Wednesday Check-in

Good Morning Everyone!  How was your day yesterday?

Yesterday was girl day's out for me.  Had a wonderful day of shopping in Raleigh.  We started out at the Farmers Market.  My BFF, Sandy had never been.  Boy, was it cold out there!  I bought some yummy strawberries that were locally grown in a "farming tunnel".  They were some of the prettiest and tastiest "winter" strawberries.  Inside I found some yellow squash, onions and extra lean sausage.  Then we were off to the new Trader Joe's (another first for Sandy) followed by Whole Foods (found the nicest brussel sprouts) and then Sweet Tomatoes for lunch.  I love salad and I created one of the best yesterday.  We continued on to World Market and topped it off with a fantastic sale at Coldwater Creek.   Oh and we did squeeze in the drive-thru at a Starbucks for a Latte too.

I really needed my "girl" time.  It was refreshing to have a "mini vacation" .  There will be no more time off for while now. 

My white bean chicken chili was very good.  For those who asked for the recipe, it was a "box mix" given to me for Christmas.  I received several different varieties because anyone who knows me knows I love soup.  I make a lot of homemade soups throughout the entire year.  For me soup is comfort food.  I grew up in the Pocono mountains and we made meals around hearty soups and fresh baked bread.  I just skip the bread now and make sure my soups are protein heavy.

Today will be another busy day at work.  It is the end of the month and the end of the year, so I have lots to do.  I am never bored at work and the day always flies by.  Since the pool has been closed and it is cold, I have rethought the exercise plan.  I am going to try and get on a daily schedule with me long neglected Wii fit. 

What are your plans for today?  Need to ramble?  Please share.

Wishing each of you a Wonderful day!

If you love soup, you might like this one that is a staple for me and has lots of protein... and my family love it too.

2 cans diced tomatoes with chiles
1 can black beans, drained
1 can whole kernal corn, drained
1 -2 cups diced chicken/turkey or browned ground beef
1 can chicken broth or tomatoe juice

Heat and eat!  it's wonderful.

Thanks Alice.  That is one I make alot.  If I use a "boxed starter" I always doctor it up so no one even knows it started with a box.  I am just real careful about cream soups, I am lactose intolerant.  

Morning Girls.....I had a good day yesterday too and am hopeful that today will be much the same. I've gone back to logging my food plan for the day on the daily plate. I hate to have to go back and change anything on it so I did really well with sticking to it yesterday. I didn't get the guest room rearranged last night like I had hoped but maybe, just maybe it'll be done by the time I go home tonight. David is feeling better and my oldest said he would come help too.

I'm jealous of the mini-vacation you had yesterday. It sounds like you had a wonderful day. I get to have one of those on Friday with my step sister. First we're meeting her daughter for coffee then we're going to her daughter's salon for a much needed haircut. I could stand a manicure but not sure if her girl that does those will be in on the morning after the years biggest party or not (these girls are young and love to hit the clubs). Then we're going to lunch.

If it's as cold as they're predicting this weekend then I won't be happy about doing any of this. I hate being cold - it makes me mad. How funny is that? I'm the woman who used to only own short sleeve shirts and never ever wore shoes and socks regardless of the weather. Now I get bone achy cold when the thermostat drops below 70. 

While I'm rambling / whining / complaining......does anybody elses tail bone still hurt? When I saw Dr. Mac for my surgiversary appointment this summer he told me it was normal and that most people either got used to it or it seemed to go away within a couple of months. Well I guess I'm just not NORMAL!! Every seat and seat cushion hurts it. It's like right at the top of my butt crack. Getting up off of a seat just about brings tears to my eyes. Any words of wisdom??

- Iris Whiner 

Love mini vacations and I too am envious.  Glad you had a good time.  The soup sounds good.  I think I will put a pot on tomorrow.  It is beans and ham for the new year though.
My tailbone juts out like a freakin money's tail.  I am so uncomfortable in the car it is not even funny.  the way the seat bends up in the back about kills me.  I tend to sit mainly on my legs in a very upright position.  Sucks. 
I also get angry when it is cold.  I am always cold.  I have sweaters and jackets everywhere.  I got a new throw for Christmas and I think it is already worn out. lol
I have off of work tomorrow and Friday.  Yay!  Then back to the grind on Monday.  I do have my part time job tonight and Saturday morning.  I get off around 12 or 1 pm. 
I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year's eve.  I may not get back on before then.  Thanks again for the recipe!

Ok, ok, ok,.... enough of this bragging about aching tailbones!!!!  LOL... I guess i must STILL (after 2 year) have a big padded butt!!!! My tailbone has never hurt!!! I am soooo jealous!!!

The last "girls day out" i had was back in October when my best friend came to visit from Florida.  I think it's time for another one!!!  I'll have to work on planning that.

We just hung around the house yesterday and did alot of nothing.  Watched a couple of movies on TV.  I enjoy "vegetation" days.

Today i took the DH to get an endoscopy.  They found an ulcer, which probably explains the pain he's been having.  They put him on some meds and hopefully that will clear everything up.  I'm so happy that it wasn't a twisted bowel again.  I would really hate for him to have to go thru that surgery again.  Of course, probably not as thrilled as he is

 I too like soups/chili's and make white chicken chili quite often.  I'm going to try Alice's recipe, it looks quick, easy and good tasting.  I have a great white chicken chili recipe, if you wnat it just PM me and i'll give it to you....

Enjoy the rest of your day.

I headed out to Lillington early this morning so that I could donate to the Harnett County coffers. I have never, ever had a traffic ticket until I was driving down 421 from Apex to Fayetteville in November as we were heading to ATL... That made that an expensive trip, but not as bad as it could have been I guess. That's not something I'm interested in repeating... Getting a ticket or going to Harnett County. There must be something lovely there, but I didn't see any evidence of it today. 

I didn't blow it, but I wasn't 'good' either. I've decided to just kind of tread water through the holiday and then see about getting to work to get the holiday pounds off. I did log my intake... Good news... I didn't go crazy re: caloric intake... Not so good new... I need to make more balanced choices. I'm way to heavy on the carbs and need to get in more protein. It sure does help to see it. 

I hope everyone had a good day.