Loyal readers will be happy to hear that I will be back to blogging five days a week! I have so many new recipes to share, that I don’t want to overload a post with too much stuff, so I’ll be spreading out the recipes Monday-Friday. So those of you who wake up, get your coffee and then check up on what I am up to, you’re welcome! 
It was a gorgeous weather weekend in Chicago. Saturday was cool but sunny – actually my favorite day, while yesterday the temps neared 80 degrees – our spring is so unpredictable. The best part about this time of year is that the temps only dip to around the mid-40s overnight – perfect sleeping weather with my bedroom window wide open. If Tony were still here, he’d be under three down comforters, and meanwhile I mostly sleep on top of my covers in a tank top and pajama pants.
I forgot to take after pictures, so I’ll share that tomorrow, by my new windows that were installed on Friday are amazing. I made some skinny blueberry muffins on Friday morning (recipe coming soon!) before the installer came in and I greeted him with fresh coffee from the Keurig and warm muffins and he told me that it already was going to be the best day ever. You all know I love sharing my food! He told me that he thought it would take about 4 hours to install 5 custom windows, but he ended up taking him just over 7 hours.
I basically fed him all day with chicken quesadillas for lunch, homemade jalapeno cheddar bread in the afternoon, and lots of coffee during the day. Pretty sure I am was his favorite customer evah. But I didn’t expect him to be here nearly all day, so my grocery shopping got pushed until Saturday, which I’ve learned now that I am self-employed is the worst day to go to the grocery store. Know what is the best day? Monday around mid-morning. I literally have five people helping me at the deli and the $1 rack is chock full.
I didn’t really grocery shop since getting back from Virginia other than coffee creamer and fruit. I started cleaning out the kitchen late Saturday morning and realized I had ground sirloin that needed to be eaten or frozen. Friday night I made Jacob chicken wings that I defrosted them from the freeze.r. Lordy, I love a buffalo chicken wing. But not the healthiest thing to have on the Weight Watcher program. Not that I couldn’t have them, but I wasn’t willing to use up my weekly smart points so early in the week.
So I did a quick search of “buffalo burger” and before I got too far I saw Kevin from Closet Cooking’s jalapeno popper buffalo chicken meatball appetizer that looked so good. I
I adapted his recipe to what I had on hand. And to make it more of a meal, I decided to use up the last of the romaine and veggies I had on hand to make it a baby buffalo burger salad.
The best part is that this whole salad came in at 7 smart points! #love. It was the best of both worlds – beef – duh, and the spiciness of the Frank’s hot sauce. Who said buffalo stuff couldn’t be beef instead of chicken?!
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Yesterday I ended up meeting my Mom at her church, and then going out to lunch with her. I did end up seeing my twin sister to go grocery shopping and it was nice seeing my niece Claire – can’t believe she’ll be graduating 8th grade already this year. Hannah is exactly 10 years older than Claire – Hannah is the oldest grandchild and Claire is the youngest. Shelley, you will like that the snapchat face I did on Claire isn’t too scary!
I have to give a shout out to my friend Laura from church – she read on my blog last week that I was going to be visiting, and brought me a bag of cheese (Cabot is sold at Aldi!) a cute snowman and hot sauce. She knows me so well! Thanks Laura! My Mom and I ended up going to The Little Gem Café in Oak Park. I’ve seriously been jonesing for that burger since the last time I had it, and I was not disappointed!
I ended up eating 1/2 of it for 10 points, and had about 5 points in fries for a 15 point lunch. That’s the best part about the Weight Watcher program, it takes the guilt out of eating something decadent like that because I counted the points for it and moved on. I ended up only going over by 4 points for the day yesterday! #beyondthescale
I had plans after grocery shopping to meet up with my friend Jacky, but my Mom got a text that a bakers rack she was interested in on Craigs list was available but it had to be picked up yesterday, so I rescheduled with Jacky and we picked it up and I headed back to my Mom’s house. We’ll get together soon Jacky!
I am headed to Chicago today! My blog friend Carrie of Season It Already is in town with her husband celebrating their wedding anniversary, and they squeezed me into their plans to have breakfast at The Little Goat. Then I am headed to the Cook County Building to get a copy of my birth certificate – I am getting a passport – I’ve never had one! Not that I need it right now, but I’d like to be prepared. Then headed to my sisters office and we are going to get our walking shoes on and walk around the lake front. I’ll be killing it on the steps today!
Alright, time to get this show on the road – make it a great day! See you tomorrow.
That is so awesome of you to treat the window installer to your delicious creations while he worked. I’m sure that made his day very special.
I hate grocery shopping on the weekend, but it is unfortunately the time I tend to go most often. I would prefer to go late at night on a weeknight. I should really start doing that again.
I can’t wait to meet you and Jacky in October!!
I can’t wait either Aimee! So exciting!
And when I had a job I think a couple times we didn’t get around to grocery shopping over the weekend and I went on a Monday morning at 7 a.m. when it first opened – now that was the perfect time to go – there was usually only a few other people in the whole store besides me!
Happy to see you back 5 days a week.
Here Friday and Saturday are the worst days to do grocery shopping. I now go on Wednesday right after work and am at the store around 4.30 pm when it’s very quiet. Thursday around 6 pm is a good time to go too.
You never had a passport? I am guessing you have some sort of ID instead then? I have had a passport since I was 18. Since a couple of years you can choose if you want a passport or an ID card (with this card you can travel in Europe too) but I always choose a passport even though the ID card is cheaper.
Hope you had a wonderful Monday but I will read about it in a couple of hours 🙂
Nope, a drivers license is the only identification I’ve ever needed, although in our state, I won’t be able to use that to travel in 2018 – only a passport. I got both the passport book and ID card – figured for just a bit more I’d get both.
It was an awesome Monday! By now you are probably already going to sleep 😀
5 days a week! YAY!
Big hugs to you Erin – or should I say – new homeowner! 😀 Congrats!
Aww, thanks! I’m kind of kicking myself tonight after spending 2 1/2 hours mowing! Ah well, it’s good exercise!
What a great day with your family. LOVE the pic of you and your Mom! Also love the recipe! I’ve added that to my “make soon” list!!!
It was a fun day – our weather is finally starting to cooperate! 😀 Let me know what you think of the recipe! Hugs!
Looking forward to the recipes. I never find your post too long. I could read pages and pages. I love buffalo flavor. Always happy to see you spending time with your mom.
Thanks Kym – you are so sweet! I guess when I consider a blog post long, it’s the time it takes to write it with the pictures/recipe etc. 😀 It was a fun day with my Mom – just wished I could have spent more time with my sister, but I made up for it today 😀
I am so, so, so happy you are back to blogging 5 days! I live in the Buffalo area and we can make anything wing style! I take a chicken breast, pound it out and then pam fry and put franks and blue cheese on it and make a sandwich out of it or just eat it with a knife and fork. It gets you that buffalo wing taste without it being a calorie bomb. Or put it on salad with hot sauce mixed with a light blue cheese dressing.
Thanks Diana! It’s on my bucket list one day to have true BUFFALO chicken from NY – I’ve seen them on t.v. and they look so good! And I puffy heart blue cheese too – but you are right, just the flavor of the buffalo sauce was perfect 😀
My morning coffees haven’t been the same without you so big hooray from me to the return of five day a week blogging!!! 😀
I knew you’d be happy too Jenn – your M-F routine has been restored! 😀
Oh yes, a mid-morning grocery store run during the week is so nice compared to other times of the day! Do it while you can!
That wasn’t too creepy of a face swap, more like she looks a bit anime there with her big eyes. I appreciate you not posting the uber creepy ones here, LOL!
Have a great time today!
Yep, totally taking advantage of that while I can. And I’ll save the creepy ones for when I text you 😛
Yay on 5 days a week! 🙂
Hugs Lara 😀
So excited you are going back to blogging 5 times a week!!
Thanks Kim! Thanks for being such a loyal reader 😀
You know why it took him 7 hours to do the windows – he was expecting meals LOL! Why work fast when you are getting fed at your gig 😀
Ha, that is probably true Lori! 😀
Yay! I’m so excited you’re blogging 5 times a week again!! <3
Thanks Ashley! 😀 Hugs 😀
I am going to take your advice and try going to the grocery store at 11am today!
Let me know if that worked Debby! 😀
Woohoo, 5 days are back!
I knew you’d be happy about that Jacky! 😀
Sounds like you had a very nice day with family!
I’m just wondering, now that you’ve decided to actually go to WW meetings to weigh in, do you feel it is making you more accountable to tracking your points?
OMG, yes it is Helen. Here’s what I have discovered in the last several days. I tend to mindless eat – meaning if I am making something with cheese for a recipe, I unconsciously grab a piece to put in my mouth without even thinking about it. I have stopped myself over a dozen times doing this and have to slap whatever it is out of my hand.
I know my meals are perfect with the points, but the extra bites and licks were never noticed and/or recorded in my WW app. I had two beers on Saturday night – I counted the 7 points. I had a glass of wine at dinner Sunday night – I tracked the 4 points. So far I’ve tracked everything and still have 17 flex points for the next two days. Hoping my recognition of these extra bites will show a loss on the scale this week – we’ll see!
Great seeing you yesterday B! And hopefully the rain will hold off until after our walk ???
It was the perfect day Jenn! Thanks for the long walk 😀