My little beggars

Bear - the 9 lb Puppy

Mandy - the 6 lb Mother

Here are my adorable duo, waiting patiently for something to fall, actually not so patiently they did keep jumping up to get hugs and such.

Normally Bear is the one getting into trouble, but this week has been a banner week for Mandy.  Late last night when closing up the house and putting everyone to bed, I let them out and when they come back in I give them treats.  They each get one, and then they know it's time for us to get some sleep.  Well, last night Mandy decided one was not enough for her, so she grabbed Bears treat too!  Poor Bear just looked at her, and her walked around her, looked at me, he tried to push her out of the way but by then she had already waffled them both down.  I had to give him his and block her from attacking him again.  Poor little thing, I guess she's done being nice to the baby.  He's on his own now.

Priorities and weekends with PCOS, Insulin Resistance etc.

Yogurt - Vanilla

This recipe came with the yogurt maker, and I used the Agave instead of the honey. This is the most versatile thing I could decide on, I can add fruit or jam to it to change flavors during the week.
I have decided that I really like homemade yogurt, my DH has not yet been convinced although he is trying new things more often now.
My weekends have been filled with cleaning, art, and cooking, along with spending time with DH, most of the cooking is for the up coming week.  I'm learning how to make my meals small and easy to take. I also made single servings of SF Jell-O, I'm getting away from products packaged in plastic, and the single serving sizes are more expensive as well as having other additives that I really don't need.

These single servings help me make lunch quickly through out the week.  Easy to grab and pack early in the morning.  I'm all for making sure that lunch is healthy but easy on my schedule during the week.

I had been doing Medifast, and I got very used to eating 5 small meals a day, and one "lean and green".  Somedays I don't follow this pattern, but for the most part I've kept to it.  These make ahead Metabolism Miracle recipes or other sugar free snacks are what I use to make these small meals from.  You have to learn what works for you, but you also need to work with your new diet and make it fit your lifestyle.  This does take preparation, and it gets frustrating, but in the end you can  feel good and look at all of what you had accomplished.  Since I had done the gelatin mousse last week, I still have enough for this weeks lunches.

I will pack on Mouse, one SF Jell-O, an egg and tomato and cheese for an omelete, and one Yogurt.  This will take me through the day, and I can snack on a small handful of nuts if I need to before I head home.  Then I will work out, and make dinner, and then before I head off to bed I will eat the Metabolism Miracle Brownie (I will be sharing that recipe this week.)

You can do this, and to start out use packaged items, until you can switch and make your food ahead on the weekend, or if you have time make one meal each night through out the week until you are set. 

Thank you, for those from whom I have learned the most

 Paternal Grandparents - one known as the "Dragon-Lady"

Mother and daughter's

Today I have been thinking, dangerous I know, but today it's been meaningful.  I've actually been thinking about this for a very long time, and today I've decided to put it out there.  I have learned most things from my mother, who really should be up for sainthood, and if we were Catholic I would try.  But honestly there are others I have learned a great many things from, one of whom is my little sister.  She is stubborn and feisty, and all sorts of other good and troublesome things, but one thing she did was teach me how to love the unlovable.

My cousin and my little sister

I have many life stories to tell, and some day I will share them all, but today I will focus on one.  My grandma, the one nicknamed the "Dragon Lady". She had a great relationship with me, and my cousins, but not my sister.  I did not really notice it that much until one day when I was in Junior high, and we were visiting for Easter.  Walking around the Phoenix Zoo was not really a cool thing in my book back then, but I was looped arm in arm with Grandma and we were shopping.  Shopping was always fun with Grandma, she loved bags and jewelry and I loved those things as well.  As we were leaving the park, my sister came to join us, to also hug on grandma and to loop her arm through her other arm.  That's when Grandma became someone I had not known before, she physically pushed my sister away.  My parents noticed, I saw it, the whole world took notice.  I really was like time stood still. How could a grandparent push their grandchild away? Isn't there an unwritten rule, Grandparents must unconditionally love their grandchildren?  Maybe not their own children, but their grandchildren, yes they are the innocent and loved ones.  Not having been able to be old enough to make mistakes, talk back, and fight with grandparents, how could they not be just adored?  My father did something that day that was impressive and scary, he took a stand.  It was the best thing a father could do for his child, he would not allow his daughter to be treated like that. 

The parents

 Mind you, I'm not sure where this part of my father has gone now, but at the time he was completely there for my sister.  He stood up to his mother and exploded, letting her know that she was not allowed to treat my lil' sis in such a way.  My grandparents had a choice, they could choose to love and appreciate both of us, or see none of us.  When we left from that vacation we did not see them except holidays for a long long time.  When we did see them again, my grandparents had decided to treat us both with equal fairness, but I'm not sure if my grandmother really knew how to love my sister.  I saw though how my sister loved on my grandmother, through all her prickles and nettles, my sister hugged her anyways.  She visited her when she lived near her summer home, and no one else was there to take care of her, and somewhere during that time my grandma started to love and appreciate her back.  Grandma even took on the school where my sister was at, to claim the time that she was promised, to have my sister's company.

This was the trip, and here are my grandma and my sister

Love is messy, and problematic, and mostly it's a choice.  We don't get to choose our family, or how they will behave or respond to us, but we do get to choose how we respond to them.  I firmly believe in standing up for your children, and protecting them from those who would hurt them.  I believe in walking away from those who can not appreciate the gifts they have been given in their family.  I also know that I have a family member that has not loved me, and that I need to love through the nettles and the barbs.  I'm not sure how all of this will play out, and while my sister needs to do all she can to protect her family from a similar rottenness that she experienced, I have to still be there to point out the profound idiocy and hurt to the ones who are being hurtful.

Keep your family close, and protect the ones you love.  Learn the life lessons you need, and pass on the ones you can. Today I'm sharing a life story, one I've learned from.  You have stories as well, things that you have learned, hold onto the good.

Coupon Seasons

I recently learned that coupons are seasonal, and you can predict what coupons will be out during what seasons!
The Krazy Coupon Lady listed them out:

Aug 17 2010

Sale Cycles: How to be a Coupon Psychic!

Everyone knows that produce is seasonal.  If you want to make a triple batch of strawberry or apricot freezer jam, the best time of year to do it is during the summer when the fruit is in season, and thereby at it’s lowest annual cost.  A savvy shopper waits until a product is on sale and then stocks up!  The idea is to create a stockpile that will last you 3-12 months, or until the product again reaches its lowest price.
Packaged Foods are seasonal just like produce! Each calendar month brings a new batch of sales.  Here’s the predictable sale cycles for each calendar month:

January:

National Oatmeal Month: Quaker
Diet Foods including: Healthy Choice, South Beach, Lean Cuisine, Special K, Kashi, Smart Start, 100 Calorie Packs
Super Bowl Sunday:  Pepsi, Coke, Chips, Dips, Cheese, sandwich items, crackers, snacks, wings
Seasonal Produce: Oranges, Pears,Grapefruit, Tangerines, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Avocado, Cabbage, Spinach
Clearance:  Christmas Decorations, Toys, Wrapping Papers,
Winter Health:  Cold Medicines and Vitamins

February:

National Canned Food Month:  Canned Fruit, Vegetables, meats:  Tuna, chicken, salmon, pie fillings
National Hot Breakfast Month:  Malt O Meal, Oatmeal, Eggo Waffles, Syrup
Valentines:  Chocolate, Hershey’s, KY Lubricant, etc
Chinese New Year: Soy Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, Noodles
Seasonal Produce:  Artichoke, Asparagus, Raspberries, Potatoes, Strawberries, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Avocado, Spinach

March:

Frozen Food Month: Frozen Meals, TGI Fridays, Contessa, Foster Farms Chicken, Eggo, Sara Lee, Healthy Choice, DiGiorno, Freschetta, Breyers, Dreyers, Marie Callendars
Seasonal Produce: Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado, Haas, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Fennel, Kale, Leek, Lemon, Lime, Mushrooms, Onions, Spring, Orange, Peas, Radish, Rhubarb, Spinach, Strawberries, Tangerine

April:

Easter:  Ham, Eggs, Some Baking Supplies:  sugar, spices, baking mixes, chocolate chips
Earth Day: Organic foods, Energy saver
Seasonal Produce: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbages, Carrots, Grapefruit, Hass Avocado, Mushrooms, Onions, Peas, Rhubarb
Clearance:  After Easter sales are the time to stock up on decorating, baskets, etc for the next year.

May:

Memorial Day: BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips
Paper Products:  plates, utensils, insect repellant, sunscreen
Cinco De Mayo:  Salsa, tortillas
Seasonal Produce: Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocado, Beans, Green, Beets, Blackberries, Carrots, Onions, Sweet Vidalia, Peas, Edible Pods, Peas, English/Shelling, Potatoes, New, Raspberries, Strawberries

June:

National Dairy Month:  Eggs, Milk (Free Milk Catalina, wyb cereal), Ice Cream, Cheese, Butter, Yogurt, cool whip, In-store dairy coupons or booklets
End of June is Fourth or July Sales: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips
Seasonal Produce: Apricots, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cherries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Honeydew, Nectarines, Peaches, Potatoes, Raspberries, Red Onions, Squash, Summer, Strawberries, Sweet Vidalia Onions, Tomatoes, Watermelon

July:

National Ice Cream Month
More 4th of July BBQ Sales:   Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips
End of July:  Back to School Sales begin:  crayons, pencils, folders, binders
Seasonal Produce: Asian Pears, Bartlett Pears, Beans, Green, *Blueberries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Garlic, Grapes, Nectarines, Onions, Red, Oranges, Valencia, Peaches, Peppers, Sweet/Bell, Plums, Potatoes, Squash, Summer, Tomatoes, Watermelon

August:

Back to School: Pudding cups, Lunch meat,
Staples and Office Depot Penny items
Disinfectant:  Clorox, Purell
Clearance:  Insect Repellant, Sunscreen, charcoal
Seasonal Produce: Apple, Gravenstein, Avocado, Hass, Beans, Beans, Green, Berries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Grapes, Melons, Onion, Peaches, Pears, Bartlett, Pepper, Bell, Plums, Raspberries, Squash, Summer, Tomatillo, Tomato

September:

Back to School Sales through labor day:  crayons, pencils, folders, binders
Diabetes:  Bayer Glucose Meters, Glucerna Cereal
Seasonal Produce: Apples, Artichokes, Beans, Bell Peppers, Chile Peppers, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Onion, Orange, Valencia, Pears, Asian, Pears, Bartlett, Pomegranate, Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes, Winter Squash

October:

Halloween:  Candy
Beginning of the baking sales:  Canned pumpkin, evap milk, baking chips
National Seafood Month
Adopt a Shelter-Dog Month: Pedigree, Purina
Seasonal Produce: Almonds, Apples, Artichokes, Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Chard, Chestnuts, Cranberries, Lemons, Parsnip, Pears, Pomegranate, Potatoes, Potatoes, Sweet, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Winter, Turnips, Yams

November:

Baking Sales in full swing: nuts, chocolate chips, evap milk, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, cake mixes
Canned foods – soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce
Turkey, canned pumpkin, stovetop stuffing, betty crocker boxed potatoes, gravy mixes, rhodes rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, jello, marshmallows
Seasonal Produce: Anjou Pears, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Carrots, Celery, Comice pears, cranberries, kiwi, lemons, orange, potato, squash, yams
Clearance:  After Halloween sales are the time to stock up on things for the next year.  I like to buy the Halloween candy-alternatives like halloween crayons, erasers, watches, spinning tops, etc.  I mix this in with my next year’s candy bowl and it stretches my loot for all the neighbor kids!

December:

Holiday Dinner:  Egg Nog, Deli Platters, Instant Potatoes, gravy mixes, rhodes rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, jello, marshmallows
Baking: Flour, Sugar, Butter, Cream, Cake mix, Brownie mix, Muffin mix, Breads, Pie Crust, Marshmallow, Whipped cream
Canned foods – soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce
Clearance:  Buy all your Thanksgiving Decorations, extra table settings and turkey carving products now once they’re at least 50% off.

Here is the link to that blog: How to be a coupon Psychic

Chili Lime Shrimp PCOS style

Chili Lime Shrimp - Cooking light

I've served it over a bed of spinach and butter leaf lettuce.  My husbands I served over brown jasmine rice, he needed more sauce to pour over the rice.  I would suggest doubling it to start, and then decide form there if you need more or not. This particular recipe is included in the Fresh Food Fast cooking light cook book.

Cool and Creamy Gelatin Mousse - Metabolism Miracle

Makes 8 1/2 Cup servings

1 (4 serving package) sugar-free Jell-O, your choice of flavor (I've done raspberry, and the picture is the newest lemon flavor)
1 (8oz) container light cream cheese, softened
1/2 Cup light sour cream
1 Cup light whipping cream
2 teaspoons powdered Splenda

In a large bowl, prepare the Jell-O as directed on the box. Refrigerate until almost set but still a little soft, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Beat the gelatin until creamy.
While continuing to beat with a mixer, add the cream cheese and sour cream, and mix thoroughly.
In another bowl, whip together whipping cream and Splenda until peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the gelatin mixture, leaving it with a marbled look - don't keep stirring until it becomes uniform in color. Spoon into dessert dishes and chill for at least 2 hours.

Mandy - my bright and cheery little mother

Mandy is our mother doggie.  She is little and fierce, and the biggest love ever.  Today she made me laugh, which is not unusual but this time it was over rawhide.
I let them out at night just before I go to bed, it gives them one more shot to do their business, and me a little bit of piece of mind.  Tonight instead of coming right in when she was called, she stayed out there.  This is not normal, she usually comes right in and goes straight to her kennel and waits for her treat.  This time though, she just laid out there in the grass.  It took me a bit to see what she was doing, but she was chewing on her rawhide, quite enthusiastically.  Rather than bringing it inside with her, she was torn between coming in and staying out there to chew that piece of rawhide into the ground.

My fur babies like to drag their chew toys outside, but they never bring them back in, ugh.  It seems that I will be picking up after them for ever since they haven't yet learned this little trick.

Wordless Wednesday