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(This Blog Post was originally posted on Jan. 7, 2014. The Breakfast Recipe in this post has been revised as of Jan. 26, 2014.) I’ve been throwing lots of things in the skillet lately. I have discovered some of my favorite dishes by doing this. I pick out the veggies that I want, decide on a protein, then I decide how I will make it creamy or juicy or saucy? Sometimes I add pasta or quinoa, sometimes I don’t. This seems to be working great for any meal of the day, and really…….if you’re a veggie fan, the possibilities are endless! I usually start with Olive Oil and a chopped onion. It all seems to come together best with fresh veggies, or frozen veggies that I have cooked. If I am using potatoes, I cook them in the microwave, then dice them up. Having cooked shredded chicken ready to go […]

It’s been a busy few days! Let me jump right in! Friday morning at Weight Watchers was brutal due to my ridiculously painful headache! I then left to meet my coach for lunch. I was super close to canceling due to the headache I was on day three of, but I just kept driving, and apparently, due to a stupid auto correct typo and a misunderstanding of where we were having lunch, I was driving in the wrong direction, and I was already running late. When I reached the assumed destination, it was established that we were just not meant to meet that day. So we’re rescheduling…… The WW meeting on Friday morning was all about Simple Start, but I don’t think I learned anything that I haven’t already blogged about it. I was curious though what my Leader thought about it, and she said she loves it and has […]

So now that I’ve actually taken some time to think about the year ahead, I’ve come up with a short term plan for myself for the next 6 weeks. If you read my blog regularly, you know that I seem to work best with a short term plan. That long term stuff just kinda stresses me out! Short term always feels very doable and realistic for me! Feeling a little bummed that I am not a WW employee by now, I need a job! I need more responsibility! I need to put on real clothes each day! I need a schedule! I want to feel like I have accomplished something of importance or value at the end of the day. I’ve come to the conclusion……that “I” am my job for the next six weeks. I’m hiring ME! I will follow a schedule that will include what time I get out […]

For the last FOUR years, I have been truly super excited about the previous year, and really looking forward to the year that was ahead. I consider myself to be an optimist and I feel like I am full of positive thoughts. I always seem to be planning my next move, whether it be a social outing, a trip, a change in exercise routine, my next blog post or what new food I’m thinking about trying. Honestly, right now, my mind feels a little blank. 2013 was odd. I spent a lot of 2013 reflecting. I have NOT spent a lot of time reflecting recently about the year as a whole. A ton of great things happen during the year! I made a lot of progress in my personal goals and in my health. Great things happened for my family. But for me, the year was full of things that […]

I’m not quite certain, but I think it’s going to be a quiet night in tonight. The Holiday’s have been super busy, as usual, and the last few days have been full as well. Not having real specific plans tonight means no temptations of party foods and party drinks, and losing weight last week over Christmas, and looking like I am going to lose weight over New Year’s week also? Well, I’m thinking staying in is a good idea….Don’tcha think? I’ll get in an extra long treadmill workout today, and plan a great dinner to have in tonight! If YOU are going out tonight, please be safe! Breakfast   Lunch I went out with a friend, and forgot to take pictures. I ordered the oatmeal and fruit, just like I did when we ate out on Sunday!   Snack   Dinner A few Un-pictured Snacks (turkey tenderloin, shrimp, 2 stuffed […]

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I am trying Weight Watcher’s new Simple Start Plan to get off the 10 pounds that I have put on through the months of November and December. I think Simple Start was designed as a 2 Week Plan for New Members so they are not overwhelmed with calculating points.  Now, I’m not certain that is why WW created Simple Start, but it makes sense to me to make things as simple as possible for those just starting out on a weight loss journey. Change can be hard, and why not make it as easy as possible. (Any Weight Watcher member can do Simple Start.) I like Simple Start because I like having the list of food’s that they give you that you can eat and not have to count or write them down. It’s Simple!  I am enjoying pushing my […]

Over the summer and into the Fall, I was getting in some awesome long walks outside. Then the weather got cold……and the outdoor walks seemed to dwindle…..and eventually disappeared completely. With the weather predictions being in the upper 50’s for the day, I knew I was going to get in a good walk outside on Saturday. I asked a friend to join me, knowing I would walk even further if she went. She did, and we walked over 7 miles!!   It felt great to get in a good walk and breathe in the fresh air. I thought I’d be a little sore when I got home, but I felt great! With the single digit weather predictions for the next few days, it’ll likely be a while before that happens outside again. It feels so good to be back in control and feel the puffiness in my body disappearing. It’s […]

Well, it was nice to go to a meeting and see a loss for a change. AND, it’s Christmas Week! So I will do a second week of Simple Start and see how it goes. Simple Start is being officially introduced at next week’s meeting, so I’m really excited to see how Joan, my leader, presents it at the meeting and hear what she thinks of it! I lost a pound and I feel like I ate a lot! I worked hard on Friday to make sure I was eating only items off of the approved list for Simple Start.  I had plans with friends in the evening, and I planned on using a portion of my 49 points for drinks. The only food that I ate that was not a part of the Simple Start list, was the cheese on my salad for dinner. If I had been paying […]

Our son, Jake, did a great job of capturing a few Christmas memories…… Anne got her dad an awesome Canvas with a picture of her and her dad on her wedding day…..   He is the “Best Gift Opener” ever, because he say’s “It’s just what I’ve wanted for my whole life!” ….a lot.      Papa Mike coloring……..     Anne and her two beautiful babies…..daddy had to work. 🙁     These two kids….      This nativity scene was my parents when I was a kid. I love that I have it!      These were my favorite, so I had to share…..   “love the life you live, live the life you love”

Every year I say, “Now THIS was the best Christmas Ever!” And then it happens again the following year. I picked up Tess late at the airport on the 23rd and we got in a couple of our favorite Christmas Light Displays just before midnight. It’s hard for me to imagine a Christmas without Candy Cane Lane!   Christmas Eve day was spent preparing for a houseful later! We made mulled cider…..in my Great Grandmother’s Cast Iron Pot!! We made Christmas Punch, and we set up a bar with a variety of Christmas spirits! We made meatballs with grape jelly and chili sauce in the crockpot (a favorite party food!), and I watched Tess assemble her Gingerbread house. It was one of those Christmas’s that I just wanted to enjoy every moment and be in the moment, so I didn’t spend a lot of time taking pictures, but everyone else […]