All Hallows' Eve

Halloween was great! I had a nice small group of good friends over. Good company, great costumes, yummy foods! We did a best costume contest! My friend Tristan, who was dressed as a Mexican won! (sshhh, secretly I won, but  I'm not allowed to win my own prize!! LOL) 

It was such a nice night! I love Halloween!

I spent many hours baking! My pride & joy were those cupcakes! They turned out super cute! I'm already excited to make winter cupcakes, Christmas cupcakes, etc! 

Happy Halloween everyone!

Now it's time to get excited about Christmas!

Do do do do do

H A L L O W E E N  C A N D Y  I S  T E M P T I N G  M E

So in about a month I will do an update on my weight and measurements. I was going to keep a log of my diet & exercise, but I've decided not to. I will be eating much healthier than normally. I just don't want to track everything I eat, everyday. I'll keep a mental note and roughly calculate my calorie intake in my head :)

I went to the gym again after work! It sucks working until 6PM, and working 45 KM's away from home (which can take up to an hour to get home in traffic! Sometimes longer!) But nonetheless, I made it to the gym. Another downfall is going straight to the gym after work and not eating dinner at a proper time. I try to have a snack before I workout at least so I'm not starving, but sometimes a little snack does nothing to my hunger. But I have to do what I have to do! (for now!)

So Halloween is this weekend! I'm having some friends over this Saturday evening for a little All Hallow's Eve gathering. We're all dressing up, so that's going to be fun! I'm so eager to get baking Saturday afternoon! I hope this round of cupcakes come out even better! Practice makes perfect, right?

I have nothing interesting to talk about today, so I'm going to end it here.

Oh, and I was bored & curious; http://www.formspring.me/ooravish Ask away!

Peace & love

Diet & Exercise - Day One

Current weight: 140 lbs.
Height: 5'6
BMI: 22.6 (Normal weight = 18.5-24.9)
Goal weight: 125 - 130 lbs.

Measurements
Waist: 29 inches
Hips: 37 inches
Thighs: 19 inches
Calves: 13.5 inches
Upper arm: 10 inches
Chest: 32 inches

Food Log
Breakfast (7:30AM)
• 2 hard boiled egg whites (40 calories)
• Early Grey tea with skim milk & 1 teaspoon of sugar (50 calories)

Snack (10:30AM)
• 1 granola bar (100 calories)

Lunch (2:00PM)
• Vegetable soup (70 calories)
• Whole wheat roll (114 calories)

Snack (4:30PM)
• Cashews (300 calories)
• Honey Nut Cherrios no milk (150 calories)

Dinner (9:00PM)
• Beets & carrots (300 calories)

Water consumption total: 3L

Total calories consumed: 1,124

Exercise
7:15PM - 8:15PM = 1HR
• Cardio: Eliptical for 45 minutes. Burned 500 calories
• Weights: 150 ab crunches

So day 1 seemed to be a success. I ate pretty decent (healthier than usual) And had a decent workout. My energy level was pretty low while at the gym, so I didn't feel so great, but nonetheless, I still pushed myself. I wanted to work out for longer, but I was STARVING!

What helped me lose weight before was counting calories. When I'm aware of how many calories I'm consuming and burning, it really helps me make better choices in what I decide to eat. Also, if I have a cheat day, or if I eat a something bad one day, I'll still write it down and admit it was a cheat! LOL. The key is moderation. And trust me, I'll have my slip ups… you'll see them.

So to lose weight, I should be eating between 1,500 - 1,600 calories per day. Today I had under that amount, PLUS I worked out... so I'm running LOW on energy.

I think wanting to lose 10-15 pounds is pretty reasonable! And I think it's more than possible within 4 months!  I'm not ashamed of my measurements nor my weight. I have curves… it's simple! And my weight is normal for my height. I'm healthy right now. I just want to look good in MY eyes, and feel confident for myself. Losing 10 pounds will not be a drastic visible change, but it will make me feel happy.

I need to limit, is the amount of carbs I eat. Being a vegetarian is NOT easy. Making and choosing healthy lunches to eat at work is also hard. I'm such a picky eater, it drives me insane. A lot of the times, I'm left with grabbing the cheapest and simplest lunch; the dreadful BAGEL. So that's another goal of mine; LESS CARBOHYDRATES. I'm european. What's better than a nice bowl of homemade pasta with homemade tomato sauce? Haha, that's the Italian speaking. But that's pure comfort food… and my stepmom's mother makes A-MAZING pasta. (And trust me, there's no saying no to her when it comes to eating!)

Let me know some of your weight loss stories! And good luck to anyone who is on the same journey as me!

Ok let's get off this diet & food business. Yesterday was my half-sister's 10th birthday! With all her birthday money, we went to buy her the device she's been dreaming about… the new iPod Touch! Was she in heaven, or was she in heaven? I've never seen a kid SO happy! What did I have when I was 10? Maybe a Tamagotchi? Haha.

So get this… me, Stefan (brother) Mario (half-brother) Tania (half-sister) Mary (stepmom) and Stella (step-nonna) were eating dinner last night, and out of nowhere, a screw fell onto the middle of the table. We all just looked at each other and smiled. Tania told me she woke up this morning hearing daddy say "wake up Tania, happy birthday". =*( I wish he was here with us.

Ok that is all. Que sara sara.

Diet & Exercise - It's TIME!

Ok so here's the deal! Not only do I have to get back into shape, but I also have a vacation I want to look good and feel good in March, 2011! I know that seems like a long time away, but really… it's going to come faster than I'd like!

I've been a member at my gym for about 3 years… I think (maybe longer). There have been great times during these years where I was in full work-out mode! There have also obviously been down times. Everyone experiences down times. You fall off the bandwagon and lose your motivation. For me, it's not exactly the winter that effects me. Yes, I admit it's harder to drag yourself to the gym in the evening when it's already pitch black at 6PM. But my problem was simply being LAZY. I like to blame my job as well... and a tragic event I had to battle. Basically last year, spring & summer 2009 to be exact, I was in a health kick! I worked out so much and ate so healthy! End of August 2009, everything came tumbling down. August 23, 2009, my dad passed away. It was sudden, and it was a tragic accident. This blog post is not supposed to be about that, but it's obviously one reason why my world crashed and burned. I lost everything I had inside of me. It's been a year, and it's still a fresh, bleeding wound. But something inside of me is making me TRY. It would be so easy to give up and hide from the world. Right? Obviously, it's pretty freakin' hard going to sleep and waking up knowing he's not here anymore, and it's still a shock to me. But I keep telling myself to not give up. So I would say between August until now, I've just not been all here. I have not been myself. I have been sad, and in a depression. I wake up, go to work, go home, sleep. There are weeks where I get excited and get into the gym! My mom also goes to the gym, so she would be a great motivator! She would force me! So it's not that I've been completely OFF the gym thing. But between August until now, I would say I was giving my body and health only 50% out of 100%. I'd go to the gym one week, and the next I'd fall off the streak and not go for a couple weeks.

OK I am going off on tangents like I always do.

Basically, it's time I get back into it, for 100% this time! When I work out, I feel better. That's a given. I will snap out of this depression, feel happier, and get less HEADACHES!!! I get headaches E-V-E-R-Y-D-A-Y!!!

I'm using my trip as a motivator. Myself as a motivator. My health as a motivator. My self-image as a motivator.

My mom is still a member at the gym, so we help each other get there! Now my good friend Danielle is also joining my gym!! How excited am I? I am going on the vacation with her, so her goal is to get in shape for March as well. This is going to be great motivation… we're going to help each other.

Another thing I'm excited about, which I don't want to get into details yet about… but right before Christmas, I'm going to be going through a change… a big change… a happy and positive change. I'm going to be ending one chapter (what freakin' chapter am I on right now anyway??? I lost my bookmark!) And beginning a new one!! I'm very proud of myself and very content! So the reason why this change has to do with my diet & workout is because it will be giving me MORE time and MORE access to the gym and to eating healthy.

I will admit, since last year, I've gained maybe 10 pounds. My goal is to lose 15 pounds and tone up by March, 2011.

Next blog post, I will be weighing myself, taking my measurements, and documenting my journey! I will be writing my daily diet, my workouts, and my progress!

I encourage everyone and anyone who is interested in following me on this journey! Anyone who needs that push, that motivation to just get out and make a change for YOURSELF. Not for anyone but YOU. You have nothing to prove to anyone in this world, but yourself. The satisfaction you gain from achieving a goal you've made is so blissful and empowering! And if you need that motivator, hopefully I can help!!

I'm so pumped and excited to do this! And I better stick to it. Being the slacker I am… I can see myself getting lazy and saying "meh!" But there's another part of me that is going to keep myself going!

Green Tea...

CUPCAKES!!!

How happy do these make me?? Super happy! I've had packs of green tea powder for so long, and an idea came into my head to use it to make cupcakes! I wasn't sure how they would turn out, but to my surprise, they came out delicious and lovely! For the icing, I simply added the green tea powder to vanilla icing, which turned it into that colour!

My mom saw these and said "ew" to their appearance, but once she tried them, she loved them!

I'm definitely on a cupcake obsession at the moment. And it's funny because once I've completed a batch, I don't even want them to be eaten! I just want to look at how cute they are! LOL

Day Three ♥

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favourite show.

To be honest, I don't watch a lot of T.V. so if I had to chose a show that I would consider my favourite, I'd pick Keeping up with the Kardashians! I've loved them forever, and their show is great entertainment! Love it, and that family.. haha.

Who else loves this show??

Day Two ♥

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with longest.

Introducing, my best friend, Sharon!

I've ben friends with Sharon since the early days of elementary school! We remained friends throughout high school, college, and to this very day! She is probably the only person I know will be there for me forever, and I will be there for her forever. I am so thankful to have her in my life. 

Day One ♥

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts:

1• I'm a vegetarian

2• I'm a true Taurus! Anything you read about a Taurus, is ME.

3• Graphic design, makeup artistry, fashion, animals, children = passions of mine

4• I'm nearsighted. I wear glasses that make me look really dorky

5• I have three tattoos

6• My mom is my best friend

7• I love every season BUT winter

8• I'm a tea addict

9• I love to bake

10• I collect makeup & perfume (I'm kind of crazy)

This or That TAG!

MAKEUP:
blush or bronzer • bronzer (it can be used as blush too!)

lip gloss or lipstick • lipgloss
eye liner or mascara • mascara

foundation or concealer • concealer (I hate foundation!)

neutral or color eye shadow • neutral

pressed or loose eye shadows • pressed
brushes or sponges • brushes


NAILS:

OPI or china glaze • OPI for sure!
Long or short • short

Acrylic or natural • natural, acrylic is nasty nasty
Brights or darks • both! I wear every colour
Flower or no flower • flower on my toe, SOMETIMES


BODY:
perfume or body splash • both! I have a billion of both! But mainly perfume I'd say. I'm a collector.

lotion or body butter • lotion, body butter feels greasy to me
body wash or soap • body wash

lush or other bath company • Lush


FASHION:
jeans or sweat pants • both! I live in yoga pants on weekends, but mainly jeans to work
long sleeve of short • both, depending on the temperature outside

dresses or skirts • both!
stripes or plaid • stripes
flip flops or sandals • both!
scarves or hats • scarves. I am NOT a hat person, at all
studs or dangly earrings • studs for sure
necklaces or bracelets • I love both, but without bracelets I feel naked
heels or flats • both, but mostly flats
cowboy boots or riding boots • cowboy boots
jacket or hoodie • depends where I'm going, so both!
forever 21 or charlotte russe • Well, considering we don't have Charlotte Russe in Canada, I'm going to say Forever21
abercombie or Hollister • Neither! Puke! 

saks 5th or nordstrom • We don't have these stores in Canada. But if I were to shop online, I'd say Nordstrom


HAIR:

curly or straight • straight, because mine is naturally that way

bun or ponytail • I like both!

bobby pins or butterfly clips • bobby pins
hair spray or gel • hair spray

long or short • both! I've gotten sick of long hair… so now I'm enjoying my hair shorter. I like change, haha
light or dark • dark, for sure. I'm a natural brunette

side sweep bangs or full bangs • side bangs

up or down • both, but mostly down


RANDOM:

Rain or shine • shine!

Summer or winter • Oh summer, for sure!

Fall or spring • Both! I love both seasons!
Chocolate or vanilla • both!
East coast or west coast • east! but I want to travel to the west very badly!

Ok that was a good time waster!

So I didn't know what to be for Halloween! I couldn't make up my mind! Originally I wanted to be a flapper. Then I changed my mind and wanted to be a 1950's poodle skirt girl! I tried on a costume of that, and it was hideous! Then I wanted to be a hippie, then I thought a hillbilly would be funny! FINALLY, I've decided I'm going to be DOROTHY!

This is a picture of my little sister, Tania & I. I straightened her insanely curly hair, and she was super excited! It took nearly 2 hours to do! But it was so worth it, she is so gorgeous!

Good morning! 

We have been so lucky this year! Autumn is just gorgeous! The weekends are amazing; full of sunshine, warm temperatures & beautiful, vibrant fall colours! I remember past years, fall would come and go so quickly! It would get super cold, super fast, and instead of the leaves staying colourful for a long period of time, they just fall so quickly! This year, it's been a good few weeks of gorgeousness! 

Anyways, this is just a quick post because I'm heading to the gym in a second! 

I should have posted this yesterday, but I wasn't home all day. Here is my Saturday outfit of the day:

Cardigan: H&M

Jeggings: Forever21

Bag: BCBG

Shoes: H&M

Sunglasses: Forever21

The Psychics Of Fall

Greetings! So I've been on "holidays" since Wednesday! Ahh, no work... it's been amazing! So relaxing. I caught up on so much stuff. I feel so refreshed and happy. I went to the gym everyday, bright and early! The weather was also amazing... perfect fall week! Pure sun & warm temperatures! I was able to get out yesterday and go photo-crazy with my best friend, Sharon. We found this church and cemetery that was built in 1820! It was amazing to see. Obviously we couldn't get inside, but I tried to get some photos of the inside of the church. Anyways, here are some pictures! Enjoy!

Soft Sunshine

I'm so excited! The weather is lovely, the sun is shining... there's absolutely no clouds in the sky! Leaves are pretty much in full colour, camera is charged, time to head outside and snap some photos!

I'll post pictures later on! :)