Uh oh

The Tim Hortons across the street from my office has the most to die for Peanut Butter cookies.   I'm pretty sure I have had 6 this week... FML lol

:)

Monday Mumblings..

So today is Monday, and I am doing something I haven't done in a long time! I am doing work at the office... my desire to do work has been non-existant as of late, but today it is back in full swing.

If I look back at the last 2-3 years of my life, my outlook on life has changed so drastically.  Since about November, I have come to realize that those things which I once thought were priority in my life, really are not.  School, work and research while all very important and central to my life, are just one part of it.  While I desire a career and am ever so passionate about my research and future dissertation, I have realized that those things are not so exciting when you don't have anyone to share them with.  Finding out that the relationship between gender, SES and mental health is mediated by social context is hardly fascinating when I am the only one who knows about it. 

Things with my brother have been up and down since November.  I saw him at the lowest of lows, lower than I ever thought possible for not only a human being, but for my brother.  My big brother not to mention.  I was his only person.  Seeing someone at the place he was at in his life really opened my eyes.  My constant focus on the future left me with an inability to enjoy my todays.  But life is short, things change, relationships end, jobs end...and when it comes down to it, as important as tomorrow is, every tomorrow is a today and we need to enjoy today with all of our heart and soul.

So this summer that is what I am doing.  I am enjoying every today, extending todays into tomorrows and making sure that every time my head hits the pillow, I can say that today was not just great, but extraordinary.  There is no such thing as an unimportant day, so live each day like its the last one you have.  Maybe your work will have to be pushed to the side a little bit, maybe you will eat that ice cream that you know isn't within your points value but makes your heart happy, maybe you will go for an extra walk just because you can.  Live smart, live happy, live strong!

I guess what I am trying to say is.. what does it all matter if you aren't happy.  If you don't wake up with a smile on your face and if you don't have something to look forward to each day, than what does it matter?  Has my eating been 100% on program in the past few weeks... NOPE.  Has my weight increased significantly in the past few weeks...NOPE.  Has my happiness skyrocketed.. YUP! 

So stay on program as much as you can everyone, but don't beat yourself up about it.  If at the end of the day you are happy with yourself and what you are doing, that is all that matters!

And that my friends, is my rant for the day!  Enjoy your today, because who knows what tomorrow brings.. and if you are truly enjoying today, than tomorrow will be that much better!

*hugs*
-KATIE

Woo.. has it ever been a long time!

Hello bloggies,

So it has been ions since I have posted yet.. and although that is not the greatest of things, I can admit that it has been for good reasons.

I have been so happy as of late and everything in my life appears to be falling into life.  Since I got back from my vacation to the Dominican I have been reassessing what is a priority in my life.  And for the first time, I am putting myself and my happiness first.  I have put my school work to the side for the last few weeks and although I feel guilty for doing so, I know it is what I want and need.  I am taking this summer and having some fun.  Focusing on going to the gym, hanging out with my friends, and establishing my new found relationship with the "boy".  Heck, I even planned a second vacation for the last week of August -- I'm going to Vegas!

Life is good folks.  I feel beautiful, I feel content and I feel truly refreshed.

I was set up on a blind date a few weeks ago by my friend Ashley (the one who just got married and pictures are potsed below). Being set up on yet another blind date, I went in with no expectations.. only to be very pleasantly surprised.  Let me just say, this man is amazing.  He is sweet, a total gentleman, outgoing, smart, witty...and the list goes on and on!  Things seem to be going really well.. so let's keep our fingers crossed!

In other news, my friend had her big-fat-Greek-Italian-British wedding on Saturday.  The weather was beautiful, everything went as planned and I have never seen her and her husband as truly happy as I did that night! They are now off on their 3-week honeymoon in Bora Bora!  Here are some pictures of this great night:

..it truly was a fairy tale wedding, and now I can't wait to get married.. lol

Can't stop snacking..

While I was on vacation I realized how little I needed to eat to be full and satisfied. I only ate when I was hungry and I didn't really eat a lot at those times I did eat.

Now that I am home, the tables have turned.

I can't stop snacking! All I want to do since I have gotten home is snack on ice-cream related products and chips. It's off the hook.

I ya! :(

-KATIE

Vacation Recap :)

Hola Chicas and Chicos!

I just returned from the most amazing tropical vacation and I am here to share some pictures and highlights!

My best friend Amanda and I went for a 1 week vacation to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and we stayed at an all-inclusive resort named Iberostar Bavaro!  The beach, food, drinks, staff, fellow visitors and overall atmosphere at the resort was beyond amazing and I did not have one single complaint the whole time (other than the vacation not being long enough.. but really when is a vacation long enough).

We spent a lot of time lounging poolside, going for long walks on the beach, dancing at the Disco and taking pictures.. tons and tons of pictures (over a 1000 between the two of us).

The Dominican is known for its merengue and bachata dancing and I sure got my fair share of that.. I even got entered into a merengue contest by one of the Entertainment staff and together he and I scored 4th place.. not bad for a white girl! lol

Take a listen to this song while you view the pictures for a full experience LOL

Omega Merengue Urbano Mix

Here are some of the best ones:

Some of these were taking on our resort, and others were taken on the 2 excursions we did. 

The first excursion was a 4 hr Spa Boat which included neck and back massage, yoga on the boat, being pulled around the ocean on a raft, fish sucking the dead skin off your feet and a stingray massage! It was phenomenal!

The second excursion was an all day Safari around the countryside and cities surrounding Bavaro, Punta Cana.  We got to visit an elementary school, cigar factory, sample local fruit and chocolate as well as go swimming in a beautiful local river and go horseback riding! It was an amazing day.

Aside from that I am pleased to announce that surprisingly I managed to stay on program the entire trip.  Despite having a fabulous (and huge) buffet selection available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, I did not overindulge but I definitely enjoyed myself and ate everything that I thought looked good.  The drinks were awesome and our drinks of choice were: Pina Coladas, Ameretto Sours, Cranberry Vodkas and Kamikazee shots!  Eating and drinking were accompanied by 4-5hours of dancing at the disco every evening as well as long walks along the beach!  Water aerobics were offered every day as well as Merengue and Bachata lessons, which we definitely participated in as often as we could.

All in all it was a 10/10 vacation! I would go back in a heart beat and I have come to the conclusion that the real world sucks! Let's go drink, dance and suntan our hearts out!!

More stories to come :)

A+ Mother Nature

Good morning everyone!
How awesome is it to wake up to another gorgeous day in Toronto.  The last week has been beyond beautiful and I am so thankful for it.  Nice weather not only makes me happy, but it seems to make everyone else in the city happy and well it is nice to see smiling faces on the Subway for a change.

I have been a busy little bee and have loved every minute of it.  For the last 2 weeks I have been going to the gym 5X a week, something I never thought I would do let alone never something I thought I would adore doing!  I love my PT, she makes me laugh while making me sweat which is exactly the type of trainer that I need.

Not only have I been going to the gym like a madwoman, but I have also been putting in some hours outside in the sunshine (its great because I get to work on my tan at the same time).  On Thursday my girlfriend Ali and I went rollerblading along the Lakefront for over an hour.  The weather was amazing, it was hot with a nice breeze...and the scenery was amazing too.  I have never seen so many sexy topless men running or rollerblading.. *sigh*

I haven't been spending too much time at home lately, it seems as though I have become a social butterfly.  Everynight I have somewhere to be or something to do.  I think Bubba is beginning to miss me.  To make up for lost time, I just took that little bugger out for an hour walk.  Boy oh boy was it eventful.  A little shitzhu tried to attack him, and then that dogs owner tried to make nice with Bubba and I.  She tried to explain to her puppy that if Bubba hadn't been wearing his muzzle that she would have been dead.  LOL.  We then walked past about 4 other dogs, all of who were misbehaved while my little Devil was actually very good.  Surprise, surprise.. he does have it in him!  Now he is lying on the tiled floor at my feet, panting like crazy.  Poor kid!

Today I am off to my friend Sarah's for a walk, BBQ and pool party.  It should be fun.  Heck, whenever us girls get together it is a blast, so I am sure today will be no exception.

Hope everyone has a great Sunday! Enjoy the nice weather (if you are lucky enough to be getting some of it)!

-KATIE :)

Inspiration: Bloggie Award

Morning bloggies!

It feels like it has been an eternity since I have (1) Blogged and (2) Been on track with my WW eating plan. But despite not blogging and not tracking any foods, I seem to be still losing weight -- but hey, I'm not complaining. I guess stepping up my gym visits has helped to compensate for my craptacular eating LOL.

I was perusing others' blogs (despite not keeping up with mine) and I saw that Lisa at Rescuing Lisa had given me a bloggie award -- which put a big huge smile on my face :)

One of the conditions of hte award is that I pass it on to 7 other bloggers and that I also tell you 7 things that you don't know about me.  So here goes:

1. I have an incredible fear of bumblebees/hornets and Canada Geese.  I will scream like a 5 year old and run fill speed away from these darn creatures.
2. I am a food separatist -- meaning, I do not like my food to touch.  The gravy from my mashed potatoes should not come anywhere near my salad and my salad dressing should also not come close to my chicken breast.  I will eat it if I have no choice, but my preference is separation of food types.
3. My best friend of 14 years is now living in China and it makes me very sad.  In the last year and a half we have grown apart (mostly due to time and space issues) and I am hoping, hoping, hoping that when she comes back things go back to normal and it doesn't take us too long to adjust to one another.
4. I love dogs. My dog is so very naughty, and I still love him to pieces.
5. I am a hopeless romantic.  I want to find that man who will sweep me off my feet and make me feel like the prettiest girl at the dance.
6. When I was a little girl I had three imaginary friends -- Nina, Punk and Chink.  They lived down the street in the hedges. 
7. I hate peas!
8. I don't know how to drive.  Actually I don't even have my G1 yet *hangs head in shame*
9. I can't blow bubbles, wink, or whistle.  I am a special child.

*oops clearly I did more than 7.. lol

And now to pass the award on to:
Sadie at Sadie's Page
Adam at Less of Adam
Amanda at Busting Through It
Toni at Stack of Pennies
Amy at Amy's Quest to Skinny
Tina at Carrots 'N' Cake
Angela at Oh She Glows



Thanks ladies and gents for always being so inspiring.  In your good times and bad times I ahve found strength. I appreciate all of your open and honest posts and I wish you all great success in the quest to healthy living!! :)

That is all for now, there will be more of me in the near future. That is a promise!

Have a great day everyone,
KATIE :)