I am with you....

I am with you sister!....My almost 50 lbs I lost last year, has almost completely crept back on.  Low carbing was the way I did it, but once you go off you are doomed.   I guess that means one thing, don't go off of it. 

I felt so much better eating healthier and exercising every day.  I need to do something too.  I need to start writing down what I eat.  That is a great way to start.  Then start doing yoga again.  Yoga is such a great way to make you feel stronger.  And of course, walking.  Walking/running is the best way to lose weight.  Unfortunately the sidewalks are not looking so great, and my 2, yes 2 treadmills in the basement are not working.  Maybe an aerobics class would be a good thing...I am going to look into that. 

Round belly's are from carbs.  They call them "carb belly's".  Lily and I are sharing that title right now.  Not good. Carb's bring me down, literally.  I don't feel well after I eat them.  So yes, sister it is time to begin again.....keep me posted.

26 days

With our church right across the street from our house, it's tough to come up with an excuse to not attend mass on Sundays.  That, and the fact that we have an incredible priest leading our church....I always leave feeling so good and uplifted.  Anyway, yesterday he talked about Advent and that it really translates to "new beginning."  He suggested that we take these next four weeks to "start something"...something we've wanted to do and something that we'd feel good about on Christmas Day.

So, mine is eating very healthy and excercising every day...hoping to lose a few pounds before you and your family arrive on Christmas Eve!!!!  Want to join me?  For me, it's cutting the carbs...I think that works best for you too.

So today I've had two eggs, coffee and a hunk of leftover brie.  I rid my refrigerator of stuffing, cranberry sauce (full of sugar!), etc.....it's gonna be clean (of sugar) living for me for the next 26 days.   I'm going to walk George now and then make some butternut squash soup (super easy:  saute onions, garlic in a soup pan, add 2 cans of butternut squash puree from TJ's (or pumpkin) and chicken broth....heat and top with parmesean cheese - yum o!).

Are you with me, Krissygirl???!!!!

I'm Back!

Ok, I am back!  I love my ipod but it is too small to blog on.  I hijacked the computer from Evan's room to the living room, so I can get some blogging done. 

First, I must admit cottage cheese and potato chips is a treat I enjoy and dream about.  It is the Wisconsin in me that craves cheese, and salt.  Love it!!! I buy cottage cheese one trip to the store, and then a few days later chips will be in the cart. Then I will get home and realize .....aaaaahhhhhh.......I have both cottage cheese and potato chips. Enjoy!  Not very often does this happen.....but when it does it puts a smile on my face, and I think of Pops.

When I see William and Harry, I think about Princess Diana and the loss.  William and Kate look like a really happy couple.  I am not sure I would want to marry into that life.  Diana struggled with it before they even got married, but felt she had to do it.  Queen Elizabeth never really liked her, I believe. Everytime I see Diana on t.v. I still cry.  She was not perfect, but she was real.  Harry is actually becoming more handsome than William.  Poor William is losing his hair, like his Dad. 

you who....where are you krissygirl???

We need to be dishin and you're not hopping on!  I was a bit delinquent during the last month of the campaign, but nothing has changed for you, Missy!  Time to get back on~your loving Seester

my neighbor's leaves...

Our neighbors behind us are now empty nesters (for a few years now) and it shows.  When they had three teenagers in the house 3-8 years ago, we NEVER saw them...they were as busy as we are now and they hardly mowed their backyard, yet alone raked it. 

I believe the "issue" is our huge maple tree in the back of our lot...very last tree to drop it's yellow leaves every fall...it still isn't done.  Today, I witnessed "Jim" (it's actually his real name) raking leaves as hard as he could over our fence hoping to get most of them into our backyard.  Must add this tidbit, if "Jim" is in his yard, doing any sort of work, he must be in his "doing my yard work outfit"...consisting of jeans, thermal undershirt, flannel plaid shirt with sleeves rolled up...he never messes up with a t-shirt or sweats.  When we do yard work, we don't shower and dress for the occasion, but that's just us.  Why his outfits bug me, I do not know....I just think it's weird to have an outfit for cleaning up the yard.

Anyway, Jim and "Kris" (might be her real name too;) are obessesed with their back yard...picking up any stray little leaf, staring at their new bushes, standing in the middle of their back yard comtemplating...what I do not know.  Probably how much their loser neighbors drive them crazy because we haven't cleaned up our leaves yet.

What I do know is that my front yard is immaculate...worked on it for hours yesterday and the neighbor next door better get his leaves picked up soon...

Heidi

Wills and Kate are getting married!!!!

I LOVE a good Prince and Princess story and I am so excited that Prince William has finally proposed to Kate!  I was/still am a Princess Diana fan, but I am feeling a lot better about this match.  There is something magical about the Royal family.  Maybe it's not magical, but fascinating.  I love the history of the Windsor family...my favorite class is college was a history class on England.  I love it that Prince William gave Kate the ring that Diana wore.  She raised those boys well.  So did their Dad...despite their shortcomings.  Can't wait to watch it all unfold!  Heidi

potato chips and cottage cheese...

Confession...just got back from the grocery store and before the dog was let out, before the groceries were all brought into the house, before I even set my purse down, I stood at the counter, ripped open the bag and carton and crammed several potato chips down my throat with heaping dips of cottage cheese...so good!

Don't know who exactly started this twisted snack in our family....Papa Pete is the culprit that hooked his then-svelte daughters...years ago!  Not sure if it was a Grandma Bea or Grandpa Milo concoction.....all I know is that if I were stranded somewhere/anywhere, potato chips and cottage cheese would be high on my list when I returned home. 

A few "musts"....it must be 4% small curd cottage cheese and it must be ridged or ruffled chips...in case of an emergency, plain chips or 2% cottage cheese can be substituted,(in desperate times I've even resorted to Triscuits, SunChips or Doritos) but the BEST combo is Ruffles and the 4% small curd....heavenly, salty, creamy goodness!!! 

Haven't converted my husband (he is miffed if I buy chips, cottage cheese and no french onion), but Emma and Peter love this too!  Pure comfort.

Heidi

Oh my...

I just read Krista's post about our grandparents...suffice it to say, I needed kleenex. 

I will write about all of them, but right now I keep remembering one year ago, as we were watching Grandma Veronica leave us.  It will be one year ago that she passed away on November 21.  Our last grandparent. 

Krista and I were so lucky to have all of our grandparents for most of our childhood and adult lives...we were very, very blessed by this.  When I think of all of them, I think of unconditional love.  We knew how much they loved us...always.  That was and is an awesome way to grow up and live life.

From Grandma Veronica, I learned about flowers and gardening...she could grow the most beautiful flowers.  I also learned about baking and cooking...how I could show my love through that.  Sitting around the table - talking, playing cards, eating pie...just being together is what she believed was important.  We need more time around the table.  It's exactly why I bought a round table...it's so good for talking.

We're having my in laws here for Thanksgiving...I LOVE this holiday and I love hosting it...the turkey, the stuffing (going to try making stuffing muffins this year...see below...it's Rachel Ray's idea - I won't use her recipe because we have a recipe that has been handed down for YEARS, but I like the idea of "muffins"), the mashed potatoes, the little lemon cakes that Emma and I love to make for dessert.  The best part will be the conversation.

My all time best day ever was Thanksgiving 2001.  The whole family was here (including Grandma Bea, Grandpa Claude, Grandma Veronica, Papa and GranJan, the in laws, the uncles and aunts and Krista's family)...it was one of the happiest days in my memory.  I took a photo of my Grandpa Claude sitting on my sofa with a look of perfect contentment...I love that photo.  The kids played in the backyard, the turkey took forever to cook, there was gravy all over the kitchen, we practically had to eat in shifts...it was great! 

The best thing I did that day was start a Thanksgiving journal in which everyone wrote what they were grateful for...which was a lot that year since 9/11 had just happened.  We've kept up that journal every year and when I read it, what we're all most thankful for is family.  We're scattered now...some to Florida and some to heaven, and we're never all together anymore, but all is well.  I have so much to be thankful for...Heidi

My wonderful Grandparents......

Grandparents are very special to most people.  When I think of grandparents, I think of fun and laughter.  I have a lot of great memories of all my grandparents.  This may take a box of kleenex to finish.  You are right, we had most of them for a really long time....

My Grandpa Milo died when I was in 8th grade. I have memories of him, but not as clear.  I remember him mostly when he was frail and not very healthy, after his stroke.  But he was a strong person, even when he was not feeling very well.  He would hold my hand and squeeze it so tight, I thought I would scream.  I think it was his way of showing people he was still here, and not to forget him.  I often think, wouldn't he be proud to see this, or wouldn't he have loved this...  His funeral is one of the first I can remember.  I really don't like going to funerals even now because of that day.  Horrible day,  very sad.  Loss is something you don't get over, it forms you, and makes you different.  I miss him.

My Grandma Bea was a wonderful person.  She taught me so many things.  She was like a "Martha".  She loved a nice table, and dinner.  Decorating on a budget was her life. They did not have a lot of money, but she made it seem like they had everything.  I have inherited her love of painting.  She must of bought a gallon of paint, and kept going until it was gone.  The walls would be blue, the chair, the lamp, the tray.....everything in sight.  But I know now, that painting is cheap, and it can brighten a room and make everything seem new again.  It really is a great trick! 
She was a classy lady, and beautiful.  She always looked like she was ready for a fun night out!  Makeup, hair and clothes just perfect.  She also loved to bake and teach Heidi and I how to be good in the kitchen.  She was definetly from a different era, of the wife stays home and cooks, but she also was strong and had her own opinion.  I still get a tear in my eye when I think about her not being with us anymore.

My Grandpa Claude was such a hard worker.  He would have worked until the day he died, but he wasn't able to drive anymore.  He was such a kind man.  He would do anything for anybody, and everyone said that at his funeral.  He was on the quiet side, but also loved to laugh and have fun!  His dancing always put a smile on my face.  Tapping his knee up and down, like from his favorite show Hee-Haw.  He loved his family and loved having them around.  He would have been happiest if at least one of his children lived next door. 
I can picture him at his grill making chicken out on the driveway.  Getting a kick out of watching the kids running around in the yard.  I will always have a special place in my heart for him.

My Grandma Veronica was a great lady.  She also grew up loving her family, and wanting them to stay "close".  She'd say, "Oh I wish you lived closer, so I could see you more."  She taught us to not be so serious in life.  Have fun, play cards with your family, everything is fine.  She also like my Grandma Bea, wanted us to know how to cook and bake.  She loved her sweets!
She was the one I thought would live for a long time, well into her late 90's.  Her passing surprised us.  She was such a stong person that we all thought she would be around for ever.  It has taught me that life is short.  Enjoy your family, and teach your kids how to be descent.  You only have one shot at it.