Break the Cycle

2009 - it's been a wonderful year. I'm looking forward to 2010. To finding myself again. To put myself first sometimes. To achieve things that I know are inside me - if I only give myself the time I need. It's been a wonderful year - I may not be where I want to be weight-wise, but I've made significant life changes that will only lead to good things. I wish you all a safe and happy New Years Eve. I wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year. I hope each and everyone of you take the time to explore your dreams, to write them down, and instead of only dreaming them - make them achievable goals.

I usually wait for a Hungry Girl coupon code to buy these - but noticed this morning I was down to less than a dozen of these. Since they are my "go to" breakfast - it's time to stock up. Buy 24 & get 12 FREE That's a value of $16.00 discounted at checkout! You pay only $29.99 for 36 VitaTops-- that's less than $0.85 each. 1.Select 24 VitaTops of your choice 2.12 FREE DeepChocolate VitaTops will automatically be added to your cart. 3.Your 12 FREE VitaTops (valued at $16.00) will be discounted at checkout.* * Note: If coupon does not automatically apply then use coupon code EREYTYQ at checkout. You Can Lose Weight Eating Muffins? Vitalicious VitaMuffins Promo

True to last weeks post and thanks to Judy at Patchwork Times for the challenge - I did find time to sew this past week. I finished my crayon top, have it sandwiched, and started to quilt it. I've already quilted everything I'm doing by machine - now I'm going to try my hand at hand quilting - since it's a small project - I can take it with me to swim practice! Since it's an exchange quilt - I can't show the final picture yet - after I send it I will. So on the design wall today is the new fabrics I'm trying to get together for a star quilt I want to make for the kids hallway upstairs - add a bit of color ! Still not 100% on the color scheme yet - might mix and match some more - but for my 2010 count this quilt will take 6.5 yards of fabric (should finish around 40 x 40)

I'll just keep updating throughout the weekend under this post - so check back. Hanes.com - extra 20% off clearance items - free shipping over $50. I picked up 3 pair of sweat pants for Adam @ $2.39 each. Got the girls some socks - 3 pack of their arch support ankle sport socks - 2 packages for $8. Men's extended size sweatpants for $8. Mens extended size sleep pants - $6.39. Some really great deals - especially in kids ! WomanWithin.com - awesome deals in clearance. I ordered 2 capri sets - @ $3.90 each (for both the pants and top) Other tops ranged from $5-$8, and capris from $3.10 to $7.10. All prices are after using the following coupon code 20% off $60+ plus size order Discount Coupon: WWSHOP3 if you don't want to place that size order - try free shipping Free shipping on any order! Coupon Code: WW32600 exp 12/31

Since we don't celebrate Christmas - the kids sometimes feel left out. I try and make it a special day anyway - no school, movies with Popcorn (they don't know it - but I was able to get the G-force movie from Redbox) - and a special dinner and dessert. Not sure yet what I'll make for dessert - probably brownies - it's their favorite - but I will be making Holiday Pasta. This recipe can easily serve 12. Usually I'll make only 1 lb of pasta - and freeze the leftover sauce - making for a quick meal during a swim night. This is not exactly WW friendly - 17 pts per serving - but if you use all lean meats - and higher fiber pasta - it'll cut down a point or two. It is filling though - and you could easily eat this for a late lunch and nothing else for the night ! * Exported from MasterCook * Christmas Pasta Recipe By : Serving Size : 12 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Amount Measure Ingr...

I've made myself some promises this upcoming New Year - One is to always have a menu plan - I have 3 weeks done - we did about 4 out of 7 days planned last week - I consider that a success. Plus - no need to go grocery shopping all week - I bought what I needed for the week - and it worked. Another is of course - the weight. I've got my body bugg - and logically - if I enter everything I eat/drink honestly on the computer - and upload my body bugg - I can see if I need to eat more/less to lose a good 2 lbs per week. And third - to find some time for me everyday. For the past ten years (probably more) my life has revolved around my husband and my children. Every minute of every day was spent doing something for someone else. I felt guilty if I took a long shower. Not this year. This year - I'm going to find time to sew - maybe not everyday - but enough so that I have something new to share each and every Design Wall Monday which is hosted by Judi @ Patchwork Times ...

This is the biggest storm NJ has had since the night we got married (that night - and for the next 2 days - the state accumulated over 36" of snow ! I think it was some kind of blessing from God???) Anyway - we ended up with well over 2 feet ! Awesome. And the kids are already out No amount of money to buy toys could have brought them more joy this weekend - Smiles are as wide as the snow is deep. Of course, dh is off playing tennis - with instructions to bring home snow shovels - that'll be my job - to burn up all these calories I've been consuming while watching them play. Banana bread, homemade hot chocolate and chocolate/peanut butter chip cookies - life is good !

Did it snow much ?? You bet ! DD#2 got over missing States rather quickly DD#1 was pretty upset that she was going to miss swimming her first 500 - but she soon got over it - and the 4 of them had a war ! Adam didn't even seem to notice he was dressed in his sister's hand-me-downs (yes, thats him in the PINK jacket - it takes a real man to wear pink !LOL) Of course, dh just got a call from one of his tenants - so he actually drove off in this mess. I'll be praying for his safety until he pulls back in the driveway - it's still snowing - and the wind will be picking up shortly - so he may get stuck in the city. Hoping he has the sense to stay put if he can't make it home ... plenty of hotels to spend the night in !

I'll be online most of tomorrow - lots of stores offering free shipping, and the sales for After Christmas Delivery will start over the weekend ! Great opportunity to stock up on gifts for next year - or for family you may not be visiting right away ! Of course, I just spent way too much at Swim Outlet - but their prices can't be beat - usually. I just wish they would offer a coupon code now and then ! Speedo has been sending out really decent coupon codes - but still can't match the prices at Swim Outlet . Oh, and I need to pick up another bottle of my favorite - Use coupon LSDEC9 for an additional $10 OFF all sales over $70 at FragranceNet.com

Shop Top Brand Electronics at Walmart.com! These just came in - not sure how long they'll last Save on Amazing Online Specials at Walmart.com While Supplies Last!

For those of you who like one spot clicking - here are the links to Amazon's Top Deals - these along with the Gold Box Deal (see the top of any Amazon Page) will be updated daily (the gold box changes often throughout the day) Kitchen and Gifts Top Holiday Gifts (Some of these come in frustration free packaging - meaning you have to wrap the brown box it comes in - but each of those little pieces are NOT tied down with duct tape and twisties - a great idea when you have a bunch of little ones all clamouring to play with their new toys ! Diamond Studs (hint, hint) ! Video Games - 18 days and 18 deals Window's 7 Netbooks - this if for those of you who didn't get the word about Toshiba's 1 hour sale a few weeks ago. I must say - Windows 7 is so very neat - DD is in love with her new laptop - and I love that it was so cheap - we could pay for it in one shot - no payments ! As always - if you are looking for a gift for that special someone - drop me an email !

My design wall is empty ! Sigh. Actually - I got lots done this weekend - put the binding on (machine front, hand sewn back) of the baby quilt - it just needs a label and then wrapped and gifted. Also got the binding machine sewn to the front of my dark/batik quilt - so that will be my handwork for the next few swim practices. AND - the best news - I've decided what to do with my "Crayon Challenge Quilt". The challenge was - we were each assigned a crayon - I got a green color. Most people know I really don't like green - but this time it's ok - because we'll be exchanging these quilts in Jan - so I'll be receiving someone else's color. The rules are this - your color, black and white are the only colors in your quilt. Has to be at least 24" - but not more than 40". Plus it has to be quilted and bound before the Jan. 31st cut off day. Since classes for me start in mid-January - I need to get most of it done now !

I'm LOVING my Body Bugg - this morning, at the gym, when I was really trying on the crosstrainer - I was burning almost 10 calories a minute. That's amazing. Monday, December 7, 2009 TARGET 2800 Calories Burned so far today 1019 36% TARGET 1900 Calories Consumed so far today 167 9% TARGET DEFICIT 900 Calorie Balance so far today 852 DEFICIT Calorie Deficit Calorie Surplus I'm shooting for a 900 calorie deficit each day - so I can lose between 1-2 pounds a week. I'll post my results here each week - this, plus my NEWO workouts - I'll be at goal weight this time next year - and it's out there for all to see !

Design Wall Monday - to see who's working on what - and get some inspiration for your next project - check out Patchwork Times My cyber sewing group has an "online sewing circle" the first full weekend of every month - some months it's the only time I turn my machine one. So far this weekend I've managed to put a binding on a baby quilt (picture will be posted after it's gifted), make a pillowcase out of some orphan blocks, and take some exchange blocks - square them up - and turn them into a nice size lap quilt. If I have time later tonight - I'll wash the kitchen floor and get it sandwiched - if not - that'll wait until later in the week. I'm going to try and tie this one - I've never tied a quilt before - so if you have any helpful hints - I'd sure love to hear them ! Top is done -

Definately going to be trying this one soon. The only turkey in my freezer right now is a huge 20+ pounder - which will be cooked via the pressure cooker when we have company. Perhaps I'll use my next freebie to get a fresh, smaller version and give this a try. Since I grill all year round - it won't be a problem ! Chipotle Brined Grilled Turkey

So hard to believe I'm the mom of a teenager now. Sigh. Where does time go? She chose a beautiful cake - I was a bit hurt that she didn't ask for a homemade one - but since the weather was so beautiful yesterday (in the upper 60's - in December!) - I didn't want to be stuck inside anyway ! See the Pooh Bear? I bought that for her first birthday. We've used it on almost every one of her cakes over the years - it hasn't really burned that much - I wonder if I can still use the same candle when she hits 21?? Her main gift - the laptop - hasn't arrived yet, but she still had a few gifts to open. I was surprised when she actually liked the pj's I got her ! And of course, no one around here can have a birthday without the little man receiving something. Actually - since he hadn't received an Eid gift yet from Daddy - that's what he got to open - and he hasn't stopped playing with it since !

6pm is having another great sale - check out what they are offering today. I've bought at least a dozen pairs these past couple of weeks (not just for me!) and all have been great quality, fast shipping, name brand shoes/boots. Today they have Womens Rockport Shoes $14.95! Mens Rockport Shoes $19.95! (values to $175!) Spy Optic MC2 Polarized Sunglasses $19.95! (reg $89.95) 75% off all Taryn Rose Shoes! 70% off Marc Jacobs Sunglasses 80% off Giuseppe Shoes! Bass Shoes $14.95 (values to $90) Chinese Laundry Shoes $19.95 (values to $140) $6.95 shipping on your entire order! exp 12/1 And get this - yesterday's deal from Toshiba - it was only for an hour - so I didn't get a chance to post it - and the website was JAMMED ! BUT - I got one ! Satellite L500-ST2522 Intel® Celeron® processor T3000 (1.8 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB), Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit, Aluminum Silver Finish with Black Keyboard, Microsoft® Office® Home-Student Edition 2007, 1GB DDR2 memory (10...

Found a new store online that carries plus size clothes where the shirts are longer. Check out Junonia - shop by price after going to their clearance section - good selection of jeans/shirts/tops/capris ect..... I got 10 items for $90 shipped using a 40% off Coupon Code: 11279 exp 11/29

Some really great deals going on at Amazon today - DH has been wanting a GPS - I got him a Tom - Tom - he didn't like it, so today I picked up a Garmin - they have the 285WT advertised at $130 - but watch it - it comes with 9 months free MSN connect - but that service is ending Jan 2012 - so really not worth it - even with the great price. Check out the Garmin 265 WT - with lifetime traffic - only $30 more (still more than 50% off!) much better deal for that and other deals Amazon Black Friday / Cyber Monday

Some great prices - Value of the Day (top left) see todays Value, then scroll down just a little and click on Thanksgiving Day Sales - AWESOME - you can ship most items to the store for free - or .97 cent per item ! Save on Top Holiday Toys at Walmart.com! Some great prices on cameras, Wii games (2 @ $20) K'Nex (double dare dueling coaster for $24) and even picked up a desk chair for dh with a built in massage - $44. Save on Top Holiday Toys at Walmart.com!

Amazon is offering different deals throughout the day, with some really awesome ones being completely unannounced (Nintendo DS for $100 yesterday), click on Amazon throughout the day and check out what they are offering ! Black Friday / Hot Deals Will be posting more updates as I find them ! Happy Shopping

As many of you know, my first venture into cyberspace was a shopping website. Oh, the money you can save if you know where to look. BUT, it took so much time away from my family, so I let it go. I still shop online - and if you're looking for something special - you know you can call or email me and I'll keep my eyes open, or if you're looking for a coupon code - I can usually find some good ones - but starting today, I'll be doing some holiday shopping of my own, and I figured I'd just share where I'm shopping, and the codes I've been using. Today is FragranceX. I've shopped here before, I'll shop here again. Some great prices on perfumes and such. Both Men and Womens. Shop FragranceX's Thanksgiving day sale now! Click on the link above, but make sure to make note of the coupon code - EARLY2009 - that'll get you free shipping on any size order ! Now, if you want free shipping combined with an additional 10% discount (on top of their ...

Our local swimteam has posted the updated longcourse records from the summer . DD's captured 4 of them - WTG !! http://seahawksswimming.com/LCM%20team%20records.htm

I can't believe the amount of leaves that have fallen this year. We were the first in the neighborhood to start piling ours (the township provides a super vaccuum truck that comes around a few times to pick them up and turn them into mulch for next spring). Since I wanted to get the yard in shape for fertilizing - we started early. Our pile was easily the biggest around (still is) now it's a good 10 feet long, 4 foot high, and the yard is still covered - what is up with that? Amazing. Thankfully the weather has been nice for the last couple of days - so while I'm "back to school" for an hour or so - the girls will be left to rake ! The mean green machine makes an easier job of it - but it's still lots of work. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Trying to convince my mom to drive up from Florida to cook dinner. She's got a bum knee - it's been replaced once - but I think something must have went wrong, because she's been in more pain ...

Finally feel as if I'm 100% back on track. I really like my new WW leader, school at home with Calvert is moving right along - with very little complaining, house is clean, and I even have a menu for the week and a grocery list. I found a new exercise program online - haven't received the DVD's yet, but I've been using the free interval workouts they have online and I love them ! They use my heart rate monitor that I already have - and boy, I can certainly tell the difference. Then on Monday I went to the new gym and had my free 1 hour session with the trainer - it was hard, but I managed everything. BUT - the next day .... heaven help me. Just today I can finally bend my arms again. I guess that's what I get for telling the trainer I wanted the bottom of my arm to stop waving goodbye at the same time my hand did ! Some great online deals lately - 6pm.com - cannot believe the prices of shoes - and they have hard to find sizes as well. I think I posted abo...

I don't know why I'm so excited - he's gone and come back from overseas many times during our marriage - yet this time I'm pretty excited he's on his way back. Perhaps another thing that has me excited - the new gym has opened ! I didn't get there today - but will get there tomorrow - after I welcome home dh ! It's called a Retro Fitness - looks good online - since everything will be brand new - it'll be sure to work ... right ? I also invested in a new workout routine - will share more as I see how it works. But it uses my Heart Rate Monitor, as well as logging my workouts and using interval workouts - so I'm excited all around !

If it weren't for Judy's challenge at Patchwork Times - I probably wouldn't even have found the time to sit at my machine this week. But last night I realized I didn't have much new to show for design wall Monday's challenge - so I sewed up a few borders for the baby blanket that needs to be finished ASAP. Last I heard they had gone to the hospital in early labor - she is 36 weeks - so I'm assuming they probably tried to stop it ... but just in case - I need to get this finished. Anyway - this is one set of borders

Most people that know me well, know I'm Muslim. I don't promote it - it is a very personal choice. I chose not to wear the hijab for personal reasons - and I don't require my daughters to wear it either - that is a choice for them to make as they get older. But when we attend prayer, we all wear hijab - I think they are very beautiful either way. At the end of Ramadan each year there is a 3 day holiday called Eid. As a Muslim family in a Christian country - it is harder on the kids - because most of their friends do not celebrate the same holidays. I do try and make the holiday special for them. This year after morning prayer and dd's softball game, we went to the boardwalk. While only intending to have lunch out - we were lucky enough to witness an airshow, play on the beach in beautiful September weather, and then even hit the amusement park. The kids rode the log flume and bumper cars, and had a spectacular time. The next day (yesterday), the Islamic Society of Nort...

Ahhhh - end of summer at the Jersey shore - means putting up some of the veggies that make living in the garden state so worthwhile (in addition to the beach of course!) I've always either canned or frozen my veggies. Canning - no problems. Read the book, bought the equipment, made jellies and jams, but didn't like the way the veggies came out (squishy). So I freeze my veggies. Usually just wash and freeze (peppers I slice so they take up less space). Green beans, wax beans, most kinds of beans - I blanche (boil for 3 minutes, ice bath for 3 minutes) then freeze. Been doing that for years - today I read a tip on the internet - and wondered "Why didn't I think of that?" You know when you freeze veggies in regular zip lock freezer bags - even though you squeeze as much air as you can out of them bags, there is always air left. Today I tried the "straw method". Put my veggies in - squeezed as much air out as possible (without squishing the veggies...

Me and Cousin Jim My husband travels often - I'm pretty used to it. This time around, I was having a harder time of it. I think he knew - although I know I didn't outwardly show it - it's just something that soulmates sense. Anyway - he left yesterday afternoon for the airport, and about 15 minutes before he was due to leave, my FAVORITE COUSIN pulled in the driveway. He's from Michigan - where we used to go on our yearly one-week family vacation as children. I've had my own family up that way twice, the last time when Leenah (dd#2) was just 6 months old. My husband once football tackled a two foot long dog fish there - and was left with an impressive scar on his knees - just because he thought it was a "good eating kind of fish" (it wasn't). Anyway - Cousin Jim's arrival made the departure of my husband much, much easier. No tears were shed, and although my heart still misses him, I'm O.K. We had a wonderful visit with Cousin Jim. He ...

OK, OK - no design wall, and this week, the design table was still covered with textbooks, so I had to take my picture of the design floor. I just love this challenge that Judy from Patchwork Times posts each Monday - it makes me FIND THE TIME to sit down and sew over the weekend. This weekend I pulled some batiks and just started throwing some blocks together. I wanted something cheery to chase away all that rain. It must have worked because the rain is certainly out this morning. Of course, rainy weekends also means baking - banana chocolate chip muffins and bread for the kids - and 1 point cupcakes for mom - the recipe - mix one box of Angel Food cake mix and one large can of crushed pineapple - and bake - spray the pan first ! That's it. Makes anywhere from 24-36 cupcakes depending on how large you like them.

I can't believe how big my "little man" has grown. He has the same teacher he had last year (I guess I was very persuasive!) His bus ride is no where near as long this year - so it looks like it'll be a good year for us. I did apply to be homeroom mom - last year no one else did, so I won by default - usually there is a lottery drawing. Hoping I do get to be homeroom mom again, because I just love being able to visit and attend all his parties. The neighbors threw away 2 perfectly good guitars (course, I'm not sure they actually work, but with the imagination of a 6yo ... they are fine!) It made waiting for the bus that first day of school fun !~

Woke up this morning and realized I had nothing to show for Design Wall Monday hosted by Judy at Patchwork Times. So, while dh was watching the U.S. Open - I steadily stitched away until I had the binding completely hand sewn on my buttefly quilt. It does still need a label - but be assured that will be attached before the quilt is folded and packed away until it needs to be gifted.

It's been awhile since I had something new on my design wall/table. Each Monday - Judy from Patchwork Times hosts a Design Wall Monday - check out all the other design walls - inspirational. This weekend I worked on a Bento Block swap that I'm doing with my cyber friends. We are doing it in 2 different colorways - one is pink and brown, the other blue and brown. I finished 7 of the pink and brown before I ran out of the pink I was using, so while searching for another pink - it hit me that there was an easier way to do these blocks then by cutting them out one by one. One couldn't I make a cottage block - and cut it in 4's? Took a little math to figure out what size the first cuts should be - but I figured it out - and ended up with 8 inch mini-blocks which can be put together for 15.5 inch blocks, which will finish at 15" - just what I wanted! Anyway - here is the first blocks And here is how I cut my second set of blocks which was much easier - From the pi...

The first week of Ramadan is always the hardest for me. I know going in it's going to be 30 days of no eating/drinking during the daylight hours. I know going in that since it's getting closer and closer to the summer months - the days of fasting are going to be longer. I know going in that the nights will be long and the kids will be grumpy from lack of sleep. BUT, after that first week - I start looking forward to each day - spending more time then usual with friends and family. I do really, really miss my coffee each day. Usually I can get through about 2 pots of coffee in a day - now I get maybe one cup in. Sometimes a second late at night when we eat - but then you know what that does to my sleep patterns ??? SO - what do I do between the hours of 5 and 8 a.m. or so when the kids get up again for the second time? Find some great online deals. Some of the ones I recently came up with was an order for Vitamuffins (my normal, everyday breakfast), a Tom-Tom GPS for d...