bye-bye blond

sometimes you don't realize the difference a small change can make until you finally go for it. that's when you end up saying to yourself, "oh my goodness! why did i not do this sooner?"

well, i'm not sure if its good or bad, but i've said exactly that not once, but twice in the past week! (wait a minute, what am i talking about? it's good. definitely good.)

first, this past weekend when we replaced the builder-grade globe ceiling light in our kitchen with a much improved pendant fixture. My dirty sink is now illuminated brilliantly.

then again yesterday, when the friend of a co-worker finally took care of my poor, neglected head of hair at her home after work. two margaritas + two sets of lowlights = one happy me.

before......................and...................after



















yes. that's soooo much better.

low calorie desserts for "big losers"

1. Baked Maple Apple. Core and halve an unpeeled apple and place it in a small microwavable bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and heat on high power in a microwave for 2 minutes. Drizzle each half with 1 tablespoon sugar-free maple syrup, then sprinkle with cinnamon or allspice. Walnuts optional.

2. Ricotta Fruit Cup. Fill a wineglass or parfait glass half-full with blueberries or fresh sliced strawberries. Top with 1/2 cup fat-free ricotta cheese, then drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon.

3. Roasted Fruits with Honey. Halve fruits such as peaches or nectarines and remove the pits. Place on a baking sheet and drizzle each half with 1 teaspoon honey. Roast in a 350°F oven until tender and juicy, about 15 minutes.

4. Banana–Peanut Butter Sandwich. Peel a banana and cut it in half lengthwise. Spread 1 tablespoon creamy reduced-fat peanut butter onto the cut side of one half, then top with the other half to create a banana sandwich. Cut into bite-size pieces, if desired.

5. Low-Cal "Ice Cream" Sandwich. Create a homemade frozen treat by sandwiching 2 tablespoons sugar-free whipped topping between 2 fat-free chocolate graham crackers. Cover with plastic wrap and pop into the freezer for 1 hour.

6. Low-Cal Peanut Butter Cup. Stir 1 teaspoon creamy reduced-fat peanut butter into a sugar-free, fat-free chocolate pudding cup. It tastes just like a peanut butter cup!

7. Banana Milkshake. Peel an extra-ripe banana, cut it into chunks, and freeze in a ziptop bag. In a blender, process the frozen chunks with 1 cup fat-free milk or fat-free yogurt.


8. Healthy Latte. For a healthier alternative to the drinks sold at many coffee chains, pour 1 cup of cooled coffee over ice, add a small scoop of fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt, and top with a sprinkling of nutmeg or cocoa powder.

9. Angel Food Trifle. In a parfait glass, layer 2 small chunks of angel food cake (equal to one slice) with sliced berries of your choice and 1/2 cup fat-free frozen yogurt.

10. Not-So-Decadent Chocolate-Covered Strawberries. Dip 5 or 6 large fresh strawberries into 2 tablespoons fat-free chocolate sauce for a guilt-free version of chocolate-covered strawberries.

Adapted from The Biggest Loser Success Secrets by The Biggest Loser Experts and Cast, with Maggie Greenwood-Robinson, PhD.

dw-angela exposed

...but that's not why i watch the office! i demand more pam and jim action!!

last night's episode was a bit disappointing. yea, that's right, i said it. i was disappointed by the office. i think i only laughed out loud once. ONCE people. that's not office-caliber.

am i alone on this?

oh, well. the good news is, i just stumbled upon this website which is sure to keep me entertained.

kid quote of the day (kqotd)

today, in the cafeteria-

kid: "hey mrs. s., today my cat is getting the bob buster treatment."
me: "oh really. and what is that?"
kid: "you know, the bob buster treatment. so he doesn't have babies."

oh my.

cinnamon doughnut muffins

this quick and easy breakfast goody is a definite favorite of mine. i usually make a batch to take to work on treat days, and they're always a big hit!





you'll need~
1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup milk
jam (i use tripleberry)

topping:
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Combine sugar, oil, egg, and milk; stir into dry ingredients until moistened.
Fill greased or paper-lined baking cups half full; place 1 tsp. jam on top. Cover jam with enough batter to fill cups 3/4 full. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
Place melted butter in a small bowl; combine sugar and cinnamon in another bowl. Immediately after removing muffins from the oven, dip tops in butter, then in cinnamon-sugar. Best served warm. Yield: 10 muffins.

recipe courtesy of Taste of Home's Prize Winning Recipes

oh, how i love her so

is kate winslet not the most gorgeous woman?


kate looks better than ever in the february 2009 issue of elle u.k. out now.

in it, the beautiful mother of two reveals that twenty minutes of pilates at home each day is her secret to always 'keeping it real' on screen.

she also speaks about her new films, both of which i can't wait to check out:
revolutionary road, which was directed by husband sam mendes and co-stars leonardo dicaprio, and
the reader, a story based on the best selling novel by bernhard schlink i read years ago.

now,
time to dig out those windsor pilates dvd's i just know i have around here somewhere...