So Random Saturday

So Random Saturday...how about that name for a meme? Someone go do it because I am so inconsistent at blogging I drive away most of my readers. Got to be a patient woman to put up with this blog (or blogger, for that matter.)

Anyway, back to my completely random links:

First, are cat parasites secretly controlling your brain? (ht. Mama Minutia) No really. This is simply the most terrifying and fascinating article I have ever read. I kept looking to make sure I actually was reading The Atlantic and not some crazy conspiracy blog. By the way, I do like to read those sometimes. Go read it, it is truly insane. However, it brings up some interesting ideas about sin to me. Some people could read this and then think we are not responsible for our own actions? (i.e. sins) What do you think?

Secondly, whatever happened to Susan McDougal? Do you remember who she is? She went to jail during Whitewater. And now she is a chaplain at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hospital! I did not see that one coming. I'm not judging...I don't know her at all, but when I googled her, that was just not what I was expecting to see. The reason she came up...my husband and I were discussing my brush with fame when I was in high school, because I had my picture taken with Jim Guy Tucker. So I googled him, which led me to her. Yes, people don't realize I'm quite the celebrity. Hehe.

I'm Feelin' Crafty...

Isn't this so cute?

I stink at all things crafty. Really. By the time I am done crafting, sweat is pouring off my head and I am ready to yell at the kids for breathing too near me. What can I say...sometimes I'm intense. But lately I have been feeling the need to create something.

It started out when my daughter and I went to Wal-Mart the other day. I am honestly appalled at how the girls dress today. I sound like my grandma. Not that there dress was so revealing but it is so slovenly. Just a big sloppy mess. Then Caroline and I spotted a young Mennonite girl shopping at the same time and she had on a pink dress and a white cardigan with a white bonnet.

I looked at my daughter and I said...I don't care what anyone else says, but the way the Mennonite girls dress looks better than the way the modern girls dress. She agreed. By the way, we were dressed a little like slobs ourselves. My daughter likes the Aeropostale clothes from the mall. They are cheap but super tacky. Sorry if that hurts anyones feelings. I think they are the uniform for teenagers around here.

So I began looking for cute, modest clothing for all of us. And honestly I haven't really found any. So I started looking for modest patterns. I found the Sense and Sensibility Patterns. I'm not sure we want to look like we stepped off the Titanic. Okay, really I do, but I don't have the nerve. Although I predict that style is going to make a major comeback because of Downton Abbey. Which I love...love...love... I do think the Swing Dress very cute. I don't think I can sew it though. See paragraph 1.

Instead, I think I may attempt that cute embroidery from Clementine Patterns and forgo any dress making. But if anybody knows of a place to get cute modest dresses, please, please, let me know. Or maybe some super simple patterns, too?

Ready, Set, Garden!

It has been so warm here. I mean really warm. I am in Zone 7a. Also, it's a little dry. This worries me a slight bit, but we shall see what the summer will bring. Hopefully, normal rainfall. Today, my grandmother kept the kids all day and leaving my husband and I with nothing to do. My darling husband, who tries to read my mind, suggested that we take a drive to the nearest Big Town and shop. And surprisingly enough, I turned him down, mainly, because I am trying to save money. And in Big Town, I waste a lot of money. A lot.

Instead, I went with him to move some equipment which he needed to do for a job. And we had lots of fun. For free. We ate BBQ and stopped at Atwoods and an old-fashioned, small town grocery store. I needed bologna and cheese. I also bought a Fels-Naptha bar, which I haven't seen anywhere else, but there. I think I may try my own homemade laundry detergent and it's a necessary ingredient.

Do you have an Atwoods where you live? I don't really know how to describe it. I guess farm supply. Anyway, when I got there I was seized by "the gardening fever." I had already promised my husband that we were not going to garden this year because it drives him crazy that I won't go into the garden in July...too hot. But alas, I could not resist. Therefore, be it resolved...that this year I am going to try to keep up with how much I spend on the garden. And go into the garden this summer. It wasn't my fault because Ferry-Morse seeds were 40% off. What was I supposed to do?

I bought:

Kale, Dwarf Blue Curled, Vate's Strain

Peas, Melting Sugar (Snow Peas)

Peas, Alaska (Wilt Resistant)

Arugula

Lettuce, Bibb (or Limestone)

Tomato, Better Boy Hybrid

Spinach, Bloomsdale Long Standing

I found in my junk drawer:

Kale, Unknown Variety, bought from Nursery in the fall

Spinach, Unknown Variety, bought from Nursery in the fall

Turnip, Shogun from Nursery

I didn't really need the kale or spinach, but oh well.

Grand Total for 2012: $6.47

My Thoughts about Communes and Other Random Things

--- 1 ---

I'm a little late in getting my quick takes done because last night I was busy GETTING A MASSAGE! Oh yes, and it was awesome too. It was a present from my mother for no real reason and I loved it. I even got a salt scrub on my back. Okay, you can keep reading. I'm through rubbing it in now.

--- 2 ---

I finished reading Sweet Potato Suppers this week.  Warning: This is not a Christian book by any stretch of the imagination. This book is about life on The Farm in the 70's. The writing style is a little strange. In other words, the author rejects any use of quotation marks...so in lots of places I was scratching my head thinking, "Who said that?" But I enjoyed it and it has made me think about how we treat each other is important. I'm afraid to admit, but as a Christian, I often forget about this.

--- 3 ---

Now I am wanting to join The Farm or some other commune. Maybe this one? I am really just pretending and no I 'm not really about to join a commune. Not for now at least. The main problem being that I have too many kids to join. It seems that the members of the communes don't want want to work to support my children. Go figure.

--- 4 ---

One more thing about communes and then I am done. The Farm in the 70's was so pro-life. Not really that pro-family because the founder was in a six way marriage at one time. But hey, I'll take what I can get. This was the policy at The Farm:
"Don't have an abortion. You can come to The Farm and we'll deliver your baby and take care of it, and if you ever decide you want it back, you can have it" (Ina May 1975, 375). I wish we had a place like that now. Only three women actually left there babies there.

--- 5 ---

I have subscribed to Bon Appetit for several months now and, honestly, I haven't been all that impressed. This month looks awesome though. I think I am going to make the Onion Bisque and maybe the Fried Chicken. But most the the recipes look great this month. Maybe I am biased because it is a southern food issue though.

--- 6 ---

I am going to eat here in about two hours. Get the Swiss fondue if you ever get chance. It is quite yummy. And they bring a huge amount. That is all I am getting and maybe a little wine. If your really hungry get the filet minion to go with it. Or the quiche. In fact, the quiche is great and a decent value. Now how to make time pass quicker. I'm getting hungry.

--- 7 ---

Totally random thought, but did you see that Paula Deen has Type 2 Diabetes?

Thanks for reading.

Spread the Word (Vol. 1)

Nothing can minister to people better than God's Word. Nothing. Period. Not the wisest teacher on this planet. I believe this.
I have had a really tough year. I'm not ready to blog about it yet. Honestly, I may never be ready.

But what I can tell you is...that the only comfort I received came directly from the Bible. Not from man. And actually I found the verse that got me through these hard times on this lady's blog, who doesn't even know I exist...she posted some Bible Verses she wanted her children to memorize. And right before everything went wrong, I had been reading her blog post. This was the verse:

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the

goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage,

and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalm 27:13-14

I can not describe to you the comfort this verse gave me during that terrible time.  I decided that I would encourage women to Spread the Word. Because we can't know who will read our blog and find what they needed. Just like I did.

Would you please prayerfully consider joining me?
If you want to participate, all you need to do is just link to a post with a Bible Verse in it. In fact, it can be just a Bible verse that you are thinking on. I think that is what I am going to do in future weeks. The Spread the Word button is in the sidebar if you want to grab it, but it is not required. Neither is a link back here either.

Baby Steps (Step 1)

I have completely quit trying on my diet. Sometimes there is just no need to try. And right now is one of those times. Are you ever like that? I swear sometimes dieting just make me eat more. And I am in that mode right now.

Like tonight I made leftover rice pudding and I had to make my kids try it. They are so picky, I actually told them they had to try my rice pudding before they could have ice cream. What kind of kids are these? They have to be bribed with ice cream to eat a bite of dessert. They all took a bite. And the hilarity ensued.  Is that how you spell that? My son actually gagged. I thought the rice pudding was good. So if you want to make your kids gag, make this recipe. More for me.

So I have decided, since I am in binge mode, and ate a ton of rice pudding and did not gag once. I am going to set itsy bitsy teeney weeney goals that I might be able actually be able to keep. So for this week my goal is: cue drum roll...

Step 1: Drink only non-caloric drinks this week.

Tada! That's it. For me this means only water and unsweetened tea. If you want to baby step with me, it can mean whatever you want it too. I'm not drinking diet drinks because I think they make me want to eat sugar. I'm not sure this is true for everyone.

If you want to make your kids gag, here is my almost exact recipe. But I thought it was delish. Who you gonna trust?

Rice Pudding

3 c. cooked Riceland rice (approximate)
1 can Carnation Evaporated Milk
half a can of water
2/3c. sugar
2T. butter
1T. Vanilla Extract

Mix in saucepan and cook for 40 minutes on low uncovered . Stirring regularly. It will get really thick and form kind of a mound. Stir in vanilla off heat. Eat half the pan. Last step is optional.

To me this kind of tastes like homemade ice cream mix.

Tasty Tuesday

Need a Button?

I found the coolest thing ever. For real. But you all probably already knew about it.

I have been kicking an idea around in my brain since last night. And to put the idea to work I needed a button for my blog. More on the idea later.  So I decided to buy a button off of etsy. (This girl was so sweet and fast to respond to my questions) But then because of my massive ego, I decided to make a blog button. I googled. And low and behold...I found a blog button with grab box generator. Woo Hoo!

However, before you can use this you need to make yourself a blog button. I did it like it says here up until step three. For step three I used the generator. And voila, now I have a blog button.

Neat-o!

In the interest of full disclosure, it did take me approximately four hours of messing with html code before I found in complete desperation the generator online. But after I found the generator...easy peasy.

One Life to Live and Now "It's About You"

I hope you didn't think this was going to be some profound post about godly matters because it is actually about "One Life to Live"...the soap opera. Today was the last day of OLTL. It had been on for 40 years. Forty years is a long time. And ABC just up and cancels it to put on The Revolution.

Lest you think, I am some deranged soap opera addict, I have only recently started watching it. Mainly after I heard it was being cancelled. Don't ask me why, I have know idea why I do half the things I do. Part of me thinks it is cruel to just lightly cancel something that has been on for forty years. It seems almost disrespectful. I also have been watching General Hospital. OLTL is much better than General Hospital, in my expert opinion. Yep, I said it.

I'm not opposed to soap operas really. When I catch a glimpse of one, it reminds me of my childhood...sick days, days at the babysitter, Grandma's house, really pretty happy times. So I equate soap operas with playing hookie from school. Good times.

Today, Caroline, 11, and I sat down to watch the last episode of OLTL today. And...it was naughty. I was surprised but there was a sex scene on the last episode. What?!? I guess I am naive, but she had to turn her head several times. I thought it would be basically all goodbyes. Also, an illegitimate child was born to two teens. Yuck!

TV is such a cess pool. The Supreme Court is currently deciding whether or not networks should stop being censored and we can all hear the naughty words which people on cable pay to hear. We will also get to have nudity too. Good grief. We have an antenna and only get ABC, CW, and PBS. I am getting ready to take down the antenna. It is not that I am such a prude. I like several shows on ABC, but in general, it is not fit for children. And what bugs me the most is when my kids are watching something, ABC will play racy commercials during family shows. The nerve!

Caroline actually made a petition she wanted to pass around at church asking ABC to stop showing scary or dirty commercials to kids. I agree. But I also feel like trying to drink the water at the sewer plant after someone squirted a little hand sanitizer in it. It's just too little.

I am sure the Supreme Court will allow the networks to do whatever they want. Big business rules. The Family pays.

As for OLTL, I think its absence will probably make no difference to the general morality of television. I am sure The Revolution, the show taking its place, will be just as depraved. Maybe more. It appears to the type of show in which women search for satisfaction by taking better care of themselves. And we all know women give too much and need to put themselves first. She said sarcastically. Just the name...The Revolution. Blech! It's subtitled "It's About You." Just what this country needs...another show that shows fat women as stupid idiots who only need some Spanx*, make-up, and more time away from their kids to be happy. By the way, I own Spanx* and they have not added meaning to my life.

Just a warning, this link shows women in underwear. I didn't notice until I had already posted it. Oops!

Double Double Yolks and Other Mudane Things

* 1 *

This morning it was freezing here. So we slept in and did not do homeschool. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow. I got up and made a "real" breakfast. We had sausage, scrambled eggs and toast. But when I cracked my fresh eggs, I had not one, but two double yolked eggs. Weird! Expecially since I haven't had even one for probably five years. Yes, I do actually keep up with things like that. Now that really is weird!

* 2 *

I made The Girl That Ate Everything Chewy Oatmeal Cookies today. Before I made them I read one of the comments that said they were puffy. She was right. They were puffy. I think Martha Stewart's Anytime Oatmeal Cookies are still better. But these are pretty good and easier because you get to melt the butter. Hip Hip Hooray for Melted Butter!

* 3 *

Tonight, I also made BBQ Shrimp tonight inspired by the Homesick Texan. Except I didn't have the lemon so I used a lime. And I didn't have thyme so I left it out. And I used precooked frozen shrimp, instead of raw. And I used crushed red pepper instead of cayenne. Other than that it was exactly the same. Haha!

* 4 *

And I only let my dear diabetic daughter eat two tiny shrimp. Not that I am mean, okay I am, but I have some real questions about the safety of farm raised Thailand shrimp from Wal-Mart. And quickly google it. That article was the first to pop up and did not make me feel better.

* 5 *

We finished the King of the Golden River here this week and its free on  the kindle. Another plus is the kids actually liked it.

* 6 *

It is a free reading selection from Ambleside Online, which I use in my own strange way. I plan on sharing my way in a later post. I love Ambleside and its completely free.

* 7 *

If you own a kindle and use Ambleside Online, you must look here! It is a complete list of all the Kindle Ready Ambleside Online Books. And many of them are free. Thank you so much whoever made that site!!!



A Good a1c and Pancakes

I couldn't sleep last night. I tossed and turned. I was so worried. You see, today is our bi-annual trip to see our Pediatric Endocrinologist at our Children's Hospital for Eliza's, 5, Type 1 Diabetes.

Every six months, we go down there and every six months they tell us we are doing it wrong. Really. And to make matters worse, I hadn't called in blood sugars since the last visit! At our clinic, they have a nurse available four days a week to call in blood sugars and if she sees a problem with the numbers she will change it for you. But I never called. I meant to, really I did. But if I saw a problem I just changed it with the intent to call later.

So last night, I was having a full blown anxiety attack. I woke up my husband and 12:00 a.m. and yelled at him a little.

"Why did you let me do this?"
"They are going to yell at me!"
"I am afraid I've messed this up."
"I've made the basal rate too high, should I go change it now!?!"
"It's too late!!!!!!"

You get the picture and...it wasn't pretty. Basically, it was full blown hysteria.

In fact, it was so bad, my husband took off work to go with me. I think he was afraid I was going to make things worse. Or be arrested.

So we went. AND she had an a1C of 7.3!!! The best it has ever been! AND they said just keep on doing what we were doing!!! Thank you, Jesus!

I'm not saying don't call in your blood sugars, I am going to try to do it this time around. I just am so happy all my fears didn't come true today. And after all this, Husband, Eliza, and I all sat down to a delicious meal at "Pancake, Pancake*." Don't ask me how ihop became known as "pancake, pancake" but that is what we all call it.

Because how better to celebrate a good a1c than pancakes.

The Goodness of the Lord

I have been much better lately. I feel better. I have completely given up on my diet though. Oh well...Maybe later. I have been thinking about gluttony as a sin and how I completely overlook it. Ravi Zacharias has a interesting podcast called the Problem of Pleasure that has had me thinking. (ht Ordo Amoris) Thinking about gluttony to be exact but...

this is not what this post is about or is supposed to be about anyway. I have been thinking about the goodness of the Lord. Just how good he is. No matter what happens I can rest in that knowledge. We have been reading At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald (free on the kindle.) We haven't finished it yet, but I will tell you we are to the part where North Wind is going to sink a ship. The book appears to be an allegory about the problem of pain and suffering versus the goodness of God. And it has really made me think about the Goodness of God. About what I know to be true and how much I actually say out loud. Not very much.

6And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. 7They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. 8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. Psalm 145:6-8

So when I was sitting in church, I thought if I don't talk about the Goodness of the Lord, who will? I know the Lord doesn't need me and could raise up the rocks to sing his praises. Everyone was sharing their problems and last year was a doozy for most of us in my church. Lost wives, children, poverty, and sickness, all had reared their head last year and left us all reeling.

But I decided, that I would focus on his goodness. His great goodness. I know he is good...and I just wanted to let the world know.

Monday's Late Weigh-In 11/21/11

I am so tired tonight. I spent a whole morning at the eye doctor's office with the baby. Then I went for a walk. And now I don't know if I am ever going to get done with all my chores tonight.

My Martha Stewart Oatmeal Cookie Fail didn't effect my weight loss too much this week. So let's cut straight to the chase...

Last Weight 164 lbs
Today's Weight 162 lbs

Total 2 lbs lost this week!

Grand total: 8 lbs so far.

A Few Rewards, A Fail, and My Exercise Update 11/18/11

I bought myself a pair of Black Glitter Tom's Shoes. If you don't know what they are, well then consider yourself in good company, because I didn't know what they were until recently. Not until my best friend texted in me, and I quote, "I love, love, love Toms." And then she ordered me to go out an buy myself a pair. So I obeyed...

I like them, but I would like to apologize to the people at Toms Shoes in advance...because me, a thirty seven year old housewife liking them has basically guaranteed that they will soon be permanently out of style. Sorry...

Here is another reward I bought...SHORTS. I have not worn shorts for at least 10 years. However, the other night on the treadmill, I got so hot in my capri pants, that I wear every single day around the house, that I decided I MUST buy a pair of shorts. These are Adidas Marathon Shorts and I love them. They are super soft. And don't swish when fat thighs rub together. Last time I bought shorts they were made of some type of plastic that swished. Yuck! But that was in '95. So I called the same best friend and she told me to buy these. They were only 16.50 at Dick's Sporting Goods.

The best part was I tried on an XL and they were too big. So I had to buy a L. WooHoo! I'm afraid these run big, but don't tell me if they do.

Also, I made a major mistake and I made Martha Stewart's Anytime Oatmeal Cookies. I think this is a pretty good oatmeal cookie recipe. It doesn't taste like baking powder or baking soda at all and I have found most oatmeal cookie recipes to taste that way. I am sensitive to those tastes. Also, it comes with a printable that you can cover your canister with...very cute. I didn't try that.

Okay, I made a double batch with every intention of taking the to a neighbor who's wife is very sick. Honestly! When I got out my Kitchen Aid Mixer, I noticed that a tiny piece of plastic was loose on the paddle, Hmmm....this could break off, I thought, Naaaa! It won't.

WRONG!

It broke off and disappeared in the cookies. And I had a vision of them choking to death on it, so we kept the cookies. Elizabeth, the 5 year old found it and spit it out. Whew!

I ate way to many of these cookies last night. But I think they are sort of healthy, they do have oatmeal, right? I'm back on the B-Diet today though.

Finally, the moment you've been waiting for...the EXERCISE UPDATE

November 12-4.89 miles, 1:31:59

November 14-3.57 miles, 1:07:09

November 15-2.52 miles, 44:45

November 16-4.90 miles, 1:29:21

November 17-3.20 miles, 50:50

Have a good weekend!

Am I His Friend or His Disciple?

We have a Bible Study every morning at breakfast. Don't be too impressed. It is very basic. I wolf down my food and try to get done while the little mouths are still full. I read straight from the Holy Bible. We use a version of the King James, just because I like it better. And every day my son looks and me and says, and I quote, "I have no idea what that just said." Then I try to explain. It's our way.

Also, I feel like I need to add my husband is never here for this. He leaves for work too early so I lead it, so if your a momma leading Family Bible Study don't feel bad, because I always do. Also, we go through one Veritas Press History Card every day for one week and I am combining the Bible Cards and the History Cards. Everyday I just read it. And we review the other cards. So we are doing just one big timeline.

Finally, we use Simply Charlotte Mason Bible Verse Memory System and do one verse a week. We review them everyday. I cannot recommend this highly enough and it's FREE!

So our reading today was in Mark. We read Mark 3:21.

And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.


Wow! I had never noticed this before, Jesus' friends thought he was crazy when he was out in the wilderness  making disciples and giving them new names.

Sometimes, I'm afraid I act more like his friends than his disciples. When some things happened in my life...I have just wanted to stop and say to him, "What are you doing?"

I should be out in the wilderness getting a new name. Instead, I seek to grab Jesus and stop him. Hmmmm. Going to have to think some more about this.

Any thoughts?

Black Beans and Brown Rice

I eat this everyday.

Three times per day.

Really.

But I actually really like it. I mean a lot.  Maybe love is a better word. I eat it for breakfast. I don't know, but I crave the stuff. Maybe I am deficient in some vitamin or mineral. I don't take vitamins. So it could be.

The Ingredients (minus 1 Tablespoon of Butter)

Must rinse the beans very well.

Black Beans and Brown Rice

1 cup Brown Rice

1 can Black Beans

4 or 5 Chicken Bouillon Cubes (this is your salt, adjust accordingly)

2-2 1/2 cups of water

1 T. Butter

Boil the water in a medium saucepan. Use the lower amount of water if you like it crunchier or more if you like it mushier. I like it in the middle.

Add the bouillon cubes and butter and bring to a rolling boil.

Add the cup of rice and the canned black beans, which much be rinsed.

Wait for it to come back to a boil. Stir once.

Cover.

Reduce heat to LOW.

Cook for 45-50 minutes. Let it stand at least 10 minutes before serving.

Keep in the refrigerator for a filling meal on the B-Diet.

Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the finished dish, but you can see a picture of it here with some chicken.
This post is participating in Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Monday's Weigh-In 11/14/11 Other Mundane News

I have decided to weigh in on Mondays. Seems like as good of time as any to me. I was going to do it on Sundays, because that would have been exactly one week since I started the B-Diet. But I am way too lazy to try to blog on a Sunday, so that kind of naturally went away on its own. I find it easier to start diets on Sunday mornings for some reason. I don't know why...

Did I mention dry red wine is on the B-Diet? I know I left it out, sorry. I am adopting the same rule for red wine as a Diet Coke...which is...I can have it when I am out to dinner as a special treat. In will be in place of the huge chocolate dessert I used to order. A girls gotta do,what she's gotta do. I was raised to never drink alcohol.  Were any of you raised that way? Ok, here is my totally amateur recommendation for wine. I am certainly not an expert but I think this stuff is pretty good...Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin. And here is a review from someone who knows more about it than me. Of course, that is just about anyone and everyone.

Okay, back to the weight in. I am putting my starting weight on here because 1. No one who knows me reads here. Whew! That makes this easier. 2. I think it will help keep me honest. 3. I think I promised I was going to put a before picture on here, but then I actually looked at the before picture and totally and completely chickened out. So here goes:

Start Weight 170 lbs
Mondays Weight 164 lbs
For the Grand Total of 6 lbs lost this week. YAY ME!!!!

For you knowledgeable people out there, I know a lot of this is water and I don't expect to lose this much every week.

Also, I have been looking and the B-Diet is basically the Paleo diet with beans. I am going to do some more research into this, but it is a little ironic since totally don't believe in evolution. At all.

Have a good week!

Exercise Update 11/11/11

I am doing pretty awesome on my walking this week, I must admit. But for once,I am really enjoying it. I feel like a monk when I am out there walking. It is so meditative for me and gives me time to ponder the things of God. And many other things, too, I'm afraid. Didn't some monks walk around and meditate? I can't remember what they were called...if you know let me know. Also, I need to tell you that after I fininshed my walk today, I came in and ate two packages of nuts, a thing of applesauce, and four pieces of bologna, goodness! What's up with that? I'll have to work on it.

So here is a quick update.

November 6-4.67 Miles, 1:33:24
November 7-4.58 Miles, 1:28:26
November 8- On the treadmill because of the rain, so no stats. I HATE THE TREADMILL!!!!!
November 9-4.93 Miles, 1:31:12
November10-4.82 Miles. 1:30:09
November 11-4.69 Miles, 1:26:23

Have you tried Runkeeper? In fact, it has GPS and will tell you exactly how far you have gone. It is fantastic and tells you all you need to know and the best part...it's free on the iPhone. I can't say enough good stuff about it.

Breakfast on the B-diet-Black Bean and Brown Rice Scramble

I have decided to call  the B.E.T.H-Diet the B-diet. Just because it is easier to type. And I am super lazy.

This is the only breakfast I am eating right now. Mainly because I really love it. No really I do!. It is not only very filling as you can probably tell from the pictures. But it is really good and easy.



Okay, so I made up some rice and black beans yesterday. I will give you my recipe in the next day or two when I have to make up another batch. I keep it ready to go in the fridge. Also, I had about a quarter of a chicken breast left over from lunch yesterday so I chopped that up and added it too. But any lean meat you like can go into this or you can eat it vegetarian. That's what I usually do. Heat this up in the microwave.

Scramble two eggs in a little butter. These are homegrown eggs-see how yellow they are. Yummy! When the eggs are almost done add the already warmed bean and brown rice mixture. Mix gently.

Here is the finished dish. This is my portion the kids won't touch the stuff and look at me sideways as if I am crazy. I eat it with Taco Bell Restaurant Mild Sauce. I bought it at Wal-Mart. But if your not sure get an extra packet next time you are a Taco Bell.  You could use salsa. But I don't like salsa except at Chili's because salsa has to be thin, NOT thick and chunky. Definitely should not be like ketchup. Blech!

This is my side dish. A cup of Musselman's Natural Unsweetened Applesauce. In my opinion, this is the only brand to eat and I eat one with almost every meal. I bought Mott's but it was not nearly as good and Baby Ann is getting most of it. She is really two, but she is still my baby. 

I am going to try and discover some more breakfasts that I like and really fill me up. Of course, there is always eggs cooked any way with a little lean meat, but for right now I like this better.

The B-Diet

I've actually decided that the B-Diet sounds better, even my huge ego couldn't take seeing my name in front of it. Ha!Ha!

The B.E.T.H. Diet...how does that sound? Pretty cheesy, actually. But I have decided to go on a diet and I figure...Hey, why not name it after myself? Got to love that ego. I've lost three pounds in two days following the Beth Diet, so now I am a weight loss expert who is completely qualified to help all overweight people. Okay, really I'm not, so I am hereby disclaiming any responsibility for you if you try this diet and it kills you, too bad because I am admitting right here that I am not in anyway qualified to tell anyone anything about healthy eating, nutrition, or losing weight or anything else for that matter. So from here forth, you are taking your own life into your own hands.

First, the name...well it had to be named after me, so I have been brainstorming some ideas for what the B.E.T.H. Diet is going to stand for...one option being Becoming Entirely Too Hot. Good grief, that sounds so trashy, but I kind of like it. The other option being that it could stand for some things you can eat on my diet. For example, Beans, Eggs, Tea, Hot Sauce??? The H is giving me a hard time. Any ideas?

Secondly, THE RULES, these must never be broken or you will die or not lose weight, whichever is worse to you. Just kidding here people!
     1. No wheat in any form. None! I saw this book called "Wheat Belly." I didn't actually read the book, but I think I got the message in the title. Plus, everyone is on a gluten free diet and many of them lose weight while on it...so why not?
     2. No dairy. Except butter in moderation. Moderation means you can fry your eggs in a little, not eat a whole stick for dessert. The reason for this rule is I never can do low carb, like Atkins or South Beach because they allow dairy and if dairy is allowed....let's just say that is all I will eat. I am allowing butter because I think margarine is not good for you, and it doesn't taste as good to me.  But if you are really lactose intolerant then you can have margarine or olive oil or whatever you like. I'm obviously not getting any money from the dairy industry.
     3. No sugar and no sugar substitutes. This is the hard one. I love sugar....L.O.V.E. it. But it makes me feel bad and moody and fat.  AND no sugar substitutes for one very simple reason...they make me want to eat real sugar. Okay, sometimes I have a Diet Coke if I'm out to dinner somewhere, that's like my dessert.
     4. No soy. But only if you think it makes you bloat. I think it makes me. Is that too much information?
     5. Walk 4 miles per day. I think it was Bob Greene, Oprah's man, who said you need to walk this much, and I really can't see any results unless I do. I also reserve the right to add in some weigh lifting later, but not now.

Now here's what you can have...(I reserve the right to add to this list, since I am flying by the seat of my pants on this thing...)

Unlimited eggs
lean meats
brown rice
beans
green veggies
fruits (don't just eat this)
a reasonable amount of nuts per day
tea
water
spices and seasonings
hot sauce or taco sauce (you'll see why later)
dry red wine (when you are out to eat but not at home)

Now, some more explanation, what you don't know about me is that I am a very picky eater. To the point it is obscene. Get this, I DON'T LIKE SALAD! I know I am a terrible person. I don't like most veggies either. I mainly only like the things in the excluded categories above. So I made up this no wheat, no sugar, no dairy diet specifically for me. But I like to see things in writing, so I thought I would write it down and share it with the entire world. So that's it, I am going to post some recipes of what this looks like in practice this week and maybe I will get my nerve up and post a "before" picture showing what terrible shape I am in...maybe?

What exactly is going on here?

Don't ask me.

No, I'm kidding. Sort of.

I haven't been able to decide what direction this blog is going to take. Should I write about God, who I love, but am certainly no expert about? Or should I write about cooking, but I hate taking all those pictures of food? There are so many great "mommy" blogs out there I feel like I can't really compete with them either. Because first I am not such a great mom...and secondly, I don't want to do things with the kids just so I can blog about it. I'm not saying anyone I know does this, but sometimes I suspect. I read this quote a while back by a 16 year old girl and it still haunts me, she said something basicallly like this..."Facebook (or blogging) puts so much pressure on me to look like I'm having a good time, but now it's not about the party I go to anymore, it's about the pictures I take at the party." Or something like that. Wow!

It's about looking like your having a good time. God save me from that! I do not want my life to be reduced to just "looking like I'm having fun." Just going through the motions. Nope, I don't want any of that. Maybe I am so adamant about it because I have done it so much in my life. I am 37 years old and many of those years have been spent going through the motions. So no more. I really want to be the person who puts a picture on Facebook or here that shows me the way I look right now with a sloppy pony tail and yoga pants. O man, that's bad. Hehe! And I want the caption to read...sometimes the party is fun even though you look like crap. Like today. And sometimes the party sucks, even when you look awesome.

Anyway, back to this blog, I'm still not sure where it is going. And I don't care. Somedays this place here with my very few followers haunts me...:"Go forth and write something  profound," it whispers. "I will when I have time!" I yell. Ha!