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Watermelon Pineapple Smoothie

The hustle and bustle of work, family life and other personal commitments often keeps the whole family buzzing in the mornings all week long. The kids are usually around to enjoy delicious smoothies, but Hubby has, more often that not, already left for the office. Weekends are times when I try out new and interesting concotions and make him my personal guinea pig :)

I had purchased a small, seedless watermelon at the market this week and knew that it would be the ideal ingredient for a hot summer morning. There is nothing quite like fresh, juicy, sweet watermelon on a summer day to bring back memories of childhood and fun times.

WATERMELON PINEAPPLE SMOOTHIE

(serves 1)

Ingredients

1.5 cups fresh watermelon

1/2 cup frozen pineapple

1/2 cup plain Greek yogourt

1 - Toss watermelon, yogourt, and pineapple into belnder and blend for 60 seconds, until smooth

2 - Enjoy!

HUBBY RATING 10/10

Nutritional Facts (Thanks to my Fitbit)

173 calories, 0.4g fat, 2.7g fiber, 31g carbs, 13.8g protein

#smoothie #watermelon #pineapple #summer #hubby rated

Butter, Vintage Leather and No Filter

We live in a society obsessed with being politically correct. People go out of their way to ensure that they are not making insensitive, hurtful or derogatory comments to or about First Nations people, people of all colours, the handicapped, and those suffering from a variety of illnesses, just to name a few.

However, this concern doesn't seem to apply to "people of size".

Some of the biggest offenders that I have come across recently are retail salespeople.

Shocking isn't it?

This week I had some time to spare between appointments, so I took advantage of the gorgeous weather and being in the downtown core. You got it.... SHOPPING! My colleagues and I went shop to shop perusing all of the fun, stylish items available in exchange for some hard earned cash.

We went into one shoe store located on Ste-Catherine Street, it wasn't a chain but appeared to be an independently owned little shop that carried gorgeous leather shoes and boots. More than one pair caught my eye, so I had to head in to give them a closer look.

I immediately was drawn to a pair of yellow, vintage leather sandals. They were sweet.... the kinds of shoes that quickly become your favourite. I asked the shop owner for a pair in my size (8.5 or 9) and crossed my fingers that they would fit.

Not many people understand my issue with shoes. I have naturally WIDE feet that swell in the summer and to make things even more attractive... they are topped by cankles.

So, there I stood with my fingers crossed hoping that they would fit. I gingerly took one shoe out of the box and tried to slip it on my foot. NO GO.

The ever-sensitive shop owner suggested I sit down and try to "stuff my foot into it". I think I turned a few shades of red. So, there I sat like one of Cinderella's step-sisters desperately trying to pull the strap across the widest part of my foot.

A customer nearby asked if I wanted some butter to help get it on. True story.

After a few seconds, which felt like at least an hour, I got it on. I zipped up the back and looked down at my poor foot. It looked like a trussed roast. Completely embarrassed, I immediately removed the sandal and placed it back into its box and handed them back to the shop owner. I asked if he carried anything with a wider width and he replied.... "Wow, your feet really are fat. I guess we don't have anything for your kind here."

#politically correct #fat shamming #wide feet

Feeling Plum!

They say that necessity is the mother of invention. For this mother, it means that my meals (and smoothies) mostly come from the need to use up produce before it becomes inedible.

Have you ever gone to the farmer's market or grocery store and been overcome by how gorgeous and delicious all the fresh, seasonal produce looks? It is not uncommon for me to go slightly overboard with the estimation of how much fruit will get consumed in my home in a few days. Luckily, there is a whole slew of ways to prolong the goodness.... freezing, dehydrating, jarring.

This morning was not scheduled to be a smoothie kinda morning. I had plans to get up and make a delicious veggie omelet and toast before showering and getting to work. When I stepped into the kitchen, though, the plums caught my eye... and I knew they were now on the menu. Thank goodness too.... this is DELISH!

Plum, Mango, Strawberry Smoothie

(serves 1)

Ingredients

2 ripe plums, pitted

1/2 cup frozen mango

1/2 cup sliced strawberries

3/4 cup Greek Yogourt (0%)

1 cup water

1/4 tsp blue agave syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1. Pour water into blender and follow with the rest of the ingredients

2. Blend for 60 seconds.

3. Enjoy!

Nutritional Information (as per Fitbit log)

Calories: 247 Fat: 0.9g Fiber: 6.4g Carbs: 43.2g Protein: 19.9g

#plum #mango #strawberry #smoothie #plum mango strawberry smoothie #cinnamon #sweet and savory #greek yogourt

Embracing the Green Goddess

The Canada Food Guide recommends that adult women eat 7-8 servings of fruits and vegetables daily and that includes at least 1 serving each of a dark green and orange variety.

For me, that dark green veggie is more often than not spinach. I love it raw in salads and smoothies and cooked in a variety of dishes. My family, on the other hand, does not. For years I hid it by mixing it into salads, throwing it into my pasta sauces (no honey, that's just herbs), and mixing it into brownies. Everyone is all grown up now, but they still look at me skeptically whenever something "new" is served.

Hey! A Mom's got to do what a Mom's got to do!

When you're not looking to play hide n' seek, this green smoothie will keep your hunger at bay until lunch!

Green Goddess Smoothie

(serves 1)

Ingredients

1 cup spinach

1/2 cup kiwi (1 large)

1/2 cup plain Greek yogourt

1/2 cup frozen pineapple

1 cup of water*

1 - Add spinach and water to the blender and liquify for 30 seconds.

2- Toss in kiwi, yogourt, pineapple and blend for 60 seconds, until smooth

3 - Enjoy!

* If you like your smoothies a bit more on the "sweet" side, water can be replaced with pineapple juice.

Nutritional Facts (Thanks to my Fitbit)

219 calories, 1.2g fat, 7.9g fiber, 41g carbs, 15.3g protein

#smoothie #green smoothie #greek yogourt #kiwi #pineapple

Black Cherry & Chocolate Green Smoothie

I've been on a bit of a smoothie kick the last couple of months. My family has had to endure my endless experimentation, which at times has been miles from successful, in an attempt to find the most nutritious and delicious combinations. Mixing up a smoothie is an easy way to fuel the body with nutritious energy any time of the day.

I read countless blogs and recipe books looking for inspiration. The ideas get stored away in a corner of my mind and pop up when I least expect it though I am not one to "follow directions".

I'm not sure if this recipe is 100% my creation or something that I've borrowed and tweaked from something I've seen, but none the less, it is DELICIOUS!

Black Cherry & Chocolate Green Smoothie

Ingredients (Serves 1)

1 cup baby spinach

1 cup frozen mango

1 cup black cherries - pits removed

1 cup of water

1 tbsp cocoa

1 tsp cinnamon

1 - Combine spinach and water in the blender and liquify for 30 seconds.

2 - Add in mangos, cherries, cocoa and cinnamon.

3- Blend for 60 seconds.

Enjoy!

Nutritional information provided by my Fitbit food log:

Calories: 232 Fat: 1.4g Fiber: 9.7g Carbs: 58.9g Protein: 4.8g

Give it a try and let me know what you think in the comments below!

#smoothie #green smoothie #spinach #cherry

Take Two

Time flies.

Here we are almost a year to the day that I started this journey and, to be brutally honest, not much has changed. My weight went down until the cold winter months and then it just went right back up. I would say that it was a complete fail. However, I don't believe in failure.... Life is a series of experiences and lessons which you have to be open to learning.

The past few months has found me working hard at my computer, only too willing to find an excuse not to move my butt.

Trust me, I will find any excuse to get out of exercise.

The problem arises when I look in the mirror and feel like my neck is slowly swallowing my head. Yup, that's when I say, "Houston, we have a problem."

The truth is I had been diligently weighing in every week and was proud to see the numbers starting to decrease slowly. Until I went to a doctor appointment with Hubby that is.

Hubby stepped on the scale and weighed in a full 12lbs more than he did at home. A little voice in my head screamed "WTF!!!" If Hubby was heavier at the doctor's office, then was there a possibility I was being deluded into thinking my numbers were heading south?

Immediately, I knew that there was only one thing to do.

After arriving back at home, I hopped online and ordered myself the Fitbit Aria scale. I have been coveting this piece of technology for almost a year now and I knew that now was the time to bring it home.

Ordered, shipped and delivered.

The moment of truth.

Ok, in reality it took about 15 minutes to set it up.... but then, it really was the moment I'd been dreading.

Deep breath.

Eyes closed, I gingerly stepped onto this white, sleek truth sayer.

FACK!

The number that appeared was, in fact, higher than previously thought.... and the % of body fat almost had me keeling over!

On the plus side, at least the fall would have been cushioned :p

So, all that to say..... here we go again. Take 2.

** Note, this post is not sponsored by Fitbit.

#Fitbit #Fitbit Aria #scale

Frozen Food Storage

Frozen food! This evening I enjoyed a delicious BBQ with friends (thank you again!) and over supper we were discussing the pros and cons of canning vs freezing food. While my friend is determined to can everything under the sun, I am more of a freezer friendly gal :)

Here is a fabulous infographic that outlines the recommended storage times for all kinds of food products. This is one that you will want to print and post up in the kitchen for easy reference!

You can also find more infographics at Visualistan

#frozen food #storage times #freezer #food safety #preserving

It Is The People Who Matter Most

There are few things more important in my life that my family and friends.

I love my work... I mean REALLY love my work. I've been labeled a work-a-holic on more than one occasion - but the reality is that it is replaceable.

Everything in life is replaceable.... except for the people in it.

My hubby has been complaining of a sore tummy off and on for a few weeks. Nothing serious... I chalked it up to something he ate. He would lie down for a few minutes and it would pass.

That all changed last weekend.

Last Sunday, he spent all day in bed. The soreness did not go away and was starting to get worse. My man is one of those "tough cookies" that never actually admits that something hurts. He never takes pain medication and rarely, if ever, complains. As you can imagine, I was more than a little concerned.

By Monday morning, the pain had gone from a general abdominal malaise to a very specific localized pain... and it hurt... a lot. We ended up in the ER and he was very quickly diagnosed with appendicitis. They decided to treat with antibiotics instead of doing surgery (yes, we were shocked too... but it's a new treatment). Either way, he would be in the hospital for a few days.

All this to say - everything else got dropped. My life revolved around taking care of my children (who were absolutely incredible!) and spending my days in the hospital with Hubby. I don't know about where you live, but here, you NEED SOMEONE AT YOUR SIDE to advocate for you almost 24/7.

So my diet? It is close to impossible to maintain a proper, healthy diet while shuffling back and forth from the hospital to home, spending 14 hour days at someone's bedside. I've tried my best to make the best decisions possible in the circumstances... though I will admit to giving in to delicious comfort food at least once. Speaking of which, have you tried McDonald's new Buffalo Chicken Poutine? OMG!

So, here we are on another weigh-in day. I feel like I've blinked and it's time to get on that scale again.

LOSS: -4.1 lbs

OMG! WHEEE!!!!!

#Appendicitis #McDonald's #weight loss

1st Weigh-In of 2015

Here we are.

I promised today was the day that I start getting serious about this weight loss again.

It sounded like such a good idea at the time. Let me tell you though, when I awoke to the sound of more snow-clearing tractors the only thing I wanted to do was pull up the covers and go back to sleep. Which I did. :D

In this second round of slumber, I had some pretty weird dreams which ended with me sitting down to a large salad while someone was offering me smothered chicken strips. In my dream, I said no and awoke with the resolve that it really is time to restart.

So.....

Ok, I'll admit, I'm stalling again.

That dreaded scale. It is so damn judgemental.

Gingerly step on and look down...... <please God, it's ok if I've regained what I lost, but PLEASE say I haven't gained MORE>

Ok.

Reality.

Gain 8.1 lbs.

Not terrible.

#weigh in #weight loss #scale

1st Weigh-In of 2015

Here we are.

I promised today was the day that I start getting serious about this weight loss again.

So.....

Ok, I'll admit, I'm stalling again.

That dreaded scale. It is so damn judgemental.

Gingerly step on and look down...... <please God, it's ok if I've regained what I lost, but PLEASE say I haven't gained MORE>

Ok.

Reality.

Gain 8.1 lbs.

Not terrible.

#weigh in #weight loss #scale

Humble Pie

You know, the Internet really is pretty funny, fantastic, and unpredictable. Really, it is.

There are those of who use it to access information, to watch and listen to various forms of media, to connect with others, and also to just relax and have fun. There are also those of us who put out our thoughts and ideas completely unsure of how they will be received - or better yet - really wonder if anyone is actually reading them - taking them to heart.

I started this blog with the intention of it being a catalyst to weight loss. It started off on a great foot and I was regularly losing those unwanted pounds.

Then, it got cold. Frigid, really.

I lacked the motivation that I needed to get out there and MOVE my butt and really.... I got lazy about it. It is so much easier to have that little bit of comfort food and curl up under a blanket to stay warm. So, I stopped moving.

Slowly, I could feel the weight creeping back on. I knew it was happening but tried everything to ignore it.

A few days ago, I received a message from an old friend. You know, the kind that you've known almost forever. You can still vividly remember them sitting in their kitchen wearing old pj's, playing with their long, thick braid and arguing about everything under the sun. Ya, that kind.

The message was a polite kick in the butt. A friendly reminder that this is an extraordinary journey I'm on, and while I may not be successful every week (or month) - I have the ability to affect change. It may be few footsteps by your side as you are on the same journey or perhaps, it is offering a viewpoint that had never before been considered. Both are equally valid.

I am incredibly humbled by the number of people who are reading these ramblings - and even more so by the number of individuals who notice when the ramblings stop. Thank you.

P.S. Weigh ins start again tomorrow. Fitbit is charging. Yikes!

#humble pie #weight loss #motivation #affect change

There Are Worse Things Than Being Fat

There are worse things in the world than being fat. No, really.... It is true.

Off the top of my head, there are quite a few characteristics that I can name that I feel are a lot worse, namely:

ignorance

arrogance

cruelty

entitlement

superiority

egocentricity

greed

So why then, do people tend to focus on weight as if it is the one most vile attribute a person can have? There are people starving themselves every day in an attempt to achieve and maintain an unrealistic ideal. People's insecurities are continuously fed by the mixed messages they receive from around them; from the media to their own family and friends.

Let me be clear:

I don't care if you are fat, thin, skinny, tall, short, chunky, obese, lanky.... Body shaming is something that is real, it is incredibly hurtful and it is time that it stopped.

Isn't it time that we collectively focused on the real problems around us? We need to be more concerned about WHAT is in a person's head and heart rather than the package they come in.

#negative characteristics #fat shaming #skinny shaming #body shaming #body issues

Do You Believe In Signs?

Do you believe in signs?

You know, those seemingly random messages that we all occasionally receive from the Universe. At first, it seems odd and slightly coincidental.... and then a pattern emerges that is pretty hard to miss, let alone ignore.

Those signs have been coming at me fast and furious over the last couple of weeks and it all has to do with this small blog. I am the first one to admit that I've allowed myself to be consumed in my professional life... what? Take on projects that I really have no time for? Of course! Who needs sleep?! :) Like many women, I am guilty of putting myself, my needs and my hobbies on the side to satisfy others. It has only been thanks to YOU awesome readers who have sent me messages, talked to me in person and yes, even called me out in a group setting to remind me that I have been letting this slide. I don't want to let it slide. I LOVE my little blog and the amazing people that gift me with a few moments of their time to read my thoughts and ideas.

Last night, I attended a workshop that was meant to teach time management and organizational skills. Did I learn much? Not really.... I think we can all be honest enough to say that we know what we SHOULD be doing. It is the actual act of getting it done where we stumble.

So, here I am....

not procrastinating

not letting it fall lower and lower on my to-do list

GETTING IT DONE!

Getting back to my signs... what do they mean?

Well, for me it's a reminder that I love writing and having the opportunity to connect with you all. It also showed me that there are people out there who consume and value what I write. It also answered many personal questions for me about where I was going and what direction I should take.

There are no right or wrong answers - only choices. The signs are there all around us. The Universe continually gives us the information that we need to move forward... It is how we make these choices and handle the consequences that matter.

Make good choices... I did.

#universe #signs #choices #time management #organization

Fabulously Unfocused: What is your take on antiques?

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