Have a lovely weekend.

Doesn't that have a nice ring to it when you read it?  I wonder why we forget to use simple and kind wishes to each other when we are greeting or parting ways but I think I'm going to take care to try more.

I just signed off an email to someone and wished her a lovely weekend. Then I couldn't remember the last time I signed off so sending a good wish with whole-hearted intent.  Too often it's a quick and busy sign off.  Those have their place, but for now, while I'm prepping to move into a rental this weekend for the next 6 months (say hello sewing machines!), I have decided to pay more attention and give courtesy more than a passing glance on this impersonal medium of communication.

So, all my lovelies out there... have a wonderful weekend. May each one of you find a little hidden beauty somewhere in the world around you when you least expect it.

Cheers! Beck

Weight sucks... when you are trying to lose it

Alright. I mentioned in Dec, Jan. and Feb. I was losing weight, right? Well, I didn't bother. I let it all go. I didn't lose weight. Well I did but then I gained that 5 lbs back.

I always knew one day I'd reach that point where I wasn't happy with myself when I looked in the mirror. Admittedly, it took me longer to get there than I previously suspected but I can no longer pretend my body looks like anything other than it does.

You see, my body image has always been BETTER than my real body. It's a flaw, really. What can I say? lol I'm a bikini model in my mind's eye. At least, I was a little bit of a soft bikini model. I have to be realistic, you know.  -wink-

So anyway, here's the stats. The confessional... the stuff you don't care about but I'm going to say anyway.

I'm 5'2".  I weigh 162lbs.  I'm 36 years old. I work from home, on the computer. I sit most of the time.  My endurance is no longer good but sucks. Otherwise, I'm generally in good health.

This is me now at the hubs change of command ceremony.  BTW, that's the hubs. -grin-

Look close, you will see a lower chin. You can see a shadow of cleavage (I only have cleavage if I'm overweight or pregnant and I'm not pregnant!) The arm? Well, it's definately bigger than it used to be. Softer... dare I say, flabbier?  I do. I did, see? Flabbier.  And see where those hands are? they are folded over a belly, that you can see it has a little roundness. You can see the same in the rear, too.  And that's even wearing 2 inch heels! What I see when I look at this is me becoming a short round person. Like one of the fairy godmothers in Snow White. tee-hee 

This is me a few years ago. Decent enough legs, decent enough arms... no extra chin or belly. Not exactly rail thin but that's just fine and always has been with me. More healthy, even a bit athletic. I liked that body.  (And I'm sorry but I don't have many in between pictures. I'm usually the one behind the camera.)

So, in an effort to get back to the way I was, I'm REALLY making an effort.  Counting points on Weight Watchers.com and tracking my exercise, which is really the benefit to the online tracking for me.  All that said, I started today.

I had breakfast, 2/3 of an egg and cheese croissonwich from Burger King... did you realize that's 5 points? That's okay. I can eat that stuff if I'm watching elsewhere.

So, I had this for lunch. I added the chicken today but the rest was a simple salade from last night. 2 points.  I have 14 points left to use tonight for a real meal.  Good thing. I want ice cream for dessert and I'm hungry. Are you really surprised?

Okay, so weight sucks... when you are trying to lose it.  So why bore you? Well, you were handy to torment. I needed to be honest so I threw it up here. No more, no less. If you've read this far, thanks for suffering through. If you are inclined to comment I don't need to lose weight, please don't.  I feel I need to lose it and am too easily swayed to be lazy if someone says I don't. I'm weak! LOL

So if anyone wants to join me, feel free. I am going to try to post my weekly weight here along with progress on exercice. Just a couple sentences at one point throughout the week. Not a big long post like this. 

And there it is. Have a good afternoon everyone. I'm off to plan my dinner.

Cheers! Beck

Mystery Meal 4- Chicken Breast Sandwiches w/ Cream of Spinach & Fruit Crisp

Okay, so I forgot to post this for you but since I think there's only one who was actively tracking it, and she's doing a kitchen redo right now, I'm hopeful no one had chicken go to waste waiting for me.  Either way, this one is good. Give it a go one day. Just pay attention to marinade time, I think it does make a difference.

Serves: 4

MAIN DISH:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bottle butter/dill/lemon seafood marinade/dressing
3/4 cup semi-dry white wine (I used Beringer's Chenin Blanc)
garlic/herb mayonnaise
sliced cheddar or colby & cheddar cheese (think sandwich slicese)
2 small white or yellow onions (or 1 large)
paprika
salt & pepper
thin hamburger or bread slices
2-3 Tbsp butter

SIDE:
16 oz fresh spinach (I love baby spinach for this - be sure it's well dried after being washed!)
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 small vidalia onion, diced
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup low fat milk
3 oz light cream cheese
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp black pepper (can add more to taste but be careful not to add too much)
semi-dry white wine (Chenin Blanc again...)

DESSERT:
fresh blueberries, rinsed and dried
apples, peeled, cored & chopped
white peaches, peeled & chopped
quick cooking oats
cinnamon
all-purpose flour
brown sugar (I used Splenda)
nutmeg
1-3 Tbsp butter, melted
vanilla ice cream, optional

**NOTE: in my ingredient lists, when I don't list specific amounts, just anticipate it's meant to season and not a large amount will be needed. At most, a couple tablespoons depending on the ingredient or in the case of the fruit, think 1-2 cups total fruit per serving.

MAINDISH:
MARINATE chicken breasts in sealable container or plastic bag overnight or for at least 4-6 hours using the bottle of dill/lemon marinade.
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place marinated chicken breasts in shallow baking dish (I sprayed some oil to prevent sticking on the bottom) and bake for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through.
2. While heating, in medium sautee pan, melt butter. Slice onion, add to pan.  Sprinkle onion with salt (not too much), black pepper and paprika. Sautee to desired doneness.
3. Lightly toast the inside the the bread/buns you are using (I just put small amount of butter in a pan and laid the bread on high heat for a minute or so). Once toasted, spread mayonnaise on the toasted side, add a slice or two of cheese, add chicken breast, add desired amount of onion and close with other slice of bread.

SIDE:
In skillet, add oil and butter. Once butter is melted, add onion and garlic and cook until tender-crisp. Whisk in flour, cook for 30 seconds to a minute. Whisk in milk and a few Tbsp wine. Add cream cheese, stirring regularly until cheese melts. If sauce thickens too much, drizzle in some wine to thin it out. Add nutmeg & black pepper. As soon as cheese melts and sauce resembles a thick liquid, add spinach in batches, folding it over and through the sauce until all is coated. Once all spinach has been added and wilted down, you are done.


DESSERT: (all measurements are approximate depending on whether you like sweet or tart, use a lot of fruit or a little)
1.  With only the blueberries and apples in a bowl, add around 2 TBSP of flour (may be more or less depending on how much fruit you have).  Add 1-2 tsp brown sugar.  Mix carefully (don't pop open blueberries) to coat all fruit lightly.
2.  Add peachse to 9x9 baking dish, add blueberries and apples, stir to mix.
3.  In another small bowl, mix about 1 cup oats, 1-2 TBSP brown sugar, 1-2 tsp cinnamon, and 1 tsp nutmeg and 1-2 TBSP melted butter.
4. cover fruit with oats.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.
 
ENJOY! Beck