Shopping the Grocery Store Outer Edge and Beyond
January 16, 2025 • weight loss
Years ago someone told me the best way to eat healthy is to only shop the outer edge of the grocery store. You know, the veggies, meats, milk, cheese & dairy. Well yes, I agree to a point. Eating healthy is a discipline, so I think I'm disciplined enough to go into the center of the store and pick out some rice or dry beans.
Most stores have the Fruit & Veggies first as you come in the door. You can't have too many of the things from here. I am going for a 2 per meal.
If you do venture to the middle of the grocery store it is ok to get cookies, maybe look for ones that are sugar free and take them in moderation. Look at me dispensing advice, like I know what I am doing. I do not! The cookies with the M & M's in them are my fav. I normally have 3 a night with a big glass of milk. That has to stop!
.png "Make the Change!")
This quote right here says so much!
When it comes to the deli it can be a little tricky.
Most of the meat in the deli has preservatives to prolong the shelf life.
But, you can go for the turkey breast, a lean ham or roast beef.
Once again here you are going to pass some beautiful cookies and cakes, are you picking up or passing by?
Next up, we keep pushing our buggy with the wobbly wheel to
The Meat Department.
.jpeg "Meat Department")
Here is where you can kinda do your thing!
What do you have on your menu plan?I am a chicken girl, I love red meat but, rarely make it. I think it is because chicken is so versatile. Try to avoid any meats that come in a box. These are refined and can be a lower quality than fresh meat. Don't forget about seafood too. Fresh salmon or a cod makes a great dinner.
Now on to my favorite part of the store
Insert Angels signing here
"The Cheese Department"
.jpeg "Cheese Department")
As you can see this is my favorite place in the store.
And some grocery stores have made the cheese section a gorgeous space, and displayed all the cheeses like a giant charcuterie board.
These are the stores I go in and drop half my take home pay on some cheese. Once again discipline! I'm trying!
Try to fill 3/4 of your cart up with items from
these outer perimeter areas. Eat all that you want from these outer edge sections. I mean unless your store is laid out different than mine, but you get the picture.
Never go to the grocery store without a plan. Put together a menu that includes all the meals, plus snacks!
What's that saying,"Failing to plan, is planning to fail"
Love,
Dana
My Weight Loss Journey from 227 Lbs!
January 13, 2025 • weight loss
For several years now my weight has been going up and up. I want to change this destructive behavior, and I want to share it with you. I am 56 years old and I weigh 227 lbs as of my last Dr appt. I live with menopause everyday, and all the fun it brings, like mood changes, night & day sweats, low energy levels and my metabolism packed up and left a few years ago.
All that aside, I am going to give it my best shot to change my life and my health.
My Why?
This is my why and it is simple. I want to be around as long as I can for my family and friends. I've got things I want to do, and see.
And at the rate I am going, these plans are not in my future.
I have been on blood pressure meds for years, but if I were to maintain a healthy weight maybe I could lower the dosage.
At my last Dr appt they shared these numbers with me:
Hemoglobin (A1C) 5.8 Range is 4.8-5.6
Alkaline Phosphate 166 Range is 44-121
Cholesterol 240 Range is 100-199
Triglycerides 255 Range is 0-149
Goals
My #1 goal is to not watch the scale on the daily.
I think if I make better food choices, and move my body the scales will reflect that. Don't get me wrong my weight number is important, but I think they way my clothes fit will be a big motivation.
I really just want to feel better.
Plan
I have a "home gym" with a treadmill and free weights. I am planning on watching workout videos when I can't get outside, or to the gym.
Drink more water, lots more!
I love music and putting on some music and taking a walk outside will be nice.
Menu planning my meals and snacks, so that I am not rushing or unprepared and binge on garbage.
I have signed up and paid for a yoga class, and want to make that a regular weekly goal.
I want more in control of my life and take it off auto pilot.
Well, there it is. All my personal info just out here for all the world to see. As I share my journey please feel free to encourage me. I am going to need all the help I can get.
Also, you can follow my progress over on my
Instagram page!
Love,
Dana
Take a look at the new furniture collection from The Pioneer Woman. It gives vintage looks without the price.
November 29, 2024 • Lifestyle
We all know about The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond for her best selling cookbooks, and her cooking show and, I am sure if you have been in a Wal Mart lately, you have seen her line of utensils, dishes and other kitchen items.
I own a few spatulas from her line, but that is about it.
But, recently she released a new line of furniture
and it really caught my eye.
My home is a mixture of collected items and new items, and I love the feel, because it gives me peace. I have my Grandma's writing desk, I also have a dresser of hers, and on the back it shows every payment my Grandpa made on the piece. These pieces of furniture mean the world to mean.
The Pioneer Woman Furniture collection give me this same feeling.
"It really is a blend of my own love of vintage-chic pieces and my husband's love of durable, rustic-ranch items," she recently told Southern Living. "I love for the furniture pieces in our home to look like they aren't necessarily brand new, so when I designed this collection, I made sure to incorporate great texture so they had an heirloom, passed down-down feel to them."
Here are just a few of my favorites.
You can see the full collection here.
Pioneer Woman Harper Queen Spindle Bed
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| Pioneer Woman Harper Leather Recliner Whiskey & Faux Cowhide |
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| Pioneer Woman Tufted Sofa Teal |
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| Pioneer Woman Callie Round Dining Table |
Thanks for stopping by!
Dana
Easy French Meringues
July 17, 2024 • Cooking
For years, I have adored these cute French Meringues, but never thought I could make them.
They look so delicate!
I used this recipe from Preppy Kitchen and, they turned out perfect!
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| I colored mine pink |
Tips for the perfect meringue
Eggs must be at room temperature-cold eggs tend to reduce merinque volume
Never let any yoke get into the whites
Don't over beat the eggs
And maybe the most important tip is to add the sugar slowly, very slowly!
Love,
Dana
Coffee & Conversation
July 12, 2024 • Coffee & Conversation
Happy Mid Summer!!
I am a tad behind but, here is the Readers Digest version of things!
Man it has been HOT here in the South, but really everywhere!
But even though it is hot, I am the weird one who still drinks hot coffee, no matter what the temp outside!
Are you team cold coffee or hot?
Around here it has been a busy summer so far, we are trying to pack as much as possible into the time we have before we all head in different directions in mid August.
Ella, Gary & I started playing weekly tennis.
At first we sucked, but now we suck less & less and really enjoy it!
In May, Ella and I took a fantastic girls trip to NYC and it was amazing.
This was the first time we had ever spend any time there and we loved every minute of it.
Here just a few of the hundreds of pictures I snapped.
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| NYC view from The Hudson River Line |
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| OMG! I ran into Wallace Shawn while walking to dinner! |
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| We met a Rockette after touring Radio City Music Hall |
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| NYC Dana was loving it! |
In June, we took our yearly family cruise trip to the Bahamas.
Taking a cruise is one of our favorite ways to travel.
We cruised out of Tampa and it was so much fun.
Allure of the Seas was an amazing ship!
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| Central Park on Allure of the Seas |
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| Loving our Perfect Day at CoCo Cay! |
Here are some items I have been loving around our house!
Heads up, cafe curtains are coming back in style and I am loving them! I recently removed my blinds from my kitchen and put up cafe curtains. They are shear and allow light thru, but give privacy.
In my neck of the woods, the only thing that is outside of our windows are Deer.
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New River or kayaking on Lake Norman.
I have eaten my share of watermelon this summer and it is always a refreshing treat!
Do you salt your watermelon? I think it is a Southern thing!
We have also been cleaning our garage(ugh) and our attic. Whew! It is a dirty chore, but so needed. Having clean organized spaces is my love language. It is amazing the crap we keep!
I have used Bagster in the past because it is so easy, I throw all my junk in it, schedule pick up and done!
Sorry so short and sweet! See you next week!
Love,
Dana
Simple Pasta Salad
July 10, 2024 • Cooking
I love pasta salad!
The thing about making pasta salad is you can do your own thing.
This is my version with all my favorites!
12 oz Tri Color Rotini Pasta
16 oz Italian Dressing
1/2 Red Onion Diced
1 Small Can Black Olives
1/2 Block of Sharp Cheese cubed
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 cup of Pepperoni
Love,
Dana
A 1950s Boone, NC Motel is Transformed into Rhode's Motor Lodge
July 8, 2024 • #rhodesmotorlodge, #travel, Travel
I know when you hear motor lodge and it brings up visions of old, dark, scary motels on the side on the road! Not in this case,we visited the newly remodeled and stunningly gorgeous Rhode's Motor Lodge in Boone and WOW!
Let me show you around!
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| We loved the fire pit after a long day of tubing |
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| Game room/Chill Zone |
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| Fire Pit area during the day |
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| Plenty of room to enjoy a meal from The Canteen-the onsite house bar & restaurant |
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| The whole place got new paint and updated |
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| Bathroom had plenty of space for us |
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| The branded Coleman cooler in your room is a nice touch |
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| Mountain Views |
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| The patio is a great place to grab a drink |
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| The vibe here is mid century |
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| My favorite part is they kept the old Greene's Motel sign |
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| Rhode's Motor Lodge has 54 perfectly appointed rooms Rhode's Motor Lodge Hwy 321 Boone, NC 28607 Ph#828-865-1110 |
Gallery Wall and Guest Bath Refresh
December 28, 2023 • Our Home
My mind has been on gallery walls lately and if you know me once something is on my brain, well it pretty much stays there until it is reality. I hopped over to Pinterest for some inspiration and ideas. Wow! I am impressed by some of the gallery walls that are out there. Here are just a few that I loved.
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| House and Home |
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| v House of Hawthornes I am loving the birds on this gallery wall.But, I think I am going for a french country inspired floral look. I want a collected look with a touch of whimsy. I shopped my house for floral pictures, scoured thrift stores and antique malls to achieve the look I wanted. You can plan a gallery wall by measuring out each picture and having a detailed plan of how things are going to go on the wall. I did not do that, I just started nailing an voila, I am in love. Along with gallery walls I have been seeing arches and they really make me smile. I want arched door ways so badly, they are beautiful and timeless and would totally look stunning in my house. I wanted an arch on the wall so, like I do a lot of things in life, I just wing it and grabbed my pencil and some string and drew on the wall. I painted it the color as the vanity, that I had recently painted and it is so cute. In the future I may cut out flowers to cover the outside of the arch, but for now I am just enjoying it as is.  This is the vanity before I painted it. You can see the gallery wall peaking in the background.  This is the view from our foyer. I love the moody vibe it is giving! I put a lamp in here and never turn on the overhead light. I am not a fan of over bright lights and the lamp just gives it a calmness.  I only bought three new pictures for this wall. I have some other little things to add to fill in the space but, I am loving it so far.  Here is my version of an arch, I just think it needs something! But, until what that something is, it will be fine just being a plan arch. Until next time! Cheers! Dana |
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