Pass it on...

So okay here's my idea for today.  I had such fun boxing up stuff to pass on why not have y'all do it too? Since we are all losing and are at different stages let's share those clothes that we can't wear any longer.  You can post here in the comments if you like what you have up for grabs, if you'll send it or want postage refunded, whatever.  Postage is cheaper than buying new, right?  Well maybe, because I did manage to spend almost one hundred bucks mailing my five boxes.  I got the nice boxes at the Walmart really cheap because I didn't have any but if you do all the better.  Ready, set, share!

Yesterday I also had my oncology appointment and also the dentist.  Both went fine, yay for that.  I have had a lump for a few months but she said it is not a malignancy, I actually have several of them, Dr. Wacks says they are fat cysts. How appealing does that sound?  Anyway I am good to go on the oncology for six months and three months for the dentist.

Today is canasta and poker tonight.  Then tomorrow mahjong and thursday canasta again.  Busy week.  Also it's supposed to get back into the 80's toward the end of the week so I am anxious to get in the pool again.  I hope that heater is fired up!

Have a lovely Tuesday y'all.  I sure know I will too!

Some Monday Bee Bandwagon thoughts...

So okay I've been thinking about something.  Why am I being successful with my weight loss this time when I have not been in the past.  I think I know the answer.  I am no longer eating the same things.  

Now wait, before you say well of course Bee, what I mean is I have changed my "taste" and I no longer like the fatty fried things.  I like the roasted low fat fresh things.  Why?  I think because I switched about everything I ate for a while and then my tastes changed over time.

For example I have no desire for a cookie at all.  The thought is even almost repulsive. If I want something sweet I either have fresh fruit or a low fat biscotti or frosting free low fat cake.  But mostly I eat just whole foods that I cook myself.  I rarely eat beef, mostly fish and chicken and turkey for protein.  Or very lean low sodium ham.  I use this to season green beans or cabbage, things like that.

I use almost no salt now because you get enough just eating normally without adding any.  I no longer LIKE salt to be prominent.  If I want french fries, which I sometimes do, I make my own in the oven with just spray and a tiny bit of salt and pepper.  Cook them on high heat until they brown nicely and they are absolutely delicious.  And if you want them a bit different add some onion to that tray and it will brown just like fried.

I still love tuna salad but I now love it with that low fat olive oil mayo instead of regular mayo.  Half the calories.  Lots of celery and pickles, a bit of mustard, done.  Make some lettuce wraps with it!

And don't think you can't have peanut butter either.  I have it several times a week.  I like it on a banana.  But I only eat one teaspoon.  Not a tablespoon.  I get the creamy kind, natural, and it spreads really nicely.

I love coffee and especially a latte.  I like 1% milk and fill the cup half full, put it in the microwave for one minute and then let the Keurig coffeemaker put in the coffee, it will be frothy and delicious.  Sweeten if you like.  This is a filling snack and the milk is good calcium.  A low fat biscotti with that and you'll never know it's only 150 calories!

Hope some of this helps you.  It is sure working for me!  Oh, and keep moving!

Sunday in my world....

Well I cleaned out one section of my closet.  Does anyone need either 1X or 2X ladies pants/shorts/capris?  I have two large lawn and leaf bags FULL, good condition, clean, some new.  Up for grabs ladies.  I'll wait one week before I take them to the Goodwill.  Navy, black, white, khaki, blue, purple.  Mostly knit pull-ons.  Mostly Coldwater Creek and Lands End.  My email is on the sidebar.

My closet is getting better and better y'all.  Soon it will be lovely!  I went from having no available hangers to a whole rack of them! ha ha ha  Does that mean I have to buy some more stuff?  Naw.  I have plenty.  

It's still cold, I know it's colder where you are probably but that's why I don't live there and why I do live here.  Cold is not my friend.

Don't know anything else today, been busy working in that pesky closet so I'll close and let you get on to reading more interesting blogs for now.  Have a great Sunday.  I will too.

Saturday in paradise...

Happy Ground Hog Day y'all.  Is that proper to say "happy" in front of it?  I have no clue but happy day anyway.  The little bugger sees his shadow in our neck of the woods.  That means six more weeks of something, don't remember just what.  But I'll enjoy six more weeks of it anyway.

So yesterday I went to publix and got some fruit and veggies, I didn't get to the fruit stand.  It was so windy you can't believe.  And I just had all my windows washed on Wednesday.  The wind blows salty air around near the coast if you are not familiar with that and they get all slimy and stuff.  Yucky.  Anyway they don't look like they were just washed any more.

I'm adjusting nicely to living in the condo with the new stuff.  I like the choices I made.  Would I do anything differently?  Maybe the fabric on the sofas, more pink and less "yellowy-green".  But I still like them and I'll be happy.  The two rugs are still not here yet.

I was thinking about something.  I know I do that too much, right?  Anyway I was thinking about how calories work.  And if eating at a certain time of day matters.  I heard that you shouldn't eat after 7:00 and stuff like that but it doesn't make any sense to me.  Calories are fuel.  Like gasoline in your car is fuel.  It doesn't matter what time you fill your tank with gasoline does it?  It's the same full whatever time.  I think it's the same with calories.

I also think you should drink water before bed though.  And eat something.  Just a small snack to hold you till morning.  If I don't I wake up hungry.  Then I can't go back to sleep until I drink water or eat something.  Or both.  So I try to have something at bedtime like a banana or cottage cheese or cereal.  Not more than 150 calories.

I was asked to give some ideas about bee bandwagon snacks.  Here are some of my favorites:  fruit, cereal, cottage cheese, 100 calorie snack bag (not my favorite), dried apple snack, yogurt, pretzels, popcorn.  Here is something I like.  Pop a bag of microwave popcorn and put it in a container with a good lid.  Add some pretzels, a few nuts, a few raisins, some cheerios, even some m&m's.  Then have a cup of this when you want a sweet/salty snack.  But don't pick out all the m&m's at one time! lol  And if you make a bunch of baggies of this stuff (which I do) it's better if you keep it in the freezer or it will get soggy and not crisp.

So that's it from paradise for today my friends.  Have a great Saturday.  I will too.

Wind, we have it...

So it's Friday, my day off and now it's also February as well.  It is my least favorite month, always seems to be cold and grey.  From the time I was a little girl I didn't like February.  I'm glad it's the shortest month!  But I do not want to wish away my life so I shall not wish away the month.  February shall be bright and sunny this year and we shall lose weight and eat healthy and have some fun. And smile at nothing at all, just for the fun of it!

So what shall I get into today?  There are still a few drawers that need cleaned out but I'm not sure I'm in the mood for that.  I want to go to the fruit stand for sure.  There is also a section of my closet that could use a thinning out too.  My shoes are too big now also.  Who knew that would happen?

Ever since I got back from the cruise I've been going to bed really early and waking up at like 4:00 am and that's not good now is it?  I try to stay awake at night but it's just not happening.  Soon it'll change I suppose and I'll get back into my normal midnight to 8:00 schedule.  

I think there's some sports thing on this weekend.  Of course I won't be watching it but I thought I'd let you know in case you missed the hype about it, whatever it is.  And if you like sports things.  Which I don't.  So this is sort of like a psa for you.

So that's all my brain knows.  Seems like I might have to up the fish oil a bit because I've be neigh on stupid lately...  have a great Friday, just like me!

Thursday stuff and other stuff...

So all the excitement is about wrapped up around here, the cruise is over, the apartment is almost finished, now it's time to settle down and finish my bee bandwagon weight loss and keep exercising.  I am stronger than I ever thought I'd be again.  I amazed myself walking on that ship, it's a big ship and I walked all over it all the time.  It's cooling down so swimming is going to be hit and miss but I do plan on walking any days I can't swim.

I'll go to the grocery store soon and try to come up with some new recipes for us to try. If you have any ideas or suggestions I'd love to hear them.  I've been eating cottage cheese and pineapple at night lately.  I get on kicks where I like something and then I get tired of it and go on to something else.  Like Greek yogurt.  I ate that every day for a while and now I don't want it at all.

So I got through the first year okay.  I am told it will be easier now.  Maybe it will but I'll always miss that special guy.  I have had two incidents recently where a man sort of made comments that could be taken as advances but I shut it down right away.  I have no interest in another man.  None.  At.  All.

I guess that's about all I know today y'all.  Hope your Thursday is totally tits.  And mine too...

Some more stuff...

The closeup of the chandelier.

It is pink and green but you really can't tell from the photo. 

The dining room table has a spot under the glass where you can put something.

They put this pretty plate there.

So I had a bit of a rough day yesterday, it was the one year anniversary of Sarge's becoming an angel.  I stayed busy all day but my heart wasn't in any of it.  I'll be better tomorrow, ok?

Almost finished...

Living Room

Den

Into the dining area

Entryway

Sorry about the boxes by the front door.

They are waiting to get mailed.

Near bedroom

Bedroom

Sorry about the pile of stuff on the chair below.

That was my desk when I was little and I did my homework on it.

Dressing area chair

A small bit more to follow but it's mostly done.

Jane is coming back to help me place things, she had done a bit of it while I was gone but we need to do some more.  Just little stuff left.

Do I love it all?  Yes with a capital YES.  There is also a bit more to show you like the bathrooms but I am waiting until we get the pictures hung.

The duck wants to know if there is anywhere in the entire apartment that he can sit down without his d*** falling off.  (his words, not mine)  I'm a very happy girl.

Have a wonderful Tuesday y'all.  I have canasta and poker so I'll be right busy!

Bloggers Cruise 6, a recap

The duck cleans up pretty nicely.

Old "what's his name", I mean Paul!

And yes that's me in the front row.

Don't know how I managed that but I did.

So okay suitcases unpacked and put away, laundry all done, groceries bought, slept 13 hours straight last night, the floor is still rocking.  I had an absolute blast people.  An absolute blast.  I loved the ship, the people, the shows (with one exception, did not like Diva's), the food, the pool, the lanai.  The lido flowed nicely and had some exceptional food items.  The fish tacos are my new favorite food.

But now it is very good to be home.  Today the drapes will be hung and some final touches done.  More photos to follow of that.  The bedroom too, I'll take those photos when those drapes are hung.

I gained 11 pounds but I know most of it is fluid, my ankles are swollen and I'll lose all of it soon.  I did fine without the scooter and was able to walk everywhere I wanted to go.  By the end of the day I will say my hips were hurting pretty bad but two advil fixed that and I slept so good.

But there's no place like home...

Home sweet home...

The drapes are going up today so I'll take another photo then.

Now they are some seriously pink lamps people! ha ha

Did you ever see a pink gingham desk chair?

And lamp shade?  Now you have!

And on that second shelf is a square dog calendar!

You have seen this before I think but I love it so much here it is again.

Last night I was in bed asleep at 5:00.  Did the cruise wear me out?  You bet it did but I wouldn't trade one second of it for sleep.  I was much too busy having fun.

Hope your brand new week is tits, mine too!