Two For The Price of One!!!

I haven't blogged in so long (over a week!) that I posted two new entries. Soooo after you get done reading about these yummy crepes (mmmmm), keep scrolling down to read about my love of Rhapsody (sigh...).

Love,
Kat :)

Have Your Crepes and Eat Them Too!

I'm going to show you how you can have even something as yummy and sinfully delicious as this even on Weight Watchers. People call these things crepes. Chrissy and I call them French Pancakes. Joe calls them Enchilada Pancakes (hahah...really???). Whatever you call them, they are sooo good! Chrissy, my pal, makes them for me in the mornings sometimes and I love going over there for some chick chat and crepes. So, this recipe really comes from her (everyone say, "Thank you Chrissy!"). Anyway, after I started doing Weight Watchers she invited me over one morning for crepes and I was like, "Eeeek, I bet those are loaded with points!" I went and had her read me off the ingredients and plugged them into my handy-dandy recipe builder on http://www.weightwatchers.com/. You do have to have a subscription to eTools to use this. I was shocked that I could actually have them without ruining my points. So as always, I have taken the recipe and twisted it a little to shave off even more points. Here is my lightened up version of Chrissy's French Pancakes. I really didn't change much, but I got them down to THREE points a piece! Woo-hoo!!!

Chrissy's French Pancakes

Points per serving: 3

1 cup of flour

4 eggs

2 tbsp. sugar

1 1/2 cups milk (you can use 1% or 2% for this one, the points stay the same)

Okay, so the next part is pretty simple indeed. Mix all the ingredients! Wah-lah!

I usually let that sit in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes to get the ingredients all good and combined. While we are waiting, lets cut up some fruit for our side. Healthy and delicious!

Okay, now it's time to cook the crepes. Make sure your pan is nice and hot and sprayed with some cooking spray. I also opted for a couple of sprays of butter spray at the last second before I put in the batter for a little extra flavor. This is really where I cut most of the points, I took out the butter you would normally use and used the cooking and butter sprays instead.

When pouring the batter into the pan, you just want to make a very thin layer, these are very thin. They also cook very fast, no longer than about 30 seconds on each side. Of course every stove is different and depending on your heat level (mine was on pretty high). Just make sure you watch your crepe closely.


















When they are done, take them out of the pan and roll them up like so:

Yes, I am aware this is why my darling husband calls them Enchilada Pancakes. Haha! :)

I sprinkle them with a little powdered sugar and serve with warm syrup. Of course you can fill them with fruit or whatever, but I like them with just syrup. Here is the most important part. If you can handle it, use sugar-free. It tastes almost as good, but when you realize that a serving of regular syrup has 220 calories and sugar-free syrup has 20, it should be no contest. 1/4 cup of sugar-free syrup is a point free food! Yippee!!!

I love you Mrs. Buttersworth!

So, there you have it...yummy, easy, and surprisingly, not that high in points. Now the points value depends on how many crepes you are able to make. I was able to get 7 out of my batch which is one of the reasons they were only 3 points a piece. I made them a bit smaller and thinner, but I was able to have three instead of two...at least it made me feel like I was getting more! :)

My brilliant friend Jenn included the a pic of the Weight Watcher recipe builder in one of her posts, so I am going to do the same thing! Here you go:

Happy Eating!!! :)

Jammin', I Be Jammin'

I love music, as I have previously mentioned. I also love (we are talkin' serious love here) Rhapsody. I'm not really sure what I did without Rhapsody in my life. Rhapsody, you complete me!!! I am constantly in need of new music, and this feeds my addiction. :) Okay, so what is Rhapsody you ask? Rhapsody is an online music library that pretty much has every song you can ever think of. Yes, there are some exceptions (but they are pretty much the same people you can't buy from iTunes, i.e. Garth Brooks), but honestly they have just about everyone! From the super popular to the super obscure, they have it all. And you can listen to it over and over again (and over and over and over...I have worn out Glee Vol. 3). You can make as many playlists as you want so you can go directly to what you want to hear. Right now I have 33 playlists and I know that number will keep growing. There are several ways to listen, but I will tell you about the two I use. First of all if I am on my pretty red laptop, I can listen as I blog, surf the Internet, or waste my life away on Facebook (as my husband would say). But my absolute favorite feature and the reason I love it so, is I can listen to it on my iPhone (Eeeeeee!!!). How cool is that? And my super-duper wonderful husband has installed a way for me to listen to my iPhone in both of our cars, so now I can listen to Rhapsody in my car as well! And let me tell you, it sounds good! It doesn't sound like streaming music at all! I listen to Rhapsody at work (I am blessed to have a job that I can do that at) and when I am on my walks. Speaking of walking, yesterday I needed some inspiration to get through my walk (Oklahoma is RIDICULOUSLY humid right now) and so I typed "cardio" into the search engine, and wah-lah, music for cardio workouts appear! And it just gets better. Say you have an iPhone. Say you have dropped that iPhone on many occasions. Say this iPhone is now extremely temperamental and doesn't like to work on long journeys. Say this same iPhone will NOT work on the way to Dallas while your friend's iPhone is just fine. No Internet on the way to Dallas??? AHHHHH!!! Don't worry, Rhapsody has you covered. You can download as much as you want to your phone so you can listen in situations like that or you can even take Rhapsody on the plane with you, even in airplane mode. Awesome! No, that doesn't mean you own the songs and can rip them, you still have to use their app, but come on, how cool is that really? So, how much does it cost? Only $9.99 a month! I...just...love...it! So, if you are like me and you love music, this is for you. My siblings introduced it to me and I am just passing on the love. I promise, you will love it! :)

It's Weigh-In Day Already???

(AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH)

It's Monday...aka Weigh-In Day. Usually this makes me very happy. This week, notsomuch. I have had a bad week, and I mean a baaad week! My motivation has been low and I haven't really followed the plan. I know things won't be all good on the scale, but I also know that I am going to change that this week. "You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life, the facts of life." (Quick, name that 80's TV show...this one is eeeasy) Answer below in case you really haven't seen it. Anywho, that is life, there are ups and downs and you deal with them as they come. That is also how you have a successful weight loss journey. Wouldn't it be great if we were successful 24/7? Unfortunately, that's not always how life goes. It's what we do after we have messed up that matters. Do we throw our hands in the air and just give up? Or do we learn from what we did and move on?

So, tonight I am going to face the music. Tonight I am going to start over. Tonight I am going to smile and realize it's just a bump in the road. Next week, I will be successful!

TV Triva Answer:

The Facts of Life

Who didn't love Mrs. Garrett, Blair and Tootie? :)

You're Like 20 Billion Reese's Cups In Two...

Best...song...lyric...ever! That is from a song called Chai Tea Latte by semi-new artist Angel Taylor. One thing that helps me on my weight loss journey is learning to distract myself from thinking of food. I have several ways of doing this including scrapbooking, reading, and of course listening to music. I love music and am always on the lookout for something new. Angel's debut CD Love Travels (released March 31, 2009, hence the semi-new part) is just awesome! She's a little Adele, Corine Bailey Rae and Colbie Caillat all mixed in one. My favorite song on the album is the earlier mentioned Chai Tea Latte. Her album has a coffeehouse type vibe that I am really into right now. Honestly, there isn't a song on her album I don't dig. iTunes has the album for only $7.99 or you could do like me and listen to it on Rhapsody (that's a whole 'nother blog altogether). If you like this style of music, you should really check it out.

New Computer Is A Comin'!!!

Okay, so about a week ago my computer said, "I've had enough! Sayonara! Adios! Au Revoir! Auf Wiedersehen! Arrivederci! Bye-bye!"...I think you get the picture. It gave up the ghost and I was not a bit too upset to see it go. We've had a good run, but lately it's been sooo cantankerous!!! It froze up all the time, did weird unexplainable things, and the cord had a short so that you had to hold your tongue a certain way, make sure your ankle was at a 36 degree angle (I'm not even sure if that's physically possible, it just sounded good!), and sing Mary Had a Little Lamb to get it to work. In other words, it was nearly impossible. So anyway, I talked the old man into getting me a new one and we sat out on the journey to find the computer of my dreams. I knew I wanted a Dell, or I was pretty sure anyway. It seems I always have to have my computer in at least a couple of times for repairs (sigh...) and Dell has a good warranty. One thing I did know for certain was under no circumstances did I want a laptop from my local super electronics store...we'll call it "Shmest Shmy" for anonymity sake. I have dealt with them for years now and am tired of them. I have had so much trouble with them, including them losing my laptop for about two months, that I decided never again! Well, my darling husband, a.k.a. Sir Saves A Lot, looked and looked online for the right computer. I wanted a pink one, I have never had a pink laptop before, mainly in case he had to use it (He doesn't want to be seen using a pink laptop, heck he doesn't want to use a pink laptop even if he's not seen. He's a man's man you know!), but now he has two computers to his name so I can get whatever color tickles my fancy. I found my beautiful pink laptop and was so excited, but he found pretty much the same laptop on Amazon for a lot cheaper. Bless his heart, at least he looked for a color and came up with Cherry Red (the only color it came in). As you can see, it really is pretty. And here's the best part, it will be here TOMORROW!!! My darling manly man paid extra for two day shipping because he's just cool like that and because he loves me so (awwwww!!!). I am about as impatient as you can get...im-pa-tient (and then some). I would have had to wait about three weeks for the pink one, so that sold me. I just checked and found the computer was in Oklahoma City (what did I do without online tracking I ask you?)!!! So, hopefully I will be back to my blogging ways soon. Yes, I have had access to computers the entire time my laptop has been down, but there is nothing quite like blogging from your very own computer. And hoo-boy, I can't wait to blog from my brand spankin' new Cherry Red laptop! It will make a difference, I just know it will! Eeeeeee!!!

Yummy Taco Soup (and it IS Yummy!)

Okay ladies (and maybe gentlemen...who knows?), I have a new recipe. I got this from my mom who got it from my sister-in-law, Renee'. It is SO good and super easy! Here we go!

Taco Soup

WW Points: 3 per 1 cup

1 lb. extra lean ground beef
3 cans diced tomatoes
1 can pinto beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can corn (I don't like corn in soup, so I used a can of black beans)
1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix
1 packet of Taco Seasoning

This is ridiculously easy! First, brown your ground beef and drain. Then open all the cans, dump in a pot and add the ground beef. Cook until it starts to boil and then turn down the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes. That's it!

It tastes even better if you add some Baked Corn Chips and some shredded cheddar!

It makes way too much for two people, but we have plenty for leftovers! :) Of course, you can always freeze some too! Enjoy!

Hungry Girl = Thinner Me!

I love this website, http://www.hungry-girl.com/ !!! I love my daily email from her! I love that she figures things out for me so that I don't have to. I want to be like HG. She is my blog idol. Haha. She has reviews, recipes, eating out tips, etc. She also has a recipe swap where she takes a high calorie/high fat/high everything bad and makes it light. So very cool! Best of all, she is a Weight Watchers member and figures out the points on everything...I don't have to do the work. If you are a WW member and have not signed up for her email, you really should. It is of course free and has so much useful information. Even if you are not a member, her product reviews alone are worth it. I mean, who couldn't stand to eat a little healthier? (raises both hands!)

My Husband

Will you please indulge me for a minute and allow me to blog about this man? Thank you! His name is Joe. He is my husband. He is a serious fella. He thinks blogs and Facebook are silly. He reads mine out of protest (I'm sure of this...). He makes me laugh constantly. Most people who have met him have no idea what a real ham he is, and I'm okay with the fact that few people know him like I do, it makes me feel kinda special! Joe is a good man and I am blessed to have him. He is a godly man. He is a man of great faith. He is a faithful and kind man. After 10 years of marriage (or however long it's been for you), sometimes we all need to stop and remember the wonderful reasons we chose our spouse in the first place. Not only is he a cutie (teehee), he's the kind of man most girls dream of. How did I get so lucky I ask you? I don't know the answer to that, but I am thankful nonetheless. :)

A Temporary Cure for Boredom

Well, now you all know my secret! I'm a wanted gal...for trying to take over the world. Quick, name this cartoon (answer at the bottom for those of you that were not kids in the 90's):

"Gee Brain, what are we going to do tonight?"
"The same thing we do every night, Pinky - try to take over the world!"

I...love...this...website!!! (http://www.photofunia.com/) It cracks me up all the different ways your picture can be morphed into something else. It's fast, free, and surprisingly realistic looking. You can save them to your computer, post them on your blog (if you're a real geek...cough, cough), share them on Facebook, or even print them out and scrapbook 'em. I know this really has nothing to do with fitness or eating healthy, but it's fun and I love FUN! Try it out once and you'll be addicted! Just like Lay's potato chips..."Betcha can't do just one" (yes, I know the quote is "Betcha can't eat just one, but I had to make it fit here).

Answer to the cartoon quote:
Pinky and the Brain from Animaniacs.
Okay, so I wasn't a kid-kid, I was in high school, but we used to love this show! :)

How Ridiculous Do My Feet Look Right Now?

Raise your hand if you agree! Don't worry, I'll turn my head so I won't see! Haha! There are so many things I don't like about these shoes. First of all, I'm not a fan of white shoes. I'm not a white shoe hater, so don't get upset if you looove them, but they are just not for me. Secondly, I'm just not a fan of wearing glitter on my tennis shoes. Yes, I have flip flops with glitter and maybe even a few shirts that have a little sparkle, but on my tennis shoes? Seriously, I feel like a tween. It takes me back to the days of New Kids On The Block and My Little Ponies. And I have to say, these were the best of the small selection they had. Sigh...

If you don't already know, these are called Shape-ups by Skechers and they are designed to tone your legs when you walk. I must say, I have worn them three times now and I do feel a difference when I walk. As you can see, they have a curvy bottom to them that makes sort of a rocking motion when you walk. They are comfy and you get used to them (even how dumb they look) after awhile. I don't know how much they will "tone" my legs, but they have been around for awhile and have really good reviews, so we will see. I honestly would recommend buying them if you are a serious walker like me (I can't believe I can say that...I'm a SERIOUS walker!!! That's awesome!!!). I have included a link at the bottom of this post for their website where you can look at all of the different styles they have and hopefully find some cuter than mine. I'm just impatient and wanted my Shape-ups RIGHT THEN or I would have ordered them online. They are a bit pricey, but if they do what they say, I think they are worth it. Like I said, we will see. Stay tuned...

http://www.skechers.com/shoes-and-clothing/styles/fitness/list