Peanut Butter Pie

I had a request for the recipe for Peanut Butter Pie and since I hadn't posted anything to pinterest for a while, and since I have tweaked this recipe to make it faster than the one I originally had, I thought I would just post it here.

First off, here is the original recipe, from kraft.com. I haven't changed it a bunch, just made it easier to get it put together quicker and with stuff I have on hand more easily.
So here's mine:

1 Oreo pie crust
1 pkg Oreo cookies (Peanut Butter ones, if available)
2 pkg. cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 8 oz. pkg. Cool Whip
chocolate syrup (in a squirt top bottle--aka, Hershey's syrup)

I get the pie crust in my own pie pan by carefully lifting the tinfoil lip, turning it upside down and carefully lifting off the tinfoil. I then hold on to the plastic as I put my pie plate over the crust and flip it over. That being said, with the bigger pie plate, I smash the sides down into the bottom more and then line the edges of the pie plate with Oreos. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cream cheese, peanut butter and sugar until smooth and well blended. Using a large spoon, fold in Cool Whip until smooth and well mixed.

Spoon into pie crust, starting in the center of the pie, let the chocolate syrup just drizzle out of the bottle in a gradually larger circle. Take a toothpick and lightly draw through the circles from center to outside to make a web pattern. Place 8 Oreos on the top, equally spaced.

Chill for at least 4 hours, serve. Makes 8 servings.

Weekly Weight Watchers post

10.4 lbs....I made it the first 10! and a week early. This was no small feat considering Saturday we celebrated Robert's birthday with Bdubs and a peanut butter pie (17 points for 1/8th of the pie but I deemed it "worth it"). The thing is, the pie was gone by Sunday night but I stuck to my one piece, which contributed to the 1.8 lbs I lost this week. Seriously, you know on Survivor, how they have ate practically nothing for a few weeks and then have a feast and then are sick? Well, I have ate plenty the last month but nothing really rich, the pie really didn't sit that well.....especially since Robert wanted to wait until he got home from work to eat it, at 10:00 Saturday night. It was good, but I have no desire to have any more any time soon.

I also did measurements yesterday, I have lost 2.5 inches off my bust and 1 inch off my waist. That is pretty normal for me, I can always SEE the weight come off first in that area right under my bust, the place where nobody but me ever sees.....oh well, my hips didn't change but I also expected that so I am happy about the movement anywhere.

I set new goals for myself for this week. Weight watchers doesn't harp on getting 8 glasses of water in, just 8 glasses of liquid, but they still say water is always best, so I have a water bottle that holds three cups, my goal for this week is to drink it dry twice each day, that teamed with my morning coffee, should insure my liquid intake. I am also making sure I get my milks in. I eat a yogurt every morning, unfortunately, my favorite yogurt is Yoplait, which comes in a 6 oz container. Weight Watchers wants a cup to be called a milk requirement, so I am eating my yogurt and putting 2 oz of skim milk in my go cup of coffee, then of an evening, I can make a smoothie or drink another glass of milk, but those are my 2 good health goals for this week. The fruits and veggies are a real challenge because of the UC, I may never make it to eating as many fruits and veggies as WW would like, but I know what I can tolerate and I will do my best.

Workout wise, I made 100% on my activelink everyday but one last week, Friday and it was 94%, I had went to work two days in a row and should have went out and walked the driveway Friday night to get the other 6% but I was just too tired and went to bed so I got 6 out of 7. Yesterday I did 101% so I am off to a good start for this week.

We bought new family bikes Saturday, Robert and I went out Sunday morning and had planned on yesterday morning but it was raining, I am hoping he is planning on going with me here in a few minutes but if not, I will go myself.

I have set my new weight loss goal at 5 more lbs (for a total of 15) by the 17th of September. I know if I keep up what I am doing, I can do this!

Busy week at work, this morning, I am installing two new computers in our southern offices, tomorrow, 2 new ones in our central offices and Thursday, two new ones in our northern offices. Next Tuesday kicks off the new LIHEAP year and so it goes.....

Happy Tuesday everyone!

The Birthday Boy

I am no longer the mother of a teenager....sad and glad all at the same time.

 

Somehow the only picture I got of an actual present and then my hand is over half of it. Oh well....He got some new shirts, a couple of travel cups that he was wanting, some slim jims, and the busted knuckle garage sign he has here. He also went on a shopping spree at Harbor Freight last week and got tools, those were birthday too but they needed to go to school. And yesterday, he ended up getting a new bike (yes BIcycle, not MOTORcycle) too. Not a bad haul for 20.

When I asked if he wanted a cake or an ice cream cake, he grimaced and said, "neither??" I told him he had to have SOMETHING and he said he wished he could be like Dad and get a cheesecake,  I said no problem so Peanut Butter Pie it is!

Andrew and I bought ourselves new bikes, one speed, island cruiser style, ours match and then Robert got one too, it looks like a ratrod, perfect for him.  We actually took them out yesterday afternoon, then Robert and I got up at 6 this morning and went for a bike ride. He may change his mind by tomorrow but right now he thinks he will do it again. He went back to bed though so we shall see.

Busy day today, Church this morning, going to work this afternoon and church this evening.....

Happy Sunday!

Weight Watchers

I lost 3.2 lbs this week!  I am SO excited, my goal to hit the first 10 lbs by September 3rd just got really easy!  In fact, I just made it my goal to hit the first 10 lbs by the 27th, I believe I can.  I am at 8.6 right at the moment so I have less than a lb and a half. I was actually there this morning but I will fluctuate over the week so we shall see.

Always before when I went to WW, I would kind of binge on Monday night after the meeting, then it would take me three of four days to recover from that damage. I am not doing that this time and I love these Tuesday mornings waking up and weighing less than I did at the meeting Monday night.

Also, my activelink is a BIG help. I thought I was moving more than I actually was. I thought my half hour on the treadmill should count for 2 points but the fact is, because I don't go as fast as the book tells, it isn't, so I'm not doing as much as I thought.

My goal for this week is to get 100% on my active link every day. I went outside and walked up and down the driveway last night at 9:00 just to get me to my 100 for yesterday, but I did it and the scales tipped my way this morning. 

One other thing, I know the dress is forgiving but I DID wear a size 20 dress to church Sunday. I normally wear a 22 and a few of my clothes are 24's but I really consider myself a 22. I am thinking probably when I hit around 25 lbs off, I should fit squarely in a 20. Of course my goal is to be out of plus size clothes all together and my ultimate goal is back to a size 10, I DO have clothes of mine in the attic that are 10's so I could do it. I have a ton of hand me downs from a friend of mine that are 16 to 18's so I have lots of motivation to get there and new rewards as soon as I do.

So, bring on another week. Looking for that 1.4 lbs next Monday night.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, heck with that, I'm me!  I KNOW I can!

Back to the Grind

I am addicted to my job, I don't think there is any way around it. I have missed it this week and quite honestly, have stayed in touch with what is going on through emails, phone calls, etc. So tomorrow morning gets me back into my regular routine which I am looking forward to. Tomorrow morning, I will get ready for work, Robert will get ready for school and we will be out the door at 7:30, yep, good times. Andrew works late tomorrow so he will still be in bed but it will be the new normal routine for Monday mornings around here, until someone changes our lives on us again.

We got my birthday celebrated, Andrew bought me the Cusinart Griddler I had been wanting since last Christmas, Robert got me a new Nine West purse, yes, I picked it out and he paid for it, but it is perfect, Mom got me a new pair of fall boots too so I am all set. We ate at Cheeseburger in Paradise and I did really well with tracking the Weight Watcher points. I am actually looking forward to a good weigh-in tomorrow evening.

Had a short visit with my sis and BIL yesterday. They made it down for the afternoon. The Lincoln Balloon festival is next weekend and it is the first time in years we haven't went but this year it just wasn't going to work. Robert has to work and he and I are going to see The Lion King the next weekend so he didn't want to take off two weeks in a row. To top it off, Friday is his birthday so I didn't want to be gone on his birthday even if he does have to work. We are planning on actually celebrating Saturday after Andrew gets off work. We took him to Harbor Freight for a shopping spree last Thursday so he already has most of his presents but we still want to at least go out for lunch, I know we will end up at B-dubs, his favorite place.

We are trying to protect October 7th, we had such a perfect day last year, we are looking forward to it again. I am needing to close down the summer bucket list and start a fall one, some stuff will carry over, some will not. We have several things around here that needs taken care of and I think putting it on the bucket list may help. A major one is the tree in the front yard coming down before it blows down.

So, today we have church and tonight is our Sunday School picnic and swimming party. Ironically after being so hot most of the summer, I am afraid it may be a little chilly for an evening swim but we will see.

Will probably make a WW post Monday night or Tuesday morning, as I said, I am looking forward to this week's. I believe I am well on my way to my second goal of another 5 lb star by Labor Day.

Happy Sunday!

Vacation Day 4

So I made it to the big 45. This one doesn't bother me at all, in fact, I don't think I have ever had a birthday of my own bother me. When my sister turned 50, now THAT bothered me, and I think it got me a little when she turned 40. As I said in an earlier post, getting here was a bit of a challenge but the fact that I am 45, not so much. I am doing everything I want to be doing, living the life I want to be living and having a ball doing it so it's all good. I am looking forward to today, God has a way of working things out, I decided at the last minute to take vacation this week so I had planned on going to Terre Haute with Robert after he got home from school. Monday, one of the guys asked Andrew to switch with him for Tuesday and guess what day Jim could work for Andrew? Yep, today, so I get both my guys! What a rarity to spend a whole afternoon and evening together!

As far as what I have been doing with my vacation, Tuesday, I didn't do much here at the house. I had a dentist appointment and then my class had their final. They did SO WELL!!!  The lowest grade on the test was a solid B and many of them got A+'s. They learned more than I realized.

Here is a picture of all of them, minus one who had to leave for a meeting:

Yesterday, we spent the day at Mom's. They guys had some projects to complete and I just spent the day visiting with Mom. Last night was church and then I told Andrew I didn't want to wake up to a dirty house on my birthday so while Robert went to work, we cleaned our house. I love having help doing that, we knocked out the whole place in about an hour and yes, it was great to wake up to a clean house this morning.

So today, we have to go get the title finished for the truck, get Robert started to the first day of school and then go do some tool shopping and some "just shopping" for me :-). Tonight I will open my present from Andrew--which we picked up last Saturday, it is a cuisinart grill that I have been wanting since Christmas, I also ordered myself a gypsy for my cricut and I thought that was for my birthday too but Andrew reminded me that he bought himself a new saw last week so it may be just because he did that, which give me birthday money to spend from Robert and my mom.

I am hoping tomorrow to settle in on working on the basement, and scrapbooking, then Saturday I believe my sis and BIL is coming for a visit. Should be a fun day too.

Happy Thursday y'all!







Vacation Day 1

To say yesterday didn't go as planned is probably the understatement of the year. In fact, I have decided that if the next 24 hours of my vacation go like the last 24 has went, I will be back at work by Wednesday. I didn't sleep at all Sunday night. My baby boy was going through some tough stuff and I, typical mom, worried for him while he tried to sleep. He broke up with Kelly yesterday and it was really hard on him. The worst thing is it is just over situations beyond their control and not anything she did or he did. Then to top it off, his best friend that always helped pick up the pieces is half way around the world in Korea. So I tried to play stand-in. When the going gets tough, after a lot of prayer, the tough go shopping. He needed some new jeans for school so we ran to the outlet mall at Tuscola before going to Effingham for my Weight Watchers meeting. He ended up with 4 new pair of jeans and 5 new shirts so it was a good trip and hopefully helped take his mind off stuff for a while but it was still a stressful day on him and I'm sure it will be for a while. Thankfully school starts Thursday and he can pour his mind into that.

My weight watchers meeting went well, I lost another 1.4 lbs, so a total of 5.4 lbs. I have had some victories this week like managing to go out to eat several times and still lose weight because I planned. I still say part of it is sharing with everyone here that I'm doing it. I got a star at the meeting for my 5 lb mark. My goal is to hit the next 5 lb mark in three meetings. They try to strive that a healthy, lasting weight lose is 1-2 lbs a week so I should be able to make my goal. I am still really motivated and I have to tell you, all the little technology things sure do make it more fun. I just think it is funny how very differently I am looking at this whole situation this time. It is something I get to do, eventhough I know it is something I have to do. I guess the thing is, I have proven to myself before that I CAN do it if I just WILL do it and this time, I am bound and determined that I WILL.

Then we come to last night when Andrew came home from work. He announced that he thinks he will be laid off after Labor Day. Okay, so I was up night before last worried about Robert and last night I stayed up praying God would take over the worry about Andrew. Andrew got home at 11:30 and had switched with a guy so he had to be back up at 3, so he went to bed. I sat there for about 20 minutes by myself and prayed before I just could hear God telling me, "I took care of you before and you are doubting me now?" but I also heard Him say, "If you don't believe me, plug it into your budget". So, sure enough, I sat down with the budget (that is currently done through next March) and when I take his paycheck totally out, we are still just fine and as he says, if Securitas wouldn't place him somewhere else, which they probably would, he would, this time, definitely be able to draw unemployment so God won again. Duh. Anyway, I went to bed as Andrew was getting up to go to work.

Now we have today. My students take their final tonight and graduate. I have loved having them and will miss the diversion although I taught two classes in 5 months and am honestly ready for a break too. I have a dentist appointment this afternoon and then am planning on going into the office to get ready for class and just check in on some things. Haven't really planned everything for this morning yet but I am sure it will be productive.

We did get quite a bit done yesterday morning, cleaned out the fridge and freezer, got some things put in the new freezer, got the living room furniture rearranged one last time and am ready for the ottoman that should come this weekend. Robert brought up the small fridge and put it in the garage to make life easier there too so it wasn't a complete bust on my plans.

So, here is to things being CALMER today!

Happy Tuesday!

Updating "the list"

Mark number 30 off the list!

I finished the necklace last night.  I have enough materials left over to make a matching bracelet and earrings, and probably will. I forgot how much I enjoyed making jewelry. Andrew bought me better tools at Hobby Lobby the other night so I think I will make some more.

Vacation!

So I have the Go-Go's song running through my head right now but that is not a bad motivator for 7 in the morning.  I think I am actually in vacation mode already, I slept until almost 7, I haven't done that forever. So, what am I doing on vacation?  Well, first off it's a staycation....my FIL's girlfriend pointed out the other night that we venture out enough that I don't really need a vacation to take a trip and she is right. I made several trips this summer for work including one to New Orleans so I'm good. Also, with Andrew having a new job, he has no vacation time, Robert starts back to school on Thursday and has to work every night this week and me, well, I technically still have to work Tuesday evening anyway so I have made TONS of plans for this week. Most of them involve finishing my summer bucket list and some just involve things that need done. Either way, I am excited to switch gears and be full time Holly Homemaker this week, oh and I'm planning on turning 45 this week too. Happy me!  Truly.

 I have had a problem forever with "making it to 45". See, my great-granddad died a month and three days from being 65, my granddad died a month and three days from being 55 and my dad died a month and three days from being 45. Granted, I don't believe in "fate", I believe God has a plan and most of the time, I know I shouldn't try to guess what that plan is but let me tell you, I was very, very nervous 10 years ago when I turned 35 but not as bad as I was this year. I know I am female, but I have no brothers, technically--Mom lost a child before I came along, she was told he was a boy. Back in the days before sonograms, she was told I was a boy too.....my growing up years may have seen some tomboy come through but it's been forever since I could have been mistaken for "one of the boys"---which makes me think of Grant, one of my "little brothers" who lived down the road--he has been gone for 10 years now, sure do miss him! Back on focus--the first time I counted back to where a month and three days would be, I came to Friday, July 13th.......again, I don't believe in superstitions or fate or any of it but really? Then I realized there were 31 days in July so that would put it on Saturday the 14th. I knew all day long that day what day it was and when I fell into bed that night, I shared with Andrew that I had made it. I know he thought I was weird but oh well, wasn't the first time, won't be the last....

So, Thursday I turn 45 and I have decided a few things......I want to call it my  midlife crisis but my friend Ken informed me not too long ago that we are going to live to be 120 so we can't have a midlife crisis until 60.....Anyway I'm gonna tell you something that I normally don't share. I have decided to stop being me on the outside. I like me on the inside, I don't like the outside. I was going to weight watchers when I was diagnosed with the UC as well as the diabetes. Weight Watchers was easy for the diabetes, not so much for the UC. Everytime I ate a vegetable, I got sick and so I quit WW. I had lost about 20 lbs when I quit and I gained it all back, I blame it mostly on the prednisone, but it was probably just me not watching what I was doing. The day my girlfriends were here, one of them mentioned she had lost 40 lbs going to Weight Watchers. She looked great and yes, I was envious.

So, the next Monday, I trotted myself right back to the meetings. I don't know how many times I have joined WW and it doesn't matter. I have decided this time would be different, right down to the fact that I am admitting I am going. So, when I decide to quit I will have to share it with the world and I am not so good at admitting defeat. I am hoping this will keep me on track. I have a bit more incentive for myself this time. I may never be skinny, never have been so why think I would be now but I want to be healthier and I want to look nice. I also want a convertible....yep, that's what I said, a convertible. I even have it picked out, a Chrysler 200 Hardtop, Dark Auburn Pearl. Now, all my life, my mom has been the "fat cop". When I was at home, I could drop weight like who wouldn't have it because she would start bugging me about it and I would get it off. The summer before Andrew and I got together, I had gained about 30 pounds, she started in on me and the day we got married, I had lost 35 lbs bringing me to 145 lbs, the smallest I had been since grade school. ANYWAY, when I told her I wanted a convertible, she laughed and said she thought I would look funny in it. I know she didn't mean it to be hurtful.......okay, yes, yes she did but I she knows me and she loves me and she really does worry about my weight. She is the first to admit, she is selfish with me because she needs me and I know she knew this was a new challenge for me so my goal is to maybe not even make it all the way to what Weight Watcher's goals are but I want to be out of plus sized clothes before I allow myself to trade in my van for a convertible. I am down to having NO excuses for not making this happen. I have a handle on what vegetables and fruits I can get by with as well as being able to exercise most of the time so here we go. Whew, that was a big one to admit. I told the girls at work the other day and I normally don't do that either. This time IS different. (hopefully I have nerve enough to push the "publish" button here in a few minutes).

So, that's a good blog to start off vacation, I will probably blog progress reports for my bucket list this week. Andrew and I are going to buy a freezer today because we ordered a half a beef. I love finally be able to afford to do stuff that saves us money! We are also (the He of We) getting ready to build the headboard for our bed!  We had originally decided we wanted a headboard made out of one of our old doors but the more I looked at it, the more I decided I really didn't like it for our bedroom so today he is buying wood just to make me a headboard and footboard. I can't wait!

Happy Saturday y'all!

Updating the list...again

1) Paint the porch-beginning to think this isn't going to happen
2) Sign up for a 5K (yes, I would have to be doing better physically, but may do it anyway)
3) go geocaching with our AWANA kids
4) buy a lounge chair for the back yard and take a nap (actually did that yesterday!)
5) have a yard sale-- this one isn't either, because I just decided I didn't want to work that hard6) Visit Springfield's Lincoln Museum 6-18-12
7) Coordinate a Girl's day out with my HS BFF's
8) make Andrew licorice caramels 6-16-12
9) organize the garage
10) get a pedicure
11) catch up on my scrapbooking
12) make a summer reading list posted 6-15-12
13) start a new Women of Faith Bible Study
14) Go to at least 1 auction
15) Make a scrapbook of Robert's car for him- got all the pictures together for this
16) Visit New Harmony
17) have a picnic
18) take an aimless road trip
19) make nutella fudge bars
20) make our name out of pictures that I have found
21) Visit Indianapolis
22) 2 crochet projects done (for my pay it forward promise from fb)
23) revamp my laundry room
24) help Andrew make a new headboard- have the new frame bought, it's a start!
25) sew Robert a vest (it's cut out, just not started)
26) Visit the Muny
27) Visit the Fox- Sept 1st
28) Make myself a new outfit
29) revamp our exercise room
30) try my hand at making a necklace ( I used to, just haven't forever)-started this last night









So, I have 3 things started, 2 that I marked off without doing and 14 that still needs done, I may not make it but it has been fun trying. We may be putting the porch off until next summer just because we have decided it is time to see about vinyl siding for the house so there isn't much need in painting this year and siding over it next year. Work ended up being crazier than I expected this summer so I haven't taken much time off. I am trying to get a week off week after next and that might help. Have already decided though that I will have a fall bucket list too, and have already put stuff on it.

In other news, the doctor's appointment was a bit of a disappointment. I have avoided actually have to go on medicine for the diabetes for two years. I still don't think I need it but the doc did so we are trying it. One more pill to the regimen.....I'm surprised I don't rattle when I walk. Oh well.

Happy Friday!

Things that make you go Hmmmm...

My blog has been getting quite a bit of traffic lately, probably mainly from a few things I posted on pinterest but still, over 4000 hits in one month?  Looking at the demographics kind of amaze me. You have probably realized how much smaller the internet has made the world but check this out...

This is where the viewers have came from in the last month. So, if you are reading this and from Australia, UK, or any of the other foreign countries, hi. Maybe one of these days I will get caught up with life enough to start putting stuff on pinterest again.

I am off today.....I just decided Monday I needed a day off and planned on taking it. I then called the doctor because I am long past due for one of those wonderful "female" exams and low and behold, she had an opening for Thursday morning,so I get to start my day off with getting that over with. I have a list a mile long of things I want to get done with my extra day. Hopefully, gets some things off my bucket list at least!

Work is good but crazy, finished cooling, started getting the first true ups for PIPP, which means I send a letter to each one of them. I did 29 yesterday, only approximately 700 to go... and I just broke my own rule for the day because I told some friends on fb last night I wasn't going to say the "P" word today and try not to think about it......oh well.

Happy Thursday, hopefully soon I will have some updates to my B-list!