not so MANIC MONDAY

"if you seek perfection in sugar confection..."

FLASHBACK february 15
dinner, drinks, and board games with friends is on the agenda. i want to take something. i can't show up empty handed. hmmmmmmm...time to check out my "toot sweet" board on pinterest. i find the perfect valentine recipe. blonde brownies with M&M's!! a treat to take AND an opportunity to give a pinterest recipe a try!!

FLASH FORWARD today
it's a boring monday. why not bring a little happiness to the people in your life? this recipe is quick, easy, and delicious! another pinterest success!!

VALENTINE BLONDIES

ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup to 1 1/3 cup M&M's (i used valentine colors, but you can use plain if you want)

preheat oven to 350〫. 
mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. set aside. melt butter. combine brown sugar and butter until well blended. let cool slightly. add egg and vanilla. mix well. add flour mixture, a little at a time, until completely blended. spread, evenly, in 9X9 pan. sprinkle M&M's over the top. bake 20-25 minutes.
enjoy!!

and click here to follow me on pinterest!

SWEETEST SATURDAY

"blue-eyed boy meets a brown-eyed girl oh oh oh, the sweetest thing"
FLASHBACK 1986
i get a package from my mom. inside is a card and some candy. why? well duh doy! it's sweetest day! my future ex~husband is all "what? i don't even know what that is?". what?!!! it's that other day of the year that you shower me with candy and flowers and other crap i don't need so that i can be reminded that you love me. he never ever got me a sweetest day present. that's the reason we got divorced. not really. but it is. but not really. bahahahahahaha!!
FLASH FORWARD today
here's the thing. sweetest day was started in 1922, by cleveland philanthropist and candy maker herbert birch kingston. his idea was to do something nice for those less fortunate. with the help of actresses theda bara and anne pennington, he passed out 45000 (give or take a few thousand...) boxes of candy all over the city, to the orphans and less fortunate residents. since then, people have kind of forgotten about the orphans and less fortunate and turned it into a "hallmark holiday"...oh, you know? a holiday designed to sell cards, candy, and flowers. i love the bk. and i am 45000% sure he loves me back. we have never gotten each other a card. or a box of candy. or roses. we just remind each other that everyday is sweetest day. 
no matter how you celebrate with your sweetest, try to remember the true reason for the holiday and do something nice for those less fortunate. donate some items or cash to charity. buy a cup o'joe for a homeless person. buy a sad old lady a bouquet of flowers. just put a smile on someone's face.
HAPPY SWEETEST DAY MY LOVELIES!!

A WEEK IN THE LIFE: INSTAGRAM ADDITION

"i've got your picture, i've got your picture...i'd like a million of you all 'round myself"









it's the little things that keep me happy around our house:

 ^bertie bots every flavor jelly beans from honeydukes^

 ^signs, signs, everywhere are signs^

 ^kitchen~aide mixers make life easier^

 ^coffee...it does the body good^

^halloween is everywhere...all year round^

and a little vine, cuz feeding our dog makes me smile:

what does it take to make you smile?

SCRUMPTIOUS SATURDAY

"c is for cookie...that's good enough for me..."
we're going to a cook out and need to take a side dish. what to take? what to take? i could make a pasta salad...that's delicious and who doesn't like pasta? but...there will be kids...lots and lots and LOTS of kids. i want to take something even the pickiest of kids will like, too. cupcakes? yummy...but a lot of work. brownies? yummy...but i have none of the ingredients. and then it hits me! who doesn't like chocolate chip cookies?!!!! right? riigghhtt?! i know i'm right...

GRANDMA MARGE'S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

ingredients:

1 cup butter (softened, not melted)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons hot water
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups all~purpose flour
2 cups semi~sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

preheat oven to 350°. cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. beat in the eggs, one at a time. add vanilla. dissolve baking soda in hot water and add to batter with salt. stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet (i always use parchment paper for easy clean up). bake for about 10 minutes, or until edges are a pretty brown. makes about 4 dozen cookies, depending on how big your spoonfuls are.

oh! AND, by the way, tomorrow (august 4th) is national chocolate chip day! celebrate by making these delicious cookies! or with a big old bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream!!

^mine is not from nestle' toulouse'^

FLASHBACK 2007

"2 all~beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun..."
i start weight watchers and i love it. this has been the easiest diet EVER!! of course...it's only been two days. tomorrow's monday. a work day. i'm going to have to deal with lunch. ugh. and the girls are going to want to go out. ugh ugh! i am NOT going to have the willpower it will take to eat out! i need to figure this out and fast!! out comes the laptop. i do a little research and map out food choices at all our favorite fast food chains. this diet thing ain't so bad after all!!
FLASH FORWARD today
it's the middle of january. this is the point that MOST people will give up on their resolutions. their smoking again (i'm so stressed...just one puff and i'll be fine). they've quit jogging (ummmm...it looks like it might rain...next week). and they are over the dieting (but...but...mcrib is back?!!). i can't help you with the smoking...i've never been addicted. and i DEFINITELY can't help you with the jogging...exercise, i'm not a fan. but the diet? now we're on to a subject i know a little about! here are some choices you can make that will curb your craving AND keep you within your points:

FAST FOOD:

your traveling...or you only have time for a quick lunch at work...fast food is your main choice. you probably think the salad is the best option. welp...sure, if you get a plain side salad. but if you order any of the specialty salads you're in for a big surprise. burger king's garden fresh chicken caesar is a whopping 19 points! not to mention, you may feel like you're depriving yourself when you see your friend enjoying that whopper. my go to meals are filling...low in points...and satisfy that craving...

mcdonald's

my go to meal: cheeseburger (8 pts); side salad (0 pts); low fat balsamic vinaigrette (1 pt) = 9pts

wendy's

my go to meal: baked potato no sour cream or butter (6 pts); small chili (5 pts) = 11 pts
*hint: pour the chili over the potato...it's delicious!!*

burger king

my go to meal: whopper jr without cheese or mayo (7 pts); value size onion rings (4 pts) = 11 pts

CANDY:

face it. we all crave chocolate at one point, or another. and we always feel like we can't have it. wrong. there are ways to satisfy the craving and keep the points low. my biggest tip? think snack size. a snack size twix is 2 points. 2 snack size three musketeers? 3.5 points. my fave, a snack sized heath bar, is only 1 point!! the key here is moderation. 

ICE CREAM:

i love ice cream. almost any flavor! my tips for enjoying this frozen treat? #1~always get the slow~churned type. this is going to be lower in fat without sacrificing flavor...and #2~always always always use a cone. why? because a serving of ice cream is only 1/2 a cup. put that in a bowl and your eyes are going to tell you it's not enough. put that on a cone and your eyes are going to tell you it's too much. 1/2 cup of edy's slow churned ice cream is 2~3 points (depending on the flavor) and any type of cone adds only 1 point. great snack at only 3~4 points!!

ALCOHOL:

do you like beer and wine? and you don't really want to give that up while dieting? just like candy, this needs to be in moderation. you don't want your calories or points taken up by candy or beer. but be smart about it...most women think it's better to have a mixed drink than a light beer. wrong! #1~unless you are just doing a straight shot, you have to also account for the mixers that go into your drink...#2~a shot of vodka turns to pure sugar faster than a light beer...and #3~a light beer is more filling than that mixed drink, meaning you will, likely, drink less. you want to see a breakdown?

yuengling light (12 oz):  98 calories; 3 weight watcher plus points
smirnoff vodka (1 1/2 oz):  97 calories; 4 weight watchers plus points 
wine (4 oz): 124 calories; 4 weight watchers plus points

 


let me know how these tips work for you...and help keep me on track for a healthier me!!
HAPPY "MAKING YOURSELF HEALTHIER"!!

FLASHBACK 1970 somethin

 

these are a few of my favorite things~

the brady bunch
candy cigarettes
alice in wonderland
michael jackson~ben
tee shirt, shorts, and bare feet

  

flash forward today:

these are a few of my favorite things~

the big bang theory
candy cane tootsie pops
to kill a mockingbird
dave matthews~mercy
tee shirt, skirt, and bare feet

          

look back on your own life...what were your favorite things when you were a kid? and what are your favorite things now? i bet you haven't changed as much as you think :)