Happy Friday!

Well, after much trial and error I've changed my blog back to the blogger 'minima' template so I can add a Christmas theme. I'm still not liking how close the left column is to my typing, but I tried what Marla suggested and blogger says I can't change the width settings (probably cos I'm using an old template), but thanks for the suggestion Marla. It will have to just look like this for now.

I made a new header which I think looks cute. I love that first picture of Kristen in the Santa hat :-) It was taken December 2001 when she was just one year old - it's one of my favorites. 

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Lunch at Kristen's school. Our last one in Elementary, and I have to say it was rather tasty :-)  I forgot to take my camera so no pictures. After lunch it has been 'our tradition' for me to sign Kristen out and she comes home with me. Yesterday before we headed home we decided to go get her hair trimmed.

She didn't want it styled or shaped (I'm sure that will come soon) so we just got a couple of inches taken off the bottom. After we got home we decided to go out again to Justice for Girls. I said we should go looking for something new to wear to her party tomorrow.  She was all for it, but then when we got up there she just seems bored in the store, and nothing catches her eye. I mean what young girl doesn't get excited about getting something new to wear? Mine obviously!  She picked nothing, and we came home empty handed. I have been trying to look for something that she can wear for Christmas too, but I have to say there's not much 'christmasy' stuff out there except the pretty 'party dresses', and you know she's not going to wear those!  I was blessed with a Tom Boy, and I just have to accept it ;-)

I'm off to Kristen's school again this afternoon to take in Brownies for her birthday.

HELP!!!!!

+++++ OK, I've figured out how to load the old minima template again, thanks to Becky at CBOTB, and I've loaded a Christmas background. I'm still not happy with how the typing is too close to the left menu, so I need to look in to that. Also want to make a new header, but will have to wait til tomorrow. Off out to Book Club tonight.

Does anyone know why I can't get a background to load right? I used to use the 'minima' template from blogger but I can't see that option anymore. I'm using the 'simple' template, but the background from CBOTB isn't loaded right?

Anyone got any ideas?

Under Construction!!!

I'm trying to change my template so I can add a Christmas themed look. It's rather messy at the moment. Hopefully I'll get it sorted out soon!!!!

Random Things

I met my friend Cindy for coffee this morning and took along my camera :-) I didn't have anything to blog about so I thought I'd take a picture of my coffee! Then I asked Cindy to snap my picture too ;-)

I was wanting to order the EggNog Latte, but I got online this morning and checked how many calories was in it!! perhaps I shouldn't have, 460 CALORIES, and that was without the cream!!! I just kept thinking of all that hard work I've been putting in at the gym. So, today I opted for a Gingerbread Latte, and just like Sadie, I drank it in memory of our sweet bloggy friend Elizabeth, who we sadly learned passed away suddenly last week. 

The Gingerbread latte was only 320 calories. If you want a really low cal drink, think of trying the 'skinny Peppermint Mocha', it only has 130 cals for a 16oz cup (no whipped cream). I may treat myself to the eggnog latte sometime in December, but for now I want to use my calories wisely ;-)

I made this for dinner last night . . . .

I should think eating like this for the next few weeks AND going to the gym at least 4 or 5 times a week, will mean I can easily fit in to this . . . . 

This is my new cocktail dress :-)  Cheryl is hosting a cocktail party for her Mom's 65th birthday in December. I wanted to treat myself to a new little black dress this year.

And one last thing, I made this over the weekend. . . .

I took a few photos when I made it with some roses and rosemary in it from my garden, but I can't seem to find the photos on my computer? And they're no longer on my camera? I don't know what I did with them. Well, this is harder to do than it looks I must say. The candy canes are not all perfectly straight so or the same height! But it still turned out looking rather nice. I'll be sure to take more pics when I add roses to it for Christmas.

Getting busy . . .

Things are starting to speed up here! Kristen's birthday party is fast approaching. I'm having the neighbors and some of her friends over on Saturday afternoon so I need to start planning. I can't believe next week is Thanksgiving - NO SCHOOL after Friday :-)  I am not hosting this year so there isn't much to do for that.  

The gym seems to be taking up all my time, although I don't know why as I'm only there for an hour and a half each morning, usually getting home by 10am!  I didn't go this morning - Cheryl called just as I was leaving the house at 8.30 to say she'd been called out. She planned on going later about 11am, but I went for groceries and when I got back decided to get stuck in to housework. I want to tell myself it's ok to have a day off (from the gym) or even two days off a week.

I got the game room all cleaned up, dusted and vacuumed. Did 3 loads of laundry, put the laundry away, cleared up in the kitchen, swept the kitchen and hallway floors. At least I feel like I've accomplished something today. 

We went over to Cheryl's on Saturday night. She'd bought some champagne to try that the store was having samples of :-)  I had to take a couple of pictures (especially for you Nenna - we were wishing you were here). 

Hope you're all having a great start to your week. I just realized why I want to decorate for Christmas so early. . . every time I turn on the tv there's a commercial on with Santa in it!! AND they're already showing Christmas movies on Hallmark channel!!!!!!

I'm Ready. . .

I am SO ready to decorate for Christmas, but hubby keeps poo-poohing the idea!! Yesterday I bought this little guy from Ross. He's not that little, actually he's just under 3ft tall :-)

I stood him half way up the stairs, and when Jason came home from work he said "bah humbug - there shall not be Santa's in my house before December!" Hmmm, well I have other plans, so he better get used to Mr. Santa ;-)  I'm not hosting Thanksgiving this year, we'll be going to my inlaws for dinner, so I think I will get my decorations out during the week we are off school!

While I'm feeling all 'Christmasy' (it's really cold out today, I feel like lighting my candles and playing holiday music!) I thought I'd share a few pictures I have in my Christmas folder on Pinterest.  If you go to my Pinterest page HERE, it will give you the source of the pictures.

I would love to make one of these pretty flower arrangements this year!

 I love how bright this staircase looks, and love the ice skates hanging up.

 This is the lovely Becca's Christmas mantel - LOVE it. I have a picture of her bedroom all decked out for the holidays that I absolutely love - need to add it to my Pinterest. You can CLICK HERE to see Becca's gorgeous Christmas Home Tour from last year.

OK, I found it (and pinned it), here's Liz's gorgeous bedroom. I think she's redecorated since then, but I love the color scheme she had in there, it totally went with all the Christmas decor.

 I need me some Christmas pillows for the sofa!

So, fess up! Have you started decorating yet? I know Liz has (not that Liz (above), I mean this Liz from SAVVY SEASONS :-)  I'm rather jealous that she's already got her tree up!

A Good Start to the Week!

I went to the gym yesterday! I actually joined again a few weeks ago (not sure if I mentioned it here or not), because Cheryl had started going a lot. As some of you may know I'm often on a quest to get healthy, eat better, be more active etc. but I often go through phases of this and don't stick with it for the long haul. I can't honestly say this will be for the long haul either, but I'm hoping it is and not just another phase that may only last a few weeks. You see, it's not a diet I'm on, or trying to stick to . . .  it's a WAY OF LIFE! Many of us will quote that mantra, and it is true. I don't want to just watch what I eat for a few weeks so I can lose a few pounds, I want to eat like this for the rest of my life. 

Luckily for me, I LOVE fresh fruit and veg. Pictures like these get me excited :-) and they look so appetizing to me, so colorful and good for you!

So, not only have Cheryl and I been going to the gym a lot more (it's so much better when you have a workout partner) we have started 'eating clean'.  Have you heard of the Eat Clean Diet?  I already have the  diet book and cookbook (bought them years ago when I was on yet another diet phase)

and I also have a few issues of the Clean Eating Magazine.

To be honest there's not that many recipes in the cookbook that I would actually want to make, but I do like getting the current issue of the magazine for fresh ideas and to read about healthy living. What I'm concentrating on right now is thinking about the food I'm eating. When I snack, what am I snacking on? Is it processed junk? Is lunch just a frozen low calorie meal? I'm happy to say that this week it's not. I had a banana before I went out to the gym, and when I got back I had 2 eggs poached with an English muffin for a late breakfast. As a snack I will have cottage cheese and an apple. Dinner tonight will be homemade turkey burgers, sweet potato fries and a salad. And I must not forget to DRINK LOTS OF WATER :-)

 

The holidays are coming up so I won't say I'll never have another cookie again, or eat those deliciously sinful creamy mashed potatoes I always make, but if I'm working out 3 or 4 times a week and eating well the rest of the time, I'm hoping to survive the season without gaining any weight.

What about you? Are you feeling inspired to eat better? Be more active. Share with me what motivates you to a  healthy lifestyle?