Do You Want It?

Pumpkin Dip

This dip doesn't only look wonderful, it's super delicious, too!  I am making this for my co-workers this next week!

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon frozen orange juice concentrate

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Gradually mix in the pumpkin. Stir in the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and orange juice until smooth and well blended. Chill until serving.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/pumpkin-dip/detail.aspx

The RESULTS Are In!

On Friday morning, I weighed in and was crazy excited to see that I was down 4 pounds for the week!  WHAT?!  I have never lost 4 pounds in a week.  I think a lot of it is due in part to drinking decaf instead of my regular coffee.  However, I do believe that there were a few other key factors in my success this past week.  1. My husband has officially begun this healthy journey with me.  This helps my motivation a lot!  2. I tried to limit my refined sugar intake to one small treat a day.  3. I drank a lot of water and consumed 20-25 grams of fiber each day.

As exciting as those results were...and ARE, I have just undergone two straight days of almost no sleep, running after elementary students, and very little water and nutritious food available.  Oh well.  Tomorrow is a new day and I am stoked to start the week off right!

Cupcakes for Two

Have you ever wanted a quick treat, but were afraid you would "over-do" it?  Or maybe you just felt the itch to bake, but didn't want to bake two-dozen somethings?  I found this tasty looking recipe - it makes just enough for two cupcakes!  Can't wait to try it!

One Bowl Vanilla Cupcakes for Two
serves 2
1 egg white
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla (yes, a full teaspoon – they are super vanilla-y!)
1/4 cup flour
1/4 heaping teaspoon of baking powder
pinch of salt
1 1/2 tablespoons milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with 2 liners.
In a bowl, add egg white and sugar and whisk until combined. Add in vanilla and melted butter and stir until mixed. Add flour, baking powder and salt and stir until smooth. Stir in milk. Divide batter equally between the 2 cupcake liners.
Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until cake is set. Let cool completely, then frost as desired.

http://www.howsweeteats.com/2011/03/one-bowl-vanilla-cupcakes-for-two/

Decaf Challenge: Day 7

Yesterday was the last day of my decaf challenge.  This morning I had my first cup of caffeinated coffee in a week.  I thought it would be much more exciting than it was.  I had tons of energy about a half hour after drinking it, and then felt kind of crabby after that!  :(  As crazy as I feel to be saying this, I think I might go back to decaf during the week and save my caffeine for the weekend.  I'll post my weight loss progress tomorrow!

Decaf Challenge: Day 5 & 6

It's day 6 of my decaf challenge.  I have no idea if it has made any difference in my weight as I have vowed not to weigh myself until Friday!  I'm getting impatient!  Thankfully, I have not had any headaches, but I am definitely starting to miss the "idea" of having caffeine in the morning.  It's so strange.....I don't notice a difference in myself energy-wise.  You'd think I would have less energy since I've been drinking decaf.....but not really.  Like I said, I just miss the idea of it.  I will for sure be drinking my regular coffee on Thursday!

My Mini Apple Crumble

I threw this recipe together yesterday afternoon.  I'm sure there are several other similar recipes.  This tasted just like apple crisp!

Ingredients:

1 large apple - diced
1 TBSP white sugar
2 TSP ground cinnamon
1/4 C. old fashioned oats
1 TBSP brown sugar
1 TBSP butter - melted
1 TBSP all-purpose flour
Cool whip (optional)

Directions:

Cut apple into small pieces and add white sugar and cinnamon; mix and set aside.  In a separate bowl, mix all other ingredients.  Divide the apples into two small, oven-safe bowls.  In both bowls, cover apples with the crumble mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

*Each serving is about 190 calories.

Decaf Challenge: Day 4

I've gotta say, I'm not hatin' it, and I still can't believe I haven't had a headache yet!  Awesome!  I think I could get used to this.  One thing that was on my grocery list yesterday was a bag of flavored decaf coffee.  Since I drink it black, I needed a little bit of flavor to compensate for the lack of usual bite in my caffeinated coffee.  So, now I'm officially in love with Cameron's Decaf Vanilla Hazelnut.  Lovely.

The Scale...

Ugh....that word makes me shiver.  Scale.  So many of us base our worth on the number that shows up on the scale each morning.  For me, my mood is often a reflection of the number that I saw during my previous scale confessional.  After all, the scale doesn't lie, you know.  Or does it?  Sure, the scale might tell us exactly what we weigh, but it doesn't show the victories that we have had over the course of the day.  It doesn't show that fact that you've been killing yourself in the gym and have a brand new set of sexy, toned curves to show off.  

I've always been a person who weighs myself every single day....if not twice a day.  Lately, I've had a mix of ups and downs.  One day I will be completely stoked about the progress I see.  That night, I will work out and eat right and then the next day, the scale will go up again.  For this reason, I'm going to stop with the scale obsession and start weighing myself only once or twice a week instead. 

If you're on the frequent weighing program, here are a few things I would suggest:

1. Try weighing yourself less often.

2. Weigh yourself at the same time of day on the days that you weigh in.

3.  Weigh yourself in the buff.

4. Remind yourself that you are MORE than a number on a scale!

Decaf Challenge: Day 3

Well, so far, so good on the Decaf coffee challenge.  So far, I have not had any headaches which confirms my belief that I am more addicted to the taste of black coffee than the caffeine.  Score!

This morning, however, I was really craving a cup of my pumpkin spice coffee.  The bad thing is......it has caffeine.  So I improvised!  I put a few pinches of pumpkin pie spice into my decaf and it tastes EXACTLY like my pumpkin spice coffee.....without the caffeine.

Decaf Challenge: Day 2

Good news: I haven't had a headache yet without my normal dose of caffeine!  Yesterday afternoon, I could tell that I was possibly more easily irritated than usual, but nothing too huge.  I had absolutely no difference in my weight this morning.....so nothing too much to report on.  We'll see how Day 2 goes! :)

7 Simple Strategies For Health

http://fitbie.msn.com/tips/7-simple-strategies-transforming-your-health

Check out this article about easy ways to transform your health!  It has a lot of good information in it.

Decaf Challenge: Day 1

I just finished my first cup of decaf coffee for the week.  Thankfully, it didn't really taste much different to me than the "real stuff."  I do have my migraine meds with me at school today, though.....just in case things get crazy!

Cavatappi with Ground Beef (or venison) and Chili-Style Tomatoes

Definitely making this soon...

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces elbows, mini penne, or cavatappi pasta, about 1 1/2 to 2 cups dry
• 1 pound ground round or ground sirloin
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) zesty chili-style tomatoes, diced
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) tomatoes, diced
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt blend or Cajun seasoning blend
• 1/4 teaspoon dried leaf oregano or Italian seasoning blend
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons water

Preparation:

Cook pasta in boiling water following package directions. Rinse and drain; set aside. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with chopped onion. Add garlic and bell pepper; cook, stirring, until green pepper, is just tender. Add chili-style tomatoes and diced tomatoes, along with the seasonings, tomato paste, and water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute. Stir in pasta and heat through.
Serves 4.
 

Coffee, anyone?

COFFEE!  I have been drinking coffee almost all of my life.  Yep, you read correctly.  Almost all of my life.....since I was about 2 years old, actually.  One day when my grandmother was watching me, I started crying and got a sip of her coffee.  I've been enjoying black coffee ever since!

Don't believe me?  Here is a picture to describe my feelings toward coffee...

When I get my coffee, I don't know whether I should scream in excitement or start crying and thanking the Academy for the wonderful gift and award.

Many people believe that coffee is unhealthy for us.  I believe that it CAN be detrimental to our health if too much of it is consumed (over 3 cups a day).  The caffeine can help boost metabolism and it is a great source of antioxidants.

That being said, my mom and myself are taking on a challenge this week of switching to Decaf.  I will miss my caffeine each morning, but I am definitely interested to try this experiment.  Starting tomorrow, I will be drinking Decaf coffee only.  Will it make a difference in my weight?  We shall see.  I will report my findings next Thursday!

How a Boiler Made My Day Amazing

If you saw the post previous to this one, you know that it was a tid bit chilly in SoDak today.  I don't want to complain about the 30 and 40 degree weather too much....I know the -30 and -40 degree days are not too far off.  However, my classroom is at the very end of our building.  It's all by its lonesome, so when it's cold outside, it is also very cold in my classroom.  I came into my classroom this morning and looked at my thermostat.  61 degrees.  Ah, really?  My circulation is already terrible, so I'm usually quite chilly in any temps below 80 degrees. (Some of you may be scratching your head and asking yourself, "So why does this crazy girl live in SoDak if she can't stand the cold?"  Answer: I don't really know.)  Anyway, I was wearing a sweater and had a jacket on over that, and my fingers were still blue.  Naturally, I wasn't in the best of moods, even after jamming out to music.  And then....at about 11:00 this morning, the boiler kicked in and I had HEAT.  TA DA!  Day made perfect.

On a health note, I am working a bit on "damage control" from this past weekend.  My husband and I went out for a fancy dinner for our anniversary that was in June.  I know....JUNE!  Better late than never, though.  I ordered salmon with asparagus, but the desert is what got me.  I'm definitely back on the healthy path this week and will hopefully have update photos to show before long.

There's No Turning Back...

On my way to work this morning, my car reminded me that it is officially fall....and soon to be winter.

Pump It UP!

Pump up the volume!  

I'm going to be honest, the mornings are getting darker and colder.  This leads to much whining, slapping the snooze button, and more whining for me.  I have to seriously get myself pumped up to go to work.  To do this....I've been listening to a LOT of music.  Dancing, screaming at the top of my lungs, pretending I'm Beyonce....you get it, right?  Listening to music in the morning does wonders for my mood and energy level.  Since I'm a music teacher, I get to listen to music and sing songs all day long, but there is just something that "Party Rock Anthem" has that "Farmer in the Dell" doesn't have! hehe

I would suggest finding a set of songs that are catchy and have a driving beat.  Press "play" and jam out!

The Only Good Things About Winter Are....

SNOW DAYS...

And....

Cute SNOW BOOTS!

Although we haven't had any snow yet (thank goodness!), winter is right around the corner, unfortunately.  I strongly dislike winter and most of the things that come with it, but I do love winter clothes.  Next month is my 26th birthday and I will soon be shopping for a gift for myself.  ;)  High up on my list are some cute boots.  The first pair look cute, comfy, and snow-friendly.  The second pair just looks cute and comfy.  :)

What do YOU like about winter?  .....

Simple Sweet Pork Chops

Here is a recipe that I am going to make this week.  I love me some pork chops!

10 40 50

Ingredients

• 6 boneless pork loin chops (6 ounces each)
• 1 can (20 ounces) unsweetened pineapple chunks, undrained
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chppped
• 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

• Place pork chops in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over chops. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Bake, uncovered, 10-15 minutes longer or until a meat thermometer reads 160°. Yield: 6 servings.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Simple-Sweet-Pork-Chops

Sugar....

Ah, sugar.  I have loved all things sugar since....well, forever.  I have a sugar addiction.  There is not a single day that goes by without huge sugar cravings (which usually leads to indulgence) for me.  Lately, however, I have tried my very best to combat sugar cravings by eating natural sugars and drinking much more water.  Has it helped?  Absolutely!  Unfortunately, I gave into my sugar cravings yesterday.  I should state that I believe everything is fine in moderation.  That was my downfall.  I did not eat sugar in moderation yesterday.  The outcome of my sugar binge was a stomach ache, irritability, a head ache, and a ridiculous sugar crash!  

Since I love researching, I began to read about what sugar does to the body.  I found the following list.  Beware of too much sugar....

Here is a list of ways sugar can affect your health:

• Sugar can suppress the immune system.
• Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance.
• Sugar can contribute to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.
• Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
• Sugar can cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
• Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol (HDLs).
• Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol (LDLs).
• Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
• Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.
• Sugar can cause kidney damage.
• Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
• Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency.
• Sugar can cause copper deficiency.
• Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
• Sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose.
• Sugar can promote tooth decay.
• Sugar can produce an acidic stomach.
• Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children.
• Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
• Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and grey hair.
• Sugar can increase total cholesterol.
• Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
• High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
• Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
• Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
• Sugar leads to decreased glucose tolerance.
• Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
• Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure.
• Sugar causes food allergies.
• Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.
• Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
• Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
• Sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage.
• Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
• Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
• Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver.
• Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver.
• Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
• Sugar can cause depression.
• Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
• Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance.
• Sugar can cause hypertension.
• Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.
• Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly.
• Sugar can increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes.
• Sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets.
• Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon. 

http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.htm

A Lesson and a Victory!

Yesterday was enlightening!

  

A Lesson:  In my elementary music class, my students learn all about reading music, writing music, note values, how to sing, how to play instruments, how to express themselves, and how to teach ME!  Once a month, I mix it up with teaching my students about a composer and then showing videos of that composer's music.  Yesterday, I taught them about Antonio Vivaldi.  Since he wrote so much orchestral music, I decided to show the students a video that my parents took of me.  In this video, I was a high school junior and was playing a violin solo in Spring (one of the Vivaldi's Seasons).  After I was done showing it, I asked the students if they had any questions about Vivaldi.  One student raised his hand and said, "You were a lot skinnier when you were in high school!"

Ah, the sweet, innocent honesty of a child!  I replied with, "That's not a question, but a great observation!"  In my mind, I was saying, "Thanks for the added motivation, kiddo!"

 

A Victory:  Only about an hour after the motivational comment in my classroom, I had a victory!  Alright, quick background of the school that I work in: I work in a school filled with healthy people, which is motivational in itself.  Several are smaller than I am....again, motivation!

Alrighty, back to the victory story.  I was walking down the hall when a student came up behind me and said, "Hi, Mrs. ______."  The name that the student said was not my name.  When I turned around, the student said, "Oh, sorry, I thought you were Mrs. _______.  You two look a lot alike from the back."  SA-WEET!  The lady who the student was referring to is smaller than I am.  Perhaps I'm starting to look a bit differently to others.  I'm obviously not back to my high school weight yet, but I'll make it soon enough!

Running Low on Time?

Today is going to be one of those crazy days.....a battle against the clock!  I know that it's going to be difficult to find enough time to get a decent amount of exercise in and still clean up in time to go to my next event.  Last night, I found an article about fitting in exercise in any way possible.  It was enlightening and encouraging! :)  The link is below.  I hope you can find the time to do something, ANYTHING, active today!

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/no-time-work-out

 

 ^This is not a picture of me, by the way.  ;)

My Story and Stats

Here is a quick version of my health story.

I grew up in a supportive, healthy, and active family.  I am the youngest of three kids in my family and my older brother and sister and I were always riding our bikes, jumping on our trampoline, or building tree forts.  Although I was never overweight when I was younger, I do remember always feeling like the largest person in my family (for my height and age), and I LOVED to eat!

^This is a picture of me posing for the camera....with popcorn!

Growing up, I loved sports, but hated competing with others.  After a year of basketball and a few years of volleyball, I decided that I would rather compete with myself than with others.  When I was in high school, I ended up swimming and running every day after school at our town's health club.  It was a great way for me to get fit and gain confidence.  For the first time ever, I felt like I physically fit in with my family and I loved it. 

 When I left for college, the swimming and running stopped.  Darn dorm rooms!  At the time, the university I attended didn't have a campus gym, so my roommate and I went on walks outside for as long as we could.  Darn SoDak winters!

Pretty soon, I had gained 5 pounds....and then another 5 pounds!  Next came marriage!  This was an exciting time.  I was blessed enough to marry my high school sweetheart.  As previously mentioned, the love-chub found me.   Along with the added chub came acid reflux.  Being a singer AND overweight did not help that cause.

I finished my undergrad degree, my master's degree, and landed my first job.  And that brings me to where I am now.  I am a perfectionist; an "all-or-nothing" type of person.  I hate feeling like a failure and for that reason, I've never truly given weight loss a chance.....I didn't want to fail.  A few months ago, I realized that I wasn't winning any challenges by doing NOTHING, so I started to get serious.  I'm not striving for beautiful bones.  I'm striving for a healthier and happier life!

Here are my stats TODAY:

Height: 5'3.75" (that .75" means a lot to me!)

Beginning Weight as of 8/2011: 156

Current Weight: 146

Goal Weight: 120

Impress Yourself.....

......everyday! Try to "impress" yourself with something everyday.  Today, I impressed myself by getting out of bed on time.  hehe  :)  It can be whatever you want or need it to be.  Every single day brings its challenges.  Find at least one thing each day that will allow you to push yourself beyond what you thought you could do.  When you have these little victories, it gives you the drive to keep going.  As I posted yesterday, I've been having an "off" week, so trying to impress myself has proved to be difficult, but accomplishing new and challenging things has been great for my self-esteem.  Yesterday, I cooked a new recipe for supper and went for a long walk.  Given my mood, this was something that impressed me.  Today, I woke up and decided to work out first thing in the morning.  What are you going to do to "impress" yourself today?

 This is me at the top of Harney Peak in the Black Hills.  It is the highest point in SoDak.  My husband and I challenged ourselves to this hike on our vacation this past summer.  A little tired and overweight, we made it up to the top and back in 3.5 hours.  We can't wait to impress ourselves by hiking it even faster next summer!

One Rough Week

Some weeks, the stars seem to align and everything is perfect.  This isn't one of those weeks for me.  I don't know what's wrong with me.  I could blame it on the gloomy weather or the weird and different schedule I have had this week, but I won't spend my time doing that.  Keeping my eye on the prize, the goal, is what I need to do right now.  We are all going to have those days, weeks, or months (unfortunately) that just don't seem right.  When that happens, I need to return to the question of, "Why am I trying to get healthy?"  Everyone has their own answers to that, but for me...

I just want to feel "normal" again.  

I want to be healed of my acid-reflux. 

I want to look like I used to.

I want to be a healthy role-model to my students and my future children.

I want to be an inspiration to my husband and family members.

Those are the things that I need to remember when the going gets tough.

Yummy Margherita Pizza!

Come on, admit it.  Most of us LOVE pizza.  Ok, at least I do.  It's one of my favorite foods and since I have discovered this delicious, quick, and easy recipe for Margherita pizza, I have been indulging in this tasty and healthy treat.

This is the pizza I made for supper tonight and below is the recipe!

Ingredients:

1 package of pizza crust mix (I use Betty Crocker's just add water mix)

1/2 of a large slicing tomato

2-3 cups of spinach

2 Tbsp basil pesto

4-5 thin slices of fresh mozzarella cheese (this usually comes in a circular package)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Mix pizza crust together and press into your desired pizza shape on a slightly greased cooking sheet.

3. Bake pizza crust in the oven for about 5 minutes.

4. Take crust out of oven and spread basil pesto over the crust.

5. Top with spinach, tomatoes, and mozzarella.

6. Bake for 10-12 minutes and enjoy!

*I usually cut mine into 9 slices.  Each slice is about 150 calories.

SMILE! :)

Today, I woke up with a smile.  Of course, I had several reasons to smile!  1. As an educator, I had the day off today in honor of Native American Day.  2. I slept well last night.  3. I found my violin-playing cat t-shirt from an orchestra festival that I was in when I was 16.  The day just started off right!

The more I smile (even if it's forced at times), the better I feel about life!  Below is an awesome article I found about the positives of smiling.  Here are 10 reasons to smile!

1. Smiling Makes Us Attractive

We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away -- but a smile draws them in.

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood

Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling Is Contagious

When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress

Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you'll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System

Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure

When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin

Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger

The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day -- you'll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful

Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive

Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that "Life is Good!" Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling. 

http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongbeauty/tp/smiling.htm

So there you have it!  Now turn those frowns upside down!

Before Photos

Ugh.  This weekend I was going to take "before" photos....or more like "current" photos of where I am right now in my weight loss.  That didn't end up happening.  However, I do have a photo that was taken of me about a month ago....which was when I started getting serious about becoming a healthier person.  

 This is a picture of me at a wedding... 9 pounds ago.  I can't wait to see how I look in another month!   

Love it....Hate it

I have a real love/hate relationship going on with weekends. 

I love weekends because:

I get to spend time with my husband.

I spend time with friends.

I go to church.

I sleep in.

I watch movies.

I drink coffee.

I go shopping.

I'm not working.
I write music.

I hate weekends because:

I get bored easily.

I end up sitting around too much.

I end up eating too much.

I end up eating too much.

I end up eating too much!

So........today was my first selected "cheat" day.  I did just that....I cheated, a lot.  So far, I don't feel that it has been worth it.  I feel sick and have spent most of the day worrying about how long it is going to take me to get back to the weight that I was just yesterday.  I think that my biggest mistake was choosing my "cheat" day to be a Saturday.....when I have waaaaaaay too much time on my hands!

Ok, I really do love the weekends.  Promise.  I just need to make sure that, in the future, my weekends are a little less self-destructive.

Skillet Granola - Apple Crisp

My hubby and I are going apple picking tomorrow so I was looking for a yummy apple recipe to make this weekend and found this one on foodnetwork.com

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups store-bought oat granola, (recommended: Bear Naked Maple Pecan)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar, plus 1/4 cup
• 5 crisp apples, such as Fuji or Gala (about 2 1/2 pounds), peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Melt the butter in a medium nonreactive and oven safe skillet over medium heat. Add the granola, 1 tablespoon of the flour and 1 tablespoon sugar and toss until the sugar is dissolved and the granola is well-coated. Transfer to a bowl; set aside. (Reserve the skillet.)

3. Pour the apples into the skillet; toss with the pumpkin pie spice, lemon juice and remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are juicy and slightly softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon flour. Scatter the reserved granola mixture evenly over the top and transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake until the crisp is bubbling and the apples are tender, about 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm.

Copyright 2010 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved



Nutritional analysis per serving
Calories 286; Total Fat 9.5g (Sat Fat 4g, Mono Fat 1.5g, Poly Fat 0g) ; Protein 3g; Carb 50g; Fiber 6g; Cholesterol 15mg; Sodium 47mg

Portion Control

This morning at school, I was greeted by an adorable student.  What did she have for me?  A GIANT cinnamon roll.  With the cutest smile on her face she said, "This is for you!"  I smiled and said, "Thank you so much for the roll.  That was so nice of you to think of me."  As I set it on my desk, she looked at me with a disappointed look on her face and said, "Aren't you going to eat it?"  Shoot!  I wasn't going to break this girl's heart and start lecturing about over-sized portions or begin explaining that this was the last thing a sugar addict who is trying to tame her cravings and cut calories wants to see.  So......I compromised.  I explained that I had just eaten breakfast, but I cut a little sliver off of the side and ate it.  That made her day.  What made my day?  Giving the rest away for other teachers to share!

As sweet as it was for her to bring me a roll, it really got me thinking about how messed up and out of control our portions have gotten.  I'm serious, this cinnamon roll was nearly as large as this girl's head.  There is no reason that anyone should eat a roll that large.  Thankfully, this little scare did teach me a lesson: Everything in moderation!  I took the tiniest sliver and it won't ruin my day.  

Moderation!

Pictures

I will be taking pictures of myself at some point this weekend to post.  So far, I'm about 8 pounds into my weight-loss and I wish I would have thought to take pictures at the very beginning, but better late than never, right?  Stay tuned!

The Dreaded Head-Cold!

I should have seen it coming.  With the chill of Fall in the air and my 300 students singing their little hearts out (directly into my face), I should have seen it coming.  Yes, at the beginning of this week I developed my first cold of the season.  It's a music teacher's nightmare!  I couldn't sing well, my throat hurt, my nose was running, I had the chills, and I was zapped of energy.  Trying to stay enthusiastic and energized with Kindergarten students while sneezing on Monday was NOT easy.  As soon as I could make it through my last class on Monday I went straight home, knowing that I would only spread it further if I stayed to teach my extra lessons after school.  

Now, I'm not a fan of taking medicine, so as soon as I got home, I drank some herbal tea, made a saline solution for my sinuses and went to bed.  The next morning I felt so much better and I'm pleased to say that I have never gotten over a cold so quickly.  Below are 4 of my 5 secrets to quickly get over a cold!

1. Echinacea Complete Care Wellness Tea - This stuff is amazing!  I take it as soon as I feel any signs of a cold.

2. Sea Salt - I add this to warm water to create a saline nasal spray solution.

3. Melatonin - We all know that trying to sleep when you can't breathe well isn't easy.  Taking Melatonin is a safe way to calm down and sleep well at night.

4. Water - There are very few places I go without my water bottle.  Fill it up....again and again!

5. PILLOWS! (not pictured) - I use several pillows and sleep elevated at night.  This helps prevent drainage from sitting dormant in your throat and nasal passages all night.

Stuffed Green Peppers

YUMMY! I am making these for dinner tonight. 

Below is the recipe that I am using from Allrecipes.com. 

*To create a leaner stuffed pepper, I suggest using a leaner meat such as ground turkey or ground venison.

Ingredients
* 6 green bell peppers
* salt to taste
* 1 pound ground beef
* 1/3 cup chopped onion
* salt and pepper to taste
* 1 (14.5 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped
* 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
* 1/2 cup uncooked rice
* 1/2 cup water
* 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
* 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed tomato soup
* water as needed

Directions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cut the tops off the peppers, and remove the seeds. Cook peppers in boiling water for 5 minutes; drain. Sprinkle salt inside each pepper, and set aside.

2. In a large skillet, saute beef and onions for 5 minutes, or until beef is browned. Drain off excess fat, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the tomatoes, rice, 1/2 cup water and Worcestershire sauce. Cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until rice is tender. Remove from heat, and stir in the cheese.

3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (175 degrees C). Stuff each pepper with the beef and rice mixture, and place peppers open side up in a baking dish. In a medium bowl, combine tomato soup with just enough water to make the soup a gravy consistency. Pour over the peppers.

4. Bake covered for 25 to 35 minutes, until heated through and cheese is melted and bubbly.

5. Enjoy :)

Why Do I Write?

Hello, everyone! First of all, let me tell you a little about myself! I am a creative, enthusiastic elementary music teacher living in a small town in the upper Midwest. I am married to my best friend in the world and we absolutely love hanging out together. I love to create things, whether it's a fun new recipe, writing songs, writing lyrics, or doing scrap booking. I write simply to transfer my thoughts to paper...or...err....the computer. Anyway, the amazing husband that I mentioned above, well, he is another reason I am blogging. I love him more than anything. On our wedding day, I gained a partner.....I just didn't know that I would also be gaining about 20 pounds of "love chub." We have gained weight together and I am counting on losing it together as well. Another thing that I can't forget to mention: I am a sugar addict! My life is definitely SWEET! :) The purpose of this blog is for me to share things that I am passionate about while (hopefully) motivating others to find their passion (or sweetness) in life as well.