Life Candy

6th Annual Life Candy Freebie 5: Who's on your list?

2013-05-05T21:57:00.003-05:00

It's the 5th day of the 5th month! Yay! It's the most wonderful time of the year!!! It's time, my sweeties, for the Top 5 List!

You must now seriously consider who to put on your list of 5 celebrities you have permission to fool around with and not get put in the doghouse. Think carefully, people. This is a big decision. DON'T SCREW IT UP!

Okay, it's all in fun obviously, so if you get arrested for stalking Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Lawrence or Mr.T, you're kinda on your own. I love y'all, so really, just don't do it.

Anyway, you can check out my old lists too: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.

Okay, I'm sharing mine now! I'm working even harder than ever on my list, because I'm a little hungover (partied with my Isa girls last night!) ... so you better share yours in the comments too!

1: Gerard Butler...
Okay, the pretend love affair is starting to mellow, but I honestly can't bring myself to break it off. He's still funny and all scruffy like my Roomie.

2: Bradley Cooper...
Again , he's hot and he speaks French. There's nothing more to say.

3: Jeremy Renner...
I love a scruffy, intense man who looks hot in leather and knows what to do with a bow and arrow.

4: Benedict Cumberbatch...
He's tall, intense, funny, and THAT VOICE! As I've said time and again, it's like being wrapped in chocolate...

Updated - 5: Chris Hemsworth...
Apparently, at least one of these dudes have to firmly entrench me in Cougarville. And this year, I've chosen Thor... again. Do you blame me?

Okay, that's my list! Your turn! Who's on your Top 5 List for 2013?

And this time, she means business.

2013-04-28T11:40:00.001-05:00

So, the Bikini Bootcamp I'm doing right now (see previous post) is going really well! Doing another 30-day. Started last Monday the 15th. And when I checked on Friday, I found that I had already dropped 7lbs and 8.25" of icky toxic fat. And it's not just that! I just look less icky now.

Seriously, have a look at me on Day 10...

Me on cleanse day trying stuff with my phone upstairs while my fam ate dinner.
I'd made chicken piccata.

Note the clear skin, healthy pink glow, ~~the bright shiny coat~~ and the bright eyes. Look, even my hand's not as puffy! Begone, Inflammation, you savage bitch!

So yeah, I'm lookin' hot... again. And it didn't take long either, thanks to Isagenix. Seriously, I love that I can get back to sexy beast mode so quickly, and become even MORE healthy, with this program. And when I do indulge, I don't gain back as much weight as I used to.

Just a few weeks ago, I was a little on the, uh, "fluffy" side. I didn't feel good. Moving around felt "clunky". I was wearing the loose tops to hide my growing belly. I was starting to feel elderly again. And not in the Raquel Welch kind of elderly. Which for her, you know, really isn't.

I admit it was my fault. Even though I had my daily shakes (which gave me energy), I didn't cleanse, so I was toxic. And I ate crap.

Now, before you get all Judgy Judgerson on me, remember I'm human. And sometimes, it's just a "Doritos! All Day! All The Time!" kind of ~~week~~ day.

But now I'm motivated to change all that because I want to...

be happy and comfortable in my skin again... no matter how little I wear. Woo hoo, baby!
sculpt some kickass muscle and become strong.
keep up with all the hot moms at zumba class.
have bounce in my step when I slip on that body-hugging tank top and strut my stuff on stage at recital.
nip the bad activities in the bud -- like eating crap and becoming a permanent resident of couch-ville -- before they become bad habits.

This time, I want it to stick. I want it for life. I want to look and feel good for any eventuality.
Like, if aliens came and threatened to destroy the world if I didn't get into a bikini. (Hey, it could happen.) Hot and Healthy Nenette would strap on those itty bitty pieces of fabric without batting an eye.

So, really you could say that I'm getting healthy to save the world. Like Wonder Woman. Or Super Grover. You're welcome.

Now, fitness results come from 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. I have Isagenix (and no more eating crap) for the 80%. And last year, that's all I did.

But this time, I need to do the other 20% and build muscle that I lost during the fiasco of 2007, when I took part in a scientific study and took my calories down really low for 8 months, forcing my body to cannibalize my muscle for fuel. I know. Gross. I know better now.

Anyway, I've assembled a team to teach me how to get all hot and healthy. I'm calling them Team Nenette.
Because I'm all fancy and original like that.

So, who's on Team Nenette?
Well, the beautiful people, of course! They say surround yourself with people you want to be like, after all.
These folk are the experts. They show by example. They are the best at what they do. And They. Get. The. Job. Done.

Isagenix. Describing this is hard because it's just not one thing. The clean nutrition. The fact that there's nothing artificial in any of the products. The athletic expertise. The nobel prize winning research. The science behind each and every product. The coaches. And the whole Isa Family, which includes sports nutritionists, doctors, Olympic athletes, professional football players, triathletes, and fitness models... like Oxygen Magazine cover model and Isagenix Millionaire Lori Harder.

Zumba with Yvonne. The combination of Isagenix and Zumba has been phenomenal! I know I wouldn't be where I am now if I'd had just one or the other.
Zumba has changed my approach to workouts in both mind and body. My workouts before were never consistent, but now, I zumba twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays. On days I can't go to class, like the day of Mini's ballet exam, I get really sad and kinda twitchy. It's unreal.

And now, I HAVE MUSCLE! Roomie noticed it one evening after dinner. He touched my leg and made a comment about "hard muscle", but I thought he was trying to perv me so I shoo-ed him away so I could put dishes in the dishwasher.

Anyway, I LOVE Yvonne's classes! So high-energy, so much fun, dance-y, and so well-structured. It's like a party at every class! And she's an incredible example of fitness and health. Look at her in action as she gets a crowd going...

Yvonne has the purple pants and the awesome biceps! (From Zumba with Yvonne on FB)

Yvonne is an old friend from back in the day. When our world consisted of nuns, Mr.J's chem class, and uniforms. And we rocked it like nobody's business!

Hip Hop class with my teacher and friend Chelsea. Chelsea is a BRILLIANT choreographer. And I adore her taste in music. My whole family loves her: she's taught 3 out of 4 of us in our wee clan. She challenges us to do things that we've never done before -- and look awesome doing it. Despite the fact I also look like a sweaty hot mess post-class.

The constant new moves means new neural pathways are building like crazy! And that's great for brain functions too, which is key to overall health, as it counteracts degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia. (Yes, this is a nerd blog too. You have been warned.)

I don't have a picture of Chelsea in hand, so I can't show you just how beautiful she is. You'll just have to trust me. I never lie... at least, when it comes to how beautiful my friends are.

Kimberly Ho. Kim was my very first ever personal trainer. She's actually moved out of town to be with her fiance, but in the short time she trained me, I experienced some really quick, noticeable changes in my body. With her, I learned that lifting heavy doesn't make you Ms. Incredible Hulk, it makes you sexy.

She's still on Team Nenette because I still read her blog for tips, I still incorporate her workouts in my newly-reintroduced lifting routine, and I'm still in her Team Sexy. :)

Check her out in this pic I stole from her FB page... shh... don't tell Kim... heeheehee... also, I want her arms...

So, that's my team!

Do you have your own team? What are you planning to do for your own health and fitness?

It's time. Right now.

2013-04-16T12:56:00.001-05:00

I've been in a state of blah these past few months. It started off with the usual hibernation that starts right after Christmas. It's supposed to lift when the snow melts, but because the scene outside my house still looks like this,...

Does this look like Spring to you people?!

... I'm still feeling sleepy, dozy, and still blah. It's supposed to be Spring, for crying out loud!!!

I should be in my short shorts! I should be in my flip flops! I should NOT be still wearing my winter coat -- even though I totally rock that coat and look freakin' awesome in it! I still should not be in it any more!

I'm sick of feeling this way! I need some changes, some shakin' up, some ass kickin' to get me out of this brain fog!

SO... here's what I'm doing for my 2013 Renaissance...

1: I'm doing a Bikini Bootcamp! It's my HOT MOM PROJECT come to life! This is another 30-day cleanse like I did last year (when I dropped 15lbs in 30-days!) except this time, we get a workout schedule, meal ideas, recipes, and grocery lists.
If you want to do it too, it's not too late to join. Let me know if you're game, and I'll get you hooked up!...

2: I'm dusting this blog off, and getting it going again. I've had so many things I've wanted to share with you all over the past few months, but I've just put off sharing. No more! I'm going to once again inundate you with stories of my hair, my health and fitness, my dancing, the fam, and my menstrual cycle (yup, the TMI's coming back too! I KNOW!!! I can almost hear your excitement!).

3: I've redesigned my blog a little. I've...
- added a little Instagram photo gallery. Be sure to follow me @_nenetteam because, you know, of the awesomeness.
- redone my About page.
- made my header this floating background thingy.
- done other things, I think. I can't remember. So if you find other cool new stuff, yay!... and please tell me about it.

Alrighty, this has actually made me feel like I've made my way back to the land of the living! It's awesome and crazy!

So anyway, check the blog out, look around the place, and leave a comment to let me know what you think!

better late...

2013-02-25T13:50:00.000-06:00

Happy 2013! Hope it's been fabulous so far!

a look back at 2012.

2012-12-31T15:20:00.000-06:00

I know I was rather absent from my online home for the past year, wasn't I? Yeah, bad Nenette.
But that only means that I was busy LIVING life rather than writing about it.

And did I ever live it!

Okay, here are some notable events of my year. I hope it inspires you to get off your bum, turn off your electronics, and do a little more living yourself!... after you read my blog post. Seriously. Do that first.
And... go!

My Faves of 2012:

1: Movie: The Avengers (Oh, Hawkeye...)
2: Album: Teenage Dream by Katy Perry (okay, I know it came out in 2010, but I soaked it in in 2012)

3: Social media site: Pinterest

4: Blog: www.MarieForleo.com
5: TV Shows: Doctor Who/The Big Bang Theory
6: Book: The Hunger Games Series
7: Group: LMFAO
8: Viral Video: Psi "Gangnam Style" (I blame my son. Totally.)

Fave Songs I Listened to in 2012:

Not all released in 2012, they're just songs I loved in 2012. And when I love a song, I LOVE it... again and again and again. Over and over, in many different ways. Ahem.

Anyway, I played the same songs in the van. A LOT. I think my kids wanted to take my mp3 player and make it "mysteriously disappear".

Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe"

LMFAO "Sexy and I Know It"

Katy Perry "I Kissed a Girl", "California Grrls"

Destiny's Child "Independent Women"

Nicki Minaj "Starships", "Pound the Alarm", "Va Va Voom"

Ne-yo feat. Pitbull "Give Me Everything"

Carly Rae Jepsen & Owl City "Good Time"

Ke$ha, "Tik Tok", "Blow"

Beyonce "Love on Top"

Janet Jackson "All for You"

Notable Moments:

I lost 15lbs and 2 jeans sizes doing a 30-day nutritional cleanse! I've gone on to lose 25lbs in total.

I read The Hunger Games. And got the rest of my family over the age of 8 to read it too.

Mini worked so hard toward her Grade 2 Ballet Exam and graduated!

I participated in the kids' recital show dancing in the Mom & Me number with Mini.

I became a wellness consultant & coach, and have helped many women look and feel amazing!

Roomie and Lam did the Super Run together in the Manitoba Marathon on Father's Day.

Mini celebrated her 8th birthday with her BFF with an all-day party: watching Brave, visiting Build-a-Bear, eating lunch at Moxie's, and manicures.

I went to Arizona for Isagenix Celebration, and partied with the most awesome beautiful healthy women!!!

We camped on Hecla Island for a week.

We stayed in a yurt for the first time!

Mini started Grade 3, and is also on the Recycling Team for lunch. Lam started Grade 5, and is once again a patrol, making sure the mean streets of suburbia is safe for all kids walking home from school.

I enrolled in hip hop class with one of my besties, Myrtle.

I got together with my girls for my 25th High School Reunion! We went bowling and eating!

Lam graduated to Red Cross Level 5 and Mini graduated to Red Cross Level 7 in swimming!

My babies met with the Big Guy in the Red Suit at Roomie's Holiday Season brunch.

So excited for 2013!

Quotes of 2012.

2012-12-31T15:16:00.000-06:00

Plucked from the statuses of Facebook...

Roomie: "Ach! I'm going to go to my frickin' deathbed knowing the words to some effing Fanta commercial from the 70s!"

Roomie: "What the hell is he doing here?!!! That value was given, but he decided to work it out for himself and GOT IT WRONG! I gave it to them so they wouldn't have to spend any of their time dickin' around! Argh!!!" #HusbandMarkingExamsInTheOtherRoom

Son and husband are watching I Am Legend.
Son: "OMG, who's attacking him?"
Husband: "Just keep watching."
Son: "Is it the Nazis?!"
Husband: "Yeah, it's the Nazis. They came in their time machine..."

Cranky Sick Husband and I are watching a women's makeover show.
CSH: "What's this show called? 'How Do I Look?'"
Me: "Yup."
CSH: "It reminds me of that prison movie, Bird Man of Alcatraz."

Roomie: "I'm making a meatball sandwich. Should I heat up the meatballs?"
Me: "Yes. You should ALWAYS heat up your balls."
Lam: "L-O-L, Mama!"

The Boy: "Mittens hates jazz hands."

Him: "Your belly's looking smaller."
Me: "Smaller than what?"... because I obviously don't know how to take a compliment.

"Hey, you know, I can make you a portable CD player. I'll get one of my old dead CDROMs from the garage. I'll fix it. I'll even use electrical tape, not duck tape..." I didn't even ask him for one! #HelpImMarriedToAnEngineer

Me: "Hon, could you please get the girl's toothbrush upstairs in the linen closet?"
Him: "In the linen closet. Well, that makes sense. Will I find a plate of veal in there too?"
#InsideJokes #FaultyTowers

Moo.
Roomie: "did I just hear a cow?"
Mini: "yeah."
Me: "minecraft."
Roomie: "oh."
Moo.

IKEA: the mothership calls!

2012-11-26T14:18:00.000-06:00

OMG, my Life Candy peeps, November 28th is a BIG day for the thrifty yet stylish denizens of Winnipeg! After years and years of waiting and waiting, my beautiful city in the middle of the Canadian Prairie is getting an IKEA!!!

I think the Universe has heard our collective cries for help... or maybe my housegods are sick and tired of looking at my crappy-looking, disorganized, and messed-up foyer.

Anyway, as a bit of a teaser and to give you a taste of the awesomeness to come, an IKEA Vending Machine will tour the city for Opening Week. It's filled with IKEA gift cards and delicious treats, and Winnipeggers will be given an Allen Key for a chance to unlock something inside!

See? Like this!

Exciting, right?! If you want in on the awesome, be sure to check IKEA Canada's Twitter and Facebook pages ahead of time or you won't know where the machine will pope up next. You know, like a big yellow TARDIS.

Okay, so on opening day, November 28th, 2012, the doors will open at 12:01am. But check this... the first 1000 people in line before 7:30am will receive a special gift from IKEA and a chance to win a $5000 IKEA gift card! So, if you're an early bird or morning people, you have a really good chance at cashing in!

When I told Roomie about this, he said, "You're not going on opening day! There's going to be a crowd, and you don't like people!"

Actually, I do like people. But he's right, I don't like crowds, so if you're like me, don't worry that you'll be missing all the fun if you wait! Opening week offers continue until December 2nd.
Be sure to check it out at IKEA.ca/Winnipeg.

Oh, but my peeps, you are getting a sneak peak, because I've been invited to their Media Night Event TONIGHT! I have the honour of checking the place out in advance, so if you want a preview, make sure you're following me on Twitter for my live tweets.

And stay tuned for upcoming blog posts as I transform and IKEA-fy my foyer, which currently looks like this... yikes!...

So, my lovely 'Peggers, are you as excited as I am?!!! What are you looking forward to the most? That long awaited kitchen reno? A coffee table? The meatballs? :)

we're ready, big guy! bring it on!

2012-11-19T10:56:00.001-06:00

It's still only Fall, and the world outside my door already looks like this...

So, it didn't feel that odd to put up The Tree. Besides, it's not like I'm putting it up while it's still +30C outside and I'm wearing a bikini. Which Roomie wouldn't complain about. Mainly because of the bikini.

Ahem, anyway, you see, this weekend was the Santa Claus Parade in our wee little town, which is our cue to make the house Santa-friendly. It's our tradition.

The kids take turns putting up the star. Of course, I couldn't remember which one did it last year, so I had to check out the cat's guest post from last year's tree trimming. Thank goodness Mittens documented it!

In panda hat and ballet duds, it's Mini Muffin's turn!
Roomie's just trying not to collapse -- he was still feeling ill in this pic.

Lucky for Lam, I decided to start a new tradition. The one who doesn't do the star puts up the wreath. And there was joy all around!

Wow, dude needs a haircut!

Some find this early. If you live in the Philippines, it actually would be considered late. Andy Williams singing "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" can be heard in all corners of various malls as early as September. And they don't even get snow. Yes, I come from a very weird and wonderful people.

Brought to you by:

like the recap at the beginning of each star wars movie. except not in space. and you can read this as slowly as you want.

2012-11-16T08:40:00.000-06:00

I haven't been a very good hostess, have I... No, it's true -- I suck.
But I assure you, I'm better at it IRL. Really. When you visit my house, I'm here ready to entertain with a night full of ~~hoagies, strippers and dancing bears~~ wine, dark chocolate, and intellectual conversation.

Lately, when you've come to visit Life Candy, I've been in Phoenix, or a yurt in Sprucewoods, or on my couch watching The Big Bang Theory.

But no more! You see, I've made a pact with my friend Natalie, and she's going to ~~nag~~ ~~kick my ass~~ ~~poke me repeatedly to see if I'm still alive~~ gently remind me when I've gone too long without putting fingers to keyboard for this blog.

I was all "yay, motivation!", then I got this...

... and I thought "oh, crap."

Hence, here I am at 10:22pm, hurriedly typing to meet my 12 noon deadline so Natalie won't be pounding at my door. Which totally could happen. We are city sisters after all.

Okay, so, what have we been up to? Well, here we go...

In case, you forgot what I look like, here... :) No, I don't actually have a child growing out of my chest. That's my Mini and her Baba.

Because Lam isn't in Scouts, Roomie -- who did go to Scouts as a boy -- decided to teach our son a valuable survival skill: making a campfire. Lam did this one all by himself. He was so proud. So was Roomie. I have purchased extra fire extinguishers.

I cleaned my house. OMG! What?! Yes, friends, my house looks presentable-ish. Like this.

I'm still on my nutritional health & wellness program and still enjoying coaching others to feel strong and look healthy. I hear "OMG, Nenette, my skinny jeans are getting loose on me! And I'm running around like the Energizer Bunny! Thank you!" all the time, and I LOVE IT!!!
Oh, and I've lost about 25lbs! Yay!

As I mentioned, I was in a yurt this summer!!! I loved it! Here are a couple of pictures. This is what it looks like from the outside...

And this is what the inside looks like if you were a stalker standing outside the door...

I am taking a hip hop class with Myrtle and many of my dance mom friends at the kids' dance school. Yup, a bunch of moms trying to be all cool and street. Oh, the humanity! Luckily, we have an awesome teacher who is a miracle worker and gets us to move less like ZombieWalk on Portage Avenue and more like Janet's backup dancers.

I went to my 25th year High School Reunion! As you can see, we're an all-girls school, and we all still look HAWT. Apparently, our Class of '87 counterparts at the all-boys school we were associated with didn't fair as well. Their pic consisted of many bald pates and beer bellies.

At that same Homecoming Weekend, the school held their Alumni Tea. I brought Mini with me so she could take a tour of my old digs.

It's a very old established Catholic school, so you can imagine how many statues of angels and St. Mary (the school is actually named St. Mary's Academy. I know, weird coincidence, right?! LOL) there are in this place. Mini didn't dare blink on the off chance that one or more of them would get up and do this...

Oh, and speaking of weeping angels, guess what Mini was for Halloween?! As you can see, Mittens doesn't not watch enough Doctor Who. She turned her back on a Weeping Angel, and this is what happened...

This year, Lam decided to be a Ninja. As you can see from the pic above, my kids really get into character, so it should come as no surprise that Lam channeled the focus and balance needed to do this... (the cat was not impressed)...

Speaking of the cat, we've established that Mittens has emotional problems. No, I'm serious. Well, wouldn't you with all the Weeping Angels and Ninjas having their way with you?! But I think she's trying to overcome her issues by creating a Vision Board. I think her goals mainly consist of "being outside" and "chasing squirrels" and "meeting friendly big dogs" and "hissing at other cats that try to come onto my turf".
Okay, she's not really making a vision board, but we still think she has emo problems. We do love her and threaten to eat her only once a week. Kidding! Sheesh...

Roomie and I celebrated our birthdays this month. Our cake looked like this...

I'm back, baby!!!

hoy, happy thanksgiving!

2012-10-08T17:17:00.005-05:00

Hey, ya hosers!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!!
Hope you have many many things for which you are truly grateful. Like me.

Here's a little peek into the Filipino celebration of Thanksgiving through the eyes of Happy Slip. It's not the same as my celebration last night -- we didn't do turkey, just ham -- but it's pretty damn close...

them on the first day of grade 3 & grade 5.

2012-09-17T13:21:00.000-05:00

The first day of school kinda snuck up on us this year. We were in the throes of day camps, swim classes, camping trips, yurts, and a week on Hecla Island. The kids were in shorts and sundresses, sandals and flip-flops.

Then BOOM! -- school. Stupid school.

Now don't get me wrong. I think an education is important, and enrolling them in school outside the home ensures some daily social interaction with their peers.

But Back to School is the slap of reality. It's the thing that signals growth, change, and another year that my kids are moving farther way from the babies they were when this whole parenthood thing started.

All because the number after the word "Grade" has gone up by one.

Crazy, right?!

So, we hang on to what we have. He's still into video games, and she's still into Hello Kitty like last year.
They still love playdates and play structures. They are still picky eaters, and they still love hugs from Mommy and Daddy. And I'm holding on to that for as long as I can.

So, here are my Mini and Lam, frozen in time, snapshots at Grade 3 and Grade 5...

1 - What is your favourite colour?
mini: pink
lam: dark blue but not navy blue

2 - Who is your best friend(s)?
mini: Abby
lam: don't know

3 - What is your favourite treat food?
mini: popsickle
lam: Doritos natcho cheese chips

4 - What is your favourite good food?
mini: sushi
lam: salt-n-pepper wings

5 - What's your favourite treat drink?
mini: cream soda
lam: coke or pepsi

6 - What's your favourite good drink?
mini: pink lemonade
lam: iced tea

7 - What's your favourite dessert?
mini: ice cream sandwich
lam: ice cream sandwich

8 - What is your favourite game?
mini: club penguin
lam: Minecraft

9 - What is your favourite website?
mini: clubpenguin.com
lam: reddit.com

10 - What is your favourite tv show?
mini: Good Luck Charlie
lam: Doctor Who

11 - What's your favourite movie?
mini: Brave
lam: Amazing Spiderman

12 - What is the name of your favourite book?
mini: Kittens by Nicola Tuxworth
lam: Mockingjay

13 - What's your favourite thing to do by yourself?
mini: make crafts
lam: play single player Team Fortress 2

14 - What's your favourite thing to do with family?
mini: play games
lam: go to the mall

Experience...

2012-08-15T13:29:00.004-05:00

I've just come back from Phoenix for the Isagenix Celebration Event, and OMG, my brain has been blow! Seriously, bits and pieces everywhere. I'm expecting them to send some missing pieces back to me by mail.

I dropped 15lbs and 2 jeans sizes in my first 30 days, and I've helped so many people do it too! Now, check out the latest video from this fantastic company. It's only 3 minutes long! Do it! It's super awesome!

Want to do this too? Contact me: nenetteam@lifecandy.net

the beauty of strength.

2012-07-25T12:43:00.000-05:00

This post is part of YummyMummyClub.ca's support of the Dove® Celebrate Mom Contest. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors. You can nominate inspiring moms here: www.CelebrateMom.ca.

Duran Duran brought us together.

Well, okay, Duran Duran and countless cans of Aquanet hairspray. Yes, you guessed it. It was the 80s, and for the first time since we both started going to the same high school, Michelle and I were in the same home room.

Oh, we’d met many years before in Grade 7, but we never hit it off. I was painfully shy towards kids not in my class, and she thought I was a snob -- because I didn’t want any of her proffered sandwich. Yeah, that was weird. Which should’ve tipped me off that we were destined to be best friends.
Anyway, it was not the most auspicious start to what would be one of my closest and most treasured friendships.

However, this time, in this Grade 10 classroom, we clicked.

Michelle and I bonded over our shared taste in music, our similar sense of humour, how hot we thought Duran’s keyboardist Nick Rhodes and bassist John Taylor were, and how foolish we thought they would be if they didn’t marry us.

But as much as we had in common, we were, in just as many ways, as different as night and day. I was raised to be quiet and reserved and almost submissive, to accept everything that I was told by my elders as gospel truth, and to fit in and conform, to be a “typical teenager”. Michelle, on the other hand, was outgoing, charismatic, and passionate. She showed me that it was okay to respectfully question and to further my understanding when I was told things that didn’t feel right. And she embraced her uniqueness, the fact that her tastes were different from our beach-blond, daddy-is-a-doctor, cheerleader counterparts.

Michelle wore her hair short and spikey. She frequently looked like she’d raided David Byrne’s closet and bought the entire supply of eyeliner at Shopper's Drug Mart. And while everyone was into Phil Collins, Bryan Adams, and Journey, she got me listening to Jane Siberry, Depeche Mode, and U2, you know, back when they were still considered “alternative”.

Michelle helped me out of my shell. I helped her with Math. And together, we became a team, a force to be reckoned with, a dynmic duo.

It came as no surprise to me when my best friend decided to follow the call to defend those who cannot defend themselves. While I went on to complete my engineering degree, Michelle moved to the west coast with her husband. There, she worked with families to ensure the safety and welfare of children.

It was after her move that I briefly lost touch with Michelle. We all did. She was isolated and becoming increasingly unhappy. Away from family and friends, she was forced to become completely dependent on her husband, a controling man with a violently unpredictable temper, a man who slowly became more and more resentful of her career successes and higher income.

A woman not easily broken nor quick to give up, Michelle worked desperately to maintain her marriage, taking the abusive words and mindgames as they came, trying to pacify the beast, and through it all, keeping up a brave face.

All of this changed after the birth of her daughter. Michelle wanted a better life, a healthy environment free from drama, violence, and chaos, for her precious little girl. By then, the abuse had escalated to physical violence toward objects in their home, and she wasn’t going to wait around to see if she or her daughter were next in line.

On one fateful day, Michelle kicked out her husband, changed all the locks on the doors, and filed for divorce. She has not looked back since.

Today, Michelle is a busy single mom, happily raising her now-10 year old daughter with the help of her own mother. Together, these two amazing women have a built a calm, healthy, nurturing environment for this budding young lady.

Michelle has always been and always will be a shining example of what a strong woman should be: someone who dares to be different, someone who maintains her identity and sense of self through adversity, someone who stands up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, someone who will never be a victim, and someone who can take her destiny by the horns and make it the best it could ever be. I am so very proud of her.

And this is why I nominate my best friend Michelle for the Dove® Celebrate Mom Contest. She's an awesome role model, don't you think?

Know an amazing mom who’s an inspiration to women and girls? Celebrate her!

Visit www.CelebrateMom.ca by September 4th to nominate a mom who’s an inspiring role model to women and girls in the Dove® Celebrate Mom Contest. Four inspiring women will win $2,500 for herself and $2,500 to be donated to the charity of her choice.

And check out more stories on YummyMummyClub.ca about amazing role model moms: www.yummymummyclub.ca/family/mummy/celebrate-a-mom-in-your-life.

here, there, and everywhere.

2012-07-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

"Hi - are you still out there?" - Rock Chef

Yes, my dear friend, I'm still here, and we've been...

celebrating an 8th birthday with the BFF...

accessorizing like a bad-ass...

heading to the starting line of the marathon with a bestie...

scouting out the action at the Canada Day street party...

dancing a dance class...

dining with Sponge Bob...

enjoying time with Roomie by the fire...

trying to stay cool on a super hot Treat Day...

patrolling for the last time before summer break...

getting ready to do the Super Run... father-and-son style on Father's Day...

assembling the new Mod Squad...

celebrating a 10th Birthday with horns...

Yeah, we've been busy. But we're here. :)

5th Annual Top 5 List: Who's on your list?

2012-05-05T20:17:00.000-05:00

It's the 5th day of the 5th month of the year! You know what that means, right?! Yup, it's time for me to review, renew, and republish my annual Top 5 List. :)

You know what I mean by "List", right? No? Okay, long story short, this is the list of 5 pretend boyfriends (or girlfriends, depending on which side your bread's buttered on) -- the folks you have permission to fool around with, assuming you can get them to fool around with you, of course.
It's all in fun, of course, so you don't have to worry about me coming over and demanding that you have your little perverted way with Jessica Alba, or David Hasselhoff or whatever.

Anyway, you can check out my old lists too: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.

As this is the special 5th year of the Top 5, we're celebrating! Share your own list, and you could win an awesome prize package I assembled on a recent shopping trip. I'll choose the winner by random number generation on the morning of Friday, May 11, and announce the winner in my blog post that day.

Okay, I'm sharing mine now... so you better share yours in the comments too!

Here we go...

1: Gerard Butler
Yes, he's still my pretend boyfriend, although it was a close one considering who is at #2. But still, Gerry's funny, cute, scruffy, tall, and that Scottish accent are still so dreamy. And he still reminds me of my husband.

2: Chris Hemsworth
Thor. Sigh. But I first saw him as James T. Kirk's father in Star Trek (2009), and already, I thought he was adorable. If you read my list from last year, he barely made the list as an Honourable Mention. He's a definite member of the list at #2 this year, thanks to the constant "He is Christian Grey" I've been getting from Maria. I'd probably be able to finish the 50 Shades of Grey Series if I keep that in mind.

3: Bradley Cooper
He's hot, and he speaks French. Period.

4: Bill Campbell
The first time I saw him was in "The Rocketeer". Then in Star Trek:TNG, which is where this pic's from. He's aged so freakin' well. He's tall, dark, and handsome. See?

5: Clive Owen
Just look at this picture. OMG, look at him!!!

Okay, go!

how earth hour turned us into 10 year olds.

2012-04-12T17:50:00.004-05:00

Illustration by Lam

Earth Hour is a big deal in our eco-savvy treehugger home. We've done it every year for the past four years.

In the beginning, we did it to teach the kids...

- about climate change,
- of the impact that one hour of turning our lights off would have,
- what it's like to be a part of a world community event,
- that the fate of our planet is in our hands,
- and that if we all pull together, we can really make a difference.

See? We hug trees here.

Okay, here Roomie's talking math, not trees or hugging said trees.

In the years since then, we still do it for all those reasons, of course, but we do it also because I love burning honey beeswax candles, it's the one rare hour in our lives when we're all together in one room, we are able to talk to each other without distractions, and everything. is. quiet.

See? This is my kids being quiet.

I'm so not kidding, folks. The TV is off, the laptops and desktops are powered down, and the DSLite and 3DS are closed. We gather around the table, and all is silent. It's a good thing.

Me: I like how the house sounds with that computer off.

Roomie: Yeah, it's pleasantly quiet for a change. Except for that egg timer.

Me: It's to let us know when the hour's over. You want me to turn that off?

Roomie: Yes, you should. Like I asked you to before.

Me: Sheesh, you're so grumpy on Earth Night. Okay, there, it's off.

Roomie: There. Isn't it better to have the silence?

Me (grumpy): Yes. Now be silent.

Roomie (giggling): You be silent.

Me (smiling): No, you be silent.

Roomie (giggling more): No. You be silent.

Me: You shut up...

monday after spring break surprise. an award. for me.

2012-04-04T17:15:00.006-05:00

I miss my kids. Or at least I did the first 10 minutes after they left for school with Roomie. Then, for the first time in 9 days, I heard it. Or rather I heard NOTHING. Yes, folks...

Silence. Sweet, delicious silence.

I could hear myself think. I could finish a thought. I could read my email without being interrupted, telling a child to keep it down, or stop an argument over which tv show should be watched.

And OMG, I realized I was ALONE! I could do naked cartwheels in my livingroom again!!! Okay, I lied. I can't do a single cartwheel to save my life.

Then, BAM! I found out that I won this lovely Sunshine Award...

Holy Geez! Will the surprises never cease?! Good grief, I hope not!!!

Thank you SO MUCH to my fellow bloggy girl Cham at eat ur banana for giving me this awesome award.
I don't get many of these anymore, so I love it when I do. And I'm such a lucky girl to get one from my lovely fellow Filipina friend!

Okay, my duties associated with this honour are as follows...

Post 7-10 Things About Yourself.
Choose and Tag 7 Other People/ Awardees!
Go to Their Blogs and Tell Them You Tagged Them.
Have Fun!

Hmmm... what 7-10 things have I not told you about myself? Well...

1: I put my hair up in a bun with a scrunchy when I go to bed at night. My hair is very wavy, and this way, my hair doesn't bug me in the middle of the night, and I wake up with bouncy, wavy hair. I just run my fingers through it in the morning, and I'm done. It's perfect because I'm ~~lazy~~ low-maintenance.

2: I love burning candles. Especially Canadian-made honey beeswax candles by Honey Candles®. Makes my house smell nice.

3: I'm going to my 25th year high school reunion this September. I can't wait to see all my old girls (I went to an all-girls high school), my favourite teachers, and my old stomping grounds. I wish I could be exciting and say I was a rebel back then, but I wasn't.

4: I have to take dance class next year because I've already bought the dance shoes. I told you I'm all backward-y.

5: After 5 years and fearing that the hole had closed up, I'm once again wearing a second earring in my left earlobe. The hole didn't close after all. I'm also wearing my earcuff again. I may not be a rebel, but I look like one... at the tender age of 42.

6: I watched The Hunger Games, and of course, I loved it! (Update April 4, 2012: I loved it so much, I watched it again. Today.) Aside from a couple of scenes from the book I believe they shouldn't have left out in the movie, it captured the feeling and mood of the book perfectly. My favourite character: Cinna.

7: At one time in my life, I had braces, glasses, and a perm ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Please. Stop drooling over that sexy image. sigh. Needless to say, I didn't get many dates that year. Especially since I went to an all-girls school. And didn't know any boys.

Okay, this award goes to...

Toni at Wifely Steps

Su at Vively Online

Adam at Avitable.com

Loukia at Lou Lou's Views

Haley-O at Cheaty Monkey

Harmzie at Harmzie's Way

Shai at Studio Notes by Shai Coggins

These are my oldies with whom I've been hangin' since I started blogging in '07. I wonder if they've gotten any of these awards lately. Well, they have one now!

Thanks again, Cham, for the lovely award! You rock!

happy st. patty's day!

2012-03-17T13:13:00.001-05:00

Oh boy, oh boy...

the hunger games. the brain version.

2012-03-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning, one of my besties Myrtle and I met up for coffee-lunch, which is what you get when you meet at Starbucks after dropping off your kids at school then talk for so long that you end up having lunch as well. It happens a lot with us.

During this latest edition of the ever-awesome coffee-lunch, we had our long awaited post-"Hunger Games Trilogy" recap and discussion. Myrtle had already read the books. As for me, from February 28 to March 6, I read all 3 books -- Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay -- unable to put them down to sleep, eat, or even go to the bathroom. I also learned that sleeping on the corner of a hard cover book doesn't hurt that much and that I can do most things with one hand if I absolutely have to.

Anyway, Myrtle and I like to get together to discuss movies we've seen and books we've read, and finally it was time for our shot with the Hunger Games to share both big and seemingly-insignificant thoughts, why Peeta had to be The One, how we would've improved the ending, what the point of that scene was, how we couldn't wait to see the movie, and overall, feed our latest obsession.

One HUGE topic of conversation was casting. You know how sometimes, when you read a book, your brain conjures up existing people, usually actors, for each character to give them a face while you read? Yeah, that.

Well, Myrtle and I couldn't help but compare the actors we kept picturing in our heads while we read the books with the actors actually cast in the upcoming movie...

1: Katniss, Gale, and Cinna.
We thought they were well cast. Especially Gale. Cute and capable of making a lasting impression that would last through the whole movie.
I still kinda think Jennifer Lawrence is a little tall as Katniss, because by Catching Fire, her 14-year-old sister Prim was supposed to be as tall as her, but having said that, Jennifer L. is Katniss.
And Lenny Kravitz as Cinna. Inspired! I have to confess that I couldn't picture a proper Cinna. Lenny K as a Tom Ford-esque Cinna sounded perfect to me.

2: Peeta.
At first, we were stunned by the choice of Josh Hutcherson because he's the same height as Jennifer Lawrence, and we always thought of Peeta as being tall and stocky, at least, enough to envelop Katniss and make her feel safe. In fact, Myrtle pictured Gale as shorter and slimmer like Josh H, and Peeta as a blond Liam Hemsworth. Which is why when I said that I thought of Liam's older brother and Thor star Chris Hemsworth as Peeta when I read the books, she totally agreed with me.
But after seeing the trailers, we knew Josh, no matter his height, was our Peeta.

3: Haymitch.
I think Woody Harrelson is a great casting call. However, he does seem too "cleaned" up in the trailers to be a convincing drunkard, so we'll see how he appears in the rest of the movie, during more drunky scenes, like when Haymitch falls down at the reaping.
When I was reading the books, the Haymitch of my mind was played by Gary Oldman.

4: President Snow.
Donald Sutherland is and always will be Mr. Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. Period. He's too tall and kindly. He's a sweet Canadian.
Snow is short and creepy, and in my mind, he looked like song-and-dance man Joel Grey. Seriously, couldn't you imagine this man with a white rose in his lapel?!

5: Seneca Crane.
Wes Bentley is probably the most surprising casting decision of the whole movie. Seneca is supposed to be much older, right? I couldn't picture him in my mind either, but he certainly wasn't THAT young.

6: Caesar Flickerman.
I couldn't picture someone blue. I really couldn't. So when I saw how they made up Stanley Tucci and how he became Caesar, I was sold. But Myrtle thought of someone more '70s gameshow host. I suggested Will Ferrel in Anchorman. I can see it.

7: Effie Trinket.
Elizabeth Banks was my Effie. But when Myrtle suggested that she be someone older, someone who'd been with the Games for years, I saw that she had a really good point. Myrtle pictured Imelda Staunton -- who you may recall played Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -- as Effie. I can really see that! Until I watch the movie, I think I'll be picturing Effie played by Imelda S. Really, can't you just picture it?!

But really, let's face it, just watching the book come to life on the Big Screen is going to be phenomenal. I felt that way about LOTR. And judging by the trailers, it's going to be great. I'm looking forward to it.

Who would you cast in *your* Hunger Games?

happy pi day!

2012-03-14T16:14:00.002-05:00

To you, my 3rd favourite number...

the soundtrack of my life.

2012-03-05T11:59:00.000-06:00

"What songs define you, and what songs make up the soundtrack to your life?"

That's what my friend Loukia asks in her most recent post on her blog. If you've been reading me a while or know me IRL, you'd know that music is a big deal in my life. And not in the negative "if my parents make me take up yet another musical instrument I detest, I'm going to stab someone in the face" kind of Big Deal.

No, it's in the positive way my heart lurches and turns over, my fingers itch to hold my bass guitar again, and the sudden urge to simultaneously laugh, cry and dance takes over me whenever I hear this song...

Yeah, that kind of Big Deal.

This is the very first song my band covered and the very first song we played at our very first public gig. We had our audience convinced that we'd been playing bars for ages. We were that good. Not bad for a bunch of kids closer to graduating high school than touring stadiums.

There have been many songs like that, that when I hear them again, they propel me back to my first crush, my first broken heart (and how much of an ass I thought he was), the freedom I felt when I'd jam with my band, hanging out at the mall with my best friend, screaming a song on the dance floor at an engineering social, watching video shows (before MTV) with my friends, long drives to California with my family and friends, being in my husband's arms at our wedding reception, driving several provinces over for our nerd's honeymoon, watching our children dancing, etc.

Here they are, in no specific order, the songs of the soundtrack of my life...

Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
Out of the Blue - Debbie Gibson
We Run - Strange Advance
I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
Girls on Film - Duran Duran
Like a Virgin - Madonna
How Will I Know - Whitney Houston
Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Riders
Two for the Road - Andrea Marcovicci
Somewhere Down That Crazy River - Robbie Robertson
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - Wham
Don't Give Up - Kate Bush & Peter Gabriel
If You Leave - OMD
Control - Janet Jackson
Thriller - Michael Jackson
Everything Counts - Depeche Mode
Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
Rock Lobster - B-52's
Blister In The Sun - Violent Femmes
The Time Warp - The Cast of Rock Horror Picture Show
Paradise By The Dashboard Light - Meatloaf
Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
It's a Beautiful Life - Ace of Base
The Look of Love - ABC
Poison - Bell Biv Devoe
I've Had The Time Of My Life - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
Step By Step - New Kids On The Block
Let Your Backbone Slide - Maestro Fresh Wes
New Year's Day - U2
At Last - Etta James
Natural - S Club 7

How about you? What songs define you, have influenced you, become the soundtrack of your life?

random confessions of a happy girl III: thinkings and doings.

2012-02-29T10:00:00.000-06:00

Life Candy's been very cleanse-centric lately, hasn't it? Yeah.

Well, worry not, my lovelies. Although I'm now doing the healthy lifestyle thing to improve upon and maintain the results of my 30-day cleanse, the level of food and fitness talk here will likely return to previous frequency and intensity.

Except with less "holy crap, I'm getting fat!" and more "eat this paleo thing -- it will keep you healthy, yo!" I know, right?!

Okay, contrary to popular belief, I did more than just cleanse, work out, and eat salads over the past while. I did a lot of other thinking and doing too. So did my family. I will talk about that stuff...

NOW!...

Late last year, Roomie had a cavity in his wisdom tooth that became infected and made it almost impossible for him to eat, sleep, or talk FOR A MONTH. He lost a solid 10 pounds at least. After emergency dental surgery, he asked for the tooth so he could look at it under a microscope and take pics that his wife can share with all her internets. Look at the size of that freakin' hole!!! No wonder the poor guy was in so much pain...

I am about to start reading The Hunger Games series. Sleep will not be a part of my schedule. It's the Twilight Saga all over again! Gah!...

I am a pinning machine!

My daughter has discovered the magic of nail polish. So now, every nail surface MUST. BE. COVERED. Which means Daddy gets a pedicure...

Once again, I'm experimenting. This time, it's with argan oil. As a moisturizer. It supposedly helps fade minor scars and brown spots. I'll post pics in a couple of weeks. Hopefully not of me looking like Jocelyn Wildenstein. Or Michael Jackson.

I'm considering adding John Stamos to my List. We're talking strictly eye candy. "No, no, John. Please. Don't speak. No, seriously. Don't." He's improved since he passed the age of 45, leaving the days of Uncle Jessie far behind him.

I can't help but laugh when people say that the characters on The Big Bang Theory could never be real. Good grief, people, those are the very nerds I lived, studied and worked with from the ages of 17 to 30!

Oddly, my favourite character is Zack.

Milk Dud?

I did not watch the Academy Awards.

That is all. For now.

REVIEW: ISAGENIX PROGRAM

2012-02-28T12:25:00.000-06:00

So... what did I think about this 30-day cleanse?

1: This stuff works. As you can see in my results, they totally do something positive. I followed the program exactly and got exactly what I wanted.

2: OMG, THESE PRODUCTS ARE ALL NATURAL! I've been eating Primally/Paleo for years, sticking to clean foods, avoiding HFCS and artificial sweeteners, choosing organic wherever I can, etc. Still, I know I'm more nourished now with these products than I ever have been before. Seriously, my energy is unreal! Not only are their products complete with vitamins, nutrients, and botanicals, they make sure they are also bio-available and easily absorbed by the body. I totally think this is the case especially with their Ionix Supreme, which gives me an energy boost, as well as relaxes me at night.

3: I like that it's basically plug-n-play nutrition -- quick and convenient. I will try to avoid cooking at any opportunity, so during the day, when I don't have to cook for the family, I love that I can do a shake in under 3 minutes and feel full! The various components of the cleanse are either in pre-mixed liquid form, capsule form, bar form, or "just add water". And everything is complete nutrition! I'm not missing anyhing!

4: I didn't have to add anything to "complete" the shakes. I just added water, and I had my 240 calorie breakfast shake. This is awesome for "Nenette the Spaz"!

5: It taught me how to incorporate healthy habits into my lifestyle, because I had to follow a relatively strict feeding schedule. I'm serious. There's a schedule. Which was great because it maximized my results and took the thinking (and stressing) out of my hands.

6: I love that it doesn't chain me to my toilet or make me smell like a hobo. This is NOT a colon cleanse. It cleanses cellularly (is that a word?). Then I had "asparagus pee" the entire month -- you know, the weird smell your urine takes on after you've had asparagus. But, yeah, compared to explosive diarrhea and stink-oozing pores, I'm happy with asparagus pee... and the lovely soft clear skin I have as a result!

7: I am ~~cheap~~ thrifty, and I love a good bargain! At just less than $3.00 for one shake/meal that I would take for breakfast, it's a complete meal at a reasonable price. And the entire system made me feel really great, which I just can't put a price on. Besides, because I didn't eat much during my cleanse, my grocery bill was noticeably smaller, offsetting the cost of the cleanse so, budget-wise, I came out pretty even.

8: The ingredients in these products are properly sourced. The shake is made with un-denatured whey protein from happy grassfed cows so their enzymes are intact. No hormones or antibiotics, and non-GMO.

9: Their products taste good! Every morning, I DRINK A DELICIOUS CHOCOLATE SHAKE! The cleanse drink tastes like Kool-Aid, yet has the power to make my skin glow and feel as soft as a baby's bum. I'm so not kidding! The IsaLean Bars are a delicious chocolate treat that are an excellent meal replacement and will be hidden from my family who will snarf them down like crazy people. And they aren't even as awesome as the IsaDelights, which are a dark chocolate treat with an infusion of green tea.

So, yeah, do I recommend it?! Of course, I do!!! I would do it all again in a heartbeat. My only regret is not doing it sooner!

*Click here to check out this program*

my Isagenix cleanse: it's like I'm a totally different woman.

2012-02-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

"You glow!" "So slim!" "You're skin is so clear." "You look SO much healthier..."

Yes, my Life Candy peeps, I got all of those compliments -- and more! -- thanks to my first ever Isagenix 30-day cleanse.

OMG, I wish I could tell you exactly how awesome it's been. I'm going to try. And I'm INCREDIBLY EXCITED about all of this, so I may just start to sound like some crazy televangelist. If I do, please don't hurt me. Or hate me. Or throw chips and cinnamon buns at me, because I won't eat them, and they'll just make a big mess on my floor.

Alright, here we go.

BEFORE

I'm nervous. Seriously, as I contemplate pushing the "Publish" button, I can't feel my legs. And the reason is because, before I did this cleanse, everyone thought I was "just fine", "normal looking", and "didn't have to lose any weight".

You all knew me as Skinny Nenette!!! In reality, I was hiding a very unhealthy person under all the sweaters, parkas and "black" slimming clothes.

No, I was never 200 lbs. But when your doctor strongly suggests you do a cleanse, you're likely not the slim healthy waif everyone seems to think you are.

So, with all those misconceptions, the sight of my Before pic may come as a shock. Or cause a coronary. You may want to have a paramedic nearby.

Okay. Go ahead -- you'll see what I mean...

chest: 38 inches
waist: 39 inches
hips: 39 inches
weight: 147 pounds

- No matter what I did (the exercising and healthy eating), the weight kept climbing and climbing and wouldn't come off!
- Excess belly fat (from the side, I looked about 8 months pregnant) and swollen hands and feet.
- These were the size 7 jeans I wore shortly after Lam was born 10 years ago, and now I couldn't even button them!
- I was in a constant brain fog.
- Always tired. Highly dependent on caffeine (green tea) and sugar for energy.
- Sleep was never restful and I always felt exhausted in the morning.
- Felt and looked older. People stopped saying I look younger than my age.
- Dull dark complexion.
- Doesn't my head look tiny compared to the rest of my body?
- Unable to handle stressful situations.
- Accomplishing the simplest tasks seemed to take so much effort.
- I was just trying to get through each day, merely existing. I wasn't living.

AFTER 30 DAYS

total weight loss: 15 pounds
inches lost all over: 18.25 inches

- I fit into my size 7 jeans again!
- I get second glances from guys again... even though I'm old enough to be their mother! :)
- Skin is glowing, clear and soft! One of my besties Michelle even said so!
- Can now wear my wedding ring and Iron Ring that I couldn't wear since 2009.
- SO MUCH ENERGY with NO caffeine and sugar! One week into the program, I had the energy to do workouts, volunteer at my kids' school, and even consider opening up my hula dance school again!
- Stressful situations don't throw me off as they used to.
- Feel calm and mellow (except, of course, when my kids act like monkeys on uppers. Armed with boxing gloves. And spears.).
- Above and beyond the notable physical change has been the mental shift. It's like someone took my brain, spit-shined it (in the most hygienic way possible, of course), snapped it back in place, and threw some Tabasco® sauce on it. It burns! It burns!... but in a good way because I feel alive again.
- I've removed as many existing commitments and time-wasters as I could, surrounding myself only with people and activities that uplift me.
- I take care of my appearance more -- wearing makeup, doing my nails, shopping -- because I feel I'm worth it.
- I have healthy habits. I crave healthy stuff like salad, fish, and slow cooked lean meat. I drink a ton of water now. I'm more active now, taking dance class and arranging to meet up with a personal trainer. I EAT LESS!

UPDATE: JULY 15, 2012

total weight loss: 23 pounds
inches lost all over: 25.5 inches

My energy is still up, I'm running after my kids, and I'm feeling really great. I'm enjoying the summer and the fact that I can wear my swim suit and tighter clothes without being afraid that I have lumps and bumps popping out!
Also, Roomie himself has a shake right after every run, and it supports his muscle growth and recovery! This program is really great for athletes!

Now, I'm off to buy a belt for my already skinny jeans... :)

*Click here to check out this program*

ULTIMATE GOAL

This 30-day cleanse was just a kickstart to a healthier lifestyle...

For a small-boned woman with a height of 5'3", I'd like to hit 115-120 pounds or a bodyfat percentage of 21%, which ever comes first.
My goal waist-size is 32 inches, which, according to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, is the magic number that will take me out of the high-risk zone for high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. With a family history of hypertension and high blood pressure, for me this is key!
(To determine your risk, go to their page and find your magic number.)
Fitness is my goal... more muscle, strength, stamina, endurance.

*Click here to check out this program*

THANK YOU

More than anything else, I'd like to thank Roomie, the kids, my family, friends, fellow-Isapeeps, and coaches -- especially my dear friend Sly who got me on this in the first place -- for all of your love and support through this incredible journey. Especially the friends and family who cheered me on and stood by me even though they had no idea what I was even doing. Your trust in me -- that I was smart enough to do the research and choose what was best for myself -- meant so much.
You all had a part in my better health and my quest to be around long enough to play with my great-grandkids! :)

Well, folks, that's my story! If you want to do it too, just send me an email, and I'll hook you up and help you through it all from the beginning to the end of your journey. Or you can check out all the products and even sign up online through this link. I'll be there with you to answer questions, give you tips, and hold your hand if need be.

Stay well, my darling readers. (Back to regularly scheduled awesomeness...)

*Click here to check out this program*

SUMMARY OF MY 30-DAY CLEANSE POSTS

*Click here to check out this program*

cleanse days 29 - 30: and... done. okay, not really.

2012-02-01T22:33:00.001-06:00

You know the saying that "All good things must come to an end"? Yeah, well, that's a lie. At least it is in a couple of cases.

My period. Which I wouldn't consider a good thing. Except at the two week mark after that day I told Roomie that the condom would've been more effective on him than on the night stand.
This cleanse. Which I would consider a good thing. A REALLY good thing.

... because...

My period finished on Day 30 -- 5 days after it started. In the past, I was still spotting on day 7. Flow was lighter, and my cramping was manageable. I took some ibuprofen with me when I went out, but I didn't take any. SO FLOORED BY THIS!
This life-changing cleanse is not over! Not yet anyway.

Also, I'm really enjoying my workouts again. I've fallen in love with the hula again after years of, you know, hating it. And despite the fact that I'm usually too sore to walk the next day, I've come to adore my squats, deadlifts, and push-ups. A lot.

Stay tuned for my complete 30-day cleanse summary post... with my future plans as I race to maintenance...

Life Candy

6th Annual Life Candy Freebie 5: Who's on *your* list?

And this time, she means business.

It's time. Right now.

better late...

a look back at 2012.

Quotes of 2012.

IKEA: the mothership calls!

we're ready, big guy! bring it on!

like the recap at the beginning of each star wars movie. except not in space. and you can read this as slowly as you want.

hoy, happy thanksgiving!

them on the first day of grade 3 & grade 5.

Experience...

the beauty of strength.

here, there, and everywhere.

5th Annual Top 5 List: Who's on your list?

how earth hour turned us into 10 year olds.

monday after spring break surprise. an award. for me.

happy st. patty's day!

the hunger games. the brain version.

happy pi day!

the soundtrack of my life.

random confessions of a happy girl III: thinkings and doings.

REVIEW: ISAGENIX PROGRAM

my Isagenix cleanse: it's like I'm a totally different woman.

cleanse days 29 - 30: and... done. okay, not really.

6th Annual Life Candy Freebie 5: Who's on your list?