Course Correcting

I'll take "Something I'm Not Good at for $100." 

Changing plans on the fly or adjusting expectations for how you thought something would turn out.

WHAT IS "COURSE CORRECTING?"

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Ding ding ding! 

Yeah, so I'm bad at course correcting. Once I get something in my mind, it's going to happen that way. If it doesn't, I generally have a tough time getting my mind around the fact that an adjustment is needed.

Case in point- after my Dad passed away about a month and a half ago, I got it in my mind that the next blog post I would write would be about him- his life and his illness. Let me rephrase that- the next blog post HAD to be about him.

So, I got to work. I created a new post and started writing.

I wrote two sentences.

After a minutes long crying jag I realized I was not in a place where I could write any more. It's still too raw/too emotional for me. I said to myself- OK, we'll wait  until you're ready to write the post, but you can't write any before that. 

Well, I started to reflect on that and acknowledged how rigid I was being. It could take me six months or a year or longer to be ready to write the post. I can't completely put the brakes on writing and my Dad wouldn't want to me to. I think in my head, it was somehow disrespectful if the next post wasn't about him. (Grief does strange things to people).

All that to say, I am course correcting! (Don't take back my $100 Jeopardy!) I am allowing myself to write a post about things other than a tribute to my Dad (stay tuned- that will come eventually.)

• We are in the midst of a heatwave in New England with no relief until later in the week, per the Weather Channel app. ACs and fans are going non-stop and I can honestly say I'd rather be insde than outside.

• We are watching The Crown. We've made it to Season Two and I have to say it's grown on me. I felt it was somewhat slow with dark settings/backgrounds, but the historical story it's telling has roped me in. I am also loving Claire Foy's portrayal of the Queen and not sure I'll be able to take a "new" Queen in Season 3 (SEE?!?!? Course correcting- not my thing!)

• I started Weight Watchers about a week and a half ago. I've done it a few times in the past and was very successful. I'm hoping I can keep up the trend. (So far I've lost about two pounds.) It forces me to prepare/think ahead about what I am going to eat and it forces me to be cognizant of my portion size (I scan EVERYTHING from the app.)

• I have been reading like a maniac and am so far behind on my book reviews. 

• The holiday weekend is next weekend and I am thankful that my employer gives two days off for the 4th of July. You'll never see me turning down a four day weekend!

Until next time!

Looking Ahead

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2019 is almost here- less than 48 hours away!

As a lot of other people do, I always reflect on what I want to do better or more of in the upcoming year. At the ripe old age of 46, I know that I won't achieve all of my goals. If I can achieve a small percentage and maybe partially complete some others, I will be satisfied.

Here goes:

1) Pull this blog off of life support and get it breathing again. That sounds familiar, doesn't it? I've said it frequently in the past. I've meant it at the time I said it, but it never came to fruition. So...let's try again, shall we? I won't try to set a goal like, "blog at least once a week" because I know I won't do it. How about we go with blog more than 2018? (I wrote SIX blog posts in 2018 [including this one]). SAD! I love writing. I need to be more intentional about my free time. (Translation- less time sitting on Facebook & Instagram.)

2) Share what I read. I list my books read with a letter rating in the right column of this blog. I keep track on Goodreads. I occasionally share via Instagram or Facebook. I've had people message me on Facebook or email asking for reading recommendations, so why not share on a wider/more consistent basis? In 2019, for each book I finish reading, I will post on Instagram & Facebook with a photo of the book, the name/author, a snippet of what the book is about, my letter rating, and a snippet review. Because I want to speak the "kids" language, I will be creating/using a hashtag for this project- #katiereads2019 (Brilliant, right?) Hopefully this will give followers exposure to books they might not otherwise get and they might give recommendations back.

3) Lose the 10 lbs I lost in 2018 but gained back. Yeah, not much to say here. I need to suck it up buttercup and do it. I'm back on the Couch to 5K program (week 2, day 1 completed earlier today.) I use the 5K Runner app and it's great. Eating is really where the problem lies. Holidays and eating healthy are just not a good match. But, as they say in Weight Watchers, there's always tomorrow.

4) Spend time doing calligraphy and lettering. I have collected a few books about calligraphy and lettering and want to actually sit down and open them up and use them. I also have some Tombow Dual Brush Pens/Markers that I bought a while ago to go with the books. I need to dust them off and spend a 1/2 hour on a weekend just doing that.

5) Do what I like. Like what I do. 

See you in 2019! Happy New Year!

The Most Important Meal of the Day

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I didn't eat breakfast until I did Weight Watchers the first time around about 10 or so years ago (maybe it wasn't that long ago? I've lost track...)

I was a late sleeper so I generally didn't get up in time to have a "real" breakfast and I just wasn't hungry right when I woke up.

When I started Weight Watchers, the importance of breakfast was instilled in me. (People would always say it was the most important meal of the day, but I never listened [as many people don't]).

Over the years, I've come to find low point/filling/great tasting breakfasts. It's funny- even though I understand the importance of breakfast, it's still the meal I want to spend the least amount of points on.

Here are some of my favorites:

Siggi's Orange & Ginger Non-Fat Yogurt:

This is 3 SmartPoints (on average what I like to "spend" for breakfast). It's hard to describe the taste, but it's the least sweet tasting yogurt that I can stand. (Does that make any sense?) I often have this with a banana.

Emilybites Pear Gingerbread Oatmeal Singles:

These are 3 SmartPoints and are AH-mazing! I'm not a big oatmeal person but I love pears and gingerbread so I thought I'd give these a whirl. They taste great and are SO easy to make. They also freeze really well. I've tried her Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Singles, as well, but didn't like those as much

Now that eggs are zero SmartPoints, I occasionally microwave an egg in a ramekin and have that. I've also made breakfast sandwiches with light English muffins, an egg and a piece of low-fat cheese for 4 SmartPoints.


Quaker Chewy Girl Scouts Thin Mint Granola Bars:

I'm a huge mint fan (and let's face it a huge Thin Mints fan- who isn't?) so I love these. These are 4 SmartPoints.

I love this, but it's a splurge at 6 SmartPoints:

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It's odd because I don't think I've ever had an apricot (and don't really have a desire to have one), but I love this!!!


What do you eat for the most important meal of the day?

So On & So Forth & What Have You

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If you're a fan of the TV show, "The Middle," you may be familiar with this phrase. Sue Heck (pictured above) says it when she's trying to keep a secret. (When a window got broken in the house and the Heck siblings were telling the parents that the crazy neighbor kids did it, Sue in hurried nervous voice would end her part of the story with, "And so and so forth and what have you."

I'm not keeping any secrets, but I like saying the phrase. (I guess the secret that I'm a weirdo is out!)

It also seems to suit this hodgepodge/random/rambling post.

So, let's get to it.

What's new?

I started Weight Watchers six days ago! Well, I should say "re-started."

So far, so good. I made a good breakfast recipe for Make-Ahead Western Omelet Muffins from a Skinnytaste cookbook, which I will share in a subsequent post. They're super easy to make and just need to be popped in the microwave to heat them up. Low points, too!

Do you have any Weight Watchers/low cal recipes you love? If yes, share!

Snacking, as usual, is where I struggle. I've been trying to bring fruit for the afternoon, but it's after dinner/before bed that I want to eat everything (mostly chocolate.) Eight points is a LOT for an ice cream sandwich, which is my Achilles heel. (Luckily I ate the last one out of the box earlier this week and will do my best NOT to buy more.)

Oh, and note to self, don't watch shows such as "Ginormous Food" while on Weight Watchers (which is on as I type...)

Moving right along...I have a squatter in my car.

An interloper.

Rodent non grata.

He or she has been leaving me "gifts" on the passenger seat, so we put this trap (with peanut butter) on the passenger side floor. Came up empty. Although, one morning the trap was closed, but no trappee. (Is that a word?) Peanut butter was still intact, so clearly we're not dealing with the brightest bulb. Next step- call the dealer. ::sigh::

Moving/running (away from) right along...

We have this cute new wall decor in our bedroom.

I originally bought it for above the bed, but it just didn't work. So, we found a corner for it next to the TV and I like it! (Ordered from Bed, Bath & Beyond)

I've been having fun with one of my Christmas presents-

John gave this to me and I love it. I have so many recipes that I've either printed from online or (wait for it), photocopied from cookbooks and no good way to organize them. You buy clear sleeves (separately) or sticky pages (for paper sizes smaller than 8 1/2x11) and voila! This is from Meadowsweet Kitchens on Amazon.

John and I saw "Manchester by the Sea."

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I was really excited to see this, as the town "Manchester by the Sea" is only about 15 miles from where I live. I'd also heard it was very good (while very sad), so I had high expectations.

As a colleague of mine said, "I was underwhelmed." 

Other than Casey Affleck, the Boston accents were HORRID. Once I hear them, I couldn't stop hearing them, which distracted me during a lot of the movie. I thought the acting was very good, but the story seemed unformed, if that makes sense. It ended rather abruptly. Oh, and from what I hear, most of the scenes were shot in neighboring Gloucester...NOT Manchester by the Sea. Kind of a bummer.

Let's hope this is the first of several (or at least a few!) consecutive posts!

Happy New Year!

Today Is a Good Day

I'm back in the saddle again!

 

(public domain image)

OK...not THAT saddle. (The horseback riding fad is over.) 

  

I'm referring to the Weight Watchers saddle! After six months or so of not tracking, today is Day 1...of the rest of my Weight Watchers life!

It's amazing how great I already feel. I use food to soothe stress and there's been a lot of that lately, but I started hating how I felt after I ate a steak and cheese sub. It was soooo good...and then a half hour later, I hate the way my office smelled and the way I felt (like I'd just bathed in grease.)

Last night I decided that today was the day. Tracking would start again. No excuses.

Here was today's breakfast:

Breakfast has always been REALLY tough for me. Historically, I just haven't eaten it. I'm never usually hungry when I wake up. The one thing Weight Watchers has done is force me to jump start my metabolism by eating breakfast.

Lunch was a sandwich and dinner was a half size Baja salad from Wendy's.

It's 8PM and I still have 3 points to "spend!"

In addition...

It's a good day because a jewelry box that I've been looking for is available on eBay and I'll order it right after I finish writing this.

It's a good day because John, Grace, and I went to the track tonight and we walked and jogged in the beautiful evening.

It's a good day because I can watch Mad Men On Demand while I write this.

It's a good day because I get to start Mary Kay Andrews' new book tonight.

I can only hope tomorrow is just as good.

What's On My Nightstand?

As promised a few posts ago, we're going to play, "what's on my nightstand?"

It's an opportunity for you the reader to see what I look at every night before I go to bed and every morning when I wake up.

This some riveting stuff, folks. (You may want to be seated so you can handle it.)

(And don't be too impressed by my mad use of the Paint application -- it only took me FIVE tries to get the picture oriented correctly.)


1.  Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme

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This stuff is GOOD. It's extremely thick and white so it feels like your putting child's paste all over your hands, but it works. I can't say that I LOVE the almond milk smell, but I've gotten used to it. I put it on my hands every night before bed and I've definitely noticed a difference. (NOTE: It is a tad greasy, so if you're like me and you read at night in bed [see #4 above], give it a few minutes to dry before you start turning pages.)

 

 

2. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

 

 

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Before I started using #1 above, I used this on my hands at night. Now I basically used it on my elbows and legs at night. It's a great fragrance free moisturizer. Not watery. Not heavy. Not greasy. Just right.

 

 

3. Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme

 

 

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I really have no business even having this on my nightstand. I got it for Christmas and I keep saying I'm going to use it, but no dice. That seems to be a pattern with me and foot cremes. I'd like to get those moisturizing socks and put this creme on, then put the socks on, and then let my feet moisturize overnight undisturbed. We'll see. I'll keep it on the nightstand so it's not "out of sight, out of mind."

 

 

4. Big ole' pile of books & magazines

 

This could take a while. From the top down:

 

 

 

I started this book last year when it first came out, but was only able to get about half way through it before I had to return it to the library. (I couldn't renew it as others had requested it.) I got it back and I'm almost done with it. Eh...it probably wasn't even worth me getting again. I've been skimming a lot. I love Barbara Kingsolver, but I've found this book to be disappointing.

 

 

 

 



This is next in line to be read. You can read about it here.

And after that, this will be next in line. More about this debut novel here.

I think I already blogged about this, but since I'm getting old, cut me some slack. Buddhism and their philosophy on acceptance has been of interest to me of late. I've had it out of the library for a while, but since I got the three books above, it's kind of taken a back seat. I'm hoping to at least read a chapter or two within the next few weeks before I have to renew again.

This is a cutesy journal that I got at Marshall for a few bucks. Still in pristine condition, haven't yet written in it (and haven't yet peeled entire tag off the front.) I'm not a big journal-er, but like to have one should I get some brilliant thought that I think I might forget before I execute it.

This eBay purchase was part of my "40 Before 41" list. To be exact, it's #11 -- Buy a houseplant and nurture it so that it will live for at least one month. (I’m setting my sights low.) I had originally gotten it out of the library, but renewing it three times just wasn't enough for this brown thumb. I figured I'd purchase it and have it at the ready should I ever actually purchase a houseplant and need to perform emergency surgery. OK, not really, but better to have the book nearby in case I have a houseplant question at 4AM, when my local library is closed. I've yet to purchase that plant. All in due time.

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My sorority's magazine. I'm interested to read this issue, having lost a friend and sister not long ago. What you can't see is the tiny print below "This is Sisterhood." It says, "Two stories of Delta Gammas who, in their most difficult times, relied on sisters- some of whom they had never met- to survive." That entire statement except for the last part is true of my friend and sister Megan that passed away. She had DGs holding pancake breakfasts and flash mobbing for her.

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This is a new one. If you've been reading the blog or know me, you know that I joined Weight Watchers last June. I'm not a big magazine subscriber (probably because I usually up to my eyeballs in library books), but this was a good price, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I've yet to crack it open. Review to follow.

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I.love.this.magazine. I have my friend at Baby Makes Three to thank for this magazine. When I was dabbling with "eating better" and thinking about dieting, Rachel gave me this suggestion. I've been a subscriber for a few years now and made MANY things from it. And it's not just recipes! They have great exercise information and product reviews. I've got two issues to read, which actually isn't bad, since I've been as much as four behind.

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Not sure how well you can see these pictures, but this the American Libraries magazine for members of the American Libraries Association. Somewhat nerdy, but there are often interesting articles about trends in libraries. I also bring to work as my co-workers like to read it in the kitchen. :)

5. Kleenex. ESSENTIAL lately. My nose has been very stuffy. TMI?

6. Telephone. Some of you younger folks might not recognize that. It's for our land line. Yes, land line. That's when a phone rings in your house vs. your hand.

7. Alarm clock. Unless you're like my husband who can just tell himself what time to wake up and then automatically do it (annoying, isn't it?), you'll need one of these. Are you a radio or buzzer kind of person? I'm radio all the way. I wake up to a buzzer and it's all downhill from there.

8. Book light. It's the Itty Bitty Book Light to be exact. Another must if you're a voracious reader like myself. I tend to read long after the lights have been shut off in the bedroom, so to not disturb my dear husband, I employ the book light. (Courtesy of Barnes & Noble.)

9. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

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Smells so good I want to eat it. Probably wouldn't taste as good as it smells, though, so I'll pass. After using #1 above, I put this on my ragged cuticles. Tough to tell if it works, as I think my cuticles might be beyond help, but I love the smell so much I'll keep using it.

10. Eucerin Aquaphor Healing Ointment

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This is EXCELLENT for dry peeling cracked skin. I have it behind my ears. (Again, TMI?) It's similar to Vaseline although a little more substantive. Recommended!

There was one other item I didn't number, but I figured all my readers were familiar with lamps.

Again, this was riveting, wasn't it? Some Pulitzer Prize winning stuff. Just a glimpse into my world. Bookworm/Burt's Bees-a-holic!

So, what's on YOUR nightstand?

Only Two Posts in February? L-A-M-E!

I'm going to try to do MUCH better this month!

Topics to blog about:

• The "## Before 42" list. Since I've completed the "40 Before 41" list, it's time to move onwards and upwards! I will keep the things I didn't actually get to do from the" 40 Before 41" list (with perhaps a few minor adjustments) and add a few new things to take me out of my comfort zone and challenge me. I'm thinking up some good ones!

• What's on my nightstand? I've seen some people blog about "what's in my fridge" but if I did that, I'd probably lose the few readers that I DO have. I have lots of stuff on my nightstand that I can talk about (and all I have to do is Swiffer dust before taking the photo vs. putting on my HazMat suit to clean out my fridge. OK -- it's not THAT bad.)

• The next installment in the "50 States? 50 Blogs!" thing I've got going on. Delaware is up next and I've already got the blog picked out, so that one should pretty much write itself.

• March is Frozen Food Month! (I only know that because I saw it when I was cutting coupons today.) I'll take you through a tour of my fave frozen foods...and there are lots. In case you don't know me all that well, I subsisted pretty much completely on frozen foods before I met John. (Thank GOD he likes to cook.)

• My journey back to Weight Watchers & running. I've been a slacker for the last few months, but things are starting to take shape again. Makes me feel good!

Before I sign off from this brief post, I must leave you with an even BIGGER teaser than the ones above!

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Stay tuned because something BIG is coming to Stumbled onto the Blogwagon this month! (Even if you don't feel lucky, stay tuned.)

Assorted Anecdotes

I'm not really sure if you'd call these anecdotes, but I was going for alliteration in the title and I couldn't think of a better word. (If you think of one, by all means share.)

1. John and I went to New York City this past weekend. Wheee!!! It was a great little getaway. We need to go there more often. I will definitely devote a blog post specifically to the trip and share. I'm so thankful that it was in the 40's for most of the weekend (it's all relative I guess...) and it was really pleasant to be able to walk around and not have to be bundled up.

2. We bought a zoo. OK, we didn't buy a zoo, but that movie title sounds a lot catchier than "we bought a treadmill." We bought a treadmill! (Yeah, just doesn't have the same ring to it.) I've only used it once, but watched a TV show on my iPhone while walking/jogging and it made the time go by really fast. I need to make a schedule of what nights I plan to use it and then stick to it.

3. My name is KT and I'm a Downton-a-holic. Yes, I've joined the masses and started watching. If you're not familiar with Downton Abbey, you can read about this PBS series here. I usually avoid TV shows and books that are all the rage, but decided to give this a whirl. I watched Season 1 in one week and Season 2 in less time than that. I've watched the episodes of Season 3 that have aired and I am now officially caught up. Now I'm spending my time trying to figure out which Crawley sister I'm most like (l to r: Edith, Sybil, Mary):

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4. This coming weekend won't be quite as exciting as last, but I am getting my hair cut on Saturday and then taking my calligraphy class on Sunday! The latter has been a long time coming, so I'm looking forward to getting back into it (I took a class years and years ago.)

5. I bought a cake at the grocery store tonight. As I type this, I'm eating a rather large slice. So, if you were going to ask how the whole Weight Watchers thing is going, there's your answer.

6. The Superbowl is on my birthday. I hate football. Thankfully, the home team (Patriots) are not in it and I won't have to arrange my birthday activity around a place with a TV.

7. Speaking of sports, HOCKEY IS BACK! I still think they're all greedy, but I can't not watch the Bruins. I missed it.

Latest & [Not So] Greatest (?)

1.  Today was trash day. We put a barrel out that one of the wheels was broken off of. We put a sign on it saying, "PLEASE TAKE BARREL -- BROKEN." The trash collectors took the barrel. They left the lid. WTF?


2. I made these Chewy Butterscotch Brownies the other night and they didn't come out nearly as good I'd hoped. I either did something wrong or chewy is a misnomer. It's a bummer, but even though they're not stellar, we're still eating them. Of course. One can't throw away perfectly "acceptable" baked goods, can one?

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3. It's supposed to be a rainy weekend here in New England. At first I was bummed to hear that, but *perhaps* it will be the kick in the pants I need to clean this place up. (I said *perhaps.*)

4. I need to do an update on my 40 Before 41 endeavor. There are actually a few more things that I can cross off my list (or at least partially cross off.)

5. I need to do my next "50 States? 50 Blogs!" entry. I've recently joined BlogHer and found a few good ones for Colorado -- now it's just a matter of choosing.

6. Speaking of Colorado, words can't describe how horrific the shootings at the Aurora movie theater were. I just can't even imagine what it must have been like to be in that theater. Those who survived are lucky, but won't be without some serious scars.

7. In my addicted to Essie post, I mentioned I'd bought Lilacism but hadn't yet tried it. I did and I think it's my favorite of the four colors I own! This picture doesn't really do it justice, but it's a very soft (yet not pale) lilac. (Oh, and there'll be a separate post coming about these misfit shoes.)

8. I haven't really updated on Weight Watchers, so I'll take the time to do it now. My first "official" weigh-in was on June 4th. Since then, I've officially lost 15.2 lbs, with only one week not having a loss (at the last weigh-in, I'd gained 1 lb.). (I say "officially" because not only am I weighing in at my weekly at work meeting, I weigh at home, too. Hey - clothes make a difference!) I'm pretty proud of my progress, although I'm in a slight rut already. I've become slightly lax about tracking my points and I've been OK with go over each day and getting a cookie at lunch time. But, if I've learned anything, it's just that I need to keep going.

9. Speaking of ruts, the Red Sox are in a big one. I say I won't watch, but I always do. If you were born in New England, it's a cross you have to bare. ::sigh::

10. I've leave you with this (words to live by):

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4.6 On the [Richter] Scale

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Events with magnitudes greater than about 4.6 are strong enough to be recorded by a seismograph anywhere in the world, so long as its sensors are not located in the earthquake's shadow. (Wikipedia)

A generic bathroom scale was used instead of a seismograph and no sensors were in my shadow.

First week on Weight Watchers -- I lost 4.6lbs.

I am beyond happy with this.

I have no expectations that will I will lose this much/more/less over the next week or beyond.

I am living in the moment and allowing myself to be proud of my accomplishment, while trying not to let this small victory adjust my determined mindset.

OK...that was all a little hokey. Carry on -- just wanted to share my success.





WW Nachos Grandes

Last night we went to dinner at Chili's. I poured over the nutritional information for various items on the menu prior to going and calculated Weight Watchers PointsPlus for each. It amazes me that what I would've ordered had I not be on Weight Watchers was so.many.points. (High 20's/low 30's.) Luckily, they have a "Lighter Choice" section and I was able to get a grilled chicken sandwich on a whole wheat bun with no fat honey mustard dressing with lettuce and tomato and a side of broccoli. That cost me 15 points, which isn't too too bad for eating out.

Anywho, John & G. ordered chips & salsa for an appetizer (of which I had one small chip with a smidge of salsa), which got me wanting nachos or something of that ilk. As luck would have it, I had gotten this cookbook out of the library earlier yesterday.

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Even luckier was the fact that on page 70, there was a recipe for Nachos Grandes. The photo on the opposite page looked enticing, so I decided to give it a whirl.

It was pretty darn good. When I told John I was making it and asked if he wanted any, he said OK until I told him I was making it with ground turkey. That OK turned into a negatory. However, once they came out of the oven, he tried them and thought they were pretty good. Go figure!

The only issue is that it serves 12 and 1/12 is 3 pts. As this was going to be a light dinner for me, I basically let myself have a 1/4 of it for 9 pts.

Nachos Grandes

serves 12

1 tsp. canola oil

1/4 lb. ground skinless turkey breast

1 c. canned red kidney beans, rinsed & drained

1 sm. onion, finely chopped

1 (14 oz) can diced green tomatoes with green chiles, drained (I couldn't find green tomatoes with chiles, so I bought a can of red tomatoes with chiles and added in some green tomato salsa.)

2 tsp. Mexican or taco seasoning

6 oz. reduced-fat restaurant-style tortilla chips

3/4 c. shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese

12 pitted black olives (sliced) (I skipped these -- HATE black olives!)

1/4 c. sliced pickled jalapeno peppers (drained)

1/2 c. fat-free sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 425F. Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray.

2. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add turkey, red kidney beans, and onion; cook, breaking turkey apart with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and Mexican seasoning; cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Keep warm.

3. Place tortilla chips on prepared baking sheet in single layer. Top evenly with turkey mixture; sprinkle evenly with Cheddar, olives, and jalapenos. Bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Pile nachos on serving platter. Serve with sour cream.



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Enjoy!



Those 26 Points Go Fast, Let Me Tell You!

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Today is Day 1 of Weight Watchers.

(Don't worry, I won't be doing a daily Weight Watchers check-in -- that would be hideously boring.)

It's just that since today is the first day and it's new, I want to document my thoughts.

(Maybe months from now I'll look back and feel a sense of accomplishment? One can only hope.)

Weight Watchers works on a PointsPlus program, which is based on the dieter's height, weight, and age. I get 26 points per day to spend as I like, although, there are guidelines/suggestions about eating certain numbers of fruits, vegetables, essential oils, dairy, protein. (This is the part that I think will be hardest for me...hitting all of these.)

Here's what I had today:

Breakfast:

• 1 serving Kashi Cinnamon Harvest cereal (5 pts.)
• 1 serving Lactaid fat-free milk (2 pts.)

Mid-Morning/Early Afternoon (I ate lunch late):

• Grapes (0 pts.)
• Water (0 pts.)

Lunch:

• Smart Ones (Weight Watchers frozen food) Tuna Casserole (6 pts.)
• Salad with lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, tomatoes, mushrooms (0 pts.)
• 1 serving Newman's Light Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing (1 pt.)
• 1 serving/stick of 4C Light Cranberry Pomegranate drink mix (0 pts.)
• Water (0 pts.)
• Weight Watchers Carrot Cake (2 pts.)

Afternoon:

• Grapes (0 pts.)
• Water (0 pts.)
• Carrots (0 pts.)

Dinner:

• 1 serving Dreamfield's pasta (5 pts.)
• 1 serving Hunt's tomato sauce (1 pt.)
• Mushrooms, basil, garlic (to add to sauce) (0 pts)
• 2 tsp. olive oil (to saute veggies in) (2 pts.)
• Salad with lettuce & cucumbers (0 pts.)
• 1 serving fat-free croutons (1 pt.)
• 1/2 serving Ken's Healthy Options Ranch dressing (1 pt.)

If you're doing the math, that comes to 26 points.

Yup, that's right. Yup, it's 7:45PM and guess what?

I'm.still.hungry.

Now, here's the deal. I have this additional 49 PointsPlus allowance per week that I can use as I'd like. However, it's the first day. So, in keeping with my perfectionist mindset, I believe I'll have some grapes in a short while and see how that goes. If my stomach is still feeling on the empty-ish side, I'll break out the 100 calorie pack cookies.

As an observation, I had the thought that I would have turkey sausage with my pasta to get my protein, but I totally flaked at the grocery store and didn't get it. So, not having protein could be the cause of not feeling full.

A tip I learned at today's meeting: The jar pasta sauces (Newman's, Prego, Ragu) are much less healthy than buying a can of plain Hunt's Tomato Sauce and then sauteing veggies (as I did) and adding those and spices in. I must say that the sauce wasn't bad. I actually winged it (wung it?) with amounts, etc.. (except the oil), which is totally not me, but I went for it and it worked out OK.

Plethora O' Info

1. Thanks for those that weighed in on my running a 5K now or later. I've decided to wait until June 23rd to run my first one. That gives me almost three weeks to work on endurance/timing. I ran this morning for time -- 30 minutes (longest I 've gone as of yet) and was happy with that. It was a pretty gray day here in New England and I had the track to myself. (Well, me and dozen or so hurdles, which while I'm running I keep thinking to myself, "How does ANYONE jump over those?")

2. About 10 minutes ago I signed up for Weight Watchers. I had been gung ho about doing it for the past few weeks and then earlier today I started to think, "But I don't want to give up crab rangoons or onion rings." I forced myself to push past the negative thoughts and went grocery shopping and invested in quite a few Weight Watchers products. (I realize you don't "have" to eat their food, but I'm thinking until I get the hang of knowing how many points are for what foods, it will be handy.) I had to pick a goal weight and while I wanted to go to the maximum, I scaled it back to what I'm hoping is a more reasonable goal. I'll also go to my first meeting tomorrow as a member.

3. Yesterday my stepdaughter G. turned 25. Eek!!! It's hard to believe she was just 10 when I met her. She's come a long way in those 15 years. She went out to dinner with three friends (and her Mom, her Dad, and myself.) She had a great time and her friends seemed to have, also. (L to R: C., C., G., & R.)

4. Today would've been Max, our beloved Golden Retriever's 11th birthday. I hope he's as comfy now, wherever he is as he was in this photo. We love and miss you Dude.

5. Max shares his birthday with my Aunt Bev! (She's a Golden Retriever lover herself, so it's only fitting.) Even though we don't live close, we keep in touch via email and texts. Hope you had a great day, Bev!!!! (And we won't disclose what birthday it is for you. :)

6. I never wear dresses. I haven't bought a dress in I can't tell you how long...until a week or so ago, when I bought this one.

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I have a little black shrug that goes with it (I'm so not ready for sleveless.) Another thing I never do is buy accessories to go with new outfits. I usually just wing it with what I've got. I felt moved, however, to get these.

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