Biggest Loser--Fall 2011 Challenge for Losers & Maintainers!!

[dvccruiser76]

Sorry I didn't post today! Felt like crap all day! My stomach hurt and I got sick once. Didn't really eat much today and am still feeling bloated and have a headache. I stayed home and laid on the couch and watched almost a whole season of Lark Rise to Candleford. Got one more disk and then Season 4 to watch. I got in a nap for awhile. Hoping to feel better tomorrow as I do have a client at noon. We have two soccer games on Saturday and Ash has a make up game on Sunday. We will go to church and then come home, eat lunch, and go to the game.

Back to watching Big Bang Theory! We're a few minutes behind!

Hi Tracey,
Hope you're feeling better. I love the Big Bang Theory

At the moment I really like "Moves Like Jagger" by Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera

Ha! I just downloaded that song to my ipod last night before my run

Sue-Thanks for being our weightkeeper, and nice job on the running, but rest is important too, especially if you're feeling sore. We are going to do a 5k in wakefield on Thanksgiving morning if you're interested. Michael and I did it last year with some friends. It's called the Earn your TUrkey 5k. Check it out if you'll be around. It was such a fun way to start the day.

Hi Kathy,
Thanks for the invite, but we'll be at the in-laws in NH. I have tax season every year, so we do Easter here with my mom and Thanksgiving up there since we go for the weekend.

We went to the Fair today in the not so great weather. But, with bad weather comes smaller crowds which was nice

Sue, wow that's a lot of running! Don't forget those rest days, too. Those rest days are when your muscle rebuilds and you get stronger.

The Aulani thing is in the planning stages now. If we go it would be in June after school gets out which puts our booking window in November. From what I've read on the DVC boards availability isn't a problem now, even at 7 months. I love to live vicariously through other people's vacations, too.

Okay, I will be crossing my fingers for you in November. You got me thinking so I checked out the points. They're not too bad, but I'd want a good view so then it gets pricey with the points. It might be a bank/borrow plan some year when we go. DS is wayyyy to young for a flight that long. The poor boy threw up on our flight to Orlando so I can only imagine

Happy "still dark o'clock" friends! DD actually got a RIDE to swim this morning. I still had to drive her to the meeting spot (about 15 minutes from home) at 5am, but I did NOT have to go all the way to the Y and be social with other parents before the crack of dawn!

Ugh, this morning DS woke up a little before 6 and I could have sworn that it was like 3 AM it was so dark out



Hi everyone, just a little reminder to keep those weights coming. This is the 3rd week of weigh-ins, so I'd hate to take people off the list for missing 3 weeks in a row already

 

[buzz5985]

GOOOOOOD MORNING!!

QOTD: To go along with the Healthy Habit challenge of keeping your mind sharp, What was the last book you read?

One week from today, we'll be at Epcot for the Food & Wine Festival! We plan to spend a little bit of time in Future World and then most of the afternoon in World Showcase. We'll take an afternoon break and come back for dinner at Sunshine Seasons and more time in Future World.

DQOTD: What is your favorite World Showcase country? Why?

I'll be back later with my own answers and replies.

The last book I enjoyed reading - was Water for Elephants. I just finished reading Cutting for Stone - it was torture to get through and would not recommend it. We listened to a teen series on our ride to WDW this past summer - the Hunger Game, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I can highly recommend that series. It was on DS 9th grade summer reading list.

My favorite country - would probably be England. We love to eat outdoors at the Rose & Crown, or have a beer and watch Illuminations. Love the entertainment and the shops. Years ago I would have said Germany - but that was before they turned it into a buffet for dining. Love the stores there.

I keep forgetting I wanted to share on here a website that I have been using to try to get more organized and keep my family organized too. It is www.cozi.com . I am using the Flylady version (where I heard about it). It is pretty cool! I have been experimenting with different Ipod apps for calendar, grocery list, to do list, menu planning and all that other stuff I need to keep track of. This has been great!

It is online but there is an Ipod app that you can use offline like when you are shopping. I am a little wary of the fact that it is online in cyberspace but I am not putting much in the way of personally identifiable information on it--no last name, no specific locations. Because it is online anyone in the family and log in from their computer like at work and see the calendar, grocery list, to do list etc and add to it. It is working great for the kids. I have a To Do list set up as MENU and list my meals for the week. I think that if I put a specific date on them it would put it on the calendar but I haven't tried that yet. You can set up multiple shopping lists like one for the Grocery Store, one for Costco, one for Target, one for the drug store etc...

You can make a list of online recipes you want to try by pasting the link on a list and it will make a clickable link so it is easy to go back and find it. There is also a Journal feature which you could use to track your foods if you want.

There are a lot of other cool features-- like you can integrate the Flylady tasks into it so they are automatically on your calendar, make reoccurring appointments, send reminders to your email or your phone and a bunch of other stuff.

I tried a lot of things but couldn't find anything that I like that works and automatically syncs between my computer and my Ipod, this one is great! It is really ALL the features I have been looking for in one place. And I love that the kids can put the app on their Ipods (we all have touches) and have our schedule when they are away from home if they want to make plans.

This has been my unpaid endorsement of the day!!!

I use Cozi!!! Its great. What's even better is I was able to import the school districts calendar into it, the Scout calendar too. Love the text messages as reminders of appointments. I will have to look into the Flylady version.


Janis

 

[bellebookworm9]

Although Carved in Bone was the last one I read and I liked it all right. About a forensic scientist in the south.

QOTD: I don't think I have a favorite country. Although we love WS it never seems like we spend enough time there. Last trip we really focused on the streetsmophere so saw tons of great performances. (Thanks Steve Soares--did I get the name right?!) I had also thought about getting a pearl from Japan, and we were there, but once again not enough time!

Yesterday I picked some apples from our tree. I had a box on the ground and as I placed the first couple in, the dog trots on over, sticks his head in the box, and takes one out. Munch Munch Gulp I was laughing as I scolded him. He came over again but only picked up the ones on the ground.

Carved in Bone sounds interesting, I recommended it to my friend that loves the show Bones. I did the Pick a Pearl at Downtown Disney, it didn't take too long and I had bought the necklace setting for it on ebay, so didn't have to wait for that. Your dog sounds like mine-he'll eat anything and everything!

The last book I read was The Help. I loved it. I have a pile of books stacking up and need to find more time to read.

I want to see The Help, and I think I'll add the book to my list of things to read. Going to request it from the library now!

Hmmm, my favorite WS country...I would probably have to say France. Something about it always draws me in!

I absolutely love the soundtrack to the movie there! Part of it is drawn from the Aquarium movement of a famous suite called "Carnival of the Animals", which is also what the theme for "The West Wing" from Beauty and the Beast is based on as well.

A bit embarrassing. The last book I read was The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan. It is actually a book series for young readers.

Don't worry, I read "teen" books all the time, and my favorite series is still Harry Potter.

Decision #1: My DBF and I decided on Sunday that we want to go at least mostly vegan.

One of my suitemates last year is vegan. She had several cookbooks and cooked all the time. She would let me sample stuff occasionally and it was really yummy! I'll ask her about some of the cookbooks.

The last book I enjoyed reading - was Water for Elephants. We listened to a teen series on our ride to WDW this past summer - the Hunger Game, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I can highly recommend that series.

I also want to read/see Water for Elephants. I just went to request that from the library also and it seems the system is down at the moment. I've heard a lot of good recommendations for the Hunger Games series, but I don't know if it's something I'd like to read.

*****************
Today was a bad day with eating. I did go to Yoga and I did track everything, plus I did most of the Healthy Habits for the day as well. I had a friend come over earlier and we kind of watched Bride Wars with Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson-it was really dumb. Then we went to another friend's house and watched a stand up comedian on NetFlix-Gabriel Iglesias. He was quite funny and had a joke about Splash Mountain that will make me forever change the way I view that ride!

 

[bellebookworm9]

QOTD 10/2: In my townhouse, we've instituted Sunday Dinner. We rotate weeks and each person makes a meal of their choosing. Sometimes we invite friends, and it's a chance for us all to be together and discuss our week and bond while enjoying a great (and usually healthy meal). Do you do something like this with your friends and/or family?

One week from today we will hopefully be sleeping! Actually, we'll be spending a second day at Epcot for more Food & Wine Festival, and we'll be watching IllumiNations for the third night in a row.

DQOTD 10/2: What is your favorite night time spectacular? It can be from any park and/or any special event.

Mine is obviously IllumiNations. It never gets old. I also really like SpectroMagic, Wishes, and World of Color. I've never seen WoC in person, but I watch it on YouTube and just stare in awe for 30 minutes, and I really like the soundtrack. The Holiday Wishes soundstrack is also pretty awesome, as is the soundtrack for Remember...Dreams Come True because a)It's narrated by Julie Andrews who has one of the most soothing voices ever, b)"Shenandoah" is worked in, which is one of my favorite instrumental songs and c)it features vignettes from a ton of Disneyland rides.

 

[donac]

Good Sunday morning everyone.


Lots to do today. I need to go to church and then grocery shopping. I need to plan dinner for tonight. Most of the rest of the week is in my freezer. I still have some chili that I made a couple of weeks ago in my crockpot. I also have meatballs and sausage in there, some chicken breasts and pork chops. Now I just have to add the rest of the stuff to the stuff in the freezer. I also have to go with a friend to the yarn store to get somethings to make crocheted frisbees for our kids for Christmas presents.

Dh and I were just getting ready to go to a big local produce place near us when a friend called and asked us for dinner. We usually do pot luck so she had a main course so I told her I would bring a salad and dessert. So it was perfect that we were just getting ready to go out ot this place since it has a bakery, all sorts of prepared stuff and lots of fruits and veggies. We got a couple of pies to bring, some nachos and salsa and then apples and veggies. They had small honey crisp apples so I got a bag.

I had two small pieces of pie at dinner last night. We had gotten a pumpkin and a blueberry. I loved the pumpkin but did not like the blueberry because I think it was too sweet. I will send the rest of the blueberry to school with dh tomorrow. I have no desire to eat it which is a big change for me.

QOTD to answer.

Last book. I have not picked up my nook in about a week which is strange. I am such a big reader that I could not remember the last book I read until I really thought about it. The last one was Patty Lupone's bio. The school I work with did Evita a few years ago and what Patty went through was very much like what our star went through. I now have to drop it off so that girl's mom could read it.

I am also a Janet Evanovich fan. I remember picking up #6 and starting to read and saying I need to start at the beginning or else I will never understand anything. I went and got #1 and starting reading. If anyone was going anywhere near the bookstore I would give them money to get the next one. I have read everyone of the One for the Money Series. Her latest comes out in Nov which is a change for her. The first movie comes out in Jan. Debbie Reynolds plays Grandma Mazur. I think it is perfect casting.

I don't have a favorite county. I love the movie in Canada, the performance in America, the rides in Mexico and Norway and the resturant in Japan.

I just had a fun dinner with another couple last night. About once a month she will call and we will do a pot luck dinner, go hot tubbing and maybe talk about crocheting and knitting.


I love the Main Street Electrical Parade and am hoping it is still playing when we are there next summer. I also light the Electrical Water Pageant.

Off to get dressed for church

Have a happy and healthy day.

 

[tigger813]

Maria- We decided to pick up some Chinese food from Karma in Westford after the soccer game. I'll probably make some spicy chicken dip for later too.

Having a pretty good weekend. Only up .2 so far. Hoping to not blow it today with the Chinese food. Gotta pick up a few groceries today too. I'll probably grab those while waiting for the Chinese food.

Probably do some cleaning this afternoon while watching the Patriots game. I also need to make our menu for the week. I will have to do some major shopping on Wednesday morning as we are getting low on lots of stuff.

Time to finish getting ready for church!

TTFN

 

[mikamah]

GOOOOOOD MORNING!!

QOTD: To go along with the Healthy Habit challenge of keeping your mind sharp, What was the last book you read?

Manhunt by Janet Evanowich. I want to read the Stephanie Plum series so many of you have recommended, but they didn't have the first book as the second hand book store, so I bought this one instead. Right now I'm reading The Time travelres Wife, and really like it. I am usually a vacation reader, and normally don't read all the time, but since school started ds and I end the day from 8-830 laying on my bed reading our books, so I've made the time to read, and often he'll go to bed and I'll continue reading.

QOTD: What is your favorite World Showcase country? Why?

I'll be back later with my own answers and replies.

I'd say Mexico and Norway, we love the boat rides, and I love the margarita stand, where we'll often stop and then meander through WS and the kids might do a Kim Possible mission.

I was working on my biography for the fellowship I got, and I realized my hobbies (which they'd asked us to include) were a little lame... so I put "aspiring runner" on there, and then thought, well, duh, most people can run, even for 10 seconds, you don't need to ASPIRE to run. So to look impressive I put "training for my 3rd half marathon" on there. UGH. TALK ABOUT BEING ACCOUNTABLE. Hahahha. So when I meet people at the beginning of Nov., I will have needed to pick out a race, and will need to be training!! Haven't run in yeah... about 10 months. SOOOO.... I gotta start! Yayya!!!

It is great to get it out there, and more motivation to start that training. Will it be a disney race? Good luck with the vegan, i'm sure you'll do great, with your wonderful meal planning and menus you've posted before.

QOTD 10/2: In my townhouse, we've instituted Sunday Dinner. We rotate weeks and each person makes a meal of their choosing. Sometimes we invite friends, and it's a chance for us all to be together and discuss our week and bond while enjoying a great (and usually healthy meal). Do you do something like this with your friends and/or family?

We don't do anything like this, but it's a great idea. We tend to get together more with people in the summer for bbqs, with school and sports, there's not as much time.

[One week from today we will hopefully be sleeping! Actually, we'll be spending a second day at Epcot for more Food & Wine Festival, and we'll be watching IllumiNations for the third night in a row.

DQOTD 10/2: What is your favorite night time spectacular? It can be from any park and/or any special event.

I just love Wishes, and it's the show we've seen most often too. Fantasmic is amazing, but we have only seen it once, and hate that you need to plan and get there so early.

Good morning! Back from football, and am going to go for a run/walk with a friend in about an hour. We may go to the fair later today, weather depending. I'll have to look at the forecast and then decide, so a run will help with whatever I eat at the fair.

Enjoy your sunday!!

 

[kollerbear]

Gosh!! Finally caught up! Whew.

oh hey, did you say you live in queens? i meant to ask you earlier but forgot. duh. my hubby is from queens - woodhaven. we lived in middle village for a while before we got married (livin' in sin baby!) and bought the house in the bx. was just on your side of the whitestone bridge today at the mets game

Hey! Yes, my BF and I are similarly living in sin! We live in Jackson Heights. I LOVE the neighborhood, but really miss having any kind of green space or park nearby in the immediate area. It's makes me really claustrophobic! Glad you came out for the Mets game-- it makes sense that you're Mets fans instead of Yankees fans b/c your hubby is from Queens! We're still relatively new to Queens, so any recommendations of things to do and places to eat or hang out are always appreciated, if you guys can think of anything!

And thanks so much for coaching-- I was MIA this week, but I was following along and really appreciated your thoughtful questions and the replies!

So, NYC ladies please send me any tips or ideas for fun things to do.

You've already gotten some great recommendations, but I would second the recommendation for the Natural History Museum-- it's really unique and fun. I especially love the dinosaur exhibit. And it is RIGHT on Central Park, so you can spend only a bit of time there and go out and explore when you're done. I also would suggest visiting Ellis Island if it's open-- I couldn't find any information about the Statue of Liberty closure on the website, so I imagine it might be? The boat out to Ellis Island usually is shared with the Statue of Liberty, so you get a good view of the Statue of Liberty, Lower Manhattan, and the site itself is incredibly special and might tie in with things that your kids have learned in school. If you do go, consider taking the tour of the Ferry Building with Save Ellis Island-- it's not open to the general public, the only way to get in is on the guided tour. They have an exhibit set up about the unrestored South Side of Ellis Island, where the hospital was. It's a really well-done national heritage site.

I did my half marathon yesterday, and surprised myself by doing better than I expected. I finished just under my time from the only other half I did in disney...

I do know that anything is possible, as long as you set your mind to it, and put your heart into it, you can do it.

It is great to get it out there, and more motivation to start that training. Will it be a disney race? Good luck with the vegan, i'm sure you'll do great, with your wonderful meal planning and menus you've posted before.

Thanks for the encouragement, and CONGRATULATIONS on finishing your half, and for finishing it faster than your last! Unexpected PB! Haha. Do you have a next race planned? For myself, I would love for it to be a Disney race, but I don't think we'd be able to afford that next year and there are good races in the New York City area, so probably not. I'm thinking about the Manhattan half marathon in Central Park in January-- New York Road Runners does a half marathon series in each borough of the city throughout the year, and it's nice to be able to train on the exact path you'll be running (the Central Park loop). My first 1/2 was about a year ago in Central Park, and I loved it. They also organize nicely, with frequent water/Gatorade/gel stations and a clock at every mile. I remember when I ran my second 1/2 in New Haven, which was a much more professionally organized ING race, I just assumed I'd see a clock every mile, and when I didn't it really threw me off! BUT one day I hope I'll get to run WDW as my first marathon! That's the whole reason I got into running last year, and even though it didn't happen exactly as planned, I hope it'll happen, maybe in 2013. Just remembering what you said--if you set your mind to it and put your heart into it, you can do it!

On a self-congratulatory note - we participated (and finished) a 10K (6.2M) yesterday as part of the Omaha Marathon! Neither one of us has ever done a race before and the most I've ever done at the gym was a little over 5M - and that was on the elliptical NOT the treadmill. My goal was to finish and I did it!

So impressed-- congrats on your first race!!! Do you have another one planned?

Why is it that I'm planned, but can't book yet? There must be other crazy Disney planners out there Anyone, anyone?

Guilty! Part of my motivation is planning a trip for my DBF if I get this weight off and keep it off-- but since we have to save for it and since I want to wait until the Fantasyland expansion is done, we're planning for uh... Fall 2013? And yeah, I have most of it planned already... (Which I know is impossible b/c things change, but uhhh.... yeah. It's sad. He thinks I'm GOOFY. Hahah. Get it? Ohhh geez. I need more sleep.)

Once again I am TOTALLY under the gun for time today. I am supposed to have part of a "100 reasons we love you" scrapbook done for my DMIL's birthday..... which I kept thinking was another week away!!! I had a freak out last night when I realized it needed to be done this Sunday!

Wow, what incredibly sweet thing to do. I know you said you were worried about it not being good enough, but I'm sure that it will be so sweet and so appreciated. I haven't seen any updates about it for the past couple of days, I don't think? So I hope you were busy and able to get something done for her. What a tight turn-around, I'm very impressed! Would love to hear how it went.

I keep forgetting I wanted to share on here a website that I have been using to try to get more organized and keep my family organized too. It is www.cozi.com . I am using the Flylady version (where I heard about it). It is pretty cool! I have been experimenting with different Ipod apps for calendar, grocery list, to do list, menu planning and all that other stuff I need to keep track of. This has been great!

Thanks for the site--I will check it out! My menu planning and shopping lists have gotten a little extreme lately, and I've always felt there MUST be a better way-- I hope this site fits the bill!!!

GOOOOOOD MORNING!!

QOTD: To go along with the Healthy Habit challenge of keeping your mind sharp, What was the last book you read?

The last book I read was called Factory Girls, about the migration in China from villages to factory cities. It was very good and I learned a TON about contemporary Chinese culture. I love book recommendations and the Queens library! We also were given a collection of National Geographics that goes back to the 1970s through to last month's issue. We got a dedicated bookshelf for it from IKEA and I've started chipping away at that!!! Love them!

I was wondering if anyone else uses Goodreads.com? It's a site where you can write up the books you've read and are reading and write comments and rate them and get recommendations from friends and the site. I love that site and would love to follow with anyone else who uses it!

DQOTD: What is your favorite World Showcase country? Why?

I love Morocco! I just think the artistry of the mosaics there is breathtaking. It takes my breath away every time.

One of my suitemates last year is vegan. She had several cookbooks and cooked all the time. She would let me sample stuff occasionally and it was really yummy! I'll ask her about some of the cookbooks.

Thank you! I'd love to hear what cookbooks she used.

I also wanted to thank zoesmama03 for posting that site Chocolate Covered Katie with the vegan desserts, but I think I lost the quote link! I'm definitely going to be using this site! I discovered Skinny Taste here, too, and have already made 4 delicious recipes from the site in only a week and a half. Thanks for these great references!

 

[JacksLilWench]

QOTD 10/2: In my townhouse, we've instituted Sunday Dinner. We rotate weeks and each person makes a meal of their choosing. Sometimes we invite friends, and it's a chance for us all to be together and discuss our week and bond while enjoying a great (and usually healthy meal). Do you do something like this with your friends and/or family?

DQOTD 10/2: What is your favorite night time spectacular? It can be from any park and/or any special event.

Ugh, I wish we did a Sunday Dinner! My family is not very close since my parents divorced, so we never really got a chance to institute traditions like that. I am in the process of making new friends right now though, and hopefully soon I can start something like that with all of them!

My favorite night time show is without a doubt Wishes. Always makes me cry! This time around, AAA offered a preferred viewing location if you booked your vacation with them. It was so worth it! We walked right up to the location (the little forecourt in front of The Plaza Restaurant) about 20 minutes before it started...and got some dirty looks from people!

I will have to really pay attention to the music in the movie in France next time I go...because I just can't remember it at all!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Happy Sunday.

My living room is finally painted! It is so nice to have another room done in the house. Now I just need to strip wallpaper from all 3 bathrooms and figure out colors for those and for my hall/stairways.

Anyone have good design taste? I am thinking about going totally wild in my downstairs bathroom and painting it purple! I am pretty conservative most of the time, my couches are dark burgundy/blue/green and I painted a light tanish color. My kitchen is a dark golden yellow and my dining room is a muted green--all very conservative and tasteful. Even my Disney bedroom is done in in taupe and burgundy and is more classic than whimsical. But my downstairs bathroom is set off from the rest of the house through the laundry room and I have a quilted wall hanging of liliacs in all different shades of purple with dark green accents and border that was given to me that doesn't fit anywhere in my house. I am thinking of doing the bathroom around that and hanging it in there-- thus giving me one room to be fun and wild in! I would get purple towels and a purple shower curtain. But my question is do I paint the room with a dark purple or a midtone? The wall hanging is mostly dark but with the green border it would look fine on a dark wall. The room is very small--toilet, sink and small shower with not enough room to change your mind while standing in there, and not actually much wall space. We have dark wood trim and cabinets that I will not paint and the fixtures are like a bone color. I have seen dark colored bathrooms that look great but usually they have white trim and fixtures. There is one window so the room has a lot of light during the day. I have absolutely no eye for design and can not envision how something will look. Anyone have any advice?

QOTD 10/2: In my townhouse, we've instituted Sunday Dinner. We rotate weeks and each person makes a meal of their choosing. Sometimes we invite friends, and it's a chance for us all to be together and discuss our week and bond while enjoying a great (and usually healthy meal). Do you do something like this with your friends and/or family?



DQOTD 10/2: What is your favorite night time spectacular? It can be from any park and/or any special event.

We don't have regular get togethers but when we go to my in laws my kids love to cook with Grandpa. He and my husband are the primary cooks (thank goodness!) and they love cooking with the girls and have taught them so much. So many nights one of my daughters will cook with DH supervising and they really love that. We have dinner together as a family nearly every night.

FANTASMIC! We absolutely love F! and it is our #1 not miss-- we will schedule our entire trip around being able to see it. After that is Wishes. I have the soundtrack to both of them and my girls and I love to listen to them.

kollerbear My cousin has been vegan for years. I know she went to a nutritionist when she made the decision to get guidance on how to keep her diet balanced but that was before the ability to learn anything you want to know on the internet was available. My kids still talk about how she made vegan cookies when we were visiting a few years ago and didn't tell them until they tried them and loved them!

About time for my nap. My head is still so congested and it is still raining here. Probably going to go see my allergist this week and see if there is anything else I can do. I probably would be down another pound for this week if my head wasn't so full of stuff!!!!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

QOTD 10/2: In my townhouse, we've instituted Sunday Dinner. We rotate weeks and each person makes a meal of their choosing. Sometimes we invite friends, and it's a chance for us all to be together and discuss our week and bond while enjoying a great (and usually healthy meal). Do you do something like this with your friends and/or family?

No, no Sunday Dinner per se. We usually have something in the crock pot in the Autumn and eat it during Half Time of the 4:15 game. Today it's chili, I think next week will be leftovers since DH is running a half marathon and I will be freshly back from my trip, and neither of us will want to cook.

DQOTD 10/2: What is your favorite night time spectacular? It can be from any park and/or any special event.

I think my favorite is Fantasmic. I enjoy all the characters along with the fireworks. I'm a sucker for all those princesses and their princes together

Getting my tasks done so I can enjoy the Pats game later. I'm pulling out all the Halloween decorations. I love decorating for holidays!

Maria

 

[ougrad86]

Don't worry, I read "teen" books all the time, and my favorite series is still Harry Potter.

I love Harry Potter. Myself and DH are probably more into it than DS, but his best friend is very into it. We will be with them next April when we go to Universal.

QOTD 10/2: In my townhouse, we've instituted Sunday Dinner. We rotate weeks and each person makes a meal of their choosing. Sometimes we invite friends, and it's a chance for us all to be together and discuss our week and bond while enjoying a great (and usually healthy meal). Do you do something like this with your friends and/or family?

DQOTD 10/2: What is your favorite night time spectacular? It can be from any park and/or any special event.

We just do normal dinners, but a little different since we are all together. During the week, DH work hours are late and often not home for supper, so at least on the weekends we can eat together. Sometimes he will make it, sometimes I will, depending on how the mood strikes.

My favorite night time spectacular...haven't seen the one on the lake or the new (old) Electrical Parade. I really enjoyed Spectro and Illuminations as well as Hallowishes, but the one that moves me everytime I see it is Wishes. We were thinking of only spending half a day in MK next April since the crowds will be really high (used to low crowd periods), but am thinking of just finding a quiet (!) spot to chill out after eating and watch the parade and then catch Wishes. Don't know if I can find a quite spot near the Hub though, which is the best place for the fireworks! I found out I like to be nearby, the closer the better!

 

[lisah0711]

Quick post here.

QOTD 10/2: In my townhouse, we've instituted Sunday Dinner. We rotate weeks and each person makes a meal of their choosing. Sometimes we invite friends, and it's a chance for us all to be together and discuss our week and bond while enjoying a great (and usually healthy meal). Do you do something like this with your friends and/or family?

We usually do Sunday steak night or something in the crockpot. We don't all sit down and eat together as much as we should.

DQOTD 10/2: What is your favorite night time spectacular? It can be from any park and/or any special event.

Hmm, that is a tough one. I have to say World of Color and Main Street Electrical Parade for Disneyland and Illuminations and the Water Pagent for WDW.

LTS, I'm no designer but my suggestion is to paint a good sized patch of the paint you are thinking about on the wall in the bathroom and then look at it for at least 24 hours -- through all light conditions and see how you like it. I've seen lots of pretty dark colored bathrooms. It sounds like it would be lovely. Good luck!

 

[momofdjc]

QOTD 10/2: Do you do something like this with your friends and/or family?

We have Sunday dinner. DH works second shift so he doesn't get to eat with us during the week. The kids sports also make family dinners more dificult during the week. We also have game night on Sunday nights after dinner.

DQOTD 10/2: What is your favorite night time spectacular? It can be from any park and/or any special event.

Illuminations is my favorite. We grab a few drinks and find a place to watch with the kids. We wait until people are almost gone then we leave.

 

[glss1/2fll]

QOTD: No. We don't do anything like that. Several years ago a group of us from church got together and spent a wild afternoon in the church's kitchen prepping freezer meals to take home. It was wonderful. Then the church laid off the kitchen manager and that came to a grinding halt!

QOTD: Well, we're not picky and love everything, but Fantasmic is just wonderful. We missed it last trip because it had technical difficulties. A crushing blow for us!

ougrad--I read kid/teen books all the time--and I'm old.

kathy--Yesterday I watched The Time Traveler's Wife on TV. It was soooo good!

lts--go for it! We almost always have a purple room in our house. In this house in the family room we painted the lower 3/4 of the walls a lilac/lighter purple and the top 1/4 a dark purple. It was so cool. Then we bought a brown couch so changed the wall color to cream. so boring! Before we've had purple bathrooms and purple living rooms. I think Lisa's advice to get a sample up on the wall is a great idea.

shawn--fantastic job on the run!

------
Got up this morning and took DS2 to church so he could play his flute with the grown up group. DS1 went with members of his basketball team for a walk for diabetes. He had fun. DS2 played lovely. He's gone off to a friend's house for a few hours. DS1 is showered and relaxing before his senior pictures. I ran to Costco this morning before church (yes, we made DS2 be by himself the first service and we showed up for the last!). Picked up some salad and a pizza for dinner. Pepperoni isn't the healthiest, but my family will love it! I'll try to limit myself to just one piece and a huge salad! After dropping DS2 at church I came home and went for a run. Just a short one, since I had a lot to do before church, but I'm glad I did it!

Have a super week!

 

[tigger813]

i just want to cry right now! My dad called earlier and said that he and my mom are very upset that we are not planning something big for their 50th anniversary this year. I have tried to explain that it is not possible this year but we will do something when they are up next summer. I felt that they put the whole thing on my shoulders to solve. Their anniversary is the day after Thanksgiving which is the first obstacle. We can't go down as Brian's sister is here and we would never leave her for the holiday. Brian can't take any time off. He's already kind of taking off a week when I go down in two weeks. I probably won't see him most of the weekend before I go away as his company is moving that weekend. He has to handle all the stuff with the kids that week by himself. It's not an easy task with all their things going on. We can not afford plane tickets at Thanksgiving as they would be ridiculously priced! Ash is also in the middle school musical the following week. He then made a comment about not having seen the kids this summer. My mom was not in any condition for my children to be around. She was in the hospital most of the summer. And with her mood somedays I didn't want my kids around her. I am taking another week off from work which I can not afford to go down and help them. I'm now worried that I will only hear about how disappointed they are in us for not doing anything. I am beside myself right now. I have my physical in the morning and know my blood pressure will probably be sky high! Before he had called I was looking at flights for them to come up for Christmas for 4-5 weeks. I would even take them to a Christmas Eve service that they like to attend at 11pm. Nothing satisfies my mother. There is ABSOLUTELY nothing I can do to change this situation. My brother pretty much refuses to go down. My sister has gone beyond what she can do. I just want to go to bed and cry right now. Ash is worried about me too. Brian got angry after I got off the phone with my dad as he CAN'T take any time off. I need a miracle right now!

Thanks for letting me vent! I just don't know what to do and this is going to make me miserable until after my trip!

I love my parents but they are putting me in an impossible situation! And I am not looking forward to going down there and be treated like crap the whole time over something that is beyond my control! I hate ultimatums!

Sorry!

 

[bellebookworm9]

Dona, my mom has been reading Janet Evanovich for years. She was always saying how funny the books were but that I was too young for them. This summer she had #17 from the library so I read it, and she owns #16, so I read that too. I liked them because you don't *have* to read the ones before to make sense of things. I'm also excited for the movie to come out!

Kathy, I have both read and watched Time Traveler's Wife and I preferred the book a lot more. They're both still kind of confusing to me, and I can't actually think about the time travel too much because then I just get all mixed up in my head.

kollerbear, I also think that Morocco is one of the prettiest countries. One of the cookbooks my suitemate used was called "500 Vegan Recipes". She got it from her boyfriend (he's also vegan) and I believe it's one that she uses the most.

LTS, I think the purple bathroom sounds like a great idea! Purple is my favorite color (my laptop, ipod, camera, two of my purses, my room at home, and my current toenail polish are all purple ). I agree that you should get a sample up to see how you like it. That's so nice that your girls get to cook with dad and grandpa!

Linda, glad your son's performance went well! How old is he if he's playing with the grown up group?

Tracey, sorry to hear about the stressful conversation with your parents.

*****************
I just got back from the gym. Did 25 minutes on the elliptical and 3 reps on the ab machine. I was going to do some arm work, but just as I was about to go over to those machines two guys sat down at them and I didn't want to wait.

It was my housemate Emily's turn to make dinner, but she needed a little assistance, so together we made Quiche Lorraine and Baklava, plus a salad. It was all very good. I did go over points again because I was snacking on other stuff while we were cooking.

I started studying for my Sociolinguistics midterm today and did my laundry, but did not finalize any touring plans or start packing. Will have to do another batch of laundry on Wednesday, most likely.

It's still raining here, but it's gross and cold too. Any time it wants to go away, that's fine with me! Tomorrow's my really long day, so I'm going to shower, do a teeny bit more studying and head to bed.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Tracey: Please don't let your parents guilt you. You are a grown up with your own family, responsibilities and life. Just like our parents wouldn't let us have a pony when we were children because it wasn't practical, this is just not practical and you have to say no. Don't let them make you miserable. Have you ever been to the website Etiquette Hell? http://www.etiquettehell.com/smf/ There are some great strategies on there to help with these situations (and some great stories!). First of all anytime they bring it up just repeat in a non emotional voice "I am afraid that won't be possible." No discussion, no argument just be a broken record. Then "pass the beandip" -- change the subject every time it comes up to something neutral.

"We are very disappointed that you won't plan a big expensive celebration for us"
"I am afraid that won't be possible. So how is the weather there, are you getting a lot of rain?"
"But we expect you to make us feel special"
"I am afraid that won't be possible. Did you watch the *favorite sport team* game last night? I couldn't believe that last pass."
"But you haven't spent enough time with us and we miss you and the kids."
"I am afraid that won't be possible. Did you see last night's episode of *favorite TV show*. I never would have guessed that he was the one that killed her."

repeat ad nauseum

With my mother I did finally just put my foot down and tell her that discussion of *insert favorite nag here* was off limits and there would be no more discussing and I would hang up/leave if it was brought up. The next time she brought it up on the phone I said "I am not discussing that. Have to go now, Bye" and hung up. Fortunately for me she has been much better but she was more of a nag and not as much with the guilt and oh woe is me. That is much harder to deal with.

And there is also my favorite dealing with a bad phone call trick-- knock a bunch of things on the floor or push a chair over-- loud crash and "OH GOSH, DD just fell/dropped a glass/ jumped off the roof and I need to go. Talk to you next week!"

 

[trinaweena]

I've found i'm much better about being on plan on days when im working. Is it because my day is very much a routine without room for deviation? Or maybe because I have to pre plan everything ahead of time? Or because im always busy so i dont have time to stop and think that i want to be munching? i think its a combination of all these things, but either way, im ususally very on plan mon-thurs, mostly on plan fri, NOT on plan sat and sun is hit or miss. One thing I don't have time to do on sundays is excercise. I work till 6 and by then the gym is closed and its dark and I usually need to come home and catch up on homework and such. So sundays have become my rest days...but saturdays have to and i dont want that so im trying to fix that.

Yesterday was a pretty big milestone. Well firday was i guess. I actually fit into a pair of skinny jeans that i have not fit into in months. I very much hate jeans because i am always so uncomfortable in them and think i look fat and terrible in them. Friday I not only fir into a pair of jeans, but they were skinny jeans, they were not tight at all, i had no stomach pouring over the top, and i wore them all day long! Saturday we went to American Eagle (my boyfriend works there) and i tried on all the styles of jeans and found the most comfortable pair of skinny jeans ever! I also fit into jeggings which surprised me since they are so tight and form fitting but i couldnt afford them. I have to say im really happy about this, and if i do say so myself i looked fantastic!

The downside to this was I felt so great about myself that I got too comfortable. We went to two fairs this weekend and i was not good. I cant change that though and i resolve to work harder next week.

Tonight I've been studying for my natural disasters exam and i did the rewview sheet but it seemed very easy so i dont know if i should do more. i hate over studying because i dont like to fill my brain with stuff i dont need to know. tomorrow i get out of work at 7 so i will go to the library till 9 when they close and then head to the gym for a short run. i cant make excuses i need to do it.

i wanted to post my playlist for excercise but i cant find my typed up one and its quite big so i will do that later when i find it. I will also answer the book QOTD which i believe was what have you read recently, i will answer with what im reading at the moment which include:
A Dance With Dragons (the last book in the Game of Thrones series) - highly recomend this series for any fantasy fans out there, it is one of the best ive ever read

Lies my teacher told me - this seemed really interresting but its having trouble catching me

Lost and philosophy - two of my favorite things

sex at dawn - very interesting, if not sometimes dry book about the history of..you guessed it!

and currently rereading the sherlock holmes books, and lord of the rings is on my agenda, since i reread that every year

i like to read 5-6 books at a time, i get bored and have to switch around frequently.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

QOTD- We eat probably 4/5 nights every wk the oter DH is working late. My parents come by just about every day in the afternoon, sis on the weekend afternoon to let the dogs swim in the pool or run in the yard. We had a family meal every 2 weeks or so for about 4 months this spring/summer due to birthdays and such. I was the one doing all the shopping, cooking, cleaning...I had enough until I start again for the holidays.

DQOTD-Just like being in the parks late at night. The later and emtier the more we like it.

Having a bit of an odd wk. We had the A/C go out-was a quick fix only 2 days but still it was 83 in the house! The bluray died- Dh is in the custum A/V bus so brought another one home. The washer is shaking like crazy-need to call repair tomarrow. And the worst...my TM is broken! The belt or something is messed up-DH is going to get something to try an easy fix tomarrow. If that fails, he'll try a replacement belt,he seems to think thats the trouble. I am freaking out. I rely on it. I feel like I am going to gain weight if I can't go on. I know I don't feel as good the days I am not on it, less energy and all. I also don't feel like I get in the same kind of work out outside, maybe because it still feels to hot and humid for me? I just don't go as fast. Neighbors always want to chat. Ugh.
On a good note-I walked the outlet mall quite a bit and got some new t's for the boys at Oakly and ***********-what deals!