It Looks Like A Bedroom Again

Last night after work I thought "A nap sounds good!" and then I remembered my bedroom... or as it has been known this summer, The Repository of All Things Inconvenient and Unsightly.  For some reason it had become the place for stray papers, off-season clothes and who knows what else.  So I marched my hiney in there and picked up one thing.  Then another.  An hour or so later it finally looked like a bedroom again and I was planted on the living room couch, sorting through papers.  Another hour or so after that all evidence of the cleaning binge had been handled.  I have my bedroom back and I don't regret missing that nap one bit.

What dreaded task have you tackled lately?  Tell us about it so we can pat you on the back!

Don't forget to enter the drawing for a $60 gift card!  Entries will be accepted until 9/2/10 at 5:00 P.M. CST.

Happy Monday!

Sunday my friend from college and I ended up meeting at Winsteads.  The food was mediocre but the company was excellent!  I did manage to stay on track with the food; I had a side salad and a burger without a bun.  Here's a blurry picture taken by the waitress. 

It was great to catch up.  You know how nice it is to talk to someone you have known for years, someone that understands all your verbal shorthand and jokes?  It's almost restful.  There is no "trying", it's just effortless communication.  Friends, what would we do without them?!

I hope everyone has a great week.  Don't forget to enter the drawing for a $60 gift card! 

Planning to Stay on Track!

Good morning my friends!  I want to send a big thank you out to my readers because I'm Shedding the Fat-Suit just surpassed having 30 subscribers on blogspot.  I've been watching that number for a while and for some reason really wanted to get past 30.  Thanks, you guys are awesome!

I am going out to lunch today with ANOTHER friend I have not seen in forever, this one is a college-buddy (buddy-ette?) and I am way excited to see her.  I was thinking we might go to d'Bronx, a great local pizza place with fabulous salads, sandwiches and desserts.  I could get one of their salads and totally stay on track.  But it's a little out of the way so we might go to Winstead's instead.  It's a local burger joint.  Or another local burger joint is Town Topic.  Word on the street is that they have the greasiest burgers in town.  Mmmm grease.  I can stay true to plan at a burger place by getting it without the bun and with no fries.

Have you had a chance to catch up with old friends lately?  Leave a comment telling me what you did when you got together... eating out?  Meeting for drinks?  Fishing?  Or (gasp) exercising? 

I hope everyone has a fab day.

My Favorite Lunch Spot, French Pastries Included

Hey folks, I hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday.  It's beautiful here in KC today and I had lunch was a great friend who I don't see nearly enough.  And our lunch was at my favorite lunch spot on the planet, Andre's Tea Room, which is a part of Andre's Confiserie Suisse.  And if you are asking yourself "what is a confiserie suisse?" then I will tell you, it is a little bit of heaven right here on earth.  If you doubt me, let me just tell you that not only do they have fabulous food but they charge a flat rate for any lunch, which includes a drink and one of their French pastries.  The lunch portion sizes are reasonable so I never leave hungry, but I also never leave stuffed to the gills.  And the desserts, while amazing, are served in little ladylike-sized portions, so you can indulge and still feel virtuous.  Then, as you walk to the exit, you pass through the sales room for the sweet shop/bakery, which is full of handmade chocolates, more of the amazing pastries, and tortes and cakes too.  I keep meaning to take pictures when I have lunch there.  Next time I go I will try to remember. 

Today I had the bratwurst, and my dessert was Mocca Roulade.  The bratwurst was tender and perfectly cooked, served with dipping mustard, potato casserole, and a tossed salad.  But I asked to have their carrot salad instead of the tossed salad... I never knew I cared one bit about carrot salad until I had theirs.  And now I pout if it's not offered when I make it down there for lunch.  They must marinate the carrots in their special dressing; I am sure it has sugar in it but I'm not sure I care!  And speaking of sugar, the Mocca Roulade was mocha-y almond-y sweet goodness, and fabulous enough that I don't for one minute regret having that much sugar.  I live and work far enough away from Andre's that it is a special occasion to go there, and when I do, I have no regrets!

Where is your favorite lunch spot?  Do your city or town have a place the locals flock to and out-of-towners track down as well?

Don't forget to enter the drawing for a $60 gift card to a great online store!  Click here for the instructions.

I am not affiliated with Andre's Confiserie Suisse and was not compensated for this post.  I am merely spreading the good word about some of the amazing food in Kansas City.

I'm Still Here

Hey folks, I hope everyone's summer has been great.  I just wanted to drop in and say "I'm Still Here!"  I've been pretty busy the last few weeks.  My sister and niece came out from Virginia and spent a week here.  It was so much fun!  We went up to Omaha to the zoo, visited with J's sister-in-law, niece and brother there, and back here in Kansas City we went to a little water park a couple time.  And they helped me redo two big flower beds!  We liked the road-trip idea so are thinking about taking a longer one for next year's visit. 

Then my dad, step-mom and two little baby sisters came out for three or four days.  I had not seen them in five years because they were living in Guam, but they relocated to Las Vegas this year so it's a little easier to visit now.  Dad is getting older so I'm really feeling the need to see him at any opportunity.  Step-mom is only nine years older than me and is a hoot.  She is Chinese and we cooked up a big Chinese food feast one night; she improved my steamed dumplings quite a bit and it was so nice to have someone to help me with all the little wrappers.  And the baby sisters are adorable.  Last Monday morning when the family was ready to leave, the eight-year-old was crying. I said "Oh, I'll miss you too!" but Dad straightened me out... it wasn't me or J they would miss, but our dogs.  Kids!  Too funny.  I couldn't help laughing.

After all the visiting I started falling off the low-carb wagon but am back on it full-force now.  I just feel so much better without all that sugar and bread.  It's okay once in a while, but I have more energy when it's not the main part of my daily diet.

Have a fab day!