I Feel Awesome

I've been completely OP for 9 days so far, and I feel awesome about it.  I've tracked everything, gotten in APs and only used APs and WPs for healthy items.  I have splurged on some chocolate, but I've worked it in to the points.  I'm definitely feel much better since I've been totally recommitted to this journey. 

I got my first auto loan statement in the mail.  Makes me kinda sad, hah.  I want to be able to pay it online, because you just never know with USPS if it will make it to the destination.  But I have to actually open a checking account that my loan is financed with to be able to do that.  Fine I'll do it and just transfer money over each month to pay it, but it would help if the link worked to open an account online!  (end vent)

DCA entries are made!  Entries are made for a show in MD the weekend before--Blake is going to need some practice!  We're going to a show for exposure next weekend.  My worry is that he will kiss someone and jump on them to death.  I have no fear that he will back away from anything.

I wish I would hear about the job in NC that I interviewed for.  I'm so impatient, but I keep forgetting it has only been a little over 2 weeks since my interview.  I've already followed up and was told that they had more interviews scheduled, and they would be in contact.  I just don't want to fall off of the map for this one! 

Ugh, I don't want to do work today, but I guess I should...

Living Room Remodel

In just three short weeks the living room remodel is OVER!  Now I will take you through the last 3 weeks, with before, during and after pictures.
Before

It was a horrible redish color, and it had panel on the bottom to look like wainscoting...thankfully that is no longer!

During

Now this was a disgusting mess.  We gutted the entire room all the way to the studs in the wall. It was very messy, and hard work, considering they were old plaster walls, which didn't want to leave the house so easily!

After

I'm in love with it.  New floors, new walls, all new furniture (minus the tv), new fireplace, new accessories new front door.  This room has new everything!  I think it looks classy.  The walls are a gray-blue-ish color.  My favorite part is probably the floors.  They are laminate wood, but you wouldn't know it from looking at it!  Now the only thing left is to get pictures on the walls!

Springtime=Allergies :(

I LOVE spring, but hate the allergies I get this time of year.  I can't breath, I have sinus-headaches.  It isn't fun.  Thankfully I still had some prescription allergy meds from last summer, and I still have a prescription for a refill.  Looks like I'll be needing it! 

As of yesterday I am recommitting myself to my WLJ--I've been half-assing it for a few weeks, and I need to get back on board.  I did so good in January losing 10ish pounds, and I have just been playing with the same 2ish pounds for the last 5-6 weeks.  It stops as of yesterday! 

I'm impatient

I hate having an interview and then having to play the waiting game.  I get so anxious and impatient.  I know I'll hear something eventually, but until then I'm waiting....

This was a very emotional week.  I had to work on Marlin's top stud dog ad for the Spotter.  For those that don't know, Marlin was the dog that was my best friend.  We had some very nice wins in the show ring, but his place in the Dal world was as a stud dog.  He has 23 champions so far, multiple best in show winners and specialty winners.  Sadly, we lost him a year and a half ago to renal failure.  It was devastating because he was really my best friend.  He slept with me every night. And he was only 5 years old.  But in 2010, he had 8 puppies finish making him the Top Stud Dog, so I put together an ad to recognize his accomplishment.  The ad was designed by my very good friend, Jess MacMillan (who also designed his memorial ad after his passing).  He is still having such an impact on the breed, even though he isn't here anymore.  It is definitely bittersweet.

I am proud to say I have been completely OP this week and have tracked everything!  Which is really good for me, typically I don't track anything on the weekends, just because I don't feel like it.  So far I've tracked out my entire weekend, and I plan to stick to it!  Hopefully WI on Monday will show my efforts!! 

Black Bean Brownies

I was so sceptical of mixing pureed black beans with brownie mix and it still tasting like a brownie.  But it does!  They came out very moist, and no one in the family could tell that it wasn't made the conventional way. 

Sorry for the crappy picture quality, it does not do these brownies any justice.

I took the recipe from skinnytaste.  You have to try these for yourself!
WW p+: 4 per serving (could change depending on servings you use and brands)
Servings made: 17 (I'm horrible at cutting things straight!)

All you need is a 19.5 oz box of brownie mix (I used pillsbury chocolate fudge) and a 15.5 oz can of black beans (I used Hanover).

• Drain and rinse the beans very well.
• Add the beans back to the can and fill with water.
• Puree the beans in the blender.
• Mix the beans and the brownie mix together.
• Cook following the directions on the box.

Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake

Adapted from Southern Living Magazine

WW p+: 5 per serving

Recipe makes 8 servings

This is the recipe that I made over the weekend.  It was so good. 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2  pounds  lean ground beef or turkey
• 1  (15.5-oz.) can original sloppy joe sauce
• 1  (15-oz.) can chili with beans
• 1/2  (30-oz.) package frozen country-style shredded hash browns (about 4 cups)
• 2  cups  (8 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese

The Steps

1. Preheat oven to 425°. Brown ground beef or turkey in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, 7 to 10 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Stir in sloppy joe sauce (I used Manwich Original) and chili (I used Hormel 98% fat free turkey chili).

2. Spoon chili mixture into 8 lightly greased 10-oz. ramekins (I used a 9 x 13 baking dish). Top with frozen hash browns.

3. Bake, covered, at 425° for 30 minutes; uncover and bake 10 more minutes or until browned and crisp. Sprinkle with cheese, and bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted.

This recipe was so good and such a hit with my family!  By splitting it up in smaller portions, to make 8 servings it kept the p+ very low for a meal.  I served with steamed veggies.

Not a fan of Spring Forward

I really think that spring forward should happen on Saturday at 2 am.  That way we would all have 2 days to adjust before work on Monday!  I do like the fact that I get more daylight after work though!

This weekend was good.  Started with my interview on Friday, which I think went really well!  I feel in love with the office and the atmosphere (serious, yet lighthearted and fun).  Fingers crossed!

Friday, I did get a job offer from the interview I had about a week ago. But I respectfully declined.  I just couldn't see myself having to sell cars as part of my income. 

This morning I'm down 1.6 lbs, which was amazing after last weeks 2.6 gain (stupid time of the month).  But at least I'm back on track now!  I made a new recipe yesterday (out of Better Homes and Gardens mag) But lightened it up a bit and loved it.  Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake.  I'll post more details about that later!

The last two days I've been so emotional.  But I know exactly why.
On an upside, it is supposed to be in the mid-70s Friday, so I'm definitely looking forward to that!

Why is it so hard to come up with a title?

So, it can be really hard staying on plan with weight watchers living with your parents.  Especially if there are days when everyone had long days at work and no one feels like cooking.  But I'm not going to let the pizza last night get me down. There are weeklies and AP's for a reason!  That has been the biggest thing, realizing that it is ok if I splurge and have comfort food every once in a while, and it doesn't mean I have failed. 

In other news, I have an interview on Friday with a financial planning firm in Chapel Hill, NC.  I'm definitely keeping my fingers crossed on this one because it is the exact type of firm I want to be associated with.  Fee-only which means no selling products.  If I got it, I would be relocating, but thats ok because I know so many dog people in the area!  I'm excited.  Now to REALLY prepare for this one!

ugh, setbacks

Up 2.6 pounds this week.  Not a good start to my Monday at all.  I could easily blame my period and bloating to it, but I'm not.  I'm sure that is part of it, but the other part is all me.  Pound cake and eating out this weekend.  At least I'm owning up to it, right?  I'm pretty sure that is what this journey is about.  I know I'm not always going to make the healthy choices, but I'm owning up to my screw ups, so to me, it is still a victory.  This week will be much better!

So my interview was on Saturday, which went really well.  The setback, there are commissions/sales involved, which wasn't in the job description.  I've never ever pictured myself as a salesperson.  Sure there is a base salary, but that is less than what I make now.  And with the economy up and down, I don't want to rely on someone else buying something for the rest of my income.  I don't want to struggle, end of story.  I want to be able to not worry about if I'm going to have money to save this month as I don't want to live with my parents forever!  I love them, but my time there is limited!  I'm really torn on whether I'd (if offered) would take it and try it.  Another potential problem, they invest 5 grand into training you.  If I don't stay there at least a year, I get to pay part of it back.  Sure I would have two weeks at the beginning to "try it out", but that isn't that much time to really know if it is a fit for me.  I don't really like the idea of working every saturday either, that would mean no dog shows, specialties or nationals...and I don't think I could deal with that part.  I think typing it out made me realize my decision if I was offered something.

Finally Friday!

I have to say this has been the longest week I've had in a while.  It started with two very crappy days at work and has stayed about the same.  I'll be so glad when I find something else.  I'm so tired of having a job that is literally sucking the life out of me.  I used to be so happy, but when I spend most of my time in a place I terribly dislike, I'm not happy.  Weekends and nights only last so long.  But job=money=pays bills.  We'll just keep our fingers crossed for the interview tomorrow!

I've had my new car for exactly a week, and in town I'm averaging 29 mpg!  My other car didn't even get that on the highway!  I haven't been on the interstate long enough to track what it gets there, but it is supposed to get up to 45 highway.  I'm hoping for upper 30s. 

This weekend my parents and I are starting demo on the living room (remodeling our house one room at a time).  We have old gross, plaster walls, so it is going to be a huge mess and a lot of work.  No need to hit the gym for strength training this weekend!  I'll still try to get some cardio in, but with the weather forecast, rain, it will probably be in the form of a DVD.  I've also found some new recipes to try, so hopefully I'll get at least 1 new recipe in this weekend! 

Now to go start preparing questions for my interview....

Day two of dragging myself out of bed a little early to get in a morning workout was a success.  It was kinda chilly this morning (20's) so I opted for a workout DVD--The Biggest Loser Cardio Max.  I just bought it a couple weeks ago, so this was my first go at it, and I loved it.  It pushed me, but it wasn't so difficult I couldn't finish it or had to quit and take a break.  I definitely recommend it.  I'm either going to hit up the gym or go walking this evening after work.  I'm totally loving the new found motivation in the last week. Let's hope it continues!

And I have an interview Saturday!  It's for a financial rep at a very large car lot, so I'm super excited. But like always I can't get my hopes up. I've done that way too much in the past year. 

Here's to hoping the week continues to get better!

I think it is time to start a blog

I've been wanting to start one for a while now, but I haven't found the time, until now.  I'll warn you now, this is going to be full of random stuff from my dogs and family, to my weight loss journey.

Since starting my WLJ, I've lost 11 pounds from my highest weight ever.  It makes me so happy to know that I'm finally starting to get in control of my life and body.  This morning I even went and walked/ran two miles before work--something I kept trying to make myself do, but sleep always came first.  So last night I set my alarm for 30 minutes earlier than usual, and made myself do it.  And I feel AWESOME!  It is definitely something I'm going to start doing, especially since spring is around the corner! 

For those that don't know, I show dogs.  My life has sort of revolved around dogs for about 10 years now.  It is definitely my passion.  Well, in about 2 months is the Dalmatian National Specialty.  I'm determined to have lost enough weight by then so people notice.  That is the best motivation in the world! 

I can tell that this time around there will be no yo-yoing diets.  I'm on board for the long haul!