It's all a matter of perspective!

How does the time fly by so quickly? Where does it go, and what have I done in the last eleven days since I've posted? Hmmmmm....let's see

- wash, wash, wash

-cook, cook, cook

They are sparkly and beautiful!!

-buy shoes for wedding. Hope I can stand in them all day and still look good.

-make toiletry/essential item baskets for the bathrooms at the weddings

-make 150 paper cones filled with lavendar, and tied with bows and monogram labels, for the guests to toss at the married couple when they leave the church

-research and order wines/champagnes for the wedding ( a new task that we volunteered to handle   and pay for)

- continue with all the office tasks of running my husbands two, and soon to be three, practice locations

-plan rehearsal dinner, get invitations printed, addressed and mailed

-order place cards, gift bags and flowers for rehearsal dinner

-get my hair colored, cut and eyebrows waxed

-help my boys get packed and sent off to Montreal for the weekend bachelor party

-host my nephew and niece for a few days at my house

-take my  nephew and niece to the shore with me for a 4 day weekend

-get up at 5 am with my niece and her friend to watch the sunset on the beach

-dinner and drinks on the bay with the kids, my husband and mom


-bike ride, dog walk, and hang out on the beach daily with the kids

-buy some new beach chairs to replace a few that have broken

-grocery shop, cook meals, and wash during our shore weekend ( includes washing all the sheets and towels when everyone leaves ( UGGHHH...so many!!!)

-go to Ocean City for the night to ride the wild rides on the boardwalk with the kids


-send out my fathers day cards to my dad and father-in-law

- take my dad out for a fathers day dinner this past Sunday with the rest of the family

-drive up to my brothers today to be with the kids, pick my nephew up from camp and then take him to a friends house

-continue reading the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy ( on book three and still in awe as to how this writer knows about all this stuff!!)


-read wheat belly...or at least parts of it

- try to keep up with all the blogs, and comment when I can

-try to stay within my BFC guidelines

-get my annual pap smear and yearly gyn checkup

-get fitted for my rehearsal dinner dress and gown for the wedding

-get ready to pack up to leave Wednesday for a long shore weekend

-make these delicious chicken parm burgers that were featured on The Chew. They are dipped in  a little panko crumbs mixed with parm cheese, but I doubt it would even be a full carb serving. They are really good. I ate mine without the roll. I also made mine with half regular ground chicken and half ground chicken breast.


- make grilled romaine lettuce, topped with some carmelized onions, sauteed with chopped bacon, to which I added some balsamic at the end. Top the grilled lettuce with it and add some crumbled blue cheese and/or some caesar dressing. So good. To grill the romaine, chop in half, brush the cut side with olive oil. Grill until nice and charred. You can chill and eat later or eat right off the grill. The inside of the lettuce is still cold, but the outside has a nice grilled flavor. I am eating it this way the whole summer!!


I'm going to stop now because even I can't take anymore!!!That's it...I'm exhausted and going to bed. Hugs and love to you all!

Thought for the day: Life is a matter of perspective. Either you complain because roses have thorns, or you rejoice because thorns have roses. It all depends on how you look at it.fe is a matter of perspective, either you complain
because roses have thorns or
you rejoice because thorns have roses...

It all depends on how you look at it.Life is a matter of perspective, either you complain
because roses have thorns or
you rejoice because thorns have roses...

It all depends on how you look at it.

Don't take it personally!

Thank you all so much for the kind words regarding my beloved Riley. I am still so sad, and it seems that feeling is becoming a common one in our family. We all go about our life, but we miss Beth, and now we miss Riley. I hope they are having a good time together in heaven. He was the best dog, and I was lucky to have him for three years.

My other little dog, Roscoe seems to be looking for him. He's not quite the same, and the spark is gone from his eyes. They were crate mates at the shelter, and we ended up taking them both. I used to say how much easier my life would be if I hadn't taken the dogs, and had not acted so impulsively. But no, I made a quick decision, and said 'I'll take them both'. They were a handful as little 4 month puppies, but grew into great dogs. Now I regret every saying that. Who would have known how much our lives would change in 3 years.

Travelling to the shore in the 'doggy hammock'.

I hope my posts don't make you all feel down. I know our common goal is the BFC and/or losing/maintaining our weight. I feel my blog has grown into more than just that, and you are my friends. I just have to let you know what's going on with me, and I so enjoy when I get to have a glimpse into your lives as well.

Regarding the weight loss, I am creeping in the right direction, but ever so slowly. I am a  carb cheater, a wine drinker, and an over indulger. I am not perfect by any means. I am so in awe of those who made the commitment, followed it through and lost their weight pretty quickly. On facebook the other day, one person commented that they had only lost 25-30 lbs since January. They were upset at the slow loss. I haven't lost that much in a year! I'm down only about 17 lbs. I don't get it right all the time, my commitment wanes and sometimes ( gulp) I eat something white.

When I read that, I immediately took it to heart, and thought, wow, I am a failure. I blew it. I could have been down much more had I planned better, written down, cut back on the carbs. But then I said to myself, I can't take this personally. I am doing things on my own time, but I'm doing them. But the difference for me this time is I have a plan to always get back to, and I know it works. Limiting sugar, and processed carbs is truely the answer for me, and it works for me if I work at it.

So if you are like me, and maybe aren't setting the world on fire with whatever goal you have set for yourself.....keep going. Don't compare yourself. Do your best. Don't talk down to yourself. Don't take things personally. Don't assume what works for someone else has to work for you. In fact these statements are almost directly what the book The Four Agreements state.

This is a great little, easy to read book, that I have had for years. I have found that  any strife, turmoil, anger or sadness I encounter by way of my actions or the actions of others, could have usually been avoided had I followed these agreements. Here's a summary below.

Agreement 1

Be impeccable with your word – Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Agreement 2

Don’t take anything personally – Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Agreement 3

Don’t make assumptions – Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Agreement 4

Always do your best – Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Blessing to you all. Stay the course towards health and happiness. Sending love and hugs, and thanks for your love and support.

Thought for the day: Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more. ~ Louis L'Amour

Tears on my pillow....

Dear Riley:

You were one of the best dogs God ever created. You loved everybody, human or creature. You were so, so sweet and so funny, and sometime so stubborn. You did not deserve to die so young. You were only three, and such a sweet, gentle soul. I am so glad I picked you at the shelter. You were a real keeper. You blessed us with your unconditional love, sweet devotion and gentle spirit for three years. God bless you and your sweet, kind soul. I'll never forget your loving, big brown eyes, and how you would lay your head on my shoulder for some loving. I'll never forget you and you will be forever missed.
Love,

Your mom, Pattie

You were the cutest puppy!

You loved to jump up and give big hugs!

Still on that roller coaster!

Hello all!

I promised I wouldn't stop blogging, and I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted. Most of you know how my schedule is these days.I'm still up at my brothers a few days a week. This will get busier as the kids are out of school in two weeks. I have also been away every weekend since the beginning of May, and a few times for several days at a time. This weekend is the wedding shower for our side of the family. Last weekend was my youngest son's graduation in Connecticut, and this past weekend we were at the shore ( that's what we call the beaches of New Jersey, here in this part of the country) for five days. Also planning the rehearsal dinner, trying to run my husbands medical practice, yada, yada, yada!! Things never seem to settle down.

While I was at the shore, my three year old dog Riley was acting really lethargic and not eating. My dad who watched him while we were in Connecticut reported he wouldn't eat for him. After a week of this we took him to a local vet at the shore, who did tests and kept him overnight. They suspected he had cancer due to his high white blood cell count. They recommended we take him to the University of Pennsylvania. My husband drove him from the shore, back to Philadelphia which is about 60 miles. They kept him overnight, did many more tests and it turns out he has a very aggressive form of leukemia. Even with chemotherapy, he will only live a few months. So we brought him back to the shore and now we are home as of Tuesday. We are not going to put him through the chemotherapy because it is 18 weeks long and there is no hope of a cure, only prolonging his life. Right now, he's eating and drinking and sleeps alot. He does get up to go to the bathroom and he came to the door today when my husband got home. He's only three, so this is so sad for us. I have been crying for days. I know there are many people out there who have lots of problems. But for me, losing my sister in law in January, and now having to put my beloved sweet Riley down, is making me so sad and I feel overwhelmed with all the good and the bad things that are going on.

My  Riley boy, playing in the snow.

I want you all to know that I read and try to comment on your blogs. I am NOT going away. Please bear with me because I know the next few weeks leading up to the wedding are going to be hectic.  I was thinking I may just put and "XO" on your blogs, just so you know I read them and I'm still with you! Sometimes I don't have time or energy to post. So if you see that, know that it means hugs and love from me to you!

I am still losing, albeit very slowly, but with all that's going on, I'm pleased to report that. The carbs still get me from time to time, but it's good to know, as Kay recently said, you can always jump right back to the Belly Fat Cure. I really do believe it is the right choice for how I want to live the rest of my life.

I want to leave you with a few pictures from the bachelorette weekend. I am trying to keep you posted on the weekends that have passed. This was a girls weekend at my shore house. We had a great time, and I got a massage at the spa!

The girls playing their bachelorette games!!

This is a blackboard I have at the shore. We write all sorts of fun messages on it! Note all our beach badges on the sides.

Hanging out in the kitchen at the shore.

Dancing and singing with our spoons!

The bridesmaids going out on the town to Atlantic City. The moms stayed home, drank wine and WATCHED the movie Bridesmaids!!

 Thought for the day: "Ever notice that even the busiest people are never too busy to tell you just how busy they are" --Anonymous

Stop the roller coaster! I want to get off!!

Ryan and me in his apt.

Hello everyone!

How often have we said those words? Well maybe not those words exactly, but something similar. Make the world stop, make the bad man go away, calgon take me away.....you get the idea. I'm sort of feeling like that. So many things happening, at such a fast pace. I want to enjoy all the moments, savor them, mull them around in my mind. But it seems the hours, days and weeks are melting together.

Since I last wrote, I've  been to Indiana for a graduation; Longport, New Jersey for a bachelorette party weekend; and this weekend off to Connecticut for another graduation. Next weekend is Memorial Day weekend at the shore,the following is the cocktail/couples bridal shower, and then I get a blessed, few weeks with no obligations until the big wedding day in July. So many things happening at once!!

Ryan's home away from home for the last two years.

The graduation was wonderful, and despite some bad food choices, a little too many carbs in my case, I fared pretty well. I came back and was up a few pounds, but then came back down a few. Maybe all the walking we did payed off.

I am so proud of my son Ryan for getting his MBA. We had a wonderful time celebrating. Here are some photos.

Outside his apt building.

Lunch at a local brew pub!

Got our seats and waiting for the big moment

The walk for that degree!

Proud parents with the graduate

Proud mom and happy fiancee with the graduate

This is a cool tradition. Ryan says they do it after every class!

Indiana University is a beautiful campus.

So this weekend I am off to my youngest son's college graduation in Connecticut. And for the first time in eleven years I am tuition payment free!! Yay!!!

 I have so many more things to tell you. I'll post again soon. Remember to stay the course, pick yourself up and get back on track if you make a mistake, and keep a positive attitude.Oh, and always push that bread basket away where you can't reach, it at the restaurants!! Hugs and love to you all!

Thought for the day:  Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. ~ Confucius

Busy as a bee!

Hello All.

I think I told you several hundred times the following....how busy I am....how busy I am....how busy I am!! Don't I sound like a broken record? It's just that I'm so busy!! We all are. Doesn't that seem to be what everyone says when you ask them how they are. Whatever happened to the answer...."I'm doing great, and how are you?" There's a saying I heard once, that says, if you want something done, give it to a busy person. I find, especially at the beginning of the week, when I'm at my brothers for several hours in the afternoon and evening, that I often get more done in the morning hours when I'm home. I don't have the leisurely time to  go about my day at a relaxed pace. I fly from activity to activity to get to everything that needs to be done.

With that being said, I felt sad when I read Kay's post about everyone being gone from the blogs. I am not a quick blogger. I'm a bit chatty ( really??). So for me to sit down and write on my blog, I know I'm usually going to take about an hour, especially if there are pictures. I reread, edit, rearrange. I like to play around with it. So often I say, I don't have time for that now. I'm trying to be more spontaneous, because I really feel that checking in, staying connected, and getting fresh ideas and thoughts, is really the key to making this lifestyle change a permanent one you can live with. And that applies to whatever plan you are following. A support system is critical to staying the course.

I just found Kim's blog, while I was over at Kay's blog reading her posts. I can identify with Kim. I have been "following" the Belly Fat Cure for well over a year. I'm embarrassed to say that I have only lost 15 lbs. Some of you have lost that in a few months. And I take full responsibility for my slowness. I have not been as diligent as some of you. Not with the sugars, but with the carbs. I admit, I'll dabble in a little pasta, snitch a piece of bread from the restaurant bread basket, eat some of those nachos. I guess at times I haven't been a good follower. But I still feel that I can contribute to the success of all of us. I keep on going, try to do better. I have kept off what I lost and I have made lifestyle changes that I stick to.

So while I have so much to say to you all about the graduation weekend, a few new recipes that I've discovered, and what's going on with the wedding plans, that will have to wait until a later blog. Today I just want to say, I value all of you, my dear cyber friends. You  give me mental strength, moral support, great  ideas and a lot of laughs. As the Stanley Steamer man says in the commercial.....I'll be here....I'm not going anywhere!!!.

Sending love and hugs, and a promise of some graduation photos, stories and plans for the bachelorette weekend coming up!!

IT'S A TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!!!

Thought for the day:

If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do. - Lucille Ball

It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted.

Mary O\'Connor

Rainbows in the clouds

The shower centerpieces

Some cocktails and bubbly for celebrating.

Good morning everyone! I see that as spring comes into full bloom,  many of us are falling behind in blogging, commenting, and probably everything else too!  I just want to say that last night I curled up on my favorite chair with my ipad and read all the past posts. It's only been a week since I wrote last, but so much has happened in the blogging world. So let me just put it in a nutshell and say; yay to Kay for zumbaing and redecorating, congrats to Amber's sister for continued success on her weight loss journey, and glad you had a great time in Hawaii, Amber, love to Jeri who is feeling the blogging blues, keep up the good job Katie and your happy attitude, miss you Dawn and Beth, and big hugs to Rosalie who speaks from the heart in an honest and true to herself fashion. Sorry that you are hurting and you  know you have our continued support. Oh, and hi to Carey ( I think of you everytime I put that smoked gouda cheese into my eggs in a mug recipe!!) and Shawna too. Sorry, sorry, sorry if I forgot anyone.  I love all of you who honestly contribute, read and comment.  I personally feel like I have gotten on a treadmill....a very fast treadmill.... and I can't find the button to slow down the speed. But then I was thinking back, and realizing how often in my life I have thought these very same thoughts. Wishing that life would slow down, that calmness would come over me, and all the pieces of my life would fall into their perfect little places. And so it goes, and here I am.

This past weekend started the six weeks of whirlwind activities.Every weekend there is some wonderful event to celebrate. It was kicked off with bridal shower number one, hosted by my FIL's ( future daughter-in-law) mother. It was a lovely ladies luncheon, with champagne, quiche, cupcakes and presents. Here are a few photos:

Me, and my mom and niece

The lovely tables

Cupcakes...the bride's favorite

Shower favors. Teacups with a candle inside

The delicious buffet

The bride opening her gift from me.

We all had a wonderful time, and from the buffet, I was able to choose some delicious grilled vegtables, a large salad, and two very thin slices of quiche. I left some of the crust. I passed on the croissant sandwiches and the potatoes. Of course I could have taken some of the chicken, shrimp or tuna salad off of the croissant, and it would have been perfectly fine to eat. I decided I had enough with the other items. I even passed on the cupcake. Now the wine was another story. But hey, it's all about choices. You can't have your cake and eat it too!!

After the shower we celebrated my niece's 16th birthday that evening over dinner. She wanted to go to a restaurant and we brought our gifts and a cake. It was a lovely celebration. I could feel the love for her, and I know her mom was watching down on our small, simple, family celebration of this milestone birthday. Before Beth died, there was a large celebration planned. But my niece was adamant that we abandon that plan, and keep it small and just immediate family.I took lots of pictures, but feel that I need to protect their privacy alittle so I'm keeping them private. Here's a picture of the cake. I did have a three bite sliver.  I really didn't want it, but despite all the tactics I have come to learn about refusing food, I knew I had to partipate in this cake eating ritual, when my niece passed me a plate. Rosalie has always said that if you need to eat something that's not on the plan, just have a few bites. And so I did. The day was bittersweet, but that's where we are right now. Taking the bitter along with any sweetness we can find. Maybe we will have a sweet 17th large celebration next year. If it feels right. Sending all of you love and hugs, and blessings to get through the bitter and the sweet moments in your life.

A cake for the sweetest 16 year old.


Thought for the day:  "God puts rainbows in the clouds so that each of us- in the dreariest and most dreaded moments- can see a possibility of hope." Maya Angelou