One week down..

So I've made it thru the first week of getting back to things.. it was kind of fun-- & funny .. & yes -it was a series of "baby steps" triumphs .
I managed to stick to eating healthy .. even ended up buying a whole chicken to eat the breast off it on the way home from Costco with the kids! ~lol~
let me tell you... avoiding the samples in there was HARD! akk! :P

Getting in workouts was a bit more of a challenge seeing as the kids were still home, & then I had to go back to silly work.. but I managed to get creative..
one eve at work, I did a body weight work out on my break & another - I took one of my girlfriends out for a 45 min speed walk up & down around the hospital grounds on our dinner break..& let me tell you for me this was something 'cause it was COLD!!!
but we talked & caught up while we went ..so it was good !
Yesterday we all went for a HUGE bike ride down the hill from us - thru some trails & up some more hills !! We did this since Stevie had got his " new bike" that he had desperately been wanting with his Xmas money & we had a decent day to try it! :D
again.. it was cold but really kinda fun & cool involving the kids & Jamie in my "cardio" .

& best of all - I even managed to say a very assertive "no thanks" to the orange cake * droool* that someone had brought into work last night.. & ate my veggies instead..
So all in all a really good week!! .. still don't really wanna talk about numbers or weights.. just trying to keep my hand hold on the "wagon!"

Thanks all for you words of wisdom & encouragement.. I've enjoyed & leaned on them this week!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Ok- so that isn't a very Original title.. having finally had a second in the past couple days to check in on every one.. I see that is a common theme! ~lol~

Hopefully the New Year has passed & you have survived it & come thru unscathed..or at least by now you have recovered if nothing else!

We ended up having a progressive dinner party that took us to a total of 4 different homes for 4 different courses of dining adventures .
I seem to spend Waaaaay too much time telling you about all the eatin & drinking goin on in our lives so I'll give you the Cole's notes version & say that we ended up here with about a dozen adults & 7 kids by the time Midnight rolled around! It was a great combination of both levels of fun- champagne & the Hot tub for the grown-ups & sparkling apple juice & X-box for the kids!
& everyone in the Cul-de -sac for sparklers & much banging of pots at 1200!


But Now.....

It is TIME ...

ok -it is SOOOOO way past time for me to ditch the Holiday mode that I have somehow slipped into & REMAINED in since the Trip to Mexico in November..

Today I began what I know will be the S L O W & painful trek back to a focus of fitness & health & eating right.
So it's been glass after glass of water ( or actually-warm cup since it's been bloody cold, rainy stormy all day) & throwing out all the spinach dip & other remnants of the orgy of food & drink that took over our household for December.
& it was a trip up the stairs to do a spin on the treadmill...nothing really exciting.. don't want to bugger my foot right off the get go.. since it's been almost tolerable lately- but Cardio none the less.

I know I have a LOT of work to do..
ALOT!
& frankly since I- not unlike some other blends- have dark moments of depression in the winter ..I don't know if I want to know the weight & numbers just yet..it might just send me into a bad spin :(

I'm not all excited & fired up .. maybe some of you could lend me a dose of your enthusiasm..cause I know some of you have LOTS right now..
I seem to have left mine somewhere... or maybe it's just general lethargy- I dunno
but I just know it is TIME.

Oh alright...

OK so it's time to get past vacation mode & get into the Spirit of the season!

Actually since we got home .. It been FULL go mode for Christmas -winter & general.. we came home to snow & since then have had a couple really wicked wind storms as well. Yep winter is HERE!
Yes that is a pic of a snow Bear... we decided to make it a bear when Steven went to the garden to find a carrot & came back with a BEET!~ ~lol~

As far as Christmas stuff.. gees I don't think we've had a weekend that was quiet in ..ummm ages & Worst of all-- it's been all about Food & Drink!!!
AKKKKKKK ! cooking , baking, decorating, Pot-lucks at work, crafts with kids ,appetizer parties , & now we're planning a progressive dinner party for New Years that strangely enough everyone decided would End here at our house! hmmmmm Geee you think they were thinking Hot Tub maybe??

I'm still trying to find time to hit the gym.. but my heart just isn't in it.. It's hard to when things like ... OH geees I forgot "that" for the kids stockings pops into your head! & " damn I better go do that before work tonight!"
Pressies are almost done.. & wrapping is underway... I just keep feelin like I'm running out of time!!

In the mean time Here's some pics of what we've been doin that are a little more "Seasonal "

OK so where have I been??...

Well I think I'll let the photos speak for themselves... these are only a few of almost 500 pics that our friends Brian & Kim took.. All I can say is having never been to an all inclusive resort... this was Quite the experience!!! Way , way , way too much fun was had by all! :)
a very lovely Anniversary pressie from my Jamie

Well that was fun!

Just got kids off to school this Am & wanted to share with you a little thought about yesterday..
We had a pretty good storm system hit the coast here.. & we were among the many who lost power.
I gotta say-to be honest...It was FUN!
Ok now that might sound a bit weird but it was... I was off work so I guess that makes a huge difference in my perspective. But really it was a great time.

it meant that in the afternoon when the rains started pounding & the winds really started pickin up.. I got smart & cooked dinner ahead...Got the rice cooked in the cooker & put the chicken in a sauce & into the gas oven. & well...since I had time.. made some homemade chicken potato soup in the slow cooker.
So by the time I walked over to the school to get kids .. Everything was well under way.. Our walk home was an adventure.. Watching the kids open their coats to try to "fly" & lean into the wind walking down the hill home..I had to just giggle since these are the things that childhood memories are made of!
the walk home continued as I hurried all the neighbourhood kids that were walking home along through the path under the trees ..when I heard a few cracks!! AKKKK ...Ok OUT from under the trees Gang! MOVE IT!

Safely thru the "forest" we got home where a warm snuggly fire awaited us..
The only thing that surprised me is that the power didn't go out & till almost 4.. So by then we had MOST of the home work done... Steven had kept getting up & looking out at the greenbelt trees behind us.. What a show!

The remains of the afternoon were spent lighting candles every where & finding the camping lantern when Jamie came home .
Dinner was a lovely candle lit affair & Jess decided we needed to have the soup as part of dinner ...since soup is what you eat on "stormy" days!
After dinner Jess asked about making something else "warm" for a special treat.. so she & I made stove top pudding & a sortof cake in a cast iron pan..( ok word to the wise... You have to peel off the bottom! ~lol~ put it all together & we had a a Yummy chocolate dessert ! Yep.. Having a gas stove does have some unique benefits!
later after cleanup where I got told that it's NOT as fun to wash dishes in COLD water.. We all wandered out for a few minutes in the hot tub..which without power.. is basically a big warm bath & that's all! Then back in & into pj's we cuddled up on the couch for some reading time under the blankies by the fire . Then finally up to brush teeth by candlelight & tuck everyone including our selves into bed..
So a night with no TV .. no computer , no lights was probably the nicest we've had in a long while! Sometimes it's good to remember the simple things like just spending quiet TIME together :D

Hmmmm ok different.. but Good :)

So I've had sucessful week of avoiding the sugar monsters...Yay Me! & part of that is in direct relation to what else I've been doing.. which is really cutting down on my carb intake in general.
I decided to try this when I went earlier this week in to the hospital for a bone scan on my ever annoying foot..Yes I AM finally doing something about it & being proactive instead of just moaning about it frikkin hurting all the time!
So.. that added to the fact that whether it's the weather or , just overuse in general.. my foot has been aching pretty much 24/7 lately.
AND... I HAVE NOT been to the Gym ALL week!! Geees this feels like going to confession...How many Hail Mary's ( or Bill's ) ( or Arnold's) or the Deity of your choice.. do I have to say??!

Ok .. so it's not really that bad ..but it's felt weird..but I have got lots of shoppin for my trip & or the kids & Jamie done! ~lol~

Any who... some of you ..especially those (Cherie) who have tummy issues..might be interested to find out that my experiment with cutting out pretty much all simple carbs has resulted in my lower tummy area "changing". The skin seems looser.. like the fat underneath has gone..somewhere..
Ok so maybe I'm totally out to lunch but it does!!
Has anyone else had this happen when they radically change what they are doing diet-wise??
any who that's where I am.. trying something a bit different since I am not able to go to the gym & do the cardio that I ususually do.

Now of course my brain wonders...if I DID do cardio as well as this , what might I be able to do?


Ah...It's Friday.. & in our house if I'm home..that is "play day" or "Free day" or Sqisheeee day" tee hee..so I'd better go...

Ok Nuff of that !

Well it's still raining...in fact we're expecting record rainfall in the next 24 -48 hrs & apparently some Huge winds along with it... so we'll see what that brings! Yiikes~!
I've decided that it's time to "step AWAY " from the candy & get my brain & bod back in gear as of the AM.. So wish me luck ! ...& PLEASE if you're around ..feel free to check on me or give me a kick or a poke!! I'm gonna make sure to sign in to both Messengers it's time to quit hiding & DO something!
& just 'cause they are fun..here's another more interesting ,cheery test!

Your Dosha is Pitta

You have a quick mind, a gift for persuasion, and a sharp sense of humor. You have both the drive and people skills to be a very successful leader. Argumentative and a bit stubborn, you have been known to be a little too set in your ways. But while you may be biased toward your own point of view, you are always honest, fair, and ethical. With friends: You are outgoing and open to anyone who might want to talk to you In love: You are picky but passionate To achieve more balance: Be less judgmental of those around you, and take cool walks in the moonlight.

What's Your Dosha?

just cause they are fun..here's another more interesting ,cheery test!

Yep kinda blue today..

Not sure what to write..since it seems that it's kinda quiet around blogville anywho...
Halloween was Great, kids had a wonderful time.. but now it's over & I'm left with the rain & too much damn candy! ( NOT good in the middle of a very emotional PMS week! )

I should be all gettin hyper about the fact we are goin away for a week at the end of the month ...but somehow I am just not all excited as I should be.
I really haven't got into this trip like I should... Don't know if underneath I'm worried about something happening ..or just I feel like a big fat blobby so staying home & hibernating seems like a better idea..

Your Aura is Blue

Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life. You are very giving of yourself. And it's hard for you to let go of relationships. The purpose of your life: showing love to other people Famous blues include: Angelina Jolie, the Dali Lama, Oprah Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor

What Color Is Your Aura?

Halloween party..

Last night was a great fun time..playing dress- ups always is! It was funny tho to see that there were a few folks who didn't dress up ...or had rather minmal costumes. The guy dressed as a fridge ( yep walking around in the whole BIG box thing! was the most original I'd have to say. :)
I'm still workin on seeing if I can get some of the pics out of my phone That's all I had with me to take pics.. I was worried about losing or muckin up the camera- or someone spilling a drink on it! ~lol~
So in the mean time here's a pic we took of my darling & I before we left home.

More random Halloween thoughts..

Halloween Horoscope for Gemini

Halloween is a huge party for you, except you're never really sure what to go as. No matter what, your costume will make people's eyes pop out of their heads. Costume suggestions: A sexy cop or a naughty animal Signature Halloween candy: Twizzlers

What's Your Halloween Horoscope?

Ok... sounds fine to me! Tee hee!
'Cept I'm actually going as the all too willing victim of a Vampire... you know the whole long white nightgown penoir set thing! ;P

Now on to the GOOD stuff!..

So YES it was our Thanksgiving last weekend for all of my U.S. friends..Ours is MUCH earlier than yours...But now that means that we can put away the Turkey stuff till Christmas & get on to the FUN things
HALLOWEEN!!
OH yea & WHOOOOO HOOO.. Halloween has probably got to be my all time FAVE holiday It's just the Best Doncha think??
I mean just think...You get to decorate, have fun, see your neighbours & have treats if you so wish..Without all the huge emotional baggage & issues that can come along with Christmas!
& best of all --for me any ways it's a reason to play Dress-up! Both with the kids & myself Tee hee!
Steven wants to be a "dead cowboy" - why "Dead"- I dunno I guess it's an 8 yr old boy thing! ~lol~
& Jess wants to be Medussa this yr..Which has been an adventure & a half creating a costume..
Did I mention that I never just go out & buy a costume?? -- It's part whatever might be in our "dress - up box" part what I can find at the Thrift stores & then my Aunt who is very talented at sewing, helping me come up with the rest.. You should see the Catwoman from last yr & the Mermaid from the yr before!! They are "original creations" & really quite amazing ...Oh if I could only fit into them!! :P

I'm doubly excited this yr because I'm off the weekend before & friends of ours are hosting a party..So I get to dress-up twice! YAY! :D
~Lol~ Yea I know I'm a big Kid! I don't care..

What about you guys?? As the kids are all askin around school.."What are YOU & yours goin as??"

;)

Enjoy the Weekend!

Call Me When You\'re Sober

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we're off & away for a few..Thanksgiving & camping
I'll try to be mostly Good!

Right then..

Well the events of the week in & around our Cyberworld have been quite the rollercoaster haven't they?
So in keeping with my thought of my being thoroughly-- boring I'm posting something I promised our own Cherie! A recipe~!

Ohhhh yes...contain yourself! ~lol~

Now bear in mind this is NOT out of the EFL cookbook .. but it's ever so Yummy & it gets not only the kids but my darlin to have a way to eat a balanced protein & carb meal/snack without spending $$ on enough bars for everyone-- that sometimes don't agree with tummies later ( this for you my dear Cherie ;)
We've taken this stuff boating, hiking & yes Stef -- up to the mountains skiing!

So without futher ado..

Chocolate chip power banana bread!

2 cups multigrain flour
2 scoops protein powder (vanilla or choc work well)
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp nutmeg


2 cups( 4-6) mashed bananas
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla



Mix the wet ingredients together & let stand..Mix dry stuff together & then fold the wet into it... Add in a handful of choc chips ( some nuts too if you're really ambitious or want the extra benefits )

pour ..& I use the word lightly since this stuff will be pretty sticky into a breadpan coated with nonstick spray

bake at 325* for 50-55 min
cool & wrap right away with foil or Saran & then foil ..Stays moister this way

ENJOY! :D

Yippppeeee Skip & Yaaaahoo!

OK.. So this is the first time in a while that I've posted anything remotely to do exclusively with fitness .
Needless to say, I've been off my game & not really feelin the VIBE - so posting "I suck" wasn't really in my list of fun things to do! ~lol
BUT now ...OH baby I'm ON!!
Today has been a GREAT day wrapping up a GREAT week! :D

I once told some of you about a phrase in our house that has become a staple our in day to day.. Its YAY ME!! Or in some cases YAY YOU!- which I've often posted to ya :D
- it was coined by Steven when he was about 2 & he'd done something that he was rather proud of & while we were saying "good job"-- He got all excited & climbed up on his chair, raised his fist up high & shouted "YAY ME! "
It was great- such a totally uninhibited , "I'm happy moment " SO wonderful to see! & it's sad that as we age we learn to hide because it's not "good manners" to be so all about "ourselves"

The world really need more "YAY ME " moments... I think we'd all do much better!

So Today was My real YAY ME... Not only did I manage to go to a birthday party & eat NONE of the treats , chips & cake... But I made time this afternoon to get my cardio done in a day that was incredibly hectic & the topper was that in light of this latest Mini Challenge over at the Blends site ... I did my cardio mile in 39 seconds LESS !!!

So YES I'm a happy Girl to say the least... Feel free to borrow some of the VIBE I've got LOTS !

having a Carole moment ...

So I had to share this... ;)

It has long been contended that there are male jokes and there are
female jokes, and there are unisex jokes.
Here is a joke I consider a true female joke.
I offer it to you in the hopes that women will love it and men will pass it along to a woman who will love it.


A woman was sitting at a bar enjoying an after work cocktail with
her girlfriends when an exceptionally tall, handsome, extremely sexy,
middle-aged man entered. He was so striking that the woman could not
take her eyes off him.



The young-at-heart man noticed her overly attentive stare and walked
directly toward her. (As all men will.) Before she could offer her
apologies for staring so rudely, he leaned over and whispered to
her,

"I'll do anything, absolutely anything, that you want me to do, no
matter how kinky, for $20.00.....on one condition."



Flabbergasted, the woman asked what the condition was. The man
replied, "You have to tell me what you want me to do in just three
words."


The woman considered his proposition for a moment, and then slowly
removed a $20 bill from her purse, which she pressed into the man's
hand along with her address. She looked deeply into his eyes, and

slowly and meaningfully said....

"Clean my house."

OK time for something else..

Well that week is done & Auntie has come to visit...don't know if that makes things better or worse ~lol~ Guess I'll just look forward to when this is done & I get that week of reprieve where I feel all "thin & happy"

Haven't blogged much lately mostly bec life has been hectic getting kids back to school & all .
Well they're settling into school this week.. but I'm feeling a bit disjointed since these are my days of work in the eves & they're at their Dads... So I'm over to the school during the day- feeling like some kinda weirdo .

Anywho enough about me...
I wanted to share with you that I've been in touch with or am trying to get in touch with a few of the Blends that have gone MIA..

Rachel ( Miss Fit) I've emailed a few times & now have gone a step further & am trying to get ahold of her thru her work... so darlin, if you're reading this - we just wanna know you're OK..

don't make me come down there! ~lol~


Jim( Musclehead , StoneOak, or whatever you might know him as !) is really busy with work & was SUPPOSED to be up here to Vancouver this weekend for a work training session that got cancelled.
I've been quietly very excited about this for some time-- He's really become for all the world like the Big brother I never got -so I am dissapointed as Hell that I'm not getting to see him :(
but he's doing ok. :)


& Suzanne ( Moggie) I spent well a couple hours on the phone with yesterday by the time all was said & done . She's just come back up from visiting in Florida. Yes Patrick( Dub) is still down there doing/ being well Dub~ ~lol~ ... she is back up here now, & like me is goin thru the fun of getting Kids back to school.
There have been no real changes with her eyes so .. needless to say time on the computer is not a priority. she's just trying to figure out what & where the next step in her world will be & how to go about getting there.
We're hoping to get together some time soon..& I've decided even if I need to go kidnap her for coffee it's gonna happen . Then you guys can at least SEE that she's doin ok.

well there ya go... some mysteries solved & others hopefully soon to be.

I don't feel like being cheery...Dammit!

Ok.. well I'm not that bad really..but I've had the edges of a stupid hormonally related Migraine for the past few days..& yesterday I somehow managed to pinch something-probably my sciatic nerve by doing pretty much NOTHING!

I've done this sorta thing before I'm convinced that it has to do with my hip joints which we have family history of having problems with ..& more over it seems to happen from too much sitting which tells me that the 2hrs plus driving a day this past week end did me NO favors..( darlin hubby wanted to YES you guessed it -FISH & so I drove from where we were camped, into work every afternoon all weekend - I MUST love him! )
- then the past few days time spent trying to catch up on blogs .. well needless to say whatever the cause - it's annoying as He^%$!!

So yes- I am a rather Grumpy PMSing Girl to say the least.. GRRRRR... & since I'm suposed to be a HAPPY Cheery leader for my team over on the Forum...I've come here to vent! ~lol~

- someone sent me this & today.. it just fits my mindset PERFECTLY!

9 things that are Bloody Annoying..


1. People who point at their wrist while asking for the time.... I know where my watch is pal, where the hell is yours? Do I point at my crotch when I ask where the toilet is?



2 People who are willing to get off their ass to search the entire room for the T.V. remote because they refuse to walk to the T.V. and change the channel manually.



3 When people say "Oh you just want to have your cake and eat it too". Damn right! What good is cake if you can't eat it?



4 When people say "it's always the last place you look". Of course it is. Why the hell would you keep looking after you've found it? Do people do this? Who and where are they? Gonna have to Kick their asses!



5 When people say while watching a film "did you see that?". No Loser, I paid $12 to come to the cinema and stare at the damn floor.



6 People who ask "Can I ask you a question?".... Didn't really give me a choice there, did ya sunshine?

7. When something is 'new and improved!' Which is it? If it's new, then there has never been anything before it. If it's an improvement, then there must have been something before it, couldn't be new.



8 When people say "life is short". What the hell?? Life is the longest damn thing anyone ever does!! What can you do that's longer?



9 When you are waiting for the bus and someone asks "Has the bus come yet?". If the bus came would I be standing here, dumbass?


Hope they make you laugh-- It helped me a bit ~ :P

& more pics...are you bored of them yet? :

I wouldn't be suprised ! ~lol~
We've been so flippin busy lately it's stupid! But now our friends wedding is done... I think I finally can settle down into a quiet routine... Well at least until kids go back to school on Sept 7th..


I'm enjoying being back at the gym more than I thought I would .. I guess I know I NEED to be workin out otherwise my self image & mood starts to go down the tubes! & this Mini challenge has been the BEST thing I could have done to start back - So Yay for that !

... Funny I can tell I'm spending any spare time I might have - over at the Forum... I just went to look for a "smilie" to put in this! :P

Akkkk ....THANKS Jess! ~lol~

Home again, Home again..

Sadly enough this time for good. Holiday time for me is DONE .. we got back on Mon am just in time for me to get ready for work at 3pm!

YIIIKES !

Sooo YES as you can see..we've had a good few weeks of fun & sun ...First upcountry to the rivers then over to Vancouver Island to the ocean..yea I know I'm looking more than a bit like I'm a Summer Girl..
Geees standing next to girlfriend who we went to see for her B-day umm it's hard to figure which of us looks MORE native !
not to mention that I've partaken of more than my share of summer treats & libations... unless I wanna take to wearing A Mumuu... Gonna have to say -
Yep time to get back at things SERIOUSLY ..Ulllp
So on that note -I've thrown myself headlong into thing by somehow volunteering to captain our team for the Blends Mini challenge .. I don't know what I'm really expected to do..but if nothing else it'll keep me on track & from slinking off into the sunset when the going gets tough !
Here's a few pics of the goings on over the past week or 2...
& yes we DO do things besides fish ...really! ~LOL~

Gone again!

Off for another jaunt...take care all!