Catch-up

I'd like to say I haven't blogged much because I've been too busy, but I'd be lying.  Mostly I've been watching the first 2 seasons of this show:

they're very cute :)

I do try to use my time wisely :)  We're on season 3 now...not loving it as much so maybe I'll have time for other things!

Actually a lot has been going on lately.  I got a job...where I lasted exactly 1 shift and 1 staff meeting.  It wasn't what I thought it was going to be - way to much manual labor for this old body.  I thought it would just be a little part time job I could do a few evenings a week - no big deal, but it took me a week to recover from one nights work!  Perhaps my fibromyalgia isn't as better as I'd thought.

So I found something that better suited me. I taught some paper crafting classes (a trio of small books) at the local Hobby Lobby.  It went really well and definitely something I'll pursue more of...crafting classes for short term, and for long term I'm going to get certified in an alternative emotional healing method and teach classes in that. It's nothing too out there - I promise!

In other news - finally some good has come from giving up almost all foods - my cholesterol is down and I've lost 25 lbs! I'm feeling so much better (except for that job week). Downside, I've also had to give up tomatoes and almonds :(  Upside, I can still eat fries from In-n-Out and 5 guys :)

I made some very yummy oat bran pumpkin muffins this week - not just "allergy free yummy" (my standard of yumminess in baked goods is incredibly low I'm sorry to say - there's just not a lot you can do with only oats and tapioca flour!) But these actually got a thumbs up from normal people :) (I made a few changes - no spices, rice milk, oat flour for regular flour, 1 egg for the 2 whites)

I highly suggest adding a crumb topping before baking - just threw a handful of oats, brown sugar a couple tablespoons butter and pinch of salt in the food processor - makes all the difference!  Even with this addition - they're still fairly healthy!

Remember when I used to bake bread?  I miss that...so does my family!  I still find it really hard to bake things I can't have.  Also hard to cook things with ingredients I can't have - how to season things if you can't taste it?  I usually just wing it. No one complains though, because they're just so happy to have the foods we used to eat!

Blog posts seem so me me me - I much prefer a give and take...

So how are you all doing?  Any big plans for the holidays?  Are you ready for Christmas?  We're trying to cut back this year - make it a bit more simple and meaningful - yeah, I'll let you know how that goes!

Though I've found 2 presents that I need this year - Glee Karaoke and Just Dance 2 for Wii.  I haven't quite figured out how they fit into the whole simple and meaningful part...still working on that.

One last thing I want to share with you.  I downloaded this album a couple of weeks ago and I love it.

It's definitely not the Mormon Tab (is it ok to be Mormon and not like the Tab? Hope so!) it's very folk-y.  I think it would make a fabulous Christmas present.  I'd want it if I didn't already have it!

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving, filled with family and friends and lots of yummy food - I know I will be!!