Happy Birthday to ME!
July 24, 2007
I’m not sure if I told you but today is my birthday! Not just my birthday but my 3rd-29th birthday! I actually don’t have a problem getting older but the whole 29 thing sounds better then 30-whatever. ;~)
The husband asked where I wanted to eat and I immediately said APPLEBEES! He looked at me as if I was crazy. We never go because it’s totally out of the way for us and he doesn’t really like it. But I’m trying to "be good" this week to counter my vacation gain and they have the whole Weight Watcher meals. It just makes it so easy to order without fear even if you aren’t on Weight Watchers. They have the calories, fat and fiber listed for those WW entrees. Wouldn’t it be great if all restaurants did that? Then I thought about it and realized they could never because most people would stop ordering things!
So I had some soup, a salad and a small piece of cake. Of course, my husband ordered mozzarella sticks for him and the toddler. I tried so hard to resist but gave in and had one. They are truly one of my weaknesses right alongside of pizza.
I would post my menu but I can’t find it! I think I accidentally deleted it when I was cleaning some files out today. Sounds like an excuse but it’s the truth. Now I’m just too lazy to remember what I ate so you get the abbreviated version.
Morning Scale Reading: 144.5 (- .5 from yesterday)
Approximates points eaten: 24
Daily Activity: none
Oh! One more thing, the husband hopped on the cooking theme for my birthday presents. I got lots of new gadgets like a potatoes ricer and a cherry pitter. My favorite gift was I’m Just Here For More Food by Alton Brown
On July 24th, 2007 at 10:59 pm lainb said:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Glad you had a day complete with healthy choices to feel good about. :)
On July 24th, 2007 at 10:59 pm Jynell said:
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY RONI!! :D Hope you had a wonderful day- sounds like your hubby did good on the presents!! Can’t wait to see all the new ideas you churn out! Also, I have to say that I’m SOOOO excited- even though I know you’re up a little from your normal weight… I weigh about the same as you do!! I’m still just a little shorter than you… but STILL!! Call me crazy, but I’m excited!! :D Anyway… again- Happy B-day!!
On July 24th, 2007 at 11:14 pm Anonymous said:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RONNIE!
On July 24th, 2007 at 11:17 pm Swizzlepop said:
Happy Birthday Roni!!!!!!!! Sounds like you had a great birthday and a yummy and healthy bday meal. Hope you have a wonderful year and I’m right there with you on the multiple 29th bdays ;)
On July 24th, 2007 at 11:36 pm Sarah said:
Happy b-day, I’ll be celebrating my 2nd 29th b-day on Thursday (AKA the big 3-0). Thanks for the inspiration you give all of us and for rebuilding this site so quickly!
On July 24th, 2007 at 11:43 pm bonita said:
Happy Birthday!! Great pick going to Applebee’s. The WW menu is actually quite tasty. Good job trying to stay OP this week! Looking forward to the new recipes.
On July 25th, 2007 at 12:12 am MtngirlinCali said:
Happy Birthday, Roni! Can’t wait to see what you do with Alton’s recipes…he’s my hero. ;)
On July 25th, 2007 at 12:56 am Diet Coke and Zingers said:
Happy Birthday! Glad you’re doing so well! Thank you so much for posting about your vacation gain… I’m sure it wasn’t fun to admit but it has definitely inspired me to make a plan for my own 10 day vacation! You are awesome!!
On July 25th, 2007 at 1:04 am Kelli said:
Happy Birthday, Roni! Congrats with getting back on track! I completely understand the birthday meal thing. My birthday is tomorrow, the 25th, and I already plan on celebrating by using my weekly points on dinner :-X ;-P
Keep it up - you’re doing great! :-)
On July 25th, 2007 at 4:24 am Clash said:
Happy Birthday!!!
Applebees was my go to place on my business trip in eary June. I LOVE Alton Brown!!! I’ve taken several of his ideas and made them WW friendly…(Garlic chicken posted on my blog is one of them).
On July 25th, 2007 at 5:54 am Amanda said:
Happy Birthday Roni!!! Sounds like you had an excellent day! And the gifts sound cool too. What a good hubby!!
On July 25th, 2007 at 7:00 am Melanie said:
Happy Birthday Roni! Can’t wait to see what new recipes you share!!
On July 25th, 2007 at 7:05 am Healthy Pear said:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RONI!!
It sounds like you had a really good day and don’t worry about getting older. We only get better with age! :)
The cookbook you got sounds really good. I’ll check it out at our local bookstore today. I LOVE cookbooks!
On July 25th, 2007 at 7:46 am Courtney said:
Happy Birthday Roni! Don’t you love it when the hubby pays attention and gets you the perfect present? Cheers to a wonderful 3rd 29th year!
On July 25th, 2007 at 8:03 am SusanY said:
Happy Birthday Roni! Ah, to be 29 or 30 or 31!!! I’ll be the big 50 in January. I’ve heard that 50 is the new 40 (Oprah:) Enjoy this time it will fly by. Happy cooking with the Alton book.
On July 25th, 2007 at 8:07 am Nancy said:
Happy Birthday 3rd-29 Roni ~ I didn’t ever want to leave the twenties, but this is real life. So glad your hubby surprised you with just the right gifts. Thanks for all your inspiration. I had a great WI last week, but the scale hasn’t moved down at all this week, so I’m bummed. Your site really helps. Again, Happy Birthday.
On July 25th, 2007 at 8:26 am Liz said:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Way to go staying on point.
Hungrygirl just sent out a recipe for low point mozzarella sticks. I haven’t tried it yet but here’s the link
http://www.hungry-girl.com/chew/chewdetails.php?isid=1156
On July 25th, 2007 at 8:28 am Jzbell said:
Happy Birthday, Roni!
On July 25th, 2007 at 8:35 am Anonymous said:
Happy Birthday Roni… I will be having my 1st 29th birthday soon.. The first of many, Im sure :-) Have an awesome day!!!!
On July 25th, 2007 at 8:49 am Mel said:
Happy Birthday Roni…and I can’t wait for you to share some of Alton’s tricks and recipes. Congrats too on sticking with the plan even on your birthday…you are a way better person than I am!
Mel
On July 25th, 2007 at 9:01 am Elizabeth said:
Happy Birthday, Roni! I hear ya on the mozzarella sticks - how could anyone resist a fried hunk of cheese?! In response to Liz’s comment, I tried the Hungry Girl mozz sticks last night, and they are great! I actually made them with All Bran flakes instead of Fiber One, because it’s what I had on hand, and they were still very good. Next time, I’ll use Fiber One and see if they’re even better.
Also, having loved your salmon cakes recipe (see my comment posted under the recipe), last night I modified it into a meatloaf (one of my favorite comfort foods) using lean ground turkey, and it was DELICIOUS! This time, I used a little bit of egg beaters along with the egg white, and it came out fantastic! I just used a bit of ketchup on top when it was almost finished baking to give it a little topping - I’d highly recommend trying it!
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Roni, your recipes are really helping me stay on track! They’re also really helping me start to cook more and feel more confident experimenting! Way to go, and thanks so much!!!
On July 25th, 2007 at 9:34 am Colette said:
Wow your 29 again? LOL…Happy Birthday young lady..LOL
We have a saying in my family…
” I am 29 with 10 years experience!!”…hehe
Glad you had a great birthday too. We LOVE Applebee’s as well. And Yes I agree with you it would be GREAT if all establishments posted calories or points with their dishes…but only in a perfect world!!
On July 25th, 2007 at 9:36 am Anonymous said:
Happy Birthday Roni from a new blog looker, Chris. I too, was on Weight Watchers and due to alot going on dropped out before hitting goal weight. Before I dropped out a new leader to my area came who had lost 75+ lbs and told us of her success while she worked as an Assistant Manager. at Applebees. She told us that Weight Watchers menu is the absolute best for those watching their weight whether on WW or not. Keep up the good work and thanks for the inspiration to get back on track.
On July 25th, 2007 at 10:00 am totegirl said:
Happy Birthday!!! What’s a potatoes ricer? It sounds like something I want.
On July 25th, 2007 at 10:25 am Nicole said:
!!!! I LOVE Alton Brown!!!
I’m in the same boat as you with the applebees tho…my husband doesn’t really like it (he’s a resturant sob :þ) so I rarely get to go..however, i do have a ton of them around the area. Anyways, Happy Birthday! And hello from a new blogger as well!
On July 25th, 2007 at 10:32 am Lacey said:
Happy Birthday to You! Hope the day was fantastic and great choice of Applebee’s. We just got one in our little town and have been there a few times, DBF isn’t a big fan, but I drag him there sometimes because I know I can get a healthy meal.
Thanks again for all the inspiration you give me and so many others! I look forward to your new recipes from the new cookbook!
On July 25th, 2007 at 10:52 am 2Phat said:
Happy Birthday Roni! I love birthdays - everyone should have a day that they look forward to some pampering. Can’t wait for your new recipes - I love them.
On July 25th, 2007 at 11:44 am Anonymous said:
Happy Birthday! You got some great gifts…can’t wait to hear about your baking experiences.
Isn’t it time for a 2 year progress pic, too? ;~)
On July 25th, 2007 at 11:45 am Candace said:
Well, Happy Birthday! Sounds like a wonderful day.
On July 25th, 2007 at 12:13 pm Anonymous said:
Happy Birthday Roni!!! It’s great being 29 isn’t it? Applebees is always my first choice too when we go out because of the WW menu. Dh doesn’t like it much either. I’ve only been once since joining WW and I loved the fish I ordered. Will request going there for my b-day next month too. Hope you had a great birthday. I love Alton Brown too. My 4 yr old dd is even getting into him. :) Let me know how that book is.
Melissa
On July 25th, 2007 at 1:22 pm Anonymous said:
Happy Birthday, Roni! When I hit 30, I decided that my birthdays would go in reverse. So I’m now only 24! - Carolyn A.
On July 25th, 2007 at 1:41 pm Journeys said:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RONI!!! Sounds like you had an awesome day and I can think of no one that deserves it more!! congrats on turning 29 one more time ;)
On July 25th, 2007 at 1:47 pm KimLookAlike said:
Happy Happy Birthday!! Thank you for having such a wonderful site!!!
On July 25th, 2007 at 2:58 pm Brandi said:
De-lurking to wish you a happy birthday! I’ve been following your site for months and love your recipes. You look GREAT. :)
On July 25th, 2007 at 3:45 pm Val said:
Happy Birthday! Sounds like you got some great gifts.
On July 25th, 2007 at 3:45 pm Anonymous said:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! My first 29 birthday is coming in two weeks!
Anar
On July 25th, 2007 at 4:23 pm Larissa said:
Happy Birthday, Roni! I’ve been celebrating my 29th birthday now for 10 years! It’s great!
Sounds like you had a wonderful vacation - even though the weight is up, most of it is probably temporary until you get back in your routine - don’t sweat it - you are doing so awesome!!!!!
Larissa
: )
On July 25th, 2007 at 5:10 pm anne said:
Happy Birthday and I love Alton!!
On July 25th, 2007 at 5:47 pm Anonymous said:
Happy Birthday!!! My husband laughs when I say Applebee’s too…but it does have fantastic food! I found that the Cheesecake Factory has a “weight management” menu. It looks good but I would have a hard time resisting their dessert.
On July 25th, 2007 at 6:32 pm collegekid said:
I hope you had a WONDERFUL birthday Roni!
On July 25th, 2007 at 7:33 pm jodi said:
happy belated birthday… :o)
i haven’t been to applebees in ages, maybe i need to go and see what their WW meals are like… i’m also looking forward to your new, experimental recipes - love that alton… :o)
On July 25th, 2007 at 8:23 pm Anonymous said:
Happy B-Day, Roni! And many, many more.
On July 25th, 2007 at 9:32 pm Kendra said:
Happy Bday Roni!
On July 25th, 2007 at 9:47 pm holly said:
happy birthday, mine was on sunday!
On July 25th, 2007 at 10:18 pm Rhonda said:
Happy Birthday!!!!
On July 25th, 2007 at 10:39 pm Jojo said:
Happy Belated Birthday!
On July 26th, 2007 at 10:27 am Lorraine said:
A happy birthday Ronnie.. once you hit 40 your life feels its on speed dial. I liked my 30’s but realy love my 40’s. Your site is wonderful..keep up the good work.
On July 26th, 2007 at 12:08 pm Shannon said:
Happy birthday. :)
On July 27th, 2007 at 2:33 am nathie2481 said:
Sorry, am a couple of days late but wish you all the best for your birthday :)) Hope you had a great day … Nathalie