Lori, definitely get outside. I've spent a portion of the day outside - it's the first really beautiful day of spring that I have off from work. I thought of you as I was weed whacking. I was making progress but I ran out of the wire. So now DH is going to pick some up after work. On the lottery side, I think most winners are from small towns so I'd say that doubles our chances. I mean, how many people have heard of Klamath Falls, OR. Don't you think the next winner should be from here (me)? Hawaii we would invade.

Kerry, I'm so proud of you for likeing what you've accomplished with the weight loss. I do get why the tan makes you feel thinner. Tans "look" healthy and white skin looks like fat. I still get lots of sun at my old mid-forties because of the pool. I do admit that I like the tan better than bletchy white. But I do slather lots of sunscreen on. Good luck on the getting prego. Having children is a great joy.

Paige, your trip sounds fun. I think most homes in Arizona have pools just so they can tolerate the 100+ temps. I aways wanted a pool growing up (had a lake but that's not the same) and when DH and I built our house that I plan to live in till I die, we each had our dream options. His was to have an extra garage - so we built him a 3 stall garage in addition to our regular 2 car garage and I wanted the pool. It was worth every penny. Both add equity to the house, but we don't really care about that. We just love our little dream features.

Well, I suppose I could mosey back outside and enjoy a little more of the weather.
TTYL.
Marie

Just a quick post.....Today has been a good one so far. I went to the gym and talked to a personal trainer and signed up for a 6 week program, starting next Tuesday. I'm so excited. I'm definitely feeling super-motivated again and I'm definitely going to be bathing suit ready in 4 weeks for my vacation. I've been staying within my points also. Today I bought the most delicious treats at Wal Mart. They are skinny cow strawberry shortcake ice cream sandwiches.....they are sooooo good and only 2 points each. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

O.K. I've got a little more time to respond to posts now. I woke up at 4:00am and couldn't go back to sleep. I've been cleaning house and did my 3 miles WATP video. I've already gotten ready for church and have a few minutes to kill. I'm actually wearing a skirt today. This is the first time I've worn a skirt in months. Our church is really "laid back" so I usually wear pants on Sunday mornings. Sometimes I even wear jeans. I feel a little wierd, but sometimes you just have to step out of your comfort zone.

Judy-Good luck with the interview!

Lori-A new car....that's pretty exciting! What are you talking about getting? I recently bought a Mazda 3, and I absolutely love it. It's not too bad on gas either. A lot of my friends have SUV's. I couldn't imagine having to put gas in one of those things, with the gas prices here lately.

Julie-Thank you for the encouragement. Hope the weather is better for the remainder of your weekend.

Kerry-I'm so glad you're feeling better. Congrats on the 2 pound loss! I've been tanning too. It also makes me feel better about myself.... Anything to help with the slimming effect.

Marie-Hope your allergies are better. That pool is going to be soooo nice this summer. I wish we all lived closer together. We'd all be piling in your swimming pool. You ladies are my support too, and I'm so thankful for each one of you. It helps so much to come here for support and encouragement.

Paige-WOW-4 pounds!!!!!!!! WOOOOHOOOO! That shows that WW is a program that works. I'm enjoying it. I can't wait to see my scale moving down again. I was going to avoid the scale for a couple of weeks, but I bet that trainer will want to weigh me Tuesday when I meet with her. I know that for sure she is going to measure me and check my body fat. My body fat percentage was 22% in February. I hope it's less than that since I've been working out at least 5 days/week since then. I think normal for a woman is 18-23%. I know that a college athlete's % is 20%. I would love to get down to that.

Have a great day!

Good Morning Chickies !!!!

It's that dreaded Sunday again, and back to the old bump and grind tomorrow!

Marie, I forgot to mention I broke our weed eater last weekend, so now I need to go and get a new one! I had to use my mom's to finish last weekend, hers was really nice, but I picked it out of course. I think I'm going to get one like hers, it has a double string and really rips through those weeds much faster than my old one! I whince everytime you mention cleaning your pool. Mine is all rolled up in the lower yard, and I haven't moved to fast about putting it back up. It's really big and I remember thinking of it as an extra room to clean like the house. But when we did have it up is when I was still really sick, maybe I'ld feel differently about it now. But I never swam in the sun, I loved night swimming! I used to get a beautiful dark tan and my hair would get golden blond. Now I'm pasty white and dye my hair, the heck with it!

Kim, I don't want to buy a car just yet, I want to bandaid the ones we have for now. DH is a mechanic on the side and has every capability to fix what we have. We really need to pay down some more bills first. But we were discussing either a Chevy Cobolt, or a Hyundi Sonta. A personal trainer sounds really cool!!! Is it very expensive? My BMI was at 31.9 and now it's at 26.6 I'm not sure how that equals with the percentage though. But I know it should be between 18.5 and 24.9. I'm slowly getting there! At 130 lbs. it would be 24.6 which would be normal, but it dosen't account for muscle so I guess you kind of have to judge it a little too. By the way I use the MSN calculator. http://health.msn.com/dietnutrition/bmicalculator.armx

Paige, I skipped a graduation party this weekend too! One of my friends graduated from nursing school so her snotty brother had a party at his house. I wasn't comfortable taking the kids to his place and she has to re-take English 2. So I figure when she finishes that we'll have a big pig roast at her mom's were my kids are a little more welcome. Way to go on the loss! I'd faint if the scales moved that much. I jumped the gun last week, I weighed 142 all week so I only had a 1 lb loss not 2. But this week is starting to look like 141 so I'll just leave my ticker alone.

Kerry, way to go on the 2 lb loss, you may very well be pleased right now, but as long as you keep at it you might totaly amaze yourslef! Sorry about the old allergies, they just so suck! Mine are all fall related, and it's my favorite time of the year too! Oh nobody hit the lottery it's up to $180 million this Wed. Maybe this will be it!!!! Did you get to see Star Wars? Was it any good? And don't worry DH will grow up in due time, they are all really late bloomers. I was starting to wonder if my DH and I would ever be on the same page, well not completely but it is way better than 10 years ago! And to think I have a whole house full of them, well the toilet seat down is a small step in the right direction! Oh this is a running joke at my house, none of my seats will stay up on their own, so I'm always in luck, nobody can accidently leave one up!

Ok, I've go to run to the store and get some pre-week baking and cooking done! Chat with you all later!!!!!

Oh and Julie, I tapped CSI if you want to borrow it!

I have really been sleeping in this weekend! I had trouble sleeping all week so I bought some Unisom for the weekend and d@mn that stuff works! Hopefully I'll be able to sleep on my own for more than a couple hours next week.

Paige! Way to go on the major loss!!! You are doing great girl! And so sorry about the sun glasses but that was a great run you had with them. I generally lose sun glasses twice a summer so I never get anything nice although I love to look at them and try them on I go for the dollar store ones all the time. We're getting a Big Lots here and I am waiting until it opens to shop for my sunglasses there

Lori - thanks for the encouragement! You are doing great yourself!! I think breaking out of the 140s is really difficult, but I'm determined that it will happen, just maybe not as quickly as I might have liked. I used the MSN calculator and my BMI is 22.4 so I guess that is good. My height really helps me when it comes to my overall weight. My grandmother is a seamstress and had high hopes that I would reach 5'10" and become a model. Now I'm a freakin librarian hiding in the stacks At least I can reach the top shelf!!

Kim - Isn't it nice to dress up and feel good about yourself. My place of work is like a fashion show and I've really gotten into it. I like looking nice and dressing the part. It's fun! And a personal trainer scares the crap out of me. I see the women at the gym working with them and I think "better you than me" I'd tell them NO too much. They make the ladies do too many reps of the weights if you ask me. But I hope it works for you and she is willing to work with you at a good pace and not work you to death. I'd be making an enemy for life

Marie - Having a pool is a MUST for my dream house. Heck I'd put one in now if I could! I grew up with a pool and LOVE to swim. Actually everyone in my family does except my dad, thus we all learned to take care of the pool since he wouldn't. My older bro just put his pool in and I like to go enjoy his when we can get down there.

Well no big plans for today. I have to get some ant killer because they have made their annual invasion of my kitchen - Yuck! I need to clean a little, do some more laundry and pick up some things at the store. I wish tomorrow wouldn't come! But it will . . .

Catch ya later chicks!

Hey everyone!!! Well I went to a going away party for a friend at work and we went to a dive called Jak's Bar and Grille. It was so much fun!!! On Friday and Saturday nights they play live zydico(spelling)??? music. Let me tell you there were some people getting pretty freaky on that dance floor. I had a ceaser chicken salad and stupid me forgot to get the dressing on the side!!! So I have no idea how many points that cost me. Then I had two Corona's to drink...no idea how many points they are either!!!! So I guessed at 10pts for the beer and 25 for the salad. I had only had 10 points up until then so I figured I used about 15 bonus points last night. We had a great time!

I got up early this morning and started cleaning the house. The upstairs is done and everything down stairs except for our bedroom and bath...and a ton of laundry still to do. I just sent DH to Lowe's to get AC filters...and of course are they the cheap ones.....oh no, our unit the builder put in takes a special kid and they are $25 each and of course we need two. Ugh.... It was 100degrees here yesterday and the upstairs wasn't very cool so I hope the new filters help.

I still need to cook for the week also. I just don't know what I'm in the mood for yet...

Well enjoy what is left of your weekend ladies!!!

Lori-thanks for the calculator. My BMI is 27.2. I will be glad when I weigh 136. Then I'll have a healthy BMI. Body fat % is a much better indicator than BMI because it's done with calipers, and BMI doesn't take muscle tone into account. I think sometimes we get too hung up on the scale. I was looking at a Christmas picture and I look about 20 pounds heavier, but I'm only 6 pounds less than I was in the picture. Working out helps me more than anything.

Kerry-Is Benadryl the ingredient in Unisom? I've been taking Benadryl for years to help me sleep.

Paige-It sounds like you had a great time. Aren't those flex points great?

I'm going to try to take a nap before work tonight. TTYL.

Paige, I need some advice on freezing ahead. Or anyone else who has tried some of it. I made my favorite quick pasta dish and it makes way too much for just me and you can only eat it so many nights in a row. It has pasta noodles, red sauce, brocolli, and kelbasi in it. Can I freeze it? Oh and my fridge keeps freezing all my fresh produce too, what's up with that??? I noticed somebody cranked the level up and I put it down to about 1/2, that helped, but still some problems. I wonder should I turn it down more? Can I freeze plain yougart, sour cream, cream cheese, and what about regular cheese? I'm trying to get a feel for what I can jam in the freezer to save space and what I can't. Are there any rules of thumb that would help me sort this all out????

Thank you!!!!!

Well I managed to sort through my mess of clothes. I was so happy I could cry when I started trying things on. I can't believe all the things that fit that didn't a couple months ago. Some things are even loose!

Paige - It sounds like you had a wonderful time out this weekend! Isn't that just the best? Who cares where the points were spent because those times don't happen often.

Lori - I can't help you on the freezing hun. I'm curious as to the answers to some of your questions though. Please share your input ladies.

Kim - Yes, the Unisom I take is a form of antihistamine. It is a bit different from Benadryl but in the same drug family. It really helps me sleep without waking up every stinking hour!

I didn't get much house cleaning done. You ladies put me to shame. I did do some laundry though and grocery shop for the week. Other than that I laid in the sun and read my book, which I am enjoying so much!!

Can't decide between reading or TV for this evening. I think there are some season finales on so I'll probably try to catch those. I need to get back into workout mode next week. One of my friends from work agreed to go to the gym near work and do a class or two a week with me. We'll see how that goes.

See you tomorrow ladies! Ugh. . . Monday

Here's a pretty good refrence to freezing and storing foods.
http://www.baking911.com/pantry/stor...htm#thickeners

Good Morning Chickies !!!

It's Monday again, but I was happily mistaken on weigh in this morning, I'm at 140.5, that's a 1/2 lb loss. Not bad when I thought I was going to stay the same. This weekend is going to be hard, I can usually deal with one day of bad eating, but this will be almost a whole weekend of it! The weather looks like it is going to be nothing but crappy this week . I'm starting to wonder if it's going to be another cold, rainy summer!

I baked like a mad person yesterday, Marie would have been in her glory. Banana bread, bluberry muffins, bluberry pancakes, blackberry crumb cake. I also made chicken salad, but I think I wound up over salting it, the fat free mayo left something to be desired ! My freezer is jam packed! I'm going to look into one of those little chest freezers, I'm just not sure where to put it!

Kerry, what are you reading? I usually only read in the winter, but the way this weather is going, I may take up some spring reading this year! And why the heck is it when I get home from the store I can always start a new list, no wonder I spend too much money! Ok, I'm going to get ready for work, chat with you all later!!!

I'm exhausted. Work is overwhelming at the moment and will remain so for a bit until I get through with a large project. Working with the extreme geriatric is making me insane. I have to meet fellow librarians for an outreach tomorrow at 7:15 am. Gotta get up early early!

Took Bella to the vet tonight. She's a bit overweight Which I was ready to hear so she's going on a stricter diet (poor girl). She has an ear infection and we have to go back about it in 10 days. Other than that she's doing well.

It's quiet around here so I bet everyone is busy too. I'll check in tomorrow afternoon when I'm back at the library. Until then. . .

Hey everyone! Busy, Busy day!!!!

Lori- I think about anything can be frozen. I date everything when I freeze it so in case it gets shoved to the back of the freezer I know how long it has been there. I have never frozen cheese but I think it can be done. We also have a freezer chest that we bought for about $150-$200 and we keep it in the garage. It really comes in handy especially now that it is getting hot we keep extra ice...popsicles for the kids.....and stuff like that in it. It also comes in handy when we make a Costco run!!!

Gotta run DD has dance practice in about 30 min. Take care ladies!!

Today's been really good. I've stayed within my points and went to an advanced step class. It was a great workout. Tomorrow morning I meet with the personal trainer after my spin class. I've heard she is really tough. Wish me luck!

Lori-Man, you were definitely busy doing some cooking. The food sounds really yummy! Was all of that food for this week?

Kerry-Hope Bella's ear infection clears up really soon!

Good Morning Chickies!!

Man Tue. seem rough! It's raining again, and I never get enough sleep during the week.

Kim, no that's not all just for one week! I love to cook and bake, but who ever has the time, I froze almost all of it. As I want it, I'll either get it out and put it in my bucket to defrost, or I'll microwave it! I guess coz the house is still read up I was feeling like susy-home-maker !! So I just baked away! I tell you one thing, my leggs felt like I walked a marathon from standing in the kitchen all day. Good luck with the trainer, keep us posted it sounds really interesting! (and hard)

Kerry, hope poor Bella's ears are doing better! Poor thing a diet, she looks pretty big just from her picture! Looks like you and Bella are going to be working together. My mom's yorkie is way to chubby, the groomer told mom it looked like she lost weight, mom said she hasn't been feeding her as much. I really had to laugh, I told mom that with my brother on a diet she didn't stand a chance, a few pounds were bound to go. He's doing Atkins, for some reason it works wonders for guys! I'd curl up and die with no pasta and potatoes!

Looks like everyone is busy again this week, anyone have any wonderful plans for the holiday weekend? I'm going to try and get my closet cleaned out, it is a huge mess! How's that for excitement! Ok, I'm going to get ready for work, chat with you all later!