Girls Trip 2016

I recently was able to get away for 5 days with 3 of my best friends in the entire world!  These chicks kinda rock!  We had a great time but I definitely didn't stick to my WW plan.  I tried to make smart choices with my food....and we walked quite a bit...but there was definitely too much alcohol consumed!  As the saying goes:

Anyway, we were able to get away to Baltimore/Washington without kids or hubbies!  We are trying to do this every year.....last year was Atlantic City.....next year is Florida!  We are thinking camping the year after that....and then Vegas!  Yes, we like to plan!  Gives us something to look forward to!   I am truly blessed to have these girls in my life and I am so glad we are able to take the time each year for our trip.

Here are just a few of the MANY pics from the trip....  please note that we did do lots of sightseeing....visited educational places....brushed up on our US History.....it wasn't just all drinking... 

On our sightseeing cruise in the Baltimore Inner Harbor

When we were in Annapolis the weather turned on us and we
just HAD to take shelter somewhere with beer!

We found this wine bar in Annapolis called "Red, Red Wine"....get it??  Think 80s music!
 The wine was good and the cake wasn't bad either.
Are you starting to see the problem?

Watermelon margarita, where have you been all my life?

On the tour bus in DC....this was the "before" pic....
I will spare you the "after" one where we are sweaty messes!

Tammy and I at the White House

Tammy and I at the Lincoln Museum/Gift Shop

Brenda and Katie at the Inner Harbor

Tammy & I at the Inner Harbor--
I hate that my shirt was so big that it hung down and made me look fatter than I am!

The Capitol

Washington Monument & the Capitol

Sangrias at the Hard Rock Cafe in DC

The Inner Harbor

The ship we took our sighting cruise on

Jefferson Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Brenda & I...we were in Annapolis where the Naval Base is located 

Watermelon margarita with a Corona at Bubba Gump....delish!!
I bought those blue bottle holders so I can recreate it at home!

Cucumber Chiller....very refreshing on a hot day!
Yes, there was vodka or something in it...

Ford's Theater--the booth where Lincoln was shot

Hilary and I--this is not a political statement--they both suck!
I just think she sucks a little less...

Katie and the Donald
(Yes, she is obviously confused but I still like her in spite of it!)

I would like to note that the other 3 of us split some bruschetta while Katie ate this.
 I did have one bite or two though...

Weigh-In: Week 25 & 4th of July

Wow, 25 weeks sounds like a long time!!


This week's loss:  -.4
Total Loss to Date:  -68.8

I was really hoping for a better week....even with the holiday in there.... sigh...  I always seem to struggle when I get close to a milestone that I have in my mind.  Like when I got almost to 50 pounds....suddenly everything slowed way down and one week I even gained.  Now I am so determined to hit the 70 pound mark and I feel like the same thing is happening.  I HAVE to get there next week!  Seventy pounds is an important milestone for me as I have NEVER, on any of my many weight loss attempts, hit that mark.  I have gotten into the 60s several times but 70 has always been elusive.  I seem to fall apart in the 60s and I think that psychologically it will be a boost for me if I can cross that hurdle!  

See what I just said there?  "IF I can cross that hurdle!"  I noticed that after I typed it.  I was going to just change it but thought maybe it meant something.  Am I still doubting myself?  My brain may not have caught up to my body....

I WILL get to 70 pounds...and to 80....and 90....and even 100.  I truly believe that.  Maybe for the first time ever....

How was everyone's 4th of July?  We had a fun time with friends....had about 40 or 50 people over for a cookout, swimming, a fire and fireworks.  I was bad...very bad....  See, I'm doing it again....I know you're not supposed to think of it as BAD, but I still do when I have a day that I am not following the plan.  But I did have fun!!  I had the best of intentions to make these healthy margaritas.....but they tasted like crap! LOL  So when my next door neighbor came over with 2 pitchers of yummy margaritas I just couldn't help myself!

Nothing like a margarita on a hot summer day!!

And then there was food....and lots of it!  I indulged way more than I should have....but still less than I would have a year ago.  I can consider that a victory, right?  Someone brought these maraschino cherries soaked in Fireball liquor and then dipped in white chocolate and sprinkles....Mmmmm!  Yep, I had a few of those....can't even think about the calories!

Oh well, it's a new week.....  On a positive note, in the past I would probably have continued on with my little binge for a while.... but this time I got right back on track and have been super good since then.  I wish the scale had rewarded my recovery but I keep thinking of Weight Watchers theme of "Beyond the Scale."  Even though I didn't lose what I would have liked this week I still had some non-scale victories!

Anyway, here are a few pics of my super cool friends at the party....

My hubby and our extra kid!  (He lives next door but spends a lot of time at our house!)

Bill & Stacey--my Weight Watchers inspiration!!
She has lost like 125 pounds and looks AMAZING!!!

Connor, Chris, Justin & Brandon chillin' by the pool

Mom & Kim

A little beer pong action in the pool...

Cindy, Brenda, Deirdre, Becca, Keith, Mike & Jorryn

Mike & Jackie

Is he adorable or what?

The girls hanging out

Jadan

Chris, Connor & Josh

Recipe: Healthy Pizza (4 SP)

My family has been missing having pizza for dinner occasionally so I was excited to find a way to have it and keep within my daily points.  When I was at Trader Joe's this week I found some pre-made whole wheat pizza dough and thought I'd give it a try.  I also bought a regular pizza dough to make a separate one for the kids.

For our pizza I used:

Pre-made Trader Giotto's whole wheat pizza dough

Prego pizza sauce (1/2 jar)

Hormel turkey pepperoni (34 slices)

1 3/4 cups fat free mozzarella cheese

canned sliced mushrooms

I made the mistake of putting the cheese on top and I would rearrange ingredients the next time so the pepperoni was on top but it was DELICIOUS!!

I put all of the ingredients and amounts into the Weight Watchers recipe calculator and if you cut the pizza into 8 slices they are just 4 Smart Points each!!  Wow!!  I had 2 slices and a salad with fat free dressing and my whole dinner was just 9 points.  And it was soooo good!  It totally satisfied my pizza craving and I was able to enjoy pizza with my family.  My hubby and I ate the "healthy" pizza and I made a different one with regular crust and full-fat pepperoni and cheese!  The kids liked their pizza too.

Whole wheat pizza dough from Trader Joe's 

Whole wheat pizza before baking

Fresh from the oven

Sooooo delicious!!  I recommend you try it!

This is what I love about Weight Watchers...

The fact that you can eat anything you want as long as you stay within your points!  Last night we were shopping at the outlet mall and there were TWO Auntie Anne's there (That's just mean!)  The entire mall smelled like these delicious pretzels!  My son Connor absolutely can't go to the mall without getting one so when he inevitably asked if we could go there I quickly checked my points and happily indulged him (and me too!).  Fortunately we had a late lunch (grilled chicken salad) so I wasn't really going to be wanting dinner so this could be my dinner points.   FYI, an Auntie Anne's pretzel (with no dips, of course) is 11 points.

Don't worry, we bought 4 so the whole family had dinner! :)

Was it worth it?  Hell yeah!