Crick

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

Go for it - I’m trying to get rid of all of those negative things I was told growing up and, damnit, it starts with stripes. 🤪

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

When I went for my mammogram a couple of weeks ago, the robe they gave me (one size fits most) was just swimming on me. I looked like a kid trying on my mom’s robe. It was such a nice change to not worry about something like that fitting!

My first goal was 180. The last weight I remember when I was social and comfortable enough with my appearance that I went out and did things like bowling league. I just reached 180.7 today!!

Go for it - I’m trying to get rid of all of those negative things I was told growing up and, damnit, it starts with stripes. 🤪

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

Nice on the countertops!
Ah - sorry - no bun - that’s actually Mozzarella on top. The recipe actually calls for using tomatoes as Buns but that doesn’t work. Pre-surgery, I used a slider bun with slices of Tomato on it. Now I just do the tomatoes on the side no bun. The mixture is just 1 lb ground chicken, 2 TBS torn basil (I tend to put more basil in than that), 1/2 TBS balsamic vinegar, 1/4 c grated Parmesan, 2 cloves garlic (I tend to do 3), Kosher salt and pepper. Form into 5 patties and then brown in 1 TBS olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 6 min on one side, 4 min on the other, then put a slice of fresh mozzarella on top and put the lid on the skillet and cook another 2-3 min. Serve with tomatoes and balsamic glaze if desired.

Nice on the countertops!
Ah - sorry - no bun - that’s actually Mozzarella on top. The recipe actually calls for using tomatoes as Buns but that doesn’t work. Pre-surgery, I used a slider bun with slices of Tomato on it. Now I just do the tomatoes on the side no bun. The mixture is just 1 lb ground chicken, 2 TBS torn basil (I tend to put more basil in than that), 1/2 TBS balsamic vinegar, 1/4 c grated Parmesan, 2 cloves garlic (I tend to do 3), Kosher salt and pepper. Form into 5 patties and then brown in 1 TBS olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 6 min on one side, 4 min on the other, then put a slice of fresh mozzarella on top and put the lid on the skillet and cook another 2-3 min. Serve with tomatoes and balsamic glaze if desired.

Bruschetta burger (ground chicken). I ate about 2/3 of a small patty.

Nice on the countertops!
Ah - sorry - no bun - that’s actually Mozzarella on top. The recipe actually calls for using tomatoes as Buns but that doesn’t work. Pre-surgery, I used a slider bun with slices of Tomato on it. Now I just do the tomatoes on the side no bun. The mixture is just 1 lb ground chicken, 2 TBS torn basil (I tend to put more basil in than that), 1/2 TBS balsamic vinegar, 1/4 c grated Parmesan, 2 cloves garlic (I tend to do 3), Kosher salt and pepper. Form into 5 patties and then brown in 1 TBS olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 6 min on one side, 4 min on the other, then put a slice of fresh mozzarella on top and put the lid on the skillet and cook another 2-3 min. Serve with tomatoes and balsamic glaze if desired.

Amazing! Hope to be able to wear a dress like that after plastic surgery!!!

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

Nice on the countertops!
Ah - sorry - no bun - that’s actually Mozzarella on top. The recipe actually calls for using tomatoes as Buns but that doesn’t work. Pre-surgery, I used a slider bun with slices of Tomato on it. Now I just do the tomatoes on the side no bun. The mixture is just 1 lb ground chicken, 2 TBS torn basil (I tend to put more basil in than that), 1/2 TBS balsamic vinegar, 1/4 c grated Parmesan, 2 cloves garlic (I tend to do 3), Kosher salt and pepper. Form into 5 patties and then brown in 1 TBS olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 6 min on one side, 4 min on the other, then put a slice of fresh mozzarella on top and put the lid on the skillet and cook another 2-3 min. Serve with tomatoes and balsamic glaze if desired.

An oldie but a goodie:
HORIZONTAL STRIPES OR BUST!!!

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

Bruschetta burger (ground chicken). I ate about 2/3 of a small patty.

Yeah, I was overweight as a kid and got bigger as adult- I was told that horizontal strips around the belly make you look like a globe with the equator around the middle. Naturally, I have avoided horizontal stripes all of my life. Maybe it is time to revisit this fashion choice, now that I'm not so big anymore.

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

Really for me the most important things were my phone, charger, kindle, and night guard. I just wore the hospital gown and their socks for my walks. Wore the same clothes home I came to the hospital in (loose - nothing tight). The main helpful hint I will tell you is to have whomever is picking you up bring a pillow. You’ll want to put that under the seatbelt so it doesn’t touch your incisions directly. Saw that advise on here and so glad I followed it.

I bought a couple of sweaters from Ann Taylor Loft on sale because I have nothing for the colder weather. The size small was not the NSV - but the freedom to not feel like I “shouldn’t” wear a sweater with horizontal stripes was a big one! I didn’t realize how much my mom had instilled that in my head until I was looking at the website and purposefully skipping the ones with horizontal stripes because it would make me look bigger. Well, I got it in the mail yesterday and I think I can now say wearing horizontal stripes will be part of my life! PS - I think anyone at any size should wear what they want and what they feel good in - but my mom hammered into me all of these things about being heavy from like middle school on (suck in your stomach, be in the back behind people so your full body isn’t on display, no horizontal stripes, etc.) so this is just 30 years of baggage I’m trying to unload. Wearing horizontal stripes is major for me.

I don’t know but here is the recipe - I use the paprika app to store all my recipes. I use about 3 cloves of fresh garlic though - it’s probably a bit more than a tsp but I think it gives it a great flavor.
Spinach Stuffed chicken Breasts
Main Courses
Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
1 T. olive oil
1 t. paprika
1 t. salt, divided
¼ t. garlic powder
¼ t. onion powder
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
¼ c. parmesan cheese
2 T. mayonnaise
1 ½ c. fresh chopped spinach
1 t. garlic, minced
½ t. red pepper flakes
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Place chicken breasts on cutting board and drizzle with olive oil.
3. Add paprika, ½ t salt, garlic powder, and onion powder to a small bowl and stir.
Sprinkle evenly on chicken.
4. Cut a pocket into the side of each breast and set aside.
5. Add cream cheese, parmesan cheese, Mayonnaise, spinach, garlic, red pepper flakes, and ½ t salt to a small bowl and stir well.
6. Spoon the spinach mixture into each chicken breast evenly.
7. Place the chicken in a 9x13 baking dish. Bake uncovered for 25-30 min or until cooked thoroughly.