HaPPy ThurSdAy!

Skylar will turn two on June 14th and all I have to say is that she is progressively becoming both the funniest and most particular person I know.

Girlfriend knows exactly what she likes and doesn’t like and has NO qualms in letting you know!

Lately she has become a VERY picky eater – basically she only eats yogurt, fruit, peanuts, Poptarts, some cereal, toast on occasion, ice cream, Jello, corn, and mac n cheese. That is it – well other than candy if I allow her to, which is rare!

I know it could be worse; at least she eats some decent foods – but ack @ the processed garbage that I am trying so hard to NOT have in the house. Needless to say, she eats A LOT of fruit --but sometimes we are desperate to get her to eat ANYTHING!

Which leads into her obsession with cats. My daughter goes absolutely GA-GA over cats; all animals really, but especially cats!
So much so that she has created an imaginary pet cat named Bum-Bum. No really, she named it herself and everything!

Sometimes out of desperation for her to eat we have to *pretend* that she is actually Bum-Bum and feed her *kitty snacks* (which can be anything really). It sounds ridiculous and I tell Brian all the time that we are one phone call away from a visit from DCYF but she eats every single bite every time we do it. All while patting her head and saying *good kitty* and *I love you Bum Bum*.
*heh-heh*

It sounds even more insane when I write it out… lol!
And I admit that Brian and I find it funny.
Please tell me we aren’t the only crazies out there allowing their child to be a *pet* in order to do the things she needs to do…
Anyone?
ANYONE???

But look at her – how can you not just adore her no matter how silly she is…

Finally…
I have to share this AMAZING GiVeAwAy hosted by Leah at leah:the kind weight watcher to celebrate 100 Followers – YaY!

I actually met Leah on the Weight Watcher website and found her blog via there. She is one of my favorite reads and SUCH an inspiration – her weight loss journey is awesome and her informative and honest blog is part of the reasons I decided to become vegan!
Yeah I think she is pretty spiffy!
Anywho – check out her blog, enter her GiVeAwAy and GOOD LUCK!!!

Seize the day dear friends…
♥cyn♥

HoLLa: Weight Loss Update

I have been SO outta the loop lately. Between the usual day-to-day stuff – my son’s PRoM this past Friday and all that entails even for the male persuasion (btw – did ya see how great my son looked?) -- work – and everything else – which lately seems to be A LOT!
Basically… bloGGin’ has taken a backseat.
But here I am now; better late than never!

So on my last weigh-in I was down 1.4lbs!
SuPer DuPer w00ts!

Since joining the gym in the end of February I have lost a total of 12.2 lbs! 6.4 of that I have lost since going vegan a little over a month ago!
I am VERY proud of my dedication to my diet and the gym – made it there four times last week and was really committed to giving my workout 100%!
I am in such a good place right now in regards to my weight loss journey!
Choosing to eat vegan has been a bit harder – but so worth it!

I feel amazing!

Oh and a clarification – as pointed out by my Mother. When I have made posts in the past giving my time frames since cutting out dairy – I mean eggs as well. I don’t know why I combine eggs in the *dairy* category as they are so obviously not.
Heh-heh!
So to be clear – I am currently not eating ANY animal products and haven’t for approximately a month now. Minus some paneer cheese (which doesn’t contain rennet) a couple weeks back and a bean burrito that I realized contained some milk AFTER I consummed it.
Live and learn…

In Other News:

I am a weiner! I won a great GiVeAwAy a few weeks back hosted by the lovely Lesley at Fabulously Flawed!
What did I win you ask?
Well…

Forever Sunshine Soleil Sublime Lotion from Bath & Body Works and it is RIDICULOUSLY yummy smelling! Brian totally agrees – and he is rather picky when it comes to scents.
So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU Lesley! I L♥VE it! (And will be buying any companion body sprays, shower gels, etc. ASAP!)

Brian and I made a special trip back to Trader Joes on Saturday just so I could purchase some soy cheese, fresh salsa, avocado hummus, vegan chourico (delish and SO spicy good) some tofu (YUMM-o!), and some frozen vegetarian biryani which was just delicious! I am seriously in love with this place and will be back before the end of the week. So worth the extra few bucks!

Our pool was opened today. Usually this is a day I am counting down a week in advance but our less than stellar (which is a nice way of saying crappola) weather has put a damper on the event. I hear the sun may come out on Thursday – of course I will be working.
Oh well, the pool season is young – I will get my time in the water!!!

Finally…
I am being lazy and combining Motivational Monday on this post as well. Although it may not be *motivational* it does make me think…

After all...
I have both!

Happy Monday BloGoSpHeRe!

PRoM...

Hunter's Junior Prom...
I will let the pictures do the talking as I am in a surreal state of mind trying to come to grips with my baby being at prom!

This & That...

So in an effort to write more on my blog…
Here I am yet again!

The truth is, I miss writing. I used to do it daily and apparently instead of writing about my life I got too busy living my life. Not a bad thing of course, but writing IS my therapy…

So this morning we ran some errands – grocery store, bank (Brian doesn’t have direct deposit – don’t get me going), and a stop by the pet store so Skylar could get her *animal fix*. She just LOVES animals!
This particular pet store has tons of puppies but no kitties? Go figure? Brian says it’s a good thing because we might have ended up leaving with a new addition – Skylar is CAT CA-RAZY – and she surely would have pleaded for a kitty with her big blue eyes and sweet little voice. But our little house is cramped as it is -- let us save the pet adoption for when we FINALLY move and Skylar gets a wee bit older.
I will omit the fact that I got all ooey-gooey over the MOST adorable King Charles Cavalier in the pet store. So stinkin’ cute!!!!

Moving along…
So right next door to the pet store is Trader Joes– which I am slightly embarrassed to say that I have never ventured into until today.
HELLO!
This place is AmAziNg!
I ♥ Trader Joes – no really, I L♥♥♥♥♥VE Trader Joes!
I will be back with list in hand and ready to show my new favorite place some serious love!

Last night’s Goddess Group and our Full Moon Circle – Thanks to Mother Earth – was really special and empowering. I can only speak for myself, but I needed that positive energy. I needed that female bonding time with women pure of heart and intention! Our little group has seen many faces and changes over the past year and it was the first circle for some – but it went beautifully and felt so right.

And I am so eternally thankful to Mother Earth and feel such a powerful connection to all that she entails. Especially over this past year in finding my path and making such intense decisions regarding my health and role in this universe. I feel more aware than ever and hope to share my awareness.

Angela read a quote last night – along with a beautiful passage to begin our circle – but the quote really resonated. I thought I would share…
‎"We are praying that mankind does wake up and think about the future, for we haven't just inherited the Earth from our ancestors, but we are borrowing it from our unborn children" ~Joseph Chasing Horse

Lastly…
Some pictures taken at a family gathering this past weekend.

Life is so very blessed...
♥cyn♥

Skylar's Kingdom: Our DIY Backyard Project!

Skylar, Skylar...
How does your garden grow???

Skylar plants her garden in her *kingdom* -- with some help from her Grammy.

Planting tomatos...

Watermelons, and pumpkins, and canteloupe -- oh my!

Time to water!

Watching my daughter develop a *green thumb* is priceless!

The finished product...

Motivational Monday...

Or Tuesday if you are a day late like myself… *whoops*!
I blame Blogger and myself – seriously, how does a site like this go *down* for days??? And I swear it still isn’t working correctly? I can’t log in correctly – anyone else???

Anywho – the motivation is need – although I am doing so much better this week in regards to the gym. I made a commitment to not just show up but to make the work outs count – and thus far they have! And no complaining! Yeah, it’s hard, and I feel like I have been run over by a truck when all is said and done – but in the words of John Cougar Mellancamp – Hurt So Good!

Yesterday made a month as a vegetarian – and no, I did not cheat! Not once, not even a little taste, not even close to cheating! It is definitely one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself – a close second to my decision to quit smoking 2+ years ago!

But yay for me and my month as a vegetarian/vegan!



To summarize my experience; I made this list, which I will add to as I see fit.

Things I have learned since choosing a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle…

1. It’s way cheaper to eat processed, unhealthy foods – no wonder why a good portion of Americans are overweight and/or sick.
2. There is ALWAYS a vegetarian option when going out to eat – and most restaurants are VERY accomidating to any *special* orders.
3. People are very curious about vegetarianism/veganism. They wanna know what I eat and if it’s been hard converting and most always the next words out of their mouths are “I could never…”
4. Cutting out meat was MUCH easier than eliminating dairy – I admit that I miss cheese!
5. Becoming a vegetarian has made me very conscious of every single morsel of food that enters my body – and that just cannot be a bad thing…
6. I feel insanely good – way more energy and I never feel that bloated icky feeling anymore – go figure!

I am super-psyched to see Forks Over Knives -- a film that examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods.
I know it’s not for everyone – and only in limited release – but it looks powerful. Plus I love a great documentary.

Check out the link, Google it, follow them on Facebook – whatever floats ya boat – but it definitely deserves a peek!

I shall end on a GREAT note – a little summary (in photos) of what Miss Skylar has been up to. I have felt SO much happier being home with her more – alas; why can’t I just win Powerball and be a SAHM!?!?!

How can you just not adore her -- too stinkin' cute!


Blessed Be
♥cyn♥

*Full moon tonight and we have a special *Thanks to Mother Earth* Circle planned tonight for Goddess Group. I can definitely use some SUPER DUPER full moon positive energy and Goddess Goodness tonight!*
xxoo!

HoLLa: Weight Loss Update

Week 11/52

HoLLa!
Well it’s been a pretty good week. I was up .2 – I love that my brandy-new scale measures this precise – just wish it was in my favor.

Oh well – in my mind – it’s like staying the same. Which is always better than a gain but ack!
I want to see results dammit!

But I have no one to blame but myself. Diet wise – I did good. I watched my portions, I still haven’t eaten meat (Monday makes a month as a vegetarian!), and other than some paneer cheese at the Indian restaurant for our Anniversary I haven’t had dairy either.

Gym wise – well, this is where I think I faultered. I did make it to the gym three times this past week, which of course is better than no times, but I gave a minimal workout each time. I wasn’t motivated and basically had a *get in and get out* attitude.
And ummm – the scale totally reflected that.
As I have said before; sometimes I need a kick in the pants to get me back on track.
But it frustrates me – I am in a crunch.
I am getting married in less than four months and I have a dress to get into! I know this and I cannot help but wonder how I can ever NOT be motivated?
*breathe in*
*breathe out*

In Other Non-Diet News:

Hunter, my 16 year old son, got fitted for his tux for his Junior Prom (his first prom) which is this coming Friday.
*breathe in*
*breathe out*
We also ordered the presentation bouquet (corsages are a thing of the past) for his date.
I am hoping I won’t embarrass my son by crying. (Mental note: wear sunglasses.) I want photos of him and all his friends naturally. Just a few – thousand! Ha!
I just cannot believe my baby is going to prom…

Skylar turns 23 months old today – wowie!
I just finished the invitations for her birthday party for June 11th – a Cinderalla party I might add. It seems unbelievable. I truly wish time would slow down just a wee bit!

Work has been really slow – but it’s been nice being home again more and Brian has been working more so it all evens out.
My dream is to someday work for myself on my own terms and on my own timeframe. But isn’t that just about everyone’s dream nowadays?

Usually I love saying *I told you so…* (especially to my teenage sons – ha!). But recent events involving a good friend and someone else; whom I have just never liked for no good reason other than just a gut feeling that she is not who she tries so hard to appear to be, came to a head – I just didn’t feel right in being right.
I don’t understand the justification some people feel in defaming someone’s character? That to me is hardcore and you better be 100% correct before *going there*.
There is a part of me that wants to put up my dukes and have it out with this individual because she hurt my friend and NO ONE hurts my friends – especially this particular friend. But I am a firm believer in karma and justice will be served by this mighty Universe. Plus you just cannot argue with crazy.

And that is all that is fit to be told…
♥cyn♥

Oh yeah – I have done 96.6 mi on The Virual Trans American Trail which puts me exactly in Ashland , VA -- Hanover County!