Sugar

I've been meaning to post about my "no sugar for 2 weeks" "thing" I did a month ago, but I have been busy, but that is for another post. I learned a lot about myself while not eating sugar. I learned that I could function without it. I learned that I didn't really want to function without it :) I learned that if I am going to eat in response to my emotions, it doesn't matter if I can't have sugar; I will find something else to eat. It was a tough go for a few days, but all in all, I am glad that I did it, if no other reason than to say that I can do it.
So, there it is. I am eating sugar these days. Making it in moderation though. Other things to share on this front, but not today.
Blessings!

Day 9 Thoughts

When I can't have sugar, I'll find something else to eat too much of. I'd have to cut out bread, sugar and cheese! Balance! It is all about balance. I will be working on a plan during the remaining 5 days. I need to know how I am going to balance my trigger foods when this is over. Planning! I have a feeling will be of the utmost importance!

This is what I have craved today! I made bread and it was delicious! (Sorry for the poor quality photo!)

Day 5 (No Sugar) and A Victory!

Day 5 , yesterday, was great! I made chicken parm last night and it was yummy! Manly Man and I were reminiscing a little over dinner. Chicken parm was the first meal I ever cooked for him and it was actually before we started dating. Fun to look back isn't it?

At Awana tonight, Jacob is having a Valentine's Party in Cubbies. They are supposed to bring in valentines and a snack to share. I immediately thought "sweets" and then realized that I couldn't do that. So, instead, he is bringing in a bag of red seedless grapes! Super proud of my victorious choice, for all involved!

Perhaps In An Effort To Compete With McD's...

Starbucks is running a special on their ice coffees, now through June 29th. Get a grande iced coffee with milk for $1.95! You can find the details here. Just so you know, you can ask for it to be sweetened, or not! I had a tall iced coffee last night, without the milk and it cost me $1.90...the grande (16oz) would have been a better buy! Enjoy!

13, 9, 19 and 8

Those numbers look crazy right? Allow me to explain...

Pounds lost since being back at Weight Watchers...13.

Pounds to loose to reach my "official" goal at WW...9.

Pounds to loose to reach my person, ultimate goal...19.

New jeans size...8.

The physical and mental feeling I have...Priceless!

I think the thing that I am most excited about it that I am not eating crazy diet foods and stuff. I am eating normal things...things I can live with. I only made a one switch that I can think of...2% cheddar cheese instead of full fat cheese.

I did make the choice not to buy chips, candy or sweets until I reach my goal. They are just too much of a temptation for me. By making that choice, I am breaking my addiction to them. I don't crave them very much anymore since I haven't had them for over two weeks. People who have an alcohol addiction don't get to just have one drink. When I realized what my trigger foods were and after a very firm, swift kick in hiney by my dear friend Anne (with pointy shoes on and everything!) I realized that I had to not allow myself to have them for a while. Perhaps I will be able to have them in the house...maybe not. We will just have to see...

Dessert Please!

We here have a sweet tooth. We, this time, really means all four of us. I was reading an article in Family Circle that had a great idea about kids and dessert that I wanted to pass on to you. One doctor allows her children to have dessert ONLY if they have had 3 servings of fruits and/or veggies during the day. BRILLIANT!
Do your kids get dessert and are there conditions attached?

I'm Not Too Late!

It's been a while huh? We had friends in town for Sunday through Wednesday last week and had a blast! It was really fun to be with Adam and Kendall, college friends, and their baby, Crawford. The boys loved having him here too! We ate yummy food, had a great time hanging out and catching up on things. Adam killed his first deer with Manly Man that Monday and we were all REALLY excited for him.

This Thanksgiving was a very unique one for us. We had friends over, instead of family. It was so much fun! We ate lots of great food, and I didn't have to cook it all! Manly Man did fry the turkey again, and for one time a year, we can ignore ALL that grease! We went for an evening stroll after eating with our friends and then had pie! It was wonderful!

We had great plans of getting the house decorated on Saturday, but the rain changed our plans. Sunday too. But, stay tuned for the happenings on Friday....

My Kids NEED Your Help!

My boys are "sandwiched out." They can't take another sandwich for lunch. We've done the nugget thing too. Cheese quesadillas. Apples with peanut butter and crackers. Please help me come up with something new and maybe even fun to feed my kids! They would love it! Know that I don't really want to "cook" a lunch...heat up quick is OK but no major cooking allowed. So my question...
What do you feed your kids for lunch?

Fruit Roll-ups, At Home!!

Found this recipe after a friend suggested I look for one on the web. Who knew you could make fruit roll-ups at home! I am trying to eliminate artificial coloring from my children's world to see if there is a difference in their behavior. I think Ainsely's advice to do that is actually helping. The problem is when you take them somewhere that is going to serve a snack. So, thinking I might try these and see how they go over in my home! Don't they look yummy?

Look Who Moved In To The Neighborhood!

We are the first town to get a Harris Teeter in Brunswick County! And it is two miles from my house! Now, this could be a bad thing for us. They are kind of pricey in my opinion...but when there is a VIC special, it is usually better than Wally World! So, heading to the new HT today, just to say I went!

It's Starting Again!

Guess what it is? Not the fall allergies, they have been here for a couple of weeks. Not the fall colds, they started on Friday. Any guesses?

NBC's Biggest Loser starts back tonight. I am not one to write much about TVshows, but I do love this one and have for a while. I think Jillian would kick my butt! I think Bob would to, but in a different way. I don't think I would survive one workout with them, but it would make me strong that is for sure. My only gripe with the show is that they don't talk enough about nutrition. With that said, still love it and will be on my couch, with my bowl of, I mean bottle of water watching away! (We don't even have anything to eat a bowl of!)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Confession

I major heart chocolate chip cookie dough! In a big way. Or at least I did. So, about 5 or 6 years ago, while at Sam's Club, I had a brilliant idea to buy some cookie dough to keep on hand whenever we had friends over. I wanted to be a good hostess and have something to serve my guests. I don't know where I got that from. If anyone knew about my plan for goodies and looked in that 5 pound tub about a month later would have thought that Manly Man and I were the COOLEST people ever in the 'Boro! Man, that cookie dough was at least half gone, in only 30 days! That is a lot of cookies!!! Which means a lot of friends!!!
What is really meant is that I was a closet compulsive eater! It was there. I ate it. Raw. By the spoonful! When home alone. While Manly Man was in the bathroom. Whenever. Thinking back now, I think that this is when I first started to realize that I was a closet over-eater or maybe this is about the time that it started. Hmmm....
When I finally confessed to Manly Man what I had done, he suggested that I throw it away. Do what???? I was NOT going to waste money! But then I realized later that I needed to do just that and did. So, me and chocolate chip cookie dough...a very bad love-to-eat-you-hate-the-pounds-you-cause relationship bloomed!
Fast forward to yesterday. With the looming TS Hanna headed our way on Friday (by the way, we did fine...no problems whatsoever...pray for those in the path of Ike though!) the munchies set in. I got the chips covered. I almost got the sweets covered too, but decided not to. Then Manly Man went to the store and I suggested something sweet...you know, so I could blame him for it being in the house. He came home with the ginormous roll of chocolate chip cookie dough. We made a few cookies. Yesterday, I ate some raw cookie dough. Not a lot here, but enough for about 3 cookies. During that last slice, I noticed something. It makes my tongue feel weird. Really weird. Like prickly or something. I can honestly say that I don't like raw chocolate chip cookie dough! What an amazing blessing, for my health and for honoring the Lord!
Now, if I could just not like them baked!

The Birth of a Train Ice Cream Cake

I must really love this my oldest boy! This truly was a labor of love. There are a lot of things I would do differently, and I think that I hope that I have a chance to do it again! Jonathan said "Thanks Mommy for making me an ice cream train cake. I'm going to love it!". That made it all worth it!

(You can click on the picture and it will enlarge it so you can see it better.)

A Plea To Parents

The boys spent the morning with some friends while I went to the dentist. They had a great time, but were inside due to the mosquitoes. I have really enjoyed being inside on HOT days. However, the boys go to bed so much better if they have gotten their dose of the sun each day. So, I decided to take them to the local park tonight. It is my favorite because there are NO swings. How sad, I know. I just get tired of pushing two boys...I want them to get the "exercise", not me :) I digress. I got me a bite to eat and took the boys to the park. We were the only ones there to start with, which makes me happy and sad. I enjoy not having to worry about how other kids are going to respond to my kids, but am sad that they didn't have anyone else to play with. A few minutes later, three children come running up to the playground. I look around for their parent(s). Nothing. I saw their car. They were sitting in it! Seriously. Sitting the car, listening to music, doing stuff they shouldn't have been or something. But, sitting in the car, NOT watching their children on the playground. The car was even parked in the wrong direction to even be able to see out the front window. I was so upset by this! I think what made it the worst was that two of the three were climbing on top of the playground equipment. We are talking 10-15 feet in the air. Now, I know that kids do this and I am not a fan of it. They can fall people! And get really hurt...banging themselves all up on the metal as they plummet to the ground! So, to you parents who don't want to watch your kids at park, don't bring them please! Do you want them to break their necks? Be bullies? Get kidnapped?



OK, second request is to you parents of girls. I have boys. I would like to protect them as long as possible. The world is a hard place for our men. My boys are going to grow into men one day. (wipe tear) I would like for them to maintain their innocence as long as possible. PLEASE don't let you girl wear miniskirts with no shorts on under them! PLEASE!!!! Shorts or skorts please! Heck, with the style for girls nowadays, maybe jeans and a turtleneck would be better. Digressing again. Please, teach your girls about modesty. I promise that I am doing my best to teach my boys about chivalry and being a knight.

And on a random note...I used to LOVE mocha shakes from Port City Java. Ice cream, espresso, and chocolate syrup...what's not to love! I live here in the "Port City" where their java began. Unfortunately, I have seen a Port City Java in the Queen City, the Gate City and the Capital City. Go figure. Digressing yet again! I am learning to really taste the food that I am eating and learning to evaluate if I even like it or like how I feel (not talking emotions or guilt here) physically after eating it. I had a mocha shake tonight and HATED the way that I felt afterwards and for the next hour! Cross that off my list of things I thought that I loved!

Proving I'm NOT Southern!

Here's a tidbit for you...if I haven't shared it already. I am the only person in my family born NORTH of the line that divided the Union from the Confederacy 150 years ago. (Don't you love my "PCness"?) Well, at least as far back as like the Revolutionary War. I have always joked about how I am the outsider in my family. I get harassed about it a lot! All in good fun though! I am not exactly a "Yankee", more like a mid-westerner...whatever that means. I was born in a college town in Indiana, at a year old moved to a city in Wisconsin and after 8 more years, moved to the Queen City in North Carolina...my parents were glad to be closer to their homes in Georgia. I was thankful for only a 5 to 6 hour ride to visit my relatives instead of a 15-20 hour drive! Hey, I was 9 years old!

I was in GA this weekend for family reunions. On day two, my youngest son decided that "van" has not one, but TWO syllables! I was shocked! It doesn't take long for that southern blood to start flowing!

Well, I totally proved that I am NOT southern today! My family would be, ummm, not proud of me, but find it humorous! My dad got two bushels of raw peanuts and sent some home with me so I could boil them. I did. I also burned them! Who burns peanuts? I didn't even know it was possible! Peanuts are like the state symbol of GA, next to pecan pie!:) I think it is a sin or sacrilegious or something! God forgive me!

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!

How do you spell victory?

I spell it by going out to a nice dinner for my anniversary with Manly Man and...

NOT finishing all the hush puppies that come instead of bread,

NOT eating all of my dinner (2 of my 5 stuffed shrimp is all I could do),

NOT eating all the the Key Lime Pie that I had been craving for a week (we actually got it "to go" and had one bite each before we left the restaurant), and

NOT wanting/wishing/ or needing to unbutton my pants once we got in the car!

Honoring my hunger...and stopping when full, is what I am working on right now!

That is how I spell VICTORY!

How do you spell VICTORY?

Tropical Storm Cristobal Party

Well, that depression did turn into a storm and they named it! Lucky for us, we were ready to party! Jakey loved the puddle-jumping! Jonathan didn't even want to get wet!

We made a trip to Grandma and Papa's house for the second, and much better I might add, part of the party...

Aunt Zana came into town...

Papa cooked blue crabs he caught off the dock...

He also fried flounder that he caught the day before in the river...

Grandma held down the kitchen upstairs and made some real french fries and boiled some corn on the cob...

Thanks Cristobal! The Sellers' Fam had a blast!

Goal For The Week: Break A Habit

I have decided, by God's grace and power, to work on one bad food habit a week. It is my prayer that I can break one bad one and form a good one. I hope to post once a week on my goal and update often during the week about how I am doing. I have posted a weight loss tracker on the left over there...I want to lose the weight, but still, health is my main goal! So, my goal for this week is to...

STOP eating while I am standing

and to

START drinking water whenever I want to munch.

Join me on my journey to freedom from food!