In Gratitude

Thank you for

• Longer days! When the sun isn't setting until 6:20, I feel like I survived winter!
• A bubbling pot of roasted chicken soup simmering on the stove.
• Truly good friends.
• Giggling ten year old boys.
• My mom's unconditional love.
• Getting over the flu.

In Gratitude

It's so easy to get caught up in the negativity of day to day life, so I'm trying to look at things more positively. To have a truly thankful heart is my goal. So, occasionally, I intend to post a few things I'm grateful for.

• Glasses and contacts that make vision so clear for us.
• A warm house when the windchills are well below zero.
• A dog or two to cuddle.
• Good neighbors.
• Unlimited Simpsons DVD rentals from our library.

For these things, today, I am truly grateful. Thank You.

The Five

Sight

Snowed In Christina Bartolomeo
Three months after moving to Portland, Maine, for her husband Paul's job, Sophie begins worrying about her quiet life, her "safe" marriage and, particularly, Natalie, the snappy new assistant in her husband's office. Calls to her happily married sister, Delia, and her long-time friend, Marta, don't assuage her concerns, but Sophie, a freelance artist and proofreader with time on her hands, finds companionship by joining a local walking club. Great chick lit, I found this an easy read, with surprisingly clever insights. Since I'm feeling particularly snowed in this time of year, it's been a fun read!

Sound
Music previews on Amazon. I feel the need for some new tunes.

Scent
Baked potatoes. No zapped in the microwave, shriveled up spuds for this gal. If I can't do them the old fashioned way, I'd rather go without. Scrub, prick with a knife and bake 375 degrees for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Taste
Hostess 100 calorie chocolate cupcakes. I know, not homemade, and not healthy. But, oh so necessary. Sometimes I just want to grab some chocolate and although these are technically bite sized, it is just enough to fit those cravings. I always keep them in the freezer. I just like them better that way.

Touch
New hiking shoes. I've looked and looked and looked for new hiking shoes and I finally found them AND I got them at a bargain price. $39.99 Merrell hiking shoes. I've had Merrells in the past and I love them. These feel like I'm walking on air and they look cool too. So happy! They'll be great for hiking when we hit the Big Island!

My Celebrity Look-a-likes!

A Big Bag of Flour...GONE

So, I'm not really one for bragging, but this is something I just have to shout about. As of yesterday's weigh in, I've lost 25.8 pounds. That's a huge, industrial size bag of flour, gone. Three gallons of milk gone. 25 bricks of butter, gone. That's a lot of flab gone. And in the process, I'm building and putting on muscle.

I'm so proud of this accomplishment. And it's motivating me to just keep on keepin' on!

Dear Skinny Chicks--The Sequel

Hello there Skinny Chick. It's been a while. And while you've been continuing to pass judgment on my appearance, I've been slowly, but surely changing it. I saw you today at the grocery store, checking out my cart and rolling your eyes at the Apple Jacks perched on top. "That's right," I thought, "I eat Apple Jacks." And I met your eyes full on. I don't really eat Apple Jacks, I mean, there's something so not-apple about them, I just can't do it. They're actually for Young One, but that's beside the point.

I seriously can't wait for the day that I just blend in. I mean, I'm not the size of someone that they have to cut out the side of their house to load onto a flatbed to take to the hospital for emergency care. I'm not bashing those people, I mean, that's a whole other issue. I'm just the high side of normal weight, 30-something woman, in the standard stay at home mom uniform of jeans and chunky funky boots. I know that I need to take better care of myself and I'm doing it. And although, you can't see it quite yet, I've made a lot of progress. And soon, maybe you'll notice me for more than just my size. I'm counting the pounds until you do.

So, take a moment to put your eyes back on yourself and your motives for being so judgemental. Maybe it's your insecurities shining through. Just don't let them bleed onto me! Because I'm confident that I can change what's wrong with me. Are you so sure that you can do the same?

I'm watching you watching me. I'll talk to you soon.

Sincerely,
A Fat Chick

The Five

Sight

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

I needed a fluff novel to cleanse the mind after my last book, The Bridge of Sighs, which was long and a little more challenging. Anyway, this was great chick lit. I wasn't completly happy with the ending, thought it was a bit cliche, but it was an easy and quick read. Walker and Daughter is a fine yarn shop, owned by Georgia Walker. It becomes the meeting place for an odd assortment of women, who eventually become good friends. Their lives intertwine in interesting ways. It's a good debut novel for Jacobs. I look forward to reading more of her work in the hopes that she branches out and away from the expected.

Sound

The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac
Try not to sing along with this one. Makes me feel like getting some scarves and gypsy dresses and try to mimic Stevie's sway. Some of their early work is just pure genius. A great bargain on Amazon if you're willing to buy it used.

Scent

Krusteaz fat free muffin mixes baking. Cranberry Orange and Blueberry. I realized at the last minute that I needed 3 dozen muffins to take to the teachers at Young One's school tomorrow morning. They smell fabulous. I'll update the "taste" section here in a minute!

Taste

Well, the muffins are a hit. I baked mini muffin size, but regular size are very Weight Watchers friendly and they taste like they're not! Sweet, plump, orange spiced cranberries spike the batter like polka dots. The blueberry is delightful too, but you've all had blueberry muffins before! Nice to find something that fits so well into my new lifestyle and that is very easy to make. Just drain the fruit, add water to the mix, blend, and fold in fruit. Bake in greased muffin tins! FANTASTIC!

Touch

Pants in a smaller size! AGAIN! I'm so excited. I can wear a pair of pants that three months ago I couldn't even get the waist edges to meet together. That is such a huge non-scale victory for me, I just could go on and on. I'm really doing it! 23 pounds gone!