It's Biolage for me, at least until it runs out, which means in about 2 more shampoos . Anyone have any recommendations for color-treated hair? (Of course I'm assuming that the rest of you do it) I sometimes use Loreal Colorvive but find that after awhile it makes my hair a bit rough. I have to change brands almost every other time just to shake things up a bit and get rid of buildup. I will spend a bit more money for a salon brand if it keeps my hair smooth and helps hold the color.

Cherie, that sounds like a nice relaxing weekend you had. What?!! He doesn't introduce you as his girlfriend? Isn't there a movie just out that a boy & girl are great 'friends' and don't see that they are perfect for each other? He does such sweet things for you I'm sure you're more than just a friend to him. So Hannah's gaining her wheels huh? Doesn't that give you such a proud, happy feeling? I hate watching my son ride his bike, he seems so reckless. I hate to watch and see him injure himself, I'm such a wimpy mom--the kind that says, 'stop that, watch out, be careful!, etc etc etc' which of course takes the joy out of whatever he's doing. That's why he likes when my sis takes him to the park, he can run, jump, climb as high as he wants without the frantic shrieks from me

Julie, thanks for the good thoughts I love that Clinique basic soap and toner combination thing w/the snotty yellow colored moisturizer That stuff works great. Other than that, I just use cheapy Covergirl foundation...I'm not too picky about my makeup (when I wear it that is). Man, I totally envy you guys living in or near big cities that have cool amusement parks and HUGE shopping malls *pout* . Wisconson Dells, Water park capital of the world!!! I saw part of a Travel Channel(?) show about that town. It is just amazing! Do share if you guys do go there.

Well, gotta get some work done. I'll try and pop back in later. Have a good one.

Noelle... here is proof: http://www.alanchavis.com/music/ look at his 4/9/05 entry. See what I mean? I am just his friend. We will have been dating for three years come June 7th. Oh well... must practice patience.

And I totally LOVE the yellow moisturizer from Clinique.. it's like a drink of water for your skin.. Hahahahaha.. Yeah.. I used to sell it!

Oh.. and you are complaining about all the amusement parks... don't you like, live by the ocean and the beach and the volcanos and all that really cool stuff????? With like PERFECT weather all year long?????? HELLOOOOO! You've been in one mall, you've been in them all..... I'll take your beach!

And yes.. she does make me proud... I am really hoping she gets the hang of it soon.... she really needs a new bike, I think hers is too short for her. Maybe for Christmas I might be able to swing it.

OK.. back to work..... Oh.. Alan is baking cookies for his neighbor that moved in a few months ago. He is a pro BMX racer (a bike I guess) well, Alan met him last week for the first time.. and had found his web page. Seems his neighbor wrote something about Alan in his Blog regarding how unfriendly all the neighbors were when they moved in, and how the guy across the street from him had CA tags on his truck, so he must be just as stuck up as himself. However, when he got new neighbors he was going to welcome them right with a basket of cookies or something... Anyway.. I told Alan, he needed to make the cookies and take them over to him and say something like, he had to wait to get his Friendly Okie Tags and get rid of those stuck up CA tags before he could come over! I think he will take them over today! Should be a nice ice breaker.

OK.. back to work.

Cherie

hi guys! I am a little gloomy today. It is school vacation week this week so I have been hoping business would pick up a little. Well, it was pretty slowgoing today. I watched these 3 women drive up to the restaurant across the street and the driver sat in the car for a long time looking at our front. They went in and ate their lunch and then came out and wenst shopping in the gift shops. About an hour later I saw them drive off. Well, when we were leaving to come home to start cooking we ended up behind them and they went into my MIL bakery!!!30 miles away) I am so beyond mad I can hardly type this. To add insult to injury they bought donuts!!!! The same exact donuts I make.(I supply my MIL bakery too). I dont understand why they wouldnt at least try us and judge for themselves if they like it or not. How are we supposed to make a living if everyone only will go to her? I dont mean to sound petty but damn it that pissed me off so bad. I can handle being slow until the tourist season starts but to actually see someone leave my area and go there right after was just too much for me to take today. My stress levels are building up right now. I am so far in debt with all the new bills that have come up with opening and the lack of funds that it is getting to me.

I will post later if I can. I wished I had more time to actually keep up with you all. I feel like I am losing touch.

((Hugs)) Angie, a big one!! You have a right to be mad. I would be too. I wonder why they went to MIL's bakery? And you are making her freakin donuts?? I feel for you. I hope and pray that with summer coming up it will pick up. I know it will. Don't worry. I know it is easy for me to say but I believe like you said you will be so busy this tourist season. Chin up and I am thinking good thoughts for you. I am surprised you even have time to post, with kids, new business, dogs, husband, a house on the market, working your butt off cooking....whew....that tires me out thinking about it. You just post when you can and I am always so happy to see when you do .

Cherie, three years and not a girlfriend introduction?? As sweet as you are, we have to have a talk with that guy . Just kidding, I know he is sweet, and that was nice of him to bring cookies to the new neighbor. Things like that are always so nice to do. Btw did you get your tons of water in? I got mine. Lets get chugging girls.

Noelle guess what?? I use covergirl foundation too. Sorry I don't have any tips on hair shampoo for colored hair, I don't color mine . You are welcome for the good thoughts. I wish a better week for you honey.

Okay girls going to get going. I might tune in to the trashy Bachelor show?? Don't know yet. I had some eggs for dinner. Dh had sausage on rolls with fried onions and chips. I didn't feel like eating all the grease. My stomach has just not been right lately. It was so beautiful again here today and my face is bright lobster red from being outside with my babes. It is burning. I put my my oil of olay on it to try and help. Well early morning will be here before we know it. I want to try and get at least 5 hours of SLEEP!! Have a great night girls. Hello to everyone else.

Good Morning! Today is the 10 anniversary of the OKC Federal Building bombing... and since I live in OKC... well, that is surrounding me. So, I am feeling a little sad today. I remember where I was when this happened. Working at IBM in Dallas. So much happened to me since then, and so many changes have happened here in OKC too. The memorial site is simply outstanding. It takes your breath away and leaves you speechless. There are two walls that face each other.... and inbetween, a shallow reflecting pool. On the side, there is a grass area around the wall of what was left of the building. On the grass are grainte chairs, one for each of the victims, and smaller chairs for the 19 children that died that day. One of the walls has 9:01 on it, and the other wall has 9:02 on it. It symbolizes a moment in time, that moment changed everything. Anyway... I've been there twice, and broke down and cried each time.. and I haven't gone to the musuem yet... I couldn't imagine how NY feels. Anyway.... the mood around here this week has been very somber. It's also the 12 anniversary of the Branch Davidian's raid in Waco.. (which is the reason for the bombing in OKC) and I remember hearing about that as well.. being in my car waiting to pick up lunch.. I lived in Texas then too, so it was really close to home.

Angie.. (((((((HUGS)))))))) I feel your stress. I hope that things turn around soon, and the slow season ends. I understand your frustration about people not trying your shop. Maybe you can sit a table outside and offer free samples to get them in the door, kinda like Krispy Kreame does with their free doughnut ..... then let the word of mouth take over. Also are their any town events coming up that you could set up a booth? We miss you here.... and appreciate any time you can come in and say hi.

Julie.. I watched the Bachelor. Well.. sorta watched it.. it wasn't that great last night.. no surprises..... next week with the family dates, it might be interesting.

I did do my hour on the treadmill last night. I walk 4 miles an hour at 6% incline.. then during the commercials I jog 5 miles an hour at the 6% incline. I didn't feel like I got such a great workout last night... guess I didn't sweat enough. Tonight, I am going to try to lower the incline and jog more than walk. I did stay OP all day long, and plan on staying OP until this weekend. And I am drinking my water. That isn't something that is hard for me. Only on the weekends when I forget about it.

OK.. we have auditors here today, so I better get back to work! I hope everyone has a great Tuesday!

Cherie

Everyone must be super busy today! Anyway... I'm bumping us up so we won't fall off the first page. You must all be watching the news today! Big News Day!

OK.. back to work... I've drank my water, and I've stayed OP all day.....

Hi. You guys are my best friends in the whole wide world!!!!! I am so thankful that I have you guys to lean on when I have bad days where I just want to sit back and cry. I am feeling better today, I guess I had a little meltdown yesterday. But I just cant believe them women. It is one thing to think some people may do it but to see it first hand is really offensive. My MIL is just as stumped by it herself. She is telling everyone that her son owns the bakery in Greenville. We had a few business owners in today and one really hit home with me. She said it is so slow right now for her that she has a hard time getting up and forcing herself to go to work so I guess it is like that everywhere up there right now.I cant wait till the summer crowds come and I can make stuff and sell it quickly.

Cherie, You are way more patient than I am. Me and Jay got married 2 years after we met. I think we only waited that long because we couldnt get legally married until we turned 18. hehe I love hearing about all the things you guys do. You sound like you have so much fun together and are such an active couple. Me and Jay are couch potatoes. If we arent working we are watching tv. I even had cable hooked up at the bakery.

Julie, It is beautiful here today too. I am crossing my fingers that the bakery stays cool inside all summer because it is like 70 outside today but we had to turn the heat up today because we both had goosebumps. Wouldnt that be awesome during the summer. Now I am home and I am so hot.

Noelle, How are things going out your way? I liked the IRS joke that was too cute. How are your kittens doing? I bet they are getting big

Kempy, Where did you go? Did you leave us again?

Well, I gots ta go get some work done. Talk to ya later

Angie, I love you honey. You can always lean on me....sorry I did not get on until late today. Whatever you need to vent, a shoulder to cry on I am here for you sweetheart.

Cherie what a sad day for the nation, country and all those who have lost lives and loved ones. It must hit home hard that you are in that same city. I heard the memorial site is breathtaking.

Noelle how are you doing today beauty? I heard they elected a new pope while I was in the waiting room at the doctors. He is German. I hope he has values and is so caring and wise as our dear last Pope.

Kempy did you leave again?

Well girls it has been a crazy day for me. Ds had school. I had things to do around here and I had my yearly. I was pretty darned pleased with the weigh in. Could have been worse or could have been better. I just like my doctor so much. I have such a cute doctor. Makes me feel little embarrassed or shy . I got to loosen up. I mean I have given birth to two kidos. LOL. He has teddy bear hands and is so gentle and nice. He is a really good listener too. Not the kind that says legs up okay your done. Haha....well enough about me. I ate whole bunch of chili and noodles for dinner and a loaf of homemade whole-wheat bread. I might make some sort of dessert tonight because I have been so stressed I feel I need a treat. I will just have to use portion contorl. Luv ya girls. Check back soon....J

Oh girls I shouldn't have been bad and made treat night tonight after that huge supper, I should have made the dessert on a light supper night. I made brownie cookie crust topped with peanut butter cheesecake with ice cream on the side. I full so ick. I wish I could get it all out of me!! I actually feel like I could get sick. My body was used to not eating that amount of food and I stuffed my stomach. Oh well I guess I will take some pink stuff or tums. Neither sound good. I hope everyone has a great night. Tomorrow is hump day. Half way through the week!!

Angie that is funny you had to turn the heat on in the bakery. I was cold this morning. And then it got warm and muggy. It is raining right now. I don't mind though. We need the rain so bad. At night dh and I like to turn the heat on or switch back to air conditioning. I just can't sleep feeling to warm. Anywhoo....I hope it stays cool in the bakery for you. You will have to get some of those huge fans.

Well guys ds is shaking the rocking chair I am on and it is making me feel like I need to puke. Sorry TMI!! I know it will pass if I sit still long enough.

I will blab more later.

Noelle don't forget to watch AI tonight. It was pretty good. Okay really gotta go. I feel so nauseus. Uugggg....

Good Morning everyone! It's Wednesday, not much new going on. Last night I did my 20 minutes of Pilates, and I ended up doing about 80 minutes on the treadmill, I went 6 miles. I started and just stayed on until the Amazing Race came on. I also stayed OP all day long... not much good it doing however.... not sure what is wrong, but I am not losing. In fact, I was 2 pounds lighter on Saturday than I am today, so not really sure what is up, but I'll continue. I figure my body has to give up fighting me for the fat at some point and just give in. Selfish *****.. hahaha.. wanting to keep all the fat for herself.. while I want to lose it. yeah... I'm not crazy, nor do I have dual personalities... just a little flustered that is all. :-)

Angie.... I am trying to be patience... there is a difference when you are young and never been married, and now after being divorced and there are kids to think about. Its a whole different ballgame. You just can't move in together and live.. it's harder now with the kiddos.

Julie.. Congrats on the great weigh in at the doctor's office! Fantastic! Oh.. and your dinner sounded wonderful. Again, you make the best food. :-)

OK.. well, I am going to get off here and start working. I'll check back later!

Cherie

Good morning girls, I was on here yesterday but the computer ate my post and I didn't have the time to retype it, grrrr. I stayed home a little longer to watch the news about the election of Pope Benedict XVI. I am happy we have a new leader for our church but he sure has some big shoes to fill.

Cherie, you are exercising a lot, maybe you need to up your calories to adjust for that? Were you the one w/the CalorieKing subscription? or you could use fitday to record your food. I know w/WW, they allow for activity "points", say for moderate exercise at an hour or so intensity, you could earn 3 points, or roughly 150 cals (I'm generalizing here). I know that when I stayed OP and exercised alot but didn't eat my activity points, my weight loss slowed. Just a thought. I am still extremely saddened by the horror of the OKC bombing and 9/11 in NY. I can't imagine how it is at the actual sites.

Angie/Cherie, Rick and I dated for 6 years before we got married. Of course I was 17 when we first dated, and I still thought 23 was too too young to be getting married , but I didn't think 19 was too young to be moving in together Girl, you know you can lean on us anytime you have to and we love you too. Look on the bright side, summer is coming up fast

Julie, congrats on your docs appt! I knew your diligence would pay off on the scale. You're lucky(?) to have a nice doc. I never had a male OB before, at least yours is good looking. Remember that movie where was it Richard Gere was the OB and all the women would come into the office for all kinds of fake ailments just to be in the examining room w/him? So what did ya think of AI? I missed Constantine but watched most of the rest. I wasn't too impressed w/anyone except maybe Bo--he's got it going on.

Well, times a wasting...gotta get moving. Hey to Kempy, Gina, Summer, Cal, Dips and everyone else.....lets get posting.

Good Morning Girls

How is everyone today?? I am feeling so much better than last night. Wow that was a rough night!! Glad that is over. Felt like motion and morning sickness combined. Maybe it was a twetny four hour thing, I don't know. It is all wet and rainy here so I don't feel like going to the bank like I should or taking the kids outside to play, they would just tear up the grass that is just starting to turn green.

Cherie, maybe you know you are retaining water or gaining muscle?? I can go up anywhere from two to five pounds. Don't get discouraged. You are doing great. Thats for the kind words on the weigh in, like I said not what I wanted to see but I will take it. And thanks for the food compliments, I would love to have you over or better yet cook some dishes up for Alan's parties. I love to cook. Tonight I might make a spaghetti/pizza casserole or mexican lasanga.....don't know yet. Are you drinking your water , I am but I had a huge glass of iced tea so I am going to have to make up for the caffeine in it. I was going to ask you are you on a specific diet plan? Cutting out any foods or anything? I am trying moderation. I don't want to cut out fruit and whole grain cereals and breads because of the fiber....ya know??

Noelle I had to mention to you I am one of those mom's too that get worried easy. If my ds is climbing to high or playing in the mud(I know you got to let them be kids!!). I am a worrier. But dh is just like just let them be kids. I just would hate to see them get held down for stitches, knock on wood has not happened yet . How is your week going. Noelle AI was pretty good, I was eating my dessert during it so I caught bits and parts. I hope Scott gets voted off!!

Kempy come back come back .

Check back later. Kids are asking for lunch all ready!!

Noelle you and I must have posted at the same time. I think Bo is great too. Richard Gere?? My old gyn who delivered my dd looked just like him!!
Have a great day girl. I totally agree this new Pope, he has big shoes to fill.

Cherie, I agree with Noelle, never thought of it but you are excercising more and maybe you need to eat more calories so you body does not go into "starvation" mode. Maybe up them to 200-400 calories a day. They say the more you eat the more you lose?? You may want to try it.

Well kids are really hungry gotta go feed the babes.
Check back later.

I am keeping track of my calories at calorieking.com.. and it's great, I am having a balanced diet I think, 20% fat, 20-30% protein, and 50-60% carbs. I have upped my fiber to where I am getting 25 gms a day. My calories have been a bit on the low side, and it's hard for me to get it through to my brain that if I eat more I will lose more... I mean.. isn't that what got me in this situation in the first place? EATING TOO MUCH? Hmmmm I have added a South Beach Protein Cereal bar to my daily diet (I eat pretty much the same thing these past two weeks, and not that much different from before) so it's getting me closer to my daily allotment of calories. Maybe it will help.

Julie.. I love to cook too. However, when it's just the girls and I, I don't cook that often. I find that I am wasting money and food, because they won't eat it, and then I eat too much of it. For the past two weeks, I've been on a cooking strike. They don't seem to mind, and I am not eating crap. I am drinking my water.. I have no problem with that... can you drink too much water? I have this insulated cup that will hold 4 cups of liquid. Now I add ice to that, so it's not exactly 4 cups... however, during the day, I try to drink from it all day long, and I am always refilling it... maybe three times, sometimes four. Once I get home, I have the same cup that I fill up and drink with my dinner, and while I exercise.. and I normally have to give myself a little more during that time. So could I be drinking too much water? I find the more I drink water, the thirstier I become.

OK... I had lunch.. lean cuisine pizza, 1 oz of 2% cheddar cheese, and dannon light and fit apple yogurt with fiber. (that is my normal lunch, a LC of some sort, cheese and yogurt) I have a pouch of tuna and my cereal bar for snack later in the day...

OK.. back to work. Spaghetti.. that sounds good J. What exactly is mexican lasagna?