I've been in the kitchen baking. For the others I made fudge, date squares, and butter tarts. Next comes the Christmas Pudding. I've done really well in resisting the temptations. I ate 1/2 piece of fudge and 1/2 of a date square. Not exactly eating none of it, but I shudder to think what I could have done! :drool:

I kept a glass of water right with me and drank lots...everytime I wanted another nibble!

Tonight is left over roast beef and green beans.

I might start a little cleaning myself, Vickie..you've inspired me.

I stayed in the house all day, except for walking the dogs. It felt so good not to have to go anywhere for a change. Too sore from Pilates to go far that's for certain!!

Rhonda

rhonda, sounds like you're having a good day at home. i love those days that are laid back. i ate a slice of earthquake cake. it's good. i counted 12 pts. i'm guessing that's close enough.

not much going on here. i'm cooking pinto beans. curtis is watching "married with children."

I'm watching Christmas movies that Jim DVR'd me.

i'm looking at coats on ebay.

Hi everyone! I can't stay but I just wanted to come by and say

:tree: "Merry Christmas Friends!":xcheer:

Aaron and I have already exchanged gifts tonight. He got me a beautiful necklace and earrings!! I hope that you all have a wonderful, blessed holiday! Love you all!! :hohoho:

We just watched the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol.

Sandra, there's some ad on TV for a cold medication that features a fire fighter in Missoula Montana! It give a glimpse of the mountains in the area....

Rhonda

melissa, how sweet of aaron to give you jewelry! i can tell you're having a good time.

rhonda, i haven't seen that commercial. i'll watch for it.

Hi chickies,

A long and busy day - glad to see you are all in the holiday spirit.

Melissa - what a lovely gift! Of course you will be posting a picture right? (I remember some other very beautiful jewellery Aaron got you a while ago!)

Rhonda - well done with the baking - sounds like you did great 'damage control' - I find chewing gum really helps when I'm cooking and shouldn't be nibbling - something minty or cinammon and long lasting! Now go eat some steak w/an orange for dessert!

Vickie - I love old holiday movies - I have a special fondness for "Heidi' starring Shirley Temple - remember watching this every year w/my Mom when I was little!

And I have taken all of your advice - actually Ray's too - he is so sweet - says he wants to make sure I have a good theatre experience (this is his 2nd time seeing Wicked - it is his favorite musical - and I even found a Wicked t-shirt on ebay I am sending him for his bday in January!). I was concerned that he could only spend the $70 balcony seat - but he was quite alright with the more expensive tickets - so I am awaiting my 2 orchestra row L seats which were mighty expensive but hopefully very worth it! Ray has already booked rooms in Tampa at a very good (govt) rate! at a hotel around 2 blocks from the theatre - and he has also suggested dinner before the show and has made a reservation for that as well at the restaurant in the performaing arts center! (like I'm going to need another fancy meal after being on a cruise for eight days!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Spent almost all of the afternoon wandering around Walmart/mall while dh and I had the winter tires put on our cars - took like 3 hours - 3 very long hours - got some last minute shopping done. Bought some Olay regenerist (latest consumer reports says this is THE product to fight wrinkles - even better than some of those more expensive brands). Got the day lotion, night cream and serum - but for the life of me can't figure out when to put the serum on - no real info on bottle? But there is a 1-800 # which I guess I can call? I reallly want to be a wrinkle free froufie :D.

Also got some groceries done - and tonight dh and I went out to a movie. Dh had not put the tree up yet - and kids were wanting it - so we came home to find the 'silk tree' in the corner of the family room 'decorated' w/xmas balls and blue lights all over the room. Also some 'greenery' and lights on the banister. Very pretty.

And no - no wrapping done today (okay all the laundry got done tho) so tomorrow we will be busy I guess? Going to sil's for the big gift exchange around 7 pm or so, looks like we have lots of time! Will have dinner at home (froufie roast) so hopefully won't be nibbling on anything bad - and I know sil has stocked up on diet pepsi and has a veggie/dip tray too! (I offered to bring one but was told it was done!)

I did do some bathroom cleanup - discarding some old/expired medicines, creams, etc - and was able to restock a few today. Treated myself to new makeup and mascara too. My next project is the 'receipt basket' - yes it's overflowing and needs a good cleanup - I'm sure I can now discard about half of it!

Did not sleep well last night - hope tonight is better (maybe I'll even sleep in tomorrow!)

Frouf

Good Morning Chicks and Merry Christmas Eve!!!! Jim has been up since 4:00 am because his shoulder hurt. He did all the floor cleaning with the machine and the vacuuming. I should have insisted that he not do all that. I got up at 6:00 and will go upstairs to get ready soon. I'm having a great cup of coffee first made especially for me by Honey Lamb!

Melissa, I SO love it when you make it here! Tell Aaron I said Merry Christmas. I can't wait to see your jewelry.

Frouf, row L will be perfect!!!! I may be more excited than you. I can't believe you haven't wrapped yet.....I would be a nervous wreck. BTW, I LOVED Heidi (the book and the movie). I haven't seen it in years.

Rhonda, I own several versions of Christmas Carol and love them all. Jim and I go to see the play when we are in the mood. We didn't go this year. Usually, I watch my Christmas movies while I'm wrapping and baking but I didn't this year. Maybe we'll watch them tonight and Tuesday.

Sandra, did you get a coat?

I'm guessing that I'll be back but not until much much later during a break from my cooking. I still have to make Mom's cream cheese jello mold and the forty pounds of homemade macaroni and cheese to go with the ham. At least the ham is spiral cut and just needs to be warmed and coated. That won't get done until Tuesday. Of course, I was lazy and didn't plan the dishes out. I'll have to do that this afternoon as well.

Jim and I will open presents probably around 9:00 tonight. I'm looking forward to that! I hope he likes what I bought him.

Have a Merry Christmas/Chanukah Everyone!

Hi All:

Well, it's almost noon and I've made it all Core so far! Whew.

Boy, everyone is busy...wrapping, baking, planning, shopping, opening gifts already!!!

I've been to the friend's house with whom we will have dinner tomorrow for a visit. She's having me bake an apple/pear/cranberry pie so I went to get the fruit and the recipe and have a cup of coffee :coffee: Soon, I'm delivering the goodies to my ex-in laws. Then, tonight a neighbor is having an impromptu gathering at her house.

I think that today is going to be another challenge...better drink that water and go buy that gum Froufie recommended. Must be nice to be as young as Frouf and still fighting wrinkles! I think of them and my grey hair as my "red badge of courage" ! All those life experiences made physically manifest. I always tell my Godson (lovingly) that he is responsible for the furrow between my brows! He's pround of that! :D

Have a great day everyone. Remember that since Winter is here it means that Spring is on its way!

Hey Chicks! I'm just here in between chores. I'm waiting for the jello to "semi-set" so I can stir in the very cherry fruit coctail. When the first layer is done then Jim and I will go out for a late lunch. Then I come home to more cooking and organizing.

Rhonda, I'm thinking about buying the stuff that Frouf recommended. I'm 50 on my way to 51 and would love to lose some of the "laugh lines". I have huge number 11's between my brows. I blame it on all the years that I was too vain to get glasses and was squinting to see!

I hope everyone is having a stress free day. Mine is pretty darned good so far. I had a wonderful time with my Greats!

Vickie- somehow I knew you would also be a Heidi fan! Maybe I shall hunt down an original dvd copy - I bet it exists somewhere! Hope Jim's shoulder is feeling better. How is the mega macaroni and cheese coming along?

I also 'regeneristed' my face this morning - I can already feel the wrinkles retreating in fright! :D:D (also used my new pantene icy shine shampoo and conditioner!)

Went to bed super late - but had trouble sleeping in- finally hopped out showered and off to the mall for more tape and gift bags and to use up my $10 gift card from Sears which expires today! And to get dh some gifts.

He kept hinting about a cowbell thing for his drums - found one at the music store (like $50!) then onto the mall - dh is not a big reader but in today's paper they was a listing of popular books - and one seemed to be up dh's alley (I hope) - non-fiction - story of Marconi and his first radio (dh is a radio design engineer) intertwine w/some other real life murder story at the time. Sounds pretty good.

Found the gift bags, tissue paper, tape at the dollar store and yes I picked up a couple pairs of those magnifying specs as I am really finding that the print on everything has shrunk quite a bit!

Then to sears - wandering around figuring out what to buy - now I was hankering for this new fragrance by Estee Lauder 'exotic pleasures' - and there was this LOVELY gift set displayed (spray cologne, lotion, bath gel and purse size perfume) - and all fragrances 20% off today - so I called dh asking him if he might like to get me this set for xmas! tee hee - of course he replied. So with the 20% off and my $10 gift card I would say he got a pretty good deal! :D

And I just picked up a package from the front door - my xmas goodies from Ray in Vegas! So much fun - a bright red t-shirt with sparkly blue letters saying "what time is it?" (an ongoing joke from our last cruise) on the back its says tool time (and home improvement in small letters) - too funny. Also included was a small pluto stuffed animal (which dd has already adopted) two mickey mouse pins, some pralined/sugared pecans (the ONLY nut I can eat) a box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts (which I share at work), and a small molten chocolate cake (again reminiscent of the warm chocolate melting cake we ate on the cruise almost every night for dessert!). He is such a sweetie! Maybe I shall try and call him tomorrow to say thank you.

And the wrapping is almost all done -just need to do dd's camera - and I need to find something for dh's gifts (he has just slipped out to home depot for a few minutes!). My eating is a bit off track today but I shall try and limit myself (gosh darn these pecans are yummy!).

Hope everyone has a happy xmas eve and xmas day tomorow!

Frouf

hi, chickies. it's good to be here. i was a little down on myself yesterday because of eating the earthquake cake--not because i'd eaten it but because i ate it when i didn't really want it. am i making sense? i want to eat and enjoy things only when i really want them not just because they are there. i did have and counted the points so everything should be all right. today i'm in a good frame of mind. life is good.

frouf, i am so anxious for your cruise/theater event to take place. you're going to have a wonderful time. maybe dh will decide he wants to cruise after you come home smiling ear to ear. wouldn't that be neat?

vickie, i'm going to make a couple of pies today. i'm making a white chocolate dream pie with crushed coconut sprinkled on top. i may place some milk chocolate pieces on top also. i'm not sure yet. the 2nd pie is pumpkin. that's all i have planned to do today as far as baking. i made a big pot of pinto beans already. i told curtis' daughter i'd bring pies and a side.

i didn't buy a coat. what i want is a long wool one. i'll probably cruise the local mall after christmas to see if any are left on sale. if not, i'll head back to ebay. who am i kidding? i'll prob surf ebay today looking again. :lol:

frouf, i'm planning to have a make up makeover after the first. i get them periodically. it's time. i use clinique because curtis is allergic to fragrances and so far clinique hasn't bothered him.

rhonda, that pie sounds fabulous. chew that gum, girl. i usually keep a diet coke nearby and sip when i'm cooking. sometimes i chew bubble gum and blow bubbles. i like to act like a kid, don't i? enjoy your visit with your ex-in-laws and with your friends tonight.

i have some "cover-up" that i sometimes use around my eyes to hide dark circles. other than that i guess i just display my wrinkles with honor.

i'm going to be 60 in a couple of weeks and i'm still excited about it. folks stare at me when i say that. :lol:


Merry Christmas/Chanukah!

Hey Girls! I just finished making a TON of macaroni and cheese! I've already put a note on the recipe to only make a half next time. Actually, I may rewrite it so there will be NO confusion. It made an 11 x 13 pan and 3/4 of a 9 x 13. When will you all be here on Tuesday to help eat it? I will be sending all uneaten out of this house on Tuesday. That is serious temptation for me.

I still have to make the bottom layer of the jello mold. I've been starving today since TOM is looming. All I want to do is eat the week before my TOM.....which is now! Yikes!!!! I'm trying to not eat bad stuff but it isn't easy.

Frouf, I never smelled Exotic Pleasures. I'm due for a trip around the perfume counter soon. I feel like I need a new scent. I get one and keep it for years and years. I wore Lauren forever, and now Eternity. My newest is Clean Ultimate. I switch off between Eternity and Clean Ultimate. I love soapy clean scents. I've heard that Amazing Grace and Pure Grace from Philosopy smell good. I'm going to check them out over the holidays. Jim got me Hope in a Jar last year for Christmas and I had to return it because it made my skin itch. I have to be really careful of creams and scents. I'm definitely going to try that Olay regenerist though. I use the cleansing cloths and they don't bother me. Ray seems like a terrific guy!

Sandra, I understand how you feel. I've been eating stuff I shouldn't be when I'm not even hungry. I'm just trying to stop and not beat myself up for what is already done. I hope to be better tomorrow.

Kathy, I hope you're having a good Christmas.

Well, my break is over and I'm going to go make that jello mold. It sure isn't making itself!

that's a lot of mac n cheese. :lol: what time should we be there? i just got 2 dream pies into the fridge. i changed my mind and made a white chocolate/crushed peppermint on top and a chocolate fudge/milk chocolate bits folded inside. i'll bake the pumpkin pie in the am so it will be warm when we go.

vickie, i called a gf and made a date wed to go shopping and out to lunch. i'll look for a coat then. right now, i'll go surf ebay again. have a good evening.