I dare you to open up a fashion magazine and not wish for that body.  We all do it but we shouldn’t.  It’s an unfair comparison considering most of those beautiful women don’t look like that.  Thanks to the wonders of digital photos you can do touch ups to the point it doesn’t even look like the same person.   Here’s a great article on the so called “photoshop diet” The model looked hot in the “before” pic but the “after” pic is just weird!

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/ann-taylor-s-retoucher-strikes-again-2225865/

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I used to think summer was an easy time to watch your weight.  There’s lot of fresh fruit and veggies around and lean grilled meats but as the summer goes on I’m realizing the opposite is true.  Sure you can grill up some low calorie main courses but backyard BBQs are usually packed with high calorie foods like macaroni and potato salads.  They taste great but aren’t good for your waistline.  Another thing that really can pack on the pounds this summer are the cocktails.  Did you know a margarita has the calories equal to 3 glazed donuts!!!???  That’s just one!!  And who has just one?? 

Here’s a list of the worst and best summer drinks. 

Worst summer cocktails:

• Margarita (made with premix): 740 calories, 14 tsp of sugar
• Long Island Iced Tea: 780 calories, 11 tsp of sugar
• White Russian: 425 calories, 6.5 tsp of sugar
•  Mai Tai: 350 calories, 7.5 tsp of sugar
• Smirnoff Ice: 310 calories, 8 tsp of sugar

Lighter summer cocktails:

• White Wine Spritzer: 50 calories
• Molson Canadian 67: 67 calories
• Mike’s Light: 80 calories
• Cosmopolitan: 150 calories
• Mojito: 160 calories

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For a year I wanted to stain our front porch.  This weekend I finally did it.  It took me a hour and 15 minutes….that’s all.  For a year I’ve been putting it off.  Why?  There are so many reasons..LOL.  Mostly because I didn’t want to leave the kids to fend for themselves.  This year they were old enough to play without killing themselves while I worked on the house.  Our oldest played in the court with friends and our now 3 year old hung around me and played on the drive way.  I can’t believe the difference a year makes as our kids age.  I couldn’t have imagined leaving the kids to play while I tried to accomplish anything last year. It’s getting easier everyday.  That being said, I don’t want them to grow up too quickly.  I went into our 7 year old’s room to check on her before I went to bed the other night and started to tear up.  It seems like just yesterday she was a 7 pound baby and now I can see her “adult” face coming through.  Before I know it she’s going to be moving out!!  OK, maybe not next week but soon enough.  I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.  Good thing I have a few more years to get used to the idea:)

Jamie

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“Grease” is one of my all time favorite movies and I was thrilled to find out a special sing a long movie is being released in select theatres starting today.  I would LOVE to get all dressed up and head to theatre to sing my guts out.  Turns out, if we want to see the movie in North Bay we have to demand it.  I’ve cast my vote so I’ll leave the rest up to you.

click on the link to demand the flick in North Bay

http://eventful.com/competitions/grease2010?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=competition&utm_campaign=share_tool_grease_dc

and here’s a little taste of what we’re in for!!!

Summer Lovin’ Jamie  LOL

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Sunday marks the half way point to Christmas!  July 25th is Christmas in July.  In the past, it’s been a reason for stores to have sales but now some are taking the spirit a little too far.  Sears and Walmart in the U-S are putting up Christmas displays and a store in England will be playing Christmas music on Sunday. To me,  this is well and good if it’s for the weekend only but if these displays remain UNTIL Christmas……..ARGH!  Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas, it’s one of my favorite times of the year…however I want to enjoy summer.  We only get a few short months of warm weather and I want to spend my time soaking up the sun, on the beach!  That being said if anyone wants to get me a Christmas in July gift…I’d gladly accept it:) LOL

Jamie

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Our daughter turns 3 today!!!! It feels like just yesterday I was pregnant and now she’s telling me she wants to go to school!  Wow,  time flies by when you have kids. 

With a birthday comes a party.  Dan dreads kids birthday parties.  I don’t mind them, but we aren’t planning a traditional “kids” party.  We are basically having friends and their families over for a BBQ to celebrate this weekend.

I need help with game ideas for the kids.  The catch, they range in age from 11 to 3!  Last year we got a Dora pinata…..bad idea.  I never realized how awful it would look when our kids took a stick and beat poor Dora!  I probably will get a pinata this year…I’ll just make sure it’s an inanimate object, like a cactus.  A donkey is even iffy. 

So any suggestions for fun backyard party games??? 

Jamie

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The 7 year itch…if you can make it past 7 years of marriage you’re good.  Do you believe that?  Well, researchers now say 12 years is where couples need to get to make it.

I think we need to “scratch” that itch…and by that I mean….GET RID OF IT!  There is no magic number couples need to hit in order to make certain their marriage stands the test of time.   Marriage is great but it needs work.  Romance will fizzle if you forget about it.  It won’t matter if you’re married 7, 12 or even 25 years.  Dan and I try to set aside time for date nights, but to be honest with you, not as often as I’d like.  Oh well at least the want is there:)

What do you do to keep the ol’ fire burning????

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Last night Pink was injured performing in Germany…take a look.  She ok, but seriously sore.

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A Canadian film is kicking off the Toronto International Film Festival in September.  “Score: A Hockey Musical”, stars Olivia Newton John, Nelly Furtado and Walter Gretzky!  Check out the trailer.  I don’t want to sway your view but…..I think it looks a little campy.  What do you think?

Jamie

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Back in the saddle again.  Dan and I are back at work after a two week break.  When I mean break, I mean not working.  We didn’t take a break, we put it into overdrive.  We took the family out West to visit family and friends and had a lot of fun doing it but boy were we busy!   We flew to Edmonton and hung out with friends at West Edmonton Mall.  Have you ever been to this mall?  It’s beyond awesome.  Not only is it a shoppers dream, but you could spend days in the mall itself.  We spent the morning at the huge Indoor Waterpark.  There’s a wavepool, play area for the kids that includes a gigantic bucket of water that falls on top of those below and then there are the massive waterslides.  So much fun.  Like I said…. that was just the morning.  In the afternoon we checked out the indoor amusement park called Galaxyland.  This was just day one!!  We also checked out a waterpark in Red Deer, visited the Calgary Zoo, went for lunch in the mountains of Canmore, Alberta and then it was off to B.C.  While in Vancouver we found our way to The Vancouver Aquarium, strolled through the market at Granville Island and toured Howe’s Sound on a Zodiac boat tour!    I’m exhausted just writing this! The real vacation will be in dribs and drabs this summer.  Trips to The Cove, overnight excursions to Samuel de Champlain Park and ice cream at the waterfront….the relaxing moments of summer.

How do you plan to relax this summer?

Jamie

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