FertilehealthyAiming for success, not perfection…

Phew!  January was a whirlwind month!  I knew it was going to be, but I had no idea I would be so drained by it all.

First up we had to prepare our new house for occupation, then pack up the old house, then the actual move and getting organized in the new house (including reviving the garden) and then we had to clean and prepare the old house for new tenants.

In the midst of all that my computer crashed (due to a nasty virus) and had to be de-bugged and all the software reinstalled from scratch. Then there was an account problem with my broadband (their fault, not ours), which has now been sorted out.

Physically it was a rough.  I am going through a major healing process right now and it’s really taking its toll.  Being fat is just the cherry on the cake.  You know, it’s one thing to be fat and thirty, but quite another when you’re forty and have been obese for fifteen years.  My 72 year old father and 64 year old mother are more limber and physically able that I am!  Thank goodness they helped me unpack and get the garden started!

I had my appointment with the dermatologist on Friday and thankfully only one mole (0n my calf) was removed.  It’s not bothering me much, although I have to stay out of the pool for another five days.

We love our new home!  I love what we’ve done with it so far.  I promise I will take some pictures this week.  Of course we still have to do the main bathroom and the fence, which is leaning precariously in the wind.  And my car is still in the driveway because we haven’t sorted out the garage yet.

But for now…  I’m back!

Yeah, that’s how I feel.

Especially my feet… they throb even when I’m lying in bed at night.

Moving is not for very fat 40-year old women!

Note to self: Lose weight or you’ll be an invalid soon.

In other news, the move went really well and we are about 95% unpacked and settled in. Normal life will resume on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Things are still crazy over here, so I’m just dropping in for a quick hello.

*  We  painted the new kitchen yesterday and the difference is immense.  It used to be some kind of baby blue, which didn’t fit in with the rest of the house at all.  I chose “Ivory” and it looks lovely.  We’ll do the second coat tonight.

*  It was VERY hot yesterday.  Wow!

*  When the chips are down, sometimes you just have to draw a line in the sand, conceding a few points in the process, but establishing a barrier you will not cross.  I haven’t been to gym since Monday and it’s unlikely that I will be able to go this week and I have had to eat more cooked food than I would like, BUT I am still 100% plant-based and having one fruit meal and one green smoothie per day.  I will not compromise on that.

*  Life is still good.

*  Poor Haiti.  My heart aches.

*  Will hopefully get around to reading blogs as soon as I have done most of the packing.  Keep well!

Right, this move is now really starting to happen around here.  The previous owners have vacated the house and are busy fixing up things and cleaning.  I’m collecting packing materials and trying to find a handyman to screed and paint the garage floor and paint the kitchen.  I must also get quotes for blinds and have them installed and Craig wants to sand and reseal the hardwood floors before we move in.   Through it all I’m going to gym 5 times per week, doing Pilates 5 times per week, blogging and keeping this house spick & span for prospective tenants.  I would wear a cape, but it would probably get caught in a fan…

So, bullet-point blogging today:

*  I have published all my recipes here.  There is really something for everyone, so please have a look.  The recipes are meatless (perfect for today – being Meatless Monday and all), dairy-free, mostly gluten-free, additive-free, sugar-free…  This is what we eat day in and day out and we love it!  You don’t have to be a vegan to enjoy a vegetable-based dinner once in a while and you don’t have to be a raw-foodie to try some of the delicious salads or dressings in the Raw Foods section.  Eating is not about labels.  (The links for the recipes are also in the sidebar of the blog under Healthy Recipes.)

*  It’s taken me 40 years, but I think I’ve finally grown up.  What do I base that assertion on?  The fact that I spent Friday with my friends around the pool and didn’t get sunburned.  That has never happened before!  No, I didn’t slather myself in dangerous, toxic sunscreens!  I wore my hat, even in the pool, stayed in the shade and only went into the water for short periods – just enough to cool off.  I think raw food, especially all the mangoes, may also be helping in this regard – the caretenoids aid in giving a healthy golden glow.

*  Speaking of raw food, we’re one week into our three-month stint and loving it.

*  I saw this yesterday and just had to share it…  20 Ways to Add More to Your Life in 2010

Do you want to see what my new house looks like?  Okay then…

It’s small, and nothing fancy, but we love the area and we will put our own stamp on it in no time at all.  I have big plans for the garden!  The roof must be painted as well, but that can wait until after we’ve moved.  The biggest job will be the bathroom renovation.

Happy Monday, everyone!

I am so grateful that Elena, from Eat Healthy, Be Happy, has awarded me the Happiness 101 Blog Award. I really had to think about what happiness means to me and what makes me happy – always a worthy subject to dwell on. Thank you, Elena! You are a true blessing to me!

As always, there are instructions:

1. Copy the image and display it on your blog.

2. List 10 things that make you happy.

3. Try to do at least one of them today.

4. Pass on the award to 10 bloggers who brighten your day.

10 Things that make me happy:

1. My husband. I am still in awe that this wonderful man came into my life. I adore him!

2. Every moment spent with my two best friends. I’m convinced that Lizana and I are soul mates from a lifetime before this one – she just “gets” me in a way that nobody else does. I think I’m the most authentic “me” when I’m with her. Plus, she makes me laugh! Charlotte taught me about love and friendship when I was lost and shattered and after nine years we are still growing together and learning from one another.

3. My cats, Lavis and Pepper. Our love is mutually unconditional.

4. Music. I have a wide taste in music, but my heart belongs to Bruce Springsteen. He may be 60, but he’s still the Boss to me!

5. Wide open spaces. One of my greatest pleasures is getting out of the city and barreling down the highway into the country, often with #4 blasting from the stereo. My soul takes flight and I can finally breathe again.

6. This blog.  It provides me with a sounding board and a creative outlet.  I love it!

7. The knowledge that this is the last time I will ever be this fat and this tired/lethargic.

8. Books. I love reading and I always have a book at hand.

9. The growing awareness that the system has to change. We need a new paradigm for living in all spheres of life: economics, agriculture, nutrition, charity, health, education, politics, spirituality, the environment, ethics, compassion, energy consumption, peace, respect, etc. More and more people are prepared to stand up for what is right. This fills me with hope for the future of humanity.

10. Being present and conscious in my life. I have power only in the present and every moment I get to choose whether I will be filled with despair or with bliss. This is huge!

And the award goes to… 10 people who make me very happy.

1. Chris from A Deliberate Life – This lady has true grit and amazing insight.

2. Vickie from Baby Steps V – I could sit at her feet all day and learn about life and balance.

3. Evita from Evolving Beings and Evolving Wellness – Someone called her “the new Louise L. Hay” the other day. I couldn’t agree more.

4. Shannon from The Fabulous Fattie – She’s got moxie and she makes me laugh.

5. Kat from Fit Mind Body Spirit – She inspires me every day and I would love to know her in real life.

6. Diane from Fit to the Finish – She’s been there, done it (years ago) and cares enough to help us get there too.

7. Chubby Chick from Journeying to Lose 200 Pounds – She never gives up.

8. Steve from LogMyLoss – He really walks the talk. And boy, can he talk!

9. Carla from MizfitOnline – She’s just awe-inspiring! She even changed the way I talk… among many other things.

10. Karen at Why Weight – We are often so similar it’s uncanny (except of course that she’s a much better writer).