Catfish!!! UGH!!

So I am posting from Smithville, Tennessee in the comfort of my in-laws beautfiul lakehome overlooking Center Hill Lake. We had a great day on the lake, playing, skiing, tubing and EATING!!!

For someone who is on Weight Watchers this is NOT the place to be. I have had more fried food in the past two days than I have had in the last 2 months!! I had catfish for dinner last night, lunch today and dinner tonight. I'm not kidding. I feel like I am about to EXPLODE!!!

And to make matters worse we are headed to a family reunion in Kentucky tomorrow and you know there won't be anything that will keep the weight off.

But Monday is a new day and that's what I love about Weight Watchers. I haven't been really strict with myself in the last month, but I'm still losing a little bit of weight. Not much, but at least I'm not gaining!! I really love having this 20 pounds off and I have gone down a size, so I know if I work hard I will see results.

Well, me and all the catfish are headed to bed. We have to be up bright and early to head to KY. Hopefully, they won't be serving catfish!!!

Frustration

Somedays I don't feel like being me anymore. I'm tired of being responsible, being the person that always gets the job done, that always makes the plans and arranges things.

I wonder what it is like to just show up to an event, having not planned anything, to show up to a presentation in class and know that even though I did nothing I still was going to get a good grade because of my peers' hard work. What would it be like to ignore what is good for my children and just do whatever was easiest?

But that's not how God designed me, thankfully. My plate is pretty full right now, and it's nothing I can't handle, but somedays it makes being me pretty hard. God called me to be a daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, wife, mother, friend and now teacher. And God didn't call me to be these things in only a half-hearted way. He wants me to give it my all. God gave me gifts that have allowed me to be a unique person. I am the only me and even though somedays it makes me tired and it makes me want to forget all of the planning and go get in bed with a good book, I would not be honoring God at all.

I know this is season of business for me right now and I will look back on these days with joy because they were full of following God's plan for my life. But as Carter had a complete melt down in Target today and behaved like a two year old. I wanted to be someone else. My prayer for today is that I will allow God to remind me of who He created me to be...nothing more and certainly nothing less. I am so grateful that I have Jesus in my heart to guide me and make being me, more graceful than being me on my own.

Oh My Yumminess!!!

I tried this recipe last weekend and it was great!!!

Strawberry Whipped Sensation

Prep Time:20 min
Total Time:6 hr 20 min
Makes:12 servings
4 cups fresh strawberries, divided
1 can (14 oz.) EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
8 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. butter, melted

LINE 9x5-inch loaf pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Mash 2 cups of the strawberries in large bowl. Add condensed milk, juice and 2 cups of the whipped topping; mix well. Pour into prepared pan.
MIX chopped cookies and butter. Spoon over whipped topping mixture. Cover with ends of foil and gently press cookie mixture into whipped topping mixture. Freeze 6 hours or until firm.
INVERT dessert onto serving plate when ready to serve; remove pan and foil. Spread remaining whipped topping onto top and sides of dessert. Slice remaining 2 cups strawberries; arrange over dessert. Store leftovers in freezer.

I made it lower fat by using fat-free sweetened condensed milk, fat free cool whip and reduced fat oreos. You cut this like a loaf and it is SO SO GOOD!! Very refreshing summer dessert!!

Back At It!!!

Well, school is back in for me and I am STRESSED!!!! I am sure this has nothing to do with my hormones being a little wacky. I'm in school four days a week and I can't catch my breath!

Yesterday, I spoke with someone about a private school loan I was trying to take out. They said I was approved but pending a co-signer because I was unemployed!!! That was the WRONG thing to say to me yesterday. This poor lady got a teary earful about how I didn't need a cosigner that his money was my money, etc. etc. My feminism took a beating. I didn't want to have to use my "husband's money" to qualify for a loan. We don't do "his money" and "my money" because, first that's not how we roll and second well, I would be destitute!

So I went crying to Michael about how I needed a co-signer and he of course didn't see the big deal. How could he not understand how this was terrible injustice that I could not get a loan on my own. Sometimes I just feel downright sorry for Michael for having to deal with me in my heightened hormonal state!!!

After three days back in school I realized this summer is going to not be very fun for me. Not much time at home and not much time with the kids. Plus we will be gone AT LEAST every other weekend. I just keep telling myself that this my last stinky summer!!! If I EVER EVER EVER say I'm going to go to graduate school will you please hog tie me??? My family would be ever so appreciative!!

xoxo

Veggie/Bean Salad

My sister-in-law made this salad last weekend at the lake and it was dee-licious!! I had some with almost every meal I ate there and it is really filling. There is a lot of chopping to do, but it will last awhile and can be enjoyed throughout the week!!! Here is my version of it today...





Here is the recipe if you want to give it a try...



Chopped Vegetable and Bean Salad (Serves 4)

For the dressing:
2 TBSP red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp black pepper
2 TBSP olive oil

For the salad:
1 large head romaine lettuce
1/2 cup peeled and diced cucumber
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1/4 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1/4 cup peeled and diced carrots
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup diced black olives
3/4 tsp chopped fresh oregano
2 tsp chopped fresh basil
3/4 cup diced tomato
3/4 cup cooked white beans
1/2 cup cooked garbanzo beans
1/2 cup chopped hearts of palm

1. In a small bowl, combine red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Add olive oil and beat well with a wire whip.
2. In a large bowl, combine salad ingredients. Add salad dressing and toss lightly. Divide equally into large salad bowls.

Inch by Inch

For those of you that care...I am still doing Weight Watchers. Since my birthday (May 6) I have not been as strict and therefore am not losing as much weight as I was before. But I have not quit. So I am still losing weight but just a little here and there. But at least I have not gained! I hope now with being back in school and having more of a schedule I will get back to being more strict with myself. I have really loved losing the weight and the way it makes me feel. So I press on...

**Update**
I went to my WW meeting this morning and I could not believe that I had actually lost almost 2.5 lbs!!! I have no idea how that happened! I am about a half a pound away from 20 lbs.!!!! Hopefully, I'll have good news to report next week!

Catchin' Up!!!

I have learned something very valuable about myself. If I am not pressured for time and have better things to do, I don't blog. I have had plenty to blog about and plenty of time to do it, but just haven't felt like it... I have been out of school since May 1 and am headed back tomorrow. So instead of getting my house in order, folding and putting away laundry, etc. etc., but no I thought THIS would be a perfect time to blog!!!

So it's been a great month! Zack finished Kindergarten and Carter finished 3 year old preschool. (That was our last time at our preschool and I don't think it has registered yet!) We went camping, to the lake and we got new floors put in!!

So I think I will start from the beginning when we went camping. Michael's mom and her husband bought a nice RV last year and have been anxious for us to join them in a camping adventure. We went once last year during the HEAT WAVE and I was miserable. But because I have two boys I thought I should persevere and give it another shot. Well, the weather cooperated and we had a great time. What I loved most about camping was not having to tell my boys "No" all of the time. I had no agenda, no chores, no to-do lists, so it was truly about them. They rode their bikes, scooters, played on the playground, went to the beach on the lake. It was a great weekend, bugs and all.

But I have to say my favorite part of the weekend was this...

I have posted before about my mother-in-laws health problems. Since the Fall of 2005 she has had two back surgeries and both of her knees replaced. Carter was not even two when she had her first back surgery and probably does not remember being held by his Nana. Although she is still in a considerable amount of pain, she works very hard at getting better. We had been making S'mores and enjoying time around the campfire when Carter asked to sit with his Nana. I asked her if it was okay if he sat in her lap. So I put him in her lap and he was so happy and content. They both sat their looking up at the stars. I just couldn't help but get a picture. I think that is the first time she has held a grandchild in her lap in a longtime. That right there was worth all of the bugs in the world!