[talk: You're Beautiful.]

I had a photoshoot downtown yesterday.

I never go downtown during the day ... my day is scheduled for the most part with some kind of exercise regime, taking kids here or there, picking them up from here or there, meal planning, grocery shopping - I mean, you know how it goes.  Time is a sacred thing to us moms ... so driving downtown?  Doesn't happen.

But yesterday I had a client request a "cityscape" for her photos, so down I went.  And it was a strange thing, walking those streets during the day.  Everywhere - I mean EVERYwhere - there were beautiful people.  Dressed up people, well put-together people ... I actually didn't get the memo on that *grin*.  So I was there in my photo-garb, dressed for rain and mud puddles.  Skinny jeans and Hunter gum boots ... a little underdressed to everyone else ... 

As I was driving home, I was thinking about things that are really important.  Like - what people will remember of me.  I think, when it all comes down to it, we all want to be remembered ... we don't want to be forgotten.  We want to be remembered for good things ... even if you recently met someone who you may never see again, most people would like to think they made a good impression.  Like, if that person bumped into one of your friends, they'd say, "oh - I met so-and-so ... wow.  They're super nice," or a super mom, or super friendly, super smart, super funny ... you get the idea.  I mean - people don't care what EVERY one thinks, but it's nice to be thought of in a good way, no?

And if you asked someone what was MOST important to them to be remembered by, one may answer about their spirituality, their strong marriage or fantastic parenting ... maybe their work ethic or kindness.

Where am I going with all of this?

Well ... where does beauty come into it?

People want to be beautiful - but really, when it comes down to it, people don't really care about it in the end.  The older you get, the more obvious it is that beauty really IS fleeting and the definition of beauty actually changes.  People become more beautiful when you know who they are, what they stand for, what their heart is. 

I think that my friends are far more beautiful now, compared to 10 years ago.  I have a lovely aunt who often tells me that women are far more beautiful in their mid 30s than they ever were in their 20s.  What a great aunt she is to say such a thing *grin*.

So - if it really doesn't matter, is it just society that spurns us to try and reach unobtainable beauty?

I don't think so ... 

There's a book out there called "Captivating".  I love this book.  It talks about how after creating man, creation was pretty much completed - but something was missing, God's piece-de-resistance, so to speak.  Then God created woman, the most incredible, beautiful creation of all (how's THAT for a pick-me-up?).  The book talks about how the creation of woman completed God's own character in His creation; how God desires to be seen as lovely, as beautiful, as cherished.

We sing it in church all the time ... "Lord, You're beautiful", "beautiful One I love, beautiful One I adore ..." .  God sees value in beauty - but how HE sees beauty is not a superficial, outward kind of beauty.  But it's beauty all the same.  If God desires to be beautiful, and he created us in His image - than I would say our desire to be beautiful is a God inspired, God planned thing.

So after walking the streets of downtown, bumping into all sorts of beautiful people, I met up with my clients and took some of my most favourite photographs to date.  It was a photoshoot of a granddaughter and her 90 year old grandmother.  

And I don't know about you - but I see nothing but beauty in her face.  There's wisdom, there's joy, there's experience and heartache ... there's life.  And I think that living a life worth living is really, true beauty.

So why do women want to be outwardly beautiful as well as inwardly?  Because that's how God made us, pure and simple.  Just ask my 1yr old little girl who beams when you tell her she's lovely, or sticks her newly painted toes in your face to get a compliment ... beauty is a God breathed characteristic.

I hope today, that someone tells you that you're beautiful.  Because you are.  And I'm not just saying that ... I'm not just being whatever about it ... you are.  I am.

Now go live the best life you can today :-).

Have a great one!

(oh ... and I've failed to mention that there are a few new blogposts at my RedHanded Photography blog.  One was a baby photoshoot, one was a store photoshoot and one was my sis-in-law's bday party.  Would love you to check 'em out *smile*.  And I'll let you know when grandma and granddaughter's pics are up!!)

[make: Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream. And A Rant.]

So.  I wrote some of this last night, and now I'm editing this morning ... I'm sitting in a quiet house for the first time in three weeks.  The boys are off to school and Katia is singing to her "baby" ... I'm in my workout gear (Jillian, you have permission to beat me into submission in a few ...) and I'm having my morning shake.  It's a meal replacement shake that I've added frozen strawberries, pineapple and peaches too.  Then I've added 2tbsp of ground flaxseed and 2tsp of 3-6-9 oil blend.  I been having these shakes for the last 3 weeks or so and I love them. 
Plus, I've been running.  Yesterday's 5km was done without 10/1's (I ran straight, with no breaks) and I did it in under 33min.  Barely.  But I'm proud of that ... I'm not just a wanna-be runner anymore.  I am a runner.  I love it.

And yet ... the scale was up this morning.  133.4lbs.  UP, I said.   Ughhhhh.

It's so freakin' discouraging.  Will I ever be 124lb again?  Heck - will I ever be IN the 120's??  I'm guessing I'm getting stronger, my clothes are fitting well - so that's a sign that things are getting tighter.  But still.  

It's funny - because friends have been noticing a physical change ... I had a friend comment this past Sunday morning.  She hadn't seen me in a while and gave me a lovely compliment - and asked how much weight I'd lost.  And I knew that I had actually gained a bit over the last 2 weeks ... and if I look back at my posts here - the difference since Sept 2010 is only a couple of pounds.  That's it.  In fact - it's been less than 10lbs in a whole YEAR, if I check a post I wrote in March of 2010.

So.  I get frustrated when people say, "You've had four babies," or "You're body's not the same as when you were in your 20's," or whatever.  I feel like NOW is the time.  This is it.  If I don't get myself to where I want to be, it'll never happen.  I'm going to be thirty-shhmmmsffff (hand covering mouth) in a few weeks.  I want to be the strongest, the healthiest, the loveliest that I can be.  I don't want excuses.  

I get frustrated when people have reached their goal and I'm feeling like I'm standing still.

My biggest source of contention is the tire that sits on my waist.  I have NEVER, in my life, had a flat tummy.  It's where I've always carried my weight.  Oh.  That and my arms.  I can never wear shirts that are made for skinny-armed people.  Mine are ... guns *grin*.  Minus the rips.  

I remember seeing girls with tiny waists when I was a teenager and in my early twenties.  Girls in bikinis with hips and a bellyring.  Ok.  And they had long legs too *grin*.  That was NOT me.  I had to try and find my waist *grin*.  Bikinis are a curse ... and I actually own a few.  But ... ugh.  Whatever.  And now - a bunch of pregnancies later, that stretched skin with the added "padding" just won't go away.  Or should I say - it hasn't as of yet.

I'm all for my medals ... the odd stretch mark (I was really blessed to not have any with my pregnancies) ... but this tummy just HAS to go.  I'm guess that cardio and time will do it?  I mean, if I'm working at it - it can't stay forever.  Can it??  I know that I know that I know I have at least 7-10lbs to lose.  Heck, according to the doctor's "height/weight" chart I'm supposed to be between 105-118lbs.  Good-freakin-grief.  That's more than 20lbs??  I haven't weighed 105lb's since elementary school.  So, I'm hoping that if I can lose that 7-10lbs that I know I should, at least 4 or 5lbs of it will be from my gut.  Please and thank you.

Phewf.

Thank you for letting me rant. The tire's still there, but I WILL do my Jillian DVD right after I finish this ... 

Ok ... the next part of this post was written last night *grin*.  Ice cream.  Ok Ok Ok ... I know.  Ice cream and weight loss don't go together ... I hear you.

But I just had to post on this.  It seems as though my home-made-ice-creaming-blogs have changed a few homes from processed, expensive,  store-bought ice cream to make-their-own ... I LOVE that.  And now here's another ice cream addition for your repertoire ... 

* * * * * 

If you know anything about ice cream - you can make it with or without eggs.  With eggs - it's got a much better texture and custard-like smoothness.  It has a richer, fuller, thicker taste.  Oh boy.  Doesn't that sound good??

I rarely make it with eggs, though.  First off - time.  Making ice cream with eggs requires time, and more than just that, it requires me KNOWING that I'm going to be making ice cream.  See, with eggs, you've gotta create a warm milk base to cook the eggs in ... blah blah blah.  Then it has to cool down before placing it in the machine ... you get the idea.  Yummy - yes.  Time consuming - yes.

The other thing about eggs in ice cream is the extra calories and cholesterol.   Boo on that.  So - when I make ice cream after dinner, it's usually just milk/sugar/vanilla.  That's it.  Not as rich, but still satisfying. 

Why the speech on eggs?  Well.  As you have just read, they need to be cooked before consumed.  So - when coming up with a Cookie Dough Ice Cream recipe (Tias LOVES cookie dough ice cream at ColdStone and I wanted to surprise him one night with my own version) - I wasn't sure how to do that??  I mean - cookie dough has EGGS in it.

Or does it?? *wink*.

Lookie what I found ... an eggless cookie dough recipe that you FREEZE in little balls or whatever, ready for your ice cream maker when you're ready to make it!!  That is, if you don't eat it all first ... 

Are you as excited about this as I am?

Hmm.

Didn't see any jumping up and down.  I'm sorely disappointed.

*wink*.

Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough for Ice Cream
5tbsp brown sugar 
6tbsp sugar
4tbsp butter, softened
1tsp vanilla
3tbsp whole milk
1 cup flour 
1/2tsp salt
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

This is enough to make 24 small melon ball size of chunks that can be put in the freezer. When ready to add to icecream, you can cut each ball into quarters.

I made this - and can attest to how FANTASTIC it is.  I currently have a little tupperware container with dough-balls in it for the next time I make icecream.  Tias is gonna DIE.  I'll be his favourite mommy forever *grin*.  

It's a true treat ... and hey - if you just like to EAT cookie dough, this is a safe version.  Although - flour, sugar, butter ... you may need to up your cardio *wink*.  I know that I won't be able to have this in my freezer without a nibble here and there.  So treat it as a special treat ... if you want.

Enjoy - and let me know if you give this a try :-).

Have a great one!!

[talk: My Name.]

I love nicknames ... our home is full of them.

All of us have 3 syllable first names (yup - that was planned ...).  So those names can all be shortened:  Mattias is Tias, Josiah is Siah, Katia is Taya or Kat (thanks hubby - you promised that wouldn't happen *wink*).  We also call Tias "monkey",  Siah "silly boy" and Taya "Boo-bear".

I love nicknames.  I think they show love and friendship  ... as long as they're kind ones.  They're a term of endearment.  They're special.  They show relationship.

I had a bunch of nicknames as I was growing up ... My dad called me "Mrs. Jones" ever since I can remember - which was really funny when I dated a guy for a few weeks with that same last name *grin*.   My brother was "little green truck" ... Tias became "toad", Siah "goofas" and Katia "angel face".  My  dad loves nicknames too.

In elementary school, I actually told people my name was Tanya ... I hated my own 3syllable "Tawn-ee-yah" name.  No one could pronounce it.  So - I was Tanya to a lot of people for a while ... 

Then jr high came ... and along with it came the need to have a unique name.  So I instantly became a member of the Name Police and would fine anyone who said my name wrong.  It was annoying for me, annoying for my friends.  Having a name that no one could remember to pronounce correctly was frustrating.

So, my friends in high-school started giving me nicknames - probably because they were afraid I would ticket them for saying my real name incorrectly *grin* (that's a joke.).  I was called by my last name a lot (my maiden name, that is) ... in all sorts of bizarre combos.  I was called Spunky.  I was called Pebbles (because I used to twirl a pencil in my hair like the bone that Pebbles on Flintstones did ... ) ... I was called Shorty, Stumpy, Little One ... My boyfriend in high-school ... he always, always called me Tania - the right way.

Friends started calling me Tawn around then too.  In fact, when I introduced myself I often said, "Hi - I'm Tania (Taw-nee-yah), but you can call me Tawn."  And that spelling?  It just happened once I got online.  "Tan" doesn't work - it's the wrong pronunciation.    "Ton" looks weird.   So Tawn it became.

In my early 20's my boyfriend at the time gave me another nickname, and all my friends in that group adopted it - so I was called Tawny.  I had an uncle who called me that too ... he was the only adult who ever did.   I don't know where he came up with it - but when he called me Tawny, I loved it.   He passed away a few years ago - and I miss being called that by him.  No one calls me that anymore.

Now - I get called a bunch of things.  My brother always, always calls me "T".  "Hey T," he'll say.  I like that.  I'm not sure when it started, but it's special to me.  And my hubby has a couple of good friends that call me TDot.  Strange.  Maybe.  But I like it ... I feel like their little sister.  Or should I say, smaller sister :-).  Some of my friends that are a part of the worship team at my church call me T-Dawg.  **shaking head**.  REALLY don't know where that came from ... but I like it just the same.

I once read that a girl's favourite word to hear, is her name.  I totally think so ... maybe - for me - it's because only a few people in this world say it right.  So when I hear it said correctly - it melts me.  Strange.   And it's not just that - there are people who try to say it properly, but it sounds ... strained?  I can have my back to someone, and have them say my name perfectly - and I know that I've known them forever.  I feel like they know me.  It's a strange thing ...

My hubby?  He calls me Tawn.  I've given him a million lessons on how to say my name and he THINKS he says it properly.  After almost 14 years together - it's still not right.  Ahhh well.  Tawn is just fine.

So.  That's my post on nicknames.  

What do you like to be called?  Do you have nicknames for you kids?  Or are you a "I named my child Maria, and Maria she shall be called ..." kind of a person?

Have a great one :-).  

[katia: A Father's Love.]

My hubby loves his kids, and he is a wonderful father.  He drives the boys to school most days, he's home for almost every dinner ... he plays with them, helps tuck them into bed, prays with them.  He takes them to their sporting activities and Sunday school.  He's a gift giver - and never wants his kids to be without (even if it's good for them ...).  He loves his kids.

And having two boys first was perfect for us - but watching him with his little girl has been so so lovely.  Katia has his heart - and I teasingly remind him that she will  one day be a teenager and he'll have to have made sure he's said, "NO" to her a long time before then *wink*.

Fathers and daughters.

I love how God made us all.

And - I wanted to say THANK YOU to all of you for your comments (mainly on FB) and encouragement to my mom.  She was overwhelmed with good wishes.  I had my parents over for dinner last night, and we went through the whole story over and over ... it really, really is incredible.  She's completely fine ... you'd never know she'd fallen through the ceiling just 24hours before *shaking my head in amazement*.

And I had almost 200 hits on this site yesterday.  For me - that's a LOT.  OH!!  And did you notice??  Probably not ... but this site has officially had over 70,000 hits now.  THAT is crazy.

Ok.  Must run ... the kids are acting like hooligans *grin*.   Screaming, wrestling, laughing ... better go before it ends in tears *wink* ... 

Have a great one :-).

[talk: She Fell Through the Ceiling]

My parents are renovating their place.  After months of looking at different properties, they decided to update the home they were in because of it's incredible property and location. 

They started the process a couple of weeks ago ... gutted and extended the kitchen, raised the sunken family room, took up all the flooring on the mainfloor ... they're changing their banisters, their front door, all the windows in the entire house, their garage doors, the retaining wall ... it's a MASSIVE undertaking.  So - with the floors up and the under beams exposed - it's a bit of a dangerous place.  

Especially yesterday.

For some reason, my mom came through the front door when she arrived home yesterday afternoon from  being out.  She would normally go through the garage entrance - and if she had, none of what happened would've happened.

She opened the front door and saw the exposed flooring.  Unaware that she was actually looking at the ceiling tiles under the joices - she decided, in her lovely black healed boots - that she would try and walk along the joices ... and if she needed to balance, she's simply put her foot on the "floor".  

What happened next was simply crazy.

She applied a little weight at first, then placed both feet on the exposed ceiling drywall and BAM.  Down she went ... 10ft.  Well.  ALMOST 10ft.  She landed on the pinball machine below.

The workers heard the crash, and as God would have it, one guy was actually walking out of the bathroom and passed my mom right as she rolled off of the pinball machine.  He said, "I was shaking, it was crazy - I tried to get her to the nearest chair."

We think she was knocked out for a moment ... she apparently wasn't making sense at first, wasn't talking.  Her legs immediately swelled up and turned black and blue.  One of the guys applied ice and he did such a great job at controlling the swelling ... 

Now.  If you know my mom ... she's a tough lady.  TOUGH.  

There were no tears, she refused the ambulance ... and insisted that she hold the appointment with the decorator (LM) for wallpaper ideas.  She wasn't going to let a little thing like falling through the ceiling stop her.  Oh. My. Word. 

Although it was a few hours later, she finally agreed to get checked out at the hospital.  They did all the necessary tests to make sure that there was no internal bleeding, no sprains or broken bones.  And would you believe ... nothing.  She was totally, utterly, fine - other than some obvious soreness and bruising.

This is a freakin' miracle.  If that pinball machine hadn't had been there, she would've broken her legs, or her feet at the the very least.  If the pinball machine hadn't been on a slope, it would've shattered - and the damage that glass would've done is unthinkable.  If she had fallen only a couple of inches to the left or right ... she would've landed on the cutlery with forks and knives sticking out of it (they have a little make shift kitchen in the basement while their main kitchen gets remodeled).  Or her head would've hit the shelf that's along the wall ... 

It's CRAZY. 

So .., this morning I took the kids to go visit and the trauma of it all has hit her.  She was emotional as she shared the horrifying experience - and said that she kept reliving it over and over in her mind ... the sensation of falling and hitting ... it will take some time for her to get over this, for sure.

I mean ... she's in her 60's.  Fell through a ceiling.  Got knocked out.  And walked away from it.  Here are a few pics, that I took with my IPhone ... just to give you an idea - the man in the hat is 6ft tall ... 

I always knew she was a tough lady ... but SERIOUSLY.  

Love you so much mom, and do us all a favour ... please walk on the plywood from now on!! Xx.

Have a great one :-)!!