[Froufy]

Better late than never! Well decided to stay home today - after a late night up (reading and shooing dd off the computer as she tried to finish a project due today), woke up w/a headache and called in sick (I'm such a wuss!).

So while I was hoping to sleep in - dd missed the bus (of course she would given her late night) so I drove her to school - but decided ahead of time to have breakfast (cottage cheese/pineapple) and pack up my walkman, water bottle and head out for an early morning stroll! what a great idea that was!

Went to our "riverside" park - the funniest is when I realized I had no pockets on me (white polo t-shirt and black capris) so had no idea what to do with my keys? First I tried hooking the keychain onto my walkman cord but that sure didn't work?? So I took the keys apart and just kept my car key - and put it in between my bosoms.... Nicely tucked into my bra and cleavage and wasn't going anywhere? ha ha ha (and I think there was this guy in the parking lot kinda wondering what I was doing!!!).

The weather was gorgeous this morning and the park is full of newly hatched canada geese (goslings?) and a few baby ducks - all cute and fluffy! Also saw two chipmunks and the groundhog family that lives in the rocks by a bridge! I was actually feeling pretty warm after my 45 min walk and the sun was beating down on me so I should have also brought along some sunscreen?

Rewarded myself on the way home with a stop at Starbucks for a decaf lf cappucino and my apple.

While lunch was okay I did pigout a bit on popcorn and diet pepsi...so much so that I wasn't really hungry at dinner time - ate some of the leftover bbq chicken I was serving ds and finished off his corn on the cob. Had some grapes and a sf/lf fudge bar for dessert, and later another decaf w/cream when I drove 18 yr old to a meeting.

All in all not a bad day - but probaby should have had more water and less soda. There were a few times today I just wanted to EAT - for no real reason as I was not really hungry so I tried to fill up on the popcorn and other stuff...but it was HARD - I kept wondering why it was I did not have to gain weight? What a much easier task that would be for me!

Vickie - sounds like you did great at your bbq and are quite water logged!

Angela - have fun on your trip - sounds like you have done some great planning to make sure you stay on track!

Kathy - back away from the marshmallows! That sure sounds like something I would do. I am being very diligent in staying out of pantries and kitchens esp when I am feeling vulnerable cuz things just seem to jump into my mouth!

As for dd driving - I know how stubborn kids can be - I agree with a tune=up to ensure everything is in working order - at least that will put your mind somewhat at ease?

Melissa - your recipe sounds yummy and I'm glad you enjoyed your day at home.

As for the chicken - I have a grill thingamajig but I did not use it for the chicken - instead I sauteed the breasts in a bit of olive oil in non=stick pan - just kept flipping them so they did not burn.

I think I need to pop some tylenol again and get to bed! Catch up again tomorrow!

Nitey nite

Frouf

[aghiowa]

Good morning chicks! We're setting off on our grand adventure this morning, and I'm getting my pre-trip jitters I always get. I really don't like traveling, especially spending the night away from my own bed. Oh well. We will have a great time, and everything will be fine, right?

I have my snacks packed, my meals planned, and my resolve tuned up and ready to use. I'm just hoping the kiddos aren't SO excited they flip out.

No one else is up yet, but dh was snoring, so I couldn't sleep any more. He didn't snore when we got married!! Kathy, I feel your pain!

I think I'm going to rest a bit on the couch before making my malt o meal.

If I don't get on before I leave, see you all Wednesday night or Thursday morning!

Angela

[Vickie]

Good Morning All! Angela, I just wanted to hurry up and tell you to have a fabulous trip while I see you are still online. I'm sure everything will be fine. You sound so much like me.....such a planner and a bit of a worry wort! Try to chill out and have fun. From what I have read you will do great on program. I have good success in restaurants and they can be VERY accommodating if you just ask. I do remember one question you had about oatmeal. I never use the packets. I use 1/2 cup of quick cook oats and 3/4 cup in the microwave for 3 minutes. You have to have a really big bowl (like a serving bowl) though or it will cook over. We'll miss you while you are gone!

[Monkeypoodle]

Hi all,

I'm just catching up from the weekend, but I saw that some folks were looking for a crispy chicken that didn't require the GF grill. I made a fabulous pan-fried chicken, based loosely on Vickie's recipe plus a recipe a found in a WW cookbook. I'll post it.

Will check in later. Have a great Tuesday all!

[Vickie]

So, I had a great shopping trip even though it started out badly. Nothing good at the Avenue, Catherine's or Lane Bryant. Had a lovely lunch out with the Sister, Niece, and Great Niece. I went to my Catherine's on the way home and bought 6 tops and a pair of capris or "capretties" as my Great Niece calls them! Probably only spent about $100 for everything. Good sales! One nice thing about living in Chicago is all the great plus sized choices.

Melissa, I hope your refrigerator is now smelling sweet! I don't know how to crochet but would love to learn. I think it would be good to keep my hands busy.

Kathy, what a few days you have had! I'm glad your DH is home safe and sound. Sounds like he wasn't very "sweet" when he got home. Shame on him for complaining about that nice meal you made. I am SO lucky. Jim is very helpful around the house. Sometimes I have to ask him to do stuff but he is always willing. I don't think they see the same stuff that needs to be done like we do. Jim does almost all the laundry every week and most all of the grocery shopping from my lists. I think it's because he lived on his own for so long in between his first and second marriage. I need to appreciate him more. And then, there's your ex DH causing you all that stress with the trip and your DD's. Hope that is all resolved. Sounds like you have a good plan. As for the lean cuisine, I'd count a couple of points for the thickener and be done with it! I think the work you do for charity is very wonderful. You seem like you are a real good person. BTW, it was also very nice of you not to gloat about the Rangers kickin our butts!

Sandra, hope you had fun at your friend's house for dinner. Did you post the dreamsicle cake recipe? I know it isn't Core but it's nice to have a couple of wonderful WW options instead of full fat full sugar cakes. My fingers are crossed for your goal of a new state record. Score one for womanhood! I do have a great Core Spaghetti meat sauce. If I haven't posted it already, I'll post it later today. I'd love to make the granola but I'm afraid it will be a red light trigger food for me.

Frouf....you lost 2 pounds....are you kidding?! That's great! Congratulations! It's great that you got rid of 2/3 of your gain already. You should be proud of yourself. It sounds like you had a nice unplanned day off. I hope you aren't working too hard today to make up for it!

Linda, listen to your hubby. I'm sure he knows what is best for you!

Well, I have a huge trip to Walmart planned for today. I need to go shower so that I can leave as soon as the guys are done opening my pool. I'm so excited. I hope we get to use it more than we did last year. It was unseasonably cool here last year and I think we only got to swim about 4 times. Jim and I like the water really warm and I'm too cheap to buy a heater. We just use a solar cover which usually helps enough.

Have a great day and I'll check in later. Hope I didn't miss anyone!

[Froufy]

Angela - hope you have a fabulous time - don't fret, just enjoy!

Vickie - congrats on the fabulous shopping trip - sounds like you got some great bargains...and I am so jealous of your pool. I too hope you are able to enjoy it a lot (how much does a heater cost anyways?). My SIL had a lovely pool put in 2 summers go and she actually keeps it very warm as she has a disabled son who uses the pool for therapy. We do "invite" ourselves over a lot in the summer and she seems to enjoy the company - only about a 20 min drive from our place. She has a beautifully landscaped backyard w/pool, trampoline, gazebo, deck and lounge chairs - only problem is food of course - we are careful to always brings our own stuff so we can at least control some of what we put in our mouths - and of course don't want to be seen as moochers! ha ha ha

I am at work today and just finishing my breakfast (at 11:30 am) slow munching froufie. I am hoping to FORCE myself outside shortly to go for a 30 min walk before eating my lunch! It is getting pretty warm these days so will soon have to change my walk schedule to after dinner - today it's going up to 24C (around 78F) and tomorrow I'm pretty sure I'll stay in cuz it's supposed to be 27C or around 85F). Love the gorgeous weather tho and looks like a nice weekend shaping up after around 4 weekends of rain!

I am getting so very excited as my gf and her daughter are coming up from Toronto on Friday - I am like a maniac trying to get everyone to clean up and get the house organized. Cleaning lady coming on wed and I have warned everyone that after that no eating, drinking, pooping or messing up anywhere in the house!...ha ha ha. Told them they all have to eat over the sink for a few days - we'll just take turns!

Also getting so excited for dd's dance recital - they are usually so good and such talented kids - this year is the first year I will be "surprised" as I did not see the dress rehearsals! Of course by the 2nd show on sat I'll be an old pro!

Time to find my runners!

Frouf

[cher123]

Wow you guys have been busy again. I've been away for the whole weekend, so I'm not going to try too hard to catch up except to say good for you, Kathy, for rejoining. I hope it gives you a boost.

I did manage to make my 20 pounds, which felt good. I already see that I'm going to need to work to hold onto it though. I'm just beginning to see that I have a tendency to slump once I've reached a goal. Have to get out of that habit before I reach the big one!

I'm not going to join the challenge this week, because I haven't been able to shop. I'm kind of Flore-ing it for the next few days I guess, but I am going to try not to go off the deep end. Dd's birthday is this Friday, but the party will be after WI.

[ontarget]

good morning. dh and i are up and are heading to the archery shop to practice. we normally practice about 5 days a week. did i tell you he's coached a couple of students who have won world championships. one 16 yr old girl just won indoor world over in denmark back in march. she's quite the shooter.

angela, have a great trip. i know i'm posting this too late for you to read, but i'm thinking about you.

vickie, i wish i could have been there to shop with you. we don't have much to choose from for plus sizes in western montana. i did most of my spring buying while we were in texas april.

vickie, please do post the core spaghetti recipe. i'd love to have it. i will go post the dreamcicle cake recipe later today. dh is waiting on me right now so we can go practice.

terry, will you also post your chicken recipe?

frouf, congratulations on losing those 2 lbs. don't you feel great knowing core works? sounds like you have a fun week ahead. enjoy your gf and all the festivities.

cher, i love your "flore-ing it" term. congratulations on making 20 lbs. that's quite the achievement. you have to be proud. i know what you're saying about sometimes "losing it" after reaching a goal. i do it, too. do you think we're rewarding or sabotaging ourselves? i can't figure it out.

got to go. dh is standing at the door. i'll be back later.

[Monkeypoodle]

Hi all,

The holiday weekend was fun -- so good to have the time off. We grilled a couple of days and I discovered the yumminess of marinated grilled fish. I think summer eating is going to be easier than winter eating, 'cuz so much of the traditional picnic food is core and all these wonderful fruits are coming into season.

I did 9 miles this weekend, which means that next weekend is the big 10 mile milestone. I'm actually kind of looking forward to it.

Of course WI is tonight, so I'm freaking out a bit. I didn't cheat, but I don't feel any lighter and I'm not noticing any difference in clothes. I tell myself it's going to be fine, but I still have WI on the brain all day.

Frouf, your ticker shows that you've gone to onederland! Is that true? Congratulations! I'm imagining how that must feel. What a wonderful thing!

Cher, you've made 20 lbs! Congratulations on reaching that milestone!

Sandra, the recipe is on the Core Recipe thread under main dishes. Enjoy.

Vickie, sounds like you found a few nice things shopping. BTW, enjoy the pool. Looks like our warm weather is finally showing up.

Kathy, you rejoined? Good for you. I know I need the accountability.

Melissa, thanks for posting the recipes. I love Mexican food and just recently found a soy cheese that works nicely wherever you need sharp cheddar.

Linda, I hope work wasn't too tough. You seem to be doing well with planning your meals and such. I hope it pays off for you.

Everyone else, hope your Tuesday is a great start to this short week.

[Froufy]

Hi again,

Terry - congrats on the 9 miles and moving up to 10 - WOW I am really impressed! As for my ticker let's just say I am currently hovering in wonderland (between 199-200.5) and don't want to change my ticker just yet - hoping to move it more to the right asap!

Cher - Congrats on reaching 20 lbs! Good for you.

Sandra - have fun at archery practice!

Well I did it - went for my walk, but this time headed thru the neighborhood, to the river - yes we have lots of "riverside" parks here - there is a parkway/thruway about 1 mile west of the gov complex and I found an underground tunnel under the highway to the river and bike paths and walking paths- wow - so pretty and I was not the only one as many gov workers were biking or jogging or walking or just enjoy the picnic tables and sunshine. I also found a parking lot and was thinking in future of driving my car there (about 1/2 mile away) and then walking and bringing my lunch w/me to enjoy on the grass or a blanket? I think this might work so I don't have to waste 10 mins there and 10 mins back walking to the river? Or is this too lazy of me?

Bad news/good news: well when I finished my walk and was heading back I realized somewhere between here and there I had lost my PASS - yes my gov id and building pass which are clipped onto one of those stretchy holders was gone!!! YIKES. Good news is once I got in the bldg noticed phone messages one of which was a fellow who had already found my pass (string had broken). So back out again to pick it up (he was kinda cute too!). And my team mate even found a new stretchy hookie thing so I am back in business.

Just finished lunch (bbq chicken, pasta w/veggies) and dessert (banana) and need to guzzle more water before 2 pm meeting.

Think it's time for a new board???

Frouf

[Froufy]

We're moving again - come join us on Core Board #19!!!