---> BRICKWALL BUSTERS CHALLENGE May 08 <---

[scrappychik]

Welcome to the new thread

[ItsToni]

Boy, the months just keep clickin' by don't they?? I forgot all about starting a new thread for the month. Thanks for remembering Lisa!!

It's so dark and gloomy outside today - almost feels like fall instead of spring!

Last day of work for the week. I'm glad - it's been really tiring lately. Soccer practice tonight. The schedule should lighten up just a bit now - once the baseball games start, the practices get cut out. So, it's nice he doesn't have to cut soccer short tonight to head to baseball. Though, *just* when we have a window of time, swimming starts on monday LOL

B - 2 c. coffee w/splenda/half/half
- 2 slices fried bologna w/swiss cheese (I don't know why i'm on this bologna kick)
- gonna leave out the eggs this morning

L - One more day of roast
- salad w/ranch

D - Stuffed peppers
- green beans w/butter
- salad & sliced tomatoes

Have a good one!

[seb]

Just a short good morning.

bbl

[scrappychik]

Good morning

It's raining I just finished TBS-happy to be back in an exercising routine Not much going on today. I forgot to get stamps yesterday, so I'll have to run over to post office. I need to mail Mother's Day cards and Diabetes fundraiser envelopes. I read a good bit of my book last night-it's a murder mystery. Ive read all of Mary Higgins Clark, this one is by Mary Jane Clark. I've also been reading Sandra Brown novels. i usually read 1 book per week I want to scrapbook a bit troday. My daughter's prom pics are in and I also designed a cute page layout for Easter. I will check back later-Have a great day, ladies!!

[seb]

I enjoy Mary Higgins Clark books. Are Sandra Brown books clean? I hate reading books with language and immoral activities.

[scrappychik]

Sue~ You probably won't like Sandra-she's a little racy LOL My DH's stepmom recommended her to me(she likes romance novels) I've read only a couple so far, but I was surprised by some of the "descriptive" love scenes I wonder if Nora Roberts is any better? Stacey & Toni, chime in with your favs please

[ItsToni]

I guess I pretty much read anything I can get my hands on - though it sort of depends on the season too. During the summer, I really like to read "light" stories - doesn't take a lot of thought. I especially enjoy stories that take place in Europe or British countryside - something along those lines. I don't mind paranormal or creepy (I used to religiously read Stephen King - though I'm not as fond of his work anymore as it just doesn't seem to be as good of writing). In the past year, I've read a lot of christian fiction - it's always easy reading, the characters aren't that deep and it's usually the same sort of story lines. A few years back, my FIL suggested that if Kurt and I have never read the "classics", that we should sometime in our lives. So, every now and then I'll throw one of those in there. So right now I'm reading Separate Peace and also picked up Hemmingway's Old Man and the Sea - since I found it for nothing at the Salvation Army LOL It's a short, easy reader that I have been bringing to ball practices. I'm surprised I never read that one in school. I love to read - I always have. Even growing up, my mom could never stock enough books for me. I would lay around and read from cover to cover. I don't have the energy to stay up late reading anymore - though I wish I did

Also, some cute books I got into last summer were the Shopaholic books - i guess there are 4 or 5 in the series by Sophie Kinnsella (I think that is her name). Anyway, they are fun stories but by the last book, the main character got on my nerves so bad that I knew the series had to come to and end. lol

[seb]

I'm an avid reader, but there are some books I just won't touch.

Right now I'm reading an anthology of Sherlock Holmes. Very good books and short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I'm on volume one and DH is on volume two.

[ItsToni]

***This post is from Stacey. She posted on the "old" thread, so I thought I would bring it here for her ***


I did a vinegar based bbq sauce. I should say I am doing, because we ended up not cooking last night. Jace at his lunch at 430 and so did Jesse. I was the only one hungrey so I threw a taco salad together. Can't wait to try those chops tonight though. Oh I am making veggie hush puppies with them. I got the recipe on this site. They sound yummy.

Toni~I have that snacking habit thing too. I am not hungrey and I just want to munch something. It is usually in the afternoon, so I pop a piece of gum. Seems to work for me and Stride gum only has one carb per piece.

Lisa~I got the new Nora Roberts book yesterday. It is part of the signs trilogy book 2, The Hollow. It is good! I just love her.

[seb]

I need to try out a Nora Roberts book.

[ItsToni]

I've never read any of her books either. Are they romance type books?

[sbaquera78]

Sorry guys forgot to move to this thread..I am a little slow

Nora Roberts is romance, but I like her newer books best. She writes all differnet things. Her newest trilogy is based on of course a battle between good and evil. It is based around 6 people and how they go about normal life and dealing with these awful things that happen every seven years. Demons and a little bit of witchcraft. I loved the first one, this second one is pretty good. My favorite trilogy of hers was the circle trilogy...they are fighting vampires...that threw me into a whole new realm of books. I like romance, mystery, and horror. My ultime fav books are The Lord of the rings trilogy and weep no more my lady by MHC. I pretty much will read anyhting put in front of me exceot sci-fi. That stuff kinda bores me.

Sue~ Nora Roberts has somewhat racy scenes, but nothing like some of the smut out there.....wow I have had to actually put a book down it embarassed me...seriously.

Has anyone ever read any Anne Rice..now there is racy! I like vampire stories though.

BTW, those pork chops were AWESOME! I also made veggie hushpuppies. They were good too. My son devoured those Well I didn't get in cardio party today, but I will get up in the AM and do it along with ab jam. Talk to you all later!

[scrappychik]

Good morning
Just a quick hello before my workout. I'll check back after my shower

[sbaquera78]

Good morning. Guess I need to get my butt in gear and work out. I am taking my son to the library and park today. It is actually suppoesed to be nice out today. Hope it stays that way. You just never know around here. TGIF!

[ItsToni]

Hi ladies!

So glad to have the day off of work! Watched a movie this morning and now taking care of some phone calling.

B - 2 c. coffee w/splenda/half/half
- 1 fried egg with 1 slice fried bologna & swiss
- 1 t. coconut oil w/ 1 t. PB

L - Chef's salad w/turkey, egg, & cheese & ranch
- diet 7-up

D - Stuffed peppers
- green beans
- salad

My mom and I are having a yard sale next friday, so I need to do some "going through" things today and get the junk OUT!! lol

Enjoy ladies!

[seb]

Good morning ladies.

It looks like we'll finally have some sunshine in the Great Northwest! It was so cold at the ball game last night. I had many layers on and was still cold. Well, it froze last night, so no wonder it was so cold. I just want to sit in the sun and soak up some vitamin D!

Oh, I Agatha Christie books. We just got Murder on the Orient Express from Netflix, so hope we can find the time to watch it tonight.

Hope you all are having a great day. Lots of exercise going on here. My turn will come.

[scrappychik]

Toni~ I like reading classics too. There were so many we didn't read or enjoy in high school. I was a HUGE Stephen King fan too. I have alot of his books in storage, but I agree the later novels arent as good

Stacey~ Thanks for the info on Nora Roberts. I think Ill get one of hers on my next trip to the library I never read Anne Rice but I SAW Interview with the Vampire

Sue~ I LOVE Murder on the Orient Express! DS bought the DVD for me for Mother's Day last year And I read many of the Sherlock Holmes stories as a teen (my Dad is also a fan). I meant to ask, how is your foot? I know since the tummy issues developed it probably took a back seat, but wondered if it was any better.

[sbaquera78]

Hi ladies! I too love agatha christie! I am heading to the library soon and think I will get some to reread. OK this might be a dumb question, but I bought some drumsticks and was wondering how long and at what temp would I cook them? These are new for me What can I say...I buy what ever is on sale!

[ItsToni]

Drumsticks as in chicken legs? The last ones I did - I melted a stick of butter in a good sized baking dish (glass cake pan size). Put in some garlic powder, pepper and rosemary. Dredge the chicken around in the mixture, cover with foil and bake at 350 for about an hour - taking them out to turn them over when needed. After the meat is done (starts to fall of the bone a bit) - I stick them under the broiler to "crisp" them up. Careful though - the broiler will burn them quickly Before LC, I used to put them in the melted butter, pour teriakyi sauce over them and sprinkle sesame seeds over that. The t-sauce is too sugary for me now - but Sue had suggested mixing soy sauce with a bit of splenda, ginger and scallions - that sounds good I, too, buy the legs because they are always on mark down or around .99 per pound and we are never disappointed with them.

Oh, by the way - I noticed the gas sign yesterday - $3.81 - fortunately it's few and far in between that I put gas in my mini van, since I just work across the street from my house LOL I'm SOOO thankful!!!! On the other hand, DH works in the next town over. Too bad he couldn't car pool.

[seb]

It just took me 75.00 to fill up my van. The highest price around here is over 3.80, but I paid 3.76. Well, DH is a forward thinking person, and these high prices have been in our budget for a while.

Stacey, like Toni, I cook any bone-in chicken for at least an hour.

Lisa, with all the resting I've been doing, my foot seems to have healed itself.

[sbaquera78]

Thanks! That is about how long I cooked them last time, but these seem smaller. I don't know guess I'll keep checking them. Well we switched our day around. We did the park this morning and are going to be leaving for the library here in a minute, they are bringing in reptiles today...goodie. I hate snakes, but my son is very excited about it. Hope that they won't bring them too close to me. hahhah!

[ItsToni]

Yeah - just check the chicken, you'll be able to tell when it's finished - or use a food thermometer if you are "iffy". I find myself usually overcooking chicken - until it's falling off of the bone or it's really too dry - out of fear of food poisoning. Though, I'm getting better at trusting the thermometer and the chicken is much more flavorful and juicy!

Sounds like you have a nice children's dept. at your library. That's a real plus with little ones.

[sbaquera78]

OK, So i put some basil, oregano and mixed them with some mayo then spread it all over the chicken. It was so yummy and crispy. I had done one of those salt water baths over night. I think it makes the chicken so moist and flavorful.

Got as much done food wise as I could for the party tomorrow. I just have to cook a few things and decorate the cake....thank goodness it doesn't even tempt me. I hate cake...weird I know

I also did Turbo sculpt and ab jam tonight. I am doing a five mile jog in the AM with the hubby and son. Love my jogging stroller. The whole time my son yells...faster mommy! I then huff and puff and say....I can't go any faster It cracks me up.

BTW, we just got yoga for kids...what a blast. They do different "animal" positions and stuff. It is a pretty good work out for his age group. He just loved it

[scrappychik]

Good morning

Busy day ahead-cleaning out clutter for community yard/garage sale next week-UGH! I hate doing it, but I'll be so glad once it's done I already finished my workout this AM and had a protein shake for breakfast. I'll bbl...

[ItsToni]

Good Morning!

Stacey - you are really kicking butt with the exercise - nice job!! The chicken sounds wonderful!

Lisa - look at your as well! Great job on keeping with the exercise Proud of ya!

Sue - Hope you are feeling better too! Read a little in your journal - I didn't know about the bland diet thing - blah

B - 2 c. coffee w/splenda/half/half
- 1 t. PB w/ 1 t. coconut oil
- 1 fried egg with 1 slice fried bologna w 1 slice swiss cheese in butter (sounds like a heart attack waiting to happen! LOL)

L - Ham, swiss, mayo, romaine wraps (2)
- grilled zucchini halves
- cheese "crackers" with guacamole

D - Probably something on the grill since it's so nice and sunny today.

Jacob picked up a cold yesterday and is awful today He's really bummed because it's soccer saturday where they get their pictures and trophies and have a cookout. Doesn't it figure that he would have to miss the funnest soccer game of the season? Anyway, the in laws are driving in for a quick lunch so trying to clean up the last few things around here.

Happy Saturday all!

[sbaquera78]

Hi ladies! Well did my yoga sculpt this morning. I just got ready and need to do last minute things for the party this evening.

Toni~What kinda cheese crackers? BTW, thanks for the positive comment. They surely help
Lisa~our garage sale is the 31 of May. I know what you are going through