Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Reality Wrap- Week 6
Survivor~ I really thought they might ditch Sarita before Stephanie, but they were dumb and stuck with their questionable alliance. I think things will get exciting once they merge.
Amazing Race~ India is always a tough leg! I really like how they tied the tea together into this leg. It seems as if the people who used their noses did much better on the roadblock. The teams that chose to paint on the detour did a good job. I would have picked the book delivery.
Celebrity Apprentice~ This episode wasn't as good as the previous ones. I think that Star, Marlee, & Nene are smart to stick together. The other girls will fall by the wayside. The guys team was strong and their risk worked out. I think Lil' Jon worked the crowd well and his keywords of viral, cook, & super bowl commercial really helped them win. I am glad that Dionne is gone, but I am surprised that she folded like that. Star is right...fight for your charity. I think if the girls lose again then Donald will mix them up.
Amazing Race~ India is always a tough leg! I really like how they tied the tea together into this leg. It seems as if the people who used their noses did much better on the roadblock. The teams that chose to paint on the detour did a good job. I would have picked the book delivery.
Celebrity Apprentice~ This episode wasn't as good as the previous ones. I think that Star, Marlee, & Nene are smart to stick together. The other girls will fall by the wayside. The guys team was strong and their risk worked out. I think Lil' Jon worked the crowd well and his keywords of viral, cook, & super bowl commercial really helped them win. I am glad that Dionne is gone, but I am surprised that she folded like that. Star is right...fight for your charity. I think if the girls lose again then Donald will mix them up.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Lo Carb: Dessert & Snack
I've been sharing so many great low-carb main dishes lately, but now it's time to share some snacks.
We went to a bday party over the weekend and didn't want to be tempted by the cake, so we brought our own chocolaty dessert. We've tried out a few different low-carb desserts, but not have really grabbed us until this great one from Deliciously Thin.
Peg's Ice Cream Reese Cup
I enjoyed a few low-carb snacks at the party too. One was a cheesy artichoke dip that I ate with carrot sticks and the other was a blue cheese crumble spread on celery. Here is that recipe.
Creamy Blue Cheese Celery
We went to a bday party over the weekend and didn't want to be tempted by the cake, so we brought our own chocolaty dessert. We've tried out a few different low-carb desserts, but not have really grabbed us until this great one from Deliciously Thin.
Peg's Ice Cream Reese Cup
- 1 package sugar free chocolate instant pudding
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup ice water
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
Fill a mini muffin tin with small paper liners. Mix the pudding mix, heavy cream and ice water. Fill cups 1/2 full and then add 1/4 teaspoon peanut butter. Top with remaining pudding mix. Freeze until solid and then store in ziploc bag. Makes 24.
Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 42 Calories; 4g Fat (89.8% calories from fat); 1g Protein; 1g Carbohydrate; trace Dietary Fiber; 14mg Cholesterol; 11mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 1 Fat.
We didn't use paper liners at all. They melt pretty fast so they can get your fingers messy, but it's well worth it.I enjoyed a few low-carb snacks at the party too. One was a cheesy artichoke dip that I ate with carrot sticks and the other was a blue cheese crumble spread on celery. Here is that recipe.
Creamy Blue Cheese Celery
- 1/2 package of cream cheese or low-fat neufachel cheese
- 1 tub of blue cheese crumbles
- seasoning (or onion or garlic) salt & paprika
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Shopping & Purging
We've been very laid back around here over the past few days. On Friday I took the kiddos to a children's museum that we've never been too. We met up with some friends and everyone had a good time. The girls had a lot of fun putting on a puppet show for us.
Yesterday I got up and headed up to Kohl's as they were having a big sale and I had a 30% off coupon. Even though it had turned cold again this week, I was determined to get some new clothes for spring/summer. When we got that warm up early in the week I pulled out my warmer weather clothes and they were so boring and baggy. The pants that I thought make me look slimmer were just frumpy! I know that the right clothes are key in looking & feeling slimmer, so I needed to ditch those! I was very pleased to find lots of new clothes. I was even more pleased to be down 2 pants sizes from last summer. I ended up getting 16 items (tops & bottoms) for just under $200! I came home and tried everything on for hubby and then went through my drawers & closet and PURGED a lot of clothes! I also rediscovered a few nice pieces of clothing that now fit again. Biggest bonus was finding ca$h in the pocket of 2 pants! I don't carry a purse so I end up leaving cash here and there. Only $17 between the 2 pants this time! I ended up getting rid of way more than 16 items. DH was motivated and went through and ditched a lot of his clothes too.
This morning I took the tags off one of the new pants I got and wore them with a cute shirt I already had. I didn't take long before I realized that the pants are a little big on me! I plan on losing a little more weight, so these pants are going to be way too big. I am going to keep the tags on the 2nd pair I got and exchange them for the next size down when I go to Kohl's to redeem my Kohl's Cash next week. I'm hoping that I can shrink the pair I am wearing today!
Last night we went to a birthday party and I am happy to say that both DH & I stuck with the low-carbs options. Instead of birthday cake we had a low-carb frozen treat that we made. I'll share that recipe along with a great new low-carb snack that a friend brought tomorrow.
Yesterday I got up and headed up to Kohl's as they were having a big sale and I had a 30% off coupon. Even though it had turned cold again this week, I was determined to get some new clothes for spring/summer. When we got that warm up early in the week I pulled out my warmer weather clothes and they were so boring and baggy. The pants that I thought make me look slimmer were just frumpy! I know that the right clothes are key in looking & feeling slimmer, so I needed to ditch those! I was very pleased to find lots of new clothes. I was even more pleased to be down 2 pants sizes from last summer. I ended up getting 16 items (tops & bottoms) for just under $200! I came home and tried everything on for hubby and then went through my drawers & closet and PURGED a lot of clothes! I also rediscovered a few nice pieces of clothing that now fit again. Biggest bonus was finding ca$h in the pocket of 2 pants! I don't carry a purse so I end up leaving cash here and there. Only $17 between the 2 pants this time! I ended up getting rid of way more than 16 items. DH was motivated and went through and ditched a lot of his clothes too.This morning I took the tags off one of the new pants I got and wore them with a cute shirt I already had. I didn't take long before I realized that the pants are a little big on me! I plan on losing a little more weight, so these pants are going to be way too big. I am going to keep the tags on the 2nd pair I got and exchange them for the next size down when I go to Kohl's to redeem my Kohl's Cash next week. I'm hoping that I can shrink the pair I am wearing today!
Last night we went to a birthday party and I am happy to say that both DH & I stuck with the low-carbs options. Instead of birthday cake we had a low-carb frozen treat that we made. I'll share that recipe along with a great new low-carb snack that a friend brought tomorrow.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Skin Care & Sun Exposure
I am going to start blogging about the importance of sun exposure and skin care. As you can see by my pictures I have a very light complexion. I drew up in the southwest and burned quite easily as a child, especially on our beach vacations. My parents were pretty good about teaching us the importance of wearing sunscreen and covering up in the sun, but I still got some pretty bad sunburns. I've always been concerned about my chances for developing skin cancer, even though I am now pretty vigilant about putting on sun block and staying out of the sun.
About a month ago I noticed a new spot on my neck. I showed a few people that are knowledgeable about these things and they thought it was non-cancerous. I felt confident that it's nothing, but I still made an appointment for a full body scan as suggested by my primary care physician last year.
I had my appointment today and I was able to discuss all my concerns with the NP that I saw. She was SUPER nice and supportive. She said the place on my neck is just fine (even though it's not super pretty) and told that some other spots that I am concerned about are fine. (Can't remember the term for those!) She did find one suspicious spot on my the side of my lower leg and biopsied it. I got 3 stitches (it was VERY small!) and will get the results when I go back in 8 days to get the stitches out. I didn't ask what her concern level was because there isn't anything I can do about it. Either it is cancerous or not. Worrying about it won't change things. If it is, we will take the necessary steps to eradicate it and move on with our lives. Either way, I am going to continue to be vigilant about my sun exposure now. I am pretty good about staying out the sun and putting sun screen on, but I am going to get some UV clothing and do a better job. I am going to step it up for my kids too. They don't burn in the sun like I do, but I am going to make sure they wear sunscreen and swim shirts all the time.
About a month ago I noticed a new spot on my neck. I showed a few people that are knowledgeable about these things and they thought it was non-cancerous. I felt confident that it's nothing, but I still made an appointment for a full body scan as suggested by my primary care physician last year.
I had my appointment today and I was able to discuss all my concerns with the NP that I saw. She was SUPER nice and supportive. She said the place on my neck is just fine (even though it's not super pretty) and told that some other spots that I am concerned about are fine. (Can't remember the term for those!) She did find one suspicious spot on my the side of my lower leg and biopsied it. I got 3 stitches (it was VERY small!) and will get the results when I go back in 8 days to get the stitches out. I didn't ask what her concern level was because there isn't anything I can do about it. Either it is cancerous or not. Worrying about it won't change things. If it is, we will take the necessary steps to eradicate it and move on with our lives. Either way, I am going to continue to be vigilant about my sun exposure now. I am pretty good about staying out the sun and putting sun screen on, but I am going to get some UV clothing and do a better job. I am going to step it up for my kids too. They don't burn in the sun like I do, but I am going to make sure they wear sunscreen and swim shirts all the time.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Reality Wrap- Week 5
Survivor~ It was quite boring and predictable, as I think the next few weeks will be. It's possible that Andrea would go before Phillip *IF* they get any inkling of her conspiring with Phillip. It would be interesting to see her go up against Matt at Redemption.
Amazing Race~ The goths sure pulled it together this leg. They were SMART to U-Turn the gingers. Yes there were other teams behind you, but you never know if your taxi went the wrong way and they were ahead...so they had to U-Turn someone they knew was behind them. Not sure it mattered so much cause the gingers sailed through the other side of the detour...it was the dino puzzle that did them in. Gallory was smart to use their Express Pass. They were dead last and you could tell it was a difficult task. Cowboys (was it Cord that did the task?) were smart to keep looking at the diagram to make sure it was right and they were rewarded with 1st place and $$!! They are looking stronger and stronger and should be around in the final 3. Zev & Justin have been struggling as of late. I still think they are one of the strongest teams and should/could be in the final 3.
Celebrity Apprentice~ This was a fun task to watch. Both teams seemed to be very disorganized, but the men had the signage, music, & greenery on the outside that made the difference. The RVs basically sell themselves! I have to say that Jose Conseco seems worthless! Of course it could be the editing, but I think his verbal oppositions and his body language say a lot. I can't imagine that he's around for the long haul. Nikki was a class act by taking the responsibility for the loss. Not exactly ratings worthy, but she handled it well.
Amazing Race~ The goths sure pulled it together this leg. They were SMART to U-Turn the gingers. Yes there were other teams behind you, but you never know if your taxi went the wrong way and they were ahead...so they had to U-Turn someone they knew was behind them. Not sure it mattered so much cause the gingers sailed through the other side of the detour...it was the dino puzzle that did them in. Gallory was smart to use their Express Pass. They were dead last and you could tell it was a difficult task. Cowboys (was it Cord that did the task?) were smart to keep looking at the diagram to make sure it was right and they were rewarded with 1st place and $$!! They are looking stronger and stronger and should be around in the final 3. Zev & Justin have been struggling as of late. I still think they are one of the strongest teams and should/could be in the final 3.
Celebrity Apprentice~ This was a fun task to watch. Both teams seemed to be very disorganized, but the men had the signage, music, & greenery on the outside that made the difference. The RVs basically sell themselves! I have to say that Jose Conseco seems worthless! Of course it could be the editing, but I think his verbal oppositions and his body language say a lot. I can't imagine that he's around for the long haul. Nikki was a class act by taking the responsibility for the loss. Not exactly ratings worthy, but she handled it well.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Mexican Squash Casserole
I have the YUMMIEST lo-carb recipe for you! Another great one found at Deliciously Thin! This is definitely on high rotation around here! I made it for company last night and it was GOBBLED up!
Mexican Squash Casserole
Ingredients:
* 3 yellow squash (I used 1 acorn squash)
* 1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes (I used mild)
* 1 pound ground beef cooked with 1/2 chopped onion and drained
* 1 package of taco seasoning
* 2 cups grated cheddar cheese (of course, I used more!)
Directions:
Brown ground beef with chopped onion, drain grease. Return skillet to heat and add taco seasoning and ro-tel tomatoes.
Slice squash into thin rounds. In a casserole dish, layer squash, then meat, then cheese.
Put into a preheated 350 degree F oven for 20-30 minutes until bubbly and hot.
This recipe was featured at~
Mexican Squash Casserole
Ingredients:
* 3 yellow squash (I used 1 acorn squash)
* 1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes (I used mild)
* 1 pound ground beef cooked with 1/2 chopped onion and drained
* 1 package of taco seasoning
* 2 cups grated cheddar cheese (of course, I used more!)
Directions:
Brown ground beef with chopped onion, drain grease. Return skillet to heat and add taco seasoning and ro-tel tomatoes.
Slice squash into thin rounds. In a casserole dish, layer squash, then meat, then cheese.
Put into a preheated 350 degree F oven for 20-30 minutes until bubbly and hot.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Communion/Easter Dress for American Girl Doll Giveaway CLOSED
Two months ago I had a giveaway for a beautiful Valentine's Day Dress for an American Girl Doll created by Catsmeow1 at Etsy. Catsmeow1 has quickly become one of my favorite Etsy shops. I've been spending a lot of time on Etsy over the last 4 months and I am able to spot quality creations. Darci of Catsmeow1 is tops with doll clothing! As a former wedding gown seamstress, Darci has the skills it takes to work with special occasion fabrics. I've sewn for most of my life and I cannot do what Darci does. Her creations are just amazing! My daughter recently got an adorable halter sundress from Catsmeow1 for her doll. Looks how cute it is~
Catsmeow1 sells these sundresses for $12.75. Check out these and other dresses here and her GORGEOUS Communion/Special Occasion dresses here.Last time I reviewed Catsmeow1 I gave her 5 BIG stars...I think I need to put a bunch of exclamation points at the end of those stars because her creations can't be beat. Her prices are VERY reasonable too. In fact, I think she could charge more!!
!!!!!
The 2nd winner will get a 35% discount coupon to be used on item of choice from Catsmeow1!This giveaway will run through 11:59pm CST on Wednesday, March 30th. The winners will be chosen via random.org and notified on March 31st and will have 48 hours to contact me. Doll not included in giveaway!
- You must do the mandatory entry
- Leave your email address with your mandatory entry if it's not available in your profile
- Each entry needs to be a separate comment (remember to do multiple comments on those indicated as multiple entries!)
- US addresses only
Mandatory Entry
- Visit Cats Meow1 Etsy shop and check out her items. Come back here and leave a comment on what your favorite item for an 18" or American Girl doll is.
Additional Entries
- 1 entry for adding Cats Meow1 to your list of shop favorites at Etsy.
- 1 entry for adding my shop to your list of shop favorites at Etsy.
- 1 entry for being a public follower of Diana Rambles via Google Friend Connect. Find this under My Followers near the top of my left sidebar. Click Follow and then confirm.
- 2 entries for putting my Diana Rambles button on your sidebar. Leave your blog address!
- 2 entries for subscribing to my Diana Rambles Feedburner. Make sure you verify the subscription. Find at the top of my left sidebar.
- 1 entry for following me via Twitter @FreeStyleMama.
- 1 entry (up to 10 each day...must be at least 2 hours apart) for tweeting about this giveaway on Twitter. Feel free to copy the following~ Enter to #win a 1st Communion Dress for 18" #AmericanGirl Doll #giveaway #contest ends Mar 30th @FreeStyleMama http://tinyurl.com/AGmeow2 Please leave the link to your tweet in the comment. (You get the tweet link by clicking on the '4 mins ago' time)
That is a bunch of entry possibilities. The more times you enter, the better chance you have of winning! I will publish each comment when the entry has been verified. **MAKE sure you follow the rules or the entry will be DQ'd!!**
Friday, March 18, 2011
Spring Break
Spring Break has begun! The kids didn't have school today and have all of next week off. We are just planning on hanging around the house. The teen has a few seasons of House and some video games to conquer. The tween needs to clean his room but instead he is spending a lot of time outdoors enjoying the spring weather. The little one just wants to hang out with someone and read books and watch movies. We just returned from a family trip to the library and several DVDs were checked out. All of the regular shows I like are on break right now (except reality ones) so I'll fill the time I would spend on them with watching some movies. Last night I watched Julie & Julia, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Back when it came out I had several people ask if I had seen it because it's a movie about blogging. I highly recommend it!
I spent some time sewing today. I have several more pillowcase doll dresses stitched up. I just need to add ribbon and get photos of them. I'll might add them to my Etsy shop this weekend. I've been having some troubles with my sewing machine so I might need to reinforce some seams first. I also worked on some Cool-Ties to donate to the military. They will be part of a charity basket for an upcoming auction. I have 50 cut & edges serged. My regular machine seems to skip a stitch from time to time, which I need to fix before I finish stitching these up. If there are any loose stitches then the water crystals will leak out, which would be a huge mess!
Other plans for spring break include blog work, organizing the garage, taking the kids to the children's museum with friends, enjoying the outdoors, and hopefully some cleaning & straightening of parts of the house.
Any of you on spring break? What are your plans?
I spent some time sewing today. I have several more pillowcase doll dresses stitched up. I just need to add ribbon and get photos of them. I'll might add them to my Etsy shop this weekend. I've been having some troubles with my sewing machine so I might need to reinforce some seams first. I also worked on some Cool-Ties to donate to the military. They will be part of a charity basket for an upcoming auction. I have 50 cut & edges serged. My regular machine seems to skip a stitch from time to time, which I need to fix before I finish stitching these up. If there are any loose stitches then the water crystals will leak out, which would be a huge mess!
Other plans for spring break include blog work, organizing the garage, taking the kids to the children's museum with friends, enjoying the outdoors, and hopefully some cleaning & straightening of parts of the house.
Any of you on spring break? What are your plans?
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Reality Wrap- Week 4
Survivor~ All I can say is Russell is a big CRY BABY!!!
Celebrity Apprentice~ I admit it...I watched. I had no plans to, but I was looking for a show on Hulu the other night and I remember people saying what a jerk Hatch was being...so I watched. I found it quite entertaining! At least the first episode was. I wasn't familiar with Lil Jon or John Rich, but they are both strong competitors. Gary Busey is something else!!! Too many drugs & head injuries...although he does a good job of playing it up. Hatch was sooo rude at the first board room!! Not surprising at all!! For the 2nd episode I thought that they might want to fire Dionne as to keep the war being Star & Lisa going, but Lisa is honest so she was gone. And Trump was right...she looks so much better with the reduction of her botox lips. I didn't enjoy the 2nd episode as much as the first, but I think it will be a good season!
image by TxPurpleSky
Amazing Race~ The Goths are sure self-destructing. They started out with such a good attitude, but that went to the way side immediately. I seriously doubt they will be able to recover and avoid Philimination! Both Ron & Christina are over the top and I *REALLY* hope they are booted soon. So annoying! I think the Globetrotters redeemed themselves by telling the bus to stop for them. Zev struggled with Roadblock, but he stuck with it. That guy who was handing out the clue was looking quite annoyed. The place where the yaks was so beautiful! Everyone was so worn out from this leg and I am sure the altitude took a lot out of them...and they had to keep racing. I LOVE this show!!Celebrity Apprentice~ I admit it...I watched. I had no plans to, but I was looking for a show on Hulu the other night and I remember people saying what a jerk Hatch was being...so I watched. I found it quite entertaining! At least the first episode was. I wasn't familiar with Lil Jon or John Rich, but they are both strong competitors. Gary Busey is something else!!! Too many drugs & head injuries...although he does a good job of playing it up. Hatch was sooo rude at the first board room!! Not surprising at all!! For the 2nd episode I thought that they might want to fire Dionne as to keep the war being Star & Lisa going, but Lisa is honest so she was gone. And Trump was right...she looks so much better with the reduction of her botox lips. I didn't enjoy the 2nd episode as much as the first, but I think it will be a good season!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Skillet Chicken Cordon Bleu
DH is fully on board with the lo-carb thing now. He's already losing some weight. One thing we have noticed is that we are not suffering in the food department. In fact, we are having such YUMMY new dishes that we have to be careful to not overeat. We made this the other night and it's going to be in high rotation around here. In fact, the kids liked it too! Recipe is from Deliciously Thin.
Skillet Chicken Cordon Bleu
Ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 4 whole boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
* 1/4 cup white wine
* 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken and mushroom soup*
* 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
* 1/2 cup diced ham
Directions:
In a large inch skillet over medium high heat cook the chicken breasts in the butter for 10 minutes each side or until browned.
Remove chicken and set aside. In the same skillet add the wine and stir to deglaze the pan.
Add the soup, cheese, and ham. Heat to boiling, stirring often. Return chicken to skillet. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until the inside of the chicken is no longer pink, stirring occasionally.
What an easy chicken cordon bleu recipe! Hope you enjoy this skillet version.
*Cream of Chicken and Mushroom soup is the lowest carb option available, being significantly lower in carbs than both of its counterparts.
Skillet Chicken Cordon Bleu
Ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 4 whole boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
* 1/4 cup white wine
* 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken and mushroom soup*
* 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
* 1/2 cup diced ham
Directions:
In a large inch skillet over medium high heat cook the chicken breasts in the butter for 10 minutes each side or until browned.
Remove chicken and set aside. In the same skillet add the wine and stir to deglaze the pan.
Add the soup, cheese, and ham. Heat to boiling, stirring often. Return chicken to skillet. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until the inside of the chicken is no longer pink, stirring occasionally.
What an easy chicken cordon bleu recipe! Hope you enjoy this skillet version.
*Cream of Chicken and Mushroom soup is the lowest carb option available, being significantly lower in carbs than both of its counterparts.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Teen Driving
The other night our son was driving home from his Tuba lesson and he had a close call that really shook him. He was stopped at a light and when it turned green he started to go but realized he was in 3rd gear. As he shifted into 1st a car came barreling through the red light across in front of him. He realized if he wasn't in 3rd he would have gotten hit and badly injured. It rocked him to his core. I am very thankful that he was not hurt, but I am also glad that he witnessed something like this. When I was his age the same thing happened to me. A car came speeding through a red light right as I hesitated to hit the gas. Not sure why I hesitated because I was not driving a stick, but I can vividly remember it as if it were yesterday. This close call got me to become more of a peripheral driver. Even now I am never quick to dash when a light turns green and I always glance right & left to make sure someone isn't coming. I hope that my teen will be the same way now. He's so sure that he's a great driver and won't do anything wrong, but maybe he will now realize that it's other drivers that you've got to keep in mind!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Pillowcase Dress for your AG Doll Giveaway - 2 Winners CLOSED
Last week I realized that I was going to have some open time in between giveaways this month so I decided to sew something to give away. I wanted to try something new because all the things I've sewn for my daughter's doll haven't been anything I am proud of. I know that pillowcase dresses are easy to make so that is what I decided to do. I created a pattern and was able to stitch one together quickly. It was out of Hello Kitty fabric and my daughter wanted to keep it. I wanted to make at least 2 more to give away, so I ended up cutting out several more with various fabrics I had on hand. I am offering 2 as a giveaway here and have put the rest in my Etsy shop. I have priced them at $5 or $7 depending on the fabric. I had fun making these and will probably make a few more along with ones in my daughter's size to match, but I don't plan on making a business of it. I am already busy enough with my blog business. But I do love to sew!!
So I am offering a pillowcase dress for an American Girl or 18" Doll to two of my lucky readers. This giveaway will run through 11:59pm CST on Friday, March 18th. The winners will be chosen via random.org and notified on March 19th and will have 48 hours to contact me. The first number chosen will get to choose which dress they want and the remaining dress will go to the 2nd number picked. The 2 dresses are pictured below~ Calico Bunny or Hobby Horse. This giveaway is for the pillowcase dress only! Doll not included!
Entry Rules
Dori loves her doll's new dresses!
So I am offering a pillowcase dress for an American Girl or 18" Doll to two of my lucky readers. This giveaway will run through 11:59pm CST on Friday, March 18th. The winners will be chosen via random.org and notified on March 19th and will have 48 hours to contact me. The first number chosen will get to choose which dress they want and the remaining dress will go to the 2nd number picked. The 2 dresses are pictured below~ Calico Bunny or Hobby Horse. This giveaway is for the pillowcase dress only! Doll not included!
Entry Rules
- You must do the mandatory entry
- Leave your email address with your mandatory entry if it's not available in your profile
- Each entry needs to be a separate comment (remember to do multiple comments on those indicated as multiple entries!)
- US addresses only
Mandatory Entry
- Visit my FreeStyleMama Etsy shop and check out the pillowcase dresses for American Girl or 18" doll I have posted there. Come back here and leave a comment on which is your favorite dress. *FYI~ 1 dress has sold at this point.*
Additional Entries
- 1 entry for adding my shop to your list of shop favorites at Etsy.
- 1 entry for being a public follower of Diana Rambles via Google Friend Connect. Find this under My Followers near the top of my left sidebar. Click Follow and then confirm.
- 3 entries for subscribing to my Diana Rambles Feedburner. Make sure you verify the subscription. Find at the top of my left sidebar.
- 1 entry for being a public follower of my Custom Blog Designs blog via Google Friend connect.
- 3 entries for subscribing to my Custom Blog Designs Feedburner. Make sure you verify the subscription. Find is near the top of my left sidebar at Custom Blog Designs.
- 1 entry for following me via Twitter @FreeStyleMama.
- 1 entry (up to 10 each day...must be at least 2 hours apart) for tweeting about this giveaway on Twitter. Feel free to copy the following~ Enter to #win a Pillowcase Dress for an 18" #AmericanGirl Doll #giveaway #contest ends Mar 18th @FreeStyleMama http://tinyurl.com/AGpillow Please leave the link to your tweet in the comment. (You get the tweet link by clicking on the '4 mins ago' time)
That is a bunch of entry possibilities. The more times you enter, the better chance you have of winning I will publish each comment when the entry has been verified. **MAKE sure you follow the rules or the entry will be DQ'd!!**
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Reality Wrap
Sometimes I wonder why I post a reality wrap because just a few people read it...but I love these shows!!
Survivor~ Outside of the reactions to tribal on Rob's team, we hardly saw them. All the focus was on Russell's team or rather the team formerly known as Russell's. Bwah-ha-ha! Many many people were soooo happy that Russell was voted off. I am glad the rumors my husband shared were not true...Russell & Rob didn't have automatic immunity. I think how it's funny that Russell was dissing on the 'old lady' and she had them believing that she was secretly on their side...and bam, she wasn't. I know I picked Stephanie to win but she was sure grasping for anything at tribal. No need for Russell to hope his big mouth because she was running hers. I do think that Julie has it right...they throw the challenge and momentum will go to the other side. The challenge between Matt & Russell should be interesting! I am guessing by the previews that a good chunk of time will be focused on Redemption Island.
Amazing Race~ Every time I write this up I want to start out by saying how much I adore this show. It's truly my fav! I was soooo hoping that the Gingers were a goner last night. The 'accident' really didn't put them that far behind because they showed up at the road block with other teams there. It surprised me that whichever one it was that did the road block didn't do better. They are dancers and I thought they'd sail through it. Both those detour tasks looked COLD!! I would have HATED to get into that cold water and probably would have cried 'I want my mama' too! I think the best way to deal with the mud challenge was to make a game out of it. Poor Mel & Mike!! I really liked them and Mel wasn't about to give up, but it was so cold out there! They knew their days were numbered on the show. Gallory are super strong this race and I think could be in the top 3, but Zev & Justin are still my pick to win!!
Survivor~ Outside of the reactions to tribal on Rob's team, we hardly saw them. All the focus was on Russell's team or rather the team formerly known as Russell's. Bwah-ha-ha! Many many people were soooo happy that Russell was voted off. I am glad the rumors my husband shared were not true...Russell & Rob didn't have automatic immunity. I think how it's funny that Russell was dissing on the 'old lady' and she had them believing that she was secretly on their side...and bam, she wasn't. I know I picked Stephanie to win but she was sure grasping for anything at tribal. No need for Russell to hope his big mouth because she was running hers. I do think that Julie has it right...they throw the challenge and momentum will go to the other side. The challenge between Matt & Russell should be interesting! I am guessing by the previews that a good chunk of time will be focused on Redemption Island.
Amazing Race~ Every time I write this up I want to start out by saying how much I adore this show. It's truly my fav! I was soooo hoping that the Gingers were a goner last night. The 'accident' really didn't put them that far behind because they showed up at the road block with other teams there. It surprised me that whichever one it was that did the road block didn't do better. They are dancers and I thought they'd sail through it. Both those detour tasks looked COLD!! I would have HATED to get into that cold water and probably would have cried 'I want my mama' too! I think the best way to deal with the mud challenge was to make a game out of it. Poor Mel & Mike!! I really liked them and Mel wasn't about to give up, but it was so cold out there! They knew their days were numbered on the show. Gallory are super strong this race and I think could be in the top 3, but Zev & Justin are still my pick to win!!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Jack Chicken Recipes
It's been a while since I posted any recipes so I thought it might be a good Meal Monday post. Here are 2 variations of a chicken with Monterrey Jack cheese. The ingredients are quite similar, but I think they take different. The first was so rich the first time I made it so I cut out the mayo the 2nd time. This one reheated well. The title of each recipe is linked to where I found the recipe. Overall I prefer the 2nd recipe, but they are both good and low carb!
Easy Chicken Casserole Recipe
Chicken Jack Bake
Easy Chicken Casserole Recipe
Ingredients:
- 3-4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 16 ounces Frozen Broccoli Florets
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 1 can (10.75 Oz. Can) Campbell's Cream Of Chicken & Mushroom Soup*
- 6 oz of sour cream
- 1 cup Real Mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon Thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoning Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Curry Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon Sage
- 2 cups Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese, Divided
Chicken Jack Bake
Ingredients:
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. cut chicken into 3/4" strips, place in small baking dish. mix in no-salt seasoning. cut butter and cheese into small pieces and combine with chicken. Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes stirring mixture a few times during the baking. Add broccoli, asparagus or cauliflower for a one pot meal. |
Friday, March 4, 2011
A Svelt Movie Review
Lately I've had several people tell me that I am skinny. I am not skinny, but I have slimmed down quite a bit over the last 7 months since I began a low carb diet. I started cutting carb on a fluke. We had just returned from our trip to Alaska and I had the TV on in the afternoon. (Usually I do not watch daytime TV) Dr. Oz was on and he was talking about different types of diets based on a person's genetics and body type. I can't remember the specifics of each diet, but the low carb diet spoke to me. I remember him saying that fat will just melt off of you under the right circumstances. So I decide to cut the carbs. It really wasn't too hard and fat did start melting off me. When I go to parties or get togethers I tend to spurge on carbs, but not like I used to.
A friend of mine pointed out a pic of me from that was taken at the beginning of our Alaska trip (and I gained weight on the trip!) She said I had lost a lot of weight. When I took a good look at the pic I realized how much I have slimmed down. Here is a comparison.
That friend and others have asked how I did it and I say low carbs. The response is usually~ I couldn't do that! Then I encourage them to cut out the obvious carbs like simple sugars. I also point out that I am not perfect with my diet and I am doing fine. Low carbs...and wearing the right clothes!!!
I have turned a few people onto the low carb state of mind, including my mother in law. The other day she sent me a link to a documentary on Hulu called Fat Head by Tom Naughton. She said it was a pro low carb movie so I checked it out right away. I really liked it and ended up watching it a 2nd time that evening with my hubby. Now he's hooked on low carb. We ended up going into the kitchen and throwing out some food right away. I've been eating low carb long enough that it should be easy to cut out what I've been buying for the family and make the switch for all of us. The kids are thrilled~ NOT!
Here is a description of the movie~
This movie will change your life! The USDA guidelines and standard nutritional advice is making us sick, fat and diabetic. Tom Naughton's FAT HEAD is a humorous documentary film that challenges many of our misconceptions about what makes a healthy diet. Vegetable oils as well as sugars and starches are the root causes of metabolic syndrome, not saturated fat.
I highly encourage everyone to see this movie. I know not all will like it or believe it, but I found it to be very eye-opening! Part one of the movie focuses on debunking the movie Super Size. Tom Naughton eats a diet of only fast food for a month. I've seen lots of criticisms that this part is too long, but I think it lays the foundation for proving the misconceptions wrong. Yes, our government, the food industry, and even the medical community have been steering us wrong for years. What I really took from this part is to use your brain. No one forces to eat fast food and other crap, but it is readily available. I could never eat fast food like that. Ick! I don't think that he was saying that a fast food diet is good for you, but you can make choices about what you do eat. I never thought that the fast food industry or even the food industry in general was forcing me to eat anything!
Here is an excerpt from the film~
I'm 7 months into low carb and I don't even really think about it anymore~ it's my lifestyle! What really blows me away is that I have achieved a 20+ lb weight loss without much exercise. In fact it's been so cold all winter that I have not exercised. I am not claiming I am totally healthy at all. I know that I need to exercise and stretch. With the impending arrival of spring, walking has resumed.
I plan on watching Fat Head a few more times and do some of the suggested reading so that I can truly reverse the thinking that has been so engraved in my brain over the years. I'm going to start with Why We Get Fat: And What To Do About It by Gary Taubes. It's supposed to explain the science behind it all in terms that most can understand. Make sure you check out Fat Head soon! I am not sure how long it will be on Hulu, but you can probably find it at your local library.
A friend of mine pointed out a pic of me from that was taken at the beginning of our Alaska trip (and I gained weight on the trip!) She said I had lost a lot of weight. When I took a good look at the pic I realized how much I have slimmed down. Here is a comparison.
That friend and others have asked how I did it and I say low carbs. The response is usually~ I couldn't do that! Then I encourage them to cut out the obvious carbs like simple sugars. I also point out that I am not perfect with my diet and I am doing fine. Low carbs...and wearing the right clothes!!!I have turned a few people onto the low carb state of mind, including my mother in law. The other day she sent me a link to a documentary on Hulu called Fat Head by Tom Naughton. She said it was a pro low carb movie so I checked it out right away. I really liked it and ended up watching it a 2nd time that evening with my hubby. Now he's hooked on low carb. We ended up going into the kitchen and throwing out some food right away. I've been eating low carb long enough that it should be easy to cut out what I've been buying for the family and make the switch for all of us. The kids are thrilled~ NOT!
Here is a description of the movie~
This movie will change your life! The USDA guidelines and standard nutritional advice is making us sick, fat and diabetic. Tom Naughton's FAT HEAD is a humorous documentary film that challenges many of our misconceptions about what makes a healthy diet. Vegetable oils as well as sugars and starches are the root causes of metabolic syndrome, not saturated fat.
I highly encourage everyone to see this movie. I know not all will like it or believe it, but I found it to be very eye-opening! Part one of the movie focuses on debunking the movie Super Size. Tom Naughton eats a diet of only fast food for a month. I've seen lots of criticisms that this part is too long, but I think it lays the foundation for proving the misconceptions wrong. Yes, our government, the food industry, and even the medical community have been steering us wrong for years. What I really took from this part is to use your brain. No one forces to eat fast food and other crap, but it is readily available. I could never eat fast food like that. Ick! I don't think that he was saying that a fast food diet is good for you, but you can make choices about what you do eat. I never thought that the fast food industry or even the food industry in general was forcing me to eat anything!
Here is an excerpt from the film~
I'm 7 months into low carb and I don't even really think about it anymore~ it's my lifestyle! What really blows me away is that I have achieved a 20+ lb weight loss without much exercise. In fact it's been so cold all winter that I have not exercised. I am not claiming I am totally healthy at all. I know that I need to exercise and stretch. With the impending arrival of spring, walking has resumed.
I plan on watching Fat Head a few more times and do some of the suggested reading so that I can truly reverse the thinking that has been so engraved in my brain over the years. I'm going to start with Why We Get Fat: And What To Do About It by Gary Taubes. It's supposed to explain the science behind it all in terms that most can understand. Make sure you check out Fat Head soon! I am not sure how long it will be on Hulu, but you can probably find it at your local library.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
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