The Edge of Reason

Let me start by wishing you all a belated Valentine's Day!  Here's a little treat for my fellow Firth fans!  Enjoy!

There are several videos available on YouTube but I was partial to this one.  I'm not sure which language the music is, but I do know it's romantic and very befitting for Valentine's worldwide!

After publishing my last entry I went to test my blood pressure.  Maybe I've been drooling too much over Colin....I don't know.  Remember the 103 year old lady I read about in the Biography, the one whose doctor suggested she discontinue watching Pride & Prejudice because her blood pressure was too high?  Perhaps I'm suffering the same fate - gosh, I hope it's not that serious!  I just can't seem to get a break lately.  My euphoric high of just weeks ago was shattered as my blood pressure charted at 152/79.  The diastolic was good - but the systolic leaves much to be desired.  I tested again, and again and again but things didn't improve much.  In fact, my left arm felt like it was going to explode inside the cuff which I'm sure raised my BP even further.  I guess I've been dealing with more stress than usual with the renovation happening and thinking of all the cleaning that has to be done in it's aftermath.  But I was doing so well!!  I'm really trying not to let these results defeat me.  All I can do is keep plodding along and not give up!!  I am no quitter!

It must really be true that muscle weighs more than fat - or at least that's the stand I'm taking as I'm having great difficulty working my way to a new St. Trinian's DVD as the next incentive!  The scales would suggest I've reached a stalemate which I don't think is all that unusual.  I just have to strategize and take my 'wobbly bits' by surprise when they least expect it!  Any suggestions out there troops?

I'm also wondering if my sleeping habits are partly to blame.  Since I've slept on the couch for 2 weeks while the floors were being ripped up and new ones laid, I've fallen back into bad habits of staying up late watching too much television.  Which would explain both my blood pressure results and lack of energy.  So, no more late nights for me!  I had 3 glorious nights in our newly decorated bedroom and king sized bed!  Now the stairs are being sanded and stained so we've had to relocate downstairs for a couple more days!

Onto better things...last Wednesday I had hoped to cook salmon for dinner but the lady ahead of me at the grocery store bought up all the fillets before I had a chance so I purchased tilapia instead.  I made the honey lime tilapia recipe and coupled it with a new recipe for a Radicchio and Endive Salad along with a homemade Maple Peach dressing.

This salad was delicious!  I have never bought or eaten Belgian endives, radicchio or jalapeno pepper before!  In addition to the endives and radicchio, there were pears, blueberries, walnuts, and mint.  The jalapeno pepper flourished within the dressing of apple juice, white wine vinegar, orange juice, maple syrup, olive oil, parsley, lime juice, and of course peaches!    This recipe came from the "Low Salt DASH Dinners" book.  I don't think I'd eat the radicchio on its own, but whomever came up with this recipe was genius!  And you know by now how much I love colour on my plate!

Another new thing I made last week was Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites from a recipe I found on Pinterest.  Another great flourless treat made with chickpeas.  Who would have thought chickpeas could be so wonderful!  John and Matthew both loved them!!!  Let's face it, chocolate makes the heart grow fonder!

Valentine's Day started off on the right foot when John called to inform me that he booked flights and accommodation for Kristen and I to go to Dublin for my 40th!!!  Yes, I will grace the Emerald Isle with my presence after all!  John also far outdid himself with the gorgeous Desigual spring coat he gave me!!  I am one very lucky girl!!!  I know who my Mr. Darcy is!!!  Thank you John!  After dinner I ventured out to Booty Barre all by myself as Carla was visiting her parents in Florida.  I was actually singing, "Went to Booty Barre...all by ...myself", much like Bridget Jones singing the same tune!  I had hoped to come home and watch the first episode of Pride & Prejudice with John but he was too tired after his evening volleyball game.

On Friday night, Steve was in desperate need of some adult company so he invited Glen, Melissa, John and I to go over for a glass of wine and a round of Five Crowns.  I made the mistake of commenting on the amount of take out entering the house in his wife's absence.  Guilt took over and the next day I offered to make dinner for everyone.  I made Coconut Chicken with the Honey Dijon Dressing and we brought a salad and some whole wheat French bread.  Steve picked up some dessert from the Pie Place in Niagara-on-the-Lake and we enjoyed the feast!  I am trying to talk John into a trip to the Pie Place this weekend.  They have the best banana cream pie I have ever tasted!!   And Carla finally arrived home safe and sound around 4:30 am after several flight delays so all is well and good on Oakwood Dr. once again!

During the weekend, John and I were in a mad dash to get our house back together as we had invited Amanda, Julian, Gordana, Steve and their kids over for a spaghetti dinner on Sunday night.  We worked right down to the wire and felt much deserving of a glass or two of Malbec!  Amanda had brought some appetizers, one of which was a combination of meat, cheese, olives, sun dried tomatoes and grapes.  I really enjoyed it!  I tried an olive for the first time at Melissa's house under duress and it wasn't a very pleasant experience - but the combination of flavours here actually made the olive work for me!  Marry the right flavours together and you may find the results surprising!  I'd just like to thank all my friends for opening my mind and palate and encouraging me to try new things these past few months!

Monday was Family Day and we split the family up into girls and boys.  The boys all went to the Auto Show in Toronto, and my girl and I stayed home to watch Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason!  I can't begin to tell you how exhilarating it is to be able to share my love of movies  (and Colin Firth!) with my daughter!  I mean can you blame Bridget for staring at such a fine specimen as Mark Darcy as he sleeps?  And the parallels inherent between Bridget Jones, Love Actually and what I've seen so far of the Pride & Prejudice series are numerous!  The way Daniel Cleaver eyes up a fellow female employee was very similar to the look Billy Bob Thornton as the US President eyes Natalie as he passes her on the stairs in Love Actually.  The scene where Bridget arrives at Heathrow after being released from the Thai prison certainly reminds one that "Love actually...is all around us" as she is greeted by her parents.  And any scene with Colin in a wet shirt...is well...just...right!  Admittedly, I have been thinking about investing in one of those girdles that "aim to reduce body size by 15%" like the one Bridget was trying on in an effort to fit into her gold gown for the Law Society Dinner.  When she blurts out "I think I made a mistake inviting you and your folded underpants into my life", I wanted to shout, "No Bridget, No!  You should accept him and his folded underpants and like him just as he is - if not iron them for him as well!"

Yes, Kristen and I enjoyed the movie very much!  In fact, we are both giddy with anticipation waiting for the next sequel!!  Afterwards we took the quiz in one of the Special Features of the film that decides which man you are most suited towards...and our results were...

...seriously - did you think it could have been anyone else?  Coincidentally, the traits I love in Mark Darcy bear a striking resemblance to those found in my husband John!

But wait, the day got even better!  I found a package sitting on the bench by the front door that afternoon.  A package of books written by Ali McNamara which I ordered directly from her.

I love the way she signed them for me too!  "To Rebecca, With Love...Actually!".  Thank you Ali!  I have read "To Nottinghill With Love...Actually" before and if you share my love of romantic comedy and chick lit you will indeed love this book!  Unfortunately I had lent my copy to a friend and it's gone missing.  My favourite movies are mentioned in this book!   It is a very fun read, and one I will read again and again!

Glad to end on a positive note - I went to Curves again this morning and was back down to 142.5 lbs!  Thankfully, John loves me just as I am, wobbly bits and all, not to mention my infatuation with Colin Firth!  "You see, the problematic things is...I love you."

All "choked" up on Bridget Jones

One thing irking me since beginning the Colin Firth Diet Club (CFDC) is when people tell me to forget about my 'diet' for a meal, evening or weekend.  I fear the term 'diet' has come to take on erroneous meanings.  Let's be clear - we are all on a diet!  If we eat food and drink water, we are on a diet.  A diet is simply food and drink we consume.  When did 'diet' come to mean starving yourself or denying sustenance?  Yet, clearly there are people who need to make dietary changes - myself included.  So yes, I am on a diet - just as all of you are, and yes, I have lost about 13 lbs so far.  But...I still have the occasional chocolate bar, cupcake and hamburger (hopefully not at the same time!).  If I were to name one thing that has led to my successful 'diet' and subsequent weight-loss, it would be that I am cooking my own meals now.  Simple as that.  Secondly, I am making wiser choices when purchasing food by buying fresh, avoiding prepackaged items and trans fats.

As mentioned in my last entry I weighed in at 142.25 lbs.  Last Monday was also my monthly weigh-in and I forgot to mention those results.  I have also lost an inch in the hips and another inch in the arms (1/2" each).  BMI went down from 26.86 to 26.44 and % of body fat went down from 34.2 to 33.3.

Speaking of weight, why do people, particularly women, insist on lying about their weight, age, even hair colour - do you think people can't tell?  This is a visual reality.  Granted, I did lie about my hair colour when I was in high school.  My natural colour is brown with some natural blondish highlights during the summer.  But the summer after Grade 9, my friend Brie and I discovered this wonderful product called Sun-In!  It came in a little spray container akin to hairspray.  Which is essentially what it was.  You spray a little here and there and then go bask in the sun and voila!  Blond bombshell!  OK, that's probably taking things to an extreme - it actually gave my hair an orangish hue.  Seriously, I have fair skin and burn easily - so what I claimed to be natural colouring should have been accompanied by a corresponding cooked lobster look covering my face and limbs - "A lobster.  In the nativity play?"  (Love Actually)  Oops, I did it again!  LOL Nevertheless, I now entrust my highlights to the professionalism of my hairdresser Emily.  Damn, that reminds me - my one lone gray hair is getting longer...should I embrace this lone lock after what I just preached to you?  I think I'll keep it for now.  It reminds me of my grandmother.  She had this little wispy curl of gray hair in about the same spot.

A couple of weeks ago John came home from work excited about a present he bought for me.  I gave him a suspicious smirk as he pulled it out of his work bag.  It was The Looneyspoons Cookbook.  The suspicious smirk because...I think he bought it more for himself than for me, and was pretending he did something sweet.  He got a kick out of reading the names of the recipes.  Shrimply Irresistible, One Flew Over the Couscous Nest, Darth Tater (this also incidentally has made the product line of Mr. Potato Head for Star Wars geeks like my husband!), and Obi Wonton Kenobi (our first email address after we married was obi1mckenzie@sympatico.ca because ObiWon was already taken - as you can imagine this caused great embarrassment on my part when I felt obligated to disclose John's empire of Geekdom.  Thankfully I now have my own email address!

Despite my mixed feelings of this'gift', I'm more excited about reading the extra stuff than the actual recipes.  In fact, what drew me from the beginning was the beginning.  The first page of the introduction states, "Ironically, the low-fat frenzy seemed to make people fatter!  Yup, as a continent, we were puffing up along with the fat-free puffed rice cakes we were "hoovering" down".  Reading this a second time reminds me of my dear friend Melissa who has a rare addiction to popcorn flavoured rice cakes!  Last week she sent me an article relating to arsenic levels found in these cakes (and other rice products).  Now, getting back to that quote - kind of makes you think doesn't it?  In a society that appears to be inundated with information about healthy diet, we are concurrently faced with the contradiction of larger portion sizes and food fillers.  Deep breath Rebecca...I sense the fury building within again.....hummm....... hummm.  I was faced with just such a dilemma on Thursday in fact.  I had to go to the postal outlet at Shopper's Drug Mart to pick up a package.  I had weighed myself at Curves and was down to 141.75 lbs and my stomach was screaming at me to feed it.  So I thought I would treat myself to a snack and couldn't decide between Doritos (which yes, does contain trans fat) or a Kit Kat (which also contains trans fat).  See!  I still cave to the crave!  I also thirsted for a Coke - but I only really want a sip or two.  The bag of Doritos was on sale for $.99.  A small bottle of Coke was selling for I think $2.49 but the large 1L bottle was on sale for $2.19 so I opted for that one since more was less and I brought it home and let the boys share what was left.  Kit Kat's were on for 2 for $1.99.  I ended up buying the Doritos because I knew that if I bought the Kit Kat's I would likely eat them both.  I tell you this to let it be known that I do cheat the odd time - and I am still losing weight because overall I am eating better and exercising.  It's also because I value honesty.  Truth be known, I didn't even really like the taste of Coke anymore.  John has gone caffeine-free for a few weeks now.  I am very proud of him - if you only knew how much Diet Coke he consumed to get through the day at work...Bravo John!  Looneyspoons talks about the soft drink dilemma and how diet soda can actually increase the likelihood of weight gain.  Artificial sweeteners rapidly increase insulin levels (a fat-storage hormone).  When your blood sugars are low, you crave sweets, thereby overeating and storing more fat.  Today, my friend Lisa posted something on Facebook which I am going to share with you since some of you learn better from a visual apparatus than the written word.  This pretty much sums up what I've been trying to tell you...

OK, so it's still the written word, but it may get the point across better with it standing out like that for you.
On Friday we had the biggest snow storm in over 4 years!  As the snow accumulated outdoors, the dust and debris from our renovation accumulated indoors.  Even poor Rocket (my dog) was dusty.  I feel like I'm choking on saw dust - does anyone know the nutritional values of that??  While ensconced (or trapped) in my kitchen I decided to make a Beef Barley Stew for dinner.  Perfect meal to have on a cold winters' night.  Unfortunately, when you ask kids to put groceries away for you things disappear and the barley must have escaped in Brad's pickup truck along with the old flooring.  So we had just Beef Stew!  There was even enough left over for dinner the next night! 

I am now paying for my plight with the Doritos.  On Saturday at Curves, I was back up to 143 lbs.  John picked me up when I was done to go look at lighting and had bought me a doughnut.  This is what I refer to as an 'Enabler' - and I really didn't need that - but again, I was hungry and it was lunch time.  After dinner I went across the street to Carla's to hang out with her, Melissa, Brenda and Cama.  What a riot!  There is something really refreshing about being surrounded with brutally honest women!  Love it!  Cama opened up about her gaseous reactions to coleslaw and politely backed up to let it rip when needed! LOL!    I tried artichoke for the first time!!!  This was exciting for me since I had just read in Looneyspoons that artichokes are good for lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels!  Funny name - artichoke...the word itself gives you a gag reflex.  But seriously, it wasn't all that bad, and it wasn't delicious either.  I'll just say I am indifferent to the artichoke and relieved that I did not 'choke' on it (or Cama's flatulence)!  I think I ate too many other goodies though!  Cama's brownies were divine!

Sunday, after my soccer game (which we lost, but we did play well!), we went out for dinner as Kristen was whining about how long it's been since we've eaten in a restaurant.  We went to Kelsey's and I ordered a delicious Asian Sesame Chicken Salad!  Yummy!  John and I split a slice of cheesecake for dessert.  OK, I know things aren't looking promising to get my next movie by Valentine's Day - but it won't be much longer!  I'm hoping that all the work I've done wiping dust and dirt off the walls and floors in an attempt to restore some order around here burned off enough calories to make up for my caloric demise! 

Since comparing the ending of Silver Linings Playbook to the final scene of Bridget Jones's Diary, I've had the urge to watch Mr. Darcy again!  Afterall, one can never get enough of Colin Firth.  After everyone went to bed I made myself cozy on the couch and prepared to soak in all that is Mark Darcy!  It got me thinking of having another girl's movie night  - this time Bridget Jones's Diary accompanied with a turkey curry buffet - I'll just have to develop a taste for curry I suppose!  Bridget and I have a lot in common.  We are both on the chubby side and in want of losing 20 lbs.  We are both in our 30's (although mine are certainly closing in on me) and value self-improvement.  I do not however, smoke like a chimney or drink like a fish - unless we are talking water with lemon!  Still, I envy her in that last scene in the street albeit in her "genuinely tiny knickers'!

Yesterday after Kristen got home from gymnastics, she asked if she could watch Bridget Jones's!!!  Hell yes!!  This is one of my proudest moments being a mom - sharing my love for Colin Firth with my daughter!!  She loved it!!  She thought Bridget was funny and had to agree with me that the final scene is one of the most romantic sequences ever seen on film!  Ahh, the joy of having a legacy to hand down to your child!!  I think we'll watch the sequel together tonight!

Last night for dinner I made a new dish.   Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cranberries with Barley.  Except as aforementioned, my barley disappeared, so it became Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cranberries with Quinoa without Gorgonzola (as aforementioned in my previous entry this is blue cheese - ewww!).  I found the recipe on Pinterest and altered a wee bit.

Aren't the colours beautiful?  There are some roasted pecans in there as well balsalmic vinegar and maple syrup.  Delicious!!  Admittedly, it proved difficult to get everyone else to eat it - but eat it they did!  The most common complaint was "Where's the beef?".  Since there was protein in the quinoa and pecans I felt this would suffice for a full meal.  Those who ate most of it were able to watch "The Next Great Baker" finale with no dessert, and those who ate it all could have a scoop of ice cream for dessert as well.  Matthew got his ice cream!

Crikey!  I weighed in at Curves again today and was at 143.25!  Still paying the price for the Doritos, doughnut and cheesecake.  Lesson learned!  As I may not achieve my next goal by Valentine's Day, being 

only 2 days away, I have decided to postpone my personal deadline to the end of the month - but keep trodding along in the hopes that I can indeed get there by Thursday!

My current blip could be related to the scene where Bridget tells Daniel Cleaver she is quitting and that she would "Rather have a job wiping Saddam Hussein's arse" than continue working for him.  Cleaver is the summation of Doritos, doughnuts, cheesecake etc. - and if I can maintain the visual just mentioned I should be able to abstain from these bad "Cleaver-ist" foods that tempt one like the apple in the Garden of Eden.  The advertising gimmicks being the snake!

...oh, and Colin - will you still be my Valentine?

Avocado Accolades and Stalkers

As I was typing my last entry, from the corner of my eye I detected someone depositing something in the mailbox.  What could it have been you might ask?  Why, it was my Love Actually screenplay!!!

A fine treasure indeed!  Maybe I can convince the local high school to use it for their next play!  Not my copy though ... and it goes without saying that certain roles would be best left out (yes, I would be referring to the characters played by Martin Freeman and Joanna Page!)..and Sam is a little young for High School, as is Daisy the 'lobster'!  Hmmm...not such a good idea after all, is it!

Welcome February!

The groundhog is promising an early spring!!  Hooray!  My kids had a day off of school on Friday which wasn't as relaxing as any of us would have hoped.  We are having new hardwood floors put in throughout the house and were busy packing and moving furniture and other belongings to the garage, playroom and office.  At least it got them away from sedentary lifelessness situated in front of the X-Box or Wii!! 

On Saturday we all went to the Winter Market that my friend Jackie alerted me to.  I bought leeks, potatoes, beets and some organic tea leaves.  John and I took a break on Saturday night to see a movie with Carla and Steve.   We saw Silver Linings Playbook - an excellent film!  John laughed at me as the credits were rolling and I commented on how the ending was very reminiscent of the scene at the end of Bridget Jones.  That's the Darcy I fell for - not  Fitzwilliam Darcy of "Pride & Prejudice", but Mark Darcy.  One of the most romantic scenes in film, when Bridget runs desperately after Mark upon discovering he had read diary entries wrought with disparaging comments - she then finds herself standing in the street in her knickers, snow falling, feeling sullen - when, there he is...emerging from the bookstore with a brand new diary!  Fresh diary, fresh start.  And he hands her the diary and envelopes her inside that trench coat of his....Ahhh!  Yes, that is where my infatuation with Colin Firth (Darcy) began - with that one scene!  In Silver Linings Playbook, it's Pat (Bradley Cooper) running in the street after Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), and instead of a diary, he produces a letter professing his love!  I won't mention any more in case you haven't seen the movie yet, but please do see it!

Sunday was Super Bowl.  John went to the pub to watch the game with his buddies and I stayed home to help Kristen work on her school project and finish prepping for the contractors.  We had pork chops and beets for dinner.  For dessert I tried something new - Sweet and Sour Blueberry Parfaits from the "Flat Belly Diet Cookbook".   I prepared this in stages so the kids wouldn't see what was going into it.  There was lime, avocado, ricotta cheese, honey, blueberries and mint.  I knew if they saw the avocado they wouldn't even try it!  Carla and Melissa - I tried avocado and I liked it! (I actually sang that in my head to Katy Perry's "I kissed a girl and I liked it).  Of course it may have helped that it was disguised among other more likeable flavours - mint, lime.  The kids weren't raving about this creation by any means, but they did eat it, and after another 14 tries and they'll come around, right!!!

I would hereby like to dedicate my most recent success to the avocado!  On Monday I went to Curves and was glad to see that I had maintained my weight of 142.25 lbs.  Then I went grocery shopping and tested my blood pressure which was...

Yup!  120/85!!!!  Can you believe it?  I was stunned!  I actually reached the ideal 120!  My diastolic could still be improved but it's in the normal range!  You don't know how elated I was!  I actually kicked up my heels and paraded aisle to aisle with a broad smile plastered on my face!  I can't wait to share the news with my Diabetic Nurse at my next appointment!

I've come to enjoy shopping for groceries and discovering new foods - primarily produce!  I used to detest grocery shopping and would procrastinate until I could send John out to do it.  But now, I relish my routine and find it a pleasureful experience.  One of the new things I discovered this week were these

Fuji apples from China.  There is nothing natural about an apple with a bleached (no, it wasn't a sticker!)Chinese symbol emblazoned on it!  No way was I paying for this!  But it wasn't too long ago that I would have fallen for this otherwise 'healthy' gimmick!
Last night for dinner, I made salmon and some mixed baby potatoes.  There are actually purple potatoes!  Remember the song,

Making a purple stew -whip-whip, whip-whip
Making a purple stew-bee-doo-bee-doo-bee-doo,
With purple potatoes
And purple tomatoes
And even a purple you! 

This week has been crazy with the renovation undertow so my dinner menu had to be revised.  We had French toast for dinner tonight.  I also brought out some sugar snap peas figuring the kids would have fun popping them open and scooping out the peas.  For dessert I gave them what was called "Marvelous Melon" from Costa Rica to reminisce about our trip there a year ago.  I think the melon was just a cantaloupe.

I am still enjoying my Colin Firth biography.   You know, Colin is more than a pretty face - from what I've read thus far, he seems a kind-hearted and genuinely passionate and ethical man.  When filming "What a Girl Wants" (Lane, I still have to see this one!) he had a stalker following him everywhere.  When Colin spotted the lady in her little red suit, he would say, "My stalker's here" and go over and say hello.  Oh how I admire that Lady in Red!!!

I am a known arachnophobe!  Colin had to act alongside some eight-leggers while filming "Trauma" and "Nanny McPhee", and at one point stated, "I'll take the ants and the spiders over the stalkers!".   Oh, how my heart broke over this news!!

Now I must erase images of creepy crawlies from my thoughts and replace them with visions of Mark Darcy to induce a gratifying slumber!  Sweet Dreams!