2016 - A healthful journey

Hello everyone

I know right... where the hell have I been...?

Well truth be knows, I was away getting fatter than ever! It's true... I'm not going to lie to you. I don't even know if anyone still bothers to check this blog... if anyone will even know I am writing here but it's a new start then so all is good.

Between my husband first being diagnosed with cancer after I was diagnosed with a heart condition and then when we thought we got through that my MIL was then diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer... well, I just had no energy left to be creative or eat right. STRESS it's a real Bitch. Late night eating after hours sitting in emergency rooms didn't help either... but here's the thing...

I'm taking control! I am down 11 pounds so far and it's been a month and 1 week since I began this healthful journey. I can't claim to have developed a plan or anything but I can tell you I am following a great one and it's absolutely free too. I am also a part of a great online FB group who is supper supportive.

The plan is the City Line Weight Loss Challenge and is based out of Toronto, Ontario. It's pretty easy and you can find all the information here Start up with City Line Weight Loss Challenge

I have also been walking to work every day and home... yup... that is it everyone... I walk. With my heart condition the most I can manage is a brisk walk or sometimes a jog on the spot during my students 15 minute breaks at school... you'd be surprised how many steps you can get in on those 15 minute breaks.. they add up fast especially if you are jogging. I got a FITBIT for my birthday this year... and it holds me accountable. not to mention I purchased one for my MIL and my MUM and my friend at work got one and two of my cousins... so now just like that I have a team. LOL Anyway we keep each other going... and you know the one with cancer kicks everyone's butt!

I have also been finding some really fabulous recipes and enjoying eating right! It is really important to eat well and keep it mixed up. I get bored easily so I need to keep my meals tasty and interesting so I am always experimenting with new things...

SO I thought I might share some stuff here. Some will be things I just make up and others maybe I will find from cookbooks, online, in my FB group etc but it might be a way for you to keep interested too.

Tonight I had a roasted chicken with sweet potato and cauliflower,  onion, zucchini and a wee bit of light gravy. It was fabulous. 4 oz of chicken 1 small sweet potato and as many veggies as I wanted until I was full. Also and very importantly I don't eat after 7pm! That is a big one and it was hard in the beginning but now I am finally getting used to that.

I'll post photos too and step by steps but today I just wanted to try to get started again... see if I had anything to say. It looks like I might so why now reopen the doors to Seraphim's Diner?!

TIP: If you do get hungry at night stick to free veggies (non starchy ones) and if you have a sweet craving try Bengal tea! It is sweet and delicious and has no sugar. It is also easy to find and costs very little and hot water makes you feel full (cold water quenches thirst).

See ya soon!

So Sorry and Thanks for all your comments!

Well how absolutely ridiculous! I stopped writing on this blog of mine because I never got any responses and thought no one was interested and then tonight for the first time I found a ton of comments that needed to be okay-ed but they were never emailed to me! So with deepest apologies to anyone who is still here with me I will come back and try to give you some reason to come back also!

I will try to find something really great to post about this weekend! I will have to get back into this and try to remember to come back and write... just need to get back into the swing of it. I had all but forgotten about this blog because I thought it was not successful but now that I found all the comments....

I have some great ideas coming to me!

Keep Healthy
Be Happy

Lost something

Well, I am happy to say that this week I have lost another 1.4lbs. Doesn't sound like much I know but after being unable to workout and gaining so much weight I am happy with any result that is going in the other direction!

I was able to work out 5 day this week and did all the workouts to Leslie Sansone's walking at home DVD's I managed 4 of the 5 days to do 4 mile walks and the other day a 3 mile walk. Now these walks are not just walking, they include all muscles in the body and you do a bit of jogging etc. I sweat a ton so it's not like walking around the neighborhood, that's for sure!

Yesterday was my day off ( I take two days off a week) but I am unable to workout again today because yesterday I woke up feeling... sick! Darn! I am on a role and hate taking the time off but it must be done as I am just not up to it!

As a reward for my now 3.4 lbs of weight loss in two weeks I ordered in Swiss Chalet today! So what were my choices you might ask! Well, I had 1/2 a Greek salad with no dressing and instead used my calorie wise dressing of sundried tomato and oregano... plus I picked off the feta cheese! I don't miss it really so no loss there. I had about 3/4 of a breast with no skin, mashed potato which is less than the baked potato in points plus and 1/4 of a bun. They have changed their buns or I would have had the whole thing but I don't like them anymore... too dense for me. I also enjoyed a tsp of healthy margarine from home. I ended the day with a glass of milk and a Weight Watchers brownie!

I did go over in my points by 9 points but these last two weeks I have struggled to use all my points each day and have not delved into my extra points allowance at all so I think I deserve to use some of my extra points this week! Hopefully that will be all I use this week though and hopefully I will be back on my workouts soon and feeling much better.

For those of you who have the new Weight Watchers binder of recipes the Smokey Turkey Chili is fabulous! We made that last week and it was fantastic! Definitely worth a try if you like Chili!

I have tried a ton of recipes from this new booklet and they are all fabulous so far!

I found this adaptation of the chili on PrepAhead & Dine In blog if you don't have the book this is pretty close to what the Weight Watchers recipe is.

Smoky Turkey Chili from PrepAhead

Be back soon with more ... wish me luck. I'm off to bed to rest this sick little body of mine!

I'm Back

Hello everyone

So it has been a really really long time since I was here. I was ill, diagnosed with a heart condition and until this point I was unable to do just about anything. They finally found the problem and I am now in heart medication that is working very well for me.

As a matter of fact it is working so well now that I have begun to work out again. Granted it is just a walking video but I sweat and it's difficult for me because the muscles in my body are heavy and I have a hard time getting rid of the build up of lactic acid in them due to the pills but I am able to do it! I am feeling so much better for it too.

I began the videos last week as well as tracking with my Weight Watchers and I am happy to say I am down 2.4 lbs today. Today was my weigh in day and I was delighted to see the result. I know that 2 lbs a week is a healthy weight to loose so that was my goal and I have made it just slightly more than that also.

I will try to get to this blog now again and write about some ideas and tips and recipes so if there is anyone out there still interested, and maybe still coming to check in here... I'm back!

I hope you have all had a fabulous year so far since my last post! Mine has been eventful but I am so grateful to be alive and cherishing each and every day!

Michele

New find in exercise videos

Hi everyone

I know it has been a while... but hay... good news is I found a great new exercise video ... well several actually and I think they are great for ANYONE! Maybe you have heard of them? They are walking videos and let me tell you all... they are fabulous! Not too much stress on the joints. They make you sweat, you burn calories and they are fun! They are by Leslie Sansone and there are a ton of them to choose from! I have been doing the first one I purchased for a week or so and today I bought another and LOVED it also. I walked 4 miles in my own livingroom! Whhhaaaawhoooo!

Check her out and try it out too! Unlike my experience with the lovely Jillian Michaels where I felt like I was at bootcamp and in trouble all the time... this is a fabulously energizing video that makes you feel loved while you burn burn burn those calories!

I'm getting more tomorrow if I can find some more videos by Leslie! Best Buy, K Mart and Walmart all carry her stuff!

I heard about her through a customer of ours who has lost 20 pounds using her videos and Weight Watchers new points plus plan. It sounded interesting to me so I thought I would give it a shot! I am really happy I did! I'll keep in touch and let you know how it's going.

I have a fairly busy schedule right now with bear orders but I won't miss the workouts... I may not be back here too often but I will eventually so don't forget to check every now and again.

Have a wonderful day and honestly I think ANYONE can do these exercises so give it a whirl. And if you don't want to shell out the bucks on the DVD before you try ... Leslie has a website Walk at home and she has some video's up that you can try (test) before you buy.

Keep healthy and Happy New Year Everyone!

Rum Butter Sauce

Rum Butter Sauce

Melt 1/2 cup butter or margarine

and 1 cup white sugar until sugar is dissolved

Stir constantly so as not to burn your mixture

Once melted and mixed add 1/4 cup of your favourite dark rum

 

 

Add 1/2 cup whipping cream or lactose free whipping cream 

and 1 tsp vanilla

That's it! Simple and absolutely the best rum sauce! 

Give it as a gift by putting it in canning jars and hang a recipe card off the lid...

your friends will love it!

A few days

Well, more than a few days has past and I do apologize for that. It suddenly occurred to me that Christmas we much closer than I originally thought... hahahah I have been either at work helping customers bottle last minuted wine or in my studio sewing. I am almost completed a final project for my mother in law which I am really thrilled about. It is really difficult when you are making everything by hand.

I have an idea in store for next year and I am diligently working on it but it will take some time to get it right. I will tell you that it is a cookbook and something I think to look forward to!

This Monday is my baking day so I will take photos while I bake and get some recipes and fun stuff for you to look at up here and see if I can't get back into this! Thanks for being so patient!

Merry Christmas
Michele

Successful move ~ I'm back in the game!

Hello Everyone

I am finally back! We are settling in to our new home, Christmas things are being made in the new Seraphim Bears Studio and a new eating plan is now in full swing! I know... right before the holidays! I am still going to put my two cents in when the deadline comes for the Off Your Broom Challenge although I am sure I am now way behind in my achievements but at least I am now on my way!

I just wanted to put a quick post in so you would know that I will be back in the swing of things! I will post a Christmas recipe in a few days tops so please check in soon to see what's up! Thanks so much for being so patient! It's nice to be back!

Crunchy Wrists and Chocolate Brownies

Hello Everyone:

Sorry my post is so late today... we had three house showings today and I am just getting back home now!

I have done several recipe Swap It's so I thought today I would show you an exercise option.

Drop It:

Swap It:

If you can do these then you're all set. But if you need a little help starting off you can try these instead:

 

And if these are still too difficult...

A wall press is a great option!

I have very weak wrists, always have, even when I was a gymnast I had to wear wrist guards. Now as I have aged my wrists crunch causing me severe pain. This makes it very hard for me to do push ups. As a matter of fact... I just cannot do them.

Swap It:

If you also find the dreaded push up a problem due to weak wrists or carpal tunnel syndrome the way to get your pecks in great shape is a good old chest press!

Keeping your knees bent helps to support you back and gravity helps your wrist situation! Doing the chest press as an alternative actually allows you to wear a wrist brace if you need to also.

However... a doctor once told me that if you need to wear a brace the weight is too heavy so lighten the weight and get rid of the brace. This is advice I have done my best to live by.

Just another little bit of information in relation to the Get Off Your Broom Challenge... 

I am still trying! I have not weighed myself for fear of disappointment and therefore fear of giving up! 

Instead I have avoided the scale and implemented a very relaxed schedule of sweating for 20 to 30 minutes for at least 4 times a week. I do every other day and I either dance or strength train using my own body weight. I usually just pick a TV show and while watching it instead of sitting on the couch I get up and move. I either run on the spot. do jumping jacks, squats, lunges, kicks and punches or I do a combination of that and sit-ups and plank holds for my abs and arms. I dance and twist and do whatever else I can think of to get me to the end of the show. The time goes by and I don't much notice it. I am breathing hard, my heart rate is up and I am sweating! I make sure to have on a good sports bra and have a large glass of water at hand at all times. Having a towel handy is a good idea too!

Tuesday nights I use the BIGGEST LOOSER show as my chosen inspirational show and I workout until I the show is over.

Lately my husband has been helping me out also. He gets his Ipod out while we are working on Saturday and he DJs fab rockin oldies and mixes it up with everything from the Beatles to wrap. I dance and do anything else to keep movin for the whole 25 to 30 minutes and he jumps in with crazy 80's dance moves to keep me laughin! What a guy huh? It's really fun and has become 30 minutes of my Saturday that I really look forward to.

Now as for my eating... not so great! I don't know why I am having such a hard time with this but I am thinking it is just the simple fact that my schedule is all thrown off with this trying to sell our house and packing to move thing. Plus I have two Christmas shows I am desperately trying to get ready for. I am still trying but my Mother In Law bringing in Brownies to work and frozen yogourt in our freezer etc is not helping. It's absolutely not anyone's fault except my own... I have a weakness for sweets. Who doesn't right?

But at least I am moving and the food will fall into place soon. It always does. You see, when you spend all that time and effort working so hard that you are sweatin it out... you begin to not want that sweet stuff. So I am just trying to keep it going and I am not giving up! I just wanted to let you all know because I did not make a post about my efforts last week!

Keep up your efforts also and I will be back next Sunday!

Have a great week everyone!

Give me my egg and keep your croissant! Drop it Swap it!

Drop it Swap it Sunday is here again:

Today I want to make this swap suggestion:

Drop It:

1 Croissant with a pat of butter = 270 calories

Swap It:

1 poached egg (make sure your egg is poached not fried), 1 slice of whole wheat toast with butter and 3 oz of ham = 270 calories!

Making better choices means not being hungry! And I have to say...the second choice in this situation looks like a very good swap in my opinion. I would rather have an egg and ham with toast any day over the croissant. I just might have this for breakfast myself today. And my calories will be a bit less as I don't like butter so...

If you are like me but need to add in your fat somewhere. If you don't like butter and prefer not to use artificial margarine either you have a few options. you can get a vegan margarine or my preference is to use Coconut butter instead. It is all natural and has no artificial anything in it! The flavor is mild and slightly sweet which is lovely on toast and your body breaks it down wonderfully!

About that poached egg... you could swap it for a boiled egg also. Or have scrambled with just cooking spray and it would work out to the same calories. 

I was given a fabulous gift by my husband last holiday and it gets used all the time. It is an egg cooker and it is so easy to use. It will do a boiled or several boiled eggs however you like them - from soft to hard or you can do poached and it is super easy. I highly recommend getting one of these little treasures for your kitchen!

This one is the one I have but there are many companies that make them...

My poached eggs come out with a nice diamond shape and they are perfectly done every time! Best gift ever!

Have a great week ladies and gents! Our house is still up for sale and there are showings almost daily. We also are moving into our new house in only a couple of weeks so the posts will get more frequent when we get settled with lots of great tips and recipes etc... just hang in there. I'll be back soon!

All Hallows Grim - Blog Party

Welcome to the All Hallows Grim blog party hosted by Pagan Culture
I had so much fun at Seraphim's Diner creating this blog post for you and I hope you all enjoy it as well... Happy Hallow's Grim everyone! mmmmmmwwaaaaaaa!

Drop it Swap it - coffee

Hi Everyone


Welcome to Drop it Swap it Sunday:

Today I want to talk a bit about coffee. A lot of us need that large morning coffee and we love to add our sugar and cream too don't we. There is a ton of calories that add up quickly in that cream and sugar... if you have three coffees a day you are looking at the equivalent to say...

FIVE BOWLS of All Bran Cereal to equal the total amount of fat in ONE large double double coffee or
THREE BOWLS to equal the total amount of sugar present in ONE large double double!

I know many of you think you cannot do BLACK coffee so here is a suggestion... By the way, I do not advocate the use of artificial sweeteners as most cause cancer! Stick with natural sugars like Agave or Turbinado, Demerara and others like them if you must use sugar in cooking etc.

But back to coffee. Try this instead of a regular black coffee, choose some French Vanilla beans or any other flavour that you enjoy. You will be amazed at the difference this makes to your morning brew and you won't need sugar or cream! The flavour really smooths out your coffee and you will be cutting your calorie intake by a ton!

Drop It

Double Double large coffee

Swap It

Flavoured gourmet bean black large

And if you absolutely must use something to sweeten your coffee use something natural as stated above and try the below coffee trick to help you along in your weight loss and healthier lifestyle!

The Coffee Trick

1st cup of coffee - no sugar at all. If you can do this and if not.. try what I said above and use this method until you can make it all day with just your flavoured black coffee

2nd cup of coffee - just half a teaspoon of sugar.

3rd cup of coffee - one full teaspoon of sugar.

Just cutting out that one sugar in 3 cups of coffee each day reduces the calorie intake by 336 calories each week with no real effort involved!


 Another little tip: Are you a candy bar a day person?

 Trust me... no one who eats a SNICKERS or any other chocolate bar a day ... unless they are 12 years old looks like this girl... but if you skip it and replace it... look out wicked witch of the west... Samantha is in town!


By skipping candy bar everyday and eating fresh fruits and nuts, you can save 1000 calories a week!

And if you absolutely cannot get off the bar cold turkey... Swap it for Weight Watchers bars or brownies. Far less calories and still a little treat! 

And if it must be chocolate: Swap you junky candy bar for organic chocolate and make it as dark as you can stand it. You will be amazed at how a very small piece of good quality chocolate fulfills your need for this treat! Instead of munchin down an entire chocolate bar that leaves you hangin and still wanting more... you can have one square of a good quality dark organic chocolate and be satiated!  Your body will also break it down in a completely different and better way than eating the bar filled with chemicals and fluff that you cannot even pronounce!

Now a days even your local Shoppers Drug Mart and many and maybe even most grocery stores have organic chocolate! Is it more expensive... YES.... it is supposed to be a treat! But also you don`t need to eat the entire chocolate bar so it lasts a VERY long time!

That`s another rule of mine... if you can not say it... you definitely should not eat it!
 
I`ll be back soon with more Drop it Swap it Sundays!

Great workout with a fab dinner

Hi Everyone

Just thought I would check in for a minute today... because I had a great dinner and a great workout!

I have done the Last Chance workout twice now and it has been wonderful:

 

I have a few of Jillian's DVD's and had not tried this one yet. It is a bit easier than one of my others and therefore a good place to start. As you know I am in the process of moving and so all my weights are packed. However I have a NO EXCUSES policy so when they are lifting weights in the workout I am either finding a left over book to use off our bookshelf or I am substituting another move to keep my body moving and my heart rate up! 

I also have extremely weak wrists and so I cannot do push ups so I substitute by doing a plank move and holding it until they are done their portion of the video that includes that move. Once again... just keep moving or pushing yourself. It does not have to be exactly what they are doing if you cannot do that move sub in something you can do... like dance! KEEP MOVING! Grab your broom (that you got off of to accept this challenge) and sweep your ceilings, floors, doors... just keep movin'!

I also had a fabulous dinner tonight. I had some points left over as my breakfast seemed to fill me up and keep me going for a long long time today so by the end of the day I still had enough points to enjoy a substantial meal.

BREAKFAST:

2 X sliced Whole grain WW bread

1/2 can of tuna in water

1 Tbsp of olive oil mayo

and pepper

Grape tomatos and cucumber cubes

My breakfast was absolutely refreshing and delicious and CLEAN! It totalled 5 points plus

DINNER:

I was able to have 1 cup of SMART pasta linguine style 

1 tsp olive oil

2 Tbsp lite feta cheese

3 oz broiled chicken sliced into thin slices

Franks hot sauce to taste

2 tsp raw garlic

5 brussle sprouts

onion to taste

Mix it all together in a bowl and wella! Delicious!ALMOST CLEAN (use whole wheat pasta and you're all the way CLEAN but if you just cannot do whole wheat yet... SMART pasta is the next best thing. AVOID regular pasta at all costs if you want to get CLEAN!) (aprox. 14 points)

The Chicken was left over from last night as were the veggies... adding whole wheat pasta or whole wheat couscous to left overs can make a new meal so you don't get bored with your food! And you don't waste anything.

See you soon! Keep it up ladies! You CAN do this!

Drop it - Swap it Sundays

Hello everyone: So I thought I would start a new regular post... Drop it ~ Swap it.

I will post Sundays about items that you might be tempted by and tell you a better alternative without necessarily giving it up completely!

Lets start our first Drop it ~ Swap it with  salad from a familiar restaurant: McDonalds
Sometimes we leave the house and don't have time to make a lunch or dinner to bring with us... and when we are left hungry we might have to go to the nearest restaurant. But while there we can make better choices.

I know that when I hear about these things I am shocked by some... the equivalents to section is what really amazes me!

I will use many resources for these Sunday posts but this one is from Rose Reisman.

Drop It

Mighty Ceasar Salad with Warm Crispy Chicken and Mighty Ceasar dressing

700 cals / 54 g fat / 10 g saturated fat / 1,620 mg sodium

* Equivalent to almost 1 2 litre container of chocolate ice cream in fat

Swap It

Spicy Thai Chicken Salad with Warm Grilled Chicken and Renee’s Ravin’ Raspberry vinaigrette

290 cals / 7 g fat / 0.7 g sat fat / 750 mg sodium

So there you have it....Please take note not only of the fat content but also the sodium!

Okay so that is a "if your're out" swap but what about an "if you are home" swap.

Drop It

Tuna packed in oil, 1 can

has the same amount of fat as 17 cans of tuna packed in water! SEVENTEEN!

Swap It

Photo day

Hi Everyone

Well as I promised I have taken my before photos ... you poor souls! But as I have done this before I know how important that day one photo really is in the end! I am wearing the tightest thing I could find so you can REALLY see the real me because my clothes really hide what I actually look like.. yes.. I know... I am brave! But this is for me so if I cannot be brave for me who will I ever be brave for?

Right so here I am ... all 142 pounds of me squished into a brand new bathing suit... I purchased this suit in black in one size smaller too cause I love it so much...for later on! Heehee

 

As you can see I have the support of my very skinny and handsome Italian Greyhound, Jonesy! He is my inspiration!

MY MEASUREMENTS:

HIPS: 39"

WAIST: 33"

CHEST: 39"

THIGHS: 18.5"

ARMS: 10"

MY GOALS:

So I danced today for 30 minutes and I sweat sweat sweat! I think MOVING is one of my goals. Weather it is dancing or power 90 or yoga or any of my DVD's that have been collecting dust lately as you can see by my fabulous and proud belly, I want to keep moving! At least 20 minutes each day of a good workout.

I am doing my best to follow my Weight Watchers plan without rejoining and attending meetings. This is only because we are in the middle of selling our house and moving into a new one and I don't think I can get to a meeting right now. I am also trying to eat natural and eat clean as much as I can!

As for number and scale goals... I hate setting these cause I hate being disappointing as I find that really discouraging but for the sake of being a good sport... I hope to loose 2 pounds a week. It is a big goal when you are not going to a gym regularly but it might be achievable. I will be happy if each week I loose something! 

In the long term... for Yule I would love to be at my goal weight of 120 pounds, 22 pounds lighter. This takes a lot of dedication I know but if you aim for the moon you might at least catch a star right... so if I get to 130... I'm not going to complain! But if I hit my goal... WhaaWhoooo! 

I will be posting recipes as well as fitness ideas as well as what I am eating personally by the day or just if I find a great recipe so come on over to Seraphim's Diner any time!

Okay, I think I met the mini challenge for this week so wish me luck!

DAY ONE - Get Off Your Broom Challenge - The Good The Bad and The Ugly

Hello Everyone:

I wanted to check in today to wish all that are participating in this challenge good luck! I have already posted my weight and weight goals here for you all... although no picture yet.

The Good: I planned to take the picture last night when we got an offer on our house and we had to rush off to the real estates office!

The Bad: The offer was so low it was almost insulting! This lead to a small binge on my part... so much for no excuses. It did was not a terrible binge... I had a small bowl of pasta with margarine and hot sauce. I do mean small too... 1/2 a cup!

The Ugly: But I also had a waffle and margarine and some syrup... that was the ugly part. But okay... I always like to end on a positive...

The Sexy: Today is actually day one of the challenge and I'm feeling better this morning. I woke up and the air was crisp... Fall is here! I actually love Fall! So I prepared my food to bring into work with me today. And I do have a safe guard Weight Watchers treat with me today just in case! It may be another stressful day as we counter offered so I expect a long back in forth with this couple. I also have my bears to work on today and this is my meditation plus we might be busy so ... time flies.

I have packed a nice soup for a cool day, 2 sliced WW whole grain bread, tomato, 3 slices of turkey bacon (of which I usually only have one and my hubby eats the other two) olive oil mayo, a salad with low fat and no fat dressing (on the side), Yoptimal yogourt, and I have some frozen WW dinners at work also.


Breakfast: 9:30am
Yoptimal

Snack:11:00am
WW whole grain bread sandwich with olive oil mayo, turkey bacon and tomato. I LOVE this sandwich!

Lunch: 12:30 - 1:00pm

Campbell's soup - tomato and rice (my fave!)
Salad with low fat or no fat dressing
piece of fruit - 1 banana

Snack: around 3:00pm
Frozen dinner


Weight Watchers points plus: 29 total pt plus for my day

3 Slices of Turkey Bacon is 3pt plus = 1pt for me as I am only having one piece
Lactose free yogourt 2pt plus
WW whole grain bread x2 slices 2pt plus
tomato is free
olive oil mayo, 1 tbls 1pt plus - .5 for me as I only have a tsp
Low fat dressing or no fat dressing 1pt plus
Frozen WW dinners are between 6 and 8pt plus
WW treat - brownie 3pt plus or Lemon cake 2pt plus (just in case)

So at most by the time I come home I will have 14.5 to 16.5 points plus left for my evening depending on my frozen dinner total.

Also, fruit is free so I might pick up some bananas and apples and maybe some oranges to have on hand for if I am snacky

Veggies are free also!

Be back tomorrow with our first Drop It Swap It... what's that? You'll have to come by to see for yourself! Swap it Sundays will be a regular post here so keep checkin in!

Good Luck everyone! Take each day one day at a time... next thing you know it will be December 31 and you will have lost your weight and reached your goals!

Last day... no excuses!

Hello everyone

So today is the last day before you change your life if you are taking the "Get off your broom" challenge. If you think of it that way it goes much easier... you want to be healthy and the bonus is you will loose some extra pounds. Take it one step at a time, each day as it comes! It's only really you against you so YOU can do this! So can I ...hahahaha

I have a showing of my house again today with a couple that has been here twice already! Third time is a charm! We hope to get an offer and then things will be much easier all round. No more house viewings and carting the animals back and forth (poor guys). It has also made it a real challenge to eat properly but ... no excuses!

So yesterday I managed to stay on track. I am following the new Weight Watchers points plus and the eating clean whenever I can while on this challenge. I purchased a few frozen dinners (Smart Ones) and I like soup especially at this time of year. I also love salad but my downfall with that is that I love sauces and dressings and we all know that is where the calories are packed into. So even though I am not an advocate of FAT FREE I did purchase a few fat free dressings yesterday. I did read the labels however and only bought the ones that I could read and knew most of the ingredients!

So I have 29 total points plus for a day. Yesterday I did really well and ended up with no extra points used and no points left over! That is great for day one! I know the challenge does not officially begin till tomorrow but I wanted to get tracking in case the first few days did not work out well.

I bought some treats to help me ease into the change of lifestyle eating plan... and my favourites were

The new WW brownies - 3 pt plus
Yoptimal Lactose free yogourt - 2 pt plus

I know I can get fat free yogourt but here in Canada I have to make a choice between eating lactose free or eating fat free and the cost of my pills that allow me to eat dairy is high so I mostly always opt for the lactose free. If you are not lactose intolerant I would suggest going Fat Free or at least low fat in your dairy items! Dairy is a big culprit of fat but healthy fat so mix it up! Pick and choose where you want to splurge with your fat. You need to eat some fat each day but choose healthy fat like olive oil, pumpkin seed oil, coconut oil, flax seed oil (which you cannot heat up so use this for salad) or omega oil (which is a combination of healthy oil). I have also switched from using margarine to using coconut oil on my toast and where ever I can. I avoid margarine like the plague. It is artificial and clogs up your everything so try to stay natural as often as possible, your body will thank you for it in the end.

Okay... time to scoot off now and do any last minute cleaning etc. Wish me luck with the house today! Please let my little house sell!

Selling your house spell:

SALE AGREED

Benjamin or benzoin, cinnamon sticks, and dried basil (if you grew it yourself, that is best), two green candles, an estate agent's picture of your house, a censer containing charcoal and a red pen.


Make the benzoin, cinnamon and basil into an incense by crumbling and mixing them. As you do so imagine your old life in the house going into the incense to be transformed.. Light your candles and place the picture of your house between them. Light your charcoal, and when it is sparkling, sprinkle some of the incense into the censer. As you do so, imagine your house being sold, the telephone calls, the contracts, the moving arrangements. Waft the incense over the picture and write SOLD on it with a red pen, in bold letters. Now carry your incense over the entire house, loving it and imagining giving it over to someone else who will also love it. Place the picture, plus a little of the unburnt incense mixture underneath your doormat. Sale Agreed!

This is from the book "Magic House"by Teresa Moorey

I simplified this spell and visualized myself doing all of it in my head. I did hold the real estate picture in my hand the entire time and I did walk through my house with it and do the visualization of the happy times we have had here. Then I wrote the word SOLD on my picture and placed it under the front doormat. 

I do many of my spells creatively with visualization. They seem to work just as well for me. I'll let you know if I get the agreement!

Have a wonderful day!

Weigh In

Hello Everyone:

It is but two days till the "Get Off Your Broom" Challenge begins!

I decided to try to start today to get on track! So I weighed in at 142 pounds. I am 5'5" and I like to weigh 120 - 125 pounds so that is my goal for December 31st.

I honestly think it will be a real challenge to get there working through the holidays but I will do my best!

I have purchased a few frozen Weight Watchers meals for the moving days and showing days that I am short of time in hopes that these will help to keep me on track. My favourites of their meals are the Pizza and the tuna gratin.  Most of you know that I am trying to eat clean and these do not fit into that way of life but sometimes, when times are busy, I think these are better to have around than nothing cause the alternative might not be a good one.

Today I will be having a boiled egg and yogurt for my breakfast and I have brought tomato and rice soup and a salad with calorie wise dressing for my lunch. Now at my work, which is a family run business, there is almost always JUNK FOOD temptations so I have to contend with that also. Today we should also have to unload a few wine skids so that will be some burning off of calories.

Because we are in the middle of a move, I have no workout DVD's available! They are all packed so I plan to dance if I can tonight after dinner and I will walk ... if it is not pour rain, around our building at work a few laps if I can also. Last night I did a few stretches and got my blood flowing.

I have also left myself a note not to add salt to anything from now on and to drink lots of water... actually my hubby just brought me in the first one of the day! He is very supportive and knows that today is the planned day to begin.

I will try to do my before photo tonight... and try to post it by October 1st!

I'll be back later with more on how today went!

Get Off Your Broom Challenge

Okay, so I have decided to take the "Get Off Your Broom Challenge" hosted by The Domestic Pagan
I am thinking this is a great way to get me motivated for my fitness goals as well as get my blog off and running with all the new recipes and exercise ideas and just other inspirational things.

So I will be back with some photos and my start weight... I know this is not posted as something that is necessary but it works for me. I am wishing everyone on the challenge good luck and I hope this blog will be a great help to you all! The Challenge starts this Saturday... anyone can join in the fun. So if you are feelin it.. get over there and sign up!

I have gained a whopping 20 or so pounds and I am just to the point now where if I don't get it under control... I am going to have to purchase a new wardrobe. As much as I don't like shopping, I don't like new clothes much either! Lets be honest, if I had the money to dress like Stevie Nicks... things might be different but the articles I have are few and I love them. So I don't want to start all over looking for new clothes just because I now look more like my bears than I should.... oh, for all those of you who are new here, I am a bear artist... I make artist bears... like teddy bears for the adult collector! Seraphim Bears

Anyway... I'll be back here soon to offer some inspiration and keep things exciting!

Practical Magic 2011

Welcome to my Practical Magic party:


Don't miss out on this years Practical Magic room sprays:
Visit my Etsy shop

Practical Magic Party 2011 - hosted by Frosted Petunias 

What a year I have had... what a month has just past.

I am so late to prepare for this party that there is little time to prepare... as a matter of fact I have only hours until some of you will be here so what should I write about ... well a love story of course...

A story of family, of a love that is made to last forever, of two people who met in unfortunate circumstances and fell in love. A story of magic...

I was to leave a clientele of over 300 patrons in a salon in Toronto, Ontario and start a whole new life in the movie industry doing makeup. It was risky and I was already older than most ... but something magical was pulling me and I, no matter how scared I felt could not hold myself from taking a chance.

I was in my Gillian stage: I was in a terrible relationship with a very difficult man who was a musician... He was bad news ~ my Jimmy Angelov "I'm feeling very into sisters right now" It was always all about him and I was ready for a change but didn't quite know how to get out. So I reached for the moon hoping to at least catch a star...

"there's Blood on the moon"

My classes were to start in only a month and all my clients knew I was leaving. They were hopeful for me and sad to see me go at the same time. I was scared and excited... then I received a phone call from the owner of the private makeup school I was to attend..." Hello Michele?" "Yes" I replied. "Hello, this is Nadia and I am the owner of Complections International Makeup School. I have some bad news... I cannot have you start your classes this coming month. I am calling to tell you that you will have to wait to begin your classes for another three months." I was quiet and saw this as a sign that I should not attend the classes. I already had my loan and thought ... with a heavy heart... I guess I should share the money with my difficult boyfriend and help him to help his mother? The conversation continues with Nadia enrolling me 3 months later but I am not convinced that I will attend... still believing this is a sign. I went to my boyfriends house that evening and told him the story and offered him the money... he did the only nice thing he had really ever done... he declined my offer. He said this was something I had always wanted and I should still go...


THREE MONTHS LATER:

The first morning of classes has arrived. I am nervous! I have not been to school in a very long time! I am early...as always. As I enter the school the lady sitting at the front desk tells me to go up to the student lounge and someone will be there in a while to take me to my classroom. With a smile and shaking hands I say thank you and head up the long flight of stairs. As I arrive at the lounge there is one other person there sitting reading a paper. I get settled across the coffee table from them and start to shuffle my bags around wanting to make sure that I have all that I need... I still have time to run out if I have forgotten anything. Suddenly the person across from me puts the paper down from in front of their face to take a sip of the coffee. A man... and I hear myself saying " Did you know you look just like David Bowie"... I am a huge fan of David Bowie or at least I thought I was ... when in reality I was ... from the time I could like boys... looking and waiting for this very moment. Yes, this man was my husband to be. Entering my Sally phase... he is my officer Gary Hallet.

In reality he looks little like Bowie... he is much cuter! He says from that moment in the lounge he knew we would be married. It was a long courting and very difficult as we were both in difficult relationships that we ended before starting anything serious with each other. We did everything right... and we still do.

So after we had gotten to know each other better and were students together we decided to move ahead and become a couple... you see it was a sign... if I had started my classes when I was suppose to I would never had met him. The owner of the school still takes credit for our love to this day... I think she can claim that... don't you?

My husband and I have lived in a lovely little river house for 6 years now and decided just a few weeks ago to look for a new home. We have been very blessed by our families and have managed to get where we are today because of their love and help. The first home we owned was a condo apartment in Toronto, Ontario ... is was sold to us by my father and he looked for a new home with his new wife to be...

We stayed there and worked hard... both working three jobs a piece and we were like two ships passing in the night... as a matter of fact I never saw him so my third job I took was as a hostess in a restaurant that he was cooking in. So each time I seated the next guests I swept myself through the kitchen and kissed his face... we were not married yet then.

While living in our little condo we tried to create all the magic we could! But every so often we would go to a small town outside of Toronto where his parents lived and it was so beautiful and peaceful to me that I asked him if we could leave the big city and move to this town. He was reluctant but after a few years past and we decided to be married... he agreed to take me to the small town that my heart desired. His mother bought our small river house for us and we packed up our bags and moved ourselves to Belleville. We all work together to this day a family business brewing wine!

It was a quirky little house but we are okay with quirky! As a matter of fact we are more than okay with quirky.. .we love quirky! We again worked and saved and eventually purchased the house from his mother and father. It was our second home together...

But after 6 years we were ready to start looking for a new home... our third and first home. You see WE have never chosen a home together until now. These houses, as lovely as they were, were chosen by our loved ones... our new home that we will move into October 28th... three days before Halloween... is our first home that we chose.

I should also mention that we have a thing for the number 3... our little river house was #3 and our new home is #234 and we move in 3 days before Halloween... It is our Magic House to be...

 Here was the house in the movie but I am sure if you look closely you can see the similarity in ours.... it's all in the magic... see past the veil...

We will need to update the kitchen in our new home and you know exactly what I will be aiming for don't you...

Of course it will be our version of this and fit in our space but it will definitely have this feel... I can already see it in my minds eye!

I have already mapped out where some of the important crystals and mirrors will be placed in our new home. I used a wonderful book purchased as a Yule gift for me by my Mother in law called "Magic House ~ practical magic for a harmonious home"

 

This book is absolutely amazing and I am so excited to move into our new home and create the world we long to live in...  a magical hallway with a round mirror on the wall just in front of our front door as it slightly faces the staircase... the mirror was left to me by my Mum's Mum and will hang in a real place of honour there... 

"Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder.  Keep rosemary by your garden gate..."

Our new gate will definitely have rosemary planed next to it and we even have this same beautiful white arch... here is the gate side of our new home at the present... well the fence that leads to the gate... but in a few years, it will be filled with flowers and magic... can you see it?

"Place a small piece of sandalwood under the stair carpet in several places, to keep the stairs safe."

"Keep a little jar of flaxseed and red pepper near the door to prevent evil entering your home"

I will be planting lavender in the spring... we have a beautiful new backyard and a lovely old maple grows on our front lawn. In the front I will plant the lavender...

" Lavender bushes yield up their scent when brushed, ensuring that all who come to your door feel calm and at ease." 

"Plant lavender for luck..."

A kitchen that is the heart of the home where magical meals will be prepared and a dining room to gather and share the food among friends.

Elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water will be present: Earth in the dining room , Air in the study or in our case the office and Seraphim Bears Studio , Fire in the kitchen, and Water in the bathroom.

A large piece of Carnelian in the living room which brings peace. This is the hearth of your home.

We have "art on the fence" in our backyard at present and in among the things on the fence is a horseshoe... this will be one of the very first things that will be placed on our new home!

Home Protection Spell:

Light a brown candle on your alter and relax

Cast a magic circle around you with your wand

Take up your horseshoe, holding it with its horns pointing upwards and anoint it with patchouli oil and say these words...

"My house stands firm, my fortune is far"  x 3 (there is that #3 again...heeeheee)

Place the horseshoe before you with the pot of salt within it's horns and relax again

Now visualize your circle expanding outwards from the pot of salt which is the center, further and further until it pops through the walls of your home and surround the entire house like a bubble

Affirm very strongly that this bubble is there, this it keeps out anything bad but magnetizes good things, such as friendship

Now imagine the bubble topped with your horseshoe, shining and pulsating... powerful

Take your salt and your horseshoe and go over the entire house placing a little salt on every external opening... windows, attics, toilets etc. anything that leads to the outside

imagine a smaller version of your horseshoe at each of these points

Now go around the outside of your home sprinkling salt wherever you can

Finally, fix your horseshoe over the front door, preferable outside.

Give thanks to any God or Goddess that is special to you and ask that they watch over your home

Affirm that any traces of your magic circle have faded from the interior and clap your hands to clear the air but leave the external bubble in tact.

When you are finished, toast your efforts and the powers that are helping you. Repeat this whenever you feel it necessary

From the book: Magic House by Teresa Moorey

So to end this post I will say that in relation to the movie Practical Magic... I will be moving into my Magic House in only a few short weeks...

My spell when I was a little girl as I never wanted to get married either... and I knew I could never marry Bowie...

" He will hear my call a mile away. He will whistle my favourite song. He can ride a pony backwards."
" He can flip pancakes in the air. He'll be marvellously kind. And his favourite shape will be a star. And he'll have one green eye and one blue."

I met the man that I drew pictures of my entire teenage years and fell madly in love... although I did not realize it was not Bowie I was drawing and although my J does not have two different coloured eyes... one blue and one green... he is the love of my life and there will be no beetles allowed in our house. We have two Siamese cats to make sure of that. 

I reached for the moon and caught the biggest star in the sky! And he has given me the moon!

I have a very deep connection to the story portrayed in the movie Practical Magic and I cannot wait to share more of our journey in this house with you... through both food and plants, exercise, relaxation and love... 

We have had so much fun in our little river house... but it is time for a new chapter and Practical Magic will most definitely be a part of that new chapter! (look at me with that short blonde hair... heehee)

And here are our boys all dressed up for Halloween.... 

And a most excellent Birthday cake for the man of my dreams this year... a day of the dead cake! Yummy!

May you always have the courage to be you! Live life large and make no apologies for who you are!

Thank you to Frosted Petunias for once again hosting this incredible party... I just made it in time!

I hope you enjoy all the other participants in this celebration of magic. Thank you for coming to visit me at my NEW blog this year!

To see my blog entry from last years Practical Magic party click the link below:

Seraphim Bears Practical Magic Party 2010