"Happy Birthday Nancy" Love, Mom

Tomorrow is my birthday. This is the second birthday without her. I have to say that I am doing much better this year with it. My last birthday was so painful, this year I just know that she is with me and smiling :). Last night before I fell asleep, I prayed and asked her to come to me and she did...in my dream she tickled my feet and said, "Hey Nance" and then jumped in my bed and held me. I immediately woke up with a deep breath, although she was not there, I felt her in spirit.
I will share this with you all for the rest of my life....
Every year since leaving the home that I grew up in at 17, my mother has left me a "birthday message" at the exact time that I was born 5:52P. It was always the same and I know it by heart. I would make her leave it on my answering machine vs directly to me so that I could listen to it a few times. Then I would call her and she would recite it again. It goes like this...."It's August 10th. At 5:52 a beeeauuutiful baby came into this world. We named her Nancy, and she was so precious to us. Her father and I were so proud of her and loved her so very much. As she grew up, she became a beautiful woman who has done so many great things in her life and we are very proud of her. Happy Birthday Honey, I love you."

I love you Mom with all my heart <3

Caribbean Chicken Wraps & Caribbean Cole Slaw

This is my gf Tracey's recipe that she shared with me.  She loves to cook as much as I do, and when I mentioned the party, she thought these two dishes would be a great idea. I did add my own touches to the coleslaw and it was delish!


Let me tell you this...I found Wraps a bitch tough to make.  It took several attempts before I rolled them right without them ripping or busting open! The trick was not to fill them too full ;)

Caribbean Chicken Wraps

You can use any wraps that you like, I used Sun Dried Tomato and Garlic Herb Wraps.  Also for the spreads I served on the side.


Ingredients

• Wraps
• 8 Chicken Breast, marinaded, grilled and chopped
• World Classic Jerk Sauce Marinade
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Spreads of your choice..Horse Radish, Garlic Herb Mayo and Guacamole 

Marinade chicken for 2-3 hours in the Jerk Sauce.  Grill Chicken and cool.  Chop chicken into small pieces.  Add lettuce, tomato and chick.  Roll wrap, then slice in two.

Caribbean Coleslaw

• Two bags of coleslaw mix
• 2 Cans of Pineapple Chunks
• 1 Bag of Shredded Coconut
• 4 Tablespoons of Mayonnaise

In a large bowl add coleslaw mix, pineapple chunks with a small amount of the juice, 3/4 of the bag of coconut and mayonnaise.  Blend.  Top off the coleslaw with the remaining coconut...wahhh laaa!

ENJOY!!

Cheer To The "Tolland County Posse" lol

I have met a very wonderful group of women out here and love them and hanging out with them.  I see them a few times a week at lunch time and we always have a great time.  In June, we had our first get together one of my new best friend's house (who is also my spiritual advisor and mentor) and we made a commitment to to this often.
This month, I hosted the, "girls only" get together and we had such a blast!! We make it a potluck, which is great to sample everyone's recipes and swap them.  Since you all know how much that I love to cook, I have picked up some great new recipes.  We talked, laughed and ended the night sitting by my fire pit having deep spiritual conversations, which I love.  I have truly found some of the best girlfriends of my life.  I always love having women in my life and was one of the things I missed most about my NYC life.  It's a bit different now and much healthier...no more drinking and partying my ass off and now I actually remember the night and have very interesting and intelligent conversations...along with a ton of laughs and fun!I am looking forward to our next get together :)

Charley (My bff and spiritual advisor) She looks like she is up to something lol!

Carolyn, who is such a beautiful soul and friend

Kendall laughing her ass off!

One of my longest and dearest friends and it's great to reconnect with her, my soul sister 

One of my new best friends, Colleen, love her dearly!

Amy, another new best gf, she is one of the nicest and funniest women that I have ever met, love her!

The Crew

45 for my 45

I am turning 45 years old in a week and my goal is to lose 45lbs this year for my 45th birthday gift to me.

As all of you know that have read my blogs or know me personally, know my struggles with food.  It all came to a head last week with some stress that I was going through and reached a bottom with my addiction to food.  

I have been struggling with my weight on and off throughout my life. As I have posted before, in times of extreme stress in my life, I turn to food for comfort and become an emotional binge eater. I eat myself into misery, this time I gained 70lbs when my Mom was in the dieing process. It's a bit better than the 100lbs that I gained after my first divorce but if I keep up the way that I have been going, I'd be 220lbs again before I know it. After my last love affair with food was over, I committed myself to a low carb diet. I lost the 100lbs and kept it off for 5 years so I know that I can do it, it was just a matter of reaching my bottom with food as in any other addiction. I am done with it.  

I have a great gym at home but it is a dust collector for me. Jerry uses it everyday but I am lazy and need a kick start.  I joined a gym last week and I can honesty say that I love it (shocker to me lol)  It is a great place and there are no excuses b/c this gym is literally 2 minutes from my house. The membership fee is only 20 bucks a month.  They have so much to offer one of which is training classes.  I have been working out everyday and feel great about it.  Tomorrow is my first "Bootcamp fitness training class" this will prove to be interesting.  And I have a cardio class on Wed.  I know it is going to take time and that is the tough part about not giving up.

Instead of a low carb diet, the trainer at the gym suggested a diet of fruits and veggies, not eating after 8PM and portion control so I am going that route this time.  I did however relapse last night and ate pizza and PB & J at midnight :( oh well, start again to day.  But this is the shit stuff that I have to stop doing.  

Starting Weight in October 2009 - 190lbs

7/24/10 - 174 lbs

Goal Weight- 130lbs

40 lbs to Lose

This is what I really look like ;) and will get there this year :)