~Fast Food Free February Recap~

So...the end of the month is here! At the beginning of February, I wrote about our decision to not eat fast food for the month of February.

We had only a few instances where we ate fast food:

:::Kevin was out around lunch time and picked up Taco Bell (for himself only)
:::We ate at Subway before going grocery shopping
:::We got milkshakes at Steak and Shake for a little treat
:::We had pizza for dinner a few nights ago, on a day where it had been impossible for me to get out and get groceries

Overall, I think we did great! Some might not classify Subway as "fast food", or say it is healthy, but after viewing Subway's ingredients in their "meat" I would rather stay away from them!

I haven't missed burgers, fries, or Taco Bell in the slightest!

~Amazing Race 20~

I'm excited that a new season of Amazing Race is here! I had to watch the first episode online because my DVR didn't pick it up. But now it is scheduled to record all the episodes so we're good.

This is one reality show that I really enjoy, for a number of reasons. One reason is that I feel it is the least unscripted of the reality shows out there. If they miss a shot they can't exactly ask the contestants to go back and redo what they've done. Commentary by the contestants is limited, so you're seeing straight action all the way through. Each episode is a nail-biter!

I haven't picked a favorite yet. Last season, I was anxious for several teams to be eliminated, and my least favorite ended up winning! So far I don't have a favorite or a team I'm rooting for elimination for! :)

Do you watch? and do you have a favorite yet?

~Yogurt~

I finally did it! I made my own yogurt. I knew it wasn't "hard" because my dad used to make it all the time. I've been wanting to make my own yogurt for quite a while now but I just never got around to actually doing it, until last Saturday.

I used the cooler method, in which a large pot of hot water is placed in the cooler, along with your jars of warm milk and yogurt mixture.

It turned out beautifully! On Saturday night I pulled it out of the cooler to put in the fridge, and started doing a little jig. Kevin said not to celebrate till I tasted it. ;-) So on Sunday morning, I did another little jig when I tasted it and it was awesome!

I made two quart jars, since that was what would fit into the cooler with the pan. This is the last of the second jar - time to make more yogurt!

~Happy Hearts~

I don't usually decorate for Valentine's Day but this year I threw a few heart things around the living room and called it good. ;-)



I made the paper heart chain, using an idea I saw on Pinterest.

I also put up the felt heart garland I made two years ago.

Valentine's Day has never been a hugely celebrated holiday for us. Last year Kevin was really sick so we did nothing. This year, what we did felt huge in comparison to last year. LOL Kevin grilled steaks and I made mashed potatoes and green beans almondine. We had a few little gifts to exchange with one another and we watched AFV together as a family. Just a quiet, fun evening together!

~Thumbprint Fun~

Yesterday I pulled out Ed Emberley's Great Thumbprint Drawing Book



and my daughter and I set to work having fun!



I got my book at a yard sale for $.20, and it is the older version of the book pictured above. I heartily recommend the library or a yard sale, but if you can't find it used, the picture above links Amazon, and is a referral link.

~Found~

I found this list in a library book. I always find it interesting to find lists, such as at the grocery store. The only thing you know about the person is what they wrote down.



At first I thought part of this list is a "ta-da" list (the top three items) and that the rest is a "to do" list, but then again it could all be a to do list. I wonder if she wrote this list again, after she lost it?

~Off the Needles~

One more project off the needles! My Pink Rivulet (Ravelry link) is finished! So excited! (Again...I have to weave in the yarn ends and block it...)


I finished the knitting about a week and a half ago. Once I get it blocked, it will be one more item off my UFO list!

I'm linking up to Susan's UFO Progress Report, if you'd like to see more click here.

~Fast Food Free February~

Try saying that 10 times fast!

On the 31st, I talked with Kevin and convinced him to do a no-fast food challenge for the month of February. He agreed, with one condition: Taco Bell for dinner. LOL

We don't typically swing through the drive through a lot, but our consumption rate has been creeping up. It is a convenient, though unhealthy, answer to the "what's for dinner?" dilemma on the way home from church or the cure to "I don't feel like cooking dinner tonight".

So far we're doing great. ;-) I was actually tempted today - my daughter and I were out grocery shopping during lunch, and a baked potato and chili from Wendy's would have been so easy and quick. And besides, Wendy's isn't fast food, right? Remember their slogan a while back? "We're waaay better than fast food." You can't compare yourself to something you are, right? Like I wouldn't say, "girls are better than girls" because that just doesn't make sense! LOL But I resisted, and we came home and ate leftovers.

Would anyone like to join with me for a Fast Food Free February? You can make your own rules up! For our family it means no Wendy's, Burger King, McDonald's, Little Caesars, Taco Bell, etc. If it's fast, it's out!