Happy Victoria Day, Canadians! How’d you spend your long weekend?

B-rad and I spent the weekend taking care of some overdue wedding business, including scouting out some fab invites. We had a great meeting with Rozanne at Oakville Paper Boutique… If you’re looking for custom invitations, I would absolutely recommend checking this place out.

I also updated my 101 in 1001 list! I’ve already tried out AntiGravity Yoga and have become slightly addicted to hot yoga. I was a bit worried at first that the heat would be too much for me, but it’s actually quite soothing. I feel like I’m getting stronger with each class, and every time I leave, I feel more energized. Any other hot yoga fans out there? What’s the biggest benefit that you’ve experienced so far?

Also in the health and fitness section: I’m working my way through another Booty Camp session and totally loving it. My first Booty Camp experience was in October 2009 and it was a bit brutal with the cold, rainy weather. While I’ve certainly had to tough it out during the rain this time around, I’m really enjoying it. My instructor, Joanne, is wonderful—she’s got great energy and really makes me want to push myself as much as possible. I’m heading into my fourth week, and I’ve got eight more to go… Wish me luck!

Next up on the 101 in 1001 list: Find a favourite red wine. This is an ongoing challenge for me. I really enjoy sweet white wines, but have yet to find a red that isn’t too “earthy” for my liking. So, my oenophile friends… what would you suggest?

Until next time…

am

Greetings and Happy Monday!

I’d meant to post this on Friday, but was quite busy getting my bake-and-slideshow on for B-rad’s Dad’s 60th birthday soiree, which took place on Saturday (and I make a mean iMovie, if I do say so myself). The party was awesome and thankfully the weather held out all day so that everyone could have a great time. And a rainy Sunday just gave us all an excuse to hang out and revel in our cake-induced laziness.

But back to Friday. At 9 a.m., yours truly had an appointment with a personal trainer at the gym. Ah yes,the gym—that magical land of fitness and exercise that up until now, I have skillfully avoided like Amy Winehouse avoids rehab. Should I go? Yes. Did I want to? No, no, no.

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Hello there! Remember me? I’ve been trying to sneak in some blogging time over the past few days, but it seems that one thing or another just kept getting in the way (not that I’m complaining – I’ve been having a great time!) But I have to apologize, because I have been promising a review of the EA Sports Active for a while, and have yet to deliver. Well… here it is!

While I’ve only tried it a few times so far (remember that knee injury I mentioned? The doc thinks it might be the beginning of a cartilage problem… which means I get to wear a brace for a few weeks, pop Tylenol Arthritis for pain and avoid stairs like the plague. In short? Bah.) it’s been a lot of fun! I started by creating my own avatar (complete with custom hairstyle and workout duds…Kinda like the one in the pic above) and completing my profile. Then it was onto the good stuff. You can either put together a custom workout or take the 30 Day Challenge. And since I’m a big fan of a good challenge, I chose the latter.

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H’okay. So. This 101 in 1001 list? A LOT harder than I thought it would be. I’m still working away at it, but I’m afraid it’s not quite finished yet. However, one thing that is definitely on the list (and this will likely not surprise you if you’ve been here before) is losing weight/working out more regularly. And because I am a fan of all things Nintendo Wii, especially when it can help me get in shape (ie. Wii Fit, My Fitness Coach, etc) I’ve just picked up a new fitness game: EA Sports Active.

No idea what I’m talking about? You can check out the trailer here. (And while you’re at it, check out their website. This is marketing done right, friends. It goes beyond being another video game website and has an almost magazine-website-like feel with articles about nutrition, health and wellness. A “Motivation Center”? A “Community”? Brilliant, EA. Srsly.)

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Remember how psyched I was to take on the 30 Day Shred? Well, I still am…but there’s been a bit of a snag. I suppose it’s more of a tear, actually. Picture this: Sunday night, I’m sitting on the floor, going through a few stacks of paper a la spring cleaning. I get up to get a drink, and hear a gross ripping sound that is most definitely not my pants. Point of the story? My right knee is in bad shape, so I’m easing back into the Shred very slowly. A minor setback, I think… I’m definitely not ready to throw in the towel. After all, if I quit, the terrorists Jillian Michaels wins. And to that I say, no dice.

On the plus side, there is a no-fail way to distract yourself from an injured knee—read a great book. And thankfully, I just happen to have one. In fact, today is a day that my inner book nerd has been eagerly anticipating for the past couple of months, because the new Jen Lancaster memoir, Pretty in Plaid, is finally available… And I’ve got a copy!

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A while ago (okay, a very long while ago) I blogged about getting back in shape for my wedding. Well, then life had to go and get all complicated and crazy (which is a story for another day), the wedding was pushed back, and fitness got bumped to the bottom of my priority list. Thankfully, it’s now made its way back to the top.

Weight is something that I’ve struggled with now for over half of my life. It’s also something extremely personal that I don’t really discuss with people, aside from those I’m very close with. But in the interest of sharing and being more open, here it is…

Like many people, it stems back to the old “kids can be very cruel” scenario where I got picked on mercilessly as a 12-year-old, and was left with a pretty effed up self-image. Even as a size 7, 125 pound 16-year-old with “eating issues,” I was convinced that I was fat. And down the road, when I spent a year on Depo Provera, I quickly gained major pounds (“slight weight gain” my foot) and actually was overweight (and traumatized, since the sudden weight gain left me with stretch marks and a closet full of unwearable clothes). My weight has fluctuated pretty consistently throughout university and college, but now school is over and it’s time to put all that crap in the past and start loving myself and taking care of my body… Don’t ya think?

Whew. That’s a whole lot of honesty right there.

So I’ve decided to try Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred and I’ve made it through Day One. (If you’re unfamiliar with it, you’re in luck—I wrote about it not too long ago on the Canadian Family blog, Family Jewels.) After a good 20 minute stretch thanks to some Winsor Pilates, I was ready to go. Or so I thought. Now I’m starting to wonder what I did to Jillian in a past life to make her want to kill me so badly. Everything is sore today… But I’m ready (and excited) to do it again, because I know it’s going to make a difference.

The goal? It’s not so much a specific number that I’m after, as a shape. Yes, round is a shape, but it’s one that I’m getting pretty tired of. I’m ready to tone up, trim down, and then sometime in 2010, I’ll be ready to tackle my next project: finding The Dress. (Note: more wedding updates are coming, I promise!)

Is anyone else out there getting back in shape right now? Drop me a line! I’m going to need all the support and tips that I can get… and I’m happy to have you guys along for the ride!

Now let’s go beat the heck outta Day Two…

Take a quick glimpse at my ‘To Do’ wedding planning list and you’ll know almost instantly that we’ve got a long way to go before The Big Day. There are venues to see, cakes to try, and of course, The Dress to find. But before I lose myself in the world of taffeta and lace, there is something else I need to deal with first:

I need to get in shape. (There. I said it.)

After six years of life as a student (the bulk of which was spent in front of a computer, writing), I’ve decided that it’s time to get serious about getting fit. And with my wedding a little over a year away, there seems to be no time like the present to get started.

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