Daily Tweets

• 09:29 Suffering from post-midnight-BigMac-meal guilt. #

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And Off We Go!

Tonight H told me about her.

It came out of the blue. One minute I was urging him to finish his milk and the next he was dreamily, and yet soberly, apprising me of his upcoming nuptials to a "Lily" from school.

(H) I used to like Jazlyn, but I like Lily now...and Lily... [dramatic pause] I'm going to marry...


(Me) In the Temple?

(H, Matter-of-fact with a dreamy grin) Yeah. In the temple.

Well! Hopefully he won't be using his limited Spanish to woo her anytime soon.

Daily Tweets

• 12:17 Met some nice gals at the park. It is a beautiful day! #

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Daily Tweets

• 21:51 Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. And it's too late to take myself to a movie. Hmph! #

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Daily Tweets

• 07:15 Monday morning and waking up tired. Yikes. #

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Daily Tweets

• 13:22 H is having a "yard sale" today. He just asked me if there was "anything" that we don't need... #
• 13:23 Currently his only merchandise are three "puzzles" he made at school (and packaged in classy looking baggies). #
• 13:25 The puzzles are going for $31, $42 and $49, respectively. In regards to the $49 purple one, he said "that's the spensive one." Apparently. #

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Dieting Tip #2

Make it Gorgeous

Surprisingly, through this [unending] journey of weight loss and self discovery, I have come to enjoy food more, if that is even possible. One way that I have learned to enjoy eating smaller portion sizes, and to be satisfied by truly good food, is to make it gorgeous.

By "making it gorgeous" I mean having a variety of colors and textures, and making a beautiful photo op presentation on the plate.

Two weeks ago, I pulled some of my beautiful china from storage.  The pieces in the collection are small  and delicate with a creamy bright white color. The idea was brilliant! I decided that, while I served up breakfast and lunch on the plastic IKEA plates for the boys, I would feast off of $15 dessert bowls--it feels indulgent just using them to eat yogurt out of.

Now every time I sit down to breakfast, I feel like I am at a gourmet health spa.

Dieting Tip #1

The Gourmet Principle: Use Flavor to Keep it Interesting, Not Quantity

I have found, again and again, that I can be satisfied on far less food if it is interesting. I like to think of it as the "gourmet principle" because it is like going to a good restaurant, where the portions are very small, but the flavors are true--bright, fresh, balanced, and interesting.

Some basic already-have-around-the-kitchen flavor enhancers (that are used in small quantities) that have worked for me:

• Fresh ginger
• Horseradish
• Sesame oil
• Lemon (zest, oil, juice...)
• Lime
• Garlic
• Shallots
• Scallions 
• Fresh pesto
• Toasted nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, etc)
• Fresh herbs
• Soy sauce
• Buttermilk
• Parmesan cheese (the real stuff, please)
• Feta cheese
• Chiles
• Cinnamon
• Curry powder
• Cilantro
• Fennel seed

Daily Tweets

• 11:05 Don't come visit me today. I saw at least twenty senior citizens loading up on booze this morning at Smiths. Happy St. Patty's! #

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Daily Tweets

• 16:05 Babysitting. #

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Daily Tweets

• 17:35 We're having baked potatoes for dinner. And that's it. #

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Drum Roll Please, Ladies and Gentlemen...It's Your Highs and Lows List!

Highs:

• Reading a new book about exercise science and body function that is changing my views of exercise and its role in weight loss and overall health.
• Successfully singing a solo in two simultaneous church functions (and by successful, I mean there was not too much armpit sweating and shaking).
• Meeting with several other women in a "power of Moms" circle and feeling very much inspired and rejuvenated.
• Getting a cute haircut.
• Buying a new food processor.
• Getting a shout-out from H's teacher and an invitation for him to enter the "gifted and talented" program.
• Loving the beautiful 70 degree weather.
• Running as a family.
• Tweaking the Oatmeal-scotchies recipe with my new understanding of acidity vs. alkalinity and finding out that it works. Eureka!
• Buying a new spring dress.
• Taking the time to observe lizards, turtles, fish, ducks, geese, and rabbits in the neighborhood with my little ones.
• Enjoying the hilarious (and, sometimes disturbingly realistic) observations of a three-year-old male.
• Sending A off to nursery.
• Successfully navigating a week of stress and new horizons.
• Enjoying dinner time with Daddy an extra hour early because of Daylight savings time.
• Watching the boys discover the joys of cousins!
• Fleshing out my ideas for the "vegetables are sexy" website.
• Basking in some short bursts of time with extended family.
• Hitting my all-time lowest weight so far. One more down, 9 to goal.
• Reveling in the simplicity of my quiet little life in this quiet little town.
• Making memories exploring the shore of a local lake and discovering all sorts of treasures on our Friday Family Venture.
• Reconnecting by reminiscing with Aaron until 1:30 a.m.
• Sneaking in carrots and garlic to E's beloved rice dish, calling it "orange rice," and getting rave reviews from the crowd. E eating veggies in any form = Mommy, win! 
• Enjoying New Beginnings from the sidelines, mostly.
• Standing at the top of the overpass with the boys, waving to semi-truck drivers and watching the excitement on their faces when the drivers wave or honk back.
• Appreciating the sustaining power of good women and good friends.
• Discovering new make-up tricks from some of the best women around. (Hold and count to 15.)
• Getting a surprise offer for free babysitting from a woman in our ward.

Lows:

• Hearing A's screaming in nursery for most of Sunday School.
• Living on the edge of the grocery budget for every week after the first of the month.
• Eating an entire bag (900 Kcal) of "circus peanuts" on our Friday Family Venture.
• Also eating a lot of nutter butters and popcorn on said family venture.
• Ok, fine, and eating a lot of the Oatmeal-scotchie cookie dough and brownie dough and what-have-you.
• Passed my "goal weight" date without achieving "goal weight" for the third time this year.
• Spending $70 on a meal at the "best restaurant in town" and eating the equivalent of a grade B dinner--sticking to dinner at home from now on.
• Only losing one pound. One. Measly. Pound.
• Failing to observe when I gave offense to someone.
• Being called to task for said offense.
• Fumbling over an embarrassing haircut experience, causing me to tip the "beautician" a whopping 50% ("You should come back in a month and we will have hairpieces you can try..." Ummmm. Ok.)
• Meaning to, but not exercising.

Daily Tweets

• 18:25 Had an oatmeal-scotchie breakthrough. All butter (no shortening) and still a puffy, chewy cookie by controlling the acidity of the batter. #
• 20:07 Had a fun and relaxed day with the boys, today. We need more of these. #

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Daily Tweets

• 23:28 Done!!! #

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Daily Tweets

• 12:39 Hmmm. Maybe we are watching too much America's Test Kitchen. HY just "added wine" to his pretend risotto... #
• 12:43 Those sneaky school photographers! I didn't order them but they took pics anyway and sent them home to look over "just in case." #

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Daily Tweets

• 09:46 Hunkering down for a week of stress and trepidation. #
• 09:49 ...but I got a new dress and a new food processor on Saturday, so that helps, a little. #

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