Try It Tuesday: Pillsbury Perfect Portions

So I have spent a lot of these Try It Tuesday posts on healthy, low-fat alternatives lately so I think it is high time I talked about a something delicious that is not quite so healthy.

So only eat one.

Because you must try these Pillsbury Perfect Portions biscuits. We occasionally like some bread with our dinner - luckily, this is not an obsession with me and I can usually take or leave bread especially since my hips scream LEAVEIT - but, with just the two of us, it doesn't make sense to fix a whole can of biscuits.

These are great because you can just take out how many you want and heat them up. And they taste delicious.

Check them out and let me know what you think.

You Know You're Really Retired When They Give Your Mailbox To The New Girl

So I left work on Friday at 2:30 and walked out the door and I was retired.

It was little anticlimactic, I must say.

Everyone else had already left for the summer so it was just me and a bunch of construction guys in the back of the school who were jack hammering up the floor. And they really didn't care if I was retiring.

I had already been wined and dined and feted by all my friends and coworkers so it was just me there at the end.

But the end had actually come a little sooner than that.

When I had gone in the office to check and see if I had any last-minute mail I should take care of before I left.

And realized I no longer had a mailbox.

And the new girl had one.

It was an odd feeling.

Not bad. Not sad.

Just. Odd.

For Fun Friday: June 26, 2009

My favorite line? "Anyone want some Purel"?

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/zombieland/

This site is pretty cool. You can put together clothes and accessories from a variety of sites and see how they look.

http://www.polyvore.com/

I may pay too much for makeup, but at least I don't participate in any of these beauty rituals.

http://www.elle.com/Beauty/Beauty-Spotlight/Bizarre-Beauty-Rituals

Costa Rica Travel Destination = FAIL

So I was just writing a blog post for my travel blog about a trip to Costa Rica one of the travel agents had taken. I'm just writing away, editing and rephrasing and adding photographs and thinking about what a great trip this was and how fabulous Costa Rica seems and how I would totally like to go there and then.

This.

After breakfast the next day, we explored the canal, visited the local school and town of Tortuguero and then just relaxed by the pool. Lizards and five – six foot iguanas are a common sight around the pool area.

Y'all. Have you READ this post?

Then you know that Costa Rica was just dropped off the list of possible vacation destinations.

Well. At least the jungle part.

I mean. They have beaches, right? And cities? Those would be OK.

But if I see a six foot iguana?

I am so OUT OF THERE.

Try It Tuesday: Weight Watcher Cream Cheese

I love bagels and cream cheese for breakfast but it's really difficult to determine how much cream cheese you are slathering on your bagel - and the non-fat kind has a weird consistency.

So I was THRILLED to find these darling little individual cream cheeses from Weight Watcher. Not only do they taste good, you can figure out exactly how much you are using - and they are are only 1 point for the whole container. They are low fat but I think the consistency and taste are just like regular cream cheese.

Try them and let me know what you think!

Here, lizard, lizard

So Cancun was TOTALLY fabulous. As you can imagine. White sandy beaches. Turquoise and jade green water. Marvelous food.

Well. When you eat HERE, all your food tastes good.

Oceanside restaurant a Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita, Riveria Maya


And when you wake up to a view like this?

View from a suite at Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach, Punta Cancun


Every morning is filled with endless joy.

And when you have your own PRIVATE POOL to swim in?

Plunge pool outside suite at Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita, Riveria Maya


Please. Could life GET any better?

There was just one TINY problem. Actually. Not so tiny.

Lizards. Iguanas to be exact.

When we first arrived at our resort in Riviera Maya, my new best friend, Debbie, and I were strolling down the path to our rooms. Surrounded by lush jungle vegetation and huge, bright colored flowers. The twitter and caw of the jungle birds. The warm Caribbean sun bathed our faces and the purr of the surf filled the air and CRAP! What was that? Something just ran across the path in front of us. There may have been some profanities uttered. There may have been some dancing around. In fact. There may have been some actual shrieking.

It disappeared into the jungle. And we calmed down. One lizard. Not that big. How bad could this be? It would be FINE. Then I came out of the room to go to lunch and saw him.

As you can see, he was very arrogant. If he could have spoken, it would have been something like "Hey, beyotch. You EYEBALLING ME? Who LIVES HERE? I do. That's who. Don't you be EYEBALLING ME. Because you know what. I know HOW TO GET IN YOUR ROOM. And I can run ACROSS YOUR FEET when you get up at night to go to the bathroom".

Not that this ever happened. However. It was my worst nightmare. As you can see, I paused long enough to take his picture and I kept reassuring myself that he's not that big. There's probably not that many of them.

And then.

I was walking back to the room. And I saw him. He was not in a windowsill. Because he would not have FIT IN A WINDOWSILL. He was stretched across the sidewalk. Now, I am here to tell you that I do not have a picture of him. Because it is difficult to take a picture when you are frantically backing up, sweating and loudly screaming. But I managed to find a picture online just to give you an idea of how big he was.

He did not look at me. He did not need to look at me. Because he knew the power that was him. And he knew that I was backing up. And I would not bother him.

Then we were lolling out by the pool one morning. And really? I think "lolling" is a great word. Don't you? Everyone should loll on their vacations. So we were lolling in our lounge chairs and we heard a rustle in the grass and we turned around and we saw this.



That? Oh, that's an iguana TEARING INTO A BABY BIRD. Which luckily was already dead. I think. He whipped his head back and forth and gave us the evil eye the whole time he was gulping that thing down. And we all went EEEEEEWWWWWWWWW!!

The worst story I heard all week was when the person in charge of catering found out how skeeved I was by the iguanas and laughingly told us that they would not hurt you (theoretically, I knew this but it did not help) and shared a story about how she was meeting with a group in the oceanside restaurant and felt something scratch her leg (wait for it) and looked down and an iguana was walking by, brushing her leg. AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!

You better believe I kept my eyes open in that restaurant the rest of the week. It did not keep me from eating. Not REMOTELY. But I kept my eyes open.

The very last morning after breakfast, I headed back to my room to finish packing and get ready to leave. On the path away from the restaurant sat a huge iguana, lazing in the sun. He filled the entire sidewalk. He glanced up at me knowingly and gave me a lazy, smart ass grin. OK. Maybe that was my imagination.

But I still found another route to my room.

Wouldn't you?

I Got Nothing. Again.

Those of you who read ALL my many blogs know I used the same post title this week when writing a post for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Although it's technically true that I got nothing today because I didn't have time to round up some fun Friday stuff for you, it's not because I have been doing nothing but because I have been doing so much.

Working long hours at school to finish up my final year, doing a complete inventory and trying to leave things ship-shape for the new librarian. Getting ready for my trip, shopping, packing, planning, organizing. This weekend is packed with last-minute errands on Saturday, lunch with my best girlfriends - my daughter, nieces and sister-in-law - and then a day with Thomas the tank engine on Sunday with the most perfect grandson in the world. I leave at the crack of dawn on Monday for Cancun so I need to have everything ready before then.

I'm taking my laptop and my Blackberry and hope to do some tweeting and possibly some live blogging but I'm not going to stop lazing on the beach or getting a massage or drinking a mojito to go inside and type on my computer. I know you understand.

So. You may not hear from me for a week. But I will be back in just a few days to share all my experiences and will be sharing more specific travel posts on the travel blog.

I wish you were going. I would like to have some friends along. But this may be an opportunity to make some new friends. I'm going to be out of my comfort zone and that's a good thing sometimes. It's just a little scary.

Talk to you soon.

Packing For Cancun Or The Post Where You Find Out How Truly Anal I Really Am

So, I wrote about my Cancun trip here but I had also mentioned that I was going to share with you what I packed for the trip after I meandered onto another topic here. I got everything laundered, organized and mostly packed this past weekend even though I am not leaving for another week because.

Well.

Because I am a tad OCD. And I admit it. One of my friends at school was leaving on a trip to the beach the day after school was out and she had not packed a thing. The day before the trip. I got all a-flutter just thinking about the situation. If I was not completely packed and organized the day before a trip? The world would COME TO AN END. So. All packed and organized. And here is what I am taking.

This is what I'm wearing to the airport. White capris, bright turquoise racer-back top and a thin, white blouse open on top. I always like to have something I can slip on or off, depending on how cold the airport or airplane might be. When I arrive in Cancun, I'll just slip that sheer top into my bag and with my white pants and light top, I will be ready for the hot weather. And the pool. And the beach. And OMG I think I am having an excitement attack. Is there such a thing? There TOTALLY should be.

I have flat white sandals I am wearing which will go with other outfits as well. The turquoise top could also match the black capris I am taking, as well as the khaki shorts. And the sheer white blouse can go over the black and white sundress I am wearing one night in case it is chilly.


We will have dinner out four nights and I'm not sure if they will be dressy or not so I am taking two dresses and tops to dress up my black or white capris. Here's the two dresses. I'm taking dressy black sandals which will match either dress and will also match either pair of capris.

I figure out everything I am going to wear with an outfit, from jewelry to underwear and put that in the suitcase with the outfit. Because it would be a catastrophe BEYOND PROPORTION to not have the right earrings for the outfit.


I'm taking two pairs of capris - black and white.

If I wear a dressy top and sandals with them, they will be fine for dinner out.

Or I can dress them down to wear during the day.

All of the tops I am taking can be worn with either black or white.

I'm only taking one pair of casual shorts, since I want to look a little more professional when we are touring properties. I chose khaki because I can wear any of my tops with them. I'm packing three bright colored tank tops which will match the shorts or the capris. They can be worn singly or layered and I could even wear the black one over my bathing suit if I need to.

Bathing suit, coverup, cute black straw hat. Ready for the beach!

Silky short nightgown and matching robe. I would not have been quite so well coordinated but I thought I was sharing a room with a stranger and did not want to shock them with my hot flash-induced nudity. I think the robe will come in handy to throw on while I do my hair, etc.

And finally. Because I will NEVER be caught without food while traveling again like the time Tom and I cockily thought we would eat at the airport on the way home from Puerto Vallarta and just about starved when we were hustled through the conncting airport because our flight was late. We literally went 12 hours without food. When we got to the airport in Lexington, we fell on a chocolate bar from the vending machine like a pack of ravening coyotes. Never again.


And there you have it. I'm ready to go. You can read all about the trip on my travel blog when I return or check Twitter for some live tweeting. Hopefully.

If I can get my new Blackberry Storm to cooperate. Because she does think I'm rather an idiot.

Try It Tuesday: Blue Bunny Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches

I really thought I had found the perfect ice cream sandwich with the Skinny Cow products. And they really are completely fabulous. I even tried some mint ice cream sandwiches the other day from Weight Watchers and they could not BEGIN to compare. And seriously. Weight Watchers needs to fire the person who keeps telling them their ice cream is good because really. It is NOT. Have you tried those little ice cream cups? Uh. How can I put this?

GAG. They taste like frozen cardboard.

But back to Skinny Cow. They are indeed wonderful but I now have a new ice cream sandwich that I will be stocking in my freezer right next to them. Blue Bunny Frozen Yogurt Granola Sandwiches. The ice cream is creamy and delicious and I LOVE the cookie part. It's not really sweet and it doesn't get all over your fingers like the Skinny Cow sandwiches do. They do have more points than Skinny Cow with 4 but they are worth it.

Try them and let me know what you think. I found them at Walmart.

The End Of An Era

For Fun Friday: June 5, 2009

I could save a whole lot of money if all my dresses were made like this.

http://www.madville.com/out/weird/307957_girls_prom_dress_is_made_entirely_from_coffee_filters

A snake on my deck was quite close enough for me, thank you.

http://www.peoplepets.com/style/decor/reptile-coffee-tables-cool-or-creepy/1

My favorite part is when he says "Ooooh, swish"! - oh, and they actually got everyone carrying a phone right!

http://community.livejournal.com/vintage_ads/1189006.html

Well. At Least I Know What I'm Wearing To The Airport

Seriously. Does anyone else spend hours figuring out what they are going to wear to the airport when they go on a trip?

I read on one of my travel blogs how the blogger has given up on dressing nice for trips and now just wears sweat pants and a t-shirt to travel. SWEAT PANTS AND A T-SHIRT. Honestly. Can you see ME wearing sweat pants and t-shirt to...well...pretty much anywhere?

Well. There was that one time when I wore sleeping pants to the grocery. But that was a fluke. Would a person who has over 50 pairs of shoes wear sweat pants to travel?

Uh. Yeah. I now have a SHOE CLOSET. I got tired of rooting for my shoes and having them in a couple different locations so I went to Tarjay and bought several hanging shoe bags, then moved things around until voila! a closet just for shoes. It's just a good thing my children have moved out because, otherwise, their clothes would be, like, in a box somewhere. Because I have a SHOE CLOSET! And no room for any of their clothes.

And after I got them all hung up with my shoes tucked in them (arranged by color because I am totally anal) that I actually counted them and realized there were 50 pockets and they were all filled with shoes and I had a few pairs left over. And. That's just my summer shoes.

Oh! And. Remember when I said I really, totally needed dark purple shoes? Well, it turns out I HAVE dark purple shoes. I just didn't know it. And I am just a trifle embarrassed to tell you how many shoes I found that had NEVER BEEN WORN. So it's almost like I had a little mini shopping trip just by rearranging my shoes. And what is better than a shopping trip? Well. NOTHING, actually.

So my trip. And what to wear to the airport. The last couple of times I have traveled, I have actually gotten pretty good at packing and just taking a minimal amount of clothing. And shoes. IT'S TRUE! I'll never forget our first cruise where I took every color of shoe I owned and we stepped over that pile of shoes for a week. So I have learned to take, at most, two pairs. I know this is VERY DIFFICULT to believe but it is true. I have also learned to pare down my clothing until I have just a very few outfits that I can mix and match, usually just a few colors so they will go with the shoes I take.

It is at this point that I was going to lay out all my clothes, mix and match them and take pictures to show you. But since I got side tracked writing about the SHOE CLOSET, I have lost my impetus to finish this post and also because I might need some time to (heart-breakingly) take back my fabulous new purse because, even though I love it? When I put some stuff in it this morning and then picked it up, it weighed approximately 6,921 pounds. And that's without any snacks, books or magazines for the plane. Because GOD FORBID I should get hungry or not have any reading material on my trip to Cancun. So the purse has to go. And I'm back to a carry-on that I can drag on wheels. Where the amount of candy bar and cookies granola bars and fruit I pack will not matter.

So I'll have to write the packing post another day. With pictures. And annotations about each article of clothing.

I know you can't wait. Especially you, Tom.

Try It Tuesday: Hellman's Lowfat Mayonnaise Dressing

For a while, I tried not to use mayonnaise on my sandwiches. Or just a teensy bit. Or maybe mustard, which has no Weight Watcher points. And that worked. For a while.

Then I discovered this MIRACULOUS mayonnaise and I will never again use anything else. Hellman's Lowfat Mayonnaise Dressing has NO POINTS.

Yes. I said it. NO POINTS. Now, that is for 1 tablespoon, so if you go crazy and add more than that, it would be one point for each extra tablespoon. Still not bad. But 1 tablespoon can go pretty far on a sandwich. Especially if you are chanting "no points! no points!" as you spread it. And the best thing? It is creamy and quite delicious. You will never know you are not using full-fat mayonnaise.

So, get out those Arnold Sandwich Thins, put some low-fat turkey on it and this mayonnaise and you have a sandwich that is maybe 2-3 points. And the most important thing? It actually tastes good.

Now, try this and let me know what you think.