Wednesday Treats

Every Wednesday, my girls get out of school a half an hour earlier than normal.  I think it has something to do with school improvement.  Anyway, last year I started a new tradition that is looked forward to with much anticipation each week.  I made Wednesday a "Special Treat" Day.  Each Wednesday, I make the girls a special treat for when they come home from school.

Some of the treats that have been devoured have been Rice Krispie squares, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, trail mix, hot chocolate.  I will admit there are times that I have gotten busy and forgotten.  I can usually make up for it with a trip to the gas station for a slushie or a trip to the ice cream shoppe for a sundae.  The wrath of three girls that have been cheated out of their Wednesday treat is not something I want to mess with.

This year has been fun so far.  For the first Wednesday after they go back to school, I always make them the Pillsbury already made cookies that just have to go in the oven.  I get the one's with the school buses on them.  I just think they are so cute! 

The other Wednesdays in August, I made them Rice Krispie treats (because mommy was craving them), mini cinnamon muffins, and then Grandma B. gave them each a dollar to go up to the gas station to get a slushie. 

In September, I decided to try something different.  I decided to find a snack that pertains to the month we are in.  Thanks to the September edition of Family Fun Magazine, my September treats rocked!!!  The first treat I made were these Candy Apple Cookie Pops.  They were not the easiest things to make (and I probably won't make them again) but they turned out cute and the girls loved them.  I had my friends two girls over that afternoon and they were crazy for them as well. 

The next week I made these cute little Back to School cupcakes.  Wendy had just had an expander put in her mouth and I needed to make something soft she could eat.  These cupcakes were just the thing.  Of course, they was a little bit of arguing over who was going to eat which one.

This past Wednesday, I made acorns for their snack.  I told the girls when I walked over to pick them up from school, that they were having acorns for a snack. I think they were kind of worried that it might be true because Ellie has been picking up acorns from the backyard and bringing them in to use as a table decoration in the kitchen.  They laughed when they saw them and then there were none.

I know these aren't the healthiest snacks around, but it's the memories I am making that makes up for it.  They only got two cookies pops each, one cupcake, and three little acorns. I try to make them eat healthy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all week, a once a week sugar buzz should be fine.  Besides, this also gives mommy a time to be creative and to do something I enjoy.  I love to cook and bake things but the clock and I are always in a race.  The clock usually beats me everytime.  This way, I know it's Wednesday. I need to have the ingredients handy and my creative juices flowing.

Thanks to my new obsession, Pinterest, I have found the cutest Wednesday snack ideas for fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  I should be set to go until 2012.  My problem is going to be picking out which snack to make the girls! 

I am glad my girls look forward to this every week.  I love being able to do something for my girls that makes them happy.  After all, isn't that one of the great perks about being a mommy?

Wednesday Weigh In Weeks 9-12

I am still here!  I haven't blogged a Wednesday weigh in for 4 weeks.  Life kind of got in my way this month.  Have been doing alot of homework with the girls, Girl Scout stuff, Church stuff, and family maintenance.  By the time I thought of blogging, it was so late and I was just too tired.  The next couple weeks were just the same.  But I am happy to say that even though I haven't been blogging about it, I have still been weighing in every Wednesday. 

Let's review.  Last time I blogged, I had hit my 1st goal of 10 lbs lost.  As a "way to go" gift for me, I ordered two Gooseberry Patch cookbooks (which I collect and absolutely love).  I ordered Comfort Foods and An Old-Fashioned Country Christmas.  I love getting goodies in the mail.  I then set my second goal for 30 lbs gone.  From Sept. 7 through today Sept. 28.  I have lost another 5 lbs.  I am now at 224.  Down 15 lbs since I started. 

I have been so busy that I don't have time to snack.  I haven't even been snacking on the healthy foods.  I need to get back into my eating routine so that I can keep my metabolism up.  I am also sorry to say that I have only done a couple of workouts in these past few weeks.  It is just so hard to find time for myself. I am so busy doing for everyone else, that I don't have time to take care of myself. 

Overall, I am pleased that the progress is still going forward and not backward.  I am hoping that I can get in some kind of groove to get my workouts in.  Maybe then I will be able to see some bigger numbers on the scale gone.  Thanks for all the prayers and motivation.  I am getting there.  It may be slow but it is going.  

A Surprise For My Friends

I look forward to a certain time each day.  Some days it's early, some days it's late.  This certain time of day comes during rain, sleet, snow, and hail.  This certain time of day does not show up on Sundays or holidays.  Can you guess what certain time of day it is?  It's mail time!  Sometimes I wish I had Mailbox from Blue's Clues so that he could announce my mail delivery with some pomp and circumstance.

Christmas season is an awesome mail getting time!  I love going to the mailbox and finding it stuffed with Christmas cards.  But, the rest of the year can be kind of sad when nothing pours in except bills, junk mail, bills, advertisements, and more bills.  Sometimes "occupant" gets more mail than I do.  Of course, there is the occasional magazine subscription once a month that is a happy surprise when you open the mailbox. 

Today at church, a friend of mine (Emily) reminded me of a ministry we had at a different church we both attended in Collinsville about 10 years ago.  Emily told me that she was recently going through a box and inside she found a "care card" from me that I had sent to her when she was getting ready to leave for basic training.  Along with mine were several other cards that she had kept all these years.  A "care card" was just a plain postcard stuck in the pouch of the church chairs that you could just take and write a word of encouragement, a happy thought, or to let someone know that you were praying for them.  You could drop them in a certain spot and the church would put on the postage and mail them out to the recepients.  Every once in a while you had a nice surprise waiting for you in your mailbox.  I remember getting "care cards" from people praying for Harry and I when we were trying to have a baby, cards just to say hi and thanks for being a friend, and cards with nothing on it but a verse from the Bible.

With e-mail, facebook, twitter and texting, sending "snail mail" has almost gone to the wayside.  People don't even pay their bills through the mail anymore.  Everything is paid through the computer.  People complain about the continuing rise of the cost of stamps as a reason they don't write or send cards anymore.  Really, your family and friends aren't worth 46 cents? Even less if you send a postcard!

As I have contemplated Emily's words from this morning, I am going to make a new goal for myself and try to send my friends a little bit of "happiness" to their mailboxes a couple of times each month.  Who doesn't like to find a nice surprise waiting for them to brighten their day?  Even my four year old asks me almost everyday, "Did I get any mail, mommy?".  So be on the lookout!  If I have your mailing address you may find a nice little surprise in your mailbox someday soon.

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 8

It is an exciting day for me on weigh in Wednesday!  I was bummed last week because I missed the first goal I set for myself by .5 lb.  This week, I am excited to say that I have made my first goal of 10 lbs lost.  -1 lb this week.  To congratulate myself, I am buying 2 Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks for my collection.  Yay me!! 

Last week, I also set a goal to add some weights into my workout.  I did get a couple of workouts in this past week.  I can't believe how sore my arm muscles were from doing 2 sets of lifts with a measly 2 lb weight.  That just goes to show how out of shape I'm in.  I used to lift weights all the time in college, now I'm lucky to lift 2 lbs over my head 15 times.  Sad,  but...it's a start with the weights and I am pleased that I followed through.  I even had a little personal trainer helping me along the way. The book that I am reading said that when you hit your 30's because of hormones and lifestyle changes, you start losing 1/2 to 1 lb of muscle a year. Because of this, your metabolism slows down 1% for every lb of muscle lost. Then, your percentage of body fat increases.  That doesn't sound very promising for me as I push very close to 40.  The book goes on to say that if you work every major muscle group just twice a week, you can replace 2 lbs of lost muscle in 8 weeks, therefore increasing your metabolism and dropping more wieght.

I am really pleased with my eating habits.  They have changed tremendously in the last 8 weeks definitely for the better.  I don't feel full all the time because I'm not snacking all the time and the snacks that I am eating are low fat, low cal.  My focus this week, is to increase the strength training to 5 days a week. 

My new overall goal to achieve is to lose 31 lbs.  31 lbs will take me into the 100's which I haven't seen in a very long time.  I know it's a long and tougher goal but I am hoping that will make me work harder.  As a side goal there is a pair of jeans that I have that I would like to get into before the cold weather hits. Here's hoping for a good week.       

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 7

Good morning!  A week has come and gone and it's time to weigh in again!  Those weeks sure do seems to fly by.  Hoping to meet my first goal this week.  Here we go....-2.5lbs.  Missed my goal by half a lb!!!  Well that's a bummer.  But the good news is that I will have it next week so I better start thinking of a reward for myself.

Once again, exercise has been an important part in my weight loss.  I have gone for a walk every day this week.  Sometimes it was very early morning before the girls went to school, sometimes after dinner when Harry got home from work.  I am really enjoying it!!!  One of the books I am reading says that "walking just 1 hour a week slices your risk of having a heart attack in half".  I think my heart might love me for all the walking that I am doing.  I did fail in one aspect.  I was going to start some weight training this week and I didn't.  So, that is my goal for the week.  My cousin Becky let me borrow a book that has easy 10 minute workouts using weights.  Stayed tuned to see how it turns out.

Making sure I ate healthy lunches was helpful in my weight loss this week, too.  Lean ham sandwiches on one slice of bread, turkey bacon sandwich, a salad with oven roasted chicken pieces (Schwann's has oven roasted chicken bites that are fully cooked and only 90 calories for 6 pieces), and tuna fish salad with Miracle Whip light on toasted English muffin.  Pretzels, pickles, and fruit have been used in the place of chips.  Need to pick up some celery and carrots the next time I'm at the store to add to my lunches.

Thanks to my husband for watching the kids so I can go for my walks this week and thanks for saying we're broke so that I have to stay home and cook instead of going out to eat.  :)  A big thank you to all of you for giving me postive reinforcement to keep going.  It helps tremendously to know that you are being supported by friends and family.  Looking forward to next week when I reach my first goal and making plans for my second goal in weight loss. 

Back to School Time

It's that time of year again!  Bedtimes are once again 8 p.m., Hello Kitty alarm clock blasting out Radio Disney at 7:00 a.m., lunches being packed, one crying because she doesn't like what I made her for lunch, the other one crying because she doesn't want to wear those clothes, the third one crying because the other two don't want her to walk to school with them.  Yes, it's back to school time!

I love back to school time!  Of course, I kid the girls and tell them it is mommy's most favorite holiday in the whole year.  I start the first day of school count down with weeks to go.  Every time we pass by the school, I wave and say "see you soon".  They think it's because mommy needs a 10 month vacation (which I do) but the real reason is I am so excited to be starting the year right there with them. 

When I was a kid, I enjoyed going to Wal-mart to purchase my back to school supplies.  I would put my own name on them and have them just so.  I'm still going to Wal-mart to purchase back to school supplies and putting names on them and having them just so, except this time I have to pay for them with my own money.  The girls love it too.  They have fun picking out the color/design of a folder or notebook they want, putting crayons, markers, pencils, and glue sticks, and glue sticks, and glue sticks in the cart.  Then you have to go clothes shopping.  Deciding what to wear on that first day of school can wear you out alone.  My girls are still young enough that I can say "Hey, how about this cute outfit?" in an upbeat sing songing tone and they are like "Yeah!".  At this point it doesn't matter if it came from Target rather than Abercrombie & Fitch just as long as it's new.  I'm sure that won't last too much longer, since the pre-teen years loom very close in my future.

Another thing I loved about the first day of school was seeing who your teacher was and who was in your homeroom class that year.  Especially the boys.  I won't put the boys names on here since many of them are my facebook friends.  I wouldn't want to embarrass myself by making known my 5th grade crush from some 30 years ago.  It was great seeing all your friends that you didn't get to see over the summer.  Everyone talking at once, jumping up and down, admiring clothes, shoes, and boys together.

I love when the girls come home from school and are excited about what they did or the happenings that took place at school that day.  I love seeing the art projects they made and their ecstatic faces when I oohh and aahh over it and then hang it up on our special wall in the kitchen for all to admire.  I love spelling words!!!!!  I love listening to them read their homework to me while I'm cooking dinner.  Not too fond of the math, but I survive it by putting on a fake happy smile that says "Math is cool" and then pass it off quickly to daddy. (Sorry Mr. Derwort, Mrs. Danford, and Mr. Lewis, I still don't get it).  I love when they get excited about incentives they can earn from the treasure box, or parties they are having, or family reading nights, fall festival nights, grandparents day, parents day, and book fairs.  Ah, the book fairs.

From starting out in the little kindergarten building in Marissa with a half day of class and Mrs. Kuhnert as my first teacher, all the way through college to my senior year at Blackburn with my favorite college professor Dr. Singh right there along side of me, I always loved the first day of school.  I see the excitement in the girl's eyes as they start their 2nd and 3rd grade years and I just hope and pray that excitement carries them all the way through their senior year in whatever college they choose (as long as it's close to home, sniff, sniff, tear, tear). 

Wednesday Weigh In - Week 6

Good morning!  Wednesday weigh-in is here again.  Was a little worried about this week.  We went up to the state fair this past weekend and you know there is really not anything good to eat at a fair.  I didn't do too bad though.  I had a grilled pork chop sandwich, a few bites of the girls funnel cake, and  a slushie.  Today the results showed that all is good.  Down 2 lbs this week!  Proud to say that I am 3 lbs away from my first goal.

I am feeling better than I have been in awhile.  The last couple of days Harry has had to work late so I actually got up in the morning to walk before he left for work.  The most I have hit the snooze is twice, which is really good for me.  I can go a half hour or more just hitting that snooze button. 

I am still soda free.  Been drinking alot of tea and water.  I am actually craving water probably because I am trying to be more active.  I have exercised everyday this week!  Walking around 2 days of the state fair was definitely considered exercise!  I have gone out to eat at restaurants a couple of times this week and made good choices even though those onion rings smelled so good!  Can't give into temptation now.

Breakfast is my favorite meal to eat.  My favorite things to eat for breakfast are:  Kelloggs Nutra-grain waffles, chocolate Cheerios, Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Toast, and I have made my own egg and cheese biscuits by using 100 cal English muffins, fat free cheese, and a scrambled egg.  I also have a great recipe for French toast using hot dog buns. They are delicious and really low in calories and fat.  Of course, fruit has continued to be present as much as possible.  Throw in some turkey bacon that we occasionally have and I could eat breakfast for lunch and dinner too.  I know some people usually skip a meal to try to lose weight but that is not helpful at all.  Especially breakfast.  Breakfast should be the biggest meal you eat while dinner should be the smallest.  What do you have for a low-cal breakfast?  Would love to get some new ideas to change it up.

This week, I will be pushing on to reach my first goal.  I will continue to exercise everyday and watch what I am eating.  I also may try to add in some weights this week.  I leave you with this quote that I found in a book I was reading.  Albert Einstein once said, "nothing happens until something moves".  He was probably talking about science but it works just as well with shedding lbs. and exercising.