Switch it up

Whew, grainiacs....that's all I can say-- Whew!!!!  Rev. Hubby's staff party is behind us and now I can relax get started on that paper that's due and oh yeah, Christmas shopping. 

I think I'd like to switch things up next year.  First of all, I'm hoping the staff party can be in say....November or January!  Why a Christmas Staff party?  Why not a Thanksgiving Staff Party (we are so thankful for you!) or an It's a New Year Staff party (we had a great last year, let's have a wonderful new year!).  The possibilities are endless and I don't think I'm being a bah humbug by suggesting this.  We get so busy during this season that we miss why we are celebrating-- it's just running from one thing to another.  Maybe this is the tired Strawberry talking and perhaps I'll feel differently next year, but I'd like to mark it on my calendar and remember this. 

Happy Strawberry.  (thank you, Bing images!)

Speaking of remembering, I have a wonderful Frank Lloyd Wright calendar up on my wall.  I'm off to mark this thought in my November.

And speaking of switching things up: I'm eating a hamburger patty for breakfast and plan to have an omelet for lunch.  I'm back on my NO GRAINS for December and January.  I'm marking that on my calendar too!  Last night one of our guests had stopped off at Whataburger and picked up a hamburger patty sans bun.  He has celiac disease and cannot have any gluten....none....and so he brings his own for fear some form of gluten has touched the food.  If you aren't being careful, your floured hands might brush against the "gluten-free" meat you are cooking.  It is just easier for him to bring his own than take a chance.  It is a given.  If he comes, he is eating his food.  That got me thinking; if this big strong man can sit comfortably and eat his patty without a bun, I sure can refrain from eating sugary, grain-filled, scrumptious, chocolatey, gooey (I better stop) foods and not feel funny about it.  I'll just tell people it gives me the runs.  Nothing embarrassing about that, right?  LOL  Well, just shy of confessing that lie, I can abstain and just say "I don't feel like eating that today."  I don't know why I get embarrassed to admit I'm dieting.  Maybe it's the failure factor and when if (see?!) it doesn't happen, I won't have to endure the "I knew it" feelings.  What a game I play with myself.  So hold me accountable, Grainiacs; I'm counting on you!

Happy Friday.  I'll keep you posted on my strawberry switchin' it up ideas.  I know you are sitting on pins and needles just waiting to hear..... 

Hello?  

Anybody out there?

and the busier keep on....

Believe it or not, I have another party tonight at Home, Crap, Home.  Here we go again stuffing things in nooks and crannies so the house looks immaculate....just don't open a door or cabinet!

I keep saying "one day," don't I?  I think it is my mantra.  It will be carved on my tombstone....ONE DAY!!!

So today I'll be organizing and getting ready for the staff party tonight.  We've been here for a year so most know me pretty well.  Maybe I'm getting to the stage of my life where I just don't care what people think about the house.  Or, maybe I'm just not feeling it!  LOL  remember that phrase?  Call it what you will, it's just procrastination.

Yesterday I was talking with a grainiac complaining how I complain about losing weight but I'm not really doing anything about it. I complain about the house, but let's face it, other things are just more fun.  "That bag of chips and dip is calling my name."  "Why clean the house too soon before the party, it will just get dirty again."  Excuses, excuses.  Procrastination with a capital P.  I am going to embrace my inner self....that includes Moana.  I will love me for me.  Instead of working on so many changes at once, I'll change one thing (I really think I've said this before!!!  ;) )).  Hold me accountable, Grainiacs.  Don't let me slip. I'm counting on you!

Open Sesame!

Confession: I forgot to take pictures.  I'm falling down on the job, I know!

Sunday, Rev. Hubby and I hosted a Holiday Open House at the manse.  I baked and baked and posted all the cookies and bars and goodies I made the other day, remember?  Well, guess what?  There are so many parties happening and events going on, that my kitchen bar is still full of cookies and goodies!!!  About 35 people came (we have about 300 coming to church) and those 35 people didn't eat much!!!  Ahhhhhh.  Hahahaha...I'm not upset about the number of people who attended; I hear our church has not had an event like this for several years so they aren't used to coming.  On a more sinister note: I thought people would come just to see what the house looked like! (Am I the only curious one in this church?)  Bless them; they weren't snoopy.  Darn them; I have all this chocolate still in my house!!!!! Family: guess what you are getting for Christmas; yes, homemade goodies!

Every morning I walk out to my kitchen and there loaded on the counter tops are all those left-over goodies...reminding me: eat me!  Yesterday I packed some up and loaded them into the freezer.  At Boy's scout meeting, they celebrated the season and so I dished up a tasty tray for him to take.  Gotta love the boy scouts....they eat!  I think one or two morsels came back home.

Tis the season for eating and loving and giving.  Have a blessed day, Grainiacs, and feel free to come on over.  I have coffee and goodies (I guess that's not a great thing to post since this is about my weight loss journey  or should I say "roller coaster?").

Soaring High

The Eagle has landed in the strawberry patch-- the Eagle Scout, that is.  Boy has completed all his requirements and has jumped through every hoop and has now joined the ranks with all the other Eagle Boy Scouts.  What a relief!  He turns 18 in 10 days and all the badges, meetings, and reviews needed to be completed BEFORE that blessed day.  Unfortunately the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and procrastination is his middle name (as well as his mother and his father!) so it was looking pretty "iffy" about getting it all done before the deadline.  Now that it is completed, he is feeling pretty good.  He is singing and laughing more.

I know the feeling.  I have my soaring days and I have my "can't get my bottom off the ground" days too.  Sometimes they are on the same day.  Isn't it funny how life is like a roller coaster?  You can't have those highs 24-7....well you can, but most likely you are popping or smoking something!

Several days ago, Jelly Bean responded to one of my posts.  It was so uplifting and apropos for all of our journeys, I thought I'd share it with you (with her permission, of course): 

(She heard or thought about a John Denver's song "Almost Heaven" as she writes) Think about driving down the road and watching the scenery pass you by (if you stare at it long enough you will need Dramamine to settle a big case of Motion Sickness!). If that happens you will truly miss what miracles are happening around you, at the exact moment that God gives them to you.  The flowers that you painted show the glories of God's handiwork as the sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening.  God has given you a wonderful gift, that is the gift that is opened every morning, you never know what is inside but it is wrapped in the warmth of a warm fall breeze, the kiss of a raindrop that falls on your face, the smell of a hot apple pie fresh out of the oven.  Looking back is OK, but looking ahead is even better.  God promises us today, living life for Him each day, starting each brand new day, looking toward the sunrise, and feeling the warmth of His love everyday, What-ifs, are good, but What wills are even better.

What a beautiful sentiment this glorious day.  Thank you, Jelly Bean and thank you, Grainiacs.  Advent blessings to you.

P.S. Just had a great visit with Peaches.  Why do those visits go by so fast, though?

What's that smell?

Hello, Grainiacs!  I'm alive although I feel like I've been buried alive.  I have been swamped with activities and stuff and quite frankly this blog got pushed to the back burner and straight out the door.  Rev Hubby and I are having an open house on Sunday so it's been cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, and baking, baking, baking this week.

What does a girl on a "diet"do?  Why bake cookies, bars, and fudge, of course!!!  I mean, really!  Who wants to go to an open house at Christmastime where they are serving raw veggies and Atkins shakes???

I pulled out all my church cookbooks and made cookies using cake mixes (so easy!), fudge with sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips, pretzels with melted peppermint flavored hershey kisses and m&ms.  All I have to say is "people better show up to this open house!!!!"

Kitchen tidy and clean-- check.

I have enjoyed entertaining 2 grainiacs this past season...unfortunately one would never know a certain Strawberry was writing about her dieting journey!!!  Monday is a new week, right?  This girl is definitely feeling blessed and her heart is full.  I love my family and friends.

Advent blessings, grainiacs.  Let's enjoy the season without gaining 50 pounds, though!  Take your advice, Strawberry; take your advice!