Weekend Review: 13 Days Until Christmas.

   Well, it's 13 days till Christmas, are you panicked yet? I hope not. Is your shopping done yet? I hope you have a least a big dent in it.  How about the baking? Done yet and all in the freezer? Now don't panic, you still have time to get it all done.  

   Part of the Holiday Joy this time of year are all the parties. There is the office party, the spouse's office party, the Church party, the neighborhood party. If you have children, there is the class party, the after school party, the after school activity party and the family party.  WOW can you add more to that list? I bet some of you can. And that is only Christmas, let's not talk about the New Year's Parties! That is a lot of parties and a lot of food.  No wonder so many people gain the Holiday 10 and why so many start the new Diet January 2nd.  Not to worry, there are some things you can do to help your self from feeling all the guilt of the Holiday 10.

1. Start every event with a prayer.  Having a little talk with God and knowing He is looking out for you is a good way to remember why we are celebrating Christmas.

2. Ask if you can bring something and then bring something that you can eat. Are you on a low fat lifestyle, then bring fruit or a  low fat dessert. Are you living a low carb lifestyle, then bring cheese and sliced turkey breast.  Are you a diabetic, dig out that diabetic cook book and makes something wonderful out of it. By bringing something you can eat, you are not as tempted to eat a lot of the other things you see on the table. 

3. Eat something before you leave for the party. You will not be as hungry.

4. Drink a large glass of water. You will feel fuller and feeling fuller is better for you.

5. If the food is all lined up in the dinning room, hang out in the kitchen. Why be in there getting tempted?

6. The reason for the get together is to enjoy each other's company. People make the party, don't let the food make the party.

7. Have something in your hands like a cup of coffee. It's hard to put it down in order to pick up those treats that are all over the place.

8. Walk around the food table and look at it all (no calories or fat or sugar in looking) then decide what is the best thing for you and put those things on your plate (a small plate). There will be no room for the other tempting things.

9. Parties are suppose to be fun, see that Chocolate Lava Cake that is calling you....have a small piece. Smile, it's  Christmas time and you are making good choices.

10. Go for a walk, ride the bike, jump on the abs swing,  learn yoga, dance to the Wii. MOVE, it will help you burn off those extra calories, carbs, sugar and it will remind you that you are living a life style choice and not a diet. 

Before you know it, the parties are all over and you got to enjoy the season, enjoy the people, enjoy the food and enjoy life. 

Weekend Review: Man, They Go By Fast!

A Christmas Coat for August given to him by  Diane and Angie 

How was your weekend?  Did you do some Christmas shopping, or maybe some decorating, or maybe you spent the weekend baking?  It always amazes me how fast it goes by and before I know it, it's Monday again. Friday night we finished taking down all the fall decorations and getting up the Christmas ones that we are putting up this year. We are scaling back a lot to accommodate the puppy.

Fall was all over the table.

Now, it's nice and clean and looks more inviting. 

 I spent Saturday doing all the usual stuff, cleaning, grocery shopping, you know, all the stuff you all did as well.  I also worked a bit on our front yard. The leaves still have not been raked and so I started to put a dent in it. I hope to have it done before we get snow.  We have rain coming Tuesday.

Sunday, we had a great worship service in the morning, grand kids in the afternoon and a great small group study at night. In between I made a play coat for August. He is growing so fast that it doesn't a lot of sense to keep buying him new coats. So I made one while he played on the floor next to me.

 Oh, I did have one thing happen to me, I took the dogs out early Saturday morning and while they were out there I head a Coyote!  It was really, really close to so I ran down the stairs with a flashlight! Now there's protection for you!  I guess I thought that if I flashed the light in the eyes of the coyote that I could   scare it off and get the dogs back inside. Not a great plan mind you as I thought about it later.  As it turned out, I was able to scoop August up and Becke and I ran up the stairs and back into the house.  It was not in our yard, it was on the other side of the fence. Still the sound of a coyote is very unnerving and I hope I don't hear one that close to me ever again!  

See just a normal weekend around here. So how was your weekend?

Weekend Review: The End of November

Can you believe that November is almost over? Where did it go?  It was Halloween just a few days ago!!!  I hope you had a great Thanksgiving with loved ones. We had brunch with our daughter, son-in-law and the best grand daughters in the world. It was nice to see her take over that brunch. All we did was bring a fruit salad and show up on time (sort of). We brought the dogs and the grand daughters  played with them, took them for a walk and just had the most relaxing time.  Then it was home for a nap and then we cooked a small turkey breast and all the fixings for dinner (yes including stuffing and cranberry sauce). It was a great day and we had fun. Friday, as so many people went out for Black Friday, I stayed home and decorated the house. Well sort of decorated the house. We decided that since most of the floor looks like this....

...puppy toys scattered all over the floor. And since we have a 11 week old in the house trying to eat the furniture, and my left shoe all the time, we decided that we would not put up the big Christmas tree but instead just the little Christmas trees and anything that could be UP instead of all the snowmen that rest on the floors around here.

These are some of the Santa's behind the couch that he has not discovered yet so I feel they are safe.

A little Christmas cheer on the side board

And the microwave table got some Christmas cheer as well.

A bigger "small" tree on top of the table is still surrounded by the fall decorations that are coming down.  

We did go out on Saturday to shop but by then the madness was over. I just don't understand the madness around Black Friday. Really, people using pepper spray to get them farther up the line? Men getting shot after they  leave a store for whatever they bought?  Others getting stabbed?  That is not the Christmas Spirit at all people.  I heard of one store that was not set to open early but for some reason, people thought it was, so they got in line and when the store didn't open, the crowd broke in and looted the store. The meaning of Christmas is lost on some people I fear. I'm glad I stayed home.

Sunday, we enjoyed a great worship service followed by Hallmark Christmas movies, a nap, more decorating, chasing puppies, and a super small group worship in the evening. I feel like I am really ready for the coming week.  Are you ready?

Weekend Review: Puppy is the Pirority

This was a weekend of just getting around the duties associated with having a puppy. Luckily he is great in his crate in the car and sleeps in there. But the routine right now is wake up early and out he goes. Then back to bed for hopefully 2 more hours of sleep. Then up again, out again. Feed breakfast wait 10 minutes and out again. Then it's nap time but if you think I can then start laundry or sew, you would be wrong because most of the time he sleeps on me! He curls up on my foot and sleeps, or climbs on my lap and sleeps. I know that this time is short, he will start being awake for longer time periods and so I sit while he sleeps. I type, I talk on the phone or serf Facebook/web, until he wakes up, then he goes out. Then we are off shopping for food. Then putting food away but first, you know it we go back out. Then it's time to eat again and we repeat going outside. So even though there is lot to do around here, puppy comes first.  Those of you with puppies can relate, I'm sure.  Those of you with babies can relate, I'm sure. Those of you with neither, can sleep in!

Becke enjoys the quiet time when August is sleeping because when he's awake, he's chasing toys, running with toys, stealing things that are NOT toys, eating, chasing her tail and then getting dizzy and falling into something. Becke can get away from all of that but she never seems to go far. She stays pretty close to watch the puppy.  She is such a good big sister.

I did get most of the back yard raked which is good and since the yard is fenced in, it was just a matter of  letting August run around chasing the leaves as I raked them.  The front yard will have to wait for now. Hopefully it will get done before we get snow!

I got to watch the grand girls and it was there first time for them to see the puppy. Becke was glad that the oldest grand daughter has someone else to chase which gives her a break! But August was overwhelmed by the grand daughters. Luckily we have a play pen for him and so he ran inside and wouldn't come out. I zipped it up and kept him safe from the girls.  He was glad to be safe and curled up and took a nap.

Just in case you can't see him, he's the little spot in the front of the play pen.  He really did a great time with the girls! I know that he will find his "safe spot" as he gets older and will be able to go there to get away but right now, he wants to see what is happening and so this way   he is safe. 

A close up of him sleeping safe and away from a 2 1/2 and a 9 month old who just wanted to hug him over and over.  

Hubby was away at a men's Christian seminar and he was in northern Maine where it was just plain cold. This seminar had been rescheduled from a few months back when it would have been beautiful but is was cold for him this time. Because he is a smart man who knows how to plan, he was well prepared for the rustic rooms without heat.  He packed our little camping space heater and willingly shared the heat with anyone. I'm sure glad to have him back. Now it's time to get ready for Thanksgiving.  What was your weekend like and what are your Thanksgiving plans?

Weekend Review: The Gift!

It was not a planned gift. Then again, these things never are. It surely was not a needed gift, nor was it in the short term plans. It wasn't in the long term plans for that matter. Yet, this weekend a gift was given. Given to my Hubby.

The Flu.

Given to Hubby by his doctor.

On their first ever meeting.

How nice!

Hubby's primary care doctor left the practice so he was given a new one and an appointment for a "Meet and Greet".  So Hubby went to meet and greet and to get his blood pressure medication prescription renewed.

Because Hubby has had pneumonia in the past, it was decided that he should get the flu shot. He followed the doctor's advice and got the shot.

The shot then apparently gave him the flu!  Thanks Doc! Nice to meet you to as well!

So we spent the weekend staying nice and quiet. I shopped, he slept. I cleaned, he slept. I went to worship service, he slept.  I watched the 2 best grand daughters in the world, he slept. I took care of him, he rested.  It felt good to care for him. Over the years, I have been the sick one and he had to care for me.  He's a great care giver so it felt good to give him care this time.

Oh on second thought, that is not all he did! He also ran a fever, coughed, had a hard time breathing and took lots of over the counter meds so that he could breath and sleep. He has had the flu shot in the past and I cannot remember him getting sick from it. I really do feel honored to care for him for a change.  It's way over due.

We do not have the same doctor and I checked, mine is still connected to the practice. I am not planning a "Meet and Greet", none needed - thank you.

How was your weekend?

Weekend Review: 50 is good

Warm Pumpkin muffins for breakfast - I do enjoy Fall!

   Hubby and I are in our late 50's. That puts all of our closest friends in their 50's as well. Some are younger and others are not.  This weekend another friend joined the ranks of "50!"so his loving wife put on a great BBQ/party for him.  The sun came out, the temps went up and we partied welcoming him into the unique club of 50 year olds.
   Now that I am in this club it's funny to me that 50 does not feel so old. Oh, there are days when my hands hurt and my back is sore and some parts of me creak every once in a while, but for the most part, I don't think about my age until I see it on something like a doctor's report.  How about it out there - do you feel your age?
   I remember thinking that my grandmothers were old, looked old, dressed old, walked old, talked old - but I don't think that at all about me. Hmmmm! Maybe it's just that I hang around with old folks and we are all doing the same thing.  Must be the company I keep.
   Sunday, after a really good worship service,  we got to play with our beautiful and smart grand- daughters who keep us moving, keep us on our toes and keep us young.  I love our time with them and I am always impressed by the wonderful job our daughter and son-in-law are doing raising such great girls.

   As for my personal challenge, I was able to get in 53 miles this week, which I was very happy about since I had an asthma attack that put me down for a bit.  I did go to work but I was very tired and had to take my time getting anything done.  So I'm up to a total of 2360, that leaves just 40 miles.  If my lungs hold out and the weather stays cool, I'm hoping this is the week I reach my goal!
   I hope that you all had a great weekend as well and are ready to be your best this week.

Weekend Review: The First Fall Monday!

Fall showed up with 70 and 80's degrees Summer temps. Well, this is fall in New England. One day it's 80's and the next 50's! This is when some people get really sick because how does one dress when the temps are all over the place.  Since it is fall, I did fall things, like put out a fall garden flag.

I planted some Fall Mums - just look at the leaves all over the ground! Oh My! I see raking in my future.

Put up the drive way markers for the snow plow---last year the ground froze before we got them in!  Not this year!

And pulled out my fall clothes - that is what was made me the saddest.

I really don't like the heavy material. It hurts my body because I have Fibromyalgia. The weight become so heavy trying to keep me warm with so many layers that I do suffer more in the cold weather.  I did keep some short sleeves and shorts out for because the weather for this week says we have a few days in the 80's coming up. Want to be able to wear the summer outfits for a bit longer.

If you read my blog last week, you know that Hubby was away then and I lost the TV remote. I was looking for sympathy but none of my fb friends gave me any. They laughed at me.  You can read the story here.
Hubby went to the men's retreat and this time he took care of me so that I couldn't loose the remote.

He attached a long line to it so that I could not loose it this time. It made me laugh every time I used it. How funny was this! What a man!  So instead, I lost the Internet and somehow got hacked and my email account sent all sorts of email off to people on my email list... Oh my, he had to fix that when he got home.  I'm so sorry to those of you that got an email from me over the weekend. I didn't send them!! Hubby is wondering what will happen next time he leaves, one never knows!

I also took photos of the changing colors, we are mostly green here but there are pops of colors here and there.

I also took photos of the best yellow lab ever sleeping on our floor.

I was really tired on Friday and so I took the day to take it easy, I only counted my walking and some painting that I really wanted to do but my energy ran out and I stopped. By Saturday, I was all better and jumped back into the grove and later that day when I added up all my miles for the week, I discovered that I did 68 miles!! Well no wonder, I felt really, really tired! I have only 146 miles to go! Yippee!!!

How was your weekend?

Weekend Review: Heat!

WOW! What a difference a day makes!  I really wanted to put on my flip flops and enjoy the last weekend of Summer, instead I put on the heat and curled up under a blanket (electric throw) on the couch.  The temps went down so low, we had a light frost here!  

Hubby was away for a few days helping out at the Ladies Retreat (in the kitchen feeding them all) so I was left to entertain myself. I really like those days because I can eat (or not), clean early (or not) and watch what I like on TV (which is lots of HGTV-BTW)

Well you know what they say about the best laid plans right.......

Friday night I wanted to watch something on channel 5 so I put the TV on channel 5 to watch the show and then for some reason, because this type "A" person had too many irons in the fire, doing too many things at once, I lost the remote and was stuck with channel 5 (which was football, both collage and pro from 7:30pm on....). So I had sports to watch in the living room once the other projects were done. OK we have more than one TV but without the remote I couldn't find a way to turn OFF the TV. Our TV doesn't have a power button, it's all remote controlled. What's a girl to do??? I FaceBooked my dilemma and only received laughs from my "Friends". When they found out that hubby was away at camp, they then FaceBooked back and forth camp songs!! Hey, what about some sympathy here!! None...I was told to simply unplug the TV.  Some Friends!! I love them all and it was funny. I even told hubby who laughed as well - for quite some time.

As for projects, I turned this Microwave cabinet 

Into this with left over paint

Took the  Ice Box  from the above picture and added some details and got this.

Fall table cloths added to the tea cart, gives a new look as well

Washing the floor, moving funiture and putting the room back together, makes our dinning area look ready for fall.

Bird seed on the floor by the freezer will go into the feeders soon.

So even though I wanted summer heat, I got home oiled heat and lots done while Hubby was away.  He goes away later for hunting season, wonder what I'll do then?????

On my personal challenge, I'm up to 2186!  I was able to get in the equivalent of 73 miles this week!  Remember, it's not just walking...bike riding, painting, weights, step aerobics and Zumba all counts.  I'm getting there! How was your weekend?