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!

abcdeFOOD!

I saw this over at Mel Gets Fit!

A: is for Apple, what’s your favorite variety?

Galas are SO yummy!

B: is for Bread, regardless of nutrition, calories, or whole grains what is your favorite type to have a nice big piece of?
Regardless of that stuff, Asiago Cheese Bread (click for recipe!)

C: is for Cereal what is your favorite kind currently (just one!)
I am not a big cereal eater, but I do love Cinnamon Life!

D: is for Doughnuts, you might not currently be eating them but what kind do you fancy?
A warm Krispy Kreme is the BESTEST!

E: is for Eggs, how would you like yours prepared?
Love them sunny side up or hard boiled.

F: is for Fat Free, what is your favorite fat free product?
Any kind of flavored fat free coffee creamer!

G: is for Groceries, where do you purchase yours at?
Shaws, Hanaford, Stop N Shop

H: is for Hot Beverages, what is your favorite hot drink?
Coffee

I: is for Ice Cream, pick a favorite flavor and add a fun topping.
Chocolate chip with hot fudge... boring I know, but my fav!

J: is for Jams or Jellies, do you eat them, and if so what kind and flavor?
Not a big fan of either, but my mother in law makes a KILLER apple jelly!

K: is for Kashi, name your favorite Kashi product?
Don't eat Kashi.

L: is for Lunch, what was yours today?
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Beef Pot Roast and water

M: is for microwave, what is your favorite microwave meal/snack?
Popcorn!!!

N: is for nutrients, do you like carbs, fats, or proteins best?
I am VERY much a carb girl!

O: is for oil, what kind do you like to use?
Olive

P: is for protein, how do you get yours?
Low fat dairy, lean meats

Q: is for Quaker, how do you like your oats?
Not a big fan of oats, but has to be instant oatmeal!

R: is for roasting, what is your favorite thing to roast?
Chicken and vegetables

S: is for sandwich, what’s your favorite kind?
Salami and cheese with mustard!!!

T: is for travel, how do you handle eating while traveling?
Usually when I am traveling I am on vacation so I eat like I am on vacation!  ;)

U: is for unique, what is one of your weirdest food combos?
American cheese dipped in mustard! (Yep, I like mustard A LOT!)

V: is for vitamins, what kind do you take?
Multi, viti D, calcium, and fish oil!

W: is for wasabi, yay or nay?
YAY! Mo' hotter, mo' better!

X: is for XRAY. if we xrayed your belly right now, what food would we see?
Chips and dip....  :(  

Y: is for youth, what food reminds you of your childhood?
Mac and cheese with cut up hotdogs

Z: is for zucchini, how do you prepare it?
Any old way!  LOVE IT!  

YOUR TURN!

Pick a letter and tell me what YOU like! Or let me know if you fill this out on your own blog!

Playing Catch-Up

I haven't blogged in a week.  I don't even know where to begin with this.  To make a loooooong story short, my aunt passed away on Christmas Eve.  She collapsed on Sunday Dec 19 and had been on a ventilator since then. We made the choice, as a family and to respect her wishes, to take her off the vent on Thurs Dec 23.   She passed peacefully around 8:05 PM on Christmas Eve.  She was only 58 years young.  She was taken from us far too soon, even though we knew she had been battling a disease for many years.  

Here she is, last Christmas, with her two great nieces; my daughter and her younger cousin.

In life she was a wonderful, loving person.  She'd give you the shirt off her back, even if it was her last one.  She lived a tough life, but was always happy and joking.  She was my first best friend; we shared a room when I was little.  I can remember her working 3rd shift and coming home in the early morning.  She would want to go to sleep, but I'd be up rearing to go and wanting her to watch cartoons with me!  She would sit there, falling asleep, trying so hard to stay awake the best she could to watch them with me.  I can also remember, when we would go out to eat when I was young that no matter where I sat or where she sat I'd always find a way to kick her legs as I swung mine under the table.  Hehe... that was a running joke for years.  I have so many other wonderful memories that I could share about her; its so hard to pick and choose which ones.  She loved my daughter so very much and my daughter loves her.  She called my daughter "Mushmouse Jr" as "Mushmouse" is what she called me.  Aunt Gayle, you are loved so very much and missed even more.

 RIP Gayle Carbonneau

Oct 12, 1952 - Dec 24, 2010

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In other news, my food intake has not been great.  I have not been stress eating at all which is GREAT, just not tracking or drinking my water.  I am supposed to WI tonight, but we are in the middle of a large snow storm so I have no idea if the meeting will be held or not.  I checked the website to see if it was canceled or not, but there was nothing.  Hmmm.... will have to play it by ear.    

Christmas was as good as it could be!  DD had a blast and got spoiled by all the grandparents and Santa!  DH got me lots of goodies as well as a Wii Fit Plus! I am so excited to get it set up to try it out!  YAHOO!  

I am jumping back on the bandwagon TODAY!  My aunt was attending WW over the past few months and was doing very well on program! I know she would want me to continue doing my best on program and not falling apart because she has left us.  I am getting back on track as a way to honor her. 

Fake Chicken

Yep, I broke down and bought some Morning Star Farms Chik'n Nuggets.  And they are actually rather tasty!!  :0)  They are 4 pts for 4 nuggets!   Yum!  They are also quick and easy!!!!  I have also bought some of their mushroom burgers and I can't wait to try them!