2 tablesp wheat germ and 1 tablesp honey, coffee2 1 cup of cottage cheese and 4 crackers, coffee or green tea
3 1 tablespoon of pure almond butter and a banana, coffee (you can see I like my morning coffee!)
4 1 medium avocado, 3 slices of cheese and an apple or banana, coffee (I’m really blessed that we have free coffee supplied at work, so I usually have a cup of coffee at work as well during the morning.)
Lunch: I love quiche or an avocado.
Further lunch ideas are turkey slices and cheese with a handful of walnuts and a yogurt drink, or a salad with chicken and almonds and a yogurt dressing. Enjoy and have a great day!
Inspiration from jeans
This morning I decided to wear a pair of jeans that I’ve been avoiding for a while. We have an unwritten agreement that Fridays are casual day. What a nice surprise : the jeans fit me quite nicely again. It encourages me to stick to the plan. To me it’s more important how I feel in my clothes, some number on a scale really matters less… Stay on course with me, we can do this together! Focus on protein, drink lots of water, and Balance in everything. Slightly off topic, a nice tip on appearance at work: Someone once said that a professional look starts with your shoes and your hands. Something to think about. Have a super day.
April, getting back on track, Happy Easter
With unpacking and adjusting to our new space, things have been busy. I also try to make it to the office around 7am these days, so that I can pick young son up from daycare a bit earlier. Daylight savings time gives us a chance in the evenings for activities together. I haven’t gained any weight at least, but the weight loss is not progressing as I hoped. I know I can do it, though. The improved weather helps, I take walks whenever Dad and son are playing and give me a chance to get out for a while. One of the joys of being a mom to a four-year-old is observing his progress as he becomes more independent. He can play for longer periods by himself now, either with toys or on his BlackBerry PlayBook. There are great kids’ games available on BlackBerry World, especially free games developed by TVO. His skill at mastering new technology is really fun to see. I hope you all had a great Easter break, keep going, we won’t give up!
For the Love of Lemon
For the past two weeks our family has been struggling with a bad cold and a cough that won’t go away. So here is a lemon drink that really helps:
In a large mug:
Place 1/2 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
Add 2 slices of fresh lemon, cut into small pieces
Add 2 tablespoons honey
Top up with boiling water
Let steep for 10 minutes.
Sip slowly and eat the lemon pieces as well!
Ginger has potent anti-inflammatory properties. But: If your cough still lingers after a week, perhaps you may have a secondary bacterial infection and then you need to see your doctor and get some antibiotics! Take care and have a great week.
My Five wishes for Mother’s Day
Five more minutes to snuggle with a sleepy four-year-old, his small legs pressed against me for safety .
Five more minutes to enjoy my morning coffee while it is still hot .
Five more minutes to read through a news post without interruption.
Five more minutes to enjoy lunch in peace while four-year-old quietly eats his meal, without being a jack-in-the-box.
Finally, a boy who falls asleep after bath and books, in only Five minutes Well, a mother can dream, that’s the best part of the day.
Happy Summer! Community ideas
We’ve been building Community Involvement and Healthy Minds since 2010. Happy Summer! Community Ideas:
1 Neighbourhood Loot Bags This past week, I made loot bags filled with chocolates for all our neighbours. We are all new, since our area has just been built. I added a message with our name and phone number so people can reach us, and many people are keen to have a street barbeque. Reaching out to our neighbours builds strong communities. If the kids are bored this summer, this is something the whole family can do together.
2 Senior Serenade Make an appointment at your local seniors’ home for a short visit. Then give everyone a red carnation (they are less expensive than roses) and just wish them Happy Summer. Take the kids along, last year our local seniors loved my young son’s smile as he helped distribute flowers. If you or someone in you group can play a musical instrument, even better. But do make an appointment first.
3 Love your Library Here in Canada we are blessed to have fantastic libraries in our communities. Show your appreciation to your local branch by writing a hand written card to say thanks for all they do. The kids can decorate the card and help deliver it.
Lessons from a four-year-old
Building Community and Healthy Minds since 2010. Some teachable moments from my preschooler:
1 Mom, going to the store or even to work without wearing foundation is not the end of the world - it even freshens the skin.
2 Not blow-waving my hair is not the end of the world either, an up-do is really quick and leaves time for more play. - Plus the fun of undoing the up-do, just as we head out the door, is just too enticing for a preschooler’s hands…
3 The amount of pleasure and squeals at bath time is directly correlated to the amount of water and suds on the floor and walls.
4 The allure of checking out the girls’ game next door is not diminished by the fact that we are still in our PJ’s at ten on a Sunday morning.
In short: being a mom to a young boy has taught me to forget about myself, re-arrange my priorities and just relax and have fun. Of course it has also taught me tremendous respect for my dear Elizabeth and Barbara, who raised multiple young ones with such poise! Relax, have fun, and a Super day.
Reminder about Meds
Great news, I was able to recover from my cold and cough without medication. My doctor didn’t think antibiotics was justified, so I simply took my lemon drink twice a day (See For the Love of Lemon). Just another reminder, if you are taking prescription medication, Please don’t stop taking your meds without talking to your doctor, or at least get a second opinion if you have any doubts or concerns about
