Getting my scrap on!!

So I just had to share that I have been lucky enough to join TWO great design teams!! I will be working with Jennifer Fox Designs (from www.thedigichick.com) as a blog girl, AND Nikki Epperson Designs (also at the digichick!!) as a Promo girl! I am soooo excited to be a part of both of their teams, and I can't wait to show you all of their cool stuff!!! They both have some great NEW kits coming out this week at the digichick (I have layouts all ready to show you all) But seriously you have GOT to check their stuff out! In the meantime, check out this layout I did using one of Jen's older kits: Bubblegum Beauty

Happy New Year!

Wow, the end of last year sure was a busy one! In November I started working on the Portfolio challenges at SSD, and in December I won a $25 GC to Libby Pritchett's Shop at SSD for using the SSD Cookies 4 Kids layout templates and Libby's kits. It was a lot of fun! Below are some of the layouts I did!!

Happy IDSD!!

So this weekend, I got a lot of inspiration surfing all the digi scrap sites. I even was able to pick up a few goodies (from Scrapable) I found some Freebie Template Layouts by Cindy Schneider (Sweet Shoppe Designs) So below are the layouts I did!

This one I created using Autumn by Dream Big Designs and the Build a Kit September (both available at Scrapable)

This layout is a template by Cindy Schneider at Sweet Shoppe, and the kit is Be Very Afraid by Eva Kipler (also Sweet Shoppe)

Still working on one more that I might share!!

Breakfast Sandwich Makeover...

So, I am a bit of a Breakfast Sandwich junkie.. I especially love fast food breakfast sandwiches. A sausage and cheese biscuit from McDonalds, or a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit, a Croissandwich from BK.. So good! But since my heart attack I can't exactly enjoy these little bits of joy with all their saturated fat. I had to figure out a way that I could enjoy the same taste, but with less calories.

So here is my take on a yummy breakfast sandwich, that has a LOT of great taste and it is fast:

1 Kroger Brand Plain English Muffin (130 Calories 1 Gram of Fat 27 Grams of Carbs)

1 Turkey Breakfast Sausage Patty Great Value Brand (90 Calories, 6 grams of fat 0 Carbs)

1 Slice of Sargento's Reduced Sodium Provolone Cheese (70 Calories, 5 grams of fat 1 Carb)

1/4 cup of egg beaters (30 Calories, 0 grams of fat, 1 Carb)

Totals: 320 Calories 12 Grams of Fat, 28 Grams of Carbs, 25 Grams of Protein

Toast English Muffin

Cook the eggs with whatever seasonings you like

Microwave the sausage patty following the package instructions. Once cooked, place cheese on top and microwave for about 10 more seconds to melt the cheese.

Assemble the sandwich - DELISH!

Now I know that there are probably lower calorie English Muffins out there, but these were just what I had on hand. The Wal-Mart Great Value brand Turkey Sausage patties are very good, the have a great sausage flavor and I do not even notice that they are "lower calorie" Now I know that not everyone likes to shop at Wal-Mart but these were the best sausage patties I could find that were not a soy product.

Tell me about some of your food makeovers!

October/November Desktop Freebie

Hey Scrappers-

I finally took the time to make something scrap related!! I have created a desktop freebie for you, using my kit Autumn Spectacular. Unfortunately it is not available in any store at this time, but if you are interested, send me a message. I have created the desktop for both October and November in several different resolutions. Click the links below to download.

October 1680 Resolution

October 1024 Resolution

October 900 Resolution

November 1680 Resolution

November 1024 Resolution

November 900 Resolution

Thanks everyone and enjoy!! :-)

Food, food, food, all I think about is FOOD!

Hi Scrappers-

Boy, changing your food lifestyle is a difficult endevour. I suppose that is why I got to the weight I did, and ended up having a heart attack at 35.. It has been about a month since I had my heart attack. I have pretty much cut out all caffiene in my diet, I drink 3-4 8oz portions a week now. Down from the 4-5 12oz cans I used to drink every day. My sodium intake has been hovering right around 1700-1900 mg a day. As for carbs and fat, well those are in range too, but they move around more. So far, I have lost 19lbs. I have my first cardiologist appt on Friday, hopefully he will give me the OK to start exercising! I wanted to share a few products that I have found that are helpful to me:

• Healthy Life Low Sodium High Fiber Bread - Comes in both wheat and white, and for a diet bread (only 70 calories for 2 slices and .5 grams of fat) it is pretty tasty.
• Krema Natural Peanut Butter - Has the same amount of fat as normal peanut butter, but it has no sodium, and best of all even though it is a natural peanut butter, it doesn't have to be stored in the fridge.
• Nutella - God, I LOVE this stuff... About half the fat of peanut butter, and very low sodium, I am still able to enjoy a bit of chocolate now and then.
• Alpine Lace Reduced Fat Cheddar - Low fat cheese, that is also pretty low in sodium. Not something you can eat a lot of, but it helps out in a pinch! Tastes ok, but doesn't have the full flavor that a regular cheddar cheese does.
• Fat Free Pringles.. - Warning they are made with Olean which has been known to cause stomach upset if you eat too many in one sitting. However, if you eat the portion size (15 chips) you will be fine. They taste just like regular pringles. Sodium on these is pretty low too (less than 100 mg) The only drawback is they leave a tiny bit of a greasy taste in your mouth, but doesn't last long.
• Kroger Low Sodium Wheat Bread - This bread is VERY low sodium at 25 mg for two pieces. It isn't as tasty as the Healthy Life bread (dryer and less flavorful), but again will do in a pinch and makes really good toast.
• Laughing Cow Light cheese - I especially like the french onion flavor. Only 35 calories, and 2 grams of fat, a bit higher in the sodium department (about 260 mg) but if you are eating low sodium in other areas, you will have room for this in your diet..
• NutCrisps Roasted Almond Flavor - Awesome crackers at the end of the day, when you still have some calories and fat to burn. (tastes great with the Laughing Cow Cheese)
• Skinny Cow Truffle Bars - OK, I know that most dieters already know about Skinny Cow ice cream confections, but can I just say YUM!!! These are the creamiest, smoothest ice cream bars I have ever tasted. At a meer 100 calories a pop, these are TOTALLY worth it!I would eat one EVERY day if they weren't so expensive. A pack of 6 costs close to 5.00 where I live in Michigan..

So those are some of the things I have found that have helped me not feel like all I eat is fruits and veggies.. :-) Tell me about some of the healthy foods you enjoy!

Changes to the blog... and a recipe!!

Hi Scrappers!

I am still planning to keep this blog going, and I will share layouts that I do, and I am sure I will share any freebies that I happen to make. But I am also going to start sharing some recipes. I was just recently released from the hospital, for having a heart attack. Surprising as I am only 35 years old. However, I have been a diabetic for 22 years, and unfortunately heart disease is a complication of diabetes.

The good thing about this heart attack is, that it was a VERY small one. So small in fact they had trouble seeing the damage when they did the heart cath. Luckily for me, this could be the wake up call I needed to start living a more healthy life and eating more healthy foods. So I am now on a low carb, low fat, low sodium diet. I didn't realize how many food are LOADED with sodium! So my husband and I have set out on a journey to make healthy foods that are still tasty and delicious.

My first recipe is a vegetarian chili.

1 medium onion chopped
4 cloves of garlic minced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 medium carrots finely chopped
2 medium tomatoes chopped
2 (15 oz) cans of no salt added black beans drained
1 (4 oz) can of reduced sodium tomato paste
2 cans of water (use the empty tomato paste can)
1 pinch (or to taste) of cayanne pepper (or chili powder)
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tbsp flat leaf parsley chopped

saute onions and garlic in oil on medium high heat until traslucent
add carrots, tomatoes, black beans, tomato paste, water and spices. Place a lid on the pot, and cook for approx 20-25 minutes until the carrots are tender.

Makes 6 servings.
Nutrition per serving:
Cal: 141
Fat: 2.9 grams
Carbs: 23 grams
Protein: 7.2 grams
Sodium: 7 mg

Enjoy!