Woo hooooooooooooooooo.

Hi everyone. Late start here. Trying madly to start/finish essay for class. Don't want to even think about it tomorrow, how is that for driven. So driven, I'm thinking of heading out here in a bit and going to hide at my parents house and work until it is done.

Had a very long weekend with writing, many screaming children at my house and an overnight guest.

Did okay on the eating. I'm trying to do a southbeachy things keeping in mind where my points are and keeping active. I think it is starting to work. Thank goodness. Not having sugar is seriously helping me. I did not eat one cookie this year.

there are some good pics on my blog, I liked the lip piercing on the troll the best.

How is everyone else?

lala

I had a busy weekend. Visited friends on Friday. On Saturday went to a large shopping mall on a bus with 50 women. It was a blast. I got some good buys especially at Nordstrom's outlet store. The mall was packed. On Sunday, I was in a concert with my music group. There was a small crowd so we won't be performing there again. Last night we went to a Christmas dinner for a charity. It was very nice and I won some nice door prizes.

Shopping's done and gifts are wrapped. I'm just finishing up the tree. Now I have baking and cards. I'm somewhat behind in those areas.

It was very warm here yesterday; it's supposed to cool off. I hope so because I want to wear my pretty Christmas sweaters.

lala, you're a better woman than I am being able to stay away from sugar. So, did the cooky party go well? I hope you got your paper done. I'm so glad to be out of school.

WI is next week--not looking forward to it as I've hit the candy and cookies pretty hard already.

Hello, Melissa, Susan, Pam, and Austin

Hi Lisa,shopping sounded like a blast.

party is over with, though the royal icing lives on until my cleaning guy comes. Papers are 90% completed, today (this morning) is cleanup and finish off as tonight I have to read for tomorrow, pack and watch the last dvd of the arrested development season 1. Cards will be written in airport and sent from Chicago on Thursday as we have the longest layover ever.

Not one cookie has passed these lips. Really.

You should see the pics on my blog, pretty nice cookies indeed.

more later, must dash, shower and find my new danskos. They are somewhere in here, I hope.

lala

Hi Ladies,

I finally began my Christmas shopping this weekend most of which was done over the internet. I think I'm finally getting into the Christmas spirit. We've got a couple of inches of snow on the ground and apparently dodged a snowfall last night. Whether is bitter cold and has been dropping close to the single digits at night.
I'm pretty upset right now with the scale. I've been doing well eating and exercising but I'm up 2 pounds that I thought would come off quickly but seem to be lingering. I really hate when you're doing everything right but not being rewarded at weigh in.

Lisa the shopping trip must have been fun. A Nordstrom's outlet store would be deadly for me. Did you find any nice gifts for yourself while you were there? I'll take some of that warm weather your experiencing.

Lala I don't know how you passed up those cookies. That sure is willpower lady...good for you! The kids must have had a great time decorating. Nice plan doing the cards while waiting in the airport. I may start working on my cards tonight.

Hi to Melissa, Susan and Austin..hope you all had a nice weekend. Talk to you tomorrow.

Hi all. I'm in a funk - I believe the condo deal fell through, although haven't heard anything official. The builder has been impossible to deal with; wants to have his cake and eat it too kind of deal. All benefits acrrue to seller. That's great - if you're not the buyer

It was a great place, and I could actually see living there alone. The thought of starting to look again has me seriously depressed.

Signed the papers today giving up ownership to the house I shared with M. Oh happy day.

I may have my shopping done, but I don't know for sure. All gifts are where I used to live. Am not sending cards this year. Don't know what in the world I would say that wouldn't depress the heck out of the recipients. I brought four Christmas decorations that I bought earlier in the season to my sister's and hung them. Gawd, I so don't want to be where I am right now.

Eating was really good until my sister gave me a box of English toffee that she picked up on a quick fam trip to London last week. Waistline shows that I devoured the whole darn box.

Couldn't sleep after 3:15 this morning. Finally got up and went to the gym. Was on the treadmill at 5:50 am Great time of day to exercise; not a big fight for the machines.

Gotta go. Sorry about this downer of a message. Maybe I should have just lurked.

Me again. Anyone interested in a Christmas challenge? I would like to lose 4 lbs. by Christmas Day and keep it off until Jan. 2nd. I need something to take my mind off of things.

Susan I'm in for a Christmas challenge. 4 lbs by Christmas Day sounds good to me too. Don't feel badly about the "downer" message. You need to vent and that's what we're here for.

I'm in even with London, Paris and Rome this week.

Great idea.

Susan, sorry about the condo. Want to relocate?

lala

Hi, all. Count me in for the challenge.

My brother seems to be doing well. Went in for his last shot of some drug that boosts white blood cell count last week, and they told him that his numbers were so good that he didn't need it.

Wow, Lisa, I am impressed that you have all your shopping done and wrapped. Our tree is decorated, but things are not nearly so organized at my house regarding gifts. Some gifts are bought, some are wrapped (some not), some are still in transit from internet vendors. (Pam - I am a big internet shopper as well!).

Melissa - congrats on the loss! It has finally started to get cooler here - yeah! We actually had a fire in the fireplace last night, and today a cold front is supposed to blow in that will take the temps below freezing tonight and may even result in a little freezing rain or snow.

Susan - DH and I decided against sending out Christmas cards this year too. Just too much trouble and we aren't in the mood for it. Sorry that you are feeling so down. Keep your chin up, though - this tough period will pass. And, we are all here for you - don't worry about venting here - support is what we are here for!

Lala - visited the blog and loved the pix of the Christmas cookie party. The dragees and non-pareils, the icing ... it all looks like so much fun! [Did you guys actually build Paris out of cookies?] Have fun on the upcoming trip!

Hope everybody has a great rest-of-the-week!!

Paris is constructed of wooden blocks as is a great gift.

I get them from muji in either london or paris, but their website is all in japanese, so I don't think you can order from them.

I just bought london and suburbia (complete with strip malls!).

I'm going out and buying a new scale today ours is dead. I'll post my relative weight tomorrow before flying.

Oh and if you have any spare vibes, I go into for my 6 month follow up mammo and I can't say I'm very excited.

ttyl!

lala

Hi everyone! I've been lurking more than anything the past few days. Things here have been relatively quiet. I got my mailing all ready for tomorrow and am tying up loose ends before I leave today. Tomorrow evening I fly to Chicago and won't be back home until Sunday afternoon. I'm looking forward to the break. We decided to fly out Thursday night so that we could get a good night's sleep before heading downtown

Susan: I am SO up for a Christmas Challenge--I'd like to lose 4# as well! I went for my WI today and stayed the same as last week, which I'm grateful for but I want to be more in my comfort zone. Count me in! It may be a good thing that the condo isn't going through--wait and see what comes your way--it may be something better

Lisa: Sounds like you had a fun weekend. Mine was relatively quiet.

Lala: Good for you for not eating any of the cookies! I like being productive while I'm traveling so it sounds like you've got a plan while you're waiting in Chicago. When will you be there? We may be passing each other in the air Good luck with the follow up appointment.

Austin: It's downright chilly here--23 degrees this morning and lots of snow! DS #2 and I were out shoveling before work in order to get out of the driveway. Gotta love the AP's you can accumulate shoveling.

Pam: I got a couple of Christmas presents over the weekend but need to get moving on the rest of it. The snow hasn't even put me in the mood. Maybe being in Chicago over the weekend with the decorations will spark the fire.

Not too much else going on here--I'm ready for my break. I took the day off tomorrow to take care of some things that I can't get done while I'm at work and most likely will find something to read on the plane. If I get a chance I'll post tomorrow.

Hi ladies.

Didn't get a replacement scale,so I'll try in Paris, of course then I'll have to convert to lbs, but what the heck.

My old jeans fit right now, that is cool.

talk to you all from chicago, I'll wave at you Melissa! Safe travels.

lala

Hello, had a busy day here at work yesterday. Customers were here negotiating some old stuff--what fun!! : ( Today I'm only working a half-day and taking vacation the rest because my music group has a booking for a Christmas luncheon. We are booked Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well. It's that time of year.

I'm afraid to get on the scale and WI is next week. Eeek!

Started my Christmas cards, but haven't made much progress. I'm having friends over for dinner tomorrow night, so I hope to get some of the food prepared today.

lala, sorry about the scale; we need a new one, too. Maybe I should tell my mother to get us a digital one. Hooray that the old jeans fit.

Melissa, I hope you have fun in Chicago. I could finish all of my shopping on the Miracle Mile.

Austin, you're going to have snow? Didn't you just have 80 degree weather last week? What crazy weather. It is cold and rainy here today, not a nice day.