Top 10 List For a Healthier Lifestyle

This is the list I have used to loose weight and has helped me the most in staying on track with maintaining my weight it is very basic. I like the freedom to choose what I eat and try not to make foods off limits but will turn down high calorie foods for lower calories ones.

1. Keep a food journal/ Count Calories

2. Water, Water, Water-Lose liquid calories

3. Eat Real Food- fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, meat and dairy

4. Ditch Processed Foods

5. Choose Your Treats Wisely

6. Learn Food Proportions

7. Read Food Labels

8. Get enough sleep/8-9 hours per night

9. Exercise at least 30 minutes per day

10. Don’t be too hard on yourself

Valentine’s Tablescape

I am a little late but I still wanted to share my Valentine's Tablescape that I posting about Planning My Valentine's Table. I did end up using a different table cloth since the white one I was planning to use didn't look that good with the mostly white tablerunner.

For Dinner I served:
Salad
Steak
Mash Potatoes
Broccoli
French Bread
Strawberries

This is my dessert table. I made a Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Icing with Mini Candy Coated Valentine Chips and Super Soft Sugar Cookies. The pretty orchid is from my sweet husband.

Super Soft Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter (softened)
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream (or vanilla yogurt)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. soda
4 tsp. baking powder
4 1/2- 5 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream together butter & sugar. Add eggs, sour cream, and vanilla, mix well. Then add soda, baking powder, salt, & flour. Mix well and refrigerate 3 hours. Pull out of fridge and roll them out and cut into shapes. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.


Frosting:

1 cube softened butter
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 tsp.vanilla
1 1/2- 2 1/2 cups powder sugar
3 Tbs. milk

Mix butter and almond and vanilla extract together. Add powdered sugar a little at a time. I usually add 1 cup and then slowly keep adding it till it gets to the consistency and taste I like. But roughly anywhere from 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 cups will do. I then add the milk to smooth it out.