Hammy is going to help make dinner.
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The Egg Test

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I really, really hope that the egg thing works out, because that breakfast/lunch was just SO delicious. SO, so, so delicious.

It is 1/2 cup of hash browns (70 calories) with a half a tablespoon of olive oil (60 calories), which I browned up until it was nice and crispy.

I poached an egg (mission: success!) but took it out before the yolk cooked through. The egg is 70 calories and since it is poached there are no extra calories added when cooked. I topped it with a slice of swiss cheese (80 calories) and a slice of honey ham (20 calories).

The total meal, which was so good and something I have missed so badly, was 300 calories.

Yum yum yum yum yum.

Allergies

...Kickin' my butt.
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Goo Balls!

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Ingredients:
1 bag of SmartPop popcorn
3 1/3 cups of mini-marshmallows
3/4 tablespoons of butter
3/4 cup cocoa crispies
1 serving (1/8 bag) Enjoy Life chocolate chips

Melt butter in large pot.
Slowly add and melt in marshmallows.
Turn off heat and slow begin adding in popcorn and cocoa crispies, alternating between the two, folding the goodies in.
Lastly, sprinkle chocolate chips in.

Transfer the mass onto parchment paper and mold into 12 similarly sized balls.

Cool in fridge.

Each "goo ball" will be 85 calories if you use the same measurements I do.

I love how the popcorn is most of the mass but still transfers all the gooey goodness, making it taste like a much more evil snack than it really is. I had two this evening!

This one was all mine. :D

I have a new favorite meal

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Ingredients:

2 Portobello mushrooms, stemmed and gills removed
1 Tablespoon olive oil
3 ounce pack of albacore tuna in water
1/2 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper
2 slices of Swiss cheese
2 slices of tomato
1/4 cup mixed baby greens

Instructions:

First, preheat the broiler. Next, use a small spoon to remove the gills. Basically just scrape around with it. If the mushroom breaks a little, don't worry too much. It will end up just fine. Use half of the olive oil to brush on the mushrooms. Set them under the broiler for about ten minutes, moving them around a bit every couple minutes to make sure that they "collapse" evenly. Cook until they're soft.

While they are cooking, mix the tuna, celery, parsley, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt amd 1/8 pepper and the rest of the oil.

***Note that I didn't have parsley available and just used a handful of dried. I also didn't actually measure the lemon, I just squeezed half a lemon in. I also loaded in the salt and pepper, since I love both.

When the mushrooms are done, split the tuna mixture into both of them. Plop a slice of cheese on each and broil again until the cheese is melted.

Top with a slice of tomato and a handful of baby greens. Yes, this is for more than just making it pretty - they went perfect.



For those of you who are soy-allergic, like I am, be VERY careful to make sure you find tuna that is packed in JUST water and has no soy in it. If I don't get sick at all, I will tell you what brand worked for me. It was the only one in the grocery store that didn't say "soy" on the package.

Oh, and best of all this recipe was 539 calories, and tasted bad for you.


EDIT:
The tuna I ate had soy in it, even though it wasn't on the label. If you're soy-allergic, please be careful when you choose your tuna. I know that safe tuna is out there! If you're not soy-allergic, seriously, you need to try that recipie TODAY.

THANKS, COOK YOURSELF THIN!

Ugh.

I have been waiting for over an hour for an entry I wrote about my dinner from tonight to post, and it is very aggravating!

Eggs

I am seriously considering trying eggs this weekend. Is that a bad idea?
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I used my new Bare Minerals make-up today, which I bought for my birthday with a check my grandma sent me (the rest went to credit card bills, in case I seem irresponsible)... I am loving it!

Also I soaked chicken in a marinade of lemon juice, garlic, and rosemary for lunch today. It smelled AWESOME, I can't wait to gobble it up later.

My weight went up two days in a row and stayed there for the third day. I can't figure out why I would have gained when I eat less than 1900 calories a day. I even worked out (although not as much as I should have). I am frustrated and hoping to be able to lower my calorie count even more.

Blah, blah.

OMFG Sweet Potatoes!

Wow, wow, wow.

I bought some microwavable sweet potatoes today at Walmart. They were only $1.30 each. I microwaved this one and put 8/10th of a tablespoon of butter (approx.) and about an oz (a rounded tablespoon) of sour cream. I also added salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

This is seriously the best baked potato of any sort that I have ever had. Ever. Even the skin was delicious.

245 calories.

I have awesome friends!

These came today from my friend Jason, who recenty toured the factory. Thanks, Jason!
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Muscles, sort of.

I like the word muscles because it is fun to say wrong on purpose.

LOOK AT MY MUSKILS!

This morning I atually worked out a little. I did as many sit-ups as I could handle and then did ten minutes on the gazelle... which was hell on wheels because it is still set to the hardest setting from when Ryan visited. I can't figure out how to change it back. I haven't used it in months, but I am going to start again. Mike DID spend like $300 on it for me. I will ask him to try to lower the resistance for me tonight.

Anywho, I wanted to see if you all would be impressed to see that there are actually some muscles peeking through my fat. I can see two on my calf and one on my thigh. And, of course, more fat than you can shake a stick at.

Please pardon my leggy nakedness.

Cook Yourself Thin

Have you guys watched this show?

I have just started watching it TODAY but I am on my third episode.

Here's the premise of the television show: a team of three outgoing female chefs visit the home of a woman struggling with her weight and with calorie control, and "makeover" three meals/desserts. They cut the calories down by usually around 75% and then they all ooh and ahh over how delicious the food is. Then, six weeks later, they visit the woman and see how many dress sizes she has lost using the tricks.

There are some GREAT tips for calorie control on this show, and it is fun to watch. Thank you, Mer, for telling me about this! Unfortunately a lot of the tips don't apply to me because of my food allergies, but I am hooked anyway!

It has been a long time since I have found a cooking show that I really enjoyed.

Banana Bread Recipe

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Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups oat flour
1/2 cup Splenda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1.4 teaspoon salt
3 mashed bananas
1/2 cup softened butter
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
6 tablespoons milk

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mash in the bananas in and the butter (swiping a fingerful of butter to grease the loaf pan with). Add the vinegar and milk.

Spread into loaf pan and cook in a pre-heated oven (350) for about 40 minutes.

This makes about 10-12 slices and the entire loaf is 1731 calories. This is, of course, figuring zero calorie Splenda -- if you use sugar (which would work out fine), you'll have to add in the calories for that if you're counting.

I had one serving and very responsibly (patting myself on the back a little, haha) divided them up into single servings - 173 calories a slice. I also added in an ounce of cream cheese to a bunch of them, which is 90 calories.

No, it's not a diet-diet option, but gosh it is delicious and totally worth it - as long as I count it into my daily total!

Sunday Night Diet Update

I have decided that from now on, I am going to make Sunday night updates about my diet. I have just started really focusing on counting calories again.

So, I have taken my measurements today and have a starting point. On Sunday nights I will post how much I have lost or gained, and on Sunday nights I will also take my measurements and make a note of any changes.

266.0 this morning.
On track for my goal of 249 by 7/25
66lbs lost total
I made my goal of 1890 calories every single day this week.

This is the life!

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Bath time!

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Spooky!!!

I love sitting out on the deck in the candlelight.
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Healthy choices

I decided to let Mike eat all the potatoes and opted for unsweetend applesauce instead. I am proud.
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Berry treat...

What happens when you mix frozen raspberries, splenda, and light cool whip? You get a tart, delicous, pink, low-calorie treat! OMG yum!
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Clementine

I am happy when my bird is happy. And she is SO happy, we are on four days without an egg! She is scuttling (begging to come out) as I type. She is so sweet!
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Thank you, LeahGold. That book was effin' hilarious.
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Hooray!

I have gotten back on the dieting track. In two days I have lost three of the four pounds I gained back over the last four months. Hopefully in other day or too I'll be back to achieving record lows!

Woo-freakin'-hoo!

I have begun using FitDay.com again. After not losing weight and even gaining a few pounds over the last few months, I realize that I need to start holding myself accountable. I am seeing my family again in July and I want them to say "wow you look better than you did in December" rather than... "did you pudge out just a little bit more?".

So, I have made myself a goal of 1900 calories a day. I don't think I can do it every day, so my goal is to do it most days.

Yesterday by the time I made this goal, I was already far gone. Yesterday was 2,822 calories, yikes!

Okay so last night I went to Walmart, hoping to find a product aimed at reducing acne scars. Since, lucky me, that's all I have on my face right now - for the first time in about four years. I had a list of things that I wanted to get, feeling that I earned it and deserve it. Well, except for shampoo and conditioner, there wasn't anything on my list that I could find. Probably because the list was vague and I didn't really know what I was looking for.

So I ended up splurging on a Neutrogena face peel.

Wow. I tried it last night and then slept. This morning my face still looks great. It is brighter and has a dewy look to it. Except for the scars, which I swear look smaller and lighter, I look pretty freakin' good.

It's nice to feel good about myself. It's been awhile.

I believe I have just about finalized a trip from my best friend, her son, and my very good friend for the fourth of July.

I am so excited that I can barely contain it.

Good news for my skin!

Thirty something dollars for Proactiv didn't work.

Twenty dollar Loreal skin treatment kit didn't work.

Neutrogena didn't work.
Aveeno didn't work.
Clearisil didn't work
Clean and clear didn't work
Dove didn't work
Oil of olay didn't work
Olive oil didn't work

I have been struggling with adult acne for five or six years no, and it has gotten much worse in the last 2 years.

I bought four bottles (enough to last 3-6 months, I would wager) of phisoderm on amazon.com. It was less than nine dollars thanks to Amazon Prime and Subscribe and Save.

It has been less than a week and my skin is clearing up, literally right before my eyes.

I am so excited!

Now, does anyone have advice on getting rid of acne scars?
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And every one of them words rang true
And glowed like burning coal
Pouring off of every page
Like it was written in my soul

It is my Daddy's birthday next week.
I thought a Dylan quote might make him proud.

Love you, Dad!

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Closet bragging.

All those fit. I tried every one of them on. Took two days! (There's more not pictured)
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A place for everything... And everything in its place.
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Hi, y'all!

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A cold soda, a piece of cake, and a good book. Add a cold bath, and it is the perfect way to end a hot early summer night!
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Since this journal is about being positive, I thought I would post a pretty view rather than all the falling apart trailers.
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Brian and I took a walk last night. We met a friendly dog.
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....In case I haven't mentioned how cute Hammy is lately.
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Corn: Part #3

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This delicious milk-shake is topped with Hershey's dark chocolate syrup, which Mike bought like six months ago and never opened. The only ingredients that were no-nos were corn related, so I tried it... with no ill-effects.

I love Melanie, yes I do.

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When your good pal runs off to the cafe and returns with something beautiful like THIS for you, it just starts your day off right...

Yummy Dinner!

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Trader Joe's tomato soup and leftover bread (see previous post), on a pretty plate that I stole from my boss's desk drawer.

What a wonderful day.

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Mike got me a latte from McDonald's on his lunch break. After the Starbucks surprise a few hours earlier, I was in a very very good mood.

Baked Rice Pasta

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Rice fuselli (sp?) with Trader Joe's spaghetti sauce with mushrooms mixed with extra rosemary, pepper, and mozzarella cheese, and Trader Joe's sweet Italian sausage pasta. Topped with more mozzarella cheese. Yum.

Corn, Part #2.

OK so I got a bread mix from my best friend and his loverly wife.

It is the first bread mix I have seen that didn't require eggs, and it worked in the bread maker.

The bad part was that the box was written almost entirely in Spanish, and the ingredient list said "starch from maize" and for my friends it didn't click that that meant "corn starch". Since I have had a few surprising experiences with corn in the last few weeks, I decided to make it and test it. I had a big piece last night and two small pieces today. No problems!

So far, so good...

Oh, my goodness.

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This was the Whole Foods Organic 365 Chocolate Cake mix. It calls for buttermilk and/or yogurt and 3 eggs. I can't do eggs and I didn't have any yogurt on hand, so I used a glob of unsweetened applesauce and heavy whipping cream. Oh and it called for vanilla extract, but I didn't have any, so I used some vanilla syrup that I have for my lattes.

Oh, my God. That mixed up into a mousse. It was by far the BEST cake I have ever made.

On top of that, I had CANNNED FROSTING to put on it. Now, this frostings #1 ingredient was "confectioners sugar". I know as well as the next guy that unless it specifically says otherwise, confections sugar is sugar and corn starch. But it had been sent to me by my best friend and his beautiful wife for my birthday, so I decided to try it anyway.



I did NOT get sick. I was amazed. And yeah, I ate the whole cake myself.

So imagine my dismay to see this listed on their website:

herrybrook Kitchen is committed to making products that are safe and of the highest quality. We have, therefore, made the decision to discontinue our Ready To Spread Chocolate Frosting due to quality concerns related to shelf life. Please note that the quality concerns are NOT RELATED to allergens or food allergies, and there is no food safety concern. Additionally, our baking mixes, cookies and Vanilla Frosting products are not affected.

So sad! But I will totally make that cake again on a special occasion, even if I just top it with whipped cream. It was just absolutely luscious. If you've been dissapointed by gluten free cake mixes, try it. You won't regret it.

Dessert For Dinner Tonight

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This is the fruit crisp recipe from:



It was delicious. I topped it with some Organic 365 Vanilla ice cream - the only vanilla ice cream that hasn't given me the "soy reaction". You know, anytime a product lists "natural flavorings" or something of that sort, it is a crapshoot if I will get sick or not.

Apple Crisp:
4 cups of sliced apples. I sliced mine very thin left the skins on. I used four small Granny Smith apples. It probably didn't total 4 cups.
1/2 cup oat flour. I bought this at the organic store in town, and it took me a long time to find it.
1/2 cup brown sugar. I use the Splenda brown sugar blend. Note that Splenda has maltodexetrin in it, but I have never, ever had a reaction from it and I have Splenda a LOT.
1/4 cup softened butter, margarine, or shortening. Butter for me, since the others are soy central.
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup rolled oats. I use regular old Quaker oats, even though I have read that they could be contaminated.

Layer the fruit on bottom and top with the mixture of the other ingredients, which you've mixed thoroughly with your fingers.

Cook 30-40 minutes.

It was delicious.

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Corn.

It has been 9 months. I am testing corn today. I will update.
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OK, who can say YUM?

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Namaste makes a pizza crust mix that DOESN'T CALL FOR EGGS. Gluten free, soy free, corn free... and I don't even have to alter it.

The pizza sauce is tomato paste with garlic, various Italian seasonings, onion, minced pepperoni, garlic pepper, sea salt, and some mozzarella cheese. The cheese on the pizza is the Kraft Naturals pizzeria blend. The toppings are onion and very thinly sliced Boarshead (gluten-free) pepperoni.

I had leftovers today with the extra base sauce for dippin'. It was heavenly.

I need to start working out again, though. I have found too many "treats", and the allergy diet is no longer enough to keep me losing weight without trying!

Finished another book...

I just finished reading "The Pact" by Jodi Picoult. I want to thank my aunt for introducing me to her books, because I really enjoy them.

Today is a gorgeous day. I think I am going to go out looking for ugly dog later and try to get some bonding time in. We are making pizza tonight (found a great crust!) and watching "Yes Man". Last night we watched "Bedtime Stories".

I am making an official effort to rejoin the world of the internet. Keep your eyes peeled!

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Omg yum, mike made me pizza.
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Books I wanted for my birthday, and books I got!
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Any idea why this would make me sick?!?!
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This pillow took only 2-3 days to make. That's right, I rock.
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My lasagna was much, much, much more delicious than it looks.
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A quick lunch-hour update.

Hello, everyone!

I am sorry that I haven't been updating much lately. I haven't tried any new recipes, though I have been seriously enjoying some old ones.

Life, condensed:

My mother came to visit. We had a good time. I had a couple seizures, including one very, very bad one, but I do not want to dwell on bad things. I have to stop driving for at least three months. This is a decision I am making without the doctor giving me an ultimatum, which I think is a good sign about me being responsible and growing up or whatnot. Anyway, I am back on meds and need to go three months without a seizure to feel safe to drive again. In the meanwhile, my work is being very accomodating and seeing if there is a way they can switch me to night shift so I can ride in with Mike. Also in exciting seizure-related news, I have my very first black eye, which I am not happy about because it is ugly and hurts, but am sort of excited about because I have an awesome shiner to show off. Pictures soon.

I have just finished reading "Dead Until Dark", by some woman with an awful hairdo, which was loaned to me by my girlfriend Angela. I have added the rest of the series to my Amazon wishlist, and you should go buy it for me. The list is under elizabeth.x@gmail.com. Go ahead, I'll wait.

...

,,,

,,,

Okay, thanks! That was real nice of you.

:D I have just started another book she loaned me, which is apparantly about werewolves. Fun stuff. Then I am going to read Twilight. Then I may have to dig into Mike's books unless whatever YOU bought me comes in sooner. (He, he.)

I also added a bunch of books to my wish list that I have read good reviews for. Also a bunch of books that Real Simple magazine reccomended during black history month.

That's all I really have to say right now. I'm going to go back to doodling until my lunch hour is over.

Comment. Please.

Oh yes, and...

Does anybody know how likely it is that I could be allergic to cashews if I am also allergic to: peanuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds? (Oh, and unrelated but also soy, wheat, corn, and eggs?)

I can eat almonds in mass quantities without any issues.

I have had some cashews today and my throat feels "sticky" but I don't know if it is my imagination or if I am dehydrated or whatnot.

The weekend.

This was a pretty decent weekend. I am at work right now, but I am having an OK day working so I have no real complaints.

I will mention here, not for pity but just for the sake of being completely honest, that my seizures have come back. I still believe completely that my gluten-free diet has done a lot for my epilepsy control, but it appears that my body is just not ready to give up the meds yet.

Oddly enough, that other night, Clementine was out of her cage and sitting on my chest. Her claws barely scratched me, as she is exceedingly gentle with her Mommy (who she loves terribly!), but I got hives on my chest anyway. I know this is from whatever molecules of sunflower seed powder were on her claws got into the scratches. Then after, I cleaned out her cage (it was overdue) and when I was dumping the gravel and seeds into the trash can, I inhaled the dust that came up into my face and almost immediately began wheezing. It was not pleasant. Almost right after that, I had a seizure... and have continued having seizures since then, one or two a day. They are very, very, very mild seizures. I debated not telling anyone, but then I realized that keeping secrets about my health is NOT a step in the right direction, it is several steps backwards. Heck, I even told my MOTHER about it... and she is such a worrywort that I usually keep her in the dark.

Now, for the weekend: on Friday I did chores all day. It felt good to get stuff done. That night we went to bed early and on Saturday I woke up first, showered, played on the Wii Fit, and then finally woke Mike up at 12:30 and told him "this is not waking up early, lazy bones". We got Starbucks on the way to Charlotte, which always makes me a happy girl. Then we went to IKEA. It was packed and we had to park in the street and hike through the parking lot to get there, but that's okay. We ended up getting a dish drying rack for the kitchen, a shelf and rack for towels for the bathroom, and a comforter for the twin bed that we are buying for the guest room this week. Then we went to Trader Joe's and got me every delicious treat imaginable.

So, yeah, I'm a pretty happy girl.

Also, reading Neil Gaiman's "Fragile Things", which is a book of short stories that I stole off Mike's book shelf.

Comment, people, keep me entertained.

GOODBYE, MORBID OBESITY!

(Hello, obesity!)

I have lost a few pounds this week.

Thank you, Wii Fit.

I am officially obese... Rather than morbidly obese.

This is a good, good day.
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Oh, wow.

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Trader Joe's pancake mix with real milk, applesauce (instead of eggs), canola oil, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a little bit of dry oatmeal to add texture. Topped with real maple syrup.

This was not healthy, but wow - what a treat! I didn't think I'd ever eat something like that again.

There is more mix in the fridge. I will make it for Mike and I for breakfast tomorrow.

And then... IKEA!!!

It's official.

Grinding your own coffee makes all the difference in the world.
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Delicious dinner.

Yummy healthy dinner to follow a stressful day. The perfect remedy.
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