Well today I have gotten very little accomplished. It seemed as though I couldn't get moving. I did go to the flea market. I tried have been hearing so much about LulaRoe leggings and someone was selling them at the flea market so I tried them on. Well I already thought they were overpriced because I think they are about $25 and I don't care how soft they are they are leggings! I get mine for $4 at WalMart. Anyway, I tried a pair on to see what the rage is all about. Oh my gosh y'all!!! As I pulled them on, I pulled a small hole in the leg of them. The woman said well that's never happened before. What else would you say! I wasn't pulling that hard! They didn't fit well either. They bunched up at the knees and I wouldn't have wanted them any tighter. I wondered how a pair of stretchy pants can fit people a size range of 0-12 or 10-20. Then the woman still tries to get me to try a dress. Really!!!! Sorry if you like LulaRoe but they aren't for me! I think WalMart is has come out with some a sueded version that cost a little more that is supposed to be more like theirs. I don't even think I will try them unless they are warmer.

I spent more money at the flea market than I planned to spend. I found some good deals on some things for me that I liked, and a couple of small gifts for people for whom I didn't need gifts. I could use them as last minute gifts but they are kind of unusual and I don't think many people would like them. They are handmade lavender scented sachets made with essential oils. I got them for a steal. Essential oils are becoming more popular but do people use sachets anymore? I got some for my mom and a friend who I know uses essential oils and of course myself. The friends with whom I went to the flea market bought very little and I made up for what their lack of spending. The flea market is usually only once a month but will be held again Thanksgiving weekend due to Christmas coming. I also have a special Christmas shopping opportunity at church next week. So many opportunities - so little time, money, and gift giving opportunities! I did remember someone else for whom I need to get a gift but I will probably just give her and her kids a gift card because she's a single mom with 3 year twins and she is without a job. I can trust her to use it wisely. Unfortunately she does smoke but hey, I over ate for most of my life so I can't say anything.

Sometimes I wish I didn't make any Christmas decisions until after Thanksgiving because I still find stuff that I want to buy and I already have gifts. I like (ok love) to shop. Last night, I purchased a birthday gift online for a friend whose birthday is next September. I will probably give it to her before then because it will be hard to wait that long and I think she will like it. It was only $10. It's not uncommon for her to give me something every time she sees me so whether it's a hand me down blouse or a small something she bought for me because she thought I would like it. I am also going to order part of her Christmas gift for next year this year because I have already bought all of her Christmas for this year. I actually gave her part of her Christmas for this year today. I didn't know if I would see her again before December 1st and I wanted her to have it to enjoy during the month of December because it's a Christmas decoration.

I haven't put up a Christmas tree in probably 10 years for many reasons - I had a cat and I didn't want her to destroy it, I was in major depression and didn't want to deal with it, and my house was a major mess. This year my house is clean and I don't have a cat so I bought a simple 6' tree. As much as I am against decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving, I think I may go ahead and put it up when I get a chance which may be Thanksgiving day. I get busy with work and I may not have a chance to put it up if I don't do it by Thanksgiving. I am looking forward to having a tree again.

By the way, if anyone else is like me and doesn't know the names of sugar alcohols the common names that I found are Erythritol, Maltitol, Hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, Isomalt, Lactitol, Mannitol, Sorbitol, and Xylitol.

Good night friends!

Hello! Sorry I dropped out for a bit. I've been feeling under the weather, but I'm much better after a weekend spent doing things with friends. Friday, a new friend and I spent the afternoon on one of the islands, walking around the grounds of an old estate that is now open to the public. So lovely! On Sat I went to a yarn/knitting show with a couple of girlfriends. I enjoy knitting and these yarns and notions were so luxurious and soft and beautiful, but a lot of it was way out of my budget. Still, it was nice to look and I did buy a cowel kit (yarn and pattern) and a skein of clearance yarn. After that we had lunch then headed to the NW Chocolate Festival. Oh, my goodness! It was a chocolate lover's dream come true! I ate sooo much chocolate!!! I was sick of chocolate!!! We each brought ziploc baggies so once we were full of chocolate we could still bring home samples (which I gave to my hubby who really enjoyed them over 2 days-- smart). Then yesterday we had another couple over for dinner and we played a game and talked so everything's good. However, I had a major headache almost all of Sunday. I took some ibuprofen and then it was much more tolerable. I'm pretty sure it was either all the chocolate or all the sugar from Saturday, since I gave up eating both for weeks for that very reason.

Anyway, I'm feeling better today and I want to get out and go on a good walk, maybe by the beach today.

@2020pinktogo -- Sounds like you made out like a bandit with those boots! Naturalizers are nice and comfy. I am the Christmas decorator in our household. Hubby likes looking at the tree but if it was up to him he wouldn't bother. I do all of that. Yikes! I wish I had some words of wisdom for you, but I don't.

@blitzbis -- OMG- what a terrible thing for your coworker to deal with! Glad she and her son found a way of working it out. Like you, I hope he is sincere. I do some Christmas shopping during the year and I try to keep track of it on a spreadsheet, but I do most of it after Thanksgiving. It's traditional in my family to hand out (figuratively) your Gift Wish List at that time.

@1skholloway -- Goodness! What an ordeal you've gone through! I also try to stay away from all sweeteners, real and artificial. I find that my tummy is happier and my anxiety is kept in check when I do. I hope you're able to feel better and get off the medications. Thanks for sharing the names of the sugar alcohols. Isn't it amazing how the companies play "hide and seek" with some of their ingredients? I'm gluten intolerant and I had to learn some of the secret names for gluten, like "modified food starch".

I hope you all have a good week!

So there is one woman at work who is a bully. there is no other word for her. I thought by this age the bully's would be gone but Nope the only good thought is she plans on retiring in 5 years. So I just have to deal with her for 5 years. Yesterday when she kept sending jabs my way i didn't respond. I'm hoping she will just get tired of it and take me off her radar.

My workplace has a Thanksgiving meal as well...actually, three! I attended the first one and did okay avoiding most of the tempting items. Today there is a lunch with parents and an after school "dinner" with staff. I plan to skip both saying I have lots of things to do. Why they would have both in one day I don't know! Plus, in case we haven't overindulged enough they are setting up a "dessert bar" for our planning time. It's like they want overweight teachers.

OK I had the scare of my life thurs night I was the late person in so I got the crappy parking spot. Some days just go that way. Well when it was time to leave I noticed someone at the side of the building but didn't take much heed of it till he started to follow me to my car. I was literally running to my car him making tracks behind me and my boss comes out and she is screaming and running right behind us. I don't know how I got into my car locked the door seconds before that guy was on me and as my boss was still running and screaming he took off. I throw on my lights and she comes up and goes ok I have never come out of this building and ever been so scared for anyone as I was just for you. I was shaking and I said me too. So I guess the next day the officers and the tech guys pulled it up on video and were like Holy crap. the other head tellers were teasing I heard you made Pat run last night but when they saw it made both of us shake thinking about it they stopped the razzing. I actually heard Sean say to them if the other officers hear you it won't be pretty the video would scare any of you.

So anyway I survived this week. I am hoping for a very dull week next week.
By the way it's starting to snow here.

Glad to see everyone is doing so well. I need to start logging again as I put on a few lbs but I'm not eating and i need to get all the 1200 calories. My husband noted this and stated you ate 2 power bars a banana and 16 potato chips and went to bed. If you aren't going to log your food then I will start to make you dinners you may not eat chips for dinner anymore. What can I say I kind of got into the come home eat a few chips and go to bed routine. Not looking to see what I need calorie or health wise is making for one soon to be unhealthy camper.

@blitzbis congrats on the loss! @2020pinktogo 'so glad you are safe!

I needed to work Thursday evening and I was tired so I didn't go to the gym. I am having trouble of getting back in to the swing of working out and making the most healthy eating choices. I am maintaining so I'm doing ok.

I am going to takes Tuesday off work so I will miss our Thanksgiving lunch. I have an appointment that afternoon and can get a few other things done that day. I have one vacation day left and I need to use it this week because we are getting new software in my department and we can't work this again until the 29th. It will be hectic until mid-late January after that. The software was supposed to read Nov. 1 and we weren't supposed to be starting on it during our busy season.

I have decided I am going to tell Mom that I will take broccoli or a green salad to the family Thanksgiving. I will probably be the only person to eat either one. That's ok. If I took cheese sauce for broccoli, someone else might eat it. I don't need cheese sauce and don't usually eat it so I don't think I am going to be concerned with taking any if I choose to take that. I found a good sale on broccoli today. I would have bought more but didn't know if I had room in my freezer.

I cooked a turkey breast in the crock pot today. It tasted good but for the price, I will be sticking to chicken in the future. I got about 18 oz of meat or 6 servings for a $10 piece of meat. I also had to deal with the skin and bones. The taste is different but not better. I think I really wanted thinly sliced deli meat anyway.

@2020pinktogo I had to get back on online because I just remembered that Nov 23, 2015 was our start date for this group. Congratulations on our anniversary. Thank you, KrisM111, wherever you are!

Yeah since the incident it's been rough I have gotten into a funk that I can't explain but the depression i feel is unbelievable. Of course as my daughter suffers from depression and I have been better at hiding it as well as my mother and others in my family it's like why can't I just let this go and move on. I need to get dressed and get moving I overslept this morning good thing hubby had off and woke me.

@2020pinktogo -- sheesh! I hope this dinner goes well.

I had a nice Thanksgiving. I cooked all day; made an apple pie from scratch! and made wild rice stuffing. We pretty much snacked all day, then had our turkey dinner. I did have football on all day, too. :-)

I'm still a little dizzy. I may have Benign Positional Vertigo. The dr. gave me some movements to do and basically, I need to take it easy until it goes away.

Hope you all have a good weekend!

My husband goes WTH I didn't even ask your parents permission to marry you. I can count on one hand how many times I have been there it doesn't mean I don't like them. I just don't like to eat and run which when you work 3rd shift always happens. Then he goes WTH do they have to say to us that they can't say in a card. LOL I only wish I knew

I am trying the essential oils the peppermint for my migraines. I'm on medication which I take daily but I'm having more of them as I have a problem with exhaust fumes. I don't want to say to them at work hey could I not work in drive thru it's making me sicker than a dog. I can understand why the others moved positions after being there just a short period of time.

@1skholloway I haven't been on because of migraines or I would have answered you sooner. Visit your mom during the year when no one else is there and as you have no real closeness to your family and they make you depressed go some place that brings you joy for the holidays. I know that sounds callous but sometimes you just have to put yourself first. I'm sure you have friends who either don't have family or whose family is far away and you can start having your own get togethers. It doesn't have to involve gift exchanges it can just involve getting together for a good meal or even just go and serve others at a soup kitchen. It'll feel better to serve others and you may meet others who will truly deserve your company. Put yourself first and just say to your family I won't be there this year I made plans maybe next year. Next year comes around just repeat. You send them out Xmas cards be friendly but don't be the dog that keeps getting kicked. They can't say anything if you're always there during the year helping your mom which you are. I hope you are feeling better.

I know the pain of an ulcer it's not worth it. This past month my ulcer has been unbelievable I say if you have gifts for your family either put them in the mail or drop them off the next week or so no later. Just with the explanation I have to work or things have come up and I want to make sure the gifts are here just in case I don't make it but I'll do my best to come with no intentions of showing up. Put you and your health first. Then see if you get thank you's if you don't then next year you get them smaller gifts till the gifts just disappear. Just say how about we not exchange gifts anymore. More than likely they will say that's fine with us. Life is short you should be happy. Do something that makes you happy.

Sorry I haven't been on for a bit. I'm still suffering from vertigo (10 days now). I went to a physical therapist who is trained to deal with vertigo today. I felt awful afterwards, but now I am feeling a lot better. She says to take it easy for a couple of days and then to try doing my normal routine. It would be nice to walk for more than 20-30 min and to drive. Since my husband is on a business trip, I haven't left the house, not even to walk, except to do my appt. I haven't even been able to get a tree and do much decorating, which I love.

@1skholloway , I can relate. I haven't felt like I fit in with my family in a long time. No one calls me, not even on my birthdays. I do get hugs when I'm there, but no one really makes the time to be with me (unless I drive all over LA to see them). I would have to initiate, or spend time with my sisters who also traveled down. I know that a lot of my family has mental issues, so I try to be patient and not take it personally. Anyway, I decided this year to do basically what @2020pinktogo suggested and stay home for the holidays, which I am loving so far! No stress, make my own healthy food, no traffic headaches. It's great! I will just go down some other time and spend a long weekend with whoever is around. I figure I'm almost 50 so can stay home and have a quiet holiday if that's what I want. Of course, if anyone wants to come up for the holidays they are more than welcome to.

@1skholloway -- I hope you are feeling better. It seems like you are working hard to get healthy, inside and out. Keep it up!! Most of us also just give gifts to the kids since money is tight. I feel lucky to be able to get presents for everyone. I do try to keep them small so that no one feels bad at not getting me anything if that is the case. I used to be upset that hardly anyone said thanks, but now I give gifts because I want to and not expect anything in return. Then, I just enjoy the shopping and wrapping. XD

@2020pinktogo -- I hope you survived working the drive-thru and that your migraines are better. You give good advice. Sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves and that means to put ourselves first.

I actually joined the December thread only 1 day late!