ooo cool will have to have a go @ that pie....

The ID Escentuals is mineral make up - also jane Iredale does it. Have not tried but sposed to be v good.

We have Origins over here redsox, yes. NOt sure about it. I have only tried my friend's stuff and was not that impressed. Someone mentioned Benefit - yes I have a pressed powder in a nice pale yellowy shade that 'softens' my redness. I look quite pale now!

Lou - if you want to add a bit of a twist to the pie you can dry fry the oats for a few minutes until they taste sort of toasted. If I've got a few spare calories I also add in a few chopped nuts to the topping.

Taking a leaf out of Helen's book (or trying to) I've been searching round trying to find an organic veggie box delivery company and I just don't think they are that far evolved around here. Anyway... I did manage to find this place - The Fieldgate Centre - which is just off DH's route home, only about 5 mins away by car. I'm looking forward to trying out the organic vegan cafe - I love that sort of thing. Do you think they'll kick us out when they find out we eat meat?

Although.... we did get stuck for 20 minutes behind a lorry blocking the lane who was delivering pigs to an abbatoir the other day and the screaming as they came out the lorry was horrendous. Its like they knew what was going to happen. I've been completely off meat ever since.

Frus - my DH does that 'one more sleep' thing as well! He nearly drove me nuts with it in the lead up to Christmas.... he was even texting me with it while he was at work.

Bad news.... we've cancelled our February / Anniversary holiday. We'd got the same cottage booked as we went to last year and were really looking forward to it.... then we paid the balance and the paperwork mentioned two dogs... so phoned them up to tell them about having three now and they said its not allowed. They checked and there aren't any holiday cottages available for that week that accept three large dogs. So we had to cancel. There's no way I could put any of my dogs in boarding kennels.

Awww that's a shame about the cottage

Mum and Dad would let you have the doggies I bet Look up Rosedean on Sykes cottages - in Goathland. Don't know if they're booked up for then or not, but I will put in a good word for Ellie, Fred and George!

I was feeling a little down in the dumps about kickboxing and just a bit bored and restless so I put on the llama song and that cheered me up somewhat, but what REALLY cheered me up was ordering 2 dresses and a hoody from TOPSHOP
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/st...6613&langId=-1
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/st...0185&langId=-1
http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/st...8729&langId=-1

I'm not sure the polo neck dress will fit since I've ordered it in a 12, but we'll see.

Thanks for the suggestion, Jen, but looking at the Sykes website I think its already booked up for that week. Apparently the problem is insurance - most places aren't insured for three dogs.

MIL, bless her, has offered to have all three for the week - can you imagine it - she's a tiny little soul, less than 5ft and weighs about 7st soaking wet with boots on. There's no way she could cope but so very nice of her to offer.

Ooohhhh!!!! I like the dresses....

Yeah it does looked booked, sorry

MIL with Ellie - I can only imagine! Although she could ride her out on her walks!

Has anyone else been watching The Truth About Food ? Very interesting series - especially the part in last night's programme about creating cravings by forbidding foods but still having them in the house. (That part is just here)

Ellie is just about the right size for MIL to ride. George and Fred are very careful around her, they seem to realise that she is 'fragile' but Ellie... she just does her normal bouncing around. We should have called her Tigger (from Winnie the Pooh).

That's an interesting concept. I can't remember where I heard this, (maybe read it on here actually...) but here's a story.

Parent has small child who is putting on a bit of weight. I think the child is about 5 or so. The parent is concerned and restricts sweets and snacks etc. The child is particularly enamoured by M&Ms. The parent takes the child to see a doctor and the doctor suggests that the parent fill a PILLOWCASE with M&Ms and let the child carry it round with her all the time, so that she can eat M&Ms whenever she likes. The parent is initially horrified by this, however the doctor reasures her that eventually the child will get fed up of M&Ms and will regulate her eating with regards to her appetite and stop moaning about M&Ms since she has access to them 24/7. The child did regulate her weight and happy ever after.

What hit me was the pillowcase of M&Ms! Can I have a pillowcase of M&Ms?

What's the story with the permenance of Ellie at your place now? Was her owner coming back for her or not?

Yes, I've found it really interesting. I spent part of my workout this morning trying to work out what food I'd choose if I had to limit myself to 10 and live off them for a week. I might post them once I've worked it out (I've got about 5 or 6 definites, then a few others to work out which ones I could live without).

Is that ANY food or healthy food?

I'm sorry to hear about the cottage Sarah .

Pretty dresses Frus.

I had my bi-yearly appt with my supervisor at the gym, we did body fat tests/measurements etc. There was good and bad news. My last appt. was June '06.

The bad news is I haven't lost any more body fat and most of my measurements are the same.

The good news is I lost two inches off my waist (!!) and 1/2 and inch off my calves. I was mildly surprised to say the least.

We talked about stress too, the last half of 2006 was not good for me. I had been having a lot of problems in my personal life, questioning my marriage and my decision to live in the states and had been feeling very confused and homesick. He said that stress can have a big impact on weight loss and even though I was eating good and working out, the stress I was under might have contributed to me stalling.

This year so far is much better and I'm definately feeling less stressed and I'm working through the problems I'm having so .

I also have a new strength plan and it involves power lifts! I'm really excited about this. My new swimsuit arrived and thankfully I guessed the right size and it fits, so week after next after TOM has gone I'm going for a dip in the pool.

Sorry to ramble so much.

Right I've got my 10ish foods and I've just looked through fitday and it seems that I only really eat these foods, plus extras like a biscuit or nuts or dried cranberries!

1) apples
2) bread
3) chicken breast
4) eggs
5) oats
6) cottage cheese
7) grapes
8) lettuce
9) pecan nuts
10) EITHER jaffa cakes or dried fruit of some sort

M&Ms - yuck!

We still don't know about Ellie's future. Her owner didn't get the extension on his current contract and hasn't heard yet whether he's getting the other 6 month contract in the Middle East that he applied for. I did email him to say that we can only keep her as a 'paying guest' for 6 months because we are getting so attached to her and her to us. We've also said that we'd love to buy her off him so we can keep her permanently but he's ignored that. Fred and her always sleep either in a big heap or close enough so that they touch each other - I think he'll die of a broken heart if she has to leave ....

I'd NEVER have agreed to this if I'd known the problems we're having now.