OMG the best Chicken Tortilla Soup ever!

I love Emilybites! In case you've never heard of it, it's a blog by a fellow Weight Watcher who makes slimmed down versions of comfort food. I saw the chicken tortilla soup recipe on her website and it looked so simple. I'll link to her website since I copied her recipe. I did make a few slight modifications though and added 1 tsp cumin, 3 cloves of minced garlic instead of 2, and I used canned chicken instead of cooking it myself.

http://www.emilybites.com/2010/12/chicken-tortilla-soup.html?showComment=1300657911931#c5224178252157199720

Day 11--Spring Has Sprung

Today marks the first day of spring and I couldn't be happier! I'm so ready to be finished with sweaters and snow so I can embrace sunshine and flip flops! I know it's slightly ghetto to be posting a picture of a dandelion instead of a prettier flower like a tulip but dandelions remind me of childhood and summer.

Day 10--Marksbury Farm

I love spending time with my Mom so naturally we had a blast on Friday shopping in Lexington. On the way back to Danville, we stopped at this cute little farmhouse right on the Garrard/Boyle line that sells locally grown products. They have meat that is locally raised without any chemicals and local produce and other edibles. I didn't buy anything but the place was adorable and I'm sure I'll be back!

Day 9--The Dark Lord

As I was walking back to my car after shopping at the mall, this bumper sticker grabbed my attention so I stopped to take a picture. There was a lady who was walking in the opposite direction toward the mall and she totally gave me the most random look for taking this picture! Anyway, Voldemort? For what? Does this Republican actually know who Voldemort is? Leader of the Death Eaters. Killer of Harry Potter's parents. Dude without a nose. I wouldn't vote for He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named for anything.

Day 8--You jump I jump Jack

I'm not afraid of heights or anything but the idea of walking around on a roof with no harness or big fluffy mat underneath me terrifies me. As I hit up DQ this afternoon for happy hour (1/2 price Mt. Dew on a day that I'm craving caffeine), I saw these guys just casually strolling (okay, they were working) on a construction site next door just amazed me.

Day 7--I've Got Lance In My Pants

I really probably should stop trying to take pictures with my phone as I drive home from work but if I did, then you all lovely readers (are there any of you out there?) would have missed this gem. It's difficult to tell from the picture but this truck has a picture of a man's back jeans pocket with a package of crackers in it. Next to the pocket says "I've got Lance in my pants." I guess I'm a perv but I would rather have a hot guy named Lance in my pants than a package of stale crackers.

Day 6--There IS a difference

Did you know that there are many different brands of skillets, all with remarkable qualities? I didn't until lunch today. The lovely cellophane wrapped object sititng on our conference table is a skillet (or saucepan, or whatever) that a coworker ordered. Said skillet resulted in a 30 minute discussion about cookwear. I love to cook but I would have never dreamed that there were so many kinds of pans and that they differ from each other.

Easy Beef Stroganoff

Please excuse the bowl in the picture. I had started eating this delicious meal when I realized I needed to take a picture for the blog. The recipe calls for 90% lean ground beef but what I had in the fridge had expired so I used ground turkey instead and thought that it was delicious. Here's the recipe:

4 1/2 cups uncooked yolk-free noodles
1 lb lean ground beef (90%)
1 large onion, halved and sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp reduced-fat butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 can (14 1/2 oz) reduced sodium beef broth
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup (8 oz) fat-free sour cream
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile in a large saucepan, cook the beef, mushrooms and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Remove and keep warm.

In the same pan, melt butter. Sitr in flour until smooth, gradually add broth and tomato paste. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Carefully return beef mixture to the pan. Add the sour cream, salt and pepper; cook and stir until heated through (do not boil). Drain noodles; serve with beef mixture.

2/3 cup beef mixture + 3/4 cup noodles= 6 servings

326 calories
7 g fat
48 mg cholesterol
342 mg sodium
39 g carbohydrates
3 g fiber
24 g protein
8 POINTS PLUS

Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook Magazine (says to display until 5-16-11)

I'm feelin' lucky!

I went to a friend's baby shower this afternoon and one of the shower games was a game where you guessed the total price of about 6 or 7 assorted baby items. Whoever guessed closest to the actual price won the game. I normally suck when I play along with the Price is Right on TV and I don't have any kids so I don't know how much these type of things sell for. As a fluke I guessed $36.25. Guess what? The actual retail price (without going over) was $35.26. I was one penny off. Woah! There was a second game with a tie breaker that you had to pick a number between 1 and 10. I guessed 3. The number was 3. Freaky. Anyway, several people encouraged me to buy a lottery ticket tonight since I was having a lucky streak. One is Powerball and the other is Decades of Dollars. Either way, it would be great to retire. We'll see later how I did--hopefully as well as I did at baby shower games!

Day 5--Saturday night at Speedway

Saturday night. Speedway. Richmond, Ky. 41 Degrees outside. Cold. Mardi Gras Beads. Skintight LBD. Green heels. Makes total sense.

Day 4--Fur-Real?

Wal-Mart can be a scary place for many reasons, but somehow the toy section doesn't evoke horror to most people. My Mom and I were at the store tonight looking for a gift for my best friend's daughter. As we browsed through the aisles, I heard a "Meow." On the bottom shelf was this cat who in addition to meowing, also blinks and moves. This toy cat made me jump a foot in the air. I don't know why someone would buy a toy that just makes noise for no reason but evidently there is a market for these things.

Day 3--Local Legend

The picture isn't the best quality because I was driving while trying to take it (totally unsafe I know). Here in Richmond is a man whose real name I do not know but is called "Big World." On pretty days you can find him hanging out at one of the intersections around town on either his lawn mower or bicycle. He always has a bunch of signs with him advertising local businesses and sales. World waves at cars as they go by and always has a smile. Seeing him can put me immediately in a good mood. I forgot to take a picture on Thursday because it was rainy and gloomy but on my way to Q'Doba Friday night I had a Big World sighting and it totally was the highlight of my day.

Day 2--Rock me like a mother rocks her child

This picture is the result of my stellar photography taking skills (sticking my iPhone out of my sunroof on the way home from work). As I was driving home, I looked up and thought the clouds were so beautiful. After months of gray skies and snow, seeing the perfect blue sky and fluffy white clouds really brightens my day. My first flight was 9 years ago to Paris and I remember when we landed looking out the tiny little window and seeing the clouds beside me. As we descended, there was the slight shaking of the plane as it went through the miles of clouds and it reminded me of sitting in my mom's lap while she rocked me to sleep. There's just something about clouds that remind me of a simple, happy time in life.

Day 1--There is Hope

I'm sure the cars that were passing by my on this highway thought that I had lost my mind, and maybe I have. I was driving to Rowan County to visit a client in jail and passed this sign in Montgomery County. Some people are full of hope, others are searching for it. Evidently Hope is one right turn away.

50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind (Part 2)

26. Would you rather lose your old memories or not be able to make new ones?
Wow, this one is tough. I think if I had to choose I'd rather not be able to make new ones. My Granny passed away in 2005 and I would hate to lose all the memories I have of her. Besides, my memories make me who I am today.

27. Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
Yes. There are still honest people out there who will tell you the truth without hesitation.

28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?
No, and I hope it never does. My greatest fear is spending the rest of my life alone. Even if I never manage to fall in love and get married, I know that I won't be alone.

29. Do you remember that time five years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it matter now?
Five years ago, I failed the bar and lost my job at the Danville DPA office. It was such a hard time to go through. I felt like a failure and I lost a job that truly made me happy. I ended up passing the bar later and getting a job at a different DPA office so in the grand scheme of things, I guess it doesn't matter. I do wonder where my life would be if those things didn't happen but I would have missed out meeting some wonderful people.

30. What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?
On the weekends, my brother and I used to drag all of our stuffed animals into one of our bedrooms (usually mine) and play house. Each animal had their own name, voice, and story. I was the "Mommy" and Clay was the "Daddy." We used to think that if the door was shut, our parents wouldn't be able to hear us but they always did. It was such a happy and simple time in our lives.

31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
It's sad...I honestly don't know that I have felt that way.

32. If not now, then when?
I had so much fun my sophomore year of college. I had Chy, Steph, Marlana, and Erika and I was so happy. They made life fun. I loved school, my classes, and feeling "grownup."

33. If you haven't achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
I really don't know how to answer this question. Is there an approrpriate response?

34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had?
No. The best conversations I've ever had involve words.

35. Why do religions that support love cause so many words?
I think it's because each religion is different than the others and people who believe in something tend to think that their beliefs are the true beliefs and try to get others to believe as they do. Religion is something that people feel passionately about and defend their beliefs passionately.

36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
I don't think so. There are shades of gray and I don't think any of us are pure good or pure evil. Good people may do evil things for good reasons and vice versa.

37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
If it was a million without having to have half of it taken for taxes, yes. I would pay off my debts and go back to school and be a French professor so I could be able to spend my summers abroad.

38. Would you rather have less work to do or more work that you actually enjoy doing?
Less work to do. I'm lazy at heart.

39. Do you feel like you've lived this day 100 times before?
Yes. I tend to do the same thing on Sundays--laundry, grocery, watching TV.

40. When was the last time you marched in the dark with only the soft glow of an idea that you believed in?
No times that I know of. I know I always have the support of my parents in what I do.

41. If you knew that everyone you knew was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
I would spend time with my relatives. They are so very important to me and I'd want to spend as much time as possible with them.

42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to be extremely attractive or famous?
No. Looks can fade over time and if being famous means that there is a possibility that I could end up like Lindsay Lohan than I'd rather be old and ordinary.

43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
Being alive is breathing air and beating hearts. Truly living is enjoying each day as if it is your last.

44. When is it time to stop calculating risks and rewards and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
When you have a safety net to catch you if you fall!

45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
Sometimes when we make mistakes we lose something that we can never regain.

46. What would you do differently if you knew no one would judge you?
I would eat whatever I wanted to and not ever worry about how I looked or what others thought of me.

47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
A few weeks ago when my neighbors were being loud and I put in earplugs.

48. What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
I'm starting to love myself and going to the gym and eating healthier shows that I care about myself and love how I am changing!

49. In five years will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?
No because I haven't done anything out of the ordinary these past few days.

50. Decisions are being made right now. The question is: are you making them for yourself or letting others make them for you?
I make my own decisions but others do influence me. I ultimately call the shots because I live with the consequences of my actions.

50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind (Part 1)

So this is going to be the first one on my 101 list that I'm completing. Here goes nothing!

1. How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?
I think I would be 45. I don't do a lot of things that people my age do. I'm not big on drinking or staying out all night. I work, go the gym, and occasionally do something with my friends and family. There are some days that I'm perfectly content to stay home. I hope that when I lose more weight and gain more confidence, I can let go of some of my fears and live more like someone who is 30.

2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
Failing. I hate failing at something. I try so hard to be as perfect as I possibly can in all areas of my life. If I fail, I know that I CAN'T do something but if I don't try, the possibility that I can is still out there.

3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don't like and like so many things that we don't do?
It seems that from the time we're born, we all have expectations and responsibilities. Until we're adults, we do what our parents and teachers ask of us whether we want to or not. Later when we're adults we have bills, families, jobs, and can't just do whatever we want. We work at jobs that we hate so that we can have food on the table and a roof over our heads while wishing for things that we will never have.

4. When it's all said and done, will you have said more than you've done?
Yes. I come up with all these things that I want to do and want to try but for some reason or another, it tends to be all talk and little action. Working on this 101 things in 1001 days projet will hopefully remedy that.

5. What is the one thing you'd most like to change about the world?
I wish that drugs and substance abuse wasn't a problem. I don't know what the solution should be, but maybe if we can do a better job of educating people at a young age so that they can learn what kind of life they will have if this becomes a problem. It seems like every day you hear about the crime rate increasing and it all can be traced back to drugs.

6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
I love makeup. I would be happy to do people's makeup all day and make them feel beautiful. Since I'm a lawyer, I think I'm in the wrong field for that, so maybe being a makeup artist can be my side job.

7. Are you doing what you believe in or are you settling for what you're doing?
I used to think that I made a difference in my job but lately it seems like I keep seeing the same people make the same mistakes and I wonder what role I had in their lives. I know that people are responsible for their own actions and I know that I can only do so much to help but it gets discouraging at times. My job tends to be a thankless one.

8. If the average life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
I would have enjoyed my childhood more. I spent so much time wishing that I was older that I feel like I didn't take advantage of my youth like I should have. I also would get out more instead of spending all of my time at home by myself. Instead of wishing I could do things differently, I would get up and do those things.

9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
I am fiercely independent and have always done things my own way, to a fault. People have given me advice and told me things based on their experiences, but I've always done things my way.

10. Are you more worried about doing things right or doing the right thing?
Definitely doing the right thing.

11. You are having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?
I would tell the three people that the person they are talking about is a friend of mine and that they don't know her like I know her. I would ask why they feel that way about her and clear up any misconceptions.

12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
Enjoy the moment.

13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?
Absolutely.

14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
I can't think of an example for that one.

15. What's something you know you do differently than most people?
I am closer to my parents than most people I know. I talk to my mom several times a day and consider her to be my best friend. I tell her everything. A lot of people I know aren't nearly as close to their parents.

16. How come things that make you happy don't make everyone happy?
Because we're all different. If we all liked the same things, the world would be a boring place.

17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What's holding you back?
I would love to get married. I haven't been in a relationship in nearly 9 years. I don't know if I just haven't met the right person or that I have met the right person but haven't given him a chance.

18. Are you holding on to something that you need to let go of?
I am holding on to animosity toward someone who made me miserable for a long time. I want to let go and forgive that person and move on. It's something that I need to pray about.

19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in , where would you move and why?
After this snowy, cold winter we've had here in Kentucky, I would love to move to Florida! I love sunshine and sand!

20. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
No to both!

21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
A joyful simpleton. Happiness is one of the most important qualities in life.

22. Why are you, you?
I am me because I have the most wonderful, supportive family who has loved and encouraged me all my life.

23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
Not always. I'm very sensitive and tend to hold grudges and those aren't good qualities. In mitigation, I am a good listener and I am loyal to those I love. I also take a lot of pleasure in spending time with my friends--they make me happy and complete.

24. Which is worse--when a good friend moves away or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
I'd say losing touch with a good friend who lives near you. When a good friend moves away, if the friendship is truly important to you, you make the effort to keep them in your life so they are not truly gone. Losing touch with a good friend who lives near you is sad because you (and or they) didn't put forth enough effort into the friendship.

25. What are you most grateful for?
My wonderful parents who have always been there for me and who I love more than anything!

30 books to read before you turn 30

One of the things that is on my 101 list is to read the 30 books to read before you turn 30. I Googled the list and a lot of the titles were some that I recognized (and read in high school). I'm putting some of them on my library queue to start on since I'll turn 30 in July!


1. Siddharta--Hermann Hesse
2. 1984--George Orwell
3. To Kill a Mockingbird--Harper Lee
4. A Clockwork Orange--Anthony Burgess
5. For Whom the Bell Tolls--Ernest Hemingway
6. War and Peace--Leo Tolstoy
7. The Rights of Man--Tom Paine
8. The Social Contract--Jean-Jacques Rousseau
9. One Hundred Years of Solitude--Gabriel Garcia Marques
10. The Origin of Species--Charles Darwin
11. The Wisdom of the Desert--Thomas Merton
12. The Tipping Point--Malcolm Gladwell
13. The Wind in the Willows--Kenneth Graham
14. The Art of War--Sun Tzu
15. The Lord of the Rings--J.R.R. Tolkein
16. David Copperfield--Charles Dickens
17. Four Quartets--T.S. Elliot
18. Catch 22--Joseph Heller
19. The Great Gatsby--F. Scott Fitzgerald
20. The Catcher in the Rye--J.D. Salinger
21. Crime and Punishment--Fyodor Dostoyevsky
22. The Prince--Niccolo Machiavelli
23. Walden--Henry David Thoreau
24. The Republic--Plato
25. Lolita
26. Getting Things Done--David Allen
27. How to Win Friends and Influence People--Dale Carnegie
28. Lord of the Flies--William Golding
29. The Grapes of Wrath--John Steinbeck
30. The Master and Margarita--Mikhail Bulgakov

Ranch Ham 'n' Cheese Pasta

One of my 101 things is to fix a new recipe each week for 3 months. Here is my first recipe (and it's healthy!)

Ranch Ham 'n' Cheese Pasta

1 pkg (16 oz) penne pasta

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp all-purpose flour

1 cup fat free milk

2 tsp dried parsley flakes

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp salt-free lemon pepper seasoning

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp dried minced onion

1/2 tsp dill weed

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/8 tsp pepper

1 cup (8 oz) reduced fat sour cream

2 cups fully cooked lean ham

1 1/2 cups shredded reduced fat Mexican cheese blend

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain. In a Dutch oven, melt butter, whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk and seasonings. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat, fold in sour cream until blended. Add ham and pasta, cook and stir until heated through. Remove from the heat, stir in Mexican cheese blend until melted. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

10 servings.

1 cup:

306 calories

9 g fat

27 mg cholesterol

512 mg sodium

38 g carbohydrates

2 g fiber

20 g protein

8 POINTS PLUS!

(Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet Cookbook)

101 in 1001

While I was browsing the Weight Watcher's message boards this afternoon, I was a post about something called "101 in 1001." I Googled it and discovered that it's a bucket list that you complete in a little over 3 years. There is a website (http://dayzeroproject.com) and you can create a profile and a list and check things off as you go. You can look at other people's lists for ideas and they have a list of the top 101 of all their users. Since I've started dieting and exercising, I've felt super motivated and feel like I can do anything. I decided to do my own list to encourage myself to try things I've never tried before. As I go along, I'm going to update this blog and post pictures and journal entries of each of my accomplishments. So without any further adieu, here is my 101 in 1001 list:

1. Go horseback riding
2. Shoot a gun
3. Wear a bikini
4. Run a 5K race
5. Have professional photographs taken
6. Visit a psychic
7. Donate blood
8. Go skinny dipping
9. See a movie in 3D
10. See a movie at a drive-in
11. Go ice skating
12. Join a book club
13. See an opera
14. Take a self-defense class
15. Do a wine tasting
16. Ride a motorcycle
17. Lose 80 pounds
18. Graduate from C25K program
19. Answer all of the "50 questions that will free your mind"
20. Go to Chicago for pizza
21. Complete the 200 sit-up challenge
22. Take a dance class
23. Go to New York City
24. Buy a new suit from the Limited
25. Get my belly button pierced
26. Complete a round of P90X
27. See a band perform in concert that I've never seen before
28. Climb a mountain
29. Complete a 365 day photo challenge
30. Visit 3 states that I've never been to before
31. Complete the "30 books to read before you turn 30"
32. Buy a lottery ticket
33. Do 10 nice things for people without them knowing
34. Get a not-guilty verdict at a jury trial
35. Visit 3 state parks
36. Visit a casino
37. Learn how to swim
38. Go to a midnight showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"
39. Host a dinner party
40. Learn to bellydance
41. Learn to speak Spanish
42. Pay for the person behind me in a drive-thru
43. Read the Bible
44. Eat at 5 of the restaurants featured in "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives"
45. Swim with a dolphin
46. Take an unplanned flight
47. Take a cooking class
48. Complete Jillian Michaels' "30 Day Shred"
49. Bake a cake from scratch
50. Go on a picnic
51. Make an iTunes playlist of 101 of my favorite songs
52. Learn the Thriller dance
53. Write to someone who has inspired me
54. Write my name in the sand
55. See 10 classic movies I've never seen before
56. Try Mediterranean food
57. Ride a mechanical bull
58. Take a First Aid course
59. Go to a book signing of a local author, buy his/her book and have it signed
60. See "Wicked"
61. Become a certified Zumba instructor
62. Go on a cruise
63. See an up-and-coming singer perform live at a Nashville bar
64. Take a horse-drawn carraige ride
65. Spend a day at the lake
66. Go skiing or snowboarding
67. Spend the day riding roller coasters
68. Ask a guy for his phone number
69. Cook a new recipe once a week for 3 months
70. Go to a water park
71. Dress up for Halloween
72. Try a spinning class
73. Pay off a credit card
74. Get a makeover at Sephora
75. Buy a pair of fantastic heels (and actually wear them)
76. Buy a new pair of glasses
77. Go to Las Vegas
78. Write a list of 50 things I like about myself
79. Fall in love
80. Find a new church
81. Go indoor skydiving
82. Go hiking at Natural Bridge
83. Volunteer somewhere
84. Go to the planetarium
85. Act in a play
86. Clean out my closet
87. Run in a 10K race
88. Take a helicopter ride
89. Sing karaoke
90. Go roller skating
91. Ride in a limosine
92. Go to Shakespeare in the park
93. Go to a bonfire
94. Visit 10 different museums
95. Go to a food festival
96. Set a budget and stick to it for a month
97. Be able to identify 10 constellations
98. Bake a pie from scratch
99. Get a facial
100. Take photos in a photobooth
101. Send 10 "Just Because" cards