Menu Planning Monday - September 19, 2011

Yeah yeah yeah...I know...I've not kept up with the blog and I've totally fallen off the face of the internet :)  But I'm gonna try to do better.

It is Menu Planning Monday and this is what we are having this week...

Monday - Vegetable Beef Soup and Cornbread
Tuesday - Leftovers/Sandwiches
Wednesday - Spaghetti, Salad, Bread
Thursday - Mommy Date with the kiddos
Friday - Firehouse Subs (fundraiser for my son's football team)
Saturday - Date night with the hubby hopefully!

Our two boys are playing football and our two girls are cheering for them.  We practice 3 nights a week and games are on Saturdays...needless to say, it is crazy busy!

Oh...and I've gained all the weight back, and some.  I weigh the most I ever have!  150 pounds!  I need to do better and eat better and get moving.  I hurt my foot 3 weeks ago and I have an appointment on Thursday, hopefully I can start walking!

Wednesday Weigh-In

Can you believe that January is half-way over?  That is just crazy!  I cannot believe that I’ve been doing this healthier me for 3 weeks (don’t remind me of the brownies)…I am so proud of myself!

Speaking of being proud of myself, did you notice that I hit the 130s on Monday???  I did!  And today I weighed in at 138.8!!!  That’s two more pounds since last week!!  (Can you tell that I LOVE exclamation points? Lol)

Valentine’s Day Challenge

SW 144.0

CW 138.8

GW 134

I have lost 5.2 pounds and I only have 4.8 pounds to lose to meet my Valentine’s Day goal!  I’m over half way there!  Woohoo!

I had another little mini goal.  I wanted to be at 140 by January 26^th (next Wednesday).  And I’ve surpassed that!  Go me!

I have not worked out at all in the past week.  I’ve been dealing with this cold, but today I am going to Turbo Jam for 20 minutes.  We shall see how I feel after that, but I may get in a little 30 Day Shred, but I don’t want to overdo it.

I’ve also slacked tremendously on the water intake.  I have got to get back up to 8 glasses a day.  So, that’s my goal today, drink 8 glasses and work out!

I’m getting a little nervous.  We leave next Thursday for Disney.  I pray I can make good choices while I’m there and not gain everything back.  I know I will be walking a lot there, but the food will be my hard part.  I do not want to gain everything back!

Crockpot Chicken Pineapple

One of my resolutions for the New Year is to try at least two recipes a month and to blog about the results of those recipes.  Last night I tried a crockpot chicken recipe that I found on MyFitnessPal. 

Crockpot Chicken Pineapple

4 chicken breasts

1- 20 ounce can of pineapples drained

¼ cup soy sauce

1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)

Put all the ingredients into your crockpot and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2 hours.

What I did…

I doubled the recipe and left out the red pepper since I didn’t think the kids would eat it.  I cooked it on low for 3 ½ hours and then turned the temp to warm for about thirty minutes.

Results…

The chicken just completely fell apart, but it was also dry.  Three of 4 kids loved it (including the picky child).  Husband thought it was dry (I agreed).

Verdict…

Try again.  Cook for 2 ½ to 3 hours and serve immediately.  Also, maybe keep a little of

the pineapple juice.

According to MyFitnessPal, 80 calories per chicken breast.

Menu Planning Monday January 17, 2011

Another edition of Menu Planning Monday!  I've still been sick with this nasty cold so I'm happy that I did a little planning last week for this week.  Here is what I have planned...

Monday - Chicken Pineapple in the crockpot with brown rice and steamed broccoli.  Making mac & cheese for the kids!  (The chicken recipe is new...so look for a review)

Tuesday - Black bean quesadillas and sandwiches

Wednesday - Spaghetti and garlic bread

Thursday - Date night with my kiddos!

Friday - Ordering pizza

Saturday night, my husband and I have an event to attend so I'm not sure that I will be cooking that night. 

I hope all of you are well and don't get this nasty crud that is going around.  The past two days I have literally went from couch to bed.  So thankful that I have a husband that makes me rest and waits on me and takes care of my babies. 

Oh...and I know it isn't Weigh-in Wednesday...but I just had to let you all know that I hit the 130s today!  139.8!  Woohoo!

Frugal Friday - Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleaning System

I have been sick for the past two days.  Went to the doctor yesterday and I have an upper respiratory infection.  :(  My fabulous doctor gave me two shots, plus a Z pack.  Yay!  I’m feeling so much better this morning.  We shall see how I feel this afternoon considering I’ve been up since 1:30 this morning.  Just could not sleep!!

After leaving the doctor, I went on to Walgreens to get my prescription filled.  While I was waiting I decided to do a little retail therapy…because that always make a girl feel so much better.  I was looking for the new Olay Profession Pro-X Advanced Cleaning system, but they had sold out.  I was so disappointed, but decided to go ahead and buy an EOS lip balm in the flavor summer fruit.  They are SO cute.  They are regular price $2.99, but if you bought one, you received a $2 register reward to use on a future purchase.

I was still waiting on my prescription and was still upset over not getting the Olay system, when I realized, hey, there is another Walgreens about a mile down the road.  I could go check there and then come back and pick up my prescription on my way back home.  So, that’s what I did.  And I am so glad I did...they had them!  Walgreens is having a special this week on them also.  If you buy the system for $29.99, you get a free full-size of Olay Profession Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser…which retailed for $19.99.  I’m all over FREE!  Here is how it broke down!

Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System  $29.99

Olay Exfoliation Cleanser                        19.99

Olay Cleanser Gift                                (19.99)

Register Reward from EOS purchase          (2.00)

Final Total                                           $27.99

I saved a total of $21.99!  I think that is awesome!  Especially since I have been lusting over the Clarisonic Mia for about a year, but could never bring myself to spend that much money ($149).  When you compare the price of the Mia to this Olay one….I actually saved myself $121.  And THAT my friends, my husband is THRILLED about!

Oh and a little shout out to the lady at the Walgreens!  She was ringing up my purchase and said, hold on, let me see if I have a coupon for that.  She pulled out a small binder of coupons and looked but didn't find one.  I was so impressed!  I was also mad at myself for not thinking about looking for a coupon.  Which I did at 1:30 this morning since I was wide awake and I'm happy to report there were no coupons in my coupon binder.  :)

Wednesday Weigh-In

I cannot believe that another week has gone by.  But it has and it is time for Weigh In Wednesday!  I was actually a little nervous this morning.  I’ve been slacking people!  It all started with Sunday evening.  My parents invited the whole crew over for dinner.  My mom had meatloaf, green beans and potatoes, fried corn, and mac and cheese.  Total yumminess!

My mom had asked me to bring some brownies for dessert.  So, I did, no biggie.  But THEN after we had eaten dinner and had dessert, she made me take the brownies back home with me.  And I thought, ok the kids will eat them.  Well, they didn’t…because I got to them first.  I am happy to say that the brownies are G-O-N-E!!!  Unfortunately I got all the yummy goodness and the calories that went along with it.  So, see why I was a little nervous about stepping on those scales this morning??

Imagine my surprise when I got on the scale and I STILL lost!  I weighed in at 140.8!!!  Woohoo!!!  1.8 pounds less than last Wednesday.  I wish that it was another 2 pounds, but I will take it.  In total I have lost 3.8 pounds…not too shabby!

Valentines Day Challenge Stats

CW – 140.8

GW – 134

I need to lose 6.8 pounds more in 4 ½ weeks…so 1.4 pounds a week.  Definitely doable!

I find that I do really well at work.  I don’t have a problem drinking my water and eating healthy.  But when I get home, it is HARD!  My hubby isn’t really watching what he eats and when he eats something yummy, then of course I want to join in. 

I have been working out this week.  Actually I worked out 5 days in a row which is amazing.  I’m addicted to the Turbo Jam videos and Sunday I did Level 1 of the 30 Day Shred.  I am STILL feeling that shredding!  Monday was a rest day and so was yesterday, but I went sledding with the kids.  Those hills were hard work!  But oh SO MUCH FUN!

Today, my goal is to get those 8 cups of water in (I have slacked the past few days), eat healthy, and get a good workout this afternoon.  Not going to beat myself up about some of my bad choices, but just move on! 

Pray that this cold goes away…it just started coming up this morning…

Menu Planning Monday - January 10, 2011

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!  It sure was a cold one here in Tennessee!  Brrr…and this morning we woke up to snow on the ground.  I’m so thankful for a wonderful husband that can drive me in to work!!!

It is Menu Planning Monday, which means I am going to tell you what we are having for dinner this week!  But first I want to tell you a little bit about our family so that you can understand a little about why I plan the way I do. 

Our family is unique.  We are a blended family.  My husband has 2 children that he has custody of and I have 2 children that I have custody of.  Every Thursday, his children go to their mom’s.  And every other weekend, his kids and my kids go to their other parents.  Also, on Thursdays my husband goes to the lodge, which means it is just me and my two kiddos at the house.  So, we normally have Mommy and kiddo night where we do something special just us.

This week I only have to plan for Monday thru Wednesday since this weekend the kids will be with their other parents.  So, with that short explanation, here is what we are having….

Monday – Lasagna with whole wheat noodles and ground turkey.

Tuesday – Kids will have pizza.  Hubby and I will have black bean quesadillas.

Wednesday – Leftover Lasagna with salad.  The kids will more than likely have sandwiches.

Thursday – Mommy/kiddo night

Friday – Double Date night at the Depot

Well, there you have it!  Yumminess!

Oh, and if you want to know more about Menu Planning Monday, check out OrgJunkie.