Life Diet Challenge

I have done it all,at least feel like I have.Every diet that is.The good,bad, and the ugly.
I have struggled with my weight my whole life.A friend of mine starting using the Life Diet program,and just after a few months,I could see a big change in her.She looked great and you could feel she felt great.I decided to get the book myself,I needed something new. I will be using my blog as a weight loss journal,since I hear it is great to do,but I have been too lazy to ever actually do it.
I kind of did a trial run last week,she doesn't allow you to eat any sugar or carbs.My two favorite things! So I did cheat with the treats, I will blame it on Eatser candy. Then Friday April 9th was Tigers Opening day so I drank a lot of beers.Which is not in the plan.
So now that I am more comfortable with it I am goin hard core.And will keep you updated.

How to make you own gift wrap

How to Use Fabric to Wrap Gifts eHow.com: "jennywrenpaperie.com"
I first saw this idea from http://www.stylemepretty.com/ I think it is a very cute and a different idea.I am a horrible gift wrapper and almost always use a bag.This seems very simple to do,and if you find fabric in the discounted area of a fabric store it could be cost effective also.I have never received a gift wrapped in fabric,so I think it will unique for the receiver and not the same old wrapping paper.It is also reusable and Eco friendly.I can't wait to try it out!

Update- I tried out the DIY gift wrap and it was a hit! Very easy to do,it ended up costing me $10 for 3 yards, because I didn't buy the fabric on super sale. For future reference I will just keep my eye open for cute fabric on clearance to make this cost effective.But I must say everyone loved it,so it was worth it. I think it will be worth it for baby and bridal showers, too.

The Estate Process

Well we have two showings today the first one is at 2pm and the second one is from 5-6.Keeping my fingers crossed we get some offers.

Update-March 1st, We went house hunting ourselves,we will hopefully look at some more tomorrow.
March2ND, We had 2 more showings on our house this morning.My realtor said there should be 2 offers coming in tonight,I am hoping for a speedy process.
As far as our house hunting goes,we will be going to a second showing of something that we liked from last night. And we will also be seeing 3 other homes.

Update-March 8Th Well the house we saw a second showing on last week,we put an offer in on it at their asking price,with the sellers paying closing costs.The seller rejected the offer,which left us confused.There were two other offers in on the house.They got back to us and said they will negotiate because we were the first to put in an offer.So we put an offer in for $8,000 over their asking price with them still paying the closing costs.We heard back today that they decided to go with one of the other offers that came in. :( Which I still don't understand since this is a Short Sale home,and as far as I know the bank is covering the closing costs.This whole process it an emotional roller coaster.I told myself not to get too excited because this could happen,but it's so hard not too.I have to just look at it as, there must be something better out there for us.

As far as our house goes we now have two offers in,but we don't get to decide,the bank does.So all I can hope for is the bank gets back to us soon.

Update-March 28th We put an offer 2 weeks ago on another home (bank owned) $18,000 over asking price,with bank paying closing costs.They counter offered our offer,and we verbally excepted. Not sure what is happening,the selling agent is not good at communication and our agent kept calling her to find out more info. The selling agent got upset with our agent for bothering her so many times.Hello, then answer us! The selling agent said she would let us know when something happened.Well it's been two weeks.I don't even know if the bank knows we accepted their counter offer.This is so confusing and frustrating.Tomorrow is Monday hopefully we will hear back soon.

Southewestern Meat Loaf

Well I decided to make something different for dinner tonight.Usually it is the same.Baked chicken..baked chicken...or baked chicken.Which I love chicken but it's not Phils favorite although if he is Hungary enough he will eat almost anything. I am a big fan of easy recipe's that don't take long to put together.I think I like things you bake the most(which is probably why I would rather bake than cook any meal besides breakfast.) Usually when I make dinner we have to fight with our 3 year old to eat "Eat 2 more bits of chicken and veggies" we will tell our son at dinner.

I put every thing in the oven and rushed off to work for my review in the horrible snow.(A 20 min. drive,took 50 mins) After my review,which went well,and I made it there and back safely, I walked in and the boys had eaten,I said "So how was it?" Phil said, "Awesome! Sebastian ate all of it on his plate too." I though, what?Wow, I don't ever get that reaction.Usually it's "not bad" or "that was good,thank you for making dinner" Don't get me wrong, are still nice to hear,but "Awesome" was a goodie so I thought I would share.I found it from the magi zine "All You"

Only thing I didn't like about this recipes is that I used ground chuck and there was puddle of oil from the ground beef at the bottom after the loaf was cut,I drained it and it was a lot.I would suggest using ground turkey, or a leaner ground beef.Which is what I usually buy.Also I HATE cilantro so I didn't put that in of course.I also didn't put in the 1 1/2 tsp. of salt.And I didn't put the ketchup on the top,I almost put sour cream and salsa on top,which would probably be good also. Then i paired it with some boxed Scalloped potatoes and steamed broccoli

Southwestern Meat Loaf

1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

1/2 red pepper,finely chopped

1 cup frozen corn

2lb ground beef

1cup dry bread crumbs

1 large egg

1cup plain yogurt(not nonfat)

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

1Tbsp. chili powder

1tsp. cumin

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 pepper

3Tbsp.Ketchup,optional

1) Preheat oven to 375F

2)Warm oil in skillet over medium-high heat.Add onion and bell pepper and cook,stirring,until softened,about 5 minutes.Stir in corn;saute 2 minutes.

3)Add beef,bread crumbs,egg,yogurt,cilantro,chili powder,cumin,salt and pepper to bowl.Mix gently until combined.Put into a loaf pan.

4)Bake about an hour.Spread with Ketchup,if desired,and let stand 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Selling the house

Phil and I have decided to short sale my home.Unfortunately now a days in Michigan you can't sell your home outright because more than likely it is worth less than what you own on it.Our plan was to be in the house 5 years. we would like to expand our family someday soon and this house will just be too small,we already have out grown it. With Sebastian going to school this fall we would like to be in a place we can start our lives as husband and wife and have Sebastian set in where he will start preschool and grade school.
It's is a little sad at the same time,this is the first house I bought and the first place we brought our son home too.The first steps he took were in the living room, I could go on and on.But we have had a lot of good memories here.
We understand this short sale process can take a very long time, the house has been on the market now for 10 days and we have had 3 showings.Tonight there was a scheduled second showing but unfortunately it was cancelled because the buyer had a death in the family.Totally bummer for them and us,because I was getting excited hoping there would be an offer(our realtor informed us there was a possible offer coming in) It's just that I get excited and BOOM cancelled.(No ones fault what so ever)I was told they are still interested,so that is great news.I am really trying not to get excited but it is hard.Well that is all I know for now.
I will keep you updated.

BARBIE® SPARKLE LIGHTS PRINCESS™ Doll (Pink) - Shop.Mattel.com

BARBIE® SPARKLE LIGHTS PRINCESS™ Doll (Pink) - Shop.Mattel.com

I saw a commercial for the newest Barbie doll,her shoes light up!!!How cool is that?I wish they had this stuff when I was a kid.I swear when I grow up I want to be a Barbie!