Matthew's Puzzle and a mom putting it all together

My Weight Loss Journey

May 16, 2013 By Maryann

eShakti dress-1

I have struggled with my weight for what seems like forever. I have tried various diets and even starvation (which really screwed me up – whatever you do, don’t do that!) I’ve tried exercise, and usually it didn’t have the results I wanted. I’m even ashamed to admit it, but I tried diet pills a few years ago. They worked, but my doctor didn’t want me on them for very long and so once I stopped taking them, poof, all the benefits were gone. But nothing has really worked with my weight loss journey.

After 3 pregnancies and hitting the big 4-0 I have topped out at a whopping 184 lbs! My heaviest ever. I hated looking in the mirror and despised going clothes shopping. Instead of trying to look nice I opted for Old Navy jeans and T-shirts as my daily uniform. I dreaded those occasions when I needed to look nice, like my friend’s recent wedding. I could never find a dress or outfit that looked nice on me. So this past December, right before the whole New Years Resolution thing, I decided to try Weight Watchers Online. I have tried WW before and had good luck, but for one reason or another I never stuck with it. I know the last time I tried it was after I had Matthew and I was in the depths of depression from learning of his diagnosis. I was doomed before I even started.

Now, I’m down 15.4 lbs and I am feeling much better. I have had some ups and downs along the way (or should I say weigh?). I am really trying to look at this as long term lifestyle changes and I find I am willing to make those changes. WW is not the reason for that change of heart, and neither is the desire to be thin. Actually, learning about Matthew’s autism recovery has been the guiding force behind this change. I have watched, actually, I have been an active member in his transformation and I know so much of it is from making a conscious decision to eat real food. I can no longer eat processed foods. I can’t eat things full of chemicals. I want foods that are homemade and come from whole foods. Larry and I have gotten on a green smoothie kick, and we drink one almost every morning. We start the day with kale, cucumber, celery, parsley and hot peppers. The nutritional value of that drink is just amazing and I feel good for drinking it. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy having a dessert or treat sometimes, but I find myself gravitating to those desserts I make, not bought stuff full of crap. We just don’t eat much of that at all anymore.

And exercise. Well it is super important. But I’m not so worried, at least right now, about gaining huge muscles. No, instead I just try to walk 5 days a week. I get myself on our treadmill when our youngest naps and I go, go, go. I pull out my iPad and watch some episode of Saving Grace, Dr Who or Shameless and when I’m done I feel wonderful. I’m hoping to get into the Couch to 5 K once my PT says I’m good to run again. But until then I’ll just keep up the walking.

Well, that is is a huge update. I have met several of my first smaller goals, and I can’t wait to keep you posted on my progress. How do you keep your weight under check?

Current Stats

Weight: 169 lbs

Dress Size: 14

Waist: 35 inches

Hips: 44 inches

Bust: 41 inches

Lullaby Paints Chalkboard Paint Kit Review

May 15, 2013 By Maryann

When we moved in to our current house it was covered top to bottom with builder’s white paint. Can you spell B-O-R-I-N-G? So not long after we settled in we decided to start painting. We picked some lovely colors in shades of green, blue, gold and beige and got right to work. Unfortunately we didn’t always choose no or low- VOC paints and the smell made me sick to my stomach. Yuck.

Recently I found out about Lullaby Paints. They carry No-VOC paints and paints that are free of a whole slew of gross toxins. The toxins they removed from their paints include things that are known asthmagens, allergens, neurotoxicants, and carcinogens. Lullaby Paints, as the name might suggest, concerned themselves with making paints that were safe for pregnant moms-to-be, newborns and even safe for kids to paint with. They have really cool colors, 38 of them to be exact, and they even were smart enough to match some of them into cute collections.

But since I don’t have any more nurseries to paint, thank God{ shh, I didn’t say that}, I was excited to try out Lullaby Paints Chalkboard Paint Kit. These are super cool kits that include everything you need to paint a 30 square foot area, including the Lullaby Paints Chalkboard Paint, roller, tray, painters tape and even some chalk to get your started.

The Project

This past Mother’s Day weekend my husband had to work so after I put the boys to bed I taped off a small area in our kitchen and started painting. We had chosen the Lullaby Paints Chalkboard Paint Kit in Moonstone. We felt it was a good match for our current kitchen color of light sage with silver and brown accents. The first thing I have to say about the Lullaby Paints Chalkboard Paint Kit is that I love the way the paint is packaged. It actually come in a pouch with a closable lid. You can easily pour the paint into the try and then just screw the cap back on the unused portion. It make using the kit so easy. I used the included roller to paint the whole area. I needed to let it dry for several hours before applying the next coat so I opted to just wait until the next day. After I finished the second coat (on Mother’s Day!) and let it dry, I rubbed some of the included chalk all over the board, per instructions, to prime it. Then it was ready for little hands to draw on. It really was that easy.

My Thoughts

I love the finished product. The color is perfect for our room, but I think if I were to do it again I would choose a slightly darker shade just to make it easier to see the chalk. Matthew has already asked it we could paint other walls in the house. We have a neighbor who painted the whole wall outside her pantry with Chalkboard paint and I think he has grand ideas of doing the same. I would make sure we choose Lullaby Paints Chalkboard Paint Kit if we did. There was no, zero, none, of the gross and toxic fumes that usually go with painting. I had a great experience with Lullaby Paints Chalkboard Paint Kit. The only other thing I would do is to add a chair rail or other border to offset the chalkboard area from the rest of the wall.

So tell me what room would you like to paint with some Lullaby Paints Chalkboard Paint?

Disclosure: I received free products in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Sweet Pepper Jelly Recipe

May 14, 2013 By Maryann

I have been on a jam and jelly making kick lately. Last week I posted about my Strawberry Vanilla Brown Sugar Jam and today I’m giving your my recipe for Sweet Pepper Jelly or Jam – I don’t really know which, all I do know is that is is delicious. I like it right on top of a gluten free cracker or you can mix it with some cream cheese if you aren’t dairy free. But I think one of the best things you can do with it is use it to jazz up some more traditional foods. I added some to our homemade BBQ sauce and it was brilliant. I also put it in our homemade baked beans. It added a sweetness and a little zing that was the perfect compliment to the beans. You can add it to almost anything that you would put peppers and sugar. I hope you love this as much as I do.

5.0 from 5 reviews

Sweet Pepper Jelly Recipe

Author: Matthew's Puzzle

Recipe type: Jam

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 25 mins

Ingredients

5 medium red bell peppers (can also use yellow or orange)
2 to 3 red cherry peppers (can substitute jalapenos if necessary)
2 cloves garlic
1½ cups apple juice (organic and unsweetened)
½ cup red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 package regular pectin
3¼ cups sugar

Instructions

Prepare your canner and jars.
In a food processor puree the peppers and garlic.
In a large pot add the pepper mixture, the apple juice, vinegars and lemon juice.
Whisk in pectin until it dissolves.
Bring mixture to a boil over high heat.
Add the sugar and return to a full boil, constantly stirring.
Pour into jars and can as normal (10 minutes in boiling water).

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Gluten Free Mom Certified Cookbook Review and Giveaway

May 11, 2013 By Maryann

If you are on a special diet you know how hard it can be to come up with a daily menu. You certainly can’t leave eating to chance. You can’t go to just any restaurant and you have to always be prepared. So when a recipe book comes out that is simple to use, offers easy, fast and delicious meals, then you just have to try it.

Tiffany Hinton created this wonderful recipe book containing over 60 gluten free recipes. Each recipe offers dairy free options too. I love that since we are usually dairy free too. The book, with foreword by Carol Sherby, offers everything from breads and cookies to entrees like loaded chili and sausage and peppers.

As I was looking through the book I really was excited to see a steak fajita recipe. We tried it out the other Saturday and served it with homemade guacamole and handmade corn tortillas. It was a big hit. I did substitute the rib eye the recipe called for with a flank steak we had on hand. There is a recipe for Strawberry Lemonade Cake that just sounds amazing and I would love to have that for Mother’s Day. I adore anything lemon or lime. I also really want to try making her French Onion Burgers. They sound extremely moist and delicious.

I would love to see Tiffany’s take on additional entree and breakfast items. For me, breakfast is always the hardest since the boys aren’t that interested in traditional breakfast meals.

I was lucky and Tiffany sent me both the electronic and paperback versions of the book. I know I will be pulling this book out for all her wonderful treats. I will be making her Orange Melt Aways as soon as possible.

Want the book? You can purchase it here. Follow her on Facebook. And check out her blog.