Getting Prepared for Easter

I really miss the days when Mom stayed up all night making me and my sister a new Easter outfit. She let us pick out a pattern and material from a local Mary Joes cloth store. We never went without a new Easter dress and shoes for church.

Now that I'm older its up to me to get my own new outfit. I'm sure if I asked her, she would still make me one but I think she enjoys her freed up evenings before Easter. After all, her and dad have to be up early Easter morning to prepare breakfast for the church that will take place after our sunrise service.

My daughter will be home this weekend and I'm sure we will end up at some Mall or Target store looking for her a last minute Easter outfit. I gave her some money a few weeks ago to pick her out something new whether its a new church outfit, work outfit or something fun for Summer.
I don't sew.

All the new outfit stuff is just a tradition. It celebrates "new" beginnings. After all, a girl needs an excuse to take advantage of getting something new. I mean, a girl always needs new shoes!!

A while back I picked up a purple dress from the Good Will. It fit so I'm wearing that. Its sleeveless so I hope the weather will break and give us some warm air.


Since I only spent 3.00 for something different to wear for Easter, I decided to spend some play money and have my hair done. I usually just get it cut or trimmed. I use a root touch up every so often to keep the gray from showing my age.
This time I decided I wanted something different. I wanted to go with some mushroom colored highlights.

Two hours, a box of foils, and several dollars later, I have some new color in my hair. It did not turn out nothing like the color I wanted. The mushroom color is a taupe, khaki or light brown tint. My hair now has Orange highlights. I'm going to go hide under now.  I wish I would have gotten more cut off too but I was tired and just wanted out of the chair. I was hungry and I wanted to get home.

The new highlights do not look bad, it's just not what I expected, but with my hair being dark, it was hard to lighten. I mean, she is not a magician, she's a beautician. Sometimes I forget.
Give me time. It will back to one color as soon as its safe to add it.

Now I have some baking and making to do.

Nutrisystem-Maintaining

If you know me or have been following my blog, then you know my how excited I am about loosing 50 lbs. on Nutrisystem. I used to talk about it all the time. You can even find my whole journey HERE.  I still share some of my tips on social media and my success story can be found on the Nutrisystem page. You may have even seen my picture flash up on the TV behind Marie as she speaks. If you blinked, you missed it. I love sharing my weight loss success story with everyone. It’s been a fun journey and a life changing experience.

It’s been a little over three years and people keep asking me if I still eat Nutrisystem. The answer is “YES” I still eat Nutrisystem food. I love it that much! Its so convenient and takes the guess work out of eating right. It’s like having my own little chef. 

So, here is where I stand on my weight loss journey 3 years later.

For the past year or so, I have been on the Nutrisystem Maintenance Plan. With this plan, I eat most foods on my own using the nutritional information I learned from being on this diet. “I always felt weird calling it a “diet” since it was so easy and delicious!”. 
I pay a low annual price for this plan. This keeps me a member of Nutrisystem and allows me access to counselors and special savings. I order foods from the A la Carte menu as I need them with a percentage off and free shipping. I will order an average of two or three weeks worth of foods and make it last a month while I eat most of my own foods. 

I have found that I have put on a few pounds but am keeping it in control. I like the size I am now. I’m still in a size 4 or small, continue to have energy and my health is overall great! Nutrisystem always has my back. I love knowing how to control my weight and I know what foods and snacks work for me and which ones work against me. 

One of my favorite flex breakfasts is Avocado toast and a side of fruit. 

Here are a few tips I would like to share for those that are at the point to maintaining the weight you lost with Nutrisystem. I am not going to tell you what to eat, you already know that. I want to give you some advice on some issues that I have fought against and where you need to be careful.

FLEX MEALS- Meals on your own can easily be turned into “cheat meals”. You may say to yourself “Ill eat anything I want and eat Nutrisystem food all day tomorrow”. 
THINK- This can easily become a habit and you will gradually gain without realizing it. You need to be in control of your eating. So, watch what you put on your plate. 
SOLUTION: Eat a small healthy serving. Eat slow and take small bites. Try taking laying your silverware down between bites. 
Make sure you eat 4 servings of vegetables, drink lots of water and get enough calories with the help of healthy power fuels and smart carbs between meals. 
Do not eat in front of the TV. It can lead to binge eating. 

PORTION CONTROL- Do not come home from work in the afternoons and open your refrigerator or pantry up and decide at that moment to eat your own meal. 
THINK- You will start grabbing everything you see. You will nibble while preparing your dinner because lets face it, you are hungry.
SOLUTION- Plan your meals. Make them ahead of time and use portion control containers.

EATING OUT- Eating out can be wonderful yet intimidating to a dieter. Over eating comes easy, because lets face it, eating out tastes so good! 
THINK- A regular plate at a restaurant averages two meals. Even a salad can put you over your limit. 
SOLUTION- Limit eating out to no more than twice a week. Avoid drive thrus where you are forced to eat in the car. 
Order a meal off the “A La Carte” or “Lite” menu. 
If you get a full dinner plate, ask the waiter to bring you a box at the beginning of your meal and put half away to take home. Use it to spice up a Nutrisystem meal later. 

ALCOHOL DRINKING- We all know that drinking alcohol is not a healthy choice but if your out with friends and want to enjoy a drink, avoid starchy beers and high calorie drink mixes. 
THINK- Drinking can also cause you to munch on the wrong foods. 
SOLUTION- Settle for one 4oz glass of wine. Some wines are as low as 75 calories per glass. 

SNACKS- Oh here is my weakness! I love sweets! Fortunately, while being on Nutrisystem, I do not have the cravings like I used too and its easier to say no to cakes.......Never mind, it’s not! I love cake. Put a piece in front of me and I’ll eat it! This is were I have failed while on the Maintenance plan. 
THINK- A piece of cake can have the same calories as full meal!
SOLUTION- Eat the cake. JUST EAT THE CAKE!!!!!!!
Or be strong and take a sliver. Maybe scrape off the frosting first. You can always keep a Nutrisystem snack close by and eat that instead. They have wonderful brownies, woopie pies and chocolate cake that will satisfy you just as well!

I blog for fun and all opinions and ideas are my own. Everyone is different and what may work for some may not work for others. If you have questions about Nutrisystem or your food intake, Nutrisystem counselors are always there for help 1-800-5585-548