2 Year Anniversary!

I cannot believe it has been 2 years since my first weight loss surgery. I have gone from a size 22/24 to a size 6, lost 105 lbs, and I have had my plastic surgeries. I still want to lose 20 more lbs, but it just does NOT want to come off! I have been slacking lately, but I am back on track. I never dreamed I could go on a run, but I actually ran (well most of it) 1.5 miles yesterday. I also walked another 2.5 miles pushing the stroller as well, so I had a great cardio day! I am eating 500-1000 calories a day and low card to try and get this last 20 off. I have to say that it is really frustrating because the scale just isn't moving!!! I am used to the weight pretty much falling off of me, but that doesn't happen anymore. Honeymoon is definitely over!

I am also 6 months post op from my plastics and STILL have a ton of swelling in my tummy and back. It can range from 2 to 6 lbs per day depending on what I do and the level of activity. I am so ready for that to go away as well!

I had a friend take pictures of my recently, and we had so much fun! I wanted to dress up like a 1940's pin-up girl, so I could make a calendar for Chief to take with him when he deploys to Iraq late this fall. Thank you http://chelseamckinleyphotography.blogspot.com/ and http://www.kaciowensphotography.com/! Love you both! Here are some of my favorite pictures! FYI~ I was really swollen during this shoot!  Also, everything is covered, but these pictures are definitely flirty!

Another yummy recipe! Avocado Butter

Ingredients

• 6 ounces ripe avocado meat, approximately 2 small avocados
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 ounces unsalted butter, softened
• 1 garlic clove, minced or 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon freshly chopped cilantro leaves
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to your taste

Directions

Peel and pit the avocados. Place all ingredients into the bowl of a food processor or blender and process until well combined. Place mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper, fold paper in half over the mixture, push mixture with a cookie sheet in to the crease of the fold, and shape into a log. Place in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours. Slice and serve on grilled fish, chicken, steak or spread on to sandwiches.

A yummy vegetarian dish

I made this when my Chief's niece came to visit this past summer, and we all loved it!  I thought I would share it to give my friend Re'nee a new recipe. Enjoy!

Butter Bean Burger

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can butter beans, drained
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeno pepper
• 6 saltine crackers, crushed
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mash butter beans. Mix in onion, jalapeno pepper, crushed crackers, egg, cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Divide into 4 equal parts, and shape into patties.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; use more or less oil to reach 1/4 inch in depth. Fry patties until golden, about 5 minutes on each side.

Birthday Tiramisu

My Chief loves tiramisu, so I thought I would try and make something new!   

Ingredients

• 6 egg yolks
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pound mascarpone cheese
• 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee, room temperature
•  4 tablespoons rum
• 2 (3 ounce) packages ladyfinger cookies
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until well blended. Whisk in milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Boil gently for 1 minute, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Cover tightly and chill in refrigerator 1 hour.
2. In a medium bowl, beat cream with vanilla until stiff peaks form. Whisk mascarpone into yolk mixture until smooth.
3. In a small bowl, combine coffee and rum. Split ladyfingers in half lengthwise and drizzle with coffee mixture.
4. Arrange half of soaked ladyfingers in bottom of a 7x11 inch dish. Spread half of mascarpone mixture over ladyfingers, then half of whipped cream over that. Repeat layers and sprinkle with cocoa. Cover and refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours, until set or 24 for the best flavor.

What's for dinner

I love making this chicken, and it is so easy!  I thought I would share the recipe with you.

Roasted Rosemary Chicken

• 1 whole chicken, rinsed
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 onion, quartered
• 1 cup chopped fresh rosemary
• carrots
• little golden potatoes
• 1 lemon quartered
• 3 cloves of fresh garlic, peeled
• olive oil
• 4 tbs butter
• 1 can chicken broth

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. loosen skin and place butter underneath skin around breast area.
3. Remove giblet bag (if any) and stuff cavity full with fresh rosemary (I left it on the stem), kosher salt, garlic cloves, lemon quarters ( i squeezed 1/2 of it inside) and onion quarters(remove giblets first)
   
4. Rub outside with olive oil and completely cover outside with rosemary,sea salt, and fresh ground pepper
5. Cut potatoes half and peel carrots and cut up.  
6. Pour can of broth over potatoes and carrots
   
7. Roast in the preheated oven for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear. Cooking time will vary a bit depending on the size of the bird.

Welcome to our new house!

We moved in on March 5th, and I was completely unpacked and organized in 5 days.  These pictures were taken before we started moving everything in because I wanted to show the house as a clean slate.

First room that you walk in to from the front door. We refer to it as the lanai.

 Living room with fireplace

Looking in to the dining room from the living room

 Dining room with built in cabinets on both sides, looking in to living room.

Dining room looking in to eat in kitchen on right and lanai on left.

 Eat in Kitchen

 Kitchen

 Kitchen

 Huge Pantry

Laundry Room/toilet closet

We have 2 small bedrooms off the laundry room that is called the servants wing of the house.  

Shower that sits in between the 2 small bedrooms

Hallway on the right wing of the house that leads to the bedrooms

Front Bedroom that is now Monkey Doodle's room

 We have 2 large storage closets that are located at each end of the long hallway.

Linen closet that is located in the hallway

Middle Bedroom that is now Miss Priss's

 Master Bedroom

Bathroom

Back Porch/Back Lanai

Back to Monterrey!

I will be 5 months post op on March 8th, and I have decided to go back to Monterrey this summer for a few revisions and possibly a mini arm lift.  I knew that I was going to need a revision on my thighs before I even left Monterrey after Dr Sauceda and I spoke about it.  I also ripped my belly button stitches while in Monterrey, so he is going to give me a new belly button as well.  I am going to have him look at my tummy, and he said he could take off a little more skin if I want, but I would still have skin/roll when I sit down because I need the anchor cut.  I just cannot commit to having the anchor cut, but I am thankful he is going to take a little more off for me.  He is also going to do some lipo on my hips and thin those out a little as well.  I will be there for a week, and I am scheduled for June 8th.  Chief is possibly going with me if we can work it out for the kids to stay with my mom and grandma while we are gone.

We will be attending Mookie's high school graduation on the 6th, fly to Monterrey on the 7th, and surgery on the 8th.  I am excited to do this again, but I am not looking forward to the recovery and swelling!  I am still swollen now at almost 5 months post op, but it will all be worth it in the end!

Getting closer!

We are just a couple of weeks away from moving in to our house! I drove by this morning, and it is in the process of getting new outside paint. I didn't get to go inside to see if it was painted yet. I thought I would share a picture of what the outside looks like at least.

The picture below is take from the alley across the street from ours. It is also nice to have this empty space right across the street to take the kids to play soccer, baseball, and just let them run.

My Dream Home

My dream home is a wide open floor plan,  floor to ceiling windows, the flood of natural light, and a beautifully preserved character of the space where memories are made.  When we lived in Colorado Springs, we lived in an old farm house with a beautiful massive open staircase, fire place in the entry way, bay windows on 1st and 2nd floors with a turret, a walk in pantry, and a church window that the Christmas tree fit perfectly in front of.  It was on an acre of land and a creek that ran through the back of the property.  The house sat about 200 feet off the road, and the driveway wound around trees to get to the house. This house was pretty close to what I want in a dream house.  I found these pictures when surfing the net, and I am in love. It is an old church that has been converted to a house  This is exactly what I want and dream of.

 

 

 

  

 

 

Now that I have the love for cooking, I constantly think about what I want in a kitchen.  I want a HUGE island that stretches all the way across the room, and it opens to the entire family room where all of our friends and family gather when we get together.  I want to be able to lay out Thanksgiving dinner across the entire island and still have room left over.  I recently came across pictures of Ina Garten's kitchen, and I fell in love!  It is everything that I want in a kitchen. Now, just transplant Ina's kitchen it to the church converted to a house kitchen, and it is perfect!  Here is Ina's...

 

  

What does your dream home look like?