Contagion, Threat Level Emmett

I'm home today with what has to be the 10th cold I've caught since he started going to daycare. He seemed to have a little runny nose and a cough, but seems okay now. I've spent the past 2 days trying to convince myself it was just allergies, but this morning it felt like I should just try and sleep it off, which clearly I am not doing a the moment. Or am I? Don't wake me, it's dangerous to wake a sleepblogger.

But I'd like to take this moment to give any future parents some advice: Most parents you talk to are going to tell you, "One good thing about sending a child to daycare is that he'll catch everything now, he won't catch any colds when he goes off to grade school!"

Come closer. I look ok from a distance, but now you notice the red rimmed eyes, the bits of Kleenex crust on my unshaven face, a faint scent of Ricola upon my breath.

Closer.

ACHOOO! Have some of my germs, sucker! Get used to it, because what they don't tell you is that YOU'RE going to catch it all too. You'll be doing the Sophie's Choice thing every month, trying to decide if you should really stay home and get better, or try to tough it out and save the sick day for your precious little cootiebag.

Good luck, and g'bless you.

Adventures in Slow Cooking #1 ...er #2 Taco Soup

In an attempt to making dinners easier I am going to try to use the slow cooker more often.. perhaps even ONCE A WEEK.  We'll see...  Slow cookers are a bit hit or miss with me.  Meats.. not so great, soups.. pretty good.  I'm going to try and try again, to build up our recipe rotation.

#1 was actually "red cooked chicken" which was, good.  I'll be trying it again.  I'm hoping since you save the sauce to use and use again  it will get better with time.  I'll be adding more spice the next time, as well.  Sort of poaches the chicken and the meat can be eaten straight or maybe used in another way.

#2 Taco Soup.  Verdict.. Not bad.. not great.  Makes a TON so we'll be eating it for a while.  I froze half for later down the road.  Maybe I'll make it again, with some changes. But then maybe it just becomes a chili?  The thing that makes this "taco" soup is it uses Taco seasoning, which makes things sort of easy.. but then you are also at the mercy of whatever is in that taco seasoning.  This recipe also uses a powdered Ranch dressing mix.. which gives it sort of that Dorito "cool ranch" sort of flavor.. which I can do without.  It just all becomes a salty/fakey sort of taste.  Hmmm... maybe this means I will not be making this again.  Maybe I will make it again.. but use only the taco seasoning.  Sigh... Maybe I'll just try something else.

FF week 6

Almost 6 pounds gone.  Wowee!  Of course 5 pounds doesn't seem like a whole lot, but it is enough to start noticing a difference.  Mostly in my pants. They are just looser.  Some too big even.  I never thought 5 pounds made that much difference at least I always told myself that when it was 5 pounds the other way.  

The eating hasn't been that hard really.  There are times when I want something and I tell myself "no", but even that hasn't been too hard.  For now I have things to look forward too.  The State Fair.. New York. That might not always be a motivator, but it works for now.  Both places I expect to enjoy sampling foods I don't get to have other times and it's easy to tell myself that dry looking piece of cake in the cafe wont be as good as those mini donuts.. so wait for the mini donuts... or those bagels

During the week it's fine staying away from wine and too many treats.  Nothing that work serves is really worth the points.  The usual salad/sandwich lunch is fine and I don't really feel like I am missing anything.  I am trying to pick the entree every now and then, if it sounds good and is a little different but most days I stick to the salad.  The weekends haven't been super difficult, but they do get a little sketchy because I have to think about and make every meal and that gets to be difficult when time is limited and energy is low.  I've started to try some pre-made sides from Trader Joes.  I'd like to stay away from processed foods, but that isn't as easy these days.  Trader Joes seems to be pretty healthy and as long as we keep an eye on portions I think we'll be OK.  It really does help make things feel like a real meal and you can't beat the ready in 3 minutes.

What we need to get used to is not cutting things out.. but limiting the amount we have.  1 or 2 mochi icecreams add up in points and I know I can't eat 4 (but I sure would like to)  Also, we now have to make a bottle of wine stretch 3 nights instead of the 1. (I guess it all saves us money). 

I'm not sure if it's all in my head, but I do feel pretty good.  At least I notice when I really don't feel well (after eating that greasy burger)  I don't regret eating that burger, but I know I don't want to eat it all the time either.

so anyway... on we go.  I hope the next 5 come off as easy as the first 5.