Happy Hump day!

Mihani - there are several styles of Hokas. I like the Clifton for walking. There is also one called Bondi that is very cushioned but rubs my left foot with a bunion. When we were in Finland..I did not pack my HokaS…big mistake but they are extremely popular there and I bought a pair specifically for walking called Hoka - transport. They were fantastic right out of the box…we did an 8 mile walk around the city seeing museums and castle. No blisters or pain. I wish I could get in a 3 mph walk. That is 1 mile in 20 minutes. With the dogs I am lucky to be around 24-26 min/miles.

Magic - I agree about food prep. Last time at grocery store I bought some frozen veggie rice or quino bowls for emergencies. We have a road trip tomorrow to NM. I bought hummus & carrots, apples, pistachio nuts and packing my blender and protein powder. I have a small personal use blender. Not powerful enough for blending veggies or fruits but good enough for the Ka’Chava powder. I use the vitamix for green or fruit smoothies.

Alexa- I like just balsalmic glaze or my “Mediterranean” type salads with romaine lettuce, peppers, onions, olives, sun flower seeds and grape tomatoes. The glaze is thicker than balsamic vinaigrette. Your almond butter and coconut dressing sounds delicious. Carla has a lot of good recipes using cashews.

I was down another lb. this am. I am so close to grand total of 80 lbs. Closer I get to goal weight the slower the weight loss. My goal is 100 lbs. Brooks thinks I only need to lose another 10 lbs but I like nice round numbers. I think most of the stress from the move is over and I am sleeping, eating and exercising better. Maybe it is the pickleball! Played 2 hours this am.

New addiction. 1/2 cup of Oat milk and 1/2 cup sugar free chi. I know the sugar free sweetener is bad but I have dramatically cut down on chocolate and sugar cravings. Oh and I add a scoop of vanilla veg. Protein powder. Blend it in my little travel blender and pour it over ice. 😋😋😋😋😋

The queen, Cleo on the wrong color ottoman they sent.

OMG! BROOKS ACCEPTED A 6 MONTH POSITION after retirement IN ……..wait for it. NO I AM GOING TO SEE WHO CAN GUESS!!!!

it is a locum temens position. they provide a furnished house.

First hint: I requested a cooler place for next summer/fall than SA.

Further north!

Bisky... further north hmmmm... Greenland?

Nanc, Trader Joe's has good stir-fry veggies too. The store brands are always so meh. Good for soups and things but not so much to eat straight up. I just hardly ever get to TJ's because it's in a really busy snarly traffic part of town.

I spent about 8 hours in the office yesterday and feel like I barely made a dent because my boss was there and wanted me to work on some things for him. I'm going in this morning but plan to be out by noon to go to the grocery and come home to do laundry and will work more here at home with nobody bugging me since he'll probably be in during the afternoon.

Happy Happy Birthday Magic! I hope you have a wonderful day. From your posts you seem so young at heart!

Mihani - I think that is smart and proactive to have an earlier dinner at work. I use to work with a nurse…we did the 7 am to 7 pm shift and she always took a 5:30 break to have dinner. She was a “ health nut”. Now I appreciate her healthy habits.

Hint: Somewhere Greenland and Flagstaff!

I lost 4 lbs since the move! I don’t feel like I have done much different other than a lot of fruits and nuts instead of sugar, chips and crackers. A lot of gluten free stuff is full of sugar.

Mihani - Good idea to watch that cholesterol. Sometimes if you do everything right you can still have high levels. Remember that fitness trainer Bob on the biggest Loser (/what a joke of a show) ….he was a vegetarian and had a heart attack on a treadmill. It truly can be hereditary.

Magic - I love saunas! I take one after swimming. A smoothie bowl sounds so refreshing and healthy!

I made the tastiest easiest butternut soup. You know I am a lazy cook? Made 5 cups of vegetarian Better than Bouillon broth…used about 1/4 cup to roast a package of precut butternut squash and another 1/4 cup to sauté a mirepoix mix also from Trader Joe’s. After roasting squash added it to the pot with 4 cups of broth ….brought to a boil then simmer 15 min. Then added it to blender. Served with a squiggle of balsamic glaze. Added a little more broth and blended again. The recipe said salt and seasonings to taste but it was delicious.

PICKLEBALL…Dr’s appt to discuss HRT and then swim plus dog walk.

It is in the USA but borders Canada. 😊😱🤪

I missed a lot! belated happy birthday wishes, Magic. Fantastic that you are in such good health.

bisky...near me?! Seattle? or even closer...Bellingham?!? In Bellingham would be WOW!!! so exciting!
A furnished house in this area is fantastic! Whew prices are so out of control right now. I have heard complaints but I actually looked at places for sale AND for rent in this area and it is crazy.

Fingers crossed for your cholesterol results, Mihani. Let us know.

Our attic has been fully cleaned out, disinfected, deodorized, sealed, caulked and re-insulated. We are still waiting on the special order parts for the shower. We wanted to have a bin dropped off so that we could do a massive cleanup but they need 16 feet of clearance for both height and width to get up the driveway and we have one big tree that we love that I am pretty sure makes the driveway impassible. It is very close. We are considering having them leave the bin halfway up the driveway.

Getting warmer….I wish Bellingham but keep going north west!

Had a good pickle ball lesson, Drs appointment after followed by 550 m swim. Then up and down steps to take boxes and unpack. Feel bad about not walking dogs but will have big walks this weekend. I can’t wait to go to bed.

Carla - you must be thrilled to have mouse house cleaned up. Your place is so pretty.

Mihani - I hated that show and felt so bad for the contestants. Most of them were very sweet people who needed a healthy diet, an eating disorder therapist and low impact exercise such as water aerobics, swimming and walking. AND SLOW WEIGHT LOSS SONTHEY WOULD NOT GAIN IT BACK!

So I am addicted to my sugar free chai and Planet Oatmilk. Such a good fall drink. Going to look for a savory pumpkin soup recipe next.

You are close but need to think of all of USA.
Last hint and this should do it.