Coffee's ready!

And it's looking to be a beautiful late summer day! I'm pretty much caught up on my inside chores, so I hope to spend a good bit of the day pruning back the rose bushes and cleaning up the girls' garden. And I hope to get off work in time to come home and get some work in my own garden. I didn't get home until after 7 yesterday, and I was bushed!

Darn! I forgot to soak my oats for my overnight oatmeal last night! I was really looking forward to that this morning.

Mmmmm, coffee's good, thanks!

Today is a long day at work, but that means I have Friday off! WOOT WOOT!

I had grains for the first time in two weeks yesterday...had oatmeal for breakfast (with blueberries, cranberries, pecans), and it just doesn't hold me as long. I think I'll stick to my smoothies!!

Hoping today goes well for all!

Good morning It was a lovely long weekend but it's always nice to be home. Today is our 2nd anniversary. It's a small thing after being together almost 11 years before but a big thing to my parents and all the medical professionals we now deal with. I am happy that we are finally able to have the same clarity that other couples have and look forward to the day that extends all over the country. Yes, it's political but it's also my life.

Cottage - Hope you get time to work in your garden tonight. Did you find something good for breakfast?

Twynn - countdown to long weekend! I'm the same way with grains for breakfast.

Yesterday we went out on a lovely boat trip. Didn't see a lot of whales but had really good looks at both harbor porpoises and white sided dolphins and lots of birds. It was a perfect day to be out on the water. I love the Inn we found. I've been looking for someplace affordable and spacious in Newburyport and finally found it.

I was a little too free with food this weekend so I'm doing a couple of days of smoothies for 2 meals and Phase 1 dinners with no cheese, my own modified Reboot. That should get me back on track for the weekend at my parents.

Happy Tuesday Chicks!

Happy Anniversary, Cyndi! Your boat trip sounded just delightful, and I'm glad you both enjoyed your weekend trip. I wish you many, many more happy years ahead!

Twynn, we can both celebrate being off on Friday! I really love having a long weekend every week during the school year.

I have 2 scones left, so I guess that's what's for breakfast this morning.

Good morning All:

1 son on the bus and another getting ready to leave! 2 down 2 to go.

Day 8:P1. I think I'm going to try a water aerobic class today. Before summer started I would do laps and see them working away. A lot of them are seniors. However, by taking the summer off from my spin class my butt bone is sore... So I think I will give it a rest.

My husband said last night he is getting bored with this diet... Too bad- I don't see it at all I feel we have a lot of healthy choices. I will tell you though cutting the strawberries up last night for my boys dinner its going to be nice to incorporate that in my diet next week.

I've decided though I'm sticking on phase 1 until I hit 169. For the last 2 years I start at 176, 178... And the lowest I get is 170.4 then I gain again... 2-3 pds just like that... So even though I haven't gotten on the scale at all...I will next Tuesday - which will either be the start of p2 or whatever this 1.5 I keep reading about or 1 more week of phase 1.
The only thing I miss is my glass of wine at night but I can hold off a few more weeks if need be.

Also- concern... Hope I'm not sabotaging this diet with my coffee creamer--- it is sugar free vanilla carnation refrigerated creamer.... Any thoughts on this... I have read a few things on here and I just don't think I can give up my coffee creamer... Inquiring minds want to know. thank you, hope everyone has an awesome day!!!

Desiree

Good morning, Cottage, Twynn and Cyndi. Can you smell skunk? There's a slight misty rain which is making it worse.

Cottage, what was the final fate of your striped visitor?

Twynn, it's a smoothie for me this morning too. It's too warm for oatmeal.

Cyndi, yes it is political but I totally agree. I still can't believe same sex marriage is not recognized in some states.

I did get a few things done yesterday after a bit of a late start. The front porch is now partially ready for painting. The darn pressure washer quit on me when I was 3/4 done. It probably was overheated - I know I was! My wood to fix the fence arrived too so I certainly have enough things to do outside. Too bad it's raining today.

This morning I am off to town for a recheck of my hearing aides which are working fine and certainly make a difference in group situations. Actually they are too noisy when a bunch of folks talk at once! I have a boring shopping list for town - porch paint, mums and shampoo. It's a farmers' market day and I may pick up some zucchini, peppers and some early apples. I am not going near the two quilt shops or the Chinese Buffet. I think I've avoided those two addictions for two months at least.

Disney informs me there are thunderstorms out there. She has refused to go out for potty and is under the desk at my feet. I can't hear a thing but she knows. Never argue with a Hurricane Katrina dog!

Time for my smoothie and shower to crank up the day - Twosday as Jenne calls it!

P.S. Hi Desiroo! You sound busy but in control. What are the ingredients in the coffee creamer?

@ Ruth: Coffeemate Creamer Sugar free Vanilla.

1 Tbsp. 15 cal, 2g carbs, 1g fat

Ingredients: water, corn syrup solids, partially hydrogenated soybean or corn oil and less than 2% sodium caseinate ( a milk derivative ) maltodextrin (gluten).

Desiroo, that coffee creamer isn't SBD compliant, but if it's not compromising your diet in any way, I think it's a personal choice. I wouldn't use it, though. Corn syrup is sugar; how many grams of sugar are in a serving?

Good morning, Ruthie! I don't know what's going on with our unwelcome visitor, and I told Jake not to tell me. The situation upsets me, poor wee thing.

Good Morning!

I'm off today, except for needing to attend a business association meeting at 2 p.m. Otherwise, my plans are dog park trip, farmer's market trip, run to the bank, and start making dinner for tonight, we're having friends over. I'm making another Kalyn's Kitchen recipe, Julienned Zucchini "Spaghetti" with Quick Sausage, Tomato, and Basil Sauce. I'll let everyone know if it's good!

Tomorrow is day one of P2...I'm so hoping to be below 160 by tomorrow a.m. that would be a huge success for me! If not, I'm still happy with a 10 lb loss and the fact that the scale is still going in the right direction. I'm very nervous about p2, but so far the only p2 items on my grocery list are honeycrisps, sweet potatoes and winter squash. We're planning to start really slow!

Tomorrow night we're having dinner at my sister's house, and she's making a great dinner of lean beef stew with tomatoes, carrots and sweet potatoes. We're bringing a big green salad. Should be a great meal. Dessert will be honeycrisp apples with sf caramel sauce A nice fall meal.

Twynn - hooray for a nice long weekend coming up!

Cyndi - political, but it's my life too, and I couldn't agree more! Sometimes I think a wedding would be so painful for my family that I don't know if we will ever do it, even when it's legal. But time can change things, that is for sure. Happy Anniversary!

Desiree - I agree with you, I am not bored at all with this diet!

Off to pour my first cup of coffee. I'm loving the cool fall weather today!

Angie - we are having a similar dinner but with veggie sausage. Love the zucchini pasta.
It's amazing what a difference being married made to my Italian Catholic family. They were finally coming around but now Julie couldn't be more family. It did take us quite awhile to get there though. Hope for opening hearts for you too.

Good Morning

A late morning for me....I was up half the night then crashed between 3 and 6. Pool first thing then Kirk has a very long dental appt...one he probably shouldn't drive home from. I'm thinking I'll put my bike on the car and take an extended ride.

everyone! Have a great day!

Cyndi, Happy Anniversary!

Karen, how's your butt?

Cyndi - we don't have a julienne specific little piece of equipment, but is it correct that my mandolin will do the trick?

My Pentecostal/Fundamentalist family has DEFINITELY come a long way. It took them a year to even meet Chessa after they knew we were together! Now she is welcome to any and all family gatherings and they recently invited her to come on a family trip to Mexico this upcoming spring. I am thankful for how far they have come from where they were three years ago, and know that time will surely change things even more.

Whatever Kalyn says is good We just liked it so much we bought the fancy toy (makes awesome "pad thai" with daikon noodles too!)

I just realized I should rotate some clothes. It's probably time to say good bye to tank tops and most of the capris. It will be nice to see my sweaters again but I'll miss summery things

I woke up feeling like I have a new lease on life. My stomach bug is gone, thank goodness! I still feel like I shouldn't eat that much thought but I'm going to try to return to more normal & balanced eating.

I'm about 1/2 done with cleaning & organizing my house. I cant wait till I'm done, I hope I can sit back an look at it with pride and joy for at least 5 minutes before my husband & daughter get their grimy hands on it. lol

Next on my agenda will be outdoor work since the weather is cooler, cleaning up the yard & beds, Putting down new pine straw and pine bark, pressure washing the outside of the house,the driveway & sidewalks, cleaning the windows, etc....

It feels good getting it all done. It keeps me busy and away from the kitchen.

Good morning, chicks.

Linda - Enjoy the day outside working. Scones!?

Twynn - They don't hold me long either. Which is why I got into my morning bean habit.

Cyndi - Happy anniversary! I think it is a BIG thing. And I think the tide is really turning on this, IMO.

Desiree - I'm sore from my first ride in months yesterday too! Funny how it eventually "toughens up."

Ruth - Oh, I wonder if our farmer's market has apples yet! They are so much better when they have not been off the tree for months.

Angie - Busy day! I have made a lot of her recipes. I like the monthly round up she does of PH1 recipes.

Debbie - So, not to be too graphic, but certain tender areas are ... tender today I think we'll try again on Thursday. It felt great to ride again.

hynodat - Glad to hear you are feeling better. My house would be so clean and uncluttered if not for the men in my life

So, my eyes are driving me crazy today after my bike ride outside yesterday. I thought maybe my allergy eye drops were working this season but realize now it was just that I was not spending much time outside. Darn. I hate ragweed. Back to indoor cardio today. But DH and I only have enough recorded shows for a few days of exercise. Crisis! I need the new season to start pronto. Making dinner for lunch since DH thinks he'll head out to his mom's. It's a shrimp dish with a sauce that I can use on my last cauliflower rice.

Have a great day, everyone.