A Quick Update

Today I got a new stove!

That may seem like such a small thing to most; but it's a big deal to me.

Many years ago, when the 2 oven stove came out, I purchased a Maytag Gemini. I LOVED that stove and had it for many many years.  When we did a cheap upgrade in the kitchen, I wanted stainless steel appliances.  We got a refrigerator and dishwasher and I held out on the stove, because I loved mine so much. Eventually though, I broke down and got a stainless steel one - just one oven - in a price range I could afford.  It worked, but it just wasn't what I wanted.

***I was unaware that there a people that can wrap appliances to the color you want. Had I known that, that's what I would have done with my Gemini."

Anyway....I finally bought a new two oven (they no longer make the Gemini).  It's a Samsung this time.  It has an air fryer mode and actually connects to wifi and my phone.

Rather than pay Lowe's to take away the old one, we sold it on FB.  I kid you not - the person that bought it was pulling away as Lowe's delivery was pulling in!!  Perfect timing!

I haven't used it yet, but obviously I will.

My Shapa has had me in the light gray for a while and now has me in green, which is good. I did get a walk in today, the weather was so beautiful!

Sickness and Something Funny

 I've been sick with a horrible viral head cold since Saturday and haven't been working.  I went to the doctor's today and they put me off work until Monday.  Feeling a little better but get tired very quickly.

When I got home from the doctor's, I grabbed the mail from the mailbox on my way into the house.  I notice a 8 x 10 envelope hand addressed to me with no return address and the stamp indicated it was mailed from overseas.

I began thinking if I had ordered anything; but couldn't remember and then questioned if I should even open it as it was flat and didn't feel like it had anything in it. But I opened it...

...and, out came two photographs of the actor Stellan Skargard autographed to me!!

I almost choked laughing....

Back in 2008, after the movie Mamma Mia came out; I became a fan of Stellan Skarsgard and found a small online group of women similar in age who were also fans.  Stellan didn't seem to have a website, fanclub or anything at that time and the one lady told each of us to send a photo or two of Stellan to her with our addresses on the back and she was going to mail them all in together to his management company hoping for autographs.  I sent my two, never heard anything, and lost contact with those ladies some time ago.

You caught that date, right?  2008 - SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO!  And my autographed photos arrived today!!!! 😂😂😂

It's not like they've been lost in the mail, it was postmarked February 11, 2025.  He's one busy man!

A Bad Evening, But Not A Step Back

I had a bad evening.....

I went to the movies last night and CC wanted to eat dinner there.  There are no good food options there and though she would of ate elsewhere if I'd of asked; we just didn't have the time for that and would be eating during the movie.  I opted for their grilled cheese with tomato soup dipping with potato chips.  I figured since there was nothing healthy...get what you want.  I also had popcorn

The movie was last minute I didn't get my walk in; I didn't get to read a chapter of a book.  Three failed commitments:  Better dinner choices, walk, read.

Sigh.....

I got up this morning feeling rather blah and guilty.  How could I not?  The Shapa scale still has me in the "green" but it's rather early in that process for it to show anything else.  The regular scale was staring at me.  I had promised myself (not a commitment, a promise) that I'd weigh in only on Mondays.  I mean how could I ever be thinking to weigh now after a bad eating night?  Absolutely anytime I weigh after a movie night, I've gained.  Oh, it works its way out in a day or two; but there's always that gain.

But....I got on the scale anyway and I couldn't believe it - a small loss from my start date!  Even with movie food gain, I had a loss!  How exciting is that!

So now I'm determined to do well for the weekend so my official weigh-in will be great!

And thus this made me think of this:

Prepping Breakfast

 I decided to prep breakfast for the week and chose Two Point Cinnamon Muffins.

I've made these before and actually enjoy them.  If you choose to make them, I must let you know that they are not sweet.  They are more like a bread.  You can pair them with spray butter, sugar free jam/jelly, peanut butter or sugar free syrup.  

I got blueberries at a cheap price last week and decided to add that to the recipe:

I put the mix into the wells (1/4 cup per well) and then pushed 4 blueberries into each.  Yes, you may use a regular cupcake pan or you can pour the whole mix into a 9 x 13 pan and then cut it into 12 pieces.  I'll eat this along with a banana.  I'll probably heat it up and then use spray butter.  They are 2 points each; and I'll have two each morning for a 4 point breakfast.

And breakfast is complete for the week other than buying some bananas.

Hubby and I went to the Bonanza Steakhouse last night for dinner and I got their pork chop dinner.  You get THREE rather nice size pork chop loins with the dinner.  I ate one and the other two will become lunch for Monday & Tuesday.  I'll probably make a baked potato (topped with spray butter) to go with it.  That gives me a 0 point lunch those days.

The other days?  Well if I don't have leftovers from my unplanned, as of yet, dinners; I do have individually wrapped chicken breasts in the freezer.

And in the amount of time it took me to write this post?  The muffins are done:

2024 In Review

 I am so happy to be saying GOOD-BYE to 2024.  It has been the worst year ever - even worse than covid.

Here's 10 things that happened:

1.    On January 17th, my cousin-in-law Paul passed.

2.     On January 24th, my Aunt Wilda passed.

3.     On March 7th, my Mom passed.  I never thought I'd be living without my Mom!

4.    On August 29th, my Dad passed.  I really miss my Dad!

5.    On October 26th, my long time friend Suzy passed.

6.    We lost our Dexter.

7.    My long time co-worker retired December 1st.  I've worked with Brenda for 26-1/2 years and learned so much from her.  We'll stay in touch, but I'll miss the day-to-day interactions!              

Some Happy Things:

8.    CC and I went to Monroeville Mall for the Living Dead Weekend and got to meet Greg

Nicotero. (I have such a fangirl crush on him now).

9.    Got to see Duran Duran from the THIRD row.

I've always had the fangirl crush for them!!

10.    I was hoping to find another happy thing...but it looks like I'm ending the year with a 

bad cold and cough virus!

Shall I add more:

11.    My cousin-in-law Greg just passed away - December 23rd.

GOOD-BYE 2024!

At the Beach!!

Made it to the beach and hubby says everything is fine at home.

My plane departure was delayed about an hour, but I made it.  The sky was absolutely gorgeous for the flight:

Haven't been to the beach yet, my nieces just flew in today; but we did some shopping this morning.

I hate to admit it though...I have been over snacking!  Need to get that under control!

The Little Changes Can Make A Difference

There are several things that can throw off my weight loss journey.

One of those is lunch at work.

A lot of those I work with grab and go lunch somewhere - it always looks better than what I've brought.

I've learned sometimes, I need to compromise.

Case in point - there's a little neighborhood bar that has lunch specials.  Once a month they have hot roast beef sandwiches with fries or mashed potatoes smothered in gravy.  It's wonderful.....
When I know we're going there, I bring in 2 slices of my own bread (647), get the mashed potatoes (only eat half) and the gravy on the side.  I'm eating what everyone else is!

About once every 3 months someone sells these awesome ham & cheese subs.  I order mine with no mayo (and then bring my own reduced fat mayo) and only eat half.  I could also switch the cheese out, but I've never done that.  I normally input this into my tracker ahead of time and just work the rest of the day around it.

Chipotle?  I get the bowl with white rice, pinto beans, steak*, tomato salsa, corn salsa and then I'll bring and add my own cheese (reduced fat) and sour cream (fat free).
*Why steak and not chicken?  Chipotle uses thigh meat which has points (only chicken breast is zero) and the steak is the same amount of points (and less calories).  So why not steak?

Sometimes it's the little changes that make the meal!

Then there are the days that I just want the lunch I bring to be normal.  Sometimes I'll have this:

A Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Beef Frank with a smear of ketchup/mustard, on a light hot dog roll, reduced fat chips (half a serving), cucumber and an orange.  It works!

Sometimes it's making a few changes, sometimes it's finding the right products.  Don't ever expect a weight loss program to work for you; you work the program!