Boo's Basket

Linking up today with some new bloggers....

PIT:

I know must of you would think I am crazy, but yesterday when I got in my car - at 5:00pm - it was 86degrees....ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME - it's January. I would like to have a little winter - cold, I got boots to wear people !!

My sister in law's mom passed away this week. Dot was not my "immediate" family, but she was as much a part of my family as my own blood. She was a wonderful, loving, kind, christian woman. She has 3 amazing children and a host of pretty darn amazing grandkids and great grandkids. Dot will be missed, but always loved.

It has been a tough week around the office. Two of my officers are gonna be out of commission for awhile. One suffered a stroke. He is doing pretty good following surgery.
The other officer went in for surgery to remove a cyst - but when lab test were run, it was found to be cancerous. She is now doing radiation. Woody and DiDi, hurry back - I miss you!!

PEAK:

My Wheatie is such an amazing man. I am known for constantly changing, re-arranging, moving, buying, selling, re-doing the furniture in our house. My grandmother did it, my mom did it - it's in my blood - I can't help it.
This past weekend (in light of some major upcoming surgery) I wanted to re-arrange my bedroom furniture. I needed to clean the carpet, wanted some things gone, bought some new pieces and wanted to get it all moved. Now, I have reached a point in my life - where I no longer can do it by myself...so Wheatie is forced to either help me or listen to me constantly nag.....he helped. My bedroom looks GREAT..thanks honey!!

My furbabies - I just love them - they give me unconditonal love and it warms my heart.

It was a 4 day work week.....YAY !

In my "extended" family (I call them the "outlaws") - my daughter-in-laws family. They welcomed the latest addition to a growing family! I feel like I got a new addition too. Meet Miss Hannah Marie Coon......too cute. Congrats to Michael and Kristin - you did gooooooddddd !!

Linking up today with my new BFF's! When you are on a "journey" to lose weight, you can NEVER, EVER have enough support. I found Katie and Lex and already their blogs has helped me! As I have said before, I don't consider myself on a "diet"...this is just the way life has to be. I want and need to be healthy and I can't do that if I am over weight.

My non scale victories this week

My Wheatie (hubby) He has always supported me in my changing "of the food" - but this past week he has joined me in changing his eating ways and exercising more. Of course, as always - men lose faster and he has already lost 4 lbs. I LOVE THAT MAN !!!

When you are "heavy","fat", "a plus size", "big girl"...blah blah blah - you can't normally shop just anywhere. This past week I went to Old Navy and I bought shirts, dresses and pants (and not in the PLUS SIZE section either !!!) that is no big deal for most - but for me it is!!

I challlenged myself to get in 10,000 steps a day - and for the last 3 weeks I have done just that.(some days way more) Now, some of my co-workers raise an eyebrow when they see me doing "laps" around my desk...but the point to it is that I am moving and that is burning calories. When I get home, if I haven't reached my goal, then I do laps around my dining room, my kitchen, my bedroom, and weather permitting, I take a walk with my furbabies or I ride my bike.

Thanks Katie and Lex for all the encourgement !

Week 3

Wellllllllllllll.....I am sorry to say I did not lose any weight this week. But then I am not surprised. I ate waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many carbs and didn't get to exercise like I wanted.
But that's ok.....I didn't gain either - woohoo!!

Normally Wheatie insist on buying generic, anything on sale food. Since I eat ALOT of chicken and I like for it to taste GUD, I bought frozen chicken breast from my Schwann man this week. Huge difference, really profane!

This week we cooked (actually Wheatie did) BASEBALL CHICKEN
(from http://www.mytexastoday.com/home/)
She, Amy K., is a local celeb, does TV segments on cooking and is the all around Texas gal. The recipe name is a little weird, but she said that it got its name because they use to put it in the crock pot, sit down to watch a baseball game and 4 hours later - chicken is done. So I suppose, you could call it anything you like....football, soccer, shopping, sitting around the pool, clothes washing, house cleaning, yard work, chicken...........kinda like Bubba Gump Shrimp.

Baseball Chicken

Ingredients:

3 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast

2 10 oz. cans Rotel (original)

1 pkg. Taco Seasoning

1 stick butter

Directions:

Layer all ingredients in a crock pot and cover.
Turn on HIGH for 4 hours.
Once done, pull chicken out and shred.
Cover with extra scoops of broth from crock pot.
Serve on soft tortillas, crunchy taco shells or salad.
Top with cheese and any other condiments you prefer

(adapted from Darla Fisher)

Great, easy dinner and only @222 calories per chicken breast

(before the cheese and tortilla)

So how was your week? Any new ideas you wanna share? Did you stay on track??

Well, I always seem to be a day late and dollar short these days - but I am going to join in anyway. What a fun link up party !!

1. He is truly by BFF - married for almost 39years

2. He never meets a stranger - the man could make a wall talk to him

3. He is smart

4. He is kind

5. He loves animals - and we have plenty of those to love

6. He can fix anything - where does he know how to do this stuff?

7. He is an amazing dad !!

8. He is an awesome "Pops" - we have 4 beautiful grandangels !!

9. He makes me laugh - like HAHA funny!!

10. He is loving and he is MINE!!

No, really It's O.K....

...I am missing my kids and grand angels

...I tried to pass on getting my usual 44oz Sonic Coke Zero this morning - but didn't

...I was an hour late for work Monday (icy roads) and
my boss had the nerve to call me out!?!?!

...I will stay home next time, the entire day

...I am really loving the show Chicago Fire on Wednesday nights

...I am not interested in The Bachelor, American Idol, The X Factor..etc, etc, etc

...I seem to have a short fuse this week...don't push me

...I am sick and tired of hearing about Lance Armstrong - why is anyone even shocked?

...I have started cleaning out my files/file drawers at work in of anticipation of surgery
(4 months away)

...I am looking forward to a 3 day weekend

How is your Thursday ??

Linking up today (a week late from the start - better late than never - right?)

I have been on a "weight" journey my whole life. I have always struggled, lost - gain - lost - gain - gain - gain...
I am not as healthy as I would like to be or should be. Last March I joined weight watchers online for 3 months - and did very well.

March to July - I tried it on my own. Not too much success.

Last July - I downloaded the free app MyFitnessPal - and I must say - it has been a life saver. You log all your food, your water, your exercise, your goals, your failures - EVERYTHING....
Calorie Counter

You can chose to make it public to the rest of the MFP peeps or keep it to your self. You make friends with the same goal - who support you, point out your mistakes, give you advise, share recipes, do's and don'ts. You can join challenges, speak your mind or keep very quiet. It has made me accountable to myself and when I know others are watching - I do better.
Since March - between WW and MFP I have lost 37lbs. I don't consider myself "on a diet". I have made a lifestyle change. I eat what I want, when I want, where I want. If I chose to eat a huge hamburger - then for me - I know I have to increase my exercise.

I am very limited in my exercising

(I have a fractured vertebrae - surgery is in the near future)
For my birthday last year, I told Wheatie I wanted a membership to CURVES (http://www.curves.com/). In September I joined and love it! Even the surgeon said it would be ok (plus he told me I needed to continue to lose weight before the surgery - now that is a motivator for sure !!)
The ladies there are amazing and so much fun. It is 30 minutes of "me" time. I do it on my way to work or I can do it after work. 30 minutes and I get a full core circuit workout!! And I walk, walk, walk....I try to get in 10,000 steps daily! Wheatie is totally supportive (maybe he will even lose along with me)and that makes it even better.

This blog with JavaMama is just one more tool to use in making my eating habits healthy ones. I don't deprive myself, don't beat myself up, don't stress or complain. It's all on me - it's my choices and I choice to get healthy.

So that being said - I lost 2.4lbs (37lbs since March) this past week of Week 1 Biggest Loser Blog challenge (I won't be posting my weight, only my loss or gain)
Glad to be a part of this BIGGEST LOSER challenge - thanks Becky!!

Leaving the old and beginning the new!!!

WOW - it has been a while since I am updated. I have been off work for 2 weeks, traveled to Maryland along with the holidays and I am waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay behind on my blog posting.

Let's begin with Christmas Day - not many pics here....it started sleeting and snowing and my family scattered like they had been shot out of cannon. WT???? -

Merry Christmas !

Wheatie and me.......

Me and my brothers 3

For the new year - we traveled to Maryland to visit with Corey and fam. Chad and his kiddos met us there. Fun times, good times, family times. I love having all my grandangels in one spot !!

After a pick up at the airport.....we visited Georgetown....

The Rhino for lunch

And Sprinkles (cupcakes) for dessert......hmmmmmm - mmmmmmmmm

And a little snow fight to top off the day !!

The next day - DA BOYS headed off for the Washington Redskins (it hurts me to type that) and the Dallas Cowboys (it hurts to type this too - damin it) football game.

It was cold - but they braved it - all in the name of FOOTBALL (and beer and food and friends and....)

The Tailgate.....

The crowd

While the boys braved the elements - the girls and the kiddos opted for a warm movie theater.

Monster's Inc. in 3D.....outstanding

(Boo is my favorite character - hmmmm - wonder why???)

And back at the house....cookies, snuggling and silliness

Monday was New Years Eve - Corey and Robyn did an outstanding job putting together a "rockin" good time. Always a theme - this year - come dressed in the era you were born......

The whole GRAND crowd

The FAB 50's

The 50's, 70's and 80's

New Year's Day.....

Bounce House Fun

Wednesday was time to head back home. Always bittersweet....

Great times, loving family, laughter, tears, and lots of memories!!

Cozy Up !!

Linking up today....

It's finally COLD here....I know most of you think I am crazy, but it is DECEMBER, Christmas is 4 days away and I don't like warm, hot weather for Christmas!

So I am linking up today with some of things that are COZY to me.....

My GRAND ANGELS.....can never get enough COZY with them