"Cheat" Foods that aren't really cheating.

In my never ending quest to drop 10 pounds (it used to be 20, so I'm making a bit of headway), I've learned a few things about myself. Like how I can go low-carb for a week before devouring everything in my kitchen, up to and including saltine crackers (who houses saltines??). Or how I can eat strictly chicken salads for dinner five nights in a row before the thought of chicken...or salad...makes me want to barf.


I'm being a LITTLE dramatic with these scenarios, but here's my point: You have to find a balance that works for you. My balance includes foods that feel like they should be bad for me...but they're not. Or at least not terrible.

So, the following is my list of "cheat foods" that really aren't cheating..and some are even GOOD for you.


Let's start with my addiction. My crack. My heroin.


1. The Dunkin Donuts Iced Latte Lite.




Weighing in at just 80 calories for a small, and 120 calories for a medium, this iced coffee drink with a shot of espresso has less than HALF the calories of its non-lite counterpart. Who wants to waste hundreds of calories on a DRINK? Not worth it, especially when these taste just as good as the regular, just a little less creamy.

2. The Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese Wedges.

In the back of my mind, I'm convinced The Laughing Cow is really laughing at me because I believe one of these creamy wedges of soft swiss cheese only contains 35 calories, 2 grams of fat, 1 carb, and 3 grams of protein. I can't even begin to describe how great these are. You just have to try one. You can use The Laughing Cow in anything and everything. Melt it in eggs, spread it on toast or a bagel, it's delicious on crackers with turkey pepperoni, and it more than adequately takes the place of a slice of swiss on a sandwich. It's a bit pricey, but well worth it.

3. Kashi TLC Cookies: Oatmeal Dark Chocolate:

These babies were off the shelves for a little while because of the peanut butter recall, but now they're back and I buy them ALL the time (pssshhht...E. Coli doesn't scare me!!!). They're not super low-cal...one cookie has 130 calories, BUT the stats are pretty impressive for a cookie. The cookies contain rolled whole oats (keeps you full longer) and chunks of dark chocolate (antioxidants what!). They don't have ANY enriched flour, no white sugar...and there aren't countless additives you can't even TRY to pronounce listed on the box. If you're gonna have a cookie...at least one that's giving you a heavy dose of whole grains!

4. Fiber One Pancake Mix:

This. Mix. Seriously. Rocks. Who ever thought you'd be able to enjoy three nice-sized pancakes for just 180 calories and a whopping five grams of fiber? Add some sugar-free syrup and some light butter, and you have a breakfast that will keep you full for hours...all under 250 calories. These pancakes are so good, you honestly cannot tell them apart from regular ones. They're super easy to make, too. Fiber One has been kicking ass with its new line of products...and these don't disappoint. (Note: Be aware of how many Fiber One products you consume in a day though...especially if you're not used to eating lots of fiber. Your stomach...and coworkers...will thank me later for the heads up!)

5 Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches:Not much to say about these. 100 calories for a decent-sized ice cream sandwich. 'Nuff said.

Aaaaand the THREE HOUR season finale of the Biggest Loser is on tonight. It's not over until 11. Someone is going to be late for work tonight. That someone is ME.

Fun Music Monday!

Another week is upon us, and here's a boost to get you through! This week's Fun Music comes from one of the greatest movies in the ENTIRE world: Adventure's in Babysitting.
I swear I used to watch this movie (on VHS, natch) at least once a week. If you're not familiar, watch this opening sequence, then go rent it! Or buy it on Amazon! Just watch it!

Have a great week!!



***SIDENOTE*** Just minutes ago, as I was killing a few minutes at work and solving my "In Touch" Weekly crossword puzzle, I made myself Laugh Out Loud (LOL, if you will), and I thought I'd share why.
75 Across was this: "Jeremy Piven plays one"
With no hestitation, the answer in my head was this: "A douche"
The answer didn't fit, but I still cracked up at my wittiness.

Mom's Day and the Great French Toast Debacle.

"A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary."

First things first: Happy Mother's Day to my mom, one of the greatest and most important people in my life. She's one of my very best friends, and I don't think she realizes how important she is to me. So, I love you mom!

I went home to visit my mom yesterday since Sunday's are reserved for me to mope around and feel sorry for myself in anticipation of the work-week ahead. (Don't Forget: I get more sympathy because my Monday technically starts Sunday night at 11 pm).

Anyway, I wanted to do something nice for my mom becauseshesfantasticandilovehersomuch, but that good deed could not include taking her out to eat.

Why, you might ask? Because she has been doing an amazing job on Weight Watchers and has been exercising and I'm really proud of her. I'm also trying to eat healthfully, and what kind of example are we setting for each other if we chow down just because it's a certain day? If that's an excuse, I'm going to eat a whole cheesecake every Saturday just for the sake of it being Saturday. Makes sense, right? Wrong.

So I came up with the fantastic idea of finding a "lightened up" recipe, and preparing it for her, so at least she wouldn't have to cook.

After consulting Google for a good 3 or 4 days, I finally settled on a recipe for a lighter version of Baked French Toast. Who doesn't like french toast?!

The recipe called for dried apples and raisins. I nixed the raisin idea because I'd rather eat poop, and couldn't find the dried apples, so decided to substitute pecans instead. I thought it was a BRILLIANT idea. Apparently those apples and raisins had something to do with giving the french toast FLAVOR...but that didn't enter my mind.

I got everything ready the night before, so all I would have to do is pop it in the oven when I got to my mom's house. All night I dreamed of how wonderful my french toast recipe that included whole wheat bread, egg whites....and...well, not much else, actually...would taste, and how my mom would declare me BEST COOK IN THE WORLD! (sidenote: I get overly excited about everything. And I mean EVERY.THING.).

Loaded up with a pan of french toast, Boggle, and Yhatzee, I made the hour and a half trip home to hang out with my mom.

The french toast was supposed to bake for 40 minutes covered, then uncovered for another 20 so it could get nice and brown and bubbly and yummy. (Those were my words, not the recipe's).

20 minutes in, I said to my mom, "Shouldn't we be at least smelling the cinnamon baking?" We chalked the lack of aroma up to it being covered, and surely it would smell wonderful during the last 20 minutes.

At the 40 minute-mark, I uncovered it, and ended up baking it for another 30 minutes. As I pulled it out of the oven, I knew it wasn't going to be good. Why?

Because it looked like this:

Being the fanstastic woman that she is, my mom tried to make the best of it, and said it couldn't taste THAT bad. I bravely took the first bite...and it tasted like...whole wheat bread. And egg whites. With nutmeg. BLECH. Declaring it a culinary disaster, I said the mess would NOT be eaten for a Mother's Day Dinner. My mom then breathed a huge sigh of relief because she didn't want any part in it, either. So...I had some left over rice she had in the refrigerator, and mom ate a Lean Cuisine. Happy Mother's Day.

The weird thing was, my mom and I just kept picking at it. Like, it was going to get better after it sat there? It seemed like in principal it SHOULD taste good...but it just never did. Eventually my sister Morgan came home, and we tried to convince her it was yummy, but she too was not impressed. Yet she kept picking, just like the rest of it. My dad declared it "horrible", and he was right.

I also blame this painful burn on that Bastard French Toast, because it happened when I was trying to pull it out of the oven:

My mom thought the whole incident was "Cute". (Cute? Really? It might have been cute if I was say, 14...not 26.)

All in all, it actually was a really great trip home. I got to spend some QT with my mom, which I don't do nearly enough. I also upped her self-esteem a little because I let her kick my ass in Boggle, and once in Yhatzee. I had to let her, it's Mother's Day:)

Saturday Blogging is Hard.

Blogging every day for an entire year is a daunting task. I've been doing this for a week or so...and it's Saturday afternoon and I don't have a clue what to write about today. I'm heading home to Sigel for the afternoon to spend some quality time with my mom and Morgan since I can't go home tomorrow for Mother's Day, and I realize if I don't write something before I head home, I won't have a post for today.

**insert cricket chirping noise here**

Yeahhh...ummm....

How about this:

I can't keep a plant alive to save my friggin life. We bought two plants to stick in the corners of our living room, and I'm having a hell of a time keeping them green.

Yes, as you can see, I even have Aqua Globes, and they're STILL dying. The only thing I can figure out is it's because I'm a vampire and work at night, and Felix is at work all day, so the poor things never get any sunlight because I keep the house as dark and dreary as possible in order to catch some zzz's.

Oh...what is this? Both Aqua Globes are empty?

Damn.

I guess i should go ahead and fill those up.

Not Burning My Bra Anytime Soon.

This blog post might single-handedly set the women's movement back 50 years. It's about my firm beliefs in traditional rolls of men...women...and relationships.

The idea came to me as I was perusing the interwebs, searching for recipes Felix might like for our dinner tonight.

Our schedules are so opposite during the week, that we buy our own food and make our own meals. So, I've gotten into the habit of cooking dinner on Fridays for both of us.

Feminists out there may gasp! Why doesn't HE ever cook for ME?

I'll tell you why. First, I genuinely like to cook.

Second...wait for it...

There's something satisfying to me about making my man a homemade meal. Because, the old adage still stands: the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. It's one of the easiest ways to put him in a good mood. If I can show him I appreciate him by making him lasagna or pot roast, I'll do it. Happily. Even with an apron on (if I had one). My mom instilled in me the importance of being able to cook when I was fairly little. I remember her telling me I needed to know my way around the kitchen in case I got married, or better yet, in case I never did. She's a good cook, but after doing it for 40 years, she hates it. My grandma, however, is a great cook, and she still enjoys doing.

There are some other fairly traditional womanly rolls I don't mind doing.

1. Laundry. Honestly ladies, this job SHOULD be ours. What guy knows which pair of your jeans NOT to put in the dryer so they don't shrink? Or that your unmentionables need to be washed in a garment bag on the cold/gentle cycle? I think it's just easier to do it myself, and while I HATE putting laundry away, there's something about having a nice, big basket of neatly folded laundry that makes me feel calm.

2. Allowing him to be the "MAN". There's nothing wrong with letting him think he's in charge (Ladies, we know better). I think he should be good at fixing things that are broken, carrying heavy things upstairs, getting stuff you might not be able to reach, taking out the trash, and opening jars that you just can't manage. I also think it's foolish to emasculate him in front of his friends. Even if he pisses you off, just wait until you get home to show him your womanly wrath. There really is no need to do it in front of his boys.

3. I try to look semi-presentable when he gets home. Even if that means I'm still in my sweats (at least I showered). I WANT him to think I'm pretty, and remind him how lucky he is to have me in his life. I tried hard to impress him when we first started dating, so why quit now that we live together? It's not like he's never seen me without makeup on, or stinky and smelly from working out, or smelled my morning breath...but I can't find fault with making an effort to look good for him.

4. Cleaning the kitchen floor. This doesn't need a huge explanation, it just bothers me when there's hair and crumbs and dried pieces of pasta being kicked around my kitchen.

I'm not saying there doesn't have to be any effort on HIS part. Felix makes his fair share of dinners (or at least BUYS them), I haven't cleaned the bathroom since we moved in together becaues that's HIS job, he drives alot of the places we go, and he's never sitting around in his own filth. I also am 100% confident he's going to stick up for me if some guy says my ass looks fat (not PHat) at a bar. Our relationship is pretty equal, even if it might be a little old-fashioned. It works out.

Well, I'm off to start making some cajun chicken pasta before Felix gets home from softball practice. And even though I may have makeup on and my hair is curled, I'm still wearing sweat pants and slippers.

Viva la Margarita aka Thirsty Thursday!!

I know Cinco De Mayo was Tuesday, but I don't think there's ever a BAD time to have an ice cold margarita. Especially this one. It's called a "White Trash Margarita" and the recipe was recently brought to my attention by a very talented drink mixer by the name of Sally Lemmon at Jody's 30th birthday party a few weeks ago. You will NOT be disapointed.

INGREDIENTS:

-1 can frozen concentrate lime-aid

-1 bottle Corona (I'm sure any beer will do)

-bottle of tequila

-lots of ice

-Sprite or 7-Up


DIRECTIONS:

Empty frozen lime-aid concentrate into big pitcher. Fill empty can with beer, add to pitcher. Fill can again...this time with tequila, add to mix, fill it up one more time with Sprite... Add the ice, stir up, enjoy!!!

***DISCLAIMER TO MY MOM*** Just because I enjoy a cocktail every now and then does NOT mean I'm a binge-drinking alcoholic. I know it absolutely boggles your mind that people actually have a few drinks on the weekends to relax, but some people do. And I'm one of them. I assure you I will not turn into a trainwreck of Lindsay-Lohan-like proportions.
***EDIT*** In the first draft of this post, I forgot to add the Sprite. Whoops! I guess there's gotta be something in there to dilute the tequila! Makes sense!

Ohhhh No she DIDN'T!!!

I know I already have a post for today, but I just got REALLY excited...and I'm home alone...aaaand it might be a little WEIRD to call/text/instant message someone about this.
I love love LOVE Dancing with the Stars, but I always miss the Tuesday results show because it is on at the same time as The Biggest Loser...and, if you know me, you know I canNOT miss Jillian and Bob "giving people their life back".
Anyway-I usually just Google the results when I get to work that night, but just NOW remembered it had been on.
I have been pulling for Cowboy Ty Murray (better known to most as Jewel's husband) all season long, because A) I'm a fan of the underdog B) He's so darn charming with his polite attitude and southern drawl, and C) He keeps on improving throughout the season.
So, to recap, through some sort of miracle, Ty made it to the Top 5, and then he REALLY sucked on Monday.
I was wistfully coming to terms with the fact that my main man was going to be sent packing.
But just in case, for the first time in my entire life, I VOTED FOR A REALITY SHOW.

FIVE TIMES.

Maybe my votes saved my cowboy, cause Ty is now in the TOP FOUR.

And here's the real kicker...judge favorite...the Queen Bee, Miss Bionic Booty herself, Lil' Kim was sent home! Totally surprising.


I can't say that I'm not pleased though, because the ridiculous amount of plastic surgery she has had on her face makes her seem as though she's in a perpetual state of surprise, and terribly pissed off at the same time...or maybe like she has such terrible allergies that she is ALWAYS forced to breathe through her nose. If that's the case, Lil' Kim...and it IS allergies...I apologize. But I still can't say I'm sad to see you go.