January 02, 2012

A new year

It's so nice to start the year without a resolution to lose weight! For nearly my entire life, Jan 1st was the start of a new diet--with a promise that "this time is different". And of course, it never was!

Yesterday was just another day for me. I picked the kids up from church and then we went to my mom's house for dinner. She made my favorite dinner--'beef and sliders'. It's a pot roast with large, flat, homemade noodles cooked in beef broth. It's total comfort food for me. I ate a little more than I would have liked, but I didn't go overboard by any means. She made Reese Cup Pie for dessert, which was delicious too!

Jerry and I decided to make mimosas last night, because we've had a bottle of sparkling wine in the fridge for a couple of months now. He ran up to the liquor store to buy some orange juice, and we each had a couple of mimosas while we played cards. It was a fun evening.

When I woke up this morning, I saw some snow outside. This has been a VERY unusual Michigan winter so far, with temps in the 40's. I haven't even needed to wear a winter coat more than a couple of times. The boys were super excited about the snow and ran out to play--although there wasn't much to play with!
Noah was a little dramatic with the ski mask in the 1/4 inch of snow ;)
I decided to make homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner, so I threw the chicken into the pot and got that started on the stove, then finally quit procrastinating my run. I did three miles on the dreadmill. I started at 6.0 mph, then threw in a handful of 7.0 bursts for a minute each. If I ever want to get my speed back to what it was before surgery, I need to start doing some speed work!

I finished three miles in 28:45, so that's about a 9:35 average pace.

I spent some time working on a budget for the new year. Like I said, I'm DETERMINED to pay off $5,000 of our debt this year. It's going to be extremely difficult unless I monetize my blog soon. I applied to a few different ad networks, and I was just accepted by one of them, so I have to figure that stuff out. Jerry's been working a lot, so his first two checks this year should be nice--and hopefully I'll catch up on the bills! ;)

One of the changes I'm going to make is to grocery shop ONLY once per week. No matter what! Even if I forget something "important", it'll have to wait until the next week. I'm budgeting $100/week for groceries, which I've been doing pretty well at for a few months now.

Speaking of groceries, the last time I went to Wal-Mart, I saw some Biscoff cookies. I've heard of these only recently, because a lot of people were asking me if the Cookie ButterI eat is the same thing as Biscoff Spread. I have no idea if it's the same, but when I saw the Biscoff cookies, I had to buy some--to spread with Cookie Butter, of course!
The only thing tastier than Cookie Butter is Cookie Butter spread onto a Biscoff cookie ;)  Oh yum--my new favorite treat.


Robin was so nice to make me a new, simplified banner--I love it!  It's a little more fun than what I came up with, but still clean and simple like I wanted.


Well, I have a TON of laundry to do before the boys start back to school tomorrow!

18 comments:

  1. We (my nieces, nephew and I) just made chicken noodle soup from scratch this weekend and it was so much fun! Loving your speedwork :) You'll be back before you know it!

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  2. Lol. Biscoff cookie with biscoff spread? That's pretty intense! Although I just eat my spread with a spoon. So that's that. :-)

    Happy new year!

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  3. I am making homemade chicken noodle soup too! Your pace is amazing!!

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  4. I meant to ask you if that was the cookie butter you used because that's the brand I found in my grocery store. I think I need to really watch my intake of peanut butter. It was one of the things I've been spreading liberally on things that don't need the added calories (like Nestle Crunch Crisps).

    I signed up for my first half-marathon!!

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  5. I am the world's worst at running to the store ALL THE TIME now that I don't work. This was on my private "to-do" in the new year. Seriously, I get sick of constantly running for an item or two.

    I bought cookie butter last week. My two year old did a dance when he ate it. I think I am going to try it in oatmeal. Nom Nom!!

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  6. I spend a fortune on groceries. You do much better than I do. I probably average $200 a week. Ugh.

    You are picking your pace up quickly. I will have to try some bursts.

    I love the new banner! :)

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  7. Katie~
    If I may add my two cents...what I used to do (and still try) was to make a weekly menu using things I had on hand (freezer items). Then, I would check the weekly grocery ads for things that I would buy anyway~like if steak or pork loin is on sale~and build the rest of my menu from that. It saves a lot of time, not to mention 'work' on my part. It seriously works out great if you give it a try! We have been a one-income family for quite awhile now and I LOVE being a SAHM :)
    HNY~2012!!

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  8. I love your new banner! Plus those cookies look so good! I have never tried a biscoff cookie, but I bet it's delicious. I've heard a lot about them so I gotta give em a try! Our goals are very similar finance wise! I want to save 5,000 dollars this year, and part of my budget is 100 a week on groceries! I still have my last 25 pounds to go for my goal. I'm hoping to reach it by my birthday, May 1st! So glad you don't have to worry about it anymore, and by next year I wont either YAY! Happy New Year Katie!

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  9. Where did you get those cookies? That looks delicious!

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  10. omg i love love love biscoff cookies. fell in love with them when i flew delta airlines in october! i was so happy to find the airline cookie sold at walmart! hahaha

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  11. Katie,
    I ordered a Gocket! I sure appreciate all that you share with us so freely and want to support you any way I can. Also, it can't hurt to have a little reminder with me all day of my goals and what I want to accomplish.
    Thanks, and best wishes for 2012!
    Taunya :)

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  12. :( I just wrote a long note to you, but it got lost somehow when trying to publish it. More later, but wanted to say hi and thanks for your blog! I just found you...and so far love it.

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  13. Amazing self-control to have cookies and cookie butter and not eat it all at once!!!!! I hope that I can do that someday too!!!
    Happy New Year!!!!
    ~Laura

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  14. Like you--this is the first year in many that my resolution has not been to lose weight, but rather to maintain my current weight. Oh it would be nice to lose 10 lbs. or so, but I'm happy where I'm at (145) and if I weigh 145 lbs. on Jan. 1, 2013, I will be thrilled!

    After a snowstorm in early December, we have also had an unusually warm winter in Nebraska-with temps in the 40's and 50's up until this last weekend, when it turned cold and blustery. But now it's predicted to get warm again this week. I'm so happy, cause on nice days I have no excuses not to get out and walk.

    Like you--I am dedicated to paying down my debt this year, so I can retire next January. I wish us both LUCK, self-discipline and good health for 2012!

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  15. Ahhhh my Trader Joe's is out of cookie butter. Tragedy. LOL I finally remembered to get some and it wasn't there so I asked (I felt like such a pig) and they said it's on backorder at the warehouse. We're doomed. Happy new year!

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  16. I've never heard of those cookies, I will have to check them out. I really like your new banner, very fun, yet simple and clean. The whole blog looks fresh. Kudos!

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  17. Have you tried Wonder brand Better'n Peanut Butter? It is so, so, so good! You have to keep it refrigerated but I just let it sit out on the counter for a few minutes before I'm ready to spread it. It's the closest low fat/low calorie "peanut butter" I've found. 2 tablespoons is only 100 calories and 2g of fat. I often measure out a tablespoon and eat it right off the spoon! 50 calorie peanut butter... why yes, that sounds lovely! I found mine at Target.

    http://www.betternpeanutbutter.com/index.php

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  18. Great post, love Noah's ski mask... kids embrace everything full-on! Gotta love it!

    Also, love the new banner, the simplicity of the one before it but with more personality. I am finding the new font easier to read as well. Love the look of the blog!

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

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