Filed in About holidays on Saturday, August 20, 2011 · No Comments »

They Are Quick, Easy And Fun Gifts For Young And Old To Make For Family And Friends.

The trick is in the folding to make the napkin look like a Christmas Tree.

Let the kids cut some out of paper and decorate their own.

Use them as name tags, decorations, Christmas Tree ornaments and napkins, of course.

Napkins can be either single or double layer of fabric. They can be any size you want them to be. The example I am using here is a 14-1/2″

Use some pretty Christmas prints or some unusual decorative fabrics.

One year, I used a lacey fabric and rolled the edges with a gold metallic thread. Then, I hung them on my tree. It really looked pretty.

You really don’t have to sew these napkins if you don’t want to. You can use decorative edge craft scissors to cut the fabric and not finish it with sewing at all.

You can even use paper napkins if you like. Have fun with this idea.

Less than a yard of 45″ wide fabric makes 6 napkins single layer or 3 double layer.1-5/8 yards makes a dozen single layer napkins.

Preshrink all fabrics.

I also like to spray starch my fabric before I cut and serge or satin stitch the edges of my napkins.

Cut Napkins into 14-1/2″ circles.

To make a paper pattern, draw a circle 14-1/2″ in diameter.

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Here is how to make a compass to draw your pattern.

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Tie a string or ribbon to a pencil.

Measure the string back from the pencil 7-1/4″.

Put a pin in the string/ribbon at that point.(7-1/4″ is the radius or 1/2 of the diameter of the 14-1/2″ circle.)

This is your compass to help you draw your circle.

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Here is how to draw your pattern.

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Place some tracing paper down and put the pin in the center.

Now, extending the string, and using the pencil, draw a circle out all around the pin 7-/4″away.This creates a 14-1/2″ circle for your napkin pattern.

Label it and keep it for future napkins.

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Single Layer Napkins

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Serge finish with the right side up on your serger.

I like to use the rolled edge finish on most of my napkins. It depends on the fabric.

Feed the circle of fabric to the knife slowly letting the knife shave off a little of the fabric.

Slightly overlap the beginning stitches about 2 inches.

Seal the end with “Fray Check”. Let dry. Trim off the thread tails.

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Double Layer Napkins

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Place 2 circles wrong sides together.

Make sure one circle’s straight grain matches the other circle’s bias grain.

This will minimize flared edges.

You can also apply slight differential feed to eliminate flared edges.

Or you might want to baste the two layers together to help hold them while you finish the edges.=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Serge Finish Edges With A Serger

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A rolled edge works well on light to medium weight single layer napkins.

A rolled edge may not work on the double layer fabrics or heavier fabrics. Test it first.

Try using a narrow satin balanced stitch instead.

Note: If you get the “Pokies”, try wrapping the napkin bias edges in Solvy (a water soluble stabilizer) and then serge. Wash the Solvy away when finished.

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Conventional Machine Satin Stitch Finish

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If you don’t have a serger, you can use your conventional sewing machine.

Finish the edges with a satin stitch sewing in

from the edge using a stabilizer such as water soluble Solvy.

You may want to spray starch the napkins again before stitching. It might help.

You can apply “Fray Check” to the outside of the stitching when you are finished to seal the edges.

Let it dry and then trim off any excess fabric.

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Fold and press the napkin into a Christmas Tree Shape.

Here are the folding instructions.

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1. Fold the napkin in half and press well. We will call this fold the center fold.

2. Fold again into quarters and press lightly. This is a temporary crease that we will use as a guide to establish the fold we actually want.

3. Open back up to the 1/2 fold again and measure 1-1/4″ above the temporary quarter foldline.

4. Fold the napkin “back” along the 1-1/4″ new line (the one above the quarter fold) and press well. We will call this fold, Fold A.

5. Now you have a fold at the top, (Fold A) and the lower part of the center fold to your right.

6. The upper part of the center fold that you just turned down, we will call Fold B.

7. Take the top Fold A and bring it over to meet the center fold edge to your right and press in place.

8. Now bring the upper portion of the original center fold (Fold B) over on top of Fold A and to the lower portion of the center fold edge and press again.

Voila! There you have a Christmas Tree.

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Decorate your trees

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Add a bow, jingle bell, decorative Christmas button or whatever at the top of the tree if desired.

Embroider each family member’s name on his/her napkin.

Use decorative stitches, paint or decorate your tree napkins any way you like.

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More Ideas For Smaller Trees

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Consider making smaller circles into trees, add a ribbon loop at the top and use them to decorate packages or to hang on your Christmas Tree as ornaments.

Use up lots of that stash! It is easy!

Or, how about letting the kids cut some circles from paper napkins and have them decorate their trees with crayons, stickers like stars, glitter glue, etc.

They could give them to family members, classmates, teachers, etc., use them on packages, hang them on the big tree, or use them as place cards at the dining table.

Be creative. You are the designer. Have fun making your Christmas Tree napkins!

It just makes sense!

Happy Holidays!

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© 2005 Marian Lewis – All Rights Reserved

1st Step To Sewing Success

Marian Lewis is a sewing instructor and the creator of an amazing new fitting method for hard-to-fit sewing folks.

In her ebook, “Common Sense Fitting Method For Hard-To-Fit Sewing Folks Who Want Great Fitting Skirts And Pants”, find out step-by-step WHAT you really need, WHERE you really need it and HOW to apply that to a commercial sewing pattern.

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Marian is also the author of other eBooks related to sewing including, “Sew A Tee Pee And Accessories For Your Tribe Of Kids” where she teaches basic sewing techniques while you have fun doing it!

To learn more, go to: => http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/sewing.html

To discover sewing and fitting secrets to achieve sewing success, follow the link: => http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com

Filed in About holidays on Friday, August 19, 2011 · No Comments »

Men reported spending much more in 2004 than women on December holiday (Christmas and Hanukah) gifts in a recent survey of the wealthiest 10% of U.S. households. The differences in 2005 gift expenditures will be about the same or a little greater, as men plan to reduce their spending less than women in 2005.

Men reported spending an average of $1,212 on holiday gifts for their spouse, more than double the average $568 spent by women on their spouse. Spending by men (and women) for holiday gifts was $948 ($604) for children under 18, $1,896 ($1,044) for children 18 and over, $734 ($549) for other relatives, and $523 ($395) for friends.

Average gift expenditures for a spouse were highest among those 60 and over ($1,575 versus $740 for those under 60) and those with a net worth of $6 million or more ($2,617 versus $744 for those with a net worth of $1 to $6 million). Those with an income above $200,000 averaged $1,188 versus $601 for those under $200,000 in income.

Average gift expenditures for children under 18 were highest among those 60 and over ($3,835 versus $760 for those under 50), those with a net worth of over $6 million ($1,395 versus $759 for those with a net worth of $1 to $6 million), and those with the higher income ($897 versus $607 for those with incomes above and below $200,000 respectively).

Average gift expenditures for children 18 and over were highest among those over 60 ($2,226 versus $1,191 for those 50 to 59), those with a net worth over $6 million ($4,097 versus $1,219 for those with a net worth of $1 to $6 million), and those with the higher income ($2,075 versus $1,092 for those with incomes above and below $200,000 respectively).

Average expenditures for other relatives and for friends showed a pattern similar to that of children, but the differences were somewhat smaller.

The average expenditure of spenders, weighted by the percent buying for that type of person, totaled $2,807 for the people represented by this

survey. That is about five times the average of $565 for all adults, based on a recent survey for The National Retail Federation.

These results were obtained from the recently completed Fall 2005 “Affluent Market Tracking Study #8” by The American Affluence Research Center. A continuing series of twice-yearly surveys, these studies track the 12- month economic outlook and spending plans of the wealthiest 10% of Americans, the 11 million households representing about half of all consumer income and spending and a third of the total US economy. These are the consumers who have helped the more upscale retailers to out perform others in recent years.

The survey participants were asked to identify the people to whom they would give holiday gifts this year. They were then asked how much they had spent on those people in 2004 and by how much their expenditure would change in 2005.

Highlights of the national survey of 448 men and women in the wealthiest 10% of U.S. households can be found on the AARC website, www.affluenceresearch.org. The survey participants have an average income of $308,000 and an average net worth of $2.7 million. The survey has a 5% margin of error at the 95% confidence level.

Ron Kurtz is a principal of The American Affluence Research Center and The Management Resource Group. Both companies provide marketing research and strategic planning services to prominent clients in the travel and hospitality industries, especially those targeting the affluent market.

Prior to founding MRG in 1989, Ron’s experience included over 20 years in senior management positions in the airline, hotel, and tour business. As the founding President of Sea Goddess Cruises, he created the product category of small deluxe ships for the very affluent. He also served as the chief marketing officer of four cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line and Windstar Cruises.

Ron has been a key contributor to 6 start ups and 11 turnarounds of substantial businesses. He earned his MBA at Harvard Business School.

For further information: http://www.affluenceresearch.org and http://www.mrgconsultants.com

Filed in About holidays on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 · No Comments »

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

I was feeling a little blue last week. Out of sorts. I had a funny sensation all week. Couldn’t really put my finger on it. I was feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. An uncommon feeling for me and one that I haven’t experienced since I can remember. I came to the conclusion that it was because I was entering unchartered territory in getting this Rocket Mom Society officially launched. That even though I see the need, feel the need and am eager to respond to the need, that others would not necessarily catch my vision. That to get it up and running was too much work. That I was unqualified. Technologically retarded. Feeling a tad bit sorry for myself—no, feeling sorry isn’t quite right—um, maybe feeling that I had over-stretched my personal limitations. Yes, that’s it: stretched too much. Reached too far. Dreamed too big. And my emotions hadn’t yet caught up with my brain.

I needed perspective, but far more, I needed wisdom. I needed to read that going out on a limb produces anxiety. That these feelings were normal. That I wasn’t nuts. That it was okay to ask for blessings. For reassurances. That praying for enlarged territory was not only “allowable,” but it was part of God’s design on my life.

I curled up on my living room sofa with one of my favorite books: Bruce Wilkinson’s The Prayer of Jabez. Having read and re-read it many times, I needed to re-read it now and capture, once again, the wisdom contained in its few pages.

Growing up as one of those Christians who believed it would be greedy of me to ask for even more of God’s blessings when I enjoy so much to begin with, I had a hard time with the concept that it was not only okay to ask for more, but that it was what God wants from me. For starters, I had an incorrect understanding of the word “blessing.” I had, of course, heard the word, seen the word. Hundreds if not thousands of times before. But we use it incorrectly. And it leads to misunderstanding. As Wilkinson discusses, we say “Bless you” after someone sneezes. We casually tell people we wish them blessings. We bless the food, bless the turkey, bless the pumpkin pie.

But “to bless in the Biblical sense means to ask for or to impart supernatural favor.” (1) When I ask for God’s blessings, I’m not asking for more of what I could get, or more of what I could accomplish or more of what I believe I deserve! I’m asking for God to impart to me—through His supernatural power—something which I could not attain by my own.

In Wilkinson’s book, we see that Jabez left everything up to God: how he should be blessed, what blessings would befall him and how he would receive them.

It met me exactly in the moment in which I needed it. (I love when that happens…) I was able to finish the book, pull myself up off the sofa (after

a nice little nap) and bounce through the weekend with renewed energy and enthusiasm. I had a simple prayer: “Lord, show Yourself powerfully. Show me that You are here. All around me. Working everywhere. Even in my loneliness and my fear.”

And funny little things happened all weekend long. I got emails from friends with whom I hadn’t conversed in weeks. Phonemails, too. Kind gestures were bestowed on me…catching me totally off-guard. Like when I offered to watch a complete stranger’s little girl in the outside lobby at the Cheesecake Factory so the mom could check on the estimated length of her wait, only to receive during dinner some food sent over by her as a way of saying “Thank you.” Several more small, seemingly insignificant acts of kindness occurred over the next couple days, giving me very much a sense of God’s presence. Of His working everywhere.

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I would ask you to give special consideration to the word “blessing.” It is not meant to be taken lightly. It is a word which we raise up to our Creator in prayer. With humility. We ask for showers of blessings in order to further glorify God. Praying for God’s desires to be met. Not ours. We pray without ego. Or competitive ambition. But just to better walk these days in service to Him and to our fellow man.

My Thanksgiving prayer is that you would receive supernatural blessings in order to live more fully God’s design on your life. That He would abundantly bless you so that all of the things that He desires in the world would be met through each one of us bold enough to ask for our place in it. That however God wants to use you to fulfill His goals, you would be up for the challenge. And that it would be crystal clear, that it will not be by your works—or by mine—that His will be fulfilled. For as Scripture teaches: “The Lord’s blessing is our greatest wealth; all our work adds nothing to it.” (Proverbs 10:22) I hope you use some of the “downtime” of the holiday weekend to prayerfully submit yourself to God’s work in this world. To be fully open of how and where you might fit into the eternal drama. That your heart would be pricked in such a way that you would be open to the miracles which God wants to do through your life.

May God’s richest blessings come to you, on Thanksgiving Day and everyday!

NOTE:

Wilkinson, Bruce, The Prayer of Jabez, Multnomah Publishers, Sisters, p.23.

Carolina Fernandez earned an M.B.A. and worked at IBM and as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch before coming home to work as a wife and mother of four. She totally re-invented herself along the way. Strong convictions were born about the role of the arts in child development; homeschooling for ten years provided fertile soil for devising creative parenting strategies. These are played out in ROCKET MOM! 7 Strategies To Blast You Into Brilliance. It is available on Amazon.com, in bookstores everywhere, or by calling 888-476-2493. She writes extensively for a variety of parenting resources and teaches other moms via parenting classes and radio and TV interviews. Please visit http://www.rocketmom.com to subscribe to her free ezine and get a weekly shot of inspiration.

Filed in About holidays on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 · No Comments »

Who started that BIG LIE? Undoubtedly those with something to sell, the modern moneychangers! Look at the folks about you rushing like sheep to the slaughter, to the “sales” and such that they simply cannot afford.

Going into debt certainly isn’t biblical, so why not break free from the trance? The “Christmas” rush is a “drug” pushed by commercial pimps prostituting a supposedly Christian holiday for their ungodly profits! They hold hands around the cash register and sing, “What a friend we have in Jesus.”

The whole idea of giving gifts has gotten out of hand. First: it’s not Jesus’ birthday. Second: the wise men didn’t exchange gifts amongst each other but gave their gifts fit for a King to the King of the Jews (two years old and living in a house at that time – which is why Herod slaughtered the children two years and under trying to abort the Messiah’s ascension to David’s Throne).

If Christmas is supposed to be about Christ (and some sincerely believe it is, still in denial that it’s a

pagan holiday God wants no part of), why let Santa steal the show? Why do folks pretend they care that Jesus was born when they deny His life the rest of the year? Why do folks get angry when you mention these facts and they’re not even religious? The herd doesn’t want their trance broken, so they’ll go broke keeping alive pagan festivals and foolishness that will be the death of many.

“Harmless” Christmas celebrations, abominations to God and rejected by Christ, are setting the stage for our worst nightmare: our family and friends are going to be shipped off like cattle, since our countries are prophesied to suffer national defeat and deportation due to such idolatrous ideas and tinsel traditions. WAKE UP: Christmas is an ABOMINATION.

David Ben-Ariel, a Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall, shares a special focus on the Middle East, reflected in hard-hitting articles that help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out Beyond Babylon.

Filed in About holidays on Monday, August 15, 2011 · No Comments »

Snow glistened outside and groups of children with their lanterns alight could be heard singing Christmas Carols as they moved from house to house in exchange for chocolates and sweets that residents would throw out their window. That’s when the mad scramble began trying to look for sweets in several feet of snow.

I sometimes yearn for those magical, mystical years and reminisce especially when I listen to Bing Crosby’s “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”.

Our way of compensating for the lack of cold weather in December is by having Christmas in July celebrations with all the trimmings including weather close to that of the northern hemisphere (well almost – anything north of the Tropic of Capricorn hasn’t been included, sorry).

In Australia many of us still write cards with snow and ice scenes, people ice-skating on frozen lakes and pictures of cute reindeers. Not only would Santa melt from the heat wearing his red winter woolies, his reindeer would die of heat exhaustion working in such sweltering heat!

No reindeers and sleighs for us – we have ‘six white boomers’ (boomers: large kangaroos) thanks to a song by Rolf Harris from the ‘60’s. I’ve seen our Santa pulling a surfboard wearing sunscreen, board shorts and hat, zipping through the southern skies. Yes – he’s our man!

A far cry from the drunk Santa I remember riding in the back of a ute (ute: utility vehicle) in the country many years ago. Last seen swigging on a long neck (long neck: tall bottle of beer) trying to articulate “ho ho ho and a Merry Christmas to all” as the ute slowly drove down each street in my neighborhood.

Carols by Candlelight are a tradition ‘down under’ during the weeks leading up to Christmas at many venues around towns and cities of Australia.

Christmas lunch here in this great southern land is a different experience. As Christmas Day closes in the temperature continues to rise as does the humidity here in Brisbane. You know Christmas is here when you start hearing the continuous shrill sounds of cicadas (large winged insect) on hot, cloudless

days.

I know many still insist on cooking the turkey, other roasts as well as roast vegetables and gravy in the stifling heat (I did until recently), as well as fruitcake and custard. Not everyone has air conditioning here so a cool breeze is often top of the wish list.

So what is a traditional Christmas lunch down this way?

1. Prawns (prawn: shrimp) for the barbecue – on ice and with lemon wedges;

2. Fresh Fish from the market – arrive very early (if you’ve never had this experience before you’ll know what I mean when you do);

3. Tossed green Salad, bowl of beetroot with onion, and some asparagus;

4. Snags (snags: sausages), lamb chops – lamb cutlets if you can afford it;

5. For ‘afters’ (afters: after lunch) Beach towel, togs, thongs, sunscreen, cricket bat and ball (thongs: cheap rubber open sandals, togs: bathing costume);

6. An esky full of beers (esky: receptacle to place all alcoholic drinks – on occasion you may get lucky and find room for other items but don’t get too excited);

7. A few bottles of drink coolers for the girls;

8. Wine for the more refined;

9. More beers for the esky; and

10. A laid back attitude.

With lunch done, we look forward to our the great tradition of spending Boxing Day watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, The Boxing Day Test cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), or by spending the day lazing at home or spending it down the beach.

Having been outside once today, I’m very aware of how hot and humid it is and apparently it’s not going to get cooler any time soon. So as I sit here looking at the cloudless sky and writing this article, I am indeed “Dreaming of a white Christmas, if only in my dreams!”

Merry Christmas and safe holidays everyone from Brisbane Australia.

Michaela is a Transformational Coach, certified practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), writer and intuitive who is totally committed to helping others create positive and action oriented changes to their lives.

Michaela is the author of several e-books and publisher of a monthly newsletter called From My Desk.

You can find out what her website offers at http://www.michaelascherr.com

Alcohol Abuse information, tips, recovery and treatment.

Filed in About holidays on Sunday, August 14, 2011 · No Comments »

The days of dining by plucking fruit from trees and roasting small animals over the fire, eating with fingers, and perhaps fighting with others over the scraps are long gone. Or are they?

More and more we swing our car through the drive-in, grab our food from the window, and proceed to eat with our fingers, so perhaps you need a brush-up on the basics of formal – shall we say “civilized” dining – before the great Thanksgiving feast.

Rules of civilized dining evolved because, according to Margaret Visser (“Rituals of Dinner”), “animals are slaughtered and consumed, the guest-host relationship is … a complicated interweaving of the imposition of obligation and the suspension of hostility, and the ordinary table knife is related to actual weapons of war.”

Utensils were to be handled delicately, so as not to alarm. For instance, the knife was not to be held in the fist, like a weapon, nor pointed threateningly at anyone, and conversation was to be gentle, not provocative.

Now for a review of the basics on how to be the consummate Thanksgiving guest.

1. Respect time.

Arrive on time with a smile on your face and plan to have a good time. Leave on time. If it hasn’t been stated, you will have to use your EQ—your intuition. Watch the host (generis) for subtle cues – the more formal the occasion, the more subtle the cues, i.e., changing position in his chair, sighing, and talking about “what a big day we have tomorrow.” As you say you must leave, expect protesting, and expect to leave anyway. It’s a “formality.”

As our visits in the homes of others become more rare, the #1 complaint of hostesses seems to be that the guests won’t go home. One woman told me her guests arrived at noon and had to be jettisoned, finally, at 10 p.m. That’s not a get-together, that’s an ordel.

2. Wear your uniform. Do your job.

Yes, as the guest you have responsibilities. Dress appropriately and festively, and prepare to make it a happy occasion. Note “make.” It doesn’t just happen; those in attendance must make it happen. Eat, drink and behave in moderation.

3. When summoned, obey the summons.

As a long-time PR person, you can’t imagine how we appreciate the “leader type” who, when we say, “It’s time to take you seats,” heads for the dining room and beckons her friends to come along; and when the hostess says, “Shall we retire to the living room for coffee,” does the same.

4. Observe protocol.

Age before rank. “Special” people would be the great-grandmother, then if you’ve invited your boss, or there’s a guest of honor. The most special person “sitteth on the right hand” of the host and hostess, who are seated at opposite ends of the table. If there are not place cards, it’s appropriate to ask, “Where would you like us to sit?”

5. Once seated, stay awake!

Look to your hostess to lead. At this meal even the most unsuspecting people will say a grace, for instance. The hostess will indicate when to start passing things, and when she starts

to eat, you may eat. Facilitate the meal for others – start passing the shared items, the salt and pepper (both), the butter, the cranberry sauce, and the gravy.

6. The passing of things.

If your plates are served, then when someone asks for the salt, pick up both the salt and pepper and place them down beside the person next to you. They are not passed hand-to-hand, and only the requesting party may use them. Inefficient? Manners are not about efficiency.

7. Make conversation.

It’s an active thing! At a smaller seating, there may be one general conversation; in a larger group, talk with the people across from you and on either side of you. If you’re conversation-challenged, work with your coach and come up with a list of conversation-starters, i.e., Did you see that great special on PBS last night? What are your plans for Christmas this year? How was the traffic at the airport? What football team are you rooting for? Start training your children young. Help them come up with a list of things to talk about. They’ll love it and feel included.

Your hostess will appreciate if you keep the conversation going, spend some time with the shy people or the octogenarian, and help with awkward silences. At formal dinners, businesses lunches and other dining occasions traditionally when the food is served, everyone starts eating and there’s a silence. Someone needs to “break the ice.” Plan for this and be prepared with a confident and cheery, “It sure gets quiet when the food comes,” or “Marcella, where did you find fresh arugula this time of year?”

8. What about all those utensils and glasses?

The general rule is work from the outside in. Go here to review: http://www.cuisinenet.com/digest/custom/etiquette/manners_intro.shtml

9. Beginnings and endings.

The napkin. When you’re seated, place your napkin in your lap. When you’re finished, place your utensils on your plate; don’t push it away. Place your napkin loosely to the side of your plate.

10. Odds ‘n’ Ends

Sit upward in your chair; don’t lean back. Don’t rest your elbows on the table. It’s permissible to lean forward slightly and rest part of your upper arm on the table. If you take medication, do it discretely and neither mention it nor notice it in others. Something in your mouth you don’t want? The way in is the way out. Spit the olive pit into your palm and place it on your plate. Deposit the turkey bone back on the fork and place in on your plate.

What can you eat with your fingers? Artichokes, plain asparagus, bacon, bread, cookies, corn on the cob, chips, French Fries, hors’ d’oeuvres, sandwiches, small fruits, berries, and cubed cheese. When in doubt, wait and see what your hostess does.

©Susan Dunn, MA, EQ coaching, http://www.susandunn.cc , mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc . Individual coaching, business programs, EQ Alive! #1 rated program to increase your EQ – simple, no memorizing, it works. Email for information, and free ezine.

Filed in About holidays on Saturday, August 13, 2011 · No Comments »

We all know we shouldn’t reach for the holiday pie after Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) – it’s against the rules and the potential to make us sick is very high. If that’s not enough to motivate restraint how about considering the nutrient analysis of some favorite American pies. Take a look and see if it is really worth it to taste that full-fat, full-sugar dessert:

(Based on a 1/8 slice of the pie)

Pumpkin Pie: 461 calories, 21 grams fat, 9 grams protein and 60 grams carbs

Pecan Pie: 436 calories, 17.2 grams fat, 3 grams protein and 67 grams carbs.

Apple, Blueberry or Cherry: 340 Calories, 16 grams fat, 3 grams protein, 46 grams carbs.

Coconut Cream Pie: 485 Calories, 25 grams fat, 6 grams protein, 48 grams carbs.

Chocolate Cream Pie: 401 calories, 21 grams fat, 6 grams protein, 50 grams carbs.

Top that slice o’pie with real whipped cream – add another 104 calories, 11 grams fat, 41 grams cholesterol and a gram each of protein and carbs.

I’m laying down my pie fork right now! It’s just not worth a taste of pie to risk being sick, uncomfortable or worse weight gain. (I know – you can’t gain weight with one taste of pie – but I have never been able to restrain myself to one taste. What about you?)

Still don’t want to go without pie this holiday season? Here are two sugarless and relatively safe dessert recipes for celebrating LivingAfterWLS style. Indulge with caution – though they do not contain sugar they are sweetened with artificial sweetener and contain high amounts of fat, calories and carbs.

Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients: