H L Topic of Week Nov. 1-7 ~ Foods That Boost Brainpower!~

 Forgot to tell ya'll what I found at the grocery store - Supertarget has holiday flavors of yogurt out!  It's their Archer Farms brand - Egg Nog, Pumpkin Pie and ... there is one more but i didn't buy it because I knew I wouldn't like it. The p.pie is really good.  I've got the Egg Nog in my lunch for today.

also - has anyone read  The Help by kathryn stockett? Super good book, just a fabulous read.  I'm a 100 pages in and absolutely loving it.

Good morning!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm sitting here with cup of coffee number 1 ... I think it's gonna be a multi cup morning!  This time change has everyone on high alert around here!  My daughter was up before 6 ... NOOOOOOOOOO  so my carefully arranged wake up routine is blown to heck!  She's a light turning on, TV watching, activity kid right away and my son and I prefer to eat and drink in the soft mood lighting!  HAHAHA

Go ahead, Dawn, call me REC!  When I do it I do it big!  I figure, why not go for the gusto, right?  ARGHHHHHHH.  Good luck on your healthy eating today, your sandwiches that you take to work always sound soooo yummy!  I used to do really well when I worked because I never carried money for vending machines, and packed all my food so I would have snacks and everything and I drank huge glasses of water at my desk.  Now that I'm home all the time, well, it's been years, but I still struggle with all the readily available food!

Today I have a couple of appts., but my house is clean and the laundry is caught up, that for sure is a miracle. I think btwn appts. I will give the bathroom a good scrub down (MEN!)  nuff said about that!  I have a Thanksgiving project that I want to start and some other things on the fringe of my mind that I should take care of before they disappear altogether!

Jet, I sure hope you're not having gallbladder problems.  A friend of mine didn't know she was and had a really bad attack that left her on the floor in so much pain - that's where her hubby found her when he got home from work!  You really need to get to the Dr. sooner, that way you will know for sure what's going on and you can enjoy the holidays.  Cuz, it really could be anything, my Dr. read me the riot act for "self diagnosing" via the internet ... turns out I was right, but that's not the point!  HA!  Feel better my dear!  Have fun with the extra babysitting (assuming you feel well enough).  I might get to babysit a 2 yr old girl next Saturday, it would be an overnight thing and I would love to, we'll see if the grandparents can do it or not, apparently they are WAY overprotective of this little girl, she has Downs syndrome so I am sure that they are!  So, we'll see!

Kris, oh my, you aren't afraid of a challenge are you?  I would be way out of my element with all that tutoring. You and Natasha are amazing being able to teach people like that, I am not good at that at all.  I'm good at the supporting part, but not the actual teaching.  I always say if I had to homeschool my kids they would know how to play video games and fold towels!

Natasha, that is terrible about your Grandpa, poor thing, that's what prophylactic pain medication is for... so you don't have to feel the pain!  After Ross had hernia surgery (7 months old) I had to stay with him in day surgery for the day to make sure he was okay and he was sleeping and the nurse was like, oh, I think he's fine, he doesn't need the pain meds ... and I was like, are you kidding me?  He just got cut open in 3 different places and you think he's not in pain????  I was like a grizzly bear!  I told her that if she didn't give him the meds, I would take him to the pediatric floor and get a real nurse.  Then after she gave it to him I told her not to come back in the room!  She didn't!  I think that's why they give terminally ill people morphine pumps, so that they feel like they have more control and even if they don't get the meds everytime the hit the button, it must feel better than thinking that you have to depend on someone to give you the meds.  I like knowing that we can be advocates for our loves ones, I feel sad for those that don't have that.

Okay, all 3 kids are up and it's not 7 yet ... I hate the time change.  And, I just realized that I will have to drive home from Katie's appt. today in the dark ... I hate that so much, in the traffic in the dark.  UGH  I have to talk to her about the appt. time!

Dusta, where are you this morning?  Our bike riding already?  An inspiration to be sure!

Muril, what are you doing?  Sleeping in?  hahaha, can't imagine that.  Hope you have a lovely, healthy day!

Okay, enough time "wasted" as my hubby would say ... WHAT DOES HE KNOW???????

I swear, you gals keep me sane!  Thank YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XXOO

Hi again Dawn!  Thanks for the tip about the book, I'm gonna look for it ... I need something  a little more substantial to keep in the car ...

Natasha, that blondie recipe you posted looks like it's to die for!  I love to make bar cookies at XMAS cuz they are so much quicker.  The year I was expecting and was sooo sick, that's all I made!  My hubby still laughs about that cuz he said he couldn't get over every single cookie being square!  goof!  I will likely give more cookie trays this year - it's so hard to try and give a gift to each teacher, there are so many!  I like to put something in the teacher's lounge in case I miss someone.

Kris, what do you think of teacher's gifts ... I expect you get more "junk" than you know what to do with ... but, a couple years ago I started doing jar mixes for the teachers since my kids are such a pain that the teachers really have to work extra hard on them!  Last year i completely missed the boat, even though I bought the jars in advance.  The year before I gave the gift before Thanksgiving, then I was done!  I did a cookie mix that year.  This year I am doing a soup mix ... is that something you would like to receive as a teacher?  I figure it would be something you could just whip up and it would save them some time and in this case, make a nice dinner.  I dunno.  Some years I do an end of year gift, and I usually do note cards that I make - I figure teachers always need thank you notes, right?  I try and make it something they can actually use, rather than an apple paperweight!

Okay, now really have to go, hubs should be home soon, and I'm gonna try and get ready to hit the store after I drop Katie at the bus so after my 10:00 meeting, I can just come home!

 Hey Miss Rec (LOL!!!).  I did hot chocolate mix last year for the daycare teachers, put it in a jar, added a bag of Pepperidge Farm cookies to the gift bag & called it good. It went over really well. Let me know if you want the h.c. recipe. You may have one already.  I don't know what I'm going to do this year - I think maybe a nice card with gift cards to walmart or target. 

I know what you mean about this dumb DST. Samantha is still on the old clock - she wants her bed at 6pm instead of 7, and she's up at 5 instead of 6. We've tried keeping her up a little later each night but man she's crabby by 7-7:30. But I can't lay her down for the night at 6pm, you know?!?!?

I'm so glad it's almost lunch time -I'm starving today. Which is making it hard to keep out of the kitchen & all the goodies LOL!!!

Rebecca, Im making the Neimen Marcus cookies today... do you think I could swap white chocolate and chips for the milk chocolate? Its what I already have.... I just dunno if itll turn out the same. Im with you on the driving in the dark. I avoid it at all costs... I really dont see well in the dark, even with my glasses. Add rain and I might as well just stay home. LOL about your daughter getting up and turning everything on. Thats me. The minute Im awake, I shower. Then Im watching tv, listening to music, got all the lights on in the house, etc. Im a big morning person!

Dawn, lol about your hubbys camera. Sean has some type of expensive Nikon... he says I can touch it and use it, but its too complicated. I cant even figure out how to change the lenses! I think Im just so nervous I become all thumbs and cant do it *shrugs* But I really like whatever settings, etc your husband uses. Your pics always look very "soft". Great memories.

Today we are getting our AC installed in our apartment. Better late than never. I just feel weird having strangers in the house.. hafta hide my kitty in the bedroom since we cant have her, etc. It stresses me having a stranger here. I hope he doesnt need the bathroom, cause Ill be mean and say no.... "Use the public restroom on the property". Im so mean!

I  need to do a "cook what we have" type thing this next week or two. We have lotsa frozen meats, etc... Its just thawing them and then making em ya know!? Paying Seans ticket means that we gotta make do with what we got for now. So trying to think what to do with what I got.

Breakfast today - no plans. Maybe toast with my coffee

Lunch - Ivars Clam Chowder and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches made with pepperjack and cheddar.

Dinner - Home made chicken fried steak. It wont be very good, but whatever. I dont have the right cut of meat. Im gonna use thin cut round steak *shrugs* with hashbrowns and eggs.

Im just sittin here, listening to CMT, chattin with you ladies, and making out a small grocery list for Seans lunches, etc. Im burning the last candle I have! Its one of my fav scents... Holiday Apple Cinnamon. Loooove it. The other day I was burning one, and when I blew it out, the wik fell into the wax and disappeared. Grrr! It makes me feel Christmassy in here!

I suppose Ill post this up and talk to yall as someone else updates! Have a great day!

Good Afternoon Healthy Ones!

LOL Rebecca, "Me, sleep in?" :)  How quaint!  I did a body shaping cardio workout this morning- read HL but didn't post(obviously,lol) went to vote and then to Kroger. Their LC meals are so cheap if you get at least ten. :) So, are stocked up on Muril Meals. Glad things are going smoothy. It looks like you should have gotten a rental immediately through your insurance coverage. Too bad DH had to miss 2 days of work. :(   I was so sure they would total your car with the front end damage.  You never can tell. That is funny about the Blah Blah instead of Blossom. Hee Hee, you are so right... or Baa Baa. :) There is a young lady at church named Caitlyn and her brother(when he was young) called her Kay Kay because he couldn't say Caitlyn. I think that is adorable. We all call her Kay Kay most of the time. He is a teenager and she and older one of course but isn't that too cute?  I think I may want to be called Grammy or Nanny or even Momaw(like our boys call Mom)....by our grands. I will have it figured out by the time we are grands. LOL

Natasha, yum, let us know how the NM cookies come out. They are on my to try list! I don't know why you couldn't change out the chips but it will be different of course. :) You will just have a white chocolate version. The country fried steak sounds yummy. We will probably have something made from the leftover rotisserie chicken. I had a chicken sandwich with avocado slices for lunch today.

Dawn, I am going to have to look for that yogurt. Sounds yummy! They both sound like great flavors for cappuccinno too. Mmmm! You can tell where my mind is! :)  I havn't read The Help but will be on the lookout for it.  Sorry Samatha is still with the old time. :(  Makes it hard on Mom and Dad I am sure.

(((Jet))), hope everything goes well. Good news, they have streamlined the gall bladder surgery now so that is good. DH had to get his removed and they have about 3 small cuts(which heal almost unnoticable) and it is a piece of cake (compared to the old surgery)these days- fast recovery too. So, although it isn't great that you are having problems, at least they aren't doing the old routine. You never know, you may not need surgery but if so, you will do just fine!

Hi Kris! We are always here to cheer you on! :)

Thanks for all of your kind thoughts and prayers for Miss Nancy. I am just going to hope for the best and take it a day at a time. I will just have to remember that I am there for her and even if she is having a bad day, I will have to deal with it. I love her wit and charm...hope it stays and comes back at times anyway.

LOL on Ms Rec! What a hoot! :)

Off to do some laundry.

Hi everyone. Been busy morning. Lulu did go to groomer today and had to take her early becasue Mel had to have some test at hospital. After I brushed and walked her while I was getting my purse and the money she hid from me. She was in the dinning room where she seldom goes. Picked her up and she is so pretty snow white again. All the rain and mud in Branson she was not a pretty gir.

Mel had a dr's appointment this afternoon and then we are going out to eat. Wish me luck I have been fighting the nibbles this week.

Rebecca when I had a wreck several years ago they were just going to fix my car and I ask them about the frame. Told them that we thought when the frame was bent it was totaled. He said I will call you back, he did and they totaled it.

We need to leave.

Interesting point, Dusta, I will have to check on that - I'm not sure if it's the frame that's bent or just some thing that holds the radiator on ... what the heck do I know? I'm just a delicate flower of a girl!  HAHAHAHAHA  Good luck with your nibbling!  you could always smooch Lulu now that she's all sweet and clean!  that's nice of you to take Mel to the Dr. :)

Natasha, you are too funny, I'm the same way about people in my house ... if they wanna use the bathroom I send them to the kids bathroom, ewwwwwww - I would never ask a stranger if I could use the bathroom!  I would make those cookies with whatever chip you have!  It's all good! and WOO HOO on the AC, better to get it put in when you don't need it!  Is it central air?  I had that put in the house a couple years ago, best $$ I ever spent.  My hubby didn't want to get it, said the electric bill would be too high, but when you take all the fans away it really didn't change the bill that much.

Hahahah Muril, didn't really think you got to sleep in!  What the heck would we wanna do that for anyway?  Miss out on the sunrise????????  NEVER!  I'm a real morning person too, although I do keep it quiet in the AM for Ross, he likes to slide easy into the day - it's okay with me to drink my first cup of coffee in quiet with some mood lighting!  HAHAHA  I guess every day is a gift, whether we think it's good or not, right?  We tried to get a rental car right away, but it was Saturday and no claims person to talk to - bummer for me! or hubby I guess.

Be cool!

Mmmmm the cookies turned out yummy! Of course, the dough is better than the final cookie, but thats how it always is for me. I gave some to my coworker who is working in my office today so I dont eat em all. Yummish!

The guy didnt ask to use the restroom... LOL. And no Rebecca, its not central AC. No where in this state has that! I had it in NC and loved it... no, this is just a window AC unit. Since I live at an apartment provided by work, they have to okay things of that sort and have them professionally installed. It looks good, works great!

So... yeah. I halved the cookie recipe, so it should have made like... I dunno.... 56 cookies. Its only making about 4 dozen. I must make big cookies :)

Buzzer just went off. Better check on em!

The spot on Mel's lung hasn't changed so that is good, going back in 6 months to check it again. Then we went out to eat, Copeland's of New Orleans, I had blackened salmon, steamed mixed veggies and red beans and rice. The first bite of beans and I was in New Orleans heaven, could have eaten a gallon of them.

Didn't have time to ride the bike before we left this morning, rode as soon as we got back. Rode a  little over an hour, started to get near dusk and thought they might not be able to see me.

Natasha I love cookie dough too. I use to make a cookie I think it was Bachelor Button, that I had to make myself not eat it.

Good night

Happy Fall!  just checking in...we finally ditched our dial-up connection and got an air card so we have mobile service.  Lots faster. 

I went back to the gym this week.  I've had some big bad knee pain, and haven't hiked since Labor Day (the hike from hell,) and yesterday I gave up and went for a cortisone shot.  Ahhhh.  Relief.  I'm going to hold off on the Euflexxa as long as I can.  I was read the riot act from the PA, he reminded me that I was a 51-year old with arthritis and I shouldn't be overdoing.  I informed him that I wasn't planning on hanging up my hiking boots, had no plans to sit and knit all day, and yanked up my skirt for the Kenalog shot.  (I'm a really naughty patient). I will try to be more careful.

I got a fix-it-ticket last week for having a headlight out.  I didn't even notice.  It'll give DH something to do, to replace it, although he's been roofing the barn.  He worked at his ironworker job for 6 weeks, and is laid off again for 3.  He may have to go to CT to work, but he'll stay there all week in a house the company will rent.  At this point, I'm not fussy where he works! 

I baked some cranberry-white chocolate bars for the library bake sale today held at the election polls.  (did you get out and vote?).  We had six state referrendums, no state representative/congress elections, though.  Several town items and that was it.  The big vote which will be close was whether or not to repeal our gay marriage law.  Recently, Maine allowed same-sex marriage, and they're trying to repeal it.  Personally, I don't care who marries who.  I have more important things to worry about, like will my stepson make it out of Afghanistan alive.

Glad to see you're all keeping busy and lively.  take care!  PammieJ.

Took a nap this afternoon because I was getting a headache and was feeling stuffed up. Slept about an hour and a half.

When I went to make dinner, I told Sean I was craving tater tot casserole.... "wish we had those ingrediants on hand" and he said maybe bacon cheeseburger tatertot casserole. So... we had most of the stuff on hand but needed a bit extra so we walked over to safeway to get it. Im just throwing this together, never made this version of a tatertot casserole, but I think you can make this particular casserole anything you want it to be. So Im using some bacon, hamburger, frenchs fried onions, canned diced tomatoes, a lil bit of dill pickle relish, cheddar cheese soup, mushrooms, and some corn... then gonna put that in a casserole with tatertots on top and more french fried onions. Should be good *shrugs* gonna have it with bakery fresh french bread. Hope it turns out. This is kinda the first thing Im just making up!

Good Evening!

I ended up making chicken soup for supper with the leftover rostisserie chicken. :) 

Dusta, glad you had a wonderful meal out! Sounds heavenly to me.  That is wonderful that Mel's lung hasn't gotten any worse. Great news!

Rebecca, lol on being a delicate flower- reminds me of something Miss Nancy used to say. She would say " I am just a slip of a Girl." Usually when she was maneuvering a tight spot in a restaurant and someone thought they had to move. :) Now, I tell dh that about me. :)

Natasha, yeah on the yummy cookies! I have never eaten cookie dough... I must be in the minority. LOL I ordered some of the gourmet cookie dough off of our neighbor's daughter- she plays ball and they sell them as fundrasiers, anyway, this year, we will be getting a tub of the honey oatmeal. DH loves oatmeal cookies so thought I would switch it up. I usually get something like macadamia nut.

Yeah on the AC Natasha! Good time to get it in!

Happy Fall Pam! .. yes, I voted and thankfully they all won! We had Gov. and Lt. Gov. , etc. elections.  I try to vote with heart values more than pocketbook values. That was nice of you to take the bars to the election. Ours is in the local HS cafeteria- they could have had refreshments. :) Hmmm. Glad you are back in the gym and that the cortisone helped your knee.  

 The Governor is giving his victory speech- off to watch! Hugs to All!

Rebecca your dried soup mix in a jar will be a wonderful gift!

Long day at school, appointment in Wichita and just got home.  Off to bed!  Good night!

Muril, youve NEVER had cookie dough!? Are you crazy! Its 100 times better than cookies. I could just eat dough :) You must try the dough when you get it before making the cookies you ordered. Oatmeal dough is one of the tastiest!

Regarding voting... Ive never voted. I may be reallyyoung and stupid but at this point, I simply dont care enough to vote. And its all so confusing. All the stupid commercials leading up to voting day where everyone is talking crap about the other person. Its just too hard to know what to believe.

Dusta, that meal sounds really good! I wonder where I can get some good quality red beans and rice? Probably not anywhere up here.... had a friend just mention they had gone to Cheesecake Factory. I pulled up their menu and oh my word I would love to try their shrimp scampi and steak diane! I love a nice meal out. So glad that Mels lung hasnt gotten any worse. What kinda cookie is a bachelor button?

Dinner is done! Off to try out my mess of a "recipe"