My addiction includes a cheeseburger without onions, French Fries, and a Strawberry Shake.  This alone totals well over 20 points.  So without compromising my burger fix what do I do.  Well first off eliminate the strawberry shake.  This takes 16.5 points out of the picture.  Then can I reduce my cheeseburger points of 11.5 down.  Sure, lets make it a protein style.  By doing this I have made it 8 points.  Not bad.  Now the fries are a killer.  Those are 9 points and I am at a loss on what to do here.  Personally if I split them to get my fix it is only 4.5 points but can I use that much restraint? 

Other point values include a double double at 16 points and a hamburger at 9 points.  If you do ketchup and mustard instead of spread it is only 6.5 for a burger without cheese and with cheese it is 9 points.

I think the bottom line is, stay away, stay far far away.

Until next time….

Kim

If you are able to find this anywhere, get a bottle, grill up some burgers and enjoy.

Until next time…..

I have come to drink nonfat and decaf coffee items.  Decaf because I am trying to have a family and nonfat because it is better for you.  With that being said my addictions include a Grande Caffe Latte with 2 spendas.  A grande Caffe Latte is only 3 points which is pretty good actually.  Another is a Caramel Macchiato either hot or iced.  For a grande hot one it is 4.5 points and an iced one is 4 points.  For the afternoon I am addicted to the passsion ice tea lemonades.  These are 3.5 points for a vente.  I found while reading through the lists that some of the worst drings are the Eggnog Latte at 8 points and a plain old Mocha at 7 points.  But wait it gets better.  For the caramel that they put on your caramel macchiato you have to add .5 and for the whip cream if you don’t stop them before they put it on it is 2.5 points. 

Along with my coffee drink I love a little somthing something to eat.  I tend to go for the breads.  The Banana Nut Loaf is 8.5 points unless you buy it in Phoenix then it is 7.5 points.  And the Lemon pound cake is 9.5 points.  That is per slice.  So why not go reduced fat?  Ya right, for the reduced fat banana bread it is 9 points, the blueberry coffee cake is 7.5 and the cinnamon swirl coffee cake is 7.5. 

To recap:

Nonfat, decaf, Grande

Latte 3 points
Caramel Macchiato Hot 4.5 + .5 for the caramel
Iced 4 + .5 for the caramel

Passion Ice Tea Lemonade Vente 3.5

Breads, don’t even go there.  You kill your whole points with one thing.

I guess looking at the big picture it shows why america is like america is.  I am one of those to blame as well.  I look at what my niece gets everytime she goes for coffee with mom or grandma.  For a vanilla bean frappuccino in a tall it is 5.5 points without whipped cream.  For a 3 year old that is a huge caloric intake of 270.  Ouch!  I guess it is time for me stop thinking about change and doing it.

Until next time…..

Kim

Jamba Juice has only three 24 oz. smoothies that are under 5 points.  Scarry if you think about it.  According the the weight watchers break down I found that Strawberry Nirvana a Jamba Light has a 4 point count.  The Berry Fulfilling which is also a Jamba Light has a 4 point count as well.  And then Passion Berry Breeze also in the Jamba Light catagory is a 4.5 count.  These all come with Low Cal Dairy.  What about those fabulous Functional Smoothies like the Cold Buster or the Supercharger?  Or even the Green Tea smoothies?  Well sadly enough most of them are 7 to 11 points.  The Tahiti Green Tea is a 7 pointer and the Cold Buster is a 8 pointer.  Pretty scary if you think about how everyone tells you how healthy they are.  They really aren’t that healthy in the end.  Now if you want a boost with it well those are 0 points.  So if you want to add one of those in then by all means you won’t be killing your diet.

Keva Juice has become my new favorite though.  I have found their smoothies to be a little better for you.  For under 5 points you can only get the Berry Berry Good Smoothie which comes in at 4.5 points.  However, for under 6 points you get quite the choices.  The Citrus Sunrise which tastes like a creamsicle, Gimme Guava, Lime Me Passion Paradise, and Razmanian Devil all came in at 5.5 points.  And suprisingly enough the Ragin’Bull with Red Bull in it was 6.5 points.  I thought that was pretty good for a splurge.  Once again, the boosts are 0 points so add away.

Overall, I find that Keva Juice is probably the way to go if you have one available.  If not just remember to look at the points before you shop at Jamba Juice.

Until next time…..

We decided to give the Howard Johnson another try since it was in our budget.  The rooms are clean but the locations are horrible.  We had asked for an upper floor room.  Well we sure got that.  Instead of under the stairs overlooking a wall and empty pool we overlooked I-5.  The room was nice actually and we slept through the noice anyway so overall it was an upgrade.  If we had to we would stay there again.

On Sunday we went to Disneyland.  Walked outside to beautiful weather at 8 in the morning and by 2pm it was 100 degrees.  100 degrees in April seems a bit much, but …  The park was busy and the kids were grumpy and medical aid was booming due to overheating.  We stayed hydrated right well with the new Smart Water they have.  Get this I know there are a lot of cheap people out there but for 20 oz you get Dansani that doesn’t taste all that great but it is water for 2.75 of for 25 oz of Smart Water which I feel is 10 x better you pay 3.50.  I feel it is a much better bargin.  We didn’t ride to many rides, actually I found myself pin trading a lot.  There were tons of management out with great pins so I traded out my lanyard pretty darn quick.  Around 3 we decided we couldn’t brave the heat anymore and went back to the room to relax and shower.  At 6 we ended back at DCA actually which was packed beyond belief.  They were having the Food and Wine Festival.  We decided to try some of their tasty treats.  And if they add some to any of the menus in the future it will be a huge success.  The Tenderloin Slider was to die for.  After that we made a quick trip to get ice cream and back to Disneyland.  Since my hubby had to work early the next morning we made Finding Nemo our last ride and at 10pm headed back to the room.

Monday was quite a bit cooler and much more enjoyable crowd wise.  I ended up at Disneyland at about 9am bought some trading pins and went on my way.  When hubby joined me at 11:00 we decided to get a bite to eat and head from there to the airport.  While eating a Tuna Sandwich from the bakery I was greated bo Tom a Dream Maker.  We chatted for a bit as to while we were there then he asked if I wanted reserved seats to Billy Hill.  I gratiously agreed and was handed a great notice stating that myself and 3 others were invited to sit at a special table for the 1pm show.  Although we would be on our way to the airport I took it.  Probably the only time I will win something.  We arrived to LAX in pleanty of time to fly home.  As we were waiting for our flight who comes barreling in to our gate but Sean Penn.  He was on our flight.  After a chat with the flight crew he left then he came back about 1/2 later and sat right in the middle of the floor.  He of course got the first row but it was kinda funny that Sean Penn fly’s Southwest.  I guess it says something.

We ended up at home close to 8pm with an awesome weekend behind us.  But I will be back there in about a month.  Wait till that post I am staying on the Queen Mary and at the Disneyland Hotel.

Until then…..

With this being set it looks like there are going to be lots of opporunities to see movies at the theater along with purchasing some great movies to add to your collection.  And I have to remind myself that these don’t even include the Touchstone movies that are coming out like the Shopoholic Series or the new Harry Potter coming out in the fall or Indiana Jones on Memorial Day weekend.  I guess I better start saving.

Until next time…..

Kim

This museum will provide a permanent source of information on Disney, his accomplishments, and the period of American history tht he greatly influenced.  It will include a children’s learning center with hands-on art programs, an extensive collection of artifacts and archival material, exhibits on animation and motion pictures, a research center for scholars, exhibits of art works influenced by Disney, a book store/gift shop (gonna be spending a ton of money here), and a small cafe. 

Some of the highlights I read included extensive footage that has never been used of “behind the scenes” Disneyland. The earliest known drawing of Mickey Mouse which will be the Mona Lisa of the museum.  The cool part about this museum is the exhibits are going to rotate.  They are estimating on a period of three to six months per rotation.

I, myself, am anxiously awaiting Summer of 2009 to visit this museum.  Living only an hour away I feel that I can afford to take a small trip to San Francisco to visit some fabulous Disney history.  If you are ever in Northern California and are a huge disney fan like I am remember that not only will they have this museum but the family has a winery in the Napa Valley. 

Until next time………

Kim 

Ad Hoc

A nightly changing four-course menu is the premise of Thomas Keller’s newest Yountville restaurant, opened in the space that once housed the Yountville Diner and the Wine Garden.  It’s a casual, comfortable place and you may not know what’s on the menu until you arrive, but resta assured that chef Dave Cruz will treat you right.  The meal generally begins with either soup or salad followed by a main course that could be buttermilk fried chicken; lamb  T-bone with oven-dried tomatoes, capers, fingerling potatoes, caramelized fennel and broccollini; or skirt steak with a red and yellow bell peper stew and buttermilk onion rings.  That’s followed by a cheese course and dessert.

Cuisine: American

Specialties: Menu changes daily, but hope for the beef short ribs, which makes a periodic appearance.

Seats: 86

Price: $48.00 (fixed price); a la carte available at the bar

Vitals: 6476 Washington Street, Yountville; 707.944.2487 or www.adhocrestaurant.com.  Dinner nightly.  Beer and wine.  Reservations and credit cards accepted.

Although this review is spot on, there are a few things I would change.  The beef short ribs are a must try.  They are my absolute favorite.  And lastly they are open for Sunday brunch and I would strongly suggest making a reservation.

If you are interested in learning more about the restaurant you can visit their website at www.adhocrestaurant.com.  They even have a blog at www.blogthebacon.com.

And if you are ever in Yountville don’t pass this place up.

This morning I was waiting on my juice and found two interesting things I thought I would share.  First off here in Northern, CA they are serving FREE breakfast tomorrow from 6am to 10am.  You may want to check it out.  I don’t know what it consists of but hey its free and its breakfast.  Secondly I received a recipe card with 4 juice blends on it.  Some of them aren’t even on the board anymore to order and I wanted to share them with you.  Below were two of my favorites.

Raspberry Rush

1 cup raspberry juice
1 cup Dole raspberries
1/2 cup Dole bananas
1 cup nonfat vanilla frozen yogurt
1/2 cup ice

Add ingredients into a blender, cover, and blend until ingredients are smooth.

The second one is

Raspberry Royale

1 cup raspberry juice
1 cup Dole strawberries (fresh or partially tawed)
1/2 cup Dole pears
1 cup nonfat vanilla frozen yogurt
1/2 cup ice

Add ingredients into a blender, cover, and blend until ingredients are smooth.

I hope you all can have a chance to try one of these.  They truely can make your day.

When you enter into one of their shops the smells just overwhelm you.  There are just so many to choose from.  In each of the stores they have little bath tubs and sinks throughout so that you can try the products for yourself.  Periodically they offer bath bomb demonstrations and this is what got me hooked.  One of the Basin sales people cornered a whole group of us and asked us if we wanted to partake in a demonstration.  Hey I am all for one of these.  So she filled this little clawfoot tub up and then once it was full she asked us to pick a bath bomb and put it in the bath tub.  There are two sizes for these and we were only allowed to do the baby ones.  For the giant hotel bath tubs you can for sure use the larger ones.  So I dropped this lemon smelling bath bomb into the cute little bath tub and it fizzed up a storm.  It was so cool to watch.  I had the feeling of a little kid.  But I tell ya, once you do this and you buy 1 bath bomb to try it just once every time you go you have to get a few more. 

I was traveling with a little girl that had some allergies to different scents.  It was pretty cool because we actually found that most of the aromatherapy bath bombs she could use.  The Milk and Honey one is one of the best for little ones with allergies.  I myself love the Strawberry Lemonade with its yummy strawberry smell and summertime lemonade smell.  You put one of those bad boys in on a rough day and all of a sudden you find yourself sitting in a lawn chair with not a care in the world.  For a little fun with the little ones I have found that the hidden treasure provides a variety of fun.  One it has a great strawberry smell and the kids love the fizz and secondly when the bomb is done there is a little toy in the center.  I wouldn’t recommend it for little little ones.

Basin offers some of their cool products online, however, if you have a chance to go to one of their stores at the Walt Disney Theme Parks you will find some cool items that you don’t find online.  Mickey Mouse bars of soap is a great example.  I bought a few of these the last time and they are so fun to have around the house or give as gifts.