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?

Nothing Says "Happy New Year" Like This

That's right, people!

I spent the first day of 2018 cleaning the bathroom.

Have you ever noticed how toilet bowl cleaner can look like abstract art? A Rorschach test? Or, just toilet bowl cleaner in a toilet. I digress. (What else is new?)

In all seriousness, John and I had a nice New Year's Eve.

We made a bunch of tapas/finger foods:

L to R: Sticky Baked Asian Chicken Wings from Valerie's Kitchen. This has been a go-to recipe for us for a few years. It's easy and the wings are delicious! Onion dip & chips. There's a story there, but I'll get to that. Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Meatballs from Tastes Better from Scratch. This was a new recipe for us and it was very tasty. Mixed fruit and a homemade garlic loaf.

Our drinks of choice were sangria (for John) and chardonnay (for me) in my new purple crackle stemless wine glasses.

So, about the dip. I've been having nostalgia lately for clam dip. Yes, clam dip. My grandma always used to have that at her house on a holiday and I loved it! After she passed (more than 30 years ago) I stopped eating it (for no particular reason.) So, while I've found recipes on Pinterest for it, I thought, why not go old school and buy the packaged stuff (as my grandma did- she was not fond of cooking...lol.)  I went to two grocery stores and couldn't find it, so we just went with onion dip.

While writing this blog, I started Googling clam dip brands. Guess what, peeps? The main supplier (Helluva Good) stopped.making.it. OUTRAGEOUS! (And yes, someone devoted an entire blog post to this) And it's from seven years ago. I'm so out of the clam dip loop!

I guess I HAVE to make it from scratch. I found this recipe from Foodie Crush. I may try that once I've come out of mourning for the loss of pre-made clam dip.

Moving right along!

We watched an Amazon movie- The Big Sick.

It was GREAT! Two thumbs up- highly recommend! It was funny and real. It had its element of sadness, but ended perfectly. Watch it!

We also started watching Ozark, a Netflix series-

We only watched one episode, but so far so good. (Does Jason Bateman age? No, I didn't think so.)

We then watched the ball drop & toasted (using the flutes from our wedding). It was a nice evening. (And we realized it was our 21st New Year's Even together- time flies.)


How did you spend New Year's Eve & the first day of 2018?

You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)

Yes, that's right!

Two blog posts in one week and BOTH have titles from 80's songs.

Remember this gem?

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Alright, now stay with me and see if you get the connection.

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I did Spinning for the first time ever last night!

Now don't get too excited.

I wasn't part of a class, but rather I decided to try it before my Pilates class. My teacher and I had been talking about my need for cardio and she suggested I come early before Pilates and try spinning. Last week after class she showed me how to use the bike (adjust the seat, etc...) and wished me well.

In the days leading up to Monday night, I was mostly concerned with one thing: what music was I going to listen to while I pedaled?

I'm a luddite when it comes to music on devices. I have zero.

I ended up downloading the Spotify app and created a playlist. Here it is:

To say my music tastes are eclectic would be an understatement.

Having good music definitely helps the time go faster on the bike.

My first time ended up being fine- definitely got me sweating and warmed up for Pilates. Each week I'll try to pedal a little longer...but that means I need more songs!


What songs do you listen to while exercising?

Hello...Is It Me You're Looking For?

Yes, Lionel, it is.

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So, now that you've found me, it's been over six months since I've posted. This is a record.

And not a good one.

Let's see what's what.

Winter has arrived here in New England. I guess I should be happy it waited until 12/9 to show up?

We got about 6 inches of the white stuff starting mid-afternoon yesterday and overnight.

I originally had plans to go out shopping today (I had visions in my head of being alone strolling through aisles browsing at my leisure) but then I realized it was just too freaking cold.

So, I ended up staying in- reading and napping- with two pair of socks on and my fleece blanket.

My parents were saying how cold it is where they are in NE Florida. Cold as in "in the 40's." Yeah. Wimps.

Can I possibly cover everything that's happened since my last post? Doubtful. Here's a bulleted synopsis:

• Grace turned 30. Yes, that's right. 30. As we were planning her party, I couldn't stop thinking how old I felt. (And John and her Mom commented the same.) We had a cookout and a few of her friends and her respite person came over to celebrate. Her big gift was a new laptop. I think she kind of liked it.

• Grace had her Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer State Games and participated in swimming. It's always a blast for her because she gets to sleep in a college dorm and be "parent-free." Can't miss her with the Candy Crush swim cap.

• Grace & I went to a Red Sox game. It was a Monday night & John had a prior commitment, so he couldn't make it. I figured I'd take the subway in from some point and we'd go from there. John said I should drive in. I drove. Never.again. Stuck in traffic for days. I ended up pulling into the first lot we came up (which turned out to be valet and was pretty much right across the street from the Park.) I would normally never pay that much to park, but since the tickets were cheap and we were running late, I did it. We had fun but it was brutally hot. (Can't tell from my face, can you?)

• While scrolling through my iPhone photos to write this post (because my memory is pretty bad), I came across this picture.

This may seem like an odd picture to be in my camera roll on my phone. Nine friends will recognize it immediately. Maria, a member of the online chat board I've been a part of for the past nine or so years, passed away in June. We often posted this picture when someone in the group needed a virtual hug (or maybe it was just me that posted it?) I posted it in our group the day before she passed. This loss was hard for me- much harder than I expected. I'd never met Maria in person and we often disagreed on things, but I had contact with her close to everyday for those nine years. Her loss is still felt.

• We got to meet our great nephew Camden! He was about six-ish weeks at the time and soooo cute. It's amazing how much he's changed since these pictures from June.

Wow...I'm only through June! If you read this whole thing, kudos to you. I could go on, obviously, but I think I'll quit while I'm ahead. Look for my July 2017 recap in May 2018.

Ok- let's hope not.

Still Here

Ugh...it's been four months since my last post. I think that's the longest hiatus I've had.

Same ole' story- when I have an idea for a blog post, the thought of sitting down and writing it seems onerous. I want it to be grammatically correct. I want my thoughts to be well formed. I want it to be perfect. (In case I haven't revealed that prior, I am a perfectionist.)

So, here I am writing a "catch up" post where I can touch on a number of subjects and not necessarily form one perfect narrative.

Let's see...

It's May 29th and it's not even 50 degrees here in Massachusetts. Awesome. Not. I think the weather has seriously been affecting my mood. I need sun!

One of my new fave drinks over the past few months has been bringing me a little sunshine, however:

It's ah-mazing! I've been looking for a flavored iced decaf tea and I found it! I found it at my local Target. I'm hoping it will help to draw me away from soda completely (a goal far off into the future).

I've been back & forth to Florida twice since I last blogged. The first was a planned visit to my parents and the second was a visit to help take care of my Mom after she had a leg/ankle fracture. It was nice & sunny there. On my last day of my second visit, I headed to the pool for some relaxation.

Oh, and side note? The book in the picture above- The Japanese Lover- was REALLY good!

I turned 45.

OK- moving right along.

I undertook a DIY project and it actually came out decently! I wanted a bulletin board for above my desk in my corner of the newly renovated basement and I wanted something prettier than a typical bulletin board. So, I found a pattern, I went to Jo-Ann Fabric (I must've looked like a deer in headlights in there), I used a glue gun for the first time and I made something. Something I actually liked enough to hang up. I'll try to do a post dedicated to the project. Here's the finished product:

John & I took a trip to Foxwoods & Mohegan Sun (casinos in Connecticut.) We won ZERO.

Moving on...

I watched Sweet Home Alabama (probably more than once since I last blogged!)

(Oh, and is it obvious yet that I'm scrolling through the camera roll on my phone to remind me of what's happened over the past four months? Sad. (See "turning 45" above.)

On April 12th, John & I celebrated our 20 year date anniversary! We had a tiramisu for two:

Going on that date was the best thing I've ever done!

My Mom came into town a few weeks ago and we had a nice visit. Part of that nice visit is having her make me a Cosmo!

My Dad came into town, as well, which was neat (they're usually not here at the same time) and we were all together on Mother's Day. We had lobsters! I also received many beautiful cards and gifts and these flowers.

They're still beautiful today.

Lastly- we JUST (a few hours ago) finished watching The Keepers on Netflix. This seven part series about abuse, corruption, and murder related to the Catholic church in Baltimore is horrifying. Disgusting. I'm still reeling from it. If you get a chance- watch it.

I'll try to write a new post...before October. o_O

Make-Ahead Western Omelet "Muffins"

In my last post, I referenced a really good recipe and now I'm here to share it!

When I embarked on my Weight Watchers journey way back when, I sought out blogs that shared recipes AND included points. One of the ones that I found and loved is Skinnytaste.

You can filter by types of recipes, number of points, meals, etc...

When Gina (the woman behind Skinnytaste) came out with a cookbook, I immediately requested it from my library.

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Breakfast is a meal that I struggle to find variety with. I generally have a yogurt and a banana. Or, a Weight Watchers baked good (but those are pricey.)

I found many great recipes, but one that I really wanted to try was "Make-Ahead Western Omelet 'Muffins.'"

I made this recipe and John and I loved it!

Having restarted Weight Watchers, I made it again the week before last and thought I'd share.

Make-Ahead Western Omelet "Muffins"

Makes 12 muffin-size omelets- serves 6 (4 smart points per serving)

Ingredients:
Olive oil cooking spray or oil mister
6 large eggs
6 large egg whites
1/4 tsp kosher salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
3 oz sliced ham (about 4 slices), finely chopped
2 oz reduced-fat Swiss cheese, chopped (I couldn't find reduced-fat, so used regular and adjusted points accordingly)
1/2 cup finely chopped red or orange bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped scallions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly spray a standard 12-cup nonstick or silicone muffin tin with oil.

(NOTE: I recommend heavily spraying. Or trying a silicone pan. I had to scrub like crazy after they were out of the pan to clean the pan.)

In a medium bowl, beat the whole eggs and egg whites with a fork.

Season them with the salt and a pinch of black pepper. Mix in the ham, Swiss cheese, bell pepper, and scallions.

Pour about 1/4 cup of egg mixture into each muffin cup and carefully place in the oven.

Bake until the eggs set, 20-24 minutes (I think ended up closer to 24 minutes).

Voila!

They're a little tough to get out of the pan (again, I may not have sprayed enough, so spray heavily), but use a spoon/knife to pry out.

I put two (a serving) in a sandwich bag and leave in the fridge.

You can also freeze them. I did that this time, put in fridge to thaw, and then zapped in the microwave. They were a bit watery, so I might skip the thaw part next time and just microwave straight from the freezer.

These are great- filling, have protein and are only 4 smart points per serving.

Enjoy!

And thanks to Skinnytaste!

This recipe was created by Skinnytaste...in case I hadn't made that clear. :)

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!