Baton Rouge Bonanza!

Food and Quilts and Quilts and Food, is there anything else better to keep me busy? It’s a constant battle to fight re-gaining the 30+ lbs I have lost in the past two years right back, and yet at the same time I know that food—GOOD food—not junk food—is one of life’s greatest pleasures!

I’ve thought a lot about it. Why do we struggle so much with this issue? Where is the balance between living a healthy life at a maintainable weight – and still enjoying good food, good friends, good fun? Where does that scale tip?

((If I really had to answer honestly, it tips because I can’t resist!!))

I’ve tried to leave my big meals as my dinners. And because of the meeting schedule I’ve been on, it’s always been an early dinner.

However, while in California, the hotel provided a full cooked breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes or french toast, hashbrowns, toast, bagels, muffins, fruit, etc…and because it was there ((and included)) I ate it!

Yes, I was going going going and walking as much as possible to burn it off, but I’m a bit freaked out about all the eating out!

Here in Baton Rouge, we stopped at Fresh Market to pick up a couple yogurts, fruit, and cereal bars for my breakfast since the hotel doesn’t provide breakfast, and I’m feeling a bit better about that…

Today I did salad and soup for lunch, I feel okay about that ---but we went to TJ RIBS for dinner….and started out with THIS!

Do you know what THIS is?! It’s eggplant spears! I’d love to pass this off as a “vegetable food group”, but who would I be fooling?!? It’s strips of eggplant battered and deep fried, topped with mozzarella and served with marinara and ranch. OMGoodness! But never fear, this platter served about 10 of us, we all shared bits and pieces just to have a taste.

And you know, I ordered CHICKEN as my entrée, but it came with a side of grilled sausage! LOL! And Squash Casserole and a bowl of Sauteed Garlic Mushrooms. Low cal meal? I think not! Oh, and don’t forget the cup of GUMBO that I had to have, because after all it IS Louisiana!

I’m setting the alarm for 6am and hitting the elliptical trainer in the fitness room before tomorrow’s workshop! I’ve been told there are plans to bring Beignets to tomorrows class, and you know what? I certainly am NOT going to turn them down!

I will be amping up my gym routine as soon as I get home, but you know what? The ONLY time I want to be skin & bones is when I'm 6 ft under. Life is to enjoy ALL of the senses. It's just a balance between portion size and frequency!

Wanna see what we did today? These are the pics from the Cathedral Stars workshop!

		Cathedral Stars 1-27-2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Our lecture/trunkshow tonight was hosted by the River City Quilters of Baton Rouge, with an open invitation to all other area guilds to come attend too! We had a full house, lots of laughs, plenty of questions and a terrific evening of being together!