New Blog?

Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that I am going through some life changes right now and that's one of the reason why I haven't posted much lately... I just haven't been putting much effort into my gardening and blogging. I don't feel it's fair to share all of my personal issues on the blog that is supposed to be about gardening.... so I have started a new blog called "Rock On Ruckus" that will take the job of my personal blog. Soooo... If you are interested, you can check it out, become a "follower" and I would gladly follow you back!

Thanks Everyone!

10 more Thank You's...

I am also thankful for: (Continued from here)

11... the way the kittens neck hair vibrates while she purrs.

12... avocado, corn, and cumin.

13... the hint of mint in my hot chocolate.

14... the smell of wood burning stoves in the air.

15... the rosiness of cold cheeks.

16... overdrive.

17... the moment a song pops into your head and you can't help but sing it for the rest of the day.

18... the feeling of relief.

19... girl talk.

20... auto save.

Whip It!

Halloween Costume!

Halloween is undoubtedly my favorite time of year! Unfortunatly, I work this Halloween weekend, so I wont get the opportunity to go to any parties or partake in festivities - and I work Halloween night too. I have decided to dress up for work as a pirate tho! Then when I ring in someones groceries, I can say "That'll be 14 shillings, yarr!" I even have a wooden parrot that I can bring to work as my 'pet'! When I told my boss my costume idea, she ended up bringing over some pieces to a pirate costume she had! Now all I need to find is a good pirate shirt. The one that she gave me looks like this:

I'd ideally like to find one that looks something more like these (a vest would be nice too):

I'm not going to wear a skirt cause I would just freeze my ass off, lol - Lets get serious! The costume that my boss lent me came with long black and white stripped pants that have fake boot legs at the bottom! So if I wear them with my all-black converse, I think they will actually look like boots! I have some long scarves I can tie around my waist if I cant find a cute kinda vest/shirt this weekend. I also have a red bandanna with black and white roses on it, and a cap with a skull and cross bone on it! I even have a plastic sword!

So, that's what I'm going to be this Halloween! What are you going to be?

(I'll post pictures after it's all said and done!)

What I found online...

Are you tired of reading about weight watchers yet? I have more info to share for those that are interested!

There are many calculators and food lists for the weight watchers point systems online. Not that I want to cheat the system - but to be honest, the weight watchers website doesn't exactly say a whole lot about what my $85 is going towards (that is the first 3 months and start up fee) except the fact that I get to use their online tools. What do I get after I pay? How do I learn what foods are how many points? Is it only online? Do I get a book mailed to me for my at home reference? The user agreement online says that my subscription isn't transferable... does that mean if I'm not happy with the online system, that I wouldn't be able to switch to the in person meetings without paying again? So far the online weight watchers website has not been that great of a help. (Not to mention, I can think of a few better ways to spend that $85!!)

I have however found many helpful resources on other websites that may allow me to do it on my own. I found a write up here that shows you how to calculate your allowed points (I'm allowed 29, thats almost 10 per meal. Not bad!). I also found this helpful point calculator here so that you can keep track of everything. There are multiple food lists that other people have compiled online for quick reference, for example, here, and here. If you eat out at restaurants often, you can check points for menu items here. One site that has been helpful when looking for foods that I cant get the nutritional value for (when baking and such) is here. I can look up anything (eggs, spices, flour, fruits, veggies) input the Calories, Fat and Fiber into the calculator, and viola! Points.

I may even start compiling my own list with foods that I eat often for quick reference, and might start keeping a food/points journal that I can share with you - if you're at all interested! I'll start writing down everything I eat today anyways, and we'll see how many points I consume! Wish me luck!! I might need it!

Here is an example with the Whole Wheat Banana Muffins I made yesterday (this recipe can easily be halved):

Cream together:

1/2 cup butter (I didnt have any margarine left...) - 25 points (eek!)

1 cup white sugar - 16 points

Mix in:

3-4 bananas, mashed (I used 3) - 6 points

2 eggs - 2 points (I only had one egg, so I used 1 tbs of EVOO for the other one - 4 points + 1 point for the egg)

In a separate bowl, combine:

2 cups whole wheat flour - 16 points

1 tsp baking powder - 0 points

1 tsp baking soda - 0 points

1 tsp salt - 0 points

1/4 tsp cinnamon - 0 points

1/4 tsp nutmeg - 0 points

Stir wet ingredients into dry just until combined, then add:

1/2 cup chocolate chips - 12 points

1/2 cup walnuts - 6 points

Drop into 12 paper lined muffin cups, and bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Mmmmm delicious.

This recipe with my substitutions has a total of 86 points, which equals just over 7 points per muffin. Already I can see ways to bring down the point value, using margarine is a big one and maybe even just using walnuts or raisins instead of chocolate chips. Of course the EVOO didn't help out as much as I had hoped... Apparently I need to go grocery shopping! But they are delicious! And it was a lot easier than I thought to figure out the point value of everything with the help of the links I shared above!

So far this looks promising!

Doggy Update

Since we invited Maxx into our home, him and Colt have become the best of friends! They sleep together, eat together, whine and cry together, play with each other, and keep one another occupied! It's so great to see that they are able to get along so handsomely. I feel better about leaving them home alone while I am at work because I know that they can play fight or wrestle over the rope when they get bored! Here are some photos of them since Maxx has joined the family!

They both literally tear apart my bed to make it comfortable for them...

They always wanna cuddle and kiss you when you're trying to relax...

Lazin' around on the couch...

Spooning on the bed...

Cuddling with Mikey...

Eating outside while trying to keep the kitten away from their food!

Workout S.O.S.

I just wanted to share this little bit of info: While I was sifting around on the weight watchers website, they have a tool to calculate your your BMI and also talk about your ideal weight, and they mention something about a 10% goal.

According to weight watchers, my BMI is 35, which is considered obese:

"BMI Ranges: What they mean
Experts generally consider a BMI below 20 to be underweight and a BMI of 20 to 25 to be healthy. BMIs of 25 to 30 are generally considered overweight while a BMI over 30 is generally considered very overweight (obese)."

According to weight watchers, my ideal weight should be between 117 - 146 lbs! WHOA! That seems so little! I would literally have to loose at least 60 more pounds to be in that category! I can't even think of the last time I weighed 150lbs!

"Losing 10% of your body weight is not only the first big step toward your ultimate goal weight, but it can also reduce your risk for many diseases and increase your self-esteem."

I like this idea, because I feel that is what I am currently working on, and I have already seen the huge difference in my body - I haven't even lost a whole 10% yet either! I just need to keep going! When I still weighed 220, my 10% goal would be 22lbs! Currently I have lost 15 - so if I change my goal from 20 to 22, I have 7 more pounds to go!

I guess I'm just finding it difficult to get motivated, and that may also be because I feel so alone in this journey. I know that I have friends to turn to for support, but it's hard when I spend my days bored by myself, and I'm surrounded by yummy snacks at work.... I feel I need more motivation! I haven't been on the elliptical in forever.. *sigh*

I just realized that if I did join curves, I would have to buy work out clothing, and running shoes! It's just more money, and more money to loose weight! A friend online mentioned the Wii fit - I do have a Wii, so I could look into getting the Wii fit, might be a good idea for the winter! But again- more money! Maybe I'm just making excuses. What I should really do is just get my but over to Curves, and talk to them about it.

Another deterrent is that I have all of these other personal issues on my mind that I'm also trying to work out... Maybe I'm in a rut!? I NEED HELP!

All in all - I want to do this! I just need to get off my butt!

To count, or not to count...

That is my question... I have been juggling the idea of joining Weight Watchers for a while now, so that I can learn more about healthy eating (portioning, and healthy choices). I am still at 205lbs which is a total of 15 lbs lost on my own - but my eating habits are still pretty horrible (yet not as bad as they used to be!!). I know for a fact that I am an emotional eater, and sometimes I just indulge. But I think it would be handy to know what my cut off point should be.

I'm not completely clueless about portioning/serving size, good food vs. bad food, but I still don't know everything I feel I should, and a little information never hurt! This is what the website says about their point system incase you are not familiar with it:

"Not all foods are created equal-POINTS® values help you choose

By aiming to meet a daily POINTS Target customized for your needs, you’ll learn to eat the right amount to stay satisfied and still lose weight. POINTS values will help you make the best choices to keep you on track. So you can take your mind off numbers and get back to your life."

Mmmm, omelette's! ...... .... ... So in other words, you still get to eat what you want, but you get to see how many points each of your favorite foods are, and in turn, might start making healthier choices. I also like the idea that I can do it online, and I've seen lots of reference and recipe books for weight watchers as well! Some friends of mine even said that I could look everything up online, and then I wouldn't have to pay to use the program... I'll have to look into that.

Another friend of mine and I have also been thinking about joining Curves, a women's only gym that has a circuit of workout equipment set up for a complete body workout in 30 minutes. This is what their website says:

"Burn up to 500 calories with our 30-minute workout, which combines strength training and cardio for a workout that works your entire body, from head to toe. It works every major muscle group and gives you results that last. You also get the total support of our trainers."

This would be ideal, because staring at the basement walls while running on the elliptical all winter has already started to get boring, and once the snow falls for the next 6 months, I will probably need another way to get some exercise. So it seems I have a few options, it's just a matter of looking more into it, and seeing what I can afford.

Have any of you had any luck with either of these companies/programs? I'd like to hear your feedback!

Technology

Television, Satellite, iPhones, iPods, iPads, Blackberries, Bluetooth, Internet, GPS, etc etc etc!!

There are so many gadgets that everyone and their dogs have nowadays! I went to a concert last month, and it seemed like more people were trying to capture everything on their phones and quickly upload it to their social networking profiles online... rather than enjoy the experience while it's happening, living in the moment... you know? Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of preserving a moment forever in time... but during the whole show?

Have we as people/society really become this disconnected from life, by the very items that are supposed to give us the tools to be more connected? Maybe I am just confused. But when I hear someone say "I can't live without my phone/ipod/internet" I just have to shake my head ... are you serious?

I personally don't have any kind of cell phone or TV/Satellite, and I think its for the best! I do have the internet, which seems to help keep me in contact with a lot of my friends out of town, it's a great research tool, and I love being able to share with all of you via Blogging! But it is also a huge time waster, and yes - I could live without it (the internet that is).

I cancelled my cell phone back in January, and it has really "free'd" me! I'm not using it as an excuse to fill my "spare" or "down" time. Instead, I'm finding real things to do, and might have even accomplished a few things. It has forced me back into the path of conversation, thinking on the spot, having patience, and even enlightened my creative side again! If I'm waiting for something somewhere, instead of staring at my little screen, scrolling though old texts and looking at pictures, I'm looking around where I am, observing, people watching (that is always fun!).

There is nothing more annoying then spending time with your friends/family, and they are playing on their phones the whole time. I do take it personally - that they must think I am so boring that they are trying to entertain themselves with their gadgets... but maybe its more of a dig on themselves. Maybe they don't possess the people skills to make conversation, and fill that "boring" time with real person to person contact.

Same goes for my iPod - yes I have one, but it stays at home on my stereo. I don't wear it while I walk to work, and I was thinking about it the other day while on my way home... if I was wearing my iPod right now, I wouldn't hear these beautiful birds chirping in that bush, I wouldn't have heard that kitty meow at me, I wouldn't hear that horse trot up towards the fence I just walked passed! It also makes me wonder, would I be able to hear if a vehicle if it was honking at me, what if the road was icy and they were sliding in my direction? Could it save my life?

I love music, and it would be nice to listen to it all the time. I listen to it all day while I'm at home, from the time I get up to the time I go to bed (on good days) but I feel that the time that I walk to and from work with no music is kind of like a treat. A time for nature and I to bond. You notice the small things, and appreciate them more.

Not too long ago, I had to find an address, and used the GPS, and it just made me wonder... how did we find people's houses before? I am typically pretty good with directions and remembering landmarks and such... but I just couldn't imagine pulling out a map, and marking out my route - it seemed so weird. I actually preferred the robot lady to tell me to turn right in 300 meters. Thank goodness I only rely on it once in a blue moon! But will these instruments eventually make us loose our intuitiveness?

I am aware that technology is a lot bigger than just my little opinion, and I'm not trying to get everyone to throw away their expensive (sooo expensive) cellphones and iPods... But maybe just think about this next time you grab for your phone to fill in a dead spot in your life. Is there a better way to entertain yourself? Maybe there is something amazing you'll miss while sifting around on your iPod. Life is full of wonderful things, how much longer are we going to ignore it before it starts ignoring us?

Being Thankful!

It's (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend! Today I have decided to introduce something new that I want to continue, let me explain...

A while back I stumbled upon this womans blog who was doing a project, where she would write out 10 little miracles she was thankful for each day until she had 1000! And I mean the little things!! I wish I still had a link to her blog so that I could share it with you, but it was so long ago, and I can't even remember the name of it! Either way, I have been thinking about doing something similar myself for some time now... And what a better time to start - Thanksgiving!

So today, I am going to share 10 little miracles that I am thankful for. I wont be able to share 10 every day, but at least once a week!!! I don't know if I will necessarily stop at 1000, but thats a good goal for now!

This week I am thankful for:

1... the steam that twirls and dances off of my skin after a hot shower.

2... the way the leaves that are left on the big tree in the front yard shimmer in the wind while the sun is shining on them.

3... hot sauce on a fried egg.

4... the tangy zip from my home grown, vine ripened, Lemon Boy tomato on my sandwich.

5... the smell of maple, pumpkin, and spice that is wafting through my home.

6... the feeling after following your instinct.

7... colour, on water, on paper.

8... the blunt separation between cloud and sky in the horizon.

9... the slow crunch of leaves beneath the kitties paws.

10... window photosynthesis.

Weigh in... or out.

I'v been hesitating about posting my weigh in update... because I didn't meet my goal, and I feel really bad about it. Actually, at one point in the month, I was very close, and I thought I would have no problem meeting it... But just this last week, I kind of went downhill. I'v been dealing with some brutal personal issues, and I kind of lost my self control. I know I'm an emotional eater, and I have had a VERY emotional week... And, I haven't been on the elliptical at all this past week as well. So, I'm not very pleased with myself, but I know I will bounce back. I have to look at this as a learning experience.

At least I'm not back at square one. SO! This month, It is my goal (again) to get down to 200lbs! I will be watching very carefully what I eat, and when I work out, and make sure I take every opportunity to walk to and from work! I'm sorry for the depressing blog, but I will prevail! I will post another weight update on (or around) November 1st!

I love the colours of Autumn!

Every time I go out into the garden, I always seem find new things. It's always changing, and keeping me on my toes! This fall, I've noticed that the colours are so vibrant compared to last year! Naturally I had to take some photos! It's so gorgeous out!

Double Trouble!

Yesterday had a weird turn of events for more than one reason - the coolest tho, was that we acquired a new doggy!! It's kind of a weird story!

I was outside with Mikey, and I had attached Colt to his chain which is attached to a tree in our front yard. All of a sudden, the winds picked up, and Mikey and I turned our attention to a tarped garage that we had put up the previous day that looked like it was about to blow over...

All of a sudden, Colt started to freak out, and broke through his chain and ran across the highway and over to the neighbors fence where another dog was hanging out - it was another black lab! Mikey and I ran over to get the dog from across the street, all while our tarped garage picks up and blows over into the driveway! Mikey brings Colt back into the yard, and the other lab followed along! So we put the stray dog in the garage while we tackled the garage that was laying upside down in our driveway, and figuring out how to attach Colt back onto his chain.

The stray dog had a collar with a tag so we tried calling the numbers on it, but we weren't getting anywhere with that... all of a sudden an elderly man drove up and asked if we had seen his black dog! He expressed how the dog had constantly been running away when he would let him go out for a pee, and that he was going to take him to the animal shelter because he couldn't handle it anymore. I expressed that I would like to keep the dog, and the man said I could keep him if I really wanted...

I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to have another dog in the house for Colt - recently he has been extremely clingy, whiny, and just seems to be bummed out! The man said that the dog's name is Max, but to make him cooler, we'll call him Maxx... LOL! He is just a bit taller than Colt, but soooo skinny!! His coat isn't shiny and he has bad dandruff! This doggy needs some TLC!

Last night we bought a new harness and leash for him, even at its smallest fit setting it hangs off of him! He'll fill out eventually! We figure he must still be quite young because he is SO energetic and hyper - non stop! I thought it was going to take forever for this dog to fall asleep last night! Other then one accident in the kitchen, he has been very well behaved, knows his name, knows to sit, lay down, and most importantly... knows what "NO!!!" means!

It brings a smile to my face to see how happy Colt is, and how quickly this dog has adapted to our home!

Colt is on the Left, Maxx is on the Right:

Let's Dance!

Frozen and Fuzzy

Pictures of the frost in the garden from this morning.

FROST!

Last night it got down to -5... When I woke up this morning at 9am, the cars in the driveway still had frost on their windshields, and the grass in the shade was still frosty! Other than the frost, it was still a beautiful day out with not a cloud in the sky! Although the high was only 9 - boo, fall is officially here! This isn't the first time we've had frost so far this year - we've actually had frost in some form at least once every month this year. The night before Canada Day, there was frost in some low laying parts.

Because of the frost, and because it was actually nice out today and not raining, Mikey and I decided to pull some veggies from the garden! We found some rather large rutabagas, some great looking carrots, a few beets, some horseradish, and a few potatoes for the week. I honestly couldn't believe a lot of this was growing because the garden was so overtaken by weeds, vines, and whatever else could grab a hold of an empty spot! Here are some photos:

Giant rutabagas!

Carrots!

Aaaaannd a few potatoes!

Music!

I've been featured!

There is this amazing blog that I catch up with as much as possible called "Dig This Chick", read below:

"My name is Nici Holt Cline. I am a fourth generation Montanan raising a fifth in Missoula with my husband (Andy, childhood crush). We have two daughters (Ruby and Margot), one dog (Alice), two cats (Sam and Olive) and five chickens (Ida, Clementine, Bossy P, Lindsay and Paige).

I had a gardening and graphic design business called dig this chick several years ago. I put it on hold to pursue my career at my local art museum and started this blog to scratch my dig-this-chick itch."

Well, Nici has this great feature on her blog called the "Virgin Harvest" where she lists fellow blogger (and non-bloggers) that are growing something new, or even growing for the first time (like myself!). I sent Nici an email, and asked to be added to her list of Virgin Harvesters - Now, I'm on the list! #81!!!!

Please share the love, and give her site a visit. She is truly inspiring and writes a really fun to read blog!

Drivers Licence Update!

Today was the day... the day I finally put on my big girl panties, and wrote my test to get my Drivers Licence (learners). For some reason, I was super nervous about failing... And although I know the rules of the road, I still felt it was necessary to study and mentally prepare myself for my test. Good thing too, because there were some specific questions like "What is the maximum distance you can park from the curb" (50cm). There were also some common sense questions like "When you are passing a large vehicle on a 2 lane highway, how far ahead should your vehicle be before you merge back into the right lane?" Um... yeah... obviously not when your back bumper meets their front bumper... But I guess you never know what people might think - there IS a show called Canada's Worst Driver (I love that show!)

Anywho, when I arrived at the registries office, I was kinda nervous. This was my very first time taking my learners exam, and I had no idea what to expect. I was also kind of embarrassed, I'm 25 years old and I haven't even taken a friggen learners test... Sheesh! So when I got up to the counter and the guy asked me what I needed, I kinda just said "I need to take my learners exam" under my breath. He asked things like... Have I ever taken it before, I confirmed it was my first time, and gave him all my ID and info. He then told me to go over to the middle computer and just follow what it said on the screen. I walked over to the computers, but there was only 2... So I turned to him and asked which one it was just to confirm... He looked at me like I was some idiot, and said "uh, yeah... I said that one..." turned back around, and started playing on his phone...

OK - This guy obviously needs to take the pole out of his ass... but whatever. I couldn't be bothered with his attitude problem, and needed to focus on my test. So I took my time, read everything twice, and .. PASSED! I only got one question wrong! WOO HOO! So once I was finished, the computer told me to go back to the front desk. When I walked back over, the guy that was helping me was still playing on his phone, so I just waited. When he looked up all he said was "So, you passed?" and I told him I did, with a little bit of excitement. He then walked over to the other side of the desk where another woman was working, and was saying something. I just assumed he was talking to her until he whipped around and said "Um, over here PLEASE?!"

WHOA! ... whoa... sorry? I thought you were talking to that other lady, because you definitely were not even facing me, or told me to come over there with you... Anywho, I walked over and sat down for a quick eye exam, and this guys attitude just got worse and worse! He asked me if I could see some numbers along the bottom of the screen. I told him that I couldn't see anything... Then, he let out this obvious sigh of frustration, and with a condescending tone said "You have to lean with your forehead to turn the machine on" ... as if I knew that! Frick...

So once that was done, he got up and walked away, but was still talking to me. So I decided to say something. I said "I'm sorry, but I cannot hear what you are saying to me while you're walking away." Then - and this totally blew my mind - he let out another elongated sigh, and literally rolled his eyes - RIGHT AT ME - and repeated whatever it was that he was saying. This guy was such a jerk! I'm sure I gave him the most disgusted look ever, because it seemed like after that he might have realized how shitty he was being, and you could tell he was trying to be more polite. Or maybe its because the lady waiting behind me gave him a filthy look - or WHATEVER.

Point is, this guy was FUCKED! It really put a damper on my experience, and I cannot even imagine being a terrified 14 year old going in to write their exam and dealing with this guy. It's a stressful and maybe even somewhat scary experience for some! Working in customer service myself, I just could not get over how rude he was, and I think its going to be on my mind until I call and complain. I will never go back their either - in fear of having to deal with him again. I will go out of my way and drive the extra distance to go to the Spruce Grove office.

BUT - I have my learners and thats all that matters! YAY! After Mikey and I went shopping a bit, and ate at Wendy's for my celebratory dinner, I drove all the way home from Carvel - secondary highway and all! I'm so proud of myself! I also bought a new battery for my truck so I don't have to steal the one from the Impala anymore. Then, sometime next week the truck will be dropped off at a local mechanic for some repairs and a general maintenance.

I'm so happy everything is coming together! *SIGH* (of relief!)

SEPTEMBER!

Goodbye August! Welcome September... So I think I'm going to make a beginning of the month update from now on! This way I can review my resolutions, and write out my goals for the next month as well. I think this will be really helpful to myself to track my goals and see what I have accomplished, how my weight loss is progressing, etc, etc. I'm pretty excited to have these these written out finally. So - I'm sorry in advance about the constant updates about these items, but now I promise to do it only once a month!

So where to start.... Weigh in time?!? This morning when I weighed myself, I'm still sitting at 205lbs. My goal for this month is to loose another 5 lbs. I'm still going to walk to and from work, and I will be using the elliptical for 15-20 minutes every second night. I would like to incorporate another activity as well, something suited for a northern fall... like swimming at the leisure center or something... But I guess that would require me to wear a bathing suit - which I don't exactly have... I'll figure out something. Anyway, hopefully by my next monthly update, I weigh 200lbs!!

My other goal - Licence! I'm hoping to get a ride down to the registries office tomorrow after work to take my written test to get my Learners! This is so exciting! I've been studying but... I think I've got it down... lol. It's kinda sad when I think about it... I could have gotten my learners when I was 14! I'm turning 26 at the end of the year! Either way - it's happening now!

It's been super cold out, and has been raining the last few days so I haven't had a good chance to get out into the garden and check the veggies. Not this weekend but next, I'll be in Kelowna, so I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and will post an update about that trip! I think that's all for now.. Till next time!

Fall Is Coming!

It has been so cold this last week, you can feel the nip in the air that is going to start turning the leaves yellow. I walked to work the other day in flip flops, and quickly realized that it was a bad idea! My feet were freezing ALL DAY! Yikes! Today's high is only +10C! Brr! That is fall weather right there, time to bring out the heavy sweaters and winter coats if you ask me! Over the past month I've noticed that there haven't been any new blooms in the yard, and that most of the flowers are starting to die off now, but there are lots of other things that are starting to grow! Take a look:

Cherries! I think they are cherries - they look like cherries!

There are still tons of raspberries!! I don't know what to do with them all! You can go out and pick for an hour, and you wont even be done one row! I've offered to friends to come over and pick some, but it seems like everyone has raspberries!

Rosey Rose hips! I found a recipe from my favorite food site for Rose Hip Jam and Jelly!! If I have enough, I will totally try to make it!

Look at all these apples!!! WOW! I think I'll have a few! LOL I don't know what kind they are, but I have a feeling that apple jelly is in my near future, and maybe yours too - in Christmas gift form!

There are still some sunflowers growing strong, and some that haven't even bloomed yet! They are so pretty and vibrant, and in all different sizes! Here is a big one, and a small one:

My veggies in the greenhouse are coming along well, especially the peppers! The only pepper plants that have put out any fruit is the Carmen pepper plants. They are going to be sweet red bull horn peppers! Mmmm! If I get enough, I might have to make red pepper jelly! YUMMY!!!

My tomatoes are looking alright as well! I don't have as many as the peppers, but there are a few that look promising!

So thats all that has happened for August, not too exciting, but I am excited about my fall harvest! This week I will be checking my beets, carrots, and rutabagas, and maybe my potatoes too! YAY!

I feel great!

Hello all again! I hope you are having fantastic weekends! I just felt so great this morning when I woke up that I had to write about it! This is just a brief update about my weight loss, but I will do an actual month end update at the end of the month. So far tho, I have lost 15 of the 20 pounds I want to loose for this year. That brings me to 205lbs! My weight loss didn't actually begin until April - so I'm averaging 3-4 pounds a month. Now I'm ready to make it 5lbs a month.

I just needed to tell you about some great things I've noticed... number one - My double chin is... disappearing! WOW! Now - I've always had a double chin, and probably always will, but the massiveness of it is going away! When I touch my neck, I have to reach a little further it seems.. Haha! That sounds funny, but it's a great feeling! Even when I look in the mirror, I can see how my face has changed shape! Not only the shape of my face looks nicer, but my skin actually looks better! My acne is clearing up, and my complexion looks a lot more healthier - glowing almost! Maybe thats because I'm happy too.

Another thing is clothing... my shirts all fit differently! They are getting a little baggy in my mid section, which is where I hold most of my weight! That also means my pants are getting a little baggy - especially around my thighs! Holy, even my boss noticed that my pants are literally starting to hang off me. Awesome! I guess I'll have to start throwing them in the dryer to shrink them back up! I had to buy a belt at the beginning of the month, and I have already had to go in another notch! Excellent!

With any weight loss I've had in the past, I've always noticed that my bras would get a bit big because my boobs would get smaller - but not so far this time. The only thing I've noticed about my bras is that they are fitting better around the ribs, and maybe even a bit loose sometimes. This means less back fat!! But thank god my cup size hasn't changed... HAHA!

Along with clothing fitting better, so are my shoes, especially flats, since they seem to be a bit more narrow! I was noticing last winter that I was even going into size 9 shoes, when I normally wear a size 8. I've pulled out some of my shoes from last year, and they are all fitting well again... too bad summer is almost over and I cant wear some of the cute shoes I have.. Oh well, I can now go shopping for new fall and winter foot wear! WOO HOO! Not to mention, It's so amazing to be able to do things around the house without my ankles or legs aching constantly. Weight gain is so hard on the body... I never want to be in pain like that again! Unless I'm pregnant or something...

I have SO much energy! The other night I was watching TV or something, and I just couldn't sit still. It was like I was all pent up, and had to go for a run! So instead, I went downstairs and dusted off the elliptical. After 15 minutes on one of the easier settings.. that thing literally kicked my butt! But now I'm totally in the groove, and will be doing at least 15 minutes on the elliptical every second night. I used it again last night, and it wasn't as bad. That 15 minutes might become 20 very soon!

I don't want to say that I look at food differently now, but I do put more thought into what, AND where I eat. Ive noticed this past month, that if I eat out anywhere, I normally get an upset stomach from it.. I don't know why. I haven't eaten at a fast food place in so long - this is just sit down places like Boston Pizza, etc. Maybe its not all that different. But even if I were at a fast food place, I probably wouldn't be able to eat there unless they had a salad or something, because the heavy greasy foods make me feel SO GROSS! Not to mention I'll be running to the bathroom 10 minutes later - Yuck!

I've been keeping the meals pretty simple actually. Piece of fruit, granola bar, and maybe a yogurt or something for breakfast. Sandwich or bagel and veggies or fruit for lunch, and then whatever Mikey or myself makes for dinner. And of course, a small snack for dessert... I can't deny myself that! I've noticed a significant change in the portions I'm eating, and how easy it is for me to get full! That may also be part of eating better, more filling foods. I've cut pop almost completely out of my diet - unless I have no choice, or make a glass of my raspberry syrup and ginger ale, Mmmmmm!! Pop actually tends to upset my stomach, maybe its the carbonation. I think thats one reason why I cant really drink beer - my tummy always hurts after.

There are more positive changes that I have been seeing, these are just the more prominent ones. I will tell you all more about them when I write my month end update!

Have a great weekend everyone! And I have the weekend off, so I'll see about posting an update about the garden too... lol

Does this blog make me look fat?

So, after long debate, Ive decided to write a blog about my weight loss, gain, and just things that I recall about the changes in my body during both phenomenons. This is a very touchy subject for a lot of people, including myself... But I also realize a lot of people can relate, and it seems like mostly everyone feels they have a weight or body appearance issue, in one shape or form. So, I know I'm not alone, and I've decided to share my story in confidence, and in total truth.

There are some things that I have had a hard time admitting to myself even to this day, but I think I'm at that point in my life where I have to be frank about my body, and want to do better for myself. So, maybe I should just start from the beginning....

Ever since elementary school, I've been called the fat kid. Honestly, I don't think I was ever overly fat until I started believing what the other kids were saying to me, and started binge eating. I was active, I was part of a mountain biking club, the outdoors club, and I was feeling good! I know that I wasn't skinny, but I was fit in some form or another - that was the difference. I couldn't run a mile without stopping halfway - but I still finished... and I couldn't even think about joining a sports team, but when I did play, I put my heart into it. I remember going on a three day bike trip along the kettle valley railway, and I was the only girl who finished all three days. Hell, I've even hiked up mountains, no matter how exhausted, out of breath, pain in chest I may have felt - the point was that I wanted to, and could do it. I can admit that I was no athlete, but I was young, and felt good about myself for the most part.

After a few years of more and more emotional abuse from my peers, I started to take what they were saying seriously. I was fat, I'm not good at sports, why bother. I eventually stopped mountain biking, I dropped out of the outdoors club, and going to gym class all together. (Frick, kids are mean!) I would go out of my way to avoid doing strenuous activities, and that's a major thing that I regret about my past. I feel like I gave up such a large piece of my life and even a general interest that I still have not regained. I lost all motivation.

I don't think it was just school kids teasing me that had such an impact on my weight, but I think also my lifestyle growing up had huge factors that still roll over into my life today. I was raised by my mother, who was single, unemployed, and a drug addict. We lived off of welfare and child support, so food was available, but still sparse while money went to other nonessentials. I remember going to friends houses for dinner, and eating so much that I could barely walk because I knew when I went home, I probably wouldn't have anything to eat. So now I have that mentality that if I don't eat this all now, I will starve later.... I'm trying to correct that.

The biggest change in my body at that point was actually after I was out of high school, and I was working full time at Wendy's. I had a manager that would always say "Leane, why are you getting so fat? When you first started here you were so skinny, now you are so round" while waving her hands up and down like she was outlining J-lo's ass. What am I supposed to say to that? Sometimes, I don't think that people really have any idea that the things they say to someone can hurt so deep, weather we even realize it or not.

Looking back at it now, I can see how my esteem dropped, how I felt people looked at me changed, including with boyfriends, sex, what I wore, who I hung out with, All of these things were affected because of how I consciously and subconsciously felt about myself - still does actually. I found it really hard to believe it when a guy showed interest in me, because I viewed myself as so undesirable.... Looking at some of my past relationships, I can now notice how I have lowered my standards to be with guys that I thought would be in my league ... if that makes any sense.

During my early twenties, I don't think I ever really wanted to care about my weight, or how my body looked. I didn't want it to get the best of me. I put those issues on the back burner, and really focused on enjoying life. But we all find a time when the loneliness of being single gets to us, and we start to look for something to fill that void. I met an older man in 2006, and perhaps got "comfortable" or "let myself go". I started flaking with plans to hang out with friends, and started to not leave the house very often... We ate pizza a lot, and didn't get very much exercise. Not only was this an unhealthy lifestyle, but it was also affecting our relationship. Eventually I found myself in verbally abusive situations, that sometimes turned physical.

This was my biggest downfall, and my biggest weight gain. Only a year before, I weighed about 160lbs (which is still considered overweight for my body size by doctors) and shot up to the 200's - 240lbs would have been my highest at one point. I just finished college, and was working at a horrible job, I had so much debt, I was living with this abusive man, I wasn't making enough money to move out, and I was really fat. I avoided going out as much as I could, because I couldn't bear to think what my friends would say if they saw what I had done to myself. But I know now, that I needed those friends to help me through one of the toughest times I've had since that whole fiasco started.

When my weight started going up into the 200's, I think I was in denial, and blamed it on the pizza, or whatever. I actually got a gym membership, and lost 12 pounds in the first week. But then my efforts started to get lazy, and I stopped going. My body was different. I didn't feel like myself, I didn't see me in the mirror anymore, and I didn't know what else to do. I think thats when I started getting depressed. Again, the weight gain continued. I just ate, and ate and ate... eating made me feel better, like a comfort. I can still remember this one day when I was in the shower, and I was leaning back to rinse my hair, and I could feel my back rolls touching each other... I had never felt anything like it before. My skin was so big that it could roll over and touch another part of my back!

My lower back started hurting quite a bit in 2007, so much that I couldn't sleep or lay on my back without going into paralyzing pain. But that wasn't all of it. My face had extremely bad acne, and hair started growing in places I couldn't dream about getting hair. But the worst thing was that my period had stopped. I ended up going to the doctors to find out what I could do about my period. I mentioned all of the other symptoms I had been having - bad acne, weird hair growth, and my recent weight gain. The doctor told me about PCOS - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, but that she would do some other tests to make sure there are no other issues.

So, I had blood tests, pee tests, an ultrasound, even in internal ultrasound (yuck). The results all came back normal. My hormones were normal, I didn't have diabetes, I wasn't pregnant, and there were no signs of PCOS in or around my ovaries... so, it was all just a result of my weight gain. The doctor suggested that I try a pill called Metformin. He said that it was used for patients with diabetes, but it would help with my weight, my period, and the other issues I was experiencing. Well... I was not ready for what this was about to do to my body...

When I first started taking Metformin, It was almost a whole year since I had my period... and when I defiantly got it, it came with a vengeance! I had never felt so sick before in my life. Not only did I get my period with cramps that could choke a duck, I had the worst diarrhea EVER! There is no fucking around if you got the urge to go - I had to RUN to the bathroom to make sure I didn't shit my pants. By the end of the month, I noticed that there was blood in my diarrhea, and so I went back to the hospital. I told the nurse about the Metformin, and how I got my period, but that I was also having the worst diarrhea in my life, and that the blood was definitely not from my period. I learnt quickly that diarrhea was a side effect of the pill (thanks for telling me doc) and that the blood is from a small hemorrhoid formed from the constant blood pressure from the diarrhea. GROSS!

Needless to say, those pills went into the garbage that night. (Whew, this blog is getting a bit long winded, sorry everyone!) Some other body changes i noticed was that I started getting body aches, my ankles always were stiff, and hurt when I walked. Obviously with weight gain, your clothes don't fit, and slowly buying bigger and bigger clothing is no walk in the park - it hurts. My fingers got really fat, my feet got wider, my boobs are bigger (not such a bad thing) and my face is super big. because my face is bigger, I think it makes my eyes look even smaller - and I think they are small to begin with! My self consciousness has never been so worried since I peed my pants at the park with I was 7.

Within these past few years, I think I also embraced the fact that I was overweight - obese to my doctor - I mean, I even got a big fat mermaid tattoo, and I love her! I know I had no motivation to loose weight, go on diets, get a gym membership, because its my personality to give it my all in the beginning, and then slack after the excitement wears off. I guess it also didn't help that I was working at sit down call center jobs. That was one of the worst things I could have done to my body job wise. Maybe it was the fact that I was surrounded by other fat people 'working a sit down job because we're too fat to stand' that didn't help my motivation to loose the weight as well (no offence).

I will admit that I miss the feeling after a good workout. It does feel amazing to just giver for a while, get a good sweat going, and release some of that pent up energy. I don't miss the creepy guy that used to always sit next to me and try and talk to me... freak. But in all seriousness, I know that all I needed was a good workout - why was it so hard to get motivated? I don't know, will I ever? Maybe I was just lazy, maybe I was just really good at telling myself that it didn't matter what I looked like. Either way, I'm passed that now, and there is a happy-ish ending to my story.

Within the last year, I am happy to announce that I have made some huge changes to my lifestyle - whether it was consciously or not - including exercise, a happy lifestyle, and better eating habits. Currently, I walk to and from work every day - sometimes twice a day if i'm working a split shift. This is actually an uphill walk each way, because I have to walk down and then up a hill to get to work, and home. When I first started walking to work, I had the wind knocked out of me by the time I got to work. My feet, ankles, knees, and chest would kill! Brutal! Now I can walk it with no problem, and no pain! I'm not even out of breath by the time I get to work anymore - AMAZING!

Living in a small town, working a simple job, living with an amazing person, and doing some real life editing to keep stress out of my life has also played a huge role in keeping my moral up. I don't binge eat, and I feel great about life. Also, I made a realistic goal for myself at the beginning of the year to loose 20lbs. I weighed 220lbs then, and now I weigh 206lbs! I can see such a big difference in my body, and it feels great - especially now that I have no more pains! I can actually lay on my back without going into paralyzing pain! And yes - I have started to get my period again, and naturally as well!

Eating is a whole new story as well, I get full very easily, and don't actually eat as much as I did at the start of the year, and I prefer to eat something healthier. Don't get me wrong - I still love sweets, but I find it has to be in moderation. I can have a bite of a chocolate bar, and then I'll put it away for later. WHO AM I!? Hahaha! I never would imagine myself talking this way even 6 months ago! So, I guess I should wrap up now, I'm sure you all have lives to get back to... All in all, I am so proud of myself for loosing these 14 pounds naturally, healthily, and I cant wait for the other 6 to go! I think this goal of 20lbs a year is super realistic, and hopefully in the next 2 years, I can get back down to 160lbs again! Thanks for reading - if you've read this far! I'll keep you updated now that you all know about my story!

A mighty weekend indeed...

Hello! I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend! Thus far, mine has been peachy! On Saturday, Mikey and I went into the city to get a few things done. We wanted to go to Future Shop to price out a new P&S camera, A stereo for my truck, and some other things. I wanted to stop by Michaels and pick up some space themed card supplies for a piece of fan art/birthday card for Liam Lynch. We were also lucky to meet up with a friend for some Vietnamese food for lunch! Mmmm, it's been too long!

Another reason why we were in town was so I could hopefully pick out a new pair of glasses, and then make an eye exam appointment, and to just get the ball rolling so I can get my Learners! Well, after picking out a sweet new pair of glasses, I was surprised that they were able to squeeze me in for an exam only 15 minutes later! Wow, I thought - this is awesome! It makes it so much easier to be able to do it right then and there so we don't have to come back again for the exam, and then again to pick up my new glasses....

I talked to the optometrist about my increasing night blindness, mild headaches after driving, and how I could feel that my eyes changed dramatically after leaving my sit down, on a computer job. Well, I was right, my vision has changed very dramatically in the past 2 years. I think this visit was overdue. After the exam, the sales rep helping me let me know that they had my new lenses in stock, and my new glasses would be ready for pick up in an hour! AWESOME! This saves us even another trip! I was so grateful, and extremely surprised how they went out of their way to get my needs taken care of during the time we were there! So, here is a before, and after:

Before:

After:

I really like the new frames, they make me look so mature and grown up! LOL! These pictures were taken probably within a week of each other, so its a pretty good comparison. I still like my old glasses, but they were just cheap $5 reading glasses that I picked up, and had my lenses put into... So the clear finish on the plastic is starting to peel and get gross - or else I would keep them and make them into some sweet sunglasses! I still might do that... we'll see.

With new glasses in tow, Mikey and I went to the Darwell tractor pulls today! It was actually quite fun! First they started off with lawn and garden tractors, quads, and micro tractors pulling small sleds. Then they brought out antique and modified tractors. Some of them were very intense! There were 2 different sleds, one large, and one small. After the tractors, they brought out the trucks, stock, and modified! Some of them were really done up, and even ready for drag racing, and some were just guys that showed up that wanted to see what they could do in their jacked up trucks. I wanted to take a whole bunch of photos, but the camera was dead... Oops! I did get a few photos... Here are the the ones I got:

An Albertan pirate! Part of the antique pull, there is also a smaller tractor and sled pulling in the back.

Sweet modified tractor pulling the big sled. There were some amazing modified micro tractors pulling the smaller sled too..

Lots of modified, and even stock trucks participated in the pulls. This is the only pic we got of the trucks.

This modified tractor came all the way from Washington - it has 5 engines. One in the middle, and 2 on each side of it. Each one had to be started seperatly. It was so incredibly loud... note everyone covering their ears!

New Years Resolutions

Do any of you make new years resolutions? If you do, do you ever follow through or follow up on them? This year I made ten resolutions for 2010, and I'm about halfway through them! I feel pretty good about my accomplishments so far, but I also have to be realistic about the things that I've listed that will not get completed. When I wrote my resolutions, I was still unemployed. Majority of what I wanted was to pay off bills, one was about weight loss, and others were things that I could do around my home - like make a quilt, and get into preserving and go crazy on the garden. Now that I have a full time job, its a little more difficult to get stuff done around the home. Sometimes I feel like I have no free time, because I'm so exhausted after work, I just lay around on the internet, and my weekends off are normally occupied.

So - I just wanted to re-visit my resolutions, and see how far I have actually come.

#1: Loose weight. Realistically, I was hoping to loose 20lbs over the year. So far, I have lost 10, but only since I started my job! But wow, what a difference even the 10 pounds makes! Because I don't drive, I walk to and from work almost every day, and it is literally uphill both ways! Ha ha ha!! I have to walk down into the little valley, and then back up the other side no matter if i'm walking to or from work. When I first started the trek each day, I could hardly stand by the time I got to work - but now - 4 months later - its a breeze! Hopefully I continue to loose the last 10 pounds in the next 4 months!

#2: Get my licence (learners). I have been putting this off, and putting this off, mostly because I want it to be something I do for myself, not because everyone else wants me to. Here's the thing. I have always lived in a heavily populated area and have always had access to public transit - or everything I needed was in walking distance. I always kept minimum paying jobs, because I value free time and relationships more than the money I make - So to keep up with my frugal lifestyle, I never looked at having a licence as something I needed. Also - its a lot cheaper to NOT pay for registration, insurance, and all that good stuff.

But - now seeing that I live in the middle of nowhere, and if I want to go out and visit friends or do anything out of town, we need to drive to get there.... so... I should probably get my licence. Another thing that has held me back, is my vision. I have a super old prescription, and have horrible night blindness. My eyes get very irritated when driving at night, or for long distances because I cant focus, and I haven't had my lenses updated because of low funds. Now that I have some moolah, I can get some new glasses, and finally feel more confident about driving, and being able to see properly. (I'm actually going this weekend to pick out some new glasses, and make an eye appointment, etc! woot!)

#3: Get my passport... Yet another thing that I have to get... I have the pictures and all the info filled out, it's just a matter of finding the time to go into the city, stand in line, and get the application put through. *sigh* Soon enough - another reason why being able to drive myself would be helpful.

#4: Pay off bad debt. I can confidently say that half of my starting debt from the beginning of the year is now gone! That feels almost equally good as loosing the 10lbs! I'm thinking that by this time next year, all my bad debt will be completely gone!

#5: Buy my truck off of Mikey. One year ago - almost exactly - Mikey invested in me, and bought me a small truck, I guess as an incentive to get my licence. I have been telling him for a whole year that I was going to buy the truck off of him, then it would be all mine! Well, on November 1st, that truck will officially be mine! I love that truck!

#6: Sell something for profit on Etsy. This... is one of those resolutions that I don't think are going to become a reality. Originally when I wrote this, It was mostly because I didn't have a job, and needed to fuel some sort of income. Now I fell that I can't realistically dedicate the time to an online shop, so I highly doubt that this will happen.

#7: Start a photography project. I was hoping that in my free time, I would be able to start some sort of photography project - like a picture a day kind of thing. I have a big beautiful, and expensive camera, and I was really trying to make an effort to spend more time with it. Again, work has taken the best of that time, so it hasn't happened. Although, I have been taking regular photos in the garden - but I'm not using my big camera. I'm using Mikey's old digital camera from the 80's ... well it acts like that old sometimes... LOL

#8: Finish main floor renovations. Honestly, most of the main floor reno's are done, but there are a few walls I still need to paint, like the Master bedroom, the hallway, and most of the kitchen. But other then that, the Living room, Bathroom, Guest room, One wall in the Kitchen, and the pantry are all done, and other projects like changing out light fixtures, door handles, etc etc are all done too. Another reno that HAS to be done this year is the roof. The shingles just got dropped off today actually, so I can cross that one off.

#9: Make a throw, blanket, or quilt. Originally I was thinking about crocheting a throw for the living room, but then I changed my mind, and thought about making a rag quilt. It didn't end up very nice at all... I'de still like to make something, even if it ends up as a gift for someone, I'm thinking this will become a fall project that I can do while it's slow at work.

#10: Find 5 ways to save money at home. Well... Ive been doing some canning and preserving this year. I've been growing some vegetables, and we've been eating from the garden... small things like that. They've added up, and honestly havent made that huge of a differnce. There are other things that we have done to save money as well, Mikey car pools to work, we dont go grocery shopping unless we have to, I cancelled my cell phone in January, and now I just use the home phone and internet to get in touch with people. Working also helps with the money situation... LOL.

So, those are my updated new years resolutions. I'll revisit them at the end of the year, and see where I stand then!

No Tubing = More Shopping!

Today was a bust on the tubing because it wasn't hot enough. It got up to about 22C, but if you stood in the shade, it was pretty cool. So just trying to imagine - if you will - sitting in a tube, in cold water, for about 3-4 hours. It didn't seem like it was going to be extremely enjoyable! I still want to go one day - but like I said in a previous post - the weather has just been so ... mild.

Instead, I went shopping with a friend and found some great items for my fall "wardrobe". I also splurged on a 4-in-1 grill. It's a sandwich maker/waffle maker/grill press/griddle. Excellent. I only have plans for the waffle and sandwich maker at this point in time - heck, even a 2-in-1 would still be amazing, and I would have purchased it, so the other 2 are a total bonus!

I also looked at some P&S cameras to replace the one I have that has been broken for a year. I miss it, and I know it would be simple to drop it off and have it fixed - but I think I deserve something new. I didn't commit and buy anything just yet, I think I'm going to wait one more month, and see if prices go down for the fall - you never know!

Well, other then that, I had an amazing day hanging out with a good friend, and I am in a feel good mood! So, here is some feel good music:

Hazy Dayz

Lately the skies have been grey, and very washed out, with a thick Haze that seems to surround us entirely. As far as I know, there aren't any forest or wild fires immediately close to us. There are fires still burning in BC, and I've also heard that there are fires on the other side of the world that have caused enough smoke to blow over into northern Canada... A lot of my friends are scattered along western Canada, and they all say the same thing - that it's hazy, everywhere. When the sun goes down for the day, and recedes into the horizon, it glows bright red, like its on fire! ...you know what I mean...

It's very eerie to see the hills in the distance look as if they are sitting in a layer of fog, and although its not nearly as bad as what Russia is experiencing... it still makes you wonder about the air quality! There is actually an air quality warning in some parts of BC right now, but nothing has been mentioned in Alberta. (This is the Alberta Air Quality webpage)

Last night we had a really intense thunderstorm - I think lightening struck my front lawn! - and I thought maybe the rain would "wash away" the haziness... No such luck I guess. The sun still set into a deep red glow, and the hills in the distance still looked like they were swimming in fog. But its not just the hills, you can actually see the haze in the sky. You can't really even see the blue sky, its like there is a pinkish overcast all the time - yet it still gets super hot!

I'll see if I can't take some photos later today and post them for you all to see!

**UPDATE** August 19 2010

Today is the worst! You can literally smell smoke in the air - it smells like camping, and its starting to bother my throat! YUCK! According to the news, there are an estimated 300 forest fires burning in BC right now, and the smoke is drifting our way... There is SO MUCH SMOKE!

Check out these photos I just snapped:

From my backyard, you can see the red tinge in the smoke, its so gross!

Looking South, to downtown Tomahawk.

The sun, behind a thick layer of smoke. Today would have been a beautiful, hot sunny day if it weren't for all the smoke!