Red Geranium Cottage

Here we go again.........it's Monday

I hope everyone understands but I'm going to take a "Loser Monday" break for the next few weeks.  I'll be back to posting them the middle of June.  I've got a few things going on right now and I can't concentrate on losing anything except my mind.  lol  Just kidding. Ok not really.  What does it mean when you rip the dirty sheets off the bed, throw the blankets in the wash, wash them, then remake the bed? Turn around and notice that the CLEAN sheets are still laying there waiting to be used.  I took the dirty ones off threw them on the floor, did a few things, picked up the dirty ones and put them back on. Well let me tell you the dirty ones stayed on the freshly made bed.  But the blankets were clean. So you see the need for a break. 

 Keep on posting and I'll keep on reading and even commenting.  I'm pretty sure in June I'll be right on track with  you. I'm sure about a week into my new abode, I'll be sweatin my a** off in that humidity.  Sweating and my big fat thighs are not going to mesh well.  I'm just sayin.   Here's hoping that I don't eat my way across country.  Maybe I'll sleep the whole way. 

And Ruth since you were the first one to guess the correct answer's last Monday, Michell B. thought that you should win.  So.......YOU WIN!!  I need your address and I'll get your giftie out to you asap!!!  

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How about some Country Loft??   The Sistas and I  met up with two of our other Sistas in  San Diego for one last trip of shopping and fun.  I'm going to miss the Country Loft.  There just aren't many shops like this one.  Not to mention the owner Sharon, Kathie her manager and the rest of the girls are sooo very nice every time you go in. 

 

Couldn't you just move right in there?

 

Well guess what? They now have a bed!!!  Maybe we could at least spend the night.

 

Nancy bought this kit, cute huh?

 

 

This is another one of JAM's stitchery patterns.  I love the celebrating with hotdogs.

 

 

 

 

 

JAM stitchery again.  This one is a class but I'm pretty sure you can also order the pattern.

 

 

Awwww there are my Sistas!!   Have I told you how much I'm going to miss them???

 

 

Here's the two framed wool pic's I told you  about.  There done what could be better??  The front one is going to be so cute in my new yellow/red kitchen.

 

I'll be back tomorrow with part 2 of our day.  And  even some photos of the other  two  Sistas.  It was good to see them too.  I couldn't leave without saying bye to them.

Is it here again????

Good grief it's Monday already.  Where does the week go??  I think mine went into the dumpster with a whole bunch of other crap...uh stuff.  At least I managed to get around and check on you losers.  I can say I'm not a loser.  Can you??   lol  Ok I know the idea here is to be a LOSER!!   One day soon I'll be a loser I can feel it in my tummy.  But for now all I feel is a squishy tummy.   You would think with all the packing, dumping, worrying, etc, I'd be losing.  Nope, not a pound. Not even an ounce.  I'm glad all of you are sticking it out with me, I'll get back on track I promise you.  Give me until July and I should be ready. OH but then there's that red/white and blue holiday which I love so much and that would require a cheese ball, BBQ and some deviled eggs, oh and potato salad. Gotta have potato salad, ok how about August......yes I think that will work for me. But I'm not giving up my Loser posts so your not getting off that easy. 

I say let's do a give away!!!  I'm gonna give you the clues and you give me the answers, then you get in the drawing.   Oh before I do that I have a story to tell you. Awhile back I did a give away and "Rachel" won. Well she emails me and says, which Rachel?? ME RACHEL?? I say yep you won!!  Well as you know my brain has not all been in touch with me lately so I send a package to Rachel.  Rachel emails me and says I got a package in the mail from you.  I said I know. She asks why? I said I'll tell you later there's a story behind it.  Then I quickly send a package to Rachel, and say I'm sorry it took me so long but there is a story behind it. They both have been waiting for the story so there you have it.  The moral of the story is if someone has the same name as you and you win, so do they!!!!   I hope you both enjoyed your surprise packages.  lol

Ok, let's do another give away and see if I can mess this up.

1) This loser is riding her bike to work, uphill!!!

2) She is celebrating Agent Orange Monday.  And I'm not talking about the sweet juicy one you eat.  

3) 51 days SMOKE FREE.  WOOHOOO

4) She cleaned the garage and thought she should have lost 10 pounds........

5) Our loser here starts the Monday challenge EVERY Monday.

6) Here you'll see a bowl of yummy shrimp noodle soup.    (I could go for that right now)

7) She gained 300 grams. (Man am I glad we don't weight our self in grams.  I'd gain at least 1,000 of those bad boys).

8) This loser has been walking, and riding, riding and walking......

9) And finally, if your looking for a bridge, she's got one for you. 

I've got no photos tonight, If I did it would be of the wontons I gave you the recipe for yesterday.  lolol  

On your mark, get ready,   GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

LOSER MONDAY CANCELLED!!!!

Ok not really, but it should be.  I've lost it big time over here.  I'm not worthy of being your leader.  Yes of course I'm laughing.  While eating a donut.  Well if your gonna blow it, why not eat a donut and celebrate????  

Here's why I am a loser this week.  I hosted our annual Sistas pajama party again.  No it's not our last one because I will be hosting it from Missouri next.  But just saying the words pajama party and loser Monday in the same sentence just doesn't work.  Here I am praying to the donut heavens.  Chocolate, cake, AND powdered.........what could be better??  Ahhhh and the aroma they give off was speaking to me. 

 

Debbie brought those lemon blueberry muffins, those are not mine. Nor did I eat any of them.  But.........someone did.  I'm just sayin.   She stopped at Costco to get our Chinese chicken salad for dinner and they were giving away samples.  Somehow a 12 pack jumped into her cart. 

 

Then of course we HAD to have Cheryl's wonderful cheese ball recipe.  It is a standard at every Sista event.  Oh and do you see those darn donuts back there? I'm telling you, they were calling me!!! I heard it in my head. I DID!!!

 

If I'm going down the girls are going with me!!!   Those tiny little things Nancy is eating are my sausage wontons.  All I can say is...........COME TO MOMMA!!!!!   Once you have one you are hooked.  If you really, really want the recipe I'll share it.  That is if your jumping off the wagon too.  lol

 

Seriously though girls, I hope someone, anyone out there is doing better than me.  I feel like I've failed all of you.  But in a happy sorta way.  I'm not giving in though, once this move is all  over I'm getting back on track. So you'll just have to be patient with me.  At least I'm an honest cheater right??  Is that even right to put both words in one sentence?? honest and cheater????   lolol Only on my blog it is. 

Peggy emailed me and said she lost 3 pounds and I told her I FOUND IT!!!  Wooohooo for you Peggy. Good work.  I'm sorry I've not gotten around to all the blogs.  I just can't seem to find enough time right now to blog surf.  I jump around from time to time and will get back out there soon.  So don't give up on me.  I've got alot of pj party photos I'll be sharing this week and more fabric to post for sale.  Alot of fabric!!!  

GAINING Monday!!!

Oh did you notice my new title? I'm not renaming all of you, just myself.  Why???  Well let me tell you.  Today I had my dreaded yearly check up with Miss Gyno.  Don't ya just love those appointments.  I step on the wonderful thing called a SCALE, to tell me  what I already knew.  YOUR FAT!!!!!   I kept asking the nurse, can you tell me what I weighed last time I was in here?? She said, in a minute I'll let you know, so I very patiently impatiently wait for the news.   I ask her again as she's taking my temp,  in a minute she says,  again as she's trying to read my pulse.....in a minute I'll let you know.  She then hands me the paper top which by the way I'd like a case of those to go.............she says put this on with the front open.  Oh sure, no problem but.....oh never mind.   In walks the doctor who has got to be at the most 30 years old. (no offense to you 30 somethings out there) She sits down at her computer in the exam room, and starts typing, and asking me questions. What happened to the day when the doctor actually sat on the stool and talked to you? She says while reading my chart, how is the aerobic exercise and your new diet plan working??  I said...................uhhhhh  I don't do aerobics and diet plan???  Surely you got the wrong room, not to mention the wrong patient.    Then she says,  you've gained 14 pounds since Aug. of 2007.   What's the problem she says??  WELLLLL  have you got a couple hours????    DUH I say MENOPAUSE like HELLOOOOOO!!!   I'm sure that would be the problem, but being that you are only 30 you probably have no clue what that is.  Then she says, would you like to talk to a nutritionist??   Oh sure what the hell.  I got time for that.  Sign me up.    After I left there I wanted one of these!!!  I'll show her.

 

So how are you doing??   :-)   You've got to be doing better than me.  I will say that the last three days I have been trying to get on track.  I've go to. I haven't gotten out to read blogs yet but I'll get to you I promise. Maybe you guys can leave me some tips on your blog.  So when I visit I'll be inspired.  Someone sent me an email last week with a site to go to and track your weight, food, etc. If you sent it please email me again because I can not find it anywhere on my email.  And lordy knows I need to do some serious tracking. 

Sinta has been a "Loser" since the beginning but just recently started her blog. Go say hi to her. She's even losing.  Good girl!!

Now while I was on my merry way to see my new friend lady Gyno I drove by the Nixon Library which I do alot but have never stopped.  I told hubby we have go to go there before we move.  It's in our backyard and we've never been. But today I looked over to my right and saw this!! So I made a U-turn and went back for a closer look.

 

 

Here's Tricky Dick's house when he was a child I believe.  I didn't actually go inside to tour, I became a stalker and took my photos over the fence.  But I am going back and take that tour and when I do, you will too. Tiny house huh? 

 

Oh sorry for this photo, I was trying to cheer myself up with a photo of some hot men!!!  You know firemen??   Hot.............fire.............get it??  

 

Speaking of hot.....this little guy or gal, not sure,  must have been too hot to run.  Usually it takes off running when it sees me coming. But today the poor thing just laid there and smiled for the camera.  He was hiding under my truck.

 

And last but not least I've got a funny photo of Deb.  She and I went to Ikea again for more furniture.  Deb got a phone call and reached in her bag for it. She says, why is my phone wet? I say, probably because you put that cold bottle of tea in your bag and it's just sweating.  We get in line at Ikea to exchange something and they say have a seat. So we have a seat..............all of a sudden Deb says, why are my pants wet??  She jumps up and there is a liquid running down the couch cushion. We lift up her purse and it is FULL of iced tea.  ROFLOL!!!!!!!! I'm sorry but I was on the floor laughing.  She had apparently opened the bottle and did not close it.  To that I say......DUH!!!!!  

WE were on the floor laughing and the employees were bringing us towels, and then a trash can to put our wet towels in. She had her whole purse dumped out on the floor.  People were staring at us.  Did we care???  Heck no!!   We only laughed harder.  

 

Can you see the tea being squeezed out of that thing? And she's laughing. 

 

I think she's praying.  And she's still sitting on the floor.   Gotta love her!!!!! 

 

Losers I'm watching again!!!

Oh yea it's that time again.  How is it that I feel we only get two days and whoop it's Monday again.  

I've been out reading your blogs and many of you must be on a Loser break.  I totally relate to you but seriously......WHERE ARE YOU????    Come on girls, let's get it together can we???  

While out reading I found out why I do not lose weight while doing Wii,  (other than I don't do it)  Janessasays we need to do it with out our PANTS OFF!!!  Well DUH!!!!    I already weigh that way, so now I'm going to Wii sans the pants.   Hubby says bring on the Wii.  WOOHOOOO    This could be fun and who knows maybe he will wanna be a Loser too. 

Janessa also has a great recipe over there for some muffins, she says they are NOT cupcakes.  Well can't we call them cupcakes if it makes us feel happy??  Please!!! 

Debwants to know why she went to bed and woke up two pounds heavier. She only consumed a piece of  lemon cake, one roll, one slice of Bordeaux chocolate egg, oh and two glasses of wine. Well at last count it was two, who knows. I'm just sayin.  ANYONE??   ANYBODY??  Do we have an answer for poor little Deb????  

Cheryl and I met for breakfast Friday, we've not seen each other since before Christmas.   So you know we've both blown the whole loser thing for this week. Oh but it was fun.  lolol And then Nancy, and Deb came over last week too and we ate a bunch of good stuff. Good meaning bad!!  Are we all doomed??  I think not. Let's get it back on track here girlie's!!!  We can save our self. I know we can. 

Here's something for you, Rosie decided to step on a scale because her clothes were loose and guess what?? She's lost 20 pounds!!!  Shall we toss her out or congratulate her???   OH of course we should toss her out.    I'm KIDDING!!!   We're so proud of your Rosie, just very, very jealous.  

Now I think I have something that just may whip us all back into shape.  This isn't for the squeamish. I'm just warning you. Hubby and I baked a ham yesterday.  Well I didn't really bake it long enough and the inside wasn't so hot. Matter of fact, it wasn't even warm.  After we ate what we wanted from the hunk of fat, we decided to cut it up and throw away the parts we didn't want..............Here's where the photos come in.   You may never eat ham again.  

Do you see all that disgusting fat??  That hunk right there on top........that could have been shaved off my right thigh!!!!  And there's another hunk just as big on my left one.  Is that the worst or what?   This was no honey baked ham I can tell you that. 

  

Ahhhhh there's a close up for ya.   That black thing, it's a clove. Hey you've gotta flavor your fat. 

 

On that note, I hope you had a fat free Easter and a happy one. Now get back on track you Losers!!!!! 

It's that time again ladies

 

When I say challenge I mean challenge.  I have really fallen off that wagon and hit rock bottom.  Dieting...............oh lordy,  what happened??  Well I'm not giving up but I am going to get back on track right now.  Stress does not let you diet well.  It actually makes me eat like a hog outta control.  lolol  Are you getting a mental picture of that one?? Not pretty at all.  But I'm here to say I'm getting back in control tomorrow.  YESSSS tomorrow.  It's too late for today.  Hey at least I'm honest. No matter what you've heard out there.  I'm just sayin.  I know several of you are just stayin where you are weight wise. And that's better than gaining I'd say.  Summer is coming and I don't wanna be strutting around in a tent so I've got to get going.  I just don't look good in green canvas.

We had another great turn out tonight on blog posts from all of you.  I see that we've lost a few so I'll be updating that sidebar before next week. If your name is missing and you still want to be in just let me know.  But you need to update your blog at least every once in a while ok??  Cause I do check each one every week.  Oh yea I read them all. 

Here's what I should be eating more of. Fruit.  I really do like fruit and it's good for you. Have you ever been to the grocery store when they are cutting fruit up to make those bowls they sell? OMG it smells heavenly.  Hunka eats a boat load of it every morning.  I swear he's starting to smell like a fruit salad.  That man fixes up the biggest plate of fruit you've ever seen.  I have to say the banana is my favorite piece of fruit.  I'm just sayin.   Love me some bananas.  What's your favorite?  How about we post recipes next week that have fruit in them. I'm up for some good muffin recipes.  I know someone out there had a muffin recipe posted tonight. And it looked good. See if you can find it.  While your out there I also found a good taco soup recipe on someone's blog.  YUMMY!!!  Ok can you tell I'm hungry again??  I told you. Maybe I'm still putting on my winter coat??  And I don't mean the kind of coat you buy at Macy's. 

 

More important than our LOSER club it that one of our LOSER'S is a WINNER.  Jen has been trying to quit smoking and is doing a great job.  I want her to know that we're all so proud of her.  Keep it up Jen.  It's a great thing to do. Hang in there and if you've got to eat I say EAT UP!!!  

I've got a cute little prim rabbit to show you and if your interested in buying one you can email Leighanne.  raggedyoldfriend@verizon.net   Deb had her make one for her and thought you might like too. 

 

 

A few days ago I told you that  Deb and I were headed to Ikea to do a little shopping. And shopping we did.  We had my truck packed as far as we could get it.  First stop was the bedroom dept. We were both on the hunt for this yellow linen cabinet.  We were frantically looking because we just knew they had sold out.  Or there was ONE left and we were going to have to have a smack down right in the middle of the store.  And we were prepared for the worst.

Look, she's just tempting me!!!!   Either that or she's auditioning for some low budget movie.  Yes I said that!! 

 

I found two dressers that hunka and I are going back for.  We will need dressers if and when we move.  I love this and I'm into yellow.   Red and yellow are going to be my decorating colors of choice.

 

Love this blue one too.  Don't know who that gal was but she walked in our bedroom while we were photographing.   As if!!

 

Oh look at her!!  She's guarding it!!   But yep they had two.  We both got one.  It has glass doors and the two drawers. We want it to hold quilts.  LOVE IT!! I was sorta hoping for a smack down myself.  Maybe later.

 

Since it is Loser Monday we took these photos for you to enjoy.  But oh no we were not standing on them.  Just modeling!! 

 

I chose mine in RED.  And uhhh no we didn't buy one.   We kindly put them back.

 

We both loved these shades.  So of course they came home with us.  Much better than an old bathroom scale.  See my new crystal beaded hanging light I got too there in the background??  

 

Look again she's smiling!!   Because she also found the bookcase she wanted and it was  a great deal and all put together. Usually Ikea stuff comes in flat boxes and it's up to your lovely hubby to do this chore for you with a smile on his wonderful face.  All in all it was a great shopping day. But when aren't they wonderful? 

 

Tomorrow evening is going to be another fun filled time for the three Sistas.  Just wait and see.  Hmmmmmmmm shall we wear green???   I'm going to be doing some pinching if there not wearing the color of the day.  They've been warned.

LOSER MONDAY

 

Can I just tell you girls how happy I am for all of you.  And we had a record number of post tonight.  WOOHOOOO    That's what I like to see.  Sorry I'm posting so late but I really have been reading all of your blogs.  I even posted on the ones that had their loser post tonight.  WE had 25 at last count.

 Several of you posted your soup recipes.  Now I have to say go to Jen's blog and get ready for a laugh. Her soup recipe is hysterical, then as I'm reading blogs I see that Kimtried to pull the same thing on us.  Go have a look.  All the soup "recipes"  look good and Arlette gave us a meatloaf recipe which I've got to try. Sounds like your all either stay put or losing a little here and there.  No one really said they've gained alot back.  So it's all good. As long as we're on the right track.  We're "trying" to be healthier.  And I do mean "TRYING". Sometimes it's not so easy like when you go out with the girlie's and order dessert.  Well it came with the meal what were we to do???  I promised a photo of it so if you don't want to see look away now.   So seriously do you see how small it is?? Deb held up a quarter to give you an idea. They call it a "shot" i think.  We three went to P.F.Changs and these came with our meal.  Deb did pass it up I must say while Nancy and I........well you know.

 

Speaking of soup recipes..........Here's my hot n sour soup. OMG that was good but man was it ever spicy. Made my nose run. I know more info than you need but it's true it did. And ok so I don't have the recipe for it. Just a photo.  And I'm sure it is low cal.

 

Now Jeansaid she saw on tv that you can exercise and lose weight by lifting your children while exercising.  Now if I lift Boo and Wilster, I'd be in the hospital which I guess would ultimately lead to weight loss because hospital food sucks.  Speaking of Jean, she is our winner from last weeks game.  Jean send me your address and I'll get your gifty out to you.  The answers were 1) Kim or Kathy  2) Brenda 3) Jean 4) Janessa 5) Kris 6) Rachel.  Thanks for playing along. 

Since I've been gaining, uh I mean losing I've had to resort to this.............don't laugh you know we all need a little stretch now and then.  And I gotta say it feels darn good too.

 

Great job ladies. See you next week same place same time.  Ok maybe not the same time but the same place.  Keep up the good work. 

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Before I forget I wanna show my goodies that Nancy gave us at our Valentine dinner in March.   We're hoping for a St. Patrick's dinner in April.  We're having a certain someone's birthday dinner next.  WOOHOOOO  You know we'll have some good photos from that.

Don't ya love all my goodies?? I love that red cake plate.  It's got hearts all over it.  I love cake stands.  I know I cant have cake but I can look at my stand cant I?

 

Cute isn't it?  Sorry my photos didn't do well with all that red. 

 

I love the little Mary E. box.  It's the Queen of Everything.  And I love my little bag she made. It's the cutest!!!!!

 

All this was inside our bag Nancy made us.  I forgot to put my Foster Grants in the photo because I was wearing them. 

 

This was soo cute. My photo sucks but trust me it's cute.  It's a fob for my scissors and this needle thingy, Nancy said you can use it for cross stitch but I'm putting it on one of my pincushions.  Thanks for everything Nancy.    I had so much fun with you and Deb.

 

Gotta wrap this up before the clock strikes midnight.   I cant miss Loser Monday now can I???   I'd never hear the end of it.  Off to dream of a brownie.   wink wink. 

Tomorrow I'll share a blog that is having a great house BOM going on.  I'm lovin it.

LOSER'S CAN YOU HEAR ME????????

I was quite pleased with the Monday post today.  Great going girlie's.  There are some of you thought that I think have abandoned ship. I'll give you one more week before I give you the hatched job.  lololol  That didn't sound so good did it?  But you know I do check out each blog to see if we've got an update or not.  I mean I know I'm a lady of leisure but.........come on ladies!!!!   Are you in or are you out??   We did have 17 updates when I checked in a couple hours ago.  You still have time to redeem yourselves.  So chop, chop!!   Several of you said you still want updates weekly so weekly it will be.  Someone also asked last week if I was going to have another game so.........here's your clues.  You give me the answers.  I give you the prize!!!! 

1) She lost inches but not weight.  Still good in my book.  Actually better. 

2) She found that by writing down everything she ate she did much better. I tried to tell you!!!! 

3) She thinks that we should smile at everyone as we pass them by.  It really makes a difference in others lives.  Maybe it will even help us lose weight. Ok she didn't say that I did.  

4) This poor gal has had food poison. YUCKO!!! But hey it's one way to drop some serious weight.  You know me thinkin positive here. 

5) She was the recipient of some good sausage as her hubby attended a sausage party.  Now there's a party I need to be throwin.  And she knows how to find your happy weight. My happy weight was back in high school. 

6) Her blog was all about the letter C. this week.  I'm not sure I saw anything about the letter "L" as in LOSERS today.  I'm just sayin.

and last but not least. Can we say a little prayer for our buddy Cathi.  She's been pretty ill lately and in the hospital. Don't know what's wrong yet but test are being run on her. So go over and say hi and get well to her.  She's one of our "Losers". And I mean that in the best way possible. 

Your doing good ladies. Keep up the good work.  Next week tell me your favorite low cal soup recipe.  It's still soup weather out there with all the snow that's been falling around the country.  Here's mine.  I'm not sure how low cal it is, although I don't think it's fattening.  Maybe a little salty.

Minestrone Soup: I use the "Better than Bouillon"  that I use for my Lobster Bisque. They make the stuff for all sorts of soups and this one was for the vegetable soup. I put frozen mixed veggies, two cans of tomatoes, a can of kidney beans and water in it.  When it's boiling you add a cup of small macaroni noodles.  It was soooooo darn good.  Filled with veggies.  So it's not soo bad right??? 

 

Ok yessssss I DID add some parmesan cheese......ALRIGHT???

 

Let me tell you this is what NOT to eat during the LOSER challenge.  Hey I'm here for ya!!  You can look but DO NOT TOUCH!!!!! 

 

I might tell you that hubby had more than OUR share of this bread pudding. He said it was the best he's ever had!!  Me, I just sat and watched him devour the stuff.  It was not pretty.

 

Don't tempt me with that Red Velvet cake. I'm sure it was dried out anyway.  Well that's what I told myself.

 

Ok your free to go now. Just remember what I said.  NO bad food this week.  Only healthy. The only cupcake you should come in contact with should be the ones you wear on your footsies. Otherwise you won't be able to bend over to see your feet.  Thanks Sprinkle love them!!

 And remember lost inches can even be better than lost weight.  General Geranium OUT!!!