Month: February 2017

Margo Gets A Kayak

Happy Early Birthday To Our Lovely Margo

So on Tuesday my sweet baby is turning 11. It seems unbelievable. Cory won’t be here on Tuesday so we decided that she should get her special gift today.

Over the last two summers I have gotten both a stand up paddle board and a kayak.

And Margo honestly could not have shown more interest but we didn’t have the appropriate size for her.

Deciding on a gift

Last year we got Margo an iPod touch for her 10th birthday.  And even though several of her friends have handed down iPhones, I am not quite there yet.  And really she has access to enough electronics, but she’s also out grown a lot of toys.

So what do you do with a girl on the cusp of teen years?

We have noticed that Margo is going through that awkward stage where her confidence is kind of on the rocky side.  And I can relate, in fact I still recall those days vividly.  And what has helped me feel better is discovering all the things that I can do.  And Miss Margo needs simulation physically and intellectually.

Last year following the wedding I got a kayak that we leave at Cory’s family cottage and I discovered the joy of bird, and water life watching. So later in the summer Cory would take the kids on the canoe while I used my kayak.  The lake our cottage is on is small and fairly quiet so we decided this year that Margo will be ready to paddle on her own.  It is my hope that by the having that independence and developing the strength of rowing, she will build confidence and learn to enjoy time away from screens and consistent electronic contact with her girl squad.  On that note though I am so appreciative of her girl squad and the bond these girls share.

Unveiling

I asked Cory to bring up a spare twin mattress we have, so that we could place the kayak on it.  I knew she would want to sit in it and that our hardwood floors may not be the best place to try that.  Well my baby didn’t disappoint and she is thrilled with the gift.  I am totally calling this one a win.

Happy Birthday Baby Cakes! We love you greatly!

XOXO Always Alice

 

 

Losing 45 Pounds And How I Had To Change

I just hit the 45 pound mark in my weight loss journey.  My end goal was 50, and if that happens I will be ecstatic.  As it is I weigh less right now than my husband for the first time in the 7.5 years that we have known each other.

So if I don’t lose another 5 pounds I won’t be too distressed.  I wanted to find my body again and learn to appreciate it, I’ve done that.

This picture was taken almost 2 years ago, I was heavy.  I weighed as much than as I did when I gave birth, both times.  I have a special knack for not see any pictures of myself during that time.  Today as I cropped this picture for the article I actually saw how big I had really gotten. But the truth about being that overweight was that in a way it was a penance (my scarlet letter of sorts) that I was wearing because my mind was so overwhelmed with depression.  It took a LONG time to find a good balance of coping skills and medication. But I have spent the last two years learning those improved coping skills and working with a psychiatrist to fix my medications.  I participated in a CBT program and changed employment situations, twice.

One year in……

That picture was taken about 9 months into my weight loss journey, I had just finished my first round of Whole30, I had lost about 20 pounds at this point.

During that time I was working with the psychiatrist on finding the correct doses for my medication.  And while I was still having emotional struggles, my now husband, and I had gotten engaged and I was improving.  In addition to completing a Whole30  which helped me to physically feel better I also discovered Brian Tracy’s 30 Day Affirmation Challenge. So for 30 days I consciously spoke kindly to myself, I repeated their phrases on the specific day.  I also recycled some when they seemed especially relevant. I am mean really you can’t tell yourself that you are getting better everyday too many times.

40 pounds down in time for the big day

Some 18 months in……

As my wedding approached I took part in a wonderful cognitive behaviour group.  And I ate very close to the Whole30 guidelines. I changed employment situations, and that was a major key.  My job and most of all getting myself to my job caused me horrible daily anxiety.  So by this time I have a good support system in place.  And I was working full-time from home, which importantly allowed me to be available to my kids. So while I had emotionally difficult moments, that’s all they were, was moments.  In general I was finally believing that things would essentially be ok. It’s a good feeling and it showed, I was 40 pounds lighter when we got married then when we got engaged.

And now 45 pounds lighter

Not an awesome picture because I was alone when I took it and I have not mastered the art of the selfie, but here I am 45 pounds lighter.  And closer to a calm state of mind than I can recall being in a long time.  I’m finally learning about boundaries and self-care.

So I started this journey clawing my way through every pound and as it turns out, every weight loss plateau I managed to conquer required emotional conquest first.

I’ve changed employment situations again and thankfully have a chance to take advantage of more time with the kids and more time to create.

Who knows where I’ll go from here, but I’m in great place.  And the more I show gratitude to my body the more it gives me to be grateful for.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Alice Pond

 

 

Welcome to Empress Of Life

Empress Of Life

Empress Alice

So this is me Alice and my husband Cory.  He is an amazing part of my life. He has allowed me to become the person that I am.  Cory is a professional grown-up, and I am trying to get there but I wouldn’t ever dream of being on this journey without him.

These are our little people, Margo is on the verge being 11 and Atticus is 7. Margo often reminds me of myself, somethings in a good way, sometimes I cringe at having to go through what my parents must have gone through.  She’s very clever and a little shy but she doesn’t let that hold her back.  Atticus, well he has much more in common with Cory than he does with me.  And I must admit that I just don’t really get boys, but he is so sweet and charming, also a math whiz.

Thanks for getting to know us,

Alice xoxo