Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!

Well, it was cool out, but there was no wind or rain, so that makes for a good Trick Or Treat night!

Miss Angela wasn't too happy with me.  As soon as she got home from school, I took her over to Mom's & then sister Linda's house to show off her costume.  She planned on going out ToTing with her friend Jacklyn.  Which is fine - however it took 45 minutes (normally 15-20 min) to get home from Linda's and conveniently Jacklyn's mom's car was broken.  So I would have had to both drive her there & pick her up.  Then Randy was running late from work.  Tornado sirens sounded (to mark the beginning of ToT) less then 5 minutes after we got home.  Sooo, my options were to miss seeing / giving candy to the littlest kids who come out before dark?  Or do more taxi driving for the ungrateful brat, aka Little Red "Awesome" Hood? 

Needless to say....I got to see the cutest little dragon toddle up my driveway and also saw a princess go nuts running around my yard (with me envisioning her yanking out all my extension cords) while looking at my cemetery.

Actually, she really didn't seem too upset.  She stayed right out there with me in the driveway handing out candy and texting a few friends who also didn't go out.  And we seemed to have a lot more kids this year than last.  And all of them were in costume.  My favorite would have to be the girl dressed in a Whack-A-Mole game.  She was basically in a huge box with marker writing on it.  I do believe this is the same girl who was a donut and carried a Munchkin box instead of a bag.  She gets points for originality!

I don't care how old the kids are - if they're in costume and say the magic words - they get candy!!  I also don't think Randy was happy with me, since I started giving out 3 mini-candy bars to all the kids and had to ease back to 1 for the little ones & 2 for the bigger ones later, since I went thru 2 huge bags and was working on the 3rd.  I didn't leave enough for him!  Ooops!  Maybe he should have come sit outside with us instead of hiding in the house!!

 Angel & our resident candy inspector.

 Little Red Awesome Hood

 Who moonlights as a bar-maid!

 The dental assistant told me today that I was rockin' the feathers!

 My plant table with a minor skeleton infestation.

Growing my own zombie!

 Part of my apothecary.

 Big Mike took over the corner. 


 The spice rack.

 Part of the cemetery




So I'm sort of sad that it's all over.  I got a lot of compliments on Maple Grove Cemetery, which made me happy!  And I'm already thinking of things I need to do to improve upon it next year - like a fence!!!!

Almost forgot the good news!  I went into the dentist today to get my crown fixed that came off.  The assistant pulled the crown out, she cleaned it & my tooth up (got rid of old cement) and glued it back on!  Took 45 minutes and required Novacaine, but it wasn't a huge issue at all!  Whew!!!  And didn't cost me anything, either!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Weigh in and a week of outfits

OK, so I actually weighed in Thursday...I just haven't had a chance to post it until now! 

+1.0 lbs

I'm actually not really surprised.  We had to drop big BIG $$ on the girl this week between her braces and warmups for the school dance team, so Randy asked me to not make any more big purchases this week (on Tuesday!)  So my food choices were limited to what we had in the house. 

I'm rather miffed at myself, because I also got a 16 week charm from WW.  My SECOND one this time around.  And I still haven't broke into double digits.  I really need to do something.  It's insane.

On the plus side....the cabinets / fridge are really empty!   And I took the dog out for a walk while Angel was at dance Thursday and before I went to WI - the sky was amazing with some really black clouds rolling in over the colorful sun-lit trees and a triple rainbow!!!  But then it started to sleet when we were going back to the house.  Booo!

OK, so this is what all I wore to work this week.  I'm posting it here so I can get some un-biased commentary. 

Monday
This isn't the skirt I planned, but the top & boots are. 
I feel very "pirate" when I wear this skirt/boots.
I think I need to learn to pose, too. 

Tuesday
Dress pants & heels.

 Wednesday
Long leather skirt (weighs like 5 lbs!) and ballet flats.

 Thursday
Almost leggings & chunky heels. 
I know chubby people aren't supposed to wear horizontal stripes, but I like this top!

 Friday
Jean Day at work and also the Friday before Halloween.
"Death by Cheeseburger" shirt & black skeleton earrings.
I didn't' have those shoes on for work.  
Then I had on my ropers, which are lace-up (I hesitate to say cowboy) riding boots. Dark Gray.

Sooo, is there any hope for me?  I know I wear a lot of black on the bottom half.  I try to find other colors and I haven't succeeded very well.

Monday, October 24, 2011

I'm such a glutton for punishment!


Yeah, this is what my smile looks like!  Well, if it weren't for Fixodent it would, anyway!

3 weeks ago I was flossing and popped one of my crowns off - one that I'd just gotten earlier this summer!  I Fixodented (denture cream) it back in and the next day went to the dentist.  I couldn't remember exactly which tooth it was and the dentist couldn't tell, either!    So I was sent home.

2 weeks ago, it came out again.  I actually looked at it this time & it was gross.  A crown is where they grind the tooth down to a stump and "crown" it with porcelain or whatever that material is. I think my tooth stump had broken off!

But I Fixodented it again and it hasn't bothered me since, until today.  I had some lunch stuck in my teeth and was carefully using a toothpick, but I knew in the back of my mind I was going to pop the darn thing back out.  And I did.  So I got used the Fixondent ~again~ and called the dentist.  It's a good thing I thought about the coversation later, since I'd asked to come in next Monday but she'd put me down for November 14th!!  When I called back - the girl I talked to this time remembered me going in the first time, and was really concerned I was still waiting another week! 

Sigh.  I hate the dentist.  But I knew it was time to go in, since the roof of my mouth is getting slightly tender behind that tooth.  And in the 2 hours since this happened, I've had that odd coppery blood taste in my mouth, even after drinking flavored water.

So I am going to live thru the scariest Halloween ever - even worse than a clown with a chainsaw.....a dentist with a drill ! ! ! ! !  
 
OR??






AAARGH ! ! ! !

Friend Makin' Monday - recipe exchange

I'm a sad monkey today.  I was a victim of the evilness of the spouse & child this weekend.  Cider & Donuts.  Thankfully, we only got 1/2 dozen donuts, so I was forced to stop at 2.   I don't feel terribly guilty, tho.  We were carving our Jack O Lanterns and cider & donuts are a tradition for us.  It went along with our fun family day.

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

FMM: Recipe Exchange
Let’s share one or two of our favorite Fall recipes this week!  It’s always fun to mix things up in the kitchen! 

I can't take the credit for this at all.  I follow Gina's Skinny Recipes blog and she's my hero!  Everything I've tried from her site is amazing!

Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Chocolate Glaze.

Servings: 32 • Size: 1 cookie • Old Points: 2 pts • Points+: 2 pts
Calories: 82.0 • Fat: 2.0 g • Protein: 1.5 g • Carb: 16.4 g • Fiber: 0.2 g • Sugar: 9.8
Sodium: 57.1

Ingredients:
  • 4 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (canned is fine)
  • 1/4 cup 1% buttermilk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder

For the chocolate glaze:
  • 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tbsp 1% milk
  • 1/8 tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Line baking sheet with silicone mat.

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add egg; beat well. Mix in pumpkin, buttermilk and vanilla.

In another bowl combine flour, spice, baking soda, salt and baking powder; gradually add to pumpkin mixture; mix well.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart onto silicone lined baking sheets. Bake 12 - 14 minutes or until golden. Remove to wire rack to cool.

For the glaze: Whisk the confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, milk, vanilla and salt in a bowl. Place in a piping bag or a zip lock bag with the point cut off and drizzle onto the cookies.

Fall Family Fun

 Yesterday was a nice day!  Not only was it fairly warm (mid-60s) and sunny... Randy & Angel got along!  I swear, if she didn't occasionally act like her bio dad - I'd think Randy was.  

Anyway, We went parked at the so-called cider mill (but we go there every year!!) and walked down to a little diner down the block for lunch.  Then we walked back (it was quicker than getting into the car and trying to fight traffic & construction barrels!) They have a lot of pumpkins sitting along the sidewalk and porch of the buildling and bunches of Indian Corn hanging under the roof.  So we selected our pumpkins, got a bunch of corn (for a Halloween project in progress) and a couple small gourds.

Speaking of the evil construction barrels.....



The Indian Corn was so pretty!

Being guarded by Gary the Gargoyle.

There is hardly any candid shots of this kid. 
She always knows when a camera is around!

Randy's Michael Myers impersonation.

Rockin' my "Me So Corny" lounge pants!







The finished products!

Randy discovered his looked really cool shining on the side of the house.


Friday when I left work, I stopped bt Spirit of Halloween that ~happens~ to be right around the corner.  I really didn't need anything, but since I had a coupon....I had to go look!  I got the goofy teeth that you see in mine & Randy's JOLs, some dancing skeleton gel window clings and this guy.

The is "Harry". 
And yes - he's in the back window of my car!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Fire Up for Fall - week 6


I was pleasantly surprised at WI  yesterday - I was actually down .2 lbs!  Which makes me wonder just how much I'd been down if I hadn't made a pig of myself at Friday night.   I got home from work, starving, so I had a bowl (just one!) of cereal and just as I was taking my bowl the sink, Randy texted me to say he was on his way home and after his lousy week, he deserved a big steak, tall Labatt Blue and some peanuts.  That means Texas Roadhouse!  I didn't do too bad with my choices, the smallest possible sirloin steak they offer (6 oz.), a sweet potato and side salad with low fat ranch dressing.  But then the pitfalls.  The most scrumptious hot rolls with whipped cinnamon butter.  And Angel's platter of bacon cheesy fries.  I hurt.

Afterward we went and walked around a nearby Walmart for exciting things like dog food.  We usually do that to help settle the meal after we eat at the Roadhouse.  Then we got home and I went into the living room long enough to turn on the Red Wings game, and the pull of the couch's gravity literally sucked me in.  Then our biggest cat (my baby) took advantage of the fact I was horizontal and got on me.  And he would lay on me for hours if I let him.  Anyway, I was stuck and had no desire to try to move.  Oh, and the Wings won!

On the plus side, I was on the move a lot Saturday!  Ran a few errands, went with Angel & 2 girls from her comp dance team around the neighborhood to pick up cans & bottles and then to cash them in.  Walked around a couple stores looking for specific Halloween items.  Then did some re-arranging in my cemetery.  I wasn't happy with the lighting, so things got moved around and added.


Ok, Questions, musical this week:   I am linking back to Rebecca's blog to join with others in the online support group!

1. What have you done to achieve your goals this week?
Loss on the scale?  Yes!  .2 lbs but I'll take it!
Get out he Wii?  No.  And that glowing blue LED light mocks me every time I look into the living room.
Get out walking (or using my DVDs)?  Fail.  But I did a lot of walking during different times this week.  Just not "put on shoes & sweats & go!" type walking.
No cider & donuts?  Today is the day we're going to get our pumpkins. I'll try not to give in to temptation!
New Recipe?  Somewhat.  I got pork chops from Kroger (mistake, right there!) and they were really thin cut.  I just sprinkled them with applewood smoke seasoning rub and baked them.  They weren't too bad.  The think stuff like that would be better as a sandwich.

2. What have you done to make yourself feel fabulous?  Well, after THIS post... I've been plotting what I'm going to wear to work tomorrow.  I've been avoiding the more form-fitting tops I have, but I do believe they will being coming out of the drawer!!  And yesterday when I was out & about, I had on leggings & a long t-shirt in a flattering turquoise color.  I haven't worn leggings since probably high school!

3. Do you listen to music when you work out? What gets you fired up?  I like to listen to something with a beat when I walk.  I truly despise running now, but when I was in the Navy - listening to cadences really made want to move - I felt like a machine that could go & go & go. 

4. What's your guilty pleasure music? How does it make you feel?   Umm.  I confess to being an unnatural parent and actually liking a lot of the music my daughter listens to.  I think she secretly likes it, because she can talk to me about it and I know what she's talking about!  So LMFAO, Bruno Mars, Pit-Bull/NEO, Adele, etc. etc.  However, if you look at my iPod - it's a mix of old & new county and 80s hair bands and some newer rock..   It can shuffle between old George Strait, Kid Rock, Alice Cooper and Trace Adkins.  And of course, there is a LOT of Def Leppard on there!  Love my Def Leppard!

5. If today were a song what song would it be?  Oh man,  Today is a good day.  Randy is gone for the morning and Angel is still sleeping.  I have a cat purring on my lap and the sun is shining, altho it is one of the coldest mornings we've had so far this season (41 degrees F right now - and its warmed up!)  We're going to carve pumpkins tonight and that always makes for fun family time.  So I think the obvious.  The Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling".  Yup.

Here's my positive pic. I'm proud of myself & all the work I've put into my cemetery (this is only about 2/3 of it, too!)  There's just a few minor tweaks that I'll do today and I'll be 100% happy with it.  

The bright glowing thing in the corner of the house is a plastic blowmold ghost.  He totally needs a lower wattage bulb.  And I'm going to switch the blue flood bulb with one of the green ones, so it's more evenly lit. 

Bring on Halloween!  Oh wait.  We need to buy candy.  Crap.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Sigh.

I didn't get over the weigh in yesterday because I was too busy shuttling the girl around between dance classes at the studio, her dancing at a football game, and trying to make my house somewhat less disastrous before my sister came over.  I'll go first thing tomorrow.

Anyway.  I had to stop to get gas in the car.  First of all - I thought I looked pretty cute yesterday.  I was wearing my favorite black, almost-ankle-length skirt with a slit up the front to my knees.  It was cold / windy / rainy out, so I had on leggings and black flats.  I had a burgundy top with what looks like a lace insert at the neckline and 3/4 sleeves.  And I'd tossed on a black hoodie when I left the house. 

So anyway.  I'm minding my own business, filling up the car, when Brunette Barbie toddled by.  She was gorgeous & young & thin & wearing a skin tight black dress, black hose & stilettos so high she could barely walk.  And every guy at the gas station was staring.


My first thought was "where the heck is she going at 4:30ish on a Thursday afternoon???" and  "WTH? There aren't hookers this far north!" and then random evil thoughts went her way.  

Then I looked down at myself as I put the gas cap back on my car. 

And had an epiphany. 

I totally looked dowdy.  Instead of cute, I felt like a chubby, almost 40-year old hippie.  But I really didn't think any more of it the rest of the evening, since no one is cute while bundled up against wind & rain at a high school football game!   Until I got dressed this morning.

I tend to wear longer skirts because I'm lazy and can get away with wearing knee-highs instead of panty hose. I also have not worn a shirt tucked in since I got my Navy discharge.  Comfort has been my style.  Today I put on a mid-calf length flowered skirt and plain black t-shirt with a small detail around the neck.  I am wearing shoes with 2 inch heels, tho.  As I stood in front of the bathroom mirror.  I almost cried. The word came to me.  I looked ........matronly........

SOB!

I'm only 38!  I don't want to look this way!  I just hate shopping for clothes.  I have to be in the mood to try stuff on - which I have to do since nothing is sized normally.   Is it right for the mom of a 14 year old to even WANT to look cute?   I know Randy doesn't care what I wear. 

I think I need a make-over.  And I need to become independently wealthy.   Does anyone else feel this way??

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Divided!

I separated my blogs back to how they were.  I'd really been thinking about how I wasn't thrilled with having both my weight loss stuff & personal stuff all smashed together.  I don't have that many followers, but the ones I do have follow my blogs for their content.  So when I combined....yeah.  You get the point. 

Alrighty - now that things are back to normal (relatively speaking) I'll leave you with this creepy pic I took tonight.  This is looking out my rain-splattered front window at the floodlights in my cemetery (and has a skeleton hanging in front of it).  Do you see the face looking thru the square where the skelly's head is?  
 
 

Divided!

I separated my blogs back to how they were.  I'd really been thinking about how I wasn't thrilled with having both my weight loss stuff & personal stuff all smashed together.  I don't have that many followers, but the ones I do have follow my blogs for their content.  So when I combined....yeah.  You get the point. 

Alrighty - now that things are back to normal (relatively speaking) I'll leave you with this creepy pic I took tonight.  This is looking out my rain-splattered front window at the floodlights in my cemetery (and has a skeleton hanging in front of it).  Do you see the face looking thru the square where the skelly's head is? 



Now I'm going to copy & paste this post over at Random Ramblings - LOL!!

Hmmm. Second thoughts!


After I went thru the hassle of combing my weight loss & personal blogs.....I'm not really happy with it.  So I'm glad I didn't delete this one, since it looks like it'll be coming back to life!

Soon, my minions, soon!

Now.....I don't know.


Now that I've combined my weight loss & personal blogs.....I'm having second thoughts.  I don't like it as much as I thought I would.    Sure, its convenient.....but eh. 

So I will be changing it back!  I'm glad I didn't delete the other one.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Friend Makin' Monday - Stereotyping

Happy Monday!  Hope you all had a great weekend!  It was really windy here (caused some minor damage to my cemetery - boohoo!) but the sun was out most of the weekend, so I can't really complain!!

Without further ado.....


If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!
FMM:  Stereotyping
Have you ever been the victim of stereotyping?  If so, will you elaborate?  What do you wish people thought of you as they notice you for the first time?

Hmm, this is a tough one!  If I have been stereotyped, it really hasn't been to my face.  I've been overweight a long time, but no one has ever told me I couldn't do something because of it.   I may have hesitated to do something because of my own thoughts (get on a horse or in a roller coaster) but I wasn't prohibited.

Back when I was in the navy, there were times that guys had this idea that I couldn't do something because I was female.  On my first boat, when we were returning to port, there's this thing call sea & anchor detail.  Basically we had to be on the foc'sle in full protective gear and be ready to drop the anchor when we got to the pier.  I ~finally~ got a chance to wait near the shackle (kept the chain from moving) with a sledgehammer as we came in.  We were just about to slide into place when of course the punk ass guys wanted me to give over the sledgehammer to them.  I'd stood there in the summer Georgia sun for almost an hour already, I wasn't about to give it up, just when the action was about to begin!  So to save face, they started making fun of me - that I wouldn't be able to open that shackle with one hit.  I was a skinny (oh those days!) 19 year old girl at the time.  But as soon as I got the signal, I swung that sledgehammer and that shackle popped open on the first hit and the anchor fell.  I rather enjoyed the looks of astonishment on a whole bunch of faces, since the guy on the other side had to hit his several times before it opened.  

Sigh.  I miss those days!

Oh my.  Brings back memories. 
Spent many an hour here!