Spreading Christmas Cheer

The neighborhood that I work is pretty affluent. My students always have the coolest & newest phone, gadgets, and toys. So before our annual Holiday Party where they'd open gifts, play games and eat sweets I wanted my students to take the opportunity to serve others first. Here's a quick re-cap of our "Pre-Party" Service Project Party.

First we built blessing bags for one of the churches in the area. ( I know you can't see their faces but they have such big smiles on them) We included things like tissues, soap, shampoo, razors, tooth brushes & a snack.

Then we wrote letters to the troops.

I'm blessed to have the opportunity to serve these kids daily.

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:28

The New Kid on the Block

After my fabulous Scentsy party last week I earned enough in free goodies to get Molly a "Lenny the Lamb". I think they'll be the best of friends!

They meet

Hugs

Kisses

Wednesday Weigh In

Well instead of sharin' with you all the things that helped me fall OFF the wagon this week (ie: christmas cookies) I'm going to share with you the things that I should have done to stay on track and not gain that pound this week.


My week goes so much more smoothly if I plan my menu for the week on Saturday morning and follow it up with grocery shopping. My Saturday shopping time was a little different than normal this week so I was out of sync for the rest of the week but I wrote out my menu for the next few weeks and I feel much better about it. Plus it is so much better on my budget!


Tracking is such an easy thing to do. You can do it from your phone for goodness sake. But it's also easy to put it on the back burner. I need to make sure I'm tracking everything I eat even if I think I have it all pre-planned.


When I'm having one of those stressful days and really just want to sit and have a beer with the hubby then I should grab for one of these. They're half the points of a Miller Light and they taste pretty good.


Recipe for the Week
Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole


2 lbs frzn hasbrowns
3 C Egg Beaters
1 C Shredded Cheese
6 oz diced ham
1 C FF milk
Mix all in crock-pot and cook on low for 8-10 hours. You can do this overnight even! It serves 10 people for only 6 points per serving. Hello easy Christmas morning breakfast.

Stats for this Week
(feel free to leave yours in the comments section if you want to have another source of accountablilty)
lost this week: +1 lb
total loss in 11 weeks: 9 lbs
Lbs left til Pre-Molly Weight: 11
NSV (non scale victory): I fell off the wagon but I didn't go on a binge so I guess thats good. Plus I've still passed up that drive thru on the way to work! So that counts for something.

And the Winner Is...

ROBERT GRIFFIN III

Molly's vote was in early!

But we took our bath and put on PJs before the announcement so we showed what spirit we could

Our house looked/sounded much like this only with less beer and people.

That good old Baylor line!
That good old Baylor line!
We'll march forever down the years,
As long as stars shall shine.
We'll fling our green and gold afar
To light the ways of time,
And guide us as we onward go;
That good old Baylor line!

Plus here's my super cute T-Shirt

" the hotter the heat, the harder the steel. No pressure, no diamonds. We compete, we win. We are Baylor. Baylor we are, Baylor we'll always be"- R.G.III

Santa Claus is coming to Town

Today we visited Santa at the mall. We got there about 15 min. before Santa was scheduled to arrive. I thought we'd be one of the first few people in line....That wasn't the case. We waited our turn and Molly was so well behaved.

We made friends with the sweet people around us who were visiting from Houston. They were kind enough to take our picture.


After about an hour it was our turn. Molly did so well with Santa, and he was so kind that he didn't even flinch when she pulled his beard. I'm sure she's not the first.


Before we left we stopped to mail her letter.


I'm so looking forward to the holiday season with this sweet little girl!

Weigh In Wednesday...on Friday

This week it def. feels like the holiday season is upon us. Parties and Christmas cookies and dinners out etc. Here are the few things that helped me stay on track this week


These bagel thins are better than the Thomas ones IMO. They actually taste like a real bagel that they just trimmed down. There's no funky after taste or anything like that so these are my new fav. bagel thins!


We had Chili for dinner TWO nights this week and this 97/3 ground beef is def. makin' the cut around here. We usually use deer meat for anything that calls for beef but Rustin still hasn't got his deer yet this season.


If you know me you know I don't eat salad. I just dont care for it. If it's the only option I might but it's a rarity. Well let me tell ya this dressing makes a bowl full o lettuce into a ROCKIN' salad. I dont even really care for anything tomato-y but lemme tell ya it's awesome!

Recipe for the Week
PUMPKIN SPICE CREAM CHEESE SPREAD
8 oz Philadelphia 1/3 fat cream cheese
1/2 cup pureed pumpkin (canned is fine)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp agave nectar
Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl and beat until smooth. It's supper yummy on the above mentioned bagel thins!


Stats for this Week
(feel free to leave yours in the comments section if you want to have another source of accountablilty)
lost this week: 1 lb
total loss in 10 weeks:10 lbs
Lbs left til Pre-Molly Weight: 10
NSV (non scale victory): I'm looking forward to having enough energy to work out again. I haven't been at all the last few weeks and I just feel like if I'm home I need to be spending time with my family. I'm planning on taking Molly for walks every afternoon after work next week.

Tis the Season

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, Scentsy warmers. I don't ever worry about them catching fire because I've left them on or anything silly like that. I have a dear friend, Mitzi who is like the QUEEN of Scentsy so I decided to have friends over for yummy food, drinks, and some holiday cheer. I baked Christmas cookies that actually turned out as good as the ones I saw on pinterest (WHOOOO!!)

We had some yummy Chili that Jenny and I tried at Christmas Affair (it's not homemade gourmet but it's pretty dang awesome!)

Molly was dressed to show her Christmas Spirit in this cute little outfit I made her

I'm usually not one thats in these parties for the free goods but this time I'm in it for this; and wouldn't it just look fabulous with a cute little picture of Molly in it!

More than anything I was happy to get into the Holiday spirit with good friends and family.