Having recently started counting calories using Lose it (and losing 6 lbs!) I pulled out an old weight watchers cookbook and found a delicious black bean chili recipe. It has a 2 min prep time (it only took me one min to open all the cans and measure the seasoning-I must be good) and a 13 min cook time. It calls for two cans of diced tomatoes with chiles and since I had two cans of diced tomatoes, I just picked up a can of chiles.

• 1 lb ground sirloin
• 1 tbs 40% less sodium taco seasoning
• 1 can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 150z can black beans, undrained
• 1 10oz can tomatoes and diced chiles, drained
• 1 10 oz can tomatoes and diced chiles, undrained
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 6 tbs reduced rat sour cream
• Chopped green onions or cilantro is optional

1. Cook beef until browned, drain and return to the pan. Stir in taco seasoning and next 6 ingredients. Cover and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 7 min. Top with 1tb sour cream.

Yields 6 1 cup servings

Cal 298, 10.2 g fat, 22.6 g protien, 30.3 carbs, 8.6 g fiber, 6 Weight Watchers points.

Little Blue and my Summer Garden Quilt are ready to get packed up for their new owner, a newborn baby girl. I can’t wait to finish what Im working on now and get it up on Etsy. My current embroidery project is rather large…. Hope to post pics SOON!

I found this in one of my favorite cookbooks. The New Cookbook by Better Homes and Gardens. It wasn’t a hit for Jason but Mom loves it.

Prep time: 25 min Cook time: 25 min preheat over to 350 degrees

• 12  ounces ground beef, ground pork, ground lamb, or bulk pork sausage
• 1/3  cup chopped onion (1 small)
• 1  cup canned diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1/2  cup water
• 1/3  cup uncooked long grain rice
• 1/2  teaspoon dried oregano or thyme, crushed
• 1/4  teaspoon black pepper
• 8  medium to large cabbage leaves
• 1/4  cup shredded Swiss cheese (1 ounce)
• 1  15-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1  teaspoon sugar
• 1/2  teaspoon dried oregano or thyme, crushed
• 1/4  cup shredded Swiss cheese (1 ounce)

1. Remove center veins from cabbage leaves, keeping each leaf in one piece. Immerse leaves, 4 at a time (I threw them all in) into boiling water about 3 min or until limp.
2. For filling, in large skillet cook meat and onion until meat is browned and onion is tender. Drain off the fat (there barely was any with the chicken). Stir in undrained tomatoes, water, uncooked rice ½ teaspoon dillweed or thyme and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 15 to 18 min until the rice is tender. Stir ¼ cup cheese into the mixture.
3. Place about 1/3 cup filling on each cabbage leaf. Fold in sides. Starting at an unfolded edge, carefully roll up each leaf, making sure folded sides are included in the roll.
4. For sauce, in a small mixing bowl stir together tomato sauce, sugar and ½ teaspoon dillweed. Pour half of the tomato mixture into a two quart baking dish. Arrange cabage rolls atop of the tomato mixture. Bake covered at 350 degrees for 25 min. Sprinkle with ¼ cup cheese and let stand 2 min.

Makes 4 servings : 377 calories, 15 g fat, 27g carbs, 4 g fiber, 24 g protien

The only attempt at weight loss that was successful for me was an intense exercise routine. I am currently succeeding at weight loss with Lose It! The first week was a challenge becuase I needed to change our diets a bit. I have replaced my morning cereal with oatmeal and replaced brians morning pop tart with a Vitatop. I have also replaced our sandwich bread with the 100 calories sandwich rounds. I have changed the way I cook, limiting the starch involved.  One of my recent favorites was 1 cup smart taste pasta, dry pesto mix, 1 campari tomato, 1 piece grilled chicken 2 cups brussel sprouts. 

I am really enjoying watching the calories I eat and as a result eating better. I have a goal of 1 1/2 lbs a week and am on track and starting my third week. 

The iphone application (I think you can do this on Loseit.com and Lance Armstrong allows you to do it on Livestrong)sets goals and establishes a daily calorie budget that enables me to meet them. It helps you stay on track each day by recording your food and exercise (with a searchable database or you can create the item) and quickly reenter your favorite things

The third annual Celebration of the Arts is going to be held in the Shops at Wiregrass on Saturday, April 10th 10am-7 and Sunday, April 11th 11am-5pm. I will be volunteering on Sunday from 1:30 until 4:30 at the HEART gallery that will be on display there. I am really excited about representing the children and giving them some more exposure.

The HEART gallery is a traveling photographic and audio exhibit created to find forever families for children in foster care. The gallery features huge beautiful images of the children and their stories. There are 120 Heart Galleries across the United States (and growing) designed to increase the number of adoptive families for children needing homes in our community. Now, in its eighth year, The Heart Gallery model is being replicated in many communities across the country.

Although many children are removed from abusive and neglectful situations, they still have hope. They love to laugh, learn and be with their friends. Most of all they dream of finding a forever family to be their own. Here is a link to the HEART galleries by State and you can meet the children locally that are in need. If your local and have time on Sunday, come visit me at Wiregrass from 1:30-4:30

My girlfriend and I headed over to Joann Fabrics this morning to check out their Pre-Easter sale. Simplicity patterns are on sale for $.99! We even did our homework and checked out Simplicity Patterns Online first, so we didn’t have to try to read pattern books with two toddlers tearing down the store. I spent $3.18 on $45 worth of patterns and Alyson spent $20 on $92 worth of patterns and other sale items in the store. The sale goes on through this Saturday the 3rd. They had some great home decor stuff including this nursery decor pattern pictured above.

I asked Jason if he wanted to grab a book. He went for his Dad’s bookshelf and grabbed Brian’s grandfathers Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Volumes one AND two. I must admit I’ve never thought much of fraternal organizations but Jason gets to decide for himself right? There is so much to learn, so why no start early?

Like it or Not, the Democrats got their decades long healthcare wish when the historic and extremely controversial healthcare reform bill passed the US House of Representatives yesterday without a single Republican vote. Under the most comprehensive and sweeping reform to the American healthcare system in more than 50 years, 32 million uninsured Americans will now be covered, at a cost to the government of around $938 billion over the next 10 years. The bill just made it through with a majority – 219 to 212, with 34 Democrats siding with the Republicans.

As someone who was uninsured for 25 years, I have to say that I am not pleased with the idea of shared responsibility. All individuals will generally be required to get coverage or pay a penalty of 2.5 percent of income. The bill claims to make health insurance and college more affordable and accessible, while creating millions of jobs and reducing the deficit. So until I read the bill I’ll remain only somewhat displeased.

House Democrats have posted the bill online. Here is the summary. Here is the bill.

I have been pretty busy this weekend finalizing some sewing projects and getting my Etsy shop up and running! I am so excited to be a stay at home Etsyian! I’d like to thank Ashley for creating my custom logo design, I just LOVE it! and a big thanks to all my friends and family with all of the encouraging words along the way. Lastly, thanks Mom for giving me the sewing bug!

Heres a Sneak Peak:

I haven’t really been hiding, just preoccupied. The best kind of preoccupation possible, spending time with family and the needle and thread. Jason and I headed down to Miami ahead of Brian the week before last to celebrate My Mom’s birthday. He met up with us over the weekend. As always we had a great time. It makes me so happy that he knows and loves his grandparents. I consider us very lucky to be able to see them as frequently as we do. Jason started hugging on Nanna and saying cheese (above) and I of course went for the camera. The two were “winding down” for bed time. We totally spoiled him, allowing him to watch an hours worth of movies in bed AFTER bed time and things have not gone smoothly since then. The time change doesn’t help either.

Since we’ve been back I’ve been spending all my free time embroidering my last piece for the etsy store. I’ve decided to launch without it. Tonight, I meet with Ashley (Lemon and Lavender on my blog roll on the bottom left) for drinks and logo design. Shes been working on stationary design, invitations and announcements and I’ve just expanded her work into logo design. Stay tuned…were getting close!