Archives for 2011

Recipe: Baked Turkey Taquitos

January 18, 2011 · Narrative

Nick was helping me cook dinner tonight because I was way behind after an unexpected trip to the doctor for Madeline this afternoon. Double ear infection, my poor little baby. Luckily our dinner guests were late, so with Nick’s help we actually got everything done before they arrived.

As we were cooking, he was asking me questions about why I do certain things in the kitchen and said that he doesn’t cook with The Ex’s Girlfriend because she does a lot of “knife cooking.” Then he went on to tell me that she uses oil and it’s one of the groups in the food pyramid (they’re studying it a bit in Health class in school now). And that’s when I told him to stop stirring the rice and to go Google “food pyramid,” print out the picture he finds and bring it to me.

Yes, indeed, “good” oils are marginally represented on the food pyramid by that tiny thin yellow line on the right, but it is definitely not one of the major food groups like he was thinking. Not that I had any doubts, but I thought it was important for him to see a visual and that we talk about it. I explained about good fats and bad fats and then we talked about which of the major food groups our dinner would be hitting. With tonight’s Mexican feast, we managed to hit grains, meats and fruits, and then added dairy on the side. Not bad, and a healthy, well-rounded meal that fed two adults and five kids for under fifteen bucks. I’ll take it.

The main course was a recipe I found on The Creative Mama’s website for Baked Turkey Taquitos, and everyone at the table inhaled them. Well, except for my sick little. She pushed the food around on her plate and ate a bowl of strawberries, chased down by applesauce and carrots. She feels so out of it, I can’t blame her.

The recipe could not be simpler, is full of flavor, inexpensive to make and can be on your table in under 30 minutes. Add a side of Mexican Rice (I used brown), homemade guacamole and salsa, and a bowl of fresh fruit, and dinner is done. Aside from the browning of the ground turkey, Nick made the Turkey Taquitos completely on his own, so this is a perfect recipe when your little helpers are clamoring to assist.

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Eat. Live. Be. #3: Baby, It’s Cold Outside

January 17, 2011 · Narrative

I used to sing that Dean Martin song, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” to Nick when he was a baby; it brings back such fond memories, so it should be no surprise that I named this week’s theme for Eat. Live. Be. The topic, though we’ll all interpret it slightly differently, is how to keep motivated during these cold winter months, and for me, it’s a definite challenge.

Right now, it’s about 20 degrees outside and I just got a call from Nick’s school that they have a 90-minute delayed opening tomorrow because of snow due to arrive after midnight tonight. When the winds are so blustery outside that I can hear them from inside my toasty warm house, it’s no wonder I have to give myself an extra push to get out the door to work out. So how to fight that?

Try to work out before you go to work in the morning, or right after. I find that once I’m already out of the house, it’s easier to handle making one other stop, than to force myself to leave the house once I’m home.
Focus on how you feel after the work-out. I feel amazing when I leave the gym, so I try and remember that feeling and force myself out. That endorphin rush is like nothing else. Nothing.
On particularly bad days where the snow is so high you can’t open your door, work out at home. Arm yourself with a few of your favorite exercise DVDs or stream them on your computer. Put together a routine with light weights and go through the paces. DO IT.
Make standing appointments to meet work-out partners. Knowing someone else is counting on me makes me extra motivated to leave the house when it’s cold.
When you get dressed in the morning, put your gym clothes on right away. On the weekends, it’s too easy to get consumed with a To Do List a mile long. If I put my sweats on right away, it’s a constant reminder to get thyself to the gym.
Reward yourself. “If I go work out five days this week, I will buy that new book on the bestseller list.” Work out consistently every day during a winter month and treat yourself to a new blouse or necklace. Allow your treadmill time at the gym to be the only time you catch up on your favorite Food Network shows.
And when all else fails? Countdown the days to Spring. I’m not ashamed to admit that we are totally doing that here. 61 days to go… I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

Eat. Live. Be. is a big group effort, so please do check out what motivational tips and keep-warm recipes my fellow ELBers are sharing this week:

Sarah Caron – www.sarahscucinabella.com
Maris Callahan – www.ingoodtasteblog.net
Chris Arpante – www.melecotte.com
Faith – www.clickblogappetit.com/
Kristen – www.dineanddish.net
Emily – http://andersonfamilycrew.blogspot.com/
Jenna – FireMom – http://stopdropandblog.com/
Casey – http://www.thestarnesfam.com
Patsy – http://familyfriendsandfood.blogspot.com/
Tri-Fit Mom – http://trifitmom.blogspot.com/
Claire – http://cookiedoc.blogspot.com/
Allison – http://sweetflours.blogspot.com/
Jen – http://njepicurean.blogspot.com/
Leslie – www.thehungryhousewife.com
Rivki Locker – http://www.healthyeatingforordinarypeople.com/
Claudia – Journey of an Italian Cook
Jennifer Schulz – http://lick-a-plate.blogspot.com/
Sarah Rogers – http://sarahssweetcreations.blogspot.com
Denise and Lenny – http://www.chezus.com

Did you share how to combat the Baby It’s Cold Outside feelings on your own blog? Add your link below!

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Craft Time: How to Make a Balloon Wreath

January 16, 2011 · Narrative

Looking for an easy and festive way to celebrate special occasion? This DIY Balloon Wreath is perfect.

My camera has been having little fits, so forgive the interruption in the regularly scheduled Weekend Photos in Review. Instead, my Project 365 photos (below) and a fun craft will have to do.

When I saw this craft on How Does She? a few months back, I printed it out and made a mental note to make it for Madeline’s upcoming birthday. I loved how fun and colorful it was, the perfect way to signal a very special day, whether it be hers or someone else’s.

Since her upcoming party is going to be rainbow-themed (thanks for the food suggestions, by the way!), I debated about making a rainbow-themed wreath, but opted to, instead, make it multi-color, that way it could be used birthday after birthday, year after year.

This just might be the easiest craft ever. I think all told it took me maybe 30 minutes from start to finish, and under $15 worth of supplies. To save a bit of money, the biggest stash of balloons came from the dollar store. There are several problems with this, as I soon found out.

First, you can’t tell how many ugly brown and black balloons you’ll get in your package. Second, the package wasn’t even marked as to how many balloons it contained (they ranged from 35-42 balloons per pack, go figure).

And third, you end up with a few weird balloons like this.

Alrighty then.

I ended up using four packages from the dollar store, and then supplemented it with packs I bought at Target. Those were much nicer, albeit pricier (15 balloons for $1.25). The bonus is that you could get packages of just a single color, which I liked much better. Your party supply store would, of course, be a good bet, as well as buying in bulk online.

You’ll also need a plastic-wrapped wreath (was just over two bucks at Michaels with their 40% off coupon) and a few packages of greening pins (in the fake floral department of your local craft store).

Open up all your packages and start pinning the balloons to the wreath like so. I kept the plastic on the wreath to keep my dining room from becoming quickly covered by straw.

You could easily color coordinate the balloons on the wreath. I didn’t, going for just bright pops of color instead.

Once it was done, I tied a red ribbon around it so I can hang it on the front door on party day. The ribbon was a steal in the 80% off holiday section at Michaels – under two bucks for the whole roll and I have most of it leftover.

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Ten on Thursday

January 13, 2011 · Narrative

It’s like Ten on Tuesday. Only not.

I was planning to tell you about a Puerto Rican Chicken recipe we had last night for dinner, only I just don’t have the brain power to write the post tonight and have it not sound like “I had a cheese sandwich.” Long-time bloggers will nod at the “cheese sandwich” reference. Just one of those weeks where I am spent.
If you need a new exercise DVD in your home library, you still have time to enter the giveaway Eat. Live. Be. is doing on The Voice of Mom. For some reason, Bethenny Frankel’s DVD doesn’t seem to be a big draw, and for you that’s a good thing, because as of right this moment, there are only four (!!) entries and we pull a random winner tomorrow night. Go get ’em!
I landed another freelance writing job this week, this time for the fine folks at Betty Crocker. Color me psyched! I’ll be writing for them weekly on one of their sites, all about comfort food, seasonal items and more. More details to follow.
I have only had one Diet Coke all week. I am trying not to get my caffeine fix from Starbucks, but it hasn’t been easy. This girl needs a little extra oomph sometimes, you know?
There are 67 days to go until Spring. But it’s not like I’m counting or anything.
Planning has begun in earnest for Madeline’s THIRD birthday. A rainbow-themed party. Or the “happy birthday to me party,” as she calls it. I have the desserts and side dishes all worked out but am so far stumped on how I can incorporate the rainbow in a more “main” or lunchtime food. Have divine inspiration for me? Clue me in. Please.
The master bath was (finally) painted this week. I told Sarah that it was the color of my happy place. She asked if it was sand or water. The girl knows me too well. Can’t wait to show you pictures. Once I put the artwork up. Artwork that I amassed some five years ago.
My littlest bunny has had a terrible cough all week, but is stellar at coughing into her “wings.” She didn’t quite understand why the doctor she saw this morning didn’t ask to see her new earrings, but she did make out with two stickers, one for herself and one for Nick. She’s thoughtful like that. The doctor mentioned that it’s a sign of her awesome upbringing, which nearly made up for her being rude minutes earlier.
Oh the stories I could tell you about some conversations I’ve had with Madeline lately, particularly the one this morning in the waiting room. They would seriously have you rolling around on the floor with tears in your eyes. Unfortunately they’re not all PG-rated. She has, however, noticed that Eli does not have boobies, but he has a butt. I’m sure he’s thankful the attention she’s paying to his body.
TGIF. I don’t know about you, but it’s been a l-o-n-g week here and we’re all due for some weekend rejuvenation. Make every second of yours counts, because Monday comes way too quickly.

Project 365
January 13, 2011, Photo #13
Our technology basket. BlackBerry charger, cell phone charger, DSi charger, camera battery charger and goodness knows what else. I was aching for a way to keep it all reasonably organized and sometimes in a mess of black cables, it’s hard to know which one goes with what. So last year, in an effort to curtail the madness, I grabbed a basket and started labeling Ziploc bags for the different things. Works like a charm.

Wordless Wednesday

January 12, 2011 · Narrative

She decided Saturday afternoon that she wanted her ears pierced. NOW. I went over what they do to pierce them, what it would feel like and asked if she still wanted it done. She nodded her head as vehemently as she could.

When we got there, she asked Nick if he would hold her hand. She watched as a much older girl in front of her got her ears pierced, and was happy to see the girl was all smiles afterward. Behind Madeline was a 15-year-old who decided that if Madeline could do it, then so could she, although she was really, really, really nervous. (Madeline went back after we paid to stay with the girl for moral support.)

There were a few tears, of course, but they were gone by the time I paid. She has been ultra-diligent about letting me cleaning her ears, and slowly turning the earrings daily.

Saturday night, she went running down a list of people she wanted to call and tell. Could we call her teacher now? What about The Neighbor Wife? And Mimi (Grandma)? And the next day, she ran to show Sophie and her Aunt. She was so very proud and couldn’t wait to show off her new earrings. Even now, when she sees someone who hasn’t seen them yet, she shows them right away.

Yesterday, on the way to school, she carefully put her hair back behind her ears and looked in a mirror.

“I’m a lady now,” she said.

Indeed….

Recipe: Spike Mendelsohn’s Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake

January 11, 2011 · Narrative

A decadent milkshake from Bravo TV Top Chef alum Spike Mendelsohn. Totally worth making.

Whether you’re following a clean eating plan, Weight Watchers, or something you cobbled together, I believe that you have to give yourself permission to indulge. Just a little bit. Within reason. Every now and then. Even my old hardcore Triathalon competitor personal trainer was known to indulge too, but here’s the key (as he explained it)… make it count. If you feel the sudden need to have a wee bit of ice cream, make it Haagen Dazs, not the store brand, you know? Don’t waste the calories and sugar on some also-ran store special.

And so it was with these Toasted Marshmallow Milkshakes on Sunday night. I worked out in the morning, cleaned the house with the kids, and ate clean the entire day. Come Sunday night and company for dinner, I wanted the teensiest bit of indulgence, and these milkshakes were just the ticket. The recipe makes four, and I eeked out six servings, so we all had a little less to feel guilty about. But, OMG were they good. And since that’s coming from someone who doesn’t get excited about milkshakes like ever, let alone anything with marshmallows, that’s saying a lot.

The recipe comes from Spike Mendelsohn, and Top Chef fans will recognize him from Season 4. He owns the Good Stuff Eatery in Washington DC and created this milkshake to celebrate the 2009 inauguration. If you’re in the mood for a little sweet celebration, this one might be just the ticket. Drink up.

Project 365
January 11, 2011, Photo #11This is what Madeline’s room looked like as we left the house at 8 am this morning. The photo is completely unretouched. It makes me smile every time I see this room. When the curtains are drawn, it makes the room this wonderful shade of deep pink and it can’t help but make you happy as you dash out the door. That and the blinding pink helps me ignore the mess she leaves in her wake.

Eat. Live. Be. Week #2: Finding Your Support Group

January 10, 2011 · Narrative

For our second week of Eat. Live. Be. we are all tackling the topic of finding a support network. Remember when you were in high school and your parents cautioned you against hanging out with certain crowds? Oh. That was just me? Ok then, let’s pretend it wasn’t. Having a support group to help you meet your goals is kind of like that. Hang out with negative influences and they might entice you to behave negatively. Positive peeps bring out the positive. Yes, it really can be that simple.

One of the parts of our lives that I have worked on over the past few years is paying closer attention to the people that we interact with on a regular basis. Not like any of our besties are like Danny Zuko pushing us to smoke cigarettes and drag race until the wee hours, but I’m sure you get my drift. I want to be around people that are good. That make us feel good. That want more. That strive for more. That treat their bodies well. Because good begets good. And that makes me a) want to be even better and b) want to stay on the straight and narrow and stay away from detractors. You know, like Diet Coke and potato chips. Hello, salt, thy name is Cate.

Having a support network is absolutely 100% paramount to meeting a goal successfully. And it’s not just about losing weight. It can be about anything really. It’s about surrounding yourself with people who get you. Who get what you’re working to achieve. Who will cheer you on as you work towards it. Who will pick you back up and bolster you if need be. Who are like-minded folks with like-minded goals.

So now that you know you need a support network, how do you go about getting one? For me, it happens rather organically.

This little grassroots Eat. Live. Be. challenge (and accompanying facebook page) has become a great source of support. We are all working towards some sort of goal … together. Becoming each other’s cheerleaders. Getting new ideas. Sharing tips and tricks. Hey, there’s even a giveaway going on today, if you need a new exercise dvd to kick-start your own routine.
The gym. I take classes at a variety of places, and the people that assemble have slowly become a little bit like an adjunct family. One of my Zumba classes I’ve been going to for a year, and there are maybe 7 or 8 of us that chat before and after class. They notice if I’m not there. And I ask where they’ve been when they miss a class or two. Last week, I spent the whole hour of Thursday’s class beating myself up about a specific body part. Just one of those days. Afterwards, one of the women came up to me. “I bet you’ve lost 15 pounds since the holidays,” she said. I smiled. “A few pounds, not quite 15.” “Well you look great!” She didn’t know the mind battles I was going through during the hour-long sweatfest, and her unsolicited pat on the back reminded me how far I’d come.
Exercise buddies. Seek out those in your posse that like to work out. And it doesn’t have to be a regimented class. Maybe you have a group that likes to go hiking. Or bicycle riding. Or chase your kids at the playground with other moms. Seek out people that like to move. And schedule time to move with them.
Friends that hold you accountable. I have a few friends that are total hardcore when it comes to working out. Two especially come to mind. One will text me … “I’m going by your house to pick you up in 30. Be ready. No excuses.” On a day that I wasn’t going. I do work out 5-6 days a week! She said Saturday that I’ve come too far and she will drag me out of the house if need be. This is also coming from someone who takes three back-to-back hour-long classes on the weekend. The word “hardcore” might not even be strong enough to describe her. Another friend works out Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and if I’m feeling ambivalent about a specific day (weather, work, homework, fill in the blank), I know if I just shoot him an IM he will guilt me into the fact that HE is going and if I don’t, he will be one up on me. And I can’t have that. So I engage. This type of guilt works in my favor every time.
Make Standing Appointments. In a roundabout way, this is part of creating your support network. Because it’s about making your support network work in the best way possible. When I was getting in shape for my wedding, I bartered services with a local personal trainer. After we made our arrangements, he said he’d meet me the next day at 12 noon for a one-hour work-out. And he did. Every weekday for three months. Because we had a standing appointment, and this goes back a bit to last week’s Putting YOU on the List, there was no putting it off for a better time. Everything gets worked around it. I have set classes with a few of the people I work out with too, just like the standing appointment with my old personal trainer. They are counting on me to show up, and I them. There is no “it’s a crazy day, I can’t make it” or “Thursday’s not good, what about Friday?” It just is. Period. End of story.

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Weekend Photos in Review

January 9, 2011 · Narrative

*photo by Nick

The Neighbor Wife came with me to a 90-minute Zumba class on Saturday. This was her sentiment about halfway through.

New Jersey got more snow on Friday, and the kids a half-day off from school. How many more days until Spring?

Sadie Loves Nick …

2010 Goal: Met

January 6, 2011 · Narrative

I had many goals for 2010.

Small goals.

Big goals.

Some seemingly insurmountable goals.

I feel like I met most of them.

But, most importantly, I met the biggest one of all.

To get back to my wedding weight.

When I got married, I was physically in a good place.

In the zone.

Committed to working out, eating clean and taking care of me.

Later that year, I let go of the wheel.

Big time.

Kids. Houses. Distractions. EXCUSES.

2010 was the start of a lot of things.

And not because I got divorced.

In spite of that actually.

By the end of the year, my goal was met.

I was back to my wedding weight.

In fact, 10 pounds lighter.

A friend mentioned that the wedding picture above on the left isn’t the best one because you can’t see most of me. But that wasn’t the point. It was just to depict a great day in my life, and a goal I kept in my crosshairs all through 2010. And it happens to be one of my favorite pictures from that day.

The picture on the right? It was taken a few weeks ago. Those don’t happen to be the largest jeans I owned. That would have been two sizes bigger. Unfortunately I got rid of all those clothes. Wished I had thought to save a pair.

I am inexplicably proud of myself for having met that goal head on.

Through setting up a new house. Again.

A divorce.

Nick changing schools.

Being downsized at work.

And countless other challenges that came my way.

I kept my head down and plowed through.

Listen to me closely. If I can do it, so can you.

I promise you that, if nothing else.

Make no excuses for yourself.

Accept nothing but the best for yourself.

Be good to yourself.

Inside and out.

This year, one of my goals is to take off the last bit of weight and be done with it once and for all. The closer I get, the more exciting it gets.

2010 was my year.

So is 2011….

What I Wore Wednesday

January 5, 2011 · Narrative

Regaining interest in shopping over the past year has been a totally pleasurable experience, and I have learned more than a few things along the way.

Shop with a friend or family member. Besides the obvious reasons that it’s fun and you’ll get instant objective feedback, I have found that I discover new stores that I wouldn’t normally go into by doing that. When Beth and I hit the outlets this weekend, she dragged me into Ann Taylor, a shop I’ve never set foot in before because I thought it was a little too conservative. Well, two slightly sequined tops later, I had changed my mind.

When I was shopping in Old Navy with Jamie last Spring, I tried on a sweater that I thought looked fine, but she insisted I should try it on in a medium. It never occurred to me that I might have shrunk a bit. Opinions. Everyone has them, and sometimes it even pays to listen to them. Go figure. :)

Don’t pigeonhole a store. Old Navy, for the most part, is typically known for their more casual clothing … sweats, t-shirts, hoodies, pajamas … just about as casual as you can get. That top I’m wearing in the picture? With the ruffles along the neckline? Old Navy. $13.49 on sale this weekend. Love the color.

If you have gift cards, particularly for clothing, seek out the store outlets to make your gift cards really stretch. The necklace (I’m sorry you can’t see it better in the picture) was less than $10 from a J. Crew outlet, and I got a winter coat for $69, regularly priced at $218. I bought my winter coat when I was four sizes bigger and pregnant with Nick, nine years ago. Both pockets had holes in them, and one elbow as well. I normally wouldn’t have looked at J. Crew for a winter coat, and was trying to make it through the season since my sizes are changing too rapidly, but as soon as I saw the steal of a deal, it was too much to resist. And I think after nine years and three holes, not to mention the fact that it’s way too big … well, I’ve gotten all I can out of that coat.

Need hair accessories? Think kids’ stores. Beth and I happened to wander into Crewcuts, J. Crew’s answer to children’s clothing, to see what they had on sale, and we found great headbands and hairclips there. At a fraction of the cost. The hairclip I’m wearing in this picture, which isn’t especially visible (sorry!) was under two bucks. Love that!

Got shopping tips of your own? I’d love to hear them!

For more of What I Wore Wednesday, you can check out the other participants right here.

Project 365
January 5, 2011, Photo #5
Forgive the terrible picture from my BlackBerry. Due to a last minute change in plans, the kids had to come with me to Zumba. The Wednesday class I only go to in support of The Neighbor Wife and another friend, so I couldn’t miss it since they were both going. I lectured the kids all the way there. And as we walked in. And I got pinkie swears and promises on what we consider good behavior.

They have been asking to come watch a Zumba class basically since I started taking them, and tonight’s venue is a little better suited to kid spectators, so I took a chance. For the first 40 minutes, Madeline sat on the chair, not a peep out of her. It was the cutest thing. When I went over for a water break, she said, “You’re doing a good job, Mom.” Be still my heart. After about forty-five minutes, she started trying to join in, coming up and shaking her tush near me, or holding on to The Neighbor Wife’s leg as she was exercising (extra weight around the ankles is good, yes?). They were so good that they were even invited back. Shocker that.

Putting YOU on the List

January 4, 2011 · Narrative

Without making sweeping generalizations, I think it’s safe to say that most women are good at nurturing. Whether they’re taking care of their kids, their husband or their cat, women are seemingly always doing for others. It’s in our DNA. One of my resolutions for 2010 was to put ME on the list.

In the past 12 years or so, I was focused on taking care of the kids and The Ex, as any good mother and wife does. But I forgot me. I didn’t make the list. Not nearly enough. Last year, I changed that… and was so much better for it. A better me. A better mom. A better everything. So last night, when a friend asked me about my New Years’ resolutions, my answer was simple. More of the same.

As women, we need to give ourselves permission to be on our list. To make us a priority. We’re always so busy taking care of everyone and everything else. What about us? Whether it’s making time to exercise regularly, sit down with a cup of coffee and a good book or treat ourselves to a manicure, we need to be on the list. That’s not to say that you need to stop taking care of others. Far from it. We just need to focus on making ourselves just as important. After all, if you go down, the whole darn ship goes down with it.

Last year, I made going to the gym uber-important, and reaped the rewards for it. It was a bit of a juggle trying to fit everything in and budget-wise, but it worked out. This year? Much of the same. That endorphine blast that kicks in at the end of a work-out makes it totally and 100% worth it. There is nothing like it. And this year, the gym routine continues, now more than ever.

How else do I make myself a priority? I’ve always loved journaling and writing. Last year, I bought a notebook in January and started filling it with quotes I liked, affirmations, aspirations, goals and dreams. This year? Much of the same. Madeline and I went out at lunchtime to get this year’s notebook and, of course, she needed her own too. Mine was a pretty pastel flowered cover. Hers? A shocking green frog. Both make us happy. And as I go through 2011 and jot down things that inspire me and goals I hope to accomplish, it will be a wonderfully reflective journal to look back on at the end of the year … to see how far I’ve come.

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Welcome to Eat. Live. Be. for a Better 2011

January 3, 2011 · Narrative

And so it begins.

A month or two ago, Sarah and I were chatting about weight loss, and before you know it, a friendly competition was born. It turns out we both want to lose 40 pounds, so the race to the finish is on. As I get closer, it might turn out that 40 isn’t the magic number. Maybe 37 is. Or 32 is. I’ll know when I get there. By how it feels. By how I feel. And the closer I get, I can tell you, the more amazing it feels.

Once we decided to take the leap and have our own friendly competition, we reached out to a number of other bloggers (both food bloggers and non-food bloggers, alike) and amassed quite a fun group of ready and willing participants joining in on this new adventure.

But it’s not all about weight loss. Some are trying to exercise more (or more regularly). Some are working on just less fast food or more healthy dinners for their kids. Some are kicking the sugar habit. Or the Diet Coke cans. All our goals are slightly different, but we’re coming together to create and foster a support network. As you tackle anything in life, having a solid support network is often the difference between success and failure.

Every Monday, we will all be posting on a specific topic, and the last Monday of the month we will be sharing a progress report on how we’ve been doing. This week, to kick us off right, our collective topic is sharing our goals. Next week we will cover how to find support to help you meet your goals. If you have a blog and would like to join in and post on the topic, please share your links below in the comments section. The more the merrier!

Also, if you haven’t already, do check out the Eat. Live. Be. for a Better 2011 facebook page and “like” it. We’ll be sharing tips and ideas, blog posts, giveaways and more along the way, and would love for you to join in on our fun.

Now how will I accomplish my goal of losing the “final forty?” I’m going to continue doing much of the same that I did in 2010. After all, it worked. To the tune of 56 pounds. Can’t argue with those numbers, nor how it’s made me feel, inside and out.

I will continue “clean eating.” The way my body feels when I treat it right is night and day different than when I don’t. And now that I know, quite well, what that feels like, anything else would be doing my body and me a complete disservice.
I will continue to work out regularly. I take several Zumba classes a week, and augment them with Pilates, walking and the stationary bicycle, and will continue to do so.
I will focus on water, water, water. Admittedly I am terrible about it, and usually drop off at around 4 glasses a day. I have nearly given up Diet Coke. I no longer stock it in the house (and that’s where I drank the most of it), and only have it if we’re out somewhere, cutting my Diet Coke consumption to about 15-20% of what it originally was. A dear pain-in-the-ass friend says that doesn’t count as giving up Diet Coke, so to shut him up, I’m going to try, again, to give it up completely. Given I don’t drink coffee or tea, it’s my only source of caffeine. Something that makes it all that much harder for this single Mama to give up.

Tomorrow, I’ll share one of my 2010 goals: met. And the rest of the week, I’ll be sharing tips on achieving your goals, clean eating and more. Consider this week on Sweetnicks to be the ultimate jump-start to getting us all going.

Now, enough about me. Below is the list of other fine bloggers who are joining in for Eat. Live. Be. for a Better 2011. Go check them out, read their posts and cheer them (and me!) on. There are actually a few more coming, so stay tuned!

Jenna Hatfield, @FireMom, is a freelance writer/editor and newspaper photographer. She will turn 30 this year and wants to start this decade off on a healthy foot. She has 20 pounds to lose, but is mostly concerned with food choices, exercise and being generally “well.” She blogs at Stop, Drop & Blog.

Kristen Doyle is a freelance writer and the author behind the award winning blog, Dine & Dish. Nestled in Kansas City with 4 kids and her husband, Kristen’s writing career has spanned writing for both traditional media outlets such as newspapers and magazines as well as online resources including blogs and websites. Specializing in social media, culinary and women’s interest writing, Kristen’s ultimate goal is to bring families back to the table at dinner with recipes that both tempt the tastebuds and spark wonderful conversation.

Jen and her husband Matt are lifelong residents of New Jersey who are just settling into their “empty nest” with two daughters away at college. Jen is passionate about fresh, local foods and travels the state in search of the best to share with her family, friends, and readers of her blog, NJ Epicurean. She is determined to prove that NJ is not a culinary wasteland devoid of culture and to foster an appreciation of the great “Garden State.”

Casey from The Starnes Family is at-home mom of 3 that loves cooking, relocating, travel, photography, writing, reading, motherhood, the Catholic church, Widespread Panic, farmers’ markets, winter sports, the beach, lima beans and LSU. She was raised in Texas, educated in Louisiana, married in San Francisco, back to Texas, relocated to Colorado, then to the Midwest, now in San Diego….