Afternoon Ladies Just popping in before I get to cleaning the kitchen. Baby Logan is taking a nap and the other two are having an after school snack - I can smell fruit roll up and I am in a completely different room.

Weekend was actually ok and we had a good time at my in-laws house. On Sunday my dh and I were able to go grocery shopping together and actually talk about relationship stuff. It must have done good 'cause he has sent me 2 online messages of love and called me at lunch to say he loves me .

I have been waffling on 2 more lbs down for the last few days. I am not going to add them to my ticker until I see them gone for a few days straight. I have been craving chocolate and bread this past week so I am going to work on increasing my veggies this week. I want to go get some more spaghetti squash and fresh green beans if I can. I was shocked that I was able to get DH to eat the squash but he loved it. He has been doing well on his eating and is down about 8 lbs or so. he gained weight during my last pregnancy and I didn't so he's losing his "baby" fat.

You all are making me wanna read some of the paperbacks I've squirreled away. My mom and friend Harriet pass on their crime and detective books on to me and I can read a few a week if I have time. with the kids I am lucky to read one a week or one in two weeks lately . One day they will be independant and I will get to go back to reading more.

Ugh, I would love to have someone else come in to help clean this house up. Kitchen here I come...

Hugs !!!!!

I have to say, my housekeeper is my one indulgence I couldn't live without!!! Even if you only do it every few months, it's sooo nice to let someone else do it!

Melissa, I used to have a housekeeper and it drove me crazy. I am one of those compulsive perfectionist types and nobody has ever been able to clean my house to meet my standards. It is MY fault, not theirs. They did a fine job - but they weren't scrubbing corners with a toothbrush. LOL! Of course, it is all a moot point now anyway. As I am sure you know, nothing stays clean for long with three little ones afoot!

LMAO, when we got home it took all of 7 minutes to have stuff scattered every where.

I am having trouble getting out of a maintainence frame of mind. I want to buckle down and knock off these last 20 pounds. But, I just can't seem to make myself do it. Part of the problem is that I am still trying to find a routine now that school is back in session. My eating is fine but I need to drop by calories by 100-200 to give myself a jump start but I haven't been able to do that consistently. I'll get there - it just might take a week or two before I can talk myself into it. I guess as long as I am not gaining weight I don't have to worry.

We had an open house at my son's school last night. It was nice meeting all of the other parents. I am the assistant room mom this year and it was good to get a feel for who we'd be able to count on throughout the year. I love being involved but every year I wonder what I've gotten myself into!

Hope everyone's week has gotten started off right! Have a great Tuesday!

Mornin', ladies. I've done pretty good the last two days. Last night I had to have an extra coke (sometimes the craving just won't go away), but I managed to say "no thank you" to my dad when he asked if I wanted a candybar. I walked yesterday, and for once I got up early and walked before work. I might try that tomorrow, too. I don't have to be in at my clinicals 'til 9:00, so if I get up at 7:00, I'll have plenty of time.

That's great Ruby, the strength that comes with being able to say "no thanks" is amazing. I wish I could get up early to workout, but every time I try my hand lands on "snooze" instead of "off"...lol

Hi again, I'm baby sitting today with my granddaughter and she is finally taking a nap. My hat's off to you ladies with more than one child! She runs me ragged. Melissa: I envy you, I want a housekeeper too! But I know I would clean the house before she got here. Can't have any body comming in and seeing a dirty house!

Tricia: Those last few pounds are the worst! And you get so few calories to play with every one counts! It always takes me awhile to get in the right frame of mind too. After that I'm ok.

Rubyblushu: Do you mind giving us your name? If you do that's ok. You were speaking of clinicals? What kind? Good for you for saying "no". It's not easy but it's worth it.

My mother says all the time "I don't know how you do it". I was an only child and well behaved if I do say so myself. I just look at her and say "what choice do I have?" lol

Did I tell y'all I'm hitting Coyote Ugly this weekend? Probably not but now I have to rant, I got a suite at a hotel in Buckhead and now all my "friends" have backed out. Looks like I'll be dancin' on the bar alone. Grrrrrrr

So, I'm sitting in class, bored out of my mind. And craving a candybar. REALLY BAD. I think it's a good thing I'm here. I'd have to go to the next building over to find any vending machines. Hopefully, by the time I get home, a couple of Hershey's kisses will do the trick.

A girl here keeps semi sweet choc chips in her desk, it's not as "bad" for you and curb the craving. ~*~ go away cravings vibes ~*~

Hey girls, how are you all?


Freda: I have ONE grandson and he's 5 and you would think I had 11. Like you, when he is here he poops me out just playing games. When he was younger, whew, I really couldn't keep up with him. Now it is just a bazillion rounds of Kerplunk until I want to throw up. I don't get to see him much (even though they only live across town, another story I can't go into) so I went out and bought a whole bunch of board games like checkers, Kerplunk etc and keep them in one of those little cubes you sit on. When he comes over he heads right for it. At home, he plays a huge amount of video games so this is nice for him. I need to get him some modeling clay and stuff like that as the stuff I had has gotten icky. He is supposed to work with it anyway for his gross motor skills.

Ruby: My suggestion is get you some of the Slimfast bars that are like candy. They are lower in fat and sugar and taste great. Also, if you can't give up the soft drink have you at least tried C2? I don't think it is bad at all and I don't like Diet drinks unless I am eating something. I am a Pepsi person, but I think the C2 tastes more like Coke than the Pepsi Edge tastes like regular Pepsi. At least with these two things you would be cutting some of the sugar out.

Gosh it is hot here and no end in sight. It reached 100 in places here yesterday. I am ready for some fall weather. I took my little yorkie for a walk at 7:30 yesterday morning and had to carry him part way home because he got overheated. So, no more of that until it cools off some.

I guess I better get hoppin. Today is Mop the floors day (since it is so very hot here right now, I break up my weekly cleaning into days instead of doing it all at once and getting overheated.)

Have a good day!

Faye

Oooh Faye good idea, and the Peanut Butter South Beach Cereal Bars.....OMG YUMMY!

Faye, my kids are about the same age as your grandson and one of our favorite projects is making our own play dough. I don't know if it would be as good as modeling clay for developing his motor skills since it isn't as stiff, though. But, if you want to try it here is the recipe: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 t. cream of tartar, 1 cup water, 1 t. food color, 2 t. oil - Mix it up over medium heat and stir continually until a gooey ball forms. Remove from heat and let cool.

My kids get excited watching it turn to play dough - it is pretty cool. Also, I don't add food coloring until it has cooled. That way I can divide the dough up and make 4 colors instead of just one. It keeps forver in a ziplock bag.

Okay, so remember the other day I ran my first mile without stopping? Today I made it for 2.25! And I still think I could have gone further but I had to get back home to get the kids ready for school. Here's the thing, though. Today I had gone about 3/4 of a mile and I really wanted to quit. I wasn't tired really I just didn't want to do it. But, since I'd made a whole mile before I couldn't give up because I knew deep down that I could make. So, now, I'll never be able to stop short of 2 miles because I can't tell myself, "I can't" now that I know I most certainly can. I know I should be glad that I don't have an "out" for myself anymore. Honestly, though, I'm not quite sure that I am.

It is probably a good thing that I've come to a point that I am pushing myself while exercising. I can't seem to consistently lower my calories so I know the only way I'm going to shed these last 20 pounds is to burn them off. I need to go shopping - it seems to be my best incentive these days.

Melissa, I am sorry to hear that your friends backed out on you. Tonight was the night DH and I were supposed to go see SonVolt and our babysitter fell through. I'm trying to talk him into going alone. I think he was more excited about us going out together than he was about seeing the band so I don't think he is going to. I am still going to try and find another sitter but it isn't likely with such late notice on a school night (we wouldn't be leaving home until 9 so we wouldn't be back before 12:30-1).

Mornin' all . Just popping in before chasing Beren down for a diaper change. I am pretty sure that smell is not coming from the cat next to me .

Those South Beach bars are good but I used to eat The Zone bars and they were really really good. The chocolate based ones were the best. I used to eat them when I worked and it really helped me get through the day and through cravings for chocolate.

I ended up doing my exercise video inside yesterday since it was just too hot to go out with the boys. I felt good yesterday but this morning my left knee fels kinda crappy. I have a touch of arthritis in it so I think i need to watch what I do. Hopefully today we can just go take a nice walk outside and i'll do my upper body stuff today to rest the knee a bit.

today is the first day of Fall right? I can't wait for it to cool down a bit. Evenings in the upper 70's or lower would be a dream.

off to change diaper... be back later!!