Holiday plans, and do they involve food?

Well... for the first time in years and I mean years I went on a camping/fishing trip this weekend! It may not seem that long for someone a little older but I am 21 and have not been able to or wanted to because of physical reasons.

My brother and I cruised the river from dusk till dawn, fished the day away and camped, not camper camping or electricity camping but threw the tent, air mattress and camp fire camping. It rained more than I have ever seen on Memorial Day and I look like I have the chicken pox from all the mosquitos but hey I WENT CAMPING!

We did include food but tricking your family that turkey burgers are real burgers and turkey dogs are real hot dogs and then BOO surprise IT IS TURKEY MEAT HAHA! I thought at the beginning after surgery I would never be able to incorporate WLS friendly food into everyday life but I did.

After WLS I have done a lot more, I have been to friend's weddings, birthday parties and if I do not plan ahead of time I usually end up not eating but I learned planning is eating lol, and eating should be planned!

We had a great Memorial Day...I tried to get my exercise/physical activity outta the way first....I bought a new Kettle Bell DVD & did it for 30  minutes this morning & then ran just 1/2 mile & walked the other 2......oh my goodness...do I feel the Kettle Bell workout  in my abs & arms!  Love that! 

Then I went to Lowe's (my Graceland...lol!) and got a bunch of flowers & some cool blue tint stuff for a Koi pond & waterfall that we have around front in the landscaping...of course, I added so much blue that you can't see the Koi, but it is pretty to see the blue water coming down the waterfall!  My 6 year old looked at it & said, "It's Blue-tiful, Mom"....lol....

Also mulched a bunch & ran around & played with the kiddos before my hubby fired up the BBQ where he grilled the entire family Boca Burgers & Garden Burgers and Tofu Smart Dogs.  My kids & hubby usually eat those for their burgers/hot dogs when we grill, but it was nice to be able to eat one, too.  They had theirs on whole wheat buns w/cheese, etc.  I ate mine plain.  I also made this yummy organic veggie mix of two kinds of corn, asparagus & more (which I didn't eat b/c of the corn) that they loved & some sweet potato fries that my kiddos think are french fries. 

Then, for dessert I did a red, white & blue shortcake....I found sugar free shortcake cups at Kroger & layered SF Cool Whip on top & then made a flag---the stars were blueberries & then I cut strawberries & blackberries & put them in lines for the stripes....everyone laughed at me & said it was corney, but I thought it was cute!!  I stayed away from it, though...the shortcakes were SF, but they had 28 carbs per cake....plus, I don't want to ever crave sweets like I did before surgery so I just stay far, far away!

I hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day.....we are so thankful for the men & women that have served, and are serving, in our armed forces & are blessed to be able to be together as a family & celebrate Memorial Day--and everyday-- because of their sacrifices!   xo, Micheala.

Michaela, Your post reminded me of something i did this weekend too.  Don't laugh.  But, Tim had given me a basket of different flowers (5) for my birthday.  It needed repotted, so we got some potting soil and last night he was going to repot them.  I have never potted plants.  I know, that sounds stupid.  But I have never been an outdoorsy kind of gal.  Or, a get your hands in dirt kind of gal.

So, I asked what I could do, he said, oh nothing.  I said, I want to do something, so what do I do in order to repot one of these?  And so he told me, and I wanted to dip a cup into the potting soil and get it into my plant stand.  He said, NO just dip your hands in there, get your hands dirty!  So I did...  and then took out the plant from its tiny container, put it in the plant stand, and put in more dirt...  and then watered all of them...  I was so proud...  That is officially the first plant I have ever planted or repotted.

Mel--awww...that is so sweet...you potted a plant!!  I am cracking up at you wanting to dip a cup into the potting soil...ha!! I just have this vision of you in all that amazing shapewear in your cute little outfits trying not to get dirt on your hands!  That makes me smile.

Now you are on a roll...be careful...I am a flower nut & it is so addicting!!  My poor kiddos are constantly saying...."Mommy, not Lowe's/Home Depot again...more flowers?!?!"....I can't get enough.  Now you have to take a trip to the garden center, get a little bag of Miracle Grow, some Osmocote (that is steriods for your flowers ...:)...) & pick some pretty flowers to pot.  Starting in pots is great....you can even get some cute garden gloves & a hat! 

Even if you don't plant again...I am so proud of your brave effort! xo, Micheala.

We are wanting to put out a rock garden in the front of the house...  Tim has to get some rubber so lay down on top... not just the thin plastic, but he said that he can get some rubber backing at work and it will really prevent anything from growing up there!  Mike has some nice gravel in his walkway that I like, kind of like polished stones...  and that's what I want in the front of our house. 

Kmart had the most gorgeous looking flowers in every bright color imaginable this weekend!  They were just gorgeous!  Made me want to have them at my house...  oh, and a bird bath!  With a fountain flowing out of the top!  It was nice too...  Tim has been feeding the grass and greening it up a bit...  I'm anxious to start sitting outside on the picnic table and enjoying the weather, fllowers and yard.