Non-fail?

I posted here that I was starting to exercise.  I was.  I was out there and doing my thing and all was good.  Then winter hit and it all went to hell.  I hate winter.  Like, REALLY hate winter.  I'm not 100% why I still live in Canada really...

Anyways.  I did my usual thing - I hibernated.  I went out only when necessary or when I got the urge to take the kiddies out and build a snow fort or go sledding for 20 minutes.  But basically I did nothing.  No, scratch that.  I did nothing exercise wise, but I did start to implement other changes I had been wanting to make in my quest for a better lifestyle.

On August 29, 2010 I downloaded an app for my iPhone.  It tracks weight - and your measurements if you want it to as well - and your goals and shows on a graph how you are progressing.  This was a low point for me.  After that other weight post, combined with working at a job that made junk food the norm, I put on an additional 4 pounds even with the exercising I was doing.  That's right, I weighed 229 by the end of August.  I was getting frustrated with how I looked and felt, I needed to put an end to it.  I can't really describe it - although the few times I've been ill probably "helped" with some months - but I haven't made any major changes.  I don't count my water intake - although I prefer water over anything else, so I'm not worried.  I don't watch what I eat really.  I don't count calories or points - I've just made sure to lower my portions, make my recipes simpler and with fresh ingredients and if I crave something unhealthy like chocolate, I eat some to curb it.  Not a lot, but I do give in to most of my cravings.

It's working.  Slowly - which I think is the best way so that I can adjust and maintain - I'm losing weight.  Which is also nice as my family is currently having a contest...and I'm winning.  LOL  I got on the scale this week and weighed in at 213.4 pounds.  I tried on my wedding dress this weekend, and it zipped up with ease!  I have to keep pulling up the size 18 jeans I wear.  It's a great feeling that the changes I am making are positive and sticking.  I'm eating breakfast every day and having a morning snack of fruit.  I've limited my tea intake and lowered my dinner portions.  And I'm not hungry.  Plus, with the warmer weather just around the corner, I know that it will get easier through the spring/summer/fall.

To help celebrate my continued success (coupled with my lacking ability to ever buy new clothes), Mr. Penguin gave me a great birthday gift this year - a shopping spree for bras.  As I am losing weight, my band size has gone down and I've moved from a DD to a D cup - which means hello Victoria's Secret!  I made my wish list last night.  He gets to surprise me with what he wants off of it - it's only fair as he's footing the bill.  ;)  Along with reaching my goal weight, I think hitting a bra size of 36C would be the best thing ever.  To be able to walk into La Senza or wherever and be able to pick a cute bra off the shelf and have it fit would be amazing.   I miss that freedom.

Also, I am planting a container garden this year - no excuses!!  I've got the plans for making cedar planters and I'm going to grow tomatoes (2 kinds), peppers, strawberries, beans, radishes, lettuce, carrots, zucchini and maybe cucumber.  I also found an old tire behind the shed from the previous owners that I'm going to wash down and paint with the girls.  It will be where we plant our Halloween pumpkin.  I can't wait.  The fresh food will help with my smaller portions, be better for us as a family and the gardening involved coupled with just being outside will help immensely.  Plus, I hope to have an abundance of tomatoes to continue my canning hobby this year.

I'm proud of myself.  Now to get outside more and move my butt!
*hugs*

It's official!

January 10th has come and gone!  I officially started my home daycare on Monday.  It's been so much fun!  I have 2 little ones, plus Baby home all day and then Monkey gets off the bus in the afternoons.  I've wanted this for a long time, but now that it's here, it's even better than I had hoped.  Sure, there is crying and some small toddler 'fights' to deal with, but I get to lay on the floor and sort blocks and colour all day!  I get to bake and cook all the time - ALL. THE. TIME.  I have time during the day to keep my kitchen clean and make grocery lists and even get some laundry done while the little ones nap.

The best part?  I'm home for my girls.  I'm home but also paying my portion of the bills!  It's a wonderful thing.  Goodnight all!

*hugs*

Biggest Loser 2011

My Parents proposed an idea before New Years Day.

What about a Biggest Loser family contest?  

We'd take the whole year and whoever loses the most weight, wins the pot - which my Dad is putting up - of $500.  My Dad doesn't need to lose weight, so he's the official stats keeper.

It's a contest between my Mom, my brother, his girlfriend, myself and Mr. Penguin.  I have nothing to lose but weight!  And really, in the end we all win healthier lives (cue the cheesy music!).

Wish me luck!

*hugs*

The Santa 'issue'.

The holiday season is in full swing.  There are cranky people everywhere just waiting to push past you on the street, jump in front of you in line at the mall and sneer in utter unhappiness at the slightest...well, ANYTHING.  I don't know why this season seems to bring out the worst in people.  Seriously.  If buying gifts makes you THAT unhappy - STOP. BUYING. GIFTS.  It's not that hard!  Your kids are taught what to think of the holidays, they don't need that expensive toy or a room full of crap.  It is the parent's job to show them why.

In the spirit of the season, I do give a couple of gifts.  Our parents, my nephew, Mr. Penguin and the girls (as well as a few Secret Santas).   Which brings us to our new predicament...Santa.  With Monkey's speech delay, we never brought up the story of Santa and how he supposedly comes to the house, as she didn't have the vocabulary and we didn't want to scare her.  So until school, where she is now learning about Santa, she just knew that we bought each other gifts and opened them on Xmas day.  And that Santa could be found at the mall.  However, Baby Penguin will be coming up next year on when kids are normally taught about Santa.  But we're not sure we WANT to start Santa at our house.  I don't want to lie to my kids, I don't want to give gifts from someone else, and I definitely don't want Xmas to become about GIFTS.

At the Penguin household during the Xmas season, we bake: cookies, muffins, cakes, bread - anything we feel like.  We cook: spaghetti, chili, casseroles and pasta dishes.  We donate: our time, our money, our toys, our clothes.  We cherish: each other, our friends, our family,and what we have.  But most of all, we create: drawings, paintings, things out of play doh, blanket forts, play picnics, whatever we feel like!  We choose to use the holiday season to spend time with our girls and experience the joy that can be had during this holiday season. 

On Xmas Day, I like to give my girls colouring books, art supplies, books and usually one toy each.  This year the baby is getting a soft chair for the toy room, a colouring book and a stuffed puppy - with crate and accessories to take care of it - to prep her for the puppy we may be getting next year.  Monkey is getting 4 books, Play Doh, some toy cars (she's obsessed) and a storage case to store them in - to help her learn to organize her smaller toys.  That is it.  There will be The Grinch movie, a wonderful breakfast by Mr. Penguin and tons of snuggles on December 26th this year (Monkey has Xmas with her father, so we'll be celebrating late).  It all sounds wonderful to me.  Even if the girls had no gifts under the tree, I know for a fact that it would still be an amazing day at our house.  <3

So, did you pass the tradition of Santa and gift giving on to your kids (or will you)?  How do you celebrate the holidays?  What is your favorite thing about December that just makes your heart soar?

Happy Holidays!
*hugs*

December

I purchased Mr. Penguin's 30th birthday gift.  He is one lucky man - well obviously as he has moi, but now he's REALLY lucky.  I cannot wait.

It's also my Mom's birthday, my best friend's birthday, Xmas and the holidays.  Decembers are always crazy, but I love them!  I love the family moments and searching for personal gifts for everyone.  I love that people think about one another during this time of year too. 

We have a tradition in the Penguin household of taking the girls food shopping for donations to the Food Bank.  They get to help out and pick some of the food and also learn about charity and helping those in need.  As Monkey is 5 this year, I am also choosing a child's name off of the Xmas tree at the mall who is in need of clothing.  It will be a good thing for her to understand and also pick out some cute clothes for someone else.

Happy Holidays folks!  Remember to hug someone close, call someone you haven't heard from in a while and donate - whether food, clothes, time, money or whatever.  'Tis the season for love!!

*hugs*
 

Fall is here

17 reasons why fall is my favorite season:

1) The pretty, pretty leaves changing colours
2) The brisk air
3) Getting a chance to wear all of my beautiful scarves
4) Frost on the grass in the morning sun
5) It's the season of our wedding anniversary
6) Hot pockets of warm air in the bed covers! 
7) Wearing slippers in the house
8) Warm meals on chilly nights
9) Tea (not really just a fall thing, but it still counts)
10) Time off with family for Thanksgiving
11) Preparing for Xmas!!
12) Comfy sweaters
13) Walks in nature
14) The smell of bonfires
15) PUMPKINS!
16) Apple picking
17) Baking

*hugs*

Photo Roulette Friday - __(9)

This week for photo roulette we get to pick the folder!  Then it is the th photo in that folder that gets submitted.  I couldn't pick just one.  LOL  The 9th photo in some of my folders were just too great, and so very random from one another, not to share (but the first one will be my entry).  So here we go:

This is the hot air balloon that Mr. Penguin and I rode in for our 1st anniversary back in 2008 - before it was inflated.  It was about 5am in this shot and the team was about to turn on the burners for the hot air.  This ranks as one of the best experiences of my life to date.

I hate winter.  I hate snow.  This is the amount of snow we received in March 2008.  The trucks started filling the mall parking lots with snow as there was no where else to put it.  I was SO ready for spring/summer that year!

This is my wonderful man walking his step-daughter to the Peggy's Cove lighthouse for the first time.  She's so little here!

This is baby at the sugar bush this year.  I love the colours.

This is one of my shots from our first trip to Kingston.  The reflections are from the building across the water.

Want to link up?  Head on over to Mischief and Laughs.

Photo Roulette Friday - 10(7)

Mr. Penguin and Monkey playing in the snow at the condo. March 2008.

Photo Roulette Friday @ Mischief and Laughs!

The Happiness Project

I got my book from Amazon.ca today!  The Happiness Project is something I will be starting on January 1st, 2011.  I had purchased it last Saturday at Chapters, but having found it for HALF the cost on Amazon, I returned it and ordered a new one.  I also bought 2 more copies of it and shipped them to my BFF and Mom (and Dad - but they'll share a copy) as they want to start it with me!  I am so excited!! 


If you haven't heard about it, check out the website here.  I am slowly starting my lists and prep work involved.  Just getting half way through the book has made me realize that I do a lot of things not because *I* like them, but because they are supposed to be things I'm supposed to like.

No more.

2011 is going to be a very hard year for me.  I am about to challenge my comfort zones and push myself to take the leaps I've been avoiding (such as going to university or college, choosing a career I WANT, not just something I'm good at, and clearing my home of crap to make room for my family's memories and adventures).  I will be continuing with my health goals from previous posts as well as adding more.


Want to join us on January 1st, 2011?  We're located on Facebook here.

Lot# 170

We survived our first family trip camping!  I can't wait to go again next year.  I think we'll even stay on the same lot we had.  It was close to the washrooms/showers, had a water pump on site and was somewhat private from the road.  And the park wasn't far from home either - about 2 hours.

Relaxing.

We went with friends and our little ones.  The babies seemed to have fun.  Baby was interested in getting into everything and wanted to explore more of the site, but until she can walk she couldn't really do so.

Waving at her friend.

It drizzled a bit and we had some winds, but overall it was good weather.  A little cooler, but that just made for better snuggling time!

Hammock snuggles.

The mornings were so peaceful...

Our tents.

There were interesting things to be seen...

MUSHROOM! MUSHROOM! (no snakes...)

And baby napped REALLY well!  Her sleeping bag was great and she actually slept in it with it zipped all the way up the second night.  It was adorable - but unfortunately too dark for a photo. She napped so soundly for her last nap, that us taking down the tent around her didn't even wake her up!

Sound sleeper.

Overall a great family experience.  I cannot wait to take Monkey next year for a few days!  I love creating memories for my babies.  And for me and Mr. Penguin too.

<3

*hugs*

#86

I ended up crossing something off my list tonight!  Kind of funny actually.  My brother and his girlfriend just moved into their new apartment yesterday and we happened to go there for a visit tonight.  They served up hotdogs, my parents brought chips and pop and I brought the kids.  We all sat on a blanket and had a picnic in the middle of the living room.

It counts!

#86 - Go on a picnic

Preparations

We're going camping!  It's my second time out and will be baby's first.  Mr. Penguin is fully trained in search and rescue tactics and survival - so we don't count him.  Today me and the girls went out to pick up some things for the trip.  Monkey won't be able to join us as she will be at her father's place, but she was excited to get things ready and plan for our future family trips.

I bought the CUTEST little sleeping bag today for baby!  It's so small!  But should last her until about age 3.  Then I picked up some pants, a long sleeved shirt and hat at Mountain Equipment Coop.  She's all ready to go!

*hugs*