Welcome to 2009

I don't know about you all, but I think 2008 flew by without me even realizing it.

In fact, it was just this weekend that I was saying to Zach, "I feel like it was just summer, but its actually the middle of stupid winter." Sucks. I hate the winter. However, I will say, the past two weeks have been mild weather and there has been little to no snow, which is just plain awesome.

So now, 2009 is here. I've made a couple resolutions:
1. I will look very nice for work on Monday-Thursday. Friday can be my only casual, fleece and winter boot day of the week.
2. I will make it to the gym more often. I won't promise a certain amount. I will just say more.
3. I will take Weight Watchers seriously. No more pretending to be on plan. No more estimating points. No more eye-balling serving sizes.
4. I will eat out because I really want to. Not because I don't feel like cooking.

What about you all? Any interesting resolutions? Mine are all a bit cliche, but you know what, it is what I need to work on.

My new apartment has an eat in chicken

For some reason, lately, every time I hear the word chicken, I think of Girl Interrupted and Daisy (Brittany Murphy) who always talks about the new apartment her father bought her with the eat in chicken (kitchen). It cracks me up.

Anyway, last night, in my kitchen, I made a chicken. And it was a disaster. Let me tell you, it is difficult to figure out if a whole chicken is all the way defrosted or not. That was my main issue. Thus, it took about an hour and fifteen minute to cook a tiny chicken, which left most of the meat dry. Every time I cut into the chicken, I would find a place that wasn't cooked all the way. Sooo annoying!

Anyway, with the chicken, I successfully made green beans (fresh, boiled) and roasted potatoes, which were particularly delicious.

ROASTED POTATOES

3-4 Small Potatoes, sliced into 6-8 wedges each
1.5 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Sea Salt
Pepper (as much as you want)
Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy Seasoning Mix
Non-stick spray

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray (Pam).

In separate bowl, mix sliced potatoes and olive oil. Toss until all are lightly covered. Add sea salt, pepper and Mrs. Dash seasoning mix to taste. Toss until spices are equally distributed.

Place potatoes on baking sheet and in oven to bake for 25 minutes. Take potatoes out, flip them, and place back in the oven for an additional 15 minutes.

Makes approximately 4 servings. Depending on size of potatoes, each serving is 3 Weight Watchers points

Ahhh... the weekend!

I love my Saturdays. Usually, I go to Weight Watchers, then out to breakfast (funny, I know), then home to watch some sports, then out in the evening.

Not today! Zach is currently in his busiest time of year at work and scheduled a call with a potential client for this morning at 8am. It is still going, and it's currently 10:07 am. So much for Weight Watchers today, as well as the gym.  

I found a couple 5lb weights in my house so I did a few exercises - squats, lunges, arm exercises - so hopefully that will do the tiniest bit of good.

Later today, we are going to see Valparaiso play North Carolina. I am more than excited to boo at Tyler Hansboro. In fact, I plan on wearing my Kansas Jayhawk shirt. 

Immediately after the game, Zach and I are driving out to my sister's house to bring her birthday presents and to pick her up to go to the holiday party we have this evening. 

It is such a busy day! I'm not sure that I like my Saturdays to end up this way, but alas, on occasion, they do. Should be fun, just not relaxing. At all.

Ho ho ho.... holiday parties!

Three holiday parties in one week... that adds up to a lot of extra calories and less exercise than usual.

Weigh in this week is going to awesome. In true Christmas Spirit, I must say...

The Valentine's Day Weight Massacre

One of the most dreaded holidays is only 8 weeks away. Valentine's Day offers single people a reason to drown their sorrows with beer, offers those in love an easy way to gain weight with candy, and provides children with endless fun with their silly valentines.

Wouldn't it be nice to go back to being a kid, when a valentine was sweet and simple??

Well, as you all know, Valentine's Day really isn't that sweet. You've probably heard of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Here's the story, in brief, according to wikipedia:

The Saint Valentine's Day massacre is the name given to the death of seven people as part of a Prohibition Era conflict between two powerful criminal gangs in Chicago, Illinois, in the winter of 1929: the South Side Italian gang led by Al Capone and the North Side Irish gang led by Bugs Moran. Former members of the Egan's Rats gang were also suspected to have played a large role in the St. Valentine's Day massacre, assisting Capone.

On the morning of Thursday, February 14, 1929 St. Valentine's Day, six members of the "Bugs" Moran gang and Dr. Reinhardt H. Schwimmer were lined up against the rear inside wall of the garage of the SMC Cartage Company in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago's North Side. They were then shot and killed by the men, possibly members of Capone's gang, possibly "outside talent", most likely a combination of both. Two of the men were dressed as Chicago police officers, and the others were dressed in long trenchcoats, according to witnesses who saw the "police" leading the other men at gunpoint out of the garage (part of the plan). When one of the dying men, Frank Gusenberg, was asked who shot him, he replied, "I'm not gonna talk - nobody shot me." Capone himself had arranged to be on vacation in Florida at the time with Chri Boy and Josiah Rosales.

Awful, huh?

Well, there's going to be another massacre this year - this time, the massacre will be on my booty as I plan to lose 10 pounds before this nasty holiday! Anyone care to join me in my challenge?

Recipe: Beef Barley Soup

I love to cook, and figured this would be a good way to share my favorite Weight Watchers-friendly recipes. And as you may know, I live in Chicago, where winter SUCKS and good winter food is absolutely necessary. So, for my first recipe:

BEEF BARLEY SOUP

3/4 pounds cooked lean beef steak, cubed in very small pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
3 tsp olive oil
2 cups vegetable broth
4 cups water
1 package frozen mixed vegetables (the kind with peas, carrots, green beans and lima beans)
1 1/2 cups carrots, chopped
2 cups celery, chopped
1 bell peppers, chopped
2 cups canned beef broth
1 cups canned tomato sauce
2 cups canned diced tomatoes
1/2 cups uncooked barley
1/3 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions
Cook beef with olive oil, onions and garlic in large pot. Cover to keep moisture in, but stir frequently. When beef is cooked, add beef broth, water, tomato sauce and canned tomatoes. Chop vegetables and stir in. When soup begins to boil, add in barley. Keep on low-medium flame for about one hour. To thicken, mix flour with approximately 1/3 c. of water. Mix until smooth. Stir into soup.

Makes 10 servings. Weight Watchers Points: 3

TIP: Freeze in portion sizes and bring for lunch. Very filling and delicious!

My Fat Picture

First of all, I need to give a disclaimer. I know that I am not completely overweight. But, I've gained weight. Weight that needs to go away. Soon.

So here's my "fat" picture:

Oh, bridesmaid dresses. How I love thee.

There's nothing better than wearing a clingy dress that shows off the dimples in my booty. Might I add, in front of 200+ people.

Here's to 2009 - I vow that I will not have a booty like this by my own wedding.