Believing

Good morning! I feel energized and am having breakfast with all my family this morning at the same time which never happens during the week. We all get up and leave at different times…I am lucky I get to see everyone out of the house, but this morning we were all up at 6:30 am with Stella ofcourse! She is doing so well-exceptt not house broken yet, she doesn’t cry during the night, I got her a big cozy blanket which she loves to snuggle in!

I have been doing well with my food  lately…I still think about what I want to do to stay fit and healthy and it’s becoming easier and easier to do. I believe I can eat whatever I want and I don’t have to exercise everyday. I believe there is no diet that will make me happy. I believe in a food lifestyle that should feel natural. I believe that I am capable of being positive during PMS and eating chocolate. I believe even though I am getting older I sometimes carry myself with a “youthful” spirited heart and see everything for for the first time with excitement as my kids do.

it’s all good!

I am finally into a good routine with my Cardio and free weights lately. I have trouble sometimes to get both done because …life (or other more urgent things) come up and I don’t get to do both at the same time. I also don’t feel bad as much but when I do it feels like a big accomplishment.  Yesterday I did both cardio and free weights and I planned to some cardio this morning BUT my puppy Stella had us up allllll night!! I was awake at 2am from her cries…she made us so sad, Tony finally got up and stayed with her a little and then she seemed less lonely and he put her in another room but still in her cage as they recommended is most comforting to her. So I didn’t get much sleep and no cardio either-tonight it’s off to bed early and up early for EMC (let’s hope anyways!)

We had a great week-end with Stella..she awoke Saturday with this energy and is so playful and attached to us…see loves to be combed and caressed (who doesn’t right??) She’s not much of a walker-probably will get used to it slowly and she’s not house broken either…eeks…it still grosses me out but I love her!  We have no clue about pups and are going for training courses with her in January…I hope we’ll manage. I never was a dog person…now it’s different because she is like a baby for me and I am very maternal -I like to take “care and nurture” people and now animals!  Funny how I think I know myself and then I realize I am forever evolving and learning new things about myself…it’s pretty interesting…Life is Good!

I wanted to create a new recipe this week-end…didn’t happen though I was distracted by “puppy love” all week-end.  I want to make chocolate muffins with oat and soy flour and pumpkin puree (I know they will taste great) I’ll try to keep the sugar low by using agave and cocoa powder. This girl needs her chocolate fix

Hope you all had a nice week-end!

Stella bella!

This is our newest addition to our family, a 4 month old Yorkie…we named her Stella…which means Star in Italian!  The kids especially my 9 year old Lauren is a dog lover and has been wanting a dog for the past year. We surprised them both last night-she was soooo happy and kept thanking me all the time-she said “that is all I ever wanted in my whole life” -I said to her that’s how we feel about you and  Michael !!

We wanted to wait until she got older, but this type of breed is so perfect for her…doesn’t need much exercise and is so tiny to carry around-sh’es only 3.5 lbs and will only grow into 6lbs on the average. She needs and loves to be held a lot which is perfect for us-we are all cuddlers!

We are all so attached to her already, she is the “baby” of the house-we have to get her checked at the vet later, I hope she’s okay!

no no no…shut up already

I realized I don’t have any “sweets” in my home like other people or mom’s do. I only have granola bars for my kids dessert for school-their only treat of the day….no crackers, never candy or junk!  I have my stash of dark 75% chocolate and that is it. The first reason is I don’t want my kids to over do it and eat sooo much of that junk  but I mainly do it for me too-I had to stop and limit the amount of junk that comes into my house because I would devour it all in a week just like my kids!!! So what does that say about me?? I don’t know and you know what I don’t care anyomore..haha. Now I love my chocolate everynight it gives me a sense of relief and comfort knowing I can eat it-nothing wrong with that! I say freedom because I always hear my “fat voice” saying no no no…you can’t have it, and that only creates a sense of loss and fear of trusting myself again. I am able to have my 3 sometimes 4 squares of chocolate and be content. I still have a hard time  during PMS -but I don’t hear no no no, it’s always yes yes yes… :)) and I just go with it.  I hope to let go of all the “fat” talk we always hear because down deep I know there is more to us than our physical beauty

TOM finally arrived so I am relieved it came on time. Yesterday I ate vegetarian all day….My morning started with a shake of Almond milk spinach banana and hemp protein, veggies and fruit for snacks, lunch was Pumpkin Coconut soup (the best I have ever made-will post recipe tomorrow) and Veggie burgers you see above with sweet potato fries and salad….I did feel great all day! Today I missed my yogurt too much-it’s so good for me! I haven’t eaten red meat or pork in a couple of months…I use chicken, turkey, fish and seafood as animal protein. This morning I did 30 min of Cardio and 20 minutes of weights….I was impressed with myself because I just wanted to do some weights but then ended up doing both…yay me!

I am eating more veggies and dark chocolate and I am getting the best of both worlds-at least I think so ;0 

I had a lot to say all random I know….that’s it for now,have a nice evening!

recap..

Why is it I have so many things to say and talk about and then I get on my blog to write and  ???? I forget what I wanted to say!!! I hate when that happens….so to sum everything in a short post I had a great week. I think the Sepia I am taking for my hormones is working because I am in a better mood and less anxious.  I have been really enjoying this freedom of eating without writing or tracking my food intake.  I wish I hadn’t wasted all my time on those issues…there is a joke that says….I was on a diet for 1 month and I lost 30 days…… it is so true when I look back.  I think things happen for a reason and it’s how you deal with it that matters. I am  going to see another Doctor in January to find the source of my hormone imbalance and hopefully will always have a painless cycle.

My sister in law Cristina is a wonderful, resourceful and caring person. She has this ability to want to help others and I am so grateful for her and my kids are crazy about her…she tries to always make them so happy and they can always count on her for fun! Today she gave me great advice on a natural preventitive for immunity of  the H1N1 virus that we will be taking instead of the shot, I feel better taking these granulars which will help us build an immunity to the strain of the virus without the adjuvent squalene that I am not comfortable injecting into my body. 

I hope you all had a nice week-end too!!

 

 

Ginger cookies

I needed to bake cookies with Lauren for her Girl Guides meeting tonight.  They were spiced with ground ginger, cinnamon and cloves and they were really soft and chewy. I did have a few and I must make them again for Christmas-I love baking for Christmas and this year I will try new recipes with more natural ingredients that I always wanted to try!

 

 

 

Cooking raw?

That sounds like a contradiction right ? well almost because I have found I enjoy my food half raw and cooked. I made like great quinoa dish!

All the veggies are raw (celery,green onion,zucchini,red pepper,mushrooms, parsley,seasonings,garlic,olive oil and lemon juice) and I cooked the quinoa for 15 minutes and just mixed all together at room temperature.

It was fresh and I really craved something healthy, body was telling me it what it needed. I am glad my PMS  symptoms have calmed down some. I am having imported Equador dark chocolate (74% ) every night after supper-I don’t deprive myself of it,  it actually helps me relax-there is no better substitutions than the real stuff! 

I haven’t done my cardio since Saturday, but tonight I am looking forward to a good “sweat” !!

It feels good to be “normal” again- my normal self I mean. I am looking for natural remedies for my PMS, I have gotten a few recommendations I wonder how other women deal with PMS?

my bff’s…

This post is for my 3 beautiful girlfriends…we really have a great time together, we laugh, cry, dance, drink and eat and drink and eat some more…we are always together and our husbands and kids too love eachother-good times!!

We had a fantastic Spa Day yesterday with Pink champagne and Lindt dark chocolates, followed by a tantalizing dinner of  tapas style tuna tartar, crab risotto, mini burgers, Ossobucco to name a few which also  included a Cosmo for me-which I barely had but felt weak to my knees -I know I’m a whuss when it comes to alcohol! But I had no trouble with the chocolate hazelnut lava cake and natural vanilla bean ice-cream….:))  

I love days like these, a lot of smiles,laughs and great memories….   

 

It’s here!

Yes PMS has struck again….I am crabby and don’t care! I will feel better today because I am getting some girl time fun and a massage and then out to dinner. I noticed a change of attitude yesterday afternoon at work and then had this urge to eat a lollipop-I hate lollipops!!?? Actually there was nothing else sweet to eat…hahaha…but I needed something to bring me up so to speak. I forgot to apply my progesterone cream on  in the morning so I don’t know if that made a difference because I’ve used the cream all week and still craved more food? I have 1 week left and then I’m back to feeling normal again. 

Pumpkin pancakes w/ scrambled eggwhites and spinach…I know it doesn’t look appetizing but this is what I wanted to eat…it was actually real yummy!

have a great Saturday!!

Gratitude

I know we know we should be grateful but are we really? I forget -I get consumed with all of life’s little details and obligations that I don’t take the time to look around me and be thankful for my privledged life. I am not talking about my home,work, car & material possessions, I am talking about the people and human interactions I am fortunate to have. I could think about the things I would want to change about myself but I really really really don’t think I would (except lose 5lb ). I am not the most beautiful person -hmm or am I? I look into my daughters eyes and see her spirit and her smile lights up the room and at that moment I feel something BIGGER than beautiful. This is what I am grateful for-I know and experience beauty everywhere-that is what really makes me happy and matters to me. I have a family and a group of friends that if I didn’t have them around I would have nothing-even with all the beautiful shoes and purses I have!!  

I had to work yesterday after all, a girl called in sick with the flu so I had to go replace her-which I didn’t mind because Tony stayed home with the kids. I also had a conversation with a colleague who I’ve known for 15 years and he is going through a rough period in his marriage-he says he has lost himself the past few years (kids, work etc). I felt sad and compassion for him and was happy to talk to him and I truly hope he finds happiness again with himself and his wife.

The week-end will be a fun one-not because of  “New Moon” on Sunday, but also I am having a girls day at the Spa on Saturday-a hot stone massage which I sooo need this time of year!

Hope you have a great week-end!