My other Blogs...

Hey all! Just a reminder that I have a couple other blogs that you may be interested in.

They both focus on health, fitness and wellness - all while balancing new mummyhood.

1. MummyFit - my personal fitness blog! I talk about my bellydancing, running, training, tips on healthy eating and ideas how to include wellness into your life.

2. Workout Divas - I share this blog with 2 other amazing women. We post daily (well, we're supposed to) re: our workouts, food intake and healthy tips! These ladies are so great - I hope you join us.

If for some reason you need a "permission" to view either of these blogs, just flip me an email and I'll be happy to invite you!

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Wow - it's been a long time!

Long time, no blog. My life is crazy busy - just like everyone else, I know. Anyway, here's a re-cap of the last few weeks:

• Thanksgiving was great! We had a family dinner @ our new house thanks to Adair! That guy can cook a turkey
• We had a family outing to the pumpkin patch. We also picked apples. I LOVE FALL!!!
  
• Everyone in my house got a cold, but of course, over-worked and under-rested Mummy got it the worst and even had to work from home one day. Still trying to recover, but feeling human again. Back to the gym tomorrow
  
• Got tendonitis in my foot and knee. Not running. Will start up tomorrow since it's feeling better.
• Ezra is babbling a lot. A LOT. He likes to use his voice. His current favourite "word" to repeat is "Ball" or "bob". Still hasn't mastered Mama or Dada.
• Ezra has taken to mimicking us, whether we laugh or cough, he tries to do the same as you
• I haven't really lost any more weight. I've been "cheating" a lot because I felt ill and physically and emotionally depleted. I feel better now, so I'm back on track.
• I just spent a wonderful weekend at a workshop with the amazing Aziza - she's a beautiful dancer and a fantastic teacher. She has such a bright smile and knows how to teach in an inspiring and articulate way. I'm so excited!
• @ Church, we had Young Women in Excellence yesterday and the YW did an amazing job and worked so hard on their Personal Progress projects. I'm so proud of their efforts!
• We painted our entire main floor and powder room - still lots of work to do, but it looks GOOD!
• On the house front, we've pretty much finished the living room (paint, furniture, and...TV - yep, I got the flat screen I've been coveting since we've moved in!)
• I had my big, long-awaited appointment with a 2nd neurologist and my femoral nerve is now in the "normal" category! My leg is still weak, but it's getting better! No permanent damage!
  

Well, there you have it! I'll try to be a better blogger. Maybe I'll even start taking pictures again!

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EZ is 9 months today!

Yep, I get to wake up to this smiley face every morning! I'm the luckiest mum!

Ezra was singing and very chatty this morning.

"Look mum! I'm all ready for my day! Look at my new robot hat!"

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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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Saying So Long to Maternity Pants

I seem to be confessing to a lot of things lately. I guess that comes with shedding weight - all my secrets are coming out.

Here's another...

I've been wearing maternity pants for the last 8 months. Yep, it's sad but true.

And like all those fashion-challenged women on What Not to Wear say,
"But they're so comfortable!"

It's VERY true, they're so comfortable.

But what's an even SWEETER feeling than maternity pants?

Being a fit, happy, healthy, energetic mum - who just happens to fit into regular size clothes!

So bye-bye for now, comfy maternity pants! I like my new, skinnier self!

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EZ's 1st day in daycare!

Today was EZ's first day with his caregiver Andrea. Apparently it went REALLY well.

EZ was such a happy little dude. No big surprise there!

It's such a good feeling to know your babe is being loved and taken care of so well when you're @ work. Relief. Comfort.

Ezra is amazing. I miss him incredibly during the day.

My heart skips a beat when I see his smiley face when I get home from work.

Life is good. We are blessed.

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U-Skinnygirl & BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Here's my latest update - 17 lbs lost since Aug 7th! And I feel great!

SO great that I have an announcement....

I am running/walking/jogging the...

ING MIAMI HALF-MARATHON ON JAN 31, 2010

It will be then be about ONE YEAR since I was in the hospital, unable to walk, wondering if I would EVER bounce back.

So I'm officially "in training" again.

And I can't wait to wear ORANGE in MIAMI!!!

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COACH - Using The Secret

Hello Universe. Mummy Maggie wants these Coach shoes, please.

Thank you.

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U-Skinnygirl Update - Week 2

I've lost 13 lbs since August 7th!

YAY ME!

The 1st few days were hard. Not like crazy hard.

Now I feel AMAZING! Full of energy, and not hyped up on Diet Dr. Pepper.

I'm eating whole, natural foods in proper portions.

I drink tons of water - like 4-5 litres/day.

I'm so motivated to continue!

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Our fab new Umbrella Stroller!

It's the new UPPAbaby G-Luxe Stoller! {in Black of course!}

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Adair & EZ @ the Butterfly Conservatory

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Working Girl

Well, mummy's back to work this week! And honestly, it's not as bad as I thought. I guess the thing is that I never really thought about it. I refused to dwell on the fact I was going back to work - I didn't want to waste one minute sulking and worried, when I could've been having a blast with EZ.

I miss EZ like mad in the day, but my job is really busy so the days seem to fly by. I just love to come home and see his sweet face :) Adair's loving being a SAHD, at least for the time being. EZ and daddy go for walks {to Home Depot and 2001 Audio & Video!}, go to the park, work in the garden and around the house, then go for drives {to Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart!}.

My nerve injury has been healing pretty well, but since being back @ work I've aggravated my hip flexors by sitting so much {my physiotherapist told me this. I don't usually use the words "hip flexors" in everyday conversation!}. I'm in...well, I wouldn't use the word AGONY, but pretty darn close! I had a great session @ physio tonight, so I'm hoping for the best!

My new wellness regime is going well! I've lost 8 3/4 lbs since last Friday! YAY ME!

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Skinny Me - LIVE LOVE LOSE! Week One

This past Friday I started at a weight loss wellness clinic. It's going really well so far. It's a huge lifestyle change for me though. I've realized I have to change my palate.

Since getting pregnant last April, I've only been craving crappy, kiddie foods and junk food. I had to eat a lot too because it was the only thing that made me less nauseated. I also avoided aspartame so I was drinking full-sugar sodas. Water gave me bad heartburn, enough that I actually required medication to calm the burning.

After the baby was born, my plan was to sign up for a Fall marathon. But as you are well aware, life is full of surprises and my nerve injury during EZ's delivery prevented me from exercising {let alone walking confidently} for several months.

So here I am. Overweight and unhappy. I decided to do something about it to regain the REAL ME back. I joined this wellness clinic who will monitor my food and water intake. I have also joined the gym. It's a 24 hr gym so no excuses. And of course, I always have my passion - Bellydancing!

Friday was the 1st day of my new life. It was hard. But I have to remind myself that:

1. I've done this before. I've lost 70 lbs before completely unassisted.

2. Eating healthy isn't hard. It's a pleasure. Childbirth is hard. Running marathons is hard. Not eating junk food - not so hard. Just a mind-set change.

3. Be 100% HONEST. Cheating on this lifestyle is not only cheating myself -- it's actually cheating my baby. And my baby is more important than fast food drive throughs.

4. I've got to choose to be active everyday. It's a choice. I must make working out a priority.

5. It all adds up. Parking far away from the store so I have to walk further. Go into the bank to get $ from the ATM - don't do drive-through banking. Running up & downstairs at the new house. Cardio is easy to fit in and every little bit counts.

6. Avoid TV. Not only do you just sit and veg in front of a tv, but the ads make me hungry! I'm a total sucker for advertising, so if I see an ad for a juicy cheeseburger or decadent chocolate - then that's all I can think about.

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Seven months old today!!!

Little EZ isn't so little anymore!

Ezra is now seven months old.

He's a wonderful baby who is growing up so fast!

Here's his latest developments:

• He's mastered crawling. He's super fast and he can crawl anywhere!

• He's now trying to stand up. He's always on the lookout for some leverage to help him stand. His current favourites are the kitchen chairs and the stairs.

• He's a tough kid and way more adventurous than me. He's the kind of child that when he falls down, he rarely cries and just gets up again to tackle his task {usually trying to stand up}.
 
• He's starting to shuffle too. He stands up, using his Bumbo chair for support, then shuffles throughout the room.

• He's loving eating new foods. We've tried lots of veggies, so I think we'll be moving onto fruit too.

• He's still mastering the Bottle, but Mummy goes back to work tomorrow so he's options are going to be extremely limited.

• He loves hanging out with daddy and doing work around the new house! EZ just loves to be active!

• He has 5 teeth and more poking through - and he's suffered through the teething process like a champ!
  

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