Weighing In

Sunday marked a fun day...the first day back at the gym since the end of May. (May 27th to be exact! Thank goodness for that training journal I keep!)

Yes, you read that right...I didn't go to the gym ALL SUMMER.

and why? Well, we were freaking busy with 5 weddings (including GodMomma's that I was in and did the cake for), Owen's birthday, Grandma Maria visiting, and...y'know...life.

I'm happy to say that I maintained my weight since my last session with fitness guru personal trainer Liz! I cannot beleive that I did it, what with all of the fast meals, no meals, ice cream, birthday cakes and festivities over the past few months!

But I did!! I sit currently, and freaking proudly, as 154lbs.

When I got pregnant with Mr. O, I was 205lbs. That's a whole hell of a lot of weight to lose, and keep off, so I'm proud and not ashamed at all to reveal those numbers.

It dawned on me the other night that Christmas is coming, which means Florida...pools...boats...beaches...



This is the bathing suit that C bought for me at the beginning of the summer (July really). I want to be able to wear it with confidence, and right now...eh...I'm not quite there yet.

I love that it covers the middle of my tummy, and my stretch marks, but the bottoms are itty bitty...like...whoa! There's my booty!

So...I'm on a mission to shed 10-15lbs. by Christmas.

My plan?

Sunday afternoon - gym and hitting the circut HARD!
Monday evening - gym, primarily cardio
Tuesday evening - gym, hittin' it hard, and focusing on toning

I know that I can do it because I have seen what the hard work will do, and I know that I am capable of doing it if I set my mind to it.

Food wise...ugh. I'm not good with food, either remembering to eat at particular times, or eating the right things, so I'm not going to focus on food. I'm going to try and make good choices, but I'm not going to beat myself up if I make some poor ones.

To take it a step further...I'm going to hold myself accountable for those Sunday, Monday and Tuesday gym sessions by blogging about them and recapping my workouts, how I felt and how I feel the progress is coming.

How do you whip your booty into shape?

Steppin' Out 11/5

What a busy day on Saturday! I had my first Christmas Craft Sale and had spent all of last week freaking out about what to wear and how to present myself.

Jeans: Old Navy
Top: Old Navy
Camisole: Suzy Shier

Rosette Broach: Rumour Has It
Necklace: Dad's with Tiffany & Co. pendant

I went for cute and girly...just my style. I didn't want to get allllll christmasey, but I wanted to look pulled together and semi-professional since it's my baby, my business that I'm representing!



New Mardi Gras masks, christmas favour pouches and pinwheels



Pretty journals, amazing masks, stationery and party kits!

It was a heck of a day, and definitely an awesome learning and growing experience for me!

Book Review: sTORItelling by Tori Spelling

I know...I know...

You're probably thinking what is a smart girl like Shan doing reading a trashy book like that!?

Well...all I can say is don't judge a book by its cover, including me ;)



I was never a 90210 fan growing up, never really watched it or followed it. I didn't get involved with the show or the Donna and David saga, or Luke Wilson's character...what was his name? Dylan?

But...I while I was pregnant, late in the evening, I would certainly tune into SLICE and catch an episode of Inn Love with Tori and Dean. If you want to watch a cray cute couple who so genuinely love each other...Inn Love was the ticket (then came Home Sweet Hollywood and STORIbook Weddings...which I adore!)

So...it was only natural that this made it under the tree for me last year at Christmas. It was a super quick read, and I definitely learned things about Ms. Tori that I didn't know. Not shocking {gasp} type things, but things about her family dynamic that definitely made mine seem less dysfunctional.

If you want a quick, light hearted read, I definitely recommend this one...and I bet any money that your fingers, like mine, will be crossed that Santa puts Mommywood under the tree for you this year!

Gunapod

As the weather is changing up in the frosty North, I've been looking into other options for Owen for bedtime.

The poor little guy wakes up with cold feet (18+month sleepers with feet are hard to find in these parts!) and cold hands.

Along came the Gunapod...and thankfully, Baby Shmizz is having a giveaway for it!



What's awesome about it...is that we can use it for the stroller and zip it right up to keep him warm when we take him to the Santa Claus parade!

Hoping to win one, but why don't you enter too!

Steppin' Out 10/29

So even though Saturday was a very difficult one for Mama, we still tried to make it fun and make it ours.

Jeans: Old Navy
Sweater: Sirens
Scarf: H&MM
Jacket: Jessica
Shoes: my favourite fall moccasins from Payless


Posing with Mama, since we have so very few pictures together

Off to teh Pumpkin Farm we went to pick out our pumpkins this year. Owen had a great time running around the piles, picking them up....and throwing them like baseballs.



Then he saw a puppy and thought he'd chase after that instead



but this tiny one caught his attention!

Next, we went to Nana and Papi's for a quick visit, then home for lunch and off to the forest to collect branches and sticks for Mama's Christmas ornament display



First big ride in the wagon!



Running through the leaves while Mama gets her branches



I think that one might be a wee bit too big, Pal



please note rosy hands and cheeks...it was chilly today!



I freaking love this kid! Thanks for making Mama's tough day just a little bit better :)

That Time of Year

I write this post with the heaviest of hearts...and always dread this time of year.

Halloween is supposed to be full of ghosts and goblins...little kids dressed up as princesses and dragons, going door to door, asking for candy and just being cute.

It's supposed to be a time where Dads take their kids out, pull the wagon to unload said goodies and pillowcases in, while the Moms revel over the cuteness of the little ones at the door.

Not for me.

For me, it is far from that. Ghosts and goblins, absolutely...but of a different kind.

For me, it's a time for remembrance, to reflect, and to cry.

Very simply, Halloween makes me cry.

6 years ago while C and I were out with GodMomma and her bf at the time, at a Halloween costume ball, I found out from two police officers that my Dad had had a heart attack, and had died.

He died.

Like a scene in a movie, I let out a scream and crumbled against the wall. My Dad was my world, and my world had just fallen apart.

Halloween breaks my heart, and I hate it.

People continuously tell me to buck up and try to have fun around this time of year, but it seems nearly impossible. I dread the day when Owen actually wants to go out and get a costume, or worse yet, have me make one for him.

The last ones I made were the ones we wore that horrible night, and they were promptly thrown in the garbage.

I don't think I will ever look at Halloween the same. Alot of people out there try to reassure me that I will love it once Owen gets older and dresses up and the whole thing, but I know in my heart that I will always hate it no matter what brave face I try to put on or new tradition I try to come up with to try and make it happy.



I miss you, Dad.

Stocking Stuffers!

I'm so incredibly proud that I've finished up Owen's stocking, and in time for Nana and Papi to take it (with Owen's luggage) with them when they drive to Florida in a few weeks.

Last year was all about sippy cups, spoons, little travel sized rattles and cups for snacks...small stuff. Bibs...wipes...essentials.

I knew that I wanted this year to be fun, but not at a hefty price tag.

Since I'm at Michael's about twice a week (the running joke in our home is that it should be called Shannon's), I always scout out the clearance and $1.50 bins.



Then, when we were at Walmart, we stopped at the $5 movie bin



And while I was getting some groceries, I went over to the kids section and found a little car for $0.99



Then, I had to swing by the party supply store for some mask forms and went down the party loot bag aisle...most of which were $0.25 or $0.50 each



And the clearance section at Old Navy can sometimes yield some really awesome deals, especially when they have an additional 30% off!



So...total on his stocking, which will be overflowing...

Old Navy: $2
Party supply store: $2
Michael's: $7.70
WalMart: $5
Grocery Store: $0.99

Grand Total: $17.69

The dollarstore was great last year, but generally, I found that it was all really basic stuff and that he wasn't super interested in it, or it broke after a couple of times that he'd play with it.

Colouring books, bubbles, crayons, little cars, a new movie, memo books for on the plane ride home, a fun new rubber duck for the bath...all stuff that he'll use and get excited about!