The LBDDiaries.com Blog

Yeah yeah, I KNOW what you’re thinking.  You’re wrong.  I am not talking about peoples here, people.  Get your mind outta da gutter!

No no, THIS is what I’m talking about….

         Oooohhhh, yeah!     Mmmmmm.

     Stop me now!    Yikes!

If you can’t eat certain foods that you used to love – crave – can’t seem to live without – then you’re just gonna have to learn to love this:

    And this:   AND this:

Since I began this journey, it has just flat out amazes me how much I absolutely 100 percent loved certain foods.  Somewhere I crossed the line from simply eating to fuel the body and went down the dark road to eating to satisfy some inner craving.  I began to salivate the moment I thought about eating those certain foods and refused to be satisfied until I acquired it, smelled the scent of it, savored it, petted it, crooned to it, um, took a bite, rolled my eyes in ecstasy, and then wolfed it down. 

I would want to meet with these foods immediately.  There was NO waiting.  Once they were on my mind, it was a “seek and devour” mission given to me by my body.  Gotta have it gotta have it gottahaveitNOW.

And have you ever hidden food from loved ones so you could savor it in privacy, hidden away from the world and nosy food wardens… people who loved you?  Made any midnight rendezvous appointments with your refrigerator or food cupboard?  Man, this is beginning to sound more and more like a secret love affair in a seedy motel room!

Well, if you can’t be with the one you love honey love the one you’re with STOP IT AND LEARN TO LOVE THE ONE THAT IS GOOD FOR YOU!

Or plan to have this very harsh diet implemented in the very near future:

I was all over the place in my thought process today.  I was going to write about this: 

No, NOT about plumber’s crack (and no that’s not Alpha Hubby) but about some of the issues that face overweight people such as not being able to bend over to tie shoes, paint toenails without contortions, deal with some *ahem* personal issues easily, or the like.  But I’ll save that for another day. Lucky you!

When that song title popped into my head the other day, I got to thinking about how we sometimes don’t really look at ourselves as worth treating right.  To me that is more important today than being funny. 

This is what overeating looks like – this:

And this:

These, too (wouldn’t want you men feeling left out): 

I was reading a new e-friend’s website, How Sweet It Is (http://howsweet.wordpress.com/) and she chatted about how she & hubby ate ice cream that came from Caesar’s in Las Vegas that cost them $50.  Drop over and read the blog (it’s under Million Dollar Ice Cream link on right side).

I laughed at the funny posting but I also realized that while they “lost” $50, I recalled watching a TV special about the most expensive ice cream in the world that had edible GOLD.  Yes, you heard me right.  Serendipity in New York City (http://www.serendipity3.com/food.htm) has a dessert offering that cost $1000 and requires 48 hour notice if you want one.  Of course I was having trouble getting past their Outrageous Banana Split for $22.50 but $1000 for vanilla ICE CREAM?  At least for the $1000 you get to keep the baccarat Harcourt crystal goblet (I THINK).  When I saw the special on television, you did get to keep the crystal but had to give the 18K gold spoon back.

Here is the amazing recipe:

5 scoops of the richest Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream infused with Madagascar vanilla are covered in 23K edible gold leaf. The sundae is drizzled with the world’s most expensive chocolate, Amedei Porceleana, and covered with chunks of rare Chuao chocolate. The master-recipe is wrapped up with exotic candied fruits from Paris, gold dragets, truffles and Marzipan Cherries. It is topped with a tiny glass bowl of Grand Passion Caviar, known for its sparkling golden color. It’s further with sweetened and infused with fresh passion fruit, orange and Armagnac.

And it is served this way:

The Grand Opulence Sundae it’s made up of the best of the best.  This pricey sundae is served in a baccarat Harcourt crystal goblet with an 18K gold spoon to partake in the indulgence, served with a petite mother of pearl spoon and topped with a gilded sugar flower by Ron Ben-Israel.

I just want to thank Serendipity for not opening a store anywhere near where I live.  I want to thank them that they will NEVER ruin my journey back into my little black dress diary even if I did live in New York City ’cause I’m not sure I could ever pay $1000 for ice cream, baccarat cyrstal goblet or not.  And when I look at my plain homemade vanilla bean ice cream, I won’t be tempted to overindulge anymore.  I mean why?  There’s no edible gold leaf in there!!

Their hamburger runs like this:

Hamburger 12.50
with Chili 16.50
Muenster 14.00
Sautéed Onions 14.00
Bar BQ Sauce 14.00
Jarlsberg 14.00
Curried Mushrooms 14.50

My biggest temptation is a CJ’s Butcher Boy 1/3 pound burger combo that only costs $6.98 with homemade fries (they cut the potato right in front of you) and drink.  This burger has won all sorts of awards here in Arkansas.  THAT is a temptation, not one that cost $13 without cheese!!

Just keep on your journey and don’t let anyone or anything get you off of it – after all, you will notice they did NOT tell you how many calories you were getting for $1000!!   RESIST the temptation of ordinary fattening things in your fridge, cabinets and local restaurants!

  www.littleblackdressdiaries.com

I’m going on an assumption that Wordless Wednesday in blogging world means no chatting and much picture posting.  Since my mom passed away in March, I’ve been going through all sorts of stuff that has provoked memories.  Some of it has left me questioning, “Why didn’t I ask her where she got that?”  Other stuff is heartwarming because I know it is my grandmothers.  Here are a few of my favorite memories and finds (click on pictures to enlarge then use BACK arrow to return to blog):     

I re-found (is that a word?) these 1968 cookbooks from around the world (it was a Time-Life book club).  I sat in the musty storage room thumbing through the beautiful pictures as memory after memory washed over me.  I remembered mom and I would eagerly go through each cookbook when it came in each month, oohing and ahhhing over the pictures and recipes.  They are not just recipe books; they tell the history of the country and about the foods that are written up in the smaller recipe books.  These are just a few – there are still several more in storage – oh the joy of digging into them again.  These particular ones were mom’s favorites.  The others are still in their boxes. 

Mom’s demitasse cups she purchased when we lived in Germany: Alka Bavaria-Germany, 22 ct gold, delicate and beautiful.  I’m almost afraid to touch them, they are so tiny, elegant and dainty!

Mom’s crystal vases, made in Czech Republic and Poland.  Cut, heavy and beautiful shine.

Gram’s hand-painted rose vase and another goldish vase from the early 1900s.  These are so old and fragile, they really make me nervous!

A rose vase with a glass rose – my all time favorite vase.

So what does all this have to do with my journey back into my Little Black Dresses?  Not much except finding things to do that keep you busy (then you don’t focus on food).

  Take care of yourself so you can live a long time – and pass your memories on to others!

No no, not these:

While on my journey back into my various little black dresses, I’ve learned it is very important to take care of myself. When one is overweight, it is easy to slip into sloppy dress attire and makeup habits and just sort of “let yourself go” – although where I think I’m going when I wear my slop pull on cotton pants is beyond me. And I have a shirt my husband would like to cut up and use to wax his car – it’s big, baggy, stained, and ugly – my “working around the house” shirt.

I decided as part of my blog, I am going to change up and not just talk about the journey only from the weight loss point of view. I am going to add in every other aspect of this journey from eating right to changing dress sizes. I’ll add in everything from finding clothing bargains for those temporary clothing needs while losing the weight to cool deals on makeup to keep myself looking good!

Alpha Hubby is a makeup fanatic. No, he doesn’t wear it; he loves it on me. This is very handy as I love it on me, too. My problem is that I got a wee bit lazy for awhile there and didn’t even wear a minimum – at least some – bit of mascara. Now without mascara, I have no eyelashes (they are blonde and you can’t see them). I look washed out. And washed out leads to being lazy in other areas too – like those aforementioned clothing habits.

I realize not everyone wears makeup but honestly? Most people look like dogs washed out without at least a little. I heard someone say one time, “Any old barn looks better with a new coat of paint.” Heh heh! Nah, to me, wearing makeup is something I do for me. It makes me feel a bit more pulled together. Since I work from home, it is important not to let that drop because working from home can lead to all sorts of habits that aren’t healthy. NO! I’m not gonna tell you. Nosey.

Several years ago I discovered amazing beauty products called E.L.F. – eyes-lips-face. The secret to ELF is that everything is pretty much one dollar. Yes, you heard me right, $1.00. Now the kits and makeup bags may run $5 and their new studio professional line products run $3.00-$5.00, but in general you can find amazing makeup for $1. And yes, I’ve done a side-by-side comparison with top of the line eye shadow and yes, ELF is just as good! Sometimes the products are small but still…

I like the story behind ELF too – the man’s wife apparently shopped for makeup twice a year and one day he was looking at the credit card receipt in amazement at how expensive makeup was. Then he got to thinking about how it would be nice if everyone could enjoy top of the line makeup products without paying out the nose for them. The rest, as they say, is history. The ELF Company has developed a name, and their products are now used all over, including Hollywood (and now sold in stores like Target).

I hadn’t been to their website in awhile so a few months ago I checked them out. Ooooo, NEW products, better products, awesome products! My newest love is this little baby:

It is like a felt tip pen only it is eyeliner pen. I think anyone who has trouble using eyeliner would fall in love with this product. It’s easy to use and if you are careful, foolproof. No messing with liquid that can get all over your eyelashes. No trying to work a tiny little brush and some gel liner product in a jar. Nope, just a nice little felt pen to gently wipe near your lash line and voilà! Eyes with a small line (or thick).

If you’ve ever wanted to play with good quality makeup but didn’t want to spend a lot of money, ELF is the way to go. With few exceptions, most of my beauty products are ELF and I have liked each thing I’ve tried. When I started out, they only had the basics. Now they have all sorts of goodies.  They even have chemical free mineral products.  And when I think what I paid for my Kabuki brush… ugh.  They didn’t have mineral makeup back then.

Check out ELF online. They have “how-to” videos, instructions, beauty blogs, and, of course, the best part of all – lots and lots of makeup! They will help you take good care of yourself on your journey back into your little black dress!

And no, ELF doesn’t know who I am or that I am bragging on their products!

Here’s to looking good for all the right reasons!  www.eyeslipsface.com

Oh, ha ha ha, snicker snicker, hee hee – oh I can’t stand it.  This is NOT an easy topic to chat about but that title is just rockin’ PERFECT!

That Ain’t No Way to Go – I can’t stand it, really!  Oh OK, I’ll grow up now.  But I don’t know why I have to.  It’s not fair.  Guys get to talk about this stuff all the time!

I get this newsletter from Isabel De Los Rios (The Diet Solution www.thedietsolutionprogram.com).  She sends to most fascinating and informative newsletters and I really learn a lot from them every time.

Her latest was entitled, “important information if you’re not losing weight.”  When I saw that title I had a random thought, “Oh man what am I going to have to give up NOW.”  Well boy, was I surprised about what she wanted me to “give up.”

She surprised the heck out of me, that’s for sure!  She talked about … oh I can barely type it – it is so highly personal and so… private… so just NOT talked about in polite society.  She talked about… POOP.  There, I said it.  Too bad I haven’t done it (snicker).  And there’s the rub* for those trying to lose weight.

I’m going to let her tell you in her own words by giving you a link to the newsletter (posted to the Little Black Dress Diaries website).  She is such a lady about it.  I mean, really.  When was the last time you talked about poop in relation to weight loss?  I have never ever chatted about it.

But she talks about it and even gives you some healthy non-chemical recommendations (thus the title, for me ‘cause chemicals just ain’t the way to go – it’s not good for your body).  She gives natural things any one of us can do.

Here, in her own words, which, when it comes to poop, are far better than my words would be – is Isabel’s newsletter:  www.lbddiaries.com/Isabel.html

Enjoy – bwahahahaha!! 

*Shakespeare (from Hamlet):

Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub:
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there’s the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;

The phrase uses “rub” in its less common definition as “obstacle” or “snag” rather than the more common usage of applying pressure to a surface.

high enough… to keep me from some foods.  *Sigh* Organic cheese and peanut butter anyone?

If I would just be totally honest with myself about a plateau (being stuck) or a mountain (seemingly insurmountable goals) – I’d find out the problem always comes back to that man I married – oh no no it comes back to ME.  Oh sure, I wish it was his fault, but it never is.

Alpha Hubby made the statement one time that after we married, he enabled me (in weight gain) by actions he’d made.  You know, the evil action of… taking me out to amazing restaurants.  Seriously, even if he’d tried to shove fattening foods down my throat, it would never be his fault or anyone else’s.  Until I take responsibility for my own actions – i.e., face that I and only, I stuffed too much of that fattening food down my throat – I’ll never get anywhere on my journey back into my little black dresses.

Speaking of which:  I took pictures of ALL my LBD dresses the other day to post on the website.  Including the two black suits and two with black and white design, I quit counting at 12.  It’s true – it borders on ridiculous.  Really.  Know why?  Rather than face that I shouldn’t be buying bigger sizes, I just kept buying little black dresses in bigger sizes.  I love little black dress dresses but I should have used them as a guideline.  I should have said to myself, “Hey, I am NOT going to buy another little black dress in a bigger size.  I am going to lose this weight right now before it gets out of hand.”

It got out of hand.  It got out of leg.  It got out of bootie and belly.  Now I have way more to deal with than if I’d just stopped this back when the first little black dress of a larger size loomed on my horizon.  Well, at least I have dresses to get back into as I lose the weight.

So when I plateau-ed a few weeks ago and had to take a long, hard look at what I was doing, or more truthfully, was NOT doing, it was an eye opener.  I had to check on my portion sizes again.  And, of course face that even though some foods are not bad for you, they are bad for you if you are way overweight (too many fruits).  But the number one main reason I began to go backwards?  I stopped keeping my food journal.  When I stopped doing that, then I stopped watching portion sizes.  When I stopped watching portion sizes, I ate too much even if it was considered good.  When I ate too much of something considered good, I not only hit the plateau, I began to put weight back on.  When that happened, I scrambled to stop that wrong direction.

So here I am.  SORE from my morning workout in the pool and getting ready to eat lunch AFTER I log it in my electronic food journal.  I’ll keep right portion sizes along with drinking plenty of water out of my leetle friend, and I am happy to be going the right direction again. 

Phew.  THAT was a close call! 

   I’ll have the dresses posted later this week at www.littleblackdressdiaries.com 

La la la la – means I love you!!**

I do really enjoy my swimming pool and it’s taken a lot of work to make it work right.  The other day, Alpha Hubby had to drain most of the water out (after filling for over 48 hours), fix the side, then start the refill.  It was over halfway done yesterday and I was out there enjoying exercising in the SUNSHINE (an anomaly, ho ho) when he came home, discovered his “fix” hadn’t worked, and we had to DRAIN THE POOL AGAIN last night.  I called the water company to assure them we didn’t have a leak in our pipe!

It sure has been a lot of work.  NOT on me, you understand.  Poor Alpha Hubby.  He got whacked in the face with a crowbar over the weekend.  He was NOT a happy camper.  (Of course he told everyone at work that I smacked him… like they’d believe that!)  Add that to the pulled hamstring from something else that happened and he has sacrificed a lot to help me in my journey to get back into my little black dress. 

WOW.  He has been a perfect expression of true love.  Over and above all I could ask or think.  Since LOVE is an action verb, he has expressed his love to me in some pretty incredible ways.

*HUGE SIGH* – I guess this means I have to go out there and do some more working out.  Yep.  I need some action verb going on, too!  After all he’s done for me to help me, it is a good way to express my love for him – get to looking my best!  Taking care of myself.  Being healthy!

I love you baybay!

   **wanna hear this old song?  http://www.minibite.com/ebony/lala.htm