Bento #44

Thanks for the great response to my post yesterday!  I really do enjoy posting my lunches and am glad you all enjoy it, too.

Here's my lunch for tomorrow.

On the top:  Greek Yogurt with fruit on the bottom (I know it's not technically IN my bento, but I'm still having it with my lunch.) and Colby Jack cheese

Under that:  Lobster meat with cocktail sauce to dip it in

On the right:  Celery with blue cheese dressing

On the bottom:  More watermelon.  (You'll see that the next couple of days.  I bought 4 slices.  Unless my youngest gets to it!)

My goal is to get a little more creative with my bentos.  I have found a store in Nashville that sells bentos and supplies.  I'm planning on heading down there during Christmas break and checking it out.  (I'm really excited about doing so!)   It's called Happy Japan and they have a Facebook page.  If you all Google "bentos", you will see how elaborate and beautiful they really can be.  I'd like to get into making them more decorative, but I'd like to do LOTS of stuff that I'm not doing right now.  That's why we have goals, right?!  Gives us something to work towards!  HA!

Enjoy!

Bento #43

In the words of Eminem aka Slim Shady..."Guess who's back. Back again..." Ha! Got to get back on the Bento Wagon! Here's what I'm having for lunch tomorrow:

Top:  Bar-b-que chicken salad (canned chicken mixed with bbq sauce and pickles - I love it!)

Bottom:  Fresh watermelon and Sesame and Honey roasted almonds.

On the side:  String Cheese

I used the Snowman/snowflake decorations because we have hit a cold snap and it's going to be cold and rainy tomorrow!

Have a great Tuesday!  Enjoy!

Bento #42

Tueday's Basic Bento.

On the left: My favorite new recipe! Tuna mixed with fresh banana peppers (from the Farmer's Market) and a tablespoon of Bleu Cheese dressing (and a little black pepper). In the words of Rachael Ray...YUM-O! More cucumbers and onions and a few baby carrots to munch on.

On the right: More fresh watermelon. Boy, were the watermelons the thing this week at the Farmer's Market. EVERYONE was selling them! You'll be seeing watermelon in my lunch all this week! I got a HUGE one for only $2.00 at the Farmer's Market. And it's so sweet and juicy! Mmmm....

Have a great Tuesday! Enjoy!

Beat the Heat Challenge, Week 7

Beat the Heat Challenge

Starting Weight:  212.8

Today's Weight:  203.2 (LOWEST to date!!)

Total Lost:  9.6 pounds

My personal goals for the challenge: 

1.  Journal my food everyday

2.  Exercise for at least 5 days a week; minimum of 30 minutes

3.  6 glasses of water a day

4.  Be in ONEderland by the end of the challenge

 

 

1.  What did you do this week to work towards your goals?  Worked on each and every one of them!  I achieved all of them this week, except for number 4.  BUT, look at the scale!!  I am at the lowest I've ever been!  AND 2 weeks until this challenge is over?!  I hope to make the last goal.  

 

 2.  What did you do this week to make yourself feel fabulous?  I dressed my best each day.  Well, except for the weekend, but that's okay.  Every day at work, I felt Hot-To-Trot!  ;)  I looked nice, which made me carry myself better - because I felt good in what I wore!   

3.  What has been your biggest challenge this week?  Snacking on crap.  My monthly visitor came this week.  It makes me HUNGRY!  I want to snack all the time.  Tried to make good choices and made sure I moved! 

4.  Do you need neatness and order to feel good, or does a bit of untidiness not bother you?  My family is getting a chuckle out of this question!  Untidiness does NOT bother me.  My house has 3 kids, 1 hubby, 2 dogs, and 1 cat.  It is LIVED in.  The only time it gets a GOOD cleaning is when people are coming over, or I get a wild hair.  When I do get a wild hair, someone in the house will ask, "Who's coming over?"  LOL! 

 

5.  Would you rather be attacked by 20 duck sized horses or 20 horse sized ducks?  Horses, for sure!  Have you ever been chased by ONE normal sized duck?!  Enough said! 

Positive picture for the week: 

 

I went bike riding with my daughter this week and was inspired to take a picture like Sheryl at Bitch Cakes.  Hers usually is of her face while she's riding, but I couldn't master that...yet!  I like this shot, though.  Look how slim my legs look!!  Nice! 

Have a great week, fellow Beat the Heaters! 

Bento #41

Back to the daily school grind.  We've been in school for a week and a half now.  Time to get back on track with the bentos!  I ordered this new bento online and it came this week.  It's my first 3 tier!

 

 It was smaller than I was expecting, but I still like it.  This shows you how wide it is.

 This shows you how tall it is.  (My fingers aren't even straight!  Not very tall.) 

So, it's not huge, but I like it.  It held my lunch nicely.  Here is what's for lunch:

From the far left:  My version of Cowboy Beans (Lean ground beef, browned.  Add a can of baked beans, bacon, bbq sauce and simmer.  Was really good.)

Top:  Watermelon

Bottom:  Cucumbers and Onions, Coleslaw

Have a great Monday, everyone!  Enjoy! 

Bento #40

Here is my lunch for today.  I thought since it was my 40th Bento, I should do something special.  So, I made a bear with my rice mold I won from Scrumptious Bento and even made eyes and a mouth!  So impressed with my bento basics!  Ha!

On the top:  A plout (combination fruit...plum and apricot), Breemer's Mad Woman Cheese (Got this at Whole Foods on my shopping trip the other day.), and Ham (Suppose to be ham flowers, but they look more like ham pom-pom's!)

On the bottom:  Edamame, Cucumbers, my rice bear, and a little soy sauce in the piggie.

That's what's for lunch Wednesday!  Enjoy!

Bento #39

Below is my lunch for today:

 

On the left:  Tuna Salad made with a fresh banana pepper that I purchased at our Farmer's Market, Celery, Bleu Cheese Dressing, and Hickory Smoked Tuna (YUM!)

On the right:  Bleu Cheese crumbles, Strawberries  (I know, a lot of bleu cheese.  But, I like it!)

On the side (but not pictured):  Donut Peach (also purchased at Whole Foods)

Remember yesterday I posted about a Mango Nectarine?  Well, it was just okay.  Not sweet at all.  Had the consistancy of a mango, but tasted a little green still.  I have 2 more to eat, so I am going to wait until they are a little more softer (riper) before I eat them.  Hopefully that will change my opinion of them, but right now I wouldn't buy another. 

Have a great Tuesday!  Enjoy!

Beat the Heat Challenge, Week 5

I know, I know.  The last post regarding the Beat the Heat challenge was for Week 2.  I was in and out of town for work the past couple of weeks, and just didn't get a chance to post.  But, I've been doing well.  Here's the update for Week 5:

Starting Weight:  212.8

Today's Weight:  207.2

Total Lost:  5.6 pounds

My personal goals for the challenge: 

1.  Journal my food everyday

2.  Exercise for at least 5 days a week; minimum of 30 minutes

3.  6 glasses of water a day

4.  Be in ONEderland by the end of the challenge

Not to bad.  In five weeks, I've lost 5.6 pounds.  That's a tad over a pound a week.  I'll take it!  Now, on to the questions for the week:

1.  What have you done this week to work towards your goals?  I joined a gym!!!  A new one in town.  It is one of those open all night gyms, so I have NO EXCUSE not to go!  AND it is only $17.50 a month to join!!  NO CONTRACT!  Going tonight for the first time to learn how to use them machines.   

I've been journaling my food and exercising, but haven't done so hot on the water.  Still working on it, but not up to 6 consistently.  

2.  What have you done to make yourself feel fabulous?  Hmmm...did I mention I joined a gym?!  Ha!  I am so excited about that.  My hopes is that they hire a trainer (they are working on that) and I get to work with them to set up a plan.  

3.  How are you finding the goals with this challenge?  Do you still think you can achieve them?  Yes!  I think I can achieve them!  I'm REALLLLYYYY hoping I make it to ONEderland!  THAT would be AWESOME! 

4.  Freebie!  If you want to change one goal, change it!  Explain your decision either way.  I'm not changing any of them.  I like to have a challenge to work toward.  (I also like the "High" you feel when you accomplish them!)

5.  Fun Question!  If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?  Your funds are unlimited!  Well, I would live in one of two places:  Wilmington, NC or New Orleans, LA.  Heck!  If funds are unlimited, I might just live in both!  Summer in Wilmington and winter in New Orleans!   I love both places.  I've never lived in Wilmington, but we lived about 45 minutes from it. We would go there at least twice a month to go to the beach.   The town is great!  It's not so big, but it's not so small.  They have everything you need!  Mall, GREAT food, and THE BEACH!   For all you older peeps...it's where Dawson's Creek was filmed.  

Now, New Orleans...Man, I love that town!  My parents have lived there for about 6 years now, so I get to go and visit them.  I love the music, art, people, and FOOD!  The first time I went to visit my parents,  I think I ate my way through the city!  Now, I just get my favorites...crawfish etouffee, broiled oysters, and red beans and rice!  I would love to live near Jackson Square in one of the flats down there.  Anywhere near Cafe Du'Monde and the French Market.  I could just sit and watch people all day.  Listen to the musicians who stop on the sidewalk and just start playing their various instruments.  I LOVE that city!  (Makes my heart excited just to talk about it with you all!)  People think New Orleans is just Bourbon Street, but, gosh...there's SO MUCH more to that city!  However, my positive picture is of me and my Dad at Mardi Gras this year!  

Have a great week, everyone!  Keep to your goals and you can do whatever you dream! 

Bento #38

Here is my Bento for Monday morning.  I'm using my Laptop Lunchbox.  I haven't used it in a long time!  But, I'm making something that needs to be warmed up, and I like to use it when I have to microwave.  I know that several of my bentos are microwave safe, but honestly, I don't remember which ones are and which ones aren't!  Ha!  Call it old age, but I'll play it safe with my Laptop Lunchbox! 

So, here's tomorrow's lunch:

Light Blue container:  Fruit Salad - Yummy, Yummy!  (For all you Wiggles fans!  Can't say "Fruit Salad" without the "Yummy, Yummy!"  LOL!)

Light Green container:  Cucumbers and Onions (my summer time favorite)

Dark Blue container:  Chicken Enchilada casserole

Bottom corner:  Babybel cheese and a Mango Nectarine!  Yes!!  A MANGO NECTARINE!  I've never tried one before, but I found it at Whole Foods and thought I'd give it a try!  I'll let you know what I think of it tomorrow evening!

Have a great Monday!  Enjoy!

Bento #37

Simple Bento from Friday.  It was a repeat lunch from a few posts before, but here you go!

On the left:  Sauerkraut, Turkey and Swiss rolled up, Cucumbers and Onions, and Dijon Mustard in the yellow container

On the right:  Strawberries and Cherries.

Simple and Yummy!  Enjoy!

Bento #36

Here's what was for lunch the other day.  I didn't get a chance to post it, so I'll post it today!

Top dish:  Cucumbers and Onions, Bleu Cheese crumbles in the piggie, Fresh Cherries, and Strawberry umbrellas!

Bottom dish:  Turkey and Pepper Jack sausages, Balsamic Coleslaw (YUM!)

This sausage is SO GOOD!  It's Hillshire Farms and I got it at my local grocery (Kroger).  It was on sale, so I thought I'd try it.  It's only 80 calories per sausage.  Not spicy at all.  Give it a try!

The Balsamic Coleslaw is my own concoction.   It's fresh cabbage, green peppers, green onions, celery, a little olive oil, and balsamic vinegar to taste.  It's a nice change to the normal coleslaw. 

Enjoy!



Bento #35

Hello, Bento friends!  It's been quite a while since I posted a bento!  Here is what is for lunch tomorrow:

 

In the bottom - ingredients to make a Turkey Reuben!  (Minus the bread)  Swiss cheese and turkey (rolled up together); in the blue cup is Dijon Mustard, and in the yellow cup is Sauerkraut.  

In the top - fresh Cherries; in the blue cup - Cucumbers and Onions (My summer time FAVORITE thing to eat.  The more tart they are, the better!) 

On the side - A Fiber One bar and a Greek yogurt.  

I made a bento for today, but couldn't get the picture to post, so I will work on it and *hopefully* post it tomorrow.  

Enjoy!

Beat the Heat Challenge Week 2

 

Some of you may remember that I  joined the Beat the Heat Summer Challenge.  It started July 4th and goes until Labor Day.  Forgotten?  Check out where I blogged about it here.  Well, we are now into week 2.  So, here goes:

Starting Weight:  212.8

Today's Weight:  210.4

Total Loss:  2.4 pounds

Goals for the contest: 

1.  Journal my food everyday

2.  Exercise for at least 5 days a week; minimum of 30 minutes

3.  6 glasses of water a day

4.  Be in ONEderland by the end of the challenge

Each week we are given some questions to answer and are encouraged to post a positive picture.  Here are the questions for this week:  

1.  What progress have you made on your goals?  My journaling and exercise for the week has ROCKED.  I journaled everyday, which is huge for me.  I usually forget to do that kind of thing on the weekends, which causes me to not eat on track.  Not this week!  I journaled all 7 days.  So proud of myself!  Exercise?  5 days this week.  

Water - still working on that one.  Did try to make an effort on choosing water, but I'm up to about 4 glasses a day.  That's okay...goals are made to work on and achieve.  Still working on it! 

Getting to ONEderland?  Down 2.4 this week!  Getting closer to it! 

2.  What did you do to make yourself feel fabulous?  Got myself a cut and then I colored my hair, thank you very much! I get such a boost when I walk out of the salon looking so sassy!  Nothing like a nice cut to make you feel good.  

3.  Did you have a moment in  your life where everything changed for you, an epiphany moment, or has it happened gradually?  A moment...picture...epiphany?  Here:  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, right?  Well, it's also worth 297 pounds.  We had family pictures taken at the beach and I was standing in front of my family. Wait!  Here's the picture!  

 
YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE MY FAMILY!!!  Okay, so I know that's not entirely true, but it sure felt like that.  So, that's when I started to make some changes.  It's been 2 1/2 years and I'm only down 86 pounds.  But, I haven't given up and gained like in the past.  I'm closer to my goal weight than 86 pounds ago!  (Only 55 more to go.)  And, I'll get there.  May take me another year...but I'll do it! 

4.  What made you get involved with the Beat the Heat Challenge?  I read about it on anther blog and clicked on the link.  I needed something to push the motivation through the dog days of summer.  

5.  What is your favorite TV show at the moment?  Well, my FAVORITE show is Castle, but it's not on in the summer.  So, for the summer, my new favorite show is Switched at Birth on ABC Family.  

Positive Picture of the week: 

Remember last week I told you all how much I LOVE sundresses?  I took this of me today at work.  It's one of my favorite ones I have.  It's super comfy, but I dress it up for work with a little cardigan sweater.  (I always buy a black and a white cardigan sweater, just for dresses!)  

Have a great week, everyone!