Just a quickie...

• Japanese Interment Camp Memorial in Poston, AZ....interesting, but don't make a special trip.
• Carved trees in Tehachapi, CA.....couldn't find them at "City Park", but may try again on a future trip. I have been assured by a resident of same that we met on the roof that they are really there. Will also try a hotel there as opposed to Bakersfield.
• Bakersfield, CA...not sure why, but we just didn't see the appeal. Won't stay there again mid-trip. (see Tehachapi)
• San Francisco, CA...Awesome city. Kids were amazed that we parked the car on arrival and never needed it again until we left. Lots to see and do. We'll come again. (see photos in link)
• Diet? Who needs one when you're walking up and down hills all day long? BUT, I have been very disciplined in my logging and that's kept me pretty well on course. The next leg of the trip will have more cooking and less dining out so that will help with the control a bit.
• Minivan vs. Tuscon...Sienna wins HANDS DOWN! Last year's trip included a cartop carrier, luggage and "stuff" piled to the ceiling in the interior of the car. This year? Tons of room, nothing on top, space for everyone.
• Sea Lions...we love them AND we decided that is what our children are. There is plenty of room for them to spread out and leave each other alone, but it is more fun to be in each other's space and nudge each other until someone jumps in the water. Then they come right back to each other and start over again.

Next stop Grant's Pass, OR via the Redwood Forest.

Less later,
Laurie

I love those lazy, crazy days of summer!

Yes all of you oldies lovers, I know I left out hazy. When we lived back east, hazy couldn't have been forgotten, but at this second, the humidity in my backyard, in the shade is 9%, with a temp of 102. I couldn't come up with haze if my life depended on it.

It's been about two weeks since my last post and that can just be credited to summer craziness. We've been doing Camp Invention, 2 vacation Bible schools, summer youth volleyball league, birthday parties, planning the big trip, reading...all around a great time.

Weight loss continues, though so slowly, it's almost imperceptible at this point. I did discover some things in the past week.

• First, I have NO jeans that fit. The last time I tried them on, my smallest ones were tight, now they fall off.
• Second, while the weight isn't going down those last couple of pounds as quickly as I'd like, the measurements all over are much less.
  
• Third, I don't hate exercise if I can be entertained while doing it. Thank God for iPods. I don't know if I can say that I love it, but it's much easier to get out there and do it now.
  
• Fourth, and this is the best of all, for the first time in over 12 years, my weight is in the normal range by BMI.

I'm ready to go on vacation with a renewed enthusiasm for healthy eating. We're going to a region of the country that we've never been to, one that's famous for good food, and I'm looking forward to being able to stay on track and still eat in a wonderful way.

Wish me luck!
Less later (from the road),
Laurie

Of Marshmallows and Other Things

It's summer break and this has been a week full of...not much! That's not a bad thing. Claire has been at Camp Invention (an annual tradition for both of our children), swimming, playing with friends, going to and having birthday parties, and Ted has been playing video games, watching TV, reading, playing volleyball and discovering the fun of Facebook. I have been getting a job for next year, reading, entertaining the kids with crafts, making plans for my new library, finalizing summer trip plans, exercising, taking Apple classes, and watching mindless drivel on TV. Wow! When it's all laid out in print, we've been busier than I thought!

So my title this week mentions marshmallows. I've mentioned them before in regards to weight-loss. Profound words at a WW meeting got me to realize that I DO need to exercise or else the weight-loss simply took me from being a large marshmallow to being a smaller marshmallow. I don't want that, so I've been conscientious about doing SOME kind of exercise on a regular basis. I've walked, added step aerobics to the walk, added the occasional sprint to the walk, done videos, done a class, used hand weights, biked, done Netflix exercise streaming, swimming, and even shoveled rocks with Chip. I'm still a little soft, but more like a day old, left out Peep than a fresh Sta-puft marshmallow. Progress is progress. I just have to keep making it a priority and it will happen.

My family has noticed a difference and Claire has developed a new appreciation for healthy stuff. She asks about the healthiness of everything and wants to know if I feel different now that I've lost weight. She has mentioned that I'm not as "fluffy" when she snuggles with me, but that it's ok since it will make me live longer. Out of the mouths of babes.

A different marshmallow avenue...a helpful tip.
Only use fresh marshmallows to make Rice Krispie Treats. Do NOT make them with even slightly firm ones. The first thing I noticed was that they took longer to melt. I figured, no big deal, they'll still be alright. Hmph...not. I mixed the cereal in, spread it out in the pan, nibbled a little while it was still warm and said to myself, "Wow, these are really good. Aren't I frugal, finding a use for stuff in the pantry?" (Just FYI, they were only two months old, but in Arizona, with very little humidity, they don't last long at all) I was very excited because I had found out earlier in the day that the treats are only 2 points each, so they are a great dessert choice for my food plan. Ate a delicious dinner of potstickers and veggies and went to get a treat out of the pan. I could not chisel them apart! They're too light to be doorstops or weapons, but they might make good styrofoam-type building blocks, or maybe insulation of some kind. Very sturdy. Perhaps NASA could find a use for them. Or BP could use them to sop up some of that oil! Anyway, they're inedible. Probably just as well. A pear is better for me anyway, right?

I'm a mere 3-4 pounds away from the weight goal I've set for myself. Tomorrow is weigh-in day for this week. We'll see how it goes. I know I've done well eating, but I've exercised a LOT more than usual and that can actually temporarily cause a weight gain. Something about lactic acid build-up and water retention. I don't think it has, but the scale will tell.

Less later,
Laurie

Correction and update

I was wrong...last week I was uncertain about what week of weight-loss I was in and posted 24. I am mid-week of week 22 right now. AND I weighed in today for a total loss of 40.4 pounds! 4.2 pounds left to go. 3 weeks until vacation begins. A conundrum. Not really. I don't imagine it will be too hard to at least maintain, if not lose more on vacation. We'll be moving around more, lots of physical activities and we don't do fast food. We're staying in our vacation club place and it has a full kitchen. We plan on preparing at least one of our meals every day there. I think I'll be alright as long as I keep track of what I'm eating. We're going to an area that has lots of locally grown, freshly prepared food, so I'm actually looking forward to lots of fresh fruits and veggies.

We survived the first full week of summer vacation. Did some crafts, read some books, discovered the joy of Netflix, and had lots of lazy downtime. Next week the social calendar gets full (at least for Claire). Camp Invention and various Vacation Bible Schools will keep her busy until we leave, and Ted will be volunteering for some of that.

We've set some reading goals and made a reading chart for each kiddo and they're actually sticking with it. Putting my new job skills to work finding books they'll enjoy is a good practice for next year.

Please see my link to my Goodreads recommendations and listings. I'd love to hear what all of you are reading! I'm always in the market for a good book.