Right now restaurant.com is offering $25 gift certificates for $1! The only thing you need to do differently is enter the code JOY when you check out. The code is only good through 12/24/11 so don't wait too long!
Be sure to pay attention to the terms of each certificate before you purchase it. Some certificates state that they're only available for dine-in only. Others will state that a minimum purchase is necessary in order to redeem the certificate. So, just make sure you know what you're buying so there are no surprises when you redeem your certificate.
You should receive your certificate by email within a day or so. You can also log into restaurant.com and print it from there when you're ready. Just take the certificate to the restaurant with you when you're ready to redeem.
Also, as a courtesy to your server, tell him that you're using the certificate before he goes to grab your bill. And, ALWAYS tip on the full amount of your bill--not the discounted amount.
So, I posted last Tuesday about this ridiculous diet that I was going to attempt.
I lasted five whole days (which I happen to be very proud of, thank you very much) before I gorged on popcorn while watching a movie about this boy named Harry Potter. You've probably never heard of it so I'll move on....
That #dietfail aside, I did manage to redeem myself and have done well. I've even lost 6 pounds. Holla!!
However, today.... I did something really bad.
But it's not totally my fault. In fact, I write this post as a warning. This is no joke people. You have every right to be alarmed. In fact, if you're not alarmed yet you better check your batteries because your no-freaking-way detector is obviously not working.
Now hold on to your love handles because you are in for a surprise.
You see, several months ago McDonald's did something amazing horrible. It combined two of my greatest weaknesses into one delicious disastrous temptation.
I should have known from the start there was a catch, that it was too good to be true. But alas, love is blind. So I ignored the signs that were right in front of my face all along.
I loved her like I've never loved before, even if only from a distance as I chugged my low-fat fresh fruit smoothies. But they could never be her. No, this had to stop! I had to have her... to make her my own!
So tonight I told my diet, "Diet, I need some space... some time to reflect on us. Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything crazy. I'm just gonna go hang out with my friends, I promise. You can trust me."
And being the amazing Diet that he is, he let me go. Deep down, I think he knew I wouldn't be faithful, but what could he say? He had to let me try things my own stubborn way.
So I left, and I grabbed the McFlurry. It was everything I'd been craving this past week. I was so happy.
That is, until I learned her deep, dark secret. One so shocking and heinous that I can never look at her the same again.
She contains almost 700 calories for a regular size!! SEVEN hundred!!
This is an actual photograph taken of ME at the exact moment I found out.
[Caution: Image may be disturbing to younger viewers.]
Okay, so maybe that's not the actual photo of me, but it's a pretty dang accurate depiction of how it all went down. Such a tragedy....
After the shock wore off I returned home to Diet. Needless to say he's upset that I cheated, but he forgives me and we're going to try to work things out. I'm going to try to be more faithful from now on and hopefully, over time, things will get easier.
Until then, well.... I'll always have the memory of her, at least for the next 3 months while I try to sweat her off at the gym. And, if I can save just one person from herself and the tasty, diet-destroying wrath of the Rolo McFlurry, then my job here is done.
He likes to cook. He's a good cook. I like to eat. I'm a good eater.
It's a win/win!!
Me as a cook? Well.... let's just say I've managed to make even instant mashed potatoes inedible. (Sadly, that is NOT a joke.)
In fact, when others see me in the kitchen, it's a scary thing.... like they expect me to kill someone.
"Jackie, step away from the knife!!"
"But I'm just cooking.... ?"
"No one needs to get hurt..."
"It's lettuce. I'm chopping lettuce, see?"
"There's no need to get hostile!"
"But...."
"Set the knife down slowly..."
"I give up!"
But lately, I've been trying to become a more well-rounded person. Why? I don't know. I always feel the need to be able to do it all. And I have some free time.
So.... when no one was looking, I did something WILD.
I baked!!
And, then.... something even wilder happened.
People ATE it!!
I give you: banana-nut bread!
{Cue angelic music as the sky opens up
and sheds light down upon this MIRACLE!}
It's so beautiful, I almost cried.
Kinda like the day my son was born, I had this moment of, "I created this!?"
I was so afraid to taste it, to cut it. I thought once I did that THIS was going to happen...
But, I slowly cut it and then I ate it...
And am happy to report it was as good as it looks!
So, even though I'm not the cook in this house.... maybe I do have a few skills I didn't know about. And you might just see more of them in the future.
And even though I'd like to think this baking adventure was a success because I'm AMAZING, the recipe probably had a lot little something to do with it too. (You can find the recipe here.)
Just do me a favor if you end up making this and don't tell anyone I know that it really wasn't my awesomeness and that it really was the recipe, okay? Thanks.
My hubby knows I've never met a chocolate-covered strawberry I didn't like, which is why he whipped up a dozen of these tasty treats for me last night.
And after I finished thinking about how amazing I must be to deserve chocolate-covered strawberries my husband is for making me chocolate-covered strawberries, I began making a mental list of my favorite things (which chocolate-covered strawberries was obviously at the top of, duh!)
And while I'm sure all of you know about the wonders of chocolate-covered strawberries, you may not know about many of the other foods or items that make my "favorites" list. I love hearing about other people's favorite things that I've somehow overlooked through the years, and so I've decided to try to share some of my favorites with you in hopes you'll discover new favorites as well!
So, as you check in on my blog from time-to-time, be sure to click on my new label to the right entitled My Favorite Things. I look forward to sharing them with you and hopefully discovering new favorites along the way!
After I got home from class, Robert and I took Madd to the park downtown. We flipping love this park. However, because our trip was actually more of a spontaneous detour on our way to grab sushi ("Momma, can we go to that park and play that has the tunnels?") I didn't bring my camera. So, cruddy pics from my Blackberry are all I have to share. Grr.
The only thing Madd loves more than sliding down this big slide, is forcing me to slide down this big slide.
"Momma, what are you waiting on? Just come down here already."
So of course, I did.
There are so many tunnels at the park. It's perfect for little boys who love to explore.
Hmm.... I wonder how those jeans got a hole in the knee.
I had to crawl around the tunnels with him. Yes, I meant to use the word crawl. But could YOU say no to that face?
Madd and I climbed up on a rock together and he said, "Let's just sit here and enjoy the beautiful view together." He can be such a gentleman when he wants to be. :)
After we left the park we ate sushi at our favorite sushi spot, Wasabi. As usual, our eyes were bigger than our tummies. Thank God for to-go boxes!
I then decided to get an iPhone 4 because I've finally had enough of my piece-of-junk Blackberry. I've gone through at least six of these things within the past two years because they just quit working. Notice the cracked screen? Just lovely, I know.
I think I'm going to have some type of ceremonial goodbye for it. Maddox and I discussed this topic tonight on our way home from the Verizon store. So, stay tuned for pictures of the ceremony. [evil laugh]
The rest of the night was a lazy one. Just ask Charlie.
But, we did manage to get the paintings for Madd's room that I purchased from Etsy hung above Madd's bed. I've been waiting on these cute little guys for a month now because the seller painted them in colors specifically for his room. I'm so glad they're here, and that Madd loves them.
Alright. It's time to join Charlie. After such a great night, I'm ready for some great sleep.
