Friday, December 31, 2010

Top 10 Things That Did Not Work For Me In 2010

Okay, let me 1st say that I am not a happy camper until after I have had a cup of coffee.  Right now, I am here to gripe about what did not work for me in 2010

10.) Apple, I love my iPad, but why was there no camera in the first place? I am not picking on you...I am just asking.

9.) We did not find our ranch. Yes, that was very disappointing. The positive side is we lost no money this time. San Luis Obispo...we want a place already!

8.) I found out at SF Bloggy Boot Camp that my other name for my blog could have been asked to cease   by the small town in Italy. So now I have to start all over with followers. I have over 400+ followers, now I don't even have 10. The good news is I had a nice time at SF Bloggy Boot Camp.

7.) My sister came out for only a few days. Positive side was I got to see her.

6.) Every orchid plant I buy dies before a 2 month period. But I am not giving up on these plants.


5.) The shorts I wore at Disneyland may have offended some people, but guess what...I don't care! I was trying to convince myself that I was not as round as I really am. It is too late to change what has already happened anyway!

4.) My 2 giant dogs have broken too many pots. Biggies, give me a break we have already established that I am bad with houseplants these days. Lay off my big terra cotta pots! Stop using my saucers as sleds for the hill!

3.) Too many jewelry makers are making things I like. Stop already. I think I may be an addict!

2.) Artists of the world I love your work. See #3

1.) I am still fat!

The fat bottom line is...I have to change, and work at it.

Eat better, stick with it, and exercise!

What did not work for you this year?

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Gucci the Movie!

This is the movie I made on my Mac with iMovie. I am just having so much fun with the software! Can you tell?

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Out of Control No More

Today I wanted so badly to start living better. Make a jump before the rest of the world decides they want to change as well. I got up early enthusiastically looking forward to going to my kickboxing class. I even asked my husband to take me there. That way if I chickened out I would have to wait for that whole hour of class. I went to the Dojo and what to my eyes should appear..."We have Moved" Ugh! They moved to a new location that was even worse than the place they were before.

Hubby tried to reassure me to find another place. The location of another place is pretty far. Do I really want to drive so far, when the reality is I have so much already here? After much disappointment I decided that I was not going to allow the fact that one location was out of the question. I already have so much equipment. I am even a member of Spark People, so I am putting Spark People at the top of my bookmark bar.

I worked out for 30 mins today. I am pretty proud of myself. I am going to reward myself with a brand new pair of sneakers after I work out for 2 weeks. I just refuse to allow myself to get any fluffier!

Are you starting your New Year resolutions early?

Sunday, December 26, 2010

I Can't Get No...

Oh Christmas, I gotta tell you, every year I get what I want for or shall I say usually before Christmas even happens. So, What is it? Why do I feel so Unsatisfied? Maybe it is in the words of Prince "Momma is never satisfied." I mean I get it that people with some kind of emotional void live their lives trying to find what it is that is missing. I am beginning to think that I just need to take an inventory of my life, my possession, and mostly myself.

I am trying to talk myself into going to a class of kickboxing. It is something that I love, and it is an opportunity for me to get myself out of my comfort zone. Meet some new people and get healthy. I believe this is the step in the right direction that I need. I may even go as early as this Tuesday before all the people that are making their New Years resolution. I can get a jump ahead of time. One hour of my day. One hour to whip my ass into shape again. I think this may be part of void. Something Santa can't bring. This is something I have to do! I have to make this choice.

Do you need something Santa can't bring?

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Traditions

As with many of you we have certain Christmas traditions that we can not overlook. The lions at the front of our house don their Christmas hats, and we have a wreath on the front gate and the front door. We have a tiny tree that we have decorated the exact same way it was the year before, or shall I say the last 14 years. We just cover the tree, and place it in the attic. We always get a couple of rosemary plants that are trimmed to look like Christmas trees, and a little Cypress tree for the foyer.

One thing that I really look forward to is going to the Italian Deli. First thing on Christmas Eve morning I go to the Italian Deli. It pays to be one of the first ones, and there is always a line. One of the older gentlemen will tease everyone, and post a sign that they will not open until ah hour later.

Once you are inside you are treated like family. The older guys always flirt, and make you feel 10 years younger. I think I have never paid FULL price for all the food we get each year. It is like a bonus for being part of the entertainment. Everyone is laughing, and having a great time. The same people also show up for Easter. I wonder if those people are C and E Catholics like my husband.

One of the candies we can't do without is

Gianduiotti are so good! They are chocolate and hazelnut. So creamy, you take a bite, and then savor it. You only have one more bite left to savor for this one. Oh so YUMMY!

Have a very Merry Christmas Eve!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas Message

I wanted to share this little slide show with you of vintage Christmas cards.

I have thought of a million themes to write about, but my motivation level to share so much has been low. I have really avoided so many sweets and candies, and have been quite proud of myself for eating well. Now, I just have to dig a little deeper to exercise and enjoy doing it.

I have a great journal app. on my iPad that I just love. It allows you to add photos to the journal too. Pretty impressed with it.

I miss blogging, and I am going to find my way back to enjoying this again.

Warm wishes to you all! Merry Christmas on this eve of Christmas Eve.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

What Ever Wednesday

This is a photograph I took last week when my husband and I attended the Christmas Party for his office. It looks so peaceful, but if you have ever been out in the Pacific Ocean you also know the water is soooo cold.

Some companies these days don't even have a Christmas party any longer. They forgo the whole thing since people over indulge and then want to sue someone for their own overindulgence. I think it is sad, but understandable. A small company could be put out of business with just one idiot ruining it for everyone else.

There is no drinking at the party, and I think that is a good thing. This year I have opted out of attending the Christmas party for moms at school. I just don't feel like being around everyone without making a real effort to improve myself. This year was suppose to be the year I got in shape. It did not turn out that way. I had hoped that I would inspire other people instead I just can't find the inspiration for myself. I don't think I am going to find it at a Christmas party where everyone is going to be drinking.

I did buy an app that has helped me have a more positive frame of mind. It ask you a series of 5 questions every morning. I have only had it for three days...I hope this acts as a spring board into more action that I can take to get my ass out of the comfortable chair and exercise.

The couple in the Bay look like they are having a great time while I was eating crab at the party. Do you attend many Christmas parties?

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Whatever Wednesday 1

I have been reading the book "La Bella Lingua: My Love Affair With Italian Language". I really wanted the actual book, but I ended up buying the the digital version from Kindle on my iPad. Some other time I may tell you how much I really LOVE my IPad. I am going to stick with the story I want to tell you.

In the book I ran across this...Italians enjoy a furbo, this is someone that is cunning enough to pull of a deception of some kind. There are various levels of being a furbo too. A furbetto is a little child that blames another child for something they did. Fubacchione is someone that obtains a permit for something illegal like a rectangular pool that is lined in cement, but calls it storage vat for local firefighters. Furbastro is someone that can make money out of the a scam. A Furbone will end up making big profits, and negotiating a deal for the whole village. Someone that is a furbizia  is a little deceiver.

So what is the point of telling you all of this? My son is a furbo. Geez, he is in the 6th grade now, but he is experienced beyond his years. He has always been great at distracting people with his charm and charisma. He talks to everyone. They tell him their life story while we wait in line to pay for the groceries. Old women whip out their wallets full of cats, and tell him the name of each cat. When they were born, and the story of how each cat is unique in its own special way.

Once he started going to school he discovered that there were things he loved about school, and things he did not. Well, the things he did not do he made excuses for not getting them done. ONE of the many things he did was to tell his teacher he could not see across the room. He failed his eye test at school, so the school told me in a meeting with the Principal, Learning Specialist, and Therapist were all on hand to tell me that I should take my son to Berkeley twice a week to an eye specialist. This is not a cheap trip. We paid thousands of dollars, and I worried "How could I not see that my son had a vision problem?", Is there something more seriously wrong? So many questions were swirling around in my head. Two years we went to the specialist at Berkeley.

One day I noticed that he told me about a car that I could not even see on the other side of the road. I told the "Specialist" that I thought he was just loving all the attention. She told me that it was almost impossible for a child to fool all their high tech equipment. He would have to be a genius to pull off something so sophisticated.  So like I said this went on for two years. Two times a week. It was sessions that were only suppose to last an hour, as my daughter and I waited in the lobby. Interns were in the room testing, and having him play video games that "strengthened" his eyes. One day the interns that I left him with were running around from one side of the building to another. I went in to find out what was going on, and my son told them he would not play one of these games without a crown. They had been making him a crown, and allowing him to boss them around. He was even having them call him "King Sergio". I was pissed! My daughter and I had been waiting in the lobby for him to have a crown made. I told the interns to just come and get me the next time he acts like this. They then told me "We don't want to hurt the relationship we have with Sergio. We like to make sure the child wants to come back, since it is a stressful time for the child."

We attended the two nights a week for the two years. Finally, I stood up to all the authority figures, believing that there was nothing seriously wrong at this point. I took him to a regular eye doctor to figure out if her really did need glasses. It was getting a second opinion without the school or Berkeley involved. The OTHER eye specialist told me that some kids just crave a little extra attention. Why don't we allow him to have a very low prescription glasses. I did this, and we went back to Berkeley because I had to have a signed paper that he had completed the whole course. He had eye drops put in his eyes the day I took this photo. He looks like he is 6 going on 50. His sister does not look pleased. This is just one of the many, many, episodes that we have danced around with my son the furbo. Do you have a furbo in your home?

Monday, November 29, 2010

Transformation Tuesday Part II

Yeah, so this is my second round of trying to lose weight. I went to Weight Watchers.com today, but I did not exercise. I do plan to get that done. I have to dig deep to find some motivation because honestly the thought of doing exercises just adds one more thing to my growing list of things to do.

I remember in my younger, slimmer, and prettier days when I used to train people to get in shape...I used to think...How do these people not find time to exercise? Oh yeah, I was that person. You see, it came to bite me in my big apple bottom butt. Let me tell you...it hurts. I hear myself vomiting the excuses that all the people I used to train told me. I don't have time. I don't want to get all sweaty.

I know, I know, I have said this before. I want to get into shape. I really mean it this time. Right? Right!

So, as I gather the courage to really do this. I am going to get this done. I have donned my onyx bracelet (because it is suppose to add strength to your karma) Really, I am about to try anything. What motivates you to get it done?

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Giving Thanks

This is my very first post on this blog name, but I have moved from my Terra Del Sole blog to the new name Terra Del Sole D'Oro. What does it mean? It means Land of The Golden Sun. As much as I loved my former name Terra Del Sole I found that someone else already had the name. Sure, I know that there are many "Terra Del Sole" places in the United States, but the original is in Italy. The city was founded by Cosmio Medici in the 1500's. While I reading a book all about the Medici family we started on our journey to acquire our little place in the sun. I thought it was fitting to name the ranch Terra Del Sole. I started blogging, and then I attended Bloggy Boot Camp. It was there I learned that another site that already owns the name can challenge the other owner to relinquish the name.

As much as the name was more of a tribute to Cosmio I did not wish to offend the little town of Terra Del Sole, so I have Terra Del Sole D'Oro. I think it is probably a  better fit since it also includes "golden" just like the motto of California "Golden State".  Thereby we are now harmonizing our Italian and American roots.

Welcome, I hope you find our journey one that you want to continue to visit.