Trying To Get Some Prep Ideas

With Kickstart starting next Monday ( Join Here ), I'm trying to get some menus started.  

Tonight I'm making one serving of Hash Brown Egg Bowl from Diana's Delish Dishes.  I'm hoping this is something new to add to my breakfast rotation.  I probably made mine slightly different (store brand hash browns, store brand real bacon bits and 1/3 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar) as through the Weight Watcher app, I come up with 5 pts rather than 4, but that doesn't matter.  This packs a rather large calorie count for breakfast (around 500), however, I think it will keep me fuller for a longer period of time and I can do something lighter for lunch.  I'll round it out with some raspberries.  Right now it's in the oven and smells very good!

I did decide to go ahead and pay for the Kickstart Summer 2026 Journal in the PDF format.  I have the full version of adobe so I'm able to type on it via the computer.  Again, if you decide to join Kickstart it is free and any journal (or none at all) will work.

Now that the Hash Brown Egg Bowl is out of the oven....it looks delicious but way more than what I would eat in the morning; I'm now thinking that 1/2 of it along with the raspberries and one slice of 647 bread toasted will be better.  So I'll get 2 breakfasts out of it!  Which works too!

I'm Not Perfect

I'm not perfect....not in weight loss or other areas of life.  Perfection is not what it is about anyway; never aim for perfection...just keep moving forward.

A new KICKSTART session starts Monday, June 28th.  I'm going all in this time around; not all in mode with Weight Watchers (I find that too restrictive); but all in with Kickstart.  So I'll be joining the weight loss contest part and the book club part as well as doing the daily activity and exercise.  I need to do more! Kickstart is all about setting habits; not perfection and that's why I talk about it so much and encourage everyone to join.  It's free to join and the only part you would pay for is the weight loss contest, the book for book club and/or your Kickstart journal.  You don't have to join the weight loss contest or the book club and absolutely any notebook will work as your journal - or if you don't need a journal, don't use one (I don't).  Click the link above for more information and keep checking back for more information!  Kickstart is much better than the WW online meetings.

Let's Discuss Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs.....

I LOVE guinea pigs; I've loved them since I was little and have had guinea pigs for many years.

I currently have one right now; he's a skinny pig (aka: hairless) and despite being old for a skinny pig...he's still quite chipper.

Tonight I'll be acquiring 2 more that belong to my grandkids.  They are getting ready to move and don't really have the room; but more than anything the pigs need to be in a bigger enclosure and I do have that.

Cages.  If considering a guinea pig (best to buy in pairs, but I get it if you only want one); you need to buy the largest cage possible and most pet stores DO NOT sell appropriate cages.

If you ask online the better than you guinea pig owners will insist the only proper cage is what they call a C&C cage.  Several years ago, someone bought a set of those wire cube shelving units and created a cage out of it; they then purchased coroplast (used to make signs) to create a bottom for it.  Since then, anything other than a C&C cage is wrong.

Well, it's wrong....according to them; it's not wrong if you ask me.

I agree that you need large cages; I don't agree you need a C&C cage.  Here's some cages I would recommend:

Midwest Wabbitat Deluxe Extra Large    There is an extension you can get to add more space as well:

Wabbitat Extension

Midwest Guinea Pig Habitat  This can be purchased with or without the top; the bottom is canvas.  A piece of coroplast cut to fit the bottom would make it sturdier.  This cage is the closest you'll get to a C&C cage.

If you run a search through Amazon; you will find many different types of cages.  Always look for the LARGEST available and no wire bottoms - they are just bad for piggie feet (they are also bad for rabbit feet, don't use them).  This is a helpful guide:

Photo courtesy of Cagetopia

Want the C&C cages?  Cagetopia is a great place to start!  They've done it all for you.  There are a few others, but I'd start at Cagetopia.  There's tons of information there as well.

Bedding?  This becomes preference.  I really like the fleece liners; they are reusable and after the initial investment; much cheaper than shavings.  People sell them on etsy or if you know how to sew, you can make them yourself!  If you prefer shavings - stay away from cedar;  and pine shavings should be kiln dried (it'll say it right on the bag).  Aspen shavings are another good option as well as CareFresh.  Before fleece, CareFresh was the shaving everyone raved about, now not so much.

Remember to get guinea pig food (not rabbit, hamster, etc..).  And don't forget HAY; Timothy Hay is the standard.  And that's HAY not alfalfa.  Guinea pigs should always have hay available....always.

The Living Dead Weekend

Well, I arrived in Monroeville for the Living Dead Weekend.  Drive was uneventful and I got here earlier than expected!

Once I got checked in and things began to open.....I walked through the vendors to find Bodoro T. Dugrasima Creations.  She knits movie creatures!  I bought Sam (of Trick 'r Treat) from her last year and we have a fun time at work decorating him for holidays.

So this year I bought her Frankenbear to join Sam.  I named him Gus!

When Greg Nicotero got set up, I went to his table and had him sign my Funko Pop Woodbury Walker.  I knew he played a Woodbury Walker in The Walking Dead but wasn't sure if the Funko Pop was actually him as a walker - IT IS!!  We also did a selfie, which he always has to do, I told him "I give you my phone code every year, you never remember it..." and he said "You're right, I don't, but I lecture you on the dangers of that everytime!"  LOL!!  He then went to take the photos and I said "Wait, let me fix my hair." And then he said "Oh I'll fix mine too!"   There is no possible way not to LOVE this man!

I'm here the whole weekend, but I try to get as much done on Friday that I can.  Then I can relax.  Saturdays are normally the crowdiest and Sundays everyone trying to do what they miss.  Fridays aren't overly busy...so if I get everything done I need to then, I can relax more the rest of the time.  Like right now I'm at the hotel; I'll go back later for the late night activities for the VIP passes (I'm one) and though that will make a long night.....I can sleep in in the morning and go to the convention a little later!  

Last year a fan from England fell asleep in one of the massage chairs in the mall.  Someone took a photo and it went viral; he and that chair showed up everywhere, lol!!  I was getting something to eat in the food court and a guy in front of me looked like him, so I asked!  He laughed and said "I've been waiting for someone to say something!"  He's set up with that photo for autographs and selfies as well, lol!  And yeah, I had to do that!  That also gave me the opportunity to meet Michael Tomaso.  Michael had a zombie part in Day of the Dead and Michael also records many of the panels and takes tons of photos!  I bought last year's panel discs from him.  He's so very nice and knows the importance of documenting these events; especially since Wal-mart bought the property and plans on tearing it down. We've friended on FaceBook.

The late night activity is a viewing of the original Dawn of the Dead which was filmed right at the Monroeville Mall.  What could be better than watching the film in the mall where it was filmed!!!  Also had opening discussion by 3 of the stars:  Ken Foree, Gaylen Ross and Scott H. Reiniger!  

It was a late night though, didn't get out of the theater until about 1:30 a.m.!

Where I'm At Now

I'm still here, I'm still failing; but I'm not giving up.  I just wish I could get my head in the right place.

I would love to go to an in-person meeting; I'd upgrade to get that, but there are no evening ones in my area.  Evening meetings seem to be almost non-existent.  I can't figure out why WW doesn't care about those of us that work.

I've tried the virtual meetings; I just get nothing from them.  I have joined into some of the helpful ones that I'm allowed with my Core membership - they are informational and not inter-active.  I actually like that and wish WW would provide a Weekly topic one for their Core members.  Just a leader talking about the topic; no member participation.  It may be helpful.

I do still follow influencers and you can find new ones everyday.  Check my sidebar for sites I love.

I've also stopped daily weigh-ins; just too stressful.

Other than that, not much happening.  I am headed to Monroeville, PA for The Living Dead Weekend next week; mostly because, of course, Greg Nicotero will be there.  I do have a fan girl crush on him; he's so very nice and you never think you're talking to a celebrity.  He's just like you and me.

You can read about my past two trip  Here and Here.  It's one of my yearly highlights.  July will be Myrtle Beach with family.

But for now I'll just carry on and hope for the best.