Strip Maze and eating out

 I finished the Strip Maze quilt..................so next is to quilt it!
I will blog more about it when it is finished!
It is a pattern by Gudrun of GEDesigns.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Weight Watcher lifestyle~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peaceful area to walk close to Denny's Restaurant and lots of ducks and birds.
I like to walk in the late afternoon or sunset/twilight time to get my steps for the day!

 Denny's has on their menu....Build Your Own Burger.
I chose grilled chicken breast, whole wheat bun, cheddar cheese, carmelized onions and the fruit for a total of 14 smart points!  Very tasty meal.  The hubs got something with a lot more points...but then he isn't counting points!!

On the WW online site I am in a journaling group and one of the recent prompts was our relationship with food.  My first thought was....I would like to not have to think about food and only want to eat healthy foods.  Realistically I do enjoy planning meals and researching healthy choices to cook and eat and also when we eat out.  Being mindful of my eating and journaling have helped sooo much.  I do not feel deprived and I do not have to fight the urge to eat!!  This is a lifestyle and not a "diet".  I lose extremely slowly and I have developed the patience finally to not worry how long it takes to get back to goal again!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Boden table mat finish

 This is a pattern from Pat Sloan's book "Teach Me to Sew Triangles"  And I used fabrics from three different lines of her fabrics.

 I like to take a photo of the layout before sewing to see if I need to make changes.
Sorry for all the photos........but I like to document the process on my projects!

 When I first got this book I wanted to make this pattern because I wanted to do the quilting around the center!!

I used varigated thread at first and the next photo I was stumped what I wanted to do next!!

 I used gray thread to finish the quilting.  The center was done all at once without stopping.
I like to figure a way to keep on quilting and not stop and start!

 This is the back....an old Susan Winget panel from years ago!

I am so glad to finish a project this week!!

Linking to crazy mom quilts  finish it up Friday
and Freemotion by the River  Linky Tuesday

smiles and hugs....Caryl

projects and food photos

 The time is flying and here it is September already!
I worked on 8 different quilty projects in August but no finishes.  The top photo shows some of the Strip Maze blocks. I have 30 blocks done and squared and ready to lay out and sew together.
The next photo was a mystery that I have to this point....and it is ready to quilt.  I just have to decide on how to quilt the star centers.  More photos when I actually finish some projects!!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~Weight Watchers lifestyle~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 WW is unique...not a diet but a lifestyle...a method to  choose foods that are smart.  They call it smart points!
Denny's Wild Alaska salmon skillet is very delicious and is one of my choices when we eat there.

 This is my English muffin egg breakfast that I have twice a week.  It is 5 smart points.  I use 1/4 cup of Jimmy Dean turkey sausage crumbles, ReddiEgg 1/2 cup, and fat free cheese on a Thomas Light multigrain English muffin.

 El Pollo double chicken avocado salad 9 sp with light creamy cilantro dressing 3 sp.

This is a really filling lunch that is really good.  Papa Pita with pb fit and banana and broccoli and balsalmic.  Also apple pieces.  All for 7 smart points.  I usually just have 1/2 banana and pbfit on a light piece of toast with apple slices for lunch most days. AND that is only 2 smart points.

The most important thing when going out to eat is to have a PLAN.  Know what you are going to order before you get there.  AND if you don't know the menu before you get there....be sure to check the points BEFORE ordering!  The WW app on my iPhone is great and has helped me so much.

There are so many good ideas for delicious low point foods and so many websites with recipes.  Another day I will add some links.

Smiles and hugs....Caryl