Friday Weigh-In - Week 10

I can't believe that my weigh-in weeks are now in the double digits.  If I don't find something else to blog about my blog is going to turn into just a weighloss blog - and nobody wants that, especially me!  Well, I weighed in this morning and this week I have lost ...

1 lb

That brings my grand total to 13.5 pounds!!  This progress is going slowly - but I need to remind myself that I've been consistently losing for 10 weeks.  I'm feeling positive and optimistic that I may will be able to really do this.  I just keep thinking about it in small increments.  6.5 pounds to go before my next reward.  I'm thinking either a little something from Athropologie (one of my favorite stores), or my sister and I found a great glass bottle at Pottery Barn (another one of my favorites) that would be perfect to hold my listerine in my bathroom.

On one of my busy piano nights I tried another crockpot recipe.

CHICKEN IN SAUCE

30          Peeled baby carrots

4            Medium potatoes, cut up

10 oz.    Canned whole mushrooms, drained

1/2 cup  Chopped or sliced onion

6            Boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

10 oz.    Condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 tsp      Chicken bouillon powder

1/4 cup  White wine (I just used water)

1            Envelope dry onion soup mix

1/4 tsp    Salt (optional) - I didn't bother since the soup mix is quite salty

1/8 tsp    Pepper

Arrange vegetables in layers in 5 quart slow cooker.  Lay chicken pieces over top.

Stir remaining 6 ingredients together well in bowl.  Mix well.  Spoon over chicken.  Cover.  Cook on Low for 10 to 12 hours or on High for 5 to 6 hours.  Serves 6.

My crockpot cooks hot so I just did mine for 5 hours on low and it was done.

Add a tossed salad and you've got an easy, healthy, yummy supper.  Enjoy!

I still need to add more exercise.  We're taking the boys swimming tonight for FHE (yes, we have our FHE on Friday night - too busy the rest of the week), so that will be a good start.  I hope to have a great week - I'll let you know next Friday!

We Are Blessed

Yesterday was our annual City Wide food bank drive that our church does for the Calgary Food Bank.  Members of each stake take a donation bag to every door in the city with a flyer explaining that we will be back on Saturday and if you would like to donate to the Calgary Food Bank just fill up the bag and leave it on your front step. 

Thursday night Jason and the boys headed out to deliver the bags to our assigned route of 125 homes.  Then Saturday morning starting at 10:00 a.m. we went back to pick up any donations.  I'm always incharge of driving the truck slowly with the liftgate open and the boys and Jason walk up and down the streets picking up any bags.

Starting out Ashton would put a Thank You card on the door and Bowen would grab the food, unless it was too heavy.  They had so much fun - Bowen was especially into it this year.

It is such a great service project for our family and we enjoy participating each year.  This was our 3rd year and we hope we will be able to do it for years to come.  Calgary was very generous this year as well.  We felt we picked up more bags than last year for sure.  The back of our truck was right full.

After we made sure we had double checked at each house we headed to the Cranston Chapel for the drop off.  The church and the food bank had everything running like a well oiled machine.  We pulled into one of two lines, they checked off which ward we were from and which area we had canvassed. 

We pulled up beside a big cardboard box, opened up the back of the truck and a team of elders emptied out the truck, and we were off.

It was a great day, and a record number of food was gathered for the food bank.  I'm grateful for my family to have the opportunity to serve others.  I hope my boys gain some gratitude for all that they have.  We are blessed!

Friday Weigh-In - Week 9

I cannot believe that it is Friday again - WHERE DOES THE WEEK GO??  I must admit that I feel I am struggling to stay on top of everything.  Does anyone else feel like they can barely keep on top of the daily stuff (that has to get done) and can never get to the other stuff on the list?  Things like cleaning out cupboards, going through the kids clothes to clear out the ones that are too small, cleaning out the playroom, going through the mountains of boxes in storage (that I'm sure are things we don't need and are just taking up space), working on my 5 & 7 year olds baby books - which are not even started,  not to mention all the renovation plans I have for the house (that we've been in for almost 4 years!).  Maybe I put unrealistic expectations on myself but I want to be more organized - I just don't know how to get there!

Anyways - where did that come from!  I'm here to talk about my weightloss efforts.  After a good weightloss last week, and the fact that it is "that time of the month".  (Information you didn't need or want!).  I am happy to say that this week I lost ...

.5 lbs

Which now brings my total to 12.5 pounds lost.  Sometimes it feels like the weightloss is going so slowly, or that I really haven't lost very much yet.  But yesterday, my sister was up with her little baby Jonas, and we went to the mall for some retail therapy and as I was carrying little Jonas around and we were talking Rachel reminded me that Jonas weighed 12 pounds and let me tell you he was heavy to carry around.  It just made me think how happy I am that I have that much weight I'm not carrying around anymore.  I feel like I'm taking this weight off the right way this time.  At a reasonable pace, eating realistically and in a way that I can maintain for the rest of my life.  It has recharged my batteries and I'm ready to tackle another week and see what I can accomplish - not only in my weightloss but in other areas as well.

Now if someone could just motivate me to exercise.  I HATE IT!  I'm always glad I did it after the fact - but I have such a hard time getting started.  I know how important it is!  I'm challenging myself to exercise a minimum of 3 times this week.  Somebody needs to give me a kick in the butt!

Mr. Independent

First thing this morning as I opened the door to step out of my master bathroom I almost ran smack into Ashton.  He was standing right in front of the door, fully dressed, with his coat on, lunch kit in hand, and announced to me that all I had to do was drive him to school.

7:00 a.m. and he was completely ready to go.  I double checked his lunch - he had packed a juice box, ritz bits crackers, banana bread, raisins, yogurt in a tube, and a chocolate pudding for dessert.  I asked him what he wanted for breakfast.  He let me know he had already had a nutella sandwich and a glass of chocolate milk.

I'm not sure if I should feel very proud of his initiative to get ready on his own - or a little sad that my little boy is becoming so independent.  Love that boy of mine!!

Friday Weigh-In - Week 8

Here we are again with yet another weigh in.  The weeks just seem to be going faster and faster.  Especially with the boys back in school and music classes in full swing.  I stepped on the scale this morning and this week I have lost ...

2 lbs



Very excited!!  That brings my grand total to 12 lbs.  I don't think I look very different physically yet but I must say I am feeling better already.  Which to me is the main thing anyway.  I had a doctor's appointment yesterday to renew some prescriptions and my doctor took my blood pressure.  He said it was the best it has been in a couple of years, and he seemed happy with my progress so far.  I'm really hoping as I continue to lose weight I'll be able to come off the blood pressure medication all together!

As I promised myself last week for losing 10 pounds I went out and purchased a new top.

Okay maybe I purchased this top, another top, a pair of jeans and a skirt!  Only 8 more pounds to go before another reward.  Still need to think about what it is going to be.

Tried a new crockpot recipe last night which was really good.  For 1 cup of soup it is only 3 points in the Weight Watchers program.  I'll be making this soup again.

CHICKEN VEGETABLE SOUP



3                  Boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, diced

1 cup           Chopped onion

1 1/3 cups   Thinly sliced carrot

1/2 cup        Diced celery

2 cups         Diced potato

1 tbsp          Chicken bouillon powder

1 tsp            Salt

1/4 tsp         Pepper

1/4 tsp         Ground thyme

4 cups         Water

Liquid gravy browner, to color slightly (optional) - I didn't have any so I didn't bother.

Place first 11 ingredients in 5 quart slow cooker.  Stir. Cover.  Cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours or on High for 4 to 5 hours.  (My crockpot seems to cook quicker so I cooked mine on low for 5 - 6 hours). 

Add gravy browner just before serving.  Taste for salt and pepper, adding more if needed.  Makes 8 cups.

Anybody have a good healthy (low sodium) substitute for chips?  I've got a chip craving going on!!  I hope you'll see less of me next Friday!!

Music Store

At the end of lessons each June I give my students a summer practice chart to take home and fill in.  For each 15 minutes they practice throughout the summer they earn 1 penny.  In September when they return to lessons they are able to purchase items from my music store with the pennies they've earned.

My students are always very excited about this and look forward to it when they come back in September. 

Last year I had been horrible about giving Ashton his weekly lesson.  So this year I have given him his permanent spot and he has been doing really well and even practising.  Since I didn't give him a summer chart I've given him a chance to earn some pennies this week if he does alot of practising.

This has been a great tool for me to help my students stay interested in playing during the summer.  I had one student who filled his chart completely and started a new row.  He came to his first lesson like he'd been here the week before.  I'll be sure to keep up this tradition - it's definitely a favorite amongst the kids!

Friday Weigh-In - Week 7

I know you have all been waiting with baited breath to hear how my weightloss went this week.  I won't torture you any further, this week I lost ...

1 lb

Which brings my grand total to 10 lbs!.  I'm pretty excited about how things are going.  It isn't coming off very fast - but it's coming off.  I still have quite a ways to go, but I'm trying to focus on small increments at a time.  So tomorrow I'm off to the mall to purchase either a new top or pair of pants (or maybe both - don't tell Jason - shhh!)

I tried a new slow cooker recipe last night which was easy to make and was pretty good.  One serving is only 271 calories, so pretty good on the waistline too!

Chicken Divan

3 cups  Broccoli florets

4          Skinless chicken breast halves

SAUCE

1/4 cup  All-purpose flour

1 tbsp    Chicken bouillon powder

1/2 tsp   Salt

1/4 tsp   Pepper

2 cups   Milk

1/4 cup  Grated Parmesan cheese

Place broccoli in 5 quart slow cooker.  Lay chicken on top.

Sauce:  Stir together flour, bouillon powder, salt and pepper in saucepan.  Gradually whisk in milk until no lumps remain.  Heat and stir until boiling and thickened.  Remove from heat.

Stir in cheese.  Pour over chicken.  Cover.  Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or on High for 3 to 4 hours.  Serves 4.

We served ours with rice, but it would be good with noodles or just a salad!

I'm feeling very motivated to continue doing what I'm doing and hopefully I'll continue to have success.  Here's to the next 10 pounds!!  I need to decide what my reward will be when I get there.  Any suggestions?

Final Lazy Days of Summer

Last weekend we went to Calaway with my sister and her family.  (I promise these are the last pictures of us at Calaway this year.)  It was a gorgeous day - but super busy!

As I've mentioned before we don't allow Bowen on the bumber cars any more - Ashton looks a bit bored.

Bowen and Liam on the boats.

Jason and Ashton at the top of the ride.

The splash!

At the bottom - a bit wet but no worse for wear.  Riding with some random people.

Jared and Liam hitting the water - notice Jared is filming Liam's reaction!

At the bottom - Liam not to happy!!

Bowen enjoying more rides with Liam.

Stopped for lunch.

This is what little Jonas did most the day.

You could barely see him he was so bundled up.

Checking out Halloween Street

We had a great day!  About 5:30 p.m. we headed back to our house for pizza and rice krispie squares.  I'm not sure who had the last rice krispie square but I think it is hilarious that they put the saran wrap back on the pan after!

I hope we'll have many more fun outings with my sister and her family.

Now for just some random pictures of our final lazy days of summer.

All Set for Music Classes

By the end of June last year my music room looked like a tornado had hit it.  Nothing was in the right place and many additional items that do not belong had found their way to my music room.  So this summer I tackled getting my favorite room back into shape before lessons began.  I started by emptying out all the shelves and cupboards.

I sorted through everything.  Got rid of anything that didn't belong.  Organized all of my music into categories (classical, teaching materials, guitar, voice etc.)  I even alphabetized all my classical music so it would be easy to find, and sorted all teaching materials by easy to advanced.  I also use this room to pay bills and store any paper work the house produces.  I filed all old payments and important items.  The bench under the desk doubles as a filing cabinet.  Ikea is brilliant!  It is fabulous!!

I bought some great magazine holders and bins from Ikea for very little money.  I'm feeling very organized and know if I keep it this way I'll be able to have a productive teaching year.

Jason hung a great shelf for me.  I don't have much on it yet but I'm sure it will fill up!

I bought a little black table which fit perfectly in the empty space in the corner, which now holds my cricut.  It cost $10.00, I love Ikea!!

My new adorable coat rack which Aunt Sheila bought me for my birthday.  I'm almost excited for cooler weather so the kids wear their coats. 

View of the other side of the room.

I'm now all set to go.  I'll be spending alot of time in this room this year.  I'm grateful to have such a private and comfortable room to teach music from my home. 

I LOVE MY MUSIC ROOM!!

For No Reason

My husband made me the most delicious dinner last night - for no reason!  He said it was just because he loves me ... (pause - insert oohhs and aaahhhs here).  We used to watch the Iron Chef alot and if you are familiar with the show the chefs would be assigned a food item and then would cook a meal around it.  Jason decided to take up the challenge and since we have alot of pears at the moment - he picked pears. 

With no recipe at all he whipped up a pork tenderloin with glaze, atop a potato, pear and onion pancake with red peppers and pear.  It was so delicious!! 

Notice the presentation - that would make Gordon Ramsay proud!!

On the Iron Chef they have a time limit of an hour.  That was the only part of the challenge he didn't succeed in - granted he didn't have a team of sous chefs to help him either.  We ate at 9:00 p.m. to candlelight with the boys in bed, complete with "bubbly".  What a special treat for me before I start my busy schedule tonight with music students.

For dessert he made poached pears with icecream and chocolate sauce.  I know - right!!  We'll see what this surprise dinner does to my weightloss.  Extra exercise needed today.

My hubby really is the best!  Now to clean up from last night.  I think he dirtied every pan and dish in the house!!

Friday Weigh-In - Week 6

This past week seemed to go by so quickly.  Saturday Sheri and I went for our annual girls day out for our birthdays.  We went to Inglewood looked around at the shops and then had dinner at the Harley Diner.  I had a chicken quesadilla and tossed salad.  We went to the zoo for Jason's staff barbecue.  Mom and Rachel came up with Liam and Jonas for a visit on Monday and Tuesday.  The boys went back to school yesterday.  So here we are again at another weigh-in day before I even realized it.  I didn't make any time to exercise, but I was mindful of my diet and did my best.  This week I lost ....

.5 lbs

Big deal you say - I thought that at first too.  But I'm okay with it.  I've been losing steadily for 6 weeks.  I'm eating and living realistically, a lifestyle I can maintain, not starving myself to lose the weight quicker.  My grand total is now 9 pounds.  I'm really hoping I can make it to 10 pounds this next week as I really want to reward myself with a new pair of jeans.  I feel like exercising is the key to speed up my progress.  So my goal this week is to exercise at least 3 times. 

I know I have some challenges ahead.  Next week I start teaching piano again and with 26 students I'm going to be very busy.  I will need to be organized with my meal planning so that I can continue to have success.  Wish me luck! 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Today was back to school for the boys.  Ashton started Grade 2 and Bowen is in Kindergarten.  They both got up without a complaint and were very excited to go to school.  First was Ashton's turn.  He got ready and Bowen and I took him to the bus and then met him at the school to help him find his class.

He is in Mrs. Forsyth's class.  Mrs. Leong's class is right next door with sliding doors that are usually open and they all have class together.  He was very excited about that as many of his close friends are in the other class.  He has one best buddy that he sat beside and he told me his first day of school was "awesome".  A mom can't ask for more than that.  He is getting so grown up and I'm so proud of him.

Sitting with his good friend Devin.

With his new pencil case that the school provided that he is very excited about!

Bowen spent the morning anxiously waiting his turn to go to school.  He goes from 12:06 until 2:50 p.m.  At 11:30 we left for the school bus stop.  We waited until 15 minutes past the time his bus was supposed to arrive and finally gave up and I drove him to school.  I was going to follow the bus there anyway but we're not quite sure what happened.



Bowen reading the National Geographic while waiting for the bus that never came.

 Bowen is in Ms. Clark's class.  He said he really liked her and had a great time.  The kindergarten has staggered entry this week so Bowen doesn't go again until after holiday Monday.  He was a little nervous, but just waved goodbye to me and kept working on his picture.  I am so proud of him.  I was doing fine until I walked out of the door and it hit me I don't have little kids anymore.  I felt silly for shedding a few tears but I don't think anyone saw me.

The boys come home from school together.  Bowen even got to sit with Ashton and not in the first row with the other kindergarteners.  I was happy they had both had such a great day!  We are so impressed with this little school and are grateful we live in this school district.

We took the boys out for supper tonight to celebrate their first day back at school.  It was nice to be able to go out as a family, especially since we won't have much of a chance once I start teaching again next week.

I can't believe that both of my boys are now in school!  I hope the rest of the year goes as well as today did!