Menu Monday

Things are a little more Christmas-y at our house. M & S put a tree up in her room & decorated the mantle. 

M is off this week, so I have more time in the kitchen. Our meals are

Sunday-homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese. Perfect for a gloomy, rainy day.

Monday-Paula Deen's wild rice and shrimp casserole

Tuesday-soup/chili dinner at the in-laws. I'm contributing Mexican cornbread and a chocolate cake. M says he is making sausage balls too.

Wednesday-Jenna's white chicken chili (jennablogs.com)

Thursday-either leftovers or salmon and veggies

Friday-whatever we don't have Thursday-or pizza

Saturday-breakfast for dinner!!

Merry Christmas!

Bah Humbug

I'm a Grinch!  Yes, for some reason my heart is two sizes too small this Chrustmas season.  It's really much more ambivalent than disliking Christmas. 

I have no desire to decorate-we have none put up yet, and have decided not to put up the tree more because of two run amucks (anyone else think of Hocus Pocus when you hear the work amuck-ok, I'll stop mixing seasons). Our plan is to decorate the mantle and put the aluminum tree in S's room. And I really need to get on this. I'm pretty sure M would let it slide and S doesn't seem to notice. Honestly, I'm so close to just handing over the presents this year.

Tomorrow is our special musical service at church. It'll be the 1 year anniversary of F & C's baptism. And we are going to the special music performance at my in-laws church tomorrow night. A said she wanted to see Christmas lights next Saturday, so we will do that. Maybe I can even talk M into going by Starbucks for a hot chocolate treat. Hopefully by then I will be in a better Christmas mood.

Dr. Scholl's Cozy Cushions (sponsored)

NA few weeks ago my family we to see the Christmas lights at Dollywood. It's very chilly right now and I was looking for some extra warmth and cushioning in my boots. Luckily, I had some Dr. Scholl's Cozy Cushions. They were perfect for our night of walking around looking at lights-my feet didn't hurt and they stayed warm!!

Getting them out!

So soft in my boots!

Enjoyed walking around looking at this!

I received my Dr. School's Cozy Cushions complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. The post is sponsored, but opinions are my own.

Menu Monday

Is today still even Monday? Sheesh--it's been a LONG day. Hope you enjoy!

Sunday-salmon, sweet potato, & asparagus

Monday-hot dog and broccoli casserole. Plus wine. Lots of wine. Also-this is the kind of random meals you eat as a mother of a pre-schooler & toddlers. 

Tuesday-Crock Pot spinach lasagna

Wednesday-turkey pumpkin chili (I got the recipe from Kroger)

Thursday-Daddy's choice because I'm going to be at Babies R Us getting wipes and diapers

Friday-leftovers

Saturday-cashew chicken teriyaki (i can't remember where I found this)

Happy Eats!!

My Day Off

My birthday is next weekend, but M has to work. (Whomp, whomp) He had planned for us to go to the local university's football game (homecoming at our alma mater). Fortunately I caught wind of that present early & put a stop to it. We're going to Disney and can put the money toward that. Instead, I asked for the day off-a whole day to do what I wanted. And today was that day!

I started off with a trip to Goodwill. My friend Emily always finds the best deals there. I found a few summer things for the girls for next summer.

 

Then I had lunch at Panera.

Then I had a manicure/pedicure. It was a half off deal that was an additional half off. I paid $12.50 for a mani/pedi.

Then I went by Sephoria to pick up my birthday free gift.

Then I went to the library to read. That's right-I went to read. Quiet time, people!!!

Finally, I stopped by M&M for some BBQ-pulled pork, baked beans, and coleslaw-to take home for dinner. Yum!! 

I hope each of you is able to have some time off soon-if not a day, at least a few hours.

Un-menu Monday

I had a menu & somewhere I lost it. I think it might either be in my husbands CRV or on the train S and I rode yesterday.

Anyways, I think this is what I had planned based on my groceries. :-)

Sunday-S & I planned a date night out at Jason's Deli, but the train ride was longer than expected, so we had to get home. Leftovers for us. 

Monday-poppyseed chicken, rice, and a green vegetable (TBD)

Tuesday-Crock Pot spinach lasagna from Oprah's website. It was from an episode with Jessica Seinfield, Jerry's wife.

Wednesday-either leftovers or hot dogs at out church's fall festival. Right now, I'm leaning toward leftovers because the babies don't eat hot dogs.

Thursday-maybe pancakes? Maybe more leftovers? Whatever it needs to be fast because we've got some trick or treating to do!!!

Friday-bourbon glazed salmon & vegetables. But I'm not using bourbon because we don't have any and I don't want to go to the liquor store.

Saturday-I have no idea what I had planned. 

Happy Eats!!

202

202

That's the number that's making me cry this morning.  That's the number that I swore I would never go back to.  That's the number that I haven't been since I WAS PREGNANT!!!!  That's the number that is on my scale.

I feel like I've tried every diet.  Weight Watchers was successful about 10 years ago and I even became a lifetime member.  But I fell off the points counting bandwagon and gained it all back-plus some. Last year after the twins were born, I did a combo of WW and My Fitness Pal.  I opted for the 1200 calories a day and either ate to that or my points--usually I had points left over because of vegetables/fruit (some vegetables & fruits are 0 points, but not 0 calories).

I did well with that combo.  Everyone commented on how good I looked.  I joined a gym.  I took up jogging/fast walking and did a 5K.  And then I had some health issues (totally ok) that caused stress. Next thing you know, I was skipping the gym and stress eating.  Lots and lots of food--some healthy in moderate proportions, but I didn't see why I had to stop a just one sandwich.  Although I was sick and disgusted with myself at the end of the second (or third).  So here I am again.  Out of shape, extremely overweight--OBESE if you want to get technical, and bad eating habits once again.

I don't want to be this way.  Really, I don't.  I tried to figure out what I could blame my lack of willpower on, but I couldn't.  Nothing other than myself.  I have a lot of excuses, really I do.  I can come up with a ton!!  But the fact is, I am lazy.  I'd rather sit on the couch than take a walk, I'd rather call for a pizza than cut up vegetables for a salad.

So what am I going to do? Honestly, I don't know.  One income and three kids equal us having to be tight with our money.  So, WW is out--and so is the gym membership (I haven't gone since May, but still paying for it!!)  I'm going to start doing MFP again-maybe the calories will shock some sense into me.  I'm going to meal plan some different foods & not have so many caloric meals. Salads and soups will be good for lunch, plus the kids like the veggie toppings (even if they don't care for lettuce). And a big one--no more alcoholic beverages.  I tend to have a beer a night.  Right now I love the Woodchuck Pumpkin Cider, but those calories can go towards something else--something a little better for me. Previously I had a number that I wanted to lose.  I still do, but I'm not sharing it.  I got mixed reactions from friends about it last time-some were encouraging, some weren't.  And that's all I'll say about that.

I'm not sure if I'm going to write on this again.  I do know that I'm not going to post before and after pictures.  I don't love myself enough to do that.  You can imagine me in my XL top and size 16 pants (that still create a muffin top, but I can't bring myself to buy anything larger).



And you may be reading this and thinking if only you were 202 pounds.  Like that would be a big problem.  You may be 302, 402, 502..but it doesn't matter the number.  It's how I feel.  And how I'm not happy this way.