Hello again. Been a while hasn't it!? Now that the dust of Kiara's 4th birthday celebration has settled I am back at it once more. I took a bit of a pause from both exercise and eating properly, yet with the crazed up party prep I still ended up losing weight. As of this week I am at 180 lbs. During the last two weeks or so I wouldn't remember to eat, so I was basically fed by Hassan. I didn't question the food choices, and they were good! Yes pizza, shawarma, carbs, fat and sugar all crept into my diet at one point or another.
This week it ends. Back to working out and eating healthy. So far I've been out on a 5k run on Monday and taught what will become my regular spin class until the end of September. Tomorrow I will go for another run. I was contemplating going to the gym but I was in the "no talking to people" zone, so I took advantage of the cool, albeit windy weather outside and ran to pounding music. Ahhhhh that feeling when you look like a weirdo grinning during a run....that was me yesterday. I have to come back for more. Tomorrow it is!
My little girl turned 4 last week. It's so surreal that I have a 4 year old preschooler. We threw a "Frozen" themed party, with 200 balloons, a dessert table and a winter wonderland cake. All made ready to order by yours truly. My darling Mommy was responsible for salad spread and boy did she rise to the occasion! It was amazing! Mom-in-law did some serious magic with the kebabs mix I prepared as well as cut up and marinated enough chicken to feed a small army. So grateful for those two women in my life! Hassan was the king of the barbecue grilling up a storm for dinner. It was such a wonderful day as Kiara was running around with her friends in her Elsa dress and a crown that was worn by Hassan's aunt at her wedding 22 years ago! Hoarding finally paid off!!! She was a star! Hassan says I'm nuts (quite often at that) but I want my kids to remember their birthdays like I remember mine. My mom baked this amazing cake with 1000 buttery sugary layers and rich creamy icing and hand folded what seemed like a million perogies, grandma stylez! Then we unfolded our living room table, which of course was reserved for special occasions and family gatherings during holidays and my friends would give me books and make up as presents. I remember (I must have been turning 14 or 15) when I had boys at my party. What a huge deal that was!! And lots of giggling that was happening as they arrived. Such memories I will always treasure, no matter how silly they may sound! And as I became a mom myself, I finally understand the desire to make your child's day that much more special. Kiara could hardly contain herself as she asked the morning of her birthday if it was her birthday yet!! And then the gift from Mama and Papa, and then the cake waiting in the fridge complete with Elsa, Anna, and of course Olaf along a frozen river. That moment alone is worth every second of bleary eyed exhaustion. As I stopped for a second during the party and looked at the backyard filled with familiar faces who took time to join us I felt such happiness that we are blessed with such people in our lives. So, this is our most heartfelt Thank You! This birthday party was without a doubt one I will remember and amazing friends and family made it what it was...one for the books. Countdown is on for the twins' first birthday.
Alright, enough mushy stuff (or, as we like to call it, Cheese Factor 57). I think I've exhausted your attention at this point. So, I will play catch up this week and post updates as I go. Until then...