Day 146 - Perfect Portabella Club

And finally today's recipe, all caught up!  Just made this for lunch...and it was really good.  The last mushroom cap in the package, so sad.  It really made the meatiness for this sandwich...and the bacon and lettuce...yummy. 

I think I might actually be sorta caught up with beginning of the year tasks.  Now I'm moving on to everything else.  Fall parties already coming up, GS meetings starting soon, homework, and more.  Gotta love this fall weather that has finally started...love getting cozy in a sweatshirt.  We got our back porch cleaned off last and I'm looking to enjoying it.

I can't believe I'm coming up on halfway through the book, gotta figure out what recipe will be Day 150.  Eat well! 

Day 145 - Burger-ific Mushroom Melt

Second mushroom cap out of the package went to this recipe....mushroom topped with boca burger topped with swiss cheese.  Completely delicious!  I did cook it in a covered skillet instead of the oven though....worked pretty well.

Day 144 - Ring-My-Bella Mushroom Sandwich

Another sandwich that I got to see come to life on HG's show....it was amazing.  I loved it!  I really like portabella mushrooms, so this was great.  I like the trick of seasoning the mayo with cayenne...like an aioli almost.  I'm getting hungry just thinking about it....must buy mushrooms when on sale though.

Day 143 - In-N-Outrageous Animal-Style Salad

This was a pretty intense prep for a salad, but it was worth the wait.  My husband said it smelled just like a burger..but he wouldn't go near it with the mustard in it.  I did enjoy this huge salad, both tasty and filling for sure.  Looking forward to the next time we are close to an In & Out though.....

Day 142 - Hot Dog Stir-Fry

This dish surprised me...it was better than I thought it was going to be.  Hot dogs, onions and mushrooms, that's about it.  I just love the way onions and mushrooms cook down...yummmmm.  I definitely enjoyed this recipe.

Day 141 - Gravy-Good Beef Casserole

Found some lean ground beef in the deep freezer, so I thought I'd make this oven cooked dish on a day when it wasn't super warm.  The gravy mixed really well with the mushrooms and beef and made this dish pretty yummy.  I sprinkled some parmesan cheese on top which really added some more goodness.

Day 140 - Grinder Lettuce Cups

Another great recipe!  I found Boca burgers cheap, so I stocked up on a few boxes.  Cooked and crumbled and mixed with crushed tomatoes and spices made an awesome filling for lettuce wraps.  I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor of this recipe!

Day 139 - Fluffy-Good Zucchini Nut Muffins

Loved these muffins!  They have an awesome flavor and are filling as well!  I ended up with 12 of them instead of 9, my pan must be smaller.  I have been enjoyed them for breakfast or a snack!  Would love to make them again sometime. :)

Day 138 - Creamy Chicken & Noodles

I'm trying to remember this recipe....that is why I should be writing every day.  I remember the cream of celery soup being really strong....but I enjoyed the recipe with my last bag of shirataki noodles.  Must get to Whole Foods soon.  The meal was definitely creamy and pretty good.

Day 137 - Grilled Fuji-n-Chick 'Wich

Watched HG make this sandwich a while back....it was easy to prepare and pretty good as well.  My husband checked out the picture in the book to make sure it looked like it should...and it did. :)  I like the flavor of the apple against the chicken.  Really great meal!

Day 136 - Corn MegaMuffins

Made these muffins when we got home from our trip for an evening snack...had all the ingredients ready and waiting.  They were a fantastic cornbread like muffin, tasty and warm.  I did spread some Brummel & Brown on them as well.  Would be great as a bread side for any meal.

Day 135 - Banana Split Bread

Another breakfast I made for the trip...it was just okay for me.  I have never been a huge fan of banana bread, so maybe my taste buds are tainted with memories.  But it is definitely unique with the strawberry preserves and chocolate chips....I think my husband liked it.

Day 134 - Chocolate-Chippy Cheese Danish

I did my make-ahead meals for the weekend we were visiting friends and going to a wedding.  Everyone enjoyed this chocolate chip danish, it was really yummy!  Easy to make as well even with the cutting and crossing of the crescent dough, LOVE those dough sheets!  Will definitely make this again sometime.

Day 133 - Sassy 'n Steamy Artichoke

I needed a quick and easy meal before leaving for our weekend trip, this was it.  I can't remember the last time I ate an artichoke the old fashioned way.  I grew up eating these once in awhile.  I really liked the buttery dip too.  Yummy!

Day 132 - Gooey-Good Queso Dip 'n Chips

This queso was surprisingly good, like really good.  I love cheese, but sometimes that fat free stuff just isn't the same...the mixture of different cheeses worked really well with the spices and boca crumbles.  Really good!  My husband enjoyed the leftovers as well...

Day 131 - Looney Tuna-Stuffed Pepper

This was an interesting dish for lunch today...tuna and dijonnaise stuffed into a red pepper.  I admit I put it in the microwave instead of baking it.  My husband would kill me for turning on the oven in this heat wave we are having...but those were the ingredients I had.  It was actually pretty good and surprisingly filling.

Spent most of the morning typing volunteer information into a database on the computer.  My eyes were pretty glazed over afterwards...it's just one of those start-of-year tasks I need to finish asap to get information out to committee chairs.  It seems never-ending though!

I cannot believe tomorrow is Sept already, where is the time going?  I literally saw Christmas decorations in a store yesterday, what?!  I just want to enjoy fall first, seriously.  I haven't even figured out my fall tv schedule yet...I don't know when shows start or anything...by now I'm usually already planning out my nights.  Maybe that means I won't watch as many....at least Jacques will record for me.  Yay!

Eat well!

Day 130 - Tuna Noodle Casse-Bowl

Another fun lunch, shirataki noodles again with tuna and cream of mushroom soup, pretty much just like a tuna casserole.  I had to add some salt and pepper, which was recommended.  It was okay, just wasn't an awesome food moment.

Grocery shopping was pretty easy, we are trying to eat down our freezer/pantry, so I'm trying to keep things to fresh items like milk, veggies, fruit, cheese.  I know writing this blog with a new recipe every day requires me to pick up items here and there, but I'm trying to use what I have on hand first. 

The mean scale told me I gained half a pound, must have been that jalapeno-cheese sausage...it was worth it!  Still walking every morning and trying my best.  Eat well!

Day 129 - Cheesy Burger Skillet

Had this meal for lunch, it was okay.  Easy to make and full of tomato flavor.  It's interesting to use the meatless burgers for stir fry meat, just something different.

Monday mornings are always fun...left the carseats in the husband's truck, had to make him come home...running late to school.  At least I was able to clean up around the house and get some other things done.  First PSR meeting this evening, I know my daughter cannot wait to start all of her fun activities soon.  PSR, dance, more dance, Girl Scouts...yep, that's enough for now.  Life is going to speed up next week for sure.

Day 128 - Egg Cups a la Hungry

These little cups were delicious!  Perfect for a yummy and filling Sunday breakfast.  My husband enjoyed them as well.  Eggs and cheese and sausage in a crescent cup, who could ask for more?  Could probably even change up the add-ins if you wanted for a brunch.

We went out on a friend's boat, which was a really good time.  Except for when another boat passed way too close to us while I was sitting on the boat watching the kids swim and the wake sent me flying across the boat.  Left a nice big bruise on my arm, I was not a happy camper.  How rude.  Other than that, it was fun.  Topped off the evening with drunken chicken and some jalapeno-cheese sausage that I found at the bottom of the deep freezer.  It was from TX and my absolute favorite!  I was in heaven.

Day 127 - Lasagna-Like Egg Mug

I needed to start this day off with a hearty breakfast...this egg mug was okay.  I did like the flavors, tasted like lasagna in eggs, but there are other egg mugs which I have enjoyed more.

It was a full day of fun!  Museum of transportation all morning followed by apple picking in the afternoon.  And topped off with an evening at the pool.  A great family fun day!

Day 126 - Twice-as-Nice Guapo Taco

This yummy meal reminded me of something from Taco Bell.  It was a hard shell taco wrapped up in a soft taco.  Pretty tasty!

I got to scrapbook with my friends, finally.  Although I wasn't scrapbooking, it was fun!  We talked about all the things I need to know for our vacation in March, it's this great place somewhere in Florida....I haven't been able to get back into scrapbooking much since our big picture loss with the computer.  I'm still in recovery.

Take advantage of time with friends!  Eat well!

Day 125 - Cheesy Bacon Noodle Skillet

Made this dish for dinner, it was pretty tasty.  I could really feel the heat from the cayenne pepper.  I've been on a shirataki noodle kick.  I only get to Whole Paycheck once in awhile, so I stocked up on them.  They have become a staple, I can't remember the last time I had real pasta.

It was a pretty good day, I was able to check some things off my to-do list. Yay!  I've been watching some of the coverage from the east coast, all the evacuations.  They interviewed this poor girl who has been planning her wedding for so long for this weekend, and now she has to leave because of the hurricane.  I hope everyone stays safe out there.

Coming to the end of the week, not sure what the weekend will bring, hopefully something fun and some good food. :)

Day 124 - Thanksgiving in a Salad Bowl

I know I said I would write daily, and I'm trying!  I made this salad for lunch today.  I loved all the flavors, turkey, feta, cranberries, pecans...it was just slightly on the dry side.  I probably could have used twice as much dressing.  I would totally make it again, and I've made similar salads in the past.  Too bad my husband grabbed a bite before I remembered there was honey mustard in the dressing....mustard and my husband do not mix.

I spent my morning while my son was at preschool running two errands, then working on an online training course for Girl Scouts.  I cannot believe how long it takes, just as long as the face to face class, I'm sure.  But it is nice that there is flexibility to take it when I can...looking forward to getting certified through more training, so I can take on more roles in the program.

Kids seem to be settling in at school, I'm trying to get a rhythm for my weekly schedule.  I just have a bunch of start of year projects to accomplish in the next week.  I'm happy when I can cross items off my to-do list.  Then I just add more. :)

Eat well!

Day 123 - Thai Peanut Noodle Trio

It was grocery shopping day, yay!  Made sure to pick up stuff for my HG meals.  This noodle trio was good, definitely flavored by the sauce you pick or find.  The thai peanut sauce I found was pretty spicy for me...I'm sure my husband will use it on something though.  It was quick and easy to make, and you can also choose the frozen stir-fry veggies you want to make it your own dish.

Took my son to the second visit of a child language research study in the afternoon.  It was fun playing with him on camera.  He's such a great little kid!   I'm really lucky...must remind myself of that when the fighting begins....

Day 122 - Not-Quite-Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Had this soup for lunch...it was pretty yummy and filling as well.  Easy to put together.  It was definitely a Monday!

Day 121 - HG Hash Scramble

Just finished eating this massive dish and I am stuffed!  It was a huge bowl of yumminess.  Hash browns, canadian bacon, onions, green pepper topped with scrambled egg beaters and cheese.  Oh, and a touch of ketchup, super tasty!

I had an awesome time last night at the Katy Perry concert here.  Yes, I took my seven year old daughter to this event.  And I wasn't the only one, there were lots of younger girls there and boys I should say.  The music was great and the costumes/special effects really helped put together a really fabulous show.  I'm really glad we got to go.  It was great for people watching, she has some really dedicated fans in this area who took the time to make their own costumes and headpieces.  Lots of blue wigs!

So it was a late night, and I'm pretty tired this morning.  I can't remember the last time I saw midnight.  Today will hopefully be a fairly relaxing day.  Headed to a bbq this afternoon...hopefully I can keep myself within my points for today.  Been saving up all week with walking each morning, so I'm hoping the scale will be nice this week.  Happy that the dvr was on this morning, so I should be able to watch the new HG show sometime when the kids aren't hogging the tv. :)

Eat well!

Day 120 - Breakfast Sundae Supreme

I was eating this for breakfast when our power went out.  Ugh.  Heard a loud boom in our backyard, turns out a tree hit the fuse box...only out for two hours thankfully.  The dish was good, a nice combination of creaminess from the yogurt and cottage cheese topped with some crunch from the fiber now and firmness of the fruit.  I would definitely make it again for a quick 'gourmet' breakfast.

Got some errands run, new shoes for the kiddos with an awesome coupon, dance shoes bought for my daughter, ouch on the increase in price from last year.  It hurts having her go from little girl sizes to big girl sizes...picked up dance pictures, drycleaning, and pictures for a project for my son's school.  All in all a good morning.

Day 119 - The Club Skillet

Had this for lunch, very mustard-y!  It was pretty good, spinach and all.  Will probably eat the leftovers soon too.  Not feeling very social today.  Maybe more tomorrow.

Eat well!

Day 118 - California Love Mug

Had this yummy egg mug for breakfast..all the goodies in there, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese with avocado on top.  I thoroughly enjoyed it even though I had to eat it pretty quickly to make sure to get the kids to school on time. 

Only the second day of school of many, and it is awfully hot here today.  I'm thinking it would be a nice afternoon/evening to hit the pool.  She told me yesterday that she will have homework tonight.  Hmmmm, it's strange thinking about homework as a parent.  I have to say that I don't remember my parents having to work with me a whole lot, that's just because I'm brilliant, right?  Or is it because I didn't have homework in elementary school?  I honestly don't remember.  There are just alot of things for a parent to do when it comes to school:  forms, homework, this/that.  Seems crazy trying to keep up with it all.  I know it will just increase with time.  I'm happy that I can be available for my children, I'm very lucky!

Have to mention my awesome lunch I made...greek chicken salad with cooked chicken breast, ff mayo, feta cheese, kalamata olives sliced, and dried oregano.  It was outstanding!  And yes, I just made it up on my own. :)  Eat well!

Day 117 - Flat-tastic Ranchy Bacon Wrap

I could eat this every day!!!!  Wow!  It was really good!  I loved the filling, then to wrap it in a tortilla and grill it a little bit in a skillet, yum-O!  I will definitely make this again.

Both kids had a great first day of school.  I enjoyed my 3 hours of freedom, and hope to accomplish more everyday.  I think the time alone is great for my mental health and makes me appreciate the time I do have with my kiddos more.

Looking forward to this weekend...taking my daughter to her first concert.  I think it's going to be fun.  Eat well!

Day 116 - Mini Nacho Dippers

These were totally one-bite wonders, they were sooooo delicious!  I truly enjoyed every last one of them.  The crunch of the rice cake with the creaminess of the beans topped off with sour cream and salsa, awesome!

We survived our day of open houses and had a little fun as well.  I was happy to get the kids to bed close to on time, so hopefully they won't be too tired in the morning.  I think they are both really excited about school.  The house will seem empty for awhile.  I have plenty of things to keep me busy though, like planning out my HG meals. :)

Eat well!

Day 115 - Super-Sized Berry-nana Oatmeal Parfait

This breakfast was really yummy!  I love these cold oatmeal dishes..good for after walking in the morning and I'm still a little warm.  I do have to admit that I didn't have any bananas for this recipe, so I used extra strawberries.  Bananas are not my favorite fruit...they have to be perfectly ripe for me to like them.  The oatmeal base had a great flavor with the cinnamon and vanilla.

Heading to a back to school night for my daughter this evening, cannot believe she is a 2nd grader!  I'm excited to see what this year brings for her.  She has a teacher that everyone loves, so it should be fun and challenging too, I hope.  She's been reading so much all summer, so I think she'll be right on track there.  Now if we had only worked on her handwriting more....sigh.

Tomorrow morning we head to preschool open house for my son, he's in the same room as last year, so it should be a nice refresher for him.  His teachers are wonderful, and I know he's going to have a blast. 

What am I going to do with all this free time?  Clean, clean, clean, at least that's what my husband would like me to do...and I will be doing alot of that.  I'll also get to run some errands that I have been putting off and grocery shop in peace.  I also hope to take on some house projects like decluttering and wallpaper and more.  I need to put together a to-do list and just work through it.

Eat well!

Day 114 - Snack-tastic Burger Wrap

I can't believe I'm all caught up on here....it has definitely been hard to keep up this summer.  I'm hoping I will have a little more extra time to write once the kids are in school.  I feel like we have really enjoyed the summer, but it seems so short now.  Only a couple more days of freedom...with some open house activities to attend.  I think it's going to be a great year for everyone!

So for lunch today, I had this wrap.  It was really pretty tasty, even the raw sweet onion tucked in there.  I did add pickles to the wrap as suggested, and I loved the flavor of the salad dressing mixed with ff mayo.  I could definitely eat something similar again.  Who needs fast food when you can make something like this at home?

It's been a pretty quiet weekend around here, I feel like it's the calm before the storm.  I know life is going to get super busy in a few weeks, but I'll enjoy this for now.  I'm irritated that Jacques (our DVR) was turned off this morning, so I didn't get to record the HG show.  Arrgggh!  Guess I will settle for just checking out the recipes online....

My advice for today:  treat those around you with respect even if you disagree with their opinion.  You never know who you might hurt in the process if you don't.  Eat well!

Day 113 - Sweet Spinach Stir-Fry

I have to say that this recipe was one of my least favorite so far...I'm not sure if it reminded me of a horrific incident with kale as a child or what, but the wilted down spinach just looked unappetizing.  I felt like Popeye eating such a huge serving of spinach.  I did like the honey mustard flavor with the Boca burger, but I just didn't enjoy this dish all that much.

Day 112 - Say Cheese! Egg Mug

I love cheese!  Have I said that before?  I thoroughly enjoyed this egg mug with 4 different cheeses...would make it again in a heartbeat.  Maybe some chives on top would have been good...mental note.

Day 111 - Very Veggie-Eggy Explosion

This was kind of a crazy day with some back to school commitments already.  I ended up making breakfast for dinner.  The dish was full of veggies of course, which I love cooked down and super soft.  I don't mind eating eggs any time of day.  I liked the flavors and again take tips for future breakfasts.

Day 110 - Best-Ever Tuna Slaw

I made this dish to take for lunch at the zoo, for me, of course.  I wish my kids would eat some of the things I make...I keep waiting for that magical 'Aha' moment when they realize what they have been missing.  I enjoyed this slaw and am still enjoying it, I think there are still a couple servings left.  It's always hard to make something that only one family member will eat....that's why I love all the single serving recipes in the book.

Day 109 - Sweet Apple & Chicken Stir-Fry

I made this dish for dinner...and when I said stir-fry, my husband definitely had something else in mind.  I usually make a really yummy asian stir-fry, and this wasn't really anywhere close to that.  I loved the apple in this dish, it was a very unique flavor.  We did eat this over rice, but that wasn't really necessary.  I felt like the recipe needed a little more flavor, but overall it was was a pretty decent dish.

Have to add that this was a scale day, and the scale was super nice!

Day 108 - Salsa-fied Tuna Stacks

I think I needed a recipe that I had all the ingredients for already...this was a snack for me that was pretty tasty.  I used cheese flavored mini rice cakes with a spoonful of the tuna/salsa mix.  I'm still not convinced about the tuna/salsa combination, but I suppose it depends on the salsa.

Day 107 - Hawaiian B-fast Stacks

These were definitely interesting for breakfast...the flavors were very different, but they worked.  Pineapple, dijionaise and salsa...crazy, but I enjoyed them.  May not make them again, but it helps me figure how what goes well together for my cooking future.

Day 106 - Winner Winner Onion Chicken Dinner

Hmmmm, not sure if this was a winner or not...it was okay.  I liked veggies all soft and cooked, but I think the chicken was lacking something.  It was just not a dish I would call awesome, but it was good and a healthy choice for dinner.

Day 105 - Bacon Cheeseburger Patty

I had trouble with this one...I couldn't quite get all of the cheese inside the meat, so I think there was a loss during cooking.  However, the bacon throughout the burger was a really great flavor.  My husband and I both enjoyed this for dinner.

Day 104 - Broccoli Beef Stir-Fry

I made this for dinner for my husband and myself.  I think he always has his doubts about some of the recipes I make, but I think he liked this one.  It was pretty tasty.  I have to admit that using ground meat for a stir-fry wouldn't have been my first choice, but it turned out really well.

Day 103 - Broc 'n Ginger Tuna Bowl

Another tuna trio!  SOOOOO good, I was surprised how wonderful the flavors were in this dish.  All three of them.  I think I'm running out of tuna recipes now....

Day 102 - Hot Stack Morning Sliders

This recipe had a few more steps than others, but the little sliders turned out really well.  I enjoyed eating the three small ones instaed of one big sandwich.  I think I've become more of a Canadian bacon fan that I used to be, it's not too bad and not too bad for you in comparison to other breakfast meats.  These were fun and delicious!

Day 101 - Fancy-Pants Fast Tuna 'n Beans

My sweet husband was nice enough to pick up some ingredients for me before I got home, so I was able to make this recipe for dinner after our second travel day.  It was really good, better than I expected.  I would definitely make it again or something similar to it.

Day 100 - Cheesy Tuna Muffin 'Wich

I wish I could have done something special for my 100th recipe, but I was driving through Colorado and Kansas at the time, so I had to settle for something I could eat on the road.  This was another tuna trio that was easy to throw together.  I would probably use a flavored cheese next time or add a little more flavor, it was just a little bland for me.  The 500 mile drive in the car probably didn't help either....

Day 99 - Garlic Shrimp Tostada

Our last night of vacation...we were headed toward home the next day.  I made this recipe for dinner...I made the shrimp pretty garlic-y, but I love the crispness I got on the tortilla.  I think I had too many shrimps on the tostada, but overall it was pretty tasty.  I think I added some sour cream to my wedges also.

Day 98 - Naked Chicken Parm

I think it was the first time I've ever bought a single chicken breast at the meat counter, but hey, it worked out just fine.  This recipe was quick and simple to prepare, love the trios!  I would easily make this again for a healthy and fast meal.

Day 97 - Sloppy Frank n Beans

This was a quick and fairly easy meal...had the hot dogs along for the kids and I used the crock-pot beans from an earlier recipe.  I didn't have a light hot dog bun, so I used an english muffin instead.  It worked pretty well.  I was happy to eat some leftovers and still continue my HG meals.  It's all about the planning!

Day 96 - Chicken Chili Surprise

This was the last of the prepared meals from the freezer.  It was a pretty good white chicken chili recipe..especially with a little sour cream and chip crumbled on top.  Very filling meal.  Love the crockpot too!  It really made my ability to bring along HG meals so much easier.

Day 95 - Veggie Explosion Egg Mug

Cooked myself this yummy egg mug for breakfast...I think my mom was taking tips from me, not that she needs them.  All those veggies mixed with eggs were really tasty.  I really adore these egg mugs, they are easy to make, nicely contained, and fun to eat!

Day 94 - Crockpot Coq au Vin

I made this recipe fresh while we were out hiking one day.  The chicken got really tender in the crockpot and the sauce thickened up really nicely.  I enjoyed this dish, and I'm pretty sure my parents did as well.  A nice classic dish made the HG way!

Day 93 - Mexi-Bolognese

Had to throw this together on a travel day, but it turned out awesome!  The flavor of the taco seasoning and the crushed tomatoes was really very interesting.  I think you could serve it over pasta or in a burrito just the same.  It's a quick and easy recipe that I will make again.

Day 92 - Crock-Pot Fake-Baked Beans

These beans were easy to make in the crockpot and pretty tasty.  I think I ate them over some rice and maybe some sour cream and cheese on top...yummm.  They had an interesting and good flavor and would accompany a bbq meat really well also.  They did freeze well for travel.

Day 91 - OMG! Burgers (Onion Mushroom Goodness Burgers)

These burgers were great in thought, I'm just not sure how to keep the mushrooms in the meat.  Had a few fall out, but overall they were pretty tasty.  I had to make a few that didn't have the mushrooms in them for some picky eaters, but I think the flavor of the onion soup mix in the meat was awesome.  Will definitely use that tip in the future.

Day 90 - Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

My husband LOVES gumbo, so I wanted to make this for him as well as the thought that it would freeze well for travel.  I was able to find andouille chicken sausage at Trader Joe's for this recipe and it was really good.  A touch on the spicy side for me, but the rest of the gang enjoyed it as well.  What to do with the rest of that frozen okra now?

Day 89 - 'Cue the Pulled Pork

I was pretty excited to try this recipe, it's out of the book, but HG also made it on one of her shows last season.  It was really tasty!  And great on a bun or over rice or just by itself with some pickles.  I will definitely be making this again, only drawback is the cost of pork tenderloin.  This dish was definitely not hindered by the freezer.  Yum-O!

Day 88 -Mmm-mmm Minestrone

Mmmm, what can I say about this soup.  It wasn't at the top of my list for soups.  It needed a little more flavor or kick.  I'm not sure if making this ahead in the crockpot affected its flavor, but with a little sour cream and spices, it was edible.

I made about 8 or 9 meals in advance and froze them for travel on our vacation, it worked out well, I just wonder if something like this tastes better fresh.

Day 87 - BBQuick Saucy Turkey

Playing vacation catch-up...I impressed myself by sticking to my HG commitment through my entire 2+ week vacation, yahoo!

This dish was basically a sloppy joe recipe, but super yummy.  I love that you could change up the flavor by which bbq sauce you choose.  Definitely going to be something I make again.

Day 86 - The Whole Enchilada Chicken Soup

Love this soup!  It has a wonderful flavor and is super thick with the pumpkin in it.  I have to admit that this was one of the recipes I made before the book came out; I think it was in an email, but it's still a recipe in the book so it counts!  I have definitely added this recipe to my arsenal of healthy soup recipes and it has been enjoyed by others as well.  I wonder how those leftovers would taste for breakfast.....

Day 85 - Sun-Dried Tomato Tuna Salad

This was a perfect make ahead recipe for a road trip.  I am really loving the flavor of sun-dried tomatoes right now, I could eat them on just about anything.  I ate this salad with a pretza-bagel, but could easily be eaten as sandwich filling or with crackers.  Yummy!

Day 84 - A+ Avocado Burger

Had to finish up some of that avocado....this burger was tasty for a light dinner.  I really do love the way avocado brightens up a dish.  Great flavor and creaminess...yum.

Day 83 - Hawaiian Tuna Salad

Had that leftover pineapple from my smoothie, so I made this quick and easy tuna salad.  I put it on a thin sandwich bun paired with some broccoli slaw for a tasty lunch.  I would make this salad again or use it to inspire some different flavors for protein packed snack or meal.

Day 82 - BLTA Club

Another recipe to use up some avocado....this sandwich was pretty tasty.  The creaminess of the avocado contrasted nicely with the crunch of the bacon.  I'm not a huge raw tomato fan, so I might leave that off in the future.  Pretty good light lunch idea.

Day 81 - Tropical AM Smoothie

I'm not a huge smoothie fan these days.  I never seem to take the time to put them together.  My mom used to make them for us growing up so they always remind me of my childhood.  This one had peach yogurt and frozen banana with pineapple...some great flavors that were really tasty.  It made a good breakfast on the go since we had a car appt in the morning.  I would make it again and probably use it to inspire me to make other flaovrs as well.

Day 80 - BTA (Bacon Tomato Avocado) Egg Mug

So avocados were on sale, so I thought I'd try a few recipes this week that needed them.  This egg mug was delicious and creamy.  I thoroughly enjoyed the flavors.  I still think egg mugs are just fun!

Day 79 - Quiche Me Bacon Tarts

Now this was a fun recipe that I loved!  My husband and neighbors enjoyed them as well.  I have been worried about the recipes that make lots of servings, but I had the ingredients for this one.  The little quiche tarts were soooooo good.  The crescent dough sheets are really easy to use and are super multi-functional.  You could add just about whatever quiche ingredients you wanted to these little cups.  The pepper, onions and bacon went really well together.  I want more just sitting here typing about them.  Yummy!

Day 78 - Hot Dog & Scramble

This recipe was okay; I like all the ingredients, but the end result wasn't earth shattering.  It was pretty easy to make and was a nice filling breakfast.  I'm not sure I will make it again, but that's okay too.

Day 77 - Chicken Fajita Scramble Mug

Love all the egg mugs!  It's fun putting all the ingredients in the mug and finding out the end result.  This egg mug was full of fajitga flavor and perfect for a morning meal.

Day 76 - Cheesy Bean Breakfast Quesadilla

I feel like I'm always playing catch up; summer has taken over my life.  This recipe was another breakfast one since it seems easier for me to eat an HG meal for breakfast rather than waiting til later in the day.  I was also using up more of the leftover refried beans in the fridge.  This quesadilla was a little tricky to make with the small corn tortillas to hold all the filling.  But the flavors were nicely combined to make it creamy on the instead.  I would have liked it to be a little more crisyp on the outside, but it was a good filling breakfast.

Day 75 - Big Bad Breakfast Burrito

This burrito was definitely big; I could barely roll up the tortilla around all the filling!  It was filling and flavorful.  It took a little longer to prepare than some other breakfasts I've made, but the pepper and onion and sausage all gave it a really nice bite.

Day 74 - Classic Club Salad

I am really loving these big flavorful salads.  The flavors in this salad made me feel just like I was eating a club sandwich.  I went through a kick years ago when that was all I would order from any restaurant we would visit.  I also appreciate the homemade salad dressings, it has opened my eyes about making my own dressings in any flavor I want.

Definitely looking forward to eating more of the salad recipes!

Day 73 - Speedy Beany-rito

I needed a small lunch since we were celebrating the 4th of July and I knew we'd probably be having an awesome meal.  Again, using up those beans...this burrito with beans and laughing cow cheese really was actually quite good.  And filling, I know beans can do that...among other things.  I look forward to some more bean recipes coming up. :)

Day 72 - Bean 'n Cheesy Soft Taco in an Egg Mug

So I opened a new can of fat free refried beans for this recipe, knowing that they aren't my favorite and once the can was open I would need to make lots of beany recipes in a row.  This egg mug was definitely better than I expected, it was super creamy and delicious.  I would make it again, and probably will to use up the beans!

Day 71 - Breakfast Scramble Pizza

Seems like this was pretty similar to what I had previously only more yummy goodness topped on the tortilla, tomatoes and cheese, I was surprised how well the pizza combined with the egg beater flavor, it really worked!

Day 70 - Hola Breakfast Tostada

Another delicious breakfast with a crispy tortilla (made on a skillet instead of turning on the oven) topped with egg beaters and cheese and peppers and onions and even bacon.  Really good way to start the day!

Day 69 - BLT Pizza

This was a good meal that could probably be turned into an appetizer as well.  It reminded me of a veggie pizza app that I have made multiple times.  Love the pizza crust combined with creamy ranch sauce topped with BLT.  It made six servings so I ended up eating it for a few days, but I did enjoy it.

Day 68 - Balsamic BBQ Chick Skillet

Another quick meal for one.  The flavor of the barbecue sauce and balsamic vinegar came together surprisingly well.  Quick and simple, I would definitely make this dish again.

Day 67 - Cheesy Pizza Quesadilla

I have to say it, I love pizza.  In any shape or form.  This was super yummy and could probably have any 'toppings' that you'd prefer.  Tortillas are the perfect crust with an awesome filling of cheese sause and pepperoni.  Yummmmmmm!

Day 66 - Crispy Nacho Chicken

This was an easy dinner for one.  Chicken breast, salsa and chips.  It really was a good flavored dish, and perfect for a quick meal.

Day 65 - Buenos Dias Fajitas

Oooh, this breakfast was yummy!  I kept thinking how much my husband would like it.  The turkey sausage and egg made the perfect filling for this dish, add in the veggies and it was soooooo good.  A great start to the day!

Day 64 - Feta 'n Fuji Chicken Salad

Playing major catch-up once again...this salad was delicious!  I loved the creaminess of the feta cheese and honey mustard dressing with the crunch of the apples.  It was a huge salad and very filling!  Enjoyed it a great deal.

Day 63 - EZ Cheesy Tostada

Last day of camp!  It was a really good week that couldn't have gone much better, we had decent weather most of the time, and great people to work with each day.  I was exhausted!  This easy recipe came together in minutes.  I didn't turn the oven on, but used a skillet instead to crisp up the tortilla.  I still can't decide if I really like boca crumble, I think I have a mental block which is crazy since I love the burgers.  And again with the fat free cheese, jury is still out.

Day 63 - Fruitiyaki Patty

Yet another recipe with a boca burger....the pineapple and teriyaki sauce really combined flavors nicely to give this burger a yummy rating.  I even let my husband try a bite and he agreed.  Love that tangy sweet and sour flavor!

Day 62 - Fast-Food Hamburger Scramble

It was definitely a scramble!  Getting everything and everyone in the car every morning is hard work.  My husband was nice enough to make this dish for me which I ate far too quickly to truly enjoy it.  But it was definitely a good breakfast and filling too!

Day 61 - Bacon Bleu Burger

Another grueling day at camp...fixed this for myself...love the boca burgers!  A little bacon and some bleu cheese dressing (which I sometimes do not like) on top and yummy!

Scale was kind to me, another lb gone, woo hoo!

Day 60 - Sloppy Joe Stir-Fry Slaw

First day of GS day camp and running the toddler unit, I was exhausted, so I made this pretty simple meal for dinner.  It's just like it sounds, sloppy joe turkey with broccoli slaw mixed in.  I put it on a bun like a traditional sloppy joe, and it was good.  I liked the texture of the broccoli, it all came together surprisingly well.

Day 59 - Ab-Fab Artichoke Crab Dip

Father's Day!  I decided to make an appetizer for our family get together as my HG recipe.  It was liked by all...definitely a change from the traditional spinach and artichoke dip.  It was warm and creamy and really tasty!  It's a good thing since we had some leftovers....it's sorta like a crab salad, but better warm than cold.

Day 58 - Sausage, Egg and Cheese McGriddle

I had some time to make a more in depth breakfast, which started with two small pancakes with an interesting batter, then sausage, egg and cheese as in the title.  It was pretty yummy and different.  I would make it again, when I have the time to spare. :)

Day 57 - Fruity Quesadilla

Needed a pretty quick small meal for dinner and this was the perfect trio...mango, LC cheese and tortilla.  It was very creamy inside, I think you need the perfect mango.  Not sure I'm an expert on mangoes, but my daughter likes them, which is why I had one in the fridge.

Day 56 - Outside-In Turkey Tamale Pie

Used the crockpot today to create this masterpiece.  My babysitter loved it for lunch, and I enjoyed it for dinner.  A touch on the spicy side with the green chilies, but it was thick and filling with a good tex-mex flavor.

Happy that my week is winding down, sort of.  Just need to get ready for day camp and celebrating Father's Day this weekend.   I keep thinking that once I get done with something, it will be time to relax, but there's always something around the corner waiting to be addressed.  That's just life though.

I wish I had more to write tonight, but I'm exhausted.  I really want to go sip a glass of wine outside with my husband to enjoy the cool evening...think I might have to go over on my points just a bit.  It would be worth it. :)

Eat well!

Day 55 - The Morning Waffle Dip

Now I wasn't too sure about this recipe before I made it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  The egg, cheese, bacon on waffles dipped in syrup came together for an amazing flavor.  Making me want to make it again!

It's been a busy week with PTO related meetings and getting ready for GS day camp next week...summer is supposed to be 'vacation' right?

Day 54 - Banana Split Growing Oatmeal

Another yummy breakfast..this time I made a serving for my husband.  Creamy banana, strawberry preserves and chocolate chips...I love the fact that I could probably change up the toppings on the basic oatmeal recipe and create anything I want.  Really great ideas for breakfast.

Wanted to mention that the scale went down nicely this week, woo hoo!

Day 53 - Apple Pie Oatmeal Bonanza

I think my husband was jealous when he left for work and I was finishing up this recipe...it was really good.  Tasted just like apple pie...I decided to add a little fat free reddi whip also.  Yummy!  Still loving the oatmeal for breakfast, I'm hooked.

Day 52 - The Skinny Elvis

Wow, I never thought I would ever be eating anything like this sandwich in my lifetime....and actually liking it.  Peanut butter, banana, and bacon...hmmmm....no, yummmm.  It was all creamy inside with the crunch of the bacon.  Really pretty tasty sandwich!  I needed a light dinner since my husband and I got to enjoy a quiet lunch together out at a cafe.  Thanks to my sister-in-law and her husband for taking the kids on a field trip!

Worked in the basement this afternoon, I'm trying to organize the play area for the kiddos.  Getting our old entertainment center back to put down there, so the kids can watch their own movies if they want. 

Decluttering my life is taking much longer than I expected!  There just seems to be more 'stuff' everytime I turn around.  It's not all my fault, our basement is truly a place where electronics come to die or at least collect dust.  There isn't much my husband won't bring home from the work trash can....but I have to admit, he always has good intentions and many of his ideas come to fruition.  It's just the ones that don't seem to work out...

So I'm sitting here at day 52, that's almost 8 weeks and I've lost 7 pounds thus far.  Not too bad, I averaged about a lb a week the first time around 9 years ago, and I can live with that.  Just need to stick with it for the long haul, keep tracking, keep trying new recipes to keep my diet varied.  It really has been fun being committed to a new HG recipe every day.  It's amazing that I've already gotten this far!  I have lots more to lose, so I'll be here everyday, hopefully for awhile now.  Our computer problems have been cutting into my blog time for sure.

I recently became a complete and total Gleek...looking forward to next season already and I think I'll try to watch the Glee Project starting tonight...soon actually.  I watched all of season one on Netflix over the past couple weeks.  How did I miss this phenomenon?  Oh yeah, I watch too much other tv...but I loved Ryan Murphy's Nip/Tuck on F/X so I'm not surprised I like this show from him too.  I think I might have a slight crush on Will Shuester...not sure I should be admitting that...Matthew Morrison is coming here with NKOTB/Backstreet Boys, but I'll be elsewhere that week....too bad for me.

I've missed typing here, maybe it contributed to my funky state of mind lately....hope to recapture the time on here.  I'm still making the recipes even if I'm not typing about it, I'm really having fun, did I say that already?

Eat well, and don't be afraid to sing along to a song on the radio that reminds you of special times, whoever might be listening. :)

Day 51 - Neat-O Chili-Frito Burrito

This isn't my typical meal, it's more like something my husband would like.  After working for a couple hours cleaning up the basement, I had all the ingrdients and had planned to make it.  The chili dominated the flavor, and the fritos added some small bits of crunch along the way.  It was a decent recipe, but I'm not sure it will go into my favorites category.

Went through alot of old boxes in the basement yesterday, some trips down memory lane.  Why must I save everything?  I feel bad that some things mean more to me than others.  I just don't know what I will do with all this memorabilia someday.  I am still really depressed from losing all the kids' pictures on our hard drive...my husband is trying to recover them but it doesn't look good.  Not sure if a recovery company will be able to do it either.  I've always enjoyed scrapbooking with my friends, but I have to say that I'm dreading out next get-together because I'm not sure what I'm going to work on and thinking about pictures and what I've lost is just more depressing.

Started walking again with a friend in the morning, I'm happy to be back at it.  Adds some activity points to my daily tracking and makes me feel better.  I've been pretty tired the past couple weeks, not sure what it's due to, lack of caffeine, depression, lack of red meat in my diet (fixed that last night with some yummy sirloin)...anyhow, I'm definitely a downer today.  Just trying to get out of this funk I appear to be in these days.  Maybe it's summer and I feel overwhelmed still, I just need a vacation, that I still need to plan....

Eat well!

Day 50 - Tomato-Infused Chicken Rollup

Told you I was going to use more tomato flavor!  This had the sun-dried tomatoes and laughing cow cheese rolled up in a chicken breast.  Yummy!  And easy, I love chicken rolled up with yummy goodness inside.  Was a great lunch to finish off the week, especially after fasting for my health screening blood draw that morning.

Day 49 - Large & In Charge Neapolitan Oatmeal

Another chilled recipe, with strawberries and chocolate chips, what more could you ask for?  This oatmeal was creamy and wonderfully flavored.  I love the basic oatmeal recipes, I think you could do so many different flavors with the.  Thanks to HG for the growing oatmeal trick!

Day 48 - Bacon-Wrapped BBQ Chicken

A third dinner in a row, seems like I do breakfast for a few days, then lunch for a few days, then dinner....Instead of turning on the oven again in the heat, my husband did these on the gas grill on a pan.  The chicken was tender and the bbq sauce (I used hickory) and the bacon came together really well.    A very tasty meal to be repeated for sure. 

Day 47 - World's Easiest Chicken Empanadas

Another dinner for us...recipe was simple, three ingredients.  I love the crescent dough sheets that made things like this easy.  Of course my empanadas weren't perfectly shaped, but they tasted really good.  I topped mine with more salsa and ff sour cream, delicious!  My husband agreed, and he liked that he could use his spicier salsa on top for some kick.

Day 46 - Pizza-Bellas

Made this yummy recipe for dinner, my husband and I both enjoyed them.  Hated turning on the oven for it though...will have to make more portabella mushroom recipes whenever they are on sale.  Using something other than a bready crust reminds me of a dish my mom made when I was growing up...zucchini pizza.  Shredded zucchini and something else made up the crust, topped with sauce and cheese.  I always considered it a cruel joke, but now I think I'd like it!

Day 45 - PB&J Yogurt Parfait

Another no-cook breakfast combining two great flavors, strawberry and peanut butter.  I liked the crunch of the cereal mixed with yogurt.  Got to pick the fresh strawberries from the garden for this one.

Day 44 - Double-O-Strawberry Quickie Kiwi Smoothie

A very refreshing breakfast soothie, had to wait for the frozen strawberries to thaw, but it had a good flavor and was really pretty quick.  I can't remember the last time I made a smoothie, but I might need to experiment with different flavors in the future...

Day 43 - Major Mocha Cappuccino Oatmeal

Really enjoyed this breakfast!  The hot cocoa, creamer and coffee really came together for an awesome flavor.  Will definitely make this one again, gotta use up those free flavored Folgers samples I got in the mail.

Day 42 - Grilly Firl Cheesy Turkey & Bacon 'Wich

Must have been on a sandwich kick...another yummy recipe for lunch.  I loved the sun dried tomato flavor on this one...looking forward to using up the rest of that jar.  Great adult version of grilled cheese and then some.

Day 41 - Monte Cristo Sandwich

A super tasty lunch!  Turkey, ham and swiss grilled like french toast.  I left off the powdered sugar and preserves, but it was a good quick recipe following my hard work at our garage sale.  Got rid of a bunch of stuff!  The rest is headed to goodwill, yay!

Day 40 - Cinn-a-Nilla Apple Oatmeal Parfait

This was another chilled oatmeal recipe that was pretty tasty.  With the apples and cinnamon, it reminded me a little of apple pie.  Had to eat it quickly that morning on my way to the elementary staff breakfast that our parent organization was putting on for the end of the year.  I like knowing I have breakfast ready before I go to bed at night.

Day 39 - Cheesy Noodles 'n Burgs!

I needed a quick recipe for dinner after we got home on Sunday.  Happy to find one with all the ingredients in the house!  This recipe was alright...I felt like it needed something else in it.  Love the trios though!

Got to hike for a couple hours in the morning, saw the scour where the Taum Sauk reservoir had flooded the grounds and exposed many different rocks.  That was followed by clean up of camp and swimming in the Shut-ins.  I was so worried about outfitting the kids with water shoes for the rocks that I forgot to check on mine and my husbands' shoes...needless to say, couldn't find his and mine fell apart on the spot.  Thanks to my husband for trading me on the hike back, my feet aren't in as quite as bad shape as they could have been...

What a fun trip, hoping to plan another one soon, with a float trip included!

Eat well!

Day 38 - Yo! Chili Dog Wrap

I was happy to be able to plan a HG meal while we were camping, it worked out perfectly.  This recipe was pretty tasty, the flavor was mainly based on the chili.  So it could be steered in multiple directions based on your taste buds.

Rain hit us Friday night right after we set up the tent, so the evening was spent in the tent out of the rain.  Long night and up way too early.  More rain in the morning, but the trip to Elephant Rocks was awesome followed by some swimming in Johnson Shut-ins...more of that to come on Sunday.

Nothing like smores over the campfire at night!

Eat well!

Day 37 - HG Special Egg Mug

And it was special!  Friday morning started with a creamy delicious egg mug, simple too with deli turkey and Laughing Cow french onion cheese (which I had never tried before).  Great way to start the day!

It was the last day of school for my daughter, so they had field day in the morning and a rally in the afternoon.  Felt like we spent all day up at the school.  Got a little shock at the end of the rally, our principal announced her resignation because she is taking a higher adminstrative job in another school district.  I'm happy for her, but sad for the kids and our school that is truly like a family.  I trust in our district to hire someone more than qualified, but I wonder what the climate at the school will be like in the future. It's always hard to think about change.

Getting ready all day for our camping trip; Friday was truly a crazy day!  We were off on our trip when my husband got home.  Already had my HG meal planned out for Sat night....Eat well!

Day 36 - 'Bella Asada Fajitas

Yummy dinner on Thursday!  I've actually made these before because the recipe came out in an email, but I thoroughly enjoyed them the second time around.  So did my husband!

Got a little teary-eyed at my son's last day of presechool for the year.  His teachers were amazing; he has matured and grown so much over this past year.  Only one more year of preK before elementary school.

My daughter bridged to Brownies in a really cute ceremony where the current Brownies 'baked' the new Brownies and invited them to join their circle before flying up to Juniors themselves.  Really fun for the girls and parents, I think.

Playing catch up again here, so eat well!

Day 35 - Crunchy Beefy Taco Egg Mug

What's wrong with breakfast for dinner?  Absolutely nothing at all.  This egg mug was a mexican dinner all in one.  Perfect and delicious.  Plus it's filling and low points! 

I forgot to mention that the scale went down again this week...I wasn't sure since it was a stressful weekend with dance events.  I find myself making better choices though which is nice to realize. 

I cannot believe it is the last week of school, only one more day for my son and two more days for my daughter.  It has gone by so fast.  I have really enjoyed watching both kids grow and mature over this year.  Still waiting for the final potty training to occur but he has made some small steps towards achieving that goal.  I would give him just about ANYTHING he wanted if he could just get there...

So I really think I am cursed around computers these days, I'm surprised I haven't ruined this one yet..it's the 'kids' computer, so it doesn't have some of the programs I really need to use...like Word.  I hope to be on the computer less this summer, mainly using it for this blog and my WW points.

Evening duties are callling...hoping it isn't raining tomorrow morning so I can walk with my friend.  I'm so tired of this severe weather.  It has been such a horrible year for tornado destruction.  My thoughts and prayers are with those going through the recovery process in Missouri and those elsewhere still trying to recover from past storms.

Eat well, and watch out for those cicadas, they are everywhere.

Day 34 - Spicy Chicken Crunchtastic Supreme

So this was my lunch today!  OMG, it was soooooooo good!  I really do like Taco Bell's crunchwrap or at least I used to...now I can make my own healthier version at home!  I even left my husband try it and he wanted 3 of them!  Definitely marking it down as a favorite recipe for the future.

Tuesday was busy with school and errands, then a fun playdate, then dance pictures at night.  I'm glad that dance is over for the year now.  It has been fun, but I won't miss the twice weekly trip there.  It makes me so appreciative of all the places my parents drove me to participate in many activities.  I just want my kids to find something that makes them really happy.

I spent 2 hours cleaning my daughter's room the other day.  I'm so sick of polly pocket, littlest pet shop and Barbie stuff.  I think a few of those things are going up on craigslist this week...or going in the garage sale next week.  She probably won't miss anything at all.

Eat well, and try not to step on any toys this evening!

Day 33 - Turkey Club B. Bowl

Yummy way to start my week!  This tasted really close to a turkey club mixed with eggs of course.  I did leave off the tomato though.  I'm really loving taking the time to make a nice breakfast in the morning instead of rushing all the time.  It's hard for moms to do that and try to get kids off to school or get to work.  It's worth it though!

Eat well, and eat breakfast tomorrow!

Day 32 - Amazin' Onion Quesadilla

Okay, so I was a little skeptical about this because onions are not at the top of my fave list.  However, I loved it!  The carmelized onions were amazing in this simple dish, plus I used sweet onion which may have helped as well.  Yippee!

Exhausted on Sunday from the dance recital stuff Fri night and all day Sat...had fun at my BF daughter's birthday party.  Always great to visit with them.

Side note:  Anyone know much about black rice?  Thought I'd ask, just don't google it because it might lead to a web site with a virus on it....don't ask.  Computers are not my friends these days.

Eat well!  I think I'm all caught up and will try to post every day!  I'm so excited to have made it a month already, wow!

Day 31 - EZ Mock Vodka Pasta

I was in a pretty big hurry on Sat, so my meal between dance recital performances was this shirataki noodle recipe which was quick.  These trios are great because they are just that, 3 ingredients and done.  I liked the way the marinara and lc cheese came together to make a creamy sauce.  Pretty tasty!

Dance recital was so much fun, after a major meltdown last year, she LOVED watching all the dances this year and was completely into the whole performance experience.  Yay!  She already informed me that she wants to do 3 classes next year....we'll see about that when the time comes to sign up.  I just hope they will be on the same nights!

Eat well!  Dance like no one is watching.

Day 30 - It's Greek to Me Egg Mug

Yummiest egg mug yet!!!!  Can't wait to make it again!  LOVE the feta with spinach and onions and tomatoes and fresh basil.  I think my husband was jealous.

Dance recital weekend ahead.  Eat well!

Day 29 - Surprise! It's Pumpkin Enchiladas

And that's basically what I did, I surprised my husband with pumpkin enchiladas for dinner. :)  They were pretty yummy with some brown rice and greek yogurt on top.  The enchilada sauce and taco sauce really took over the flavor of the pumpkin completely.  They were filling as well.

Eat well!

Day 28 - BBQ Spaghetti

Playing catch up some more, I'm afraid to be new the computer too long for fear of something crashing once again.  I keep asking myself how long I could live without using the computer....hmmm.

Last Wed was super busy, dr appt, GS meeting, PTO meeting, birthday party...whew.  I did find time to try this HG recipe.  Using the shirataki noodles again, this could take on the flavor of your fave bbq sauce.  Still unhappy with the ff shredded cheese, it just doesn't melt well, in my opinion.

Eat well!

Day 27 - Buffalo Chicken Egg Mug

My day started off great!  The scale went down more than I expected it to, I'll take it!  Breakfast was my HG meal and I'm continuing this buffalo chicken kick.  I always seem to add just a touch too much of hot sauce though.  It was pretty tasty and filling for the morning!

Got to have a picnic at my son's preschool today, it was a beautiful day.  What fun to be outside with him and his friends and their families.  Getting ready for my daughter's dance recital this coming weekend, hopefully it will go well.  She says she's nervous, but she is truly a performer.  Thank goodness my SIL has agreed to do her makeup again this year, she looked great last year.  I'm just not the makeup gal...I do try though.

Eat well, and enjoy the sunshine today and whenever you get the chance.

Day 26 - Quick 'n Spicy Fettuccine Hungry Buff-redo

Catching up some more...I'm still staying on my HG meal a day, just with computer issues, I haven't been online much.

I had this recipe for dinner...I have found that I'm liking the shirataki noodles more and more each time I have them.  I added chicken to the dish to meet my craving for buffalo chicken dip that I love...

I felt really bad about missing my daughter's field trip.  My son has gymnastics on Mondays and I cannot take him along on trips, and I'm short on babysitters these days.  Using my father in law on Wed...we got to meet her for lunch at a park thought which was nice.  Just feel like she doesn't get my attention the way she used to before my son was born.  I need to really make more time for the two of us. 

Eat well, and hug your kids every day!  They need to know how much we love them no matter what.

Day 25 - Salsa to the Tuna Salad

Playing catch up....Sunday, I had this as a light lunch...tuna mixed with yogurt and salsa.  I decided it needed to be a dip for baked tortilla chips.  It was an okay meal, but I probably won't make it again or use a different salsa, that was the dominant flavor there.  I'm also finding that I'm not a huge fan of guiltless gourmet baked tortilla chips.  I like tostitos scoops much better.

My husband smoked a turkey Sunday with his new home built drum smoker...best turkey ever.  So proud of my do it yourselfer that I married!

Eat well, and I hope to get back on track soon...still waiting for the verdict on data recovery on my hard drive. :(

Day 24 - Zazzled Up Zuppa

Still running a day behind...we had this soup last night with dinner and it was great.  Tomato-y and filling with the beans...thinking I could use ground turkey instead of soy crumbles for the meaty part.  My husband enjoyed it as well.  I really like the Amy's chunky tomato soup as a base for other soups.

Still not feeling like posting much.  Eat well and enjoy the sunshine if you have some, it's rainy and cold here!

Day 23 - Curry in a Hurry Trio

It hasn't been a good week, having some serious computer issues right now.  I made this burger trio last night, it probably would have been better if I hadn't burnt it while I was picking strawberries.  Love the hummus on the burger though.

Again, catching up for yesterday, I haven't felt like posting much.  Having my HG meal for dinner...hopefully I'll feel like posting again.  Eat well, and back up all your important information on your computer RIGHT NOW!!!!

Day 22 - Quick BBQ Chicken Nachos

Love BBQ chicken, add it to some baked tortilla chips and it's even better.  I really wanted to add some cheese though.  Not sure if I'll make it again, but it made a quick easy lunch.

Blogger was down last night, so I'm just catching up for yesterday.  Will post again once I have my HG meal for today...

Day 21 - Eggs-Bene Chick Mug

Started my day off with my HG recipe again, only this time I wasn't quite as thrilled with the meal.  I'm not sure if it was just too early in the morning for mustard, but it just wasn't an amazing dish.  Busy day today, getting some things ready for our preschool end of the year event tomorrow night.  Not in charge, but I'm here to help.  It should be fun!  And one less thing on my list to do this month.

No truly deep thoughts today.  Happy to have had a pleasant day and good food.  We did try another HG recipe from an email tonight for dinner, sweet and sticky sesame chicken.  It was delicious!  My husband enjoyed it as well.  We got to enjoy our first strawberries of the season out of our garden tonight.  Planted those strawberries 4 years ago, and they are still going strong.

Need to run for bedtime, eat well and smile at a stranger tomorrow, it always makes me feel better.

Day 20 - Denver Omelette Mug

Yay!  The scale went down again this week, just a little, but down is down. :)

Started my day off with a yummy HG breakfast.  Green pepper and onions with ham and cheese egg mug, delish.  My husband was jealous, he said he could smell it all the way upstairs.  I gave him a little nibble. 

It was a productive day, lots of things done.  Too bad the cleaning fairy didn't visit my house while I was gone.  My daughter got the cutest costume tonight for her pom class, I cannot believe the recital is a week and a half away.  Only one more class to practice!

I was thinking today about how hard it can be to take care of things for yourself when you are a SAHM with little kids.  Like a simple dr appt.  Without a babysitter it can be really hard to schedule something during the day.  I feel lucky that we have some family in town that has been available during the day to help me out over the past couple years.  I had no clue what to do when I first started staying at home.  Wish I had made some friends that lived close to trade off babysitting for instances such as these....but now that the kids are in school part or most of the time and there are no more babies for us, guess I'm past that stage.  It's definitely not easy, and it's not real easy to ask for help sometimes either.  I would start typing about mommy guilt, but that might go on forever.  I'll save it for another day.

Had to turn on the a/c yesterday.  The hardwood floors and the railing up the stairs were wet; ugh, the humidity is already through the roof.  We usually can get to June 1st without a/c, but I really just want to be comfortable.

Got to eat lunch with my daughter at school today, brought her food from the golden arches to eat.  It's pretty rare that we go there these days.  It was fun to sit with her and her friends.  Love that she wants me there!  I'm sure it won't last.  Off to get the kids some pjs, eat well and plant some flowers this week.  Watch them bloom.

Day 19 - Pizza-fied Grilled Cheese

Late once again...my lunch today was a pizza flavored grilled cheese, tasted just like it sounds.  Pizza has got to be one of my favorite foods.  Getting a similar meal for alot less calories is great!

Okay, my blog is starting to sound like a diary.  Not really what I had planned, not that I had a plan...it was a pretty good day though and an okay food week.  Hopefully the scale will reflect that in the morning.  They say getting enough sleep is important for weight loss as well, so I'm off to bed.

Eat well, call and old friend and schedule a visit, it'll be worth it.

Day 18 - Raw Apple Rollup

Happy Mother's Day!

It's almost over, but it turned out to be a pretty good day.  The cruise on the river did not go as planned due to the motor getting flooded and fuel leaking and so on...the kids did enjoy playing on the 'beach' in the sand and mud and water.  So we headed to a park to eat the picnic lunch I packed this morning.  Sat at a picnic table with lots of bugs, so the kids were whiny.  They played on the playground for a little while then we left to get frozen custard from a local place.  I was good and tried their 95% fat free vanilla with strawberries, yummy.

After a quick shower and turnaround at home, we headed over to my best friend's house to join them for their annual Mother's Day barbecue.  Had a blast!  The kids all got to play together and there was good food and fun conversation.  Always nice when she and I get a moment to talk, they are fewer and farther between these days.  Got the kids home and showered and in bed early for a change, guess they were worn out from our adventures today.

They were so sweet to me this morning.  My daughter made me a construction paper rose, talk about creative!  Then she made one for my son to give to me...awwwww.  I'm a pretty simple gal most of the time, so their hugs and love is plenty to fill my heart with joy.

So after all these meals today, of course I hadn't had my HG recipe yet.  Hmmmm...so I made a quick raw apple rollup, pretty simple.  The LC cheese was super creamy in contrast to the apple, and all wrapped up in a tortilla (one of my favorite things) was a nice light snack tonight.  I did get some spiked freckled lemonade as well at my friend's house although the chocolate strawberry mudslides were gone, so I missed out on those!  Guess I'll have to make them at home.

It's getting late, I'm glad it's 2 hours earlier where my mom lives, so I'm going to go call her now. :)  Eat well and hugs to all those wonderful mothers out there!

Day 17 - Pizza! Pizza! Egg Mug

It was a pretty good day.  I definitely did not get enough sleep last night by far, and I'm pretty tired right now.  We worked outside this afternoon, got the front of the house looking pretty nice.  I planted some things and trimmed some bushes way back, spread some mulch too.  Muscles are a little sore from bending and reaching, but I'm happy with the result.

Everyone loves pizza for breakfast!  I thoroughly enjoyed the pizza egg mug this morning, it was yummy!  Especially beside my bowl of mango.  I'm excited because the Food Network is showing HG episodes starting tomorrow.  We don't get the Cooking Channel here, grrrr.  Can't wait to see a whole show!  It's fun to see her videos since I got to meet her last summer during her cocktail book tour stop here. :)

My daughter is feeling better, thankfully.  I made her rest part of the day, but she did play with a friend and did get to enjoy the beautiful weather we had today.  I originally wanted to do a big brunch for Mother's day, but those are super expensive sometimes.  I think I'm going to wait a few years til the kids will actually enjoy it too.  I came up with the idea of taking a picnic lunch to a state park somewhere and doing some hiking.  Not sure if my daughter could handle it, so I think we might be heading out on the river in the 'party cruiser' tomorrow with said picnic lunch to enjoy the river.

It was fun to watch my son run through the sprinkler today with a look of pure joy on his face.  Those are the memories.  Eat well, I know I am. :)

Day 16 - S'mores Oatmeal

Writing late again today from scrapbooking night with the girls.  Breakfast was sooooo yummy!  The s'mores oatmeal was creamy and tasted just like I was camping.  It's going to keep me buying oats at the store from now on, plus my husband really likes the creations as well in addition to plain oatmeal.

My daughter came home sick with me after volunteering at her school.  I was happy that I got to help her class, she was glad to be there for a little while.  But she spent the rest of the day on the couch.  Hope this clears up soon.  Thankfully our weekend is completely clear.

This is my night out for the month.  I get to hang out with some really good friends, share good food and drink, stories and pictures.  I'm always happy when I get to go, every month doesn't always work out.  I know I'm a much better mom when I get some time away...I think I've mentioned that before.

I hope the families devestated by the tornadoes are able to move forward with their lives soon.  I know it can be tough dealing with insurance companies and contractors and I can only imagine how hard it is when you are trying to hold onto some shred of your life as it used to be.  I have been keeping them in my thoughts and prayers and hope that I will find a way to help them.  I have been really trying to share whatever we have to offer with those less fortunate or those going through a tragedy.  I feel very lucky and blessed with my life as much as I might complain about the daily struggle.  I just need to remember how special my life is with my family.

It's been a rough day for food, I was trying to save extra points for tonight, but a whole day stuck at home is always challenging.  It's a close day, but I will be good for the rest of the week.  Looking forward to planting some flowers and ground cover plants this weekend.  I'm sure it's going to rain tomorrow, but Sunday is supposed to be nice.  We also need to get our garden in the ground if we are going to...the strawberries are coming in nicely.  Too bad we still have jam from last year.....good thing my husband likes it on his oatmeal.

My son's preschool class today song some songs for Mother's Day at pickup time, they were all so cute!  He also planted a flower for me.  My special little guy. 

It's getting late and I'm ignoring my friends...eat well and hug your loved ones tight!

Day 15 - Crunchy Turkey Tacos

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  I had to have a Mexican inspired HG meal today.  Yummy turkey tacos.  We seem to always use soft tortillas these days when we have Mexican food, so I always remember how much I love crunchy shells when I actually eat them.  Also reminds me of growing up, I always loved taco salad and taco nights.

My daughter woke up sick this morning, so my plan of getting some things done disappeared.  I had to work out some logistics to get my son to school and pick him up and deal with the cable man fixing our cable line this morning.  Good thing is that we are back online!  My daughter was bouncing off the walls, even worked on her homework.  She crashed this afternoon; but I'm hoping that she will be well enough to go to school tomorrow, for both our sakes.

Have to run to a PTO board meeting tonight, so I wanted to write this a little bit earlier tonight.  My son's preschool class sang the cutest song to the moms today; it was to the tune of Oscar Meyer.  Adorable!

Eat well and hugs to your loved ones!

Day 14 - Easiest Thin Crust Pizza Ever

Tortilla pizza rocks!  But it isn't really new to me; I grew up on tortilla pizzas.  And my kids love them!  I needed a quick lunch today, so this was it.  I did like her trick of putting the tortilla in the oven alone for a little bit to crisp before adding the sauce and chesse.  Super yummy!

My son and I went to the zoo today to enjoy the sunny day.  His preschool class is studying zoo, pets, and animals and is 'growing' butterflies right now.  We had a really nice time and probably could have stayed longer.  But I only packed some snacks, and we were both getting hungry.  Decided we didn't need to spend the money or the calories at one of the eateries there.  Plus I needed to get some things ready for a Daisy meeting after school.

I'm very irritated with our cable company right now.  They woke me up in the middle of the night banging on the poles just behind our house.  And then I woke up this morning to our cable being out.  They are not giving us any details as to what they were doing at that time of night.  Seriously, what cable company is actually working in the middle of the night?  After a long online chat (thanks to my husbands' aircard), there is a service person coming tomorrow between 10-12.  That's more like the hours they work.  Apparently their system isn't even showing an outage for our house...ummm, I haven't had internet or tv ALL DAY.  Tell me what's going on with your 'late night activities', please.

I feel bad, I sent my husband off this morning with my carmel flavored coffee.  I don't normally buy it, but I had a coupon.  I have regular beans, but I didn't want to wake the house with the grinder this morning.  He didn't really enjoy it.  I add creamer to mine anyway, so I can only tell a small difference.  Already got the coffee pot set for tomorrow morning.

Thank goodness Jacques had some tv for me to watch tonight from earlier this week.  Ugh.  I think it's time to head to bed.  Hugs to loved ones and eat well!

Day 13 - PB & Chocolate Oatmeal Blitz

The sun came out today!  What a gorgeous day it was here...just made me happy to know it was out there.  I had a nice day, got some errands done, shopped some sales with coupons, and shared a fun lunch with my husband.  Kids were tired this morning; they wouldn't get out of bed.  I tried to get them to bed earlier tonight.  Catching up on a little tv.

My breakfast this morning was the PB & Chocolate Oatmeal Blitz which I shared with my husband.  I think I might really like oatmeal now!

It was a good scale day, the number went down. :)

I have to say that I'm really happy my son has started to like Batman.  He has been into more girlish toys in the past and frankly still is...but that is due to his older sister and how much he worships her.  But he is all about Batman these days..he wants pjs, socks, Legos, and more.  He is such a fun little guy.

I think I need to start writing this earlier in the day, I'm getting sleepy.  Eat well!

Day 12 - Sweet and Savory Breakfast Bread Pudding Bowl

It was an amazing breakfast!  The bread pudding bowl was awesome!  It was sorta like a great french toast with cinnamon and powdered sugar.  Yummy!

It's gloomy and cold here again.  Didn't we say good bye to winter?  The weather has be exhausted and unmotivated.  It doesn't feel like May at all.  Looking forward to curling up under the covers and finishing the book I'm reading.  Too many interruptions last night by the kiddos, I need some sleep too! 

The scale is looming over me for tomorrow morning.  I feel like it's been a good week.  Guess we'll see.

So short tonight, eat well, hug your loved ones tight!

Day 11 - Hot Hot Dog

It's going to be short and sweet tonight.  Had a pretty nice day.  Got the kids ready this morning for pictures, they did awesome!  Then we went out for an awesome lunch at a local pizza place.  Afterwards we headed to a park to play on the playground and try to take some more pictures outdoors.  When the rain came, we headed home to relax.  My husband and I even got to get comfy and watch a movie together this afternoon.

After filling up at lunch today, I really wasn't looking forward to making a HG recipe for dinner.  So I chose a super small trio...the Hot Hot Dog.  It was spicy and a perfect snack this evening instead of a real meal.  Looking forward to a busy week, the first of four this month of May.

Eat well, hugs all around!

Day 10 - Pizza Burger

Well, it was a gorgeous day today, so much for the rain I thought was predicted.  It allowed the kids to play outside almost all day; it was pretty peaceful around here.  Got a few things done.  I cannot believe it is May tomorrow!  Where has the year gone?  I have to admit I feel like events and commitments in May are closing in on me, between PTO and PSO and GS stuff that I need to get done or events I need to attend.  Crazy time of year!

I made myself a HG pizza burger for lunch today with a big salad.  I decided to leave the bun out of the meal this time, and it was yummy!  I'm a true pizza lover, so the flavor was great without the points!   I also made a veggie fried rice recipe for dinner, it just isn't out of the 300 under 300 book.  That was tasty too!

Wish I could have made it down to my alma mater to celebrate with some special girls this morning; I'm sure they had fun.  Another time perhaps. 

I'm reading a really good book that's part of a series that my parents turned me onto...see, I absolutely love to read.  My husband always feels more neglected than usual when I'm in the middle of a book.  I have many authors that I read, and I'm always open to suggestions for enjoyable escapes.  I am really thrilled that my daughter has developed a real passion for reading; she continues to amaze me as she speeds through chapter books now.  I shouldn't be surprised since she is my kid, I guess.

We are having pictures of the kiddos taken tomorrow.  I have this spot at the bottom of the stairs that holds a nice 10x13 frame that I like to change out every year around their birthdays.  Running a little late this year, my fave store closed so we are heading to a different one tomorrow.  Same chain, different location.  Hope they are still open when we get there!  ...Just called to make sure we have a confirmed appointment, all set. :)

Must go get the kids to bed; they need their beauty sleep.  Eat well, hug your loved ones tight!

Day 9 - All-American Egg Mug

My first HG egg mug!  It was pretty good this morning.  And filling as well.  I haven't been the biggest fan of egg beaters in the past, but with the goodies mixed in, not too bad.  I usually just stick to the egg whites from regular eggs and throw away the yolks.  Not sure which way is cheaper these days.

Every Friday I have the opportunity to volunteer in my daughter's classroom for the gifted program.  It has been fun to watch the kids grow over the course of the year.  They are currently getting items ready for an environmental fair from which the proceeds will be donated to a local bird sanctuary.  I'm just in awe of what first graders are asked to accomplish these days.  I know it's a different world than when I was a kid, but wow.  I have to say that the one thing she struggles with is her handwriting, I think she inherited her dad's talent with a pencil.  I can remember spending so much time on this basic skill in elementary school and now, there is not a minute to spare in the day to work on it.  She has gotten so much better over the course of the year, but still not where she is expected to be for a first grader.  Writing has become a lost art, I suppose, with the technological world we live in today.

In case you were wondering, no garage sale tomorrow, possible rain and I'm going to wait a month for our subdivision sale when they do all the advertising.  I'm struggling with what has become a very emotional issue in our household.  My four year old son still has yet to poop in the potty completely on his own.  We've caught him and run him in there, but he hasn't quite gotten there himself.  I still debate whether it's just him being stubborn or lack of control.  I do know that it doesn't really seem like he cares much at all.  I think I know that he will get there someday, but it's hard to believe it, and I am so sick of diapers.

Anyhow, hoping to start a couple home projects soon, our dining room and kitchen both have some wallpaper that needs to disappear.  We haven't done much to the house since we moved in almost six years ago, and it's time!  We ate out tonight at a 'best of' mexican restaurant tonight.  I was good:  counted my chips and brought half my meal home.  Just another day of trying to eat well and keep on track.

Still thinking about the devastated lives of those in the tornadoes' path this past week, I hope that peace and comfort finds them.  Hug your loved ones tight, in the end, they are all that matter.

Day 8 - Cheeseburger Mac Attack

Okay, it's late.  I'm tired.  I waited too long to type this...I loved my HG meal today.  It was a crockpot dish called Cheeseburger Mac Attack.  Pretty much tasted just like it sounds.  I decided to add chopped up pickles and mustard on top.  Yummy!  I love the crockpot, it makes life so easy sometimes as long as you plan ahead.  I have to admit, I'm usually pretty good at planning, not perfect anymore, but good.

Anyone know who is getting married tomorrow or should I say in less than 12 hours?   Just kidding.  I have Jacques set up to record coverage, not sure which station will be the best, but I chose one.  NOT getting up to watch from 3am to 6am.  I wish them well in their marriage.  It's tough enough for us 'commoners', I hope they get to enjoy each other and remember the love that brought them to this point.

I was reminded this morning at a volunteer breakfast about how wonderful my daughter's elementary school community is and how lucky we were to choose this area.  As tough as things may get for the school district, it's nice to know that we have this family to take comfort and pride in each day.

I'm off to bed, my neck and back/shoulders are feeling better.  My prayers are with all of those families that have been affected by the tornadoes here and in the south.  It has been a very crazy spring; here's hoping for a little peace now.

Day 7 - Flat-Top Patty Melt

Another rainy day here…blech, going to start building a boat tomorrow.

I went to a meeting this morning that just depressed me about what our high school will be like once my children actually get there.  It’s not a pretty picture as the budget continues to get cut.  Those programs that make our school district great will disappear as the years go on.  My husband tells me that he is excited about my passion for education and trying to help ensure that our kids get a good one.  I think he’s just happy I’m passionate about something besides children’s clothing….

I decided to make our evening meal the HG one, so it was a bit of a scramble to get it done. I’m actually typing before we eat, but I’ll finish the entry after we get done.  I have training for Girl Scout day camp tonight for three hours, so my husband gets to enjoy the company of the kids without me.

I don’t think this garage sale is going to happen, I’m just not motivated to bring up everything from the basement to put it in the garage and then have to walk to my car in the rain.  Besides, it’s going to rain on Saturday; will a sale really do that well in the rain?  Maybe I’m just being lazy, but I am truly wanting to get rid of all the old baby/kid stuff we have in the house.  Our basement is seriously bordering on being shown on ‘hoarders’.

Flat-Top Patty Melt was something I thought my husband would eat and that I had the ingredients to make.  It was okay, I’m not a really big onion fan, so that’s just me.  I might need to change up my ingredients.  And although fat free cheese has come a long way, it just isn’t the same as the real deal.

Please hope that we don’t float away soon.  Eat well, hug your loved ones tight!

Day 6 - Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Parfait

I was so excited for this morning because I was having my HG meal for breakfast, and I started it last night.  It is one of the cold oatmeal dishes that needs to be chilled for a couple hours, much easier to do overnight than get up earlier.  So after smelling the pumpkin pie oatmeal before it went into the fridge just left me dreaming about it til morning.

Until morning when I woke up at 4:40am with serious pain in my shoulder and neck.  Like really serious, like 8 on a 10pt scale.  And I usually do pretty well with pain.  I couldn't get comfortable in bed, so I tried the couch.  Not sure I ever fell back asleep.  Ibuprofen and tylenol haven't been able to touch it yet.  BUT my breakfast was truly delicious.  I love pumpkin and this recipe did not disappoint at all!

Oh, and I did get on the scale this morning, it went down from last Thursday, but not by much.  At least I have a clean slate for the upcoming week.  Wish me luck!

Both kids are in school right now and I've gotten some errands done this morning.  Always go quicker without the kids.  I truly believe I'm a better mom after I get some 'me' time.  I love being at home in a quiet house with no sound at all, it is really peaceful.  And the sun is out today which is just fabulous!  It probably won't last, but I will enjoy it while I can. 

Thanks for reading!  Eat well, and have a safe and fulfilling day!

Day 5 - Shrimpylicious Eggrolls

I have to say that I am really tired of the rain.  April showers have gone on long enough.  I wish that we could share some of this rain with the southwestern states where there have been droughts going on this winter.  And the thunderstorms and tornadoes, ugh.  I know I suffer from mild to moderate seasonal depression, and it seems like this rain and weather and being trapped indoors has gone on soooooo long this year.  I know it's a transition time, but please let it be over soon.  I wonder if this will be a mild summer or a hot one for the record books, anyone know what they are predicting for the Midwest?

My daughter was off school today, so after my son's gym class, they both got their haircut.  Thankfully the salon was not busy and we were done quickly.  I'm always proud when my kids behave in public; it makes life go smoothly for all of us.  It doesn't happen all the time, so I make sure to praise them when it does. 

Rumble, rumble of thunder, seriously?

My husband has been craving Asian food, so we tried the Shrimpylicious Eggrolls for dinner tonight.  I don't think I've ever made eggrolls before.  Lots of chopping for this one, the preparation took longer than the other recipes I've tried thus far.  I love the trick of spraying with cooking spray then baking to give a resemblance of the crisp shell that results from frying.  Not exactly the same thing, but it works.  The eggrolls were filling and tasty, especially with the sweet and sour sauce I had saved from previous takeout food.  A trick that I may or may not have gotten from Rachel Ray.  I think my husband enjoyed them as well.  With some brown rice on the side, it was a pretty decent dinner.  I think the kids liked their hot dogs and bell pepper, sigh.

On these days of crappy weather I find myself wandering around the house, taking care of little tasks, but wanting to wander back to the pantry.  The candy leftover from yesterday isn't helping at all.  But I'm on point for today, so...I must tell you that I dread Tuesdays, that's the day that I have to climb on the scale and admit to WW online how much I weigh.  Never been to an actual meeting.  The first time I lost all that weight was almost completely on my own.  I was on the journey with my best friend across the miles and we kept each other accountable and shared recipes along the way.  Then kids came along.  Anyhow, I didn't weigh myself til Thursday last week, so I'm not sure the scale will change.  Easter dinner from yesterday probably won't help either.  It was too yummy!

Currently my husband is building with Legos with the kids; I know he loves that fact that they enjoy something he loved growing up.  Gives him a chance to be a kid again...wait a minute, do they ever truly grow up?  Love ya honey!

It's PSR night, so I'm sure my daughter will be kicking and screaming along the way.  And I need to go ask Jacques to record my TV tonight, assuming my husband hasn't already scheduled something...hmmm, whose birthday present was this?

Eat well and try to stay dry if you are close!

Day 4 - Grilled Cheese 'n' Veggie Sandwich

Happy Easter!

I had to make something light for an early lunch before mass and heading over to our cousins' house to celebrate Easter.  The sandwich was pretty good, but I have to admit, I'm a cheese and bread kinda gal with my veggies on the side.  It was filling for a sandwich, and I'll probably make it again sometime, might just change up the veggies a bit.

It really has been a long and blessed day.  I hope to share more wonderful thoughts tomorrow.  Again, hug those loved ones tight!

Day 3 - PB&J Oatmeal Heaven

I woke up this morning to see on the news the devastation north of us from the tornadoes and storms last night.  I could not believe the destruction of the homes in its path.  I couldn't believe that the airport was shut down.  All I can do is send my prayers to those affected and hope that recovery can be smooth and quick for all of them.  I am thankful that no fatalities were reported and that everyone was able to reach shelter in time.  We did spend most of the evening in the basement waiting for our area to clear.  Lots of fun for my daughter and her friend sleeping over. :) 

I decided to eat my HG meal for breakfast since I was up early and had the time to prepare it.  I tried the PB&J Oatmeal Heaven and it was pretty true to its name.  Again, preparation was pretty simple.  Some measuring and chopping and stirring...but it was worth the wait.  I'll be honest, oatmeal has NEVER appealed to me beyond being a healthier breakfast option.  But this was GOOD!  The creaminess of the oatmeal and the peanut butter and strawberries came together in breakfast perfection.  And so filling!  I actually couldn't finish it all at first, had to come back to it later and warm it up in the microwave.  It's a little higher in WW pointsplus, but for me not too bad and worth every bite!

It has been a day of cleaning, organzing, and wishing it were sunny outside.  I am hoping to have a garage sale next Sat, so I'm getting things ready for that endeavor.  I hope I can make it happen!  I feel like decluttering our house will lift a weight from my shoulders.  We shall see.  I'm looking forward to celebrating Easter tomorrow, hopefully the Easter bunny will make an appearance and the kids won't complain too much when we go to mass.  I hope to have a fun visit with family tomorrow as well.

Have a good night!  Hug your loved ones tight!

Day 2 - Bunless Mediterranean Burger

Who am I kidding?  I'm all about the bun!  I thoroughly enjoyed my late lunch today which was basically a Boca burger with roasted red pepper and feta cheese on top.  I have really been loving feta cheese lately, and this burger was completely delicious!

I want to take a moment to take those of you who read my first blog entry following my shameless post on Facebook.  Gotta get the word out there somehow! :)  And I want to thank those of you who actually came back to read more.  I told you that I love to talk and sometimes as a SAHM, we have no one to talk to that is over the age of 18.  I get on a roll when I am with other moms, and I'm surprised that they don't tell me to stop talking or just walk away.  Seriously other moms can be a lifeline when you are drowning in the perils of teething, potty training, talking back and sibling rivalry.  I'm sure other issues will drown me in the future, but those are the ones we have tackled and are still tackling.

I'm proud to say that I am on track to have a fabulous WW day.  Points entered thus far, getting my fruits and veggies, drinking my water.  I was even able to pass up the movie popcorn today when we saw Rio, which was a pretty cute movie, but the entire town was there!  My daughter had just finished studying Brazil in her class, so I think it clicked with her, even though Rio was animated and full of talking birds. 

I just tried a pumpkin spice vitatop that arrived on my doorstep today, and it was great!  I'm a pumpkin freak, partially because I just love it, and partially because HG has taught me ways to use it in other recipes that totally rock!  I'm sure I'll be making some of them along the way; I know they are in the new book.  I realized something last night after typing my first entry:  there were no other recipes I could make out of the book with the items in my fridge and pantry.  Ugh, I had to make a major grocery trip today with both kids out of school.  Thankfully they sat in a rocket ship cart (yes, my 7 year old still wants to do so even though her knees were crunched against the metal).  Gotta love whoever decided kids should have fun at the grocery store, it is nice when they are contained. :)

What else?  Oh yes, our towels, they are brand new from our wedding.  We got married almost 12 years ago and have been using the same sets of towels since (rotating 2 colors each week).   Finally my son's preschool gave us a reason to give them up as a donation to a serving learning project for the humane society.  Thank you!  It's amazing how soft and fluffy new towels are...I almost didn't want to wash them the first time and ruin the luxurious feel of them.  It's the little things in life, seriously.

I was just thinking about how much money I'm going to save in therapy by typing a blog on here.  It feels wonderful to just write what I'm thinking about here, for free.  This past year I have been looking at religion in a new light; my daughter has almost finished her first year of PSR.  She has asked thoughtful questions along the way and it's been both fun and challenging to explain holidays to her to reinforce their true meaning.  With Easter in two days, she is looking forward to the visit from the Easter bunny and the celebration of the resurrection of Christ.  If only she would pay attention more during mass....  I also wanted to mention the big hug I received from my husband after he read my first blog entry.  He's such a special guy!

I'm sure I could continue on, but I will save it for another day.  Have a Good Friday!

Day 1- First attempt at a blog - Buffalo Chicken Macaroni & Cheese

So, I suppose I should first explain the title of my blog.  I worked my way through graduate school with the help and support of my wonderful husband.  Following the completion of my Ph.D. in Chemistry, I worked as a post-doc for a few years.  In an effort to get prepared for starting a family, I began a long weight loss journey which resulted in the loss of 70 lbs.  I was hot! :)  WeightWatchers and Curves were my favorite friends during this journey.

Our daughter was born in 2004 in the wonderful state of Texas, and I continued to work for about 16 months after she was born.  But things had changed for me emotionally and I wanted to be with her all the time.  I had always known that I wanted to stay home with my children.  So why did I get my Ph.D.?  Good question, I'm still working on a solid answer to that.  But now you know why I call myself Dr. Mom.  I do have hopes of using it again sometime in the future.  When she was 16 months old we relocated to the city that my husband grew up in...he found a wonderful job.  It worked out that I was able to stay home with our daughter.  A dream come true, right?

I was still carrying some of the baby weight from my pregnancy, but not that much when we moved.  Unfortunately, I really didn't know how to be a stay-at-home mom, so I was lonely and filled up my time with food.  I might as well be honest, it's true.  I gained almost 50lbs in a year or so.  Wow.  I wish I could go back to that woman and knock some sense into her.  Go for walks, meet other moms, etc.  I've always been a closet eater, just ask my parents.  I'd love to blame it on the healthy eating I had to do as a child, but that's not really fair to my mom.  She is a wonderful, amazing mother and woman.

Ugh, overweight, depressed, wow I was pretty pathetic.  Then we decided it was time to try for #2.  I was really happy when I found out I was pregnant.  My husband was not happy that it happened so quickly. ;)  We were blessed with a little boy just 3 years and 5 days after my daughter was born.  Now I was a SAHM of two kids!  Now what was I going to do....

Fast forward four years and here we are, I have a first grader and a preschooler who are just the most amazing people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.  Watching them grow up thus far has brought joy and tears and screams and laughter and pride to my life.  But I haven't been able to get control of MY life.  I want to be healthy and a good role model for my children.  I spend alot of time volunteering with the PTO at both schools and with the Girl Scouts.  So I do feel like those things show them that I am interested and involved in what they are doing at school and in their lives. 

But I have to face it, sometimes I can be pretty selfish.  My husband would tell you that I watch too much tv, and it's true.  But he just bought me a dvr for my birthday. It's a computer that we have nicknamed Jacques, which comes from an old Simpsons episode in which Homer bought Marge a bowling ball with his name on it.  Yes, a computer for my birthday, how romantic! :)  To be honest, I've just started using it and it's pretty cool.  At least I don't have to record using my VHS tape anymore...I was starting to wonder if I would ever be able to buy a blank tape again.

Okay, so why the blog now?  Because I love to write and I love to talk and I need to be held accountable to someone other than myself.  I want to make a commitment to a healthier and more enjoyable life all around, with my husband and my children.  I have been a follower of Hungry Girl for a few years now, and I love her ideas and recipes.  I recently purchased her new book Hungry Girl 300 Under 300:  300 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Recipes Under 300 Calories, but until tonight I hadn't made any recipes yet.  So in true "Being Julia" style, I decided to attempt at making one of those recipes each day for the next 300 days starting today.  I highly doubt my husband  will eat all of them, but I know he will support me in following through with this commitment.

I adore mac and cheese, not just love it.  I really want to marry it.  Tonight I made Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese from the book.  It was creamy and buffalo-y and really filled me up.  Preparation was fairly simple and quick, I think I may have overshot the Franks just a tad though.  I had to tell my husband that there was mustard in it, so I'm sure he won't touch it, but he thought it smelled really good. 

So I made it through day number one and have typed a book for my first blog.  I'm really not sure what I will type everyday, but I will share my life and thoughts as I continue my path as Dr. Mom. Here starts my journey to a happier and healthier me!