Nat King Cole on a Sunday Morning!

I spent my morning listening to my traditional Nat King Cole Christmas music…..over and over and over again while wrapping Christmas presents. Music can be tied to so many memories. Every year, when I was a kid, my parents would host a Christmas Eve Open House. Neighbors, Co-Workers, friends and relatives would stop by the house on their way out for the evening, or on their way home from wherever the night had taken them. My mom would spend days baking and decorating and cleaning. The entire time, listening to Christmas music. Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Elvis and Nat King Cole are some of the ones I remember the most. I bought this Nat King Cole CD when Tess was fairly young so I could carry on the tradition. Tess wasn’t there while I was wrapping presents on Sunday, but I couldn’t do a Christmas activity without good old Nat! When Tess is home, she INSIST we listen to Nat King Cole! It’s a little tradition, but it’s a favorite for sure!

Wrapping presents……

I’m getting excited to watch everyone open gifts this year!

I took a breakfast break….
Burrito
7 PPV

Later I took a lunch break, if that’s what you want to call it. I can NOT seem to get to the store! I ate a banana while my fries baked.
12 PPV!

Dinner
Chicken taco Salad
12 PPV

Refresh…I can eat 26 points a day.
I can earn Activity Points by doing exercise.
I have an allowance of 49 points that I can dip into if I chose.
I should drink a minimum of 6 (8 oz) glasses of water each day.

The food I ate today and it’s PPV.

Breakfast = 7
Lunch = 12
Dinner = 12

Total = 29

Activity Points Earned Today = 0
Remaining points from my 49 Points Allowance = 22
How many glasses of water I drank today = 8

Monday was all over town, but not before an hour on the treadmill and a good breakfast!

Egg White and cheese on a light English muffin
5 PPV

Lunch
Green Giant Steamed Veggies
3 PPV

Baked Chips with Chicken Taco Meat, cheese and avocado….
7 PPV

Dinner was Chicken Taco Soup…….
(I forgot to take a picture. I was busy rattling off to Mike every single thing I had done throughout the day. He did a really good job of pretending to listen.)

Tess graduates Friday from Pitt State University and I am super excited and OH SO proud of that little girl! We are throwing a party following the graduation…..at a bar…..so there’s lots to do and buy for that. Since it’s out of town, it’s a little more time consuming and stressful to plan decorations and food and all the details, but its all coming together, thanks to good friends, helpful and friendly people…..and patients. Saturday we come home and get ready for Sunday, when we will host a Family Christmas Open House with 25-30 family members here, so I have been planning a menu and shopping for that as well. We are also having our gift exchange with kids and Grandkids BEFORE everyone else gets here…….so…….

LOTS TO DO!!!

At 9:30 pm, I was busy finalizing my detailed “to do list” for the rest of the week. Tuesday’s list alone has about 15 places I need to go, and I’m already DONE Christmas shopping!

I decided it was the best time possible to bake pumpkin bread. WHAT? I know. It was late, the kitchen was clean, we were relaxed in the living room with the Tree Lights and a fire……but I did it anyway.

The house smelled soooooo good.

My moms family recipe……

There’s a secret ingredient….and a secret method for this moist Yumminess….

A favorite for sure!

I HAD to have a sample…….

A seasonal and traditional favorite for sure!

Refresh…I can eat 26 points a day.
I can earn Activity Points by doing exercise.
I have an allowance of 49 points that I can dip into if I chose.
I should drink a minimum of 6 (8 oz) glasses of water each day.

The food I ate today and it’s PPV.

Breakfast = 5
Lunch = 10
Dinner = 12
Pumpkin Bread = 8

Total = 35

Activity Points Earned Today = 4
Remaining points from my 49 Points Allowance = 13
How many glasses of water I drank today = 8

What are some of your Holiday Traditions??

“love the life you live, live the life you love”