Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Day 15...

Clearly my blog has not become a daily diet journal as I had so hoped it would become on Day 1. Thankfully, I'm slightly more diligent in the diet itself. I hate that word, though. DIET. Ick. How about a lifestyle change? I've done this before, certainly I can do it again!



I have to make a serious effort to only weigh myself once a week. If I do it more often, I notice all the small fluctuations due to water weight and hormones, and I just get discouraged!  I weighed myself this morning for the first time in nine days, and I was done 5 pounds! WOO HOO!!!  When I lost a significant amount of weight last time, I was 21 years old. There were weeks I lost NINE pounds, doing nothing but partying and eating the classic Jack in the Box tacos at 4am every night. Not exactly the healthiest way to lose weight. Now it's coming of slower, but permanently.

It's That Time of Year!

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. What's not to love? You get to dress up and eat lots of candy and sweets! Not to mention, in Texas that's about the time it really starts turning to Fall. My absolute favorite season! This year, Halloween, and all the holidays are extra special. This is my first year as a Mommy! I went through many ideas for Halloween costumes for my little princess, but finally settled on this adorable butterfly costume! Cant wait to see her in it!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Easy Lamp Project for the Baby Girl

If I could find a way to read blogs all day and get paid for it, you'd better believe I'd be doing it! My most recent obsession is decorating on the cheap. I got a wild hair this weekend and decided to start some projects. I have hundreds of projects I've started, I should take a whole week and focus on finishing them all!

This one, I did finish. Well, sort of. I decided to recover a lampshade in my little Princess's nursery. I started off with a pink and brown polka dot theme, it somehow evolved into green and pink paisley, and now I'm going an entirely different direction when we move. I'm not yet sure exactly what I want to do, but it's going to involve the colors in this new lampshade. This project was extraordinarily easy!

All I needed was:


  • a hot glue gun
  • fabric glue (although I was out, and decoupage glue worked fine)
  • 1/2 yard fabric of your choice
  • about 2 1/2 feet ribbon of your choice
  • lampshade (not pleated)
I just measured the fabric out to go around the lampshade, and then applied glue to the lampshade in sections. I basically rolled it onto the fabric like a burrito, painting glue as I went along.  


Once I finished that step, I took hot glue and glued right along the seam of the shade. I also did the very tip top of the lampshade and just folded the fabric over. It looked just fine. I cut off any extra pieces, and just folded the edges so it looked clean.

Then I added the ribbon along the top and bottom in the same fashion as the fabric, using the hot glue instead of the decoupage glue.


   Very simple project! I spent $0 (I had everything already), but I wouldn't have spent much even if I didn't have it in my inventory. I still need to paint the lamp itself, but a very simple project that made a big difference!






Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Another Great Deal!

Calloway's Nursery's are selling Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkins 3 for $14 on Tuesdays only. Theirs are much prettier than what you can pick up at your local mega mart!

Coupon of the Day: Austin

Oh, how I love me some Groupon.



I know everyone who lives in Austin has seen the bats 400+ times. Except me!! Of course, I don't technically live there yet.

Anywho...here is a great coupon for $5 for a 7pm Sunset/Bat Watching Cruise on a Riverboat. You can purchase up to 2, and only 1 is redeemable per person.

Not a bad deal!

http://www.groupon.com/now/deals/5-for-7-p-m-sunset-bat-watching-cruise-at-lone-star-riverboat-21?category=have-fun

Monday, October 10, 2011

Low-Fat Clean Eating Chicken and Dumplings

I have had a serious craving for Chicken and Dumplings lately. My Mom makes a mean pot, but I'm fairly certain her version isn't low-fat. (Part of the reason they are DELICIOUS!)





In my diligent online search for the perfect recipe of low-fat recipe, I found this show-stopper that I can't wait to try! Very simple, too!

*3 boneless chicken breasts (organic, free-range)
*1 can reduced-fat cream of chicken soup (Amy's or Pacific brand)
*1 can fat-free, low-sodium chicken stock (Amy's of Pacific brand)
*5 (FRESH) flour tortillas, cut into 2 inch squares
*S & P
*1/2 tsp celery  salt
*dash of thyme

Put all ingredients in a crock-pot on low heat for 6-8 hours. 20-30 minutes prior to serving, add tortillas and let them soak up juices. Shred chicken prior to serving. Will pull apart easily when ready.






* UPDATE*


I actually made these chicken and dumplings tonight! (10/11/11) By no means would they ever stand up to the original recipe that you spend all day making, but for an easy, filling, comforting weeknight supper...they are perfection! Depending on how thick you like the broth, I would add more chicken broth to the recipe, I added another cup. The tortillas made a great dumpling, but need to be cooked at least 30 minutes. You don't need all five tortillas, either. I just used one, and that was plenty. Also, if you are feeding more than 2 people, double this recipe!

I will definitely make this again!

Weekend Dilemma

Well, obviously my super idea about blogging every single day through my diet journey did not work. Except for that one day!

My diet is great, Monday-Friday. I pack my lunch and 2 snacks every day, and usually have oatmeal with flax seeds for breakfast with a fruit and a splash of soymilk. Dinner usually works out pretty well. The main thing I really try to focus on at dinner is portion control.

My real problem is getting through the weekends! Currently my husband and I live in two different cities. He's already moved down there to start a new job, and I am still at home getting ready for the move. He comes up every weekend, or I go down there occasionally. It's like a vacation every weekend for one of us! We totally treat it that way, too! Especially when it comes to food!

For instance, yesterday, we went out to eat for lunch and dinner. I had chicken alfredo for lunch with a cesar salad, and for dinner I had a New York dog from Sonic! UGH!! Complete and total fail. I need serious motivation to get through this calorie-laden weekends. Any suggestions?

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Missing Baby Girl

One more post...only because this story breaks my heart. I'm posting this because you just never know how far things reach on the internet, and maybe this will reach someone who has more information that could bring this girl home.




Kansas City police have issued an Amber Alert for a missing 10-month-old girl who disappeared from her home overnight.
Police said Lisa Irwin was last seen on Monday at 10:30 p.m. asleep in her crib. Officers were called to the house in the 3600 block of North Lister Avenue at 4 a.m. by the girl's parents.
Throughout the morning, investigators could be seen dusting for fingerprints at the home. Initially, police officers were closely examining a window. But authorities stressed that they were looking at all possibilities.
"A window looked like it might be a point of entry, but we're trying to put all the pieces together," police Capt. Steve Young said.
In a late morning development, KMBC's Peggy Breit reported that the girl's mother was taken in a police cruiser to police headquarters for an interview.
Police said Lisa has blue eyes and blond hair. She is 30 inches tall and weighs 26 to 30 pounds. She has two bottom teeth, a small bug bite under her left ear, a beauty mark on her right outer thigh and currently has a cold with a cough.
The baby was last seen wearing purple shorts and a purple shirt with white kittens on it.
Anyone with information was urged to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
"I realize that some of these Amber Alerts involve parents or parental abductions, but we have both the parents here. So that puts us on a little higher state of alert," police Sgt. Stacey Graves said.
Breit reported that the FBI was also involved in the investigation. Agents were seen going inside the house and searching outside it.
KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported that authorities concentrated some of their search efforts in a wooded area to the west of home.
Mahoney also pointed out that the location of the home is not a place where you can get to by accident. The street is on a windy complex of roads, and he reported that you really have to know where you're going to get to the house.

Mossimo Jeans at Target for $6 a pair!

We all wear jeans, and some of us live in them! If you purchase through shopathome.com, you can get 5 pairs of jeans for $6/piece from Target.

My experience with Mossimo jeans is that they run small, so you may want to go up a size (or join me on my diet adventure! haha)


Directions below:


*Search for “Mossimo Supply Bootcut Jeans” and click on the Medium Tint jeans that are $16.
*Add four pairs to your cart and it will knock down the price to $24 and give you free shipping.
*Within 30-60 days, you’ll receive 3% cashback in your ShopAtHome account plus a free $5 bonus if this is your first order.
*Go to checkout and place your order.

Day 1...

Well, so far today I've had a Caffe Americano from Starbucks. 15 calories, WooHoo! 1/2 cup of shredded wheat with vanilla soy milk, a sliced chicken breast sandwich on whole grain bread and homemade tomato soup.

...and you know what? I WISH I HAD A BIG FAT BURRITO FROM CHIPOTLE.



Oh well. Not going to happen. Going to stay motivated one day at a time!

Monday, October 03, 2011

It's Time to Take Control...

Do you ever see a random picture of yourself and think "Who is that fat person?"...."Oh crap, it's me." Well, I've been doing so-so on the recent clean eating adventure. In fact, I could be doing a lot better. I seem to get through each day okay, and then come home and I'm too tired to make anything, or I eat way too much of the somewhat healthy meal that did manage to make it on the table. Not anymore...this is my life and the only person who's going to make that difference is me. 9 months ago, the most amazing thing happened. I had a beautiful, wonderful, amazing, perfect little girl who brings the greatest joy I can describe into my life on a daily basis. However, in making this perfect little being, I seemed to gain nearly 40 pounds. 24 came off the day after she was born, but those last 16 are still there! Not to mention, 12 more of their annoying little friends!! Everyone of them is in the wrong place, too. They all seem to gravitate south, or to the lovely underarm area I refer to as the "Cafeteria-lady zone".

Today I set my goals. There was a time before I got married and had my daughter that I was much heavier, than I even am now. I lost 60 pounds through Weight Watchers, and amazing support I had at the time. My Mom and I were doing it together, and everyone I worked with was on the same plan as well. I've got it in me to accomplish this! From now on, this blog is my weight loss journey. My goal is to lose 50 pounds. I will blog through this journey at least three times a week. I will add diet tips, recipes, success stories of friends, and in a few months my own success story. I will let you know how Day 1 goes tomorrow!
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