the new, healthy, beautiful me

I decided yesterday, after scarfing cinnamon toast crunch for breakfast and pasta for lunch, while sitting here blearily staring at my computer screen through carb-hazed eyes, that I need a change. A food change. Luckily I knew I was going to the grocery store that night, so I made my list with that in mind.

I did some research on lower carb vegetarian food. I'm not trying to lose weight or cut out all carbs (no way), but I get tired a lot, especially at the half-way point between meals, and I have a feeling all the carbohydrates I was eating either was the culprit or at least wasn't helping. Plus, by eating all the crackers and cookies and bread, I was missing out on fruits and veggies and other minerals. So today I'm diving head first into more balanced eating.

Want to know what makes a yummy, mouth-watering, filling breakfast in a flash? An English muffin with about a tablespoon of creamy peanut butter and a bunch of sliced, fresh banana, smooshed into a transportable sandwich. I want another one right now, just thinking about it.

For lunch, I found these really thin sliced sandwich buns in whole wheat. I love sandwiches, but sometimes I just want the bread to not take up so much room, so these are nice. I put a thin layer of olive oil mayonnaise on each slice, then I topped with a little salt and pepper. Next I layered about half a tomato cut into slices, then a bunch of spinach leaves, then two slices of soy bacon. It was so good, like a BLT, but really a S-BLT, I guess. With it I had fresh baby carrots with roasted red pepper hummus for dipping. And my afternoon snack was some low-fat string cheese (Sargento is the only way to go here) and about half a cup of purse-your-lips-sour green grapes.

Not sure what we're having for dinner yet. Maybe black bean and brown rice wraps with salsa, avocado, and low-fat cream cheese. Or maybe seared tuna steak with fresh green beans and cous cous. Or that asparagus frittata I've been wanting to try, with a big salad. I've got a bunch of choices. I feel better right now-- it's 4:15, and I've been nibbling on grapes for the past hour. I haven't felt tired once today. I hope this really does help me. Can't hurt, I guess.

And to make myself even more beautiful...

I have discovered Etsy. If you haven't visited this website before, please go check it out. There are hundreds and thousands of stores here, all individual sellers, most selling their handmade goods but some also selling vintage finds. You can search by your local area (click Shop Local and type in a location on the next page) to find people in your backyard selling goods. I was surprised to find 9 vendors right in my hometown, at least one of which I will be purchasing some beautiful jewelry from soon:

They also have purses, handmade or hand printed clothes, art, pottery, pillows, etc. I spent too much time today looking at purses and fell totally in love with this clutch:

It's so Southern-lady-proper and yet fun and funky too, isn't it?

The bad thing is I spent $60 on new sandals this weekend (which I am currently wearing and have had multiple compliments on), so my new-clothes fund is broke for another 30 days. I only allow myself $100 a month, and those along with the new dress put me a little over. But the dress with this purse and my new sandals all together... must wait til next month.

I have more self-control when it comes to shopping than it does eating.

I would also like to add a "Thank you" to everyone who commented on my post yesterday. Husband and I had a heart-to-heart about it, and we've decided we're going to avoid the subject with him completely and act like nothing has happened. That includes inviting him for our normal Sunday night Indian-food run, as usual. Hopefully if we just remain a constant and positive presence in his life, he'll know no matter what happens, he has us, he won't let anything come between us, and we'll be able to keep a close eye on him.