ABCs of ME!!!

A. Age: 28


Although I don't act it all the time

B. Bed size: King, crowded due to hubby and dog, although 2 grown humans can fit on the side of them as they are scrunched to me :( C. Chore you hate: Anything outside…yard work, mowing, trash cans, doggie doo pick up, leaves, bugs, GROSS!!!
D. Dogs: 11 year old rescue beagle/basset hound mix named Sullivan, Sully, Sully Baby

E. Essential start to your day: getting on the scale before and after a big long pee
F. Favorite color: Yellow
G. Gold or silver: Silver
H. Height: 5'8"
I. Instruments you play: air guitar or lead singer on RockBand

J. Job title: Senior Customer Service Associate
K. Kids: see B
L. Live: Des Moines, IA in our "love mansion" recently upgraded from previous "love shack"
M. Mom’s name: Susan, Suzy, SuzyQ

Aunt Vicky, Mom Suzy, cousin Brittani

N. Nicknames: Darce, Sweet Pea, Red
O. Overnight hospital stays: April 2006 - 3 days
P. Pet peeve: Chewing with your mouth open and people who brake while driving for no reason
Q. Quote from a movie: "I know the difference between a bit and a byte."
R. Right or left handed: Righty
S. Siblings: 1 sister=Sara, 18 months older than I
T. Time you wake up: Alarm=6:00am, out of bed=6:10am
U. Underwear: No thank you.
V. Vegetables you dislike: I can't think of anything, I'm not a picky eater in the slightest.
W. What makes you run late: Too many beers the night before, my husband, bringing too much stuff somewhere, my sister and her family
X. X-Rays you’ve had: teeth, whole body scan after I drank that barium juice
Y. Yummy food you make: everything, most notably soups, crockpot meals, soups made in crockpots, and variations of breakfast (egg/bread) casseroles
Z. Zoo – favorite animal: Hippo or monkeys

Monday Menu PLan...WELCOME BACK!!!

Hey all, sorry for the extended hiatus…family crap went down and I don’t wanna get into it…

Good news is that I have a renewed fever for goal weight….FLORIDA=23 days!!!

Monday

• Breakfast: Greek yogurt w/ grapes & pineapple
• Lunch: Lean pocket with salad w/ sesame ginger dressing
• Snack: caramel rice cakes
• Dinner: chicken taco salad (see below--my hubby say my salads are too big---I THINK NOT!!!)
• Snack: dark chocolate covered almonds

Tuesday

• Breakfast: Greek yogurt w/ grapes & pineapple
• Lunch: Chopped veggie salad with hardboiled egg & toasted sesame dressing
• Snack: Caramel rice cakes and good humor fudge bar (thanks job!)
• Dinner: Cheeseburger and steamed veggies
• Snack: dark chocolate peanut butter cups

Wednesday

• Breakfast: Greek yogurt w/ grapes & pineapple
• Lunch: Chopped veggie salad with hardboiled egg & parmesan ranch dressing
• Snack: rice cake and sugar free jello
• Dinner: Whole wheat spaghetti and meatballs with garlic cheese toast
• Snack: Rocky road dark chocolate squares

Thursday

• Breakfast: Cheese stick, Greek yogurt, grapes
• Lunch: Chopped veggie salad with hardboiled egg & champagne pear vinaigrette
• Snack: fiber bar
• Dinner: pulled pork w/ BBQ sauce, jalapeno corn bread, broccoli slaw  (Friends over for Biggest Loser)
• Snack: sugar free chocolate pudding

Friday

• Breakfast: egg casserole with toast
• Lunch: Chopped veggie salad with hardboiled egg & sesame ginger dressing
• Snack: fiber bar
• Dinner: DATE NIGHT!
• Snack: who knows…planning overload!

HOLY CHICKEN SALAD!!!

Menu Monday Plan

Hi there!

Doom and gloom is the song of today, Des Moines' weather is rather abysmal today so it is the perfect day to stay in the gym a little longer, getting things done inside, saving time for a weeknight that might be best spent outdoors!

Here's what is on the agenda for the this week. I have t-minus 10 days meet the goal of 25lbs YTD. FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS!

Monday

• Breakfast: 2 pieces honey wheat bread from BSB, Brummel & Brown butter, fruit salad
• Lunch: Dominos pizza :( Free food fail!
• Snack: NONE
• Dinner: Salad with leftover filet (from date night last Friday)
• Snack: Peanut butter cheerio bar with choc chips, craisins, and peanuts ---> recipe coming Wed!

Tuesday

• Breakfast: Egg on English muffin with coffee
• Lunch: Lunch @ hospital --> grandfather has surgery
• Snack: Caramel rice cakes
• Dinner: Baked potato soup with garlic foccacia bread from South Union
• Snack: Frozen banana ice cream

Wednesday

• Breakfast: Greek yogurt with fruit
• Lunch: Turkey and ham sandwich
• Snack: caramel rice cakes
• Dinner: Cheeseburgers with fries (boca burger with sweet potato for me, beef/white potato for the hubs)
• Snack: Popcorn

Thursday

• Breakfast: Greek yogurt with fruit
• Lunch: Boca burger on sandwich thin with carrots
• Snack: Chocolate chip fiber bar
• Dinner: Biggest Loser @ my house: Chicken enchiladas with spanish rice
• Snack: Frozen whipped banana with PB and choc syrup

Friday

• Breakfast: Greek yogurt with fruit
• Lunch: Roasted vegetable enchiladas from Trader Joe's
• Snack: Blueberry nutrigrain bar
• Dinner: Date night @ Timothy's Steakhouse --> Half price from livingsocial.com!!!
• Snack: Chocolate cookies from Trader Joe's (15 are 150 calories!)

Saturday

• Breakfast: English muffin breakfast sandwich
• Lunch: Lunch @ Grounds For Celebration ($10 for 2 lunches & drinks from Travelzoo!)
• Snack: FULL
• Dinner: Bachelorette party starts @ El Azteca--> I see steak tacos and light beer in my future

Menu Plan and Update on Progress!

Hi All! Here's is what is going on in my neck of the woods right now!

Sunday

• Breakfast: Breakfast sandwich (light whole grain English muffin w/ 1 egg, hot sauce, & 1 slice of American cheese)
•  Lunch: Egg salad
• Snack:  chocolate chip cookie after gym
• Dinner:  Chicken stuff shells with mixed frozen veggies and garlic toasts
• Snack: 100 calories bag of popcorn with a few chocolate chips thrown in

Monday

• Breakfast: Breakfast sandwich (light whole grain English muffin w/ 1 egg, hot sauce, and slice of American cheese)
• Lunch: Bacon white cheddar cheeseburger on open bun with small side of fries) from Big City Burgers and Green’s
• Snack:  chocolate chip cookie after gym
• Dinner:  Asian Chicken Salad (broccoli slaw with green onions, roasted chicken breast, diced tomatoes, and wasabi almonds w/ ginger sesame dressing
• Snack: 100 calories bag of popcorn

Tuesday

• Breakfast: Cottage cheese and fruit salad (strawberries, pineapple, and red grapes)
• Lunch: Chopped veggie (carrots, tomato, green onions) salad with hardboiled egg & ginger sesame dressing
• Snack: Apple Straws
• Dinner: Spinach ravioli and chicken with garlic toasts
•  Snack: Angel food cake nuggets

Wednesday

• Breakfast: Small cottage cheese, jello, and fruit salad (strawberries, pineapple, and red grapes
• Lunch: Chopped veggie (carrots, tomato, green onions) salad with hardboiled egg & ranch dressing
• Snack: Veggie straws
• Dinner:  Orange soy cod with brown rice
• Snack:  Caramel rice cakes

Thursday

• Breakfast:  Egg beaters scramble with salsa on sandwich thin and fruit salad (strawberries, pineapple, and red grapes
• Lunch: Chopped veggie (carrots, tomato, green onions) salad with hardboiled egg & ranch dressing
• Snack: Caramel rice cakes
• Dinner:  Friends’ Biggest Loser Night @ my house: Debating between BBQ chicken pita pockets with sweet potato fries or roasted red pepper soup with chicken and garlic bread ---HELP!!
• Snack:  Caramel rice cakes

Friday

• Breakfast:  Egg beaters scramble with salsa on sandwich thin and fruit salad (strawberries, pineapple, and red grapes)
• Lunch: Chopped veggie (carrots, tomato, green onions) salad with hard boiled egg & Asian toasted sesame dressing
• Snack: Fiber chocolate chip bar
• Dinner:  Maybe date night @ Sam and Gabe’s via Livingsocial.com deal?

CHECK OUT THE PROGRESS!!! Down 21 lbs, this week is prelude to my time of the month so next week we should see something new lows!!

Here’s to going to the GYM every day this week and BUSTIN' ASS!!

51 days until FLORIDA!!!

Menu Plan Monday!

First off…sorry for being MIA these last two weeks, something came over me last week and while I was still on the exercise bandwagon, I was also on the wine/beer bandwagon too! Whoops! Sunny days are my arch nemesis when it comes to stay off the juice…oh well; this week is a new day(s)!

Monday

·         Breakfast: Blueberry Greek yogurt and mango chunks

·         Lunch: Chopped veggie (carrots, celery, green onions) salad with hard boiled egg & raspberry vinaigrette, Chocolate and Almond Fiber Bar

·         Snack: Apple straws

·         Dinner: Taco salad with ground beef, salsa, and sour cream (we’re out of Doritos L )

·         Snack: Coffee (needed to try new maker to send in rebate) and 2 Reese’s PB cups

Tuesday

·         Breakfast: Cottage cheese and mango chunks

·         Lunch: Chopped veggie (carrots, celery, green onions) salad with hard boiled egg & ginger soy dressing

·         Snack: Veggies and Apple straws

·         Dinner: Grilled cheese (Havarti) with soup

·         Snack: Angel food cake nuggets

Wednesday

·         Breakfast: Strawberry Greek yogurt and pineapple/grape mix

·         Lunch: Spinach and chicken lean pocket with steam veggies

·         Snack: Veggie straws

·         Dinner:  Spinach and asiago cheese ravioli with garlic cheese bread

·         Snack:  Caramel rice cakes

Thursday

·         Breakfast:  Blueberry Greek yogurt and pineapple/grape mix

·         Lunch: Ham and turkey sandwich with Havarti, lettuce, tomato, onion, celery sticks

·         Snack: mozzarella string cheese stick

·         Dinner:  Friends’ Biggest Loser Night @ Tina’s: Pho

·         Snack:  Caramel rice cakes

Friday

·         Breakfast:  Breakfast burrito (egg beaters, salsa, laughing cow wedge on whole wheat tortilla)

·         Lunch: Ham and turkey sandwich with Havarti, lettuce, tomato, onion

·         Snack: mozzarella string cheese stick

·         Dinner:  Maybe date night @ Sam and Gabe’s via Livingsocial.com deal?

What are you serving this week? How do you deal with activities on the week nights and still making a good healthy dinner?

Thanks for reading?

Monday Weekly Menu Plan

Weekly Menu Plan

Hi All!

Need to keep it short and sweet, trying to get loads of laundry done and have dinner simmerin' on the stove top!

 

Monday --> keep in mind had day off work :)

• Breakfast: 1 piece of taco pizza from godfather's
• Lunch: Chicago Speakeasy: side salad w/ ranch, dinner roll, prime rib, Oreo fluff 
• Snack: PB stuffed pretzels
• Dinner: Beef stroganoff over egg noodles

Tuesday

• Breakfast: Strawberry Greek yogurt with nectarine
• Lunch: Chopped veggie salad with chow mein noodles & raspberry vinaigrette
• Snack: Banana with mini Babybel light cheese wheel 
• Dinner: Boca burger with steamed corn 

Wednesday

• Breakfast: Cottage cheese with nectarine
• Lunch: 1 piece taco pizza with side salad w/ soy dressing
• Snack: Banana with mini Babybel light cheese wheel 
• Dinner: Orange Soy Cod with steamed brown rice & veggies

Thursday

• Breakfast: Blueberry Greek yogurt with nectarine
• Lunch: 1 piece taco pizza with side salad w/ soy dressing
• Snack: Banana with mini Babybel light cheese wheel 
• Dinner: BL night @ Tina's

Friday

• Breakfast: Cottage cheese with nectarine
• Lunch: Chicken spinach artichoke lean pocket with steamed corn 
• Snack: Celery with mini Babybel light cheese wheel
• Dinner: Ham braid (puff pastry stuffed with a diced ham/cream cheese/corn mix)

Saturday

• Breakfast: Egg beaters with hash brown patty and sausage link, toast
• Lunch: Grilled cheese with soup
• Dinner: Celebrating a friend's 30th birthday!!!

Overall, this last week went well. Worked out all week, took off the weekend as I am just so over feeling rushed all the time to get the workouts in and I feel like I deserved to sleep in Saturday morning. I really enjoy not having to set an alarm!

Year to date, I am down 17.2 lbs and from the start of this thing over 40lbs! It is hard to keep going but really really helps that weight is coming off and continues to do so!

We had a family function this last weekend and saw a lot of peeps that I had seen since Christmas and even before and lots of people mentioned that I looked like I had lost weight, etc. THAT MAKES A GAL FEEL GOOD!!

Well off to entertain the husband, I can hear him yelling from the couch that he is bored and the beer fridge is calling his name. Oh, my life!

UPDATED: Weekly Plan

Hi All!

A day late and a dollar short today folks! I think that's going to be my motto this week....VACATION HANGOVER!

Here goes nothing; this time I'm going to give my menu as well as my exercise plan for the day. We will see how that keeps me accountable!

Need to get smoochin' cuddlin' with the one I love on the couch with some facetime with JT-lake and the Social network. Heard mixed reviews and hope it can entertain someone (the hubs) who doesn't have FB!

Monday

• Breakfast: Strawberry Greek yogurt w/ bagel thin & garlic/herb laughing cow
• Lunch: Chopped veggie salad with pepperoni & ranch
• Snack: Valentine Candy (FAIL!)
• Dinner: BBQ grilled pork chops with steam fresh potatoes in chive butter
• Exercise: 15 minutes walking at lunch and 60 minutes on elliptical after work (fastest time yet!)

Tuesday

• Breakfast: Blueberry Greek yogurt w/ bagel thin & chipotle laughing cow
• Lunch: Chopped veggie salad with pepperoni & 1000 Island
• Snack: Nectarine and cherry tomatoes
• Dinner: Baked soy-orange code with steamed veggies
• Exercise: 15 minutes walking at lunch, 45 minutes on elliptical after work, 15 minutes weights

Wednesday

• Breakfast: Strawberry Greek yogurt w/ bagel thin & garlic/herb laughing cow
• Lunch: Chopped veggie salad with pepperoni & 1000 Island
• Snack: Nectarine and celery
• Dinner: BL Night-spinach chicken gnocchi soup with french bread
• Exercise: 15 minutes walking at lunch and 60 minutes on elliptical after work

Thursday

• Breakfast: Blueberry Greek yogurt w/ bagel thin & chipotle laughing cow
• Lunch: Chopped veggie salad with ginger soy dressing
• Snack: Nectarine and cherry tomatoes
• Dinner: Chicken panini with veggies
• Exercise: 15 minutes walking at lunch, 45 minutes on elliptical after work, 15 minutes weights

Friday

• Breakfast: Bloody Mary breakfast casserole with toast and juice (team b-fast @ work)
• Lunch: Chopped veggie salad with raspberry vinaigrette
• Snack: Nectarine and fresh snap peas
• Dinner: NEED IDEAS!!!!
• Exercise: 15 minutes walking at lunch and 60 minutes on elliptical after work

This weekend we are celebrating my grandfather's 80th birthday=lost of family time and one of my first cousin's are in from Connecticut! YEAH!!!

Stay tuned for an update to January and start to February on weight loss progress (right hand side of blog!) and WEDNESDAY....

...drum roll please.....my first time lasagna didn't fail!!! Sunday night family dinner part #1!

Are YOU Ready for Some FOOTBALL??

Most girls (AKA my readers) aren't so into football. It's the honest truth. There are some gals that are real, true football fans but let's be honest, they are the minority! I, over the last 7 years have grown to enjoy it a lot more, due to the fact that I can actually figure out what is going on during the game. But for the most part, there are a few things that I enjoy more than the actual game:

1. Booze before, during and after the game.
2. The food before, during and after the game.
3. Muscular men in really tight pants (this is even better in person on the sidelines!)

But most of the time when it's Superbowl time, us ladies not so big fans will act like we like it watch the game with the boys. And actually enjoy yourself for the most part (please don't bring up the excruciating loss of the Bears in the 2006 Superbowl. PLEASE!)

We are going to be STL anxiously awaiting our super early morning flight to MEXICO on Superbowl Sunday so can't really partake in the awesome house parties that will litter DSM so am more than happy to oblige you with what I WOULD have made if I were town. It also happens to go along with Rachel's newest PROJECT TASTELESS contest:

Don't get me wrong, I love a good game at bar. Really I am down for anything that food and booze are part of. I usually start out the day meaning well:

The hubby and I on our first drink during opening weekend in Iowa City rooting on our Hawkeyes!

But will then most of time linger in dangerous territory:



Does anyone know this stranger?

Eventually doing something so scandalous I should be arrested:

Clearly more beer is needed. Clearly.

But house/basement/garage parties are my absolute faves as you can just fall asleep when you need to:

Big boobs aren't just for breaking your back anymore!

That being said a nice house party would normally be right up my alley and I would come with crock pot and box of wine case of beer in tow! This year my new fave is a recently devised:

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Soup!!

This recipe was dreamt of one hungover Sunday afternoon when the snow was falling and I was craving hot wings with ranch dressing but couldn't/wouldn't drive out into the Arctic tundra that randomly hits the Des Moines area: It's super simple, pretty low calorie, AND smashes the chicken wing craving!

Ingredients

• 1 cup each: diced onion, celery and carrots
• 3 T dry ranch seasoning mix (3 packets)
• 2T minced garlic
• 4 C milk
• 4 C water w/ 3 chicken bouillon cubes (can substitute 4 cans broth if have that)
• 1 lb chicken breast, leave as whole breasts or cut into bigger chunks
• 1 C Frank's Red Hot sauce (more to taste)
• 1 C sour cream

 Directions

• Put all ingredients (except sour cream) in crock pot, cook on high for 4-6 hours, take out chicken breasts and shred with forks. Put back in.
• Add sour cream 30 minutes before eating.  
• EAT!

Makes 9-ish 2 cup servings. I toasted and seasoned some oyster crackers (1/4 C oil w/ ranch seasoning packet) and topped with that.



Chicken is in there somewhere!



GAME ON!!!

TOUCHDOWN!!

Always good to wash it down with an ice cold brewski!

There it folks...the recipe you've all been asking for! Seriously, make it. It serves a crowd and if its just you and your sweet lover SUPER FAN, it reheats up real nice like for an entire week full of lunches!

And remember, if the party outscores you...there are only two real hangover cures:

Get to your nearest bloody mary and drink immediately.

End the day in the hot tub with your bestie.