Summer Slim Down - The Recipes

So, two weeks into this whole healthy eating thing and I am pretty much where I was when I started.  A little discouraging, but I am blaming PMS...and am counting on a miracle this week.  My husband, however has dropped quite a bit...I am very proud of him!  Anyway, I thought I would share some of the things we've eaten which were really yummy.  Some of you have probably seen many of these recipes on Pinterest, but I thought it would be nice to provide an easy link to the stuff I've actually tried and enjoyed. :-)

P.S. I am linking to the recipes instead of copying and pasting them, because I am trying to give credit to the originator of the idea.

Yogurt Covered Blueberries

(I used a pair of tongs instead of toothpicks and "The Greek Gods" instead of "Dannon")

Frozen Yogurt Dots

Of course, mine turned out as blobs, not perfectly rounded circles, but they sure tasted yummy!  I used Activia Light Peach and Harvest Cherry.

Detox Orange Ginger Smoothie

This was DELICIOUS!  I just need to figure out a way to store ginger root once it's cut ,so it doesn't go bad...

Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

This one is super thick and extremely filling.  It tastes good, though.

Sleep Slim Smoothie

I didn't think I would find the cherry juice at the store, but I did!  This one is SOOO yummy, and I got a great night's sleep!

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Scott and I love this recipe and eat it frequently.  I totally eyeball the ingredients, so my measurements are totally different than what it says on the recipe.  I also often add flax.

Baked Tilapia with Lime and Cilantro

This is FABULOUS...and super quick and easy.  I served it over Veetee Thai Lime and Herb Rice.

Shrimp and Avocado Salad

I'm not quite sure this is the recipe I used, but it's close enough.  We served the shrimp mixture over lettuce.

Summer Slim Down

My weight has been pretty consistent for the past several years, fluctuating only a few pounds up or down from my “ideal weight.”  So, I was devastated when I got on the scale this morning to realize that I was now TEN POUNDS over that weight.  YUCK! No wonder my clothes don’t look good…they don’t fit right!  So, for the next month (June 11 to July 11), I am committing myself to trying to fix that problem.

Here’s how I plan on doing it:

I have decided to eliminate three foods (or food categories) from each of the letters in the word “bad” during the week.  (I can still eat/drink them in moderation on the weekends.)

Here’s what I came up with for my B.A.D. foods: 

Bread	Alcohol	Dessert
Bacon	Alfredo	Domino’s
Beef	American cheese*	Deli meats

*well, pretty much all sliced/shredded cheese, but I needed another “A”

In addition, I have also committed to the following dietary restrictions:

•  No coffee and no soda….tea and water only!  (maybe some protein shakes)
• Avoid fast food…try to eat only packed lunches or “real” restaurants.  If eating at a fast food restaurant is unavoidable, find a salad…nothing fried! 

Scott and I are also going to begin walking around the neighborhood each night, and on days when I don’t have inservice, I also plan on getting up and going for a run/jog.

So, here goes…hope it helps!

12 Resolutions for 2012

1.  I will blog more.
2.  I will start a journal...and keep it.
3.  I will read before I go to bed at night.
4.  I will not drink carbonated beverages.*
5.  I will pray regularly.
6.  I will not let my DVR control my evenings.
7.  I will go on monthly dates with my husband.
8.  I will become a runner.
9.  I will communicate better with students' parents.
10.  I will find time for my friends.
11.  I will finish my wedding/honeymoon scrapbooks.
12.  I will not give up hope.

*Exceptions: Sprite/Ginger Ale when sick and champagne toasts.

*sigh*

Dear blog,
I miss you and all my fellow bloggers.  I have so much to say, but no time to sit down and type it.  I've got to figure out how to find time for me in my busy schedule.
Until then,
Me

Cheesecake-Stuffed Peaches

I am SOOOO glad I looked through my Better Homes and Gardens magazine last night.  This dessert was AMAZING!
(sorry there are no pictures of their heavenly goodness...)

6 peaches, halved and pitted
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 tbs sugar mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350.  Trim a thin slice from the round side of each peach half so the halves will stand flat.  Dip peach halves in melted butter to coat.  Arrange peaches, cut sides up, baking pan lined with parchment paper.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

In medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until smooth.  Add sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla.  Beat until combined.  Spoon mixture into peach centers.

Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes or until lightly browned and softened.  Serve warm.

Borrowed From a Facebook Post

I promise I will update my blog with what's been going on in my life soon, but until then, I want to share my friend Johnna's most recent Facebook post:

Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Mary was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead.  Now, what's YOUR excuse?  Can God use you?

Wow.  How powerful is that?!  Of course God can use you, but will you let Him?  I'm ready God...use me.

Writing from a Prompt

I'm at a Pre-AP conference this week.  I've learned a lot of great strategies, but today was my favorite day.  Partially because it's the last day and I get to sleep in tomorrow, but mainly because today focused on writing, which is often a neglected art in an ELA.  We were given a journal exercise, and after several revisions, I'm proud with the essay I developed, so I thought I'd share:

PROMPT:

Think about a friend who is unique or special in some way.  Who is he or she, and what makes him or her special?  Describe his/her actions and appearance to illustrate.

MY RESPONSE:

Poised. Elegant. Beautiful. She was everything I wanted to be, but wasn’t. I was awkward and nerdy, yet she was my friend. Not my “best” friend, but my oldest friend, my most cherished friend.



We belonged to two different worlds. Hers was high society with private schools, fine dining, and Rolls Royces. Mine was middle class with public schools, home cooking, and minivans. But in preschool, those worlds collided and we became fast friends. Each year, she came to my birthday party. When birthday parties were outgrown, we had unplanned annual reunions randomly around town – buying suits for our fathers or running shoes for our mothers.


Graduation, college, and real life came and we drifted apart. Years came and went without seeing or speaking, but our hearts remained as close as ever.


I saw her again recently, still stunning, gorgeous, and eloquent. It was the first time in two (maybe three?) years…yet there were no awkward silences, no forced moments. We talked and laughed and loved well into the night.


But our separate lives called us back. Hers still high society and glamorous in NYC. Mine still working class and routine in Leander. Still, I know our worlds will collide again. It may be years, decades before we see each other, but in the matters of our hearts, time will not have passed.