[Spring_Thaw]

Kick Butt Kierie! Thats Awesome! <does happy dance>

Angela-How exciting! I think that's a good idea to hook her up with the friend from Mexico. We have a lot of international students at MU, and I think just having people who go the extra mile to talk and be friends helps so much with acclimating to a new environment. Also, there are forums for everything, right? So maybe there's a forum online somewhere for Colombian people who have moved to cold states! Seriously, I bet there's something where she could maybe even find people nearby to talk to when she's homesick?

Kathy--You might as well just put Easter decorations on the thing now. I vote for keeping it up all year as a rotating holiday tree. Start a new tradition! Put the easter baskets under it...drink green beer by the lights of it...put little flags on it...oh yeah, I love it!

I spent a good chunk of my WPA on yummy fabulous sushi last night, and loved every second of it. It has been soooo very long since I've had sushi. ::

I know that a bunch of you are doing the presidents challenge thing, but have any of you seen the www.americaonthemove.org stuff? It's one of those things where you track your steps, and whatnot. You can compare your progress to others, and they track your steps against famous american trails. So, you could see how far along the Oregon Trail or something you've walked so far! heh. I just signed up. I am curious how many steps I'd put on at work these days.

--Spring

[Katpo]

Hey, guess what else? I think I've decided to do a "While You Were Out" thing for DH's birthday in May. Not actually the real show, but he's going to be gone for 9 days and I'm working on getting all our friends over here to close in the LR (also known as the Christmas Tree room -- ) into a study for him with French doors, guy furniture, bookshelves, etc. His parents will help out with the money part for a new desk and chair, and my brother is an architech and used to work for a remodeling company. All I really need is 2 walls and a set of French doors. We don't even have to have electrical outlets.

It's not all decided, but a lot of people are supposed to be thinking about it and coming up with ideas for me. It would be so cool if we could pull it off!

[Katpo]

Wow, that American on the Move thing is cool!! I registered too, for the Alaska Military Highway walk. I figured I can for sure get in 3571 steps a day!

[Vickie]

Kathy, I just saw your post about the Christmas tree! I must have missed it because I was posting at the same time as you. I really have to say that I'm speechless!! That would drive me stark raving mad even though Christmas is my favorite holiday.

But a 12 foot tree must be a ton of work....up and down. I'd be tempted to leave it up all year round and just vacuum it!

[Vickie]

Angela, congratulations on your new SIL! I don't have any great advice but I think contact from you will go a long way toward making her feel welcomed!

Kathy, that's a great idea you have for your Hubby's office. I think you should go for it. Is this something he's been wanting. We don't use or living room either. We tried to buy a house without one. We really just wanted a big Great Room. For a long time our LR had no furniture in it. Now it has our old FR furniture, a 35 inch TV and my treadmill! Don't care what anyone else thinks....it works for us! I threatened to make it a game room for a while because Jim loves pinball and we both love video poker!

[Katpo]

We have three bedrooms upstairs and he keeps saying when either of the girls moves out he's going to make one into a study. I'm sure they'll be gone in the next year or two, but I'd still like to have bedrooms up there. We don't use that room at all, and it's a nice size and even dividing it from the dining room will still leave the dining room a decent size. I'm hoping my brother can come over soon and give me some advice and maybe a rough estimate. His BD is May 17 and he's leaving on the 20th, coming back on the 29th. His parents usually go all out on his birthday (oh to have lots of money!) so I know they'll jump right in with me on it. We'll see!

[Spring_Thaw]

Kathy--That idea for the LR sounds really cool. What a nice suprise that will be!

Hey, I have a question for the rest of you. Does anyone get the WW magazine? Do you like it? I was thinking about getting it.

--Spring

[Katpo]

I used to read the magazine in the doctor's office waiting room and always found a lot of very good stuff inside. I mean, it was interesting from cover to cover. I've just never bought one though. Can you buy it on the newsstand instead of a subscription? Just curious.

[Vickie]

I love my WW magazine. I kept it up even when I wasn't actively pursuing my weight loss program. It's the only subscription I have right now. You can definitely buy it on the newstand because I just saw it at Barnes and Noble the other day.

Speaking of Barnes and Noble.....I just bought another book there on Friday. Jim found it for me. It's called "The Right Bite - Outsmart 43 Scientifically Proven Fat Triggers and Beat the Dieter's Curse". I can't wait to read it. They only thing I know about it is that there are questionairres to help you determine what your triggers are. I think I might be surprised about mine.

[Froufy]

Well it was YUMMY - but boy am I paying for it now! Turns out you didn't have to have the whole table d'hote menu which was a good thing. I had the wild mushroom soup w/vermouth and truffles (they were out of the roasted red pepper & carrot soup which was my first choice). Then I had the fish (anyone ever had escolar? - I have never heard of it before). Anyhow it was FANTABULOUS - two pieces (about 2 x 2 inches) - seared on the outside (crispy) and juicy on the inside - quite amazing, on a bed of white basmati rice and veggies on the side (asparagus, spaghetti squash, beet, zucchini slice and red pepper slice). Now there was some butter sauce on the plate (chive & saffron butter for the fish), and it was quite tasty - but I remember while eating having a flash thought of - "gee this tastes pretty rich - I hope it doesn't upset my tummy seeing as I have not been eating that much "fat" in a while."

NO DESSERT OR WINE FOR ME - which was good (just water w/lemon slice). After dinner we decided to go to a movie! (Hitch - it was pretty hilarious), snacked on a small bag of popcorn and diet pepsi.

But when I got home is when the tummy troubles started - lots of gurgling and fast sprints to the washroom (if you know what I mean! ). Took some pepto bismol and eventually fell asleep - got to sleep in a bit (10:30 am)...and still had some "issues" - more pepto bismol. Trying to do laundry but feeling crappy (and my lower back hurts again - I think this is again treadmill related?).

So had some tea and a bagel about 1 hour ago - and it seems OKAY for now? I really think I over did it - but not so much with the amount of food, but with the "richness" of the food.

congrats to Kierie for the fabulous weigh-in AWESOME job!

Kathy - I also vote for keeping the tree up - you'll be the first on our block to be ready this December! :merry: (gee never thought I would be able to work this one in before xmas! ha ha ha).

And your renovations sound great - I'm sure your dh will be flabbergasted if you can pull this one off.

Vickie - guess your tummy troubles are over? (boy can I relate!)

Angela - congrats on the new SIL in the family - sounds like you will be a great resource and help to her as she tries to adapt to a new home and country! My congratulations to your brother!

DH is taking little one to see the Heffalump movie and they are begging me to come - while I am a bit better (no washroom visits in a while) I'm not sure I'm up to is and I think the smell of popcorn will not help at all!

Altho a good sign is I am feeling a bit hungry now so I might try and find something else to nibble on. Also have all the ingredients for a "weekend soup making" and I want to get that done today too so I have lunches for work.

Also want to make some more (core )creamy brown rice pudding tonight - not sure I have any evaporated milk tho??

Later,

Froufie

P.S. I think I have decided I NEED to visit a warmer climate for a while (the only time I can get away seems to be march break week - might just take my 13 yr old w/me - if she's talking to me that is! ). I hear a beach in Puerto Vallarta calling my name!

[Katpo]

Oh no, Froufy! I'm glad you had a great time during the dinner and movie, and that the trouble didn't start until later on. Poor thing!!!

The dinner sounds GREAT! Fish is my favorite but I don't think I've ever heard of that kind either. You did a great job staying on program!

[mumto2]

Good evening everyone!

I need help with the oil. I just can't seem to get it in every day. How important is it?
Any ideas on what to do with it? I don't really like olive oil, what has the best flavor?

Thanks.
Lisa

[Katpo]

Well ... I'm there with you but when I eat olive oil, I just pretend I'm at Macaroni Grill and have that yummy bread to dip in it!! You have to make sure to get the very best, because there is a taste difference. I drip a little bit on my baked potato every time, and when I have salad I drip a little more on there and mix it up. I also cook my egg in it. I'm sure I don't get all the oil in per day but it's close. It's supposedly important but I don't think everybody does it yet they still lose.

On those same lines, I usually get in my 2 servings of milk but never get in all the vegetables and fruits I'm supposed to.

[mumto2]

Thanks Kathy!
I'm usually pretty good with the fruits and veges; lots of salads and vege soup or cheesy broccoli soup. I also eat a banana in the morning and an apple in the afternoon. Just had sf/ff white chocolate pudding, which wasn't very good; although the dog is acting like a maniac to get to it. I should have made the sf/ff chocolate fudge; that one tastes like the real thing. I lose about a lb. or less each week, and I thought maybe if I got in the oil I would lose more.

Lisa

one for every 5 lb. loss

[Vickie]

AWWWW Frouf, sorry you're sick. I've no doubt it was from the rich food. I laughed when you said you felt crappy....no pun intended, I'm sure! I'm feeling ok but not great. I'll be eating some popcorn to see if I can get things moving . I'm eating enough fiber and getting enough water. I just can't get rid of all that darn meat!

Lisa, I use the extra virgin olive oil because it has less "olive" taste. It's funny, I love olives but I don't want the flavor in my oil. Whatever I cook, I saute in the canola or olive oil...even if the recipe says to saute in Pam spray. That helps me get my oil in. I also have a Core "tweak". My Smart Balance Margarine is largely canola and olive oil. I always use that every day because I need some on my veggies to get them down. I consider this to be my good oil on days when I don't saute. On days that I do saute, then I count points for the margarine.