DISappearing Peeps...A fastpass to THIN! Part 2

[punkin413]

i've been MIA this weekend. my brother and sister were in town so we could get our picture made for my dad for christmas. my brother is seriously considering moving here so i've been dealing with that. he wants to get away from the circle of friends who he believes is bringing him down. so many issues with that i don't even know where to start! anyway, that's what my weekend consisted of.

Who here gets a real tree for Christmas? Alos, when do you guys put up your trees--fake or real? We use to put up a fake tree and it would go upt TG night or the next day. Now we do the real thing and it goes up anout 2 weeks before Christmas. I think we might go this weekend and tag our tree Nothing like trees to put me in the SPIRIT

we have done both. for the first 2 christmases in our house we had a real tree. then last year we decided to get a fake one. we always put it up either the day after thanksgiving or the weekend after (depending on if we're out of town for thanksgiving or not). my real tree has never died on me as long as i keep water in it. i have to admit i do love the smell of a real tree though!

 

[MJMouse]

Who here gets a real tree for Christmas? Alos, when do you guys put up your trees--fake or real? We use to put up a fake tree and it would go upt TG night or the next day. Now we do the real thing and it goes up anout 2 weeks before Christmas. I think we might go this weekend and tag our tree Nothing like trees to put me in the SPIRIT

I have a small fake tree that I sit on the shelf that my stairs wrap around -- that way I don't have to worry about the dog getting into it. My family used to get a real tree, but then we went "fake." I have great memories of "building" the tree in the living room with my dad and my sister, while my mom was baking some cookies to have while we decorated. I love the smell of real trees, so I usually cut some branches and arrange them on top of my TV Armoir with some decorations. If I got a real tree, it would probably be one with the roots still attached so that I could plant it later. But these are super heavy and a pain to take care of, so I go the easy route.

Growing up my dad wouldn't let us put up the tree until after his birthday, so we usually put it up mid-December. Now I usually put up my tree the weekend after TG or during the first week of December. I like to have it up for a while to enjoy!!

 

[punkin413]

i think i'm going to buy this picture that was taken at anna's (wonderwoman) wedding a couple of weeks ago. the photographer is a friend of ours and says she'll sell it to me for a reasonable price. you guys know how i am about pictures.....just had to share!

http://www.dc4uinc.com/gallery/3697510#214818240

 

[Pakey]

Good morning all.

Christmas tree. I do a real tree, white flocked. I'm just a tad anal about Christmas. My family calls me the Christmas Nazi and says that I suck the joy out of the holiday season with my anal decorating. I start the day after Thanksgiving. Tree is done first and it takes about 4 days to complete. My main interior house color is eggplant (not on the walls) so I had 250 glass Christmas ornaments painted in a custom eggplant color that exactly matches the color in my window coverings. Each ornament is hung on a gold ribbon that was matched from the trim on my sofa accent pillows. I also use angel ornaments and crystal icicles to accent the tree. All of my presents that go under the tree will coordinate with these colors.

After the 4 days on the tree, I then take down all of my artwork in the entire house (and I have some huge pieces of art) and wrap them in wrapping paper with bows and put them back on the walls so that they look like Christmas presents. Each room in the house has a different theme--snowman, angel, nutcracker, santa, etc. and the paper has to match that theme. I'm always on the lookout for paper.

Then I decorate each room in the theme. I have about 55 storage boxes full of decorations.

Last to be done are my dolls. I collect very high-end German dolls that are anywhere from 2 1/2 - 3 feet tall. I have 45 of them. They all have Christmas outfits so I have to change all of their clothes. These dolls are on plant shelves that are 12 feet up so it's great exercise going up and down the ladder getting each of these dolls. Then each of these dolls has an ornament that they hold so I have to mess with that.

All in all, it takes me about 2 weeks to decorate and I listen to and sing very off-key Christmas carols the entire time. I didn't do anything for Christmas last year because I found out I had cancer right before Thanksgiving and I just wasn't in the mood. So I'm really looking forward to it this year.

All decorations are taken down the day after Christmas. We always go on vacation in January and I want it done before we leave. Dolls stay in their Christmas outfits until beginning of February.

When the boys were little, they had their own Christmas tree, they took turns each year on which bedroom it went in. That way they could decorate themselves and leave "my tree" alone.

I have rightfully earned my derogatory nickname and comments. I can't understand why but DH and all 3 DS's just don't care much for the holiday.

 

[punkin413]

pakey - 4 days to decorate your tree? and 55 boxes of decorations???? my DH would have a heart attack. i get my tree decorated, interior stuff done and outside decorations done in like 2 days.

by the way, nice choice on colors. i have eggplant and olive colors in my living room and kitchen.

 

[spongemommie05]

I want to be GOBBLED please!!!

check your pm's

i think i'm going to buy this picture that was taken at anna's (wonderwoman) wedding a couple of weeks ago. the photographer is a friend of ours and says she'll sell it to me for a reasonable price. you guys know how i am about pictures.....just had to share!

http://www.dc4uinc.com/gallery/3697510#214818240

that is a beautiful picture i say definately buy it..

Good morning all.

Christmas tree. I do a real tree, white flocked. I'm just a tad anal about Christmas. My family calls me the Christmas Nazi and says that I suck the joy out of the holiday season with my anal decorating. I start the day after Thanksgiving. Tree is done first and it takes about 4 days to complete. My main interior house color is eggplant (not on the walls) so I had 250 glass Christmas ornaments painted in a custom eggplant color that exactly matches the color in my window coverings. Each ornament is hung on a gold ribbon that was matched from the trim on my sofa accent pillows. I also use angel ornaments and crystal icicles to accent the tree. All of my presents that go under the tree will coordinate with these colors.

After the 4 days on the tree, I then take down all of my artwork in the entire house (and I have some huge pieces of art) and wrap them in wrapping paper with bows and put them back on the walls so that they look like Christmas presents. Each room in the house has a different theme--snowman, angel, nutcracker, santa, etc. and the paper has to match that theme. I'm always on the lookout for paper.

Then I decorate each room in the theme. I have about 55 storage boxes full of decorations.

Last to be done are my dolls. I collect very high-end German dolls that are anywhere from 2 1/2 - 3 feet tall. I have 45 of them. They all have Christmas outfits so I have to change all of their clothes. These dolls are on plant shelves that are 12 feet up so it's great exercise going up and down the ladder getting each of these dolls. Then each of these dolls has an ornament that they hold so I have to mess with that.

All in all, it takes me about 2 weeks to decorate and I listen to and sing very off-key Christmas carols the entire time. I didn't do anything for Christmas last year because I found out I had cancer right before Thanksgiving and I just wasn't in the mood. So I'm really looking forward to it this year.

All decorations are taken down the day after Christmas. We always go on vacation in January and I want it done before we leave. Dolls stay in their Christmas outfits until beginning of February.

When the boys were little, they had their own Christmas tree, they took turns each year on which bedroom it went in. That way they could decorate themselves and leave "my tree" alone.

I have rightfully earned my derogatory nickname and comments. I can't understand why but DH and all 3 DS's just don't care much for the holiday.

wow ! my dh would go insane if i did that . i can just imagine how beautiful it all looks

i am gonna do a spongebob tree this year a fake one of course . so i am way excited i aslo would love to decorate my house a lil more this year ..

off to take ds to preschool have a great day everyone

 

[MJMouse]

i think i'm going to buy this picture that was taken at anna's (wonderwoman) wedding a couple of weeks ago. the photographer is a friend of ours and says she'll sell it to me for a reasonable price. you guys know how i am about pictures.....just had to share!

http://www.dc4uinc.com/gallery/3697510#214818240

That's a great picture!! Buy it, Buy it!

Good morning all.

Christmas tree.

WOW!! Your decorations sound beautiful! I decorate off and on for about 2 days. That's it. I just don't have the patience to do much more. Then, I look for one decoration to add to my collection.

 

[Pakey]

Then, I look for one decoration to add to my collection.

I no longer buy anymore decorations--DH told me 5 years ago enough was enough. However, I do buy an ornament every year for me. I collect angel orgnaments so I get one every year. I also buy an ornament for each of the DS's and now for my DGS. The collections started the year of their birth and they get their collection when they get married and then I stop buying. So now I just have DS26 and DG2 that I buy for. FOr DS26, I started buying the Hallmark Frosty Friends (the year he was born was the first year) and now those little things are worth a small fortune. He may never get them from me now--I could sell them on ebay and retire!

I do not like shopping for Christmas gifts but I love the feeling of Christmas, the decorations, the songs, the coming of winter.

 

[WI_DisneyFan]

This message came from Sparkpeople today. I don't know about you, but it was just what I needed.

"We keep hearing about how persistence is often the key to success. But what do you do when you've been striving for so long that it seems like your goal is never going to see light? How do you deal with the fear that you're about to fail? Simple. Give it just one more shot. And then one more. Think about the sweat and time you've committed already. You've come this far, you'd be unfair to yourself if you quit without a fight. Even if the odds are way out of your favor and you can't see how it can possibly help, reach out and take one last swing. You never know what will happen. Big, meaningful achievements don't just happen when everything goes your way. How many times have you seen tennis players make miraculous winning shots while lunging for a ball that seemed impossible to reach? Sometimes, you can find victory in the effort. "

Hope you're having a good weekend.

Just to springboard off of this, one more thing to keep in mind that success isn't realized by what you do when you have the motivation; you will only realize true success by making the right choices and doing the right things when you'd don't "feel like it". How many times have we skipped that nightly walk or didn't make the trip to the gym because we "didn't feel like it". I know I have; many more times than I care to remember. Anyone can go for a 45-minute walk when they have a lot of energy on a warm summer night; or do an extra 20 minutes at the gym when they have that extra boost of energy. But those who gain long term success are the ones who will go for that walk, even when they've had a long day at work and would much rather just sit on the couch and watch TV. And the people who push themselves to do the little extra work when they would much rather hit the showers and head home are the ones who will have the greater success stories at the end of the day. It is how you react to those more difficult situations that will ultimately determine whether or not you reach your goals. Do you decide that the hurdle is much to high, and you'd much rather face it tomorrow? Or do you decide to jump, knowing that you'll never get this day back to make a different, perhaps better, decision? I have to constantly remind myself that the "status quo" is what got me to my unhealthy weight to begin with, and the only way to break out of that slump is by doing what I never did and working out when I never would.

 

[WI_DisneyFan]

Dawn: You and Ray are just so photogenic! Buy the picture!

As for Christmas trees, it'll probably shock you to find out that if it wasn't for my wife, I wouldn't decorate at all. We have a prelit tree in the basement that my wife decided to buy me when we first met; we put it out once then we got a dog who likes to chew on everything and anything, so it hasn't seen the light of day since. But being in our new house, I'm sure she'll want to put it up again. But if she decides not to, then I am perfectly ok with that.

Here are our week-3 results on our Turkey-day challenge. (It seems like we are slowing losing people!)

Utah - Sorry I didn't see your "official" weigh-in. I only saw the "gained about 4 pounds" or whatever you first said, so I put that down. But I've adjusted it.

 

[pigget74]

i think i'm going to buy this picture that was taken at anna's (wonderwoman) wedding a couple of weeks ago. the photographer is a friend of ours and says she'll sell it to me for a reasonable price. you guys know how i am about pictures.....just had to share!

http://www.dc4uinc.com/gallery/3697510#214818240

great pick and thanks for the gobble

check your pm's

that is a beautiful picture i say definately buy it..

wow ! my dh would go insane if i did that . i can just imagine how beautiful it all looks

i am gonna do a spongebob tree this year a fake one of course . so i am way excited i aslo would love to decorate my house a lil more this year ..

off to take ds to preschool have a great day everyone

Thanks for the gobble

 

[Pakey]

Dawn I agree with everyone else. Buy the photo. It's a gorgeous setting and you guys look great. If I looked like you, I wouldn't have to buy art to cover my walls. The only photo of me in our house is a Tower of Terror drop pic with all of the kids in it too so I'm not very noticable.

Aaron I really like what you wrote. I think perhaps I should get it tattooed on my forehead so that I pay attention to it because it's so true. I am in the groove on the eating but the exercise comes harder and it's so easy to make an excuse to skip it.

MJ Good for you that people noticed. It does feel good to get that positive reinforcement. I saw myself in the mirror this morning and shocked myself. I could really see the weight loss (I'm at 18.5 total) for the first time and I wish I could have just stood there and admired it for awhile but I was, of course, running late already.

I was wondering how ya'll do with eating out? It's the area where I feel the most pain. Is it better to just avoid going out? I don't feel like I'm depriving myself at home or with the lunches I take to work. I'm fine with that. But as soon as I get into a restaurant I notice that I struggle. And instead of enjoying the outing with DH, I leave feeling kind of bummed because I missed out on something. DH and I used to eat out 3-4 times per week (I do not cook at all) but when I look at menus, I don't see anything healthy that sounds good. I want the stuff I used to eat. Any tips?

 

[SingingMUA]

Hi all,

I've been having a crazy (and not in a good way) past few weeks, so I've still been mostly lurking.

Punkin - Beautiful Pics!

Pakey - Your house sounds like my kind of Christmas. I love decorations, music, trees, lights, FOOD, etc, etc... Can I come celebrate with you this year???

to all the newbies...

I've been struggling with some mild depression lately over my weight... I haven't lost any... , turning 30 in Dec (but I will be celebrating my birthday at Disney ), and over my life in general. Anybody ever feel like they keep hitting a brick wall in their life??? Well, that's where I am right now... ugh...

 

[DisneyObsession]

Who here gets a real tree for Christmas? Alos, when do you guys put up your trees--fake or real? We use to put up a fake tree and it would go upt TG night or the next day. Now we do the real thing and it goes up anout 2 weeks before Christmas. I think we might go this weekend and tag our tree Nothing like trees to put me in the SPIRIT

My DH will only letus have a real tree. I tried to convince him that now that the kids are pretty much out of the house, it would be easier if we got an "artificial" tree. He won't go for it! Don't get me wrong, I a real tree. but I'm the one who ends up watering it daily and cleaning up the mess when he brings it in and when he drags it out! Some years I am finding needles in July!

Anyhoo, this weekend just reminded me that the holiday binge fest is bearing down quickly and it is time to make a plan -- so I am working on my holiday eating resolutions.

I'm starting with:

1. I will not count calories all the way through the season, but I will plan indulgences.

2. I will only eat "cheat" items if I REALLY love them -- i.e. mashed potatoes do not have to pass my lips, but dressing will.

3. I will eat normal portions and pay attention to when I am hungry. I will not have seconds.

4. I will not drink my calories. (But I will have one glass of cider this fall -- hot so it lasts).

5. I will not go to open houses or h'orderves nights hungry -- while there I will keep my drink cup full to keep my hands busy and I will stand more than an arms length from the food. I will plan to have a few "little somethings" while I am there.

6. I will remember that I can have anything that I want, but I am responsible for what passes through my lips.

Anybody else?

Your "Dutch Supper sounded delicious! I have Pennsylvania Dutch in my ancestory as well and some of these dishes my grandma made! Chow-chow is delicious and I adore Shoo-Fly Pie! YUM!!!

i think i'm going to buy this picture that was taken at anna's (wonderwoman) wedding a couple of weeks ago. the photographer is a friend of ours and says she'll sell it to me for a reasonable price. you guys know how i am about pictures.....just had to share!

http://www.dc4uinc.com/gallery/3697510#214818240

That picture is beautiful! It is a definite keeper!!!! I would buy it in an 11x14 or a 16x20 so it can be centerpieced well on your wall!

I have about 55 storage boxes full of decorations.

All in all, it takes me about 2 weeks to decorate and I listen to and sing very off-key Christmas carols the entire time. I didn't do anything for Christmas last year because I found out I had cancer right before Thanksgiving and I just wasn't in the mood. So I'm really looking forward to it this year.

All decorations are taken down the day after Christmas. We always go on vacation in January and I want it done before we leave. Dolls stay in their Christmas outfits until beginning of February.

I thought my 10 boxes was excessive! 55 boxes??? My husband would not be happy with me! If it takes 2 weeks to decorate, how long does it take you to take it all down?? That's the part I don't like, because it depresses me. And I'm with you...I listen to all kinds of Christmas music while I decorate, bake and enjoy the season! have fun decorating!!!

 

[DisneyObsession]

Tia...Sorry you are feeling this way. I can totally understand! I hit 45 this year and I vowed to be much lighter than I am, but it didn't happen. The thing is, sometimes we have to be able to accept ourselves the way we are before we can make changes. At least, I find that true of myself. Look at all the positive things about yourself and that are in your life. I would bet they "outweigh" (pun intended) any weight issues you have. You'll be in my prayers! God Bless!

 

[Pakey]

Tia, I also felt like you. I hit 50 June 06 and was so depressed about my life, my physical self (being overweight and extremely out of shape) as well as the fact that I was a workaholic and had no life outside of work. I was on antidepressants and was getting to the point where other than work, I refused to leave my house. I knew that I was very unhappy but I didn't know how to change anything. I just felt trapped. A few months later I was diagnosed with my breast cancer and my entire perspective changed.

Life here on this planet is finite. It will come to an end. We owe it to ourselves to make every day as good as we can. We cannot wait on some external force to make it better, we have to do it for ourselves and we cannot put it off. I have no idea if I will beat cancer; the odds are pretty good that I will not. However, I refuse to waste another day being unhappy with the person I am. I'll never be 25 with a hot bod again and there is nothing I can do to get those years back but I can work towards at least feeling good that I can get up out of a chair without a struggle, that I can walk all day at WDW without getting fatigued, etc. I make sure to spend time every day doing something that makes me smile and I do make that effort every day to think about the positives in my life. When I go, I want to be able to say "yes, Faith, you filled your life."

You will be in my thoughts and prayers. I've seen your photo so I know you are beautiful and I know you are incredibly talented so I believe you can find all these great things within you.

 

[UtahMama]

Punkie- i like the first picture, if you can photo shop out the red-trunks dude! It's sooooo cute, as are all of the pictures. I usually like candids best though.

Guess what everyone? I had a raging case of the stomach flu yesterday and skipped THREE meals (I KNOW!) lets hope I got over my funk and lost a little! Today, I've been super careful not to undo any possible flu-benefit (cheater!!!!) Am I the only one who sees the bright side of the stomach flu?

I WILL make my 5 pound goal for Thanksgiving, Dang it!!! I will come by it honestly, though. I am trying! I pass up fatty or sugary food. Yup!

My DH is working on the family Christmas Tree Lot this year so we are going to get a BIG fat full tall REAL tree. I can't wait! Love the smell of pine (and the sap)

AND, I just updated my TR in case you're bored..shamelss plug!

I just drank a HUGE 64 oz. drinkie of Hooch Misty brought me, thank you enabler!!! I'm revved up like the caffeine patch lady on Robinsons!

 

[spongemommie05]

I just drank a HUGE 64 oz. drinkie of Hooch Misty brought me, thanks you enabler!!! I'm revved up like the caffeine patch lady on Robinsons!

hey i put a ton of ice in it so it was mostly diet pepsi water.. that is totally who you should have as your avatar picture. that is too

 

[pixie dust 112]

Good morning all.

Christmas tree. I do a real tree, white flocked. I'm just a tad anal about Christmas. My family calls me the Christmas Nazi and says that I suck the joy out of the holiday season with my anal decorating. I start the day after Thanksgiving. Tree is done first and it takes about 4 days to complete. My main interior house color is eggplant (not on the walls) so I had 250 glass Christmas ornaments painted in a custom eggplant color that exactly matches the color in my window coverings. Each ornament is hung on a gold ribbon that was matched from the trim on my sofa accent pillows. I also use angel ornaments and crystal icicles to accent the tree. All of my presents that go under the tree will coordinate with these colors.

After the 4 days on the tree, I then take down all of my artwork in the entire house (and I have some huge pieces of art) and wrap them in wrapping paper with bows and put them back on the walls so that they look like Christmas presents. Each room in the house has a different theme--snowman, angel, nutcracker, santa, etc. and the paper has to match that theme. I'm always on the lookout for paper.

Then I decorate each room in the theme. I have about 55 storage boxes full of decorations.

Last to be done are my dolls. I collect very high-end German dolls that are anywhere from 2 1/2 - 3 feet tall. I have 45 of them. They all have Christmas outfits so I have to change all of their clothes. These dolls are on plant shelves that are 12 feet up so it's great exercise going up and down the ladder getting each of these dolls. Then each of these dolls has an ornament that they hold so I have to mess with that.

All in all, it takes me about 2 weeks to decorate and I listen to and sing very off-key Christmas carols the entire time. I didn't do anything for Christmas last year because I found out I had cancer right before Thanksgiving and I just wasn't in the mood. So I'm really looking forward to it this year.

All decorations are taken down the day after Christmas. We always go on vacation in January and I want it done before we leave. Dolls stay in their Christmas outfits until beginning of February.

When the boys were little, they had their own Christmas tree, they took turns each year on which bedroom it went in. That way they could decorate themselves and leave "my tree" alone.

I have rightfully earned my derogatory nickname and comments. I can't understand why but DH and all 3 DS's just don't care much for the holiday.

But it does sound beautiful. Has your house ever been featured in a magazine?

We always get a real tree. A family Christmas tradition is to go to a local Christmas Tree farm and cut our tree. We will usually cut the tree on Thanksgiving weekend or the following weekend, depending on the weather forecast. We put it up aboput 3 weeks before Christmas and take it down on New Years Day.

We also have a 4 foot tabletop artificial tree that we decorate with Disney ornaments and place in our picture window in the front of the house. We used to cut down a tree for that also, but it was getting too expensive to pay for 2 trees every year!

 

[pixie dust 112]

i think i'm going to buy this picture that was taken at anna's (wonderwoman) wedding a couple of weeks ago. the photographer is a friend of ours and says she'll sell it to me for a reasonable price. you guys know how i am about pictures.....just had to share!

http://www.dc4uinc.com/gallery/3697510#214818240

What a fantastic picture. Definitely buy it!