Apples2

Julie...happy you enjoyed your daycare day. I would most likely enjoy that too but just not EVERY day. Ppl that do it every day most certainly have something special about them (IF they treat the children with respect and pay attention to them...some good/some bad out there). OK...short explanation on steel cut oats: The diff is that the steel cut are just that. It's the inner kernal of the oat and it is cut not rolled and because of this process these oats have a lower glycemic index (causes less spikes in insulin and better for a person). Hey Laura...sounds like you had a busy day. Good to stay busy. Your sis most likely didn't even think ahead. Probably also reeling from the news today. Take care, check in when you can. Great...keep your A$$ off the ladders! I would not go in tomorrow for that cleaning session unless I knew it was something that was not going to put that (or both) knee at risk.

Is it a photo of a fire?

Could it be a daisy? A mum? A carnation?

Looks so much like a flower...it couldn't be that simple, could it?

Awww...you're so sneaky!:thumbup:

What was the clue with the famous lady? Just doesn't ring a bell.

Ok...I'll say just a piano

Piano man? Could it be piano keys?

Hey Diva....any more clues???????

Scroll up to the top of the page and hit "Home". Once that page is up, scroll down to different groups. There's a teens and also a 20's group. Hoping you can pull yourself up soon and get back on track. Try something new for your workouts to get you interested again. Might help. Good luck.

The kind of cornmeal much we made was out of the yellow cornmeal like corn bread is made out of. I am sure there are more calories. Nutritional info says 1oz or 3 tbls unprepared have 100 cals.

Dried roasted edamame and soynuts, beef jerky, SF jello with FF cool whip, melon, strawberrries, pickles, 100 cal pkg popcorn. Hope this helps!

Janet...I only put the little extra water in it if I am going to freeze it. Chopped, dried dates are also very good in it. Some morning I throw a little dried cherries or cranberries. Also throw a little handful of Kasdhi crunch in sometimes. Merry Christmas to Janet and her newfound breakfast! I was force fed oatmeal as a kid...hated it. (Another reason to spit behind the frig). When we were in FL last year I felt I needed more fiber in my diet and DH has to watch his colesterol. This little cafe at our resorts offers the steel cut homemade with brown sugar and raisins. I tried some of DH's and the rest is history. Growing up we also had cornmeal mush and cooked bulgar for breakfast. Liked those and also cream of wheat and Malt-O-Meal. But, don't think those are as healthy.

My heart aches for you, Laura. Always good to hold out for some hope and now reality is slapping you in the face. I guess it is now onto this next phase for you and your family. This simply just sucks. Not much I can say to take your hurt away except for that I am thinking of you and what you and your family are facing. Sending hugs.:willy_nilly:

Yup!:willy_nilly:

Hey Julie..you just go right ahead and do that daycare without me. I do enjoy holding babies, etc., and, I admire ppl that do daycare but it just wouldn't be the thing for me. Loved being home with my little ones but now its....give me an hour to hold them and take them back!:willy_nilly:

Jessica...didn't your lapband doc fill you in on what he expected for pre-op and post-of diet? Every doc is different in their plans. No sense being upset. Call you doc's office and tell them you want info...A.S.A.P. You need to be well-informed and they should be providing you with info and what you are to expect. I think all of us here had different plans post-op (pre-op too). I had a 14 day clear liquid diet pre-op but was allowed mushies the day after surgery. Most important thing is to follow what YOUR doc wants you to do. Make that call! Calm down and try to have a nice day.

And.......always a pan of rich, gooey bars or homemade sweet rolls when we got home from school topped off with a bowl of ice cream or 3-4 peices of peanut butter toast.

Bruce Almighty. Hey Laura...thanks for the update on Dad. We grew up the same way as you, Laura. Three squares a day and always at the same time and the plates were clean at the end of each meal. I remember my dad made us eat the fat on our pork chops and the skin on the chicken. Ish...when I was a little one, I used to hold it in my cheek till the meal was finished and sneak and spit it behind the frig! No wonder I had a weight problem!

Phyll...sorry but I forgot to answer your earlier question on size of steel cut oats. I can usually fine a box in our local market that is not too big. Has about 4 cups of oats in the box. I cannot for the life of me remember the brand name though. They usually have it on the end-caps at the store...not with the other oats. Julie...I used my regular ginger cookie recipe (the one I make gingerbread cookies out of.) I think gingersnaps would be too hard. As far as the sw condensed milk...yep, this time of year I use it quite a bit. Other times...not so much. Movies...I am so picky. Don't want to waste a couple of hours on something I won't enjoy so I really check them out first. I am a movie collector and cannot tell you how many I now own. Right now watching (well not really..listening) to Oh Brother, Where Art Thou...silly, zaney but a good movie. George Clooney...he makes my heart pound out of my chest.

Arlene...I don't line the pan for these. Just spray. I use the mini muffin pan. It's a 24 holer. Pampered Chef. Janet....I slowed down once....didn't like it

Arlene...I love that meatball recipe. It's in all the church cookbooks around here. Last night the meatballs were in the crockpot just plain. I thought that was a really good idea. Dipping sauce off to the side. Cheri...I've had those oreo balls and they are very good. Hope the kids cooperate and you are able ot have a house full for the dates that YOU chose. I never mind if my kids cannot make it on the day of Christmas....just so we are together at some point. It will be out in Atlanta this year with oldest DS flying in. Julie...got DH "warmed up" yet?????????????????? OK...made another batch of cookies this afternoon on the same order as the ones this morning. Made a batch of ginger cookies and was going to roll and decorate. Got interupted with having to go out and help DH. Decided after I got back in that I would take the easy way out. Rolled in small balls and threw them in the mini muffin pans again. Don't squish down...do it when they come out of the oven. I have a Pampered Chef wood stomper thing that fits perfectly for making little cups out of the rounded cookies. When cool, take out of pan. I use a knife to get them out and also spray good b/4 baking. In microwavable bowl: 1 can sweetened con milk 2 Tbls butter Let come to a boil in microwave and boil for 2 min. Add 1 bag white choc chips and 1 cup mini marshmallows. Add 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice and stir. I use a small little scoop to put the filling in the cups. The kind with the little thingy that swipes across. Got that???? After filled sprinkle just a dusting of ground nutmeg. These keep well in frig.

Hey Laura...you tell Nels that his GBH turned out better than this old farm lady could do it. He did a nice, neat job! He has the cutest pretty-boy face. Squeeze his cheeks for me! Hi Great...missed your post b/4. I vote waiting till after Christmas on the dress. So many David Bridals around...bet you could get it for cheaper after also.

I was working around here and all of a sudden my ears started burning! Ran for the computer and saw why. I have considered a cookbook and DH is always after me to do it. I was going to do it as a money raiser for our local National Guard unit a year ago but didn't get it done. Actually, did other volunteer jobs for them so was able to give back a little of what I reaped from others when my son was deployed. I have a secret though....I really don't like sharing my recipes. I know, I'm bad. You guys have GOTTA be very special to me in order for me to share. In real life, I have ppl ask me for the recipe for something. I usually just end up changing the subject somehow or say later and never do. I don't know why I am "protective" that way. Maybe it would be freeing to share them. Maybe I should go see a therapist and try to figure this out??????????? LOL. Hey Phyll...funny thing about you seeing the 3xcrock. I have one. I use it quite a bit during harvest when I have to be outside a lot. It's also great for side dishes for Thanksgiving, Christmas, bday parties, etc. Janet...I cook my oats just as the box says with water. I like to add the raisins while they are cooking but DH likes his chewy so I just put them on the table. I put maple syrup on mine and DH does milk. I do add a little more water than the box says though...because the moisture seems to get soaked up when freezing. I grab this for a snack sometimes b/4 bed. Deb...sorry you are having fill troubles. Hope you get some relief. Like Janet said, we are all different and need different # of fills to get to our sweet spot. Mine happened with 2 fills and got to my sweet spot. Sometimes I think what happens is that somehow things will get irritated and you have to baby the band for a few days to a week...especially after getting stuck bad. Good luck and let us know how you turn out. Sure like having you join our group...like reading your posts. Eva...nice compliment on the cookbook....as you see above, I'm a little stinker when it comes to sharing. Hey Meredith....hang in there on the finals, NYC, everything you have to do. I find that overwhelming feeling gets tougher the older I get. I am one to ALWAYS tear off more than I can chew. I have learned a little over the years. DH just shakes his head and watches. I think I learned it from him though. Good goin' on only being 50lbs from goal. Way to go! Post when you can. Good to hear you are reading all about us anyway. Have fun in NY! Let us know all about it when you get back. And, toes and fingers are crossed on your house deal.

Re-read my post...mini bars get pushed into cookie when right out of the oven...not b/4 baking. I was going to share how we make squash. I bake it for about 20 minutes on a cookie sheet. When cool, I cut into chunks and put into covered baking dish. I pour one can of Lite Carnation evaporated milk, a handful of Real Bacon (Hormel..yellow bag) and throw back into the oven for about 45 (longer depending how deep dish is). I use this same recipe for carrots and yams. Monin' Eva and Julie!