Food Dilemma

As most people do, a new year comes and we vow to eat better, exercise more and take care of ourselves.  I'm not any different.

I've suffered a few losses in the past few months - Two very dear friends (Ron and Sharon) passed away from cancer in the last 3 months - makes you think twice about your choices in life...in food, in activity, in things you do and people you care about.

I look back at 2012 and see that I had a great many successes too - I lost a bit more weight, I got out walking alot more, travelled to a new island, made a few local trips, took up Yoga and the biggest success of all, I quit smoking.  I'm really proud of myself for doing this - 37 years as smoker and I'm done.  Happy about that. 

Strangest thing is, I think my biggest set back was quitting smoking - all the hard work I put in since August of 2011 to lose excess weight was for naught.  Gained it all back - yes, all of it....in 4 measly months, I'm back to where I was in August 2011.

My plan is to haul my ample ass back to Weight Watchers tomorrow (I know it works when you work the plan...) and also make some other changes.

The great book that led me to quit smoking "Allen Carr's Easyway to Quit Smoking" also has a book called "Lose Weight Now"... so I'm reading this and realizing that I need to change alot about the food that goes into my body.  And that's ok - i'm over due for this change!

My Food Dilemma however is this...since 2011 I have stopped buying foods / fruits / veggies that have been shipped in from foreign countries... (i.e I recall WalMart selling Strawberries from Mexico in Ontario in June...WTF? Its strawberry season in Ontario and they are importing from Mexico? I let the manager know I was appauled!)  This just sends me off the deep end... I digress)

So my dilemma is - how do i get in my required fruits and veggies without buying from Peru, or Mexico or Japan?  My morals are going to suffer - my change in purchasing habits will go right back to the way they were before...

In order to cure this overweight problem once and for all, I may have to cave into buying tomatoes and peaches from 8000 km away... I'm not happy about this - but I want to nick this problem in the "butt" literally!

I will come back in a few weeks and update you all on how I try to stick to my morals and stay on plan.

Until next time.

My Last Cigarette

I have pined for this beautiful bronze statue since I fell in love with her at the Galerie Blanche in Montreal, QC in June. 

She is beautiful; her detail exquisite; from her little classic pumps, her chubby little legs, (she reminds me of me!) - the cleavage peeking out of her top; to the detail on the ash of the cigarette - this piece caught my attention and has not let me go - she is such a pleasure to admire.

However, she is totally out of my snack bracket! At $8,999.00 I will never be able to justify it... But I swore, once I quit  smoking I would save my money and make her mine... to remind me of the day I quit and of the wonderful new life I have ahead of me!

Oh, Rose-Aimée Bélanger (artist) I wish you had made her just a little less expensive... a little more attainable for the average middle class lover of your art.

Having said that - I smoked my last cigarette on August 14th, 2012 and have $11.00 and change saved towards my little bronze statue!

Coffee Hurts

In the week leading up to Canada Day, I was eating lunch with a friend and her 6-year-old granddaughter. The 6-year old was pretty animated as she talked about school and friends and teachers.

As I sipped my coffee, I asked her, "What special day is coming soon on July 1st?" 

She said "Canada Day". She's a smart kid. So, I asked.... 

"What does Canada Day mean?" 

Waiting for her reply with something about the flag, confederation etc. She
replied.......

"Canada Day is when the Prime Minister steps out of the Parliament
Building , and if he sees his shadow we have one more year of unemployment." ....... 

You know, - it hurts when hot coffee spurts out your nose.

NEED AIR!!

Seriously?

This place doesn't have AC?

This is it?

You Know You Are on Weight Watchers When....

• You accidentally swallow toothpaste and wonder how many pts it had in it.
• You stand in the aisles at the grocery store with your pts Calculator calculating the pts before you buy.
• Everyone at your lunch table is asking you to calculate the pts in “their” lunch
• You know your dogs needs WW too!
• You calculate the pts in cough syrup.
• Your child says there are too many pts in something s/he doesn't want to eat!
• You don't want to share ANY of your food with anyone because you've measured it and know exactly how many pts are in it.
• You know where every public restroom is wherever you go – can you say water consumption?
• You weigh yourself before and after visiting the loo just to see how much of a difference it makes.
• You turn into a 12 year old at your meeting when its time to give out Bravo Stickers
• You ask your WW leader to bring in a curtain so you can weigh-in naked.
• You convince the grocery store owner to organize the food aisles according to pts values
• You hang your 5 lb book markers from your car antenna. (remember those?)
• You calculate AP’s for Sex!
• People at work know when your WI day is because you have the same outfit on that day EVERY WEEK
• You call your family to the dinner table and instead of "what's for dinner?" they ask "how many pts are we having for dinner?"
• You take a bite and then spit it out because you realize it wasn't worth the points!
• You mark all the food boxes in the house with pts values with a big black marker – you also add your name and a note: TOUCH IT AND DIE!
• You bring your Molly McButter to restaurants so you don’t waste pts on butter.
• "On The Side" become the 3 most uttered words in your vocabulary
• You want to drive to Ben & Jerry's individual houses and drown them in a vat of Chunky Monkey
• The thought of having a bran muffin for breakfast gets you so excited you can't fall asleep.
• You dance a little jig in front of the frozen foods case in the grocery store because you finally found Skinny Cows! (and you count the activity pts for the jig!)
• You skimp on the makeup on WI day, just in case it weighs too much

and finally...

• The jeans you would have never dared to put in the dryer for fear that they would not make it back over your hips are in there right now, as you are hoping they shrink enough so they don’t fall off!

(Thanks to Mandy for some of the inspiration for this post)

Some favourite quotes - Weight Loss Journey

Down 24 lbs on this crazy weight loss journey!

A few of my favourite quotes....

“You have to put in many, many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile.” ~Brian Tracy

“Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Work, continuous work and hard work, is the only way to accomplish results that last.” ~Hamilton Holt

Nothing tastes as good as thin feels!

Little pickers wear big knickers!

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that. The really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.” ~Mark Twain

I'm too young to feel this old! ~Steven Tyler

In the Comfort of my "un"finished Basement

Here I am, sitting in my family room, finally blogging with new wireless connection and my new BlackBerry PlayBook!

This is going to make updates so much more convenient and frequent!

I have done weeks of research on the pros and cons between the "fruit" pad and this awesome little PB!! and I have to admit....."I dun good"

I am thrilled with my choice...
Until next time - Happy New Year!

The Quirky Stuff You Find on Kijiji! #1

OMG I have to have this!

Well, 'tis the season to hunt down that special something for that special someone! 

Some shop online at popular chains, others travel far and wide to deep pockets of the province and beyond, others decide it might be prudent to have a Kijiji Christmas for one reason or another! 

As I searched for an interesting lamp for my "in process" recreation room...I came across some very weird and quirky items! 

Just one look and you can understand why they are selling these things...they were either gifts from very mean friends, or they had a spurt of "OMG I have to have this" at the neighbour's yard sale last summer...then reality sunk in ..."WTF" was I thinking!? Yeesh! I'm going to see if someone out there in cyber space has their own "OMG I have to have this" moment!

Here is the 1st in a series of "Quirky Stuff You Find on Kijiji"!  Enjoy...

If you are having one of those OMG moments....and you just "have to have" this lovely floor lamp, do a search for "Floor Lamp" in Durham Region...and it's all yours for $50.00.

Best for Last....The description: 
Almost never used as it does not match the decor in my living room.

'ya think?

Travelling Blues - Is she coming back?

Travelling this weekend - pups see the suitcase out...I think they assume I'm leaving for good! (the suitcase is not that big!) No worries my little pups...mom will be back on Sunday...keep the bed warm :-)

Dear Addition-Elle

You have been good to me over the last few years - soothed my serial shopping addiction and cured my wardrobe blues...you dressed me in style and reasonable comfort, and although I hated your label sizes you still satisfied my needs.

But sadly (happily) I've made some changes in my life, I no longer need you and please forgive me but I don't think I'm in love with you any more... To be perfectly blunt...I never want to see you again. I will never be back...

Please be strong and don't take this too hard - always remember ....it's not you...it's me... 

PS - I must confess that I have left you for someone else - Reitman's - the regular size section! (I know its a bit incestuous...but I've always been somewhat of a rebel at heart! :-)

CUTE! Little Boy and His Dog

Its my Birthday, and I'll wear what I want to!!

Sir Jake, sporting the latest in fashion - "the fascinator" Inspired by Kate Middleton in 2010, the "fascinator" has become fashionable again!

Seen here in a beautiful beige suede felt with golden and black feathers, a touch of black lace and a square weaved, beaded metal ornament.

Its a shame that Beatrice and Eugenie did not consult Sir Jake prior to selecting their attire for the Royal Wedding!

Happy 3rd Birthday Jake! xoxo

Its a Dog's Life...Puppy Play Date - April 2011

Time for a pose through the railing....

From left to right, Dawson (17 years - Australian Shepherd), Jake (3 years - Yellow Lab), Tucker (1 year - Australian Shepherd), Missy (9 months, Border Collie)

I swear they are all smiling! :-)

Pedigree Commercial - Rub my belly

A rich man's city! A few comments on Vegas

Las Vegas... what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas and that means most of your money!
For those of you hoping to strike it rich in Vegas, remember; "Vegas was not built on Winners!" and you can certainly see that from this "over the top" city!

A bit of trivia...

• Did you know that when Paul Anka first played there, he was too young to enter the casino?
• The Flamingo is named after a long legged showgirl girlfriend of Bugsy Siegel!
• Howard Hughes bought the Desert Inn because he was asked to leave for overstaying his welcome!
• Visitors to Vegas top over 37.5 million every year!
• 17 of the 20 largest hotels are in Vegas...

Do you ever wonder?
How much more stress can Lake Mead take to fuel this over the top city?
Tons and tons of water flowing in almost every hotel... Mead has dropped over 100 feet in the last 10 years...

to be continued....

We Must Stop Cutting Down Trees!

Seriously, this is getting ridiculous!

Volunteers; They do not get paid because they are worthless, but because they are priceless!

Throughout the years, life brings you twists and turns. You rush, rush, rush, barely stopping to smell the roses...rush through school, do the wedding thing, have kids, rush to the baseball diamond, ballet lessons, Brownies and Beavers, live the majority of your life in the hockey arena; (the extent of your wardrobe consists of gloves, down filled parka's and Sorels) - and more than likely you have a van... the kids leave home then you end up trying to do things for yourself; travel more, take up hobbies, buy a 2 seater sports car, go zip-lining and para sailing and try desperately to make those check marks on your bucket list.

There comes a point when you feel the need for some volunteer work in your life. I thought of seniors... and yes, if I was in Ottawa where my mother is, I would be volunteering at her residence several times per week; I thought of doing the Brownie leader thing again, but heck, who wants to hang out with other peoples kids when you don't have to! (perhaps when I am a grand-mother; but not now)

Puppies! They rank quite high on my "what brings joy to your life" list!
Puppies, kittens and animals in general... this past winter I began my research and in the spring I chose my charity...

The Humane Society of Durham Region.

On December 17, 2008 at 2am, the Humane Society of Durham Region was destroyed by fire.
Approximately 150 animals perished in the devastating event. At the end of it all, no cause for the fire was ever determined. We were left to mourn with the enormity of our losses, and we were no longer equipped to provide proper care to the few survivors that remained.

Since the devastation...We moved into a small temporary facility to house our cats and small animals. Our dogs are placed throughout Durham Region in foster homes, kennels and animal services. From donations received, we purchased 2.15 acres of land on which to build our future home. Our application for infrastructure funding from the Federal and Provincial Governments was successful and they will be donating $1,394,000.00 towards our rebuild.

We still need help - we must raise $697,000.00 in order to fulfill our commitment to the infrastructure agreement. Our final goal is $2,081,000.00.

The new shelter will be an inviting place of hope, love and life for both animals and people. There will be enough space to house more animals in a physically and mentally healthy environment. We will have indoor/ outdoor dog runs, an off-leash play area for dogs, communal cat living
with access to a safe enclosed outside area for exercise and fresh air and facilities to meet the needs of many animals. There will be proper ventilation to help with virus control. In keeping with our wish to be environmentally friendly, we will incorporate “green” initiatives including
geothermal and solar tube natural lighting. With all of these initiatives, our operating cost will be less and our animals will be happier and healthier.

To remember our roots and those animals who were lost in the fire, their ashes will be brought to the new shelter and put in a place of honour. They are gone but will never be forgotten as we move to our new location.

"Phoenix Rising" ----------------
A mythical bird that lived with a life span of 500 to1000 years, as the end of its life approached, the Phoenix would build a pyre nest of aromatic branches and spices such as myrrh, ignites it on fire, and is consumed in the flames. A new young Phoenix arises from the ashes reborn anew to live again!-

For more information on Phoenix Rising please visit: www.humanedurham.com

Please remember those that do not have a voice...

How on earth did that happen?

My baby boy turns 30 this weekend. How on earth did that happen, when i'm only 35?

Happy Birthday Jeff on August 15th

Why Blog?

I'm asked why i don't blog more often? I had to think about that for awhile. I suppose with all the social media out there I am unable to make up my mind as to which widget to use! FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogger....My blog, or so i thought, was a space where i could rant and ramble about everyday things, deep thoughts or frivolous nonsense. And it is....perhaps i just feel like keeping my thoughts to myself these past few months. I suppose sometimes nothing said is best. I do Twitter every so often, and seem to regularly update my FB status... there i can write a sentence or two and be done with it... For now, i will say i will try and blog at least once a week and with any luck it will be more than that.

Prorogue Vacations.com

I had the pleasure of attending a live taping of the Rick Mercer Report on January 15th. What a treat!.

Rick capitalizes on the recent government activities to feed his monologues each week and as you may have guessed it, the recent "parliamentary prorogue" was at the top of his agenda.
He had a field day with this one; as he has had for several weeks!

During the taping we are able to see some of the spoof ads he comes up with that will air the following week. One of them had me in stitches!

An ad begins...targeting parliamentary employees that may be at a loss as to what to do with their time! A promo to visit "Prorogue Vacations.com" sent the audience howling.

Which brings me to one of the fun features on Rick's website "the Photo Challenge".

Download a photo of Harper, Ignateiff, Layton or some other political figure that Rick has posted - photoshop them into one of your own... (or one borrowed from a friend) and send it off to the Rick Mercer Report. If they like it; they may post it to their site!

I took a stab at it myself the other evening and this is what I came up with!

More hilarious photo's at his website http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/ (I"m hoping they like mine and post it under "Harper's" link.

Enjoy