DEDICATED IN DECEMBER CHALLENGE

[Buffy45]

Ok??? Where the heck is everyone today? Did you all go on a cruise and didn't invite me? Was that the Christmas plan this year??? I keep peeking in here between toffee duties but nobody is on here today.

You are probably busy doing the rest of the things I need to be doing, like finishing up shopping, etc., etc., etc., etc.

Just finished 10 more lbs of tofee and have half of the order which has to be packaged by 5:30 ready. Now, have to make up 26 little 3 oz bags. Then off to the store to stock up, ran out of time yesterday so just made it to Kohl's but not the grocery store/walmart. Tin hunting as I am almost completely out.

[CarolynF]

Hi gals..

Glad Sandy's dad is going in on Monday..so he might be all better for Christmas..

Yikes, Buffy...BP med can make you woozy..Hope he pays attention..

We had a little excitement last night..10:30 dh and I heard a scraping noise and thought it might be Alex knocking something over..Dh went outside with a flashlight and saw a car upside down in our yard sort of smashed in..The man got out of the car and he was smashed, too..Running around yelling, "Call the police"..Then he got in another car and took off. So, dh came in and called the Sheriff..They came out..Did their thing and towed the car away..The man had come down the hill and hit our mailbox which is a big lead pipe one. He knocked it out of the ground so it is lying on the ground..It's fine, but the guys airbags went off and his Camry rolled a time or two and landed on the roof.

The Sheriff did their thing and found out who the car belonged to and wading through
the beer cans, etc..Gary will have to re-cement the mailbox in the ground on Saturday and the little red thing flag is missing..So, we might have made the paper..LOL..I think
the man is okay, but he was so drunk, he might not have known that he had a cracked rib or two.

[CarolynF]

P. S. I found the guy on Facebook..He is a friend of a gal at church..LOL..He has lots of tatoos and didn't have a very nice picture..So, I don't think I will befriend him..LOL

[CindyCRNA]

Oh, Lord, Sandy! Nothing like having a car wreck land in your front yard. Leaving at 3am with my horse trailer for Chicago to purchase a really nice mare that is showing in Dressage and Cross Country jumping. She is 7 and my gelding is 12 so I will be a 2-horse family again! I will post pics. She is a big, big girl. 8" taller than my gelding which is a lot!!

[DebbyL]

Hi
Sorry Buffy, I was working... Tried to go shopping too, but half the town's power was out for upgrades. Couldn't even get gas. Yes, the adrenals apparently control a lion's share of our endocrine system, so any tolerance I have can show itself in a multitude of ways. Today wasn't so bad, the glue smell only came up half the day. So, I feel a bit out of sorts with pressure in the temples.

Wow Carolyn, Sorry about your mailbox... funny that you looked him up on facebook you're just like me!

Yay Cindy a new horse for Christmas! How fun for you.

I'm with Buffy, Where'd everybody go!??

[sjl330]

We got the news today that my DGD14 has lupus. She goes to see yet another specialist on Monday to figure out her treatment plan. I really don't know how much more this poor little girl can take. She's really a trooper and rarely complains.

I had a lunch date with my oldest BFF and then met another friend for a drink and a visit late afternoon. It's such a blessing to have good friends close by to lean on. I'm so thankful for all my friends. Cyber and IRL!!

Carolyn, wow, what an exciting night! And how embarrassing for the drunk guy. I wonder if he remembers??

Buffy, you'll be ready for a post-holiday cruise by the time you get done making toffee! How long does the toffee keep after you make it? Is there anyway to make a supply ahead of time?

[Buffy45]

Ok, ok, you guys have had a lot going on, at least you didn't run off and join the circus without me

Wow Carolyn, that guy must have been drunk and could have been hurt bad, what a mess people can make of their lives, right? Yes, like you, I would have looked him up on the internet but no, don't think you want to befriend him Bet you will think of him often though when you go to collect your mail

Sandy, so sorry to hear DGD has lupus, wow, is there any cure yet for that? She sure is too young to have to deal with that. Wish her the very very best.

Cindy, Santa can't get your new horse in his sleigh I take it? You have to go pick up? Very exciting for you.

Debby, glad you are a little better today. I can finally say that the antibiotic is taking effect, still have sinus headache part of the time but not a blasting one all of the time. So, that is a relief.

The toffee will actually keep at least a month, I have never had any last longer than that, but, since I am selling it for a premium price, I try to get it to people just as freshly made as possible. What I had made the last 2 days is gone and what I made up today is for Friday, Sunday and Monday and then I am out again. I need to try to get some made Saturday. Cleaning ladies come tomorrow afternoon so I will take that time to run errands, try to finish my shopping and deliver one toffee order. DH is very good about delivering most of my orders. Sunday is Oliver's 2nd birthday so we will be on the road and back from Austin that day, he is having a party at his other Grandma's house in Austin. Have to get his gift wrapped tomorrow as well, that means put in a bag of course and stuff with tissue, like Carolyn said, thank heavens for those bags!!!

Didn't make it out today like I intended to and it is now dark and almost 7, going to just stay home and have a relaxing needed evening. One more week of this toffee insanity and then the week after Christmas is my relaxing time!!!

My cheat last night didn't seem to knock me out of ketosis and no cravings today, so thankful for that. About to eat an avocado and some brisket. Probably have a root beer float for dessert!

[CarolynF]

Hi gals..

Oh dear, Sandy..But, I know some adults who are doing very well with their lupus..Praying for your dgd and a good treatment plan..

Cindy: How fun for you...Can't wait to see your new big baby..I'm sure your teenage boy horse will enjoy her..Will they be boarded at the same place? Drive carefully...

Buffy: Glad you are better..Toffee insanity is right...Glad the cheat didn't knock you out..of ketosis..

I made some gingerbread/cream cheese tassies for a ladies party tonight..People loved them..They are good..and very easy to make..Anyone want the recipe? There is one gal who goes to the same LC doctor and she loved them..She has lost quite a bit of weight and looks wonderful.

[TuscanGirl]

Hi!

I'm still here.
Marathon shopping day with a friend and I bowed out of the Parish Council Christmas party.
I'd already been out 3 nights this week and
I just needed to stay home.
Only the Deacon texted me to find out where the wine was I was bringing!

Sandy - at least they know what's wrong with her! I know people who do really well once they have their diagnosis.
Poor DS!! Is it healing?
And your dad sounds like a trooper! Hopefully he'll be home for Christmas!

Buffy - you're a whirlwind!! And did I read that all your toffee money is paying to send us on a cruise?!
Thanks so much!




And yay on inching down!!!

Cindy - a new horse!!! I can't wait to see pictures!! Yay!

Carolyn - of course I want the recipe!!

I love reading about everything you all are baking!!

Too funny (kind of) about the guy on your lawn!!
He'll be feeling it later!

Judy - send me some brownies and I'll taste-test for you!

Debby - be careful on those skis!!

[DebbyL]

Wow, lupus in a child. Hope they figure out the treatment quickly & effectively!

Yes Mary Kay, I'm trying to be very careful skiing. It wasn't as slick today, a bit of a skiff of snow covering the ice, much better. The skiing definitely helped me feel better. Then I did my flex stuff & discovered the muscle-group that is my "weak area" Hokey Dina! I had to go down to the beginner level on those! Obviously the push-ups don't work on the upper arms. So, that will be my challenge, to strengthen those. I always knew I had no strength lifting things above my shoulders.

Picked out paint for my office cupboards, tomorrow we pick out the counter-top. DH's project he's been wanting to spruce up my office.

Have a good evening!

[CarolynF]

Good morning..

Debby: Pushups are very hard for me..I do the girl ones..LOL..and slowly. Be careful..
I used to ski as a kid in NH, but no place in KS..

I'll get that recipe this afternoon..Got my hair dye on and will leave for Aunt Leta's graveside service in a little while. It will be nice seeing our cousins, but it is a sad way to do it. The weather isn't too cold today, so that will make it nicer for visiting.

Have fun painting, Debby..Or is your dh going to do it???

Still a bit more shopping to do..I like to give all the kids (3) even amounts of gifts. So need to figure that out.

Have a great day everyone..

I was up a bit..This is like a seesaw..Haven't broken the 149 place to stay....Grumble.

[Buffy45]

Morning!
Still hovering in the 190 area. Still in ketosis even though I tested 6 different batches of toffee yesterday, somebody has to do it though! They are teeny little pieces.

Carolyn, maybe Santa will bring you the 140's to stay!!!

Yes, the recipe when you have time please. That is good to see another patient of your Dr. who has had good success.

Finally will get out to run errands today while cleaning ladies do their thing here. Have to deliver toffee to a friend who was going to meet me halfway, but, she has vertigo right now and can't drive. Poor thing, she had it so bad the other night, plus vomiting that she ended up in ER, then her BP was so high they sent her on to a bigger hospital. She will need to get things checked out now, which is good, she has been telling me for several months she hasn't felt well, has been putting on weight and kept asking me about our WOE but just didn't have the energy to get started on it.

[JMCM1]

Well I'm not sure what happened to me!

I was driving along in my Camry, sure, maybe a little faster than I should, and then out of NOWHERE somebody's rude mailbox post jumped out at me! I rolled my car, my airbag exploded... it was just a horrible evening.

My sister and I took my mother to visit her dear friend who is rehabbing from a broken arm. I took my mom last week (my mom is perfectly fine and could have driven herself, but we both enjoy the company and I am MUCH happier if one of us driving unless I hit Carolyn's mailbox). The friend is much better this week. Once you get in an institution, it's hard to gauge what day it is and how many cards you've gotten, which visitors have come and gone... she was fairly disoriented last time and this time she was 1000% better - so it was a great visit for both of them. She and my mother are very good friends, so this was good news for us.

My mother has written her friend nice long letters every day so her friend will have something a little different in the day.

Buffy I am about a half-inch away from requesting a business card and sending you postage to mail toffee to me! It is my very very very favorite candy. OK, I'm just going to simmer down for awhile.... I do not like hearing of your dh falling and hitting his head. What is it with guys and their not going to the doctor? We will just hope for the best and hope it is minor.

Sandy I am so so sorry to hear of the diagnosis for your dgd. It's so much for that family to handle. I will continue to pray for all of you and particularly for strength.

Debby if I were skiing on ice I would be CRYING (which I have actually done before! ).

MK IF ONLY I could have sent you a taste test!! The brownies were so good after they sat overnight. They are g-o-n-e......
And I agree Carolyn - the recipe would be so nice, thank you!

All aboard the Buffy Toffee Cruise!! I'm in.

Oh Cindy congrats on a new horse/member of the family.

[Buffy45]

I sent you a PM Judy, but are these Barbo's brownies you are talking about? I need to make up another batch of brownies and will try those to see how they compare to the last ones I made.

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by Buffy45

I sent you a PM Judy, but are these Barbo's brownies you are talking about? I need to make up another batch of brownies and will try those to see how they compare to the last ones I made.

Yes - they are Barbo's brownies.
I answered the PM.

[Buffy45]

Got it!

You be leaving Carolyn and Gary's mailbox alone now, ya hear?

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by Buffy45

You be leaving Carolyn and Gary's mailbox alone now, ya hear?

Hmm? What?
I'm sorry I don't know to what you are referring.
However I have been drinking... KIDDING! KIDDING!!

[Buffy45]

Originally Posted by JMCM1

Hmm? What?
I'm sorry I don't know to what you are referring.
However I have been drinking... KIDDING! KIDDING!!

[Buffy45]

The only cruise I have heard of, in regards to my toffee profits, is at my address. Right after Christmas, you arrive at my house, you "cruise" in and you begin to clean, clean, clean up the mess. Then you can "cruise" into one of the guest rooms to sleep it off, then we will "cruise" out the next morning to all have a great LC meal, then I will send you all packing!!!

BTW, my profit margin on my toffee is very high. DH asked me how much of what I was making went to the cost of the supplies? I smiled, SWEETLY of course, and said "Oh, I don't count that, that is part of the grocery, misc bills"

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by Buffy45

The only cruise I have heard of, in regards to my toffee profits, is at my address. Right after Christmas, you arrive at my house, you "cruise" in and you begin to clean, clean, clean up the mess. Then you can "cruise" into one of the guest rooms to sleep it off, then we will "cruise" out the next morning to all have a great LC meal, then I will send you all packing!!!

BTW, my profit margin on my toffee is very high. DH asked me how much of what I was making went to the cost of the supplies? I smiled, SWEETLY of course, and said "Oh, I don't count that, that is part of the grocery, misc bills"

HA HA! I was thinking of a different kind of "cruise"...... where we have waitstaff and such....

Buffy your accounting method is perfect! ALL profits!

[Buffy45]

Girls, chain me up! I was bad again, twice in one week. I don't know if it is because I am over tired, a little stressed, or, the fact that I got by with it once. It was raining out and after I got the 3 errands I had to do done, and since my cleaning ladies were at my house (I always try to stay away), I decided to go to a movie to relax, haven't gone in months. I chose Lincoln, partly b/c of reviews and partly b/c of when it was showing AND I got the smallest bag of movie popcorn they had and ate most of it! Funny, it was good but not as good as I thought it was going to be. That bag will do me for quite a while. I did make sure I ate it within one hour. Still in ketosis tonight and BS at 99 so I guess I dodged the bullet again, but this HAS TO STOP!

I thought Lincoln was good, not great. I liked the period clothing, furnishings, etc. but wow, it was S L O W. Could have cut at least an hour off of it.

[CarolynF]

Oh..Buffy..popcorn is my downfall..but good for you and your bloodsugar..

Anyone want to see The Hobbit? Some of our church friends went to the 12:15 a.m. showing..It was 160 minutes long..but Hobbit fans loved it.

Let me get that recipe for you all..

[CarolynF]

Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites
Gingerbread Cheesecake Bites...by another Carolyn

Cookie Dough:
2 cups almond flour
1/4 cup erythritol
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves (put in nutmeg cuz I didn't have ground cloves)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted (I did butter)
1 tbsp molasses
16 drops stevia extract (I did all Splenda)

Cheesecake Filling:
6 oz cream cheese, softened
3 tbsp powdered erythritol
1 tbsp whipping cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
15 drops stevia extract

Preheat oven to 350F and line 24 mini-muffin cups with paper liners.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, erythritol, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking soda, salt and xanthan gum. Stir in egg, coconut oil, molasses and stevia until dough begins to clump together.

Form by hand into approx 1-inch balls (this recipe made exactly 24 for me, so if you find you’ve made your balls too small or two big, go back and redistribute dough). Place dough balls in prepared mini-muffin cups.

Using the end of a wooden spoon, make a well in the center of each ball, pressing dough up against sides of prepared muffin cups.

For the filling, beat cream cheese in a medium bowl until smooth. Beat in powdered erythritol, cream, vanilla and stevia until fully combined. Place the mixture in a pastry bag with a large round tip, or in a ziploc bag with the corner cut off. Squeeze a few teaspoons of filling into the well of each cookie. (I didn't do the plastic bag, just took a small spoon and spooned it in the raw shell).

Bake 9 to 11 minutes, or until cookie edges are lightly brown and firm to the touch and filling is set. Remove and let cool.

[TuscanGirl]

Hi!

Judy - I was scared!! I didn't realize you were teasing Carolyn - I thought you were in an accident!!
And I meant the same 'cruise' that you did!
The kind with the buffet!

Buffy - I popcorn!! I like the mix of caramel, butter and cheese!

Carolyn - I'm going to see The Hobbit with DS20 only because he wants to - but I didn't realize it was over 2 hours! Yikes!

Debby - pushups aren't easy, but start slow - just 1 pushup. And do that for a while, then do 2. Shoulder presses help with strengthening those muscles too!

Shoulder Presses

[JMCM1]

Popcorn will surely be served in heaven, followed by toffee.... with no consequences.

Buffy if your bs was only 99 after that, again I think you dodged a bullet. I wonder if it is because movie popcorn is pretty oily - which should blunt the effect of the carbs?

MK and Debby I am pretty sure I cannot do one pushup.

Carolyn that recipe looks fantastic - thank you!

[Buffy45]

My badness this week has made me think a little. Some of what I have read on NK does talk about eating up to 50 carbs per day, if your body can handle them. I have kept them lower for fear of not losing but this makes me think that maybe I can raise my carbs as long as I keep testing and stay in ketosis. Of couse I feel I need to choose healthy carbs, more veggies, etc. Interesting.

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by Buffy45

My badness this week has made me think a little. Some of what I have read on NK does talk about eating up to 50 carbs per day, if your body can handle them. I have kept them lower for fear of not losing but this makes me think that maybe I can raise my carbs as long as I keep testing and stay in ketosis. Of couse I feel I need to choose healthy carbs, more veggies, etc. Interesting.

That is interesting. And you have been fully in ketosis. Plus you've kept your protein low.

I have had the odd glass of wine here and there and remained in ketosis. However I ran into Carolyn's mailbox.

[TuscanGirl]

Originally Posted by JMCM1

P

MK and Debby I am pretty sure I cannot do one pushup.

I bet you can!!
First do a plank and then hold it.

Keep holding . . . .






holding . . . .






I'm going to get some ice cream . . . be right back!

[Buffy45]

holding up ice cream counts!!!!! I'm in....

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by TuscanGirl

I bet you can!!
First do a plank and then hold it.

Keep holding . . . .






holding . . . .






I'm going to get some ice cream . . . be right back!

<--hey! does that count?

I remember why I don't exercise at home. My brat pug was very excited to see me get down on the floor and could not stop kissing me!
Exercise averted! Thank you pug!