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

Blogging fail. (Flickr, Amanda Woodward)

So, before I go ahead and lap myself in terms of blogging (does that last one really say August? What time trap did I fall into, exactly?) I thought I’d take a moment to actually update the front page of my site so that it’s clear I haven’t skipped town (and by “town,” I mean “the internet”).

Catching up properly at this point is bound to turn into a multi-post epic, so let’s just give you the TV version of “here’s what you missed,” and get on with it, shall we?

Here’s what I’ve been up to for the past, uh, several months…

• Life at home: You may remember—a long time ago now—some references to a new apartment. Well, it’s not really “new” anymore, but it’s still all kinds of awesome. B-rad and I are loving our new digs in this much less stabby part of Toronto. There is a movie theatre down the street, a Starbucks on the corner and a Greek restaurant across the road that makes a mean flaming cheese. What more could a girl ask for, really?

• I’m not getting any younger! In fact, I’ve gotten another year older. Funny how that whole birthday thing works, isn’t it? Anyway, no doom and gloom here. I’m looking forward to all that 27 has to offer…

• Wedding update: The Dress has been ordered and now I’m on a quest to find the perfect shoes. Let me clarify that—the perfect purple shoes. We’ve also secured the most delicious cake of all time. Wedding planning is crazy fun times. Srsly. Six months to go!

But wait! There’s more…

(more…)

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…