Chicken Fiesta Soup and the New Weight Watchers

I am no stranger to dieting. I've tried almost every weight management strategy known to man, with a few notable exceptions. I say "almost", because there are a few diet strategies I have steadfastly refused to try. Among those are the placement of bands in locations where bands do not naturally occur, the stapling of any portion of my body (including my ears), and the surgical bypassing of certain portions of my digestive tract that God felt were important enough that they should not be bypassed.

Pretty short list, huh? Well, now you get the picture. Like so many, I have struggled with my weight for most of my adult life. I've tried Atkins (in which I discovered I'm not really all that crazy about meat anyway), Sugar Busters (lasted about 2 hours), the Carbohydrate Addicts diet (yes, I'll willingly admit I'm a carb addict...next!), the hot dog and boiled egg diet (which came with it's own unique set of side effects), and the colon cleanse (trust me, you'd really rather I didn't blog about that one).

Twenty-five years ago, needing to drop about 25 lbs, I decided to go with a friend to a Weight Watchers meeting. The meetings were held in the fellowship hall of an Episcopal church, and were led by a sweet lady by the name of Mildred, who would begin each meeting by introducing herself and telling her story. Mildred had lost 125 lbs on Weight Watchers. Sometimes she would bring her "before" photos, and sometimes she would bring a pair of slacks that she wore pre-Weight Watchers. She could fit her entire post Weight-Watchers self in one leg of those slacks. Mildred was very inspirational. I never got tired of hearing her tell her story, and I also loved hearing her say, at every single meeting, that we could have a hamburger from Burger King and stay on plan.

It became my routine to go to my Weight Watchers meeting each Tuesday night (always wearing the same outfit, because I knew how much it weighed). After the meeting, I would drive through the Burger King on the way home and treat myself to a Whopper. Within about 4 months I had lost that 25 lbs, plus a few more, and had won the coveted Lifetime membership. With that membership came a gold "key to the future", and a little plastic card to carry in my wallet. I'll always remember that night, because I was so gratified by my accomplishment, but also for the little extra tidbit of info that Mildred provided in that meeting. As always, she encouraged the members to treat themselves to that Burger King burger, but, for the first time, she followed that comment with, "Not a Whopper, though....just a regular hamburger!" Really???? Oops. The very next month I discovered that I was expecting my first child, and with that news, I stopped going to my meetings. I did not, however, give up those Burger King Whoppers.

So.....twenty-five years later, and carrying almost double what I needed to lose the first time, I decided to take the plunge and give Weight Watchers another try. I'd lost my key to the future, but had managed to hang on to that plastic card, so I whipped that baby out and proudly showed it to the cute little girl who was handling registration. As it turned out, my little card created quite the stir. The Weight Watchers ladies had never seen a card like mine, and they were quite impressed that I had managed to keep up with it all these years. I briefly pondered the possibility of loaning it to the Smithsonian, but decided that I would rather use it to save myself the thirty dollar registration fee.

Like so many things, the 21st century Weight Watchers is new and improved. It revolves around a point system, which is really simple to follow, especially with a nifty little points calculator. The meetings are led by a cute, bubbly lady by the name of Kristi, who has lost 82 lbs and gone from a size 18 to a size 2. I haven't seen Kristi's pre-Weight Watchers slacks yet, but I have seen her "before" photos, which are very inspirational. I've been listening intently for some mention of Burger King, but so far have heard nothing. I'll tell you this, though. One of the first things out of Kristi's mouth at that first meeting was, "If you want a Krispy Kreme doughnut, have yourself a Krispy Kreme doughnut....5 points". Wonder if that's for a regular glazed doughnut, or an eclair? Oh yeah. I think I'm going to like it here.

I've been Weight Watching for 2 weeks now, and have lost 5.5 of the 43 lbs. I'm hoping to shed.

One of my family's new favorite foods is Weight Watcher's Chicken Fiesta Soup. I triple this recipe and freeze it. Indulge yourself!

Weight Watchers Chicken Fiesta Soup

1 can fat free low sodium chicken broth
1 10 oz. can chicken, or 5 chicken tenders, boiled and chopped
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can kidney beans
2 cans whole kernel corn
1/2 lb 2% Velveeta

Mix first 5 ingredients and heat until boiling. Reduce heat, and add cubed cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.

1 cup = 1 point

I Have Great Friends...and They're Funny, Too!

Those of you who know me best know that I love to laugh, and thank goodness life presents plenty of opportunities for laughter! I'm not ashamed or embarrassed to laugh at myself, and it's a good thing, since I am a bit of a goofball. I also have some wonderful friends, online and off, who share my twisted sense of humor. Laughter among friends really is the best form of therapy, too, don't you think?

Have you ever heard that saying, "If you want to appear intelligent, you need to surround yourself with intelligent people"? Well, as luck would have it, my friends are funny, which comes in very handy in view of the fact that I create funny greeting cards. (Now, in saying that, I don't want you think my friends aren't intelligent, because they are...so don't go telling them I said otherwise.)

Most of my buddies know I create snarkalicious greeting cards. They realize that I pretty much keep my nose to the ground, constantly sniffing around in my pursuit of wittily wicked inspiration, and they readily give me the green light to take their words and run with them. Here are just a couple of examples. This card came about about as a result of a life observation made by my friend, Pat.

This next card was created a while back, and came to me during a conversation with my friend, Bren. She was actually referring to a family pet in making this observation, but it occurred to me that this philosophy has some merit where human beings are concerned as well.

The last card was inspired by a conversation between myself and my friend, Stacey, about those awkward moments when we run into someone at a store, have a nice conversation which always ends with a "we need to get together and catch up", and parting ways all while completely clueless as to that individual's identity. Now if this has never happened to you, then you can just do us all a favor and keep that little tidbit of info to yourself....because I can guarantee you that it will happen, and when it does I'll be around to make a card about it.

Thanks Bren,Pat and Stacey! These cards will be making their maiden voyages to you!

One World One Heart Winner!

First, I would like to thank you all for stopping by to visit my blog. I've had a blast participating in this event! A huge thanks also to Lisa for her inspiration to start this project, and for her willingness to take on such a huge task. You've made the world a more intimate place for all of us.

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that the winner of my blog giveaway is.....KATHY from Vegas! Kathy has a great shop on etsy and goes by the username of Calkat! Her blog is
Calkat The Jewelry Junkie. Kathy is also a Saints fan, which is always a plus in my book!
I'll be emailing Cathy to let her know that she is a winner. Thanks to all of you again for visiting, and hope you'll stop by again. I will definitely be participating in this one of a kind event again!

One World, One Heart Blog Event

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Some of my Etsy friends told me about this wonderful event that begins today, called One World, One Heart. I checked it out and thought it sounded like a fantastic way to connect with people that I otherwise would never have an opportunity to meet.
Then, when I saw that the theme of this year's event was "Riding the Magic Carpet" I just knew that I needed to continue in the spirit of the previous post and my excitement about the Saints making their first trip to the Super Bowl. After all, it is a pretty magical ride that we Saints fans are on these day.
I decided to give away a set of four ACEO-sized (2.5" x 3.5") photographs. These photos were taken by my son last summer on a mini-vacation to New Orleans. Professionally printed on Kodak Endura metallic photo paper, these photos provide a glimpse of the unique beauty found in the New Orleans French Quarter.
What I'd like for you to do is tell me (in the comments section) if you've ever been to New Orleans. If you have, what is your favorite thing about this magnificent city? If you haven't, what would you love to see if given the opportunity to visit? You can chat about anything having to do with New Orleans....the food, the music, the art, the history. You name it!
On Feb. 14th, I'll choose one person through random drawing. That lucky person will receive this set of photos. Make sure you post through your blog or leave your email address in the comments section, so I'll know how to contact you!
While you're at it, make sure to click on the "One World, One Heart" image above. That will take you to a list of all participants, and you're going to want to visit as many as you can! Thanks for stopping by and I can't wait to hear from you!

It's Just Football, Right?

By now I'm sure you've heard that the Saints are going to the Super Bowl. You may already be sick and tired of the "Who Dat", "Geaux Saints!", and "Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez". But, let me go ahead and break a bit of news. The frenzy has only just begun. This may confound and confuse you. You may be thinking, "Give me a break. It's just football, right?" Well, you see, that's the thing that's so wonderful about the Saints going to the Super Bowl. It's not just football.

If you've never traveled to the New Orleans area, let me encourage you to do just that. There is just something a bit magical about New Orleans. The French Quarter architecture alternates between gaudily colorful and a touch of stately elegance. Bourbon Street really does smell like stale whiskey. Voodoo shops are a dime a dozen. Magazine Street is an artist's paradise. The Creole cuisine is a spicy treat, and the beignets at Cafe du Monde really do melt in your mouth. Even though all of these things are true about New Orleans, they are not what creates the magic.

The people of New Orleans are what makes New Orleans such a special place. There is a love, a loyalty, and a pride in this city which is unique to the area. This spirit of loyalty is not restricted only to those who have deep roots in the area. Even newcomers find themselves caught up in the spirit of the city, and soon feel an emotional attachment as though they have spent their entire lives here.

I don't live in New Orleans, but my Dad was raised there and my grandparents lived there. We visited regularly as I was growing up. As a child, I caught my first glimpse of a "beatnik" through the open door of a bar on a French Quarter corner. When I was sixteen, my friends and I hopped aboard a Greyhound bus and spent Fat Tuesday prowling the streets of New Orleans. I've always felt a connection to that wonderful, bawdy, boisterous place. In June of 2005 my family spent a lovely day in New Orleans. My father acted as tour guide, showing us his childhood home, his school, and the streets where he delivered the Times Picayune newspaper. I insisted that my son photograph everything, feeling an intense need to preserve every moment and image from that day. I had no idea that two months later the landscape of the city would be scarred forever by the ravages of Katrina.


The people of New Orleans are determined to reclaim the the magic of their city, and they are well on their way to doing just that. It took the Saints 21 years to experience a winning season. Their fans grew so frustrated that they took to wearing bags over their heads and calling themselves "the Aints". But, they still went to the games, they still wore their black and gold, and they continued to loyally follow their home team.
So, after 42 years, the Saints are going to the Super Bowl. Today, five years after the city was almost destroyed, the Saints are the NFC champions. It seems that the Saints are giving a gift back to the people who have loved them through the good, the bad, and the ugly. It still seems like a dream. And it's not just football...not by a long shot.

Southerners and The Big Chill!

Since Rex the weatherman had been telling me for several days to prepare for the "Arctic blast" that was surely headed our way, I did what all good Americans do, and headed to Walmart to pick up the necessary supplies. Apparently the necessary supplies do not come cheap, because my bill totaled $145.
Southerners can prepare for a hurricane with one hand tied behind our backs, but we do not know what to do with extremely cold weather. We don't have chains, snow plows, or de-icing equipment. We don't invest in heavy winter clothing, because we just don't use it enough. Sometimes many years go by without even so much as a glimpse of a snowflake, and on those rare occasions when we do see snow, we declare a national holiday! Schools and businesses close, with all news outlets devoting the vast majority of time and space to coverage of the white stuff. We sit around and reminisce about the great snows of the past, when as much as 2-4 inches fell. We remember where we were and what we were doing during these momentous events.

Today I sit, hibernating in my warm house, thankful for Willmut Gas and my central heating unit. I look out my window and see a beautiful blue sky. There is no snow. Just bone-chilling, body aching, face burning cold. It is 23 degrees outside, with a wind chill of 11. My friends from the Northern states would probably call that a warm snap, but down here we call it a brutal shock to the system.

Do I sound like I'm whining? Well, maybe I am, just a little, but I'll try to put on my big girl britches and deal with it. I will not, however, be leaving my house. Today looks like it's shaping up to be a good day for creating some new art.

Who wants chili?

"The Lights Are On, but Nobody's Home" ...or Annual Goals Part Two

Okay, I'll fess up. Part Two of my annual goals really has nothing to do with the rest of the title to this post. I just was trying to think of a way to connect my annual goals with this latest design. BUT...I've got nothing. Oh well, since this is my blog, I'm just going to show it to you anyway.

This is a coaster design that I created in response to a challenge by my Melange buddies to create a collage based on the theme, "illumination". This will become a coaster as soon as the weather warms up a little bit. (I've found that frigid weather and sealant just don't go hand in hand!)



Now that I've gotten that out of my system, it's on to part two of my annual goals:

I really would like to get my house in order. I downsized several years ago, and have to be very careful in order to keep from being overrun by stuff. Closets are going to be cleaned out, cabinets will be purged, and many trips to Salvation Army will be made. Problem is, I have a cabinet set aside for my art supplies, and those are the things I have the most trouble letting go of. The cabinet is already full to overflowing though, so some of that is going to have to go. Rats. Well, maybe I can find those things a good home. Might be time for an Etsy destash sale.

About New Years Resolutions

First of all, let me just say thanks to my 23 followers for not dropping my poor neglected blog like a hot rock. It's been a little boring around here, to say the least. You see, my life has been so hectic that I figured I could either hang on for the ride, or stop to write about it. As you can probably tell, hanging on for the ride won out.

Which brings me to the topic of resolutions. I have decided not to call them resolutions this year. There is just something about that word that is a little, umm....pressure inducing. You see, I've never been any good at keeping resolutions. Oh, I make them. Every year. The same ones, over and over again. There is nothing imaginative about my resolutions either. Lose weight, exercise more, get organized, blah...blah...blah.

So, I have decided that the problem might be with that word, "resolution". I mean, who really uses that term anyway, except at this time of year? I prefer the term "annual goals". (That might have something to do with my background as a special educator. My paperwork is full of annual goals, and there is no option to blow them off, either.)

Through my etsy shop I have found a camaraderie with a group of ladies, most of whom are within a few years of my age. We share artsy tips and techniques, but also chatter about our similar personal experiences and interests. We confide our joy, our fears, our triumphs, and our disappointments. We laugh, cry, and pray together. I've met these wonderful people through the world wide web, and have frequently struggled to come up with a term that accurately defines my relationship with them. I've called them e-friends, virtual friends, and cyber-buddies. There was just something about these terms, though, that didn't sit quite right with me. It occurred to me recently that I don't have to make a distinction between these ladies and my local friends. They are, quite simply, my friends, and I am truly blessed to have them in my life.
So, my first goal is to make a point of coming here to my blog at least once each week to chat with my friends.

Now, about my second goal. I have it in my head, but I think I'll wait and tell you about it next week. Stay tuned! :-)

Check Out This New Snarkalicious Christmas Card!

This is my newest digital collage greeting card, just in time to start planning for the Christmas season! I used an exquisite background from the very talented artist Debrina Pratt's "Land of Enchantment!" Debrina's work is a feast for the eyes and the imagination! Pop over and visit her Etsy shop here!

Mixed Media/Collage Art from the Etsy Melange Team!

Thought you might want to see this fabulous slideshow created by my friend Glenda. It features a beautiful array of artwork created by Etsy Melange Team Members. My first successful image transfer is included in it! Thanks Glenda!

Just a Little Flighty

I created this digital collage in response to a challenge presented by my fellow mixed media/collage friends to create a piece of art based on the word, "flight". You know, sometimes people refer to a person as flighty and don't necessarily intend that as a complimentary term. However, according to Princeton University (and those guys are pretty smart!) the word "flighty" is defined as "guided by whim or fancy". I kind of like the sound of that. So...from now on, if someone calls me flighty, I'm going to take it as a compliment.

To purchase this or any of my other cards, click here, and go to Serendipity Collections!

Fairy Tale Tattler: Beauty's Sleepless Nights!

The latest edition of Fairy Tale Tattler has the inside scoop on that famous sleeping beauty, Aurora. After her hunky prince of a husband awakened her with true love's kiss, it seems that the princess was not content simply to live happily ever after in the lap of luxury. Never one to shy away from manual labor, Aurora set herself to work clearing the grounds of the underbrush which had overtaken the grounds of the palace during her one hundred year nap. She did not stop to consider the possibility that a cup of strong coffee might be a good way to begin this industrious project, especially after such a sound snooze.

Unfortunately, lacking the valuable "manual dexterity" and "common sense" genes, our fair princess pricked her finger again, this time on the thorny vines surrounding the palace. Her cries of pain could be heard throughout the kingdom as Aurora dropped her pruning shears and dashed off to the palace walk-in clinic, terrified of falling into yet another multi-year slumber.
Interestingly enough, however, the palace doctor found that Aurora's body had acquired an extreme immunity against future finger-pricking episodes. The frustrating result of this immunity is one hundred years of sleepless days and nights!

In an attempt to pass the time, Aurora has been hard at work developing a new line of designer garden gloves. In order to ensure that the gloves live up to the "pierce-proof" guarantee, she has hired an elite squad of seamstresses to spin the fibers tightly on custom designed high-tech spinning wheels.

In her efforts to catch a nap, poor Aurora has tried every possible sleep-inducing remedy, including warm milk, hot baths, Ambien, melatonin, and C-SPAN reruns. She even purchased a herd of Serta counting sheep, who are reportedly happy and relieved to be working full time on the palace staff. So far, it seems that the only option left for Aurora is simply to wait. She is becoming increasingly irritable, demanding that the prince stay awake and keep her company. One of the sheep, speaking on the condition of anonymity, related that the prince sneaks out of the palace on occasional afternoons, catching a few winks in the sheep quarters while they cover for him by entertaining the princess with their ballroom dancing routines. We can only hope that the royal marriage is strong enough to withstand this tragic turn of events.

We’ll keep you posted!

New Digital Collages. These are Snarkalicious!

Well, I have stayed up way too late tonight. But, I had a couple of collages rattling around inside my brain, and they wouldn't let me rest until I released them! These are a little on the snarky side. Hope they make somebody smile!

Digital Collage Snow White Let Herself Go!

I've never been one to leave the poor fairy tale characters alone. I'm once again on poor Snow White's case, this time for getting a tad too comfy in the dwarf's woodland home. Looks like she might be still hitting the juice a little too frequently.

Yet Another New Passion! Digital Collage

I have found a new love! This one I plan to keep around for a while, though. It's digital collage, and I have been having a blast with it! I am fortunate to be a member of a fabulous flickr group, which gives me access to these exquisite images. I imported the images into my trusty little Photoshop elements program, and just let my imagination take care of the rest! These are among the first two digital collages I've created. I printed these out onto clear transparency film and slapped them into a black frame with no back. I must tell you I am very happy with the final result.

One of the great things about digital collage is that it doesn't take a plethora of "stuff" to create. Artsy "stuff" has a tendency to take over my house, so this is a huge advantage for me.

A Memorial Day Tribute

"America, America, God shed his grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea".

Our country isn't perfect. We are going through some scary times. We all have the right to voice our concerns. But, let us never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that we continue to have the freedom of speech. So many peoople around the world don't. May we never take our country for granted. God bless America, God bless our troops, and God bless the families who live with personal loss.

Altered Altoid Tins

I am quickly discovering that most everything can be repurposed in some way. I had a great time creating these little shadow boxes using old altoid tins. Now I have only one problem. I don't eat Altoids! So now I am resorting to begging my friends and family to save their tins for me. This is what I've created so far. Now I just need to wait for someone to finish off a tin.

Everything Nice: 3D assemblage Confection

This is yet another learning stretch for me, and one of my new favorites! I experimented with a variety of mediums and techniques before hitting on one that I liked. This cupcake is actually made from a fabulous product called "Great Stuff" crack filler. Hmmmm. Strange name, but the stuff really makes a realistic-looking cupcake! I frosted it with modeling paste that I squeezed through a ziplock bag. After painting the cupcake and embellishing it with all kinds of sparkly doo-dads, I topped it off with this adorable vintage image. I've had such a good time experimenting with altered art techniques. Check out more assemblage and collage creations at http://www.flickr.com/photos/25371157@N08/