I wonder how long I can continue to use the excuse “But I just squeezed a watermelon out of a hole the size of a nostril (translation: I gave birth)!” before I have to return to a normal lifestyle and resume responsible, balanced eating. I have to admit that I’ve been stuffing my face with junk food that I normally (for obvious reasons) avoid for the last several weeks, using child birth as an excuse to justify my reckless and completely irresponsible behavior.

One of the junks that I’ve been consuming pretty much non-stop is chocolate chip cookies (and McDonald’s fries and ice cream and cheese and pizza and potato chips and …). I ate at least a dozen on my last baking spree, and I made more dough this morning just so that I have it handy when the urge strikes.

Instead of baking all the cookies, I’ve decided to refrigerate the dough and make the cookies on an “as needed” basis this time. I’m hoping that this will help me control the portion that I consume … if I still have an ounce of willpower left, that is.

(This should be perfect since some believe that letting a dough sit for a few days can result in even better cookies.  Here’s a great NY Times article on this subject.)

Another bad habit that I acquired after the birth of the baby is mindless television watching!  Eeek. I survived so many years without having television, but my old habit has sadly returned. Between feeding the baby, changing diapers, and running around like a crazy woman, all I want to do during the down time is to sink my tired and sleep-deprived butt onto a couch and watch TV.  Movies are good but it’s rare that I can sit down for two-plus hours to finish a flick these days, so a show with 30 to 45 minute increment serves me perfectly.

(Photos from ABC Family)

My newest TV obsession is Bunheads on ABC Family, a show that follows four (some very precocious) teenage ballerinas (hence the title “bunheads” because their hair is pulled back in a bun) and the relationship they form with an ex-Vegas showgirl who haphazardly comes into their lives, in a small, fictitious coastal town called Paradise.  I purchased the show on Amazon Prime (because I still don’t have cable) and watched the entire season in almost one sitting.  I’m officially addicted to the show.

(Photos from ABC Family)

Sutton Foster plays the dancer protagonist and I am absolutely in love. I’ve been a fan of hers since I first saw her in the Broadway production of Les Miserable back in 2000 (she was the understudy for Eponine and happened to serendipitously perform on the show that night) and have watched her stage career blossom over the years. It’s refreshing to see her transition into mainstream (without selling out) in a wonderfully-written and important show like Bunheads. She, and the entire cast (which includes Jeanine Mason, the winner of So You Think You Can Dance, Season 5), are absolutely fabulous.

The unfortunate thing is that the show is in the danger of cancellation, only after one wonderful season. The fate of the show is still up in the air, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we can continue to watch how life unfolds for Michelle (Foster), Bunheads, and all the whacky and quirky residents of Paradise.

Please don’t cancel this show!  Keep the Paradise alive!  I promise I’ll cut down on the chocolate chip cookies consumption to … um … every other day!  Deal?