Healthy Life Lessons

Good morning! We are having beautiful fall weather predicted for this week.  Happy, happy, joy, joy!! How was your Halloween weekend? We survived. Actually, it was pretty good, all things considered. The rain held off until 8pm on Saturday, just when most kids were heading home anyways, which meant we didn't have anyone ringing the doorbell while we were getting the kids to bed. Adam took the girls out trick-or-treating while I handed out candy.  I don't really enjoy either task, but handing out the treats wasn't too bad this year as there were fewer rude, obnoxioius kids than usual.  Just two girls without any costumes on.  WTF? When I inquired, they said they were under their jackets, which was clearly a lie since they couldn't tell me what they were nor offered to show me.  Couldn't they have even thrown on masks or hats at the very least? The girls had a ball making me look like a freak.  In fact, a lot of kids looked a bit scared when I ans...

Its been quite a week. I wish I could say TGIF, but the craziness is going to continue this weekend. Monday, of course, began with an epic meltdown from Little A.  My parents were still here from their weekend visit and were pretty shocked with her behaviour.  They confirmed what I've long suspected: kids nowadays are lunatics, and we weren't when we were that age. When I went to pick the girls up Monday afternoon, Little A had fully recovered. We walked through the alley we sometimes take en route home and the girls got to witness my Cat Whisperer abilities.  I heard meowing and stopped. "Girls, I hear a cat!" I told them.  I started making my "Come hither kitty" sound and an adorable short haired grey cat came running towards me. The girls were a bit scared by how fast he came, but he came right up to me and let me scratch his head. They he rolled onto his back and I scratched his back and belly and he continued meowing and purring.  The girls were ...

I know many parents have nightmares about Halloween.  Its one non-stop sugar binge for kids, and not just on October 31st either.  For our girls, the festivities and candy, started last weekend.  First there was Halloween celebrations at Hebrew School, then at Big A's theatre class, then Girl Guides on Monday evening, and, of course, both their daycare and school are having class parties this week too.  Friday night there is a school dance party where pot luck, but it sounds like its going to be candy and junk, not dinner. Its way too much! I was very pleased that Big A asked me to buy veggie dogs to bring to her school party, since, once again, she is dressing up as a hot dog.  Her costume really is awesome!  She also asked me to make my Banana Chocolate Chip Snacking Cake, which she now says is her favorite cake ever!?! Its very healthy, so I have no problem about that. Little A didn't demand anything in particular for her school party, so I d...

When people hear I do martial-arts inspired workouts, they often ask if I do, or ever did Tae Bo .  The answer until just recently was no. Of course I have long known what it is, and who Billy Blanks is. You probably do too! But back when it first got popular (at least around here), it was before I had kids and I was busy teaching fitness classes and hanging out in gyms.  The idea of doing workout videos at home wasn't on my radar. In any case, the last time someone asked me, I figured maybe it was high time I actually checked it out, so I found a couple of DVDs on sale on Amazon.ca and ordered them.  I got the Platinum Collection: And the Platinum Boot-Camp Collection:   Both are a great value, with 4 full workouts on each DVD. I got a bit scared when I first viewed them on my computer.  They seemed kind of cheesy, particularly with all the participants being forced to count to 8 over and over again.  Memories of early 90s group ex!! Bu...

I know I complain endlessly about the challenges of getting around Toronto, but bear with me, because there is more yet to come. I am not talking about the traffic this time though, I am talking about how sick it makes me. Literally! By the way, if you have emetophobia (fear of vomiting) you might want to stop reading now. I have been prone to getting car sick since I was 3-years-old.  My parents discovered this that particular year because we went to live in England while my dad was on sabbatical and my parents decided we would spend the summer driving around Europe.  They still tease me about how I left a trail of vomit the whole way. I always dreaded car trips as a kid, and, unfortunately for me, we did lots of them, since all of our relatives lived in the U.S.  I remember, in particular, the things that were sure to set me off: mint (I used to try and refuse to brush my teeth before getting in the car; gas (each time my parents filled up the tank the smell wo...

Monday morning. Have to wake children. Six-year-old in a mood from the get-go. Child throws fit over unfair trade of gummies with her 9-year-old sister. Nine-year-old exacerbates problem by antagonizing little one. Little one screams her head off all morning, all the way to school, and at drop-off. Done.  Thank goodness for coffee.  Time to start the workday.

Goodness, I am glad its Friday! This week Adam was away in Ottawa for his annual work trip.  Although it gets easier to handle each year, it still has its challenges.  Big A gives me extra attitude when he is away, since she is daddy's girl and resents being stuck with me.  She and Little A are also still fighting a lot, which makes me nuts.  I know I lucked out big time in the husband department, but this is never more obvious than when he is away! When life gets tough, appreciating the little joys is important.  Like a comforting hot drink. Most of us love tea and/or coffee. I love both.  Adam was an exception.  When I met him, he didn't drink either. Period. I thought that was super weird. Fortunately, during a trip to London, England a while back, he discovered the joys of tea.  He's still not on the coffee train though. Personally, I oscillate between preferring one to the other.  Any time I have nausea (during pregnancy or from a ...