Chicken Population

With all the roaming (free Range) chickens hanging around the porch it was clear that they needed a home.  Living in the country you also have to be smart. You might need something later, like 30 years later but, later. Growing up I could not believe all the stuff that my mom held on to, I figured she was just a pack rat. Now I get it and I'm guilty.
She pulled all the materials needed to make a chicken coop and next thingI know BOOM a new apartment complex.

I was wondering when I tried to call and she did not answer. I had thoughts in my head of all her chickens eating her if she fell down.

She put it in a spot that is close to the porch but yet off into the wood line just a bit. Hopefully, it gives them a place to stay warm and lay eggs instead of laying in strange places like the recycle bin, flowerbeds, couch, table, or in a bucket.

We walk around a lot looking at flowers on the property and you never know when you might run across a nest of eggs.

The problem with having free range is the roaming critters that come out of the woods for a dinner snack. The beautiful part of country living is also hardships of the landscape and its wild life.  She has visits of fox, coyote owls, hawks,and bobcats. She has bears too, but haven't seen them (so far.)

Drives her a bit crazy when the chickens start screaming and running frantic. It's like a scene from the Chicken little movie  and the sky is falling. She runs out with her 22 looking for something to shoot. Most of the time, she too late but she has caught glimpses of predators, and we see them on the trail cameras.

Reminds me, I will have to share the story of me pulling a Tom Beringer in the movie Sniper.
 

Redzillagoddess has turned into a Chicken: Just run away.

Redzillagoddess has turned into a Chicken: Just run away.: Being able to escape the hustle of life and run away into nature is one of the most glories reasons to be alive. My children have been able ...

Just run away.

Being able to escape the hustle of life and run away into nature is one of the most glories reasons to be alive. My children have been able to witness life's miracles and the feeling of joy it brings. Life is hard for all of us and many times the Chicken Lady has had to help life along the way. From time to time babies get tossed aside and discarded for a variety of reasons  She intervenes and has saved the lives of many that otherwise would have been doomed.
In this picture, meet Custer, Brownie and Duckie the goose. They are the lastest survivors from abandonment for one reason or another.  They all have a story to tell that the Chicken Lady has told countless times. As a Kid, it wasn't surprising to come home to a new"pet" or learn that something had been rescued.
One time I was mowing the lawn with a push mower and stopped quick as a kitten poked his head up in front of me. The thought of almost running it over mortified me. I had a new kitten and got myself out of finishing the lawn. Countless stories I could share of humanitarian efforts by The Chicken Lady.

It's a blessing that my kids get to experience nature in such its simplest form. We talk all the time about how things come to be. We walk in the woods and turn over logs to see what's underneath or kick over mushrooms, chase each other. It's all about life and balance.

Some days it's only about picking flowers to put on the dinner table as you share a meal. Some days it's about gathering eggs for the next big breakfast. It's about cutting wood for the coming winter.Whatever your day brings the importance is to embrace it and enjoy.

 

Learning about life in these simple forms are the building blocks of growing up a good person and understanding efforts on Mother Earth.
My current profession is sustainability which means to not

Dumpster Diving and Baking

I head up to the chicken ladies house every 3 or weeks to help her with chores and things. I love to get her out of the house for some human conversation.

It's become a thing for us to run up the grocery on a weekend for food to make dinner. Her fridge is usually pretty simple. A few over ripe vegetables that need to be eaten, Margarine bowls of comfort foods like chicken and rice, or goulash and 10 or 12 dozen eggs.  Sometimes spoiled milk. I have been known to drink out of the milk carton only to realize that is on its way to spoiling.

Just after the cold snap last winter, she decided that she wanted to see if we could find some greens and fruits for the chickens and geese. It was a cold winter and she wanted to give them a treat.

Dumpster diving is not new for me. My brother and I learned this art when we were kids.  He has better stories than I do, but you can  find some gems if you are persistent. Most of my college furniture digs were found items behind stores. It's pretty standard practice to carry a milk crate and tongs for the long reaches. I also carry bags too.

Not to mention the food waste in this country is crazy. My mom tells me stories that as a child she would get the old food scraps from grocery stores to feed  her mom's chickens. But, like anything else behaviors and laws change.  Each year, the United States throws away one - third of all food it produces. 133 billion pounds of food.  This is a problem.  http://www.businessinsider.com/why-grocery-stores-throw-out-so-much-food-2014-10 
Anyway, we typically find a broken watermelon, melons or greens that the everyone love to eat. Everyone's happy.  

Not only do we find  tasty foods, look at these bad boys, I found two sets of glass casserole dish sets complete with lids tossed in a box sitting next to the dumpster. One was broke but the other three were fine. I just needed to dig them out.
It was a rainy and cold day anyway and we really didn't what do any work outside. So, we decided to have a baking day.

She pulled out a cookbook that had been my grandmothers. The Settlement cookbook. 1944, 26th edition.What does that even mean?
Anyway, we had the oven on for hours and the house was very warm so no need to build a fire. We made jelly rolls, sponge cakes, bundt cakes. Anything that took a lot of eggs. After all, we did have 53 dozen eggs. Clearly, happy chickens lay eggs.
Not only was the cookbook vintage, I found some cream of tartar in a little metal container dated 1972. Believe it or not, it worked and we used it. The rust around the can was a pretty good sign that maybe it was time to pick up more.

Needless to say, me and the Chicken Lady had a grand old time drinking way too much coffee talking about the past and eating cake. Good visit.

It's no FEET for a Chicken

Weather in Michigan can flip on a dime. It was a warmish winter day up with The Chicken Lady and she encountered a strange situation.  She has a couple of coops for her broods to call home. She has her big girls in the main coop and the smaller Bantam chickens in their coop.

But, she also has a few chickens that were either born on the porch or close by that have decided to move in and perch in random places

She has made little dwellings for them to call home. She uses old cat cages or crates, old little boxes in hopes they would use. Some use the recycle bin or even a bucket.

A few of them also perch on the back of the couch. Looking in at us watching TV. I can't but feel weird with that one.

She used to take the time to pick them up and carry them to the coop when it got dark, but it was cold and she felt sorry for them. Plus it keeps them out of harms way when wild critters are wondering around.
Good luck sneaking by a chicken to get in the house.They're not very quiet. Just like any other night, everyone went to bed in their perspective homes. She shuts the door to the hen house and calls it a night.

Each morning routinely, my mother gets up to open the coop doors. She bundles up runs out opens the little door and then usually goes back to bed. This particular winter day she got up, put on her flannel over her nightgown, lit a cigarette, poured a cup of coffee into a large mug that looks like a pair of denim jeans, puts on her boots and wanders outside to begin the process. Fills the cat dish sitting on top of the grill. A few chickens are huddled around the cat food container knowing that she'll fill it up and maybe get lucky with some droppings. A few scramble off the couch  towards her but one little brown hen seemed to jump but squawked and never got down. Flapping her wings, noisy and confused.  At first, mom thought that she was caught on the blanket but, soon realized that she was froze to the couch in a mountain of ice.  Her little chicken legs were stuck.  The day had been warm enough but at night the temps dropped causing the drip to harden throughout the night.

How to thaw a live chicken. The concern was to not break toes or her little chicken legs.
The Chicken Lady took a drink of her lukewarm coffee, took a drag off her cigarette and headed back into the house for a moment.
She came back with a blow dryer and an extension cord and proceeded to melt the ice around the chicken legs.
She was able to free the chicken but wasn't sure if the toes would make it. Later they did turn black and fall off but she survived. Going on her second winter with peg legs she lives on the porch chair that's nice and soft. And when she does wonder around she stays on the carpet, rugs or grass as much as possible. Maybe I will get her a little pirate costume for Halloween.

Family Vacation with a little work!

I just got back from a family vacation that I was able to tie into with a work trip. We sure felt like the Griswolds trying to get things around. My husband woke my kids up at 4 am with the tune from Family Vacation. I normally blog about my journey of health and fitness or the comical Chicken Lady. But, today I'm so tired and have very little motivation, that I thought that would tell you about it. Booking flights suck when you are trying to find the best price.  We ended up taking a morning trip down, got up at 3am  for a 6am flight and then an over night trip back. I thought we would beat traffic.  Packed flights both down and back, just crazy. We arrived back home at 9 am from a 2 hour drive from the airport and no sleep. I literally slept from 10 am Sunday to Monday about 7 am. I got up up once after a few hours thinking I would stay up. I sat on the porch with a glass of water and said screw it and went back to bed. I have no idea if my kids stayed awake or if the even ate for that matter.

It's 7:30 am and I'm in my beach cover up 2000 miles later with a pot of coffee. I think I brushed my teeth, but I can't be certain. I fumble for coffee as my body ached all over from sleeping a whole day away.

Let me start at the beginning. I was asked to do a presentation with a colleague in Anaheim California for work.  What a great opportunity to wrap in a family vacation with a work thing. Now, if any of you have done this combination before you know how pain staking it is to book personal plans with business plans and to not get things mixed up for reimbursement. Thank gosh I work with a good bookkeeper both at home and work.

My family dynamic is a pretty interesting one. I have a tweener that is going on 30 and ready to take on the world, as long as I cater to him to make it easy. Once he even asked if it was an option to live in my basement when he was 30. My other boy is 22 and has downs. He just wants to see everyone happy and he enjoys everything. My husband has anxiety and is kind of a control freak. I can work around it but it gets exciting. His first stop for the flight was a liquor store for whiskey,he found out that he could carry on 3ozs of liquid on the plane.

We were excited and nervous at the same time as this was our first family trip.   Heck it was the first flight we have ever taken together since our honeymoon. We set the alarm for 3 am tried to sleep a little then we packed up for a two hour drive to the airport. Our flight left at 6 am and was a non stop flight to LAX. We have not taken a vacation since the birth of my tweener and we wanted to make the most out of it. I spent hours researching places, prices and timelines for the biggest bang for our buck. We left 4 days before the work part was to begin for a total of 7 days worth of away time. We banged out a lifetime of memories in that short week.

We rented a car and soon discovered that a mid sized car wouldn't hold all our luggage. I was given a free upgrade and they offered a Challenger. My husbands eye lite up  like a kid in a candy store until he played tetras for 30 minutes trying to figure out how to get our luggage to fit. We ended up with a pick up truck.

We found the hotel and the room was a tight fit but, we didn't care.  we didn't plan on being there much anyway. But, to my husband with OCD a messy hotel room was at another level for him. Again, off to the liquor store.

The weather in California is nothing like Michigan, With all the sun shine you just can't help but smile and want to be out in it. That must be why Californians are rated as one of the fittest states in the US. The need to be outdoors is overwhelming with all the warmth.

Event though we stayed across the street from Disneyland we opted for Universal Studios instead because our boys are more movie buffs than the Great Mickey Mouse.

But, the Mickey Mouse ears are very part of the landscape in Anaheim. It became comical to see what was not Disney related. Along with Universal Studios we went to the  an Diego zoo and Lego-land.  The Zoo was amazing as they really talked about all the research and headway in saving animals from extinction. I had no problem giving them my money.

At any given time we e would jump off the highway and take side roads along the coast to catch scenery. We had no place to be and no hurry to get there.

It was our goal to eat at different places each night to experience California eats. We did end up at a couple usual's for price sake, like IHOP, We were in the mood for pancakes.

In and Out Burger, was "amazing" to quote my boys. It was my husbands idea to find this place because of some famous TV chef made a comment about it being the best.

Other various places we visited included Cheese Cake factory, Jack in the Box, Ice cream places and other gut busting joints.

We stopped at rest areas, parks and anything else that we could say we visited. I really enjoyed all  the blooming plants and trees.

Needless to say our trip was memorable and exhausting at the same time but well worth it.

We had opportunities to drive up and down the coast line as we quickly leaned that driving in the LA area is a mess of hurry up and stop. We spent an afternoon at Seal Beach, We went to 3 beaches in total and my son collected sand from each in a FUJI water bottle.  Each beach had different textures of sand that my son found fascinating. We didn't see any sharks or marine life but we did get chances to play in the sand and see lifeguards that reminded me of the TV show Bay Watch. We saw some California Highway Patrol and my husband would start singing the tune from CHIPS. We would start in on the song and my my kids just looked  at us like we were weird. Along, with souvenirs my boys did manage to pick up a California sunburn. I clearly did not apply it very even as they looked like they had red zebra strips on their backs.  But, they never let it get them down. Every down time moment my kids had they would walk around in search of Pokeman GO. This game has taken the world by storm and I would catch tidbits of the news and hear stories of people falling off cliffs and getting robbed in search of these little critters. I was nervous about them going off on their own with this game, but we set some rules and all worked out.

Over all it was a successful vacation/work trip as I sit on my deck and reflect with a cup of coffee in the hot humid weather of Michigan, thinking of all the chores I need to do to get my life back in order. Piles of laundry, no healthy food in the house, a burnt lawn with only weeds, and countless work responsibilities to deal with. Oh, well, tomorrow is another day.

Chickens at Random

A few of the tiny velociraptors or chickens like to hang out on the couch.   The chicken lady has several different breeds chickens. She has laying hens, which are the ladies that are breeds like Leg horns, Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons and the list goes on. They are in a lovely gated community complete with pond, trees, and plenty of bugs. She also has free range Bantam chickens that run all over the yard.  They are just like regular chickens but much smaller in size.

It's really cool to see all the different sizes, shapes and shapes of eggs. The shell color is pretty cool when you can make a dozen with brown, blue, green, speckled and white eggs. We call them a rainbow pack. Makes you wonder about the commercial industry. How many eggs get thrown away because we are looking for the perfect egg.
Anyway, those little guys are not fenced in and can pretty much go where ever they feel like it. Some wander up by the road and do get run over occasionally. they head back to the woods and then a fox might see a snack. Population control.

They do have a coop, but quite a few of them would rather hang out around the house and lay eggs under the porch, under the bushes, in the flower garden, on a table, in the recycle bin, or j
randomly on the floor. Every spring  she is bound to see babies that just appear out of the fields and under the porch with half a dozen babies. At night the ones that don't go into the coop roost in trees instead. That does make them vulnerable to night time critters. She told me about an owl once or two that picked off a few. When an owl hits tree branches its sounds like a tree crashing into a million pieces.  Very scary.

My mom has a perfect full length porch facing the woods  so she can sit back an enjoy what nature has to offer.  flowers bloom, birds sing, see a deer or two. Its breezy and calming to stretch out on the couch... until the chickens found the couch. Usually the ones that come onto the porch are ones that were born on it.  This is Smudge, she happens to be one of the bantam hens that my son was around when she came out of the egg and he named her.

We go through this ever year. In the winter she buttons up the porch, and puts up framed plastic to protect from the wind. A handful of her chickens end up hanging out to stay out of the snow. Its keeps them from being lunch on most cases. Every spring she has to go through and pull off all the furniture and scrub down the porch to reclaim it for human use again.

The really creepy part that always gets me is when they turn around on the couch or chair and stare at us through the window. The TV is right next to the window and you can't help but get distracted. Chickens staring you down is really unnerving. Good luck sleeping after that visual.

Chickens will travel (carefully)

I bought a new car and what do I do? put chickens in it. Among many things that my mother finds to put in my car. Once was a lazy boy chair on the side of the road that someone was giving away, I once stuffed a 6 ft hutch in it from my aunt. When we hit our annual yard sales it all a free for all on what we can fit. Rolls of paper, plastic, roof singles, tar paper. gas heater,  the list goes on you get it.
Anyway, back to the chickens. My husband worked with a lady that had 12 pet chickens. They were moving couldn't take the chickens with them. She wanted to make sure that not just anybody took them because she feared someone might eat them. They were pets and all had cute names and cooed. My mother promised that she wouldn't eat them...unless they pissed her off. I left that part out when I told the lady I would take them. But, that's another blog.

Well, after my husband told me of the offer I turned around and asked my mom if she wanted them. Of course it was a yes and when can you bring them.

My Traverse was only about 3 months old at the time and my husband wasn't to happy when he found out I wanted to put chickens in it. But, he had no room to argue  with me because he was the one that told me about the chickens in the first place. He figured out a way to make the best out of a stinky situation.

I wonder what truck drivers thought as I sped by doing 80 MPH with chickens in a family car. Common right?

It was a nice summer day and I coordinated the whole move and headed north. My husband put our dog kennel together and wrapped it entirely in plastic. It barely fit with  the seats down. My son had to ride in the front with me and just shook his head, put on head phones and stuck his face in his tablet. I didn't waste any time booking out of town to get my riders delivered. With the exception of few feathers flying around the newbies arrived safely and car was chicken smelling free.
Funny thing though. They were all piled on top of each other the whole ride north. Only when we got the cage out of the car did they realize that they had more room to move around. dorks!

The drop off at the chicken concentration camp was successful. The other inmates seemed to approve. Besides who doesn't like a new
crop of ladies fresh to the community. I think this puts her up to around 40 laying hens now.

Grand Opening for The Chicken Lady Blog

I have so many wonderful stories to share that I don't even know where to begin. I should have started this blog years ago but, as you all know life has a way of getting away from you and I was afraid of the commitment. I am still afraid of it, but what the hell.

The Chicken Lady aka my mother, is one of the most incredible women I know. She raised two kids on her own with very little to nothing. Putting her self through school, working thankless jobs to put food on the table and being the dad role model.  What started as a single trailer on a hill on a chuck of land has flourished into what is now a paradise that most people only dream of.

My blog isn't about us kids and our hardships growing up.  It's the next chapter in my mothers life. The one where the hard part is over.  When do you get to that point that you in your life that you can enjoy its simplicity?

She's surrounded by nature a on plot of land in the middle of Pure Michigan that she has called her own for over 40 years. She's made a paradise out of nothing and it's  pure serenity to get away from the fast paced life of social media, horrible news, and bad politics.

After my brother and I grew up and flew the coop my mother really started living. Living they way she wanted to live. Peaceful, simple and not answering to anyone.  Total dream right?

No credit cards, no outstanding debt, just living and sharing her life with her pets. She has multiple chickens of various breeds. Bantam chickens that roam free and do just crazy things. Geese that guard her spring fed pond. Cats and dogs that are both entertaining and purposeful when wild life comes creeping up for a snack.

When you're not caught up in dead end job spending more time at work than with family. She's artsy fartsy with wood crafts made out of recycled lumber, she designed hand bags and tote bags made from up-cycled juice bags and animal feed bags, sells crafty items on Etsy and Ebay and not to mention her mad skills with a chain saw cutting down trees the young age of 68.  I don't mess with my mom!

My goal is to share tidbits of her relaxed often humorous world so you can live vicariously through her. Enjoy

Bucket of Chicken?

Felt like my class

This past November a couple of gal friends and I decided to do a 30 day squat challenge. We figured with all the holidays around we wanted to help or butt from falling to the floor.. And, we all wanted the girls butt in the picture.

We started out great, we would knock them out in the morning before work.  And, as they increased some of us broke them down into groups of 10 and did them throughout the day.

November 22 sucked for me. I was at work and forgotten all about my squats. I was at work at my desk and had a few minutes, I figured that knock out 190 of them.

I took my shoes off, raised my desk and proceeded to do the deed. I did them in groups of 10 or 20 making sure I had good form. After that, I lowered my desk back down and went about my work. About 2 hours later I noticed an unusual tightening, I tried a few stretches to loosen it up but it was on its way to seizing up. I didn't  have any way to get home for relief so I worked though the day. As soon as I got home, my husband put tried to work out the muscle kinks and apply ice. All I could think about was I had to to prepare Thanksgiving dinner in two days, what am I going to do? I managed to prepare the meal very carefully with a lot of help from family and friends but, I was not able to finish the squat challenge. That to me was the worst part of it. 

After 2 weeks my back pain finally let up enough for me to attempt a yoga class. I knew my limitations and capabilities to modify when I needed to.  

I arrived to class a little early to relax in the heat and ended up talking with Lauren, the instructor. One thing led to another in conversation and I mentioned that my back was a little weak and that I might have to modify a few poses.

The whole class was amazing and the movements we performed were centered around core strength. Not once did I feel a twinge or a pain or did I have to modify. At the end of class I felt energized and like the class was wrapped around my needs.  Thanks  Lauren at Fire Fly

People are idiots.

Have any frustrations set in yet? Not seeing a difference physically? Are people giving you shitty advice thinking the're helping you?  Telling you that you will never maintain or you will never be successful with a diet. You can't survive on a low calorie plan.

If you've answered yes to any of these questions, welcome to the stupid human race.  Naturally people suck when it comes to helpful advice and don't understand that they are more negative than positive. It's not their fault, people can be idiots.

First of all. We eat! we all have a diet. Some diets are better than others. What you put into it is what you're going to get out of it. Do your homework!

I chose to lose weight and I worked very hard at it. I should be able to brag. I'm proud of what I've accomplished. If you can't be supportive of me, then move on. I don't have time.

Change is hard for people, its baby steps. We have friends and family that mean well, but frankly you need to take what they say with a grain of salt. DON"T eat  the salt, throw it over your left shoulder for good luck.

Second of all. Things take time. Don't be so hard on yourself, you know what you can handle and what you can't. Don't get caught up in the hype. It's not a one size fits all.

Step out of the comfort zone, a little at a time. As you are successful, you try the next thing. I'm in my late 40's and I definitely don't care what other people think anymore. (I always wondered why Grandma was a spit fire.)

I'm a good person, I know that. But, I also know that if I'm good at something I'm going to talk about and share with others to maybe motivate. I love to help other people shine. Tt's not a competition, none of us get out of here alive.

Moral to my story as I RANT away. Be kind to yourself and others. It takes time and you need to keep a positive edge going. It's catchy, trust me.

You ARE seeing results from all your hard efforts, maybe not in clothing size, its only been a couple weeks. But, what you are learning about yourself is much more important.

Be Patient

It's your story. Be Fabulous

So it's January, 2016.  I hope you fabulous people didn't do the same resolutions that didn't work last year. Or make ones that are impossible to reach.

Last year, my resolution was to learn another language because I figured I had the food thing down. I jumped in both feet and worked hard at it. I took classes, bought books and I was going to conquer this. However, life gets in the way and I had to put it on the shelf to study for a work thing. Exceptionally boring stuff I might add.  I'll get back to it this year.

This year my goal or resolution was simple. I wanted to lose 20 lbs to get my eating back on track. All the summer craft beers and margaritas can catch up with you.  Healthy eating and movement have always front and center but something about the end of the year that makes it so final.  A new year makes it feel like it's a free pass to start over and be great at it. I'm working on with some gal pals that have the same mission. When you can network, you have power to get thought situations to vent about and to celebrate victories and there is success in numbers.

Make this year all about you. As I get older it's about pampering yourself a little more, be with loved ones and enjoy life. Over this past year I've met some wonderful people that I now consider friends. New relationships and new ideas have blossomed. In 2015, I took a belly dancing,a burlesque class and I learned yoga.  I accomplished more in 2015 but these ones were memorable moments.

Pole dancing popped up in conversations recently, but that one is on hold. Not sure about that one. I can see myself sliding down a pole flat on my face. My point is try something new. Take a dance class, join a team, yoga or get a dog or cat.

So far January 2016 is working out for me and my food plan. Using hCG Activator I'm down 10 lbs and feeling great.  I keep my self accountable with my chalk  board cupboard doors. I get excited to cross of each day.

Whatever big or small just do something that you can call your own and be fabulous about it.

It's been a week

It's my first week on hCG Activator and I've lost 6 lbs in 3 days. I put together a 6 week challenge of a consistent exercise and an eating plan. I've cleared my calendar so nothing is to get in my way.  I've taken the time to set this up, but what really put me over the edge was my waist measurement. I gained 3 inches around my middle.  I thought I was going to lose my mind. I knew my pants were getting tight and I would try on 12 tops before settling for the one that hid the muffin top the most. I don't even like muffins!

I know you gain weight rather slowly but you always seem to justify it until something happens and BOOM where that 20 lbs come from? Time to reel it in.

My first experience with hCG Activator I lost over 60 lbs in 2010. I know the plan works, and as a creature of habit I will do what works for me again. I have been so unsuccessful in the past  with my weight control that I did not want that frustration again. Plus, the food plan makes perfect sense. It's full of energy and it makes me feel good. It's all fresh wholesome foods how can you go wrong?

My opinion is that processed food companies want you to buy their crap. Yes, it's all crap. if you want to eat right, pretend you are eating like your grandparents or great grandparents. They didn't run out to a fast food joint or open a box or eat a cereal bar. Okay, maybe a little of my consumerism came out there but you get my point.

This year is a bit different, I have a lot of friends and co - workers that really want to make positive change too. So, we all jumped on the band wagon and are positively reinforcing each other.

It's nice to know that you're not alone in wanting to better yourself. Facebook maybe full of crap, but having online friends that share positive words help motivate and send good vibes. Heck, we share recipes, suggestions, questions and stupid memes.

With all my success in the past I was asked to do an ad in a GNC magazine for hCG. I did this  photo back in 2011 and I can honestly say it's not altered. I have the original photo in file. It just looks weird cut and pasted. But this helps remind me of what I need to do.

Along with my food program I have incorporated Hot Yoga a few days per week. I'm not totally busting my ass, but Hot Yoga is no walk in the park, and its great workout Mentally as well. Plus, a few of gals are doing a monthly physical challenge to keep us on task.

I'm on a a restrictive meal plan of lean meats and veggies but yoga allows me to stay active and strong. Its' a win win combination.

Moving forward, its only begun!

I'm Hangry

There are some days that I just don't feel like getting out of bed. It's a Saturday and you could care less if the world had ended sometime the night before.

I know  most of you can agree, but  then you might have a family that couldn't feed themselves without you! Feels like that anyway.

In my case, I have all boys. And yes,  I'm including my husband as one of the boys.

The rest of my family doesn't have a weight problem, BECAUSE I feed them. But, if I don't prep food they act like the 3 stooges fumbling around the kitchen.

On Sunday's me and my husband tackle the local food store and load up for the week. I work hard to prep in the early evening as much as possible so we can just grab.  Otherwise during the week, we are taxed and start making bad choices.

I can't say every Sunday is open to just prep. but we do the best we can and the majority is done.

We eat leftovers in my house period. But they don't have to be boring.  Tons of recipes on the internet that you can spice things up. Just Google it!

I try to prepare as much food items as possible to last most of the week. I'll make rice, couscous, or quinoa as a base item. Maybe cut up veggies for a quick grab and sometimes I make a couple cold salads. My husband likes cucumber salad or coleslaw so that's an easy one. I grill a whatever meat for the week, that can be used tacos, stirfrys or strips on a salad.  Sometimes we eat vegetarian, its just easier than thawing burger or something. Casseroles or crock pot dishes are an option.

I basically make about 3 days worth of meals and the rest are parted out into create your own. My goal is to not throw food away so I'm careful  to not to over shop or prep. But, that's what freezers are for.

Got bananas left over? peal, toss into a baggie and freeze for future smoothies. Same goes for al berries and fruits if they are getting to ripe.

We don't do boxed meals as a rule. Loaded with sodium and words I can't pronounce. Actually, the only boxed meals in my house might be some mac and cheese or Stove Top stuffing left over from Thanksgiving.

GET YOUR STAPLES.We always have things like bread, milk, pasta, soup etc.Good standby's in a pinch. I also stock up on fresh tomatoes, salami, cheese, peppers, pickles, olives for a quick antipasto platter. Bada Bing! That is a big favorite in my house. We're an Italian family, what can I say. Capisce?

Moral of the story is, if you want to be successful in anything you have to make to plan. If you are trying to watch what you eat, you have actually know what you're eating. When we are hangry its hard to follow the rules.

The same concept goes for shopping. Eat first so you won't be the proud owner of Aisle 4.

My Bitchen Kitchen

All exercise and healthy food aside I want to share another kind of health that's just as important. The kind of health that you invite a few girlfriends over and make a total disaster of your home. This is how friendships are strengthen, with wine, laughter and a camera phone for black mail.

A few of us were bitching through Facebook about being too busy and having no time to bake holiday cookies.  For many years, I would  tackle this project as a lone soldier and spend the whole day at it.  My boys turned into stealth ninjas to swipe a cookie every now and then. They were like the wind.

Then idea's started getting tossed around and  the rest is history. It went from "I have recipes" to "Oh, lets do our hair to lets get cool aprons". Next phase I headed out shopping hanging out in the baking and wine aisle. They really should put those aisles next to each other, would make more sales of wine I'm sure.  We were really looking forward to us girls catching up and making cookies.

The idea was for each recipe that was brought you had to also bring a bottle of wine. And a container to take cookies home.

Our theme ended up being retro, along the lines of  Rockabilly. I managed to find enough bobby pins and handkerchiefs for all our up-do's, kind of like Rosie the Riveter. Our aprons reflected the era and added to the excitement.

Our Baking Day turned out to be one of the most memorable events that I have ever put on.  We baked, frosted and decorated hundreds of cookies and laughed through it all. It's amazing how creative you can get when alcohol is involved.

We started around 10am and did not finish until after 10pm, completely exhausted and more than a bit tipsy. Cookies in this picture may not be PG. (You've been warned)  Yes, those are penis and boobie cookies.

On the counter was a severely beaten up vegetable and cheese tray, empty wine bottles pushed together, frosting covered wine glasses, corks and frosting bags drying up. Cookies sheets with remnants of cookie crumbles piled in the corner, the floor riddled  with nonpareils and sprinkles. It was over. We all laughed and joked as our husbands gathered up their tipsy wives and edible goodies. I'm the last one standing gazing over the destruction and mutter "best day ever" as I shut the lights off.  Now it was time for the careful removal of hair pins in hair that was sticky with copious amounts of hairspray.  My flour matted apron had taken it's toll and was finally taken off. My husband helps me lay down as I'm completely exhausted and slighted buzzed.  I curl up with my pillow and all I could smell was the lingering aroma of royal icing.

It was an exhausting but, one of the most memorable experiences I have ever experienced.

Thank you for a wonderful memorable day Cat, Whitney, Adrienne, and Kelly.  

Not all of our men are featured here, but a VERY big shout out to all the husbands for being at our beck and call and with cameras ready. Running for sugar, more wine, real food, taking care of  kids and most of all supporting their crazy wives and their silliness. Thanks, Tom, Eric, Evan, Phil and Nick.

Merry Christmas