Someone is 18 Months Old

Can we take a moment and say, "How ON EARTH did THAT happen?" Seriously?! Our boy is 18 months old. While I've completely sucked at blogging (other things have taken priority), I wanted to make some notes about this crazy milestone. 

I know that I might be a little biased, but Clark is awesome. He's so sweet and funny. His favorite thing is giving kisses. Sometimes blows them to us (Mwah!) and other times he plants these open mouth kisses lovingly on our mouths. He melts my heart every single time. While he has a soft side, there's not doubt that he's a rough and tumble boy. He runs and climbs and screams while doing it all. He loves books, his kitchen, and spends much of his time saying "Uh-oh!" He's not talking much more than that, but Mike and I are convinced that it's because he knows he gets what he needs without talking. (He's a pro at pointing with his chubby little finger.) 

Although he won't be an only child forever (don't get any crazy ideas--we're talking years here, people), we're loving that he is right now. 

Here are some of my favorite photos from right now. 

Munchie Monday: Apple Pancake Wontons

One of my favorite blogs of the moment is Emily Bites. It's no wonder that as I've been getting back to healthy eating that a food blog would make my top ten. After I made her lasagna "cupcakes" I was not only thrilled to add this recipe to my regular dinner rotation, but I was also sold on wonton wrappers. How had I never seen their potential?

The morning after the very successful "lasagna" dinner, I was considering how to use the rest of my wonton wrappers while also craving one of my favorite breakfast foods--German apple pancake. I can't express to you how much I LOVE these things! My mom makes four to five of these every year for Christmas breakfast (mostly because my brother and I can take down one a piece if we're hungry enough). The original recipe calls for lots of eggs, butter, and flour. Weight Watchers friendly it isn't. So, I decided to do a little recipe revamp and guess what? I hit the jackpot! Without further adieu, I bring you my latest original (I'm saying this original, but truthfully, it probably exists somewhere out there already) recipe:

Apple Pancake Wontons

Ingredients:
-24 wonton wrappers
-1 large apple
-3/4 c. egg substitute
-1 tsp. vanilla
-Stevia (or your choice of zero calorie sweetener)
-Cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

2. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray and place two wonton wrappers (situated to make a star) into each opening.

3. Cube apple and toss with cinnamon and Stevia to taste (I use 2 packets of Stevia)

4. Spoon apples into wonton wrappers.

5. Mix vanilla, egg substitute and 1-2 packets of Stevia together. Spoon egg mixture into wonton wrappers over apples. Apples should still peek through the mixture

6. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool for 3-5 minutes before carefully running a knife along the edge of each "pancake".

7. Enjoy with a little zero calorie syrup!

These refrigerate well. I haven't tried freezing yet, but if you do, let me know how they are.

WW Points +: 4 "Pancakes" for 5 points

A PSA to my healthier self

There are going to be times on this journey that you're going to want to return to your old habits. You'll think to yourself, "It's a holiday," or "I've been so good, a little splurge can't hurt," or (and this is my favorite) "Other people have lost weight by taking weekends 'off'; you can too!" Here's the thing. Those things may be true, but returning to your old habits for just a day or two can/will probably, most definitely leave you feeling like crap. I'm citing Easter 2013 as proof. Get back on track tomorrow, Healthy Betty. You'll thank me. And the next time you want to go rogue, remember the agony of reliving that second helping of Polish sausage. :/

Weigh In Wednesday: Off to a GOOD Start!

I wish I was the quippy individual who created Weigh In Wednesday--I am not. BUT I will use it here because of aforementioned quip.

One week in on Weight Watchers (No, I'm not paying for it this time. Yes, I once again love my iPhone and its free apps.) and I'm down 2.2 pounds. I'll take it. After all, it's slow but steady right? And, I have a track record of being really good at failing when it comes to weight loss.

I was word vomiting talking to my dear friend Sarah this morning about my most recent weight loss commitment (really only because she saw my current desktop background which says, "The voice that says you can't do it is a lying slut"--except she only saw the "lying slut" part and need explanation) and basically put it this way: I need to grow up. I'm freaking THIRTY YEARS OLD. *sigh & WTF* I've never been a person who can eat whatever the hell I want without consequence, so why any part of me thinks that this awesome metabolism would kick in now is beyond me.

I had started a different blog to document my weight loss, but really, "ain't nobody got time fo dat!", so, you guys are getting it here. It's probably better for me anyway. If I know that all six of you are reading this it might  be the same as going to meetings. (All I could think right then was, "Hi. My name is Betty, and I'm a fatty."--new blog title?)

Maybe someday I'll publicly disclose my start weight, but that day is not today. For now, you may know that I'm down 2.2 leaving me 32.8 lbs away from my goal weight (47.8 lbs away from my DREAM weight).

Well, hello there!

Remember when I used to blog? I'm sure those of you who are a part of my small readership have been happy to have a break from absolutely lost without my random nonsense. I'm hoping you'll graciously accept me back into your reading routines as I'm hoping to be better about blogging at least a couple times a week (as opposed to once every six months).

I have a lot of work to do today while CW is at daycare, but I did want to post a little something. (I think one of the reasons I don't blog more is because I think of each post as an essay--when it's easier and shorter, more like a status update, it's more likely to happen.) For those of you who are close to me (that would be about half of you!), you know that I've been having serious body image issues.  What I've realized through dealing with these feelings of inadequacy is that I need to focus and be committed to being healthier. It's not just about me anymore. CW needs parents who are modeling a healthy lifestyle. So, today is...

NO EXCUSES TUESDAY!

I've been wanting to start running again. A few years ago I was logging 5 miles daily (I think back now and realize that if I had been eating better too, I may have actually reached my goal weight!), and I've missed the runner's high I get and how good I feel. The problem for the past few months is that I've been doing a lot of wanting but not much running. I've rationalized it by whining about not having access to a treadmill in the stupid cold of Chicagoland. This morning though, after I dropped the boy at daycare, I came home, laced up and got my booty out on the road. 

The Chicago Color Run is June 16, and I want to be ready! So, this is my reentry into the blogosphere. Maybe it will be a little bit of accountability? Here's hoping.