Appleicious!!

It's a day of Apple's. I really wanted to get in my fruits and veggies today, and my crisper is full of Honey-crisp apples. While I do enjoy eating an apple the old fashioned way, I like to change things up a bit too. Then I discovered apple flavored things that I could NOT pass up!

I ate these apple slices........after they soaked in the juice of an orange and a lemon for 2 hours.





I had this for breakfast......cooked apples over oatmeal.





And I tried this gum, for the obvious reason.....

It's APPLE PIE flavor!!





And.....I had these as a snack. An awesome Trader Joe's find.
Cinnamon Apple Snack Sticks
20 sticks
2 PPV





But, before I continue with the details of my Appleicious day, let me back up a bit to let you know just how big of an idiot I truly am.

Do you know the difference between a Parsnip and a Turnip?

I may be one of the few that doesn't......or didn't. :)

When I first found THIS recipe, I left out the Brussels sprouts and the parsnips, because I was certain I wouldn't like either. Eventually, I did add in the Brussels sprouts, and to my delight, I actually like them! I decided to try the parsnips.

I went to the grocery store, and bought these.....




I even Googled....."how to prepare parsnips", and I didn't think that MY parsnips looked like the parsnips I found on the YouTube video. but I cut them up anyway, and prepared them, the entire time, wondering why my parsnips were purple??? (I did NOT like them.)

So....today, I bought the real deal. It even says so on the bag!!!






I think they look like white carrots.....and I will be cooking them for dinner!





Okay, change of plans. We are going out to dinner. I roasted these anyway. I was outside and almost caught the house on fire for the SECOND time this week!

I just wanted to know what they tasted like......

Kinda like a potato, which I had read. Probably much better NOT burnt!

I will give Parsnips a try again, now that I actually know what a parsnip is.

:)





Click HERE for the simple recipe for soaking your apple slices in a combination of Orange and Lemon Juice!

A great ZERO PPV Snack! And it takes FOREVER to eat!

:)



I was craving something warm and yummy on such a chilly morning, and I am actually tired of eggs (okay, fine, we are out of eggs). It really was time for a little variety though. I found this recipe a while back. Click HERE for the original recipe for "Apples in a Bag".

Put it all (apples, water, sweetener, cinnamon and cornstarch) in the bag.......




Close the bag, shake the bag........




Vent the bag about an inch, and microwave for 2-3 minutes........




Pour over whatever you would like!
Pancakes......frozen yogurt.......oatmeal........

Or.....eat them alone!

I ate them over my oatmeal.......warm and cozy......
4 PPV




Lunch
Salad from the grocery store salad bar with mixed varieties of lettuce, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and a variety of kidney and garbanzo beans. I then topped it with my left over Turkey Taco Meat (it's gone now), and chopped it all up!
7 PPV





Dinner
Chicken Tortilla Soup
4 PPV






Salad Bar
8 PPV





Refresh...I can eat 26 points a day.
I can earn Activity Points by doing exercise.
I have an allowance of 49 points that I can dip into if I chose.
I should drink a minimum of 6 (8 oz) glasses of water each day.


The food I ate today and it's PPV.

Breakfast = 4
Snack = 2
Lunch = 7
Dinner = 12

Total = 25

Activity Points Earned Today = 2
Remaining points from my 49 Points Allowance = 0
How many glasses of water I drank today = 8




"love the life you live, live the life you love"

A nice morning of humiliation........and other stupid sh*t.

Its not like the annual pap exam isn't already humiliating enough, but the thoughtless nurse/aide that got my height and weight, blurted it out in the hallway as she wrote it down! I am terrible at thinking of things to say when I am caught off guard because I don't want to be rude, I don't want to embarrass myself, and I don't want to say anything I might regret, but I wanted to say ....."Was it really necessary for you to announce my weight in the middle of the hallway filled with other people? It's not like I asked you how much I weigh?" I was afraid it would come out really angry and I would just look like an idiot, so I said nothing. I have complained about being weighed at this particular Dr. Office before and the manner in which it is handled. I love the Doctor, I just have never cared for the office. When I mentioned one time that I didn't want to be weighed because I did weight watchers and could just tell them my weight, the nurse/aide insisted! When I complained to the Doctor, she told me she was sorry, but to just tell them to write my weight down, but not tell me. Well, I forgot to tell her there was no need to tell me what I weighed, so she told me........and everyone else that was standing around!!!! You are probably wondering why I give a rats ass since I post my weight for the world to see weekly anyhow. I wondered the same thing. I guess it's just because if someone is reading my blog, the topic of the blog is MY WEIGHT, and it's likely expected that I would mention it, and it's on MY TERMS. Wow......needed to get that off my chest. thanks for listening. I feel better.

:)

I am trying to keep a happy face while waiting........





I typed this while waiting on the doc, without my new wireless keyboard! My neck and shoulders are gonna be KILLING me later!

This is me thinking about punching that nurse/aide in the face!




Moving on.......I totally forgot to mention how I almost burned down the house on Sunday! I made an egg, then left the pan on the burner with the spatula in it and the burner on!!! I ate, then went up to my room, and Tess and I hung out for a while. When I opened my bedroom door later, the entire house was filled with smoke! I can't believe NONE of the smoke detectors went off, and they are all NEW with NEW batteries!!! Tess and I ran around the whole house opening all the windows and turning on all the fans. It took ALL day to get the nasty smell out!

I couldn't get this spatula out of this pan for anything!!!

They were my Pampered Chef favorites!!





I am just glad I hadn't left the house for the day. I really do think I have guardian angels.

:)

At some point this weekend, Tucker turned my head into a pillow. It happens a lot actually......in the bed.....on the couch.......in the chair........but I rarely happen to have my iPad in my lap when it happens, so I took advantage of the photo opportunity........the guy truly loves to have his picture taken!!






This dog loves to hug!!




Who wouldn't want to hug my head anyhow??




My bangs are the same color as his hair!

I think he thinks I'm his natural mother!




Oddly, I'm okay with that. :)



Breakfast
Egg Whites, Bacon Pieces, Reduced Fat Cheddar
Toast, Pumpkin Butter
6 PPV




Early Lunch
Sushi from the deli
6 Pieces
6 PPV

Later Lunch
Sushi from the deli
6 pieces
6 PPV




Snack/Early Dinner?
Baked Chips, Turkey Taco Meat, Reduced Fat Cheddar
Sprite Zero
6 PPV




Uh.....this was delicious!




Then I made a pizza with the leftover Turkey Taco Meat.





1/6 of this pizza is 6 PPV





I didn't do so great getting in all my veggies, so I had 1/12 of the pizza and some Green Giant Veggies in garlic Sauce.....

4 PPV




Refresh...I can eat 26 points a day.
I can earn Activity Points by doing exercise.
I have an allowance of 49 points that I can dip into if I chose.
I should drink a minimum of 6 (8 oz) glasses of water each day.


The food I ate today and it's PPV.

Breakfast = 6
Lunch (1) = 6
Lunch (2) = 6
Snack/Dinner = 6
Actual Dinner = 4

Total = 28

Activity Points Earned Today = 2
Remaining points from my 49 Points Allowance = 0
How many glasses of water I drank today = 15

URG! I went over on my Points today by TWO, but hopefully the ridiculous amount of water I drank and the walk I took, will even things out!!




"love the life you live, live the life you love"

Weekend Festivities and Food......

More information that you need to know........

Typically I clean house, top to bottom, the first Saturday of the month. I keep things picked up all the time, but I hate to mop, dust, vacuum, bathrooms! ick! But, throughout the month, I clean as needed. Since the house seemed unusually dusty, I cleaned some on Friday, Saturday AND Sunday! I got it all done a weekend early! (Maybe I completely forgot to clean last month? Eeeekkkk....that's a possibility) Since Tess was home for the weekend, I thought it would be fun if she helped. She disagreed. Surprise!

In between cleaning and laundry and yard-work, we did manage to have a little fun too! (Mike worked a lot of hours trying to make up for what he missed last week.......the guy really works a lot!)

Saturday night, Tess and I went to the Plaza for Waterfire? It really was cool. Lots of fires built on the creek with different types of entertainment all up and down Brush Creek. This is the 4th year of the artist display at the Plaza.





There were dancers on the stage with an awesome light show.........





..........beers vendors (Yay Beer!), hula girls and fire twirlers! It was a little chilly out, but it was fun to bundle up in sweaters and scarves and wear our boots!





We were right by Seasons 52 during all the festivities, so we decided to step in out of the cold for some red wine. (I do love that she is 21!)

We shared a couple of appetizers.....

Garlic Chicken Flatbread and Goat Cheese Ravioli!

Then we met a few friends for Karaoke and beer. It ended up being a super late night with a trip through Taco Bell Drive thru to end the night!!

Tess graduates and moves back home in December. We could really be dangerous together!

Sunday we took Tucker on a long walk, and we were both fascinated at the sight of one single cotton plant....




........so we picked some and brought it home to Mike. He actually seemed equally as impressed as we were!

Then we headed to Trader Joes for dinner groceries. They had the cutest little pumpkin patch just outside the front door.

We couldn't resist the opportunity for a picture!




Then we went to Chipotle for lunch, hit the frozen yogurt store for a little something sweet, then home to watch the Chiefs lose. Urg!

We had a great weekend, and I ate a half of a lot of things. I tracked everything I ate, and I got my walks in and some lawn work. I did my Physical Therapy at home, which is truly a challenge simply because it takes forever and is so boring. But hopefully the shoulder and neck will feel better soon.....

Here are the weekend eats!

Saturday Morning Breakfast

Oatmeal Banana Pancake
Topped with Better N Peanut Butter, Banana and a drizzle of Honey
6 PPV







Saturday Lunch
Grilled Better N Peanut Butter and Jelly
5 PPV





And a pear.....




Snack.....Tess and I shared leftovers from Friday Night.....
I just ate carrots and one bite of meat and potatoes
2 PPV




Seasons 52
Wine
9 PPV

Goat Cheese Ravioli
1/2 serving
5 PPV





Garlic Chicken Flatbread
1/2 serving
5 PPV





Beer
11 PPV

Taco Bell
7-layer Burrito
13 PPV




Sunday Breakfast
Toast, cheese, egg
4 PPV




Sunday Lunch
Burrito Bowl
No rice, chicken, black beans, tomato and corn salsa, lite sour cream, lite cheese and lettuce
12 PPV?



Snack
Frozen Yogurt
Oatmeal Cookie Flavor!
6 PPV





I made tacos for dinner, but just wasn't hungry at all, so I skipped dinner. Later in the evening I had a banana and a piece of toast with Trader Joes Honey Apple Butter! Yum......
2 PPV

Saturday = 56 PPV
Sunday = 24 PPV

I ate 48 of my 49 weekly allowance points, so I will only eat 26 PPV the rest of the week and get in my cardio. I overestimated on several things over the weekend if I was unsure, which I think I have been doing a lot of anyway, so it should be a great week!






Tess went home Sunday after the Chiefs loss. I follow her on twitter, and here is her tweet!

"Parents to me as I'm about to go back to Pitt "if you hit a deer, just call us and we'll come get you".....thanks guys."




"love the life you live, live the life you love"

Only Up Three Pounds......

Yes....... that is my positive attitude shining through......

I went to my WW meeting Friday morning ready to rejuvenate, ready to plan, ready to do what needs to be done. I have enjoyed my little four week break (that sounds terrible), but its time to get back at it! AND....we are going on vacation in 11 weeks, and I would like be under 160!!

Breakfast
Latte, WW Crackers, Banana

5 PPV



Lunch....

I think I might be eating this a lot this winter!




Topped with a little Trader Joes Lite Mozzarella.......




Grapes,
1/2 Pumpkin Bagel Thin with 1/2 Laughing Cow Cream Cheese Wedge
and Pumpkin Butter
9 PPV




Dinner...

Flank Steak
Roasted Carrots
Potatoes
Spinach Salad with Feta and Pears and Walnuts





Marinate for flank steak

1 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon liquid smoke

I like to marinate overnight in a ziploc bag, then grill the flank steak for 6 to 7 minutes on each side. After removing from the grill, let sit for about 10 minutes before thinly slicing against the grain.

While you are cooking the flank steak, bring the marinade to a boil, then boil for about 5 minutes. This taste great over the meat when serving, or over your potatoes....or carrots.....or dip your dinner roll in it! It doesn't matter....its just delicious!!!








This is the second time I have made these potatoes. I knew Tess would love them. She is a potatoaholic! This was a Pinterest Recipe. I spent a lot of time last night doing some reading on the website where I found this recipe. She has some great recipes I want to try, and I love the way she writes. She lives in the country and refers to her husband as Marlboro Man. Very entertaining!

Click HERE to get the potato recipe and check out her website.





For the carrots......I used the same thing I have been using the last couple of weeks to roast veggies. Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper and Italian Seasoning. the oven at 400 and about 35 minutes seems to be working just right for most veggies.

Dinner
13 PPV

Beer
11 PPV

Wine
4 PPV







The food I ate today and it's PPV.

Breakfast = 5
Lunch = 9
Dinner = 13
Drinks = 15

Total = 42

Activity Points Earned Today = 0
Remaining points from my 49 Points Allowance = 33
How many glasses of water I drank today = 8

It's going to be an AMAZING week!!




"love the life you live, live the life you love"