Did you fit everyone in yesterday?

How was your Thanksgiving? We had a great Thanksgiving – great food, family, and fellowship.

One thing I struggled with was making it over to see my family. It's tough when you have a 12:30 appointment for lunch, and then a 3 o'clock invitation for dinner. It's hard to fit everyone into on day.

What makes it even more difficult is the asthmatic kid who can't go because of the dog...and 3 p.m. is nap time for the little one. So you know as soon as you get him buckled in, he will fall asleep on the way, he'll wake up as soon as you take him out...and the visit will be interrupted by a screaming, fussy, tired baby, right?

So what do you do? Well, I did the unthinkable – I didn't make it for that early dinner.

Devastation right? Well here was one thought I had last night to bring relief to my conscience:

Why do we wait all year to make time to visit that extended family?

Why do we go months without seeing each other, and then

put on the hustle-bustle pressure to fit everyone in 1 day?

Looking at my life - now, I have two kids that take high priority over my extended family. My immediate family of husband & 2 boys come before my parents, siblings, aunts/uncles now. So I realize, in the future, I may disappoint a few people because my now, immediate family comes first.

Interesting season in life I'm in. I'm naturally a 'people-pleaser' – can anyone relate? So to not drag my family all over town in hopes of 'pleasing others' is a difficult thing for me to do. Saying "I can't" is unimaginable for me.

But last night, while I struggled over feeling like I let some folks down...I was relieved that I didn't feel awful over dragging my tired/under-the-weather kids around town in their car seats all afternoon.

So for what it's worth, if you didn't fit everyone in yesterday – there's grace. Let's just jump at having them over, first chance.

And let's not wait until the holidays to see them – we have all year to visit.

Let's not let Thanksgiving and Christmas be the days to cram everyone in.

Let's have family dinners, potlucks throughout the year!

How many calories is in that Thanksgiving dinner????

Big day tomorrow, right? Full of family, football, and food. And food is one of my favorite topics to discuss right? It just wouldn't be 'normal' for me to NOT have a commentary, words of warning, and encouragement for this day before us.

So for my own knowledge, I thought I would research the calorie content in the food that will be available tomorrow for Thanksgiving feasts.

My intentions are to inform you and help you make healthful decisions...even on Thanksgiving. I am not a fan of overindulgence, anytime.

I always ask the question:

Why do we make gluttons of ourselves on holidays?

So to help talk you out of that common practice, I've created a quick list of the most common foods seen on the Thanksgiving spread with a calorie count per item. In looking at the numbers, hopefully you will be picky and choosey of the foods you just gotta have tomorrow. Some we can all pass on...like a roll. Who needs to waste 100 calories on a roll, when you can 1/2 cup of green bean casserole for just a little more calories, right?

Here's what will be on our plates tomorrow:

• Turkey: Breast - 3 oz.: 135           
• Turkey: Dark Meat - 3.5 oz.: 187
• Stuffing (Bread Stuffing) - 1/2 cup: 410
• Candied Yams - 1/2 cup: anywhere from 170-500
• Mashed Potatoes - 1/2 cup: anywhere from 75-200
• Gravy - 1/2 cup: 99
• Green Bean Casserole - 1/2 cup: 140
• Roll - 1: 100-130
• Cranberry Sauce - 1/4 cup: 110
• Pumpkin Pie (from Costco) 1/12 of pie: 310
• Chocolate Cream Pie w/ Meringue topping: 317
• Wine - 6 oz: Red: 125                        White (Riesling)- 5 oz: 118

So let's say, you have 1/2 cup of each of the sides that will be served up tomorrow + 6 oz. of turkey breast (who eats just 3 oz.?)..plus 1 slice of Costco's famous pumpkin pie...and let's say you enjoy a glass of wine during or after (which is common practice for many)....

ONE serving of each above
(except dbl the turkey breast)

equals a grand total of: 1,829 calories!!!! 

There you have it folks...now, take that number & double it if you have seconds of each thing....or you go to two different dinners. Wowwweee! Right? Who knew?

This is why I said in my FB video the other day re: Thanksgiving to just skip the roll. That's an easy way to deduct 100 calories. Skip the pie, save 300+ calories, cut your servings of yams & stuffing from 1/2 to 1/4 cup of each and you shaved about 400 calories off....what else? Who cares for mashed potatoes & gravy...you can have that anytime of year...cut that off the list and now you've enjoyed a reasonable Thanksgiving dinner for about 1,109 calories. That's still a ton...but nearly 1/2 of what you would've originally eaten.

What am I eating?

I will be eating the following:

• 8 oz. of turkey breast (I fill up on lean meat): 337
• Butternut squash 1/2 cup: 40-60
• Green Beans (w/out Mushroom soup) 1 cup: 40ish
• Cranberry Sauce - ??? Making my own, let's say: 50

Grand Total for my meal:  487

That's a little more than I would like for 1 meal, but hey - it's the holiday!

The sides above on my list,

I am making at home & here's how:

1. Butternut squash - chop up squash, coat w/ spray butter, toss in stevia, nutmeg, & cinnamon & roast in oven, 375ish for 45 min. - 1 hr.
2. Green Beans - Petite green beans + chicken broth + finely chopped lean ham + finely chopped onion, baked in oven, along w/ squash, 'til tender.
3. Cranberry Sauce - Fresh cranberries, following recipe on back of bag, however, substituting stevia for the sugar. (We'll see how this turns out....I llllllllllooooooooovvvve cranberry sauce on my turkey!)

I hope you appreciate this...I just want you to be informed of what you're putting in your body and how to substitute some typical dishes w/ healthier, less calorie options! So imagine if you prepared your own side dishes (easy way to get rid of the sugar & butters & creams)...and you worked out - Guilt-free holiday!!!!

HAVE A HEALTHY - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Sometimes when we lose weight...Everyone's got an opinion!

If you're like me and my husband, you've got goals and are pursuing them.

From time to time, there are naysayers who don't even realize they are throwing cold water on your hot dreams.

Hopefully my response to receiving 'unapproving remarks' will inspire you to just keep going!!!!

Stay healthy, fit, lean - Eat healthy foods, plenty of them...and exercise. This is the recipe to get in tip-top shape!

Yes, I am referring you....

Okay, 'tis the season to look your best right? Who do you go to, right? I'm a super picky person when it comes to spending $$$ on me. It better be done right! Right?

So I thought I'd share with you the people who help me look and feel my best:

HAIR - Seriously, the best hairdresser who has ever touched my head. Talk about ability w/ color & weaves, cutting and styling - WOW! Rachel Darrah saves me and my hair everytime. She can also do extensions, up-dos...basically anything and everything that has to do w/ hair -she's an expert! You won't be disappointed! RACHEL is glamorizing it up at Essentiels @ the Marketplace - call 661-654-0321 to get your appt. booked a.s.a.p.. Oh, and she is absolutely a sweetheart! She'll make you look good & feel good when you're in her chair.

NAILS - Oh my gracious pedicurist Melissa, how I love thee. Thank you for not judging me because of my feet & making my little piggies presentable! ;) She's sooooo accomadating! Another sweetheart - seriously her prices & quality beat those 'Nail Shops' - gotta call/text her direct to book an appointment! Melissa Shoulet - 661-444-6931, or friend her on FB and message her to get on her schedule there!

SPRAY TAN - This was a new experience for me this week. I felt like I was a car in the paint shop, getting color airbrushed on...but a few days later, I've still got a tan. Super satisfied! Great product, great skill and great after care advice from Amber Siegel of Sunless Glimmer. She's mobile & offers super reasonable prices! Her email: sunlessglimmer@gmail.com, or call (360) 510-0950 (she's local, just has an out of state # still).

So now that you've got your color: hair, nails, tan....

what else do you need?

I have yet to venture into all the waxing (eyebrows), and facials. My toes & hair are much higher priority on the list...and w/being a stay at home mom, I gotta pick and choose and spend wisely. When I have extra cash...Massage is always next on the list!

Some great massage therapists: Debbie Balz @ Via Bella Salon on F St. downtown...and Rhonda Reeves at McCan Chiropratic.

PERSONAL CHIROPRACTOR: Dr. Mongold at the Alpha Omega Wellness Center - (661) 397-6555, corner of White Ln. & Gosford. He keeps my migraines at bay! I went from 1-2/ week to 0-1 a month! Get your head on straight & it won't hurt anymore!!!! They also offer massages there and take health insurance & personal injury cases. Yes, I take care of my spine before my eyebrows! :)

I was just thinking this morning how this is the season we have a ton of parties and pictures being taken...I had my hair appt. the weekend before family pics at the beginning of November (SEE HER WORK ABOVE IN MY BLOG PIC -AMAZING WORK!)...and will have to get in to take care of the roots, pre-Christmas.

I have spent many months/years lookin' raggamuffin, and not budgeted in some $ for me to look great. And I didn't feel super hot. Now, when I get my hair done, I freshen up my make-up in the car before I get home...and my husband is like: "Baby, you need to get your hair done more often". Vavavoom!!!

Note: I don't believe I'm vain and superficial in 'getting all done up'...however, I recognize that in my day-to-day chores/diaper changing/toilet scrubbing life...if I look good when I'm doing it all - I feel better about myself...and ladies, 'if we look sexy, we feel sexy' (thx Teresa - MOPS Mentor Mom for that reminder)...and I don't think I need to remind you that your husbands love it when you feel sexy.

So with that, call my friends/beautification specialists & get your glamor on!

Recent Low Cal Finds

Hey Folks, just thought I would share a few things I found recently to add to your grocery list that fit in the budget & the calorie limits.

1. Nature's Own 40 calories/slice Bread - found this at Super Walmart. I've seen it a couple times at one, and a few stocked on the shelf at another...and none at a third. I hope this isn't a hit or miss item, but I definitely look for it when I'm at one. Otherwise, I get the Nature's Own Wheat - 50 calories per slice. There's not HGCS in this one either! Price: $1.98-$2.65/loaf. I also get the regular wheat one at Winco $2.65/loaf.
2. Newman's Own Lowfat Sesame Ginger Salad Dressing - This gives salad a new tangy taste. Only 35 calories per 2 Tbsp. And you know momma is measuring it out. The beauty of this one is that you can have 4 Tbsp./qtr. cup of dressing for only 70 calories. $2.18-$2.78 @ Winco.
3. Salad sprays - just realized there is HFCS in it, but if you want to drop weight, a few sprays on your salad will get you by w/ just 10 calories for 10 sprays.
4. Dannon Nonfat/Plain Yogurt - Only 100 calories per cup. A cup is a hefty snack & filling...swear by it as a substitute for ice cream. $2.58 @ Super Walmart.
5. Sweet Mini-Peppers - Great for snacking, salads, veggie platters, soaked in low-cal balsamic/italian dressing & BBQed...3 for 35 calories. 3 lbs. for $3.78-$4.78 @ Winco & Costco.
6. Low-Fat Ground Turkey - Found the 99% fat free @ Super Walmart $4.74/lb. Only 120 calories per 4 oz. Easy way to have a lower calorie burger (w/ the thin sandwich slice/thin buns).

And one place I am frequently visiting, now that it's a neighbor - Fresh & Easy. Always finding smokin' deals there on turkey patties, apples, veggies. Made some great eggplant parmesan w/ some that was on sale last week. Make sure you check that clearance aisle out as often as you can!

Just thought I would pass on what we're eating on around here. And FYI - every Tuesday is a new ad. There is almost always someone who has boneless skinless or bone-in chicken breast on sale. Last week Vallarta had their boneless/skinless for $1.49/lb. (I stocked up!) This week Smart & Final has their bone-in for 99cents/lb. and they're are on the list to visit this week.

You can eat healthy on a budget!!!! Just make a list, check your ads & go to the deals. I saved $25 by driving across town for that chicken last week. I'll spend $3.00 to save $22, will you?

Loneliness - Thoughts and Ideas

In a world of over 6 billion people, is there any room to be lonely? We have neighbors, roommates, spouses, relatives, children, parents, extended family, Facebook friends, BFFs...how can one be lonely?

Perhaps there are two sides...mulitple takes on this question of:

How can a person be surrounded

by so many people w/ love, yet be so lonely?

1. Person never lets anyone in, in fear of being hurt & rejected. Learned lesson well many years ago.
2. Person lacks deep friendships and keeps everything superficial & 'surfacey'. (Is that a word?)
3. Person lacks relationship w/ their Creator and so suffers.
4. Person lacks love for self and allows their relationships to suffer.
5. Person was abandoned as a baby, went thru the system and is tired of being rejected.
6. Person was ridiculed throughout school 'by friends' and learned not to let people in.
7. Person is eccentric and easily amuses others, but no one can go to that next level with 'em.
8. Everyone is too busy.
9. People don't really want to go deep because of the time factor.
10. People don't really want to go deep because they are unwilling because of their own insecurities.
11. People don't see the 'lonely' in the midst of the crowd.

I find it interesting that when you start talking to people, they seem lonely these days. And how when you offer time and an ear, they unload on you...much needed for them for sure. In a world where we are connected & overwhelmed w/ cell phones, iphones, texting, emails, FB, tweets...people are still lonely.

I think that too many people are keeping their friendships on social media. In fact, for many, their true BFF is 'MAC'. Couples spend more time looking at their monitor than their spouse. Mommies are more concerned with what other moms are doing with their kids, as their own tug at their leg.

I think we need to get back to old school stuff like potlucks, phone calls, cards in the mail, lunches together (and not the lunches postponed 5 weeks because of 'busyness').

In thinking about technology, with the opportunities at our fingertips, I think so many are so busy trying to make it rich thru the computer. As they chase down Mr. Franklins...their relationships are dying/neglected as a result of their pursuits.

I don't know. I'm old fashioned and I'm observing the face of society change before my very eyes. And I'm digging my feet in the sand to not be dragged away with it.

As I type this, I smile at the irony that I'm expressing my thoughts thru a keyboard, at my computer, while my family sleeps. And I will share this thru FB & Twitter. I too must find balance as well.

But take heart...you are not the only one in this world who experiences loneliness. Just reach out to someone, dare to ask them if they ever suffer loneliness...and now you have a friend to turn to in those lonely moments...

The man outside the store....

Yesterday I was blessed to meet a man, sitting on the sidewalk outside the grocery store. As he sat, sprawled out dirty, with his uneven shaven head - as our eyes met, the words freely blurted out of my mouth: "Are you hungry?"

He smiled a smile of only 4 teeth, front tops and bottoms missing...and said 'Yes'....so hopeful.

He did not have a sign, he did not ask....my heart was just burdened that this man could use something to eat.

So I asked him, "What do you like?" - Humbly, he said, "Anything..." So I told him that I had some shopping to do...and that if he waited, I'd be out w/ food for him in a bit.

We did our shopping for ourselves and along the way, I grabbed 4 bananas, a box of granola bars (hoping to provide a little breakfast/snack for today for him)...1/2 rotisserie chicken & a Pepsi!

(Yes, I know, Pepsis are bad...but when you live in poverty with no money, a Pepsi is like a treat, a wonderful, flavorful, carbonated delicacy of scrum-dum-delisciousness, right? Shoot, if I'm ever on the streets, I hope to get a Pepsi...I can find water out of a hose if I'm thirsty.)

Upon our exit of the store, he was awaiting our arrival with some food. We held what may have been his breakfast/lunch/dinner for the day. He was so grateful, thankful...and then he began sharing about his kids and life.  And just last week...his visit to the hospital.

He said that he had 2 heart attacks just last week. And showed me some open wounds on his leg. But in the midst of all his trials, he related himself to Job and went on to share about his faith in Jesus and his hope in heaven...knowing that here on Earth is just a short time compared to what we will have in the presence of our Lord. And I was relieved to know that if he had yet one more heart attack that completely took his life, he'd spend eternity in bliss.

I was reminded of when Jesus said, "what you do to the least of these, you have done unto Me". It was obvious in my heart that the man outside the store (Daniel of all names), was put in our path for God's provision for a meal. As Daniel had apparent faith and the joy of the Lord, despite his hardship...God provided for him yesterday...and maybe some granola bar & banana breakfast today.

Before moving out to NW Bakersfield, we lived on the Eastside! And east Bakersfield & downtown were part of our everyday lives. If you're familiar w/ these areas, there are homeless people everywhere, people wandering the parking lots to clean windows for money, and people on many corners with signs. I gave as often as I had it. And always let the guy at the downtown Smart & Final clean my windows.

Now living out in the NW, there are way less of these vagabonds and beggars. And I pray often that God will never my heart grow hard/cold to this needy population. Despite their lack of possible bad choices, addictions, criminal backgrounds, or just a rough life - God wants to extend His love to them in hopes of them turning their lives and hearts over to Him. "It's not God's will that any should perish"..."while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"....and them!

May you be available to the Lord to use today. Keep your eyes and open to those who are ignored and neglected. It provides necessity to them, and spiritual growth for you.

Have a blessed day!

Consistent Tracking Works!

Three weeks ago, I was 134. I have been going between 131 & 134 for ONE YEAR!!!

Despite the length of time that has gone by - my efforts to 'lose' have never quit. However, I did change my goal from 'lose weight' to 'finish P90X hybrid'...and now w/ just 30 days left, I am seeing my own body transform.

And I'm proud to anounce this last week I finally broke into the 120s...to 129.4. And here is how:

I TRACKED EVERYTHING!!!

From the start of P90X - I tracked the number of reps and weight I used each exercise of each workout. The beauty of this is that each time I work out, I can look back at the previous week, see how I did and then add a rep or 3...or go up in weight...or both. Doing this took me to maxing out w/ 22.5 lb. dumbbells for my curls...up from 17.5 lbs. at the start of October! The program is designed for the participants to do this...why? Because it works & you get results. You will soon see at the end of November the results of the program!

Now, as I was trucking along with my workouts...and working out hard, I felt like I should be getting more results on the scale, despite my focus on building muscle. And it wasn't until I started tracking every bite w/ using www.livestrong.com that I finally was able to keep losing, week after week. Since starting to track my #s religiously on there, I have not gone up. Three weeks is not very long, I know, but for me my weight had been up and down - weekly! But now, I keep my calories at what they should be...and don't eat the calories I burn w/ my workouts!

I look forward to next Monday to see a continual decline on my chart. And if I reach 128 next week, 127 the following...I will be sold on this website, calorie tracking method for sure.

Also, I'll add that this month I got more strict w/ measuring out my chicken weight on a scale. Those breast I eat are more than a serving...and now, I weigh them to see how many ounces they are so that I can enter in an exact # for calories.

Is this all work? Heck yes it is.

But is it worth it? Heck yes it is!

So often we want something, but don't want to put in the effort. All the short cuts that last short term bring very little gratification. As I go up in lbs. on the weights I'm pressing/curling, or complete a 'wall squat' or 'chair salutation'...I am so pumped that my body has the strength to endure. When I put on size 6 jeans...and they're loose in the waist, I'm pumped!

And as I stay w/in my calorie range -

I celebrate that my appetite and cravings

DO NOT CONTROL ME!

I am a woman with a mission! I am going to complete this program and get great results! Join me on this adventure - you won't regret it!