5+9=14

Yes, that's how many pounds I've lost since January... (5 lbs in January before Weight Watchers and 9lbs since February). I also changed clothes size. Now I wear a 12. Here is a picture of me taken just a few minutes ago.

March 19, 2011 after losing 9lbs

This was taken in the beginning of February, the same week I joined Weight Watchers

Marco's Birthday

My dear hubby just had a birthday!!! I asked him what he wanted to do to celebrate and he just wanted to stay home, relax and work on his projects. Granted!!! I did make him breakfast though (although since it's Spring Break, I overslept and he was out of bed when I woke up. Oops!!) The breakfast was very yummy and easy and light (I wanted to eat too!)....

I didn't care much for the French Toast (with blueberries on top), but the egg nests were delicious and so cute!!

I took the recipe from the Healthy Cooking cookbook (I don't remember what year). I modified the recipe to my taste and here is how I made it:

Egg Nests

12 slices turkey bacon, cooked on a skillet until done, but not crisp

1 1/2 cups egg substitute (Southwest Flavor, this is a must!! I used Egg Beaters brand - Walmart has it)

6 tablespoons shredded reduced fat Mexican cheese

Diretions: Spray a muffin pan with cooking spray, put two bacon slices around the inside of each cup (only 6 cups used), pour 1/4 cup egg substitute, sprinkle each with 1 TBS cheese and bake at 350 F for 15-20 min or until set. So yummy and easy!!! Only 3 Weight Watchers points.

The Ice Cream cake I got at Walmart (Strawberry Cheesecake flavor - delicious, only $10, and 6 points per slice)

Happy Birthday!!!

It was a fun day! While he worked on his projects, here i how I celebrated his birthday... :-)

I made this wreath for our front door... welcome Spring!

The Rodeo

I really love when Rodeo time comes along. It's so fun!! This year we went on Martina's McBride's day. She was fabulous!! I really like her songs, and she is a super good singer. Here is a little of what we did at the Rodeo...

Michael holding a worm

My new scary dark hair... :-) It's only temporary though... I was just trying it, but I don't like it.

Michael's 11th Birthday

We celebrated Michael's birthday on March 5th. Happy birthday, Michael!

M&Ms cake (M as in Michael :-)) 

Brigadeiros (Brazilian tradition at birthday parties!)

Dancing with the Kinect (Dance Central Game)

Tchau Vovó

This week I lost my beloved grandmother Irene. She was 88 years old and although she had cancer, Alzheimer's and other age-related conditions, she passed suddently and surprised the whole family. It all started with a fall and a couple days later she passed away. I was really sad, especially because I had a prompting that I should call her before any of this happened, but I didn't. I am at peace now because I know she's in a better place and she can be with my grandpa now. I'll miss you Vovó Irene!

A lot of my memories of her are food related. :-) She always had a snack for me hidden in the fridge. I used to love her homemade Mango ice-cream... and her homemade popsicles... I also loved her pizza and Bacalhau. Vovó was always so gentle and happy. I have never seen her angry. At one time, I stayed at her house for a couple weeks so my parents could visit my sisters in the U.S., and even then, I never saw her angry (I should also include here that this visit included a visit to the hospital. I broke my head playing karate with my cousin).
I grew up across the street from my grandparents, so I was constantly there. My grandfather Aurélio had a stroke about 20 something years ago and was left very dependent of help. My grandmother took such good care of him. She was so patient and loving and took care of him until he passed away about 12 years ago. She also took care of a lot of her neighbors and her brother who lived in the same building. My mother asked me constantly to go check on her and grandpa and help with what was needed. Vovó never wanted much (sometimes I bought her medicine or groceries, but not frequently), but she would always give me her hidden treasuries (food!).
We always went there on Sunday nights and so did my cousins and uncles and aunts. Her home was very small, but we all seemed to fit just fine and the food always fed everybody, although nobody could ever get seconds (how much I wanted seconds!). We used to watch Silvio Santos on TV together, talk, and then the kids (myself included) would run off and play downstairs.

Me, Vovó Irene, My Mother Cecília  and Raphael - May 2007 - last time I saw Vovó