Happy Solstice-almost-Christmas week!
It was great to catch up on the 100+ posts. I spent several days in Winooski, VT visiting my older daughter, baking coffee rings, gingerbread cookies, and watching the British Baking show and Marvel movies. We were both well intentioned couch potatoes.
It occurred to me that asking for help (although usually dreaded) can have amazing results. Em had a large sectional couch taking up a third of her living-room. I thought of a local friend, asked for his help, and the following day, it was moved out of the condo and out to the portico awaiting collection from the used store which benefits habitat for humanity. She wisely put a card with her name and phone number on the couch and 30-minutes later, a neighbor called to ask if it was for the taking. Voilà!
We’ll count that as a win, for sure!

One of my households’ favorite treats is homemade Hobnobs with chocolate. Crispy oat cookies. Yum! I brought home most of the batch I baked at Em’s house and planned to do the chocolate topping this morning, however, Monica really wanted some last night so, I complied. I microwaved the baking chocolate with 2 tablespoons of the butter from the butter dish on the counter. I knew it was salted Irish butter and could add some nice flavor. What I *didn't* know was my OH accidentally dropped a few pieces of chopped onion into it while cooking dinner. I blamed the taste of onion on the compost until M asked if the cookies were supposed to taste of onion? Bwahahahaaa! I guess eating until this morning would’ve been better after all!

I love the reading time for the week and appreciate what’s been presented so far. Now that I’m home, I’ll try to get back on track.

Have a lovely Monday!

Thanks for all the step updates folks! Looking for @Kali225 today if she's around and then I'll get our week 2 report out!

@happimess01 Looks like your new scale reports on a lot of things.. that's great. I can see something like that for me in the future as well.

@micki48 The hot to cold adjustment is always a rough one. I think I'm fairly acclimated to the weather changes here now. The greatest thing I've finally figured out in the last few days is how to keep my step count up without having the option to walk as much outside. I don't know why this didn't occur to me but I've been walking in my living room while we watch TV, or while I do other idle tasks that allow for it. Keeps my movement up!

12/19 exercise:
45 minutes Peloton + 10 minutes strength +10409 steps

Speaking of Christmas blowouts.. I have an aunt coming to town this holiday and she's baked a bazillion cookies... I know it'll be the type of situation where they'll be hurt feelings for not indulging. I plan to have some anyway, I have treats every day... but I can already hear the comments of "just one more" coming. Gotta get my food pusher strategies ready so that I eat and enjoy on MY terms and not everyone else's!

ashleycarole86 wrote: »

Speaking of Christmas blowouts.. I have an aunt coming to town this holiday and she's baked a bazillion cookies... I know it'll be the type of situation where they'll be hurt feelings for not indulging. I plan to have some anyway, I have treats every day... but I can already hear the comments of "just one more" coming. Gotta get my food pusher strategies ready so that I eat and enjoy on MY terms and not everyone else's!

Here's a cure for that...I KNOW because I baked special shortbread cookies one year shaped like hippos for a cousin (long story - to do with a trip to africa)....and when I gave them to her, she fed one to her dog (!!!)...after another couple, her husband grabbed them and set aside for himself. Just feed a couple to your dog in front of your aunt - she won't make them for you again, ha!!