Magical Memories

 

When life gets rough, or when my work days drag on, I sit and remember the vacations Justin and I have been on together.  After the vacation is done, it's the little moments of our trips that end up meaning the most.  Those unplanned moments: the random stops on the side of the road for a photo, stopping at a restaurant just because it looks good, eating fish and chips on the warf with a flock of seagulls - these are the moments that I always remember and look back on.  That bowl of clam chowder we had on Pier 39 in San Fransisco, that amazing bottle of riesling Justin ordered for us in Astoria, Oregon, the crazy town of Bandon, Oregon and the food we had that didn't sit well with either of us.  These moments are what memories are made of and I think it's about time Justin and I set off to make more of them.

Tips And Tricks

It seems Tuesday is the day I work the hardest at my diet plan; it's when I weigh in, and it's the start of my week for my exercise plan.  I like the first day of my week being on Tuesday though, that means Friday (my favourite day) is in the middle of my week.  Hump day is a highlight, rather than just a blip to pass by.

 

Anyways, I wanted to share my latest fitness related web find, My Fitspiration.  These two sisters were the Season 11 Winners of The Biggest Loser, so they really do know what they're talking about.  Together they lost a whopping total of 249 pounds!  Seriously, Hannah and Olivia are amazing and have truly done it all to have lost the weight.  My favourite tip, and one that I implemented myself today, is writing in a food journal.  It's so much more than just documenting your daily food consumption; it's a way to stay motivated and give yourself a pat on the back.

 

Lately, if I don't feel motivated to do a work out, I give myself two options (either the elliptical or one of my Walk Away The Pounds DVDs), and choose which one I'd prefer.  Each time I've given myself the choice, I choose one, and before I know it my workout is done!  And, a great after workout snack, is a sliced granny smith apple with a triangle of Laughing Cow Cream Cheese smeared on each slice.  Crunchy, and a little bit of protein - so yummy!

 

I think any new ideas, or sources of information are essential to losing weight.  What are some of your tips, or places on the web you go for inspiration?

Out Of The Blue

1 - On our way to Calgary on Saturday.  Justin and I had discussed making the trip up, but didn't set it in stone until Friday.  Justin suggested getting a room, but I wanted to come home, so we'll get a room the next time we go to Calgary.

2 - My first time at Anthropology.  It's not at all what I expected, much more of a boutique than I thought it would be.  I still loved it and will try and stop there whenever I can.

3 - There's a carousel in the Chinook Mall.  I still haven't gone on one (that I remember), and I think I'm going to add this to my list to do before turning twenty-nine.

4 - My Anthropology finds.  Totally worth the four hour round trip drive!

 

Find me on Instagram: juliemkeller, or just click the button on the sidebar.

Back To It

Dear winter, I am ready for you to leave the area.  Although I loved the hoarfrost this morning, I don't like the cold.  Dear snow, please melt fast, as I am ready to start running outside.  Dear sunshine, please come out to play soon so that I can get a nice glow after a few outdoor runs.  Dear daylight savings time, please don't make me feel like I lost too much sleep this weekend.  Dear Sunday nap, be warm and cozy with a sleeping cat by my side.

Escape From Winter

I love how I can have the best of intentions, and the weather throws a wrench into my plans.  It's been cold, snowy and overcast for most of this past week.  If I was Punxsutawney Phil, I would have been pridiciting an early spring, but that seems hard to believe at the moment!  Basically, it's a little hard to see my shadow, or any shadow for that matter, when the sun isn't shining!

 

Enter the beautiful Redwood National Park that Justin and I visited on our honeymoon in 2010.  I've been thinking, and remembering them a lot recently, so I went in search of a photo with shadows to link up with the Click Chicks Photo Challenge this week.  The red wood trees are magical, and I wish I was able to get more photos of them while we were there, especially while visiting Paul Bunyan at The Tress Of Mystery.  Yea, they were mysterious alright, and my almost new camera batteries were dead shortly after stepping foot into the forest.  Obviously there's some sort of mystic power there, allowing the trees to grow like they do, and I believe that same power drained my batteries.  Something to ponder anyways.

Ten Randoms

If we're going to be better friends, I figured you'd want to know more about me.  Here, for your pleasure, are ten things you might not know about me:

1. I have been to Vegas six times now.  It's always the first place I suggest when Justin and I talk about going on a trip somewhere.  Either that or Mexico.
2. I'm missing a tooth.  It never did grow in when I was little, nor did it when I got my adult teeth.
3. Avocados are my weakness.  I love them.  Needless to say, salmon avacado makis are my kryptonite.
4. Ice cream makes me cough.  So does pop.  And chocolate makes me thirsty for water.
5. When I picture New York city, I think of it being winter.  Always.  I'm not sure where this stemmed from, maybe from watching Home Alone Two.  I think it seems more romantic this way though.
6. If money and time were no object, I would have a lengthy vacation in Bora Bora.  That blue water and the bungalows on stilts are paradise to me.
7. When my husband and I were dating, he lived next door to me.  Although I had first met him while he was living elsewhere, he moved in next to me and we started hanging out daily.  I told my mum about Justin, explaining that he was a neighbour, and she winced.  Luckily I was right when I told her, "but he's different."
8. I was a big Hanson fan back in the late nineties.  Oh, who am I kidding, I am still a huge fan!   I listen to their Snowed In album each December before Christmas.
9. You will always see me in a pair of glasses.  I can no longer wear contacts because I need to have a prism in one of my lenses.
10. My favourite sound in the entire world is my cat purring.

Ridiculous Nonsense

 

I'd love to say that inspiration struck me today, and this post spontaneously happened.  But in reality, I was looking through my blog feed and saw a little Taylor Swift video that had me check out a post by Erin at Love, Fun and Football.  The post had absolutely nothing to do with with T-Swizzle, and neither does this one, but I found a fun link up party to join in on!  It's always fun to meet new bloggers, and I love being able to get to know everyone better.  I also love these kind of posts since they are bat-cat simple!

First thing I reach for in the fridge - Since my habits with food have changed recently, I first reach for veggies from the fridge!  Either that or milk.  I have a slight addiction to milk.  Both are much better options than reaching for the butter.

First car accident or traffic violation - I was driving to a co-workers house early in the morning, meeting him, then driving to Calgary for a training class.  It was super early in the morning, around four if I recall correctly, with nobody else on the road.  As I approached a red traffic light, I looked around to ensure there was still no traffic, came to a quick stop at the light, and continued on.  That's when I saw the red and blue lights flashing behind me.  I got a ticket for failing to come to a complete stop.  What made matters worse, is that the colleague that I was meeting up with was and ex-RCMP officer.  He gave me a bad time the whole day.

First BIG accomplishment I'm proud of - The one that moved me the most, the most recent, and one that changed my life was last Friday when I could tighten my belt to the tightest notch.  I've never had that strong wave of pride come over me before.  I was moved to tears.

Change Of Plans

1 - Justin and I treated ourselves to a nice dinner out Friday night.

2 - We got out of the house Saturday afternoon, and got some errands done, including washing the Acadia.

3 - Our plans for Saturday night changed when my cousin Brittany got sick.  Her and her boyfriend were headed down for a visit, but headed back home when she started feeling ill.  As the weekend progressed, Brittany and I realized there was a reason she got sick, and called it fate.  There was a winter storm brewing for Sunday, and her and Logan would have either had a horrible drive back home, or would of had to spend another night here in town.  And, as it turned out, Justin and I really did need a night to relax just the two of us.

4 - After our supper, Justin and I headed to Moxie's for another drink.  I discovered that they have amazing wine spritzers, made with a very tasty Pinot Grigio.

5 - Then we decided to go to a sushi lounge, and enjoyed a roll each for dessert.  It was such a fun and simple date idea, one that I'm going to keep in mind for future reference.

6 - Sunday morning the snow storm hit.  From what was fifteen degrees on Friday, to ten degrees Saturday, to blowing snow and white out conditions Sunday.  Oh the joys of Southern Alberta.

7 - The snow kept coming down, and we heard that all the highways were closed from Calgary south.

8 - A book my mum gave me as an early birthday present.  I'm really finding it inspirational, and heartfelt. 

 

Find me on Instagram: juliemkeller, or just click the button on the sidebar.



February Love List

When I get to work on the first of the month, I always tear off last months paper from my desktop calendar.  I always wait until it's actually the first day of the month because my Grandma always told me it was bad luck to change it ahead of time, and you should always listen to Grandma.  There's something so satisfying about leaving another month behind, and being able to do better at any mistakes you made last month.  I always like having a fresh start.  Although, February was pretty awesome!

• deciding on a paint scheme for our house
• beginning the Click Chicks Photo Challenge
• Valentine's Day
• painting one wall, and adding a custom, handmade canvas
• throwing my best friend a baby shower
• realizing how important small rewards are to my weight loss journey
• a bonus from losing weight is that my blood sugar levels seem to remain at a constant, Justin can't believe how much more calm I am now, and how I don't get bitchy when I'm hungry.
• losing nine pounds and a total of four inches in a month.  Although it's technically now a new month, but when I put on my pair of two week old jeans this morning, I was happy when they were a little loose.  I was even happier when I needed to use the smallest notch on my belt.  I became very emotional about this milestone, and cried tears of joy.  I'm so proud of what I've already accomplished.

Bring it on March, I'm ready to have a full month of exercising five days a week, and making even healthier decisions.  I'm ready for a fresh start again!

Peaceful Moments

Did you know that it doesn't matter if you haul your big-girl camera with your everywhere, with the intent to take a weekly photo if you don't have a memory card in that camera?!  So, up I got this morning, an hour before I would have otherwise, in order to make sure I had my picture today. 

 

In doing so, I had a quiet moment in the park by our house.  I was completely alone except for about ten deer, and more than fifty Canadian geese; I'm so happy the geese stayed in the river, and didn't fly away as I approached.  I like those two together in the center, they mate for life you know!  This week's Click Chick Photo Challenge was water, and I'm happy to have captured actual water, and not just ice as I was expecting.