Losing It: Goals

This is a big one for me. HUGE!! I’m publicly announcing that I need to lose some weight. Now, anyone who has seen me, seen a picture of me, or even talked about me in the last… ummm… 30 years knows this. That’s not to say that I’ve been this weight for the last 30 years (that would be extremely frightening). However, since my parents’ divorce when I was eight, food has been my solace. And, no I’m not blaming you mom. It’s just a fact. Third grade I was relatively normal. Fourth grade I was chubby. There you go.

There have been two times since I was eight that I have been what would be considered a normal or close to normal weight. My senior year in high school when I survived on Diet Coke and NoDoze (remember NoDoze?). I can remember a time when I only took cat naps for three days straight because I had two AP papers due, was rehearsing for a play, and had drill team practice every day to get ready for homecoming. No, my mom didn’t know about that (I was sneaky) and NO, it wasn’t healthy. So, even though I was thinner then, I wasn’t exactly healthy.

The second time I was thinner, I did “Quick Weight Loss.” It worked, I lost it quick!! And then had to have my gall bladder removed. People, you can’t go from mega grams of fat per day to 0 grams of fat per day overnight and expect your body to have no problem with it!! I also couldn’t eat chicken for a year (literally – no lie – a year) after that because I ate so much chicken while on it. The amount of protein they want you to eat is insane! And, I don’t like fish – not helpful.

I’ve done Weight Watchers – TOTALLY WORKS – when you stick to it. I’ve tried other things too. Here’s what I think is my biggest problem. I have NEVER been happy when I’m thinner. NEVER. Both the times when I was almost normal – not happy at ALL. For a multitude of reasons that may or may not have had to do with how I looked. So, I’d rather be chubby and happy than thin and not happy. Seems logical to me.

However, now I’m realizing how UNHEALTHY I am. And, I think I’ve actually passed the chubby point. I’m now in the obese category. The clothes I wear MUST have a W at the end of the size to fit my hips. I’m really tired by the end of the day. And, I’m worried that I someday soon won’t be able to keep up with my family. Here’s the other thing. I have Crohn’s disease. It’s not a fun disease to have as it messes with your digestive system. It’s very sensitive to different types of foods (which actually vary by person). When I eat crap, my body is NOT happy with me – to the point of pain.

So, after consuming an entire sleeve of Thin Mints and several pieces of pizza tonight, I went to my Google Reader to see how my bloggy friends (well, I think they’re friends – they may or may not know me) were doing. MANY of those I read are doing the LOSING IT! challenge. It was humbling to see how these women are sharing their stories with the blog world, and they are all really trying to lose that weight!! They’re not trying to lose weight to look better – not one of them said that. They are all trying to lose weight to be healthier. To be better moms. To be better wives. To be able to stick around longer with their families and actually keep up with the kids.

It was VERY convicting to me. It was as if God said “Um, you see them doing it don’t you. They’re moms with real lives just like you. They don’t have personal trainers. You can do it too.” God talks to me like my best friend sometimes. So, here I am (almost in tears actually) telling you (whoever you are that reads this here blog) that I’m going to commit to doing the LOSING IT! challenge for the next nine weeks.

Here are my goals:

1. 8 glasses of water a day (and ONLY water to drink)

2. One sweet treat a day (I know myself. If I go cold turkey, it’s worse.)

3. Nothing deep fried (I live in the south, this is hard)

4. Exercise of some kind 4 out of 7 days (OK – this is HUGE. I NEVER exercise.)

Okay, I’m about to press “Publish,” and then this will be out there. I’m SO nervous. But, I know I’m really being led to do it, and He’s never led me wrong before.

If you want to know more about the LOSING IT! challenge go here. Do it with me! I’d love to cheer you on!!

Finer Things Friday: Date Days

Many of you have heard of date night. I highly recommend date night. However, at the House of Hills, we really like Date Day. My Sweetie has Fridays off since he works Sundays. Therefore, he’s home all day Friday. Typically, I work on Friday and he runs some errands for us. But once a month or so, I take the morning off, and we have date day. Then, he gets the Princess off the bus, and I work until dinner.

What’s GREAT about date day? Well, for one thing, we’re not tired. As in, it’s light outside and we can have a conversation without wondering when it’s time for night night. Going out to a nice dinner is great, but at the end of the day, I’m wiped. On Date Day, we will usually go out for brunch, which is WAY cheaper than dinner. It also happens to be my favorite meal (especially if there are tasty pancakes involved) so that’s a bonus. Oh, and did I mention it’s during the day so we’re not tired. That lends itself to umm…other things… as well (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

Today is Date Day at House of Hills. That means once this post goes up, I won’t be checking in with you for awhile… not on the blog, not on Twitter, not on Facebook. I’ll be hanging with My Sweetie. That’s definitely a FINER THING. He might even take me out for pancakes.

Date Days… A Finer Thing….

For more finer things head on over to Finer Thing Friday.

Things I Love Thursday: Princess Swimming Video

My Sweetie was messing around on his computer last night looking at You Tube stuff and all of the sudden I heard my own voice. My head popped up! Apparently I’ve been on You Tube since 2006 and didn’t even know it (or didn’t remember it). He had put some videos of the Princess swimming on there for folks that love us to see. I knew about them at the time (according to him), but had totally forgotten about them. Well, he played them all for me, and I got a little misty eyed. How fun to see our Princess almost four years ago just gaining her confidence in the water. How amazing to watch her and see so many of the mannerisms she still has. They’re just grown up now. How awesome is the wonder of seeing the person you just tucked in, but in miniature and with a higher voice. How annoying to hear my laugh on video – oh that was off point.

So that is the thing I love today. This video. Well, home videos in general. They show us how far we’ve come and reinforce that everything she was when she was little, she still is, just better. They prove that those memories we have really did happen. That they were at one time that small. They are just amazing to watch over and over again and wonder with awe that we were blessed enough to be given this little life to guide. Awww, I’m tearing up.

Anyway – home videos. I’m loving them today. Almost as much as I love the kid that’s in them and the man behind the camera.

Here’s one of the videos. ‘Cause I know you want to see it. Just ignore my laugh.

For other things you might love, visit Diaper Diaries.

Works For Me Wednesday: Lunch Tray

The Princess often likes to eat her lunch while watching TV on the weekends… and I often let her. I know, I know. Seriously bad on the Perfect Mommy scale, but it’s not the worst thing I do I’m sure.

She has her favorite spot on the couch and considers it a real treat for her lunch to be served to her in that spot. (Please note that I said this is a treat – as in it doesn’t happen ALL the time.) The issue became that a plate while sitting on the couch is not all that secure. As in, it will slide onto the floor when the Princess is reaching for the remote. So, what’s a Mommy to do? Come up with a little lunch tray for a little lap – that’s what!

I used one of my Tupperware Modular Mates – don’t ask me the specific name – I don’t know these things. It’s the skinny rectangle one. I just put her lunch in snack baggies (just as I would in her lunch box) and put those in the rectangle. It’s small and compact, and sits just perfectly on her lap.

A happy girl, with a safe lunch. That works for me!

For more fabulous ideas go to Works For Me Wednesdays at We Are That Family.

Kroger Shopping 02.23.10

So, I don’t usually shop at Kroger. In fact, I practically NEVER shop at Kroger. Why? Well, because the Kroger nearest our house has seen better days. I’m a Publix girl. Everyone at Publix knows me. They know the Princess. They ask about my family. So, I go to Publix and miss many a Kroger deal.

However, I read Happy Homemaker Cindy’s “Top Stock Up Deals” today and knew I needed to head on over to Kroger. People – they are giving you two free gallons of milk if you by four boxes of Kellogs cereal. And, you can get two deals worth. I GOT 4 GALLONS OF MILK FOR FREE!!

One bummer when I got to Kroger was that chicken was only $1.99 a pound. Wherever Cindy lives, it’s $1.68 a pound. That is a HUGE deal. But for us Metro-Atlantans, $1.99 a pound is a pretty good deal.

Here’s a picture of what I got:

Please note that I had a coupon for everything except the strawberries (The Princess LOVES strawberries) and the chicken (which was mega cheap). Not only did I have a coupon for everything, but everything was also on sale. And, did I mention that THE MILK WAS FREE! Can you tell I’m excited about that.

I spent $56.39

I saved $42.66.

Isn’t that AWESOME! I know those of you that are mega coupon shoppers can do better than that, but I’m proud of my Kroger shopping trip this week.

Who knows, I may go back next week – if there are more good deals.

Where is your favorite place to get the deals?

Top Ten Tuesday: House Prep

Many of you may know that our house is on the market. It has been FOREVER!! Well, not really, but since October. We haven’t had much traffic until recently and we had slacked off in keeping it picked up. Then, we got surprised by an agent, and My Sweetie had to scramble and do some serious picking up in the span of like five minutes. We don’t want to have that happen again. So, here’s what we do before we leave the house now.

1. Blinds open to let the sunlight in.

2. Entertainment center closed and all remotes put away.

3. All the blankets with which we cuddle at night put away.

4. All counters wiped and sink empty.

5. NO appliances on the counters – this one is KILLING me.

6. Fragrance do-da plugged in.

7. Toilet lids down and bathroom counters/sinks wiped clean.

8. Desk in office cleared off – again KILLING me.

9. All toys picked up and in the playroom – the Princess is DOING AWESOME!

10. ALL beds made. The Princess is doing a GREAT job with this one too.

We are praying that all of this preparation will have our house ready for the perfect person to walk in the door and find their future home.

Head on over to OhAmanda’s for more Top Ten Tuesday. You know you want to.

Menu Plan Monday: 02.22.10

Last week’s menu plan got all MESSED UP! We ended up with SO MANY leftovers from the week before and then ended up on an impromptu date on Thursday so I hardly had to cook at all. NOT that I’m complaining in the least.

So Sunday night we ended up having the planned Chicken and Black Bean Quesadillas from Tuesday night. OH MY! They were SO GOOD! I highly recommend this recipe. I took Amy’s advice and cooked my own black beans by soaking them all day and then cooking them for several hours on the stove.

I had never cooked dried beans before. Ummmm… they SERIOUSLY EXPAND as they soak and cook. If you’ve never cooked dried beans and plan to, USE A LARGER POT than you think you need so you are not having to transfer them in the middle of the cooking process because they are cooking over. Just a bit of advice there.

Now, on to this week’s menu…

MONDAY: Small Group (not cooking – WHOOP!)

TUESDAY: (Soccer Practice) Hot Dogs, veggies, chips

WEDNESDAY: Girl’s Night (WHOOP!) Leftovers for those at home

THURSDAY: Garlic Roast Chicken with Vegetables, Cloud Biscuits (from last week)

FRIDAY: Bingo Night at School – Pizza!

SATURDAY: Pork Dumplings (Gonna try something new – wish me luck!)

SUNDAY: Breakfast for dinner.

What are you making this week? Do you menu plan? If not, DO IT! You’ll save time, money, and your sanity – PROMISE!

For more recipes and meal ideas, visit orgjunkie.com.

Weekend Wonderings 02 21 10

This picture was taken last fall after we looked at condos and townhouses where we are hoping to move. It was a beautiful fall day. The Princess and My Sweetie enjoyed some gelato while reflecting on what we had seen.

I WONDER if we will be able to sit in this same place this spring – when it’s FINALLY warm again. However, this time we would be living near there and not just visiting. I WONDER if the next time we sit there, the stress of keeping the house clean and wondering if anyone wants our current home will be over.

I WONDER if my precious daughter will be happily attending her second new school in one year and thrilled with her new friends. I WONDER if I will be loving my new commute – of just minutes rather than 45 minutes – and having that love overflow onto my family just as my current frustration does. I WONDER if My Sweetie and I will be enjoying the nearness of friends and having lots of dinner dates with people we love.

I WONDER what God has planned for us in the next few months. I WONDER and I trust.

Cocoa Krispies LOVE

We’ve all made Rice Krispies Treats. They’re easy. They’re delicious. They can be made into snowmen. Well, they can!

However, have you made Cocoa Krispies Treats? I mentioned them when I talked about my great Christmas Bake of ’09, but I wanted to spend a little more time on them. Why? Because they have become a HUGE FAVORITE at the House of Hills. HUGE!

You are basically making Rice Krispies Treats, but using Cocoa Krispies instead. The official recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of butter and 4 cups of mini-marshmallows. I use 4 tablespoons of butter and a bag of mini-marshmallows. (Who wants to measure marshmallows??)

I added one more tbsp butter in process.

These Cocoa Krispies are SO SO SO SO YUMMY! Like seriously! We had them for the first time at a Christmas party and couldn’t stop eating them. They are amazingly addictive. Everyone who has ever had one, can’t stop at one. Have I convinced you yet that you need to try them? You could even show your love with them.