An Open Letter To An Unlucky Preschool Teacher

Dear Mrs. Rose,

I'd like to apologize in advance for the fact that Daphne will spend half of today glued to the cieling. I'd like to send my sincerest regrets for any furniture or other children who get broken. Please forgive her if she talks so fast it seems she is speaking in tongues. And when there is a circular path worn in the carpet around her chair, I will pay for it to be fixed, of course.

You see, when I sent her to the kitchen today with permission to get a drink of juice, I couldn't have foreseen that she would find it easier to take a drink from my bottle of Crystal Light Energy on the counter (with 120 gms of caffeine). And I could never have guessed that she could consume half of it in the 8 seconds she was in the kitchen. But I clearly underestimated both her thirst and her resourcefulness.

So please, forgive her for what will undoubtedly be her worst behaved day ever. 60 grams of caffiene and a 30 lb girl isn't the best combination.

Sincerely,

Daphne's Mom

It's All In The Genes

I'm a curvy girl. I inherited especially generous hips. And I don't mean fat (although there is that too). I mean bone. My hip bones are just wider than the average person. Then they have been added upon with lovely fat pads that are the very last thing to go when I lose weight. And before you start telling me I'm up in the night, I have done REAL SCIENCE to back this statement up. For example, I have several friends weighing 20-30 lbs more than me, and they all wear the same size of pants as me. And I have a few friends who weight about the same as me, but they wear 2 sizes smaller pants. Because they all have normal hips. And I have BIG hips. See? It's a proven FACT.

I've learned, over the years, to dress to my shape. I wear shirts that end in just the right spot on my hips to distract the eye. I wear pants with the pockets in just the right spot to minimize the expanse. I wear skirts of a certain shape to draw the eye to my better parts. And most importantly, I wear jeans that create the illusion of thinness where there is none. I.E. the flare leg or wide leg.

Now, if you look around right now, you'll notice that skinny jeans are "in." But as far as I have seen, no one looks good in skinny jeans, not even skinny 13 year old girls. (I don't know WHAT we were thinking in the 80's trying to pull off that look). And those of us with a decidedly more pear shape....well, it's just laughable. Even boot-cut doesn't quite do the job. It has to be a wider leg than hip to create the illusion that the hip is small.

So I live in a constant state of panic as the stores I've shopped at for my jeans and pants slowly discontinue their flare-leg styles and replace them with skinny jeans and boot legs. Heaven help me if they stop making flare-legs altogether. I might have to wear skirts all year long!!! Or, my mom will get her wish: I will finally have to learn to thread a bobbin.

The Wish Fairy

If a wish fairy showed up today and said, "I can wave my magic wand and change 3 things about your body," what 3 things would you change?

Me?

1) Hairless. Except eyebrows, eyelashes, and head. Why pay for laser treatments when you have a wish fairy around?
2) Bibbity-Bobbity-Buttlift!
3) I almost said lovely cheekbones on this one, but I suppose I should be a titch more practical (because, you know, wish fairies are all about pragmatism) and wish for perfect vision. You'd think this one wouldn't need a wish fairy with science on our side, but my eyes have never been stable enough for lasik. Stupid eyeballs.


You?

Timer

I'm intrigued...

Best Friends

Ever since Daphne was a tiny toddler, she has always loved toys. As early as she could carry things, she always had several toys clutched in her hands as she wobbled around. As she got older, things didn't change. She still carried a favorite Polly Pocket, mini My Little Pony, or Littlest Petshop around with her. But she added stuffed animals to the list of favorite toys, so that for 5-6 days after she received a new toy, you could count on it being in her hands at all times, slept with, dragged with her everywhere she went.

Beck, on the other hand, has never been into toys. He had a brief obsession with trains around 18 months, but within a month of receiving an awesome train set, he was over it. And that's the only time he has played with toys. We keep buying him really fun stuff, but he only takes a slight interest in it. No stuffed animals, play figures, or vehicles have ever caught his attention.

Until about six months ago. And then, for some reason we can't explain, he fell in love with a ratty, half-empty, red velour teddy bear my mother had bought at Goodwill the previous year. For Daphne. All of the sudden we found Beck demanding to sleep with Red Teddy, carrying Red Teddy around by his long, saggy leg, telling me that Red Teddy was hungry or sleepy or needed to go potty. Red Teddy became his best friend. His only friend. The only toy that boy has ever loved.

And it makes his sister crazy that she can't have it. I've explained to her over and over that Red Teddy is Beck's now. She can't have him. (She never cared for him at all before Beck wanted him). But every night when I tuck her into bed, she asks for Red Teddy and offers up a toy or animal of hers in exchange. But my answer is always the same. No, Red Teddy is Beck's special friend and he can never be hers again.

I mean, how could you ever separate these two??

What Day Is It???

For the past few years, I had made family calendars for both of my families (birth, in-law) in which all the members of the families' birthdays are listed, as well as anniversaries. And for each month, the pictures of everyone having a birthday/anniversary are on the facing page of the calendar. I find that it makes it easy to remember whose birthday is coming up when you see a big picture of them as you turn the calendar to the next month.

This year, I only did one for my birth family. Too many of the in-laws never got their family's pictures back to me.

I had the calendars printed in late January (I never get them done in time) and shipped off to each of my family members.

BUT I CAN'T FIND MY OWN.

And yes, it is April. I realize it's April, late April, four and a half months into the year, and I still have no calendar. Because I know there are at least one or two more copies of that dang calendar somewhere in my house. So I refuse to go out and buy a new calendar after all the work I put into making the family one. But it is driving me NUTS that I never know what day it is. Or can't write my appointments somewhere really obvious and visual.

Thank heavens for my iPhone. Wait.....now where did that iPhone go??

Falling Off The Wagon (HCG Phase 2)

When you finish the 500 calorie + injections phase of the HCG diet and move on to the maintenance phase, you're supposed to feel a great sense of relief. You're supposed to have so many more food options open to you, it should feel like a feast after a famine.

But you still can't eat carbs or sugars. And so I'm finding that I feel almost as deprived on this phase of the diet as I was on Phase 1. Just not as hungry. But deprived isn't all that far from hungry, I'm discovering. Think about it. You can't have cereal for breakfast. Or pancakes. Or oatmeal. Or waffles. Or toast. Or any of the other wonderful breakfast foods you'd normally eat. What does that leave you? Eggs. Yes, and bacon, sausage, ham and all the breakfast meats. But you can't just eat breakfast meats for breakfast. And an egg without toast is not that enticing. Even if you can choke it down, you can't do it day after day. So what do I end up eating for breakfast? A strawberry smoothie. Same as before.

Then there is snack time. What would you eat for a snack normally? Some crackers with cheese? (No crackers allowed). A granola bar? (Guess again). Chips and salsa? (Ixnay on the ipschay). Seriously, it is HARD to think of stuff to snack on! So far I've come up with nuts. A handful of nuts. I should feel grateful that I can eat nuts. But I'm so used to thinking of them as fattening, that even though they're allowed on this phase of the diet, I am paranoid about eating them.

And then there is meal-time. I still eat my lean meats--shrimp, fish, chicken, turkey, steak. But I can't add carb-based side dishes to them. No potatoes au gratin, no rice pilaf, no noodles, no bread, no fries. So what can I eat with my meat to meet my daily calorie goal (1500-2000 calories)? More veggies? For real??? A couple of fruit choices that I couldn't have before? Whoopdeedoo. I'm not joking, people. Not eating carbs is freaking HARD!

I don't mean to be such a whiner. I know I should be grateful that I can have cheese now. And nuts. And full-fat dressing. But either I'm so paranoid about eating them because of the fat, or they just don't offer me any kind of satisfying feeling. Because I still find myself obsessing about carbs and sugar. Way worse than any diet I've ever been on before.

Which explains why, today, when I had a complete lack-of-sugar meltdown, I made cookie dough and ate three heaping spoonfuls of it, plus two cookies, and sucked them down with the same fervor and joy that a person would do to water after wandering in the desert. It was like I was eating for the first time in years. That's how it felt. It was AMAZING.

The aftermath? I'm sure it won't be pretty. Despite a lot of exercise today (walking a mile while picking up trash with the Scouts, playing volleyball and Frisbee golf, washing the cars) I may see a big gain tomorrow. But for right now, while the memory of brown sugar and butter and flour and chocolate chips is still lingering on my tongue, it was heaven. And it was worth it.

HCG - The Final Analysis

Final Weight Loss: 10.2 lbs in 22 days. (Average ~ 1/2 lb per day)
Final Inches Lost: 19 inches (arms, legs, waist, neck, hips, chest)
Final Sizes Difference: Shirt - Medium to small, Pants - size 10 to size 6

Final Comments: This was a hard diet, but this was also a very worth-it diet. As I said when I started, I just couldn't seem to get over that hump with diet and exercise. Whether my body was clinging too tightly to that weight I'd been at for 2 years, or I just didn't have the motivation to keep it up long enough, I knew I needed something to push me to a new level. And this worked!

I know everyone is on pins and needles now to see if I can keep it off. So am I! I'll tell you one thing, my first day off the VLCD and on to the Maintenance Phase, was hard! Even though I should feel like I have a lot more food options available to me (nuts, eggs, all meats, dairy, all fruits and veggies), I still have a hard time thinking what I can eat when carbs are forbidden. I had an awards dinner for my husband and turned down the juice spritzer, the rolls, and most of the mashed potatoes. I did, however, lose my gumption when it came to the cheesecake dessert. I ate most of it. Shame on me! I just couldn't help it. It was my first dessert in 3 weeks!!!!! (That is pretty much a complete mircale for this girl!) But let me also tell you, I felt like I was going to burst after 1 1/2 pieces of the 3 slices of pork roast I was served, some asparagus and a baby carrot, 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes, and 1/2 cup of cheesecake. I thought I would die! And I wasn't hungry again at all until 7pm. Then I had a chicken salad (full fat dressing, yum! thank goodness that is allowed now) for dinner and 2 1/2 hours later I still feel so full I want to barf. I guess that is one thing about eating such small amounts over the last 3 weeks...it has totally shrunk my stomach down and I just don't want large quantities of food anymore.

Other observations:
- I drink way more water now.
- My joint pains have almost disappeared (curious, huh?). I wonder if it's from all the fruits and veggies or less fat or what.
- My nails are super thick and strong (unlike usual, when they're super weak)
- My skin is very dry (no fats or oils in lotions were allowed)
- I have totally gotten over my pop addiction
- I automatically think of adding fresh veggies and fruits to my meals
- I am pretty satisfied with a 50 calorie strawberry smoothy for breakfast. I may keep that up. (But I will allow a real snack later since the smoothie isn't terribly long-lasting.)
- I feel like, in a lot of ways, I've reprogrammed my brain and body to eat healthier, smarter, fresher, and lower calorie. It's like when I first did Weight Watchers and I suddenly realized that there was a better way of eating. This has done the same thing, I think. Even more so.
- I'm actually excited to exercise (I know, hold the phones!). Not a brutal work-out, but a nice run outside in the warm weather or a swim in the pool. Even though, on the whole, I hate exercise, I'd gotten so used to it that my body misses being more active.
- I did not reach my goal weight. I am still about 4 lbs away. I feel good where I am, and am very relieved about the difference in the way I look, but I would still really like to reach that weight, just to give myself a little more cushion.
- Pretty much nothing I own fits me. Except these jeans that I didn't know what to do with. (I'm so glad I hung onto them!) I need a whole new wardrobe. Literally, I hardly have anything to wear. And I can't afford $2000 to rebuy every pair of jeans, capris, skirts, dresses, shirts, pajamas, sweats, etc. I guess I'll be dressing really boring and repetative for the next little while!


Stay tuned for a few more updates on how the Maintenance Phase is going. If I can keep up with it, I should be able to make a new set-point for my body. Who knows, I might even lose a few more!


*originally written 4/12/10

p.s. I was going to post before and after pics, but honestly they don't look that all that different.

Not Good Dinner Conversation

If you're faint of heart or have just eaten Indian food, do not read on.


I had the stomach flu today. Or maybe food poisoning. It started last night after dinner. I didn't feel good. I thought I had over-eaten. I had a bad stomach ache that lasted into the night. Then it turned into diarrhea. Not the kind you're thinking of. No, this was the kind where you instantly know you have 5 seconds to get to the bathroom or things will end badly. Very badly. And then when you do go, there is no sound difference between #1 and #2. Pure liquification of the intestinal tract.

This went on all night. About every 2o minutes. Sometimes as soon as I would stand up to pull my jammies up, I'd have to sit down again.

It was bad.

I took Pepto. Then I took Immodium. Then I took Advil. Then I laid back down for the 800th time and waited to die.

This morning things were no better. In fact, they were worse. I added a headache, lack of sleep, and awake children to the mix. Big Daddy had his first day back from vacation ahead of him at work and couldn't skip out. My mother was in Texas. My Mother in law had an injured arm. I was on my own. And the immodium hadn't kicked in.

I stayed in bed as much as possible, TVs, iPhones, and computers up and running in every room in the hopes of keeping the children occupied. Still, they found reasons to desperately need me every 10 minutes.

Finally, by lunch time, they were fed, put down to nap/quiet time and the immodium seemed to be working. I finally got some sleep.


24 hours later, I'm better now. Not as weak, not as sickly, not as poopy.

And the upside? Down a pound and a half. There is always a silver lining to crazy diarrhea.

The Bitter-Sweet Reality of Getting Rid of Four Boxes of Clothes

Six years ago I was a size 12. A tight size 12. I was teetering on moving up to a 14. But I was determined not to go there.

Still, I didn't know quite what to do. I had been thin my whole life until recently, and I had no idea how to change things.

Then I went on a cruise. And when I got home and got the pictures back, I was shocked at how fat I looked.

It's funny how you can delude yourself about how you look in the mirror every single day. But you can't escape the cold, hard reality of a photograph.

So I went on my first diet. And I lost 18 lbs. And I was a size 8.

So I took all my size 12 clothes and packed them into boxes and put them in storage. Just in case.

Then I bounced back and forth between an 8 and a 10 for the next four years.

I went on another diet and got back to a small 8 with a brief dip to a 6 that lasted a couple of months.

I never was a size 12 again. Not even after my two kids.

But I hung onto those 12's. Just in case.

Now I am a size 6 again. And with any luck, I will lose another 5 lbs.

(I don't know what size I'll be then because my wide hips have pretty much always prevented me from being any smaller size. It'll probably just come off my boobs.)

So I'm ready to give up my size 12's for good.

And it feels right.

It's sad to think of all the money I've spent on those clothes that I will be pretty much throwing away.

But it's more of a happy thing than a sad thing.

I'm ready to say goodbye to 12, forever.




(I might keep my size 10's, though. Just in case.)

April Showers -- of Poop

I washed the cars today. Both of them. By hand.

Because it is April. And that is when The Birds arrive.

We have a spot in the he driveway that is under the overhang of a tree. The tree is WAY WAY up there, so you don't really see it or think about it. Until your car is covered with enough poop to make it look like it has been parked inside an aviary. For a month.

However, it actually happens within minutes of parking there. It's like The Birds hold their bowels all day, waiting for you to park and walk off so they can unleash a barage of excrement like napalm on Saigon.

But you can't really park anywhere else on that side of the driveway. Too far forward and you block the sidewalk. Too far back and you risk your car getting bashed by me the other person as they back out through the narrow gate.

So you park there and hope for the best.

(But your hope will be dashed by a ton of bird poop. Very shortly.)



So I washed both cars today.

And before I could get back around from the left side of the Mini Cooper, which I had just finished washing, to the right side, to dry it off, the right side had been shat upon again.

I'm considering taking up archery. Or poison-dart making. Or at least learning how to shoot small, sharp rocks through a straw. Because I swear if I see a bird sitting anywhere near the two cars that are huddled in terror over on the far side of the driveway, they are dead meat. The Birds, that is. Well, and the cars too, I guess. The Birds have deadly aim. And a steady diet of black berries and green slime, it appears.

.

America's Grandest Bathroom

Have I mentioned before that I hate bad bathrooms? That I despise poorly-made public restroom locks and stalls? That I detest the feeling that I'm going to be barged in on at any second and that the whole world will see me sitting on the pot? I have? A few times? Hmmmm...

Well, have I mentioned how much I appreciate a good bathroom? One with tall doors, good locks, nicely appointed finish-work, and a good assortment of fine desks and chairs that will never be used because who wants to sit around in a bathroom writing letters by hand no matter how nice the desk is? I have? Twice?

Well, I have to say it one more time. My hat is off to you this time, Grand America. I would pee in your bathrooms any time, any day. And that is the truest compliment I can bestow.






So, next time you're in downtown SLC and you've got to go, might I suggest a stop at the Grand America? You won't regret it.

The Post Is The Sheet(s)!

Remember a while back when I did a post about trying to find good sheets? It was like two years ago, so I guess that means only my sister was reading my blog then. But anyway, I had this fantastic sheet set, which I loved. It was smooth and crisp, cool and soft. And, surprisingly, it was only 180 thread-count. Eventually, though, the pillow cases ripped. Then the bottom sheet ripped. And I went in search of new sheets. But try as I might, I could not find sheets that were as smooth and cool as those 180 thread count Target sheets. I kept buying higher thread counts--200, 300, 400, 600. But they all seemed rough and scratchy against my face. I tried Pima, Egyptian, sateen, damask....nothing seemed to make a difference. Some seemed softER but not soft, not silky smooth.

And no one seemed to be able to tell me how to get those truly smooth, soft sheets like the ones you'd find on your grandma's guest bed.

UNTIL YESTERDAY. Fed up on fighting over the one good pillowcase we have that meets our strict smoothness specifications, Big Daddy and I decided to do some research online. Or, rather, he fell asleep on the good pillowcase while I did the research online. And I think I finally found the answer!

PERCALE.

100% cotton percale. It's all about the weave. Not the thread count, not the type of cotton, and not the treatment of the cloth (although all of these do contribute to some extent). Mostly it's about the weave. Percale is weaving one thread over one, then under one. Sateen is weaving one thread over four threads then under one. Sateen sheets are by far the most common now. They have a lusterousness (according to the experts) and feel soft to the touch, but they have a warmness to them. If you want crisp, cool, smooth sheets, you want percale. And if you get a higher thread count percale, it will be more durable (unlike the 180 ones I had that only lasted a few years). And if you can get them with a "clean finish" or "pure finish" it means they haven't been treated with chemicals to make the wrinkle-resistant or color-fade resistant. It also means they will feel smoother sooner.

Some people like really soft sheets. But "soft" is a subjective word. New flannel is soft. Jersey is soft (think your brand new Hollister t-shirt). But neither of those are smooth or cool. They have a warmth to them. What I want is crisp and cool. Percale.

I think.

So after spending hours online trying to find percale sheets (which are surprisingly hard to find!), I finally found a couple of stores that carry them. Then I had to try to find them in a color that remotely matched my bedding (which I would classify as butter yellow/pale gold). No luck. Ivory was as close as I could come. And considering how many different shades of tan, beige, gold, mustard, yellow, and cream I've already bought in my quest for the perfect pillowcase, I am going to take a risk. I'm going to order these sheets and see if they meet my high expectations.


Stay tuned!


And, please, if you believein God at all, PRAY FOR THESE SHEETS!

Special thanks to EllenWarren for her article "Are Cool, Crisp Sheets Only a Dream?" It saved my sanity.

The Best Way To Do Laundry

...is bawling your eyes out.





I dump the laundry in a big pile on my bed, turn on The Locator, and fold (wipe eyes) fold (wipe eyes again) fold (sob, blow nose).

BEST SHOW EVER.

("We" network, Wednesdays and Fridays)

Recipe Exchange (Beuller? Beuller?)

Ok, so either not a single one of my readers cooks, or you are all selfish recipe hoarders who want my family to die of food boredom, or else (hopefully) it was just a busy week and everybody but Jennifer (you wonderful woman) had a hard time getting back to my post.

Whatever the case, the Recipe Rejection Syndrome is kicking into full gear. I can hear the Ranch dressing and ketchup calling my name: "USE ME! USE ME IN EVERYTHING!" You don't want my poor family to suffer that way, do you? So please, I'll beg one last time, please share a recipe?!

Here's how to play:

1) Make a new blog post titled "Recipe Exchange" and post a recipe you love on your blog. (Include instructions for others to play along.)
2) Post the link to your recipe in my comments.
3) Check back to my comments often to see the links others have posted to their recipes.
4) Click on their comments to get even MORE links.
5) Start cooking! And be sure to report back to me (oh, and them) if you liked what you made.


I'll even post one more of my favorite recipes for good measure.

Homemade Cinnamon-Vanilla Pancakes
(Makes 8-10 pancakes. Double the recipe if your family needs more.)

1 1/3 cup flour
2 Tbs sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
4 TBS melted butter + butter for the pan
1 cup milk

In a medium bowl, mix together with a whisk: flour, baking powder, sugar, and cinnamon. Add egg, vanilla, and nearly all of the milk (reserve a few TBS). Whisk together. Pour in melted butter and whisk until smooth. Check the consistency of the batter-- it should drip from the whisk in globs but should not be runny. If it is too thick, add more milk, 1 TBS at a time. (Add flour 1 TBS at a time if too runny).

Heat large square frying pan or griddle to medium heat. Add 1 TBS butter to the pan and spread around. When butter begins to sizzle, drop batter to desired size. Cook until edges begin to firm up and bubbles appear in the center of the pancakes (or until edges are lightly browned). Flip and cook until the bottom is lightly brown. Add more butter for additional pancakes.

YUM!


Ok, seriously though. Now I've shared two of my very favorite, delicious, and easy recipes. You should feel extremely guilty not reciprocating. You should be haunted every time you open the fridge or the pantry by the thought that I'm anxiously checking my blog for shared recipes while you Scrooge yours away. Waiting...waiting...waiting......


Beuller?

Formspring Answers - Part Trois

If you haven't heard of Formspring, it's a website where you can ask your friends anonymous questions you've always wanted to know the answers to. Here are the latest questions and answers.

Questions Answered:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Can you possibly know how much your blog and YOU are appreciated?
I guess I may never know for sure, but comments like this give me an inkling. Thank you so much for saying so! I am glad my blog helps/entertains/kills time for a few people out there.

And you can never know how much I appreciate you readers!





How does the 2nd part of the HCG work, after your 21 days?

The second phase of HCG is the maintenance phase. You no longer take HCG. You no longer have a calorie restriction. You can eat meats, eggs, nuts, dairy, all vegetables and fruits. But still no starches/sugars (except those sugars naturally found in fruits). This phase lasts 3 weeks.

The purpose of this phase is to reset your body's set-point (the weight your body tries to maintain). The longer a person can stay at one weight with little variation, the better her body will create that as a set-point (that works against you too when you gain weight and stay there). The problem most people have after a diet is that they are sick of restricting and they quickly go back to eating what they used to. So the body naturally fights to get back to their old weight. With the HCG Maintenance phase, it forces your body to create a new set point so that you won't have to fight to stay at your new weight.

After the maintenance phase, you slowly reintroduce carbs and sugars back into your diet. Then as long as you don't go more than 2 lbs over your last HCG weight, you eat pretty normally. Obviously, one still wants to keep it within reason. No diet will hold you to a new weight if you start pigging out. But this diet at least gives you a contingency plan in case you do begin to put on weight. IF you follow it. (My guess is that most people who have put lots of weight back on after this diet aren't following the contingency plan and/or didn't do the maintenance phase.)


Tell us more about the cutterpillar!

My ingenious husband created from scratch a scrapbooking paper/photo trimmer. If you've ever used a paper trimmer, most have a stationary blade that pushes against the paper. Or they have a rotating blade that is turned as it pushes against the paper. His has a rotating blade, driven by a gear system, that glides along a bar. Because it's gear driven, it rotates independent of the paper. That means it does incredibly precise cuts w/o ever dulling the blade or shifting the paper. It is also backlit under the cutting area so that you can clearly see where you are cutting. It doesn't sound that exciting...until you try one. Everyone who tries it gasps at how it glides through paper like a hot knife through butter.

It's about to go into production in China. After 2-3 long years of finding the right factory, making several prototypes, changing the problems, and making more prototypes, we think he has perfected it and hopefully we should go into production in the next few weeks. Yeah!

You can check out his website to see what it looks like: www.cutterpillar.com.


Anyone else have an anonymous question you'd like to ask me? Click here!

See Ya! Wouldn't Wanna Be Ya!

Today I unsubscribed to someone's blog on my blog reader FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

I was afraid I would suffer serious guilt. And worry that I might regret it at some point in the future. Like if she became famous and I could no longer say I knew her (the way you "know" someone on the blogosphere you've never actually met, which is nearly as real as a real friendship). Or if she gave away a car on her blog and I missed out. Or if I saw her at the store and she recognized me and quizzed me on the events from her last 10 posts and I couldn't answer.

Nope. As I sit here, minutes later, I only feel....relieved.

I don't know why I didn't do it sooner. I haven't read her blog in at least a year. And as far as I know she has never read mine. I used to comment all the time and never got any comments in return. And though there are a few blogs I will always read for pure enjoyment whether they comment on mine or not, this was not one of them. It was OK. But I guess I just never felt the love. No love connection. Sorry, Chuck. I'm going with Bachlorette C.

It's kind of nice no longer seeing the huge list of unread posts next to her name and feeling guilty hitting "Mark all as read."

I'm moving on.

It's a new day.

And I now have 45 unclaimed seconds in my blog reader reading time. Anyone want to suggest a replacement?


p.s. If you're worried that it's you, it's not. If you're reading this, it definitely isn't you. YOU are bachlorette C.

Recipe Exchange Reject

Have you ever gotten an email to join an online recipe exchange? It's where you email a recipe you really like to the two people whose names are at the top of the list in the email. Then you delete them, put your own name at the bottom, and forward it on to ten people. Then, like the elusive chain letter that is supposed to earn you millions of dollars, dozens of wonderful recipes should come flooding back to you in a few days.

Well, I've gotten several of these. Five or eight at least. And guess how many recipes I've ever gotten back? ZERO. For some reason the people I send my emails to (and I try to pick them based on people I know enjoy cooking) never follow through. Or else their friends never follow through. Or else their friends don't. Somewhere along the line, the chain always breaks and I am left with the same old recipes I've always used. Oh sure, I could look up new recipes online or get a cookbook. But I am always wary of things I haven't tried. Or someone I know personally hasn't tried. I want something with rave reviews from someone whose judgement I trust.

Enter you guys!

Soooo, I'd like to propose a blog version of the recipe exchange. If you like to cook or bake, and you like getting new tried-and-true recipes to try, then this is for you. I can't promise you a million dollars, or even a million recipes, but maybe, just maybe a few dozen good ones will come in to your blog soon. And you don't even have to use a stamp!

I'm also thinking, if people like the recipe exchange idea, maybe I'll make it a monthly thing. Maybe I'll even make it themed! Like Mexican Night, Crock Pot Favorites, Skunk Cabbage Delights, etc.

Here's how to play:

1) Make a new blog post titled "Recipe Exchange" and post a recipe you love on your blog. (Include instructions for others to play along.)
2) Post the link to your recipe in my comments.
3) Check back to my comments often to see the links others have posted to their recipes.
4) Click on their comments to get even MORE links.
5) Start cooking! And be sure to report back to me (oh, and them) if you liked what you made.


I hope that made sense. I also really hope this works. I'm not sure I could take more recipe exchange rejection. I might be doomed to eat Chicken Casserole and Tacos over and over for the rest of my life!


Pasta Carbonera - I love this recipe because it is easy and quick and I almost always have everything on hand.

Ingredients:
2 cups shell noodles (or whatever you have on hand)
1/2 onion, diced
8 slices of bacon, diced
1/2 cup frozen peas
3 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup parmeasan cheese
2 tsp salt (or to taste)
1/4 tsp pepper


In a large pot, cook noodles to al dente (slightly firm). Drain and return to pan ( no heat). Meanwhile, brown the bacon and onions until crisp. Drain and set aside. In a blender, combine eggs, milk, salt and pepper until thoroughly mixed. Pour egg mixture over cooked noodles and return to medium heat. Toss in peas. Add bacon/onions and begin slowly turning the mixture over continuously with a spatula, scraping the bottom as you go. (Don't stir or you will turn the noodles to mush). As eggs begin to become lumpy, add the cheese. Continue turning mixture until eggs are nearly cooked through but are still slightly glossy (3-5 minutes). Turn off heat, but leave on stove until ready to serve.
Enjoy!

Now it's your turn. What have you got for me?




Daily Weight Loss: 0.8 lbs
Total Weight Loss: 9.4 lbs

HCG Day 23 - The End In Sight

So I haven't posted much on the HCG Diet lately. It's been pretty status quo. But I just finished my last dose of HCG this morning, so I thought I'd do a little update...

Everything went pretty well until late last week. Then I started feeling way more tired and empty and hungry. There is a sectoin of the HCG Protocol where Dr. Simeons talks about this happening when a person is reaching a natural body weight for their height/age and begins to run out of fat stores. They no longer have the fat calories to support a lower calorie diet. So they begin to feel lethargic and hungry. And that's exactly where I was. In that case, says the manuscript, the person should go up to a 800-1000 calorie diet, but continue to take the HCG for the full 3 weeks. So on Friday and Saturday, I increased my meat portions by 50% and increased my veggies/fruit somewhat. And I felt much better. I also didn't lose any more weight, which is what is supposed to happen. You're just supposed to stay steady until the end of the 3 weeks.

HOWEVER, then came Easter. Saturday night as I (I mean the Easter Bunny) filled the baskets, I (I mean the Easter Bunny) decided to eat a few pieces of candy. And then the next day was our semi-annual Big Daddy's Family Conference Brunch. It's a big eating event, chalk full of wonderful carb-based and fat-based delights. I knew there was no way I would be able to go and not eat. So I planned on blowing off my diet that day, but still trying to keep things within reason. I did pretty well. I ate some more candy (maybe 10-15 pieces), 1/2 cinnamon roll, 1 1/2 servings of breakfast casserole (egg-based, full of veggies, so not entirely outside the diet), a helping of mixed berries (totally on the diet) and a tiny piece of ham. Then for dinner I stuck to the diet completely with just shrimp and veggies. No more candy or other sweets. And when I tallied up my calories for the day, I was just under 1200, pretty decent for a day of mini-binging.

I did gain 0.1 lb by Sunday morning and 1 full lb by Monday morning. But then I went back on the diet hardcore yesterday and lost 1 1/2 lbs, putting me at my lowest weight in 10 years!

So where do I go from here? I have three days of "detox" where I continue the 500 calorie diet while the HCG leaves my system. Then on Friday I start the maintenance phase. It's where I don't have any calorie restrictions, I can begin to eat fats again (dairy, eggs, nuts, higher fat meats), I can eat all fruits and veggies, but no starches or bad-for-you sugars. That lasts for 3 weeks. My weight should stay steady and it should help my body's set-point be reset to my current weight and not try to regain my old weight. After that, it's just recommended you bring in carbs slowly and keep an eye on your weight. (There is a contingency plan for if you go more than 2 lbs over your last HCG weight, but let's not talk about that. I hope it doesn't ever happen).

So that's where I stand. I feel great today. I was hardly hungry at all, thanks to the carbs from Sunday. I am hoping to drop maybe 1 or 2 more lbs in the next 3 days that the HCG is still working. And then, hopefully, I will maintain until I can resume my normal "exercise and eat reasonably for ever and ever amen" semi-diet program.

Any questions?



Daily Weight Loss: 0.8 lbs
Total Weight Loss: 9.4 lbs

A Preschool Mother's Lament

Somewhere between being young and being old is the day where you go, "It's Spring Break? Dang!"

And that is how you know you have one foot in the grave.




Daily Weight Loss: 1 1/2 lbs
Total Weight Loss: 8.6 lbs

Genetics

Looks like I'm not the only one who likes to read in the bathroom.







Daily Weight Loss: +1.0 lbs
Total Weight Loss: 7.2 lbs

I'm A Cheater

I have four words for you....

TWO BITES OF BLISS

Daily Weight Loss: 0.8 lbs

Total weight Loss : 8 lbs!

Random Musings About Weight Loss

Several things have occurred to me in the last couple of days, since my weight is down about 7 lbs...

-It is really cool to take out and fit into clothes you haven't fit into in years.

- It is even more awesome to take out a pair of pants you haven't fit into in years and find a $20 bill in the pocket!!!

- It is sad when you take out pants that suddenly fit you that you used to love when you bought them years ago only to find that the style is no longer "in." Crapity.

- It is nice when your gut no longer hangs way out over your belt.

- It is nice when your belt sits a hole tighter.

- It is sad when your boobs have shrunk a cup smaller.

-It is exciting to find that you have the self-control to not eat dessert three times a day.

- It is sad when a Worthers sugar-free caramel tastes like the most delicious dessert you've ever eaten.

-It is exciting to know I weigh less than when I got married.

-It is sad to know that my diet ends in a week and I still have 6 1/2 lbs to go to reach the weight I was when I started college.

-It is exciting to think that in one week I can eat cheese and eggs and bacon again!

- It is sad that pancakes are still off the menu for another month. REALLY sad.

- It is nice that some people will comment, and offer encouragement, and share their own stories about losing weight.

- It is sad that so many people can be discouraging about someone trying to do something to help themself lose weight.

- It is worth it to know that I can do something that took a lot of self-control and determination because I wanted to feel good about myself and look good for my man.