Reality Check

Last Year I lost over 60lbs and then Yayy!! I gained it all but and I'm sure even more.  Yes, the Yayy was sarcasm. 

While I had vowed not to weigh and measure all the time I also know that I've been depressed, lacking motivation and just feeling blah lately.  One reason I'm going 80% vegetarian.

I also want to start walking again, running if possible and getting that energy back that I had 60+ lbs ago.  I have quite a few fitness, health and eating books on my TBR list and will be sharing some of my favorites with you. I had thought about starting another separate blog but I know I wouldn't have time to maintain another one.

My current goal for the next 8 months (which will be just in time for my next birthday) is to be able to walk 4 miles again in 45 minutes or less, eating more fruits, whole grains, and veggies, and being happier overall

Some of my current health finds:

My favorite magazine

A Fitbit device to track all activity AND sleep  (the latter I really need too)

www.fitbit.com

Its 100$ USD and I think it will work great in conjunction with my heart rate monitor too.  

I may give in and purchase this from London Drugs

Some new workout clothes which is always a great motivator 

Work out Accessory (also on sale at MEC)

19$ at Mountain Equipment Co-op right now

I do need another pair of running shoes but for the life of me can't remember what sort I require so off to The Running room in the near future.

Some favorite sites for workout/athletic clothing (all ship to Canada)

• www.junonia.com
• www.oldnavy.ca
• www.oldnavy.com
• www.teamestrogen.com
• www.lanebryant.com

Please note that my goal isn't to get down to a size 7 or even a size 11 but to be more fit and healthy. If that means that I'm healthier at a size 16 or 18 then I'm happy with that.  I know at my age its going to be harder to kick my metabolism in the butt but I'm certainly going to try!! 

Much Love!!

Old Navy tunic WTB

I'm looking to buy this top if anyone has it in a 2x ...Thank you

Old Navy tunic (see more sleeveless tops)

Sales & Blog Address Change Update

Here are some sales and other goodies that are going on for online & in store

Reitmans: $50 off Outerwear event

My two picks at Reitmans 

This is also the last day at Land's End for $30 off $100 plus free shipping (free shipping is always always awesome 

My two picks from Land's End would be

Another think I've been noticing is that Land's End is FINALLY get some really cute plus size clothes and shoes in larger sizes though I'm still waiting for wide-calf boots from them.


Also as far as my blog address is concerned  it will be changing to www.thestylefiles.blogspot.com tomorrow please jot that down so you can update your subscriptions and blogrolls (if I'm on them)

Much Love!

Blog address change

So if you have me on your blogroll or you follow me:) just to let you know that on Monday my url will be changing to
http://thefionafiles.blogspot.com/   
Darn that address is taken....I'll update the url info tomorrow as the stylefiles.blogspot.com is also taken 

Please update so you can keep reading..which I'm hoping you do.  


Much Love!

Whoops!

I apologize for not posting up my tight review.  It ended up being a bit more cold that originally predicted and I cheated and wore tall boots with my tights. 

That being said I wasn't cold and I think the fact that they were cable knit helped.  I'm not sure how they would perform in -20 weather but I'm sure I'll be finding out soon.  

I'm still looking out for the perfect pair of plus size winter tights.  I know they have to be out there, somewhere 

Photos soon

Winter Tights Review Sneak Peak

Tomorrow is supposed to be a very cold day in Edmonton, a high of -3 with a child chill of -6. So I'll get a chance to get a good review of these Cable Knit tights I got from One Stop Shop

Sorry for the crappy picture but you can view the tights here


I have a pair in black and in charcoal.   I also ordered up a size based on reviews. I briefly wore a pair yesterday and I'm glad to say that I'm happy I did order up.   Shipping was fast though not cheap so next time I'll probably try and get a group order together. I did have tracking and the shipping and duties/handling were charged up front so no surprises. 

Review and Photos tomorrow!

Game On!

Once again, I'm trying to eliminate as much meat as possible from my diet.  On the "Stay" list so far is

Fish
dairy products and cheese (haven't found a vegan cheese that I can live with yet)
Bacon (again haven't found a good substitute)
Chicken Broth (though i think there are some good vegan subs, I need to look into them better)

Game on and hopefully this time it sticks. i have these vegan books on my e-reader

While I'm not going vegan, at least this will give me some recipe ideas

Cozy and Cute

Now that its colder, I'm finished with my course and back out looking for work I've found some really nice clothes that I either hunted down and bought or are on my wish list:)


Take a look:

I bought the sweater and tank from Reitmans..LOVE

Ribbed Wool Over the knee socks from Sock Dream 

THIS is the outfit that makes me reconsider wearing animal prints

Pumps from Lane Bryant for work

Lane Bryant

Lane Bryant is shipping to Canada again!!!!   While they aren't the same quality as maybe 10 years ago, they still have some pretty nice base pieces and wide calf boots!!

check it out @ www.lanebryant.com

P.S. It looks like Fashion Bug, Catherines, Loop 18 and Cacique and are also shipping to Canada.  All these stores used to be owned by Charming Shops and I'm not sure if they still are. 

I'm back!!

Hello Readers!!

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm back in the blogging frame of mind so beware of a lot of posts in the upcoming months.

I've been pretty busy the last six weeks. I've been in a training course to brush up on office skills and to get my self-esteem back up and I'm geared up to land my "dream" job hopefully.

No recent photos though as I'm in desperate need of a haircut and colour and I've also gained some weight this summer from not doing anything but I'll have some photos up soon, I promise:)


I hope everyone had a great summer and are busily getting geared up for Winter.


Must Love & Happy Life!

Healthy is Boring

Now don't get me wrong "Being" healthy isn't boring but the parts that get you to that point are.  I mean c'mon counting calories, exercising etc....isn't fun unless you make it fun.

I finally talked my husband into becoming healthy with me.   We'll start out slow as he has really bad allergies/asthma and move up from there.  I'm also taking this period of unemployment to make up a menu of totally delicious but better for us meals.  Onward and Upward from here:)

Tomorrow morning we'll both step on the scale..just once, in this journey together and then we'll go and walk for fifteen to 30 minutes.  While I don't advocate "scale watching"  in our case we want to have a "Before"  point.

Im always going to be a "big" girl, its in my genes, but I can be healthy and happy and a big girl at the same time for sure.

I've also been on the hunt for a new bike: At least 8 gears, curved handlebars, step through frame but without a cramped feeling....This is one bike so far that has caught my eye:

Linus Dutchi 8

A friend has this bike and I'm making plans for a meet up with her so I can check it out in more detail.  I have a vintage three speed bike but compared to hubbys zillion geared bike I would have a hard time keeping up with him and hills would kill me for sure.  I also already have another hybrid but honestly I hate the mountain bike type handlebars and its a pain getting on and off as it isn't a step-through.


Much Love, Happy & Healthy Living!!

To Sonia

Dear Sonia,

I lost your blog site information a few month ago and I really miss reading it.

If you still wander by mine could you please send me the link to yours please.


Thank you:)

Picking myself up

April 7th I resigned from my job.   There were a lot of factors in that decision but the main ones were  a wishy-washy employer and constant stress.  The job itself wasn't stressful but the workplace environment was.   3 of us ended up leaving the company at the same time.

This of course turned me into a bit of a hermit and homebody coupled with depression and constant migraines.

While I swore I wouldn't never "diet" again I realize that my body is screaming for help to be more healthy.  After all I'm not getting any younger and I'd rather not have my future years spent as a broken down old lady lol.

So in the regard I've committed to getting more mobile,  being more diligent in what I eat and doing things that make me happy.   I'm thinking of joining Weight Watchers Online also, not for the diet factor but for the structure it would provide me in making better choices.  

So while I'm unemployed again my goal is to get back to my happy place and love life again.

Much Love & Happy Living!!!

P.S. I'll be posting more again too ..My goal is three posts a week

New Work Shoes

I can keep this to wear at work :)

Busylady is thy name

I've been very busy and thus a bit neglectful in updating this blog. Company changes and numerous schedule re-writes are hopefully now a thing of the past and I'll have more time to at least update twice a week.

ETA: I also like the fact that my new work schedule will now allow me to get up in the morning and either walk for an hour outside or on the treadmill depending on the weather:)   

Last week I finally got the Joby Gorillapod tripod for my small camera ...Its so darn cute, was on sale and I was able to snag in blue & black heehee

I'll be testing it out tomorrow with a new outfit of the day too:)   Fingers crossed it workds out well.

Also the shoes from my last post didn't work out so back to the store they go, the Asos pants with Braces didn't work out either and I'll be posting my review of them this weekend with a sad face photo. Though unlike numerous other bloggers my issues were the opposite of theirs.


Much Love & Happy Living!!

P.S. Shoes

I also ordered these shoes last night:)

They will be for the pants from Asos that I hope will fit  ::::fingers crossed::::

Old Navy Finds

I hit up West Edmonton Mall this morning to meet up with a friend and her son, run some hubby requested errands and do a bit of shopping

The cargo's were the last in my size on clearance in the colour i liked the best but I'm not sure if they fit right...I was trying them over tights so that may have been the problem and when I get batteries for my camera I'll get photos of me wearing it all...:) 

There were a few more tops I would have like to have picked up but they can wait until next week. I do have a photo, a very bad one of me wearing one I'll be getting .

oh Hey ..me in the black shirtdress:) I forgot I snapped a photo in the dressing room heehee

Much Love & Happy Living!!

Quick Update

I worked today and ended up with another really bad sinus headache:( I left work an hour early and came home, took some meds and was cheered up immensely by my hubby and uber snuggly kitty. 
I had a great blog post planned as I recently got a "Inspiring Blog" award that I was going to pass along but I'll get that done in the next few days.

For now I wanted to share some recent purchases with you.  I belong to this great sales community on Live Journal and have been happily doing my version of thrifting 

I really needed a suit of some sort for work meetings and this one fit the bill and was a great deal. I also loved the print dress and top :) 

Much Love & Happy Living!!

Tomorrow

I'll have a post up. Today is my only weekend day off and I woke up with a bad migraine that at 7-ish seems to be sticking around :(



Much Love & Happy Living!

Braces, Suspenders Sexy any way you say it

Ever since my hottie, Captain Jack Harkness was shown on Doctor Who & Torchwood wearing braces (or suspenders) I've been smitten

John Barrowman

And that how can I forget Mal from Firefly & Serenity fame

Local Boy Nathan Fillion

                                          
I'm so fascinated by braces and I even like calling them braces over Suspenders.

Arcade Fire

 

Matt Smith from Doctor Who

Wikipedia has a write-up on them here.  And I even found a blog devoted to them and the how and whys of wearing them.

Interesting fact: In the U.K they are called braces and in the U.K Suspenders are women garter belts.   Well I though it was interesting at least lol

Much Love & Happy Living!

I bought this? IN LOVE with BRACES (Suspenders)

I forgot I ordered this and was very surprised when it showed up in the mail today.  Bear in mind please that I've been home sick all week, no makeup and generally blah in my cozy socks lol

The skirt needs to be nipped in a bit and of course some heels like these from Aldo

and maybe even a crisp white shirt with french cuffs too

But I really love the braces (suspenders)  Now it makes me wish even more I had ordered the flannel trousers with braces from Asos last month.  Now they aren't on the site anymore that I can see.  
OMG I just found the trousers and they are ON SALE too...I may try and order them next week if they are still in stock

I think I may also just buy some Suspenders from Sock Dreams to wear with some skirt...So menswear 

Much Love & Happy Living!!