Monday Roll Call

Nancy- Correction...I hate country.  I only like Southern Rock.  I think there is a distinction.  At least to me!!! 

If I die before you do and there is such a thing as reincarnation...I want to come back as one of your cats...because I think there is nothing cozier than living in your house as one of your cats...AHHHHH!!!!  Hahahahaha!!!! 

Good Morning IL Friends,

I have decided that I simply cannot be good on the weekends and I am going to stop trying to be a perfect dieter on Saturday and Sundays. The guilt and the inner war on the weekends is counter-productive. I am still very good and for the most part stay on program, but when my mother-in-law offers me something,  I am not going to have guilt trips about it any more. I am near perfect with eating and exercising on the weekdays. But when the weekend comes everything changes. I am not bad, just not as motivated. Does anybody else find this to be true?

Connie, I lost 8 lbs last week because of that little piece of plastic and I'm sold on it. I got mine at Meiers for $79. There is a cheaper one on line at the Fitbit store that is a newer version and I believe smaller for $59. I wear mine clipped on my bra and it is not a dainty little thing it's tough plastic. Since I do not make a habit of slamming the girls into anything (HAHAHAHA)  the fitbit is safe and sound between the boobs. It is the best money I have spent. Just the money I have saved on food going forward will pay for itself in no time. Last week, I passed up 2 no fat lattes that would have put me over my calories. I saved about 8 bucks too.The fitbit keeps me aware of everything and I need that. I am that person.

Crystal, I love all music too. My mom loved Bobby Vinton and Perry Como. Everytime I hear them it takes me back to mom. I have a satellite radio that is awesome. It has a different channel for each decade starting in the 20's. in addition to about 100 more music channels. I LOVE my satellite radio. I got it for Christmas a few years ago.,

We were at the Finance Meeting until 9p last night. It was amazing. It is scripture inspired and basically teaches people how to maximize their money so we can be good stewards and have more money to help others. I'm all for that. The basics is save and pay yourself before you pay any bills. Go cash, dump all credit and pay off your debts asap. Now the next 8 weeks will be learning how to do that. My husband was really into it. I am hoping this is going to encourage him to take over the finances. I HATE bookkeeping. 

Today is weighing in after the first week of the biggest loser at the gym and working out. I am making meatloaf tonight. Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sharon

Sharon-  I too have a problem on weekends.  Mainly because my down fall to cheating is boredom.  Some people are stress eaters or PMS eaters...well I am a boredom eater.  During the week with work and working out and just regular life...I keep pretty busy.  But come the weekend!!!!

I can usually keep pretty busy on Saturday too.  But Sunday is always my fall.  What I end up doing (and I can do this because I live by myself) is I keep NO JUNK SNACKS in the house.  Just fruits!!!  So when I want to snack...I have my fruit handy.  That way if I want something really bad I will have to get in my car and drive for it.  And sometimes I do....I will admit.    

I do have my one fruity snack that is so yummy to me but not too, too bad.  I cut up a banana.  I then spread a little bit of peanut butter on each slice.  Just a little tiny bit.  Then I put a single dark chocolate chocolate chip on each slice.  Then I freeze it.  When I really really want to cheat...I go in for my plate of yumminess and this always works.  Because it has my 2 favorite things...chocolate and peanut butter!!!  Try it some time.  You can do it with apples too...but I prefer bananas with this snack.    

The best mac and cheese I have ever made is a Paula Deene recipe I found on pinterest and it is made in a crock pot with a can of cheddar cheese soup. It is easy and to die for. 

http://www.food.com/recipe/paula-deen-crock-pot-macaroni-and-cheese-257276

I follow the recipe exactly and every time I make it everyone raves. 

Hugs, Sharon

Sharon-  The reason I picked this recipe out specifically is it fit 2 of my criteria I was looking for in my homemade mac & cheese.  See the reason why I am even making homemade mac & cheese is because I am moving away from the whole over processed and manufactured, frozen, full of preservatives and additives crap that we all live on.  And boxed mac & cheese is one of them.  Here's the thing I wanted something I can make fast (just like the boxed stuff).  Not in a crock pot...on a stove like the boxed stuff.  I wanted it to be a simple recipe without all of the fancy hub-bub.  And of course without added processed foods. 

Unfortunately, with the canned cheese soup makes it processed (I might as well use the boxed)...with all kinds of chemicals.  Read the label.  The recipe I found had such simple, whole ingredients.  and it was done in 20 minutes. 

I read some where if there are more than 4-5 chemicals in the food you are eating than you shouldn't be eating it.  I try to follow this.  It's really hard though (almost everything we eat has more than that...cheese, bread...look you would be shocked).  I am taking it step by step.  Cutting things out little by little.  Making changes here and there.  Learning how to live naturally in this processed world. 

By the way if you are interested there is an app called FOODUCATE....oh this app is wonderful and so educational.  I think the first time I used it I was at the store forever.  What it is, is an app that you scan a food label and it tells you about the food and how good it is for you and rates it A-B-C-D-F.  It rates based on normal dietary standards but also tells you about different chemical, preservatives, additives, dyes...in the foods you are eating...and then suggests healthier alternatives!!!!  It's by far the best app I ever got!!!  I love it!!! I do think I paid for it but not much...I think $2-$4 maybe.  Like I said I was running around scanning everything.  It made me change some of the things I bought for sure.  Like my peanut butter.  I won't buy regular peanut butter any more.  Only organic....partially hydrogenated oils in regular peanut butter are so bad for you...not to mention the added sugar.  Oh I could go on and on about this subject!!!!

Good morning Crystal and the rest of Illinois!

I am back at work.....yippee.

Friday night we hung out with neighbors and Saturday I picked up a friend and she helped me usher at the Playhouse and spent the night.  Although I would rather have stayed in yesterday, she had to get home.  It was not too terrible, just wet.  I think she is going to help me on a new business venture.  I am making home made bath products like sugar scrubs, lotion bars, bath fizzies, etc...  I figure it can't hurt to try.  We spent hours Saturday looking for shea butter.  I will be ordering it online today.

After taking my friend home, I came back and made a fish fry for my family.  They really enjoyed it.  I baked mine.  I have a parmesan crusted chicken recipe to try either tonight or tomorrow, depending on if I have to be at the airport tonight.

I listen to a variety of music, but not as much as you all.  I mostly listen to "Classic Rock".  I used to have to listen to country when I lived with my foster family, but I never really liked it.  Funny......I don't really remember any music before that.

Thanks Crystal and Sharon for the mac n cheese recipes.  Liv LOVES Mac n cheese.  I do too, but don't eat it very often because of the carbs.  I'll bet I could maybe use cauliflower.   Mmmmmmm?

Everyone have a wonderful day!

Dawn- you know with my iPod...I don't even listen to the radio anymore...ever!!!  I figure why bother.  I have about 700+ songs downloaded...I KNOW I like at my finger tips why listen to the radio...when they play only 50% of what I like...hahaha.  Man am I putting these DJs outta work???

I love, love, love classic rock...Stones, AC/DC, Stone Temple Pilot, Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, Blue Oyster Cult...Oh I could go on and on...I love classic rock!!!!  I work out to these songs.  In fact my favorite music to workout to is AC/DC...it's fast paced...some what angry...I like that in a workout song.

I know how to cook because I had to from a young age.  I was forced to it was one of my "chores".  But I never liked cooking.  But now that I have no one to cook for (it's been a long time since I have had someone to cook for on a regular basis) I am starting to cook for the enjoyment of it.  I never thought I would do that ever.  I cook on Sundays for myself...a meal I find on Pinterest and try it out and see if I like it.  I have fun looking for the recipe and then planning for it and shopping for it.  I never thought I would be like that.  I always hated cooking!!!  Maybe that is just how bored I am...I am soooo bored that I now find cooking interesting!!! WOW!!!

There are 50 mac and cheese recipes in the new Foodnetwork magazine!