Binging at its finest

Simple morning breakfast

It was hard to stop watching The Fosters but I did. TV went off at 11:15 and I made myself go up and brush my teeth and get into bed. I could have watched more but it would start throwing my schedule off and I'd find myself going to bed later and later, and getting up later and later. Sleep was good. Before I woke I was in a very strange dream where I was a guy swinging on a stage, part of some show. I was behind the curtain waiting for my part to begin. The main actor, a transvestite, was in front of the curtain, doing his thing for a private Bachelor party. The main character was a transvestite. The Bachelor got offended at something and shot the main character and I heard it, stuck on a swing, in the air, just steps away behind the curtain. I managed to get myself down and flew back stage and out the door. I was running madly threw people's yards, past their pools and big fancy houses. Then I woke up.

Morning entertainment

I chatted with the Kev and got out of bed just before 8. Sampson was fed and thank goodness, he started pestering me in bed at 5:30. I thought I would make something grand for breakfast but ended up having a half cup of Greek yogurt with a few raspberries. I watched last night's Grey's Anatomy while Pixel stared at the fish in the tank. And as I inhaled the amazing cinnamon roll scent coming from the wall plugin I started The Fosters.

Leftover lunch

I watched until I had to get up and change for dance. I kinda wanted to binge straight through today but knew I really needed to get some movement in. I got home, extra sweaty today, showered and hurried to heat some leftovers. I polished off the beef and cauli casserole, polished off the ribs from last night (dabbed on about a TBSP of the low sugar BBQ sauce) and had a scoop of last night's super yum cabbage. The Fosters makes a perfect dining companion and I enjoyed it, since I had no work, for most of the afternoon. Around 3:30 I got some work in and jumped on it. Was done by 4:15.

Sharing a gyro salad

The Kev got home around 4:30. YAY! He got comfy and we found Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on the TV. When it came time to discuss dinner the weirdest thing happened. Out of the blue I inquired what time the local Mediterranean joint closed and he said wow. I was just going to ask about that place. We both wanted the exact same thing so I called us in a big salad with Gyro meat to split. It's no Albasha (in Baton Rouge) but it was exactly what we wanted. Nice and light and not too much. I mixed in the cucumber dressing, divided the salad into our two bowls, chopped the meat, added it on top and it was time to chow. We eventually crawled into bed and watched Heartland to end the night.

RIP Leonard

Pre dance

Good sleep. I woke refreshed and in my "back to normal" mood. I got up and had some full fat yogurt with some Stevia and a few raspberries and then changed and went to dance. It felt SO good to sweat it out today.

Leftover lunch

I got home and the tree trimmers were in full swing doing their thing in our trees. They thinned out three of them and once they left I showered and heated some leftover beef and cauli casserole at 11:30. Remember I made that BIG batch to feast on all week, which I have done. I watched Younger as I ate and then went up to the office for some work.

Ribs and cabbage

I was done and sent the project off at 3 and then had to know what was happening with The Fosters. I'm now into season 2 and at 4:30 I started prepping dinner. I bought some boneless Chuck ribs on Sunday, even though I've never cooked any before, because they looked good. I was looking up recipes and one parboiled them. It reminded me of country ribs that Mama would make and I knew that's how I'd make these. I salted and peppered the ribs and put them in the pot. I covered with water and added in a cup of apple cider vinegar. They boiled for an hour and a half and then I lit the grill and put them on. I found this quick keto BBQ sauce with way low sugar and basted the grilling ribs. I put cabbage on to cook in some bacon fat and nibbled three ribs before I had to get to yoga at 6:45. Got home at 8, gobbled up the totally delicious ribs and perfect cabbage and Lis texted me that Leonard Cohen had died. So so sad. I watched The Fosters until 11 when I crashed.

Glad when the day was over

Mourning meal

At 11PM I took the shreds of hope I had left with me to bed. Asleep by midnight, I slept well until 5:30 when I woke and grabbed my phone. I pretty much knew the outcome before I looked but I had to make sure. It sank in and at 7AM I involuntarily cried. Seriously. How dumb is that? I've never ever been emotional about a President. Never. This one struck a chord though.  This article sums up the initial feelings pretty nicely. I'll get over it and hope for the best but I had the mullygrubs today.

I put four slices of bacon in the oven, fed Sampson and made three fried eggs. Once I cleaned the dishes I changed and did the medium loop, 3 or so miles, to clear my thoughts and breathe in the fresh air. And it was a beautiful blue sky morning.

Post clean face lunch

I can't say that I did anything but stare until I had to get up and leave at 12:50. No TV or anything. I did squeeze in a flash of work, yay me. I went for the monthly facial to get cleansed. And it was gunked up something fierce. With the hormone surges I've been having, my esthetician says that she experienced the same symptoms right before she went into full menopause. Great. I got back home, talked to a solar energy guy that was outside and then heated leftover beef and cauli casserole. I watched The Fosters as day faded into night.

Balsamic mustard skirt

I've decided to attempt a break with Facebook. Just through the weekend as a test. There is too much nasty going on and it hinders my mood by crazy amounts. I will be able to like my Southern family and friends if I don't have to see the mean things they are posting, exposing our different values and views. In other news, our sprinkler system is still on, running regularly and the grass still growing. It's mid November! I do spot a shift which may mean we blow the lines out next Wednesday. Fingers crossed. It's time to get our winter on.

At 7:15 I got hungry and lit the grill. I had some balsamic mustard skirt steak that's been marinating since Sunday and ooooh wee was it good. I ate all of it, over a pound as I watched The Fosters. I finished up season 1 and crawled in bed for some Outlander.

Jello party for one

Pre-dance yogurt and bacon

Yay for solid sleep! I read some Outlander book 6 until 10 and didn't wake until 6:30. I rolled out of bed at 7:30, put bacon in the oven, fed Sampson and got the trash out. I had plain yogurt with my bacon and then was ready to change for dance. There was a cat fight today on the right sode of the room, the drama side. Thankfully I'm on the left, the non-drama side. So there's this Russian woman that likes to see herself in he mirror. She also likes to push others out of the way. Jane, a sweet little woman has been getting to class early to get her spot and the Russian blew a gasket today about it. She went to the front of the class and started spewing about Jane taking her spot. All the woman around her started arguing back. Anyway, the Russian was carted off and I heard that she will not be back.

Leftover lunching

I did get my dance on, got home and showered, put on my American flag Life is Good shirt and made my way to Bath & Body Works. I love when they bring in their holiday stuff. I left with a nice sampling of soaps and had to get a new freaking crazy cinnamon yummy candle. The house smells like fresh cinnamon rolls. A good scent with no baking! I got home and was super hungry. I heated the two leftover burgers and the rest of the Brussels and then melted on some Pepper Jack. I watched The Voice from last night and then had a long chat with my great Aunt Joy.

Best leftovers ever

I made a run to the grocery for cat food, finally figuring out which wet food Sampson likes best, got home and watched Jane the Virgin. At 5 I watched the sun fade away and by 5:30 it was gone. Sigh. I couldn't wait to crank up The Fosters again and watched a few episodes until I got hungry, around 7:30. I thought I was going to make a nice LC pizza but then opted for leftover beef and cauli casserole. And it was so dang good. I gawked at how the market started falling and tried to ignore election results except for friends texting. Many episodes into The Fosters I brought out the sugar free orange Jello. It would be a long night.

Super batch

Slow start Monday

I was on the couch last night watching TV and smelled skunk, like it was IN the house. The cats went to the front door and flashbacks of TX came rushing in. I peeked out the window and saw niohing so I opened the door and the smell came in full force. I hurried to close it but it kept coming in through the walls. I smelled it upstairs in the bathroom and through the night. Found out the neighbor dog got sprayed in the face and whoa it was strong.

Crappy night of not much sleep. Sampson started visiting me, to tell me he was hungry, at 2AM and then at 4 and then at 6 and then at 7:30. I also heard things in the night, as I usually do, so I turned my side lamp on and tried to sleep off and on. I got up at 7:45 and got the dude some food, which he ate pretty quickly.

Lunch shake

I answered some email and took care of a smidge of work before making bacon and eggs. I started a show on Netflix, The Fosters, which I've seen on ABC Family channel and I've heard it was good.  I watched the pilot and another episode, changed and made a run to the post office. When I got back there was no work so I started writing more memories, adding onto all of the others I have. One day I may find a writing coach to help put a book together. I made a protein shake and watched a third episode of The Fosters and before I knew it it was 2PM.

A big ol double batch of awesome

One of my clients has their new website for review. I sent the link to the test site today and I am nervous. I always get nervous when they start the review process. They could hate it and have so many changes. I'm also nervous about tomorrow's election. More nervous than I ever thought I'd be. One traveling reporter said that in all of his travels of late, most foreigners think that Trump would be an enormous embarrassment for the US and that they didn't realize just how divided the country is. And that we haven't been this divided sine the 1960s. That's not a good thing. I am with Pope Francis when he says build inclusion, not walls. Oooh I will need to dance it out in the morning for sure. I started making dinner at 4:30 and was done around 6. Yes it takes time to make my new favorite beef and cauli casserole and I even opted for no bacon this time but cooked the quarter onion and 2lbs of ground beef in bacon fat to add more flavor. Ooooh wee it was so good! I had a bowl and a half and watched The Fosters until it was time to start The Voice.

Five months

Eggs, bacon and the last no carb bun

Today makes exactly five months back into the very low carb eating. After the six months "off," and totally screwing my innerds up, it feels good to be treating myself right again. I haven't weighed and my clothes aren't fitting all that differently, yet, but my massage therapist asked about how things were going, that I seemed to be firming up. I'll take it. What have I noticed? I haven't been sick in five months. The six months I was off track I got sick at least 4 times that I can remember. I've had no constipation or IBS. No lethargy. No brain fog. No depression. I had all of this during that six months. I've been staying mostly under 10g of carbs for the majority of the days, and I'm glad it's been easy.

Leftover lunching

I slept well last night. Woke at 7, crawled out of bed at 7:30 and Kev made coffee, which meant butter coffee for me. I got bacon in the oven and scrambled eggs followed. I enjoyed them with the last no carb bun (no carb because I used a zero carb protein powder) and then cleaned up the dishes. I went to the grocery to pick up some items for the week and made another grocery run to find skirt steak. Got home and marinated it with my favorite balsamic mustard mix and can't wait to devour it this week.

We got hungry around 12:30 so I split the last of the lettuce and grilled chicken for us each a little salad. We each got one semi handful of lettuce. I had one chicken breast, a quarter of a cucumber, black olives and green onion. There was Mama salad dressing left so we finished it off too. It feels good to use everything in the fridge and not waste. And I used to be a big waster.

Beef & Brussels

We watched the PBS documentary "Hamilton's America" and it was all about how the Broadway show came to be. It was so well done and interesting that the hour and a half flew by quickly. The Kev then left for work at 4. Boo. I vacuumed and did a little last bit of laundry before I showered and tucked in for the night.

It was 5:28PM when I noticed that it was totally dark outside. It felt like I should hop right on into bed until I looked at the clock and was all "oh gosh." I watched How to be Single on HBO and heated the leftover sirloin, small burger patty and sprouts at 6:30. I made a hot cup of decaf Earl Grey and watched The Durrells of Corfu and then Poldark.

A day of buns

Morning sammich

It was a lovely night of sleep. The Kev rolled in from work around midnight. I said hello and conked right back out. We got up at 8. Kev made coffee. I fed Sampson and got bacon in the oven. I made a cup of butter coffee and then some fried eggs. We both decided to put our bacon and eggs on no carb buns for a breakfast sandwich. I melted some butter on each one to make it yummier.

A later lunch

The game started at 10 so Kev was in his Saturday spot (aka my spot) on the couch. I went up to the office and worked until around 1:30. I made up some half pound burgers and Kev grilled them around 2. I broiled on some sharp cheddar and put mayo and mustard on my no carb buns. A couple baby dills on the side did the trick. After the dishes were put away I got to cleaning the appliances. Grease spots and grossness were on them and I can't stand seeing it. The Scrubbing Bubbles Max grease cleaner, that I picked up to try, really cleaned with no effort. And did great on the stainless steel.

Steak and sprouts

The afternoon brought mostly laziness. I did a little piece of art, got a load of clothes washed and folded and put up and we actually left the house once to get something for the fish tank. I started some Brussels cooking low and slow at 5:30 and at 6:30 I had the very wee beginnings of hunger. I salted and peppered and oiled some sirloins and Kev grilled em up during the LSU/Alabama game. Steak and sprouts is one of my favorite meals. I wish it was a ribeye but we're out. It will soon be time for Kev to use his butchering skills to cut us up a whole one. We had a little sugar free lime Jello for dessert. I made it with cold Dasani pineapple sparkling water and it's quite spectacular.

Friday chill

Cuter than breakfast

Yet another great night of sleep. Got up at 6:30 to pee and then lounged until the alarm went off at 7. When I drink less water I don't have to get up. Go figure.

I met an old colleague for breakfast at Morning Glory at 7:30 and it was so nice to catch up. It's been a couple years at least. I sipped some Earl Grey hot tea and had a cheese omelet with extra crispy bacon while we chatted. It was so nice I completely forgot to snap a pic so I've included a portrait of Pixel instead. He's much cuter than my omelet.

Lunch shake on the go

I had no work scheduled today to I got some stuff done. I vacuumed, dropped clothes at the cleaners, got propane refilled and went to a local pet store for the first time. I then changed and went to noon dance. When I got home, I dried the sweat from my hair with the blow dryer and spritzed on some body spray to mask the now dried sweat. I whipped up a protein shake and drank it on the way to my massage at 2. I was home by 4, took a shower, got into my comfies and made a b-line to the spot on the couch for some Grey's Anatomy.

Yummy leftover dinner

I heated the rest of the amazing leftover beef and cauli casserole for dinner and watched some Cedar Cove. And can I say that I am super super super duper excited that The Crown, from Netflix, is out today and I suspect that it will be my next binge watch in the very near future. I have been waiting for it.

I finished up the berry salad, which consisted of precisely 5 raspberries, half of a strawberry and one blueberry. I topped it with some of the homemade sugar-free whipped cream and ended up watching the rest of Cedar Cove. And right at a big cliff hanger ending of season 3 the show ended. Hallmark canceled the show. OMG I'll never know if Olivia chooses Jack or Paul! I'm team Paul. Oh I'm so sad! Looks like The Crown will come much sooner than expected.

Cauli casserole is the best

Plain yogurt with berries

A second night of good sleep. I didn't go to bed until midnight, after finishing up some work. And there was no getting up until 6:30 and then right back to sleep, until 8. I got up and had 1/4c plain yogurt with a little Stevia and a spoonful of berry salad. Soon after I changed and headed to the gym for an hour of dance. Got home, did a bit of work and then showered off the gross.

Burgers on cloud bun

At noon I made a batch of these cloud buns and at 12:30 heated the two leftover .25lb burgers, melted on some cheddar and plopped them on two of the warm, fresh buns. I watched Younger and worked from my well worn spot on the couch. In between emails I put some last Halloween away and vacuumed. I went out to get the mail mid afternoon and there was a package for me! My friend Gen sent me such a beautiful necklace with stones and beads and fringe. I had to ask Lis how to wear it with the fringe and seems this is a new thing. She told me to Google it and I found something similar. The fringe goes down the front along with the rest. Not down the back as we both thought.

Beef & Cauli casserole with surprise gift necklace

I was done with work by 4 and watched The Vampire Diaries. I'm so glad it's the last season. Around 5PM I started prepping dinner. I wanted beef and cauli casserole and it's a bit of a production. I cut up the cauli and got it boiling. While it was cooking I diced and browned three slices of bacon and set it aside. In the bacon fat I sauteed a quarter of an onion and added in the pound of ground beef. I strained the cauli once it was done and set it aside. When the meat was browned I strained it and set it aside too. Next up was making the cheese sauce. When it was done I poured it over the cauli and stirred in the seasoned meat with it. Dumped it into a small baking dish and topped with the bacon bits and half cup of shredded cheddar. Baked at 400 for 20 minutes and viola. Perfection. I chatted with Mama and then watched The Durrells, which I didn't get to last night.

A day of leftovers

Steak-n-eggs before dance

Sleep was good. Nice and cool. I laid my head on the pillow just after 11 and slept until around 4 when I headed for the bathroom. We got up after 8 and gathered and got the trash out. Kev put up all the outside Halloween decorations and I made coffee and got the leftover sirloin cut up and browning on the stove. I made scrambled eggs to go with it and had an hour to let it digest before dance.

Mmm. Meat and cauli

After a good hour of whooping it up on the dance floor I got home, showered and answered a few emails. I grilled a few quarter pound patties and heated some leftover cheesy cauli. The Kev headed for work in the early afternoon and I headed to the store for lemons, marinated some chicken and the cruised on up to the office and worked until almost 7.

A little bit of everything leftover

Dinner was a hodge-podge of leftovers hanging out in the fridge. I heated one quarter pound burger patty from lunch, half of the remaining mini weenies from the weekend, the remainder of the cheesy cauliflower and a small lettuce salad. I was eager to watch Sunday's Poldark, which was so good as usual, made a cup of decaf Earl Grey tea and then watched last night's The Voice before hopping into bed.