What I Wore...

So, last Thursday, I posted about the Dick Vitale fundraiser dinner that I was going to.  I had no idea what I was going to wear and I had no ambition to get a move on.  Lol!  I headed over to Beall's and found a gorgeous royal blue cocktail length dress to wear.  It fit perfectly and it was on clearance.  I then headed next door to the Beall's Outlet for jewelry.  I have a lot of silver jewelry, but not gold.  I was definitely wearing gold jewelry with a blue dress.  I ended up getting earrings, a layering necklace, a cuff bracelet and a little wristlet clutch.  I wore platform XOXO heels that were black/nude snakeskin with gold hardware and gold heel/base.  All together my dressed up night out cost $58.66.  The dress was $31.34, the jewelry/clutch were $27.32 and the heels were free because I already had them.  I bought those heels on clearance from Beall's Outlet about 3 years ago for $7.00.  I love a bargain!  My wish to be arm candy for my husband worked.  He said that I looked stunning and I thought that we were the hottest couple at the event.  I've proved again that you can be chic on a budget.  The above pics are similar in style to what I wore.  So get out there and get your style on!  

A Beautiful Weekend...

It's been a few days, so let's catch up.  Friday, I let my 9 year old son Tyler stay home.  It was bring your parent to school day and we didn't get the rsvp in on time.  I didn't want him to be upset at school.  He's a sweet little nugget.   Anyway, we set out for adventure with my littlest peanut Peyton.  She's 2 1/2.  We met my friend Alex and her son Max at the park for some play time and much needed Mommy time.  Then we decided to pick up lunch, head home and we watched movies all afternoon.  Iron Man 1, Iron Man 2 and Thor.  Saturday morning I got my shopping list together, printed some coupons up and I headed for Walmart.  FYI they have become sticklers for coupons.  You could have a totally legit manufacturer's coupon and if it doesn't scan they will not enter it manually.  Seriously, in Florida we don't have double coupon days or any other super cool coupon savings.  Add to the fact that as soon as you start getting good savings at a store, they change their coupon policy.  What do we have to do to save a buck here?!  I still got 95% of my weekly groceries done for a family of 5 for under $100.  If I bought a ton of processed foods it would definitely be less.  But, I buy produce, lean turkey, chicken, gluten free pasta, etc.  Trying to eat healthier can be tough on the budget.  So, I figure that if I can save money on the non perishable items, bread, dog food, etc., then that will help me out on the organic produce, meats, gluten free breads, pasta and flours.  I also only by products that do not have high fructose corn syrup.  After shopping, we got the kids together and headed to Tyler's baseball game.  It was beautiful out.  Sunny with a breeze and Peyton wasn't cranky, so I got to cheer the team on happily.  Did I mention his team is undefeated?  Lol!  After we got home we just chilled out.  My husband and I lounged on the chair and a half and watched tv.  We love all of the shows about Alaska.  It is no joke living there.  Sunday, I hung some picture frames and I started some cool weather crops.  Sounds like I know what I'm doing, right?  Nope, I just play it by ear.  I've got seeds, planters, 2 bags of organic soil and 1 bag of cow manure/mulch.  So, I decided to fill up as many planters as I could with the soil and direct sow the seeds.  My plan is to have some 3'x4' raised beds filled with veggies and maybe some berries.  That would really help the grocery budget out.  But, for now I need to start small.  The idea of being able to go in your garden and grab greens for your salad and fresh green beans for your side dish, to me is heaven.  My oldest sister lives in South Salem New York.  She is a huge vegetable gardener.  There's nothing she likes better than to get her hands in the dirt.  She has the gift.  Anyway, I went to visit her with the kids 2 fall season's ago.  It was harvest time so myself and Tyler would go out and pick veggies for hours it seemed, while Kyle(my oldest) watched Peyton inside.  We went to my sister's neighbor's house, picked apples and went into the chicken coop to gather eggs.  Amazing!  That night my sister made a meatloaf with veggie sides that we picked from the garden, she made an apple pie from the apples we picked and the next morning we had scrambled eggs from the farm fresh eggs we gathered.  I will say it again.  Amazing!  She of course now has her own gorgeous chicken coop with growing chickens.  Yes, I am totally jealous.  Lol!  So she is my inspiration for a lot of the things that I want to do.  Okay, back to my Sunday putterings.  After starting the seeds, I started dinner.  I made turkey meatloaf with garlic string beans and a veggie soup.  I don't use any bread crumbs in my meatloaf anymore.  I throw in a couple of eggs, herbs, ketchup, garlic, chopped onion, celery, carrots and some kind of sauce.  Either soy, teriyaki or a steak sauce.  It was really good.  The soup I kind of threw together to use up some veggies and I love soup.  I don't know what I will do with it yet though.  I basically heated water and through in chopped carrots, celery, garlic, Mrs. Dash onion herb blend, salt, pepper.  Then I sauteed onions in a touch of salt and olive oil.  I threw those in the pot with some tamari and honey.  Wow!  Even my husband came downstairs, said it smelled delicious, tried it and loved it!  I'm working on a gluten free, vegetarian version of my favorite french onion soup.  This may do the trick. :) The rest of the night we just hung around watching tv.  Today, the kids are off and I'm trying to figure out what to do with them for fun.  Plus, I need to workout and get some cleaning done.  Busy day.  Busy day.     

What To Wear? What To Wear?

Tonight I have a Dick Vitale fundraiser to attend with my husband and I just can't seem to get moving.  I need to do my nails, hair and figure out what I'm wearing.  This day is going to disappear and right quick. 
You may be thinking why haven't I figured out what I'm wearing already.  Well, that's not how I work.  I've looked in my closet and absolutely nothing is jumping out at me.  I think that I need a miracle.  Or I may need to just go shopping.  Ugh!  All I know is that I've got to get a move on pronto.  I've got to find an lbd and turn this tired mama into a hot mama so I can make myself into some eye candy for my honey.  Now where can I get a hold of some spanx?  LOL!  

What I've Eaten..

I have decided not to weigh myself everyday.  Since my digestion is so crazy, I could have a lot of water weight.  Everyday was making me nutso.  So, let's get on with it.

Monday October 15, 2012

two eggs on gluten free whole grain bread with 1 slice soy cheese, black coffee

tuna with mayo(I can't eat anything but Hellman's original with my tuna, I just don't add a lot) on 2 slices whole grain gluten free bread with romaine lettuce

lemon herb roasted chicken with broccoli

Tuesday October 16, 2012

2 eggs on a gluten free bagel with 1 slice soy cheese

greek salad(my version) romaine, cukes, carrots, feta, fresh squeezed lemon juice, olive oil and herbs

two slices of turkey breast, romaine with two spoonfuls of clean chicken taco meat(I wasn't very hungry last night)

So there you have it.  I'm finding that I'm better when I eat a heavier breakfast and then eat lighter at lunch and dinner.  I'm also going to start juicing again.  No I'm not a crazy juicer.  Lol!  But, after I first got diagnosed, I had bought myself an awesome juicer from ebay.  I started juicing my breakfast and I felt really good.  My hair and skin looked amazing.  Plus, I lost 10 lbs.  I still ate a healthy lunch, dinner, snacks and the weight loss was not overnight.  It was over the course of a few months.  I know for myself, I have a hard time digesting heavy meals and juicing gives you all of the nutrition in liquid for which is easier on your gi tract.  The way I figure it, since people with Crohn's don't absorb all of the nutrition from food, it would be easier to absorb in a liquid form.  If you are going to add juicing to your diet, make sure that everything is organic.  I also take Juice Plus+ instead of a vitamin.  I've been taking it since right before I was diagnosed and it has helped me tremendously.  You can check it out if you like at: https://www.juiceplus.com/nsa/content/Home.soa?site=cd67483     

Shut The Front Door...

I have been hating my entryway to my home for eons.  I have had absolutely no inspiration what so ever.  I just kind of cringe as I pull into my driveway and walk up to my door.  Know where I'm coming from?  Lol! No curb appeal at all.  Here in Florida we spend the majority of the year indoors.  It's hot, humid and we love our central air.  Since the weather has been beyond gorgeous, I decided to not only clear out some weeds, but, I cleaned up my front entryway as well.  This got me thinking about how I can give my entryway some much needed curbaliciousness.  So here's some pics for you see what my plan is.

I swept, sprayed down and washed the front door with bleach.  The wall color is a washed out clay and the door is a really, really washed out clay.  Hate it!  The door is still filthy.  I painted the moldings and door jamb a crisp white.  It was all pale clay colored before.  That has now given me courage.  

So the ceiling I want to paint light blue.  I want to make the planters the ones from the picture except in bright yellow, orange or blue.  The planter is brilliant in my opinion.  It's a planter on an old lamp base.  Genius!  You know I love recycling.  After I paint the door the color of the picture below, I will add all brass hardware.  I may just paint the handle and lock.  They can be pricey.

  

So there you have it.  I've got my plan for "Operation Front Door Fabulous".  Stay tuned for the finished product.

   

Best Beauty Products - The Best Mascara

Diorshow Blackout Mascara is the best mascara ever!  All the Diorshow mascaras are fabulous and are in every hollywood make-up artist's bag!   My favorite Diorshow is the Blackout, this mascara comes with the Diorshow trademark big fluffy brush plus has the deepest black kohl color.  I have tried so many mascaras on the market that claim to make your lashes look like false eyelashes, this one actually lives up to the claim!   It tends to go on thick, especially if you are like me and love to put many coats on.  But just finish by using your lash comb to separate your lashes a little!!
http://www.dior.com/beauty/usa/en/makeup/eyes/mascaras/lmascaras.html

Architecturally Sound...

I'm a sucker for architecture.  So, today I would like to give a shout out to my wonderful little shelf.  It's actually less than 2 feet long and it's about 4 inches deep.  I love these types of shelves and I knew when I started redecorating my house that I wanted one there.  I always have an idea of what I want and then I go out shopping via stores, online, ebay, yard sales, etc.  The decorating gods tend to look my way.  I decided to hit Home Goods and I found this shelf for $29.99!  The frame was free, a give away from my good friend Jen.  In the frame is linen that I had which was free, the stencil was $2.99 from Michael's, the black craft paint was free.  The little bird is actually a salt shaker that I got on clearance from Michael's for $.50.  The molded concrete piece to the left was from Sarasota Architectural Salvage and cost $12.00.  The metal candlestick holder was a thrift store find and is awesome at $3.00.  It has a wonderful patina on it and old melted wax that I've left on it.  I'm not putting a candle in it because it will be too tall and it's next to my drapes.  Fire and drapes don't work for me.  Lol!  I will try my other camera's to see if I can get better pictures.  I'm still working on finishing touches.  I'm considering antiqueing the frame with a little color and gel.  I am also considering painting the bird to give it a little pop.  There will be a tree behind the chair as well.  I'm thinking a mini fruit tree for so some color and texture.  I really love how the shelf anchors that corner of dead space.  There are so many ways to add architecture into your home.  You can add moldings to walls, cabinets, furniture.  You can get old drawer fronts, paint them, add hooks and make a coat/backpack hanger out of it.  Or just use it as wall decor.  The skies the limit when you have your creative juices flowing.