What do you think?

photo from 320 Sycamore

God help me I’m screwed.

I would love to lose more but 10 lbs would take the puffiness out of my cheeks and 10 is a respectable number.

  My parents are coming for Thanksgiving this year, a feat in itself as I haven’t had Thanksgiving with my parents in over 10 years and the pressure is definitely on.  I want everything to be perfect, or at least as perfect as the universe will allow me, which more often than not, is usually just passable.  But I’ll take passable over disastrous any day of the week. 

So why am I desperate to lose 10lbs?  Because I hate, no, HATE the way I look right now.  And even though I’m in my 40′s I still am too embarrassed to have my mother see me walking around with so much weight.  A little background here, my Mom is very slender, er, skinny, actually.  Very, very thin.  She always has been, for as long as I have known her.  I know it can’t be genetic.  Seriously, have you seen the size of my butt?  No, it is not genetic, my mother just doesn’t eat.  She doesn’t enjoy the taste or smell of food, never has.  I, on the other hand, have never had that problem.

“A taste is as good as a feast”, she would say snapping off a tiny morsel of a cookie as I invariably sat devouring my 2nd or 3rd oatmeal raisin.  I could never embrace that mantra.  A taste is just that, a taste.  A promise of deliciousness to come.  Why stop with a morsel?  Dive right in, enjoy!

Anyway, my sudo-anorexic mum will not approve of my current stature and frankly, I’d rather starve myself from now until turkey day than see the brief look of disappointment cross her face when I pick her up from the airport.

So I’ve decided to try to lose 5lbs each month from now until the big day.  That’s doable right?  You’d think wouldn’t you. 

So far I’ve lost 2.

Two pounds.    That’s it.

I totally suck.

If I was of a scientific bent of mind I would invent a portable, at-home liposuction device for such a weight loss emergency.  Wouldn’t that be awesome?  No medical training needed!  Just stick yourself with a hose, turn it on and watch the pounds disappear!  That would be awesome!

I ‘ll keep you posted on my progress.   If you have any tried and true suggestions on weight loss that don’t involve hours of excercise or eating fish, let me know.

The girls were off doing their respective things with no little brother to pester them, make their lives more interesting. My husband and I weren’t telling anyone for the umpteenth time to wash up, brush their teeth and get to bed.  Nor were we telling anyone to leave the cats alone for God’s sake-that growling is not a sign that they liked being squeezed!

 No, everything was very calm and orderly, almost restful.

And very boring.

There really wasn’t much excitement going on.  No excited questions, no pleas for snuggle time, helping with homework: boring.

I miss my little man. 

                                          Actually, it’s just a dark, cold, rainy day but hey, it’s FRIDAY!  Who hoo!  And that makes all the difference.  I thought I’d post  some of the funny signs people have been sharing on Facebook and around the blogosphere this week.

I love this, but I’m saddened by the fact that it is actually needed these days.

Closely followed by:

 ”It’s not that I’m not a people person.

It’s that I’m not

 a stupid people person.”

 

Sorry Red Sox fans, but its true.

 More sad but true.

And lastly, my personal favorite:

My little man has his first game of the season on Saturday (wish us luck!).  I think this weekend may be a washout which really bums me out – I think I might miss Apple Picking season if it doesn’t stop!

Hope you have a great weekend. 

Available at Walmart.  Burns really clean, smells great and this big ol’ jar is only 5 bucks!  I also use Mainstays Pumpkin and Apple Pie (for Fall), Evergreen and Cranberry -something, I can’t remember the name (for Christmas), and Rain for Spring.  Love them.

Favorite Natural Decor:     Mums, Leaves, and Acorns

Picture from Clover Lane

 I posted this picture from Censational Girl last year but it’s still speaks to me so I’m showing it off again. It’s so simple and yet so pretty.  The best color combinations really are found in nature.

More autumn leaves from Censational Girl.

Acorns as decor…..

Love autumn berries.

                                                                   well, fall!    I adore this time of year.  There has been a lot of Fall Decor parties flying around blog land.

Here are a few interesting and fun fall decorating ideas I found on some of my favorite sites.

Paint Chip Garland  (Ten June): Simple, cute and free

Pick up some paint chips in your favorite fall colors, cut out in the shape you want (she used two different sized circles) and string together!

Decorating with natural elements:

Leaves, maybe add a few acorns…..

These large branches make a dramatic look.

I love these berry branches, not quite sure of the name, but the colors are just beautiful.

Lots of options.  I wish I could do them all.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to incorporate a few this year.

Opportunity is missed by most people
because it is dressed in overalls
and looks like work.

Thomas Edison