Too Cute

Just what I needed: another TV series to fall in love with or with which to fall in love?  A couple of weekends ago, Rat Mom treated me to a concert and not just any concert.....HEART~ Ann and Nancy Wilson!  They still rock.  And not just anywhere either....A CASINO!!!!!  We had a great time and it was during a down time that she found a TV show on Animal Planet (what other channel would a girl who already has a dog buys a rat and has names picked out for her next dog, horse, goat, and donkey...and those are just the animals and names she has told me??!!).  Animal Planet has a delightful show named "Too Cute" and it is. (Don't worry Mom, I'm not planning to use anymore birthday, anniversary, Christmas, or "just because" money on another pet.  I've learned my lesson with Garbage Gut!)  Beware if you dare to watch this cute cuddly program;  I guarantee you will start dreaming about kittens and puppies.  My mama always warned me that cute little kittens and cuddly little puppies would soon grow up to be cats and dogs.  I can definitely attest to that.  Kitzilla only wants to be snuggled with Garbage Gut.. I have enough photos to prove it!  I watch that program and want to snuggle with all my animals and let me tell you one of them stinks.  I tried grabbing Kitzilla and she meowed and bolted.  I guess she doesn't like to be grabbed from behind and squeezed.  Who knew?

I'm also enjoying another program: Cupcake Wars.  It is just as cute and cuddly as "Too Cute."  Some of the concoctions these bakers come up with is hysterical.  Jalapenos and pineapple...in a cupcake???  But the judges love it and on to Round Two for that Chef.  I am getting to be the Ultimate Couch Potato flipping through Dancing with the Stars (were we really surprised she got voted off?) to Chopped to Animal Planet to PBS.  Yikes..stop...get off the couch and move, Strawberry!  Even Hubby (the truly Ultimate Channel Surfer) got fed up with it and went to the bedroom to read a book.  Ha ha ha, she laughs evilly; now he knows how I felt all those many years ago when I witnessed his sports channel surfer while sprinting to the radio for those events NOT on TV and then back to the TV.  Now that's what I call a sport!

As far as the casino goes, let's just say, they didn't earn enough to pay a light bulb between the two of us.  I lost $1.97 out of my $2.00 limit and Rat Mom lost $1.85 out of her $2.00 limit.  I'm so...sniff sniff....proud.  Although I might have to start playing the slot machine to earn a little extra to pay for The Cooking Channel.  I hear they have some good programs too....like Losing 5 pounds with Good Housekeeping!  I'm gonna need that show if I don't get off the couch.

Spring Cleaning

It hit me this past weekend- that nesting feeling or rather that clean up the nest feeling.  I spent all day Saturday baking.  I helped host a bridal shower on Sunday so Saturday I spent all my day in the kitchen...cooking and cleaning the dishes and pans and counter tops.  I've decided that's a good way to clean the kitchen~ cook!  My refrigerator desperately needed cleaning but frankly I just didn't have the energy after cooking all day.    I did clean it out a little by using some items for my recipes.  That counts as cleaning, right?

I finally used that puff pastry that had been taking up residence in the freezer for who knows how long.

Yummy pizza using puff pastry

One side: just cheese please; other side: contents of fridge~  Yum!

 Every time I opened that fridge door, an onion smell wafted out and I kept noticing the strawberry jam (or what seemed to be strawberry jam!) at the bottom of the inside of the door.  I can't tell you how many science projects were molding in there.  It seemed someone spilled something and didn't clean it up and we kept ignoring it.  On Sunday I was geared up with plastic gloves and hot soapy water and a sponge.  I took out shelves and bins and cleaned that sucker from top to bottom.

sparkly clean happy fridge

Tomorrow I start on the bottom cabinet--you know the one that houses ALL the plastic containers and lids!!!!  Yikes...what a mess.  It is definitely "spring" at the strawberry patch; I'm springing into action.  What to join me?

Friday Morning!

Gosh, where did my week go?  Oh yeah, now I know....work!  Part of my job is taking care of the bank's safe deposit boxes and this was spring cleaning week...not the contents in the boxes themselves, mind you...it wouldn't be a "safe" deposit box if I could get in them and clean them for you.  Sidebar:  you wouldn't believe how many people think we have an extra key at the bank of your safe deposit box.  The reason it is safe is because YOU are the only one who has a key to your box.  If you lose your key, you have to come to the bank while we get it drilled open and it ain't cheap.  Just ask the 3 customers who lost their key and had to pay almost $150.00 to drill.  Ouch!  Okay, I'm done with the sidebar.  So I spent my last 2 days going through the available boxes...matching keys to the available box...making note if we didn't have a key to a box and WE'D have to drill and pay the price, etc. etc.  Doesn't sound hard, right?  It wasn't except for the fact that the boxes are high enough and low enough that I was getting some exercise in there.  Try doing the crab walk along the floor of one of your rooms or walking around the perimeter with your arms above your head-- I did this from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. except for my 45 minute lunch "hour."  Can you say extremely out of shape strawberry?  I hurt; I'm walking like my legs are non-bendable tree trunks.  I thought I needed to go in for a mammogram because my boobs hurt- lifting my arms, remember?  Last night was bowling night and this morning I thought I'd need a crane to hoist me out of bed.  Ohhhh,  oooooohhhhh.....boo hoo.  I'm contemplating purchasing one of those chairs that lift you up and out!

On the brighter side, look what was waving at me this morning....

Hope you have a wonderful day and perfect weekend.  The weather here in Rural, USA is supposed to be fantastic!

Do you believe?

Last Friday a rather odd thing happened to one of the tellers at the bank.  She was handling a customer's transaction when all of the sudden 5 lollipops in her candy basket flew at her.  We have it on tape!  She is convinced a ghost threw them at her.  It is hard to tell on the tape what exactly happened but I can tell you no human touched those lollipops.  Ha...strange, right?

I must admit, I love drama but I'm kinda getting tired of THIS drama and so are some of the other co-workers.  A few of us don't believe in ghosts.  I mean, really, we are talking about a bank.  What paranormal thing would go after lollipops when there is a whole vault full of money?  Not to mention the HUGE vault door.  I mean if you want to scare the hell out of us, why not slam that vault door closed?  Now that would get my attention.  Lollipops...pffff.

Our conversation about ghosts got us talking about angels.  It's all kind of funny that this is happening now.  This past week (before the ghost incident which I will refer to as BTGI) I got a hankering to watch Jodie Foster in Contact..you know the movie discussing life on other planets.  Coincidence?

What about you?  What do you believe?

Rainy days and Mondays

I'm really hoping it isn't going to be one of "those" days, but it looks like it will be.  I gained a little bit over the weekend.  I'm a little blue because the college kiddos went back to school.  It's raining here in Rural, USA AND it's a Monday!  The dogs are wet and and one of them jumped in my chair (I just found that out!).  I dropped the veggie spray and it's one of those new sprayers so the nozzle cracked and I sprayed veggie spray all over the pan, the stovetop, and myself.  Yep, I've got a blue heart, a wet butt and a sticky chest and belly.  This truly is a day to sing that old Carpenter song.  I could let it "get me down" and take everyone and everything with me, but I'm not gonna.

I had a fantastic time with the college kiddos.  Rat Mom and I went to the Heart concert at the Winstar Casino.  Every time the family drives back from South Texas I want to go in and see the place-- now I have!  The rain will give the plants some much needed nourishment.  The veggie spray didn't cost that much so if I need to replace it, I'll replace it.  My butt will dry, I can change my shirt, so my Monday morning smile will not turn to a frown-- I will not bark at my co-workers and anyone else who happens into my path.  They had nothing to do with my sticky/ messy start of a morning.  I can get back on my diet plan today and relish the good moments and memories I had with my kiddos.

So how's your Monday morning?  I'm hoping you were off to a better start!

Where's the Beef?

I apologize to my grainiveg friends but I was craving beef this morning; sort of like one craves pancakes for dinner.  So I'm writing this blog while enjoying a hamburger patty with cheese and sour cream and salsa!  Crazy breakfast, I know.  I think I'll have to do a backwards day today.  Dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner.  Today is also Boss' birthday and everyone at the bank is bringing food.  The last email I received B was bringing a chocolate sheet cake and a huge crockpot full of queso con carne and M was bringing the Tostitos!  I decided right away to bring a veggie plate; now all I have to do is wash and cut the veggies and this strawberry will be good to go.  Willpower....willpower....willpower....I sit right next to the food station at work.  Yesterday I ignored the left-over pizza and pizza desserts!  Good grief...who knew working was so detrimental to your health!!!  It has taken a while to get off some weight but there have been some changes along the way and not just my attitude.

Here's what I noticed just this morning:

• I can stand and see my feet (something I hadn't been able to do in awhile)

• The normal-sized bath towel can fit around me (something it hadn't been able to do in awhile)

• Several items in my closet are not only fitting but loose! (can I hear an "amen?")

•  Several people have noticed and commented on the weight loss (one seemed almost timid to ask about it; aren't we funny that way?)

Something else happened yesterday.  I was told I'm beautiful on the inside and out. I haven't heard that in awhile and it felt good to hear.  She went on to say that we get so caught up in our looks and our weight and our beauty has nothing to do with it.  But how many times have we lost weight only to hear "You are so beautiful!"???  As if our beauty is connected to our weight.  Those of us on this weight loss journey need to remember to tell others "you are beautiful" no matter what their size.  Just as the house is NOT an extension of the woman (that's a different post topic for another day!), we should not be defined by our size.

YOU are beautiful on the inside AND out.  Now go and spread the good news.

One Day at a Time

There is an old gospel song with that very title and I can claim it as my own today.  Yesterday I had a fantastic sticking- to- program day.  I planned out my meals and ate them and nothing more.  Oh yes, I've planned meals before and then ate what I'd planned AND the rest of the refrigerator.  Not yesterday.  I was a good strawberry.  Today is a new day.  It is not complete so I'll save the hip hip hooray for tomorrow. 

I did make out a meal plan last night before the "zzzzzz"s began buzzing...(can we just do away with daylight savings???  PLEASE!!).   This morning I packed my lunch and ate my planned breakfast.  My tote for work is ready and make-up and hair done...I'm even dressed to my shoes! 

I really dislike having to think about food so much, you know?  I tried letting those early months of eating right and losing weight take over but my "old" self came back.  I was making unhealthy choices....like "what can one ice cream sandwich a night hurt?"  Plenty, I've now found out!  That wasn't the only thing I was eating! One ice cream sandwich invited a bag of popcorn to the party and pretty soon I was making homemade bread (and you know me and bread) and the pantry party continued.  I'm not able to go against my grain on auto-pilot yet.  I think it will take more than 3 months of working at it.  For now, Grainiacs, you're stuck with me taking it one day at a time...for how long?  God only knows.  But I will try to discuss other topics, like maybe the weather.  It is beautiful here in Rural, USA.  I wish I could walk to work but I'd have to start out an hour early and I'm just not up to that....yet!