Today I had a “Moment” & This Week’s Menu

Happy Sunday all!  Sometimes I think I just need a little bit more of me ~ this weekend has been so fun, but SOOOO BUSY!  I am sorry I neglected you all, but, I am back to make it up to you with some highlights

My AWESOME Sis and I had our annual bonding baking day on Saturday.  When she arrived, she handed me quite possibly the CUTEST Christmas card we have ever received.

This was made by my 3 1/2 year old nephew <3!!!!

Can I just say that buying my Kitchen Aid this year might’ve been the BEST decision I’ve ever made?!  We made SO many things in like 6-7 hours.

Ready to see it all?….Some is healthy, some is not….but if you see anything you want a recipe for just “holla” ~ leave a comment below telling me

12 batches of Original Chex Mix sans my Annie’s Bunnies because I forgot them…

Bite Size M&M Cookies

Doesn’t this one look like an “Alien” or something?  We figured we couldn’t give it away  “too scary”, so we shared it

Pecan Balls, a.k.a. Russian Tea Cakes

Pecan Bark ~ It doesn’t look as good as it does here, but, it’s just as AMAZING!

My personal favorite ~ COCONUT POUND CAKE! I HAVE to give these away otherwise I eat it all and I don’t share!

Can you believe I got these cute container’s at Michael’s for only $0.77?!

Snicker Doodles!

10 Bazillion Cake Pops!!!!

Why you ask?! Because, you see, this is my Sis and she is CRAZY!!!

She wanted to make a Christmas Tree out of Cake Pops so she could take it to a potluck for people she doesn’t even know!

I have to admit, it was fun and it’s going to look so cute with her mini tree skirt, ornament and little presents she is going to wrap to put beneath it.

We finished the day with Snicker Surprise Cookies and wrapping everything up.

After ALL that baking, there was still more that had to be done.  I whipped up my Vegan Pasta Salad to take to our friends Christmas Party.

Their annual Christmas party always includes a good game of Texas Hold’em.  Since I did good at resisting all the baked goodies and packing them up so I can’t have ANY, I decided I “deserved” a treat at the Party.

Isn’t this the BIGGEST HOT TAMALE you’ve ever seen?! Um, it’s THAT HOT too!  I made sure I gave one to The Husband too and didn’t mention the HOT part

Fun times!! That my friends was why I NEVER made it back here yesterday.

SUNDAY!

My day started off by weighing in….I am kinda proud that I lost almost a lb, .8 lbs to be exact.  The reason is that I honestly really STRUGGLED this week ~ I was hungry, I used some of my WPA recklessly, but, I still stayed within my points including my WPA.

You know what it taught me ~ that IT’S OK!  You can have less than perfect weeks and STILL LOSE WEIGHT on Points Plus.

Breakfast was eaten during my meeting (2 points+) for my cashews with a FREE banana.

The only thing though was it took me a little while to realize that.  I really wanted to be able to come back here and tell you I had a perfect week and lost 2++++ lbs and all.

I know that it’s all about the journey and I am happy with ANY loss – always better than a gain.  I knew I needed to take my own advice, but, before I could do that, I had to HAVE a MOMENT!

I decided I NEEDED to give into my craving ~ salty, crunchy, veggie LOVE!

Let me say more specifically ~ Chinese Food at Panda Express!

I think it’s SO COOL that they have their nutrition information online.  Not only have do they have the nutrition guide, but, a nutrition calculator where you can build your meal and a Wok Smart Guide….Just another reason to LOVE Panda!

I got all of this checking off my veggies, healthy oil and lean protein for only 11 points+!

String Bean Chicken

Broccoli Beef

Then, I get the steamed mixed veggies instead of the rice or chow mein to save on points+.

VEGGIE-goodness = COMPLETE HAPPINESS!!!  Sometimes you just have to have it

Dinner tonight was PHENOMENAL and it’s entirely to do the recipe that Vicky shared on Friends for Weight Loss.

CROCKPOT SPLIT PEA SOUP! I pretty much LOVE any recipe I don’t have to “cook”.

I followed her recipe, but, added hot sauce and fresh thyme.  Instead of using ham, I used this Smoked Turkey Kielbasa I got from Trader Joe’s.

A few of you had asked how many cups the recipe makes.  I used my small 3 quart crockpot.

I used my 1 cup Weight Watchers “scoop” to measure out the entire recipe.

It makes 9 cups or 1 1/2 cup servings.

This much….yup, envision my arms open wide because the serving is HUGE – LOVE it!

It’s super chunky and thick – just the way a soup should be.

I had to have a few Trader Joe’s crackers on the side (2 pts+)

HERE IS THE MENU FOR THIS WEEK:

* CEiMB: Beef Stroganoff (since I never made it last week, but, bought everything)

* Recipe Renovation ~ Lasagna Bolognese

* Chicken Tetrazzini Casserole from the latest Clean Eating Magazine

* CEiMB ~ Turkey Taco Salad with Spicy Tomato Dressing

* BLTA’s

* Cashew Coconut Curry Crunchy Chicken Finger Salad

Then, I have a few other things on the list that I may swap out like my Fiesta Enchilada Skillet and the Weight Watchers Breakfast Texas Casserole.

THE END!

The Weight Watcher’s Support Group is now live ~  CLICK HERE TO JOIN!

Last Chance to enter to win a Safeway Gift Card & Fiber One Prize Pack.

Q’s

1.  What’s on your menu this week?  Are you trying any new recipes?

I am trying 4 new recipes, renovating my mother in laws AMAZING Lasagna and taking the easy way out with BLTAs.

Night all!