good Morning GG's,

It is a lovely morning. It's still cool out and I took my first cup of coffee out to the patio and enjoyed all the newly bloomed flowers. I know that In a few hours the weather will be too hot to stick my nose out the door. My DGD will be here shortly, so I will be busy the rest of the day, but have lots of fun too.

Bobbi, I'm another person that loves rhubarb, and I'll copy the recipes to use later. I haven't made jam for awhile and I think maybe it's time again.

Donna, I too think that our kids are missing out on a lot of basic learning. What will they do if they lose their calculator? Or have to (OMG) write a letter and don't have their computer.

Rie, Welcome home. I know you need a vacation from your vacation, but you have 2 little ones that will have many happy memories for many years.

Z, I think 2 lb is awsome! I know we never lose quickly enough but every pound gone is gone! And it will show in so many ways.

Mary, I hope you had fun at your picnic. How did you manage? Find enough L/C food to eat?

Gayle, Take the time to take that coffee out on the patio and enjoy. You can do the work later.

Teati, Welcome! You will find lots of support here. We're a family and invite you to join. And I'm a nurse too. congrats on getting your masters. Do you want to get into management?

Karen3, Good to hear that you are out and about. It must be so great to have the control that driving gives you.

Marie, Got the packing done yet? I'm glad you got your doggies all set so you can go and not have a worry. Just concentrate on having fun!

Koala, OK, you're the boss today! Tell that eating demon to get away, stay away, you're in charge!!!

Nancy, did you manage to get out for awhile yesterday? You sounded restless. Did you get the storm?

Make it a good one,,,

Freda

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR GAYLE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAVE THE BEST ONE EVER!

Happy Birthday Gayle Happy Birthday to you

Morning everyone. Happy Birthday Gayle hope you have an awsome day. Jess im so happy for you that you got the job wtg we had an awsome BQ theres nothing like family,kids and dogs having a good time. have agreat day rosey

I had my fingers crossed Donna!!!

Hi Everyone,

I found a new scrapbooking buddy. One of the women from my book discussion group went with me today. I REALLY hope she likes it and will continue to join me. I have never been a person who likes to do things by myself. About the only things I like to do alone are shopping and exercising. NOT movies, restaurants, scrapbooking.

I am going to visit my friend in South Jersey tomorrow. I just spoke with her and she is having a good day. Hopefully, she will be OK tomorrow.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to those who have contributed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to support my September half-marathon. I am writing each of your names on my marathon shirt – they are already in my heart. You are VERY GOOD FRIENDS!

Zoe, your NSV reminded me of something that happened decades ago. I was with friends in a mall and they each got cookies to eat while we window shopped. I had just started a diet and I got an apple. I felt so proud of myself. Whenever I see those cookies in a mall, I think of that day and how I felt eating that apple. It was a REALLY good feeling and is still remembered after so many years. Hold onto your proud feelings – you earned them!

Bobbi,

I am going to try one of your rhubarb recipes. Thank you for sharing.

Teati,

WELCOME! So glad you came to join us.

Hi Koala,

Funny – my mother always loved rhubarb & I wouldn’t eat it. Actually, I haven’t tasted it in well over 50 years. My tastes have changed so much, I probably would like it now.

Hi Freda,

Did you ever see one of those emails that lists the kinds of things elementary school children were taught in the last century? Today’s students would fail miserably. If I find one I will post it.

Hi Rie,

Those DVD’s are tough. Despite all my exercising, I have trouble keeping up with my Walking Away the Pounds DVD’s.

The half marathon is on September 18th. I have until August 15th to raise the funds.

Hi Donna,

I see this all the time when I give enough change to avoid getting back pennies. For example, handing the cashier $1.01 for a bill of $.76. Unless the cash register tells them to give me a quarter, they don’t have a clue.

Hi Marie,


My fault! Sorry – I just checked out birthday list (up in the sticky area). No Gayle on 8/1. However, we did miss Karen 3’s birthday on 7/28. So ….

Karen, Happy Belated Birthday Dear Karen,


Donna,

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Happy for you! WONDERFUL!!!! I aM dOiNg ThE HaPpY dAnCe………(I am also uncrossing my fingers – NO LUCK INVOLVED – pure wonderfulness!

Hi Rosey,

Great photos. The love and caring in your family comes through in your pics.

Up in the sticky area is a post for Golden Girls Birthdays. If you have not done so, please post a reply to that message with your birthday. Jane will add yours to our list.

Lynn

For those who have a sweet tooth like me...I also love salty and sweet together! I haven't tried it yet, I'm afraid I might eat them all i one setting!
Found this one Chelle's blog at http://blog.recipeforfitness.com

Chelle's Protein Pretzel-Pudding Bites
Recipe by Chelle Stafford


Pretzel Shells

1 cup Annie's Organic Pretzel Bunnies, pulsed into small pieces/flour (I used a mini food processor, a little $10 deal from WalMart). It will look powdery with little chunks of pretzel.

1 egg white

1 scoop chocolate protein powder (my scoop = 1/3 cup)

enough water to moisten the mix

Preheat oven to 350
Spray mini muffin tin w/ coconut oil
Mix ingredients in a medium bowl until pasty.
Press into muffin tin, into the bottoms of the wells and up the sides forming a "bowl".
Bake 7 minutes.
Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.

Protein Pudding:
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (my scoop = 1/3 cup)

3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk, chocolate *you can sub water for almond milk if you need to. The less liquid you use, the thicker your set pudding will be.

1 tsp natural peanut butter

8 drops liquid Stevia (*optional)
Mix in a blender/magic bullet.
Chill in a small bowl or cup until the pretzel cups are ready.
When pretzel cups are cooled completely, spoon pudding into cups. There will be some left over.
Put filled cups on a plate or in a container and cover (saran wrap or a lid is fine).
Chill until pudding is set.
The photo here shows them 'unset'. Once they've chilled for a few hours, they're a solid, fabulous fudgy pudding. There isn't a second photo showing them "finished" because they disappeared too quick!


Recipe makes 12.
Nutrition Data per Pudding Bite: 52 calories, 5 g protein, 5 g carb, 1 g fat, 118 mg sodium, 0 sugars.



TIPS...
I use this protein pudding all the time! For my training meals 2 & 4, this is the go-to treat. I mix up the protein powder, almond butter (or whatever fat I'm using, if I'm using one), and either water or almond milk then chill it overnight. Jello™ has NOTHING on my pudding, folks! This stuff is the bomb! :-)

Good evening GG's,

Thank everyone for the birthday wishes ~ no matter that they are early (yes Marie ~ it is actually the 3rd) ~ it is very much appreciated.

One day down ~ three to go. It was a pretty good day. Went a little over, but not to badly.

Lynn ~ glad you found a friend to scrap book with ~ that makes it more fun.

Donna ~ congratulations on the job. So excited for you

Marie ~ your trip and BD is almost upon you ~ have a wonderful time.

Rosey ~ glad your family had a fun time ~ loved the pictures

Rie ~ way to go with the exercise and being back on plan.

Freda ~ your morning coffee on the patio and the flowers and cool weather sounds heavenly

Koala-Lou ~ good for you getting back on plan after the weekend.

Zoe ~ sewing is fun. I have been doing it since I was a kid. Made my own things. When the kids were little ~ made stuff for them. Now the grandkids. Girls stuff is more fun than boys stuff ~ but I wanted to make something for Corbin when he was younger, so made him Scooby Doo and Harry Potter pajamas. I made Maddie a cute little dress, but she is funny about stuff ~ she likes them more ruffly that that one was, so she only wore it a couple times. She likes this latest one I made better. The one I worked on this weekend, I think she will really like it ~ it is mother daughter dresses. Sara thought she'd get a kick out of having a dress like Mommy.

Teati ~ Medina is not too far from where I grew up.

NC Nancy ~ what is the count now ~ must not be too many days left now until you can do a happy dance

Bobbi and Mary ~ thank you for sharing the recipes ~ they sound yummy.

Well, I'd better quit fooling around and head to bed shortly. I know I am leaving some of you out ~ not intentional ~ just ran out of time.

Hope you all rest well.

Take care

ETA: This is the dress Maddie didn't like as much