The Teen Years
Hi Everyone! How was your weekend? Mine was great, except for the part when big daughter turned 13. BOO! I cannot have a teenager. I just can’t! It is very sad. I want her to stop growing immediately and I told her so in my firmest Mom-is-pissed voice. All I got was *blink*… *blink* … *blank stare*. Yeah, I know I have no control over it, but I tried 
Anyway, we had a great time celebrating her birthday with all the grampies and sat around the table telling our best stories of her when she was little.
Food-wise we had all the usual suspects for our family get togethers, but I thought you guys might be sick of seeing ravioli, manicotti, chicken cutlets, etc., so I’m skipping posting that. I was able to stick to my vegetarian lenten pledge and I think I did a pretty good job in the POINTS department. Although I didn’t count, I did the best with what was available for dinner: 2 manicotti in bechamel sauce, salad, 1 piece of bruschetta , a small slice of cake and bite of brownie. Yes, only a bite of brownie! Miracles can happen
Sunday was back to counting. I started with a yogurt bowl for breakfast: Oikos plain nonfat yogurt, 3 drops NuNaturals liquid vanilla stevia, 1 cup of raspberries and a sprinkle of Special K granola …
I was feeling a little worn down (hope I’m not getting a rebound sickness) and wasn’t in the mood for working out. But, after hanging out on Twitter for a bit and hearing everyone’s workout plans for the day, I decided to do something. Yoga sounded the best to me, so I hit up yogadownload.com for Yoga For Weight Loss #2. Chaturanga, baby!
I wasn’t hungry for quite a while, but finally decided late in the afternoon that I should eat so I’m not starving all at once. I decided on a mix of hummus and leftover bruschetta topping on 2 slices of Dave’s Killer Bread and some carrots…
Oh my greatness, hummus and bruschetta topping is such an awesome combo! I kept thinking …"why did I never eat this before”!
So good that I think it deserves it’s own ridiculous Rachael Ray –ish type name. How about hummuschetta ?! Try it; you will love <3
Still not much of an appetite in the late afternoon, but I snuck in a Banana Maple Oatmeal Cookie…just in case…
The husband, teen (aaaahhh) big daughter and little d were having leftovers for dinner, so I cooked a hearty and comforting meal for myself. I was in the mood for a big bowl of homemade soup and for some reason, I have been craving barley (I know that’s weird) so I threw this together …
Vegetable Barley Stew
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 1 1/2 cups chopped carrots (about 2 large)
- 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
- 1 cup sliced baby portabella mushrooms
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes
- 2/3 cup pearl barley
- 3 tsp. Better Than Bouillon Vegetable Base
- 3 cups water
Place all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 1 hour or until barley is cooked.
Makes 3 hearty 1 1/3 cup servings.
Nutritional facts (calculated using calorieking.com) – per serving:
197 calories, .6 grams fat, 40 grams carbohydrates, 8 grams fiber and 5 grams protein.
3 POINTS per serving
Easy peasy, right?
I added an additional 1/4 cup of chickpeas to my serving for an extra boost of protein…
Very hearty…
I said goodnight with decaf and cream since I didn’t get to say good morning with any…
Total – 18 POINTS
I wanted to share a great question that I got on formspring yesterday:
How many blogs do you read? Do you comment on all of them or just the popular ones?
Great question!! I read A LOT of blogs. I have close to 200 in my reader! I know…get a job, right?! I try to comment on many of the blogs I read. I’m glad you asked about the "popular" ones b/c I notice that some people do only comment on the popular blogs, but I’m not one of them. I comment on ANYONE’S blog – popular or not. I usually comment when I can relate to something the blogger wrote or when I want to congratulate/spur on a blogger in whatever their efforts are (running, weight loss, etc.). I also tend to be a "loyal commenter". Once I start commenting on a blog on a regular basis, I usually stick with it. And I do comment on some of the popular blogs b/c they are the first blogs that I discovered and got me hooked on blogging, so I frequent them almost daily and feel connected to them, even though they probably have no idea who the heck I am – LOL!
***
How about you guys? How many blogs to do you read? What prompts you to comment on someone’s blog?
Questions? Email me! aloserforlife@gmail.com
37 comments
Hugs with your big daughter. My Only ( baby, oldest, middle child in one) turn 18 in 1 month and 6 days. I keep trying to grab onto him to prevent him from getting sucked into the vortex known as being an adult. It’s just not working!
Hummus and brushetta- BRILLIANT !!
How many blogs ? Lost count. What prompts me to leave a comment ? If I have had a similar experience or observation or if I know the answer that he person was looking for, I comment. It does not matter if they are a popular blog or brand new – if I can find a commonalty with the post, I share.
Hey, Marisa, is this weather ever going to warm up? I mean, really. I want to get out and run!!!!
Anyway, I’m like you. I follow a lot of blogs, and yes… I’m kind of addicted to it and sometimes it seriously derails my day. I too comment on blogs if they’re particularly motivating or I like what they have to say or I relate to something in particular. So basically, I just comment when I feel the need.
P.S. Just read about a 5K not too far away from here, but it’s only five weeks away and since I have not been running “at all” since surgery aside from that one short 1-mile stint, not so sure it’s in the cards, but we’ll see. I can always run what I can and walk the rest, right?
Marisa Reply:
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:17 pm
sounds like a plan, Reen! But, if I know you, I don’t think you’ll walk at all! After all, we did our first 5k’s in a N’oreaster and ran the whole thing! I know you can do it
As I sit here on my couch with my nine month old daughter, it is totally INSANE for me to think that one day she will be a TEEN! I hope she likes me as much then as she does now!
I read a TON of blogs, and even more now that I’ve added some from the FitBloggin list (like you!) so I could never comment on them all. In general, I comment on the ones where I feel like I have something to say. I probably leave about five comments every day, and I rarely comment on a post that doesn’t ask a specific question.
And you are totally a rock star for doing a 5K! I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Marisa Reply:
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Hi Heather! Looking forward to meeting you at Fitbloggin!
No no no no no no no!!!! Big daughter cannot be a teen. I refuse to listen–lalalalala I’m not listening. There. If she’s a teen, you know mine is only months behind–as I approach the BIG ONE. Ugh. Now I really feel like hibernating.
Your barley soup looks delish! I’ll have to try that. I love to throw stuff together–you know me. Measuring? Recipe??? And your name for your snack creation made me burst out laughing. Hummuschetta. It definitely rivals R Ray’s combos.
Have a great one! Signed, Your partner in teen raising. Sigh. xo
Marisa Reply:
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:18 pm
It’s coming…..and we can’t stop it….AAAAHHHHH!!!!
I can’t believe how many blogs you read! I thought I had a lot at 68+ in my Google reader. I think what inspires me to post is TYPICALLY when I feel that the writer might really find what I have to say interesting or unique, or when they really need that encouragement. Some blogs out there get tons of comments on every single entry…and while I know they definitely appreciate each and every one, it’s those people who don’t get a single comment on 90% of their posts that it really means a lot to.
way too many to count!! i TRIED getting caught up yesterday but it was tough going!!!
and yes, hummus with brushetta is muy bueno!!!
Happy Birthday to your big daughter. Oh, the teenage years. Good luck! You’re going to have to get used to that *blink*… *blink* … *blank stare* look.
I read way too many blogs but I can’t find a way to cut down so I just try not to find too many new ones to add. I generally don’t comment on the most popular high traffic blogs because by the time I get around to it they’ve already gotten hundreds of comments and I’d probably just be repeating what someone else already said. Who has time to read hundreds of blogs and then hundreds of comments? Even though I’m out of work now there aren’t enough hours in the day for that.
I read a lot of blogs, and lately I have let them distract me from the rest of the work that I need to get done! Oh well
I’ve been reading blogs for a while but just recently worked up the nerve to leave comments. I try and comment when I can really relate to what the blogger is going through, or when they post about something that really gets me thinking. Or, when there is something awesome to celebrate!
I think hummuschetta is fabulous
I read an insane amount of blogs. I don’t always comment but i do have a few that i regularly comment on and if i think the subject is one of interest i try to comment on them.
I do try to encourage and offer support whenever i can.
I’ll start reading a blog because it speaks to me. I’ll comment also because it speaks to me. Doesn’t matter if it’s the first time I read that blog. I think we learn from others and I would hope that maybe someone can learn from me as well. On another note…my oldest turns 15 in 2 1/2 months so I feel for you…this year will be driver’s ed…..very scared!:)
Wow 13!! If it was me, you would be past the “hating everything” stage but moving on into the highschool stage! I have around 88 subscriptions and comment if I have something that has sparked from it!
Awe… you’re daughter turned 13! I bet she’s soooo cute!
I read lots of blogs, but only ones I like. I try to comment on most of them, mainly because I like the blogger
Happy bday to your daughter!!
I have about 50 on my blogroll and I would say I comment on about 40 of them!! I can’t believe you have 200…WOW!!!
i LOVE hummus and bruchetta together. it’s one of my favorite sandwiches. i usually eat it on a flatbread.
hummuschetta!!?? Genius! lol
Looks good- it all does- always! 
I know how it feels to have your kids grow up, mine are now in college and it seems like they grew up over night!
I have about 50 blogs bookmarked but I only visit about 10 blogs on a regular basis and I leave messages on them. I feel like if they went to the work of posting and I read it I should leave a comment so they know someone read it! The ones I comment on are ones where I feel like I can relate to the blogger, most are healthy living, diet, or cooking blogs.
Now that I have a blog I know what it feels like to post away and not have comments! You wonder if anyone is out there. Of course I know it takes a while to establish a following and I am only a couple months into it.
I have learned a lot from reading blogs and I hope others can learn from me as well.
Marisa Reply:
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Your blog is great, Tami! I have you on my blogroll, so I hope others will visit for your delicious recipes!
I generally only read 2 blogs (yours and happy texans…hi!!) lol. And I do comment on bloth of your blogs semi-regularly. I may happen on another blog b/c of your blog roll or b/c of a recipe that you post from their blog. I don’t usually comment b/c I rarely read it, but if it’s something I feel I need to comment on, I will. Popular blogs? lol. Yours is popular now but when I first started reading yours, you barely had any followers! Maybe I made it popular!! Just Kidding!!
Marisa Reply:
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Haha! Well, I don’t think of my blog as popular, but thank you! And yes, I remember when I first starting blogging and I logged on one day and there you were…my first follower!!! I have to say, I was very excited! Thank you for sticking with me and for all the great running advice you have given me. I truly appreciate it, Amanda!
Welcome to the world of teenagers where your expectations are low and your self esteem is lower.
haha! Of course I’m kidding. Thirteen year olds were put on the earth to test our mettle and feel a little warmer and fuzzier toward our own mothers for what we put them through.
I follow 45 blogs. And that is plenty with a full time job. Once I am following, I want to try to be as loyal and engaged a reader as I can. I actually tend to do the opposite of commenting on only the popular blogs. I figure the popular blogs get sooo many comments, they won’t miss mine. I’d rather comment on the blogs who don’t see a lot of traffic. But primarily, I comment if I read something that I can relate to, or something I feel like I have a somewhat valuable contribution to make to. And to support people when I can.
Some blogs I comment on almost every day because those blogs are written by the people who I feel really speak my language.
Happy birthday to your new teen!
I read a *lot* of blogs every day, but I don’t always have time to comment. I try to at least make sure I comment once a week on each blog in my reader.
As someone who has raised two teenaged daughters and has one on the cusp, let me just say this: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so NOT fair! I can’t get raspberries in any store ’round here right now.
So do you think Jack Sh*t is feeling okay??
Well, I must say you do not LOOK like the mom of a teenager!
I read waaaaay too many blogs, lol. I love them all – the popular ones, the obscure, foodies, you name it. I try to comment on many, when I can. Sometimes I’m doing a “drive by” and can’t comment, but I’m reading, believe me!
Love the name you came up with for the hummus bruschetta!! Don’t even get me started – my baby turns 18 in three weeks – I seriously don’t know where the time went!
Loved your answer for blog reading/commenting. I comment to probably 50% of the blogs I read, because I’ve read them for so long, they are like old friends (like you!).
Happy Monday!
Marisa – I know how you feel. My son turned 13 a few weeks ago and now I have THREE teen-agers. It just isn’t possible!!
Thanks for the recipe – looks fabulous as ever.
I forgot to say that my blog reading varies depending on my day. Sometimes a lot, sometimes just a few.
I read so many blogs. The ones I then to read are weight loss related.
I just love hummus. I just made roasted red pepper hummus. I used to buy it but I prefer making it because it tastes so much better.
Have a great week.
I probably read about 20 blogs now, but I usually find and add a new fav weekly, and I usually always leave a comment unless I’m quickly reading a few on a busy day.
I am going to try your barley veg soup!! I have been on a huge barley kick lately too! |My fav is soaking 1/2 cup barley with 1/2 cup yogurt overnight, then adding a little water and microwaving for 1 minute. Then I top with fruit and walnuts yummm!
that recipe looks AWESOME girl! thank you for posting that!!
i heard daves killer bread is awesome! I need to get my hands on some
I read SO many blogs a day, I try to keep up witn all my readers and love checking out the ones I usually hit each day
Love the hummuschetta – smart! Happy b-day to your 13-year-old – I just saw my boss’s daughter today (she is now 3 months) and it was SO WEIRD how quickly she had grown – where does the time go??!!
I read about 50 blogs maybe?? I comment as much as possible on all!
ooohhh…that comment/blog question was a good one! I’m right there with you – I have a lot of blogs I read and while its hard to read them all, I try to comment on as many as I can. I am very limited though in adding new blogs to my list of reads!
ok Im stuck on the TURNING 13 notion.
until she turned 13 and then it would be ONE!BIG!SHOCK!
I remark to my husband practically daily that Id imagined my child would be uberloving and think I was the beesknees
how did I get a FOUR YEAR OLD who would, if I let her, already be eyerolling and stomping around like a tween?
Im terrified of 13 at the rate we are going
cant wait to see you at Fitbloggin!!
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