Happy New Year

I wish you all lots of cuteness in 2010!!!  I have so much planned for next year...Im actually really ready to get  started.  One day at a time though.

Here is a pic of Mr. and Mrs. QSPN on New Years.  We brought in 2010 at our church of course...Pathway Christian Center!

So I don't do New Year Resolutions.  I dont believe in them.  It is always a set up for me to let myself down.  Rather I just start doing out of the blue.  I have been talking about running but I only ran like five times then I stopped working out regularly all together.  Which I do need to work on...but  I WILL work on it and take things one day at a time. I'm committed to that.

I started a diet but then the holidays came.  I mean my mother in law was in town and she made Strawberry Cobbler...Yeast Rolls and Dressing.  I mean come on. STRAWBERRY COBBLER!!!

But I dont feel bad about making the choice to eat those things.  I feel strong in that decision...and even stronger in my decision to choose something else. Which is to go back to my low carb way of eating, I mean I had so much more energy and was a lot happier.  And while all those carbs tasted so good while I was eating them, there is no denying how I felt physically a little while later.  Which is why I welcome my bacon and eggs for breakfast with open arms!

No matter what happens...I will not live in guilt and shame.  I will move forward and be content with who I am knowing that this awesome woman is shaping the even more awesome woman I will be in the future!!!

Signing off...May the Cute be with you!

Happy Holidays!

Went home to visit my family two weeks ago!  BWI was abuzz.  Not really it was dead.  Rode on over to Odenton to surprise the folks.  Spent a great week in the DC/MD/Va area.  I can't wait to come back home again in the spring!

 Had a blast and I spent time with my ADORABLE nephew Xavier.

Then we had sister spa day!  Fab-u-lous!

Jessica...she misses her baby boy Xavier.

Jessica, Christina and Me...my grey boots - Avenue.

I hung out with Xavier on Sunday...We had brunch after church at my parents house!  Just like the old days!

Monday I spent the day with my best friend Melissa...she is expecting and Im so excited about that!

She drove me around to all of our old hang out spots.  We went to the National Harbor.

This tree is gigantic.  See me in the bottom of the picture.  This tree makes me look skinny.

Cakelove.  Meh.  I don't know what the big deal is about this place.  They have the driest cupcakes I have ever tasted.  Oprah must have been coming off of a diet when she ate these and deemed them worthy of being called Fabulous.  There are FAR superior cupcakes in DC.  This is an insult to me.

Then we went to the Peeps Store.  I know.  Heaven on earth.  A store dedicated to peeps and things related to peeps.  Gotta love it.

Hugs!

My bestie Melissa...Chillin with my peeps!

DC Peeps! They need one that says PG County peeps...

Corny shot with props.

               

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Loving my gray boots!

The DC Nationals Stadium - they suck.  I'm a Baltimore Orioles fan anyway because we didn't have the Nationals when I was growing up.

So this is pretty much it.  Had a blast.  I miss everyone now that I'm back in Nashville.  But there is NOTHING like sleeping in your own bed!

Im Alive

Hey all!  In case you missed me...I am alive and well.  LOL  I have been on this low carb kick and I am in my third week. I dont know how much weight I have lost but I know I have alot more energy and am much more pleasant and confident.

Im not taking a break from blogging.  Im just really at a loss for what to write about.  But I want to be authentic...and not force it.  So when the spirit moves me I will post again.  It could be tomorrow or next week.  Who knows!

LOL it will probably be this week...since Im off until the 28th!!  Who am I kidding I HAVE to keep up with everyone and share whats going on in my life!

Anyways.  I made a low carb cheesecake today.  Its in the fridge.  I will post the results! I am having a blast cooking up stuff that I can eat on Atkins!

Until next time.  XXXXOOOOXXXXOOO

Low Carb and Lovin It

Sooo I have been "low carbing" it since Wednesday.  I have been doing well.  Resisting eating snack with the kids...having high protein meals and drinking alot of water.  Im not weighing myself.  Im just going with it. 

So I need to grab something quick because I dont have time to cook and I need to go grocery shopping.

Enter Hardees (or Carl jr) Depending on where you reside.

The Hardees Low Carb ThickBurger!!!  Who knew?

No pickles, ketchup or onions OF COURSE.




Get yourself one...buns are over rated.

Booties Booties Booties

So I saw these online and decided that I have to have them. 

 I went to Avenue to see if they were in fact as cute in person as they were on my monitor.  They are.  I'm going to get them before we head to Chicago for Thanksgiving on Wednesday. 

Oh yeah...forgot to mention that we will be in Chicago for the holiday.  I can't wait.  Q is going to take me to all the tourist attractions! Im going to have deep dish pizza and lots of other goodies!  But I wont go crazy out of my mind like I normally do when I get around great food.  On thanksgiving Im going ot pack my plate with veggies and lean protein and then have a sampling of the other faire.  Oh and my day after Thanksgiving leftovers will consist of a turkey sandwich on wheat with some cranberry sauce!!!

What are you doing to keep yourself from going crazy at the table on Thanksgiving?  Or are you just going to go for broke...??? Let me know!

Salmon Cakes

I Love Salmon Cakes.  When my mother would make them for breakfast on Saturday with eggs and fried potatoes or for dinner with once again fried potatoes and some kind of veggie...I would annihilate them.  So one day I had a taste for them, and decided to try to cook them.  Well they turned out well...not quite like hers but more my own flavor. 

I tweaked the recipe by adding red bell pepper and carrots.  I also added lemon juice and miracle whip instead of the shortening.  I added a little and kept adding until I got a consistency that stuck together and could be rolled into a ball then flattened into a patty.  MAKE SURE YOU GET THE BONES OUT.  I hate them.

Ingredients

• 1 (14.75 ounce) can salmon
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium onion, chopped  (didn't use a whole one)
  
• 2/3 cup cracker crumbs
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (WHAT! Come on...you know I used dry flakes)
  
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard (Dry mustard.  That's so fancy..I used regular old yellow mustard)
  
• 3 tablespoons shortening (who the heck has shortening chillin' in the pantry?  I used miracle whip)
  

Directions

1. Drain the salmon, reserving 3/4 cup of the liquid. Flake the meat. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium- high heat. Add onion, and cook until tender.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the onions with the reserved salmon liquid, 1/3 of the cracker crumbs, eggs, parsley, mustard and salmon. Mix until well blended, then shape into six patties. Coat patties in remaining cracker crumbs.
3. Melt shortening in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook patties until browned, then carefully turn and brown on the other side.

Runnin' Scared

So one of my oldest dearest friends Diane sent me a message on Facebook proposing that we do the Nashville Half Marathon.  Of course I said Yes.  Then I thought about it and said, "What a minute...how far is that?" My husband said he was wondering what I was thinking agreeing to a half marathon and figured I didn't realize how far I would be running.  Well.  Let me tell you.  I didn't realize how far I would be running.  And now that I know.  I'm scared.  Petrified to be exact. 

I cannot run for two minutes. Even though I can do the elliptical for an hour.  They are NOT the same thing.  Two different monsters actually.  Now Im supposed to start training for this half marathon.  What am I supposed to do? 

What I would normally do is sabotage myself and just act like I never agreed to be in a marathon.  Let April come, Diane get to nashville and I say.."Let's do lunch."  As if Im not suppoesd to be running a half marathon.  Avoidance is my go to thing when I am unprepared.

So. Tomorrow.  I will wake up and do pilates then I will go to the gym and run/walk (more like walk and slow jog) for thirty minutes.  I need to do this at least four days a week.  With a long one hour workout thrown in there somewhere.  Now my husband is in my face talking about I need to work out for an hour at the gym.  This pressure makes me not want to do anything.  Like its no fun if I am being stressed.  I feel the need to rebel...just because he said something.  Even though he is right.  I hate it when he is right.

Im so childish and petty.  But really.  Can none of you relate to this pettiness I speak of?? Are you petty sometimes?  I know you are no need to answer.

Anyways.  Wish me luck.  With this hour workout and Pilates three days a week.