Happy Hour Mishaps

I worked a long day yesterday and met my sweetie for Happy Hour afterward. Well, he was running late so I had a glass of wine before he arrived. Then I ordered the "healthiest" appetizer I could find, smoked fish dip. It came with carrots & celery but not enough of them so of course I ended up digging into the tortilla chips as well. *groan* As if that weren't bad enough, I came home and ate 2 slices of leftover pizza! What the hell? I didn't log all of this into my journal, wouldn't even know where to start, but I feel like crap this morning so I doubt I'll be doing that again. Thankfully the scale isn't showing my blunder...yet. I figure if I stay OP today and work in a walk this evening I should be ok.

Here's a cute little survey I borrowed from my Sparkpeople pal Morticia, something to take my mind off the long work day ahead...and the crappy eating mistakes I made last night.

Silly fun quiz

1. Do you have any pets?
yes, at the moment I share my house with a greyhound mix, a wolfdog, 4 cats, a hairless rat and a bunny

2. Name 3 things that are physically close to you.
candles, mirror, mermaid statue

3. What's the weather like right now?
hot & muggy

4. Do you drive? If so have you crashed?
Yes, one accident which was not my fault

5. What time did you wake up this morning?
6:00

6. When was the last time you showered?
about an hour ago

7. What was the last movie you saw?
Adam

8. What does your last text message say?
"Ok, looking forward to seeing you!"

9. What's your ringtone?
theme from Bewitched

10. Have you ever been to a different country?
yes, Bimini (Bahamas)

11. Do you like sushi?
only California rolls

12. Where do you buy your groceries?
Fresh Market, Publix, Winn Dixie, Whole Foods, Target, Wal-Mart

13. Have you ever taken medication to help you fall asleep faster?
yes

14. How many siblings do you have?
A half brother

15. Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop?
laptop

16. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
46

17. Do you wear contacts or glasses?
contacts

18. Do you color your hair?
yes, to cover the gray!

19. Tell me something you are planning to do today.
go food shopping, cook a yummy dinner

20. When was the last time you cried?
I can't remember, I think it was sometime last week

21. What is your perfect pizza topping?
every veggie you can pile on with light cheese

22. Which do you prefer-hamburgers or cheeseburgers?
cheeseburgers, but I don't eat much red meat anymore

23. Have you ever had an all-nighter?
Not sure what this means. LOL. If it has to do with drinking - no. If it has to do with sex - maybe. If it has to do with work - yes.

24. What is your eye color?
blue

25. Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke?
Yes. I rarely drink soda but when I do it's got to be Diet Coke

Off to work, hope you all have a fabulous day!

A Little Spark!

After much pondering, I've decided to start using Sparkpeople as my main support group and tracking tool. I joined Sparkpeople years ago and always enjoyed visiting there but never really used their program. Since I need more accountability right now, this seems like the perfect time to heat things up and use the site to it's full potential!

Feel free to take a peek at my Sparkpage if you'd like to explore further.


And, to tantalize your taste buds, look at this deeelicious recipe from Real Simple I found yesterday! Please note, my computer is still not back in my hot little hands so I'm unable to redux this recipe for you. I will be substituting part-skim ricotta but otherwise I think it stands on it's own as a pretty healthy dish.


Eggplant Lasagna With Herbed Ricotta and Asiago

Serves 4
Hands-on Time: 20m
Total Time: 45m

Ingredients

* 1/2 pound plum tomatoes, halved and seeded
* 1 clove garlic
* 4 tablespoons olive oil
* kosher salt and black pepper
* 2 eggplants (about 3 pounds), sliced lengthwise 1/4 inch thick
* 1 cup ricotta
* 1 large egg
* 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
* 1/4 cup grated Asiago or Parmesan (1 ounce)
* 4 cups mixed greens

Directions

1. Heat broiler. In a food processor, puree the tomatoes, garlic, 1 tablespoon of the oil, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.

2. In 2 batches, arrange the eggplant on a broilerproof baking sheet, brush with 2 tablespoons of the oil, and season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Broil until charred and tender, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, basil, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.

4. Spread half the tomato sauce in the bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish. On top of it, layer a third of the eggplant and half the ricotta mixture. Repeat with another layer of eggplant and ricotta. Top with the remaining eggplant and tomato sauce. Sprinkle with the Asiago.

5. Reduce oven to 400º F and bake until bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Divide the greens among plates, drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of oil, and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Serve with the lasagna.

Tip:This lasagna can be easily made in advance. Refrigerate it, wrapped, up to 2 days. Reheat at 350º F for 20 to 30 minutes.

Rapunzel's note: I'll be substituting part-skim ricotta to cut down on fat & calories.

Nutritional Information: Calories 378; Fat 26g; Sat Fat 9g; Cholesterol 91mg; Sodium 782mg; Protein 15g; Carbohydrate 27g; Fiber 14g


Doesn't that look amazing? Guess what I'll be having for dinner tonight? Mmm....but in the meantime, it's off to work for me, hope you all have a Beauty-Full Day!

Beach Beauties

For your viewing pleasure...



Enjoy!

Stuck on the Beach

Yesterday Beren and I decided to take the jet ski out for a little ride around the ocean so we loaded it up on the trailer, got it into the water and away we went..about a yard from the dock we noticed that something was wrong. The jet ski felt heavy & sluggish, difficult to steer and balance. Beren turned around quickly, headed back to the dock but only made it halfway there before tipping us over. *giggle* Soaking wet, we managed to get the little boat back on the trailer at which point Beren discovered that he had forgotten to close the plugs on the back, therefore letting in gallons of water. Oops! No wonder we were sinking! Ah, well, stuff happens, plans change. Back at home, we had lunch and decided we'd head down to Main Street for some live music and a cocktail. We hopped in the car and quickly discovered that something was wrong with the clutch...it had been acting up for a while but Beren was nursing it along, hoping for a car repair reprieve. No such luck. So...instead of heading home last night, we spent another night and today will find a mechanic who'll hopefully make the necessary repairs and get us back on the road. Is it awful that I was more-than-slightly happy about being near the beach for one more day? *grin* What a terrible hardship, right?

In other news, I did pretty well eating-wise this weekend. Other than a small serving of Beren's irresistible homemade french fries, I stuck to my plan and didn't feel terribly deprived. We tend to eat more simply here when it's just the two of us, fewer recipes and kid-friendly dishes, more grilling and fresh vegetables. Unfortunately this one good weekend did not affect the scale..I'm ashamed to admit that the number this morning read 172.4. Never in my life did I think I would be this heavy, don't even think I reached that weight when pregnant. I'm disgusted over it but not going to sit around and whine, that doesn't do any good. I just need to take action.


Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Back to the Basics

My laptop is still out of service, have a wonderful Geek friend attempting to repair. I don't care what else is lost, I'm just begging him to save my pictures! Keep your fingers crossed, dear friends, that it's returned to me with all of my precious pin-ups intact! In the meantime, Beren has been generous about allowing me to use his, probably since he knows I'm downloading all kinds of sexy pin-up ladies onto his hard drive. *wink*

After a week of no weight loss and much frustration, I'm going back to the basics this week. Lots of lean protein, fruit & veggies. No processed white stuff. Exercise. It sounds so easy, doesn't it? Then why the heck can't I manage to do it? I'm sick & tired of dealing with this weight, tired of looking at myself in the mirror with total disgust. Can't stand the sight of my body in a bathing suit or, worse yet, in the nude. Angry about the closet full of cute clothes that I can't fit into, and the larger sizes I continue to buy out of necessity. Something has got to change, I can't live this way anymore.

So, tonight I'm having Beren grill some chicken for me, using tips posted by one of my favorite bloggers, Kalyn. I'll serve it over a big green salad and fresh fruit for dessert. Simple. Tasty. Good for me. Period. Since we're in Ormond this weekend, some beach walks are definitely in order as well.

Hope you're all having a Beauty-full day so far, TGIF!

Under Construction

Please forgive my absence, everyone, but my computer has been broken for over a week now! I'm going crazy without it, relying on occasional use of my work computer and Beren's laptop. I hope to be back in action soon, miss you all!

Rapunzel~

Wonderful Wednesday

I have a very busy day, girlfriends, and need to get my tush ready for work pronto but just wanted to pop in and report that I'm down another pound! Yippee! Again, I'm not going to think of it as "only" one pound, especially when I see exactly what a pound of fat looks like....



Ugh! I am happy as heck to have that off my hips & thighs but hmm...check out this interesting butter commercial..giggle....



Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Fitness Tips for Vintage-Lovin Gals

Have a Beauty-Full Day,

June!

Don't look now but a new month is upon us! I can't believe that half the year has passed, six months since many of us made those New Years Resolutions to lose weight, get healthy, etc. etc. I'm wondering, how many of you kept those promises to yourself? Can you look back at the beginning of 2010 with pride, knowing that you've stayed on the right track? Or, like me, did you find yourself starting over & over again?

Well, nevermind about the past, let's start anew right from here, June 1, 2010! How about a fresh new recipe to kick things off?

This was originally published in Weight Watchers Light & Easy Cookbook, 1997.


Saucy Chicken Casserole

-------- ------------ --------------------------------
vegetable cooking spray
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic -- minced
15 ounces canned crushed tomatoes -- undrained
1/2 teaspoon fresh marjoram
1/4 teaspoon fresh oregano
3 cups boneless skinless chicken breast -- cooked and chopped
1 tablespoon smart Balance Spread
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3/4 cup skim milk
1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 tablespoon parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon bread crumbs

Coat a medium saucepan wth cooking spray and add oil; place over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring constantly, until onion is tender. Add tomato, marjoram, and oregano; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes. Stir in chicken; set aside.

Melt spread in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat add flour. Cook, stirring constantly with a wire whisk, 1 minute. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly, and cook 5 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat; stir in mustard. Add to chicken mixture, stirring to combine. Spoon mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish coated with cooking spray.

Combine cheese and breadcrumbs; sprinkle evenly over chicken mixture. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Serves 4.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 307 Calories; 6g Fat (17.9% calories from fat); 46g Protein; 16g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 105mg Cholesterol; 334mg Sodium.

Enjoy!

Surf Girl

Beren and I decided to explore a town about half an hour away from us, Flagler Beach. We'd heard that portions of it are dog-friendly, including a little surf shack restaurant right on the ocean. Perfect! I was really looking forward to showing Loki the beach, wondering how he would react. Well, as you can see, he loved it!





While I wasn't able to do any serious exercise, and I certainly do not surf, it was fun to frolic with my puppy..and my man. *wink* The restaurant is called High Tides at Snack Jacks, a true surf shack which served up a really nice variety of menu items including the veggie platter...it was offered with either hummus or smoked fish dip, perfect!



Of course we had to have a cocktail as well...



Overall, we had a wonderful holiday! Hope you did as well.



Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Waiting for You

Waiting for You by Bill Medcalf
I have been enjoying my morning beach walks so much, just have to share with you! Beren and I get up before 7, have a cup of coffee and then head to the shore, about a 10 minute ride from the house. I don my i-pod, leave him contentedly reading his book and off I go! The sand here is obviously very hard since cars drive on it, I walk barefoot because I want to feel the waves occasionally lap my toes.



While the view is gorgeous, I've got to occasionally look down to be sure I don't step on one of these! Ouch!



No matter how briskly I walk, I doubt I'll ever break this speed limit!



Oh, how I would love to live in this house! Swoon...maybe someday...



I've decided to start collecting shells or some other bit of nature each time I walk. One seashell per walk, filling a special glass jar as I go, adding a bit of pretty motivation to my bedroom dresser! Three so far....? to go...

Have a Beauty-Full Day,



45 minute barefoot beach walk

A Thinking Post: Change

Daily Om
Begetting Change
Same Choices, Same Results

If our patterns of thought and behavior remain unchanged our lives will continue to unfold much as they have previously.

Repeated bouts of adversity are an unavoidable aspect of human existence. We battle against our inner struggles or outer world forces, and in many cases, we emerge on the opposite side of struggle stronger and better equipped to cope with the challenges yet to come. However, we can occasionally encounter trials that seem utterly hopeless. We strike at them with all of our creativity and perseverance, hoping desperately to bring about change, only to meet with the same results as always. Our first instinct in such situations is often to push harder against the seemingly immovable obstruction before us, assuming that this time we will be met with a different outcome. But staying power and stamina net us little when the same choices consistently garner the same results. A change in perspective, behavior, or response can do so much more to help us move past points where no amount of effort seems sufficient to overcome the difficulties before us.

Whether our intention is to change ourselves or some element of the world around us, we cannot simply wish for transformation or hope that our lives will be altered through circumstance. If our patterns of thought and behavior remain unchanged, our lives will continue to unfold much as they have previously. Patterns in which fruitless efforts prevail can be overcome with self examination and courage. It is our bravery that allows us to question the choices we have made thus far and to channel our effort into innovation. Asking questions and making small adjustments to your thought processes and behaviors will help you discover what works, so you can leave that which does not work behind you. To break free from those unconscious patterns that have long held sway over your actions and reactions, you will likely have to challenge your assumptions on a most basic level. You must accept once and for all that your beliefs with regard to cause and effect may no longer be in accordance with your needs.

Stagnation is often a sign that great changes are on the horizon. Courting the change you wish to see in yourself and in the world around you is a matter of acknowledging that only change begets change. The results you so ardently want to realize are well within the realm of possibility, and you need only step away from the well-worn circular path to explore the untried paths that lie beyond it.

Couldn't have said it better myself...

Have a Beauty-Full Day,


45 minute barefoot beach walk

One More Down!

Last night I joined Beren on another little business jaunt, this time to a destination that is a bit more....rural....



Yep, this glam gal ended up at a fish camp overnight, lol! Hey, while it's not exactly my style, it was clean, mostly free, provided me some alone time with my man, and there was a tiki bar!!



Since I had stayed OP yesterday and allowed myself some extra POINTS, we enjoyed a couple of cocktails and then headed out to dinner. Not wanting to eat the fried fiesta at the hotel restaurant, we took a little drive and discovered a nicer locale with slightly healthier choices.



I had a light beer, a piece of barbecued chicken, a baked potato, green beans and a small piece of cornbread, delicious but still within my POINTS range. Apparently I've been making some good choices this week because the scale revealed another 1 pound loss this morning! Yippee! If I continue this way, "only" dropping a pound a week, I will have lost 52 pounds in a year, taking me below my goal weight. Who could be disappointed with that?

I'm off to work now in a cute new spring dress, feeling pretty darn good!

Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Why, Thank You!

ooh, I'm so excited! Kristin at Peace, Love and Muesli has honored me with the Honest Scrap Award! Thank you so much, Kristin!



I have also received a Versatile Blogger award from Maressa at The Body Logic! Thank you, Maressa!



I am honored to accept both awards and since they are similar, I hope you'll allow me to combine them just a bit, tweaking the requirements.

Here are seven fun facts about myself:

1. As I might have mentioned before, I saw Elvis Presley live when I was 6 years old. I was a huge Elvis fan even at that young age so my mom surprised me with tickets for my birthday. I still remember standing up on the seat, watching the King of Rock 'n Roll shimmy across the stage. swoon....

2. I am living with, and madly in love with, my long lost soul mate. We dated when I was in high school but outside circumstances led to our break-up and we were separated for over 20 years. When my marriage was ending, the stars aligned and I somehow met up with him again. We discovered that we still had feelings for each other and the rest, as they say, is history!

3. I am rather neurotic and suffer from a slight case of OCD. *grin* My closet is color-coded, my shoes are in labeled boxes and clutter makes me totally nuts. I can't relax in a room unless it's completely tidy, right down to the rug being perfectly aligned beneath my feet. Messes make me anxious & nervous so I try like heck to keep things in order. I often fail.

4. I have a psychic on call, have been "using" her at least once a year for six years now. To me, it's almost like therapy and worth every penny for the insight and peace of mind she provides. She has never been wrong in her predictions.

5. I am a Pagan which means that I follow an earth-based belief system. Though I don't discuss religion or politics whenever possible, I'm always happy to share my beliefs with open minded folks.

6. I love wine. I seriously can't remember the last day I didn't have a glass of chardonnay. I base my diet/eating plan on whether or not it allows this indulgence and often exercise just enough to burn off the 100 or so calories involved in the consumption.

7. My dream vacation is to Paris. I guess many people share that dream, don't they? This past year, realizing that I wasn't getting any younger and my bank account not growing any faster, I opened a vacation club and now deposit a set amount each month. My goal is to be in France on my 50th birthday, four and a half years from now. Wish me luck!

Now, here's where I break the rules a bit, sorry! Instead of selecting x-number of bloggers upon which to bestow these awards, I'm just going to gift it to all of you scrappy versatile lovelies! If you choose to receive it and post about it, please leave me a comment here so I don't miss all of your fun facts!

On the Right Track

I've been making some small changes this weekend and really feel that I'm on the right track! For instance, I woke up really early (4 am), consumed by dark thoughts and nightmares. Not fun. Instead of lying there wallowing and working myself up into an anxious state, I got up, put my shoes on and grabbed Loki's leash. We went for a 15-minute walk around the block, cleared my head and got my heart moving a bit.

Later, Beren and I took his girls to the beach. It was a gorgeous day, picture-perfect as you can see. Instead of lounging in the chair reading or, god forbid, eating, I took a 30 minute walk along the ocean. It was heavenly! The sand is so hard up here that I feel like I got a really good work-out while communing with Mother Nature. Good for body, mind and Spirit!

Though I am avoiding "white stuff," I knew that Beren and I would be going out for cocktails later and in my experience it's wise to have some carbs before imbibing. They seem to soak up the alcohol better...grin....so, for dinner I made some pasta, had a bit of that with salad, then headed out for a night on the town!

A local blues club hosted a special performance of an awesome rockabilly band, The Torkays. We met up with some friends, shared some laughs, rocked out to great music and generally had a hell of a good time! Now, I did have three glasses of chardonnay but it was over the course of four hours and I had them served with ice. Not the "proper" way to serve wine but it made the drinks last longer and kept me a bit hydrated at the same time.





Note: In the spirit of honesty, I seriously considered not sharing the pics above...I had a long moment of self-disgust, seeing how absolutely huge I look in both...but it is what it is and I am not going to wallow in pity 'cause that is self-defeating and certainly won't get me any closer to my goal.

Because of my good choices yesterday, I wasn't afraid to step on the scale this morning. Though it's not my official weigh-in day, I was happy to see the number about a pound less already. Yay! See, small changes do make a big difference!

So, here it is Sunday and we'll be headed back "home" this afternoon. I'm not ready to go, that seems to be happening more & more lately. I feel so much healthier up here, there's just something about this town, this lifestyle. Even when I start to lose my way, it's so much easier to get back on track. I'm really hoping Beren can get a job transfer..soon. But that's another story for another day. For now I'm going to wake up my man and start planning our day!

Hope yours is Beauty-Full,

Worth Cultivating

Worth Cultivating by Gil Elgren, 1952

Whoa! I came "home" to Ormond Thursday night to find my herb garden kicking butt! It's like a jungle out there! I am pleased as punch to find such gorgeous edible delicacies just waiting for me to pluck them!



Since the oregano is really out of control, I took advantage of it with the help of one of my favorite blogs, Kalyn's Kitchen. The only change I made was in using reduced fat feta cheese because that's what I had on hand.


Greek Salad with Marinated Onions and Oregano


-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 medium Vidalia onion
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil -- plus more for serving if needed
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar -- plus more for serving if needed
2 small cucumbers -- (2 to 3)
3 small tomatoes -- (3 to 4)
8 Kalamata olive -- (8 to 10), pitted
1 tablespoon fresh oregano -- or more if needed, chopped
1/4 cup reduced fat feta Cheese -- or more if needed, crumbled
fresh ground black pepper to taste

About 4-8 hours before serving the salad, peel onion and slice thinly. Separate onion into rings and put in small ziploc bag. Whisk together olive oil and balsamic vinegar and pour into bag. Let onions marinate in refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad

After onions have marinated for desired time, remove from refrigerator and drain the dressing into a small bowl. (I do this by opening one end of the ziploc bag and holding it over the bowl while tipping the bag.) Taste dressing and add more olive oil and balsamic vinegar if needed, whisking into dressing.

Wash cucumbers and cut into slices about 1/2 inch thick. (Larger cucumbers will need to be cut in half and if you don't have small cucumbers you may also need to peel them.) Cut tomatoes into halves, then cut each half into fourths to make eight pieces. Wash oregano and chop with chef's knife.

In large mixing bowl, toss together marinated onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, and olives. Toss with desired amount of dressing. Sprinkle with oregano and crumble Feta cheese over salad. Arrange on two plates, season with fresh-ground black pepper, and serve immediately.

Serves 2.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 322 Calories; 23g Fat (60.4% calories from fat); 11g Protein; 23g Carbohydrate; 6g Dietary Fiber; 10mg Cholesterol; 669mg Sodium. 6 WW POINTS.


Oh, my! This was absolutely delicious, so glad I doubled the recipe so I can enjoy it again today. Marinating those onions really made the flavor pop! I served it alongside simple grilled chicken and a baked potato, making a dinner fairly high in POINTS but oh-so-worth it! Besides, I worked off a few calories during an early morning walk with Loki. I'm recovering with some java and my laptop but he has other things in mind!



We are off to the beach shortly, hope I can convince Beren to take a long walk with me but he's not quite as excited by that idea as my four-legged companion!

Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Wednesday Weigh-In

Well, I'm down one pound this week. Doesn't sound like much until I look at that box of butter sitting in my refrigerator and make the comparison! Considering moontime and vacation recovery, I don't think that's bad at all.

Now, just to keep up the good work, right?

Tonight I'm making a light shrimp recipe from Weight Watchers, serving it over Shirataki noodles and Birds Eye Steamfresh Asian Medley veggies for a filling 4 POINT dinner.


Sauteed Shrimp

-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 spray olive oil cooking spray -- (s)
2 tsp olive oil
1 pound shrimp -- large, peeled and deveined
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp Spice Islands No Salt Lemon Herb Seasoning -- or other brand
1/4 tsp table salt -- or to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper -- freshly ground, or to taste
2 Tbsp parsley -- fresh, chopped

Coat a large skillet with cooking spray and set over medium heat; add oil and heat. Add shrimp; sauté 1 minute. Add lemon juice, lemon herb seasoning, salt and pepper; stir to coat shrimp. Sauté until shrimp are bright pink and cooked through, about 3 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in parsley.

Serves 4, Yields about 3 ounces of shrimp per serving.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 143 Calories; 4g Fat (27.4% calories from fat); 23g Protein; 2g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 173mg Cholesterol; 315mg Sodium. 3 WW POINTS.

Have a Beauty-Full Day,