A letter to...

Dear Weight Watchers,

My name is Stacy and I am a cookie-a-holic. Now, I started you several weeks ago and had great results...8.2 lbs lost in the first week! (I think I have Mr. Stomach Flu to thank for his assistance as well). The next 2 weeks I did not do as well. I gained 1.2 the 2nd week and 2 lbs the 3rd week. Last week I did not even weigh in at all because I was afraid the old man at the scale would yell at me and tell me he was disappointed (though he always says I get a star in his book...he's so cute!)

In my defense, I had to travel for work, and then it was my birthday week, which I celebrated with mounds and mounds of food. Then I went to St. George last weekend and devoured junk food both ways of the 4 hour drive.

So this week I am back on, full board! My fabulous sister, Jen, took the time to go through our new favorite cookbook from Hungry-girl.com, and then meal planned for the week. She even made me a special breakfast on Sunday to get me excited about things.

I have to tell you, this cookbook is fabulous, and the portion sizes are GINORMOUS! Here's the problem though, Mr. or Mrs. Weight Watchers...I am still STARVING!!! My friend Amber has a bag of delicious Classic Lays potato chips under her desk that are calling to my name. Paradise Bakery is a mere 1.5 miles away. And Harmons across the street has just about the best darn donuts around.

Please give me the strength to resist driving to the Circle K to get a package of ho-hos. Or perhaps you could change the points value of things to include those items listed above.

Thanks for your time!
Love,
Stacy

Ode to Paradise Bakery

Today I went to Paradise Bakery for lunch. I got my usual...a tuna sammy and roasted tomato soup. While delicious and oh-so filling...this is merely a distraction for the real reason to go to Paradise Bakery. The COOKIES!!!!

You get a deliciously gooey chocolate chip cookie for free just for ordering the lunch. I'm not sure why anyone would think one is enough. So of course I always take advantage of whatever special they are offering. Today it was buy one get one free. So, being the nice friend that I am, I got a sugar cookie for me, a choco chip for Amber, a chocolate chip coconut for Micci and a white chocolate chip macadamia nut for John. Truthfully I almost didn't get one for John. He didn't know I was going, so he would be none the wiser if I kept the 3rd cookie for myself! But my kindness and compassion on my left shoulder over-ruled the devil on my right shoulder so I got him his stupid cookie. I hope he enjoys it!

Here is my conversation with Micci after eating our cookies:
Micci: How do they make them so delicious?
Me: They sprinkle love and a little bit of heaven in to each cookie.
Micci: I think you are right.

And you know what, I think I am right, too!

Green Eyeshadow

I am obsessed with Green Eyeshadow. There! I've said it! The first step is admitting you have a problem...right? I go out of my way to buy clothes that I can wear green eyeshadow with. I think it's because I've always wanted green eyes. My eyes are hazel. On a good day, like when I'm having bad allergies or have cried my eyes out, they look kind of green. But mostly they are a weird shade of brown with green and gold flecks in them...sort of like poo. So ANYWAY...I learned in the 80's that green eyeshadow makes them look more green! Unfortunately the colored eyeshadow craze faded long ago. Imagine my surprise and delight when it came back a couple of years ago. Now I have 4 shades of green, 2 shades of blue, 2 shades of purple, lots of gold, bronzes, pinks...ooooohhh...Maybe I should say that I am obsessed with all shades of eyeshadow?

You have a birthday, shout Hooray!!

Yesterday was my 36th birthday! I am now officially closer to 40 than I am to 30. And I feel every day of it! :)

I had a marvelous day. It started with walking in to my office and seeing the cute decorations that Micci put on my computer and wall. (I didn't include a pic b/c my desk is too messy!!) She also brought donuts. I had 1. Ok, I had 2. Big deal! Then Amber gave me the new New Kids on the block CD. I felt a little dorky, but I'm not gonna deny it...I like NKOTB. So there!

Then after lunch work got me my favorite chocolate cake from Costco. Yes, I had to pick it up myself, but that was ok b/c I got to make sure I picked the very best one! (Thanks to Amber for helping me with that task!). This cake is 3 layers of fudgy deliciousness, with mounds of frosting and chocolate shavings. Oh sorry, I think I just salivated. Some people at work were complaining that there was too much frosting. Sheesh...amateurs!

I left work early to go home and plant some bulbs, but instead I watched the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (my sister says this show is the downfall of modern America...whatever..I LOVE the drama!) and talked to my mom on the phone. Then off to the Cheesecake Factory with Jen and our friends Steve and Alisha. As we pulled up to the parking lot, I said "They aren't doing anything embarrassing like bringing balloons are they"? Sure enough, they got out of the car with a huge balloon bouquet. My sister sheepishly said they were from her. I was pretty embarrassed, but I carried them in to the restaurant with all the adults in the place laughing and the kids looking at me like I was Santa Clause. Dinner was DELICIOUS!!! Can anyone say Deep Fried Macaroni & Cheese Balls!!! HEAVEN!!!!! We shared 4 appetizers, and then a piece of Adams peanut butter cheesecake and a new blueberry to die for cheesecake. The waitress wrote on my plate with chocolate sauce (um...YUM!) and they came out singing to me.

After dinner we decided to go to Nordstroms b/c I needed some makeup. Alicia decided to get a make over so we hung out, then we walked around the mall, me with my huge bouquet of balloons. It was pretty funny. Everyone kept saying Happy Birthday! to me. Steve was a good sport as we went to another make-up store and a beauty supply store. Finally it was back home to cuddle with the doggies and watch a little TV before bed.

It was a fabulous day. I got tons of phone calls and messages on my Facebook (Stacy543) page. I felt very loved and blessed that I have so many good friends and family!

Welcome to the Twilight Zone

The other day I was on my way to lunch, and drove past this girl on the sidewalk. I had to do a double take. She had on a long black spandex tank top. And nothing else! No pants...no undies...NOTHING! Well, I guess that's not completely true..She was carrying a pair of black shoes. Unfortunately I saw her actual bootie..Bare buns and all. It was really weird. (Not her buns, but the whole experience). I don't know what happened to her, but on the way back there were 2 police cars in the same spot, so I'm guessing they hauled her off to the slammer.

That same night I was walking the dogs around the neighborhood. We had gone on a nice, long, uneventful walk, and were rounding the corner towards my street when I heard the unmistakable sound of a.....GOAT! WHAT THE HAIL???!!!(as my friend's 3yr old likes to say). Did I make a wrong turn somewhere and fall of the planet? I looked around, and sure enough there was a goat in the back of a pick up truck! Next thing I know they are taking it out of the truck and leading it to the garage...on a leash! I stood there for a few minutes to see what they did next, but then I started feeling creepy, like some sort of peeping Tom. Plus the dogs were panting and starting to fall down on the ground because they are so lazy. So I will probably never know the story of the goat.

Weird, Right? It's not just me?

Last night's silliness

Ok, so I called him last night, but he didn't answer. I'll try again today!

On a different note, last night I got home, talked to my dad on the phone and took the dogs for a walk. My sister, who so kindly makes dinner for us every night, got home late. She was a little perturbed that I didn't make anything. So I did what I always do when it's my turn to cook...I suggested we go out for burgers!

Just as we were walking out the door, my primary president came over to chat withe me for a little bit. Oh yeah, I'm the first Counselor..LOVE IT! I think it's a trade off for not having any kids. Anyway, I mentioned that we were going to get burgers and she suggested a pub down the street that has amazing burgers. She said "The food is great! There will probably be some people drinking beers, but you will love the burgers". So being 1. Starving 2. Women of the world and not afraid of people drinking beer and 3. Too lazy to cook, Jen (my sis) and I headed out to get this amazing burger.

We pull up to the place and the windows are all foggy and there are 10 people standing outside smoking. First sign! We walk in and there's a pool table and a karaoke machine. Second Sign! Then there is a HUGE bar with some strange people sitting at it, and some random tables with men in camo gear and a woman missing every other tooth. Third Sign! We weren't sure what to do....sit down and make the best of it, or run from the building screaming with our integrity in tact! Well, being #2 from above, we decided to tough it out. The food was delicious...we split a "West Valley" Burger (bbq sauce, bacon, all the fixins, plus an onion ring....yum!) and an order of garlic cajun fries (Heaven!), and got out of there pretty quickly. On the plus side...the bar tender/waiter dude was hot!

Calling a boy?!

10 days ago I went on a fabulous blind date. I had a great time, and I think he did too. My friend Jen set us up, and is encouraging me to call him and ask him to "hang out". I think I might throw up. At almost 36 you'd think this would be old hat for me. But it's not! I'm an old fashioned gal! I want to be called! I want my door opened for me! I want him to feed me chocolate on a silver platter while massaging my feet. Ok, well not WHILE massaging my feet because that would mean I'd be eating foot flavored chocolate...and I'm not THAT desperate. But you get the picture.

So anyway, I am going to call him after work unless a natural disaster occurs, or they need me to volunteer for the Red Cross or the soup kitchen down town. I'd better take my cell phone with me just in case!

First day in the world of blog!

Hi! One of my secret dreams has come true....I've created a blog. Now for a confession, I have no idea how to do a blog! I used to consider myself technologically savvy, but after having to have my 25 year old co-worker help me learn myspace and facebook, I realized that I am an old relic...a dinosaur in the age of computer know-how. I still remember having a Coleco Vision and playing Donkey Kong for pete's sake! So anyhoo....please be patient as I learn this thing and come into the year 2008!