Im off for two weeks myself now......that is great BUT so hard to stay out of the cupboards. Im making some plans for after the holidays to keep busy and getting some more yarn to make another afghan...keeps my fingers busy at night.
Off to bake and cook and clean and.......haha you get the picture..

I'm off from work! Hooray!! Ok, I'm off to run a few errands myself. Off to the grocery store, etc.

Did I tell you all that Toronto got lots of snow last Sunday...it's a big mess here. Almost all of my Christmas decorations are in a shed in the back yard and the snow has drifted over the door. I am NOT digging it out, and I'm not asking DH to do it either. We'll make do with what is out now.

Rhonda

Hi Everyone
Not much going on here.
Been busy today. But cant really tell anything I did.
Did get the bathroom all cleaned. New shower curtain up. And soap thing out. Need to see if I got a couple of snowmen decorations that I can put on my shelf in the bathroom.
Did some cleaning in the kitchen. But cant tell.
Wrapped our son's gifts. So Santa can bring them now. Our son is in his 20's. And he still wants Santa to bring his gifts.
Now to get everyone else's done.Will work on them some tomorrow. And finish them up on Sunday.
Well I am going to get off here for now.
Got to go and get a couple more things done before bedtime. Actually I could take a nap now.
I am thinking of each of you.
Thanks for the ideas about the salmon.
Night
coco

I'm here. I posted about an hour ago but it didn't go through. Since then I've cooked and eaten dinner. I'm op!!

I guess Vickie's already left for her dinner party.

Rhonda, what all did you decide to cook? I'm not going to cook anything. Guess I'm a fuddy duddy. We're going out with family Sunday then having a get together afterwards with desserts. My sil is making it. Am I spoiled or what?

Coco, that's cute about your son's wanting Santa. My bro and I used to hunt Easter eggs when we were in our 40's. Some of us don't want to grow up.

Wow! No one has been here yet today. I'm busy so I guess all of you are too. I've baked a batch of chocolate chip with nuts and chocolate caramel bars and wrapped a couple of packages. So far...so good with eating.

The party was awesome last night. There was a lot of Core food but most was not. I was as good as I could be. I thought of Frouf since they had lox and cream cheese balls. I miss her.

I'll be back later.

Okay, I am officially done shopping, which is good since a winter storm is moving in to the area even as I speak. We could get up to 8 inches of snow, I heard. I'm thinking it won't be that much, but you never know.

My arms and hands ache because yesterday dh and I hacked, chipped and heaved huge slabs of ice off the driveway. We had that terrible ice storm a while ago, and had never cleared the driveway. It was about 4" thick. Ugh. But at least it's clear now so we have some kind of chance of getting the snow off.

So for Christmas my sister is making my mom a quilt, and we are all supposed to sign a block and write something nice. I wrote a poem for her. It's kinda sappy, but I like it. Here it is:

Mother and Daughter
My sunrise came, you carried me
and sheltered me from ill,
As years passed by, you set me free
to grow and learn free will.

When I grew up and moved away
You stayed beside me then
I found that you were human too
And had become my friend!

Time moved on, my children learned
that all good things I do,
To teach and love and understand;
These things, I learned from you.

When generations pass through time
And you need shelter too
When in the sunset of your life,
It's then I'll carry you.


So anyway, that's it. Ooh, now it's sleeting outside. Glad I'm home. I'm doing well with eating still.

I miss Frouf too Vickie...wonder how she's doing.

Angela

Hi Everyone.
Just thought I would get on here for a few. Taking a few minutes break.
Then got a couple more things to do before bedtime.
AGHIOWA The poem is beautiful. Hope you dont get too much ice and snow.
VICKIE Your cookies sound good. Hope you are doing ok.
ONTARGET how are you doing. Are you having good weather.
TEJAS hope you are enjoying your days off.
P.A hope you are also enjoying your days off.
Well better get off here.
I am thinking of each of you.
Have a wonderful evening.
coco

Vickie, now I'm hungry for cookies. I'll bet Jim's been hanging around the kitchen being your tester. Ahhhhhhhh.

Angela, that's good that you finished shopping before your weather deteriorated. Congratulations on being OP. Your mother is going to love the poem. You are a very talented chickie.

Coco, we're having super high winds this afternoon/evening. Gusts up to 40 mph. I'm hanging around inside the condo cuz I'm still sick. I looked online and saw the pollen count is high and is mainly cedar/juniper. Guess what I'm allergic to?

So far so good with the eating. We're meeting family at Olive Garden tomorrow. I need to go surf to see what would be best for me to eat. I want more than salad.

Hi All:

Aw, Angela, that's sweet...your Mom will love it!

I made fudge, date squares, bourbon balls and cookies. I ate a date square and a piece of fudge. That's all. I'm not even very tempted. But, I did buy ribbon candy and chocolate. That is dangerous and I might have to hide it from myself.

Anyway, the goodies will mostly go to my former in-laws. Since she can't bake anymore, I try to make sure they have something for Christmas.

Ah, Sandra, I can smell that cedar all the way up here. Achoo!

Night all,
Rhonda

Good morning everyone.
I do hope you all have a wonderful holiday.
Sorry I am not posting much, I just find I am so busy.
I just wanted to remind everyone that this has been an awesome year for all of us. we have had many success and even some not so successful times, but we have learned from all this. I hope everyone has the best Christmas yet and that your new year is awesome.
Take Care
Ann

I'm here... I posted a little something in another thread about what I've been going through these past few days, so I thought I'd share that with you guys here as well.
I've been struggling. It's been VERY difficult this past week and a half. I see 8 extra pounds on the scale and want to cry because I did that to myself after the binge I went on last week. Now it's extremely difficult to get back on track. I'm disappointed in myself, but what can I do except try to move forward.

I'll probably be MIA for a while; my focus just isn't here, and although I keep praying for it to return, hoping I can get back into this like I was two, three weeks ago, it just ain't happening. I'm feeling so discouraged and disappointed in myself. It's so amazing how I had such an excellent week one week and the next week I'm struggling to regain control over myself and my eating.

I'm also leaving for Paris on Thursday and have been preparing for that. There is still so much I need to do before then, and it's another reason things aren't going as well for me as I would have hoped. I'm almost afraid to go only come back to deal with whatever weight is on the scale after 6 days of French bread, wines and cheeses. It's funny that the women I'm going with are excited about all these new foods. But I know in the back of my mind while I'm there I'll just be thinking about what the scale's gonna say when I get back. (just an FYI - France and Paris in particular aren't very accommodating when it comes to meals prepared a certain way or vegetarian lifestyles, etc.) I'm so afraid I wont be able to get back on track when I return...

But I WILL be back early January, come **** or high water, PRAYING for more focus. I want so badly to get to my goal weight in 6 months, it's just that right now I just can't seem to get it together.

In the meantime, I'm no longer binge eating, although I struggle daily with making good food choices, I'm still working out, and will be from now until the day I leave, and I am still watching what I do eat and will do my best to follow Core from now until I leave on Thursday. I'll still be here off and on until then lurking and checking on you guys. I hope to be back in full force in January, I'm so close and I do want to see it through to the end, but unfortunately I just got detailed and I'm just having a hard time getting back on track.

Happy Holidays everyone, I'll see you soon...

Hi All:

Well, Cammie. Someone else said earlier that you should really focus on how well you've done. I agree with that. Enjoy your trip to Paris, pray, and come back here for support when you return. We'll be here.

I was supposed to see former inlaws today but our emergency brake wouldn't go off. We'll try to get it fixed tomorrow. My FIL said he would come and get me and take me to see MIL in the nursing home. I could go by public transit but he would like to come to get me. So, that will happen tomorrow.

On top of that, the roof is leaking! DH crawled around in the attic and did something with plastic! I just about cried. There is something about leaking roofs that just gets to me. It's extremely silly but, it's an emotional trigger of some kind.

I was planning to cook a turkey and all the trimmings for our Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow..but, I just decided that I can't handle it. I am so tired from working that I haven't got the energy.

We will be with friends for Christmas dinner, and I'll make our turkey for the day after Christmas. Whatever Christmas is, it is NOT the time for fatigue, stress and tears! DH is a sweetie, saying he doesn't care; he's got me for Christmas he says.

I hope you all have a good night; I'm going to watch a sappy movie of some kind!

Rhonda

Rhonda, I'm glad you and Doyle have each other.

Cammie, I agree with what Rhonda said.

We're home from our family get together. We had a grand time. Life is good.

Hello Chicks! I'm exhausted but I'm done wrapping and baking. I still have some cooking left to do tomorrow after the Niece and her kids leave. We'll be having lunch out together.

Jim and I still need to clean up a bit here and I need a shower. I've eaten some goodies but I should be ok. I simply must get some down time and rest. I've been pushing for days. I got another 5 days of antibiotics because I was still feeling poorly. I haven't time to read posts. I'll try to do that tomorrow morning and catch up with you all.

I wish you all the best of holidays filled with love and warmth.

Hi Everyone
Well thought I would get on here for a few.
See what is going on.
Not much here. Hubby isnt feeling good. Think he is getting a cold. And complaining that his stomach hurts.
CAMMIECAM I am right there with you in the struggle. I am out of control with the eating. And cant get back under control. I had a friend go to Paris a few months ago. She is a WW. She has lost 130 lbs. And she came back with a pound loss. Said she did alot of walking. You have a wonderful time in Paris. And remember it isnt about all the food there. But the new sights that you will see. Have a great Christmas.
ONTARGET Hope you are feeling better. We are having gusty winds tonight. The lights did go off and come right back on. Hope it dies down pretty soon. Dont like the winds. And the temp is dropping.
TEJAS You know everyone says Christmas is about the food and presents. But really it is about being with our family and friends. And the true meaning of Christmas. Sorry about your leak in the roof and your car. Hope you get both fixed soon.
NEWLIFESTYLE Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
To everyone else I am thinking of you.
Hope everyone had a great day.
coco