All in a days work....

Here's what a talented 12 yr old(my neice!) came up with on a short notice baby shower- move over Martha!

    Diaper Cake!

Its Friday...whats cooking?

Usually nothing- if I'm lucky, there's a whole medley of leftovers from the week.
But here's something from one of those nights when I felt like seafood and Italian...with ingredients on hand...but felt lazy and didn't want to spend time and energy(and money!!) to eat out at my fav seafood restaurant.. a whole lot of conflicting thoughts :)
With the boys on the couch snacking on rose cookies(something I'll probably never make in my life time but have vivid memories of my mom making) and watching Skyfall...30 mins later, here's what got whipped up for dinner- I'm impressed :) Well, the point being, like I tell the boys-we can have "restaurant style" food , ambience and all (almost) right here at home in 30 mins with local grown ingredients, most of it from the Farmer's Market. Set the table, light the candles if the mood calls for it and voila!!
Mushroom Tortellinis with Grilled Salmon and Kale Salad....All's well with the world!

Trip down Nostalgia Lane with Mathi Peera Pattichethu....(Sardines with coconut)

Been craving Mathi ever since I got back from a trip home where my fav Aunt and dear old N chechi cooked them for me everyday I was there- I miss them! Mathi fried is always my first choice in seafood back home (after fish head curry!!) but I'll settle for peera too.

 The cravings are not the kind that will get me to drive down to the Asian fish stores, buy fresh sardines, clean them, cook them - no thanks! By then I'd be stressed out by the smell, the imaginary scales on the kitchen walls and counters and worse still, if they're not fresh- there goes my property value- I'd never be able to get the smell of rotten sardines out of my house or neighbourhood for that matter...

However on a recent grocery shopping trip, I was surprised to find that the local Whole Foods carries fresh wild sardines, cleaned and looking good!! And here's what transpired shortly there after...

 

The clutter in our lives....

When one of the many "catch all" baskets tipped over :) The pantry bulb that needs replacing, the pack of cards with a few always missing, the 'must have' Angry Birds mittens, the 'Crazy Bands' that were the craze one time with the most sophisticated barter systems revolving around them, the old GPS with its holder that may have a purpose someday esp. now that the phones and cars all have GPS !!!

(Yet) another new beginning...

Well.. I believe new beginnings are always good- it shows you're trying, failing and trying again!! The mantra now is still the same as before- eat healthy, move more. Easier said than done but here is why I think it’s worth trying over and over again:

• We truly live in the land of plenty, fresh organic fruits and vegetables in plenty. A recent trip outside the country makes me appreciate this even more...
• · Living in a beautiful city with the mountains around you, it’s uplifting each time you look around you...but we don't stop and marvel! Move around outdoors more often, I do love to be outdoors but in my defense , my allergies are the roadblock here.   

On the breakfast menu today:

 

Its got to be better than this.....

And here I am again- on my ever losing battle with the bulge.
Just a simple mantra- STAY AWAY FROM SWEETS- one day at a time.
And it starts tomorrow.The goal is to lose 40 lbs- one day at a time :)
It can be done - move more, run from sugar....make a plan and stick to it...well! The plan is pretty simple , stay away from sugar :)
And I'll be here tomorrow to see if I made it:)

The New Year with new Resolutions?

Since the cookie diet and others that followed fell to wayside as you probably already guessed, there is a new movement that's gathering strength.
Stick to the basics:Cut intake and spend more to start using up the reserves(of fat!!)
To that end, there is a new toy in my arsenal- Just Dance 2'! Well, I am not sure how many calories it burns but I am happy dancing to the tunes and hopefully it translates into some significant changes in BMI.
Went up to the mountains last weekend and walked in the snow, now that's burning up calories- wish I could do it more.
To all my fellow 'trying to lose weight' enthusiasts out there, as long as we are still trying we are in the race.