December 2nd, 2010:

If you know me at all or if you read this blog regularly you probably know I do not count calories. This is not because I have never tried because I have. A few months before Lew and I moved in 2009 I tried to count calories. It lasted about 2 days. Those two days consisted of a lot of bread and peanut butter. I figured out that I could stay under 1200 calories a day if I ate whole wheat bread with 1 tbs. spoon of peanut butter for 2 meals a day and measure every ingredient in my other meal of the day. This also normally led to no snacks for the day. Which led to one very cranky and hungry Ashlee. I am not sure why I thought that was a good idea. I had lost weight before without counting calories.

Since having the babies I have not counted one calorie until today. I have lost around 65 pounds since I delivered my twins and not counted one calorie. Today however, I thought it would be good to just get an idea of how many calories were in my lunch because I was wanting to eat something on the lighter side.

Here is what I had

• 3/4 a can of Campbells light southwest veggie soup (75 calories)
• 1 serving of kidney beans (110 caloires)

This was alright but while cooking I decided it needed a little more flavor so I added Mrs. Dash Chipotle Lime seasoning. Then it was a little two spicy so I added a sprinkle of pure cane organic sugar. This was good but I thought I needed something to dip in the soup so I heated up a wheat roll from the freezer with a little earth balance butter. Well, while eating the soup it was so hot and still kind of bland and definitely needed some cheese. So I headed to the kitchen and pulled out some 2% cheddar cheese and sprinkled on the soup.

And this is why I do not count calories I feel too boxed in so instead I just make smart choices. It works for me.

The tree is up!

First of all I want to say thank you to everyone that has entered my Alexia foods giveaway! On that same note I forgot to mention that you can go to Alexia’s facebook page and vote for their new flavor! You also receive a dollar off coupon for the first time you vote!

With all of the excitement of the tree yesterday I forgot to show you my yummy super quick lunch!

On Tuesday I baked a couple sweet potatoes and then stuck them in the fridge. For my lunch yesterday I cut the potato into cubes and sauteed them with leftover chicken for about 10 minutes with a little Earth Balance butter.

I know it looks like a bowl of mush but it was oh so good!

Breakfast today was not very pretty Simple Oatmeal…

By the way…have you noticed I have a new toy? We found a great “black friday” sale on a camera this week. Not actually on Friday but they still had the sale going on until they sold out. I thought that was very nice of best buy. The 50mm lens I bought was shipped separately and I am very excited to get to practice a little more after getting it in last night! 

Here is a little more of our Christmas decor…

Does Santa come and fill stockings at your house on Christmas?