Cupcakes, Cookies, Lessons Learned & Happy Bday!
TGIF Friday September 10, 2010
Before I start into the cupcakes & cookies, I must say Happy Birthday to Brandon, #2 of the seven grandkids. He is turning 11!!! Very handsome!
Where did the time go??? Wish we could be there or you here!!!! Hint to his parents!!!! He is the son of my oldest stepdaughter.
OK, on to cupcakes & cookies! You all read endlessly about my love of my cookies & especially my weekend cookie or cookies treat! I know some don't like that word treat but it works for me. So, although I don't have a picture of my normal weekend cookie, I do have pics of the ones I got last weekend! I also am going to explain at the end why I fit in my treats & lessons learned.
First for some background. There used to be this great cookie place near me that made those cookie bouquets. I would buy them for special occasions but also buy just one for my treat for me. Well, a few years ago they closed shop. Well, I was watching TLC's The Ultimate Cake Off one night & one of the cake places was Cinderella Cakes. They won the contest! They interviewed the owner & there was the lady that owned that cookie store! Well, they were talking how they did not only make the fabulous cakes but also those cookies too AND they were near me! Well, of course we had to take a trip to see them! If you check out the previous link, you can see their cakes, cookies, cupcakes & desserts. WARNING: You may have the urge to lick your monitor OR head to the nearest bakery!!! We even met the lady's husband that day & he was so nice & we chatted about old times for that cookie store.
So, below are the cookies I bought along with the cupcake, so aptly named ice cream sundae, for my hubby!
Yes, the last 2 are my cookies!!!!!! So yummy and I ate both of them over the course of the weekend!
So, lessons learned: When I was younger, I went thru that stage of never treating myself or fitting in the fun foods on a regular basis. Yes on birthdays & some holiday gatherings but not like I do now each weekend (or more when I plan for it). I did learn in my 30's, later on, that I was not going to "fall off the wagon" or put on 5 pounds by just treating myself to a "treat or 2" each week.
Now, saying that, the way I work it is to eat healthy during the week and I do have my healthy treat after my last mini meal. On the weekends I still eat healthy meals but plan in my treat or treats. I don't do the all out eat all day type of thing that some do... or some even make it a weekend thing which to me can basically eliminate all the hard work from the previous week.
This works for me & you have to find what works for you.
BIG LESSON LEARNED: When my mom was ill with cancer, the chemo took away her appetite. So, although we all knew that her life was short, she could not even enjoy some of the foods that she had loved when she was healthy. We would buy something she felt like having but then her bod would basically say NO. It was hard as we all knew she was going to pass sooner rather than later.
Now I am not saying life revolves around food BUT I do know that if I know I am going to die, I want to be able to either enjoy some of the foods I love but also know that I had not eliminated enjoyment of life before then. It really hit me when she was sick even though by then I had already learned to plan my foods in a way that worked for me.
Now I am not saying that this is an OK to go out & eat everything in sight. I think it could easily become an excuse to eat whatever... just saying that planning for a treat or your word for treating yourself is fine!
I also understand for some of you that just having a little means you may have more & too much, especially when you are still in the weight loss process & in the process of learning how to be able to eat but not overeat some of those trigger foods. It took me time to learn that but so glad I did!
Work your way thru it & find a program that works for you, that allows you to enjoy yet still maintain a fit & healthy lifestyle.
Have a great day!
Before I start into the cupcakes & cookies, I must say Happy Birthday to Brandon, #2 of the seven grandkids. He is turning 11!!! Very handsome!
Where did the time go??? Wish we could be there or you here!!!! Hint to his parents!!!! He is the son of my oldest stepdaughter.OK, on to cupcakes & cookies! You all read endlessly about my love of my cookies & especially my weekend cookie or cookies treat! I know some don't like that word treat but it works for me. So, although I don't have a picture of my normal weekend cookie, I do have pics of the ones I got last weekend! I also am going to explain at the end why I fit in my treats & lessons learned.
First for some background. There used to be this great cookie place near me that made those cookie bouquets. I would buy them for special occasions but also buy just one for my treat for me. Well, a few years ago they closed shop. Well, I was watching TLC's The Ultimate Cake Off one night & one of the cake places was Cinderella Cakes. They won the contest! They interviewed the owner & there was the lady that owned that cookie store! Well, they were talking how they did not only make the fabulous cakes but also those cookies too AND they were near me! Well, of course we had to take a trip to see them!
If you check out the previous link, you can see their cakes, cookies, cupcakes & desserts. WARNING: You may have the urge to lick your monitor OR head to the nearest bakery!!! We even met the lady's husband that day & he was so nice & we chatted about old times for that cookie store.So, below are the cookies I bought along with the cupcake, so aptly named ice cream sundae, for my hubby!
Yes, the last 2 are my cookies!!!!!! So yummy and I ate both of them over the course of the weekend!
So, lessons learned: When I was younger, I went thru that stage of never treating myself or fitting in the fun foods on a regular basis. Yes on birthdays & some holiday gatherings but not like I do now each weekend (or more when I plan for it). I did learn in my 30's, later on, that I was not going to "fall off the wagon" or put on 5 pounds by just treating myself to a "treat or 2" each week.
Now, saying that, the way I work it is to eat healthy during the week and I do have my healthy treat after my last mini meal. On the weekends I still eat healthy meals but plan in my treat or treats. I don't do the all out eat all day type of thing that some do... or some even make it a weekend thing which to me can basically eliminate all the hard work from the previous week.
This works for me & you have to find what works for you.
BIG LESSON LEARNED: When my mom was ill with cancer, the chemo took away her appetite. So, although we all knew that her life was short, she could not even enjoy some of the foods that she had loved when she was healthy. We would buy something she felt like having but then her bod would basically say NO. It was hard as we all knew she was going to pass sooner rather than later.
Now I am not saying life revolves around food BUT I do know that if I know I am going to die, I want to be able to either enjoy some of the foods I love but also know that I had not eliminated enjoyment of life before then. It really hit me when she was sick even though by then I had already learned to plan my foods in a way that worked for me.
Now I am not saying that this is an OK to go out & eat everything in sight. I think it could easily become an excuse to eat whatever... just saying that planning for a treat or your word for treating yourself is fine!
I also understand for some of you that just having a little means you may have more & too much, especially when you are still in the weight loss process & in the process of learning how to be able to eat but not overeat some of those trigger foods. It took me time to learn that but so glad I did!
Work your way thru it & find a program that works for you, that allows you to enjoy yet still maintain a fit & healthy lifestyle.
Have a great day!
Posted by truth2beingfit at 9/9/2010 9:00 PM 
Categories: cookies, Life Experiences, Family
Tags: life experiences cupcakes birthdays cookies Cinderella Cakes lessons learned family
Categories: cookies, Life Experiences, Family
Tags: life experiences cupcakes birthdays cookies Cinderella Cakes lessons learned family
Those are awesome cookies, but I love that cupcake even without tasting it! I'm currently not having a weekly splurge (in anticipation of an upcoming vacation), but this makes me re-think that decision .
Thank you for sharing the story of your mother's illness and how it affected you, Jody.
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I was going to comment otherwise, but you know me well enough to know what words caught my eye the most -- This works for me & you have to find what works for you.
I couldn't agree with this more. Our bodies are all different, and they all react to things differently.
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great pics and post. also, it was neat that you found the place that made the cookies you loved so much before they closed shop!!
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Adorable cookies! Too pretty to eat -- thank goodness!
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I'm with you on this one Jody. I think there is a place in our diets for occasional treats. I know you love your weekend cookies. For me, it's dark chocolate and wine. As long as it's a planned treat, why not?
My brother is having the opposite situation that your mother had. His appetite has increased to the point that the nurses say he is getting up several times at night to eat. It's a small comfort to know that we can bring his something that gives him some pleasure. It must have been hard for you to see your mom not able to enjoy even the simplest pleasure of eating a favorite food.
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Karen, hard for you no matter what way you look at it.. my thoughts are with you!!!!!
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Lick my monitor...? I actually took a bite out of it!
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Yummy, weren't they!!!
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This is something I really struggle with. Both as a physical act - the eating, and as an emotional exercise - trying to figure it out. If that makes sense. I had reached a point, as you know from what I have written, where "treats" were just blowing my diet in a big way. I thought that I could not handle them NOW but in my mind, when I see my future as a maintainer, there would be a place for them if I wanted them. But recently I started to wonder if restricting them made me binge more. When you first mentioned this post to me in a comment you left, I had already drafted one of my own on a similar topic. And then I realized that for me, I actually had so much on my mind around this subject that it could easily fill MANY posts. So I am going to think through it by using my blog and see what I come up with.
That said (and sorry so long), one of the things I so admire about you is how very sane you are with your lifestyle. Balanced, happy, living well but in a way that is not at all about deprivation or sacrifice. Very inspiring Jody.
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Karen, thank you for such kind words!!! It took me a lot of learning to get where I am food wise.... I am really curious what you were/are going to write about.
You know, I used to eat a bagel every day but with the age thing, have had to cut back on those to once a week or so but the replacement bread I have is really fine for me & love it too so I find ways to get thru this. Yes, I would love to be able to eat everything I want but knowing I can eat this or that every so often & not worry cause I know I am back to it right away the next meal or day.. well, a big lesson learned for me.
You will get there!
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Happy B-day! Love the hair! I treated myself all the time...too much but I do savor the taste and usually make a cup of tea and make it the event a BIG deal!
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Jody - you know I would be all over the cuppycake! I really don't think foods should fall into good and bad categories. That's why so many people (including my old self) go overboard on 'forbidden' foods. If you fit them in, you are less inclined to go overboard.
Food is a bonding experience with people, and interesting how some certain foods get associated with certain people.
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Our youngest is 11...and that's hard to believe that he's that old! Happy birthday to your grandson!!!
And...I'm all for a cookie (or cupcake!) as a splurge!!
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