Happy

The sky is clear, the temperature is mild, I spent the morning working out and chatting with positive, energetic people, and in a few hours my self-published little cookbook "Bringing Cooking Back" will be on the shelves at New Seasons Market. I'm honored to work with New Seasons. They promote sustainability, support local businesses, and local authors like myself. Oh, and of course they sell really good high-quality food. Partnering with New Seasons gives me the opportunity to reach a larger market of my community. I recognize a good thing when I see it. I am happy, happy, very happy.

What a Difference a year makes

In the fall of 2009 after a trifecta of unfortunate events I decided to take control of my life. It's been a rewarding, challenging journey. I've said this before,  it's not only about my outer appearance -- this is a transformation from the inside out. I look to many other factors besides the scale. I'm taking a holistic approach to my health. This is a lifestyle change so there is no end date and I'm not really sure what my ultimate goal is. I want to live a healthy, active, happy life forever.

I'm a work in progress... I look forward to more positive changes in the year ahead.

"Life isn't about find yourself. Life is about creating yourself."

10-31-10

10-31-11

10-31-09

Dreamin'

If this is a dream please don't wake me up. I am so happy, content, at peace, and full of love and joy. For once in my life my happiness is not predicated on someone or something. My happiness comes from within. I believe more and more everyday that "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." I am so very grateful for everything.

The Time of My Life – Part II

Sure, I'm not the best at Vball, but I was having a BLAST!
I'm to the right wearing an off-white shirt, jeans, and a HUGE smile.
Photo taken at Sunday's Family  BBQ.

I spent the weekend with my high school chums celebrating 20 years removed from high school. What a time we had chatting it up, reminiscing, laughing, and partying. The weekend started with a mixer Friday night, Saturday the headliner event, and Sunday a family affair – a BBQ in the park.

It’s been ten years since most of us saw each other and all sorts of things have happened in our lives over the years. So there is no doubt this occasion brought about a plethora of emotions in all of us. I personally have flashbacks of the terrible photos of me (one of many wake up calls I ignored to loose weight) from our ten year reunion. Seeing the photos of myself, however, taken at this reunion make me proud. Sure, I’m a work in progress and still have a ways to go, but look how far I’ve come.

Today, I’m alive, energetic, eager, happy, and most importantly free – free from limitations. The photos taken of me at the 20-year reunion show a spirit of a person who is no longer hiding behind excuses, unsure of her potential, not afraid to seek the unknown, and unwilling to settle for mediocracy.

“You look radiant. You glow from the inside out,” a classmate said to me in conversation this weekend. Whoa. What a statement, I glow from the inside out… That was the greatest compliment I heard all weekend. Don’t get me wrong , I love hearing about how good I look. Heck, I’ve worked really, really hard to get here. But, this long journey of mine is about more than loosing the weight. It’s about my spirit - my quest for inner peace and happiness. And, apparently now-a-days, I glow. Humph.

I’m no longer sitting on the sidelines waiting for things to happen. I’m making them happen. I’m having the time of my life!

***

Thanks, Jefferson Class of ’90 Demos for a beautiful weekend. I’ll cherish our moments together forever. Demos for life!

Also, I have to give a shout out to my peeps from the reunion committee – we done it y’all. Thanks for letting me be a part of the committee. I had a blast planning,marketing, and kicking it! xoxo

 Shannon and I have been friends since 3rd grade. Photo taken at Friday night's mixer.

All smiles. Headed to the headliner event Saturday night.