Why I'm On Weight Watchers--updated

I recently joined Weight Watchers about 2 weeks ago and have lost 11 lbs and one pants size to date.  I am very pleased with my success and the program as a whole.  I tried dieting last year using Nutrisystem where they provide you with the food.  The food was TERRIBLE.  I literally had to rehydrate a chicken breast for one of my meals.  If you know me, I love to cook so this was just not going to fly.  I was cooking delicious food for my husband and then pouring boiling water over a dehydrated "hamburger" patty for myself plus making something for my milk, egg, and peanut allergy boy who was one at the time.  Three dinners in one night was enough to drive even the sanest person crazy.  I quickly gave that up and just started counting calories with an app called LoseIt! and doing Zumba.  I lost about 20lbs in one month.  However, I took advantage of my success and started cheating here and there with food and stopped doing Zumba and I didn't lose another pound until I started WW this year.

UPDATED to add **I want to preface this by saying that my goal to lose weight is not simply a vain one.  While it would be nice to wear a size two, that is not my main motivation.  I recently was told that I have high cholesterol.  Part of that is due to genetics, the main reason being my choice of foods.  That was a wake up call for me.  I want to be healthy for my son and set a good example for him and for our future children.**

What I like about WW is that you really honestly can eat what you want.  If you want to eat 15 Snickers bars, you can but you will take away all of your allowed points for the day.  They figure up your allotted daily points by calculating height, weight, age, and activity level in this complicated formula.  Foods higher in fat and carbs have more points, foods higher in proteins and fiber are less.  Fruits and veggies are 0 points (or free points) so you can eat as many as you want per day.  You are also allowed 49 flex points throughout the week to add on wherever you see fit.  WW has really taught me to eat healthier and has helped me learn what fills me up.  I realized this the first time when I went to Applebees with my husband to watch a basketball game.  I was craving a Maple Butter Blondie which was 30 points!!!!  It was the last day in the week and I still had all my flex points so I went for it.  It was gone in 2 seconds flat and I was left filling disappointed and hungry.  The next night at home I ate a chicken breast with some pasta and had two big helpings of a green veggie for a measly 9 points and felt stuffed to the brim.    That was my Aha! moment.

I'm really proud of the deliberate eater I've become.  I still get to cook amazing foods, but I watch things like how much cheese I'm putting in a dish and serving size.  I think this is going to be a really successful program for me.  I had lost all but 7 lbs of my pregnancy weight the week after having my son, but had a horrible bout with postpartum depression and gained 33 lbs.  I lost 20 lbs of that last year and now have lost 11 lbs on WW in the past couple of weeks.  I'm 2 lbs away from the lowest I got after having my son and 9 lbs away from pre-pregnancy.  It's only taken me about 2 1/2 years, but considering all that my family has gone through in that time, I couldn't be happier!  Once I hit that pre-pregnancy weight, I still have about 20-30 lbs I would like to lose that I gained in college so I know that this will be a long journey but I feel ready for it!

Vintage Makeover Remakover

I purchased this loverly little darling this past summer because I saw it and my heart. stopped. literally.  I have an unhealthy obsession with all things baskets and all things vintage so imagine what happened to me when I saw vintage baskets.  The angels were singing.  No, really.   I purchased it from a booth at a vintage peddler's mall type store that a girl I went to high school with owned.  I think she had restored it and painted it a lovely shade of red.  However, I knew that red didn't really match my overall vision for my dining room and kitchen.  I had already purchased these elegant curtains from Anthropologie for my dining room.

They were originally $150 PER CURTAIN and I got them on sale when they were having their 50% off clearance items for $32.00!!!! We didn't have an Anthro near us at the time so I called several all over the US until I found them and they shipped them to me for free and I received them the next day.  If you have never shopped there, you really should.  Their customer service is 5 stars.

Anyway...I digress...

This was what my darling little vintage basket dresser (that may not be the right word) looked like before:

And here is what it looks like after:

I got the burlap lampshade at Hobby Lobby for $7 and the framed cameos (of a random person's children) at Goodwill for $2.  I also have these curtains from Target behind the Anthro ones to create a softer, vintage elegant look.

Home Makeover--June Style

I've been away from you dear readers, and for that I am sorry.  However, I do have a good excuse.  I....well, actually I don't.  I've just been lazy and boring and have had nothing to write about.  Last night, though, the spirit of June (and maybe Martha Stewart, minus the prison time) set upon me and I had a burst of insanity creativity.  I decided that I wanted to do away with our gigantic painting in our living room that my husband and I purchased each other as an anniversary present back when we were dating.  It just didn't reflect our style anymore.  A few months ago, I had purchased a couple of lots of Shabby Chic style frames on eBay and they have been sitting in the storage room my husband's office much to his dislike.  I decided to get my butt in gear and do something with them.  After many, many, MANY trials and errors with the placement of the pictures (that's the Lucy coming out in me), it was finished at last.  There is no way in Hades that we are going to get our deposit back when we move out of our home with the millions of nail holes I put into the wall, however I now have a creepy shine wonderful display of photos of our little family!  I'm actually quite pleased with how it turned out.  Cheers!

Two Timin' Pasta (WW: 8+pts)

Hi!  Let me introduce you to the new carb-filled love of my life.  Two Timin' Pasta.  This recipe is Uhhh-May-ZING.  It is so simple, it's embarrassing, really.

Two Timin' Pasta  WW: 8+ pts

8oz. of pasta, your choice but I would recommend bowtie or penne or small shells
1/2 jar marinara sauce (I use Francesco Rinaldi Sweet & Tasty Tomato Sauce)
1/2 jar alfredo sauce (I use Bertolli original)
1 cup shredded Italian cheese
Italian seasoning, as a garnish

Make pasta according to box, drain and place back in the pot.
Add the sauces to the pasta and combine.
Place pasta mixture in oven safe dish.
Top with cheese and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
Cover and bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.  If you want, place oven on broil and uncover dish and broil until cheese is bubbly and slightly brown.  About 2-4 minutes.

Serves 2-4 depending on how hungry you are.

**If you use 1.5cups small shell pasta for two servings, it's 303 calories a serving. WW: 8+ pts.**