Oprah is decluttering her clost for a good cause!! --- sounds familiar!

Well look at that, we were ahead by a smidge in what is sure to be a big trend! Can you imagine if we had Oprahs closet?  In the Spirit of that -- we may put a couple bags up in the spring de-clutter ( not that there is many new - I will admit to a couple wallets,oh and a bag from Coach.- but have stayed pretty true to the title of the blog - no longer a purse junkie! - still a bag lover though )

Who wouldn't want a piece of Oprahs closet knowing it is going to benefit her school for Girls in South Africa. Check it out on Ebay or take a look at this months O magazine.

Had to give a good nod in that direction as it was decluttering my closet that started the blog and resulted in some great acts of love from all of you!

Seriously you should see the shoes in this book!

So - here is my new challenge -- and it is big -- I am going to try a no "new" buying binge - yup -- nothing new for me, I will get ready for it and let you know when I will be doing it - thought about the 40 days of lent, but since I am not Catholic - well didn't seem right. (Hubby did ask what I was giving up  - I think a small part of him wants me to be just as much a lapsed Catholic as him!) and so I am thinking on my rules -- looking at the calendar and thinking 2 months of no shopping for me or the house or the kid or the hubby... not a stich of clothes, not extra treats, no movies, no toys no books -- nothing. And it is almost spring cleaning and I prepare to clean house huge -- I don't have as much as most people .. but there seems to be some clutter in the kitchen cupboards and stuff from birthdays gone by that could find a new home..

And because it is rare for me to buy the O magaize .. I was equally surprised to find this quote to add to my collection:

To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury
and refinement rather than fashion
to be worthy, not respectable; and
weahty, not rich ; to study hard, think
quietly, talk gently, act frankly..to
listen to stars and buds, to babes and
sages, with open heart; await occasions,
hurry never... this is my symphony.
- Willimam Henry Channing

On that.. I wish you happy ebaying to those who will venture into her closet, pat on that back to those who have done the same already -- and I will leave you today wondering -- can I do it? Can I give up shopping ?

Live Love Laugh... seek elegance

Sometimes a girl just likes to look at a handsome face

Anyone who knows me - knows I love this man - have since Chasing Amy and Kevin Smith entered my life. (As a huge Kevin fan - he just is not that big that they should have kicked him off a plane - but loving any type of PR he will ride the wave!)

So today --- this very loyal wife (whose hubby is well aware of this crush) is just going to look at this very handsome (to me) man today -- so enjoy--

who is your Hollywood crush? - sad  that mine has been the same for over a decade!


Let me guess -- Johnny? Angelina? ....







Live Love Laugh -- Crush on

Valentines / Family Day

I had a lovely weekend with friends and family this past long weekend. Hubby bought me a beautiful pair of earrings ( how did he know?) Any guy that buys you earrings to match your engagement ring is worth spending your valentines day with as far as I am concerned.

So nothing much new - getting back in the groove of things with work and life -- needing to get use to the social life of a four year old. She is asked out on more dates then I ever had as an adult - every weekend it is a birthday or a playdate ( which I am very happy to do) just simply wow.

Dosen't look like there is any  weight gain or loss this week -- which is fine cause I have lost 12 pounds so far!!!  The online point tracker told me to slow down! have recalculated to new point range and I am off to the races.  ( I give them huge credit here - but I was sick so they didn't know)

I recently started tracking my steps every couple of days with a pedometer - with a target of 10,000 steps - I have reached that total a few times - so I may have to up it a little.

Thinking of joining the YMCA ( I know , I know -- but this time I really think I will for the spring)

All is good... I want to try new foods ( not fish or mushrooms) healthy and low in fat, high in fibre - got an idea for me? Send it to me!

Live Love Laugh

Sick

Sorry all my home was invaded with the stomach flu - first taking out the little lady who then won the battle, then hubby - and finally me -- so we are now all on the mend - the two older ones a couple of pounds lighter ( this week weigh in showed I was down an additional 5 pounds - ugh, it was not worth the pain! and will likely return once hydrated again!) hoping a couple was for my efforts at weight loss though!

Well short entry this week - will be back next monday with more :)

Happy Family Day to all of you!

Enjoy yourself

Live Love Laugh - be healthy

Yummy dinner.. and a yummy snack

This with a couple slices of deli ham was dinner --- it was yummy and in total with ham 4 points!! Savoury and Peppery....

rice cakes (butter popcorn flavour)
Fat free philly cream cheese
fresh basil ( this is my favourite)
Fresh chives
a sweet yummy cherry tomatoes
sprinkle of black pepper!!

So good so little points ( three for the entire things as the fat free cream cheese is only .5 points!)

I discovered I like the yogurt parfait with granola last year -- who knew?? Well I have brought them back into my life.. only shock here -- the yummy Cafe kind are made with whole fat yogurt! (very high points!)

Mine made with low fat yogurt ( but with sugar hence higher point value per serving - but it is a big serving) 3/4 cup yogurt and 1/4 cup of granola = 4 points ( this is alot of yogurt) about a full cup of food... could be lower points if you used different yogurt and light or low fat granola ( but why.. full serving this way without any more additional chemicals.)
Best part of these (not the FANTASTIC coffee machine behind I LOVE this present from my sister!!!) but Hubby takes these for breakfast and my daughter likes them -- oh and I sprinkle fibre one on them as well - one container of yogurt and 3/4 cup of granola make 4 take away ziplock containers :)

so there you have it -- a sample of my tiny changes... Share a snack with me, I love to hear what you are eating and what tips you can share.


Live Love Laugh .. EAT

the "discomfort" of changing the way we eat

For those of you that know me,  you all know that I have always enjoyed a good meal -- seriously, I am a foodie at heart -- not some fancy foodie - but a good old fashion pot roast , potatoes loving girl. I do like many of the now widely available foods that were once oh so gourmet - but to tell the truth the true over indulgence is always those comfort foods - cheese, crackers, beef roasts, potatoes and pasta -- you know all the Yummy stuff.

So what makes this WW time around different, is I am willing to finally say no to the fat filled gravy, the old fashion cooking with butter and all those sauces - and to begin to look at food - not as a celebration , but as fuel to the body - now it still needs to taste yummy ( life is just to short to eat yucky stuff) but it is time to change what I consider "comfort" - so to honour myself and my family. I have slowly tried making some of those old favourites - differently. for example - on Sunday - instead of making the gravy from the meat drippings in the pan - they got fat free gravy made with onions and low sodium base -- was it as good , no but it saved all of them from too much salt and fat.  Oh and since I stuffed the pork loin roast - that was different too, this time I used veggies and whole wheat couscous. - little changes in the ingredients and big changes in portion sizes - allow me to stay within points and for the "big" Sunday meal - I hope they get use to the changes..

other great swaps I have made ( and all are yummy to me) as I move to world a world of more healthier choices:

Benefiber  - I take this 2 times a day - every day -- my stomach thanks me

Lifesmart pasta ( Sobeys, Food Basics, and Metro) 10g of fibre per serving ! and yummy - though the spagetti one is very good to my taste buds - Hubby needs it cooked a little longer then I like - Little lady LOVES it! -- also a big bonus -- no pasta bloat feeling or that too full just ate too much pasta pain I use to get - it is very filling and I just naturally eat less

Crispy Mini butter popcorn rice cakes - so I will always love the crunch and salt - now only 2 points for 2 and Little Lady loves them too! ( FANTASTIC with low fat cream cheese and tomato and fresh basil)

2% Kraft cheese -- melts well for cooking - fills the cheese need and well while not fat free still much lower then my cheese choices of before.

olive oil - a friend whose father is recovering from triple bi-pass surgery let me know that the cardiologist said olive oil is great - raw not cooked -- so no more frying of the olive oil ( will still roast the veg, but true benefit comes from just a little)  - a little added each day after cooking .

Coffeemate  Liquid - fat free instead of cream

Skim milk - No one in my house drinks anything about skim now, and when really cold it is yummy.

Lifesmart line / blue menu line = lots of yummy choices I just make sure fibre is high and sodium is low :)

While in a perfect world I would eat only organicially grown local food , and no processed food would ever touch my lips - I am just not there yet and don't know if I ever will be. But getting lower sodium, lower fat, higher fiber and better foods in my cupboards is doing wonders for me and I am learning -- creating a new me from the better choices I am making.. the jeans are lose , my hair is shinning and today the confidence is good -- my little girl said my tummy is smaller today, it is a good day.

Live Laugh Love and make the best choices you can

Proud Mama

With great pride I show you the work of my little girl -- who while I was on the phone with my sister tonight, said here mommy look what I did .. Needless to say my sister got the very proud mom moment in her ear and I of course was so very excited and proud well and sappy :)

My little miss who since her fourth birthday in November has been growing leaps and bounds, not only physically but emotionally as well  --- appears to also has the ability to see into the future and draw a skinny me!! Seriously though she did this all on her own with no help from me -- pure parent pride happening here!

On another note, for those of you who read you will have notice a lovely lady who comments on my blog, and has a great blog of her own. Fazia. She did a post awhile back as well as recently on postcrossing - the idea interested me, so today I mailed my first one -- now forever matched with the moment about I too will have a wonderful first post crossing story as Fazia does.

This the post card I sent to Finland today :)

What a great start to the year ... I sense good things coming

Live Love Laugh ... Create your own happiness