Quinoa-roni & Cheese Recipe

Hey Friends- I made this for dinner tonight and it came out really good so I thought I would share- Enjoy!

Quinoa-roni & Cheese

For the quinoa: 2 cups quinoa
3 cups chicken stock

Rinse the quinoa in cold water and drain. Put the quinoa in a large covered saucepan and add chicken stock. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. (No liquid should remain.)

In a large bowl, combine: 4 cups (16 oz.) shredded sharp cheddar, 24-oz. container low-fat cottage cheese, 2 turkey sausages cut on the diagonal

In a medium bowl, whisk together: 0.5 cup whole-grain flour, 2 cups milk, 2 Tbsp honey mustard

In a large saute pan: saute 1 medium onion, chopped, in olive oil with 1 tsp kosher salt until tender and translucent, add milk/flour/honey mixture and stir until thickened. Add the thickened mixture to the bowl with the cheese/sausage. Add the cooked quinoa. Stir to combine. Dump everything into a 9x13 casserole (sprayed with nonstick spray)

Bake at 350 for about an hour.

This makes enough for a 9x13 dish

oh helllloooo

Hi friends, I thought I'd stop by and check in. I don't have to much to say, but I wanted to let you all know I am feeling GREAT with the unfill I got 2 weeks ago! I am able to eat normal foods, and have only gotten stuck once. It is such an amazing feeling to not have to worry about where I am going to PB next. I have gained about 2lbs, but I think most of that is due to me being able to eat bread again. I was able to eat 2 slices of pizza this weekend with no issues, I did feel full but I was so excited to eat it, and it tasted so good I just kept eating. Time to get serious now, and start focusing on more protein.

Rick and I got a new addition to our family this past weekend and I want to introduce him to everyone, his name is simba!



He is a lion head bunny and is about a year and a half old. He is such a sweetheart and I am so excited to have him!

And just because I feel like sharing pictures today, I had to share this one from our honeymoon! I forgot to tell everyone, when we were in St.Marten I persuaded Rick to go to a nude beach with me! Clothing was optional, he opted in, and I opted out...well for 5 minutes anyway lol. It was so liberating to go running in the ocean naked without a care in the world. I definitely recommend trying it once in your life, here is a picture of me there (before I decided to strip)
Happy humpday, hope everyone has a fantastic day! xxoo

Band update after Dr's visit

Hey love bugs! Thanks for all our comments of concern, it meant so much to see that so many of you have been through the whole vertigo thing as well! I am feeling so much better, the vertigo is practically gone, my ears aren't hurting to bad..its mostly just sinus stuff right now. PHEW!

So I went for my visit with my band dr. today, finally! I weighed in at 173.3, which is about what they had me at in March at my last visit. She wasn't concerned with my lack of weight loss, she knew how busy I have been. She did ask how my eating has been and I told her about my PB'ing daily, she said just a minute and stepped outside. She then came back in the room and told me to go to radiology immediately for an ESD. ESD?? I asked. It's an esophagus stomach and duodenum test, much like a barium swallow. So I headed down where I was changed into a gown and brought right back into the examination room. It worried me how they were taking me so quickly, usually these tests take weeks to get. So I sat on table and a Dr. came in and had me swallow the barium, (ahemmm chalk like stuff) and move into all kinds of different positions. I could see on the screen the barium moving through my system, and I could see my band, which made me happy. He had me swallow standing up, laying down on my back, laying my stomach, my side, every which way (this sounds kinda dirty lol) I was then done and sent back upstairs to my band dr. She had the results by the time I was back, and had a smile on her face (thank god) She said my band was perfectly fine, but that the barium was barely trickling through my band and that I was way to tight. She said my esophagus looked a little dilated, but this was most likely due to being to tight. She decided to take out 1.5cc's and thought that should give me some relief. She said to come back if I was starving or still pb'ing, and they would slowly put some back in. I think I am around 6cc's at this point and I feel great! I just had a stuffed pepper for lunch, and it went right down! Phewwww.

I am so happy that I made the call and went in, I feel instant relief knowing my band is OK, and that I can now move on with my progress. I also expressed to her how shitty it made me feel to have lost 80lbs but still be considered obese by the BMI charts because I am so damn short. She told me how much she hated the BMI scale, and that I am doing terrific, and to not focus on the #'s so much. That seems to be the trend for July on blogger- not focusing on the #'s, just doing what you know, and being healthy! I asked if the clinic had thought of getting one of the high tech scales that can measure muscle and water and all that jazz, so that patients can stop worrying about the stupid BMI scale. She said it had been brought up a few times, and they hope to get one. I really hope they do, because that would help so many people realize that just because their weight is not going down, they may be gaining muscle mass.

Well that was my day today. I am getting ready to head home to Maine until Tuesday, I can't wait! I hope everyone has a safe 4th! xoxoxoxoxo

my world is spinnnnnning

Hey Everyone- So I know I promised I was back, and well...I haven't posted in awhile.

The thing is- I was diagnosed with vertigo and a double ear infection yesterday...and it sucks! I have never in my life experience anything as shitty as this vertigo thing. For those of you who don't know what it is, its a type of dizziness where you feel like the room is constantly spinning- much like as when you are wasted and get the 'spins'. My Dr. said it was most likely brought on by my ear infections, so its good to know I'm not going crazy! She put me on antibiotics and some crazy dizzy medicine that knocks me out. I have been home sick for the past 2 days and haven't been doing much of anything. I haven't had any dizzy spells yet today though, so I'm hoping I can get back to work tomorrow, and then get on with the week to finally enjoy my 4th of July weekend back home in Maine.

As for my band I have an appointment Thursday @ 9am for a checkup. I am going to have them run a complete blood work up on me to check my cholesterol, thyroid, vitamin levels...all that good stuff. Let's hope everything comes back OK. The good news is, with all this crazy dizziness I haven't felt much like eating and am down 3 lbs! wahooo!

I hope everyone is having a good week, and has an awesome 4th of July. I will let you know how my appt goes Thursday! xxoo

Hey Everyone!

Hi my name is Kristen and I am in a rut...so I'm in need of some help/advice/mojo.

I CANNOT get my ass to the gym, I don't know what to do! Nothing seems to motivate me, and I mean NOTHING! Rick is getting up every morning @ 5:30 asking me to go, and I just can't find it in me to go. I haven't worked out in well over 6 weeks, and I haven't lost a lb in over 6 months! I NEED to get back on track and I NEED to lose these last 15 lbs to get me to a normal BMI. I can't find it in me, the idea of going to the gym seems like torture to me right now and I don't know why. I know once I start going and get back into a routine I'll be fine, but I just don't know how to do that. The answer seems so simple, just deal with it and go..but the idea of setting foot in the gym makes me want to cry...am I going crazy? Last night Rick asked me if I wanted to go to the gym in the morning and I just cried. Do I want to go to the gym? Hell NO! Do I need to? Hell YES! What is the sudden irrational fear of the gym? Has this ever happened to anyone?

Rick and I have the same band dr. and he has been going regular for check ups and fills- she mentioned at the last appt. that she hasn't seen me in 6 months and told him to tell me to come in. FANTASTIC. That's going to be a great appt. NOT! I'm up probably 2 lbs from the last time she saw me. Do I need a fill? NO! Do I need an un-fill? Possibly. I just don't know what I want or need. I am so mentally and physically confused. Some days I eat just fine, other's I PB everything. Am I eating the wrong foods? Sometimes...but yesterday it was just chicken that did it.

Sorry for this rambling and whiny post...I just don't know what to do. Any advice would be appreciated! Love you guys!

Guess who's back?!?

Hey Everyone!!! So it's been almost 2 months since I last posted and that makes me sad. I have been so overwhelmingly busy, that I haven't had much time, but now I am back and ready to start blogging. I've learned a lot about myself these last few weeks, I think I have an obsessive personality. I become obsessed with things and dedicate every waking moment to them..I'm not really sure how to describe it. For the last 2 years it has been blogging and everything band related, then about 6 months ago the wedding obsession came into play, and I spent every second on theknot and etsy, then it was the honeymoon obsession where I was obsessed with cruisecritic.com and planning all of our excursions for every minute of the trip. Well now I am glad to say I am back on the BANDwagon and ready to start obsessing with blogging and my band again!

Things have been OK band wise, I only gained 3 lbs on our honeymoon, so not to bad. The reason I only gained 3 lbs though, isn't as exciting as I wish it was. No, it wasn't due to the massive amount of "exercise" I did. It was because my band was super tight, and I PB'd probably everyday. I was never uncomfortable or in pain, it just sucked not to be able to keep much down. I'm not sure if it was me being so anxious, the weather change or what...but since I've been home I've been OK. Thank god for the 24/7 soft serve machine lol. I'm holding steady around 172lbs right now, but I'm ready to get back into the 160's. It's time to settle down and get back into a normal routine.

Today is my first day back to work since May 19th..I don't even know where to start. I guess that's what helped me to write this post...procrastination of starting work.

So I'm not sure where to start with all the blogs I've missed. It looks like a few of you are having band issues, and removals?!? Steph got her neck done (it looks amazing!)God a lot happened quickly. What else is new? I would love to be filled in, I will try and read back on posts, but if anyone wants to send me an email to catch up I would love to chat! I Hope everyone is well. I will leave you all with our 'teaser' video from the wedding, hope you enjoy!!!

05.21.11 Kristen & Rick from NH Images on Vimeo.

Bridal Shower Bash

Hi Everyone- As promised- here are pictures from my amazing bridal shower that took place Saturday. The location was a total surprise- It ended up being on the ocean in Salisbury MA. It was freakin AMAZING- I couldn't imagine a more gorgeous location or shower. This is my gorgeous 'bouquet' that was made from all the ribbons and bows from our gifts

This is my mommy and I. *LOVE* her!

This is me with my best friends Rachel and Nicole (who you all know)

This is my beautiful bridal party- I couldn't ask for a better group of ladies

Look @ this cake! Have you ever seen anything like this? It was un-real!! Rick proposed @ a lighthouse, so the girls went with nautical theme

This is our overwhelming stack of gifts- It took us 2 hours to get through them all! We got so many amazing gifts.

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. I am going back to kickboxing tonight and guess who I'm dragging with me? Yup- I talked Rick into giving it a try! Wish us luck! xxoo