Belated Birthday Post....Cake Pop Pictures

I have been meaning to post about my great Cake Pop adventure back in January. So, here it is! ( Bet you've been holding your breathe....)
A Facebook friend had posted a photo of some adorable reindeer creations she had made at Christmas, and I was smitten. I have birthdays for 2 of my kids in January, and I had been trying to think of something special to do for them.....cake pops were the answer! I followed a link to this blog ---->Bakerella....and was amazed by what I found...so amazed that I ordered her book that night. I love it, and I wish I had half the talent that she does ( I highly recommend buying the book).

First was Littlest's birthday, then son #2. You can tell who's cake pops were who's by the colours.
It was labour intensive. I have never worked with candy melts before, my cake took longer to dry out than I had thought it would. In the end though, it was worth it. They were delicious, and the kids were well impressed. :)

Shoulda.....Coulda.....Will do now.

It's cold......"Duh" you say "It's February in Alberta!"
Yeah yeah, I know. I'm looking forward to fewer layers and warmer fingers and toes (and wearing my Vibrams outdoors again).Only 2-3 months to go! I can't wait to end the Morning Mitten Hunt, the endless "Mom! Have you seen my________?" (Insert your favourite article of winter clothing in the blank.)
My energy level is low.....real low. My workouts are not as intense as they have been. Bob's sitting on the TV stand, glaring at me. I promised I would do his workouts 3 times a week after Christmas...not so much. Maybe, once a week, and it hurts every time. I know if I just got up and did it, I would be feeling soooooo much better. Let me tell ya....that sort of logical thinking does not fly when the alarm goes off , and your bed is so warm.....
I'm still getting in cardio daily, and whatever fitness challenges I have assigned  for the week  from my local Biggest Loser Challenge... not enough though.
I'm creeping ever closer to the One Year mark since I started, and I'm only half way to where I wanted to be. In that time, I have learned that expectations do not always match up with reality...and, I am learning to be ok with that.
Sure would be nice to be one of those lucky folks that goes to a warm place with blue water during these short, cold days and long nights....instead, I will look forward to the warmer weather just a few days from now.

January Here

January is a nutty month around here. Not only are we dealing with the post-holiday let down, we also have 2 of our kid's birthdays this month.
The Princess ( our baby) turned 7 a mere 10 days ago.......7, not a little one anymore, but, now a big girl.
Son #2 turns 10 today...a decade.....seriously? How can it be that time has flown? I vividly remember my 10th birthday, that I felt so old because I'd been on the Earth for a whole decade.
(I'm really trying not to think about the fact the the oldest son turns 13 this summer, and that son #3 will be 9 then too.)

The song "Your Gonna Miss This" my Trace Adkins makes me choke-up every time I hear it on the radio, because it's true....(don't tell my parents).

Working Out at Home

Reasons I like working out at home: 

~I can turn up the music or DVD as loud as I can. 
~ I can wear WHATEVER I want. For example, today was a tank top, sports bra, boy shorts and an outrageous Lululemon hair wrap in blindingly bright pink! 
 I looked like a hot mess, but, felt like a superstar! 
~Cursing....lots of cursing. I heard that there was a study, that swearing makes you feel better when you hurt yourself. It's true folks. I was swearing a blue streak at Bob and the hardbodies today, and it made me feel MUCH better. 

Today was Bob strength DVD from his "Inside Out Method" series. Serious burn. I love that the big muscle guy (Francisco) struggles A LOT in the workout. The one woman I really like ( whose name escapes me now) is my hero. She has 4 kids (like me), but is rockin' the hottest bod EVER! 

Like many people, I did not feel like working out today. I have a dental appointment that I wish I could sleep through ( serious dental phobic over here). I have to clean the house for weekend company and my Son #2 has his bday party tomorrow, and I have to finish putting his cake ball creation together....so many excuses. 

But....yup, there's a but.................... 

I did the one hour workout....grunting...sweat dripping off my nose.....and a big ol' grin on my face during the stretches at the end. 


***I will have sexy arms for the summer. 
***I will wear shorts for the first time in many summers. 
***I will hit my 35th bday looking and feeling better than I have since....well, since before I was 30. 

Talk Show Thoughts

So, the other day, I posted a blog about my  First Lesson of 2011.......I said I didn't feel bad about what I had done.....well, I still don't feel bad exactly, but, true to form.....I've been picking apart my behaviour.
...........................Perhaps I should have been kinder than I was..............
        ...............................................I could have said things in a different way..........


I didn't though. 




As a general rule I like to help people when I can. I don't mind being asked for advice, or for my opinion......however, like most folks, I like for people to ask after me as well. 


The other day, Delusional Mom posted a quote from her "Daily Bitch" calendar: " Daily Bitch - Jan 2: Call me sometime when you don't need anything."........that's sort of how I feel.


I am hitting the middle of my 30's in a couple short months..... I really feel it's time to do something big....do I know what the something might be? Nope, not a clue over here. I just feel like I should be "Doing Something".

What does that even mean? Maybe I've been Dr. Philled and Oprahfied into thinking these things ( Thankfully I've not been Maury Poviched......I know who my kids belong to).

A friend recently asked me if I am feeling more "fulfilled" now that I am working. I thought about it, then answered a truthful "No. I don't find cleaning other people's toilet's fulfilling". I do like to think they find it nice to come home to a clean house, but, little would change for them if I stopped coming around.

I would love to do something big, some kind of grand gesture/achievement that would make me jump up and say "YES! Now I am fulfilled!". Any suggestions? Whatever they are, you must consider my prior commitments to my husband, kids, dog and job....oh, and if it could be something that is free of charge, that would be so sweet.

New Wish List

I'm sitting here thinking of things I'd like to get...for fitness, for the house, for fun. 

~ a good calf compression sleeve.  My calf is still causing me trouble after all these months. The answer is a calf compression sleeve. None to be had locally, so, shipping must be added to the price tag. Calf Compression Sleeve

~new pair of Fivefingers, in pink, before summer. www.vibramfivefingers.co
m/products/Five-Fingers-Sp
rint-Womens.htm       

~a new steam mop/cleaner. I used to have one but something went "pop" in it, and, it never worked again. www.thane.ca/products/ho
usewares/h2omopx5/h2omopx5
.php 

~a travel hoop and dvd from Hoopnotica www.hoopnotica.com/ 
It looks like a lot of fun, and an amazing workout. 

~$300 to spend in the Itunes store, for all the music I've been wishing for. 

There, now it's out in the Universe.  

At the end of the day, I am happy to have the things my family and I need.....but wishing is fun. 

Not Feeling Like a Warrior, but Feeling Pretty Good

Today was Bob Harper's "Yoga for the Warrior". My thighs were very tight and sore from my Bob workout on Monday, so, I was really dreading this. I nearly talked myself into just doing the 15 minute workout, just to see how it was.....methinks Fluffy is surfacing again. 

So, dvd is in, I choose the long workout and got on my mat. The first 10 minutes were ok, and I'm thinking "Hmmmm, not bad, seems a little easier then Jillian's Yoga Meltdown".......I was very, very wrong. He was just lulling me into a false sense of security. 
I've talked plenty about Jillian's dvd's, so I won't waste anyone's time doing a side by side comparison. I'll just say Jilian's is like a yoga-bolt....hits you hard, leaves you sweaty. Bob's is like a yoga wringer......movement in postions, long holds, plenty of stretching. 
I can feel it in every muscle of my body. My thighs are tired, but no longer tight. My abs....they're feeling a tad wobbly ( had to pause and think for a minute there). 
Again, it was a full hour. I'm not sure how I'll be feeling later, but, for now, I am feeling good. 


He said something at the end about being in this moment, before you have to head out and take care of all the people you have to take care of.....sound advice.