MIZ60

Day 22: No real Thanksgiving memory really stands out for me at all. Every year was exactly the same....but this is funny. On holidays, my mom always fixed a pickle tray with several kinds, including black olives. I have loved black olives ever since I can remember. I remember thinking they must be super expensive since we only had them on holidays. When I got older and realized that they were not expensive at all, I pointed this out to my mom and asked her why we did not have them at other times. She said it was because no one liked them except me. Thanks mom!! And, guess where that pickle tray is now...

No but I will check it out....thanks!!

Day 19: I am most grateful on a daily basis for the collection of lip balms that I have everywhere I go. My purse, my bike purse, my bedside table, my car, Jim's truck, etc. My lips just constantly feel dry even though I am well hydrated. I think it is an age thing.... B-side: My personal opinion " Don't sweat the small stuff...and it is all small stuff" I just have no patience with people that are constantly in the crisis mode. I feel a lot of empathy for some on here that are younger than me and so much more challenged by health issues but some just need to get a grip.

Yes!! I thought maybe a thicker fabric and a darker color might be a lot better.

It may be just because I am looking at the picture on my big home monitor but I can clearly see where the pads are and I would not want that myself. It looks nice from the side though.

Of course!! This was 3 weeks ago on her 10th birthday!!💖💖

Day 20: I am most grateful for my sweet mini schnauzer Bella in my daily life. She is such a good girl and always makes me smile. She follows me around the house and always want to sit with me (even on the toilet) . B-side: It is hard for me to decide because they are both appealing. Fortunately, I have been able to eliminate most of the bad stuff (Kettle chips and chocolate candy come to mind) and found slightly healthier alternatives.

Well, it does cook some in the process once you put the filling in it but I never really thought about it. I did it the same way even when I used graham crackers back in the day. The way my mom made it as well. I suppose you could bake it some and watch closely since nuts burn easily.

The splurge item(s) I am most grateful for are the various pieces of beautiful jewelry my husband has gifted me with over the years, for birthday and anniversaries. Some of it is only worn on cruises or other dress up events but a lot I just wear almost every day. I can still remember the occasion for each piece being given and how special it made me feel. On our first anniversary, he gave me beautiful diamond studs and I gave him---wait for it---a bottle of his favorite cologne. We still laugh about that one.

For the crust, I use about 1 cup each almonds and pecans (raw) ground up in the food processor with about 6 T melted Butter and a little splenda and just mix it and press it in the pie pan, freezing until ready to bake. Better than graham cracker crust!! And very few carbs!!

The recipe I use is above and it is sooooo good. I make a nut crust using ground up almonds and pecans, melted butter and splenda instead of the cookie one because I like it better. Sometimes, before baking I take part of the batter and make it chocolate and for a marble cheesecake. Topped with some fresh or frozen berries and sugar free Reddi Whip and you would swear it was the real thing. This comes from a site called genaw.com/Linda's Low Carb Recipes. It is pretty high in fat which may be hard since you have GBP and no gallbladder but I would think you could get reduced fat cream cheese. I only eat about 1/12th of it at a time and no problems.

MOM'S CHEESE PIE Low carb cookie crust, optional (I used Ellie's Peanut Butter Cookies) 16 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 1/8 cups granulated Splenda or equivalent liquid Splenda Dash salt 3 eggs 3/4 teaspoon vanilla Topping (optional) Topping: 1 cup sour cream 2 tablespoon granulated Splenda or equivalent liquid Splenda 1 teaspoon vanilla Crust: 1 1/2 cups Ellie's Peanut Butter Cookie crumbs, about 16 cookies or 5 ounces 6 tablespoons butter If using a crust, melt the butter in 9 1/2-10" glass pie plate using a microwave. Add the crumbs and mix well, then pat over the bottom and about 1 inch up the sides of the plate. Press firmly and evenly into the pan. Freeze while preparing the filling. In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the Splenda, salt, eggs and vanilla and beat just until well-combined. Pour into the crust and bake at 350º 20 minutes. At this point the filling should be pretty much set but not too firm. Remove from the oven and let cool 15 minutes. Meanwhile, raise the oven temperature to 450º. Mix the topping ingredients and spread over the pie. Bake 5 minutes. Cool, then chill well before serving. Makes 8-12 servings Can be frozen (see note below) With granular Splenda: Per 1/8 recipe: 484 Calories; 45g Fat; 11g Protein; 10g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 9g Net Carbs Per 1/12 recipe: 323 Calories; 30g Fat; 8g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 6g Net Carbs With liquid Splenda: Per 1/8 recipe: 469 Calories; 45g Fat; 11g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 6g Net Carbs Per 1/12 recipe: 313 Calories; 30g Fat; 8g Protein; 4g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 3g Net Carbs

Day 18: What trait do you have that you are most grateful for? Gotta say that it is my ability to find humor in almost anything. I love to laugh and make other people laugh and I am pretty good at it. I tend to befriend others that share my sometimes warped and inappropriate sense of humor. Life is hard and serious enough... No worries about T-Day lunch since I will be cooking and everything will be on plan except the gluten free cornbread dressing that I have to make since we love it and I will only eat a tablespoon or so. Also making a sugar free cheesecake that is delicious and a pecan pie for Mr. since it is his favorite (no temptation there since I hate pecan pie) .

Day 17: What about your job are you most grateful for? I am grateful for my job as a pediatric nurse/nurse practitioner because it has been such a rewarding and sweet career. I can think of so many special people and moments that I have been privileged to share over the past 37 years with the wonderful kids and families that I have worked with. Sure, there have also been some sad, stressful and heartbreaking moments as well but those have made me develop skills to be helpful in those situations. I could not imagine anything else being my life's work. It is truly a blessing to take care of kids. How are we doing Team? Mostly okay except for failing on exercise due to the frigid temperatures (not a valid excuse because I have a nice elliptical and a weight bench within 5 feet of where I am sitting🙄) and overindulgence in alcohol. A few minor slip ups with food...I have lost about 2# since the challenge started. Need to do better.

Day 16: Band I am most grateful for: I had to think on this for a bit since I love many types of music and have many favorite bands and singers. Then it hit me....I am most grateful for these two since they are dear friends and I never get tired of listening to them. I have know Allan for 32 years and his partner LaDonna for 15 years. I am very grateful for their talent and friendship.

Day 15: What about your body are you most grateful for? That it has been able to recover from years of me being morbidly obese and inactive. I honestly had almost lost hope that I could be active, pain and drug free and do whatever I wanted physically. In the past year and a half I have had a huge metamorphosis even though I am still considered obese. I am trying to be grateful for the progress I have made even though I am far from my goal. I do still get hangry occasionally (mostly when away from home and close to mealtime)--yesterday we were out and about in Austin and then went to a Mexican restaurant for a late lunch. It was about 1 hour later than I normally eat lunch and I was super hungry. Of course, I ate about 10 chips with salsa before my food arrived and I was so full I could only eat a little of my chicken and shrimp fajitas. I did avoid the rice and flour tortillas though!! Edit: I did not do anything about the rejection thing because I could not think of a single rejection I was grateful for other than all the frogs I had to kiss before finding my prince. 💖

The season I am most grateful is fall even though it tends to be hit or miss here. So nice to have relief from the hot, humid days of summer. Fall in my part of TX can be anywhere from the 20's to the 90s, often in the same week. I also like the colors, smells and flavors of fall except for pumpkin spice.....yukkk🤑 My hair was difficult in middle school because it was before blow dryers and hot rollers. I had long, thick, curly hair and when I washed it I had to use old fashioned brush rollers and try to sleep like that. I had it cut pretty short about 5 years ago and no longer fight the curly/wavy thing. Like many, I lost a LOT of hair in the first 9 months or so but it seems back to normal now. My hairdresser agrees that it is pretty much back.

If you do the buffing cream like I do there is no need for the UV light. Melanoma is a nasty, nasty cancer.

I just got mine done yesterday. I have used the dip exclusively for about the past 2 years. My manicurist just buffs the surface with buffing cream and they stay shiny for 2 weeks. I keep them fairly short due to my job.

Madison is a really pretty town. One of my cousins and her husband/son/family live in LaCrosse which is also beautiful. I love the drive over the Mississippi River...

Yes they do. My cousin's husband worked there until he retired a few years back. My aunt and uncle are retired dairy farmers and moved to "town" quite a few years ago when they sold the farm to some Amish people. I was born in Milwaukee and lived there until I was 4 and we moved to Dallas TX. Visited every summer until I was grown up. Still go every couple of years.

Day 12: Well, we had Whataburger last night for a treat for Mr. since we were unable to go anywhere due to the nasty weather. I ate 1/2 of a patty melt (no bun) and about 7 of his fries. And, some Irish coffee while watching Castle Rock. Planning to do better today. I am grateful to so many people that I have known over the years but the top 3 would be my husband of 35 years, my BFF of 40 years and my super talented singer and guitar playing BMF of 32 years. Spending time with any or all of them always makes me happy. B sided question: What would you tell past/future you if you could? I would tell the past me to stop worrying so much all the time about things you can not control and that the behavior of others is not my fault or responsibility. Live your life on your own terms and have the people in it that you love and love you and FORGET about the rest. No one has a right to expect anything from you other than human respect and kindness.

We took a motorcycle ride a few years back from central TX to Tomah, WI and when passing through Iowa we saw the signs for the bridges but due to time constraints we were unable to go see them. My mom was born in Decorah, IA and we went there every summer to visit family but I never knew about the bridges. It is pretty cool that your initials are there.

Day 11: We were planning to go to Austin today for lunch and a visit to the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial but the nasty weather has us rethinking that plan. Probably just take the Mr. out for for a meal locally to celebrate. In terms of a movie that I am grateful for it would have to be "Steel Magnolias" and "The Bridges of Madison County" because I can watch them over and over and always have a good ugly cry 😂. "Pretty Woman" is another favorite.

Anyone else wake up to a nice freezing slap from Mother Nature this morning? It is starting here in central Texas with a lot of wind....it is currently 69 outside and apparently be down to 19 overnight. Had to change our plans for Veterans Day...