Spring2Action

 

I'm going to take a plunge and join the Spring in 2 Action challenge over at shrinkingjeans.net   .  The challenge started on March 28th, but I'm just going to jump in where I'm at.  

With that being said, today is the day that we weigh in.  I weighed myself today and know that the number is going to go DOWN!   I have 90 pounds to lose to be have a BMI low enough that our health insurance will not be affected.  Kinda sucks but it's for my own good and for the good of my kids.    I already feel discouraged because the number is 90.  But I'm going to break my big number down into smaller numbers / goals.  

My first goal would be to lose 10 pounds by June 1st.  Doable.    

Plan of action...log my food daily at myfitnesspal .  Log my weight weekly at myfitnesspal and check in weekly at the Sisterhood of Shrinking Jeans.  Follow along with their Kick-Ass April calendar and either do C25K for cardio or bike or walk 3-4 days per week.  I posted some motivational sayings and pictures on my Pinterest board that can be found here .   I'll need to menu plan, that always gives me such a headache but let's be honest, when I do menu plan we eat better, my grocery bill is lower and I always have an answer for "what's for dinner?".  

Here's to a week of good eating, water drinking and sweating! 

Just a little curious

My little guy found this fabric and insisted on a quilt.  That was almost a year ago.  I've been in a funk and did not do anything that I wanted to do. 

Slowly, ever so slowly, I'm pulling myself out and have been sewing.    The top is done but I still need to sandwich, quilt and bind.   My goal it finished by the end of January! 

Almond Butter

A dear friend of mine said that she had made homemade peanut butter.   I have peanut butter in the cabinet but did not have almond butter.  Shannon and I love almond butter, though I do not enjoy the steep price tag that it carries.    Today I experimented!   

I searched for a recipe online and found a great Raw Almond Butter recipe here.  

I followed the recipe as it was written, however, I did not use the honey or the salt.  I may eventually decide to add honey for a sweeter almond butter.  But for now I really enjoyed how this turned out! 

Here are some snapshots of the stages the almond butter went through as I was making it.

Into the food processor they go.

After 2 minutes.

and at 4 minutes

at 6 minutes

somewhere between 8-10 minutes...I'm not sure

and this is the finished product in the food processor.

And in a 2 cup canning jar!  

I LOVE how it turned out!  I am very excited to try making other nut butters now.