Mmm...mmmm Good!

Since entering on my weight lose journey I have been trying LOTS of new recipes! Some have been just okay, and others have been really good. This one was a really good one! I got the recipe from brown paper packages. Which by the way also has some GREAT projects to do as well. I have found quite a few from her. This was really delicious and good for you too! Even my kids liked it!! Here is the recipe:

Black Bean & Salsa Chicken

1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained

1 lb fresh salsa

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

I used frozen chicken breasts which worked great!! Add the chicken to the bottom of your crock pot, then pour the salsa and beans on top. (I think fresh salsa is the best, she advises it too!) Then cook on high for 4-5 hours or until chicken is fork tender. Using two forks shread the meet into bite-size pieces.

To Serve:

1. To make nachos just layer the meat mixture over your chips. Then add any topping you like, such as tomatoes, onions, shredded cheese, and sour cream. You can even add guacamole if you want. (I didn't too many points!! I also used low-fat cheese and fat free sour cream) 2. Another option is to make some yummy tacos!! Add meat mixture to a warmed tortilla, top with delicious toppings of choice and enjoy!

I myself made the nachos, and altogether with my toppings was about 12 points for my dinner. It was so worth it. I even enjoyed eating it the next day plain! I hope you enjoy this as much as my family did, and my kids don't like black beans....I got multiple groans!!!

On My Way to Change

3 weeks ago I started on the long journey to finally lose weight. I started this last year by working out and trying to eat healthy, but it just didn't cut it and once summer came it all went by the wayside.

This year I have vowed it will be different, I will lose the weight, eat healthier, and be a healthier person. I have to not only for myself, but for my kids.

I know all to well the effects of heart dieaseae and diabetes can have on a person. I watched my mom have quadruple bypass surgery, her crodic artery cleared, have a stint placed, go through kidney issues finally leading to dialysis, leg amutations, and finally all this had taken its toll. Her body gave in...and she was gone. At 65...I never in a million years thought that this would happen to my mom and especially so young. I don't want my kids to have to go through what I did, it was hard, it was sad.

So 3 weeks ago I started a journey. A journey to look better, feel better, eat better and move more. I am doing Weight Watchers, and am really lucky to have some AWESOME friends and even some family that are also doing it! It is such a great support system, and it helps me to feel confident that I CAN do this!

I have had my ups and downs and definitely some temptations...especially Aunt Marcia cookies (if you don't know she makes the BEST chocolate chip cookies on the planet!!)'

Today I am proud to say I am down 7.2lbs!! It may not seem like much, but really it is a huge step on a lifestyle and all around life change!!

Ready...Set...Race

Tonight was Emmah's Derby Car Race for GEMS at church. They work for about 3-4 weeks on their cars, designing them, painting, adding the wheels and all the final details. This all culminates at the Derby Car Race.


This is Emmah's Rainbow Racer:

She was very proud of how it turned out and couldn't wait to race it! Once the racing started it was full of excitement....and then you have to wait for all 43 races to get done (sense my boredom??) I love to watch them, but I was done after about 18 races, and so was Jake! Emmah's car didn't do so well, and she was a little upset, she was hoping to win The Most Fuel Efficient....if you can believe it their were others that were more "fuel efficient" (okay slow!!)

We are very proud of her hard work and how creative she got with her design, as for bringing home a trophy...that will have to wait til next year!

Running in Circles

Does anyone else ever feel like they are running in circles??? I feel like that all the time...it is so frustrating.

I feel like ever other mom on the planet who repeats themselves so many times they feel like it is the only thing they ever say. I feel like I always have piles of laundry, and projects that need to be completed.

Now, don't get me wrong I know that I am not the only one who feels this way or has this problem, but man it is so frustrating!Okay, on to better things!

A little behind the times, but here are a couple of photos from Jake's Celebration of Learning at school. It was really cute and he did a great job!

Craft To Do's

I have a long list of craft to do's and just can't seem to get anywhere with them. I have been so excited to make a few items. Here are my top few...some of these will be for my list of goals for the month, so lets hope I get to them!

1. Pottery Barn wall art

2. Silhouette Wall art, this is for my living room wall! I'll share that project later! I plan to do mine a little larger...maybe 8x10.

3. Ruffled Dishtowels, who doesn't want fun dishtowels!! This could get interesting!

Okay I am stopping here...but let me tell you there are so many more!! I hope to be able to get some of these done.

The Good, The Bad & The Angry

The Good:

• We are seeking help and are hopeful that we are headed in the right direction.
• Emmah has great days at school where she works hard and makes great choices.
• Our family and friends are a great support asking and checking on us and on our progress, offering hugs, words of encouragement, and offering to help.
• We have gotten to have some fun family moments lately, even if they are few and far between.
• Health, overall we are healthy, just seeking some help.

The Bad:

• Emmah has rough days at school
• Sometimes at home behavior isn't always what we hope it will be.
• The time between appointments is going to challenge us, but we must wait.
• Our family time is sometimes compromised, and plans must change.

The Angry:

• That we have to deal with this issue at all, even though deep down I know that God wouldn't give us more than we can handle.
• My mom isn't hear to listen, to help, to advise, and to just lean on. I miss her right now and have realized that I am really ANGRY that she isn't here, that I can't call her up, cry on her shoulder, or ask her advice. Where is she when I need her most??

This last one has been a struggle for me, and was brought to my attention a few weeks ago...it has been on my mind a lot lately. Deep down I am really mad that she isn't here, how dare she not be here when I need her. I know we will make it through and we are never given more than we can handle, but I need her and she's not here!!

Goals....Month 3

Well here we go with month 3 of our monthly goals....and to be honest I am not doing that well! Even though I am accomplishing some goals I think I am being too optimistic!

Let's look back and see what I got done last month, well only 2! The 2 things I was able to accomplish were:

1. Fix Silverware display, sad this took so long!
2. Cooking Dinner 5-6 nights a week!

Also last month I put my Master bedroom on the list, and have now decided since I will have to paint the bathroom ceiling over spring break I might as well do the bedroom then too. I may have to scale back a little for this month as we have a TON going on. But here are my goals for the month:

1. Bathroom Curtians
2. Emmah's bedroom, I have totally changed my plans so this weekend I am planning to finish it up, other than I can't seem to get her curtains to sew! May have to call in help!
3. Living room wall. I want to put up a collection of things, I have seen these a lot and think it would be the perfect fit for my room!!
4. Cook Dinner 5-6 nights a week! This has been easier then I thought it would, especially since I joined Weight Watchers I look to eat as point friendly as possible!

What are your goals for the month?? Be sure to check back on my progress and see if I can actually complete my list this month! I would LOVE to hear how you are doing at meeting your goal too!

A Look Forward

Yesterday we had our appointment with a new facility with some new doctors. These doctors are neurological psychologists and specialize with everything having to do with the brain. I walked in nervous, worried, and hopeful. I walked out cautiously optomistic, hopeful, and confident that we had found the road to some real answers.

The road won't be an easy one, and there will have to be some changes both at home, with us as parents, at school, with her behavior choices, and with her. I am very hopeful that we can find some anwers and get ourselves headed in the right direction.

Sometimes she doesn't make the right choices, sometimes she does the wrong thing, but sometimes she is loving and caring, sometimes she is super funny, and sometimes she is beyond sweet. I pray that others can see the beauty she hides within...