I WON ALL THIS IN ONE DAY!!!

I am SHOCKED!   SHOCKED I tell you!!!  I couldn't believe my luck.  I never win anything yet today, well today it seems like I hit the jackpot!

Where do I start?  Well, let's start small and build up. 

I won a free pizza.  Yum, who doesn't love pizza?  I won a free membership to a gym.  That will come in handy after I eat the pizza. 

I won a free week long vacation to the location of my choice.  Wow!   Pretty good huh?  Where should I go?  Paris?  Italy?  Ireland?  I'm going to have to really think about this one.

Oh and guess what?  A long lost love has tracked me down and wants to get together.  How romantic!  Maybe he can go on the trip with me.

As if all this isn't good enough, I won the lottery!  Yes, that is right!  I hit it big!  I won $15 MILLION Dollars!!!  I'm rich!  I'm rich!  I'm rich.

I am thrilled at all this wonderful news. 

The only question I have is "Why did all this great news show up in my SPAM mail?"

BOOK CLUB

I'm so excited!  I just joined my first ever Book Club.  I've been wanting to join one for ages but never found one that seemed to be what I was looking for.

They have already met one time so I will be the new gal but I don't think I'll feel strange at all.  They all seem like super nice women.

The book we are reading is The Help.  I just got back from buying it at Target and plan to get started on it tonight or tomorrow.

I had seen previews of the movie that is coming out in a few months and thought the story sounded very good.  However, I never even thought to read the book first.  In fact, I didn't even know it was a book.

I'm not the type to read a book after I've seen the movie.  I figure I already know the ending so why bother.  But, I do like to read the book first.  Even though I know the ending I like to see how they bring it to life on the big screen. 

I used to love to read.  But, I got out of the habit and for some reason have not picked up a book in ages so this is a good way to get back to reading.

Have you read this book?  If so, did you like it?  Don't give anything away though :)

WOMEN HAVE GROWN SIZES SINCE 1950's

Yes, it's true.  Women have been getting bigger and bigger since 1950.  Not only weight wise, but also we are now taller.

However, even though women are getting bigger, sizes are becoming bigger too.

What that means is, back in the 50's a women who wore a size 12 weighed approx. 120 lbs.  A size 12 back then was much smaller then our size 12 now.  Have you ever purchased a vintage outfit in your size, only to get it home and find out it is way to small?  No you have not gained weight in the time it took you to drive home.

The designers are now making clothes bigger, yet keeping the size the same.  Today a women who wears a size 12 weighs somewhere around 140-150 lbs.

The designers found out that if they kept the sizes the same as in the 50's women would not want to purchase as many clothes if they had to buy larger sizes.  So, they just made their clothes bigger and kept the sizes the same.

In the 50's, women longed to have measurements of 36-24-36.  Today, those same women would most likely be 38-34-40. 

So when you hear Marilyn Monroe was a size 12 but you think she looked so small, you are correct. 

I've seen some of her actual dresses and she was tiny.  Much more tiny then I even thought she was.  Her dresses today would fit someone in a size 4. 

I for one, am happy that the women today are a bit bigger then they used to be.  It makes me feel like I don't have as far to go as I would if I lived back in the 50's.

This week I lost another 2.4 lbs.  I was happy.  I have to admit, I do not even feel like I've been on a diet.  Yet, every week I have seen a loss on the scales.  It's been perfect because my plan has always been to not be on a diet. 

A diet is something you go off of.  I'm now eating a whole new way and want to continue to eat this way for life. 

Yes, that means having snacks and treats now and then.  So, that's what I have been doing.  It's been working too. 

I really love this new Weight Watcher program and am happy I found my way back.

BURN THE FLOOR ~ HOT HOT HOT!!!

Today I was so lucky that my sister took me to see BURN THE FLOOR over at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.  It was wonderful!

Have you ever watched So You Think You Can Dance or Dancing With The Stars?  If so, then you have seen some of these great dancers on TV.

I love So You Think You Can Dance and my all time favorite dancer on there has been Pasha Kovalev.  When I heard he was in Burn The Floor I got thrilled! 

This guy can dance and dance he did!  Wow!  I couldn't take my eyes off him.  His partner was Anya Garnis who was also on So You Think You Can Dance and was one of the professionals on Dancing With The Stars. 

The two of them together sure do generate a lot of excitement with all their energy and chemistry.

When I was in New York, Burn the Floor had just come out.  I almost saw it then.  However, my time there was limited and I had other shows I wanted to see that caused me to miss out.

If you enjoy any type of Latin or Ballroom dancing you will love this show.  They did just about every type of dance you can think of.  Viennese Waltz, Tango, Samba, Jive, Swing, Quick Step and many others.

The show starts out with the dancers popping up all over.  On stage, on the sides of the audience, in back and down in front. 

You can feel the beat of the music pounding in your heart.  You hear the beautiful songs.  You see the dancers bodies moving in ways you can only dream about moving.

There is romance, passion, humor, excitement and even a little sadness that takes place.  This show gives it all to you!

If you are a fan of American Idol, you may remember Vonzell Solomon.  She was one of the singers for the show.  She has a very nice voice.

One of the last numbers they dance to is Proud Mary.  This was such a fun and lively number.  It's the first time I've seen the audience give a Standing Ovation when it wasn't even the end of the end of the show.   It was wild.

I'm so happy I was able to see this show and I highly recommend it all of you.  If it should come near you, please go see it.  I know you will love it too.

         *** Since we were not allowed to take photos during the show, I got all these great photos off     the Internet.

PRETTY LACE MASON JAR CANDLE HOLDER

I saw this beautiful candle holder made from a Mason Jar and Lace and just knew I would have to share it with you. 

Wouldn't these be beautiful outside in your back yard this summer?  I can see having several of them glowing and casting a romantic glow. 

They are simple to make.  Don't cost a lot and would also make wonderful gifts.

To find the directions just click here and start having fun making your own.

LITE STRAWBERRY CHEESE CAKE

I've now been on Weight Watchers for a month.  I'm down 12.4 lbs and am very happy with this new program. 

Last weekend I took my Girl Scout Troop camping and even ate cookies, chips, candy and S'Mores.  I still lost 1.2 lbs this week. 

It's not really what you eat as how much you eat.  Nothing is off limits on Weight Watchers and that is why I love it. 

It's not always easy though.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm a big time emotional eater and so I have been working hard on figuring out if I'm really hungry and need to eat or if I just want to eat to stuff my emotions down.

I'm very blessed and have very, very little stress in my life.  But, I have found that I eat when I'm tired, board or just out of habit.  Late night, when everyone is in bed sleeping and I'm still up is when I find myself wanting to eat.  But, now I have been getting to bed earlier and I no longer have my midnight snacks. 

I'm also sleeping better and I get up earlier.  I feel like I have a little bit more energy too.

I still love my sweets though.  I've been trying out new recipes and this week I'm going to share one I found for Strawberry Cheesecake.  I can't say it was my favorite cheesecake ever but it is pretty good and you get a nice size piece too.  Give it a try and tell me what you think.

Lite Strawberry Cheesecake

1/2 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs
1 Tablespoon melted butter
8 oz package of reduced fat cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup of sugar
6 oz. fat free vanilla Greek yogurt
2 egg whites
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tablespoon flour
1/4 cup sugar free strawberry jam

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Coat an 8 inch square baking pan with non stick spray.

Mix together graham cracker crumbs & butter with fork until evenly moistened.  Press evenly onto bottom of pan.  Set aside.

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer.  Add in yogurt, egg whites, lemon juice and flour. 

Poor over graham cracker crust.

In small bowl, stir jam until smooth.  Drop by spoonfuls over cheesecake mixture.  Using a knife, swirl jam to create marble effect.

Bake 25 to 30 mins or until center is almost set.  Do not over cook.  Cool to room temperature and then place in refrigerator for a few hours or over night.

When ready to serve cut in 9 pieces.  Three rows down and three rows across.  Enjoy!

One serving is on piece.  Each piece is 4 points.  Calories are about 135 per slice.

7 WEIGHT WATCHER POINTS FOR SPINACH LASAGNA

Being on Weight Watchers, I often find myself thinking there are some things I love that I can't have.  Then it hits me, there isn't ANYTHING I can't have on Weight Watchers.  I just have to count the points.

Points...oh yes, those points that add up so quickly.  Well, because those points do need to be counted, I am always searching for ways to lower those points. 
So, when I came across this recipe for Spinach Lasagna, I thought I was in Heaven!

It's easy to make and if you roll the noodles up rather then layer them, it's easy to keep track of your portions.

Spinach Lasagna Rolls

10 cooked lasagna noodles
15 oz low fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 oz spinach - frozen but thawed and all water squeezed out
1 egg
32 oz. marinara sauce
4 oz. part skim Mozzarella cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, about 1/4 of the mozzarella and egg in bowl.  Place layer of sauce on bottom of 9x12 backing dish.

Lay out lasagna noodles.  Take about 1/3 cup of ricotta mixture and spread over noodle.  Roll and place seam side down into backing dish.  Repeat with the rest of the noodles.

Poor the rest of the sauce over the rolls and top with a mozzarella cheese.  Bake for about 40 minutes or until cheese melts and inside of rolls are hot.

Serves 10 at 7 points each.

These are very filling.  If you serve them with a side salad or maybe even some Italian zucchini, you have a complete meal for only 7 points.

This will freeze well too!