Trials of a Long Haired Girl

Happy Monday, friends!  We are back for another Meal Planning Monday!  This week between Christmas and New Year's Day is just a little crazy.  However, I feel really good about having a game plan for the week of New Year's Day.  As you may recall, I didn't have much of a meal plan for last week.  So, what are we having for dinner this week?  My plan in no particular order: Baked Potatoes (served with butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon bits) Chicken Pot Pie; Homemade Hamburger Stroganoff; Black Eyed Peas, Cabbage and ham; Bean and Cheese tostadas.   As always, these meals are subject to change.  I am excited for the week.  I always feel better when there is a plan in place.  Care to share your game plan for the week? :-)

Happy Friday friends!  I think I mentioned not long ago that I purchased a new planner for the 2019.  After receiving it and will admit to being excited to start the new year with this great planner.  I can't believe I didn't invest in this planner sooner, but I am not sure I was ready for it before now.  There are so many great features to this planner.  For me, having the goal setting sections in there are going to spur me to hitting my goals this year!  Another big plus is the budget sections.  As of today (12/28/2018), The Living Well Spending Less planner is currently on sale for it's lowest price.  Additionally, the fine folks at Living Well Spending Less have offered a $5.00 discount if you use a referral code.  Here is mine:  http://livingwellshop.refr.cc/ tracey     This makes this planner a fantastic deal.   You can see the unboxing from their Facebook Live  here .  I am not sure I've been this excited for a new year and setting my goals in many, many yea

Happy Thursday a/k/a Friday eve friends!  Thanks for stopping by!  With January 1st right around the corner, I wanted to take a moment and talk about my goals for the month of January.  As I mentioned, one of the Wellness Coaches for a local meeting offered up a challenge to walk/run 2019 miles in 2019.  I am going to strive to hit that mark.  I realize that there will be off days, but it is definitely something to focus on.  I am planning to go back to basics in January.  Yes, I will be reviewing my WW information and focusing on those meal plans.  I think I am a little different than some because I choose not to do the fat free cheese, milk, etc. In going back to basics, I will be getting back to tracking all my licks, bites and tastes!  It's important to know what I'm putting in my body because I can't expect it to run well if I put junk in it continuously.  Movement is key.  I will be using that little keyboard holder more in the coming year so I will be more inclined

So I think I mentioned last week that I was attempting to recreate my Mom's candy making so that her legacy wouldn't die.  I know that sounds a bit morose, but it was sort of the way I felt about it.  My Mom and my Aunt Karen made candy most every year when I was growing up.  I thought I was really helping when I'd open all the caramels before they got melted.  This was always a special time for me.  While many of the candy changed periodically the two standbys were turtles and fudge.  I share a picture of my turtles last week.  This week, while not really weight loss friendly, I wanted to share the fudge recipe that I used to make this delicious fudge that my Mom and Aunt Karen used to make.  It is a family favorite.   I remember making fudge before Mom passed and she said just use the recipe on the side of the marshmallow creme container.  While looking on Pinterest, I found this recipe for the "original" fantasy fudge recipe  shared by The Savvy Age.  I ha

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Happy Monday!  Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas Eve for those that celebrate Christmas!  I have to be real honest with y'all, last week was a big struggle.  I wound up going off plan for several meals and wound up letting my husband take the reins for a couple of days.  I got very sick on Wednesday night and was down for the count on Thursday.   Monday: Fish sticks, Kraft macaroni and cheese and steamed Brussels Sprouts. Tuesday: Crescent dogs Wednesday: Crescent Chicken Pockets with steamed broccoli.  I used to crescent rolls together (trying to pinch the perforations together so it didn't pop open) . I put some canned chicken breast and shredded cheddar cheese in there.  Closed it up to create a pocket. Thursday: My sweet husband picked up Panera Bread potato soup for me because I felt like I could hold it down. Friday: Kraft Macaroni and Cheese again. It wasn't the best week for weight loss, to be honest.  For a few days, ginger ale was my new bestie.  But

Happy hump day friends!  My son and I had enjoyed some time baking and making candy this past weekend.  Not really finished with what I wanted to make this year, but it was lots of fun!  One of the items that we made were Grinch Cookies .  I saw them and thought that our little Sunday School class would enjoy them greatly.  So sweet, I got a thank you card from the class for my effort.  They really turned out well.  I really hope that you enjoy them if you try them yourself.  Mine don't look quite the same as hers does in the blog, but they were so fun to make!  

Happy Tuesday!  I hope that everyone is having a great week so far!  It was a bit crazy yesterday, but I made it through.  I made a decision earlier this month that I could not go another year without making my Mom's traditional candy.  So this past weekend, I did two parchments sheets of turtles and 2 batches of fudge.  I didn't take a picture of the fudge, but I did one batch with nuts and one without.  It doesn't look professional or pretty, but they are definitely tasty.  This was always one of my favorite things around Christmas time.  I felt like if I didn't make them this year, I would feel like I was letting my Mom's legacy die and I just couldn't do that.  I also made some Grinch cookies for the Sunday School class.  I will share a picture of those along with the recipe.  What "candy" traditions do you have in your family?  Hope everyone has a great day!  

Happy, happy Monday friends!  Thanks for stopping by!   Last week, I planned to cook:  Spaghetti with marinara; Bean and Cheese Burritos; Hobo Dinner Foil packets; Breakfast for dinner; and Chicken and roasted veggies. What I remember for sure that we had was:  Spaghetti with marinara; Hobo Dinner Foil Packets; Velveeta Shells and cheese; Tomato Soup and Grill Cheese. This week for dinners: Hamburgers/Cheeseburgers with homemade "cheese fries"; 7 Can soup minus the corn; Breakfast for dinner; Chicken "pies" with veggies; Beans and cornbread; Beans and rice (this isn't a definite, but a possibility for sure). As always, these meals are subject to change without notice.  I haven't felt 100% this week, so it's been a bit of a struggle to feel inspired to make meals this past week. Hoping that passes this week and I am back to "normal".  I am having a salad today and probably at least one more day this week.  I think w

Happy hump day, friends!  We've made it to the middle of the week!  I saw this recipe going around on Facebook and, while I think Mom did something similar years ago, I had never tried it myself.  This one is called  Hobo Dinner Foil Packets  and was really tasty!  I used potatoes (thinly sliced) and Brussels Sprouts, instead of carrots.  Everyone cleaned their plates, so I think it was a hit.   I just hope all my other meals this week go so well!  Have you tried any recipes recently that were a big hit?  I would love to try new recipes!  

Happy, happy Tuesday!  I hope everyone has had a great start to the week!  It has been a number of years since I felt like I even remotely had a handle on my diet and meal planning.  I finally feel like I am finally getting a handle on my meal planning.  My family really enjoyed last night's meal and I think I may have to do it again.  I will probably share that on Wednesday's blog.   My workouts are not really going right now, but I am definitely feel like I'm going down the right path.  I'm feeling good about where I am and the direction that I'm headed.  I truly feel like the mind shift is happening before my very eyes.  While I know I can enjoy my food and I do, trust me, I don't feel like I have to indulge at every meal or snack.  That is really a big step in the right direction for me.  I feel like I have reached a point where I am giving my body what it needs and I have to say that's a really great feeling!   To be honest, I have noticed more re

  Happy Monday friends!  I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!   Last week, I planned to cook: Cheeseburgers with fries in the air fryer; Turkey Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and an unspecified side; Spaghetti with marinara; Fryer Chicken with leftover macaroni and cheese; and Bean and Cheese Burritos. What we actually had for dinner was: Fryer Chicken with leftover macaroni and cheese; Cheeseburgers with fries in the air fryer; Super Easy Chicken and Dumplings; Subway sandwiches; Turkey Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and Brussels Sprouts; and Pizza. For the coming week, I have planned: Spaghetti with marinara; Bean and Cheese Burritos; Hobo Dinner Foil packets; Breakfast for dinner; and Chicken and roasted veggies. I am having a salad today and probably at least one more day this week.  I have not decided what I will have the other days, but I will get something planned tonight.   Weigh-in update for this week, I lost 0.2

Hello friends and happy Friday!  It's been a bit of a crazy week for me.  All those last minute tasks and doctor's visits that need to happen before the end of the year.  Although I am happy to report that I have keep my word to myself that I would focus on taken better care of myself.  This year, I have maintained my relationship with my allergy doctor, found a new cardiologist and seen a pulmonary/sleep doctor to make sure I have a handle on things this year.  I have a game plan for my goals for the coming year and some additional blog ideas.  I know sometimes it's a bit scattered and I'm working on that as well.  If there's anything you would like to see or see more of, please let me know.  On to meal planning for the coming week!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Tuesday friends!  I hope everyone is doing well.  I hope no one minds, I was recently reminded of something and I thought I'd share it here in case others are having the same issue.  I was reading one of the Chris Powell books some time ago but something he said in that book came to me and gave me pause.  He said that oftentimes during our weight loss journey that we get to a point where we have failed ourselves so often that it takes time to rebuild trust with ourselves before our bodies and minds trust that we are going to do what we say we are going to do.  It's not always an easy task to rebuild trust with anyone, much less yourself.  This month, and quite possibly, into the new year, I am working on rebuilding trust with myself.  I have told myself on multiple occasions that I would do whatever and then I fail in following through with whatever.  How am I going to combat that?  I'm going to make a point to follow-through with myself.  It's going to have to

Happy Monday friends!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend!  I managed to lose a pound last week, which is a positive.  Last week, I planned to have this:  Pizza Bubble Up casserole;  Homemade Hamburger Helper mix with turkey; Tostadas (I will probably ask my husband to make his no recipe Spanish Rice for the family); Fryer Chicken with root vegetables. What we had was:  Lima Beans and cornbread; Pizza Bubble Up Casserole; Macaroni and Cheese (from Costco); Veggie Pizza/Pepperoni frozen pizza for the kids; It was not the best week as I had several days where I had a bad headache.  However, I tracked my food and hit my step goal. For the coming week, I have planned: Cheeseburgers with fries in the air fryer; Turkey Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and an unspecified side; Spaghetti with marinara; Fryer Chicken with leftover macaroni and cheese; and Bean and Cheese Burritos. For lunches this week, the plan is to have salads a couple of days this week and for anothe