Well, I spent too much at the grocery store...as usual! I did find about $5 in coupons though, so that was encouraging. :)

Lunch was a brown rice cake, with charoset and one of the new low carb potatoes microwaved with butter. They are drier than regular potatoes, and not as fluffy baked, but the taste is good. I boiled the rest to make potato salad. I plan on entering their contest...I hope I win! The grand prize is $1000 and I do make a good potato salad! I would love to win.

Tom is working in the yard, and hoping it won't rain. It was sunny, but now its cloudy and gray out. :(

TECHWIFE! Where are you?

MELF: Good to see you! Stay a while! We miss you.

FILLISE: I am with you...NO MORE RAIN! Can we do an UNrain dance?? :dance:

KENG: I sure hope the friend and her daughter were not ill. I know how you feel. With Lupus, I have to be very careful and it used to drive me crazy when I was teaching kids arts classes to homeschooled children when the parents would bring the kids hacking and coughing to the class! Praise the Lord I never got sick...but it could have killed me!

COUNTRY: Shallots is good eating! My son in law tells me the only difference between a home kitchen and a restaurant kitchen food is shallots! Restaurants use them all the time. Great flavor! What kind of fish did you use? I like lemon pepper, so I will look for the Tones Lemon Garlic...

SEBRAY: I agree with Julia...just concentrate on eating right, and exercising and stay off the scale. Its going to vary from day to day, so you ought to stay off it for at least a week at a time and take the average. Now if I can just practice what I am preaching here... :lol:

I better go get some stuff done. I need to try and pry James out of bed so he can help his father with some stuff that needs to get done today. Wish me luck! It will be like finding a needle in a haystack...

ok ok ill stay off the scale (trying not to cross my fingers behind my back hehe) the only reason im on the scale every day is cause Diet Power needs my weight info every day....*sigh*

The family fun day was fun for the kids....they had all kinds of stations to make stuff and play....kevin and i had our arms overloaded with things thta the kids made today hehe

well i need to head to walmart and get some little pots for the plants the kids got today.....

for the first time in a long time here is my menu today:

BF: nature's valley granola bar (apple crisp) ... i know it has like 11g of sugar in it but we were on our way out the door and it was either that or a baggie of marshmellows :(

L: chicken taco salad .... i think i got the recipe here...but if not ill be glad to post it for everyone...it was soooOOOOOOOO yummy :D

D: not too sure here but i know it will be something light

and im gonna have some grapes for snack later :)

sorry i cant do replies right now...my mind just isnt with me yet...still pounding away on those papers :(

Good afternoon ya'll.
 

We just in from working on the stall. I think they are trying to kill me...LOL We unloaded a load of sand. Robert needs to get another load next week and it should help keep the stall more level. Stormy made me a giant salad. It was delicious. I used a little feta in the place of salad dressing. It keeps the calories down but adds a ton of flavor.

Monet...I used the Tilapia. They should make me a spokewoman. I just love the fillets they sell at the store down the road. It's individually wrapped and each fillet is about 4.4 ounces. To be honest I'd could eat two but I stop at one. I hope you can find the seasoning. We got ours at the Dollar King. It was a huge container like you would get at Sams. Sounds like you are eating very well since coming off of your fast. WTG

Melf...((hugzz)) It is so good to see you. Welcome back. I was awol for awhile myself.

Sebray....I have a hard time staying off of the scales so I try to remind myself that flucuations are normal and I try..key word being try to go with the weekly weigh-ins as a true progress report.


Julia..thank you. Yes, I have been carefully watching what I eat. If I eat a cheeto I add it to my journal. That really helps a lot. Working in the garden and getting moving has been a big plus I think. I hope the little one is not ill and you end up having a super visit.

Susan....that is a good question. I don't know what it is about weekends. Maybe it's the whole process of relaxing and not doing what we do during the week. So far so good this weekend. I bet you are totally excited about your trip. How long are you going to be there?

Bob...how are you doing? Hope you are feeling better.

Heart....you can do it! Baby steps..((hugzz))

Time to get. ((((((((Everybody))))))))))

Love and hugs,
Crystle

Ok, guys. I am in BIG trouble. I made potato salad with the Sunlite low carb potatoes and it was fabulous! I mean, oh wow! I baked one in the microwave, and it was ok, but boiled and used in salad they come into their own. I am going to really struggle to keep out of the potato salad now. :(

KENG: Here is the Ginger salad dressing recipe:

1/4 C. chopped onion
1/4 C. vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. water
1 Tbsp. chopped ginger root (I use more as I like the ginger flavor)
1 Tbsp. chopped celery
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 1/2 tsp. tomato paste ( use 1/2 tsp. of ketchup to avoid opening a whole can for this amt)
1 1/2 tsp. sugar (I use agave, or fructose)
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt


Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Process until almost smooth. Any unused portions
may be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator.

SEBRAY: You can just hit enter when Dietpower asks for your weight. It will just figure you have not lost. If you have been using it for more than a week, it doesn't hurt to do that. I used DP for years, and only weighed once a week and it worked fine.

COUNTRY: I love tilapia too! Its the only fish I can get Laura to even consider eating! :lol: I will check Costco and Sams for the Tones seasoning.

Off to get something done!

Just flying by to say I am trying a new vegetable today. I got a bag of prepared Kale at Publix and cooked them when I got home. I like them. They are milder than Collards and have almost a sweet taste. I just simmered them in salted water with a few tablespoons of peanut oil in it. I give it a thumbs up.

Yeah, I think they finally got the internet connection fixed. The cable guy thinks it was a bad cable end thingy that comes out of the wall. He said the signal was very bad when he tested it he also grounded something outside that wasnt but was supposed to be. So , so far so good.
Today was spent at the grocery then waiting for the cable guy to get here then a quick nap and off to dinner and back to thatch in the yard. Tomorrow we have a million errands. But its nice getting out and you dont have to wear a coat and freeze !

Sebray- know how you feel about the scale. Ive been bouncing about for months now..up , down , up , down. Its so frustrating. This week though Im down 3 1/2 without any ups so Im keep my fingers crossed it stays off this time.
Chicken taco salad sounds great. Id love the recipe if you have time to post it!

Countrymom4him- I love tilapia also. Orange roughe (sp) is my fav but unless I find it on sale I dont get it cause its just too expensive.

Monet- sounds like your switching wonderfully from the fast to regular eating.
What is the dietpower you guys are talking about? Is it like fitday?

Saturdays menu
Todays just been really weird so my eatings been weird too. So maybe overlook todays menu ;)
b- 1 oz macadamia nuts, 4 strawberries
s- na
l- protein shake , 4 bacon
s- a few more strawberries
d- club salad with ranch, 2 mozzeralla sticks
s- and a few more strawberries.

CINDY: Yes, Dietpower is like fitday, but for your own computer. I love it. There is an ad for it on LCC, on the right hand side. I think its a woman running on the beach. You can add foods to the list, and it keeps track of your metabolic rate by your weight and calorie inputs. They have a free trial period to try it to see if you like it. I bought it several years ago and use it off and on. I really do like it. Oh, and you can input your exercise and it gives you the calorie expenditure calculated to your weight. Great little diet tool! I over did it on the food tonight...I ate about six large fresh radishes. It upset my stomach big time! I never would have thought that it would. What is funny is that I have lost my cravings for a lot of things. Tonight, I made Amy's Frozen ww crust pizzas for the boys, and could have eaten some if I wanted, I just did not want it! I used to be able to inhale pizza...so this is pretty new and exciting for me. I am glad you got your internet fixed! I feel lost when I can't get online!

It is after 11pm and I am tired but thought I will make a stop here before I hit the sack.

My friend and her dd came at around 2pm and went home about 7.30pm. Boyy...that was a long 5+hrs for me, with the kids storming thru the house, screaming and arguing with each other, jumped, climbed etc etc. We let them played outside quite a bit so there was less damage in the house...lol and I also took them to the playground. Boy, they were both tired but refused to admit it. My dd and her dd have a love hate friendship....my, my, I can't say I love to see them together. Well, I get a little worried at the end of the day when I saw her dd's nose is runny. My friend said she thought the runny nose was gone. Now...I am not upset with her since I know she really think her dd was okay and I know it could be allergy as well. Hope and pray it is an allergy:(

MONET : Thanks for the recipe, I will copy it down. I like the potatoes too since I don't really like starchy potatoes. If I crave for one, that will be my treat.

FILLISE : I missed your post earlier as well, we must be posting at the same time. Hope you get some cleaning done like you planned. My house sure needs cleaning especially after the kids have "stormed" thru it...lol. Kids and mess sure go together...lol.

MELF : Hey there, glad to see you here today. We miss you :0

CINDY : Glad your internet is up and running. Without internet, I feel like I am cut out of the rest of the world...lol.

COUNTRY : I love tilapia as well. It used to be my number one fish until I found basa fish at Publix. It is mild like tilapia but has a very tender, flaky texture. You almost cannot overcook that fish. I still eat tilapia though...definitely one of my favourites.

I know I might be missing someone since I am trying to get as many replies in before it gets too late, but not intentional. Got to go get my beauty sleep and rest so I don't feel like fainting at church again tomorrow...LOL.

Julia

MONET : I tried Kale for the first time when I was sicked with morning sickness. I made this Portugese Kale soup which is so hearty and yummy....love it!!! Have you try this recipe?? I heard so much about it but have never tried it until that time. It's also easy to make and not to mention a healthy soup as well. If you feel like having a good hearty and healthy soup, do let me know. I will be very glad to give you the recipe. Next week I am going to try Swiss Chard. I saw this recipe at food network called, braised swiss chard and it looked so simple and delicious. It calls for a little Red Wine vinegar at the end of the cooking process. I just bought the red wine vinegar so I am ready to try the dish. I am looking to eat more dark green veggies so this sounds like a good choice. Will let you know how it turns out.

Julia

ok its late and i FINALLY got 2 LARGE math homework assignments done and just need to flesh out my smaller paper and ill have that done too....here's the recipe...its really easy and sooo yummy :)

Chicken Taco Salad

1 can chunk white chicken (could use fresh chicken if you wanted)
1 stalk celery
1/3 c salsa
1/4 c sour cream (fat free)
1 tsp cumin
8 taco shells (crushed)
1 small tomato (chopped)
1 cup romain lettuce (shredded)
some cheese :)

*in a medium bowl, combine chicken, celery, salsa, sour cream, and cumin and mix well
*add crushed taco shells, lettuce, tomato and cheese

Serve immediately

168 calories
5g fat
16 carbs
4g dietary fiber
not sure of the sugar

im pretty sure i got this recipe off the boards here.....but if not then you have it now :D

ok im off too bed....i made some really ILLEGAL chocolate chip cookie popcorn balls.....it was such a dilema to make it that i dont want any of it rofl....but i did have a little nibble of the cookie dough before i mixed it in hehe....

Good Morning!

I hopped on the metal monster this morning, and I was up 1.5 pounds. I expected that, and was surprised it was not worse. If I can keep 15 of the pounds I lost off, I will be ecstatic!

KENG: I would love the recipe for the kale soup. I have not had swiss chard either..or for ages anyway. Have you had collards? They sell it in Publix with the bagged greens. We love them. Cook them with a bit of oil in it and some salt until they are very tender. They are true southern eating! :)

SEBRAY: Good going on getting the math done, now get the papers done! Thanks for the recipe!

Off to find some breakfast! :wave:

Yum!
 

Coming to Bob's house for dinner. :) Fresh asparagus is so tasty. I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better. Hope you like your new boss tomorrow.

Monet...I've never had chard or kale but I grew up on collard and mustard greens. When granny would come over she would mix some radish tops in with the mustard greens...or turnip..which ever we had on hand. I'd eat them more often but I'm lazy...LOL You can get the bags here but I prefer the bunches.

Sebray...WTG on finishing your assignments.

Julia...I don't think they have the basa where I live. They just started getting the tilapia. They've had the tilapia about 30 minuites from here at teh store but I had never heard of it before you ladies were talking about it one time. I grew up on catfish, which I love. But I only like it fried. That's the best thing about the tilapia, it's good sauteed in either a little olive oil or just seasoned water. Since I'm really watching the fats I've been using water. Have you ever microwaved it? I haven't been brave enough to try it that way yet.

Cindy..I hear ya. I can't afford the tilapia where I do most of my grocery shopping but the store close to my house has it for about 3.49 a pound and I'm the only one that eats it. At the other store it's 6.99 a pound...that's not happening..LOL

Love and hugs,
Crystle

well today is kevin's bday....we already had his party but im going to surprise him and make him his very own cake that only has his name on it :) (his brother shares his birthday ... they are exactly a year apart and they have always shared a cake) its going to be a carrot cake (his 2nd fav kind of cake) and im going to make it as legal as possible (so i can have a piece hehe)

i have to run so i can clean my kitchen and get started on his cake and then i HAVE to finish my pappers... hope everyone has a great day :wave: