My Journal to Me - Comments welcome!

[CACruisin']

Just a quick update. Food has been reasonable so far this week. Scale is still bouncing around 163. I updated my ticker to 21 lbs lost since I haven't been above 164 for quite awhile. I have parties for the next three nights in a row though, so it is going to be challenging.

Took my last trip to DL for the season yesterday. DD3 and I met up with a fellow Dis'er and DD3. Perfect 3 year old day: carousel, It's a Small world, and Toontown! Got extra "walkng" in this time. I left my camera on the front seat of the car back in the parking garage (grrrr!) so I had to go back and get it. Garage-Park- Garage- Park = 55 minutes plus back to the garage from Toontown was another 25 minutes for 80 minutes total. At least my exercise total is going up. There is a small chance I may even get a real walk in today.

Anna
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy - Harry & David has a really good eggnog cheesecake. Not too sweet. 150's would definitely be an awesome christmas present. I don't think I'll make it, but being so close has definitely helped me keep control this month.

Tracey - I do love having passes to DL. It means I can just go to the park for a few hours and not feel like I have to see/do everything that day. I'm sure that 1lb is in my backside or my thighs (along with all the rest of the extra lbs!) The weight there seems to be very stubborn while any extra weight in my bust is now long gone.

Amy - DL at Christmas is definitely my favorite. I think you have a great plan for an additional 42 lbs in your 42nd year. You can do it!!

 

[lovinaz]

Sounds like you are getting lots of walking in! Even if it is only because you forgot something...

That is great that the scale is not moving. At least you aren't gaining! I can't wait for the parties to be over. I know there will be a lot of us hoping we get a grip starting Jan 1st!

 

[traceycooper]

Well done for getting all the walking in at DL!
& at least you seem to be maintaining & not gaining
Enjoy the parties & worry about it in the new year
Have a great weekend

 

[CACruisin']

I'm too old to party every night . PTA board party was actually fun on Thursday - and I walked to the party . Last night was an annual neighborhood party. The gift exchange generally involves some gag gifts. This year it was pretty much all gag gifts. I think I was laughing nonstop for about 2 hours. I have a new strategy on these gift exchanges - pick your own gift or steal an opened gift - NEVER pick an unkown! Ended up stealing a nice bottle of wine and wine opener. DH did not follow this strategy . Anyone want a "condiment wagon"? I'm thinking I might just wrap that baby back up and use it for next year's gift exchange. .

Party food grazing has not been good . I was doing ok at the PTA party with mostly salads and small portions until the amazing cookies. I think I ate 6 different ones! I also drank three bottles of water and two glasses of wine. Last night's party was all appetizer stuff that I'm sure I ate way too much off. Also drank too many cranberry juice and vodka's - cranberry juice was merely for color, I think. I don't know what to expect from tonight's party.

This weekend I'll be baking lots of banana bread (for neighbors & family) and cookies for DD11's honor choir performance. DD11's class gift exchange has to be something homemade too - I'm thinking the cookies will work for that also.

I hear kids stirring, so I'm off. I'll try and get to journals later.

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[CJK]

Sounds like all the Christmas parties are in full force in your life! Glad to see you're having fun. I definitely think you should wrap that condiment wagon up for next year! Maybe it will become an annual gift!

Congrats on all that walking you've been doing. Hopefully it will help counteract all the Christmas party sweets! I know that I'm hoping for that myself.

Did you really mention eggnog cheesecake??? Is it a taste of heaven? I'm hesitant to get it.....but oh, the temptation!!!!!

Have a great week!

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Anna,

Sounds like you're having a great time at these Christmas parties! One year on our teacher's retreat, we did a gag gift exchange and it was soooo funny!

Hope you have a great week before Christmas!

 

[lovinaz]

So how did the banana bread turn out? I think that would be easier to make than cookies - it's not like you can get yourself into trouble tasting the dough and just a little bite here and there (unless you want the bread to look like swiss cheese! )

I hope you survived the parties. We have another one coming up on Sat, that we may or may not attend, but other than that, I just have to worry about Christmas Eve dinner at my MIL's, then it's free-n-clear after that! I'm sure I'm not the only one who can't wait for that!!!!

Sounds like you are holding your own, keep it up!

 

[CACruisin']

The party Saturday night was wonderful. The woman is a gourmet cook (I think she used to have her own catering company at one point.) and she had made all of these beautiful, artistic, and incredibly delicious appetizers (for +80 people ) then there were the dessert "cookies." Again, delicious and beautiful. She starts baking and freezing in October getting ready for this annual party. Needless to say, I ate far too much even just having little portions. There were so many and every darn last one of them was delicious! Scale this morning showed the damage - 165.0! Hopefully the scale is a little over inflated since last night I decided that chips & salsa and a full glass of eggnog would be a good dinner for myself!

Another crazy week with the various school activities and swim team Secret Santas'. But from a food standpoint, this week should be better. No more "food related" parties until Christmas Eve and I have control over that since it is here. Still need to go to the post office (tomorrow's project while DD3 is at preschool ) and wrap a few more presents. I'm thinking we will send "New Years" cards this year since I haven't even started those yet and don't see it happening this week - oh, well! We are going to decorate the tree Friday. Otherwise, Christmas is pretty much under control.

Anna
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy - banana bread baking was good. Made 4 loaves and immediately got them into the freezer. Have the bananas for at least one more loaf, but if I don't get too it, not a big deal. I have what I need for the neighbors. I also made and froze 5 dozen Snickerdoodle cookies and only ate one dough ball and two cookies .

Tracy - welcome back! This gift exchange didn't start out as gag gifts, but over the years it has definitely evolved into gag gifts. There were some pretty funny ones too.

CJK - DH threw away the box for the "condiment wagon". I think he actually likes the silly thing . Eggnog cheesecake really is heavenly. The Harry & David one is small so only maybe 10k calories instead of a million!

 

[CACruisin']

I just booked brunch at Palo, a massage, and the jetski excursion for our cruise in March! 90 day was yesterday, but I had no problem getting everything I wanted. I don't think the ship will be full since the price really hasn't gone up much at all since we booked almost a year ago.

In related info, the prices for the May repo just went down over $1k! Dang, I really wish I could take this trip!

 

[toystoryduo]

I just booked brunch at Palo, a massage, and the jetski excursion for our cruise in March!

Sounds like lots of fun, Anna! You are going to have a wonderful time!

Hope you have a great day today!

 

[lovinaz]

In related info, the prices for the May repo just went down over $1k! Dang, I really wish I could take this trip!

I'll go with you!!!!!

I am so out of control with my eating and exercising, I am just hoping I can fit into my pants by the end of the week. Great job only eating 1 dough ball and 2 cookies! I am SO sick of making cookies, DH loves them in his coffee. The batch I made yesterday were so over-baked. I could hear him crunching them from across the house...

Only a couple more weeks and then we can all start over!!!!

 

[CACruisin']

Remarkably WI this morning was 163.0. I don't think I have eaten a fruit or vegetable in days, but I haven't eaten a whole of anything else either. . I have the kids cold and nothing tastes good or sounds appealing - so I don't eat it. DD11's Honor Choir Performance was tonight at school. I made chocolate chip cookies for the reception. I did eat 3 doughballs and 1 cookie while baking . But at the reception I didn't even look at the food table. I only had a glass of hot cider (does that count as a vegetable? )

Now off to get the kids in bed - 1 more day of school!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Anna
The partys sound great fun
At least you managed to drop a few of those lb's you gained
Mmmmm DCL brunch, that is one of my fondest memories of our DC I even videoed the food!!!! Pity Gary was sea sick

 

[CACruisin']

Good Morning All! I'm going to take a page from Tracy's journal and make a to do list today:

* School - done - finally!
* presents delivered to coaches/teachers - done
* presents - wrapped
* stocking stuffers - gonna wrap those next
* menu for the Christmas eve and Christmas day - done

Still to do:
* deliver presents to neighbors
* grocery list
* grocery shopping
* Christmas cards - think these are gonna be Happy New Year cards
* decorate the tree - big stink about buying the tree, yet haven't found/made the time to decorate the darn thing
* Finish DD11's stocking - finished the crosstich, just need to sew the pieces together. Pulling the sewing machine out will be the hard part.
* Kids want to decorate a gingerbread house - might actually get to
* clean house
* thank you notes for presents already recieved - I am so bad at this

Yesterday's schedule was so crazy. There was no room for any errors - the timing of where everyone had to be when was so tight. Luckily, I managed to get everything pulled off. I did have one blow up with DD11, but that had been brewing for awhile and her attitude has improved dramatically since. I'm glad we have the next two weeks with only a few time commitments. It will be nice to be more relaxed.

Yesterday's food was awful. I haven't stepped on the scale this morning, but I'm sure it's not going to be pretty.
b- 1/2 cinnamon roll
l - turkey hot dog, slice whole wheat bread, pear
d - 3 KFC chicken strips, 1/3c mashed potatoes, 1/2c coleslaw, 12 oz whole milk (I've got to go to the grocery store!)
water & exercise - nonexistent

It's cold and I don't like/want to drink water now. I tried hot water with lemon earlier this week and that was good, but I can't take that with me all the time as I run around. I need to find a better solution. I'll shop today and that will help the whole food thing. I've got to make time to exercise though. Priority for the next week and the new year!

On top of the Christmas craziness, we have had some other stuff going on. DD12 has been invited to join the competitive swim team. This is really an honor for her (but blows mommy's schedule all to he$$). We have some paperwork to finish and I need to buy her some new equipment (who knew swimming required equipment ), and she'll start with the team on the 26th. Practice is 3:30-5:30 4/5 days/week. Of course, DD11 still has practice from 5:15-6:15 3days/week. Me = with DD3 taking her nap routinely in the car apparently. Also, I have finally decided to take care of the nightmare TOM. After a bunch of tests the last few weeks, Dr feels ablation is the right way for me to go. Scheduled for Valentine's Day. Amy, as one who has "been there, done that" if I have questions, can I PM you?

I read on the Cruise Forum that the boards are going down for the weekend so if I don't get back on

Merry Christmas to All!

 

[traceycooper]

Hope your having a lovely christmas Anna
What is ablation? I have TOM troubles too!

 

[lovinaz]

I hope you are having a nice, relaxing Christmas!!! You definitely deserve some veg out time this week.

Yes, please feel free to PM me about the ablation. You will be so glad you did it, believe me! The only regret I have is that I didn't do it sooner!

This week has been an eating, non-exercising free-for-all. I hope it is going better for you!

 

[toystoryduo]

Merry Christmas, Anna!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family! I hope you are able to get some rest and relaxation in the week to come.

Take care and have a wonderful week!

 

[kmp1191]

Hey Anna -
Hope you had a great Christmas!!

marie

 

[CACruisin']

Hello all! We had a wonderful RELAXING Christmas this year! Usually we have DH's extended family over for a big fancy meal either Christmas eve or Christmas day. Didn't do it this year and it was GREAT!!! The clan came over Christmas eve at noon and I fed them taco salad (on paper plates, no less!) before we headed out for the Christmas Pageant at Church. Christmas Day I never changed out of my jammies . We still had a nice dinner, but cooking for 5 is so much easier than cooking for 15! Definitely, this is my new family tradition! Even better, we have had leftovers all week so I haven't had to cook at all this week. WISH wise, it has not been pretty. Turns out all my Christmas favorites are made with butter, cream, eggs, whole milk and more butter. Lunch today was a "veggie plate" - roasted broccoli w/ walnuts, horseradish carrots, and squash - every last one of them was prepared with copious amounts of butter. As for exercise, I have had the opportunity, but chosen not to - pretty bad. We are headed to my parents for the weekend and I will likely walk with mom and then the kids and I are going up to the mountains to ski - so I will get some good exercise hopefully. But eating wise, mom and dad are both gourmet cooks .... I just have to keep telling myself "portion control" "portion control" "portion control".

I may or may not have internet access (probably not) next week. So Happy New Year everyone!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Anna, it sounds like you are actually not doing too bad! I am so envious of your cruise, we did brunch at Palo and it was so nice! I would always do that over dinner so you can enjoy the view personally. I think we will all do better with the exercise thing come January. Hope you have fun skiing and your Christmas dinner for five really sounds nice! I might have to try that one of these days!