Day 115 from France

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris SoCal...





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Lunch With Friends

Karen - Day 114 - Burbank, CA

Today's adventures led us to an unexpected lunch.

4 and I were out at an appointment when we saw Jamison and his beautiful daughter.

Of course my kid fell madly in love with her and begged them to have lunch with us.

We went to Cafe Verona and it was lovely.

If you're thinking to yourself, "Hmmmm he looks very familiar" you would be right.

photo borrowed from internet

Jamison Reeves is a very talented actor, writer, director and film maker.

He's also been a very generous and wonderful friend for many years.

His wife, Wendy, owns a magical place called Willow Spa.

If you are ever in Santa Monica you have to check it out.

What does all this have to do with The French Skinny Experiment?

I guess I'm trying to let go of my expectations and see where life takes me.

Did you see that salad? Delicious and very healthy.

And at the end of the day, it's all about good friends, good food and love.

The Sweet Life.

Day 114 from France

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris SoCal...

The Eiffel Tower from afar.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone 4

Joyeux Dimanche - Pie

My first pie.

This week I received my Thanksgiving copy of Bon Appetit Magazine. And actually read it. I decided to make the "Cranberry and Wild Blueberry Pie" as a sort of test pie to make on Thanksgiving. It's worth it. And it's almost gone.

Happy Sunday!

"My Thing"

Karen - Day 113 - Burbank

Hedgehog

(Painted with a popsicle stick because, why not)

I'm feeling a little lost.

Usually when I'm feeling lost I curl up in front of the TV with some Nacho Cheese Doritos dipped in salsa and sour cream. This has been "My Thing" since High School.

In fact, I just reconnected with some High School friends and the first thing say is "You know that sour cream and salsa with Doritos thing you made for me? I'm still eating it."

My legacy?............ It could be worse.

I do know that Shaboom doesn't eat because she's feeling lost. So I will not do that either.

Today.

The calendar is tick tick ticking. Yet the day is so long...........

Until I see my kid painting Hedgehog. Over and over and over again. When he's done, there are 10 Hedgehog paintings. We made an art show in his room.

I'm not lost anymore.

2 cups of coffee.

Ham and eggs for breakfast.

Lunch was baguette with tomato, basil, garlic and some of 4's macaroni and cheese. The latter was eaten standing up so I'm going to call it "tasting for flavor."

Dinner was a lovely homemade soup made by Hubby.

I would include Hubby's recipes but he never uses one. He just throws things together and it turns out delicious.

Suddenly the day was over.

The art show was a success, everyone was asleep and I didn't miss the Doritos and salsa at all.

Kind of.

Day 113 from France: Sunny Promenade

Shaboom sends us her update from Paris SoCal...

Weigh In Week 16 - The Day R2D2 Went To The Dark Side

Karen - Day 112 - Burbank, CA

Weigh In: Week 16

Goal: Lose 35 pounds in 6 months the French Skinny Way.

Lost 1 pound this week.

Total lost so far: 14.5 pounds

Our day started out with a beautiful breakfast at De Bell Clubhouse.

It's very pretty, the people are nice and they don't mind a rambunctious 4 year old.

I had ham and eggs. Ate about half and took the rest home.

Then 4 and I were off to Jack Knapp's birthday party,

If you haven't met Jack's mom, mymomsanerd.blogspot.com, then you should go right now. She just dropped a bombshell yesterday.

This is the beautiful cake she made for Jack.

Take a good look. By the end of the party R2D2 will have gone to the dark side and I will have realized that I'm "one of those" people.

It's not pretty, people.

Everything was perfect.

The decorations.

The house.

The food.

4's creation. (Eaten before we left because they were delicious.)

I was enjoying a little tiny diet coke (first one since I started this), chatting with Smacksy. Bob, Jack and my kid were playing with balloons.

Suddenly there was a noise in the kitchen. There may have been a scream. That's the way I remember it. We rushed in.

R2D2 had slid off the plate and gone to the dark side.

Jack's Mom joined him on the floor in solidarity.

Once she was up and on her feet again she was saying "Keep Jack out of here until I fix this!"

I blurt out "Didn't you use dowels?"

She shakes her head no. I nod my head knowingly.

(When I was doing research for my planet cake I found out that if you're making an intricate cake you have to use dowels to secure them or they might.....well do this.)

I don't know what kind of crazy battle went on but the carnage is still on the wall.

She puts the candle on what was left.

Luckily Jack Knapp had no idea what had happened and cheerfully blew out the candle.

When we came home I showed Hubby the pictures of what happened.

Hubby:"You didn't start talking about dowels did you?"

Me: "Well....yes."

Hubby shakes his head and walks away.

Then it dawns on me.

(Gasp) I'm one of those people.

How could I have started talking about dowels at a time like that? What a horrible person I am! I send an email (and copies of the pictures) to Jack's Mom apologizing for being "one of those people."

I have no excuse. I'm just terrible.

Later I had baby carrots and some peanut butter.

This has no effect on the shame cloud.

Homemade chicken soup with half a freshly baked roll and real butter for dinner.

I know it's cliche but it did make me feel better.

Organic popcorn with a little butter while watching TV.

I'm pretty much over it now.

I believe she has forgiven me.

At least that's what I'm telling myself.