American Thanksgiving in canada?

Thanksgiving comes so early in Canada that it just doesn't feel right. It's here even before the cold, blustery days of autumn when you're already getting into the Christmas mood. I just wonder, though, if I'm being a bit snobbish or coming across the wrong way if I stick with my celebration of Thanksgiving in November. I mean, I have left the States to live in Canada, shouldn't I adopt their customs and traditions as my own now?


anodynes are the answer!

What happened?

I don't know what happened - vacation or something, because I totally forgot I was even blogging. And I'm sure I'd been doing it over three weeks (3 weeks to form a habit). Maybe old habits die hard. Plus side is that the new things that I'm taking on are coming along - even if it's hit and miss. I write lists for the next day for getting things accomplished. Three to four things each day and it seem so manageable that way. I've also done the same thing with nutrition. At least now I know why I might be feeling down, sluggish, depressed or just upset (tummy). So I can only blame myself and know that I'm only a good lunch and quick workout away.





My kids.. Sigh, they're wonderful. Eliotte is becoming such a character - such a wondeful, warm, sunny, funny little girl. Will never really dissapoints me. Maybe in the short term by silly things like not listening, but I know that I never have to worry about him when he's out and about - getting into trouble or fights or anything like that. He's such a good kid. Bright, funny, chatty, athletic. Great little guy.





Hubby's off for a week skydiving. Hopefully his parachute will open each time and he'll land without breaking anything! Me, just enjoying the last days of summer and working on nutrition seminars and exercise things. Anything to bring in a little extra money. Also just relaxing and remembering to post on here again!!

Fresh, raw foods

I'm a nutritionist - or just about, so I know a little something about food. In fact, I know more than a little something and now all those diet fads, those super food claims, those warnings about high fat foods, refined foods, etc. all make sense. It's a great thing to have learned - but there's one tiny problem. Those high fat, refined, sugary foods sure are yummy! But I've come to realise that when I eat the way I'm supposed to, boy do I have an abundance of energy and a great mood! It makes it all the worse when I eat like crap because I know what's causing it and it's all my fault.

Why don't I eat healthy all the time? Well, just as it's hard to get in the habit of writing a blog every day (and i haven't mastered it, but I'm doing much better), it's hard to get in the habit of eating good, fresh food every day. Especiallly when food is also an emotional tool and that I've been a sugar addict most of my life. But I tell ya, today was a fantastic day and it definitey didn't start out that way. But a healthy breakfast, a good bike ride, a healthier lunch (fresh fruit, fresh salad), definitely helped make my day. My kids were cuter, my outlook brighter, my step lighter. I just have to somehow record it and play it back when I want to grab a donut and an ice cream!

Now I've got so much energy I might just go for another workout!

Ciao

Being a Mom

I remember when my first born was first born and I found it very difficult. I was an 'older' Mom, meaning only that I was so used to my independence and not having to 'check in' with anyone - that I could go off at a moment's notice wherever and whenever I wanted. But what I found harder is that people kept telling me how easy the first few months were compared to when they get older. 'It doesn't get easier, it just gets different' was a lot of answers. Now I know what they mean. It is easier from a standpoint of not having to change them, dress them, play with them, feed them, etc., but you need to become more of a teacher, mediator and disciplinarian as well as just being there with hugs and kisses. It's not easy and it's hard when your kid starts to rebel and become his own man. They start ignoring requests, not listening, throwing and dropping toys and clothes randomly around the house and most of all, they develop their own sense of what and how they want to do things. And you can only sit back and try and guide them without them knowing it. You don't want to push too hard, but you don't want to push too little, you don't want to give too much guidance, or too little. It becomes, cerebrally, more difficult. I've got one of each now, and I can see how people prefer the litte ones. They just want hugs, kisses and cuddles and they're excited about every little discvery and everything they do is new and exciting and ... innocent. Easy, kind of.

I'm now used to not having that freedom I used to. It's different, not necessarily hard anymore. I do like having time to myself but I love my kids. Even the older one. I used to think the sun revolved around him (sort of, just such unconditional love) and now he drives me crazy, but I still love him to bits. That's life, I guess!

I'm a loser

So I'm running this biggest loser competition in our village and figured I might as well take part too as I could stand to finally lose those last 5 baby weight pounds. And so far so good, but maybe too good - I'm in our top 5 and I don't want to be! I suppose it shows that I practice what I preach, but I don't want to be rubbing it in anyone's face. Dilemma. Well I suppose if I continue on my loser journey, I can always fudge the numbers at weigh-in by drinking a bunch of water before hand or something. But happy that I've taken control of my eating (just more healthy) and my exercise... I do have a half ironman in a few months and I don't want to be 'hanging out' as my hubby likes to say, during the race and especially in the following days. I want to enjoy it!

Peace out

Habits gone awry

What happened to my blogging every day (or nearly) habit? It just fell off the face of the internet world! I suppose there were extenuating circumstances (away for 5 days w/o computer access - woohoo, sick chid, sister-in-law visiting, etc. etc.) but I'm back and in the meantime, boy have I made leaps and bounds in other areas.

I finally finished my nutritional assessments and sent them off - I thought it was about time I just sat myself down and got it done. Feels sooooo good! And I've created a Biggest Loser group in our village and have been very busy managing that - also feels soooo good! Especially since I've been eating healthier, starting my mornings with that darn hot water/lemon drink that I couldn't get in the habit of - so I kinda dropped one habit and gained about 5 others!

There are a few times this week and last where I've based my decisions on whether I would look back on something in five or so years (or 1, or 10) and regret it. It's a great way of making decisions. One of them was to visit a Hutterite community. I'm not really overly interested - in fact, I think I'd want to pile all the women up in my car and and take them away (not 100% sure, but I don't think women have that good a life), but then I thought about it 'would I ever get the chance to visit this community again and if not, would I regret my decision in a couple years' So I let that sit in the back of my mind and then came up with. You know what - no, I wouldn't. The only thing I was thinking is that I would, if it ever came up in conversation, be able to say to someone that I'd been to a community and why is that important to me. If it was an Amish community which had no electricity and no vehicles, I would find that much much more interesting - but these people are just farmers with specific religious beliefs that live in a community together.

I think that regret issue also helps me to motivate myself. If I don't feel like doing something, I think 'in five years when my children are older and I'm working and I look back to that time I was a stay-at-home Mom with my two young children, will I look back on that time and regret that I didn't do more, that I was just lazy and non-motivated'. That usually really gets me moving!

So there you go - lesson for today. Think about regrets - we don't want to be 90 and thinking back on our life, regretting certain moments, we want to think back and have the memories put a huge smile on our faces!

I miss the Sea

I know now what yearning feels like. What a word, yearning. I yearn for the Sea. I don't know why exactly. Usually it's in the deep winter here when it's dark and cold and frozen and if there is water, it's frozen 6 feet deep. But it's sunny out and warm enough to sit in the garden and BBQ and have a pina colada (Mmmmm), but yet I still just yearn to be by the Sea, and it doesn't even need to be perfect weather. A storm and the waves lashing out, wind blowing my wet salty hair in my face, or a hot sunny day splashing in the waves and taking cover under the beach umbrella. Either is good for me. I must be a beach bum at heart. And it might not even need to be the Sea, it might just be a nice big lake with a sandy shore... I don't know, I haven't been around any water other than big ponds that were formed because we've had so much snow.

I keep watching this stupid HGTV (home and garden television) which shows people buying property all over the world, and I get extremely jealous when I see people buying property on beautiful beach fronts, islands or S. american tropical countries. Why can't that be me!?!? And should I just give up all monetary wealth (not that we have much) and go live by the Sea? Should I just take a 2-week vacation and get it out of my system. I'd probably be pining for snow after that! The grass is always greener. Such wisdom in that statement. Simple, but profound.

Anyway, I've done lots of hugs, kisses and loving phrases to my son today. A couple of verbal warnings and such as well, but discpline shows love as well - as long as it's tempered by lots of shows of affection. Even my little girl has been a wonderful huggable creature today (well, she always is). Ahh, life is almost perfect . . . if only I were by a beach!