Deco mesh topiary

I love Deco mesh! I've become quite the addict since discovering it. I've noticed it's kind of hard to find though unless you're an online shopper. Most of my craft stores are very limited in their selection. 

I found this on the Michael's website & wanted to share some of the problems i ran into. Of course you don't have to use their supplies.  

This took much longer than the hour they stated. The floral pins also kept coming through the mesh. After more than a few, uh, very ladylike outbursts, I opted to cheat. Glue gun? Oh yeah! Armed with my alternative weapon, I managed to make sure every single piece was secure.  Just a little bit around the floral pin head is all you need. Good luck!

 (12") Deco mesh, whichever color you prefer 

FloraCraft® Styrofoam® Ball, 3"

Styrofoam® Block - Green

Celebrate It® Ribbon - Color/Style of Choice

Celebrate It® Tulle Spool - Color of Choice

Wooden Dowel, 12"

Ashland™ Clay Pot, 6"

Floral Pins

Low Heat Glue Gun

Scissors

Craft Knife

Step 1 Cut mesh into 6" wide strips. Each pot will use approximately 40-50 strips total, depending on how tightly they are curled.

Step 2 Roll curls lengthwise, then twist and fold at center to create a V shape.

Step 3 Pin through center and push into Styrofoam® ball. Repeat until ball is full, with no Styrofoam® showing except small gap.

Step 4 Push dowel into gap on ball. Remove dowel and fill hole with glue, then reinsert.

Step 5 Use craft knife to trim green Styrofoam® brick to fit inside the clay pot, level with the top. Glue corners of brick to pot if necessary.

Step 6 Insert other side of dowel into the center of the brick, deep enough to prevent wobbling, then remove. Fill hole with glue and reinsert dowel. Secure dowel to brick with additional glue if necessary.

Step 7 Fold and gather tulle around Styrofoam® brick, and pin as needed until foam is covered.

Step 8 Tie ribbon around pot and secure with glue if needed.

Healthy Lemon Garlic Shrimp

Ah shrimp. Yum! Butter, lemon & dill! Oil & seasonings on the grill. Delicious but not so healthy. As I'm not allowed oil or butter at the moment, I had to come up with something else. Truthfully, I may not go back to the butter later. Bet this works great on weight watchers too. Enjoy! 

1 lb shrimp, peeled & deveined

2 lemons

5 cloves of garlic, chopped

1/2 cup water

1 tbsp dill weed

Once shrimp is ready, toss in a skillet with the juice of 2 lemons, garlic, water & dill weed. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally until the shrimp turn that beautiful pink color. Eat it alone, over a salad, etc. it's all yummy! 

Getting my health back!

Many of you have seen the awful attempts at weight loss I've tried. With such a love of food, it becomes incredibly difficult. We all make excuses. We all find reasons for why it's ok to, "start tomorrow". I personally tried to convince myself that popcorn was totally a vegetable! And cake was part of a bread serving, right? 

I was always really thin & active, but I've always eaten whatever I wanted without consequences. It finally caught up with me. I wanted to make sure I got healthy not only for myself, but my son too. I need to show him that it's ok to eat cake once in a while, but it shouldn't replace a good meal. 

A friend of mine had been so sick with so many problems. She was on so many medications. The Drs. Basically gave up on her not knowing what to do. I think that saved her life. She got angry then she found this diet & took her life back. She's lost so much weight, alleviating so many of her health issues along with medications. I'm so proud of her. It gave me hope that I could do it too. She has helped me so much with this program. 

I am happy to say that I am down 25 lbs because of Omnitrition! I'm still not done. It's not always easy, but it's so worth it. I'm not allowed any oils, sugars or starches. Everything I love! I won't lie. I've had a few fits about it that would rival my toddlers. I miss bread & baking! BUT it's not forever. I know that this program has shown me the proper way to eat so that I can enjoy foods I love later, but will know how to eat them in moderation, which I've never been able to do. I've also discovered how to make healthy food that's delicious. It doesn't taste like I'm on diet, because it's real food! Not a box full of preservatives.  I'm so excited! I have so much more energy. I have fewer headaches. And my self esteem is managing to peek it's head out again. 

I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to change their lives not just what's on the scale. I cant wait to keep going until i am to my goal weight! http://www.omnitrition.com/joylarson