Prepping, cooking, and rambling thoughts.

A big part of my success in my weight loss journey has been to plan. Plan, plan, plan.  I just know that if I do not plan my menu for the week on Saturday and get my grocery shopping done on the weekend, it most likely won't be a good weight loss week.  I'll grab for the easiest thing when I'm trying to put together my lunches in the morning or the quickest and maybe not so healthiest things when I get home from work.  But if I plan?  I just feel more in control and know that I can make good choices when I am putting together my meals.  Part of my plan is to try to get a dish or two cooked up on the weekends so I can just pull from them during the week.  Today I did just that. 

I made this beautiful carrot soup.  I haven't made carrot soup in over 10 years I think.  I forgot I even had this recipe.  But I found it again last week and just couldn't wait to try it again.  It's spiced just right with a nice touch of ginger, sauted onion and garlic, and I even added a bit of chopped apple this time to give the soup a little more sweetness.  All I can say is - YUMMY!  Seriously a nice fall soup!  Pair it with a salad and a nice crusty loaf of bread and you'll have a great dinner for any night of the week. I know this week I'll be grabbing the soup for lunches for work, pairing it with a nice salad and I'll be all set.

While I was boiling the carrots for the soup, I decided to roast up some veggies too.  They pair well with almost anything and I'll grab from them all week for lunches or dinners.  I just grabbed some veggies that I had in the frig - you really can use any combo - cut in uniform cubes, toss them with some olive oil, oregano, and basil.  Roast in the oven at 350° for 30 - 40 minutes and enjoy all week.  It's month end at work this upcoming week so I know I'll probably be in for some late nights.  But with my roasted veggies all set to go, I can just grab a Minute Ready to Serve brown & wild rice, pair it with my veggies, and I have a great quick meal for those late work nights.  I can pair some leftover chicken with the roasted veggies as well and have another quick easy dinner. 

I love experimenting with my menus and trying to come up with meals that will keep me interested in my weight loss journey.  Earlier this week I was running short on time one morning and was in a bit of a panic because I really hadn't thought out yet what I was bringing to work for lunch.  But I just grabbed a leftover breast of chicken, some leftover brussel sprouts, tossed them with some tomato, mushroom, avocado, and balsamic vinegrette and had a yummy lunch!  Seriously I thought I was pushing it throwing it all in one bowl and hoping it would taste good.  But you know what?  It not only tasted good - it was awesome!  I never really thought to throw cold brussel sprouts in a salad before, but it worked.  I'll be duplicating this one again for sure.

 

Oh and as I walked by the bathroom mirror this week, I caught a glimpse of myself and had to stop, back up and look again.   I thought "seriously?" - is that me in that mirror?  I look so much thinner than just a month or two ago.  I had to back up and look again and marvel in how little changes in my meal planning and being committed are really paying off.  Or is it just those jammies that are making me look thin?  If that's the case I think I'll wear those every day - all day!

Down 29.2 lbs, an eighth of a pound shy of 1/3rd of the way to my goal.  And trust me...that 1/8th of a pound is being a bugger!  I want to see 30 pounds....like soon!  But I'm not giving up!  I knew full well at the beginning, back in April, I had a lot of weight to lose.  But if I didn't just take it one day at a time, it could have been overwhelming.  So I'm taking it one day at a time and I'm getting there.  Slowly but surely I am making my way to a healthier, thinner me!  Does knowing I have almost 60 pounds left to lose scare me?  Absolutely!!  But I'll get there - I know I can and I know I will!  I'm not "dieting" - in fact I don't think I've even said that word since April.  I'm making lifestyle changes that will help me reach my goal and maintain a healthier weight.  That's the important part - and I'm so glad that I'm finally making some "important" choices.

Scrapping - love it!

Ok - I know - it's been a while since I updated my blog.  Just busy, busy lately.  But I've got a few pages to share today.  Scrapped yesterday with some great scrapping buddies.  Didn't get a lot done, but had a blast.  I think I had 8 or 9 pages planned.  I only finished 2 12x12 layouts and a couple of 8x8 quick layouts for my weight loss album.  But you know what? I had so much fun and I love the layouts I did complete - so I'm happy!

This one below is of my niece Reyanna happy with her strawberry pancakes from last weekend when she had a sleepover at my house.  We had so much fun - she always makes me smile!  As I was driving to work this week I heard this line in a song - Oh you make me smile  - and I thought - PERFECT for a title for a page for her. 

This layout below is of one of my other nieces, Kaitlin.  She was such an awesome model a bit ago during a photo shoot I did with her.  What a beautiful girl!  I just love my torn tree and "Owl" always love you Kaitlin!!

 

Thanks for looking - have a great Sunday!!!

Well hello my favorite pants!

So glad I decided to clean out the cedar chest today and see if there was anything in there that would fit.  Trying to update my wardrobe as my numbers are declining on the scale.

Well hello favorite green pants!  I haven't seen you in years!  I'm not only glad we met again today, I'm ecstatic that you actually zip and button!  A little snug but you zip and button!  Another week or two and you'll be fitting more comfortably and I'll be able to wear you when I wish.  I've missed you like you'll never know.   I've always loved your olive green color, your soft feel.  Oh I can't wait to wear you again!

 

 

 

 

Stranger in My Mirror

 

Someone new has moved into my house and I'm not so sure I like her.  Who you ask?  Read below.......she needs to move out because she is annoying the heck out of me!!!  Need a roommate???

 

 

Stranger In My Mirror

© Rose Madeline Mula

 

Please be careful.

This person has found her way into my house and could also get into yours.

 

A very weird thing has happened.  A strange old lady has moved into my house.  I have no idea who she is, where she came from, or how she got in.  I certainly did not invite her. All I know is that one day she wasn't there, and the next day she was.

She is a clever old lady and manages to keep out of sight for the most part, but whenever I pass a mirror I catch a glimpse of her.  And, whenever I look in the mirror to check my appearance, there she is hogging the whole thing, completely, obliterating my gorgeous face and body. This is very rude!  I have tried screaming at her, but she just screams back. The least she could do is offer to pay part of the rent, but no.

Every once in a while, I find a dollar bill stuck in a coat pocket, or some loose change under a sofa cushion, but it is not nearly enough. 

I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I think she is stealing money from me. I go to the ATM and withdraw $100, and a few days later, it's all gone!  I certainly don't spend money THAT fast, so I can only conclude the old lady is pilfering from me. You'd think she would spend some of that money to buy wrinkle cream.

And money isn't the only thing I think she is stealing. Food seems to disappear at an alarming rate -  especially the good stuff like ice cream, cookies and candy. She must have a real sweet tooth, but she'd better watch it, because she is really packing on the pounds.

I suspect she realizes this, and to make herself feel better, she is tampering with my scale to make me think I am putting on weight too.

For an old lady, she is quite childish. She likes to play nasty games, like going into my closets when I'm not home and altering my clothes so they don't fit.

And she messes with files and papers so I can't find anything.  This is particularly annoying since I am extremely neat and organized.

She has found other imaginative ways to annoy me.  She gets into my mail, newspapers and magazines before I do and blurs the print so I can't read it.

And she has done something really sinister to the volume controls on my TV, radio and telephone. Now, all I hear are mumbles and whispers.

She has done other things - like make my stairs steeper, my vacuum heavier and all the knobs and faucets harder to turn. She even made my bed higher so that getting into and out of it is a real challenge.

Lately, she has been fooling with my groceries before I put them away, applying glue to the lids, making it almost impossible for me to open the jars.

She has taken the fun out of shopping for clothes. When I try something on, she stands in front of the dressing room mirror and monopolizes it.  She looks totally ridiculous in some of those outfits, plus she keeps me from seeing how great they look on me.

Just when I thought she couldn't get any meaner, she proved me wrong.  She came along when I went to get my picture taken for my driver's license and just as the camera shutter clicked, she jumped in front of me.

I hope she never finds out where you live. I really do!

© Rose Madeline Mula

Please visit her site at:

http://www.seniorwomen.com/

 

Too hysterical!!!  I laughed my a** off this morning when I got the above in an email from a friend.  Was I laughing because I can SOOOOOOOOOOO relate to some of this??? ABSOLUTELY!!!!   

A new breakfast food

Oh how I've been ignoring my poor blog lately!  But I have news!  I tried a new breakfast food today and it was actually good.  Now don't go thinking I'm crazy, but I have for MANY years NOT liked this particular food.  In fact just the thought of it disturbed me and the smell of it can make me gag.  But I know it's supposed to be really healthy for me and since I'm on this health kick and trying to really make better choices with my food, I decided today to make a HUGE change and try this food again. 

I was at my sister's last night and saw it in her closet and thought - hhhmmm?  I should give that a try again.  So I stole a package from her and after delaying this morning to go make it, finally got up from my desk at work and headed to the kitchen.  I was going to get beyond this obstacle.  I figured if I can be so disciplined to have lost almost 30 pounds since April, I can get beyond this simple silly obstacle.  Now before you think I'm silly over a simple breakfast food, you need to understand there's a long history to my hatred of this food.  I really don't want to make my Mom feel bad, but let's just say she had 10 kids to feed and this particular food was a staple in my house for breakfast growing up and I just DID NOT LIKE IT but had to eat it for breakfast a lot.  Once I was out on my own I swore I would never eat it again and I haven't.  I did try to get past this a few years ago, but could only bring the spoon to my mouth and smell it and that was enough for me.  It was gross!!  I still gagged and I just decided then that I was destined to never like or eat it again.

Today though was different. I just did it....mixed it up....it smelled ok...I thought I could get through it.  That was until I got distracted at my desk and went back to find my breakfast cold.  And trust me cold is not what you want with this food!  Y.U.C.K!!!!  But I was determined to not throw it out.  I was going to get past this - TODAY.  So off I went to the kitchen again and microwaved it for about a minute and back to my desk I went.  And about 2 minutes later - YEAH!!! - I had had my first bowl of OATMEAL in, I'd have to say, 30 34 years!  It wasn't so bad.  I did gag once or twice but just pushed on.  Actually it was pretty good and knowing it is a healthy choice for my weight loss plan, I may just add it to my grocery list this week!

OMG!  If I can get past this issue I've had for 30+ years - I can do anything!!