Fresh Start!

Wow. It's been quite the summer. Only a week to go and the kids will be off to school. This will be my first year where all the kids are away for the day at the same time! I've already loaded up my plate with a batch of new, exciting goals and intentions. The past year has been an emotional rollercoaster ride and I am excited to start a fresh, new year. Not in January, but now. And, in turn, my family will have a change with a re-charged mother.
I am currently plodding through my ISSA personal training course whenever I get the chance. My goal is to have it completed by the end of September and start working on my exam so I can begin training at Spirit Fitness. I dropped Curtis off at NSD yesterday for hocky camp, and the energy and buzz in that gym got my insides fired up again. I can't wait to get back into action. I'm putting the emotional summer behind me and replacing those thoughts and feelings with some powerful and positive energy. As for competing, I may just wait until spring to do that again so I can focus on my work goals and building my Nikken business. Especially building my business! It has been such a positive and powerful thing, my decision to go into Nikken. There has been huge amounts of discomfort for me, presenting and learning the business, approaching people, introducing wellness into their lives. I can honestly say, it was easier over coming my fear of getting on stage in an teeny bikini and posing than it's been to call someone up and say, "I have something exciting to tell you..." !! Now I recognize that and have some work to do!
Well. Wish me luck. A thousand pages of reading to do and a thousand pound phone to pick up everyday! But each day that load will get lighter, and lighter...

I love this quote: "Life is demanding of me. Start again. Begin new things. Again set to work to build your own world."

Sadly saying goodbye...

It's been months since I wrote in this blog. I actually forgot my password. Today my life changed dramatically and I'm writing in this blog hoping it will help me cope, but my little dog was hit by a car today and killed. I cannot write these words without sobbing and I haven't stopped for the past 8 hours. The kids were with a sitter and while they were eating their pizza, didn't realize the front door was open and she bolted out the door when she saw another dog outside. At first I was worried about the kids and how it would affect them, but my devastation is actually for myself. She was really my little girl more than anyone else's. Jayme is away at camp and doesn't get home until Tuesday, when I will have to deliver this news. I will write a little bit more later.

Here's a few pics!

I'm not the greatest at getting to my digital camera photos. Actually, I haven't even plugged it in to my computer yet. But Mark took a few photos of the show and Leigh sent me some pictures to put on my blog. It was a great but tiring day! I ate a lot of chocolate covered raisins and rice cakes that day, the best part! Now I'm on down time. I have spent the last 2 weeks since the prairies show trying to decide if I should go to Toronto to the Nationals to compete. I finally decided yesterday after a good talk with Brenda and Rod that I need a break. I shouldn't compete just because there is a show 2 weeks away and I'm physique ready. Because mentally I am not; I'm exhausted and missing my family, and really don't have the desire to practice or do intense cardio right now. It was a relief to decide not to go, like a huge rock off my shoulders. Now I can enjoy my summer and do field trips with the kids without a panicky feeling of trying to keep up with everything! The only thing I'll miss is a rockin' good time with Leigh! But we'll do it in November in Hollywood instead, when our muscle is a little bigger, and we can try figure.
Shawn has been training with our nephew, Brendan, and is coming along! He's feeling good, (and sore) and looking good already! Rod even has him doing a little martial arts and at home he tosses his arms around to show us what he's learning! I'm proud of him for working so hard!
Well it's almost 7 a.m. and it's time to get the critters up for school. They are starting to get tired of school, like they usually are in June, just wanting to play in the sun. But, here's the news, the ground is covered in snow today so that shouldn't be a problem today. We always get our signature May/June snowfall before we can officially put our boots away.
Time to move to the Cook Islands, wouldn't you say?!!

Show time!

Getting ready for the show (left and above)

Munching on Post-competition Poutine!

Leigh, me, Brenda, and Michelle at registration

6 a.m. wake up call to get ready (NOT EARLY ENOUGH!)

We were still an hour late getting there.

Here we are plastered in fake orange tan, our noses looking browner than the rest of us! We had coffee and chitchatted for too long in the morning and were an hour late arriving at the dressing room, only to find ourselves waiting 4 hours to go on stage!

Our day started out calm, with me begging for coffee and Brenda wondering if it would make our tummies bloat. I said I didn't care, I wouldn't get through the day without it. Luckily my body is so used to the stuff it didn't affect me. So Leigh and I took too long getting ready but we got to the Stampede Grounds on time. Fame Prairies 2007 here we come! We arrived in our matching green suits and looking cute. Maybe even dorky cute. But it's all for fun, right?! Then we slapped on even more tan and waited and waited to go on. It was a really long day. Leigh and I did really well. I felt much more confident than last time, although I still need to come out of my shell WAY more. I guess it will come with experience, although I'm not sure I have the energy to keep this up, we'll see! Leigh looked amazing and did well for her first time on stage. She said she forgot how to do a front pose and just stood there centre stage for a minute, then threw up her hands! I say she invented a new pose: "deer-in-the-headlights." At least she can walk in heels! I'm still so shaky.

After a really long day and night, we headed to Tommy's Burger bar where a big bowl of poutine awaited the both of us. We knew better than to eat it all or we'd be barfing on the way home. It was such a good time with lots of good people! I could hardly keep my eyes open on my burger and wanted to sleep more than anything. I looked over at Brenda and saw that she felt the same way!

So next up, competition photos when they come in. And our standings (obviously we didn't win or I would have told you that already!)

Until next time, happy smiling faces!

Me and my buddy almost there!

Here we are, 3 days to go!!!

5 days and counting...

Well here we are, the final week. Can't believe it's here again! This week means running around getting pretty and eating weird food. I'll be practicing posing, posing and more posing as this is where I need the most work. I'm going to try my damndest not to be so shy on stage!
I had a nice break and did some scrapbooking in Canmore this weekend. I needed the time alone badly. I have been feeling run down and going a little snakey around my family so the break did me good. I feel refreshed and ready to take on this next week! I'll be drinking gallons and gallons of water and I'm sad to say, cutting out my yummy protein shakes because they can cause bloating. I'm feeling in tip top shape although there are always spots that can be improved on of course, but I am not making it my lifetime career to perfect my physique for competition. I will do these 2 shows and then focus on my family and scrapbooking and living active and healthy. I'll re-evaluate in the fall whether I do this again. If not, maybe I'll start writing that book! (I've been saying that for YEARS now!)
My friend Leah and I are going to Airdrie tomorrow to pick up our costumes and suits. Leah is my spunky training partner who has this California-girl beauty and a personality to match. I'm glad to be doing this with her! See Brenda's blog on my links to take a look.
I also have to say something about my trainer and friend, Brenda, who takes the time to e mail me, text me, phone me, whatever to find out how I'm doing both mentally and physically. I appreciate you so much and would never have gotten this far without you!
Well, I'm off to bed, I'll probably be dreaming about asparagus and white fish. And trying to be jazzy on stage, ha ha hahahahah!
Next photos, backstage candid shots and competition photos! Wish me luck!!

2.5 weeks to go

As I write this, keep in mind I have no brain right now, so I may rant and rave in jibberish. Today I went out to do my visiting teaching thing that I do for church, and I have been visiting this one lady for about 2 years now, every month without fail. I couldn't find her house. I drove up and down the streets in my neighborhood and couldn't for the life of me remember where she lived! What a weird feeling! Is this how people on Atkin's feel all day long without their carbohydrates? But at least they have fats to fuel their brain! Mine is empty! ha ha.
So my mom called me today and told me that my Grandma passed away. Shawn and I are now without parents except for my mom, and no grandparents. It's kind of a weird feeling. I am trying to decide if I have the energy to fly to Vancouver for the funeral but am overwhelmed at the idea one week before this show. It's been tough keeping up to the kids' busy schedule right now as it is. Today Jayme told me she had another wart on her finger, Curtis is coughing, and I just didn't even want to hear it! I'm sure they're wondering where their mom is and can't wait to have her back.
Seeing as this blog is not going anywhere positive, it's a good time to sign off and get some sleep. I'll be back when I'm more chipper, I promise! Until then...