Mmmmm, , there's nothing like that first sip of coffee in the morning! Just think, next Monday we'll have gotten a whole extra hour of sleep.

I'm off to Curves first thing, and then waiting for Cindy to call to let me know what we're doing today. The girls have a day off school, and we thought we'd do something fun but haven't decided what.

So how's your day shaping up?

Good Morning cottage, you early chick. I'm eagerly waiting for my first sip, DH is making a cup for me. We had a busy and productive weekend around the house. DD decided not to go to Hershey Park, so we got yard work and housework done, and caught up on laundry. I even had a chance to go out and do some shopping as I've been threatening for weeks now. I went to try on the new jeans at Lane Bryant. I'm a red 2. The saleslady told me the reds were the same cut as the old jeans, so I guess I don't gain anything from the new styles. But I noticed a couple of racks of the old sizing jeans and she told me they were marked down to $9.99 to clear them out. So instead I got 4 pairs for the price of the red jeans, 2 for now and 2 to shrink into. Gotta love a bargain like that! And I was happy to note that I'm a comfortable size 16 now, down from a very tight size 20. Couldn't find any tops small enough (hee), so I think my shopping days at LB are numbered.

It is 30 degrees here, just turned on the heat. Brrr... Looking forward to a balmy high of 50-something. Hope it warms up for the trick or treaters! Ick, Monday, well let's get to it!

Good frosty morning from The Great White North. We are well below freezing and Hershey rushed through potty time this morning to get back into the house. The furnace and a mug of coffee sure is nice. I wonder if she'd like a cup.

Sunny, clear and cold is the prediction for the next few days so I may get a chance to do a bit of garden clean-up. Just sweeping the leaves and pine needles off the deck will be an improvement. I'm afraid my sore knee is really hobbling me this year. Once again I am begging off gym - it just hurts too much.

Painting class is this afternoon and I must go. Lugging all my stuff is a turn-off. I should be painting miniatures instead of large canvasses. The class is in a Church basement and usually takes two trips up and down the stairs. I need servants - or a cabana boy!

Hmm - I sound tired and grumpy this morning. I think I'm tired after a busy weekend. Dog testing yesterday may have done it. I evaluated 20 dogs and passed 14. The six who flunked know what to work on for next time. (One woman was a complete idiot and I'm hoping she'll give up! Her dog gets a bag of popcorn every night and then she wonders why it poops so much! It's a King Charles spaniel that weighs 11 pounds. Duh!)

I'd better grab another coffee and try for an attitude adjustment before I crank up the day.

morning chicks...hopefully I will be here more often after today... DH is picking up my new glasses. So maybe I won't get a blinding headache everytime I go on the computer for more than 5 minutes. I only need them for the computer, tv, night driving and reading... I actually have better than 20/20.
Cottage- have a good time working out at curves
Schmoodle- Congrats on the jeans... love getting a good sale. I really need some new jeans. Wish I could find a great sale.
Ruth- I will send you a cabana boy to help carry all your painting stuff and to wait on you hand and foot. Enjoy your paint time today.
Me- Not much, just trying to get things cleaned up and organized before I have a bunch of company this week end for my big birthday bash. I am getting so excited.

Have a great day chicks got to dash cause I can feel the headache starting.

Morbid Monday is Here!

Cottage: That first cup of coffee usually gets me going right away as well. I finally worked out this morning, so I'm already going. (I wonder if I should have a second cup...) I hope you and the girls find something fantastic to do!

Schmoodle: I see that you're so much closer to our Christmas challenge than I am. I've been slacking of late. I don't know if I have time to catch up to you, but I'll try. Congrats on going from 20 to 16!! What a huge accomplishment!

Ruth: Ruth, I'd send you a cabana boy, but I think in that weather, he'd have to bundle up so tight that he'd just be "boy". I hope you stay warm up there - we're sitting in the high 30's-low 40's and I can barely stand it!

LC: I'm glad you're getting your glasses today. I have to wear corrective lenses all the time, but I definitely know about the bad headaches one can get from not having them or having the wrong prescriptions. Some of my worst migraines have come from wearing temporary contacts that were off just a bit until my prescription came in. Hope the new glasses work wonders! Your party this weekend sounds exciting!

Me: Well, DH and I had a good weekend at his friend's house. It was nice to pretty much relax and not do anything other than help out with some minor cooking and washing up. Very relaxing, indeed! Sad thing was, we got home and the house was a wreck! That's on the agenda for tonight. If I have time after that, I'll finish up my costume for Wednesday. I decided to go to work as a geisha and have almost finished my "kimono". I just need to run to the store at lunch and find the finishing touches. I even bought a wig online. Work should be a riot that day!

On the weight front, no good news here. Seems my body got used to the meds and adjusted for the metabolism hike before I got my butt in gear. Now I'm playing catch-up to get to my Christmas goal. I've got 15 lbs. to lose to hit it, so, time to get in gear!!

Hope everyone has a great day!

~Kim

Good morning all! Its a soggy one here this morning and suppose to be that way all day.

cottage hope you have a great workout at curves and the rest of your day is great as well

schmoodle cold weather is not for me guess thats why i still live in florida. good luck with the housework

ruth grab another cup, enjoy your painting and try to stay warm

littlechick congrats on the new glasses, hopefully we will see you around here more

kim glad your weekend went well and hang in there on the weight thing it all happen in due time

Hope everyone has a great Monday!!!

It's cold and it's Monday. UGH! Add to that a horrible weekend of eating and I am right there with Ruth on the grumpy side of life. DD wanted homemade donuts yesterday and I caved. It's a recipe I grew up on, made in my moms 25 year old donut maker. How can you resist when it brings back so many memories of sunday mornings growing up? I feel a trip back to phase 1 in my near future!

Cottage Hope you find something fabulous to do today!

Schmoodle Great buy on the jeans and congrats on the size drop!

Ruth Here's hoping the coffee gives us both the attitude adjustment we need!

LC Hope the new glasses are the answer to your headaches. We miss you and your cute little graphics!

Kim Wishing you luck on hitting that christmas goal! Know that we are all here cheering you on!

Gonna Hope you have a great day.

Phone is ringing already, guess I better get this monday morning rolling. Be back later.

Hi, Cottage! Thanks for the reminder about the time change...I would LOVE an extra hour of sleep right now!

You're not kidding, Schmoodle...it's cold! I left the windows open on Friday and when we got back last night, the house was pretty cold! We turned the heat on too. Congrats on the size changes! You're well on your way to shopping in the Misses section...I've seen some that go up as high as 18! LB makes their sizes about an inch bigger than the same size in a regular size, though, so keep that in mind. It's SO exciting to not fit into anything there, though they have gorgeous clothes!

I dunno, Ruth, but the cold makes me kinda cranky, too. So do goofy people like that woman with the spaniel--a bag of popcorn a night??? Yikes! I hear you on the cabana boy...I need a personal porter to accompany me through airports and carry my suitcases. Hope your day turns out well and your knee stops hurting soon!

LC, it'd be great to have you around more often! I hope you have a phenomenal time at your birthday bash this weekend!

Kim, those mini-goals are so inspirational...I know you'll be back on track before you know it! Your costume sounds great!

Gonnabe, I'm awfully jealous! I was in Orlando over the weekend and it was so balmy and warm! We got off the plane here and were hit with 30* weather! Enjoy the heat!

Hey, Pacer! Don't beat yourself up over the donuts. That just makes you feel worse and leads to more eating! Instead, see what you can learn from it--one, that you are more vulnerable to foods that are connected with good memories, and two, that you are also vulnerable to making off plan items for your family. You might want to talk with your husband and explain the basics of SBD (if he doesn't know them) and ask him not to request off plan foods. You may want to refrain from making things that are connected with happy memories--or modify them so they are SBD safe (or at least SBD friendly). You could make the doughnuts with splenda and whole wheat flour and fry them in peanut or canola oil. It's still not something to eat every day, but nothing to feel really guilty over, I think. I've found it easiest, usually, to modify the recipe so I can have it without (much) guilt. It doesn't always turn out the same, but it usually turns out well.

Me:
Had a great time in Florida, but didn't get much sleep. We walked everywhere and so my body feels all beat up, too. I realized I had a flat tire on my way home after work on Friday, so I took our other car to the airport. Now we have to deal with the flat...DH took me to work, which meant getting here an hour early. I'm beat! I think I'll be crawling into bed as soon as dinner's over tonight!

Nevertheless, it was good for DH and I to get away together. We had so much fun just relaxing and joking around. I'm really looking forward to Halloween...we're handing out mini tubs of Play-doh and glow-in-the-dark bouncy balls. As a backup (if we run out of play-doh), we have mini microwave popcorn packets. I got another set of votive candle holders to hang on stakes in the yard, too. It'll be fun setting things up, though it'll be a little crazy since I have to work that day. I think I might have to skip the gym that day and go on Thursday instead. It's hard when life intervenes!

Have a great day, chickies!

Oy! Just got a call that Harry is in Emerg at the Brockville Hospital. It doesn't sound too serious but....

Maybe my grumpiness was a premonition.

Ruth, I hope it's not anything serious! Let us know, okay? Hugs to you!

GonnaBe: Thanks for the encouragement!

Pacer: Mmmmm. Donuts. Food porn!! I bought a box of Krispy Kreme's for a fundraiser. It was delivered last night and I dropped the box (minus one for DH) at the food bank this morning. Had to get it out of the house!

Laurie: I'm glad FL was fun for you and DH! I'm definitely envious! Sorry about your flat tire and I hope that it's an easy fix! The city here decided to do trick-or-treating this past Saturday. DH and I were out of town, so we didn't partake in the festivities. We're still traditionalists and are hoping some will come around on Wednesday. Have fun setting up!

Ruth: Hope everything's okay with Harry. Keep us posted. Sending good thoughts your way! :

~Kim

Pacer stay warm & have a great day

Beachgal glad you had a great time in orlando - we are due to go in december. Hope your day is well

Ruth keep us posted. Your in my thoughts

Had a great workout at lunch did 32 minutes on the elliptical at level 6. Yes it is still raining here sure does make for a blah day. Have a great afternoon!!!

Hey ladies!
Just a quick pop in. Just got back from a run and I made it all the way. I wish I didn't work such odd hours that I could do it at least 4 times a week, but I don't think that getting up at 4:00 in the morning and running in the dark would work for very long.

Ruth, hugs are with you and Harry! Be sure to stay warm.

Cottage, enjoy the day off with your girls.

Schmoodle, congrats on the shrinking jean sizes!

little chick, hope the glasses fix it!

kimstar, your costume sounds darling. I think I'm going to go as Thing 1 and dh is Thing 2

gonnabe, way to have a great workout! gotta love being DONE!

pacer, sorry you had difficulty with the donuts, but what fun memories!

beachgal, Florida sounds like it was wonderful, sorry you had a flat, enjoy your early to bed tonight

Well, I'm off to get laundry done and straighten the house.
Hugs to all

I HATE COLD!!!

Ok, now that that's out of my system...

Hiya girls! Sorry I was MIA over the weekend. Just way too much fun. I pooped out at 9:30 last night and slept all night long and I'm still wiped out today.

Gazillions of pics taken this weekend but the only one I'm going to post is of me and Addie, my niece. It's a little out of focus (Dad wasn't wearing his glasses so it looked good to him) but it's a cute pic. She's so sweet!

Gotta get my wall done. Love Mondays!!!!!

Lisa