I was involved in my first Victorian Tea this past May 7, 2011. It is a fundraiser for the village I volunteer at. Originally I was just going to be a guest. I was asked to be a table hostess. The Tea was based around the Kentucky Derby as the race was that weekend. The theme was called "A Day at the Races". It was a fun filled day with lots of laughter. We wore hats of various styles, typical of the races. We had the typical menu of scones with jam and collated cream spread, along with tea being served the whole time. Lunch was chicken and salad. Everything was delicious. The women guests were amazing as I had a group of the "Red Hat" ladies. They kept the conversation going so well that I did not have to do much. I learned a few things from these ladies.

The tables were named after horses that have ran in races. My table was called "Sunday Silence". I laughed when I heard that as I am never silent.

Sunday Silence: (1986–2002) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, earning distinction as 1989 American Horse of the Year over American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse Easy Goer. He was foaled in 1986, sired by Halo out of Wishing Well by Understanding. Though he was registered as a dark bay/brown, he was in fact a true black. In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century, Sunday Silence is ranked #31. Sunday Silence was retired to Japan, where his success as a leading sire was confined mainly to Asia.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Silence).

The day was so much fun I plan on going next year. I already have an outfit planned to make for that day!!

There is another website about "Teas" in Minnesota. There was a guest at our Tea that blogged about our day along with some pictures. Look at the May 17th blog. Here is there link:  www.tea-friends.net

Gardening for fresh food and physical activity

February came and went very quickly for me. Sorry I have not posted last month. Here is my post for March. I just realized my birthday is coming on Monday and be another year older. When I was a kid I could not wait to be older, now I wish it would slow down.

My New Year’s resolution was to lose weight, tone the body and build muscle strength. Well, I have lost 20lbs since I began my journey in October 2010. At this time I have hit a plateau; which is common with any weight loss regime. Getting back on track is the hard part for me. Spring and summer is not too far away, so I need to get going. There will be many opportunities for outdoor fitness like walking, biking and gardening. Here in Minnesota there are many opportunities for outside activities for the winter enthusiasts. I am not one of those.  

Planning and having a garden will be great. I will get fresh vegetables without the use of herbicides and/or pesticides.  I do not believe in changing the natural order of plant growth and behavior. Gardening is a great gentle physical activity that can help people stay active and healthy. Also, there is nothing tastier than a home grown tomato picked right off of the vine. There is a world of difference between your own tomatoes and the tasteless things you find in the grocery store. My mouth is already beginning to water. 

Physical activity and healthy eating are essential. Moving more and eating better improves health and saves money, which is good for everyone. Thirty minutes of moderately intense physical activity every day is a great way to start getting active. Gardening would incorporate these two things. Preparing a garden requires digging and tilling the soil, bending, walking, planting, moving and carrying items. Seems to me, that would definitely burn calories and tone muscles.

So, while the weather is still cold and snowy, I plan on reading up on what I need to know. When the gardening season begins I will be ready. I will then have a bountiful harvest of fresh vegetables. Yummm!

Starting the Workout Routine

January 27, 2011

Started the routine my personal trainer has put together for me. I can do exercises but my goal was to have a routine to gather the exercises that would help me achieve my goal. The exercises include a routine of cardio, strength training, and flexibility. Nutrition includes 60% - Carbs, 30% - Fat, 10% Protein.

In doing some research it is indicated that a diet rich in complex carbohydrates can and may help a person get fit and stay slim.

Eating carbs makes you thin for life
A recent multi-center study found that the slimmest people also ate the most carbs, and the chubbiest ate the least. The researchers concluded that your odds of getting and staying slim are best when carbs make up to 64% of your total daily caloric intake, or 361 grams.

That's the equivalent of several stuffed baked potatoes (a food we bet you've been afraid to eat for decades).

Most low-carb diets limit you to fewer than 30% of total calories from carbs and sometimes contain as few as 30 grams of carbohydrates a day.


http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/8-reasons-carbs-help-you-lose-weight-2442968/

Oleg Cassini - Style 8493

Modified with more pictures on 2/6/2011

I could not believe my eyes when I found this dress in a thrift shop on a rack for Halloween costumes. This is an Oleg Cassini dress style number 8493. The dress is made of organza. Originally had cap sleeves.

Back View

Back View - Bustled

My First Day

My weight loss journey began on 10/14/2010. Started with the Eat Clean Diet from Tosca Reno. Read many of her books and they make sense. There are so many ways to lose weight and get fit. A person has to find what works for them.

At the beginning my weight was 209.6. Today (1/19/2011) my weight is 195.2. I reached my first goal of getting below 200lbs before New Years.

Met with a personal trainer on 1/17/2011 to find ways to reach more of my goals. The assessment showed areas that need to be worked on. More to come on that information.