Like Starting a Diet...

Every morning when I get up, I am bound and determined to start my diet. To write a new blog post. To pull those weeds. To call my friends and catch up. To cook a meal. To clean out the basement. To sort all those pictures. Ah, great expectations for 16 waking hours and all that they may bring!

And so, today, after months and months of nothing, I am back! I just can't let my 6 readers think nothing has happened here in Sterling since May. And so, if you all agree, I will pretend it is still summer for a while and catch you up on some fun summer adventures worthy of the written word.

Today's topic is our Annual Trip to Stone Harbor, Part 1: The Fancy Photos. 

These are my favorites of the artsy photos that I just love to take but have no idea what to do with them after that. So what the heck. I'll make you look at them. Enjoy them, or speed through them until my next post (which I promise won't take 3 months) which will feature the pictures I took of my family and the fun we had.

We'll start with the sunrise over the ocean ...

Add some fun flowers ...

And a few great bird shots for Betty ...

And finish strong with the sunset over the back bay ...

The beauty of Stone Harbor. It warms my soul.

Weight Watchers Online

Weight Watchers allows you to keep track of your food intake, or points, online. You simply enter the food name, or the calories, fat grams and fiber grams of what you're eating and the nifty Points Tracker determines the number of points you've just chewed up and subtracts that number from your total allotment for the day (a whoppin' 18 points ... for some perspective, a medium-sized apple is 2 points. So is a Rice Krispie Treat. Who in the world would choose the apple?!?).

One of the cool high-tech-y things the Points Tracker does is keep track of foods you eat often. These you can mark as your "Favorites" so that it is easier to include them on a regular basis. As I was inputting my morning Kashi Bar and small banana (3.5 points down the drain), I looked over my "Favorites" list and decided I am probably not doing this right. Here's what's on my list:

Freezer pops - 1 point each

Goldfish - 18 fish for 1 point

Hostess 100 calorie cupcakes - 2 points

Oreo Fun Stix (oh. my. gosh. de-lish & quite Fun indeed!) - 2 points

Oscar Mayer Bacon Slices - 4 slices for 2 points

Popcorn - A whole bag for 2 points

Baked Ruffles - 15 chips for 2 points

Kraft Single Cheese Slices - 1 point each

Tootsie Rolls - 2 for 1 point

Arnold Sandwich Thin Wheat Roll - 1 point

(that holds the cheese & bacon!)

If I eat all of that, I only have 3 points left for the day ... which is conveniently the number of points needed for a delicious WW Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sundae!

First Day of School Resolutions

The beginning of the school year is always bittersweet for me.

On one hand, I love having my kids home during the summer ... we play cards, watch movies, eat out (well, that's no different from the rest of the year), and just have a great time together. So when the school bell rings, I am always a bit sad.

Of course, you know the "other hand" side of the story ... it is quiet here today and I have a nice long list of things I hope to get done. Nothing dramatic, mind you, but crossing anything off the list is an accomplishment. (Yes, I admit used to write "take a shower" on my list when the kids were little ... sadly, that one didn't always get crossed off!)

But here's the biggest bonus for me ... the first day of school is way more effective than New Year's Day for successful resolution following-through-ness. This word may be new to your vocabulary, but I am ever so familiar with its antithesis. I have started many a successful diet on the first day of school, and I intend to do the same again this year. I have already walked the dog for half an hour (it was slug-dodge today ... why in heaven's name were there so many slugs on the path?) and I shall drink 6 glasses of water and eat my fruits and veggies before the day ends.

To all you moms out there, best of luck with your First-Day-of-School resolutions!

Here's my sweet Kayti

(and the mutt Kilmer)

on Kayti's first day of

her sophomore year

of high school.

Jean -- thanks for teaching me

how to post pictures.

Hi, Lexi!