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

[donac]

THEY ACCEPTED ME FOR THE COLLEGE PROGRAM!!!!

Main Entrance Operations!

congratulations

 

[lovetoscrap]

THEY ACCEPTED ME FOR THE COLLEGE PROGRAM!!!!

Main Entrance Operations!

So excited for you! Get that blog started so we can all follow you!!

That sounds like a great position.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Kids are off of school today and we are having a relaxing day. DD15 has a friend over and they are watching a movie. DD11 is painting at the craft table while we watch stupid TV.

Goulash is in the crock pot for dinner, and I made a pork Tenderloin for my lunch with plenty of leftovers for the next few days. My family doesn't like pork tenderloin so I figured this was a good way to use it. I had bought it on sale a while back and threw it in the freezer until I figured out something to make with it.

I had no problem staying On Program at my lunch out with a friend yesterday-- the restaurant was terrible! It was just an icky gross place and the food was disgusting (last time I let her pick!). I was really glad that I had a big breakfast. I guess that is one way to keep from indulging when eating out!

 

[bellebookworm9]

Congratulations!

Major Congratulations Gretchen! I had a feeling you would get accepted!

congratulations

So excited for you! Get that blog started so we can all follow you!!

That sounds like a great position.

Thanks everybody! I got the e-mail at 12:34pm today, while I was at work. I immediately told my boss and called my mom. I texted another friend, facebook messaged two more, and posted here and in the facebook group. I just got home and told 3 of my housemates, I'll tell the other when she gets home.

So yes, Main Entrance Operations = tolls booths, parking lots, trams, greeting guests at turnstiles and validating tickets, and possibly selling tickets. Pay is just above minimum wage at $7.31/hour, but min. is going up to $7.67/hour on January first, so it should be a bit above that.

I called mom and her first words were "Shut up!" (like from the Princess Diaries). She was in shock but excited. I accepted the offer, but still need to pay the $300 fee. After that, I will be able to select my arrival/departure dates.

I was literally crying and bouncing up and down since I found out. I'm still bouncing, but I can't stop smiling! And I'm going to buy Deathly Hallows Part 2 in an hour. Guess 11/11/11 does have some magic to it after all!

And here's my blog that I've already started: http://mickeyspixiedust.blogspot.com/

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

THEY ACCEPTED ME FOR THE COLLEGE PROGRAM!!!!

Main Entrance Operations!

WOOHOOO!!!!!! You go girl!!!! We are super proud of you!!!!!!!

 

[tigger813]

So happy for you Gretchen!!!!! That's amazing! Hopefully we will see you when we go down! We're watching Deathly Hallows right now!

Day did not go as planned. Got called into work again. I can't pass people up right now. It was a repeat customer so I was glad I came in for her.

Feeling absolutely and totally lousy! My nose is running like a faucet and now my eyes are watering. I have a holiday fair to do tomorrow so I will try to go to bed early and fill up on Dayquil in the morning.

Back to the movie and I need some tissues!

TTFN

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

drive by posting again. this has become a habit I don't like!!!

Kids are just so busy and it's a busy time at all the schools. Basket raffles, Thanksgiving Feasts, Parent Teacher conferences. the list goes on. Hoping for down time Thanksgiving weekend. Then winter sports start that Monday.


ETA I wanted to add this article DH sent me about honey and where it comes from. Makes me want to shop local even more.

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-honey-isnt-honey/

 

[mikamah]

Thanks everybody! I got the e-mail at 12:34pm today, while I was at work. I immediately told my boss and called my mom. I texted another friend, facebook messaged two more, and posted here and in the facebook group. I just got home and told 3 of my housemates, I'll tell the other when she gets home.

So yes, Main Entrance Operations = tolls booths, parking lots, trams, greeting guests at turnstiles and validating tickets, and possibly selling tickets. Pay is just above minimum wage at $7.31/hour, but min. is going up to $7.67/hour on January first, so it should be a bit above that.

I called mom and her first words were "Shut up!" (like from the Princess Diaries). She was in shock but excited. I accepted the offer, but still need to pay the $300 fee. After that, I will be able to select my arrival/departure dates.

I was literally crying and bouncing up and down since I found out. I'm still bouncing, but I can't stop smiling! And I'm going to buy Deathly Hallows Part 2 in an hour. Guess 11/11/11 does have some magic to it after all!

And here's my blog that I've already started: http://mickeyspixiedust.blogspot.com/

Whoo hoo!!!!!
I am sooooooo excited for you!!!!!!!!!!

I'll definitely check out and follow your blog. DS would say it was magic to get the email at 12:34 also, he always notices when it's 1-2-3-4, and on 11-11-11 to boot. I'm so happy for you, Gretchen.

 

[pjlla]

Good evening friends! Sorry I didn't get a chance to come back and chat today. We were RIGHT OUT STRAIGHT with the robotics meeting from 10 am until 4pm, then I had to drive DD to the Y, come home for a bit and clean up, run back to get DD.... etc, etc, etc!

I am feeling horribly ill-prepared for tomorrow.... hopefully the kids are NOT feeling the same.

I can't believe how long it took to finish up everything today, plus try to practice with the robot, practice our skit, practice answering judges questions, do a team building exercise... and so on!

We've gone to States for the last three years and were Champions at Regionals for two of those years (got to States on our Project the other year). Since this is the last year for our team, we would love to go out with a Championship, but I'm not holding out much hope. Makes me kind of sad, but nothing I can do about it.

I'm also not holding out much hope to have an OP day tomorrow. I will NOT be rising at 5am for a workout.... I need all of my energy for the competition tomorrow. And I am woefully understocked in the fridge, so I have no greens or salad fixings to pack up for tomorrow. My own fault for not planning ahead enough. I will have a healthy OP breakfast and bring along some fruit for snacking. Other than that I will have to pray for the best at lunchtime. I am going to scrounge around in the fridge/freezer and see if I can come up with a WW frozen meal to bring (not even sure if there would be a microwave to use, but you never know).

I may or may not make it back here tomorrow night..... depends on my energy level at the end of the day. And Sunday I will be right out straight at a swim meet (near Kathy!), so don't expect to hear from me then either!

Kathy, sending you a PM with my cell phone number!

TTYL...........................P

 

[pjlla]

THEY ACCEPTED ME FOR THE COLLEGE PROGRAM!!!!

Main Entrance Operations!

YEAHHHHHH!!!!!


Gretchen, that is GREAT NEWS!!! WTG!! DD and I were JUST talking about you today!! I would say that 11/11/11 is definitely going to be your lucky number from now on! Now go buy a lottery ticket!! .........................P

 

[akhaloha]

THEY ACCEPTED ME FOR THE COLLEGE PROGRAM!!!!

Main Entrance Operations!

Congrats!! I'm so happy for you!

 

[buzz5985]

Good Friday morning Happy 11/11/11

If you see a veteran thank him or her for the work they do for all of us.

Thanks for all the great responses to my shower problem. The shower is not at night on a Monday but at 1. I do know that people have to work on that Monday but some don't. My schedule for the end of Dec is: 23rd half day of school (thank heavens) rush to grocery shop for last minute things. Go home and cook. 24th cook some more, drive up to my dmom's house for Christmas with my family. Get home around 9. Fiinish wrapping presents. 25th Open presents, church, finish cooking, stockings, pack car, celebrate Christmas with dilaws, repack the car, put things away and collapse. we make Christmas for ilaws because is used to be at our house but it is now at dilaws because milaw is not healthy enough to travel. Dh is right at my side working around the house those days to make things easier for me. He doesn't cook but he wraps many of the presents and helps pack the cars. The boys also help out with some of the cooking and the packing. So we are all pretty busy those days. Ds may go to the shower but he is not sure if he has to work or not since he does work for jcpennys. We will have to think about this.

I know not everyone has as busy a schedule as we do. This is the only time everyone in my family gets together and the same with dh's family.

Question of the Day

With the holidays fast approaching, what do you do to relieve stress? I am hoping that it is not eating.

I had a great yoga class last night and am pulling out my yoga tapes and plan to do at least 20 minutes a day.

Off to get some things done.

Have a happy and healthy day. I may not get back on today. We are helping to sort out popcorn for the Boy Scouts later today. It is my last time I am giving up this position. I have done it long enough.

From a former Popcorn Kernal, LOL, I know what your going through. For a month from when we did the Show and Sell around town, to the actual pick up by individual scouts, I had popcorn boxes lining the perimeter of every room in my house. The Scout troop DS is in now, sells wreaths. It's a lot easier and the only fund raiser of the year. It's a lot easier for me that is - now DH it's another story. For weeks the boys wire together pine cones and berries. Too bad I'm at work nights and can't help out.

I hear you about the holiday season. I actually took an extra day off this week to get ready. I already have cookie dough, dinner rolls, lasagna in the freezer ready for Christmas dinner. We host and have 25 for dinner. We have ham/roasted beef tenderloin/turkey. Then we have people stopping in latter for dessert/coffee. I am cutting myself some slack this year and plan on buying a lot of desserts at the local bakery. We are driving to NH this weekend to start stocking up on beer and booze. From Thanksgiving on, there seems to be a family obligation every weekend.

Question of the Day

With the holidays fast approaching, what do you do to relieve stress? I am hoping that it is not eating.

I'm not really a high stress person, but when things get crazy, I make lists! And when I start crossing stuff off the list, I feel better! My holiday-related stress comes from things like a messy house, un-bought/unwrapped gifts, things like that. If I start making lists and getting the stuff done in some sort of order, I am instantly less stressed!

I make lists too!!! I have a Flylady Holiday binder. In it I have all the recipes I use for the holidays with a master shopping list, my card list from last year, a list of things I need, which I write down the previous year. (bows, paper, buffalo snow, etc). I start my Christmas shopping in July, and I am happy to say - I finished last night. Just a few odds and ends left to do.

THEY ACCEPTED ME FOR THE COLLEGE PROGRAM!!!!

Main Entrance Operations!

Congratulations!!! That is Awesome!!! Maybe I will see you next summer when we are there!!! Very, very exciting.

Spent the day with my favorite Veteran - my Dad. He was in the Navy during the Korean war. His older brother died during the war. So my father, and two other brothers (Air Force, Army) were pulled back to the states - it was the way the military insured there were no more Private Ryans. My Dad will laugh about it now - they pulled me back and was training me to be a Navy Diver - they considered that safe!!!! All the boys were in the military due to the fact that their Dad died when my father was 12 youngest was 2, and it was a good income to send home to their mother. They were a family of 10.

Been cooking and deep cleaning the house for the holidays. We went out to dinner for DS birthday which was last Monday. His greed got the better of him and he spent all the money that would have went to bringing 4 friends to the movies this weekend. He bought a video game. A lot easier for me,. For those in my area - we went to Felicia's of the North End in Stoneham. I had a $25 GC from restaurants.com when they were 80% off. It was awesome. I was not counting calories, since we only eat out for birthdays, or on vacations. I had shrimp and scallop Grand Marnier on a bed of Angel Hair pasta. I should say a pound of angel hair. DH and I ate the rest for dinner tonight. Dh had a stuffed chicken breast - the WHOLE breast - with prosciutto and mozzarella, with a sun dried tomato sauce and asparagus. He ate the whole thing. DS had chicken ziti and broccoli in a creamy garlic sauce. My DS looked at me and told me that he now understood why I hate the Olive Garden. He is finally expanding his palate and apreciating the flavors of foods.

 

[donac]

Good Saturday morning

Just woke up feeling achy. Walking on concrete for 5 hours can really get to you. I am off in a few minutes to go get some blood work done. I want to do it first thing this morning since it a fasting one. I could never imagine getting it done latter in the day. I know I would slip up and not be able to get the blood work done.

Question of the Day

It is Saturday When do you do your grocery shopping? Do you plan your meals including breakfast and lunch?

During the school year I usually go on Sunday morning. When I have some time off I will push it off to a day off and go very early in the morning. I do plan most of the meals for the week. Breakfast is always one of two different meals. Lunch can vary and sometimes I don't plan as much as I could. I am planning to work on this. Dinners are planned and could be arranged according to how crazy an afternoon or evening is.

Off to dress and give blood.


Have a happy and healthy day.

 

[jillbur]

Question of the Day

With the holidays fast approaching, what do you do to relieve stress? I am hoping that it is not eating.

I'm not really a high stress person, but when things get crazy, I make lists! And when I start crossing stuff off the list, I feel better! My holiday-related stress comes from things like a messy house, un-bought/unwrapped gifts, things like that. If I start making lists and getting the stuff done in some sort of order, I am instantly less stressed!


P

You stole the words right out of my mouth, except I do stress a lot. I am a list freak. People at work laugh because I go through post-its so fast. I also clean to destress. When my house is in order, I feel like my life is in order.

THEY ACCEPTED ME FOR THE COLLEGE PROGRAM!!!!

Main Entrance Operations!

YAY!!! So excited for you! Congrats!

Question of the Day

It is Saturday When do you do your grocery shopping? Do you plan your meals including breakfast and lunch?


.

Lately, I've been going grocery shopping on Saturdays. I make a menu of dinners for the week and head out with list in hand. I don't plan breakfast or lunch but I usually have an idea of what I'm having so I can get what I need. I need to finish my list for this week and head out later. DSs are going to hang out at my inlaws today so DH is waking up early (worked 7p-7a last night) to go to Sam's Club and Target with me. Then I'll stop at a grocery store on the way home for whatever else I need.


I really need to spend this weekend cleaning and organizing around my house. A cluttered house makes me crazy! And, how much hair can my dog possibly lose? I swear I vacuum all the time and as soon as I am done...hair! She should be bald by now! I blame DH for that one. He picked out the dog at the kennel.


DSs and I were in a Veteran's Day parade last night with Cub Scouts. We have 5 communities that combine for the parade and our town held it this year so we were closer to the beginning. It took us about 35 minutes to walk and the parade was at least an hour or an hour and a half long. It was really nice. We layered well, but it was still chilly (around 40). It's times like those that I wish my dad and grandpa were still around to see my boys. I know they would be so proud of them. They both died before DSs were born. And, my dad would have loved to take them to WDW with his touring plan in hand and go, go, go from opening until close lol. So, I salute my dad and grandpa-both veterans.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Jill

 

[lisah0711]

Good morning losers and maintainers!

A big BL thank you to Kathy for being our coach last week and to donac for coaching this week!

Trina, hang in there! You can do it!

A disney race was the only motivation that got me running. I never ran in my life, and at 46, what started as almost a joke by LisaH who said maybe one day we'll run a race in disney together, actually turned into a huge motivator, and a focus to get out and run-walk, and actually stick with it more than a few weeks.

You'll get to your goal by Thanksgiving, Kathy, you can do it!

My recollection is that it was your idea to do the Princess. It was a wonderful time and it was so nice to meet all my BL folks.

THEY ACCEPTED ME FOR THE COLLEGE PROGRAM!!!! Main Entrance Operations!

Congratulations, Gretchen!

Will you be working MK or is that any main entrance operations? I loved my time as a cast member at DL in college . . . even though it was 30 years ago.

Hi Buffy! Nice to see you!

Shawn, my tip for getting your kid to be better organized is let them fail over and over until they figure out they have to do it -- it's a bit of a nail biter but DS finally seems to have made that correlation between grades and organization. Good luck!

Pamela, good luck to your robotics guys today!

I make lists too!!! I have a Flylady Holiday binder. In it I have all the recipes I use for the holidays with a master shopping list, my card list from last year, a list of things I need, which I write down the previous year. (bows, paper, buffalo snow, etc). I start my Christmas shopping in July, and I am happy to say - I finished last night. Just a few odds and ends left to do.

Congratulations on getting your Christmas shopping done!

Question of the Day

It is Saturday When do you do your grocery shopping? Do you plan your meals including breakfast and lunch?

Hope you feel better soon, Dona!

I do my grocery shopping a few times during the week. It is very easy for me to go to the store after I drop off DS at school before I go to the office. I have a full size fridge at work. The stores are so empty then! I plan my dinners but want to do better about planning breakfasts and lunchs. DH does the week-end dinners many times. Like today, because I have long run this morning (11 miles or 132 laps around the indoor track )

I really need to spend this weekend cleaning and organizing around my house. A cluttered house makes me crazy! And, how much hair can my dog possibly lose? I swear I vacuum all the time and as soon as I am done...hair! She should be bald by now! I blame DH for that one. He picked out the dog at the kennel.

I hear you! Ours is a black lab and I swear we could come up with enough fur for an extra dog.

I was so happy with my weigh in yesterday -- down another 3.5 pounds which makes 18.5 total. I'm almost in new territory for 2011. Thank goodness for the Tinker Bell looming or I could fall off the wagon so darn easily. I really do not want to cover this territory ever again so will be strong!

Have a great day all!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Good Saturday Morning.

Nothing exciting going on here. All the leaves decided to fall off the trees the last two days so we will be doing some major leaf clean up this weekend. I love trees, but sure hate having to get the leaves up.

DD11 had her friend spend the night last night. I really love it when my girls have friends over. For some reason they just don't invite people over often and usually when they do it is at my suggestion. If it were up to me we would have kids over all the time, but I think they just like having their own space and peace at home after all that they do at school. They don't usually get bored and enjoy doing things together or with me so they don't need friends over to keep them busy. My kids are weird!

pjlla: GOOD LUCK TODAY I will be sending your way all day.

I start my Christmas shopping in July, and I am happy to say - I finished last night. Just a few odds and ends left to do.


I was not counting calories, since we only eat out for birthdays, or on vacations. I had shrimp and scallop Grand Marnier on a bed of Angel Hair pasta. I should say a pound of angel hair. DH and I ate the rest for dinner tonight. Dh had a stuffed chicken breast - the WHOLE breast - with prosciutto and mozzarella, with a sun dried tomato sauce and asparagus. He ate the whole thing. DS had chicken ziti and broccoli in a creamy garlic sauce. My DS looked at me and told me that he now understood why I hate the Olive Garden. He is finally expanding his palate and apreciating the flavors of foods.

I am absolute AWE of everyone that has their Christmas shopping done or nearly done. My DD's 16th birthday is a week from today and I haven't even THOUGHT about what I am going to get her, I usually don't start Christmas Shopping until after Thanksgiving. In fact I picked up a few makeup kits on clearance yesterday at Rite Aid and as I was giving them to the girls the thought crossed my mind that they would have made great stocking stuffers, but I am just not in that Christmas shopping mode yet so didn't think of it until it was too late.

Dinner sounds wonderful, especially your DH stuffed chicken. My girls love Olive Garden and DH hates it. We love great Italian food and OG just isn't it! I need to find out where DD wants to go for her birthday next week.

Question of the Day

It is Saturday When do you do your grocery shopping? Do you plan your meals including breakfast and lunch?


.

I plan dinners, but breakfast is just one of a few choices so I go with what I am in the mood for. Lunch also, depends on how hungry I am and if there are leftovers. I put my dinners in an order that I think we will use them but usually things end up getting switched around. So it is more of a weekly plan so I have the ingredients in the house to make something from the list. And we always have fall back options. Like last night I had planned on Goulash made in the crock pot and had it mostly made but then my daughters friends ended up staying for dinner and there wasn't enough for all of us so I pulled some pizza crusts out of the freezer and the girls all made their own pizzas. DH grilled a frozen hamburger for himself, and I ended up making myself a small pizza after everyone else was done. The crock pot went into the refrigerator and we will have that tonight.

DH usually does the grocery shopping on his way home from work and usually once every week I have a big list for him. Then he or I usually have to stop to pick up a few things like fresh bread or veggies, or the stuff I forgot once or twice. We are going to Costco this weekend to get meat because we are almost out.

 

[mikamah]

My recollection is that it was your idea to do the Princess. It was a wonderful time and it was so nice to meet all my BL folks.

Was it me, I thought it was you? Whoever started it, was a very wise woman. It was so fun to meet everyone.

I was so happy with my weigh in yesterday -- down another 3.5 pounds which makes 18.5 total. I'm almost in new territory for 2011. Thank goodness for the Tinker Bell looming or I could fall off the wagon so darn easily. I really do not want to cover this territory ever again so will be strong!

I am so happy for you, Lisa. You are so strong and motivated, you will definitely stay in that wagon over the holidays and you will rock the Tink.

Good morning everyone!

Just a quick hello this morning. We're enjoying our long weekend off, and ds and I started yesterday off on the right foot with a 3 mile run/walk. We're heading to friends soon and I'll run with my friend, while ds plays with his. I've been trying to clean out all the drawers of stuff we have, and purge. I bought some shelves for the basement and we're going to organize down there, and put all the stuff we want to keep on the shelves around the perimeter of the basement, and make a play area in the center. We got some handmedown foam flooring which will be great because we do get water in some parts of the baement. Our goal is to have it ready for Christmas eve and we'll put the air hockey table down and have some games set out for the kids. Our house is small, and we have 21 of us on Xmas eve, so it will be nice to be able to spread out more.

Have a great day everyone!!

 

[bellebookworm9]

WOOHOOO!!!!!! You go girl!!!! We are super proud of you!!!!!!!

So happy for you Gretchen!!!!! That's amazing! Hopefully we will see you when we go down! We're watching Deathly Hallows right now!

Whoo hoo!!!!!
I am sooooooo excited for you!!!!!!!!!!
I'll definitely check out and follow your blog. DS would say it was magic to get the email at 12:34 also, he always notices when it's 1-2-3-4, and on 11-11-11 to boot. I'm so happy for you, Gretchen.

YEAHHHHHH!!!!!


Gretchen, that is GREAT NEWS!!! WTG!! DD and I were JUST talking about you today!! I would say that 11/11/11 is definitely going to be your lucky number from now on! Now go buy a lottery ticket!! .........................P

Congrats!! I'm so happy for you!

Congratulations!!! That is Awesome!!! Maybe I will see you next summer when we are there!!! Very, very exciting.

YAY!!! So excited for you! Congrats! :banana

Congratulations, Gretchen!
Will you be working MK or is that any main entrance operations? I loved my time as a cast member at DL in college . . . even though it was 30 years ago.

Thanks everybody! I hope I can meet all of you who will be coming down!

Tracey, I watched DH last night as well. It was still good, but it was much more encompassing on the big screen!

Kathy, I didn't even think of 1-2-3-4, I was so focused on the 11-11-11!

Lisa, it could be at any park or venue. I have a friend who did it at Epcot two years ago and loved it! I guess it can be furthered subdivided into Parking (yellow and white costume, same at every park) or turnstiles (differs by park and sometimes location in park). I could also be at the water parks, Wide World of Sports or Cirque du Soleil (as a ticket seller/usherette). I won't know for certain where I'll be until the day I check in.

I paid my fees last night, so by Tuesday I should be able to pick my arrival/departure dates.

Question of the Day

It is Saturday When do you do your grocery shopping? Do you plan your meals including breakfast and lunch?

We go shopping on Saturdays because that's when we are all here and can go in the car as opposed to taking the bus. I don't plan my meals out specifically, but I generally have a good idea of what I'm going to eat for the week.

 

[SettinSail]

Happy Saturday everyone! DH decided to pay a visit to his parents and took DS with him. I am the bad DIL who stayed at home and did not visit. I am really enjoying my alone time today!!! It seems like I am saying that a lot these days. Hope I am not turning into a hermit!
As we have been unpacking boxes, we have set aside stuff to take to my FIL, he buys and sells stuff as a hobby. We sent him some of MY childhood board games and even a board game from my Mom's childhood, as well as a set of 1946 encyclopedias. Along with a bunch of other odds and ends that we thought he might be able to sell. It feels SO good to get that junk out of here! I have another load to take to Goodwill today too.

THEY ACCEPTED ME FOR THE COLLEGE PROGRAM!!!!

Main Entrance Operations!

Congrats Gretchen! You will make a great Disney employee! When will you move down?

What has been the single most (positive) influential factor in your weight-loss/getting fit journey? Was it a lightbulb moment, was it finding a new passion for physical activity? Was it the influence of a person? Was it medically motivated?

I started thinking about losing weight when we moved to Europe. At first I just thought the weight would fall off because I was more active and I was eating differently. After a few months passed, I realized I had lost a grand total of 4 pounds and was going to have to start working harder to actually lose some I also saw how thin most Europeans are and I saw how much trouble I had keeping up with my family as we toured places or went hiking. I just knew I could not continue to live in this condition. Then I met a bunch of DISers online going on my cruise and we all started C25K together. I was shocked to discover I could run a 5K! After the cruise I found this board and the support has just been so great. I'm not the world's fastest loser but I am continuing to plug along and I am determined to reach my goal one day!

Question of the Day

With the holidays fast approaching, what do you do to relieve stress? I am hoping that it is not eating.

I have the unusual situation of not having a very stressful holiday. My family only buys gifts for the children. We only have 2 children and 1 of them is mine so that leaves only 1 gift for that side of the family. We all bring a dish or 2 so that's not very hard. DH's family goes all out and buys us lots and lots of presents. We have asked them many times to stop but they just enjoy it. I make DH buy their presents since it's his family but this year we have already replaced their TV for them and made it known that was the Cmas gift for the whole family. MIL does all the cooking and baking so nothing for me to do there. DS is getting a Mac Air and that's so expensive it will be his only present. I don't participate in the gift exchange at work, don't send cards any more and make a few holiday goodies to give out to friends. The only thing I sort of dread is getting out all of my decorations and putting them up but that's not really stressful. Hope I don't sound like a complete Scrooge!! I do give DH & DS a small present in their stocking every day from Dec 1- Dec 24 but that's a lot of fun for me. I keep hoping to find something in my stocking one of these days


Today's QOTD: I am ALWAYS in the grocery store!!! I usually go Thurs or Fri afternoon and do a weekly shop after doing my weekly menus. I don't plan Breakfast or Lunch but have a variety of things on hand to choose from. Then I find myself back at the store almost daily buying things we run out of. Our store also sends out alerts of things that are on sale for 1 day only and they are always fantastic deals. Somehow they have me roped into going in there every day. But it is on the way home from work, less than a mile from the house and an easy in and out.

LISA That is a good Mom tip. I feel like I have tried that several times but it will never stick for DS. Now that he is in HS, I live in terror that he will fail something but at some point we are going to have to let him manage on his own. We don't micro manage him but we try to stay on top of his grades and assignments and encourage him

PAMELA Good luck with your robotics event!

DONA I think I would try to go to the shower, and encourage DH to go too. Even though it will make for a few exhausting days, I think you will be glad you went later. You can always catch up on rest later, right? (ha ha)
Maybe you can do a few more things in advance of those days, can any of the dishes be made ahead and frozen? Maybe ask the boys to do more this year? Good luck with your decision.

CC Glad you finally have your power back. Has anyone heard from Deb?

Kathy Thanks for being our coach last week. Good luck getting the basement set up, sounds like a great idea.

Tracey Hope you are feeling better. Great that you are getting more business ! I can send a card to your folks, I already have their address. Should it arrive near or on their special day?

Laura I think I will make the soup too! I need a little bit more broccoli and the half and half but I have everything else on hand!

Hello to everyone else. I am way up this week, very bloated and crampy and all that fun stuff. I PM'ed my weight to Sue and got it out of the way. Thurs & Fri were my really bad days and today it's getting better so hopefully I will have a good week. I did 45 mins on my elliptical here at home this morning. I'm going to straighten around the house, work on my stitching and run a few errands which includes dropping some things at the Goodwill. Wow, it's already 3:00, the day has gotten away from me. I better get going!

 

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Shawn- You can send a card anytime now. They should start receiving cards sometime this week as some of my friends up here have sent them cards. Thanks!

Feeling better than last night but still stuffy. Did a fair today that went really well. I had a lot of books that were slightly used or out of print that I sold for half price which people loved. My other books sold pretty well too. A very nice lady helped me pack up the car. I'm exhausted and it was reallllly cold in the hall we were in. The person ins charge doesn't like to give us much heat for this event! Oh well! I had two bowls of Italian Wedding Soup that was AMAZING! I also had a hot dog! I brought home KFC for supper as I didn't have anything here for supper and I am too tired to cook.

Watching more Harry Potter now. Going to church in the morning and then Ash to basketball. Also going to try and get my family room and storage room back in shape so I can start working out downstairs again.

Almost had to go into work tomorrow. My boss called and said that it was crazy today and I got a few more new clients.

Ash and Brian won their last soccer game of the season! They ended up 6-2 and Ash scored a goal today. She had 7 points for the season! Brian said the team played amazingly today. Time to go through receipts from today and get some cleaning done while we watch tv!

TTFN