Dinner...for once enjoyed by all! No one fought me, and seconds were had by all!

Cold Pasta Salad with Central Market Creamy Italian Dressing and Shredded Cheese

Modified Garlic Bread ( Thomas English Muffins with butter and pressed garlic) Easy!

Delicious Meatloaf topped with Central Market Marinara

Very easy, delicious, and well liked...hard to find things we all like! I am no chef by any stretch of the imagination, but I like to try it sometimes

Strawberry Glazed Shortbread Cookies

Beautiful and Delicious

3 sticks butter softened
1 c. confectioners sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt

Combine the above in a large bowl then add to it 3 c. sifted flour. Once well combined
place on parchment paper and form into a log and wrap with the parchment. Place in the refrigerator for 1 1/2 hr. When firm cut into 1/4 inch pieces and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool thoroughly. While they are cooling make the glaze

GLAZE
(MY RECIPE)

5 tbsp. strawberry preserves
splash of milk
(place in a mixer and pulse till extremely fine)
add 3 tbsp cream cheese
puree again
then add confectioners sugar to the mix until it is to your desired thickness
Pour mixture into a ziplock bag and reserve for later

Once the cookies are cool place all of the cookies on a large piece of parchment paper close together (touching), cut a small tip off of the corner of the bag of glaze and move in a linear pattern over the cookies. Alternate directions and be creative. Once all are glazed, place in the refrigerator on the parchment and allow the glaze to set. Transfer to serving plate and enjoy!

I am now in the single digits! Size 8's again!!!

For a whopping $50.00 I got 3 pairs of dress pants at T.J.Maxx! I love them, and I feel like a million bucks in them! So glad to not have the size 10 tags anymore! YAY!!!!!

A smattering of my daily fare...

The above things are what I eat on a daily basis, just in varying quantities, flavors, etc. I am not saying that I only eat these things, but these are the staples that I, shall we say, elaborate on. As you can see I have all of the food groups represented, as well as my favorite...dessert!
Here are the calorie breakdowns

9 Hershey Kisses (dessert) 200 cal.
1 Sargento Stringster (dairy) 70 cal.
1 can Tuna (protein) 175 cal.
(I usually eat this with low cal Mayo and triscuits or an english muffin)
Dannon Light and Fit Yogurt (dairy/fruit) 80 cal.
Crystal Light (hydration) 5 cal./serving
Ice Cream Sandwich (dessert/dairy/fat) 160 cal.
Honey Roasted Peanuts (legumes/protein/fat) 150 cal./quarter cup
Lean Pockets (protein/grains/dairy) 270 cal/one
Little Debbie Marshmellow Treats (dessert/grain) 100 cal/one
Reduced Fat Triscuits (grain) 120 cal/7 triscuits

I am severely lacking in the veggie dept, but I am trying to get better with these. I have never been a big veggie girl. Probably not what most people would like to eat, but I am a snack-a-holic/ grazer and not a real meal eater. All in all I think I eat a pretty round amount of things...
and I NEVER FEEL DEPRIVED!!!!!

Cross your green thumbs...In 28 days...

I have two of these started...Jiffy greenhouses

These are the seeds I sowed...they are gorgeous! I hope they sprout!!!

I have decided that this year I am going to have a garden, after many years of pining after and much admiration of my sister and her husbands AMAZING garden! In basically have Black thumbs, and am hoping that I will have something come of these lovely, contained little greenhouses. Cross your fingers and send me your gardening luck for all of you pros!
So the countdown is on...in 28 days I should have sprouts! My little babies to watch grow!

The gift that keeps on giving...

Yesterday, I had a very unexpected surprise...a gift from my friend/boss Laurie. I can not wait to make some of these lovely little delights and bring them into work to share! This is truly a gift that keeps on giving...Thanks to Laurie!!!

Yummy Banana Oatmeal Bread

Sift together the following:
2 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt

In a separate bowl mix the following:
3 ripe peeled bananas
2 large eggs
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter melted and cooled

Add the wet ingredient mixture to the dry ingredients and blend until well combined. Add into the mixture 3/4 c. old fashioned rolled oats (not quick cooking). Pour evenly into 2 greased loaf pans and place in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50 minutes, or until golden brown and springy to the touch. Remove from pans and place on a baking rack until cooled. DELICIOUS-O!