Good morning Chickies!!

Everyone is so industrious... I am impressed....My willpower for December is fading...I think I am going to take Dr. A's advice and slip into phase 3 for the next two weeks- still stay onplan but not trying to lose and just maintain for the rest of December and then come out blasting in January when motivation is high and start off with Phase 1 again to kick things off right.

We got blasted here with snow storm- I am at work and not looking forward to drive home in a couple of hours- yesterday morning had to drive no more than 45 miles per hour and I have a 35 mile trip home. But made it safe and sound so that is what counts.

Got great news though, starting in January I will be back on days and also be able to work from home 3 days a week- my weekends will be back yahoo.

I hope everyone has a safe and fun filled Sunday.

Dawn, you're super! What a Beachie heroine!!!

Rose, drive carefully! I'm glad to hear you'll be getting better hours come the new year. That makes such a difference!

We've got the house cleaned up and are ready to relax for the evening. 'Nother week starts tomorrow! Three months from today we arrive in Germany!!!

Kara

Good morning from snowbound Delta. It certainly is a storm! Hershey had to plough through a drift on the deck to get down to the yard for potty. I doubt very much that I'll make it to Church this morning as there's a big drift at the end of the lane and more coming down.

So...I'll just have to amuse myself at home today. Yippee! I've got water, candles and batteries on hand in case the power goes out and I can't get to the generator outside. My wonderful neighbour filled my woodbox to the top yesterday so I'm all set.

Somehow I doubt that the sliding (tobogganing) party will still go on this afternoon.

Stay safe and warm if you are in this storm. (We can blame our Texans for this one!)

Ah!!! That makes sense!!! Stay safe, Ruth! I'll give you the synopsis of our chaplain's sermon and that can be your church for today...Jesus made a point of ministering to those who were considered unfit for participation in the church of the day and we should, too, especially if we're being all showy about being Christians at Christmas time (if you're going to put up lights and a tree, at least do what Jesus did in spreading the Gospel).

Have a nice, warm, relaxing day at home!!!

Kara

Schmoodle, just popped in to play catch up, but wanted to tell you how great it is that you got to onederland!! No,not an easy task in December!! So many temptations around!! So proud of you!!!!

Friday night, I had 1/2 a piece of that coconut cake...(I've decided that I will indulge on special occasions ONLY with a taste of a goody) Then last night, that leftover cake was calling to me...I told it to shut up and got a handful of almonds. In the old days, I know I would have given in immediately and scarfed down a couple of pieces. So far, I don't see where a tad of sugar every now and again (and I'm talking about maybe once a month when out with friends or a holiday) is causing any BIG cravings...I guess now my body is used to this WOE and it is very easy to say no. I still think sugar is evil though!!

I found an interesting snack at the new organic store yesterday (which is very she-she...it's in a very old renovated hardware store...very upscale/cool place. Translation=EXPENSIVE)
The snack is called Sahale ksar nut blend. There are 3 sugars in a serving of 1/4 cup, so I divided the 1/4 cup by 1/3 for only 1 sugar. It's kind of interesting..it has pistacio nuts, figs, pepitas and sesame seeds rolled in harissa. (actually, it kind of looks like something you'd find in a kitten's litter box with the sesame seeds on the outside) At first you taste the sweet of the figs, then the hot stuff kicks in. It's interesting. I don't know how anyone would eat a 1/4 a cup of it...a couple of bites is all you need for the "interesting experience". I liked it.

Good morning,

We lost power overnight and the bedroom was pitch dark when I woke up, I thought it was much earlier than it is! We just got the heavy rains and winds from this storm, though. Power is back on, but they say we could lose it again throughout the day.
We're having our big Christmas bash at my brother's this afternoon. I always look forward to it because this is the only time all year that they have the whole family at their house, and it's just gorgeous. Gina always does it up big, too.
I'll be back later for personals. Jake just said he's ready to go to breakfast.

Kim, thanks for the hello! The BF may be cooperative this time around, I was pleased to see him eat the meatball casserole I made with the ground chik, and even went back for seconds! Wouldn't touch the spaghette squash though, he's such a little kid sometimes!

Kara, thanks! I'm humming it now too... no kiddos here yet, so I hope sesame street goes on forever, it's tradition!

Hi Dawn!! Great job on resisting all those super yummy treats! Woo hoo, way to go!

My day yesterday turned out fine. I was a little nervous since I knew I would be home all day, and weekends used to be an opportunity for me to overeat. I kept my water by my side all day, and turned out I did great. The chik meatball casserole was a hit, and turned out, I love spaghetti squash! Who knew?

Morning all :) They were not kidding about this storm. Eek! Everything is closed or canceled and it's coming down. We're all set - lots of good food, water in the tub if the power goes out, and a gas stove. Of course I really hope I don't lose my internet - gotta have priorities.

Yesterday was fun but really, really cold! It was so much fun we might do it again next weekend in another county! I didn't bother to tell people the chili was vegetarian and everyone ate it and seemed to like it. Bet half of them wouldn't even have tried it if they knew :)

I ate my first "bad" food and discovered that all I really wanted was a taste. Someone brought homemade pesto with pasta. It smelled -so- good I had to try it. I ate 4 noodles and was happy. I didn't want more and felt pretty successful because I also ignored the spinach olive pizza.

Rose - I think we have your storm! I wouldn't want to drive in this, looks like it would be tough. Sounds like working from home a few days will really help. My commute is 28 miles each way and I do try to get at least one work at home day week. Works some weeks but not others.

Ruth - all the church services around here seem to be canceled this morning! You reminded me to check on batteries and the lantern. Usually I just go to bed if the power goes out but it does get dark awfully early.

Femme - that snack sounds interesting. I'm going to look for it at our Co-op.

Cottage - have a wonderful family gathering! I think we will have ours the weekend before New Years. My daughter is working the day before and after Christmas so we will wait for her. It gets a little more challenging to figure out every year!

Kara - 665 birds, 28 species. It's tough this time of year in this climate. Our circle had 56 species and anything over 50 is really good for us.

Rubberduck - A funny thing happened in our house. I started SB 10/1 and I cook most of the dinners (I like my own cooking better!). I just made South Beach meals and encouraged my partner to go ahead and add whatever she needed to. In late November she decided to order the same pedometer I have. Now she's eating a more SBD friendly diet and using tracking software for her meals and exercise. Apparently it's contagious. I'm really happy because she has diabetes and I'd really like her to be healthier. So you just never know :)

And now to go find the lantern and batteries!

Waving through the storm at Cindi! Thanks for the reminder about filling the bathtub! City people don't realize we country folk have no water when the power goes out.

So glad your partner is seeing the light about the SBD lifestyle. I am Type II diabetic and it has certainly normalized my blood sugar. Our bird count is Boxing Day. I'm not sure how many species are in our area but I sure have a lot of interesting and varied traffic at my feeder and suet ball.

The power has been flickering a lot so I'll log off and unplug my modem. Hershey and I are snuggy and warm and the toboggan party this afternoon is canceled. It'll be a loverly day and I may never budge 'til Spring!

I changed my avatar to reflect the current situation. My house is a tad bigger than that one but the colour is right and so are the snow banks!

Good Morning-
Just a quick pop in to say Hi. I have to start laundry, cooking for next week, coffee,:coffee: vacuuming, mopping and cleaning the kitchen. Wow I'm already tired from that list and I barely woke up. ;) I had better get a move on it though I have to be done wth everything in 4 hours. Have a great day

I love your new avatar, Ruth, it looks so snug and cozy. Enjoy the blizzard, and stay warm and dry.

Kara, I envy you, going to Germany! We loved it so much that we extended our tour there, and ended up staying for 7 years. We were in Augsburg, at the edge of the Alps, and enjoyed every single minute we were there. I still get a little "homesick", just thinking about all the warm memories we have.

Dawn, good for you, making it through your first round of holiday temptations!

Pearlrose, I wholeheartedly agree with you on doing a Phase 3 throughout the holidays. It's the only way I'm going to make it through all the parties and gatherings we're invited to. The new year will be a new start for me, for sure!

Cat, I've been meaning to tell you how much I enjoyed the pictures of your dinner party and your very lovely home! You really know how to treat your guests!

Cyndi, I'm glad you enjoyed the Christmas Bird Count party. I was telling my DH about it, and he agreed it would be something that we'd really enjoy getting into. Jake has bird feeders all over the yard, and is constantly watching their antics through his binoculars. I'm glad your partner has "seen the light" and has gotten on board!

Rubberduck, now you have me thinking about that Meatball Casserole! I think I'll make it for tomorrow's supper, using ground turkey breast. I'm glad you like spagetti squash, isn't it yummy?

Dawn, have fun doing housework today. The good thing about that is that you'll have something to show for it at the end of the day!

I'm trying to get some laundry done, too, before we head out to my brother's. The rain seems to be slacking off and is supposed to end soon. I was going to take my swimsuit along so I could enjoy their hot tub, but I think I'm going to pass, although I may regret it! I won't have to worry about staying OP, though. Gina is very diet conscious and always has a selection of delicious, healthy options.

Hi, ladies! Yesterday was a big battle as Robert thought he should have 50% custody. He can't afford to support Brian half the time. He said that if I loved Brian I would be willing to pay all the extras like day care, gymnastics lessons and scouting expensive even when he had Brian with him. Brian told him that he didn't want to be with him half the time. Eventually I agreed he could have him every weekend. I do want Brian to have plenty of time with his dad but I realized last night that this means it will be hard for Brian to have a pool party with his friends over since he will only be here on school nights. THis is tearing me apart. I really wish I could just forget everything and live happily with Robert but I just can't. I have too much anger and feel too much stress when I am around him.

On a more positive note, the plaster is done on the pool and it should be full sometime this afternoon. The startup company will come out tomorrow afternoon to teach us how to use all the equipment and set up the diving board and stuff. I don't think we will be using it for awhile though. I had ice on my windshield last night although it is supposed to be warmer today.

Hello chickens, this is the first chance I've had to get back here all weekend. DD has been monopolizing the computer all day.

Kara, rant away, babe, we all need to vent. Better here than elsewhere. By the way, you have steered me wrong (for the first time). I made the eggplant french toast this AM, and as I feared, it tasted like eggplant with syrup - in short, nauseating! I do love eggplant, so I will make it again, but next time with a sausage patty or something savory, not sweet. Next adventure: Bean brownies.
Thanks for your support, Thinby. Now, if you would just have a talk with my scale, and I will do the same for yours. I am not speaking to mine until the end of the week. Good job, hanging tough with the festivities.
Pearlrose, that is my plan, in theory. I'm not worried (supposedly) about losing anything until January, and then will start up with Ph1. HOWEVER, if I am totally on plan for a week, I still think I SHOULD be able to lose a little something, sigh...
Hope you enjoyed your snowbound day, Ruth!
Thanks for the pat on the back, Cat!
Was the party great fun, cottage? How on earth could you pass on the hot tub?
Rubberduck, great news on a successful day! By the way, BF is just being a man. They are all kids at times.
CyndiM, that's wonderful about your partner. I think she'll find that SB is great for diabetics, as my DH did.
Barb, I would imaging that custody issues are one of the most difficult parts of breaking up a marriage. My kids' friends who have divorced parents always have a difficult time missing activities and time with their friends on the weekends. Maybe he could have one weekend a month with you. But you sound like you've got a handle on things, and I know you will make your decisions in Brian's best interests. I feel for both of you, it must be soooo difficult, especially being all in the same house still. I hope you will all get through it without too much trauma and settle back into some normalcy.

We didn't get the wintry mix or ice storm, just lots of rain and wind. But I woke up this morning with water in the basement and my refrigerator not working - only 1 year old! So I had to move stuff to the downstairs freezer and cook some things that had thawed out. We are having a rather strange dinner tonight...
DD had a huge fight with her roommate, who seems to be losing it, so spent lots of time on the phone with her. The roommate asked if her boyfriend could stay for a couple of weeks, which has turned into a month now and decided that DD was flirting with him, so she flipped out on her. DD doesn't even like the bf and is tired of having to make sure she's always fully dressed at home, and tired of being kept awake at night by bedroom noises. Typical college roommate stuff, I guess. I did get to inventory my Christmas gifts and make my final shopping list, just a few things I'll run out for now. Don't think I've forgotten anyone...
DD is staring at me, so I guess I'll jump off now. Need to make sure all my work is done before I settle in for the Survivor finale. Talk to you chicks in the AM!

Oh dear, Schmoodle, sorry about the eggplant. Mine was really mild. I cooked it for A LONG time, though, maybe ten minutes each side? And covered, so it was really soft. That's probably not how it's supposed to be, but I couldn't stand a crunchy eggplant in the morning.

Barbara, I'm so sorry about Robert's attitude. It sounds like he knows he's losing control and he's trying to hang onto any last string of anything he can think of. What a nasty thing to prey on "if you loved Brian". What are you supposed to say to that? You *do* love him and that's why you want the best for him. You are an incredible mother, not that you need me to tell you that.

Linda, hope your dinner party was nice. 'Tis the season for dinner parties!

Cyndi, sounds like the bird count was a success! How was the chili dinner?

I changed my ticker this morning, as I've been stuck above 134 for ten days now. At least this way I will see some progress when I get *back* to where I should be really. It's all a mental game...

Off to do my exercise this morning.

Kara

Barb...maybe you could talk him into every other weekend and one evening a week? That's what we did when my 3 kids were young. They visited their Dad for a couple of hours on Wednesday evening. At first we did Thursday, but then realized that it was hard because they had tests on Fridays at school and his "fun" time was spent hitting the books with them.

The weekend thing is hard...at first...then it's like a mini vacation from all responsibility and I really looked forward to it. Just alone time for me..well, until husband #2 came along and it was like having a built in responsible baby sitter!