Home Sweet Home

This past Friday was our last day at work for two weeks! That's right... 16 whole days off with nothing planned but lots and lots of relaxing and football watching.  *bliss*

As I am sure most of you know (even if you don't follow football/soccer) the World Cup has started. Last night was the England vs USA match.  As I am sure you all know I live in England but I still support USA and there has been quite a bit of banter at work regarding this match.  I would have loved to have had a win but having a draw at 1-1 was about the most politically correct score there could have been.  We kept up with England even though they planned on blowing past us and now nobody has bragging rights.  Good stuff!

As you can see in my previous posts I had started Couch 2 5K but I have decided to put a hold on it.  I made it through Week 1 Day 3 but noticed that my right knee was not liking it at all.  I had to take three days off from walking because of it and that is not want I'm wanting to do.  Right now I'm trying to lose at least 2lbs a week and yes working myself up to Running 3 Miles straight would help with the exercise but if it stops me from even being able to walk then I'm not going to get any exercise done.  So for now I am going to hold off on running and just keep walking as much as I can.  My knee still hurts a little a day after a long walk (did 5 miles yesterday) but I'm allowing myself one day on and one day off to rest and it seems to be better then.  After I have gotten myself to a comfortable weight then I will look to start the program again.

When Andy and I started tracking all of our calories I thought it was going to be a pain in the butt to track every little thing but honestly we find it so easy now.  We are both tracking them at My Fitness Pal and it has to be the easiest thing to use ever!  Almost all of the food we have come across is already listed and only a few things have had to be corrected. 

I have also found my measuring to be much easier than I first thought because of me purchasing the below cutting board.

The one on the right is a normal sized green pepper.

The one on the left is simply a freak of nature. Tasted really good on our fajitas though!

Was making some pasta as a side dish tonight and noticed the ingredients.

In my World butter is never optional... it is a must and yes it is very tasty!

Tangy Haribo... how I love you!

Something tells me I will be very popular at work tomorrow...

My Mom always makes Ham and Beans on New Years Day and it is a tradition I have always continued. I looked it up tonight online and and found that it is meant to bring you good luck in the New Year.

I also made some cornbread muffins with the package of Jiffy Mix I bought online just before Thanksgiving. I used half the package and I'll make the rest tomorrow night. Andy doesn't like them but oh well... more for me!

High: 32°
Low: 25°
Forecast: Some Snow Showers
Sunrise: 8:27 AM
Sunset: 4:01 PM

Andy got a little jealous that I had Chilli last Saturday when I went out with everybody from work so I promised him I would make some this weekend. The bonus is that I make a huge crock pot full and it lasts for a good three nights. Which means no cooking for me during that time... so yay!

High: 45°
Low: 32°
Forecast: Increasing Clouds
Sunrise: 8:18 AM
Sunset: 3:50 PM

A friend from work, Laura C, gave me some corn kernels so that I could make some popcorn. Andy and I don't have a microwave and I have been craving it!

The first batch I made pepper popcorn (don't hate it is delicious) and the second go I made some caramel popcorn which was also great. This was the first time I have ever made popcorn on the stove top.

Tonight a bunch of us from work got together for a night of chilli and Cranium. It was a lot of fun and I didn't get home until 2:00am. Lots of laughs! Laura M forgot her UK version of Cranium so I had to bring my American version. It was fun playing it with a bunch of Brits. However I think it was used as a bit of an excuse to get a new card when something was unknown by the person picking it up... I heard "Either I'm daft or this is American" quite a lot. It was fun seeing one team trying to figure out which president's face is on the $50 bill though.

High: 42°
Low: 40°
Forecast: Cloudy
Sunrise: 8:09 AM
Sunset: 3:52 PM

I had to order some Libby's Pumpkin Pie filling online so I decided to pick up a few other goodies. The Butterfinger is for Debbie at work who had told me before how much she loved them when she visited America. I took the PayDay and soda into work with me and shared them with everybody.

The Grape soda was a hit but everybody was undecided about the Root Beer. The PayDay was also a hit but how could it not be? All that sweet and salty goodness!

The Corn Bread mix is for New Years when I make a big crock pot of Ham and Beans and of course I will be making a Pumpkin Pie on Thursday!

High: 46°
Low: 43°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:52 AM
Sunset: 4:01 PM

All I can say is... YUMMY!

Last night Jamie (a fellow expat) and I got onto the subject of funnel cakes. I had found a recipe ages ago so I went out in search for it again. I found the recipe and passed it on... she and her husband made some right then and there and loved them!

I decided to make mine for breakfast and again all I can say is.. YUMMY! I even made one for Andy and he liked it also.

Of course they do not have funnel cakes at carnivals and fairs here but what is it that they always say? If you can't beat them join them? Well that is not my style... I say if you can't beat them... just go and make it yourself!

High: 44°
Low: 36°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:23 AM
Sunset: 4:24 PM

When you don't have Hamburger Helper what do you do? You just do it yourself without The Helping Hand.

All you need is hambuger, noodles, chopped peppers, chopped tomatoes (that is ta-may-toes), chilli powder and cheese sauce.

Who needs pre-packaged convenience meals?

High: 47°
Low: 43°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 7:15 AM
Sunset: 4:31 PM

My Mother and Sister in Law went to Brugge, Belgium for a couple of days and they just got back tonight. My Mother in Law brought me back this wonderful box of chocolates!

I was amazed when I opened up the box!

Look how beautiful these chocolates are... I would say they are too beautiful to eat but we all know that is not true.

My favorite is the one that looks like a Strawberry. It is actually white chocolate with red coloring and little sprinkles of sugar.

Yum. Yum.


High: 56°
Low: 42°
Forecast: Rain
Sunrise: 7:23 AM
Sunset: 6:32 PM

Buy something the day after the display date but a day before the best before date and get it for more than 50% off?

Yes please!

We had breakfast for dinner tonight and these mushrooms were delicious!

High: 57°
Low: 56°
Forecast: Periods of Rain
Sunrise: 7:21 AM
Sunset: 6:34 PM

So today is my Birthday! I had the day off from work and enjoyed a relaxing day and then we made our way to Manchester so that we could eat at the TGI Friday's that is in The Trafford Center. It was yummy!!

In the above picture you can see Manchester just off in the distance, The Trafford Center domes and Chill Factor. One day I am going to have to try out the Chill Factor place! Indoor snow sking, sledging, snowboarding, Tubing and The Luge. Yes I will have to go there one day!

I also got a package from my mom and it was filled with yummy American things that I have been missing.


Now I am going to have to make some Chilli so that I can fully appreciate the Fritos. It's amazing how much I have missed these little salted corn chips! I am also very excited to have some Lipton Iced Tea.

All in all it was a great Birthday!

High: 65°
Low: 48°
Forecast: Partly Cloudy
Sunrise: 6:37 AM
Sunset: 7:36 PM

Andy and I have decided to start our Slim Fast diets today! You are now looking at our breakfast and lunch for the foreseeable future.

The canisters of powder are for breakfast and the pre-made smoothies and shakes are for lunch. Then of course it will be a sensible meal for dinner. We also bought a lot of different kinds of fruit for snacks. Bring on the weight loss!

High: 61°
Low: 54°
Forecast: Partly Cloudy
Sunrise: 6:07 AM
Sunset: 8:16 PM

Tracey (Andy's Sister), James (her husband), Andy and I went into Manchester tonight. We started out at Costco. In the US if you want a Costco card you go into your local store, pay something like $50 and get your membership card. Here in the UK you have to be in certain professions before you can get a membership. *Boo* Well I had remembered that Tracey was a member so I asked her about it and she was able to add me on to her membership for only £13.50 and I get my own card to come and go as I please. Woo Hoo! I have heard rumors of some of the American food you can get at Costco so I was well excited to check it out.

We made our way in, got my card and started our walk around. Here is what I picked up from Costco: Hershey's Syrup, Beef Jerky, Pace Salsa and Wishbone Italian Dressing! There was much more I could have got but passed this time, there was even Skippy Peanut Butter! Here is the inside of the store.. Andy laughed and said it is a little slice of America right here in the UK.


After we were done at Costco we ran across the road to the Trafford Centre and went into Selfridges. As most of you may remember back on Day 129 I got some A1 Sauce and Grape Jelly but this time I got: A1 (couldn't resist it), Pez, Hershey's Miniatures and (yes you are seeing it correctly) Kraft Macaroni and Cheese! I never knew I could be so excited to see this little blue box. I can't wait to make it for dinner tomorrow night!

Oh... and as you can see there is a Krispy Kreme in Selfridges so we also got a couple doughnuts. Now I am off to have some Hershey's Chocolate milk and to eat my two yummy doughnuts.

What a great night!!

High: 61°
Low: 47°
Forecast: Occasional Rain
Sunrise: 6:00 AM
Sunset: 8:25 PM

Yes I am talking about the good old fashioned French Dressing you find in the States... not the white with odd bits floating around in it French Dressing that you find here in England.

I so very much miss my yummy salad dressings and French has always been one of my favorites. I finally decided to do something about it and found a wonderful recipe on the Internet.

It is so YUMMY! Even Andy likes it and he was not a great lover of it in the States. To me it tastes exactly the same and I am in salad heaven.

Today is the day that I no longer think 'I wish I could get 'this' or 'that' over here. Today is the day that I start thinking 'I am just going to make 'this' or 'that' over here myself!'.

In case of you guys are wondering what recipe I used here it is:

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup ketchup
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1 tablespoon onion granules
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix well and store in the refrigerator.

It could not be easier!

High: 65°
Low: 58°
Forecast: A Couple of Showers
Sunrise: 5:43 AM
Sunset: 8:47 PM

Look at what I found at Asda! Andy has been telling me he saw these somewhere however Tesco (where we normally do our shopping) does not stock them. I have not yet tried one but I am sure it will taste just as yummy as I remember.

Andy just laughed at how excited I was to find them... It is truly the little things in life which bring us so much joy.

To be honest in the States I hardly ever ate Pop-Tarts, but what is that they say? Absence makes the heart grow fonder!

High: 66°
Low: 54°
Forecast: Partly Sunny
Sunrise: 5:39 AM
Sunset: 8:51 PM

I am addicted to Strawberry Laces... they are so yummy!

Last Friday at work I ate a whole bag by myself, yes you heard that right a whole bag. Well today when Paul (one of my co-workers) came back from his lunch he gave me a bag he had picked up at the Co-Op. Yay!

I had been craving them all week. Now I just have to learn to limit the amount that I actually eat. Maybe it can just be a Friday treat. The only problem is that you can get three bags for £1.00. I doubt I could get three bags and just let them sit in my drawer all week...

High: 61°
Low: 47°
Forecast: Clouds and Sun
Sunrise: 5:36 AM
Sunset: 8:55 PM

A few people at work have been telling me to try this ice cream parlor and today Andy and I finally did... and it was delicious!

Before even going to see what flavors they had I had already decided I would get Pistachio because I haven't found it at the stores and it is one of my favorites. However when I got there the Mint Chocolate Chip looked too good to pass up so I got a two scoop chocolate dipped waffle cone of it.

Will just have to go back again for the Pistachio!

High: 61°
Low: 48°
Forecast: Clouds and Sun
Sunrise: 5:26 AM
Sunset: 9:06 PM