The Shame Squad

This has been a RepliKate a long time in the works.  First, because I've always wanted a pair of her LK Bennett Sledge Pumps , but they are not inexpensive.  Second, because there's not an LK Bennett store close by.  That changed when we went to New Jersey (just outside of NYC) for a race, and the packet pickup was near a fancy shopping center with an LK Bennett store.  (And, ironically enough, where I had helped open a Pottery Barn many moons ago.) I have to give props to the staff of the store.  Once I told them that I was a Kate fan, they let me try on all sorts of stuff they knew I wouldn't be buying, just for funsies.  I had squirreled away some bonus money, and decided to spend it The Shoes.  This is a big departure from what I normally do with bonus money which is: (a) savings and (b) donations.  So I spent it on a great charity, Habitat for Alyssa, and got shoes AND a dress. I actually tried on the dress Kate wore to Wimbledon (below...

Breakfast was the veggie & ham egg bake (155 calories) that we discussed yesterday, plus 2 squares of dark chocolate (120 calories).  But it was for science!  Kind of.  In addition to Lithuanian Coworker, I have New British Coworker, and we were comparing British chocolate to American chocolate.  So actually I guess I should classify this as Morale Building.  I also had a cup of coffee with a little bit of whole milk (40 calories) and Natural Bliss Sweet Cream Creamer (35 calories). Lunch was leftover healthy Mac & Cheese (300), 2 ounces of ham (60 calories), salad with light champagne dressing (60 calories), and three pieces of saltwater taffy (70), sent to me by Wells Fargo.  What, your bank doesn't send you a tower o' treats at the holidays? Then I went and got a $20 spa facial.  Yes, really.  My SIL is in school at Regency Beauty Institute, and for the next year she's doing hair cuts & color, facials, waxing, and n...

Random discussion before we talk about food: I'm getting old, because last month I had to look up what "Netflix and chill" meant.  Apparently it means hooking up, and not "binge watching Game of Thrones and Eating Doritos," which is my definition, and which I like better.  Today Chris and I had to Google "squad goals."  We definitely have a squad; however, I'm not sure what our goals would be.  Maybe something involving hamburgers.  Suggestions are welcome.  Also, I think I have more than one squad.  Is that allowed?  How robust should the goals be?  Do they have to be SMART goals?  Should I write them down?  When is the annual review period? Anyway, further proof that I'm old: I tried to use both Instagram and The Tweetie, and gave up.  I don't even know what or why a snapchat is.  It's okay though, you couldn't PAY me to be twenty again. Well, it doesn't take long for me to do something worth of the York girls. ...

The day started with Chris trying to convince me to go out to breakfast .  And man, do I love me some breakfast out.  But I knew that to stay on track, I was going to need to make something at home.  So I did a little improved egg bake (155 calories for half).  Ingredients were:  2 pieces of reduced-sodium nitrate-free ham, diced (yeah, I'm hipstery sometimes) 1 chopped roma tomato 2 whisked eggs with salt & pepper 3 tablespoons of cheddar cheese Put the chopped items on the bottom of a ramekin sprayed with cooking spray, pour on the eggs, and top with cheese.  Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  And I have half for tomorrow.  Taa daa! Then Chris and I went and ran errands, specifically to find a black cardigan to wear to work (me) and black shoes (him).  I eventually found the cardigan--plus $100 worth of other stuff we don't really need--at Target.  Alas, no such luck for Chris on the shoes. Lunch was at Nando's...

Aaaaand we're back! My Christmas present to myself is that I'm going to lose 5 pounds between now and Christmas.  There's a Good Reason reason for this, which we'll talk about later in the season. So hopefully I can do it!  Today was a good start. Breakfast was a Maple Pecan Banana Muffin (142 calories).  The recipe is  here on Skinnytaste, and is a great way to use up overripe bananas, if you end up with three of them.  Plus, I usually have all the ingredients on hand (flour, butter, eggs, baking soda, salt, sugar, applesauce, vanilla, maple syrup, nuts).  I also had 2 glasses of water and a cup of coffee with Natural Bliss Sweet Cream  (35 calories). Lunch was a salad (178 calories) of spinach, tomatoes, ham, hard boiled eggs, and kidney beans, with light champagne dressing (90) and 3 more glasses of water.  Also three squares of Lithuanian chocolate (150).  Lithuanian chocolate?  Yes.  One of my coworkers is from Lit...

Before I tell you what I ate, a very important announcement: I bought a hat, in the style of Kate Middleton.  The full RepliKate will come after an October wedding.  Stay tuned.  Chris thinks it is ridiculous.  I think HE's ridiculous. ANYWAY, breakfast was a hard boiled egg, a plum tomato with basil, pumpernickel toast, and coffee w/ 1% milk.  Thrilling, right? For lunch, I made a new Pampered Chef recipe: Skinny Mac N Cheese.  A giant batch has six generous servings, and is only 300 calories per serving!   Here's the recipe: Skinny Mac 'n Cheese 3 cups cauliflower (I used one head, minus the core) 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (I used whole grain) 2 garlic cloves 1 1/2 cups chicken stock or broth (I used low sodium) 1/2 cup milk 2 tbsp. flour 2 cups grated reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup 2% plain low-fat Greek yogurt salt and pepper Directions : 1) Dice cauliflower in to small pieces until you have 3 cups, press or ch...