It was a good day...I actually got the family room cleaned plus a few other things. Feeling pretty good except for my arm is aching pretty bad again...so wierd, every time I think it's almost healed it starts hurting again and often in a new area. I'm still coughing but not as badly and I can tell I'm stronger. Called my son's gf today and she says I sound terrible...my voice is still very hoarse...but really I am better.

Dh has his (routine) colonoscopy on Monday and has been on a diet for it and next has to start the icky drink, so since he was going out for that, I went out too and picked up a christmas card and a supplement we needed. I also wrapped a couple gifts so now there are some packages under the tree! With the pretty outside lights and window lights Dh put up and the pre-lit tree and smaller decorations, and now the packages it is really getting to feel like Christmas in the house. I bought the "real-tree" smelly things and hung them on our tree and put one in the door wreath so it is even smells like Christmas now! LOL Funny how we associate..

Got another gift in the mail today that I had ordered online, so have hopes everything will get here on time. I still need to buy something for dh. Can't think of anything! Maybe cologne He stopped wearing the stuff due to my getting headaches to so many but there are some I can stand and I know he likes it. So that's a possibility.

Another thing that came in the mail today was exciting....I often do surveys and sometimes they send me products to test. Today I received seven full-size skin care products to test. Can't tell you the names as some are not even on the market yet and I'm not supposed to share, but most I've never heard of and they look very nice. I love trying new products!

Dh went to the CU this morning and and cashed in our piggy bank. We save all year in a little blue pig (it was one of my first prizes)...it's not very big and when we first retired it yielded about $45 but guess it shows our life has improved financially as it gets a little bigger every year and this year it was $67! Yea! Praise the Lord! We are trying to build an in-house cash EF so this year we put it toward that. Some years we have used it for added cash to take on a trip or whatever.. It's always fun to see what the blue pig has inside

Saraphin - I know how important it is to have a plan for Christmas, but basically I have come down to this...I mostly eat things I don't get often...you know, those things I think of as special or holiday foods, then I take only one or two small spoonfuls of the things I want, going back for small seconds on those things I really, really, really like and I always allow myself at least a small piece of dessert...sometimes not so small. It's Christmas afterall...then I just resign myself to the fact that I may gain a pound or two but if I jump back on track, I should get back to where I was in a few days.
New Years can be the killer though if I'm not careful as two holidays so close together are not good for dieters! Dh and I are usually alone for New Years eve unless we are babysitting, and we used to buy way too many snacks. But the last few years we have kept it to just a couple things and diet soda (which we rarely have at home). At least that helps...and again, I just try to get back on track asap. Nobody said dieting is easy I guess. At least I missed two Christmas parties due to being sick ...I'm not really big on parties anyway and it did help my cause.

Glynne - Wow, Glynne, you are on the ball with gifts wrapped and sent. Wish I had you to wrap mine......I don't mind doing it but I'm not good at it. Just like I say about not being crafty...I'm also all thumbs with gift wrapping. I've only got two wrapped so far but will try to do one a day. Not many people to wrap for as I ordered mostly online and I have the websites ship them out to the recipients. Often cheaper and less time consuming and sometimes they actually gift wrap them. Hate standing in line at the post office. There is usually a line even for the self-service here!

Any reality show people here? Anyone watching Biggest Loser this season? It will be on tonight. I was sad to see that big guy...the singer...forgot his name.. leave but looks like he's doing well. I don't have any other real favorite on that show otherwise but I like them all. Loved the way Survivor turned out...I would have been happy enough with some of the others winning but I was really happy Tyson won as I thought he played a great game. Oh and Amazing Race...my favorite couple didn't win but I was happy with the couple who did...just didn't want the meanies to win. My first choice would have been the black doctors. Really liked them but toward the end it was obvious they wouldn't.

Mary I always love to read your posts, I feel like I kind of know you! I am putzing along trying to watch white flour and high glycemic load foods..ate a biscuit yesterday, well half of a biscuit and gained 2 # on the scales after losing a bit!
We will be here in sunny Florida alone except for our daughter still at home. We have three in their forties, and they at 57 we adopted our 4 th as a 4.5 yr old, now 16, so happy we will to be totally alone. It is funny, Christmas has always had twop parts for me, first the birth of Jesus, the reason and my Lord, and second the enjoyable family times..
We moved here because of hubby's SAD and we also just knew God was leading us to move. Hubby lived in Ohio his whole life but for college, I moved when we married so it was and still is home. We have two boys in Ohio and our girls here, my heart is split....
Well enough, haircut today and since I am feeling better a few errands!

Silly auto spell...that was happy we are not going to be totally alone with our 16 year old still here with us!

Good Morning
I have most of our Christmas menu baked and stored for our family party. (the sweet stuff). Bruce wants meatballs and BQ mini weiners, I'm making a cheese fondue of sorts with chips. Anyone have a favorite fondue recipe? I'm not sure what I'll do with all the sweet stuff I've baked and not eaten after Christmas, too tempting to have at the house and putting it in the freezer doesn't work. I like frozen treats. I'll need to get serious about my menu and eating habits after Christmas.
Mary...We are Survivor and Amazing Race fans. I wanted the Afganimals to win, didn't want the black doctors or the high profile football wives to win. The two doctors will be making plenty of money in the future and the football wives not needing the money. Tyson wasn't my favorite but he probably needs the money. Tina already won a million, why was she there?

Bruce is waiting for me, we go to the YMCA Mon, Wed, & Friday. This is the least fun thing I do. I hate exercising!

Hi goldens. I've been gone a few days. Actually I don't know if I'm coming or going. Everyone is sick. It's horrible. Trying to get meals planned for Christmas Eve and day. We do both. It's very hard doing 2 different menus. We will be having Christmas morning as usual with our boys and their gf. So at least that didn't change. All my gifts are wrapped. Most of them are huge. It takes slit of room. But very pretty. After christmas I will be spending 10 days at the camp. We are having some family members and friends coming to stay with us at the camp for New Year's Eve and day. Trying to plan menus for those 2 days too. I love nyears because I'm at the camp and it's not such a stressful time.
Dh and I have been eating a lot of deer meat. He's gotten 4 so far. We gave a deer to my sister and bil. We have some to a couple friend if ours. The 2 he killed at the hunting club we shared with all the hunters. I think after sharing we came out with 1/2 of a deer. Last Saturday I let a 4 point go because I didn't think he was legal to shoot according to our club rules. Dh said from the description I have I did the right thing letting him walk. Saturday Afternoon another deer came upon me that wasn't legal for me to shoot. Oh well maybe I'll get one during my vacation.

Would love to address each snd everyone of you but I'm out of time.

Hi to all.
Hugs
Cajun

Hi Golden Ones! Today has gone very fast as we got up late. I had a painful night...my neck and arm...PT has always said my arm pain is due to neck damage and I think she is right. I can actually press on the back of my neck and make my arm hurt. Motrin has helped me today though...should have got up and taken it last night I guess. Tonight I lay on the floor for ten min. That seems to help my back. I have my diabetes check tomorrow. Almost cancelled because I don't want to talk about diabetes...too many other things going on.

I went to Target for a few items. I had a coupon for $8 off $80. I bought a gift for my dh which was a little over $50, a supplement (about $17), an iTunes GC for $15 and a few other smaller things. I handed the cashier the coupon, she looked at my items and laughed! She said you have to spend $80 to use the coupon. I said I know and think I have it. Started pointing out to her the price of the items and she says, oh, maybe you do...starts ringing them up and it's over $100! Yeah, I guess I do...couldn't believe she actually laughed at my items! Don't think she was being mean though...just didn't think it was enough. I told her it really doesn't take much these days and she agreed.

So I am MORE than done with my shopping...I mean I bought more gifts than I needed...just in case. Just little things. I often do that and usually end up giving them, but I always think if I don't give them, I'll return them and maybe I will. I just keep seeing things and thinking maybe I should add a little something more....I truly enjoy giving. .plus sometimes because you know something someone wants and get it, then you feel you may have slighted someone else..on and on it goes...any of you like that?

Dh made a chicken and broccoli stir-fry. I'm going to try to eat some esp the broccoli (I NEED VEGGIES!) but because of going out I came home and ate a late lunch and am not very hungry.

Cajun - You are always so busy...you put me to shame..I don't seem to get much done these days and my house shows it.

Bobbi - It's funny how we all have our favorites with reality shows. I thought both Amazing Race and Survivor had a lot of good strong players this season. I really like Tina but I agree, she's already won. I wish they wouldn't keep bringing back players esp the ones that have won! So sorry for her loss of her teenage son after she got back too.

Deelou - Glad you enjoy reading my rambling posts! I've very verbal, aren't I? I used to belong to a Yahoo group and one of the ladies told me she felt she and I were talking over a fence when she read my emails. LOL I think that was a great compliment!

ETA: Omgoodness! I didn't realize that the picture I tried to upload actually did upload. It's not a very good picture but I'm not good at selfies. Just thought I ought to update my picture as my hair is now much longer. I think it looks pretty good until I see a picture and then I'm not so happy with it. Oh well, it is what it is....at least until I decide to go short again. Its actually long enough for a short pony tail now except there are quite a few stragglers.

Hey....I'm up here in NC...I can't remember if it was Karen or Bobbi who made their own protein shakes that tasted like Slim Fast.....Recipes stat guys for my DD

Leaving in am for home

ps coffee flavor best

Hello all! Haven't done much this morning except bill paying/budgeting. I did cancel my doctor's appt and I think I made the right decision. I will reschedule when things have settled down a bit. Very quiet here today...dh went out so I'm alone.

Thanks Jess on your selfies comment but you should see me...I never know how to hold the camera, or my head LOL...and of course they never please me. I have never liked having my picture taken, so it's not just the selfies. I have just a very few pictures of my myself that I like. Strange as I really don't think I am very vain.

Finished a book last night...it was the last one (I think!) of a series by Brenda Novak. She writes romantic suspense and often I enjoy her books. Sometimes there is a little too much romance for me...I usually prefer suspense/mystery. But this one was too gross...the crimes I mean...stayed in my mind too much and not in a good way....don't think I should have read it. I'm changing and my idea of a good book seems to be changing too. So I will not recommend it...seems like most of you like cozy mysteries and this is definitely not one of those.

Want to make some phone calls to loved ones...I've been neglectful of that recently. You all take care....

K3 ~ it was Karen31 ~ but she is out and about right now and not by her recipes.

Karen 31, Nice Mustang. is it replacing the Caddy, or in addition to. Or maybe that was someone else.

Maryea - I like your new picture. Very pretty. How are you doing? Is your colon pain gone?

Hi everyone..busy time of year,been baking,cleaning for the big day and waiting on mr cranky. K3 I make a coffee mocha but don't use protein powder. I imagine you could adapt my recipe by adding a scoop of vanilla or choc protein powder.i use on envelope of sf hot choc,1 T instant coffee,1T vanilla coffeemate sf,1T sf choc coffee mate. add ice and water and blend. ttfn rosey

Karen, I use the slimfast shakes but I add strawberries and Blueberries to the French Vanilla ones and Banana to the chocolate ones. After I reread your post here I think Bobbi is the one who made her own protein shakes. I just really like the slimfast. You might see about giving Bobbi a PM about it.

CarolSue, the mustang replaced my Caddy, but Tim still has his and we still have the Allante' for taking to car shows. I just really wanted the mustang convertible.

Seems like I have been busy all day and didn't get much done that shows! But I did get Tim's Christmas and now need to get it wrapped. Got gift cards for my brothers and sister and Aunt. Easy wrapping!! Still need to get Ginger and Sissy's wrapped too.

Hope you all have a good evening

I would like to hear what diets you'all are using....Karen, do you only due slim fast or are they just 1 or 2 replacements?