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

[4HOLIDAYS]

QOTD Bags-

Always a large 2 handle purse/tote.

Right now, the Dooney Disney cruise sketch, large tote, from last yr trip. Love this big bag. Also, I have the Dooney Disney blk baloon Susanna ,large tote that I use all the time. Again, love it. I have a couple of Max New York totes that are patent,top zips,large,pockets, all the things I like.

I usually carry my phone, wallet, small notebook (5x7 100 pages) , pens, water bottle, tissues, bag of almonds, sm makeup bag, coupons. Sometimes I will also have a sweater, my cameras, plaaysport video, ipod, umbrella...

 

[lovetoscrap]

I am back into working out though actively looking for a new 1. Seriously thinking about a Kathy Smith video and maybe trying kettlebells.

If anybody has tried her workouts please let me know which 1 and if its good to start with.

My 2 favorite workout videos are Kathy Smith. Can't really recommend those specific ones since the key word in that first sentence is VIDEO-- they are from the 80's and full of leg warmers, spandex leotards and really big hair! But I like her style and the way she does the exercises. I haven't tried any of her current stuff but if I were to get a new dvd I would probably try her first.

I then have to go back to work for a 3pm client.

Saturday I will be selling books at a nursing home all day. Sunday is church and then my new afternoon clients!

I wish you lived near me-- I could sure use a massage! I need to call up the place I have gone before and schedule one.

I got a call when I was home yesterday that my mil was in the hospital. She fell two weeks ago and yesterday morning she woke up and her arm was hurting. They took her to ER and they found a bloodclot in her arm and they took her right into OR. I was worried since she has had a lot of lung probems but I got a call later that she was out of surgery. She will be in the hospital until Sunday. We are going to see her tonight.
.

Goodness! Glad they figured it out and got her to the ER. for a quick recovery.

I'm back. I'm just jumping in here instead of trying to catch up. If anything big happened could someone PM me. Anxiety issues have been a huge problem for me of late. Nick is doing great and seems to have come out of his depression. We did get him a therapist and had a med eval with a psychiatrist. They are trying a new med so fingers crossed that it works. Chris' thumb is much better. It looks nasty, but the wound healed well with no infection and he has most of his mobility back. He is hoping to be able to return to his job on Monday. Hunter had another ear infection which was really bad. We have a follow up today with ENT to see if we can figure out why he is having them. I'm praying that it isn't another tumor. 2 years ago today is when he had the seizure that brought his tumor to light. Today is also Chris' birthday. Yesterday was Colby's Birthday. Nick started his first job yesterday. As you can see from the limited amount that I just posted, life is stressful. I'm working with my doctor to find the right med to help me with my anxiety. In the meantime I haven't gained weight, maybe even lost a pound or two. I'm sending my weigh in now.

I hope things can calm down a little for all of you.

B.

Then I need to get home and get some cleaning done and get ready for our "JUST SAY NO TO LADDERS" celebration that we are having on Sunday!


Anyhow, we are celebrating on Sunday (just us and my parents, nothing big) with a "JUST SAY NO TO LADDERS" day! We will attend church together and have a nice meal here at home, give a few gifts, and talk about how lucky we are, plus thank my parents AGAIN for moving into our house for 3 weeks and making sure that the kids were taken care of, etc. We will send out some repeat thank you notes to people who made a big difference in our lives during that time (One of them being a friend I made right here on a previous BL challenge!).

I will spend some time today making some ladder-related decorations for the house and creating DH a "JUST SAY NO TO LADDERS" t-shirt! I was contemplating making a cake, but with the holidays around the corner and DH and I both trying to be "good" up until then, I might skip it. Or make it a tiny cake with just 6 servings .

What a great idea! You have all been through a lot and it is great to now be able to look back having come though it.

Listening to some of you talk about your plans to maintain through the holiday weeks has me thinking. I definitely want to maintain through thanksgiving weekend, which for me means most likely gain a few over the weekend, but get right back on track and lose them by the following friday. I liked the pjlla plan, and think I would like to start the sunday after thanksgiving to friday 2/23 with another one, to stay on track 80% of the time. There's 4 weeks between the holidays. If anyone would like to join me?
!

I may have to try that. Maybe I can get a better plan in place that I can stick to that will at least help me maintain if not lose.

Oh my GOSH, I LOVE bags! I'm definitely NOT a purse/pocketbook/handbag kind of girl, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE totebags!!


See, I told you I love tote bags! Apparently I love talking about them too!!.....................P

Somehow I could have guessed this--- since I LOVE them too!

Sunday we are driving to New Jersey to have a memorial service for my Grandma, she passes away Tuesday. So we will be back on Tuesday and then jump right into Thanksgiving and my Birthday.

So sorry to hear about the loss of your Grandma.

When is your birthday?

QOTD: What sort of bag(s) do you carry on a regular basis? Do you have different bags for different days? This may include a purse, briefcase, lunch bag, man purse, gym bag, diaper bag, grocery bag, or whatever you use to keep up with your must have items.

And part 2 is: What are your must have items in your bag?

:

Well since pjlla and I are separated at birth it should come as no surprise after reading her answer that I LOVE tote bags too! I also enjoy purses but not expensive or name brand ones. Just run in the mill stuff holding purses but I am restrained and actually don't own very many. My absolute favorite is a backpack style that I bought the first time I was on crutches about 11 years ago. It is still usable, but I have had some work done on the straps. It cost me about $20 at Target and I spent more than that to have it fixed! But it is so handy with all the time I have spent on crutches and in a wheelchair to have a backpack.

I also just bought a small little wallet style purse to carry the essentials-- credit cards, money and checkbook. It has a long strap so it is easy to grab out of my purse when I don't won't to carry the whole thing or can transfer it to the bag of the day.

And I love bigger bags because I am a stuff carrier. Remember Sophia on the Golden Girls who carried her purse with her at all times? I have to have my bag of stuff with me. I very rarely use anything out of it but if I need it darn it I have it! I have multiple large purse type bags, backpacks and tote bags. I tend to use one for a while then decide to change to something else. Currently I am using. . . . my old diaper bag!!! It is a Lands End bag that doesn't really look like a diaper bag and is really, really handy! I found it when I cleaned out my closet and realized it would work great for me. It has 2 "bottle" pockets that hold my water perfectly! Several compartments and outer pockets that I can put stuff into to make it easier to find. My other favorites are just large purses that don't have any compartments, usually just one small pocket. I have a Disney one I got on Clearance several years ago that I love.

I take the bigger bag if I am going anywhere that I will be sitting around. I have a fear of being bored. I have to have something to do! I put in it a book, my current knitting/crocheting project, and whatever paperwork I need. I also LOVE binders so usually the papers are in a binder of some sort.

I always carry with me in a purse or bag some kleenex, a tube of vasoline, a brush, my cell phone and ipod touch, a bag of nuts, a water bottle and my wallet with cc, check book, driver's license and money.

I am still experimenting with what I am using for the gym (of course haven't been in months so haven't been able to test out my latest!). It is a no frills place so I have to bring my own towels and toiletries and lock so I am trying a backpack. The bag I was using was awkward and it was hard to find stuff.


Have to go and fill whoopie pies. We are making about 100 of them for dd to take to band tomorrow night for her birthday.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Afternoon everybody

Dropping in to say I completed my first official weigh in and I am happy to note that i am right where i was when I left my last BL challenge in the spring That was happy and somewhat unexpected. I knew I hadn't gained much if anything but I could see and feel the the flab creeping back in, so I really couldn't be sure until this morning.

QOTD: I am c currently a tote bag person. I don't know when this happened, but there you go Right now I am carrying around my new DCL tote courtesy of my last cruise 6 weeks ago. That was our castaway gift(DUH ) and I used it on the ship and almost everywhere since we got home.

I need to go back to my AVON tote which i used for carrying around my stuff and has a window for the current campaign book. Its kind of lost in the dining area right now. I have to go find it again

I do have purses and such, but I am always a wishy washy purse person. will carry for awhile, then not. Mostly these days i just pick 1 for church and that's pretty much it.

 

[Octoberbride03]

My 2 favorite workout videos are Kathy Smith. Can't really recommend those specific ones since the key word in that first sentence is VIDEO-- they are from the 80's and full of leg warmers, spandex leotards and really big hair! But I like her style and the way she does the exercises. I haven't tried any of her current stuff but if I were to get a new dvd I would probably try her first.

Oh yeah Ever hit collage video? That's where I usually buy from and they have those videos on dvd now. I was watching clips of them the other night and OMG those clothes

A: I don't know how she actually worked out in those things because in at least 1 of the clips she is sporting a SERIOUS wedgie, I mean non stop

B: I don't know how people worked out to these things for the reason above. HOW DO YOU NOT GET DISTRACTED?!

All i kept thinking was they really should have stopped rolling so she could fix that wedgie

Can we tell I am bit anal about my workout videos

 

[lovetoscrap]

Oh yeah Ever hit collage video? That's where I usually buy from and they have those videos on dvd now. I was watching clips of them the other night and OMG those clothes

A: I don't know how she actually worked out in those things because in at least 1 of the clips she is sporting a SERIOUS wedgie, I mean non stop

B: I don't know how people worked out to these things for the reason above. HOW DO YOU NOT GET DISTRACTED?!

All i kept thinking was they really should have stopped rolling so she could fix that wedgie

Can we tell I am bit anal about my workout videos

You must not have owned a spandex leotard and tights/pants in the 80s! That is why we put the tight spandex pants UNDER the leotard. It looked like a serious wedgie, but with the extra layer of the pants already giving us a wedgie it wasn't as uncomfortable!!! Besides I think there may have been a theory that as that was pulling up on us it made our hair stick up more!

Now I am really wondering whatever happened to mine. It was great-- BRIGHT colors in a funky pattern. And I do mean BRIGHT-- you could have seen me coming from miles away. And of course I thought I was as hot and sexy as I could get all stuffed into that thing.

Just remember people: Friends don't let friends wear spandex!

 

[Octoberbride03]

You must not have owned a spandex leotard and tights/pants in the 80s! That is why we put the tight spandex pants UNDER the leotard. It looked like a serious wedgie, but with the extra layer of the pants already giving us a wedgie it wasn't as uncomfortable!!! Besides I think there may have been a theory that as that was pulling up on us it made our hair stick up more!

Now I am really wondering whatever happened to mine. It was great-- BRIGHT colors in a funky pattern. And I do mean BRIGHT-- you could have seen me coming from miles away. And of course I thought I was as hot and sexy as I could get all stuffed into that thing.

Just remember people: Friends don't let friends wear spandex!

SO SHE'S ACTUALLY SPORTING 2 WEDGIES


EVEN BETTER!!

FTR I am 38 so as long as we are admitting our questionable 80s choices here i did indeed own a bright blue pair of spandex bicycle pants And yeah you could see me from a couple miles away. they were a summer thing but boy did they save me that year from heat rashes

 

[pjlla]

beep and wave!!!

LOL I feel like I'm not here anymore but I do try to keep up with the reading.
Life is just crazy busy here at Blink Manor.

We had our Thanksgiving feast yesterday at school, we served 300 people in 2 hours. It was crazy!! Hopefully there will be a write up in the paper today.
Then rounded up kids, dropped them off to mom and headed to the HS for Parent teacher conferences. DS15 is doing well but could be doing better. Love all of his teachers again this year. It's so nice to see people be passionate about teaching and really making a difference in the kids lives.

Nice to hear about GOOD teachers! My kids have had GREAT teachers, okay teachers, and downright lousy teachers over the years..... but I'm happy to say that the GOOD and GREAT have outnumbered the lousy.

Sunday we are driving to New Jersey to have a memorial service for my Grandma, she passes away Tuesday.

I'm so sorry to hear about your Grandma! Was it unexpected? Prayers for you and your family.

So we will be back on Tuesday and then jump right into Thanksgiving and my Birthday.

Happy Early birthday !!


When does this challenge end and can someone enlighten me on Pamela's stay on track plan/challenge.
I am doing so well on the no soda thing and I'm definitely seeing and feeling the difference but I really need to step it up a notch. The fast food ban is coming up quick!! LOL

It isn't anything really "official". I had just mentioned to Kathy that I wanted to try to be OP for 80% of the days leading up til T.giving. Kathy stepped up and joined into the "80%" idea and it looks like we will both make it! After T.giving we are going for another 80% OP "plan". That will give a bit of "wiggle room" to enjoy a holiday party or two and still make it to Christmas without a gain (hopefully!)

I'm really pleased to hear you are doing well with the soda ban. That stuff is really just terrible for you.... both regular soda and diet. Do you have any plans in place to help with the fastfood ban (menu plans, cooking ahead, anything like that)?? I'm thinking of a Dunkin Donuts ban from T.giving to Christmas, but it makes those 5am swim practice mornings really tough!!

OK gotta jet. I have mice to catch, a kitchen to clean and disinfect and laundry to do all before 11:30. Kids have 1/2 days today!

Wanna borrow my kitty? She's a great hunter!! Then you could take one thing off your list!!

What a great idea! You have all been through a lot and it is great to now be able to look back having come though it.

Got the banner done and a card. Will make up the t-shirt transfer tonight if I can get DH away from the computer!

Somehow I could have guessed this--- since I LOVE them too!

Sista from anotha' Mista!! (gotta say it with a "hood" accent!)

Well since pjlla and I are separated at birth it should come as no surprise after reading her answer that I LOVE tote bags too! I also enjoy purses but not expensive or name brand ones. Just run in the mill stuff holding purses but I am restrained and actually don't own very many. My absolute favorite is a backpack style that I bought the first time I was on crutches about 11 years ago. It is still usable, but I have had some work done on the straps. It cost me about $20 at Target and I spent more than that to have it fixed! But it is so handy with all the time I have spent on crutches and in a wheelchair to have a backpack.

I also just bought a small little wallet style purse to carry the essentials-- credit cards, money and checkbook. It has a long strap so it is easy to grab out of my purse when I don't won't to carry the whole thing or can transfer it to the bag of the day.

And I love bigger bags because I am a stuff carrier. Remember Sophia on the Golden Girls who carried her purse with her at all times? I have to have my bag of stuff with me. I very rarely use anything out of it but if I need it darn it I have it! I have multiple large purse type bags, backpacks and tote bags. I tend to use one for a while then decide to change to something else. Currently I am using. . . . my old diaper bag!!! It is a Lands End bag that doesn't really look like a diaper bag and is really, really handy! I found it when I cleaned out my closet and realized it would work great for me. It has 2 "bottle" pockets that hold my water perfectly! Several compartments and outer pockets that I can put stuff into to make it easier to find. My other favorites are just large purses that don't have any compartments, usually just one small pocket. I have a Disney one I got on Clearance several years ago that I love.

I take the bigger bag if I am going anywhere that I will be sitting around. I have a fear of being bored. I have to have something to do! I put in it a book, my current knitting/crocheting project, and whatever paperwork I need. I also LOVE binders so usually the papers are in a binder of some sort.

I always carry with me in a purse or bag some kleenex, a tube of vasoline, a brush, my cell phone and ipod touch, a bag of nuts, a water bottle and my wallet with cc, check book, driver's license and money.

I am still experimenting with what I am using for the gym (of course haven't been in months so haven't been able to test out my latest!). It is a no frills place so I have to bring my own towels and toiletries and lock so I am trying a backpack. The bag I was using was awkward and it was hard to find stuff.


Have to go and fill whoopie pies. We are making about 100 of them for dd to take to band tomorrow night for her birthday.

Definitely separated at birth (except I hate to bake!).

Just remember people: Friends don't let friends wear spandex!

AMEN!!


**********

Evening friends! This day just flew by! Robotics team will be here tomorrow morning at 9 am and then DD and I leave for the pool about 11 am, so don't think I will get on here unless it is very early in the a.m.

Got the banner and card done for our special day on Sunday. Need to get some cleaning done around here tomorrow morning before robotics and swim.

Dinner is simmering and smells so good, I don't really want to wait until 8:15 to eat with DD, but I will. We will have dinner together as a family and then watch this week's Survivor. Anyhow, I made my curried chicken and will start a pot of brown rice before I head out to pick her up at the Y (unless I can convince DH to pick her up).

I'm going to sit here at my scrapping table and try to make up some "kits" so I can take some scrapping along during T.giving weekend. Sometimes I have time to scrap while the kids play games and the grown-ups are chatting or watching football (or shopping.... I don't really like to shop).

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

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

So sorry to hear about the loss of your Grandma.

When is your birthday?

Thanks for thinking of us!
Pamela, it was expected. She'd been in hospice for a few weeks.

LTS my birthday is the 24th, so I get to cook for my birthday. Oh the joy! NOT!!

Pamela, the 80% plan for Xmas sounds good. Maybe I'll join too!
My plan for the no Fast food = oy, I don't really have one yet. Since DS15 will start indoor track that Monday I suspect I will be doing a lot of crock pot meals. I also peeled, cooked and mashed 6 butternut squashes so I'm going to attempt to make Boma butternut squash soup.

I need to have a menu plan though.

 

[akhaloha]

You must not have owned a spandex leotard and tights/pants in the 80s! That is why we put the tight spandex pants UNDER the leotard. It looked like a serious wedgie, but with the extra layer of the pants already giving us a wedgie it wasn't as uncomfortable!!! Besides I think there may have been a theory that as that was pulling up on us it made our hair stick up more!

Now I am really wondering whatever happened to mine. It was great-- BRIGHT colors in a funky pattern. And I do mean BRIGHT-- you could have seen me coming from miles away. And of course I thought I was as hot and sexy as I could get all stuffed into that thing.

Just remember people: Friends don't let friends wear spandex!

This brought back so many memories of all my spandex! I had every color in the rainbow. And you're right...the tighter the spandex...the bigger our hair!

 

[cclovesdis]

OMG! I love this spandex discussion! My mom refused to let me wear jeans and insisted that I wear something like spandex. They weren't really, but you know that's what my friends called them. I had whatever these were in the rainbow too.

Kathy, pjlla, and anyone else: I'm in for another round of the pjlla plan. I am determined to be OP through Wednesday. I have a feeling that I'll be OP on Thanksgiving too, especially staying GF.

Today was a great day until my mother started in with x, y, and z. My sister and I met her at the grocery store (wasn't entirely planned) and I drove home with her. The first words out of her mouth are a complaint about my outfit and how it makes me look big. But, it's not worth it to me to expend my energy letting her get to me. I went to the library and have lots to read. I'm planning to go to the gym tomorrow and maybe some Wii time as well. I'm hoping to get back to my starting weight for the challenge when I weigh-in next week. If I stay OP, I have a good chance of succeeding. I do have to be realistic as it's more than I usually lose on an average week. 100% OP.

Have a great night!

 

[buzz5985]

Good Morning! I am your coach for this week. I have some QOTD that I hope we can have fun with. I apologize if I am repeating any questions that have already been asked this challenge. If I do please send me a PM ASAP and I will post a new one-- I have more questions than I have days!

This morning I am off and running. Have to be at the high school in about an hour and I need to get breakfast, make a snack to take, load the car with DD15's birthday treats, pack my bag with everything I need for today and run by Subway and pick her up a birthday lunch. Good thing she loves Subway because lunch is at 10:20am and nowhere else is serving lunch at that time!

So on that note I want to talk about bags. Guys this isn't specifically purses so don't feel like you can't join in.

QOTD: What sort of bag(s) do you carry on a regular basis? Do you have different bags for different days? This may include a purse, briefcase, lunch bag, man purse, gym bag, diaper bag, grocery bag, or whatever you use to keep up with your must have items.

And part 2 is: What are your must have items in your bag?

I will be back to answer later this afternoon or evening. I have to go and pack my bag now! Everyone have a great Healthy and Happy Friday!

I carry a basic black hobo bag. With a black wallet. The black bag, goes in a canvas tote bag they were giving away at WDW if you spent $50 a couple of years ago. Also in the cavas bag is my Flylady Office in a Bag, my lunch box. The most important thing in the bag is my memory stick that I keep my BL coaching documents on!!!! Oh and I can't forget my phone charger is in there too.

I had really good news yesterday. My Aunt (where we will be celebrating Thanksgiving) just finished 2 rounds of chemo. She has stage 4 lung cancer and is undergoing experimental treatment. She had a CAT scan last week and the tumors in her lung have shrunk 50% and the tumor outside has shrunk 60%. The Doctor's are thrilled, they haven't seen progress this quickly before. So my family will be having a very thankful day on Thursday!!!!

Janis

 

[glss1/2fll]

QOTD: No purses for me. I always carry around my phone, keys and a little wallet that has drivers license, cc, library, Costco and Y card. That's it. They go in a pocket (or 2). When needed I have a fanny pack (I can hear that sharp intake of breath, you guys!) that I throw stuff into. It already has a ton of stuff in it. I love it because it also has a handle. I'm sure I look like the biggest dweeb on the planet, but tough. For sports I have a gazillion totes from the summer reading program the library holds every year for kids. I throw my junk in there along with water, tissue and a book and off I go. Two summers ago DH bought me a cute teeny purse that my basics barely fit into. It has a long strap and I used it for the first time about a month ago! My very favorite tote is a strap bag from WDW. The blue one with all the characters on it. It makes me happy.

Pamela-thanks for the words of encouragement about my versus DH's running time! Sometimes it's hard to remember that 9 months ago I'd only have run if something was chasing me! Thanks.

Well, I was down a pound this week. I was shocked since DS1 had a birthday and there's been a giant Costco cake in our fridge! It's now in the freezer. I did have a piece or 2 (ok--3) but that was over several days.

I called my girlfriend whose son died. It would have been his birthday. She said they are all "just surviving." They'd already had a big dinner/party planned for him so they were going to go ahead with their plans. I hope it helps them all.

Both DS1 and 2 made the basketball teams! They are happy. I think DS2 is feeling happier at the school we're "forcing" him to attend. He's got a girlfriend and now he'll have his teammates to keep him busy. He still sees all his other friends after school and on weekends. DH and I keep trying to make him see he has the best of both worlds.

I think DS1 is out of the shower after his practice. DS2 is at his practice and DH is in the garage on his bike. Better see about feeding DS1, although he's informed me he's going to his girlfriend's house for a second dinner! Teenagers!!

Hope everyone has a super and OP weekend!

 

[bellebookworm9]

I had really good news yesterday. My Aunt (where we will be celebrating Thanksgiving) just finished 2 rounds of chemo. She has stage 4 lung cancer and is undergoing experimental treatment. She had a CAT scan last week and the tumors in her lung have shrunk 50% and the tumor outside has shrunk 60%. The Doctor's are thrilled, they haven't seen progress this quickly before. So my family will be having a very thankful day on Thursday!!!!

That's great!

In regards to spandex, I never experienced that. But I did have pink pleather pants in the fourth grade that Mom made. And a velveteen pink shirt with flowers printed on it. I'm certain I looked like a hippy, and man those pants made my legs sweat something awful! I only wore them a few times.

I finally went to see my psychiatrist today. He prescribed me Zoloft (a seratonin med) to go along with the anti-depressant I'm already on (a norepinephrine and something else med). The two together should help me feel better within a couple weeks. I also had my sleeping meds refilled, so I'll be sleeping better as well.

I will be flying down to Florida on January 10th by myself-I've never flown by myself so this will be new! I will be staying at Pop Century that night, as some other CPers are staying there as well, and we might have a get together and take a taxi van to check in the next morning. I have to send a final e-mail to the lady I have the Old Key West DVC reservation through. I have sent her two already asking if it is possible to move the reservation up two nights and have received no response. I guess I have to make it clear that I understand she retains control over the reservation and if it can't/won't be done, I don't expect my money back. In fact, I understand if she can't/won't do it, but a response explaining such would be nice!

 

[SettinSail]

QOTD: What sort of bag(s) do you carry on a regular basis? Do you have different bags for different days? This may include a purse, briefcase, lunch bag, man purse, gym bag, diaper bag, grocery bag, or whatever you use to keep up with your must have items.

And part 2 is: What are your must have items in your bag?

Oh I love this question! I am always intrigued by the number of people walking into work with their MULTIPLE bags full of stuff - what in the world is in there ??!! I go into work and I am busy working the whole time. I wouldn't have time to need whatever is in the bag.

I regularly carry a large purse. It holds my wallet, cell phone, Kindle, lip gloss, chap stick, mirror, calendar (I don't do smart phone), note pad, pen, hairbrush, floss. I carry my lunch to work in a small insulated igloo lunchbox, it's very small. My gym bag stays packed and in the car.

I have a bazillion purses but I hate changing them out so I usually carry the same one for months.

Hope to catch up more tomorrow. My sister is staying with me for the weekend since the guys went caving with the Boy Scouts and I am such a scaredy cat

 

[SettinSail]

Here's the link to the Pizza Tour - we took the Crosstown Pizza Walk:

http://www.scottspizzatours.com/p/tourdescriptions/

I think it is supposed to get a little cooler next week - but no rain in the forecast yet.


- Laura

Thanks! I have it bookmarked but may not actually book it until we get there in case we run out of time to do it. I got tickets for the 9/11 memorial today. When I had looked before there was no availability but today it was back. Right now it's looking like rain on Weds but no more after that for the whole 4 days. I think Thanksgiving will be sunny and high about 42. I think my down coat will be perfect, 42 is pretty cold to me! And it will be much colder at the parade that morning.

Stupid question, but what is uptown and what is downtown? I always get confused on the subway about that...

 

[donac]

Good Saturday morning

I just dh off to go on a boy scout camping trip. Ds1 is asleep and will be up later and go to work.

Saw mil yesterday. She looked good and may be out tomorrow or Monday. Thanks for the prayers.

on my way home from dropping off dh I saw the following quote

Quote of the Day

An Optimist is a person who starts their diet on Thanksgiving

Maybe we should all be optimists this year.

Off to get some things done today.

Have a happy and healthy day.

 

[mikamah]

DId you mean Friday 12/23?? I think I'm in.... but I'm going to start Saturday, 11/26. That will be 28 days until Christmas eve. My math skills are pretty bad, but I think that would allow for 5.6 days OFF (rounded up to 6 days) to allow for holiday parties and such. I think I am going to aim for 90% days OP.... that will give me one day for my Bible Study holiday party, and two other days to play with before Christmas.

Your math is right. I am going to start on the sunday, and I did mean 12/23 the friday because we have our big Christmas celebration on Christmas eve. I think I'll aim for no more than 4 days off plan, one per week, since I'll be starting fresh after thanksgiving weekend. We can call it the Pjlla-inspired Between the Holidays Plan. We'd love for anyone to join us, just share your plan and progress along the way. It defnitely helped me get from halloween through now, and I definitely want to share next wed that I was successful.

:Sunday we are driving to New Jersey to have a memorial service for my Grandma, she passed away Tuesday. So we will be back on Tuesday and then jump right into Thanksgiving and my Birthday.

So sorry about your grandma. It's tough no matter if it's expected.

Besides I think there may have been a theory that as that was pulling up on us it made our hair stick up more!

QOTD: What sort of bag(s) do you carry on a regular basis? Do you have different bags for different days? This may include a purse, briefcase, lunch bag, man purse, gym bag, diaper bag, grocery bag, or whatever you use to keep up with your must have items.

And part 2 is: What are your must have items in your bag?

I have a fun bag for the first time in ages. My basic black sling bag from LLbean which I've probably had for more than 10 years zipper finally broke, so I bought a pretty Vera Bradley bag for 40% off last month. It's got bright pink daisies with orange centers and a navy back ground. Very cute. There are 2 little front zipper pockets, one with my work id badge and pens, and one my cell phone and keys. The main compartment I have my small camera, ds's epipen/benadryl, wallet, ibuprofen, tink brush/mirror, and calendar. I think that's it. I'm pretty low maintenance.
LTS-I still have my Lands End diaper bag backpack that I use for our disney trips!! I use the pocket in the back where the pad used to go for our disney travel papers and park maps. It's a great bag.

Saw mil yesterday. She looked good and may be out tomorrow or Monday. Thanks for the prayers.

Quote of the Day

An Optimist is a person who starts their diet on Thanksgiving

So sorry to hear about your MIL, but glad she's doing well and should be home soon. Love the quote. I consider myself an Optimist, but I'm not that good.

Hello to everyone else!!

No big plans here, we hope to go to dnephew's last freshman football game, and dniece has her flag football game too, but ds has been coughing all night, and really congested, so I want to bring him to the doctor, and we'll see how he feels after. It's a nice day out, and I think it will warm up.

Have a great weekend!!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Good Morning!

QOTD:

CONGRATULATIONS! You have just made the cover of Sports Illustrated because you are a star in the sport you currently love most or that you always wished you could do!

What does your cover look like?


I am on the cover in my racing swimsuit and cap with my Olympic Gold Medals for Freestyle, Butterfly, and several Relays-- looking like the female Micheal Phelps! I love to swim but was never great at it. It is my exercise of choice but since I don't have access to a pool to work out in I haven't done it in quite some time. I would have loved to been on a swim team like my kids are when I was a child.

Not sure when/if I will get back on today-- have to celebrate a birthday and get my house cleaned up for the party tomorrow. Everyone have a great Healthy Happy Day!! And hug your kids-- they grow up way too fast.

 

[mikamah]

Good Morning!

QOTD:

CONGRATULATIONS! You have just made the cover of Sports Illustrated because you are a star in the sport you currently love most or that you always wished you could do!

What does your cover look like?

I am running across the finishline of the disney world half marathon with mickey and minnie at my sides after stopping for every single character stop and still maintaining my 16 min pace. Headline, "Your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them".

Fun question, LTS. Good luck with the party!!

 

[pjlla]

Thanks for thinking of us!
Pamela, it was expected. She'd been in hospice for a few weeks.

That doesn't really make it any easier though, does it?? Safe travels on Sunday.

LTS my birthday is the 24th, so I get to cook for my birthday. Oh the joy! NOT!!

If my birthday fell on T.giving, we would be eating take-out! I HATE cooking! BTW, you share a birthday with my brother (although I think he is a bit older, like me!). Happy Holiday birthday!!

Pamela, the 80% plan for Xmas sounds good. Maybe I'll join too!
My plan for the no Fast food = oy, I don't really have one yet. Since DS15 will start indoor track that Monday I suspect I will be doing a lot of crock pot meals. I also peeled, cooked and mashed 6 butternut squashes so I'm going to attempt to make Boma butternut squash soup.

WIsh you could send me some soup! I LOVE butternut squash soup!!! If you want any crockpot recipes, I might have a few to share, although I know some of your clan is pretty picky. I've got a good potato soup (fairly low fat), and a hamburg soup that are both pretty easy and fairly universally appealing.

I need to have a menu plan though.

Kathy, pjlla, and anyone else: I'm in for another round of the pjlla plan. I am determined to be OP through Wednesday. I have a feeling that I'll be OP on Thanksgiving too, especially staying GF.

OP for T.giving day!!???

Today was a great day until my mother started in with x, y, and z. My sister and I met her at the grocery store (wasn't entirely planned) and I drove home with her. The first words out of her mouth are a complaint about my outfit and how it makes me look big. But, it's not worth it to me to expend my energy letting her get to me. I went to the library and have lots to read. I'm planning to go to the gym tomorrow and maybe some Wii time as well. I'm hoping to get back to my starting weight for the challenge when I weigh-in next week. If I stay OP, I have a good chance of succeeding. I do have to be realistic as it's more than I usually lose on an average week. 100% OP.

Have a great night!

Sounds like your head is in the right place, even with the negative outside pressures. Don't worry about what you were wearing and what it made you look like (according to her). If you were busy and comfortable, that is what counts! Maybe she's afraid that "Mr. Right" will be at the grocery store and he won't give you a second look if you are dressed right??!! (Presuming, of course, that he would give you a first look, cause we all know the "good men" are all gay, married, or in the witness protection program!! )

I will pledge to be 100% OP with you through breakfast on Thursday! It will be tough tomorrow, as we are having our "Just Say No to Ladders" dinner, but I will work hard to be as OP as is humanly possible!

I carry a basic black hobo bag. With a black wallet. The black bag, goes in a canvas tote bag they were giving away at WDW if you spent $50 a couple of years ago. Also in the cavas bag is my Flylady Office in a Bag, my lunch box. The most important thing in the bag is my memory stick that I keep my BL coaching documents on!!!! Oh and I can't forget my phone charger is in there too.

I had really good news yesterday. My Aunt (where we will be celebrating Thanksgiving) just finished 2 rounds of chemo. She has stage 4 lung cancer and is undergoing experimental treatment. She had a CAT scan last week and the tumors in her lung have shrunk 50% and the tumor outside has shrunk 60%. The Doctor's are thrilled, they haven't seen progress this quickly before. So my family will be having a very thankful day on Thursday!!!!
Janis

You DO have so much to be thankful for! I hope we can all find something to be thankful for on Thursday.... our good (and improving-every-day) health, our families near and far, our freedom, etc, etc.

QOTD: No purses for me. I always carry around my phone, keys and a little wallet that has drivers license, cc, library, Costco and Y card. That's it. They go in a pocket (or 2). When needed I have a fanny pack (I can hear that sharp intake of breath, you guys!) that I throw stuff into. It already has a ton of stuff in it. I love it because it also has a handle. I'm sure I look like the biggest dweeb on the planet, but tough. For sports I have a gazillion totes from the summer reading program the library holds every year for kids. I throw my junk in there along with water, tissue and a book and off I go. Two summers ago DH bought me a cute teeny purse that my basics barely fit into. It has a long strap and I used it for the first time about a month ago! My very favorite tote is a strap bag from WDW. The blue one with all the characters on it. It makes me happy.

As long as it makes you happy, that is good enough for me!!

Pamela-thanks for the words of encouragement about my versus DH's running time! Sometimes it's hard to remember that 9 months ago I'd only have run if something was chasing me! Thanks.

Thanks for the chuckle! For some reason I pictured you being chased by a bear AND a skunk!!

Well, I was down a pound this week. I was shocked since DS1 had a birthday and there's been a giant Costco cake in our fridge! It's now in the freezer. I did have a piece or 2 (ok--3) but that was over several days.

WOOHOO on one pound!

I called my girlfriend whose son died. It would have been his birthday. She said they are all "just surviving." They'd already had a big dinner/party planned for him so they were going to go ahead with their plans. I hope it helps them all.


Nice of you to call. I'm sure it wasn't easy to call and find the right things to say. I often chicken out of situations like that but then regret it later. I hope they can find some joy and peace in celebrating his life with the party.

Both DS1 and 2 made the basketball teams! They are happy. I think DS2 is feeling happier at the school we're "forcing" him to attend. He's got a girlfriend and now he'll have his teammates to keep him busy. He still sees all his other friends after school and on weekends. DH and I keep trying to make him see he has the best of both worlds.

Congratulations to BOTH of your DSs!!

I think DS1 is out of the shower after his practice. DS2 is at his practice and DH is in the garage on his bike. Better see about feeding DS1, although he's informed me he's going to his girlfriend's house for a second dinner! Teenagers!!

Hope everyone has a super and OP weekend!

Hope your weekend is super too!

finally went to see my psychiatrist today. He prescribed me Zoloft (a seratonin med) to go along with the anti-depressant I'm already on (a norepinephrine and something else med). The two together should help me feel better within a couple weeks. I also had my sleeping meds refilled, so I'll be sleeping better as well.

It is so mature of you to take care of yourself like that!

I will be flying down to Florida on January 10th by myself-I've never flown by myself so this will be new! I will be staying at Pop Century that night, as some other CPers are staying there as well, and we might have a get together and take a taxi van to check in the next morning. I have to send a final e-mail to the lady I have the Old Key West DVC reservation through. I have sent her two already asking if it is possible to move the reservation up two nights and have received no response. I guess I have to make it clear that I understand she retains control over the reservation and if it can't/won't be done, I don't expect my money back. In fact, I understand if she can't/won't do it, but a response explaining such would be nice![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

I agree.... not responding is impolite. Maybe she is trying to formulate a way for this to work out for you??

Don't worry about flying alone... you'll be fine!

Hope to catch up more tomorrow. My sister is staying with me for the weekend since the guys went caving with the Boy Scouts and I am such a scaredy cat

I don't blame you about the scaredy cat. I used to be like that, but DH started traveling a lot for work not long after DD was born and I had no choice to be home alone with her! I'm not a dog person, but it definitely made me long for a large German Shepard! I kept hoping I'd find a "rent-a-dog" company!!

I used to laugh about our alarm system..... we are so far away from the police station I figured that the alarm going off in the middle of the night would just be a nice advanced warning that a bad guy was on his way upstairs!

Good Saturday morning

I just dh off to go on a boy scout camping trip. Ds1 is asleep and will be up later and go to work.

Saw mil yesterday. She looked good and may be out tomorrow or Monday. Thanks for the prayers.

Glad she is improving.


on my way home from dropping off dh I saw the following quote

Quote of the Day

An Optimist is a person who starts their diet on Thanksgiving

Maybe we should all be optimists this year.

Off to get some things done today.

Have a happy and healthy day.

Amen!!

Your math is right. I am going to start on the sunday, and I did mean 12/23 the friday because we have our big Christmas celebration on Christmas eve. I think I'll aim for no more than 4 days off plan, one per week, since I'll be starting fresh after thanksgiving weekend. We can call it the Pjlla-inspired Between the Holidays Plan. We'd love for anyone to join us, just share your plan and progress along the way. It defnitely helped me get from halloween through now, and I definitely want to share next wed that I was successful.

You are ON! In the spirit of the plan, we should ALL plan for at least 80% OP days..... I personally have a goal of 90%. For now, my ONE off-plan day (or meal) is going to be the bible study holiday party on 12/1. I want to enjoy some of the sweets and goodies that these lovely ladies are making! My second off-plan day might be the bible study brunch later in the month.... it might depend on what is offered that morning. THat would leave me one more day to play with and still stay within the 90%.

I have a fun bag for the first time in ages. My basic black sling bag from LLbean which I've probably had for more than 10 years zipper finally broke, so I bought a pretty Vera Bradley bag for 40% off last month. It's got bright pink daisies with orange centers and a navy back ground. Very cute. There are 2 little front zipper pockets, one with my work id badge and pens, and one my cell phone and keys. The main compartment I have my small camera, ds's epipen/benadryl, wallet, ibuprofen, tink brush/mirror, and calendar. I think that's it. I'm pretty low maintenance.

I was admiring that VB bag last Sunday! That is one of the VB fabrics that I really like!

LTS-I still have my Lands End diaper bag backpack that I use for our disney trips!! I use the pocket in the back where the pad used to go for our disney travel papers and park maps. It's a great bag.

I will say, I was a little sad when I no longer had a reason to carry a diaper bag! I've seen a few over the years that I thought I'd like to own and could probably get away with, as they aren't obviously a diaper bag.


No big plans here, we hope to go to dnephew's last freshman football game, and dniece has her flag football game too, but ds has been coughing all night, and really congested, so I want to bring him to the doctor, and we'll see how he feels after. It's a nice day out, and I think it will warm up.

Have a great weekend!!

Good Morning!

QOTD:

CONGRATULATIONS! You have just made the cover of Sports Illustrated because you are a star in the sport you currently love most or that you always wished you could do!

What does your cover look like?

Well.... I'd be sitting at my scrapbook table wearing my favorite yoga pants, exercise bra, and t-shirt!! I will scrap aerobically!!

Seriously.... I have YET to find an exercise that I really love. I did enjoy the step class I took this summer, but Zumba was definitely NOT my thing. And I only do Spin class when my brain isn't working well enough to tell me NO! I think I'd like to try tennis, but I"m intimidated by all of the "fancy" tennis ladies at our Y, plus it is expensive.


I am on the cover in my racing swimsuit and cap with my Olympic Gold Medals for Freestyle, Butterfly, and several Relays-- looking like the female Micheal Phelps! I love to swim but was never great at it. It is my exercise of choice but since I don't have access to a pool to work out in I haven't done it in quite some time. I would have loved to been on a swim team like my kids are when I was a child.

Not sure when/if I will get back on today-- have to celebrate a birthday and get my house cleaned up for the party tomorrow. Everyone have a great Healthy Happy Day!! And hug your kids-- they grow up way too fast.

DD can totally relate to your dream!!

*****************

Happy Saturday. I really need to fly along here, but I wanted to be sure to come say hi!

Robotics team is here, but I have NO time today to participate. I will need to leave that up to DH and our other coach.

I've done a good bit of picking up, dusting, vacuuming, etc so far today. And DS was good enough to get up early and pick up his room (as I asked him to last night) without me having to come in and wake him.

I haven't made my bed yet, but I will before I leave for the day. I need to make some lunch for the robotics kids, pack up a few things for the swim afternoon, and be out the door by 12noon. I did NOT get in a workout today, but didn't really have it on my radar anyhow. I did plenty of bending, reaching, lifting, etc when cleaning this morning.

Talk with you all later..................P