Day one of Wedding Dress Shopping

What a great weekend!  I hope yours was just as good as mine!  I went wedding dress shopping on Saturday.  Wow!  I can't believe the dresses that are out there!  So pretty, so Beautiful!  It is going to be so hard to decide…  I cried a little when I put one on, But I want to go at least to a few more stores and try a lot more dresses to make sure I find the right one.  The best news of all of the day was that the dresses they had in stock as the demo ones to try on, were fitting me!  OMG!  I couldn't believe it.  There were a few that didn't and they had to improvise, but the 10's and 12's fit, which we all know in reality those are probably 6 or 8's!  I don't know why formal gowns have to run so small!!  I was happy though.  

My sister and I went dress shopping.  Hillary couldn't go so we are going with her later.

This one was the Ariel, from the Disney Fairytale Line.  I didn't really like it a lot, but I loved how it looked on…Doesn't really make sense does it?

This one was pretty too.  I just wasn't feeling it.  Not enough "bling" and sparkle for me.

This is the same one as above only a side view.  it is going to be so hard to pick!  This is only our first day of shopping for one and our first store!

Of course we had to end our day with a Margarita and some chips.  It never tasted so good!  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Sunday I made stuffed red peppers, only I made some tuna salad with Walden Farms Mayo and wow were they delis!!  I used the red peppers because I like the sweetness of them.  It was super filling and it gave me both my veggies and my protein.  Plus it really filled me up!

Tuna Stuffed Red Peppers

1 package of White Albacore Tuna

1 stalk Celery Chopped

1/2 Onion chopped

1 Garlic Pickle chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 Teaspoon Spicy Mustard

Walden Farms Amazing Mayo 1-2 spoonfuls

1 Red pepper halved and cored

Shredded Cheese (optional)

Mix all ingredients together.  cut Red pepper in half and core.  Put Tuna salad in pepper dividing it into each half.  Sprinkle with a SMALL amount of Shredded cheese (optional).  Place in 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until heated through and pepper is tender.  Remove from oven and 

Enjoy!!

So good!

And so it Begins.....

On the road again for another race season!  We left Monday to head to Florida for the NHRA race in Gainesville .  

Race season has begun!  We are in nice but rainy Florida   Rain is coming down but iris 84 degrees so from what I hear is going on back in Indiana, I am not complaining!  Emails will be scarce this week, as they were last since we won't be traveling home til Monday.  We drove almost all night Monday and stopped just outside Atlanta to rest then up and at em again by 8. Ugh. So tired.  But just because we are traveling doesn't earn I am not going to stick to my diet.  iDVD really good and made sure I brought lot softwood things to eat, even for snacking on the road because after all, you want to snack while driving right?  Celery sticks, protein bars, lots of yogurt and I did bring some string cheese to snack on even though they are not on the diet.  I figure its better than a bag of chips.  I also brought some turkey bites and protein powder.  We stopped at subway for salads and we have lots of water and ice drinks. 

Louisville Kentucky 

Passing time in the rig.

My view for several, several, several, and several more hours.....

Those Ice Water drinks are so good and they are totally free.  hey come in lots of favors and cost wise they are only about  .88 each.  The coconut pineapple is my favorite.  I hope everyone has a great week and that the snow does NOT last!!  

Enjoy!

Lemon Garlic Roasted Broccoli

I don't know about everyone else but I am sick and tired of this weather!  I know this is the traditional "NWI Winter" but come on, this is getting crazy.  Its March 4 and I am ready for some warmer weather and spring flowers.  So in honor of that thought I made a delicious light and flavorful broccoli the other day and it just tasted like summer.  I loved it and I think it will be my new "go to" broccoli side dish.  It has lemon and garlic (2 things I love) and some basil.  sounds good doesn't it?  I promise once you try this, you will be hooked on a new favorite.

Ugh  Ab check in….Mine HURT!!!!  35 second plank…Holy cow!  I am dreading the 50 crunches and leg lifts for tomorrow!!!  I barely got thru the 30 today.  But WE CAN DO THIS!!!  Just keep thinking about that bathing suit this summer!

Lemon Garlic Roasted Broccoli 

8 Cups Broccoli 

2-3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to Taste

3-4 Cloves of Garlic Sliced Very thin

Lay on cookie sheet and mix with hands til its all incorporated.  Bake in a 425 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

1 lemon

3-4 leaves of Fresh Basil

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

While its baking, zest the lemon and set aside.  Roll the basil leaves and slice it making little curls.  When broccoli is done, add the zest, basil, olive oil and the juice of the lemon and mix together well.  Top with a little parmesan cheese (optional) and serve.   Sooo Goo!!

Enjoy!!

Roasted Asparagus with Greek Sauce

Hope you had a fantastic weekend!  I did.  I got to spend some god quality time with Kendall, see some family members in IL, and have a relaxing Sunday at home while it snowed…AGAIN.  Saturday my sister and I went to Kankakee IL to visit with my Uncle and a few of my cousins and other family members.  We had a great day of reminiscing about old days when my mom was still alive and my grandma and we would take this trip as kids at least once a month.  My Uncle George is a fantastic singer and plays guitar and my sister and I love to hear him play.  this weekend he was playing at a diner in town along with some other band members and we got to go check them out before the snow came.  Or should I say ice.  We had an entire night planned with staying late and going for pizza and drinks later but when we came out from the diner, it was sleeting and doing some odd rain/freezing rain thing….and it was 21 degrees!  How can that even happen??  So we decided it would be i our best interest to skip the pizza and just head for home.  

We ate dinner at Blues Cafe.  A childhood favorite of both me and my sister.  We would go there every Saturday night with our parents and my grandma….they have the BEST home made chicken and noodles…and only served on Saturday nights.

 My sister so excited for the infamous Chicken and Noodles at Blues Cafe

My Uncle George playing and singing at Crazy Joes Diner.  It was so fun watching him play and listen to him sing.

I did promise you some recipes this week and today's is so good!  Last night I made asparagus with a "hollandaise" Sauce.  Now we all know that the real sauce is made up of lots of bad things like mostly butter, but this sauce I made yesterday was light and flavorful.  Really good.  I made it out of Greek Yogurt so it also had some extra protein in there.

Don't forget your Ab exercises!  I am feeling mine!!  LOL

Roasted Asparagus with Greek Sauce

1 Bunch Asparagus Trimmed and rinsed

1 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Salt and pepper to Taste

Sauce

1 Small Container of Plain Greek Yogurt

1 Tablespoon Butter (I used my Greek yogurt butter)

2 Tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese

Lay Asparagus on cookie tray and drizzle oil on top.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minute.  So its tender but still crisp.  In a small sauce pan combine the yogurt and butter until melted.  Add the cheese and cook on low until cheese has melted and incorporated with the yogurt.  Simmer til ready to use.  Put roasted asparagus on serving plate and pour sauce over the top.  Sprinkle with additional Pepper.  So good!!

Enjoy!

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Good Morning!!

Today is the off day for the exercise regimen.  Yay!!  The plank yesterday for 15 seconds I thought was going to kill me!!!

We had an amazing pot of spaghetti the other night.  It turned out really well and I made meatballs that were legal for it and they were yummy!!  I thought I would share my recipe with you for that.

Make golf ball size balls and place them in 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil to Brown

Brown on both sides

When browned, drop into sauce

So good and good for you!!!

Spagetti and Meatballs

1lb Ground Round

1lb turkey Sausage ( I used sweet italian)

1/4 cup Flax seed meal

1 Tablespoon Garlic

1 egg white

1 Tablespoon Italian Seasonings

1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Salt and Pepper

 Mix all ingredients with hands and roll into balls.  Cook in pan with 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil til brown.  Drop into sauce and continue cooking on simmer for another 2 hours.  (The longer it cooks the better it is.  This can also be done the night before then dropped into a crock pot the following day to cook throughout the day in the sauce)

Sauce

1 Can Crushed Tomatoes

1 Can Tomato Sauce

1 Can Tomato Paste

1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning

1 Chopped Red Pepper

1-2 Tablespoons Minced Garlic

1 Teaspoon Each of Oregano, and Basil

Salt and Pepper

1/2-1 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese

While the balls are browning, cook pepper and garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil til tender.  Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.   Add meatballs.  Turn to simmer and cook for another 2-3 hours (or put in crock pot)  Serve over cooked cauliflower as your "spaghetti" Yumm!!!!

Enjoy!!

Buy American

This is truly disgusting!  

I saw this post on Facebook.  I know everything we read on Facebook should be taken with a grain of salt HOWEVER….I have read several things on this same subject and I think most of it is true.  Look on your packages from home and see if you don't find the very things this person is saying.  "Packaged in china"  So sad but so true.  We all need to buy American!  I myself will only be buying Birds Eye brand from now on.  Even more so though, I plan on expanding my garden this year so that hopefully, I won't need to buy many veggies, I can freeze and can my own!!
Read the whole thing…….


After reading I remembered that I purchased Tilapia from Wal-Mart
last week. I read the label and it was just as the article stated "packaged in Jacksonville, FL but processed in China. After reading
it, I threw it in the garbage. At my sister-in-law's suggestion, I took out of the garbage and took it back to Wal-Mart. It had started to
thaw before taking it back and inside the sealed (unopened) wrapper, there were little black particles that appeared to be feces. I took
this e-mail with me and the customer service lady told me that she was familiar with it and as much as her kids liked Tilapia, they don't eat
it anymore. I left the entire e-mail with her because it doesn't just address Tilapia.

DO NOT EAT TILAPIA: Greetings and Salutations...
I read several articles on Google about this, and even one that was defending the eating of tilapia said to avoid the fish that came from
China. Also, I had just returned home from buying Publix & Albertson's 4-day special of 4 bags of frozen tilapia for the price of one. Sure enough, on the top of the bags, it read "farm raised", and on the bottom in small print it said, "China". I recently saw a Food inspector on TV...
He said he had lived overseas and he had seen the filthy conditions their foods are raised and processed in. It is enough to make you
throw up. Some foreign workers have to wear masks as they work in these places, because the food is so rotten and filthy, it makes them
want to throw up.

Many of their Fish on Fish Farms are fed Raw sewage daily. He said he has seen so much filth throughout their food growing and processing that he would "never" eat any of it. They raise this filth , put some food coloring and some flavorings on it, then they ship it to the USA for YOU to consume and feed to YOUR families. They have no Food & Safety Inspectors. They ship it to you to buy and poison your families and friends. Imported food we eat and the junk we buy

Green Giant frozen vegetables are from China , and so are most of Europe's Best.
Arctic Gardens are Okay. So is Birdseye.

Never buy the grocery store garlic unless it is clearly marked from USA or Canada, the other stuff is grown in people poop (even worse
than chicken poop). China is the largest producer of garlic in the world U.S. is next. Buy only local honey, much honey is shipped in huge containers from China and re-packed here. Watch out for packages which state "prepared for", "packed by" or
"imported by". I don't understand the lack of mandatory labeling, especially the produce. The country of origin should be clearly shown
on the item in the store. I go to the local farmers' markets in season and keep a wary eye open the rest of the year.

Please read this very carefully, and read to the very bottom. It's important for all of us. How is it possible to ship food from China cheaper than having it produced in the U.S. or Canada?

FOR EXAMPLE
THE "OUR FAMILY"BRAND OF MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA '. SO, FOR A FEW MORE CENTS, BUY THE LIBERTY BRAND. GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE IS FROM CALIFORNIA Beware, Costco sells canned peaches and pears in a plastic jar that come from China. ALL "HIGH LINER" AND MOST OTHER FROZEN FISH PRODUCTS COME FROM CHINA OR INDONESIA. THE PACKAGE MAY SAY "PACIFIC SALMON" ON THE FRONT, BUT LOOK FOR THE SMALL PRINT. MOST OF THESE PRODUCTS COME FROM FISH FARMS IN THE ORIENT WHERE THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS ON WHAT IS FED TO
THESE FISH.

Recently The Montreal Gazette had an article by the Canadian Government on how Chinese feed the fish: They suspend chicken wire crates over the fish ponds, and the fish feed on chicken s--t. If you search the Internet about what the Chinese feed their fish, you'll be alarmed; e.g., growth hormones, expired anti-biotics from humans. Never buy any type of fish or shellfish that comes from these countries: Vietnam, China,
Philippines. Check this out . I did. Steinfeld's Pickles are made in India - just as bad! Another example is in canned mushrooms. No-Name brand came from Indonesia. Also check those little fruit cups.They used to be made in Canada in the Niagara region until about 2 years ago. They are now packaged in China!

While the Chinese export inferior and even toxic products, dangerous toys, and goods to be sold in North American markets, the media wrings its hands! Yet, 70% of North Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended!
Well, duh! Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, CANADA AND THE U.S.
Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.

I bought "Dole" fruit cups from Walmart and when I got home noticed they were "packaged in CHINA"
I threw them away and am very aware of DOLE products now.....and check out the cans etc....
I don't buy any food "packaged in CHINA etc" Watch out for "store brands' also.





THINK ABOUT THIS:

If 200 million North Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our
favor... fast! The downside? Some Canadian/American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory.
Just one month of trading losses will hit the Chinese for 8% of their North American exports. Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness are worth it.

START NOW and don't stop.
Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are
intelligent, and NOBODY can take us for
granted

Workout

I don't know if you all have seen this on Facebook or not….but it seems like a pretty good regimen to start with.  It is not going to burn a whole lot of calories nor is it going to take a whole lot of time.  But it does seem to work on the key areas we all want to "tweak"  The abs, legs and butt.  Im going to give it a try, starting on Monday.  Who's in with me?  And if we seem to hungry while doing it on the diet, we can just quit.  I really don't think it will effect our hunger tho, and I do think it will help the weight loss.

Have a great weekend!!