Katie, I know next to nothing about chickens, but I was really looking forward to my parents (or grandparents) getting chickens when they got out of town. So I researched which chickens would be good layers, which after I did that, my mom informed me she was going to raise them to butcher, not get eggs! Burst my bubble. HA But anyway, I can try to find the website because it was quite informative about which chickens lay the best in hot and/or cold weather, what colored eggs they have, how big, etc. Since you live in cold weather some of the year, I'm sure whatever chickens you get will be acclimated, but it's best to get the right kind to begin with!
On the diet front, haven't been doing too bad, what with potlucks, cookie exchanges (why I signed up I'll never know - but I'm sharing mine with my folks), etc. I'm still in my work's Biggest Loser and we plan to start a new one the first of the year.
Money to motivate isn't such a bad thing. HA
Have a great weekend.