Snack size M & Ms may not be the best snack

Dieting around Halloween time can be difficult. I shouldn't have bought the candy until the night of Halloween so I could have gotten rid of it quickly. But I'm a sucker for a good deal...especially a CVS or Walgreens deal. I love those stores. So, when CVS put M & Ms on sale the same week the paper had a $1 off coupon...I prepared for Halloween early. 2 bags of snack size M & Ms for two bucks? That's a deal.

We've had a crazy busy week that started off on Sunday with the baptism of my 15 month old. I haven't even posted the pics of that yet, so you know how busy I've been. We celebrated that event with a nice dinner out at Pappadeaux's Seafood Kitchen. I was determined to "be good", so I ordered blackened catfish with a side of grilled zucchini.

But then the devil himself appeared at our table. He was in the form of a bread basket of course. With a side of real whipped butter. We had 17 guests and I swear the waiter brought out a bread tray for each and every one of us. I couldn't let it go to waste. It went to my waist instead.

Warm crusty bread with whipped butter.

Not a huge problem. Except for my mindset. When I've had a "cheat" like that, the day is blown for me. I hadn't eaten that much food in one setting in a couple of months. So dinner was no problem. Jerry and I even had a date that night and I could barely eat. I was still full.

But then about 10:00 PM I swung by the Halloween candy bowl. I thought to myself...hmm...I've already blown the diet for the day...a little snack wouldn't hurt. I opened a snack size peanut M & M's and quickly ate them. All six of them. Seriously. Six M & M's...that is hardly a snack.

You know that when you find yourself irritated and wanting to call the candy makers late at night to complain about the size of their snack bags, you are clearly mad at yourself for your lack of self control.

Anyway, I survived, decided not to weigh myself for a few days, and the week continued.

So did my "snacking".

I have a part-time job that I do from home. For a long time it has been easy to manage and I rarely go into the office. Recently though my hours have increased from 15 to closer to 25 weekly. With little childcare, it has become more stressful.

This week one of the other girls was on vacation and I was asked to help even more due to her absence. Quickly my little at home job turned into more of a monster. And to top things off I got called into the office two times this week for meetings. I usually go in twice in a month...so twice in one week was a stretch. The second of the meetings delivered some important news. I am needed full time. Not full time from home though. They want my presence at the office full time. They gave me 30 days to decide.

It took Jerry about 30 seconds to decide for me. Our desire is for me to be able to focus on the kids during these early formative years. Putting them in someone else's care 10-12 hours a day so I could do a long commute to work and make almost nothing after taxes, gas money, and the $390 a week daycare bill...just isn't worth it.

I get paid well, but to pay over $20,000 annually in childcare? Is it just me, or is that outlandish?

I'm in angst about communicating our decision to my employer. We can tighten the purse strings and make it. It just feels wrong not taking an opportunity when you know so many people are without work. I guess I'm just going to look at it like we're allowing someone else the shot at a new job...someone who may need it more than we do.

So the stress has continued...and along the way I needed some "snacks". Although somehow in the madness I convinced myself that two snack size M & Ms were clearly necessary due to the obvious packaging size error.

I realize this is a totally pathetic Fit Friday/Hot for the Holidays post.

My report:
Work outs---NONE.
Eating---healthy except for downing an entire loaf of bread with butter and enjoying multiple "snack" size M & M packages.
Weight---STEADY! Yay! I didn't lose, but I am actually just relieved that i didn't gain.

There is hope in sight. Jade woke up before 6AM with a stomach virus. So I'm thinking by the time it ravages the family, I will have a weight loss to report next week.

Hey, you've got to take it...in no matter what form it comes.

It's not too late to get Hot for the Holidays...join the fun at It's Almost Naptime!

And don't forget to check back here for my blogoversary giveaway. Starbucks makes great "skinny" drinks. I should have it up late Sunday or early Monday.