Pleasure to meet you (I said to myself this morning)

I don't know how long you have known me, but I've known myself for quite a long time, well, I've known the OLD me for a long time. I've just recently met the NEW me, and let me tell you, I really like her! I think I may actually be in love with her (shhhh, don't tell my husband).
It's been a long time (if there ever was a time), since I've felt this way about myself. It feels  fabulous! If you did know me before, you'll know that I've dealt with a lot of sh*t in my life (especially in the last 7 years) a lot of ups and a lot of downs that could bring a lot of people down, I mean really really down....
I've been battling depression, post-partum, and anxiety, I've quit smoking (after 16 years), started working out, and started school, I've had 2 kids, gotten married, I've lost my dad and lost my last grandpa and been estranged from family, I've moved 4 times in 5 years (4 cities, 2 provinces and 2 different countries), I've sold it all and had to buy it all back, I've lost and gained friends (and weight), I've been utterly lost and seen the light, I've cried myself to sleep and stayed awake all night staring at my kids, I've been away from my husband for 3 months straight, I've gone through this and more, much more ..... but so what right, who hasn't?
The point of all of this is that I've gotten through it, and not only gotten through it, but am here, better then ever and ready to take my life and kick this world right side up again! Now-a-days I wake up happy (imagine that!) and at a decent time! I'm ready to greet the day, sweat and work out. I laugh with my kids and husband a LOT more, and have energy to play with them. I am conscious of what goes in my body regarding food and supplements and I don't get sick as often, (and when I do I can read my body telling me when it's coming and I kick that sicknesses ass)! My moods are more upbeat, and my body is way more fit and toned. My face has cleared up, my sleep is super restful, and I'm actually accomplishing more and more everyday! My confidence has grown, and damn it, I'VE GROWN! There was a time that I would joke that I felt too immature to have a husband and kids. Now I feel grown up, mature and responsible, but maybe still too young! (haha, young at heart!)
I started this blog in September with the hope of transforming myself into a person that my kids would be proud of, into someone that my husband and family would be proud of, but especially into someone I would be happy to see in the mirror every morning.
I think I've done it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not done done, I'm still working more, I'm still eating to live and working out with bodyrock, I'm still trying my damnedest every day to be patient and calm... but boy oh boy am I happy to be here where I am.
And on this journey I have met so many other people who are on the same journey. They inspire me to keep going, to not care what the masses say about food or diet, to keep getting up and working harder. I read an Amazing blog this morning that jump started me again, here is a bit of what Jennifer said....

My body is my temple. This is the only body I have and I am going to treat it the best that I know how and hope it does the same to me. I do wish to grow old AND healthy AND strong. If my life gets busy, the other “stuff” still comes second to me. I come first. My health comes first. I am proud of myself every single day after I finish my workout. I am proud of myself each and every time I choose to only consume healthy choices. I am proud of myself for bypassing the sugary, fried, cheesy, processed, fast… anything… for not even being tempted because I know that what I put into my body is its fuel and I only wish to fuel my body with premium nutrition.

Now, you might be thinking that I should get off my high horse and quite tooting my own horn. But I’m not going to, because it is difficult to make those choices, to change your life, to eat differently than most people, to push yourself beyond what you think you are capable of, to have the self-discipline … it isn’t easy… and I am proud of myself every time… every time. 

I LOVE THIS (Please find Jennifer's blog here) and will keep up with Jennifer as well as all the other amazing blogs out there!

I want to thank you all who are reading my blog, and I want to thank all of the blogs out there that I read every day, such Great inspiration and motivation! I really truly can't wait for 2011! What a stellar year it's going to be!

Tamara

Feeling really Fantastic right Now!

Well it's been a while since I've both started to work out and I've become more 'enlightened' about my eating. The last little fast/cleanse really did a wonderful thing to my mind over eating. I find myself really looking at what it is that I'm putting into my body. I think it also helps a ton that the working out is starting to 'show itself'. When you are working your ass off, but don't see progress, it can be a horribly daunting experience. And please don't begin to lecture me on how body shape and health is based both on healthy eating and working out I KNOW THAT!!!!! I was doing that, I guess the fast/cleanse just helped me get that edge I needed.
I've started eating lunch again, and have also found myself snacking because of hunger in between. I'm not happy about that :( I think you should eat when you're hungry, but I don't believe that people are hungry 6,7 or even 8,9 times a day. If you are eating properly then you shouldn't be needing to eat all the time... So when I find my stomach growling I do what any of us should do first, and that is drink a big glass of filtered water. I read somewhere once that nearly 70% of the time that people think they are hungry, they bodies are in fact just crying out for water. I would have to say that 90% of the time it works for me. The other 10% of the time I wait 10 minutes to see if it will pass, and if it doesn't then I grab some nuts, dried fruit or a healthy muffin. Once I had a hazelnut lint chocolate, and last night while playing Mario vs Sonic Olympic Winter Games with my Husband and kids, we wolfed down a ton of air popped popcorn! YUM (anyways, that wasn't sooo good...)

At any rate, I FEEL GREAT!!! And I love it! I don't know if I can really explain it. But I think it's a combination of a lot of different things that I have been doing for a while now, and maybe, well, they just all caught up with me!
I've noticed a big thing lately, and that's when I look into the mirror, I really REALLY truly like who is looking back at me. Why? Dunno, but does it really matter? It could be a combo of my help from Cheryl Richardson (see my older post here, or just go to her site here), or the fact that I'm getting a lot of my life's 'to do list' done (schooling in particular), it may be that I am starting to look 'smokin' (as my hubby's been saying), eating better, working out more, taking some of that Herbal Calm, or it could even be something else. I don't know for sure, But like I said, I don't care! I'm just going to do my best to keep it up!

Happy Holidays to you all, It's coming sooner then I thought it would. Thank goodness I'm pretty prepared.......

Till the next time.....

Sunday night came and went

So I've done it. I'm sitting here (actually I'm stretching as I type ~ gotta love multi-tasking!), and I feel pretty good. Besides being a little under the weather the last few days, I've done great. I stuck with my plan of smoothies and salads (except that Sat and Sun night I had soup :tom yum and pho instead because I had a slight fever and felt some soup was better then a salad). anyways, I've done it and I feel like I want to do this for a few more days. I don't feel 'done' yet you know? I must admit tho, this time around I feel like my relationship with food has somehow changed. My husband talked about this 'change' last time we did the lemonade cleanse. I wasn't sure what he was talking about until now, and I'm not sure I can explain it, but I really feel differently about food right now.
The only way to explain it may be to say that I'm consciously eating to live and not just eating every yummy thing in my path.
So the plan as of today is to continue this eating, cleansing, detoxing, exercising, thing I have going on and see what happens by Thursday. Why Thursday, well, dunno.... seems like a good night to me. If nothing else I will re-evaluate and see what's what then.

Till then, I'm off to Costco for some nuts, nutella, grapeseed oil and whatever else happens to jump into my cart!

p.s. My new fav salad is a mix of lettuces, crushed walnuts, dried cranberries, a few cloves of minced garlic and some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. SO YUM!

here is a photo if you'd like to see

Happy Holidays!

p.p.s Wanted to also pass along a site that has a LOT of info about eating Alkaline, check it out here, I just bought the recipe book, and as soon as my Husband prints it off and binds it so nicely for me, I will be feeding us a few of these yummy recipes. Let you know how that goes! (and tell me what you think too!)

straw that broke the camels back, or how I'm getting rid of this tire for good!

It's been a few weeks since I started doing this hardcore working out with Zuzana at BodyRockTV, and as intimidating as it was to start, I am now 200% addicted, hooked and loving it! Every morning I wake up and get my smoothie ready, then while the boys are eating and getting dressed I am sweating and working my ass off! Love it!!! I took some photos of me on the day that I started working out (Nov 24th), and will take some more closer to mid January. If I took them right now, I'm sure you wouldn't see a difference, in fact to me it seems that I've gained a few inches on this tire of mine....  I'm working so hard, and I can feel (deep down somewhere hiding in there) that I've got some muscle and made some progress, but it's for sure not picture worthy yet....... This is actually really bothering me. I've never had trouble with my weight, I've actually never really thought about it one way or another. I've always been 'lucky' to be 'thin'. I say these in 'quotations' because that's what people have always told me. But right now I'm struggling to see my body in a positive way in the mirror.
 I'm not a perfectionist, and I don't have a distorted view of my body. I  know that I'm 'thin', but at the same time I have fat. Notice I didn't say that I was fat, but that I have fat, there's a difference, oh yes there it! I may be a size 4, but I too have a tire that I'm carrying around. I do, and I'm tired of it! It seems worse now then it did in the summer.... which makes sense. But the bottom line is that this tire is what is hiding all my progress with Zuzana~
Most people indulge in cakes and sweets and extra helpings when the weather gets colder (it's that extra layer we tell ourselves that we need to survive the winter), and I do live in a very VERY cold place... but in the end it's all just excuses! I have been indulging in sweets and cookies and extra snacks. And although most of my 'treats' are made by me and are very  healthy, it's still  not letting me see all of my hard work.
With all of the blabbering, I feel I've gotten off track.
Here is the point.
Here is what I'm going to do now that the Camel's back has split.
I'm going on a quick and simple half fast half cleanse starting today and ending on Sunday night. It will be simple, but hopefully effective!
For my breakfast I will continue with my smoothie always making sure there is plenty of spinach, fruits and protein powder. For Dinner I will have a good helping of a Delish salad full of body cleansing veggies (things like Beets, Cilantro, Broccoli, Kale, etc). In between my 2 meals a day I will only drink either some Green Tea, Filtered Water or the "famous" Lemonaid Drink.
This added to by Body Brushing, Yoga, and my workouts (which may need to come down a notch because of the difference in my food intake~ we'll see..) should help rid me of this horrible tire that keeps following me around.
Afterwards of course I will need to eat properly, starting with RAW and alkalizing foods, and Nuts, and after 5-7 days adding in meats as well. I should be back to 'normal' for the Holiday season!

Yes, then the Holiday Season. Will Power, and the look of my nearly 6 pack abs should help.... lol, I guess we'll see!
Wish me luck, and I'll keep you posted!

Can you find a Balance

I've had this problem for a while now, a few years actually... my problem is finding the right balance between having treats and ...... well.... not having treats. I like to keep foods as Healthy as possible, and I'm a firm believer of not jumping on and off detoxes, diets and other food fads. There was a time where I went nearly 9 months without any sugar what so ever, no treats, not one cookie or muffin or chocolate or candy. But I don't want that either, I think that we should eat what we like (and by that I don't mean sugar filled candy, corner store chocolate bars, gummy worms and pop, I mean healthy cookies made with Agave Nectar or muffins made with Honey, etc). I think it's much better to try to eat the best you can all the time and not binge or starve. There are time though that I just can't stop myself from eating these delish yet healthy treats, recently I made some really yummy (and healthy) Pumpkin and GingerBread muffins with a to die for Butter Cream icing (recipe here, thanks again OhSheGlows), yesterday I had 2, and today I had 2 too! This is where I feel the guilt, and I don't want to feel guilty for eating a muffin, but I also don't want to be stuck with this muffin top!
It's not just now at the Holiday time that I find myself struggling with this, but it's definatly more difficult around Christmas that's for sure.

I'm wondering what YOU do about this Balance. Have you found a balance with treating yourself with sweets? Are you one who only has treats on the weekend, or for special occasions, do you make yourself workout for a cookie?

Please tell me what you do in the comments below, and how it works for you. Thanks!

being in the "right place at the right time" just happen sometimes

I was feeling a little in limbo, there were things that I could do, things that I should have been doing, and then there was me.... walking around in circles with a cup of almost warm tea in my hands. It was only 10:30, I had all day to figure out what to actually do.....

I happen to open the cupboard above the coffee machine to grab my morning vitamins, and that's when I noticed that the 2 shelves of our assortment of teas, and supplements was looking a tad messy. It was gross actually. So I put my tea down (who's kidding who, I wasn't drinking it anymore, it was getting cold), jumped up on the counter and started going through the mess.

I found expired allergy medicine that I had forgotten we had (obviously), 2 different B vitamins, 2 different adult cough and cold remedies (it's been ages since we've used that kind of medicine when sick), an open and half used bag of children's zinc lozengers, tylenol that was nearly full but expired, some kids echineachea that was only good for another month (perfect timing with this weather, plus Oz wasn't feeling to well), and some 'herbal calm' which I thought was perfect for me seeing as the crazy hectic holidays was sneaking up on us at an alarming rate.

I've titled this post about being in the right place at the right time because that is what happened to me.... Oz needed something for the cold he was catching (and after a few days of the drops, he's doing better then ever!), and I was just talking with my husband about already getting stressed out thinking about the holidays. Herbal Calm here I come!

Every once in a while you need to do little mini cleans in your home. Check the medicine cabinets ~ and on that note, move it out of your washrooms, the humidity can do nasty things to prescriptions, herbal remedies, and the like! Keep it somewhere cool, dry and away from sun, humidity, heat, kids and animals. When you're done cleaning out all the bad and expired stuff, stock up on things like Tea tree oil, Oil of Oregano, Vitamins, Herbs and more!

xox
T

Accountability

I'm struggling. I feel like I can't balance, can't get it all done (never mind, I feel like I can't get anything done)!!! I know this is the third blog up in as many days, but that's not what I mean.  Cheryl Richardson taught me that when I feel overwhelmed I need to take things off my plate, but I don't think that what would help, I'm already feeling lazy and like I'm not accomplishing anything. I think what I need is an amazing schedule or a plan, as well as someone or something to be accountable to every few days or every week. Being accountable to myself hasn't worked so far, I suck at keeping myself 'with it'. Maybe it would help if I had a clear goal of what will happen once I've made these thoughts and ideas into habits.

Better yet, I'm off to my first month of blogs, there I will see why I am here, and what I can do to get to where I want to go.

LUSH Product Review

So, I went to LUSH 3 weeks ago and bought one of their deodorants. They have 3 to choose from (T'eo, Aromaco, and Aromarant). I went ahead with the T'Eo because I liked the idea that it had Tea tree oil in it as well as Lemongrass (I've been on a Lemongrass kick lately!)

Well, 3 weeks into the stuff and I can't see myself going back to the drugs store stuff like Dove, Secret and the rest. It works great! I've used it when I do my work-outs and I don't 'smell' anything (well, maybe some tea tree oil whiffs once in a while)... I even asked my hubby if he's noticed any different smell coming from me... after a strange look I decided to explain to him what prompted my question. He couldn't smell me in a bad way, so that's Great! hahaha

Anyways, one of the things the sales lady told me when buying this product was the length of time that it would last. From reviews that she's been told it can last between 3 and 7 years! This makes sense seeing as you don't really Rub this on, it's more of a dab or a quick tap on the underarms and you're good! Now, I don't know how much I like the idea of having the same deodorant for 3 or more years, but it sure saves a lot of money! (this only cost me 8$!)

so, that's the end of my review. I hope to do a lot more of these soon (hint, if you're a company, send me something Healthy and I'll review it!)

Till Later!
Tamara

My name is Tamara and it's been 2 days since...

I have been a mess the last few days. Short tempered, grumpy and just not a pleasure to be around. Emotions fueling emotions, this grumpiness has made me sad and angry as well. I hate being grumpy (I also hate being sad and angry). With the new fallen snow I've been waiting for finally here, the Christmas spirit was what I have been looking forward to, not this! Removing myself from my family (for their sake), I rack my brain trying to find out where this is all coming from.  I have been feeling a little stressed out lately, but not enough to be this grumpy. It's not the weather, or something that's happened, nothing unexpected has come in the mail, we're all still healthy and here. A few hours go by and still no solution. By this time I'm driving to the mall to get some retail therapy (you never know what could help). On my way I realize that Starbucks is still having their 2 for 1 holiday drinks. Quickly my thoughts turn to finding the nearest coffee shop. I'm not in this part of town very often, so it's not too easy to remember where one could be, after all I only go to starbucks once every few months or so.... Coming up with nothing, I find myself getting frustrated. Where could one be? My eyes dart back and forth. Oh forget it I think, I'll just backtrack to where I know there is one.

SCREEETCH!!!!

WHAT????

I will backtrack in this blizzard to get 2 overpriced coffee's for the price of one? (I'm by myself you know...) Huh? I barely drink coffee, let alone latte's with cream and sugar!(** I cut out 90% of my sugar 2 years ago, dropped my coffee consumption from 3 cups a day to 2 cups a week back in the summer**).... and now I'm willing to back track across town to buy sugar-filled-overpriced-coffee.... something was wrong.

I pulled over.

I nearly started crying.

I knew what was wrong.

I was addicted to sugar (again).

It hadn't taken long, and I didn't even really see it happen. I go back in time and think of what I did wrong.....

Thursday we heard about the deal and I went in for a 2 for 1 holiday drink with my youngest son (he got a hot chocolate), my gingerbread latte was surprisingly yummy, a little sweet, but it would do. I told my hubby about the sale, and mentioned that I would bring him one later when my oldest got out of school as a treat for working so much overtime lately. He usually says no to these kinds of things, so when he said yes, I was over the moon... Maybe I would get another when we got his? When we got there 2 hours later to get his coffee, thinking the deal was 'so amazing' I bought all four of us a round! (that's 2 coffee's no, make that 2 sugar filled latte's in 2 hours instead of my usual week).

Can you say TREATS!!

Friday was another snowy day. I'm not 100% sure, but I think I may have woken up thinking about gingerbread latte's. Needless to say I was there after lunch with my youngest again getting our 2 for 1. It was good, but it wasn't Great. I was hooked!

While thinking back through the last few days images crept into my mind of cookies, cookies that I don't usually eat, but have been 'craving' lately. Why didn't I notice this sooner? How many did I eat?

It's now Monday, and I've been off 'sugar' for 2 entire days now. I feel terrible, and happy at the same time. I still feel the 'pull' for sugar, but I know it will pass. When I first quit sugar a few years ago it was a terrifying struggle that lasted a few weeks. This is not as bad. I can do it. I guess it's better now then on January 1st!

Where am I, where are you?

Ever feel like you're brain is in a vortex kind of place, and you can't finish a thought, you can't figure out what you need to do - even though you have a list of 3 thousand things that need to be done, you don't know if you should sit or stand, or run or clean.... hmm, I think I'm there, how do I get out?

Roasted Chicken and ButterNut Soup

In an effort to get blogging more, I'm trying to think of everyday things of interest that I could use as an excuse to put up. I'm not saying it's a waste of time to blog,  on the contrary blogging takes dedication!

Anyways, for right now I'm going to put up a quick little blog about my dinner. Roasted Chicken and ButterNut soup. When I saw this recipe in my book last night I immediately knew I had to make it for dinner sooner then later. It just turns out that today was one of those perfect soup days, you know the kind; cold breezy days with beautiful flakes of snow falling (the first of the season!)

So, off to the store to get what I needed :
1 med. ButterNut squash (aprox. 2.5 pds)
4 nice size chicken thighs with skin (bone in)
1 med. yellow onion
1 ltr of chicken stock

preheat oven to 425
peel, seed and cut ButterNut into cubes
dice onion
place all ingredients on baking dish, season with olive oil, course salt and pepper and bake for aprox 30 minutes (or until squash and chicken are cooked through)
Once cooked, transfer chicken to plate for cooling,
add squash and onions to medium size pot and add chicken stock.
add 1/4 tsp of both ground cumin and ground coriander
Bring to simmer
mash some veggies until soup is thickened
meanwhile; cut up chicken and add meat pieces, stir
season with salt, pepper, fresh lime juice (I knew I forgot something!) and fresh cilantro, serve!

I thought it tasted delish! I will for sure make this again... on the other hand, this is what my 7 year old had to say when I asked him if he finished his dinner...


Me; Callym did you finish dinner?
Callym; Yup, I had to take really big spoonfuls and then wash it down with water, but I finished.
Me; So you didn't like it? 
Callym; It wasn't so bad, but I never want it again.

Thanks for listening, 
T

 p.s. Credit where credit is due, this recipe is from the lovely Martha Stewart!

and the news today is.... LINKS!!!

As always I'm a few days (weeks) late, and as always I have no good excuse, but I am sorry!

So, what's new. What is going on. Well a lot actually. I've joined a great new website called IHeartWellness and it promises to be a great place to go for advice on running, health and support and the sharing of blogging, recipes for dinners and smoothies, guidance and new friendships. Come down and check it out! (make me a friend while you're there!)

I won a bottle of Vitamin D3 from a great Canadian company called Prairie Naturals. When I opened the bottle I was super surprised to see such tiny little pills, they could almost dissolve on your tongue! Can't wait to take these, and because of the size it's super easy for my kids to take too! I love supporting Canadian companies!!! In fact, I've also gone and bought some of their Morning Rise and Shine powder. It's a fantastic tasting powder that you add to a bit of warm water first thing in the morning. It has 1/2 lemon and 1 oz of Aloe Vera Juice plus valuable alkaline and trace of minerals in every serving. It's Vegan too! So far I love waking up and giving my body the alkaline start. I will stop taking it for a few weeks when the bottle is all done, but only to see what happens. I'm over the moon happy about the product and totally believe in the good it does! (p.s. I don't work for them or get paid for saying this)

Read a great article today on being skinny, and being skinny-fat. It's really REALLY interesting, I hope this will help some people out there! For all of you out there that think that those people who can fit into a size 2 or 4 are skinny and should shut up for feeling 'fat', now you can stop judging!!! (and all you out there who think you need to get rid of that extra fat but don't because people give you "the eye" when you say you have excess - argh! don't listen to them!!) Opps, nearly forgot, here's the link to skinny-fat. Being skinny or bigger doesn't mean you are healthly or unhealthy!

Also received my  prize from a twitter contest today. Naturally Savvy does a question of the day, and the winner gets something cool and different every time. My prize was a great Red lunch bag (I'm sure my eldest will take that seeing as it's his fav colour!), 2 cooking lite magazines, and a bunch of assorted drink powder samples (trim, go greens, acai, omega to go, green energy, and extreme berries) all from a company called Healthy to go. I'll let you know what I think of them all once we try them (have to share with the family).

Now, what else. Oh ya, food and exercise and school, and family, and my 'self care' and my balancing act. How is that all going? Swell, pretty good, well not bad most of the time....

So, I'm still running about 6 times a week! It's getting much colder out here which means that I find myself running shorter distances, but getting out in the fresh air and running makes me feel so good I just can't stop! I hope it continues throughout the winter (but if you've ever been in Winnipeg in the winter, you know that it can get really REALLY COLD, so we'll have to see, I may just get a temporary gym membership)

I've finished (and totally passed) my first nutrition course (no not class, COURSE) now just waiting for my diploma in the mail!!!! Also waiting to get my Stress Management Final (should be done that by Monday). Can't believe how great it feels to accomplish this schooling!

I've also taken a bunch of new photos with my fab new camera. I'm about to go to my photo blog page and do some updates, if you want to check that out later it should be done by dinner (lol)

As for my self care and life coaching systems... well, they're going a little slower then I would really like. It seems that Chris and I are getting busier and busier (though I don't know with what), and well, we've fallen off track. We've made a plan to check in with each other every Monday night (whoops, that would be today), and make sure that we are still moving forward, it's good to be accountable to someone other then yourself sometimes! I still see great things for me and Chris and us as a family / couple. It's alright that sometimes we forget where we are going, I think the fault lies in not getting back on track once we notice we've gone astray!

There is a line in the movie 'the secret' that goes something like this... ""Take the first step, no matter if you can only see the first step"". It's taking that first step that scares us, we can't see anything else but that first scary step. There is also another line I read in 'eat pray love' that says something like this: ""faith is belief in something you cannot see or prove or touch, faith is walking face first and full speed into the dark"".  I think that these applied to my life a few months ago. Chris and I were scared (or maybe just nervous) about going forward with our future dreams, but we have always had faith in our dreams, and so we stepped. But now, Now it's different, once we took a few steps and nothing bad happened, we started walking faster. You know what happens when you start walking faster? 2 things, One is that it starts getting easier, and the other is that you realize you are running. You aren't scared anymore, and it's all working, it's all falling into place. We are starting to walk faster. We're not running yet, but it's coming and it makes me excited!

So, I see that I have started babbling a little. This means I should stop. Thanks for listening, and comment on anything please, I'd love to hear what you have to say!

T

Don't I know Better?

Isn't it the always the way. The one who should know better, for some reason learns the lesson again... Before I get started I'll mention that I received the results of my final for my Basic Nutrition course, I was so pleasantly surprised to hear that I got an A!!!  Yippy!!!

and now this news will only make what I'm about to say even more ironic.....

I'm sick.

AHHHH

Ok, so not "SICK" with the flu or cold, but definitely not well. There is a saying

"He that eats till he is sick must fast till he is well." English Proverb

and that's what I'm about to do. For the past week (maybe even 2), I have noticed that my body is not 100% what it should be, I feel slower, my digestion and such is not optimal, and I'm eating.... well.... I'm eating delish food, but not extremely healthy food: Cake @ our fav. cake place (photo here), cheese and pasta, homemade ice cream sandwiches, etc.... See, it's really yummy food, but not what my body needs.

So, what am I going to do about it? 

Raw Food, Clean Food, Water, Tea, Water, and more Raw Clean Food. 

Sad actually, I just made a really REALLY yummy stew last night, but if I continue to put this off, it will continue to get worse. No one likes feeling unwell!

So that is it. Easy does it for me, clean raw fresh food and lots of water and herbal teas. Stretching and dry brushing will help rid me of some extra toxins, and by Halloween I should be as good as new! (good thing I don't like sugar and candy!)

Some more of my Fav Quotes!

when a man opens the car door for his wife, it's either a new car or a new wife    ` prince philip`

if women didn't exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning! (aristotle onassis)

The height of your accomplishments will equal the depth of your convictions. - unknown

there's a fine line between fishing and standing on the riverside looking like an idiot! - unknown

history will be kind to me for I intend to write it - Sir W Churchill

you only need control over 1 thing in life, and if you do master control over your own mind and thinking, you have mastered the ultimate control! - unknown

‎"Nothing in the past is as powerful as what we choose to do in the present moment." - Louise L. Hay

‎"Love is more powerful than kicking ass."
Jet Li

dictate your own plans for the way you want things to turn out! -unknown

‎"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. --Jimi Hendrix

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy, for what we
leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before
we can enter into another!" - Anatole France

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.Only through the experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and
success achieved - Helen Keller

may you never forget what is worth remembering, nor ever remember what is best forgotten... - unknown 

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

300 of my most fav cookies (and they're Gluten Free!)

So, for a few reasons, I have made over 25 dozen cookies this week. YES 25 DOZEN!!!!! Partly in preparation for the holidays, partly because when I start making cookies, it's just so comforting, and yummy, that I just don't want to stop. I have a recipe that I absolutly LOVE, and I wanted to share it with you all (is there anyone out there)? Anyways, I love this recipe because it's easy to make, it makes about 5 or 6 dozen per batch (depending on how large you make the cookies), and I love it because there is NO GLUTEN in them (my kids and I are gluten intolerant) !!!

So the following is the recipe (along with some photos taken with my new camera). Hope you enjoy the post (and the resulting cookies!)

Preheat oven to

Please mix in order given.

3 Eggs

1/2 cup Butter

1 1/4 cups Brown Sugar

3/4 cup Sugar

pinch of Salt

1 tsp Vanilla

2 tsp Baking Soda

1 cup Peanut Butter

aprox 1/4  cups of ground flax (I've added this to the recipe purely for it's health benefits)

4 1/2 cups Oatmeal

1-2 cups Raisins (or Cranberries, or Chocolate chips, or nuts, or ANYTHING U LOVE!!)

Spoon onto parchment lined baking sheet 

I can fit about 12 per sheet

and bake between 8 and 10 minutes

Let cool and eat to your hearts delight!

 

Hope you enjoy! (and let me know if there is anything you do differently with these!)

T

busy busy busy

Just making myself a cup a tea (wildberry delight with poppyflower) I've been really getting into tea lately as well as drinking way less coffee - strange, but nice. It's been a long week. Can't believe it's the 12th of October tomorrow.....
I've gotten my final exam in the mail, and am hoping to have it finished by Wednesday night. I'm a little nervous, I shouldn't be, but I am - this is pretty important and exciting to me! There was a slight mix-up before, they sent me some lessons instead of the final, so I was a little 'off' for a bit, but am ready to get'er done tomorrow and Wednesday. I don't have to help out at the school at all, and am otherwise on track for most everything else. I'm also pretty excited to restart my relaxation and stress management courses (funny how it seems that what ever I am learning is what I really need in my own life...) I have for a long time been stressed and think most mom's have trouble being relaxed. Give me some time and I'll help us all! :)
Thanksgiving weekend here went well. I'm so thankful for my boys (Chris, Callym and Oscar), and miss my family out west. It sounds like they're coming out for Xmas again this year, and that will be SO nice!!

I've been keeping up with my vits, and started adding in the D Vitamin (So important in the winter months, especially up north here!) Getting happier about running lately too, I'm pretty sure it has to do with the fabulous weather we've been having here, high 20's to low 30's, strange but wonderful for the month of October!!

Thanks giving blessings to everyone out there! Hope you are all well!

uhhhu....

Yes, so it's been a while. What? Really, nearly a MONTH!!

Ok, Ok... I'm on it again... here we go!

Today and tomorrow are designated as "Nutrition Final Exam Days Part 1". In fact, I was expecting to take a week to finish it off, but am nearly done already! Yip Yip. I'm already excited to start studying the relaxation and stress management courses again. (A very VERY good friend of mine is having some problems with stress, and this is a great way for me to "practice" on her)

I'm still taking Q10 every day, no noticeable changes for the good or bad, so I take that as GOOD. Blood tests just came back, and as there is one little issue with my WBC, I am taking my results to my Naturalpathic Dr. to find out what it could be... suprisingly I'm not worried, hmm, that's COOL!

I'm not doing so well with the running, although I have been going out quickly after dropping the boys off at school, I guess that will have to do now that it's staying darker out later and getting a bit nippy out early in the morning.

Please don't forget that with the changing of the clocks, we must also start with our Vitamin D supplements. Don't know who much you should be taking? Go get a blood test done for it!

Still drinking 2-3 glasses of Green Tea, and every few glasses I've been adding some Tumeric and Cinnamon (Tumeric for all it's 1000+ good things it does for your body and Cinnamon for the taste!)

well, I think that might be it for now, I really want to keep the studying going, back again soon? I hope!

how many times can you start over?

Argh.
Frustration.
Starting over...
Again and again and again...

So, tomorrow is Sunday. It is the day before everything starts ..... again... (technically Oscar didn't officially start school on Wednesday due to their slow integration of kids into Kindergarten - but anyways)

Maybe I should be happy that I get to start again, because this last little while I have seriously sucked at doing the things I've wanted to. I thought for sure that I would be into some kind of a routine by now!

Anyways, the only thing that I'm adding now is that I'm going to take a photo of myself once or twice a week to see how great (?) it's changing.... also, to go with that, I'm going to be doing some hard core Zuzanna . Can't wait to see those results!!!
The weather has turned colder for sure now, we may get a few nice days, but I don't expect them, in turn stews, soups and hearty veggies will be filling our plates and bowls more... hope the pounds don't come with it!!

HOW COULD I FORGET?????

I have officially finished my first portion of my Nutrition course, I now only have the Advanced to do and I am officially a NUTRITIONIST!!!!!



Also found a COOL new site that you may like..... I LOVE Deepak Chopra and would actually like to learn ayurveda!
Anyone out there practice this?? Would love to hear from you!

another of my fav. sayings

Shakira, I LOVE her! I listen to her when I run, when I clean, in the car, where-ever, when-ever (hehe, get it?)

From her newer song "GYPSY" (which is my new ultimate fav for so many reasons)....


"Walking gets too boring when you learn how to fly"

So I'm still here....

So I've been waiting for my kids to start school so that I could start my own new schedule. I"m so excited for it really, that I've kinda started a little earlier - slowly, so that I'm not overwhelmed by the end of the first week.
Anyways, I think that's it for now, Just wanted to make sure I was keeping up with the blog!

p.s In an effort to care and understand my body and mind more, I have begun a journal. I'm recording things like my temperment, missed vitamins, if I'm sick, food stuff and more. I'm pretty excited about what I may just learn about myself from all of this!

Spirituality...

I have found myself recently becoming, what I would call, more spiritual. Although this is all relatively new to me, I would not call myself religious. When I think of that word images of a hot incense filled church come to mind. I do not like that. I was never comfortable in church, even though we only went periodically when I was little, there was always something about church and God that I just didn't 'get'. I have read many books about religions, Buddism, Tao, Witchcraft, even Astrology, but none of them have really gotten me to say or feel like "Yes, this is it, this is what I have been waiting for in my life, this makes SO much sense to me"!, so on I read, and think and dream.
So, what has changed. Is it that I'm older? Or maybe that I've just come to a place where I need it so badly that I'm willing to believe? I'm not sure, (but I don't think it's the latter). I think that this 'idea' or 'belief' has always been in the back of my mind as a viable reason or meaning to the world. I have always believed in this, I just haven't ever really practiced it or given it the awe inspiring devotion that I now believe it deserves. So what or who is it that I am now willing to give my time to, my passion, my adoration, my faithfulness to....

ENERGY
Pure and Simple
ENERGY

Simple or too simple? I'm sure there are a LOT of you out there that agree (and disagree) with this. Honestly, I think that "energy" is just the word, but the feeling and the meaning that I believe this word carries for me is what I think most think and feel with their chosen word be it God, Buddha, etc. Listen, I'm not trying to get anyone hot under the collar, this is just the way that I think right now.

Anyways, I really think that ENERGY is what is EVERYWHERE. It's what everything is made of, it's what everything is surrounded by, it's what makes things happen. Energy is Karma, it is God, it is the Universe, the air, our thoughts, dreams, and more.....

What do you think?

Saying, Mantras, Quotes, Inspiration

I love a good quote, an inspiring passage to make you smile, get you off your a**, keep you motivated, show you the way, help you grow and understand, or just to make you think. I have them all over my house. They're written in journals, taped onto the walls, everywhere I think I may just need to see them. So here is a small collection of my favorites, and I will add more when I find them, or need them. (I'm not certain of where some of these quotes come from, sorry about that)

“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream”. Vincent van Gogh

"people say that I'm a dreamer... but I'm not". (from the movie Dinner with Schmucks - super funny!!)

"You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?" George Bernard Shaw

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Albert Einstein

"You have 2 choices in life; you can choose your thoughts, or accept them from an outside source"

"you must be polite with yourself when you are learning something new" Eat Pray Love

"Our language has so many words to choose from, when you pick words that show respect for other people's feelings, it says a lot about you." - Mama Berenstain from The Berenstain Bears

Until you have learned to be tolerant with those who do not always agree with you; until you have cultivated the habit of saying some kind word of those whom you do not admire; until you have formed the habit of looking for the good instead of the bad there is in others, you will be neither successful nor happy. Napolean Hill

"It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice " off of a friends facebook page...

Fearlessness is not the absence of fear. It's the mastery of fear. It's about getting up one more time than we fall down. - Arianna Huffington

Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.—Sidney J. Harris

Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do.—Dale Carnegie

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. -- Billy Graham

"practice learning to hear the message, or you'll end up learning the lesson" I heard Cheryl Richardson say this last night on Hay House Radio

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! ! !

Being the 'beginning' of a new year for me (September being my birthday and all). I thought that I should have some sort of a goal for the next year.

I want great goals (doesn't everyone?) I want to see amazing results, I want to feel fantastic, I want my life to change, I want it all!

I will try to put my goals into nice neat little groups (us Virgos tend to be organized)

Schooling
I will finish!
Haha, this is sooo easy to type. Let's see, I will finish by November? I plan to do school work every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9am till noon. This way I can still walk my boys to school and pick them up for lunch without guilt! If I calculate this right... I have 140 chapters left, at 3 hours per day, 3 days a week.... that means I need to do between 4 and 6 chapters a day to be all done in November. Can I do it? This means, I will officially be a Nutritionist, Relaxation Therapist, Stress Management Therapist, and have a Buisness diploma! Whoop whoop! That would be a great way to get back into the world after being a stay at home mom for 7.5 years!!!!
O.K. Goal Set!

Photography
I will do more!!
Haha, again, easier to type then do. I have decided to set aside Wednesdays for my photography. It will give me a break from school and, honestly (and hopefully) if I schedule it in, I may actually do it more often. As for more specific photography goals, I would really REALLY love to get some of my shots into (and win) some fantabulous contests! This means tho, that I need to get out there and take some FANTABULOUS shots. (it also means I need to know what contests are out there and what they are looking for in order to go out there and kick ass!!!). Wow, that just turned into a bit more work then I though....
But oh so worth it no? I have signed up to receive a ton of emails regarding photo contests, so hopefully that will end the hours of internet searching on my end.

House-work
oh yes, the house. I have decided quite recently that I AM NOT SUPERWOMAN, nor do I want to continue to try to be. Therefore I have 'given up, given in' or whatever you want to call it, and will only be interested in cleaning the house on Friday's. (of course sweeping, and dishes and such will be done when it's needed, I'm talking about washing floors and the overall cleaning of the house). There. Done.

With all of these Schedules for myself, I am also going to be doing a lot of reading. (Not just fiction either, although I have gotten into books A LOT - thank you Eat Pray Love!, I am also talking about self improvement books) I have started reading "be your own life coach" by Jeff Archer ( a teach yourself book) and am doing this chapter by chapter with Chris (my man). We have always talked about getting a mentor or coach to help us with our dreams and ambitions, but could not fathom the money commitment. 12$ and 1 hour later, I left the bookstore with our new mentor/life coach. I can't wait to do this as a couple. We are doing this together, taking notes, keeping up with each other, helping, etc. After just the first chapter I must say I am learning a lot about myself and Chris! I am also reading another great GREAT book (actually I have it on iTunes not in an actual book). It's called "The Art of Extreme Self Care " By Cheryl Richardson. If you are a women, a mother, a sister, daughter, wife, or even a man. If you have any type of issue with your own self care. READ THIS BOOK. I have had it for months now, and actually kept meaning to do her chapters one by one every month, but thought to myself... no, I can just do them whenever I want.... Ha, it doesn't work that way... I am now as of September 1st going onto chapter 2. I will do a chapter a month until my next birthday and hope, along with the life coaching book that I will see the 'real' me and learn how to live a better life!
(along with these self help books I will probably keep watching periodically The Secret, listening to Bob Proctor (awesome) and more. A good friend of mine told me to get "Power of Intention" by Wayne Dyer (another great guy) - I have one of his books and love it.

Oh wait, here's a link to follow. If you, like me, love these types of books, movies and positive things you NEED to check out HayHouseRadio This is the most amazing radio station I have found to date. You will recognize a ton of names and will find yourself feeling happier then ever. Check it out...

Now I've lost my train of thought....

oh yes, Goals.
1 - schooling
2 - photography
3 - housework (not really a 'goal' but more of a reminder to slow down and keep it simple)
4 - self improvement
5 - health

ok...

Health
I plan to workout everyday... hmmm, a little vague. Ok, I plan on doing one of two routines everyday:
1 - 20 minutes of spurt running (Run hard for 30 seconds then jog/walk for 1 minute) as well as 20 minutes of light yoga.
2 - 20 minutes of jogging as well as 20 minutes of spurt exercises (sit ups, lunges, etc...)

I also plan on taking all my vitamins everyday without exception. I take Vitamin C every morning, Vitamin B and Omega 3's at Lunch, Calcium with dinner (along with Vit D in the fall and winter) and probiotics at bedtime.

I am also reviewing my grocery habits and costs. I am thinking of joining a group that will deliver organic and locally grown fruits and veggies to your home every week. I don't care for the waste of gas, but think that the variety and fact that it's locally grown are a great idea if only to at least try! I'll keep you informed on how it goes...

wow. I mean WOW this is a lot of stuff. I'm going to sign off for now in order to take this all in. It's going to be a great year don't you think?

Learning and Growing. Can't wait.

Oh ya, I also plan of keeping up to date with my 2 blogs every Sunday night (this is tv night so if it just doesn't mesh then I'll change it to another 'slow' tv night... we'll see)...

My "To Do List" (as of right now)

Regular Daily To Do List In no particular Order)

~Stretch
~Eat Healthy
~Run 5Km (practice for half marathon next May) Or workout at home (yoga, weights)
~Have a Clean House
~Study Courses (Nutrition, Stress Management, Relaxation Therapy)
~Take Plenty of Photos
~Spend Quality time with both Boys and my Husband
~Relax, Read, Etc...

Let me introduce myself.........

Hi, I'm Tamara. I'm a mom of two, a wife, a sister, daughter, and friend and I hope so much more. I'm probably like you, I have too many things that need to be done and just as many that I actually want to do.... and no clue where to start. Please don't take this personally (if there is in fact anyone out there) but this blog is mostly just for me (but you can read if you wish)! This blog will either help me find a way through my endless lists of 'to dos' or it will keep me so busy that everything falls to the wayside.