JUMP INTO JANUARY CHALLENGE 2013

[CarolynF]

Hi.

I got some beef merlot from Atkins to try. The chicken pie was wonderful...

I didn't broil it the first time, but took it out from the oven, put the stuff on it, then
broiled it, but down low in the middle of the oven..I wonder why the crust would absorb the sauce? Hmmm..

I was a taste tester for the new creamy peanut bars..Yes, you have to go very slowly to avoid distress..However, the Caramel Nut Chew Bar sounds pretty reasonable with the SAs..


Judy: Did you use all the water in the recipe???

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by CarolynF

Hi.
The chicken pie was wonderful...

Oh good - I'll try that. Thank you.

Originally Posted by CarolynF

I didn't broil it the first time, but took it out from the oven, put the stuff on it, then
broiled it, but down low in the middle of the oven..I wonder why the crust would absorb the sauce? Hmmm..

I was a taste tester for the new creamy peanut bars..Yes, you have to go very slowly to avoid distress..However, the Caramel Nut Chew Bar sounds pretty reasonable with the SAs..


Judy: Did you use all the water in the recipe???

Yes - maybe that is the problem?

[TuscanGirl]

Arrive Philip Goldson International Airport; transfer to Monkey Bay Wildlife
Sanctuary for settling in, orientation and night tour Belize Zoo.
 Staff introductions, campus walking tour, drive to Sibun River for swim if
time allows
 Dinner 6pm and begin orientation presentations on safety and security,
cultural awareness and sensitivity
 Night Tour, Belize Zoo (7-9PM) with Conservation lecture
 Return to Monkey Bay for overnight rest in student dorms, private
rooms for leaders
Accommodations: Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

[TuscanGirl]

DS20 made it to Belize!!

DD26 leaves tomorrow and I'll have an empty nest again!!
For about 8 hours when DS23's girlfriend arrives! She's on her way back to WI from her internship in New Orleans. She'll spend tomorrow night here and then go to DS's on Friday and her house after the weekend.

THEN I'll have an empty nest!

Maybe I'll finally clean my house.

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by TuscanGirl

Arrive Philip Goldson International Airport; transfer to Monkey Bay Wildlife
Sanctuary for settling in, orientation and night tour Belize Zoo.
 Staff introductions, campus walking tour, drive to Sibun River for swim if
time allows
 Dinner 6pm and begin orientation presentations on safety and security,
cultural awareness and sensitivity
 Night Tour, Belize Zoo (7-9PM) with Conservation lecture
 Return to Monkey Bay for overnight rest in student dorms, private
rooms for leaders
Accommodations: Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

Note: We enjoy monkeys here and name many things after the many monkeys available for viewing.

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by TuscanGirl

DS20 made it to Belize!!

DD26 leaves tomorrow and I'll have an empty nest again!!
For about 8 hours when DS23's girlfriend arrives! She's on her way back to WI from her internship in New Orleans. She'll spend tomorrow night here and then go to DS's on Friday and her house after the weekend.

THEN I'll have an empty nest!

Maybe I'll finally clean my house.

DD26 is so busy!! How fun for her stay with family here and there.
I DO NOT wish for your empty nest!!

As many times as I can, I get our kids to come over for one reason or another (usually there is food involved...).
Our DD32 came over after work (wooed by food) and my house is an absolute wreck of after-Christmas hangover. To me, it looks like we've had love and fun and an exchange of gifts which have not been listed for thank-you notes and should not be put away until they have been inventoried.

I will clean house later.
Not yet. I recommend the same for you!
And maybe an early bedtime.

[CarolynF]

Good morning ladies!!

I love monkeys watch out he doesn't bring one home.
MK, what's a clean house???

Tonight is the big day for Kansas State. I hope they play well tonight but of course all commentators like Oregon better. Party at friends' house tonight and their giant media room. I made a LC cheesecake with some Lite cherry topping.

Weight was 150.0. Where is the chisel???

[JMCM1]

Sounds like a fun evening you have planned.

Of all the things I've loved eating, cheesecake is really one of my favorites.
And I've made little, personal cheesecakes that are pretty good, but I need to go ahead and make a big one. I guess I need an event! Or a little more freezer space...

Hope you have fun tonight and get a big win!

[Buffy45]

Sitting in the chair at DDIL's salon, letting my color process. She is the BESTEST . Had a great visit, will head home when we finish here.

BBL

[TuscanGirl]

Morning! (kinda)

Judy - you're confusing all my kids! (Don't know why you can't keep my family straight!!)

Ahem, anyway, DD26 is mine and she is heading home to Aspen.
She'll be in a hotel in Hayes, KS tonight.

The girl coming here is DS23's girlfriend, Emily.
She's heading back to WI and is using us as a stopping point.
It's about 12.5 hours for that trip.
Then she goes to visit my DS23 tomorrow (her BF) in Milwaukee, which is about 4 hours from us.

Are you straight now?

Buffy - LOVED the pic of Ollie on FB! He's so cute!!

Carolyn - good luck tonight!!!

Now - back to trying to clean my house!

[sjl330]

Still fighting this cold. I might be a tad better today but nothing to shout about. They found out yesterday that the baby has RSV! Poor thing, he felt so bad on New Year's Day. I think the babies both keep sharing their colds, etc that they pick up at daycare with all of us. It's just very scary for him to have this being so young. He's not quite 4 months old yet.

[CarolynF]

Hi ...

Prayers for the little guy, Sandy..Yup, kids infect kids..Is he on special meds?

MKay has kids coming and going and wait until one of them gets married, there will be lots more activity..

Buffy: How nice to have a ddinlaw who is a beautician..My sisterinlaw is one, too..She does an excellent job, but lives in NH..

I have my purple sweater on trying to channel good vibes for the Cats..LOL..

For lunch today, I had the Broccoli Alfredo..pretty good..And dh enjoyed his egg breakie from Atkins, too..They are $3.48 a piece, so he won't be having that every day..LOL..

[TuscanGirl]

Sandy - Oh Dear - That's scary!! I'm glad they found out quickly and can get him treated!

Carolyn - are the Atkins meals in the freezer section?

[JMCM1]

Well I just feel like a durn fool!
I don't know why I couldn't get your family straight either, MK!
I am totally straightened out now and I even know Emily's name and by the way she's stopping by my house to straighten me out further.

My house will not be clean for a few days more (unless Emily wants to pick up a dust rag ). You may do all the cleaning you wish to your own home as long as you get to bed early enough!
Yes, the Atkins meals are in the freezer section.


Sandy I'm so sorry to hear about that sweet little baby with RSV. I hope they have gotten him feeling at least a little better.

Buffy get home and start posting funny things!
Um, I mean, I hope you had a great trip and I'm thrilled you got your hair done (really makes me happy these days - to get my hair done) but hurry right home and start posting funny things!

Go K State!

One further Atkins product review that is in my trash can: It's a bar labeled as a snack/light meal that was called caramel chocolate peanut nougat bar. No thank you protein powder flavor taste.

However the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar (quite a punch at 240 calories) is pretty good. I doubt I'd buy it unless I was desperate - it had a whisper of that weird protein bar taste, but overall finish taste was pretty good. I wouldn't eat it all in one day, but I bet I go looking for the little candy bars.

[CarolynF]

Hi gals..

I decided I'm not that picky and liked the chicken alfredo today..I added extra parmesan cheese for more flavor.. Tomorrow might be a beef day..LOL..

Yes, I want KSU to win so badly but those Ducks might be kinda tricky and steal the victory from us. Lots of peeps from our town went to the game..

[CarolynF]

Okay....I need some advice here..Have to make some fruit cups for a women's thing.
So, I was thinking of pink grapefruit (cut up), mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, sliced banana (put in the pineapple juice to keep from getting dark). For a little color I would put 1/2 of a cherry on the top. Does this sound like a good combo???

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by CarolynF

Okay....I need some advice here..Have to make some fruit cups for a women's thing.
So, I was thinking of pink grapefruit (cut up), mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, sliced banana (put in the pineapple juice to keep from getting dark). For a little color I would put 1/2 of a cherry on the top. Does this sound like a good combo???

That sounds delicious.

Every winter my mother would make a simple bowl of grapefruit & orange pieces, then in the morning would cut little bits of banana into each serving. Even just that is good, so if you are adding pineapple with a little cherry on top, it's a party!

[CarolynF]

LOL, Judy...I thought the cherry would make it a "party"...LOL..I was going to do my frozen fruit thingie, but my freezer is full of a turkey, 25 pounds of almond flour, and some Atkins meals...LOL

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by CarolynF

LOL, Judy...I thought the cherry would make it a "party"...LOL..I was going to do my frozen fruit thingie, but my freezer is full of a turkey, 25 pounds of almond flour, and some Atkins meals...LOL

You've pretty much described my freezer!

But I took out my turkey, which is really a whole chicken, and it's simmering in a big stockpot with a stick of butter & salt. Eventually I'll add some celery, carrots, onion & garlic and we'll have chicken soup - I'll have broth afterward.
I hope I haven't forgotten anything.

Hope you have fun tonight and a WIN!

[TuscanGirl]

Judy - what time should I be over for dinner?
Can I bring Emily???


And I'm glad you have my family straight - there WILL be a quiz!!

Carolyn - sounds delicious!!! Any blueberries???
Maybe some sliced almonds . . .
Now I'm hungry again . . . OH and toasted coconut!!

[DebbyL]

Hi y'all
Hope you're doing well, getting back on track & skipping the house-work
Busy-busy at work... so much it feels like "I don't know where to start"... one step at a time though. Feeling really "chilly" today, though the temperature is 10 degrees higher then yesterday. brrr...

DH is at the Mexico boarder right now, hopefully he'll manage all the red-tape successfully without me there to help. I'm the paper-work specialist of our home.

Whacked my hair off this morning. Need to "layer it next wash" that's how I cut my hair, in stages. I like it, but see that its definitely thinning. Going to have to find out what I can do about that...

Well, time to bite the bullet & go skiing. Shelby's driving me nuts!

See you later!

[TuscanGirl]

Hi Debby!!

Hope DH is having fun!

Have you tried Biotin? It's supposed to be good for hair.

[TuscanGirl]

All day field and lab hosted by Father Mitten,
 Depart Mbay after breakfast. 9am
 Mangroves of St John’s College (Fr. Mitten) specimen collection
 Visitation of Belize National Museum
 Pack lunch
 Visitation of Altun Ha, and guided tour of ancient Mayan Ruin with
onsite lecture
 Return to Monkey Bay for dinner and overnight
 Evening lecture on Mangrove and Lab and discussion of days activities

Accommodations: Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

[CindyCRNA]

Yeah, MK!! Everything he is doing sounds interesting!!

[JMCM1]

Originally Posted by TuscanGirl

All day field and lab hosted by Father Mitten,
 Depart Mbay after breakfast. 9am
 Mangroves of St John’s College (Fr. Mitten) specimen collection
 Visitation of Belize National Museum
 Pack lunch
 Visitation of Altun Ha, and guided tour of ancient Mayan Ruin with
onsite lecture
 Return to Monkey Bay for dinner and overnight
 Evening lecture on Mangrove and Lab and discussion of days activities

Accommodations: Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

*whew*
DS's trip/school is already wearing me out!
Are any of us going to talk about how cute Father Mittens' name is?
How many days is DS in Belize?

Debby that's a great picture!! Nice cut!
I still have my 8th grade haircut and I am scared to death to cut my own hair.

[CindyCRNA]

Originally Posted by TuscanGirl

Hi Debby!!

Hope DH is having fun!

Have you tried Biotin? It's supposed to be good for hair.

I take biotin. 5000 mg a day. I'm pretty sure it helps a lot.

[DebbyL]

Originally Posted by TuscanGirl

Hi Debby!!
Hope DH is having fun!
Have you tried Biotin? It's supposed to be good for hair.

My naturopath said it wouldn't help. Today, Dr Oz suggested Keranique hair regrowth. Online its a scam, but will look for it at drug-store. They just happened to have that on tv today.
Also touted "Virgin Red Palm Oil" as the new miracle oil. Very good show today (again).
Yes! DH is now in Mexico. They crossed the border no problems, now they need to register the bikes. Spanish is a problem though... ended up with a motel room with only 1 bed Fortunately its a big one! I talked to him on the phone, after confusing the poor receptionist... nobody spoke english there & my best line is "no ablo espaniol~"
Looks like DS is going to be busy!

Originally Posted by JMCM1

Debby that's a great picture!! Nice cut!
I still have my 8th grade haircut and I am scared to death to cut my own hair.

Thanks Judy,
I know what you mean. I've had basically the same hair-do since Lady Di gave me the idea! I was thinking about going to a hair-dresser to see what else they could suggest, but I just couldn't get past the $$ & how long it takes to get an appointment & also how long it takes them to do. I'm pretty fast! Maybe next time.

Originally Posted by CindyCRNA

I take biotin. 5000 mg a day. I'm pretty sure it helps a lot.

My naturopath said it wouldn't help. But maybe I should try it anyway.

[CindyCRNA]

Debby, I also do BHRT and that helps tremendously! But I don't know why your doc wouldn't think it would help. I think biotin has a pretty strong track history. Look at it this way. It is benign. Can't hurt, might help. I also take 30mg a day of Zinc as that can be a culprit. Here is an interesting website. I think I got a lot of info from them: Women’s Hair Loss Project | Help, Hope and Understanding

[DebbyL]

Thanks Cindy,
Pretty interesting. I do take zinc, noticed it suggested saw palmetto which I have on hand, will try that & biotin too. BHRT ? How would one go about getting that?

Originally Posted by CindyCRNA

Debby, I also do BHRT and that helps tremendously! But I don't know why your doc wouldn't think it would help. I think biotin has a pretty strong track history. Look at it this way. It is benign. Can't hurt, might help. I also take 30mg a day of Zinc as that can be a culprit. Here is an interesting website. I think I got a lot of info from them: Women’s Hair Loss Project | Help, Hope and Understanding

[JMCM1]

BHRT = bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
I got a prescription from the same doctor who is treating my thyroid.

I got both at the same time so it's hard for me to separate the advantages, but I felt quite jumpy at 1 grain of natural thyroid and she has (yesterday) reduced me to 1/2 grain. I don't think I had as many symptoms from thyroid as I did from needing hormones. Obviously it's all personal. I'm glad I'm getting treatment for both.

Carolyn sorry about last nights' outcome. The Ducks had such a strong beginning it would have been hard to overcome that. At least you had good food!