I Clearly Suck at This

Which is why I think I'm done. Again.

The Day of the Stake Youth Talent Show

Where the white kids sang songs from Glee and Les Mis and the Hispanic kids danced the merengue. All in all, a sweet night.

• Rice Krispies mixed w/ Cocoa Krispies in 1% milk (breakfast, 10)
• leftover rice & beans from book group, toast, water (lunch, 1.1.5)
• granola bar, Mexican salad, water, popcorn, milk chocolate (dinner @ Stake, 5.30)
• vanilla ice cream w/ Hershey's Special Dark syrup (dessert, 9)
  

The Day I Refurbished the Vanity Chair

... thatI got from someone on Freecycle. It's now quite cute and residing in our living room.

• bowl each of Corn Flakes and Life in 1% milk (breakfast, 8.30)
• pretzels (snack, 12)
• leftover broccoli cheddar soup w/ toast, water, small piece of leftover gingerbread w/ vanilla ice cream (lunch, 2)
• an apple (snack, 3.30)
• toast w/ SB & jam (snack, 4.30)
• pretzels w/ cheese (snack, 5.30)
• baked potato w/ lots of toppings, salad, water, 3 small homemade turtles, 1.5 rice krispies treats (dinner at a RS activity, 7)
• PB cup ice cream (late 2nd dessert, 9.30)

No wonder I feel about 50 lbs. heavier tonight...

The Day We Celebrated Eleven Years

• Life cereal in 1% milk (breakfast, 8)
• Last two slices of Ami's orange bread w/ SB (2nd breakfast, 10)
• Piece of Suzanne's banana bread (snack, 12)
• Lasagna and water (lunch, 1:30)
• Two squares of dark chocolate (snack, 2)
• Broccoli cheddar soup and two slices of bread w/ SB (dinner, 6)
• Pineapple upside-down pumpkin gingerbread and vanilla ice cream (dessert, 8)

The Day I Canned Apples

... in the form of pie filling. Funny because I don't even really like apple pie.

• Corn Flakes in 1% milk (breakfast, 8.30)
• 2 slices rye toast, OJ (mom's, 11.45)
• 2 slices of Ami's orange bread, toasted (lunch?, 1)
• an apple w/ PB, a hunk of dark chocolate w/ PB (snack w/ the kids, 4.30)
• Italian pot pie, broccoli, lots of water (dinner, 6.30)
• PB cup ice cream (dessert after YW, 9.30)
  

The Day Em & I Took the Kids Apple and Pumpkin Picking

A glorious although slightly crazy day. I am exhausted and hope to be in bed by 8.30.

• a piece of Ami's orange bread, one of Brenna's banana muffins (super early breakfast, 6.45)
• 2 of Em's waffles hot off the iron (2nd breakfast, 8.30)
• trail mix (while starving on lunch line, 12.30)
• cheeseburger, onion rings, Sprite, bite of Grace's apple cider donut (lunch, 1.30)
• another slice of Ami's bread, another of Brenna's muffins (snack, 4.45)
• grilled cheese & tomato soup (dinner, 7)
  

The Day I Raged War on the Lilies ... Again

My body hurts but I'm so glad they are gone.

• corn flakes in 1% milk (breakfast, 8.30)
• buttered bagel, yogurt w/ wheat germ, water (lunch, 1)
• anise biscuit thing, OJ (snack @ mom's, 2.30)
• apple (snack, 4.45)
• spaghetti w/ meat balls, salad, garlic bread, roll, water (Zakk's BSA troop's spaghetti dinner, 6.30)
• chocolate soft-serve w/ PB sauce & crushed Reese's (dessert @ Tina's, 7.30)
  

The Day I Revived the Couch

Amazing things can be done with a bottle of rubbing alcohol and an hour of scrubbing. Professional upholstery cleaners are helpful, too.

• 2 peanut butter bars, 2 slices of toast w/ jam (breakfast (8)
• 1/2 bowl of Golden Grahams (snack shared w/ Miles, 11.30)
• enchilada, rice, red beans, water (lunch, 1.30)
• one of Brenna's super yummy whoopie pies (snack, 3.30)
• an apple
• pumpkin waffles w/ spiced peache topping & nutmeg whipped cream, scrambled eggs, mulled cider, water (Fall in food form dinner, 7)
  

And she's back.

I went to bed several nights is a row now completely forgetting to do my food log. Oops.

• Golden Grahams in 1% milk (breakfast, 8)
• tuna on plain bagel, vanilla yogurt w/ raw oats, fruit snacks, water (lunch, 12.30)
• piece of dark chocolate (snack, 1.30)
• peanut butter bar (snack, 5)
• enchiladas, rice, beans, water (dinner, 6.45)
• more peanut butter bars, small cup of milk (glad most have been eaten or given away now)

Not sure of my calorie total and feeling too lazy to figure it out.

The 2nd Day of General Conference

And I didn't start with cake.

• 2 slices Brenna's bread, cup of chocolate milk (breakfast, 9)
• chips & dip (snacks @ Mom's, 12)
• roast turkey breast, mashed potatoes, salad, corn, lolo bun, cinnamon roll, grape juice, water (lunner @ mom's, 2)
• piece of Mere's pumpkin pie, another few bites of cinnamon roll (dessert, 6)
• diluted apple cider

calorie total: 2,240

The 1st Day of General Conference

And I started it off with a piece of cake.

• 1/2 piece of Cherry Almond Chocolate cake (upon waking, 8)
• 2 pieces of French toast, 2 eggs scrambled, water (real breakfast, 9)
• leftover pasta w/chicken, broccoli, another 1/2 piece of cake, cup of milk, water (lunch, 1.30)
• some milk chocolate
  
• Sunchips, water, apple slices (snack, 5)
• 2 poached eggs w/ sprinkle of parm on English muffin, 1/2 of Grace's oatmeal (dinner, 7)

calorie total: 1,808

Taking a Night Off

Because I can!

The Day Brenna and I Canned 105 Lbs. of Tomatoes.

It actually went a lot faster and was a lot more fun than I anticipated. I think this is the most I've ever done in one go. My 70 pounds yielded 14 quarts of quartered tomatoes and 20 pints of diced. Should see us through the Winter and Spring.

• Carnation Instant Breakfast, an English muffin (breakfast, 8)
• some goldfish (snack, 11)
  
• a bagel w/ cream cheese, an apple, 1.5 bananas, water (lunch, 1.30)
• another 1/2 banana w/ 1 T PB (snack, 4)
• 2 slices Brenna's bread w/ real butter, water (snack, 5)
  
• mini cheese ravioli w/ meat sauce, broccoli, water (dinner 6.45)
• milk chocolate (snack? dessert?, 8)

calorie total: 2,340

The Day We Were Had at Wickam's Farm

It was one of those experiences that become so ridiculously maddening you just have to laugh.

• Chocolate Cheerios in 1% milk (breakfast, 7.45)
• a small piece of Brenna's coffee cake (snack, 10)
  
• a granola bar, some Goldfish (snack, 10.30)
• about a gazillion bites of different varieties of apples (11 - 12.30)
• 2 apple cider donuts, water (yet another snack, 1)
  
• Mexican salad for the 3rd day in a row -- glad it's done, water (lunch, 2)
• pita pizza, apple cider, a cider donut, small cup of milk, water (dinner, 7.30)

calorie total: 2,450

The Day We Taught The Young Men to Crochet

• Raisin Bran in 1% milk (breakfast, 8.30)
• fruit snacks (snack, 11)
  
• Mexican salad, 1/2 apple dumpling (lunch, 12.30)
• granola bar (snack, 3.30)
• bagel w/ cream cheese, lemonade (snack, 4)
• 2 potato latkes w/ 2 poached eggs, lemonade (dinner, 6.45)
• chocolate milk (anticipated pre-bed snack, 10)

calorie total: 2,195

The Day the Dentist Told Me Abigail Will Definitely Need Braces

We better start saving. :(

• Rice Krispies in 1% milk (breakfast, 8.30)
• chocolate milk (snack in parking lot of Target, 11.30)
• potato soup & a cheddar scone (lunch, 1.00)
• chocolate bar (snack, 4)
• toasted plain bagel w/ cream cheese, water, apple slices (pre-dinner dinner, 5.00)
• Mexican salad, lemonade, apple slices w/ 1 T PB & 1T caramel sauce (dinner, 6.30)

calorie total: 2,043

Johnny Appleseed's Birthday

We celebrated. At Grace's request.

• Rice Krispies mixed w/ Cocoa Krispies in 1% milk (breakfast, 8.30)
• pita chips & hummus, egg salad sandwich, potstickers, small piece of chocolate (after church smorgasbord, 1.00)
  
• granola bar, Ovaltine (snack)
• potato soup, 2 cheddar scones (dinner, 6pm)
• apple dumpling w/ vanilla ice cream & caramel sauce (dessert w/ the Harts, 7.30)

calorie total: 2,498

Dad's 76th Birthday

• Raisin Bran in 1% milk (breakfast 7.40am)
• 3 pancakes w/natural maple syrup (2nd breakfast, 10.30am)
• egg salad on WW toast, blueberry yogurt w/ raw oats (lunch, 12.30)
• teddy grahams (snack, 3.30)
  
• 1/8th of a lobster quesadilla, a taste of fresh mozz and tomato salad, a few steamed mussels, small garden salad, Chilean sea bass w/ wasabi mashed potatoes and basil olive oil, few bites of everyone's dessert, which included: cheesecake, chocolate decadence, and a raspberry almond tart (dinner w/ family for dad's BDay at The Oar House)

calorie total: well, before dinner it was 1,169. My guess is that dinner brought me to right around my goal.

The Day We Took the Kids to See The Legend of the Guardians

The muggy humidity left me feeling tired and on the verge of cranky, but we still managed a family outing tonight. We really liked the movie, although it had some pretty intense moments. A little too intense, maybe, for a near 5 and 3 year-old.

• mix of Rice Krispies & Cocoa Krispies in 1%milk (breakfast, 8am)
• Wheat Thins w/ 2 Laughing Cow Light wedges, 1/2 serving oatmeal w/ raspberries, water (11.30 am)
• TJs mini plain bagel w/ SB & jam, whole wheat toast w/ SB & jam, water (lunch, 1pm)
• donut holes (snack, 3pm)
• the rest of Charlotte's mac and cheese (4.30pm)
• 2.5 slices homemade thin-crust pizza (6.30)
• a few handfuls of popcorn at the movies (7.30)

calorie total: 2,290

The Day I Was Harrassed by Teenage Scam Artists

And ended up calling the cops. I could never handle drama like this on a daily basis.

• TJs plain mini-bagel (toasted w/ SB), 2.5 eggs, scrambled, water (breakfast 8.15)
• TJs potstickers w/ teriyaki sauce, TJs tater tots w/ ketchup (weird combination, I know - lunch 12.15)
• 2 T PB w/ 1 T chocolate chips, melted and spread on 2 whole chocolate graham crackers (1pm)
  
• small serving mint chip ice cream, water (3pm)
  
• Jack supermelt, mashed potatoes, ice cream (dinner at Friendly's, 7pm)

Total calories: 2,420

This isn't going to be pretty.

I'm back!

To be completely honest, the reason I gave up this whole food blog was my pregnancy. I found out I was expecting and knew that I could not in good conscience limit myself to my 1877 calories per day. But I also wasn't ready to announce our good news to the world. The best scenario seemed to be to abandon the log. But today I decided I wanted back in.

No, my limit is no longer 1877 (= calories to lose about 1 lb a week with moderate exercise). It is more like 2365 (= calories to maintain my pre-pregnancy weight+ 350 extra calories to create a new human, with light exercise). A few months ago this would have seemed like enough for a feast, but today I'm not quite sure. My appetite hasn't really changed all that much in the first seventeen weeks of my pregnancy, but today -- oh, boy! A hunger awoke that I didn't know even existed! This is what prompted me to get back on the blog.

So, without further ado, this is what I ate today. Hold on to your seats, folks. It was quite the culinary ride.

• an English muffin w/ SB, a small bowl of Honey Combs in 1% milk (breakfast)
• a vanilla low-fat yogurt with raw oats stirred in (second breakfast at 11)
• chili w/ sprinkling of Irish cheddar, slice of WW bread w/ SB, large glass of ice water (lunch at 12.30)
• TJs milk chocolate. Way too much. Like, about 480 calories too much.
• TJs boneless, skinless sardines in olive oil on Ritz crackers, grapes, small slices of Edam (second lunch at 3.30)
• a small bowl of Raisin Bran in 1% milk (snack? at 4.30)
• 1/2 cheeseburger, a small handful TJs tater tots, fruit salad, lots of water (dinner 6.30)
• Turkey Hill mint chip ice cream

WOW.SERS. This girl can eat! To the tune of 2,564 calories. Had I only controlled my intake of chocolate I would have been under! Oh, but it was soooooo good.

Yikes. Tomorrow I will eat with calorie-counting in mind.

I'm done.

I'm officially done logging my food. I'm tired. And I'm eating well. I think I've taken from this experience what I needed and it's time to call it quits.

Day 180: The Day I Was Too Tired to Do Much of Anything

• Honeynut Cheerios in 1% milk (breakfast)
• turkey, ham, pepperoni wrap, water, sweet & salty mix, lemonade (lunch)
• sweet & salty, water
  
• chicken potpie, lots of green beans, broccoli, lemonade, water (dinner)
  
• a Fiber One granola bar
  

Day 179: The Day We Installed a Ceiling Fan

• Honeynut Cheerios in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 2 chocolate chip pancakes, milk (second breakfast)
• 1.5 slices leftover pizza, water (lunch)
• a donut (from mom), water
• spaghetti w/ red sauce, zucchini crabcakes, 3 breadsticks, loads of green beans, lemonade, water, another small glass of milk, another donut (big, big dinner)
  

Day 178: The Day We Lost Our First Hen to a Raccoon

Robin, our blue egg layer, met a gruesome end. I've decided that raccoons are the spawn of the devil. Adam and I spent a good half hour at 11pm tonight being eaten by mosquitoes while we fortified the chicken coup. I hope our efforts were successful.

• Life mixed w/ Rice Krispies in 1% milk (breakfast)
• a piece of zucchini bread
  
• a turkey and Swiss wrap, water, a few bites of the trifle Suzanne brought over (lunch)
• some Cheese-its
  
• 2 slices homemade pizza, grape soda, water (dinner)
  

Day 177: Our First Trip to Smith Point of the Season

• Raisin Nut Bran in 1% milk (breakfast)
• honey wheat pretzels, 1/2 piece Ami's vanilla pound cake
• leftover hamburger, water, Kashi granola bar, some chocolate chips (lunch)
• Sunchips, water
  
• chicken and cheddar wrap, a nectarine, 1/2 plum, a coke (dinner at the beach)
• 1/3 chocolate PB shake from Tina's (shared w/ Miles and Adam)
  

Day 176: The 4th of July I Spent in the ER with My Dad

And also the day I decided I'm not ready to give up logging my food. I don't know why, but I find it kind of satisfying.

• Raisin Nut Bran in 1% milk (breakfast)
• turkey and swiss on a multigrain sandwich thin w/ extra turkey on the side, pretzels, a scrumptious nectarine, water (lunch)
• pretzels & a Texas cinnamon bun from the vending machine in the ER (worth a whopping 440 calories, scandalous)
• a hamburger, a few bites of pasta salad, some stripey Jell-O, water, a 1/2 piece vanilla pound cake, grape soda (dinner when I got home from the ER around 9pm)
  

Day 175: Maybe My Last Food Log Post?

I don't know. I'm toying with the idea of ending this here. 175 seems like a good number to end on, right? As easy as it is to write all I've eaten down, at the end of the day I'm looking for anything I can get out of doing so I can go relax.

We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

• Raisin Nut Bran in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 2 mini bagels w/ Swiss & salami, water (lunch)
  
• 1 banana muffin, 2 slices of Rye toast, 1/2 sliver pound cake, milk (snacks at mom's)
• 1 bean and beef burrito, water, 1.5 slices strawberry-rhubarb pie w/ whipped cream (dinner)
  

Day 174: The Day I Lost My Keys at Costco

Luckily they eventually turned up, but I spent a good hour walking the aisles of Costco holding a sleeping Charlotte and wondering if the groceries in my car were going to spoil in the baking car.

• Special K Red Berry in 1% milk (breakfast)
• a Kashi granola bar
• leftover zucchini cake, spaghetti, and green beans, lots of water, a long but skinny sliver of Ami's cake (lunch)
• 2 chicken enchiladas, white rice, watermelon, water (dinner)
• a few chocolate chips
  

Day 173: The Day I Introduced Abigail and Grace to The Princess Bride.

I half watched, half dozed. I came out of my sleepy stupor several times because of Abby's deep belly laugh. She enjoyed it more than Grace, who declared it to be boring.

• Life mixed w/ Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• Sweet & Salty (need to be rid of that stuff!), small glass of milk
• 1/2 tortilla w/ a few pieces salami, a leftover hot dog, water (lunch)
• a Kashi granola bar, some more Sweet & Salty, more water
  
• 2 crab-less crab cakes, green beans, spaghetti w/ marinara & parm, 2 bread sticks, lots of water (dinner)
  

Day 172: The Day Ami & I Scored Big Time on Craigslist

Bookcases, bookcases for everyone!

• bowl of Multigrain Cheerios in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 2 plain mini bagels w/ salami, water (lunch)
• reduced fat Cheese-its, some TJs pirate booty, a fudgy-fatty, a Smart Kids juice pouch, a piece of Ami's focaccia (snacks at the beach)
• a hot dog, a turkey burger, corn on the cob, lots of water, Sweet & Salty (dinner)
  

Day 171: The Day I FINALLY Rid the Front Lawn of the Dying Azaelas

And oh what a difference! Can't wait until next Spring and the shrubs I will replace them with.

• 2 servings Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast, I've been waking up sooo hungry)
• hard salami, lettuce, mustard in a wrap, water (lunch)
• lots and lots of water
• a few bites of Charlotte's tortellini
• lots more water
  
• a salad w/ BBQ chicken, sauteed summer squash, water (dinner)
• way too much Sweet & Salty mix. I think I gave myself a stomach ache
  

Day 170: Our First Trip to the Beach Club of the Summer

What a relief to be cold for once!

• 2 bowls Cheerios in 1% milk (breakfast)
• salami in a tortilla, water (lunch)
• vanilla yogurt w/ wheat germ, water
• 3 slices Adam's super thin-crust pizza, some tortellini w/ marinara, water (dinner)
  

Day 169: The Day We Bid Farewell to Grandma & Grandpa Sota

Adam's parents left today. We -- the kids especially -- were very sad to see them go. I hope we can make it out to see them in Minnesota sometime this year.

• 2 servings Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• dry cereal & raisins (sharing Miles' church snacks)
• the remains of my nearly never-ending shepherd's pie, lots of water, a whole bunch of chocolate chips (lunch)
• 2 bananas w/ PB, a Kashi granola bar
• 1 slice BBQ chicken pizza, I'm certain an entire fougasse (made by Ami), some triple cream brie, orange Jell-O w/ oranges, lots of water (Jell-O Sunday dinner @ the Harts)
• DOTW: dark chocolate orange cake w/ homemade dark chocolate ice cream

I don't even want to think about the calories consumed on this brutally humid day.

Day 168: Gay Pride Day at Cherry Grove

A perfect place to bring your mother-in-law visiting from the Midwest. :)

• Kashi granola bar, water
  
• a small portion of the shepherds pie left over from dinner out last night (lunch)
• cherries, kettle corn, a plum, a diet coke, 1.2 kashi granola bar, a grapefruit Izzy, some reduced fat cheese nips
• taco salad w/ 2 tortillas, water (dinner)
  

Day 167: The Day We Got the Great News

... that Adam passed exam 7. HALLELUJAH!! Oh, the sweet relief! He (and I) couldn't be happier.

• 2 bowls Cinnamon Life in 1% milk (breakfast)
• a 1/3 nectarine (Miles' rejected bit)
  
• two slices deli turkey rolled w/ 1 slice deli swiss, a vanilla yogurt w/ wheat germ, water (lunch)
• big handful of tropical trail mix, 1/2 Kashi granola bar, water
• 1/3 of the divine mac & cheese appetizer, a diet coke, about 1/3 of the GIGANTIC (and very tasty) shepherd's pie, bread & spread, a small soft-serve mint sundae (dinner at Public House 49, ice cream at Tina's)

I realize that I have eaten dinner out three times in one week. This is crazy for us. We've just had lots of things to celebrate, I guess. We are going to give up dining out for a few weeks ... or at least try to.

Day 166: The Day Em and I Ran the Wall Street Run

In the nasty, nasty, nasty heat and humidity. A thermometer along the route read 97 degrees in the sun. Y.U.C.K.

• 3.5 pancakes, water (breakfast)
• egg salad on WW toast, a chicken sausage link, water (lunch)
• a cracker w/ brie, an itsy-bitsy cup of banana-spinach smoothie, a cracker w/ cream cheese and a sun-dried tomato (samples at Costco)
• another piece of sausage, lots of water (trying to protein-up before jumping on the train)
• lots more water, a plum, pretzels (snacks at the finish line)
  
• green papaya salad (which I am now officially in love with), seared tuna in a Thai plum sauce w/ wasabi, apples and maybe avocado?, sticky rice (belated birthday dinner at Sook w/ Em post-race)
  

Day 165: Grace's Moving Up Ceremony & Field Day

I cannot believe she will be a kindergartener in the Fall! My little baby girl is growing far too quickly.

• Cinnamon Life in 1% milk (breakfast)
• apples & PB, some watermelon, water
• deli turkey & ham rolled w/ swiss, water (lunch)
• a cheap but tasty ice cream sandwich, some tortilla chips
• a hamburger w/ swiss & lettuce, 1.5 chicken sausage links, apple slices, chickpea salad w/ tzatziki, a few tortilla chips, three bites of Miles' ice cream (dinner)
• lots more water
  

Day 164: The Day Adam's Parents Arrived

• Oatmeal Squares & Cinnamon Life in 1% milk (breakfast)
• about an ounc of deli turkey, 3/4 c pasta salad, 1/4 PB&J, a nectarine, a plum, water (lunch)
• about 1T chocolate chips, a Good Humor bar w/ the kids
• 1.5 pitas w/ feta, garbanzo bean salad, tzatziki, water (dinner)
• I will neither admit nor deny eating a Hershey bar wrapped in "Happy Father's Day" paper that I may or may not have found in my church bag on the way home from Mutual
  

Day 163: Trying to Get Back on the Wagon

... because I've been gradually falling off the Year of Fit wagon for the last few weeks. I did break the dessert rule today, but I also went for a great (although incredibly humid) run. That counts for something, right?

• Raisin Bran in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 1/4 of a tortilla w/ mozz and turkey, water
• Minna's yummy salad with a citrus-y cilantro dressing, 1 1/2 of Ami's tortillas, chips, a little bit of guac, a 1/2 c Orangina, water, a triangle of Minna's fruit pizza (birthday lunch provided by my sweet friends)
• 2 slices bread w/ SB, about 1/2 c pasta salad, lots of water, 1/4 c chocolate chips (dinner)
  

Day 162: Father's Day & My 33rd Birthday

Because of the two reasons for celebrating today, there were far too many sweets around -- which is why I'm pleading the fifth.

Day 161: Our First Real Beach Trip of the Summer

The kids and I spent the afternoon in Westhampton Beach while Adam learned all about plumbing (his choice). It was a gloriously perfect beach day.

• 4 pancakes, water (breakfast)
• turkey on WW, pineapple, grapes, pretzels, a few Pringles, a Good Humor ice cream (lunch at Cupsogue beach)
• 1/2 of the best macaroni & cheese I've ever, ever eaten (so good I almost got teary), shell stake in a white wine and gorgonzola sauce (also unbelievably tasty) w/ mashed potatoes & spinach, 1/2 raspberry napoleon(early birthday dinner at Public House 49)

Day 160: Field Day & The Day We Ate at Flos

Abby's team came in 3rd and she was thrilled. For dinner we went to Flo's Famous Luncheonette , which has been in business for 85 years. 85 years! Isn't that amazing? What is also amazing is that we resisted the ice cream. I was so wanting an egg cream or a rootbeer float. Next time.

• Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• a hot dog, watermelon, a few bites of bad macaroni salad, chocolate milk (lunch with the kids at the school)
• a bowl of Multigrain Cheerios, a grapefruit Izzy
  
• a toasted chicken club w/ fries and onion rings, some of the kids' pink lemonade (dinner)
  

Day 159: Day Two of Being Cranky and Tired

I can't handle many more days like this. I really, really can't.

• a bowl each of Oatmeal Squares & Multigrain Cheeerios in 1% milk (breakfast)
• a banana
  
• 3 slices deli turkey, 1/2 oz cheddar, a small bowl of Life cereal (lunch)
• chocolate covered pretzels w/ PB, light ice cream (an attempt to get myself out of the funk -- it totally didn't work)
• 1/3 of a blackberry Izzy (Miles and Grace stole the rest)
  
• 3/4 grilled cheese and almost inedible sodium-less TJs tomato soup, 3/4 burned cheddar biscuit, water, some chocolate chips
  

Day 158: The Day I Thought I'd Die from Fatigue

So, so tired today. Unreasonably so. It took me half the day just to take the sheets off my bed -- and the other half to get them into the washing machine. I'm seriously considering leaving them there forever if it means I don't have to trudge down to the basement.

Ugh. I hate low energy days. Let's see if it has something to do with that I ate...

• Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 3 slices deli turkey, Brenna's guac w/ warm tortilla chips, watermelon (lunch)
• Greek yogurt
• chocolate chips & raisins (heavy on the chips)
• 7 cheese tortellini w/ EVOO, parm, sea salt & pepper, water (dinner)

Not too bad. I'm going to go ruin it now with Adam. I kind of made a snack-run after I picked up a few movies for us. We haven't had a relaxing night in a few weeks. We so deserve the treats I bought. :)

Day 157: The Day the Youth Came to Our House to Cook

And we bid farewell to the Macdonald family. They will be missed.

• a piece of toast, a bowl of Honey Bunches in 1% milk (breakfast)
• nonfat frozen yogurt w/ strawberries at Costco (lunch?)
• a grapefruit Izzy
  
• Anika's healthy German pancake, scrambled eggs, water (dinner)
• a mini cheddar muffin, a veggie skewer, a 7-layer bar, 1/2 piece of cake, 1/2 cup orange almond punch (cooking w/ the youth)
  

Day 156: Flag Day

While I gave my ailing father a manicure today, I was able to ask him about his father's service in Okinawa from 1944-45. It was appropriate, given the day and the fact that I just finished With the Old Breed (check out my reading log if you want to know about that).

• Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 3 slices rye toast at mom's (toast is synonymous with my mom's house)
• vanilla yogurt w/ wheat germ (lunch?)
• a medium Coke slurpee (desperately needed a pick-me-up around 4)
• pita pizza margherita, Caesar salad, water (dinner)
• patriotic Chex (in place of Rice Krispies) treats in honor of the day.
  

Day 155: The Day The YW and I Sang in Sacrament

The YW in our ward have lovely, lovely voices.

• Oatmeal Squares & a little bit of Life in 1% milk (breakfast)
• pasta w/ EVOO, parm, & black pepper, diluted apple juice (lunch)
• some dark chocolate and mint chocolate chips
• fruit snacks (at Stake meeting)
• 2 of Adam's chicken & bean enchiladas, rice, Alex's pudding-y Jell-O, water (dinner)
  

Day 154: The Day I Ran a 10K with Minna

In Central Park. It was humid and I hadn't run in two weeks, but it still felt so great to finish.

• lots and lots of water
  
• bagel w/ a bit of cream cheese, orange pineapple juice (post-race breakfast)
• bowl of cinnamon Chex (post-post race breakfast)
• small PB soft serve ice cream w/ hot fudge and graham cracker crumbs (post-race celebratory treat with the kids)
• 2 leftover falafels (plain), pasta w/chicken and broccoli, 2 slices bread w/ Em's jam (dinner)
  

Day 153: The Day I Finally Decided on Bathroom Tile

Now we just have to order it.

• Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 2 slices rye toast, 1 grilled cheese, OJ (lunch at mom's)
• mint chocolate chips, 100 calorie pack Hostess cupcakes, water
• 2 falafels on pita w/ feta, tzatziki, & lettuce, water (dinner)

Day 152: A Beautiful Day at the Beach with Em

• Golden Grahams in 1% milk, Greek yogurt (breakfast)
• Ritz crackers, dry chocolate cheerios
• 3/4 PB&J with Em's homemade jam, 1 slice of bread w/ the same jam, strawberries (lunch)
• lemonade all-fruit ice pop
• 2 slices leftover quiche, bowtie pasta w/ EVOO & parm (dinner)

Did I even drink anything today???

Day 151: The Day I Bought a Bright Green Velvet Chair

Vintage. For $25. Ugly to some, lovely to me.

• Cinnamon Chex in 1% milk (breakfast)
• rice & corn filled tortilla, 1/2 tortilla rolled w/ cheddar, water (lunch)
• 100 calorie pack Hostess cupcakes, water
• 2 slices (store-bought) cinnamon bread at mom's
• 2.5 slices quiche, broccoli, strawberry ginger-infused beverage Em brought, strawberries (dinner)
  

Day 150: The Day Charlotte Rolled Off the Bed

Insert really, really big sad face here:

:(

• Cinnamon Chex & Golden Grahams in 1% milk (breakfast)
• leftover pasta salad, leftover grilled veggies, hazelnut chocolate, water (lunch)
• 100 calorie pack Hostess cupcakes, milk
• 2 flour tortillas w/ white rice, black beans, cheddar & sour cream, water (dinner)
  

Day 149: The Nightmare Ikea Trip

Alternate title: "The Day I Decided to Hate Ikea". Or, a happier title, "The Day I Fell in Love With Water Dogs".

• 2 slices toast, 1 scrambled egg (breakfast)
• a non-fat frozen yogurt cone, serving of hazelnut chocolate (lunch?? at Ikea)
• Cheddar-Jack Chicken sandwich, fries, 1/2 of Miles' sundae (dinner at Friendly's)

We have gotten soooo lax on the DOTW rule. It's ridiculous. But, whatever.

Day 148: Windy BBQ w/ the Leahys, Harts, and Patchogue Merceds

• dry Golden Grahams and Cinnamon Chex
• 1 hamburger, 1 chicken skewer, 1 veggie skewer, a serving of Jello, a serving of Mere's pasta salad, a piece of homemade spanikopita
  
• 1/2 piece Berry Bavarian Cream pie, 2 scoops Brenna's homemade vanilla ice cream, 1/2 slice Mere's caramel cake
  

Day 147: Danielle's Graduation Party

My niece Danielle graduated from Bowdoin College last week and we celebrated tomorrow. She moves to Chicago tomorrow where she is taking part in a program similar to Teach for America, only specific to Chicago. I'll be sad to see her move so far away. Thank goodness for Facebook.

• 1.5 bowls Special K Red Berry in 2% milk (breakfast at mom's)
• 1 slice leftover cheese pizza, 1 cake ball (lunch)
• spinach stuffed chicken breast, eggplant rollitini, low mein, a piece of foccacia, a cheese biscuit, a piece of chocolate cake, Diet Coke (party dinner at the Carniaux's)
  

Day 146: The Day I Puked During Book Group

Luckily, we were meeting at my neighbor's house, so I was able to quietly excuse myself and throw up in my own toilet. Still, not a fun addition to the night. The problem was going to book club full and then being surrounded by lots of yummy treats. A little bite of everything ended up being too much for me.

• Raisin Bran in 1% milk (breakfast)
• San Pellegrino aranciata
  
• a few Ritz w/ cheddar, a 100 calorie mini bagel w/ cream cheese, watermelon (lunch)
• a 100 calorie pack of Hostess cupcakes, cup of milk
• 2 slices (homemade) pepperoni pizza, 1 slice of cheese pizza, water
• watermelon lemonade, iced herbal tea, s bit each of crab dip, vidalia onion pie & cheddar biscuit, a few bites caramel cake, a tiny piece of pecan pie w/ vanilla ice cream, a few bites lemon bread -- all of which lasted in my stomach for a total of 30 minutes and then evacuated with the pizza (looking at what was in my stomach all at once, is it any wonder I vomited??).
  

Day 145:The Day Charlotte was Cranky

Which is noteworthy because Charlotte is never, ever cranky. She's never really anything other than pleasant. It was a little rough for the both of us.

• Raisin Bran in 1% milk, slice of bread w/ SB & jam, water (breakfast)
• 66.666666... calories worth of a 100 calorie pack of Hostess' cupcakes (b/c of the Miles tax)
  
• leftover curry chicken salad sandwich, some chocolate chips (lunch)
• 2 pieces German pancake w/ fresh raspberries, 1 scrambled egg, some pasta salad, a T of coleslaw, a croissant, a mini lemon cake thing, 1/2 c chocolate milk (dinner)
  

Day 144: A Day of Laundry and Bread Baking

Which means I ate more than I ought to have.

• bowl of Life in 1% milk (breakfast)
• egg salad on sandwich thin, lemonade (lunch)
• 3 slices small loaf bread w/ SB & smidge of jam
• 1/2 graham cracker
• curry chicken sandwich on fresh bread w/ mesclun & carrots, watermelon, water (dinner)
  
• 1/2 c chocolate milk, chocolate chips
  

Day 143: Tile and Puppy Shopping

The day I learned I have expensive taste in tile. And, while we found a very sweet puppy, we did not feel enough puppy love to take him home. :(

• 2/3 a serving of Raisin Bran in 1% milk (rushed breakfast)
• 3/4 bad soft pretzel in Ikea
• super delicious burrito (made by Adam), water (lunch)
• the pita pizza I made for Miles that he decided not to eat, 2 squares dark chocolate, lemonade (dinner)
  

Day 142: Bathroom Demolition, Day 1

What a great way to spend Memorial Day. Oh, the joy that came from ripping that nasty tub out. I can hardly wait to start on the sink.

• Honey Bunches in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 3 pancakes w/ PB, syrup & strawberries, skim milk (pancake 2nd breakfast at the chapel)
• some pretzels and cheese
• taco salad, 2 tortillas, limeade, a piece of Ami's apple pie w/ vanilla bean ice cream (dinner)

Day 141: The Day We Ate Dessert for Dinner.

At the kids' request. Or maybe was it mine? Either way, I was too hot to argue. And really, who wouldn't want dessert for dinner?

• 1.5 bowls Life cereal in 1% milk (breakfast)
• those kind of nasty but embarrassingly tasty Keebler club crackers with fake cheese in a cellophane packet (you know the ones?) from Nursery, which had been in my church bag for at least a week.
• leftover BBQed veggies, San Pellegrino limonata, pretzels, water, chocolate chips (lunch)
• berry shortcake w/ almond cream, banana-peanut butter smoothie, water (dinner)
  

Day 140: Yard Sale at Mom and Dad's.

Sad but necessary.

• scrambled eggs, home fries, toast, OJ (breakfast mom made for me)
• 2 slices Sayville Pizza (lunch)
• 2 slices chocolate chip banana bread (which I made but the kids were selling at their lemonade stand)
• 2 ears corn on the cob, 1 hot dog, a pear (dinner)
• chocolate chips and raisins
  

Day 139: The BBQ with the Harts and Dyers Where I Ate Until I Nearly Puked

Tooooooo much good food.

• 2 slices of toast, a small glass of OJ (breakfast at Mom's)
• 1/2 PB&J, Greek yogurt w/ wheat germ (lunch)
• a hamburger w/ pesto, fresh mozz, & tomato, a hot dog, a shrimp and sausage skewer, a vegetable skewer, watermelon, Ami's frog-eyed salad, Alex's jello salad, corn on the cob, San Pellegrino aranciata (too much dinner)
  
• DOTW: 1.5 pieces dark chocolate ganache and raspberry cake
  

Day 138: The Day I Typed my Food Log Without My Glasses or Contacts

My face is literally inches from the screen. I apologize in advance for any typos.

• Corn Flakes in 1% milk (breakfast)
• chocolate graham crackers, water
• Life & Oatmeal Squares in milk (lunch)
• Spicy Mexican salad, few mini mozzarella sticks, a few onion rings, 2 of Abby's leftover chicken fingers, Diet Coke (dinner @ Friendly's w/ Mel & the kids)
  

Day 137: The Hottest Day in May

I could hardly stand it. Why does the earth think it's July? It was almost too hot to eat.

• cornflakes in 1% milk (breakfast)
• grilled cheese & half an apple (lunch)
• lots of water and also some diluted apple juice
• a hamburger w/ cheddar and lettuce, chocolate milk (dinner)
  

Day 136: Abby's Fieldtrip to Benner's Farm

Which further solidified my desire to own a small family farm. The one we visited has been in operation since 1760. Totally awesome.

• 2 slices cinnamon toast, water (breakfast)
• a PB&J and a granola bar (which my mom made for me for an elementary school fieldtrip -- I felt like I was 6 again)
• Greek yogurt, iced animal crackers
• curried chicken, spicy chickpeas, white rice, water (dinner)
• too many indoor s'mores (with the YW)
  

Dat 135: The Day I Was So Cranky

So, so cranky, in spite of the fact that for the first time in my life my doctor warned me not to let my weight get too low. I assured her this would never be a problem.

• Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• leftover German pancake w/ banana, water (lunch)
• a slice of bread w/ PB & banana, milk
• 2 slices Arnold toast (at mom's)
• too much cereal (dinner)

It's like it was breakfast all day long.

Day 134: Ward Conference

• a mini muffin (at ward council)
  
• Honey Bunches in 1% milk (breakfast)
• some tasty but strange pasta salad, a chocolate muffin (at the baptism)
• the leftover half of my gyro, fingerfulls of various icings
• Moroccan braised chicken, couscous, saffron rolls, lemon and honey glazed carrots, garlicky beets, pineapple sparkling Jell-O w/ cheddar cheese, Cherry Coke Zero (dinner w/ the Harts)
• DOTW: chocolate and raspberry trifle
  

Day 133: The Day We Went Puppy Shopping for the Very First Time

I guess the weekend has been all about firsts...

• Cinnamon Life in 1% milk (breakfast)
• a Boston cream doughnut, pineapple, melon, water (at Mom's)
  
• a slice of Sayville pizza (lunch)
• a banana
• Greek salad, 1/2 a gyro (dinner at the Aegean Cafe)
  

Day 132: The Day I Karaoked for the Very First Time

And, much to my astonishment, I enjoyed it -- enough to stay out until 3.30 am because of it. And enough to want to do it again. But next time with Adam.

• HOney Bunches in 1% milk (breakfast)
• a sandwich thin w/ a bit of PB&J
  
• chocolate grahams w/ Cool Whip lite
• apple slices, a ciabatta roll w/ pesto and fresh mozz, small bowl of tomato soup (lunch)
  
• Hanger Steak (colorado brandt beef, garlic zaatar and pistachio oil marinade, charcoal grilled over roasted pepper and sumac chutney) with potato pureeat, a deliciously sugary full-cal Coke, (dinner at Taboon )
  
• cashews from Nuts 4 Nuts
  

Day 131: The Day I Declared Miles Officially Potty-Trained

Because he did so well this week that I felt okay venturing out and about without diapers ... for the first time in almost seven years.

And I also didn't do too badly with my eating.

• Honey Bunches w/ 1% milk (breakfast)
• the last (and nearly stale) cheddar muffin, piece of dark chocolate
  
• Greek yogurt w/ wheat germ, 2 mini celebratory cupcakes (the ones Miles picked out as a reward for a successful ... well, you know), water (lunch)
• leftover pasta w/ meatballs, green beans, herbal iced tea (dinner)
  

Day 130: The Day I Started to Regret the End of Calorie Counting

Because I felt so liberated I fear I overate. I may have to start counting again tomorrow. I didn't even last one day! Ugh.

• Raisin Bran in 1% milk, leftover cheddar muffin (breakfast)
• another cheddar muffin, piece of dark chocolate
  
• deli ham rolled in Swiss, Greek yogurt, water (lunch)
• TJs white cheddar (was I on a cheese-kick or what?!?) pirate's booty
  
• spaghetti & meatballs, 2 breadsticks, a mountain of green beans, water (dinner)
• clafoutis w/ whipped cream (shameful dessert w/ the missionaries, who were over for dinner)
  

Day 129: The Day I Decided to Stop Counting Calories

I've gotten to the point where I can fairly accurately gauge my caloric intake, so there is no need to tally it up each day. Oh, the time I'll save! It's amazing to me how little I knew about the calorie value of different foods before I started. Who knew how calorie dense things like milk and peanut butter and bread were!

• Honey Bunches in 1% milk (breakfast)
• graham crackers, water
  
• 2 slices of cinnamon toast, water (lunch)
• 1/3 of a yogurt, a granola bar, some chocolate chips
  
• vegetarian lentil soup w/ a cheddar muffin, herbal peppermint iced tea (dinner)
  

Day 128: The Monday I Felt Like I Was Drowning

• Cinnamon Life in 1% milk, a plain leftover roll (breakfast)
• turkey & Swiss on a roll, water, a banana w/ 1 T PB, a lemonade ice pop (lunch)
• Greek yogurt, chocolate chips
• 2 pancakes w/ bananas, 2 eggs scrambled w/ ham, iced herbal tea, bananas in yogurt, water (breakfast for dinner)
  

calorie total: I'm too tired to count.

Day 127: Yet Another Jell-O Sunday

I think we might officially have a tradition here.

• cornflakes w/ banana $ 1% milk (breakfast)
• turkey rolled with Swiss, tortilla chips w/ 2 eggs scrambled w/ taco meat, lots water (lunch)
• scraps equivalent to one Rice Krispies treat
• chicken Cordon Bleu, roast veggies, a roll, broccoli, Jell-O pretzel salad, water (dinner)
• DOTW: Alex's fantasmagoric oatmeal cake w/ vanilla ice cream

calorie total: 1,829

Yikes. That was close.

Day 126: The Day I Ran My First Ever 10K

In Central Park. With Adam. In about 62 minutes. Such an accomplishment for me.

• Kashi PB & Chocolate power bar, water (breakfast)
• 1/2 PB&J post-race, 1/2 apple
  
• hummus w/ sauted onions & mushrooms, 1 pita, 2 falafel balls, super yummy mint lemonade (lunch)
• chocolate grahams & cool whip on the counter w/ Miles
• 1/2 turkey burger w/ cheddar, 1 bun-less hot dog, bananas & strawberries in vanilla yogurt w/ sprinkle of wheat germ (dinner)
• celebratory soft-serve ice cream at Tina's

calorie total: 1,613

Day 125: The Night We Spent with the Nelsons in Manhattan

They kindly hosted our family. Em and I had a fun child-free shopping expedition and then she and Boyd introduced us to a great new game. All in all, a great evening.

• 3 pieces of Brenna's granny's bread, toaste w/ SB, water (breakfast)
• turkey and swiss rolled up and dipped in mustard, chocolate graham crackers w/ Cool Whip light, water (lunch)
• chocolate chips
• 1/2 PB&J in the car
  
• Em's pizza, salad, water, frozen yogurt (dinner)
• salted popcorn

calorie total: 1,751

Day 124: The Day I Planted Our Annuals

I can hardly wait to see them blossom and grow.

• Life in 1% milk (breakfast)
• cinnamon raisin granola bar
• leftover pizza, water (lunch)
• chocolate chips, another granola bar
• taco salad, water, a banana w/ 1 T PB (dinner)
• Nutella on a spoon

calorie total: 1,695

Day 123: The Day I Had A Gazillion Kids for the Day

And we had so much fun.

• pancakes w/ caramelized bananas, Nutella & syrup, water (decadent breakfast)
• tuna and Romaine on sandwich thin, water (lunch)
• piece of cake mom brought over
• pizza, salad, and Jell-O goodness (dinner)

calorie total: 1,768

Day 122: The Day My Dad Was Admitted to the Hospital ... Again

I hate our healthcare system. That's all I have to say.

• overdose of sugary chocolate cereal: Chocolate Cheerios and Cocoa Pebbles in 1% milk. (breakfast -- boy, was it good)
  
• 3 slices deli turkey, 2 of deli swiss, pretzels and white bean dip, 1/2 low-fat yogurt, water, Diet Rite (lunch)
• chocolate chips, pineapple
• slice of Brenna's bread w/ SB
• pasta w/ grape tomatoes, chicken sausage & pesto, sprinkle of parm, water, (dinner)
• strawberries & watermelon

calorie total: 1,881

Day 121: The Day I Wondered How Long I Have to Keep Logging My Food

Days like today, this goal of logging every crumb I ate is a total drag. I just want to go curl up in bed with one of the three books I'm trying to read but find I never have the time.

Ugh.

• Oatmeal Squares in 1%milk (breakfast)
• foccacia w/ leftover rosemary-white bean dip, water (lunch)
• piece of dark chocolate, pretzels
• 100 calorie Hostess pack and then another 100 calorie pack at Mom's
• mozzarella & basil on Brenna's granny's bread, TJs tomato soup, water, pineapple (dinner)
  

calorie total: 1,816

Day 120: The Mother's Day I Slept in the Car During Sunday School

Thankfully I had vacuumed it this week. I was able to move car seats and curl up in the sun on one of the benches without risking death by Teddy Graham crumbs. Adam had to come wake me up so I could teach during the third hour. That's what happens when you stay up cooking until 3am the night before. Being Mother's Day, I didn't feel guilty one bit.

• scrambled eggs, toast, fruit salad (breakfast in bed)
• brussel sprout pasta, salad, rosemary and white bean dip, foccacia, banana pudding (lunch at Mom's)
  
• another smaller portion of banana pudding
• 1/2 slice of Miles' toast, lots of water (dinner?)
  

calorie total: 1,847

Day 119: The Day I Rejoiced in Hand-Me-Downs

I am the large sister in my family -- the tallest, the largest-boned, the longest feet. My mom still loves to share that I was her biggest* baby. "8lbs 9 oz and not even an aspirin. Can you imagine?" She just told that story again last week. You would think it would lose its luster after nearly thirty-three years, but not for my mom. I have always been given hand-me-downs from the four older sisters. But not the usual I've-outgrown-these-so-you-can-have-them-smaller-sibling hand me downs. These were clothes that were too big for them. As they got slimmer, sleeker, trimmer, their "fat" clothes got passed down to me. One of my sisters in particular likes to give me her old maternity** clothes -- when I'm not pregnant. Not that I mind. They've always been well-dressed and who doesn't love free clothes?

Still, there is part of me that hates being the big little sister.

And then yesterday my neighbor and good, well-dressed friend gave me a pile of clothes -- a bunch of hand-me-downs. But these, these were different. All of them are a full-size smaller than what I currently own. She handed me to them and said, kind of sadly, "I really like them, but frankly, they don't really fit anymore. You're getting smaller and, well, I'm not."

Ha! How do you like that? My first true hand-me-downs! And the best part is this: when I put them on today they fit. Who knew I had dropped a size? I sure didn't.

And this is what I ate today ...

• Honey Graham Crunh in 1% milk (breakfast)
• Greek yogurt w. wheat germ, 1/4 of Abby's sesame bagel w/ cream cheese and turkey , water (lunch)
• Grilled mozz and basil on my bread, TJ's tomato soup, Diet Rite (dinner)

Had this been all, my calorie total would have been 1,109. But I purposely underate so I could have shakes with the Harts while we watched a movie and not feel too horrible about it. That bumped me up to 1,898.

*I must add here that, while I appreciate that my birth was memorable in that it was one of the only ones my mom was conscious for and the only that was completely natural, an 8lb 9oz baby is not that remarkable. Am I delusional in thinking that it is a very average baby weight?

** Just to clarify, said sister is usually a size S or 4/6. Her "maternity" clothes are not actual maternity clothes -- they are just regular clothes sized 8/10/12 or M/L. She's not a total jerk.

Day 118: The Day I Started to Re-Conquer Head Hunger

Adam sent me this article a while ago and I found it so appropriate for me. I constantly have to ask myself, "Are you really hungry? Or do you just want to eat?" As the article points out, the two are very different things. My sister Melanie and I used to say that if raisins or an apple sound really good to you, you are probably legitimately hungry (because who craves raisins anyway?).

Today -- and yesterday, for that matter -- were great head-hunger days for me. I ate to satisfy my bodily needs. Though my calorie intake was significantly lower than my goal, I didn't feel hungry or like I was starving. The entire day I felt satisfied. And that is a great feeling.

• Chocolate cheerios in 1% milk with a chaser of a half-serving of Cocoa Pebbles (breakfast)
• a banana w/ 1/2 T of PB, one mini cinnamon-raisin bagel w/ nothing on it, water (lunch)
• a package of Annie's cheddar bunnies, Diet Rite
  
• 2 slices pizza margherita, 1/3 slice of Abby's just-fresh-mozz pizza, water (dinner)
• a chocolate bran muffin that I found in the recesses of the freezer, 1/2 glass 1% milk

calorie total:1,250

I may have a glass of chocolate milk later, but I'm so not hungry right now it doesn't even sound good.

Day 117: The Day Grace was Allowed Back at School

And she was thrilled to have not missed the plant sale.

And Adam and I also did our weekly trial 10K. It took us exactly 66 minutes, which to us is great.

• Honey Bunches w/ 1% milk (breakfast)
• 1/2 tortilla w/ cheddar cheese, 2 slices leftover frittata, water, Diet Rite (lunch)
• 2 squares of dark chocolate, 2 marshmallows
• 1/2 a Greek yogurt (before Miles commandeered it)
  
• 2 of Ami's rolls w/ BBQ chicken, water (dinner)

calorie total: 1,405

Now that's more like it.

Day 116: Cinco de Mayo

We ate a Mexican-themed dinner. And we got haircuts (all but I). Why we went to get haircuts at 8pm, I'm not quite sure. But everyone is now sporting their summer dos.

• raisin bran in 1% milk (breakfast)
• piece of leftover foccacia
• PB&J, water (lunch)
• 100 calorie pack Hostess Lemon cupcakes, some of the kids' graham bunnies
• Diet Rite
  
• 1.5 tortillas, blackbeans, rice, sole w/ lime, salsa frittata, water (dinner)
• DPTW: Maple nut soft-serve ice cream at our new favorite ice cream/Italian ice joint

calorie total: 2,447

I'm getting depressed about this now -- this trend I see of overeating. It's the bread that is killing me. The foccacia, the sandwiches, the tortillas -- all soooo good, but super calorie-dense.

Considering I need about 2300 calories to maintain my weight, this isn't too bad. But maintaining is not exactly where I want to be. Fit is where I want to be.

Day 115: The Day Adam Took (and hopefully passed) CAS Exam 7

I think I ate way too many comfort foods in an attempt to calm my nerves. I hate the long wait until results are posted. July, you can't come soon enough!

• Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk, 2 pieces cinnamon toast (breakfast)
• PB&J on Ami's fresh bread, Minna's super good chocolate covered cracker things (lunch)
• Greek yogurt
  
• Em's Death by crockpot chicken pasta dish (soooo good, soooo full of fat), corn, foccacia, water, Diet Rite (dinner)
• 2 more of Minna's cracker things (because Ami is mean and brought them to YW)

calorie total: 2,469

Minna! You ruined me! Without your treats, I would have been 580 calories lighter. Alas, I recognize that it is me who indulged. Really, though. Thanks for sharing.

Day 114: The Day We Saw Newborn Lambs at the Farm

I don't know what the kids enjoyed more: the lambs (which were just a few hours old) and kids or the abundance of large rain puddles. Since they were all wearing their galoshes, I think the puddles won out.

• Chocolate Cheerios in 1% milk, a banana w/ a bit of peanut butter (breakfast)
• a Nutella-filled low-cal peanut butter muffin and a double chocolate bran muffin (both of which I baked for the PTA), water (lunch)
• 2 slices pizza margherita, 1 slice cheese-less pizza, salad, Cherry Cola Diet Rite (dinner)
• 1/2 a churro at Costco

calorie total: 1,646

Day 113: Fast Sunday at the Harts

• 1/2 a marshmallow and 3/4 of a grilled cheese (which I mindlessly ate at 4pm while cooking, having totally forgotten that I was fasting)
• a banana
• Ami's always yummy meatloaf, mashed potatoes, rolls, salad, my jello monstrosity, water (dinner)

calorie total: 898

Day 112: The Day I De-Loused Grace

So, so unfortunate. But we are in the clear and everything that could be washed or dried in high heat has been. We did take a nice bike ride to the beach, which brightened the day considerably.

• Chocolate Cheerios in 1% milk, a banana (breakfast)
• another banana w/ 1 T peanut butter
• dry Cheerios
• leftover pasta salad w/ bread (lunch)
• yet another banana, chocolate chips and raisins
  
• Hostess 100 calorie pack (I need to be rid of these)
• a bunch of Diet Rite
• slice of pizza (at a birthday party) (dinner)

calorie total: 2,040

Altogether too much snacking and not enough water.

Day 111: The Day We Planted a Children's Garden

They were allowed to choose what was planted and where it went, and they had the greatest time sowing the seeds.

• Chocolate Cheerios in 1% milk and a small bowl of Cupcake Pebbles (I had to try) (breakfast)
• Goldfish, chocolate milk, Alba's pasta salad (lunch)
• a piece of dark chocolate, All-Fruit ice pop
  
• deli ham rolled in deli Swiss
• Dad's chicken and rice, Red Raspberry Diet Rite (dinner)
• 100 calorie pack Hostess cupcakes, 1/2 c milk
  

calorie total: 1,674

Day 110: The Day I Made Up For Yesterday

Adam and I went for our inaugural weekly "long" run. We hope it becomes a steady tradition. In preparation for the 10K we are doing in two weeks, we went for a 6.18 mile run -- just barely under 10K -- while our kids stayed with friends. It was only the second time we've run together and I learned that Adam is slightly OCD a la Monk while running: he has to touch nearly every phone pole and sign that he passes. Who would have known ...

• Greek yogurt w/ wheat germ, a slice of bread (breakfast)
• a pita w/ Suzanne's white bean-rosemary dip, 100-calorie pack Hostess cupcakes (have you bought these yet? Because you totally should), water
• a slice of bread w/ cinnamon-honey butter, deli turkey rolled w/ deli Swiss dipped in mustard, water, Cherry Cola Diet Rite (lunch)
• dry Chocolate Cheerios, water
• pita pizza w/ ham and pineapple, water (dinner)

calorie total: 1,426

Much, much better.

Day 109: The Day I Cared for Charlotte, Babysat Nico, Hosted a Lunch, Mowed the Lawn, Ran Three Miles, Baked Bread, and Went to Book Club.

Phew. It was a doozy of a day and I am so ready for bed.

And, as my sister says, I ate like a jerk. Man was not meant to consume so many Rice Krispies treats in such a short period of time.

• Chocolate Cheerios in 1% milk (breakfast)
• turkey and Swiss wrap, fruit salad, pasta salad, tortilla chips and salsa, lemon and white chocolate mousse parfait with strawberries, water (lunch for my friend who is expecting her 4th baby)
• a Rice Krispies Treat
• 2 more Rice Krispies treats
• yet another Rice Krispies treat (dinner??)
• white bean dip w/ pita, 2 chocolate covered strawberries, 2 slices of homemade bread w/ cinnamon-honey butter, a slice of Ami's chocolate-banana marble cake, water (treats at book club)

calorie total: I don't think I can admit it. I am embarrassed and ashamed.

Ugh. I truly ate like a jerk.

But I kind of have to, right? That's the whole point of this, right?

2,879

SHAME!

This is almost as bad as Easter. The sad thing is that, had I exercised any self-control over those blasted RKT, I would have saved myself 924 calories. 924! How could something so innocent be so bad for you?!? That would have kept me just a little more that 100 calories off my limit.

Let this be a lesson to myself: never make treats to help Adam study; it will just ruin you the next day.

Here's to tomorrow and a new day.

Day 108: The Day I Spray Painted the Kids' Chairs

Berry Pink and Key Lime Green. The girls chose the colors. Few things make my heart as happy as refinishing or repurposing something we already own. My ugly, orange, stained children's chairs are now shiny and new. Now I find myself looking around the house wondering what else could use a coat of spray paint ...

• Chocolate Cheerios (which they now sell at Costco) in 1% milk (breakfast)
• sliced deli ham w/ mustard, Ritz crackers, 1/2 banana w/ 1 T peanut butter, cherry cola Diet Rite (lunch)
• Greek yogurt w/ wheat germ
• 100 calorie pack Hostess cupcakes w/ 1/2 c 1% milk
• gemelli w/ chicken & bacon in a broth-cream sauce and parm, bread, green beans the rest of my cherry cola (dinner)

calorie total: 1,607

I may or may not have made Rice Krispies Treats for Adam at 9.30 pm in an effort to keep him awake so he could study. I can't really say. If I did also partake in this marshmallowy goodness, they would have set me back 200 calories a piece.

Day 107: The Day I Signed Abigail Up for Sculpture & Pottery

A 2.5 hour class once a week this summer. She is so super excited and so am I. Pottery was such a big part of my high school and college experience. I can hardly wait for her to get her little hands into some good clay.

• Honey Graham Crunch in 1% milk (breakfast)
• raisins & chocolate chips
• Quaker Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (lunch -- can you tell I was craving cereal today?)
• Greek yogurt
• cup of chicken noodle soup, half chicken Cuban pannini (dinner w/ fam at Panera)
• DOTW: cup of vanilla bean ice cream w/ homemade hot fudge & caramel

calorie total: 1,880

I recognize that I abused my dessert privilege all weekend and continued today. I will be better tomorrow. I promise.

Day 106: The Day We Came Home From Syracuse

Always sad to leave such great friends, but so nice to be back home with the hubs.

• a banana (breakfast -- still full from yesterday)
  
• pretzels, goldfish, and a Rice Krispies treat in the car with a cranky Miles' during church
• homemade pizza margherita, fruit salad, little bit of pasta salad, a small piece pf each of Anika's leftover cakes, water (lunch)
• turkey and salami on WW bread, an apple, more goldfish and pretzels than I even want to think about, diet Coke flavored with a shot of cherry goodness (dinner/snacks on the road)

calorie total: appx. 1,900

Which is more than I thought it would be ...

Day 105: The Day I Ate Really Well With Friends

And by "well" I don't necessarily mean healthfully, but everything was delicious and worth the calories. And we went on an hour or so long hike after lunch and that partially made up for the fact that I haven't run in a few days.

• Anika's crepes -- 1 with broccoli and a sprinkle of manchego, 1 with caramelized bananas and whipped cream and the remains of Miles', which had the bananas and berries, milk (breakfast)
• lots of fruit salad (watermelon, strawberries, pineapple), a wonderful mango-avocado salad with Anika's homemeade vinaigrette, a small scoop Jill's super yummy pasta salad, steak expertly BBQed by Jon, water (lunch)
• a small piece each of Anika's two cakes: vanilla bean-lemon curd and chocolate cherry almond (post-hike deliciousness)
• Suzanne and I shared the following at the Arad Evans Inn: Wild Foraged Mushrooms & Chevre Tart (foraged Pacific Northwest mushrooms, Lively Run goat cheese, shallot confit, white truffle essence) and Georges Bank Scallops (pan caramelized select large sea scallops, golden chanterelle & hedgehog mushroom risotto, beurre rouge) and then I ate a beautifully, beautifully presented chocolate mousse with raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries and I ate it all by myself.

calorie total: with that dinner, I'm sure I was upwards of 2,500

Day 104: The Day the Kids and I Left for Syracuse

To visit a whole mass of our dearest friends -- the Criddles, Lotts, Bates, and with the Harts in tow. Couldn't ask for a better group of people to spend the weekend with. Only wish Adam could join us.

• Quaker Oatmeal Squares in 1%milk (breakfast)
• 1/2 Greek yogurt
• 2 eggs scrambled w/ a sprinkle of parmesan, 1 mini cinnamon raisin bagel, water (lunch)
• a 100 calorie pack Hostess cupcakes (I honestly could have eaten the whole box -- so good), 1/2 c 1% milk
  
• Tangerine Diet Rite, some of Miles' iced animal crackers (which are dangerously close to being cookies)
• a store-bought Rice Krispies treat (stress making me snack like crazy)
• 2 more eggs scrambled w/ parm (when Miles takes it upon himself to bring the eggs in from the hen house, they make it to the kitchen cracked and you end up eating a lot of eggs)

calorie total (so far): 1,310

I fully anticipate eating at least an apple, another soda, and some sort of snacky food on the car ride up to Syracuse.

Day 103: The Day I Converted to Diet Rite

Thank you, Minna. You win. Cherry Cola with no calories, no sodium, no aspartame, no CAFFEINE. It's like I'm drinking nothing ... except sweetness.

Diet Rite was my mother's soda of choice in the '80s. We always, always had two liter bottles of it in the house. For some reason I didn't think they made it any more. I figured it went the way of ankle socks with pompoms and TAB. But no. Oh no. $3 for a case of 12 at WalMart. It made my day today.

• Honey Bunches mixed w/ Corn Flakes in 1% milk (breakfast)
• some of Miles' goldfish crackers
  
• repeat of last night's dinner , Cherry Cola Diet Rite (lunch)
• pretzels and chocolate chips
• chicken enchiladas w/ rice (dinner)

calorie total: 1,575

Day 102: The Day I Planted Our Vegetable Garden

Always exciting for me.

• Quaker Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 1.5 pieces 4 day-old quiche, minus half the crust (which Miles ate), water, Cherry Coke Zero (lunch)
• pretzels w/ 1 T Nutella
• strawberry frozen GoGurt
• turkey burger on ciabatta, salad w/ strawberries, pecans, goat cheese & raspberry vinaigrette, water (dinner)
• piece of dark chocolate

calorie total: 1,675

Day 101: The Day Grace Fell in the Pond at the Peconic Herb Farm

"I just (sob sob) really wanted (sob sob) to touch (sob sob) the frrrooooggg!" Followed by more sobbing. She was fine. Soaked, stinky, scared, and naked in the stroller the rest of the time there, but fine.

Also the first day I've ever run with an iPod. Pearl Jam made 3.5 miles just fly by.

• Honey Bunches in 1% milk, 1/3 of an apple (breakfast)
• sourdough pretzel nibs w/ a few chocolate chips
  
• 3 slices deli turkey, 2 of deli provolone, 5 Ritz crackers, Cherry Coke Zero*, water (lunch)
• slice or two of the date bread Adam's Sri Lankan coworker made (super good)
• a frozen berry GoGurt
  
• Adam's pizza margherita (except he mistook spinach for basil), Marliese's smoothie, water (dinner)

calorie total: 1,448

Really?? That's all??

*a note on Cherry Coke Zero: Though I've never been a big soda drinker, I have taken to this particular beverage. I have always harbored a great dislike for diet soda -- I couldn't get past the chemical taste of aspartame. But now with so few sweets on my horizon, I had to find something to fill the void. Cherry Coke Zero has fit the bill. With lots of ice, the cherry-ness hides most of its chemically-ness. I've yet to try the Vanilla Zero, but I have high hopes for it. I'm still on the hunt for the caffeine free variety of either flavor, so if you ever see it, please tell me where. Or if you know of a calorie-free sweet that satisfies, please share.

Day 100: The Day I Moved a 500 lb. Stove Across the Gargae All By Myself

All this calorie counting has made me pretty tough. :)

Actually, I am happy to be celebrating my 100th day of food logging. I honestly didn't think I would stick it out this long. Keeping track of what I eat and counting calories has almost become a game to me. I look at food differently now. Eating is less about satisfying a craving and more about feeling satisfied. It's almost on par with shopping for me. I have always loved a good bargain, love to get the most for my money. And now when I sit or, more likely, stand for a meal I think, "Okay, I have x amount of calories to spend on this. What is going to taste good and fill me up?" Don't get me wrong; I have the occasional lapse in judgment. Like the fringed suede jacket I over paid for (and never wore) in college and the Fruity Pebbles I ate for breakfast this morning. But overall, this little system I've got going has really been working for me. I feel great, and, though weight loss wasn't a main goal here, I've lost 12 lbs. (Adam's lost 15!) since starting. Not too shabby, if you ask me.

And this is what I ate today...

• Fruity Pebbles (who can resist?) in 1% milk (breakfast)
• Greek yogurt
• homemade tortilla w/ leftover Cafe Rio-esque chicken, black bean & corn salsa, lettuce, and guac., water, Cherry Coke Zero, a small piece of milk chocolate (lunch)
• a few mini rice cakes at Mom's, a few pita chips at Mel's
• repeat of lunch w/o lettuce and w/ a sprinkling of cheese in place of the guac. (dinner)
  

calorie total: 1,814

Day 99: Adam's Birthday

Not a chance I'm counting this day. Not. A. Chance. In celebration of Adam's birthday, we spent the afternoon with the Harts, eating, laughing, and quizzing each other on random bits of trivia -- like Supreme Court cases and the currencies of the world. Oh, and pressure points to stop bleeding from head wounds. It was a great birthday -- for me at least.

• scrambled eggs, strawberries, Marliese's smoothie, pain au chocolat (breakfast)
• Dannon yogurt
• Cafe Rio-esque salad w/ chicken, guacamole, lime-cilantro rice, 2 homemade tortillas, too much stripey Jell-O, Cherry Coke Zero (dinner)
  
• dark chocolate orange flour-less cake w/ vanilla bean ice cream
  

Just a portion of breakfast -- the pain au chocolat I make Adam every year -- cost me 815 calories alone. 815! And that was just a portion of one meal. No way on earth I'm tallying the entire day.

Day 98: The Day There Was a Bomb Threat in Town

And Adam had to come home from the library (where he was studying) because they were evacuating Main St. So odd.

• raisin bran in 1% milk, an apple (breakfast)
• Greek yogurt w/ wheat germ, a banana
• leftover tandoori chicken, water, Cherry Coke Zero, a piece of milk chocolate w/ 1 t PB (lunch)
• salad, rolls, fruit salad, a piece of mediocre cheesecake (I know -- I have been so bad about dessert this week), water (dinner at the Stake RS activity)

calorie total: 1,890

Day 97: The Day Adam's Birthday Festivities Began

Because should one of our birthdays fall on the weekend (as Adam's does), the celebration ends up lasting at least three days. According to Adam, every holiday is at least a three day affair, if not an entire week. Just ask him.

• Raisin bran w/ milk, half a banana (breakfast)
• Greek yogurt w/ wheat germ, Marliese's smoothie, 1 T peanut butter on the other half of my banana (lunch)
• diluted apple juice
• chocolate covered pretzels, 1 piece Italian bread, a homemade granola bar, bites of ice cream cake (I lost all control late this afternoon because I was starving as I fed the kids dinner)

Had I stopped at this point (which was at 7.30, our normal eating cut-off time) I would have been fine, with a calorie count of 1,770. But, alas, Adam and I went out to pre-celebrate his birthday. He was craving Indian, so we went to the Curry Club on the north shore. I tried to order smart, but also didn't want to take the fun out of a date night.

• potato pancakes in a yogurt, tamarind sauce w/ chickpeas (totally delicious), tandoori chicken, 1 1/2 pieces of naan, a few bites of Adam's chicken tikka masala and rice, water (dinner)

I haven't a clue how many calories were in dinner and am too tired to look it all up. Maybe 800? Maybe 1,000? I guess it doesn't really matter -- I know I was over. Way over.

Day 96: The Day I Got So Mad at a Chicken I Threw It

And then threatened to eat it. Very loudly. If we ever decide to slaughter our chickens, Wendy will be the first to go (no offense, mom).

• Greek yogurt w/ wheat germ, a banana (breakfast)
• 2 slices deli turkey, 1/2 turkey burger w/o roll, fresh mozz, Ritz crackers, water (lunch)
• an apple
• Chipotle Chicken Salad, 3/4 grilled cheese, 1 chicken finger, everyone's pickles, bites of each of the kids' ice cream (dinner with the fam at Friendly's)

calorie total: 1,786

Day 95: The Day I Bought Less Mulch Than I Thought

How is it that so many bags of mulch can cover so little? I went back and bought more this evening. I expect to spend most of the morning mulching -- before the rain comes.

• Honey Bunches w/ Strawberries in 1% milk (breakfast)
• granola bar, milk
• a few slices of deli turkey dipped in mustard, some fresh mozz., a few low-fat Ritz crackers, Cherry Coke Zero, water (lunch)
• chocolate chips and raisins
  
• Greek yogurt w/ wheat germ
• turket burger on ciatbatta w/ thick slices of tomato, lettuce, baby potatoes and carrots roasted with herbes de Provence, water (dinner)
• cup of Ovaltine
  

calorie total: 1,770

Day 94: The Day I Had the Best Run of My Life

Honestly, I did. I don't know what it was -- maybe the weather, maybe the relaxed mood I was in, maybe the perfect combination of Cherry Coke Zero and granola. I ran like I've never run before: completely unaware of the fact that my feet were moving and without the stimulation of tv. Not even an mp3 player. I set out to run 2.5 miles and I ended up going just under 3.5. I never, ever over-run. Ever. If anything, I get close to my goal and than lie about it. But today was different.

About three-quarters of the way through my run I rembered my prayer from the morning: please help me to find time to run and please help me to want to run and please help me to enjoy it.

Prayer answered on all three counts.

And yet ... I overate :(

• Rasin Bran, Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• package of mini muffins w/ a glass of milk (snack with the kids)
• piece of toast, Greek yogurt, water (lunch)
• homemade granola bar (very yummy, very healthy, but calorie dense. I will be modifying the recipe tomorrow which will shave 75 calories off a bar)
• 2 slices Adam's pizza margherita (only 150 calories a slice!), water, another granola bar (dinner)

calorie total: 1,923

Darn that package of mini muffins. I could've been 190 calories lighter.

Day 93: The Day We Had Strawberry Shortcake for Breakfast

Because Adam found out the hard way the little milk we had left was sour.

• strawberry shortcake, banana, water (breakfast)
• leftover lasagne, bread twist, water (lunch)
• Dannon yogurt, piece of dark chocolate
  
• 2 hot dogs (one was Abby's castoff, w/o a bun), broccoli, TJs tomato soup, Cherry Coke Zero (dinner)

calorie total:1,563

Day 92: The Day We Had Jell-O As a Non-Dessert

Even though it had whipped cream on top. Clearly a dessert masquerading as a side dish.

• toast, water (breakfast)
• tilapia, WW couscous, green beans, grilled eggplant, clafoutis (lunch w/ Mom and Dad)
• Ami's lasagne, a basil & garlic bread twist, broccoli, jello w/ bananas & whipped cream (dinner with the Harts)
• DOTW: berry shortcake

calorie total: 1,925

Over my limit, but considering it includes our dessert of the week, I don't think it's that bad.

Day 91: The Day I Spent Four Hours Prepping Soil and Installing Sod

To cover the bare spots left by the bushes I tore out a few weeks ago. Tediously laborious, but very gratifying. I hope our Frankenstein lawn survives. Thank you, Hart family, for the donation of your sod.

• bowl of Honey Bunches & bowl of Mighty Bites, each in 1% milk (breakfast)
• pita pizza margherita, Cherry Coke Zero, water (lunch)
• a banana, a bunch of strawberries
  
• bite of birthday cake, a few dark chocolate covered pretzels (picking up girls from Autumn's birthday party)
• 2 pancakes w/ SB, syrup & spicy peach topping, 2 scrambled eggs, Greek yogurt w/ wheat germ, Marliese's smoothie (large breakfast for dinner)

calorie total: 1,933

It would have been 1,711 without the birthday party treats. They got me through the last sodding hour (haha -- I crack myself up), so they were totally worth it.

Day 90: The Day I Refurbished an Old Roman

... Blind. And I love how it came out.

• Rice Krispies w/ banana in 1% milk (breakfast)
• leftover cheese pizza (lunch)
• chocolate chips & raisins, glass of 1% milk
• fresh mozz., tomato, basil on ciabatta, TJs tomato soup (a 360 calorie dinner that is tasty and oh so very filling), Cherry Coke Zero, water (dinner)

calorie total:1,272

However, Adam is on his way to pick us up some shakes for dessert/TV night, so, depending on what he brings back, I may or may not blow the roof off my 1,877 calorie limit. Time and ice cream will tell ...

(later)

He brought back a small Baskin-Robbins chocolate oreo 31 below. It had a whopping 920 calories, but I was only able to eat a little more than half before feeling like I was going to puke. I just can't pack away the desserts like I used to!

revised calorie total: 1,732

Day 89: The Day I Accidentally Packed a Tomato In my Bag on the Way to See 39 Steps

An overripe tomato is so disappointing when you are expecting an apple. 39 Steps was very clever and very funny. Thanks, Em, for inviting me. Next time you have $6 tickets for Broadway, I'm totally game.

• Honey Bunches of Oats in 1% milk (breakfast)
• TJs tomato soup, fresh mozz., basil & tomato on ciabatta, water (lunch)
• TJs pirate booty, a piece of dark chocolate
• Rice Krispies in 1% milk w/ a banana (when I didn't think I'd have time for dinner)
• another banana on the train
• a turkey 6" from Subway, light chips, diet coke (dinner when I realized I had time)

calorie total: 1,712

Day 88: The First Truly Hot Day of the Year

80 degrees in April. I'm not quite ready for that kind of heat.

• dry cereal at 5.30 am while Adam was getting ready for work
  
• Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• a banana, leftover taco meat w/ 2 scrambled eggs, tortilla, water (lunch)
• TJs pirate booty, another banana
• Cherry Coke Zero
• pasta w/ roast carrots, onions, mushrooms, red potato, cranberries, light Italian dressing, ham and parmesan, water (dinner)

calorie total: 1,613

If I drink some Ovaltine with Adam later, that will add 150 more calories. And it will be delicious.

Day 87: The Day I Finished Painting Miles' Room

The color is called "Chocolate Froth". The paint looked so creamy it took everything in me not to take a lick. I don't know why paint has that effect on me.

• 1.5 servings Quaker Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• egg salad on ciabatta, an apple, 1 T peanut butter, water (lunch)
• TJs white cheddar pirate's booty, diluted apple juice, a few raisins
• 2 cheese-less beef burritos, water (dinner)

calorie total:1,753

I wonder what it would have been had I tasted the paint.

Day 86: The Day I Ran Outside

... and determined that I don't understand people who prefer running outdoors to a treadmill. It could be that I hate -- HATE -- to run. The only thing I enjoy about running is being done, which is why I think I so strongly prefer the treadmill. The television, the bottle of water, the little numbers flicking by telling me how far I've run and -- more importantly -- how much further I need to go so I can get off, they all serve as a great distraction from what I am actually doing: moving. And expending energy. The less I think about that, the better I run. The best run I've had this year was to the very first episode of 24. I need the adrenaline rush of imaginary conspiracy theories and graphic violence to get me through, and that is something the great outdoors just doesn't provide.

And this is what I ate today ...

• 1.5 servings of Honey Bunches of Oats in 1% milk, half a banana (breakfast -- would you believe that I was so full from a cup and a half of cereal that I couldn't finish my banana? I tell you, I am a changing woman.)
• Greek yogurt w/ wheat germ, 2 spring rolls that Bates left ( the rest are in the freezer, Suzanne, in case you are wondering), the other half of my banana, diluted apple juice (lunch)
• 7 pieces of pepperoni (which, though totally fattening, has surprisingly few calories)
• a package of Abby's Little Bites chocolate chip muffins
• a piece of the homemade makowiec Suzanne (my neighbor) brought over, along with a petit four (also courtesy of Suzanne)
• big salad w/ feta, pecans, dried cherries, egg, piece of ciabatta, a few tortilla chips w/ avocado, Marliese's smoothie (dinner)

calorie total: 1,855

WAIT! I almost forgot. Oh no. This is going to put me over. We had Marliese's smoothie with our dinner (which I lovingly referred to as "sludge"). Tasty, but not at all pretty. And about 107 calories a serving.

calorie re-count: 1,962

So close! But I did run today. That makes it better??

Day 85: Easter. Or The Day I Said I Wasn't Counting Calories and Found I Couldn't Resist

Because between breakfast with friends, lunch with family, and snacking at home, I just had to know what the damage really was. Turns out it was pretty substantial.

• chocolate bran muffin, milk (pre-breakfast)
  
• cinnamon roll, scone w/ lemon butter, egg bake, water (breakfast)
• another cinnamon roll and ... um ... maybe the potentially expired chocolate cream puff Suzanne brought (pre-lunch)
• turkey & vegetable wrap, big salad, half of one of Zakk's individual chocolate mousse cake masterpiece, slice of my fresh coconut cake, a few candied almonds (lunch)
• some mystery chicken that the Bates left in our fridge (dinner?)

calorie total: are you ready for this?



Are you really ready?



It knocked my socks off.


2


9


9


5


2,995!

Who eats that much?? Well, apparently I do. On holidays. When lots and lots of sweets are involved. SHOCKING.

Back on the wagon (and the treadmill) tomorrow.

*for those of you who ate with us and are curious, here are some of the calorie counts for some of the items I baked today: cinnamon roll (483), scone (189), egg bake (74), coconut cake (332)

Day 84: General Conference and The Day I Primed Miles' Room

I couldn't take the midnight blue walls - day glo green ceiling combination for one more day. Neutral walls, white ceiling here we come!

• chocolate bran muffin, Oatmeal Squares, milk, banana (breakfast)
• 2 clementines
• tuna on Brenna's granny's molasses bread, Dannon Activia vanilla yogurt, water (lunch)
• another chocolate bran muffin, small glass of milk, Rice Krispies mixed w/ Cocoa Pebbles in 1% milk (sad excuse for dinner)

total calories: 1,603

Day 83: The Day I Spent With My Three Eldest Sisters

• 2 instant pancakes (from mix Em left behind), 3 slices bacon, 2 scrambled eggs (power breakfast)
• 2 chocolate bran muffins
  
• WW pepperoni pizza, water (lunch - 4pm)
• Greek yogurt
• BBQ -- 1 hot dog, 1 hamburger, 1 sweet Italian sausage (it was 9pm -- I was starving!), water, diet Coke, small slice carrot cake (dinner)

total calories: 2,168

Yikes! I guess I made up for yesterday.

Day 82: The Day I Nearly Regretted Spending in Manhattan

If it weren't for the highs of having lunch with Adam in Bryant park and hanging out with Em in Central Park, I would have written off the day as a failure. Manhattan. Spring break. Passover. Easter weekend. All make far too, too many people.

• 1.5 bowls of Cinnamon Life cereal in 1% milk (breakfast)
• bite of Miles' bagel, Abby's bagel, and a few bites of Adam's salad, a serving of kettle corn (lunch)
• half a Breyer's coconut all fruit bar, until the pulp started bothering me, at which point I traded Miles for his King Cone
• Greek yogurt
• 1 piece my foccacia, Mel's salad, 1/2 bowl John's baked ziti, water (dinner)

calorie total: 1,023

Apparently I don't eat very much when I am on the go in a crazy city towing three kids, no stroller, and two scooters.

Day 81: The Day I Decompressed from Our Trip by Taking a Nap and Cleaning the Chicken Coop

Because any time we travel there is a certain level of stress involved. It always takes a day or two to return to normal. The nap was great. The coop was downright nasty.

• slice of Adam's French toast w/ a squirt of whipped cream (no syrup, no butter), 1 c of Cocoa Pebbles in 1% milk (breakfast)
• turkey & ham wrap, baked Lays chips, water (lunch)
• can of grape soda
  
• Mexican salad w/ chicken, tortilla chips, water (dinner)
• Greek yogurt, 16 dark chocolate chips

calorie total: 1,685

Officially back on the wagon.

Day 80: The Day We Returned Home

• a banana, Melissa's cereal in skim milk, a slice of toast (breakfast)
• dry cereal (Oatmeal Squares & Honey Bunches), pretzels, bugles, 1/2 PB&J (all as snacks in the car)
• 6" grilled chicken Subway sandwich on WW w/ all the veggies except olives,water (late lunch)
• a 2" square piece of Zakk's cake at Mutual
• 1 San Pellegrino aranciata
  

calorie total: 1,635

Day 79: The Day I Was Left to My Own Devices and Failed Miserably

Because Grace was throwing up all morning, Adam stayed back with her while I took Abigail and Miles out for the day. As a result, I indulged the three of us beyond what could ever be considered normal or healthy. I'm not even going to attempt to total my calories.

• a slice of toast, 1 c of cereal, Greek yogurt (breakfast)
• pretzels and chocolate chips (way more than a serving) as I drove to Strasburg, PA
• a bowl of chicken and corn soup, a super lame turkey sandwich, 1/2 a pickle, very watery instant lemonade (lunch)
• a fresh and hot out of the oven soft pretzel with mustard
• 2 mostly chocolate chocolate covered pretzels (is it evident yet what one of my all time favorite snacks is?)
• 3 chocolate and peanut butter covered mini pretzels
• WW linguine w/ veggies in a tomato sauce, asparagus, green beans, 1/2 piece hearty bread, a gagillion calories worth of leftover sweet potato goodness from yesterday, water, diet Coke (dinner)
• 10 mostly chocolate milk chocolate covered mini pretzels way after the 7.30 pm cutoff, water

calorie count: I don't know ... maybe a bizillion?

Lest you think less of me, I must add here what I resisted: oversized cinnamon rolls w/ cream cheese frosting, fresh, hot donuts and enormous whoopie pies at the Amish market, carrot cake, shoofly pie, chocolate covered potato chips, peanut butter s'mores, huge bags of giant chocolate chips, chocolate (not chocolate covered) pretzels, and Grace's chocolate covered Rice Krispies treat on a stick.

Day 78: The Day We Went to Church in Reading and Nobody Spoke to Us

Not a hello, not a goodbye. I've decided it's just the way of the Pennsylvania Dutch and not because our kids were cranky and squirmy and covered in toothpaste.

• 1.5 Willie's popovers w/ real butter (b/c you just can't eat them with the fake stuff), Greek yogurt, banana (breakfast)
• veggie crisps and tortilla chips w/ sundried tomatoes, soft goat cheese, olives, guacamole, diet caffeine-free Coke, water (lunch)
• pineapple
• turkey breast, mashed sweet potatoes w/ coconut-pecan crumb topping, mashed white potatoes, cranberry sauce, asparagus in lemon, green beans, diet Coke, water (dinner)
• tofu milk chocolate mousse w/ Cool Whip

calorie total: 1,911

I'm over! Blast!

Day 77: The Day We Spent in Philadelphia

And I had my second dissapointing Philly cheese steak experience. It has to be due to my aversion to cheese wiz.

• 1 c of Melissa's mixed up Kashi cereals in skim milk (breakfast)
• random bits of kids' snacks in the car -- kettle corn, teddy grahams, bugles, chocolate chips
• 3 bites of a cheese steak, a handful of super delicious fries, diet Coke, banana water ice layered with chocolate frozen custard which was suuuuper yum (lunch)
• WW spaghetti w/ Melissa's homemade sauce, 2 pieces foccacia, 1 slice sauce-lessn homemade pizza, diet caffeine-free Coke, water, strawberries w/ reduced fat sour cream and brown sugar (dinner)

calorie count: 1,872 (which was shocking to me -- I was certain I had gone way over)

Day 75: The Day We Left for PA

Since we are away, I don't have a lot of time to figure out my exact calorie count. I'll just have to settle for a rough estimate.

• 1.5 servings Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• pretzels
• 1/2 Caesar salad, 1/2 chicken bacon ranch wrap (lunch)
• the HUGEST diet Coke, which, sadly, I am beginning to really like
• random bites of kids' car snacks, piece of leftover pizza crust
• Melissa's super yummy pizza - 1 slice just sauce, 1 slice w/ veggies & mozz, vegetables marinated in Balsamic and sprinkled with some goat cheese (dinner)
• 1/2 scoop Grace's ice cream

estimated calorie total: 1,800

Day 74: The Day I Nearly Killed Myself Cleaning

• scrambled eggs, one slice of toast, Abby's Cocoa Pebbles because she decided she couldn't eat them right after I poured the milk (breakfast)
• WW cheddar quesadilla, water (lunch)
• pretzels & choc. chips
• plain pasta w/ sprinkling of parmesan, broccoli, a 1/2 banana, sparkling cranberry juice, water (dinner)
• Greek yogurt

total calories: 1,968

Which again puts me over. ARGH! Why am I starving all the time?? I only have 76 surplus calories left :(

Day 73: The Day I Remembered What it Feels Like to be Full

Because since we started all of these changes to our diet, full is something I rarely feel. Today I couldn't finish my quesadilla! Who can't finish a quesadilla??

• bowl of Life in 1% milk, slice of WW toast (breakfast)
• pretzels and choc. chips
  
• whole wheat quesadilla w/ mozzarella and fresh basil (lunch)
• Greek yogurt, 1/2 a banana
  
• Fudgesicle (we're almost done with these 60 calorie wonders)
• Teddy Grahams
• grilled chicken sandwich, mashed potatoes, diet Coke (which I find gross, but satisfying for 0 calories), a few bites of Mile's crust, 1/2 scoop Grace's ice cream (dinner out with kids at Friendly's)

total calories: 1,923

That's 46 calories over my daily limit, but I have a surplus of 213 some-odd calories, so I don't feel bad about it. I did my homework before we went to Friendly's and knew that there were two menu items I could have with plenty of calorie wiggle-room: the chicken sandwich and the Asian salad. Sadly, I opted for mashed potatoes (240) instead of doing what my gut said to do and order broccoli (80). Oh well. Next time.

Day 72: The Day Adam Left for South Carolina

• 1 bowl Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk, 1 banana (breakfast)
• 1 Greek yogurt w/ 3 T wheat germ
• black bean burger w/ mango salsa & lettuce (I am sooo done with these), 1/2 sweet potato, water (lunch)
  
• pretzels & dark choc. chips, kettle corn
  
• 1 berry GoGurt (b/c they are only 70 calories!)
• 1 Fudgesicle
• pita pizza w/ basil, water (dinner)

total calories: 1,864

Hmm ... what could I have used those extra 13 calories for?

Day 71: The Day We Started Counting Calories

Never in my life have I counted calories before. At Adam's suggestion, we took our self-proclaimed "Year of Fit" up a notch: using a handy little calculator, we figured out how many calories we each need in order to lose 1 lb a week and thereby reach our goal weights. No, I will not share mine, except to say that -- according to the calculator -- I should reach it by July 19th. My magic number is 1877, provided that I'm getting moderate exercise. Since mid-January I've been running between 2 and 3 miles 5 times a week. My plan is to work my way up to 5 miles. And I think we are registering for this race, should (either of) you care to join us. Twice I've cheered Adam along in this race; it's about time I joined him.

• 378 calories worth of the leftover Vegan chocolate cake the girls made for Danielle last night. I won't tell you how many pieces that was. And yes, it was totally breaking my dessert rule. (breakfast)
  
• 1/2 Greek yogurt, glass of milk
• black bean burger w/ mango salsa & lettuce, water, fudgesicle (lunch)
• 16 dark chocolate chips, serving of pretzels
• slice of WW bread w/ SB
  
• egg blindfolded over garlic-cheddar grits, WW tortilla, roasted sweet potato, water (dinner)

total calories: 1,680

I ran out of time before I ran out of calories. I'll plan more wisely tomorrow.

Day 70: The Day We Had the Carniauxs and the Patchogue Merceds Over for a Vegan Dinner

Because Brenna is vegetarian and Danielle is vegan. It was very bean-y.

• bowl of Oatmeal squares in 1% milk, half a banana (breakfast, 8 am)
  
• pretzels
• 3/4 English muffin w/ PB&J and 6 oz Greek nonfat yogurt, water (lunch 12.30 pm)
  
• Kettle corn
• black bean burger on WW bun w/ mango-avocado salsa & lettuce, WW tortilla w/ homemade refried beans, roasted sweet potato, Jack cheese, guacamole & low fat sour cream, corn salsa & chips, cream soda, water (dinner 6pm)
• DsOTW: Danielle's vegan strawberry pie in a Grape Nuts crust, slice of yellow cake w/ chocolate buttercream (which the Cs brought from Audrey's), milk, water
  

Day 69: Marathon Saturday

Parents' day at both swimming lessons, yard work, middle school musical, Stake conference, grocery shopping, house cleaning, etc. Why oh why did we stay up until 3 last night?!?

• 3 chocolate chip pancakes (1 plain, 2 torn and dipped in 1 T syrup), 1% milk (breakfast)
• WW spaghetti w/ meat sauce, 2 small bread sticks, water (lunch)
• 1 low-fat yogurt w/ 3 T wheat germ
• small handful dried mango & berries
• big salad w/ egg, candied pecans, cucumber, pear, goat cheese, homemade croutons, dressing, lots of water (dinner)
  

Day 68: Girls' NIght in Queens

• bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats mixed w/ the remains of a box of Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
  
• 1 rice cake at Mom's
  
• dried mango, blueberries & strawberries
  
• warmed up pita w/ cheddar cheese & black pepper, water (1st lunch)
  
• 2 mini cinnamon raisin bagels w/ butter, water (2nd lunch)
• 1 frozen berry GoGurt
• 3 or so graham crackers w/ Nutella (trying to get myself over being annoyed)
• 1/2 fish taco w/ mango-avocado salsa, 1 tandoori something wing, crispy duck in a spicy tamarind sauce, brown rice, 2/3 of a piece of chocolate caramel cake (dinner at Jade and dessert at Martha's Bakery in Forest Hills)
  

Day 67: The Day I Took the Kids to the Dentist and Then Liberated the Front Yard

It is now free from the seven ugly, prickly bushes that seemed to only serve as a garbage catchers and a cat haven. It took 4 or so hours of hard, scratchy work, but it feels sooooo good to have them out.

• 2 small slices toasted brown soda bread w/ indulgent Irish butter, small bowl of Oatmeal squares in 1% milk (breakfast, 8.30 am)
  
• another piece of soda bread w/ butter, 6 oz yogurt w/ 3 T wheat germ, water (was this lunch? 12.30 pm)
  
• strawberry all-fruit ice pop from Suzanne
  
• leftover pita, warmed and slathered w/ PB&J (or was this lunch? 4 pm)
• chocolate bran muffin, water
• I think I may have had another piece of soda bread -- can't remember
  
• Dad's chicken and rice w/ pigeon peas, diluted apple juice, water (dinner, 6.45)
  
• 2 graham crackers w/ Nutella, glass of Ovaltine
  

Day 66: St. Patrick's Day

• green Irish-German pancake w/ green whipped cream, syrup & SB, green milk (breakfast (8am)
• dried mango, blueberries & strawberries
  
• 1 pita w/ PG&J, green milk (lunch (1.30pm)
• a few raisins and choc. chips
  
• some of Brenna's secret recipe soda bread, yogurt, water
• tomato soup, soda bread (great recipe in last month's Bon Appetit), cheddar cheese, water (dinner 6.45pm)
  

Day 65: The Day Mother Nature Took Sides

Adam and I disagreed about the big pine tree in our front side yard. He wanted it to stay, I wanted it gone. The wind storm over the weekend decided for us and it is now in heaps and piles on our curb. Sad day for the pine, but a happy one for the Magnolia that will soon take its place!

• same as the last few days - Oatmeal squares and a banana (breakfast, 8am)
• 2.5 slices of leftover vegetable pizza, diluted apple juice (big lunch, I know, 1.30pm)
• 3 low-fat Ritz crackers
• 1.5 homemade pita w/ 3 falafel, tzatziki sauce, red bell pepper slices, sliced cucumber, more diluted apple juice (dinner, 6.45 pm)
  
• 1 chocolate bran muffin
  

Day 64: The Day I Couldn't Remember What it Felt Like to Be Warm

Brrr! Our first daffodil has bloomed, but where did Spring go??

• 1 banana, 1 bowl of Quaker Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (late breakfast - 11.30am)
• 2 slices of oatmeal bread (one with honey butter, 1 toasted w/ SB & jam), water
  
• 4 low-fat Ritz crackers each w/ a small piece of cheddar, 1/2 pear, 1 bowl Cinnamon Life cereal in 1% milk -- nothing else really looked good. (late lunch - 4.30pm )
• 2 slices of homemade pizza -- 1 cheese, 1 super veggie, plus the broccoli I picked off another slice of pizza, water (dinner)
• glass of Ovaltine
  

Day 63: The Day We Celebrate π

Since it was a holiday (at least at 17 Mulford St.) -- and knowing I would be subject to a ward munch and mingle prior to the Youth Fireside -- we decided to take our dessert day early this week. And yes, I totally over did it on dessert and feel nasty and bloated.

• bowl of Quaker Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• small scoop each ziti and salad, a small roll w/ 1 slice ham & 1 slice turkey, 1 mystery meatball, a handful of red bell pepper slices, 1/2 piece the Ambrosia Layer cake I sold at the dessert auction, 1/2 piece of Mere's homemade baklava, a three-bite size slice of Ami's chocolate cream pie, 4 cups of water (lunch at the Munch & Mingle)
• 2 cups of 1% milk to wash down the 3 T of leftover chocolate mousse frosting that was hanging out in the fridge, which I consumed immediately upon waking from a 2 hour nap
• chicken pecan salad w/ pears & goat cheese, 2 pieces garlic bread, water (dinner)
• 1 slice homemade Asphalt Pie in commemoration of the date (π = 3.14)

Day 62: The Day I Exercised Great Restraint at the Youth Dessert Auction

• bowl of Quaker Oatmeal Squares in 1% milk (breakfast)
• toasted pita w/ chickpea salad & tzatzki sauce, water (lunch)
• lots of tastes and finger-fulls of icings and batters as I was baking for the auction
  
• 2 pretzel logs, water
• bowl of white chicken chili, muddy buddies, water (dinner)
  

Day 61: Book Group

• 1 chocolate bran muffin, 1 bowl Rice Krispies in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 4 oz yogurt w/ wheat germ
  
• 2 eggs scrambled w/ leftover taco meat, 2 slices whole wheat toast w/ SB, water (lunch)
• chickpea salad w/ toasted pita & feta, tzastziki sauce, hummus, olives, 1 falafel, homemade baklava, strawberry cheesecake trifle (a trial portion of one of the things I made for the dessert auction tomorrow). (dinner & dessert -- for shame!)
  

Day 60: The Day Our Treadmill Nearly Killed Me

Because it stopped working while I was full-on running. Good thing I have cat-like reflexes.

• 1 bowl Quaker Oatmeal Squares (my new fav) in 1% milk (breakfast)
• 1 PB&J on toast, 1 banana w/ 2 T peanut butter and 2 T wheat germ, milk (lunch)
• 1/4 serving Pocky, 1 6oz yogurt w/ wheat germ
• blackened chicken quesadilla (delish), gorganzola-crusted sirloin (bad -- took two bites) with garlic mashed potatoes (worse -- only took one) and sauteed spinach (bland -- don't even think I took a whole bite), water, bread, bites of Adam's meal (which was okay), apple crisp w/ vanilla ice cream (a total waste of a DOTW and made us both feel sick). All in all, a terrible dinner at Café Joelle. So disappointing. At least it was free.
  

Day 59: The Day I Signed Up for a Bagillion Events at the PTA Meeting

• 1 6 oz. yogurt w/ wheat germ, 1.5 leftover carrot pancakes w/ SB & syrup (breakfast)
• tiny portion of penne w/ olive oil and parm, water (lunch)
• feeling depressed, so I ate about 1/3 c milk chocolate chips (I know, I know!), 5 pretzel rods w/ 1 T Nutella, 1% milk (felt better for about a half hour and than I crashed on the couch for 45 minutes)
• about 3/4 c popcorn (at PTA meeting)
  
• laaaate dinner (because of the PTA meeting) so I was famished. 2.5 burritos on Ami's tortillas w/ taco meat, lettuce, salsa, avocado, sour cream, Jack cheese (dinner)
• guava juice that someone left in our fridge (Ami? Em?) and which I will have to replace because it is delicious