Simply said .. What a trip

I have seen beauty in my life.. but the look on the faces of my eleven year old neice and my 4 year old little lady when they saw this castle light up -- was Magical.

Nothing prepares you for how this experience can effect you if you let it.. I had to relax into being a kid, but once I did, I too felt the magic of this place. I highly recomend this trip to anyone who can go. The food is disney food, but the kids don't care and they ate their veggies and fruit so I cannot complain. We had seven day passes and we stayed in Disney Pop Century.. great all around.

So from one exhausted mom and dad.. to two beautiful little ladies --- thank you for being such great kids and making this a super fun trip.. here are some pics for the rest of you..

My little girl having the time of her life.. ( I will not show pictures of my niece without permission first from my sister)

Live Love Laugh.. Dreams do come true

Ps Weight lost = 8 pounds to date!!

Disney -- off to the place where dreams come true.

We head off for a week of Mickey Mouse and Princess Bliss - I will tell you all about it when I get back ---

I have officially lost 5 pounds, even after having a great BBQ yesturday!! yeah me.. And would like to welcome some other great people on the WW journey - a couple of people in my family as well as a great lady I work with who has started off with a great 2 pounds loss -- We are our own little group! Since I do the on line version, it is great to have a group of friends and family around to talk about and share the journey.

Just a note to my mom - who my last post freaked out at first -- always  read the tag or title at the top - All is good  - not looking for a new love -- I am blessed with one fantastic one at home ;). The song was for me.

Well everyone, I wish you all a great week and a bit, off to hopefully feel the sun, see the delight on two beautiful faces and build some memories that last a life time!

Live Love Laugh -- Celebrate life

A love song to my skinny self - and my new theme song!!

I'm not surprised.

Not everything lasts.

I've broken my heart so many times I stopped keeping track.

Talk myself in.

I talk myself out.

I get all worked up, then I let myself down.



I tried so very hard not to lose it.

I came up with a million excuses.

I thought I thought of every possibility.



And I know someday that it'll all turn out.

You'll make me work so we can work to work it out.

And promise you, kid, that I'll give so much more than I get.

I just haven't met you yet.



Mmmm...



I might have to wait.

I'll never give up.

I guess it's half timing,

And the other half's luck.

Wherever you are.

Whenever it's right.

You'll come out of nowhere and into my life.



And I know that we can be so amazing.

And baby your love is gonna change me.

And now I can see every possibility.



Mmmm...



But somehow I know that it'll all turn out.

And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out.

And I promise you, kid, I'll give so much more than I get.

I just haven't met you yet.



They say all's fair.

In love and war.

But I won't need to fight it.

We'll get it right and,

We'll be united.



And I know that we can be so amazing.

And being in your life is gonna change me.

And now I can see every single possibility, mmmm.



And someday I know it'll all turn out.

And I'll work to work it out.

Promise you, kid, I'll give more than I get,

Than I get, than I get, than I get.



Ohhh!



You know it'll all turn out.

And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out.

And I promise you, kid, to give so much more than I get.

I just haven't met you yet.



I just haven't met you yet.

Ohh, promise you, kid, to give so much than I get.



(I said love, love, love, love...)

I just haven't met you yet



I just haven't met you yet.


Live LOVE Laugh ... working on meeting the skinny me!

Thought you would like to know this years theme song! So here it is - Michael Buble happens to be a favourite too !

Getting Ready to visit the Disney

I am in the process of figuring out how to pack for the weather in florida, finding out what if any of my daughters clothes still fit (man has she gotten tall) and what we need to do for the last minute stuff - EXCITED for the girls, and for us as we enter the arena of travelling as a family!!!

I can't wait for the adventures to come - Cinderella for my neice and Ariel for my daugher these are the goals.

I think i am doing pretty good with the hole diet thing - weigh in is on thursday -- though the soya sauce from my homemade chinese food has swelled up my hands! I notice it way more now that I have started to cut out the salt.

Live Love Laugh

All them BEANS chili

As requested here is my crazy all beans chili   -- I love to cook and rarely if ever measure out the ingredients but this one is super easy and very yummy!

1 Large Can of Black beans - rinsed
1 Large Can of Bean medley (not bean salad - has 6 to 8 different kinds)
1 Large Can of Chickpeas - rinsed
1 Large Can of white Kidney beans - keep the liquid as thickner
1 Can of Faba beans - rinsed
1 Can of Brown beans ( in tomato sauce)*** this will make it sweater so it is optional
1 extra large onioin chopped or sliced ( or more for your taste)
1 can salt reduced tomatoes
1 hand full of chopped (very small) fresh baby spinach
1 package of mexican crumble
chili powder - mexican
cilantro to taste
roasted garlic to taste
1 tbsp of olive oil ( the very best you can afford)


In a large pot - warm the oil and cook onions and spinach until wilted , add tomatoes and beans , chili powder ( I like alot) cilantro fresh or dried to taste and roasted garlic to taste. add all the beans - bring to boil then reduce to simmer- I let mine sit for an hour or two on low  - then add crumble bring back to low boil - serve with baked nacho chips ( Garden Fresh are very good and very low sodium) serve with a scoop of low fat sour cream and low fat chesse - even a little bit of chopped avacado --- YUMMY

this is the same recipe I use to make only then I would use ground chicken, or ground poin loin.

Enjoy Faiza!

YEAH ME... Lost 2.5 pounds since January 2nd!!!

Who knew ( well okay I did) but I have lost 2.5 pounds this week - thanks to a broken elevator, brisk 20 minute walks pulling 40 pounds in the wagon through the snow ( the little lady) and actually watching and changing what I have been eating - I am making better choices ! I have added spinach to everything - yes your read that rigt cooked spinach to everything, I have been eating vegetarian chili - with the hubby saying he didn't miss the meat! ( there was mexican veggie crumble in it since i only use tomatoes and 12 different types of beans and onions)

I think making the effort to eat at home and take my lunch everyday has really been a benefit to me! I think I will go out for lunch once a week - but I will make good choices and walk extra those days.

Getting ready for our Disney Trip -- wow it was -1 in florida.. hmmmm might wanted to have check that out before booking our flight! well it will still be good fun! Projected temperatures for that time is closer to 20 which I can handle and it is nice enough to not wear a coat.

I have also made two cards ( creative attempt) that are very cute. Off to earn a living all..


Live Love Laugh and keep working on your goals ( I am!)

PS for those who love chips as much as I do -- I will be attempting to make roasted chickpeas and sprinkling them with popcorn flavouring!!

New week at work - I brought my lunch and snacks!

So I made my breakfast and ate it at home before going to work , with a very yummy coffee from my Tassimo machine my sister gave us for Christmas. I have been weighing my meat portions, and measuring out my higher point choices ( potatoes etc) to make sure I am doing this right - even thougth I have done the whole WW thing before, I gain it back because I like most North Americans (I think?) seriously have NO IDEA what accurate portion sizes are. For example - did you know like 17 chips is a serving size - have you ever had just 17 chips????? I sure as hell haven't.

So with my lunch box packed with my http://www.laptoplunches.com/  containers - all portioned accurately like my 2 cups of mixed salads , 2 tbsps of fat free ranch dressing and my side of sliced radishes and one stick of cheese and 1/3 cup of corn nuts I am off to a half decent start!
Work is going to be a challenge for me as I work downtown , have access to all my favourite yummies and I will work through my lunch when I bring it in. But I am living the new lifestyle and liking it.


Due to the elevator being out I have walked up and down 4 flights of stairs twice today.

So tell me --- what do you eat for lunch at work?????

Live Love Laugh .. Lunch

I am worth it ... time to bring me .. out from under the fat!

Welcome 2010! a new decade not just a New Year -- it is time to clean out the system and get ready for the best year of my life! Positive thoughts for me, I am going for it - this year instead of looking for happiness I will create the happiness I want and need in my life. This year I will achieve my weight loss goal by eating healthy and excercising. I will find a creative outlet that will be a way to cope with the stuff I need to deal with but also with my need to make things.

As you all know i have joined weight watchers on line and the first step is to set your winning outcomes or your goals -  much like the objectives of any behaviour program I have written. They are achievable goals that are either short or long term and include accountablity. The program also indicates you should share your goals with others - thus seeking support but this also creates accountablity as well ( See the blogger I read - **Bitchcakes** for a fearless beautiful woman from Brooklyn  who faces her weight loss journey with determination, courage and humour - her sense of style is incredible and one that she has mastered, and she writes so well that you are on her journey  with her as she rides her pink hello kitty bike on the streets of New York)

So for my Long term goal - I WILL lose 50 pounds by following the weight watchers plan and I WILL introduce true excercise into my life. I will lead by example for my child what a healthy lifestyle is.

I WILL bring back the creative outlets I have enjoyed and that give me a sense of who i am  - photography and picture journaling will be my first easing back into the world of creative expression.

I WILL learn about anthropology anyway I can and be excited by what I have wanted to learn.

I WILL let go at last of all the things I hate about myself

-- my first attempt at getting rid of the crap that bogs me down in my head is below, because to get rid of it you have to see it first, raw and open to judgement---

Here we go...time to be honest with myself and to let one or two of you know your thoughts might not be alone in your head -- I think and feel them too. 

I am fat - because I eat too much food and don't exercise any significant amount.
I am fat - because I choose to be fat
I hate the way I look in the mirror
I hate the way it is uncomfortable to be in my own skin sometimes
I hate the way I allowed myself to become this way
I hate the way that being fat makes me feel like a failure all the time
I try to control everything and everyone else because I cannot control my weight
I DETEST that I am letting two beautiful little girls see me eat and overindulge

Now for what I do LOVE because the list above is not the whole me...

I love the way I see the world - my eyes give me the insight into others , I love how I observe
I love the way my hair has gone crazy curly and I don't fuss about wanting it any other way
I love my strong back, legs and arms
I love that I can walk for 7 hours and not be winded even carrying  all the extra weight
I love that I am a person that can help others
I love that I can see both sides of who I am - I love that I do not hide the truth from myself
I am proud of quitting smoking it was hard , it isolates you away from others who do - but I did it
I love that I am self reflective enough to work on my "issues" and ask for help when I need too

I know some of you will think these are private thoughts, your right - for you these may be. But I am sick of not "fitting" into the life I want -- so today I am opening up my mind and my journey to you.. not a daily update, but I will let you know how it is going. Share a thought or a recipe now and again.

 I will still ramble on about the city I love,my friends and life.I am looking forward to sharing some of my new adventures with you..

Wish me luck .. cause I am going to need it

Oh just so you know, my weakness are chips, dips and anything fatty, salty and crunchy- so PLEASE don't offer me any - I know my limits and while I can take one or two from you --- it will lead to a crazy chip binge!!!! --- a few little treats exist in my kitchen from the holidays - enough that my extra weekly points will cover them --- but here goes my new healthy lifesytle begins --- Right now

Right now
I am facing my fear head on
Right now
I am letting myself become
the person I want to be
Right now
I am scared as hell of failure
Right now
I am ready to do it for me

Live Love Laugh ... Creating my life