Fitting Wardrobe and AEROBICS!!!

!!!!Putting on clothes in the morning, not expecting them to fit, then they DO!?!?!  THE BEST START to a girl's morning you can get!  LOVE IT!!!! 

My food was the same ole same ole today...sammie and green monster with a family on the side (you can see my cuties in the background of this picture.

Then before lunch I hit WEGMANS!  I LOVE this place.  Look what I found in the bakery section (can't wait to get a better camera).  Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch Cupcakes!!!!!  LOVE THEM!!!  I need a little kid to have a birthday party with a Seseme Street theme just so I can make these cupcakes! 

 I went on a search for Quinoa.  Unfortunately Wegman's was out of the bulk variety that I usually get but they had tons of the red quinoa (keen-wah) so I got that :)  I have to make my lemon veggie quinoa for HealthBeat tomorrow...I'm making a batch for everyone to sample! 

 I couldn't pass up the sushi section before I left, if you've never tried a summer roll...YOU HAVE TO!

I didn't eat the sweet sauce so this is a sanctioned meal by The Game!!! 

 Actually, it wasn't even a meal so I had to add my quinoa and salad (normal lunch foods)

I am currently OBSESSED with this salad.  Romaine, Napa cabbage, Cucumbers and a few cashews with my spicy peanut dressing from Trader Joes.  YUM...I think I actually dream about this salad.  I should make some chicken to go on top of it for lunches!  DONE...DJ is going to grill me some chicken for the week :)

I did it!  I made my spaghetti squash.  I've never had it before, it was pretty good.  A little sweet, it needs something tangy to balance it out.  i think it would be VERY good with some tomato sauce and the sweet sausage I bought at wegmans today...I'll try that with the other half.  Tonight i just had it with some EVOO S&P.

I made Tacos for the boys and a taco salad for me :)

Then I picked up Terri for AEROBICS!  YAY!!!  I HEART AERIOBICS!  I am hurting SO bad right now, LOL.  It is a good kind of hurt but ouch!  I'm sure it will be worse tomorrow and even worse Thursday, then we have another class :)  EEK, but so exciting!

Ooooo, I forgot a key ingredient to my Quinoa recipe.  I add cilantro.  I LOVE cilantro and I found these frozen herb cubes at Trader Joes a few weeks ago.  OBSESSED!!!

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

shaky hands...

EEK...I took a picture of myself today to document my progress and this is what I got!!!

As you can see...my hands shake which prohibit me from taking a picture with my arm outstretched.  I have to pin it at my side to get a steady shot...and THIS was the best one.  What you can see is that I'm shrinking!

This is a picture that was taken in November, 2010.  I was modeling the beautiful macaroni necklace that Dom made me in PreK.  WHAT A DIFFERENCE?!?!

These are the pictures that make me feel SO GOOD!  I would say I've lost about 50 lbs from this picture.  I am really really really happy with my progress.  You can't see my booty in this picture but I can promise it was very large :)  My face is usually the thinnest parts of my body...and look how chubby my face is.

Note: I'll have to ask Grace to take a picture of me some time this week :)

This may seem silly to most but if you were a very big girl, you will understand what I'm talking about.  This morning when I got dressed it was a little chilly so I decided to wear a pair of nylons with my skirt.  This is a big deal b/c I just pulled out a pair of regular panty hose and was able to pull them all the way up (they were even a little big).  Last fall/winter when I would try to put on panty hose, I couldn't get them over my theighs.  THIS IS A BIG DEAL!!!  I used to feel so huge b/c I couldn't even wear regular old panty hose.  NOW I CAN!!!  and they came all the way up my rib cage to "control" the "top".  I almost did a little dance. 

It is tough being big...I'm glad I'm shrinking!!!

Alright now on the the important stuff...FOOD!

Meal #1

Meal #2

Meal #3

note: my salad consisted of romaine, some cashews, cucumbers and some of my TJs Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette (part of my 100 calories)

Meal #4

and Meal #5...disappointing :(  Today was run around day...I had to get the boys, meet my mom to get the girl, feed the kids and get everyone to soccer practice..EEK!!!  Crazy day!  All that said, I stopped at McDonalds for the kids and Chick Fil A for myself.  The Chargrill chicken sammie is sanctioned by The Game (or should be) but it just didn't satisfy...Oh well. 

I'm gonna finish this up, check my email then go for a walk/run and hit the hay :)

TTFN

Sunday in Fredneck

This morning started really great!  Woke up around 6am and took a little walk.  Then I went to the grocery store.  I came home and started cooking/baking.  I LOVE to cook/bake!  First up was zucchini bread.  Thanks to "Momma Cooks".  I know she got the recipe somewhere else but I saw it there so that is my source.  It was SO EASY and SO GOOD.  I modified it a little tho:) 

Here is what I did:

Ingredients:
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup applesauce
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans.

Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.

Beat eggs, oil, applesauce, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl.

Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

Here is the before: 

Here is after:

It was SO GOOD!!!

Then I moved onto my Quinoa for lunches this week.  I've become obsessed with this recipe.  Here is what I have been doing:

Ingredients:

2 Cups Chicken Stock (broth)

1 Cup Quinoa

1 lemon, zested then juiced

1 Zucchini

1 Squash

EVOO

S&P

Add Chicken Stock and Quinoa to a sauce pan, bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.  While Quinoa is absorbing the stock, half and slice zucchini and squash.  Saute veggies with 2 tbsp EVOO and S&P until just cooked(8-10 minutes).  Combine prepared Quinoa, Veggies, Lemon Zest and Lemon Juice and mix well.  Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, better overnight. Nuke it slightly before serving.

 Don't worry if the mixture is very fluid, the quinoa will absorb all the stock and juice in the fridge.  YUM!  I've been adding a can of black beans *rinsed* to the mixture to boost the protein.  SO GOOD!

Food today has been bizarre b/c my day started kind of late *food wise*.  While I was cooking/baking, I ate a veggie sausage bfast sammie.  Then around 11, I had some of the Quinoa for meal #2.  I then hit the road with Livie Lou for a trip to visit our friends in Fredrick *aka FREDNECK*.  It was an hour and a half trip  each way but I was so happy to visit Stacey, Mike and their new little baby, Aubrey.  On the way I ate my meal #3: Cheese, Triscuits and some cashews.

I can't believe baby Aubrey is already 9 weeks old.  SO CUTE but no picks because Olivia kept me busy.  She is so funny and busy these days.  I didn't even have a second to pull out my camera.  I did notice how big she looked though with a little tiny baby for comparison.  She is such a good girl.  The trip was good and it was really nice to finally spend some time with Stacey :)

On the way home I got some sushi, WITH brown rice this time.  I also ordered some Sashimi (just raw tuna with no rice).  It was good but I really prefer maki.  That was meal #4.  Then just around 7p I made a Monster.  It was really thick, nice and frozen.  Mason is helping me.  I may have to make another one :)  I couldn't be happier that my babies love the monster as much as I do.  It is SO GOOD for them!!! 

 That's all I got for today!

TTFN

Shopping, Sushi and DAY OFF!!!

The Consignment event was AMAZING!!!  I scored BIG TIME!  I got 6 dresses, 4 skirts, 5 pairs of pants, 5 shirts, 2 footie jammies, a comforter, a winter coat and 2 pair of shoes for Livie for $135!  IT ROCKED!

On the way home I decided I needed something to eat and I decided SUSHI!  I forgot to ask for my sushi with brown rice so I ended up having to use my "meal off" from the game.  Oh well it was really delicious!

SATURDAY!!!  CRAZY SATURDAY!

First thing is first...I LOVE the scale this morning!!!  I GET MY 20% point bonus for making my weightloss goal!!!

Today was a CRAZY DAY!  Dom had a game at 8am *Brrrrr*  I woke up at 6am and hit the road for a quick mile and a half.  Mason wanted to come so we only ran about half of it.  He is such a good boy, LOVE HIM!  When we got home, we hurried to get ready to leave for the game.  Left and hit McDonalds for some Egg McMuffins...I know, YUCK, but at least all we got were Egg McMuffins and Oatmeal :)  I had half a bfast sammie and declared "TODAY IS MY DAY OFF" from the Game.  Dom scored a goal at his game, I meant to take pictures but didn't get around to it. 

After the game MOM and I sat at the MVA to get me a new license.  2 hours later (UGG) we headed to white marsh to try to find some curtains for my kitchen windows (suggestion from the deputy who arrived the night of the break in).  No luck just yet, I have bizarre shaped Windows and I may have the make the curtains, no worries.  We gave up on curtains and went to PF Changs!  YUM.  Mom and I split the cashew chicken with brown rice and she talked me into crab wontons and I couldn't pass up the egg drop soup.  Realizing this meal *minus the crab wontons* is probably sanctioned by the Game :).  EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS!

I'm wondering if this fortune is true??  "IF you put up with small annoyances, you will gain great results"  I'm not so sure...I HATE SMALL ANNOYANCES :)  Maybe I should give it a try, couldn't hurt to be a little more tolerant, right?

Anyway...after lunch I came home and we zoomed to church for a family picture for the pictorial directory.  The picture was a disaster, I hate that sometimes I feel good about how I'm looking and really starting to see results in my clothes and my self image then WHAM!!!  I see a photo of myself and I'm almost right back at ground zero :(  UGG!!!  Oh well, I'll use this as motivation to keep going.  My progress in the last 4 weeks alone has been TREMENDOUS!  Just keep going, right?

After pictures, we came home and the boys all headed to a sleep over at Mom Mom's.  I took this opportunity to seriously organize the house.  I:

• put all the kids summer clothes away and pulled out, washed and organized their fall/winter stuff.
• I washed all Livie's new clothes and got them situated in her closet
• I straightened and organized our room *it was a mess*
• I cleaned our bathroom
• cleaned the kitchen
• organized the bathroom closet
• sent 5 bags of clothes (not consignable) to the clothing dumpster :) 

I think that is about it; after all this work, we headed out with the lil girl to get something to eat.  We were talking about a couple of places and wanted to go somewhere the boys don't really like but we like so we could enjoy it without them complaining :)  We ended up at La Tolteca.  MY FAV.  It is my FAVORITE place for a couple of reasons.  (1) it is BY FAR the most authentic mexican food I've ever had.  (2) the margaritas are TO DIE FOR and (3) they have the friendliest service I've ever experienced.  DJ and I both love this place so we enjoyed it without the kiddos *who don't love it so much, of course the lil lady doesn't have an opinion yet*  I got the Tamale and Enchilada combo and a Margarita.  DJ decided he wanted some fried ice cream and I had a few bites.  YUM!

I think we need to do a Girl's Night Out at this place, SOON!!!

I guess that is about it for today...after we ate dinner we went to the mall to pick up stuff I know the boys needed like jeans and long sleeve t-shirts.  That's about all I got for today, TTFN and good night from the gorgeous girl :)

Nitwit

Dominic used this word last night and it made me LOL...Nitwit is a funny word.  According to the urban dictionary #4 defines a Nitwit as: a person who apparently has no inkling as to what they should be doing.  SO TRUE FOR ME Lately!!!  I totally forgot to talk about today on my previous post.  I just skipped right over my whole day and jumped to tonight (can't wait for Tot Swap)

So this morning was a little crazy.  DJ and I had an appointment at 8:30 this morning.  He took the girl to meet Mom Mom for the day (in white marsh) and I got the boys ready and off to the Y at their school :)  Usually DJ is doing all of this but it was my turn to help out (apparently).  I got the boys' lunches packed and fixed us all some breakfast.  Waffles for Mason, Whole Wheat British muffin with cheese for Dom and Yogurt for Livie.  I made myself my usual veggie sausage sammie and prepped all my food for the rest of today.  After I dropped the boys off I came back home to meet DJ for our appointment.  After we got back home I quickly blended meal #2: Green Monster to drink on the road.  I headed into work finally for the day.  It was nice to have some one on one time with DJ, even if it was just b/c we had an appointment.

Meal #3 was the rest of the left over deconstructed Fajitas from the other night and Meal #4 is unknown at this point...EEK!  I've got to figure something out!!!!!  Quickly!

Dinner tonight will be pizza for the boys and probably a veggie burger for me.  Then SHOPPING!  Tonight at 8pm we are going to the boys' school for an Ice Cream Social.  IT IS GOING TO BE A CRAZY WEEKEND!!!!  EEK!  Tonight is my exercise night off (I think)

More later...TTFN

No Computer...No Life

UGG!!! LIFE SUCKS without a laptop!  OK maybe I'm over exagerating...Life doesn't suck but my Blog life does :)  I hope to have one today :)

Yesterday was a crazy day anyway...

Breakfast and GM were GREAT!

Lunch was my leftover "deconstructed fajitas" and Meal #4 consisted of Cheese and Triscuits in the car.   After running around all day yesterday replacing my wallet (and new cheepy purse, even though I have a thousand) and getting my car headlights and taillights fixed...I feel like I was everywhere and nowhere non stop yesterday. Of course cashews dotted the afternoon as my "fat".  LOVE THEM

Last night I made some DELICIOUS pork chops.  Recipe from http://www.greenlitebites.com/.  The boys KILLED the pork chops...new protein I can make and they'll eat :) 

After dinner it was time for back to school night.  I am SO impressed with the boys' teachers this year.  They are WONDERFUL!  The principal is pretty snazzy too :)

Alright that's all I got so far today...tonight Mom and I are going to a HUGE consignement event where I will hopefully complete Livie's fall/winter wardrobe. 

TTFN

Rocky marathon!

there is a Rocky marathon on TV tonight...I could say I feel like Rocky!!  Great workout tonight with Teri and Julie...we didn't go crazy but we walked a good 2 miles and then I quickly jogged another mile just bc it felt good!  Woot!!
Food was standard today...meal#2: monster, meal#3: salad with quinoa, meal#4: crackers n cheese with some cashews and meal #5: rockin deconstructed fajitas (yum)!!! I'll post pics later...it didn't work on the app I was using last night...now my pics are all pixelated:(

Update: here are the pics
I used a TON of green peppers and onions (2 peppers and 1 whole large yellow onion) YUMMMM

It was SUPER easy to make.  Just some chicken with fajita seasoning packet, green peppers and onions, brown rice and a little salsa and low fat cheese.  Couldn't be easier!!!!! :)

That's all I got TTFN