It's Been A While...

 Now that song is my head. Not sure who sings it. Staind? Anyway, I'm not doing so hot with the weight loss thing. Truth is, I'm not necessarily eating everything in sight so it's not so bad. It's just becoming more difficult to plan these days and WW takes a lot of planning. With Christmas just a few short weeks away, I'm gonna give myself to the New Year and pick back up. I will definitely get back to it. When things slow down a bit and some hugely stressful stuff is finally resolved, I think my mind will be in a place where I can focus much easier. So that's that.

Second, a good friend of mine told me about a movement called "To Write Love on Her Arms". I had already heard of it and had a pretty good idea what it might have to do with. Well, I visited the website yesterday and it turns out I was right. It's about self-injury. (Side Note: I just thew my arms in the air and yelled "I see flurries" as I'm witnessing my first snowfall of the season!) Ok. Back to TWLOHA.

 Everyone knows about drug addictions and alcohol addictions. Everyone knows that many addicts use those things to get through life. To push down pain that keeps surfacing. I would venture to say that all addicts are doing that, if they were really honest with themselves. What people don't seem to know about is self injury. Maybe you've heard of people who cut lines on their arms or legs or other body parts. Or people that burn marks on their bodies. People who consume chemicals to injure their insides. I think there is a stigma attached to it so self injurers aren't as forthcoming. Well, that's not the only reason. It's also because it's something secret that belongs only to them.

 Anyway, I think it's great that someone is putting out information to the public and doing it in a way that isn't making current and former self injurers feel like a loser or a freak. Writing love instead of hate for yourself. It's like a breath of fresh air. If people would get educated on the subject matter maybe the problem could be addressed and stopped. Before it leads to death. Although, self injury is not the same as a suicide attempt. It's not like that. But eventually, one cut isn't enough to push down the pain. It becomes 2 cuts. Then 3. Then 10. And deeper. Until it can become life threatening, even if that is not the intent.

 Don't turn away from a self injurer. Don't sum them up to being a freak and move on. Try to be sympathetic. Try to be understanding. And for pete's sake, check out the website- twolha.com

Missing Me?

Suddenly I have the John Waite song in my head- "I ain't missin' you at all....missin' you....since you've been gone....away..." I love that song. I used to listen to JW all the time and even saw him in concert a few times. I heard an acoustic version of "When I See You Smile" and it was amazing. Anyway, I have no idea where that came from.

I've been missing. MIA. No blog. Nothing. Well, I was off work three days last week in preparation for Lainie's birthday bash. Well, that and I spent her actual birthday (Veteran's Day) just playing with her after I got her pics done. Oh my gosh. It was seriously the first time I've ever taken her for professional pics. She's usually such a ham for a picture. Of course, not when I'm paying someone to take them. But, what they did get of her turned out very cute so it was still worth it.

So, does being blog-MIA mean that I've been a bad girl? Call Santa, because this gal has landed on the naughty list! Yes, with all of the running around and cleaning and working I admit to eating some lousy food. Then there was the birthday party. Yep. Indulgence Central.

However, I'm happy to report that Robb and I are buying a Wii from his cousins for a VERY reasonable price so we've both started using the Wii Fit and playing games against each other on the Wii. Can I please tell you how much I totally L-O-V-E the Wii Fit? First of all, you make a little gal (or guy if you choose) to represent you. Super fun. Then you balance and weigh and it tracks the time you spend each day working out and as you add minutes to your work-out time piggy bank you unlock new and exciting activities. I love the yoga on there! Absolutely love it. It's so much fun. Robb and I have agreed to play games against each other each night and stop wasting so much time watching useless, mindless tv. I mean, we have tv shows that we're not gonna give up, but there aren't that many of them. Sons of Anarchy only has 2 eps left which means there will be nothing to watch on Tuesdays. Mondays we only watch Two and 1/2 Men (and Robb watches silly Wrestling...love you honey). Wednesdays are trickiest because Robb works the entire day and we usually like to relax while watching Modern Family (oh my gosh, so funny) and Cougar Town (started off strong, but starting to fade for me) and then we watch whatever MTV thing is on- right now it's a challenge but pretty soon it will be a new Real World. Thursdays I record Vampire Diaries but I'm starting to lose interest. So it's not like we have shows to watch every single second of the evening. I look for a lot of Wii time to be happening soon!

It seems I still owe you recipes. I promise I'll try but 3 days off work means about 3 weeks worth of work to return to. I'm trying to keep my head above water right now. But I will try. Happy Weighs Day (yeah, I totally forgot to weigh this morning but I will weigh tonight on the Wii....truth is, I thought today was Thursday and I was really excited until I realized I was wrong!

Monday Blues

  Really, I shouldn't be blue on this relatively nice Monday morning. I'm just exhausted from a really great, but action-packed weekend. First of all, we surprised Robb for his birthday on Saturday. That was a go-go-go kind of day. Then yesterday we played at the park- Lainie's first park experience. Super fun. We went to bed kind of late last night (because Robb had to watch the Cowboys game, but oh well, it was his birthday).

 We had the super duper lasagna for which I had hinted I would post over the weekend. I fully intended too but then did not have the time. I'll post it this week with the points. Obviously, I'm behind on my recipe provisions as I still havent' gotten to the green bean casserole, sweet potato pie, or the pumpkin pie recipe. But I will

 Next weekend is Lainie's birthday party (Wednesday is her 1st birthday *sniff, sniff*) She's getting to big too fast. But I've been told this happens. Anyway, it's going to be this glorious princess bash. Really, it's my dream birthday party lived out through her, because she doesn't have the choice.

 Well, I used flex points this weekend so I could enjoy birthday cake, but overall did pretty good! Happy Monday!

This Gal is Working for the Weekend

  Happy Friday!!! Isn't it always nice to wake up and realize it's Friday? I mean, even if you have to go to work you're still super excited because you know that the very second you're off work, it's THE WEEKEND!! And the weekend is what it's all about. 

 So, my weekend is going to be pretty eventful. First of all, we pick up Emily after work and I'm thinking chicken tacos for dinner. See recipe below. Then tomorrow the ladies are shopping while the hubby's a'workin'. Of course, we're actually shopping for the hubby since his birthday is Sunday. I'd like to send a shout out to my stud muffin hubby (because he really does read my blogs- he even quotes them sometimes- that's a hubby that should get a round of applause- *sound of applause*). HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROBEAR! I'm making lasagna for his birthday dinner Sunday. I know what you're thinkng- oooooooooooooh, you're gonna go over points! *tisk, tisk* Well, my finger-shaking friends, I actually have figured out a way to make it a bit easier on the points. Granted, with all of that cheesy goodness it's not going to be perfectly point-friendly. However, I bought reduced fat Sargento's shredded mozz cheese (they make a mean RF cheese) and light Riccotta cheese. So, right there I cut loads of fat. The rest of the meal isn't too awful- whole grain lasagna noodles, 90% lean ground beef, tomato sauce and paste, and spaghetti sauce packets (to make your own sauce) and none of those things are point killers. Super yummy! I'll just have to work my points right but I can still enjoy this tasty feast! Perhaps, if you're lucky, I'll share the secret family recipe for my mom's lasagna. There is literally nothing like it. Just ask anyone that's had it.

 Kendy's Super Yum Chicken Tacos (ok, they're just plain old chicken tacos, but hey, gotta throw my name on the recipe)

4-6 chicken breasts, skinless, boneless (we usually cook 4 large breasts)
2-3 tbsp taco seasoning (or one envelope)
8 flour tortillas (I just can't do the corn variety- super yuck)
Non-stick cooking spray

Lightly coat a skillet with spray. Cut chicken into bite sized pieces and add to the pan. Add seasoning. Cook until chicken is cooked through. Heat tortillas. Add chicken to tortillas.

Makes about 8 servings. Add whatever toppings you like. We love love love chicken tacos at my house.

NOTICE TO MOMS: This is a super, simple and quick recipe for dinner. I always keep the ingredients on hand for those nights I just don't feel like putting a lot of effort into dinner. I buy bags of frozen chicken breasts and just set out however many I need before I leave for work and voila!- dinner made easy.

NOTICE TO THE WEIGHT CONCIOUS: These tacos are sooooo incredibly easy on the points. Add fat free shredded cheddar (very low point) and salsa (which is free, my friend, free as a bird) and you have a very filling, healthy meal. I usually eat around 3 tacos for about 10 points. But that usually includes FF sour cream too!

Enjoy! Have a Happy Weekend! Happy Eating!

P.S. Our computer at home is finally off the fritz which means, that's right, I can blog from home (or even bed) again! You may have an extra blog this weekend and it just might contain the recipe for my world famous (oh, but it is- at least famous in my world) lasagna!