One word that most people most likely would not use to describe me is outdoorsy. I never had parents that took us on outdoor adventure vacations or had friends that enjoyed hiking, camping, rock climbing… that kind of thing. Even though I have camped, fished, gone kayaking/rafting, spelunking, and hiking in my 24 years, I probably am more of the girly type. Those types of adventures are usually very far and in between. When I think of things that are fun I think of getting my nails done, shopping, and my idea of outdoorsy is laying out by the pool or boating on the lake.
I haven’t done any outdoor adventures since college. Once college was over I threw away my teva’s and hiking boots and haven’t really looked back since (that 6 mile hike up a volcano in the Caribbean was like the worst and best day of my life. Shocked I lived through it!)
Anyways, this weekend a group of friends that takes an annual rafting trip for the 4th of July invited me. I love rafting. It gets my adrenaline pumping and it isn’t one of those outdoorsy sports that exhausts me physically. I went into a Cumberland Transit, an outdoor sporting goods store here in Nashville, to get a few things for the trip. There were lots of people in there and I was very intrigued by this one middle aged couple that was planning on hiking the grand canyon. I chatted them up and at that moment in time I was completely jealous. I wanted to be cool like that. I wanted to wear adventure wear, wear adventure shoes, be a hippy and carefree and love to roam the earth. I wanted to try rock climbing and repelling again. I wanted to hike the hills of Tennessee…. But I guess I will start one step at the time. Rafting the Ochee River again this weekend!
Totally adding some new things to my to do list!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Diet food review Jack Pot!
I am always looking for tasty guilt free items! I actually have written about some of my favorites on here. As I was browsing my fitness magazine uring my lunch break today (Clearly you don't have to be fit to read Fitness! haha) I came accross an article that listed a few snack options and recipes that left me intrigued. I did my usual google on a few them and came accross this awesome site that is all about new health and diet food finds! I love this new found site. Many of the things I have already tried but now there are a ton more on my list to try out thanks to this site.
So for all you other diet food/health food junkies - IateApie.net : Check IT out!
"IateApie.net provides reviews of foods marketed as healthy and diet friendly options. If it says low fat, low carb, reduced sugar, whole grain, natural, organic or high protein - we review it. The site was started in October 2004 and it is one of the few sites on the internet that delivers this kind of unique and unbiased content, with more than 800 foods reviews, each of which ranks in the Top 5 for a Google search of their product names."
Also, Hungry Girl, one of my fav healthly eating guru sent out her 2010 edition of her supermarket list. A-mazing!
Abbreviations:
FF = fat-free, RF = reduced-fat, LF = low-fat, SF = sugar-free, NSA = no-sugar-added
Dairy, Dairy Alternatives & Egg Products
Cheese
FF or RF shredded cheese (Kraft, Lifetime, Sargento, Galaxy
Veggie Shreds, Weight Watchers)
FF or RF block cheeses (Lifetime, Cabot)
FF or RF cheese slices (Kraft, Kraft Melt Downs, Sargento,
Galaxy Veggie Slices, Weight Watchers)
FF or LF cottage cheese (Fiber One, Knudsen/Breakstone's
On the Go!/Snack Size, Knudsen 100 Calorie Doubles)
FF cream cheese (or Weight Watchers RF Spread)
FF or RF crumbled feta
The Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedges (NEW FLAVORS!)
Light string cheese (50 - 60 calories w/ about 2g fat each)
Assorted RF cheese snacks (Weight Watchers, Sargento)
The Laughing Cow Mini Babybel Light
Kraft 100 Calorie Packs Cheese Bites
RF Parmesan-style grated topping (pasta aisle, usually)
Egg Products
FF liquid egg substitute (Egg Beaters Original,
Better'n Eggs, Nulaid ReddiEgg)
Liquid egg whites (All Whites, Egg Beaters Whites)
Eggs (for making hard-boiled egg whites)
Yogurt
FF or LF yogurt (Yoplait Light, Dannon Light &
Fit, Weight Watchers, Yoplait Fiber One, YoPlus Light)
FF plain Greek yogurt (Fage Total 0%, Trader Joe's
0%, Chobani Nonfat)
FF or LF fruity Greek yogurt (Fage Total 2%
with Fruit, Chobani Nonfat)
Milk & Milk Swaps
Refrigerated light vanilla soymilk (8th Continent Light,
Silk Light)
Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze
(stocked with refrigerated or non-refrigerated soymilks)
Pudding
SF or NSA pudding cups (Jell-O SF,
Hunt's SF or NSA)
Kozy Shack NSA Rice Pudding & Tapioca Pudding
Mousse Temptations by Jell-O
Assorted Low-Cal Condiments
FF Reddi-wip
Cool Whip Free (freezer aisle)
Coffee-mate Original FF liquid creamer
Coffee-mate FF or SF French Vanilla
powdered creamer
Coffee-mate Powder Stick Packs
FF sour cream
FF or LF mayo
Light buttery spread or light whipped butter (Brummel &
Brown, Land O'Lakes Whipped Light, Smart Balance 37%
Light)
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray
Cereal
Cold Cereal
Puffed stuff (puffed wheat, rice &/or corn; Kashi 7 Whole
Grain Puffs; Kix)
Shredded wheat (like Fiber One's frosted version)
Fiber One Bran Cereal (original)
Kashi Honey Sunshine
Chocolate Cheerios
Kashi Heart to Heart Warm Cinnamon Oat Cereal
Hot Cereal
Instant oatmeal packets (Quaker, Quaker Simple
Harvest, Quaker True Delights)
Amy's Hot Cereal Bowls (freezer aisle)
Old-fashioned oats
Meat & Seafood
Meat
Nearly FF (around 97%) turkey, chicken &/or ham slices
(Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh, Applegate Farms, Butterball,
Healthy Ones, Sara Lee, Boar's Head)
Boneless skinless lean chicken &/or turkey breast
Extra-lean/lean ground turkey breast (Jennie-O,
Butterball)
FF or nearly FF hot dogs (Hebrew National 97% FF,
Ball Park FF, Ball Park Bun Size Smoked
White Turkey, Hoffy Extra Lean)
Canned 98% FF chunk white chicken breast in water
Seafood
Canned/pouched tuna in water
Canned/pouched salmon in water
Real or imitation crabmeat
StarKist Salmon, Albacore & Tuna Creations
Bumble Bee Prime Fillet Albacore Steak Entrees
Frozen or fresh shrimp & scallops
Frozen or fresh fish fillets (like tilapia, tuna & flounder)
Gorton's frozen grilled shrimp & fish fillets (tilapia, salmon)
Assorted Meaty Extras
Hormel Turkey Pepperoni (and Minis!)
Lean turkey burger patties (Jennie-O, Butterball)
Center-cut bacon or extra-lean/lean turkey bacon
(Jennie-O Extra Lean, Oscar Mayer)
Precooked real crumbled bacon (or imitation bacon bits)
Soy, turkey, or beef jerky (Tasty Eats -- not the
chicken-flavored ones --, Jack Link's, Oh Boy!
Oberto, Healthy Snackin's Simply Snackin)
Jack Link's Premium Cuts (Chicken Nuggets!)
Veggies
Fresh
Chopped & prepared veggies/veggie snacks (Mann's
Snacks on the Go)
Salad greens
Giant romaine lettuce leaves & cabbage (like Mann's Lettuce
Singles -- for wraps!)
Veggies for munching on (cherry tomatoes, broccoli, sugar
snap peas, baby carrots)
Broccoli slaw mix
Mann's Lo Mein Stir Fry (part veggies, part noodles)
Tomatoes
Bell peppers
Onions (for Lord of the Onion Rings!)
Butternut squash (for HG's special fries)
More fresh veggies of your choice
Frozen
Steam-in-the-bag veggies (Birds Eye, Green Giant, Veg-All)
Seasoned veggies or veggies in LF sauce (Green Giant Just
for One!, Green Giant Health Blends)
Fruit
Fresh
Grab-n-go fruit (apples, pears, bananas, oranges)
More fresh fruit of your choice
Canned & Frozen
Canned fruit in juice or water (pineapple, mandarin oranges,
peaches)
NSA frozen fruit (strawberries, dark sweet cherries, mango
chunks, peach slices, mixed berries)
NSA applesauce (flavored!)
Soups & Other Canned Goods
Low-Cal Canned Soups
Progresso (99% FF, Light & High Fiber)
Amy's Organic Light in Sodium (Chunky Tomato Bisque!)
Broths & Chili
FF chicken, beef, or veggie broth (look for low-sodium)
Canned LF turkey or veggie chili (Hormel, Health Valley)
Non-Canned Guilt-Free Soups
Tabatchnick Soups (freezer aisle)
Kettle Cuisine Soups & Chili (freezer aisle)
Mishima instant soups (Miso & Edamame!)
Campbell's Soup at Hand (check stats for LF ones)
Campbell's V8 Soups
More Canned Fun
Pure pumpkin (Libby's! Hard to find, but worth the search!)
Black beans (look for low-sodium)
Other beans of your choice (garbanzo, kidney, cannellini)
FF refried beans
Tomato sauce (look for flavored)
Crushed tomatoes (for chunky sauce & look for flavored)
Diced tomatoes (fire-roasted!)
Packaged Snacks, Bars, Etc.
Crackers & LF Chips
High-fiber crackers (Wheat Thins Fiber Selects, Ryvita,
Wasa, Dr. Kracker Flatbreads)
Guiltless Gourmet Tortilla Chips
Baked &/or RF potato chips (Kettle Brand Baked, Lay's Baked!, Pringles
Light, Cape Cod 40% RF)
Popchips (or Trader Joe's Popped Potato Chips)
Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps
Popcorn & Other Crunchy Snacks
94% FF mini microwave popcorn bags (Jolly Time Healthy
Pop, Orville Redenbacher's SmartPop!, Pop Secret 100
Calorie Pop)
Rice cakes & snacks (Quaker Rice Cakes & Tortillaz)
Soy crisps (Genisoy, Glenny's)
Michael Season's single-serving snacks
100-Calorie-or-Less Snack Packs & Treats
Snack cakes (Hostess 100 Calorie Packs, Weight Watchers
Snack Cakes)
Quaker Mini Delights
Rice Krispies Treats The Original Bars
VitaTops, VitaMuffins & VitaBrownies (freezer aisle!)
Pringles Stix
Oreo Wafer Fun Stix
Assorted 100-calorie snack packs (Nabisco, Right Bites, Mini
Bites, Chex Mix)
100 Calorie Bars (Hershey's, Reese's, York)
Entenmann's Little Bites 100 Calorie Packs
Bite-Worthy Bars
Cereal bars & chewy granola bars (Fiber One, Quaker 90
Calorie, Special K, South Beach Living Fiber Fit, Kashi)
Crunchy granola bars (Nature Valley, Kashi)
Decadent snack bars (South Beach Living Delights, Chex
Mix, Promax 70 Calorie)
Mini-meal-type bars (Kashi GoLean, Kind, Luna, Lara)
Assorted Guilt-Free Snack Foods
Freeze-dried fruit (Gerber Mini Fruits, Just Tomatoes, Trader
Joe's, Sensible Foods, Funky Monkey, Crispy Green)
Gerber Fruit Puffs & Veggie Puffs
Jell-O SF Gelatin Snacks
LesserEvil Krinkle Sticks
Fiber One Toaster Pastries
Newtons or Special K Fruit Crisps
Nuts
Everybody's Nuts! California Pistachios
All Natural Almond Accents
100-calorie packs of Blue Diamond Almonds
100-calorie packs of Emerald's Almonds (Cocoa
Roast!)
Bread Aisle
Bread & Buns
Low-cal, high-fiber light bread (Weight Watchers; Nature's
Own Light & Double Fiber; Arnold's Bakery Light;
Pepperidge Farm Light Style, Very Thin & Whole Grain;
Sara Lee Delightful; Fiber One)
Light buns (Sara Lee Delightful, Nature's Own Double Fiber,
Pepperidge Farm Classic Soft)
100-calorie flat buns (Arnold Select/Oroweat Sandwich Thins
and Fill 'Ems, Pepperidge Farm Deli Flats, EarthGrains Thin
Buns, Nature's Own Sandwich Rounds)
English Muffins & Bagels
Light English muffins (Weight Watchers, Thomas', Western
Bagel Alternative, Fiber One)
Low-cal bagels (Sara Lee Delightful, Western Bagel Alternative,
Weight Watchers, Kim's Light)
Thomas' Bagel Thins
Tortillas & Pitas
LF, high-fiber flour tortillas with around 110 cals each (La
Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Low Carb High Fiber or
100 Calorie, Mission Carb Balance, Tumaro's 8" Healthy
or Low in Carbs, Flatout Light Wraps)
High-fiber pita bread (Western Bagel Alternative, Weight
Watchers)
Ice Cream & Frozen Novelties
FF or LF ice cream (Dreyer's/Edy's Slow Churned Light Ice
Creams, Breyers Smooth & Dreamy FF)
LF ice cream sandwiches (The Skinny Cow, Weight
Watchers, Klondike Slim-a-Bear, Breyers Smooth &
Dreamy)
Fruit bars (Blue Bunny FrozFruit, Fruitfull Juice Bars,
Dreyer's/Edy's NSA Fruit Bars)
LF fudge bars (Weight Watchers GIANT, Healthy Choice
Premium, NSA Fudgsicles)
Portion-controlled light ice cream cups (Weight Watchers,
Dreyer's/Edy's, The Skinny Cow)
Light ice cream bars (Breyers Smooth & Dreamy,
The Skinny Cow -- especially Truffle Bars!)
Weight Watchers Sherbet & Ice Cream Bars
Fruity popsicles (SF Popsicles, Crystal Light)
Guilt-free sundae cones (Nestle Lil' Drums, Weight
Watchers, The Skinny Cow)
Sauces, Dressings, Etc.
Low-cal salad dressings (Girard's FF, Kraft Free,
Kraft Light, Hidden Valley FF, Wish-Bone
Light, Newman's Own Lighten Up!, low-cal ones from
Litehouse)
Spray dressings (Wish-Bone, Ken's)
SF pancake syrup (Cary's SF, Mrs. Butterworth's SF, Log Cabin
SF)
Salsa (fresh, La Victoria, Pace)
SF or low-sugar preserves (Smucker's SF, Smucker's Low Sugar,
Polaner SF with Fiber)
Frank's RedHot (Original & flavored)
Hellmann's/Best Foods Dijonnaise
Ketchup (Heinz, Heinz Reduced Sugar)
Mustard (honey, Dijon, spicy brown, yellow)
Vivi's Original Sauce Carnival Mustards (request 'em!)
Reduced-sodium/lite soy sauce
BBQ sauce, preferably with 45 calories or less per 2-tbsp.
serving (Chris' & Pitt's)
LF marinara or pizza sauce (Classico, Dei Fratelli)
Low-cal marinades (Mrs. Dash, Lawry's, Newman's Own)
Tomato paste (in a tube!)
Guilt-Free Frozen Foods & Meals
Breakfast-y Finds
LF waffles (Kashi, Eggo LF, Van's LF)
Kraft Bagel-fuls
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Morning Express
Jimmy Dean D-Lights Breakfast Sandwiches & Bowls
Meat Substitutes
Veggie burgers & soy patties (Boca, Gardenburger,
Morningstar Farms, Dr. Praeger's -- blot the oil! --,
Amy's)
Ground-beef-style soy crumbles (Boca, Morningstar Farms)
Breaded-chicken-style soy patties (Boca, Morningstar Farms)
Morningstar Farms Hickory BBQ Riblets
Sandwiches, Etc.
Guilt-free burritos & wraps (Amy's, Cedarlane)
Low-cal panini (Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice)
Lean Cuisine Flatbread Melts
Lean Pockets
HG Pizza Finds
Amy's Spinach Pizza in a Pocket Sandwich
Lean Cuisine Casual Cuisine Pizzas
Amy's Cheese Pizza Toaster Pops
Kashi All Natural Frozen Pizzas (Thin Crust!)
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Artisan Creations
Entrees & More
Contessa Stir Fry Meals
Boca Meatless Lasagna
Boca Meatless Chili
Amy's Mexican Tamale Pie
Amy's Shepherd's Pie
Kashi All Natural Entrees (Mayan Harvest Bake!)
Healthy Choice All Natural Entrees (Pumpkin Squash
Ravioli!)
Lean Cuisine (New Spa Cuisine meals!)
Morningstar Farms Veggie Entrees
Beverages
Diet soda (Coke Zero, Coke Cherry Zero, Sprite Zero)
Coffee (Millstone, Dunkin' Donuts)
Starbucks VIA Ready Brew
Tea (Celestial Seasonings, Stash)
SF powdered drink mixes (Crystal Light, Wyler's Light,
Lipton Iced Tea To Go, AriZona)
Flavored water (Aquafina FlavorSplash,
Vitaminwater Zero)
Spring water
Trop50 juice beverages
SoBe Lean
Ocean Spray Diet
Diet V8 Splash
25-calorie packets of hot cocoa (Swiss Miss Diet, Nestle FF)
Minute Maid Fruit Falls or Just 10 Pouches
Diet Snapple (Trop-A-Rocka Tea)
Baking Goods, Spices & More
Pantry Staples
Whole-wheat flour
Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Pillsbury Reduced Sugar Cake Mixes
LF honey graham crackers
SF FF instant pudding mix (Jell-O)
Better'n Peanut Butter/Peanut Wonder (or RF PB)
Brown rice (pre-portioned &/or instant)
Whole-wheat-blend pasta (Ronzoni)
Betty Crocker 80 Calories Per Serving Pouch Potatoes
No-cal sweetener packets (Splenda, stevia)
Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, granulated (comes loose in
the box, not in packets)
Splenda Flavors for Coffee
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Torani SF Syrups
Instant coffee crystals
Nonstick cooking spray (Pam in Original, Professional High
Heat & Olive Oil)
SF gum (Stride, Trident Layers)
Assorted Spices, Seasonings, Etc.
Vanilla extract
Cinnamon
Pumpkin pie spice
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Italian seasoning
Minced dried onion
Dry seasoning mixes (taco, fajita, chili, etc.)
Dry onion soup/dip mix
Fridge Must-Haves
Dill pickles (burger chips & spears)
House Foods Tofu Shirataki noodles (near the tofu)
Pillsbury RF Crescent Rolls
Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheet
Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust
So for all you other diet food/health food junkies - IateApie.net : Check IT out!
"IateApie.net provides reviews of foods marketed as healthy and diet friendly options. If it says low fat, low carb, reduced sugar, whole grain, natural, organic or high protein - we review it. The site was started in October 2004 and it is one of the few sites on the internet that delivers this kind of unique and unbiased content, with more than 800 foods reviews, each of which ranks in the Top 5 for a Google search of their product names."
Also, Hungry Girl, one of my fav healthly eating guru sent out her 2010 edition of her supermarket list. A-mazing!
Abbreviations:
FF = fat-free, RF = reduced-fat, LF = low-fat, SF = sugar-free, NSA = no-sugar-added
Dairy, Dairy Alternatives & Egg Products
Cheese
FF or RF shredded cheese (Kraft, Lifetime, Sargento, Galaxy
Veggie Shreds, Weight Watchers)
FF or RF block cheeses (Lifetime, Cabot)
FF or RF cheese slices (Kraft, Kraft Melt Downs, Sargento,
Galaxy Veggie Slices, Weight Watchers)
FF or LF cottage cheese (Fiber One, Knudsen/Breakstone's
On the Go!/Snack Size, Knudsen 100 Calorie Doubles)
FF cream cheese (or Weight Watchers RF Spread)
FF or RF crumbled feta
The Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedges (NEW FLAVORS!)
Light string cheese (50 - 60 calories w/ about 2g fat each)
Assorted RF cheese snacks (Weight Watchers, Sargento)
The Laughing Cow Mini Babybel Light
Kraft 100 Calorie Packs Cheese Bites
RF Parmesan-style grated topping (pasta aisle, usually)
Egg Products
FF liquid egg substitute (Egg Beaters Original,
Better'n Eggs, Nulaid ReddiEgg)
Liquid egg whites (All Whites, Egg Beaters Whites)
Eggs (for making hard-boiled egg whites)
Yogurt
FF or LF yogurt (Yoplait Light, Dannon Light &
Fit, Weight Watchers, Yoplait Fiber One, YoPlus Light)
FF plain Greek yogurt (Fage Total 0%, Trader Joe's
0%, Chobani Nonfat)
FF or LF fruity Greek yogurt (Fage Total 2%
with Fruit, Chobani Nonfat)
Milk & Milk Swaps
Refrigerated light vanilla soymilk (8th Continent Light,
Silk Light)
Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze
(stocked with refrigerated or non-refrigerated soymilks)
Pudding
SF or NSA pudding cups (Jell-O SF,
Hunt's SF or NSA)
Kozy Shack NSA Rice Pudding & Tapioca Pudding
Mousse Temptations by Jell-O
Assorted Low-Cal Condiments
FF Reddi-wip
Cool Whip Free (freezer aisle)
Coffee-mate Original FF liquid creamer
Coffee-mate FF or SF French Vanilla
powdered creamer
Coffee-mate Powder Stick Packs
FF sour cream
FF or LF mayo
Light buttery spread or light whipped butter (Brummel &
Brown, Land O'Lakes Whipped Light, Smart Balance 37%
Light)
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray
Cereal
Cold Cereal
Puffed stuff (puffed wheat, rice &/or corn; Kashi 7 Whole
Grain Puffs; Kix)
Shredded wheat (like Fiber One's frosted version)
Fiber One Bran Cereal (original)
Kashi Honey Sunshine
Chocolate Cheerios
Kashi Heart to Heart Warm Cinnamon Oat Cereal
Hot Cereal
Instant oatmeal packets (Quaker, Quaker Simple
Harvest, Quaker True Delights)
Amy's Hot Cereal Bowls (freezer aisle)
Old-fashioned oats
Meat & Seafood
Meat
Nearly FF (around 97%) turkey, chicken &/or ham slices
(Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh, Applegate Farms, Butterball,
Healthy Ones, Sara Lee, Boar's Head)
Boneless skinless lean chicken &/or turkey breast
Extra-lean/lean ground turkey breast (Jennie-O,
Butterball)
FF or nearly FF hot dogs (Hebrew National 97% FF,
Ball Park FF, Ball Park Bun Size Smoked
White Turkey, Hoffy Extra Lean)
Canned 98% FF chunk white chicken breast in water
Seafood
Canned/pouched tuna in water
Canned/pouched salmon in water
Real or imitation crabmeat
StarKist Salmon, Albacore & Tuna Creations
Bumble Bee Prime Fillet Albacore Steak Entrees
Frozen or fresh shrimp & scallops
Frozen or fresh fish fillets (like tilapia, tuna & flounder)
Gorton's frozen grilled shrimp & fish fillets (tilapia, salmon)
Assorted Meaty Extras
Hormel Turkey Pepperoni (and Minis!)
Lean turkey burger patties (Jennie-O, Butterball)
Center-cut bacon or extra-lean/lean turkey bacon
(Jennie-O Extra Lean, Oscar Mayer)
Precooked real crumbled bacon (or imitation bacon bits)
Soy, turkey, or beef jerky (Tasty Eats -- not the
chicken-flavored ones --, Jack Link's, Oh Boy!
Oberto, Healthy Snackin's Simply Snackin)
Jack Link's Premium Cuts (Chicken Nuggets!)
Veggies
Fresh
Chopped & prepared veggies/veggie snacks (Mann's
Snacks on the Go)
Salad greens
Giant romaine lettuce leaves & cabbage (like Mann's Lettuce
Singles -- for wraps!)
Veggies for munching on (cherry tomatoes, broccoli, sugar
snap peas, baby carrots)
Broccoli slaw mix
Mann's Lo Mein Stir Fry (part veggies, part noodles)
Tomatoes
Bell peppers
Onions (for Lord of the Onion Rings!)
Butternut squash (for HG's special fries)
More fresh veggies of your choice
Frozen
Steam-in-the-bag veggies (Birds Eye, Green Giant, Veg-All)
Seasoned veggies or veggies in LF sauce (Green Giant Just
for One!, Green Giant Health Blends)
Fruit
Fresh
Grab-n-go fruit (apples, pears, bananas, oranges)
More fresh fruit of your choice
Canned & Frozen
Canned fruit in juice or water (pineapple, mandarin oranges,
peaches)
NSA frozen fruit (strawberries, dark sweet cherries, mango
chunks, peach slices, mixed berries)
NSA applesauce (flavored!)
Soups & Other Canned Goods
Low-Cal Canned Soups
Progresso (99% FF, Light & High Fiber)
Amy's Organic Light in Sodium (Chunky Tomato Bisque!)
Broths & Chili
FF chicken, beef, or veggie broth (look for low-sodium)
Canned LF turkey or veggie chili (Hormel, Health Valley)
Non-Canned Guilt-Free Soups
Tabatchnick Soups (freezer aisle)
Kettle Cuisine Soups & Chili (freezer aisle)
Mishima instant soups (Miso & Edamame!)
Campbell's Soup at Hand (check stats for LF ones)
Campbell's V8 Soups
More Canned Fun
Pure pumpkin (Libby's! Hard to find, but worth the search!)
Black beans (look for low-sodium)
Other beans of your choice (garbanzo, kidney, cannellini)
FF refried beans
Tomato sauce (look for flavored)
Crushed tomatoes (for chunky sauce & look for flavored)
Diced tomatoes (fire-roasted!)
Packaged Snacks, Bars, Etc.
Crackers & LF Chips
High-fiber crackers (Wheat Thins Fiber Selects, Ryvita,
Wasa, Dr. Kracker Flatbreads)
Guiltless Gourmet Tortilla Chips
Baked &/or RF potato chips (Kettle Brand Baked, Lay's Baked!, Pringles
Light, Cape Cod 40% RF)
Popchips (or Trader Joe's Popped Potato Chips)
Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps
Popcorn & Other Crunchy Snacks
94% FF mini microwave popcorn bags (Jolly Time Healthy
Pop, Orville Redenbacher's SmartPop!, Pop Secret 100
Calorie Pop)
Rice cakes & snacks (Quaker Rice Cakes & Tortillaz)
Soy crisps (Genisoy, Glenny's)
Michael Season's single-serving snacks
100-Calorie-or-Less Snack Packs & Treats
Snack cakes (Hostess 100 Calorie Packs, Weight Watchers
Snack Cakes)
Quaker Mini Delights
Rice Krispies Treats The Original Bars
VitaTops, VitaMuffins & VitaBrownies (freezer aisle!)
Pringles Stix
Oreo Wafer Fun Stix
Assorted 100-calorie snack packs (Nabisco, Right Bites, Mini
Bites, Chex Mix)
100 Calorie Bars (Hershey's, Reese's, York)
Entenmann's Little Bites 100 Calorie Packs
Bite-Worthy Bars
Cereal bars & chewy granola bars (Fiber One, Quaker 90
Calorie, Special K, South Beach Living Fiber Fit, Kashi)
Crunchy granola bars (Nature Valley, Kashi)
Decadent snack bars (South Beach Living Delights, Chex
Mix, Promax 70 Calorie)
Mini-meal-type bars (Kashi GoLean, Kind, Luna, Lara)
Assorted Guilt-Free Snack Foods
Freeze-dried fruit (Gerber Mini Fruits, Just Tomatoes, Trader
Joe's, Sensible Foods, Funky Monkey, Crispy Green)
Gerber Fruit Puffs & Veggie Puffs
Jell-O SF Gelatin Snacks
LesserEvil Krinkle Sticks
Fiber One Toaster Pastries
Newtons or Special K Fruit Crisps
Nuts
Everybody's Nuts! California Pistachios
All Natural Almond Accents
100-calorie packs of Blue Diamond Almonds
100-calorie packs of Emerald's Almonds (Cocoa
Roast!)
Bread Aisle
Bread & Buns
Low-cal, high-fiber light bread (Weight Watchers; Nature's
Own Light & Double Fiber; Arnold's Bakery Light;
Pepperidge Farm Light Style, Very Thin & Whole Grain;
Sara Lee Delightful; Fiber One)
Light buns (Sara Lee Delightful, Nature's Own Double Fiber,
Pepperidge Farm Classic Soft)
100-calorie flat buns (Arnold Select/Oroweat Sandwich Thins
and Fill 'Ems, Pepperidge Farm Deli Flats, EarthGrains Thin
Buns, Nature's Own Sandwich Rounds)
English Muffins & Bagels
Light English muffins (Weight Watchers, Thomas', Western
Bagel Alternative, Fiber One)
Low-cal bagels (Sara Lee Delightful, Western Bagel Alternative,
Weight Watchers, Kim's Light)
Thomas' Bagel Thins
Tortillas & Pitas
LF, high-fiber flour tortillas with around 110 cals each (La
Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Low Carb High Fiber or
100 Calorie, Mission Carb Balance, Tumaro's 8" Healthy
or Low in Carbs, Flatout Light Wraps)
High-fiber pita bread (Western Bagel Alternative, Weight
Watchers)
Ice Cream & Frozen Novelties
FF or LF ice cream (Dreyer's/Edy's Slow Churned Light Ice
Creams, Breyers Smooth & Dreamy FF)
LF ice cream sandwiches (The Skinny Cow, Weight
Watchers, Klondike Slim-a-Bear, Breyers Smooth &
Dreamy)
Fruit bars (Blue Bunny FrozFruit, Fruitfull Juice Bars,
Dreyer's/Edy's NSA Fruit Bars)
LF fudge bars (Weight Watchers GIANT, Healthy Choice
Premium, NSA Fudgsicles)
Portion-controlled light ice cream cups (Weight Watchers,
Dreyer's/Edy's, The Skinny Cow)
Light ice cream bars (Breyers Smooth & Dreamy,
The Skinny Cow -- especially Truffle Bars!)
Weight Watchers Sherbet & Ice Cream Bars
Fruity popsicles (SF Popsicles, Crystal Light)
Guilt-free sundae cones (Nestle Lil' Drums, Weight
Watchers, The Skinny Cow)
Sauces, Dressings, Etc.
Low-cal salad dressings (Girard's FF, Kraft Free,
Kraft Light, Hidden Valley FF, Wish-Bone
Light, Newman's Own Lighten Up!, low-cal ones from
Litehouse)
Spray dressings (Wish-Bone, Ken's)
SF pancake syrup (Cary's SF, Mrs. Butterworth's SF, Log Cabin
SF)
Salsa (fresh, La Victoria, Pace)
SF or low-sugar preserves (Smucker's SF, Smucker's Low Sugar,
Polaner SF with Fiber)
Frank's RedHot (Original & flavored)
Hellmann's/Best Foods Dijonnaise
Ketchup (Heinz, Heinz Reduced Sugar)
Mustard (honey, Dijon, spicy brown, yellow)
Vivi's Original Sauce Carnival Mustards (request 'em!)
Reduced-sodium/lite soy sauce
BBQ sauce, preferably with 45 calories or less per 2-tbsp.
serving (Chris' & Pitt's)
LF marinara or pizza sauce (Classico, Dei Fratelli)
Low-cal marinades (Mrs. Dash, Lawry's, Newman's Own)
Tomato paste (in a tube!)
Guilt-Free Frozen Foods & Meals
Breakfast-y Finds
LF waffles (Kashi, Eggo LF, Van's LF)
Kraft Bagel-fuls
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Morning Express
Jimmy Dean D-Lights Breakfast Sandwiches & Bowls
Meat Substitutes
Veggie burgers & soy patties (Boca, Gardenburger,
Morningstar Farms, Dr. Praeger's -- blot the oil! --,
Amy's)
Ground-beef-style soy crumbles (Boca, Morningstar Farms)
Breaded-chicken-style soy patties (Boca, Morningstar Farms)
Morningstar Farms Hickory BBQ Riblets
Sandwiches, Etc.
Guilt-free burritos & wraps (Amy's, Cedarlane)
Low-cal panini (Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice)
Lean Cuisine Flatbread Melts
Lean Pockets
HG Pizza Finds
Amy's Spinach Pizza in a Pocket Sandwich
Lean Cuisine Casual Cuisine Pizzas
Amy's Cheese Pizza Toaster Pops
Kashi All Natural Frozen Pizzas (Thin Crust!)
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Artisan Creations
Entrees & More
Contessa Stir Fry Meals
Boca Meatless Lasagna
Boca Meatless Chili
Amy's Mexican Tamale Pie
Amy's Shepherd's Pie
Kashi All Natural Entrees (Mayan Harvest Bake!)
Healthy Choice All Natural Entrees (Pumpkin Squash
Ravioli!)
Lean Cuisine (New Spa Cuisine meals!)
Morningstar Farms Veggie Entrees
Beverages
Diet soda (Coke Zero, Coke Cherry Zero, Sprite Zero)
Coffee (Millstone, Dunkin' Donuts)
Starbucks VIA Ready Brew
Tea (Celestial Seasonings, Stash)
SF powdered drink mixes (Crystal Light, Wyler's Light,
Lipton Iced Tea To Go, AriZona)
Flavored water (Aquafina FlavorSplash,
Vitaminwater Zero)
Spring water
Trop50 juice beverages
SoBe Lean
Ocean Spray Diet
Diet V8 Splash
25-calorie packets of hot cocoa (Swiss Miss Diet, Nestle FF)
Minute Maid Fruit Falls or Just 10 Pouches
Diet Snapple (Trop-A-Rocka Tea)
Baking Goods, Spices & More
Pantry Staples
Whole-wheat flour
Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Pillsbury Reduced Sugar Cake Mixes
LF honey graham crackers
SF FF instant pudding mix (Jell-O)
Better'n Peanut Butter/Peanut Wonder (or RF PB)
Brown rice (pre-portioned &/or instant)
Whole-wheat-blend pasta (Ronzoni)
Betty Crocker 80 Calories Per Serving Pouch Potatoes
No-cal sweetener packets (Splenda, stevia)
Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, granulated (comes loose in
the box, not in packets)
Splenda Flavors for Coffee
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Torani SF Syrups
Instant coffee crystals
Nonstick cooking spray (Pam in Original, Professional High
Heat & Olive Oil)
SF gum (Stride, Trident Layers)
Assorted Spices, Seasonings, Etc.
Vanilla extract
Cinnamon
Pumpkin pie spice
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Italian seasoning
Minced dried onion
Dry seasoning mixes (taco, fajita, chili, etc.)
Dry onion soup/dip mix
Fridge Must-Haves
Dill pickles (burger chips & spears)
House Foods Tofu Shirataki noodles (near the tofu)
Pillsbury RF Crescent Rolls
Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheet
Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Perfectly Lonely
So its official-I have been single for exactly 1 year. One year ago today, June 22nd, I broke up with my last boyfriend - Stephen. 
Kinda crazy it has been that long! But it's all good because most of the time "I'm Perfectly Lonely" as John Mayer put so nicely in one of his latest albums. Anyways, today I am going to celebrate being single!
Great reasons to be single:
*Don't have to worry about anyone but yourself when making plans
*You don't have to share if you don't want to
*The only insecurities you have to deal with are your own
*More time to spend with friends and building better relationships with others
*Easier to focus on you and what you want: Career, dreams, fitness, hobbies
*Don't have to worry about someone cheating on you
*You never have to worry about whether or not the person you are with really likes you or is about to dump you
*Can spend all your extra cash on just YOU!
Kinda crazy it has been that long! But it's all good because most of the time "I'm Perfectly Lonely" as John Mayer put so nicely in one of his latest albums. Anyways, today I am going to celebrate being single!
Great reasons to be single:
*Don't have to worry about anyone but yourself when making plans
*You don't have to share if you don't want to
*The only insecurities you have to deal with are your own
*More time to spend with friends and building better relationships with others
*Easier to focus on you and what you want: Career, dreams, fitness, hobbies
*Don't have to worry about someone cheating on you
*You never have to worry about whether or not the person you are with really likes you or is about to dump you
*Can spend all your extra cash on just YOU!
*Don't have to compromise or get used to any one's annoying habits
*And the best of all: You can do whatever you want!
I'm gunna leave with a few lyrics from good ole' John because it really is exactly how I feel today! Embrace your "status" in life!
Nothing to do
Nowhere to be
A simple little kind of free
Nothing to do
No one but me
And that's all I need
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely (Yeah)
'Cause I don't belong to anyone
Nobody belongs to me
And this is not to say
There never comes a day
I'll take my chances and start again
And when I look behind
On all my younger times
I have to thank the wrongs that led me to a love so strong
*And the best of all: You can do whatever you want!
I'm gunna leave with a few lyrics from good ole' John because it really is exactly how I feel today! Embrace your "status" in life!
Nothing to do
Nowhere to be
A simple little kind of free
Nothing to do
No one but me
And that's all I need
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely
I'm perfectly lonely (Yeah)
'Cause I don't belong to anyone
Nobody belongs to me
And this is not to say
There never comes a day
I'll take my chances and start again
And when I look behind
On all my younger times
I have to thank the wrongs that led me to a love so strong
Monday, June 21, 2010
Complusive hair changer
2010 summer solstice is today. I can't believe it is already summer. Anyways, I got my hair prepared early for it's summer do! Got my hair done last Thursday! They do say blonde's have more fun..... Guess only time will tell! ;o)
From this:
TO THIS!
Stranded
There are several feelings in this world that can leave someone feeling horrible: Disappointment, Loss of something or someone, loneliness, rejection….. But there is one feeling which I had never experienced until this weekend. Getting stood up.
As you know from my posts from earlier this year, I played around with online dating. I went on like 20 something dates in a month until I was still just as single by the end of the month and was burnt out of the dating scene with creepos, clingers, and nerds. But there were still a few stranglers out there that I remained in contact with but just had never met.
Being open minded about the whole thing I decided that the dude that kept popping up on my google chat was worth giving a shot. He picked our plans. Chili’s in Symna. Okay first thought, “This dude is really going to make me drive 25 minutes to see him? Nashville is sooo much better then Smyrna.” This should have been my first red flag! But what can I say, I am a bit naive sometimes.
Get to Chili’s, we sit down. Things are going okay. I am just living in the moment. I am not thinking could he be my future husband?, I am just looking for a good fun night, good convo, maybe some flirting. I was not asking for miracles, I was just happy to be out with someone that appears to be decent guy: He has a good job, halfway attractive, doesn’t live with his parents.
He was really laying it thick. Asking why in the world would I need online dating? Said I am too beautiful and have too much going for me to be single. He was being really sweet. We are there for about an hour, have a few drinks and then eventually asks if I want to come watch a movie at his house. As the respectable young lady that I am, I said no thank you but I would be willing to go do something else. So we decided we were going to go play pool. We pay our check and head outside. His car is parked in the star buck’s parking lot next door and my car was behind the restaurant. He agreed to drive over to my car and then I could follow him to the pool hall…… I waited 15 minutes. Called twice, and sent a text message. The dude had just up and left me mid date. Stranded. IN SMYRNA!
I have never felt the way I did that night. I felt utterly and completely like a looser. I had been rejected in what had felt like the worst possible way. I understand if you aren’t feeling anything then that’s fine, just be honest. My feelings had never been so hurt in my life. I would rather be called fat and ugly in front of my face then to feel the way I felt that night.
I honestly don’t know why I am sharing what I find to be maybe one of the most humiliating stories about myself. Part of me thinks, What must be wrong with me? The other part of me stays strong thinking he probably just wanted a hook up and clearly I was not a candidate Friday night. Either way I got lucky, because I know I don’t want to be with an A hole!
Anyways, good luck to all you single ladies out there. Just keep the faith!
As you know from my posts from earlier this year, I played around with online dating. I went on like 20 something dates in a month until I was still just as single by the end of the month and was burnt out of the dating scene with creepos, clingers, and nerds. But there were still a few stranglers out there that I remained in contact with but just had never met.
Being open minded about the whole thing I decided that the dude that kept popping up on my google chat was worth giving a shot. He picked our plans. Chili’s in Symna. Okay first thought, “This dude is really going to make me drive 25 minutes to see him? Nashville is sooo much better then Smyrna.” This should have been my first red flag! But what can I say, I am a bit naive sometimes.
Get to Chili’s, we sit down. Things are going okay. I am just living in the moment. I am not thinking could he be my future husband?, I am just looking for a good fun night, good convo, maybe some flirting. I was not asking for miracles, I was just happy to be out with someone that appears to be decent guy: He has a good job, halfway attractive, doesn’t live with his parents.
He was really laying it thick. Asking why in the world would I need online dating? Said I am too beautiful and have too much going for me to be single. He was being really sweet. We are there for about an hour, have a few drinks and then eventually asks if I want to come watch a movie at his house. As the respectable young lady that I am, I said no thank you but I would be willing to go do something else. So we decided we were going to go play pool. We pay our check and head outside. His car is parked in the star buck’s parking lot next door and my car was behind the restaurant. He agreed to drive over to my car and then I could follow him to the pool hall…… I waited 15 minutes. Called twice, and sent a text message. The dude had just up and left me mid date. Stranded. IN SMYRNA!
I have never felt the way I did that night. I felt utterly and completely like a looser. I had been rejected in what had felt like the worst possible way. I understand if you aren’t feeling anything then that’s fine, just be honest. My feelings had never been so hurt in my life. I would rather be called fat and ugly in front of my face then to feel the way I felt that night.
I honestly don’t know why I am sharing what I find to be maybe one of the most humiliating stories about myself. Part of me thinks, What must be wrong with me? The other part of me stays strong thinking he probably just wanted a hook up and clearly I was not a candidate Friday night. Either way I got lucky, because I know I don’t want to be with an A hole!
Anyways, good luck to all you single ladies out there. Just keep the faith!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Recipe of the week
New recipe of the week... Okay maybe month or season may be the better word since it has been so long since I have tried something new. Anyways here we go!
Easy and Elegant Sea Scallops
1 lb sea scallops
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp butter
1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup green onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp pepper (white preferably)
1/2 cup dry cooking sherry
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Salt to taste
Heat oil and butter together in a skillet. Add mushrooms, onion, garlic, pepper, parsley and salt to taste. Saute until mushrooms are tender. Add scallops and sherry. Cook over very high heat until the sherry is reduced by half. When finished the scallops will e covered with an elegant light brown glaze.
DELICIOUS!!!!
Easy and Elegant Sea Scallops
1 lb sea scallops
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp butter
1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup green onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp pepper (white preferably)
1/2 cup dry cooking sherry
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Salt to taste
Heat oil and butter together in a skillet. Add mushrooms, onion, garlic, pepper, parsley and salt to taste. Saute until mushrooms are tender. Add scallops and sherry. Cook over very high heat until the sherry is reduced by half. When finished the scallops will e covered with an elegant light brown glaze.
DELICIOUS!!!!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
New CD's!
I occasionally break down and buy cd's/download music. It's a moment I love (yea music) and also hate (boo Bills!)
CD #1) Season 1 Glee Soundtrack
If you love the show and appreciate the songs, you will LOVE this cd!
CD #2) Jewel: Sweet and Wild Album
I bought the Pop and Country deluxe edition. Love it. Jewel has such a beautiful voice, original songs, and it's just very organic. She makes singing sound so effortless.
CD #3) Jack Johnson: To the Sea
It's okay. I think it will grow on me over time. I just think I enjoy some of his past stuff a little bit more. But very chill, beachy sounding, and light hearted. Def doesn't hurt adding it to my music collection.
CD #1) Season 1 Glee Soundtrack
If you love the show and appreciate the songs, you will LOVE this cd!
CD #2) Jewel: Sweet and Wild Album
I bought the Pop and Country deluxe edition. Love it. Jewel has such a beautiful voice, original songs, and it's just very organic. She makes singing sound so effortless.
CD #3) Jack Johnson: To the Sea
It's okay. I think it will grow on me over time. I just think I enjoy some of his past stuff a little bit more. But very chill, beachy sounding, and light hearted. Def doesn't hurt adding it to my music collection.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
I need to put a leash on it!
What you may be asking do I need to put a leash on? My cell phone. I have officially lost my Iphone twice in the past month, and then one time back in December.
First time was right after I got my Iphone. I set it down and walked away when I was out with some friends downtown. Luckily retracing my steps brought me back to my belongings. The second time I lost it on my travels home from steeplechase. One minute I have it while we are packing the car, the next second- Poof I can't find it. Then through friends calling other friends that called my roommate, I was told through a hand written note who found it and where I could go pick it up. The third time was just last weekend..... All boils down to unloading my purse digging out the loose cash when paying the taxi cab driver. I remember taking the phone out setting it in the seat next to me, I got out of the taxi paid and as soon as I got to the back door I realized my phone was sitting in the passenger seat. I have come to terms with the fact that I will never see my precious again. But I am here to give you all tips on what to do when you ride in a taxi, just in case you are like me and fail to put a lease on your belongings! (aka are irresponsible)
1) Remember the taxi cab company and taxi cab number
2) Get the cab drivers name or even better get the card of the taxi cab driver and phone number
3) Call in a taxi pick up that way your trip is recorded. Any cab ride that was hailed has no trace in the computer system.
4) Pay with a credit card so you can trace the machine used.
And just a general FYI I learned through this whole process, if you have a family plan through ATT your phones can be tracked through GPS locating devices for lines tied to the same account. (Yes, another downfail to being 24 and single and independent from your family)
I wont deny when I got home and realized my phone was driving down the road and I had no car, no phone, no internet to go get it or contact anyone, I felt pretty hopeless and alone. But Sunday morning I woke up, walked a mile or so to the nearest open store and had the waitress call me a taxi. I rode to the other side of town to get my car and decided I was going to go visit a friend. I pulled out of the parking lot once i got there and the first car I pulled behind had a bumper sticker on it that said "The greatest things in life aren't things". That's when I decided to quite being sad and realized that that things happen. Replacing my phone may cost me alot of extra cash and caused some major inconviences.... But it's just a phone.
Now... On to getting the Iphone 4!!!! :)
First time was right after I got my Iphone. I set it down and walked away when I was out with some friends downtown. Luckily retracing my steps brought me back to my belongings. The second time I lost it on my travels home from steeplechase. One minute I have it while we are packing the car, the next second- Poof I can't find it. Then through friends calling other friends that called my roommate, I was told through a hand written note who found it and where I could go pick it up. The third time was just last weekend..... All boils down to unloading my purse digging out the loose cash when paying the taxi cab driver. I remember taking the phone out setting it in the seat next to me, I got out of the taxi paid and as soon as I got to the back door I realized my phone was sitting in the passenger seat. I have come to terms with the fact that I will never see my precious again. But I am here to give you all tips on what to do when you ride in a taxi, just in case you are like me and fail to put a lease on your belongings! (aka are irresponsible)
1) Remember the taxi cab company and taxi cab number
2) Get the cab drivers name or even better get the card of the taxi cab driver and phone number
3) Call in a taxi pick up that way your trip is recorded. Any cab ride that was hailed has no trace in the computer system.
4) Pay with a credit card so you can trace the machine used.
And just a general FYI I learned through this whole process, if you have a family plan through ATT your phones can be tracked through GPS locating devices for lines tied to the same account. (Yes, another downfail to being 24 and single and independent from your family)
I wont deny when I got home and realized my phone was driving down the road and I had no car, no phone, no internet to go get it or contact anyone, I felt pretty hopeless and alone. But Sunday morning I woke up, walked a mile or so to the nearest open store and had the waitress call me a taxi. I rode to the other side of town to get my car and decided I was going to go visit a friend. I pulled out of the parking lot once i got there and the first car I pulled behind had a bumper sticker on it that said "The greatest things in life aren't things". That's when I decided to quite being sad and realized that that things happen. Replacing my phone may cost me alot of extra cash and caused some major inconviences.... But it's just a phone.
Now... On to getting the Iphone 4!!!! :)
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Lawn Mower Saga'S!
There are two things in life I always tend to break or at least murphy's law always comes into play with.
1) Jet Skii's
2) Lawn Mowers
Now I haven't had any issues with jet skii's in a couple of years (knock on wood), but I have exploded, sank, broke three maybe 4 at this point.
Lawn mowers are a new adventure for me.
Saga one...
When you buy a house instead of a condo or a townhome one of the major questions you ask yourself is how will the lawn get mowed? Now I am a country girl. I have zero issues mowing the lawn, so I decided to save myself 30 bucks a week and mow it myself. First delima is I have never pushed mowed and also I know nothing about what kind of machine to buy. I start doing my research... I can never start my parents stuff that has a pull start and my lot is only .3 acres. So my first purchase was a Black and Decker electric lawn mower. Top of the line. Almost 400 bucks. I thought I have found the perfect solution to no pull start and no gasoline. Boy was I wrong. That thing was not self propelled and was like pushing around a 100 pound baby! Second problem was firt day I mowed I only got 1/3 of the way done with the yard and the battery power ran out. This persisted for 3 days until I finished and my body was so sore (from pushing my fat baby around for three days) I could barely move. I thought surely it just kept dying because my yard was a jungle-Next mow will be better. Nope. Same thing. I took the beast back in my friends mini van....
Saga two: I wait for my mother to come visit so I have an SUV to transport the thing. I decided to screw electric mowers and go for gas. I got all the consumer ratings on gas mowers, we headed to Lowe's and we picked out a really nice self propelled mower. Lowe's even assembled it for us to help with any potential issues. All we needed to do was gas and oil it up and we were supposed to be golden. WRONG. After my mother and I fooled around with that mower for an hour and nothing happened, we decided soemthing was wrong. We loaded it back in the car and headed to Lowe's..... They assembled it incorrectly. It was a safety feature preventing it from working.
Saga three: My new mower had been working great... for my roommate. (Great thing about a male roomie is they offer to mow the lawn.) I come home from a long day at work and notice the lawn is half mowed. I think to myself, "well that's odd". I walk in and my roommate looks upset. He automatically busts out, "the lawn mowers both stopped working today"... Well roomie hit a stump with my lawn mower and then never turned on again. Then took his lawn mower out to finish mowing and he hit the same stump, breaking his lawn mower too. I was a bit upset. I had bought a really nice push mower that was not cheap to replace. We took some pieces apart, talked to my dad about what it could be- Final answer was I took it back to Lowe's (yes it fit in the back seat of my Honda Accord)to see what my options were. Apparently since it had only been 3 weeks they just took it back. They can get full refund as "damaged goods" from the manufacturer, while if i used the manufacturer's warrenty it probably wouldn't have done anything. Anyways, all turned out well and I actually ended up spending a few more dollars to get an even better lawn mower.
Anyways, I never thought in my life I would spend so much time and engery thinking and dealing with lawn mowers but I am one step closer to being one well rounded handy woman!!!
1) Jet Skii's
2) Lawn Mowers
Now I haven't had any issues with jet skii's in a couple of years (knock on wood), but I have exploded, sank, broke three maybe 4 at this point.
Lawn mowers are a new adventure for me.
Saga one...
When you buy a house instead of a condo or a townhome one of the major questions you ask yourself is how will the lawn get mowed? Now I am a country girl. I have zero issues mowing the lawn, so I decided to save myself 30 bucks a week and mow it myself. First delima is I have never pushed mowed and also I know nothing about what kind of machine to buy. I start doing my research... I can never start my parents stuff that has a pull start and my lot is only .3 acres. So my first purchase was a Black and Decker electric lawn mower. Top of the line. Almost 400 bucks. I thought I have found the perfect solution to no pull start and no gasoline. Boy was I wrong. That thing was not self propelled and was like pushing around a 100 pound baby! Second problem was firt day I mowed I only got 1/3 of the way done with the yard and the battery power ran out. This persisted for 3 days until I finished and my body was so sore (from pushing my fat baby around for three days) I could barely move. I thought surely it just kept dying because my yard was a jungle-Next mow will be better. Nope. Same thing. I took the beast back in my friends mini van....
Saga two: I wait for my mother to come visit so I have an SUV to transport the thing. I decided to screw electric mowers and go for gas. I got all the consumer ratings on gas mowers, we headed to Lowe's and we picked out a really nice self propelled mower. Lowe's even assembled it for us to help with any potential issues. All we needed to do was gas and oil it up and we were supposed to be golden. WRONG. After my mother and I fooled around with that mower for an hour and nothing happened, we decided soemthing was wrong. We loaded it back in the car and headed to Lowe's..... They assembled it incorrectly. It was a safety feature preventing it from working.
Saga three: My new mower had been working great... for my roommate. (Great thing about a male roomie is they offer to mow the lawn.) I come home from a long day at work and notice the lawn is half mowed. I think to myself, "well that's odd". I walk in and my roommate looks upset. He automatically busts out, "the lawn mowers both stopped working today"... Well roomie hit a stump with my lawn mower and then never turned on again. Then took his lawn mower out to finish mowing and he hit the same stump, breaking his lawn mower too. I was a bit upset. I had bought a really nice push mower that was not cheap to replace. We took some pieces apart, talked to my dad about what it could be- Final answer was I took it back to Lowe's (yes it fit in the back seat of my Honda Accord)to see what my options were. Apparently since it had only been 3 weeks they just took it back. They can get full refund as "damaged goods" from the manufacturer, while if i used the manufacturer's warrenty it probably wouldn't have done anything. Anyways, all turned out well and I actually ended up spending a few more dollars to get an even better lawn mower.
Anyways, I never thought in my life I would spend so much time and engery thinking and dealing with lawn mowers but I am one step closer to being one well rounded handy woman!!!
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