Just Go With It - B+

I didn't see this movie until two days ago, but I hadn't planned to see it all so better late than never.  The movie was RIDICULOUS!!  It was SO funny, had a good plot and good acting, especially from the young actors.  I don't think five minutes went by without a laugh, but it also had a good amount of heartfelt & romantic moments.  The only reason I knocked it down from an A is because of all the sexual inuendo which may not be appropriate for younger audiences, but kids know a lot these days, so maybe it's fine.  A must see if you want or need a few laughs.

Hotel Serrano-A Kimpton Hotel

So this review is way overdue, as are many more, because I haven't downloaded pictures from my camera in months. This one just happened to be on my Blackberry.  Better late than never.

By now, I've learned to trust the Kimpton name, but per my sister's suggestion, I hotel hopped to check out the competition the night before I checked into the hotel Serrano.  The customer service, the atmosphere, the decor, it was the best!! Though the neighborhood was not, it's a stone's throw away from safer terrain, shopping, dining and transportation, and for me the location wasn't a problem. 

Though I may forget the name and other details, the memory that will likely remain with me, is checking in after a long day in the Redwood Forest and other tourist attractions, being able to turn up the heat to my liking (a hard feat), and eating treats from the minibar in bed while watching Oprah and the sun set over San Francisco.  It was bliss!!!  So of all the reasons to stay there, at the top of my list is the experience.

Spring Cleaning

So a couple months ago, I found myself at a  fork in the road, not really sure what I wanted, much less how to get it.  I had long heard that writing things down and having a visual are important parts of achieving goals, but I guess I never really believed.

During that time, I woke up one morning and decided to take the day off and try to get my head together.  By noon,  I had gotten nowhere, so with only the slightest idea of how to, I decided to make a vision board.  Feeling like I was on to something but not knowing where to begin, I called up a couple friends who I thought might and they wanted in.  I provided the scissors, glue & magazines and they bought the posterboards, snacks and more magazines. 

For the next few hours we sat on the living room floor cutting out whatever appealed to us, while talking, laughing, snacking and watching Oprah. At the end, our "vision" was pretty clear.

Unlike the others, mine (above) was filled to capacity.  And though what I wanted and who I wanted to be turned out to be A LOT, at least I now had it down on paper.  My vision board revealed a desire to be and do good for myself, the world around me and the places I travel to, in my relationships, my home, my closet and my life's work.  Considering that summary and the current road that I am on, I need to have another look or two at my board.

Winter is almost over.  Old things are beginning to die where new ones will eventually grow, and rebirth is being breathed into that which is dormant. It's time to take inventory and decide what stays and what goes.  Letting go of the old, worn-out and mediocre, no matter how comfortable it is, will only making room for the fresh and new.  Keep only what lines up with the vision you have for the life that you want and the person you want to be.  Happy Spring Cleaning!!

The little things...

Unexpected gifts are the best kind, like the "Solar Flower"

that a friend/coworker gave me today.  According to the package, light makes it dance.  Despite the fact that I work in a "lower level" office with zero sunlight, it is still bobbing away.  And that makes me smile!

It also reminds me of something I hope it makes you smile!!

Food for Thought

So last week I took some time off from Weight Watchers because after enjoying three days in New York while not watching anything, I wasn't ready to jump back in.  So I decided to take the week off and see how it went. 

I continued my New York way of life which involves a lot of walking and eating what I want, when I want it, and not thinking about it.  I felt justified when the scale was in exactly the same place as it had been seven days before, despite the lack of organized exercise along with the cake, cookies, krispy creme,  pasta, burger, and belgian waffle that I'd eaten in the days prior.  I was affirmed, grateful and a little puzzled, until I remembered something I'd heard a little while ago that suggested that emotional state affects the way that food is digested and stored in the body.  Meaning negative feelings while eating can lead to weight gain or a stall in weight loss despite efforts elsewhere or the reverse.  Now I'm curious to look further into this, but based on my experience, I can see how it could be true. 

Last week, my "bad" meals were what I wanted to eat, rather than what I should be eating, and in the company of friends, so I was happy and satisfied while eating them.  And while I didn't log in any time with Jillian Michaels, which I dread until the end, I did do a lot of walking on account of the spring preview we had last week, and I love to walk.  I guess the lesson is that being healthy is as much about doing what makes you happy as it is about counting calories and breaking a sweat, and that if and when you find that balance, you're on the right track.

I Want Samoas!!

So, I am always trying something new, especially food, especially when it's on sale.  During my time in the breakfast/healthy bar aisle last week, I happened upon these babies to the left.  I picked them because I'd never tried them before and also because, they were on sale!!!  It wasn't until the next day at work that I took my first bite and discovered their greatness.  The familiar taste took me back to my very short-lived scouting days, to my favorite cookies, Samoas!!  I think they taste the same but 3 surveyed coworkers agreed that they come pretty close!!

At 120 Calories and 4g of fat, you're definitely getting more bang for your bite as compared with 150 Calories and 8g of fat for just two cookies, and who eats just two?!? Especially when you bought a box (or two).  More than likely, these will not forever replace my love for the real thing, but they will make it easier to resist the chubby-cheeked pushers cherubs stationed at the front of the grocery store, or to give them a donation and keep it moving.

New Music!

I'm a lover of new things, mostly because new things often have their own unique scent (I have a very sensitive nose, like from across the room I can smell the banana peppers on your sub.).  One of my favorites is the new CD smell.  I haven't encountered it in a while, thanks to iTunes giving me the ability to acquire music without having to wait a week or leave the house.  But I sacrifice the new CD experience :(.  Anywho...

My little sis regifted me a shuffle.  I can't watch videos or movies of even pick which song to listen to next, but right now it's all that I need, and I'm loving it with the new music I purchased in preparation for my NYC stint last weekend.  Among the newbies are Fantasia's latest album, love it!, some select songs from Jazmine Sullivan's latest, & MaryMary's new single I'm Walking, which I was listening to as my doctor came in, and inquired what was playing in my ears.  When I told her she said "Oh that's a good thing to do, listen to Gospel...".  Her comment caught me off guard.  Maybe because I never thought of the song as gospel.  I do have a gospel playlist, but "I'm walking" isn't on it, it's mixed in with my other newbies. 

I try to be conscious of and selective about what I give access to my ears & eyes, because I believe they are the gateways to the mind, heart and soul, and that what you put in will eventually come out.  In my early years, I could only listen to "church music" but at around age 8 or 9, my mom abolished the rule with the warning "listen to the words."  I'm not sure why, but that has always stuck with me.  And so it is today, I gravitate towards music that uplifts and affirms me where I am in my life currently, regardless of what genre it falls into.  

Sleep...

Oh how it alludes most of us! Still, we love it so much! 

My body is doing that thing it does when I haven't caught enough Zs.  That thing that I can't find words to describe, but that I know well enough to be in bed on time tonight.  This feeling has existed for a while, but in high school and college, it would take 48-72 hours with little or no sleep for it to show up.  Today it found its way to me after two nights of 6-hour sleep.  This getting older thing can kick rocks lol. For some extra persuasion on why sleep is so important, check out the benefits of sleep & dangers of sleep deprivation. 

Schedule sleep like you would a date.  Show up on time, dress the part, create ambiance (clean, quiet, calm), and get in there!!  You (and everyone around you) will be happy you did!

Delicious & Nutritious Finds

So Friday after work I ended up at Marshall's with a cofriend (coworker & friend).  I left with a 32 ounce bottle of conditioner and some tortilla chips, both with promising natural ingredients.  The conditioner was $7, down from the original price of $34, I love to save!  But that's a post for another day, as is the conditioner.

So the chips?  Best healthy chip EVER!  And at only 110 calories & 4.5 grams of fat per serving (13 chips), they are quite the find!!

I ran into them again at Whole Foods on Sunday sitting near another tasty brand of healthy tortilla chips I found at a rest stop last fall.  Check out the love below! :)

Late July Organic Mild Green Mojo Chips pack a lot of flavor with a little spice all in one bite, so they're good by themselves or with something that isn't overpowering like guacamole (my favorite).

FoodShouldTasteGood Tortilla Chips have an understated taste and would probably go best with something that has kick, like sharp cheddar cheese and medium salsa.

At Safeway, my second stop on my grocery stop, I headed straight to the frozen food section for my waffles.  Last week they were on sale and I was hoping they still were.  They were not, AND the regular price increased by $0.50! I was about to walk away until I looked over and saw a comparable replacement for $1 less...As health conscious as I am, I'm unlikely to eat something that doesn't taste good, and my Eggos never let me down, but I decided to try something different and seemingly healthier instead, especially since it was on sale.  The risk was worth it and my wallet & stomach were satisfied.

Kashi 7 Grain Waffles are the tastiest & healthiest frozen waffle I've ever had. I spread a little coconut oil and/or peanut butter, sprinkle ground flaxseed, slice half a banana on top and then drizzle with honey. Yum!  If you're into Eggos, you'll really like these, but hurry and catch them while they're on sale!! 

To be healthy for health's sake...

is the new goal.  No longer gonna play the numbers game, where my mood, motivation, and general outlook can be affected by what number popped up on the scale.

This new attitude is probably a byproduct of affirmations but mostly stems from a YouTube video I watched earlier where the young lady was on a quest, wait for it, to GAIN weight. ::gasp::  I think they whole concept was confusing until I listened to the back story of how being teased for being skinny had effected her, and how she had a hard time keeping weight on.  Towards the end of the video, she posted a picture of herself at 100 pounds, her normal weight, 150, her post baby weight that she loved and was aiming to get back to and her current weight 128, which she is fine with but trying to take measures to either maintain or build on. 

Though most women, including myself, find themselves on the other side of this, it all boils down to being happy with what you see when you look in the mirror, regardless of what anyone else feels or has to say about it. 

I realized that I should be trying to be healthy because it feels good, not for the sake of pursuing a previous weight that was achieved by questionable means based on a skewed notion of what I needed to look like, which was largely based on outside influences.  I love my shape, so moving forward my goal will be to improve on that which I already love, and if numbers drop, well then so be it, but if not, I'll still be healthy and feel good.

Happy Weekend!

Affirmations

af·fir·ma·tion

1. the act or an instance of affirming; state of being affirmed.

2. the assertion that something exists or is true.

3. something that is affirmed; a statement or proposition that is declared to be true.

4. confirmation or ratification of the truth or validity of a prior judgment, decision, etc.

5. Law . a solemn declaration accepted instead of a statement under oath.

I have long read the benefits of affirmations and even reasoned why they would be helpful to me.  But I wasn't too excited about the practice of reciting them because it seemed kind of cooky since technically you are talking to yourself.  Well, I have gotten over myself and I'm a believer: 1. Because I am a believer and the Bible has a lot to say about the power of words & thoughts. i.e."Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."-Proverbs 18:21 "As a man thinketh, so is he"-Proverbs & 2. Because it works!! 

Since the beginning of the week, I have been reading affirmations before bed and I have been noticing positive changes already, but none more than this morning when I woke up nearly pain-free after falling down stairs yesterday! A couple of the affirmations are about being in perfect health, and having a sound body, etc. Others are about how I view the world, other people, love and fear, but many are biblical.

I figure, as a person roaming the world you are subject to encounter any number of negative messages throughout your life, and even the strongest amongst us can't help but be affected at some point.  For me this is a way at countering those negative messages and affirming the positive things that I believe already exists and those that I would like to see become reality.

Not sure where to start?

I am {insert what you want to become or continue to be}

e.g.
I am Beautiful
I am Fearfully & wonderfully made
I am Loved
I am Brave
I am Powerful
I am Strong
I am Free
I am everything that God says about me
I am who I say I am

Just to get you started, now make it personal!!

Where's my motivation?

What's my motivation? To get healthy and back down to my "fighting weight", but lately, specifically since Monday when I weighed myself and discovered that 17 workouts=2.2 pounds lost, I've been lagging.  I found an article a couple weeks ago that had some helpful info on how to get and stay motivated.  Think I'll do some of the exercises, liiiike now, or at least when I get home, in addition to the strength exercises I didn't do this morning. Tisk, tisk...Deuces!