So... I haven't "blogged" in ages. I've been busy! June 30 was the last of the birthdays. Shopping for three in one month is like Christmas! But we're all celebrated now.

I've been following my diet ...peanut butter toast and soy yogurt (with cinnamon) for breakfast. Iced tea instead of a cup of hot tea to drink. The NYT Crossword Puzzle...of course. Walking at least 2 1/2 miles a day. Lifting weights every other day. Lunch is still a salad. But...what with all the fresh fruit coming into season....strawberries with bananas, vanilla ice cream ("Chilly Philly"...made in Philly...low in sugar...all natural...delicious!), cinnamon, whipped cream (real whipped cream...not Cool Whip...no carbs in real whipped cream!)....delicious dessert every night! I've lost 40 pounds to date.

Older daughter's was the last birthday celebrated. She has not fully embraced low carbs like the rest of us so along with her grilled chicken cutlets she asked me to make my potato salad. Which, of course, I did. And we had sliced field grown tomatoes (the first of the season!) with fresh mozzarella cheese sliced and marinated fresh cooked green beans. We also had a huge bowl of sauteed zucchini with onions and mushrooms and melted cheese on top.

Her cake...banana with fudge icing. Her dad and sister and grandfather had a piece and then she took it to work (I'm allergic to chocolate so couldn't have had it anyway...but I made it!). She had to work on her birthday (12 hour shift!) so I packed up the cake and sent it with her. A colleague made cupcakes and another friend bought a little cake...so she had her full complement of birthday carbs!

I have been working on my novel (for seven years!) and it is finally done. Now to get some feedback and work on getting an agent, etc. Memorial Day is over, "Staycation" is over, birthdays are over, the novel is done, July 4 is over. Now I feel as if summer can really begin.