Hello BL friends!
Hope you are all safe and warm today!

I hear there is a big snowstorm hitting alot of the US so be careful out there if you have to go out. We just heard on the radio the roof of the Metrodome in Minn. collapsed under the weight of snow! We had a good weekend and I finally got out of the house

We went to the big Christmas Market in Nuremberg, it was very neat. We left here at 7:45 this morning and got there right at 10:00 before it opened at 10:30. You should really spend a whole day there to soak in the atmosphere but of course my guys are ready to go after 2 hours!
I made them stay until 1:00 and by 3:30 we were back home. Got some neat Christmas presents, a few new ornaments for us and we ate some very tasty foods. They are famous for their tiny brats, they look alot like the link sausage that I am used to seeing in the US. They are cooked on an open charcoal grill, they put 3 on a soft roll and you can put mustard/ketchup on it.
Their other specialties are an almond/spice cookie and fruit bread. It was freezing cold, about 1 degree Celsius, which is probably mid 30's F.
I sound like a broken record, but I have not had the best weekend in terms of eating. I really need to get serious! Thankfully I am exercising enough and not eating TOO much of the bad foods so that I can just barely keep things in check. I am really pushing the envelope though and you know what they say about a slippery slope.....I am holding on hard and trying not to fall all the way backwards. The old me would say screw it until after the Holidays but I'm wise enough to know now that could mean going backwards 10 pounds or so. I need to keep myself in line as many days as possible!
Thanks for all the ideas for being stuck inside during cold/bad weather! Tayrn, I love the idea of the job jar! I used to have a WATP video. I don't remember it being too strenuous, but I think it was just the one mile one.
CC, I'm adding the one you mentioned to my list and Lisa, I will search for the online Zumba classes-neat! Kathy, I think the Wii dance video sounds fun too and maybe one of the BL exercise videos. That's alot of variety right there to keep me going !!

Yesterday, I tried to jump rope inside. We do have a place in the apt with a high ceiling so that's something else I could do. I only made it 49 jumps before I quit! VERY hard for me and I could feel that sore place in my butt again where I fell

I thought that was gone

After that, I did a short circuit with 2.2 kg hand weights. The lunges were very hard for me. It's good to do something different, I thought I was in such better shape based on my running and elliptical work but now I'm not so sure

I will try the jump rope again. Not sure if I should jump with both feet or one foot at a time, both were hard
Lindsay, so sorry to hear about DH's Nana

I'm glad you are there for your boys to carry on a normal routine for them. That's important for kids during times like this, esp during the Holiday season. You are a great wife and Mom !
QOTD Saturday: I have definitely been thinking of eating more fruit since hearing it was now "free" on WW. I typically eat a banana and an apple every day but was brainstorming to think of other fruits I can eat at this time of year and/or picking up some canned fruit.
QOTD Sunday: My first thought was that shopping does not affect my weight loss efforts but look at what happened today....eating and shopping went hand in hand. Thinking of the Malls at home too, there are plenty of temptations there. I think it's important to have a game plan, maybe carry your own snacks to eat or make sure you are home by meal time. Plan to have crockpot meals or quick healthy meals since you'll be shorter on time. Or take advantage of online shopping!
Tayrn: I'm so glad you are not cancelling your NYE trip with the family! It sounds like you have a good game plan for keeping the cost down and I think you will really enjoy getting away with the family. It sounds like a fun resort!
Kim: Good to hear from you and CONGRATS on losing 25 pounds

That's AWESOME!!! Maybe I should be listening more and talking less

For some reason, I find it so motivating to hear the successes as well as the setbacks of others. It really makes me try harder. I'm not sure how I am still wearing my same set of rings even though I gained 76 pounds since my wedding 16 years ago

(23.5 pounds of that are now gone) I rarely take them off but when I do I think my rings have just deformed my ring finger into a smaller size!
Nicole: You can keep sharing those nuggets of information your sister tells you when you have time

And, you can still give her a hard time about it

And,

for your PF. I am a sufferer too.
Congrats on reaching 15 pounds lost !!!
Deb: So glad you are celebrating Hunter's health this year!!
Pamela: Keep on pumping DH full of those healthy juices with vitamins! He is lucky to have you there! And, happy with the low 130's ????? I should hope so !!!!!!! That's awesome!
Kathy: You are doing so well getting out in the cold to train for the Princess. I am in amazement!
Dona: Enjoy your NYC trip. We are considering adding a few days in NYC to our visit when we are at home

DH and DS have never been. I can get our flights and decent hotel for 3 full days and 2 nights for all 3 of us for about $400-$500pp. But, I know we would spend a ton of money on activites and food once we got there so I am still debating it. I might see if we can use some Delta miles to fly free and get the cost down more. I need to think quickly because the best dates for us would be Dec 21 - Dec 23.
I want to see the Rockettes show again and a couple of other shows too. I need to research what shows there are right now. Just musing outloud right now I guess.....
Tayrn: I think you are exactly right with your tradition of letting Santa bring one gift for each child and the others are from Mom/Dad. We really let the Santa thing get out of hand and we don't do any set thing from year to year except each year seems to get bigger and bigger. It's hard to go back now. Last year it was a little less since we had Christmas in the USA and could only bring so much back over here. It will be the same this year. I've made sure to tell DS his new Timberland boots are a BIG part if his Christmas!!
I would stick to your tradition and make the season more about the time spent together, family parties, special Christmas movies/popcorn as a family, the Church things, and of course your great trip!
Good luck with the party today!
Hope I didn't miss anyone!

and

to all who need it today!
I need to sign off and go work on my German homework now. I have a BUSY Monday and Tuesday so I will enjoy it since I'm usually stuck at home doing nothing!!! We are having frozen pizza for supper and a few other leftover items and going to watch SC II and SC III tonight if there's time for both!
We leave for the USA in 6 days!!! I can hardly believe it !!
Shawn
