YUUMY!!!

Monkey Bread…
2 reg size cans of Grands biscuits. Put about 3/4 cup of sugar and 2T of cinnamon in a ziploc. Cut the biscuits apart into quarter pieces each. Put them in the cinnamon sugar and shake. Repeat until you’ve done all biscuits. Toss them in a greased bundt cake pan. On the stove, put 3/4 cup of brown sugar and a stick of butter and melt (med heat) – stir constantly! Keep going til it looks like caramel DON’T burn it (have no clue on candy temp)! When it’s melted, pour it over the biscuits in the bundt pan and then cook it for 40 minutes on 350. (only slightly adapted from Shelli Craig)

sugar junkie coupons

I know, I know… they are trying to save us money, they are trying to sell for their advertisers, but they are also making me FAT!!! As you may recall, I am weak to my sugar addiction from my first Sugar Junkie post and this morning’s paper didn’t help!!! I started eating the high protein, low carb, less total sugar and a bit of Weight Watchers journaling on the side, diet last Monday. If I must say so…SO FAR SO GOOD!!! I’m not having my tyipcal cravings and sugar binges (pat on the back for me!). But when I read through the Sunday ads and coupons this early Sunday morning… I started seeing my diet through the coupons and the craving monsters are showing their nasty little selves!!!

to make things worse...

It’s really that simple, Buy One-Get One, ALL NEW, less sugar, save $1.00! (not to mention $3.00 on triple coupon days), discover a new you, 60% less fat, 1 a day, exclusive, Buy this-Get that FREE, limited time ONLY, see the fit side of you, loose 40 lbs. buy doing this…Where does the marketing stop? Did I mention, I have SUCKER written on my forehead? It’s sad, but TRUE.

But if I must say, my favorite add this morning was this… “Magnum…for Pleasure Seekers”!!! Might as well say, “Magnum… for the Glutton for Punishment Seekers”!!! DO I see sex innuendoes with chocolate ice cream bars? No your NOT dreaming folks, this is REAL… this is my dreams in a coupon…Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Magnum Sugar Cravings

And to make matters worse… my dear sweet husband lost 11 lbs in 10 days by eating the same as me. Yeah for you honey ::while I seethe with Envy::

Here I sit trying to figure out WHY I am an addict, obbessed with and a TOTAL JUNKIE to sugar!!! I don’t care what form it’s in…candy, caramel, carbohydrate, cassonade, dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, levulose, maltose, saccharin, saccharose, sucrose, sweetener, xylose. By the way, those are the synonyms on Thesaurus.com What’s the definition? Sweet substance… it’s that simple! SO why is it so hard to kick the habit?

I know, I know… I have read it all, heard the head lines, talked to nutritionists (not to mention therapists) seen my family tree and Yo Yo’d my entire life with EVERY diet there is. I simply love the comforting substance that has played such a HUGE part of my entire life! I’m even watching the Dr. Oz show as I type about belly fat. I’m not fooling myself by thinking that he is going to make it all better with his miracle 5 minute cure, that I can take a few extra supplements for a radicle change or that by listening to that HOT doctor (well he is) will simply work by osmosis, but it is what sells to us Americans who are in search of that instant need for love, laughs & comfort!!!

My SUGAR Jar

My plan? Don’t really have one yet. I do know I was on vacation last week and ate WHATEVER I wanted. You name it… cookies, cookie dough, donuts, candy bars, ice-cream, custards, licorice, frozen alcoholics drinks (loaded with sugar), gummy bears/worms/fish, chocolate, chocolate, oh and did I mention, CHOCOLATE??? And that’s just to name a FEW, doesn’t even account for all the carb loaded items and one apple I ate!!! Yep, that’s right, I allowed myself to binge, set a date to go cold turkey (or so I hope) and start a journal. That’s how I quit smoking… Will it work? Only time will tell. I hope to blog my thoughts, cravings and see how it goes down this sugar brick road. I don’t plan on divulging my starting weight, what I ate daily or spending much money on products & programs (not yet), but I do plan on STARTING TODAY!!!

Are you a JUNKIE too? Join me by leaving comments on what works for you and what doesn’t. Do you think it’s simple, that I’m silly or this is just plain dumb? PLEASE don’t leave a comment and start your own blog (that’s right, go talk about my goofiness somewhere else).

photo from R.W.Knudsen

I know summer is QUICKLY coming to an end, but here is the PERFECT way to keep it going strong all winter long!!! R.W.Knudsen Sparkling Essence in Blueberry… Where have you been all my life? (obviously at Earth Fare in my town)

Description by R.W.Knudsen: The subtle essence of whole organic blueberries meets the tingling sensation of effervescent spring water. This light and refreshing organic sparkling beverage offers pure spring water infused with sweet organic blueberries, but without any calories, added sugar, or artificial ingredients.

Just pure refreshment.

Photo by: R.W.Knudsen

What does it have in it? NOTHING bad and ALL the great taste you could hope for in a Sparkling Water!!! Not to mention they come in 3 other flavors I’m on the way to the store to grab… Cucumber, Lemon & Mint!!!

Nutrition Facts
Contains 0% Juice
Serving Size: 1 can

Calories: 0
Calories from fat: 0
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 0mg 0%
Potassium 0mg 0%
Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g
0%
Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Not a significant source of other nutirents.
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
INGREDIENTS: CARBONATED SPRING WATER, ORGANIC BREWED BLUEBERRY EXTRACT, ORGANIC NATURAL BLUEBERRY FLAVOR, ORGANIC LEMON JUICE CONCENTRATE, CITRIC ACID.

photo by: RWK

ONE MORE FIND…

A COUPON for my NEW FAVORITE DRINK!!!
Register now and print a $0.75 off coupon which can be used towards the purchase of any Sparkling Essence 4-pack. Use wherever R.W. Knudsen Family® products are sold. Limit one coupon per household, per day. Coupon expires 10/31/10.

I'm strong and sweet!!!

Today, I’m at the beach with my friend Leslie. We both love and cherish the first morning cup of coffee! I know it’s only a picture of my coffee cup on her coffee table (kinda an ironic name for a piece of furniture), I know for some it’s just another day at the beach, but for me it’s a rejuvenating few days that I’ve been needing for more reasons than most care to read about.

SO as for this cup of coffee… it’s the epitome of what my “days off” are about, relaxing, enjoying and simply being me!

The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Thanks to the folks at skirt Magazine for getting me jump started for the summer here at Life to the “T”!!!

I'm the Bomb!!!

1 shot Blueberry Vodka
2 shots Blueberry Pucker
4 shots Grape Kool-Aid
*Ice to shake it
*Glass to make it
**Please note: You can NOT taste the alcohol, so tip toe lightly!!!

Look for me in the upcoming Issue of “skirt Greensboro” in August… so EXCITED I had to make myself a BB this morning just to blog about it!!!

wow... did someone say perfect brownies?

We stirred, we poured, we baked and we ate. Were the brownies tasty? YES, Ghirardelli brownie mix is the ONLY mix I’ve found that has great consistency, divine taste and bakes up with chewy centers and crisp edges. Did the “Perfect Brownie Pan” hold up to the test? NO Freaking Way!!! Even though I didn’t hear any complaints from the peanut gallery about the results, mine certainly didn’t measure up to the infomercial! My one suggestion might be this, don’t use two whole bags of brownie mix like the direction suggest (from the box mix). Maybe go one and a half batches of mix and eat the rest your self (don’t tell your kids I said that).

Is it a Deal or a Dud?

They still taste good

Non Stick? I think Not.

By the way: Did anyone notice the look on the mother’s face in the picture above? It looks like she’s thinking, “Oh dear God, did I really just pay $19.99 for this?” Take note… We have that Giant cupcake thing too… want to know how it fares?

So True!

This should be the motto of my life! I love cupcakes, I love everything about them, their size, their round shape (kinda like me, wonder why that is?), their infamous smells, their tiny decorations (even if they’re lacking)! As a matter of fact I have a slight obsession with them that few people know about! I could do a blog on cupcakes alone, but then I’d have to lose my entire family due to the lack of time I have now because of all the other blogging I do!!! Here are a couple pics I can share. Maybe I’ll do a cupcake a week, like my “Coffee Crawl with T~” on Seek… well, maybe more like once a month. Who am I kidding, I’d rather just keep my compulsion to myself and enjoy

Coastal Cupcakes

I even loved the box!

Coastal Cupcakes in Wilmington, NC

Drake’s 4th Birthday, decorated by big brother! DO I see another cupcake lover in the family?

Drake's Birthday Cupcake

Decorated by BIG brother

Maxi B’s:

Maxi B's, Greensboro NC

Seek loves a cupcake too!

Retro Bakery:

Retro Cupcake in Vegas

Is this enough Chocolate?

Is that a cookie on top? Genius!

Only in Vegas

My best Cupcake friend, Grant!!!

sweet treat, sweet smile, sweet boy

freshly decorated by me and Grant

What can I say, friends, sweets, support, coffee and fun… all in one fantabulous room at Maxi B’s. I was able to host my M.O.M.s group from Family Support Network at this great little find in Greensboro. We meet once a month to talk about our “special needs” kids. Most days it feels like we are the ones who have “special needs” and that our kids are just fine!!!

Fun time by ALL

We are able to be with other MOMS for one night a month that just simply “Get It”! While we were having a chance to chat and catch-up in this awesome place…

Fantabulous Room!!!

we were able to enjoy checking out the new trends in cakes around the room, part of the “decor”!

Can we have a piece of that please?

We meet to give the “new” moms a shoulder to cry on and the “seasoned” moms a chance to catch-up on the latest information floating around about doctors, events, support and schools in the area. It’s not that we are “gossiping”, just that we need to share vital info about ALL the overwhelming news and resources that are available to us. It’s amazing how each time I leave with a new perspective and fresh ideas from those who “Get it”!

our MOMS are special too!!!

Great Space!

Just want to say thanks for just being you!!!

MOre MOMS

Another beautiful display to eat!

Doesn’t hurt to enjoy the goods from the bakery while catching up with each other! They also have a GREAT cup of Joe, yummy ice cream and frozen yogurt… and FREE Wi-Fi. What more could a girl ask for in a place?!?!?!?

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes?!?!?!?

My last thought for M.O.M.s group is this… Thanks for letting me change things up a little to share these wise words from a mom out there in the www (Love Notes for Special Parents by Terry Mauro). As I sat one night and read each and every one of her 28 verses, I thought she was writing them to me. Then the light came on and I knew I had to share them with you ALL. Check Drake’s blog for more quotes in the near future! If you really like these, please check back if you’d like to read about “you” as a parent, or if you choose, read about a parent of a Special Needs child who just might need you to understand how some days it truly is. Thanks to my friends and family who have stuck through my child’s ins/outs, thanks to my SN moms for just getting it with-out saying a word!

Quote 4

Some times words just aren’t needed. Enjoy my first fall fun pics!!!

First Signs of Fall

Yumminess!!!

Bake Sale Fun!!!

fit to be tied

Ribbons of fall

Candy Fun!

what Dog doesn't love a little sweets too?