Monday, Monday and Lots Going On!!

It's Monday and that means start day for me with the Diet Challenge and check in day. And if you don't think our fearless leader means business, well just check over at Redgeranium Cottage..... MAJOR BUSINESS and a very, very brave, fearless leader!!! So about my start...OK need to fess up, pancakes for breakfast (just couldn't help myself), my friend I had breakfast with forced me, OK not really.... but I buckled down after that!!! Had a chicken salad for lunch, and a light pasta dinner. And most importantly no CHOCOLATE all day, so I guess I will be going through withdrawals soon:-)!

Now the before and after of it all......Miss Geranium and myself quite a while back, and Annie and myself at quilt camp in November. When I decided to retire I had people warning me watch the poundage!!!! No problem.!!! Well I watched it, creep right back on. So this diet challenge is just what I needed. And I have to vent here a little. People like us peoples (yes I said peoples) who have gained weight......no need for those of you talking about our weight gain to whisper to others or give us the LOOK!!!! Here's a secret...we know we have gained weight, for one thing, our clothes don't fit that well anymore, and for another we also have mirrors!!!! OK, I feel better getting that off my chest :-)!!!!!

Here's a couple recipes from Weight Watchers that I really, really like.

Chicken Fiesta Soup - Serving size 1 cup. Points per serving 4. 1 can corn, rinsed; 1 can chicken broth; 1 can diced tomatoes & chilies; 1 can pinto beans, rinsed; 1 chicken bouillon cube; 1/2 can white chicken; 4 oz. Velveeta Lite. Bring ingredients to a boil (all but cheese), remove from heat, stir in chunks of cheese until melted. (the can sizes are the regular - I think 14 oz.)

Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff - 6 servings. 4 points. 1 lb. boneless chicken breasts, frozen;1 can 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup; 16 oz fat free sour cream; 1 pkg. onion soup mix.Place frozen chicken breasts on the bottom of crockpot. Mix other ingredients together and pour over the chicken. Cook on low setting for at least 7 hours. Stir sauce well before serving. If you serve this over rice or noodles add appropriate points per serving size.

Nanette has done a wonderful job of getting the list going for tons of handmade ideas. Here are a few more to add:

*from Janet a really cute tissue cover link

*from Bonnie my non blogging friend, a really cute tutorial on cookie mix in a jar... cute jar with some painting and a great label;

*a super easy ironing board cover tutorial

*from me really, really cute mini notebooks from Spoonful of Sugar. Actually just look for back posts on Lisa's blog. She has tons of wonderful ideas, great recipes, and beautiful pictures. A wonderful mother/daughter blog!

There are so many wonderful ideas out in blogland for getting motivated to get projects done. May Britt and Kris have a wonderful challenge going to tackle those WISPS we all have hanging around...yeah, you know you have em'!! Part of the challenge is to put a link on your sidebar listing all the months for the next year and as you go add the completed item to the list. What a great IDEA!!!!!!!
....and then I stumbled upon this great, wonderful

idea.....Calendar Quilt Challenge. I have the button on my sidebar that links to the challenge. In a nutshell, piece a quilt top from your stash, bit by bit, every day for the next year!! Rachel who is running the challenge, credits Pat Sloan with this idea and she sells a wonderful book over on her site, Favorite Techniques, that gives more info on Calendar Quilts. Rachel is taking sign ups for this challenge till the 7th... so why don't you come on and play with us!!! A no rules quilt, that will be so fun and so personal, and what a remembrance of 2009!!!

Well there has been way too much thinking, and signing up for challenges in Polka Dot world for any quilting to be happening. Oh, there has been a couple bindings and some time spent with Baby Luke.....and dare I mention I am still taking down Christmas decorations!!!!! I don't know about the rest of you, but I am definitely inspired by all I have been reading......now let the production begin :-)!!!!!