EEEK!!!

Okay so my weigh-in was not good.. I stayed the same. Whatever. I don't mind it. School starts on Monday and I move back into my apartment on campus on Sunday. So, I will be back on WW (for real) and back to working out (for real) and back to DANCE!

And speaking of dance..............I'M GOING TO BE A ROCKETTE TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry.. I am just a little teensy bit excited.

The train picks my Mom, my Aunt, and Me up at 9:13am. Then, we get into NYC by 10:30am. We will go to the Stardust Diner.. because my Aunt and I are "Stardusters". And then we will go to the Capezio dance store right above the Stardust Diner.

Then.....we will go to Radio City Music Hall at 1:15pm for the Stage Tour!! We will look behind the scenes at Radio City. Theeeeen.. we have a 2 hour dance class with a few Rockettes who will teach us 2 dances from the Christmas Show. Annnnd then......we have a mock audition! YIKES!

My Aunt will be dancing with me but my Mom is just going to watch. I am glad that she is. Hopefully she will take some pictures! =)

Thank you ALL for your support! I appreciate it more than you know! Thank you!

Rockette Countdown= TOMORROW!!!!!!

Until Next Time,

Karla =)

Hungry Girl

A HUGE thank you to Eve from Time to Make a Change. She left me a comment about the Hungry Girl website. Which I thought I would take a look at. I didn't realize that I would be spending 1 whole hour looking at that website and printing off recipes!! Holy Crap!! I could have spent ALL DAY there.

What a nice website for people who LOVE food but also LOVE losing weight. Here it is... it is now my new Food Bible!! Here is the website... I suggest EVERYONE to check it out if you haven't already. HungryGirl.


Okay, now on with my update.

Today was supposed to be a really good workout day. I had plans to go for a long walk and practice dance before my big Rockette day on Saturday. I need to get back into the swing of things (dance wise) before I go so that I don't make TOO much of a fool out of myself. Ayeee...

Anyway, I get a call at 8:30am from my Aunt who is also doing this Rockette thing with me. She wanted me to come with her to the train station to buy tickets and become familiar with how to get to the train station so that we are not rushing/freaking out on the day of the Rockette thing.

SO...I pushed my plans to workout.. and went with her. We bought 2 round trip tickets to NYC and we ate out at a local restaurant for lunch. (UGH...).

THEN....she decided to stop at a few stores on the way back home. OHHH booy.....

So I didn't get home until 4pm!! I was almost late for my dentist appointment at 4:15!!

Then I had to run errands... and by the time I got home, it was time for me to have dinner. And now it is 8pm and almost pitch black outside.

Lovely.

Tomorrow is my last day to....kind-of-get-back-in-dance-mode-so-that-16-year-old-dancers-at-the-Rockette-program-will-NOT-show-me-up.

Annnnnd tomorrow is my weigh-in. Annnnnnnnnd it's my Uncle's birthday party which means... pizza and cake.

Shoot me now.

Rockette Countdown= 1 more day!

Til tomorrow,

Karla =)

A Better Day

So far, today has been a better day than yesterday. I submitted my Letter to the Editor. Yippee! It will be posted in this week's paper. YAY!

I also babysat my cousin today for awhile. He is a handful so I am so exhausted!

I saw my grandparents today and asked if they wanted to come with my Aunt and I to NYC to be "observers" while my Aunt and I dance. We are allowed to invite friends/family to come watch. So, though I thought they would come... they declined. Oh well. It's okay. They don't feel comfortable in the big city. Which is fine. I just would have loved it if they saw me living out my dream for that one day.

I can't believe that I am doing the Rockette Experience in just a few days! The tickets came in the mail the other day and I think the Fed Ex guy must have thought I was nuts with the huge cheesy grin I had on my face. I jumped up and down after he gave them to me and I said, "THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!" And he just chuckled and walked back to his truck. The poor guy!

I bought a leotard to wear. It is black so hopefully it makes me look thinner. Howcome I seem to be the only one that notices the 10 freaking pounds I gained. Why does it bother me so much and why do I think about it ALL the time??

I don't know.. but.. I am trying to be really proactive about it. In fact... I went to my local library today and checked out 2 WW cookbooks. I am going to photocopy all the recipes that I think are easy and tasty! Then, I am going to put them in a binder and take them to school. That will workout real nice for me.

Rockette Countdown- 2 days!!!!!!!

Saturday can't come soon enough!!!!!!!

Til next time,

Karla =)

Outraged.

No... not outraged with myself. Or my BAD eating day today. (I went over my 23 points due to a "lunch out" with my roommates). I checked out my new apt. today where I will be living this coming school semester. It's lovely =) But, then we decided to go out for lunch at a pizza joint. Ohhh boy..

But, no... that is not what I am outraged about. My BF bought me a WW cookbook that I can use during school (WHICH IS AWESOME). So, I am very happy because I know that I will lose this weight that I gained. So, again... nooo.. I am not outraged about weight or anything like that.

In fact... what I am outraged about has nothing to do with anything. Nothing to do with this blog or what I usually write on this blog. Well.........sort of.

Tonight.. I went out to a movie with my BF. In my town, we have a $2 movie theater that plays ONE movie per night. And that same movie gets played ALL week until it changes to a different movie at the end of the week. It's the best movie theater because it's OLD and holds SOO much history. It is also the theater where I dance because there is a stage. My dance classes are held on stage as well as my dance recitals. SO... I have been watching movies and dancing in that theater for .......as long as I have lived. Which means, 21 years.

OKay.. so why am I outraged???????

Just read this. If you want. It's a "Letter to the Editor" that I am giving to our town's newspaper editor so that he/she can put it into THIS WEEK'S paper for ALL paper readers to read.

Here it goes..

"I am usually not one to express how I feel in a public manner like this, but I feel as though something should finally be said.

I have lived in Newtown almost my entire life and have been enjoying our $2 movie theater for years. In fact, my boyfriend and I rarely go to the AMC theater in Danbury because the ticket prices have gotten outrageously expensive and we are both college students on a very low budget.

I am also a “Starduster” at Lathrop’s School of Dance and have been dancing with the school for 15 years. So, the theater at the Edmond Town Hall means a great deal to me. I have grown up watching movies and dancing on that stage.

Tonight, I went to see the movie “Up”. I was so outraged after the movie ended, that I came home to write this letter.

The theater is always spotless when I first walk in. The custodial staff does a fine job. If only the movie goers’ would do their job as well. It disappoints me that the theater just recently installed new seats and carpeting and people still leave their popcorn buckets, cups of soda, and candy wrappers all over the floor and in the seats. Our theater is not a ballpark! It is a treasure that the people of Newtown should be honored to have. It is unique and we should be taking better care of it than we are. Pitch in, and clean up after yourselves. We are ruining our theater! I know that the new theater seats were even purchased by certain people that live in Newtown. My grandparents happen to be two of them and I would hate to see such a beautiful theater be trashed.

Please, pick up your trash…and help to keep our theater clean!"

And... that is it. That is all... my FIRST letter to the Editor.

I feel empowered.

Til next time,

Karla =)

my BIG news!

Here is the big secret that I just can't keep any longer.

I AM GOING TO RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL IN NYC TO BE A ROCKETTE FOR A DAY!!!


I know, I know... it's not the "real" thing. BUT... it may be as close as I will ever get. My Aunt is going to be doing it with me. We are driving into the city ONE WEEK from today!! I am so excited. Here is the confirmation email I just received about it.

You are confirmed for The Rockette Experience. Below you will find your itinerary for the day. Please print out this itinerary and sign the release form below for each student in your party and bring them with you on the day of your Rockette Experience.

Breakdown of Workshop
1:15pm Check In
1:30pm Stage Tour
2:45pm - 4:45pm Class
4:45pm - 6:00pm Mock Audition / Q&A
What to Wear:
- Leotard, tights or jazz pants (No baggy clothes, please)
- Tap and jazz shoes any style. Character shoes are preferable.
- Secure hair in a bun or ponytail


Words cannot describe how excited I am about this.

Hopefully after doing this........


I can do this....................
I'm on cloud 9.


Til next time,

Karla =)

Ecstatic!! =D

What a huge surprise I just got!! I logged on...ready to talk a little bit about how my vacation is going so far. But now, I think I will save that for later... I have bigger things to discuss!!

I got my very first blog award!!!!!!!! I got it from Jen, who also had just received her first award.

I have never gotten an award before, but I think I am supposed to pass this award on! So, I will!



Here are the blogs that I will share this award with...

Jen at Mission Thin for her VERY inspiring blog.
Eve at Fat to Fabulous for her always interesting and inspiring posts.
Confessions of a Wandering Soul for her very thought provoking posts.
Brandi at A Life Change: My Journey to Happiness for her funny, inspiring and always positive posts.
Lisa at Less of Lisa for her VERY real and inspiring blog.
Linda at Psyche Connections for her interesting and intriguing posts.
Finding my Momentum for her inspiring blog.
Losing My Thighs for her inspiring and motivating blog.

*Notice how I said INSPIRING about 80 gazillion times. That is because it's true!!

Really, I love all of your blogs.

Thank you so much Jen for giving me that award. As dumb as it may sound, it made my day. I am glad that you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy reading yours!!


I am still up in Maine....I come home on Friday. I haven't been commenting on your blogs because I try to stay away from the computer!! But I will catch up when I come back! And of course, I'll talk about my trip!

Til then,

Karla =)

So Good to be in Maine!

I am here!! I left real early this morning and got to Maine around noon. My family members up here all had a small birthday party for me. It was so thoughtful of them. So now I have a belly full of chocolate cake. Oh boy...

But, they all said that I looked great and they thought I had lost more weight.. I really haven't. It has maintained for the most part. But hey...I am happy hearing that they think I look great! =)

So here is my second recipe for you. It is also from "Cooking Yourself Thin". Here it is..

Deep Dark Chocolate Cake

Serves 10 Calories per serving: 222 Weight Watchers Points= 1 slice= 3 points

For the cake
Cooking spray
1 1/2 cup self-rising flour
1/4 cup finely ground almonds
5 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 ounces beets, peeled and finely grated
4 ounces low-fat buttermilk
2 tablespoons strong black coffee
3 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar

For the icing
1/2 cup dark chocolate, cut into small pieces (I used chocolate chips)
2 tablespoons strong black coffee
2 tablespoons honey

For the top (optional)
Organic, unsprayed rose petals

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Lightly spray an 8-inch springform baking pan with cooking spray.

3. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, ground almonds, salt and baking soda, and set aside.

4. Using a standing or handheld mixer set at medium speed, beat the eggs and sugar for 4 full minutes until pale and fluffy. On low speed, beat in the grated beets, followed by dry ingredients. Add the buttermilk and coffee, and beat until the batter is smooth.

5. Pour into the pan and place in the middle of a hot oven and bake for 30 minutes. Test with a toothpick inserted for doneness; it should come out clean. Bake for an additional 5 minutes if needed.

6. Cool for 10 minutes or so in the pan and unmold onto cooling rack. Cool on a wire rack until cold. 7. To make the icing, prepare a double boiler.

8. Combine all the ingredients and gently stir until the chocolate is smooth. Stir occasionally until the mixture thickens.

9. With the cake still on the wire rack, pour the icing liberally over the top of the cake and let it drip down the sides. Transfer onto a plate or cake stand for serving and garnish with rose petals.

So....... here are my beets. I was a little bit nervous to put beets in a cake....


I had all the dry ingredients in this bowl and mixed together
This is all my wet ingredients...those are the red beets on top!!
All mixed up.....Yum........... lol
While it was baking, I worked on the icing in the double boiler.Finally,it smoothed out.


The cake is ready!! The white chunks that you can kind of see are almonds.

Here I go, pouring on the icing..

It looks soooo good. It was oozy and dripping everywhere. Nice and thick and hardens quick.
I put some color on it...because it looked so black!

Well, this cake has been a huge hit here in Maine. And, I LOVE IT!! Who knew that you could make a "healthy" chocolate cake just by adding beets!! You cannot even taste them. This cake is sooo chocolaty. I wish you could taste it through the picture.

I really should post a cooking video of me actually baking it. Maybe I will do that one day.

Please, try it...it's soooo good... and 3 points a slice!!

Til next time,

Karla =)

I should be packing.. but I've got a recipe to post!!

I leave for Maine in 9 hours. But, I love this recipe so much. So I am going post it.

Okay, here it goes. A recipe with pictures. This is something I stole from "Cooking Yourself Thin" again.. but, that's okay! =)

Serves 10 Calories per serving: 331
Weight Watchers Points Per Serving- 4 shells=5 points

12 ounces (1 box) jumbo pasta shells (approximately 40 shells)

For the tomato sauce
1 28-ounce can peeled plum tomatoes in juice
1 14-ounce can peeled plum tomatoes in juice
2 teaspoons olive oil
3/4 cup roughly chopped red onion
4 cloves garlic, sliced thin
2 sprigs fresh basil
Salt
Pepper

For the stuffing
1-pound bag baby spinach
Salt and pepper
4 oz. sliced ham
2 teaspoons olive oil, plus extra for serving
2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced thin
2 scallions, chopped
2 cups (16 ounces) part-skim ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat, part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Pinch grated nutmeg

1. Spray a baking sheet lightly with cooking spray. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the shells, and partially cook 6 to 7 minutes — they should have started to become tender but will still be firm to the bite. Drain in a colander, and immediately transfer to the oiled baking sheet, spreading them out in a single layer so that they don’t stick together. Let cool.

2. For the sauce, pour the tomatoes into a bowl and mash with your hands, or pulse in food processor to chop. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Cover, reduce heat to very low and cook until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. (Check a few times during cooking; if vegetables begin to brown, add 2 teaspoons water and stir.) Add the tomatoes with juice, basil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, cover and simmer gently 5 minutes. Then simmer very gently, partially covered, until thickened, about 20 minutes. Season with 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Scrape into another container with a rubber spatula; set aside.

3. Add the spinach and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the skillet. Place over medium heat, cover and cook, tossing every now and then with tongs for even cooking, until wilted, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain, and let cool, then squeeze out as much liquid as you can, and chop. Transfer to a bowl; set aside.

4. In the same skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the zucchini and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring every now and then, until tender and lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add scallions during the final 1 minute. Add to the bowl with the spinach. Add the ricotta, the ham, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, the parsley, 1/8 teaspoon pepper and the nutmeg, and stir to combine.

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

6. Spoon a thin layer of sauce over the bottom of two 9-x-13-inch baking dishes. Fill the cooked shells with the cheese mixture, about 1 tablespoon per shell, and arrange the shells side by side in a single layer in the prepared dishes. Spoon the remaining sauce over the shells, and then sprinkle each with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan.

7. Cover with aluminum foil, and bake until the filling is heated through and the cheese is melted, 25 to 30 minutes.

This recipe is GOOD!! I love pasta...and cheese... so ... this was GREAT! And so low in points. I could only eat 4 shells. They are pretty big!


So first I boiled the shells..


Then I started to hand mash the tomatoes

so yummy..

This was what it looked like all mashed and simmering with fresh basil...mmmmm!
So, I have my shells, my sauce, and in the back I was cooking spinach until wilted.Now I decided to check back on the sauce after 20 minutes of simmering..


The green onions are cooking...

Here is the ricotta cheese, spinach, green onion, parsley, pepper, nutmeg, ham mixture
This is what it looks like all stirred up and ready to be packed into the shells
All packed into the shells with sauce on bottom and sprinkled Parmesan and mozzarella cheese on top. Ready to be baked.
Hope this interests some of you!! If you try it, let me know how you like it. It was a huge hit with my BF.

Next time I will write about a chocolate cake that I recently tried. I will be posting from Maine from now on since I leave in a few hours. I have to be up at 430am!! AHH! I better get packing!!

Til then,

Karla =)

Happy Birthday to ME!

Well, it's here... it's my birthday!

I cannot believe that I am 21.

Every year, on my birthday... I always reflect on the year that I have had. Most years are reflected back upon as "okay" years. Usually I reflected back on unhappy times where I was overweight and miserable.

This is the first year that I can reflect back and see that I actually did something about my weight. And even though I wanted to lose 30lbs by my birthday... I am glad that I was able to lose 20. I am not even too upset that I didn't reach that goal. Because, I know that I will never quit WW.

I think, even at 21... I know that I will be a lifetime member.


A big thank you to all of you who supported me and continue to support me with my weight loss. Even though I have hit a plateau... I am not finished. I WILL lose the rest of the weight. But your support through the good times and bad means so much to me.

Here is to another year for me, staying healthy, staying in shape, dancing... and finally enjoying life.

Today... is going to be a good day. I have already decided! ;-)

Til next time,

Karla =)

I don't like Tuesdays.

Today was a tough day. I don't like Tuesdays. I don't like Mondays either. Well, personally...I think a week should consist of a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Thursday because of the crazy fun anticipation for Friday.

Anyway.. back to my day.. I just had a difficult day at work today. It was so hot. The kids were hot...and when people are hot... they get...cranky. So, everyone at work today was cranky and hot. It was not much fun.

Of course, when I came home...it didn't get much better. Seeing as I still live with my parents... I get to hear about their days and I guess today wasn't a good day for them either. All I heard all night was how my Dad had to be out in the sun ALL day for work... and part of me just wanted to say.... UMM HELLO??? I'm in the HOT, NASTY, SWEATY, STINKY SUN EVERYDAY!

He went on and on and on about it... and ... I don't know. I was just... getting upset about his complaining. Some people in this world are just clinging to life and would give anything to live one more day of life. Meanwhile... there are people like my Dad, who complain about his day. I see it as... everyday is a gift. And, sure.. I complain about my days too!! We all do! But, I didn't need the yelling, cursing, and utter bitterness to go along with it.

So, I started to cry. Actually, I started to sob. Right there at the dinner table. I couldn't stop. I just got into one of those strange moods. I have had issues with my Dad for a few years now. I love him, he's my Dad. But, drink after drink...after drink...after drink.... it starts to get old. I just...wish he could stop. For me. For my Mom. For everyone.

Sighhh.

I think I need to get out. Go for a drive.

Thank you for hearing me out.

I hate ranting! I like being happy and positive. But, I just can't.

Tomorrow will be better, I know it.

Til then,

Karla =/

P.S. Diet went well today. Actually, I did great. I was proud of myself. Yay! =)