Hey, today is the 1st!! ~Mandy

mandy

i vote for the suit on the right in my opinion its the nicest. its shows off your great shape better and no offense to anyone but the other 2 are a little more "old lady"

Mandy I like the one on the far right the best but, they all look great. The colors of the one in the middle are my favorites for a bathing suit. Where were you able to get suits this late in the season? I really need to pick one up before Florida UGH.

DH took a motorcycle ride up to his mom's in NY and I stayed here with DS to go to my Godson's birthday party. It's been a fun day actually...some mom and son time. Taking him out to dinner now,just waiting for him to get ready.

Anyone have a good recipe for homemade Mac N' Cheese they can share with me. I've had a craving for it all day and no place around here makes it like homemade. I love it when it has the crunchy crumb topping on it. Please share if ya have one yummmmmm.

Mandy I love the striped one the best. I think it matches your personality more and is way more fun. Very cute!

Ummm...Sherry I have a recipe you goober. I made you mac n' cheese, remember?? lol. But you know my recipes - no exact measurements. But here you go:

Half gallon Milk (I usually use 2%). Heat in large pot on stovetop. Don't boil, just warm it. Add Velveeta, Cheddar and American cheese. I usually do a small block of Velveeta, 1/2 a block of cheddar and 1/2 lb of american cheese. Cube the cheese and add it to the milk, stirring until cheese melts. You can fiddle with the amount of cheese or types of cheese depending on your taste. Once cheese is melted add salt, pepper and parsley. Par-boil some egg noodles and put in baking dish sprayed with pam. Cover with cheese mixture, which will be very soupy. Top with breadcrumbs and a little butter and bake at 350 until bubbly, brown and the cheese thickens up. Yep, very band friendly but not so calorie friendly. lol

So, Chris is feeding Sherry macaroni & cheese...... like when did that happen? When did you guys have a potluck?

Today, I went to a lunch thing with some local lapband folks here in Orange County and we all talked for a few hours. Much more informative that what the hospital offers. I'm still processing what we all talked about..... nothing comes to mind about what to share.

Darcy: dying to know whats bugging the ex. I came down HARD on my ex for leaving the boys alone for 6 hours while I was on medical leave. His excuse "things took alittle longer than expected"...... jerk. It just gets me all riled up.

Hmmmm, just realized it's after midnight -- nighty, night.

Good Morning Ladies,

Nice to see you all this morning. DD's party went well yesterday...glad its over. The water in the pool was 82 degrees but it felt like it was 70 LOL. But no complaints from the pnut-gallery.

Kat, you rock !! I'm so glad you got to ut ummmm rub it a little in your ex-friends face...musta felt wonderful. Doesn't missy hubby stealer realize that what goes around comes around?

Cindy........where are ya chickie? You to Beanster?

Sherry, I saw Paula Dean make a recipe for mac and cheese on one of her shows....I think she used a crock pot but I remember drooling watching her eat it and I think she used sour cream as well...not sure. You might wanna check our her recipes on the food network. I love that Lady LOLOL.

Patty thats so nice that you had lunch with the support group. I kinda wish I had one here. They do offer it at the hospital but its once a month on a Thursday at 6 pm (which I'd never make it there on time). Your doing great !!!

Well girlies, the rug rats are awake, so I'm gonna hit the kitchen and give them some breakfast (my 2 nieces are here).

You all have a wonderful week ahead.... Luv yah's :huggie:

.

Thanks everyone for the compliments. I can't wait to go swimming on vacation. We have a pool in our subdivision for the residents but never use it. It opened June 1st and Abi had surgery on the 5th, then I had surgery 2 weeks later. Just as I was cleared to swim it was time for the hysto, so I got zero pool time in and of course it closes next week. It's only 78 here today, nice and cool. Fall is approaching here in Chicago. We had really bad storms last week and a tornado touched down less than a mile from my house. We had no damage and were not home when the worst of it hit so it wasn't too bad for us. There are still people without power, this all happened last friday. My front yard flooded but it's better now. Usually we have one huge storm and then the really hot weather is gone until next year. It will be in the 70's and rainy until the really cold stuff hits. We usually have icy rain for Halloween, and that kicks off winter. Sounds fun huh? Have I ever mentioned that I HATE WINTER???? I lived in the south growing up and had never even seen snow until I was like 13 or 14. I don't understand the draw to snow, it's cold, makes the roads dangerous and it's cold. I prefer beach sand anyday. ~Mandy

Morning girls-

Feeling quite yucky! I made some cookie/cake bars to go to the church picnic, and then didn't go personally....heat of the day, and napping 2 year old...so my Mom brought back what was left. Apparently turn out was dismal (not sure what the heck they expected, on a Saturday when it is over 100 degrees out!). So I thought that sounded yummy. I should know nothing like that should be eaten, especially this early in the morning. Now it is bubbling around in my tummy, not wanting to really go either way. I feel slimes hiding around the corner, ready to start! And I DO know better! My restriction is always tighter in the morning---plus it is high calorie anyway, and I would be better off without it. Lessons learned the hard way just suck!

Mandy, I hear ya with the swimming. We usually hit the lake a few times, but with Rick's issues, and then Kinsey getting so sick, we missed that time, and it seems like the rest of the time off we have had this year, we spent taking mini motorcycle trips. I enjoyed the summer though. We had fun weekends, full of things I enjoyed, and they were all pretty close to home---and yet most of the locals I speak with, have never done them! We have a rally about 30 miles away next weekend, depending on what my Dad finds out in ABQ when we take him Friday. IF all is well, or they schedule him for a later date, we will go up to the rally for Sat. & Sun. Then sometime in the next month or 6 weeks we want to get a couple of desert trips in. Maybe to the Grand Canyon again, and also to Arches National Park. We just have to wait until the serious heat of summer has passed! I think I want to go check out the new walk thing at the Grand Canyon---where you walk out in the glass horseshoe looking thing 4000 feet up or something like that! We are limited in some of our exploring by fears between my friend Becky and I!!! If we go to the walk in the Grand Canyon, Becky won't go, she does not like heights! My issue is caves, or tunnels, tightly enclosed spaces. I did the Carlsbad Caverns ok, I just talked non stop, kept my mind occupied!!! Oh well---we have found fun things to do anyway!

So what did you decide on the suits Mandy?

Sherry, I have a recipe for mac & cheese, stuck away somewhere. It too was calorie laden, but yummy. I know it had some strange things, that I went eeewwww over, but it tasted delicious! Like it calledfor something like a teaspoon and a half of mustard! If you still want one, I will dig it out. I have a hard time with pasta, I eat it, but I can only eat such a small amount of it, I tend to go with what is easy these days, and buy the shells and cheese in a box them doctor them up a bit!!!

Glad the party went well Eileenie. We are headed into the party season for kids and grandkids here. All but my youngest grandson, have birthdays between now and Christmas!

Today I am off to pick beans,a nd black eyed peas, corn, squash, cucumbers, anything I can find ready in the garden, and hope I stay busy until Rick gets home so HE can dig the potatoes!!! Our son and DIL were instrumental at getting his folks to put in a HUGE garden. Well work sent him to Houston for 2 weeks to school, so the DIL decided she was scared to stay alone that long, so packed up & went to Tuscon to her Grandparents....leaving 2 80+ year olds to handle the busiest time of the year in the garden. I could throttle my DIL. Yes son is gone too, but he is working, and the sole support of the family, so as I see it she should have stayed here and dealt with the house, and all. But with her it never works that way. So today I am picking, will snap and get ready to help can them tomorrow. I don't find them worth the work personally! I am fine with store canned green beans. I always cook up a big bunch or 2 while they are fresh, but see no savings in canning my own. But my inlaws, would be hung before they would waste what they have grown of course....so can I will! I have a feeling knowing my MIL, and how she thinks, I will also be cutting corn from the cob---a job that somehow always falls on me! Lucky, lucky me!

Looks cloudy and dark outside, so maybe I won't roast alive getting my stuff done today.

Everyone have a good day, enjoy the last of your weekend. Will look in on you later!

Kat

I am keeping all 3 suits. The striped one and the blue one are going to Disney with me. The brown one is a bit tight so it will be great for next season. I got them all at Macy's and Kohls, on clearance. Macy's had suits for 80% off last week.

Kat, have fun canning. I just made home made blackberry jam, 2 batches of it. One with splenda and one with sugar. It turned out better this year than last. ~Mandy

Kat: A vegetable garden and canning.... how cool. OK, let me explain. Years ago I read all about canning in a book called "the tightwad gazette". Over a period of time I gathered all the equipment, but without a garden all my efforts fall short. My dream house would be an old farmhouse with lots of rooms for my brood, a larger kitchen to prepare all those meals and occasionally can my own garden produce. Oh, yeah.... I want chickens too! OK, call me a Laura Ingalls wanna-be, but I can make my own bread :confused:

Mandy: When is your trip? 80% off swimwear... what a deal!

OK guys, I need some encouragement. At that luncheon yesterday I was told that I'm really not a lapbander because I have never had a fill. I don't understand how the band works and until you have a fill you aren't part of this secrect club. Remember when I told you all that I don't want a fill and that I felt wonderful with my weight loss and restriction as it is today..... well someone just went and squashed all my happy thoughts. I won't let someone dictate my life by any means but that sure flustered me for a brief moment and then it got me angry. I like you guys alot, and you would never say such hurtful things to me. I just wanted to tattle a bit. OK, I'm thru bitching, gonna head to Disneyland and forget my cares for a while.

Patty, for some the band works without a fill, others need more restriction. I am going to guess that if you are dropping pounds you don't need a fill unless you are struggling to drop those pounds. I always say that you are a bandster as soon as you are awake from surgery. No secret club, no secret handshake. Just a major surgical proceedure. LOL. ~Mandy

Jeez ladies all this talk about going to Disney and swimming is get me depressed!! I had a long weekend working my part time job and my feet are rebelling against my 280lb body!!!! I would give anything to kick back and relax by the pool and dream the pain away but anywho...I hope you all are having a great weekend.

by the way where is everyone from? I have already heard that not everyone is from NJ I was just wondering

I'm in Chicago. Well the western suburbs of Chicago. ~Mandy

Hello Y'all!

I am in the middle of cooking supper, I can't stay just wanted to check in. By the time I read everything, I don't have much time!

Mandy - I love all the suits and they all look great on you!

Kat - Easy way to do the green beans: Pick the Beans, DO NOT WASH THEM,

then snap them like you would when cooking them. Stick them in a freezer bag and freeze. When you take them out of the freezer wash them then and they taste just like they are fresh picked. Much easier than canning them! I use to can a lot of stuff, now with just the two of us I don't do much anymore. I miss the canning sometimes, I sure miss all the tomatoes and banana hot peppers I use to have all the time. Those are the two things I miss the most! Try it, you'll like them that way, just remember not to wash them until they come out of the freezer to eat.

I'll try my best to get back here tonight or tomorrow. I have just been so busy!

Hi all! I had a wonderful day with Sherry today. We took a day off so we could go to the beach, but then decided to go shopping instead. lol. It was so much fun, even if we did have candy for lunch. We are so looking forward to Disney too. Just 3 more weeks - I can hardly believe it!! Mandy, we have no plans other than lunch with Cinderella on the 17th, so let us know what day would be good for you. Well, sorry this is short but I have a headache and my bed is calling my name. Hope everyone had a good Monday.

Mandy, I like them all (the swimsuits, I mean) but I do like the stripey one best!

Eileen, keep that boss busy! I'm glad that's not such a problem like last year!

Patty, stuff like that just says more about those people than it does about you. You are most certainly a bandster! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. You just forget about that silly person, ya hear!

Kat, yeeesssssssss.......I'm volunteering (as pres of the parent association). They did not have the $$ for a paid position this year. I would imagine this offer is still "on the table" and might come up in the future...I wonder if I'll still even want it??? LOL!

Jessica, I'm from Texas, north of Dallas.

See you wonderful girls tomorrow!

Cindy