Fundamental Friday

"Life is what we make it - always has been, always will be," Grandma Moses

Happy Friday friends!

The end of a week but the beginning of a long weekend (for me). Super psyched! Can you tell??

I had a fantastic week this week - I have had a smile on my face everyday. I feel very content and full of love inside.

Next week I will be setting some goals for myself - and posting them on the blog.

Things like goals I want to be at and mini rewards for when I reach each one.

Something inside me feels like it's changing (in a good way). I can't totally explain it but it just feels like life will be on a steady stream of sunshine for me (atleast for the next while) and I'm going to ride the wave.

Are you sick of this sunshine and lollipops stuff yet?? I'm barfing a little just re-reading it! Ha!

Have a fantabulous weekend my lovely darlings!

*hugs*

Aim and Thanks.

"Aim at the sun, and you may not reach it; but your arrow will fly far higher than if you aimed at an object on a level with yourself," Judy Hawes

The beatiful Kelly from Journey to a New Me gave me this blog award. People - I'm blushing! So sweet! Thanks lady!

There are some rules and responsibilities that come along with it...

The Rules

1. Thank the person who gave you the award.
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Nominate seven newly discovered blogs.
4. Let your nominees know about the award

So, 7 things about myself...

1.) I don't like chatting over the telephone. Text is a close second for dislike. I'd rather chat/text for 2 minutes and then actually get together.

2.) I heart Christmas. Maybe more than baby Jesus himself.

3.) My favourite city in the world is New York City. I'm going with a friend in December to experience all that is Christmas in NYC.

4.) I have never been to a Carribean island or down south. I hope to remedy that soon.

5.) My biggest fear is divorce. Not sure why really. No one in my family is divorced. None of my closest friends are divorced.

6.) When I look in the mirror in the mornings, I genuinely like what I see. When I look at myself in photos, yuck!

7.) I pretty much drink a grande, nonfat cappucino every morning. I should have shares in Starbucks.

Nominating other blogs...this is harder! I haven't had time to read through everyone who has added me to their blog rolls so I will create a separate post and spotlight other blogs - pinky swear!

Have a terrific Thursday peeps!

*hugs*

Reason Wednesday

"The difference between a dream and a goal is a plan," Anonymous

Well, lovelies...it is Wednesday. Half way through the week. Hump day. The day after Tuesday.

We have a long weekend coming up in Canada (Ontario actually) and I cannot be looking more forward to it. I'm going to the zoo on one of those days. Am super stoked! I haven't been to a zoo since I was a kid and even then the memories are vague.

On this sunny day, I am wishing to be thinnner because...

...I want to be in better shape.

I don't want to be out of breath when I have to walk up a flight of stairs.
I don't want to be out of breath when I catch up to a group of friends walking ahead.
I don't want to be out of breath when I get into an exercise class and it hasn't even begun.
I don't want to be out of breath when I walk around petting all the animals at the zoo.
I don't want to be out of breath.

With my trusty pedometer and exercise plan, my staggered breath will soon become a thing of the past. My body has what a trainer once called 'muscle memory'. I may be a tad (ok, more than a tad) out of shape but once I start working out regularly, my body morphs to exercise really fast and really well. I must tell you though that this does not help my procrastination problems... Ha!

*hugs*

Goals.

"I knew I was going to be a comedian when I was about six. You get what you believe you'll get. You have to really want it and you'll get it," Billy Connolly

I wholeheartedly agree with this quote.

I believe that when you open yourself up to positivity, love and hopefulness - you will in turn receive positivity, love and hope. When you emit vibes of desperation, loneliness and negativity...well, you get the picture....(disclaimer: I'm not referring to anyone who suffers from depression - I'm referring to those who create negative energy for themselves)

I think I emit a positive vibe most of the time. Don't get me wrong, I stress too but I am truly blessed in life with a loving family, fantastic friends, a good job, amazing b/f - all things I have mentioned before on this blog. I have a friend who is stuck in a rut right now (actually, has been for awhile) in terms of love and romance. Thing is, she brings down all those around her and no matter how positive one is - you can't help but be affected by her attitude. This is causing some of our friends to de-friend her.

Now, I suffer from a major case of the guilts. So, I can never de-friend her. Plus, if this was happening to me, I would want someone to try and stick it out with me and keep on believing in me too. So, I stick it out and believe - but without jeopardizing my happiness too.

On this weight loss journey, I am constantly keeping a positive state of mind and being conscious of my choices to force good habits. I don't want to be that downer to you, my beautiful and bodacious blog buddies. I've told you on countless occasions what it is you do for me - and it's true. I hope, in some small way, that I do it for you too.

(You know do it like help you - unless I do it for you in "another way" in which case I'm flattered :)

*hugs*

Song.

"Just going to stand there and watch me burn, that's alright because I like the way it hurts," Eminem and Rihanna

I love music. All kind of music actually.

I will replay the same song in my car while driving because I find it awesome. This practice either makes me hate the song by the end, or love the song forever.

An example of hate includes Blondie (listened to them when I was breaking up with a b/f and can't stand listening to them anymore...shame).

An example of love includes any 80's song like Rick Astely or Milli Vanilli (it brings me to a happy place when life was so simple).

Most people may think that Eminem is an odd choice of role model but the last 2 songs he has released - well, I find them amazing. Both are about standing on your own feet and overcoming obstacles and facing demons.

People may not like him but his lyrics are usually very profond (my b/f would disagree with me a lot!)

Where is this going? Well, I had a pretty crappy day yesterday - a few personal issues that I had to deal with and needless to say, I woke up this morning with puffy eyes and a wicked headache. As I was driving to work, one of E's new songs came on and I started belting out at the top of my lungs (a common practice for me at any time of day in the car) and I instantly felt better. Empowered. Like the clouds parted and the sun came out to shine. Like the black storm cloud stopped raining. It was uplifting to say the least.

Then I came to write in my blog as well. To get rid of the last of the bad feelings and bring in the new because it's Monday. Because I'm worth feeling good about. Because some may want to watch me burn, but the surprise is that I truly do love the way it hurts. It reminds me that I can always turn a new leaf. And that haters will always hate.

*hugs*

P.S. Tomorrow will be a much perkier post - promise!

Fundamental Friday.

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give," Winston Churchill

I have always been... A giver. A gifter. A giant (huh? how did that get in there?)

Today, I am dedicating this lil' 'ol blog post to all of you - the people who take the time to read what I have written. It isn't always much but it's a collection of jumblings in my head.

You truly do not know how much it means to me to have you support me and how therapeutic it is for me to read all of your words on your blogs about your struggles, and more importanly, your continued successes and tries. It warms my cockles let me tell ya!

Also on this day, I am thankful to not be obsessed with the scale (because I am slightly obsessed with the scale). I am choosing to be thankful for so many other things, like:

- taking some time off for me and to just be me
- being in love and being loved
- having my b/f help me with my fear of dogs (he's dog-sitting this week)
- walking to the fridge looking for a snack and then realizing that I'm really not hungry
- a friend surprising me with a new Starbucks mug I've had my eye on for awhile

See?

And I know that there are a myriad of things similar to my list that each and every one of you is thankful for - that isn't weight related. Sometimes it's nice to just know that life will never give you more than you can handle.

If all else fails, please remember that I think you are fantastic. Truly. This giant never lies :)

Have a wonderful weekend!!

*hugs*

Gifts.

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." Marcus Aurelius

me and the b/f

me, super duper relaxed after a day at the spa

b/f being silly

Good-day my lovelies!!

I have been slightly MIA lately...with good reason. I took a few days off. Some well-deserved and much-needed R&R.

I had dinner with friends; I visited my b/f's parents; I went to a spa; I vegged for an entire day by myself. I haven't felt this relaxed in a really long time - and you know what else?? I lost a pound! I am feeling great and back on track. Vaia needed some she-time and it did me a world of good.

What have you all been up to?

*hugs*