Rusty, I call it Roast Beast too. As a matter of fact my whole family does. And tuna fish is Tooter fish, in honor of Stephen King. Strange to know other people do this.
I did that slow chewing thing. It really does fill you up faster. I also have done the eat more veggies before I can have a second helping of main dish. The thing with the slow chewing is that I was still eating 15-20 mins. after everyone else. Felt very self-concious. I think I will try to do the seconds of veggies again. That is a great idea.
I don't really think there is many treats that I look forward to on Christmas. I love the good candy my mom gets. I love turtles. Also, pecan pie. That is good. The food we cook is very good. We either have an ethnic meal (Italian, Chinese) or traditional with Roast Beast and yorkshire pudding. Oh, yea. Christmas breakfast my dad buys these great sausages from a farmer (tres $$$$) and cooks them up and makes gravy from some of it. Oh, yea baby, pour it on me. Lol. That would probably get Don's attention.
Chris, is creative with cream cheese in any way related to creative with whip cream?
Have a lovely evening all.
Lora

Ladies, here is something that one of my friends sent me. It's kinda funny and with the hollidays upon us I thought that I would share this with everyone. Here goes.

THOU SHALT NOT SKIM FLAVOR FROM THE HOLIDAYS
By Craig Wilson, USA TODAY

I hate this time of year. Not for its crass commercialism and forced frivolity, but because it's the season when the food police come out with their wagging fingers and annual tips on how to get through the holidays without gaining 10 pounds. You can't pick up a magazine without finding a list of holiday eating do's and don'ts. Eliminate second helpings, high-calorie sauces and cookies made with butter, they say. Fill up on vegetable sticks, they say. Good grief. Is your favorite childhood memory of Christmas a carrot stick? I didn't think so. Isn't mine, either. A carrot
was something you left for Rudolph. I have my own list of tips for holiday eating. I assure you, if you follow them, you'll be fat and happy. So what if you don't make it to New Year's? Your pants won't fit anymore, anyway.

1. About those carrot sticks. Avoid them. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an egg-nogaholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello? Remember college?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. You can't leave them behind. You're not going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day.

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards, mate.

10. And one final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party
or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips.
Start over. But hurry! Cookieless January is just around the corner.

Happy Holidays!

See, there is one sane person. Finally someone with some good advice. And to think girls, we have been doing this all wrong. I wonder what this person looks like?
Does anyone else miss the little journal thingy under names in here? I wonder why they did that. Now you can't get to someone's journal if they aren't on the list. Kind of freaky. I think the whole journal set-up could use work.

Favorite things about Christmas.
1.Christmas Music. It makes me happy.

2.People trying to be nicer, kinder, and more generous. I like that.

3.Christmas treats. Everyone is in their little kitchens putting together their most special candies and cookies and such. How cool is that?

4.I love it when my children are happy with their day. I love being able to make fond memories for them.

Have a great day all!!!
morningglory

Things that I love about Christmas.
1. The smile and glow on a childs face on Christmas morning.
2. The togetherness of family(even though they tend to drive me nuts at times).
3. All the wonderful homemade goodies. It may not be good for us but nonetheless they taste and smell heavenly.
4. Everone seems to be much nicer. Why can't they be like that all year long.

Rusty, wish that I could have got to go to ChiChi's with you, I love their food. Ok almost any food. I think that is my problem. I have finally figured out a few tricks to help me along. My weakness is desert, so if I have something sweet I eat a bit or two and imm. throw it away and if I can't to that I will destroy it by pouring salt or pepper on top of it. That is unless the tool man is around he then takes it and inhales it. I swere that he eats like a horse and is a little bone. He is truly blessed in that deptartment. Miss Chris I am goin to try the chewing thing and see if it helps any. I hope that it does. Now MG I might get somewhere with the creative with creme cheese . At least I know that the toolman loves it.

Here's to a BLESSED DAY to all.
sandy

I know your article was written toungue in cheek, but I think there is some definite truth there. Alot of these foods are 1 time a year, and 2 its usually more temptation that the average carrot stick goer can take. My plan this year is to bite everything. Oh yes I read this article, the calories in a bite are high and your not getting satisfied. I don't think these people have polled my appetite, I can eat long after the belly says done. But if I get a bite or 2 I can either try to figure out a way to incorporate it into my diet so I can eat more or I can decide that it tasted better in my head. If you chew alot at the same time, maybe we can actually burn all those calories at the buffett bar.

MG and Rusty! Roast Beast at my house too. Too many of us raised in Seuss land.

They shut down Chi-Chi's in Omaha. They use to have an awesome drink special a couple of times a week, apparently this attracted young people. Most of them got served and the place got shut down. I liked their food, but now that I know what the authentic stuff tastes like its my preference.

5 Ways you know its Christmas at my house
1. The tree and the lights are a clue
2. I am broke
3. If anyone asks for anything I tell them to take it to Santa
4. I start to hum Christmas tunes all the time
5. THE CLOSET FULL OF PRESENTS

LOVE YOU LADIES! HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Miss Chris

The best things about Xmas.

Most people at work and in the neighbourhood are more relaxed, tolerant and nicer to each other.

The smell of pine needles and baking christmas cookies in the house.


The xmas lights, on the street, on houses and office buildings. I love xmas lights!


Getting cards from people far away that I usually only hear from at Xmas.


and of course...

those chocolate covered cherries!

gigglez: i love your xmas tips.
my xmas favs
1) nuts and bolts
2) food
3) chocolate
but don't forget we have to get rid of the weight after xmas
ho ho fn
glen

The Chi Chi's here has been shut down for years. Chewing gum is another trick. If you have gum in your mouth you are probably unlikely to put food in there. Christmas is such a mixture of stress and happiness.
Lora

MG, I too use the gum it works for a little while. Then the wonderful smell of those tempting goodies start to call. I think that this year i am goin to look and think hard and long about which one will be my guilty pleasure. Dang, I guess that I had better aleart the hospital, my brain will fry, but hey they eat that too, don't they. Wykyd I think that I might email many Christmas cards this year at least I know that they will get there on time. Usually enclose a picture of the porch monkey but haven't had any made this year. The one that I was going to copy he wanted to put it the casket with my uncle, he said that his Elmer could give the picture to Jesus. So how I am to stop that, it was too sweet. Dang Glenn you had to say the nuts and bolts, now don't forget the fact that you will have it almost put together and find out that there are peices missing, and dont forget the batteries(not inculded). I think that Rusty has got us all wanting Chi Chi's so I vote on us loading up and visiting her so that we can all go .

Hugs,
sandy

My five fave things at xmas...

Xmas lites!!! Every year we go down to Orlando Circle...it's a small street in my city...and everyone on the street goes all out and decorates their place..they even do the greensward of the circle! And the city pays their hydro bills because everyone on the street collects food and such for the needy families...someone stands at the beginning of the street and collects when people drive or walk in to see the display...

The Reindeer Antlers I stick on my horses and my dogs...I think this is the only time of year my animals forgive me for torturing them like this!lol

The smell of fresh pine from the xmas tree.

Hot apple cider when coming in from walking around looking at xmas lites...

Foil Wrapping paper...I love all the shiney colors!!

Chi-Chi's YES! Meetcha there. And we'll start with five World's Smallest Kahlua Hot Fudge Sundaes each. Maybe in the long run - we'll eat less calories than if we start with the greasy nacho chips they bring in basket after basket. LOL

Better than boring old gum for me are the new tart Lifesavers in a bag at Walmart. They're separately wrapped (so they don't weird out in your purse) and coated in that ZOWIE tart powder and give me such a jolt that they seem to short circuit a taste for anything else for a while. I swear that last year at the fair I ate about a third of the usual greasy, salty (oh so yummy) crap that I usually inhale and realized later that I was popping Lifesavers every once in a while while we walked around and just never got the munchies really bad!

Happy Friday! Oh, behave!

I just wanted to take a second to each and everyone of you to know how thankful that I am for have y'all in my life. Thru everyones humor and insties I am once again getting a handle on my eating and the will power is returning. I don't know how I could every thank you all but here goes THANK YOU. I was batteling with this and the fact that I have been in constant pain for so long didn't help either. The pain is still there but you all have given me something to look forward to each and everyday. For a little while each day I loose myself here and the pain I am in is almost bareable. I have vowed that each and everyday I would find something that I am thankful for and today it dawned upon me that I am thankful for y'all. On a light note Christmas vacation comes on Sunday nite. Can't wait. Rusty our birthdays are close together(1/14) so if lived closer together I would say I will be there at Chi Chi's with bells on. So question for everyone have you been naughty or nice this year? I have been alittle of both after all you have to be naughty to be nice dont ya


Hugs,
sandy

Gigglez, I am so glad that we are some help. I have to say that I also find this place so helpful. It really has given me a reason to stay on track. I am sorry to hear about the pain. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to live with chronic pain.
I would have to say I have been very, very naughty and have been rewarded amply for it.
In one of the journals I read a lady asked some questions that seemed very interesting. I thought I might repeat some of them here. And maybe add a couple of my own. These were in Kicking_Horses' journal.

What was your favorite thing to do as a child?

Is there something you wish you could do over again?

What kind of music do you like?

What goals are you still working towards?

What books would you recommend?

What are the things you like to do now? (I added this last one)

I loved to swim as a child. That was where I spent all my time. I actually loved to ride my bike and play in the mud and just run around.

I said that I wouldn't change anything. I feel that every step we take leads us to where we are today. I am so pleased with my children, and with Don I wouldn't want to change anything. I used to wish that I could have caught my Daughter's cancer earlier, but now I know I wouldn't want to go back. Who know what the outcome would have been?

I like country music, some classic rock, some pop, classic music (mostly Mozart), and a little of everything. I even like some of the R & B on the radio today.

I would love to have some land out away from the city. Just have a little farm where I could grow veggies and flowers. That is my dream.

I like Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I think they are great books.

Things I like to do now. I like to cook, I would love to learn how to quilt. I like my computer. I would love to go dancing, if I could ever convince Don. I like to read. I like to do "crafty things".

Ok, that's enough. I would love to hear from you.
Lora

merry xmas to all.
sandy: nutst and bolts are shreddies, pretzel, peanuts and cheerios mixed together and toasted. i forgot to add almond bark to my list
glen

Lora - where's your profile pic??