Saturday morning so where are you going today?

The weekend is the time to take a daycation or if you're so motivated check out places close to your home to go for an overnighter.

We're fortunate that we live in Charleston South Carolina so daycations are a regular for us.

Those in other parts of the country that are facing holiday storms I feel for you.  Don't get me wrong it gets cold here in Charleston, occasionally but yesterday it was a balmy 77 degree but tonight it's going to get cold here, maybe even freezing overnight.   The good thing is it will be warm again in the daytime.

Charleston has so many exciting places to visit and restaurants, well you could put on ten pounds in a weekend without even trying.  Hyman's Seafood Restaurant on Meeting Street is my favorite and it's just steps away from the Historic market.  Should be a must on anyone's list.  Say hi to Eli and Brad, they'll love to visit with you.




If you're in the area and want to go paddleboarding, I hope you'll enjoy it as much as our family does.  Picture below was one of our first outings but we were able to get the hang of it quickly. This is my daughter Angie and I.  The water temperature right now is only 61 degrees so if you're going to venture out you'll need your wet suit for sure. 

 

Slightly North of Broad is another restaurant favorite here in Charleston

 

You might want to venture out to Shem Creek to watch the Shrimp boats as they come in to the creek with their bounty.  Stop by Wando Seafood adjacent to the creek for fresh shrimp just off the boat or a stop at GeeChee Seafood for fresh fish and you can get shrimp off their boat too.  You might even see the manatee that visits occasionally for his drink of fresh water from the hose.

Or you can take a walk through the historic district along the Battery.  There are so many gorgeous homes, and bed and Breakfast stops too.  This is one of my favorite;

 

 

Or just take your friends to the beach like we did last night and it's butts up!

Well mark Key West off our bucket list

We had visiting Key West on our bucket list and we finally made it.  We couldn't believe how beautiful the water was and the beaches were spectacular too.




Everything moves slowly in the Florida keys including the ice in your glass.?  I am a type A person and need to go, go, go.  I would never survive just sittin in a beach chair watching the world go by but it seems like a lot of folks do.

Key West is known as the “Winter White House”.  It has been a favorite spot for visiting U.S. presidents, and the island has been home to literary favorites like Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams.

We love to snorkel  and it's a diving paradise too.  Get out to the reefs,.This is where the best snorkeling is. We've always wanted to swim with the dolphins but we've never had them come near us.  If you want to do this you'll have to got to Discover Cove at Sea World in Orlando or find a tour that can accommodate.  There are several places in the Keys to do this too.  The water have so so many beautiful species of fish and we saw such great expansions of coral just off shore.




This is such a beautiful  little village  lined with vacation cottages with gingerbread cutouts to define each as an individual piece of art.  There were tiny shops  around every corner. for those with shopping fever.  Definitely worth the drive.  It's 7 hour drive from Miami and the speed limit is  35-55 MPH so it takes time to go through each small town on the way.  Oh an the trip wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Southern most point in the continental U.S.

 

If you don't want to take the drive you can also take the ferry from Ft. Myers Beach that departs at 8:30 am and arrives in Key West at 12:30 pm.  Definitely put it on your bucket list.

 

 

Carnival Cruise lines out of Charleston South Carolina

Carnival Cruise lines has been offering cruises departing from Historic Charleston, South Carolina.  We have traveled twice during the past year and it is such a convenient location for us.

There are many residents in the downtown Charleston area that want to put end to the cruise ships coming into the harbor stating they are ruining the environment and ambiance in the area.
I don't understand, just yards away, each and every day container ships come past the downtown area and into port but nothing has been said about them.

The historic area in Charleston is very important to everyone that lives here but trying to stop Carnival rather than working to make it a good relationship between the two isn't benefiting the city or its residents.

When we were on the ship they advised that they would have a silent departure with no announcements when we came into port so that the residents of the area wouldn't' be disturbed.
It was a fast and efficient debarkation and from what I observed there wasn't a huge traffic problem.

Its true that when cruisers are arriving there are a lot of cars parked adjacent to the ship but this is a vacant area that isn't interfering with the Market area or residents parking.

We had a great time and its wonderful to be able to embark less than thirty minutes from our home and have the kids drop us off at the ship and pick us up the following week. 

 

Our ship in port

My husband waiting to pull out of port

 

The tug waiting to push us out into the harbor

I've lost 83 pounds and keeping it off!

Today it has been Sixteen months that I've lost 83 pounds and I'm keeping it off.
I've battled my weight all my life and after 45 years of trying every diet on the planet I finally found that when I worked the system, Weight Watcher, this time it worked and it's sticking.

The program had changed and when fruit was a no point food,  this was my salvation.  I'm still a work in progress, working each day to maintain and trying to change my thinking about food.  It isn't easy.  I'm still a fat person in my mind and still a sweet-a-holic but I've learned not to eat the whole dessert table just take a portion.

The weight loss has improved my health, but the down side is fat fat fat left over everywhere.  You can't exercise it off.  I have bat flaps that I can waive hello and goodbye with, but still going from a size 22 to a size 14 is a great improvement.

If you're struggling with your weight know that there are so many other's that are too.  You're not alone.  Let me know the weight loss journey your on.  I would love to hear from you.

Watch for my great holiday recipes for Thanksgiving and the holidays.  I'll share my recipes that I've taken the calories out of and left in all the flavor. 


                                                   Here are my before and after pictures

                                                 

Blogger Butt

This morning I checked my Activelink, my Weight Watcher accessory that allows  me to track my activity throughout the day.  You wear it around your neck, can carry it in your pocket or even wear it on your belt.  Well I checked my weekly progress for last week and was shocked to see I only had 8 activity points when I usually have 22-24 for a week.  So far this week and I've only earned 7   I've been sitting blogging way too much. 

I'm glad I have my Activelink to let me know I'm falling in a hole and need to MOVE IT!  It's like having a personal trainer.  I would have let it go and not realized I had been so inactive had it not been for this great tool.

Today I'm going to walk and ride my stationary bike to get more activity points that I can exchange for food items.  Holidays are coming so I'm going to need em!

Everyone take the challenge today and get out and walk.  Make it a healthy day.

                                                                           

                                                                    The Activelink

Cutting bottles with 7" wet saw

I have researched this subject to death and watched every video possible.  One guy even had a bandana over his entire head with only his eyes showing.  REALLY!
I put on my big girl safety glasses and took my husband outside to his workshop for support and I DID IT successfully the first time.  It's easy, easy, easy and the possibilities are endless.  I'll post some finished projects soon.  Here are photos of the challenge today. 

I didn't know if I was going to enjoy retirement but it's starting to fit me better and better each day with every new adventure.

Watch for more to come.

Travel treat-My Great Coconut Granola-Great for gift giving too

This morning I need to make my traveling buddy, my homemade Coconut Granola.  I also need to get some off to my friend Kathy for her birthday next week.  I promised her a stash of it.   It also makes a great Christmas gift for close friends.

If you've even been stuck on a plane, had a flight delayed or stuck in New York City Traffic at 5:10 p.m. trying to get out of the City this can be a life saver.  It's a handy treat, no refrigeration required.  It has lots of fiber and will keep you full for the duration.

Granola is personal.  It's a matter of taste.  You should only use ingredients you adore.  If you don't like raisins like I do you might want to put in dried apricots or apples, but make it something worth eating, something you truly enjoy.   When I eat it I only put 2 Tablespoons on my morning yogurt, but I make sure it's two Tablespoons of sheer pleasure.  I don't sit down and eat a bowl full with milk, but I could.  I would eat 1/4 cup with milk but that's my limit.  Remember I just lost 83 pounds so I have my Weight Watcher Tracker to be accountable to as well as myself.

                                                            Ingredients I used

I use Frudtkt 45% from Ikea.  This is a Muesli with banana, papaya and coconut.  I have a wheat allergy and this does have wheat flakes but it doesn't seem to bother me.  This is a great base mix and you just add all your favorites.  If you don't live close to an Ikea, we don't,  you can  use regular oats but would have to add all the fruit yourself.  This is definitely a money save; everything is already mixed for you. 



                         Frudtkt 45% from Ikea


You've got your base and now let the creativity begin.  You are only limited by your imagination.  I like Craisins in mine.  I rinse them prior to putting in the granola mix and dry them to remove the preservatives on them.  I like a mix of great nuts so used Simply Almonds, Cashews & Cranberries Trek Mix from Trader Joes.  You can use any mix of nuts you like.  This is convenient and my family likes almonds even though I think they are too big for granola, but I accommodate them and just pick around them.  I also use Jumbo Raisin Medley from Trader Joes and rinse them as well.  I like the high quality ingredients from Trader Joes and the great prices, but if you don't have one near you use whatever your local grocer carries.    I also can't make it without 100% organic Coconut Flakes from Whole Foods.  This is the best and largest whole flake, unsweetened coconut I have found to date.

 Put all this in a large bowl and add about 8 ounces of raw honey, not the processed stuff unless that's all you can find.  Raw honey has so many valuable health ingredients that haven't been processed out with pasteurizing but read the warning on the bottle not to give to children under the age of 1.  Mix all in a bowl and spread on a baking sheet.  Mix in 1/2 cup brown sugar and mix thoroughly.

Spread it on a baking sheet.  You can use a Silpat, a baking pad that makes cleanup a snap.  If you don't have one just spray your baking sheet with a cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 24 minutes stirring every 10 minutes and a final stir when you take it out to cool.  If you want hard, hard granola you can bake it longer but I like a little crunch and not stone hard. 

Great for holiday giving too.  I try to find great packages for this simple treat

I keep a pouch of it in my purse when traveling and it's a great sweet treat with fiber.  If you've got an ice cream stand close by buy a cup of ice cream and sprinkle this sweet treat on top.  You can't buy that anywhere!

Kathy watch for your birthday package, It'll be in the mail in the morning.  Happy Birthday!
I would love to hear from you as granola is a wonderful traveling companion and I'm always open for new recipes.  A great adventure in cooking.