Hi everyone,

In gear for Easter? I laid out a lavender sheet on the dining room table and covered it with an ecru lace table cloth. It looks pretty. My sis gave my mom tulips. They're on the table too. I got some easter bunny/eggs window decorations. They're like colorforms--stick to glass and peel off easily. The bunnies are coming out of the boxes. And the easter tree. I know what we're doing. Every holiday is one without my dad. We're trying to make it festive. The house is too quiet. The yard is blooming with flowers. Daylilies, roses, plumerias, hibiscus. It was a very hot week. But, rain is in the air...we have a storm coming. Weatherman says it'll stall over our island.

Michelle, Duckie, and Tina...WEIGH TO GO !. Congratulations on your weight loss. Is there a good website where I could learn the point system for weight watchers? Our bookstore's diet book section has no selection. Sold out for the most part.

Thin, I purchased more Playtex bras 4395. Kmart had buy one get second one half off. Smaller size, of course. They're shrinking.

Kat, PMS, the menace to women. It has been a long haul and I thought with the exercise it wouldn't come. After a delay, it's here. I feel relieved. I know what I'm doing wrong this time around. I'm sneaking chocolate. The last major weight loss I had. I cut out all sweets. I was even tempered, no mood swings. I felt physical symptoms, but other than that no PMS.

Once again will try tomorrow. It's a day of fasting for me anyhow. No goodies of any kind.

Goodnight,
Malia

Malia I love your attachment. Your table and window sound very pretty.

I don't know why but it cracks me up that you have daylilies since I have them here in Minnesota also. Must be a hearty flower.

Michelle Congrats on the weight loss and being so diligent in counting your points.

So, Kat dare I ask how Sponge Bob is doing? I too agree with you and Michelle on the "cheat" mind set. I have pretty much gotten over that but I have issues with volumn. I always want a lot. It doesn't matter how hungry (or not) I feel I still want to eat as much as possible. Trying to fill something up.

So, is this it....we can't EVER have our beloved attachments? I know you can do ONE but it's hardly worth looking for them for just ONE!!! (like M&M's)

TGIF
I have a headache today, sinus I guess. DH is feeling some better.
I have to shop today. Not doing anything special for Easter though.
I ate a salad twice yesterday I have to try to eat more vegs.
Have fun today fellow chickies. see all later

Hey ladies...

I am SO proud of myself! I just got back from Curves, BUT, before that I dusted off my little gym card and headed there right after work this AM. I had a "Fabulous Forties" cd in my player, did the treadmill for 30 minutes, then some upper body weights. I have been going to Curves for less than two weeks, but I had to increase the weight on the machines by at least 10 lbs to feel like I was doing anything! I feel a definite tightening in certain areas...the sides of my waist, my shoulders and my butt! I have lost two lbs since starting. so this is definitely a GOOD THING!

OK, I don't want to rejoice too much...any sense of accomplishment I ever have, I manage to undermine and obliterate pretty quickly! I'll just keep on exercising...I'm really enjoying it. That's not to say that I don't count every minute til it's over! Oh, I'm countin' baby!

Lucky...I hear you on the VOLUME issue! I want a lot! I do try to bulk up with the veggies or however I can...One of my favorite breakfasts is BIG with very low points...ready?
3 egg white omelet (1) with low fat cheese(1) and mushrooms, tomatoes, broccoli (0), 2 slices Arnold 100% Stoneground Whole wheat toast (2) with I Can't Believe it's Not Butter Spray (0)...an orange (1) and black coffee (0) for only 5 points! I know what you mean about trying to fill something up...and yet I don't know what...here's where that therapy I keep promising myself will come in handy! PS. Sponge Bob says hi!

Malia, your decorations sound lovely! I always love to hear you talk about your flowers...can't wait for planting time around here! My daffodils and hyacinths are in full bloom! I have day lilies too...much later though, not til July.

Thin, I never did try that squash, but I intend to next week, when I get around to cooking again. Tonight may be a good night to use my Red Lobster gift cert...not sure about Sat. yet but Sunday is at Mom's, so no cooking for me this weekend! Well, I MAY make a carrot cake to bring, but then again, I should bring a fruit or veggie platter...

Once again, I am falling asleep at the computer, so I have to say Hi and hugs to everyone else, and goodbye for now...will check in later, have a great day all

Good afternoon everyone!!

Kat...I have the new WW cookbook and it has a carrot cake recipe right in there. If you want or anyone else I can post it here. I am going to make it tomorrow. Its 5 points per serving however I am sure the serving is small. You can bank 10 points and have 2 servings if ya want!

Our Easter dinner plans have changed. We are going to John's cousin's house. Some of her kids and grandkids will be there too. John hasn't seen alot of them for some time so he is really looking forward to it. He is so family oriented. He comes from a family of 6 kids who in total have 12 kids amongst them..and those kids have 5 kids amongst them too! Thats just the immediate family..then there is the step family but I haven't figured out who belongs to who there! I was planning on having our ham, steamed asparagus and baked sweet potatoes. But I will behave. I am totally motivated right now!! I want to keep losing every week to keep my motivation on track! That is my biggest motivator...the scale going down. I know we aren't suppose to focus on the numbers on the scale but I can't help it.
Gee did I just babble on there or what?

Lucky me too on the volume! At dinner I fill most of my plate with veggies. They are so filling themselves!

Malia....lavender is my favorite color! YOu sound like you are all ready for Easter! I probably have an extra set of the WW material here if you want me to mail it to you. Let me check to see what I have. I am almost positive I have another 1st week booklet and thats the main diet.

Mary I hope you are feeling better...those sinus headaches are the worst!! I have allergies and get them alot in the spring.

Thin...John just informed me that my foreman grill is buried up in the loft upstairs...when we finish cleaning the rest of the stuff up there I may be surprised to find it!

Susie, Jen, Nancy, Andria come out and post! We need you all here!! 2Cute I know you are visiting your mom and dad but hurry back!

I am going to take my little baby boy outside now since it is so beautiful out there. He loves to be outside! Oh...one other thing I just have to say. My neighbor across the street is in her late 50's and she is a foster mom for an adoption agency. She has been doing it for over 30 years now. She has this 8 month old little girl right now and the little boy just went to his new home this afternoon. Well my neighbors right next door are adopting the little girl. I think that is so wonderful. THey have been tyring invitro and everything for at least 2 years now that I have lived here. But now are adopting! I am so excited for them!

Ok just call me babble! LOL Have a great day everyone!! Michelle

Michelle,

That would be be great, (posting the recipe) it sounds like just what I need! Thank you!!

It is GORGEOUS here today! Low 60s, warm and Spring-y! I was going to do bills but I think yard work may be the order of the day! Poop scooping, () branch pick up, general clean up, then I can walk around and assess what I'd like to put in this year...usually petunias, geraniums, marigolds...time for something new...hmmm...what the **** am I doing in here? I need to get outside!

later dudes...

Here I am!

I have just had the WORST week ever. Not with the food. I did OK there. In fact, my week was so bad that for 2 of those days I didn't eat hardly anything. I could tell you all about everything that has gone wrong this week, but i don't think any of you have that much time!

Part of my bad week has resulted in me being sick. I am trying to get over it and am doing a little better today. My food has been good, but I only exercised twice in the last seven days. It was also that TOM, and that always has me slacking off the exercise. I still managed to be down 2 pounds when I weighed in today. I didn't think I would show a loss, cuz once again I got on the scale before weigh in and was NOT to thrilled with the number. Guess it must have been water retention from my TOM cuz I was down 2 today. The lesson here is for me to stop getting on the scale between weigh ins!!!

I'll try to keep up with the posts as much as I can, but I have another hectic couple of weeks coming up. I really thought I would have so much extra time after my DH left, but I am just as busy as ever!!
Anyhoo, I'll talk at you all later,
Jen

Hi everyone,

I'm home today. I'll be leaving for church soon. Today is an on plan day. I'm fasting so it makes it much easier. I'll do my aerobics tomorrow. My TOM is here full force. I decided to give my bod a break.

Michelle, thank you, but I found a website with the info. Once the WW point calculator was online. I went to each website and they had to stop offering it. WW sent them letters from their legal department. I found a website with the breakdown for all foods, but I'm not going to note it here because WW probably monitors 3fc. I loved hearing about your neighbor and their good fortune.

Kat, a day in the yard. I enjoy that even the pooper scooping bit. I'm concentrating on the house today. Argh. Too many stuff, too little space. It's downpouring off and on. I'm off to Mikey's obedience school tonight. Train the owner.

Have a nice evening,
Malia

Sorry I am so late with this but here goes.




Weight Watchers Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
5 points per serving/makes 24 servings


This decadent layer cake will satisfy all your sweet needs. We've dramatically reduced the amount of oil tradiotionaly called forinthis recipe and added applesauce and raisins, both of which help make the cake moist. The traditional cream cheese frosting also is kept low in calories by using nonfat cream cheese.

3 lg eggs 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1 cup unsweetened applesauce 1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup canola oil 2 T grated orange zest
1 T vanilla extract 3 1/2 cups flour
1 T pumpkin pie spice 2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda 1/2 t salt
3 med carrots shredded (2 cups) 1 cup golden raisins
8 oz nonfat cream cheese 3 oz Neufchatel cheese
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 375. Spray two 9-inch cake pans with nonstick spray and lightly dust with flour.

2. With an electric mixer at high speed, beat the eggs, yogurt, applesauce, brown sugar, oil, 1 T of the orange zest and the vanilla until blended. In medium bowl, combine the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt. add to the egg mixture and mix on low speed just until blended, 2-3 minutes. Stir in the carrots and raisins. Scrape the batter into the pans. Bake until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Cool in the pans on a rack 10 minutes; remove from the pans and cool completely on the rack.

3. To prepare the frosting, with an electric mixer at high speed, beat the nonfat cream cheese, Neufchatel cheese, confectioners sugar, and the remaining 1 T of orange zest until blended.

4. To assemble; place one cake layer on a plate. Spread with about 1/2 cup of the frosting and place the second layer on top. Frost the top and sides with the remaining frosting.

Per serving: 233 calories, 6 g. total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 30 mg cholesterol, 225 mg sodium, 39 g total carbohydrate, 1 g dietary fiber, 5 g protein, 77 mg calcium.

*Note: This yummy carrot cake easily transforms into a delectable zucchini cake by substituting 2 cups of shredded zucchini for the carrots.

Enjoy!

Michelle

Hello everyone....
I am home... and GLAD to be. LOL
My parents are amazing.... doing pretty darn good ... considering how bad they are. LOL
I HATE nursing homes more than ever. They should be forced to hire more help. I worked in child care for years and you must have one adult for 8 two year olds. These elderly are more dependent than two year olds. My dad needs an assisted living home instead of a nursing home... but they won't take him with a feeding tube. Ugh... it is frustrating. Home care is too expensive and thaat is saying alot if you have ever priced nursing homes.

My trip over all was equally GOOD as well as the bad.
But it ended bad... so it made for a lot of tears driving home.
I was soooo HAPPY to see my husband again. And that is saying a lot too.

My food was EXCELLENT.
Cookie jar always full.... they eat ice cream every night. Plus... my mother pressures me sooo much about my weight. I have sooo many built up frustrations with her and my weight.
This visit... as I was getting out of the car to go buy her some groceries.. she tells me..." You better get one of those electric wheelchairs so you can get around the store". I WAS SOOOO MAD !!!!

I never stand up to her out of respect... but I could not help myself. I just looked at her and said "I DON"T NEED A WHEEL CHAIR TO GET AROUND !!... and I can't believe you would say something so RUDE to me!!!"
Then I slammed the door shut and went waddling into the store.. LOL.... knowing she was watching my fat butt the whole way.
When I returned she was so sicky sweet I thought the flys would showup. LOL. but of course... she never apologized.
And please dont tell me she might be trying to be nice... my mother HATES fat people. She hated her mom for being fat... and although she loves me... she HATES my fat.

Darn... this was suppose to be a happy post and I keep venting.
Thanks for listening once again. LOL
Well... it is getting late. And since I keep straying from my happy mode... LOL.... I am putting this "ON PROGRAM" woman to bed.
Oh , one more thing. I did get brave and weigh myself.
I managed to maintain a 25lb weight loss. I have to re-lose 7 lbs... but I feel GOOD with that.

Thin... I want to move to Michigan !!! I think I would love your summer season. LOL. I could really be happy somewhere with mainly spring and fall... my two favorite seasons. Have you got an extra bed. LOL
My second choice is to move in with Malia....
Aloha...

Good sat. Morning fellow Chickies
I weighed this morning and I'm down 2 lbs. I guess the more salad I eat I lose.

My neighbor came and broke my garden up yesterday. Now I have to but seeds.
DH is well now back to his normal self
He called me from work yesterday at lunch and asked if I wanted a lunch date with a good looking man. I said yes but don't tell my husband or your wife. Isn't he sweet?

Well I better go may have to work today.

Happy Easter!

It's four in the morning, I woke up to a mega downpour outside and inside (TOM ). The flowers will probably drop, but it will be fresh for Easter Sunday.

2cute, I know it's tough but after a goodnight's sleep you'll put what your mom said behind you. I have the same relationship with my sister, and before with my dad and his mom (they're gone now). It's shocking to realize how much they hate fat people. Oh they'll say they care for our health, but it's more than that. I never talked back with my dad and grandma, but I will not take it with my sister. She's not in the best of health for being thin. She tells me being fat is worse than smoking and drinking. Says who? My dad died of lung cancer! It's in our genes. I'll see her today. I should skip and go to the movies.

Mary, your hubby is so cute. Making a secret rendevous with you. Congratulations on the weight loss.

Michelle, looks like a good recipe. I'll make them in cupcake form minus the creamcheese frosting and freeze them.

We'll be going to the swap meet (sort of like a farmer's market) for flowers for my dad in about an hour from now. Hope the rain stops...

Happy Easter,
Malia

Hey everyone...

Yay, it's Saturday! I slept til10:30 this morning...good, cuz I don't usually get such a long block of sleep...bad, cuz I have tons to do, including getting over to exercise before they close @ noon!

Thank you, Michelle, for the recipe!! I'll definitely be making that later today...looks yummy! I love carrot cake!

2cute...this is the BEST place to vent...don't ever stop. My mother was never fat either, and has a healthy scorn for those who are...must come from her father who NEVER missed a chance to tell me how fat I was growing up...how can adults be so mean to children? The scary thing is, I heard my brother saying the same kind of thing to his 4 year old daughter!!! "Keep eating like that and you'll be as big as a house!" I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard him say that...talk about a blast from the past. I told him don't you dare tell her that unless you really want her to BE as big as a house! Geez...not only is obesity hereditary, so is being thoughtless and stupid!

Mary, how sweet, what a nice hubby! (Good answer on your part!) Congrats on the 2# off!

Malia, If you don't mind poop scooping, you would have LOVED the day I had yesterday!! If I had $1 for every pile, I'd be wealthy woman! I didn't really mind though, it's just great being outside...the only downside is my neighbor...lovely man, retired, has ALL the time in the world to chat...but he doesn't even "chat" he just talks about anything and everything, it's like he hasn't spoken in years and has to get it all out in 10 minutes! Yesterday, he went from I bet you don't remember all the 10 commandments and the recitation of them (I'm not kidding!) to the merits of "Preen" for the garden to the heater he was buying for upstairs, not the mention the merits of 220 vs 110 (electrical jargon in GREAT detail) to when he was an airplane mechanic in the Navy in WWII (bless him) and how he won't get on an airplane today! Whew! Sometimes his wife comes out too and it's like being bombarded from both sides! They talk right over each other, completely different topics...Sometimes my daughter will "save" me and say there's a phone call...I don't want to seem mean...but ENOUGH ALREADY! We are seriously considering a tall fence!

Lucky...how are you? You had mentioned "I hope this doesn't mean journalling does work"...I'm very bad at journalling too...I WANT to, but I think I'm afraid someone will see what I wrote and....what? Or maybe I'm afraid of what I will write...or maybe, I'm afraid that it just might help! I'm glad you won't quit, I love reading your posts!

Thin, Michigan summer sounds lovely! My anniversary is July 30...we could go away for the summer to celebrate up there! We are going to Maine this summer for a week...the end of August...someone told us to pack warm stuff, summer is definitely over by then...

Jen...hope you are feeling better...I realized this week how much dh really does do around here...when he was gone for 4 days...I KNOW you have your hands full! Congrats on the loss!

Tina...where the heck are you?

Hi to Andria, Duckie, Susie, Nancy...did I miss anyone?

I hope everyone has a happy and joyous Easter...I will face the chocolate and I will win!! Of course the fact that I am NOT PMSing this week may have something to do with that!

I made Taco Soup this morning. I have enough for all week plus you could all come over to eat AND we could all binge and I would still have some left over.

WOW, Kat! Your DH actually HELPS around the house??? When DH leaves here, I feel like I'm on holiday! I love him, but...