What I {Found To Eat} Today

Sigh...

I'm on a new diet.

It's rough.

But I know I should do it.

We're doing South Beach.  Have you ever tried it?

Phase one is HARSH.

No carbs = No fun

Luckily this only lasts two weeks and then we move into phase two where we can reintroduce brown rice and whole grains oh and carrots I have never craved a carrot more than when I'm told I can't have one.

I CANNOT WAIT FOR PHASE TWO!

I kind of hate breakfast and all foods associated with breakfast.  With my new lifestyle I have been forced to try to eat things like eggs (blagh) and turkey bacon (blaaaghghgh).  I'm more of a bagel, muffin, cereal kinda gal so I've been VERY HUNGRY.

I tried scrambled eggs and basically just swallowed them. Gross.

I tried a fried egg and the dogs got most of that. Yuck.

I've just been giving up and eating my 18 allotted nuts. Soooo filling.

So today I tried a poached egg. I had it with some sliced avocado and a "Mock Hollandaise" sauce.

Verdict: I ate it.  So I guess that's a step in the right direction.

After looking up several recipes for the sauce I decided to make up one of my own since we don't have egg substitute around here.

Here is my very accurate and scientific recipe:

Rachel's Tolerable Mock Hollandaise Sauce

• 1 large spoonful of mayonnaise
• 1 large spoonful of sour cream
• 2 globs of dijon mustard
• The juice of one lemon slice
• Cayenne pepper to taste

1. Combine all ingredients in a micro safe bowl.
2. "Nuke" it for about 30 seconds 
3. Stir and serve over whatever you can swallow for breakfast
4. Thank me later

Does your mom say stuff like "I'll just nuke it in the microwave for a bit"?

Cause mine does.  Makes me chuckle every time.

That, and when she says, "it's just balmy today" hahaha oh man that one kills me!

So I'm really looking forward to the end of phase one but I guess the good news is that I've lost 4 pounds.  Wooooot.

ANYWAYS, enough complaining.

Let me tell you about Halloween!

Remember how I mentioned making Mia's costume?  Well here it is in all its glory.

 She was a little Hershey Kiss!

 

A very chocolaty Hershey Kiss 

 CUTENESS

She won the neighborhood costume contest btw.

Well, she won for her age bracket...

There was only one other kid...

But she still won!

I went to a Halloween party.

No one had any idea who I was.  

Apparently no one watches TV anymore.

But for those in the know, I think we can all agree I was pretty accurate!

You may be asking yourself, who's this guy?

He was a Snuggie! Get it?  He wasn't wearing a Snuggie, he was the Snuggie.  It was his idea and as a team we made it actually happen. Really last minute.  As in right before we left for the party.  But that's when you get your best ideas.

Oh, you what to actually know WHO he is?

He's the guy that made me go on the terrifying rides at the fair.  And got me lost in a corn maze. And made me go to Carrolton, GA. I guess we can call him my beau.  

Dahlonega was a huge FAIL this year. I don't even have any pictures to show you.  There were a ton more people and the vibe just wasn't the same. We ended up cutting our trip short.  Sad face...

So that's what been up lately.  How was your Halloween?

Oh and one more thing I've been thinking about...  Why the hell are we starting a diet just before Thanksgiving!?!?

Ok I promise I'm done complaining.  For now.


Post Script: As a special treat I have some new Vivian pics to share! Yaaaaaay

Vivi and her German grandparents

Aww look at G'ma and Vivi! 

My mom is the first Hwitty that got to go over and meet the baby in person.  I can't wait until it's my turn!

Balding babies are so funny looking!

What I {Threw Together} Today

Here's a list of um random.

I made a birthday card.

Yes, that's a Snuggie.

No, I have no idea how to draw a soccer ball.

I sewed Mia's costume with help from this and this.

I have more to show you about this later.  We're going to wine country again this year so I'll have plenty of pics to share.

I want to read this book.

And this book.

But I still have all these books to start.

I carved my pumpkin. 

Not as classy as last year but equally fun. (holy crap look how small Mia is!)

Michelle found something called a ghost pumpkin the innards are melon colored. Tres cool.

I have an art crush on Helmut Smits.

I want to try to bake my own bread, any recipes or tips?

I really love cutting things with my new pinking shears.

One time Michelle and I cleaned the entire kitchen floor with wet wipes.

I'm going to make some friendship bracelet and/or necklace type things.  If your lucky I might make you one too...maybe.

I'm seriously craving a vanilla latte.  

And some new boots.

And scarf wearin time.

Oooh and I want a pom pom maker! 

Seriously, where's my latte?

What I {Had A Flashback Of} Today

Today at work a piece I had been working on finally got fired and was out of the kiln.

Check it out...

Loves it!

Looking at the picture gave me a flashback of the Zebra/Tiger debate of 09.

If you don't recall here's the best part...

Scene: 6:00am, the morning after Halloween in the room at the Super 8 Motel. 

Me: So, I don't think that costume was supposed to be a zebra...

Jason: Who wakes up and says that?

Michelle: Why don't you think it was a zebra?

Me: I just think about these things.  And I was just laying here thinking...it didn't have a mane.  If it were a zebra, wouldn't it have a  mane?

Jason: If it wasn't a zebra then what was it?

Me: A Siberian tiger.

Jason: It was not a tiger! It was white!

Me: Then it was a white Siberian tiger.

Michelle: Yeah like that creepy couple! The guys in Vegas that had the white tigers.  Man, what were their names?

Me: I know who you're talking about, but I can't think of the names.

Michelle: One of them was mauled by the tiger.  Look it up on Google! Google "Vegas act mauled by tiger"

(pause)

Me: Sigmund and Freud! That's it!

Michelle: Oh yeah I think that's it! Wait no, I don't think that's right...

(pause) 

Me: Oh wait, yeah I just googled it...it was Siegfried and Roy.

End scene. 

We should be on TV.

In kinda sorta related news...I'm so ready for fall! 

And I'm really craving some new outerwear.

Is it time yet? Is it time yet?

What I {Got Back From} Today

This weekend we decided to take a mini vacay and go to wine country.

No, not in Italy...unfortunately

No, not in Australia...unfortunately

No, not in California...unfortunately

Fortunately Dahlonega, GA is about an hour drive away...

And shockingly, is quite beautiful and makes some delicious wine!

Our first stop was the Chili Cook Off.

Yes, more chili...it must seem like I'm obsessed with chili.

  I'm not! ...well maybe a little. Ugh, I need to cut my bangs.

Then we headed to Frogtown Winery

It was b-e-a-uitiful!

Tastings, lunch, and a bottle later we headed back to our stylish accommodations...The Super 8 Motel.

It was um...a place to sleep.

Then Mia begged her parents to take her trick or treating.

We decided to join the locals for some trick or treating on the square.

But first we had to get her dressed...

Why was the zebra selected you ask?

Well, Mia's play mat (featured here) came with some lovely little animal friends that she can play with.  One day her mum was explaining what the animals were and what sound they make.  The lion roars! The elephant trumpets! The bunny...oh well the bunny doesn't really make a sound.  Moving on! The giraffe goes...oh hmm yeah well the giraffe isn't really known for a sound either...Ok last one, the zebra says...Wait, what sound does a zebra make?  Does it neigh like a horse? Who picked these animals? They make no sounds! So now Mia's mostly silent little animal friends have become a running joke.

When the costume was purchased we thought it was a zebra.

It had stripes like a zebra...

It had a tail like a zebra...kinda

Which lead to a great debate...

  Scene: 6:00am, the morning after Halloween in the room at the Super 8 Motel. 

Me: So, I don't think that costume was supposed to be a zebra...

Jason: Who wakes up and says that?

Michelle: Why don't you think it was a zebra?

Me: I just think about these things.  And I was just laying here thinking...it didn't have a mane.  If it were a zebra, wouldn't it have a  mane?

Jason: If it wasn't a zebra then what was it?

Me: A Siberian tiger.

Jason: It was not a tiger! It was white!

Me: Then it was a white Siberian tiger.

Michelle: Yeah like that creepy couple! The guys in Vegas that had the white tigers.  Man, what were their names?

Me: I know who you're talking about, but I can't think of the names.

Michelle: One of them was mauled by the tiger.  Look it up on Google! Google "Vegas act mauled by tiger"

(pause)

Me: Sigmund and Freud! That's it!

Michelle: Oh yeah I think that's it! Wait no, I don't think that's right...

(pause)

Me: Oh wait, yeah I just googled it...it was Siegfried and Roy.

End scene.

We should be on TV.

*photos by Jason