Whoa...shopping spree!

Last Saturday, JR and I had another chance to check out our new house (we have 1 more viewing before our closing date). So we decided to measure our bedroom, Jarrod's, kitchen and family room (these are the rooms that will have some furniture first). It's funny how the more times we look at the house, the more we love it. With measurements in tow, we decided to do some window shopping...yes, supposedly just to look. We went to Cozy Living Furniture and we had no idea they have a sale going on! Looked around and we spotted a nice looking dining table then we asked what its measurements were... the size was perfect for our small dining room! Just look at it (ok so we might have different tastes) - we loved it! And it was $500 off! Then when we asked the salesperson, and we found out that the sale was only that weekend ...great, it was probably one of their schemes to get us to buy so we told them that we're going to come back for it. We went to The Brick and found one similar to it but this one was not real wood and the other one was and it was only $100 cheaper. The salesperson was a bit arrogant too ...sheesh...he's trying to sound as if he's the most knowledgeable person around...so I nudged JR to walk away! We had a small talk about it(in the car!) and decided that the other place has a better deal and we shouldn't pass up on it. So we went back to first store and we decided to put a downpayment on it - 25% only ....money down the drain. Then JR asked about mattresses ... sheesh... and it was on sale too! We were looking for a king size mattress and we only wanted a low bed so we would only need the mattress (no boxed spring). Well, this was less than $800 !!! Another good deal! So ... you guessed it, we put another 25% downpayment! Argh! Oh well, we're broke! Again!

Shape-Up: Wedding Gown Workout Moves (The Knot)

Two things brides want on their wedding day no matter what: to feel great (the fiance at the end of the aisle helps with that) and to look great (here's where we come in). Whether you're already in great shape, or you're just beginning to wrap your mind around a bridal slim down, the right workout will get you on the fast track. How? Since it's all about the wedding, what to do depends on what you're wearing. Going strapless? Show off those perfectly toned triceps and svelte shoulders. Choosing a sleek sheath? Focus on your tummy and whittle your middle. Pick your gown style from the list below and follow the instructions to achieve a healthier, hotter you.

If you're not a gym member, invest in a good set of five- or ten-pound hand weights, then establish an every-other-day weight training routine (muscles need to rest a day to repair). For each of these exercises, start off with two sets, then increase to three as you get stronger and more secure with the routine.

The Sheath Gown Workout

Target Zone:
A sleek, smooth torso is what's required for a super sheath bod, so make ab crunches and waist toners your new best friends.


The Twist
1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent. Imagine holding a ball in between your thighs. Squeeze your thigh muscles, then pull in your belly and tuck it under your pelvis (so you're in a slight sitting position). Lace your fingers together and place your hands behind your head.

2. Keeping your chest high, slowly twist from side to side without moving your lower body, so that your upper body turns from facing left to facing right. Keep it slow -- you won't get the full benefit if you're relying on momentum. Repeat 40 times. Yep, you heard us right -- 40!


Standing Side Crunch
1. Stand in the same position as for the Twist, with your abs tucked in and your toes facing front (but drop the imaginary ball!)

2. Lift your left knee toward your left arm bringing your elbow down to meet it. Hold, then return to the starting position. Repeat it on the right –and do a total of 20 repetitions on each side.

The Best-Ever Back Workout

Target Zone:
All eyes will be on your back at you float down the aisle . An upper- and lower-back workout will help firm up that all-important rear view.


One-Arm Row
1. Stand with your left side next to the front of a bench (or a coffee table, or a futon). Place your left foot and left hand on the bench, bending your right knee. Keeping your torso parallel to the ground, grasp a dumbbell with your right hand. Let your arm hang straight down with your palm facing your thigh.

2. Slowly pull the dumbbell up and back until it’s in line with your hip. You should feel a muscle contraction in your upper back (that means it's working!). Repeat 10 times, then switch sides.


Pullover
1. Lie on the floor with your knees bent, hip-width apart, and feet planted. Grab a dumbbell with each hand and extend your arms up over your body, so that your arms make a 90-degree angle with your torso.

2. Keeping your elbows slightly bent, slowly lower the dumbbell back behind your head as far as you can; you should feel a stretch in your back muscles. Next, lift the dumbbell back into the starting position above your body, squeezing your back muscles as you go up. Do 10 repetitions per set.

The Sensational Strapless Workout

Target Zone:
This shoulder- and arm-baring style requires a combination of exercises. You'll need to work your triceps, biceps, and pectorals if you really want to strut your strapless stuff.


Biceps Curl
1. Standing with your feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent, pull your tummy in and tuck your pelvis under. Hold a heavier pair of dumbbells down at your sides with your palms facing front.

2. Keeping your elbows at your sides, slowly curl the dumbbells toward your shoulders. Reverse direction and lower the dumbbells into starting position -- avoid locking your elbows. Do 10 repetitions per set. Slow and steady wins the race here -- you'll get a bigger benefit from the exercise if you use concentrated, controlled movements. If you feel like you're whipping the weights around to get them up, your dumbbells are too heavy. Downgrade to a smaller weight so you can move more comfortably.


Flat Dumbbell Fly
1. Lie down with your knees bent and your feet firmly planted shoulder-width apart. Stretch out your arms on the floor so your body makes a T. Grasp a dumbbell in each outstretched hand, keeping your elbows slightly bent. Keep your palms facing up towards the ceiling.

2. Slowly raise the weights upward in a rounded arc (as if you were hugging a tree!), gently touching the dumbbells together at the top above your body. Hold for a few seconds, then slowly lower the weights back to their starting positions. Do 10 repetitions per set.


Triceps Dip
1. Sit normally on a sturdy, nonwheeled chair. Place your hands on the front edge of the seat (fingertips facing front) and your feet on the floor, hip-width apart and a little bit ahead of you. Slowly slide your bottom off the seat of the chair, keeping your hands where there are.

2. Keeping your arms close to your body, bend your elbows until your upper arms are parallel to the floor, allowing your rear end to descend past the edge of the chair. Using your arms to lift you, reverse direction and push yourself back up to the point at which your arms are straight. Work up to 15 dips per set.


-- Lisa Cohen Lee

Contributors: celebrity trainer Ashley Borden, fitness author Brad Schoenfeld

As if...

OMG, as if this week hasn't been exhausting already ... I had to be sick! It all started last Thursday night with ulcer. Our waiter took an hour just to get our orders! By the time, our food got there, I was already in pain...argh! So by Friday morning, I didn't feel so good already, had to throw up when I woke up (and no, I'm not pregnant). I still decided to go to work since I have already taken 2 days off during the beginning of the week for Jarrod. And boy, it was such a bad idea! Felt like crap the whole day, until 2:30 pm, my co-workers told me to go home since I looked awful and they didn't want to get sick too...sheesh! Fine, so I went home. Tried to go to sleep and my temperature just shot up! Great, a fever! So Friday night was just a blur....being in and out of consciousness. Today, I only have a slight fever so I'm probably going to rest. I'm glad it's the weekend!

It's March

Isn't this pathetic ...I'm so excited about the house!!! 2 more months and it's ours....bwahahaha!!! It's so funny that on our Agreement of Purchase on the house, they had to include a clause that says that JR and I are have no plans of makiing our house into a marijuana grow operation or grow op ... what?!? LOL! I guess they had to because of all the news about it lately.

This weekend was so exhausting. Last Friday, Jarrod and I went to Mississauga because I volunteered to take care of my 2 cousins - no one else can take care of them. So I thought of a plan on how to entertain the kids and to keep them from not getting bored while I run some errands. I decided to take them to Wendy's for lunch then we went to Home Depot after. With three kids in tow, I wanted to make this trip very short and informative so we went straight to the flooring department to ask about laminated floors and how to restain hardwood floors. I can't believe restaining the floors would be soooo expensive! Well, there goes our plan for retaining the hardwood floors, they can be done when we have more money to spend. But we're definitely thinking of taking out the carpet on the 2nd floor and basement - to be replaced with laminates - which is more low maintenance for us. I wonder if I'm going to turn out like that Toolbelt Diva from Discovery Home...lol! I have so many projects in mind but they have to wait. We still have to buy new furniture for the house - they're sooooo expensive too. After taking the kids to Home Depot, we went to The Brick to browse for living room, dining room and bedroom sets. The kids had a great time testing out all the beds and the recliners...hahaha! I hope I get that part-time job so I can have extra money to to do all these things - both JR and I would like to avoid credit cards as much as possible. Too bad all my favourite renovating shows are all in the US ...darn, why can't they move here?!? Then I took the kids for a treat - Laura Secord ice cream ....I had one too...lol! They seem happy and I was able to do my errands so we went home afterwards.

When we got home, Jarrod and I were supposed to go home but I had a migraine so we decided to sleep over again. But then Jarrod started throwing up around dinner time....so we took him to the walk -in clinic...doctor was so serious that when he was trying to make a joke...my aunt and I didn't know what to do. So the doctor told us to give Jarrod some Pedialyte ...every 10-15 min...looked like I wans't going to get some sleep. I didn't since Jarrod still threw up until 1 am. So I took him to Trillium hospital (emergency)...and waited a gruelling 4 hours before we could even be let in a room!!! After 30 min, a nurse came to see us and she was quite nice and told us to wait for the doctor...which was 1 1/2 hours after! By this time, Jarrod had stopped vomitting and when the doctor saw him, we were only to wait for 1 more hour just to see if Jarrod can keep anything in. So an hour passed, and thank God, Jarrod was better. So we went home at 8:30 am, I was soooooo sleepy and tired while driving home. But I didn't get to sleep until 3 pm in the afternoon since Jarrod was still awake and I was scared that he might throw up again. He stayed home from school until Wednesday but he's much better, finally. But I'm still sleep-deprived . Very relieved that Jarrod's ok though.

Well, the weekend is here - my chance to get more sleep. But I doubt it that I'll get that chance.