I am feeling relaxed & at peace this year about the holidays. In the past, each year has been filled with excitement to create the "perfect Christmas" as well as the stress of rushing around, gift buying & event planning....& we have a SMALL family. I still have the excitement but the idea of the recent stress I've experienced has me focussing on a calm, lower key time of relaxation. ( My mom was a Christmas girl, for sure...I guess I take after her in that regard)

This year the idea of NOT hosting a holiday getogether is VERY appealing.

Thanks Sis for the Boxing Day dinner invitation. I will be able to celebrate with my family members there. This hasn't always been possible in the past since Jodi didn't live in London...another blessing for sure!!!

My organizing & planning is complete...most of my preparations are done...now just the last minute cooking just prior to the holidays...thank goodness my hubby is the grocery shopper in our house...don't want to think of those checkout lineups.

This year the gift of time is what I'm very thankful for. I'm off xmas eve, Dec. 25, 26 & 27th. so I definitely will cherish HOME with my hubby & daughter
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I did some cleanout & reorganizing this past weekend. It's amazing how NEW your home can look when you give it a fresh appearance by changing a few rooms around. It feels good to give to the Salvation Army this year through my donations...I prefer to always give back this way instead of selling off items that we are letting go of.

I'm going to my hubby's xmas party on Sat. night. I plan to wear the same outfit to his as I wore to my work party. It still amazes me that clothes that I have worn in the past & which seemed invisible now seem to make such a statement. I got many compliments & a few whistles when I won a wreath at a draw at my party a few weeks ago. Think of your body as a hanger...when the weight is evenly distributed...the clothing actually HANGS better...that's how I feel...(notice...there is no mention of size here) I LIKE THAT!!!!

My WI today was 123.4 lbs. (2.2 lb. drop) I'm very happy that my weight seems to be regularly stable now...I will NOT ease off on keeping track of it...this is what is working for me...I have been asked often & by many how I am managing to keep LEAN (my words) as opposed to skinny or "fading away". (as my dentist stated)

The holiday eating elsewhere should be interesting to see since my "feel good" focus has been through eating healthy foods only. I don't get any cravings so Salts & Sugars are not a temptation to me. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy my desserts each meal...or that chocolate doesn't hold the same appeal...just in regular, small portions moderately.

I went to my dentist yesterday for a cleaning. I was overdue...it was 1 year since she saw me...needless to say...she commented on my new size...including face & body transformation. I ended up with 1 cavity...interesting since I have been virtually cavity free in the last few years...& this year in particular I have been extra vigilant in eating so well. It was an expensive lesson for a new toothbrush!!! Hehe!!! My xmas gift to my dentist will be a return visit to fill that cavity on Mon. (All I can think of at this minute is a cavity in the yummy turkey that I plan to fill with stuffing in 2 weeks!!!)

Saturday is my mother's birthday. I have missed her since 1999 but somehow this year she seems so much closer in my thoughts. She ADORED Christmas & so many of my happiest holiday memories include her...it makes me WARM just reliving those memories...This Saturday night I will dance for me & for her...


This year, sparkers, give yourself the very best gift you can ever get...the gift of movement through fitness. Who knew, SWEATING could feel so good!!!


Living long, happy & well is the ONLY true lasting gift we all get, cherish it,

Merry Chrismas to you all,
Sandi