And So It Goes

I chose to not go shopping on Black Friday, but I hit the stores on Sane Saturday!  I have shopped the day after Thanksgiving and nearly got trampled to death....and that was at Dillard's in the china department!  Sheesh, be careful; there are breakables.  My quest on Saturday was to purchase the perfect cream/ beige/ off-white shirt.  Any color other than stark white; it's after Labor Day, remember?  I found many shirts to try on at the first store.  I have now learned that I'm in between a L and XL.  I thought, well it's a knock off store.  Let me try a nicer department store.  In my small rural area we only have ONE nicer department store and they didn't carry any light colored shirts in the women's department.  Do we "women" not wear light colored shirts here in rural town America?  I do know many women here who will not wear white.  They say they will invariably drop/ spill/ soil that white shirt!  Strawberry asks Why don't adults wear bibs?  Shall I start a fashion statement or will I just get institutionalized?  I don't know.  I didn't buy a thing but my daughter found her Christmas gift.  I remember shopping with my Mom and she would be looking for a certain thing and I would be the one who bought something.  I think that is the secret.  Don't go shopping unless you aren't looking for something.  I might needlepoint that on some pillows I'm not looking for.

So today, I had my clothes picked out and ready to wear for work.  I dressed, walked to the kitchen and realized I needed to pull up my pants-- they were falling (not down...I'm not an exhibitionist) but slipping down just enough that the hem kept getting caught under my heel.  I needed a belt!  For the 1st time in about 20 years, I needed a belt.  Problem was I don't own a belt- that fits right now, that is.  I've been crocheting so I had some yarn to cinch around my waist but I really didn't want to look like the bride of Li'l Abner.  I tried safety pinning it but I could only find a flimsy one that came out of a freebie sewing kit.  It popped off almost immediately so that didn't work.  What I really needed this morning was a great big diaper pin (but that ship has sailed a looooong time ago).  I just changed my pants.  Same size/ different brand and those pants fit perfectly...maybe a tad snug but they stretched throughout the day.  I can see how this is going to go.  Every morning I'll be trying on clothes finding some that aren't too big.....YES, I said it.  I'm not worried that I won't find any pants that won't fit because they are too small.  I'm sorry; I sound cocky.  I'm still not where I want to be.  Today I wore my snugly fitting size L shirt and my loose fitting size pants and believe me, I didn't like my reflection.  I still haven't "arrived" at feeling good in my skin yet, but I'm on the way and I'm so thankful you are on the journey with me.

I'm dreaming of....pickled eggs

My college daughter handed me a copy of “Our Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes.”  I was excited; you see I want to write My Family's Holiday Cookbook.  I have most of the supplies-- even extra ink cartridges for a printer two printers ago.  Yep, that's how long I've been meaning to write the darn thing!

I anxiously grabbed the book from her and opened the first page.  This is gonna be great.  Maybe I could get some ideas.  I read the first recipe.

Turkey

12 eggs

98 scoops of milk

88 cups of water

89 spoons of flour

78 cups of sugar

Bake in the oven for 48 hours at 78*

I looked at my daughter; she smiled at me and I kept reading…

Ice Cream

2 spoons of milk

10 minutes in the freezer

Put in 30 chocolate chips and peppermints

Put the cone on

Now we’re talking.  Why have I been trying to churn the mixture in an ice cream maker?

In case you are wondering what type of college my daughter attends, she is working with kindergarten children at an after-school program for her work study program.  This recipe book is obviously a gift to the children’s parents.  I know they will love it!  I don’t know these kids and I love it.

Here’s another turkey recipe.

Turkey

1 ham

1 cup of salt

(Strawberry guesses they like their turkey/ ham really salty!)

1 cup of pepper

Cook in the oven at 2* for 1 minute and enjoy.

(Strawberry says “That is once you get home from the hospital!”)

In my family cookbook, I’m including my favorite holiday fare: pickled eggs.  I love them.  When I go to Fredricksburg, TX (a great German town in the hill country) I’ve found pickled eggs.  They are white.  My family pickles the eggs in a vinegar and red beet mixture.  They aren’t only good but beautiful too.   

Yum!

I love them so much, I took 2 pictures!  I really need some pointers from my photographer friend.  Do you hear me, Cathi?

Just look at those pretty eggs!

I guess someone might look at my cookbook and laugh like I did at the kindergarten cookbook.  I guess it’s all relative (sorry for the pun)!

I enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends.  I miss my college crew but Christmas is right around the corner.  YIKES!  Christmas is right around the corner…..

It's Sunday

It's Sunday and I want a do-over! 

Can I please have a do-over and this time I won't eat so much?

Damn!  And I was doing so well.

I just want one do-over!

Oh, well.

Tomorrow is a new day.

 

Reflections....Random

Black Friday.  Who has the money?  I've been reading articles about how couples use a sort of military tactic on this one day of the year.  What if I applied the same tactics to "healthy living"-- I'm no longer calling it a diet; it is my new healthy life.  I wonder.....  Speaking of healthy living, I did NOT pig out yesterday.

Yesterday (Thanksgiving) was a good day at the strawberry patch.  All the children were home + 2 guests.  We pulled out the table leaf and actually used the dining room table!  The very table I just had to have because we were going to make memories in that room!  How many grainiacs have a room for a table and some chairs that you use once a year?  I have this Norman Rockwell image in my mind.  I love the old-fashioned concept but reality says that room could be used more than once a year...maybe twice if you do a  big Christmas celebration.  I'm sorting out room arrangements in my house trying to figure out how this family can use that table more than two or three times a year.  Host more parties?  That tires me just thinking about it.  Set up a ping pong net?  Now we're cooking.  Maybe pull out my sewing machine and start creating.  Sidebar: we watch football and Thanksgiving is a good day for football.  It is also a good day for stress if your football team is slow scoring.  I pulled out my coloring book and crayons; I needed to be in a happy place last night.  My blood pressure was boiling watching my boys first quarter.  Old Strawberry would have stuffed her red face.  Not so last night.  I was feeling very antsy so I colored.  Then I started a crochet project.  Before long they scored a touchdown.  Double crochet...chain four....another touchdown.  I know my stress level was falling and by 10:30 or so last night UT beat A & M!!!!!  By one point!!!!!!!!!!  What a game.  Cowboys won AND Longhorns won.  I slept like a baby last night and dreamed of my Grandmother.  She was not a football player/ cheerleader/ nor football fanatic as far as I know.  I can only think it had to do with a certain gift she gave me long....long....long years ago.  This gift was on my Thanksgiving table.  Grandmom was not with us in body, but her spirit was definitely with us yesterday.  She loved family and she absolutely adored knick knacks.  Ask anyone!

lots of food

She is a salt shaker and her boy mate is pepper!

Shoulda Woulda Coulda

I've admitted I don't like C & W, but this song title fits my blog today.

I shoulda cleaned up before today.

I woulda done it for ya, babe....but your momma's lazy.

YOU coulda help me, ya know?

I'll stick to my day job because I don't think anyone will buy THAT 3 line song AND I haveta git ta work.

Yep, I shoulda planned my time better.  I woulda done it but that bed felt oh, so good.  I coulda git to sleep earlier tonight...

because tomorrow is THANKSGIVING.

You're gonna do WHAT to me???

Happy Thanksgiving, Graianiacs.  I love you.

Yum!!!!

Memories...

I was feeling a bit nostalgic last night.  It might have come about because I talked to my Mom and my brother and his wife were with her for Thanksgiving.  Or it could have been because my grainiac friend mentioned trying out a new recipe.  Who knows.  All I know was I WANTED stove top PUDDING!!!!  You know...the kind with the skin on top.  My, my....that was my favorite part of the pudding.  Give me the skin and nobody gets hurt.  Or you don't have to listen to my whining all day.  THAT can grate on one's nerves; I should know, I have four kids, 2 dogs and 2 cats (not to mention a hubby!).  LOL

Problem was: I only had almondmilk in the fridge (watch out, name dropping coming up: Silk).  I know for a fact you cannot use milk substitutes in the powdered pudding variety.  It won't set.  I found a recipe using grams and liters.  Say what?  I wasn't good in conversions.  For your information: 1 liter = 33.8 oz and 100 grams = 7 Tbsp or something like that.  My cooking goes more along the lines of "this looks like the right amount" and "you can never have too much vanilla extract in a sweet dish."  So there you have it.  Another problem was the pudding recipe I found kept its shape as in you could make it/ refrigerate it/ and dump it out on a plate and it would hold its form i.e. no spreading all over the counter.  That was definitely NOT what I wanted.  I was looking forward to scraping off ALL the skin and eating it!  There is no skin in a jello mold.  Ick.

This probably will not look appetizing but here it is... made with 100% Silk (no half and half/ real whipping cream/ milk/ etc).  TA DA:

I am not the photographer of this group BUT doesn't this look yummy?  This morning I went running to the refrigerator to make sure it actually firmed up but was still pudding consistency.  Bingo....perfection.

Here is the recipe if you dare to make it yourself.

1 liter of milk substitute (I used Silk Almond Milk, unsweetened and used 4- 2/3 cups of Silk)
5 Tbsp. cornstarch
10 Tbsp. dark chocolate (I used 4 large squares of the Italian dark chocolate I bought ? years ago. As you add chocolate to the milk, achieve the color of chocolate you wish!)
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. Splenda
1/2 - 1 tsp. vanilla (or more; I'm tellin' ya, ya can't use too much vanilla in my book!)

Whisk together 1 cup of Silk and the cornstarch. Set aside.  In a large saucepan, heat the rest of the Silk (in my case 3 and 2/3 cups of Silk) and the chocolate squares or powder.  While Silk is heating, add the cornstarch/ Silk mixture.  Constantly stir, otherwise cornstarch sinks and clumps! Stir...stir....stir.  Look at the beautiful chocolate color...need more chocolate? Well add it, girlfriend!  Now add salt, stir.  Add sugar substitute, stir.  Stir, stir, stir till you get a rolling boil.  I usually turn up the heat because I don't want to be stirring for an hour or more.  Turn down heat and stir till your mixture starts to thicken.  Stir a little more...maybe 3 or 4 minutes. 

Take the pan off the heat and add in the vanilla.  Go ahead, taste it.  I did.  Yummmm.  So if you want chocolate soup, have at it.  But, here's what I did.  I poured it into the corningware and left it on the counter.  A skin started forming.  I won't lie; I started my happy dance.  I left it on the counter for about 30 minutes and yes, I did pick up a spoon each time and dip into it.  Boy even wanted a bite.  He does not like chocolate pudding soup.  He said "Pudding is not supposed to be hot and semi-runny."  Punk; get out of my pudding and don't you dare touch that skin!  I covered it with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge.  This morning it is calling my name.  By the way, if you are following weight watchers, it is 3 powerpoints IF you get 10 servings out of it.  Today my plan is to divide it up into 10 servings and see how much that is.  Of course I'm eating the skin right away so I'll count that as one serving! 

Is there something from your childhood that you love and makes you do the happy dance?  Is it fattening?  Can you alter the recipe and not feel deprived?  My mantra today is choices.  Yesterday I had choices to make too.  I'll tell you about it tomorrow.  I hear a certain chocolate sweetie calling my name.  Toodles.

Come fly with me

It's Saturday!  Yesterday at work, I heard "Everybody's working for the weekend."  I don't know if a co-worker was singing it or if it came on the TV.  Times have changed in the drive-through teller line!  We have a TV and it is tuned in to the country music channel...(gag...gag...cough...cough).  I'm new to the group so I put up with it.  Sorry to all you c&w fans.  I like the oldies' stations.

Speaking of country...cowboys...the OSU (Oklahoma State University) suffered tragedy yet again and involving a plane crash...yet again.  Please keep the families of the fallen women's basketball head coach Budke and asst. coach Serna and Pilot Branstetter and wife Paula in your thoughts and prayers.  So tragic but especially right before the holidays.  My family understands; my father died in October of '86.  It made for a somber Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Coach Budke left behind a wife and 3 kids.

Speaking of flying, time is flying by.  Thanksgiving is right around the corner and my casita (little house) is a mess!  What's new?  I've picked up the Flylady's book again called "Sink Reflections."  If you are a messy like I am, you might want to look at her system too.  The most important first step is to clean your sink.  I've got a clorox-ed filled sink right now.  The deal is to soak the sink for an hour.  I have 13 minutes to go till I shine that sucker beautiful.  Then I'll soak the left part of the sink.  Baby steps to a cleaner house!

Do you have any challenges before the end of the year?  Let's "fly" through them together, shall we?!

I've got Rhythm

Who could ask for anything more!  Okay...It's just Day 3 of working strawberry so I don't want to get all cocky yet.  BUT I am making a list at night to get things done in the a.m. before I punch out at home and punch in at work.  It's getting to be routine; now if my hours at work were set then I'd be all set.  Today I go in at 10 a.m.  There is a lot of wiggle room to dawdle.  I must keep focused.

Oh, I wanted to show you a magnificent tree I passed by yesterday.  Nature seems to be in rhythm too.  Doesn't it make you stop and stare in awe?

look at that beautiful deep red color.

Beautiful Red Maple

Here is a photo of the leaves changing on my street...

actually it looks prettier from the other direction!

Oh gosh, I did it again.  Focus....focus.  I pulled out my list from last night and I'm right on track.  8:00 a.m.- breakfast/ blog/ check emails.  CHECK (I don't know how or if I can make the "check" symbol on this blog site.)  So I was talking about rhythm and focus and keeping on track, right?  After work yesterday I checked on Boy and he had already completed his schoolwork/ talked to his online teachers/ and was getting ready for one more class.  Have I told you how proud I am of him?  Any who, I went to the store to purchase some healthy snacks.  Did I mention this already?  I'm feeling some déjà vu here.  I must say the grapes looked horrendous.  I guess it's not grape season.  The apples looked shiny red and crisp.  I wonder how much wax crap they need to put on them to shine them up that way.  So back to staying focused....look what I found...

Brita individual water bottles! Cool.

 I took my reusable bags to the store with me and bought a reusable water bottle that will filter the yuckies out of tap water.  This, by the way, was on my shopping list.  I did not, well, I can't really say I didn't buy anything not on my list.

Pumpkin Pie Spice!

So, it's not sugar free/ fat free/ or any of the frees I should be consuming, BUT if I have a tbsp a day, what's the harm, right?  Eat your heart out Starbucks; since you are not located in my rural town, I have to make due? do? dew? Doo doo....what's the spelling of this phrase I always use?

Grainiacs, I'm getting off course in my schedule, so I'll bid you (ahem) adieu and leave you with a parting photo-- my backyard this morning.  Old Man Winter is a-comin'.  Stay bundled up.

This is not snow

But snow is coming; I'm sure of it.

Pick Your Hard

I read a saying the other day:

Being fat is Hard.

Dieting is Hard.

Pick your Hard.

So true.  The extra weight is hard on my knees and joints.  My breathing is labored while exerting a little energy.  I get tired earlier and I just don't feel good.  It's hard looking at myself in the mirror and seeing someone else.

Dieting is hard.  For me, I have to constantly think about it otherwise I get sidetracked and totally off track.  My auto-pilot kicks in and I make wrong decisions and choices.

So yeah, let's pick our "hard."  I choose healthy.  Feeling well and enjoying life is my reward for eating healthy; the lost poundage is just an added bonus. 

P.S. I enjoyed my first day of work.  I didn't have to work as long as I thought so my lunch was already packed and ready to consume when I got home.  Last night I picked out my wardrobe for today and it was hanging in the bathroom ready to wear--necklace and all.  Who am I?  My pretty pink lunch bag is packed and hanging on the front door so I don't forget it. I'm still fighting that internal disorganized self but babysteps are getting me on the organized path.  Or at least I'm hoping!

I Mean Business

News Flash! Strawberry is entering the working world and bringing home some bacon!

 

I found this beauty on Amazon.  I love it but will not purchase it! I just want to look at it.

  

I’ve been working for free for a long time, but Uncle Sam has been missing the pennies I earn.  So now I really have to be organized or the 14 pounds I’ve lost will be totally sabotaged.  I gain when I get busy and work long hours and don’t plan.  Two years ago I worked at a woman’s 30 minute workout place (Curves).  I loved working there but I didn’t lose any long-term weight (and I didn't save any money!).  I would work out on the circuit with the ladies but work kept getting in the way, darn-it.  The phones would ring, potential customers would walk in, you know...that sort of work.  Plus I didn’t plan for those times when I expected to go home but the person on the next shift called in sick.  I would run over to the fast food joint down the street and eat finger food in between ladies coming in to exercise.  I’m sure the smell of chicken nuggets didn’t help their workout either!  This time will be different.  I am a new working strawberry.  I even made a list….quit laughing….I did!

The night before I picked out my clothes and hung them in the bathroom with earrings and make-up out on the counter.  The coffee pot is filled and programmed to start brewing at 7:00 a.m.  My lunch is planned and ready to be assembled in the morning.

7 a.m.- snore- - wake-up and no snooze button; take medicine; shower.  Drink coffee. Not necessarily in this order.

8 a.m.- eat breakfast (already planned and ready to make in the morning); finish packing lunch (yes! I’m organized); remember to leave for work at 8:54 a.m.  I can get distracted with blogging and squirrels and birds and ….

So this is what organized looks like!  It really feels good.  I feel empowered and in control.  Yes, knowing my life, there WILL BE some sort of distraction or something to sidetrack me.  It happens, but I know I’ll be dressed and my tummy will be taken care of.  Here is a photo diary to prove I mean business!

Packing my lunch in my pretty pink lunch bag.

 Wait....two more pictures...

Outfit with pretty pink lunch bag?

Or outfit with cute fishy lunch bag?

Decisions...decisions!

I might have to change my lunch bag or my outfit. I think my colors are going to clash!  LOL

Wish me luck!

Call of the Wild

In the movies, have you ever noticed the protagonist who happens to be an author always has an upstairs room with a view?  And that view never has fingerprints on the window or a screen hindering the shot?  Not so with this semi-author protagonist.  As you know I get side-tracked....quite a lot!  Notice I haven't posted for a couple of days?  I wasn't out of town without wi-fi connection; I've just been side-tracked.  Nature provides all the ADD stimuli to keep me off track.

Just yesterday, Boy and I were driving down our country road and he points and exclaims "What the...?"  I kid you not, there was a flying bicycle circling up above our heads.  Do you know how hard it is to keep on the road while staring at a flying bicycle?  Let's just say, I'm glad I wasn't driving on Mo-Pac in Austin or I-35 in San Antonio!

If there had only been a moon for this thing to pass by~ Perfect shot.

So there I am weaving back and forth.  Thankfully, no one was around but I HAD to take a picture because I think some of you think I hit the bottle each and every day.  HA....I flying see DO things.  Hiccup.

My computer is in front of a window looking out the backyard.  I have many opportunities to, well, not get anything done.  What's that in my peripheral vision?

Do you see what I see?

Here I am!

Then I saw something red swoosh by.  It's a good thing I keep my camera near.

Where's my wife?

I thought she was with me? Why is there a pooper scooper here?

Here I am! (animal conversation seems to be the same)

I have also noticed some hawks gliding and circling around.  I'm shutting my shades if I happen to see him swoop down on my little buddies.  I do not want to witness "the circle of life" like that!  Just saying.

It's time for the animal kingdom to store food for the winter.  I think our bodies naturally start reserving during this season too.  It comes in the form of lack of exercise due to "snuggling" weather; parties and all the goodies that come with it.  My goal is to move my buns and steer clear of the food trough at parties (yeah, like I'm invited to any!!!).  How about you?  Any winter resolutions?  I'd love to hear about them (it!).

Thank You

God Bless Our Veterans

Happy Veterans Day just doesn't sit right in my thinking.  War is hell and telling someone "happy" day -- well, I just can't do it.  Today we celebrate our veterans. The brave women and men who sacrificed themselves and their families for us... as in US in USA.  "Thank you" or "happy day" just can't cut it (at least to this strawberry).  I took a picture of a purple heart given to my great uncle for his heroics in WWII.  He didn't talk about it...at least to my grandmother or my mother...so we don't know much about his experience.  Or who knows; maybe my Mom knows and she was sparing her children of the hell.  Not to diminish the purple heart, but I would give one to every armed service person.  To me, each and every one is a hero.  I'm a pacifist.  I prefer love to war but Ecclesiastes tells us "there is a time for everything."  If you don't believe the Bible, take heed from the Mamas and the Papas.  They'll sing it to you!  So I propose we change the name of the day to "You're My Hero" Day.  Of course anyone can be a hero...teachers/ nurses/ doctors/pastors/parents/ friends/ psycho-analysts/ you name it.  It could get confusing and if we have one day for everyone, well, Hallmark might go broke! It's something to think about, right?  Let's face it- we have a lot on our minds.  In the meantime, God bless our veterans and their families.  You are my hero.

I'm stuck

Good morning, Grainiacs!

I wanted to give a little update and it will be little....I'm stuck at a 14 pound loss.  I'm looking at this as a good thing.  Fourteen pounds gone....a zillion more to go....yep, this can be good. 

"NOT!" others might say.  But look at it from my perspective.  I have learned to maintain my 14 pound loss.  As long as I don't start gaining, I can remain at minus 14.

I don't want to stay at minus 14, though.  So although I have not been losing at 2 pounds a week (still doable, just not for this strawberry!), I have lost 7 weeks of 2 pounds a week.  I can claim success.  

You see with me, it is all a mind game.  My poor family!

I hate to mention I have been working on the losing game for 10 weeks.  But that means I have spent 7 weeks losing 14 pounds (my goal of 7 pounds a week....see where I'm going here?  LOL) and I've spent 3 weeks maintaining that loss.  TA DA!!!!!  Win/win.

Now all kidding and mind game playing aside, it's time to get back on track and start losing again at 2 pounds a week.  Since I like mind games, should I use my new weight as a start...you know, like starting over again?  Or continue on?  I'm stuck and need your help.

So it's weigh in time, grainiacs.  Please write me and weigh in your answer.  What should I do?

Totally off-topic (I do this a lot!): Yesterday, Boy and Kitzilla looked so cute playing peek-a-boo.  I took a picture!

For your visual pleasure, tell me what you think about my new photo of Kitzilla.  Is this wild, or what???

I see you, Boy, and I'll use my super sonic laser eyes to get you! Freaky!!!

Oooooo-kla-fornia

You might not have heard in your neck of the woods, but in MY neck of the woods Mother Nature is pissed off at us.  I'm not sure why.  In one day, Oklahoma experienced torrential rains accompanied by big booming Thunder and a Light show that would rival any 4th of July production.  Add to that a mile wide tornado that would not die, flooding, and oh yeah, another earthquake!  Yes, you read right, Saturday we had a 5.6 earthquake.  Last night's was a mere 4 point something.  Let's face it, does it really matter?  For the devil's sake, IT'S AN EARTHQUAKE in OK!  It is NOT OK no matter WHAT the number!!!  Some people are asking "what next?"  Not me, I've survived the CA earthquake of 1989 and loads of hurricanes.  I'm not asking what next?  I'm afraid of the answer.  I'm just saying, if I see frogs and locusts, I'm high-tailing it out of here and running home to my mommy (where Sean will probably become the hugest hurricane ever!).  Then where will I go?  No one will want me. Sniff sniff.

One thing is for certain; I'll be bee-u-t-ful when I go flying by your house!  Last week I drove 2 hours to my nearest Macy's and had a make-over.  I've been wanting to spruce myself up like the Christmas tree but didn't know where or how to start.  It's been easy (and lazy) just to not wear any at all.  I met with my consultant before school let out.  I sure didn't want junior high and high schoolers passing by and laughing.  I'd have to haul off and hit them with my cane!  As it turned out, some local yo-cal was serenading us with his rendition of some backstreet boys or 'nsync medley.  Thank you, Brian or Justin wannabee!  Loved it; call an agent.

Want to be pampered?  Go get a make-over.  You can't believe how it lifts the spirits-- even when Mother Nature is throwing hail (I forgot to mention we had hail yesterday too) at you.  You can put your best face forward and say "nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, naaaaaah!!!!).

And because I love you....I'm going to give you a hint and a preview so you can try this at home if you don't want to be serenaded by some lunatic singing early 90's songs.  Here is my paper face:

Strawberry's paper face!

And here I am in dimension....see the similarities????  Hey, humor me!

oops, I closed both eyes!

P.S.  I receive no compensation from Clinique so choose your own make-up counter and go experience the pamper!   You deserve it.

pop...pop...pop

I'm getting a late start today.  I'm a slug.  I raided the grain silo for 3 days in a row and I'm moving rather

s-l-o-w-l-y.

It all started so innocently.  Firstborn and I went to the movies.  We shared a large popcorn (but didn't eat all of it...yay us!). We didn't even take advantage of the free refill.  Free refill!  Yeah, right?  Who are they kidding?  We paid for a big bag and refill and several more trips for the "free" refill.  I'm on to ya, cinema owners.  I must confess:  I ate more than daughter did but in a former life, Hubby and I would purchase the jumbo size...eat it all plus the refill (sometimes).  We would say to ourselves "we'll get the big bag and take the refill home to the kids."  Sometimes our little darlings would see the refill bag and sometimes they wouldn't!  I'm proud that daughter and I didn't refill it this time.  Of course we did share a large hot delicious lightly salted pretzel before said popcorn!  Oh, I digress.

So last night and the night before, I was foaming at the mouth for POPCORN!!!!  Enter in grain silo.  I knew I "hid" our popcorn in the silo and it was calling my name....very loudly...so I was weak and tasted and then gorged on the damn stuff.

I am a slug.  I'm moving very slowly today. My brain is in some sort of starchy fog AND I'm sick to my stomach.  It could be the flu coming on.  I can only hope!  

For today, I will avoid all grain products...good or bad...and get back to my "new" self.  Did I tell you that I am able to fit (and not snugly, thank you very much) into an outfit I haven't been able to wear in several months almost a year?!  That in itself is reason to get back on track and not stop off at the grain silo.

I'm so glad you are on this journey with me, grainiacs.

I Pink I Love You

After posting about my love for pink, my graini-aunt wrote to say her granddaughter loves pink too!  It’s a family thing; what can we say?

I mentioned I’ve been out of town.  I told Boy how glad I was that he and Hubby got this male bonding time.  Boy laughed and said “The last time you were out of town, Dad watched HGTV and I watched Gilmore Girl reruns on my computer!”  Say what??  You mean I can paint the rooms pink and you boys might not have a problem with it after all??!!!  I love my metro-sexual men.  I even came home to a clean sink. (update: the pink honeymoon is over.  I just ruined my pretty manicure scrubbing dishes.)

My next purchase!  Aren't they cute?

So, I've been to Mecca and back.  I had a really fun time this past weekend.  I can't believe another weekend is starting today but TGIF!! 

It says "Mecca"

Since I didn’t get their permission to put our “eating” photo on the blog, I will show our pretty toes!  They did say I could show their toes…not to be consumed…confused with the mojitos we confused…uh consumed that night.  One grainiac absolutely refused to be shown or mentioned in the blog so I won’t talk about her driving nor how she was the hostess with the mostess or any of fun we had (I don’t want to lose one grainiac in the production of this blog…shhhh).  So here are our toes…ta da.   

oooo la la

And here I am with these absolute dolls, but only me!  (I didn't get their permission)  In hindsight,  I wonder if the restaurant will let us come back.  I really didn’t mean to repeat “tires and testicles” so loud (but you can ask my mom: my voice carries).  Thank you, Graini-M, for the laugh (and I’m praying).

happy strawberry after liquor!

and here's some yummy food dregs...hey, eyes down on the plates!

I loved my Mecca pilgrimage and in the immortal words of the terminator "I'll be baaack."

Sugar! Be gone!

(No, I'm not kicking out my Hubby or Boy)

"Double double toil and trouble

Fire burn, and cauldron bubble"

I am a witch with a capital B when it comes to dieting!  Nine weeks forward... twelve pieces of Halloween candy backwards.  Remember my mantra?  How fast can you get back on track?  Well yesterday and the day before I was off the track/ behind the bleachers stuffing my face with chocolatey goodness... and again... IT WASN'T PRETTY!  So today I'm getting a late start writing or thinking about today's blog.  I'm ashamed and I'm coming off a candy high so the brain isn't working as quickly as usual.  I'm a morning person so I get my best stuff done in the a.m.  (Don't laugh, Mom; yes, I am the same person who couldn't get up before noon!)  I don't like this addictive strawberry, but can I tell you:  my fingernails still look soooo pretty.  I'm getting distracted in my thinking when I look down at the keyboard and see those pretty "Friar Friar Pants on Fire" ovals staring up at me.  It's a good witch's color and I imagine a few friars might have found themselves in a cauldron or spell cast upon them.  Lord knows the witches were burned at the stake.  Okay, where did all this come from?  I'm telling ya, sugar is the work of the devil.  I think I might have to change the name of the blog to Sugar! Be Gone.

Today is a new day.  I am going cold turkey.  I took the candy to the church for the college kid care packages.  I am eating protein and drinking lots of water.  I will survive!  In addition, I have a doctor's appointment later and I'm hoping I don't have a mental crash before then.  Otherwise I might be writing my next blog from a very quiet nursing home.  

And getting off topic again since that seems to be the theme of today's post:  how many chances will Lindsay Lohan get?  I would like to think someone will help the poor child before SHE crashes and burns.

Not to leave you on a negative note:  Adieu, dear Grainiacs, and keep away from the sugar bowl (okay, maybe a little negativity!).  I don't want you to crash and burn like me today (well, maybe A LOT of negativity....it's the sugar, I tell ya).

Think Pink

I love pink!  It is my all-time favorite color.  If I had a singing voice and had thought of it first, my band name would be Pink!  If Hubby would let me get away with it, our bedroom would be pink.  At a former house I painted the window shutters red because I knew I couldn’t get away with pink shutters.  Besides, we lived next door to a pink house and I knew what people thought about that one!

keep me out of Hobby Lobby!!!

Isn't that tray the cutest??

October is pink month (yes, I know it is now November but I’m always a day late and a dollar short; so humor me!).  It’s that time of year when we ladies start thinking about our girls.  So if you are like me and haven’t gotten your mammogram, close this computer and go and do it.

I have several friends who are cancer survivors.  God bless them.  I always think of the theme song from Reba “I’m a survivor” because they are truly heroes in my book.  Each one fought hard and kept good mental health…not an easy task when you are scared shitless.  I blog about my struggles with eating; it seems so minor and so trivial when you compare it to cancer so please, please, please…go and get your boobs squished and pounded and be proactive.

Getting back to other pink things… I had my nails done this past weekend and let me just say I’m in LOVE with a certain chair…you know who you are.  Sorry I had to stop the vibrations and leave you, but certain dolls were screaming at the front door.  But I’ll be back.  Grainiacs, if you are EVER in Austin, go to BK Nails and Spa but leave my chair alone.  We have something special and you are not invited!

 Any who, I picked some putrid yellow for my toes because I was trying to get away from pink (since I love it so much).  You know how you go to Baskin Robbins and think “I’m ordering something different because I always get____fill in the blank?”  And then you wind up ordering the exact same thing?  That's smart.  My Big Mistake (or BM) was trying out something new.  Keep with what you know or you'll have BM all over yourself.  My toes look like there is some yellow rot fungus happening and it ain’t pretty.  Coming back to my little rural area, I got off the plane and had lunch with my daughter.  I pulled off my shoes at the restaurant to show her my pedicure but my toes were all purple from running in airports and circulation getting cut off because my knees were folded in half because of those dummies WHO THINKS IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO STACK PEOPLE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER ON AN AIRPLANE!!!!  So the purple toes and the yellow toenails were just gross.  I lost my appetite and the poor waitress had to take sick leave.  We call my daughter "giggly" and that's exactly what she did.  I think it's a defense mechanism; otherwise she'd have died of embarrassment a long time ago.  Look (but you'll have to imagine purple toes)!

(pay no attention to the "no shave November" going on there. In this case I was a month early!)

you can't see the sparklies in this photo but they are there!

But my fingers!  Ooooh, now they are pretty.  I’m wearing “Friar, Friar, pants on fire” by OPI.  That company comes up with the cutest names.  I love my fingernail polish so much I got online and bought a bottle (of fingernail polish!!!) but not before ordering “Paint My Moji-Toes Red” too!  I’m going to be strutting my toes off before long…probably in time for winter but most of the time I’m a shoeless strawberry (I get that from my mother who got it from her grandmother and so on and so on).  So if you come over to my strawberry patch, you’ll see my happy moji-toes!

On a darker side and not a happy note at all:  I got into the Halloween candy yesterday.  Let's just say it was NOT a pretty sight!  So to all you trick or treaters who did not come to my house, I'm eatin' your candy and it's good.  Nah nah nah

It's a Trick....no, it's a Treat!

It's a trick!  Yesterday was Halloween.  Hubby had to go to the store to purchase the candy this year.  Did he buy that crappy stuff with little lollipops and bubble gum like I usually do?  NO; he purchased the ginormous bag of every kind of chocolate that I love.  You're thinking "What a sweetheart and a great candy house," right?  Don't forget I'm trying to lose weight in this lollipop mansion.  So I tell Hubby "take the extra candy to work with you today."  Guess what?  He has a meeting out of town and left the candy......HERE.  Thing is:  I don't pray for strength.  I've always been told to be careful what you pray for so I knew I couldn't let the candy devil tempt me.  I'd be like Eve on that apple and then blamin' the man!  I am weak when it comes to candy.  So let me spell it out for you....we didn't have nearly the amount of kids trick or treating this year as in years past.

Shut your eyes if you have a weak stomach...

I'm warning you....

It's a Treat!  The treat is...I'm not craving chocolate.  I handed out candy last night and although I was dipping my tootsie roll fingers in that bowl of ecstasy, I did not taste of its fruits....unlike my Boy "one for you little kid, three for me because I had to get up and walk to the door while you were ringing it incessantly and ticking me off!!!"  I wonder where they get their attitude?!

I'm Back

Remember The Shining?  That movie scared the little baby ruths out of me.  That face...that line...Heeeeeere's Johnny!  Well, heeeeere's Strawberry!  I'm back....I'm really back, Grainiacs, and I bring greetings from the weirdest place on earth....Austin, TX.  Don't think ill of me....it's their motto after all.  I'll write more about that later....for now enjoy my sssssccccaaaarrrrryyyyy (scary, in case you don't want to read all the letters!)  post for today  called....  what else?  

Trick or Treat!