Twelve Days of Christmas

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....

Well, I get it after Christmas, but a week of skiing is gonna be fan-freaking-tastic! But on third day,  today (Sunday), I'm giving myself credit for getting on the scale. Let's just say that there's been a plethora of sugary goodness at work lately and I've been helping myself. A lot.

But it makes me feel like shit. Except Turtles. I love turtles! And so I decided to only eat the goodies I really love. And I busted some borscht out of the freezer (veggies have been sadly lacking lately) and baked some cabbage rolls too. Drank lots of water, had a good night's sleep and got up this morning to step on the scale.

It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be (why, why, does a digital scale have so much control of my life?! Oh wait. It doesn't. It helps me collect data. I am a scientist, after all!).

So, I guess I really have learned a few things doing this lean eating thing:
-eating slowly means I usually don't need to go back for seconds
-veggies are awesome
-it's not about food
And so even though I'd tossed out most of the habits these past few weeks, the big one stuck. If I eat slowly, my body registers when I'm full.  Built in portion control. Built in weight control.

And a solid hour of back bending followed by meditation didn't hurt, either.

I've got the ingredients for mulligatawny (YUM) and then I'm back to transcribing.

And I did some laundry today, too. Man, I'm awesome!!

Twelve Days of Christmas (continued)

Day 8 (Tuesday): The gift of vision I gave myself. In June I had eye surgery that has left me, for the first time since fourth grade, with better than 20/20 vision. It truly has been life changing!

Day 7 (Wednesday): I climbed Prairie Mountain. Even after an asthma attack mid-climb. And the majority of the group I was climbing with carried on (one stayed back, thank God). And no, I won't ever be hiking with them again!

Day 6 (Thursday): The courage of my convictions. I have an on-going issue with my former employer and while I could  have just walked away, being right, and more importantly, doing the right thing, is more important in this case. Unfortunately, I have to wait until next June (almost two years since the incident) until I (well, my union's lawyers) present the case to an arbitrator.

Day 5 (Friday): I have conquered my sleep demons! Between a CPAP machine and a custom made mouth guard, I sleep again. Twenty years is a long time to function on little to no sleep. While I don't require as many zzzzz's per night as my honey, they are top quality hours of sleep. Quality trumps quantity any time!

Day 4 (Saturday): Rediscovering my yoga practice. Our kula pretty much dissolved when Anusara did, but I've made a committment to my mat and it feels great. Mind, body and soul are relishing it.

And with that, I'm off to practice. I've been sitting at the laptop most of the day (working on a project for a friend to earn some extra holiday cash (yes, I know it's almost Christmas. What can I say, I work best under pressure!)) and my body doth protest! I've got soup simmering (borscht) and cabbage rolls baking, so a tasty dinner will follow.

December 16

Wow, how is December 2013 almost over?! Where did the year go? It seems like just a few weeks ago it was New Year's. *shakes head*

So, what's new here?

There's our tree, all sparkly and pretty. The kids did most of the decorating and we had a blast doing it. More fun ensued with a full on Wii Golf/Bowling Tournament. I may have had my ass handed to me on a silver platter by an 11 year old in bowling, but hey, it was fun!

I have yet to make it out skiing this year. It's making me sad. But my bank account has been saying "No" and I've been trying to be a grown-up about money recently, so my credit card has been safely stowed and I'm planning my skiing to fit the budget.

I'm doing a 12 Days of Christmas Challenge with my Lean Eating team.
Everyday, for the next 12 days, write something on a small pieces of paper that you've accomplished this year or that you want to remember and place it in the container you've chosen.

Since I'm still going between two houses, I'm going to blog them (and yes, I realize I'm behind by a few days already). Here goes:

Day 12 (Friday): 47 ski day season last year. My skiing improved so much I can barely believe it!

Day 11 (Saturday): Ditched a job that no longer served me and found one that did! I'm valued and appreciated for my skills and knowledge. 

Day 10 (Sunday): Work life balance. See day 11, above.

Day 9 (Monday): Being open to possibilities...and love. And finding it.

to be continued....

Life is Good

Suzy Home-maker

This summer has flown by! The flood and evacuation threw me for a bit of a loop, but then moving back and forth between my house and the new beau's has taken a toll, too. I'm home this weekend, but today I spent the day making hundreds of glorious perogies.

There are caramelized onion, potato and Grizzly Gouda perogies.

There are sweet potato, bacon, roasted garlic and cheese perogies. (Oh. My. God!)

There are cottage cheese perogies. Cottage cheese and dill perogies.

Saskatoon perogies.

And last, but certainly not least, there are plum perogies.

We enjoyed the fruits of our labour with real Mennonite sausage (from Manitoba, no less) and schmot fat (cream gravy). Why, oh why, have I been eating fried perogies all these years?! Oh. My.
It's definitely not low calorie or healthy, but damned tasty!

I'm exhausted!

Add the bounty of today to our work a few weeks ago (salsa, dill pickles, bean pickles and pickled carrots) and I'm ready for any zombie apocalypse (or any other food shortage).

I think a soak in the tub, a cuddle with Nerm and a phone call from my sweetie and I'm good to call it a day.

August 2013

Well, it's been a month since I was here last. What's new?

1. My new beau is awesome. We went to Revelstoke for the long weekend to celebrate his birthday. There were walks (cant really call them hikes) in the mountains, wildflowers in bloom, drinks on the patio, the best. Pizza. Ever., and breakfast at the ski hill. Wow, it looks different when its not covered in snow!  Since then, we've just been spending lots of quality time together and going for walks, either in my neighbourhood or his.  We also went to the big outdoor concert for flood relief. It amazes me how much musical talent this country possesses. It blew my mind. There's been talk of combining homes, but neither one of us is ready right now. When my lease is up at the end of January? Quite possibly. =)
2. I've been meditating again. It's amazing. I don't remember why I stopped. I'm not going to this time. 
3. The fitness/healthy eating challenge I talked about last time is going well. I still struggle with the workouts. I haven't seen tangible progress yet, but I feel better. The daily habits are going much better than the workouts. Baby steps. Slow and steady. I've got this!

That's about all. I'd better get moving. C is coming over to help me with my measurements for the challenge and then we've got a big day planned: farmers markets and epicure party. T (thats my new beau) will be home around 5 and we're BBQing. 

Peace out.

Good Gawd, how did it get to be the end of July already?!

Wow, time sure flies!

What's new, you ask? Let's go with a bulleted list. Because there's been THAT much!

• I was evacuated during the big flood of 2013. I live a block from the Elbow river, so was smack dab in the middle of it all. Fortunately, my building is built on a berm. We had nary a drop of water touch our heritage building (built in 1921). My neighbours, however, were not so lucky. There's so much damage in my neighbourhood. The building directly across the street from me, for example. They're out for 3-4 months. My landlord's friends, who lost not only their home, but their businesses too. I am incredibly fortunate. Which reminds me, I need to check my lottery ticket from that week!
• Nermal & I spent the first weekend with my mom, then I borrowed my brother's car and stayed in Cochrane with my friend Christie. We had a blast together and more than one batch of watermelon mojitos were consumed. =)
• Started a year-long nutrition and fitness adventure with my friend, Michelle! This was the first week. I like the flexibility of the program and that we start with baby steps. This week our habit was fish oil and probiotics. I got 100% compliance on that one. The workouts, not so much. I'm not a big fan of weights so I've been resisting somewhat. But between me and my coach, we've come up with substitute exercises that don't have me going to a gym (I'm SOOOO not a gym girl) or spending oodles of money on equipment. The best part of this gig is the mantra. I  LOVE it!

START WHEREVER YOU ARE.

USE WHATEVER YOU HAVE.

DO WHATEVER YOU CAN.

• I've got a new beau. I'm a smitten kitten. As is Nermal. She loves him, too.
• My new job rocks.

OK, so my list isn't that long, but it's full of big stuff! Tonight I'm heading down to Folk Fest. Steve Earle is headlining. Where else would I be?

It's the Off Season

(For about 162 more days, then skiing will resume)

So, what have I been up to?

- cycling (so much fun, but such a sore ass!)
- meeting new people
- sushi dates with friends I haven't seen in far to long
- avoiding gluten like the plague
- hitting up the farmer's markets for great local food
- hitting my yoga mat and remembering how good it feels. Like coming home.
- saving my pennies (and loonies and toonies) for eye surgery. Two weeks from today, I won't need glasses or contacts any more!
- spring cleaning (OK, this was more my mom than me, but I'm reaping the benefits)
- reading some good books
- listening to some pee your pants funny podcasts
- trying to decide which season pass to buy next year
- longing for my new powder skis
- trying to find a good facial sunscreen. I'm not convinced there is one.
- being thankful for the lilacs blooming in my yard. They are my very favourite flower in the whole world. And I get to breathe them all in!
- I'm also thankful for Claritin. See above. =)

Quote of the Day: 2013-05-10

One of the yoga peeps I follow on FB made this comment this morning:

Gross over-generalization aside: have you ever noticed that narcissists flock to extreme asana like flies convene to poop?

My favourite response: 

There are days when I think legs up the wall is extreme asana, and I flock like hell to that shit.

Amen, sistah!

Excuse me, my phone is ringing. 

Namaste.

It's the end of April? WTH?!

How did that happen?! Last time I looked, it was my baby cousin's birthday. He's an April fool. And tomorrow is the last day of the month already!

Time is flying by. That's what happens when you're having fun!

My new job is going great. I'm rocking the new clothes, my boss loves me, I love my new schedule, and I'm having fun after work, too. My cousin and I are going to aquasize twice a week. Tonight's class wasn't so great due to a disengaged instructor, but we had fun regardless. And hey, it's good it to get out, have a girl talk and move around at the same time.

Ski season is almost over. It makes me very, very sad. I'm hoping to get into the Dive this weekend. Fingers crossed for snow and then some bluebird days!

My mom surprised me with a visit yesterday. It also involved a shopping trip with my grandma (Mom lied--she told me they were done shopping--I don't shop with the old lady. I will take her to medical appointments and translate the medical speak, but I refuse to shop with her any more. Not since the Lazy-Boy incident.) It was cool, I got a chance to hang out with my mom unexpectedly.

I've had a crazy twitchy eye all day. Not fun.

And that's what's new in my world. Nothing too exciting, but good all around. I'll take it.

Sunday Fun Day!

I had a fabulous day today!

Let me list the reasons why:
1. My favourite bus driver was driving the ski bus today.
2. He brought me new skis to try out to see if I want to buy for a greatly reduced price (I do!)
3. Skiing with good friends.
4. Sunshine at Sunshine!

These are my new skis! I love, love love the graphics!

be odd. do not conform.

have fun today

snow = fun

172 cm 142-115-139

These fat boys ROCK!!

Other scenes from today:

Me at the top of the Great Divide chair. Mt. Assiniboine is hiding back there somewhere.

The view from the top of Mt. Standish.

There's the Wawa chair, looking back at Goat's Eye (far left--you can see Wildfire and Sunshine Coast runs),  and Lookout Mountain. On the far right, you can see the line of TeePee town chair and the TeePee town chutes. Moving left, the big bowl between the two peaks is Delirium Dive.

Today was day #43 of my season. There are still another 12 days that I can/plan to ski between now and May 20 (closing day/Slush cup). A 55 day season? Can't complain about that!

TGIF!

What a week! I keep forgetting how exhausting learning new things are. Even when they aren't 100% new, it's been awhile and my brain and body are reminding me to rest. The beer after work probably is helping with that!

I'm definitely rocking the new clothes! I'm the best dressed there. =)

My shoes, while cute, gave me a nasty blister on Tuesday. I bought flats after work (two malls and too many shoe stores later, I might add). They're excellent blister-healing and transit shoes (I refuse to be a woman who wears athletic shoes and a skirt. That's wrong on way too many levels.). Thankfully today was casual Friday and I could wear my beloved Keens.

We had a baby shower yesterday for one of the girls who's off on mat leave as of this afternoon. It was so cool to see the manager and supervisor not only take part, but involved in the planning. What a difference!

Yay for the beginning of weekends off again! Tomorrow is taxes and housecleaning, unfortunately, but I believe it will end with movies on the couch. Spring skiing is on tap for Sunday, but I'm not sure if we'll hit Louise or Sunshine, it will depend on the conditions.

OK, I'm going to try and get a head start on tomorrow's to-do list!

Fresh Start

Tomorrow is my first day at my new (old) job. This is a slightly different version of the job I originally moved to this city for.

I have fabulous new clothes.

I have been rocking the healthy eating and weight loss lately (even with Friday night wings, Sunday lunch of nachos and beer or new Easter Sunday tradition of sushi).

I'm a way better skier now than I was at this time last year. And there's still 6 weeks of the season left! And I have pretty new boots.

I have a friend who loves me.

So, goodbye to the old. I'm choosing to move forward with honesty and integrity.

And in damn fine shoes, if I do say so myself.

The End of Vacation & Beginning of Something New

It's bittersweet. I've had four fabulous weeks away from work. 15 ski days. This is me on Friday, on top of Goat's Eye, before heading down to the tree line to play in the powder.

So while I have to return to work (I really missed my co-workers!), it will only be for a little while. Starting in April, I'm moving on, job-wise. It means a longer commute and sitting at a desk, but what I get in return far outweighs all that! It's days. No more weekends. No more evenings. Same days off. All. The. Time.

What?! Why, yes! I may actually be able to achieve work-life balance again!

Sooooooo excited!

Birthday Eve

That's right, if you don't have your shopping done by now, it's too late!

I had a great time in BC, in fact, the best day I have EVER had skiing happened on Thursday. It was amazing and challenging and fun! So much fun, I tried to replicate it on Friday, with some success. Let's just say I need to work on my powder skiing skills! I wiped out more times than I can count, but when there's 20cm of fresh, soft snow to land in, who cares?! The highway was closed last night, so my departure was delayed by 6 hours (had I known, I could've skied for another two hours!) and I didn't get home until 6 this morning. *yawn*

I've spent the day doing laundry and cuddling with Nerm. I'm heading out tomorrow with some of my favourite peeps to play in the snow and have some fun to celebrate another year older. Hopefully one of them will have a functioning camera on their phone to capture the day. (Did I mention I'd like a new phone for my birthday? No? Well, it's on the list.)

And that's what I know for now. The next time you hear from me, I'll be another year older!

=)

Vacation!

Yep, I'm living the life. I'm on vacation (and have been since the 15th)!

There's a lot of skiing, good times with friends and family and did I mention skiing?!

I'm heading to BC tomorrow for a week on the slopes. I have a cooler with healthy food packed and ready to go. Exercise and healthy eating are on my to-do list this year.

That's what I know. Oh, and there may be a new job on the horizon. I'm cautiously optimistic!

=D

Still here!

Life's been pretty full lately. Lots of skiing and playing outdoors!