It has been a while since I participated in Meal Planning Monday at OrgJunkie.com, but meal planning really is something I like to do.  It is time consuming for me, especially since I’m trying to make sure I eat under a certain limit of calories.  However, its benefits are multiple!  You know what’s for dinner, shopping lists keep the $$$ down and we don’t eat out as much.

I don’t like to say Monday we’ll have this or that, I’d rather just list the meals and pick and choose.  Wednesdays we usually do the YOYO (You’re on your own) also known as leftovers and cellgroups.  I’ll also be making some sugar cookie dough later this week for Valentine Day cookies for the kids to pass out.

This week’s meals will be:

I’m devastated, disappointed and depressed about it.  My weight taunts me when I look in the mirror, when I try on clothes, and mostly when I test my blood sugar.  I don’t FEEL fat – ya know?  But it’s definitely taking a toll on my body – that’s not getting any younger.

Yeah. I’m diabetic.  Type 2, which means my weight plays a huge part.  I’ve got to get it under control – easier said than done I know.  My blood sugar started creeping up and in December I was starting to get worried.  In January I finally went to the doctor and got put back on meds.

My doc is a great one.  He didn’t get on to me in typical doctor fashion, he’s really empathetic and knows I struggle with my weight.  He just told me to lose weight – as long as I do it in a healthy fashion, just lose it.  Ya see, I can get caught up in the symantics of it all – do I count calories? fat? Go low carb? Organic? The world to weightloss can be very confusing.  The doc said what did you do to lose it a while ago?  Do that.

So, Mike bought me a new bodybugg for my birthday (this Friday!).  It came in yesterday and it’s PINK!  I still feel overwhelmed at the big number, but will be chipping away at my weight week by week again.  This version of bodybugg links to my iphone/ipad, so that’s really nice!

I’m going to try to post at least weekly about my weight – the good, the bad and the ugly.

I redesigned the blog.  It took me quite a while to get it how I liked it and I do love it right now.  It’s simple in design, but fun and a little whimsical too.  LOVE the contact/online buttons with them “tearing” through the design.

I finished and sent my quilt for the Swap Til You Drop January/February 2012 flickr swap.  The theme was log cabins.

I really enjoy this quilt.  It’s 8 log cabin blocks in scrappy fabrics, then a few straight pieces to pull it together.  Then I hand stitched (with a brace on too!) all of it.

It had a great texture and was really hard to mail off.  I kinda fell in love with it.  However, my partner loved it and has been giving me awesome sneak peeks into the one she made for me!  It even coordinates with the new blog . haha

I also got my retro toys and Valentine blocks done and mailed to the Bitty Block Committee.  Bitty blocks are a lot of fun to do and to receive, but take so much time to make!

Also very much into the first round of the Fab Little Quilt Swap on Flickr (FLIQ).  The design I chose for my partner incorporates a lot of different methods.

I’m loving every minute of putting it together.  It really helped to get the design drawn out onto paper!  Now I can just put finished pieces on top of the paper and make sure I’m keeping the scale right.  My son had the idea for the yellow wall – I think it goes really well!

I’m going to link up my January Finish here – you should too!

More dishcloths – I have made about 5 dishcloths, working on my 6th right now.  One of my fave new ones is my Dalek one! Love it!  You can find the pattern here.

My Casey-dad had knee replacement surgery, so Kacie made him some peanut butter cookies (his fave) and I whipped up a couple of ice packs/ heating pads for him.  Woooo Pig Sooie!

I caught up on some quilting bee blocks too – Wonky hearts and flying geese!

Coming up I have some Valentine’s Day and Retro Toy themed bitty blocks (3.5 in), a purse for Kacie, a mini log cabin quilt and – yup, more dishcloths!

Hope you are having a great first week of 2012!

Yelling at a bud won’t make it bloom.

While this challenge is mainly geared toward mothers and children, I’m going to embrace it for my husband and extended family as well.  Gentleness is definitely not a character trait of mine, but it is a spiritual fruit that can be obtained!

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

The first video at WLW is posted and she will be posting one every Monday of January.  Is this something you might need to join in?  I know it’s definitely on my heart!

Be Blessed!