Day Five: You had me at...rubber bands/

Holy hell...I've made it to day five without missing a day or a beat. That's a small win in my book!

 

I decided to write about rubber bands today. I know...why write about rubber bands when I can write about the love for my children, husband or the like? Well...I'll tell you why.

 

My hair is out of control.

 

Justin asked me to try some new shampoo. Instead of getting my shampoo and conditioner separately, he got the all-in-one kind. Unfortunately, his attempt to be frugal backfired. Instead of saving time and money, it left my hair staticky and stuck to my face every single day.

 

Now granted...the all-in-one shampoo and conditioner might have worked if my hair were shorter. You see, I haven't gotten a haircut in almost six months. To be totally transparent, it's driving me bat shit crazy!

 

Anyway...I digress. Back to rubber bands.

 

As life would have it, my hair was sticking to my face - due to the static. I couldn't handle it one more second.

 

So...I rummaged through my desk drawer and found an oversized rubber band. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail and secured it with said rubber band.

 

 

  And there you have it folks...a ponytail  

I guess I did learn something from the Girl Scouts afterall...use your resources wisely! Pulling my hair back out of my face was most definitely a resouceful decision.

 

So, here's to rubber bands for saving the day and my hair crisis!!!

   

Day Four

Day four was yesterday - Sunday:Funday.

 

Justin, the babes and I headed down to the Lucky Dog yesterday afternoon to have lunch, watch the Browns and Bengals games, and see my Bets.

 

The kiddos were super excited to see "Aunt Betsy". I'm pretty sure that they didn't care about what the Browns or Bengals were doing on screen. To be honest, it was probably a good thing that they weren't watching. Instead, they were running around, making new friends and trying to win stuffed animals with the "claw" game.

 

I mean...I totally know that the "claw" game is a money trap - nobody ever wins! Yet, I stood there with the kiddos feeding it dollar bills. Finally, the kids got bored and decided to walk away - empty handed.

 

Fortunately for Ellie, one of the Browns Backers was sitting by us and decided to give her the white "bengal" tiger that he won. You would have thought that it was Christmas! She beemed and carried that tiger around with her all afternoon, evening, and at bedtime too. "Tigie" has found a great home.

 

As day four came to an end, I found myself thankful for football Sundays with my family and bestie.

   

Day Three of Thankfulness

Well...the weekend hit and that is the reason why I didn't blog my days three and four of thankfulness. So...I guess I'll go ahead and take care of that now.

 

On Saturday, I was getting ready to head to the shop. You see, Saturdays are my only days that I get to work my shop and be hands-on with the everyday happenings.

 

Anyway...before I left, I was sitting on the chaise in our bedroom - talking to Justin. As I was getting ready to stand up and head out, he grabbed my hand.

 

Now...I'm not going to get all sappy. He wasn't holding my hand, but rather challenging me to a thumb wrestling match! And like any over confident person...I took him on!

 

I will have it be known that I WON the thumb war wrestling match!!! I even beat him with my left hand...and no, I didn't play dirty either and entrap him with my index finger.

 

I beat him fair and square.

 

And with that in mind, here is day three: Today I am thankful for thumb wresting on Saturday mornings with the best husband ever. Btw...I won!

 

Day 2 of Giving Thanks

Well...we've made it to day two of giving thanks. Not going to lie...most years I don't even make it this far. lol

 

However, today's day is dedicated to my favorite little boy...

 

Lucas is my six year old, my baby and a complete Momma's boy. He has my Type A personality, talks non-stop, is completely hilarious and could pick-up your spirit in five seconds with only a few words and a hug. He is definitely a lover, people pleaser and wildly sensitive.

While he is all of those things that make my heart (and anyone else that is near him) melt, today....he was my alarm clock. And for that...I am truly thankful and grateful.

At 7:48 this morning, his boundful energy popped into our bedroom and yelled..."I MISSED THE BUS!!!!!!!" lol

Not sure what happened, but apparently I didn't set the alarm.

Despite the chaotic morning of quickly getting dressed and sprinting out the door like an Olympic athlete, I still find it easy to be thankful for those treasured moments with my sweetie boy.

Lucas...thank you, for choosing me to be your mommy. Love you to the moon and back.

     

30 Days of Thanks Starts Today!

It's November 1st and I am starting my "30 Days of Thanks". Far too often I take for granted all of the things that I am thankful and grateful for - it's part of the busy lifestyle that we have all grown accustomed too.

 

I find myself getting in the car and driving with the babes without checking my sugar first - just because I have faith that my sugars are fine. I complain that I have nothing to wear when I search for an outfit in my walk-in closet. I never worry about how I am going to put food on the table so that we can nourish our bodies with healthy food.

 

While I am thankful and grateful that I make it safe and sound to my destination, that I "have" clothes to wear and that my family doesn't know what "going hungry" means, I have a tendency to just "gloss" over it. So, instead of "glossing" over the months where candy and the bird run together, I wanted to take the time to share what I am truly thankful for.

 

Here's to Day One: I am thankful for insulin.

 

When I was five, I was blessed with Type I Diabetes. I remeber going to Diabetes Camp when I was six and receiving an oversized "Pigs are Precious" t-shirt. You see, back then, my insulin came from those precious little oinkers.

 

At the age of six, I took a small stand and decided that since pigs were keeping me alive, then I wouldn't eat them. lol. I'm sure that Wilbur and all of his piggie friends were relieved.

 

Fortunately, modern medicine has made enormous growth and I no longer use insulin derived from pigs, but rather insulin developed in a lab.

 

No matter where my insulin came from, it has always kept me alive and for that...I am truly thankful.

 

 

 

If I had my own cooking show...

...we would be in the poor house...continuously!

It's not really a secret - I hate to cook and bake! I think that the tables might be turned if what I was attempting turned out to be gorgeous AND taste delicious. Unfortunately, I have a tendency to f**k things up when I'm in the kitchen.

However, I have been getting a little adventerous and trying new recipes. For instance, check out these "Blue Cheese Chicken Burgers" that have become a staple in our household.

And just in case your mouth is watering and you have to have the recipe, here it is:

Blue Cheese Chicken Burgers

2 sprays cooking spray

1/4 cup(s) barbeque sauce

1 1/2 tsp Red Hot

1 pound(s) extra lean ground chicken breast

1/2 cup(s) uncooked scallion

1/4 cup(s) dried plain breadcrumbs

2 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp salt

4 items mixed grain hamburger buns

2 cup(s) romaine lettuce

1 large tomato (cut into 8 slices)

2 Tbsp blue cheese, crumbled

Instructions

·   Off heat, coat a grill or grill pan with cooking spray; preheat to medium-high.

·    In a small bowl, combine barbecue sauce and hot pepper sauce. In a medium bowl, combine chicken, 1 tablespoon of barbecue sauce mixture, scallion, celery, breadcrumbs, garlic and salt. Using wet hands (to prevent mixture from sticking), form chicken mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick patties; brush top of burgers with some remaining barbecue sauce mixture.

·    Place burgers on grill, sauce side down; brush tops of burgers with remaining sauce. Grill, turning once, until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Lightly toast open-faced buns on grill during last minute of cooking.

·    To serve, place 4 bun bottoms on each of 4 plates. Top each with 1/2 cup of shredded lettuce, 2 tomato slices, a burger, 1/2 tablespoon of cheese and a bun top (cheese will melt a little from hot burger). Yields 1 burger per serving.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cook Time: 10 Minutes

Serves: 4

Weight Watcher Points: 8

I hope that you love them as much as we do. I look to serve them with corn on the cob and fresh watermelon and strawberries. For a burger, one ear of corn (I half mine - so really, you can have two pieces), two cups of watermelon and one cup strawberries...dinner will only set you back 10 WW Points Plus! To me...that's a lot of food AND it won't break your points bank. :)

So...until next time...

   

A week in review

This week has probably been one of the toughest weeks since starting my health kick. I mean...why did I think that it was going to be easy? I took a five week hiatus where I ate anything that didn't eat me first! I also kicked running, or working out in general, to the curb!! Needless to say...those were some fabulous weeks - full of chocolate chip cookies, binging and sitting on my ass!

 

So, when I started the plan again, I found myself starving by 3:00 in the afternoon. Even though I had eaten breakfast, a snack, lunch and possibly another snack. I mean...Seymour was out of control! I couldn't keep up with the feeding schedule...stupid stomach.

 

Fortunately, I stuck with it and ate what I wanted...when I wanted. I mean...I ate TWO, that's right, TWO, giant chocolate fudge bars last night while I was watching The Voice. Then...I ate a pack of pb crackers because I could.

 

Here's the difference - I logged everything that I put into my pie hole.

 

So where did it get me? Here - I lost 2.9 pounds this week and am closer to inching myself back down towards my goal.

 

And there we have it folks...my goal. For the past eight months it has been completely unattainable. I mean...137.8 should be totally doable! Unfortunately, my body doesn't tend to agree.

 

I just can't seem to break out of the 140's. I get to around 141 - 142 pounds and hit a complete brick wall. I cannot, for the life of me, shed those extra 3 - 5 pounds. It's so frustrating!

 

My leader at FF Anonymous (Fat Farm - just in case you didn't know) told me that I will fight tooth and nail to lose those extra pounds and that my body is trying to tell me that I should be happy at the weight.

 

Here's my response: Fuck that. I'm not happy at that weight! I want to reach my goal! Why should I have to settle?

 

So...here's to round two of hopefully being able to reach my goal.

 

I also started back on the exercise kick.

 

Zumba every Wednesday and I'm thinking about throwing some running in there too! I mean...I have to start training at some point - the Turkey Trot is in nine weeks!!!!!!!

 

Here's to a new approach and getting my groove back.