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!