Sandra's Daily Reality

2013

I've decided to start a blog.  I'm hoping this will  help me with my NewYear's resolution and inspire others.

My husband and I have started our new lifestyle.  As part of changing our eating habits, we also stopped drinking.  I moved all the bottles downstairs (out of sight/out of mind).  We also want to increase our activity.

We started to loosely follow the South Beach diet.  I want to lose some weight and Lloyd needs to watch his carbs.  I've been getting recipes from Kalyn's Kitchen for more than a year now, and thought they looked like they'd be a good fit for us.

Since following this regime, I've discovered another low carb website, The Lighter Side, and go there for recipes, too.  You HAVE to try her Cauliflower/Cheese Pizza Crust.  You won't believe it.  I didn't - until I made it!!

While surfing the web, I came across a blog where a woman decides on a Word for the Year.  I thought that was a good idea, so I thought up one to go along with the First Day of the Rest of Our Lifes:  HEALTH

I went out a bought a small book I can use as a journal - each day I want to write down something that made me happy.  On the front page, I wrote my goals.

Word for the Year:  Health

• lose weight
• gain strength
• help Lloyd with his journey for health and strength
• organize my crafts
• clean the clutter
• stay on the wagon

Tuesday, January 1

Weight: 179.2

We went for a walk by Glenmore Reservoir - lots of people were out, it was such a nice day.  We even saw our next door neighbours.

People were on the ice, and even had a fire going for a bbq.  I'd like to do that.  I love to walk on ice.  It's so daring!  And, I love to cook food over an open fire.

There were x-country ski tracks winding through the bushes - small islands in the ice.  I need to go on Kijiji to find a pair of ski boots.

1. I'm happy we went for a walk by Glenmore.
2. I'm happy Lloyd is willing to change his diet and drinking habits with me.
3. I'm happy Lloyd and I enjoy the same foods.
4. I'm happy I have some good cookbooks.

Wednesday, January 2

I decided to take the car to Walmart, then walk to the library from there.  Then I rode on the new (west) leg of the Calgary c-train for the first time - it costs $3.00 (both ways!)  

Cheryl, my youngest daughter, and I went to the Glenbow Museum to see the exhibit, "Fairy Tales, Monsters and the Genetic Imagination".  It had some interesting things, especially the statues by Patricia Piccinini.

I googled her and she has many more similar pieces of art.

Of course, we had to go through the rest of the museum, too.  We also go through the Aboriginal part, which is a consistent display in the museum.  They also have Albertan history - trains, people, etc.  I first learned of John Ware in this museum, and used him on an ATC depicting Black History month.

Dancing starts again tonight.  We almost forgot, but made it in time.  There weren't many there, so they almost cancelled it, but decided to forge ahead.  Tonight was salsa.

1. I'm happy my kids want to do things with me - in this case, Cheryl.
2. I'm happy Cheryl & Jen are considerate of each other.
3. I'm happy I took 2 extra quarters with me for the c-train!  I thought it was $2.75.
4. I'm happy I have money to do extra things.
5. I'm happy we go dancing - it's fun, but the steps are hard sometimes, especially for Lloyd.
6. I'm happy Lloyd is a trooper!

Thursday, January 3

I drove to the hospital to take care of some business, then got some paint that I arranged to pick up through Freecycle.  Now, I have a gallon of black paint, lol.  Not sure which room I'll do black - maybe the bedroom?

I walked over to the Filipino Market today - I want to find some enchilada sauce for a Kalyn's Kitchen recipe, but I can't find it anywhere.  I guess I'll have to make my own.  They didn't have it, but I found some banana sauce!  When we were in St. Lucia, we discovered Banana Ketchup - it's yellow!  It's kind of sweet and it tastes great as a substitute for honey mustard.  I haven't tried the Banana Sauce yet (it's red), but I bought the spicy one.

Jen (middle daughter) came over.  I showed her my little journal and encouraged her to do the same.  It might help her think happy thoughts.  Jen is my sensitive daughter, and can carry a load sometimes.  We made plans to go see Hobbit next Tuesday.

1. I'm happy my legs are strong enough to carry me.
2. I'm happy I can hear the birds.
3. I'm happy I have a generous sister - when Mom moved into her heated apartment, she gave Gwen her small electric stove, and she's going to lend it to us.  Our house gets cold in the winter.

Friday, January 4

Couldn't resist: weight 175.2

I bought my Apple laptop last January/12 and finally started using it in November!  My 1 year one-on-one training was going to end in January/13 so I had to get a move on.  I did go to the Apple store, explained what I did, and they graciously gave me another year!  Wow, what great service.  I've been using their help quite a bit and learning an lot, though I can certainly see why a year is needed.  Using a Mac is a lot different from a PC and I haven't even started trying to learn iPhoto much yet.  So far, that's been a disappointment - my folders are all over the place (Mac organizes them using Events).  I still have my PC, though :)

I went to the Apple store for some more training today, and learned even more than what I have already.  It's good that I have so much experience with the PC, so I pick up the pointers quickly.

I found some skis through Kijiji and picked them up today.  The skis are too long for me, but the boots fit.  I didn't realize until I got home that they're the old style with the three holes in the boots and the three prongs in the skis, which is what I already have, so I can use my own, shorter skis.

1. I'm happy Apple is so helpful.
2. I'm happy I found some x-country boots and they fit my skis.
3. I'm happy to be part of Swap-bot - I was picked as the Dive Bomb of the Day within the Friendship Circle.

Saturday, January 5

For breakfast, I made Kalyn Kitchen's Mexican Baked Eggs - yummy!  Really yummy.  You must try it!

I used my skis!  Lloyd and I walked to Glendale School and I went around the school grounds.  It was tiring!  I only went around once, but I was puffing.  It's been probably 10 years (at least) since I've been on skis.  Way too long.  

I made a cauliflower/cheese pizza crust pizza for supper.  Oh. My. God.  I made two and froze one crust.  

1. I'm happy it's Saturday and Lloyd is home with me.  I'll be glad when he can finally retire.
2. I'm happy to get Kalyn's Kitchen emails (for delicious recipes like what I made for breakfast).
3. I'm happy I went x-country skiing.  I'm happy I have lungs that enable me to puff!
4. I'm happy I like to cook.  I found The Lighter Side website for more low carb recipes.  

Sunday, January 6

I started cleaning up my craft room today - I have some swaps that will be due soon, and I need the space (my table is covered in crap).

Lloyd and I walked over to Walmart to get a couple of things.

Made a delicious steelhead trout fillet using a recipe from a book I got from the library call, Eat, Shrink and be Merry, by Janet & Greta Podleski.  The sauce recipe is what caught my attention, because all I did with the trout was put salt & pepper on it and broil until done.  This is the sauce:

• 1/3 c light sour cream (I used fat free)
• 2 T pure maple syrup (I used Aunt Jemima pancake syrup)
• 1 T dijon mustard
• 1 T freshly squeezed lemon juice (I used the bottled stuff)
• 1 T minced fresh dill (I used 1 tsp dried)
• 1 tsp lemon zest (I didn't use this at all)

It was absolutely luscious - I can only imagine what it would have tasted like if I hadn't completely used different things, lol.  Oh, and all you do is whisk everything together and drizzle it (cold) over the cooked fish.  In their recipe they used salmon, but the steelhead trout looks like salmon and even tastes like it, so WTH.  

I watch Michael Smiths' cooking shows and he always encourages you to make it YOUR way.  I love his shows.  I even met him.  He came to Mount Royal University, so Raina, Jen and me went.  He was great.  So down to earth, he should have been BORN in Canada instead of being a transplant.

1. I'm happy we found plastic storage bins at Walmart on sale.  We need to get working on clearing out the clutter in the basement.
2. I'm glad I have things to organize.  HA - lots of things :)
3. I'm glad I have a library card, so I can always try new recipes and have things to read.

Monday, January 7

Weight: 175.4 (forgot I was supposed to wait until TUESDAY for it to be a week)

I walked to the post office to drop off a swap.  Found out the postal rates go up on the 15th, so I decided to wait to buy more stamps.  I did buy some more permanent ones, though.

I saw the neighbour down the alley splitting some wood, so I asked him where he got it.  He gets a permit for $5.25 and is allowed to chop down three deadwood trees.  He can get them all down and bucked in one day.  This is how he heats his house.  Wow, why or why don't we do this?  Of course, he has an insert in his fireplace.  I like this neighbour.  I love his little garden.  When he starts digging it in the spring, I know it's time to do ours (not that we do, but we should follow his lead).  He has a nice bounty in such a small lot.

1. I'm happy when I finish a Swap-bot item early.
2. I'm happy I can buy a lot of permanent stamps at once.
3. I'm happy I finally found out where our neighbour gets his firewood.
4. I'm happy to have a bit of chocolate in the house so we can cheat, just a bit!  Bailey filled chocolate, that is!
5. I'm happy when Lloyd goes through the papers in the front room.
6. I'm happy we were able to spend time over Xmas with a good friend who died of a heart attack, probably on Friday - she was found Saturday morning.

Tuesday, January 8

Weight: 174

I initially wanted to use up the radicchio that we did NOT like, so I searched for a recipe for soup.  I read that radicchio should be put in last, as it can get even more bitter the longer it cooks, so I didn't even use it.  I'm so glad I didn't.  What I did make was wonderful.  I put in some cooked meatballs I'd bought earlier this year.  I also wrapped up cheese and lunch meat in lettuce cups for a "sandwich".

• I'm happy Lloyd, Jen and I went to see Hobbit - the 3 hours flew by, so that tells me it was good.  The ending was disappointing, though - it stopped before it should have, so THAT tells me there will be another movie made to continue it.
• I'm happy Jen was willing to walk with me part way to the movie - Lloyd picked us up on our way.  We got in about 20 minutes.

Wednesday, January 9

I picked up two more items through Freecycle.  A coffee grinder (my idea is I'll use it for spices) and a coffee table.  Then, I went to Swiss Dental to have my implants looked at.  

The implants I got done in Costa Rica have been very disappointing.  Since I've been back home, they've been falling out of place as I eat.  I'm hoping Jennifer can fix them.  She isn't sure, because Cinica Prisma hasn't been very forthcoming in telling her what type of implants they actually used.  She also said the pieces they sent aren't reducers (and she showed me what they should look like), so I couldn't even get them tightened.  She also was concerned because they put two different things in my mouth to hold the denture part.  She's going to call them and talk to them.  I feel like I've been cheated by them.  I doubt I'll ever be able to see a penny returned to me.

Had steak tonight - prime rib.  Even though I hated my dentures, I could eat this kind of steak.  I had difficulty with these implants.  Grrrr.

Dancing tonight was the fox trot - I think this might be a good one for us.  The time sure goes by fast.

1. I'm happy I have a resource in Calgary to help me with my implants.
2. I'm happy I can help keep things out of the landfill.
3. I'm happy I have a bit of cash coming in from doing medal work.  I got another order today.
4. I'm happy we were able to bbq our supper tonight - prime rib steak.
5. I'm happy we made it safely home after dancing tonight - a big snowstorm came.

Thursday, January 10

A big pile of snow has fallen, and it's still snowing, but lightly.  I shovelled the deck and made a path down the driveway and did the sidewalk.  Then, I made a path to the front porch for the mailman.  I thought maybe he'd already come by and decided not to come up our driveway, but he was just late.  I imagine he had a lot of snow to trudge through.  A lot of people wouldn't have been able to get it moved before going to work.

Had ribs for supper, and green and yellow beans.

I "talked" a lot with RyeRye on Swap-bot today.  She convinced me to join a doll swap that was supposed to be limited to US only, but she hit International by mistake.  In the comment box, I said I was tempted but the cost would probably be too much.  She pmed me and said she made hers and it didn't weigh more than a pound.  I looked it up on the Canada Post website and it'll probably cost me $10 to send to the states.  Oh, well, just this once.  

Anyway, we talked a lot and I've invited her to join us in Costa Rica in September.  We've been asked to look after a B&B then.  It'd be great to meet RyeRye!

I got to work in the craft room.  I have a LOT of swaps get done by the end of the month.  I need to get some out of the way, so I can get some medal mounting done.

1. I'm happy it doesn't take long to vacuum - I don't know why I don't do it more often!
2. I'm happy the snow wasn't too heavy to shovel today.
3. I'm happy I got 5 Swap-bot swaps done or started (two for me to keep).

Friday, January 11

Lloyd has his Friday off today.  He went off to the eye doctor, taking 3 of my swap envelopes, and I mucked about at home with the computer, and Swap-bot.  When he got home, he shovelled some more.

Had the homemade soup for lunch.  I've been adding to it throughout the week; whenever I had water from cooking veggies, I'd throw it in, then I just put in the leftover meatballs in jarred spaghetti sauce I made a few days ago.  I froze some of it; we can't eat all that before it goes bad, I don't think. 

Raina called - she's having a boy!  I said, I guess I'll stop looking at the baby girl stuff, then.  I thought for sure she was having a girl!  Oh, well, little boys are special.  I actually have more experience with them lately - first Mackenzie, then Aryan.

Names are going to be discussed now that Raina and Tyler know.  I guess it's my prerogative to give suggestions, isn't it?  I've sent the name Lance to them.  I've always liked that one.  The baby is due May 31 and my b-day is June 5.  The possibility is there that this one just might be a very nice birthday present to me.  One of my sisters grandchildren was born on her b-day.  Why not me, too?  Actually, Gwen had one of her daughters born on her dad's b-day, and another daughter born the day after HER dad.  I was the closest in my family - a week to the day before MY dad.  Quite the coincidences.  

Went for a walk to the post office so I could mail two more swaps.  

Checked out the carbs in some non-alcohol beer we have downstairs - 17!!  No way we can drink that.  Checked out the liquor store to see what Canadian 67 has.  Only 2!  Yay!  Okay, okay - it'll be awhile before I let beer pass my/our mouths.  But, Tammy is having a surprise b-day party for John's 50th on the 26th.  Maybe then?  We'll see.

Had M&M wings tonight for supper with salad.  Good to have them out of the freezer - they've been there for awhile.

Jen just called - her cat is sick and she needs to borrow money.  Sheesh.

1. I'm happy to know that Raina's baby is a boy.
2. I'm happy I got 7 Swap-bot items done.
3. I'm happy we got the wings out of the freezer.
4. I'm happy I can help out the kids with their damn animals.
5. I'm happy the kids love their animals.
6. I'm happy Jen talked to a fellow on the bus (get her mind off other things).

Saturday, January 12

For breakfast, I made Lloyd an omelet and I had a boiled egg with a tsp of butter, 8 slices of ham sausage and two slices of velveeta cheese.  We both had milk.

Just the other day, we saw a show on TV made in the UK about diets.  One study showed that milk and cheese products (dairy) actually draws fat out of your body - yay!  I loves me my cheese :)


For lunch, I had pastrami, lettuce and cheese wrapped in a low carb tortilla we found in the Diabetic store.  They're expensive $5.99, but low in carbs - 3 g per wrap.  Lloyd had the rest of the soup.


Went to Stupid Store and found some protein powder to add to my ingredient list for low carb cooking.  Now, I have coconut flour and almond flour.  I still have to find some flaxseed meal.

Went to Michaels to get some cotton yarn.  I found some cute patterns for booties, bibs and toys for the babe, so I knew what I needed.  There were a lot of things on sale, so I got a few stamps, some glitter and some paint - all things I don't need.  There was a fellow at the checkout who said to me, You've got too much stuff, young lady.  I said, Yeah, I know I usually go overboard.  Then he said, And then you pack it away in your cupboards and don't use it.  I told him, Oh, shut up.  LOL.  He knew.

Didn't get to the school playground to get any skiing in - I guess my walking around in the stores has to  be counted as my exercise today.  Bad.

For a snack we munch on nuts.  Might be going overboard with them.  If I haven't done so well at my weigh-in on Tuesday, I'm going to start actually counting my carbs for a bit.

Before supper, we had a couple of feta stuffed peppers.  Love those.

For supper, we had nachos.  I know, it doesn't sound low carb, but at Wally World I found some Flatout Flatbread (multi-grain with flax) that has 20 g of carbs, but the 8 g of fibre makes it only 12 g.  I sprayed two of them with Pam and baked them in the oven until they got crisp, then broke them up into chips and covered them with the usual suspects - cheese, green onion and jalapeño.  I put some garlic into the mix tonight.  Shoved it into the oven (I've been without a microwave since last spring) until the cheese melted and then put the chopped tomatoes on top.  Served with salsa, of course.  And, a glass of milk.

1. I'm happy Michaels had cotton yarn on sale - I plan on making some things for my l'il grandson!
2. I'm happy I finally found some protein powder; maybe I can make some "bread" to conquer our cravings for higher carb things.