goes along with the cookbook and ties into the cookbook! I just got myself all organized and official so I’m currently working on the label. I’m keeping it a surprise, but I do need people’s help picking colors! From what I’ve seen so far, I think the options that work best for everyone appear to be:

• Black outside/red inside with a black and white or red and white label
• Blue outside/light blue inside with a brown and white label (or other color and white)

Some of the other choices are pink with pink, purple with bright multicolors, and dark blue with dark multicolors. While the pink with a black (or even brown) label looks awesome, it’s probably a bit too Barbie (not to mention, I doubt guys would want a pink one)!

I’m sort of limited in the options I can have, but let me know what colors you like best! (and i know it’s hard offering an opinion on a mystery product but try anyway LOL)

I’ve been so busy I barely realized it was the first day of July (my favorite month - lol).  10 days to my birthday. I’m about 1/3 of the way through the cookbook but I’m still shooting for 2 recipes a day so it’s going fast. I slacked off a bit this past weekend though. I’ve been making a little calendar so I can keep track of what I’m making when. I can’t wait to get this cookbook out already!

I took a day off from writing my cookbook. I’ve been cranking out 2 recipes a day but I had to work late today so I only had the energy to make leftovers. I successfully avoided the Taco Bell which was calling my name though! I’ve been eating so good, I just have to keep up with it - it’s pool season for goodness sakes! I’ve got lots of things in the works so I’m psyched about that!

Here’s a thought for the day: I never knew how to really take care of my pools. That was always handled by my ex. It’s been a struggle to figure it all out but this week it finally all clicked! Now I feel like a pro. Losing weight is the same way. In the beginning, it’s hard. You don’t know what you are doing, you don’t have the routine down, but after awhile it just clicks and you’re on autopilot! So, hang in there!

It’s officially two weeks to my birthday! Woo hoo!

I did 4 recipes today - whew! I reformatted the layout of the cookbook a little. I’m so excited! Although, I misread my handwriting and ended up putting in 4 times the amount of Splenda that I should have so I’ll have to retest that one again. It was still edible but way too sweet for me! It’s weird for me because I’m used to making one recipe and eating that for several days but with all this cooking, I’m eating something new every meal!

I’m paranoid about ticks! My dad was just diagnosed with Lyme disease and then today, I saw a tick on Chiquita. It hadn’t attached so I was able to flick it off her, but then she got the flea and tick treatment and has been miserable all day. She hates it! She’s been sulking around ever since I put it on her.

Now I’m going to relax!

I really feel like everything is just working with respect to my eating. I am eating super good - real food! I came home today and made a quiche, then some chicken (a double oven would have come in handy LOL). I didn’t get done cooking and eating until 6:30 which is late for me, but all this cooking is helping me stay prepared. My lunches are all made the night before so they are ready to go in the morning when i go to work. I’m finding that eating good seems to be helping my tastebuds too. They feel more sensitive. I had some pumpkin seeds today and they tasted way salty. I just feel like I’m tasting stuff better, which sounds sort of weird but it’s true! Anyways, just super happy with my eating right now!

Weight: 141