Putting it out there

My weight that is. I figure if I post it here where someone may see it I will be held accountable in some way and more motivated to lose. So my start weight was 152, and after a week I am now 148. Now, I am not so concerned with the pounds as I am with the way I look and feel but seeing a change is nice. I am walking around the neighborhood more and we just bought an old cruiser bike that I love and want to bike all the time. Well, just a couple miles a day to be honest. But it's a start!

So I started tracking points ala Weight Watchers on my own, I haven't joined Weight Watchers. I used this formula if you are interested to do it at home also.

Weight Watchers Points Formula

1. Are you
female?- score 2
Male?- score 8
A nursing mom?- score 12

2. How old are you?
17-26- score 4
27-37- score 3
38-47- score 2
48-58- score 1
over 58- score 0

3.What do you weigh?
Enter the first two digits of your weight in pounds.
(for example, if you weight 199, you will add 19 to your score)

4. How tall are you?
Under 5’1- score 0
5’1-5’10- score 1
Over 5’10- score 2

5. How do you spend most of your day?
Sitting down? score 0
Occasionally sitting? score 2
Walking most of the time? score 4
Doing physically hard work most of the time? score 6

Now add them all together and that’s your daily total. 

My total is now 22, down from 23 a week ago. Now I am not giving myself the 35 flex points that WW does, or deducting points for exercise, so I am not the best example. Something is better than nothing though, right? 

I also am using the Calorie Counter by Fat Secret application on my phone which calculates points for me and has a super cool barcode scanner to scan everything I eat. I am pretty obsessed with this application these days, but I am enjoying it! In addition to this I am using another application, Cardio Trainer, which calculates my distance walked (or ran/ biked) and wil even upload that to Facebook if you like. Just another reason why I love my new phone. 

Silverware / butter knife garden markers

With garden season fast approaching, I am highly anticipating my first time growing my own food. I am optimistic that I can do it. But being the crafty gal I pride myself in being, I need to make it cute too. So I have been buying any gnome I can at the thrift stores (most of which appear to be having an identity crisis with ruby red lips). In addition to buying gnomes at Goodwill I pick up butter knives that speak to me. Why? To use as super thrifty and cute garden markers! How great are these?

Here are some of the knives that I picked up, notice how they each have a space on top open for the stamps?

Notice my old marker in my cucumbers? Yes, it's a football cupcake topper!

A better close-up of my bell pepper garden marker, isn't it pretty?

So, you want to make your own? Here is how.

Materials

Butter knives from a thrift store- my Goodwill has them for 10 cents each
(forks and spoons can be used also)
1/8 inch metal letter stamp set- I got mine from Harbor Freight for $4.99
a hammer

Next you just stamp each letter into your knife. And when I say "stamp", I mean pound the crap out of it. You need to really give it some muscle. Buy extra knives and use one or two as practice. Try doing this on a concrete surface covered with a towel or on your back patio. It is loud!

That's it! Easy, right?

Melissa's cream cheese potato soup

This is some serious good soup. I have been trying to replicate Grand Luxe's creamy chicken mushroom soup for a while now, and I think I am nearly there.

This is what I have so far. You can add chicken, shredded carrots, mushrooms, and peas if you like. I made this plain with just potatoes and it was SO good. So I will leave you with the plain recipe until the other is perfected.

Melissa's cream cheese potato soup:

- 4 c water and 4 tsp chicken bouillon seasoning. Or just 4 cups chicken broth. I like the seasoning best, because it is cheaper:)
- 4 c potatoes (peeled), this is roughly 4 med/ large potatoes.
- 1 8oz pack of cream cheese, I use the light cream cheese.

The following is to taste, or 1/4 tsp - 1/2 tsp each
- season salt
- ground red pepper
- ground black pepper

Boil your broth and potatoes until tender.

Add cream cheese and stir until melted.

Break up a few of your potatoes with a fork or masher.

Serve topped with bacon and cheese if you like, but I loved it plain.

My bucket list...thus far.

As I approach the ripe old age of 33 I figured I may as well start writing down some things that I would love to do. Thing is I don't like the name "Bucket List". So maybe it will be my Life Tote, or Living Pail, or how about Satchel Tally? Ok, I am way off with that last one, so I am open to suggestions:)

Anyway, here is my first draft.

Oh, and this is great fun. I encourage you to put this on your own blog, or post some of yours in the comments section!

Highway 127 Yard Sale

Austin TX Bat Bridge

and
Carlsbad Caverns bat viewing

Fall in New England (and hopefully see some covered bridges like this to check another off my list)

Mt Rushmore

Own an old house, one that is like a member of the family, not just a place we sleep. Something with character.

Go to Europe...see it all. We will start with castles in England.

Raise chickens

See a Broadway show in New York.

Have Christmas in a log cabin with all of my family. Wood burning stove is not an option.

Go on a ghost tour and hopefully see a ghost.

Make out with Dave Matthews, or at least have him declare his true love to me.