Girlie Girl's

Chocolate Chip cookies (no wheat)

2011-12-24T19:38:00.001-08:00

I made chocolate chip cookies with my daughter today for Santa!!

Chocolate Chip Cookies (no wheat)

3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup barley flour
1 cup oat flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp gelatin
12 oz chocolate chips

Beat butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla.
Combine flour, soda, salt and gelatin. Add to butter mixture.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Bake 350 degrees for 8-14 minutes

The only bottle of wheat free soy sauce that I could find!

2011-12-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

I was looking for a bottle of soy sauce that did not contain wheat and most bottles of soy sauce it seems that wheat is an ingredient before soybeans! (why not call it "wheat sauce" then??) Well here is what I found for almost $5 (a lot for a bottle of soy sauce) At least, it is soy sauce that does not make me nauseous!! (I guess well worth the $5..)

Macaroni and cheese recipe gluten free

2011-12-20T13:33:00.000-08:00

I made a gluten free baked mac and cheese today. Yummm!!! I LOVE mac & cheese!! Even my daughter loves this (and she can eat wheat).

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Brown rice pasta shells
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp potato starch
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp salt
Dash pepper
1/4 cup minced onions
1/2 pound extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated or cut in small pieces

Preparation (preheat oven 350 degrees)

Cook pasta and set aside (I use Tinkyada brand)

Heat butter on low heat. Add in potato starch and cook for a minute or two. Add in salt and pepper, then onions. Cook for a minute or two. Add in milk. Cook until thickened a little. Add in cheese. Let cheese melt in (must be uniform). Shut off flame. Add pasta to sauce. When mixed, pour into bake dish. Bake for about 20-30 minutes or until top is browned a little. Enjoy!

Allergies

2011-12-11T14:48:00.000-08:00

It turns out that I have a slight wheat allergy. By chance, my gastroenterologist told me to lay off the bread and pasta due to high triglycerides. Well, about 8-9 hrs after I ate minimal wheat products, my sense of smell came back, my hearing got better, my nose slowed down on the dripping and my gastrointestinal problems disappeared. Ever since, I have cut out the wheat products if it's in the first 5 ingredients but generally have cut it out all-together and my problems have not come back (yet). I feel grateful that I can smell things again, hear better and no gas, pain, bloating or diarrhea and/or constipation. Not only that, I just feel happier in general! It's not easy cutting out wheat (when your top favorite foods are: bread, cheese, pasta, and chocolate). I am also grateful that I didn't end up with Celiac Disease (would have meant avoidance of even more foods and it's way harder). I know that my MSG allergy had gotten worse over the past few years (to the point that if I eat a dim sum lunch with family at 28 Pell Street in Chinatown, NYC, then when I get home I will have headaches, gas, bloat, pain and diarrhea). I guess I must have developed this allergy to wheat? (as my MSG allergy got worse?) But like MSG, I can have a hand full of Doritos and I am okay (amount is key) and I can have some small amounts of wheat I am sure (before the gastrointestinal problems come back). The question is, what level? (how much?) I am afraid to find out just how much, and wheat is in virtually most foods here in America!! Good luck to me!

My new diet needs

2011-10-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Basically for the past month, I've been bleeding and have been very tired. It is hormonal imbalance due to low amounts of progesterone to estrogen. I would admit that lately I have just eaten what I wanted (under a lot of stress from my commute and job and lack of sleep as a mother with a child and husband on a later schedule than mine). I decided to go back to eating more organic foods and try as best not to eat anything treated with hormones (antibiotics and pesticides as much as I can). This means spending a little more money on the food that I eat (as well as time & thought on what I am buying - especially anything meat or dairy - and cooking up). When I do not have the time, I am eating Amy's meals because I know they do not contain hormones or GMO's and they are mostly organic. Life isn't easy, but at least things have gotten better since I've made the decision to care exactly what I am putting in my body (and on my body - it extends to lotions and other cosmetics too).

Making Lifestyle Changes

2011-10-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

I'm finally ready to be serious about changing so old habits, namely the bad diet, adding in some exercise to my routine and caring more about health concerns.

working

2011-08-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

This girl has been working an awful lot in addition to the long commute. I haven had much time for exercise. I did find out that there were some things that I wished I could have done differently or better. certainly there are things i feel i could work on to make myself better. one such thing is to be a better role model for my daughter.

Car problems are this girl's worst nightmare!

2011-03-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

I've been having the most wicked car problems. I'm not mechanically inclined either (mostly, I don't like getting dirty, even if I understood every vocab word about cars, which I don't). I do love cars however, but as a girl, I also need something that doesn't let me down. My "hot mom car" has broken down too many times in the past 3 months at 115,000-118,000 miles for fuel pump failure and now starter failure. In between, I needed new rear brakes (including the calipers). For awhile, I fancied trading her in or selling her and getting something else, but in the end, I have decided to keep the car and work hard in order to score a new (probably used) commuter car to suffer the 130 mile round trip per day commute to and from my job.

Today's shoe of the day

2010-03-29T07:16:00.001-07:00

Fahgeddaboutit!

Haircut today - Broadway Haircare

2010-03-23T13:27:00.001-07:00

So far I really like my new haircut.

Kate Spade Gramercy Park Dani (hobo) bag

2010-03-20T14:00:00.001-07:00

I love my new purse!

Valentine's Gift

2010-02-18T04:42:00.001-08:00

A third pair of fabulous shoes from my husband for Valentine's! (I think these are my new fav pair of shoes)

Valentine'Gift

2010-02-17T05:16:00.000-08:00

Another great pair of shoes from my husband for Valentines. Air Elly.

Valentines Gift

2010-02-16T04:49:00.000-08:00

One of the two new cool pairs of shoes that my husband got me for Valentines. I love these!

My current fav pair of shoes that I own (so comfortable and has style too)

2010-01-29T05:05:00.000-08:00

Cole Haan Nike Air red patent leather peep toe wedges (low) in size 8 1/2. About 1.25 to 1.5 inch heels.

Loubi Boutique

2010-01-28T11:10:00.001-08:00

Ricky passed by the Louboutin boutique on Madison in NYC and took some nice pics for me of the cool shoes on display. Loubi designs the most awesome shoes!

Bloomingdales leather pumps with leather soles

2010-01-27T13:04:00.001-08:00

I was afraid that I had gotten rid of these because they didn't fit due to some weight gain. I've lost some weight in the past 2 years and these pumps fit again! (I don't have very many pumps and other shoes that I can wear in winter time - most my shoes are sandals and slides + mules)

Godiva chocolate of the month

2010-01-22T12:49:00.001-08:00

Dark chocolate mimosa heart

Christian Louboutin Barbie

2010-01-21T05:16:00.001-08:00

(Close up pic of doll's face)

Christian Louboutin Barbie

2010-01-21T05:14:00.001-08:00

Valentines Day gift. I finally got the Christian Louboutin Barbie!

Barbiecollector.com catalog that came in mail

2010-01-08T16:01:00.001-08:00

Nov pic from Louboutin + Barbie Calendar. I hope this will be one of the other dolls in the series. Very cool!

1st Christian Louboutin Barbie Doll

2010-01-08T15:58:00.001-08:00

The first of the Christian Louboutin Barbie dolls. It comes with 4 pairs of his shoes complete with boxes and dust bags (just like the real versions). She's wearing a cat burgler outfit because she had a dream of stealing jewelry to go with her dress and shoes per the Sep 1 year in Paris calendar by Louboutin (also included with the first doll).

Alice + Olivia for Payless (wanted these so badly when they came out in Sep)

2010-01-06T09:12:00.001-08:00

I love these and they were on sale. I got them 50% off for buying 2 pairs.

my new winter boots

2010-01-06T09:10:00.001-08:00

Regular price...but at least they'll keep my feet warm and dry to as low as -4 degrees outside!

2004 Gold Label Juicy Couture Barbie dolls

2010-01-01T14:40:00.001-08:00

Ricky got me Juicy Couture Barbie dolls (Gold Label 2004) for Xmas. These are now my favorite in my collection. (and the second Gold Label Barbie I have now)

I'm a collector

2010-01-01T14:37:00.001-08:00

Even though I am old, I still love collecting Barbie dolls! This was an Xmas gift from Nick and Sarah. Hard Rock Cafe Barbie from 2006.

Words to live by?

2010-01-01T14:30:00.001-08:00

I love Jonathan Adler's manifesto for Barbie (I also love his manifesto for his company website too)

2009-12-27T18:17:00.001-08:00

One of the gifts we got for Jessica for Christmas (a My First ballerina Barbie doll).

2009-12-23T08:20:00.001-08:00

Standing next to the Xmas tree at my job.

I'm a lucky girl

2009-11-30T06:03:00.001-08:00

Beautiful flowers that my husband gave to me yesterday!

I love the free chocolate of the month club!

2009-11-24T11:16:00.001-08:00

Macadamia mosaic chocolate

anniversary gift from husband

2009-10-27T08:49:00.001-07:00

The pretty new clutch wallet my husband got me an anniversary gift (nice!! I love it)

2009-10-09T18:43:00.001-07:00

Slices of the quiche (they came out without falling apart even without the pastry crust!)

2009-10-09T18:41:00.001-07:00

Has red peppers, green onions, cheddar and monterey jack cheeses, ham, salt & pepper.

quiche

2009-10-09T18:38:00.001-07:00

I made a pastry-less quiche for dinner.

2009-10-09T18:36:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite lemonades! (S Pellegrino IS my fav sparkling water to begin with!!)

walk the walk

2009-09-22T13:45:00.001-07:00

I try to walk the walk when I can for some exercise (plus I can rely on my own two feet better than the light rail) - as long as it doesn't rain. This is the view on the way home.

Cosi quiche today for breaky

2009-09-22T13:42:00.001-07:00

(half eaten here in pic) I finally got a quiche at Cosi! (lorraine style) It's so bacony and peppery; I love it!

tote bag from Amy's

2009-09-18T05:46:00.001-07:00

In addition to coupons for free food, Amy's also sent me a tote bag! Cool, huh?! I do miss Amy's food (I lost more weight eating Amy's) plus I love the way their Mexican dishes taste...especially since we have no Mexican restaurants anywhere around my house for 20 miles or more. Amy's is expensive though because it's organic and no GMO's (had to cut down because of costs). Maybe instead of a lunch from a place near work I can just pick up an Amy's meal instead!

picked up lunch before breakfast

2009-09-18T05:40:00.001-07:00

I picked up an Amy's entree on the way to work for lunch later (using a coupon for a free product...so I tried one that costs 6.29). I love their enchiladas anyway! (I don't even care that it's gluten free and dairy free, I just like the way it tastes...the sauce is the best sauce I've had on an enchilada!) I also got a box of two croissants for 1.99 which is a good price for around here since Cosi is the same price for one (and it doesn't taste buttery enough) and Seattle Cafe is $1.50 for one (tastes right though). Was going to pick up a quiche but they only sold it in a full pie or half but not 1/4 pie (the lady I ride the train with who walked with me, Yuin, says I should have gotten it earlier in the week and saved half for another day. She is also Chinese...but she's like me and doesn't speak Chinese and likes other cuisines too...although we had a convo about moon cakes!)

9/18/09 fasting glucose

2009-09-18T05:28:00.001-07:00

Yep, coconut cookie waffers and strawberries seem to do better than cake and strawberries!

9/16/09 fasting glucose

2009-09-16T05:31:00.001-07:00

Again...

Diets

2009-09-15T09:39:00.001-07:00

Diets work and they don't work. Almost all diets work...as long as you can stick to them (however they are almost always very hard to stick to because mostly you have to deprive yourself of particular foods - the ones you love of course, deprive yourself of eating anywhere close to the amount you need, eat or drink things you wouldn't ordinarily do so otherwise or be meticulous with buying the right foods and preparing it and therefore not living or socializing the way you would like. I've tried so many diets and so far the most pleasant ones are the ones that are more like lifestyle changes but give you slower results than perhaps you'd like (but more chance to keep the weight off). I've combined Paul McKenna's 4 Golden rules with "French Women Don't get Fat" and then take into account my pre-diabetes (which if I didn't have would making losing weight quicker). I do want to lose but I
want to be healthy doing it! ("French Women Don't get Fat" = compensations and figuring out what you could 'afford to go without' and which things you absolutely have to have in order to make you happy and enjoy your food and to make sure you move your body).

a fav salad

2009-09-15T09:14:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite salads: Quiznos side salad with cheddar, onions and tomatoes with raspberry chipotle dressing (the dressing is awesome). It's just 2.13 with the tax! (worth it)

9/15/09 fasting glucose

2009-09-15T09:10:00.001-07:00

I'm trying to take these numbers directly after I get up but I also need to tweak when, how much and what to eat at night (it's hard - I get home fairly late, go to bed late but get up early). However a walk from the train terminal to work without eating anything and resting half an hr makes my number at least 6 greater than when I get up (not really accurate).

9/14/09 fasting glucose

2009-09-14T05:30:00.001-07:00

Cookies as a late night snack...

9/09/09 fasting glucose

2009-09-09T13:02:00.001-07:00

*sigh*

Sunday 9/06/09

2009-09-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

Cutting the cake and serving them on plates.

Birthday Girls

2009-09-08T12:01:00.001-07:00

The birthday girl and her daughter and the other birthday girl with her mama.

Sunday 9/6/09

2009-09-08T11:56:00.001-07:00

My little girl loves cake as much as I do!

My birthday cake by Shop-Rite bakery

2009-09-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

Vanilla cake with cannoli cream and strawberries with chocolate buttercream frosting.

Sunday 9/6/09

2009-09-08T11:48:00.001-07:00

I made this small cake for Kaylee.

White after Labor Day

2009-09-08T10:39:00.001-07:00

I totally don't adhere to "Don't wear white after Labor Day". I love white (and black and black & white and almost any color with white...or black - both of which are neutral colors). No one says "Don't wear black after Memorial Day", do they??! (so why the reverse?)

9/08/09 fasting glucose

2009-09-08T10:33:00.001-07:00

South City Grill in Jersey City

2009-09-05T12:43:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I went to South City Grill in Jersey City on my lunch break. I love their seafood!

bread basket

2009-09-05T12:40:00.000-07:00

The bread came fresh and warm, just the way I like it.

Lobster linguini at SCG

2009-09-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

The lobster linguini in the saffron cream sauce at South City grill is really good.

9/4/09 fasting glucose

2009-09-04T09:19:00.001-07:00

9/3/09 fasting glucose

2009-09-03T05:17:00.000-07:00

Don't know why it's higher. (other than after lunch number was higher although within range and I didn't eat much yesterday but ate something every so many hrs)

9/2/09 fasting glucose

2009-09-02T08:50:00.001-07:00

White House Black Market black dress shoes and bow cafe bag

2009-09-01T17:24:00.001-07:00

I love the dress, shoes and the bow cafe bag (in both the red here but especially in the black as depicted with the wide leg trousers).

WHBM turtle neck skirt and belt

2009-09-01T17:21:00.001-07:00

I love this whole outfit especially the ruffle belt!

White House Black Market wide leg trousers

2009-09-01T17:16:00.001-07:00

I love these wide leg tweed trousers by WHBM.

sweet treat

2009-09-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

Had a choco taco to help keep me up this afternoon!

Shop-Rite bakery

2009-09-01T05:56:00.001-07:00

I'll order my cake from this menu later...I hate giving up! (Besides the fact that it makes me feel bad it also sends a message to give up easily, to my daughter. However time is money and so are ingredients and there is risk in trying to make my own cake for the party and no one gets good birthday cake to eat for dessert!)

9/1/09 fasting glucose

2009-09-01T05:51:00.001-07:00

1 point better than yesterday.

LOUSY, SH*TTY DAY!

2009-09-01T05:01:00.001-07:00

My birthday is coming up, but ever since last year it’s been depressing; not because I turned 30 last year but because my cousin died from a motorcycle accident and was buried the day before my birthday. For the obvious reasons, I didn’t invite THAT many people to my birthday party last year but no one showed up but my husband, daughter and parents. If it were not for the fact that I was turning 30, I probably wouldn’t have even bothered last year. This year the turnout is better but I think it will always be somewhat sorrowful because I will always remember that we said good bye to my cousin the day before. My aunt is also having a BBQ on the same day, so I guess I wouldn’t expect anyone from that side of my family to celebrate my birthday with me (except my parents of course). I wanted to send them something in fact but I feel very broke (so broke I am not asking for any birthday gift this year though there are so many things I want, wish for and like so much). I will also always think how grateful I should be to be able to celebrate the start of another year of life (or a marker to say I’ve made it past the last year to the next year of life).

Work continues to be boring. I am good at my job but it is not my passion (fashion, clothes and accessories are). Above that, I don’t belong to any group and I hate that it’s clique-y here. Not that I would have gone, but everyone else was invited and most went to another co-worker’s BBQ this past Sunday. They also get a birthday cake for everyone’s birthday (everyone except for me that is). I’ve been working here as long as or longer than most of them as well (and I am in the median age of all of them – half of them are younger by as much as 5 years and half are about as much as 5 years older than me). I am sure they know when my birthday is because I always mention it (or bring in my own sweets to share with them and tell them it’s my birthday so I brought treats in). This year I will not bring any treats in. Even though my boss is in that group and I report to him, I’m not part of the group (I do sit a few aisles over and secluded from everyone but that shouldn’t matter). I am the only one NOT in a group (I also hold the one and only position in what I do). Can I wish for a new position (even here, but within a group) that makes as much or even more than I do now? It’s hard, because it’s not like I can do any extra towards my career due to commuting and time constraints (it’s too costly to drive to work, especially with my gas guzzler…the one that wouldn’t shut up this morning even pressing the panic to make it stop, but then it’s always been that I can press the button to make it go off and I’d have to be almost on top of the car to make it stop). Today will be extra busy with the month-end close, so I guess I need to focus a bit better.

8/31/09 fasting glucose

2009-08-31T09:11:00.001-07:00

chocolate ice cream

2009-08-31T05:37:00.001-07:00

Seriously this is the best ice cream I have ever made! (and I did it without my ice cream maker...with exception to the cooling tub) I made this yesterday and will make it again for my party!

Nachos classic appetizer from Jefferson Diner

2009-08-30T09:33:00.001-07:00

I got this to go to share with my family. It was really good! It was kind of more like a salad with mexican toppings. Could stand a little more beef on top but the taste was actually really good the way it was (definitely an appetizer and not quite a meal).

pic from another angle

2009-08-29T10:23:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah and it's a vanilla cake with vanilla pudding, strawberries and vanilla butter cream frosting.

fixed up a bit with frosting

2009-08-29T10:21:00.001-07:00

Another layer plus my handwriting

2009-08-29T10:19:00.001-07:00

Crack still shows.

1st layer frosting

2009-08-29T10:17:00.001-07:00

Got a huge old crack...

vanilla cakes cooling in pan

2009-08-29T10:15:00.001-07:00

8/29/09 fasting glucose

2009-08-29T10:13:00.001-07:00

It's always a little better on the weekend?

ice cream aftermath

2009-08-28T12:53:00.001-07:00

Within range but on the higher side!

ice cream

2009-08-28T12:52:00.001-07:00

Had the second free ice cream from yesterday at 1pm.

After Breakfast

2009-08-28T09:48:00.001-07:00

Breakfast was apple cinnamon Cheerios with fat free milk and coffee with whole milk and Splenda.

8/28/09 fasting glucose

2009-08-28T09:47:00.001-07:00

Better than yesterday :O)

dinner tonight

2009-08-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

Dinner was healthy and yummy...multigrain english muffin pizzas.

try on

2009-08-27T12:50:00.001-07:00

Tried these on during my break. Size 8 fits me - they run "true to size". I like them...now if only they could come down in price by $15 I'd buy them...

nutritional facts

2009-08-27T11:40:00.001-07:00

Lots of calories and fat...

2009-08-27T11:35:00.001-07:00

I ate the oreo one and wrapped the other one in napkin and labeled it and placed it in a plastic ziplock and in the freezer.

free ice cream

2009-08-27T11:28:00.001-07:00

The giving out the ice cream let me pick 2! (he's my contact in receiving for asset tags for receivings on purchase order items for my company in this building). Yea! (save one for another time)

What beef polenta pie does to my numbers:

2009-08-27T11:09:00.001-07:00

2 points higher than before lunch.

2009-08-27T09:20:00.001-07:00

Yeah I know it's not sugar free...but I'd rather have less and be happy than have a whole lot of sugar free ones and wishing they tasted normal! So 4 regular jelly beans is about 5 grams of carbs (rather have 4 regular than like 20 sugar free ones though...quality is always more important than quantity in my book! ). My company is giving out free ice cream at 2 though so I won't have any until another time.

entree only lunch today at the Market Place caffeteria...I chose:

2009-08-27T09:13:00.001-07:00

Beef polenta pie!

8/27/09 fasting glucose

2009-08-27T09:10:00.001-07:00

Bah humbug!

Rose Standard Floribunda by J&P

2009-08-26T17:43:00.001-07:00

Some of the buds on my J&P rose standard are starting to bloom! (finally...so far the deer have't eaten them...yet...dear God, please don't have the deer eat these because I'd like to enjoy seeing these pretty flowers! Thanks!)!

Alice + Olivia for Payless jeweled ankle boots

2009-08-26T17:35:00.001-07:00

I love these boots and they are affordable too! (Payless)

Alice + Olivia tank dress with belt

2009-08-26T17:32:00.001-07:00

I really love this dress and the belt that comes with it! (the belt is awesome) I also look great with A lines!

Alice + Olivia Origami dress

2009-08-26T17:16:00.001-07:00

Another dress that I like.

Alice + Olivia jersey dress with embellishment

2009-08-26T17:13:00.001-07:00

I love this jersey dress with embellishment ruffles on the bottom.

8/26/09 fasting glucose

2009-08-26T05:36:00.001-07:00

Better than yesterday.

technical difficulties with dyed leopard print shoes

2009-08-25T06:18:00.001-07:00

These shoes are still in very good condition even though they are older...except that the leopard print is rubbing off of the calf hairs!! Do I get rid of them because the leopard has lost its spots or do I try to find a place (spend money and time) and get it either fixed or re-dyed another color??

8/25/09 fasting glucose

2009-08-25T05:19:00.001-07:00

I don't know what caused my good number last time unless it was a false reading.

Jess and I

2009-08-24T17:19:00.001-07:00

Sephora Beauty Insider birthday gift 2009

2009-08-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

I think I am set with lip glosses for awhile. It turns out all three colors will look good on me likely! (amazingly most colors but too dark ones look good...even bright colors) Note: it's redemable 2 weeks prior to and 2 weeks after the birthday. My birthday actually isn't until Labor Day weekend!

Godiva neopolitan flavored milk chocolate truffle

2009-08-24T13:41:00.001-07:00

Yumm...this is awesome. Got this flavor last month too