It's the final countdown...

Yup, it IS the final countdown and no I'm not talking about the "Rapture" end of world type thing.

It's the final countdown for massive weight loss before our annual summer vacation to the sunny beaches of Greece. Cue 80's rock band "Europe" and their 'epic' rock anthem of the same name, "The Final Countdown."...

Ok so is the tune playing in your head now? Let that set the scene for you.

 Mama is waging all out war with these 10 lbs I've gained over our long never ending winter. 

Health and fitness will prevail as the beach takes no prisoners. 

We've got too many important events coming up that require mama to not appear as a stuffed frankfurter in a cocktail dress. All the Spanx in the world can't help that much...

The only option when executing tactical warfare is to bring out the big guns.  No carbs.

more non-subliminal imagery by Mama

Don't worry, I'm not going all Atkins on you and eliminating anything with even a trace of sugar. I'm still eating plenty of vegetables and fruits, including lots of fresh berry's.

But I will say that I've eaten more eggs, nuts, bacon, turkey burgers, lettuce, and full fat salad dressing in the last week than in the last 3 years combined. 

The fact is that I actually lose weight when I cut out my beloved carbs. AND IT'S SO HARD. Pasta, wine and bread actually bring me joy. I'm no heavy meat eater so giving up carbs seems unnatural.

But based on the blood type diet by Peter D'Adamo, Eat Right 4 Your Type, according to my blood type which is O, I should basically become a carnivore. 

Blood type O is believed to be the earliest human blood group. Directly descended from the cavemen. 

mama's ancestor, Great Uncle Eats-no-carbs

Here the "prescribed" diet is low-carb, high in meat and fish, low in dairy. And type O's should work out like a Mofo. 

So no carbs and lot's of exercise eh? This is sounding pretty basic to me. I think just about anybody would lose weight this way. Thankfully I've spent no money on this book/diet plan. 

So far things seems to be working pretty well, I'm down a few pounds and not feeling hungry at all.

BUT

My birthday is tomorrow, my son's birthday party is on Saturday, and we have a Baptism and party to attend on Sunday, then another birthday celebration on Sunday nite. 

It's going to be a cake/wine/desserts carb-fest.

But this is war, and the beach doesn't care how good that cupcake tastes. Am I right?

This post is what my blogs name is all about.

images via google

Winter blah blah's....part deux

Spring has most definitely not `sprung` where we live.  In fact these pics from last week pretty much tell the tale. The stores are filled with gorgeous spring clothes, shoes and bathing suits etc. and honestly I can't even wrap my mind around wearing them anytime soon. It all that seems a million miles away right now. As awesome as a foot of snow in April is, I'm really over it.  

The kids thought the massive snow fall was fantastic. I disagreed. 

Since bikini season is still so far away (at least I keep telling myself that) I`m still all about carb loading cooking hearty, satisfying dinners.  BBQ`s, fresh salads and watermelon are sadly not on the menu. (Possibly because our BBQ is buried under the snow.)

Beef Stroganoff with cream cheese, sour cream and white wine.  I might be fearing the beach because of this stuff...

On a brighter note, the kind weather-woman on the local evening news says that ``spring-like`` conditions and seasonally (warmer) temperatures are on their way this week. Bring it on bitch, mama needs to see the light of day...

Hopefully the sun is shining, tulips are popping and flippy-floppy`s are being worn where you live...

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Update on my Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips

 Cue: shock and amazement. These nail strips actually held up. Except for some minor peeling at the cuticle, the last pic was taken after 8 days of wear! I`m thinking they`re worth the 10 dollars after all...

Before

After 
8 Days...not too shabby Ms. Sally Hansen!

Though I`m getting really tired of Houndstooth...

Winter blah blah's....

Unfortunately Mama has been suffering from my annual bout with "The Winter Blah Blah's", also know as "I hate you January" and "winter can suck it."  I certainly don't have Seasonal Affective Disorder but the combo of super cold weather, minimal sunny days and months before spring arrives makes me want to act like a grizzly bear and hibernate. No jokes. I'd like to fast forward through this bunk time of the year and jump directly into spring.  I've upped my vitamin D intake, increased my workouts at the gym and tried to stay active. But all I really want to do is not much of anything. I went to the mall for the first time in weeks (which is total craziness) because normally it's my home away from home. 

 I really haven't had much desire to shop lately. Shock and horror.

{Though on Friday I did manage to grab these cute nude Nine West pumps. Someday when I can pry the snow covered UGGS off of my feet I'll be able to wear them. Someday...}

 I go to bed at a decent hour and I'm still tired when I wake up which is super annoying. Where has my energy gone? It's obviously time to start drinking double Red-bulls in the morning because coffee is no longer cutting it.

This time last year we were packing our bags for Hawaii but sadly it's not in the cards this winter. Boo.

 I seriously think that winter vay-cays to sunny destinations should be MANDATORY for people living this far north. Mandatory and Government subsidized.  Sounds like a brilliant idea to me.

January, I'm sooo over you. 

Pass fall, go directly to winter

H&M was hit up this weekend and I couldn't not get these jackets, such great deals!  Mainly because it's full on autumn here. No, actually it's more like winter (almost.) I won't drone on about how we've had the worst year of weather in the history of weather. Ok I will....we managed to squeak out only 3 1/2 months without snow. THAT IS ALL. Yes, we've already had snow. The gods of weather must think it's only fair since we live in a place with a strong economy and seriously low unemployment (compared to pretty much the rest of the world.) That's the universe just keeping things even steven. Am I right?

 And so obvs I've had to pull out my boots, gloves and fall jackets. And I've added these cuties to the closet. Yes, more black...but you can't go wrong with black right?

 {fitted long jacket $69.99- H&M}

{cropped leather jacket $39.99- H&M}

 

Mother Nature, let's chat a while....

Yesterday while driving home with the kids, the skies above were looking mighty foreboding with dark clouds and huge swirling wind gusts. 30 seconds later I thought maybe the car was being pelted by a golfball but I was, of course, no where near a golf course. It was these little buggers. 

{not suitable for cocktails...}

I picked these up off my front lawn about an hour after the hail storm of the century. 

I know I've bitched complained repeatedly about our craptastic winter summer weather this year but I have finally had enough.

Screw you Mother Nature. I'm OUT. If these means I need to fly to the other side of the world to see the blazing hot summer sun then so be it. 

Mother Nature, no let's call you "M.N",.... (I can call you that right?) Allow me to review why we're friends OFF for now and where I'm heading to.

 You and your piss-poor summer weather can suck it whilst I'm on the beach elsewhere.

In case you've forgotten what summer actually is M.N., let's review some holiday pics from a place where the sun actually shines, the Mediterranean. 

{oh what's this? Sun and sand and people not shivering while outside?}

{Obviously HOT conditions because of desert-like plant life seen here?}

{Golden brown tan on already handsome husband. Note curly hair due to humidity. You remember what hot humidity is, right M.N?}

{Straw-style umbrellas on sandy, hot beaches for coverage from the sun}

{Oh, what's this? A palm tree growing in my yard. That requires sunlight right?}

{And finally a pic of Mama in the market on a hot, sunny evening, Not wearing a jacket. Note the lack of snow, rain or ice-cubes falling from the heavens trying to wreck my car}

So Mother Nature, maybe call me in about a months time or so. We'll talk then and I'll see if you've decided to smarten-up and play nice. Bring your friend "the sun" with you.....hmmkay?

Champagne in a can, cuz I'm classy like that....

On Friday I went with my own Mama and headed downtown to go shopping at Holt Renfrew (kinda like the Neiman Marcus or Saks of Canada.) I was planning on picking up my beloved Marc Jacobs bag but of course what I wanted was completely sold out until the fall. My mom stumbled upon this little beauty and I snagged if for a steal! Regularly $599.00 on for $239.00. 

{Tory Burch Bombe Tote in Raspberry. I'm no Prep but I loves me some Tory Burch}

Finally I got around to seeing SATC 2 with some girlfriends on Saturday nite. I had done my darnedest  to dodge reading the reviews and knew that it would be pure fashion fantasy and really just a lot of Hollywood fun. And of course there was no shortage of shoes, amazing outfits and jewelry!  (Really, who dresses up and wears heels all day, like at home, in your house?) Apparently they do that in New York...

{Has any woman with a blog out there not blogged about SATC 2 yet?}

After we went out for a drink and I finally tried Sofia Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine in a mini can.  Champagne for one?! Yes please.  Delicious and it comes with a handy drinking straw.  Like a grown-up "juice" box.

Sunday was all yard work outside (the snow has finally gone, praise the Baby Jesus!) and since it was warm out I felt like a summer supper of Baja Fish Tacos made with fresh Halibut. Fish tacos aren't really popular in Canada but my whole family adores them (a great way to get my kids to eat more fish.) Seriously yummy! Check out this super easy recipe here.

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend with great weather, now let's get through Monday....

White, gold and tan OH MY!

After Husband's epic failure at remembering (and gifting) Mama properly for my birthday, it was pretty obvious that I was going to have to recognize my 30+ years of life by at the very least going shopping for myself. What else you gonna do? Here's what I picked up...

{Marc by Marc Jacobs Aviators in gold and white. Can you say summer?

{ Michael Kors Logo Jelly sandals - Browns Shoes}

{Pure by Alfred Sung white skinny jeans}

Is that Banana Boat suntan lotion I smell? I am seriously ready for summer! Bring on the gin and tonic's, BBQ's, trips the beach (when we're in Greece because I'm actually ridiculously landlocked) and good times with friends, family and of course my kidlets. While we're on holiday this summer I'll be wearing this, cuz I sure as hay won't have a chance to wear it where we live right now. So cold! 

{Just call me Goldmember because "I love gooold..."}

Nothing says summer like white and gold with a tan...

Summer Jet Set by nikosmommy featuring Nine West shoes
    

{Now if I could only get started on that tan....}

Cinco De Mayo and stuff

Ay yi yi yi!  Another Cinco De Mayo has come and gone and I managed to celebrate as any good Canadian would....by doing very little.  It's not that we can't relate to a commercialized, American/Mexican "holiday" created to commemorate the battle between the Mexican army and the French at Puebla in 1862. (Are you impressed by my knowledge of world history...yeah Canadian's are smart like that.)  It's just that any day that is celebrated by large amounts of Tequila, Cerveza's and Marg's is a good day in Mama's book. And since Husband and I own a pub...and it's early May in Canada (translation, nothing else better going on) we'll celebrate just about anything as long as it sells us more beer. Arriba! Arriba! Ole!

Winter never ends. never.

{via Charlie Macfarlane}

So how'd you all spend your weekend? Maybe shopping while walking around in sandals, or perhaps mowing your grass, planting flower beds,  having friends over for a BBQ and other springtime activities. Yeah, those would be the "normal" sort of things a person would want to do at the end of April. How about me you ask? We sat inside and watched it snow all morning,  third week of December style. Oh but wait, it's APRIL.

 We don't actually live at the north pole though I'm sure you were wondering about that.

My kids wanted to build a mother fracking snow man this afternoon. *sigh*

{No daffodils, no tulips, no green.}