Today My Name Is...Fresh

Spring is in the air! Today is so fresh and so clean. Fresh outside, clean inside. Windows open...and I feel like I should be listening to Outkast having quoted lyrics.

I took advantage of the wonderful weather today and got outside for as much as I could and it felt great. It was so nice to be out wearing sun glasses. I even got out in the evening for a good walk with my husband, daughters and our dogs. Well the two younger dogs anyways. My youngest walked our insanely energetic toy poodle Kiedis and I strapped our big mixed breed dog Bella to my oldest and enjoyed watching the two jog along. Everyone got fresh air and exercise. The best part is always the walk along the ridge and it's always beautiful at night over looking the city and lights.

In spring and summer the ridge is always alive with the activity of birds, coyotes, deer, people and so much else in the evenings however tonight it was still calm as a winter night. Even the breeze stood still.

Walks in the neighborhood are nice but I especially love going to the dog park where our dogs get their social interaction and we get to enjoy a good brisk walk as we follow along. We haven't been going as much lately to the dog park and part of the reason is how pathetic society is becoming. It's concerning when one can take a well trained dog to an off leash yet idiots cause havoc. Too much has been in the news lately about dog attacks, dog bites, aggressive breeds, the list goes on.

Recently a man was walking leashed pitbulls outside of an unfenced off leash dog park and a young girl was walking her 2 unleashed dogs in the dog park and they took off towards the man walking the pitbulls. Short story, who do you think was the bad guy? Guy with leashed dogs or girl without control of her small dogs? Pitbulls always seem to lose regardless of their training. Mention the breed and they are in trouble. It's hard to keep an animal from responding naturally and defensively when approached aggressively by other dogs.

Society is taking less responsibility for everything, you name it. It's really sad in fact. I saw a cartoon showing parents yelling at their child for poor grades back in the day and beside shows a present cartoon showing parents yelling at the teacher for their child's poor grades. See something wrong with that? I'm a young parent, younger than all of my children's friends parents and I see so much wrong in the way society responds and neglects taking responsibility for ones actions. Everyone points to something or someone else. Point being is that Bella our mixed breed is quite possibility part Staffordshire x Heeler per our vet and despite the fact we've put her through training, she listens impeccably well and lives with two small dogs (poodle and chihuahua) idiots at the dog park do not respect others, watch their own dogs body language or call their dog off or back when it shows questionable behaviors. I have left with my poor Bella bleeding from bites from small dogs and larger dogs who really should not be at the dog parks. Thankfully she is a very passive dog and will roll to her back submissively even with an aggressive small dog. She is definitely not top dog in this house.

Per our bylaws we have to have control of our dog 100% of the time. Bella returns to us 100% of the time with recall without fail. More than once we have called her when we've seen other dogs acting aggressive towards her or ganging up (as was the case recently with 2 German Shepards) and the dogs followed without their owner so much as glancing back, too busy on their phone texting! Dog parks and bylaws should enforce distracted pet ownership if they are going to get so petty about natural dog responses and who's at fault and look at bigger pictures. Bella returned to us, but had those dogs bit her or had we leashed her to walk away and the dogs continued their aggression and Bella responded by biting in defense we could be charged. Who would have been at fault? So we have steered clear of the dog park lately and it's a shame but it's bad owners and idiots that ruin a good thing for others.

My .02....it's never the breed it's the owner!

I am curious to know though just what breed Bella is. While striking up a conversation at the dog park a while back, a lovely lady mentioned dog DNA which allowed genetic break down of the possible breeds a dog carries. I may consider this for our Bella.

Enough of my rant and back on track, I keep getting so excited about spring and the snow melting. Plans for landscaping the yard, ideas of flowers, bushes, deck boxes and so much more keep running through my mind and then I remind myself that we are not that close just yet. The forecast for snow is a pretty clear reminder. Hopefully the snow leaves and stays away until next winter soon. I could live without a dump of snow in May or June.

I have been feeling so much more energetic as of late and oddly my internal clock has been waking me up every morning at 5am. I haven't actually gotten up and stayed up at that hour but it's good to know my internal clock may work with me. The test will be next week leading into April.

Today was a get up and go day. Not a dull moment or time for TV. I didn't run errands. It was the one day this week that we had nothing scheduled in the evening. We enjoyed fish, salad and rice for dinner. My oldest made oatmeal muffins for lunches and snack for the next few days. My youngest helped with the scoop duty in the yard from the dogs. All in all it was a busy day and the hive was a buzzing.

Speaking of B words...Budgeting. The hubs and I did our mid month budgeting and April break down. Communication is key. I hold the lock, he has the key and put together we work perfectly. Corney eh? Haha.

With as much fresh air as I've had I'm fading fast so I will say Today My Name Is...Fresh and that pretty much sums up how I aim to have my 2013 go...Fresh start...on the right track. Each day is a fresh new day and today was a positive reflection of the way one should see everyday...fresh, new and ready to take on the world.

Today My Name Is...Happy

What a beautiful day, what a beautiful life I have. Yes I woke up on the right side of the bed...but I feel great. It hasn't been often that I wake up feeling this good and then to add a cherry to the cake it's beautiful outside. Sun is shinning, snow is melting. My girls were both merry as can be instead of their usual argumentative grumpy selves this morning. I could have gone without my coffee to start the morning and it still would have been fantastic! Pretty amazing eh?

I think there might be something to be said about detox soaks right before bed. I slept like a baby and woke up feeling like a million bucks. I took my morning Vit D, Calcium/Magnesium & Omega 3 along with Aleve and had my usual fruit salad and coffee. Omega 3 is a new vitamin for me. I picked it up yesterday while out and about. I wonder if I will be able to tell if there is a benefit to taking it?  I hope to keep posting updates like this, upbeat, positive and steadily moving forward as I continue my journey to self improvement and better overall health.

 

Check out my smoothie today! Best yet! OMG it was to die for. 1/2 cup mixed frozen berries, 1 banana, Greens+ powder (I sneak this into recipes to get more into my girls), a little vanilla extract and a 1/2tsp of cinnamon. What a heavenly treat! I will be making this exact smoothie often.

 

I've been fairly keen on reading up on just what I put into my body lately and what positive effects they will bring and was surprised to learn that there are some really great benefits to cinnamon.

 

 

 

Once upon a time, cinnamon was more valuable than gold. And while these days I'm betting most of us would rather get our hands on 24 karats over 24 ounces - a bar over a stick - this bark-cum-spice has just as much bite as it does bark. The potential health benefits attributable to cinnamon could be stated as nothing short of astonishing.
It's possible we're just brushing the surface here, for Chinese medicine and Ayurveda have long revered cinnamon as a superpower used to treat things such as colds, indigestion and cramps and also believed to improve energy, vitality and circulation. The following are ten health benefits associated with this beloved spice that studies have suggested:

1. 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower your bad cholesterol (or LDL).
2. Cinnamon may help treat Type 2 Diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels and increasing the amount of insulin production in the body.
3. Cinnamon has anti fungal properties, and it's been said that candida cannot live in a cinnamon environment.
4. Cinnamon can reduce the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
5. Cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.
6. Honey and Cinnamon combined has been found to relieve arthritis pain.
7. When added to food, cinnamon inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.
8. Just smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.
9. Cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.
10. Cinnamon has been found to be an effective natural remedy for eliminating headaches and migraine relief.
11. Cinnamon can also help stabilize blood sugar (which is great for weight loss). A couple of dashes in your morning tea or cereal is all it takes!

I already knew that eating berries was beneficial for their antioxidants & Berries contain phytochemicals and flavonoids that may help to prevent some forms of cancer. Cranberries and blueberries contain a substance that may prevent bladder infections. Eating a diet rich in blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries and strawberries may help to reduce your risk of several types of cancers. Blueberries and raspberries also contain lutein, which is important for healthy vision.

Today is just a happy day. I am so thankful for everything surrounding my life. I live in a beautiful home, have amazing kids, love my job, have the best family and greatest friends.

It's an easy day to really sit in contentment and reflect on life. I often stress the balance of everything, bills, schedules, keeping a neat and tidy home but today I can clearly see what matters most and that is health, happiness and family. There will always be stresses in life but it's how we manage it that matters. My mother always told me "Today might be rough but tomorrow is a new day." In a moment when I feel overwhelmed I often remind myself of that. In the moment life can seem like too much when we drown ourselves in worries but if we take a step back, a deep breath and break that list down into manageable steps it's not that big.

For me the worst is often finances. I think that's many people and couples struggle. Finances can be the root cause of failed marriages and relationships. I am the one in the home that organizes everything, lays it out and lists for balance and then I sit down with the breakdown to show my husband and together we manage our finances so that we are both on the same page. If we need to make adjustments we do it together and work through a plan.

I have always said as a ringette coach T.E.A.M - Together Everyone Achieves Miracles. The key is Team! Together my husband and I through teamwork and communication work well together and we get a lot accomplished.

I guess for both of us having grown up athletic and competitive it's been a great thing that has become many foundations to how we work as a couple & as a family. There is no better way to work than to work together as a team. Do you know where the 'i' in Team is? Not in our family but I will show you for those of you who know an 'i' on a team.

I feel ahead of the game right now, summer camps organized (at least for one), health in check with appointments made and vision taken care of...or at least on the verge of. I cannot wait to get my new lenses in as my old pair is scratched to sh*t. Hopefully the new glasses are in by Friday. Just a few days away. Never the less they are ordered. Clear sailing ahead, as with warmer weather.

Today is also a day I have reflected back to the way I was feeling and things that held me back and got me down. One of the worst was smoking! Now when I think of it I am thankful I quit, I have saved money and time. I get so much more done now that I'm not outside puffing away on a cancer stick. I'd say I've felt much better too for it but this past few months since I've butted out have been a challenge which is what prompted me to this point and writing a blog hoping it will help to push me to be accountable. I like that I've made lists and for the most part stepped up to the plate to get stuff done and crossed off within a reasonable time frame as well. It's motivational to see movement going forward and to look around and be pleased seeing things finally done and off the damn list.

Pretty positive steps I've made so far to bettering myself. Quitting smoking was a huge step and the most beneficial by far I am sure. Home cooking vs eating out and packing in lots of fruits and vegetables is also another step in the right direction. Our meals have been so flavorful too, and fresh. Organization all around in the steps I have taken has helped prepare for life balance and removing the overwhelmed feeling.  I have gained better coping skills through all of these steps as well and a clearer mind and healthier.

With guidance and knowing I am expected daily for yoga my body will benefit immensely. Part of me dreads April and the Yoga challenge. I think it's fear that I will fail or quit and not follow through because of the hours I am doing it and that it's daily. It's a lot to ask as a first big step into becoming more active. Not so much the yoga but the time for sure. In the past I have always found excuses to stop. Part of me is also really giddy to get going and feeling results of good health in combination with clean eating. I keep hearing from Trisha @ Namaste - Mind Body Soul Inc. how good I will feel the further I get into the month but also that I will feel so energized and good about myself. I want that now. That is what I crave and hunger for. That feeling alone is a natural high that I long to be on.

Check out http://namaste-mindbodysoul.com/ Trisha & Lexie are amazing. I highly recommend them.

I think perhaps when I finish April's challenge I will take a trip to Lulu for capris or a nice tank top to wear for yoga. Even better maybe I will take myself to get one of the two after doing two weeks! There's nothing wrong with a reward that benefits the program right?



I saw a couple pictures of one of my girlfriends in two poses and it's my personal goal & new Bucket list item to be able to one day do BOTH! I stole the pics she posted of herself in these poses to share what I aim to achieve. Oh to have such strength and flexibility once again.

Today My Name Is....Happy. As Phil from Duck Dynasty would say, "Happy Happy" <----That I am.

Today My Name Is...Compensate

I wish the weekend had 3 days instead of 2. If that were the case I would make 2 for family and fun and the other to getting groceries and organized for the week ahead. There is never enough time on weekends to fit everything I want to do in.

As I did not get everything done that I had planned, I used today to compensate for what I neglected to do on the weekend. It's a Monday and while I am normally not that motivated on Monday's I have flexibility today to get more packed into my day, so I took advantage. I got off my ass, and used the bits of free time I had available to get things accomplished. Chores happened, I re-focused myself to eat healthy, enjoyed a detox bath, did my nails, got out to look at glasses again, got my oldest her reading glasses and crossed things off the list to allow week time balance to do an abundance of other stuff. I can cross off BILT enhanced 2 week ringette camp this summer as well for my oldest as I got registration completed. Getting tasks done always feels so good, especially the stuff one really dislikes doing like washing the floor. Done! Haha I did it and even though it's only one chore it's one I dread. I love having a clean house, and love seeing the final product of my labor but sometimes I wince and procrastinate the dreaded. Not anymore.

I even found time to fit in a quick trip to the Bulk Barn which just opened and treated my girls to those HUGE jaw breakers that I remember as a child and then an Astro Pop for each of us. It brought back fond childhood memories.

One of the things over the past few months that has been very beneficial to our home and family has been working together. We sat down as a family before Christmas and decided as a team who could do what, and what was expected of each. We made a family chore agreement.  Making these decisions together allowed my girls to feel that they had a voice in our home as well, and we don't feel like bossy parents. Instead of slacking at giving my girls their allowance, I have followed through when they have kept up to their end of the bargain and done their house work. Allowance is given for work inside and outside the house. They are doing their family part in contributing. Having everyone doing their part has lessened the work load on my husband and I at the end of our work days and gives way to available time we can all spend doing things we enjoy. I think more kids should be doing stuff to help out around the home.

As my girls see their funds grow from helping around the house they reap the benefits of having money. Just this past weekend my oldest used her savings to buy a very nice purse and new shoes.

See why allowance is such a great idea:

1. Kids usually spend less of their own money on junk. It's super easy for kids to ask you to spend $2, $3, or even $300 of your hard-earned dollars on something they want. But when you turn the tables and suggest that they cough up their own cash, they begin to realize how the money game works.

2. They learn from their money mistakes. Sometimes your kids give in to temptation and buy junk they don't need. Or they lose a wallet full of cash because they're careless. Or they don't budget wisely. And when they screw up -- and they will, oh, they will -- they learn a lot faster than you could ever teach them.

3. They take better care of junk when they buy it themselves. Even though it pains you to see your kids throw away their money on junk, let them. And see how their attitude towards the junk changes. They are far more likely to pick it up, put it away, and care for it when they spend their own money own it. That's a valuable lesson, even if it's learned over junk.

4. You have something to take away. Allowance can be contingent upon grades, behavior, chores, or anything you choose. It's a great enforcer, because kids love getting money. If you write out a contract for allowance, when your kids don't comply with the rules, you can just point to the chart and say, sadly, "Sorry." Try to sound like you mean it.

5. You can teach money management. You can make your lessons as simple or as complex as you want. Set rules about how much goes to savings, charity, and pocket money, or just give your kid a list of things he's now responsible to pay for on his own. Figure out what will work best for your family and your child's personality, and go from there.

I saw on a finance show a few years back a segment about children and allowance and the recommended amount was to give their age in money/week. So my oldest gets $13/week and youngest gets $11/week. If they do their chores that is. Part of the deal as well is to do it without whining. I may have to ask or remind which is fine but I do not want to hear whining or I cut their allowance a %.

My girls can also earn money each reporting period by getting good grades in school. We don't pay a lot but they can do pretty good for themselves for having put in the effort and seeing how it pays off. All kids will struggle in an area at one point or another so we also reward areas of improvement. If they go the extra mile to get extra help outside of class and their mark gets better for it, we will reward them. What we are teaching is no different then what they will be required to do later in life. We are just forming early hard work habits.

Motivated Monday has me feeling like this is a good time to plan ahead for monthly challenges. I have planned ahead for the next 6 months. These ideas are not set in stone and I may change my mind or decide on an even better idea for one of the months ahead. As long as I stick to the plan for that month all is good. 

APRIL- 30 Day Yoga (at insane morning hours) If I can do this, I can do anything!
MAY- 30 Day Marriage Challenge
JUNE- Happiness Project! I will get the book and live my own.
JULY- 30 Day Mom Challenge & Bucket List Item- Get away for a day, Edmonton, Banff, Canmore...enjoy a family adventure. Just do it!
AUGUST- Read a book each week + finish the Orca Cross Stitch
SEPTEMBER-30 Days & 30 Bags + No Alcohol for 1 Month (Also a Bucket List item!)

My monthly challenges are not all fitness or health related. As I initially stated my 2013 goal is self improvement over all and seeing things through. Health, fitness, happiness are all areas I wish to improve on and by doing these monthly challenges I hope each can become a part of my life in the long term. 30 days is just a kick start to forming a routine. Part of it is to learn to stop and smell the roses. For some like 30 Days & 30 Bags, it's about decluttering life, reading and finishing a cross stitch is about doing things I enjoy but have set aside, these are part of getting me to see things through. The No Alcohol is just a personal challenge.

If I can do each challenge through my intent is to set bigger challenges. The reward is seeing the success at the end and feeling of accomplishment. I know I can...it's just a mental thing and I need to break bad habits.

                                             

Today My Name Is...Compensate!

Today My Name Is...Chill

                                     HAPPY ST.PATRICK'S DAY!!

Sunday, the day before Monday....gah how we all love Mondays! NOT!

Sundays are always day I use to get stuff done and prepare for the week. Generally this involves laundry, house cleaning and groceries. Thankfully I have the most wonderful hubby who gave me a bit of a day off and it was greatly appreciated let me tell you.

I had a rough night sleep wise, tossing and turning, waking from dreams, waking when one of our 3 dogs had to go outside and then again when our oldest dog was annoyed by the other two and being vocal.

So I started the day on a positive by making my huni a grilled PB&J sandwich and broiled half a grapefruit for brunch for him. No detox soak again last night and no smoothie today. I gave myself the day to indulge a little. In return for the great start my hubby took it upon himself to grab the groceries and help a little around the house while I ventured back out in the snow with my mother and oldest daughter on the hunt for the perfect pair of glasses.

Still undecided I did manage to narrow my group down to two pairs I really like. Closer but no cigar. I know the pair for me is one of the two, I just need another day to sleep on it and maybe hit a few more places to browse and see if anything else peeks my interest. As for my oldest she can get readers from pretty much any store due to her prescription of +1 readers. So it's not imperative to spend a pretty penny if we can find the right readers elsewhere...in fact she can get a few pairs at the price of her readers and change up her look when reading, working on the computer or doing school work. Bonus that she loves fashion!

It was great having my mother along as I value her opinion. We are more alike than I realized and both agreed we liked the same frames. Funny how when I was young we could never agree and had such different taste and now it's not all that different. Maybe then it was more about being a defiant teen and establishing myself as my own person and making a statement. I must have been far more stubborn and difficult. My own daughter is a breeze and wonderful as can be. She listened to what her grandmother and I had to say, and took what she liked into consideration and was able to find 2 really nice frames as well. Nothing was set in stone for her either, especially being that she has an easy prescription.

Shopping with my mother and daughter made me realize how truly lucky I am. Two amazing relationships that I should give more focus and time to. I am very blessed.

We spent the better portion of the day shopping and wrapped up with Starbuck's at Chapters. In honor of St. Patrick's I enjoyed a Grande Green Tea Late. We love book stores! My oldest and I have spent many days, evenings and weekends at Chapter's browsing books. Carrying a comfort drink lengthens the trip...trust me! We never seem to leave until it's gone and almost always sip to savor.

I made a mental note of a few books. One was 3 years of questions for your children. It's a book that allows for children to answer daily questions and then look back and see how the answers differed from one year to another. A second book that caught my eye was Listography. I LOVE writing lists! My mother pointed out the notebook and I have decided I will try to include that book and 'Finding Daily Happiness' in my blog posts.

It was nice spending time with my mother and daughter. Perfect girls afternoon. The only thing that might have made it better would have been either adding a meal in or winning a bundle of money to make the shopping a little more than mere browsing. Regardless it was a fantastic time and we all returned home happy with a treasure or two in hand.

I capped the day by making Spinach shells stuffed with diced chicken, cottage cheese, spinach of course, red bell pepper, mozzarella, and a few other delicious ingredients. The meal is very much like a lasagna. 3-4 shells pack a good meal. Everyone gobbles them right up. This time we added chicken for a change. Generally there's no meat but my huni loves enjoying meat in every dinner dish. Chicken complimented the meal without adding to much.

It was a good day for Bow View Ringette. U12A Predators won Bronze in Provincials as did U14B Avengers. That is 5 teams so far this season for Bow View to claim provincial hardware and there's still a few levels to compete. Proud day. We have some amazing coaches and players in the association.

This Sunday was meant to be Chill. We got a bit accomplished, enjoyed family time and took it easy allowing for a few usual chores to wait until tomorrow. After all it's Walking Dead day. We love watching the Walking Dead every Sunday. Sometimes it's good to just take a day to chill and realize everything one has to be thankful for. I spent my day in the company of those I am thankful for.

The week ahead is going to be insane, seriously crazy busy. Lots to do and juggle into the schedule or add to the schedule. One of which is to find the perfect glasses!

 Today My Name is....Chill. Rightfully so!

Today My Name Is...Proficient

Oh happy weekend and welcome Saturday! It's a feel good day having gotten a lot accomplished and feeling good. A day spent with my favorite people, my husband and daughters.

To start the day off right I enjoyed a vitamin C packed smoothie with oranges, papaya, mango and banana, and sipped a coffee while getting ready for the day. What a happy way to start. I really enjoy smoothies. Feeling so good I decided to get more dolled up than usual and why not? I didn't care that I was just going to the eye doctor, it felt nice getting done up to go out. Funny how taking a little bit longer can make a person feel even better. I'm not huge on make up or doing my hair, generally a pony tail and mascara do the trick and away I go. I think I might take a few extra minutes for this feel good. Perhaps I'll even pass on hoodies everyday and go for something a little dressier.

Our Saturday adventures started with a trip to see the eye doctor for myself and my girls. My youngest has perfect eyes, my oldest requires reading glasses and I need glasses full time. The best was hearing that my eyes look great over all. I have a bit of a astigmatism but that can be corrected with glasses. My prescription is not all that different from the glasses I was prescribed 10 years ago too. Yay! Although when I got the pair I have now it was mainly for distance and driving, now I'll have to wear the new glasses all the time. Taking an Omega3 was recommended for eye health as well so I've made note and will pick that up.

Omega Food for thought tid bit from the web:

"Omega-3 fatty acids are also being utilized by eye care providers to aid in the prevention and treatment of a variety of ocular disorders. Many optometrists and ophthalmologists are recommending omega-3 fatty acids to their patients for a variety of eye conditions."

So the hunt for the perfect pair begins, glasses that will look good and compliment my face. Funny how my taste in glasses hasn't changed much either in 10 years as I grabbed very similar glasses to try on. The only difference was that the newer ones I went for have more brown hues instead of black. I guess as I get older I'm not as interested in making a statement or being as bold. I'm okay with that.

It was exciting shopping for new glasses, something for myself. Especially because it will help me to focus and feel better over all which is a big part of what I am working towards right now. Glasses shopping exciting...I don't get out much hey haha. I didn't decide on any one pair and left it until tomorrow or another day when my mother can come along to give me her .02 on what looks good and suits me. I want to be sure about my decision, especially since I intend to have this new pair for another 10 years, the choice has to be right. I am leaning towards these....they appear darker in this picture but are a lighter brown.

After concluding our adventures in eye health the girls and I walked down the strip to the Salon. We walked, not drove! It wasn't far, but I often find myself driving so I don't have to spend the extra time walking to and from. Talk about past laziness...changing that too! I feel like I have more energy than usual too. That's a good thing as Martha Stewart would say. Is it the smoothies? Or I wonder if it's that I am focused on implementing more whole foods into my daily meals. Both? Whatever...it's working. It all feels good. I feel good.

At Christmas my husband and I made the girls Date Coupons. Each month they can choose the coupon of their choice with either parent or both and go out or stay home and do something. This was something we felt was really important to us as a family, time spent together and allowing for adventure planning. When life gets busy sometimes the little moments fall to the side and get swept up in the tide. We wanted a monthly reminder. There should always be time for the little things. Today the girls both turned in a coupon and decided they wanted to go try Eyebrow waxing. LOL My poor red faced ladies. It was comical and they both felt good and just a little pampered themselves. What a treat. At the same time we purchased a gift certificate for a manicure for my oldest daughter's friends birthday. Pretty good get.

From there we drove...to London Drugs. That distance made more sense to drive. My youngest turned in a coupon she didn't use last month and wanted to do an evening of mother daughter pampering while my oldest is out at the birthday. So we picked up 28 wash hair dye. My little blondies, I just can't bring myself to allowing permanent. Before leaving I also grabbed new mascara. If I'm going for eye health I should probably update my mascara being my old one is at least 4 months old...maybe older. Tisk tisk Megan!

According to WebMD:
"Masacara should be kept no longer than three months after opening. After three months, bacteria can begin to grow inside the tube; this growth of bacteria can lead to an infection. A strange or foul odor from your tube of mascara is another sign that your tube has expired. If you notice that your mascara appears flakey or is caking up, discard of it. You should also replace your mascara if you contract any type of eye infection; such as, conjunctivitis (pink eye). This will prevent you from becoming reinfected. It is also not a good to share your mascara with others. If you suspect that you are having a bad reaction after you have applied your mascara, please remove the mascara, discard of the tube and consult your physician. "

A little FYI.

On a time constraint we hurried home, dropped off my oldest to get ready for the party and ride to pick her up and we were again off and on our way to my youngest daughter's horseback riding lesson.  I myself used to ride in my younger years and still love horses. I'm thrilled my youngest has the same passion. Now if only the lottery numbers were in my favor I would be living on an acreage with horses. It was a great lesson on a new pony just in from BC. What a horse, I was impressed for a new horse having just arrived and one that is only 6yrs old. Excellently trained and fantastic temperament! I could not get over how he just arrived yesterday and was calm as could be, stunning to watch, patient and kids could be trusted already in the saddle!

On the way home from what was an amazing lesson as always, my husband of almost 13 years asked me if he could use a coupon for a date with his two girls and go out for dinner. It's rare now with meal planning and budgeting that we go out, so we were in favor and decided on Kelsey's. I stepped outside my comfort zone tonight of eating the usual Buffalo Chicken burger, quesadilla or Cesar salad and ordered a Chicken Sonoma Valley Salad. YUM! New fave and healthy. Well healthier than the previously mentioned options I'm almost positive. On MyFitnessPal it listed the dish as 710 calories! Mixed greens, red pepper, tomato slices, feta, craisins, sunflower seeds and nuts, croutons, chicken and vinaigrette dressing. I didn't think a salad could/would have so many calories. In any case it was still far more healthy I am sure than a fried chicken burger, creamy Cesar dressing or cheese filled quesadilla I am content in my decision. It was pleasing to the palate.

 

Expanding my mind to new things is a feel good. I'll do it more often for sure.

 

The only thing I forgot to do today was take Alieve. I will remember tomorrow. I thought about it twice today but didn't have the pills on me. Once was at the eye doctor when I felt my jaw aching and then in the riding arena when again it started aching which at that point came secondary to my arm. The cold seems to stir up pain which makes ringette seasons now fun around cold arenas. It was easier when I was on ice and coaching and focused on the kids, but this season being off ice was more of a struggle.

 

I wound up the day dying hair, relaxing with my love, reading, blogging and cuddling with our cat Leonard. I swore after we said good-bye to my big brute of a cat Skaha almost 4 years ago that I would never again have another cat, but this little lady is a perfect fit in our family. Leni's cuddles are a therapy in itself. I adore the little girl and am thankful I broke my vow and chose to invite a cat once again into our lives. This little bitty was born on Valentine's Day too in 2011, which has her sharing the same birthday as my Grandma Mary. Sometimes things are meant to be. I think that was a sign.

 

 

For those who dislike cats or who didn't know pets can add to your over all health...check this!

 

When you think of items that can help you increase your health, you do not often think about pets. Especially, cat ownership may not come to mind. However, health professionals and researchers are finding that owning a cat can actually benefit your health. You can enjoy a number of benefits from cat ownership. Here are 17 health benefits associated with owning a cat:

1. Lower risk of cardiovascular disease: Apparently, if you own a cat, you are less likely to die of cardiovascular disease. Indeed, a study from the University of Minnesota found that those without cats were between 30 and 40 percent more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than cat owners. Does it work for owning dogs as well? According to the study, dog owners didn’t reap the same benefits as cat owners.
2. Reduce risk of heart attack: You can reduce the chances that you will end up with a heart attack when you own a cat. Not only will your entire cardiovascular system thank you, but you can reduce the chance that you die suddenly due to heart attack if you own a cat.
3. Improve your immune function: Owning a cat can help your immune function improve. The feelings you get related to the cat can help you give your immune system a boost. Cats often know when you are ill, and can come and provide you with comfort, helping you get better while boosting your immune system.
4. Decrease chance of developing allergies: If you are going to have a baby, you might consider getting a pet. Having a cat can help you prevent allergies in your children. There are some studies that newborns that live with animals, specifically cats and dogs, are more likely to avoid developing allergies. Being used to them from an early age triggers immunity.
5. Help prevent asthma in children: In addition to helping to prevent children from developing allergies, there is some evidence that living with a cat can also help prevent asthma in children. If you have kids, owning a cat and exposing your kids to cats might help them to avoid developing asthma. Early and regular contact with cats can help your children avoid a number of respiratory problems.
6. Reduce blood pressure: You can help reduce your blood pressure by enjoying the company of a cat. Indeed, having a cat can lead to lower blood pressure. Just stroking a cat is calming and lowers blood pressure. Those who own pets, according to a State University of New York at Buffalo study, are more likely to have lower blood pressure than those who do not have pets.
7. Lower triglycerides: You can lower your triglycerides by exercising and eating fewer carbohydrates (especially from processed foods). But that’s not the only thing you can do. Some studies indicate that if you have a cat, you can lower your triglycerides and boost your health by owning a cat. While you should probably still exercise and eat better, owning a cat can help the process along.
8. Lower cholesterol: Are you trying to lower your cholesterol? If so, consider getting a cat. Interestingly, cat owners have lower cholesterol than those who do not own cats. A 2006 study in Canada showed that owning a cat was actually more effective at lowering cholesterol than the medications designed to do that same thing. Indeed, you could save money on meds and improve your health, possibly, by becoming a cat owner.
9. Reduced risk of stroke: The prospect of having a stroke is scary. If you are concerned about having a stroke, you might consider cat ownership. Owning a cat can cut the risk of stroke. A study at Minnesota University found that cat owners could cut their risk of stroke by 1/3. The idea that you can help reduce the changes of getting a stroke, thanks to a cat, is one reason to consider cat ownership.
10. Reduce stress: Having a cat can help reduce the stress in your life. Having a cat has many psychological benefits, and one of those is relieving stress. Being able to care for an animal, or having a cat snuggle with you, can help you feel better, and reduce your level of stress.
11. Reduce anxiety: Not only can owning a cat help reduce the stress that you feel, it can also reduce your anxiety. Petting a cat is calming, as are other aspects of caring for cats. When you are concerned with caring for another creature, it can help you take your mind off your worries. Additionally, the presence of a cat that will snuggle with you can help you calm yourself as your enjoy the unconditional love of a cat.
12. Improve your mood: In many cases, interacting with a pet can help improve your mood. This includes cats. Owning a cat can help you feel better in general, boosting your mood. If you are looking to see mood improvement, a cat can help with that.
13. Help with depression: Owning a cat can also help relieve depression. While a cat may not actually “cure” depression, it can help take your mind off your problems, and focus on something else. The love a cat offers can also be soothing to the mind. If you are depressed, cat companionship can help you in your battle.
14. Help with autism: Autism is marked by difficulty in social interaction and communication. Those with autism have a hard time communicating in the same way that others do. Having a cat can actually help in these cases. There have been instances where cats have been instrumental in therapy for autistic children. Other developmental disorders can be helped with exposure to cats as well.
15. Reduced loneliness: Many who have feelings of loneliness can find relief with a pet. Cat companionship can help those who are lonely feel a connection with another life. Just having a cat to come home to and spend time with can help those who are single, or widowed.
16. Fewer health care visits: Those with cats make fewer visits to health care professionals. This includes visits to the doctor, and hospital visits. Studies have also shown that nursing homes that allow cats as part of the therapy for patients have lower medication costs than facilities that do not make use of cats as part of therapy.
17. Longer life: Along with being married and avoiding main roads, you can enjoy a longer life with a cat. Cats provide a number of benefits that can lead to a longer life, including a form of social interaction. So, if you want to be healthy and live a little bit longer, consider owning a cat.

GO GET A CAT!!! Haha 

 

It was a busy day, minor in comparison to ringette season when all of said above is balanced in with ringette schedules.

 

Tomorrow is a day to venture out with my mother and oldest on the hunt for the perfect glasses. Girl time is Great time and a rarity so it's abundantly enjoyed. Groceries will follow later, a family excursion following a meeting to meal plan. We got this :)

 

Today My Name Is...Proficient.

Today My Name is...Organized

 

That's right, starting off the day on the ball! Got up, felt great again. Didn't have a wonderful detox soak before bed.

Instead I went and got my blood and urine checked to see what the heck was going on with my body. I was feeling as though my body was nudging me to do so. Great news, no kidney infection or urinary. Both came back great and the doctor had no concerns. He feels that it is connected to my car accident and TMJ. So it's a good thing I have an apt with our family doctor and see the eye specialist. I moved the eye apt for myself and my girls a few days ahead so I go tomorrow now. As recommended by the doctor I saw last night I picked up Alieve and will be taking 1 pill per day until I see my family doctor for a follow up. I think I may also book to get in to see the dentist again to see what if anything we can do for my jaw. :( No idea what is causing the lower left back pain though. I can't imagine it being anything muscle related. Something to keep an eye on and mention to my doctor if it doesn't subside. Note made.

So my day started with waking my hubby who slept in, then the kids and got them fed and off to school. I had my usual morning fruit salad, today was a yummy mix of kiwi, papaya, grapefruit and apple. Took my Alieve and Vit D. I had a smoothie for snack...kale, spinach, mixed frozen berries, an orange and 1/2 a cucumber. YUM!

In trying to organize life I went into my calender and set reminder dates in advance for Christmas Baking, Family pictures, Christmas card ordering and mailing dates, blind cleaning, yard work....and in just setting those reminders which won't necessarily happen on planned dates but around there I feel like I have helped my inner self to be more organized and focused and as if I lifted weight of having to remember and keep it all in my head is off my shoulders.

I am a planner and a dreamer, always have been, always will be. I have also been a big procrastinator in the past and I am trying to nip that in the butt and focus on following through with the To Do lists, stay on top of things and do what needs to be done at the appropriate time instead of putting it off. 2013 has been a better time for balancing for sure. But I'm only just into the 3rd month and I know how some resolutions and well wishes can go.

Perhaps I should set a monthly plan focusing on different things that could benefit myself, home and family life. 30 days should be a good amount of time to get into routine so it's easier long term. Realistic as well. For instance, April I intend to do Yoga for 30 days. So Exercise is April's priority. Home organization such as 30 bags in 30 days from Pinterest, or 30 days of cash only spending, 30 days of saving....you get the drift. My small family goal of 52 week money saving is in effect.

Plans plans...so many plans. 2013 will be a year to carry through on tasks. Did I mention a 2013 Bucket List? I'll blog that another day.

Tomorrow is the weekend and being that ringette is now over and lacrosse a few weeks away I am excited to have free weekends to assist in focused organization.

Today I will wrap wonderful with filling my home with the amazing aroma of homemade buns!

 

Today My Name is...Organized!

Today My Name is....Determined

Today I woke up feeling like a million dollars. Yay! I have done a detox bath the last two nights consisting of a cup of baking soda and 2 cups of epsom salt and soaked for 20 minutes. I think that has played a wonderful part in how great I feel. Or at least how my day started off amazing, that mixed with a little dash of positivity are the perfect ingredients to a great start :) Add a morning smoothie and it's a fabulous start!

                                                 

My theme the last few days has been beets and kale. Haha, two things I thought I would never eat. Brussel sprouts are on that list along with creamed corn. Haven't tried either of those just yet. I suprised myself and for the last 3 days I've been having borscht for lunch and kale in my smoothies.   I buy beets and kale...for my parrot. He eats better than I do and really I should take note and do the same. Everything he eats is fruits, vegetables, sprouts and nuts with occassional seed and pellets. Back to nature, the way of whole foods. As I mentioned previously I am trying to detox my body and eat clean. Now that I have tried both and like them I intend to impliment them further into my meals and family meals for over all health benefits.

                                                 


 I am feeling pretty good although despite everything positive I am doing I am still having blurred vision, watery eyes, runny nose and lower back pain on the left side just above my hip. I have an eye appointment booked for next week although wearing my old glasses today seems to have helped with the blurred vision. My nose has been running the past few days in the afternoon and evenings, clear however so I am not sure if it's seasonal allergies which would explain the watery eyes that seem to go hand in hand with the runny nose. That said all the little ones I care for are sick with horrible head colds, sneezing, coughing, gross runny noses...not fun. Perhaps I have a bit of a cold? Seasonal allergies? I took an Aerius (decongestant) last night but it didn't seem to make a lot of difference so my guess is I am to an extent possibly fighting a head cold.

My lower back pain that has been negging at me for the last 2 or so weeks I hope is not kidney. I started taking Vitamin D a couple weeks back and that's when my lower back pain seemed to come on. Thinking it was kidney I downed cranberry juice and googled vitamins to take for kidney health and low and behold came across a link that said people with vitamin D difficiencies had lower back pain, however when they took a calcium/magneisium pill it seemed to counter act the pain and all was good. So I thought what the heck and went to the store and picked up calcium/magnesium. That seemed to help, or so I thought until today. As the day goes on my nagging pain seems to be getting a little stronger and higher. Despite having a doctors apt booked for next week I may slip into a walk in clinic just to do a quick test in the event it is kidney. I've had a kidney infection before and it was terrible! Not even joking, the pain was unbareable and it resulted in a week of IV treatment, off work and on pain killers just to dull the pain. I will update tomorrow.

I am really looking forward to getting on the right track emotionally, mentally and physically. It will help by seeing my doctor for the migraines and getting blood work and everything done to see if there's anything more serious going on. I think for most people it's easier to focus and be positive when the body feels good. When it's not feeling good one battles both the body and mind.

Generally when hit with colds, flu, pain and what not I get all bummed and slow down or let it get to me and then out the door goes motivation. Everyone says I am so busy and need to take time to relax thus why I am run down, sick or in pain. Answer honestly...How does a working mom of two teenage girls active in school and sports and friends slow down? Especially when trying to fit in time for myself too!! Balance is hard to come by but I am working on it. I am trying to not sweat the small stuff, and see the positive in everything. Right now I think my body is pushing me to get on top of it so I can advance. So I will but I cannot lose the determination I have today.

Next week I will start waking up early in prep for early morning yoga. Can't wait for that blog update eh? Grumble grumble...coffee...grumble LOL or something to that effect...followed by, what was I thinking!

While I haven't worked out today I have been very aware of what I am putting into my body. I am slowly working on getting life organized to best support me in moving forward in every way.

 

Recently my skin was breaking out so I have also stopped the skin cream I was using, as well as make-up and am just using coconut Oil. Already it seems to be helping. Sun spots and scars seem to be fading a bit and fine lines don't appear as defined. See above. I read up on it while pinning on Pinterest...what a wonderful site! If you haven't joined I highly suggest you do. I am an avid pinner for recipes, health info, crafts, home decorating and so much more. Anyways there are so many wonderful uses for Coconut oil and I will add as I go with the uses I enjoy most for it. Use it instead of butter making rice crispies! NOM!! It's a great moisturizer as well and I've used it not only for the face but body and legs as well. My sensitive skin loves it.

For me I think the most important part of every day will be to start off on the right foot, with my head in a great mental place. If positivity is part of it success will follow and I need to maintain that in order to do the things I am motivated and determined to do. Today My Name is Determined!

Jan, Feb...& Start of March Small Steps

I have been quite positive since the start of 2013. A few hiccups of course but minor. As I am starting this blog in March I figure I would quickly update Jan, Feb & what has become of March.

I will highlight items completed in red that have aided in motivating myself and resulted in feel good. These can be anything from organizational to health or financial....

I will highlight items or goals I have planned in Green.

Knowing myself the way I do, I knew that to get out of the funk I needed to accomplish and get stuff done. Part of that has been my To Do list that always seems to grow but never has anything crossed off.

In the past 2.5 months I am glad to say that I got a few things crossed off.
-tiled under the bathroom sinks
-finished restoring the old nightstand and dresser that had been sanded
-painted the back entry (finally!)
-hung the family calender white board for scheduling
-turned my studio into an office for the girls to do school work (included laminate floor!)
-got a filing cabinet & did all the dreaded filing to be way more organized!

 

The dresser and nightstand were a FREE steal on Kijji that I sanded down, painted and added new hardware too. Pretty nice eh? Cost $30 total for paint and hardware and gave my youngest some extra clothes storage, a place to display her Monster High Dolls and somewhere to store her books and treasures.

 

 

These tiles above that I put in under all bathroom sinks, as well as under the kitchen sink and in one cupboard above my laundry to save the shelf from spills cost me $6 total from the Dollarstore. 18 - 12"x12" tiles! Love the look of them, easy to install, wipe and clean!

 

The White board for our Monthly Family Schedule Command Center felt like theft on clearance at Staples. $10 and it came with markers, eraser, magnets, tacks and everything to mount. Perfect for my back entry wall that I finally got around to painting!

 

 

This is the final office, which doesn't do it justice. Hard room to get all in one shot but this is the corner desk we added so both girls can sit and work at their computers or school work. The drafting table stayed in along with the light table for sketching and crafts. Creative happens here should be a room theme :) We plan to showcase all family art in this room as can be seen on the shelves. This picture was taken just a few days after the completion of the room and I wish I took a before.

 

Not a bad start especially considering I was able to juggle it into ringette, horseback riding and dancing lesson schedules. Add a few tournaments, cities and provincials for ringette in there too. Talk about feeling accomplished and all of it done by me!

That is the hardest part of trying to get back on track. My daughters are growing up and with that I have to add in everything they have daily into my schedule so days often seem so overwhelming that I cross ME off the daily schedule. I am sure many mom's can relate.

Additionally I got myself into the habit of menu planning, which made shopping trips easy and has helped greatly with budgeting! Our meals have been delicious! Pinterest has helped greatly with menu planning. I Pin meals that look yummy, then I add them to each weekly meal plan and do up a grocery list. Once a meal has been tried if it's a hit I add it to our home recipe book. I intend to one day make my girls a copy of all our favorite meals to take with them when they move out. I have time though to do that. Maybe I will post meals with my daily blog.

Meal planning has reduced our eating out, which has allowed us to save $$$, given us family time to sit together, eat healthy home cooked meals and meal plan as a family! Not a bad thing at all.

 

I am going to try a 52 week savings plan using the Piggy Bank we made of paper mache (See above, cute eh?). It's simple and I know I will not break the bank...it's too darn cute! Here is the 52 week Money Challenge!

 

I haven't been great about working out. I try to do a daily walk at least. For sometime I was doing Yoga & Body Rock. It was great but I let up...of course. So the plan is...and I will follow up. Come April 1 I intend to do a 30 day Yoga challenge! Even more will be challenging myself to get up everyday before work and go to Yoga for 5:15am!!! Hubby has laughed and said it will not happen. Competitive me is focused on proving otherwise. What he doesn't know is I intend on getting myself up over the next two weeks in preparation of early mornings to adjust my body so it isn't so hard!

 

Until April 1, my intention is to kick start my body with an abundance of healthy eating. Lots and lots of fruits and veggies. Smoothies are becoming a daily NOM! I also intend to see my doctor to get my migraines in check. Until then I am wearing my dental splint almost 24/7 to help the jaw which I hope helps reduce migraines. Just to add more to my list, I will get into the eye doctor as my vision has changed for the worse which may stem from all these migraines. That said the next two weeks my intention is to focus on health and take care of me leading into a 30 day Yoga challenge. I can do it! I will post my weight April 1st, as well as a picture and then do the same again at the end of the challenge along with meals. I am not doing this as a challenge to lose weight but to see how my body changes for the better in 30 days from daily yoga. I want to see strength built, especially for the well being and support of my right arm.

 

Did I mention I quit smoking back on October 6th 2012? It's been 158 days and it feels wonderful. That was my initial step heading into 2013 on the right foot.

 

Small steps are all building into routine which I hope leads to long term big change.

 

This post is another Focused since I just started. It feels good.

 

Today My Name is... Focused

2013 is going to be a great year. How do I know? 13 is my number.

This is me. My name is Megan and this blog is all about Project Megan. Regaining myself. Finding the me that left 2 years ago out of frusteration and anger.

After a couple years of being in a downward funk I am taking back me. I have no doubt in my mind that it will be a struggle with ups and downs but this past two years hasn't been a piece of cake either.

2 years ago I was in a car accident and suffered nerve damage in my right arm that has led to all sorts of other struggles, pain in the jaw, migraines, hand cramping, numbness...but the worst has been the frusteration and anger I feel. I struggle with things I loved so much, such as drawing. So I allowed myself to get into a funk and haven't been able to drag myself out. In the pitty me funk I didn't watch what I ate, I quit repeatedly on myself with working out when the pain got to me. I packed up my art stuff. I turned into a heavy, negative beast.

One thing you should know about me...I hate medicine. My husband always jokes because I ask about interactions with other things. I guess that is my phobia, and yes Orange Juice is okay to take with most medications. Haha. So the one thing I really haven't taken or resorted to this whole time has been medications aside from the odd time for migraines. Perhaps if I had I wouldn't have become so grumpy, but I don't like to mask or bandaid issues.

I have always been a fairly motivated, competitive person so this is really kicking my ass that I got into such a brutal place. I have 2 daughters that I want to look up to me and see positive, determination and drive. I haven't been a very good role model and it's taken a toll on my health. On everything really.

I saw this in a blog recently and it describes me perfectly as of late...

The saying goes, “Every journey begins with a single step.” For me, at least, the problem isn’t that first step. I can delve into projects with great enthusiasm, no problem. It’s usually step number 352 that gets me down. Then, through lack of energy or simple frustration, I simply get off the road.

I am focused now and it's time to regain myself and in goal setting I am looking even further! I am about to change my life for the better all the way around.

Here is my plan:
The 2013 Plan to Change My Life

-Eat Healthy!
-Exersize!
-Organize
-Cross off those To Do's that have been nagging for 2 years!
-Live a couple Bucket List Items!

I figure the above is not too much to start with. It's just about getting into a daily routine, keeping positive and finding success in accomplishing things. So we will see how this goes.

I am blogging to hold myself accountable. To look back in one year and see how many changes I have really made. Maybe others with their own life struggles will stumble on this blog and together we can share our daily successes. Who knows but Today I Am Focused!