Monday, January 5, 2009

Monday, Monday and Lots Going On!!

It's Monday and that means start day for me with the Diet Challenge and check in day. And if you don't think our fearless leader means business, well just check over at Redgeranium Cottage..... MAJOR BUSINESS and a very, very brave, fearless leader!!! So about my start...OK need to fess up, pancakes for breakfast (just couldn't help myself), my friend I had breakfast with forced me, OK not really.... but I buckled down after that!!! Had a chicken salad for lunch, and a light pasta dinner. And most importantly no CHOCOLATE all day, so I guess I will be going through withdrawals soon:-)!

Now the before and after of it all......Miss Geranium and myself quite a while back, and Annie and myself at quilt camp in November. When I decided to retire I had people warning me watch the poundage!!!! No problem.!!! Well I watched it, creep right back on. So this diet challenge is just what I needed. And I have to vent here a little. People like us peoples (yes I said peoples) who have gained weight......no need for those of you talking about our weight gain to whisper to others or give us the LOOK!!!! Here's a secret...we know we have gained weight, for one thing, our clothes don't fit that well anymore, and for another we also have mirrors!!!! OK, I feel better getting that off my chest :-)!!!!!
Here's a couple recipes from Weight Watchers that I really, really like.
Chicken Fiesta Soup - Serving size 1 cup. Points per serving 4. 1 can corn, rinsed; 1 can chicken broth; 1 can diced tomatoes & chilies; 1 can pinto beans, rinsed; 1 chicken bouillon cube; 1/2 can white chicken; 4 oz. Velveeta Lite. Bring ingredients to a boil (all but cheese), remove from heat, stir in chunks of cheese until melted. (the can sizes are the regular - I think 14 oz.)

Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff - 6 servings. 4 points. 1 lb. boneless chicken breasts, frozen;1 can 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup; 16 oz fat free sour cream; 1 pkg. onion soup mix.Place frozen chicken breasts on the bottom of crockpot. Mix other ingredients together and pour over the chicken. Cook on low setting for at least 7 hours. Stir sauce well before serving. If you serve this over rice or noodles add appropriate points per serving size.

Nanette has done a wonderful job of getting the list going for tons of handmade ideas. Here are a few more to add:
*from Janet a really cute tissue cover link
*from Bonnie my non blogging friend, a really cute tutorial on cookie mix in a jar... cute jar with some painting and a great label;
*from me really, really cute mini notebooks from Spoonful of Sugar. Actually just look for back posts on Lisa's blog. She has tons of wonderful ideas, great recipes, and beautiful pictures. A wonderful mother/daughter blog!

There are so many wonderful ideas out in blogland for getting motivated to get projects done. May Britt and Kris have a wonderful challenge going to tackle those WISPS we all have hanging around...yeah, you know you have em'!! Part of the challenge is to put a link on your sidebar listing all the months for the next year and as you go add the completed item to the list. What a great IDEA!!!!!!!
....and then I stumbled upon this great, wonderful
idea.....Calendar Quilt Challenge. I have the button on my sidebar that links to the challenge. In a nutshell, piece a quilt top from your stash, bit by bit, every day for the next year!! Rachel who is running the challenge, credits Pat Sloan with this idea and she sells a wonderful book over on her site, Favorite Techniques, that gives more info on Calendar Quilts. Rachel is taking sign ups for this challenge till the 7th... so why don't you come on and play with us!!! A no rules quilt, that will be so fun and so personal, and what a remembrance of 2009!!!

Well there has been way too much thinking, and signing up for challenges in Polka Dot world for any quilting to be happening. Oh, there has been a couple bindings and some time spent with Baby Luke.....and dare I mention I am still taking down Christmas decorations!!!!! I don't know about the rest of you, but I am definitely inspired by all I have been reading......now let the production begin :-)!!!!!

18 comments:

Jenessa said...

i joined sharon too. it looks like you are going to be one busy lady with all those crafts! oh my goodness i am a serious pancake junkie! something simple that will cut your fat and calories on that is applesauce instead of oil or eggs - or if you like banana 1/2 a med banana substitutes one egg and you've just made them able to go into your diet a little more regularly, yay pancakes! lol it's just the syrup that kills them for me.

Unknown said...

Wow, Cheryl you have lots going on! I have to say that I am a lifer... a weight watchers lifer since 1989. I have been able to lose and keep 27 pounds off since then. It changed my life. And really it is a lifestyle change. I wish you luck and will be cheering you on all the way!! Go Girl!

Sherri said...

Thanks for the recipes and for the Christmas ideas! I think it's so great that you and Nanette are doing this!

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

Phew. I'm just tired reading about all that you are doing. Good luck with the Lifestyle Change Challenge! I think we're going to need it with Sharon as the lead. No excuses! LOL

Jen

Red Geranium Cottage said...

WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! Ok but now you have to post that BEFORE photo again next Monday. Fearless Leader HERE!!! I showed mine this Monday and my FEARED followers are to post theirs next Monday. ROFLOL!! No problem for you because once you've done it what's another time doing it?? LOLO Are you laughing??
We can do it and who gives a crap what others say?? There not perfect either!! I'm just sayin. "THEY" just wear there clothes so tight cause they think it makes them look thin. LOLOL Ok ok I'm gone!

Kris said...

Hi Cheryl. I don't know if you remember me, but I worked in Sharon's shop for a while.
I am on the bandwagon too. Need to lose some weight. I lost a bunch through WW a few years ago, and lo and behold, about half of it has "found" me again.
YOur recipes look great. Thanks! I will be posting a lot of WW recipes too.
Good luck!

Threeundertwo said...

Thanks for the links on the challenges and good luck with the weight loss! You can do it! I'll cheer you on.

Jeni said...

Hi you can do it......just love your post ...and the link to getting handmade gifts... for this christmas done ....I am happy.... and will be starting soon ...the recipe in a jar just love that idea
thanks for sharing

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Best wishes for a wonderful 2009 Cheryl!! I will look forward to seeing more polka dot and rick rack inspiration this year.

Carol said...

Thanks for those yummy recipes. It's amazing how the pounds creep up on us. We'll get rid of it!

Carrie P. said...

A new look and lots of new things going on with you. Have a fun year. I am planning on doing the Calendar Quilt this year.

Nan said...

So many wonderful ideas and thoughts in one post! I am dizzy just reading it all. I have never tried Weight Watchers, but I know many ladies who have and they all love it. I will definitely try your recipes - thank you for posting them! We will be skinny and our sewing rooms will be full of finished projects by the time this year ends! Hooray for 2009!!!

Annelies said...

Yummy recipes....thanks for sharing. yep, this is NOT going to be easy, but at least it will be fun most of the time (G)!!!!
Glad we have such a great group to encourage us. Here's hoping for more good days than bad!!! XXX Annie

Mama Spark said...

I have not joined in the Diet challenge, formally but I am lurking and doing it too. I thank you for your recipes, I wrote both of them down. Are you going to WW?

Ginger Patches said...

Oh I love that soup!! I leave out the velveeta (cuz I hate it) and add lite mexican cheese. I'll have to try the stroganoff sounds yummy! Hey if you go to Trader Joe's and get those dark chocolate wedges in the tin you can have 2 for 1 pt. weight watchers...only 70 calories for 2!!! And dark chocolate is health food you know :) Hate to see you "chocolateless" over there :)

Marla said...

I think I clicked on the wrong entry....YOur blog looks great!!!

Thimbleanna said...

Hahaha -- so much for retirement, Ms. Rick Rack! You need to go back to work so you can SLOW Down!!! Good luck on the diet!

Anonymous said...

I love what you and Nanette are doing. I'm sure it's a huge undertaking and I appreciate you guys so much for doing it!