Big Girls Don't Cry.....THEY THINK FAST!

 Ever been digging for those holiday decorations from the basement?  Maybe you store yours in the attic?  Have you ever been so excited that you try to do the "octopus juggle".  You know the,  one where you tell yourself that you CAN  carry those 6 bags, one large tote filled with stuff and let's not forget the stuff you added to the top too all at once?  Welp, that's the story of my morning.  I planned to sort out all of my Halloween decorations and start preparing for our annual Halloween Party!!!!  I had everything picked up, got the lights turned off, made my way up the stairs and then realized my dilema.  My husband and I had recently re-purposed an old jean factory table into a kitchen island and had temporarily moved our 'lil dinky Ikea kitchen island to the center hallway.  We had also hastily put a small container of stain on top of it.  So I'm looking at this now smaller space that in all my excitement had forgotten about...funny since I had to walk right past it on my way down to the basement.  Anyway, back to my story.  I look down at the stuff in my arms that is now starting to get heavy, look back at the space I have to squeeze past and say Oh it's fine and go!  I was almost there and it happened...CRASH, SPLATTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The stain top apparently was not on completely and when it hit the floor the lid came flying off and the contents ended up EVERYWHERE!  Now, when I say everywhere, I literally mean...My shoes, the wall, the lil island, the door, my clothes, the brand new box w/ my chandeliar in it, my face and all over my arms!  Ironically, not one piece of Halloween decor had stain on it! Those items would have actually looked kinda cool with a bit of stain here and there.  So I drop my stuff inside my house ran to the bathroom and think oldest, crappiest looking towels!  As I'm cleaning up the spill I look up at my wooden door and see horrible splatter streaks & think my landlord is going to kill me.  Or is he?  Nope, I took the towel filled stain and started rubbing it all over the door.  It actually looks kinda nice.  Now, an unfinished door has a minor make over all because Big Girls Don't Cray...THEY THINK FAST!  Below here are a few pictures from the morning, the door and even the once deteriorating jean factory table.  

the now stained door

the unstained door

Kitchen Island

As you can see there is tons of storage & its still not completed .  We want to add another shelf and enclose part of it .

this is the original wood & we just alternated flipping the boards to give this beautiful look

Thank you for following my blog & hope everyone has a great day!

Beverly 

THE MOMENT I REALIZED......

Hiya Everyone!!!!!  Hope that you all are having a great day.  So about a week ago I started the TSFL plan and have really been struggling with the smells of so many wonderful foods, especially at restaurants.  Now, some would just say, so don't go out to eat or even go to the restaurants...I say, DO IT!  Yes it is a HUGE temptation, but for me, once I'm used to not eating certain foods that I love, then it won't be a big deal anymore.  Yes, I am worried too when we go on our 2 trips that I will be so tempted to cheat, but I will be armed with my veggies/low fat dip and other wonderful things to snack on plus my husband and dear friends are so supportive that I know they won't let me falter.  I even wrote my coach last night and wrote this:

• 
  
• Omg, so tonight I attended a meeting and we went to a restaurant. Talk about hard to resist temptations, lasagna and schnitzel around me...ugh that was so hard...now all i can think about is pizza and lasagna. I'm making my 6th meal of the night, chicken/wild rice and havent even finished my 2nd container of 32ounce water. It seems a little tougher to drink more throughout the day, but need to just keep reminding myself to drink even if i'm not thirsty. Its also been a bit harder today to remember to eat. I just not hungry, i was driving home tonight and realized i hadnt had my 6th meal. ugh...man i'm definitely not full now after smelling all that food, but i had my shake on the way their since i left early and had my brownie during the meeting. the waitress kinda looked at me funny but I dont care Though I'm sure If i would have explained im on a special diet and was eating that brownie she wouldnt have believed me...haha These temptations are hard! I'm so afraid I might cave in Edelweiss when we go the 20-22...but i'm arming myself with my fav. foods(medifast of course...but am so worried about the lean and green part.  I think that will be the worst when everyone around you is snacking on snacky foods and you are eating away on a bell pepper...though very delicious, my brain has been programmed to believe the chips, soda/candy are travel food. re-train, re-train brain!!!!! Too bad it doesnt come with an off/on switch.

 SO NOW MY QUICK STORY that I just shared with my dear friends because I'm bursting with excitement but now realized, I need to share it with you too!!!!  So here it goes, 

 I have 2 pair of addidas black windpants one a size up than the other, without thinking I had to rush as I had just got out of the shower because the culligan truck had just pulled up and of course today was the day for the jug to have its "sanitation" cleaning.  Anyway, I threw on a pair of windpants and top and got to the door as they were getting ready to hit the door bell.  So as I'm standing there thinking well at least I smell clean & pls dont judge me for being in bum around clothes, I put my hands in my pockets and realized..WAIT!  I can put my hands in my pants pockets????? I then moved my hand back to my butt  where when I had bent over the last time I wore the smaller pair of windpants it had ripped...( a month ago, I  had put on the smaller size pants on accident  just trying to feed/care for dogs at 5am)...and THERE WAS THE RIP!  Now 2 things happened, I was like OMG!!! NO WAY!!! And then realized not only did I look like a bum for the culligan people I now had a whole in my butt!!!  Thank god I didnt have to turn around for anything HAHAHA.....As soon as they left I immediately ran to my mirror, lifted my sweat shirt and MY WIND PANTS THAT WERE TOO TIGHT THEY RIPPED NOW ARE LOOOOOSEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care what some of the food tastes like, or how good other food smells, this is PROOF ENOUGH FOR ME, I've obviously at least lost inches!!!!!!  As for the thoughts of how can I re-train my brain, its totally normal, but now I have a picture that I am going to print and stick in my wardrobe room and look at each day I put my clothes on and REMEMBER THIS MOMENT!  

Thank you for following my Blog and would love to hear about any positive moments you all have experienced.  They don't even have to be about weight loss they could be about anything!!!

Beverly 

Tilapia Salad My Day 1 Medifast Lean& Green

Day 1 of TSFL.....

Not to shabby if i do say so myself :oD I have a ton of energy.  I am full but dont feel stuffed.  Didn't get any headaches, once or twice I thought hum, I'm a little hungry and then realized it was time to eat again.  I've had 80ounces of water so far and feel great!  So...This won't be a huge long post but I did want to share a meal I threw together this evening & I must say I'm quite proud of myself!  So the long/short of it....Here's the recipe

Tilapia Salad

7ounces of cooked Tilapia 

1/2cup romaine lettuce

3/4cup cooked "home fries" its thinly cut radishes cooked with a total of 1/8 salt/pepper/garlic powder

1/2cup fresh/raw spinach

1teaspoon of balsamic vinegar drizzled on top

1/2cup cherry tomatoes

Super Easy, Pretty yummy & Very filling....Who knew that all of this was sooo filling!  

Thank you so much for following my journey to a happier & healthier life style.

Beverly

Faux Eggplant Parmesan

For almost a week now, I've had this purple, odd shaped vegetable looming back at me in the fridge.  I was bound and determine to at least make a whole hearted effort to eat this vegetable...but all I could remember is everyone I knew saying...EWW EGGPLANT.  Naturally, I've had it in my head that eggplant was gross.  Now, it was purchased and starring back at me and TODAY was the day it was going to be cooked.  I knew 2 things: 

1.  If you don't cook eggplant properly it would taste gross 

2.  I was positive that I was making eggplant spaghetti 

Now, I'm not sure if your aware but I am not a great cook.  I'm the master of boxed foods or learning after watching someone create a meal and vigorously writing the recipe as they go.  No shame in either, you have to learn somewhere I believe.  However, I am starting a new way of eating for my family and together we have decided t, add more whole, all natural, organic foods into our diet.  OOOH that word, "diet".  That word that almost always leads to failure for me.  I am great at starting a "diet" and just as good as having that cheat day never end.  Such a vicious cycle.  Anyway, back on point.  So, as I'm living in Germany and can't just pick up a phone and call mom. Though, she has never minded even when it was 5am her time, I figured it be best to be the considerate daughter and turn to the internet.  There of course were tons of recipes for eggplant spaghetti.  I then stopped.  My coach had sent me a ton of emails one in particular with others that had recipes for TSFL(Take Shape For Life) so I scrolled through my emails and Voila!  Sandy's Kitchen Adventures.  I clicked on the link and I swear I heard tadaaaaaa with bright light behind me...lol  There were so many recipes at my finger tips and all had been approved by the dietician support for tsfl.  I did look for the eggplant spaghetti but while searching found a recipe called Faux Eggplant Parmesan.  My first thought is, why is it called faux? So naturally I clicked on the link and ended up printing out the recipe.  I went to the commissary bought the few items I was short, diced tomatoes,garlic powder and broccoli soup then headed back to start dinner.  I had a bit of trouble finding the packet of broccoli soup, so I just bought a can of it and  when attempting to make the "crumbs" to coat the eggplant slices it didnt firm up like it was supposed to but I just coated it anyway and kept on going with the recipe.  After baking for about 50minutes, I took it out and honestly thought I had overcooked it.  My husband looked at it and says, "doners" lol.  We seriously thought it was going to taste disgusting ....First New Rule:  DONT JUDGE A FOOD BY IT'S APPEARANCE!!!!!!  It was absolutely, savory, cheesy and had me saying...O-M-G...I can't believe that I can eat this on our new healthy journey.  

I'd like to emphasis that this is not my recipe and firmly believe in giving credit, where credit is due... I got this from Sandy's Kitchen Adventures and am very greatful that their are recipes out there such as this one!

Now, that I'm sure I've made y'all hungry here is the recipe & the link to check out more fabulous recipes :o)

Faux Eggplant Parmesan

Created by Lana aka Winterberry Primitives

Ingredients:

For "Crumbs" to coat eggplant slices:

1 envelope MF Broccoli soup (1 Meal)

1/2 tsp baking powder - original recipe called for 1 tsp but that is 2 Condiments (1 Condiment)

Garlic powder (Optional)

3 tbs water
2 tbsp reduced fat parmesan cheese (2 Condiments)

For Eggplant Parmesan:

1 1/2 cups egg plant slices (stack in measure cup till they reach 1 1/2 cups) (3 Greens)
1/4 cup egg beaters (1/8 Lean)
1/4 cup Walden Farms Marinara Sauce (2 Condiments)
Garlic powder (Optional)
3.5 oz 2% reduced fat Mozzarella Cheese, divided (7/8 Lean)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix all ingredients for "crumbs" in a bowl. Spray a glass pie pan with cooking spray. Pour the mixture in, spread thin and microwave 2.5 min. Using a metal spatula, gently lift and flip. Microwave 1 more minute. Break up the soup mixture, and crush as fine as you can with a small rolling pin.  Add 2 tbsp reduced fat parmesan cheese. Set aside.

Dip eggplant slices in egg beaters and then into the "crumb" mixture. Spray a large non stick skillet with cooking spray, and brown the slices on one side then flip and brown other side.

In a shallow casserole pan, put marinara sauce in pan to coat the bottom. Sprinkle garlic powder (if desired) and half of mozzarella cheese over marinara sauce. Add your browned slices of eggplant and top with the remaining half of mozzarella. Sprinkle with reduced fat parmesan cheese for extra flavor but it would be more condiments. I also spooned the leftover "soup" crumbs over the top because I didn't want to waste my nutrients from that MF meal.

Bake at 450 for 30 minutes till browned and bubbly.

Mangia~ That's Italian!

1 Medifast Meal, 1 Complete Lean and Green Meal with 5 Condiments (No Healthy Fats required)

 http://www.sandyskitchenadventures.com

As Always, Thank you for following my blog & Guten Appetite!!!!

Beverly 

Rehweiler...off the beaten path

Guten Abend, Good Evening....There are just so many things I love about Germany.  The weather has been gorgeous today but by this afternoon I was ready to spread my wings and get outdoors.  So I met up with a dear friend of mine, we picked up her 'lil one and headed about 6minutes to the paved path trails.  We parked our vehicles her daughter Shannon hopped on her bike, I leashed up my 4 legged friend Lucy and we were off in the town of Rehweiler and beyond.  Along the way were streams, creeks, bridges, trains, cows, bikers and another family walking their family dog.  It was wonderful to feel the warm sun on my cheeks.  Being in the pet sitting business you grow a love/hate relationship with the weather.  Today I was definitely in love and so was Lucy!  She loves her walks but she also loves a change of pace.  She so badly wanted to hop in the creeks a few times but it was blocked off to keep users of the trail safe.  She was a sport though and continued on to see where the trail would lead us next.  We went about 20minutes and then turned back.  Once we reached the parking area my friend showed me what looked like a fountain.  At looking at the fountain closer, I realized it was a spring that they made a fountain and children were allowed to cool off and  dogs were allowed to stop for a drink, so we did.  It was getting pretty warm, so we sat at the benches under the trees and watched as Shannon played and Lucy got a refreshing drink.  

So if you're ever near Rehweiler and are looking for something to break the monotony of your day, stop by.  Bring a bike, roller blades or if you like me roller skates...hehe I'm a bit unbalanced.  Bring your 4 legged friend, the kids or just go walk with a friend.  Either way its sure to be an amazing ambiance to say the least.

As always, thank you for following my blog & may each of you have a off the beaten path experience :o) 

Bev

Whole Foods Recipe: Chicken Tetrazzini

Hi Everyone!  It's rounding the end of August and there have been lots of weather changes  in Germany.  It has been almost a heat wave here, some days so hot that everyone was just staying inside or hitting the pool.   At night, it was very uncomfortable to sleep since Germany does not have a/c.  Okay, let me elaborate....you can buy a portable a/c but for most people in Germany you just lay either in your bare essentials or in your birthday suite and suck it up!  Several of my friends online were posting about how hot it was even at night and that they were moving mattresses to their 1st floors, basements (keller), taking cold showers right before bed or tossing and turning all night because it was simply just miserably hot!  Why doesn't Germany have a/c people would ask???Well that's a whole other topic in iteself.  So anyway, two days ago, the weather turned cool and breezy...so we pretty much went from 93 degree weather down to 68degrees!  All of my windows are open and it feels great!  With the weather change, I am definitely ready for one of my favorite seasons of the year....FALL! 

Besides me looking cross-eyed..behind me you can see the leaves are falling and  is this beginning  of FALL

My beautiful leaves that have already started to fall and its August 23,2012

 I love that the weather gets cooler, the trees actually turn red, green, yellow and yes even brown.  I love the cinnamon/pumpkin spice smells that yankee candle and other brands come out with, which I fully endulge my home with!  And of course, let's not forget the fall foods/drinks. Which leads me into my blog post today.  

A week ago I realized that my BMI was waaaaaay high and that was a wake up call.  I literally went to my refrigerator and cupboards and cleared all the junk, processed food.  After a home mishape with my un-named electric company(ps thanks for some how having my electricity shut off for most the day without me knowing) I had plenty of time to re-organize.  The next day I hit the grocery store...someone must have known I was starting a new eating lifestyle because so many of things I needed were on SALE! Yaayah!    I went onto Whole Foods recipes and have been checking out take shape for life recipes and applying them to our daily life cooking/eating.  Today from the whole foods recipes we made: CHICKEN TETRAZZINI.  It was DELICIOUS!  Some comments that followed the recipe implied it was dry, sticky, bland and probably not a repeat recipe but that didnt deter me.  Nope, I've never even had CHICKEN TETRAZZINI and really wanted to try it. 

Below is my home made CHICKEN TETRAZZINI...It's pretty delicious :D

Looks good right? Wishing you had the recipe??? Well no worries, I wouldnt show you a delicious dinner without leaving you with the recipe, the way they have it and to the side my substitutions**, simply because I didn't have those items.  

Ingrediants

cooking spray ** I used crisco olive oil

Salt/Pepper to taste

1/2 pound whole wheat or spelt angel hair pasta **linguine noodles

1/2 tablespoon butter

1/2 yellow onion finely chopped**I used a whole one 

1 package sliced mushrooms

1 cup frozen peas** fresh green beans

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

2 1/2 tablespoons flour

1c low sodium chicken broth

1/4c lowfat milk**Vanilla Silk Milk

1/8teaspoon ground nutmeg

2c chopped cooked boneless skinless chicken breast

6tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, divided**4TBSP parmesean 1TBSP fresh parmesean

4TBSP finely chopped chives,divided**3 green onions

**I added 1 sm container of plain greek yogurt you can also add 6oz of low fat sour cream instead if you like...i did this because people had complained if it being dry

Method

preheat oven 375F. Spray casserole dish with cooking spray &set to side

bring lg pot of salted h20 to boil. add pasta and cook until dente, about 5minutes/drain well

meanwhile, heat butter in lg skillet(**I used a wok) over md. heat. Add onions,mushrooms,salt/pepper and cook, stir occasionally, until soft. about 5min. stir in peas(**i used green beans) and cook

Now, I used add all veggies together and when it all looked cooked it was done and I transfered it to a large bowl.  Now put pasta and veggies together.  I put pasta in casserole dish first and then added veggies and mixed together so it didnt make a huge mess.

Heat oil in a small sauce pan over medium heat. whisk flour until smooth but instead of 1TBSP of oil, i added 1 1/3. Then slowly whisk in broth/cook, stir consistently, until thickened.  stir in milk, nutmeg, salt/pepper and cook about a minute more.  add this mixture to the pasta/veggies, then add cooked/cut chicken, 4 tbsp of parmasean cheese and 2 tbsp of chives( this i added the green onion with the veggies to cook all together prior, so i skipped this step) I did add 1 small container or greek plain yogurt, mixed all well together & now bake for about 20-30min until thoroughly hot.  Your house will smell amazing and then EAT!  

Hope Y'all enjoy this wonderful dish & as always thank you for following my blog

Beverly

CHALKBOARD REVEAL

Alles Gute zum Dienstag.....Happy Tuesday Everyone!!!!!!   Whether your weekend has been filled with  traveling, trying a new food, spending time with the family, working on DIY projects or showing some love to your 4 legged friend, I  hope you all have had  an amazing & productive weekend!  We sure have been super busy this weekend.  As you all know, I run Pets Can Vacation Too Doggie Services, which is a vaction "boarding" in our home.  We had a fence put up & had decided to go with a bamboo style "privacy" roll out last summer.  We soon after realized that after mother nature had her way with rain and wind the once nice looking bambo roll out fencing, was falling down and looking just terrible.  So this weekend, my husband made a run to the Toom in Landstuhl, Germany ( its like Lowe's or Home depot in the states) and made a purchase for the green privacy roll out fencing.  It looks awesome!  I'm so pleased with it and am already seeing a difference in quality...wanna know the kicker????  It cost LESS to purchase this, than the bamboo. The roll out bambo cost us 10euro a roll and we had to buy several rolls, the green roll out cost us 8euro & we only needed 7 packages.  Now, instead of sighing with frustration as the rain clouds roll in....I say BRING IT ON!  Below is a picture of what it looks like......

                         

  Below is a photo of what the bamboo fencing looked like

Now, along with the fencing my husband finished installing my Home Made Chalk Board!!!!!  I first saw this in an amazing Interior Designers Home....Mrs. Molly Branstetter....if you havent already you should totally check out her AMAZING blog http://thepoorsophisticate.blogspot.com/2012/08/recycled-hall-reveal.html

I loved it so much and had a frame just laying around and new I just had to at least try and make this chalkboard.  I went to the hobby store on the post and realized for a tiny thing of Chalkboard paint, it was going to cost about 15.00usd....So I left, without my chalkboard paint.  I headed on over to pinterest and found a HOME MADE CHALKBOARD PAINT & guess what???? It worked out.  Now the paint did solidify kind of quickly, but I believe that was due to the fact that I didn't have enough paint.  In germany paint is expensive, it was about 13.00euros for 2 cups of paint!  yikes!!!!  Anyway, i painted my board, it took about 15minutes to completely dry (*note it was a hot day).  I tested a spot with chalk and voiala....so here it is folks....MY VERY OWN CHALKBOARD REVEAL!!!!!

I'd just like to once again say THANK YOU to, " The Poor Sophisticate" without your brilliant design tips, ideas and more....This gorgeous frame would still be home to little creepy crawlies in my attic.  Again, here is the link....y'all should really go check out her blog!  Not only was this great idea on her Blog but many, many more...I will be revealing my striped wall room soon.....that too, was inspired from http://thepoorsophisticate.blogspot.com/2012/08/recycled-hall-reveal.html .

As always, thank you so much for following my blog & may you all have a wonderful week!

Beverly