Field Day Saturday

Freezing cold, but sunny start. First a trip to Donna's doughnuts. I know, I know, bad, bad, bad. But, it was my motivation for going to work. Then a trip to the metal scrap yard. A check for $89 for depositing other people's junk. Thank you very much. A couple quick bids in Flint. Then a stop at an old but awesome house where we had to remove 100's of pop and beer bottles and cans. I love those older homes. They have so much personality. This one had a Michigan room, where I could see myself sunning in the summer time. A sewing room upstairs, plus a funky bathroom behind a wall painted to look like an outdoor garden. A rooftop deck. Oh the flowers and vegetable I could plant up there! Oak floors and solid oak stair railings. I felt sorry for the people because they left behind a lot of items that I guess they couldn't or didn't have room for. A pair of work boots, oh they're Sarah's size. Grab those. A room full of books. Ah, the library.
Today, we're making home made whole wheat pizza dough. Got a rolling bar, some thin cutting mats, on which to build the pizzas, and an olive oil spritzer. Can't wait to try them out tonight.

First Outdoor Walk of the Year

Beautiful blue sunny skies, not a cloud in sight. Warm rays of sun. We're off. Just me N Bailey. A green van stopped so the inhabitants could say "goodbye" and Bailey and I wished them a nice weekend vacation. Probably walked 1/2 mile total. Not bad for the first walk of the season. Here's to many more.

Cooking tip I learned today: Don't use fat-free cream cheese when making cheese cake. It was all chunky and wouldn't whip up too well.

A Maddening Day

Thought about throwing the ole computer right out the window. But then I fixed it. That was satisfying. I had to reinstall the printer. For whatever reason it decided to remove the printer drivers. The computer geek is in Mexico so I had to do it all by my lonesome. whew! Had a mediocre lunch at the new Chinese Buffet on Miller Rd. Don't bother, it wasn't all that good. Stick with the one on Linden Rd. Did crappy at rehearsal last nite. I was the worst one. So, okay time to turn up the heat. I have many more lines this year. I am having some alone time right now and I am really enjoying that. If ya know what I mean. Just me n the dog and a cup of (lite) hot chocolate. ahhhhh.

First Day of March Brings Blue Skies

So far. They are calling for clouds and some snow, but for now it is sunny and beautiful. Gave the birdies some new seed and the woodpeckers a suet block. Now, just waiting. Just doing the usual. A very busy week ahead. We are supposed to be "off book" for the play, so I'll be spending a lot of time memorizing.

Last Day of February, Yea!

Went to a B & B Saturday, Cobblestone Manor in Auburn Hills. Just to get away, some R & R. It was beautiful. They have a wedding chapel and gardens apparently. Would like to go back for a stay in the spring. Ate dinner at Obrien's Seafood, it was nice. Went back to the room to just chill out in front of the fireplace. Breakfast was pretty good. Nothing out of this world. Took my dad out to lunch at Arby's. Sure didn't want to eat. Made home-made pizza for dinner. Out of this world. Put some roasted garlic on it.

Bye Bye February!

Just Wanna Curl Up on the Couch With a Book

It's blowing snow and frigid. Wind chill no higher than 9 degrees today. Would rather be in FL even if it's only in the 50's. I do not even want to go out today. But alas I must pick up my kindergarten charge and also need to buy salad for tonite's card party. Aw shucks. At least I didn't have to go out with the crews this morning. Kinda felt sorry for them as they were packing up and cleaning the snow off the vehicles.
Yesterday I went to the library and picked up the book my sister is reading; "Food Matters" by Mark Bittman. While there I picked up a flyer for book sale they are having on March 6. Can't wait. Also, a flyer for Storytimes with Miss Carol. Syd and I are going to check that out next Wednesday. Also, fortified the babysitting stock with Dragon Tales Cd, and 2 videos, and 3 books. Yesterday we took Bay to the vet. He's a whopping 68 pounds. No more people food!

February is Almost Over

Hooray! Looking forward to:
milder temps. (not yet, and big snow storm on the way again.)
My sister coming home from Fla.
The dinner theatre in March.
Maybe being able to walk outside.
Maybe taking a weekend vaca.

Any Number Can Die

Here is the information about the play. March 20, 6:00 p.m. or March 21, 3:00 p.m. Dinner Theatre. $15 Call the number to order tickets or mail me a check.

SNOW Day

4 to 6 inches forecast. All the kiddies are happy and sleeping. I'll still be doing the same ole stuff. Monday is laundry day. Still getting the stuff together for the tax man. Appointment is Wednesday. I'll be on the puter most of the day. Enjoy your day for those of you who got to sleep in!

Another Blue Skies & Suneshiney Kind of Day

Got up early to set up the day and see the "boys" off. Took Niki to her ACT practice test location. Went to the Hollywood diner for an egg white & veg omelette. Stopped at Wallyworld to pick up some things. Heard an advert. on the radio for the Flint Farmer's market, so we headed back downtown. Bought 1 piece of baklava & split it. Got some baby cukes to make cuke Thai salad for dinner tonite. Got a cute gift for someones birthday that is coming up. Decided to make pizza for lunch so went back down Corunna Rd. to VG's. Picked up some ingredients for the pizza. Came home made some awesome pizza. Thanks to Von R.K. in Florida we now know how to make REAL pizza. Sarah worked on ACT ii with me. I know 1/2 of Act ii, need to get going; need to know the whole act by Monday. Called "Your IT", they are getting some refurb laptops in on Monday. $289 and with Win XP: just what we need. So, the old laptop will be handed down to me. Yea!! Now I am watching "Dances with Wolves" and waiting for the boys to get back. Then I'm going to take a bath, work on the play some more and then make Pad Thai for dinner.

Plenty of Sunshine

That's what the weather channel said. Yeah, plenty of sunshine and plenty of cold. ha ha I really do appreciate these last 2 days of SUN. Makes everything more bearable. Even the fact that I had to come back from Florida. I've just been getting around and trying to get things accomplished. Yesterday before play practice I even went over to the middle school and walked a mile and 1/2. Boy my legs were really aching last nite. Got to get back into the swing of things there. My goal is to walk the 5k in the Crim this year.
The play is coming along fine. Next week we are supposed to be "off book," which means that we should know our parts. Hmmm. We'll see. I have all weekend to work on that.
Last nite I made an awesome black bean soup. It's so good if you put a little avocado in it. Also, I must confess I am behind on the book study I am doing. I haven't even started yet and it's already week 2. Lot's of catching up to do.

Back to the Daily...

Phooey! Feel like I have jet lag. I guess it's just vaca lag. My head hurts from the weather change, and I'm tired. Hard to get back into the swing of things. Out of the routine, I guess. Tried to do a little laundry, billing, bill paying, shopping, babysitting. A mostly productive day, I guess. Didn't feel like cooking so Sarah took me out to dinner. Was craving the salad bar from Ruby Tuesday. It was scrump-dilly-icious. Stopped at Macy's for a bit, just in time for the pre-order for the spring give away. Bought a bar of facial soap, the lady gave me a sample of facial cleanser for my travel bag. I pre-ordered the facial cleanser and a lightly tinted facial sunscreen. Can't wait til it comes in. March 22. The weather is cold and damp. I need to try on all my new BEALL's clothes to cheer myself up. :)

Back to Cold & Snow

Snow and cold. It was snowing as the plane descended back into Flint Bishop Airport. Mmm. Yesterday was the warmest, nicest day in FL. It must have been almost 70. I sat out in a lounger and read. Then we picked some oranges and sqooze them and drank some fresh juice. Lunch at Mexacali. Of course, the stubborn one (me) insisted on siting out on the deck. It was rather chilly because the wind had switched over to a more northerly direction. Back to the house for more sitting in the sun until the clouds appeared and wouldn't leave. About 3:30 I had to go in the house. Left for the airport bout 4:30. Plane departed on time, 6:30 p.m. Made our 30 minute connection in Atlanta with 10 minutes to spare. Just trying to reorganize at home today.

Sand, Sea and Sky

It warmed up quite nicely so we decided to head down to the beach. We went to the public beach. There was a beautiful blue sky and the ocean almost looked inviting; almost. I sat down on the sand, was even able to take off my sweatshirt and just soak up the rays. The sand was quite chilly. :) Really, it just felt wonderful~ the soaking in of vitamin D. I think we're taking a real vacation day tomorrow. Turn the work phone OFF!

Another Day in Paradise

Friday dawned cold and cloudy. A trip to CEC (oh sorry, we've been spelling everything because of the little ears!) Chuck E. Cheese was in order. Tokens were flying out of the little cups. An hour later after choosing prizes we were out the door. Opps, now it's pouring rain. Lunch at Chick~Fil~A at the mall. Pretty good nuggets, sandwiches and wraps. The fresh lemonade was awesome, and even a diet variety. Later in the afternoon a Bealls extravaganza was in order. Bathing suit-o-rama. They have rows and rows of amazing suits. AND the clothes are so cute~Florida style. We each picked out a suit and I even got an extra set of bottoms to replace the ones that stretched out from the chlorine in the gym pool.
After much laughter and picking on me about dinner choices, we ended up at Applebee's because we all had an Applebee's gift card. Several hours later, 2 sleepy-headed girls went off to la-la land. The grown-up tried to stay up and watch the Olympics. One never made it at all, one made it to Albania, 2 made it to China. Never even made it to the torch. It's a mere 44 this morning with a high forecast of 54. Oh well. Tomorrow will be better and we are going to the beach no matter what. The natives may not be going with. LOL
I heard that yesterday it snowed in 49 states. Hawaii was the only state without SNOW!

Blue Skies, Sunshine and Dolphins

Yesterday dawned sunny and a bit crisp. Temp only in the 40's at rising time. It did warm up a bit so we went down to the beach area. We checked out some campgrounds for possible future trips. Then we did a little shopping. I had to buy a sweatshirt because it was so chilly. Then we drove to the north side of the island to check out a few more shops that someone told us about. We decided to have lunch at the City Pier. It's a long pier out into the bay and a little shack of a restaurant at the end. There were people fishing of the dock. I had a shrimp po'boy and Sarah had a grouper sandwich; both were very good. As we were leaving some people were talking and pointing out to sea. We turned to see what the fuss was and saw 2 fins slicing through the water. They were pretty close. It was an awesome sight.
I made homemade spaghetti sauce and we had pasta, salad and garlic bread for dinner. Cooking on vacation? Yes, it's relaxing to me. Cheaper than eating out too. Today is going to be a hang out day. It's suppsed to rain. There is talk of a trip to CEC. (Chuckie Cheese) I am learning to spell and talk in code around the little ears. A 2 yr old and 4 yr old.

5:30 AM Flight and 10 Inches of Snow

Left for the airport at 4:00 a.m. sigh. The roads were snow covered and icy. Checked the computer before we left, and the flight status showed "on time." We had already checked in online so all we had to do was check in one bag. Headed upstairs and over to the gate. We actually boarded early. Snowflakes were flying madly outside the window. At 5:30 the pilot said they were going to de-ice the plane and that the process would take several minutes. It actually took about 30 minutes as they made 2 separate passes with the de-icing machine. We proceed a bit down the runway after the de-icing and then came to a halt. The pilot came over the loudspeaker and stated that he was going to come in to the cabin and do a visual inspection of the wings. He came out of the cockpit with a large flashlight and proceeded to lean over people and flash the light out the windows to inspect the wings. I guess he approved because he went back in to the cockpit and we took off. It was a little nerve wracking!
The flight went without a hitch and we landed in Sarasota 15 minutes early. It was windy and a brisk 54 degrees. Better than a foot of snow and 25 degrees with 30 mile/hour winds any day of the week. Had lunch Chipolte's, a ff mexican place. Dinner at Wing House on 41. The high reached 57. Tomorrow is supposed to be 63. Yipee. A trip to Ana Maria Island might be in store.

Snow Snow Go Away

It was snowing quite heavily at 10 this morning. Since about noon it has slowed down, but has been steadily snowing only lightly. The weather peeps say it will snow all night and be quite windy. Whew. Hope we get to leave. It might be touch and go. The latest dude just said it will snow until 7 tomorrow morning. Hmmmm. Supposed to leave at 5:30 a.m. Probably won't sleep a wink tonight. Oh well, have to get up about 3ish any way. Need to finish packing. House is clean, laundry is done. Banking, bills etc... check. Just waiting to GO!

No Snow Please

Biggest storm of the season, right? NO! We are supposed to be flying out 5:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. Running around like a maniac trying to get ready. Called Airtran today to try and switch the departure to Tuesday morning. It would cost $500. No way. So we're stuck with Wed. Hope the snow either gets done early or misses us entirely. What are the chances??

Sunday, Sunday

Had a nice visit with my dad. He wanted to go to Arby's so that is where we went. He was in a good mood and really enjoyed getting out. He wanted to go to the cemetery so we stopped by there for a few minutes. Did a short job in Novi which I skipped out on because I was on the phone with my sistopher the whole time. Went to Kroger's to get some food for the next few days before we leave. BIG MISTAKE! Remember I said no more shopping on Sunday? AND it is Superbowl Sunday. Yikes. It wasn't really all that bad though. Came home and picked up my computer from Tom, thank you for fixing my sick computer. It had the flu. Walking back up the driveway when we drew near unto the van there was a huge flutter of wings. A humongous hawk flew up from the plow. I think it's one that's been hanging around in the back yard. It kind of frightened us for a moment. Anyway, welcome home Renee.
Going to make homemade potato skins for the Superbowl. That way you can take lots of the potato out. Otherwise, just trying to tie up the loose ends before leaving early Wednesday morning for FLORIDA!

Finally, A Bad Week is Almost Over

What can go wrong, will go wrong. The garage door broke. $225 to fix that. My computer caught the flu. It's very under the weather. I wanted to buy a new camera. Had 3 different ones home. Finally settled on a Cannon Powershot. Best Buy charged $75 "restocking" fee to return the one before that. Lame. The policy is on the back of the receipt. Duh, who looks at the back of the receipt? Maybe they should tell you that when they say, "oh if you're not happy you have 30 days to return the camera. URgh! On top of all that, people are just bugging me. Yar! Blah, blah, blah okay enough complaining.
Got a new book tonight. Biggest Loser' Simple Swaps. Lots of stories and recipes. Looks really good. Going to call it a night. G'nite. zzz

The Last Day of January

Cold but sunny. Glad the month is almost over. Don't go grocery shopping on Sunday. I hardly ever do. It was crazy. The checkout girl said it's because the coupons come out. Whew! Never again. Made a meatloaf (turkey), garlic mashed potatoes and green bean casserole for dinner. Apple Crumble for dessert. Had a crew. Nicole, John, Katie and Richie. Played Apples to Apples. I won, yea me! Watching the Pro Bowl now. Can't wait until football is over. One more week, one more game. Leaving for Florida in 10 days, hooray!

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

• Warm sun on my face and arms (oh and legs)
• A good cup of coffee
• A massage
• Spaghetti & meatballs
• Jr mints
• A really hot bath
• Peppermint scent
• A fuzzy warm blanket to snuggle up in
• My Ugg sandals
• Kids
• When someone else makes the bed [ :) ]
• Doing something that makes someone else feel good
• Going to FLORIDA!
• Remembering the good things about my mom
• Laughing with my sistophers and nieceophers!
• Winning any game
• Clean sheets.... mmm they smell so good
• Music (love it!)
• Cooking

Part II

• Cinnamon
• Lovely smelling candles
• Christmas tree scent
• Ranger Cookies (mom used to make)
• Laughing

30 Days Ago...

The Christmas tree was up
The gifts were opened and spread about
The lights were lit
The Christmas morning breakfast was on the table
Visitors were visiting
The money all spent
It was Christmas Day!

Rain Rain Go Away

Very warm today & raining, weird. However they say it's not for long! Got up went to church, (New Life Community; where we went to FPU). Pretty good service. Went grocery shopping afterward. Ate a late dinner of orange chicken w/almonds, rice and broccoli. Not sure what I'll do with the rest of my day. Just relax, I think. I hope to finish the payables this week, so I can make an appointment to see the tax man. I'll be picking up Evan from school and watching Syd a couple of days since Renee is in Charlotte, training for her new job. Syd and I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a few Balentimes decorations for the living room. That was fun.

FB

So I was chattin up with different people on FB today. That was fun. People I don't normally talk to. But FB makes my computer run slow, so that was getting annoying. Now I'm ready to take a break from the computer. I think I might do some reading.
good night!

January 19, 2010

Quote"You see much more of your children once they leave home." — Lucille Ball

Word of the dayobscurantism(uhb-SKYOOR-uhn-tiz-uhm, ob-skyoo-RAN-tiz-uhm)noun:1. Opposition to the spread of knowledge.2. Being deliberately vague or obscure; also a style in art and literature.
Today's Birthdays
Dolly Parton
James Watt (1736-1819): scientist and inventor of an improved steam engine; inventor Robert E. Lee (1807-1870): Confederate commander in the Civil War
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849): writer of macabre short stories; plus, authors Paul Cézanne (1839-1906): painter
Jean Stapleton (87): Edith Bunker on All in the Family; also, and Frank Caliendo (36)
Dolly Parton (64): country music writer/ singer; also, Phil Everly (71) and Janis Joplin (1943-1970)
Paula Deen (63): TV chef

Pink at Evening Time

Whilst playing "Buzz" at the Aurands, we noticed it looked pink outside at about 5.45 p.m. The great part about that is that it means it was not dark. The days are slowly getting lighter, yea! We also played Apples to Apples. Fun times! Talked to the cuz in Bradenton, they sent us a picture from Manatee Ave, Ahhhh! It was about 74 degrees they said. The water looked nice. Hopefully I'll be back to posting on my other blog; Fit & Trim. Sort of took a vacation in that department. Vacation is over. Sleepy time........zzzzzzzzz.......

Saturday Night in Toledo Ohio....

Is like being nowhere at all. Glad I'm not there.... I think that was a John Denver song. Just sitting here eating pizza and watching football. Too sore to get up because I went to the gym for my last pt session today. I was too tired to make the stir-fry I was supposed to make. Probably might highlight all my lines in the play book. I sure better start earlier than last year to memorize them. There is nothing on tv except football. boring. Don't want to go out - too sore, too cold out. Probably just sit here and watch football.... Rest and recovery.

Headache

Ouch!

"Any Number Can Die"

That is the name of the next play. I stopped by the community ed office yesterday for the pre-auditions. Auditions are Thursday. They already have 2 different parts for me to pick from. •Zenia, a Haitian servant prone to utter dire predictions and warnings (“Beware the owl!”) The second is Ernestine Wintergreen, a prim and proper older lady somewhat reminiscent of Miss Marple. The play is another by Fred Carmichael. The dates for the dinner theatre is March 20 and 21. Should be loads of fun ~ and hard work!
My colonoscopy went fine yesterday. I was back home 2 hours later. The results were fine. Whew!

Have I Said How Much I Really Love the Sun?

Wonderful. Stepped out yesterday to go to the scrapbook store and even tho it was like 18 degrees or something it felt good to have the sun beating down. Again today. Went to do errands and the sun was out again. Loving it! Opened the front door and felt the warmth. Even Bay enjoyed basking in the sun streaming in. I love having the big glass door. That Southern exposure is wonderful.
Tomorrow is "cleanse" the body day. I have to have a colonoscopy on Tuesday. (thank you very much Sarah & Marlene)
Did several pages of scrappin' yesterday. Wow, it's been a long time. Bout a year, I guess. Haven't even done 1 page since girls weekend at the cottage last year.
So guess what? We are leaving for FLA 1 month from today. I'm such a dork. I packed today. :) I wanted to see how much would fit into 1 suitcase, since it's $15 each bag to stow. Plus I needed to see what fit. So, after I dragged everything out I just packed it. Suitcase is ready to go. he he he

Baby It's Cold Outside

And there is lots of snow. We probably received 6 inches. That's allot for an "off again, on again" snow storm. There was a snow day for most of the mid state area. I braved the temps and the roads and took a trip to Meijers. I wanted to see what kind of organic produce and other organic items they had. All in all I have to see Meijers and Kroger are pretty equal. I did get some wonderful items. Gold beets. Haven't had those kind before, so I'm anxious to try them. I'm even going to make a side dish with the beet greens. They looked really nice. Oh wait, I'm writing all this on the wrong blog. Ha ha
Anyway, so I am enjoying my afternoon tea and crumpets. Apple and cinnamon spice green tea and a special K honey nut granola bar. The tea was nicely made with my new kettle and teapot! :)
It's that time of year again. Auditions for the bi-annual dinner theatre of the Swartz Creek Center Stage. Auditions start Monday. I am excited as now I know I can do it. Stay tuned for up and coming details.

Ten More Things

1. Rode in a combine

2. Raised a Wallaby in the house

3. Tried Sushi

4. Camped on the edge of a cliff (thanks to mom & dad; tee hee)

5. Broke a finger

6. Had surgery on my esophagus

7. Played varsity softball & tennis

8. Saw Niagara Falls frozen in the winter

9. Worked in a screw factory

10. Went to bible college in Chicago

Ten Things

Ten Things I've Done



1. Skied the mountains of Colorado

2. Snorkled in Cancun

3. Gambled in Reno

4. Hugged a redwood in California

5. Driven on Highway 1 along the Pacific Ocean in Calif.

6. Taught children with an 8 foot Python around my neck

7. Hiked to the top of Mt. Lecount in Tennessee

8. Rode a horse up a mountain in the Smokey Mountains

9. Swam in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

10. Watched whales aboard a large boat in Massachusetts



Ten Things I'd Like To Do (Someday)
(not in any particular order)

1. Go on a cruise

2. Lose 50 lbs

3. Visit Alcatraz

4. Play golf in Hawaii

5. Retire in Florida

6. Live on a lakefront property

7. Live debt free

8. Walk a 10k race

9. See the glaciers

10. Go to Seattle

Started a New Blog

It's not for the faint at heart. Ha ha I need a way to journal my exercise and eating, so I decided not to bore my regular blog readers with the minutia. (yuck that word reminds me of Flenory, yuck!) Feel free to stop by the new blog once in a while to check my progress and offer words of encouragement. Thanks for the support!
The new blog is:

http://fit-n-trim.blogspot.com/

Well, Well. (Now that's a deep subject)

Another freezing cold day. Only went out twice. ha That's too much! Went to Bob's for breakfast. Had their fake eggs with 1/2 a fruit and yogurt crepe. Nice. Then I went to Kroger's. At least the sun was out today. Helps to not feel "down in the dumps."
Tonight's dinner:
Squash Soup (organic) which i bought at Whole Foods
Michigan cherry & pecan salad with/homemade herb dressing
blue corn chips with cheese

I am really trying to get organized. I made myself a daily schedule. Really need to quit wasting so much time. I am not happy that I have sooooooo much to finish for the year end junk. Hope the new schedule works. That means hope I can STICK to the schedule.

Second Day of the New Year

...and it's a cold one! Eight degrees. Brrr We rang in the New Year yesterday with a Rose Bowl watching event. There was bean & cheese enchiladas, cheese quesedillas, guacamole, mexican rice (thanks Renee), chili dip (thanks Katie) & chips-n-salsa. Oreo pie for dessert. (thanks Deb) Too bad Ohio St won. Oh well. It was fun. Today I must clean up the mess! I think tonight will just be getting cozy and watching a movie! Tomorrow will be a day to relax.

Last Day of the Year & Decade

It's hard to believe that we have come 10 years past all that hype from 2000. The meltdown and all that. I always have mixed emotions about New Year's. Actually, I've always hated it. And here's why. When I was a kid we would go to "watch night" service to "watch" for Jesus to come again. I didn't really want to, you know "leave just yet." So I was always fearful on New Year's Eve. Weird. Even tho I now realize it's not a bad thing( Jesus coming again) I always feel jittery on New Year's.
At the beginning of the year my blog was supposed to be the "Eating Well Blog." Whew. Time to get back to that. I kind of went "sideways" over the holidays. I've been thinking about changing the format or starting a new blog but I don't know I'm not sure. Don't really have the time.
Anyway be safe tonight!

Time is Running Out!

Got to get all the invoices and payables done. Hurry, hurry. It's almost the year end. Got to get everything in order for the tax man. And the Tax Man. ha ha Did alot today. Still working. Took a break and went to Sherwin Williams (whooo hoooo) and Italia Gardens. Then went to see Katie and Richie's house. They're painting and cleaning. They're trying to get all moved in by New Year's day. Took an old dryer to add to our own pile of (metal) junk. Lots of work~ 2 crews out tomorrow. Me? I'll be at home working on the puter. STAYING WARM:))

The Day After, The Day After

Time to "undeck" the Halls. Put away the Christmas gifts and take down the tree and all the decorations. Unplug the lights. etc...
Went to Michaels's yesterday for some 1/2 off to 70 percents off sales. Picked up wrapping paper and bows and even a few gifts for next year. Visited family and friends. Now I'm waiting for my dog to come home. He had a sleepover at his sisters.
Got a new game called "Apples to Apples." Can't wait to play it with the Renees. hint hint

Christmas Eve & Bread Pudding

Did the last minute grocery shopping. Everyone was in a merry mood. Even the bag guy. Still gotta make the bread pudding. And of course wrap a few last minute items. Bailey's bag of treats! The girls are at grandma's helping (and out of my hair thank goodness!) Tomorrow's breakfast is stuffed french toast and bacon and sausage. Have to cook for the kids you know. Nothing low fat/sugar there. Except I will use sugarfree jam for my stuffed french toast. I'm home alone jamming out to The Young Messiah, my favorite music to listen to at Christmas time.
Okay, here's the promised bread pudding recipe. (props to Grandma Rush)
grease 9 X 13 pan
butter 8 or 9 slices of day old bread and sprinkle with cinnamon; layer in pan
In sauce pan stirring constant: 3 beaten eggs, 1 qt milk, 2 C sugar, 1 stick margerine, dash of salt
scald then add 2 t. vanilla
pour over bread, let set 5 minutes
bake at 350 degrees about 45 minutes
Vanilla sauce
1 C sugar, 2T. flour, 1/4 t. salt, 1 can evap. milk, 3/4 C water
remove and add: 1 T. butter, 2&1/4 t. vanilla
Serve warm over bread pudding
**optional add 1/2 C raisins
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Let It Snow

It is officially winter time. :( But, on the positive side of things, the days are already getting LONGER!! :) Albeit, not by much, but it's a move in the right direction.
All gifts are bought and wrapped. All presents under the tree. The only thing left is the baking. I'm making bread pudding for Christmas Eve and Pineapple Upside down cake for Christmas day. Yikes, tons of sugar!
Oh, yeah and Sarah needs to finish painting the spare bedroom. It's going to have a theme of birds. My new obsession. Actually, I've always had an interest in birds. I have food and suet out in the back and we've been getting all sorts of birds. I especially like to watch the woodpeckers.

I Know You're All in Suspense

Yes I ate the chicken. One piece of breast meat with ALL the trimmings. The roads were terrible on the way to Frankenmuth. Cars in ditches and smashed up against the wall. It was frightening. Much better on the way home after they had salted the roads. Today is the Rush family Christmas. Turkey and all the trimmings. Oh boy. Another decision of whether or not to eat meat.

On The Seventh Day of Christmas

Wishing for a white Christmas. It looks like we just may have one. Now I want to drive around and look at Christmas lights. Just like we did as kids. It seems like there are lots up this year. I am done shopping and only one more gift to wrap. Then I can relax. A few dishes to make, but that's fun. Last night we are on our way to the movies, but then just didn't feel like sitting and watching a movie. So we went to the mall and walked around. Better exercise than a movie. Ate dinner at Don Pablos. (i hate the way your clothes smell when you eat there) Then went to Borders and read some veggie mags and books. Had an eggnog latte. Bad choice. I forgot to say, "decaf please." Yikes. Also, it made my sugar spike this morning. I know better than that. We are going to the annual Frankenmuth dinner tonight. Hmmmmm, will I cave and eat chicken or not....

On The Ninth Day of Christmas

Miscellaneous stuff.
Today will be the 7th day with no meat. Tonight is bean soup- yum. That's kind of boring but I am getting more creative with the meals. last nite was pesto pasta with mushrooms and tomatoes. It was very good.
Today is library day for me and Sydney. (and we go to McDonald's--shhhhhhh) I'll be having a salad, no chicken of course and the apple & nut snack.
Congrats to Robbie & Caytee and their new guy Riley! He is cute with lots of hair. Gotta run!

On the Tenth Day of Christmas

So much to do so little time. Finally got to the post office to mail the out of town packages. I had tried to go Monday; whoa-- no parking spots. So I made it there by 8:30 a.m. yesterday. No line! In the afternoon Syd, Evan and I made gingerbread peeps. That was fun. We broke a few legs trying to peel them up from the wax paper, but Evan did some surgery to fix them up. They still tasted fine! Last night a trip to the gym then a meal at Taboon. (mid-eastern) We counted at least 15 items + meals that don't include meat. We are trying to go meatless. That is not to say we are vegetarian, but heading in that direction. Haven't had meat in 5 days. This week's menu has 5 meals planned with no meat. Anyway, the dish we tried at Taboon was wonderful. A stirfry veggie dish over rice. Pita and hummus to start. Can't wait to return and try something else. Then off to do some last minute Christmas shopping. It was freezing and the roads were terrible. The wind was just whipping through my clothes. I hope that is the end of the shopping. I think we're done.
Anyway on this 10th day of Christmas I think I'll just stay inside. Wrap gifts, clean my messy kitchen, etc.. I am only goin out to pick up Syd from school. What will we do today? Probably play: house and playdough and maybe watch that kid (can't spell his name) on tv.

12th and 13th of the Month of December

Been a little hectic in the past couple of days. Friday we went to Sarah's uncle's funeral in Shelby Twp. That was quite a drive. Got home late in the afternoon. Then we had the 2nd annual KNS work Christmas dinner. We went to Mongolian BBQ. Then everyone came back and we played Monopoly and Balderdash. My 2 favorite games. Lots of fun. Got to bed late. Slept in. Then drove to Rochester to dine at a Vegetarian Restaurant. Very good. Had a potato garlic dip on toasted wheat pita, and we split an organic vegan veggie burger. Also very good. Then a trip to Whole Foods Market. It has moved to a larger facility. It was pretty awesome. Got some almond milk (that's what we drink now) some organic fruits & veggies, some soy cheese, and a whole bunch of other stuff. A really tasty cranberry & nut bread. Oh yes, and a bottle of organic wine that I can't wait to try.
Then rush home, change clothes to go to the concert at Cornerstone Church where my brother attends. He and my nephew were playing the drums. It was pretty awesome. Then we went out to eat at Olga's. Snackers & cheese and a salad. Niki & John (her new beau) came with us. I think they enjoyed the concert and the meal. He seems like a really nice guy. (so far).
Tomorrow starts the 12th day of Christmas.... and so on.

The Tenth Day of the Twelfth Month

Brrrrr! High of 23 degrees. Snow and ice! AND we're supposed to do an eviction today at 2 pm in Whitmore Lake no less! Sheriff said if there was inclement weather it would be rescheduled. I'm praying he feels this is inclement weather because I'm supposed to go! I cannot even imagine.
Movie Review: Julie & Julia. It was pretty good. Nothing real exciting. I read the book so I knew the plot. It might've been better had I not read the book. There were some cute moments. I'm glad I didn't spend $$ to see it in the theatre. This only cost me $1. I give it a B-

Wrapping Christmas Gifts

Wrapped gifts with a 5 yr old today. She was an excellent taper-er. She even helped to cut the paper. We watched Little Mermaid; one of our favorite movies to watch together. We cover our ears and eyes during the scary parts! (when Ursula the sea witch is on) When I was attaching the tags she informed me that mom doesn't use tags, she just writes right on the paper. Smart mom she has. She went to see Santa yesterday and told him she wants a princess castle. Hint, Hint! Almost done shopping. Lookin for 2 elusive gifts. Can't mention them here though.

The Nutcracker Ballet

We went to see my niece Sara in the Nutcracker. Way down in Pinckney. It was very good. She was beautiful; one of the snowflakes and again as one of the flowers. Great job Sara. Enjoyed the sugared pecans during the performance. Got the tree up last night, whew what a hub-bub! Lots of laughter telling old memories and even some arguing about the lights and ornaments. Then we had fondue. Katie's choice. We had to show Richie what fondue is all about. The girls said we hadn't had fondue since we moved to S.C. It was very tasty and loads of fun. Now I just have to clean up the mess in the kitchen! Lots to do. Gym, babysitting invoicing and need to get started on the Christmas cards before it's too late.

Day 5, December

Christmas is in 20 days! Bought the annual trip to FLA. tickets today!! FEB. 10 to 16. Going to stay with friends, plan to spend NO $$. Bye Bye snow and cold. Hopefully it won't be freezing down there. Busy, busy weekend. Card party tonite. Tomorrow niece Sara's in the Nutcracker ballet down in Pinckney. Sweet! Looking forward to that. Would like to get to the gym today or tomorrow. Lot's of work though. Everyone is out (cept me) working today and there is a full day for tomorrow and every day next week. It's either feast or famine. I'll take the feast, though-no complaints there. It just gets a little crazy. Psycho trash out today. Cash for Keys on Tuesday. Psycho eviction on Thursday. The people live(d) on a private road so the sheriff says we gotta load up the junk and drive it 1/2 mile to the end of the private road and UNLOAD it. Yeah, ok. Need some workers....

The Work Week Has Come and Gone

Already? How time flies. Did I get any work done this week? A little. So many other things to do this week. Unpacking. A trip to SVSU. Babysitting. Banking. FPU. A 1/2 day in the field. (no pics) Putting up the Christmas decorations. Cyber Monday shopping. Laundry. Ho Hum. Time to start the Christmas cards. Time to put up the tree. Finish up the shopping. Make the Figgy Pudding!

December

is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days.
In Latin, decem means "ten". December was also the tenth month in the Roman calendar until a monthless winter period was divided between January and February.
December's flower is the narcissus or holly. December's birthstones are turquoise, lapis lazuli, zircon, topaz (blue), or tanzanite.[citation needed]
December is the month with the shortest daylight hours of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest daylight hours of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.

Pictures from Boyne Country

Bailey gets a little paranoid with all the packing up. We were looking for him. Found him in the open trunk! Picture of Reindeer in the Boyne City parade and picture of the car ferry at Charlevoix on the last day it was running for the year. Lucky us!

If You Get a Craving for Something Sweet

If you get a craving for something sweet, try Hershey's dark chocolate with blueberries, cranberries and almonds. All those fruits and nuts and dark chocolate are good for you. Plus you get to eat 2 big squares. Yumm. Home safe and sound. Rained all the way home. Bad traffic; had to detour and go thru Bay City to get back on I-75. Nice relaxing trip, but glad to be home.

Santa Parade in Boyne

Wow, how cute! There was a fire truck, 2 floats, 2 reindeer, and Santa. It lasted all of about 5 minutes. We almost missed it because we were in the New shoe store downtown. Woooo Whooooo. Then all the stores hosted an open house and had wonderful munchies and beverages. Some of favorites included, white chicken chili, mushroom & wild rice soup, kale chips, and for me even a mini long island iced tea; served by the drugstore no less. :) Don't know what we'll do today. Probably buy some bird seed so my dad has some for next week. The sun is shining and it looks to be a beautiful last day!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Sitting in my favorite hangout up north; Local Flavor. Sippin a cinnamon spice tea with steamed milk. Checking my e-mail, fb and such. Just had lunch at Red mesa. Still gotta go to Glen's and get the food for Thanksgiving dinner. :) Hope they're not out of stuff like, turkey, stuffing, green beans, pie, etc... If so then I guess we'll have to eat out. Already been to Charlexvoix. Went to the new cool Cherry store. Got some cherry soda, salsa and jam. Bought a fuzzy vest cuz it's a bit chilly. Sarah got a new pair of sweats for 7 bucks.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving; and BE thankful in all things. (IN) is the key word here!

Leaving Early

So, in a few minutes I'll be running around like a madwoman getting everything packed up and cleaning stuff. I hate leaving a dirty house. Love to come home to a nice clean home. I'm kind of thinking (hoping) we can get a jump start on this rainy weather that is supposed to arrive. Had to cancel my PT, :(
Boyne Country Here We Come!

I Might Just Ramble On

I'm trying to post more than last year so I may just ramble on and on. :)
Today I'm doing housework and beginning to pack for Boyne Country. Leaving on Wednesday. We decided to make a small dinner for Thanksgiving instead of blowing major bucks on the awesome buffet at the Perry Hotel. Dave Ramsey would be proud. Plus, our tummies will be happier. I hate stuffing my belly and feeling sick. I'm afraid that is what would happen at the Perry. We can probably eat 2 dinners out for the price the T-Day dinner would be at the Perry. Anyway, I love my own cooking, LOL!
I am thankful this year that I can stay home and work and even get paid for it! :))

The Weather Channel, Computer, Me and the Dog

On this fine Saturday. The weather is still holding out-nice. Just gonna hang out and maybe get some chores done and some invoicing. Been watching the weather channel, don't you just love the weather channel? We might go see the movie, "Blindside" later on tonight. It looks like a really good movie. Probably going to make a meatloaf and smashed potatoes for dinner. That's about it. Will start packing on Monday for the long awaited vacation to Boyne Country for Thanksgiving.

Wednesday is Field Day ~This Week

The Entry Way

The Parlour!

Wow, we went to this really "sweet" old house in Pinckney today. I mean it was amazing. Like a real classic. The woodwork, the really old doorknobs and stained glass windows. The rooms, I would love to decorate this house. Sigh. I'm sore. We moved 62 gallons of paint from the basement. Loaded up a trailer full of "exterior debris." But it was a nice warm day for such work. Got lots of metal for scrapping. There was some strange and wonderful items. 2 vintage bikes that my sister would probably sell on e-bay, but we'll just put em in the metal scrap. Got a huge shop vac that actually works! Most of the rest of the stuff was j-u-n-k. We'll probably go back because the peeps busted the locks we put up, peed in the toilets, and tore down the stickers, and even turned the water back on. They left a lovely plate of mac-n-cheese and some dog doo-doo on the floor. So maybe I will get to see my dream house again.

While visiting the quaint town of Pinckney we had a chance to stop at the Zukey Lake Tavern. Kind of a neat place, right on Zukey Lake. I had been there once a long time ago.

Tuscan White Bean Soup

1 Tbl olive oil
1 onion chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 carrot, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
4 fresh sage leaves
6 C low-fat, low-sodium veg or chicken broth
2 cans cannellini or white kidney beans, rinsed & drained
4 C shredded kale
pinch salt
pinch pepper
1. Heat oil in soup pot over med heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrot, celery & sage. Cook until softened, about 5 min.
2. Add the broth, beans, kale, salt, pepper and cook, stirring occas, unitl kale is tender-about 20 min.

A Nice, Peaceful, Relaxing Day

I got to sleep in a little bit. Then I ran off to Home Depot to see if they carried the "red, green, white" Christmas lights that we needed to finish the job. Already tried Gilroy's and Big Lots. But, Home Depot doesn't carry them either. Went to Lowe's. Apparently no one carries those any more. So I bought a colored strand and a plain white (clear) strand and spent a few hours pulling out then snapping back in the lights in the correct arrangement. Then Susan called from Florida. Seems they finally downloaded SKYPE to their computer and wanted us to do the same. After downloading the program and making some adjustments we were able to connect! It was so fun! Little Mya (age almost 3) was pretty tickled. What a nice way to keep in touch. It is a video phone call and it's FREE!!
After visiting with them for quit a while I decided to get back to finishing the lights. I ran out of red and green. Another trip to Lowe's. More pulling and snapping. Finally got the lights up and working. [Check em out Renee] A quick trip to the grocery store and then some reading.
For dinner I invented a recipe. Pork chops smothered in apples, sweet potatoes, sweet potato squash, leeks all sprinkled with brown sugar, a little juice from an orange and Cinnamon. Served with fresh brussel sprouts w/walnuts coated with a little butter & brown sugar. It was all very yummy! After I see about tomorrow's work schedule I will see if I can finish my book. All the while enjoying my desert; brownies with black beans inside. (smushed up good of course!)

A Wonderful Morning at the Market

I love going to the Farmer's Market. Any will do, but especially the Ann Arbor market. First we enjoyed breakfast at the Broken Egg joint. I've been going there for years. Always get the same thing; Elizabeth's Breakfast Stew. It used to be called, "The Kitchen Sink." Sarah enjoyed her granola & banana pancakes. Then we strolled through the market. It was warm and sunny. I so enjoy the sights, sounds and smells! We bought fresh sage, 100% stone ground freshly made wheat bread, organic tomatoes, Brussel sprouts, apples, broccoli, several spices at the spice store at Kerrytown market. I can't wait to go back in December for a pine wreath and centerpieces. There were many fall centerpieces but they were lots of $$.
Now were getting ready to put up the Christmas lights since it's so warm out.

A Beautiful, Warm, Sunny, November Day

Why do you feel so much better when the sun is shining? I think I need to move somewhere sunny. I wonder how many sunny vs. cloudy days we have in Michigan? I will need to go for a walk when the temp. rises just a little more. I'm going to post the recipe for the pear crisp that Sarah made yesterday. It is lowfat and low GI food. It was so yummy! I will post it soon.

Tuesday is Field Day

Only one job in Brighton. It was very boring. The people left the house neat as a pin.; Bust the door knob, drill out the others, screw in the new ones. Blow out the lines, blah-blah-blah. The highlight of the day was meeting up with an old friend back from the Curriculum Services days. We met for lunch at TGI Fridays in Brighton. It was fun to catch up. We reconnected through good ole FB. Not much else has been going on.
Happy Birthday to my mom. Party in Heaven I guess. Sure do miss her!

A Low GI Eating Day

Yesterday was the first day of the rest of my life. Just being silly. I stuck exactly to the GI diet plan. Buttermilk/oatmeal pancakes for breakfast. (w/fruit) GI basic salad w/basic GI dressing and Tuscan Bean Soup for lunch. Then for dinner, broiled fish, with potatoes, carrots and asparagus. Th pancakes and soup were very yummy. The fish dinner, not my favorite. Tonight is Beef with eggplant chili. Smells good, anyway. I think it will be tasty. So far the Tuscan bean soup was my favorite. Let me know if ya want the recipe.

Sights, Sounds, Smells of a Walk in Early November

Whew, that was a long title. I just got back from a very nice walk.
The sky was blue and the air clean and crisp.
The sun peaking before setting in a little while.
The pungent fragrance of someone burning leaves somewhere close by.
Leaves on the lawn and crunching in the street.
The air with just a little bite on my face and ears and hands.
Pumpkins and fall decorations on lawns and porches.
Yesterday's Jack-o-lanterns glaring at me as I pass.
Fall is probably my favorite time of year even though it means winter is right around the corner.

Halloween ~ Last Day of October

Well here it is the last day of October, Unbelievable!! It is also the day before the clock goes back. "Fall back." That's how I always remember it. Also, tomorrow I am starting the Low GI eating plan. We went shopping earlier and got most of the food for the week. I will be reporting on the various meals. I also am giving up coffee. Apparently it has a bad effect on diabetes. So, I'm switching to tea. I am stocked up on a variety of flavors. I also swiped a teapot from the cottage until I get my own. Shhhhh, don't tell anyone.

The Day Before the Last Day of October

If I write 2 more blogs I will have a record number of blogs for one month. Let's see if I can do that. Still waiting for the results from Sarah's biopsy. Stressful. Raining= blah. But, still trying to maintain a positive attitude. At noon I'm picking up Syd the Kid and were having a field trip. Lunch at Donald's and then a trip to the library. Her mom is going to the brother's harvest party. I don't mind a bit. I can't really explain why I like being with kids. I always have. Their little minds are so active and the stuff they say is amazing. Syd's sister has commented; "a 50 year old and a 5 year old, I just don't get it." LOL! Seems like I have always had a special kid in my life from time to time. Well, they're all special! Kids are so fun. Maybe that's it. They can just be themselves and You can just be yourself! That must be it. Anyway, Happy Friday.

Field Day Tuesday

Took place right in Swartz Creek. I stayed home today. Did some cleaning and finally got a chance to unpack. Even did a load of laundry. Made some awesome spinach/feta/mushroom omelets for dinner. I would say I accomplished much. It was like a stay at home work day. Even tho I'm home 4 days a week, I don't always have a chance to do the household chores. Weird.

An Exhausting Day

Up early to get the guys off on their schedule. 9:00 biopsy for Sarah at the Imaging Center. She is sore and not feeling well. I don't think she got much sleep. The Doc said we should hear from the lab by Wed. or Thur. I hate the waiting. Then we ran to the bank and grocery store. Picked up some ingredients for tonight's Sesame Chicken Stir-fry. It was very good; and I'm not even the only one who thought so. The recipe is from The Biggest Loser cookbook. Then I met with my PT at 3:30 and now I'm sore and stiff. But it was a good workout and I am ready to get back to the program!

A Quick Trip

Up and back to beautiful Boyne County. It rained pretty much the whole time and was pretty darn cold. Maybe high of 45. bRrRrR. Did a few chores to get things "winterized." Had an invigorating trip to the Petosky area. Went to Bill's Farm Market for some fall variety type squash. Had a hot spicy beverage at Roast & Toast. Ate a deliciouso lunch at Park City Grill. Window shopped all the interesting little shops. Browsed the bookstore and bought a couple of books. I bought , The GI Diet Clinic. A 13 week plan for permanent and healthy weight Loss, by Rick Gallop. Following a low GI (Glycemic Index) diet is great for diabetics. So back on the ole bandwagon I go. I really want/need to make these changes for life. I've been NOT following my plan lately and have been feeling puffy and slugish.

Going, Going....

Up North to the cottage. Last minute thing. Someone has to go and winterize the cottage and machinery. Might as well be us since we haven't been able to go much this year. Once only in fact. Dad feels better knowing someone is going to close things up. Even tho we will be going up for Thanksgiving this year. He like the mowers and such to be winterized. It will probably be a rainy cold weekend, but .... oh well. Planing a trip to Bill's Farm Market and Roast & Toast and the book store in town, and, and... not sure what else. Definitely planning on some nice warm fires in the fireplace.

My new shoes came today. Personalized~New Balance.

Field Day Tuesday

The day began warm and fallish and started with a trip to The French Laundry for a bagel and some Kenyan Coffee. Delish! Then trips to Highland, Clarkston, Davisburg, and Ortonville. It was mostly sunny and the fall colors were pretty wonderful. I don't mind driving around on a day like that. Nothing major to do. Some bids, a few lawn mows, a few lock changes. A tarp to nail down to a roof. Sarah blames me for what happened next. She pounded her thumb with a hammer. She says I was talking to her and distracted the job at hand.

( No pun intended.....) Here is the pic of her ouchie. Then we couldn't find the band aids so we had to use a diaper wipe and some duct tape. Yikes! I later found a "hello kitty" band aid and applied to the wound.

I wanted to stop and buy some pumpkins but then we couldn't find a pumpkin stand, so I was denied. We ate lunch at the bullfrog cafe. Hey, I'm starting to enjoy Field Day Tuesday after all!

A Good Excuse to Clean

Nothing like company coming over for a good thorough house cleaning! Peeps coming over tonight for the monthly Euchre Tourney. All the cracks and crevices are shiny. Making baked spaghetti, salad and garlic bread. Hot spiced or cold cider to drink. MMmmM nice and fallish.

A deer jumped out and hit Katie and Richie last night. Did lots of damage to the car. But, thankfully they are both okay. Not the same can be said of the poor deer.

Tuesday is Field Day

Bowling Ball Fence

Tuesday is the day I go out in the "field" and do the P & P route for the day. (P & P = property preservation) Yesterday's route took us to Pinckney, Brighton, South Lyon and finally Milford. The lovely bowling ball fence line was in Brighton. The gas station is in Milford and I just like it. The decor is old-fashioned Mobil stuff.

So this is what I did yesterday:

drilled out door locks

reinstalled new door locks

plunge toilets and put in anti-freeze

do the walk around and list damages and debris

take pics of EVERYTHING

load the GPS with every new address

fill out the forms

stopped by Erwins orchard for some hot cider and a doughnut! I mean, well, we WERE driving right by....

Pumpkin Spice Latte OR 5 Servings or Lucky Charms

Coffee is one of the world's most potent elixirs—and one of its most controversial. Some studies suggest that it boosts brainpower and prevent Parkinson's, while others claim that it increases your risk for heart disease. Allow us to set the record straight: A cup of joe can improve your health. And that's good, because three out of four Americans drink the heady brew every day. Problem is, souped-up, sugar-laden coffee drinks aren't the same as the unsullied stuff—and many people are easily duped into trading their usual antioxidant-rich caffeine fix for a “special” seasonal blend. Why is that bad? Just one venti Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks has more sugar than five servings of Lucky Charms—

Bling

'Bling-bling' (usually shortened to simply 'bling') is a hip hop slang term which refers to expensive jewelry and other accoutrements, and also to an entire lifestyle built around excess spending and ostentation. In its essence, the term 'bling' refers to the exterior manifestation of one's interior state of character, normally displayed through various forms of visual stimuli.

Want to lose weight as you chow down?

Want to lose weight as you chow down? Your wish is granted! (I promise, this is no fairy tale.) Your supermarket is filled with foods that studies show have lipid-melting powers to help melt fat and keep you slim. Stock up on these fat-fighting super bites, and you'll be trimmer even as you indulge. Read on to discover the eight foods that deserve a permanent spot in your fridge—and in your diet!
Almonds These yummy nuts are high in alpha-linolenic acid, which can accelerate your metabolism of fats. In fact, dieters who ate 3 ounces of almonds daily slashed their weight and body-mass index by 18 percent, while those who skipped the nuts reduced both numbers less— just 11 percent—a study in the International Journal of Obesity revealed. Chomp almonds à la carte (limit yourself to 12 per serving to keep calories in check). I get a pack at Starbucks and nibble throughout my day. Or sprinkle them into a recipe such as Black Bean–Almond Pesto Chicken. Go nuts!
Berries I tell my daughter, "These are nature's candy!" Turns out they're also your body's best friends. Strawberries, raspberries and other vitamin C–spiked fruit can supercharge your workout, helping you burn up to 30 percent more fat, research from Arizona State University at Mesa has found. If they're not in season, buy the little gems frozen in a bulk-sized bag so you'll always have them on hand to whip up a Berry Bliss Smoothie or Strawberry-Sunflower Pops, regardless of whether berries are in season.
Cinnamon Adding 1/4 teaspoon to your plate may prevent an insulin spike—an uptick that tells your body to store fat. Sprinkle it on your morning cereal or coffee or on your yogurt in the A.M., or savor it in Apple-Cinnamon-Raisin Oatmeal.
Mustard It's heaven on a soft pretzel, but mustard may also be a weight loss wonder. Turmeric, the spice that gives mustard its color, may slow the growth of fat tissues, a study in the journal Endocrinology finds. Use it on sandwiches instead of mayo, or sprinkle turmeric on cauliflower pre-roasting to give it a kick. Try it on tuna salad—I promise it adds zest.
Oranges This citrus fruit, which contains fat-blasting compounds known as flavones, deserves to be your main squeeze. Women who ate the most flavones had a much lower increase in body fat over a 14-year period, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes. Eat oranges sliced or swig fresh OJ (including pulp!) to get the best benefit from the fruit.
Soybeans Reason to toss a half cup on your salad? Soybeans are rich in choline, a compound that blocks the absorption of fat and breaks down fatty deposits. Oh, and they're addictively delish! But if breast cancer runs in your family, experts suggest you should talk to your doc before adding soy to your diet.
Sweet potatoes The colorful spuds' high-fiber content means they keep your insulin steadier than their white sisters, which means less fat packed on your hips, research finds. Top a small baked tater with lowfat cottage cheese for a tempting side dish, or whip up Miso Soup With Sweet Potato Dumplings.
Swiss cheese Calcium-rich foods reduce fat-producing enzymes and increase fat breakdown, and Swiss has more calcium than many of its cheesy peers. Choose the reduced-fat variety, such as Sargento. Slip it into your sandwich.
By Lucy Danziger, SELF Editor-in-Chief - Posted on Thu, Oct 08, 2009, 3:32 pm PDT wich, put it on top of high-fiber crackers or use it for a healthier grilled cheese. Yum!

A Brisk Walk

This morning was the Making Strides walk for Breast Cancer. It was 40 degrees at the start. Maybe 43 at the finish. It was pretty cold~ but we warmed up once we started. No rain! 3 miles through downtown Flint. I made about 2 & 1/2. Oh well. I'm out of shape again. Need to get back to the ole gym. Now I am sleepy and need a nap. Think I might just go and do that! After some hot spiced cider!

Cuban Shredded Beef

Cuban Shredded Beef ~ Recipe This falls in the category of: "among other things."
Get you a big hunk of beef LOL
Ingredients:
Pot Roast
1 can tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
1 green pepper
1 onion
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
2 cloves garlic, chopped
salt/pepper
Directions: cut up the pepper and onion and place on bottom of crockpot.
Place the roast on top.
Mix up the spices with the tomato sauce.
Pour on top of the meat.
Cook for 8 hours.
When beef is tender, shred with 2 forks. Serve over a bed of rice. (brown)

Stuck ~ In a Rut That Is

Seems a lot of folks are "blogged" out. Don't have much to say. It's getting colder ~ our fingers don't work so well on the keyboard. I've been working quit a bit so time is hard to find. Here is a news flash. We found out the "home invasion" on the next street over was really a suicide. I guess the guy called 911 so his wife wouldn't be the one to find him. Tragic. I'm still making sure windows/doors locked up tight. Went grocery shopping with my $75/week budget. Only spent $53. Yea for me! Making a delicious smelling dinner tonight called Cuban Beef. I'll report on how that works out. Really simple and in the crockpot it all goes. Well, gotta get back to work.

October 1st - Brrrr!

First frost of the season. Marlene called me yesterday to bring in my basil. So I picked it all and washed it and threw it in a baggie and into the fridge. Gonna make some pesto and freeze it.

October's birthstone is the opal. The opal is thought to have the power to predict illness. This is because the opal responds to heat. If you are sick your temperature increases before signs of illness appear. The increased body heat causes the opal to lose its shine, leaving it dull and lacking color. It is also said that the opal will crack if it is worn by someone who was not born in October.
Its birth flower is the calendula.

This is breast cancer awareness month. - One week until I walk. 3 miles...

Last Day of September

"Come," said the Wind to the Leaves one day.
"Come over the meadow and we will play."
"Put on your dresses of red and gold."
"For summer is gone and the days grow cold."



September's birthstone is the sapphire. The meaning is clear thinking.
The birthflowers for September are the forget-me-not, and aster.

A Baby Shower, Tea Party & Family Antics

Saturday was my niece Michelle's baby shower. She is expecting a boy in November on my Mom's birthday actually. The shower was a tea party. Very pretty. We had tea and little tea sandwiches and scones. I made cucumber sandwiches, which were very dainty and tasty. They were a big hit. She got lots of nice stuff. Here is a picture of her with the diaper cake I gave her. (Renee made it!) After the shower my sisters and nieces and I spent some time together reminiscing and being silly. So much fun. My poor brother-in-law Don. Other then baby Brady he was the only guy there. He hung in there with us though, and even played Uno,Uno,Uno with us! We ate left-overs for supper. Yumm all over again. I won't even tell you who peed their pants. (not me!) We laughed till we cried. A very nice time.

No Rest For the Weary

Work Work all day long ~ sounds like a country song. Hey wait a minute, it is! I scammed out of going back to the eviction house today. Didn't feel good. Neighbors woke me up. Drunk and laying in the yard.. Might be funny if it didn't keep me up. (No NOT the Renees.) Thankfully the peeps took at least 2/3 of their junk.( from the evict house) We saw pictures that an inspector took a couple days ago. I will stay here and keep plugging away at getting the accounts up to date.
Looking forward to the FPU class tonight. Financial Peace Univ. by Dave Ramsey. I highly reccommend it for anyone who feels frustrated by:

• not having cash on hand
• not having a savings account (with actual money in it!)
• not having a $1000 emergency fund
• having debt: small or major
• not having a 3 mos expenses account for when stuff happens

It's really enjoyable, you watch a dvd and then discuss with the people in a small group. People who messed up with their money, just like you. It's really an eye opening experience~especially regarding that six letter work; CREDIT.

Here is an excerpt: Imagine... Having absolutely no debt--no car payments, no credit card payments, not even a house payment. How would it feel to actually get to keep your money instead of mailing it out to a dozen creditors month after month?

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Views From A Live Eviction

A Very Busy Day!

Wednesday dawned bright and sunny as we headed down to Howell to do the "live" eviction. The PO-po were there. (Just in case.) They cased the joint, but no one was there. So we broke in and started moving stuff out. Tons and tons of stuff! About an hour later, a car speeding down the road honking came to an abrupt stop. A lady jumped out and started cursing us all. It was the homeowner. The 2 sheriffs had to calm her down. At one point I heard the sheriff tell her, "do not touch me again." She was pretty upset. We just kept on moving stuff out. The neighbors tried to help by putting stuff in their garages. Apparently her husband or "ex", we're still not sure which, was out of town. She tried to tell the sheriff that the governor said she could stay. It took 8 of us FIVE hours to get all the stuff, and I mean ALL. The sheriff said EVERYTHING; even the fridge and washer/dryer! The garage was packed with junk. Now we are waiting to get the "ok" to go and get all the stuff they didn't take or move. sigh.... After a while the neigbors were getting tired of sorting through all the stuff the lady wanted to keep. The next door neighbor bought us all Little Ceasar's pizza and some pop. She wouldn't even take any money from us. I think maybe they appreciated the fact that we were not throwing the stuff any old which way. At any rate it was extremely nice of her.

To Be Continued....

Nothing New Under the Blue Skies

Work, work, work all day.
Make more money, better pay.

LOL - that's a rhyme I just made up.
Just got back from PT so I am tired~whew!
Making fish tacos, fresh green beans, Waldorf salad for dinner. Oh yeah, and sweet potato chips!
Tomorrow is the "live" eviction. I will report on that tomorrow.
Ok, gotta go back to work.

Blue Skies and Butterflies

The saying has been circling in my head all week. It's been such a beautiful week weather wise, plenty of blue skies. Then I saw a few butterflies flitting about. Cool, crisp early mornings, warm days, breezy evenings. Very nice. First day back to school, or first day of school for Sydney, Riley and a few more. I haven't had time to write or much less think because ever since we got back from up north we've been blasted by work. (a good thing I assure you!) We found out we are the number one vendor in our Flint zone now. However, we were already the number one vendor in our Oakland/Livingston zone. So, they've been crankin out the work orders. Need to hire new employees because we just lost 2. Anyone know of anyone who is trustworthy?
Upcoming Events~
Today - Happy 20th Birthday to Katie; age 20!
Wednesday - we are doing a "live" eviction in Howell; exciting!
Wednesday - 2nd class of "financial peace univ." - enjoyed the first class alot
Saturday - Creek homecoming

Bye Bye Beautiful Boyne

View from the top of Avalanche Mt. Lake Charlevoix in B.C.

It was a beautiful weekend weather wise. Mid to upper 70's and lots of sunshine. The water was a bit cool, but that didn't stop us from taking everyone tubing. Took the Sheicks and Bailey's sister Phoebe. We took in the sights and sounds of the last "stroll the streets" in Boyne City and dined at Red Mesa Grill. Went to a classic car show, and climbed Avalanche Mtn. to see the sailboats arrive. (Red Fox Regatta) Had B.C. Pizza, grilled fresh whitefish. Went to the Farmer's market, bought Johnecheck (correct spelling) corn. Ice cream at Kilwins. Some biked up Boyne Mtn. All the way. Then Phoebe tried to follow them and almost bit the dust because she went out to that crazy Deer Lake Rd. Luckily the driver saw her and screeched the brakes. Whew! Scary!

Copycat Sandwich from Dale's Natural Food's

Oh man, this sandwich is sooo good!
Pita bread
hummus
cukes
tomato
red onion
sprouts
lettuce
topped with avacado slices
I cannot begin to tell you how good it is. You just have to make one, right now! That's what I did and now I'm eatin it! Then I'm goin to PT to punish my body.

Packing to Go Up North and Other Things

Doing laundry so I can pack. Leaving tomorrow for Boyne, yea! Supposed to be nice weather, yea! Taking Sarah's cousins Mike, Chris and T. (Trenton) I'm going to be doing some vicious driving of the boat. There will be plenty of whuppins! Then the farmers market on Sat. with some good ole "Johhnychec" corn--yumm.
Other Things~ While I'm thinking about it~ getting a start on my Christmas list.
Christmas list:
flat iron
Sonycard for my book reader
MP -3 Music card
TEA POT - not the one you pour in your nose when you have a cold. ha ha
Expensive warm sweater from LLB; the one in the cataloug
work out clothes - SIZE L :)
CHIA herb garden
That bump thing you put in your hair to make a beehive hairdo tee hee, jk
food processor
Not much, this year; really...