What's on your Tuesday Menu?

Mornin' All! One of my appts today has been rescheduled to next week, but because I won't have the appt, I can go to my in-person class today - so I really won't have any time freed up. I need to sit down this morning and write out my packing list because starting this afternoon, I'm pretty much swamped. If I have a complete packing list, it only takes me like 10 minutes to pack. And I shouldn't need much for what's basically a long weekend. I'll shove it all into a duffel bag.

other than class, I have to take a cat to the vet's this morning, then I have an online class, then Mah Jongg at 1:30, then my in-person class. So I guess not as busy as I thought - I do have tonight free (not so tomorrow night, though). Tomorrow is crazy. Then off to the airport at 5:00 am Thursday morning! I'm so looking forward to this!!

can I say I hate the way MyFitnessPal treats exercise calories? It now gets its info directly from Fitbit (I set it up a couple of weeks ago to do that, rather than me manually adding it in). It awards you exercise calories based on how many other calories you burn up during the day, though. So it gave me 300+ calories for my hour-long bike ride, but by late afternoon, it had changed it to around 200. Then I evidently must have walked around a bit (not for exercise - but just NEAT calories), because it increased it a bit last night (thankfully). I think that that's a lot more accurate - doing an hour of exercise doesn't help as much as you'd think if you spend the rest of the day sitting on the couch, but still, it's eye-opening to actually see that (although as I've said before, I don't try to eat back all the calories I've managed to burn up - but still, it's satisfying when I see I've burned up 300+ calories from some fitness activity. I hate to see that decrease over the course of the day. Although it IS motivating in that it makes me get up off my butt once in awhile!!)

QOTD: it really depends on where i am and how much time I have. I like wandering around grocery stores (and especially ethnic/specialty grocery stores) to see what they have - but again, if I don't have time, I just run in and run out.

B: coffee with half & half (my stomach is bothering me this morning)

MS: if I'm feeling better, maybe a protein shake

L: protein oatmeal with a fruit and a dollop of plain skyr

AS: maybe some chickpea/miso spread on a WASA bread cracker thing

D: salad (power greens, 1/2 diced peach, chicken breast, light dressing)

have a great day, everyone!

oh - and QJB - I'm glad your nephew pulled through surgery OK!! Now hopefully they were able to get it all out - if so, that's really great news!!!!

I stored my packing list in MS Word years ago. Just tweak it before I pack and print it out. I put a copy in the suitcase to use when packing to come back home.

that's a great idea!!

A duffel bag for 4 days 3 nights? Sounds like my husband! I have a huge suitcase and my toiletries bag, lol. I need options and all the things!!

Good morning! I get you Julia on the morning routine. I have made a conscious effort to step away from the curling iron and full make up each morning since I retired. I still blow out my hair, wear sunscreen daily, and will occasionally do light work on my face during the daytime, but I only do a full on face if we are going out or hosting company. Each afternoon's impromptu meet up in the front yard means I am usually barefaced. Getting used to it and enjoying the relaxed routine. (But no one should count on actually seeing me barefaced in Costa Mesa! I still have my vanity)

I was spot on yesterday for food and beverage choices and the scale still crept up. I also walked a tough 2.5 miles with a good sized slope in it. I can feel the burn when I'm out there plugging along, and I'm not eating back the calories, so I don't even know what to say about the scale...other than it might hate me and like to torture me.

Today I need to run to TJ's and get a few pantry items for the RV, have chair yoga at 11, and clean and freshen the inside of the RV when Rog brings it home today. Make the bed, etc. Rog will be busy washing the outside of it. I have a facial at 2:45, ahhhhhh. I also want to run by Smart and Final and buy Halloween candy. It will be the 12th or so of October when we return, and we need a LOT of candy and I hate to wait too long. I try to get something fun and special so I will pick that up today and put it away. It will definitely NOT be anything Butterfingers. I was checking out at the grocery store yesterday and they had skull shaped Butterfingers that almost jumped in my cart (and on sale Baskin Robbins Pralines and cream). I had such a strong yearning for them I realized that it was going to be trouble and ran.

QoTD 80/20. I love to wander and find things to build a menu from. But when I am concentrating on staying on budget and on plan, I go straight for what I need. I'm best at this at Costco, worst at Trader Joe's.

Menu

B: the very last piece of the chili relleno casserole with a slice of bacon

L: the last of the left over Domino's chicken wings. Their site says 3 pieces is 170 calories. That's exactly what I had for lunch yesterday and I was full for hours. High in fat and sodium I expect, but I hate to waste food.

D: today will be the smoked pork chops, corn on the cob and a couple bites of mashed potatoes.

Peace Everybody!

Good Morning Everyone,

My prayers are going out to you and your family QJB. It sounds like you have found a good system to keep up on all your school work and cookie business.

I had a nice weekend. Spent a bit of time in the car driving DD and friend back and forth to the ranch. Mostly because she went up to the ranch on Friday but needed to come back to town for her concert. The kids bands sounded great but their set was cut short since the acts before them were behind schedule. Only was able to play 4 songs in all (planned 7). Then, I had to drive her back up to the ranch after the concert, then pick her up on Sunday. I was not a happy camper by the time I got home on Sunday since it agitates me to sit in the car for so much in such a short time period. She is 16 so she could drive herself but she doesnt want to drive her old 1992 Town Car, doesnt want to be responsible for my car. I may have to insist she drive because that is a lot of idle time (1 hour each way) spent carting her around.

On Thursday, DH started to feel ill, coughing and mild short of breath. He had a low grade temp. On Friday he took an at home COVID test which was negative. By Saturday he was feeling worse and wanted to prescribe himself an antibiotic. He thought maybe pneumonia since he had aching in his lower ribs, which is one of the symptoms he has had in the past with pneumonia. I told him he needed an xray to confirm the diagnosis so he finally went to urgent care. Turns out he has COVID, not pneumonia (xray was negative for pneumonia). This is his second bout of COVID. He is slowly getting better, will be off work through Wednesday since the guidelines state 5 days from onset of symptoms. So far he is the only one in the house who is sick.

Tonight I am going to the movie with my friend from high school. We are going to Dont Worry Darling. I dont have high expectations for the movie. The critics give it a 36% approval rating, while the audience only 76%. I guess based on the audience score (which is what I usually use as a gauge) it might be good.

QOTD: Even when I go for only one item I suddenly remember I "need" other items. I dont necessarily go through each aisle, just the ones I know have the items I want to pick up.

Accountability: Popcorn, too much again. Will not have again until Saturday.

B: triple zero greek yogurt with keto granola, raspberries, cold brew with half n half

L: summer salad with chicken, light poppy seed dressing

S: protein frosty

D: Asian chicken salad with light sesame ginger dressing

S: protein frosty, 4 squares sf chocolate

E: off

Have a terrific Tuesday.

I hope your son recovers quickly.

I'm the second one definitely. Never the trophy wife.

QOTD- I'm a go find what I need and get out. Unlike my roommate who drives me crazy. He wants to go down every aisle in Costco.

No work again yesterday, I'm planning on talking to my financial planner soon. I recalculated and I actually have wait until 9/24 for my full retirement age, so 23 months not 18.

Still trying to find names for the kittens, the gray one I wanted to name Romeo since he is my love and likes to sit on my lap. But I don't know, I did figure out how to tell the black ones apart. One has a triangle of white on her belly, the other one only has a little bit of white. My roommate thinks the gray one is a Pete, but I don't think so and I'm not good with names. Any suggestions?

I really wish I could meet you guys in person, maybe next year.

Have a great day everyone!

I love the name Romeo! My dogs are Monte, after Montepulciano, my most favorite place on earth so far, and Cash, the man in black, after my favorite (and first concert) Johnny Cash. Maybe think about your travels last year for names?

Growing up we had a gray male named Grady. My current gray female is Gracie. I think Romeo is a great name.