Breakfast for Dinner

This morning was standard, veggie sausage sammie and GM!  Then lunch consisted of the same delicious salad from yesterday but I found the most adorable shelled edamame...Dora and Boots - LOL.  They were prefect on my salad and after I get the boys to eat them, I plan to put them in their lunches :)

In addition to my salad, Grace brought in some AMAZING Chick Peas that her mom prepared with onion, tomatoes and Indian seasoning.  I MUST have the recipe...they were SO GOOD!!!! 

Snacks today consisted of a lolly pop and my cheese crackers and a little quinoa :)

Tonight I decided we should do Breakfast for dinner...mostly because I've been trying to use a sweet potato I've had sitting on my counter for like a week and sweet potato hash was a brainstorm from when I bought it.  I made eggs, pancakes (for the boys) and the sweet potato hash :)  OMG...the hash turned out SO GOOD! 

I started with dicing the sweet potato (get a good knife) into small squares.  Then I chopped 1/2 a small sweet onion and 4 pieces of turkey bacon.  I sauteed the bacon and onion in 1 tbsp of EVOO for a few minutes then added the potato.  I let it brown on one side (About 7 minutes) then flipped over all the potatoes to let them get crispy on the other side.  This turned out so well and even the boys and DJ liked it!

After dinner the boys and I went to the Humane Society to check out some dogs...it is so sad :(  especially for the older dogs...if I didn't have little kids, I'd totally adopt an older dog. 

Dom's Favorite was, Mitch

Yes that is a MASTIFF...I love him too though...he is really sweet!

Mason's favorite was was HarleyQuinn (a German Shepherd) = this picture doesn' do her justice

and...my favorite is Canyon a 4 month old Lab Mix...He is so sweet!!!

We are going back tomorrow to meet the dogs *they weren't available yet* so we'll go tomorrow and play with them :)

After all the soon to be pet loving...Terri and I went to Aerobics.  Di kicked our butts, hamstrings, and abs but it felt GREAT!  That's all I got for tonight

TTFN

Cops and Robbers

They FOUND HIM!!!  They found the idiot who broke into our house!!!  This is how I started the day.  The GREAT news is that they also found alot of the stuff he took...including my license SS Card and Checkbook.  They even found my purple Coach bag!!! YAY!!!!  This is great news...the not so great news is that this guy isn't a stupid teenager...he was a criminal!  With a rap sheet a mile long... it skeeves me out that this creep was in my house...UGG!  After some depression about what could have happened, I'm over it and happy again that they caught the guy and my found some of my stuff :)

Breakfast was standard but I added a coffee...dun dun dun.  I'm not supposed to have coffee during the game b/c that was my "bad habit".  I needed it tho...with this stupid cold that is kicking my butt I needed something hot this morning and I decided coffee would fit the bill!  I'll just take the point deduction.

I don't know if America runs on Dunkin but I know that April does :)  LOL  I can't wait to have coffee back.  When we do this game again in November...I'm going to give up something else, I HEART COFFEE!

My GM rocked *as usual* and Lunch consisted of a delicious salad including romaine, chinese noodles, TJ Chili Lime Chicken Burger and my Spicy Peanut dressing (YUM)

I made little Zucchini Bread mini muffins for Healthbeat and they were so delicious!!!  It is the same recipe from this weekend just in a smaller package...

Tonight was Taco Night!  The boys had Tacos and I had a Taco "Bowl"...I stole that from Chipolte :)  It consisted of brown rice with taco meat, some salsa and a little cheese and sour cream.  It was pretty good!

After dinner and neighbor discussions about all the exciting incidents like a sting in our neighborhood to catch the bad guy *(yes he lived in our neighborhood) I did a quick 2 mile walk with Terri and Julie :)

Felt good now time for bed

TTFN

TAG...you're it!

Woke up feeling a cold coming on...YUCK!  The muck in your throat makes that makes us feel like crud!??  YUP, that was my story this morning.  I muscled through my morning (feeling like crap the whole time).  The worst part about feeling cruddy is that I want to eat constantly...I guess I feel like the food is helping to clear the crud...problem with the Game is that that isn't gonna happen and it didn't. 

Breakfast was standard sammie and GM and lunch was the rest of the zucchini lasagna, a little salad and some quinoa.  It was pretty delicious :)

Snacks were out of control today...I did have triple C but I had a good 100 calories of chocolate covered pomegranate seeds (Yummmm)

This morning I threw chicken with a jar of salsa into the crock pot for dinner.  When I got home with the boys I threw in a cup of corn and a cup of shredded cheddar cheese.  Viola Salsa Chicken.  The boys had it in tortillas, I had it over brown rice with a little sour cream :)  YUM!!!

It is amazing how much more fun it is to run when you are playing tag with your son.  After dinner, Mason and I took a walk (about a mile and a half)...about half way through I started splashing water on him and he was laughing so hard he couldn't walk.  Then he said he wanted to play tag...I started to say no then decided that would be fun.  He tagged me then I tagged him and took off running.  It so SO MUCH FUN!  We were laughing so hard...we had a couple of neighbors who were cheering us on saying "come on bud, you can get her"...we had a blast!  If you're feeling unmotivated?!?  Play Tag with a Kid!!! 

After our little walk/run I had a meeting at church for Mason's Reconciliation and Communion that will happen this year.  Came home, made lunches and now I'm going to bed.

That's all I got

TTFN (202) 

Monday Mourning

What a day...

Today was the viewing for Darren (my cousin's ex *father of her children*) who died in a car crash late last week.  I really really hate going to funeral homes.  I've already told my mom and husband that if something happens to me...DO NOT have a viewing for me.  I want to be cremated and planted with a tree!!!!  That is pretty dark isn't it!?!  Thinking about our demise :\  All night I was thinking dark things but I just drowned them out and went for a run :)  Let me back track...

Breakfast was standard with my veggie sausage sammie and GM :)  Lunch consisted of my left over zucchini lasagna (YUM) and a salad. 

Then I had a few little treats (choc. covered pomegranates and a dark choc. kiss)

On the way to the viewing I brought my Triple C and Quinoa for meals #4 and #5.  I was really impressed with myself.  As an intuitive eater this game is a little tough b/c I want to eat what looks good.  However, last night at my Aunt's house...there was a ton of food, none of which I even wanted to eat.   So I heated my Quinoa and allowed everyone to pick on me :)  Whatev Haters!!!  LOL 

Although we were there for a dark reason, I really enjoyed spending time with my cousins and extended family last night.  We don't often get to just sit around and talk about when we were kids and it was alot of fun.  I laughed alot :)

When I got home the lil girl was already in bed but the boys were up and we read a few books then I hit the road for a quick 2 mile walk/run.  It felt good...then I was exhausted!  After making lunches for school and loading the crock pot for dinner...I was off to bed - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

That's all I got - TTFN

Skinny Skating

OK...maybe I'm not "skinny" yet but I sure feel it!  In November, Mason and I went Ice Skating b/c he wanted to try and because I used to be really good at ice skating.  It was one of the most depressing experiences of my life.  I couldn't do it!  I couldn't ice skate and I really wanted to teach Mason how to do it.  I also fell a couple of times (embarrassing).  I only went around like 2 times and that was it...I was done and depressed and Mason sensed my disgust and said he was done and wanted to go home.  Sad :(

Anyway...fast forward to today!  Mason was invited to Ice World for a birthday party, Dom was invited too.  I took the boys with NO intention of getting on that ice!  Well, Mason fell once and was "done"...oh hell no, I won't have a quitter so I sucked it up and rented some skates.  Cue Madonna "Celebrate", if you took a holiday...(you get the point):  I ROCKED!  I was able to skate without any problem, front ways, back ways, I even turned the boys around a few times.  I skated non stop for like an hour!!!  IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!  It is truly amazing the difference that 40lbs makes.  I felt cute and agile, LOL!!!  This is the best day I've had in awhile (self image wise)!!!  LOVE IT!

Alright, about food...

Breakfast was an egg ham and cheese whole wheat english muffin sammie.  Then we went to church and I got busy around the house...I almost had a lunch fail because I started eating a salad for lunch at exactly 4 hours following my bfast.  {Game On rule: must eat each meal within 2 -4 hours from the prior meal}  But I got it in right under the nose...  The salad was pretty standard and I ate it while DJ finished picking the crabs so I could make crab cakes...YUM!!!  They were to die for!  (recipe from the back of the Old Bay can)

Hello Mr. Crab :)

Mason and I had to go to Giant for some odds and ends and they were giving the kids free purple cotton candy in honor of the Raven's Game...I LOVE living in this town!

 note: I need a new camera!

When Mason and I got home, I made a new recipe for Zucchini Lasagna...that would be dinner :)  I kind of made up the recipe and it turned out almost perfect.  Next time I need to make sure to salt the zucchini to let it dehydrate a little bit.  There are no after pictures because it came out a little runny...DELICIOUS but a little runny and the picture wouldn't have done the taste justice...Mmmmmm

As you can see I simply made lasagna and replaced the noodles with strips of zucchini.  SO GOOD!

Meal #3 was a fail because I forgot to bring my Triple C to the birthday party to eat on the way and meal #5 is just not going to happen because I'm STUFFED from the lasagna...sorry team!  This is the first time I've lost meal points :(  -12

While we were ice skating I tried to get a good picture of the boys but I had no success...here is all I got :(   fuzzy wuzzy, LOL!

Needless to say it was a good day and my exercise was well taken care of during my ice skating extravaganza!  Well that is all I have for this wonderful Sunday!

TTFN

Same ole Saturday

The scale read the same as last Saturday...with adding aerobics to my routine, I'm really surprised but not overly concerned.  It'll happen when it happens (weight loss that is)

The day started as if I was going to remain game on but continued to become my "day off"...not too bad though :)

Breakfast was my eggs over my hammy concoction.

Then I started baking...I made some delicious zucchini bread again...double yolks are good luck right? 

I made a double batch one for DJ (and us) and one for Healthbeat...I'm featuring this recipe duirng class this week.  (I swear I took this picture...isn't it AWESOME?)

For lunch I made the MOST delicious salad...romaine, napa cabbage, chinese noodles, and a Trader Joe's Chicken Burger with my addiction (peanut dressing) (YUM)

 Livie had a play date around 4p and I was really hungry so I grabbed some pretzels with PB, it was OK 

On the way home from our play date, I stopped to get a pizza from Little Ceasars for the boys (ok, I had a piece, YUM)

DJ and I had a little date night with crabs and beer but I forgot to take a picture...they were really good but didn't agree with my stomach.  Good news is, I didn't retain any of the calories :)  LOL 

That's all I got for Saturday - TTFN :)

I HEART Trader Joe's

This morning I knew we were gonna take a field trip to Trader Joe's so I made my list :)

Breakfast was standard and I took my monster to go on the way to TJs...

I needed protein for lunch and I found the most delicious salad :)  I ditched the honey mustard dressing (200 calories) and used my peanut dressing (80 calories)...OK maybe I am OBSESSED with this dressing :)

Randomness...About 6 weeks ago one of my team members bought me a gorgeous flower arrangement (and some delicious desserts which I failed to get a picture of) for helping her with a benefits issue.  It was a very sweet gesture but the problem is that not only do I NOT have a green thumb, my thumb is BLACK!  I kill almost every plant I've ever had.  I wanted to make a valient effort to help this plant thrive and look at what she has become ...

Just gorgeous!!!  And yes that is an african violet (very needy plant)

Meal #4 was triple C

And dinner was a twist on the pork chop recipe from last week.  I didn't add the tomatoes and made sure to include the onion this time.  It turned out pretty well...I'll make it again!

Quick Recipe

1 onion diced

EVOO

1 C. cooked brown rice

1lb thin sliced pork tenderloin

1 can cream of mushroom *healthy request*

1 C. chicken stock

1 C. frozen peas

S&P

S&P both sides of pork and add EVOO to skillet.  Cook pork 3 minutes on each side (until seared) and remove to a plate *it is ok if it isn't cooked inside it will continue to cook later*  Add another 2 tbsp EVOO and saute onion until softened.  Combine soup mix and stock and add to skillet until slightly simmering, add back in the pork and simmer for 5 minutes, covered. remove the pork and add the peas and rice to the creamy mixture and heat until the peas are warmed.  Serve 1/2 C. of the mixture with one/two tenderloin chops.

Did I mention it is raining like crazy lately?  Today on the way home I was sure my little jetta was going to float away with me in it...LOL.  All that said I decided no excuses, I'm starting my 5k training no matter what.  I held true to it, rain and all I ran/walked 2 miles after dinner.  It was raining like crazy and I was dripping from head to toe when I got back.  I wore a ball cap so at least the rain was out of my face.  The other problem is the puddles (or should I say lakes in the middle of the road)!??!  My feet were drenched!  But I did it AND it felt pretty GREAT!

The Blue Bloods season starts tonight...YAY! 

That's all I got for now...TTFN

 

Pearls at Aerobics - RANDOM

LOVE it!!!  Terri and I saw an older woman at Aerobics tonight who was wearing a tshirt/spandex shorts and pearls!  LOVE IT!!!!  Aerobics was amazing tonight...it wasn't the weights that hurt my triceps on Tuesday, it was the push ups!!! OMG!!  This morning I couldn't even lift the milk to make Livie a bottle.  LOL!!!!!  I'm really starting to rock out planks and it makes me happy.  I'm really happy to have Terri joining me, makes it even more fun :)

We also realized we are exactly a month from the Race for a Cure (my first 5k) and we need to get training!!!  Starting tomorrow, we'll rock out C25k.  I'll keep ya'll posted!

About food today...

Morning was standard veggie sausage sammie and GM!!  My GM was really dark green this morning.  DELICIOUS!!! 

Lunch was an unsatisfying salad, b/c I forgot my peanut dressing (sob)...I was really sad and pretend cried about it...Grace and Amy made fun of me!  I also had some of my spaghetti squash marinara, YUM!

For our lunch break, Grace and I headed to the nail salon where we got Pedis :)  YAY!!  I really needed one b/c my heals are in bad shape, but that is gross so I'm not gonna talk about that.

Meal #4 was Triple C and dinner was a bust.  It will probably have to use my free meal or lose meal points b/c by the time we got home from Target, I needed to eat something in 15 minutes before leaving for aerobics and we picked up a pizza so I had an "unsanctioned" piece of pizza and granola bar.  I added a banana for good measure and there you have it!  CARB LOAD, sugar loaded, dinner :) All I got a picture of is the granola bar :0

More Randomness?!?  I'm loving wearing my hair straight lately.  I have almost always worn it curly but this week I've been blow drying it all week and I LOVE IT!

This is my FAV picture of Livie from the Hot Air Balloon Festival from a few weeks ago!

That's all I got for tonight...TTFN!

Spaghetti Squash *take 2*

Man oh man I missed my coffee this morning...I don't know what it is about Wednesday mornings that makes me need coffee :(  I made it through though...

Today was standard food wise, veggie sausage bfast sammie and GM then it got a little funky.  I messed up on packing my lunch b/c I forgot my quinoa with black beans so I improvised my salad and added some chicken breast I bought at the cafe down stairs in my building and I tossed some quinoa on top too :)  Needed a whole grain.

Meal #4 was Triple C (Crackers, cheese, cashews) and Dinner was interesting.  I made the other half of spaghetti squash and some quick marinara sauce for Livie and me and made a pizza for the boys. 

Here is what I did:

Ingredients:

4-5 links sweet Italian turkey sausage, removed from casing and rolled into balls

1 zucchini, chopped

4 cloves of garlic (minced)

1 yellow onion, chopped

2 tbsp EVOO

1/2 large can of crushed tomatoes

1 large can of chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp garlic powder

4 basil ice cubes (LOL...same as my cilantro = 4 tsp of fresh)

drizzle of honey

How?

In a large skillet, saute the onion, zucchini and garlic in EVOO then add sausage and cook until no longer pink

Add both variety of tomatoes, garlic powder and honey.  Simmer for 15 minutes

I served it to Livie and me on the spaghetti squash :)  One word - DELICIOUS!!!!  She killed it!

I packed up a bunch for lunch for the rest of the week.  I just need a "carb" to make a sanctioned meal under the game.  I think I'll just have some fruit *for once*  MAN I've missed fruit.  Maybe I'll get some Gold Pineapple from Wegmans...Mmmmmmmm :)

One more time, let me whine...my arms hurt.  Ok done whining but I am in some serious pain (good pain but still pain).  Aerobics again tomorrow...YAY *and ouch* 

That's all I got

TTFN