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We want to invite everyone to join us in our journey.
We share laughter and tears.
We share what works for us and what doesn't.
We recently started a Topic of the Day



Monday........Motivation Monday
Tuesday.......Tuesday Tips
Wednesday.....Wednesday Weigh ins
Thursday......Thankful Thursday
Friday........Friday Facials, Fingernails and Fun
Saturday.......Sit-up Saturdays - any physical activity
Sunday.........Soup and Salad Sunday - recipes


These are not required topics ...just ideas to share. We have found them very helpful. We also share heartaches and fears...joys and celebrations.

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Lets Get Started!

I'm here Gail! I got one of my final exams already and was working on that yesterday to get it out of the way! Its 60 multiple choice questions and 5 short essay questions. Its on Religion and Philosphy, which is from the early early early days which in turn translates to history and me and history DON'T get along! I HATE history, its useless information as far as I'm concerned! I have finals in 2 weeks, but I'll only have one in Business Ethics since I only took the two classes this semester since we would be in the middle of moving! Now that I'm not working I could have handled 3 with no problem! But the beginning of the semester started the week before the move!

Geesh! I just babbled again didn't I? Well I'm going to do it again! I have been staying within or I should say at the top of my points range each day but my food choices are nothing to be desired! I used 8 pts on WW ice creams and 2 points on popcorn last night. Is that sick or what? I did discover that the Lean Cuisine stuffed cabbage and mashed potatos are only 3 points. What a comfort food snack for 3 points!! I am going to stock up on them since they are on sale at Kroger for $1.39 each!

THIN...that reminds me...I dont' think I ever answered your question on the cheesecake yogurts. It was the Winn Dixie store brand. I have seen the cheesecake ones in other brands but just can't remember off hand which ones. On another note, I am doing two Target shops this weekend, one on friday and one on saturday. Am I a glutton or what for going on Black Friday? Hopefully it won't be too bad!

Gail you sound like my mom when it comes to the grandbabies! She can't wait to move down here so she can babysit and spend time with Andrew. We were on the phone the other night and my dad yells in the background, find me a new house down there. Well, they know that they are still building in my neighborhood. The next street over are several and two streets over from that one! And I think they will probably build on the other side of the main street into the neighborhood too! Right now there are houses on the one side of the road! Hopefully it will all work out for them. My mom is retiring frim the post office on February 1st! They would need to sell their house first but in their neighborhood they sell fast and they are on a cul de sac and have the biggest house and piece of land with woods behind them. Their house is beautiful.

OK since I started a new thread I can't go back and see what everyone wrote so forgive me for not doing more individual replies. But...if you come out and post now I'll be sure to catch you again today!!

I am off to try and finish that final exam and to do up a resume. There is a nifty job I want to apply for!! I am still waiting to hear from unemployment! Hopefully that will pan out to tide me over through the holidays!

TTFN Michelle

Hi ladies,

I can hardly wait until my laptop gets fixed. This old computer is so slow to load webpages. That's why I haven't been here much.

I'm off work this week! I have a huge list of things I want to accomplish. But don't worry, I'm such a procrastinator, I'm not working myself into a frenzy. Especially when DH is around. He's a bad influence. He can turn a 15 minute errand into a 2 hour excursion.

Yesterday, I stayed OP - except for I should have drank more water. I need to go do some exercise before DH gets home.

I've done a little scrapbooking. I did a page with the pictures I could find from last years Christmas cards. Next, I'll work on putting pages together from the Spring Fling. I was working on my pictures from my NYC trip last year but then had this nagging thought that I had saved some stuff from the trip that would be cool to put on the pages too. Now, if I saved it, where? Did I really save it? Or is it wishful thinking?

The GeekSquad is working on my laptop this week. He said that its the operating system that is corrupted. Oh YEAH. I had talked to the guy on the phone at length about saving my data and he had reassured me that they could. So this guy shows up with no external harddrive so it had to go to the shop. I was mildly irritated. Poor communication between the boss and the contractors. So as a reminder to everyone who has important stuff on their computers - like all their budget - back up regularly. I had not done so in about 3 weeks. Also, don't download Spy Assassin even if its been recommended by the geek on Morning Show.

Today's agenda is to exercise, laundry, clean the garage, bake a WW Banana oatmeal bread. Make the Pumpkin Chili. I'd love to go for a ride but its cold and dreary. I could handle cold and sunny.

Is this awful? I'm seriously thinking about not dragging out all the Christmas decorations. I have little desire to destroy the house decorating and then having to destroy it all over again in a few weeks. Maybe the dreariness of our weather is not helping either.

Well, I better go check the bread in the oven and get productive on something.

Andria - Great job on the WI at Decisions! You've inspired me to go upstairs and work out instead of reading!

Later!

Good morning everyone! <thats decaf tea>

Last night I had a great time with the grandbabies. I gave them their baths together (they're 10 mos. and 4 1/2 years old--little girls). The little one has no fear--she kept wanting to stand up and she loved putting her head under water--let me say this--I think I got just as wet as they did! Tonight is my knit night--I take project classes on Tuesday night so I won't be seeing them but they'll be back tomorrow night.

Andria, I am so happy for you on so many levels: (1) You're mobile again. (2) You lost weight. CONGRATULATIONS! and (3) You are making good food choices and watching food portions. I do most of my posting during the day when I'm at work.

Michelle, so there you are! You were studying and taking an exam! You know I worked in the philosophy department for 10 years. Granted I am a senior secretary and not a prof but I did take a philosophy course. I love history and as long as the philosophy course sticks to the history side of things I'm okay; however, once philosphy starts vereing off into...How do you know that tangerine is orange? or How would Nietzsche....or Aristotle respond to... then I'm going to have a problem! Good luck to you. I hope it works out that your Mom and Dad move to NC. THAT would be so great having them closeby for so many reasons!

Terri, oh how I wish I this week off! BUT at least I have Friday off too. Hmmm...I don't have a thing to do--I'm not cooking! Notice I'm grinning!

I have to disappear for awhile--work calleth my name!

Good morning friends. I went to Missouri yesterday to see my sister's new house.
I am happy she is finally going to have a new home. Her life has been very HARD and she deserves something good happening for her.

I read the last thread lasst night but could not post.
Now today I don't remember it all. Other than several people needed a big {{{ HUG }}} !!!! I don't have any advice. I only have a shoulder to cry on and a lap to snuggle on if you need it.

Terri... Last year I did not want to get out my christmas stuff either.
BUT DO IT !!! Maybe simplify it a little. Small tree instead of big one. Just some red bows tied on around the house. I had a friend that did those bows everywhere in her small apartment and it looked very festive but soooo simple.
If you don't decorate... all of our Xmas cards are going to look funny.

Okay.... I am taking advantage of my daughter being home. I am off and running today. One place I am running is ... THE POST OFFICE.
I am mailing out THE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE today.
How is everyone doing with their Turkey Challenge ?? I have been slipping...
BUT TODAY I AM GETTING ALL FOUR FEATHERS !!!! I have even gained a little since DD home. I need to drink that water BIG time and get rid of some of this water retention. I can feel my ankles swollen. Grrrr

Tuesday Tip .... this one is for me....."Inch by inch ... it's a cinch."
Hmmm ... I forgot the rest of it. Someone here has it as a siggie. LOL
Anyway... You just have to keep working at this new life style... inch by inch.
DON'T GIVE UP just because you are going s l o w.... or because you have a minor set back. GET IN GEAR AGAIN... and get it done... INCH BY INCH.

Hi everyone!! Only have about a MINUTE to post really quickly before they shut our computers down at work. They've been moving their huge corporate office and they're moving servers shortly, so I'm typing in a rush!

I have got the rainy day blues... It's been raining for weeks down here in Central Texas, the #1 flood zone in the states from what I heard on the news. I like rain for about a day, maybe 2, then I can't take it anymore. Schools everywhere are closed. Further south of where I am, it's 10 times worse, houses underwater. Ugh!! I can't wait to see it all end. Today is supposed to be the last day of storms for awhile, so we'll see!!

I've gotta run chickies! Packed my clothes for curves tonight after work. Someone help me get this water down!! All this rain makes me detest it right now, and I've been loving it! I'll down a few bottles after working out, though, not a problem.

Take care everyone!!!

2Cute-- Cute tip!! Inch by inch... two more weeks until I get weighed and measured at Curves... Not hoping for much, so maybe I'll get a big surprise!?!?!?

Bummer news. The hard drive in the laptop is on the verge of failing. And NO I did not buy the service contract when I bought it last year. And NO its no longer under warranty. Where's the big sigh smilie when you need it? That works.

I made the WW banana bread. Its a little heavy. Maybe its because my baking soda was old? I might try it again sometime because I love banana bread. I have cleaned out the spice and cooking ingredients cabinets. Lots are going in the trash. Lots of old stuff.

Okay, I'll get over being grouchy about the Christmas decorations and do something.

Now I'm going to download some adaware and spy bot software the computer geek said was legit. He said he removed 300+ spy thingys from the laptop. Nasty!

Oops, the dryer calls first.

Later again!

Kerri, your computer probably has been disconnected by now but hopefully you'll read this when you're back on-line. My youngest daughter goes to CURVES 3 times a week. She hasn't lost a lot of weight in the past 5 weeks she's been going but she's lost 4% of her body fat. Just remember success is determined in so many ways not only by the number on the scale. Good luck to you when you do get measured again in a couple of weeks.

2cute, oh boy! I'm gettin' stuff in the mail! I'm really hoping this is going to help keep me motivated during the holidays. I'm going out to the mall tonight after my knitting class and I'm gonna buy Christmas cards!

Terri, computer problems! Everytime our home computer does something "funny" my husband has me work on it...like I know it all...and I do NOT! I want a new computer so badly at home.

Gail maybe Santa will bring you one!!??? Dell has some great deals for under $500!!

2Cute - I can't wait to get my Christmas Challenge stuff in the mail! I love mail~ I know it will keep me from gaining 10 lbs, I might not lose much but at least I won't be gaining!!

We are having a shed built in the backyard. The guy is amazing. He does it all by himself! He started around 9:30 and is almost done already! Geesh...two years ago John and his brother built one in our yard in PA and it took them about 10 hours and they were swearing and everything! Don't you just love men!! LOL John said never again, thats why he is paying them to install it. This guy is doing it out in the rain too! The fence was done last friday so now we should be all set. Just need to get a new grill and patio set! All I have to do is set the smoke alarms off in the house one or two more times and I think I will have a grill on my deck pretty darn quick. The smoke detectors are all hotwired together so when one goes off they all go off. The one outside our bedroom door is up high, we have cathedral ceilings, and its almost across from the stove and when I use the broiler or a hot hot oven the heat rises quickly and sets them all off and you can't turn them off, you have to get rid of the heat or smoke in order for them to shut down! Neat trick huh? I should have a grill by the weekend...I'll let you all know!! LOL

OK GAIL, can you find out for me who emerged as the leader of the reform movement in the sixteenth century? This was a chapter on Christianity. That is the ONLY question I can't find the answer to out of 60 questions! Now back to my final...I have 5 short answers left to do then I will be done with it!

Terri I HATE when I have computer problems. Lucky for me my brother in law does that kind of stuff for a living. He is coming back to do some more cleaning up on mine.

Kerri - Its raining here too. Its suppose to stop on Thursday. I only like one day of rain. After that the boy gets restless and drives me insane! He loves to be outside and now with the fence up finally I can let him out without having to be out there with him. I didn't realize how big our yard really was until it was fenced in. And we didn't even go back to our property line on the other side of the trees.

OK the rest of ya need to come out and post post post!! Its keeping me out of the kitchen!

TTFN Michelle

Hello Ladies,

Well it has been a couple of days since I last posted. Sorry about that. I have been studying and working on my parents quilt that I need to finish before Christmas. I haven't had a chance to read all of the posts yet and I don't know if I will ever be able to catch up.
Tomorrow I am suppose to make an apple pie for Turkey Day. What do I know about making apple pies, Diddley. Work has been crazy. Just trying to see when I am going to get laid off. I think it is going to happen soon, but I am not sure. Who knows, anything can happen.
I plan on coming to the fling in spring at least as it stands right now. I'm ready to send out my Christmas Cards, I have my reservations made at hotels for the drive down and back from Alabama. I can't wait to be home for Christmas.

Well my lunch break is almost over. You ladies take care, and don't worry I will look in when I can. If I am awake and my fingers aren't sore from needle pricks

Skitt

Skittles, everytime I see your name I think of candy! Is that your favorite candy and that's why you took that as your username? Oh nooo...getting laid off? Right here at the holidays?!

Michelle, I can't answer that question however, I can hook you up with a philosophy professor...not working in that department now...did you know I left my old department and am now in the accounting and mis deptartment with a bunch of accounting profs?! Y'all are really settling in! A new fence last week. A new shed this week! Oh yeah...men! Gotta love 'em! Wait a minute...would the answer to your question be Martin Luther?! Hey...let me know if your plan works for getting that grill!

ooops...gotta go...

Do a google search on reform in the sixteenth century and ya get Martin Luther. Wow, Gail is smart! Except for being with the accounting and MIS folks. (I've worked accounting all my adult life so I'm insulting myself!).

Hey ladies Just a quick stop in while I'm at work.

Did kind've poorly yesterday and didn't work out - also had a lot of pizza late into the night. Its so easy to eat un-wanted foods when you don't have any groceries and no one will take you to get new ones. Oh well ;( I'm not that upset, I know I can just jump right back on the band wagon.

I've been really losing my appetite.. could this be an affect of just changing my diet and working out? Or - I know - all the water? I just don't feel that hungry, or I do and I don't feel like eating.. like its an okay feeling inside that i don't bother to fill up. I don't know if this is good or bad, lately it means I don't eat when I should or at all - but I'm convincing myself to do better. This morning we didn't have any breakfast food so I made sure I at least had some of our old slim fast shake mix. I think if I have no appetite at a meal time I'll make sure I'll have a slim fast at least. Its not what I want but I guess getting the vitamins in is better than not eating anything.

My mom is making a ton of appointments for me in December. The regular doc, eyes, etc. I mainly wanted to go to the Physician to get a regular "check up". Is there any questions to ask my doctor about my weight loss? I'm not really dieting so I don't know what I should ask.

Alright, I'll respond to everyone later tonight hopefully Have a great day all of you.

By the way, anyone notice that our Thankful Thursday is Thanksgiving? I think I have a lot I'll be thankful for

I was right?! Keep in mind that I've typed up a LOT of philosophy exams...mostly multiple choice which really only got me more confused...is the answer "a"? no? "b"? how about "c"? and then my all time favorite "d. none of the above" or "e" all of the above! However, I have typed many manuscripts for philosophy professors. Goodness knows what kind of information is crawling through this brain of mine! We will NOT go there! By the time I retire I'll probably have a lot of accounting information smushed into my brain. I wonder if I'll be able to finally balance my check book? Terri, I didn't even think about "googling" it!

Okay. Down to serious business here. Today I am on program. Tonight I will stay on program. I will wake up tomorrow morning and feel a sense of positive self-worth knowing that staying on program is possible. Yes, I'm having a terrible time of it ever since yesterday morning. People are bringing those nice home baked goodies into the office. Again this year. Do I look like I need to be fed?! NO!