Hi....Remember me?

Hello to all my blogging buddies and followers. I feel like I have been away to some far away land without any way to communicate. In fact, that far away land has been my time consuming, reluctant job, as a practice manager for my husbands medical practice. It has literally taken so much of my time, especially this week, because one of my office workers was on vacation, and another recently left because the job was conflicting with all of her motherly responsibilites. So everything fell on me this week. I had my job to do (charges, checks, bills, dicatation, letters, problem solving), plus that of two others (front desk work, receptionist, appt. maker).  I was stressed before, but this week was really hard. So much to do, and so little time.

One positive thing did happen. I finally did what I have been saying I was going to do, and put an add on Craig's list for some part time office help. I was overwhelmed with all the responses. Out of maybe 125, I was able to sift through and find the top 20. I started interviewing on Friday, and really liked the first woman that came. Tomorrow I have two more coming. I feel hopeful that the one woman tomorrow will be just perfect and I can stop right there.We had a really good conversation on the phone and she is so over qualified, I'm not sure why she would want this job ( MBA from Cornell), but I really got a good vibe from just talking to her, and she could really handle the administrative stuff, probably better than me.  I am thinking of hiring them both, and then I can really cut back on what I do. It will be less money in my pocket if we hire two people, but I'm telling you, I am starving for some time to myself. I still pay all the bills, manage the homes, pets and cars, and run all the home stuff, so it's not like I'll be sitting around eating sugar free bon bons!

I tried to keep up with everybody through google reader. It's quick and puts all my followed blogs in one place, but the problem is that I can't comment. If I'm wrong about that, please let me know how to do it. I need all of  you and the support that we give each other. I really struggled this week, and I'm feeling frustrated because I just go from work, to bed, and repeat! I promise that I will not give up on me, my BFC or blogging. I feel a commitment to keep in touch with everyone, and I'm sure that will be the difference for me this time. But for the time being, I am just going to try and post whenever I can, and not put pressure on myself in that area too. Despite this being a crappy week, and coming home on Friday to find out that my cat had died ( he was 17 years old and in failing health so it was expected, but still hard to find him after a long day of work),  I find out that my son got a job in NYC and had to get an apartment ( I use that term loosely!) quickly. He needed us to be the guarantor, get forms notorized, get certified checks for his downpayment. This all needed to be done within 24 hours. He is so excited, and this job is with a big real estate company in New York. Yesterday my husband took him to get some suits, and a mattress. Today I took him to get all the household goods.  We still have more to do, but all of this couldn't have come at a busier time. But I just keep saying that in two weeks, I'll be sipping wine among the vineyards and will get some time to relax. Okay, then There, it's all out. I feel better already venting some of this. Sorry for pouring out all my frustrations.

In the weight department, I was up alittle, then back down now. Misssed my official weigh in on purpose because I didn't want to know or post it. I have to work on that because I have to own it to change it right? Still doing fine with the sugar, but struggling to stay within the carb limits. Yesterday I finally made time to make the lemon coconut bread. I love it for a snack, and I'm so glad to  have it in my fridge for this busy week ahead. I followed the way Rosalie made it, but here's just an example of how crazy I am right now. Her recipe calls for two tabs of cream cheese. This morning I found the container of cream cheese in the cupboard where I keep the cereal, sugar, stevia. In my haste I put it back when I put the stevia back. It should have gone in the batter, then back in the fridge!!! I swear I'm starting to lose it.

So this morning, after a much needed good night's sleep, I woke up and rememberd a recipe I used to make back in the day when I was following the plan Body for Life. This plan is not too different from the BFC, and it stresses frequent meals, an exercise program and eliminating sugar and white carbs. The main difference is to follow the plan for six days and then on the seventh day ( any day you choose), you get to have a cheat day and eat whatever you want.  The had some good recipes that I will fit right in with the BFC. You can find them on the web site if you google Body for Life.I used to love the power pancake recipe. I couldn't find my recipe card, so I looked it up online. It seemed alittle different, but I made it and it was so good. Here's how it goes:

1/2 cup oatmeal ( I used regular)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
3 egg whites
dash of cinnamon
vanilla ext ( I used 1/4 tsp)
stevia ( I used 1 pkt Truvia)

Blend eggs and cottage cheese in blender or food processor. Add rest of ingredients and process until smooth. Heat a large pan, spray with non stick spray. Pour batter in pan. Cook on low until bottom is set. Flip over and cook other side.

If you are not a pancake expert, I find the mistake most people make, is flip them too soon, and that makes a mess. With pancakes, you wait until bubbles form on the top, but it doesn't happen with this pancake. Cook over low heat and use a big wide spatula to flip. I got to be an excellent pancake maker as my kids wanted them most every morning. Then we moved onto Belgain waffles. I read that this batter will work in a waffle maker too. Some people also added protein powder.  Another thought is baking powder might make it rise a bit too.

Delicious seved with alittle butter and some josephs sugar free syrup.

This is an easier recipe I think than Jorge's recipe. So quick too. The s/c value would be 5/2 The oatmeal has 27 carbs, and the cottage cheese 6. The cottage cheese has 4 sugars and the oatmeal 1. It's very filling and was warm and delicious.

Well that's all for now. Thanks for listening. Until next time!

Thought for the day:  Absence makes the heart grow fonder!