Herbed Whole Wheat Breadsticks

As mentioned previously, D and I love to find our favorite foods and make them healthy. Case in point bread sticks. I think the discussion about this one came while wishing we had some Papa John's Breadsticks with the cheese sauce, in which my mouth is salivating just thinking about it! ANYWAY! A couple of weeks ago we had a few snow days so I decided to try my hand at baking. These turned out GREAT! The link is below. I have actually made these twice and the second time we got some nacho cheese sauce and it was pretty darn close to Papa's! I do have one pre-requisite though....there must be plenty of WINE!!! However, notice there is a bottle of vitamin water too :)

http://http//www.bhg.com/recipe/yeast-breads/herbed-cheese-whole-wheat-breadsticks/

If it weren't for him there wouldn't be any Little Britches....

Let me start this post by saying Happy Valentine's Day! And well since it is the day you are suppose to declare your love I guess I will join in the festivities! I must say that D- (you all know who that is) is the reason for Little Britches....both figuritivly and literally!

When we met, which is a whole 'nother post or two in itself, I hadn't quite reached my heaviest weight but I was gaining (HA!) close to it. About 8 months into our relationship, I had stepped on the scale and was in shock, I mean my drivers license said I was 165 lbs so I couldn't possibly weigh 247 right?! I worked up the courage to ask him for some help and I was extremely nervous, like I said before, what was I suppose to say to my new man....I'm fat and I need your help? But that's exactly what I said and exactly what he did! He has stuck by me through THICK and THIN (too funny), gave me the extra push and support that I have needed through out this 4 year journey. I will admit, I haven't always appreciated his extra zest for pushing me, but it has proven that it worked! I love him for his quirky eating habits....although not everyone does (You all know who you are! LOL). I love the fact that we now try to find healthy options for our favorite dishes..(will post some later) and that we are passing on good habits to our Dellaney.

And finally I love him as a father of our little girl. As the title of this post suggests....If it weren't for him there wouldn't be any Little Britches ;)

The many adventures of Little Britches!

Della a.k.a. Little Britches is getting bigger everyday! She's 2 going on 20! Some of the things she says and does just makes us giggle! I promise to post more as time goes on. Here's an updated picture of us clowning around!

I'm back!!!

Alright, so sue me, it's been a while...(more like MONTHS) since my last entry. However, I am happy to report that I have lost more weight! We had a biggest loser contest here at work and I came in second to a fierce competitor! I even tried to sabotage her efforts, not very nice I know!

I am now a close 10 pounds (really 11.5 pounds but I like to round down) away from 100 pounds!! I can't believe it! It's been a very long journey and even as I type I am craving some chocolate!

Friends....You know...the good kind.

This past weekend, I got to spend a lot of time with my best friend Sue. While I email her almost every day, we don't always get to see each other very often. I could give excuses why, but they would be just that, excuses.

But this weekend reminded me just how good of a friend she is, and I don't say this to embarress her or trivialize our friendship. She is just an awesome friend. I know she has been a great friend to me, but I also see it in how she is with other friends too. I love how we can get together after not seeing each other for awhile and not miss a beat. I also love how she calls me out when I do something stupid (never happens right?). You know...the kinda friend who won't sugar coat things, the kinda friend who's brutally honest, the one you can tell you've crapped your pants too (not that that has ever happened). That kind of friend.

I found this picture of Sue and I, where I'm holding her daughter Elly. I teared up. (Sue would automatically ask "Steph, are you pregnant?" NO!) It made me realize that I am very lucky to have a friend to celebrate our special moments with. Or at the very least we have someone who can sympathize that we're up to our elbows in poop!

Me, Sue and Elly...

Please don't kill me for posting this, please see the sentimental value of the picture an not the fact that it's you in a hospital gown, hours after birthing your first child.

Purdue vs. ND...Can't wait!!!

I'm anxiously awaiting this weekend's Purdue vs. ND game in South Bend for a couple of reasons, 1. It's always a great tailgate: my family, although Irish fans, and I have viewed this game as our one great fall get together to eat, drink, and be merry. 2. D and I will be attending this weekend without our beloved Little Britches. We both decided it might be best to leave her with Nana and Papa this trip! BRING ON THE PARTY!

I say that because it's been a long summer and we both are looking forward to having our own time together. Plus, it would be great if Purdue could pull off a victory in the Bend. I have A LOT of friends that I get to see and catch up with this weekend too so that will be fun too. Don't worry, I will post pictures....at least the ones I can! LOL!

My sister Amy & D tailgating many years ago, pre-children!

My sister Amy, niece Abby with Elly and Sue. WOW! Both of those kids have gotten so big! Plus both mommies either have a second one or one on the way!

Long time no Blog...

I realize it has been awhile since I've had the chance to blog, what can I say it was an extremely busy August. And it's over today. My little britches turned 2 on the 21st, which I might add, took all of my spare time because I was busy with creating fun things like yo gabba gabba visors, and goodie bags. We (okay I) went a tad overboard with the theme of her party, but we (again, I) had a lot of fun creating fun things to give to the kids. So I was a bit busy in August with work and planning for a 2 year old party that was way out of control. Wait until she's 16!

Della sporting her "Foofa" inspired visor. I made one for each of the characters on the show. Martha who??

These were the goodie bags that I put the visors in, along with candy and all the other crap people give Della in their goodie bags! You know like a ton of candy! LOL!

These were boom boxes that I cut out and pasted on animal cracker boxes. All we needed was DJ Lance Rock to show up!

Dining with Darrel

The hubby and I have started Tuesday lunch dates. Every Tuesday we meet for lunch, sans little britches, for a tasty lunch. The catch is we have to pick a place that we haven't been to before with each other, for example...last week he took me to Red Lobster and the week before that we met at Jane's Deli, which was basically a lot of old ladies having lunch with their gossip friends. It's just a nice way for us to relax and grab a bite without the hustle and bustle of the real world. That is until I ask for money! LOL! I have realized today though that when I dine with Darrel during lunch it's quick, we're in and we're out c'mon it's not like we have wine to sip on! Today it took a whole 35 minutes! I have to laugh because when I'm with my work buddies, we are hurry back to make it in an hour!

Whether it's 5 minutes or 35 minutes, I'm happy we take the time during our work week to meet each other and spend that time together! Glad I have until next week to pick a new place, Lafayette isn't that big.

I don't roll on Shabbos!

Let me begin this post by saying that in my humble opinion, The Big Lebowski is one of the greatest movies ever made!

So when my good friends The Ware's said Della and I could invade their family time and go bowling with them Sunday afternoon we went for it. Besides it wasn't Shomer Shabbos and I'm not Jewish so we're alright! I'm not even sure I can accurately describe our outing. Most importantly it was so great to catch up with Sue, motherhood has severely disabled our ability to gossip! Nonetheless, it was a great chance for us and our girls to hangout.

As you can see, Della looks fabulous sporting her fashionable bowling shoes, yes I made them spray the insides before I put them on her.

It's our first time to roll. We walk up, get our ball and put it down on the lane. I explain to my young patawan that we roll the ball down the lane and knock over the pins at the end of the lane. Triumph! She rolls the ball, which things were looking good at this point...rolling slow but straight, pretty sure it was gonna be a strike, all of a sudden she darts down the alley chasing the bowling ball! She slips, falls...I freak out and run after her. What happens next can only be described as the Greatest Spectacle in Bowling or at least the greatest spectacle! In my attempt to rescue my kiddo, I slip and fall right on my arse! And hard too. Of course my best friends would never laugh at me, yeah right and came to rescue us both. So now I have a sore butt and a crying kid, who's now afraid to bowl. I didn't get a chance to see what we bowled that frame though...bummer.

As the afternoon went on, Della found some courage to try rolling the ball again and all was well. And I will be fine too....my chiropractor says I have whiplash and I need to ice for a few days. Whiplash from bowling! I thought it was a non-contact sport.

Elliptical: Friend or Foe?

I have a love/hate relationship with an exercise machine. After Della was born I found it incredibly hard to make it to the gym everyday. So first we bought a treadmill, but then I remembered that I don't like to run. Thankfully, MC Sports let us return it for a shinny new elliptical. D liked to joke with his friends that it was a dust collector but he knows better.

Here's the deal though. I love that's it's convenient, it's here when I can't make it to a class at Newtone, but....I hate that it's convenient and here at home because I can't use it as an excuse. Case in point; I had an extremely busy work schedule for the past two days and one of my work-out buddies decided she wasn't going to RPM tonight either. GREAT! I can relax! But then when I got home and my wonderful piece of machinery was glaring at me, I went ahead and worked out.

Some people would say, don't you feel better. No not really. Aren't you glad you went ahead and didn't give up? Nope, I missed some quality Real Housewives of New Jersey watching time! But it's over with and I'm exhausted. If I'm quiet enough I can hear my sweat-inducing, calf burning, very small functioning fan, PRO-FORM Elliptical mocking me in a victorious cackle.

Walk n Roll!

Maybe the heat is getting to me? It's been extremely hot here in Lafayette, however I have decided to do something that I have never done before. Run a 5K. People who really know me are probably reading this saying WHAT? That's because I hate to run. No seriously, I don't run. Or as I like to say, I don't know how to run.

Well, I know how to run....just not fast. In fact, I'm darn near close to the slowest runner on our co-ed softball team (Just to be sure, I think we should race to see who is exactly the slowest, yet I'm pretty sure they don't give you a medal for the slowest base runner).

My friend tried to talk me into a sprint triathlon but I really didn't have time to train. Besides I better do baby steps and I think this 5K to benefit the Wabash Center is the perfect way to start. Besides, it's not until the end of October so I downloaded a How to run a 5k. Appropriately titled Couch to 5K. I'm not exactly coming from the couch so I feel like I have a jumpstart! I just hope to cross the finish line! Oh and still breathe!

The Dreaded Candy Jar

As I continue my quest for smaller pants, I notice from time to time the little things that can put the breaks on my weight loss goals. Case in point...the dreaded candy jar.

If you can see there is a nice note on the jar, stating that the candy fairy is here to quell your sweet tooth, or teeth...32 exactly if you are like me. The note goes on to read to help yourself if you should need a piece-s. This is the problem! It's hard to stop at just one. So I have tried not to have any and for the most part it works. That was until the candy fairy added to her stash!

See the twix. My favorite, nevermind I said the same thing when she added the snickers! Here's the sad part too. To visit the said candy jar, it's across the cubicle farm, so I have to walk across the room to get just one morsel of chocalate, it's burning calories right?

I think I will write a note back to the candy fairy and ask her to fill the jar with carrots. But then I wouldn't be burning all those calories to walk across the room to sneak into the jar! I'm doomed!

Who says Della looks like her Daddy?

Over the weekend I had found an old picture of my sister and I when we were younger, and I couldn't help but see Della staring right back at me! So when Dellaney was born and for a good portion of her little life, all I have heard is BOY SHE LOOKS LIKE HER DADDY! Well as you can see from the side by side image, she does take after her momma a little bit.

It's Fry Day!

Yes it's Friday! Finally...and I really did not want to work out tonight but so glad I did. It was a killer challenge class at RPM but it's done and over with. So since it's fry-day and I was working out late Little Britches herself, (Della..not me) was treated to the golden arches! She was so funny! She had her first cheeseburger happy meal, which she's only ever had the nuggets meal. I swear it was torture to have piping hot french fries in the car and not sneak one. I didn't...but boy did I want too. I must say, I feel great because I didn't. Nor did I scour the bag for the left behind ones. So Mickey D's I will no longer treat myself to your wonderfully delicious cheeseburgers or fabulously salty and chewey deep fried potatoes, but man they did smell really good. I mean really good. Mouth watering. Going to have my salad now and sulk. Tomorrows another day!

How Did I Get Here?

So I figure I need to give you some context to some of these postings, a back story if you will. I'll try to make it brief but it is a great story. At least I think it is. Born and raised in Indiana, I have always been a heavy girl. From my childhood days I was always the "chubbiest" in my class. Fast forward through highschool, college, and early twenties, the weight never went away. I kept gaining. I tried (I'm laughing at myself saying tried because I really didn't try) everything. The Grapefruit Diet, Special K diet, cutting out fast food, I even joined in college Rosie's Chub Club! I remember we were the boilermaker babes or something like that?

Eating...the most delicious hot dog in Maine!

Radio Daze...Me, Michelle Branch and an old PD

By the time I was 27, I reached my heaviest...(I will work the nerve to post it). At this point in my life, I had met D, we had been seeing each other for about 8 months or so and I knew he was into fitness and ate well. But what was I suppose to say to my new boyfriend...I'm fat and I need your help? Well that's exactly what I did. The first 20 pounds came off easy, let's be honest, when you weight 247 (wow...I can't believe I typed it) 20 pounds is nothing. I worked out 5 to 6 days a week, watched what I ate, I was very disiplined. In a year in a half I had lost 61 pounds and was in love!

Then I got pregnant. Yep, got pregnant and gained about 43 pounds during my pregnancy. But I also then had this wonderful fabulous little creature to call my own. Slowly, and I mean slowly, hey it takes 9 months to put it on and at least 9 months to take it off, I lost all of the pregnancy weight and then some. So all together I have lost 78.2 pounds (if you want to be technical), since my journey has begun. It's tough though. It is not easy and now having a little one it's even tougher. The eating part is fine....okay still tough but doable most days, but the working out part is harder. Before Della, I could hop in the car go to the gym for an hour everynight afterwork and not blink an eye. Now, after she's been in daycare all day it's tough to take her to the gym. But we bought an elliptical and I still try to make it to the gym at least 3 days a week, more on that to come too.

So I thought you just needed to know where I started. In other words, How Did I Get Here.

My first post!

So I have decided to start a blog! Why not? What do I have to lose? Creating this blog will allow me to write freely about my journey as a mother and my quest to lose weight. And ohh what a journey it is. I came up with Little Britches, as 1. That's our (D and I, more on him to come I'm sure) nickname for our almost 2 year old daughter Dellaney and 2. I want to lose more weight to fit into smaller pants! Then again, who doesn't want to fit into smaller clothes? So I hope you enjoy reading my inner dialouge and pictures that I plan to post from time to time. So bare with me as I am new to the whole blogging thing...can't be that hard?

Here's a picture of Little Britches...aka Dellaney Mae. She's awesome. Nuff said.