Happiness is....

Happiness is a week of beautiful warm weather and sunshine.  A day spent wandering through Ikea, getting decorating ideas and picking up a few odds and ends.  Including new bookshelves for the bedroom (finally, enough storage for our favourite books!), and a new duvet cover.  At the mall (not a big fan of malls, but needed a few things) a new bright pink shirt for work, and a really nice dark denim jean jacket!  For the record, I still love my Hollywood Era, silver studded *vintage* 1986 jean jacket, but my children will not let me wear it publicly.  It's hanging in my closet and I wear it at every opporunity.  Usually to 80s themed parties.  And honestly, why wouldn't I wear a jacket from grade 11 that still fits me???  However, silver studs aside, the new jacket is going to look super for work, with a skirt or nice capris. 

Sidetracked....yesterday was a big dose of happiness.  And I guess because the new duvet cover doesn't have that special worn in spot yet, I woke up this morning with a warm, purring kitty snuggled up to my body.  Alistair Cookie the kitty usually sleeps beside my feet.  It was a nice treat having him curled up where I could reach him to pet him.  And purring no less.

I also picked up a couple of cheapy polar fleece throws for the livingroom and family room.  Same as my lime green ones, so I can put the brown wintery ones away.  I don't often change things up for the seasons, but a punch of red does my heart good!  And red towels for the downstairs powder room.  Red and lime green sounds like a bizarre combination (and I guess it is!), but it works so well with my chocolate brown leather furniture and oak hardwood.  I think I should find some red potted tulips or gerber daisies to put on the diningroom table too.

I`m planning to paint my antique desk (Aunt Go-go is likely rolling in her grave!), and trying to decide on a colour.  I saw an amazing bright yellow makeover piece on another blog (no idea which one now), but yellow wouldn`t look great with our Wilmington Tan walls.  Hubs doesn`t want red, lime green would be a bit much.  If you have any ideas, let me know.  I can`t envision it in my minds eye.

While at Ikea, hubs also convinced me about a new tv shelving unit deal he wants when he finally gets the big flatscreen television I`ve been putting off for years.  Same line as the  new shelves in our room, and alot cheaper than the built-ins I want.  But it will require some saving of $$ and I still haven`t totally capitulated on the tv issue.  Because basketball games will be awesome to watch is not the the incentive I need to give in on something that is a luxury item we don`t actually need.  We have a perfectly fine television that still works.  The other issue a new tv would entail is, what do we do with the perfectly fine wall unit we inherited from my grandmother?  No, it's not a style I would go out and buy, but it cost alot of money in the day, and works fine for the tv we have now.  I guess hang on to it until we finish our basement, or pass it on to Jess for her place. 

As I write, I'm filled with happiness again, coffee in a beautiful cup I got for Mother's Day years ago (yellow with a handpainted rooster, from Spain), Chase the wonderdog curled up on the couch next to me, Jasmine the fluffy orange *ancient* kitty watching me from the chair on the other side of me and the luxury of time.  Dropped Jackson off at work, Seamus and hubs still sleeping, Jess safe and sound at university.

Another source of happiness?  Jess got hired at Honda for the summer again, a great job making way more $$ than any other job in the area, and we're going to look at a house with her tomorrow for next year at school.  Extra bonus?  Honda means she is going to ride with her Dad, and I won't be without my car for the summer!  It means much more freedom for summer, and she will have enough $$ for school.  She is determined to do it on her own, and Honda means she likely can.

The birds are chirping outside, the spring peepers were singing last night--happiness.

spring weight loss?

So I've been working to lose the *ahem* "few" pounds I've gained over the winter.  I've been feeling a little draggy, not just myself lately.  Today I went to visit my naturopath and expressed my concerns to her.  And low and behold there are some actual possible reasons for my relative funk.  Blood pressure? Elevated.  Enough to be of some concern.  Thyroid & iron?  Being tested, but the likely reason for my lack of energy and weight gain.  Wacko menstrual cycle?  Need progesterone.  The beauty of going to an ND as my primary care physician?  Tests ordered today, and appointment next Monday to discuss the results.  In addition, I was booked for a 1/2 hour appointment (hello?  NEVER had an appt that long with an MD!), but spent a full 45 minutes with her.  She wants to hear about my whole body/emotions/life so that she can get my whole reality and make evaluations based on all of the information.  And she trusts me to know myself, and to be the best judge of what I need. 

Having said that, I am blessed in that I have a wonderful career with excellent benefits that enable me to afford to visit her, and pay for my assorted tests and treatments.  It would be amazing for everyone, regardless of financial means, to have the choice to access this comprehensive and full care.  Wouldn't it be nice to live in a society that valued preventative care, not just acute care once one's health is deteriorated beyond the scope of average care?

Okay, so it's not all in my head.  There are physical reasons for how I've been feeling.  Validation is a powerful thing.  And I have an immediate appointment to get the results of my tests and to plan the actions to heal what needs to be healed.

To aid in the spring weight loss efforts, I have been running and walking alot.  My trusty walking partner has been enjoying it too. 

Chase the wonderdog looking very serious

She's pooped and quite happy to curl up and sleep on the couch. I think she even smiled a bit when I left for a big part of the day today--it meant she could veg out and not think about more exercise :)  And an added benefit?  She's losing some winter pudge too.  Being an only doggy means not much wild play to wear off calories.  Chasing the cats just isn't the same. 

Speaking of wonderdogs and spring, the melting snow has uncovered, well, poop.  Lots of it.  Tomorrow the organic waste bin, a rake and I have a date in the backyard.  Spring is always so much fun!

Spring!!

It sure feels like spring around here.  Beautiful sunshine yesterday convinced me to take the dog for another long walk after I had already gone for a run.  After a long walk the day before.  Preceded by a full day of downhill skiing, and snowshoeing the day before that.  I now have very sore shins.  It's muscular, nothing epsom salt baths and Traumeel won't fix up.  But--really?!  How do I get myself into these scrapes?  Overdoing it.

Speaking of overdoing it, I'm really curious how a relatively clean and well cared for home gets so flippin' DIRTY?  Not just the usual messiness to be tidied, but dirty?  Grime in every corner.  I spent the morning making a big dent in that grime.  On the main floor of the house.  Plus loads of laundry in between.  My windows are sparkling (the ones I can reach from the outside) and all of them got a good cleaning on the inside.  As did the powder room.  The furniture has been moved and the dust bunnies have been banished.  I may tackle the basement tomorrow.  May.  I`ll play it by ear and see how it goes.  But there`s nothing quite like a sparkly clean house.  Maybe I`ll wash the kitchen cupboards and do some organizing instead.

March Break just screams spring cleaning at me.  Especially when the temperature rises and the sun shines.  I`m counting on more of the beautiful sunshine from yesterday to return.  What`s spring without sunshine?

I do realize that Ontario is probably going to get at least one more good blast of old Man Winter.  But I'm enjoying the spring temperatures while they last.  And I did see a robin yesterday.  I will be truly convinced when I see a red-winged blackbird.  I think they are the true harbinger of spring.

I am enjoying the luxury of time off of school, and trying to remember to nurture myself.  The next couple of months are going to be crazy busy.  Resting now is what will get me through.

What are you doing this March Break?