Happy Easter

Hope everyone is having a happy Easter.

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. First, its symbolize how Christ sacrificed for us all. Its meant to be a new beginning. Its the beginning of spring. The flowers and dogwoods are blooming. The birds are singing and rushing around to get their nest built. I just love it.

Our church had a Good Friday service. Then Easter egg hunt was on Saturday and Easter morning we went to sunrise service and breakfast then attended church service a few hours later. We are now on our way to have lunch with family.

My daughter came home to spend the weekend. She will never outgrow the Easter tradition of dying eggs and baking some Easter goodies and yes, she still gets an Easter basket full of goodies. Did I mention, shes 23 years old? Yep still our baby.

We dyed eggs

 

 

and tried to make some bunny tails. AKA "Lemon Coconut Bliss". .You can find the recipe here. I couldnt get the recipe to work for me but the mess of mush it made was tasty.

This year, my husband was the Easter bunny.  He wanted to do her Easter basket this time. I sat back and let him. He has been staying on her to keep her car clean since shes moved out. Shes said she doesn't have things to do it with... 

She does now. This year, her basket was a car wash bucket instead of a pocket book. It was filled with sponges, soaps, shiners and sprayers instead of beauty products, clothes and games. The look on her face when she got it was priceless. Sort of confused and surprised. Ok, mom had to add some candy, cookies and makeup to the mix but it was still wash bucket.

I think my Husband did a good job. I believe Ill let him do her next birthday and Christmas

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE.

If I Could Have It My Way

A lot of people have what they call a bucket list. Its a list of things they wish to accomplish before they die. I refuse to do one of these because, one, It would be a rather short list, and two, Id have to much anxiety to get it done fearing I wouldn't fulfill it all before I actually did die. So, I just take life one day at a time and take what it gives me.

I do think often though. I have dreams. I do not think any of my wishes are out of reach. Its just the time and money it would take to get there.

If could have it my way:

• I would no longer work in this smelly office filled with vulgar talk, smoke smog and non-appreciation.
• Id leave it today if I could have it my way.
• I would be working in a more professional office or health care facility of some sort preferably using my phlebotomy training. 
• That job would be located in the place I want to live, the coast.
• It could even be just a part time job to get me by. I don't care to be rich, just comfortable. Id rather find resourceful ways to get by instead of relying on all the luxury of the world.
• I would live in a small house where I can smell, hear and see the ocean from my windows. 
• My windows would always be open If I could have it my way.
• A place where I feel safe to be alone. Where I can have leisure and relaxation.
• I would visit South Port, take bike tours in Beaufort, and see the light houses at the Outer Banks.
• Me and my husband would find a new church together.
• I would have one cat. I wish to have a blue Scottish fold. again, only one.
• I would have all new friends and the true friends here would visit me a couple times a year.
• I would marry my Husband again. We'd have a small ceremony on the beach and a lieu following with lots of people and new friends.
• I have it all planned out, If could have it my way.
• I would not want to be further than a few hours drive from my Mom and Dad.
• and my Daughter would live and work close by.
• I would take up surf fishing.
• I would take a ride on a sail boat, maybe even learn to sail one and have my own.
• I would stay healthy and live to be 100 years old and still leave the world before my loved ones.
• If only I could have it my way.

We will be taking our first beach trip of the year soon. My husband and I will continuously talk about "one of these days". We have a lot of the same dreams. I just feel they are closer than he does. I'm just more spontaneous and optimistic. If it takes a few more years to get started with our wishes, then so be it. Ill take what life throws at me. I am blessed with a wonderful husband and daughter and just knowing how in love we are and enjoy every minute together, makes me happy today.

Nutrisystem - More Veggies

Well, I just finished up week twelve on my Nutrisystem diet.

Week eleven was slow. I didn't loose any pounds. I heard there would be weeks like this. My body was hitting a Plateau, I think. So the next week I stepped it up a bit. More food that is.

I have been reading on the Nutrisystem website and found out that I'm not actually doing everything I should be doing. I figured the meals they sent me would be enough and maybe a veggie with it and some snacks between. Well, according to them, I'm not getting enough food. I suppose to have a couple power snacks and a couple smartcarb snacks between my meals. I'm also suppose to be getting at least 4 servings of veggies a day. WOW that's a lot of food if you ask me. Its becoming overwhelming. They have a list of all the foods they recommend me eat between my meals. I may not get all that in each day but I am working on getting at least 4 veggies mixed in somehow.


 Nutrisystem- Tortilla soup over lettuce =taco salad

I bought this really cute crock pot food warmer. I love it.

I can put my Nutrisystem microwavable lunches in there, plug it in when I get to work in the mornings and by lunch time, I have a warm prepared meal ready to eat. I can stuff veggies in with it if I'd like and they will soften up just in time. This little warmer does not cook so I can't add raw meats to it but it works fine for everything else.
 

Nutrisystem- Black Beans and Rice

 It works better than the microwave and I don't have to worry about it boiling over anymore. Plus, anything slow cooked is just better.

Nutrisystem- Three Cheese Chicken with 1/2 cup raw baby spinach

On week twelve, I ate more veggies. I bought some V8 vegetable juice to help me out. I do not like it that well but its a quick solution. I also did my best to get in at least 64 ounces of water a day. Guess what...
I'm loosing again. I lost 2lbs this past week and another inch off my waist. I still have 15 more pounds to go to reach my goal. Wish me luck....

Spring Nesting

Spring is finally in the air. Looking around you can see the flowers and trees blooming. Before long, everything will produce pollen and the town will turn greenish/yellow.

I love to watch the birds play in my yard. During the winter months I keep them fed with bread, seed or suet. Never fails though, the squirrels will ruin it. They eat the bird feeders and somehow figured out how to get into the suet cage. I almost give up, then spring arrives. I will no longer put food in the feeders because I know the birds will get enough bugs, worms and berries. As for the squirrels, they probably have a little hiding place full of the bird feed I put out all Winter.

I will sit back now and watch as the birds work franticlly to find just the right twig to build a nest by full spring. I'm going to help them with that this year.

I took the suet feeder and filled it with some scrap yarn pieces I have been saving up just for this purpose. Each bird will take her share of colorful string and use it in her nest construction. I was worried about doing this at first, thinking it may cause them to get tangled. Lets hope not. I would feel so bad.

I think its rather pretty hanging there in the tree. I cant wait to see how it works out. I can picture this fall after the leaves have fallen from the trees, I will see little colorful nest embedded between the branches as the renters leave and await for the next spring.


I've shared this at:
be-inspired-features-and-link-party at elizabethandcovintage

Nutrisystem- Lost More Inches Than Weight

I just completed my 10th week on Nutrisystem. I was afraid I would not have that much to share with you this time because I was getting discouraged.

1. Because of financial reasons I was afraid I would have to back off.
2. My weight loss has slowed down and It was depressing me. I had even gained a pound. Bummer.

Then I realized, It's not that bad. 

1. I found out that my insurance company (BlueCross/Blueshield) has an offer in the wellness program that allows me a small discount on Nutrisystem foods. That made me giddy. Every little bit helps and Lord knows I pay out the whazoo for health insurance.
2. I'm averaging 1 or 2 lbs a week and that's normal. The day that I was a little down on myself, I decided to go measure. Guess what? I had lost another 2 inches in my waist. That's a total of 4 1/2 inches. That got me excited. Yes, I actually lost more inches than weight these past two weeks.

I'm still loving all the meals with the exception of two. I just made sure I didn't add them on my next order. Yes I said it "Next Order" I plan to go through May at least. I still have 20 lbs to loose to reach my goal. I do not plan to cut it out all together, I plan to just postpone my order for a month or two to see how well I do on my own. It will save me some money during the summer for my vacations. Well see. Maybe I can find some more discounts somewhere.

Here are a couple more items I love from Nutrisystem.

Nutrisystem Chocolate Frosted Doughnut

The doughnuts are great. I put them in the microwave for 10 seconds and wahlaha, breakfast.

Nutrisystem- Multigrain Pilaf

The Pilaf was so good. Whatever Pilaf is. I added a side of  homemade Pico De Gallo. You can find my recipe HERE.

I'm still hula hooping and with the warmer weather approaching, I will be doing more walking. I cant wait for summer.


10lbs Nutribear

I found a Nutribear hiding in my last shipment of food. I will get one of these for every 10lbs lost. Looks like I will be getting the 20lbs Nutribear soon. 



Starting Weight- 168 lbs
Weight after 10 weeks- 149lbs.


 

Low Carb Ham & Egg Muffins

I have been on a diet since January. Its not a strict diet like most. I can actually eat carbs. I just need to stay with natural carbs and not over do it. Everything I eat seems to have carbs in it. The diet that I'm doing is Nutrisystem (as if I haven't talked about it enough already). I do the diet during the week and on the weekends I like to do my own thing. I do this because once I stop the diet, I do not want to just all of a sudden jump back into the pantry. I want to teach myself and get used to making my own smaller portions with the right carbs.

My daughter was home this past weekend and I always have her breakfast ready when shes here. I feel like its the most important meal of the day and I love breakfast.
While she is also trying to eat lighter, I decided to experiment on making these "breadless" ham and egg muffins

Ok do not let the picture take away from how good they really are.

They were so easy to make and tasted great. I limited myself to just one and one was enough.

Low Carb Ham & Egg Muffins.

1.  Spay a muffin tin with non-stick spray.
2.  Line each with a slice of ham ( any brand will work)

3. Crack an egg into each ham bowl. (Don't worry if a yellow breaks it will be fine. I broke some while removing the white goo thing in each egg) .
4. Sprinkle with shredded cheese of your choice (sharp cheddar is best)
5. salt/pepper (optional)
6. Bake on 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

That's it!!

Mine turned out ugly.
One,because my ham was too thin and it burnt on the edges and
two, I didn't have cheese on hand except slice American cheese which didn't melt in as well.
 
They are really good. Next time I make these I plan to add some veggies such as spinach, peppers, onions, or avocado.

Original (and better looking) recipe found HERE at kirstenoliphant.com

Ive shared this at:
party-under-the-big-top-act-five at welcometomycircus  
be-inspired-features-and-link-party at elizabethandcovintage  
worthwhile-wednesdays at craftyallieblog

Children's Book- Momma Don't You Worry

I just read the cutest little children's book.
"Momma Don't You Worry"- By: Louie Lawent

(source)

We have all heard this from our little ones and sometimes they have to learn things on their own.
Unfortunately my daughter is an adult now but I would have loved to have read this book to her. I now have a little nephew and niece that would love a story like this. Its on a level that any small child will understand.


While I read it, It took me back to a time my little girl was about six years old and wondered off from us in a store. That's as much as I'm going to say about the book because my story of that day was way to similar.


This book is a poetic story from a six year old's point of view. You know, that age just when they start getting curious. The little boy in the book learned a lesson and I think all small children would enjoy to hear this story as much as adults would enjoy reading it to them. It is very short (my kind of reading) and to the point. One minute your child will have a look of concern on their face and the next minute they will laugh. The book is so simple that your child may even be reading it themselves before you know it.


"Momma Don't You Worry" By: Louie Lawent is available now to download from Amazon for Kindle or Kindle for iPhone.

Nutrisystem- One size down

I have just completed my 8th week on Nutrisytem. Im excited to tell you my latest news.
Before starting Nutrisytem I was in a size twelve jeans. Well, I went shopping last weekend. I tried on some pants and guess what? I actually fit into a size eight! Not all the pants I tried on were so giving but I was definitely a comfortable ten. I was so excited that I took my first ever mirror selfie. Ha!

I didn't buy any new pants that day, thought I'd wait a few more weeks, but I did buy some yoga type pants and guess again, I didn't buy a large this time because I fit into a Medium!

I still have a ways to go. I'm almost half way to my goal of loosing 38 lbs. by May.
I will be going through some challenges along the way with birthday dinners coming up Easter, a beach trip and a wedding for my nephew. I will have to stay strong and keep away from the sweet stuff.

Nutrisytem Pancakes

Speaking of sweet stuff, I have enjoyed my delivered meals from Nutrisytem. Especially the doughnuts and pancakes. They're no Krispy Kreme or Aunt Jemima but they were satisfying. The pancakes came in a powder so I could mix up and make myself. I loved it because it gave me an excuse to cook something. I added sugar free syrup on top and enjoyed. Next time I may add some fruit.

I even had a "vacuum sealed" hamburger one night for dinner. That was weird.

Nutrisystem Hamburger

I added some pico de gallo and lettuce. I did not have a bun so I used whole wheat bread, lightly toasted. It actually was not that bad.

I'm still hanging in there and plan to keep on doing it the Nutrisystem way until I reach my goal.

My starting weight was 168lbs
I am now 152 lbs and have lost 2 inches off my waist.

Recycled Leggings

Its been cold here the past few days. We had a day of ice, a day of spring, and then some snow. Its just crazy how the weather changes her in North Carolina.

I had a pair of nice soft leggings that I though were just ugly on my legs. I bought them to go with a sweater I have but cream color legging and fat legs do not go together. So, I'm going to show you a couple things I made with the leggings instead of giving them to the good will. I wanted to get some use out of them somehow.

When its cold in the house, we get this draft under the door that I'm sure is not suppose to happen. But it does. You know how those 1960's homes are. I fixed that by making a door draft stopper.

First I cut one of the legs off and sewed one end. Then I got an old towel and rolled it up to fit inside the leg. I could have used stuffing, but this way, I can take the towel out and wash the draft stopper when it gets dirty.

 

I cut a slit in the hem of the legging and threaded a ribbon into it and I slid the sock over the towel and tied the end shut for easy removal for washing. Works perfectly.

 ******

With pieces of the other leg, I decided to make a couple hand warmers.

 These cute little things are filled with rice.

All I have to do is pop them in the microwave for a minute, stick them in my pockets and have warm hands for approx 20 minutes.

Perfect if you have to stand outside in the cold or for kids at the bus stop. These hand warmers will work great with the snow we are getting.


Ive shared this at:
be-inspired-features-and-link-party at elizabethandcovintage

Extra Ice and Yarn Tutu

This week has been a long one. Starting on Sunday, I skipped church to be an extra in a small film that was filming in my hometown. That was a fun experience. I didn't have to say anything, thank goodness, because I have a fear of public speaking and this would be in line with that. I did however have to pretend to be talking and eating in a restaurant.... over and over and over. Maybe I will see my ear or back of my head when the movie comes out, who knows.

Then we get an ice storm on Monday which kept me out of work on Tuesday only to be bored all day. It was nothing worth going outside and breaking my neck for. There was no snow, just a thick bed of ice over the whole town. I could only do so much bird watching.

So,I decided to do something with my scrap pieces of yarn. I grabbed my stash, curled up in my chair and started wrapping yarn around an old picture frame. My husband gave me that look again. I said "don't ask, I have an idea". He knows something is about to happen when that light bulb goes off in my head. He still gives me a look though.

I did not have a color plan, I just grabbed colors until I was out of scraps. Then I cut the yarn to have a bulk of strings all the same length. I took pinches of yarn and tied them onto a piece of sewn elastic and created this yarn tutu. 

I call it a gypsy tutu. It has a mix of different textured yarns. Some strands are braided. Some have knots, and some unraveled. The textures give it a unique one of a kind look. I can just picture this on a little toddler with a headband, big bow and bare feet. I think it would be so cute. 

I think it turned out so well that I put it in my shop. It was a little bit time consuming to make but I only priced it to pay for some new yarn to make more items. I will make more as I accumulate more scraps. I still have enough to make another one if its requested.

Meanwhile, the ice has melted from the roads but temperatures are not out of the teens. That's really unusual around here where our winters are in the 30s and 40's. The weatherman is calling for more wintery mix this weekend and next week. I really am looking forward to spring.

Ive shared this at:
be-inspired-features-and-link-party at elizabethandco
submarine-sunday at usscrafty.com 
snickerdoodle-sunday-link-party at 2crochethooks 
inspire-me-monday-week at create-with-joy.com  
yarn-fanatic-party at thephilosopherswife

Nutrisystem- Emotions

I just made it though a total of 6 weeks on Nutrisystem.

The past two weeks have been sort of an emotional struggle for me. I have struggles at work as I get no respect and no positive comments. Only let downs,teasing and tempting.  Little do they know, this makes me stronger.

While doing my exercises the other day I started feeling alone. I noticed I have to avoid my friends right now. I have to say no to dinner and lunch dates. This could lead to binge eating and they may not understand.

Some friends and family members that I come across will say things like, "You are fine as you are". "You do not need to loose weight" or You can eat this or that because its not THAT fattening". Or simple comments like "Your silly" or "Your crazy".  Ive learned that the ones that say these things neither have a need or desire to diet so they could not possible know what I'm going through. I have never told someone they are being ridiculous on their food choices nor have I ever tried to tempt someone with food while they are trying to diet.
My husband, daughter and one of my best friends are the only people that I know personally that are showing me support and helping me through this journey. My husband is always commenting the way I look and how my body is changing. He is dieting with me as well but on his own food choices. He does not complain that I do not cook meals anymore or want to go out to eat two or three times a week. He pushes me to exercise and eat healthy between meals.

With all of that being said-  I am proudly announcing that I have just officially joined Nutrisystem and will be having my meals delivered to my door. I signed up for the 28 day program. I will have to start with the fast five again even though Ive already lost over 12 lbs in a month with Nutrisystem. I felt I needed more to achieve my weight goal and since the food was so good, I wanted different varieties and I got to pick over 100 different foods of my choice. This is going to be exciting. I love my results so far and this is the longest I stuck with any diet. Even though I have not stopped the diet, when my package of foods arrive, It will be like starting over and their website will start monitoring my weight goals from week one of the meal arrival.

My Starting weight on January 1st was- 168 lbs.
My weight today is- 155 lbs.
I'm averaging about a pound or two a week. My scale can be different every time I step on it by a pound or two so I'm going to invest in a digital scale as I start my new road of this journey.

Check back every two weeks to see my progress and updates of my Nutrisystem journey.

Mary Ann

"Mary Ann"

This is the name of the book I just finished reading.
Its also the name of one of my best friends Mother.
Who is also The main subject of this book.

I kept seeing this book advertised on Mary Ann's face book page and just had to ask about it.
Written by: Jack Darnell
He was a friend of Mary Ann and her family who are also mentioned in the book. He offered me a signed copy and within a week, I was reading it.

(source)

Let me start by saying, I am not big on reading. I am a slow reader. I always had a reading disability growing up. That's one reason I started blogging and also probably why a lot of my stories do not make much since. But Im learning. Im trying to strengthen my reading/ understanding skills. So, I choose a book or two to read each year. Im finding the more I read, the easier it is. I actually enjoy it when I can find a quiet spot to curl up in.

Mary Ann was a great book. It had me in suspense from the start. This book was printed in a larger print which I was thrilled to see. It made it so easy to read.
I quickly got wrapped up in this book as I was reading it. I can usually guess the end of a book or movie from the beginning but not this time, as soon as I thought I had it figured out, the story would shift. It was interesting and I could not wait to get to the end. What also made this book fun for me to read were the places and names within in the story. They were familiar as the story takes place around the city in which I live.

I've had the pleasure of meeting the real Mary Ann a few times and even had small talk with her while I visited her at her camper on the beach. She often camps in the same travel park that we do.
I will not tell you what the book is about or how it ends but I will say while the story of Mary Ann was fiction, he describes her sweet personality to a "T". Having met her, I could imagine her facial expressions as I read through her dilemma.

I recommend this book to anyone that likes mystery and suspense . If you like the law and order type TV shows, you will enjoy this book.

MaryAnn (the book) can be purchased  HERE on Amazon or for Kindle. You can also purchase the book from createspace  HERE .
Jack also writes in his blog Shipslog  where he shares his journey through life with his lovely wife.

Wine Gummy Bites

Move over gummy bears and Jello, now adults can enjoy some gelatin fun. If you like wine that is. This treat actually has health benefits both in the wine and the gelatin.
Health benefits of wine can be found  Here. Benefits such as lowering the risk of heart disease, type2 diabetes, cataracts, colon cancer and more.
Health benefits of gelatin can be found Here. Benefits such as clearing cellulite, stretchmarks, arthritis, wrinkles and more.
So see, there ya go, you can have a healthy heart and smooth butt by eating these. ♥. ha!

Now I'm going to share how to make some of these little chewy giggle jiggles. With the same texture as a gummy bear, they would go great at a party next to the cheese. Why drink wine when you can eat it? They do not have to be refrigerated. You can actually pack them up and take them with you to a party. They will not un-gel. Just remember, be sure to keep them away from children.

Wine Gummies

1 cup wine

4 Tbsp. clear gelatin

2 tablespoons honey (add more or less depending on how dry or sweet the wine is.)

• Heat wine in a pot on the stove top (low). You just want it a nice warm about 90 degree. Do not boil or it will burn off all the alcohol.
• Add the gelatin one tablespoon at a time. stirring until dissolved.
• Add honey
• pour into molds or dish and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

They are suppose to get stiff as a gummy bear and will not melt.

Cut into approx. 1 inch squares.

(10 squares will equal about 4 oz of wine so be careful not to over do it while snacking on these).

Enjoy.

Warning: (1)Women should not drink alcohol while pregnant because of the risk of birth defects.(2)Consumption of alcohol impairs your ability to drive.(3)Drinking to much alcohol may impair your thinking and make you stupid


Ive shared this at:
craftsalamode.
.inspire-me-monday at create-with-joy
snickerdoodle-sunday at 2crochethooks
be-inspired-features-and-link-party at elizabethandco
party-under-the-big-top-linky-act-1 at welcometomycircus

EKG ♥ Bracelet

I'm excited to share with you something Ive been working on the past few days. Well, It didn't take a few days to make, but the idea swirled around in my head for days until I finally came up with the style that worked for me.

It's an EKG Bracelet. You can call it a heartbeat bracelet or pulse rate bracelet too.
 

This bracelet is special to me. Its delicately made using my daughters heart rhythm. She had a minor surgery two years ago. When she came out of surgery, she had a copy of her EKG laying beside her. I snatched it up quickly with the intentions of getting a tattoo that mimicked this design. Well, I can throw that idea out of my mind because this bracelet is far less painful and a whole lot prettier.

It took some patience to bend and twist the wire until it was just right. I will say, I am definitely not a jewelry maker. Look close, you will see many flaws.  I don't have the tools I need to perfect it. I made this using only some needle nose pliers.

I think Ill stick to crochet for now.

Ive shared this at:
create-link-inspire-linky-party at thecraftyblogstalker
inspire-me-monday at create-with-joy
tuesday-pin-spiration at thestitchinmommy
worthwhile-wednesdays at craftyallieblog
craftsalamode
snickerdoodle-sunday at 2crochethooks
 

Nutrisystem Week 4- Cravings are Less

Wow! Its been a a whole month now that I've been on the Nutrisystem Diet plan. I'm loving that this is something Ive stuck with.

Nutrisystem Pizza with added onions and olives

The truth is, Its not even diet food, Its just proportioned meals to keep me on track.  Hard to believe that four weeks ago I sat down for my last fatty meal of a Big Mac and Large fry! I ate it all! Loved it too.

The best thing is I can talk about foods and it does not faze me anymore. I can ride past the doughnut shop or Chinese restaurant without the urge to order something to take home. 

The cravings are not completely gone but the strength to walk away from them is a piece of cake easy. 

Nutrisystem Beef tips and Mashed Potatoes

With Nutrisystem, I get to eat pizza, chocolate, potatoes, muffins and more! The portions are small but the way I'm feeling now is worth it all. I'm excited each week to see how many inches or lbs Ive lost.  Even if it is just a pound, it's a pound less than last week.

I'm going to keep going. 

Here are my results at the end of week four.

Ive lost 2 lbs this week puting me from 168 to 157lbs.
Total for the month....11 lbs. That's exciting to me.

I plan to stay off the scale and wait to weigh in at the end of February. I also plan to post about my journey every two weeks now so I don't bore everyone. So check back Sunday the 15th.
 

Now on to week five!

DIY Sail Boat

We finally had a nice enough day to go for a walk. It was a Sunday afternoon and I needed to get out of the house. I decided to go with my husband for a brisk walk around the neighborhood. He does this every morning and not too often do I have the time to go with him.

As we were walking, I spotted a stick. I actually spotted a lot of sticks but this particular one caught my eye and an idea popped into my head. Yea that happens sometimes. I stopped in my path to pick it up. My husband gave me a look. I was like, "what? I need this stick". He shrugged his shoulders as he never removed his earphones, only lip reading my response. I'm sure he knew I was up to something because when I get an idea, its gonna happen. He saw just a stick, I saw a sailboat.


I still needed a smaller and straighter stick. So, the next day when I got home from work, he had me a little pile of straight sticks. I grabbed them up and immediately took off to my craft closet and played.

The result of my natural finds is this sail boat.

It was fun to make and plan to display it either in my office or beach place. It's quite possible I will make another one soon. I love sail boats or anything nautical for that matter.

Now get a stick and make your own.

You will need:

1 thick stick

1 straight branch for the center rod

hot glue or Elmer's

cloth for a sail (any piece cloth will do)

eye hooks

kite string or yarn to tie it all together.

I cut the sails and in each corner, I clipped a small hole for the string.

I made a hole in the center of the stick for the center rod to fit into.

I screwed the eye hooks into each end.

Then just put it all together.

Here is another sail boat I made a while back the same way except I used drift wood I found on the beach, which is my favorite and this one will actually float.

I love making these. So easy and fun.


Ive shared this at:
inspire-me-monday at create-with-joy
amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome
tuesday-pin-spiration at thestitchinmommy 
mix-it-up-monday flourmewithlove  
monday-handmade-linkup at judyscardmakingandpapercrafts  
link-and-share-wednesday at oombawkadesigncrochet
weekend-bloggy-reading at serenitynowblog
dare-to-share at pamspartyandpracticaltips
submarine-sunday at usscrafty
nifty-thrifty-sunday at niftythriftythings
craftsalamode.
july-craft-challenge-something-from-nature at 2crochethooks.
snickerdoodle-sunday at 2crochethooks

Nutrisystem Week 3- Noticing Changes

Just finished my third week on Nutrisystem. I'm starting to feel the changes my body is taking on this diet.

I know, I know, it seems like all im going to blog about now is Nutrisystem. Nope. I plan to get back to blogging on other things soon but this diet just has me excited and its helping me out by blogging my results. Just keep following me, Ill have some new things popping up soon. 

I usually suffer acid reflux and heart burn on a regular basis. This started about 4 years ago. Anxiety will trigger it but most of the time it was my eating habits. I would either eat too fast, too much or eat the wrong things. I never could really pin point what caused the episodes because it would be different foods at different times.

Well, I'm here to tell you that since I have been on this Nutrisystem diet, I have not been suffering from the heart burn, and acid reflux. I think the foods im taking in are more healthy and balanced. I'm still enjoying all the meals they provide.

Nutrisystem- Chicken Alfredo

 

Nutrisystem - Chicken Noodle Soup

Im going for another week!  This is the longest I've ever stayed with a diet. I never would have thought I'd be doing it this way but its working for me and im getting used to the portions. Still just buying the 5 day boxes at Walmart. Im just afraid to take that step of ordering a month supply delivered at my door. Im comfortable taking it a week at a time even if it means I have to eat the same meals over again.

Im excited to say I've lost an inch and a half! My pants do not know that yet but the measuring tape told me so. My belly bulge is shrinking slowly. I hope by spring time, I can wear a fitted t shirt and not worry about the spare tire or muffin top around my waist band.

But....

Im disappointed to see I only lost one pound this week. I have to keep going. Maybe up my exerscise a bit. Its just so hard when I work in an office all day and its dark by the time I get home to do any walking. Im hanging in there.

Follow my journey here

Nutrisystem Diet Week 2 - Its Getting Easier

Week two was easier than week one. I'm seeing results already! Last week I lost 6 lbs in just my first week! I'm sure every week will not be as successful, but who knows? I hope so. Id love to be able to lose 30 lbs and get into a new Easter outfit this year.

Again, I bought a five day kit from my local Walmart. It has the same foods as the last kit with the exception of about four different meals. Ive had no complaints so far. All the food has been really good. OK, let me stop right her for a moment and just say, Nutrisystems popcorn is the best ever!!! I would love to just buy the bags alone!! 

I still get a little hungry between meals but there are snack options. I would eat things like almonds, baked kale chips or fat free yogurt. I also bought some of the shakes that are to be used between meals.
 

I like them. They taste pretty good. I'm not going to say they are absolutely delicious, but they taste better than the Carnation Instant breakfast, Slim fast or the Ensures. Yes Ive tried them all.

I would do things like add a cup of lettuce with my Italian dinners such as lasagna, pizza or rigatoni.

Nutrisystem  Meat Lasagna

I would add a tablespoon of fat free or lite dressing on the side and dip the lettuce into it as a I ate it.  I didn't over do it that way. I'm one of those that like a little salad on my dressing. 

So, incase your wondering what I ate on Saturday and Sunday. You know, those two days between my five day diet? Well, for breakfasts I would eat a pack (about 1 cup) of the Quaker oatmeal granola cereals with warm Almond milk. For lunches I would have one piece of toasted wheat bread with peanut butter and a drop of honey or some Tuna with Jalapenos on top. For Dinner one night I had a sushi roll and for dinner the next night I had fajitas from my favorite Mexican restaurant. This was such a treat! I controlled myself. I only ate half of the plate served and ignored the tortillas, rice and beans. That was sooo hard because I love the rice!

Each week I make sure to add some exercise and drink lots of water.

Here are my results after week 2!

When I first started this diet plan I weighted in at 168lbs
At the end of week one I was down to 162lbs.
At the end of week two I am down to 160lbs.

The weight loss was not as much after the 2nd week but everyone tells me that happens. They say thats why you need to stay off the scales while you diet.
Wish me luck as I start my 3rd week and dont forget to check back on Sunday afternoons for my diet updates. follow my journey here.

Nutrisystem Diet Week 1 - The Struggles

Yaaayyy! I survived one week of the Nutrisystem's diet meal plan. In my previous post about trying this diet, I said I'd give you all an update. Ill even tell ya how much weight I've lost!

First I just want to say that I am not doing this for the benefit of Nutrisystem, I'm doing this to my own benefit. My reactions and achievements may not be like anyone else. This is just my personal experience on a well known diet plan. You should try it too sometime.

Here goes:

Each day I drank 64 ounces of water and hula hooped for 15-20 minutes each morning. Also, with the help of my fitbit, I tried to get at least 9000 step in each day.


Day one: Its terrible. Don't get me wrong, the food is great but the portions are small. I'm starving! I'm so hungry. I didn't know I could add veggies and fruit to my meals to help me out so I ate strictly just the meals that were given. However, I did add a glass of Fusion energy juice, which I love. My calorie intake for the whole day was 1020 calories. I'm craving bread!

Day two: I woke up with a head ache. loved the chocolate breakfast muffin and my hunger is not as bad this day. I snacked on lettuce, fresh avocado and mixed nuts between my meals. I cant wait til breakfast!

Day three: No head ache today, just sore from hula hooping. Its getting easier. My breakfast this morning was a bagel. I added just a smear of regular cream cheese to it. yum!. It was like eating a steak. I added some oranges and grapes for snacks between meals. I feel like I have just a little bit more energy and the bloated feeling seems to be going away. Maybe Ive lost a pound but I'm not stepping on the scales just yet. Not until the end.

Day four:  Woke up feeling great. I'm starting to like it now. I'm not even hungry, just cold. Its 10 degrees this morning so I enjoyed the granola cereal for breakfast. Instead of milk, I used almond milk and microwaved it for 15 seconds and wah lah, I had a warm, sweet, and tasty granola cereal. I never got hungry before lunch. Today I added some fresh tomatoes and fruit as snacks. I accidentally skipped morning snack. Unbelievable! I also didnt eat my dessert after dinner. It was popcorn today and I was waiting until I had a craving to eat it but the craving never came.

Day five: This is the last day of meals in my box. I feel great but sorta hungry again this morning (I should have eaten that dessert last night). I do feel balanced and satisfied today. I'm skipping the usual Friday night outing to a restaurant. However, I will be going out Saturday and probably cook something on Sunday. Sorta like a treat for sticking to this during the week days. Ill take it easy though and I'm a little afraid and freaking out since I don't have my meals at hand. I will be attending a birthday party Sunday so I have to avoid the cupcakes and pizza but I can do this.

I'm excited at my results so keep reading and find out what they were.

Here are some questions I have been asked.....

What was the best part of this plan?- Not having to figure out what to eat. Its portion controlled too so I didn't have to measure and weigh everything out. Foods are easy to prepare and simple to take to work with me. They do not need to be put in freezer or fridge and take less then 2 minutes in the microwave.

Worst thing about this plan? - Giving up bacon!!!! I love bacon! Also, I hate not sharing a meal with my husband. He is left to defend for himself. Hes not complaining though.

Will I continue further with this plan?- I've decided to do it another week. Im going to take it week by week. I do not think one week is enough to really show accurate results. Sure there are low cal recipes out there but why stress over what to buy and cook when the Nutrisystem meals are right here and ready?

How did the food tastes?- I liked everything. To me, the meals tasted better than any lean cuisine Ive ever eaten and I like those. The meat in the meals were tender and not fatty, none were tough or had any gristle, the chicken seamed to be all white chunks which I like too. I couldn't wait til my next meal. Something different every day. It was sorta fun.

How much weight did I loose?- I weighed in the first morning at 168 lbs. (I don't mind telling my weight. It is what it is.) Wowzaaa!
The morning after my five days, I weighed in at  162 lbs!!!

THAT'S 6 LBS LOST!!!!
YA ME!!

Everyone is different and weight loss and satisfaction varies with each person. My weight fluctuates two or three pounds from day to day so I'm sure its not completely accurate weight loss but I liked what I saw and it gave me motivation to carry on.

As long as Im doing this diet, I will post my results each Sunday afternoon. So follow me. Any comments are welcome too.

Crochet Gaiter

It has been so cold the past couple days here in North Carolina. Our average temperature in the Winter is in the 40's. This week however, It's been in the teens! That's just too cold for me. I want to crawl under blankets and hibernate!

My Husband walks every morning around the neighborhood. This is what he does for daily exercise. If its raining, he will stay in and take a break. No matter how cold it is he will just bundle himself up and go.
He likes to wear a beanie on his head and something around his neck but hates long scarfs, they get in the way. He wanted something he could wear around his neck in a manly fashion and be able to pull it up over his face to protect it from wind when needed.

So, I made him a Gaiter. AKA neck warmer.

The first one I made him, I crocheted using a half double rib stitch. After wearing it and washing it a few times, it became big. It just kept growing. I even took out some inches but it continued to grow.

I wanted to make him another one but using a more durable stitch that want stretch out too much. I found this pattern for a cable stitch. It was the easiest one I found so far. I even made the hat for my friend.

I used gray because black over the face would make him look like a robber. ha ha.
OK, and it matches his gray coat. He wore it today and said it did great keeping his face, neck and ears warm. I actually thought it looked really good around his neck like a snug cowl to wear out somewhere.


Ive shared this at:
oombawkadesigncrochet
cityofcreativedreams
pamspartyandpracticaltips
create-with-joy
dwellings-theheartofyourhome
thestitchinmommy
katherinescorner
craftsalamode

Nutrisystem Challenge

Like everyone else, this time of year I want to make changes to myself, set goals and loose weight. I try all year but its January when I feel the urge to start fresh.

I love to eat and I nibble on everything in the house. If its in the cabinet or on the counter, it will be gone whether I like it or not. I just love to eat. Thats why I can not stick to a diet. But I need to do something or I will hate myself even more when it comes to beach time.

After several diet fails, Ive decided to take a chance with the Nutrisystem diet. I did not want to pay alot of money and sign up for the program from the infomercials on TV. It seems way to expensive when I may not even like it or be able to handle the small portions it includes.

Lucky for me, Walmart carries a five day box. With a price of about $45.00, It includes a five day supply of all the meals I need to accomplish a healthy diet while keeping it proportioned. Hey, I sorta liked walking in, grabbing a box of meals and zooming out.

I hope nobody was paying me any attention because I sure didn't feel like no Marie Osmond as I darted out wearing fat clothes and craving a cheeseburger.

Here is what the inside contents looked like. yum right?

I will be eating like an astronaut for a week.

This is what my first whole day looks like.

 and....

This is what one of my first meal of the day consist of.

A muffin. A little dinky muffin. However, it does suggest eating fruits, nuts or raw veggies with each meal. 

This leaves my husband defending for himself in the kitchen, but he also likes the idea of not having to come up with dinner plans each night. He is a healthy eater already. He eats lots of salads and nuts and walks at least five miles a day. He has lost a lot of weight already on that alone. I hate walking unless its down the beach and I hate eating healthy. This is gonna starve me.

Along with my diet, I plan to exercise with my hula hoop in the mornings before work. I already do about 15 to 20 minutes each morning so I will just continue. Maybe add more wiggle or something. Its dark when I leave work in the afternoons so its hard to go for a walk. (I know, I'm already making excuses ).
Anyway, I'm weighed in so wish me luck and check back Monday morning at a new post with my update on how the week went.



What is your weight loss plan for the new year? I know ya got one.

Meanwhile, will someone please turn the light off at the doughnut shop?

Its a New Year

Its a new year. What's that mean for you? What are you going to do new this year?

Im sitting here, barley able to keep my eyes open but I wanted to take some time to tell everyone Happy New Year. Me and my husband brought in the new year at home. We went out to a nice dinner and headed back to the house to finish up some last minute preparations for my annual family New Years dinner. It was complete with collard greens, black eye peas and pork. Not to mention the crock pot macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and fruit cobblers.
I set up tables from my dining area throughout the living room, making sure to have enough seats for sixteen people. It turned out great and a lot of full bellies.

Everyone is gone now and everything is cleaned up and put away. I am now ready for the new year. Every new year, we think about what we can do different to make it better than the last.
I do not usually make resolutions or promises to myself. Its just puts to much pressure on the thought and therefore I never hold to it. I do plan to make some changes and do some things differently. Will it happen? Im not sure but here are a few of my plans for this year.

1. Stop complaining so much.(It is what it is)
2. Blog more.(blogging is mind relaxing)
3. Stop worrying so much about people and how they act and what they do.(drives me crazy)
4. Stay more positive and smile more. (while biting my tongue)
5. Have a healthier lifestyle ( I may even use sunscreen)
6. Clip and use coupons. (health Insurance went up and im broke)
7. Find somewhere to volunteer or work part time to get some use of my Phlebotomy skills.
7. and last, Stay off facebook as much as I can. This will help me accomplish 1-4.

What are some of your plans for the new year?

Now finally, im off to bed .

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!