Devilish Delight.

That is the look in my eyes.

I'm not sure what we were up to, but it looks like some sort of dress-up play. That's my brother beneath the layers and me with an alarmingly bad haircut lurking behind him clutching what appears to be an Easter basket and my Baby Beans doll.

I'm sure some are thinking this post is on the wrong blog, because it's a wayback pic, but something about it felt right here in Superpowerland.

2009 The Year of the Ox -- It's My Year!

Artwork by Ashi

The Ox is thought to be a sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. They're quite dependable and possess an innate ability to achieve great things. Calm and modest, the Ox is also unswervingly patient, tireless in his/her work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.

Ox people, according to tradition, need peace and quiet to work through their ideas, and when they have set their mind on something it is hard for them to be convinced otherwise. Strong-minded, stubborn, individualistic, the majority are highly intelligent individuals who don't take kindly to being told what to do. An Ox person has a very logical mind and is extremely systematic in whatever they do, though they have a tremendous imagination and an unparalleled appreciation for beauty.

Ox people are truthful and sincere, and the idea of wheeling and dealing in a competitive world is distasteful to them. They are rarely driven by the prospect of financial gain. These people are always welcome in small gatherings because of their humble composure and reverent nature towards the host. They are reputed to be the most beautiful of face in the zodiac. They have many friends, who appreciate the fact that the Ox people are wary of new trends, although every now and then they can be encouraged to try something new. People born in the year of the Ox make wonderful parents and teachers of children.

Happy Chinese New Year!

The Deaf Community Embraces Obama.

Linky-Dinky-Dink....

Say no to high fructose corn syrup. Seriously!

Check out The Commons on Flickr. All kinds of goodies from The Library of Congress and other public photography galleries. I found this adorable picture there:


I really enjoy some of the crazier knitting and crocheted projects folks have been doing. Check out the other images of this lil sharkie here.

I really enjoy the Seven Questions over Breakfast feature of this book loving blog--Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

Google Earth. I had no idea. It's a download, sure. But fairly cool. You can actually tour The Prado in Madrid Spain (actually not sure about that) and see 14 of their paintings in remarkably fine detail.

Time for Action.

This is alarming. I was aware that drama was unfolding regarding handmade toys and vintage resales and the like, but Jenny of Allsorts paints a rather dire picture.

Here's another post about the issue.

2008 Book Stats

I'm a little late with this.

number of books read in 2007: 37

number of books read in 2008: 76 (78 sort of... 2 still in progress)
average read per week: 1.46 books
number read in best month: 16 books in August
number read in worst month: 2 books each in January and November

percentage female authors: 45%
percentage male authors: 55%

percentage rereads: 5%
percentage young adult: 31%
percentage graphic novels: 9%

fiction as percentage of total 68%
nonfiction as percentage of total: 29%

percentage of total liked: 85%
percentage of total ambivalent: 12%
percentage of total disliked: 3%

We Interrupt this Regularly Scheduled Broadcast....

... for a ridiculous case of the flu.

Day four of flu and recovery is just getting ready to call it a night with hopes that I can finally get back to civilization beginning tomorrow. Well, that's the aim anyway. My apologies for such a sudden disappearance. I'm sure there will be all sorts of blogging goodness to share soon.

The 81st Academy Award Nominees

Every year I race to see the films nominated for Golden Globes and Academy Awards. This year I'm also trying to watch all of Ebert's favorites from 2008. All in all, it's some serious movie viewing following an unintended six month movie fast. I am excited to discover some new films to treasure.

Because I'm all about the lists I have all the Oscar nominated films (excluding shorts--both live action and animated). The ones I've seen I'll highlight using a Red font and keep updating as I see them.

Australia
The Baader Meinhof Complex
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Bolt
Changeling
The Class
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Defiance
Departures
Doubt
The Duchess
Encounters at the End of the World
Frost/Nixon
Frozen River
The Garden
Happy-Go-Lucky
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
In Bruges
Iron Man
Kung Fu Panda
Man on Wire
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
The Reader
Revanche
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
Tropic Thunder
Trouble the Water
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
The Visitor
WALL-E
Waltz with Bashir
Wanted
The Wrestler

Wordless Wednesday -- The Snowy Edition

History Sweet History.

What a crowd. What a day.
Here's to a brighter tomorrow.

The Sun Will Come Out... Tomorrow.

I just realized that the Bush Be Gone daily countdown widget I added to my iGoogle page a year ago expires TOMORROW. I can barely contain my excitement. Oh my, it's a good day for America. It's a good day for the WORLD.

A Light Unto Your Path

This is fairly brilliant.

LightLane is a safety concept from Altitude, Inc. The system projects a virtual bike lane (using lasers) on the ground around the cyclists, providing drivers with a recognizable boundary they can easily avoid. The idea is to allow riders to take safety into their own hands, rather than leaving it to the city.

Yeah, I'm a Screamer.

Today Tommy and I decided to go sledding. Apparently I cannot go down a hill without letting out a bloodcurdling scream. It was terrifying. Heck, I am just glad I wasn't swearing!

For about two hours we enjoyed the "balmy" 27 degree January weather trekking up and down the dike at Lincoln Park... Let's just say we were not alone on that hill and there was at least one collision and tongue-biting, bloody incident that involved some quick thinking and emergency knitting to fashion a make shift ice pack using fresh snow and a triangular shaped dish cloth. Relax, no children in my immediate care were injured. (He was a younger brother of a friend of Tom's who happened to also be sledding) Still, it was a little heart-rending to see a sweet little first grader sniffling and patiently taking swigs from my water bottle and swishing and spitting blood from his mouth and then calmly applying my ice pack to his cut tongue. Little David was very brave.

The decision to go sledding came after our matinee showing of Paul Blart Mall Cop. That was not my first choice for a film, but one Tommy really wanted to see. It was exactly what it looked like. No surprises. It was predictable and full of mild humor and low key action. Not my kind of film, but I was pleased to see it wasn't full of innuendo and fart jokes like I thought it might be.

Dog Days of January.

This week has been all about the dog. On my other blog, I've been posting a beloved doggie book a day. And without even intending to I managed to take in a dog movie too. I am on day one of another childcare engagement. While some friends are in Mexico I'm staying with their son, Tommy, who happens to love movies as much as me so we're already planning to see something tomorrow too!

Marley and Me was a "decent" movie. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it. I was warned it was sad and so I was expecting the ending and that was actually good to be prepared with the tissues. I haven't read the book by Josh Grogan, but I think it adds to the film to know that it's based on a memoir. Though I don't know the real Josh and Jennifer, I felt that casting was well done and that Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston really added to the film.

I must say that I would not necessarily want a dog like Marley. He was the poster child for why one should NOT get a dog. Maybe it was exaggerated for effect, but I have to say that it made me feel a little anxious just watching a dramatization of the big bad doggie behavior.


After dinner we decided to watch Lilo and Stitch, a film I own and love, but I've discovered is not as well-known or as beloved to others as it is to me. Interestingly a little alien programmed to destroy ends up on Earth and to avoid capture, he poses as a dog and befriends a lonely girl named Lilo. She names her new "puppy" Stitch and teaches him what it means to belong as she searches for her own place in her sister's life. She is also a huge Elvis fan and uses him as a model for all things good as she tries to reform Stitch's naughty ways. The soundtrack is terrific and I simply love the sad little Stitch facial expressions and the way he comes around at the end to save the day.

Apparently it's Animation Week in Carmynland.

How fun is this commercial? I love the animation and creativity. Here's a link that talks about more about the creation of it.

Wordless Wednesday -- Super-Chu

God Bless the Library.

I stopped to get ONE book at the library -- The Ghost in Love by Jonathan Carroll and came home with a tote bag full! I just couldn't resist.

I stumbled upon a book of six word memoirs that I saw featured on a blog not all that long ago. I couldn't resist seeing what people would write!

I enjoyed the first Sisters Grimm book and so when I saw the second one on the shelf in the kids section I had to have it.

Likewise, I loved Sharon Creech's book Love That Dog. It's written in verse and features an unlikely poet who finds his way into poetry throughout the course of the book. Now it's a new school year and Jack is back in Hate That Cat.

I've been seeing movie trailers for Coraline and I've always been curious about Gaiman's books. I decided I ought to read this one before the film hits our theaters and I'm tempted to just see the movie.

Zombie Blondes and Paper Towns are young adult novels. Paper Towns is by John Green who comes highly recommended and Zombie Blondes is too irresistible of a title to pass up.

Snoop--What Your Stuff Says About You is a nonfiction read that sounds interesting.

And The Golden Globe Goes to .....

My take on the Golden Globes.

This event isn't nearly as fun or as formal as the Academy Awards but I see it as a great warm up to my dash to see all the notable films I can get my hands on. Of the Golden Globe Nominated films I managed to see eight of them by chance in the past few months or deliberate effort in the past few days. Two I saw on Saturday were Doubt (2008) and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008).

Benjamin Button was fantastical, epic (sort of reminded me of Forrest Gump, at times), moving, and LONG. I mostly enjoyed it. But, oh how I wished I was at home watching it on DVD so I could pause it and watch the second half later. It was FAR too long for one theatre viewing. 2 hours and 45 minutes or so. I really do not care for films that exceed 90 minutes this nearly doubled that.

I am curious about the short story this was based on, I may have to read it. I thought that the love story was a nice one and I particularly loved the ending for the couple. I could do without the deathbed mumbling of Cate Blanchett's character, Daisy as she revealed her whole story to her daughter by having her read a Benjamin Button's diary, "The Notebook" style.

I love this scene in Benjamin Button

I enjoyed Doubt, but didn't love it. I thought Meryl Streep was sure to win the Golden Globe, I thought she was pretty darn amazing, but then I haven't seen Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road. I thought Winslet was pretty darn amazing in Little Children so I can only imagine what her two Golden Globe winning films must be like. I look forward to seeing each of them. The cast of this film was superb, as Amy Adams is one of my favorites. She seemed a wee bit like Sound of Music's Maria and I felt for her as she found herself caught up in the midst of a power play between a popular priest and an embittered nun convinced he's up to no good.



Regarding the Golden Globes award show, I thought the best dressed women were Demi Moore, Kate Beckinsale, Eva Longoria, Christina Applegate, Anne Hathaway, and Kate Winslet (great neckline). I was not a fan of Tina Fey's overall look, nor of J-Lo's gold dress. Colin Farrell also looked particularly good. I rarely notice the men's fashion.

I thought Sally Hawkins speech was quite nice--emotional, sure, but nice. I'm now even more eager to see Happy-Go-Lucky. I understand that film isn't quite so "happy." Along the line of speeches, I felt the acceptance of Heath Ledger's award was handled very well and that Colin Farrell gave a great speech. He actually got a bit sermonesque. And Laura Dern got a wee bit political. Not a bad thing.

I was interested before, but now I am downright eager to see the film The Wrestler. I have always had a bit of a soft spot for bad boy Mickey Rourke ever since I saw him in 9 1/2 weeks back in high school. I'm rather glad he won, even though I haven't seen his performance yet. And he thanked his dogs, present and past. God. That was the best. I swear, tears welled up. His dogs.

Slumdog Millionaire seems to be the surprise win that wasn't THAT much of a surprise considering Ebert had already named it as one of his very favorites of 2008. I always enjoy Indian films and I'm curious if I will enjoy this one as much.

Considering how much I liked In Bruges and the other films it was up against, the fact that Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona won for best Musical or Comedy bodes well for that film too. I'm excited that one will be out on DVD in just a couple more weeks.

In Bruges

In Bruges (2008)

I saw this film for a few reasons.
One, it was on Eberts list of favorites in 2008.
Two, it was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Three, my favorite film buddy recommended we watch it.

And I'm thrilled that I did. In Bruges is my favorite film I've seen so far this year. (of course, I've only watched 5 films!)

The film is about two hitmen who retreat to Belgium, on orders from a superior, to wait for their next move. Ken, played by Brendan Gleeson (some might know him as Mad-Eye Moody from the Harry Potter films), enjoyed the fairy tale-quality of Bruges, Belgium and was all about being a tourist and enjoying the sightseeing and historical landmarks while they were there. Ray, played by Colin Farrell, was less than impressed with the town and the history and felt like a caged animal. He complained like a spoiled child and was always in search of a beer. Of course there is much more to this dark comedic film. At times it's steeped in tragic drama, and moments later your are laughing at the ironic twists.

a "straight beer" and one "gay beer," according to Ray

Ray is always making the best facial expressions. They speak even when he does not. It's like you can SEE the wheels of his mind turning.

This film, features two hit men, two "baddies," if you will, who have MORE to them than their jobs, as we all do. The film explores the moral complexity of the men, of all the characters, really.

Jimmy (Jordan Prentice), Chloe (Clémence Poésy), and Ray (Colin Farrell)

"It's a costume," explains Jimmy. He's in a film being shot in Bruges, a midget --or dwarf as Jimmy prefers-- in the dream sequence. Truly, this whole bit of In Bruges was more of what made me love it. This dwarf in a movie bit was all part of the absurdity and freshness and the film within a film actually plays a role in bringing characters together.

Chloe, a Bruges native, is struck by Ray's forward, frank approach to conversation and life. Every character in this film is perfectly cast and you can't help but love this girl and appreciate things from her perspective as well.

I want to say more, but I want people to see it so I am trying to steer clear of spoilers. This film is a bit like 3:10 to Yuma (which I saw about a year ago and loved) in the way it makes you think about life and death and bad choices and second chances. It explores, friendship, honor, debt, religion, art and love. So many good things. Of course, don't be fooled. It's VERY bloody and violent and utterly and completely an R-rated movie when it comes to profanity. If those things will set you back or stand in your way, you may want to steer clear. As for me, I enjoyed this one very much.

It's All Coming Back to Me Now.

from hubpages.com.

"American composer Jim Steinman, once dubbed the Wagner of modern rock opera, is known for his sensual, dynamic music, darkly obsessive lyrics, and dramatic flair. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and stage performer. Although many may not be familiar with the man himself, the artist's collaborations with such greats as Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, and Celine Dion has guaranteed a place for him in pop-culture history."

I was having a Jim Steinman moment earlier today on the treadmill when I heard Meat Loaf pouring out his soul in the song "I Would Do Anything for Love, (But I Won't Do That)." It was one of those great moments when he hit my favorite lines in the song, possible some of my favorite lines in any song. (though, that can't really be true, can it?)


"And some days I pray for silence, And some days I pray for soul, Some days I just pray to the god of sex and drums and rock 'n' roll!"

Of course it's more than JUST the lyrics, which are wonderfully satisfying. It's the way all his songs build to a point of climax, to that near shouting moment. THAT is what makes a Steinman song, whether it's sung by Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Celine Dion, Meat Loaf or me. He's a master of drama and the turn of the phrase. I'm sure the world would call him cheezy and the lyrics nothing artistic or profound. No, he's no Dylan, but he's delicious just the same.

A few more lyrical gems:

"I can make the run or stumble,
I can make the final block;
And I can make every tackle,
at the sound of the whistle,
I can make all the stadiums rock.
I can make tonight forever,
Or I can make it disappear by the dawn;
And I can make you every promise
that has ever been made,
And I can make all your demons be gone.

But I'm never gonna make it without you,
Do you really want to see me crawl?
And I'm never gonna make it like you do,
Making love out of nothing at all."

And who could forget...

"We're living in a powder keg
and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight

Once upon a time I was falling in love
But now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart"

Renting in the New Year

This is my new way of reviewing what I've been watching and reading and listening to. I lost my will to do my monthly "in reviews" and my obsessive compulsive side is still stressing over that so I would imagine I'll have to go back and add in an Oct/November/December post on what I was watching and reading and listening to. I've unofficially been talking about movies and books this way since Dec. 2008.

As the Golden Globe Awards are approaching I feel an increased interest in watching some of the buzz-worthy films. Perhaps I'll even knock a few off my list this weekend. The following films are ones I've watched in the past week or so.

Autism: The Musical

This is a documentary recommended by Emma. She was right, it was inspirational and quite good. It was interesting to realize that one of the parents was Stephen Stills of Crosby Stills Nash and Young. I always enjoy a good musical and in this one I felt tremendous compassion for the kids and their families and their struggles. It's not an easy life, nor do we live in a world that is very understanding. I hope this film begins to change that. It was wonderful to see the variety of child all under the label of "autism" and to see their unique gifts and personalities. I loved them all, but I felt that Wyatt's conversations with us were at times the most heartbreaking because he could express himself so well. Watch this if you are in the mood for a good documentary. I enjoyed it, you might too.

Burn After Reading

I had so been looking forward to this one, but I have to admit that I was disappointed. It's hard to believe with the star-studded line-up and the Coen brothers directing, but it wasn't my favorite of their pictures. I thought that each of the characters were pretty awesome. I felt that, as usual, Frances McDormand did a fantastic job in her role. I just didn't LOVE her role. Does that make sense? The film's ironic twists and even its dark ending was just fine by me, and really did make the whole thing a bit more complete, but even with those elements in place I just can't embrace this one like I want to. If you like the Coen Brothers, don't mind some violence, and are fans of dark comedy, then you may like this one a bit more than me. It has promise. For you, maybe.

Cuckoo for Cuckoo Clocks

Man, I wish I could have one of these.
I just love the modern twist on the cuckoo clock.

This one also comes in black which I think I prefer.

I do need a clock.
I'm just not sure I need one that costs 140 British pounds. Yikes.

Wordless Wednesday-- An Appendix

A New Year for Laundry!

Plast-O-Crap

Sad--Shabby--Before

Chrome-plated-steel-framed-
heavy-duty-castered-
canvas-bagged-laundry cart
Bright--Shiny--After

Yippee. Thanks for the push, Marci.
(She was right... it even came with its own tools!)

MMmmmmm... soup.

Glenn Close’s Chicken, Mushroom, and Barley Stew
From In the Kitchen with Miss Piggy

Ingredients:
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth
¾ tsp dried thyme
¼ tsp pepper
½ cup quick-cooking barley
2 large carrots, cut into thin slices
¼ pound mushrooms, cut into thin slices
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bit size pieces
10 cherry tomatoes
1 small bunch scallions (about 6), coarsely chopped




Directions:
1. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in flour. Continue cooking and stirring until the flour has completely absorbed the butter.

2. Increase the heat to medium-high, slowly add a small amount of chicken broth, and stir to combine with the butter and flour. When there are no lumps of flour left, it is safe to add the remaining chicken broth. Also add the thyme and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring, until slightly thickened.

3. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, stir in the barley, and cook for 3 minutes. Add the carrots and cook for about 3 more minutes.

4. Add the mushrooms, chicken, and whole tomatoes. Return the stew to a boil over medium-high heat, breaking up the tomatoes with a spoon. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.

5. Stir in the scallions and serve hot.

Serves 4

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

A few modifications:
I thought about skipping the scallions because it was the one ingredient I'd forgotten, but my dear, sweet, friend Sangeeta brought me some from Hugo's and after tasting the finished stew I realized. They really do add. Don't skip the scallions. :)

I use a little more chicken broth than the recipe calls for (about 28 oz).

I also cook my chicken (usually by boiling it separately then cutting into bite size pieces) before adding it to the stew because I am afraid of it being undercooked. Perhaps this is unnecessary, but it makes me feel better.

Now Watching....

I've become addicted to TLC's What Not to Wear. It turns out that it's the perfect accompaniment to a work out at home or the gym. The show is long enough that I can watch an entire episode on the treadmill or the elliptical. The suspense keeps me involved even when I'm exhausted and feel like giving up. I've actually stayed ON the treadmill LONGER than I planned just to see the final looks of the various women they've helped.

And Stacey and Clinton truly do HELP people. It's like clothing therapy. It's easy to see how some of these women have stopped caring for themselves, for their style, or perhaps never knew how to in the first place. It's an emotional journey. I might actually die if someone tried to throw away my favorite clothes. I can relate. I have memories tied up in some of those things. Even things I know I'll never wear again, I want to save so my future children can have "dress-up" clothes. Why? I guess, because that's what my mother did and I LOVED playing with her old bridesmaid dresses and crazy bellbottoms and pleather zip boots!

Still as mean as Stacey and Clinton sometimes seem about the "old looks and horrid clothing" there are times when its clear they take a deep breath and encourage and edify some fragile woman whose life is crashing in around her. Those are my favorite moments. The What Not to Wear team doesn't get any sadistic pleasure out of crushing women. Instead they are all about opening eyes and showing people their true beauty. It's very exciting. I LOVE the final looks. That is truly the best part.

I have learned some things from the What Not to Wear team, as well. I know now that I have a long way to go. And I am motivated to aggressively go through my closet and weed out all the stuff I will never or SHOULD never wear again. Still shopping is hard for me. I don't have $5000 for a new wardrobe and I tend to hold on to things I don't like as a safety net of clothing that is school appropriate.

I WANT accessories but I can never find them, except on my friend Tara who is the epitome of put-together style. She and her mom shop together a lot. I may need to take Roxy shopping to see if she can help me out! As much as I love shoes I have a real shoe issue in recent years and find myself wearing the same black shoes nearly every day. No wonder they wear out with record speed.

I need to color my hear, stop wearing pony tails, and start wearing makeup. Ugh. It's all so much work. :) Now I sound just like one of their "projects."

Do NOT nominate me for this show. I promise I'll try harder! :)

My New Year's Resolution Began in November.

In November, after a visit to my doctor for my annual cholesterol check I decided ENOUGH. Enough screwing around. My numbers were both worse and better than the previous two years. My bad cholesterol which I lowered in 2007, shot back up to my 2006 level. The one good part was how my good cholesterol was improving. I left the clinic with a renewed drive to exercise.

Even having my elliptical machine parked in the living room wasn't helping. I would just stare at it, defeated, while I watched TV from my couch. Joining a gym seemed like the only option. So I did. I discovered my recent Masters degree tuition qualified me for a kind of discount at the local university's wellness center and since it's only a couple blocks from work, I went for it.

Since Nov. 22, I've been trying to work out first thing in the morning. Most days I've been successful. What's funny is that NOW I am using my elliptical at home. I guess I'm a numbers girl. I'm very driven by the slightest taste of progress and by daily goals. My goals were steep.

I wanted to go from 0 minutes of exercise to 75 minutes overnight. In 6 weeks I've only managed to reach that goal a handful of times. The 75 minutes was how much time I estimated it would take me to burn about 466 calories a day. I don't like uneven numbers so some days I hit 450 and others 500. My biggest frustration? Getting to the gym and not having enough time to do what I want there because of time crunches.

And speaking of crunches. In all this time I've NOT been lifting weights. It was a slightly foolish move considering how important that is. I was waiting for some elusive "intern" to show me the ropes and finally I pressed the issue and discovered that ANYONE can show me what I need to do, the intern was for a more specialized program (I may still try to take advantage of that). I've done weights twice this week and hope to include that as part of my workout 3 times a week.

Sparkpeople.com is of my biggest allies in this effort to lose weight.This isn't my first time with the site either, but it's the first time I've had the right focus on both diet and exercise and the drive to stick with it.

I've been using the site to faithfully enter in everything I eat each day in the nutrition tracker. At a glance I can see which days have been light on fruits and veggies and that might influence a snack choice. Because I have to take the trouble to enter everything in, I think twice about some of the less healthy options. Or I let myself eat them guilt free now and then if I have calories to spare.

One of the neatest features is their recipe calculator which allows participants to enter in their favorite recipes, determine how many servings it makes, and then it calculates all the nutritional info. It's very eye opening and it takes the mystery out of some of my food choices. The website also has a place to keep track of fitness minutes and calories burned.
Probably the most encouraging thing for me has been the daily weigh in. Here's a glimpse at my progress chart. I removed the actual weights because it's not necessary to know those numbers in order to see the progress. My goal is to lose 20 lbs by the end of Feb. The red goal line is the program's projected weight loss goals at a steady two pounds a week--which is truly as aggressive as one ought to be. As of today, I've lost 12 pounds. I expect the last ten pounds will be a bit more challenging to lose, especially as I build more muscle. And truly, the fit of my clothing and the way I feel about my body and my health is more important to me than the numbers. I am just thrilled that something is happening. It's encouraging.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

I usually get a chance to try some new recipes for the Christmas holidays and this year I had to settle for tried and true treats since I ran out of time for experimenting. This was one of the recipes I've been dying to try. I read rave reviews by a reader in Rachel Ray's magazine and printed out the recipe ages ago.

I love pumpkin flavored things and cream cheese frosting and this seemed to have both! Unfortunately they are not a healthy snack... or at least not a low-cal one. Each one of these little tasties has about 326 calories. Sigh. I probably won't be making them regularly but, they were fun to try. Mine didn't turn out as round and pretty as the ones pictured on her site but I am guessing they taste just as good.


Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Silvana Nardone and Christina Stanley-Salerno

From Every Day with Rachael Ray
October 2007

MAKES TWELVE
Prep Time: 35 min
Bake Time: 10 min

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter,
(1 stick melted, 1/2 stick softened)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
1 cup canned pure pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon plus 2 pinches salt
1 2/3 cups flour
4 ounces cream cheese, chilled
1 cup confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the baking powder, the baking soda and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour.

3. Using an ice cream scoop or tablespoon, drop 12 generous mounds of batter, spaced evenly, onto each baking sheet. Bake until springy to the touch, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

4. Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, cream the softened butter with the cream cheese. Add the confectioners' sugar and the remaining 2 pinches salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla;mix on low speed until blended, then beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes.

5. Spread the flat side of 12 cakes with the cream cheese frosting. Top each with another cake.

Original recipe found here.

2009 New Year's Resolutions from A-Z

A Act on my good intentions.
B Blog daily.
C Crochet a zig zag stripe blanket.
D Downsize.
E Embroider some floursack dishtowels.
F Find fun, new, soon-to-be favorite recipes.
G Grow a garden.
H Help others.
I Inventory my books.
J Judge less.
K Knit a sweater.
L Learn to play my guitar.
M Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
N Nurture my friendships.
O Organize and print my photos.
P Pray more.
Q Question things.
R Read more classics.
S Sew something.
T Travel.
U Use my superpowers for good and not evil.
V Volunteer.
W Wear makeup.
X eXist in the moment--notice the little things.
Y Yell at my mom less.
Z Zero in on what is important for today. Live one day at a time.


P.S. This is my 666th post. Yikes. Maybe it IS time for prayer!