Weight Watcher Meals, Part 1

I don't pretend to be an amazing cook, or even really a competent cook most days. I live with my sister, who is also doing weight watchers, and she's a pretty fab cook. She makes most of the meals, I do most of the chores. It's a nice trade off :) I was pretty proud of myself last week when I made an entire meal on the grill. People, this is unprecedented. I full on LOOKED up recipes for 2 (!!) different dishes. Yeah. Impressive. I ended up making grilled salmon, asparagus, and grilled corn. The corn was definitely not entirely in season yet, but had promise. Asparagus was perfect and the salmon was...okay. Edible. I was fine with it. This is a sample of some of my meals I've been having on WW- they've all been delicious, easy to make, and totally doable long term.

(Sorry for iphone pics)

Chicken fajita/burrito thing. Grilled chicken, 1/8 cup cheddar cheese, sauted green and red peppers
on a Mission carb balance tortilla. 

Sample snack- cucumbers and cantaloupe.
I've been adding more dairy/protein in the last week
since I've been getting full off of veggies/fruit and concerned
I'm not getting enough calories. 

My breakfast, every morning. Egg salad (2 eggs, fat free mayo) with Sarah Lee 90 cal bread
and cantaloupe. The cantaloupe have been amazing this month. 

Salmon again! With steamed broccoli, cucumber, and potato "chips".

Weight Watchers Week 4

So I started Weight Watchers last month, on the 15th. I've had 3 weigh ins so far, with my fourth fast approaching on Saturday. Deciding on a Saturday meeting was kind of the worst. No going out on  Friday night, and having a bad weigh in puts me in the frame of mind to NOT want to go out Saturday evening. At least it gets my butt out of bed on the weekends.

I've lost 10.4 pounds so far, which has been, in a word, AH-MAHZING. I've been eating fairly good and working out almost every day. I've noticed though that it can be difficult to eat all of my points while still eating healthy. I've read a bunch of the blogs and success stories on weightwatchers.com, and they all say "eat your points" even your weekly and activity points, but I'm afraid of falling back into bad habits. I've cut back on the fruit and veggie consumption and added more dairy and protein into the diet, but I'm still coming up 10 points short almost every day, and that's with what I deem indulgences, like a chocolate bar with my dinner. I feel like I have so many points right now (50) and I know that it's because of my high starting weight, but I have to say, I'm not dreading going down in points. At least until I hit the under 30 point mark. :)

Stats! SW: 326.4 CW: 316

I don't have a goal weight yet. Honestly, it's freaking me out to even be this weight, and if I start to think about how much I have to lose to be at a healthy weight...it's too much. I'm focusing on making healthy changes and taking it one week at a time. I like that WW has mini goals- right now I have my 5% goal I believe, which will be 310.4. Hoping to hit that in the next few weeks. I'll update with progress pics once I actually have some progress to show!

[Quick Crafts] Weekly Round Up

A few of the quick crafts I did this week that don't merit a DIY or how to because they were incredibly fast, and frankly I didn't bother to do a perfect job, as clearly evidenced by the shoes.

A white lace clutch from Goodwill becomes striped thanks to yellow paint and a mod podged piece of black lace.

 

 Clearly in a striped mood, I turned this bank deposit bag into a cute summer-into-fall transition clutch.

 

Painted a brown pair of shoes a cheerful yellow (I have a lot of yellow paint. This should be obvious).

[Halloween] DIY Pumpkin Lanterns

Totally getting into the groove this Halloween. I've never been really enamored with the idea of doing Halloween crafts, but for some reason the bug has hit me hard. I think it's a result of being in England last fall where they don't quite celebrate as hard as we Americans do for the holiday! 

This is a quick, cheap, and easy craft to do to create a few more bright lights on your patio or for your Halloween party! For those with crafting supplies, you probably have most of these already. The rest can be obtained from a dollar store.

Supplies:

For the Pumpkins:

- Glass Jars. I used old pickle jars and a few vases I picked up from the Dollar Tree.

- Orange paint. I used acrylic water based. 

- Paint brushes

- Black sharpie

- LED tea light candles. I got mine 3 for $1 from the Dollar Tree. Make sure they're the orange (or natural flame) flickering effect ones. It'll look more like a pumpkin. Get more than you think you'll need, since some are bound to be duds. 

For the Frankenstein Monster

- Large square vase or Ikea GRONO table lamp. I had some of these left over from a Christmas craft last year.

- Green Paint

- Two large screws. I used random ones from my toolbox

Directions:

1. Paint the inside of the jar orange. I didn't worry too much about perfection. You could use spray paint if you want a more even look. I did two coats.

2. Draw the eyes and mouth on with black sharpie. I free-handed mine (clearly).

3. Drop a LED light inside. You're done!

For the Frankenstein monster:
1. Repeat steps above, but attach the two screws with hot glue on either side of the face, just above the eyes.
2. If you're using the Ikea lamp, be sure to paint the OUTSIDE of the lamp. The glass is not clear, so the green paint won't shine through.

Banned Books Week!

Let's pretend this week that Phoenix is like the rest of the country and is slowly slipping into fall weather. That the 100 degree days have given way to chilly evenings where a light blanket is welcome, and where the atmosphere is just perfect for curling up with a book. Never mind that it's still hot as hell here, and that reading is less than pleasurable when the crook of my elbow gets moist from holding my book up, and my back leaves a lovely sweat pattern wherever I sit. A girl can dream of cooler days. Regardless of where one is, this week (September 30 thru October 6) is the perfect time to read your favorite banned classic. That's right- it's Banned Books Week!

Banned Books Week is near and dear to my heart. Not only do I work in libraries every day, but I'm training to be a librarian, where I will support the First Amendment by offering access to materials that might be considered immoral, dangerous, or inappropriate by some groups. I've heard customers in the past question why we still celebrate Banned Books Week. The sad truth is that there still exists many people, and groups, that would like to dictate what the rest of us read. There seems to be a lack of common sense amongst people regarding books that they dislike or would like to ban from use. I've had library patrons bring books up to me and explain that they think the material is filthy and not suitable for the library. While I encourage them to fill out a comment card, I also make sure to tell them that a library is a public space, with freedom of access. That means that you have the option to NOT read the book you find objectionable, or to close the book if you find it vulgar or distasteful.

I thought I'd write about a few of my favorite once banned books. Share yours as well!

1. Brave New World- by Aldous Huxley.
   Banned in many schools where it was required reading because it seemed to glorify sexual experimentation and had protagonists who placed pleasure before all else. Additionally, it contradicted the abstinence policy in high schools, where parents objected to what they saw as anti family rhetoric.
2. The Awakening- by Kate Chopin
   Banned because the female protagonist frankly examines her sexual feelings and chafes against the demands made against her gender. Seen as a precursor to early feminist tomes, this book has been challenged and censored since it was first published at the end of the 19^th century.
3. And Tango Makes Three- Pete Parnell & Justin Richardson/illustrated Henry Cole.
   The only children's book on this list, because I am not a child nor do I have children! This is a fairly recent book, but has made waves since it was published, because of the the “gay penguins” who are the main protagonists. It has been banned or censored because so called “family” groups have objected to the two male penguins raising an egg together, and the implication that homosexuality is a viable way to make a family. This one is personal for me as well, because I've had parents bring this book up to me at the library, in a proper rage, DEMANDING that it be taken out of the kids section, because “how do I explain to my 3 year old what gay people are??”. Get a grip. It's an adorable story about freaking penguins, and unless you're already explaining to your toddler what straight sex looks like, don't worry about explaining gay. Because I guarantee, your toddler doesn't give a shit.
4. Harry Potter- J.K. Rowling
   You know the drill. Witchcraft. Dark magic. Musn't give those children any ideas. I actually had friends who weren't allowed to read HP when I was younger, because their parents were so concerned about bad influences in the book. Oh HP. How I miss you.

These are obviously just a few of the many, many books on the Banned Books list. In fact, take any book that you read in high school, and it's probably on the list. Take any book that influenced you, made you think of new ideas, introduced you to some new concept like censorship, socialism, or Big Brother, and that book is probably on the list. Read a banned book this week, and take back the power of literature and education. Read more at http://bannedbooksweek.org/.

What I Wore- Dancing Queen

One of my favorite outfits ever.

Shirt- Target. Jeans- Torrid. Shoes- Primark (UK). Earrings & Bracelet- Charming Charlies.

One dress, 3 days

So any chubby chick knows the dangers of the "chub rub". Your thighs chafing together underneath your pretty dress, turning any dress wearing day into a hellish nightmare of discomfort and hot red skin. Ok, I exaggerate. But who enjoys wearing bicycle shorts, spanx, or leggings under every dress? It's fine in the winter, when I can wear colorful tights, but the summer months in Phoenix are unforgivable and too too hot to think of sporting anything but bare legs. I recently ordered a product from Skindura on etsy that you rub on your thighs that eliminates chafing and makes it a breeze to wear dresses. I'm looking forward to a comfortable summer!

Up now- one dress, 3 ways. 

Worn as a long skirt for work! (FYI, I don't work in an office setting, so a little boho is fine!) Dress- Liberty for Target. Shoes- Payless (old). Shirt- Target plus. Tank top- Forever21. Necklaces- Thrifted.