Goals, Hello.IAmPhat, I am Woman....Roar!, Inspiration, Strategy, They Way {Weigh) I See It

! HApPy nEw yOu !

Woo!! Hoo!!   366 More!

366 More days

 {this year we get one more day… 2016 is a Leap Year!}

 to Be The Best You!!

happy-new-you

I’ve gifted this year to making Me the priority.  I’m giving myself permission (without guilt) to pay more attention to me.  Taking time out from all of the ‘noise’ of day-to-day living to inject it with something(s) that are important to me.

This may sound ….

 A little self-centered.

A little self-absorbed.

A little selfish.

self

I say ‘Maybe….Not‘.   *The benefits of making myself a priority is fodder for another post.  So I’ll save that for later {stay tuned}.

 

Instead,  I will tell you that this Me Focused Year will include:

~ 1~

Keep Moving!

keep moving

The Plan: Move. This. Body.  Daily!

~2~

Eat Like I Give a F*ck!!

Fall in Luv with Real Food!

cute With the help of this little gem

~3~

Detach from the e-World!!

social media break… a litttttle less internet Luv

… a LOAD more of this…..

read a damn book

reading is the new black!

 

~4~

Master the Art of  ‘The Chillaxin’

DoingNothingCoaster300

Yep.  This.

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This is just a start….

What have you committed to this year?

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Girl on Fire!, I am Woman....Roar!, Tuesday {Shoes}Day!

Tuesday {Shoes}day: Celebration Shoe Candy

Hey Luv-lies,

We’re just about a week into the New Year, have you recovered from the festivities?

I spent a quiet week in the house.  Not much of a choice with the weather and all.  Now, had I gone out to celebrate this incoming year, I would have had a heck of a time picking a shoe! 

Doesn’t everyone put together their outfit around THE SHOE?!

These are a few choices:

KH16

A little futuristic…
 A lot feminine

KH10

Bada** on steroids!

chains included…
… just add whips

pink shoe porn

Because Pink  is Powerful!!!

Soooo Luv-lies,
Which one did you choose?
Do tell…

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2015 …. Mission Possible

It’s that ball-dropping, confetti throwing, ‘Ole Lang Syne’ singing time of the Year!!!

HAPPY 2015 Luv-Lies!!!

How’d you do with your ‘Yearly Inspirations’ for 2014?

When I go over my list of ‘high inspirations’, I didn’t do so well.

 But that’s one of the reasons that I soooo long forward to a New Year….

 See.  I see it as a fresh set of 365 days to fulfill my ‘Inspirations’!

Circle-Calendar-2015-Year

So this year I’m going to continue to work on those INSPIRATIONS that I still need to  fulfill with a MISSION to

Forgive Quickly

Love Truly

Keep the heartaches to a minimum

Laugh Uncontrollably

…..  AND …..

Never Regret  ANYTHING That Makes Me Smile

HAVE A WONDER-FILLED NEW YEAR!!!!

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Pink Ink … Ode to the {Boobs}

Good Morning Luv-lies,

I spent the better part of the past weekend in bed nursing a cold.  {It unexpectedly reared its nasty head sometime Friday evening}.  Armed with multiple boxes of brand-named tissue, and enough vapor rub, cough elixir and ginger ale to cure a small army, I conceded to the notion of being a prisoner in my boudoir.  Between the sneezing, coughing and unplanned sleep ‘events’, I managed to get in a movie or two.  Chick Flicks mostly.  Nothing like a chick flick to soothe what ales you!

The_Head_Cold-1131905348

What I like most about a realllly good chick flick is the multiple themes layered throughout.  One theme that we can always count on is love.  From there, the writers might  sprinkle in a little sensitivity, resilience, family … the list is endless.   This weekend’s theme of the moment was bravery.

Long after the closing credits had rolled, as I randomly surfed the ‘net, the whole ‘bravery’ thing stayed on my mind.  I recalled people, situations and experiences in my personal life where acts of bravery were front and center.  My heart warmed at the notion of, either, knowing someone and/or personally stepping up to the “bravery plate”.

My only hope is that, the next time that I have to wear the shield of bravery, I am as brave as these women::

breast tat1

Kelly Davidson of Ontario, Canada kicked Cancer’s a$$ THREE times!!!  HER INSPIRING STORY

breast tat

Inga Duncan Thornell of Seattle, Washington had a double prophylactic mastectomy.  HER INSPIRING STORY

breast tat2

I was unable to find the name of this beautiful Woman Hero.  If you happen to know, please leave it in the comments.  I reallllly want to give her proper Kudos!

breast tat3

She is another Beautiful Woman Her0 who I could not find her name.  Like the brave woman above, it you have any info, please leave it in the comments.

breast tat4

The smile of this Beautiful Woman Hero is infectious!  Again – if you know her leave the info in the comments.  Big THX!

✿¸.•°*”˜ƸӜƷ˜”*°•.•.¸ღ¸☆´ ¸.✿´´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ.
(¯`v´¯) ….♥ ℒƠѵℯ ♥
`*.¸.*.♥.✿´´¯`•.¸⁀°♡
☼*¨*• ˚°❀ღ ˚°❀ღ•*❤*•.

ALL of these Beautiful Women Heroes are TRULY  TOUGH!!!

And

More than that, THEY ARE INSPIRATIONAL!!!!

breast tattoo

How about these Beauties?

Do Tell ….

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Fitness, Girl on Fire!, I am Woman....Roar!, Keep Callm, Video

Namaste’

Hello Luv-lies,

Remember that I said that I was going to add more yoga to my fitness routine?  Well, I’ve been trying reallllly hard to keep up with this inspiration.

One of the reasons that this has been so challenging is –  finding a class at a yoga studio that fits into my crazy schedule.

Arghhhh! Don’t you hate that!

Not to be defeated, I found this GREAT Yoga Video Site.   I know that there are tons of yoga video out there (trust me.  I’ve seen my share of them).  But I think that I’ve nailed it on this series!   I’ve done several of the ‘classes’ and I must say, I feel like I’m back in the yoga studio.

Most important… All of the classes fit nicely into my schedule.  Whoa! Hoo!

I posted one  of the videos above so that you can give it a test run.   And, if you like it – then you can subscribe.  I did!

Nothing like a good find. Right?

What goodies have you found lately?

Do Tell ……

 

 

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Sunday Weigh-in & Some Fun

Happy Sunday Luv-lies,

Just a short post today.  Couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share some fun news with you.

comfort zone

A little over a year ago I started this trek down the path of a healthier lifestyle.  On December 31st 2012 {on a whim.  You know.  Now that I think about it, some of my best successes have resulted from a whim…} I decided that I had had enough of making excuses for not living a healthier lifestyle.  I was tired of referring to the excess weight that I had been hauling around as, ‘Baby fat’.  Who the hell was I lying to {I know. I had been lying to myself and for a loooooong time!}?  After all, ‘my baby’ was twenty-nine years old!  I was tired of not being able to fit into the beautiful clothing that I had purchased {all year!} with the promise that ‘One day I’m going to be able to fit these’.  You’ve made that promise to yourself – haven’t you?  Tired of huffing and puffing after walking short distances.  Tired of eating too much, too late.  Waking up the next  morning feeling like a stuffed pig.  I could go on but I won’t.  This is suppose to be a ‘short’ post.

My ‘whim’ took me first to my local fitness center, where I eagerly signed on the dotted line.  ‘There!’ I thought.  Proudly, I was on my way to escaping this delusion that I had been living – for years!  I returned home, knowing that I was only halfway vested in this journey.  I knew then, like I know now, that I needed a weight loss program that offered me several things.   I needed a program that {amongst other things}:

~  held me accountable for walking the talkBecause, the mouth will say anything.  Enough said.

~ addressed the ‘Why?’ of my eating behavior.  You see, getting to the gym has never been the problem.  controlling the eating behavior has.

~  didn’t promise a short-term, quick fix-it solutionDidn’t get this size fast.  Not going to lose it, and, more importantly, get to goal quickly. Got to put in the work!

~ offered a forum where I could have some face-time with others – in real timeFace-time has a way of not allowing you to hide from the truth.

~ had a long-standing history & tried and true scientific basis for it’s successLongevity has its place.

~ allowed me to eat ‘real’ foodMy food mantra is that, ‘… there’s too much good *read- natural* food out there, not to be able to eat it!

~ that worked, seamlessly, with my present lifestyleYou want to guarantee failure? Implement too many unrealistic changes too fast in a schedule with little to no room for change.

~ taught me that the path to a healthy lifestyle can be measured in many different waysThe scale can not & should not be the only measure of ‘winning’

I’ll stop here.  {I could really go on 🙂

So without much thought *it was a no brainer for me* – I returned home and, because the physical center was closed –  I joined my local Weight Watchers group – via the website. 

green chairs

A year, and some change later {pardon the pun}, the program has and continues to live up to everything that I wanted and needed.  The group that I attend is slowly growing. Over the last year, we have transitioned from individuals gathered in a common space for individual reasons, to a cohesive, supportive, fun, trusting, understanding ‘family’ who at the core of it all, has each others best interest at heart.  I ask you.  What more can you ask?

so here’s the fun part  {it’s all fun. but. you know what I mean}

This morning I arrived to the meeting a lot later than I usually do.  My late is about three to five minutes.  Not today. I was about fifteen minutes late *yikes*.  Not good when the meeting is only thirty minutes long to begin with *crinch*.  It was nice to see all of the new attendees.  My hope for them is that they come back enough to realize that the program really does work – when you work the program.

Since the beginning of the year – yes.  just nineteen days ago – The group has been increasingly interested in increasing the our presence on #Facebook.

*aside* I think that it’s a great idea!  Especially since I spend a lot of time promoting a healthier lifestyle on my Facebook page

See, we have an official Weight Watchers Facebook page; however, it has its limits {at least for right now}.  We can’t wait to share recipes, successes & fitness info.  So our  fearless Leader, Nancy,  suggested that we start another page where we can post pictures and other incentives.  Looooove it!!!

But first, we have to come up with a name for our page!

This is the fun part!  We have until our next meeting to come up with some suggestions.  My mind is going a million miles a minute trying to think of something 🙂

Now, I am really looking forward to this upcoming meeting-  more than ever –  because I can’t wait to hear all of the suggestions! 

Did I say that we are a pretty witty bunch?

#WW Name Our Group Challenge

 So Luv-lies, I’ll be sure to let you know how this turned out.  One thing that I’m almost certain of.  I wouldn’t be late for next Sunday’s meeting 🙂

Do you have any suggestions?

Do tell …..

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I’m Taking the Money Challenge…

Hello Luv-lies,

Got Resolution?  Why not make this little money-saving ditty one of them – I am.  We’ll probably be more successful than say, ummmmmmm ……any weight loss resolutions ( just keeping it real… I’m just saying)

This little challenge seems to be all the rave this year.  It premise seems pretty basic (don’t you just hate when someone says that?  It makes me feel like, if I don’t get it – the first time – I’m a lot challenged… just saying):: You start by saving one dollar  the first week of the year and gradually save $52 in the last week of the year.

The idea seems to have been started last year by,  Kassondra Perry-Moreland, who owns the Facebook group for the 52-Week Money Challenge, and  *BOOM!* it went viral. Kassondra talked to Martin Williams of All Things MW  and offered this reason for starting ‘the thing’::

“I am a single parent, and I have worked at my job for 22 years. I just worked 53 hours alone in this payperiod and do this all of the time. I decided that this is the year that I will have something to show for working all of those hours instead of just bills left over at the end of the year. I work better if I am held accountable, even in my personal life, so I decided to see how many of my friends would be honest and say they needed help with a structured savings plan, and even if they don’t would they help me. I had no idea that it wold turn into what it has in just the last two hours”.

Here’s how the weekly breakdown looks like::

52-WEEK-MONEY-CHALLENGE-1-LICQpng

I’m going to give it a try.  I do think that I’m going to do it in reverse, though.

That way, when the holiday season rolls around, my saving amount will be ‘Min-Na-Mall!

Are You In?

…. do tell

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… I’m gonna go and take a chance ….

Hello Luv-lies,

Today was a keeper.  Productive.  Rewarding.

This phenomenal video +  an intensively amazing workout = One Hell Of a Great Day!


{via}

What Greatness have you had in your day?

Do Tell ….

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#NaBloPoMo, Girl on Fire!, I am Woman....Roar!, Menopause, NaBloPoMO, Randomness, W.T.W.!!!!? {What the What!!!?}

Menopause is A Real Bee-Yotch!

Good Evening Luvlies,

In a lot of ways, I am truly happy that I have been blessed to live in this day and time.  Now don’t get me wrong, there are times that I get super peeved about some of the shenanigans that I read about and/or encounter.

But today was not one of them.

Why? You ask.

It was my trip to the gym this evening that has me grateful for living in ’these times’.  No, it wasn’t the updated, state-of-the-art equipment that reigns second, only  to the rock hard bodies of the eye-candy that strolls proud as a peacock, displaying hours of their hard work for all to ohhh & ahhh over , but instead the honest, no-holds barred conversations that seem to occur spontaneously, while waiting for the class ahead of mine to end.

The conversations don’t happen on a daily, but every now and then I’ll be patiently waiting beside another woman who just needs to get some ’stuff’ off of her chest…

… today was ‘that’ day…

The conversation started off innocently enough.  You know, the normal pomp and circumstances – “how was your day?”, “couldn’t wait to get to class today”, “I really need this workout tonight”.    You know, all of that kind of stuff….

With all of the niceties out of the way, I made a general comment to this ‘Zumba Sister-friend’ about the temperature in the gym…

and the following conversation ensued….

20131112-234241.jpg

Zumba Sister-Friend (feverishly fanning herself):  Girrrrrrl!  You think it’s nice in here?…. I’m hot as hell in here!

Me: (raising my brows in surprise, wondering where the conversation was going) Oh Yeah?  It feels pretty good to me…

Zumba Sister-Friend (continuing the frantic fanning) : Can I tell you?, since the start of this menopause thing, I get hot as hell!!!  All I want to do is ‘cold down’.….. I want anything ice cold!…. a tall glass of water with a ton of ice cubes spilling over the rim, a fan with a gazillion over-sized blades, an Alaskan glacier, all of the snow on the North Pole!… anything to ‘cold me down’

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Me: (pleasantly surprised at her candor and secretly appreciative of someone who understands my daily visits to ‘hell’): Don’t I know it!  And it just comes on all of a sudden! No ‘just between us girls’ kinda warning! No ‘you need to get your arse ready, because I’m on my way’ heads up!  NOTHING! Just…. BAM!  One minute you’re good and the next minute – all bullshinanigans break out!!!  All you want to do is climb out of your clothes!

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Zumba Sister-Friend (pointing in the direction of the free-weight area): My Husband doesn’t know what to make of it.  Most of the time, I’m as sweet as apple pie.  But when that inferno reigns down on me, I’m like a friggin’ hungry grizzly who hasn’t eaten in four weeks…and there’s no food insight for days!  This menopause thing is a real bee-yotch!

Me (nodding my head indicating that I am fully aware of her struggle): Don’t I know!  And the thing is, I’ve always heard the b!tching about the flashes – that feeling of standing with your feet nailed to the floor, while opening the oven door on Thanksgiving Day!  Has anyone told you about the exxxx-treme cold that follows!!  I’m talking about the bone-chilling, ‘where’d that heat from that damned flash that I had a minute ago!”  – COLD.

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… To the delight of me and my Zumba Sister-Friend, the conversation continued like this for, at least, another ten minutes.  Both of us quietly grateful to know that we really aren’t crazy… just going through some basic shiggity and tom-foolery that has come to define this developmental stage of our lives….

And when it finally came that time to ‘get our Zumba on’, we strutted into the class like twenty-somethings without a care in the world…..

And, as I said earlier, It’s not every day that

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Can You Believe She’s having a DOUBLE Mastectomy !!!!! 🎶 💖💖

Hello Luv-lies

This Girl is on Fire!!!!

On Tuesday, Deborah Cohan, an OB-GYN and a mother of two, went into surgery to have her breasts removed. But before the surgery, she and her medical team threw a pre-op dance party in the operating room at the University of California-San Francisco Medical Center at Mount Zion.

The six-minute video, features Cohan and her surgical team getting jiggy with it to Super Diva – Beyoncé’s hit single “Get Me Bodied.”  The flash mob OR dance was the brainchild of Cohan. and first appeared on CaringBridge, a site that connects friends and family together during a health event. On the site, Cohan created a page called Deborah’s Healing Journey, where she detailed her flash mob plans.

On her CaringBridge page, Cohan wrote – “My fantasy is for you to play the song … and dance wherever you happen to be.” She requested friends and family to send photos and videos of themselves dancing to the song.

“I have visions of a healing video montage. Nothing brings me greater joy than catalyzing others to dance, move, be in their bodies. Are you with me people?”

What an AWESOME Woman!!

So Luv-lies,

What awesomeness have you witnessed today?

Do Tell ….

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