Crunch Overweight

Picture courtesy of Reuters.com

When I saw this picture, it dawned on me that whether we admit it or not, "weight" will always be an issue in our society, in our culture and in our generation. If that wasn't the case we'll never have shows like "The Biggest Losers" in an attempt to highlight the obvious. But that's beside the point. The fact that there are people taking actions, and taking control of the situation, is impeccably deserving of respect and adulation. I love to highlight groups of people banding together to WIN the challenge. Groups like the Wii Mommies and the Modern Mom Challenge. These ladies deserves an applaud!

I work for a company that also offers Boot Camp classes geared towards men and women who needs help in dealing with their weight issues. And though the word Boot Camp connotates hard core training, this one is not. All applications go through me for pre-screening and approval. Going through the application is easy but up to the point where they state their reason for joining the program. To me, this is where the not-so-fun-part starts.

What continues to baffle me is that why women are the most affected by this "weighty" issue? Quite evident of the reason why mostly women wants to enroll in the program. To note their reasons for wanting to join is so disheartening, it is insane! To some, their "excessive weight" have cost them their relationships, where the husband divorced them or partners abandoning them. Some suffered verbal abuse and just recently, thoughts of suicide! Is this worth losing our lives for?

It crushes my heart every time I go through an application. It is beyond me to know what turmoils and struggles these women faces each day. Some of them even hated themselves so much, they couldn't bear look at themselves in the mirror anymore, much more have their pictures taken!

I, too, had gone through these frustrations and tinges of depression related to my weight which came about post-pregnancy. I know how it feels...

Yet what a shame! We, women, are so programmed, moreso, brainwashed into thinking since birth, that our existence is predefined by being pretty and skinny! Less than these is a tragedy! Such baloney!

I'm grateful to have been blessed with a very supportive husband that saw me through my own little struggles with my weight. He was a beacon during the rough times...If you are in this rotten situation now and think you are alone, THINK NOT! YOU. ARE. NOT. ALONE! Wii Mommies, spearheaded by Julie and Modern Mom Challenge by Lolita are great groups to start with. Camaraderie and moral support abounds! Definitely groups worth checking. And if you're in Charlotte and wants to get into a regimen boot Camp, you have me...

Suffering alone is not the answer. Each day is a chance to do the right thing FOR YOURSELF! And do it for the right reasons...

For more inspiring and motivational approach to losing weight, follow the journey of these peeps on EAS 30-day Challenge and be ahead of your own game!

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Mommy Weight?

Olivia The Piglet

Do you know Olivia? Well, I didn't know her until yesterday. She's a cute Fashionista Piglet! I like her. And you know what? I think I might have seen her in person too! This is how I met her {I think}.

We were at Barnes & Nobles Bookstore yesterday. My Little Sasserfrass collected some books and magazines to "read" moreso, to ooh-gle and aah-gle at {just to get her out of my hair} while we lounged and relax at Starbucks. I was just there for my Mocha Cappuccino! {yes me, Coffee Freak!}

One of the books Little Sasserfrass got on her pile was a Nickelodeon Activity book where they had this little cute piglet with her red dress and stripe overalls on the front cover. Such a cutie she is! Miss Sasserfrass wanted {pestered} me to read this cute piglets' story titled "Olivia Must Get in Shape" out loud to her.

I started reading this page:


Then I happened to look up towards the table infront of us.

I went catatonic! I slowly looked back at the page, glanced at my daughter, back to the table infront of us then back to the picture on the page. A smile appeared on my lips. Looked at my daughter, went on to read the story. I said, "OLIVIA. MUST. GET. IN. SHAPE!"

{I think it's a sign. Maybe Olivia wants me to help her.}

This is what I saw {or who I saw}.


{why am I "discovering" new Books and Characters for my daughter this way?}

Also See:

• Fancy Nancy

Not your Grandmothers Road Trip!

Life is unpredictable and NoThiNg is permanent except CHaNge! A continuous cycle... Like a hamster running around in circle on a wheel, it goes on and on and on... Hopefully, finding our purpose in life and achieving our goals beyond the dizzying spin.

This is what I hope to achieve...

With the unfortunate effect of the bad economy on us middle of the year, last year, along with the distasteful outcomes that followed it, Life decided that we're not that too beaten up yet so it's giving us another challenge to overcome. Am I ready to embrace this new real-life survivor challenge fate is throwing at us? I can only but grind my teeth!

My hubby's promotion to Lao Shr brings both good and bad. Yin Yang as it's called. You get both sides of the equation in life {no way around it}. Good because after 10 years, he finally reached the ultimate pinnacle of his training. Bad {in an essence} because this means we have to MOVE! Part of the moral code of his training is that no student can put up their school in close proximity to their "mother Guan". You don't compete with your alma mater! It is BAD WUDE!

MOVE = ROAD TRIPS {and lots}! Which makes me grumble every time I think of it. Moi being melodramatique?

Can't help it. Moving is not my best forte! U-hauls and moving vans are not my BFF's. Moving boxes are my predators! {I have yet to find someone who likes moving, do you?} BUT we've reached the end of the line in Charlotte and it's time {whether I like it or not} to hunt for the next "lucky" city where to build a new nest in. Our first trip was this Saturday and though it is not your typical weekend getaway, we made the most out of it. We toured:

Huntersville NC, well-known venue for the famous Carolina Rennaisance Festival held every year.

It's about 30 minutes away from Charlotte. A growing town yet noticeably still has that quaint little town feel to it. I've always been a city girl, since birth and now. So, sue me! Yes, Moi can be picky! I need more convincing...

Huntersville boast of multiple Parks which we managed to visit all of. One interesting sight we found was this antique Red Caboose serving as a landmark near the small Farmer's Market site.

Then the Malls. Visited ALL of them! OF COURSE! I'll never live in a town not knowing a single shopping mall I can run to for therapy! Touche'! The town has three major Shopping Centers : Birkdale Village, Rosedale Shopping Center and Northcross Shopping Center. I like Birkdale Village the most. It is a quaint, attractive shopping center reminiscent of small Villages in England. Best of all, it offers free wi-fi coverage on the entire village! Now, that's free perk for moi! Unfortunately, I didn't get to connect...bum!

Maybe Huntersville isn't so shabby a place to live in afterall. Though moving is a gross thought, things will not unravel until we've decided "this is it!" Until then, let me gripe, whine and grumble! I'm allowed. So there...

DW - Fancy is moi!

What is DeCode Wednesday? If you want to play along, just post a photo that has a "hidden meaning" to it or something that the naked eye don't see unless pointed out - the beauty of decoding! {Promise, it has nothing to do with your PIN numbers}

Feeling fancy and maybe you want to look fancy a bit? Well, then let the 10th Edition give you a little boost of inspiration! During our visit to Huntersville NC last Saturday, this is what we saw...

Classy French ladies a-socializing?
Les joli femmes! aren't they?

Oh look at those feather shawls and Tiaras

and fancy dresses and colorful outfits!
Are they prepping up for a show
or just having fun?

Look Closely!

They're lined up like us, waiting to get their Ice Cream fix
at Coldstone Creamery at Birkdale Mall.

Can you guess why they're all decked out and in fancy costumes?

If you guess it's birthday party-related, you're WRONG! No worries, I was too! As it turned out, this is the culprit :

Fancy Nancy! The little girl who likes to dress fancy! They decided, it was a good day to dress up fancy just like Fancy Nancy! Swweeetttt! I've never heard of this book but it looks like a very "influential" book! The Author is Jane O'Connor and is published by Harper Collins. According to the lady I spoke with at the shop, the book has been around a couple of years and already have quite a lot of series out in the market. I think I'll start my daughter with this book. She loves to dress up.

As with me, hmmm...you think my boss will fire c'est moi if I go to work in bright-colored heels, froufrous and Tiara?

Mom Blogging - A lost cause?

"If you are afraid of offending someone, don't blog, don't write!" - Freedom of speech - the true essence of blogging and journalism. The main reason, we blog. Self-expression! Backed by great contents. Yet look around you. Can you still see this distinct quality in all the blogs out there, moreso, in the world of momblogs?

Hmmm...

I'm a momblogger. And if you think I find joy in self-inflicted pain or insulting someone, then you're totally sick! There's the door...

I want to speak from my heart and I believe that Momblogs {or mom bloggers} has definitely carved a whole different persona in this mom-dominated niche. It is intriguing to note that veterans and those from the Dooce Era {pardon me but I don't really know her, but I heard she's an icon } are but now a thing of the past and the new breed of mom bloggers have evolved into a whole new different unique species! Is it good? Is it bad? you be the judge.

My own realization has become more of a confirmation when I received the newsletter from MBC, where views of, who I can only assume are veteran mom bloggers, outlined their observations on how old-timers' blogging qualities are vastly different from the new breed of mom bloggers of these days. And yes, I agree, there is a definite hint of truth to their views and observations! But, was there ever a rule governing how one blogs? Or certain blog ethics one needs to practice? I dare say, none! It is the ironic truth. We all "play" by our own rules and create our rules as we go! Or that which is dictated by the current trend.

I'm almost at the earmark of a year of blogging. Not overly consistent but regular enough to reach a respectable status in the vast world of www. I started blogging to find an outlet. A "Me time", I called it. That's how I perceived blogging then and still is. A self-expression. Yet in a matter of months into it, I immediately saw a different culture unfamiliar to me. Bluntly speaking, It was like being shoved out from a chic boutique to a flea market!

It got real noisy! bloggers trying to outdo each other like each one is a competition. There are more paid posts, product reviews than my fingers and toes can count. More and more mombloggers are underselling themselves just to get into the product review bandwagon. Despicable? Who am I to judge? I learned to adapt.

I experienced cattiness from fellow mombloggers - who avoids you like a deadly plague! No matter how many times you visit and comment in their blogs, you're INVISIBLE! They return visits and comments on blogs you both visit but never on your blog! What's with that?! This, I really don't understand. Especially when you belong in the same network that is "suppose" to support each other. Useless...

I think momblogging has now become more of a "survival of the most famous!" or a business deal : You follow me, I follow you. Link with me, I link with you. You comment, I comment back. You visit, I visit you back. Everything comes with a price and I admit I'm guilty on these counts {so, sue me!}

Are these the definition of momblogging today? If it is, then again, sue me, when I say, it is a lost cause. A sad fate to those who still stick to the true and ancient nature of blogging. As for me, I'll just mind my own darn business {yeah I do have a business} and get on with my life. My life doesn't end on blogging.

I can always tweet! Tweeeeett!!!

DW- All white and Beautiful

What is DeCode Wednesday? If you want to play along, just post a photo that has a "hidden meaning" to it or something that the naked eye don't see unless pointed out - the beauty of decoding! {Promise, it has nothing to do with your PIN numbers}

It's Wednesday! And of course, another Edition of DeCode Wednesday is here! I'm sure you are so enamored with this picture because of the cuteness of my Bunny Slippers!

Aw, c'mon they're cute!
So, what's with my bunny slippers anyway?
Anyone's got it, you got it, she got it.
Nothing extra-special about it, or is there?

You're right nothing special about it except being CUTE.
But this has nothing to do with my bunny slippers.

It's the SNOW I'm standing on!

After endless wishing, my wish was finally granted! SNOW and LOTS-of-it-enough-to-make-a-snowman SNOW! And what's neat about it is that we got it in March! Charlotte don't get snow in March. The last snow presence usually stops by February. It's Wednesday, the 3rd day and the snow is still on the grounds. So cool and I'm lovin' it! I was so happy, the next morning after the night it came, I ran out on the snow-covered ground forgetting that I was still wearing my bunny slippers!

Share the fun with me. Here are some cool pictures

AND THIS IS FOR ALL OF YOU who continue to visit me,
comments on my post and read what I have to say!

I DO and ALWAYS appreciate your presence here.
I HEART YOU!!!

Jewelry is a Woman's Bestfriend

Tulip Earrings {Semi Precious Gemstones}

And this Zensational Mama believe so! She even think that it comes first before make-up or clothing. "Bling is the thing! Sez moi!" {speaking on a personal level} - Anyone here disagrees with this jewelry-smitten designer's conclusion? Probably yes but not surprising. Each woman is different but NO WOMAN don't ever owe no jewelry in any given point in time in her life! Agree? Surely.

So this Zen Mama loves jewelry. Passionate about it too which is apparent in her designs. She has been smitten with the creative streak of late, driven by the power to sell them in an upcoming Craft show and positively here : to those who'll get smitten by the mystic touch of the attractive and unique personality ingrained in each piece.

Also, on the uptake of finally launching the new line of design KNOTS FOR YOU and ROCKZ Collections. Knots for you encompasses trendy designs using the hand-knotting technique. Rockz embodies the collection of gemstones: precious and semi-precious into unique pieces of jewelry.

And here are some of the unique pieces that is a part of the Spring Collections which will soon be owned by a lucky neck, ears or wrist! Which for all I know, could be yours!

Natural Fresh Water Pearl Bracelet with matching Earrings
and Amethyst Earrings

Green Semi Precious Peridot Hand knotted Necklace
and Peridot/Hematite Earrings

Zebra Jasper Gemstone Pendant with Amber Necklace
and Jet Black Quartz hand knotted Necklace

For MORE of these unique pieces, visit Golden Flower Creations.

Now, after getting out of her box, this talented designer have realized that anywhere you go where there are women, Jewelry will in no doubt attract the flock!

So here's Food for your Thoughts to those in the Jewelry business like her : Craft shows are NOT the only venue to sell your unique creations anymore. Keep this in mind : where there are women, THERE should be jewelries in sight! Fill the need! Afterall, women and Jewelry ALWAYS go together! Perfect match!