Newish photos

I was hunting on my PC for some files and I came across some photos from New Year.

My dog (Sledge) and partner (Greg) with me of course.

My sister in-law Koo, her Husband Dreamy in the back and my bestie Candice and me on the end. 

Oh yeah that head in front is my mother in law's. LOL

My best friend Candice and me, and her old dog who went to a good home.

Mexican Pizza

I'm going to share with you one of my favourite recipes. One week last year my mother in -law (and rest of family) wanted to come over for dinner and have a Mexican night around the outdoor fire. I was thinking what could I make, I already had pizza bases and mince I needed to use. I got a bit creative and ended up with Mexican Pizza. It is very filling and Weight Watchers friendly. 

Ingredients:

	2 large Tip Top Bazaar Pizza Base
	50 g Woolworths Tomato Paste
	500 g extra lean mince
	1 packet Taco seasoning mix  (or cumin and chilli flakes to equate)
	440 g Woolworths Select Beans, canned, drained Red Kidney
	2 tbs (s) Weight Watchers Sour Cream
	1 small fresh avocado
	1/8 whole red capsicum
	1 tsp (s) chilli powder

    Spray oil

    1 small red onion

    dash of water to mix in seasoning mix

	Filling Foods marked by this green diamond.

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees. Heat Non-stick fry pan, (I use my electric frypan) add a spray of the NEW Weight watchers oil spray in pan. Chop finely 1 small red onion add to pan, let brown. Crumble the 500g of mince into the pan and cook until brown. Meanwhile...place pizza bases onto non-stick pizza trays, spread 1/2 of the tomato paste per pizza. While meat is browning mash avocado into a bowl add in 1/8 of a red capsicum finely diced as small as you can get it. Add a dash of chilli powder and mix well. Once meat has browned add in the water to stir through the taco seasoning. Let simmer down until no water is left. Drain the kidney beans while you wait. 

Assembly time... Place 1/2 the meat on one pizza (I spoon it around so it is even) Add kidney beans in the same method, Add cheese sparingly. Cook in oven for 15 minutes. 

Use 1/2 the avocado mix (swirl it around the pizza). Cut the pizza into 8 serves, add dollops of sour cream to each slice (repeat for other pizza.)

 If you don't swirl the avocado around the pizza and dollop it in the middle like I did,

it gets heavy at the end and all the pizza topping slides off.

ENJOY!

Packages Galore!

Morning, (I did start this blog this morning)

Today I got a few packages in the mail.

One especially lovely one from Linda, with lots of goodies from Victoria. 3 Larabars, Organic Apple Cider, Chai Spice Porridge, Greens Organic Dark Chocolate, Blistex and Palmer's Cocoa Butter. Oh and a really nice card too.

Thanks Linda, that was a great giveaway gift.  I will be sure to use it all. :P

Okay; so you don't know about my obsession with silverchair, you are about to find out. For those who have no idea about silverchair they are an Australian band that have been around since 1994. They won a competition on SBS and that sprang them into stardom as 14 year olds. Being the same age I fell in love with the music and not to mention the cute lead singer. So since grade 8 I have had an obsession with silverchair. My obsession has died down now; every sentence no longer is about the music or the band members. I rarely listen to them but still have my membership to their fanclub L.A.S. My car has silverchair related number plates thanks to my loving partner who has put up with silverchair crap for 9 and bit years. I have spent many 1000's of dollars on cds, videos, merchandise, concerts, magazines, posters from age 14-20 something.

I'll run and hide now that you know about my embarrassing obsession.

I got a package today from the L.A.S (Llama Appreciation Society aka silverchair's fanclub)

A laptop bag



A pen, USB and badge were inside the bag.

Anyway more about my day...

This morning I went out with my parents to Robina Town Shopping Centre for Morning Tea. Had a good time chatting and catching up, I see them every Monday Night but it was good to get some alone time with the parents especially as we are all on school holidays. My parents are both School Principals. My Mum is a High School Deputy and my Dad is a Primary School Principal. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. 

Here is some of the great design aspects in Robina.

Here are some items I bought at Big W. More books from the House of Night series, Need by Carrie Jones and some clear screen protectors for my iPhone since my last one was ruined from dropping the phone into the toilet. I finally found the novel Need, I had a sticky note on my desk for over a year now. Borders wanted to charge a bomb for it to be sent from USA. That reading should keep me going for a few weeks; and satisfy my interest in vampire-ology.

All the blogging yesterday and I forgot to tell you about my day.

The morning started off well, 50.6 on the scales. My regular breakfast of Bagel, jam and coffee with vitamins on the side.

I did some gardening, weeded, planted and weed and feed the lawn. This is not something I normally do. I kill all plants even cacti and bonsai. So I bought a self watering pot in case I happen to forget to water them.

I procrastinated about doing the cleaning by blogging... Eventually I got around to doing it. Before I knew it it was time to weigh in at my Weight Watchers meeting. I didn't stay for the meeting (I've only missed two), was 50.6kg at the meeting. On my home scales (naked) I was 50.0 kg, reached my original goal. All by accident of course, this week I've eaten even more points and still lost. I need to shovel more food in to stop loosing and plateau. I have 2 weeks to sort it out. I can't loose any more weight either. The lowest I can go 48kg and then I'm at the limit of my healthy weight range then WW won't weigh me. I don't want to be that weight purposefully anyway. So this week I'm upping my points to 20. 

This afternoon I'm going to relax and read my new magazine: Australian Home Beautiful. (I can't believe how long it has taken me to write this blog today, it must be the headache that has hampered me?)

You've come a long way..baby; 74.4 kg to in the 50's! OH Yeah!

{image from www.extrapounds.com }

I actually started this blog to help me get some motivation and loose those last few nagging kilograms. Thinking back to December/ January of 2008 when I was at my biggest (I don't know actually how much I weighed it could have been more; my doctor weighed me in January at 74.4kg.)  I knew my weight had gone up, I knew I was not happy. My doctor told me you need to loose weight. So initially I just cut down portions. I lost over 10kg.  

I wasn't loosing any more weight even though I was exercising and eating less, My sister in Law was having a wedding in October and this was my goal to be at 50kg by then! I decided to go to Tony Ferguson. I knew in order to be healthy I'd have to learn to like vegetables and this was one way to do it. So on 22nd July 2008 I began a new way of life. Shakes and vegetables no carbs and limited sugar. If I wanted a wine I had to give up a piece of fruit. I lived on this diet being so strict for 9 months. In November 2008, I got to goal. I was onto maintenance and the re-introduction of carbs. I put back on 7.5kg. Enough was enough.  

 

My doctor had originally recommended that I try weight watchers, I finally stopped being stubborn and almost a year to the date (16 July 2009) I started my weightloss journey again.  I look back over the last 39 weeks of weight watchers and I have come a long way. I learnt new recipes, made new friends, learnt to love salad and other so called -icky vegetables. I have tried prawns, bugs, asparagus, eggplant, scallops, tomato, oysters and love all but the oysters. From a girl who ate few vegetables and lived on meat and carbs, hated exercise; I surely have changed not just aesthetically but really changed. I am more confident, self aware, healthy and true to myself. I am accountable for my life and I tend to stay this way.

Challenge 35 from {Blog This!}

Where is your favourite place to read?

My favourite place to read is really anywhere I can get comfortable and be alone and get really engrossed in my book. My favourite place at the moment is curled up in my pink worn lounge. I sit sideways with one knee up and my other leg hangs freely over the side. Yes it is old, dirty, the leather is torn and worn, an ugly shade of pink but it is a comfy couch. My comfy couch, the fact that it is a hand-me-down from Greg's parents shouldn't be forgotten. It was their first new couch way back in the early 90's when pink was the in colour for interiors.

I have no said bookshelf for all my books; they sadly sit in a Sorbent toilet paper box or cupboard waiting for the renovation to happen. I bet they are crying out to be placed on a modern shelf to be displayed for all. 

I wonder what my collection of books say about me? I have a weird and eclectic taste, some of which needs to be given to either charity or my local 2nd hand bookstore. There is the Twilight Series that ALL my students told me to read. Which I thoroughly loved, it reminded me of Romeo and Juliet my favourite Shakespeare Play. There is the University books: Write to Publish, The Writing Book, The Elements of Style and Public Relations. None of these have come to any use at all I have not got my novella published and it sits somewhere in my computer never to see the light of day (due to criticisms of a harsh uni Lecturer). Oh how I wanted to write books and films; pity I am no writer. This box also houses my love for RL Stein and Dolly Fiction, There are classics like White Fang and Hitch-hiker's guide to the galaxy, and Jane Eyre. A few from a couple of my teenage Sophia Kingsley, Jessica Adams and a collections of short stories I fell in love with Confessions of a neo-milkmaid. 

There are a few good books too that must be read; Kite runner and A thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini, and The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, The Persimmon Tree and Fishing for Stars by Bryce Courtenay (still with a bookmark in waiting for me to return). 

For the moment I am engrossed in the House of the Night Series; Yes I know it is a teen novel series I am fully aware I wanted something vampire-ish but wasn't too far off the Twilight Series. I love the characters in this book, I'm in a school daily so it is easy for me to imagine the scenes as I read. The whole vampire thing intrigues me. 

So I pose to you a few questions:

• Where is your favourite place to read?
• What does your book collection say about you?
• When was the last time you were completely engrossed in a book? What was the title of the book? What was it about the book that captured your imagination? 
• If you were to write a book yourself, what would you write about?

{Image and inspiration for this blog comes from Creativity Portal: 365 pictures}

Wednesday- A day for me

Today is a day for me to do what I want. This morning I had a 9am appointment at my hairdresser. I went a little blonder this time. I have a chocolate colour underneath for nearly 2 years now - I needed a change so she is gradually lightening it by putting in some blonde highlights. I feel great; a nice reward for getting to goal weight. In 2 weeks (Week 4 22-04-2010) I will have achieved lifetime with Weight Watchers.

The scales this morning. After all the food I have eaten and lack of exercise I am really surprised at this.

This morning I got back into routine and did "My Workout" on Lifestyle You. Who knew a plea' was such a hard thing to do constantly.

I love how it ends in a Yoga cool down (I'm hopeless at yoga but at least I'm stretching down)



My bagel with raspberry jam and a cup of coffee (multivitamins on the side)

Things Tuesday

Today I found in the BIG W catalogue some books I've been reading. I might go buy them tomorrow and sit in a coffee shop and watch the world go by.

I have wanted this book (need by Carrie Jones) for so long, it was going to cost me $40 to have it shipped via USA with Borders.

My pinkLilly items came today too. My 2nd TVSN purchase.

What do you do to make your life a little happier?

This question was posed today by Chantelle {fat mum slim}. 
To make my life happier, I like to take some time for myself. I like to read, go window shopping, go for a run or walk. I like to generally take some time out to be by myself and review and re-connect. Sometimes depending on my mood (not today) I clean.  Every room top to bottom. A nice smelling and clean house is inviting. There is nothing like having a fridge full of yummy and healthy food too. 

Check out what makes Chantelle {fat mum slim} happy 

Easter Long weekend

This weekend has been pretty eventful, until today.

Friday

Well Thursday 1st April is Greg's Nana's 81st Birthday, so we had a seafood lunch for her on Friday as the rest of the family attended a wedding on Thursday. 

The food was awesome and we all ate way too much we all skipped dinner.

Greg's father and his newest dog Echo (nicknamed terror as she is never still and gets into everything.) Yes, their backyard is a construction site due to Greg building their deck through his boss.

My brother in law Dreamy trying to pull out a grass clod; you should know he is Canadian. He spent at least 10 minutes trying to pull it out muttering about if this was Canadian grass...

Saturday

Greg, his uncle Phil and I went for a ride at Daisy hill early in the morning, we found a great little trail which I hope we will ride more often. Did 3 laps which was just over 12km. Not my best riding I did a few silly things but still had fun! An impromptu fire and nibblies in our backyard. Greg decided to light the paint tin filled with citronella, we then sang 'flame trees' to his mum when she arrived.  I only had one drink of the night BRAVO to me! but way too much food.

Sunday

Up early for a swim at the beach, I opted to go for a run from Burleigh from one Headland to the other. Approx 4km run. A huge breakfast at home which consisted of many hot X buns. The boys went to golf and the girls and dogs chilled out to two movies: Time Travellers Wife (freakishly weird and creepy not the romantic it was supposed to be) and Coco Chanel (the story of Coco Chanel; a bit slow to start was more about her life than the fashion which was disappointing) 

Greg was home late from Golf and we didn't get to my parents until nearly 7pm. A nice BBQ dinner with lots of salad and a decent cut of steak this time. I skipped apple crumble as I was already over my points for the day. 

Monday

Slept in today, got up and watched a couple of movies on pay TV, ate breakfast and hung out the washing; nothing too great today. Greg has his mate Nick over who annoys me somewhat, so I'm currently looking at design blogs, and my usual Sims 3 things. (I know but I'm addicted to the little beings). I also write for an online magazine and newsletter with the sims.  I know geeky but that's me all over. NERD!

I might get more of my novel read I'm onto the 2nd book of the series now.

Have a good weekend.