lately...

it's been a few months, huh?

sometimes i wonder if i will ever regularly blog again...i have great intentions...but then, life always happens...isn't that always the case?

i've been knitting a lot.  i also learned how to crochet (very basic crochet)...

i've been enjoying lovely weekends with my gorgeous hubby and our little furball (well, not much of a furball)...and also spending time catching up with some very lovely people...and letting life happen...

have a beautiful weekend...

tasty little treats...

thank goodness for yummy healthy treats...and knitting...it's been a very trying few weeks...truly truly hate drama...and i feel as though my entire life lately has been nothing but a big fat soap opera...it's ok though...i'm a trooper and i will most certainly get through this little misadventure, as i have many times before this one...

multigrain cranberry treats

1 cup organic multigrain oats
4 tbsp cranberries (organic no sugar added, no sulphites)
2 tbsp organic coconut sugar
1/2 cup of maple sugar
1 cup of whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
6 tbsp coconut oil (melted)

preheat oven to 350 degrees.

place the cranberries, the sugar, 1/4 cup of the maple, and the 1 cup of oats in a food processor and process until the mixture is well combined and resembles a wet dough.  add the rest of the ingredients and the food processor mixture into a medium sized bowl, mix well.  add the mixture to a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  flatten the dough so that it is the size of a fig newton...bake for about 15 minutes.  remove from the oven...let cool for about 10 minutes...and enjoy with a cup 'o tea...and some knitting!!!!!!!!!

crafty and all that jazz...

knitting.  i love knitting.  i never did broadcast that i was a smoker...for years...i've quit...knitting is my cigarette, and i've also had absolutely no stress induced heartburn since i started this lovely little hobby (ahmaaaaazing right?).  i knit every chance i get...i have 3 projects on the go at the moment...2 baby blankets and a scarf...

over the weekend i attended a couple of knitting classes and spent most of my mornings and afternoons at eweknit.  amazing little store in mirvish village (toronto)...the yarns are very dreamy...soft...and the owner of the store has quickly become my new favourite person...

i feel as though i'm nesting...i feel as though the universe is telling me, "great hobby nelly!"...for the simple reason that everywhere i turn lately, east or west, north or south, everything is relating to knitting...yah, i can be dramatic!

anyhoo...i will try to update my blog much more frequently...and catch you all up on all of the changes that have taken place in my life, since i last posted...not much has changed except that we are now the proud owners of a cute little beach house...and i have babies on my mind.........................only on my mind...

i will leave you with a couple of pics of my knitting projects...

the cowl, a project i worked on at my knitting class...and i managed to finish in 2 days...i washed it and blocked it, and i will be giving it to someone that needs some cozy in their life right now...

the scarf below, is a project i selected from the ahhhhhmazing the purl bee website...it's called the "easy mistake stitch scarf"...

until next time my friends..........................................................

yummy yummy...yummy!

it's really hot out...and i'm sure i am not the only one craving simple fresh and light meals...and thirst quenching hydration!!!!

morning eats:

bloob protein pancake (this is so yummy and so light)

pb & cherry j on ezekiel (comforting and filling)

on the go lunch - tempeh, lettuce and pickle (TLP?) sammie on ezekiel

garbanzo protein patty from the TIU nutrition plan...(i used mushrooms instead of carrots, and 2 tbsps of chia in place of the flax (i have a weird aversion to flax), i used 2 green onions, and didn't use turmeric)...SO YUMMY!  i added the patty to a collard wrap with a tomato and ago salsa

and i've been drinking a ton of these two yummy drinks...so refreshing...and so good for me...and you!!!!

stevia lemonade (juice of 1 lemon, water, stevia (sweeten to your liking) and some lemon wheels)

and last but definitely not least...my virgin coconut water mojito...(juice of 1 lime, 1 cup of coconut water and 2 cups of water, handful mint leaves and some blueberries just for looks)

make sure to keep yourselves happy, hydrated and healthy this summer...it's going to be a scorcher...

i be married...

hello again...i hope to be back with a vengeance...i'm guessing that i will be...i'm married (check out more pics here)...so, no more wedding planning...we went to bahamas for our honeymoon...so no more stressing over getting on a plane...and we purchased our first home, so no more house hunting (6 months of house hunting, not. fun.)...it's super cute...we don't move in until august 31...so yah, i think i'll have so much time on my hands, and a plethora of patience...

so, you know how they say sometimes, after you get married...you gain weight...well i did...holy crap! a ton of weight. i didn't realize how bad it was until my fat pants didn't fit me anymore...and i had to go out an buy new fat pants...NOT GOOD!

so i have decided to embark on a new journey of sorts...i've joined the TIU Community...purchased the vegan plan...and ordered the beach babe dvd...i've started working out and eating very well, i must say...but i have this fear that because of my age...my metabolism has slowed down...and i'm never gonna be what i was a few years ago...it's a fear...but it's definitely not holding me back...the TIU Community...(i actually feel it to be more of a movement...strong confident ladies helping one another out)...is inspirational and just "belly full" of motivation and hope...i'm so excited...

anyhoo...i will be journaling my eats here...my struggles...my achievements...i think it will be a daily thing...we are expected to check in daily with the lovely trainers...

ok...so here it goes...my first official blog check-in...

yesterday:

exercise:

no booty call (BC)...allergies have me a little lethargic, so haven't been able to wake up early...

45 minute fast walk and tone it up thighs and sunkissed abs...

eats:

M1 - omelet with spinach and dayia mozzarella cheese and bombshell spell
M2 - cantaloupe
M3 - salad with romaine, gardein chick'n scallopini, raw organic olives, cukes, and balsamic vinaigrette M4 - luna bar
M5 - asparagus, quinoa veggie soup (1/2 cup, and a few pieces of cantaloup

today:

eats:

M1 - bloob protein pancake and bombshell spell (my pancake turned out so well, the trick is to make sure it's pretty cooked before you flip it, and i used perfect fit protein powder)
M2 - cantaloupe
M3 - salad with romaine, gardein chick'n scallopini, raw organic olives, cukes, asparagus, and balsamic vinaigrette
M4- luna bar (nutz over chocolate)
M5- yummy yummy romaine tacos...inspired by wraps from the beach babe edition of the TIU nutrition plan...(romaine, cherry tomato, avo, green onions, lime and lemon juice, himalayan salt, gardein chick'n scallopini (one cut into 9 strips), and very hot dijon mustard)

exercise:

HIIT the beach and sunkissed abs

after workout snackage was a very yummy, much needed cold brew...(unsweetened almond milk, very strong coffee, half frozen banana, ice cubes, and perfect fit protein)

anyhoohoo my lovelies...i have missed you all...so excited to be back...have a beautiful weekend!!!!

i'm a mrs...........................

hey y'all...i've been recuperating...needed some rest after planning such an amazing event (my wedding) this passed year...what can i say? it was the most beautiful event i have ever planned...it was as beautiful and lovely as i had hoped (perhaps even more than i had hoped and wished)...i am so blessed and so happy i was able to pull it off...with the help of all of my friends and family (this includes alison, mark and naomi)...whom i cherish with all of my heart and soul...and it is so beautiful to be married...it doesn't feel any different...but just knowing that john and i are husband and wife makes me feel incredible and fabulous...and even more loved...i think, maybe, my heart has grown a little bigger...and...i guess...my family has grown a little bigger...and i feel lucky...and happy to have such an amazingly remarkable group of new people in my life...to call my own...

here are some pics from the day (the following are pics taken from john's father, can't wait to see the professional photos taken from the day)...

we were sweating buckets...



very beautiful ukrainian tradition...



ceremony pics...









i almost wiped out after the priest said "you may now kiss the bride"...we were so excited...hehehe!!!



we laughed it off...



our pimpin' ride...



pics from the venue/party...

this was the room prior to everyone arriving...









tutus and flip flops...



our first dance...(forever - beach boys)...









john and i are off on our honeymoon in a week...i am beyond excited...we're off to bahamas...and looking forward to the powder white sandy beach and the turquoise water...and the swimming pigs (i know right???!!!!)...

anyhoo, here's to happily ever after...



have a very beautiful weekend my friends...sending you all so much love and ginormous hugs...

it's been crazy...i'm not gonna lie...

one month...one week...and all this craziness will be a thing of the past...not sure whether to be thankful...or sad...

it's been a crazy ride...that's for certain...and there's been so much drama...and craziness, i don't think i can take much more...i think i've had enough to last me my entire lifetime...and then some...but through it all i keep reminding myself that the prize at the end of it all, is enough, and is worthwhile...i'm marrying the man of my heart and dreams...my best friend...so yah...i'm in it for the long haul...even if it comes with a little bit of a freak show...

i've learned a lot along the way...what have i learned? well...i've learned who i can and cannot lean on...sheesh there are shoulders out there, i didn't even know i could rest my head on for a while...and then there are shoulders i thought i could use...but...clearly, i was wrong and mistaken...i thought i would be a little less crazy...but i think i've walked in the shoes of brideszilla, a few times...i guess it just comes with the package...i've learned to laugh at things i normally wouldn't have laughed at...and i have learned to make decisions, i usually am really bad at making decisions...i've learned that even the good vendors, the really sweet and kind ones...well, they're not THAT great...and they definitely keep you on your toes...and i have learned that weddings, well, they're not as fairytale as i once thought they were...they're hard to pull together...it's like sweating blood sometimes...and i've learned that it's me against the world (sometimes)...i also learned that when it comes to the dress...you'll know she's the one when you see her...the dress i thought i wanted, well it wasn't meant to be...the dress that made me cry...she's the winner...and you'll all get a chance to meet her soon enough...

i have a few more things i need to do before the big day...i need to buy a vintage suitcase...and some candles...antique windows...and a shrug for the church...i need to hear back from about 60 more guests, even though today is the deadline (sheesh!)...john needs a shirt and bow tie...i need to find a sitter for jackson...my little schmacks...i am so gonna miss him that day...we need to decide on a honeymoon spot...(doesn't help that i am afraid of flying...ugh)...

so yah...i'm well on my way, i think...so that's my little update...i promise to be back after the wedding full throttle...i've just been a little crazy busy...y'all don't even know the half of it...haha!

anyhoo-hoo...one thing i wanna say...i have been reading all of your blogs daily...just haven't been commenting...it is what it is...i don't have much brain power these days...i'll definitely be back full throttle late fall...love you all...and have a wonderful september...