marshmallow popcorn much?

Ok, so I really should weigh 300lbs!  No wonder I've been having to work so hard to shake this booty off...I absolutely LOVE food!  I love cooking for my family and I love cooking with my husband and now that my girls are getting older, it really is becoming so fun to cook with them as well.  Unfortunately, with our insane schedule and my rigid eating schedule, I don't indulge as often (good  thing) but I'm also not cooking as often (bad thing)

So adding another stop to my marathon to perfection...finding the happy medium.  Where is that exactly?

Last night I made my girls one of their favorites.  Marshmallow popcorn.  I don't have exact measurements, but I find they aren't really needed...

I start with popping popcorn kernels in a pan, the good old fashioned way, with a little bit of vegetable oil.  I dump the popcorn in a bowl, then I melt a teaspoon or two of butter in the pan and dump in a few cups of marshmallows.  Once it gets all warm and gooey, I dump the popcorn back in the pan and mix it all up.  You can make popcorn balls if you want to, but I just mound it into individual bowls and sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar. 

Voila!

But alas, it was past 6pm...and I had none.  sad face.

semi homemade.

Last night I dedicated the evening to cooking with my girls.  I find it more than a little ironic that I strive to be a stay-at-home mother, but I'm so busy I'm missing out on the teachable moments.  So, we made dinner together and we loved every minute of it!!  The Lasagna rolls were delightful.... I even ate the garlic bread!!!  THEN...we made semi-homemade donuts.  My kitchen was turned inside out, but it was such a fun evening, it was well worth the clean up.  The only downfall, I'd have to say, between the lasagna, the bread and the donuts (that I just may have smeared a nice thick layer of chocolate frosting on...) I was so sick to my stomach, but I'll own it... it was a fantastical barf worthy night!!!

http://www.makeandtakes.com/semi-homemade-donuts

we didn't use the sugar glaze, but I'll file it away for future nights of indulgence such as these!

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/powdered-sugar-glaze-10000001023815/

...and to top it all off, the scale didn't even budge this morning!

BEST diet EVER!

orange chicken delight!

Consensus is...we LOVE the orange chicken!!!

It was super easy and delish! 

It was a little overcooked, but still amazing!  I had it set on low for about 4 hours.  That was probably an hour too long.  I also had toyed with the idea of adding onions and peppers.  I opted not to, only because I wanted to try the recipe as written for the first time, before I altered anything.  I served over white rice and steamed broccoli.  The recipe itself doesn't make enough sauce (in my opinion)  I think next time I will double the recipe, chicken and all...

About an hour before I want to eat, I will probably add some onions, green and red peppers...and serve over rice.

Can't wait to try it again!!!

http://team-t-adventures.blogspot.com/2010/03/crock-pot-orange-chicken.html

eat and be happy.

With a busy schedule, skill is learned.   I am learning how to fine-tune my multi-tasking skills which at this point, is synonymous with self-survival skills.  I am tapping into my hours of obsessed-pinning,  finding some fabulous recipes and time saving tips!  Learning how to use the crock-pot...trying to keep it all finely balanced. 

I've started a new diet plan, which has been a grand success...just a few weeks in and I've lost several inches so far and I'm inching closer to my goal!  The best part of the diet is that I'm not counting points, calories, grams of protein, carbs, fat or sugar...only catch, I can only eat 8 hours a day.   I do need to pay attention to what I'm eating, but for the most part, I eat pretty well.  I love that there is room for a little indulgence.  Overall, it allows me lenience with just enough structure.  I do still need to be adamant in scheduling my workouts, I think it would make such a difference if I was completing my workouts without fail.  Still room to grow...it's a good thing.

I have been missing my time in the kitchen.  I hate it that weight-loss has become so much about denial of the foods I love.  I'd like to shift my focus to eating less processed food and preservatives...more home-cooked meals.  Yesterday I made homemade cookies and the whole family has loved them!  I can't remember the last time I made homemade cookies...how sad is that!?!

This recipe is most definitely a family keeper!

http://www.food.com/recipe/white-chocolate-chip-cranberry-oatmeal-cookies-112683

I doubled the recipe but I made a little mistake, instead of doubling the vanilla and adding a tsp I added a TBSP and as usual, I added a touch more cinnamon!!!  In the last half of the batch, I added chopped walnuts...and I wouldn't change a thing!

DE-lish!

Tonight, I am attempting Orange Chicken in the crock-pot. 

http://team-t-adventures.blogspot.com/2010/03/crock-pot-orange-chicken.html

Looks fantastic...we shall see!

pause button?

And we're off!  It has been non-stop movement from the first day of school!  The calendar is filling up quickly and my to-do list is multiplying at bewildering rate.  I wrote my first email to the staff on Friday.  I kept it light-hearted and a bit witty...I sent it off and then worried that I may have botched it with my dry and sometimes misunderstood humor.  Ah well.

C'est la'vie.

stress much?

So yesterday it happened.  I was waiting for it...and it wasn't coming.  I was a little nervous wondering WHY I hadn't had that freak-out moment and wondering when it was going to hit me like a rabid rhino.

Just an average afternoon it was morphing into...the girls were enjoying some lazy time, which I have gladly welcomed this last week of summer.  Next week kicks off the beginning of non-stop movement.  I have been strategically getting myself organized (slowly and figuratively)...putting my plan in order, if you will.  Reading, responding and sending out my emails...

I totally got this!

Except.

Now I'm making decisions.  Decisions.  Decisions that people can be critical about and that I have to answer for.  I can't just say whateeeever I want, then again, I just may...but I'll answer for it!

Holy responsibility batman. I'm not sure I'm mature enough for this???

And I feel it.  My attention tunes out and my brain goes to white noise.  My heart races and I start sweating, my arms go numb, I need air, but there is no air, I am going to hyperventilate.  This is GO time. 

And this is when an amazing thing happens.  I just recognize. I recognize how little I am in this big-big world.  And how 'most' every thing I do is a motion to make something better.  I give so much of myself to service, volunteer work and I am passionate.  And if people want to be critical...well then I might be angry and I will most likely cry; and then I will pull my big girls pants up and I will move on.

This is when I stop, close out my three email accounts.  Shut the 17 calendars I have open and take a few deep breaths.  I eat a pop tart (carbs - good.)  I make myself some tea and I take some more deep breaths.  And then, I decided the best thing for me to do in that moment was to channel that emotion and energy into sending some encouragement to a friend back home who is struggling with all that she's navigating on her plate.  And perspective returns to me.  I can breathe again.

And so I took my girls shopping.  A little dysfunction keeps us healthy, I always say.

the race to the finish line.

And so it goes.  The lazy days of summer come to a close...and we are counting the hours.  Today will be spent  going through clothes, tossing those that have gotten too small or are stained and replacing them with freshly washed, brand new school clothes.  Fresh white socks, never worn sneakers, back packs that still crinkle with newness...lunch boxes that are not yet stained and stinky.  Anticipation is buzzing...how will everyone have changed over the summer?  Kids will have grown, gotten even more goofy, or rotten...or cute???  Teachers are putting their final preps on their classrooms while the students are home sleeping-in for these last few mornings.  And the Mothers, are counting down the hours...

That sweet first day of school...the hours of having a silent house in which nothing moves.  Do I hit the ground running or do I crawl back in bed???  As tempting as it sounds, I look forward to falling into routine.  I look forward to having time to get my agenda done so that I can focus on the girls when the school day is over.  I didn't get nearly the amount of organization done that I thought I would over the summer...however, flip the coin, and I played alot more than I had planned.  We had a lovely relaxed and playful summer, I couldn't ask for more.

I have created a very detailed plan for myself...to keep the mommy, wife, Thrive consultant and PTA President in full swing...AND kicking off a refreshed focus on my diet and fitness goals.  I have maintained my 20lbs of weight loss over the summer, which was reaching a goal in itself!  Now it's time to get down to business, in every sense of the word.

Five days and counting...