"American Girl"

I'm going to a concert tonight! My baby brother volunteers at the University of Windsor radio station and got free tickets to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Steve Winwood. Most of the concerts I go to lately are at smaller venues--this is an arena. WHAT? Rock on!

(lately I've been enjoying Tom Petty as LuAnn's love Lucky on "King of the Hill" ha ha!)

*The concert was terrific! Steve Winwood was great but Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ruled the night. It was a great show and I'm so glad we went. What a great start to summer!

JUST FOUND OUT THAT NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS WILL BE IN TORONTO THIS OCTOBER!!!!!

How Was May?

I hope that everybody had a good month. We've had terrific weather for the most part and I'm glad to say that my planting is finished as of yesterday (just one more container to fill). My house is tidy, my yard looks great NOW I need to focus on the goal of losing these pesky 20 pounds.

Many of you remember that there was a challenge to lose 10 pounds in April. Well, I lost 6 and was hoping for a better result this month. Looks like the total is only 3 for May. SIGH. I did, however, lose 2.5 inches so that's a good thing! I must admit to having had a few days that could have been better. I let myself overindulge the one week that I was missing most of my workouts because of my leg. I don't hate myself for it like I might have in the past. I just know that as I get older, those moments hang around longer than they used to.

My Exercise Challenge could have been better. It was an abs focused one and I have to admit to being bored doing just those few workouts. For the most part, I incorporated ab "workouts" when I did my planting! But seriously, I did a few routines and then whatever ab work was in other workouts (ie. gliding, pilates, biking, running). I've signed up for a June Challenge which will focus on arms and legs. I've already checked out some of the exercises that Swizzlepop has posted and I'm looking forward to these.

So, I'm close to my goal of 15 pounds lost and hope to post that badge this coming Tuesday. I'll challenge myself to losing more than 3 and to continually growing stronger. I'll continue running but I think I want to focus more on strength training and stretching.

I hope that everybody had a successful month and wish you all the best for the month of June.

Back at It

Well, this will be a pretty short post. I've had a busy weekend with friends that were visiting. We had a really nice time catching up and of course eating! I haven't had time to do much since last Friday so the only exercise was walking. I did really well with food (except for a gabfest around some snacks Sunday afternoon!).

I'm down 1.5, only .5 away from that silly 15 badge. I just can't believe how long it's taking me to get there. I used to be so DISCIPLINED! But, I guess I have to believe that slow and steady wins the race and that I'll get there eventually. I did have a great week exercising so I think I'll give myself a badge for that.

At 9:00 I'm FINALLY getting my hair done for the summer. A bouncy cut and some highlights always make me feel better! Then, off for a run and some much needed stretching. I'll catch up with you throughout the day.

Even Steven

Can you believe that there are less than 2 weeks left until we get into the month of June? It's so true, the older you get the quicker time passes. So, what will you do with your time?

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes on healing. My leg is still sore but I can't just sit around (that makes it hurt too). Sunday I decided to go for a run and test it out. I felt pretty good and managed to run for 36 minutes. I did about the same yesterday so today I'll be doing some pilates. I realized that I need to do more stretching and that I was definitely overdoing it with biking and running.

I didn't lose anything this week and so far May doesn't look as though it will be much of a success--who knows, maybe if I get back on track with my exercise something magical will happen in the next 2 weeks! My eating is fine and I didn't overdo it with my baked goods last week. Everyone loved them so I had very few leftovers. My favourite find was a recipe for Chocolate Citrus Cupcakes (only 3 pts.) They are so good! If anyone wants the recipe email a request to bdenes@mnsi.net. I have some friends visiting this weekend so that will be another opportunity for some homecooking and testing out some recipes.

Finally, I have finished the C25K program so I guess I can run all by myself now! I still can't believe I'm doing it and encourage you all to try it. You take it at your own pace and I must say that I feel really good after a run. I can't wait to be able to go for longer distances. What I need to do is try to find a 5K run and sign up for it.

I hope that everyone has a great day. It's planting day for me and each day this week should be warmer than the last so my annuals and veggies get to stretch their roots out!

Another Holiday?

According to an email I got, this week is Sister's/Girlfriend's week. It seems that with the advent of the internet there are all sorts of things we can celebrate and with the click of the send button a message with all sorts of images will be waiting for you in your inbox!

I have been having a rough week. After my post Tuesday, I went to the test track and ran 4K in 30 minutes. I have no concept of whether or not that is good but that's what I did (in case you don't know, that's about 2.5 miles). I felt good while I was doing it but paid for it afterwards. My right leg has been bothering me the past few days and I think I'll have to get it checked out. Muscle sprains shouldn't last this long!

I hate seeing my workout calendar missing so many pink squares. I'll have to skip a run and do a pilates tape at home and I'm going to try for a bike ride. It's quite possible that I've been overdoing things but it's been too nice to stay inside! I also need to do my ab workout for my May challenge. So far, May hasn't been the best but I'm hoping that changes.

I hope you all get to enjoy today. If you've got one, give your sister a call otherwise check in on a friend and tell her how much you appreciate her!

I am only as strong as the coffee I drink, the hairspray I use and the friends I have. To the cool women who have touched my life.

Bella, Bella

The last 2 days have been cold and wet and I've been in a bit of a mood because of some family things and a pain down my right leg, again! I'm looking forward to a nice run and some weights and if I'm really good I'll try to fit in the ab work for my exercise challenge.

I have to do some baking this week for a church function this Sunday. Yesterday I made these chunky peanut chocolate chip cookies and wasn't tempted at all (helps that I'm not a huge peanut butter fan). Today I'll be making some cream cheese cinnamon rolls (much more my kind of thing) but should do well because they'll be frozen and baked on Saturday. I'm also making some chocolate orange cupcakes (love that combination) and lime meltaways. I've never tried either of these but they sound yummy!

My week has been pretty good. I'm almost at 15 pounds and I have met the mini goal of being at the weight I was when I left Chrysler last summer. I hope that I can post a new badge next week!

Today's pictures are from Venice. I was there 2 years ago just this month travelling with my cousin and I have to say it is one of my favourite vacations EVER! I loved Italy and Venice was our last stop. It was already getting hot at the end of May so I'm glad we went when we did.

The first picture is of the magnificent St. Mark's Cathedral and the second is a shot of the famous gondolas. I had heard some negative things about Venice (it's dirty, it smells, etc.) Well, not when we were there. It was just like I imagined it to be and more. I felt as though we were in the scene of a movie.

History, architecture, romance--it's all there and I highly recommend Italy as a vacation destination and if I have the opportunity I would love to go again.

I hope everyone has a great week and enjoys today! I will--it's sunny out today!

Happy Mother's Day!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

I just wanted to wish all of you a happy day, whether you're a mother or not. I'm fortunate to have a close relationship with mine and even though there are times when she drives me NUTS!, I'd never trade her in (well...)

I've included 2 (of many photos while us kids were growing up). The first is of me with my mother and her mother. Unfortunately, I didn't get to know my grandmother as she passed away when I was quite young but I do have memories of a wonderful cake with an icing only she could make!

This second photo is of my sister, mother and myself in 1973. I love this one because it reminds me of us being in bed while my mother would read stories to us. A baby brother would join us in 1977.

May you enjoy the memories of your mothers as you create new ones for today!

Garden in May

It rained yesterday and is overcast today so I thought it would be a good day to take a few pictures of my garden (yes, I've got a bit of an obsession going on here!)

The first two are of the wisteria which just bloomed like mad this year. I must have 4x the blooms that I had last year. If you or anyone you know has one that isn't blooming--be mean to it! Chop away and this is what you'll get.

The other shots are just spots in the backyard where the colours are really nice (mostly shades of green right now). A lot of space will be filled in with annuals and maybe a few new perennials.

I had a good workout at the gym this morning and finished the second day of my ab work for the exercise challenge. Wow, can I feel them! Hopefully they will thank me for all the work I'm having them do this week.

Please stop by tomorrow as I'll be doing a little strolling down memory lane in celebration of Mother's Day.

Happy Again :)

I'm starting to feel a little bit better. I still have that not so normal feeling but at least it's the start of the month and I've got 4 whole weeks of May to shake things up!

I'm up a pound which is fine since the reason for it isn't bad eating or lack of exercise. I only skipped Sunday in terms of physical exercise so I feel good about that.

Today I'll be doing my first round of ab work for my May exercise challenge. My lower back has been bothering me a bit but that could be because of... I'll probably go for a bike ride by the river today and will try to take some pictures.

I'm pretty well finished with my yard prep for the planting season. This is the earliest ever! Most of the garden centres will be getting stock starting this weekend but, in Canada, planting season officially begins Victoria Day Weekend. That is a holiday for us and it comes before Memorial Day Weekend in the States. I can't wait! A lot of my perennials are budding and it looks like I'll have a bumper crop of peonies. Today's picture is of Sarah Bernhardt which is the peony you'll see in most gardens. I have 2 others that are very interesting but their names escape me. I'll be taking pictures of my garden soon.

Hoping that everyone else had a great week and that this new week is even better. I know it will be for me!

SNAP OUT OF IT!

Ugh! Last month was so great but this month I felt blecchy. I was fine and even forgot that I was fast approaching that time (I think it's been all the exercise) so when Saturday morning came along I was surprised. Yesterday was worse, day 2 always is. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and I watched it all through my window.

I'm better today, I don't feel like a water balloon that needs to be thrown against the sidewalk. It's glorious again so I'm planning on doing my run this morning (25 minutes every day this week!), followed by some gardening and then hopefully a bike ride. My exercise challenge (see left) focuses on abs but I may save that for tomorrow.

Goals for the month are to stay focused! I don't want to make excuses for anything and that includes hormones! I want to get to the gym three times a week instead of the two times I'm doing now. Maybe I'll throw in some swimming now that it's warming up. I'd also like to surpass the 6 pounds from April. I tried on a dress yesterday and I've got about 10 pounds to go until I can zip up! I've got a couple of weddings this year and some stuff in July so I want to be ready for those occasions.

My treat--a haircut and highlights! My hair grows very quickly so a rather expensive trip to the salon is always a great pick me up.

So, it's on to the first full week of May--let's go!

"Delta Dawn...

...What's that flower you've got on." Anybody remember that song? I can remember singing it in school when I was probably in 3rd grade or so (my teacher loved to teach us songs that are now played on the oldies station!)

Well, today's flower is a Gerbera Daisy and it's my first flower purchase of the season. I love them! There are so many colours to choose from and I'm sure I'll buy more but the orange one just felt so warm and sunny.

This morning I was supposed to do day 2, week 6 which is 2 10 minute running sections with a 3 minute walk in between. I have a collection of 70's hits on my mp3 today (hence the Helen Reddy) and I ran by the river. It was warm and I was feeling pretty good. Well, I just decided to keep running to see how long I could go. Before I knew it I had managed 18 minutes! I was cramping up a bit but pushed myself to finish 25 minutes which is day 3! Yippee for me! I may regret pushing that last little bit (ouch for my lower abdomen and hip/groin areas) but it felt good to do that much time without sore legs and good breathing.

For this month, I've added two challenges and you'll notice a purple heart at the left side with those links. I hope that this month will be even better than April which, I have to say, was pretty darn good. For my exercise challenge I even measured--WHAT? Ha ha, now that should be interesting!

TGIF everybody and I hope that you all have a fantastic weekend.

*Saturday, it's raining so I washed my windows (makes sense, right?) and now I'm playing with some stuff Susie sent me. I created a badge below my May Challenges--one little prize to show off at the end of the month. Thanks for the tips girlfriend!

Happy May Day!

Well, let's say hurray for a brand new month! I'm excited because although I didn't lose 10 pounds like I had proposed, I feel better and stronger than I was in March. Warm, sunny days and working in my garden have boosted my mood like nobody's business!

Today's flower is another favourite of mine (I've got this one growing on my fence--no blooms yet!), the clematis. This variety is Josephine. I've also got a pale lilac and a purple one. All 3 varieties bloom twice a year for me.

So, it's May and there are a few challenges going around. I've got 2 until I get my 15 gone badge so that will be exciting. A few of my mini goals should also be taken care of. I'm going to do a few things differently this month and see if I can lose more. I've decided to sign up for Thinking Thin's challenge--check it out. Anybody else got a good one that is going or will be starting? I love being involved in a challenge because there is nothing better than a little healthy competition! It motivates me and I hope all those involved. Tell me about what you've got planned for the month of May, I'd love to hear all about it. Enjoy what is hopefully a beautiful day wherever you are!