In case you didn't realize....

Baseball season is underway!  I'm very excited about this!  It makes me think Spring even though we got a foot of snow yesterday.  I love all baseball but my favorite team is the NY Yankees!  Love those men! 

Savory Oatmeal!

Today we got hit with a HUGE snow storm!  I needed something warm and yummy for breakfast and didn't have alot of time to make it.  I typically make oatmeal and top it with the applesauce you read about but I was all out and didn't have enough time to make a new batch.  A few months ago I had read on someone else's blog that savory oatmeal is delish so I gave it a go!  I diced up an apple and a slice of turkey bacon.  Not just any turkey bacon, SPECIAL turkey bacon.  It's the yummiest thing on the planet!  I get it at Fresh Market at the meat counter.  It's so much better than that crap that turns into cardboard as soon as you cook it!  So into a skillet it goes with some Pam.  While that's on I start the oatmeal.  4 minutes later it's all ready to go!  I topped the oatmeal with the apple and bacon and 2 tsp brown sugar.  I couldn't eat it right away because I had to hit the road for work but I nuked it at work and man was it good!  I read it's good with eggs to so maybe next time I'll do that with the turkey bacon and no egg!  Feel free to share your favorite oatmeal toppings! 

In LOVE with this kid!

Can't say I didn't try....

This post is a little delayed but I wanted to share anyway...
Being single I'm always open to new ways to expand my social circle.  Valentine's Day events were all around so I decided to take the plunge!  A single parent group I've been meaning to check out was having a "Find Your Valentine" party the Saturday prior to the big day.  It promised singles, music and dancing.  Being on WW I was loving that I could have my wine then dance it away!  The party was a bit of a drive but it was thru the country so it was lovely.  I arrived at the restaurant, a large cozy house style place.  I payed the $15 entry and headed up to the party.  I walked into a room that was decorated great!  Lot's of red and pink, hearts and a man dressed up like cupid!  Then I scanned the room.... Of the 50 people there about 5 were under the age of 50.  WHAT!?  This was a single PARENT group not a single GRANDPARENT group!!!  Grrrrr!  I grabbed a glass of wine and headed toward the only younger female in the room.  She was super sweet and we were quickly joined by the third and final young female at the event.  We had fun dancing but still, no Valentine to be found!  By the time the party really got going there were about 100 people, about 85 of which were over 50.  The cougars were in full force and the two younger men that were there were contstantly surrounded!  It was pretty humerous!  All in all it was a fun night of wine and dancing but alas, Valentine-less!  I spent the actual day cleaning my closet!  VERY productive!

Easy Stove Top Applesauce

I've been pretty hooked on making this delish applesauce.  I eat it plain, either cold or hot, or add it to oatmeal (my fav).  There's a bit of a debate about pointage as the WW website says a cooked apple has points while a raw apple doesn't.  I used their message boards to get an idea of what other people think.  One smarty said if I made the applesauce myself and KNOW I didn't add anything with points then it should be 0 because you can buy jarred applesauce (no sugar added) and it's 0 points.  So I count it as 0.  Here's the skinny on making it....

Ingredients :
1 bag of apples
fresh or frozen whole cranberries (check the organic section of your grocery store)
1/4 TSP Baking Soda (to cut the tartness of the cranberries)
Cinnamon (to taste)
Truvia or Splenda
2-3 cups Water

Dice up the apples (I like mine chunky) and add them and all the other ingredients to a large pot.  Start with 2 cups of water, you can always add more if need be. 

Cook for 20-30 minutes or until it's the consistency you like.  I put it in the fridge and use it throughout the week.  It's sooooo super yummy!

Could it be?

I'm seriously concerned.  I weighed in today and was told I lost 3.8 this week!  CRAZY!  Our leader asked me what I did different this week.  My answer... "I didn't drink".  Which is true!  In general I go out on my kidless nights which is 3 times a week.  I detest water beer as I call it so I always order my usual delish dark filling beers.  I estimate them at 8 PP since they're a full pint rather than a bottle (bottles are 5).  If I have 3 a night x 3 nights that is a whopping 72 points!  Admittedly I did switch to light beer on Friday nights since I tend to drink more those nights but really... 72 points?  That's two full days of food plus some! 

So my debate is this.... Do I stop drinking all together?  Cut back?  Stick to only light beer?  The first option won't work.  I have so many great memories centered around alcohol I simply could NOT give it up!  See the evidence:

                                        California trip, margaritas on the pier with great friends!

                     Lake Placid, NY... this was outside the bar and I couldn't resist the photo op.
                                       It was cold and wet but I was buzzed enough to not care. 

Redneck Party.... the first time I was brave enough to hold my friend's pet snake.  Musta been the beer!

                              Double fisting with one of my best guy friends.  He moved to Cali and
                                  is getting married so this is likely the last time we'll drink together. 

                                                                      Halloween!

                                                        St. Patty's Day, one of the best!
And so you see... I cannot give up the chance at making more memories!  Option 2, cut back is definately an option, 3, switch to light beer also an option.  And so, I have decided to combine the two!  One night I'll drink real beer, one night I'll drink light and the 3rd... NO DRINKING!  It's the plan that I think will be do able long term!  Wish me luck!

Don't take my picture!!!!!!

I used to love the camera!  My friends and I would go out and snap loads of pics and I never minded being in them but lately... UGH.  I think my issue is the inconsistency.  I'll take one and look pretty darn good, someone else snaps one and blah!  This weekend I went to my sisters to babysit my 6 mo old niece while they went to a wedding.  I typcially tell her no pics but was feelin pretty good about my weight loss and agreed to let her.  I totally wish I didn't!  The pic was terrible, I looked soooo overweight!   Just so you know I'm not overreacting....  here is a pic of me taken last week :

And here is the one from this past weekend I was referring to:

RIDICULOUS right?  Why do I look pretty when I take a pic of myself and look so blahhhh when someone else takes one!  Oh well, MOTIVATION!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic Finds!

I'm all about making Weight Watchers work for me.  To do that it must let me eat delish food, not be super hard to do and leave me with enough points for beer/wine :).  Here are a few of my favorite finds!

1.  These are Pampered Chef grown up sprinkles!  I thought I'd use them for rimming the glass of our Hazelnut Martinis but it turns out it's good on everything else too!  I've put it on ice cream, yogurt, and my fav, oatmeal!  It gives it a nice crunch and each serving is 0 PP! 

P.S. They have other flavors as well.  Next party I'll buy the others!

2.  0 PP Brown Sugar Whipped Cream.  This is so yummy I have a hard time sticking to the free portion and sometimes load it on and take the point hit!  I bought it at Fresh Market.

3.  Premade crepes.  I LOVE these!  1 PP, add some berries and the whipped cream with a sprinkle of cinnamin sprinkles, SO yummy and just 1 PP total!  Also purchased at Fresh Market. 

I realized I forgot to take a pic mid munch so the finished product isn't all that pretty but it's still tasty!

Me VS the Mandolin

The other day I came across an old Crate and Barrell gift certificate, and by old I mean it was a wedding gift.  I've been divorced for oh I don't know... 7 yrs now so you get the idea when I say OLD I'm not exaggerating!  In fact it's so old that it's paper which is why I didn't use it for a long time.  We didn't have a store and I didn't know how to go about redeeming it.  But I tacked it and ended up getting it in the mail today... a set of reusable produce bags, a 4 cup measuing cup with a scale built in and my fav.... a mandolin!  I've wanted it forever so was super psyched to try it.  I happily sliced a few zucchinis then decided to get started on the salad fixins.  So there I am slicing away at some celery when zip, off goes my finger tip right into the salad!!  We aren't talking a tiny bit, we're talking a big chunk.  OUCH!  It's still my fav but I'll def be more careful when I use it!    Here's me... the injured!

Pound for Pound Challenge

I stumbled upon this on another blog... http://www.dinneratchristinas.com/ and decided to sign up!  Here's the info :
Link: http://www.pfpchallenge.com/

For every pound you pledge to lose through May 31, 2011, the Pound For Pound Challenge will donate 11¢ to Feeding America® — enough to secure one pound of groceries on behalf of local food banks. $1,040,000 maximum donation.

 It's a great little challenge and given the state of the world today I'm sure the food banks can use all the help they can get!  I pledged to lose 15 lbs, totally do able!   If anyone is interested in joining click that link and either join as an individual or her group, just search dinner at Christina's.   Hope to shed some pounds with ya!

And then there were 4....

So last night I went on a date.  The guy was handsome enough but I immediately knew he was better for a friend of mine than for me.  They had alot in common, both loved eclectic music, traveling and weed (I'm not 420 friendly as they say).   I texted her and she popped in for a beer.  Now I should have started by saying, "So last night I went on a date with only enough points for one beer."  So now that I've got the date and the friend together I've got to stay for one more.  After about a half hr of me listening to them ramble about pot brownies I am thoroughly bored!   Luckily I spot my best friends x bf at the bar with his son.  I went and chatted with them for a bit and of course he buys me a beer as well!  Eeek!  I know I should be switching to water but this is literally the best beer ever!  It's a Cherry Raspberry Ale with one yummy cherry in the bottom of the glass!  I simply can't resist.   After a half hour or so I head back over and break up their lil omg we have so much in common moment, woops!  They attempt to include me in their chatter and invite my best friend out at well.  She comes and so of course, 1 more beer.  So now the count is up to 4 which is far too many points!  I finally switch to water and head home too late to exercise myself into some extra points.  Ah well...  today is a new day!  Since I've been a little lacking on the motivation level I decided I need a pick me up!  We got a killer storm so actual window shopping is out of the question,  so online it is.  There are some things I've always wanted to wear, when I get thin!   Here are a few of my favs...

Knee High boots!  I love them!  BUT in order to wear them I need to trim down the calves and be able to rock the next item on my list....

Skinny Jeans!  Right now there's no way I would feel comfortable in them.  I'm a firm believer in boot cut.  I think they balance my shape better!

Slouchy shirt and short shorts with some spectacular accessories! 

OK now I feel better!  Nothing like a lil retail therapy!  Hope you all have a great day!