Once Again.....I'm Thinking About Losing Weight

I've been wondering for a while now, how did I get this overweight?  What is my deal?  Why can't I get motivated and stay the course?  Well I'll tell you, I like food and there is too much good food to eat, that's the problem.  People we know need to stop being such good cooks, stop bringing those awesome dishes to family and friend get-togethers or church pot luck dinners.  It seems like any time I finally make up my mind to lose weight, someone decides to have one of those get-togethers and FOOD is always involved.  I find myself wanting to eat everything in sight!  I can't help it if I'm surrounded by such wonderful cooks.  It always happens, it never fails, I'm thrown into that place of temptation with.....................FOOD.

It seems like when I talk to my girlfriends or the women in my family, we somehow end up in a discussion about our weight.  Nobody ever seems happy with their weight anymore.  We are always "cutting down", "watching what we eat" or "on a diet" of some kind.  I know we all like to eat, but there has to be a limit of what or how much we eat.  I know if we ever lose weight, we have to be motivated to let nothing take us off track.  Sometimes, we hit road blocks or face difficulties at some point in life, but we need to regroup and get back on track.  Don't let things stop us from losing weight if we are really determined.  Let's count our calories and don't go over what is allotted to us daily.  Let's get motivated!  Let's not let anything stand in our way of losing the weight we need to!  Do you notice I'm talking to MYSELF here?

I've been so unmotivated this year about losing weight it's unreal.  I give myself pep talks and I think I'm on the right track........then I get the dreaded hunger pains around meal time and decide to go "out" to eat and I go crazy........simply and utterly crazy!!!  An inner person is unleashed and I want to eat everything in sight!!!  I kid you not.  It's the truth.  I love food.  I love the smell of food, I love the taste of food, I just simply love food.  Do I sound crazy?  Am I making sense?  Can you relate?  I hate that inner glutton in me, but I love to eat good tasting food.  I can't help myself, I love everything about good food.  If I'm going to eat, I want something that tastes good.

I'm a really bad cruncher, I like those snack foods you can chomp on and hear the crunch sound.  I know I'm crazy!  My biggest downfall is chips and queso or chips and dip of any kind.  I love to eat snack foods.........and let me tell you.........they are not good for you.  THEY ARE THE ENEMY!  We've got to stay away from our weaknesses and that is mine.

I know for me, the ONLY way I will ever lose the weight will be to count my calories.  It will make me responsible for what I eat.  The key for me is being able to eat good tasting food that I want, but just eating smaller portions and trying to prepare them more healthier.  It comes down to counting the calories.  The only thing I can say is that I'm going to try and stick to that.  That's really all I can do............JUST TRY.  I know I can do it, because I've lost weight like that before.  If I get off track, hopefully there will be someone to lead me back to the right path.  So who is with me?  Anyone?

Just Chillin'

Nana was over while Colton was taking his bath.  He likes Nana to watch him play with his water guns and other toys in the tub.  He's so active, he was wearing us out just watching him.  He had played and played and finally Nana told him to just lay down and relax for a little while.  This was too cute to pass up, so I grabbed the camera.  This is what he did:

He's such a little man, look at those arms crossed behind his head, he's just chillin'.  LOVE IT!

Growing Up

Colton keeps growing faster each day.  His words are getting plainer each day, so when he still says the letter "w" in place of the letter "r" and says the letter "s" in place of the letters "th" I just relish in the words that come out of his little mouth.  I try to enjoy this time by soaking it all in because I know before long, he'll be able to pronounce all his letters correctly.  I just love the toddler voice and wish I could keep him little always, but I know that can't be.  We all have to grow up one day.

Most days when I'm home with him, we head outside at some point because he loves being outside.  He was playing in his pool and I was sitting on the porch swing watching him.  I was in deep thought about some things and not paying full attention to him when I noticed he was talking to himself.  It reminded me of when I was little and how I used to have imaginary friends.  It's funny how kids turn out so much like us parents.  I kept watching him and then out of the blue, he turns to me and says, "You want to play wis me?"  I said, "Honey, ma ma is too big to get in the pool and play with you."  He then proceeds to say, "Well you used to be little like me, wight?"  I said, "Yes, I used to be little like you, but now I'm big."  He says, "Well if you think you little, you will be little again.  Won't you play wis me, please?"  After him telling me that, I knew he just didn't want my attention, he also wanted some interaction.  I then decided yes, I could be little again and have some fun with my son.  So I splashed water on him, we screamed and yelled with laughter and then we played catch with a ball he had in the pool.  We both had a good time.  Sometimes, it's so nice to forget your an old boring adult and just get down on your child's level to play and enjoy them while they are still little and still want you to play with them!  Today was definitely a good day with my little man!

Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes Taste Test

We all congregated at mom's house today for Memorial Day since everyone was off work.  She decided to have us all over for taco salad and refried beans.  If you haven't noticed from my other postings, that is one of our favorite meals to have when we all get together!  I offered to make the dessert this time.  This was my perfect opportunity to make the pineapple upside-down cupcakes for us all to try out.  It turned out to be a taste test since I had more than willing participants.  I needed to know whether this was a keeper recipe or not and what better place to try it out than on family.  It turns out, the decision was unanimous, it is DEFINITELY a keeper!  It was a hit!  Everyone loved them.  So if anyone wants to try them out now that we were the guinea pigs, it is SAFE to do so.  It is sure to be a hit wherever you take them.  I did do one thing different on the recipe though, I wasn't able to put two pieces of the cut up pineapple into each cupcake bin, there was only room for one piece, but they still turned out yummy.

Old Time Sayings

Have you ever had something happen to you and before you know it, you are quoting an old saying that came from your grandparents?  When I was little I was very hyper, I mean extremely over-hyper.  My grandma always used to tell me I had "ants in my pants".  Well this morning me, mom and Colton were at Hardee's having breakfast and Colton can never sit still.  He's just all over the place.  He's just like me when I was little.........very hyper-active.  Before I knew the exact words my grandma used to tell me came flying out of my mouth.  I told him, "Sit down.  Good grief boy, you must have ants in your pants."  I just cackled to myself thinking, oh my Lord, I'm turning into my grandmother!

I just started thinking of all the old time sayings I heard as a kid growing up.  Ones like:
fit as a fiddle
smart as a whip
sharper than a tack
better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick
tighter than the bark on a tree
poor as a church mouse
when pigs fly
tougher than shoe leather
that's the kettle calling the pot black
chip off the old block
knee high to a grasshopper
madder than an old wet hen
not worth a hill of beans
wound up tighter than a drum
naked as a jaybird
dead as a door nail
quiet as a mouse
fit as a fiddle
loose as a goose
stubborn as a mule
so tight you squeak when you walk
sly as a fox
shootin' the bull
hard nut to crack
strong as an ox
blind as a bat
meaner than a junk yard dog
crazy as a loon

My grandma Puddin's favorite to say was "pretty is as pretty does" and my Grandpa's favorite was "I need something to wet my whistle" and he used to tell me all the time that I looked "as poor as a snake".  Now for my all time favorite and one I use myself quite often is..........................................drum roll please........................................"don't have a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of".

Those are some of the ones I remember being quoted at some point of time in my life.  How many can you remember?

Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes

I found this next recipe from Betty Crocker's website here.  I can't wait to try these out because my husband absolutely loves pineapple upside-down cake and this recipe sounds so easy by making them into cupcakes!  Once I make them, I'll let you know the verdict of whether or not this is a recipe keeper.  If these also sound easy and tasty to you, please make them and let me know what you think.  Leave me a comment so we can compare.  Good luck!

Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes
from www.bettycrocker.com

1 can (20 oz) sliced pineapple, drained, juice reserved
1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1/3 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
12 maraschino cherries, cut in half

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 24 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. Cut each pineapple slice into 4 pieces; set aside. In large bowl, beat cake mix, oil, eggs and reserved pineapple juice with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
3. In small bowl, stir together melted butter and brown sugar. Spoon 1 1/2 teaspoons butter mixture into each muffin cup. Top each with 2 pineapple pieces. Place cherry half, cut side up, in center of pineapple pieces. Spoon 1/4 cup batter into each cup.
4. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Run knife around edge of cupcakes to loosen; invert onto cookie sheet. Serve warm.