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28 January 2013

Upcycling for the holidays: Candy Cane Hearts


I had bought a bunch of candy canes right before Christmas and they did not get eaten.  Since I have started the 17 Day Diet again,  I cannot have them.  I did a search and found that you can melt them into hearts.  I cannot find the original post but it is so easy.  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Lay candy canes on paper in the shape of a heart.  They melt fast so you will have to watch.  These took about 4 minutes to flatten.

Some of the canes were broken so we placed them on the baking sheet, placed a dish towel over them, and whacked them with a hammer.  I then shaped them into this heart.  

After about 6 minutes it was fully melted.  Very quickly, using a chop stick,  I gently traced the heart patterns and shaped the side a little.  It starts to cool and set up very fast.  


 This is the finished product.  Fun, easy, and candy is out of my house!!!

23 January 2013

On my way

This year, I not only decided to return to The 17 Day Diet (I would rather call it a lifestyle plan) but also to start exercising more, spend less time on the internet, spend more time with my family, and watch less TV.  

I realized over the later part of last year that Facebook has become all consuming for me.  I was checking it at least hourly, most of the time more, and my train of thought often included, "I should post this."  I realized that I was addicted.  I decided that I needed to take a break from Facebook when I noticed how much data it was consuming on my phone.  I uninstalled my Facebook app and made a promise to myself to stay off for one month.  I am about 2 weeks into this and feeling great about it.  I was getting so upset daily about crap people post on there.  I really am quite happy to not know peoples opinions on politics and religion, etc.  My hope is that after a month I won't feel the need to be on there all the time.  I think, like most things, it is okay in moderation.

I  starting reading to my daughter again at bedtime. I used to read to her every night up to a couple of years ago.  She is almost 11 and I thought too old yo be read to,(she reads at a 10th grade level), but she asked me to start again.  I didn't realize how much I missed it.  I was thinking about why it stopped and not only because I thought she was too old but because it seems there was a TV program on every night that we wanted to watch.  So now, I am making her choose, either read or TV, not both.  She tried to talk me into reading at 9:00pm (her bedtime) but I set the time at 8:00pm. This tackled both less TV and more family time.


I am on day 17 of cycle 1 and have lost 7 lbs!!  I can't wait to add carbs back in.  I think this time around I am going to exercise on the carb days.  I have been doing 20-30 minutes of walking on the treadmill and then 30 minutes of yoga and exercise ball.  I have been trying to do this every other day.  I can't believe how great I feel.  My skin has cleared up, my back and shoulder are hurting less, I have more energy, and I have been sleeping better.  I hope to be at my goal weight by spring break in the end of March.  13lbs to go.  I am on my way to a better version of me.



 

08 January 2013

Back on The 17 Day Diet

Well, my husband and I were bad all summer on through the holidays are paying for it, big time.  We both put back on all of the weight we lost when we did The 17 Day Diet over a year ago.  We started back up a couple of days ago and I am down one pound already.  I forgot how good the food really can be.  I made a yummy chicken soup the first day and chicken salad yesterday.  I also made a big batch of the cauliflower bread for pizzas and sandwiches.  I am really craving Eggplant Parmesan from the book but couldn't find any good ones at the grocery store.   I also made veggie dip out of Kraft Fat Free Mayo and Meijer Fat Free Sour Cream and a packet of dry Ranch dip mix.

 My neighbor, Phoebe, called me this morning and told me that her and her husband are trying it out too.  Good luck, it is easier than it sounds!

I just bought all this:

Asparagus
Brussels Spouts
Kale (for kale chips...so yummy)
arugula
romaine lettuce
cabbage
cauliflower (for mock rice and bread)
carrots
Cucumbers
Leeks
Green Onions
White Onions
93% lean ground turkey
skinless chickenbreast



I am going to make Thai  Lettuce Wraps with ground turkey for tonight!