For All My Fellow Teacher Bloggers

This website is my new Ben & Jerry's.  

Okay, okay... it's a supplement to my Ben & Jerry's.

Seriously.

The next time you're having a rough day...

Hey Girl Teacher Tumblr

What I'm Eating Now (and What I'm Not)

So far, so good on most of the resolutions I made in my last post.

I haven't made it to the gym yet.
But I've been spending 11-12 hours each day at work (don't ask)
and just can't squeeze it in. 
I mean, I could, but I can't express how important my sleep is to me. 
If I don't get enough, I simply don't function. 
And getting up at 4:30 AM each day
(which I'm convinced is completely unnatural and slowly killing me)
requires an early bedtime.

But I've been owning this new diet.  It kind of dawned on me mid-week that my new diet is pretty much a detox.

Here's an average day this week (Points tallied in parentheses):

Morning
Coffee with Splenda and nonfat Coffeemate creamer (1)
1 toasted whole gran Thomas' English muffin (3)
1 extra large organic egg (2)


Morning Snacks
Banana (0)

Clementine (0)
3/4 cups organic cereal (4)


Lunch
2 cups spring mix (0)
5 medium grilled shrimp (1)
miniscule amount of raspberry walnut vinaigrette (0)
1/4 cup of almonds (5)
Baby carrots (0)

Afternoon Snacks
Chobani Greek yogurt (3)
Apple or pear (0)

Dinner
1 1/2 cups Skinnytaste's Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup (7)
Green tea (0)

Evening Snack
Kashi Dark Chocolate Coconut chewy granola bar (3)
Smoothie with Silk soymilk, Trop50 OJ, and frozen fruit (2)

Total Points: 31

Am I hungry sometimes? 
Yes. 
Will I continue to be this restrictive on my diet? 
Not for too much longer.
I am going to incorporate more variety into my diet,
but I wanted to get rid of most processed foods from my routine.
I'm also kind of stumped on how to add more variety
without incorporating lots more processed stuff.

I will not eat Lean Cuisine/Smart Ones anymore.
I will not drink soda-- not even diet or carbonated flavored water.
And no more "diet ice cream"-- if I'm eating ice cream, it'll be natural and fatty! 
And I'll savor my three (maybe four!) bites and put it away.

I can't even explain how much better I feel. 
No more digestive issues (I used to get them a lot after eating my frozen processed lunch)
and so. much. energy. 
I no longer get into that afternoon slump
or struggle to stay awake on my commute home.

And I've lost 11 pounds since Jan. 2!

 Please share any great snack foods that you love 
that are low-point but yummy!  
Especially savory snacks or chocolatey one!

My Resolutionary War

I am big on resolutions.  I don't know why.  

I usually come up with about two dozens thing, organized in an outline.  

That's just how my OCD mind works.

I am constantly battling as I organize them into important categories and subcategories, 

and I end up overwhelming myself with very small resolutions that are 

really better defined as "plans for how to achieve my goal."

No, really.  

I left myself a 4 minute and 53 second voicememo outlining 

my resolutions, and the subpoints of each, on my iPhone.

Here, I've condensed them for your pleasure!

My Official 2012 Resolution List (Abridged)

1.  Eat healthier/Lose Weight

  The reason I'm combining these two separate resolutions into one is because I haven't always felt that I made healthy choices even when I followed Weight Watchers.  I ate a lot of processed food, and very little fruits and vegetables. 

No more Lean Cuisines!  No more Laughing Cow!  No more cookies and crackers and Weight Watchers-sponsored sweets!  And no more ice cream!  Unless it's a truly special occasion! 

I am newly devoted to eating fresher, less processed food while on Weight Watchers.  

More fruits, more veggies, more nuts (giggle), more lean protein-- all organic, when possible. 

I'll be making more of my own food and devoting an hour or two each weekend to preparing my dinners for the week.

One thing I won't do is get into this "all or nothing" mindset I often fall into when dieting.  

It's hard for me to have a small splurge without saying "Oh well, I totally effed up, let's pig out!"  

From now on I plan on allowing myself a few bites of splurgey items, including processed ones, and walking away.

This week, I've been very successful and lost 8 pounds.

2.  Exercise

I am planning to ease my way in to running while doing yoga and Zumba at least one a week each.  

Then, as I become a better runner, I'll increase the number of days I run while still doing Zumba and yoga.  My brother got me an awesome Nike+ sensor for Christmas and I'm looking forward to seeing how it works.  

Additionally, I'd like to start doing more weight training.

Bottom line: I will work out 2-3 per week and increase that to 4-5.

3.  Learn the stuff I've been meaning to learn

This includes three main things: sewing, upholstery, and my damn camera.

I got a sewing machine for Christmas and I'm really excited to get started sewing curtains and stuff. 

I've been interested in upholstery for awhile and I'd like to teach myself how to do it.  I'd love to take a class but there aren't any in my area.

And my wonderful camera is just sitting on my shelf, taunting me.

4. Be more organized

This is mainly for work but also for planning so that I don't screw up 1 or 2, and that I have time for 3.

5.  Keep finances in order

I am usually quite good with my budgeting, so this is more like a continuation thing than a resolution:

I'll continue to get m allowance in cash only.  Painful but helpful.

And I'm going to limit myself to one Target trip per week.  I've been going more than once recently and I end up spending at least $20, even if I just go in for milk.  Target's magical like that.

And as always, we're continuing to use Dave Ramsay's credit card payoff plan and saving up our emergency stockpile.

And there you have it.  Hours of agony broken into four small sections.  But now I'm worried that I'm forgetting something... anybody else getting back on the wagon?  What are your plans for success?

10 Confessions- Christmas Version

Because I haven't updated you all on anything aside from Harry Potter in the last, oh, FOUR MONTHS,

I'm going to use this random burst of insomnia for random info you may or may not find exciting/useful/worth your time/inspiring/rambly.

1) Fenway is fat now.

Or, according to the vet he is.  I personally think he looks great.  

(My husband reminded me that I am not a vet.)

He's put on a little winter blubber, like his mom, but that's normal for all species, am I right?  

He still has a clearly defined waist... making him different from his mom...

which leads to me to...

2) I got a bit fat again.

Oooops.

I will work on this starting January 2012.  

(I'm making too many cookies to consider working on this now.  

nd yes, I acknowledge that this is an excuse, but I'm a realist.)

Just in time for the end of the world.  

Gotta work on my cardiovascular health and stamina for the zombie apocalypse. 

3) I haven't touched my "fancy camera" in a really long time.

Hence the lack of photos proving how un-fat Fenway is.  

I'm just intimidated by my bigass Canon.  There, I said it.  

I feel like I'll never figure it out.  

And all my pictures are yellow/pixelated/blurry/of one of my fingers.

4) This week, I actually considered giving birth to a real-life baby.

But I got over it really fast.

  And I never want to talk about that time of my life again.

5) I bought a bunch of stuff.

We're talking, like, grown-up things.

Couches.

Flat-screens.

And Christmas decor.

Serious grown-up things.

6) I also totalled my car at the end of September.

And bought a new one!  A Prius!  Grown-up things!

I now play "The MPG Game" while driving 

which will probably get me into another accident sometime soon.

I got charged with reckless driving 

and have since learned a bunch of sweet facts 

about driving and such from my online "safe driver" course.

(Safe driver course fact: You're not doing anything right.)

My charge was reduced to improper driving so not a huge deal.

7) I discovered Crocs.

I was a devout anti-Croc person 

because good Lord, they're so ugly,

until I put on one of those Crocsthatlooklikeaballetflat.

And OMGGG, how comfortable.

I don't want to remove them from my feet because 

1) They're so comfy, and 

2) They make my feet stink.

8) I am so ready for Christmas! But at the same time, not.

I haven't bought anything for Mr. D yet, but the other gifts are all bought and wrapped except for two.

Some of the cookies are made and ready to be piped on Friday and flooded on Saturday.  Working on another batch tomorrow.

Debating whether to send out Christmas cards (see #9.)

I just want to be on vacation!

9) I don't really see the point of a Christmas card if there's no photo on it.

Those are the ones I hang up when I get them.  This year I just have cards (bought for 70% off on Dec. 26 2009) without even so much as a photo to tuck inside.  So I'm debating spending $40 on stamps to send people a card that says our names...

10) I don't know my neighbors' names.

While trying to make  list of how many cookies I'd need, I listed the neighbors who deserved cookies.  On the list were:

"Crazy people"

"Massachusetts people"

"Tea Party people"

"(Dog name)'s owners"

-- and these are the neighbors who deserve cookies!

It astounded me how few of my neighbors' names I knew.  

I could list their dogs' names though...

So there you have it, folks.  My recent life in a nutshell.

I promise I've been doing things around the house, but because of #3, I can't prove it and therefore can't blog about it.  I'm working on it, people.

Anyone else confess to one of the above?  

Or something even more interesting?

Show Me Your Christmas- My Wish List

I am so excited to do this Christmas link-up.  I did one last year and it really gave me some extra holiday motivation for decorating, cooking, and baking!

I'm linking up with Aly @ Analyze This and today I'm showing you my list!

My family is notorious for making detailed lists, including links.  Some might say that takes the fun out of shopping, but what can I say, efficiency is a priority in our clan!

J. Crew leopard glittens

Now that I'm a iPhone-using hispter, I need access to my fingers!

Harry Potter Snuggie

Um, how freakin' badass is this?

House of Harlow Stargazer studs

I love all of the House of Harlow jewelry.  These are kind of edgy but not too over the top.

Burberry The Beat perfume

This is like my favorite perfume ever and I've got a miscroscopic amount left in my bottle.  I haven't been able to find it in stores in my area but it's available on Amazon.  Amazon's my hero.

Victoria's Secret Dreamer PJ

It's kind of becoming tradition for me to get a set of VS PJs for Christmas.  I'm so excited that they now come in LONG length!  They were always just a bit too short for me.

Go on now, link up with Aly and show me your list!

Harry Potter Challenge- Day 4

Day 4: Least favorite female character

Well, I'm overachieving here and giving you two.

Cho Chang

Totally boresville.  Not worthy of The Chosen One.

And I might make some people angry here, but...

Ginny Weasley

She's also just so. boring. 

Ugh.

I just realized that I picked both of Harry's love interests... maybe I'm just jealous...

Harry Potter Challenge- Day 3

Day 3:   Adaptations That Made You Angry

1) Deathly Hallows Part 2- Pretty much the entire battle scene, especially that whole Harry and Voldemort "oh hey, let's jump off a cliff together and claw at each others' faces while we fly around" part.  Dumb.  I'm convinced they did that for the 3D effects.  Also dumb.  I wish they had included more of the battle details and made it less of a random clip montage.

2)  What ever happened to the house elf backstory?

3)  And the Fenrir Greyback backstory?

4) And the epilogue.  Ew.