Good job me, I got all of my jams and jellies topped with festive cloth rounds and ribbons yesterday and distributed today (went through my list and checked it twice!). Really it's tying ribbon around this stupid cloth round that makes it a project instead of something fast. Ok, not stupid, obviously, it's a nice festive decoration or I wouldn't do it. But every year after tying 30 or so tops on I call them stupid, and then by next year I forget how annoying they are to tie. Christmas cards in the mail. 2 more to write that I just got addresses for, everyone else may be getting e-cards if I don't get street addresses for them.
BF and I leave Thursday morning to go to his family's in central FL. Mom's side the 24th, dad's the 25th, then on the 26th I'll continue alone another 2 hours south to my sis's in-laws family. My DS & her DH will be there, obviously, and my parents are also arriving the 26th-30th. Not sure where BF & I will be for New Years, but I'll probably stay w/ his family if he's still there... that part isn't quite figured out yet, though. I'm a little bummed about driving alone. I hate having to try and read my own directions while I drive, and also I wanted to drive w/ BF so I could study my lines while he drove.
I think presents are sort of mostly on track...
Bright Angel, happy happy birthday! I hope you have a great day!
Meg, your tree sounds like my family's tree (which isn't being put up this year since everyone's going to FL, boo hoo). We also have a mishmash of ornaments from over the years, and a story behind each and every one. We recall each story as we put the ornament up together, and it's an especially nice way to recall relatives who gave us ornaments and are no longer with us. I also think that trees w/ a bunch of colored balls and bows look generic - not trying to insult anyone, that's just how I am b/c of having so many family ornaments.
Dagmar, way to stay under your red line! Enjoy decorating your tree!
Rabbit, sorry about the difficult situation. Enjoy the peace and quiet - let ex deal w/ the teenagers.
Allison, way to have some great workouts!
Sheila, I like pumpkin in my oatmeal with some cinnamon and it's definitely filling. I would imagine a small amount would be masked my the stronger tomato taste of spaghetti sauce, but I've never tried it.
Jessica, you will not die if you wait until you get home to eat! On the other hand, don't wait until you walk through the door and then inhale everything - maybe a few raw nuts would help ease the jawas?
Hi Michelle, Shannon, Ward, everyone else. I'm off to rehearsal - my last one until after the new year. Have a great afternoon/evening!
Happy Birthday, Bright Angel! We're the same age - my b'day is 1/7.
Meg - our tree is also a hodgepodge of ornaments that mean something to us, including 3 antique glass ones we inherited from MIL. Last year we bought LED lights, but not enough, so we have 1 strand of "regular" lights, but I have vowed to get another strand or two of LED so that we'll be all one kind next year. My cats drink the water from the stand, and have knocked off a few ornaments (no breakable ones down low!) and have now progressed to sleeping on the presents.
Our temps are up to 20F so the snow is packing down some. But we have quite a bit of wind today, so it doesn't feel too warm.
Rabbit - I think your XH will be sufficiently punished with 2 17 year old boys without their usual distractions.... {insert an evil laugh}
I've resisted putting pumpkin in a lot of stuff, though I know it's filling. There's a blog call Kath Eats Real Food that has a ton of variations for oatmeal (and a lot of other good stuff as well).
We went to our last event for the year yesterday - a brunch composed of appetizers. Oh my, there were some good ones. I took a "lightened" version of a crab artichoke hot dip. Used a second can of crab and instead of mayo, I used Alouette Light Garlic & Herb cheese (8 servings @ 50 cals each). THen I had Stacey's Bare Naked Pita Chips (which are baked) to dip with. There was none left to bring home. But I ate a little more that I needed to - not awful, though. I didn't eat til I was stuffed.... And I went swimming last night.
La La La La!
Why oh why did my girls have to bake a million cookies today?!?!?!?
They are everywhere! My dd tried to tell me which ones had pecans, which ones had M&M's, etc. and I told her not to tell me. I'm trying to ignore them completely. I do not have room to be weak this week!!
When I talked to my MIL last night, she told me about the full Thanksgiving/Christmas meal she is planning next week, along with the traditional Lasagna meal we have every Christmas Eve, plus we are planning on an Italian restaurant for our "Christmas Eve" before we leave for Houston. So I definitely have no wiggle room!!
I go back to get my stitches removed Wed. but I'm back to working out. Not really doctor approved but I was going stir crazy walking on the treadmill. Hopefully I will be okay. The leg feels and looks fine to me. I'm doing a week free trial at a new gym (coincides with my gym being closed for renovations) and I'm going to try a cardio Tai Box class tonight. Hopefully it doesn't kill me!
I thought of you yesterday Meg when the girls and I had manis/pedis. The spa GAVE ME a gift certificate for a free pedi as a thankyou for being a great customer (I refer people to them all the time!). I was tickled pink!!
We leave Thursday for Houston. My inlaws are putting in a pool/spa and promised it would be ready by Christmas. The weather has delayed progress so it isn't likely to be ready (we thought we would at least use the spa). I was planning on confessing my tattoo as I figured it would be hard to hide in a swimsuit. We'll see now. DD also has one she hasn't shown and I think hers will be harder to hide (behind her ear) so we may both come clean! Can't believe I'm 42 and still worried about what my parents (or in-laws) think!!
Pat, Megan, Meg, Sheila - thanks for the support.
The situation with XH & NL playing happy family evolved further: her son is also there ( teenage boy 3) and DD also arranged to be picked up, and took 2 friends. So 3 teenage boys + 3 teenage girls. On the one side I am not happy with the "perfect family" charade. OTOH, I think XH and NL did not plan for DD and DS to double the party with their friends, and I like it that someone else can do the cooking, cleaning, shopping and driving.
Thanks guys! I nearly made it without eating but ended up sneaking a Hershey's almond nugget.
Fell into the cookie trap again last night. Three cookies. Not too much damage done calorie-wise.
Today I'm leaving for LA and my holi-DAYS begin. My pledge is that I will work out regularly while I'm there, and as soon as I am back in town I will no longer eat holiday goodies. Mostly at the moment I'm just hoping that my flight gets out of Indy okay -- the weather here isn't too bad, there's only about an inch of snow on the ground since last night and it's not coming down anymore. Flight is at 7pm.
Rabbit - Remember, while the 'perfect family' image may fool some people, the ones that matter will eventually see through it. Especially if XH & NL crack with a house full of teenagers this week. Enjoy some quiet time for you.
Jessica - Hope the weather cooperates for you.
Michele - I don't think we ever outgrow being worried about what our parents think. We flash back to when we were 12 and it is all over.
Megan - good job getting all of your stuff done over the weekend!
Sheila -
Allison - we just used the 'my k cup' this year with some Starbucks Christmas blend and it worked really well. I never drink more than a cup or two at a time either, so I always felt like an entire pot was wasted on me, too. They have the two size version on sale at Target right now for $99.99 plus a $10 gift card, the three size version (the select I think they call it now?) is $139. I have the Elite I think it is? They changed the names a couple of years ago - mine does four brew sizes. I really only use the middle two.
We had DSS the last three days and I am worn out... DH went in to work even though he is technically on vacation - he missed a lot of time the last two weeks with his back, MIL in the hospital & DSS being a juvenile delinquent so feels the need to make some of that up. I'm thinking of doing a little strength training while the laundry washes, then maybe going to the park while it isn't raining. Or, might chuck it all and sit down with my coffee and a book.
Holiday plans: Office Christmas eve party (catered by me) of chicken enchiladas with all the fixings. Christmas eve party at a friend's house--honey baked ham, scalloped potatoes & salad. I'm bringing my cream cheese and sausage dip with chips. Christmas brunch (making mini quiches baked in a proscuitto cup) and Christmas dinner of a BBQ'd turkey with all the trimmings.
It will be hard to keep the calories down these two days. And then for New Year's we'll have my MIL's lasagna as we celebrate DS, DH and FIL's birthdays (I'm making cupcakes).
Michele~my BIL, who is 70, still hides things from his 90 year old parents! They're southern Baptist (retired minister) and they don't condone drinking, yet my BIL does drink. He never drinks in front of them. It's really hard now because they've moved in with my sister and BIL.
Jessica~have a safe flight and a fun time. The weather here isn't the greatest, but at least we don't have snow!!
Oh, I ordered my Keurig from Amazon, $74 plus $12 for the cup adapter. I think Target's price was $89 and $14. Free shipping and it'll be here tomorrow!
Until then, I'll just deal with the wind and rain by using my space heater here at work. I guess heating from the outside is as good as heating from the inside with a good cup of coffee! There was a beautiful double rainbow this morning!
I think we all run a "marathon" at holiday time. I officially finished last night. Sat down for an hour with the decorated tree gently twinkling, carols playing, and a diet gingerale in hand.
I hope everyone else gets to do that at least once (maybe with something a bit stronger than gingerale ) during Christmas or whatever else you celebrate!
Today is my marathon! I started with a 3.25 mile walk/jog this morning. I'm now at work for a few hours, then I'll go home around 2 PM to start making the enchiladas. I'm making the recipe x6! It will take a lot of mixing and rolling! I'm hoping the kids will lend a hand, but who knows. I've already decided that I'm not cooking dinner tonight.
Michele, how is your tooth, BTW? You didn't mention is so hopefully it's quit throbbing. Nothing like food porn on the telephone with your MIL. Stay strong! Hopefully you enjoyed your class.
Rabbit, six teenagers!! Oh, my, someone is being punished--hee, hee! Enjoy your me-time. Do something utterly decadent (not involving food, of course).
Pat, you'll have to take a photo of the cats sleeping on the presents. At least they don't try to climb the tree.
Jessica, have fun and enjoy the (hopefully) good weather. Sending you some
Shannon, hopefully you're getting some much needed rest--or exercise--or both. Whatever makes you feel best.
Allison, that's pretty amusing about your 70 year old BIL. Sounds like a good deal on your new coffeemaker. My coffeemaker is 6'3" tall, and he makes a great cup of coffee for me every day, but he doesn't drink the stuff himself.
Thanks for the hugs, Silverbirch.
Dagmar, sitting quietly watching the lights sounds wonderful.
We went to a solstice service at our church on Monday night. I'd never been. One of the things everyone did was light a candle and release stuff from the old year and embrace the new year. One woman said "the old year was pretty good so I hope I can have another one next year," which cracked everyone up. An English teacher said, "more poetry, less prose."
So my DH and I are on for seeing The Blind Side tomorrow afternoon, and we're still talking about what movie to see on Christmas. Anyone catch Up in the Air yet? I love Meryl Streep, too, so hopefully her new one opening Christmas day is good.
Meant to mention that I hate USPS. For the second year, they've misrouted my DSD's package (I've been tracking it online--she's in L.A.). She said today that she's considering misrouting her package as a holiday tradition.
Green or red chile? Chicken or beef? Inquiring minds want to know!
I'll make a pan for tomorrow night. I'll roast chicken and bulk out the enchiladas with zucchini, mushrooms and peppers (ya, not authentic, so sue me!), lots of green chile, and I'll layer the corn tortillas rather than roll them.
Christmas cards in the mail. 2 more to write that I just got addresses for, everyone else may be getting e-cards if I don't get street addresses for them. 
I hope you have a great day!
Remember, while the 'perfect family' image may fool some people, the ones that matter will eventually see through it. Especially if XH & NL crack with a house full of teenagers this week. Enjoy some quiet time for you.
I'm done!
