Thursday, January 24, 2013

Confessions of a Coffee Addict






So hear it is.... I have been addicted to coffee for years.

I have been using coffee to survive the difficult work schedule that I have. I have been using coffee as a way to survive my lack of balance when it comes to work and life. There are many days that I have only had coffee to drink... period. There have been days when I have had anywhere from 4 to 6 medium cups of coffee ( and let's face it, we are talking Tim Hortons medium coffee, so that really means a large). I have had so much coffee coursing through my veins I think it replaced my blood. Not really the healthiest diets. 

But that is now over!

I have made a choice to KICK the COFFEE HABIT!



Ya, you heard me. I said it!.

There are many of you out there that know me well know that sounds like crazy talk. I have long been in love with my coffee! My kids even know how I like to drink it and how I like to order it! ( Nice job girls. Well, it is true. I have cut back on my coffee consumption... drastically. So far this week I have only had three small coffees all this week. Yup, only 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hard to believe.

It wasn't something that I planned. It kind of just happened. You see my husband and I bought a juicer after watching the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. 


We decided we wanted to give a juice Reboot a try. Now I will be honest I wasn't sure that I could go juice only for five or ten days. I was right BUT I was juicing at least once a day ( my husband is only eating one meal a day and juicing all other meals). As part of the juicing regiment I gave up coffee. When I decided to do that it was hard but I had no idea how hard it would be those first few days. To be honest I felt like CRAP! I felt terrible last weekend. I had a terrible headache for two days and I was tired. I had no energy BUT that quickly changed. After coming out of the withdrawal fog of the weekend I started to feel GREAT! I mean really great. I was sleeping better than I had in years. Ya, years! I was waking up alert, not tired, not feeling drained. I was making it through the entire day without feeling totally drained. I didn't need a cup of coffee to stay wake while driving to work in the afternoon. I wasn't needing a coffee in the evening to stay awake.

I am now approaching a full week with very little coffee and I feel great. My mind is clearer than it has been in a long, long, long time. I am feeling great. I am feeling energetic, inspired and happy....and all without coffee coursing through my veins. Again, hard  to believe.

I never thought I could actually live without coffee. Strange as that sounds it is true. I depended on coffee to get through the day. I NEEDED coffee to get through the day... BUT NO MORE!







Monday, January 21, 2013

True Colors - Love This Song!




                                          I love this song! The words are so powerful.


You with the sad eyes, don’t be discouraged
Oh I realize, it’s hard to take courage
In a world full of people, you can lose sight of it
And the darkness inside you makes you feel so small

But I see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors, that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show your true colors
Your true colors are beautiful
Like a rainbow
(Oh oh oh oh, Oh oh oh oh, Oh oh oh oh)
Like a rainbow
(Oh oh oh oh, Oh oh oh oh, Oh oh oh oh)

Show me a smile then, don’t be unhappy
Can’t remember when I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy and you’ve taken all you can bear
You call me up because you know I’ll be there

And I see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors, that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show your true colors
True colors are beautiful (Cheer up!) like a rainbow

I see your colors though they appear to be different
You should never be afraid because your difference is the difference
We live in a time where to be yourself is hard
And the way you really feel can leave you emotionally scarred
But stay strong, stand firm and never back down
Being yourself is the only way to act that
(Like a rainbow)
Trust me, I’m a fighter and a lover
But the only time I fight is to reveal my true colors
You know
(Oh oh oh oh, Oh oh oh oh, Oh oh oh oh)

I see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors, that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show your true colors
True colors are beautiful like a rainbow
Like a rainbow
Your true colors, yeah
Your true colors, yeah
I see them, your true colors
You with the sad eyes



Motivation Monday: Blue Monday



So today is Blue Monday. The so called saddest day of the year


According to the TheStar.com the much-publicized formula behind Blue Monday is based on six factors such as weather (W), debt (d), time since Christmas (T), time since failing our new year’s resolutions (Q), low motivational levels (M) and feeling a need to take action (Na).
The man who created it back in 2005 says he did it for a travel agency who paid him the equivalent of $1900 Cdn. He says he had no idea that it would take off the way it has. Today, Dr. Cliff Arnall says he is much more interested in the study of happiness. 
Today, I have to be honest I am feeling pretty good, better than I have felt in a while really. We started juicing in our house this weekend and as part of the plan I have given up coffee ( at least for a few days). The weekend was hard. I was in serious caffeine withdrawal but I think the sacrifice is paying off. I didn't feel like I had a great sleep last night but still I am feeling good this morning. And that small success speaks volumes to me. We are finally starting to take care of ourselves in  our house. I am continuing my workout class with Sue Abel and TreadPowerfully. My husband and kids are embracing the juicing. It is exciting because it is improving their diet in a small way. Sure I would love the kids to actually eat their fruits and vegetables but juicing them is a good step toward a healthier lifestyle.
So today the motivation Monday message is to do something healthy for yourself...whether it be for your body, mind or spirit.  Take a walk, mediate, eat a healthy meal with your family, do something for yourself and your family today and that will help you stay motivated and kick those Monday blues!



Sunday, January 20, 2013

Fun and Excitement with Barbie and Hot Wheels

It was another exciting delivery from Kinder!


Made even more exciting because these were special Kinder Eggs! These were Barbie and Hot Wheel Kinder Surprise Eggs!

And the kids were thrilled.





In addition to the classic KINDER Surprise Eggs, KINDER launched a new pink Egg featuring Barbie. A limited edition Barbie Toy is available in 1 in 3 eggs. There is also a great limited edition Hot Wheels egg with limited edition toys inside.





It has become a bit of a challenge in our house to find all the limited edition toys! The kids and their friends have already found many of them. It is always fun to hear "I got an exclusive in my lunch Mom" from the kids after school. They get to take a KINDER Egg for lunch at least once a week.

To kick off the launch of these special KINDER Surprise, KINDER Canada is giving away 40 KINDER Barbie™ Hot Wheels™ Prize Packs as well as a pack of 24 original KINDER Surprise eggs.

To enter, simply become of a fan of KINDER Canada on Facebook and follow the instructions on their contest page.



Disclosure: I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.