Sugar Shakers - Sugarbusters Weekly Support Board 12/5 - 12/11

:welcome: Welcome to Sugarbusters! :welcome:

This is the Sugarbusters support board, where anyone following, or interested in following, Sugarbusters is welcome to come for discussion, and support. We hope you will become a part of our great group!

We try to have different themes for different days of the week.

MONDAY: MMM, or Metal Monster Monday, is when we weigh in, and post our progress. This is voluntary.

TUESDAY: Is tip day- we try to share a tip, or two to help each other.

WEDNESDAY: Is Wonderful Wednesday. On Wednesdays, we share something wonderful about our selves, or our lives.

THURSDAY: Is Thirst Day! A reminder to drink your water! Its a good day to share a recipe too! :)

FRIDAY: Is FF, for Friday funnies. Everyone needs a laugh on Friday!


You are welcome to post questions, vent frustrations, whatever, but please be respectful of others and their beliefs.


Please take some time to check out our extensive recipe boards. Our RECIPE BOARDS can be located at the link below:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/for....php?forumid=89 (http://forumdisplay.php/?forumid=89)

Look for our QUARTERLY RECIPE BOARDS to post your favorite recipes and to see the most recently posted recipes. Recipes from the quarterly boards will be archived in proper categories at some point.


We have FIVE INFORMATIVE BOARDS!!!! Please take a few minutes to visit them! The boards are listed below as well as the link that will take you to the boards:

THE RECOMMENDED READING BOARD
THE TOOLS & TIPS BOARD
THE FOOD INFORMATION BOARD
MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRING THOUGHTS BOARD
MY FAVORITE SB LEGAL FOODS


http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/for....php?forumid=87 (http://forumdisplay.php/?forumid=87)

We also have a SB WEEKLY EXERCISE BOARD that you can log your daily/weekly exercises on which is located on our weekly support board:


http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1033659#post1033659



NEWBIES: To post a reply, please hit reply and NOT new thread

Challenges:

1. Make a list of five party foods you can eat on Sugarbusters, and plan to use those foods when attending parties, especially if you need to take something, to help stay on plan over the holidays. Share your list. Be creative!

2. Drink your water! Eight glasses a day minimum!

3. Get at least three days of aerobic exercise, and post on the exercise board.

MMM- In case you missed it from last week's thread...I'm DOWN TWO POUNDS!! :carrot: CHECK OUT MY TICKERS!! Finally...I've been stuck at 157 for my low since spring!!

Okay...this is just a quickie...will do replies later on...

Kris

Good morning- back from a weekend with my mom. She's coming along slowly, but coming along nevertheless. I weighed in this morning and the scale showed the same- but I ate lots late last night and know I am swollen this morning from salt, etc.(hard to eat good on the road:) ) sooooo... I am gonna take the weight I was at when I weighed the day before- so there! . I did good with eating this week, so I know I lost. I'm going for 2 pounds for next week!!! I have been a real slow loser since I have gotten down to that "20 lbs to go" mark. My body doesn't wanna give it up!!! But I have to "make" it give in!!!

OK- I am gonna be lazy and watch a movie with my daughter- I am soooo tired from all the stuff with my mom and running around- need that cuddle time!!! I'll write more later!!!

HUGS, MUNCH

Good morning! Its been a weird one for me. I went to bed at 11:00 last night, but could not sleep, so I got up and sat in James' room and watched him play an online game while I knitted. At about 1am I went back to bed, and fell asleep finally. Unfortunately, I woke up at 4:15, and 5:45. I finally just got up at 6, and posted the boards and did a bit of email management before I went back to bed at 7. I slept until 9, got up and did an upper body workout, and then weighed in for MMM. Unfortunately, I was the same. I was kind of hoping for even just a 1/2 pound loss, but I did eat late last night, so maybe it will be better next MMM.

I have come to the decision that I have to really get back to my regular work outs, and so this weekend, I started with walking farther and faster. I pulled out my Joyce Vedral book on the fat burning workout and will use it to get back into lifing. In doing today's workout, I hit a point where I realized just how bad my abdominal muscles have gotten. Abdominal surgery will do that, but its been a freaking year and I have made no progress in getting to where I can USE them at all! :o I might like to join a gym, but I need to work out at home here first! I KNOW weights are important for strength and revving up the metabolism, so why don't I just DO it? One inspiration for me has been that one of my girlfriends who is only a few years older than me, and a LOT thinner than me, recently had a heart attack! I don't want that to be me.

TECH: :carrot: I am so glad that new low is holding for you!

MUNCH: I am happy to hear your mom is improving. Enjoy that cuddle time! You deserve it! :hug:

Good Morning!:cool:

I stepped on the scale this morning and I'm still the same...which is a good thing I think! I means I haven't gained back any weight with all of the cheating I've been doing!:devil: At least the cookies I've mad have been with splenda, so that's better right?:?:

Tonight we have Sean's band concert. Two of the songs they are playing are The Christmas Song and The Grinch. I think they are doing another, but I can't remember what it is. Sixth and seventh grades will be playing as well, so lots of Christmas music! I also have to go spend some time at Rachel's dance school this afternoon. Parents are invited once a year to visit during class and see what they work on weekly. We see her dance so much now that she's in the company. I thought she might not even care if I came to class or not, but she wants me there, so I will be there! They usually have pictures of the costumes for the next Spring performances posted this week, so that will be interesting. We are so busy this time of year...:^: But I love the music and dancing!

I made a mediterranian bean dip this weekend that was really good. It is one can white beans, lemon juice, oregano, olive oil and black pepper. Just blend it up in a food processor. It was a little spicy, so next time I may cut back just a little, or add more beans. I toasted some ww tortillas in the broiler to dip and it was great. Think about all that fiber between the tortillas and the beans!:p

Morning all!

Sorry to be AWOL lately, but my head is not in a very good place and I didn't want to spread my bad attitude to the board.

So it's Monday and I'm going to work on creating a better attitude. I like Monet's suggestion of thinking about party foods we can eat. . . so here goes:

Veggies and a SF dip
Baked Brie and Triscuits
Hot Pizza Dip and Triscuits (recipe below)
Hummus and WW pita
SF Cheesecake

Here is the recipe for Hot Pizza Dip--it is from the Pampered Chef:

1 8 oz brick of creme cheese mixed with 2 tbl spoons of italian seasoning, spread over the bottom of small (like an 8 in round cake pan or square casserole) baking dish. Top with pizza sauce shredded mozzarella cheese and grated parmesan cheese. Spread another layer of pizza sauce over the cheese and top with more mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Finish with a handful of chopped onions and green pepper on top. Bake until everything is bubbly (about 15-18 mins at 350). This is really good--every time I take it somewhere people go nuts over it and with Triscuits is entirely OP!

I will be interested to read everyone's top 5 lists!

Have a good OP day everyone,

Susan

Good Morning:

I can't believe that this week's board will bring us through the 11th already. I have not gotten in a day of exercise in about 2 1/2 weeks, but weighed 121.5# this morning. I have to volunteer in Lane's class tomorrow, and we have Britt's field trip on Thursday. We have a Mom's Club outing to Toys R Us on Wed, and we get to meet Geoffrey. I may try to take Lane with me after that (she hates to go to the gym); that is why I try to go on Tues/Thurs when she is in class, but can't this week. I just got my Tae-bo Bootcamp, but can't motivate myself to workout at home when it is so cold outside....gotta find that motivation again!

This month is such a busy month; I can't wait for school to be out for a few weeks, so we can relax and just hang out at home. I already decided that during the school break, I am going to just take Britt out for a day, and let Lane and dad spend the day together. We don't get too much alone/together time. At Disneyland, Lane wanted to ride almost every ride with me, and was such a Momma's girl, and Britt just went with the flow; she's such a sweetie.

I sent a few pictures to Monet that I hope she will be able to post. One is one of the family outside of Disneyland, and then there is one of me & Britt and one of me & Lane.

My computer is going out, and I am praying we get a new one before we lose everything on this one. We are checking into Dells right now; I can't believe how inexpensive they are these days. We spent well over $1,500 for this beast of ours that we got about 6-7 years ago. Right now, Dell is offering free 17"-19" flat screen panels with the purchase of their Dimension style. I think that is what we will be getting.

I have a Mom's Club Night out this Wednesday and one next Thursday; I am trying to eat as good as I can since my exercise has not been much to speak of. I am also going to the Keith Urban concert with my sister on Sunday, and todl her I'd take her out to eat for her birthday.Party Foods:
Meats & Cheeses
Artichoke/Spinach dip w/triscuits
Cream cheese/chili dip w/ triscuits
Fruits & Veggies
Cheesecake w/ no crust of pecan crust
Red Wine
Meatballs w/ low sugar sauce

Monet: I am so glad that I was able to find a way to go on Britt's field trip too. I so wish you were nearby too; I am sure the kids would love to visit Aunt Monet's house!!! Good luck finding the motivation for working out again; it is hard when it is so cold outside. Are you still a member at Curves? I cannot believe it has been a year since your surgery; time sure does fly. I haven't had much for abdominals since giving birth; that is an area I really need to work, but have to be careful, due to my prolapses.

Fillise: You have been missed! I hope everything works out for you, and we see more of you in the near future. Thanks for the list.

Thin: Enjoy Sean's concert tonight; those are such fun. We went to Britt's last Thursday (1st-3rd graders). They kept it to an hour, which works well for us with squirmy Lane.

Muncher: I am sure you'll drop that water/salt weight in no time. I will continue to keep your mother and your family in my prayers.

Tech: Congrats on your loss; I know it is so difficult to get over those plateaus and you did it!!!!:carrot: Hooray for you!!!

Well, I am going to go read to Lane now.

Have a great OP day!
Nat

Just re-jumped on the scale - it came off already!! woohoo! Down two! (hey that rhymes!!!) If I shoot for 2 this week, I just "may" get close to our Christmas goal by the big day. Thanx for all your continued thoughts and prayers about my mom. HUGS- BIG ONES- MUNCH

Hey Ladies,

Just a fly by. It has been crazy today and the rest of th week doesn't look any better. My nights are busy this week too. Something every night. I will squeeze the gym in late tonight and maybe tomorrow night. Early Wed and that will be all for me this week.

Monet, glad to see you getting back in to working out.

Much, glad your mom is getting better. Congrats on your 2 lbs.

Susan, glad to see you back. We don't care about your attitude, we just missed you.

Thin, all that music should get you in the Christmas spirit.

Tech, :dance: congrats on the 2 lbs.
Nat, can't wait to see those pix.

I'll have to find a good recipe and post it.

Have a great evening, Gotta run.

I hope that I am doing this correctly. I have never used a message board before. My family and I are trying SB for the first time. My husband and I have tried Atkins in the past and had fairly good results but we started cheating every now and then and next thing we knew we gained most of the weight back. We have two teen age daughters who are overweight as well and really want to try to lose it. We tried the Atkins as a family but the girls found it very difficult to do at school. I did a little research and found SB. It appears that this will be much easier for all of us to stay on board and not deviate. I cleaned out the kitchen and made it SB friendly.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

I really enjoyed reading your message board and look forward to many more.

Welcome, marsib. We hope you find our little community here inviting and just what you are looking for. We are a great support group. We think you will find that SB can become a "weigh" of life, a way of eating that is normal and easy to follow. You get to eat all the food groups, and the ones you learn to eliminate are just the things that are not very healthy for you anyway. the big problem for most of us is tht we have bad habits ingrained and still struggle with that and the "enticements" of our world today. At this time of year, following the SB way of life is more difficult, because all thos cookies with their white flour, sugar, etc, are out there waiting to kidnap us from sanity. LOL. I wish you and your family much good eating and success on the SB w.o.e.

I'm still sick, but will see the dr. tomorrow for my annual. I did work out today at the gym with a trainer. A 23 minute work out with all the major muscle groups worked out to failure. Sucess! Cindy, that's what I am getting at a Super Slow workout center. My butt definitely knows it worked out. :D

Here are the pix Pancho sent... Doesn't her family look wonderful? Doesn't SHE look fabulous...I am working very very hard on my green response.... :s: (just kidding!)

I need to go finish dinner but will be back later! :wave:

Monet- Thanks for the info on the food processor. I think Ill go get her that mini one this week. You get on that exercise bandwagon. I increased my weights last night and I sure can feel it today but I know it will do me good to pump it up more. Plus it helps us women keep our bones strong and joints healthy

Marsib-:welcome: I am a former atkineers too. I stalled for 8 months and switched to SBusters and really am enjoying eating a wider variety of foods.

Munch- :dancer: congrats on the loss!!

Nat- Great Pics! Looks like a fun time !

Tech-:cheer: yeah... on your loss

Well I weighed and I was at 205.5. Im just bouncing around on the scale, and not making any progress right now.
Not much exciting happened for me today. Just a normal work day.
My five ideas....
1.ww tortillas rolled with turkey or ham , lettecue or spinach leaves, thin swiss and rolled and cut at a angle
2. Tortilla teasers- three ww tortills stacked with LF creamcheese mixed with salsa and green chiles and black chopped olives spread inbetween each layer. Refridgerate and slice in triangles
3- shrimp tray
4- cherry tomato scoops-cherry tomato scooped out and stuffed with creamcheese, lemon juice, parmasean cheese,parsley,basil and garlic
5-mini crabcakes made with wwbreadcrumbs and nonfat mayo

Off to relax... see you all tomorrow.

Thanks MONET for posting the pics. My camera does not take the clearest pictures, especially when posting back and forth, but at least you get to see the family unit.

I gotta go make dinner; I'll check in sometime tomorrow, when I get a chance to breathe!

Take care!
Nat

Dinner was what we used to teasingly call CHicken couch...or Chicken Divan. (chicken, broccoli, and cream of soup based sauce on top) I only ate a bit. I am trying to eat less at night, to see if it helps. :)

I need to come up with a list... so here goes!

Boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce
Artichoke dip made with lf mayo, and served with ww wheat thins
fresh fruit
cheese cubes
nuts
bleu cheese (Maytag if you want the BEST) and triscuits

MARSIB: You are indeed doing it correctly! :wel3fc: We are glad you are here! I hope you stick around and join in our great group! Its a very supportive bunch here, and I count them as my good friends...and we just love to have new SBers join us! I am sure you will get lots of advice here, and if you have questions, please just jump on in and ask away. The only dumb question is one you don't ask! I am also a ex-Atkins SBer. :) My advice for you would be to get legal...but don't worry about portion control just yet. Just do what it takes to stay on plan and get the sugar and other no nos out. Then, in a week or two when the plan is becoming comfortable, take stock, or work on the portions. Someone told me to do that, and it really helped. I admit there were a few days where I ate a whole box of triscuits, to deal with the munchies, but it eventually settled, and I did not need to over do it just to stay on plan. One thing you might want to do is post menus now and then. Everyone then can see what you are eating and give suggestions. There are a few under cover veggie police, and starch detectives...and they will help you see how you can improve your menus. That is great the whole family is eating SB..makes it easier with meals! Here, my husband and I do SB, and our son eats what I fix, with additions of illegal foods when he wants. (he doesn't have much to lose...it works for him!) My daughter never eats at home, but if she does, she complains...she doesn't like the whole grains, etc. etc. She has a perfect figure, so I hope and pray she can maintain it as she ages! (she is 19!) She might have some of my genes though..you never know! :)

CINDY: Will you post the recipe for the crab cakes?? Sounds good! I am also going to try your stacked tortilla wedges.

SOLLY: What gym do you go to? Is it a chain? I am researching gyms..I want to join one, but feel totally clueless! Tell me what to look for in your opinion....and I will probably ask others too! :)

PANCHO: Thanks for sharing the pictures. Its fun to see what your girls look like. The quality of the pictures was compromised when I switched them to jpeg files so I could adjust the size to get them on here. Its been cold here, too. I may go to the outlet mall to walk. Its 3/4 of a mile around, so if I go around a few times, I get in my walking. Generally, I push myself to go around at least twice before I will stop to look at anything. Hey! Its something!

MUNCH: :carrot: Way to go on the 2 pounds! Woo hoo!

FILLISE: Good to see you!! Its hard to believe its been almost a year since my friend Tom and I drove over to see the windows... I agree with Solly.....we don't care what your attitude is, we just MISS you!

GATOR: I have heard of Super Slow...I will have to look into it. I think a friend's daughter is a personal trainer doing that method.

THIN: Staying the same can be a relief when you know you COULD have gained! I hope you enjoy the band concert tonight! Did you hear they are saying there is a chance of snow Wednesday? Wouldn't a white Christmas be exciting!

In closing, here is the missing roll call again...TONI? Where are you? COUNTRY- You are missed! :cry: HEART- I hope you can find time to post now and then! We do miss you! Haven't seen FROG in a while...or MELF...or FRUIT... And TALITHA! When you coming back in here? Don't make me come and get you! BOB?! Wassup?

Hello Everyone--

I feel really bad that I have been sluffing off again. We have been so busy running around that I can't even get my house cleaned, or decorated for the holidays.

We went up last week and bought a new truck. It is a Dodge 1 ton, diesel, INFERNO RED. We will go up and get it tomorrow. They are doing all the add ons that Ted ordered. Bed liner, mud flaps, fog lights, neff bar, brush catcher, rocker panels, fender flares........we had a pretty good deal going until Ted got over in the accessories shop. Now we are right back up there where our old truck payment used to be, plus a bit more!!

We have been running Bill around for all of his court ordered appointments. It is a bit tiresome, but I do admire the fact that he is getting it all taken care of before he leaves. He is doing his alcohol classes now,. That is three times a week, and 2 of them are at night. So this is about a 60 miles trip each time he has to go in.

Buddy has his Vet appointment this week also. Jo is hanging in there, but I don't really expect her to be with us too much longer. Poor little gal is starting to have a hard time going to the bathroom. She is still in good spirits though. Looks up at you with those big brown eyes, and wags her tail.......melts my heart every time!!

Eating has been so so. We stopped at Red Lobster after we bought the truck last week, and I certainly didn't eat OP. I ate 2 of their cheesy biscuits and had 2 different kinds of breaded shrimp. Then today we stopped for Chinese food, I really did try to make the best of a bad situation. I ordered the Beef and Broccoli. But then I did eat the fortune cookie......I don't know why some days are so hard..... I did so well up until the day after Thanksgiving.

I have been shoveling snow for the last couple of days......I am counting that as my exercise. I just keep making paths out in the yard for Jo. She is such a low rider that her belly gets wet in the snow and she has a hard time squatting down so that she can potty. We have about 6 inches now, so I am making her paths so that she can walk around enough to get her bowels going. Her tumor is near her rectum, and is closing it off. She will eventually get to where she can't go at all, or it will rupture. I am praying with everthing that I have, that she will just go to sleep one night and not wake up the next day.

Well ladies, I will probably not get here too early tomorrow, if I get here at all. We are leaving at 8 am and it is a 2 hour drive to Kellogg. We will get the truck and hopefully come straight home. I have soooo much that I need to get done. I am so far behind this year. We did get the outside lights up today, but I haven't started my cards yet, or my inside decorating or my baking or much of my Christmas shopping. One good thing is that Ted and I are done for each other, I have my new computer, and he has a new truck!!

Good night all......

Monet- on the tortilla teasers..just make sure when you make them up wrap them in plastic wrap and put in the fridge for about an hour or so then cut.
Heres the crab cake recipe. I just make them really small for appetizers.
2 pounds lump crab meat ( drained if using canned)
5 tbls finely chopped green onion
3 cups wwbread crumbs
4 tbls nonfat mayo
4 tbls lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
2 egg whites beaten
1 tbl and 1 tsp of vege oil( oil is for frying)
and if you want them spicy - 2 small jalapenos seeded and finely chopped
Mix all ingredients, make into small patties, cook in nonstick skillet until
golden brown..

Your recipes are all making me hungry!:hungry:

The band concert last night was fun! Sean did good! Now I'm ready for Christmas! :smug:

We saw one of Rachel's outfits last night for tap. It apparently will be for her group and the next group up which will mean about 20 girls and one boy. It looks very "chorus line". The theme for the big May recital this year is patriotic. I'm sure they will come up with a catchy title for it. I'm already getting excited! :carrot:

Good Morning! I have only been up a little while. Last night, I was not sleepy, so I sat up and talked to James, who had just gotten home from work. He was eating his dinner and I knitted...and finished the second to the last scarf! Woo hoo! I was excited.

This morning, I decided to try the scale again...and check out my ticker! Another pound down! I was excited. I may not get the ten by Christmas, but I am going to give it the old college try! :)

Last night, I finally figured out the pattern for my mother in law's afghan, so I got it cast on and the first row knitted. I am feeling hopeful!

Now, I need to figure out the gift for the person who has everything. Its a friend of mine, and I wish I could think of something special for her....

Ok, off to find breakfast.

CINDY: Thanks for the recipes!

THIN: I am glad the concert went well!

TEENSY: You are going to be riding in style with that new truck! Sounds swanky! Do you want to feel better about where you are with getting things done? I have NO decorations up. My house is wreck, and I am knitting every second I get in hopes of getting stuff done. I have done NO Christmas shopping. I am going to try very hard not to stress out over all this too! :yes:

I'm BACK!!!!

Our computer got a virus. Stiniks!!!! It relly messed me up. I could open up some webpages but this one and myspace kept locking up.

We're back online and working now. Selah woke up at 4am this monring, throwing up. Poor baby. She's so confused. Luckily, Jake decided to take a morning nap for once. She's watchign Winnie the Pooh. I think I may go close my eyes for a minute.

I'm having the hardest time with food. Cooking always makes me feel so sick. We've been eating out, jsut so I don't have to cook. I can't stand it. I don't even want the junk. I'm so overwhelmed with cooking, morning/day sickness, and having to cook on Jacob allergies. If anyone has any recipie suggestions that are easy to cook, I would love it. ANYTHING!! We have to avoid dairy, wheat, soy, tomatoes, rye, baking powder and yeast. I want to make soups, because they last long. I am just so used to using tomatoes in everything!! I'm making black bean soup today.

I'm going to go laydown, butI will get on later to read and catch up.

I haven't weighted myself sincemy Dr appt last week.

Talitha

Talitha--How about chicken soup with varieties--veggies, or brown rice.

Monet--Super slow is a work out program where you normally use machines, and you push out the weight to a very slow cadence, normally to a 10 count. It is a LOT harder to move weight slowly than to move it fast. In most gyms you see people just "throwing" the weight, and the centrifigal force of the weight just makes it easier to move. So, slow is better. Another part of it is that you lift the heaviest weight you can lift for up to about 8 repetitions. You want the muscle to "fail" -- get so fatigued that it cannot work any more--rather fast. That means you only do leg presses about 8 times instead of 20 times. And if the muscle has reached failure, then you don't even need to do sets of repetitions. A good workout will take each muscle group to failure in a rather short period of time--20-25 minutes. You do this 2-3 times per week and you will be building muscle, which has faster metabolism than fat--and you will be losing fat! Another advantage of Super Slow is that the potential for injury is lower because you are lifting so slowly. You may be able to find more on the web by Googling "Super Slow" (with quotes).

My annual phys. went fine. Nothing new to report. He said just to wait out this cold/laryngitis thing I have. I'm able to speak a little better today. Weight is still the same, but I have not been very careful lately.

Good afternoon Ladies.

We got home around 8:00 last night and DH didn't want to go to the gym and if my DD had complained one more time I would have given in and stayed home. But she didn't so we went and of course we were glad we did.

I was very good today. We have a tin of cookies and I started to grab a couple for breakfast, but instead grabbed a green banana. I was missing the cookies later, but I was glad I passed on them.

We are having a big dinner out tonight it is my DD's birthday. So I don't know if I will get to the gym or not. It may be hard after a big dinner. Plus we will have to celebrate her birthday when we get home.

I posted a good recipe awhile back so I will have to find it. It was a mexican dip.

Cindy, those tortilla teasers look good, think I'll try them. Hang in there, that scale will move soon.

Gator, I was hoping the dr would give you something to make you all better. Seems like you just have to wait out everything. Hope you feel better soon.

Marsib, Welcome this is a great board and a great WOE. I thinkyour family will like the freedome with SB more than Atkins. This is a hard time to start though. Good luck. Hopeyou stay with us.

Monet, thanks for the pics of Nat and family. They are so wonderful. The gym is Ideal Fitness. I don't know if they are a chain or not. They have lots of machines and free wts. The part I like is they have TV's on all the machines so I can ride a bike, use the EFX or TM and watch TV the whole time. It makes times fly. They have trainers available for a fee. It is close to home and cheap and we did not have to sign a contract, it is month to month.

Pancho, loved the pics. Love putting names with faces. The girls are dolls. You look wonderful.

Teensy, Hope your DH likes his new toy. I love getting a new car. I want one too. Don't really need one but had this one 4 years and I'm tired of it. Sure hope Jo doesn't suffer. I feel sorry for her. I wouldn't skip those cheese bisquits either. They are too good.

Thin, glad you enjoyed the concert.

Talitha, you poor thing. I feel for you not being able to cook. Can't help you in the recipe dept but I'm sure someone will. Hope this passes soon.

Got to run. Have a great day.

Here's the recipe for the Mexican Dip.

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese
1/4 cup TACO BELL HOME ORIGINALS Thick 'N Chunky Medium Salsa
1/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 Tbsp. sliced pitted black olives
1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro



PLACE unwrapped block of cream cheese on microwaveable plate; top with salsa, shredded cheese and olives.
MICROWAVE on HIGH 45 sec. to 1 min. or until cheddar cheese is melted; sprinkle with cilantro.
Serve with triscuits.

Other ideas:

Stuffed mushrooms- (stuff with cheeses, or sausage)
Ham & CHeese pinwheesls. (spread cream cheese on WW tortilla, lay pc of ham or any meat, roll up, refrigerate, slice into pieces,

I have a pizza dip, but I don't have the recipe here. I think it goes like this:

Spread cream cheese on bottom of pie pan
Top with Hormel chili with beans
Top that with Monteray Jack cheese and black olives.
Bake 30 minutes. Serve with triscuits or ww tortilla chips.

I am cooking pork chops for dinner, so this will be short. One of the teachers came to me today asking me to do a special project with the kids tomorrow to help them finish up what they are doing for their parents for Christmas. So I will be teaching self portraits tomorrow. It was not what I had planned to do, but its ok with me...

I have almost 9000 steps for the day, so I feel sure I will hit 10k by bedtime. I purchased a fitness ball today. I am looking forward to trying it out.

Ok, gotta go check the chops...will be back later!

OK, so I got 4 chicken breasts out of the freezer and boiled them. Now I need to figure out a recipie to make them into soupd. I have brown rice and wild rice. I was planning on doing something with that. I can't put any dairy in it. Seems like chicken rice soup would normally have that, but I've never made it.

Selah is doing a bit better. She threw up at least once every half hour all day, but stopped at about 6. I'm hoping she's over it now. She had a bit more energy this evening.

I made pad thai for dinner. I'm sure the rice noodles weren't legal, but at least it wasn't pizza or chicfila, AGAIN. IT' the weirdest thing. I LOVE to cook, and make everything from scratch. But when I'm pregnant, the smells of cooking send me running to the bathroom.

We got our christmas tree and stockings up this weekend. That's about all I have for decoration. I have a nativity scene on the back of the piano that Selah just thinks is amazing. She wants to hold baby jesus all day long.


MONET- Friday is DFM day. Wanna meet? I'm crocheting a quick 'leftover stripe' afgan. Gotta get some of this yarn out of the house!!

Gator- You must have missed my response to the lipstick question a few weeks ago. I'll email you.

Solly- that dip sounds fabulous!!! I may need to make it for a party this weekend.

Marsib- Welcome!!! What does your sign-in name mean?

Hi all. Not much to tell about today. Got home from work and made a chicken stir fry that my dh loves and so he was happy and even some left for him to eat when he gets home tomorrow morning.
I had a really really good day at work. They have either been really rough or really good. Im still in the learning phase and usually leave with my head aching from thinking too much lol. But today everything just seemed to go smooth and I was able to actually get alot done.
Ive spent most of my evening going over more of the Medicare rx stuff for my mom. Ill be happy when she picks a plan and I have to stop looking. Now I have to call a few of these to find out about some of the meds that have a nice little asterik by them saying "this drug may be subject to prior authorization" WTH!! Anyway have to find out what that means for her. Of course they are the 2 most expensive ones she takes.
Hopefully tomorrow I can get to replies. Have a wonderful evening !

I would like to thank all of you so much for your warm welcome and words of encouragement.

Talitha - My sign-in is my first name and the first initial of my last name.

I am a working mother of 3 daughters Trish 19 very skinny not alowed to diet) Shannon 15 and Chrissy 14 doing SB. My husband doing SB is currently working a night shift so I come home at lunch to see him every day.

Monet - My 19yr old is never home either.

Most of the meals I fix are quick and easy. This morning I made oatmeal for the first time in a very long time. It tasted so great! For lunch I had buffalo wings, clery with cream cheese & strawberries. For dinner the girls and I were craving pizza so I took a loaf of 100% whole wheat bread shaped like french bread, cut it in half, put a small amount of pizza sauce on it added pepperoni and mozeralla baked it for about 15 minutes on 350 then broiled the top to brown just a little. It was actually pretty good. I am not so sure how great my choices were today on food, I think they were probably a little high on the fat side.

Thanks again to everyone !!!!

MARSI: If you are craving pizza, try using whole wheat tortillas for a crust...or ww pitas. Boboli's has a whole wheat pizza crust too.

TALITHA: I rarely use dairy in my soups. A chicken and rice soup would be great...just put in carrots, celery, a bit of onion with the chicken, broth and brown rice. How about a lentil stew? There is no wheat or dairy in it, and seriously, tomatoes in it would be gross! :) It is best made with ham. I use the pressure cooker, and put most of the stuff in after simmering the ham and lentils a bit together. A crockpot would work well. How about chili? I have a lot of recipes. Do I need to bring you some? I am not sure about Friday....I have several things I am supposed to do! I will keep you posted

I am nodding off here...I better go before I fall asleep on the keyboard!

ok ladies. I've made my soup. I found a recipie in my old Rodales Natural Foods Cookbook. Serious must have if anyone is looking for a good cookbook. It's form 1984, bu tyou can find it on ebay sometimes. Over 900 pages, no sugar and all wholegrains throughout!
ANyway, now that I'm done with my plug... The recipie is almost exactly what Monet suggested. I think it will be good, but right now the smell is making me sick. So.. Jsut a few things to run by the pros...
1. Is Spelt and Spelt flour ok?
2. Are Rice noodles really bad?

Monet- I do allot of Letils, but never use a recipie. I jsut make it up. Recipies would be nice. The only lentil soup recipie I use is for Dahl, which does have tomatoes.. and coconut milk, yummmm.....


Goodnight everyone!!!

TALITHA: Whole grain spelt is ok. It may be ok for Jacob, but watch it. It is an ancient form of wheat, but many people with wheat allergies do ok with it, and I belive it is ok for celiacs. Rice noodles are not good, as they are usually made with white rice. Go check the GI on them at Mendoza's site and compare the GI with other starches. I make chana dahl with spinach, and I often put tomatoes in it, but its good with out the tomatoes too. If you need a good recipe site, you might want to check out Recipezaar. They have EVERYTHING on there. You can probably find tons of soups with out wheat, tomatoes, dairy, etc.

Ok, now I am REALLY going to bed! I went and picked up from dinner a bit... Tomorrow is a school day, so I won't be around until late afternoon. :wave:

Talitha--Glad you found a good recipe for the soup. I was gonna suggest what Monet did. She's a great cook, so whatever she says is gonna be good. Lentils or any kind of beans or peas would be good for soup. I put brown rice, already cooked, in both my lentil and pea soup. I always add carrots. I'll be looking forward to getting the email because I did miss your reply here.

Hi Solly, Are you still having trouble with Ms. snoop? You sound like you are doing so well with the exercise. Yep, I just have to wait this one out. Pretty much everythng is gone except for the cough, which is bad, and which will prob. last for several more weeks. :(

My DH is already in bed. So I'm gonna quit and hit the hay too. Night.

Good morning! Just flying by to say hello! Be good little sugarbusters while I am at school today! :)

TALITHA: It was sweet of Gator to say I am a good cook...we all know she is too, so get her to share her recipes for pea and lentil soups... :) I have gotten brown rice noodles at Harry's...that would make a good chicken noodle soup. Beef and vegetable would be good too...just leave out the tomatoes. Is Barley ok for Jake? That makes an awesome beef soup. Of course there are the Asian ones...egg drop would be tasty.

Ok, off to school. :wave:

Good morning- I am sitting here freezing!!! The heater in my car is not working great, and I am trying to get warm after dropping the kids off at school. Luckily, I bundled them up tight, so they were fine. I am waiting for my coffee to finish brewing and then I will have some of that too.

OK- we were supposed to come up with legal replacements for the holidays. After reading Cindy's list, I realized I always make those Tortilla Teasers!! The recipe I have calls them rollups. I was sooo excited to find them legal!!! I will definitley make those with the ww tortillas!!! I also make a chicken appetizer -pound the chicken flat and put spinach and bleu cheese in and roll up- slice and bake, sprinkle with paprika- yum! Artichoke dip with triscuits. I also have a recipe for bacon rollups that can be adapted to be legal. Those are yummy. Roasted red pepper hummus (the best!!!) and ww pitas. Red wine, of course!!! Hey- anyone ever made gingerbread men with splenda? How did they turn out? I have to make some for my dd's class. I can slip in the ww flour because of their brown color, but wondering how splenda would work out? I have to get me some agave, but we've been short in the cash dept. Will have to wait. Maybe I could ask for some for Christmas????:gift2:

OK- I need to still take a shower. So I'll try and post more later! Bye! MUNCH

I never posted my party ideas.
mexican bean dip
mediterranean bean dip
Tortilla rollups with turkey, cream cheese, and maybe a piece of bell pepper in the middle!
veggies and dip
meatballs

Now for explainations and ideas!;) I make a mexican bean dip with refried beans, cream cheese mixed with mexican seasoning (watch for hidden sugar, or make your own with chili powder and cumin) sourcream, and green onions and tomatoes sprinkled on top. Top with lowfat cheddar or jack cheese. Heat till warm and cheese is melted. Yummy! tastes like taco bell!:carrot:
I also make my own tortilla chips with ww tortillas or sometimes low carb tortillas. lay them on a baking sheet and spray with cooking spray, sprinkle on salt, cut into smaller pieces and put under the broiler. Turn once so both sides get brown. My kids love these because we can cut them into wedges, squares, just whatever they decide! I posted the mediterranean bean dip earlier this week I think. The meatballs are technically legal, but they are still a little on the high sugar side. I made them with low carb, low sugar bbq sauce and an all fruit apricot jelly. They were good, just didn't have too many of them!;)

I have had a real craving for egg nog lately. I have always loved it during the holidays. Last night I got a small glass of 1% milk and added just enough low fat egg nog to have the taste. It really hit the spot!

It's wonderful wednesday and I grateful for the fact that next week is the last week of school before our break!:lol: Hope you all have a great day!

Good morning..... I'm still alive and kicking. I was sick for a couple of weeks and then couldn't use the computer for a couple of days. My head just isn't in the right place so I'm struggling. It didn't help my sister gave me a large batch of homemade peanut butter cookies. Of course my favorite. I've been heavily into to those. I think I've finally burned out on them. Sometimes you just have to ride it out. We got our beautiful tree up and DH helped me wrap the packages and get the presents to send all boxed up. So their in the mail along with my Christmas cards. I think I finished with the stocking stuffers yeasterday after a trip to Wal Mart. My son and his family are coming for Christmas and I'm so excited. They're army and moving from South Carolina to their new base in FT. Hood Texas. Guess I'd better get off here. Have to go clean out the freezer. Yuck! Have a happy Op day.

Don't look now, but that's ME posting on the exercise board!! :eek: I think I get even more of a workout in the cold. I certainly feel more worn out after I get back than in warm weather, that's for sure. And, man, does that hot shower feel good when I get back!! :carrot:

Okay..so..menu today is going smooth. Life cereal for breakfast (for those that are new to this...Life cereal isn't really legal...but it lies somewhere between Kashi and Cocoa Puffs on the chart...) and leftover chili for lunch with about six triscuits, adirondack cheese and half an orange. I had an apple for snack. I'm on my second 23 oz bottle of water and I'm on my way to a pretty good day!! Not sure what dinner will entail, but will probably involve chicken and brown rice.

But, I was supposed to do some heavy duty house cleaning yesterday, but ended up nursing a near migraine and its hard to clean with your head in a pillow in search of total darkness. By the time it was gone, I had to go get Shelley and take her to the doctor for a follow up on her bronchitis and have Kyle checked out for his nagging cough. Now he's on antibiotics. So, by the time we got his prescription and went to McDonald's (I had a salad with grilled chicken, :encore: ), it was 7pm by the time we got home. Down side of living in the boonies!! So, now that Kyle's home from school and the dog's been walked and lunch is down the hatch...time to CLEAN!! In other words, I'll do replies later.

Welcome, Marsi :wave:

C-yas...Kris

I had another wonderful day at work. I felt so good when I got home my dh thought maybe I was on drugs...:) I said no..just a au natural high.
Tonight is step class at the gym and I am really looking forward to it! Its really fun ! Im still debating the power pump. I might wait a bit on that one until I get more used to the step.
Well, off to get ready to head out.
Oh we are to get 4-6 inches of snow by Friday.. Im SO excitied :cool: - And glad I have Friday off work ! But, it might hamper my Christmas shopping I was planning.

:snow4:

Munch- the ones you make with chicken..your rolling those in ww tortillas then baking? That sounds like something Id love to try:)

Toni- If you like pbutter cookies I just got done making some for Christmas ( of course had to try just one to make sure they were good :) ) but I used splenda, and splenda brown sugar, natural pbutter and for the flours I used, wheat bran flour, oat flour, wheat germ and just a 1/4 cup of white and they came out great. So it made them way less sugar and way more healthier.

Monet- do you have a recipe for a white bean chicken chili?

CINDY: I have not personally made this one, but it was highly rated on the recipe site (Recipezaar) I like:

White Bean and Chicken Chili #143785
recipe by homegirl
A great change from regular tomato based chili. This doubles great!
6-8 servings
2 hours 10 minutes 10 mins prep
1 lb dried navy beans
6 cups chicken broth
4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
1/2 onion, diced
1 1/2 cups diced green chilies (canned, undrained)
1 lb chicken breasts (diced and sauteed with 1 clove garlic, salt and pepper till browned)
1 tablespoon gound cumin
1 tablespoon oregano
1-2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1/2 bunch cilantro leaves, chopped
salt
garnish
sour cream
green onions
grated monterey jack cheese

1. Rinse beans and place in a bowl 3 times as big as the beans fill it.
2. Cover the beans with cool water 2-3 inches past the top of the beans.
3. Soak over nite.
4. Next day drain and place in large pot with chicken broth ,cover with a lid and bring to a boil.
5. Cook for about 45 minutes to an hour.
6. While beans are cooking place butter in a saute pan and melt.
7. Add garlic, onions, and chilis and saute till onions are soft.
8. Add chili mixture to beans and then add chicken, cumin, oregano, and peppers.
9. Cook for 1/2 hour and add cilantro.
10. garnish as desired and serve with corn chips or corn bread.
11. Time does not include soak time.

TALITHA: Check out that recipe I just posted for Cindy for white bean and chicken chili... Leave off the garnish and I think it meets your allergy requirements...

GOOD AFTERNOON YOU BUSTERS OF ALL THINGS SWEET!!


Thought I would pass this along to y'all since we'll be going to some parties during the holiday season....


With holiday parties already underway I thought a good way to ease myself into the giving spirit would be by sharing some of my favorite holiday diet tips with all of you. I hope you find an opportunity to try out at least one of these!
>
>
>
> 1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table
> knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave
> immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
>
> 2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly! Like fine single-malt
> scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You
> can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that
> it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into
> an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me.
> Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
>
> 3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy.
> Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed
> potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
>
> 4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or
> whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car
> with an automatic transmission.
>
> 5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your
> eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other
> people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
>
> 6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's.
> You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the
> time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while
> carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
>
> 7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted
> Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near
> them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of
> attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them
> behind, you're never going to see them again.
>
> 8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if
> you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have
> three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
>
> 9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory
> celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
>
> 10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or
> get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention.
> Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
> safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
> sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used
> up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!



I just got home from work and I'm sitting here watching this terrible news about someone getting shot on an AA AIRLINE JET. Evidently he yelled he had a bomb and the Marshall shot him deader than 4 o"clock! Now they know that he got into a fight with his wife and starting pushing his way toward the front of the plan yelling about the bomb. He's a wack job who stopped taking his meds! OH MY!!

It's been quite interesting around here...the thermostat went out on the fridge and we lost about $150 worth of food! Kate is spazzing because she paid for the groceries this week! It was a gagging mess when I emptied it out on Monday..The repairman came on Tuesday and all is well again. The cost was a little over $100 which Kate didn't think too bad. I don't know..never had this happen before. It's a Fridgidare which usually lasts longer than 6yrs...of course, as one of my friends so graciously put it...they build things to throw away these days!

We had a great visit with my Brother this weekend. Bless his heart, it was literally an over night visit. He got here at about 3 on Saturday afternoon and left at 2:30 on Sunday to get his rental car back to the airport by 3!
The Christening was beautiful...Matthew didn't even whimper (did I tell y'all this already?) until they poured the Holy Water over him and then it was just a shudder! He's a sweetie and so good. His Brother however is a Banchee!!! He runs and screams all the time and I'm beginning to believe he is border line autistic..I know that's bad of me to think that, but if you could see him in action, you would wonder too! I'll try to post a picture of them.

CINDY...I don't envy you at all! I don't miss snow in the least! I know I couldn't drive in it anymore...How's your Mom doing? I know this Christmas will be hard on her and you too! We're here for you. I've been there so I can relate.

KRIS...when you get done with your cleaning....head on down here...I'll take you to the beach when you're done! Sorry the Munchkins are down for the count, but this too will pass!

TONI...sorry you've been sick, but glad to hear your DS is coming for Christmas. I don't envy you cleaning out the freezer, but I guess that has to be done!

THIN...I love egg nog too. Check your PUBLIX....Ours carries SF and it's pretty good...not as thick, but it will do when you need a fix!

MUNCH...How's MOM today? Better I hope. She will do better each and every day.
Sorry about the heater...another thing I don't use down here..I run the air in the winter!

SUSAN...GOOD TO SEE YA GIRLFRIEND!!! Sorry your attitude needs some adjustment...You going to NC for Christmas?

GATOR...Hope you're feeling better today...I know how you feel...with as sick as I've been the last year, I can relate with anyone about anything!!!
What about THE VISOR MAN being elected SEC COACH OF THE YEAR????

I'm off to fix supper...I think Liver and Onions is on the venue for tonight...

BOB http://bestsmileys.com/christmas4/12.gif











>

Bob- thank you so much for asking ..my mom is doing really well. I think she is very lonely but she insists in staying at her own home and I guess I dont blame her cause I would probably be the same way.

Monet-thank you so much for the recipe. Sounds very yummy. If I have time Ill try it this weekend. If not then next !

BOB: Was it something I said? I get no lines in the big BOB post!? :cry:

We just got in from dinner. Lazy Monet said she would pay if we went out...so we went to a Mexican restaurant we have very tried before. The food was pretty good, but the atmosphere was not great...loud and bustling. The owner was walking around, refilling Margarita glasses for free...Tom had gotten one, and he refilled it. Nice huh? If you stuck around long enough, you might be able to get a good buzz for free!

I am tired, but I really really need to knit..so I am off to get knitting! :wave:

BOB--LOL, I LOVED your funnies post. Especially # 4 about the sports car with utomatic transmission. I have a sports car and it was not that easy to find what I wanted with a stick. I would have purchased an Audi, but all they had were automatics. For wusses!! Sports cars and automatic are incompatible. ;)

Cindy, glad to hear things are looking up a bit for your Mom. You amaze me with how calm you sound.

Talitha--I never got your email.
Re. soups, when you make bean soups, or pretty much any soups for that matter, use chicken stock (even canned is fine) for the base. It is a lot tastier than water. I use chicken stock when I make split pea soup.

Monet--re cooking, when I bake a 13" or 14" layer for the wedding cake, do I bake it longer than normal because the center needs to get cooked? Or does it all just work out?

Still feeling cough-y. In fact, if I talk very much I cough like crazy. It gives me a headache. I also cough when I am NOT talking. :(

I just want to tell everyone on this board how great you all are. You are the BEST BUNCH there is. I used to frequent another food related board and recently it has gotten so bad that I will not be going back there. The sarcasm, the pot shots at each other, it is just nauseating. The worst of human nature is revealed there, and it makes me glad to be a part of this group. Did I tell you all that you are THE GREATEST!!! :balloons:
I appreciate your interest, your time, and your politeness and cordiality. That means a lot in my book.

I'm gonna go to bed now. I normally like to stay up late, but this cough/cold has thrown me for a loop.

PS to BOB--Yeah, I saw where Visor Man got coach of the year honors. He is still Gator Bait!!

GATOR: When you are baking a larger round cake, it is really helpful to have a center core to help it bake more evenly. They should have the item any where they sell cake decorating supplies and pans. Its about two or three inches in diameter, and flares at the top. You fill it with nuts and bolts, or cake whatever....(mine is filled with nails and nuts ang bolts!) and place it in the center of the cake pan, and then pour the batter around it. (don't forget to grease and flour it! :) ) The cake then bakes from the outside in and inside out. It makes it more even, and keeps it from drying out on the edges while getting the middle done. I usually bake larger layers in a lower temperature...like 325 instead of 350...to help keep it from over cooking the edges.

I don't even want to talk about dinner tonight...I was BAD BAD BAD! We went out for Mexican and I ate chips, salsa and more chips. Two steps forward, one and half back...seems like I would have learned by now....

Ok, so I didn't do so well for dinner last night. We went to california pizza kitchen. I split the Thai Salad and Thai Pizza (wheat crust) with my friend. She ordered a dessert to split and I only ate a few bites of the vanilla ice cream off the top. COuld have been better.

Jacob and Selah are both hanging on my leg wanting to be held, so I guess I'm not going to be able to post so much after all. GOign to try the chicken chilli tonoght.. I'll post some replies later.

Talitha

Good morning...just a fly by as I am heading out to school in a few minutes. I agreed to come in and help a couple classes complete a project they started yesterday. I am hoping its not all day long...just a few hours and I can be home before lunch. I have company coming for dinner tonight. I have a chuck roast defrosting, and will either cut it up and make a stew, or cook it whole. Depends on how I feel when I get home.

Breakfast was a piece of crustless quiche and a quarter cup of leftover coffee. (yuck!- however, caffeine is caffeine!)

I hope everyone has a wonderful day! :wave:

I'm back. Jake is down for an early nap, and Selah is reading her 'GO, Dog, GO! book. Nice...

Selah and I had a running discussion all day yesterday. GOes something like this....

Momma, Baby Jacob my son. (said very emphaticaly)
No, Selah. He's your brother, but he's my son.
No, momma. Dat MMMYYYY son....You his bwudder?
Well, I'm his Momma, so he's my son like you are my daughter.
Oh, no, Momma!! I not dowder. I Selah!

I could just eat her up she is so cute!!!


MONET- Have a great day at the school. Let me knwo about tomorrow. BTW, BOB didn't show me any love either... Must be busy. Who in the world would be busy this time of year??

Gator- I'll do that with the chicken stock. Great idea!! I don't like an automatic eather. Travis and I compromized with the Passat becuase it is Triptonic (Can be automatic or manual) I love driving a manual all of the way, but there is allot of Atlanta traffic.

Bob- You're awesome. Sorry about the fridge. YUCK!!!! We went camping a few months ago and, when I came home, the freezer was wide open the whole weekend!!! Not fun.

Good morning! 17 degrees and frosty out there- no big snowfall yet. I am disappointed!! :?: Went up to see mom last night- just as I got there, they told me they were rushing her back to the hospital (she's in the brain injury rehab center) by ambulance b/c her blood pressure was sky high and they can't get it down. So I followed the ambulance and stayed with her in the ER while they checked everything out. Her HR was still high and her beats were off again. So frustrating. Finally, they got her BP down and they brought her back to the rehab center. She's doing fine this morning. They told us last night also, she will definitely NOT be home by Christmas- which really bummed my mom out. But they said if she's stable enough, we can take her home for the weekend for Christmas- so that made her happy. Soooo.... thats the scoop on mom this morning- again- thanks for asking about her and praying. I agree with Gator- everyone here is WONDERFUL!!!! :thanks:

Well, I was wanting to eat everything in the house yesterday- got my TOM today- that explains it. I didn't do too bad, but portions were large. :devil:
That recipe with the chicken and beans looks AWESOME! Tomorrow I may make it!!! I made pea soup yesterday and added some wild rice . Yummy. I may be paying for all the beans I've been using lately when it comes to my hubby (if ya know what I mean!!!!) :bomb: (Monet- we need a "tooting" smilie- this was close as I could get! LOL!)

OK- time to get some laundry done. Yuck. Better than dishes though. Hate those. I'll try back later..

HUGS....... MUNCH

And so it begins...Ya'll know I work in an elementary school and this time of year we get "Thank you" presents from parents in the form of baked goods galore. Also, teachers are bringing in goodies. :?: AAAHHHH! What's a girl to do. This morning there was an apple wedges and dip. I tried one wedge with just a tiny amount of dip. It was pretty good, but different from the traditional caramel. It was not too hard to pass on. Then our lead nurse sent us all a book of insporation for nurses with wintergreen lifesavers in the pack as well. So you open the package and out rains the lifesavers. :rain: I've only had one so far!:p


Toni-I'm glad to have my shopping done for my kids. I need to by Rachel one more smallish $10-15 item to even her up.:smug:

Tech- Hope your house is sparlking clean today!:carrot:

Bob- So sorry about your fridge. A few years ago we lost ours. Was warmer in the fridge than in the house!

Cindy-Would love the cookie recipe..PB is my favorite!:T

Gator- My husband can make you some of his homemade cough syrup. He takes a little scotch in a jar and adds lemon and homey or crushed peppermint. Keep in the fridge and dose as needed!:D

Monet-The chili recipe sounds great! How do you make your quiche?

Talithat-Your kids soud so cute! Hope you get to feeling better as your pregnancy progresses!

Munch-Good luck with your mom and hope she sontinues to feel better!:hug:

Oh my gosh a blanket of beautiful white snow has come this morning. We live a mile down a hill and DH had to come back from work this morning and get our 4 wheel drive scout instead of the van. Its still spitting out snow hours later. So we have about an inch. Hope it goes away soon but its so cold think it will be here for a few days. That means DH will have to take me grocery shopping tomorrow afternoon when he gets off work. Sorry I can't write more but got to get busy......

GOOD AFTERNOON ALL YOU BUSTIN OF THE SUGAR GALS!!


I'm home today...went to work, stopped at Mickyd's for breakfast and ...well...let's just say thisl...the back door trots have grabbed me like you neve cover could imagine!!!! I'm going to work on Saturday!


MONET.....SORRY....DIDN'T MEAN TO OVER LOOK YOU!!!

i'M OFF TO RECLINE AN TRY TO FEEL BETTER...i'LL BE BACK LATER!!

bob http://bestsmileys.com/christmas1/10.gif

I am back from helping the two classes. They did pretty well. I wanted to strangle a couple kids who kept using blue, then white paint though. The paints are cake tempra, and I had to pick out the white cakes over and over to clean them off! Then, one little first grader had these beautiful colors on hers...but kept brushing and brushing...I finally took it away from her to preserve some of the pretty colors she had used. She was getting it all muddied by her brushing. A couple of the first graders washed all the pans, and brushes and organized them for me. They are so sweet! So, I am home, and feeling a bit tired. I really OUGHT to try and get some shopping done, but I don't feel like it. :(

Later! I am going to go rest! :wave:

OOOHHH NNNOOO! I just found out that one of my orders I placed for a gift for Rachel has been cancelled and my account credited, which is great; but I need it for Christmas! I reordered it from Amazon.com and they guarantee it to get here before Dec. 23. (as long as it doesn't get cancelled again, right?:dizzy: )

Monet- I am watching the weather like a hawk! Normally I just sit and wait it out. Whatever happens, happens. Right? Well today just happens to be the day Sean went down to the Andersonville Civil War prison camp and will not be home from the field trip till 7:45 pm.:?: I hope the weather does not get bad because they are 3 hours away! I am going to fix a meatball soup tonight. It has a can of italian style tomatoes and spinach in it, I've never tried it. Then I will sit and wait, glued to the TV!:p

The snow is coming...any moment... glad I got home before it started !
I had a odd night last night. I felt great yesterday Im mean really good . I was excited about going for my step class. About 20 min into it I got weak legged and slightly nausous. I really didnt feel good..real quick like. Well good thing my dd was there ( and her co worker) who are both nurses so I was in good hands at least..but she told me to just take it easy or sit down but I took a few minute break and finished but with not much energy. I felt totally fine on my way home. So that was odd ( speically since this was my 4th/5th week of doing these classes) but then there was another odd thing. I woke up at 1am last night with the most horrific charlie horse/leg cramp I have ever had. It probably lasted 6-7 minutes and it had me in tears it was so bad. Ive gotton one in just my calf before but this was down my whole lower leg and going through my foot. It would tighten like my leg and foot were twisting like youd twist out a wet towel then it would start to relax and then start again ..over and over in that time frame. All I could do was sit there and pray for it to stop. It was crazy. What in the world brought those two things on. Should I be worried?

Gator- You know when my dad first passed away , all I could do was talk about him and Id cry and cry my dh finally said "would you stop talking about him/it ( the whole dying thing) , Youd feel better if youd stop" and Id tell him that I wanted to talk about it. But now I find myself trying not to think about him too much or talk about him because it does make me so sad and the tears start all over again just like the first day. I have tried to play his cds in the car and I become a emotional wreck. Im waiting for the day that I can listen to one the whole way through. I miss him so terribly much and still can hardly believe he is gone. Im sure my Mom is 100x more than me but she is a very strong woman and holds together well. Shes never been one to wear her emotions on her sleeve.
I agree..everyone here is GREAT !!
I hope you feel better soon :hug:

Monet- thats interesting about the cake. I learn so many new things reading your posts. Ive never bake a big cake but one never knows. :)

Talitha- we had a frozen California pizza tonight ( same company Im assuming) they are delish. I tried not to eat much crust. It was garlic chicken, very garlicky

Munch- So sorry to hear that your mom has had some complications. I will keep her and you in my prayers. :hug:

Thin- Here it is.. ( it is my moms recipe)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup p butter
1/2 cup sugar ( I used splenda)
1/2 cup brown sugar ( used splenda brown sugar)
Cream all together
add 1 egg ( or 2 egg whites)
1/4 cup white flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup oat flour
1/2 cup bran flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
mix well... roll into balls ...flatten with fork...350 10-12 minutes
Note: I added red colored sugar to mine with the fork..since Im doing my for Christmas.
Ive made a meatball soup before and its wonderful.

Toni- our blizzard just started...want some more?

Heading to make some more Christmas cookies. One more set of those to do and then a old fashioned black N white Pistachio bark and Im done baking...:dancer:
oh for you southerners...heres the start of our blizzard... Ill take another in the morning ( hope this isnt too big)
http://www.81x.com/Authors/ckbuchanan/p1.jpg

THIN: They are not predicting snow...so I think we are going to be just plain wet! I have been to Andersonville many times. It has a certain overwhelming saddness in the air there. So many died... I hope they don't get caught in traffic! Even if it started snowing, they ought to be ok. With all the cars on the expressway, the snow will not stick!

CINDY: Baking big cakes is not really hard. The largest I ever made served over 1000! I have not done any holiday baking this year. I may try your PB cookies, though. Tom loves peanut butter! If I added dark chocolate to them, he would be in heaven! :lol:

Cindy, the thing at the step class might have been that your heart rate just got a little too high. That sounds kinda like something that happenned to me one time when I was lifting some heavy weights and my heart rate got over the 80% rate. It made me feel kinda faint, like I could have passed out. You just have to stop and rest a bit until your heart rate slows down a bit. The charley horse may have just been a coincidence. Do you have a phys. coming up. You could mention to your doctor what happenned. Part of good health is being able to get your heart rate higher without it going into that danger zone.

Actually I was just at my gyno monday for a follow up...so dont have plans going back to any dr until March lol. Ok... I monitor my heartrate when Im using the machines at the gym and I try to stay between 117- 128, sometimes it will slip up to 130ish but I slow down and bring it back to that zone so thats how I have been training. Now with the step class I have no idea what zone Im in but I know I work alot harder because im pouring sweat and my face is really red. Do you think I could of just been overheated? I was wearing sweats and sweater type top with 3/4 sleeves rolled up. Usually I either wear sweats and a short sleeve tshirt or shorts and a tshirt. I have one level on the step maybe I should go back to it just on the floor :?: Im trying so hard to get in shape. I hate to go backwards.

CINDY: Don't think of it as going backwards! You do what you can, at the pace you can, and don't worry about it. Gator may be right...it could have been you got your heart rate too high. It could also be low blood sugar, dehydration, etc. I would be careful. Maybe even keep notes on these kind of things, and then if it happens again, you may be able to discover the trigger. Both the weakness and the charlie horse could have been from low calcium too. Do you take calcium? I rarely get leg cramps when I am good about taking it.

Just an update...Sean's teacher called and they will be home about 45 min. earlier than planned. :) Rachel is going to skip dance class tonight as it is about 35 degrees now and one of the other students mom called and said they are not going. Her husband had just come in from work and had ice on his windshield. :o I don't think there is much of a chance for snow or anything, but they are warning about the roads icing over up here. We live fairly close to the river, so it is always a couple of degrees colder here than a few miles down the road. So, I don't know we'll see! I'll be glad to pick up Sean and have all of us safe at home! :hug:

So I'm sitting here with my chicken chilli from the fabulouse recipe that Monet posted. YUMMM!!!!!

Selah loved it and Phoenix ( her friend) even ate it and he usually hates my crazy healthy stuff. Now theya re watching Whinnie the Pooh while I get to say hi to you :)

I was good at not snacking today. I had a protein shake for breakfast, chciken and rice (brown & wild) for lunch. Arter the shole cockroach fiasco, I have a hard time eating the wild rice. It looks like the little guys got into my food and makes me gag :( I forced myself to eat it, though.

I made homemade play dough with Selah and Phoenix. It is so much softer than store bought!! I t was really fun and easy. The only problem is that it never occured to me that even play dough will be a problem with Jacob. It's all wheat flour. WIll it ever end???? I guess I can mes some with rice flour or something. I'm so over the whole thing, and he's not even a year old!!! I know.... I'll make it because I have to...

So my cousin had her baby today. ANd what did she name him? CHarles after my Grandfather!!!! Another one of my favorite names gone. I'm so bummed. I always wanted a little Charlie :( THis name situation is so rediculous. This baby just needs to be a girl.

Thin- I'm the one wishing for snow :( I'm so jealous of all of the people who get it. I want to make molasses snow candy :(

Cindy- At the California Pizza kitchen restaurants, you get to chose white or wheat crust. IT's great!!!!

Hi all-

a quick reply to Cindy... I am a licensed fitness instructor and it sounds like you were overheated and slightly dehydrated. Sometimes even if you are sipping water throughout exercising, you can still "dry-out" from not enough water during the day, or sweating too much. Believe me, it does not take much to dehydrate. Did you eat enough before hand? Sometimes not eating is the culprit with those symptoms too. All your symptoms are typical though of getting too hot or working abit over your HR. It does sound like you wore too much- I would probably pass out if I wore sweats. They tend to lock in heat and are not breathable. The leg cramps later were probably just a by-product of the fatigue your muscles experienced from the dehydration or overheating. I wouldn't worry- unless it happens again, then have it checked out just to be safe. Oh- when did you add risers to your step- was that recently, or have you been doing that all along? Don't get discouraged if you need to drop it back down- lots of girls in my classes keep it on the floor and are in top shape- they just don't wanna hurt their knees. Be safe! Hope this helps!! :) (Did I say this was a "quick" reply????!!!!)

Talitha- I want to make that soup too- told my hubby about it and he's excited!! My best friend's son's name is Charlie-short for Charleston. I LOVE it too. He's an adorable curly-haired blondie too. Just want to eat him up!! Just tell your cousin she STOLE the name from you and use it anyway- any chance they'll end up calling him Chuckie?? :smug:

Thin- We're supposed to get 6 inches of snow tonite. I'll stay inside with you.

Well- I will do more replies tomorrow- pray we get lots of snow- my daughter wants a snow day at school!!!

Hugs- MUNCH

Cindy, Now that you told us what you were wearing, I totally agree with Munch. When I work out with weights, I like the room to be like a meat locker--cold. Because when I start lifting, it just seems to get hot. Next time, wear bermudas and a t-shirt, and a jacket you can remove. Then, after you warm up, take off the jacket. Be sure you keep hydrated. Overheated plus getting that heart rate up there are probably what happenned. Listen to Munch. And keep up the good workouts, but just go prepared with new knowledge now. :)

Munch, how are you doing? How is your Mom and her recovery?

Good morning! I finished the last scarf that needs to be mailed last night! Tom told me there is a UPS place up near his office so I will pack up the stuff this morning and then he will take it on Monday and ship it out UPS for me. :carrot: Oh yeah! I don't have to deal with the lines and frustrations of shipping! I think it is the least he can do after *I* did all the knitting! :yes:

Today is James' birthday. I am going to take him out to lunch, then this afternoon is the teacher's Christmas party. Tonight is the Church leadership party, then we will celebrate James' birthday with the family on Sunday. He asked for $$ for his birthday and Christmas, so I need to go to the bank and get some ones! :lol:

CINDY: I am glad Muncher was able to shed some light on your problem.

TALITHA: I am delighted the recipe was a good one. I love that site...they have everything on there, and its all rated as well, which helps. Maybe Jacob will out grow some of his allergies. One can hope! Bummer on the name! I am not going to make it this morning, but I may have mentioned that already. I am just so swamped! I have done virtually nothing for Christmas but knit! My tree isn't even up, I have no decorations up...and I may just skip it this year. Bah humbug!

THIN: I trust you got Sean ok, and everything is ok up there in the North Georgia Mountains!

MUNCHER: Did you get enough snow for a snow day? How is your mom? Thanks for helping Cindy on that exercise question! If you try that chili, let me know how it is. When I was telling my husband about it, he thought it did not sound good...chili is supposed to be red according to him! I may make it and make him eat it and see what he says! He is so funny about that kind of stuff! Too traditional in ways!

GATOR: How are you feeling? Is your cough getting better? I about fainted when one of the teachers said lunch the other day she thought she had strep! I was thinking, then WHY are you here? I did ask her that...and got a shrug and a I can't get a sub because.... If I get strep (and with my Lupus, I get sick easily) I am sending HER the doctor bill!

Ok, time for some coffee and breakfast, then I need to pack up the presents to mail, and run out and do a few errands.... :wave:

Morning... no work today and its a good thing.. we got 8.3 inches of snow last night and from the news its a mess out there. Though I might try and forge out later for a quick two errands.
Thanks Monet, Munch and Gator on the exercise problem. I think thats what it was too..I was just too overheated. I drank lots of water all day and even had a bottle right before and during so I dont think I was dehydrated. Next time I will wear shorts and a t-shirt for sure. Ive been up one level on the step now the past 8 classes. I really love this workout cause I really feel like Im getting some wonderful cardio! Thats my once a week ( or twice if I go to the other class) of really pumping it up so I definitly dont want to back down on it. Im gonna try and get to the gym tonight if the roads are ok but just doing the elliptical and maybe bike .

Everyone getting the snow be careful if your out driving.

Ive got to go get bundled up.. dh should be home any minute and he was picking up gas on his way home for the snowblower we got , that was my dads, and hes gonna show me how to use it. I did go out and shovel half the driveway so he could at least have somewhere to park. Great exercise there !
Catch you all later :)

Yes, I was able to get Sean last night. The thermometer in my car read 33-34 the whole time. I was glad to get home. This morning it was still 33, so off to school. At least it is Friday and we are having Christmas dinner here at school today if you can believe that! Next Friday is our last day, then we come back on Jan 3. I wish they would have pushed it back one more week. We could get out right before Christmas and gone back way after New Year's, but they didn't ask me! :snowball: Sean had a headache when he got home last night. Turns out, the teacher who was in charge of the medicine was on the other bus! Brilliant aren't they! Thankfully a darvocet and a good night sleep took care of it!:carrot:

:hohoho: These are just too cute! :ginger:

OK, after turkey dinner, I feel like I could just lay down on the floor in my office and go to sleep!:faint:I had to get up and walk down the hall a little. It could also be due to the fact that instead of my normal protein breakfast, I had a handful of snack mix!:o :nono: I forgot about Sean having a checkup with the neurologist this morning until I got the reminder message last night about 7pm. Then I forgot to take in his headache diary...you know one of those mornings!:?:

Munch: :snow4: I just finished snowblowing. I love snowblowing. My husband always gets to do it, but I beat him to it today. :coolsnow: We had about six inches or more and when it gets close to 30 degrees, its just too heavy to shovel. Oh, and after your post to Cindy, I went right out and filled my water bottle!! ;)

Thin: :wave: 35 is a heat wave around here this time of year. Put a minus in front of that come January/February and that'll be the norm here for a while. It sure doesn't take much for things to get hazardous on untreated roads, though.

Cindy: :snowfight Snowballs for you, too! I love these smilies. Despite your overheating yourself, I still give you an "A" for effort and enthusiasm with the wieght training. You're weight is going to just drop right off you !! Be aware, though...whenever I start to lift weight, I have a slight increase in weight before things start happening for me...I attribute it to muscle being heavier than fat...but I never claim to be an expert. :dunno:

Monet: I'm making scarves galore, too, for the girls in my family. The furry kind, only I crochet them. I love them...they take about an hour or so if I sit and don't get distracted.

Talitha: You're such a wonderful, hands-on kind of mom!! I've never made the homemade playdoh. The kind you buy always seemed to be cheap enough and comes in such cool colors. I never had to worry about the kids eating it...they didn't seem to want to...so I never bothered. And, what I would do to get my kids to eat chili!! :^:

Gator: :wave:

Well, as I said to Munch, I've been snowblowing the driveway. I started with the shovel, but it gets so darn heavy and thick, especially at the end of the driveway. And I just love it when you just finish up and everything's looking good and along comes the friggen snowplow and boxes it all in again. I stood there last year one time with my hand on the shovel and my other hand on my hip, giving the snowplow driver the evil eye as he did just that...I had JUST finished...and he came back and cleared the end of the driveway for me. :lol3:

Anyhow...we had a lot of snow overnight...every single school in my county was on a two hour delay except Thousand Islands and Alexandria schools...We're TI. I never understood 2 hour delays until I took Shelley to the bus stop this morning and here are two dozen or so teenagers standing in the snow, the snowplows coming through and I was so mad they didn't get that time to clear out the roads before sending the kids out there. :mad:

Ok....off to find some lunch!!

Kris

Hello everyone:

I just wanted to jump on quickly and say hello.

I am so busy I can't see straight, and I am having major computer issues. I am getting a new dell delivered next week, and they are FINALLY offering DSL where I live, so by Christmastime, I will be on a fast computer, and able to post more often. Right now, it takes so much time to log on and get from place to place, it's not really worth the time when I have so much other stuff to do.

It sounds like everyone is doing well, and I really hope to be a more active member on the board after the holidays.

One note to Talitha: Britt and I are both wheat sensitive, and we both do well on spelt. Amaranth & Buckwheat are supposed to be totally wheat free.

Have a great weekend, everyone!!!
Nat

Morning... well almost afternoon.
I spent my morning running to Walmart and did some grocery shopping then had to run to another grocery to get meat then to Lowes to get Dhs bday gift. Then home to put it all away and clean house a bit. Dh is at a meeting today at work so I think Im gonna take a nap until he gets home.
We are going to dinner with my mom tonight then maybe taking in a movie. Hope everyone is having a good weekend and not freezing too much :)

FLY BY HERE!!!!

On my way to do some shopping...I'll check in later!!!


BOB

Evening! I have been MIA today. Its been a busy one. I got up and threw on some clothes and went right to the big Asian market to get meat and mushrooms for tomorrow's dinner. We will celebrate James' birthday with his requested Beef Wellingtons... They had beef tenderloin on sale there for $4.99 a pound! Cheaper than hamburger at Publix! I also got some Sole filets, which are in the oven now for dinner. :) After I got home from the market, I sat down and had a cup of espresso, and then finished a dishcloth I started yesterday for my aunt. I called my daughter and found out we are having Christmas HERE, so after some discussion, Tom and I headed out to the country to a tree farm, and cut a tree and brought it home. We picked a nice one, but had NO idea just how nice it was until we got home and found it is 11 1/2 feet tall and too tall for the corner we usually put it in! :lol: Its a monster! So we trimmed the top a bit, and he cut off about a foot from the bottom and now its 10 feet. We will bring it in and set it up and decorate it tomorrow afternoon. I honestly thought I was going to get away with not having a tree. :( Now I am going to have to decorate and clean it all up come January! What a scrooge I am!

I have dinner in the oven, and need to go check it. I hope everyone is doing well, and hanging in there... I should write more about the two parties I went to yesterday, but it will have to wait until another time! :wave:

MORNING EVERY BUDDY!!! Here's a few FUNNIES to get your day started!!
A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses. She started her class by saying, "Everyone who thinks they're stupid, stand up!"

After a few seconds, Little Davie stood up.

The teacher said, "Do you think you're stupid, Little Davie?"

"No, ma'am, but I hate to see you standing there all by
yourself!"

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

Little Davie watched, fascinated, as his mother smoothed cold
cream on her face. "Why do you do that, mommy?" he asked.

"To make myself beautiful," said his mother, who then began
removing the cream with a tissue.

"What's the matter?" asked Little Davie. "Giving up?"

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

A Sunday School teacher of preschoolers was concerned that his
students might be a little confused about Jesus Christ because of the
Christmas season emphasis on His birth. He wanted to make sure they
understood that the birth of Jesus occurred a long time ago, that He grew
up, etc. So he asked his class, "Where is Jesus today?"

Steven raised his hand and said, "He's in heaven."

Mary was called on and answered, "He's in my heart."

Little Davie, waving his hand furiously, blurted out, "I know! I
know! He's in our bathroom!"

The teacher was completely at a loss for a few very long seconds.
Finally, he gathered his wits and asked Little Davie how he knew this.

Little Davie said, "Well... every morning, my father gets up,
bangs on the bathroom door, and yells, "Jesus Christ, are you still in
there?!"

*****

The math teacher saw that little Davie wasn't paying attention in
class. She called on him and said, "Davie! What are 2 and 4 and 28 and 44?"

Little Davie quickly replied, "NBC, CBS, HBO and the Cartoon
Network!"

***************
Little Davie's kindergarten class was on a field trip to their
local police station where they saw pictures tacked to a bulletin board of
the 10 most wanted criminals. One of the youngsters pointed to a picture and
asked if it really was the photo of a wanted person.

"Yes," said the policeman. "The detectives want very badly to
capture him."

Little Davie asked, "Why didn't you keep him when you took his
picture?"

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

Little Davie attended a horse auction with his father. He watched
as his father moved from horse to horse, running his hands up and down the
horse's legs, rump, and chest. After a few minutes, Davie asked, "Dad, why
are you doing that?"

His father replied, "Because when I'm buying horses, I have to
make sure that they are healthy and in good shape before I buy."

Davie, looking worried, said, "Dad, I think the UPS guy wants to
buy Mom..."



HAVE A GOOD ONE!!!


BOB