The Focus? Family and Friends.

Saturday and Sunday, I was so focused on family and friends, I didn't pay much attention to food.....or taking many pictures......so today's post is mostly how I spent my weekend, and less about what I ate and it's PPV.

(I have not been diligent at all about posting my actual food and points eaten, and I know I am getting myself into trouble here. Bare with me. I mention it because I don't want anyone to think that I think I am getting away with something. I was up FOUR pounds at Fridays weigh in, 169.6. I am still out of the 170's, but barely!)

Friday was a great night with Tess and her friends here at the house eating Chili and Chicken Corn Chowder and rinsing it down with a few cold beers. (I had two beers.) I had a good time listening to them talk about graduating, job hunting, stories about friends, and watching the Ping Pong game later in the evening.

Saturday morning, I had them back in the kitchen filling up on a big Skillet Breakfast Scramble, Biscuits, Bagels and coffee.

I had a banana and coffee before I cooked up the really good stuff.




Half asleep, the kids that slept over sat at the bar and had breakfast while prepping for the big Pitt State game at Arrowhead Stadium.



It was really dreary outside, so they spent the morning discussing their lack of Rain Gear......

:) Kids.




I had heard about the Thomas Pumpkin Bagels.........then I came upon them at the store.......




I toasted them, topped them with Laughing Cow Cinnamon Cream Cheese and Pumpkin Butter!

Yuuuuuummmmmmmmm.........



I decided to share mine so I could enjoy a bit of my Skillet Scramble......which is Potatoes.....Bacon Pieces......Turkey Sausage......Eggs......and Cheese!



I cleaned up the mess, and the kids headed out to enjoy some Football in the RAIN.......(they lost).

I was taking an Overnight trip to visit an Aunt, and I was not excited to be driving over three hours in the rain, so I did my best to talk myself into a calm state, grabbed a coffee at Quiktrip (half Pumpkin cappacino, half coffee), popped in a few favorite CD's and headed down the Interstate in the rain.

I ate this for lunch.




I hit a few heavy spots of rain on my road trip, but it wasn't too bad. I have become this person that despises driving long distances. I think I have hit so many animals on the highway, that I am just so nervous and anxious that it is going to happen again, I can't seem to relax! The rain DOES NOT HELP!

I arrived at my destination successfully. The drive took about 3 1/2 hours. I was visiting an Aunt I hadn't seen in over 25 years. She moved a little closer to me about a year ago, and we knew eventually we would plan a visit. We had a great time together, and it had been WAY too long! She was exactly how I remembered her, and she made me laugh exactly like she did when I was a kid. We spent hours into the evening getting caught up, I spent the night, then we started all over again in the morning. We got a lot of stories in, and had some good laughs too.

Sunday morning was filled with sunshine, no rain or rain clouds in sight, so I decided to not think about any deer running out in front of me, and attempt to make my drive home as stress free as possible. While visiting my Aunt, she gave me a ring that belonged to my Grandma......






I wore it on my drive home. It brought back a lot of great memories, and it was so nice to visit all of those great memories.

My grandma passed away a little over three years ago at the age of 92. Since I was close to the cemetery, I decided to make a visit. My grandma is buried by my twin sisters that died before I was born. Although they only lived one short day, I like to think they are guardian angels for my dad, my mom, my brother and myself. My brother was only two when they were born.

When I got home, Tess had the Chicken Corn Chowder warming up on the stove, and the house smelled great! She and her friends were watching football in the living room, Mike was working in the yard, the dogs were barking like crazy, and as much fun as I had visiting my Aunt, it felt great to be home.

I had a bowl of chowder for lunch, and another for dinner. By 8:00 pm, I had gotten in a 45 minute walk with Tucker, Tess and her friends had headed back to Pitt.......the dogs were curled up on the couch......and Mike and I were in PJ's ready to watch The Good Wife.

It's going to be a really crazy week. It's just one of those weeks where there are things on the calendar every day, and most evenings. We are going out of town early Friday morning, and returning late Sunday. I have my exercise all planned out, but have not yet taken the time to meal plan, so that is on the Monday agenda at some point.

It was a great weekend, and I am looking forward to spending next weekend with Mike and some great friends.

Here's to a GREAT WEEK!





"love the life you live, live the life you love"