Daring December

[Snoopy56]

Woke up late and it's Monday and cold, so just checking in and wishing all a great AF day.

[paulywogg]

Morning friends,Star I think it's just one of those Mondays,I woke up feeling super groggy and I just wanna go back to bed,waaah! Lav,what's the name of your probiotic? I was reading about them and it said certain strains raise histamine, I guess the cheaper ones really aren't even worth taking, Dill,I had TWD withdrawal last night need something to get me through, Cyn,hope you're not too frozen, Liz,I dunno why I was so sick with Brady, I also carried him super high,felt like he was in my throat haha,wishing us all a peaceful AF Monday

[treegirl]

Morning all -

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAV!!!! Is it really today? Wishing you a beautiful year to come! I keep meaning to ask how YB is doing after the surgery - I hope his checkup is good. How is your daughter's foot? I hope it healed enough so that she can negotiate the snow and ice, yikes!

Star, I hope your day is going well - it's hard on a cold Monday. I'm sure that you will enjoy coming in tonight and seeing all your festive things at home.

Liz, I love advent candles, and love the purple/pink colors. I used to be really serious about keeping advent right up to Christmas Day, and only then starting the Xmas carols and enjoying all 12 days of Christmas! It made the holiday very sweet to wait until the 25th. Good luck keeping your secret- not too long now!

Dill, are you doing any crafts? I am trying to finish a fancy knit scarf for my SD... but it's lace-weight yarn, size 3 needles, and a complicated pattern. What was I thinking!? If I promise it by the 12th day Xmas, I might get done... or maybe Presidents Day, or Valentines...

Pauly, so happy you are hanging in here. I love to hear your stories - so funny about your different pregnancies...

Off to try to get caught up before the holiday. Lav, we are off again on Monday - the revolving door continues - we are going for a 'obligation' birthday party for a friend next week. She's very generous, but it is not a time that I would pick to be away, and we will be the 'entertainment' for the trip, so it's more like a job. still, gratitude reigns.

Take care all, and stay warm and AF!

[treegirl]

X-post, Pauly! Take care!!

[Lavande]

Good evening friends!

Had a lovely but chilly birthday today, ha ha! At least it was clear & sunny

Hello to Star, hope your day went well.

Liz, I am hoping my DIL comes around but I am not holding my breath either. I think she is dealing with some serious depression judging by her sudden change in behavior. She tossed some very serious delusional type of accusations our way, strange.

Pauly, I liked Culturelle probiotic but am now taking Trunature (get it on Amazon). I also have YB taking it now. It has helped me quite a bit, settled my gut & I haven't had a cold in several years - how about that???

Cyn, thanks!
Christmas birthdays usually get lost in all the holiday festivities but my family knows that, ha ha!
YB's doc apt went well today & it happened to be right near where my daughter was seeing the orthopedic surgeon SO we met up afterwards & had a nice lunch
So you get to travel the day after Christmas - lucky girl, ha ha!!! I hope the weather is decent for you.

Hello to Dill!

Have a peaceful night everyone!
Lav

[Lizann]

Happy birthday Lav! Yes those birthdays around the holiday do get less attention. My oldest daughters is January 10. When I shop for her I buy and then split between Christmas and birthday! Anyway I hope you enjoyed your day.

[Snoopy56]

Good morning...

Happy Birthday Lav!!!! How nice to have a birthday lunch with your daughter and husband. Sorry to hear your DIL won't budge and wants to be right, what a waste of time. Hope your son puts his foot down so you can see your grandsons. What a mess for you and YB.

Pauly, it was one of those Mondays, so cold all day and I work double layers of everything. Better today by this afternoon and then I am off work till after New Year's and looking forward to a long lovely break!!!!!!!!!!

Cyn, busy as usual, enjoy your time till Christmas at home. It is fun to have plans, are you traveling far? We have no plans after Christmas, I plan on lots of exercise and maybe a detox, arthritis is bad with all the sugar I have been eating.

Dill know you are busy and probably hosting Christmas, lotsof work. Take time for yourself.

Hello to Lizann with her wonderful Christmas secret.

Have a great AF Tuesday.

[Lizann]

Happy Tuesday! Off for the next three days, despite getting called in last night. I told them if they really couldn't find anyone else I would come in. They are managing without me. It's crunch time and I have a long list if things to do. Hope we all have a great AF Tuesday!

[treegirl]

Happy birthday again, Lav! My brother's birthday is December 24th, poor guy. He really has gotten lost in the holidays many years, though through my childhood we would always go to an Italian restaurant for lunch on his birthday. My mother was the choir director at our church, and with an Episcopal church, there was always lots of amazing music she was responsible for. And my family always hosted the extended family for Christmas Day feast... how my Mom juggled all of that and got the stockings filled and hung is still a mystery to me!

Star, how nice that you will be able to take time off now! Your schedule sounds perfect! I always think that the week between Xmas and New Years is a magical time; I would like to be enjoying the fire and knitting, meditating and going 'deep.' This year it will not be possible... though maybe I'll be able to make time and escape all these people I don't know, and find a quiet corner! Enjoy your days...

How is everybody else? Liz - you must be extra excited this year; good luck with your you-know-what! Dill - how are you doing with your holiday prep? Corn casserole recipe below... Pauly, are you working too hard? I hope you are carving out some self-care time.

Wishing all a good AF Tuesday...

Corn Casserole:
2 eggs, beaten
1 8 oz. can cream of corn
1 8 oz. can corn
1 C sour cream
1/2 C melted butter (use olive oil instead)
1 box Jiffy Corn mix
Mix all together, bake at 350 for 20 - 30 minutes. Top with grated cheddar cheese and bake 5 - 10 minutes more. NOTE: I use all no-fat versions of the dairy and it still tastes great. (Though I can't eat it anymore -- too much dairy!) I also skip the grated cheese, and I never missed it. Be watchful - the dish can bake up faster than the time given, depending on your oven. I put it in a 9x12 Pyrex dish, and it fills it really full, but works. Enjoy if you decide to make this recipe!

[treegirl]

X-post, Liz! So happy that you didn't have to go into work!!

[paulywogg]

Morning friends, Cyn,a Christmas eve birthday would be awful, well maybe not certainly a great present for momsthough, Liz,you're just such a great person, I don't tell you that enough, are you buying stuff yet? As soon as I found out about Louie I started buying baby clothes, yellow or green and stashing them away,then diapers once a week so they'd have a ton when he was born, Star,enjoy your time off,I've been eating too much junk too,posted on steppers that I'm so bloated I changed 3 times!! However I'm waiting til after Christmas cuz it's only once a year anyways, Lav,glad you enjoyed your birthday and that the family members are healing where's Dill? Wishing us all a peaceful AF Tuesday

[SoCali]

Hi all - new to this thread but just had to hop in here and say that Corn Casserole recipe sounds AWESOME!!! I think I might have to make that!

Have a wonderful day all and Happy B-Day Lav!

Can't wait for the day when i know you all better - right now (in my only 22 days AF....) my brain is still fuzzy a bit and the memory isn't as good as it once was but I shall be around here for awhile so I'm sure I'll eventually learn about each of you!

Make it a great day - I am happily rolling along being AF. LIFE IS GOOD!

[Lizann]

Cyn, I will try that corn recipe! Sounds like a lot of calories, I'm glad you said you use the non fat versions!

Pauly, you are so sweet. I bought baby W. a favorite children's book of Erin's! Then there was this bib that Erin saw a while back and fell in love with. I snuck and bought it at the time and have been holding it ever since. I will give it to them on Christmas Eve.

Socali, I am newer to this thread too and it does take awhile to get to know everyone.

So I totally got my hubby hooked on hallmark Christmas movies. I caught him this afternoon with the tv tuned into one. Watching another tonight together. It's too funny really!

Have a good night.

[Lavande]

Good evening friends!

Still cold here but it was dry & sunny so no complaints

Liz, my husband, aka YB retired in June & he's been watching those movies too - how weird, ha ha!! He never ever watched them before.

Cyn, thanks for the recipe. I think I will make it using my favorite dairy substitutes & let you know how it goes. Sounds delish

Good to see you here Socali!
You are doing great on your quit & I am happy for you. Stick with us & enjoy a memorable AF holiday!

Pauly, don't eat your way thru the holidays, ha ha!!!
It really helps to include some high fiber foods. They will fill you up & stick with you so you can resist the urge to overeat.

Star, I hope you can get the arthritis under control before it settles in for the winter
Tomorrow is the winter solstice - yay!

Dill, hope you & your family are well.

I'm trying to get things done for Christmas but refuse to kill myself in the process. Age does have it's privileges, LOL
Have a peaceful night everyone!
Lav

[Snoopy56]

Good morning...

So wonderful to have SoCali here and Lizann, thanks for participating on our thread, the more the merrier.

Pauly, I agree, Christmas only comes once a year, and I want to enjoy, so I am!!!! Just found out two more guests for Christmas Day, and I am really happy about it! I am still going to exercise, and try to limit my portions, but I plan on enjoying this holiday, AF, with all the wonderful foods, music, lights, and family. Hope you are feeling well and strong in your quit, I am working on having other fun drinks besides booze. Like Arnold Palmers(lemonade and tea mix).

Lav, the arthritis is pretty bad in my left hand, the super cold weather kicked it up, it is warming up here, so hoping it is less severe. I noticed over the counter ibupropen is helpful. Are you busy with work or Christmas duties? I have to finalize my menu and go to the store again, then start planning how I am going to bake and cook. I have cookies someone sent in the mail, but I thought a Christmas cake would be fun too. I am making a Tiramusu recipe Friday night for Christmas Eve, very involved but very delicious too!

Cyn, that recipe looks wonderful, sounds like you have fun plans too. I am looking forward to busy time, then not so busy time after the holidays. I want 2017 to be a time of continued changes for the good.

Shoutout to Dill.

Have a wonderful AF humpday.