The price is right!

In an effort to help us Gawain win the Biggest Loser competition , I have been trying to buy more veggies and fruits. Just 5 servings is an easy one point. Actually we really like veggies and fruits any way, and tried to eat plenty before the competition. I'm sure you know that they aren't exactly cheap.

Enter Lee's Market.

A couple of months ago we were at a party and some friends told us about this market where all of the produce is really, really cheap. Like they had bought 2 avocados for like a dollar. Dude! I had just bought one avocado that day for like 2 dollars! They said that it was in White Center and I should check it out.

Ok, I have a confession to make. I am TOTALLY TERRIFIED of White Center.

Yes, it is basically only 2 blocks from my house, but seriously, it is like one of the ghettos of Seattle. You only have to say "White Center" and people you are talking to are like "Ohhh...." like "Oh dear I can't believe you are still alive." Like seriously, in the first couple of months that we lived here, our car was broken into 3 times, the second time, the stereo and speakers were stolen and the third time the starter was destroyed in an effort to start and steal the car. The main drag of white center has at least 3 porno shops, which like to display the nativity scene at Christmas time and there is just overall general seedy-ness. I hate to stereotype, but, there you go.

ANYWAY, I decided since times are tough and money is tight I would overcome my fear and go to this Lee's market and check out the produce.

Pictured below is a typical trip to the market. Please guess how much I spent.

Go on, guess!

Can you believe everything pictured above (except the dog) was only $9.10???? I'm serious! I can barely believe it myself!

It works like so:

Already bagged things are $1.25. Anything not bagged is either 3 for a $1 or 2 for $1 or some insanely cheap amount per lb. In fact, I go in there so often, sometimes the nice lady behind the counter just lets me have stuff for free (like a single jalapeno pepper or a tiny little thing of ginger). There is a catch, in that they don't always have the same things (like for a while they had a giant bag of romaine hearts for $1.25, haven't seen that in a while) but if you aren't picky they have lots of stuff to enjoy. The best thing we've found twice now is a bag of about 50 key limes for $1.25. at the store 1 lb (about 30 limes) is 4.99, and it takes 22 limes to make our favorite dessert. The quality is actually suprisingly good for the price you are paying. I see them outside pulling off the bad bits of lettuce and bok choy and just putting the good stuff in bags. They may be smoking while they are doing it, but hey, I wash it all of when I get home anyway, right?

Here's to hoping you have something as equally awesome in a ghetto neighborhood close to you!

Spring at last

So I've been meaning to post this for quite some time, inspired by my friend Caboose's blog when she did a similar post.  Enjoy the first signs of spring (from like a month ago actually....)

Tiny daffodils under our douglas fir in our front yard

A cluster of crocuses...croci?....anyone, the plural please?

Umm...you'd have to ask Gawain...I'm not sure but they're pretty!

Spring: new life bursting forth from the dirt...sure is something, isn't it?

Happy Spring!

rBiggest Loser (not Really) Week 1 Report

  Well, week 1 of the Biggest Loser (not really) contest has come to its conclusion.  Here are the rankings:



  Those who have zero points (miles) are those who haven't reported their totals yet.  Hopefully they'll report in to Vesper sometime soon so we can update the chart.  An abnormal Monday has apparently put me barely in the lead after 1 week.  The perfect storm of perfect weather enabled me to run further than I usually do, to go on a long walk with Vesper and the Professor, AND to help terrace the backyard of our friends the Alls.  It was a points orgy through and through.  Since I am addicted to charts and spreadsheets and tend to be an utter nerd I've gone a bit nuts with my tracking spreadsheet here.  (Make sure you check out all of the links at the top to get the full effect.  And you better believe that if I think of any more ways to slice and dice the data I will.)  
  The biggest disappointment of the week for me was that I did not successfully complete the weekly challenge of no chocolate and 10 minutes of stretching a day.  In an unthinking moment on Friday night about 11 o'clock I ate 3 Oreo's.  After I had realized what I had done it took a LOT of effort not to scream vulgarities at the top of my lungs.  I would have been at peace if it had been a conscious decision to eat chocolate...but I was just looking for something sweet.  It was damnable to say the least.  Vesper and I are dead set on this weeks challenge of 30 minutes of exercise per day and no caffeine.
  All in all it was a pretty good start for the both of us.  Only 11 weeks to go and a Private to destroy on my end.  The first place prize would look nice on us.

It's Not Really the Biggest Loser

   

  So last year Vesper's work had a "Biggest Loser" competition but they tweaked it.  Since none of the participants were morbidly obese or had serious health problems, they created a point system based on healthy habits and activities.  (If you really care to know the rules you may view them here.)  The participants keep track of their points (miles) on a spreadsheet and check in at the end of every week.  Well, it was such a smashing success everyone decided to go for a second go round.  I thought it would be fun to track Vesper and my progress as we go through the 12 week collabatition.  (You know...collaboration and competition)  We'll post individual results, as well as results in context.  So, look forward to a weekly post of charts and lists or, well, maybe nothing you remotely care about.

  Also, the thought just occured to me that if any of you out in the wilderness of the world wide web would care to join in on the fun, just email us.  The competition just started today and we could tack a day (or two) on the end of your spreadsheets (provided by the Biggest Loser, Not Really committee of Vesper) to make all things fair.  Don't be bashful, the more the merrier.  If you have any questions, just email us.