|
|
I am back from vacation! I relaxed. I walked around New Orleans. I ran and lifted weights. I ate. I ate. And then I probably ate some more! The cruise was fantastic, New Orleans was interesting, and we really had an overall nice time. (And work didn't seem to implode in my absence, so that was good, too.)We started our trip with a few ...
|
|
|
|
Okay, so who knows what I am going to do with this blog, but right now, I am going to post some before and after photos...This is April 2009, right around when I started having chest pains...Oh yeah, I actually think I wore this to work.Then August 2009, about a month into my new lifestyle, I was feeling pretty good about myself.......
|
|
|
|
It's a sickness. I get these crazy cravings and find something I like, then make it over and over.This weekend was no exception, and I had to make some Super Bowl Kick-Off Chili Cheese fries...Oh yeah. I cooked that chili all day. I started with one onion, one fat carrot, half a red pepper, a stalk of celery, and some garlic all chopped up, then cooked slowly with ...
|
|
|
|
That's me after my lowest weigh-in yet! I've lost 29 pounds!!! I hit my unofficial (yet in my heart of hearts official) goal, and am pretty danged pleased with myself. This dress is now about a size too big, but it's still comfy and perfect for casual Friday's. (You can see Bello's backside while he's eating breakfast behind me!)I am contemplating changing my WW points to the maintenance level. ...
|
|
|
|
So after the hamburger binge of the day before, Saturday was an on point day!I started the day with my morning training run. 2 miles!That's my 5K training schedule (thank you Hal Higdon!)... the 2 miles went pretty smoothly. I have downloaded a bunch of new songs for my iPod and so I was really feeling it. You'll see on my schedule that I alternate running with Wii ...
|
|
|
|
I love her wonky whiskers and perpetual tiredness. We are two birds of a feather.
|
|
|
|
I am very excited. I got a new lens! It's pretty awesome. I have decided that the only way to learn how to use it is to use it... I am starting with pictures of my day...Oh yes, the day just doesn't start right unless there is a mug of tea! A little milk, no sugar. Delicious. This with a couple glasses of water get me through the ...
|
|
|
|
A bunch of food bloggers got together and made a cookbook for Haiti relief called Blog Aid. According to Everybody Likes Sandwiches (who just suffered the loss of her mother), the details are as follows:The wonderful Julie of Dinners with Julie had an idea. She enlisted some truly fabulous writers, chefs and bloggers (I'm lucky to be in their company) to create a cookbook and got the whole ...
|
|
|
|
Recently, G and I ate dinner at Dona Luz restaurant. It was an extremely cold night, one of the coldest of the year at that point, and we were the only people there! That being said, we didn't mind. It gave us a chance to speak with the owners, and to get some advice on what to order as it was my first time having Peruvian food.Here's the low-down on what we ordered...First up, G's avocado salad......
|
|
|
|
In BBC Goodfood's weekend round-up, I found a great recipe for a No-Fry Chicken Green Curry and decided that since we had some green curry paste AND light coconut milk in the cupboard, we would give it a go.And yeah for giving it a go!Mmmm, super white food in a white bowl in low light looks like blue food in a blue bowl. No good. (I am getting a ...
|
|
|
|
Like many people who didn't get fat overnight, I love love love Fettucine Alfredo. (Or maybe, just like me who ate alot of heavy pasta dishes.) Add some chicken, a little diced tomato, extra cheese, and yeah, I could eat my dinner and yours and the rest of whoever else happens to be nearby. I really love it.But it's not particularly healthy, and so it's something I don't have very often. In fact, I haven't made it in months and months. So, with G being out of town (and her not being a ...
|
|
|
|
Like many people who didn't get fat overnight, I love love love Fettucine Alfredo. (Or maybe, just like me who ate alot of heavy pasta dishes.) Add some chicken, a little diced tomato, extra cheese, and yeah, I could eat my dinner and yours and the rest of whoever else happens to be nearby. I really love it.But it's not particularly healthy, and so it's something I don't have very often. In fact, I haven't made it in months and months. So, with G being out of town (and her not being a ...
|
|
|
|
As you can see on the sidebar over there, I have added a daily mile running widget. I am running three times a week, slowly building up for first a 5K then a 10K in August. If that all goes well, I am CONSIDERING (emphasis on the CONSIDERING) a half-marathon (something I have ALWAYS wanted to do) in 2011. But I gotta build it up. Dailymile.com is pretty cool it syncs with my nike+ so it does all it's own updating and I read a few blogs who use this at present, so I am going ...
|
|
|
|
Beef paprikash. Amazing.I found the recipe in one of the British magazine's I read, but I can't for the life of me remember which one! But it was simple, brown some stewing beef dusted with a little flour, add some sliced onion, garlic, red pepper and a bunch of mushrooms with 1/2 teaspoon of smoked and regular paprika with dill and cumin, cook for a bit then add in some beef ...
|
|
|
|
I love fried egg sandwiches. For the first part of my weight watchers adventure, I made lots of eggs in the microwave. Really simple. But now, I take the two extra minutes and actually cook it on the stove, in a nonstick pan with a bit of cooking spray. Much more delicious, and while I am sure my intake of eggs may be a bit excessive, I love them no end and am happy as can be to eat my sandwich...This one......
|
|
|
|
G is away at a conference, so I was alone for my breakfast hunting and gathering this morning. I woke up with a solid craving for chili and eggs and potatoes. It is also a running day, so I knew that I needed a complete breakfast that would warm me up as I headed out into the extreme cold for my run this morning!So I pondered, and after a second and a half, I knew exactly what I wanted... chili cheese fries with scrambled eggs on top. And so I turned on the oven to ...
|
|
|
|
I was buying myself a Nike+ Sportband recently and noticed that the store was right near the Rosedale version of Petite Thuet. I had heard that the shop had excellent macaroons (macarons) and so of course, we had to stop in and have a taste...They looked promising......
|
|
|
|
I have one major irrational fear. I fear falling. I am absolutely terrified of being in a situation where I might fall down and therefore am unable to ski or, until this afternoon, ice skate. G really wanted to take ice skating lessons, so she asked me if I would take a short four week course with her in an effort to start doing something winter related. She thinks this may make me bitch less in the winter, and that remains to be seen, but I was terrified of learning to skate, in an outside rink, ...
|
|
|
|
Rotisserie chicken...how did I ever live without you? Truly one of my most favorite things at the moment is to buy rotisserie chickens for dinner ideas. Whether you eat it plain, mix it in tacos, chop into baked pasta, whatever, it's so easy. And at Reither's grocery store, I can at least feel marginally good about the whole meat thing.The other day, I stopped on my way home and bought just such a roast chicken, and brought it home. Turning the oven on warming, I kept my bird warm while I made some ...
|
|
|
|
Honestly, I could eat chicken three meals a day every single day. I absolutely love it. It cannot be a coincidence that my two favorite Weight Watcher frozen dinners are the chicken quesadillas and the chicken fajita pizza (which I had for lunch three times last week!!!). I know G thinks I am crazy because of the sheer frequency of chicken breast recipes in this house, but she's slowly coming to embrace it...For instance. While away visiting my family, G made some Jamaican goat curry, which she posted about right here on this very ...
|
|
|
|
I have a confession.I have never made a proper Sunday roast dinner. Wait. That isn't correct. I had never made a proper Sunday roast dinner, UNTIL RECENTLY, when I made a proper roast dinner (with the exception of the yorkshire pudding, which just wasn't points friendly enough). So my shame is no more, and I have made a lovely roast dinner...LOOK AT THAT!!! Meat, potato and ...
|
|
|
|
We had a bit of a tostada fest in our house recently, having discovered these amazing baked tostadas...at the Planet Organic. They are amazing (and only 1 point for THREE). I can't recommend them highly enough, and you can try to id them by the box since ...
|
|
|
|
I saw a friend yesterday whom I haven't seen in awhile who is also doing Weight Watchers Online. She gave me a compliment, which I returned (she looks GREAT!) and she said how hard it's been for her this time (she's lost before, but gained some back). She said something that gave me pause, because it's something I've said repeatedly for the last few months, "It's just been so easy for you!" And I do keep saying that, too. All the time I say, "I don't know why it's worked this time!" with a shrug ...
|
|
|
|
G and I decided that we didn't want to spend New Year's in Toronto, so we forced ourselves upon our friends P and M in Ottawa.Fortunately, they are good sports. Unfortunately, P had to work the entire time we were there. We still managed to fit in a trip to the movies to see The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and also had a lovely dinner at Beckta. But during the day, M played tour guide and took us on a beautiful walk in Gatineau Park....
|
|
|
|
Oh, tee hee! There's Mii and YES YOU READ IT RIGHT my BMI is officially (or as official as the Wii Fit is) NORMAL!!!!! NORMAL!!!!! It's been awhile since I've checked it, but I did this morning and that right there is the look of normal. NORMAL. Not overweight, just plain jane blink and you'll miss me NORMAL!Bragging done. Thanks for rolling your eyes in the privacy ...
|
|
|
|
I have made a donation to the Haiti earthquake- Canadian Red Cross to help those suffering in Haiti, and I urge you to do so, too. The Canadian Red Cross can be found at: http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=000043&tid=016Doctors Without Borders can be found at: http://doctorswithoutborders.org/UNICEF can be found at: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/haiti_52474.htmlFeed the Children can be found at: https://secure.csfm.com/canadianfeedthechildren/index_haiti.phpOr give to any other charities that you like. But do give, every little bit counts.
|
|
|
|
So normally I am weeks (months, even) behind in posting about meals, but tonight's meal was so rock awesome and so right on the Weight Watcher's points that I had to turn on my computer, out down the book I am reading (what am I reading? well, since you asked, Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde), and blog this bad boy.It looks like a right mess, but it was a right mess of DELICIOUS! ...
|
|
|
|
Some times you just want some comfort. Matzoh Ball Soup provides that comfort. Well, specifically, G's matzoh ball soup provides that comfort! This is so great, chicken stock that G made from scratch, with some carrot mixed in because it's my favorite, and big fluffy matzoh balls. The balls are from a mix, but were really fantastic. I am not a fan of soup for dinner normally, but really enjoyed this ...
|
|
|
|
I can't believe that it's the year 2010. I don't have a flying car and I can't teleport, but I never legitimately imagine something as huge as the internet, or as awesome as my iPhone, so I suppose it's a fair trade. An enormous amount of info all at our fingertips is incredible, and something I can't believe I used to live without.What I am MORE THAN HAPPY to live without is the 26 pounds I have lost using Weight Watchers and Wii EA Sports Active! I don't tend to post photos of myself on this ...
|
|
|
|
Christmas was a bit stressful in my old hometown. There was a blizzard. Yes, a blizzard. In northeastern Oklahoma. A BLIZZARD.And then, there was the not so added joy of my brother falling on the ice while trying to clear the snow from the car and breaking his knee cap. There was the no joy adding long drive to the hospital, the no joy there sitting around in ...
|
|
|
|
The week between Christmas and New Year's was very short this year. Monday and Friday were holidays, and my boss graciously closed the office at 1:00 on New Year's Eve, so the work week was short and sweet. A couple of years back, I organized a potluck that occurred during this week, and it was such a success that this year, I brought the tradition back. Everyone who was working that week was asked to bring a dish to share. It was great!!!I brought a Greek Orzo Salad....
|
|
|
|
As those of you who read my blog regularly may know, I fell in love with the traditional French macaron when visiting Laduree for the first time in Paris. Amazing experience, and one that I think of to this day.Whenever I see them, I have to try them, and during a recent shopping jaunt through Yorkville, G and I took a detour to MoRoCo Chocolat. This place is fantastic! It has a gorgeous little cafe that G and I are going to go back to when we are in the mood for brunch, and ...
|
|
|
|
Fried eggs, fried okra, grilled halloumi, and half an english muffin. Bring it!
|
|
|
|
I often read WW blogs from the US with envy. There is so much access to low-point substitutes in the States that we don't have in Canada. So you can imagine how much I rejoiced when I saw the one point Pita Break sandwich thins! I snapped them up and headed home to try out a great hamburger idea!Yippie! We took the hamburger buns and toasted them in the ...
|
|
|
|
Bean and Bello relaxing in the sunroom. Ah. They have a hard life!
|
|
|
