Love Not Lipo ... Live a Little, Love a Lot

Wow. 2012 has already been, and will continue to be, a really exciting year.  It’s true what they say, if you do a job you will love, you will never work a day in your life.  Steve Jobs was also spot on when he said when asked about entrepreneurialism, that you have to really really love what you’re doing, otherwise you would be totally insane to invest the amount of time and energy that you do to make your business work.  My inspiration means that I have a lot in store for Evo-Life for 2012, and I can’t wait to share it with you!!

In the meantime, the only downside to my being entrenched in the creative process, is that I am out of the loop with LoveNotLipo, which always hurts my heart not pouring myself into my on-line journal!! So in the interest of efficiency, how about a chapter of my life in pictures to bring us current?

My mom and my dear friend Lynelle, who happens to be my Maid of Honor went to Vermont recently to work on wedding details.  We hired an absolutely fabulous florist who totally understood my vision, then we went to the speciality linen shop to work on color schemes.

My mom will be annoyed that I posted these “teasers.”  So Mom, don’t worry I’m telling the world now, these are not literal images, just samples to get us brainstorming in the right direction. xoxox Afterwards, we had an incredibly delicious dinner at the restaurant attached to the linen place.  I wish I had taken a picture, but I had grilled swordfish in a spicy tomato sauce with cannelini beans.  It was a flavor explosion in my mouth!!

I’ve been enjoying the simple beautiful things I love about my community, like the corner coffee shop.

While enjoying the present with vigor, I am actively planning for the future.  I found my dream house, and took the kids to my dream neighborhood and explained to them that we will live there one day in the not to distant future.  They were equally excited as evidenced by this comment.  “If we lived here, I wouldn’t even need to really play video games that much.”

I said “Let’s practice not playing video games now, as if the house were already ours!” And so I took them on a nature walk which they pretended they hated, but really loved.

I have spent time with my beloved grieving friend, and inadequately tried to be a supportive and consistent presence in her life.  If she cannot receive hope right now, she must at least receive beauty.

I continue to push myself to my physical limit with the assistance of the best trainer ever, Muscle Flow Terry.

(video post to be added here.)

Throw in one gorgeous snow storm of the season for good measure:

And lots and lots of good coffee, inspiring reasearch, and 5AM wakeups to work on my book…

I’m here at Mochalisa’s putting the finishing touches on
The Evo-Life Winter Workshop: Self Esteem and Body Image, which is next Sunday at my home office, the Evolution Counseling and Life Coaching headquarters. It’s going to be amazing and I am sooooo excited to share the afternoon of education and personal growth with the very special students who have signed up! I still have room, come join us!

What happens when try as you might, you cannot find 26 hours in a day?  How do you formulate your thoughts to your blogging community about how you’ve been making it to the gym about 50% of the established goal time?   What do you say about the fact that you’re not sure how could possibly envision training for a half marathon at this point while working full time and running two businesses?….so what if your NEW goals start to trump your old goals??? 

It is fear of people’s perception of me that was making me hesitate to re-evaluate my goals at this juncture.  I never want to be considered the kind of person who makes all kinds of big proclamations and doesn’t follow through.  However, what a journey I have been on, for it is now that I can see that it is the physical conditioning and detoxification I have undergone since last July responsible for the mental clarity that launched this next phase of my personal and professional development.  I am finally in a place where I am driven and inspired in a context that has no direct or indirect connection with my weight, body image, or relationship with food.   Hallelujah.

How easy it is to counsel in my private practice, or to my best friend: “Don’t be scared to try things.  Life is not finite.  For today, let this be your plan, tomorrow you may feel differently, and that’s wonderful!”   How much harder it is to remember to apply these concepts to my own life.  But it’s true…I am not abandoning running, and I am not abandoning LoveNotLipo.  In fact, recognizing the impact of those two entities in my life makes my heart swell with gratitude, reverance, and love and bring a tear to my eye.  On July 5th 2010 LoveNotLipo was born, and taking my emotional healing and physical conditioning to the next level, I have documented my journey faithfully ever since. 

I am incredibly fulfilled and excited at this point in my life.  I have learned to let some things go, like  I cannot always have immediate gratification for example…my laundry may take 2 weeks to fold…and I may eat protein shakes for dinner for a while.  Yet I have realized other things are far more valuable than I ever knew.  Listening to others is more important than talking…generousity of spirit is more important than being right…succeeding in helping others is more important than being the best…and never quitting is more important than winning. 

I wonder what the next gift will be?  Because I am awestruck that it just keeps getting better. 

I had my Arbonne business launch party this weekend, and I am physically exhausted, and emotionally and spiritually elated.  I  have met the most amazing and beautiful women inside and out, and I feel like a better person every day that I participate in this business model and company culture of self development.  The money and the amazing life changing wellness products are just a bonus.  My heart is open to life lessons that previously still had not been uncovered, no matter how much work I had done on myself, and that is the real gift. 

For today, I will strive to live a life of balance:  Recovery, faith, family, nutrition and physical activity, my career in mental health, and my entrepreneurial enterpises.  For today, this is what I choose.

I remember the day my parents bought this beautiful Stickley armoire entertainment center for her living room.  She told me at the time it was eventually going to be moved upstairs and used as a closet.  If you knew my mom, you would know that once that decision was made, there was nothing that could derail her from that path.

So when the movers came to bring the piece upstairs, and they determined the stairway was too shallow to accommodate the armoire, she was very disappointed, and I felt sad for her.  When she called me a couple days later, she said she they had talked about it, and decided that Todd and I should have the armoire.  I encouraged her to consider keeping it downstairs, or try to sell it, but true to her nature, her mind was made up.  I was overwhelmed with emotion, and filled with gratitude.  It is the most beautiful and special piece either Todd or I have ever owned, and as the mover put it, “it will outlive all of us.”  Considering the contents that go in it, Todd took particular interest in this piece of furniture. 

It is my hope that now that all my major home projects, and most of my Christmas shopping is over, I will get back to more consistency in my blogging.  I always notice a difference in my emotional well-being when I have not been taking the time to journal my life to this amazing blogging community! 

It was an overwhelming process….

But all the hard work was ultimately totally worth it.  I worked on painting throughout the course of last week.  I would get up at 5:30, workout, go to work, come home and work some more, with clients in between, I was living in total chaos.  In fact I accomplished many of my fitness goals, but not all of the strength training.  I am hopeful about this coming week!  By Friday, all of the painting was finally complete! But I couldn’t get started yet because my parents still needed more help, so Todd and Jake and I went back to Troy to have a little birthday party for Jakey, and assist with their home improvements!  (the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, you know.)

Then I woke up early, 6am Saturday to do my decorating.  Pure joy with my new “Newburyport Blue” canvas. 

I saw these pears at TJ Maxx, a huge container of ornaments for $19.99, and I knew they would be perfect.  I cut the strings off most of them and displayed them on the mantle, and hung all the tiny ones on the Christmas tree. 

I am absolutely exhausted, but totally gratified.

The good news is, I have been totally plugged in creatively, physically, socially, spiritually, and organizationally.  The bad news is that all that structure and activity has left me very little time to Blog about it.  It’s actually not really bad news, as much as it’s “ironic news.”  I conceptualized and kicked off Love Not Lipo for the purpose of inspiring me to live a full and rewarding life.  It has definitely done that, but now what about the blog??
 
There were possibly multiple compelling stories to be told of my adventures over the last few days.  However once a day or two elapses the news is already dated, and I’m on to the next thing.  So how about a quick recap? 
 
I met my commitment and completed Week 1 of strength training and I’m actually well on my way to a much more diverse fitness program.  I think I had been feeling a little bored now that the race is over, and this seems like a good opportunity to try and switch some routines up.  I tend to get a little scared about switching routines up (I am an embarrassingly habituated creature) but I’m just trying to push through that feeling and embrace the possibility present in change.  I have reintroduced strength training, interval training, the elliptical, treadmill running during the week, and outdoor running on the weekend.  I would love to incorporate yoga again, but I just don’t think I’m there yet.  My current schedule looks something like this:
 
Sunday: 5 mile run outdoors
Monday: 1 hour interval circuit training
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: 1 hour elliptical machine, ½ hour Back and Biceps
Thursday: ½ hour treadmill run, ½ hour elliptical machine
Friday: Shoulders, Chest, Triceps, Legs, 1 hour total, (cardio rest)
Saturday: 5 mile run outdoors
 

Saturday I followed through with my commitment to spend some more time with my friends.  I met the lovely Gabrielle (my  favorite “talk psychology/talk design” friend) for lunch at 4 seasons, frozen yogurt at Plum Dandy.(I had Harvest Muffin and Euro Tart, she had Euro Tart and Ginger Lemon Sorbet) and a little bit of Christmas shopping at Gap Kids. 

Her daughter Paige is 2, and far more fun to shop for than Jake and Danny.  I seriously need to have a baby girl.   (Hi Todd? Are you reading this?)

Girl stuff is just cuter

 
I raced back to the house and met up with Todd so we could go down to Troy and help my mom and Phil move some furniture around the house.  My mom was not impressed when she noticed my black patent leather platform heals and hot pink silk blouse. 
 
“I thought you were here to help me Clairey!!” 
“I thought Todd was gonna help you.”
“Take your shoes off.”

you know you love 'em

She brought me a giant white button down shirt to put on over my clothes to keep them clean.  I was swimming in it.  This shirt used to belong to me, and it used to fit, and I had one of those moments quietly shuddering to myself remembering a past I want to forget.  She and I looked at each other and started giggling. 
 
We helped for an hour, then rushed off to “Sushi Thai at the Park” to meet one of our favorite couples for dinner.  Unbelievable Thai food and Sushi with friends who are really more like family.  Priceless.
 
Yesterday I was going from the minute I woke up.  Mocha mint coffee with Original Silk Soymilk (the best), and almond butter and banana smeared on “Wrap Itz” Whole Grain Tortilla (also the best) started my day off.  Then I ran 3.6 miles to Curtis Lumber and back to order more paint to finish up the dining room. 

remodeling chaos. wait till you see the finished product!!

I thought I would be able to finish the job that day, and had it not been interwoven with cooking all the meals for the week, and four loads of laundry, perhaps I would have.  It was not much of a day of rest, but I’m not complaining because I did more playing than usual on Saturday. 
 
Last coat on the trim of dining room tonight….just in time for Christmas decorating.  I’m so excited!! :)

I’ll admit it.  With all of my proclamations about getting my spending totally under control, I did fall prey to Cyber Monday.  Btw, has anyone ever heard of Cyber Monday before last Monday??  I hadn’t.  But for the record it didn’t take me too long to familiarize myself with it.  New York and Company had an incredible sale.  Every single item in the whole store, clearance, regular price, everything, was 50% off.  Online shoppping has it’s pros and cons.  Con, no instant gratification.  Pro, no crowds and or wasted Saturdays.  Con educated guess at what may look good, and which is often incorrect.  Pro, unlimited access to sizes and styles.  Con, you pay shipping AGAIN if your educated guess was incorrect.  Pro, coming home to find a package you forgot about waiting for you on your front porch after the kind of day I had today. 

Here are two of the fun necklaces I ordered, along with a perfect ivory ruffled T, some tailored stretch cropped black pants, and a twist knot black shirt which will be returned due to frumpiness factor.  All of those items for under a hundred, and only 1 return that was too BIG!! Love it. 

People who know me are aware that I am somewhat of a fashion junkie, and often compliment me for my “expensive taste.”  As tempting as it is to accept that compliment, I actually am always forthcoming about the truth because of my solidarity and loyalty to my fellow women.  I believe all women should share all tips with one another so we’re all happier.  When the girls are happier, the world is a much more pleasant place for everyone.  My number one fashion trick is to pair inexpensive items with more expensive items.  For example if I wear a chocolate brown blouse from walmart that I purchased for $8.98, I pair it with the exquisite chunky tear drop amber earrings my mom brought me back from Florence, Italy.  God knows the price of those.  If you wear your payless patten leather platforms, you best pair them with a conservative Ann Taylor dress.  Take this tip to the next level, buy your “expensive” pieces at Marshalls or TJ Maxx, and your entire outfit could cost $50 and look like $500.  If the pieces are INexpensive, less is more.  One piece of jewlry, go easy on the belts with scarves/jewlry/hats etc.  However, if the pieces are high quality, my stance is go all out!  Deck yourself out!  Layer textures and accessories with no limit as long as the pieces are all really special. 

PS- Clothes, accessories, and creating outfits has been far more fun for me as the scale is trending downwards.  The new ensemble hanging in the garment bag to go the gym with me in the morning will be a major contributing factor to my being able to drag my butt out of bed at 5:30 AM.  Just 7 short hours away…..Goodnite!! 

So which is your preference? Internet shopping?  Or store shopping? and why?

In a former post I talked about a very inspirational speaker I saw back in October, Rita Davenport, who’s book I am currently reading: “Making Time, Making Money.”  I had to special order it through Amazon because it is out of print, but I have to say more than any book I’ve read in a long time, I am thoroughly enjoying it.  I am somewhat cynical about “self help books” which is ironic because my career is based around self help, but finding material that is fresh and inspiring can sometimes be a challenge.  However, it is important to keep in mind that even when a topic is “old news,” it can be totally revived through the interpretation of the person presenting it.  It therefore made good sense that I read a book about success written by a woman who’s talk moved me as deeply as Rita’s did.  Not only is Rita’s book a structured game-plan for time management and achieving goals, even more profoundly, it coaches you on how to dream.  I’ve been amazed by not only the impact of planning out and writing my goals for the future down to the last detail, but also just the pure pleasure and relaxation I experience through doing these type of exercises.  The pure pleasure is a result of connecting with my inner resources: imagining, dreaming, planning my future exactly the way I want it…    A happy, exciting, stomach flippy boost in my day that doesn’t cost a dime and has not a single calorie??  Now that’s a page turner!

I am bruised and battered from my weekend war with dated décor.  My hands ache from painting, and my fingers are cramped, missing the clickety clack of my keyboard.  Yesterday morning began with a 7am rise and a “Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie:”

Place in a blender the following ingredients and blend until smooth

·        1 cup Silk (Original Flavor)

·        1 cup strawberries

·        1 Tbsp peanut butter

·        Dash of Cinnamon

·        3 ice cubes

The “1 cup of coffee/day rule” went right out the window when I brewed a pot of

Dunkin’ Turbo, as I did require to be turbo-ed through the ambitious day I had planned.  Throughout the day we painted and touched up, re-taped, re-painted, re-touched up. 

"Before" Faux Leather Wallpaper (metallic...ugh.)

Painting walls deep slate grey/blue with shiny wooden trim in a high contrast white was pretty much a nite-mare, and the blunders were seemingly endless.  It’s all about perception though, because for me it was truly a labor of love. 

“Coconut Dal”

Todd went to work at 7pm and I spent the final four hours working like mad woman on construction dust removal, floor polishing, and putting the furniture and accessories together before he got home.  All of the art and photography still needs to be hung, and I am planning on painting our coffee table this gorgeous warm shade of beige, Benjamin Moore “Rattan,” but other than that, we’re looking good.  Now onto the dining room.  Overwhelming? Certainly.  Worth it when I saw the look on my Darling’s face when he returned from work and saw how beautiful we had made our home?  Absolutely. 

 

Temporary Staging (until I Hang all the art)"Slate Blue and Chocolate Brown...Beautiful"

 

"Slate Blue and Chocolate Brown...Beautiful"

 

 

 

We have been in our house a year, and I am very excited to say I am finally beginning some of my long overdue home

"My Inspiration" (Photo Credit: Pottery Barn)

 improvement projects.  Today I scrape wall paper (while simultaneously trying to prepare week 3 Ultrametabolism detox food for the week) to work towards materializing my inspiration from this photo.  I am waiting to hear back from George Laing on some prints I would like to order from him, and my Tuscany print, and ‘Haybales in a Field’ print are on the way.  I am keeping this brief so I can go work on prepping my walls for this gorgeous cadet blue that will be going up on them soon!