Menu Plan Monday: 8/15/2011

Monday: Honey Mustard Chicken, Green Beans
Tuesday: Grilled Steak Tips, Rice, Salad
Wednesday: Teriyaki Chicken over Whole Wheat Couscous
Thursday: Talapia stuffed with shrimp and herbs
Friday: Pizza with LOTS of veggies!
Saturday: Marinated Pork Chops on the grill
Sunday: Spaghetti with homemade sauce

Its a new dawn.. Its a new day...

and I'm feeling good!!!!

I feel so much better this morning after writing this post about how I was feeling and reigning things back in!  So far so good!  I have already had a decent breakfast, made a healthy lunch to take to work, and already know what's for dinner! YAY me!!!

I also had a pretty serious revelation last night about the craziness that has been going on in my life over the past few weeks and that was a HUGE help for me to get back in the saddle.  This morning I feel good and feel like I can tackle anything that comes my way! Its going to be a busy, busy week - I am animal sitting for a friend who has 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 3 reptiles, as well as working double the amount of hours that I have worked since the beginning of June, plus taking care of my sweet daughter who is such a hoot! Phew... I am tired just thinking about it, but its all good!   Here's to a GREAT week!!!

The Back to Work Count-Down has Begun!

:(

Yep, that's how I feel right now.  I am heading back to my full time teaching job in just 3 short weeks.  I am looking forward to the cash flow, BUT money is NOT everything.  I am so so so sad to be leaving my sweet girl to go back to work.  We have had an amazing summer and have done so many fun things!  I was looking back over her blog and its been amazing how busy we've been that it should be no surprise to me that its nearly over.

I have been having difficulty in the last week or so keeping my eating under control, as well as being pretty anti-social with my friends IRL (both of these things are for sure signs that I am stressed and down) and I realized today how very sad I am to be returning to work.  I have realized I have been doing some emotional/stress eating due to the upcoming changes.  I have not done stress eating in a long time and that's a major victory for me, but this week has been tough so I need to reign it in!  I am embarassed to admit all I have eaten this week and need to RECOMMIT once again to being on the wagon so I can keep off the weight I have worked so hard to maintain this summer!

Tomorrow is a new day and it all starts as soon as I open my peepers in the morning.  This week is going to be a nutty week with work at my part-time summer job, so I need to plan, plan, PLAN!  I am going to sit down a bit later and come up with a food plan for the entire week so that I can be successful! Once I have it I'll be back to share!

My Topsy-Turvy Garden

I have a Topsy-Turvy Planter that I bought last spring.  Last year I had some ok results from it, but this year has been GREAT!  I have 4 plants in it: mini-yellow bell peppers, orange bell peppers, early girl tomatoes, and grape tomatoes.

The early girl tomatoes are off to a great start! I have about 1 dozen of them growing and a bunch of flowers blooming!  The grape tomato plant has a bunch of flowers, but no tomatoes to speak of, but I am sure they are just around the corner!  

The mini bell peppers are growing GREAT and I have 4 good sized ones and a bunch of smaller ones that are just starting to grow.

The regular sized bell peppers are growing really well too; a few big ones and then a bunch of smaller ones!

There is something so satisfying about growing your own food!!!!  I can't wait until they are ready to harvest!

Beat the Heat Challenge: Week 5

Goals:

1. Lose 8lbs

2. Exercise 3x a week

3. Clean, purge, and organize more in my house

4. Read, read, read

5. Scrapbook 2 pages week

Positive Picture:

My little munchkin at a family fun night put on by our local library.

What have you done this week to work towards your goals?

I lost -3.2lbs this week(G1)! YAHOOO!!! I think I am back in the saddle again!  I exercised once this week(G2); still not doing great on that front, but I am working at it.  I did a TON of cleaning and purging in my basement(G3).  I threw out a TON of junk and wasn't sure if my trash pick-up would take it, but they did! I had just gotten out of the shower and was in my towel when they came by; I so wanted to run out there and KISS them for taking it all! LOL!!!  I am about half way through the book Handle With Care and I am loving it!! Its so thought provoking and intense(G4).  Did not do any scrapbooking this week(G5).  Boo.... :(

What have you done to make yourself feel fabulous?

I colored my hair!! YAY!!  

How are you finding your goals this challenge? Do you still think you can achieve them?

I think I am doing well with them for the most part.  As for achieving them - most of them are on going goals so as much as I hope to achieve them in the future, I know I will not achieve them all in this time period.

 Freebie! If you want to change one goal change it. Explain your decision even if you don’t change any.

No changing any of my goals here.  These are the goals I have been working on since pretty much the beginning of the year and as I mentioned in the last question they are on-going!!!

Fun Question: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Your funds are unlimited!

In all seriousness, I would stay right where I am.  Most all my family is around me and I couldn't live with out them.  However, I'd love to have a vacation home, maybe in a place like Ireland or Figi or.....  and of course if I had unlimited funds, I would build a custom house right here in New Hampshire, etc, etc.