2011 December

I feel like the end of such a great year deserves a post all of its own. A fine salute to one of the best years in my adult life is in order.

I must say, the fact that I’m starting off the year about 60 lbs. lighter is the icing on the cake (or should I say the dressing on the salad?)

So without further ado, I present you with my greatest hits for 2011!

My Favorite Posts of 2011

ONEderland, I’ve Arrived - I was SO proud to create this post. Achieving that “below 200 lb.” weight was a huge landmark this year. PS…Having Hannah Curlee (Biggest Loser Runner Up, Season 11) leave a comment left me truly starstruck.

365 Days Later - Successfully achieving my first year of healthy living in November and being able to reflect upon this awesome journey is what this post is all about. There’s some awesome before/after shots too. I love those!

Travel and Dining Out Tips - This was probably my biggest challenge this year. I honestly didn’t know how in the heck I was going to maintain my travel schedule and still lose weight. This post is powerful to me because it shares how I figured it all out!

My Favorite Recipes of 2011

New Recipe: JC Chicken Fajita Quesadilla - An overwhelming majority of you guys loved this recipe, making it my most popular post of 2011! For those of us on JC, volumizing can be the key to staying on track! If you haven’t tried this recipe yet… You totally should!

New Recipe: Sinful Peanut Butter Tagalong Trifles - This recipe may sound like a mouthful and looks complex, but I promise it’s super-easy. I’d also say it was one of the most fun things I made all year.

New Recipe: Crusted Honey Mustard Chicken - This is one of those recipes where you feel like you’re cheating, but you’re definitely not.

New Recipe: Lowfat Red Wine Tomato Vinaigrette – I love this one because everyone needs a good lowfat salad dressing. This one surprised me by being AMAZING and is one of my all-time faves now.

My Favorite Trip Posts this Year

I was VERY lucky to get to travel to MANY different places this year. It would be impossible to pick just one, but I’d have to say that my trips to Montelucia and the Cape were some of the most relaxing.

And trips to Chicago, Ohio, Nashville, and Florida offered me great time with friends and family.

I also had a lot of my favorite people visit ME in Colorado! It was such a fun friend-and-family-filled year… the best!

As I wrap up the year, for the first time in MANY years, I’m proud of how I spent my 2011. I’m also so happy that all of you have spent the year with me as well. Losing weight isn’t easy; I gain so much support from your comments and the tips you share. ”Weighing in” with you guys a few times a week helps keep me grounded and on track. I can’t thank you enough.

Wishing each of you a fantastic New Year’s Eve. I can’t wait to see what’s up next in 2012! It’s going to be another big year for all of us! CHEERS!

Planning for Silence

So Long, Twenty Twelve

Hitting the Reset Button

Yesterday was MUCH more in line with what I expected to get done during my time off. I always take a lot of time off this time of year, and this year I believe I set a record. My last day of work was December 21st, and I’m not headed back to work until January 3rd.

I made a list of to-do’s that I never have time to get around to. I happily checked off quite a few items on the list.

Install wireless internet at home. CHECK!

Meet with a trainer at the YMCA to learn how to use the weight machines. CHECK!

Take down the Christmas tree. CHECK!

Today’s list is not nearly as fun (as it involves me getting dressed and wearing make-up – - the horror!!!) In the end, my list will get smaller, so I suppose I’ll suffer through it. Besides, it always feels so great to start the year with everything organized, so it’s worth it.

I also have an AWESOME new recipe to share with you today. You’re seriously going to love this one. It comes from Weight Watchers’ All-Time Favorites cookbook and is yet another recipe that my sister-in-law Beth shared with me.