I didn't see a chat thread in a while.
things have been hectic around my household but I've been hanging in there. I let the MIL keep the kiddos for the night on Saturday and I don't think she'll be doing it again any time soon. I think she got her fill for a while (that and I don't think I could take it).

and I signed up to start selling pampered chef so i've been trying to get all that organized to get that business to take off. I'd like to get all our bills paid off and then at least 6 months worth in savings for bills and quit my day job.

the good news is I got a bunch of exercise equipment given to me over the weekend (a stepper that has a fan on it, a row machine, a couple of situp contraptions, some type of boxing ropes stretch things) so I'm pumped. I even used the stepper this morning for 15 minutes since I won't be able to get in my swim.

I love pampered chef stuff!! have way too much of it. The have a great low cal/low fat cook book. I love the veggie pizza!! awesome.

I feel so pregnant today... my feel are so swollen..atleast I don't feel hungry. I have this constent feeling of feeling very full.

ok, i'm obviuosly 7 weeks behind because i didn't know dana was pregnangt!!! congratulations, way late. i'm sorry, i'm never posting anymore.

i'm doing ok as far as diet and exercise. i've lost consistantly for the last few weeks.

i'm gearing up for knee surgery. the date is aug 5th. i want it to get here; my knee hurts a lot!!!

thats about all with me. promise i'll check in again sometime!

Hey Holly..you need newer picture of you on your web site!! you are down to 171 - you rock!

Good Luck with the knee.

Whoa!! I thought we were going to stay on plan this weekend Sandi?!? I'm saving up all my "flex points" this week so I can have Chicago-style pizza and have alloted 6 points per day for rye and diet coke (NOT for breakfast though)

Heck, we'll exercise our brains out with all that walking, and while I won't be visiting the pool (I'm allergic to chlorine - that's my story and I'm sticking to it) I'm looking forward to using the gym facilities. As for the shopping, I'd better try to exercise some restraint.

So it's Jiffy's birthday...has she disclosed which one? I simply stopped counting after 39 (celebrated the 8th anniversary of my 39th birthday in February). At restaurants, don't they usually bring a piece of cake to the table when it's someone's birthday? I guess we'll have to ask them to put a candle in a dish of sugar-free jello instead.

Hope everyone's week is going well so far, I'm going crazy trying to sort things out at work before I leave for two weeks vacation (Chicago, then Ohio, then Kentucky, then glorious Northern Ontario) - it'll certainly be filled with lots of culinary temptations, but I'm not going to stress myself out over it. I'll try to make wise choices and just enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Well things are going ok here. I've been kinda of depressed. These last couple weeks. I have had some quality issues at work that are now all resolved. I am on probation for the year. This just kind of sucks. I've worked there for 4 years no problem and great reviews. Then two mistakes in the same week and I end up on probation where the next step is 3 days off or termination.

Kimberleys hand is messed up. She has to ware a brace. So I've been having to do all the housework and yard stuff on top of my Job. I know a lot of people do this anyway but when we both worked we always shared it and then when she quit working she took care of it. So it just takes a little getting used to again.

The good news is I have been able to lose weight during all of this. I have stayed on plan and I am going to continue to stay on plan. I am not going to eat out of depresion.

Thanks for listing to my ranting. It's nice to have people to talk to.

Hey Howie...

So sorry to hear about work. You know it happens to the best of us though. Look at it this way, at least you have the opportunity to really prove that you are a valuable employee over this next year! I am sure that if you weren't already a valuable employee they would have had no hesitation in terminating you! I am so so so proud of you for sticking to plan through this! That is a wonderful accomplishment that many of us wouldn't be able make during a tough situation. Kudos to you!

As for keeping up with the yard and housework.. Think how many MORE calories you are burning doing all that extra work! Thats pretty cool.

Keep up the great work.. I love seeing your progress!!

Thanks Gretchen, I've been trying to think of the housework that way. I've got it clean now and it's not to bad if I keep on top of it. The yard work I kind of enjoy. I get to be outside. Thanks for the encouragement.

Chicago Ladies - Make sure you take lots of pictures and have the time of your lives.. You've worked really hard to get here and totally deserve this upcoming weekend!

Holly - I hope the knee surgery goes well for you.. I'm sure it will make all the difference in the world and very soon, you'll be feeling much better and pain free.

Pampered Chef??? I've never heard of it... maybe its not something we have here in Canada.. but now I'm curious.. gonna take a look online and see what I can find..

As for me, not too much new - struggling to get back on track and its coming along okay.. I'm just happy I haven't fully given up.. I'm going to start back at the gym this week... and try and get that back to a regular routine in my daily schedule.. Really busy with work, but this semester for school just ended and I finished one of my courses with a 92%.. YAY!

Anyways, off to bed for me.... Nighty nite!

Well, it's 30 days before the wedding as of today and this bride-to-be is harried and sleep deprived, albeit increasingly excited. I'm so glad I don't have another early appointment tomorrow. I can sleep a little later than the past few days. I've had so much going on. This morning, Steve and I have an appointment with a dance instructor. We signed up for a couple of private lessons for help with our first dance. We just found the music we're going to use yesterday. "Around the World" from the old movie "Around the World in Eighty Days." We love the tune, but it's also appropriate because we met on the World Wide Web. We know the basic waltz step and can even rotate with it, but we need a few more flashy steps -- maybe a twirl or a dip or something? I'm excited to go today. I LOVE the recording we picked out.
I'm now at the point where I have to call some guests who haven't responded to my invite, and I'm still trying to find someone to sing at my wedding. I've gone through so many sopranos. I have a call in to one more. I had one but she suddenly had to drop out. Sigh. Back to the phone. I finally found a hair appointment too. That was a fiasco because I had family involved. I'd like my hair done that day.
There's still quite a few things that need to be done, but the list is dwindling. I think it's possible to get it all done, but we just have to keep plugging away at it. In all this, I still haven't finished my veil, but I'll keep trying.

Dana - congrats!!!!! I've been away from the board too and didn't see that you are expecting until today!!! I'm so excited for you!!!

Jiffy - Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!


Holly - Good luck with the surgery!!!

Howie - you're a good man, helping with all that house and yard work. And, tolose85 has a good poing -- extra burned calories!

Jeanne

Jeanne, less than a month now--wow!! That's too bad about the singer. I hope it's not going to be too stressful finding someone now. I'm sure there are a lot of starving sopranos out there looking for their chance to shine. That's smart thinking to take a few dance lessons so you'll look wonderful together on the dance floor.

So I was rather bummed today while out shopping for a dress for my daughter's wedding, which has been pushed up to July17 and is now in Virginia instead of Seattle. The good news is that now she's organizing it rather than me! I really don't like shopping much, but it's easier now that I'm in regular sizes. I got a sz. 12 shirt at Penney's the other day, and usually I wear a regular size 14. I was looking for dresses at Nordstrom's, thinking that because they are "better" dresses, I might wear a smaller size. Hah! I ended up with a size 16W, although it had to be slightly altered. I've worked so hard to erase that "W" and to have it come back to haunt me when I'm at the lowest weight I've been at for a long, long time was pretty disappointing. Why can I wear a sz. 14 everywhere else and then have to go into the plus sizes at Nordstrom's? I was so bummed that I went to a few other stores and picked up a sz. 14 pair of shorts and a sz. L tank top just to prove that I really can fit into regular sizes.

Sheila - July 17th??? Of this year??? I was shopping the other day myself, Sheila. It's amazing how much variation there can be in clothing. In some styles of clothing I need an extra small. In others a large. It depends on the item, cut and style. It's crazy. I've even noticed some variation between two identical items of the same cut, size and style. It's just nuts.

I found my singer!!! Hooray!!! I also have my hair appointment. I'm going to have someone do my makeup that day too. I'm working on finding someone for that. Our dance lesson was so much fun. Our teacher is fabulous. In 60 minutes, she taught us to lead and follow and to do some new dance steps. We dance better than we ever have before -- and we have two more lessons!

I still have a list of things to do oh so long, but I can start to see now that it CAN get done because we have so many major things done at this point.

Jeanne

Jeanne.. it will all come together. No matter what you will be with your hubby to be and when it comes down to it - that is all that matters. On the day of your wedding - don't stress - let others do that for you. Just party girl!!! and take lots of pictures!!!!

Dana