30 lbs is an awful lot in that amount of time - I too would presume it was noticeable unless she was very large to begin with? In any case good for her for at least trying and making some changes!

AFTERNOON HAIR REPORT (yes I know you have all been waiting with bated breath ): so I went out for a walk at lunch - specifically to go to this newstand which has international papers and magazines so I could get the Toronto Star (supposedly w/ds' picture in it). I knew it would warm up today - but it was downright HOT AND STICKY - I was roasting the moment I stepped outside. So how does my hair look you might ask? Like CRAP!

It's all curly and frizzy and flat looking - now I am not sure if it is entirely the fault of the new product? But really now I think in the past (with other products) I probably had some curls due to humidity - but not as noticeable or as bad as today! I can't stand it and will not have time to do anything with my hair when I get home - as I have like 15 mins to change and be ready to go! (ya right!). I don't even want to use this product again - but I guess I will? (maybe on sunday when I have no where special to go!).

Picked up some hummus and couscous salad on way back to the office - and did I forget to mention that the NEWSPAPER STORE had a sign on their door when I got there - STORE CLOSED AS OF JUNE 1ST!!! Can you believe this? (ya so my hair got all yucky for nothing!). Ds did call from downtown (got himself a $250 suit!) and I told him to try and find the paper there!

Time to head out and fight some traffic. I am looking forward to dinner out - guess at this point it doesn't matter if we sit out on the patio or not? (can my hair get any worse?) ha ha ha

Frouf

P.S. Open doors list: http://ottawa.ca/residents/heritage/...gs_ls_en.shtml

Hello and greetings from sunny (and very warm) Acapulco!!! Sometimes it takes me a while to read the messages and post replies, but I hope this will help with the cats in the vegetable garden: I plant garlic, garlic chives and even "decorative" (at least that's the name they use in Mexico) garlic plants around the vegetable garden and it has helped a lot, specially with rabbits, squirrels and gophers... I'm not sure about the ctas though, as I have 8 little and very mischievious dogs, and they might have something to do with keeping the cats away....

I'll have to go to the supermarket real soon: both my sister and my father are doing some other diet and I have to buy core food.... I was very well behaved in the way to Acapulco, by the way: no junk food on the way, just some fruit salad

My father is calling me, so I'll post later...

Maggie

Frouf, what would we do withouth your humour? Do you ever try to work with your curls? There are so many products for that, and then you don't have to worry about the humidity? Hey, with global warming, that might be the answer!

Angela, I cannot believe that you didn't have a donut but CONGRATULATIONS! I, too, might have felt entitled since it was my birthday.

Kath, did you get started on the quilt? What a great idea for matching pieces. It's good of you to help Judd. It's hard to hang on to those precious losses.

Saundra, you avocado salad sounds just delish. I wish it didn't sound like a lot of work just for me. Jim won't eat avocado or shrimp unless it's fried. The furniture won't even be inspected until June 15th. If they can't make it work properly, then we'll get to select a new style sofa and loveseat.

Melissa, we have Farmer's Markets all around here just about any day of the week. My town's is on Friday and the neighboring town is Saturday. Maybe we should go tomorrow. I'm sure it's too late for your dinner but I make a fabulous (if I don't say so myself) meat sauce with a pound of ground sirloin that just requires an onion and about 4 or 5 cans of different kinds of tomatoes. It's really yummy over ww rotini, makes multiple meals, and freezes. Or you could make the polenta pie. That freezes too and could be lunches for both of you.

Frouf, I hope you were able to make some quick repairs to your hair and that you are already enjoying a lovely dinner as we speak. We look forward to your review in the morning.

Maggie, congratulations for doing so well while in sunny Acapulco! What kind of dogs do you have? I have a Scottish Terrier dog and a Scottish Fold cat.

We've finished dinner and I'm very satisfied and closer to full. I'm still trying to master that part of the Core program. It's especially had for me when it's a Core food that I like alot. Tonight it was the corn cakes. They were deelish!

I'm off to watch the Chicago White Sox play Kathy's Texas Rangers. I'll be back in the morning.

Paula, we'll see you when you get back from your shifts!

BIG NEWS: DH has decided to do core with me!!! I promised him that he wouldn't have to count points, so he won't be counting his extra 35 wpas, but I'll sort of keep track of what we should eat out, etc so he doesn't have to think about it. But once he gets the hang of it he will do great. When we did south beach he was better than me about keeping up with the "rules."
Just wanted to share!!
Oh, and we're going to the church gym tomorrow to work out. Ya-hoo!!

Rangers and Sox are tied in the 7th -- I just stopped in to see if anyone was here. Miami just won their Eastern Conference game so they're going to the finals. Now tomorrow night is going to be more of a nail biter! If Dallas can win it, we'll play Miami and that scares the pants off me. I don't think we have anybody to match up with Shaq. I guess we'll see though ...

Our dinner was really good. Judd didn't get home until around 9:00 and I just decided around 8:45 that I was giving up on him. I started cooking the fish and squash and he walked in just in time, so at least it was nice and fresh (and hot) for him. The fish was great but next time I don't think I'll put any cornmeal on it; I'll just sear it in the olive oil. Flounder is such a mild fish and I think I could eat it every day. Yummmm. The pinto beans were also good and fortunately there's lots of leftovers so we can have them for the next day or so. I'll make the corn cakes when I reheat them. I decided not to make them tonight.

I guess I'll get back to the game and see you all in the morning. We'll hopefully get lots of errands done that have been put off. I think when we go to Pottery Barn I'll see if I can find Kate a surprise for her apartment. Poor thing has been a little depressed lately so maybe that'll cheer her up. She feels better physically but still dislikes her job. I think she'll be alright though.

Melissa, good for him! I'm sure he'll do just fine! I told Judd today that I was "putting him on it" and he said ha! When I said he would have to have oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, he said no, he'd continue to have his SF shakes. Well, excuuuuse me! I'll have to see if I can make it work for him but probably it won't. He still wants his shakes and PB sandwich at lunch, and that would be more than the 35 WPAs. He would probably do okay at Flex but would expect me to keep up with his points and I ain't gonna do it!

Kathy, I will have to try flounder. DH thinks salmon is the only fish he likes, because it's not fishy.

I'm looking through all of my core recipes and feeling overwhelmed! It's like I'm starting all over again!! It's exciting though.

OK, I'm a meal-freezing virgin. Do I completely cook the meals and then freeze them? Or mix all the ingredients, freeze, then cook them? Or does it depend on the recipe? Sorry for the silly questions.

Yeah. I am assuming that DH won't follow the "rules" exactly, but at least when we're eating together he will know what we're trying to accomplish and I'll be able to have a little more control over our eating situation. I expect him to "cheat" but I know it will still help him out a lot, especially if we make a commitment to exercising together.

Hey Kathy (wonder shopper) do you have any suggestions where I can look on-line for a cute goal dress? I haven't found anything I like (reasonably priced that is!) yet.

It really does depend on the recipe. Things like meatloaf and meatballs should be cooked first. Also casseroles with cheese should be cooked first for better quality later, IMO. Actually, I can't think of anything you'd assemble and cook later.

If you have room in your freezer, you should start saving vegetables. I used to do this when I cooked for everyone. I had a big ziploc freezer bag and would put every little bit of leftover vegetables in it, even if it was 14 kernels of corn or 3 green beans. I just kept adding and adding, and when it was full I made soup.

A goal dress ... hmmmm. I usually buy dresses at Steinmart (do you have those there?) but they don't sell online, I don't think. I really like Chadwicks too, and they have very cute dresses. Yes, I think Chadwicks is my answer.

This is my favorite. I used to have 4-5 of these in all different patterns and colors:

http://www.chadwicks.com/product.asp...roducttypeid=1

That's a great tip. I have heard that before but forgot about it. Thanks.

I went to chadwick's and didn't really find what I was looking for.

Well, shoot. Okay, I'll keep thinking.