kinda toward the end of week 2 - ha!

This was the week that we add no more meat to the plan.  So, no dairy, no processed and no meat.  Yeah, about that.   Gosh, can I say I'm about 75% on plan?  Yesterday, I gave in and had my last frozen meal...with meat...and processed.   Weds I had meat also...But other than that...

Dairy, I'm finding I don't miss it very much....except cheese.   I do miss cheese.  In fact on day 29...this is a 28 day plan...I'm having a PIZZA!   oh, and I miss Mexican food also.

Processed,  this is the hardest to avoid.   Just cuz it is everywhere and in things you don't expect.  You know like... pie...ha!   No seriously.   I am avoiding the out and out white, white bread, pasta, rice....

Meat, last week I ate a lot of meat.  This week only 2 meals...soooooo...okay.   Good thing I like tofu.  and hummus.  and I am good with the tempeh.   As I write this I am finishing a kale, tempeh, quinoa citrus salad...a recipe my dil gave me.

Weight, I don't have a scale right now...so can't tell you if I am losing any weight.  I stepped on a scale while staying at the kids...and it looks promising.   But we will see.

Had a disappointing couple of days.   I had signed up for a 3 day crop with Scrapbook Paradise here in Reno.  was so excited, gonna crop and meet some local scrapbookers!   But it was 'hinky'...even when I paid back in May...nothing.  No email saying, 'welcome, here is how a crop works'...nothing.  So, I've been 'watching' their website and facebook page.  Only one facebook post about a watercolor class.  Nothing new on website, except the crop was on their calendar.   Until the morning of the crop.  Then the calendar was wiped clean.   So I Facebook Messaged them.  No response.  Then later in the morning I check the calendar again...and now there is a class posted today with Lawn Fawn.  So, I call them and leave a message....nothing, so okay, I'll stop by today while they are having the class.

So, I drive down there.  I see a gal who drove all the way from Truckee...she said the got an email that the Lawn Fawn class was cancelled, but she came down for the kit.  And sat for 20 minutes, cuz there is no one there.   I also walked around … Now a couple of weeks ago, there was a sign for Scrapbook Paradise on the building...but not today.  

So, I get home and check my messenger, email...and the website. Even checked my mailbox hoping there was a letter and a refund or something.     Facebook and Website is still up with no changes...but the online store is 'under maintenance'.

So, yes, I called my credit card company to get my $70 back....but why can't they respond to me and make this right?  Why do I have to go to my credit card company to try to get my money back?  Why is it when a business goes out of business...they feel they have the right to scr*w their customers?  Why?

I'm so sad.  I went to the store when I used to travel to Reno with MJM...before I started babysitting.  Was really excited to move out here...cuz there was a store.

Oh well, that's how the cookie crumbles.  or should I say multigrain cracker...

I did get to scrapbook yesterday...after unpacking my crop bags.

Did get happy mail.   I ordered some Fun Stamper's Journey and CTMH and at least they were in the mailbox.   so, gonna go drown my sorrows in new supplies....ha!

Week 1 - midweek report...ha!

Okay, there have been some moments where I did not want this dietary,  lifestyle change.  While driving I saw a donut sign...and all I could think of was a cakey donut - even the plain would have been heaven in my mouth.  BUT, I did not stop, did not 'give in' to that impulse.

I did go off track yesterday.  I had some errands to run in Sparks after 6pm...picked up a wheeled walker for Carita off the local buy/sell page... the PLAN was to get an acai bowl for dinner, but to the left of the shopping center was a little Thai place.   THAI!  as in Pad Thai, as in rice noodles, as in white rice noodles.  Yeah, I went there (it was yummy, not Yuppha (from Newman) yummy.   I did forgo the sweet rice and mangoes...does that give me a point?  

Tried to make applesauce oatmeal muffins, a recipe off of Spark.   Substituted soy milk for the milk, banana for the egg whites....and then,,, my oven does not work.  It is a spectacular looking oven...

a Thermadore Professional...when the previous owner gave us a tour, she did say she hated this oven.  It worked for a while, but since last Saturday decided it was done.   Soooo, it became a cake,  I put it in my countertop Turbo convection oven/roaster... I guess I used the wrong rack, the bottom did not cook.  But the top was crunchy and YUMMY, so guess I will try again.  And the banana took over the flavor, so it was more of a banana applesauce oatmeal taste.  Oh well, failing is a part of learning.

I kinda did not close my freezer all the way after lunch, a  veggie burger with avocado, so tonight will be something with ground beef.   (luckily I don't have to quit meat till next week).  siiiiigh, many mini adventures for the stay at home, bored grammy.   ha!  

My plan today, after I eat this bowl of soggy sawdust, aka regular oatmeal, is to play downstairs in my scrap room.   There is a reason, with the high temps we have been having, the basement is considerably cooler than the main floor of the house.   I may even invite the dogs, if they hang out in the man cave portion and not the scraproom portion...

Later this afternoon  we are having 2 pieces of furniture delivered.  From Recycled Furniture here downtown.   A dresser for the master.  Last house we had the spacious double closets so no need for a dresser in the room. We used shelves, and I did have MJM's childhood dresser in my closet, but he said 'no way' to having it in the bedroom.  ( It is happily holding fabrics in my craftroom).  

 The new closet, siiiiigh, it makes me so sad...I close the door at night, so it won't be the first thing I see in the morning.   

 And, we picked up a light oak 'lighted' cabinet buffet.   I kinda liked a different one, but for MJM it was the 'solidness' of this one that he liked...so, okay, not perfect, but I will 'deal'.  

okaydokay, soggy sawdust is cold, time to move to the next desk...ha!!!

1..2..3..deep breath and jump!!!

So, MJM and I are embarking on a new adventure this month.   A 28 day eating challenge.   (omg, omg,omg,..can I do this?)

backstory, my kids are very conscience of their eating habits.  DD with 2 toddler boys is very creative in getting veggies in her meals (one example she boils cauliflower in chicken broth and uses it instead of sour cream in her sour cream chicken enchilada recipe)  DS and family have been primarily Vegan for a while...not 100%, think they allow themselves a 'cheat', every now and then.  AND though he is quiet about this with others, he's been a preachin' it to his parents for a while now.  Sending articles and podcasts and brings 'plant strong' into every conversation.  So, for my birthday I asked him to send me Rip Esselstyn's Engine 2 Diet book. (he was one of the podcasts I did listen to) .  

So, Okay, today, MJM and I are going to start the 28 day challenge.  (fire cadet style)

The first step is to get rid of dairy and processed/refined....okay.

Cheese is my lifeline...I LOVE cheese...so the thought of not eating cheese is simply killing me...but I can do it for 28 days.   (you bet I'll be counting)

sidenote,  at church there was an announcement of LifeLine screening coming out on July 11.  Something dh and I have been thinking of doing.   Soooooo, I guess this can be seen as verification that we need to start paying attention and taking this step.  They also have a 'healthy living' support group that meets....hmmmmmmmm

Over the weekend, I've been clearing the cabinet and fridge of contraband foods.   Bagging the unopened cabinet foods, to hopefully donate.   Did put the refrigerated unopened in the garage fridge...those that won't expire before July....and tossed the opened.    siiiiiigh, including the leftover cannoli from Saturday's visit to Johnny's Ristorante Italiano  (our fave restarant so far)(we take all visitors there)

This morning we had rolled oats (old fashioned, not packaged)  ground flaxseed with blueberries and bananas for me.  Can I say that rolled oats taste like wet sawdust.  Thank goodness for that banana!

So, one step at a time.   Figured I would blog this journey in the hopes that writing it down will make me accountable!  ha!  

Our goals, we will reassess after the 28 days.  I do not see us becoming full blown Vegans....but I think cutting our meat and having more vegetables is a good goal.  So, this will force me to try out all the meat alternatives (already have tempeh in the fridge)  and be more creative....that will be a good thing.  

And of course, I am curious about any health benefits.   More fruits and veggies won't be a bad thing.

well, we are moved....pretty much

The big physical move was mid April.    DH has been going back every weekend to move more stuff,  prep home aka 'Ranch' for sale, We did end up moving his mom to a facility here in Reno...Atria....late April.  Put her homes up for sale...she has/had 3.   So, DH had to oversee the prep and moves for her homes.   Let's see...he has been one busy and stressed out fellow.  BUT as of today, 2 of her homes have sold.  1 s/b on market this week...and ours should go on market mid June.


Home #1, pending

Home #2, sold

Home #3, not quite listed (old Zillow)


This has been a rough time for DH, so busy and stressful.  He has been managing everything for his mom since her stroke...about 2 years ago?  or was it only 1?   With the home sales and her at Atria, he will be down to one check...instead of having to use 3 accounts to manage the bills of 3 homes.

He is out there this week...to finish the last bit of our home...all is moved except the tractor and the horse.  The horse is 'staying' with a good friend.  We will need to wait till our home sells...as we are double mortgage right now...to build her barn and bring her here.  Praying for a quick sell, that someone is looking for country, horse property.   Did I mention they 'beiged' my house?   Yeah, I knew even as I was choosing my colors that they would.  Just cuz I like a different color in every room, doesn't mean everybody does.   They 'beiged' my family room, kitchen and nook and the scraproom (in law quarters)...such a pale beautiful blue and they 'beiged' it.  siiiiigh.


Am I enjoying the life of unemployment and having my own time?  Not sure...The scraproom is finished out here...

scraproom tour part 1

scraproom tour part 2

these are on facebook, so not sure if the links will work.

So, I have my scraproom and can create...and have been.   The first few weeks were spent unpacking and sorting the whole house....I'll post pics another time.  It has been fun, crazy,... all the above.  And I do think I lost a bit of weight from the physical work .   BUT did 3 days in Texas with Adriana over the holiday weekend...and think I gained it all back.  (what can I say, the food is so good out there)

I'm settling  into a routine,  We have visited a church...that we like. …. found some good restarants...most important a good (excellent) Mexican food one...but not at 'enjoying' yet.

Just miss my friends and life I had...yes, it was busy, the nanny job was from 7:30 in the morning to 5 pm in the evening... and with the boys starting potty training the last month was messy...but I miss them all so much. Thank goodness for FaceTime.   I have had the chance to see Livermore grands a couple of times, they came up here my and ddil's  b-day weekend...and I stayed with them before/after the Texas trip..but it is not enough.

I do have days where I don't change from my pj's.  (today will probably be one).  I can do more household things...I can start to cook (been years, honestly) ...read more...craft more.  Binge watch tv shows...can we just talk about Turn??!!!  Is Abe the worst spy ever???  Brave but ...tsk tsk.   Luckily surrounded by smart, brave, loyal people.   But that series ending had me in ugly tears.

Okay, enough, catch up.   and links...ha!