Month: February 2011

Plans

Posted on by Zolligirl

Is it Friday? Oh, thank you LORD, the weekend is here. I love weekends, mainly because I use it as an excuse to do no work. Never mind that I can use the laptop anytime, anywhere, the point is that most people are OFF and thus, I shall be as well. I don’t let the fact that most people didn’t spend the work week in their pj’s and watching Netflix’s Monsoon Wedding sway me.

Not that it’s been a terrible week. I got to volunteer at MP’s school Wednesday and I always enjoy that.  Well, except for the part where I have to shower, it’s good. One of the things I’m often asked to do is listen to a student read and watch them take a short quiz afterward. Which is how I came to hear all about Disgusting Jobs and Disgusting Bugs. Yes, it was a boy reader, why do you ask? It was fun to get to know one of MP’s classmates. As we read through some of the more disgusting jobs, like cleaning porta-potties, I asked him what he wants to do when he grows up. “I’m considering engineering. Of course I’ll go to Georgia Tech.” Well. I’m pretty sure MP still wants to be the girl that sells gum at the Quik Trip.

I had written MP’s teachers for an update and they gave me a glowing report that said she “gives 100%, tries her best, is a breath of fresh air.” Which was interesting since I spent all Wednesday evening saying “DO YOUR HOMEWORK” over and over because I obviously like the sound of my voice.

Believe it or not I have NO firm plans for this weekend. I am going to sit in my pj’s and watch Netflix. Oh wait, that’s my normal schedule. I’m going to RECLINE in my pj’s. That’s more like it.

What do YOU have planned?

Weight Watchers Wednesday

Posted on by Zolligirl

Okay people, the hour is upon us. Step right up and show us what you’ve got. Or what you’ve lost.

I think I did okay considering. We had plans to eat at La Parilla, the best Mexican restaurant EVER, and I really wanted to enjoy it. While they offer a great salad, I’m sick to death of lettuce. Besides, I’m pretty sure what makes their salad good, avocado, bacon, cheese, is the same stuff that makes me fat. So I had a plan. First, the food BEFORE the restaurant:

Breakfast – Latte and a banana 2 points. Snack – banana 0 points, Lunch – 8 boiled shrimp 1 point, Afternoon snack – weight watchers popcorn 1 point. Whew, I was headed to eat and had only used 4 points! This was looking good cause I’d done my homework. The Weight Watchers website said medium flour tortillas are 2 points and beans are 3. So I ordered 3 tortillas and a bowl of beans, hold the cheese. 9 points and yummy!  I might have looked like a goober eating my runny bean burritos, but a SKINNIER goober.

The next hurdle to overcome was the Super Bowl. The menu consisted of brats, coleslaw, beans, macaroni and cheese, chips, and assorted appetizers. Not a lot of low calorie options. Luckily I found the part of the Weight Watchers website that said I get 49 extra points per week. Excellent! I could use 7 a day, or all 49 at once. I went for the “all at once” option.

By the way, I found these on sale at Publix a few weeks ago. I was starving yesterday and pulled them out of the freezer. Turns out they are 1 point each! I think they’re pretty good, and 2 make a yummy snack.

So, the big weigh-in. Here I am, standing in my latex shorts and sports bra. LOVELY. The scale says: minus 2 pounds! Yea, me. If I squint just right, it might even say 2 and a HALF pounds. Plus, I’ve had three people this week ask if I’m losing weight, two of which mentioned my baggy britches. Obviously the size of my behind has been a great concern.

So, how’d you do?

Blahg

Posted on by Zolligirl

Sorry for the late post, but last night when I read what I’d written, I fell into a deep depression and had to be medicated. Okay, not really, but it was boring and sad. Who wants to read a blog that’s depressing? We could all just turn on the news if that’s what we wanted.

I’m feeling a little better today, so I thought I’d share a movie review with you. We ordered Temple Grandin from Netflix over the weekend and I give it 4 out of 5 Zolli’s. A Zolli is GREAT, by the way. The movie chronicles the true story of Temple Grandin, (hence the name), a teacher, activist, an author. She also happens to be autistic.

There’s nothing too disturbing about the movie. MP watched all but 2 scenes which involved animals, but otherwise she was fine. It was great to see how MP processed the autistic behaviors. She went from being a little freaked out, to thinking “Hey, she just SEES things differently.”

If you want to see the real Temple, watch the interview below.

Have I mentioned I love Netflix? Sign up now and enjoy!

Best. Babysitters. Ever.

Posted on by Zolligirl

So all of my family and half my friends have seen these already but I thought they were worth showing to the rest of you. The rest of the four of you who read this blog and aren’t related to me. On Saturday, my brother and sister-in-law asked if we’d watch the newest member of the family. We said, “YES!” and immediately began thinking of ways we could photograph her. Our young friend, Sara, was spending the night and she told us about some chick in Finland that takes photos while her baby’s asleep. Photos of what her baby is DREAMING about, scenes she creates with things she has laying around the house. I was like, if some chick in FINLAND can do that, we can do that. I don’t even know where Finland IS, hello?

Besides, don’t all babies dream of Star Wars?

and walking the dog?

We also did a few sweet ones to make sure they let us keep her again.

You can see more and larger versions HERE.

We can’t wait to next time. Tatooine was just the beginning. The ice planet of Hoth should be fun. I hope the baby remembers to dress warmly.

How my mind works

Posted on by Zolligirl

I was waiting in the car line today at MP’s school, and YES, I was fully clothed, when I realized it was really cold. Like, freezing-rain-and-hail-on-the-car-hood cold. So I started thinking about how nice it would be to have a fur coat. But then some PETA wacko would probably throw blood on me, cause I’m often at high-profile events. So I decided I should get a faux fur coat. Which reminded me of the time my friend Jenny was in a store and she saw a girl pick up a tag and say, “Faux fur? What kind of animal is a fauxfur?”

That  started me thinking about how people say dumb things. Like back in 1800’s when I was in college. Madonna had just married Sean Penn and it was a chaotic scene with helicopters flying around. I was standing in line at the grocery when my roommate looked over at the National Enquirer headline. MADONNA’S WEDDING FIASCO. And she looks at me and says, “Who’s this fiasco dude? I thought she was marrying Sean Penn.”

Which made me laugh. And then I started thinking about how much I weighed in college and how much I weigh now, and I stopped.

I’ve resolved to never think again.

I could use a calendar

Posted on by Zolligirl

Or a secretary. My life is a comedy of errors, without that first part. I was settled on the couch today, fireplace remote control in one hand, Netflix in the other, laptop on my, well, lap. It’s not easy to work on a laptop with both hands holding remotes but I managed. I had to get a lot of work/movie/sitting in front of the fireplace done because I was scheduled to volunteer at MP’s school at 12:45.

But then –

My friend Carolyn posted on Facebook that HER kids were getting out early, so I decided to check MP’s school website, and wouldn’t you know it? Early release at 12:10. Not one to let petty things like that interfere with such an intense schedule, I refused to bathe or change clothes. Or put on a bra. I just scooted out in my house-shoes and got in the car line. Only I was the only one IN the car line. In fact, there was no car line.

Turns out the school did away with the scheduled early release due to the snow storm a few weeks back. Hey, no need to update your WEBSITE. So there I sat at 12:15, no makeup, no shower, no BRA, and in 30 minutes I needed to be back helping young minds, grading papers, and snooping around MP’s classroom. I made it, but let’s just say I didn’t look my best.

This is a very exciting post. I was wearing house-shoes, THEN I put on real shoes.

I was thinking I should do something new – spark up the ‘ol life, spark up the blog. Like Argentine Tango lessons, or Chinese. But then I remembered that I already HAVE an exciting hobby – bridge! Exciting? Uh, yeah. I made 3 No-trump this week and my partner had a void! Whew, what a rush.

Well, what did YOU do that was so wonderful?

Weight Watchers Wednesday

Posted on by Zolligirl

It’s weigh-in time, who’s first? Hello? Is this thing on? I’m beginning to think I’m in this alone. Last week my mom said she was giving up. “I just started thinking, what’s wrong with being FAT?”

Uh…have you ever SEEN a magazine? A movie? Dancing with the Stars? Being fat is WRONG, otherwise Hollywood would have told me.

I was also told by a friend that she is following the plan perfectly and is NOT LOSING WEIGHT. I know her well enough to know she’s not hiding Snickers under her mattress, so we’re wondering if this new point system is effective. Is there ANYONE out there doing it and losing big?  I lost zero pounds, but it’s a minor miracle I didn’t gain weight this week – I ate at Chick-fil-a AND had pizza at the birthday party. At least I think I didn’t gain weight. I bought my scale years ago and a yard sale and it looks like something Fatty Arbuckle might have owned. It could be off a pound or seven. But I’m not giving up. Pound by pound, inch by inch, this butt has got to go.

So the Super Bowl is this weekend. What to eat? I found a website called Skinny Taste that has some low point recipes. I thought about the Skinny Artichoke or the Skinny Layered Dip, but really, the chips that go with them would be my undoing. But I think the Buffalo Wings sound good.

Lighter Buffalo Wings
Gina’s Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 9 • Serving Size: 2 chicken wings • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 5 pts
Calories: 204 • Fat: 5.4 g • Carbs: 2.3 g • Fiber: 0.6 g

  • 3 lbs (about 18) chicken wings
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp Franks hot sauce
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 2 tbsp oregano
  • 4 tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • salt and fresh pepper
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced into strips
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced into strips
  • low fat blue cheese dressing (extra pts)

In a large bowl combine chicken, 2 tbsp hot sauce, vinegar, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder salt and pepper. Mix well and let marinate for 30 minutes.

Place wings on a broiler rack and broil on low, about 8 inches from the flame for about 10-12 minutes on each side. (All ovens are different so be careful not to burn and make sure it is cooked before removing)

While chicken cooks, heat the remaining hot sauce until warm. Toss the hot sauce with the chicken and arrange on a platter. Serve with celery and carrot strips and blue cheese dressing or dipping.

It’s only 5 points for 2 wings. That’s not bad, right?  Whatever. It’s got to be better than the celery stick I had for dinner.

So, how did YOU do?