EARTH DAY AND A RENEWED COMMITMENT...IT'S A NEW DAY

What better day to renew my commitment to blogging than EARTH DAY. Although I will occasionally share things I make, animal pics (well, probably more than occasionally), and other miscellaneous items on this blog, for right now I am going to devote a lot of time to my vegan life (vegetarian for 15 years, and made the switch to veganism in March 2009) and my switch to all whole foods (starting today) and my main focus right now of NEEDING to lose more than 100 pounds.


People always seem surprised that I am vegan – “how can you be a vegan and have such a weight problem?”. Well, duh folks, if you are eating too much, eating processed a lot, have major portion distortion, don’t exercise, etc……the weight piles on. I have gained and lost and gained and lost so much in my life and really that stops now! I have osteoarthritis in both knees (very painful and I have to use forearm crutches to walk) and I have extremely high blood pressure that is only regulated with a high dosage of medication ($60 a month). CHANGE STARTS TODAY. I need to get healthy for me, for my beloved four-legged children and so that I am here to try to make my mark in this world.


I belong to a weekly weight loss support group, TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) so will have a weigh in every Thursday night. So far this year I have lost about 18 pounds, but that should have been more, since I would lose 4 pounds one week, gain 2 the next and so on. I am all about consistency now. A friend in the group took me aside the other day and said, “What would it take to get you to eat a piece of meat?” I was shocked by the question because this friend knows how passionate I am about my veganism. I immediately said “Never – that will never happen.” She then asked me, then why can’t you apply that same passion and resoluteness to your weight loss journey? Hello, folks, lightbulb *AHA* moment.


So, I am going to share my journey with you and hope that I will have your support. I will also be more than happy to hear any tips, suggestions, guidance you all can give me on this road. I am hoping to post something every day. Change is hard, whether you choose it or not, but I am worth it. OK, I am going to be brave here and insert a few current pictures of myself…most were taken at work over the last few weeks (clearly I don’t have enough to do – lol) so let’s consider these my “before” pictures (no full body shots, though – don’t think they even exist).

Thanks for listening and I look forward to getting to know you all!!






 







(my sweet boy, Marty)

Peace,
Lolly

I Survived the Blizzard of 2010!

Well, as the title suggests, I did survive the Blizzard of 2010 here in Virginia!  Will I ever see grass, pavement or my back yard again...well, that is the question!  On the 6th of February, we had 32" of snow............and then before we could even dig out of that, on the 10th, we had another 12".  I was literally stuck in my house for 6 days.....this stuff has never happened in  my neck of the woods.  The area was paralyzed.  Schools are still closed tomorrow.  Last week, the Federal Government offices were closed for 4 days....also unprecedented!  Here are some pics of the *excitement*....

Luckily, even though I was going stir crazy by this past Friday when I went back to work, my beloved four-leggeds and I were hunkered down safely at home with all that we need...

I still haven't given up on attempting to blog on a MUCH more regular basis....it really is my goal!

In love with...

First of all, so much for my resolve to blog more regularly...yikes.  I do intend to be better about this.  I have a million things in my head that I need to blog about...but first...

I celebrated my birthday this month and my beloved mommy :) bought me my new love...

Yes, I am in love with my new Paula Deen copper bottom stainless steel cookware.  Oh, be still my heart! 

It's funny, really, because Miss Paula couldn't be more non-vegan based, but I just think she is adorable.  Seriously, her products rock and are absolutely high quality.  I swear my food tastes better.

One more thing I am loving at the moment is the wonderful new book from Alicia Silverstone

 

There is no earth shattering new information or anything, but it is just a beautiful book that reaffirms the reason I am vegan and how proud I am to be just that.

And finally, I am loving the fact that I have lost 15.6# in the last 3 weeks by recommitting to a healthy me.  Only 100+ pounds to go, but hey...I am a work in progress.

Love, Lolly

10 Things I Can't Live Without

Inspired by some of my fellow bloggers who have done this, I thought I would list the 10 things I can't live without.

1. My family - I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family.  I am super lucky to call my beloved mother my very best friend and confidante; I have a fantastic younger brother who is a wonderful friend; I have younger sisters (they are twins and only 18 months younger) who are good friends; I have a really nice stepfather; and an extended family of 92 year old grandmother and lovely aunts and cousins!

(mom and brother)

2.  My beloved animals - They truly make waking up each day worthwhile.  They inspire me with their unconditional love and total devotion.  I can't imagine life without them.

(some of my beloved furry children)

3.  Technology - computer, cell phone, etc - What would I do without the convenience of my cell phone and also texting?  Or how would I do without blogging, Google, Facebook, email, etc.?  Oh and I can't forget how happy my digital camera makes me!!

4.  Daytimer and To Do Lists - Despite my love of technology (see #3), I still love a good paper trail.  And I really love the concept of my paper to do lists and post-it notes!  I also have and will probably always have and use my beloved daytimer.  I am a very visual person.

5.  Hot Showers - There is nothing more comforting to me than a long, hot shower.  It is my meditation and singing time. :) It eases all my aches and pains - both physically and emotionally.

6.  Merle Norman Make-up - What can I say - I am vain and want to look good.  I've been using Merle Norman foundation for more than 25 years.  Bamboo Beige rocks!

7.  Air Conditioning - I can't stand to be hot (except in the shower ~ see #5).  I have been known to have my air conditioning still running in late November.  Enough said.

8.  Entertainment (TV/DVR and Music) - "Hi, my  name is Lolly and I am a TV/DVR-aholic."  I admit it - I love television.  I am hooked.  I love comedies (Modern Family, Big Bank Theory, to name two); I love dramas (Bones, CSI, Burn Notice, White Collar, to name a few); I love reality shows (American Idol, Biggest Loser to name some fun ones); plus so many more including Food Network shows, HGTV, etc.  There is hardly a show I don't like and with DVRs I can watch what I want without commercials.  Woot!!

And Music - well, I just love it and it feeds my soul.  My music tastes are so eclectic - I love everything from Top 40 to Country to Oldies to Gospel; I love everyone from my beloved Adam Lambert (I heart Adam so much!!) to the late great John Denver to the Black Eyed Peas to Elvis.

9.  Jewelry, Perfume, and Clothing - What can I say?  I'm vain and proud and I want to look nice.

(I love Timeless perfume from AVON)

10. Water - I love it.  It's all I drink.  I do also think it's been my secret to smooth skin and few wrinkles, even in my forties.  I gave  up caffeine and sodas about 14 years ago.  I love water!!

That's my 10!

Resolved...

2009 was a hard and long year in many aspects.  2010, however, is here and holds the hopes and dreams of the life I want to create for myself.

I have many things - both profound and fun, big and small - that I want to get done this year.

So, in 2010, in no particular order (well, except for the first one which is pretty critical), I resolve to...

...lose at least 100 pounds
...live more frugally smartly
...continue to pay down debt
...grow my emergency savigns account
...learn to love myself now - as I am this very moment - and to continue the self-acceptance as I move forward
...continue to grow and market my home businesses - and mom's and Travis'
...continue to nurture the relationship with my nieces and nephews
...blog regularly at least 3x a week
...learn to quilt
...create more scrapbook pages and  do some legacy scrapbooking
...work on my book ideas (secret for now)
...no longer wear my past hurts and disappointments like a suit of armor
...organize all photos on my computer on CDs as back-up
...be creative on a daily - ar at least weekly - basis
...set up at craft shows this year with mom!
...redecorate guest room
...enter photo (specifically pets) contests, etc. - get my photos out there
...paint living room and make new curtains (I have had the fabric for almost a year! -- it's time!)
...add exercise to my daily routines - ANY movement is better than none :)
...learn to crochet and knit

I am so excited to see what I can make of this new year.  For all of you, may your 2010 be filled with peace, wellness, joy, laughter, and love.

(My sweet kitty, Freida (to the left), says Happy New Year!!)

Rest in Peace, my little cat-child, Joy

I am so sad to tell you that I lost my dear, sweet cat, Joy, today. Earlier this afternoon, she lost her very brave, but oh, too brief battle and passed away. I knew this day was coming but your never really prepared, are you? My beloved animals are my children and Joy was the perfect cat-child. She had such a big personality for such a tiny little girl and she will be missed so much. As I write this, her BFF, Henry, is roaming the rooms up here as if he is looking for her. She wasn't with me for long enough, but the time that I did have with her is indelibly etched in my heart and soul. It was a privilege to love her and a *joy* to have her love me back.

During her last few weeks, her favorite spot was to sit behind me on the back of my big comfy chair and place her hand on my back or shoulder.

The picture below is Joy on the right, laughing, and her BFF, Henry, on the left.

"We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan." ~Townsend

I'm a proud daughter!....and a proud sister, too!

First and foremost, I am so lucky to call my mother my very best friend.  She is an amazing lady.  Since I was a toddler I was convinced my mom could do anything....now I know she can!  She is an amazing artist - fiber arts, pen and ink wildlife pictures/notecards, altered arts, and even some writing!

She is so talented but in true artist fashion, she is not much of a business woman (ok, well maybe there is just this one thing she can't do :) ).  So, I decided to become her business manager and market her and set up an Etsy store for her.  I just want to show her off here............if you get a minute check out her Etsy store HERE (I still have a lot of things to list and she is working on building her inventory) but I love everything she does!! 

Yes, I am proud....here is just a sampling of some of her cool aprons - two of them are made with vintage linens...very cool:

OK, while I am sharing the talents of loved ones, let me tell you about my amazing artist BROTHER, Travis.  He does the most AWESOME pencil portraits....he is really good and now some of his commissions grace homes throughout the United States and Canada.  He is still so reasonably priced compared to other artists I have seen.  But, like mom, he is not business minded, so I set up and run an Etsy store for him as well.  Check out his Etsy store HERE and here are some of his recent portraits:

Thanks for indulging me by listening to me rave about my mom and brothers talents! 

Now if only my creative muse would come back to visit so I can reopen my own Etsy store!  Hopefully in 2010!

Talk to you soon,

Lolly