mdrai

Pam... I'm embarrassed to admit that I kinda like that song, too... I can't stand the whole Disney "manufactured" pop star machine, + I've never liked her particularly (she talks/sings like she has marbles in her mouth) or her low-brow show... so it really does pain me to "groove" to it in the car! But, much to my kids' dismay, I do! Groove, that is! :thumbup: Judy... Thank you for the text!! Didn't get it 'til this a.m. It's EXACTLY what I needed!... & I'm saving it for EVER and will read and re-read it whenever I'm tempted by baked "bads" (my poor phone will get a workout!). Kudos to you for resisting those items that Bob bought the other day... anything pumpkin & I'm a goner! Ok... of to jump in the shower... or maybe I'll just stand! Man, I'm cracking myself up today!

Happy Thursday, Friends~~ It's my DD Claire's 11th birthday today! She awoke to breakfast in bed (choc chip pancakes (w/a spritz of whip, a sprinkle of sprinkles, and a glowing candle), sausage, & strawberries) and helium balloons all over the house. Her place at the kitchen table was sprinkled with confetti, and her cards and gifts: a print of her & "her" horse, Lady, from the day she found out we were leasing her, and a big wrapped package of underwear (including a fun new training bra)! :thumbup: Ever since we leased Lady, we've been telling DD that that's it for her b'day: a horse & new underwear... so that's what she got! I'll pick her up after school & we'll go to the barn so she can ride... then we'll go to DS's last regular-season soccer game. When we come home, I'll surprise her w/the heart-shaped mousse cake... &, of course, because I can't help myself -- more gifts! Just a few things... hot pink "skinny" jeans & a top, a few books, a Mickey Mouse book bag, purple w/white polka dot muck boots, + a gift cert to the stable store (she needs a new helmet & a crop). You didn't think I could really give her just a horse & underwear, did you?! My baby girl... growing up so fast! & yet I stay so young & youthful! :crying:

((Hang in there, Janie)) ... Drat it all, Judy... why didn't you say anything about the cookie DOUGH! :thumbup:

Oooh la la! Was Holly there, too?

Good eve, Vi's~~ Another good eating day... B=van/chai pro shake, L = 2 scrambled eggs w/tom/olives/feta, S = no sugar added fruit pop, D = 1 salmon/crab pinwheel. Oh, and a 100 cal vitatop. But wish me strength, because tonight and/or tomorrow morning, I must bake at least 10 dozen, and perhaps 20 dozen, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for the HS soccer teams for tomorrow night, + DD's 11th b'day cake, which will be a chocolate mousse cake in the shape of a heart. Help me!

Ack! Holly tickers? Already? It isn't even Halloween yet! I'm not prepared for holly season... or any of the jolly things that go with it! Ack again, I say! But yay, Janie, on figuring it out! Judy's a copycatter! :laugh: Wow Suzy, good luck with all that! :smile2: Hi Haydee, Laura, Pam & Heather! :thumbup: Crossing my fingers that I can get through Day 2! Everyone make it a great day!

Good Eve, my lovelies... I did it! I got through the day w/eating well! Yay me! B = van/chai pro shake, L = tomato bisque soup, 7 low-fat triscuits w/a little cheddar, S = choc vita top, D = van/chai pro shake! Phew! Day 1. If I can do 1, then I can do 2, right?? Am watching Biggest Loser for motivation right now. I agree, Judy... small goals. My first is -10. I'll just keep taking it 10 at a time 'til I'm where I want to be!! I'm going to focus on getting my eating back under control this week, and then add exercise next week. I keep telling myself to just not fight it... to just go with the flow... be gentle with myself... surround myself with positive info... and then my mojo will return. We are all going to look smokin' @ Haydee's wedding! Sweet dreams!

Yes, this is my mental game as well. Once I've eaten something I think I shouldn't, then all bets are off for the rest of the day and I eat EVERYthing in sight. Wacky! I know that 99.99% of my food "issues" and problems are in my HEAD, not my gut. I need a brain band! LOL! Sounds like we're in the same place... which is good to know I'm not alone... but I also want each of us to succeed... sigh... So here we are... a new day... new vows to myself... & I mean them!... ugh. My weight/dieting/failing color every freakin day of my life and I wish it didn't. I wish I could just finish what I've started this time and be done with it!! ACK! Ok... back to work... sipping on a vanilla chai protein shake... mmmmm (really -- I love them!). I'm glad there wasn't twitter, etc., when I gave birth... that takes TMI to a whole new level! :cursing:

Quick check-in to say: I am the world's worst bandster. Period. I just can't seem to do this anymore. And it's getting bad. So bad that my clothes are starting not to fit. Each day I start out all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and "on the wagon" and "today's a new day" and by 3pm I've caved into something... today it was a vat of nachos, then chocolate. I suck. Seriously. What is wrong with me? Why can't I do this? Ugh! <End of pity party>

Good Monday Morn, Vi's~~ Sounds like everyone had a pretty good weekend! Me, too. This morning I'm taking DS "down the road" (aka "to the big city", lol) for a cardiac stress test... he has a slow heartbeat and gets dizzy sometimes and so has been to the cardio and now they want this test done... it's ironic, as he's the most physically fit one of all of us! I'm confident it'll be fine. Other than that... it's looking like a regular week on tap! Everyone make it a great day/week/last two weeks of the month!

Happy Happy Birthday, Haydee!! :thumbup:

hmmm... I have this vague feeling like I'm supposed to pm someone... for something... sometime... hmmm... :confused:

Good Friday Morn from Panera, Vi's~~ No school today (state teachers' convention)... but those crazy soccer coaches moved practice from the afternoon to 8:45am :scared2: so after dropping off DS, DD & I decided to hang out here 'til it's pickup time. She's reading a book, I'm noodling around on the Internet, sipping a ginsing honey tea... mmm... trying to be good!! It's bustling in here! I wonder if it's always like this on Friday mornings? After we pick up DS, then it's off to the mall for some winter coat shopping -- always a good time! Then DD has her riding lesson. Another busy day! Everyone make it a good day!

Good Night Vi's! Sweet dreams!

Mmmmm, cake. :eek: I'm a good friend. So maybe I should help Haydee & taste some, too! Cuz' it'd be helpful. I know, I'll be in charge of tasting cakes here in Md, so Haydee doesn't have to travel to do it. I know, I know... so thoughtful of me. :thumbup:

"The Middle" reminds me a bit of "Malcolm in the Middle"... it's got that off-kilter family thing going on... DS's team won tonight, 4-2! Poor DS tho... as he was bending down to catch the ball, a kid on the other team barrelled into him cleats up into his face! DS was down on the field for a minute or so (always feels longer than that to me!), coaches went out, & when DS got up he told the ref that he wanted to stay in the game... ref said he could've -- except for the blood dripping off his face! Turns out the kid got him in the forehead but good! DS has 2 perfect circular cleat marks in his forehead, and then a small but deep cut slashing through his left eyebrow... & it's all swelling up now w/a black & blue left eye. Lovely! He'll wear it as a badge of honor tomorrow. (No stitches, just a butterfly bandage.) Kids!

Phew! Finished 2 chapters. Now I'm off to take a shower (yes, I'm still in my jammies... gotta love working from home!), get dressed, pick up DD from school & take her to riding, then go to DS's last home soccer game... brrr, it's going to be cold!... hope it's as exciting as the last two have been! Then home, bake a pumpkin crunch cake for a friend and one for the teachers' dinner tomorrow night, then bed! Another full day!

Raise your hand if you can tell that I'm going loco editing 40 pages of nothing but legal footnotes! (ugh, I don't have time to go find that smilie... imagine it's here!)

I love cake. :thumbup:

"just a smidge" :thumbup:

Laura... the pix link didn't work for me earlier, but after Haydee just posted I tried it again and it worked and may I just say that Carson is ADORABLE!! What a little buster he is!! So cute! Haydee, what's a pocket invitation? Mmmm cake testing! Mocha w/cinnamon cream cheese icing! mmmmm.

I read The Help at the end of the summer... didn't Laura read it, too? It's good! I kept being surprised & having to remind myself that it's set in the 1960s, in my lifetime... I felt like those folks were living in the '20s, that that couldn't have been that way since I've been alive... but I guess that was the South, so... Yay, last payment on your cruise! How exciting! Ok, back to work now... bbl...

Good Morn, Vi's~~ It's the first teacher-conference day today, so school starts 4 hours late... so we're all taking it slowly & padding around in our bathrobes & slippers... feels funny to do that on a Tuesday! Make it a good day!

Heather... My condolences to you & your family... lots of purple power & good thoughts being sent your way!! Laura... Yay on the surgery! While on liquids, remember that the FUZE slenderize raspberry/acai & vodka (which you say is conveniently open!) on ice is a QUICK, yummy, sweet drink! ... What kind of gyno do you go to?! (Oh wait, that smilie's using the wrong body part!) Haydee... I was @ the mall today too, shopping for a Sweet 16 b'day. Remember my friend w/the dd who was at the mental health facility in Utah last year? Well, today she's 16 & doing great. She invited our family to join her b'day dinner tonight @ our fav Chinese rest. I ended up getting her a bunch of $16 gift cards from all over the mall... + I'm going to the rest. early w/a dozen helium balloons & confetti & party hats, blowers + a Coldstone cookie dough pie! Janie, you make the BEST margi's!! mmmmm! Hi Pam & Judy! Off to wrap up the cards & get over to the Dollar Store & restaurant (right next to each other). THEN DS receives an Academic Excellence Award for last year's GPA tonight @ 7pm. So proud. Then home & BED! Busy Day #1 will be done!

Good Monday Morn, Vi's~~ Pam, glad you enjoyed the weekend! Now back to the little angels... or do you have off today? Judy, glad your concert went well... I bet your talents brought joy to those in attendance. Janie, you're right... I was in HS when the first "Fame" came out!... I hadn't thought of it like that... hmmm... I remember how great the music was... Haydee, Laura, Heather, Suzy, & everyone... make it a great day! It's a fresh, brand-spankin' new week -- make the most of it! :sad: