Better Jeans

Because I hate the 6:00 stare.

2011-11-18T14:45:00.001-06:00

You know the one. It's that time of day when you stand in front of the open fridge trying to decide what to make for dinner. I know this feeling well, which is why I'm a big fan of e-mealz and I try to use the ideas from there faithfully every week. But sometimes, I still get a little rushed in the morning and forget to do all the prep work for that night's planned meal. I also only subscribe to 5 meals a week so I need some other ideas for the off days.

Today I stumbled onto this blog post (thank you Pinterest) and I'm definitely going to give it a try.
Soon. Probably this weekend.

Look at all those veggies!

176 Days until...

2011-11-18T10:02:00.001-06:00

I become a Mrs. That's right, for those of you behind in the news of my world, I'm getting married to Wrangler - my own Price Charming - on May 12, 2012.

So that means aside from the usual weekend schedule of cleaning and football I will be:

Getting ready for Thanksgiving. No, we're not hosting a dinner, but I do need to plan out what I'm bringing to my future sister-in-law's house.
Hammering out the to-do list. The top of which is to select and send Save the Dates. Is it too late for those? On the flip side, is it too early for Christmas cards? Cause this year it may be both.
And of course - finding time for that all important time at the gym. Body Combat tonight!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Waiting for the world to change...

2011-04-06T11:01:00.000-05:00

I seem to be waiting on the world.

I want things to be different.

Now.

It's time to let go of wanting things to be different.

It's time to rejoice in the way things are.

It's time to look down and see my foundation.

My faith

My family

The strength learned in every valley I've walked through

It's time to look beside me and see my support.

My church

My friends

A journey toward better health

It's time to look up and find my wings.

Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Tomorrow I hope to be back with an answer to the SITs challenge about finding the best in yourself.

Perspectives on a Corn Crib (Photo Challenge)

2011-04-06T10:16:00.002-05:00

Spring Into Action Photo Challenge
Day One:
Photograph a subject using a variety of compositions and perspectives. (Don’t move it. Move yourself.) Take at least 20 photos, more is fine.

I photographed an old corn crib in the back yard in late afternoon:

I did take at least 20, but didn't add them all. Soemtimes, you just gotta hit delete!

Now for Day Two:
Edit your photos. Pick your best 3 photos, each showing a unique composition and/or perspective. If you want to apply any correction or creative editing via software or an online tool, go ahead.
Blog Your Photos. Use your photos in a blog post to enhance a story you’re telling. You can post the photos individually or in a collage.

Here are a few of the edits, I'll pick the top three and post a second time...

All edits done with Photoshop Express

This Blog is...

2011-04-05T15:42:00.004-05:00

#1. This blog is having a mid-life crisis.
I love the original concept of this blog. It was to read advice and tips from various sources, try them out and share them with you. Except that I don't seem to have time to even read them anymore, let alone try them. I do enjoy writing about my weight loss journey. I do enjoy structure. I feel the need to take some time to decide what I really want this blog to be. Which brings me to:

#2. This blog is taking a (semi) break.
The only blogging I will be doing in the month of April will be answers to SITs activities. All of my "weight loss journy" posts lately have been dry and only about weight watchers challenges/activities. I have found other outlets for that type of sharing that seem to be a better fit. Until I know what this blog wants to be, I don't feel like posting about weight loss just for the sake of posting. Plus the current activities at SITs have been great ideas!

#3. This blog is feeling violated.
Until recently, I felt pretty secure about how personal this blog was. If you "knew me" knew me, you would recognize my face, my name and probably knew who I was referring to in the stories I told. If you only knew me as Marcy from Better Jeans, or if our connection was purely cyber in nature, you didn't really have any sensitive information about me. And then I found out I have at least one anonymous reader. Let me tell you, the experience was not as gratifying as I might have thought. In fact, now everytime I think of a topic for a post I feel judged by this person. I shouldn't feel that way. A week ago I didn't care what I told you. I still don't care what I tell 95% of you. This one (or more) reader has me questioning what to share and suddenly I can't write a single sentence of substance. That's not what I want from a blog. I love sharing the real life issues of weight loss, healthy living and all the side-stuff that goes along with it to make up my life.

In the meantime readers (especially you, ms-anonymous-lurker), her are some other bloggers I think you'll enjoy:

Get some daily reality from Rachel at The Lazy Christian. I especially liked her post about this topic we all struggle with.
Let Netters from A Full Place ~ A Happy Life inspire you with her menu planning. Here's one from around this time last year to get you in the right season.
Let Crystal at moneysavingmom help you in your spring cleaning (and follow her for all her deals and great ideas, too!)

And when all other blogs fail to keep me entertained, I like to go to this blog and read the rants and raves of other women who are just as annoyed as I am.

P.S. This is the only time I will bother addressing you, miss-anonymous-lurker. In the future, please feel free to direct your feedback to me and it will be addressed in a timely manner.

Spring Into Action Challenges

2011-04-05T14:05:00.000-05:00

Seems like everyone enjoys a little play on the word Spring. Especially when creating a challenge.

From Weight Watchers, we have the 4 week SIA Challenge to gear us up for summer. It is currently week two and I have four new assignments. The theme for this week is DIG IN.

Each week the challenge has four parts: Eat smarter | Move More | Build Helpful Habits | Find Support

Today I'll answer the "Eat Smarter" Challenge, which is to list 10 guilt-free and portable snacks that I can use during the week.. Mine are:

Almonds
String Cheese
Apples
Yogurt
WW Mini Bars
PB2 Sandwich
Carrot or Celery Sticks
Bananas
Dry Cereal
Grapes

Now I know I chose some items hat have to be refrigerated, but I generally have access to one each day.

Challenge #2 is the one from SITs which I'm behind on.

Guess who's going to be taking pictures after work today? Which is fine since my dumb knee wants to be super swollen. I'm guessing a leisurely walk with a dog and a camera will be gentler to said knee than 40 minutes at the gym. Or maybe it will just be gentler on me? :)

Because I need something else to do...

2011-03-31T11:21:00.000-05:00

(sense the sarcasm?)

But this looks like fun! So I'm diving in.

*blows dust of neglect off the camera*

Spring into Action

2011-03-30T16:17:00.001-05:00

Okay, I did go to my meeting today. I didn’t want to go. I hated going. I hated weighing in even more. I knew I hadn’t followed plan and even worse I overindulged last night. But I took my medicine and weighed

in anyway.

And gained 1.6.

And so here we go...

again

Today I opened up my trusty weight watchers web page and found the following challenging words:

With just a few short weeks until Memorial Day the season of reawakening is upon us. As we spring back to life we realize that the season of short sleeves and bathing suits fast approaches. This year we challenge you to take a step outside of your comfort zone, clean out the cobwebs and set some serious goals

Well, Weight Watchers, bring it on.

Week One: NO EXCUSES

Eat Smarter - by planning a week's worth of meals and snacks. I have been slacking in this area, so I will get this done for the rest of this week, and go back to planning a whole week on Sundays. Today I didn't even accept excuses from myself when my lunch hour was completely hicked and I had to eat on the run. (I chose a half a smoked turkey sandwich from the deli with a side of veggies and hummus. Yum!)
Move More - The challenge ants me to get ready for the Walk-It Challenge and complete a 5k. I don't know if my knee can handle it this year. I have already set my own fitness goals, so I know I have a plan!
Build Helpful Habits - building awareness? Sounds boring. They want me to turn off the TV and computer (even my new iPad?!) and focus on my feelings of fullness and satisfaction. Tell ya what, I'll compromise - I'll sit down to eat every snack and meal, but I'm bringing a magazine to lunch with me.
Find Support - okay, if giving up TV during dinner was hard, reacing out for help is near impossible. I tend to be fairly private about my weight loss. The irony is not lost on me. This blog is about my weight loss. But you see I have the bliss of semi-anonymity here. I don't have to see you guys if I had a bad week and gained back a couple of pounds. You're not watching me sneak into that bag of chips or pour a second glass of wine. So I am going to seek support two ways:

Online: between my readers here and the friends I’ve found on the Weight Watchers website, I know I have people I can go to for advice and motivation. I want to blog about this journey in the good times and bad. Feel free to call me out on it, or ask me what my status is, or check in any old way if I seem to be avoiding this place. I need people who can provide the virtual kick in the butt. Step up and kick harder people!
Offline: And I will reach out to a couple of friends I’ve identified and of course Wrangler, the closest person in my life, to help me and keep me accountable when I'm offline. I need to know I can call someone to “talk me off the ledge” when I’m grocery shopping and make the mistake of wandering the chip aisle and find myself stopped in front of those purely evil Tomato Basil Chips!

What can you do this week to excuse proof your weight loss?

Back at it...

2011-03-29T10:59:00.000-05:00

...the gym that is. So that qualifies for my "tried it" of the week, right?

Last night I went back to my favorite class at the gym: Body Attack. I can only do the extremely low option, i.e. both my feet never leave the ground at the same time.

On one hand, the low option is a lot easier. It's a great way to ease back into things.

On the other hand, I wanted to work harder! It sucks being limited.

I have decided that I will continue to be kind to my joints though, and here's how:

I will only go to Body Attack twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays)
I will supplement that cardio with the elliptical, bike, or a low impact workout at home.
I will complete 2 sessions a week of weight training, either on my own or in Body Pump.
I will not return to high impact until I have lost 10% of my current weight.

Them's my goals and I'm stickin' to 'em!

My weekend = Sabotage

2011-03-21T09:42:00.000-05:00

Who hasn't had that kind of weekend? A hectic schedule, a bump in the road and some added stress and suddenly your healthy eating plan is right out the window. (Along with all of my other plans, I might say!) So this Monday morning I needed a little advice, and a little motivation.

The advice I found at prevention.com with a 3 Day Diet Recovery Plan. The great part is, I'm already using many of the ideas. Plus, since the plan doesn't include any crazy fasting or food preparation I know it will be easy to stick to.

I also found a great quote this morning by Ralph Marston:
Your goals, minus your doubts, equal your reality.

It's already posted on my computer! Now to plan this week's menu... Hopefully I will get it posted later today.

What a Week, What a Weigh-In!

2011-03-16T15:23:00.000-05:00

This week I:

Gave up alcohol for Lent.

Tracked everything I ate.

Made healthy choices when dining out

(with family and at a church dinner)

Treated myself to TWO cupcakes.

Still tracked everything I ate.

Played with and walked my new puppy (Cosmo)

And lost over 5 pounds!

First of all, let me tell you that having no wine or beer probably had a lot to do with that. Second, let me just say I was a bit bloated last week at weight in, if you know what I mean. Nonetheless, I feel like the reset button has been hit and I'm heading in the right direction again.

Now as for this week's meeting topic...

The one that encourages us to allow ourselves a splurge now and then,

I'll just say DONE!

Can you say

Amish Friendship Bread?

The Ides of March

2011-03-15T16:05:00.001-05:00

1. Meaning - the middle of March.

2. Closely associated with the assassination of Julius Caesar.

3. Immortalized by William Shakespeare when he penned "Beware the ides of March" in his play named for the slain leader.

4. Immortalized for me in two things: basketball and "young love". (No, not basketball as in that NCAA tournament that's got everyone filling out brackets instead of working today in my office. Including me.)

Every year, when the 15th of March rolls around, I am taken back to Veteran's Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa, where my high school was playing in the boys state basketball tournament. I think that was the day that my love for watching Red Oak basketball was born. It compelled me to first be a cheerleader in junior high and then later for our varsity boys. Eventually I found more joy in cheering from the crowd. During my senior year in high school, I think I made it to nearly every game, always sitting with my friends in the front row. And always following traditions that most certainly determined the outcome of the game. I've often tried to get that same passion for basketball while watching another team, or even during March Madness, but the same magic is just not there. And while I could go on for an entire post about how basketball took over my high school experience, that's just not what this day is about.

You see, even though I remember being at the state basketball tournament this day, I don't remember much about the game. I had a good reason, though.

It was the day I got my first boyfriend.

If you think about the Subway commercial that features a fully grown adult woman talking in a very childish voice to a fully grown adult man who sounds equally juvenile you'll have the basic idea of how the conversation went.

Of course I was sure that day I had found the love that would take me from "will you be my boyfriend" to happily ever after. Instead I got a few of months of sitting together on the bus and talking on the phone at night until mom picked up to tell me to go to bed (and then talking ten more minutes before she told me again).

Eventually this boy and I grew up and realized we were better friends than anything else. Now he's grown and married with a family and I realize what a special person he was then and is now. I was lucky to be sitting next to him at that tournament 21 years ago. So maybe it's not so strange that I think of him every March 15th. Maybe some people just touch us in a way that we never forget.

By the way, my team lost 77-42.

My Menu 3/14 - 3/20

2011-03-14T16:06:00.001-05:00

MONDAY

Grilled Brie & Apple Sandwiches w/ Potatoes & Peas

TUESDAY

Lamb & Feta Burgers w/ Tossed Salad

WEDNESDAY

Church Supper

THURSDAY

Corned Beef, Cabbage & Potatoes

FRIDAY

Stuffed Salmon Rolls, Rice & Steamed Veggies

SATURDAY

Out for Date Night

SUNDAY

Pork Loin, Skinny Mashed Potatoes & Veggies

This is what...

2011-03-07T12:54:00.000-06:00

my new doggie looks like.

We found this 4 month old Great Pyrenees pup at a shelter.

He came to live with us last week.

Now he needs a name and we can't settle on one.

The short list is:

Ardie

Cosmo

Dexter

Kracker

Raja

Who does he look like to you?

Cooking for One - Flat Bread Bakes

2011-03-01T13:26:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago, my friend Netters mentioned that she was having flat bread bakes with her family. And then she mentioned it again about a couple of days later and included recipes. So of course I had to try them. Last night was the perfect opportunity for me because I was home alone and cooking for myself alone. I went the easy route and bought premade flat bread, but it was still delicious! My favorite way to top flat bread (homemade or otherwise) is to brush it with olive oil (garlic flavored is even better) then top with capocollo (or prosciutto if it's on sale) sauteed mushrooms, asparagus and feta cheese crumbles and a sprinkling of of ground mustard. Delish! By the way, it goes really great with a slightly chilled red wine like a Beaujolais.

Do you do flatbread bakes? What are your favorite toppings?

Kitchen Gadget Bingo

2011-02-24T16:33:00.000-06:00

It's time for another installment of Thrifty Thursday. The day of the week when I take all of the advice I've gleaned during the week , reduce it to only the finest, and share it with all of you.

Better For You Fruits (womenshealthmag.com)
One of my favorite things about coming back to Weight Watchers and joining the new program is the fact that fruits are free. But which fruits are the better choice? So here's a short list of juicy fruits that give a lot of satisfaction and not a lot of calories. And the ideas for squeezing more in are wonderful! Think frozen berries in your iced tea or grapefruit sections in stir fry.

Bust Out of Your Workout Rut (womenshealthmag.com)
When I was running, jumping, bouncing and sweating in a room full of 20 or 30 people, I never got bored. The energy was intense, the music was pumping and the motivation was constant. Now that I'm recovering and taking it easy, all of that has been gone. This slideshow gave me some advice, ideas and even some short phrases that may become mantras as I hit the cardio equipment solo. First up: Setting mini goals at the gym.

Snap Decisions tat Save You Big Pounds (fitbie.msn.com)
At first, the name of this article seems a little off. Most of the tips involve me planning ahead of time, like knowing my coffee order before I get to the counter at 8 am! Then I realized that all of this planning results in being able to make better decisions in an instant. Sure, deciding how many glasses of wine I can have before I meet my girlfriends may sound like a chore, but who wants to interrupt a good night out to count calories/points/carbs?

WHAT I FOUND:

I love office supplies. I like iPhone accessories. In short, I like gadgets. This little article, about

Kitchen Tools That Keep You Thin (health.com) was created for me.

WHAT I'M USING IT FOR:

I've printed all the slides on one page and I'm now playing a sort of Bingo game involving which gadgets I have (steamer, apple divider, kitchen scissors, small glasses and a muffin tin). I only need a few more to win!

Being Honest With Myself

2011-02-23T16:53:00.000-06:00

My Weigh In

Today I faced my enemy. He was cold, hard, completely unbending and brutally honest.

Today I got on the scale.

Honestly, I don't usually dread it. But last week I hauled myself back to Weight Watchers after being depressed/angry/bored because of my knee injury. I realized that there was nothing about my leg that was keeping me from making healthy decisions. I was doing that all by myself. So I went to my meeting, weighed in and found out I'd only gained a little. So I was back in the game, right? Except this past week I was absolutely not in the game. I knew I hadn't been horrible, but I hadn't been on program either. I almost talked myself out of going to the meeting. And then I was going but wouldn't weigh in.

And then I realized I needed to know what a week of not really trying looked like. It could have been worse , but I did gain 0.8. Sure, that doesn't seem like a lot, but a year of not really trying would be a gain of 41.6 pounds!

Besides, I definitely needed to listen to this week's meeting topic. Two sometimes ugly words that really do make all the difference: PORTION CONTROL. This week I'm going to focus on measuring my food. Everything from my morning cereal to my glass of wine at dinner. I recently read something from jennifer Hudson who pointed out that measuring our food allows us to have those things we would otherwise fear were taboo. Pizza is only "bad" when we don't account for how much we eat, and how much we can afford nutritionally. When we measure it and know its value we are in control.

I am taking back control!

Your turn to weigh in...

Tell me about your portions. Do you have certain foods that you would avoid because they feel too dangerous? How would measuring those foods and knowing their nutritional value change that feeling? Do you measure the food you eat at home? in restaurants? What tools do you use to measure?

Deliciously Dirty

2011-02-22T14:44:00.001-06:00

Do you know what today is?

If you said Tuesday, you'd be right, but kinda boring.

If you said "Tried-It Tuesday" I'd accuse you of being a mind reader, because I haven't branded that name for my Tuesday Blog entries all that well.

But if you said it was National Margarita Day then you would hear ding-ding-ding of a bell telling you you're absolutely right.

So in honor of such an important observance, I'd like to share with you a delicious recipe that you can make by the batch (and ahead of time). So the next time you're playing host for a girls' night, bachelorette party or Cinco de Mayo fiesta you'll have more time to play with your friends and less time at the blender.

Dirty Margaritas

Ingredients
1 can frozen limeade
1 can tequila
1 (12 oz) bottle Corona
2 L Diet Lemon-Lime Soda (I use Sprite Zero)

Mix together and enjoy!*

Serves 6. Yields approx. 12 oz per serving.

*Now by enjoy, I mean cut yourself some lime wedges, use one to wet the top of a nice tall glass and dip the glass in salt before adding ice. Pour the delicious concoction over those thirsty ice cubes and then enjoy.

One great thing about these Dirty Margaritas is that they are a Points Plus compared to traditional ones. According to the Weight Watchers website, twelve ounces of a regular margarita will run you 26 points plus values whereas my little substitution weighs in at only 6.

Now, who has a "skinny" Mexican dish I can serve with it?

Also - on a completely UNskinny note, this weekend I tried a creation from Jocelyn at Inside BruCrew Life

Let me tell you; anytime you tire of hearing about points values, exercise, weight loss or any of my usual topics, head over to her blog and take in the endless goodies she has on display. Her cupcakes make my cupcakes want to be better people. She even inspires me to frost them. Nicely. You should understand, I'd rather avoid frosting cupcakes if at all possible. In fact, if I make you cupcakes, I'll probably try to convince you that frosting them yourself is half the fun.

Now enter Nutter Butter Truffle Cupcakes. Wow. I don't know what else to say. I saw, I baked and then I even broke out the bags and tips and did the fancy swirly thing (prompting one of my coworkers to compare the finished product to something unattractive a dog might leave behind) and transport them the the nifty divided carrier. One thing about the recipe was that it didn't indicate how many balls the cookie/cream cheese/pb mixture should make. I got 12 per batch, but wish I had made them a little smaller - probably a yield of about 18 per batch. I actually still have 12 (now smaller) balls in my freezer to either be made into the next batch or simply dipped in chocolate and ~~eaten~~ devoured.

This is what...

2011-02-20T16:20:00.000-06:00

bird-watching looks like.

For my cat.

By the way - she told me spring is coming because she was "talking" to robins in this shot.

My Wish for You

2011-02-18T16:51:00.002-06:00

It's been a beautiful week of unusually warm Iowa weather in my backyard.

Unfortunately, that's about to come to an end with rain, snow or both.

And I (as a banker type) have a three day weekend.

I suppose I should see it as an opportunity to tackle a few home improvement projects.

Then again, I have a bad knee (*wink* *smile*) So...

I'll sit here and raise my (rather full) glass to you, my friends, and toast your happiness.

Have a joyful and relaxing weekend!

Short and Sweet [[Thrifty Thursday]]

2011-02-17T17:01:00.002-06:00

It's time for another installment of Thrifty Thursday. The day of the week when I take all of the advice I've gleaned during the week , reduce it to only the finest, and share it with all of you.

WHAT I FOUND:

Weight loss strategies that even I have time for!

30 Second Weight Loss Tricks

WHAT I'M USING IT FOR:

Some of my favorite ideas are:

A mini-manicure. I get this one. I absolutely hate messing up the paint job. And there's no way of reaching into a bag of Garden Tomato Basil Lays potato chips without doing so.

Slicing my food. I am all about presentation. Even when I have a frozen meal for lunch, I place it nicely on a small, bright yellow plate. And I drink my milk from a real glass. So I can see how I would like be pleased by neatly cut portions of my food.

Adding Air. We get this same advide in Weight Watchers. It's why air-popped popcorn is such a superstar. The air helps make you feel full. (The same concept applies to why eating grapes makes you fuller than eating the same number of raisins.) So I'm going to by whipped yogurt and whipped butter.

Finally - replacing Mayonnaise with Hummus. I love hummus. Why wouldn't I love it on a sandwhich. Oh hello turkey and chickpeas!

My find this week is your finds.

What tips and tricks have you found this week?

Hunter Style Chicken [Recipe Review]

2011-02-15T17:09:00.000-06:00

Okay. I'm trying to get back on schedule, so I fully intend to review a recipe today for "Tried It Tuesday." Eventually I hope to review other things on Tuesdays, but for now - you get food.

Let's start with a "me" update though. I hauled myself to the ~~Pain Terrorist~~ ~~Personal Torturist~~ Physical Therapist today. I thought it was going to be a quick initial consultation, but ended up staying there an hour and a half. We stretched the leg. We flexed the leg. We tested hip strength. We noted my over-pronating feet and high arches. We even touched on my bad posture and why I have headaches that make me want to stay in bed. Contrary to my assumptions, he actually doesn't want to hurt me. Actually, he would only perform a move once he knew it was pain free. I guess he figures I won't do the stuff that hurts. And even if I do my body will fight it all along the way and won't remember what's it's like to move without pain or hesitation. I think we're off to a good start.

I also liked the way he asked me if there was anything work related that I felt like I couldn't do because of my injury. I felt like he was opening it up to me to say I couldn't help customers who were grumpy or service the ATM on cold days, which was pretty nice. Since anything I could come up with would likely not be as bad as the exercises required to get better, I told him work was fine. Now if only housework was in the realm of things he from which he could excuse me.

Now for the promised review. Hey Ang, remember mentioning that you would like to hear more about this "Hunter Style" Chicken I had on the menu. Maybe I should have pointed out at the time that it's more well known as Chicken Cacciatore. Keep in mind, this is a Weight Watchers dish, so any changes you notice have more to do with that than a change in the name.

Hunter-Style Chicken (Chicken Cacciatore)

Serves 8. 5 Points Plus Value per serving.

1 serving is 1 piece of chicken with scant 1/2 c. vegs and sauce.
1 (2 1/2 to 3) pound chicken cut into 8 pieces

1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 tsp EVOO
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, pressed
2 assorted colors bell peppers, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/4 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 (1 pint) container refrigerated fresh tomato pasta sauce

Sprinkle chicken with S and P. Heat 2 tsp oil.

Cook chicken on Med-high until browned, about 3-4 min on each side.

Remove chicken and set aside. Heat remaining oil in same pan.

Cook onion and garlic over med-high until softened about 3 minutes.

Add peppers, mushrooms, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5-6 min.

Return chicken to pan. Add the pasta sauce and stir to coat. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer, covered until chicken is cooked through and vegs are tender, about 20 min.

I served this over rice but you could use noodles or just serve plain.

My review? Perfect. Tastes amazing, super easy to make and well worth the points plus value (or calorie value to most of you) This is definitely going into regular rotation. Plus how great is it that so many of these healthy ingredients are probably in your kitchen right now?

Good For One Day of Lovin'

2011-02-14T11:06:00.000-06:00

It's a bad day for my male coworkers. Especially the one who has horrible allergies to flowers. Or claim allergies so they don't have to send their wives and girlfriends flowers.

But it's a good day to be in love.

(Friday night was too, because My Guy took me out for dinner and drinks. Nice wine, shared shrimp & crab dip and a seafood orzo - delish!)

I admit it. I'm among those who still enjoy Valentine's Day. I enjoy it because it's a day especially set aside for us to remind the people in our lives how much we love them. I can hear some of you now. We should show the love all year. I know that. That's why this year I made love coupons!

Previously, when I thought of the whole "good for one bear hug" kind of gifts, I thought I was being cheap.

Then I started assembling this year's present. It started with the idea of having a cuddly movie night. I had a coupon for a free plastic popcorn tub with the purchase of popcorn and candy so I bought those. I threw in some comfy new loungy-pants, a six-pack of beer and My Guy was set for movie night in. Then I thought - "what if he'd rather have the wine, cheese and candles kind of night?" So I added a coupon for that option (as well as more appropriate attire). Then I realized I had a bunch of ideas for ways to spoil My Guy on Lovey-Dovey Day!

Then, gathering up leftover materials from scrapbooking, my finest red, pink and purple markers and crayons and adding to it a few stickers and embellishments I set to making my coupons. Then I tucked them away into two envelopes, one marked "Naughty" and "Nice". The envelopes being with the nights described above, and include about a dozen more in each to choose from. The whole thing cost me less than $25 and I honestly can't wait for him to open it.

As you can obviously tell, I wasn't thinking forward enough to take pictures of this project, so you'll have to take my word for how it turned out. Instead I'll show you his more traditional gift to me, which was delivered as I wrote this

How and when are you celebrating the love? Was it this weekend, today, or everyday?

Two & a Half Weeks

2011-02-11T16:49:00.000-06:00

That's how long it's been. And itt's with a heavy sigh that I take up my keyboard and type. I have been a bad blogger. I have been a bad Weight Watcher. I have been a bad homemaker.

But I have excuses.

Remember my knee injury? Turns out it was a little worse than I thought.

Turns out I injured my ACL.

Remember (from the same post) my previous injury and how I had to be rebuilt like the bionic woman?

Turns out all that metal makes it pretty tough (as in impossible) to do an MRI, so we don't know how bad it really is.

We do know it's equally difficult to do reconstructive surgery. So I start physical therapy this week.

And while I've been waiting through the pain and swelling and the uncertainty and inactivity, I've been bad.

What my days largely looked like (Magzines, Books, TV)

I haven't blogged.

I haven't worked out.

I've eaten poorly out of boredom.

The poor eating has led to weight gain.

And all of the above (plus other things) has made me a little depressed.

Guess what depression leads to? (More eating)

But I know. Time to snap out of it and stop feeling sorry for myself.

So I'm planning to continue blogging, but I don't know what format I'll follow. For now, it's gonna just be whatever it wants to be. It's difficult for me to stand and cook, so no new recipes. I can follow Weight Watchers though and need to get back to that.

So I'll be around. And I'll be candid. And we'll get through this leg of the journey. Can I borrow your legs from time to time since I only have one good one?

No Weigh In [censored] [[Weight Watchers Wednesday]]

2011-01-26T15:11:00.000-06:00

Yes, decided I couldn't take any bad news this week, so I opted to not weigh in. That's okay - it says so right in the book! I knew between the lack of activity I've had because of my knee, and the emotional eating I've done for reasons we haven't yet discussed, I did not want to hear what that scale had to say!

Instead, I'll just update this week's to-do list:

#1 Done. I added in the Smoked Turkey Cobbler featured in this week's recipe review. I made a few adaptations after learning the original PointsPlus Value was 11. By swapping light butter for regular and skim milk for whole I brought it down to 9. Since I loved the filling and didn't care a lot for the biscuits, I may play around with lower points toppings for this delightful dish.

#2 I do this pretty regularly already This week's planning was pretty easy. I had done most of my shopping for this week's menu on my last trip to the store. You've seen my dinner menu, so let me share what I do to plan breakfasts and lunches:
Breakfast is a rotation of: cereal with fruit and milk//homemade breakfast sandwich//pb on toast with banana
Lunch is either: WW Entree//Soup & Sandwich//Take-out (usually once a week on Wednesday)
Snacks are: Yogurt//Fruits//Cut Veggies//Snack Bar//Dark Chocolate

I try not to have a lot of leftovers, because I know I'm not good about using them in the above rotation. So if I have something leftover, I have to plan to use it. The extra veggies from last night's Scallop, Corn & Tomato salad will be topped with tuna for an easy lunch. More substantial leftovers like lasagna or chicken will be weekend lunches when everyone is busy with activities on Saturday. Finally, I plan for one high points day when I make a big "family dinner" on the weekends.

As part of this to-do challenge, I will actually lay out which day I'll have what breakfast/lunch/snack and dinner and make a list accordingly. If I feel ambitious (or detect any interest in such a thing) I'll certainly share!

#3 No way this is a one day/one post or even one week assignment. This is ongoing for me. Guess this one stays on the to-do list for good.

#4 Okay, I've certainly eaten them in a dish such as dip before, so I'm not sure they qualify as "new" but I want to try using artichokes! I think I'd like to try them stuffed, but haven't fully settled on a recipe yet. First step: buying them!

#5 The ideas from Weight Watchers:

Mashed Cauliflower for Mashed Potatoes (I actually might try this over the weekend!)
Vegetarian sausage links for pork, beef or turkey (and maybe this too! I just won't tell anyone)
WW smoothies for ice cream (maybe when it's above 20 degrees)
Endive leaves for tortilla chips (d'oh! this could have been my new veggie!)
Asparagus guacamole for the real deal (this could actually work for us, we love asparagus!)
Fat Free Greek yogurt for Sour Cream (Definitely trying this!)
Shirataki tofu noodles for regular pasta (Want to try this, and actually found some!)
Olive oil spray for regular olive oil (already doing this)
97% fat-free hot dogs for real dogs (maybe when grilling starts up!)
Fresh dates for candy (would this count as a new fruit?)

I think what I should do is make #1, with #6! Or #4 with #5! Then I can use #7 with my new vegetable, artichokes (steamed, quartered and tossed with olive oil) for a quick and easy dish!

You're right, that sounds way more ambitious than I feel. But how about you; have you tried any of these substitutions? Do you have any sneaky ways of your own for cutting calories?

Smoked Turkey Cobbler - Recipe Review

2011-01-25T14:08:00.000-06:00

Picture it:

It was Saturday morning and I hadn't been cooking much all week.

I had an unusual amount of leftover turkey chilling in my refrigerator.

This recipe for Smoked Turkey Cobbler appeared in an article I was reading.

That night's dinner menu had just been adjusted.

Smoked Turkey Cobbler

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cup(s) flour
2/3 cup(s) medium-ground polenta
1 tablespoon(s) medium-ground polenta
4 teaspoon(s) sugar
1 3/4 teaspoon(s) baking powder
2 teaspoon(s) salt
9 tablespoon(s) butter, cold
1 tablespoon(s) butter, melted
1 cup(s) fresh corn kernels
1/2 cup(s) sliced green onions
3/4 cup(s) low-fat buttermilk
1 tablespoon(s) low-fat buttermilk
8 ounce(s) green beans, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, seeded and chopped, plus 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
2 cup(s) low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup(s) whole milk
1 pound(s) smoked turkey breast, cut into 3/4-inch pieces

Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Whisk 1 1/3 cups flour, polenta, sugar, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a large bowl.

Cut 4 tablespoons butter into small pieces and blend into dry ingredients with a pastry blender until mixture resembles a coarse meal.

Toss in 1/2 cup corn and green onions. Gently stir in the buttermilk until just combined.

At this point, let me remind you of the importance to pay careful attention to your measurements. I had to mix my buttermilk, since I buy mine in powder form because I never use the liquid stuff fast enough. For some reason, I mixed up 2 cups of it. And then poured it all in. Yes, I said two cups. The recipe required 2/3 of a cup. At that point, I realized there was nothing to do but make a triple batch. Still working on using the extra biscuits.

Now back to the recipe.

Drop 1/4 cupfuls batter, 2 inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops with 1 tablespoon melted butter and bake until pale blond, about 12 minutes; set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 425 degrees F.

Heat a large saucepan to medium-high heat. Melt 2 tablespoons butter and add the remaining 1/2 cup corn, green beans, peppers, and adobo sauce and cook until the vegetables are tender.

Melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Stir in remaining 1/3 cup flour and cook, while stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk in broth, milk, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.

Bring to a simmer while whisking and cook until smooth and thickened. Pour mixture over vegetables and add turkey. Stir to combine. Pour filling into a 2 1/2-quart casserole dish and top with reserved biscuits.

Bake until bubbly and biscuits are golden brown, about 30 minutes.

I really liked this recipe overall. There's a nice amount of spice in it and the taste was delicous. You could probably make this without the spice, but I'm pretty sure you'd just have something close to turky pot pie filling. It has also kept well, and the leftovers have been devoured. (Mostly by me because I didn't want to cook anymore for a few days. I'm still blaming my swelled up like a melon bum knee for that.)

Things I would do differently:

Use more butter on the biscuit tops before baking.I was way too skimpy on the butter when I brushed it on the biscuits. They were a little dry, but once they were mixed into the filling it was perfect.
Place the whole thing in a smaller casserole dish so it would be deeper and more evenly covered with the biscuits.
Remember to measure my buttermilk :)

Leftovers, Birthdays and Dinner Guests [[Menu Monday]]

2011-01-24T15:19:00.000-06:00

Hopefully you have all read Saturday's post that explains why I'm off my blog schedule. Well, let's face it. I'm not that good at keeping a schedule, but I am trying.

So it is Monday after all, which means it's time to figure out what I'm eating this week.

The eating part isn't so hard. I can do that sitting down.

The cooking part is a little more of a challenge.

But here it is anyway. A combination of stuff I didn't cook last week and stuff I can do without having to stand for an hour.

Menu

Monday - Chinese Take-Out

Because my Weight Watchers leader told me to eat out this week, that's why.

Tuesday - Scallop, Tomato & Corn

Wednesday - Slow Cooker Lasagna

Thursday - Hunter Style Chicken w/ Potatoes

Friday - Enchiladas

Saturday - Braised Pork Loin, Mashed Potatoes, Glazed Carrots & Homeade Rolls

Sunday - The Boy's Choice (Birthday Dinner)

In all honestly, Friday Saturday and Sunday are a bit questionable. I don't know for sure which day we'll be celebrating, which meal our company would prefer on Friday, and which will be left for the other time slot. So we'll take a post-it note approach to this week's menu and be happy with it!

What did I do now?

2011-01-22T10:49:00.000-06:00

I've been a little off about posting this week, and for good reason! Or at least I'm going to tell myself that. You see, on Tuesday I put my car in a ditch. It didn't seem to be that big of a deal, almost no damage to the car and I thought there was no damage to me. I felt fine until I went to the gym on Tuesday night. I first noticed that my knee didn't feel quite normal when I tried to stretch before class and couldn't lift my foot behind me to stretch my quad. I knew it was my bad knee anyway.

Wait. Back the truck up, we need some back story here. In 2003 I had a pretty bad accident that involved me running an ATV into a fence post and hurling my body toward the ground at 30 mph or so. The impact caused the bones in my leg to slam together, which in turn crushed my tibial plateau. After weeks of waiting for the swelling to go down, the doctors put me back together with a cocktail of my bone stuff, some donor bone stuff, a metal plate and eight screws. With about six months of physical therapy, I’ve been back to doing just about any activity I desired, including high intensity aerobics classes.

Now, back to 2011. Tuesday night I was stretching and noticed that something didn’t feel right. I chose to ignore it and go through with class, even when I felt a little discomfort while warming up. Even when I thought I might be noticing a little more pain the usual I pushed through it. By the time class was over my knee was swollen and I was having trouble walking. But still on Wednesday I decided to wrap it myself and go to work. By the end of the day the swelling had grown and was now noticeable in my leg and foot. So Thursday morning, (after going to the dentist to get two fillings) I went to my doctor, who promptly sent me to ortho.

Thankfully, the x-ray showed that there was nothing broken, and no problems with the 2003 fix. Then we, they, the PA decided not to do any further tests that day. After I left (with my Celebrex and Vicodin) I wished I had been a little pushier, since I’d really like to know what actually happened. Instead I’m left to speculate with the help of my general doc. Best guess is that when I hit the bank in the ditch my leg either crashed into the dash or door, or bent in a way that sprained a ligament. Nice and specific, isn’t it? Hopefully when I go back in three weeks I can be better about getting the information I need like; when can I go back to the gym? and what activities should I avoid?

In the meantime my menu plan has gone out the window. I am still hoping to make enchiladas, but it may get moved to next week. I also just found a great sounding recipe for a way to use up the last of the leftover turkey, which obviously needs to be done soon so Sunday’s dinner may get bumped as well. Maybe I’ll take advantage of this time of convalescence to catch up on some blog reading, blog planning and even writing! Of course if my posts don’t make sense, I’m going to blame the pain-killers!

Like Two Sticks of Bitter... I Mean Butter

2011-01-19T14:19:00.000-06:00

Checking in after Weight Watchers, meeting 3. That title up there? Pure Freudian slip. I meant to type butter the first time, and it came out bytter. So I decided to change it to the proper spelling and go with it. When I weighed in today, I was disappointed to see I had lost 0.6 of a pound. Then I remembered something. One of those sticks of butter is only 1/4 of a pound. I lost more than two of those! Plus my total so far is exactly 5, which is twenty of those! Even in my stock-up-while-it's-on-sale mode, I don't ever have that many in my freezer. So now I'm not so bitter. Besides knowing I'm still on the path to a healthier me, I also recognize the areas where I can do better. I had too many indulgence days, used some of my points allowance on foolish things, and didn't focus enough on getting in my healthy checks.

Which brings me to this weeks to do list.

1. I have a bad feeling about this. I tend to be so sedentary! (It sounds better than lazy) I mean, I certainly don't have ax chopping (1 point earned for 10 minutes). Consequently, I don't carry a lot of wood (also 1 for 10). But I can claim housework, ballroom dancing, painting and even scrubbing the toilet. Each gives me a points plus value earned of 1 for 10 minutes or 4 for an hour. Bonus!

2. The foods I choose: Milk, Oil and Peanut Butter. Stay tuned for results.

3. At today's Weight Watchers meeting we had two lifetime members at goal share their loss and time of maintenance. One said that in order to allow herself cheesecake, she buys the little squared and keeps them in the freezer. When she wants one, she only takes one out, lets it thaw a little then puts it on a pretty plate. When she eats it, she feels like she's at a party. I'll keep reading success stories and tips on the website. I'm hoping to find someone similar to me in terms of height and weight loss, to find it visually motivating.

4. Done. It's a weightwatchers.com thing. And it's done.

5. Work in progress. I actually love the little smiley face I get when I use my WW Mobile app to track my healthy checks, but I forget! Okay - it is resolved, I'll do it every day this week. Starting now!
Liquids (Water): 4/8
Dairy: 1/2
Fruits/Veggies: 2/5
Multivitamn 1/1
Healthy Fats/Oils: 0/2
Activity: 0/1 Does it matter that I'm on the DL?

When Did I Get All These Cookbooks? [[Menu Monday]]

2011-01-19T10:20:00.003-06:00

Before I get into this week, let me tell you how last week wend with my goal of not grocery shopping. Saturday I went a little overboard and spend $45 at the store. Slightly more than the $10 I had left.

Oh well. I do think I'll try that chellenge again though! Just not this week :)

I'm super far behind this week.

I think I was thrown by having Monday off as a holiday.

I was also a little thrown by the sudden desire to look through

every.one.of.my.cookbooks

Where did they come from?

It was enjoyable though, and I came up with a few things I wanted to try.

In fact, I'll be sharing some of the some of the fun things from them as I go.

Like the Williams Sonoma Simple Classics that brings up Sunday's meal below.

Or the quaint cookbook that gives you a menu plan for every occasion from "Her 15th Birthday" to "Guys Game Night"

So far, I've only made butter cream frosting from that one.

So even though it's two days late, I really like posting my menu plan so here it is!

Menu

Monday - Taco Salads

(Didn't have these Saturday because My Guy took me out instead!)

Tuesday - Flounder with Almonds & Grapes

Wednesday - Slow Cooker Lasagna

Thursday - Hunter Style Chicken w/ Potatoes

Friday - Homemade Pizza & Tossed Salad

Saturday - Eating Out at Home (Mexican Night*)

(*Trying again. This time it's enchiladas)

Sunday - Braised Pork Loin, Mashed Potatoes, Glazed Carrots & Homeade Rolls

Now, about the enchiladas.

I can make them, but they're just okay.

I mean, they're nothing special.

Thing is, Mr Sinister threw down the gauntlet.

He said someone else made him the best enchiladas ever.

And I know I have some mighty fine chef-friends out there.

So friends got any award winning (or just really good) enchilada recipes you'd like to share?

Timely Advice - and a Late Thrifty Thursday Post

2011-01-15T14:58:00.002-06:00

It's time for another installment of Thrifty Thursday. The day of the week when I take all of the advice I've gleaned during the week , reduce it to only the finest, and share it with all of you.

Okay, I definitely missed the Thrifty Thursday post, but here's something to make it up to you. How about the find of the weekEND?

WHAT I FOUND: Simply, how not to gain weight on the weekend WHAT I'M USING IT FOR: Portion control while dining out. My guy is taking me out for date night tonight and I gotta remember to be in control. Hope you're all having a great weekend!

What tips and tricks have you found this week?

To Do List: Week 2 [[Weight Watchers Wednesday]]

2011-01-12T15:15:00.011-06:00

To-Do List: Week 2

Going shopping this weekend.
Just re-read that. Weekend. Shopping.
Wish me luck.

5. Check that your weight-loss expectations are realistic. (Doing)
Looks like this one will be along term "doing"
To me, this item was more about staying motivated and not expecting too much of yourself.
(like losing 15 pounds in one week)
I've been wanting to try a little projecect with myself, so I think it's time to get to it:

I will need:
2 glass containers
100 marbles

Each day, I'll determine whether or not I followed the program (remember, that doesn't require perfection, just tracking, meeting good health guidelines, getting active). One of the containers will be for the days when I was on program (OP) and the other for days I'm not. I'll place the marbles accordingly. At the end of 100 days, I'll see just how "good" I've been.
That's my list for this week. What steps are you taking in your healthy journey this week?

Cooking from the Cupboard - My Menu

2011-01-10T14:14:00.001-06:00

I've become one of those people.

The people that find a bargain at the grocery store and buy it.

As many of it as they will allow me to put in my cart.

And then it sits in my freezer/pantry/etc.

So this week I challenged myself to spend less than $20 on fresh produce and dairy and get everything else from what I already have.

So far I've spent less than $10 of that, which is good because I think I need some veggies.

Menu

Monday - Retirement party

Tuesday - Cordon Bleu for Two, Garlic Couscous & Steamed Veggies

Wednesday - Beef & Noodles (with grandma's homemade noodles!) & Tossed Salad

Thursday - Scallop, Corn & Tomato Salad

Friday - Beer Soaked Beef, Peppers & Southwestern Corn

Saturday - Eating Out at Home (Mexican Night)

Sunday - Turkey, Roasted Winter Vegetables, Tossed Salad and Olive Bread

What's on your plate this week?

Two of my Favorite Words: Cheap & Free ::Thrifty Thursday::

2011-01-06T17:02:00.000-06:00

It's time for another installment of Thrifty Thursday. The day of the week when I take all of the advice I've gleaned during the week , reduce it to only the finest, and share it with all of you.

WHAT I FOUND: The holidays are over. Your wallet is thinner and your are decidely not. So you need: Cheap Diet Dinners! At $3 or less per serving, you can afford to feed the whole family a healthy meal, instead of feeling like a short-order cook making one thing for th ekids, one for the hubby and one for you. (That reminds me, anyone catch this week's episode of the middle?) WHAT I'M USING IT FOR: This recipe for three bean & barley soup. The Mr. of the house has been requesting something barley, so it's been bound to hit the menu. Look for it in the coming weeks!

WHAT I FOUND: Something that's been on all our minds, in some form of another, since at least 11:30 on New Year's Eve: The Foolproof Trick to Keeping Your Resolutions. Well, that's what the title of the article anyway, but what we've got is great dieas for making small changes toward 4 popular resolutions. WHAT I'M USING IT FOR: Sleep! I don't know if it was a resolution of mine exactly, but I know I need to be better about getting it. It's crazy how much I watch TV before bed. Or read blogs, Facebook or email. I'm not sure when I'll tackle this monster, but it will be soon!

WHAT I FOUND: So you want to lose a few pounds (or more), but don't want to make drastic changes. We're told that to lose a pound a week we need a calorie deficit of 3500, or 500 per day. That means we either need to excercise enough to burn 500 more, eat 500 less, or a little of both. Enter: Simple Ways to Cut 500 Calories WHAT I'M USING IT FOR: I'm going to tackle the at work and Saturday strategies. I really like th idea of standing more at work (and I have the option) and I'll use any excuse to sleep in a little on the weekend.

WHAT I FOUND: Weight Watchers' new program, Points Plus! Okay, it's not brand new, but I just started it all over again (and it is only about a month old). Sure, you have to be a subscriber to get the full scoop, but I had to make this my find of the week. Because fruit is FREE! That's pretty much the best gift ever. Thanks Weight Watchers Powers That Be (WWPTB) WHAT I'M USING IT FOR: A reason to eat bananas again! And to make fruit my go to snack when hunger strikes.

What tips and tricks have you found this week?

Weight Watchers Wednesday

2011-01-05T10:00:00.002-06:00

To-Do List: Week 1

Finally got this one done this morning. That's okay though, because today feels like Day One. Like the true beginning. And that's not just because I skipped the gym to go to a basketball game last night where I had an ice cream cone and shared a large popcorn. Picture taken, measurements noted.

All over this one. Over the weekend I went in search of the planner I bought last year because it was an excellent place to record my daily life, including my food journal. The first thing I learned was that daily planners are rediculously expensive. The second thing is that I had no luck finding the exact same one. So far, the pretty blue one I did find is doing the job nicely, although it feels a little cramped. I suppose I'll lean more on using the WW mobile app this year.

3. Plan the best weigh-in strategy for you

I'm go-to meeting kind of weight watcher. Last year I convinced myself I didn't need meetings because I'd already learned the program so well. I wasn't learning anything new afterall (yeah, right). So then they went and changed up the program at the end of 2010, taking away my excuse! Therefore, I'm heading back to meetings with my favorite local leader, Joanne. I'll be going today at noon, as well as every Wednesday at noon. Now you see why toay feels like Day One!

4. Build your Favorites

Still working on this one. A lot of my old favorites need to be recalculated with the new PointsPlus values. It's hard to get used to those numbers being higher!

5. Clean fridge & cupboards and fill with healthy foods

Half done. The fridge is full of healthy stuff only, but the cupboards are sadly full of temptations. Mostly in the form of leftover Christmas goodies. Those haven't been too much temptation, though. The items I truly can't have around without testing my self control:

Lays Garden Tomato Basil chips - seriously these are my new kryptonite. I can eat the entire bag. I've been known to hide a bag in my car so I can eat it without sharing (and of course secretly).

So there you have it, my week one progress. Do you have a to-do list for your health & fitness goals? If so, share it here!

My Menu - January 3, 2011

2011-01-03T16:01:00.001-06:00

Monday - Chef Salad (using leftover ham)

Tuesday - Pan Fried Flounder w/ homemade fries and salad

Wednesday - Split Pea Soup with Ham and Cheese (still using leftover ham)

Thursday - Breakfast for Dinner: Ham & Potato Frittata (is the ham gone yet?)

Friday - Meatloaf w/ Steamed Vegetables & Rice

Saturday - Eat Out at Home: (Check back on this one, it's gonna be great!)

Sunday - Roast Beef with Potatoes & Carrots

Okay, this sort of looks like a lot of comfort food, but it's cold in Iowa! Besides, I plan to make it all very waistline friendly!

I'm Back (Again)

2011-01-03T11:38:00.000-06:00

Well, here we are, a new year (a new you!) Oh, that's just what happens in my head every time I mention the new year. I'm actually working on a few catch-phrases for 2011:

Ready, Set - Get skinny!
Size 7 in 2011!
Since at first you didn't succeed, try, try, try again!
(And my favorite) Here we go again (with a generous backbeat and techno sounding pitch correction)

What do you think?

Nah but really - I can't stand it anymore. I'm back and I'm serious. I don't want to hit 2012 obese or even overweight. I'm not getting younger and it's not going to get any easier. Only I can make this change and it's time I make it happen.

So here we are, on the first Monday of 2011 and we are making menu plans. It's working out so well that I'm planning that for every Monday here in the Better Jeans world. I'll be back later today with what I've got! In the meantime, enjoy today's find: 7 Simple Changes to held your weight loss efforts.

Back From the Abyss

2010-08-04T10:36:00.000-05:00

What is the worst thing you can do to your blog? Create a crazy background with brightly colored text? Upload 347 unflattering pictures of yourself doing mundane things like cleaning out the litter box (wait, some people may actually find that interesting). Pretend you're perfect and don't have to do things like mundane-kitty-cleaning chores?

No, the worst I could probably do has been done: I haven't blogged in months. And I don't even have a real good reason for it. My work schedule got a little hectic and let's face it - some of my best blog work has been done during work down-time. So that's a little bit of an excuse. And my grandmother passed away about a month ago, so I've had a lot of "down" time in that way as well. But in spite of all that, I should have been able to show up.

But there's not self loathing going on here today. Or tomorrow. I'm just going to show back up!

Tomorrow. (Or maybe just later today.)

It's Been a Long Cold Lonely...

2010-04-13T15:48:00.001-05:00

~~Winter~~ Week.

Yes, I did neglect posting anything for four days. I actually started this post (in my mind) on Saturday, but oh how time flies when you're singing the blues.

Last week was filled with stress; mostly stress of another person, but stress anyway. The stress caused major breakdowns in communication, lack of respect shown to one another, and plenty of hurt feelings.

But last week wasn't all bad: we were surprised Easter morning by our first two calves of the season. I've since named them Lolo and Double Stuff. In contrast to last year's calving season, these two came into the world without a problem and without any help from us. (Go ahead, ask me and sometime I'll tell you the story about the first time this city girl helped pull a calf)

Then came Friday evening. Things started out well. Double Stuff has to be fed a bottle a couple of times a day to supplement his mother's milk, so I headed out after work to check on the ladies (that's the cows) and see if anyone else was making plans on adding to the little herd. Seeing no calf parts hanging out, I headed inside to mix up a bottle for the little guy. When I came back out and called for the little calvie (that's what Merv calls him) I looked up to see a ~~slimy~~ newborn calf on the ground next to his mama. I happily fed Double Stuff while checking out the new guy and called my mom to tell her about my day. Then I went for a walk to check on our other animals, including these two:

{Caliope & Firefox, around 8 weeks old, July 2009}

Firefox had not been well and had been hit with some medication the day before. (Caliope is another story because I think she's gone the way of most girl barn cats and gotten herself preggers). So I went to find him, calling "here kitty, kitty" but hopeful because as I'd held him the night before he'd been purring more, and breathing easily, and seemed to be getting back to his old self. Sadly, I did find him, but he was no longer alive. Still on the phone with my mom, I chose to focus on the happiness of a new calf, even though I was talking to the woman in the world most likely to understand my emotions.

Eventually, I hung up, insisting that I needed to go start dinner. Instead I needed to call Merv, tell him the bad news and try not to be upset about not getting the cat to the vet sooner. After the phone call I found myself alone with my grief and wondering why I was so attached. I was just a stupid barn cat, right? But Firefox was so much more. Last summer, Merv and I both lost our dogs to illness or accident. These two kittens came on the scene not long after and filled that empty space I found every time I went outside. Firefox especially was very loyal despite being a tom cat. It was a long winter of finding days when it was tolerably warm enough to sit outside or in the workshop and hold these wannabe lap cats. I never tired of giving them fresh food every morning, putting that food away at night to keep the pests from it; of finding the old "dogloo" and filling it with straw and tucking it into the warmest corner of the barn for them to sleep in; of running their water dish under the hot tap to melt away the chunk of ice and make room for fresh water. It was all the reward I needed to see them playing in the spring sunshine, grown and cuddly. And so happy that warm weather meant the return of me sitting outside watching the sun go down with two cats fighting for space on my lap.

{Firefox, March 2010}

In the midst of memory there is grief, and it is more than grief that weighs on my heart. I have a unusually strong compassion when it comes to suffering animals. Sure, we all get a little misty when we hear Sara McLaughlin singing while flashes of too-thin animals appear on screen, but I weep. At night, when those commercials come on and I'm alone in bed, I have to change the channel because the images haunt me. When I see an animal on the side of the road my heart breaks, and it's all because I find myself "inside the head" of the animal. I think about who they belonged to. I think about what they were doing, how they were feeling. And more often than not, I wonder if they were scared, hurting and alone when they died. Now I was feeling that as I thought about my orange and white cat with an old soul. I thought about the serene look on his face whenever I held him close and couldn't stand to think of the look on his face when I found him. It was a long night. And a long weekend. And it's been a long week.

But now I can write about it and I'm able hold back the tears. I don't know if our pets will greet us in Heaven (and I'm not here to debate it) but I like to imagine that God knew a little girl in heaven, maybe a brown eyed red head like me, who just wanted a kitty to cuddle with. I think God found the best one we could spare down here.

{Firefox, March 2010}

Rest in peace, my purr-y furry friend, rest in peace.

P.S. In case you wonder what a funeral, a holiday, a week of stress topped off by grief does for my weight loss: I had a gain of 1.2 at Saturday's weigh in.

What'cha Doin With All Those Eggs? ::Thrifty Thursday::

2010-04-08T11:24:00.002-05:00

Do you, like probably half the households in America, have a truck load of pastel or brightly colored eggs at your house? Read on, Easter survivors, read on. It's time for another round of Thrifty Thursday. The day of the week when I take all of the advice I've gleaned during the week and filter the best of it to you.

WHAT I FOUND: If you eye those hard boiled eggs every morning thinking they'd make a nice breakfast, this article from All Headline News can tell you why it's a great idea. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: Other than a way to use up some of those leftover eggs, a new motivation to make time in my morning routine for a breakfast that includes eggs. In fact, I think I'd like ot try having at least one egg or egg product in my breakfast everyday for a week to see how it effects my hunger and weight loss.

WHAT I FOUND: Support for snacking! (And while the article doesn't center on eggs as much as the previous find, they play a supporting role.) WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: Just some excellent snack ideas. I am definitely a "type of food" snacker. I crave salty (soup), sweet (half grapefruit sprinkled with brown sugar and broiled) or creamy (Jello-O Mousse Temptations) so the list of ideas they provide is categorized nicely. As a plus, they provide one more way to get rid of those eggs - hard boiled egg for an 80 calorie snack!

WHAT I FOUND: A dieter's guide to dessert. Because let's face it, snacks are not really the course I have trouble with, it's what comes after the dinner that my or may not include eggs. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: All of the tips are helpful, though possibly difficult to implement in my life. The one that hit my the hardest though was tip #4: Know dessert when you see it.

Alright, looks like I've focused too much on food here, how about some fitness?

WHAT I FOUND: For Better Muscle Tone: Go Lighter? Or Load Up? WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: Turns out I need to be dialing up the weight on my Body Pump barbell.

No "Find of the Week" this time because now that I've mentioned one Les Mills class, I feel the need to talk about another. Tonight will be my first Body Attack class with the latest release. Okay, maybe this is proof that I'm getting addicted to this exercise thing since I'm so excited for new tracks - but there are worse vices a girl could have, right? Here's a breakdown of what I can expect to be put through tonight:

We’ll kick off with the huge hit Evacuate The Dancefloor and then Don’t Upset The Rhythm as you’ll Pony your way through Track 2.
Are You Gonna Go My Way? Track 4 brings an inspiring Rock feel that will push you to your first cardio peak, blocking high balls on the volleyball court. Do you like Track 5? I know I Like It! This song will motivate you through all those Push Ups and the Superman stability training.
Game on in Track 7! Get ready for some true American football training with the Dodge Hops and the Heisman, to fend off your opponents. The sports-inspired training is all about improving your speed, agility and fitness. Are you in?
Next, feel the Freedom in the Interval Track. Keep your posture strong and give it all you’ve got in the Knee & Kick Combo. The options are there if you need them.
You are the champion in Track 9. Keep on fighting till the end! We’ve got some intense work targeting your legs, butt and core before we Cooldown to Hold My Hand.**

Doesn't that sound like fun? (Now if it does, and you actually live closeby, come with me! It's free this week)

**From Totally Les Mills (http://www.totallylesmills.com/site/BODYATTACK)

I Hear a Sound

2010-04-05T14:42:00.003-05:00

Oh yeah, I love thunderstorms.

Do you remember, in the movie The Lion King, when Scar responds to Mufasa's name by saying "oooo... Mufasa" and shudders? That's the way I react to thunder. (…except my reaction is not sarcasm born out of destructive jealousy.)

So we have a nice collection of thunderstorms coming through the area today but I’m not sure it will amount to more than a few of those low sweet rumblings. I will have to be happy with what we’ve gotten though, despite the fact that I’m the kind of girl who gets disappointed when the weathermen tell me the storm is breaking up or will pass me by. Maybe I’ve missed my calling and should be a storm chaser.

The weekend was a busy one but Friday’s efforts paid off. I did make it to the Weight Watchers center to find out I was down 1.8 pounds last week. That brings my average up to over a pound a week and I love it. I’m settling in for the distance and mentally preparing myself to let the weight come off at a reasonable weight. I still haven’t decided, however, whether or not I will continue to go to meetings or go for it online.

Anyone out there have feedback? Have you been in Weight Watchers? If so, do you prefer meetings or online? How about other weight loss methods, do you prefer to go it alone or have group support and accountability?

A Frenzied Friday! (And a Follow me one, Too!)

2010-04-02T11:53:00.001-05:00

Hello friends.

I'm not normally the girl to toot her own horn about my fitness or nutrition accomplishments, but today I have to: I made it to a 5:30 am class. Yay me! Not to mention I had to get up at 4:30 to do it. Why so early? Because we are taking a little one night trip out of town tonight and I had to pack and get ready! In addition, I need to be leaving now to get on the road. So just a quick update. Going to weigh in today before leaving town since I"ll be gone in the morning. (Can you say commitment?)

Oh and hey - it's a Follow Me Friday at the Trendy Treehouse

Come Play!

Slimspiration, Motivation & a Spokesperson ::Thrifty Thursday::

2010-04-01T15:59:00.003-05:00

WHAT I FOUND: Some slimspiration from six women who each flipped a simple dietary switch that set off a chain reaction of positive effects, from getting glowing skin to losing 130 pounds. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: The connection between whole grains and clearer skin (at least for one reader). It's enough motivation for this shiny faced bread lover!

WHAT I FOUND: A way to train with celebrity trainer Nicole Stuart for pennies a day. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: A body like Kate Hudson's. Okay, not really. But I do think it looks like a great tool for on the go fitness.

WHAT I FOUND: A roadmap and navigation system for avoiding the potholes and finding the fresh choices at the Sub Shop. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: A calm assurance that adding cheese to my sandwich isn't taboo (it's also not a reason to switch from Roast Beef to Meatball Marinara) plus a few menu items that are always a good idea.

FIND OF THE WEEK:

Weight Watchers has a new spokesperson, and she looks great. Head over to WeightWatchers.com and check out Jennifer Hudson's success.

What good advice have you found this week? Share your links with me below!

Derailed by Peeps (and other Easter goodies)

2010-03-29T14:49:00.001-05:00

Saturday started out so well. You will recall from the previous post that I made it to Weight Watchers. I even ate a healthy breakfast and made it to the gym. And then I went home to do some baking for Sunday. I may or may not have made three different things. Those may or may not have included Rice Krispy treats. And after forming the treats I may or may not have had to clean my fingers (by eating the sticky gooey-ness off my hands). So the weakness of the weekend begins as I lose all count of how may Bites, Licks and Tastes I have as I finish those treats and make and frost a birthday cake before heading out to a wine tasting.

I could also sum up that entire paragraph by saying, "I'll be eating a lot of salad this week." Because I refuse to spend any energy focused on negative self talk about whether or not I behaved myself this wekend. I'll just assume all of my 35 weekly allowance points are gone and move on. And move more. Hello gym, here I come 5 days this week.

Now to reward you for making it this far in my post I present you with the pictures I promised. As I mentioned over the weekend, I wasn't making just your run-of-the-mill crispy rice bars, I was making Easter goodies! The idea is simple (and probably as many ways of doing it as there are people who have tried it). Here's what I did

Fill the cups of regular muffin pay 3/4 of the way with your regular mix of cereal, butter and marshmellows
Press and form the mixture into a bowl (or nest)
Add "grass" (I used some candy grass I found in the easter goodies aisle, but coconut works well also)
Add "eggs" (Again, you have options, I used peanut M&Ms)

Ahh, they already look so tasty and festive!

For an added element of fun, take another Easter staple candy (Marshmellow Peeps) and put him on top of the nest:

To quote the funny man of the day: "Hurry and eat them before the eggs hatch. I don't want another Peep outta ya!" -Merv

These are so cute when they're done and would be so easy to wrap up as individual treats for sending home. I didn't plan on having leftovers, so none of mine are currently seeking new homes.

I did however have leftover ingredients so I turned them into a tasty little indoor egg hunt :)

And now that we're all in the mood for Easter Goodies, I would like to present to you some viritual Easter baskets! Hershey has partnered with the Children’s Miracle Network and is celebrating their legacy of making a difference. This Easter season, Hershey’s will donate up to a total of $5,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network together with bloggers. Here are the rules for HERSHEY’S BETTER BASKET BLOG HOP:

Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.
Create a blog post giving a virtual Easter Basket to another blogger – you can give as many Virtual Baskets as you want.
Link back to person who gave you an Easter Basket.
Let each person you are giving a Virtual Easter Basket know you have given them a Basket.
Leave your link at BetterBasket.info/BlogHop comment section. You can also find the official rules of this #betterbasket blog hop, and more information about Better Basket with Hershey’s there.
Hershey’s is donating $10 per each blog participating to the Better Basket Blog Hop to Children’s Miracle Network (up to total of $5,000 by blog posts written by April 4th, 2010).
Please note that only one blog post by each blog url will count towards the donation.

Now that we hae that out of the way, let's get to the fun part! Angie, Rachel, Netters, Brittany (and anyone else who wants to help themselves!) here's a virtual basket for you:

If you're up to it, go and share and blog about it!

The Curse Lives

2010-03-27T11:53:00.000-05:00

Yes I did (make it to Weight Watchers this morning to weigh in). I admit, it was difficult to drag my sore as glutues out of bed early enough to weigh in before 7 am. While I could easily blame my Body Pump class last night, I think I'll blame March Madness. Normally, I don't even get caught up in it, and I didn't think I would this year once my beloved Hawkeyes didn't make the big dance. (And really, who expected them to?)

Then came the Panthers of UNI. You may recognize this face? Yes, the most recent cover of Sports Illustrated featured the only Iowa team to make it to the Sweet 16 of the Men's tournament. The team I had to cheer on, despite the fact that I had to cheer against my converence. I guess that should assuage some of the dissappointment I felt when UNI lost, but all I flet was the reassurance that the SI curse lives on.

P.S. I lost 0.8 pounds.

Ready or Not; Here Comes the Weekend

2010-03-26T13:32:00.000-05:00

What a fun day I'm having on this, my first attempt at Follow Me Friday. I happen to be blog hopping around from the event hosted at Trendy Treehouse.

(Oo look, clicky linky button)

I've already come across a super idea for this weekend! I found it at Piggy Bank Dating which is possibly my favorite new blog of the day. Dating on a budget? Always a good idea.

Now I bet you're wondering how else I'm going to fill my weekend. Well, tomorrow morning I'll be going back for "Week Two" of Weight Watchers. Yes, I finally went back to a true meeting. I chose a different day and time because I thought it would make it fresh again for me. I also can't bring myself to skip a Body Attack class to make my old meeting time. When I showed up they had to re-enroll me (even though I have kept my monthly pass the entire time) so I figured I must be starting over. So I will be waking up bright and early tomorrow to make a 7am weigh-in and meeting.

Next up I'll be working at my day job (the bank) from 9 to noon. Saturdays aren't really that bad since the traffic is generally slow, allowing me time to check in on the SITS girls and read through this week's ads in the newspaper. The latter is one part vitrual shopping and one part planning on my part. I'm sure I'll get a little work done as well, but as I "shop" and plan I'll be thinking of Sunday's activities. Hold on! I'll get there.

After work I'll be going shopping for Easter Egg dye kits and food/party supplies. Those two items will come in handy later. Before the fun can begin though, a little housework is in order. I'm the kind of girl who likes to structure her week in a way that minor skirmishes with dirt happen all week but the epic battles are all done on Saturday. (You can take that however you want, but it keeps my house clean).

Depending on the time, I may go from scrubbing the shower to using it as I get ready for a little Wine & Cheese show that I'll be attending with Merv. It's a four hour event, but I'm not sure it would be a good idea to stay and sample the entire time, so perhaps we will find something truly special and bring it home to share.

As we dye easter eggs! That was the cute idea I picked up from the Piggy Bank Dating blog I mentioned above. I may hold that one until next week, because really I need to spend time making these cute little things. Don't worry, photos will come next week :) And when I make those deliciously cute little treats (which I will top with Peeps). Then I'll be saving them for dessert on Sunday...

... a day that promises to be another full and fun one. I'll be trying Rachel's Orange Pecan French Toast Casserole from Me Myself & Pie. Of course I will have started that the night before, but the serving/eating will be the best part, I'm sure. Following that will be Palm Sunday Church, which I likely won't be singing in the choir for as my cold is still lingering. After church we'll be sitting down to Easter Dinner, exactly one week early. The kids will be spending Easter with their mom and her family though, so we'll be diving into Leg of Lamb and as yet to be determined side dishes this weekend.

I'm also hoping to have an Egg hunt, but since the kids are all above the age of 12, we'll see what that turns into.

P.S. Do you like lamb? Because I guarantee we'll have too much of it. Feel free to invite yourself to dinner. Seriously.

Hello Cupcake Giveaway

2010-03-24T11:18:00.000-05:00

Look out. Marcy's got two posts in one day. Wait - it's two in one hour! What's it all mean? It means that there's a fabulous giveaway at mayhemandmoxie.com

The participation calls for sharing one of a few things, mostly having to do with birthdays and birthday parties. The best thing I could think of to share was the small but faublous surprise party I threw for my Grandma, Marjorie. She is everything and nothing you expect in a grandma. She's the best cook (will I ever make homemade chicken and noodles like her?), she always has cookies in the cookie jar and is full of hugs and laughter. She's also super thin and fiesty and never wears funny hats or housedresses and can complain about the state of things until my cell phone battery goes dead. She is the proud matriarch of two children, six grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Sadly, we don't all get together for holidays anymore, so Grandma rarely gets to see us all together.

Well last August, Grandma's birthday happened to fall on a Saturday, and it happened to be her 80th. So I sent out some invites, requested RSVPs and planned a small backyard BBQ/birthday party for the above-mentioned family. The day before B-day I still hadn't heard from anyone, so I assumed the party would consist of my parents, my boyfriend and myself, but we were going to party either way. The day arrived, and Merv and I, along with my dad, set up the backyard with the new picnic table we had gotten for a gift and had the cake, candles and goodies set up for the surprise. Mom had Grandma occupied at her favorite place for coffee and conversation, the Rainbow Cafe.

In the process of bringing plates to the backyard, Merv tells me to look outside, because he thinks some family members had pulled up. Indeed, when I looked outside I saw three car loads of an uncle, cousins and second cousins. In fact there was only one grandkid + family missing. I almost cried I was so happy to see them all. In fact, I think I may have been more surprised than Grandma. And she was surprised! It was a beautiful afternoon followed by an impromptu fish-fry, which just happens to be one of Grandma's favorite things. All in all, I'd say it's the best birthday party I've ever thrown together. And it couldn't have been done for a more deserving woman.

Wanna Be Made ::Writer's Workshop::

2010-03-24T10:46:00.000-05:00

Dear MTV, make me a skinny girl.

Oh that’s right, the show isn’t actually magic, is it? In that case, make me a fitness instructor. My reasons are simple:

• I adore my instructors
• I don’t know an instructor that isn’t a skinny girl.

I’ve been attending cardio classes for 9 weeks and the two instructors I’ve been sweating with are incredible. Diana and Jamie don’t just have amazing bodies, they have amazing attitudes. I’m sure like anyone they have days that require them to put on their best face and leave their problems at the door, but they are really good at it. They make working out enjoyable (or at least passable) while assuring me that the workout is just as hard for them. Okay, honestly it’s probably only a minor struggle, but they have a way of making me believe otherwise. They are encouraging and flawless and human and sweaty all at the same time.

Those are the qualities I could all use in my daily lives. Minus the sweat. They are the traits that I can employ while I work, dose out while I deal with my boyfriend and engage while I enjoy friends and family. The people in my life deserve this side of me.

So MTV, make me a fitness instructor. Put me through weeks of vigorous training so that I can be a sweaty ball of support for others. If I happen to lose a few pounds and tone up this body, that’s even better. I mean who’s going to believe that I’m a fitness guru if I don’t have the body for it. If you have to throw in a spray tan, that’s okay too. Wait – that might be my other dream: to be made into a professional ballroom dancer.

This entry is part of Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop. This exercise into our creative side is hosted every week by Mama Kat. Click the button to head over to her blog and play along!

This week's entry was in response to prompt #3: I Wanna Be MADE! You remember the MTV series where nerdy high school kids are made to be popular and what not? If you could be MADE into anything…what you be made into?

Tuna Puttanesca ::Recipe Review::

2010-03-23T16:04:00.000-05:00

I hate spring colds.

Especially the ones that start in your throat, stuff up your nose and then move on to your ears. I know that's what I have because just now, I was blowing my nose when my ear made a strange sound. Not exactly a pop - more of a squeak. Yes, my ear squeaked. And I've sneezed about 264 times today.

I won't let that be an excuse today though, I will still bring you a recipe review. I don't have pictures, but it has nothing to do with my cold.

In other news: I've finally gotten on board with planning my weekly menu. It's been fantastic! Merv even does the grocery shopping some weeks because it's so easy for him. His only request is that I plan more red meat so we can "shop our freezer" instead of the meat counter. So on the menu last night was:

Tuna Puttanesca
(that also happens to be the recipe for review, in case you didn't know where I was going)

Ingredients:
14 1/2 oz canned diced tomatoes

10 oz water-packed tuna fish, drained, solid, white
1/2 cup(s) fat-free Italian salad dressing
8 large olive(s), black, pitted and chopped
1 Tbsp basil, fresh, chopped
1 medium garlic clove(s), minced
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste
4 cup(s) cooked fettucine, kept hot

Directions
In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients except pasta.Bring to boil; simmer 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve over hot fettuccine. Yields about 1 cup sauce and 1 cup pasta per serving.

I found this little gem in the stack of Weight Watchers recipes I have accumulated over the years I've been a member. It was inexpensive, easy and delicious. To be honest, I used canned chopped olives and minced garlic from a jar to save time. Hey I told you I have a cold. I need my sleep! and I need to watch Dancing With the Stars. The aroma while this was cooking was amazing. It even out-did the smell of paint fumes coming from the basement. And when I scopped a bite of it into my mouth, the flavors came through vividly (even with a stuffed up nose). The salty taste of this combination was great, but not overwhelming. Of course, salt it my weakness, so maybe a ~~mortal~~ normal person would want to leave the added salt out when trying it for the first time. Truly the recipe was a keeper.
Okay, enough of this poorly written disjointed post, I think it's time for more cold medicine. Anyone know if it's a good idea to do a 55 minute cardio class with a head cold?

::Thrifty Thursday:: Pub-Grub & Penny Pinching

2010-03-18T16:11:00.001-05:00

Ah, the thrill of getting back on a routine. It seems as though the fates conspire against me though, since my normal "after lunch break" when I normally blog was filled up with bank related work. Nonetheless, I have persevered and I can now proudly present this week's installment of Thrifty Thursday.

THE FIND: I'm a sucker for a good motivational tale from the weight loss ranks, but this one has more that its fair share of feel-goodiness. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: I renewed sense of joy and determination about weight loss and fitness. Despite circumstances that could become her excuses, Kimberly shows more resolve and purpose than I do most days.

THE FIND: Well, now that we have new motivation, let's focus on the midsection, eh? Here's a workout fit for the fittest of Hollywood. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: Some great moves, but having a diet that strict is a one-way ticket to binge-ville for me. I enjoy some of the eating tips, but know I can't follow them all.

THE FIND: As I just mentioned, I can't be strict with myserlf when it comes to diet. In the same way I can't restrict myself so much that I can't enjoy a drink from time to time or head out for a night with friends. So I was happy when I found this Pub Grub Guide. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: An article I should print, laminate, and carry with me whenever Merv and I head out with his brothers.

THE FIND: When I wake up the morning after those nights out, I generally feel like I should make up for it with a healthier day ahead. How about a salad that satisifes? WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: The realziation that salads don't have to have lettuce. Who knew? And how good does that California Chicken Salad look?

THE FIND of the WEEK: Anyone who tries to eat healthy, raise kids, try new recipes or a combination of those knows: A healthy kitchen can sometimes equal a large grocery bill. At any rate, it can be a challenge. What if I looked at my pennies the way I look at my points (or calories for you non-Weight Watchers)? Alice Wood thought of that: it's called Wealth Watchers. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: A challenge to track every penny I spend. I know it's not a new concept, but somehow the fact that it's similar to a program I've already had success with makes it more approachable for me. I've got to start saving somewhere for all that fashion I plan on snatching up when I reach my forever weight!

If I write too much, I might pull a muscle

2010-03-17T15:23:00.000-05:00

Last night at my BodyAttack class, our leader winced a little while she was stretching and warming up. She had just come back from a 10 day vacation and advised us all to "not going 2 weeks without working out." I think blogging is a lot like exercise that way. I haven't written in over a week and I'm afraid if I jump right in on a Writer's Workshop Assignment I might hurt myself. I thought about doing a Wordless Wednesday but didn't have any inspiration (or photos ready to go) for that either. So today I found a new Wednesday activity and I've decided to play a game hosted by The Seattle Smith's.

'I wish' .... I could win the lottery REAL soon, and I would hope to build the perfect home in the country.

Merv and I have recently been looking at houses. Not exactly in that "urgent-show us everything you have-we have to buy right now" way of looking at houses, but more in that "there's a tax incentive to get it done before the end of April" way. And no Mom, it doesn't mean there's a ring on my finger either. It just means he likes to take me along when he's looking at a home because it's quite possible I could also live in it someday. In the short time we've been looking though, we've realized just how hard it is to find exactly what we're looking for. I'm sure everyone goes through this, so I know I'm not unique. I also know that when we find the right one, we'll probably know even when it's not perfect.

But that's not today's game, is it? Today's game is about wishing. So I would build a house that:

Has exactly enough bedrooms. Of the houses we've seen, there are two I like the best. One is a tiny little house with a reasonably small price but with even tinier bedrooms. And there are only two of them. The other has five, plus a bunch of open commen spaces for a family room, game room, etc. I think we need at least three, but no more than four. Hey, I can be flexible.

Has a master suite with eastern facing windows on the main floor (and large enough to comfortably fit king sized bedroom furniture.) I used to think I didn't care that much about the bedroom. In a way, it's only my third most important part of a house. Size is probably just something I mention because we're pretending money is no object but placement in the house really is important. One level living is something I'm told will become more important to me with age. My knees are already starting to see the wisdom.

Has a laundry room situated very near that master suite. Of the places I've lived, one of my favorites had a little stacked washer and dryer right outside my bedroom door. It was so handy! I'm sure I would upgrade from closet to entire laundry room though. I'd probably even have my own television in there for entertainment while I folded.

Has an attached 2 car garage. Do I really need to explain that one? But in addition to that garage we would need an outbuilding/shop big enough for 3 motorcycles, 2 cars, and 1 tractor. It would also need to have enough space to work on all of these items. Actually, while we're dreaming, let's go ahead and fully equip that shop with all the tools, gadgets and other such items needed to work on those big-boy toys.

Has an office. I considered leaving this one out, because I don't really know if Merv would continue to work after we won the lottery. But if he did, the office would either need to be built into that shop I mentioned (ideal!) or conveniently located near the door to that attached garage. It would also need lots of storage space and bookshelves for all the literature and equipment that is required when you run your business out of your home.

Has a large, well lit gourmet kitchen. This is the most important room of the house to me. Having extra space allows for the family to cook together, for Merv and I to dance together on Sunday morning when the local station plays polka music and Merv wants to kick up his heels while I make breakfast, and for ample storage space. And I'm going to need storage space because, like the shop, this room will be well stocked with every gadget, gizmo, ingredient and appliance that a spoiled kitchen-queen needs. Oh - it has to be well lit so everyone can be happy while we spend time in there.

Has about 2 acres of ~~land~~ lawn...and possibly farming acres around that. We like seclusion. We prefer that seclusion in the country, but a large lawn (ok - 1/2 an acre would suffice) in town might work, I'll take enough space to build that workshop, have a vegetable garden, play football, softball and fly kites. The farming acres would be for Merv. He already farms as a hobby, so how much more could he do that if money were not a problem and he was able to quit his full time job. Oh yeah, then we might need a barn too. If that's the case, then my dream house needs to come with horses. :)

Why I Can't Smile & Walk at the Same Time

2010-03-05T14:12:00.000-06:00

Actually I can, but yesterday it was questionable and it was all because of Wednesday night. I had just finished watching the "live" episode of Ghost Hunters (I don't recommend it if you a: thought it would be live or b: are as creeped out by disembodied voices as I am) and headed to bed. Upon getting there, (around 10:25pm) I realized I had not yet completed my daily appointment with a Crest Whitening strip. I decided I could catch a rerun of Two and A Half Men while wearing the strip since both take approximately 30 minutes. The next thing I remember is 3:00 am. That's right, my 30 minutes strip turned into four and one half hours. Now if you've used them, you probably remember the bit on the box that says wearing them for more than 30 minutes will do no good because they stop working after that time. Well I might have to disagree considering the impossible amount of discomfort I experienced upon waking yesterday. I literally could not stand to open my mouth outside because the air was too cold. Just ask my mom, I told her I had to hang up on our phone call before I got out of the car to walk to the house. I even sat down to research remedies and basically found a lot of people telling me that sensitive teeth were the price you paid for white ones. Well after this experience, I may have to give up coffee and white wine so I never have to wear the dang things again.

Now you may be wondering why I even bothered to whiten my teeth at this particular time. Or maybe, if you saw me this week, would wonder why I'm looking tan or how come I got my hair colored on Tuesday. Well the answer, in one word, is prom. Yes indeed, I am headed to prom tomorrow. No, I'm not on a reality show with 20 of my high school classmates. No, I'm not chaperoning a local school. I am going to Grafton, IA's annual Adult Prom and yes, it is everything you are currently imagining. No one has to sneak booze in or spike the punch - it's already spiked and sold as jello shots for a buck. Yes, there are people from the age of 18 to 88 there, and most of them show up in dresses that could have been straight out of their high school yearbook. There is even a competition for best retro dressed, and the cheesy photography packages that get printed with the theme andthe year on the overpriced pictures you buy. This is actually my third year of attending and as always I can't wait.

What's that? What does my dress look like you ask? Well, head over the JCPenney.com to see it. This was the second dress I tried on this year and even though it wasn't a consignment store find (1st adult prom) or an on-clearance LBD (2nd adult prom) I had to have it. It was fancy enough for my taste, sexy enough for Merv's taste and so incredibly comfortable. The material is soft and forgiving and since I'm a little more Venus de Milo than Twiggy this dress looks completely different on me, but I absolutely love it. In fact, I'm playing up the almost greek/roman feel of the material and gown with

these cute, comfortable (& cheap )mini-wedge gladiators. I'm so happy with myself for choosing a shoe that I can wear all night, shouldn't break anything in and I can wear all season.

Also complimenting the look will be

braids in my up-do a la Jessica Alba here. I'm a little intimidated by this idea, but I'm sure I can pull something off. I'm actually more intimidated by the fact that I'll be spending the evening with a real-life hair dresser so she'll know exactly how it should be done. That's ok, she hasn't judged me before (or if she has, she's never done it out loud).

So that's it - what I'll be doing tomorrow night from 4pm until we shut down the Cozy Corner in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Wish me luck - maybe I'll finally be prom queen afterall. Pictures are sure to come, so keep watching. And if you live in the Grafton area, come join me! (details) And if you're a local friend, check with me soon for details about a second chance prom right here in Iowa City.

Love Was Right Before My Eyes ::Writer's Workshop::

2010-03-03T16:23:00.001-06:00

He is my dearest friend. I have known him for years. I’m not talking about the kind of years that I’ve clocked with my childhood friends. It’s not the kind of years I shared with my best friend when we were trapped in a brain-sucking device (my swing set in the back yard) where we were trapped, waiting for our James Bond like boyfriends to come and rescue us; or of those years filled with slumber parties that always dissolved into a night of complaining, crying and hugging it out. Those are the years that formed who I was, but he was there for the years that have formed who I am.

A little over 10 years ago he walked into my life. I can never recall the exact moment I met him because I look back now and it feels like he’s always been there. I can’t think of a time when just seeing him walk into a room with his confident stride did not instantly make me feel like conquering the world. It seems that his smile was always there to brighten a day. His family and mine found each other and fit together so well that it seems like we have always been friends.

He was there to offer advice when requested, support when needed and friendship and fun at all times. I will always remember one summer evening as my (then) husband and I were visiting his family and he walked with me, encouraging and advising me on ways to improve my marriage. No matter how close we were though, we always knew our boundaries. We always held ourselves back just enough so that we would not feel more than we were allowed.

Then my little family was no more. My marriage ended and our lives went on. In some ways my friend and I grew apart, and I didn’t know of his struggles. I did not put myself in a position to return the support my dear friend had shown me. Then one summer evening we took another walk. He revealed to me the truth of what was going on in his life. His own family was splintering in painful and awful ways. The suggestions and allegations against him were severe. The pain and anguish it caused him were clear. Still I could not believe the claims against him. I could not believe his family was breaking apart. But I could support him as a friend.

I found our old friendship was as comfortable as ever, and I continued to observe the boundaries that had always been there. Even as the reasons for those boundaries were falling away, I continued to hold back. Even as we fell back into the easy step as friends; as two single adults in this crazy world, I looked at him from behind those same boundaries. So one night after coffee as I was stood in the doorway talking to him, (maybe mixing in some light and innocent flirting) I never anticipated anything would change. I didn’t see it coming when he stepped closer to me, leaned over me and placed his lips so gently on mine. I was still pondering what happened when I heard him ask, “Can I kiss you?” I didn’t have the heart to point out that he already had. Nor did I have the time as I felt another kiss as sweet as the first. And I don’t know what surprised me more, feeling his hand on my side, pulling me gently toward him, or the intense pleasure I found at his touch.

The surprise didn’t end with us. Our friends were surprised; many of them have even misunderstood, but the love of my life is simply this: a friend who’s always been there, and always will be in my heart. And these days the only thing that surprises me is how much my love grows for him every day.

This was written in response to prompt #5:Who blind-sided you? Write about a time someone caught you totally off guard.

I Comment Therefore I Am ::A Genius Genesis::

2010-03-01T13:28:00.001-06:00

Today I'm going to (finally) post my first attempt at I Comment Therefore I Am. This fun post idea is the brainchild of Unknown Mami. She is, of course, clever and talented and gives better comment than I, but I figure with a little practice and the constant awareness that whatever I post while commenting may be recycled for more eyes to see I may get better in time. I suppose I'll also get better at posting this around once a week instead of stock piling for two or three weeks at a time. Anyway, here we go!

Debbie (On the Refrigerator Door) shared a story about a car she bought and drove (despite some shortcomings) before college. Her troubles inspired me to share one of my own...

I can so relate to the car being on fire! A few years ago I had finished a very ambitious day of bra shopping and was now in the drive up lane at my bank. As I sat there waiting to receive my cash back I noticed what I thought was steam coming from the hood. I pulled into my work parking lot because it was about a block away, popped the hood and found flames! I ran to our security guard station and asked them to call the firemen and did they have a fire extinguisher? Despite the fact that there was one hanging onthe wall behind him, the man proceeded to tell me they didn't know where one was, called the firemen and watched my poor little car go up in flames.

Well, not an entire loss: one of my coworkers did manage to rescue my purse and my shopping bags. :)

Netters at A full Plate ~ A Happy Life had posted her weekly menu and I wanted to comment on the way she had chosen the week's fare. I also had a little confession to make...

I love this idea! I think I'll have to let others do the picking one of these days. I may change my mind though when I have to make homemade sushi and lasagna every week though. :)

Hey funny story though. So for as long as I can remember (here in the blog-world at least) I've been thinking that your blog was some other blog I've been following: Eat, Scrap, Love. I have no idea how I got that idea, but I think you follow it as well and maybe I followed a link in your blog and forgot. I don't know but I'd been wondering why you never had your own entries but you faithfully commented on mine. Then I read the most recent entries on that blog and my heart dropped! Then I noticed the name of the author was not Netters and began to wander around, eventually ending up at your ACTUAL blog, which is gorgeous, full of wonderful entries and - to be honest - is making me hungry.

So there you have it; the reason I haven't been here to comment. But now I've found you, girl - so get ready to feel the love!

In honor of Valentine's Day Angie at Little WORTH-while Moments asked her readers to share the story of their first kiss...

My first kiss was at Adventureland Park, just outside of Des Moines, IA (Yes, Angie, I know YOU know where it is, but this is for the benefit of your readers). Our Jr. High band had gone there for some parade/competition and we spent the rest of the day riding rides, etc. It was a rainy and cool day, so the lines to the water rides were extremely short. Me and two of my band friends (girls) were riding one raft on the Raging River and this other raft had three boys on it. Since each raft seats 6 and no one else was waiting, we all got on the same raft and rode together. So the six of us spent the day together and I paired up with a guy named Chris. We played games, I wore his sweatshirt because I was chilly, we shared funnel cake. He was from Davenport and I lived 5 hours away but he was older and he was learning to fly and I just knew he'd come and see me and we'd live happily ever after. So when it was time to get on the bus and head home, he and I shared a pleasant (but no fireworks/butterflies/fire in the belly stuff) first kiss. After that, I think we exchanged exactly one letter and one postcard.

Now that you're read my attempt, head over to Unknown Mami's blog and check out the master at work. Beware though, your comments may just be featured in a future edition of I Comment Therefore I Am!

Thrifty Thursday ::Motivation! Inspiration! & Relation?::

2010-02-25T14:46:00.001-06:00

Today I'm trying out a new format for Thrifty Thursday. Biggest change? I managed to keep track of a few links this week so I have more than one item on the menu!

THE FIND: In case a paycheck and possibly a sense of fulfillment aren't the only things you're gaining from work, I found an article with ideas for helping you to lose weight while you're at work. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: The suggestion of keeping a resistance band at work to slip in a little workout. I'd love that to go with my lunchtime walk that will start again when it warms up!

THE FIND: A long lost brother and sister. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: Nothing. They're not even really my relatives (what, you're shocked that I'm not related to Aaron Cook?). But they do share my own last name and have inspiring stories of weight loss.

THE FIND: Motivational Tips from the experts. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: Tip #5 - Especially the part about getting new shoes! I just replaced my worn out tennies with a swanky new pair and boy do I feel it during Boday Attack! Next up? New bra shopping.

THE FIND: I will be travelling this weekend and always struggle with what to eat on the road. Maybe this research into Taco Bell's "diet food" will help. WHAT I GET OUT OF IT: Just a reminder that no fast food restaurant (or any other kind for that matter) will have a magic formula for losing weight. Sure, these menu options are a healthier choice, but it's all about balance and moderation. I like to look at nutritional information, online or through other resources, and make informed decisions on what to eat while dining out. As any Weight Watcher can tell you, nearly any restaurant has some healthier option on the menu. You juts have to do a little legwork to find it.

BONUS: I like this guy's idea of "self" control. Don't think it will work with my coworkers though. They'd just eat my treats before I got to them. Wait - maybe that is a good idea!

Your Blue Heart ::Writer's Workshop::

2010-02-24T13:27:00.000-06:00

Here I am

I stand

outside in the cold

I knock

on your heart’s door

I wait

I see you in your grief

You are not alone

Let me come in and share

your cares

Let your stress be my stress

Let your woe be my woe

That my joy may be your joy

Prompt: “What images inspire you immediately? Open a magazine and create a piece of writing (poem, story, essay) about the first image that captures your imagination.”

A Foodie Photog & All the Pretty Flowers

2010-02-23T16:32:00.000-06:00

I've been slacking in my duties lately and haven't tried a new recipe for awhile. We had quite the weekend of company and Olympics watching so I stayed with tried and true favorites and crowd pleasers. The salsa I made got rave reviews though. I considered using that as my recipe review this week, but let's face it - if you make homemade salsa you've already got a favorite. Mine's a really easy recipe though! It also may have been the most Weight Watchers friendly thing I had all weekend.

Since I have no recipes to review for you all, I thought I would simply ~~review~~ tell you about a couple of blogs I'm loving right now.

The first shout out is actually kinda self-serving. Jocelyn is a pastor's wife and proud mother with a life full of cheesecake baking and card making. In addition to making adorable cards and gorgeous scrapbook pages which she showcases on her blog, she also has a wonderful talent for making fabric flowers and turning them into gorgeous jewelry. She's just recently opened an Etsy store, The Trendy Owl. She's giving away a lovely necklace so head over to her blog, check out the store and enter the giveaway. P.S. Tell her I sent you :)

Now my second guest is a dear friend. I've known her for more than 10 years, even though we lost touch during that time. She's a talented photographer who just happens to make delicious food. She's also one of the sweetest girls you'd ever meet. Sadly, I've been following the wrong blog for a few months, somehow thinking it was hers! Today I finally got the ordeal straightened out and headed over to her real blog, A Full Plate ~ A Happy Life. To make up for all the comment love she hasn't been getting, I am giving her a the best gift I could think of :)

Tomorrow may bring a Wordless Wednesday or a Writer's Workshop Wednesday. None of the prompts were speaking to me today, so we'll see if they change their tune. Otherwise, pictures it will be!

Chocolate (Brown) and (Dried) Flowers for Valentine's Day

2010-02-22T14:02:00.007-06:00

More than a week later, here it is: My bedroom's makeover was complete last Saturday and I have enjoyed it so much! Here's a little before and after for you:

(BEFORE)The Boring Wall

(AFTER)My Own Pretty Art Project

Because we love dancing and have taken ballroom lessons, I chose silhouettes of dancing couples. They are cut from stiff brown paper and placed over fabric that matches the bedding.

(BEFORE) The Tired Bed

(AFTER)The Cozy Haven

I "doubled" the window to balance the wall. I knew I would love it, but Merv wasn't convinced (until it was done!) And yes, I really do need bigger pillows in those shams... plus MORE OF THEM!

(BEFORE)The Functional (and plain) Corner

(AFTER)Oh! Pretty!

Can you spot the hidden items?

(1)A lazy cat (2) A teddy bear (3)The glass of water I needed after all that work (4)Airplane (5)iPhone

The last picture is probably my favorite transformation. I love the way the entire room turned out but this space was a pleasant surprise. Merv actually chose everything on the small table (aside from the fabric) and found it all on sale! We got rid of the alarm clock as we never used it because we always set our phones to wake us. Some day I plan to replace it with an analog wall clock, but I haven't found the one I love yet. I also hope to replace the old TV (or remove it altogether) but we aren't there yet either. The entire room came in just under $300. Maybe it would have been even cheaper if we'd spent more time shopping around, but I loved spending the time together to select & buy the items and then put them in the room. Great Valentine idea indeed.

Finally, here's a better picture of that lazy cat,(his name is August) and a close up of the bedding design:

This was taken as I collapsed onto the bed following all of the finishing touches. Someone thought he needed to collapse too, it is hard work supervising afterall.

Thrifty Thursday: Snack Time

2010-02-19T15:21:00.001-06:00

Yes, I realize it's not Thursday but you know how the garbage man's schedule gets pushed back a day when there's a holiday during the week? I think my blog was thus pushed back by President's Day.

Today's nugget of wisdom is brought to you by the letter "S" as in

Snacks:

and Self

because Self Magazine threw out a list of 30 Healthy Snacks and since I haven't been able to stop snacking this week, it seemed like a good idea to read it.

Of the 30, my favorites include:

1/4 cup hummus, 3 carrot sticks (80 calories)

1/4 cup Trader Joe's Chili con Queso, 18 baked tortilla chips (140 calories)

2 tbsp Better 'n Peanut Butter, 4 stalks celery (124 calories)

1/2 banana rolled in 1 tbsp frozen semisweet chocolate chips (123 calories)

Hmmm. I'm noticing a pattern in combo foods. Maybe that's reason I also like the following things mixed together:

Chocolate Chips in my cookies

Vodka in my tomato juice

French Onion dip on my SunChips.

Okay, those last three were sadly not on the healthy list, but if I could limit myself to 200 calories of any of them, you know they would be!

What snack (naughty or nice) do you love?

Why College Students Don't Make Good Cooks

2010-02-18T16:24:00.000-06:00

(Voice over)Previously on BetterJeans: Marcy reviewed her Valentine's Day with coworkers, which included a home cooked meal. This promted her younger coworkers to lament their lack of talent in the kitchen.

[SCENE] Interior, bank setting, day

A copy of the Lobster Potpie recipe sits on a desk.

College Student: See, this is exactly why I can't cook. First of all, I don't even know what Puff Pastry is. Second, I've never heard of thigh-m (thyme) and I don't own a pastry brush.

Marcy: Actually, the Puff Pastry is the easy part because you can by it already made in the freezer aisle. Also, it's pronounced time (thyme) and the reason you can't cook is that you have to know to improvise. I couldn't find a pastry brush either but my two foot basting brush from the grill works wonders.

College Student: See, my real problem is that I just don't have time to cook.

Marcy: Oh, see what you did there? You don't have thyme, but seriously you can find it pretty easily in the spice aisle.

[cue drum:ba dum dum *chh*]

(Today's prompt: Relay an entertaining conversation or string of emails you recently had with someone.)

Try Before you Buy - Recipe Style

2010-02-17T13:30:00.002-06:00

It’s been one busy (almost) week since I last posted. As you may recall, I was planning to spend at least part of the weekend redoing our bedroom. That actually went very well, but you’ll have to take my word for it until I can manage to get the pictures uploaded. I spent my Saturday doing that, my Sunday looking at a potential new house and then celebrating Valentine’s Day with dinner (more on that later) and a movie. Monday I tackled an organizational nightmare (no pictures of that either, it was too ugly) in which I sorted, laundered, folded, dusted… Let’s put this simply, I cleaned the room shared by two teenage boys. Now you understand, eh? That night my sweetie and I celebrated part two of Valentines Day because we were both too tired to finish the movie the first night. Yeah, we’re pretty exciting when we try to be.

Now, as to the parenthetical note above where I reference VDay Dinner, let me just say I got the idea from Cosmo. Yes, Cosmopolitan The Magazine had a recipe in it and I must have been reeled in by the title “A Sexy Meal With Your Man.” Even more likely, I was tantalized by the subtitle “Dim the lights, put on good music, and serve up this decadent, mouth-watering (and so easy, shhh!) meal.” Sounded great to me, so we went for a easy meal that included Lobster Potpie, Dijon Vinaigrette on Green Salad and Chocolate-Covered Strawberries.

Let me begin with the Potpie recipe:

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
½ onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
½ cup frozen corn
½ cup frozen peas
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 cup chicken broth
½ pound cooked lobster meat (can be bought at the seafood counter)
½ teaspoon thyme
Salt and pepper
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (keep refrigerated until ready to use)
1 large egg

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Set out two 2-cup individual ovenproof bowls
Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and carrot. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes. Add corn and peas. Stir in flour and cook1 more minute. Add milk and chicken broth, stirring constantly. Cook until the sauce begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Then remove from heat, add lobster and thyme, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Remove the puff pastry from the refrigerator. Cut the dough in half, and reserve one half for another use. On a lightly floured surface, flatten out the pastry, using a floured rolling pin, to about 1/8-inch thickness. Using one of the bowls as a guide, cut the pastry into two circles. Spoon the filling into the bowls, and place one circle of dough on top of each potpie, pressing the edges to seal the pastry to the bowl. Cut a vent in the center so air and moisture can escape. Using a pastry brush, cover the entire surface of each pie with beaten egg. Bake until the pastry is puffed and becomes a dark golden brown shade, about 35 minutes.

Let me first point out the things I liked about this recipe:

Simple ingredients, most of which I had on hand
The flaky crust!
Easy prep (especially when my sweetie helps me)

Now the things I didn’t find easy, sexy or otherwise appealing

THE LOBSTER PART!

First let’s go over the drama of getting the meat. Don’t believe that little note that says I can find cooked lobster meat at the seafood counter. Every meat counter I went to (with a seafood section) looked at me like I was crazy. Mind you they were stocked full with lobster tails and the kind that are still swimming around in their tanks. That doesn’t really work for me though. You see, I get freaked out whenever I look at, cook or eat anything that looks like it did while it was still alive. When I was younger, I didn’t even like to have the entire turkey on the table at Thanksgiving. I only eat chicken wings if they’ve been broken in half and fish with eyeballs? No way. Just last New Years I convinced myself to cook and eat crab legs and found – to my delight – that I absolutely love them. With that knowledge (and the fact that I knew Merv would help me) I left the store with two small lobster tails.

Things went well from there. Merv cooked the tails, cleaned out the meat and cut it up nicely for use in each potpie. The recipe was, in fact, as easy as it seemed and 40 minutes later we were sitting down to potpies, green salads with Dijon vinaigrette and champagne. I’m the kind of girl who will always eat my salad first, so I set about eating that and Merv started in on the potpie. I find myself drawn to the pastry crust and enjoyed the taste. After finishing my greens I dug into the piping hot middle of my pot pie and took a big bite. It was then that it hit me: I’ve never tasted lobster before. I looked at Merv, bewildered, and asked “Is this what lobster is supposed to taste like?” He assured me it was and I took another bite. This was not at all what I expected. Turns out: I don't like lobster! I guess it would have been a good idea to find that out before putting in the time and effort, but it was still a lesson learned. Don't plan a meal with a main ingredient you're not absolutely sure you love! That said, the base of the recipe is actually pretty doggone good, and I think I’ll be trying it again with some other seafood in its place. Maybe I’ll even continue in search of another potpie recipe. Any ideas out there?

Thrifty Thursday: Get Organized!

2010-02-11T14:48:00.001-06:00

Thrifty Thursday is the weekly spot where I recycle some wisdom and advice I've gleaned during the week. Normally, there would be something about fitness, weight loss, Weight Watchers or nutrition here but today something else caught my eye. Maybe I have Spring Cleaning on the brain. Maybe I'm gearing up for the master bedroom overhaul that will be going on this weekend. There it is. I said it. That's what we've decided to do for Valentine's Day. Now don't look at me like that, it's actually a great idea! Considering all the half done projects and room in our little country house, finishing our sanctuary has become my priority. Besides, when it's done we can enjoy it all day on Valentine's Day!

Today’s advice comes from Good Housekeeping. They caught my eye with a slideshow highlighting 52 Ways to Get Organized. That, my friends, is just what the doctor ordered. We moved into this old farmhouse over a year ago with the intention of fixing it up, but after getting the necessary things done we’ve hit a slump. Because of that, we haven’t fully settled in – meaning I haven’t gotten completely organized. Okay, I realize that never really happens, but I’m not even close. The real reason that’s a problem is because it effects my ability (not willingness) to do housework. The surest way to get me to keep a clean house is to ensure I have a place for everything (so everything can be in its place). Well I’m taking matters into my own hands. This weekend is going to be the beginning of my Projects Around the House (PATH). I plan to research and complete as many of the household projects as I can in the coming months. Let’s face it, Merv: has started a new job/will be spending a lot of time with cattle as calving season starts soon and there are 4-H animals to be tended to/wants to work on motorcycles and trucks/isn’t going to be finding a lot of spare time anytime soon. Looks like I need to take the lead (with a lot of help in the power tools department) and I'm actually looking forward to it.

A few things from the GH list that I need to focus on (before and/or after the other projects):

Organizing shoes and coats in the entryway. We have an informal one, as in we have no closet. We have coat hooks and a shoe rack but it could use some work. We also have a mud room but it's not heated so using it in the winter is pretty much a no go. I think I'd like to get a nice piece of furntiture with doors on the front that I can repurpose to hold shoes and boots by the door with a flat top surface.

Mail Station! Right now there's not a designated place to put mail to be read. (The mail that's been opened is a different problem!) I think I'd like to add something to the aforementioned flat surface as a place to catch mail and keys.

As goofy as this probably seems, I don't have a spice rack! That's a very soon on the to do list item!

Folding space over the washer and dryer. This will probably be part of a larger project in which I will be making a lot of changes to our downstairs bathroom/laundry area.

Hand and Power tool storage. I hate that I can't find anything that I need for these projects. Maybe some peg board and metal shelves should have been my Valentine to him. Oh well, anniversary is comin!

For Good Housekeeping's tips on these problems and to see the entire slideshow check it out!

P.S. None of those pictures should be taken as a literal representation of MY house.

Wordless Wednesday: Waking up on the Farm

2010-02-10T16:30:00.000-06:00

First shot at Wordless Wednesday!

Talk to you tomorrow!

Is it too much to ask?

2010-02-09T13:09:00.000-06:00

You may as well know now, early on in our blogger/bloggee relationship, that I occasionally like to rant. I’m generally a passive aggressive person, so releasing my frustration online is my preferred method.

Today’s rant comes to you from the restroom. No – not the bathroom in my house which I share with three members of the male influence – that’s a story for another time. This time, it’s the small room I share with the women I work with. For over a week now, I’ve noticed the fact that our waste bin is getting full. And by full I mean you have to stand on top of the contents in order to squish them down far enough to add one more paper towel. Now I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking I should just take it out, right? Well I thought of that. Usually, I do that. I’m happy to do so – well, more than willing anyway. This time though I wanted to see how bad it would have to get before someone else took care of the situation. It’s also been a very snowy winter here, but that wouldn’t stop me… just slow me down.

So like I said, it’s been about a week and I’ve been waiting. Then this morning when I took my first potty break I realized there were about 5 paper towels left. Again I thought I’d just see if someone else would fill it. Little did I know that I would come back in after lunch to find that not only was the waste bin full, the paper towels gone, but BOTH rolls of TP were now empty. If I hadn’t had to go so bad I swear I would have boycotted the place for the rest of the day. Really – empty rolls and no courtesy to refill it?
Of course I know everyone else is secretly saying the same thing about me and we all wait for the other to restock the room, so really I have to room to complain. Yet I do it anyway. It’s how I roll

Come on, I had to, it's funny.

Recipe Review: Tuscan Tilapia Fillets

2010-02-09T09:26:00.001-06:00

This recipe is so simple yet so satisfying. After last week's post about Quick but Healthy Meals and My Crazy Night I was pleasantly surprised to find such a fast easy fish recipe.

The ingredients of this healthy recipe are so simple:

Chopped Roma tomatoes, basil and cheese (I used Weight Watchers Colby Jack)

Fish fillets (I even used frozen fish)

Delicious and simple, this recipe went very well with steamed veggies.

Tuscan Tilapia Fillets (Serves 3)
Ingredients
12 oz Tilapia Fillets
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 Roma tomato; chopped, seeded
1/2 Tbsp fresh basil
1 oz fresh Mozzarella (or other cheese) slices

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 F. Salt and pepper tilapia
2. Stir together tomato and basil
3. Place tilapia on a greased baking dish. Bake 6 minutes, top with cheese slices and tomato mixture.
4. Return to oven and cook another 4 minutes.

I actually plan on having the last of this over a tossed salad today for lunch. My tastebuds are already looking forward to it.

Admit It, We All Do It

2010-02-04T10:51:00.001-06:00

Run out of time for making the healthy dinner we deserve, that is.

Tonight I have a million things to do. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, of course – I only have to do 5 or 6 of them – the rest can wait for another day. Merv and I are heading out of town for the weekend which is always fun when we get there but a lot of work before we go. I’m the kind of girl who can take all week to pack one suitcase. First – every piece of clothing I own needs to be clean and put away so I have a full arsenal to choose from. Next, I will likely try on every outfit I consider packing because I’ve had too many times (and by that I mean one time) that I’ve gotten to my destination only to find nothing I packed actually works for me. In addition to packing, I have to:

Get hair done (grays are showing their ugly faces)
Body Attack class
Return to consignment store to pick up the super cute jacket I found on Monday but talked myself out of
Probably spend more time shopping and find nothing, realizing I have a closet full of clean clothes at home that I don’t have to pay for.
Cook dinner
Do enough of my normal weekend housework to not feel like a total slob when I return home.

Today’s find should help with that last one though! I found a consumer review of frozen diet entrees, as well as how to spice them up to make them a “proper” meal. I’ve actually done this before with pasta/vegetable dishes and added meat, but these ideas take it the other way without adding so many calories that you blow your budget. Just may have to add a stop at the store to pick up the goods to have one of these combos. On a pretty plate, he’ll never know. *wink*

Oh, and in case you wondered where we’re jetting off to, we won’t be jetting at all, we’ll be driving the three short hours to Clear Lake, Iowa for '50's in February, the annual tribute held at the legendary Surf Ballroom in honor of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson's last concert and love of music. This will be my third year attending, and I’ve yet to round up a poodle skirt and saddle shoes for dancing the night away. Last year I did improvise with some lovely 50s housewife attire, but next year, I’m going all out!

Dancing shoes on (two nights of swing dancing and 50s music!)

On the third day we made our way to the memorial at the site of the crash.

The "Buddy Holly Glasses" that mark the memorial. Note the snow and ice we trekked through to get to the memorial.

You know, seeing last year's pictures has gotten me excited to go again. Northern Iowa, here we come!

What to Eat When You're Stressed

2010-02-03T13:33:00.007-06:00

What is the best food to eat when you’re stressed? If you’re like me you already know the answer to this question and chocolate is probably in your top three. If I’m talking about what I prefer during high-stress situations, the list would include:

Chocolate (of course)
Wine
Cookies
Potato Chips
anything smothered in cheese.

Unfortunately, I've been craving these things like crazy because stress has come to be my house guest, I found the one way ticket stub and the suitcases are starting to gather dust. (Let me just say that I’m still new to this sharing thing and not sure how much of my personal life to publish) It started when Merv decided to change jobs. We both believe it will be a move to better things and I believe he will be successful. The hours are long right now though and his stress level has gone up (understandably). That of course effects many parts of our lives ranging from the amount of time we spend together to who folds the laundry. I signed up for this support team though (I’m thinking of making shirts for me, his kids and his family) so I don’t mind the changes, but I can’t deny the fact that stress comes along with it.

Two nights ago, we had a long overdue discussion that has since added to our stress. The discussion in question was whether or not we would have children. Brief history: 1:We have both been married before, he has kids, I have none. 2: He’s more than 10 years older than me. During the more than two years we’ve been dating, the topic of having children together has come up, but we always talked about it in abstract without being completely solid in our answers. Of course I always heard the things he said with emphasis on anything indicating he wanted more children. I’m sure he heard the things I said through a filter that told him I wanted none. After hitting on this subject for more than a month now, we decided it was time to make the hard decisions and be honest. Bottom line, he doesn’t think he wants any more children. He has his reasons and I respect them. Now I’m left with two heartbreaking decisions: a future with him and no kids, or one without him but the possibility of kids. Let’s face it, there’s no sure thing in life. Okay, that’s a heavy topic, but hey – it’s life. We’re not giving up though; we’re still talking through each other’s fears and motivations. We’re still discovering where we want to go.

In the meantime, between this discussion, the new job, and my increasingly full schedule I need to know what to eat while I’m stressed! I found this article with 9 food that help reduce stress. That said, I may just have to try these two recipes in the next few days:

Cobb Salad with Flaxseed Oil Dressing

Ingredients
2 Tbsp water
4 tsp flaxseed oil
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp minced garlic
4 cup(s) mixed baby greens, baby arugula blend suggested
4 oz cooked skinless light meat turkey, thinly sliced
1 cup(s) cucumber(s), diced
1 cup(s) grape tomatoes, cut in half
1 medium avocado, Hass, ripe, sliced
2 item(s) whole hard-boiled egg(s), diced
1/2 cup(s) scallion(s), sliced

Instructions
In a small bowl, whisk together water, oil, vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and garlic until blended.

Divide greens among 4 shallow bowls. Top each bowl with 1/4 of turkey, cucumber, tomatoes, avocado, egg and scallions. Drizzle each with about 1 tablespoon of dressing and serve.

Turkey Bagel-Sandwich with Avocado and Green Apple
Ingredients
2Tbsp Weight Watchers Reduced Fat Whipped Cream Cheese Spread
1 item(s) Weight Watchers Original Bagel, lightly toasted and halved
2 oz turkey breast lunch meat (3 1/2-inch square), reduced-sodium, thinly sliced
1/8 small Granny Smith apple(s), unpeeled (2 thin slices)
1/8 medium avocado, ripe (3 thin slices)

Instructions
Spread cream cheese evenly over both sides of toasted bagel. Layer turkey, apple and avocado onto bottom half of bagel. Top with remaining bagel half, wrap securely with plastic wrap, and take it with you. Yields 1 serving.

© 2010 Weight Watchers International, Inc. © 2010 WeightWatchers.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
WEIGHT WATCHERS and POINTS are the registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc. and are used under license by WeightWatchers.com, Inc

Recipe Review: Fennel-Crusted Sirloin Tips with Bell Peppers

2010-02-01T16:29:00.000-06:00

Being in the beginning stages of getting my act together (on this blog anyway) I neglected to take a picture of this wonderful meal!

Here's the recipe as found at delish.com

Ingredients

8 ounce(s) sirloin steak, trimmed of fat and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 teaspoon(s) fennel seed, roughly chopped or coarsely ground in a spice grinder
1/2 teaspoon(s) kosher salt, divided
1 tablespoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon(s) minced garlic
3/4 cup(s) reduced-sodium beef broth, divided
1/4 cup(s) dry red wine
2 bell peppers, cut into 1-inch squares
Freshly ground pepper , to taste
1 tablespoon(s) all-purpose flour

Directions

Rub steak with fennel seed and 1/4 teaspoon salt, turning to coat on all sides. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steak in a single layer and cook, turning once, until browned on the outside and still pink in the middle, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.

Add garlic to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup broth and wine, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Add bell peppers, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper; bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the peppers are tender-crisp, 4 to 6 minutes.

Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup broth and flour in a small bowl. Add to the pepper mixture, increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Return the steak to the pan. Adjust heat to maintain a slow simmer and cook, turning the meat once, about 2 minutes for medium-rare.

The only change I made to this was adding about 1 cup of sliced mushrooms. This recipe was very simple, provided opportunity for teamwork (thanks for doing the prep, honey!) and was raved about with every bite. Even on the second day after for leftovers.

Eat better and exercise smarter.

2010-01-29T13:48:00.001-06:00

On Wednesday I mentioned a new fitness class I was attending. I’ve considered classes before, especially when I was shopping for a gym to join, but I’ve never been sure about joining a class because I was afraid I would fall behind the rest of the class. I feared my current size, shape and weight would keep me from “fitting in.” Frankly I was afraid I couldn’t do it. In the end, I decided to join a gym with a less expensive monthly fee that only offered cardio machines & weights.

Then a friend of mine at work came up to me and showed me a catalogue from a local community college. The college was offering eight week fitness classes through various gyms in our area for a price considerably less than a two month membership. After looking through our options, we decided to go for it and joined a Tuesday/Thursday class of Body Attack™ that began this past Tuesday. I have to say I was right about some things, but wrong about a lot. I was right to expect to find a lot of thin, athletic bodies in the class. I was wrong to think I couldn’t keep up. And sure, I felt a little out of place, but I found that you hardly have time to look around and notice the other people in the class because you’re working so hard. The first night, the challenge was learning the moves. When I got done (and more importantly when I woke up the next day) I didn’t feel that tired or sore. I realized I hadn’t pushed myself as hard as I might have, using the excuse that I was overweight and couldn’t handle it. But last night, I didn’t stop until I couldn’t push anymore. Even then I made sure to carry out all of the low impact/low intensity moves with conviction. I wanted to keep my heart rate up, I wanted to reap the benefits this class was promising! I know each time I go back it’s just going to get better.

So… imagine my defeat when I stumbled across this article this morning: Exercise is NOT the Key to Weight Loss by Jon Herring. After reading this I went in search of more supporting evidence I traveled over to WebMD and found Exercise and Weight Loss: 5 Truths by Miranda Hitti.

Seems to me it still comes down to calories in vs. calories out. As explained by MayoClinic.com,

Because 3,500 calories equals about 1 pound (0.45 kilogram) of fat, you need to burn 3,500 calories more than you take in to lose 1 pound. So if you cut 500 calories from your diet each day, you'd lose about 1 pound a week (500 calories x 7 days = 3,500 calories). Exercise along with cutting calories helps boost your weight loss. Exercise is also important for maintaining your weight and not regaining weight. (click here for article)

Personally, I use the POINTS™ system from Weight Watchers to track the amount of points I earn through physical activity and the amount of points I’ve consumed. It helps me see what I’ve worked for and then make a conscientious decision about whether or not I should eat those points or leave them. At least now I know why I crave Dill Pickle Potato Chips after Body Attack class!

A new addition to the house

2010-01-27T13:56:00.002-06:00

Even though I have always been against having a bathroom scale in my home in the past, I’ve begun to reconsider. I haven’t been attending Weight Watchers meetings that regularly and I’m even considering switching to WW Online. The problem lies in the fact that I have no good way to measure my progress at home, and don’t especially like the doctor’s office/push the weight across the scale until it balances kind they have at the gym. Other benefits to having one at home include:

• Weighing myself at the same time each week (Saturday morning thank you)

• Not having to worry about what I’m wearing and “how much more do these jeans & sweater weigh than that jersey knit dress I wore last week?”

• Merv can also track his weight loss

• The wrestler in the family can keep a closer eye on his weight

So as you can see, it’s not a completely selfish decision.

The timing is great too because I just found a coupon for $5 off a Weight Watchers Scale.

Click image to print from coupons.com. Go to Personal Care, I found it on page 2.

On another note, I started a new fitness class last night but want to wait until I get one more dose of it on Thursday to report on it.

Surviving the Super Bowl (in so many ways)

2010-01-26T13:14:00.002-06:00

Good day sunshine! We finally have a sunny day here in eastern Iowa. The wind is still blowing around the bit of snow we received yesterday, and at last check the wind chill was below 0, but seeing that lemon-yellow ball in the sky makes it all more tolerable.
I had a great week last week staying on track. I even allowed myself to have some fun with the girls for a late evening get together where I shared some chips & salsa and light beer. Then the weekend came…

We’re a Vikings house. I don’t know if you heard, but there was a pretty big game for the Vikings over the weekend. Now I’m not here to talk about the disappointing performance (but if we hadn’t had 5 turnovers, and if the O-line hadn’t let Farve get hit something like 15 times, I think I’d be planning a Super Bowl Party), but I am here to talk about the food, drinks and full afternoon of couch potato state that I faced on Sunday. Basically, I’m talking about a Football Party gone ~~wrong~~ halfway right actually.

I had a variety of food that I prepared myself so I could keep track of the Points™ Value more accurately. Included in the fare were Chicken Drumsticks (in place of wings), homemade meatballs in BBQ sauce, Tortilla Chips (both baked and regular) with homemade salsa, make your own sandwiches, a vegetable platter and both Rice-Krispy treats and scotcharoos. I avoided snacking while cooking by sipping a glass of red wine and then water all afternoon. During the game, I alternated my light beer with water again, and stuck to the chicken, chips & salsa and veggies.

I’d like to share a couple of the recipes I used, including one of the dipping sauces for the chicken (the others were store bought BBQ & Hot Wing Sauce)

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce:
Serves 4
Taken from the a recipe for Honey-Mustard Roasted Salmon Weight Watchers subscribers only)
POINTS™ Value: 1
1/4 cup(s) Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
1/4 tsp dry mustard, hot-variety
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Whisk together all ingredients and serve over fish, chicken or pork or as a dipping sauce on the side.

(Light and) Tasty Baked MeatballsServes 6
Original recipe from AllRecipes.com
Original POINTS™:16
Lightened POINTS™:12

3 pounds extra-lean ground beef or turkey
1 1/2 cups Italian-seasoned dry bread crumbs
1 (10.5 ounce) can reduced fat cream of mushroom soup
3 eggs whites, lightly beaten
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix

Directions:

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line two baking sheets with aluminum foil and lightly grease.
2. Mix together the ground beef, bread crumbs, cream of mushroom soup, egg white, Parmesan cheese, and onion soup mix. Shape the mixture into balls about the size of a golf ball. Arrange on the prepared baking sheets.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

Yeilds approx. 36 meatballs.

I lightened the original recipe by using 93% lean or higher ground beef, reduced fat soup and egg whites over whole eggs. This recipe freezes well, so make a bunch. I thought I’d have some to freeze when I made over 100 meatballs, but we were left with just enough to fill a 2 cup container for leftovers this week (sandwiches boys!)
Finally, I’ve dug around my archives and found someone else’s advice on getting through big game days. I’m sure all of you who actually plan to celebrate the Super Bowl will find the information useful. I, on the other hand, will still be watching for the commercials so even though I may be less glued to the couch/television, I still may need a few tips of my own:

I like the tips for those hosting here: AssociatedContent and here: Fitness Magazine and for the guest here: eHow.com. There’s a great selection of more recipes here: eatingwell.com