tim hortons: it's become something of a canadian institution, and yet... yet it's killing us slowly, bite by bite. it's no longer a regular haunt of mine (pretty much all i enjoy there now is herbal tea), but it once was, admittedly, and it still is for many many people in canada.
so if you're heading to timmys, please check out their online nutritional info before you opt for a frosty iced capp this summer:
a small mocha iced capp (made with 18% cream) has 290 calories and 11g fat, a small mocha made with chocolate milk is a better choice at 200 calories & only 1g fat. a large original iced capp with cream has 470 calories, 20g fat (12 saturated), so if you're going to have a large, at least opt for one with 2% milk instead of cream; it'll drop the calories down to 290 & 2.5g fat (1.5 saturated). And don't bother opting for those added flavour iced capps (hazelnut, etc.), even in a small it'll add ~70 calories.
Basically, drop the cream (& flavours) and choose milk/chocolate milk.
Secondly, just in case you were wondering, a timbit has about 60 to 70 calories & 2-5g fat.
The new Candy Bar Supreme donut with M&M sprinkles will run you 310 cal & 11g fat; similar to a strawberry vanilla.
That's a whole lot of exercising just to burn off one 'thirst quencher'. I think I'll stick to my herbal tea or water this summer. Maybe make herbal tea, add some ice & liquid stevia (easy to carry in one's purse) and voila: a refreshing summer drink that won't put on the pounds.
30 May 2010
29 May 2010
i injured my knee, i guess at the tai chi workshop (i *knew* my alignment was off doing danyus; YEESH). by thursday evening when i went to tai chi class, i made it through, but that evening i noticed it was swelling up. friday the swelling was enough to make me slow down. saturday i made a comfrey poultice and put that on it, and the swelling has definitely decreased (YAY for herbal remedies!). i'm kicking myself though because i really wanted to row the past couple days and i think it's best with this injury to rest a little... still up and about all day, but not exercising heavily.
quiet weekend around here; beautiful blue sky right now - there's a sailboat race on (it's a long race; about 30 hrs?), and there was a cycling race (95 kms) this morning along the main road - the kids & i walked up and they rang their cowbells at the passing cyclists at the base of the biggest hill on the route (which made a few of the cyclists laugh with amusement).
the kids have been listening to little house on the prairie on audiobook during car rides, and at the moment are watching a documentary on kangaroos.
that's about it. :)
quiet weekend around here; beautiful blue sky right now - there's a sailboat race on (it's a long race; about 30 hrs?), and there was a cycling race (95 kms) this morning along the main road - the kids & i walked up and they rang their cowbells at the passing cyclists at the base of the biggest hill on the route (which made a few of the cyclists laugh with amusement).
the kids have been listening to little house on the prairie on audiobook during car rides, and at the moment are watching a documentary on kangaroos.
that's about it. :)
26 May 2010
zoom zoom
What a blur of a week! I had a national-level tai chi workshop on the weekend; I took my first national level workshop in September, so this was my second. I had a profound a-ha moment as I realized how far I still have to go with my tai chi. Watching someone who has been practising for 40+ years is pretty eye-opening; there's someone with INCREDIBLE focus and mental control!! It was a little disheartening, honestly, as I *thought* I had been doing well - only to see how much more I could improve. (out the window goes any self-conceit, LOL - a good thing!)
After the workshop (looooong days & not enough sleep) I was back at parenting - feeling like I hadn't had a break whatsoever. dh was home for a couple days yet and I always feel like when he's home we should make doing things as a family a priority, and so the housecleaning and such gets put aside (it's only for a few days, I reason). After he leaves town to go back to work I end up doing a major clean and decluttering around the house as there will inevitably be toys on the stairs and a lot of laundry and dishes piling up. This time was no exception as he had his buddy out to do more mudding/sanding/painting - you *know* how much mess drywall dust makes!!! So today I'm trying to get the house back in order for the week.
The kids are done homeschooling for the year (officially; in their day-to-day lives it makes little difference). All it really means is there's no reporting until fall. We're already planning our fall schedule with classes. I also had to do a couple annual reviews for different volunteer positions I hold; what a great opportunity to see where I've been in these roles and to create where I want to go with them. GREAT opportunity!!
Apart from all that, just trying to incorporate what I learned at the workshop into my life. Definitely aware that there is so much room for improvement in being fully present in my life. Developing intense mental focus and a deeper self-awareness. much more room for improvement, lol.
And with that, I go back to washing the kitchen floors of drywall dust, while cultivating gratitude for the opportunity, concentration and focus, and spiritual understanding and happiness. Who knew washing the floors would be so profoundly inspiring!?!
Namaste.
After the workshop (looooong days & not enough sleep) I was back at parenting - feeling like I hadn't had a break whatsoever. dh was home for a couple days yet and I always feel like when he's home we should make doing things as a family a priority, and so the housecleaning and such gets put aside (it's only for a few days, I reason). After he leaves town to go back to work I end up doing a major clean and decluttering around the house as there will inevitably be toys on the stairs and a lot of laundry and dishes piling up. This time was no exception as he had his buddy out to do more mudding/sanding/painting - you *know* how much mess drywall dust makes!!! So today I'm trying to get the house back in order for the week.
The kids are done homeschooling for the year (officially; in their day-to-day lives it makes little difference). All it really means is there's no reporting until fall. We're already planning our fall schedule with classes. I also had to do a couple annual reviews for different volunteer positions I hold; what a great opportunity to see where I've been in these roles and to create where I want to go with them. GREAT opportunity!!
Apart from all that, just trying to incorporate what I learned at the workshop into my life. Definitely aware that there is so much room for improvement in being fully present in my life. Developing intense mental focus and a deeper self-awareness. much more room for improvement, lol.
And with that, I go back to washing the kitchen floors of drywall dust, while cultivating gratitude for the opportunity, concentration and focus, and spiritual understanding and happiness. Who knew washing the floors would be so profoundly inspiring!?!
Namaste.
20 May 2010
A life worth living is worth living well.
I had an entire post written, two actually, but the first I decided it wasn't all that spectacularly exciting. Actually, I've been thinking that a lot lately about my life... 'though not in a bad way. lol The post was just rather... dull. Aimless chit-chat about the weather, playing Lego, cleaning the house. That's what my life generally entails most days... and well, you might not see how awe-inspiring washing a floor or doing a load of laundry can be. But.... it is what you make it. And honestly, I *LOVE* my life. The parenting, the housework, the yardwork, the care-taking of the animals, the errands, the meal prep, the volunteering, allllllll of it. Love it all. I don't feel that my choice to stay-at-home means I have to become some sort of martyr. I don't have to sacrifice my sense of self to be at home, to be of service to my family; I don't feel at-all trapped. Someone well-meaning recently suggested I get a job and actively contribute to our family's finances. What came across (intended or not) was that being a stay-at-home parent wasn't highly valued by this person (or society at large, I'd venture to add). In their opinion, I'm not successful.
Anyways, the second draft ended up just highlighting how intensely I believe in some things (such as breastfeeding, stay-at-home parenting, homeschooling, environmentalism, or at a more philosophical level, living a life in alignment with one's values). I don't feel that I'm an extremist (a word which has highly volatile connotations these days), I just feel very very strongly about things. I read a sign a while back that said something like "Before swift action comes strong belief."
The second draft ended up being a bit of a rant - about how you define success - am I a success as a stay-at-home parent? Why does our society not show more respect to my chosen career as a Reiki Master/Teacher? Or that I volunteer in my community - as a tai chi instructor, as a mentor and active citizen - why aren't these accomplishments more highly valued? I believe that homeschooling my children is a gift - a gift of self-discovery for my self as well as them. Do you see that I *am* contributing in a meaningful way to the world? Because a few people can't see that... :( and it's more than a little frustrating. There's very little support socially for stay-at-home parents; more often than not I'm told I should be doing something "useful" with myself (as if raising the next generation was a waste of time!). Isn't being enough? Don't we want our children, more than anything, to grow up feeling happy, feeling loved, feeling worthy just by virtue of their being alive?
Happiness is a choice, not a goal.
Anyways, the second draft ended up just highlighting how intensely I believe in some things (such as breastfeeding, stay-at-home parenting, homeschooling, environmentalism, or at a more philosophical level, living a life in alignment with one's values). I don't feel that I'm an extremist (a word which has highly volatile connotations these days), I just feel very very strongly about things. I read a sign a while back that said something like "Before swift action comes strong belief."
I believe I'm worthy.
(I believe you are, too)
Now live a life worth living, and
Live it well.
15 May 2010
*BLESSED*
Feeling VERY blessed as of late. Today we had an absolutely GORGEOUS sunny day - 21 Celsius (~72F)... we went to the 'change of command' parade for my husband's military reserve unit. It was outdoors in a beautiful setting, if I described it as a grassy oceanside meadow, that hardly describes it well enough at all, and yet it gives you a faint idea... the parade went off flawlessly and I very much enjoyed it all.
Thursday we'd gone into the city to meet my parents for a quick visit (lunch @ a mall food court; and if you're wondering how one eats raw vegan at a mall food court, well, it's not easy, lol) - afterwards the kids and I (& dog) went to two different viewpoints in the city - one we drove up to, the other we hiked to, then we went out of the city to the beach and hiked along the beach, through a forested park with an absolutely perfect pond & creek, and back to the car along the country lanes. It was FANTASTIC! Absolute bliss.
Friday the kids and I hiked around a local lake. It's 5 kms 'round; we took the puppy (one year old now) and had her off-leash: midweek there aren't many people using that particular park trail - she greets others rather energetically, and some 'non-doggy people' take offence to her vivaciousness sometimes, so I've been hesitant to take her off-leash in well-used areas. She was awesome with the few other dogs she met and she's really a sweet dog to have around. We took her to her 'birthday party' last weekend - I can't remember if I'd shared that - another beautiful sunny day on a pebble beach, throwing sticks for the 4 dogs into the ocean waves.
Yes, my life is truly blessed. I've enjoyed many wonderful days lately in the brilliant sun - cradled by Nature, in the company of my awesome children and dog... hiking, gardening, just playing. I've had some heart-to-heart conversations with good friends and overall, life is just... grand.
A grand co-creation. That's my life! :D (Sounds rather Pollyanna-ish, eh? Reminds me, I was asked some time ago to post pics of my local haunts - I ought to get on with that! But I *am*, after all, on island time; hoping you understand! lol)
And yours? How's your life going?
Thursday we'd gone into the city to meet my parents for a quick visit (lunch @ a mall food court; and if you're wondering how one eats raw vegan at a mall food court, well, it's not easy, lol) - afterwards the kids and I (& dog) went to two different viewpoints in the city - one we drove up to, the other we hiked to, then we went out of the city to the beach and hiked along the beach, through a forested park with an absolutely perfect pond & creek, and back to the car along the country lanes. It was FANTASTIC! Absolute bliss.
Friday the kids and I hiked around a local lake. It's 5 kms 'round; we took the puppy (one year old now) and had her off-leash: midweek there aren't many people using that particular park trail - she greets others rather energetically, and some 'non-doggy people' take offence to her vivaciousness sometimes, so I've been hesitant to take her off-leash in well-used areas. She was awesome with the few other dogs she met and she's really a sweet dog to have around. We took her to her 'birthday party' last weekend - I can't remember if I'd shared that - another beautiful sunny day on a pebble beach, throwing sticks for the 4 dogs into the ocean waves.
Yes, my life is truly blessed. I've enjoyed many wonderful days lately in the brilliant sun - cradled by Nature, in the company of my awesome children and dog... hiking, gardening, just playing. I've had some heart-to-heart conversations with good friends and overall, life is just... grand.
A grand co-creation. That's my life! :D (Sounds rather Pollyanna-ish, eh? Reminds me, I was asked some time ago to post pics of my local haunts - I ought to get on with that! But I *am*, after all, on island time; hoping you understand! lol)
And yours? How's your life going?
11 May 2010
So let the sunshine in, face it with a grin, Open up the door and let the sunshine in....
Sunshine. Isn't it *amazing* just how awesome it makes you feel?!? Truly, as the sun sets, I sometimes feel a little melancholy that a beautiful sunny day has passed and night is approaching. Sooooooo many hours 'til dawn. Ahhh, but I must wait patiently.
When the sun is out, it just feels so great. Warming one's skin, hair... lifting one's emotions. And yep, I've had some pretty grumpy moments the last little while. You see, dh has been really sick the past couple months. He's lost 30+ lbs (apparently he gave them to me, :P), and his energy has naturally been waning. He's *never* been sick, not in the 15 yrs we've been together, not ever, he says. So this was a real wake-up call for us all. Apparently Dad's human. Here we all thought he was immune to any real health challenges. Maybe it's just that he's in his late 30s now. Some people have said that this is when things just start to fall apart. I disagree. I don't think we have to accept a lack of vitality and poor health for the remainder of our lives. No, no, no. I believe, like Anastasia says in the Ringing Cedars of Russia series, that we can have optimal health right up until we pass on.
However, I'm not living that right now. I've been struggling all winter with exercising. I stopped when I juice fasted for 30 days in September - I don't generally fast and continue with daily exercising at the level I usually do... And coming off the fast in early October I just never got back into the daily exercise habit. And it shows. (groan) Here we are, coming into summer, and I'm struggling with self-Love.
Compounding this is that I received my Reiki Master-Teacher attunement in early January and while I knew *intellectually* to expect some turbulence following the attunement, I didn't expect *this much*!!! Seriously, I've been on a roller-coaster of emotional detoxing for MONTHS now and it's sooooo draining. Thank goodness for a supportive relationship; dh has listened to me and supported me patiently the past several months unfailingly. And for another thing, emotions have quite often led me to emotional eating - I eat to avoid dealing with whatever comes up. Not a habit I'd consciously advise for anyone. I've only recently figured out that when the emotions come up, giving myself Reiki is actually more helpful than turning to food. So I'm now giving myself Reiki twice-daily. I'm also trying to practice tai chi daily, too. Slowly I feel like I'm turning myself around. It's been a long, hard winter. The sunshine is *much* appreciated; its life giving nourishment for the plants around me, its uplifting of the emotions. YAY for spring in all its glory!!!! :D
I never did tell you that dh's illness has been diagnosed, and he's starting to heal. It's been a really hard couple of months, lots of medical tests and worry for many of those around him (and for himself, too), but now we know what's wrong and can at least start fixing it. The new meds seem to be helping; his energy's increasing, as is his zest for life. There's another hs'ing family whose father also has a very similar illness; it's nice to have another mama who understands the emotional flow of dealing with the illness.
In Light, and Love...
~n~
When the sun is out, it just feels so great. Warming one's skin, hair... lifting one's emotions. And yep, I've had some pretty grumpy moments the last little while. You see, dh has been really sick the past couple months. He's lost 30+ lbs (apparently he gave them to me, :P), and his energy has naturally been waning. He's *never* been sick, not in the 15 yrs we've been together, not ever, he says. So this was a real wake-up call for us all. Apparently Dad's human. Here we all thought he was immune to any real health challenges. Maybe it's just that he's in his late 30s now. Some people have said that this is when things just start to fall apart. I disagree. I don't think we have to accept a lack of vitality and poor health for the remainder of our lives. No, no, no. I believe, like Anastasia says in the Ringing Cedars of Russia series, that we can have optimal health right up until we pass on.
However, I'm not living that right now. I've been struggling all winter with exercising. I stopped when I juice fasted for 30 days in September - I don't generally fast and continue with daily exercising at the level I usually do... And coming off the fast in early October I just never got back into the daily exercise habit. And it shows. (groan) Here we are, coming into summer, and I'm struggling with self-Love.
Compounding this is that I received my Reiki Master-Teacher attunement in early January and while I knew *intellectually* to expect some turbulence following the attunement, I didn't expect *this much*!!! Seriously, I've been on a roller-coaster of emotional detoxing for MONTHS now and it's sooooo draining. Thank goodness for a supportive relationship; dh has listened to me and supported me patiently the past several months unfailingly. And for another thing, emotions have quite often led me to emotional eating - I eat to avoid dealing with whatever comes up. Not a habit I'd consciously advise for anyone. I've only recently figured out that when the emotions come up, giving myself Reiki is actually more helpful than turning to food. So I'm now giving myself Reiki twice-daily. I'm also trying to practice tai chi daily, too. Slowly I feel like I'm turning myself around. It's been a long, hard winter. The sunshine is *much* appreciated; its life giving nourishment for the plants around me, its uplifting of the emotions. YAY for spring in all its glory!!!! :D
I never did tell you that dh's illness has been diagnosed, and he's starting to heal. It's been a really hard couple of months, lots of medical tests and worry for many of those around him (and for himself, too), but now we know what's wrong and can at least start fixing it. The new meds seem to be helping; his energy's increasing, as is his zest for life. There's another hs'ing family whose father also has a very similar illness; it's nice to have another mama who understands the emotional flow of dealing with the illness.
In Light, and Love...
~n~
03 May 2010
The wind rips by
The tall firs and cedars
Ocean waves pound the shore
Heavy rain splats the darkened windows
A hot bath
Lemongrass soap
A book that inspires and grounds
Children tucked in
Asleep after a day of creative pursuits
I practice tai chi
Silent
Silent
I get into bed
Seems bigger alone
A gentle windy draft curls itself
Around my head
Caressing my cheek
Like my beloved would do
If he were here.
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