#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Weight Loss Tips: Tales from the Front Line

November 29, 2010 · Narrative


Tom Colicchio Pumpkin Pie

Isn’t that the most beautiful pumpkin pie you ever did see?  It shouldn’t surprise you that it comes from my chef crush Tom Colicchio.  You know, the guy behind the Top Chef franchise and all those awesome restaurants…?  I have made no secret about my love for Chef Tom.  My sister brought the pumpkin pie from his ‘wichcraft restaurant in NYC to our Thanksgiving dinner, and given that Tom was involved with it, well that just made it even more delicious.  It had a deeper taste than the usual pumpkin pie and the crust was like no other.  Part of the uniquely delicious taste comes from the fact that they use roasted pumpkins and local honey, along with the usual suspects.  I got two small slices in my to-go box from my parents, and, sniff, sniff, they’re already gone.  All gone.  Beth, you hear that?  

I am happy to report that I survived the eat-fest holiday known as Thanksgiving.

Carb overload.

And I didn’t gain a pound.

Not only that, but I lost three.

Even better, it was quite unintentional.

I mean, I’m supremely intentional about losing weight, but wasn’t super-vigilant about it during the holiday.  I try to keep an “everything in moderation” way about it.  Because if you don’t indulge, just a little, you’ll soon find yourself chin-deep in a quart of Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia, with no one to blame but yourself.

I had the Brown Sugar Brie.  And a Spinach Cheese Square.  And a few Sausage Cheese Puffs.  And Cranberry Conserve.  And a few Cranberry Almond Bars.  And two slices of pumpkin pie.   Not all in one sitting, mind you.

But then I was going non-stop activity-wise the night before, cooking up all the side dishes and running around like crazy doing stuff with the kids’ schools.  And I was up for 23 hours the next day.  So while I might have indulged a little, my body was busy too.

The “everything in moderation” thing has worked well for me this year.  You can’t go crazy with the interpretation of it though.  It doesn’t mean Tortellini Alfredo with Garlic Bread one night, and a big fat piece of cake the next.  It means that if there is a special day or an infrequent just because, have that small piece of cake.  Because if you don’t, you’ll end up tipping your scales the other way.  And with all of us knee-deep in the holidays, it’s an important lesson to take heed to.

Don’t deprive yourself.  Indulge.  Just a smidge.  And continue back on the straight and narrow.  You’ll enjoy the holidays more.  And you’ll enjoy yourself more.  Swear.

Project 365
November 29, 2010, Photos #229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234 and 235

Sad Little Sick Girl

This poor little face. Since late this afternoon, she has been coming up to me every half-hour or so. “Mom?” Yes, Madeline? “I’m sick.” I know, sweetie, I’m sorry. I smooth her bangs a bit across her forehead.  Rub her back and belly.  Offer her something to suck on or drink.  And commiserate.  She has a stuffy head cold, poor thing. And now that she says it hurts when she coughs, well, we’ll see how she is faring tomorrow when she wakes up. I’m hoping she can sleep it off. None of us have been down for the count since pre-2009 Winter, and we’re all vitamined, flu-shotted and orange-juiced up, and hoping to make it through another Winter germ-free. My sad little girl.

New Art Installation

The newest art installation in the O’Malley Art Gallery. I do so love kid art.  So colorful and happy.  This time, Madeline has completely monopolized the wall, but that’s ok because the last installation was all Nick, with the exception of one of her paintings.

Madeline's Turkey

Madeline's Tree

Madeline's Pilgrim

Nick's Gratitude Wreath

This one is Nick’s, his Gratitude Wreath that we made as a class project last week.

Mason Jar Frappuccino

A recipe for tomorrow.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: 'wichcraft restaurant, dieting during the holidays, displaying kid art, everything in moderation, Tom Colicchio

Comments

  1. Casey says

    November 29, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    Love the crafts! So colorful and fun.

    Great tips on weight control. I’m trying to lose, lose, lose and am welcome to any and all advice!

    Reply
  2. Joanne says

    November 30, 2010 at 7:16 am

    I’m trying to lose a few pounds this holiday season myself and this post was so inspirational Cate! I did way better than ever before this Thanksgiving and stuck to the dishes that I knew I really wanted, and avoided the stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. that I really didn’t. You are so inspirational!

    I hope Maddie feels better!

    Reply
  3. Ramona says

    November 30, 2010 at 11:22 am

    Hope she’s feeling better.

    Luv her art work.

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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