AUG 30th Give Away Time... Oh Boy!

Hey there, Journal & Friends!

Along with getting "lighter" physically, I am still slowly working on getting rid of stuff I don't use anymore, to "lighten" my home. :-)

So... another GiveAway!

First, here's how it'll work:  

If you would like it, just drop a comment telling me YES, you would like it... simple as that. 

You won't be automatically put into the drawing unless you tell me Yes, you would like to be included. I remember lots of times I've read blog giveaway posts where I'd loved to have left a comment, but that would have automatically entered me for something I didn't really want! So... I'm doing the opposite. 

You have to enter the drawing by saying YES. Got it?? ;-)

Joey will choose the winner... I'll put all names (assuming anyone is still reading my sparse postings, LOL!) on slips of paper, throw them on the floor, and the paper Joey attacks will be the winner!

1) Leave a comment saying Yes, I'd like to be entered.

2) Make sure your email addy is available (if clicking on your user name leads to that info, that's fine) so I can get a mailing addy from you, should Joey pick you.

3) Deadline is Thursday evening, Sept 2nd, 9pm Pacific Time.  That's midnight for you folks on the stormy east coast... anywhere else, you're on your own. ;-)

4) The drawing will be held Friday, Sept 3rd by Joey, and I'll mail it out as soon as I can get to the post office after that.

Easy peasy!

Oh, what is it?? Why, it's a COOKBOOK!

Raw Food Made Easy, 

for 1 or 2 People, 

by Jennifer Cornbleet. 

I bought it a few years ago when trying yet another approach to weight loss. Found out I am NOT cut out to be a vegan or vegetarian... I love me some meat! I am definitely an omnivore. :-) But some of you thrive on that approach, so you might like it, or at least like to include the dishes in your own approach.

Here is what is written about it:

Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People is a recipe book by raw food chef Jennifer Cornbleet. The best-selling book was published in 2005 and promotes the raw food diet, a dietary movement that encourages the consumption of uncooked foods to obtain maximum health benefits.

The book features 115 recipes, including 21 breakfast recipes, 64 lunch and dinner recipes and 30 dessert recipes. Each recipe yields servings for one or two people. All the recipes in this book are vegan, and exclude the use of meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products, focusing entirely on fruits, vegetables, and nuts and seeds.

And here's some pics from inside the book:

Granola with Almond Milk, Berry Smoothie

California Rolls

Chocolate Mousse Parfait with Cashew Cream

Zucchini Pasta Marinara with Not Meat Balls

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Stuffed Mushroom, Mediterranean Kale, Carrots with Moroccan Spices

Tropical Fruit Tart

If you'd enjoy reading more about the book or the reviews, here is a link to Amazon.com.

The author also has a website with other books, videos, tips, and a newsletter HERE.

So if you think you could give this gently used book a nice new home, just let me know. Hey, I didn't even scribble in this one, or splash food onto the pages!! It looks pretty nice. :-D

From Dr Phil's book:  "If you continue to eat the way you've always eaten, you will continue to stay the way you've always been."

My verse for today:  "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth."

My quote for today: "There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still." --Corrie Ten Boom, survivor of Ravensbrook Concentration camp during WWII, author of The Hiding Place

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

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DAY 744

AUG 23rd Dolphins Made Me Smile

Hi Journal & Friends,

I just watched THE most amazing little video! It gave me such a huge smile. It was about dolphins doing something that made me sit here, wide eyed, saying Wow, how cool! 

I've been intrigued by dolphins for a long time, and even featured them in a painting that I've shared here before:

(can click to enlarge)

It's not a long video, and TOTALLY worth your time, if you'd like a big smile for the day. Enjoy!

Here is the LINK to the dolphins... prepare to be impressed, LOL!

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 737

AUG 18th Blogcation Ups n Downs

Howdy Journal & Friends,

Thought I'd peek in and give a short update. I am thoroughly enjoying my Blogcation! I've had ups and downs, and even some overeating days. Grrrr...

But even that has been an eye-opener, which can be useful. Because I was surprised to find an attitude well up that said "Oh goodie, no one will know, so I can eat whatever I want"! Aarrgh... Yeah, I did some of that. On plan food, for sure, but just way too much of it!!

But... I will never quit. I am still determined to continue with the Carb Conquest Cruise.

I decided to shake things up, and sent for some high quality whey protein powder. Just temporarily, I am experimenting with 2 protein shakes a day, 1 meal and 1 snack. When my supply is gone, I'll continue controlled carbs as normal. 

It's been an embarrassing experiment! Why?? Because it clearly brought out the I WANT TO EAT side of me! The side that pouts and whines when it doesn't get it's way. Wow, such habits we get into, without even realizing it. So, this experiment has been a good thing, forcing me to face myself, and the areas that still need work.

And just for fun, I thought I'd post pics of my first finished project. See... Joey, my dear sweet mischievous 7 1/2 month old Miniature Schnauzer, chewed on my favorite genuine Ugg slippers... Oh Nooooooo!!! I luv me my Ugg slippers. :-( 

(Joey on July 15, 2011)

So... I decided to rescue them. I hand sewed up the gashes with colored thread, then painted a design around the stitching. They turned out cute, and I actually like them better now than before, LOL!

There's a little more to talk about... like I think I need to go back to my roots, and do what I did in the beginning... but I'll save that for another post. For now I'm off to work on more projects.

From Dr Phil's book: "Become the captain of your own behavior."

My verse for today: "Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit."

My quote for today: "Happiness isn't something that depends on our surroundings. It's something we make inside ourselves." --Corrie Ten Boom, survivor of Ravensbrook Concentration Camp during WWII, author of The Hiding Place.

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 732

AUG 11th See Ya Later Alligator

Hello Journal & Friends,

I've had something on my mind for several weeks now.

Finally, I have made a decision. One that is best for ME. I'm "unplugging" for the rest of the month of August. A Blogcation, if you will. 

"After 'while, crocodile"

I've been feeling more and more pressured lately, but couldn't put my finger on why. I finally figured it out. Simple really...

 I am so far behind with necessary projects, that I was feeling overwhelmed, and ended up doing NOTHING. Paralyzed by the sheer size of the list... classic procrastination behavior!! And naturally, as the stress built up, I started reverting to old deeply ingrained habits... of trying to relieve it with eating. Too many calories, whether on plan food or not, will STILL throw a monkey wrench in the works!! I remembered doing a post on "instinctual drift",  and looked it up. Wow... just what I needed to read! Obviously, I still haven't mastered that one yet. :-}

Ever see a duck gliding along on the water, and it looks so peaceful? Yet underneath that water, it's little webbed feet are paddling for all it's worth! That's how I felt... paddling like crazy, but never catching up.

(Photo credit)

I made my decision this morning, and already feel soooo much more relaxed and optimistic. I plan to take a day or two for strategizing, and am even feeling like it will be a fun goal to see just how much I can get done by the end of August. 

An example of one of the projects?? Okay... I hardly have anything to wear for the summer that isn't falling off my shoulders due to being too big!! I can sew, I have a machine, and I plan to go through everything that still has life in them, and sew them smaller. Buying all new stuff at this point is not in the budget, and I think tackling this project will help me feel spiffier, rather than sloppy.

Another example?? I have all the material and hardware, yet haven't finished curtains for two windows yet. And we've lived here 2 years! 

There are several more projects, including the fabric side walls for a "sun cabana" I'm making for my backyard. Fun, wild Hawaiin flower material. I'll post pics when it's done. Now, do NOT picture this in your imagination, LOL, but I want a little sun room so I can go outside and show a lot of skin, and soak up some liquid Vitamin D and RELAX. Can't do that if I am on edge wondering if or when my neighbors are walking up to the fence for a chat!! :-O   Hence, my idea for a Sun Cabana... a frame with cheerful fabric sides and no roof, so I can sit inside and soak up some rays.

Stay cool, friends. I'll see ya in a few weeks.

From Dr Phil's book: "Ultimately, only you--and you alone--are responsible for getting your weight under control."

My verse for today: "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever..."

My quote for today: "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do." --Edward Everett Hale

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=

DAY 725

AUG 8th Perspective & Bouncing Right Back

Good afternoon Journal & Friends,

You know how you start out to write a post with one thing on your mind, and then get sidetracked?? That happened to me this morning. I visited Yellow Rose Jasmines blog "A Yellow Rose of Texas". What an amazing lady! It's a long story, but in short she had a tough start in life. But she overcame it, broke the cycle that had oppressed the women in her family, and is striving to live a healthy, loving and full life. And she gives from her heart, so others in her family can break free, also. That's a simplistic overview, sure, but it will help you see why I was so touched by her posts. 

(I asked Jim for one of his favorite yellow rose photos 

that he has taken, and he gave me this one)

And it also helped me to gain perspective. In last Friday's post (here) I wrote in general about playing to our Strengths... finding them, embracing them, and helping them grow. Today I wanted... needed... to follow up and look for some of my own specific Strengths. 

Sunday was Jim's birthday, and we had a fun day. Yet at the same time I was frustrated about my lack of progress, and just said phooey, and didn't try. :-(  

Consequently, I ate a gazillion calories! Birthday cheesecake (sugar free, but still high calorie), dinner out, you get the picture.  Sigh...

That was yesterday. Today is today. And the journey continues.

I can't afford to stop and wallow, to make excuses or stay off track. It might make me feel good temporarily to be patted on the head with "oh you poor thang, pat pat pat"... but all that does is keep me down and feeling powerless and like a victim. In other words, it doesn't help! I just can't afford it.

So... today I want to think of a Strength, and choose to go ON. Which Strength?? I suppose the most fitting to the situation... 

I have finally learned 

to bounce back quickly, 

and keep going! 

To NOT wallow for long in self pity, and do even MORE damage. To continue, to accept that I screwed up and not make excuses, and immediately get up and GO ON. I think that qualifies as a Strength. :-} So... today will be a GOOD day.

From Dr Phil's book: "Be a part of the group who have the courage and determination to stay in the light."

My verse for today: "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."

My quote for today: "I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don't do things half-heartedly because I know if I do, I can expect half-hearted results." --Michael Jordan

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

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DAY 722