Welcome, Leeh!! So glad you have joined us, jump right in!

Carma the other thread is just a short challenge thread to keep us accountable during this holiday season. You can chat here or there or both -- A very nice picture of your family!!

Welcome Leeh!! This is a very nice group of 40-somethings!

I think I will order this http://www.enricobiscotti.com/index....ti-gift-basket for the exchange. It sounds really yummy. Thanks Heidi for the great idea.

Now I just need to figure out my nearly grown children. They keep saying "just cash" but they do need a few gifts I am thinking some clothing and cash.... Hubby is taken just about taken care off, except I'll get a few more things for his running hobby; he is doing 10k at a time late at night...I will get him a reflective vest and some better gloves and head gear. Practical aren't we, eh?

What are you getting for your family?

Hello My kids are boys almost 22 (20/12/1991) and almost 20 (04/2/1994) and a daughter who is 16. The boys are in university and live at home and my daughter is in high school.

For Christmas I think it is going to be mainly stocking stuffers and cash.

It's so great that you got those biscotti, sum. I love the cranberry pistachio ones that are included in that selection! I hope your recipient loves the gift. They are a great, local, small business - thanks for supporting them!

Chanukah is behind us; our kids are a little younger than yours. My oldest got scuba lessons, my younger got volley ball equipment since he's planning to try out for the team this year. We also got tickets to a Pittsburgh Penguins game for the family, and assorted jerseys to go with them. Then, just little odds & ends...

We are a very practical gift-giving family. My mom sent me the link to jersey pants on Amazon she wants. My dad wants a war movie, he also sent me the link to amazon.

I asked for yellow night vision glasses (they kind that cut glare when night driving), a foam roller and a foot massage ball, and running socks.

I wish we'd all just quit with the gifts since there are no surprises - we ask each other what we want and give exactly that. I'd rather we each bought our own gifts and showed each other what we got for ourselves (surprise!)!

Welcome Leeh! Glad you are joining us!

What a nice family pic Carma!

I forgot that I had done a few Groupons over the past month or so as stocking stuffers. Dinner is paid for a couple of date nights for the boys and their ladies.
Husband is tricky to shop for because he doesn't need anything much. He's a very fit guy so it will probably be exercise clothes. He just got 2 new pairs of shoes. Maybe a golf club or something. I wish I had the "love to exercise gene"

Just got the Harry & David catalog in the mail... yummy stuff in there! I had forgotten all about Moose Munch; I used to love that stuff!

So I have a very slim and attractive friend who has watched me lose 55 pounds and never said a word or paid a compliment. We have gotten together for lunch multiple times with other friends of *hers* and they have been all over me with compliments. They aren't even my friends, they are her friends. Her lack of comment, frankly, has led me to binge after getting together. Anyway... she is a good friend, generally, so I forgive her this oddity.

So, randomly I bumped into her at the supermarket this afternoon. She saw me from afar, and was incredibly complimentary, saying she almost didn't recognize me, it looks like I've lost even more weight than before (we all here know I haven't), etc etc. I don't know if she was trying to make up for lost chances, or if she truly only saw the weight loss in its totality for the first time.

Either way, it was nice. And I didn't binge when I got home

Heidi -- probably she overcame her own inner demons to finally compliment you. Good for her, too bad it took so long, but hey, we're all flawed. Maybe she is really insecure on the inside and was threatened by your weight loss?

It seems odd, but the most insecure people I've known are really gorgeous. And they are also really competitive, they can't seem to help it.

I'm glad your friend finally gave you recognition for all your hard work! And good job on breaking the binge habit!


So, I will give my left leg to the person who tells me where I put my can opener. What can I possibly have done with it?!?

Thinking of you Keli today. I hope all went well with your DH's procedure!

Heidi I totally agree with Mrs. S!

Did you see the Moose Munch Bark at Harry & David catalog? Okay I make peppermint bark to die for, seriously!...maybe I need to add some moose munch bark to the mix?

Moose munch bark sounds awesome!

Hope all went well today, kelijpa