brownies

It's been warm days and thankful for air conditioning... Fresh from a week's vacation... I should of asked for 2 weeks instead. ha! Oh my.... dreading mowing the lawn till tomorrow. I usually cut weekly but during my vacation I skipped it. I did daily gardening pulling weeds and looking after the trees and flowers. I had time to watched the dvd Julie Julia movie.  I like cooking... I wish I met both Julie and Julia Child back then. It would be nice to have a foodie friend to go places like restaurants and cook here at home or theirs. My best friend moved away to Arizona our birthdays are both in July. So, Happy Birthday to us. I baked brownies today instead of cake. Yes, not very CR but I just needed a break today.

some days I want to slow down and relax with my cat Olivia by the fireplace. Today Sunday was a good day to do just that. I watched the tv show The Taste with Anthony B and Nigella. A show for foodies... the curiosity of having one spoonful of a dish to project every part of a fine dish and compete with others then win notoriety a car and money. Just having a spoonful of some delicious dish. The winner was a personal chef to Charlie Sheen her name is Kristinne

patience

 

It had been busy at the bank. My day went nonstop. I had Mrs P 82 yrs old fixed income. She wanted my assistance with her bills. I look at her and asked "how are you?" she was tired and stayed awake last night over a bill she received for an early break in contract with her cable company. So I called the cable company and asked what we could do and then passed the phone to Mrs, P  All went well and they put her on a payment plan. She patted my hand as she spoke to them. After the call she was okay and back to herself. We finished our conversation and she got up and this is usually when we shake hands... she leaned and warmly hugged me. I walked her to the front door and let her go.. and another hug. Some days are always better than others.. but a warm hug made my day.

wellness coach

At work we have wellness coaches.  I made a call and signed up. I read that there are six sessions in the one on one course. I'd like to learn more on mental and physical wellness.

short step

It's been 5 days and going back on calorie restriction with standard 30-40-30 has been predictable.I have lost 4 pounds since cleanse. If you look at old blog notes and recipes in order to support notes. My body was use to high calories so the change was not a surprise.

I went grocery shopping today and found some delicious fruits tangelo-strawberries-green apples-bananas-blueberries. Tomorrow I will buy a new blender to make my famous smoothies. I will publish recipes.

sunday prep

In a not so perfect day of eating... tomorrow I prep for my juice fast. I have encountered many delectable foods in a not so perfect portions and salts. I need to go back and balance the nutrition and calories. I commit to going CR again in a wholesome  fashion. Time to strategize hunger and mood eating and find satisfying foods. I found my eating not timed right and mood eating setting. Last grocery shopping was helpful. Tomorrow fast day I need to cleanse.

my new self

It seems time passes with a glimpse of who you are. Are you really who you are or just want to be.  I'm starting again and returning to who I am. I am "my new self".

Item number one CR => I certainly need to go back to my recipes. I kept a great review of how to measure with calories and nutrition along with exercise.

Two pilates => I need to setup my pilates machine and set a time schedule or maybe really a mood schedule.

Three organize => less stuff = I have a shed in the backyard to clean and organize. My house is basic. I had purchased Pier One items: dining set - living room seating -  working table for 2 - dividers - picture frames and a bed from Ikea... surprisingly comfortable...

My working table for two is a glass top and two cream leather highback chairs. I use the top and write notes with dry erase markers. Same thing on the dining table seats 6 with a glass top I write my grocery list. I purchase an Ikea a dry erase board and hung one for use in menu planning. The other is in the laundry room where I have a small desk I use for stamping and art work. I hang notes and photos plus art work in progress. The dry erase boards are okay but I thought why not the glass table tops-- it really works well to write on but use bold color like red or black or blue to see words and drawings.

Well lets try again for renewing myself.

peaceful wish

It was a nice peaceful Christmas as I had hoped for.

I had set-up a New Year's dinner for work on the first week of January. The reservations are made and all I need are gifts for them to draw names.

I am thankful for what I have and look upon the future for hopeful wishes to come true.

I watched Olivia under the Christmas tree and... yes.. she is making her peaceful wishes too! she is sooooo cute.

olivia

Olivia my kitten is rambuncious and quite fun to watch. Sometime I will upload a short view of her jumping and hopping around like a bunny. Having her makes me smile as she pals around with me around the house. Today I have time to myself at a cafe prior to going in latter to work. I may pick up a movie on the way home by RedBox. Hopefully, there is something new to watch tonight.

Much to the delight of my plants outside, the rain started softly now it is now consistently falling in a light medium sprinkle. The puddles seem to reverberate the droplets. Somehow, though a soft gray blue cloudy sky still makes me feel the thought of "that's okay." I will go through my library of dvd's and find something I haven't seen in a while and curl up to a cup of warm milk. Olivia (kitty) is just satisfied that I am home on vakay (vacation) with her this week.

I tried not to look at my work email but .... yes, I did. I need to not think of work this week or this will not really be a vakay of relaxation.

Anyways, I'm guessing I will hunt for the dvd of Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston with Rodolfo the blind farrot, "Along came Polly." I recall it being a fun movie and light hearted comedy.

catch a moment of beauty before it fades

A beautiful crisp cool day here in Frederick Maryland. I've been running around and freely feeling like a butterfly. I've picked roses in my backyard this morning. A half dozen crimson beauties are sitting in my kitchen reminding me that each day catch a moment of beauty before it fades.

My home is a peaceful place to rest and energize. I am glad I took the brave leap to buy a home by myself. The front and backyard have fall leaves to rake up. My neighbors wave when I'm around. I sometimes have paths cross at the grocery store with smiles of delight. I am truly lucky.

today is the day

Today is the day!

I will meet at my impending home an hour prior to settlement for a final inspection with MH my realtor. Then off to the settlement company to sign papers. With keys in hand I will return to my own home that I will take good care of, furnish and grow wonderful flowers. A peaceful place to rest and be always happy to return to. I give humble thanks for this day.

waterfalls from the Potomac River

On rainy days the Potomac River over flows and feeds smaller rivers beside it as it overflows with small spectacular waterfalls. Day trip into north Bethesda into Seven Locks Park. A park easily accessible for the public to enjoy a short wonderful walk seeing a preserve with bridges viewing waterways fed from the original Potomac River. This Day trip is only 15 minutes from current home location.

During your leisure stroll around the bridges over several small waterfalls you will enter a Nature Preserve. A fragile eco system exists and is protected by a specific wooden planked walk way that leads to a Look Out to the original Potomac River. A picture from my photo library showing the ecosystem sign posted next to walkway. Quite a treat and I will have a visitor from Modesto California. This will be one of many other Day Trips in Maryland while they enjoy getting to know our area the week they are here.

is there enough time in a day?

Today's menu was 'keeping up' with clients and making everything work like clock work. It's true there isn't enough time in the day to fit everything in. I salute those individuals who make everything in their lives work and make their primary time to love and be with their family as well.

As soon as I came home, of course, who's very blue eyes looked at me lovingly was Miss Olivia. At six months she's a cute ball of fur. I like to talk to her as she looks up and listens to me. She purrs in gratitude of affection and attentiveness or just in presence of company. This picture is of Miss Olivia. I have a new camera... and am not quite happy yet with the shots. So I will read up on the preferences and set them for better results.

CR: For lunch went to Panera for their Asian Salad...mmmm delish! Light offerings after work for dinner due to just plain not hungry. Went for fruit... banana, grapes and strawberries maybe something latter if I really want something. BP this evening is 118/75 this reading is better than this morning even after a busy day.

grapevines

I was thinking how nice it was living in California with my wonderful garden there. I do miss the grapevines. Here is a picture of my home in California with the grapevine garden. My hopes is to have another nice garden in the new home. Settlement date is in a few weeks and there is some planning to do.

CR: In regards to plants... I also believe in a plant based diet. I still have a ways to go to be virtually following this diet. I recently watched a video regarding plant based diet, vegan. President Clinton and his interview regarding his vegan diet. I also believe a vegan diet is the perfect diet with healing qualities.

sipping for health

I am now sipping for health with coconut juice. I have found my blood pressure has lowered. I fell into the thought of coconut juice as a healthy alternative to soda and a refreshing taste other that plain water. At a price of $1 a can of 500 ml or 16.9 fluid oz I have stocked up on it. I am drinking young coconut juice with pulp. I am limiting myself to one can a day so not to increase my normal intake of sugars.

Here are encouraging articles written on website www.livestrong.com search for pros and cons of coconut juice. I drink simple young coconut juice with pulp.

Weather: Hurricane Irene passed thru last night Saturday. Only rain and gusts of wind were evident. The next morning Sunday we had no electricity for about 2 hours or so. Everything is fine now.

looking around!!

Early morning and I met at my inpending home for an inspection with the inspector and my realtor agent. Everything went well and I asked my agent in summary how he felt about it. He was pleased and the purchase of the home is a go ahead.

Now the day is done and I just want to rest here. I close my eyes and let the pillows conform to my head and Olivia (kitty) lays beside me watching me in her bonding way... good girl.

peaceful places

I am returning to my peaceful places and found wonderful open breath of fresh air has come back to me.

My good news! There are several to count my blessings.

Life has been kind and given me a chance to get acquainted with new twin kitty's named Olivia with her sister named Isabela in the house I am presently in. Yes, sisters but definitely not alike and now six months old. They are fun and rambunctious though curious and funny to watch. A nice distraction while other exciting events go on in my life.

Then I just received news 2 hours ago that the house I have been patiently waiting for is approved. My settlement date will be my choice next month. I will then have keys on hand and my excitement is just growing with anticipation on a home of my very own. A three bedroom (but one room will be the master with a sitting room) rancher style home with a driveway and front and backyard.

Currently, I have been working hard and have a great working team at work with bonding friendships. It will be almost one year since hired in, well exactly ten months so far. I am in the mitts of a double promotion to Assistant Branch Manager at the bank. OMGosh ... can life be any kinder!

Now after all this excitement... I choose to meditate and find my mind in peaceful places right now. I know I can go out and celebrate like crazy but I choose to sit here and close my eyes... breath and let my mind find peaceful places. I think my celebration will be inside my heart and I will find my mind in a kinder place, a very happy place. Oh and I will hug and kiss Olivia (kitty) ... she keeps bugging me right now *smile*

A mindful question to you: when you receive good news, how do you feel and how do you channel it in your life... what do you call or define a fortunate and happy event?

orchids and memories

I had recently dropped into my local Trader Joe's for groceries. I take my time and gaze around the store for new and interesting items to add to my cupboard. I was thrilled to find a fresh bunch of orchids calling to me. Of course I could not resist to bring them home and display them in my quiet room. My mother grew orchids and several varieties that I do not see common anywhere. It's almost mother's day and this brings back nice memories of my mother. Though she is not here I enjoy the orchids that called to me in memory of my mother. Happy Mother's Day mom, with deep devotion I love you.

Screensaver: Orchid flowering - you may use as a screensaver with my permission, please do not sell and give credit if used kindly.