LOW CAL CHICKEN SALAD

One of my favorite things to make is chicken salad, especially since I just got a food processor for Christmas.  Before Christmas, I would either hand shred/chop everything or even use a blender.  I had a craving for chicken salad, so I made it today, only this time, I carefully measured everything like a freaking chemist and figured out the caloric content.  So here you go:

LOW CALORIE CHICKEN SALAD

3 large chicken breasts, cooked, shredded
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1 cup low fat mayo
1/4-1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup sweet pickle relish

*I like to use the Kraft Mayo with Cracked Pepper and Olive oil.  I'll use 1/2 cup of it, and 1/2 cup regular low fat mayo.  That stuff is very peppery, but very good.  I also buy already boiled and peeled eggs b/c I HATE HATE HATE to boil eggs.  I suck at it.  They always end up overcooked or with that green ring around the yolk.  You can buy a nice little package of 6 hardboiled/peeled eggs at Bi Lo for about $1.75.  They are located in the deli with the deli-made salads and such.  I also like to add seasoned salt to taste sometimes. 

This recipe makes TWELVE 1/2 cup servings.  Each serving has 119 calories.  I like to toss a 1/2 cup serving on bread and make a 225 calorie sandwich.  A good low calorie bread is a diet ESSENTIAL for me.  My absolute favorite is Sara Lee 45 Calorie and Delightful 100% Whole Wheat with Honey.  They also make it without honey if you don't like a hint of sweet in your bread.  It's kind of expensive but oh so worth it.  It's really soft and decent sized. 

As you can see, one serving is a lot.  Then I load it up with veggies of choice, accounting for the last handful of calories. 

I promise, this sandwich is way more filling than any 225 calorie Lean Cuisine out there, and that's coming from a big diet frozen meal fan!! 

Toenail Torture

You find out you're pregnant.  You envision a rolly polly little chunk of cuteness.  Your mind wanders further and pictures a toddler clumsily running down the hall with squeals of delight.  Oh sure, there will be diapers to change.  A runny nose from time to time.  But mostly, you picture adorableness, chubby cheeks, tiny hands and feet....BUT WAIT.  No one bothered to tell you that those adorable little hands and feet have fingernails and toenails!!  It gets worse.  These talons of torture must be CUT by YOU, and it must be done OFTEN!!!!

Yes, it's true, children have nails, and tonight was nail trimming night around here.  It went as it always does.  Cooper says he has toenails and hand-toenails.  If I mention cutting any of his 20 toenails, he screams and cries.  He runs away.  He attempts to negotiate.  He begs and pleads.  He loses.  I win.  But my win is not an easy one.  I have to bust out wrestling moves I never knew existed.  When it's over, I say,"Now, did that hurt?"  And Cooper says,"NOPE!" and runs off happily....until the next time I try to cut his nails, that is.   

I suppose I don't HAVE to cut their nails.  I could just let them grow until they break off, but honestly....I think Child Protective Services frowns on that.  More importantly, children use long fingernails as weapons against you.  I have the scars to prove it.  They're right next to my stretchmarks.  Kids are brutal.

I'm Back. And COOPER

I've been notably absent from this blog for quite sometime, but I got a new laptop for Christmas, so I'm baaaack. I was thinking of a billion different funny, witty things I could post about, but I decided my blog needed a little meat from time to time as well.  So let's talk about Cooper.

 Cooper has some issues.  He's always had some issues, bless him.  He didn't walk until he was almost 18 months old.  He will be 4 years old in about 3 months, and he can't walk up stairs without holding onto something.  He can go downstairs without holding onto anything, but he goes super slowly.  He walks on his toes the majority of the time.  As in, his tippity toes.  Like a little ballerina.  And if that's the path he chooses in life, Mommy Laura is behind him all the way.  However, it seems to be more of a physical problem.  We had also noticed that he is extremely fearful of falling in situations where falling is honestly not even a possibility. 

So, I finally got a referral for Cooper to see an orthopedist and physical therapist.  Basically, the most we can come up with right now is that Cooper mainly has some sensory issues, in addition to flat feet and short legs. He is currently in physical therapy once a week, and his therapist says he is 6-12 months behind in terms of physical abilities.  We will know a lot more when he goes for a cognitive and behavioral evaluation at Siskin in March. 

Cooper will probably never win a Heisman.  That's ok.  B/c I'm pretty sure he'll either be doing comedy on Saturday Night Live or he'll be an artist with masterpieces hanging in the Louvre.  Even better, he might just grow up to be an awesome dude who loves his Mom.  That's more than enough for me! 

YOU'RE WELCOME! ;)

The basic little side salad. A dieter's nightmare. Why? B/c low-fat dressings taste like poo, and take away the croutons, cheese, and bacon bits...and you just took all the fun out of my salad. Plus, it's just not filling at all. Well, genius (and humble) me has established THE PERFECT side salad for you. It's about 150 calories and it's even completely PORTABLE!?!


THE DRESSING
Everybody likes Ranch dressing. Have you ever had low-fat ranch dressing? It tastes like creamy toilet paper, and you know it. If you are totally into Ranch dressing, but want it at 45 calories a tbs, you MUST get NATURALLY FRESH LITE RANCH DRESSING. Please try this dressing. It honestly does not taste light at all.





SATISFYING AND PORTABLE
So it's not "technically" a salad. It's a wrap. This delcious wrap only has 90 calories, and it's even low carb. Another rare gem in a dieter's world full of nasty foods we try to convince ourselves taste good. This is also the part that makes the salad filling, and it has way less calories than cheese, croutons, etc.

YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT!
Just fill it with all your favorite veggies and roll it up!!

HAYDEN!!!

I am 3 days late in posting this, but I just have to say HAPPY 5 MONTHS OLD TO MY BABY BOY!!!! Every great milestone deserves a report card, dontcha think? So here is Hayden's:

SLEEP 101 C

Hayden sleeps in his crib in his own room!! YAY!! BUT...he wakes up 2-3 times a night still. He's on a pretty good napping schedule now though. Slowly but surely.

STRENGTH TRAINING 101 A

You can see how well he holds himself up in the pic above. He can roll front to back like it ain't nuthin. In fact, I put him down to sleep on his (gasp) STOMACH b/c he immediately rolls onto his back. This might be more of a stubborn personality trait though...b/c if you lay him on his back, he rolls immediately on his stomach. The doctor also goes on and on about how good Hayden is at tracking objects.

PERSONALITY 101 A++++

Most laidback baby ever!!!!!! And smiles constantly. Cooper would just stare a hole through you. Right, Melissa? I also think Hayden just has the kindest eyes.

EATING 101 A

He still exclusively drinks breastmilk from a bottle. We tried him on some cereal (with doc's approval) to help him sleep better through the night, but it didn't work. So I'm not bothering with anymore solids for now. What's the rush? They are just a pain in the butt, quite frankly.

Overall, he's doing pretty great!!! I love my little bitty baby boy. OK, that's all for now b/c the boys are waking up from their naps.

A Recipe and a Weird Kid

I love veggies, and this recipe is super yummy, super easy, and comes in at about 110 calories per cup. Your welcome!

Veggie Salad
1 cup diced onion
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced pepper (any color, I used red to make it pretty)
1 can corn
1 can peas
2 cans french cut green beans
1 cup Splenda
1/3 cup oil
3/4 cup vinegar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Mix it all together, except peas and beans. Add them at the very end b/c if you stir them too much, they get all smushy. Ewww. Refrigerate.

Anyway, I have to share a little bit about my 2-year-old son, Cooper, who really is a hilarious kid. He is often referred to as being very animated. Pictures do him no justice whatsoever. He is sitting in his bed as I type this, singing and laughing in the pitch black dark without a toy anywhere near him. This crazy, bubbly kid does, however, have a phobia that makes absolutely no sense. He is terrified of stuffed animals. It doesn't matter if the stuffed animal is huge or the size of a baby mouse. It doesn't matter if it's a creepy dragon or a cuddly kitten. He hates them.

He was so afraid of a bag of beanie babies at my Mom's house yesterday. I wish I had taken pictures of his horror. (LOL, is that mean?) Just so you could see what I mean. Pictures are important (tell that to the people who make the Publix grocery ads. UGH! ).

He does have one stuffed "animal" that he loves more than life itself. It is particularly hilarious because I personally think it is very creepy. It's Cooper's BFF. Check them out...

And just for fun, here is a picture of Spiderman Cooper in heels, walking the line at a sobriety check point.

Food With Benefits...

Getting skinny from counting calories and just can't keep your man off of you? Then let me recommend 2 great products that are guaranteed to give you some much needed space:

Fiber + Olestra = A Cleared Room!!

In all seriousness though, they are both super delicious, super low calorie, but not for the faint of colon. Or the faint of smell.

Now to make up for that gross-ish post, I will leave you with some super cute photos I snapped of my baby boy Hayden this evening. He will be 5 months old in 4 days!!