Through The Tulips Words of 'Wiz'dom

February 20, 2011

Is That Sunshine I See?

Filed under: Gratitude,Home,In the Neighborhood,Inspiration,Life — gardener @ 9:39 am

For the past two days I’ve been keeping a close eye on the weather here and they have said that today and tomorrow would bring rain and possibly light snow. I honestly don’t mind the rain on the days that I can stay inside in my PJ’s (like today) and since I haven’t seen any snow this year, I wouldn’t mind that either- as long as it found a way to stick around for a few days.

Not so surprisingly, neither was the case today. It has remained around the freezing point today- maybe a little higher with grey skies most of the day. Now, as I sit here with the laptop in my lap and me stretched out across the love seat, I noticed the afternoon sun shining on the wall. Looking outside, I see a pinkish glow to the sky in the west. It may sound odd- but for some reason it makes me smile. Little things, my friends- little things.

“Food” for Thought

Filed under: Food,Food for Thought,Health/ Fitness — gardener @ 9:30 am

I know quite a few people who are on a journey to weight loss. Some of them consider only the end result, and honestly don’t care how they get there. There are others who want to shed the pounds but also want to make sure they do it in the healthiest manner possible.

I always find the contrast between the two interesting. Eating right and exercising versus starving and taking OxyElite Pro or other aids for weight loss. Personally, I choose eating right and exercise because I believe it is the ONLY way to shed pounds and be healthy long term.

Today I actually came across an old passport picture of myself before I lost any weight. I knew it was me- but if standing side by side- I don’t think people would realize we are the same people. In many ways we are not.

February 19, 2011

Forgiveness

Filed under: Food for Thought,Inspiration,Life,Quotes- Soul Food — gardener @ 10:33 am

As I’ve gotten older (and I like to think wiser), I’ve realized the importance of forgiveness.   I also have noticed that those that fail to see the importance- those that carry around anger, hate, hurt and resentment of things that happened in the past, are in some ways still allowing that moment in time control their life.    I’ve also noticed that for some people, lack of forgivness has manifested like cancer in their lives and forgiveness is something they are incapable of.   They spend so much time thinking about how they have been wronged and victimized that they fail to recognize that they are the ones missing out.

Years ago Marcel and I had a conversation about how he couldn’t comprehend how I forgave me ex-husband for the things that he did to me.   He said they were inexcusable and I would agree, they were.  I explained to him that I didn’t do it for my ex, but instead, I did it for myself.   It was something that I carried around and it kept me from living in the ‘now’.

Several days ago I was watching Oprah and she said that the best meaning of forgiveness that she had ever heard was:

“Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different.”

I love quotations, so I wrote it down, but this stayed with me long after I finished watching the show.   After all, isn’t that what makes it so difficult for us to let go of the things that have happened to us- the fact that we ask ourselves a gazillion questions as to what we could have done to make things have a different outcome?   

Let it go- forgive- accept that is, is and nothing will ever change that.   Start living today!

Calgon- Take Me Away

Filed under: Life's Little Hiccups — gardener @ 10:30 am

I know that title is part of an old commercial, but right now that’s exactly how I feel. For someone who has had a pretty easy day so far, I’m actually feeling a little stressed. Marcel has to work tonight and has been sleeping, which means I have to keep all the 4-legged members of the family quiet. JJ hasn’t wanted to cooperate and once I got him quiet, Mister M. has decided to start meowing like crazy.

With days like today, the best supplements for weight loss isn’t working out, but chasing after the animals. I don’t know how people with children do it. As much as I would have loved children when I was younger and as much as I adore everyone elses little ones- it’s probably a good thing I never had any, for sanity’s sake.

Living Colorfully

Filed under: Life,Shop til ya Drop,Things I Love — gardener @ 10:20 am

Last weekend when we went to dinner with Hein and Desere for an early Valentine’s Day, belated anniversary dinner, I wore heels and red socks with my outfit. I had on black pants, a charcoal grey sweater with black shoes. My handbag, socks and scarf were crimson. Oh, and let’s not forget my lipstick- which was also crimson.

I have noticed that socks with heels are the big thing right now, and I figured I could either wear black socks and let them blend with the shoes and pants or I could be ‘bold’ and colorful and wear red. I chose to be bold and colorful and loved every second of it.

A few days ago I was browsing the Kate Spade website and I came across some adorable socks from their Spring collection. I want every pair and in fact, I may order them very soon. Ironically- their motto right now is ‘Live Colorfully’ and I think that suits me perfectly.

On Age and Wisdom

Filed under: Health/ Fitness,Inspiration,Sands of Time — gardener @ 9:20 am

When I was around 20-21 years old, I remember thinking that I needed to lose weight. Granted, I didn’t ‘really’ need to lose weight, but somewhere I’d gotten this idea planted in my head. Back in the day- I didn’t think or know anything about ‘healthy eating’, so my solution was to take ephedra diet pills. Not only did it give me energy, it made me not even want to consider eating. Needless to say- I lost weight (even though I was already a size 8).

Here I am 20+ years later and several sizes larger than an 8 and learned that the best way to get where you want to go is to do the work, not by taking shortcuts. That can be said with diet and exercise, but also pretty much with everything else in life.

February 18, 2011

Good Eats

Filed under: Food,Health/ Fitness,Things I Love — gardener @ 10:37 am

This is one of my favorite sandwiches.  I made it a few weeks ago because I was craving one so bad. It’s generally something that I eat in the warmer months, but I had some grape tomatoes (something that tastes great year round), a little avocado and smoked chicken tha I needed to use, so I decided to whip one up.   I added  a little lot of black pepper and a smidge of stone-ground mustard and that was it.   Deeee-lish and healthy as well.

I mentioned earlier in the week that I’d started a new blog a while back about health-fitness and my journey to a healthier me.  I’ll be sharing that link again with y’all in the next couple of days.  I’m trying to come up with some sort of structure instead of randomly writing since it themed towards my health and losing weight, but I’m excited about being able to hold myself accountable in that way.

Simple Amusements

Filed under: Life,Techy — gardener @ 10:35 am

About once a month (sometimes more), I go through all my email addresses and delete mail that I no longer need. I have a really bad habit of keeping mail even after reading it, so one of my goals this year was to stop doing that and keep my inbox ‘clutter-free’. When I go through the mail, I also go through my spam folders to make sure that nothing has ended up in the wrong place and then I delete the spam. It never ceases to amaze me at just how many natural male enhancement emails I have, and how they are certain they can help me enhance my manhood. I wonder what they would think if they knew that I didn’t have any manhood to enhance? I know- I know. It’s the little things that tend to amuse me and yes, this is one of those.

Blank Canvas

Filed under: Food for Thought,Inspiration,Life,Things I Love — gardener @ 10:31 am

I was looking at the blank canvas this morning and thinking about what I’d like to paint.   Since I had to be somewhere, I ended up not going through the motions of pulling out everything, only to have to put it away again a half hour later.  When I want to paint, I want to be able to do so without having to think about being rushed.  

I ran my errands with Marcel, came home and decided to go through my shoes.  I’ve needed to for a while and I ended up throwing away two pair and putting aside about 6 other pair that I never wear and will give to the thrift shop.   While I was sitting in the middle of the floor, I couldn’t help but think about how life is like that canvas. 

Our lives are a canvas- a flowing tapestry that is sometimes colorful and sometimes dark.   Ultimately how we paint it is entirely up to us.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Filed under: Food,Health/ Fitness — gardener @ 9:32 am

I know I’ve mentioned that I’m back on track with my health and fitness routine as of this week. I’m pretty excited about it and am also feeling better knowing that I’m holding myself accountable by tracking my calories. I’m not back into the swing of things full-force with working out, but that’s coming. I’m putting together a plan and even considering a muscle building supplement to help me build lean muscle mass, which will in turn burn more calories allowing me to lose more fat. I’m still doing the research, but I’m looking forward to reaching my goal this year!

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