Finally I got my cable and internet back! Cripes, I need an update.

Happy New Years Everyone!

I am VERY optimistic about this New Year since and a renewal, last year was quite ze challenge. The theme of this New Years Day is Low Key, my roomate and I are sitting silently in the house, she is reading while I am updating this blog whilst the Mummers are partying right outside my door. Don't know what a mummer is? Blue Collar Wind Instrument Pageant. This may be their last year so live it up guys. I will be heading out shortly to see them.

So I promised myself to make some resolutions, divided up:

Health and Body
Reach my Goal Weight
Take the Peta 1 month of vegetarianism pledge every 6 months (January and June)
Practice Lent
Only buy quality beauty products
Always look clean and smell good, always
Learn Yoga
Exercise 4x a week (even if i have to get up an hour early)

For fun
Learn snappy dance moves
Watch every Seinfeld episode by Summer
Go on a vacation
Visit Twwly!
Finish my website

Housestuffs
Finish renovations (Housefront, hallway, bathroom, electrical)
Washer and Dryer fix
Assist Roommate in Bedroom revamp
Clean out the basement abyss
Learn how to make coffee
Be a better Recycler

Moneystuffs
Refinance my mortgage
Make some savings
Never use a credit card AGAIN after I pay mine off
Be on time, everytime

If its in the Stars
Start my Poop Blog
Invest in stocks
Learn to Swim

Maintain
Not Smoking
Eating Healthy
Volunteering for SPCA (move up in rank)
Be on Time, Everytime

So on the 13th of November, I quit smoking and turned into a healthy food nut.

I've been struggling with my diet for awhile. Since I'm out every night either working at bars or socializing, so my weight goes up and down. What am I going to do when I haven't had dinner yet and all I've had available is beer, cigarettes and bar food from 10 - mid? I knew something had to change because it was making me yo-yo, but I wasn't sure how to get to where I needed to be.

Then I read this article last weekend - http://www.advancedhealthplan.com/acrylamide.html - informing me that french fries have cancer evil in them! I knew they weren't GOOD for you but I didn't know that they could KILL you. I lamented as I LOVE french fries.

Why was I purposefully inhale/ingesting anything I consciously knew was harming my body. Because it was convenient? Because I am a creature of habit? I've been working hard on being my positive optimal self, why was I neglecting my health? What else was hurting my body? I did some research.

And decided to cut out junky sugars, chips, refined white flour, fried foods, enriched flour, soda, hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, processed meats and smoking. And anything with more than a few ingredients.

Ok great. Now what? I had to:
a. modify my diet (whole wheat grainy bread instead of white, easy peasy)
b. find substitutes (what to eat for lunch instead of frozen lean cuisines, not so easy)

Thanks to Trader Joes, the internet, and looking at the back of ingredient lists, I now have loaded up on hormone free meats, 100% whole wheat bread, natural peanut butter, hummus, soy milk, fruits, veggies, etc. etc. etc. I kept in wine, whisky and good beer because I have to have SOME vices.

I haven't had any smokes in a few days and I feel pretty great. My tummy has been flattening out and I've had a steady amount of energy. And my clothes and my car smell clean. I don't want to get into details about poops, but since it IS me, I will add that pooping has been AWESOME. Serious kids, the best poops ever.

Any other tips/heads up on health foods let me know!

Thanks for all of the support and birthday wishies!

In return to present to you... Halloween fun! Featuring my friend and fellow bod-squadder Amanda.













Oh and a new tattoo started for my birthday!

Friday Night Lonely Hearts club. Sigh.

Tis' time for an update.

It's been a twisted and upsetting... yet enlightening few months.

Tim and I broke up after 2 years of dating and called off the engagement. It was probably the most difficult experience I've ever been though... yet best thing to happen now that I took some time to process, reflect and move on. He finally is moving his stuff out, I'm getting a new roommate and I'm loving the freedom of doing whatever I want to do, whenever I feel like doing it.

I did manage to lose my weight! I got down to 110. I took a vegetarian pledge for PETA for the month of June and I'm going to continue to be vegetarian... well a Pescetarian, I love my fish.

And I adopted a new love of my life 3 weeks ago - Tobias (named after our favorite never-nude). He appears to be an American Bulldog/Dalmation mix and he's about 56 pounds. I love him, even though he is endlessly demanding with his teenage years energy and ADD. He knows sit, stay, lie down, and come and is pretty housebroken.

Doggy advice needed:
• I've been trying to take him to the park but he tramples over the little dogs with his clumsiness and tries to hump everyone else.
* I put him out back to go potty and he's great, however when I put him back there for more than a few minutes when I'm busy and can't watch him that second, he will bark and yip and whine. I try to ignore it until I'm ready to let him back in but I'm afraid I'll annoy my neighbors.
* He tries to get up on the table and counters. I say no or make a sharp noise to get him down but he still tries when I'm not looking
* He has a TON of energy. How long should I walk him?

That is all for now, peekture time!

Alright... I need to go on a diet.

I have a habit of toning up for photoshoots but in the 2 weeks between shooting I indulge in anything that has dairy, cheese, chocolate or hops in it. In massive quantity. I don't say no to myself. So maybe this blog will keep me accountable to actually lose weight.

I feel like I need to post a before so see below, this was taken a few days ago. I think I ate myself a pound or two of sushi and microbrews since then, but you get the general idea of what I look like. Then I'll post an after in about 2 weeks, after my next round of photoshoots. My goal is to lose a few pounds and flatten my little belly. Tips? Lets hear them.

xo me

Thanks everyone for the votes!

In good news, I discovered Flight of the Conchords. Why am I always a season late on this stuff???

This song is stuck in my head!



In sad news... my work buddy, a siamese fighting fish named Gill Sans, died today. He got a southern jersey septic burial. RIP Gill Sans. And a bow to my first betta, Soul Glo, who passed 3 years ago. I will go to Petsmart next week and get a replacement. If you have clever names, feel free to post.

xo me