Trials of a Long Haired Girl

Happy Monday friends!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Last week my schedule and, thus my blogging schedule got a bit off because of President's Day.  Honestly, we ate out much more often than we should have, but I suppose some weeks are going to be that way. Here's what we had last week: Monday: Frozen Pizzas (Pepperoni and a veggie) Tuesday: Chicken Enchilada Casserole that I shared on my blog last week; Wednesday, Meatloaf and mashed potatoes Thursday: Sliders and fries Friday: Subway Saturday: Jersey Mike's Sunday: Lazy Man Lasagna This week, the plan is: Chicken Enchilada Casserole. I am using the green enchilada sauce this time to see how it tastes Chicken Tikka Masala and rice Chicken Sausage and potatoes Cheeseburger and Tot Casserole Fettuccine Alfredo and garlic bread Cheesy Hashbrowns Breakfast for dinner As always the above is subject to change without notice, but I do feel better having a plan in place.  I can plan my meals ...

Happy Thursday a/k/a Friday eve friends!  I hope everyone enjoyed the recipe yesterday.  It was really tasty and my family enjoyed it.  While I feel this week has been a little "off", I do feel like I'm making some progress.  Yes, tracking is happening which is a good thing.  However, I think my little lapses and letting myself have sugar over the weekend.  Also, because I was watching Jess, Jess and Brianna's live on YouTube when it was not live, I was reminded about what happens when I don't get enough water.  So, I've been really pushing that this week.  True Lime Black Cherry Limeade is a huge help in that regard.  It gives me a little flavor and helps me drink more.  I was finished with both bottles that I keep on my desk by 6:30 tonight.  I did splurge tonight and had a Starbucks coffee.  It is a treat for me and I rarely do it.  One big thing I noticed this week is the sugar cravings.  Oh my word!  It's ...

Happy Hump day!  First off, let me apologize for my disappearing act, but I was struggling a little bit with my back and meal planning.  I still don't have a full game plan for the week, but I do have a pretty good idea.  As some of you know, I have several YouTubers that I follow, but I ran across  The Magical Slow Cooker .  Specifically, I saw a a recipe for  Slow Cooker Green Chile Chicken and Rice Casserole .  While I didn't have all of the items on hand, it sounded really good.  I decided to create a recipe using what I had.  The recipe that I made is as follows: 1.5 lbs Chicken Breast 2 cups Brown Jasmine Rice 19 oz can of Red Enchilada sauce 1 medium onion, diced 1 cup of sour cream 6 oz Colby Jack cheese block I did not measure my seasoning, but I added dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, salt and pepper.  I seasoned my chicken, added the enchilada sauce and let it cook for 8 hours in the slow cooker.  W...

Happy, happy Friday!  It was yet another stressful week.  I feel like I did better this week, but there were definitely days that I was not in the Blue Dot zone.  Some days it was a little over other days it was a lot over.  I was reminded that, again, it's about choices.  I need to decide what choices I'm willing to make for myself each day.  I am still not working out much other than walking as my rib seems to not be able to stay in place and is still causing me pain.  My process is slow, but it's definitely time for me to focus on food again and staying in those Blue Dot zones.  I have a little extra time on Monday since our office is closed for President's Day.  My plan is to take the extra time to prepare some meals, brown some ground beef and set myself up for easier dinners.   Focus for the coming week: 1. TRACK; 2. Walk when I can and incorporate some yoga; and  3. Set myself up for success by meal planning.

Happy, happy hump day friends!  We've made it to the halfway point of the week!  On Saturday, I was reminded of a quick and tasty sheet pan meal that I had not made in quite some time.  What meal?  Chicken Fajitas!  Absolutely tasty and very easy to make! I had some chicken that I needed to use up.  I had planned on making 2 batches.  One to freeze for another meal and one to eat on Sunday.  I decided that since I didn't have any chicken thawed for our lunches this week that I would just make all of the chicken breasts I had left in the fridge from Costco.  I had used a package for Chicken Tikka Masala but had two more to use.  My sweet husband sliced onions for me and then diced some for our Meatloaf on Sunday.  I sliced up some bell pepper (green, red, yellow and orange) and then diced the rest for our meatloaf and a breakfast casserole.  Here's my basic recipe below: I used 5 chicken breasts, which I sliced into strips...

Happy Thursday a/k/a Friday eve friends! Happy Valentine's Day!  This one is a bit of a two-for.  My Mom always made Valentine's Day special for me, even when I was single.  I still have a red teddy bear with a rose that Mom got me years ago.  I have so many great memories of hanging out with her having a special dinner and she was always my Valentine, even after I got married.  For our Valentine's day dinner, I am making a meal that I know everyone likes.  I was reminded again recently just how blessed I am with my husband.  I know now is a time to get a little sappy, but I have been thinking about this for a bit.  My husband and I were everything that we thought we didn't want.  God clearly had other plans.  Mom told him at our reception that there was no exchanges and no returns.  Seriously, I firmly believe that if I had gotten married when "all my friends" were getting married that I would not have been truly prepared for m...

Happy Tuesday friends!  Hope that your week is going well so far!  I know there are many who have been on this healthy lifestyle journey for some time like myself, but I think this week's talk is definitely one that we should all revisit from time to time.  Being kind to yourself.  I think I have mentioned this before, but a boss and friend from the past when I was at the beginning of this weight loss journey that I really shouldn't say things to myself that I wouldn't say to a friend.  I have really tried to take that to heart.  I know I have really struggled with negative self talk, as I know others have.  It is really a struggle in my everyday life, not just where weight loss is concerned, not to talk down to myself.  I have found that the struggle is absolutely worth it for me.  Trying to take time to phrase things differently has really helped me to change my focus and not always talk down to myself.  Can you honestly say that cal...

Happy Monday friends!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Mine was filled with some running around and working.  I was buying Valentine's stuff for the goodie bags for my Sunday School kids as Sunday was my day to teach.  I love doing special things like that for them!  Now, for another edition of Meal Planning Monday!  The past week's dinner plan was as follows: - Baked Potatoes - Chicken Tikka Masala using the sauce I got from Target with Rice - Bean and cheese Tostadas -Meatloaf and Mashed potatoes and Green Beans - Cheesy Hasbrowns - Lazy Man Lasagna - Mac and Cheese What we had was:  Monday: Papa John's pizza. Tuesday: Leftover patrol. Wednesday: Leftover patrol, I had Pita Chips because it was late and I was tired. Thursday: Chicken Tikka Masala using the sauce from Target and Basmati Rice Friday: Pei Wei Saturday: Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas and refried beans Sunday: Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes This week, my plan: ...

Happy Thursday a/k/a Friday eve friends!  Hope your week is going well!  I don't know about you but there are definitely times that our budget for going out for a date night is a little tight.  Aside from that, this year, we have some budget goals that are important to us.  Honestly, I was reminded of this when I was catching up on my blogs around the middle of January.  I was reading Merissa's post on Little House Living entitled Frugal Date Night Ideas .  She really offers some great suggestions.  Something else that my husband and I do is to hold on to gift cards that we are given and then we use them for a date.  Recently, we took an afternoon off and headed to a movie using gift cards from a birthday or Christmas.  It makes it a lot less expensive for us when we go on a date using gift cards we've received.  Sometimes our dates are as simple as taking a long walk up through the park or around a nature preserve in the area.  ...

Happy hump day friends!  It’s time to share yet another recipe.  This one, while not entirely WW friendly, could be adjusted to make it more WW friendly.  However, I was primarily making these for my children for lunch so it wasn’t really necessary to change it up.  This was a big hit with my gang. Easy Baked Taquitos 3 Cups of Shredded Chicken 4 oz. of Cream Cheese, softened 1.5 Cups of Mexican or Cheddar Cheese 3 Teaspoons of Chili Powder 1 Teaspoon of Cumin 0.5 teaspoon of Salt 16-20 Corn Tortillas After combining the chicken, cream cheese and cheese, microwave it for between 30 and 60 seconds.  After microwaving, add your seasonings and mix to combine.  Warm your tortillas, I warm mine in the microwave.  Be prepared this is a bit of a messy recipe.  I put approximately 1/3 or less of the chicken mixture on the tortilla and roll it up.  I put it seam down on the baking sheet.  Once they were all done, I put them in a 425 ...

Happy Tuesday, friends!  Hope your Monday went well.  For this week’s “talk”, let’s talk about eating out.  I don’t know about you but when I was still firmly in the “diet” mentality, I struggled with eating out.  Honestly, I cringed at the thought of going out to eat, especially if I couldn’t plan ahead.  There are still some days that I feel that way.  I am learning more and more what I can have that keeps me within my daily points allowance, what might take me into my weekly points allowance.  For me, one of the biggest parts of this journey has been learning how to do this for a lifetime.  My sweet friend, Heather, reminded me that I am not benefiting myself if I’m overthinking things while I was in the midst of my bad food week.  I was eating out at two different restaurants in the last couple of weeks.  My primary focus was to make good choices for myself to stay within my daily points in order to get my blue dot.  I was abl...

Happy Monday friends!  Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Quite honestly, I was exhausted all weekend so I did not do much other than try to relax before the busy week to come.  Now, it's time for another edition of Meal Planning Monday!  The past week's dinner plan was as follows: Cheeseburger and Tot Casserole; Frito Pie; Mexican Lasagna; Smoked Turkey and sides; Baked Potatoes; Fettuccine Alfredo and garlic bread. What we had was: Monday: Frito Pie; Tuesday: Cheeseburger and Tot Casserole; Wednesday: Torte from Trader Joe’s Thursday: Smoked Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans; Friday: I honestly don’t recall; Saturday: Cheeseburger, tater tots and fried pie; Sunday: Serve Yourself. For the coming week, our plan is: - Baked Potatoes - Chicken Tikka Masala using the sauce I got from Target with Rice - Bean and cheese Tostadas -Meatloaf and Mashed potatoes and Green Beans - Cheesy Hasbrowns - Lazy Man Lasagna -Mac and Chees...

Happy, Happy Friday!  After a very busy week, I am thankful for this day.  I was reminded earlier this week that I really need to stop jumping head first into things before thinking about all that it entails.  This week, I've felt very distant from my family and I feel like my food has been all over the place.  It is, however, a new month.  I refuse to give up my goals for the year.  What I have realized after last week is that it is very important for me to prepare and plan ahead.  I have been watching some videos and researching time blocking.  I think it will be very important right now so I can stay on top of everything.  My planner has become my ever constant companion and is even more important to my sanity at the moment.  My goal for the weekend is to take a few hours and get some meal preparation done to prepare me for next week.  I'll post what I get done, along with my planned dinners for the coming week on Monday. ...