Do You Know How Old that Ketchup Is?

If you're frugal like me you probably save the condiments from restaurants. But have you ever noticed they don't usually have an expiration stamped onto the packet? This could leave you with the possibility of keeping condiments way past their expiration date. It happens to all of us. The day I decided to start keeping track of the condiments was when my kid asked me for ketchup and the bottle was empty so I went to the back-up condiments that had been sitting in the pantry for a while. I opened about 15 packets and they were dark brown like A1 Sauce. Obviously out of date but how could I tell without opening the packets?  No expiration date. It made me wonder how old is this stuff anyways?  So I threw it all out and started putting the condiments in sandwich baggies marked with the year. 

So at the beginning of every year I go through my pantry, medicine and vitamin cabinet, and coupons to trash the out-of-date items (not the coupons because I send those to our military troops). Having the condiments in marked bags with dates makes it much easier to know which condiments to use first and also which ones throw out. 

So that's my tip. 

This is what I threw out also. It makes me both happy and sad.  Happy to be cleaning and getting rid of stuff and sad because I feel like I'm throwing money away.

Weight Loss Journey, Entry May 21, 2014

The struggle with eating continues....

May 21, 2014

Such a fat cow. Why would or should I expect anyone to desire me? 

I wish I had the ability to control my eating. I'm out of whack. I'm screwed up. Been this way several years now. I'm fat. My husband too. One of us needs to get in shape and motivate the other. 

When I feel like pigging out I'm glad he understands. But other days I wish he would slap that cookie out of my hand. But he's not going to. Because he knows I would do it back to him and he doesn't want that. When am I going to hate being a big tub of lard more than I love food? I fail everyday. Everday I fail at my eating. Everyday is the start of a new day which means I failed the day before. 

Frustrated.

(Later same day)

This is the daily reminder on my phone. 

Eat differently, things haven't changed in years. 

Eat differently. Think differently. Change your habits. 

Weight Loss Journey, Entry April 24, 2014

This is my second journal entry. I've already posted page 1 of my Weight Loss Journal. I've actually been writing about my weight for over 30 years but last year I made an official journal dedicated soley to weight loss.

I'm going to be as transparent as I can be about my struggles to lose weight. It is embarassing but I am only human. I am not perfect and I definitely struggle with food addiction. I have an addictive personality. Looking back on my life I've always been addicted to something whether it was muscians, drugs, shopping, smoking, collecting stuff, couponing, etc. Believe it or not, I was actually addicted to exercising in my 7th and 8th years of middle school but that phase went away when I got into high school. So now in my mature years I've turned to food because it is the only legal "drug" I can do and it's cheaper than being a shopaholic. The problem is that we all need to eat so it's not like people can see my food addiction like we can see a drug addict's problem.

What really doesn't help my situation is that I am an emotional eater. I use food to numb my feelings. I'm trying so hard to find a new way to deal with my emotions. I wish I was one of those types of girls who don't eat when they are emotional, but sadly I'm the type of girl that likes to eat junk food to assuage my feelings of turmoil.

The reason why this entry is from last year is because I didn't want to post my current journal entries without showing what I was going through and thinking last year.

Drawbacks of my journaling:  I am not consistent in writing in my journal so there will be huge gaps between dates. There is also misspelling and lack of proper English in my entries because I'm lazy and sometimes my hand starts to hurt so I rush through it.

I wrote this entry in April but it was about December 2013 so that is why there is winter embellishments on it.
______________________________________________________________________
April 24, 2014

THIS TIME WILL BE THE LAST TIME I WILL SAY THESE WORDS

The last time I said "Screw it!" I don't care!" was this past December (2013). Those are very dangerous words. Every time I've said this and really meant it I gained weight. It's not good to despair or give up hope no matter what I feel emotionally and mentally. Last year I lost 10 lbs and was down to 165. I kept it off.
My dear friends from childhood, Julie R, msged me and said she would visit between Sept-Dec (for a Cowboy game). I thought I would use her visit as motivation to lose weight since we have not seen each other in over 20 years. Even though I knew she was coming I didn't have the right mind set. My head was not in the right place with dad's death. I always felt like something was wrong. I just struggled to keep the 10 lbs off. By the time Thanksgiving rolled around I felt like it was too late. Then Julie posted pics of her and her daughter in Paris and I saw how teen-tiny she was. I clearly remember thinking I'll never lose enough weight to make a difference before Julie visits so just SCREW IT I'm going to eat. And eat I did. I gained weight. So when Julie visited right after Christmas I was gross. Julie is so petite and I think she's the same size as we were in middle school. I feel like a monster next to her. I hate the pics from her visit. I look like a cow. The cherry on top was I broke out with allergies around my eyes so I had extra wrinkles making me look older.

So I must be aware and super determined to not give in the next time I say "screw it" and just eat. I need to work hard and keep it together. No more falling apart. Stop letting food assuage my emtions. In 2008 when I was very emotional about my husband (and his thing from 2001) I had just eaten a big breakfast and was sitting on the couch watching TV. I started to eat RiceWorks chips and I thought "I should stop eating" and then I thought "Who cares? My husband was attracted to a girl bigger than me. So it doesn't matter." And then I just ate non-stop. I think that day the death toll rang. Because my health deteriorated after that. I think not eating right, hating myself and not exercising caused health problems. Joseph Prince said when we hate ourselves the body breaks down.

So I'm on a new journey towards health. I don't hate myself, Bill and I have a fantastic marriage, and my mind set has changed. I just need the determination and self control. I need the Holy Spirit to really help me. I think I also ate because my spirit was hungry. Instead of feeding my spirit with the word of God I ate physically. But I'm back to reading the word too. I pray this time I finally lose weight and keep it off.

 

Foodie Journal, page 2

Yes, I am one of those people.  I take pictures of my food. This is page 2 of my Foodie Journal. 

Piranha's Killer Sushi

Several Locations in Texas

I really like this restaurant. I have not encountered a bad meal yet. When Piranha's opened a few years back there they had a chef that was also an artist. If our cell phones had cameras back then I would have taken multiple pics of the beautiful works of art we were served. I am talking about arranging the food to look like sculptures. These pics are from the location in South Arlington which recently went through some renovations. The food no longer looks like artwork but it is still delicious. I wish I could cook Asian food like this.

I believe this is Korean Beef Tenderloin. 

Blue Crab Fried Rice (already ate half before I remembered to take pic)

Chocolate Angel Tea Room

2 Locations:  Richardson and Plano, Tx.

This is definitely a girlie girl's tea room. There were several ladies wearing big hats and dressed up. The decor is shabby chic and it really is quite lovely inside. Although the day we took this pic it was over 100 degrees outside I felt so light and cool when I walked in because the colors are muted and airy. The menu consists of salad, soup, sandwiches and of course, tea. The food is affordable and tasty. Bonus: there are a few other fantastic boutiques in the same shopping strip at the Richardson location.

Half chicken salad sandwich, tomato soup and salad. 

 SmashBurger 
National Chain

To be honest I have not yet had a regular beef patty burger. I always get chicken burger which can be fried or grilled. My boys tell me the beef burgers are the bomb.  I especially love the veggie frites and the smash fries with rosemary seasoning.

 For those who want less calories try the grilled chicken burger.

 Fireside Pies
Dallas, Plano and Grapevine locations

I adore the name of this restaurant. It just gives me warm fuzzies inside. We ate outside on the patio on a chilly winter night because there was a fireplace to keep us warm. It was bit dark though, not enough lighting making the ambience really great for lovers but for a family it was hard to see each other. A bit of an eye strain. The prices are a bit high for the amount of food you get.  The pizzas are not very big and cost $13-14. I would guess that they are about 10" pizzas. This is from the Grapevine location.

Come on!  That's all the salad you're going to give me for $13?!

Pei Wei

National Chain

When Pei Wei had asian cooks the food was excellent. In the past few years it has really gone downhill and it's just become a Panda Express. This day there must have been an experienced cook because the food was pretty good and not bland.

Krispy Kreme

National Chain

If doughnuts were good for my health and shrunk my waistline I'd be here every weekend. I especially adore that they glaze their chocolate covered doughnuts. Glaze and chocolate. Mmmmm....free goo. It's just genius. Some people say they don't like KK because they glaze the chocolate doughnuts. Why do I associate with these people? When I get a chocolate donut from other places and the bottom half is just fried dough with no sweetness I realize it was the wrong choice. Plain fried dough. Does that sound good? No, no it does not.

Fall flavored donuts: cotton candy and apple caramel.

 (I can spell donuts like this since they spell crispy with a K).

Olive Garden
National Chain

I find Olive Garden to be a hit or miss. Their salad is usually a hit, but sometimes their entrées can be a miss. When my homemade Italian food tastes better than the restaurant it is a definite miss. This Seafood Brodetto is a hit espcially on a cold winter's evening. 

Seafood Brodetto: scallops, shrim and delicate tilapia with spinach and mushrooms simmered in a light white wine and marinar-saffron broth. Served with toasted ciabatta bread.

Birthday Freebies

I love celebrating my birthday with freebies. Here's a list of my freebies for 2015. I just signed up with American Eagle and Dairy Queen so I'm not quite sure if I'll get an email for my birthday. I tried joining Brio Tuscan Grille but they require downloading their app on the phone. I'm sort of maxed out on apps.

Arby's - free 12 oz shake with any purchase
Baskin Robbins - free scoop of ice cream
Blue Mesa Grill - complimentary guacamole, passion fruit iced tea and any desert with any entrée purchase
Buca Di Beppo - $20 off 2 entrees or pasta
Cold Stone Creamery - BOGO purchase
Corner Bakery - one free bakery sweet
Crabtree and Evelyn - 15% off order or purchase in store
Dairy Queen - BOGO coupon and discount on ice cream cake for signing up and I don't know about bday
Denny's - free Grand Slam on your birthday
Great American Cookie - free birthday cookie slice with purchase of medium drink
GNC - $10 off any $30 purchase
Jamba Juice - free small smoothie or juice
JoAnns - 20% off purchase (better coupons in newspaper or app)
John Frieda - $1.50 coupon
Johnny Carino's - free dessert
Half Price Books - 15% off entire purchase

Krispy Kreme - free donut and small coffee
La Madeleine - free croissant
Marble Slab - free cup or cone
Nothing Bundt Cakes - a free bundlet
Outback Steakhouse - free dessert
Piranhi Killer Sushi - complimentary specialty sushi roll
PF Changs - free appetizer or dessert
Schlotzsky's - free small sandwich
Sephora - free with purchase in your b-day month, mini Peter Thomas Roth cleanser and gel or mini
                  NARS lip liner and lipstick
Smashburger - free shake with purchase
Smoothie King - 20 oz smoothie for $2.99
Starbucks - free drink of your choice but need to use register a card
Sweet Tomato Souplantation - 20% off entire check. However, the regular monthly coupon is a better deal if you use the 2 for $10 coupon for every couple at your table.
Texas de Brazil - $25 off a regular dinner
Toni and Guy - 20% off service
Ulta - $10 off ANYTHING except Lancome.
Victoria Secret - $10 off purchase
Vitamin World - 40% off any item in store
World Market - $10 but you need to have membership which is free


Many of these offers require a print out of your email. Be sure to use the backside of scratch paper because they just throw your coupon away after you redeem it. No reason to use perfectly good copy paper.

  

free bundtlets from Corner Bakery and Nothing Bundt Cakes

 

free scoop from Marble Slab and 20% discount on haircut at Toni & Guy

  

This stuff is from World Market and was a little over $10. I got it all for free except for the change I had to pay. 

If you shop at Victoria Secret in January they are clearancing their winter clothes. I got this set for $19.98 with birthday coupon.

This is the lady's freebie from Sephora. You can sign up your man and he also gets a freebie on his birthday.

Getting $20 off our 2 entrees at Buca Di Beppo. Great deal because we took our leftovers home and had another meal.

This is a photo of some of last years freebies.

Foodie Journal, page 1

I am a Foodie. Love, love, love food!!  My love affair with food began about the age of 18.  I remember the day I fell in love with food, I was sitting across from my boyfriend (who is my husband now) at a restaurant.  He was eating something with grilled onions and I was eating the house salad which is basically just lettuce. I thought I didn't like onions because I had been fed raw onions for most of my life. Out of curiosity I tried some of his grilled onions and I was amazed at the flavor of grilled onions - right then and there the world of food opened up right before me. I was thinking "Why haven't I ever had grilled onions before?  What else have I missed!?"  I can't imagine what my reaction would have been if I had tried Scottish Salmon from Craft in that moment instead of the grilled onions - I might have reenacted the famous diner scene from "When Harry Met Sally".  Because let me tell you the Scottish Salmon is mind-blowingly good. Prior to that eventful day I didn't enjoy eating because I thought food was boring. At the time I didn't like Filipino food except for pancit and rice and being Filipino that's what my mom mostly cooked. In addition, my family didn't go out to eat very often and we had the same dishes throughout the years. My mom worked in the evenings so my eldest sister cooked what my mom told her to cook.  It was same ole, same ole - easy dishes a teenager could  make. We had a few new dishes between long stretches such as eggs benedict my mom made for us one time. So when I got out on my own I discovered dishes I never knew existed and realized food is really yummy and exciting.  I feel like I've been making up for missing good food for the first 18 years of my life and it shows when you look at my booty and waistline.

To me food is undeniably art. Food can bring about a range of emotions such as happiness, excitement, passion and even tears.  Certain dishes can bring on memories of loved ones or special moments. I've seen some desserts so architecturally beautiful that it was almost a shame to eat them.  Food is even better when it tastes like a symphony of music in your mouth with notes that make you close your eyes to appreciate its goodness.

I've decided to create for myself a Food Journal where I can look back on some dishes and moments. I wish I took pictures more often when I went out to eat.  I was often embarrassed to take pictures of food in restaurants with a camera.  Now that we have cameras in our cell phones it is much easier and more discreet. Some of the pics are not great because they were taken with an old BlackBerry (no flash). But the pics get better as you scroll down because I finally upgraded my phone.

Shredded Beef Nachos @ Yucatan Taco Stand in Southlake.

 

 Grilled Latin Sandwich @Yucatan Taco Stand in Southlake, TX. 

Yucatan Taco Stand

Dessert at Craft Dallas (unfortunately closed in July 2012).  I wish I took pictures of the food we were served because it was truly awesome.  But this was a fancy restaurant and I felt too embarrassed to take pictures.  I took this pic because I was drunk and didn't care anymore.

Main Street Bread Baking Company in Grapevine.  The restaurant made Zagats sometime between 2007-2009 which is why I chose to eat lunch here.  Both the food and service is sub par (I came back 2 more times the following year and that statement is confirmed).  It must have been a good day when the people from Zagats ate there.  However, the desserts and croissants are beautifully made and quite delectable.

 
Girls lunch @ Main Street Bread Baking Company.  

Coal Vines Pizza and Wine Bar in Southlake.

 

Vanilla Birthday Cake @Coal Vines Pizza and Wine Bar.

 

My favorite hamburger is the Farmhouse Burger @ Cheescake Factory. Who can resist a fried egg and pork belly on a juicy burger?  I am VERY DISAPPOINTED they took it off the menu.

 

forgot name of dish @ Cheesecake Factory

Fried Mac-n-Cheese Bites with Truffle Dip @ Macaroni Grill.  This is super yummy.

Zucchini Fritti @ Macaroni Grill.  Two thumbs up!

Comida Deluxe @ Chuy's in Arlington

I especially like this at Chuy's - sanitized and protected silverware.

 

Chicken Friand and Tomato Basil Soup @ la Madeleine.

 Sake Bomb @ Ginger in Southlake.

The sake bomb is a beer cocktail made by pouring sake into a shot glass and dropping it into a glass of beer.  Sometimes 2 chopsticks are placed parallel on top of the glass of beer, and the shot glass is carefully balanced between them.  The drinker then chants "sake...sake...sake...SAKE!" and slams the table with his fists causing the sake to fall into the beer.  (definition courtesy of wikipedia)

Black Bean Rice Pudding with Coconut Cream @ Ginger.

Fried Bananas with Coconut Ice Cream @Ginger.

Figs at Central Market.

 

 

 

Here's our street sign - Foodie Crossing.  

Toy cupcakes that really smell like chocolate. I almost bit into one it smelled so good.

Candle cupcakes that smell divine

Have you ever noticed that Barnes & Noble price for coffee is slightly cheaper than Starbucks?  

If you thought you were getting a better deal I'm sorry to say you are not.  

Pictured above are venti-sized caramel machiattos. 

The bigger cup is from Starbucks and the smaller is from Barnes & Noble. 

At least they are honest enough to charge less.