Where DOES The Time Go?

I guess the saying is true...time flies when you're having fun (and as busy as a little bee!!) Who knew that in all of my fun, that my poor blog would be the one to pay the price. I know!! I know!! I still spend an awful lot of time on facebook, (farmville is my newest gaming addiction) keeping up with my day-to-day things, so why can't I come here to do the same? Maybe because my lack of time to scrap, and this blog's reminder of my passion being put to the side as other things have taken it's place.

For one, I've really started taking an interest in my health. Researching low glycemic foods, foods to lower blood pressure, and studying the effects different foods have on my body. In the past 3 years, I've gone from a size 20/22 to a size 10!! (It's amazing how just changing your diet the weight falls off...very happy about the results) In the past 6 months, I've incorporated an exercise routine, and even joined the YMCA. (My arthritis isn't hurting me nearly as much as before.) And did I mention I'm now incorporating MORE vegetarian means? (Gave up red meat & pork, but still eat fish, poultry and dairy) Eventually I may go total vegan, but for now, I'm happy.

Then there was a change in our family dynamic...my youngest son moved back home from Michigan this past February. It's been WONDERFUL having him back here...but now he's ready to move back to Michigan to be with his fiance', Felicia. (Our family got to meet her this past Christmas, and we just LOVE her.) It's been a bit cramped in this tiny house, but we managed just fine.

I've started spending time with my pastor's wive's father twice a week. (To give the family a little rest.) He'll be 99 in November and just the sweetest man you'll ever meet. Once upon a time he was a checker champion, so we spend a LOT of time over a game of checkers. (His philosophy is if you can win at checkers, you can win at anything life throws at you.) Once a week, he still gets on his tractor to cut the grass (even if now some of the rose bushes suffer from his deteriorating sight ::grins:) Smart as a whip, amazing sense of humor and loves the Lord. Just a delightful blessing to be around...and I consider myself blessed just knowing him.

My jewelry sales are up. I've sold quite a few pieces to several ladies at church, and even more at one of the local hair salons. Nothing that is considered a steady income, but enough to keep gas in the car (and these days, who could complain about THAT?!?)

And finally, after my success with the tomatoes last summer, I took the plunge to add MORE veggies to my gardening this year. (3 types of tomatoes, yellow sweet peppers) And then there are the flowers... (4 hydrangeas, 4 spider plants, 3 wild rose bushes, 1 schefflera plant & 1 fuschia plant.)

Of course, these are only the highlights...however, my time is up and I'm about to rush out the door.

Recovering From A Turkey Induced Coma

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine turned out a lot different than other T-day celebrations...
For one, Kat left at noon to spend the day with her BF, Matt, and his family in Hueytown.

For two, we were an hour late getting started because MY Matt had to pick up his GF, Amber, in Hueytown and stop by here on their way to her Nanny's house.

For three, hubby made a HUGE production of sharpening the knives before carving the turkey. Mind you, the turkey was so moist it was literally falling off the bone and didn't NEED carving...but we let him have his fun.

Reason #4, Kat and I would normally go to the movies after dinner and we'd cleaned the kitchen.

And the final reason...it was the first holiday that hubby and I were alone in the house after dinner was over. Honestly, it felt strange not having any of the kids here. Though I must confess it was rather peaceful, but I'm not sure I'd want a repeat.

WHAT WAS OUR THANKSGIVING MEAL??
TURKEY (my recipe)
Green Bean Casserole (my recipe-cause Amber loves it…)
Mashed Potato Timbales
Deviled Eggs (my recipe)
Cheesy Corn Casserole
Stove Top Stuffing (cause hubby won't eat anything else)
Cranberry Salad (My mom's recipe)

DESSERTS:
Cranberry Sweet Potato Bread
Tomato Soup Spice Cake
Makeover Crunchy Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
(If you'd like any of the recipes, feel free to ask...)

The day after I spent the afternoon camped in front of the TV watching the IRON BOWL. (Alabama/Auburn football game) Though it didn't end like I'd wanted, it was still an amazing game!!

Saturday morning I packed an overnight bag and left for Wilson, North Carolina with our friend Shea to drop his kids off with their mom. Was a very long, 10 hour trip there, an interesting conversation over a few games of pool, a restless night tossing and turning on a strange bed, and another very long, 10 hour trip home. I tried like crazy to make it home in time for evening church service, but it just didn't happen. (Of course, I took a few pics of the kids, their mom & some amazing scenery...)

The trip must have taken more out of me than I'd realized because most of Monday I was stuck in bed dealing with sore muscles, a sore throat & the icky blahs.

Tuesday found me shopping for a few groceries and then spending an afternoon in the kitchen cooking and cleaning. On a bright note, hubby finally figured out what was wrong with my "sick" 'Stang that had been sitting alone in the driveway for the past 2 weeks... the timing belt, of course!!

And that brings me to today...cleaning the den and trying to rearrange furniture so I could put up our Christmas tree. Sadly, no matter how I placed things, the tree had NO PLACE to go. So it looks like our two large bird cages may have to be moved to another room for the month, but WHICH room is the question. (Will try working on that tomorrow.) In between brainstorming over furniture pieces, I colored my hair to a lovely shade of light auburn. It'll take me a little while to get used to it, since I've been a sandy brown/dirty blonde since last Spring.

Meal Planning & Grocery Shopping

MEALS:

• TUESDAY - Gyro Salad & Tzatziki Dressing (had leftover Taco Soup this past Sunday)
• WEDNESDAY- 3 Cheese Rice Lasagna
• THURSDAY - Chicken Athena (have made before and LOVE)
• FRIDAY - Seafood Casserole

GROCERY LIST: $24.46

• Crab
• Shrimp
• Pimientos
• Spaghetti Sauce
• 4 1/2 oz mushrooms
• 8oz cottage cheese
• 4oz Mozzarella cheese
• Brown Rice
• 1lb ground beef
• 1 bag salad mix
  

Meal Planning & Grocery Shopping

MEALS:

• Wednesday (pasta)- TOO BUSY!! Grabbed pizza for dinner.
• Thursday (turkey/chicken)- Chicken with Pecan Sweet Potato Salad (missed making it Tuesday cause we ate leftovers instead.
• Friday (fish)- Tomato Walnut Tilapia with Rice
• Saturday (soup)-Taco Soup
• Sunday (giving in to hubby needing MEAT)- Gyro Salad & Tzatziki Dressing
• Monday (meatless)- Greek Style Ravioli & Salad
  

GROCERY LIST: $32.29 + 10.90 for 2 pizzas

• yogurt
• 2 4oz feta cheese
• 8oz shredded cheddar cheese
• 64oz V8 juice
• 16oz salsa
• corn chips
• Taco seasoning
• 4 tomatoes
• 1 cucumber
• lettuce
• zesty Italian dressing
• 4 tilapia fillets
  
• frozen cheese ravioli
• 1 bag mixed salad
  

Thankful Thursday...

I'm thankful...

1. That another month of bills have been paid with enough left over for groceries!!
   
2. For my incredibly sweet hubby. (Is it possible to fall MORE in love with your spouse with each passing day?)
3. For the rain we've received and that all of the severe weather went around us.
4. For talented jewelry designers/crafters/artists that share their ideas and tutorials online. (I've found SO MANY cool ideas for Christmas gifts this year!!)
   
5. For baggy clothing because it means I can buy a smaller size!! (I am smaller now then when I first met hubby nearly 12 years ago...10's/Mediums never looked so good!!)
   
6. For the changing of the leaves...it's my favorite time of the year!! I LOVE FALL!!
7. That Halloween is almost here...it's marks the beginning of my Christmas madness!! (When I start pulling out all of my boxes, totes and trees and decorate for the holidays!! YES, I really have to start decorating Nov 1st or I couldn't have it finished by Dec 1st...lol)
8. For long soaks in hot water...it has helped ease my back and wrists the past 2 days.
9. To know when to smile and keep my mouth shut...it just makes things a LOT easier when dealing with people that like to gossip or cause strife.
10. For the massive amounts of encouragement I've received about my cooking changes and weight loss...it has meant the world to me!!
    

Meal Planning & Grocery Shopping

MEALS:

• SATURDAY (soup)- White Turkey Chili
• SUNDAY (seafood)- Shrimp & Crab Salad
• MONDAY (meatless)- White Bean, Sweet Potato & Pepper Ragout
• TUESDAY (turkey/chicken)- Chicken with Pecan Sweet Potato Salad
• Afternoon Snack - Pumpkin Pie Shake
  

GROCERY LIST: $47.56

• 1 gal milk
• sour cream
• 1 lg can pumpkin
• old fashioned oats
• maple syrup
• dried cranberries
• 4 cans cannellini beans
• 1 can cream of chicken
• 1 cans Italian diced tomatoes
• 1 4oz can green chilies
• 1 jar mayo
• chicken breasts
• 1 bg shrimp
• 1/2 gal vanilla ice cream
• 1 bg sweet onions
• 2 garlic
• 6lbs sweet potatoes
• green onions

THURSDAY'S DINNER

Vegetarian Egg Strata

Wednesday Dinner

Seafood Enchiladas

Home-Style Refried Beans

















Rice with Chilies 'n' Veggies

Trying To Get In The Swing Of Things

It's pretty sad when you let another 7 months pass by before you post. It's not that I don't WANT to blog, I've just found it easier to update statuses on facebook. THAT and Farmville has me in it's grasp. *giggles*

Let me see if I can do a quick recap of my life...

• I've completely changed my eating habits and have now gone from a size 14 to a 10.
• Since last year, I've lost a total of 60lbs (still have another 20 to go!!)
• My sugar is now under control without use of meds.
  
• Hubby thinks I'm starving him because of food changes...well he HAS lost 2 pant sizes.
• Kat also lost weight and I'm now wearing her clothes from last year.
  
• Hubby found a job and then lost it. (Long story, but was due to management issues)
  
• Washing machine broke AGAIN!! Only this time it's NOT on warranty. I HATE hhgregg!!
  
• I also HATE going to the laundry mat to wash clothes.
• We celebrated oldest and youngest sons' birthdays. (though youngest was in other state)
  
• I celebrated my birthday, but now going backwards in years. LOL
  
• We celebrated hubby's birthday.
• We celebrated our wedding anniversary.
• We're STILL working in our bathroom and kitchen. ROFL!!
• Hubby bought me a yellow 1974 IH SCOUTII and is now rebuilding the engine.

That's just the highlights...tons more happened but I'll try to go into that at some later time. In the meantime, my time is up and I've got to get my day started. On the agenda for today: clean bathrooms, vacuum den, sweep & mop kitchen floor, upload photos for OCT JAM that originally came from Bunny Cates, mail off OCT JAM to Amber take Kat to work, make dinner and go to SISTERS bible study.

Today's Dinner:

Mediterranean Chicken Sandwiches

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Mediterranean-Chicken-Sandwiches

My Breakfast Meal Planning List...

BREAKFAST

MEAT 1 Serving Equals: 1 egg (4 per week) 1/4 c. Egg Substitute 2 Egg Whites 1 oz Canadian Bacon 1 oz Ham 1 oz Low Fat Cheese 1 oz Fat Free Cheese 1/4 c Cottage Cheese (1-2%) 2 Tbsp Fat Free Cream Cheese MAY SELECT 1-2 MEAL/WEEK 2 Tbsp Peanut Butter 1oz Reg Amer. or Ched. Cheese

FAT 1 Serving Equals: 1 tsp Reg. Margarine 2 tsp Soft or Whipped Margarine 3 tsp Diet Margarine 1 Strip Bacon 1 Tbsp Cream Cheese 2 Tbsp Light Cream Cheese

CARBOHYDRATES/SUGAR FOODS

SELECT 3 SERVINGS TOTAL FROM CARB FOODS
Either 1 From Each Group or 3 From 1 or 2 From 1 and 1 From 1

STARCH 1 Serving Equals: 1 Slice Bread 1 Biscuit 1/2 English Muffin 1/2 Bagel 1/2 muffin 1 Pancake (4 dia.) 1 Waffle (4" dia.) 1/2 c Grits 1/2 c Oatmeal 1/2 c Cream of Wheat 1 c Special K 1 c Rice Krispies 3/4 c Corn Flakes 3/4 c Grape Nuts Flakes 1/2 c Product 19 1/2 c Wheaties 1/2 c Bran Flakes 1/3 c Raisin Bran 3/4 c Cherrios 1 Lg Shredded Wheat Biscuit 1/2 c Oat Bran Flakes

FRUIT 1 Serving Equals: 1/2 c Orange Juice 1/2 c Apple Juice 1/2 c Grapefruit Juice 1/2 c Pineapple Juice 1/3 c Grape Juice 1/3 c Prune Juice 1/3 c Cranberry Juice 1/3 Cantaloupe 1/2 Banana 1/2 Grapefruit 1 Med Orange 1 Peach 1 1/4 c Strawberries 1/2 c canned fruit (unsweet) 2 Tbsp Raisins 3 Med Prunes

MILK 1 Serving Equals: 1 c Skim Milk 1 c Buttermilk (from skim) 1 c Plain Yogurt (Unsweet) 1 c Flavored Yogurt (NutraSweet) 1 Pk Hot Choc Mix (Sugar Free)

Meal Planning Monday...9/8/08

Though things are starting to look up for us financially again, I still love the time I spend each Sunday night/Monday morning planning for our weekly meals.

This week I'm using one of KRAFT's 1 Bag, 5 Dinners List. VERY COOL STUFF!! Each week has a detailed shopping list for meals Monday-Thursday leaving Friday as a pizza night. the only con is that the weekends are missing, but not hard to add on 2 meals each week.

Taking in to consideration that I already had ground beef, chicken, cream of chicken soup, Taco seasoning mix, rice, oil, onions & dried basil leaves...take a wild guess how much I spent for 5 meals? Kat went with me and was shocked. Not only at how little I spent, but the fact that I was able to carry everything out in my denim tote bag that I brought with us.

MONDAY: Bruschetta Chicken Bake

TUESDAY: Quick Taco Salad
WEDNESDAY: Mozzarella Chicken & Rice Skillet
THURSDAY: Jumbo Meatballs
FRIDAY: Pizza
SATURDAY: ??
SUNDAY: ??

Meal Planning Monday...

Legal pad by Tina Williams

Doodles by Sweet Made
Cupcake & Chocolate Candy by Paper Moons
Hamburger & Wiener by NitWit
Grid Overlay by AcmDesignz
Paper by Farrah's Designer Scraps
Fruit by Jen Ulasiewicz
FONT: Kitchen Kapers II

MONDAY: Leftovers From Hubby Grilling Over The Weekend
(Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Sausage Dogs, Potato Salad, Baked Beans)

TUESDAY: Hungry Jack Casserole (Made With Leftover Baked Beans)

WEDNESDAY: Hamburger Steaks, Corn & Remaining Potato Salad

THURSDAY: Deep Dish Hamburger Casserole & Garden Salad

FRIDAY: Spaghetti, Garden Salad & Garlic Bread (using leftover hot dog & hamburger buns)

Monday Mayhem...

For those that missed it, I spent half an hour throwing away close to $400 in frozen groceries yesterday at lunchtime...not because of faulty freezer, but the fact that someone unplugged it. (From the temperature of melted water, thawed food & SMELL...I'm guessing at least 1-2 weeks) Due to yesterday's humidity and my lack of iron stomach, I put draining & sanitizing off until nightfall. However, plans tend to change so quickly in this house and it was put off again. (Lid is closed TIGHT and awaiting me to clean...though I might be investing in a gas mask now)

I was already taking the day off from the kitchen due to stiff muscles. By the time I was finished throwing all of the gross food out, I was really hurting. Spent most of the day lounging, rubbing lotion on my legs and trying to massage the cramps away, and applying medicated heat patches to my back.

Kat made it home around 9:30pm. I feel my baby girl slipping away from me. She no longer talks to me about everything going on with her. We never spend any time together since she started working full time and traveling every weekend with the drama team. Though I'm proud of what she's doing and the hard work she's putting in to it...I'm feeling somewhat neglected and ignored. Used to, if you were looking for me, it was automatically assumed that Kat would be near. I know I've whined before asking if this is what it's suppose to feel like when you are no longer needed, but this feeling is heart-wrenching.

I rode with hubby this morning to help with directions to the place for his drug test. Turns out he didn't need me. He had to go to Wal*Mart first to pick up the paperwork to take to the hospital, but while there he had another "small interview". (Dang...how many times must someone be interviewed to work in a garage?) Nearly an hour later, hubby comes back to truck sans medical paperwork. I asked him what was up and he said they decided to put him in another position making less money that what he was making at the Truck Stop so he said he was sorry he wasted their time for the past 6 weeks and that he would have to decline. It didn't sit well with the guy in charge, but he did leave it open for hubby to return at a later time.

Hubby was disgusted. He was told the reason they were giving him less money is because of his work experience and history. Hubby asked what he meant since he had managerial experience at AutoZone, Napa, and the Truck Stop. He then was told they wanted more years than what he listed. *sigh* For what they wanted to pay him, he would have been making LESS than what OS is making now at Costco changing tires. So we stopped by a couple of places on way home for him to get aps.

Hubby has been on the phone ever since we arrived home nearly an hour ago. Unsure what will happen now...especially since we thought he HAD this job and was quoted a certain amount 2 weeks ago and it didn't happen that way today. Something more for me to worry about and try not to let it get to me.

A few minutes ago, I received a message through my MySpace from YS saying that he was coming down with his Dad and Grandma to get pickup his other sister Somer. Would only be here for the weekend and would be able to spend Saturday with me. Now I'm really freaking since my entire house is turned upside down and my kitchen in shambles. How am I suppose to be relaxed and play gracious host to Grandma Joyce when there isn't a clean spot to sit? ROFL!! Guess I better get off my hiney and bust tail to get the kitchen halfway completed.