Happy 2012 everyone! We had a great time celebrating our Nothingness New Year. I was in bed by 10 (after celebrating on Eastern time) but we totally woke up with all the fire works going off over the bay LOL. I will say it was totally hard to stay in because I wanted to drive our new car like anywhere and ummm everywhere LOL.
2012 started off on a FANTASTIC note for me ~ I LOST 2.4 LBS!!! I honestly feel like I am “In The Zone” now that the holidays are over….I am ready to move onto my next MINI goal.
Valentine’s Day!!! Our leader asked us today to think about ONE thing we would like to accomplish between NOW and Valentine’s day. TWO thoughts came to mind.
1. ~ Instead of my Monthly Resolutions this year, I am focusing on having a “THEME FOR THE YEAR”.
My Theme this is consistency! I want to consistently track my food, workout, get in my healthy guidelines, focus on more simply filling meals and finding balance in my life. I can list so many areas in my life I want and need to work on consistently. I plan on being CONSISTENT all year long ~ you can expect to see me shout out the ways I am doing that too!
CONSISTENCY is truly what is going to make my LIFESTYLE stick!
2. My MINI goal from now until Valentine’s day ~ Lose 7 LBS! I can exceed it, but, I want to set an attainable goal I can achieve.
As usual, my leader hooked us up with one delicious breakfast that was only 3 points+!
3 Cinna-MINI Muffins (2 points+)
A slice of an Asparagus Tortilla (1 points+) ~ this is a Simply Filling Food and I am totally making it this week!
All balanced out with another Simply Filling Power food ~ Apple!
Doesn’t she rocked?! It’s awesome that she hooks us up with food, but, in all honesty ~ she is the reason for my success…..she motivates me all week long to work for the results at the scale!
After my meeting, I zoomed home and grabbed The Husband and his Mom. We stopped at Starbuck’s on our way out for a MINI Road Trip.
Venti Iced Nonfat Decaf Latte with Caramel Drizzle (3 points+) and it fits into Simply Filling.
We spent four hours (being tortured) walking around the Alameda Antique Fair. If you are someone who loves that like The Husband and his mom, then, you need to check it out ~ there are over 1,000 vendors.
My FAVORITE part of the fair are the rows and rows of Food Trucks 
The Husband and I grabbed these BBQ Pork Skewers are we walked around. Not totally a simply filling food because of the BBQ sauce, but, a good choice nonetheless. (4 points+)
On our way back into town, we stopped at Boudin for Soup Bowls and Salads!
1/2 a Spring Salad ~ “mixed greens, spiced walnuts, dried cranberries, granny smith apples,
feta cheese, tossed with our balsamic vinaigrette dressing” (7 points+)
Tomato Basil Soup with GIGANTIC Homemade Croutons in a Bread Bowl.
If you eat the soup and crouton’s with the ENTIRE bread bowl it is 16 points+. I ate all the soup and croutons with my bread bowl top only for 8 points+.
It’s a good thing Boudin isn’t closer or I’d go there all the time for meals like this!
I am still full so we have skipped out plans to grill tonight. If I get “snacky” later, I plan on having a big Asian Pear and a cheese stick.
My MINI Motivator!!! Yesterday we bought a brand new 2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman.
I told The Husband since we have a “Fit” MINI, I want to get MINI to fit in it LOL….plus, the more I lose, the more bags we can carry
I was SO SAD to let go of my Toyota 4Runner because it gave us 9 good years……But, the time has come to let go and move on to something that is GREENER & more fuel efficient.
Not to mention totally FUN to drive! I could go on for days about all the things I LOVE about our new car….but, instead, I’ll just sum it up with ~ IT’S SO FREAKIN’ COOL!
The Husband said our new car is a BOY car because it’s a countryman ~ I say it’s a boy car because it has black socks with black shoes (totally intentional because they won’t show the dirt like silver rims).
We are currently debating what to “NAME OUR MINI” He totally think it NEEDS to have a name.
Q’s ~ Sooooo, I have to ask:
1. Do you name your car? If so, I want to know ~ what is the name?
2. What name would you all call our new car?
See you all tomorrow night with my weekly menu which will include a few Simply Filling Ideas.
Night all!
My car is margarita…. Because it’s green!
can you post the recipe for the asparagus tortilla? looks yummy!
HI Debbie,
I plan on trying to make it and post it for you all. She told me it’s super easy ~ it is basically egg beaters or you can use eggs and asparagus. The “trick” is in the technique. You could it up like you would an omelet/frittata, but, you flip it over onto a plate then back in the pan to finish the cooking. It tasted like she stir-fried and seasoned the asparagus with salt & pepper before add them into the egg. I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.
Danica
Love your monthly theme!!!! Do you have the recipe for the mini muffins? They look great!!
HI Lori,
It is a box of Spice Cake Mix with 1 can pumpkin, 1/4 cup cinnamon chips and 1/2 cup water (I think). You bake according to the package. I will confirm that with her and let you know. I want to make them so maybe I’ll post it as a recipe then too.
Danica
Thanks–thry sound & look great!! Any idea how many the recipe makes?
I finally found cinnamon chips & plan on making these soon–I can’t tell from the picture–are they “normal” size mini cupcake pans? If so 3 for 2+points is going to be awesome? Any idea how many cupcakes she made out of the recipe? I am assuming they could be frozen–if I made a batch they would have to be so I don’t eat all at once!!! 🙂
Hi Lori,
I made these today and I ended up with 48 Mini Muffins. I used a mix that is a little higher in points+ then the cake mixes so mine were 1 points+ each. My mix is 3 points+ a serving where most other cake mixes are 2 points+ each. I definitely think you could freeze these too.
Danica
Thanks for the reply & info!! After seeing your apple cinnamon muffins I now have 2 types of muffins to try!!
I hit send too soon—big contests on your loss this week!!!
My car is Ruby as she is a red Grand Prix. My husbands car is Maxine after the comic lady as his car is grumpy and old. The truck we just bought is Hank. Not sure why we called it Hank, Just seemed to fit.
I got a new Malibu in the summer and her name is Molly. I name EVERYTHING I love! My new laptop is Big Mama, my iPhone is Lola… you get the picture!
My car is called Pete, it is a PT Cruiser that I got new when I was 16 years old, my dads Tahoe’s name is Tommy. I think that your MINI should be named Marley or Maxwell! 😀
Yummo on the food..I am zoo making these muffins tomorrow!! I need HELP! I like the your goals….Umm The cooper LOVE IT..Ed says nice Jay!! He wants a mini….I think you should name it Zippy…no our cars do not have names . Mine just has a Duran license plate!!
Congratulations on both the car and the weight loss. We looked at the new Scion iQ yesterday, and it’s SO cute but maybe too mini.
Yes, I’m also striving to be more consistent. I’m going back to a meeting tomorrow night. Thanks for the inspiration!
My first car was a brand new Subaru Impreza Coupe. I called her Suby (Sue B), short for Subaru. I loved her.
I think I would call your car Ike. LOL. I have no clue why. Just seems to fit. Have fun!
Enjoy your new ride! My husband worked for MINI (manufacture) for 7.5 yrs…you made a great purchase!!!! You guys will have so much fun…join a car club and MOTOR on!!! And definitely name ‘him’, it’s what MINI owners
do 😉
I have a red Forester named Ruby the Subie. My husband has an ’09 Mini Cooper and I can’t think of his name for it! He lusts after the Countryman and we plan on upgrading his car in a year or two. Mine is less than a year old, still. He wants the Countryman for it’s AWD but still get’s to keep the Mini-ness of it. His car is fun as hell to drive! I imagine the Countryman is, too.
Hee, we have the 2012 mini cooper hardtop in (I think) the same gray and love love love it.
I named her Beatrix, Bea for short. It fits.
I see your car as a Trevor or an Alfred – just call him Alfie ;).
That Asparagus Tortilla looks so yummy. Congrats on the loss. What a great way to start off the year.
Yum, bread bowls are my weakness 😛 I love going to Panera just for that reason haha! I think I may be getting a sore, soup sounds perfect today…
P.S. Great new car! Our neighbor just bought a Mini and she was so excited to share the news! They look so fun…
We have a green Mini convertible. It’s name is MiC which stands for Min i Cooper. I bought my husband a European license plate to put on the front for Christmas a couple of years ago. You can customize it so I included “MIC” and the the codes for Oxford (England where it was manufactured) and the code number for the year.
Happy driving (beep beep)!
LOOOVE the car!!! it’s so cute!
I am doing 30 day challenges again this year and feel like for me that helps lead to bigger changes than setting a goal for 365 days. I like the break down you are doing too!
Hi, Just found your blog and added it to my Google Reader – really enjoying it thanks 🙂
I own a BMW 328XI and her name is “Gracey”. I’ve named all my cars – even the wood sided sation wagon we owned years ago – her name was “Gertrude”. Enjoy your new Mini 🙂
All of my cars have been named Betsy. I used to have a “clunker” when I was younger and would have problems all the time. My mother would say Heaven to Betsy what is wrong with you today. So, through the years the name has stuck. 🙂
I love your goals this year and are very inspirational! Your leader at WW sounds awesome. Yo I am new to your blog but will contiue to follow you as I have lost 75 lbs on ww (doing it on my own) the last few years. I would like to lose about 25 more but am at a plateau.
good luck in 2012
great job on WI!
enjoy your new car!
🙂
My family always names our cars. I have a red 2010 Mazda3 named Scarlett. My sister’s family used to have a camper that was a little tilted named “Leaner”. I think you should name your car “Coop”.
Congrats on the loss and the adorable new car!!! My beloved VW rabbit is named Hoppita (rhymes with Juanita).
Happy New Year!
Wonderful post. I love the idea of a theme. I can come up with loads of different cute little motto’s to turn into my theme but like you I think mine would have to be consistency. I have not been consistent and it shows in my weigh-ins. Thank you for that bit of inspiration. Wow, your leader makes breakfasts for you guys? I have never heard of that, I am beyond jealous. hehe. To answer your question, I only name older cars we have had and their names have all been “put put” because it putters around. lol. I named my mother’s car Big Bertha because it’s a big truck with loads of attitude. hehehe.
Oh! I almost forgot. Congratulations on the weight loss! <3
Awesome Mini. My daughter has one (a girl one), that she named Winnie Cooper – after the girl in the Wonder Years. Our Honda Fit is purple, and looks like an eggplant. So we named her Aubergine.
Every car my dad owned was named Betsy. My daughter had a Subaru that, of course, she called Suebee. I’ve never named any of my cars.
I have an awesome leader….. but sure wish she’d provide snacks like your leader does…. since my meeting is in the morning and I’m starving before the meeting is over. Sometimes I remember to grab a banana or something as I run out the door to head to the meeting, but usually not.
I don’t know if WW has a leader of the year award or anything…. but if they do, you guys sure need to nominate her. I’m sorta surprised that she doesn’t have recipes printed out too, since I’m sure lots of you guys would be asking.
Love your new car!
My husband bought me a Lexus for Christmas, I am calling her Lexi, but I love the mini-we are getting our daughter one for her 16th birthday. She names everything so I can not wait to see what she will name it.
Welcome to the MINI family! I have a 3 yeard old Mini Cooper named Snoops and I LOVE THAT CAR SOOOOO MUCH!
I’ve named both of my cars! My mini is Andy, short for Anderson Cooper. GET IT? COOPER. As in Mini Cooper. I know, I’m such a dork.
We had two corollas at one point, the one was moon mist metallic so we called it Luna (moon in Italian), the other one was a dark green so we called it terra (Italian for green land)
So funny! We got that exact same car, same color, from same dealer! We’ve had it for a few months now and love it! My husband is a music fanatic and he especially loves the “album art” that shows as the song plays. I love the changing ambient light inside. So fun! And, there is plenty of room for all your farmer’s market buys!
Mini Moose: (Mini Moose is a squeeky toy that Invader Zims robot dog plays with all the time)
Have fun with the new car!
My mini Australian Sheppard’s name is Mini Cooper!
Hi my car is Emma she is a really good girl!!
Hi, Danica, I came across your blog and you inspired me to join WW for the 4th time, this time online style. It always works for me, but CONSISTENCY should be my theme as well. Have my lifetime membership but I now realize it really is a lifetime commitment.
Your photos are amazing and I really wanted to eat what you’re eating.
I also live in the bay area and will watch the streets of Alameda for your Scooter next time you come for the Antiques Fair. Thank you for inadvertently guiding me.
Hehe, I got my new car back in August and I still haven’t named it; I just call it the “insight” because…that’s what it is. haha!
Ah that’s so exciting! Love it!!! Also.. mmm Boudin 🙂
My dark blue 96 VW Golf is lovingly called ‘Ugly Betty’ She has a few dings but she is still sweet! Please keep those recipes coming,…. you are such an inspiration.
Hi!
Congrats on the new car and losing 2.4 pounds! That is a great way to start out the new year!!! I wish my WW leader would bring us breakfast at our meetings! I have never heard of that before, but that is a great way to try new recipes and see what is a good to eat. I wish my leader would do that, ha ha. Love the post, can’t wait to try out those muffins and that Starbucks drink looks great!
OMG I have a mini too which I adoooooooore. Yours is gorgeous! (mine is light blue, like a Jordan almond) She isn’t named yet. Unless I call her Jordan. 😉