So Much Fun, So Little Summer

It's been a long time between posts because life has been busy.  Work has been busier and more stressful than normal which means a little more money, but a lot less free time.  We went to California for a memorial service and were able to stay and enjoy a few days at Disneyland which was so much fun.  You can get a lot of steps while having your fun there, thats for sure!
Things at home have been great!  We are cooking a lot more and finding new recipes together.  It's so nice not to make dinner and then have someone eat ramen noodles afterwards.  I find that we have more things to do and talk about since we both share goals.  Activities with walking are now suggested by both of us and we seem to try to tempt each other less with going out to dinner.  Don't get me wrong, we still go out.  That's one of our favorite things to do, we just go less often and to different places.
The one thing I feel like I need to work on is my weekday biking and long walks at a high intensity.  I worry that I will be lighter, but not as ready for Portland to Coast this August.  Last year I went for a lot of walks with my friend that walks really fast and I was not nearly as sore after the race.  This year she has a job that keeps her really busy.  That's helped me with the calories from long lunches and happy hours, but not the walking.
I have to work several weekends this summer, so I have booked two trips that are pool centered.  This keeps me motivated for getting bathing suit ready and also cheers me up when I have to go to work.  I just thought of another thing to work on, spending.  Weight loss and money are my two biggest concerns.  I over indulge in both causing me stress that triggers one or both of the things that caused the stress in the first place!  I drive myself crazy sometimes.  Oh well, I have to just keep trying.  I do feel like I am making progress in both categories right now, so that feels great.  Go team!

Restaurant Addict: Taco Salad Tour of PDX

The hot weather makes me crave taco salad, and I spent last week sampling three great ones.  It all started and ended on the patio of Cha Taqueria & Bar .  I got the apple wood smoked chicken and it was amazing!  I think that's what really set this one apart from the others.  I also like how the fried shell was taco sized and served like a cornucopia so it wasn't a massive fried thing that you cant help eating.  At $10 it seemed like a great deal and it was so good I went back again 6 days later and got the exact same thing.
The next day I couldn't get taco salad off my mind so I went to Casa del Matador.  This one came in the more traditional large fried shell bowl.  I chose the chicken instead of the carnitas that was listed on the menu.  I'm not a huge fan of their sour cream so I had that on the side and used it sparingly.  This was the most expensive of the three at $10.50.  It was good and I would definitely have it again, but their hard shell Tacos Dorados are my favorite so I might just get that instead.
Day three of the taco salad tour was Chipotle.  I live very close and eat here often, but I usually get the bowl with barbacoa.  This time I got the salad and it was very good and at $6 it was the least expensive and probably the healthiest.  Since you select toppings as you go, I was a little more conscious of not adding sour cream and I don't like their guacamole so I skipped that also.  I only used a little of the dressing so I saved calories there too.  This was my second favorite of the three and I will definitely get it again.  I love summer!

Holiday Weekend On A Budget?

Lately I have been giving more thought to my financial diet than my calorie diet.  I don't think I have really changed my weight, but I wouldn't know for sure since I haven't weighed in for a few days.  It's super hot in Portland right now which luckily makes me crave salads and other lighter fare.  On the other hand, it makes for the perfect excuse to go out.  For example it's going to be almost 100 degrees today and all I can think about is going somewhere with industrial strength air conditioning and taco salad. 
 The other thing swaying me to the dark side is it's a holiday weekend that I have turned into a holiday week.  I love the fourth of July because in Portland it's Waterfront Blues Festival weekend.  This year we went for it and got passes with seating so we don't have to bring chairs and stake out a spot for the entire day.  With that comes a higher price tag and the question of how to maximize our fun and not spend more than necessary. 
I have been checking out all the restaurants within walking distance and have selected several at a lower price point.  We have also gone through the performance schedule to determine when we may be at home.  I'm really hoping that some initial planning will really pay off in the end.  However, my biggest goal is to have a great time and really enjoy myself.  We have already spent a fair amount for this experience and the weather looks perfect.  I want to relax and have fun, and with that comes managing expectations.  I have a tendency to get super excited and build things up too much.  With that said, I am very cautiously excited.