Thursday Fitness - Gazelle

I promised you on Monday, I'd show you the Gazelle video I plan to use for my routine.

While this video doesn't seem very long, I can add time as I build up endurance. As I increase to longer workouts, I'll keep you posted. 

Enjoy the Journey!

RECIPE WEDNESDAY - Taco Skillet

I'm always looking for ways to add flavor and protein without having to wear my dentures. They fit fine but I have shallow gums and some days it's just easier not to wear them. When I'm home alone, I'm okay with that.

I love tacos. I've developed a Taco Sandwich that is quite tasty. But one morning I decided to try something different. Rather than a breakfast burrito, I went with a taco skillet.

I soft scrambled 2 eggs then placed them on the plate. I topped them with shredded Mexican blend cheese, about a cup of taco meat that I'd preheated in the microwave. From there it was all about the traditional taco toppings: Guacamole, diced tomatoes, sour cream and taco sauce.

Simple, filling and hearty.  Perfect for Enjoying the Journey!

FLYLADY - Basement

The basement is probably the last place in the house anyone wants to clean. That portion of the house is the 'catch-all'. While ours does have some accumulation of unnecessary items, for the most part, each area has it's designation.

This week my focus will be on the Furnace Room... The 'catch all' area that shouldn't be!

Since we still have the storage unit, I'm thinking seriously of taking the chairs that go with the dining room table there. We use office chairs. I'd like to find a table at an auction that has the chairs on casters. We'd looked at those new when we were furniture shopping but they were out of our price range. While new still is, we have a table to tide us until a casters set comes along. But the chairs could go.

There are also two tubs and multiple whatever of blankets/ beddings/ afghans etc. Those are part of what I talked about last week that needs to be sorted through so that I'm going to attempt this week.

And finally, in that room is a tub of magazines I want to go through and cull images for art journals. There are times I think of chucking the whole tub then I think about the golden nuggets for my art work buried within the pages and  I just can't do it. I think I'll put that tub on my list for the next time Bob is out.

What is the 'catch all' area of your house? Find one area you can declutter this week. Even if you only spend 15 minutes per day in that area, by week's end you'll see a healthier difference.

Enjoy the Journey!

WEIGH IN 3-26-18

179/166/135

Wheeeeeee!  

That is the sound of the roller coaster once again. Yes, I'm down two pounds from last week but I am actually down two pounds from YESTERDAY!

Normally, I weigh on Sundays so I can get this blog post ready - 168. I never got to writing the post so I decided to step on the scales this morning - 166

So.. there's how my week is starting out. I'd love to see 165 next week. This week I start getting on the Gazelle. I'm going to start with two days a week. This week, just general walking while I build my coordination. Unlike the Cloudwalker I used to own where I only had to hold on and walk, the Gazelle requires arm/ leg coordination. I'm so in trouble! LOL

Thursday, I'll show you my work-out video and let you know how I'm doing in my first week. 

This week is all about serious house cleaning. I'm supposed to be in the basement this week but I didn't get the blanket thing done last week. Since a part of them are in tubs in the basement, I'm going to count that. I'm just not sure I can move those tubs until Bob gets home. I've been having issues with my left bicep for several months so I try not to strain the muscles any more than daily activity requires.

That's my week laid out. What's on your agenda? I hope you'll share your roller coaster ride with the rest of us.

Enjoy the Journey!

RECIPE WEDNESDAY - BBQ Wings

 I LOVE Honey BBQ Wings! They make a great snack.

I was buying these from Dollar General. But at $4 a box, I knew making them myself was going to be the better way to go.

I purchased a #4 bag of chicken drummies from Walmart. I thawed them out, patted them dry then rolled them in a homemade dry rub of:

Smokehouse Chicken BBQ dry rub from REICHERT Spice Company. 

SEITZ BBQ Seasoning - Bubba's Cajun Rub (I bought this from a school fundraiser)

Seasoning Salt

Garlic Powder

After tossing them in the bowl, I placed them on a baking sheet and covered them with foil. I baked them at 350* for about 15 minutes.

When I removed them from the oven, I tossed each one in a mixture of:

Kraft Regular BBQ sauce

Kraft Honey BBQ sauce

I returned them to the oven uncovered and baked for 10 minutes at 400*

Removed from oven, re-dipped then repeated the baking another 10 minutes

Removed and dipped a final time and baked for 5 min.

These came out saucy/ sticky and yummy!

I packaged them in the foodsaver bags in portions of 6. I sometimes don't know why I bother with vacuuming. I usually eat them faster than they can freezer burn. I guess I'm hopeful. 

These make a great snack in the evening with your favorite television show. Just make sure you don't have to use the remote, don't answer your phone/ text and avoid your computer keyboard. Just chill a few minutes and enjoy the flavor.

What's your snack of choice?

Enjoy the Journey!

FLY LADY - Office

I'm getting closer to that 'Angels Singing' moment in my office.

This week I am determined to eliminate one pile of clutter that does NOT belong in there. Just because I have the sofa sleeper in here, apparently that means all the spare blankets belong as well.

Um... NO.

My major task this week is not so much the office but to gather ALL of the blankets, bedding, pillows, etc into one area then begin sorting. Each bed only requires two sets of sheets (in case someone has an accident or gets sick), same for pillow cases and X # of pillows plus a blanket and a comforter. I have our bed - which is a split King iComfort Serta Sleeper, the sofa bed and a roll away. Then I'll keep a set for two twin air mattresses and a King air mattress for camping.

Everything else is GOING! Thrift store, Animal Shelter... don't care. Just going. I'm so tired of the clutter!

My other goal for this week is to be able to work on my sofa in the office. I like that place in the morning. It's MY SPACE... though HoneyB - the basset/ beagle/ spaniel has decided he really likes the sofa. Which is fine. I can work on one end and he'll snore on the other. It's all good. The cats might not be happy but they want to lay in my lap and if I intend to do any needle work, I can't be covered in cat hair - as much as I love the little beasts. LOL

Spring is on the way. Do you get the Spring Cleaning bug? What would you most like to purge this spring?  Let me know! because it's all a part of...

Enjoying The Journey!

WEIGH IN 3-19-18

179/168/135

And the roller coaster continues. 

The only thing I did different this week was to enjoy a couple of donuts and an apple fritter. I've had a taste for donuts for several weeks thanks to one of the food channels. They toured donut shops across the country.. and every stop was more drool-worthy than the previous. So Thursday night, while grocer shopping I picked up some apple fritters and caramel iced cinnabuns from the bakery. I have eaten two of the cinnabuns and one of the fritters. The rest, I put in the freezer to enjoy later. 

I'm power-working this week. The time is getting closer for Bob to be coming home and I will be on here less. I have lots of protein options and am trying to eat more vegetables - something I do less of when I'm here alone. I love salads but eating them most of the time just is not enjoyable with my dentures. 

Don't get me wrong - I love my dentures. They give me the smile I never had. My challenge is that I have shallow bone lines. So shallow that I'm not a candidate for implants - not that I'm sure I'd want them. I've tried liners such as SeaBond without success. If I'm not going to eat and just want my dentures in, they work fine. But if I can't eat them, what's the point. So I live with the ooze. Some days the adhesive works better than others. I just never know until I test them if I'm going to have a good day.. or would just rather take them out and not deal with them.

For now they are in and there are Buffalo BBQ wings in my sights. 

Whatever you have on your agenda this week, just remember to...

Enjoy the Journey!

RECIPE WEDNESDAY- Ree's French Toast Sticks

This week we are back in Ree Drummond's kitchen for her French Toast Sticks. When I saw that her recipe called for rolling the dipped pieces of bread into crushed Capt'n Crunch Cereal, I knew we were in business.

Last fall I found Cinnamon Roll Capt'n Crunch at our local Dollar General.

Bob loves Capt'n Crunch and Cinnamon Rolls so I knew this was something I needed to stock up on. I bought several boxes and vacuum sealed them in wide mouth quart jars for longevity storage. So I popped open a jar for this recipe.

Ree's recipe calls for mixing the crushed cereal with Panko Bread Crumbs. I bought Texas Toasting Bread specifically for this breakfast fit for a tug boat Captain.

I mixed the egg-dip the way I always have - milk, eggs, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla. While this might seem like too much sugar, I believe you need the layers of flavor. 

While this was supposed to be a coated cookie rack I recommend spraying with a non-stick spray. I did line the cookie sheet with parchment for easy clean-up.

Breakfast is served. These were quite tasty, though a bit sweet (duh!) LOL What we didn't eat, I froze in packages of 4 in the vacuum sealed bags for future quick breakfasts.

FLYLADY - Living Room

I am moving Fly Lady to Tuesdays for now. I'm getting better at having recipes for Wednesday so Tuesday's it is.

This week is all about the Living Room.
After what seemed forever, I finally got the Christmas tree down over the weekend. Don't judge! I had not been putting the task off because it was difficult but because I love the colored lights.

Every morning, I would come out and turn the tree on. Seemed so peaceful while I enjoyed a cup of fluffy and cruised Pinterest or watched YouTube videos. The living room looks soul-less without the pretty lights. But I have a plan... :-D

However, the tree coming down meant there was room to pull the Gazelle out so I can finally start getting the exercise I so desperately need. I'll be talking more about the Gazelle on Thursday.

We use sheets to cover our micro-fiber relciners. I detest micro-fiber fabric but since Bob was graciously spending money to build my office AND I was getting the sleeper sofa in the bargain, I told Bob to pick out the new recliners.  Two Words - ANIMAL HAIR! We have 3 cats in the house and a Beagle/ Basset/ Spaniel mix. All shed horribly and trying to keep that micro-fiber clean was a task I just don't have time for. So sheets it is. Didn't our grandparents cover their furniture? Remember those pretty crocheted arm and head rest covers. So pretty.

Ours are covered with $15 flat sheets from Walmart with a coordinating pillow case on the headrest. I have brown ones with cream pillowcases for fall. White with red pillow cases for Christmas. This week when I go shopping I'll pick up a couple of cream sheets and soft blue pillow cases - or vice versa. The everyday drapes, which are blue, need to go back up so that will work. I've already purchased flannel backed table clothes in spring blues/ yellows for under and on top of the dog kennel.. which sits between the two recliners, serving as a coffee table.

Now if I could just make myself tackle the small book case and top of Adrian's dresser that sits here in the dining room. A MUST! but I'm thinking next month's deep clean zone of that part will be soon enough.

A Clean House is a Healthy House and all a part of...

Enjoying the Journey!

WEIGH IN 3-12-18

179/167/135

Weight is hanging in there. I didn't accomplish much of anything last week. A bit of house cleaning but mostly just enjoying the quiet. I did run errands three days last week. One was really stressful. On that errand I realized I am not a stress-eater. I'd never thought about that aspect of how I eat or don't eat. I was hungry so I went to Coltons. I was so stressed I couldn't enjoy the meal. I ate the 6 oz steak and brought everything else home... giving me two meals at home over the course of the weekend. Not bad for $22.

Which brings me to this week's question. When you go out to eat, do you eat everything? Leave some on the plate? Bring leftovers home?  I'd love to hear your thoughts. Sometimes vocalizing what we do puts things in perspective so please share.

Me. I seldom eat everything. Don't get me wrong, there is an occasion when I devour. But for the most part I eat half and bring the other half home. Experts say a good thing to do is to order your to-go box when you place your order. As soon as your meal arrives, put half in the to go box and set it aside. Aside from preventing us from over-eating, this gives us the opportunity to get more bang for our buck. .. and leaves  room for dessert :-D

I'll be scheduling recipes this week. I've done a couple of things. I also have the editorial calendar done, I just didn't do any writing to speak of last week. The month is ticking away and I really need to accomplish something.

Oh, and I got the Gazelle set up again. Not sure it will see activity today but I'm going to start with two days a week and build from there. I have started wearing my pedometer again. Seems like I walked a lot on my errands last week yet barely logged 3000 steps each of the three days. I've also switched to a better walking shoe. This one has an rocking arch support, forcing me to walk heel-toe or rock forward on my nose. :-P

Whatever's on you plan for the week... remember

Enjoy the Journey!

Kelly

WEIGH IN - 3-5-18

179/167/135

I'm back on the roller coaster. I'm up a pound from last week but there should be a big change. Bob left last night and is back on the boat as I type. Whether he'll be gone for three weeks or five... who knows. With him gone I'm back to my fifteen-hour days, lots of vegies/ fruits and my eating schedule. I'm on my first cup of coffee. I'll have a second cup with my morning glory muffin.

I bought a loaf of English Toasting Bread. Relatively soft bread and thinly sliced. Since I can't bite into French bread, I'm going to try the English Toasting Bread triangles as a base for Shrimp Bruschetta. Bob's not a fan and I have a taste for it. The pesto in the fridge is calling my name. 

I've restructured the post schedule. I did that while having coffee with Bob one morning and have no clue what is coming up next. With Bob gone, I can get several blog posts written and scheduled so tht is my plan for this week.

What's your plan? Menu ideas for the week? Please share!

Enjoy the Journey