KICKING OFF MY BIRTHDAY WITH A BANG

CALIFORNIA CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS TREE

It is my birthday, the winter solstice, the day with the least amount of light yet I feel like I am surrounded my the radiant wonder above. I am so blessed beyond belief, and as I get ready to kick in my Birthday with a class at Richard Simmons. He is having his holiday bash and there is no other way to begin my birthday than with a holiday dose of health with my guru himself. I am excited beyond belief, I love the energy that comes from those four walls. You could bottle it up and raise a mint for charity.


I am also going to Musso and Frank's tonight with James for dinner, it is a bucket list must. Read my post about Huell Howser and you will understand why. More to come later, and lots and lots of photos.

I feel like I am celebrating life and making dreams come true. The Toy Drive is coming along with the amazing assistance of Seasons 52, and more on that tonight or tomorrow. I am happy to say as the New Year approaches I do not have one regret. I am making it happen, with a lot of help from my friends. Without them I would not be where I am today, or get to where I will be tomorrow. The sun does always come out tomorrow, even on the shortest day of the year.

Namaste'
Lots of love and light
Rose

HECTIC HERE

Good morning to all. It has been so hectic here and Rascal woke me up at 4 am. My husband and I both lost weight so shopping for my birthday dinner for something new to wear took up our week. He lost 16 lbs and I have lost 30, (20 since I started this). It has been a long haul but worth the wait. I am going to lose at least 30 more in 2014.

My plan was to avoid buying clothes, except work out and yoga clothes, but that has become inconvenient. I needed to shop, and I bought a fabulous wrap dress that is very retro and a little sexy. I feel great but I am not yet where I need to be. So much more hard work to be done, but I am trying not to beat myself up with thoughts of not being thin enough. That damn devil on my shoulder has reappeared just in time for my birthday tomorrow, and making me feel a little less than I should be. I need to own where I am now, and enjoy my Birthday and this journey.

I have decided to switch my weigh in back to Tuesdays. I do not like to weigh in before the weekend, it seems when I weigh in early in the week it starts my week off to a great start. I know I ate more salt than usual the last week, and I am splurging on Christmas a little. I bought some amazing cookies and I plan to indulge in them.

Tomorrow morning I am going to attend Richard Simmons holiday class, it should be a healthy and fun way to kick my birthday in. The toy drive is in full swing, and this weekend I am buying my toys for Alexandria House. We are delivering them on Monday.

Off for now, more of the same hectic energy today after work. Wishing you a sun filled day on the second shortest day of the year.
Namaste'
Rose

THURSDAY UPDATE

Good Morning to all. We are a little under the weather here, so I am just trying to get through it and feel better by my big weekend. I have been shopping both for my Birthday outfit, and for my husband since he lost a few pounds as well and works later than I do. It has been a project, shopping for a man. I just need accessories for myself, I found some killer heals to go with my dress, these should put my 5'2 frame at 5'8. They are that high, I hope I can walk.

Just a quick post, this cold has got the best of me and I do not have much energy, but I have been using the Neti Pot and I seem to be getting better at a quicker pace than my husband who refuses to use it. I believe it truly works, and I can say I can breathe this morning.

Wishing you a beautiful day. My toy drive is in full swing and we deliver the toys on Monday. Christmas just comes and goes too quickly, I will be happy when I can return to my normal routine and lose this 30-40 pounds once the new year arrives. I got a hair trim the other day, and I had not been in the salon in months and the staff went on and on about my weight loss, that made my week.

Namaste'
Rose

SICK DAY

Good Morning to all. Looks like I am taking a day to rest from work. I have a head cold and it seems like the little bugger got the best of me, so I feel better to rest today so I am not down for the count for my Birthday and Christmas.

Speaking of my upcoming Birthday. We are going to Musso and Frank's, a bucket list must and I am so excited. I am not only celebrating my late December birthday on the 21st but my 20 pound weight loss since I began this journey, ( 30 pounds since January).  I am also celebrating the fact that I am following up on all of my plans as I go into the New Year. I am content to say I did not give up, and as I make my new New Year's resolutions I will be so inspired and motivated. I am so happy I am taking on this project with more to come in 2014. I am so grateful that I have met so many amazing people who have touched my heart. All of this in six months.

A birthday dinner means a new dress, and I found one I love in a size medium. I just need to accessorize it with shoes etc and I am good to go.I had planned to only shop when I got to my final weight, but when nothing fits except your workout clothes shopping is a must.  It is a lot more fun when you are losing weight. 

I may be under the weather, but my spirits are so high. The toy drive is in full swing, and I will be shopping for my toys this weekend. I need to write out some Christmas cards, so since I will be resting today I have the perfect opportunity to do so, and maybe some reading too.

Wishing you a beautiful day.
Namaste'
Rose

TWENTY POUND CHARITY TOY DRIVE

I am planning my twenty pound charity, and decided to do something that was a perfect fit for December and the season of joy. I decided to do a toy drive for Alexandria House, with the recommendation of a dear friend named Dawn who attends Richard Simmons. I am grateful for her friendship and support. 

Here is some information on Alexandria House below. I am organizing my twenty pound charity at my place of employment, Seasons 52 in Century City, CA. with the help of my amazing management and co workers. I am grateful for the support and everyone who is so kind to give a toy to a child at this time of year. My co-worker and friend Meagan and I are delivering the toys December 23rd. I will post more information later this week. The toys are starting to accumulate, and I am really excited. I am beyond grateful and moved to have such kind people in my corner and thank you to Michele and Judy at Alexandria House.
Namaste'
Happy Monday
Rose

Mission

 Response to the compelling needs of the women and

 children living in the house, as well as the 

 neighborhood needs before us each day, the goal of

 Alexandria House is to be a community-oriented

 transitional house and neighborhood center which is

 intentionally multicultural, antiracist and where the

 needs of women who are economically poor are

 central.

 We are supported by a community of caring

 individuals and groups who share our mission.

 Company Overview

 Founded in 1996, Alexandria House is a non-profit 

 transitional residence and house of hospitality

 providing safe and supportive housing for women and

 children in the process of moving from emergency

 shelter to permanent housing. Located in the densely

 populated and ethnically diverse Mid-Wilshire area,

 Alexandria House also serves its broader 

 neighborhood community by providing educational 

 and enrichment opportunities for residents and

 neighbors alike.

GOOD LUCK ON FRIDAY THE 13TH

Where I run in Beverly Hills

This blog is about loving life. Giving back to society and all creatures of the universe, being the healthiest and best you possible, making dreams come true, basking in nature's glory.  These are the goals I work on daily, and I also have met my share of struggles along the way. When that happens, I just crank up some upbeat music and get moving and reflect on the bigger picture, or sometimes I listen to melancholic music and write poetry. Either way I work through my melodrama and come out smiling again. Trees shadow the sun, but the luminous one above always finds a way to make an appearance.

Yesterday was Friday the 13th, and depending how you perceive things it was a day of good luck for me. I fell, and I fell hard on the cement. My friend was driving down the street and beeped for me. I noticed her, and in a split second I tripped and landed on my hands face first. My hands broke my fall. A driver of a bus stopped to see if I was hurt, and I was no worse for wear as I stood up and dusted my embarrassed self off.

Was it bad luck that I fell or good luck that I was not injured. I look at it from the latter point. From my vantage view the glass is always more than half full, and I am sure the fact that I am becoming fit and strong had something to do with my injury free tumble.

So as I put lotion on my scraped hands, I reflect on the cry baby moment I had about my weight staying the same for a few weeks, I realize in the scheme of struggles this is not one. Yesterday I was asked for a quarter by a homeless person, my weight plateau is not a true struggle and I was shamed in an instant.  I will tackle this challenge and make it happen, it is just a plateau and just another dare for me. I accept.

Love and Light
Namaste'
Rose

WEIGH IN, PLATEAU? STRUGGLING

Photo Linda Monteleone'
My Mood this morning
My optimism is shrouded in a veil of grey
Just for today
I am Human
Afterall

Good morning to all, I am so happy it is Friday. I woke up, brewed my coffee and got on the scale with high hopes. I feel lighter, but that damn scale said I stayed the same. Still holding at 20 pounds. I am so frustrated I could scream, but instead I will try to address the issue and forge forward. I need to make it to the New Year with a few more pounds off. I am not splurging at all.  Come to think of it, I noticed the last few days I am not eating that much. I bet I am hovering at about 1,000 calories a day, not good. I always forget eating too little will stall your weight loss. I am reconsidering splurging on Christmas Eve and Christmas. I may start a food journal again and track my points, it helps me to make sure I am eating enough.

Eating too much, eating too little, dieting feels like a science experiment and I am the lab rat. I am grateful for how far I have come, I am 30 lbs lighter than I was at this time last year but I want to go all the way, and I am so competitive with myself and lately I feel like I am letting me down. Or that is how I feel at this particular moment. This fleeting feeling will pass, and I will take this as a challenge to work harder. I am buying a pedometer with a heart monitor so I can track how far I run and walk and get my heart rate up. Also, I am going to go to the gym and have my fat and measurements done. I will post those as soon as I have the chance to check. I have to hang in there, and work even harder.  I will work out like a fiend tonight. I wish my glands did not feel swollen.

Ok , so a second cup of coffee is needed. I am hoping it is a short shift so I can run before the sun goes down, today the high is going to be only 64. 
I feel like crying or screaming just a little.
Breathe in, breathe out.
I need to meditate.
Namaste'
Rose