01.31.10
Posted in cooking/food, shopping, wedding at 6:05 pm by delipics
I’ve been on my diet for one month and I have lost weight!
I didn’t buy a scale so I can’t give you that kind of a number. I did measure my waist - it was 32 inches. I am now 31 inches, my clothes are getting looser and I see the results in the mirror. My energy level is increasing and, I don’t know if this has anything to do with it, my skin has improved too. I feel great about this! I have renewed my sense of discipline and I no longer feel at a loss when it comes to my weight.
As I’ve said before, keeping the diet journal is an eye-opening exercise. I’ve learned my weaknesses are potato chips, french fries and pastries. (Like Delancey’s cinnamon swirl - soooo goooood.) If I have one bite of any of those foods, then I’m in trouble. I have more control when it comes to dark chocolate. I can have 1/2 an ounce of chocolate and I’m satisfied. The other trouble area is going out to eat. There is too much temptation and the servings are too big. The hard fact is the best way to control your calorie intake is to cook and prepare your own food. It’s not always easy to do that but I’m getting better at it. I’m most pleased with my breakfast choices. I used to eat muffins or croissants. Now I eat 1/2 cup each of lowfat yogurt and applesauce; or low calorie slice of whole wheat bread with 1 tablesppon natural peanut butter; or when I want to treat myself, egg white, lowfat cheese, turkey bacon on a whole wheat bagel.
I treated myself today with the purchase of a low calorie cookbook. I was looking for a book with a variety of meals, specific calorie and serving intake and, most importantly, tasty recipes. Epiphany folks - watching your calories does not mean giving up taste! I went to Book Court, an independent book shop in Brooklyn, and found Eating Well’s 500 Calorie Dinners.
I tried one of the recipes for dinner tonight, Mozzarella-Stuffed Turkey Burgers. My modifications: added mushrooms to the marinara sauce, no garlic in the burger because I thought there was enough garlic in the marinara, and instead of focaccia bread for the bun, I used Pepperidge Farm’s 100 calorie Deli Flats. Quick and easy to prepare, very flavorful and (not including the PF deli flat) 300 calories per serving! This may become a standard in our house.
To all those who are on a diet: pat yourself on the back! It’s hard work and a book like this can help.
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01.28.10
Posted in crafty, wedding at 12:51 pm by delipics
So I’ve narrowed down the wedding DIY projects, now what? Once I selected my wedding colors, indigo and cream, I knew that would be one of the things to help in decision making. Remember, the idea is to keep things simple.
This being New York City, the resources are all here!
1. Make our own invitations / wedding programs / place cards / table numbers
Start at the paper mecca known as Paper Presentation. I’ve known about this place for years. My first visit there, I wandered around for 30 minutes and then made a frantic call to my honey, “I’m overwhelmed! Help!” Then I calmed down, listened to my instincts, repeated the mantra, “Keep it simple” and went with the Seal ‘N Send Invitations in Crest Baronial Ivory. I didn’t want an invitation with all that extra paper froufrou, plus the RSVP card is detatchable - smart! If I want to add an insert, like a map, easy to do. We decided to use sealing wax (navy wax was the closest color) with our initials, instead of stickers, to seal the invite. Also, I bought matching envelopes, in case I need to include an insert. I figured if I don’t use the envelopes, I can save them for the thank-you cards. Paper Presentations offers volume discounts, so I felt comfortable buying extra because I know there will be mistakes.
To keep it simple, I bought the wedding programs, place cards and table numbers in the same Crest Baronial Ivory color. Everything is going to be done on the computer, except for maybe the table numbers. I am toying around with another idea. I will either use indigo patterned paper and cut out the numbers to glue against the cream background - OR - I will print the number and on the other side have an image depicting weddings or lovers. I got this idea from a painting show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - specifically this wedding portrait. Whichever one I choose is going to depend on time and energy.
2. Make our own table decorations
To fit our budget, I was going to nix the flower centerpiece for the table, but I thought I would do something else in paper. My first idea was the ever popular large paper pompom, ala Martha Stewart. Then while waiting to get a massage, I browsed through the November 2009 issue of Real Simple and saw a great idea using a branch and paper flowers. I’d like to make this table center piece one day, but it’s not keeping it simple. Finally, and I don’t remember how I found him, I saw the art work of Peter Callesen, and I was inspired.
I bought navy blue cardstock and I’m going to cut a simple heart. The base of the heart will stay attached, then I can bend the heart shape up. My mother-in-law-to-be gave us as a Christmas gift the love letters of Abigail and John Adams. I’m going to write quotes from their letters in silver ink on the base of the cardstock.
3. Make my own bouquet, boutonnieres and corsages for the wedding party
There are many tutorials out there on making your bouquet, boutonnieres and corsages. These are the tutorials I like:
How to make a floral buttonhole (video)
How to make a corsage (video)
How to make a boutonniere
Corsage instructions
Fresh Corsage Tutorial with Photos (from Onewed.com)
My plan is to first make practice bouquet, corsages and boutonnieres. You know, work out all the kinks first. My sister-in-law recommended Jamali Garden Supplies so a couple of weekends ago I went on a wedding supply shopping spree and bought the floral wire, tape, and pins from Jamali and organza ribbon from M&J Trimming. I feel okay, like I have what I need, but I’m sure as the day gets closer I’ll think of all sorts of last minutes purchases. (Must keep breathing, chant, “Keep it simple.”) The next big task on the To Do list are the invites, then I can play around with arranging flowers and paper heart designs.
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01.22.10
Posted in Crochet, Felt, crafty, wedding at 2:38 pm by delipics
Being a fiber gal, I thought I would use knitting or crochet elements in the wedding. My first idea was knit or crochet boutonnieres and corsages. I immediately bought these two books:
100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet
Next idea was crochet hearts. Crochet hearts could be used for anything - strewn artfully on a table, tied with ribbon onto the rungs of a chair, hanging from a church pew, sewed into a garland - the list is endless. There are many free heart crochet projects on Ravelry. My favorite is the Corazoncitos amigurumi hearts.
I also thought about felt. Just like the crochet hearts, felt can be used in numerous ways. Specifically, I have this idea of a “Just Married” banner in felt, with a stiff interface backing, maybe wired so it looks like it’s moving in the wind. I probably have seen this somewhere online on a DIY site of blog, but I can’t find the link. If you find any good examples, let me know.
With the internet, it’s an endless DIY creative universe out there. One can be very quickly overwhelmed by all the DIY wedding projects out there. I kept thinking to myself, “I need to keep this simple.” So after thinking about possible wedding projects, I’ve narrowed down my DIY wedding projects, albiet non-fiber, to the following:
- Make our own invitations
- Make our own wedding programs
- Make our own place cards and table numbers
- Make our own table decorations - But not centerpieces! I’m not doing centerpieces! Kind of shocking, huh?
- Make my own bouquet, boutonnieres and corsages for the wedding party - Easy-peasy. I figured if I can knit and crochet, I can do my own flowers and not spend the $$$, thankyouverymuch!
These are possible DIY wedding projects if I find the time and energy to do it:
- Banner - Either a “Just Married” or one with our names or initials.
- Garland - Using either felt or paper - So many examples on the internet.
- Crochet or knit bowls for the table
More than enough to take care of, especially since I’ve been trying to keep things simple.
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01.21.10
Posted in cooking/food, wedding at 6:34 am by delipics
I am officially on a diet.
At first, I decided there was no way I would diet for my wedding - what you see is what you get.
As the bride I get to change my mind any time I want.
My dad is my diet hero. He went on a diet and lost 15 pounds by counting calories, weighing his food and keeping a record of what he ate in one of these.
After Christmas, I went out to my local B&N to buy the diet journal and a food calorie book, and I stopped by my favorite chef supply store for the food scale. I decided not to buy a regular scale because I would knew I would obsess about the weight number and it would more likely become a de-motivator. I’m going by the tightness/looseness of my clothes and using a measuring tape to keep track of the weight loss.
The diet began January 1st, 2010.
The first week SUCKED. I thought I was hungry all the time. I would look at the clock to see when I could eat my next meal. I had to constantly remind myself how great I will look when I lose the weight. All I wanted to eat was cheese and chocolate. But then something changed and it’s actually a rewarding process. I will say it’s still not an easy, but I do get a personal satisfaction from knowing I am making healthy choices. From a scientific point of view, I am learning a lot about the food I eat and what I decide to ingest.
I am also exercising. I joined a pilates studio and I love the workout. It takes me out of my day-to-day distractions and I focus on the here-and-now of the body’s movement. It’s week three and I can tell I’ve lost some weight because my pants are a eensy bit looser. And I definitely feel better.
I have learned to love salad. I am beginning to prefer cooking or making my own meals rather than buying take-out. I know when I am full. I drink a lot more water. I can forgive myself if I go higher than my allotted daily calorie count because tomorrow really is another day. It’s okay to leave some food on the plate. There are countless delicious low-cal recipes on the internet, like this one, I can’t wait to try it. Here is the recipe.
Alton Brown's Sardine-Avocado Sandwich
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01.05.10
Posted in wedding at 4:45 pm by delipics
Wedding babee!
That’s right, my honey and I are tying the knot this spring! I’m busy busy planning and researching and organizing and scheduling and shopping and weddingyadayadayada — thus, the lack of knit or crochet.
I’m thinking of creating a separate webpage on this blog on all things wedding. I’ll probably list links to the vendors and other DIY finds we’re using. If I get any knit or crochet time, I’ll update the blog.
Oh, here’s one thing - Chic Knits had contest in November and I won a book! I’m one of those people who never win something and I lucked out. Yay!
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