Merry Christmas!!!hope everyones season was Great!

had a very special season this year--not sure why but just felt the vibe all month.

We had our annual family ChrisChanukYule dinner gathering on the 20th with its usual chaos and joy--all the grandblessings fueled on christmas cookies and lattkes...

Good music, good food and great company with my family.

Yesterday, Patience and I made one PERFECT batch of fudge . The Season is complete!

Still looking forward to snow tubing sometime in the next week with all the gang. we started going tubing at Christmas when Ashley was 5 or 6 years old so this will be the 18th year!!!! ( really????) in all those years I think we only missed 3 times--either due to bad weather, or because we were living in Pennsylvania when I was in school!

one f my favorite things in the world!!1

Blessing everyone.

I just discovered a new cookie--the best cookie I have EVER tasted. if you see these puppies anywhere BUY THEM. here is a link to the web site: Aunt Minnie Beasley's Almond Lace Gourmet Cookies. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

We are in our last weekend of Love...Perfect...Change and it has been a completely sold out run!!!!

Every performance!!!!

color us proud!

Not that any readers of my blog live close enough that it matters--but my show is opening this Friday. We had our first Tech last night and it went really well... for a first tech!!!

I'm doing "I Love You, You're perfect, Now Change" a silly little romp through the ins and outs of, as it says in the promo material, " dating mating and living happily ever after..."

I's been a blast and my fellow cast mates are wonderful, talented folks.

Presented at the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder--26th and walnut Nov 6th through the 21st let me know if anyone needs a phone number for reservations!

since I haven't got anything fun to post about i decided to just "fun" up my blog.

Happy Halloween everybody

just a quick one--Big moment at Hobby Lobby.

I got to frame a signed one-of-a-kind PICASSO woodcut. worth upwards of 50,000 dollars.

I was hyperventilating!!!!!! My colleague took pictures on his phone--I'll post as soon as I can get them.

Sooooo...I'm not getting the house after all. The day before I was to sign the lease and they wer taking the house off the market, sombody else put a contract on it--that looks good . the owner really did wnat to sell it; though she was being very nice to work with me--she really did NEED to sell it if she could.

I was pretty torn up at first but now I'm okay with it. Seems like it just wasn't meant to be.

So, I changed my job search area--since I wouldn't be living part time an hour away from the Dome--and found my Dream Job 3 minutes from my house. I'm working as a framer at Hobby Lobby. Two days in--I LOVE IT. I had always thought this job would be a good fit, aaannnd...I was right! I love it. I get to be artsy helping people pick out matts and frames, and then craftsy assembling it all and getting to use POWER TOOLS! It's a very busy shop so there is some stress but I kinda like that too. And I love talking to absolute atrangers so... like I said--it's pretty much my dream job!

On other fronts--My White Santa Artdoll won third place in a national contest. (there is a link to my doll site over on the left if you haven't seen them) I was a little disappointed in only getting thrid but the dolls this year were incredible. You can see all the winners here: PROSCULPT ART DOLL CONTEST WINNERS

and now--"Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to work I go"

Here are the pictures Yeah--( I love the MAC!)

Isn't it cute ( though very blue!)

Kitchen pic number 1

Kitchen pic number 2

looking from the "Den" into the living Room

this room is where My baby grand piano will go

sunroom --behind the wall where the sink and open cupboards are.

and the itty bitty bathroom--notice the tiny claw foot tub!

I think the whole bathroom is the size of my jacuzzi tub in the Dome! LOL

so not pictured are the bedroom and the living room.. the bedroom is a nice size with a big walk in closet.

The Attic is very large and could potentially be a place to add a room--or maybe even two up there, if you could find the space to put in some stairs.

this house is a Sears Kit house built in 1910 for the workers in the food packing factories in the town. 8 people would live here!!!!!! There is still a chicken coop standing in the back and the barn/shed which housed horses!

I am so in love!

I'm buying a house!!!!

I've been looking/ thinking about buying an investment property for a number of years now and just happened to stumble on the perfect house. I am NOT in a position to buy anything actually: having no job and really lousy credit--but this little place really spoke to me so I was able to work out a deal with the owner ( we really liked each other--she is an artist as well) where I'm doing a rent to own deal while I get my finances in order and then will finalize the purchase in a year.

I wasn't able to figure out how to get the pictures off the listing web site to my computer to here (I hate my PC)--but here is a link to:

My Cute little Victorian house!

The house is in Longmont--about an hour north of Denver! I am working with a theatre company up there so it will make it easier to stay there when I have a late night.

Lots of work to be done on the yard and the house need painting deparately--Both becouse it's flaking and because of the color! ( bright blue is not my favorite house color!) But, the inside is darling!

What an adventure!

Food

happy to report that the food garden is doing very well, than you very much ! I picked over a quart of raspberries this morning--and will have at least that many tomorrow or the next day. And tons more just coming along. Too bad we love to eat them fresh so much, that quart will be GONE by this evening--I would have to be the fruit nazi to save up enough to make Jam!

I had 5 meals of broccoli and more today as well. The zucchini has baby fruits--so another couple of days for fresh zucchini. The corn is over my head and the pumpkins are vine-ing. A few baby tomatoes are starting to show up--though the tomatoes got hammered by a serious hail storm a bit ago and that really set them back. the other plants didn't seem to be as damaged as the tomatoes were.

two new things that I tried-- rutabagas and eggplant. the rutabagas look good but the eggplant: not so much, and the peppers don't look great either. I wonder if it is Ph or if we jsut haven't had enough really hot days--it has been seriously cold a LOT this year. the rain has been great ( for the plants and our water bill!LOL) but I could do without the overcast cold days.

Other big news--I'm trying to buy a house--as an investment property. Its a cute, tiny victorian in a small town not far outside Denver. I've been wanting to get into real estate investing for a while and when I saw this property I knew it was the one I wanted to start with. Not the best time for me, for Seymour and for the economy I know, but I really felt the push on this one. ALOT has to happen to make it work but I'm trying to put it together

I am delighted to be able to report that I have ( finally) gotten a show. YEAH!! I'll be doing " I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" with an " unpaid professional" company in Boulder.

This represents a pretty radical change in the focus of my Acting "career" from trying to earn my living as an "ACTOR" ( deep stentorian tones) and just acting for the love of it. Since I haven't worked AT ALL in over 2 years, this is actually progress.

I'm thrilled.

Skin Care

I had the coolest thing happen recently. I'm getting some major skin care in exchange for giving acting lessons! how cool is that?

Here is how it happened: ( back story--one of my new years' "resolutions" was to get something done to improve my skin -- to do some research, get some of those free evaluations that you see advertised and actually find a way to really address some aging issues--I don't like the way my skin has been looking lately and there are things that can be done--short of surgery--to improve it soooo.....)

It all started when Ashley gave me a Spa finder's gift certificate for Mother's day and I decided to use it to get a facial.

so I found a nice looking spa near my home and was very drawn to the aesthetician's (sp?) bio and services so made an appointment.

I LOVED the gal--and we had a ton in common ( she's LDS, her daughter wants to be an actress , her mom is a lot like me...) which was really nice to start with so..
I , of course, (given the back story) asked her advice on what I could/should do and her recommendation was to get a series of facials, one a week for 6 weeks (with microdermabrasion, and LED light treatment and etc etc) at $150 a pop. WELL

There is no way I could afford that, so we were talking about different options and how to make it affordable, and, long story short ( or shorter anyway LOL) I am trading a series of 12 acting classes for her daughter for a series of facials. I'm so STOKED!

I've had two and my skin already looks better--some of the age spots are fading and there is a nice smoothness and brightness that was missing. I don't automatically go "Unnnph.. I look so OLD" when I accidentally see myself in a mirror!!!! Just think after SIX in a row how BEE-utiful I will be!!!

new recipes

I put up a few more recipes on the Sinfully Sugarfree site. Cookies mostly, but they are pretty yummy!

I have several auditions coming up as well. Finally gave up my union status so these are for less exalted theatre companies, but at least I may get some creative satisfaction. Its been over two years since I did a show. That's too long.

wish me luck.

mishmosh of stuff

okay okay I know it's time to update--but my life right now pretty much bores ME so I can't think anybody really is interested, but:

still struggling to solve the " why I can't lose weight problem" since the hormone thing I tried didn't' work ( I gained it all back on a very low carb diet) and I'm pretty sure it also messed with my metabolism since my body temp went down to 96.8 in the DAY TIME . Got that fixed with some T3 protocol and have started drifting slowly lower-hallelujah. Have given up all grains completely and cut out all sweeteners except splenda. Crossing my fingers. Have an appointment soon with my practitioner to learn results of latest thyroid tests so maybe some answers there.

Most of my time lately has been spent in the garden--or the jungle. Pretty much fence to fence waist high weeds everywhere--(the playground area is completely submerged, and I thought that was mulched and finished, but NOOOOO)-- except the area I tamed last year and even that isn't as maintenance free as I had hoped. . Its pretty frustrating. and Seymour isn't much help as he thinks the weeds look fine. I need an army to help me get it under control...Especially as I threw my back out planting some fruit trees--they need BI-IG holes--and have been out of commission for a few days.

The vegetables are in and looking pretty good-- I do have the watering on timers so I don't have to keep track of that--that helps a TON! I got the flower pots done up by the entrance--window boxes and etc but still need to get the upper pond going--this is the latest I think I have ever been getting that done--( the new pond and stream has been up and running for awhile --pun intended! )

ah well --in the eternal scheme of things it doesn't really matter much does it!

I can't believe it's been nearly 3 weeks since I updated! bad me!!!

I HAVE been blogging, however--just not HERE!!

I finally created two sites that I have been threatening to put up for..well...years now! Once I realized that Blogger would work as an acceptable format, it made it much easier to actually accomplish--I'd been procrastinating cause creating a site seemed too daunting to me.

The first is Sinfully SugarFree which is a collection of the Low carb dessert recipes I've been creating over the past 10 years. This is DEFINITELY a work in progress, but I'm trying to add content everyday. I have over 150 recipes , but many of them still need tweaking. or formatting and there is also a lot of info/content that I want to add--but I try to work on it a bit everyday.

I thought maybe putting it out there would motivatie me to keep plugging away on it--since I know people might be looking at it!!!! LOL

Eventually I'm hoping to get sponsors on there of some of the products and sites I recommend-- and also to print a hard copy for sale. That's all in the future--for now I would love any feedback you all have--what you had questions about, content or articles you would like to see, and how you like it so far. There is a permanant link in the sidebar. (I'm not ready to actually have it OUT out there, it needs more content and recipes before I do that, so I haven't circulated it to some of the wider low carb sites that I frequent--this is just for you guys in my inner circle)

The second site is for my dolls here Relief Cheney Dolls I wanted to get it up before I sent in my contest application so I could put in a link.

So that's what I've been doing/ am doing/ will be doing.

SO....Ashley and her husband Scott were here for a week. --They arrived last Friday and left early this morning. we had such a great visit. it was so much more relaxed than the last time they were here--when they were headed back to finish their Iraq tour. this time they are headed to Wash DC area-not to a combat zone!!!. we had a wonderful time.

They arrived in 70 degree weather--went to the zoo in shorts...and left this morning in parkas and boots with a foot of snow on the ground. AHHHH Colorado.

We had family dinners, went out for great food., did Mani's and Pedi's with just " the girls" did a little shopping and a lot of just hangin' out. they look so good and I'm so glad they are back safe.

they will spend a week in Cincinnati with Scott's family then head back to Hawaii till July when they move to DC.

Love you guys.

Today is my last day on the hormone protocol for this round at least. 2 more days of Very low calorie eating to let the hormone get out of my system and then back to a low carb-no sugar no starches diet.

I'm please with the total though it isn't as earth shattering as I had hoped. I lost only 6 pounds on the scale--BUT I lost FOUR INCHES off my waist and FOUR INCHES off my hips. went from a size 12 to a six. even my 6 petites fit well. I was oping to get all the way down into my size fours but will keep plugging away. I'll take a 3 week break from the hormone at least, and then decide. If lifting and lowcarbing keep my weight coming off--even slowly, I'll probably just keep that up and try to avoid another round of HCG. it was hard work--and everyone got tired of me being on it and not eating ( and talking about it all the time!!LOL)

So, I'm finally ready to explain what I have been doing to lose some fat. If you look at the little weight loss list in the left column you will see that I have lost nearly 5 pounds over the past 2 weeks. previously I lost about 5 pounds over 2 MONTHS, so this is an improvement! I have also, over those same 2 weeks, lost over 2 inches off my waist and 3 inches off my hips.--which is nearly 2 sizes--I can wear some of my size 6 pants ( not the fours yet --but it's coming!)

**Big Caveat**
The following procedure is very controversial. I absolutely am not recommending this for everyone. period. I think it is a last resort for people who, for whatever reason, have found that a good controlled carb diet plus exercise has not been effective--like menopausal ladies or hormonally challenged folks, like me!

okay, that said:

I am using what is called the HCG protocol pioneered by a Dr. Simeon in the 60's and 70's, and recently brought to light and prominence by Kevin Trudeau ( whom I do not like BTW) in his book "Cures they don't want you to know about"

Basically the protocol is:
daily--take minute amounts of the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin--(which is the pregnancy hormone; the one they test for in a pregnancy test) while following an extremely limited 500 calorie a day diet--no fat or carb just lean protein and low carb veggies plus 2 fruits.

The hormone gets into your fat stores and releases them, flooding your blood with fuel, so that you can stay at 500 calories without hunger.

people SAFELY lose up to 2 pounds a day. I have been averaging about a half pound a day.

you stay on this protocol for only 23 days then transition to a very low carb diet for several weeks then repeat the protocol if you have more weight to lose.

The hormone is administered by injection ( unless you have a Doctor's precscription it must be bought from overseas--which is expensive and illegal-- though a bunch of people are doing it)or by homeopathic drops, which is what I'm doing. THERE ARE NO REPORTED NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS FROM DOING THIS PROTOCOL!!! not even for men. and there are many incredible benefits. the theory is that it resets your hypothalamus and actually makes your body work BETTER after a course of treatment.

I am very, very happy with the results--though both Seymour and I were very skeptical to begin with--but I will say that it most emphatically has not been easy. at all.

I experienced a LOT of hunger the first few days, which was almost overwhelming. Once I finally figured out the right dosage, things have gotten easier. But, for the protocol to work, you absolutely cannot cheat. NOTHING out of the plan can pass your lips or a gain is very likely instead of a loss. Something to do with how the hormone effects your fat stores. again I would only recommend this to someone who has tried everything else to lose weight and can't seem to get it to budge. ( OPRAH?)

I any of this intrigues you I would recommend reading "Pounds and Inches , a new approach to obesity" by Dr Simeon, here --which basically explains it all. ( this link takes you to a site that sells the "stuff" . The manuscript link is at the top right corner of the homepage.--it's a download)



Please don't flood me with comments implying criticism--I researched this VERY thoroughly before I chose to do it, and it was the right choice for me. I am sharing this in case someone who reads this blog might find it useful.

Also, I'd be happy to answer any well meant questions, if you are genuinely interested in learning about this.

Colorado prairie Santa

This one is called " Gettin' ready to ride"


I made this Santa in honor of my Colorado home. I actually saw a real live Cowboy Santa a number of years ago at a kids activity and it was the inspiration for this guy. I wanted a real cowboy being Santa, not Santa dressed up as a cowboy. Every thing was handmade by me! I made the saddle from raw leather. The hat is leather as are the boots. The shearling jacket is suede and real lambs fur. ( I shaved it down to make it the right depth for the scale. ) you can see in the picture that he has a hand tooled leather belt, studs on his jeans and pearled brass buttons on his shirt. He is about 14 1/2 inches tall.

One of the things I try to achieve in my figures is to capture a moment, and tell a little story. I want them to be beautiful but they have to be much more that a figure just standing there looking pretty. I think I really succeeded with this one!

Here is a little clip from a comedian on Conan that Seymour and I really liked.

the Title is " Everything is Amazing; Nobody's Happy " about how spoiled and ungrateful we all have become in the face of all our technology. very funny--but thought provoking as well. Hope you like it.


It wouldn't let me embed it so you just have to follow the link sorry!

The White Santa

Here are the pictures of my latest Santa. The title is "Checking it Twice"

I'm pretty proud of the dolly and the sled, all hand made of course. ( actually I'm pretty proud of the whole thing!) The only thing I didn't make myself is the sleigh. I bought that ( in a basic form) from Hobby Lobby; the embellishments, though, are mine.

Santa is about 13 1/2 inches tall, just for scale reference

A New Start

today is the first day of my new diet protocol. I'm not going to reveal here to the world exactly what I'm doing as it is fairly controversial and I don't need any judgment!!!

But I do want to keep a good journal of how it is going.

If it works ( and I have about 95% confidence that it will) I will reveal all!

any way... start weight this morning is 134

measurements: ( telling all here!) Bust 37.5 waist 30.5 hips 41 about a size 10/12

I will return and report!

I have to post this--it made me laugh so hard!

If you love words and language you will LOVE this post.

SO... my scale died and I had to get a new one--and this one is showing my weight a full two pounds higher. I tested the new one with a 10 pound barbel and it was right on the money. sigh means that my old one was wrong. it doesn't negate the loss--but it does mean that I started out much higher even than I thought!!!!!! Well.

I am not happy at all with the rate I'm losing and I eating so low and resricted for so little benefit is very uncool.

I'm back to my "normal" Low carb eating plan so no gain, no loss

I have a new trick up my sleeve that I will be starting next week. I'm not going to reveal anything here until I have been on the new plan a while and it starts to work.

watch this space!

Ashley is in Hawaii!!! AAAaannndd--She'll be here the 20th of March for a week!

dOin' thE HaPPy DanCe!!!!


Weight today 131.5. It sure is going down slowly! Seems to be going down about 1 pound a week.

on other fronts: I organized my snack cupboard--the one where we keep our nuts and crackers etc-- with nice seal-able plastic containers ( heavy ones from costso) We had developed a serious weevil problem. It looks very nice and should fix the bug issue as well.

I also am within a few days of finishing an Art doll ( the white Santa I posted photos of sometime back) the setting is just about done . I will post some pictures soon. another HaPpY DaNcE!

I just finished a great weights workout and I feel so good. I love the way I feel after a session. It is so good to move your body and work hard.

I heard from Ashley yesterday. She called from Kuwait--which means she is out of Iraq and on her way home. ( and Scott too) They expect to be in Hawaii by the 19th . oh soo wonderful!!!

She and Scott will be here for a visit at the end of March. who is coming to see them?

Friday Friday

I have been taking a bit of a break from blogging--'cause I've been playing HOURS of Scrabble online with Reni and Ginger. I LOVE scrabble. but have to stop and do something else. Like the dishes!

reporting in on my eat all you want weekend. Not a good idea. weight went up 3 pounds ( water only, I know) and stayed there 'til Thursday. I am down 1/2 pound this morning from my former low weight, but that set back is not good for morale!

The main culprit was the popcorn I ate at the movie on Saturday . I took Calvin out for his 9th Birthday-- a tradition that I do for all the kids here. I decided that from now on I'm going to take them to live theatre instead of a movie--they are finally old enough to enjoy that and there is the further benefit of no popcorn temptation!

Even though I seem to have to keep my calories very low to lose, I cannot sustain 800 cals a day. after 2 days I feel so deprived, I get a bit frantic looking for food, and then tend to over-do it. sooo....

I'm experimenting now with an intermittent cycle: one day of very low--800 or less with no added fat--and then a day with more diversity allowed--a low carb treat or cream in my tea etc. So far it seems better. On the very low days, if there is some food I think I really want, I tell myself I can have it tomorrow. And then I do! Even on the higher calorie days I've been able to stay under 1200 which is still pretty low. Now I feel less deprived so iIt will be more sustainable over the long haul. I'm really hoping to be back in my size 4 clothes by the end of April.

I always keep my carbs low. ( except for movie popcorn. LOL )I've been doing this so long that THAT part is easy.

I just got an email form Ashley--she'll be back in Hawaii probably by the 20th of this month.

Hurray!!!!!!

weight: 132.5 that's 7.5 pounds lost since Jan 1st. this is GOOD

I'm going to have a real "Eat a LOT of Fat " day on Sunday. I really miss cheese.

No change in weight this morning--to be expected I think after the flurry over the past few days!

However I did indulge a bit yesterday--I had 3 squares of real chocolate--75% cocoa--only 3 carbs total and maybe 75 calories--but also added a tablespoon of cream to my tea ( we were on a date to a coffee shop where one of our favorite groups "Sharife" was playing; they do middle Eastern music--very nice, hence the treat) also had a couple of the tiny bread sticks that are allowed on my plan. Again minimal carbs and calories, but then it all starts to add up, doesn't it? So maybe that did it--or maybe my body just taking a little rest and regrouping today. Whatever it is, I'll be back to very strict again today anyway.

I seem to be extremely sensitive to both extra carbs and extra calories , though, ( not just from this experience, but cumulatively over the past several years) so I do need to be very strict to lose.

weight today: 133.5!!!!

This is awesome! It took two months to gain the weight and it looks like maybe I can lose it in about the same amount of time. this is HUGE! last year I gained five pounds over the holidays and it took me 6 months to lose it.

food yesterday: 800 kcals 99 grams protein, 22 carbs.

B: hot tea ( no cream) protein shake

s: 4 frozen strawberries, slightly thawed and mashed with splenda and 1 Tablespoon milk

L 3 oz steak, green beans, coleslaw ( my coleslaw dressing is vinegar, horseradish and splenda--no mayo)

D: chicken breast, brussel sprouts, marinated cucumbers, 4 cherry tomatoes.

snack: apple microwaved with splenda and cinnamon. so YUMMY! Caffix beverage (Like postum)with 1/2 T cream

I did lower body weights yesterday AND my sculpting studio in FINALLY cleaned and organized from moving it this fall so I got to start working on my dolls again yesterday. I do love it so much!

Getting Real

Info Alert:

there was a fabulous post this Morning on Marks Daily Apple ( one of my favorite health blogs)

You have any questions about my health/eating philosophy?--its all there!

Fabulous Friday

weight: 134.5

I decided on Wednesday to try cutting calories severely and see what would happen. When I tried this before I got my thyroid checked and medicated it did nothing, so this was something of a test.

If low carb+low calorie didn't shift anything then I could be pretty sure there was a hormonal issue somewhere that would need attention.--but only 2 days of cutting back on the cheese and I'm down aapound to pound an a half! I was prepared to try for a week before giving it up but this is very heartening.

So the plan now is to stay with this for 2 weeks. then cycle up to a normal calorie load and then cycle back down if I still have weight to lose.

Eating plan:
Breakfast is a protein shake ( from Costco; yummy)30 gram protein, 2 carbs. 180 cals

Lunch and dinner are 3-4 oz of meat or fish and up two 2 cups veggies or salad. no added oil or butter--lemon juice or vinegar only.

3 snacks:- snack can be a portion of fruit--half a dozen berries or half an apple or orange--or five almonds or pecans. with some tea or water or coffee.

As much calorie free drink as you want water tea etc.--splenda is allowed.

this comes in at around 600 calories--maybe as high as 800. The idea is once you force your body to access the fat deposits, ( only possible if insulin is kept low with limited carbs)you don't feel hunger.

very restrictive , but there is a kind of freedom in not having to make too many decisions or choices. and two weeks shouldn't cause any major muscle loss or metabolic slowdown.

the biggest sacrifices for me are not having cream in my tea and having no cheese. I can do it for a while though.

I'm changing my weight training schedule as well. Once a week, while perfectly effective, isn't as much fun--I do love lifting. so I'm going to a Mon/Wed/ Fri schedule alternating upper and lower body. That gives about 5 days for recovery between body parts and lets me lift more often. HIIT on Tues/Thurs and weekends off.

Caleb sorry about this taking me so long  here is a link to the recipe on about.com:  Lemon bars

this recipe is exactly the same as the one we always used.  i've got some recipes for things to do with meyers lemons that I'll get to you later.  Got to take Lennon to school right now.

Wacky Wednesday

I'm not happy.

weight is up ( 136 for second day)  not DOWN.

I swear I haven't been cheating at all.   And I'm not overeating calorie wise either.  sucks.

do not know what to do.

last time I just waited and kept on with eating plan,  I was stalled for over 5 months. Then I found out about the thyroid and got on meds.  but my meds are fine.

don't know whether to get hormones tested again and go back on Bioidenticals or try something else.

I was hoping the iodine supplement would help as there is a bunch of literature indicating that it can but, so far anyway, no real shift.

Monday monday

weight today 135.5

over the weekend I moved the weight cage up to the top floor to its new home ( thanks Pace and Stacey! ) it was a
lot of work so I didn't do a weight routine yesterday as scheduled--I will do it today.

B: hot tea, Lo carb strawberry shortcake ( it was so GOOD!) 4 carbs

L: protein shake 1/2 oz almonds 3 carbs

snack: 8 cheese " crackers", Seymour's homemade Baba Ghanoush and a diet root beer.
( the crackers are american cheese split into quarters and microwaved for about a minute on parchment baking paper. crisp and good and about 1 carb for 8 of 'em!) 2 carbs

D:chicken w green chili sour cream and cheese sauce. stir fried cauli-rice ( no rice just finely chopped cauliflower it's yummy) green beans and cherry tomatoes. 10 carbs

strawberries and cream w splenda for dessert and maybe a bit of hot cocoa later. 5 carbs

I did my weights today--added weight in all exercises--yeay me!

start weight Jan 1: 140

Today Jan. 25: 135.5 I actually reach this weight on the 15th but then---

On Seth's birthday we all went bowling and I confess to 3 very small pieces of pizza and a half glass of beer. I gained back up to 137 and stayed there for 4 days. Then on Friday I had Bailey and Lennon and fixed Kraft Mac and cheese for them.

I ate half of it.

silly me. again went up to 137 but was back to 135 this morning. so.
NO MORE CHEATS. I just cannot do it!

I have added several supplements to my plan. I take an iodine supplement now--started that on the 11th. I take my thyroid , of course, and also an adrenal support supplement ( has a bunch of herbs in it) plus Potassium, magnesium, 1,000mgs vitamin C, Chromium, 7,000mgs of Vitamin D3, DHEA and Cod liver oil too.

food today:
Breakfast: hot tea and two lemon " scones" 4 carbs.
lunch: chocolate protein shake and a frankfurter w/ sugar free Ketchup--45 gram protein, 4 carbs
snack: 1 oz almonds, 1 piece sugar free coconut candy --3 carbs
snack 2: tea, cinnamon scone 2 carbs
dinner: chicken thigh, tossed salad w/ walnut oil dressing strawberry shortcake. ( lo-carb scone, homemade strawberry freezer jam. whipped cream)

total 25 gram carb, 80 grams protein

It's a whole New Year

As I mentioned in an earlier post--I managed to gain 15 pounds from Nov 1 to Jan 1. while I was away from home all those weeks--in Utah and Oregon--I did not follow my low carb eating plan and it had serious consequences!!! And as a post menopausal, hypothyroid woman--losing it is going to be daunting.

So here is the plan:

I am eating a VERY basic induction style low carb plan. 30 or less carbs ( subtracting fiber) per day.

For fitness I subscribe to the primal blueprint rules set out by Mark Sisson ( see his blog link in the list to the left--Mark's Daily Apple) i.e. Move around a lot slowly. Lift some heavy things. run really fast occasionally.

Hence I have committed to a weight lifting program:
Once a week on Sundays an intense session ala the book "Slow Burn" ( by Fred Hahn and the Eades's--check the links on the left)
this is a great plan as it takes about 30 min, one set only of each exercise and3-4 reps at super slow speed--ie 10 seconds up and 10 seconds down--to muscle failure. it kicks your a$$!!!!

I am doing a program of sprints twice a week. go as fast as you can for as long as you can go up to 30 seconds. then rest till you can breath again. then repeat for up to 8 sets. currently I stair climb ( its right handy there in the house!) when I started I could only go up and down 3 times before I had to stop. yesterday I did seven ! I can only do about 4 sets before I'm exhausted.

the ultimate plan is to work up to doing these as Tabata Sprints: 20 seconds on as fast as you can, then 10 seconds rest and repeat 8 times. Takes four minutes total. but what a workout!

you can do these sprints with anything--running, biking, stationary bike, jump rope --even pull ups or jumping jacks.

Then everyday that I don't weight lift or sprint I go for a walk or use the rowing machine or our stationary bike in a leisurely manner for a half hour or so.

I'll be reporting my stats and success ( or failure) here as a bit of accountability.

4,3,2,1

Okay I'm bored with this--it's taken me too long to get through it and the pictures are all still hiding on Seymour's computer.

4 is all the nice Christmas music--I love the more classical stuff-- King's Singer's, Ancient old English carols. the only contemporary album/artist that i like is the Carpenter's Christmas Portrait. and MAYBE Bing Crosby. Sometimes. There is a fabulous classical Christmas music station on XM digital radio that we get with our satellite system. Love it.

3 movie premiers On Christmas day Seymour and I, Seth and my sister Stacey went out to Breakfast to the Jewish Deli Restaurant, Zaidy's (One of the few that was open) and had a great time. then we all went to THREE movies. we saw Benjamin Button--which we all loved, The Day the Earth Stood Still in IMAX, which was fun--but it's a pretty lousy movie. and Slumdog Millionaire--which everybody but ME loved. (I acknowledge that it is a well made movie--it just didn't do it for me--too much torture of children in it.) It was a fun way to spend the day since our big family celebration was still to come.

2: number of days I spent sick as a dog. some kind of stomach bug. kind of took some of the fun out of the holiday for me!!!!

1 TA DA--The family party. on the 28th--which happened to be the last day of Hanukkah--we
had all the kids and grandkids over for Roast beef and Latkes, Candle lighting and gift exchange.
6 grandkids opening presents is always pretty crazy--they are so cute. Then the adults do a round robin type exchange-which is always too polite for my taste--nobody steals much, which is what leads to the most laughter--which IMO is the point!!

We did all have fun.

somehow the holidays this year seemed to go on and on and --for the first tiime in my life--I was glad to have them done. I still haven't' com;completely recovered!!! LOL

5 people Tubing

For the past 16 years ( Ashley was 6 years old the first time we went) One of our most cherished traditions has been going tubing at the Christmas season..
At first-- up until just a few seasons ago, it was our Christmas Day activity. after opening presents, we would drive up to Winter Park--about a 2 hour drive from Denver, through spectacular scenery--to the
Frasier Tubing Hill. You rent a tube for an hour ( which is all the fun you can stand!) and there is a lift that drags you back up the hill. Over the years we have only missed about 3 years--once or twice because of snow storms and once we just were not in the area when I was in
Grad School. but we try very hard to go every year.

In recent years we have had to move the day we go around to better accommodate everyone--this year we went on Dec 24th--Christmas Eve day. Patience, Calvin, Rigel, Seymour and I went this year. Next year Bailey and Lennon will be able to go. ( Kids can ride with someone at age 3 and have their own tube at age 7) And we are working very hard on Seymour's kids to get them to start coming with us.
It is an absolute BLAST!!!


I'm pretty sure this is Calvin on the slope.
























and this is Rigel ready to go








and this is Seymour



I tried to get some pictures of the Scenery on our ride home and this was the best of the lot. though it doesn't really do it justice. It was like driving through a Christmas Card.

This is my FAVORITE holiday tradition

6 Hanukkah menorahs

We do indeed light six menorahs--at least for our big Hanukkah family celebration-- one for each of the grand kids that lives here to light.
(alas I have no Pictures as yet. they are all on Seymour's camera in Raw form--which won't work on this computer so he's got to process them before I can post them--but I wanted to get on with this!!!!)
I love the Hanukkah celebration and have been enchanted to add it to my holiday. The ritual of lighting th candles-with the Hebrew prayer is very moving--adn then you have all the candles. Very beautiful.

I will talk more in a later post and hopefully have a picture to add to this one soon.

7 :christmas movies

the movies I watched this year:
It's a Wonderful life--3 times
White Christmas--3 times
Miracle on 34th street the new one--twice
Miracle on 34th street the old one--twice
A Christmas Story -just once!
Love Actually
Little Women
A Christmas Carol--the one with Alistair Sims
The Muppets Christmas Carol
Scrooged
AAAAND....
my number one favorite:
Scrooge--the musical with Albert Finney
so I guess i should have put this at the 11 spot!

8:Perfect Fudge

You've all gotten a lot of fudge pictures this year. And here is another!!! I started scooping a tiny bit early but the later pieces are perfect. and so was the taste and texture. This will probably be my last year making it--I made it for Ashley--next year she can make her own

I just eat it. And I gained 15 pounds over the hols this year. Gotta stop

for those of you who wanted it here is our recipe. It is basically just the recipe from Hershey's cocoa, with slight variations at the end.

Rich Cocoa Fudge

Ingredients:

• 3 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Line 8-or 9-inch square pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan. Butter foil.

2. Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in heavy 4-quart saucepan; stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to full rolling boil. Boil, without stirring, until mixture reaches 234°F --(IMPORTANT--we do it to 232 only!) on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water, forms a VERY soft ball which flattens when removed from water. (Bulb of candy thermometer should not rest on bottom of saucepan.)

3. Remove from heat. pour onto a large platter on which the butter butter and vanilla has been previously place. DO NOT STIR. Cool at room temperature to 110°F (lukewarm). Beat with a wooden spoon until fudge thickens and just begins to lose some of its gloss. Quickly scoop with a teaspoon onto waxed paper. It helps if you have two people to do this. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature. About 36 pieces or 1-3/4 pounds.

NOTE: For best results, do not double this recipe.

9 :christmas cookies

making and decorating Christmas cookies Started for me when I was a small child and continued through my children --and now to theirs. As you can imagine--there was fierce competition among my artistic children ( and me) to make the most beautiful, clever or silly cookies. Caleb usually won. he made the CRAZIEST cookies !

Ashley demanded I send a large package to her. These are not them. (I didn't take any pictures of mine this year, though they were very beautiful if I do say so myself LOL) This picture is courtesy of Dr. Mary Dan Eades ( co-author of my favorite low carb books)--posted last year on her blog. close enough to mine to make no never mind and be decorative on the blog!!!

10: English Toffee

My Mom always made English Toffee at Christmas. she would make one batch and hide it in a high cupboard and each day for about a week or so we would each get to pick ONE piece! It was soooo good!


Way to create an overwhelming desire for something Mom! lol.

She never had one recipe but was always looking for the perfect one.
The one I used this year was very very good. and I sent it ALL to Ashley and Scott.( well, mostly all!!)

English Toffee

2 cups sugar
1/3 cup water

combine this in a large heavy sauce pan. bring to a boil stirring till sugar is melted and then boil till syrup reaches about 260 degrees.

add 2 cups of butter (4 sticks, cut into one inch pieces) a few pieces at a time stirring till melted and incorporated.

cook at a nice rolling boil till syrup is a rich brown--about the color of a brown paper bag--and the cold water test yields very crunchy, tender strings of candy. I can't give you an accurate temp, but it is over 300. the look and texture in water is a better test of done-ness. IMO

pour the candy out onto a buttered cookie sheet and let cool. Melt milk chocolate and spread over surface then cover with chopped nuts of choice. I like pecans the best.

I usually only do one side of the candy with chocolate and nuts. it doesn't need both sides, but you can if you want. crack the finished candy into pieces by hitting it with something heavy-ish like an Ice cream scoop or knife handle and you are done.

11 New Decorations

AT LEAST Eleven!!! I got tired of my tree theme. It"s been the same for over 20 years. gold and white with touches of mauve and purple: very elegant, very Victorian and covered with a TON of babies breath. I really liked it but it seemed time for a change, And I had a bunch of cute whimsical tree decorations that I had accumulated but never used ( cause they weren't gold or white or mauve or Victorian! LOL)

So enter the new tree theme. Santas ( mostly) with a touch of contemporary whimsy. bright lime green and red balls. It's really fun!
















I collected Santas from every Place we went in Oregon!

It became the theme of the tirp and I had to buy an extra bag to get all my new treasures home.

I have animal Santas and ship's captain Santas and naked Santas


this little guy is holding a banner that reads, "When you stop Believing in Santa--you get underwear for Christmas!"

there is still lots of room for more on the tree so I expect I'll be adding them for a few years.