Baby, you can drive my car - in the backyard

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Little Feet - guess who was in NS this summer?

I'll give you another two hints... ;)

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Coco avant Chanel is coming soon!

Adair and I went to the movies the other night {yes - we have been on 2 dates since EZ was born!}, and we saw this trailer and my heart skipped a beat.

Coco Chanel - Win! Audrey Tatou - Win! En Francais. Win!

I must get my coveted new watch to fit in at the movie, whenever it opens in Canada. It costs about $10,000, so if anyone can find a good replica - let me know! Isn't it just lovely?

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Changing to the Night Shift

I've gotta be honest.

Waking up at 5am simply sucks.

When I do wake up at 5am, go to the gym or run outside, I admit I feel amazing and energized. That GREAT feeling lasts only about 2-3 hours. Then I feel crappy and exhausted for the rest of the day.

So instead of not exercising because I'm too tired to live my life and complete everything I have to do in the day {be a mom, be smart-ish at work, be organized, and try to be a good wife, daughter, sister and friend}, I'm going to TRY working out at night - once EZ goes to bed, of course!

I think it's a brilliant plan. I can watch Biggest Loser, Glee & Survivor at the gym! Win-win!

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Not-So-Real Housewives

I must admit that my current tv guilty pleasure is Bravo's Real Housewives series.

Whether it be the tanned, nipped and tucked women of Orange County, the ultra-chic workaholics of NYC, the over-the-top, big-haired women of NJ, or the blinged-out, uber-rich of HOT-lanta - these women are sure entertaining!

I wonder where the Housewives series will go next? My vote is for Salt Lake City!

Can you imagine those wanna-be perfect SAHMs who scrapbook pictures of their 8 children, do their Church callings, are 100% in their Visiting Teaching, have hubbies who serve in the higher echelons of the Church, all while being thin, gorgeous and oh-so-materialistic!

I think I may write to Bravo now and pitch them my idea!

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My Boys Love VW

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Sunday Best

EZ got all dolled up in his new Church duds today! Doesn't he look so cute?

Thanks to Uncle John, Auntie Heidi, and cousins Benjamin & Anna!

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Lookin' Good - No Matter What!

When you have weight to lose, and are heading in that direction {albeit SLOWLY!}, there's often an apprehension to put your life on hold until you reach your goal weight.

I do NOT support this notion at all!

In my experience, which is plentiful as I've lost 70 lbs, then gained 90...maybe more, I think it's important to always look your best. One always needs to be pulled together to look effortlessly chic.

Trust me, you won't be motivated to lose weight if you're donning sloppy, schlumpy, dumpy, out-of-style clothes. Moreover, if you're saving your "skinny" out-of-style clothes for when you reach your goal weight - don't bother.

WHY WAIT TO FEEL FABULOUS?

No matter what your size, there are cute clothes that fit your taste and budget. One of my tricks is I'm constantly buying cheap & chic clothes in the size I'm wearing NOW. I'm always in style {well, at least I think so}, and since my taste and style is constantly evolving I don't feel like I've wasted lots of money investing in pieces that won't fit me in a few months.

It's not only clothes that help you feel like a pulled-together, have-it-all woman in control. You need to ensure that you are impeccably groomed {healthy hair, clear, glowing skin, groomed brows, polished nails - including year-round pedis, etc}. I admit, I am writing this with a hat on because I'm having a bad-hair week and I'm in dire need of a trim and colour, and I also haven't waxed in 2 weeks! But it's the thought that counts.

It's a harsh reality, but our outer beauty definitely affects how we feel about ourselves. And feeling good about yourself is a motivator when your on a weight loss journey.

It's not indulgent - it's integral!

So take a few extra minutes to take care of yourself today. Tweaking and tweezing and trimming may be in order. Don't fret! You're not alone. I'm with you all the way!

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Shana Tovah

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indigo love

oohhh la la!

a new indigo book store just opened up in my 'hood.

it is oh-so-lovely in all it's newness and shining glory. it is bright and white and slick.

i love bookstores. i especially love bookstores with other stuff - like office and scrapbook supplies. and journals. i LOVE new journals.

i bought dan brown's new book, "the lost symbol." it's about freemasonry. one of my favourite subjects.

yes, i'm a nerd who digs esoteric religious stuff.

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Musings on being thin

I've been thinking lately how my weight has held me back from not realizing/achieving the life I could have lead. I often think how my life may be different if I wasn't so hung up on my weight, or if I actually just felt comfortable in my own body.

My weight has negatively impacted my life in the following ways:

• Afraid to be an artist {I always wanted to be in media, design or something like that}
• Too tired to do "stuff" - like everyday activities, or even some sports {mountain biking, climbing, hiking, kayaking, etc}
• Unable to wear cute clothes. Or rather, unable to look cute in my clothes.
• Negative body image. Plaguing. Debilitating.
• Unhealthy relationship with food.

So, it's REALLY time for me to shed this weight, once and for all, and finally unleash the Skinnygirl that's inside of me.

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Explanation re: lack of photographs lately...

Adair lost the camera.***

Probably when he went to NS.

Sucky, but true.

I think we need a new one because EZ will only be this age once and we're missing photos of some great moments.


Time to go shopping!

PS: I found my engagement ring after months of thinking it was stolen at an open house!

***UPDATE as of Sept 20, 2009: The camera has been located. I'm quite embarassed to say it was in my night table. Good grief!
Sorry to blame you Adair!

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U Skinnygirl Update

I've lost 21 lbs in the last 5 weeks. Yep. I'm awesome.

Yesterday, however, I slipped up a few times, and it got me thinking that how quickly we can revert back to old habits if we aren't vigilant.

It all started with a couple bad choices early on, and I didn't "check myself" before I "wrecked myself." No, I didn't eat 5 bacon cheeseburgers, then chips and candy bars while lounging on the couch watching tv.

7am - I went for a run - GOOD
8am - I skipped breakfast bc I planned on getting weighed in at UWL {which never happened} - BAD
11am - @ the market, starving, ate a cupcake. Then ate an ice cream cone - BAD
1pm - Didn't eat a proper lunch - BAD.
3pm - Hungry from no real lunch. Stuff my face with take-out chicken pad thai.
7pm - Didn't eat a proper dinner - BAD. Went to a party. Ate a hot dog. Then ate a hanburger bc I'm starving.
9pm - Feeling tired and grumpy. Cashews seemed like the perfect remedy. Nope. Still tired and hungry. Now feeling chubby.

See? Here's what I've learned from today.

#1: ORGANIZE MEALS. Stick to the plan. You can't go wrong.
#2: Food is NOT my friend or my enemy. Food is just FOOD.
#3: Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

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Labour Day. Literally.

Today was the 1st time in months {9 to be exact} that I really, REALLY enjoyed a stat holiday. Being on mat leave for 8 months, every day felt like a stat holiday - apart from the giving birth part.

So today, we really took advantage of our day by getting up early to go for a family walk. EZ really enjoys the park now. He likes to play on the swings and go down the slide {with a little help from mum & dad, of course!}.

After the park, we decided to immediately embark on our Labour:

• tidy the kitchen {not CLEAN bc the cleaning lady comes tomorrow!}
• cut the grass
• weed the garden
• paint the garage door
• organize the book shelf
• make labels
• re-organize closet {rid myself of maternity clothes!}
• tidy the family room
• put up patio furniture {why not? it's still summer!}
• laundry. loads and loads of laundry
• organize the 2 front hall closets
• finish painting the living room & trim
• clear out boxes and put them in the basement
• install new Britax carseat!
  

As you can see, it was a busy day. All of this had to get done with an almost-8 month old who likes to be "in on the action." EZ definitely liked to hang out with mum & dad today. He liked to watch daddy paint. He also used his little plastic car and bike for the 1st time today - thanks to cousins for those! We tried to find our camera to take photos because he looked mighty adorable in his sweet plastic ride, but alas, it was nowhere to be found. But trust me, EZ was CUTE!!!

So tomorrow is "back-to-school". Definitely makes me nostalgic for the good ol' days, but soon enough little EZ will be going to school! I love this time of year. I wonder how different traffic and my commute time will be tomorrow?

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U Skinnygirl Update! Week 4? or something?

I've continually been having tummy troubles, so I'll give it another week till I book a doctor's appt to see what's going on. I'm sure it's nothing. Maybe in deep-seated anxiety re: going back to work and leaving EZ? Who knows?

Anyway, I've been doing well. I'm down 20 lbs in the last month! WOOT WOOT! I went for a run yesterday morning, bright and early, and we'll go for a family walk today.

I haven't been eating much because of my stomach problems, but I did sneak a delicious red velvet mini-cupcake yesterday. And it was good. I do plan on having banana dessert spring roll things I picked up at the market yesterday - hey, it's the last weekend of summer!

I'm really looking forward to training in earnest for the Miami Half-marathon. I need to get back to dance class too. This lack fo dance is CRAZY! I should also do yoga. There's a new Moksha yoga studio opening up near my house, so I'm waiting for that to open up. I've got a lot going on with work, the baby, the house, etc, that I've decided I can't do EVERYTHING right now {even though that's my personality!}.

Oh! I also made a list of all my fav shows starting again in the fall - there's A LOT - and I thought I should watch them @ the gym! Why not kill 2 birds with 1 stone, right?

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Fun @ the Sitters - Week One

EZ had his first full week @ his caregivers this week. As far as I heard, it all went well. It's been a pretty smooth transition so far. I guess one of the perks of going back to work before EZ is a year, is that he's really adaptable. I don't think he has yet fully grasped that he and I don't hang out every day.

EZ's caregiver sent these wondeful pictures as photographic evidence that he's sublimely happy and being so well taken care of :) We are so blessed!

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New Car Seat for a Growing EZ!

Introducing EZ's new car seat, a Britax Boulevard CS...

...in CowMooflage, of course!

Very cool seat for a very cool kidlet.

It's good until EZ's 65 lbs, which at this rate, may be sooner than we think!

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