Good Monday Morning, Maryland!

Good Monday Morning Maryland! How is everyone on this crisp, beautiful Monday morning? I'm doing pretty good and am surprisingly awake after having gone away this past weekend, getting to bed late last night and getting in to work early today (and the rest of this week to make up for those 2 days I missed last week). We had a great time this past weekend in Ocean City. The weather was beautiful! I did okay with eating - I had a few bites of Fisher's Popcorn and two instances where I got a small Kohr Brothers Frozen Custard in a cup. There was a time I would've gotten the biggest order I could get and still want more. I didn't make it to Thrashers because by the time we got there, my pouchie was full and I wasn't going to pu**** It smelled heavenly though! Maybe next time. As far as fluids go this weekend, I got in at least 64oz each day, but that was far short of my usual 100-120oz. Exercise, well I walked alot but I don't think that takes the place of not working out. I'm working late tonight and hoping to get to the gym after work. I did fine as usual on the protein and supplements. Even remembered to give myself my B12 shot when I got home So what's up in your world? Did you have a good weekend? Anything exciting happen? I see Mo left for Chi-town early yesterday morning. How goes the eating/fluids/supplements/protein/exercise? Hey Tia, I got a cute T-Shirt for Halloween over the weekend. Nothing really special, but I figured since I was joining the festivities and didn't have a costume that I should do something besides wear a plain shirt. Well it's a busy day here at the office, I'll try to check back in later this morning. Have a wonderful day! Take Care, Terry

Ick - Monday! Glad you had a great time in OC - the weather WAS beautiful and I was thinking about you on Saturday. Ditto with the frozen custard - I can't even eat a full small one now, and you're right, in the past, I would've had a big one AND a small Thrasher's all to myself. Boy, that would equal vomitus maximus now! Mom, the kids & I went to a church flea market/bake sale on Saturday, which was just an excuse for the church members to sell their junk! Sometimes, I wonder why people think others would buy some of the stuff they put out! Ick! Not a fan of looking at junk - but Mom is, so we went. Then took Mom home so she could pass out and the kids and I had lunch out, then went to Target, Toys R Us and the grocery store. At Toys R Us, we went aisle by aisle, with them showing me what they wanted for Christmas. It wasn't a huge list, but I find that as they get older, their wants become smaller and more expensive! All I can say is Santa better be typing some tapes! After all that, I took them to the playground for about an hour, but B started coughing more than I liked so we went on home. I made a ham and cheese stromboli and bbq and then we baked cookies and I did - yep, you guessed it, laundry. Gary went to a bachelor party and didn't get home until around 10, so I didn't get home until about 10:30 - tired Tia!! On Sunday, I slept in a little, and did some laundry and some typing. I'm trying, little by little, to get my bedroom organized - what a pigpen! I've got some more typing to do tonight and tomorrow, but I'm off for a week starting Friday! YAY! T, where'd you get the Halloween shirt? I got one at FB about 2 months ago - wouldn't it be hilarious if we had the same one? I'll pick the kids up from school on Halloween around 3:30, and Gary & MOTY will probably take them trick or treating around 6 or so, and Molly and I will sit on the porch and give out candy. Well, I'll give out candy and Molly will stick her head through the porch gate to investigate the trick or treat bags of everyone who comes up the steps!!! So, if you want to come over anytime after 5 or so, that's fine. It's very informal, just us, and then afterward, I try to corral everyone into watching The Great Pumpkin and we eat. We'll see. We can eat anytime, since I usually make it well ahead of time and put it in the crockpot. Again, very informal, and you can come whenever and leave whenever. Well, better get going here. Have a wonderful day! Tia

I hear ya on the flea market stuff..I don't like looking at junk either. I gave up trying to buy my goddaughters stuff for their birthdays (I just give them one big family gift for Christmas otherwise I'd have to take a second mortgage for 8 kids and 2 parents), so for their birthdays I give them a gift card for wal-mart or target...they love it. I figure they can get anything they would want or need and it also gives them a feeling of independence. At least maybe it'll teach them to budget some as the card does have a limit. LOL...I'm gonna have to get you a shirt that says "Laundry Princess" on it...hehe. Hey, if it makes ya feel any better, I did 3 loads when I got home last night - just didn't want to leave it for my Mom. She's kind of pre-occupied these days. She got her date on Friday - November 13th at 6:00am. She's kinda nervous even though she wants it done and over with. I'm kinda nervous too, but we're putting it in God's hands. That's great about being off. What are ya gonna do (besides get ready for the Great Pumpkin?). I don't plan to take any time off (other than a day or here there) before our trip to Hawaii. My boss has promised to be flexible with my Mom's surgery so I plan to go in late/leave early or work from home while she's recuperating. I got a Halloween TShirt that's black and is the two shirt look with a white under layer, at our favorite Mecca - Wally World! I has jack o lanterns on the front. It was a choice between that one and one that said "Boo!". I also got a fleece one for Christmas that says "Merry Christmas". Did you want me to bring anything for Halloween? Let me know Well back to the grindstone here...hehe...darn job, gets in the way of life..hehe Hugs, T

T - I do put gift cards in the kids' stockings - usually to AC Moore - they both like crafty stuff or Five Below - although I see that the Dollar Store now has gift cards, so that's another possibility. Mom will DEFINITELY be getting one of those! I've asked Santa for gift cards for myself this year. I ALWAYS ask for one for Starbucks, with the caveat that Gary, who HATES the smell of coffee, actually goes to buy it himself! I'm so mean!!! Okay, November 13 for McMom - what hospital? At least it's early. I have every confidence (I've been saying prayers for her and you) that everything's going to be great, and they'll be as perky as she is! Keep me posted, of course. My t-shirt is a short-sleeved black one with two pumpkins in sequins. I did see the one you got at Wally-World, but figured I only needed one. We'll see!!! Nope, don't bring anything on Halloween - unless you want to bring McMom. Just be forewarned -Martha Stewart does not live with us!!! And Molly sheds like the dickens, even though she's brushed every day. Just sayin'.... On Friday, the Boscov's in White Marsh is opening with a special preview day, so Mom & I will be there when they open. Then, probably some shopping, then I have to go to my bgf's and help her with some food for her party on Saturday. Saturday a.m., I'll probably take Mom to yard sales/flea markets, then I'm making a dessert for Gary to take to a football party, then the party Saturday night. On Sunday, I'm taking my gf Jo out to lunch for a belated bday celebration for her, then Gary's dropping the kids off while he goes to the football party. After that, Tia's passing out! Yeah, me, too, the work thing! I still want to know what happened to Leslie! If I haven't heard from her by Wednesday, I may call her ambulance company. This isn't like her! Tia

Good morning! Boy was it a chilly one. I managed to get out of bed at 5:15 and get my workout done. Once again I really didn't want to do it but pushed myself. I suppose that is just the way it will be. I will continue to push! (that sounds a bit weird. ) Had a nice weekend. Hubby & I went to McCormicks & Schmicks on the Harbor for dinner. It was very nice. We enjoyed each others company for a few hours. We spent very little time talking about the kids or bills so that was VERY nice. I enjoyed the walk to M&S. It was nice to know that I could do the walk and not be all sore and tired from it. We parked at the garage where I have a pass so we didn't have to pay so the walk was a little more than a half mile one way. I had the crabcake appetizer for my meal. It was good. I could only eat half of it because I has about 1/3 of a casear salad and two bites of bread with water before the crabcake. I took it home and enjoyed the other half for lunch the next day. Hubby ordered steak and at all that bread they bring to your table! Saturday I slept in a bit and then cleaned house, watched a couple of movies, went to the grocery store and then sat on my behind. It was nice. I had to stay up late to take Stephanie to a restaurant after the Homecoming dance and then picked her and her friends up at 1:30 to take them home. She's not allowed to drive between 12-5 am so I volunteered. I wouldn't have wanted her driving all her friends anyway. Too distracting, especially late at night. Went to church on Sunday. Our pastors wife preached a great sermon on forgiveness. What a great time we had in prayer and worship afterwards! Came home, had chili and took a nap while hubby watched football. I got 50 minutes on my exercise bike and made some really yummy pumpkin muffins. They are really easy, almost no fat and very low sugar and carbs. Sounds like Terry & Tia had fun weekends. Tia, you are brave to take the kids to Toys R Us like that. I avoid that store cuz Meghan just doesn't know how to get out of there without breaking the bank! LOL. Terry, I think your walking counts as exercise. I mean, a year ago you probably would not have walked that much. Walking, even slowly but for hours, is great exercise. Glad you enjoyed your weekend. Have a fab Monday y'all! Hugs, Robin

Hey Rob - Sooooo glad you had a nice date with your hubby! I always think that if I ever remarry , that I would make sure my hubby and I made time for each other. Sometimes, especially if you have kids, it's hard to remember that. Well, here's hopin'.... OMG, I can just feel the lump that would be my pouch if I ate all that bread that your hubby did!! Bread was never "my thing," but I do enjoy a small piece of bread with a restaurant dinner, as long as it's good bread. Particularly at Italian restaurants! Saturday sounds so relaxing, Sunday was almost like that for me, minus the typing! Could you share the pumpkin muffin recipe you used? I already know that I HAVE to add chocolate chips to it!! Ohhh, or maybe white chocolate chips!!! You know, surprisingly, they didn't ask for one thing in Toys R Us. Maybe because they knew ahead of time that we were going to buy a gift card and that we would only be "looking" for Christmas list items. Although at Target, they did get packs of collector cards (Garbage Pail Kids for K & Pokemon for B). They know Christmas is coming, so maybe that's it, too. Well, anyway, hope your week goes by quickly. I'm assuming you took Homecoming pictures? Share at our next get-together, okay? C YA, Tia

Yes, it is so important to take time for each other. My girls are my life and I love giving them so much of my time but when they are grown and gone (which is coming all too quickly) it will just be me and hubby so it's nice to know that we will enjoy each others company for years to come. MMM, chocolate chips would be delish in the muffins. The recipe is sooo easy: 1 box of spice cake mix 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin (not the pie filling) 1/2 cup of water. Mix all ingredients together. Fill muffin pan as usual. (I used my medium scoop from pampered chef to fill my mini muffin pan which made 40 mini muffins.) Bake at 350 for 13-15 minutes. Cool slightly in pan for about 5 minutes. Remove from pan and continue to cool. I had one with cool whip on top, reminded me of pumpkin pie! These were so easy and are so tasty. I love that they are so moist. I hope you like them. I'll have to bring pics of my girls at our outing. Though I didn't take pics of homecoming as Stephanie only went to dinner after the dance. She didn't get to go to the dance afterall. But I have pics of the dinner so I can bring some of those. Hugs, Robin

Okay, thanks for the recipe! I seem to recall a similar one from my days at Weigh****chers. Actually, I made a chocolate cake using pumpkin and the 1/2 cup of water, and remember it turning out very dense and chocolatey! I may have to get creative and add reg chocolate chips to the batter and drizzle them with melted white chocolate chips! I guess you could use the yellow cake mix and add pumpkin pie spice, too - I'll have to experiment! Actually, I thought you might bring the girls on the 11th? I'm sure they're social butterflies, but just so you know, they are certainly welcome. KB will be with MOTY, but I'll probably bring my Mom. My point is, the more the merrier!!! And I'd love to meet them! Tia