Eat, Sleep & Whatever Else It Takes To Lose Weight

Hello all! I hope your week is stress free! I won’t take this opportunity to turn right around and discuss how NOT stress free my week has been because I think that is sort of a cheap intro. I will instead take this opportunity to discuss the recipe I made last night:



This was a cheeseburger casserole. I say “was” literally because there is none left. It looks like more than it actually was. It had Yukon Gold Potatoes, ground turkey, mushrooms, onions, garlic, a low fat Velveeta cheese sauce and crunched up Baked Tostitos. It wasn’t bad...I think the next time I make it, I will add some low fat cream of mushroom soup or something. Turkey can get dry very easily and this casserole didn’t really have a proper binder that would keep the turkey moist. I think it would be worth it to add more points so the casserole is rich. Having said all that, I still ate it of course and it tasted good. I am obviously in a cooking mood because every time I open my refrigerator, I look at unused items and think about what sort of meal I could throw together. I have my heart set on making chili dogs & fries this week so I will have to let you know how those turn out. Normally, I make my recipe on Tuesday’s but I have dinner plans with my friend Stacey at Moe’s tonight and I haven’t been there since like Saturday so clearly, it’s emergency status.

Saturday morning, I went to weigh on the scale and I was only down .4 so I decided I needed to reevaluate and weigh again. Basically what that means is I took my pedometer off and forced myself to go number 1 again before I got back on the scale. Would you believe that little bathroom pep talk pushed me to be down .8 on the scale? I know, I know, that’s cheating but I don’t care...my spirit needed that extra .4. That brings my total loss to over 64 pounds. I am hoping to show a little more loss this Saturday morning. I have almost completely made it through June without slipping up at all. I’m very proud of myself. While I know there may be a couple Saturday’s in July that I’m not perfect, I really don’t want to go overboard. I want to show some restraint with my cheating instead of always making myself so sick. We’ll have to see how that goes. So, after this weekend, I may do a lot of staying the same weight give or take a pounds for a few weeks. That’s OK though...I hope to get down 7-8 pounds by the end of September. I know that’s a slow rate but if I’m being realistic, I’m going at a slow rate. I have decided that my more major goal will be centered around the renewal of my driver’s license next year in May...I no longer want to be a liar in the weight section on my license. We will see if I can pull that one off.

This past weekend was a lot of fun. Mya’s birthday party was great. It was really hot outside but there was a bouncy house thing and they did it up big with food...great party Whitney! I posted a couple pictures below of Mya and then one of me and the bubble blower I got her. Did you know that it takes a degree in rocket science to open kids toys these days? It’s ridiculous. Anyway, Jordan and I also had fun going to the Mamma Mia sing-a-long Saturday night. All in all, it was a good weekend.




Have a splendid afternoon/week! P.S. Welcome back to the states Nish!

“I might have a reckless streak
at least a country-mile wide...” Real Good Man-Tim McGraw

There is a cloud following me today...be careful.

I am happy that it’s Friday but I have to be honest, I have not had the best day. I have more drama with student loans that I won’t go into and then I got COMPLETELY soaked at lunch from a sudden monsoon that hit Tuscaloosa this afternoon. It’s got me kind of gloomy and since I can’t binge eat or get into some retail therapy...I’m just plain grouchy. I won’t give the details because it will bore you and it may cause me to take another nerve pill.

As a quick note, I blogged about my recipe yesterday and my mom’s friend Heather suggested I make a stuffed pepper that substitutes turkey for the beef, brown rice for white and a yogurt sauce instead of cheese! That was a good idea. I’m not big on peppers but I could certainly do that the next time I stuff a zucchini or maybe a potato??? I think next week’s recipe is going to be a cheeseburger casserole...yum!

I don’t have too much to say today except that I am excited about TV right now. Most of the primetime shows are on hiatus BUT all of the best shows on HBO and Showtime are starting back and those are some of my favorites! They are all so well written and edgy and I love them.

These are some of my faves:






I love Entourage and just recently watched all of the episodes of Weeds so I’m excited for both of those to come back. True Blood is awesome and is another that I started late and just caught up on. I haven’t seen The Big C because it hasn’t started yet but it’s going to have Laura Linney in it and I love her so I am sort of already assuming that it will be one of my favorite shows.

I have a fun weekend planned. I think that my aunt and cousins may be coming this weekend so I will get to see them a bit.
My friend Whitney’s baby girl Mya is turning 2 on Saturday!



I am going to her party tomorrow and rumor has it there will be a bouncy thing...I’m pretty excited.

Then I am going to Birmingham for the night to stay with Jordan and we are going to a sing-a-long showing of Mamma Mia!

Of course Sunday I will celebrate another strict week with food and then I’m hoping to rest some Sunday night and spend time with my folks.

It should be a busy weekend. I am excited about it but I am even more excited that the next weekend will last for 3 DAYS!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Wish me luck stepping on the scales tomorrow!

“Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.” Little Boxes-Malvina Reynolds

The Apartment Chef (Good Pitch For A New Food Network Show?)

Is it just me or is this week going by extremely slow? It feels like it should be Friday...wishful thinking I guess. So, last night was my recipe night and I made Beef-Stuffed Zucchini with a side of Rotini Pasta that had a store bought roasted garlic tomato sauce on it:



It looks kind of pretty huh? I thought this was good. It was very filling which is important to me. I have sort of learned what foods are going to stick with me and those kind of veggies and pasta are always good options. It had olive oil and cheese and beef so there was a lot of flavor. I like squash and zucchini a lot so this worked for me. My only problem is that sometimes, when vegetables aren’t sautéed and they are just baked or boiled, they are squeaky on my teeth. Does that make sense? Last night I bit into the zucchini and the bottom of it squeaked around on my teeth. This happened with green beans last week. It drives me kind of crazy. Maybe I am losing it. Has anyone else had this problem? All in all though, the meal was tasty...it was a bit involved because you have to dig the flesh out of the zucchini, save it, mix stuff...it wasn’t hard...just took over an hour in total for it to be done. I’m not sure what next week’s recipe will be but I do know that at some point next week, I have reserved some time to make those cheese fries I loved with some turkey chili dogs...OOH...OR I could put the turkey chili ON the fries and then have my low fat hot dogs too...yum...I’m happy about that prospect. That can’t count as my recipe though so I will have to figure that one out.

I also wanted to take a minute to tell you about a couple of 1 point snacks that I have come to really love. As I lose weight, I also lose points, so I am really trying to find good 1 point snacks out there that I can eat.



These are SOOOO good. Hostess also has a chocolate version that is 1 point (I don’t think the other 100 calorie snack cakes are 1 point because for some reason the strawberry and chocolate ones have more fiber) but I don’t like it that well. I think that because I am such a chocolate snob, the chocolate cakes taste very...diet-y. The strawberry ones, however, are kind of delicious. You get three mini-cakes (about 2 bites a piece) that have cream in the middle and the cake is strawberry flavored...they are very yummy!



Wheat Thins has come out with these flat breads that come in different flavors (I have the garlic & parsley) and basically they are just long crackers and for two of them, it only costs you 1 point (60 calories). They are also a nice option. They have strong flavor and I like to break them up into several pieces so I can get more bites out of it.

Those are just a couple of ideas for snacks to have...if you are like me...I have a drawer full of snacks because I never want to be stuck without anything eat. If you go home after work and you are starving...you will binge eat...so if you HAVE to eat and you don’t have many calories to spare, those are perfect options.

Tonight, I am headed to see Grace Potter and the Nocturnals in Birmingham with some friends. Honestly, I only know 1 song by them but I love it and from what I’ve heard, I really think that I will really enjoy her/their music. Maybe after I go to the concert, I will have someone new to follow. I LOVE new music.

I hope you all have a great night and wonderful remainder of your week!

Bye!



“Yesterday he said my eyes
Were fading fast away
I said well what do you expect
You asked me not to stay and if it had all been for the best
I wouldn't feel this way
And he said

Oh he said it's crazy
How love stays with me
You know it hurts me
Cause I don't wanna fight this war
It's amazing to see me reading through this scene
Of love and fear and apologies

My love is like a blanket
That gets a little bit too warm sometimes
I wanna wrap somebody in it
Who can hold me in his arms
Cause when it got a little too hot in there
He was always stepping out for air and he froze
Oh he froze

He said it's crazy
How love stays with me
You know it hurts me
Cause I don't wanna fight this war
It's amazing to see me reading through this scene
Of love and fear and apologies

Yesterday he looked at me
With a tear in his eye and said
I'll always tell you you're my friend
I hope I don't have to lie
Cause it's clear you love another man
I said you're damn right

And he said
He said it's crazy
How love stays with me
You know it hurts me
Cause I don't wanna fight this war
It's amazing to see me reading through this scene
Of love and fear and apologies
He said it's crazy
How love stays with me
You know it hurts me
That I didn't figure it out before
And now it's too late for a soliloquy
It's way too late for dignity
It's time for apologies.” Apologies-Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Momentum.

Guess What? I FINALLY lost weight!!! I lost 2 pounds last week! That brings the total to 63.6 pounds! I got the BIG MO and trust me when I tell you that momentum is probably over half of the battle for me. I really needed to lose so I could feel a sense of accomplishment. I have been working hard and I finally got rid of all that dirty birthday weight. Also, I made it through yet another Saturday in June where there was no cheating. Luckily, my mother is a great cook and if I need to eat healthy, she accommodates me. While everyone else had hamburgers and hotdogs and yummy potatoes, I enjoyed a big, juicy turkey burger and a baked potato so it made it MUCH easier to eat with everyone (we won’t talk about the binge-fest that was my cheat day on Sunday). I only have one more Saturday left in June and then I will get a bit of a break on Saturday’s two weeks in a row as I have plans for those weekends. After that though, I will try to have an Amazing August and a Superb September or some form of alliterative title that will motivate me to do a good job on Saturday’s because it really pays off. I will work just as hard this week so I can [hopefully] see another loss this Saturday. I only have about 3 more pounds before I have to take away another point from my daily allowance and that always gives my body a little boost so it looks like I am moving right along.

I tell you what, if you are in Alabama right now, it is so HOT. I heard someone say that you get used to the heat but I have lived here since 1996 and I have NEVER gotten used to this heat. My car is black and so I’m sure it attracts a ton of heat and I got in it the other day and y’all I swear it felt like I was about to drown in it. I cracked my windows this afternoon so hopefully that will help. I need to get a window shield because my goodness...it is unholy out there. It’s even worse to walk or exercise in it. My mom and I took my dog Pacey to the river to walk this weekend and I wasn’t sure that he was going to make it. He isn’t exactly in the best shape but he has been doing better but this Saturday...he could barely hang. When we were done, we let him get a drink in the river and he just walked in up to his chest and stood there and when we got in the car...he just fell over in the back seat. Bless his heart...I was worried I had killed my dog.

Speaking of all that, I’m actually going to be walking/suffering in the heat this afternoon with my mom because I haven’t walked today. Woohoo! I complain the whole time...that’s not an exaggeration. I posted some pictures below from this weekend. One is with my brother, Dad and I on Father’s Day, one is of me and Jordan at my apartment and one is of our dog Dixie, she had my brothers sunglasses on her butt.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that you have a peaceful week at work.

Have a good night!

Bye!





“This is your life,
And yet somehow,
They decide,
What you're about,
You learn your lines,
And take your cues,
But who are you listening to?

You change your clothes,
And how you speak,
You place your hope,
In what they think,
Before you know
There's no more you,
Who are you listening to-
Have you noticed how much you fear,
All the voices you choose to hear

Who are you listening to?
Who tells you what to do?
Who rules your thoughts at night?
Whose rules define your life?
Oh, you know it's up to you,
So who are you listening to

This is your life,
You have no choice,
You will rely
On someone's voice,
And it's all right
To question who,
Who are you listening to?
Do the words that you believe
Set your soul and spirit free?

There's a quiet voice,
Whispering in your heart,
It's been there all along,
It believes in you,
It will tell the truth,
Can't you hear it call?” Who Are You Listening To?-Ginny Owens

Don't Forget To Get Y'all's Deddy's Something For Father's Day!

That’s right y’all, Sunday is Father’s Day so don’t forget. That is a picture of me and my Dad after my MFA graduation. He’s always proud of me (I should say most of the time) but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him more proud than the day I graduated from the University of Alabama. He’s the most sentimental Dad ever but I love that! So-Happy Father’s Day Dad!!! I look forward to having good food with you on Sunday and yes of course, I have a present for you. There is a chance that I will take a couple of pictures this weekend and as always, if I do, I will be sure to post them on my next blog.

I think that I have mentioned the elliptical that Cassandra purchased awhile back for our apartment. It is not as loose as the ellipticals at the gym. Basically, it feels like a Stair Master that Satan got a hold of...yeah...that one. Well, I RARELY get on it because I swear it nearly kills me every time. Yesterday, I didn’t get out of the bed in time to walk so I had to exercise after work. It was ridiculously hot outside so I decided to do the elliptical. I did it for 50 minutes and WOW...that thing should be banned. The good news is that I got my heart rate up way higher than it normally goes so I guess I got a good cardio workout but jeez...it was tough.

I am going to weigh in the morning at my apartment and I REALLY hope that I show at least a little loss. I’ve been working very hard and I haven’t cheated at all Monday-Saturday for 3 weeks so I’m thinking that I have made up for my birthday AND that I may be down. Even if it’s just a little bit then I will be happy but I want it to be something so I don’t get discouraged. There is only so much soup, green beans, fat free cheese and sugar free popsicles that I can take without the reward of losing weight so everyone keep their fingers crossed. I’m sure it will be a good result...I’ve got this. Either way, I will still be grumpily trudging along with the diet.

I get to see Jordan again this weekend! Woot. He is coming in for Father’s Day this weekend so we get to hang out. I think we have major party plans and/or plans to eat and catch up on some TV we both mutually watch. Hey-we are getting old. I can only really handle going “out” about once a month.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and a wonderful Father’s Day!!!

Bye!

“And they said, Let me tell you a secret, about a fathers love,
A secret that my daddy said was just between us
You see daddies don’t just love their children every now and then,
It’s a love without end, Amen, it’s a love without end, Amen.” A Father’s Love-George Strait

Sloppy Joe Slop Sloppy Joe

Happy Wednesday Everyone! It was kind of weird not blogging yesterday but it was also kind of awesome. I think this new 2-3 day a week thing is really going to be better for me and you.

Last night was recipe night:



It was Turkey Sloppy Joes & Cheese Fries. It may not look all that appetizing but it was delicious. I cut the potatoes in a fry shape and none of them were more than a half inch thick and I covered them in Olive Oil Pam, salt, pepper and in the end of their time in the oven, I sprinkled fat free cheese all over the top. It was SOOOOO good. They were crispy and spicy because I put so much pepper on them. The only tricky part was the cheese. Technically, the recipe called for low fat cheese but as usual, they didn’t have what I needed at Target so I got the Kraft fat free shredded kind and it’s pretty good I guess...better than any other fat free cheese but the only problem with fat free and low fat cheese is that it doesn’t melt. It makes me nervous because I put those potatoes with cheese on top in a 400 degree oven for several minutes and opened it up and the cheese looked like it just came out of the refrigerator. I mean...what the heck goes into this cheese to make it so resistant to heat? I’m just sayin’. The Sloppy Joes were also delicious. They were spicy with garlic, onions and premade Sloppy Joe mix. Overall, it was my favorite recipe meal yet...it was filling and I was still able to have a snack after I ate it. *Pats self on back.*

In other news, the Today Show ran yet another story on pre-packaged, lean, frozen meals this morning. Evidently, the FDA allows for a 20% margin of error on calories and fat in all nutrition facts. This is especially disturbing when you purchase Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine & Smart Ones meals. Some of the content was actually lower but in most cases, you could be getting 3-10% more calories & fat in your meals. Smart Ones are the worst (of course) out of all of them for being wrong. One shrimp dish they used as an example had 350% higher fat than what was advertised. This is so ridiculous. Those percentages can really make a difference if you are counting calories and you eat a lot of these meals for a long period of time. Those companies that make these foods argue that no two pieces of meat are the same size and so what they do is take maybe 10 meals and average the nutrional data. I am thinking that I am going to try to wean myself off of those because a) I obviously know now that the nutrition facts may not be accurate b) they are all loaded with sodium and c) I’ve heard that the plastic that you cook the meals in is harmful to your body. I probably won’t cut them completely because they are so convenient but I’m definitely going to reduce my consumption.

Well, Nichole, Jordan & I are going to Buffalo Wild Wings for trivia tonight since Nichole will be moving to New York soon...we wanted to get in another trivia night or two.

It’s been a long day...I’m very up and down with my emotions at this point over lots of things...money, writing, past relationships and it has been a bit trying the past few days. I know I’m dramatic but I’m also instinctual so I hope that I’m making the right choices in life. I know that was random...lol...it just hit me.

I hope you all have a great afternoon!!!

“I should have known by the way you passed me by
There was something in your eyes and it wasn't right
I should have walked but I never had the chance
Everything got out of hand and I let it slide

Now I only have myself to blame for falling for your stupid games
I wish my life could be the way it was before I saw your face

You stole my happy, you made me cry
Took the lonely and took me for a ride
And I wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-undo it
You had my heart, now I want it back
I'm starting to see everything you lack
Boy, you blew it, you put me through it
I wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-undo it

Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na

Now your photos don't have a picture frame
And I never say your name and I never will
And all your things, well I threw them in the trash
And I'm not even sad

Now you only have yourself to blame for playing all those stupid games
You're always gonna be the same and, oh no, you'll never change

You stole my happy, you made me cry
Took the lonely and took me for a ride
And I wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-undo it
You had my heart, now I want it back
I'm starting to see everything you lack
Boy, you blew it, you put me through it
I wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-undo it

Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na

You want my future, you can't have it
I'm still trying to erase you from my past
I need you gone so fast

You stole my happy, you made me cry
Took the lonely and took me for a ride
And I wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-undo it
You had my heart, now I want it back
I'm starting to see everything you lack
Boy, you blew it, you put me through it
I wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-undo it

You stole my happy, you made me cry
Took the lonely and took me for a ride
Boy, you blew it, you put me through it
I wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-undo it.” Undo It-Carrie Underwood

Time To Re-Focus!

Hello y’all. I trust your weekend was great. I had a pretty good one. I got to see the A-Team on Saturday night. Normally, this isn’t exactly my type of movie but I give you exhibit A:



That’s right, Bradley Cooper is in the movie and I think he is...attractive. Aside from the beautiful-ness that is Bradley Cooper, the movie was actually pretty good. Outlandish at times, it was funny and action packed and even though I’m generally intimidated by movies that are almost 2-1/2 hours long, it was very entertaining.

Before the movie, Saturday was a pool day. I had fun and I made it through the whole day without going over my points. I only have 2 more Saturday’s left in June and then I get a smidge of a break in July so I think I’m doing pretty good. I would say the discipline is paying off but as of Saturday morning, I was still 1 pound up from the birthday debacle. I am thinking that next Saturday morning will show a loss for the first time in a long time...I’m REALLY hoping that it does. As always, I ate WAY too much on Sunday and then watched the Tony’s Sunday night and went to bed.

So, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, I am a writer of sorts and even though I’ve been neglecting it lately, it is my passion. My Masters degree is in Poetry and I need to make sure that I make that my focus. My greatest fear of graduating with my MFA was that I would immediately see a decline in my writing and that has turned out to be very true. I have no literary deadlines and I am not in an academic environment. I really need to make sure I focus on getting my book of poetry ready to send out and begin a new project that I have been wanting to for awhile. Just like I need to get my finances and weight in order, I need to also get my writing priorities in order. To do that, I need to shave off the amount of creative time I spend on the blog and transfer that to writing things that contribute to my long term goals. Having said that, I am going to decrease the number of times I blog to 2-3 times per week rather than 5. This is good for a couple of reasons. One, at this point, I am just filling you in on my day and not really putting in as much effort as I could or as I did in the beginning (a great example would be the beginning of today’s blog). If I cut it down, I can consolidate the information and the words I write will be more rich. I don’t want to blog just for the sake of blogging. Second, it’s good because I can keep my focus on weight loss with the blog all while hopefully finding more room to write poetry or fiction.

I will probably blog again on Wednesday about the recipe I’m trying out this week and maybe some other things...who knows? Until then, I hope you have a great week...I’m hoping to catch up on some Netflix movies and some True Blood Season 2.

Too-ta-loo!

“I walked a minute in your shoes, they never would've fit
I figured there's nothing to lose
I need to get some perspective on these words before I write them down
You're an island and my ship is running ground

I could tear your apart, but it won't break anything that we are, we are
We'll say our goodbyes you know it’s better that way
We won't break, we won't die
It's just a moment of change
All we are, all we are, is everything that's right
All we need all we need, our love is at a bind
Every single day that I can breathe, you changed my philosophy
I'm never gonna let you pass me by
So don't say your goodbyes you know it’s better that way
We won't break, we won't die
It's just a moment of change [x2]
All we are, all we are, is everything that's right
All we need, all we need, our love is at a bind.” All We Are-One Republic

Hopefully A Penny Saved Won't Be A Pound Gained

Happy Friday Y’all! I have to admit that I was ready for this day to be over before it even began. I took a Melatonin (a vitamin that promotes sleep) last night before bed and I had some crazy dreams so I was pretty tired this morning. Even though part of me tried to convince myself that I didn’t have to walk, the stronger willed person in me was able to overcome and I got up to walk around my apartment even though I so desperately did not want to.

When I started grumpily walking, I hadn’t even gotten the sleep out of my eyes when I saw this:



Have I told you that we have like a billion worms in the parking lot of my apartment? Ew. This one was about 6 or 7 inches long and he was squirming right along. Gross. Anyway, I was very tired, it was extremely hot to be only 6:15 am, I was sweating like mad and so about half way through, I said...screw this...and just went inside to shower and get back in the bed for a little while.

To make up for the walking mishap, I went to a couple of stores during lunch to get some steps. I still need about 2,000 steps or so but I will probably make up for it by tonight just from walking around normally.

So-I am a person who buys what I want to within reason and I think it is starting to catch up with me. Between car payments, rent, student loans and other unnecessarily acquired debt, my purchases are starting to catch up with me. I am making my payments on time and I can still have a social life within reason but I am in a place where it is VERY important that I start cutting corners to save money because I love to travel and I want to be able to actually save money instead of using my money only for bills. Having said that, I am cutting up my Lane Bryant card which I rarely use but now won’t be tempted to use. I’m reducing my Netflix bill per month and the biggest thing is that I am reducing my Weight Watchers bill. Basically, I am going to remove the ability to weigh in at the facilities and remove my ability to attend meetings. I will still have all of the tools and resources I need on the internet and I will still follow the point system...I will just have to weigh in at my apartment and inspire myself I guess. I am very nervous because in some ways, that accountability was very important to me but I haven’t weighed in a month and the thought of quitting hasn’t crossed my mind. I feel bad for not weighing but I think I will set it up to where I still weigh on Saturday mornings at my apartment and track it online like normal. I will give it a couple of months to make sure that I am still doing everything I need to or I will just have to start weighing in at Weight Watchers again. It’s just a $30 monthly charge that I think I can do without. We will see...I have had excellent will power up until this point and even though I know I went too far on my birthday, I have been flawless for 11 days...I feel like a recovering alcoholic...so let’s all hope that I can keep it up without the meetings. Fingers Crossed!

Anyway-I don’t have too much planned this weekend. I am going to be walking a lot of course and hopefully watching some of season 2 of True Blood because season 3 starts Sunday and I haven’t seen ANY of season 2 so I will be behind and my parents will be nagging me.

I hope you all have a safe & fun weekend!

“Bust them windows out yo car
But it don’t come back to my broken heart
You could neva feel I how I felt that day
Until it happens baby you don’t know pain
Ooh Yeah I did it (yeah I did it)
You should know it (you should kno it)
I ain’t sorry (I ain’t sorry)
You deserved it (you deserved it)
After what you did to me (after what you did)
You deserve it (you deserve it)
I ain’t sorry no no ohhh(I aint sorry)
You broke my heart so I broke you car
You caused me pain (you caused me pain)
(So I did the same)
Even though what you did to me was much worse
I had to do something to make you hurt
Oh but why am I still crying
Why am I the one who’s still crying
Oh oh really hurt me baby
really,really hurt me baby.” Bust Your Windows-Jazmine Sullivan (Though I know it much better from the cast of Glee.)

Mind Over Matter!

Good day y’all! I hope the world is right with everyone today. Tomorrow is Friday and that happens to be excellent news. Also, I’m not going to lie...I look pretty cute today. I don’t say that often but there is a long, new skirt involved and a shirt with lace...so yeah...it’s not too bad. I’m not going to post a picture because I want you to just take my word for it. The only slight problem I have with the ensemble is that it’s sleeveless and my arms aren’t exactly where I want them to be but it’s summer and I have several cute sleeveless shirts I want to wear so I guess I will just have to let them come out and play or I won’t get to look very summery at all...and trust me...it is SUMMER...it’s hot as mess out there.

A couple of weeks ago, my Weight Watchers calculator went caput. I relied on it pretty heavily because I could just take it out at the store and figure out how much everything is in points. I went there to get a new one today and they no longer carry the $10 calculator I had but they did have a new $12 one...





Forgive all of the pictures (and my stubby thumb) but I wanted you to get the full effect of my Inspector Gadget calculator...it makes this sweet sliding noise...I’ve been sliding it all afternoon. I am VERY easily entertained...but it truly works better than the last one...I like it.

So, the past few days have been very mentally challenging for some reason...I constantly feel like I need to eat even though I’m not hungry. Even though I don’t always follow my own advice, I have a couple of suggestions for you when you face the challenge of making your mind truly overcome “hunger.” Let’s say you eat a satisfying lunch like a salad and baked potato on a Saturday and within 10 minutes, you feel like you are hungry or you need to eat. This happens to me all the time because I am the kind of person that eats when I’m bored. If this happens, I would say it’s a bad idea to continue to sit on the couch and watch TV because I know for me, that is a place that I eat. You could go watch TV in your bed or you could do something outlandish...exercise. You could go walking or swimming. If you’ve already exercised, you could knit or read. The other thing I would say is don’t do things that you associate with food. For me, I LOVE getting popcorn at the movies so when I go to the movies, I make sure that I have eaten beforehand or I have a snack because if I have to sit there hungry...I won’t even be able to concentrate on the movie. I have really got to take my own advice because Saturdays are the absolute worse. Those are a few ideas that may not be awesome advice because unfortunately, when your brain tells you that you are hungry...it’s very hard to convince it otherwise. LOL...I know that’s not very encouraging...good luck.

Anyway, I hope you all have a great afternoon and night!

“And I need you like a heartbeat
But you know you got a mean streak
Makes me run for cover when you're around

And here's to you and your temper
Yes, I remember what you said last night
And I know that you see what you're doing to me
Tell me, why?

You could write a book on how
To ruin someone's perfect day
Well, I get so confused and frustrated
Forget what I'm trying to say, oh

I'm sick and tired of your reasons
I got no one to believe in
You tell me that you want me, then push me around

And I need you like a heartbeat
But you know you got a mean streak
Makes me run for cover when you're around

Here's to you and your temper
Yes, I remember what you said last night
And I know that you see what you're doing to me
Tell me, why?

Why do you have to make me feel small
So you can feel whole inside?
Why do you have to put down my dreams
So you're the only thing on my mind?

I'm sick and tired of your attitude
I'm feeling like I don't know you
You tell me that you want me then cut me down

I'm sick and tired of your reasons
I've got no one to believe in
You ask me for my love then you push me around

Here's to you and your temper
Yes, I remember what you said last night
And I know that you see what you're doing to me
Tell me, why? Why? Tell me, why?

I take a step back, let you go
I told you I'm not bulletproof
Now you know.” Tell Me Why-Taylor Swift

Breakfast For Dinner!

There have been many points in this day when I thought it was only Tuesday so it has been quite refreshing to discover that it’s Wednesday. Today is a pretty good day...I have been planning future meals in my head all day. I’m pretty sure I know what I’m having for dinner the next 8 days...not really quite that bad but I guess that’s what you do when you are on Weight Watchers...you are constantly thinking about what you are going to eat next.

So, here is a question...why do you reckon that my knees and shins are sore from walking today? I mean, I know that sometimes muscles get sore when you use them after you haven’t exercised in awhile but I have been walking regularly for well over a year AND for the past couple of months...I’ve been walking every FREAKING day...so...why? Ugh, I think it might rain this afternoon (what else is new?) so maybe that has something to do with it.

Last night was recipe night!



I made apple-cinnamon pancakes and buttermilk biscuits. As you can see, I burned the biscuits so they didn’t taste great...those were these least burned I could find so they got to be in the picture. What is weird is that they were supposed to be on for 10 minutes but I started smelling them burning after only about 7 minutes. Maybe I made them too thin? I’m not sure. While the biscuits were a bust, the pancakes were really good. They were moist and loaded with cinnamon. I put sugar free syrup on them...which I was skeptical about but I bought Hungry Jack Syrup sweetened with Splenda and actually, with a little spray butter added...it was pretty good. The pancakes were also good because they were only 2 points per pancake so I got to have like 4 of them. I quite enjoyed it! Even though I know everything else I’m eating for the next few days, I have NOT picked out my next recipe for next week...I will have to do a little research.

Well...the season finale of Glee was on last night...



I know there are many naysayers out there about this show but I am a total GLEEK. The show is sweet, the music awesome and I already can’t wait for season 2 to start. The show was particularly exceptional last night...I love Journey and they did a medley. The show also has really good messages as well which is typical of most musicals. They said last night that they would be re-showing the season some so I may watch some of my favorite episodes again.

I think I will go home tonight and eat leftover pancakes for dinner! I hope you have a great night!!!

“I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She's coming in 12:30 flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way,
Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say, Hurry boy, It's waiting there for you

It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never have

The wild dogs cry out in the night
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company
I know that I must do what's right
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti
I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become

Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you

It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa, I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa, I bless the rains down in Africa
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never have.” Africa-Toto

Let's Start A Revolution!

I do believe that Tuesday is my least favorite day of the week. It seems to go by much slower than the rest of the days. On the upside, in just a couple of hours, I will be making my weekly recipe (which I’m excited about...I hope it turns out good), eating it with my friend Nichole AND watching the season finale of Glee!

I’m especially hungry today for some reason...I think it’s because I’m doing the diet correctly and I know I have three more weeks in June. Truthfully, the goal of being good in June is to continue being good in July...lol...but I already have two very UN-Weight Watcher-y Saturday’s planned in July so...we’ll see.

Anyway! I feel like a broken record lately so I was going to share something a little different today. A couple of months ago, I had plans to start watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution...I had heard great things about it but I just now got around to watching it this past weekend.



I watched the first 3 episodes and I have to say that I was astonished at some of the things that the kids were being served. The show began in Huntington, West Virginia which is the city said to be the most obese place in the world. This is based on statistics of how many people die from diseases related to obesity. Jamie started in an elementary school just to get an idea of what the children were being served. As soon as he got there, he noticed the children were being served pizza for breakfast AND for lunch and they are always offered French fries. I know that people argue that the parents should be teaching good eating habits at home. In a perfect world, every parent would come home and serve their child a well balanced meal...but it’s not a perfect world. Most kids have working parents and some kids have parents that don’t care. School is where you learn about physical activity...so you should also learn about nutrition. The first day, Jamie made a healthy lunch option but of course the kids all picked the processed foods. I think his biggest challenge is coming up with food that kids like (tacos, pizza) and making it healthy. Jamie did get involved with the parents too. He brought this huge dump truck full of saturated fat out in front of them and told them that is how much one classroom consumes in a year. It was disgusting. He also chose one family in particular that had a freezer FULL of frozen pizza and two of their 3 children were on a very fast road to diabetes. It was really sad...The main challenge is feeding the children food that they like AND in the same budget as the processed foods. He also has to deal with the stupid guidelines of food for the school. The state requires them to have a cup and a half of vegetables (that’s not the stupid part). Jamie made this pasta loaded with veggies and the superintendent said that was not a big enough serving of vegetables BUT because French fries were considered a vegetable, they were allowed to be served. According to the guidelines, FRENCH FRIES are more acceptable than a pasta with vegetables.

I realize that cooking a meal from raw ingredients three times in a row for children at home or at school isn’t realistic. Sometimes, corners have to be cut but the show is definitely worth watching. There are some really good ideas and it’s proof that sometimes it’s worth the extra effort to keep people healthy...especially children...if you learn how to eat as a child, you are much more likely to carry those habits into adulthood. I like the show, you should give it a try...go to hulu.com and look the episodes up. Also, it doesn’t hurt that his accent and lisp make him cute as a button.

Ok-I hope you all have a good afternoon...there is cooking in my future!!!

“Gonna party all night till the sun comes up
Cuz it feels like the world disappears around us

When we dance
When we laugh
When we touch

I was planning out my party
Running errands 'round the city
Grocery bags full of alcohol
And chocolate chip cookies

Saw a dress that was amazing
In the window of a boutique
So I went across the street
Then my heel broke and it threw me

I tried to catch my balance
But I was 'sposed to fall
It seems that spilling coffee
Was no accident at all

Cuz you're here right now
Sitting on my couch
Funny how it all works out

When we dance
And we laugh
And we touch (touch touch).” Touch-Natasha Bedingfield

The Reviews Are In...And I STILL Liked The Movie.

It’s Monday again but it isn’t terrible. The only complaint I have is that it is miserably hot outside. I think the worst thing about the heat is knowing that it’s only going to get much worse before it gets any better. The good thing is that I am sort of used to it but I still prefer winter much more.

I hope everyone had a good weekend. I had a great one...I saw Sex and the City 2 on Saturday and I actually liked it. I had heard absolutely nothing good about it...I have to say...if you watched Sex and the City as a series, the movies are not far off from the show. I had many problems with the first one...I didn’t think it captured the fun nature of the show so I was really worried about this one...especially after the reviews. I don’t think that the movie is going to win any awards or gain critical acclaim but overall I thought it was fun and I really enjoyed it. It had all of the aspects of Sex and the City. I normally like short movies as well and this one is over 2-1/2 hours but I wasn’t bored at all. I guess I just took the movie for what it was...and I’m glad I had low expectations because I had fun and I’m glad I saw it. For those who didn't like it, no judgment because you are entitled to your own opinion...but I'm curious...why? I know I heard people say that it was cliche and that there was overacting but honestly one of the characteristics of the show was the silly one-liners and elaborate emotions and outfits...it's supposed to be dramatic...in my opinion...but that's just me.

The only damper to Saturday was that this was the first Saturday in a long time that I was very strict on Weight Watchers. It was all part of my initiative to Jettison the Junk in June. I did perfectly but I was hungry most of the day. I know that it was all in my head because I had two full meals and snacks but I couldn’t help but feeling like I was starving. The good news is that I made it through my first Saturday in June AND I am almost right back to where I was before my birthday as far as weight goes. The bad news is that I took my cheat day to heart and ugh...I was feeling so sick last night. There was fried food and cupcakes...it was all good but blech...I think I will not go so crazy next Sunday...I know I say that every time.

I am going walking after work today in this horrific heat but then after that...I’m welcoming myself to some Moe’s!!! I think I will try to walk in the morning the rest of the week. I did that last week and I forgot how nice it was to be done with exercise for the day when I get off work. I also like walking by the river though which I can’t do in the mornings so as usual, I will have to mix it up.

I got some good advice from people on different ways to get personal training so when I decide to stop procrastinating...I will let you know how and if I make any progress getting rid of this sagging belly and arm fat.

I know I just sort of rambled but I didn’t have anything really in the way of a point today so I think I will quit while I’m ahead.

I hope you have a great Monday evening!!!

Peace out!

“To the troubles all around me, I'm caught up and I'm barely breathin’
But I'm finding that holding on is harder than never leaving.” Tied Down-Colbie Caillat

Halfway There!

Happy Friday Everyone! It’s been a short week but I am still very excited about the weekend. Tomorrow, Jordan is coming! I love it when he gets to come to Tuscaloosa! Also, several of us are going to see...



Yes, I am a couple weeks late to see Sex and the City 2 but I am not a, “go to the opening weekend,” kind of girl...unless it’s Harry Potter...anyway, I’ve heard pretty terrible things about the movie but I don’t really care. I really loved the series and I am especially happy that John Corbett (who I always refer to as Aidan no matter what he’s in) is in the movie...I think he’s precious. I am so glad I still get to see him on TV in United States of Tara. So, it may end up being crappy but I can’t NOT see it.

Ok-today pretty much marks the official halfway point in my quest to walk a million steps in 130 days. I started the last day in March and the goal is to walk 1 Million steps by August 7th so I am halfway there. Technically, for me to have the right amount of steps to be on track for the million, I need to have 500,500 steps. As of this morning, I am at 501,108 steps which is 608 steps ahead of schedule!

I am pretty pleased with those results. I now know what I need to walk every day to accomplish my goal and I pretty much get it done by the end of every night. I am already tossing around new exercise regime ideas for when I’m done because I have this fear that the day after I go the million steps that I’m going to want to sit on the couch all day without moving. I am considering weights and swimming and different activities that I know burn calories but aren’t necessarily counting as steps so I will have to mix it up a little so I’m equaling the amount of exercise but not limiting it to ONLY walking. Anyway, I’m enjoying the process most of the time...but sometimes I would like to go a weekend without having to walk 2 miles in the morning before I can really start my day. Any suggestions are welcome.

As an aside, please keep the Gulf Coast in your thoughts and prayers. The events over the last month are too enraging to put into words and I don’t know how many more images of oily animals I can take. It is a complete catastrophe...I wish there were more ways to help...

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful evening and weekend! I am going out to eat with my parents and then I will probably just go home and chill...there are some things I could be doing around the house.

Talk to you Monday!

"Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous." Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City (From The Series Finale)

Traveled Down The Road & Back Again.

Boo on the hectic-ness of this day. It has been a crazy day but tomorrow is Friday, so that’s a good thing! I am starting to wish that every week were only 3 days but oh well...gotta do what you gotta do. Today is the second day in a row that I got up at 6 in the morning and walked 2 miles so that’s something to be proud of and I have been completely good for 3 days in a roll so I’d say I’m on a roll.



Rue McClanahan died today. She was best known for playing Blanche Deveraux in the Golden Girls which was great and I also used to LOVE watching Mama’s Family. She will be missed! There is only one Golden Girl left...I can’t lose Betty White so she just better hold tight. I guess what they say about celebrities dying in 3’s is right because in addition to Rue, you also have Dennis Hopper and Gary Coleman. It’s crazy.

Anyway, I made my recipe last night...here it is:



It was pretty good. It was a Beef, Cheese & Broccoli Quesadilla with Zucchini Fries on the side. Initially, the quesadilla was supposed to have spinach and blue cheese but I used broccoli and feta instead. It was pretty good. The side dish was zucchini fries. You used egg whites and Panko to dredge them in and then bake them. It was a pretty good dinner...not my favorite because the majority of it was vegetables. I like vegetables but it was almost overkill...but I will say it was one of the most filling recipes I’ve made. It serves you well to eat veggies because you can eat WAY more when you do. I really like the tortilla/quesadilla idea though...it was good...since I have several tortillas now, I might make a couple more of those soon. I don’t have much more today because I am sort of in a rush so I hope you have a great afternoon!



“Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down the road and back again
your heart is true you're a pal and a confidant

And if you threw a party
Invited everyone you knew
You would see, the biggest gift would be for me
and the card attached would say,
Thank you for being a friend

Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend
Thank you for being a friend.” Thank You For Being A Friend-Andrew Gold-Golden Girls Theme Song

J.T.J.I.J.

Well, did you think I was never coming back? Please don’t answer if it involves a statement that goes something like: “Oh, I didn’t even notice you didn’t blog!” OR “I was actually glad for the break.” That just wouldn’t be very nice. I have to admit, I didn’t miss getting up early and coming to work. I am one of those people that has to repeat the “I’m just thankful to have a job,” chant in the mornings. I especially get that way after the night I had last night. I couldn’t sleep for anything. I woke up a hundred times, nearly sweated to death and had nightmares. I don’t know what’s going on with me but I need to calm the heck down.

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend! I did. I had four days off and had amazing food. Here’s a picture of David and me on Memorial Day:



Yesterday, I started my initiative to Jettison The Junk In June (J.T.J.I.J.). I have to say...it’s going ALRIGHT but I’m concerned about Saturdays. That is going to be my real challenge. I already have people trying to feed me and make plans. I’ve just decided that I will spread out my points as best as possible and just suffer. Haha. Let’s just say I’m excited about Sunday. I know it will pay off though. It HAS to pay off. I haven’t weighed in a few weeks mostly because I know that I’ve gained but I have gotten out of the habit and that’s not a good thing. I probably won’t officially weigh in this Saturday but I will definitely go on my own scale to see where I’m at and hopefully I will be back to normal by the end of next week. I am glad I started this project to be good every day (except Sunday) in June because I was headed down a scary path.

Tonight is recipe night. I will be happy to share all about that tomorrow. Truth be told, I’m more excited about next week’s recipe which may or may not involve pancakes and biscuits...but I will just have to wait to talk about that.

I hope everyone has a great Wednesday afternoon!

“Always thinking it's gonna hurt forever
But then one day it doesn't anymore
You've come so far
Still a long way to go
Just remember you're never alone

Everybody loves someone
Everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody says they'll never fall again
But everybody does
Yeah, everybody does

Everybody jumps in
Never really knowin'
Where it's really goin'
You just have to trust in
Your heart, oh yeah.” Everybody Does-Martina McBride