Winner + Thinner Thursday!

OK - let's just jump into it. The winner of the AllModern.Com $65 shopping spree is Comment #25:

VEGAS PRINCESS

Though this was chosen via Random.Org randomater, assigning a number to every comment, I could not be more happy for Vegas Princess.

True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 48 Result: 25

I believe she has followed my blog for FOUR YEARS NOW (yes, I missed my blog's four year anniversary last month), and I know she's actually in surgery right now for her so she won't even read this, BUT I'm glad that something is working out for her. I hope this makes her smile when she wakes up.

BUT all is not lost for all the rest of the entries. I am having another giveaway in a week or two, and everyone who commented for the AllModern giveaway will automatically be entered in the draw for Prize #2 of the next giveaway (with a chance still to win Prize #1)- so hold tight! We aren't done with you yet!

With that said and done, I've noticed that sometimes my giveaways don't seem very enticing to my readers (ie, not many people seem to want to enter). Do a lot of you suffer from Giveaway Burnout (it's OK, I do too, I never win ANYTHING)? What would you like to see being offered as a giveaway?

As it stands, my next giveaway is going to be for New With Tags Forever 21 clothes, but I would appreciate your feedback on what works and what doesn't.

Moving on to OTHER blog things - I've noticed that my BLOGROLL needs some updating. A lot of blogs are defunct so they need to be removed and I think I have lots of reader/bloggers who I should add so they become part of my daily reading.

If YOU want to do a link exchange, please let me know and I'll get that all updated ASAP :)

NOW: Thinner Thursdays.

OK. I wish I had better news. Originally I thought I could be like "Wow I've lost 10 pounds this month" but honestly I am nowhere near that. I don't even think I've lost one.

That said, I haven't weighed myself so I wouldn't really know. I can pack on 10 pounds of muscle (no lie) really easily so it totally skews my perspective if I weigh myself. I always get the "Funny, you don't look like you weigh 140" which is actually a good thing.

Anyway, at least my slow progess is not due to laziness or lack of discipline, but rather just being sick with the flu. I did a circuit-training thing today and it drained the crap outta me but I hope that a spin class tomorrow morning won't push me over the edge. I'm just mildly congested now so I think I'm pretty much recovered.

And I have been eating well still which is a plus. I discovered (ie, made up on the spot) a pretty yummy snack too that is high in protein, low in calories and full of taste. I call it:

Bacon IN Eggs


(not my eggs, but you get the idea)

Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- half a strip of bacon or full strip of pre-cooked bacon
- Plain or flavoured Light Cream Cheese (I used Garlic and Herb)
- Any spices you like

Directions
Boil three eggs. Not that you don't know how to do this but add eggs (carefully) when the water boils. A good medium/hard-boiled egg takes 9 minutes. Add a splash of Vinegar (plain) to the water when it's boiling as this keeps the shells from sticking to the eggs when you peel them (use a little less tablespoon...try it, it's true!)

While you are boiling eggs, fry up the portion of bacon or put the pre-cooked in the microwave. Don't make it too crispy, this works best with softer bacon.

When eggs are done, halve them and scoop out the yolks. Discard (a full egg has 70 calories, but an egg white only has 17!).

When bacon is done, chop up into small bits. In a small bowl combine the bacon with two tablespoons of cream cheese plus whatever spices you like (I like a few dashes of Franks Red Hot + Spike). Spoon mixture into the eggs. Eat.

Calories per serving (three eggs): 140 - plus 11 grams of protein!

Eggs are great as snacks because their density really keeps you full and is satisfying to the max. Of course, Eggs are brilliant for breakfast.

I've been having the following low-cal breakfast every morning and it keeps me full for at least 3 hours:

One fried egg covered in Spike and a few drops of Frank's Red Hot ontop of a slice of Kraft Light Processed Cheese on half of a toasted Whole Grain English Muffin. 200 calories!

Another great 200 calorie option: One Fried Egg White on a Whole English Muffin with a quarter of Avocado in place of butter.


Random outfit insert:


Found this Grey Vest from Forever 21 to be quite hippy-dippy-ish (I like hippie stuff, but not in grey and not right now) and boring, so I DIYed it and added some pointy studs to the pockets, plus a belt. Much better!

Don't forget to breathe

March.

It has been a bitch of a month. And it's still not over yet. It's starting to compete with January for Worst (and Longest) Month Ever (funny how those go hand-in-hand). To say I'm stressed out is putting it mildly - in fact, I can't coherently type without feeling my heart beat a bit faster and faster. So allow me to share the trials and tribulations of this month with you.

Let's start with THE GOOD:

*The in-laws have been gone for two weeks, leaving us kids alone in the house. It has been wonderful. This alone has allowed me to keep my sanity. Unfortunately they get back tomorrow and then I flit back to my parents house without having to see them. Much.

*I'm the proud owner of three new pairs of wonderful boots. I mean, I love these boots and despite their cost (though all were on sale) they were worth it. They make it easier to give up so much (see later). I will share them with you once I deem my body appropriate for photographs, but these pics will have to do for now:

My first ModCloth.com purchase. These boots are super comfy, hide my stupid ankles and match my skintone for a nice leg-lengthening look.


These boots I have been eyeing for ages now but I just couldn't justify the price -$219 (funny how I used to spend $300 on a pair of shoes no problem but now all I can think is how much better off I am spending it on experiences and fun times instead of just one pair of shoes - I mean, my plane ticket to San Fran cost less than that. Hmmmm travel? Or shoes?). Anyhoo, popped by Modcloth again and saw they were 50% - and in grey, which is a nice change from black.

These black 80%20% boots MAY just be the best pair of boots I've ever owned. A hidden wedge for height, tough studs and front zipper with pointy toe for a rugged western look coupled with a dainty floral pattern. They make my legs look thin and I'll wear them all year-round.

*I move into my apartment in just over a week. Muse concert is also in a week. My friend's wedding is in 10 days. These are all good things....except for that wedding gift, oh crap!

*My body is less lumpy and bloated thanks to a steady intake of probiotics and eating smaller portions (and exercising, when I can).

*I've put the deposit down for my new Editor to work on my book and my mom was generous enough to front half of the deposit (wouldn't be able to do it otherwise...Editors are NOT cheap, real ones anyway).

*My Faith No More "Happy Birthday, Fucker" shirt arrived from New Zealand and I love it.

*I'm writing two articles for an online travel magazine. Which reminds me...better get on that!

*I got a permanent new doctor and he's fabulous. He actually cares and wants to get to the bottom of what ails me.

*My skin is a tiny bit better since my doctor suggested I stop using "anti-acne" formulations for my terrible bumps and use Cetaphil instead.

*I'm *this* close to having Dual Citizenship (Canada + Finland)

The BAD:

*I've been sick. Just the flu, but it's been a week now and though the fever and aches are gone, I'm still congested and feeling so tired and exhausted.

*The sickness has caused me to miss a week of workouts...this completely de-rails my weight loss goal because I could have dropped more weight had I been working out this past week. I really wanted to look good in time for my trip to California and I just don't see that happening now. Gonna feel like a fat piggy in the sun.

*Yeah, about that - there are subtle changes in my body that only I notice but I realize it's gonna take a LONG time before I fit into any of my clothes again :(

*I am still sticking to my eating plan - counting calories and being concious of everything I eat. HOWEVER, that + no drinking = BITCH. In the past when I would do a "liver cleanse" for a month, I substituted the inconveniences of not drinking with eating. But now I can't EAT what I want and I can't DRINK and I can't spend MONEY cuz I just don't have very much.

*And yeah. No money. The good news is I get EI for the rest of 2010 but the bad news is it is not enough to survive on. Like, I'm gonna have to eat Ramen noodles until I get a job...which, is unfair - why is healthy food so expensive?

I am so low on cash, that I have taken to selling things on Ebay. At first it was a way to clean out my closet but then, after seeing how much money Ebay and Paypal take from you, it turned into a way of surviving. I have a trip to Cali I need to pay for, an Editor I need to pay for, gym classes and personal trainer I need to pay for, and the only way I can pay for these things is to sell practically everything I own.It's only fair I guess, because these are not things that are essential to living but it still sucks.

*Which brings me to another thing - it was cathartic to give 6 garbage bags full of AWESOME clothes away to the SPCA:



It was cleansing to rid my closet of things I never wore, didn't fit right or just got attached to, or even things I didn't need (Do I need two white halter tops? no). But it was painful to part with clothes that I still loved, purely because I needed the money from them. Like my Jeffrey Campbell 99 wedges...never even got to leave the house in them *sob*

And yes, I know I just bought boots (see above) but I sold some pricey shoes that I loved to make up for it. So it was a trade. I hadn't bought shoes in a very, very long time and knew that if I just got rid of the "designer" brands that I was snobby about but never wore and replaced them with more practical brands that I would wear all the time, it would be totally worth it.

*I can't stop stressing about money.

I think I'm afraid if I don't keep fretting about it, I'll do something stupid and buy something I can't afford (oh, it almost happened last night haha). I keep going over my income from the government and the bills I have to pay and the figure makes me sad.

It could be worse, I keep that in mind, and I know I can do it but it's going to be really, really hard. Especially since after this Ebay load, I won't have anything more to sell so sticking to my meager budget will be paramount (and when I say budget, I mean I have a monthly clothing allowance of $50 lol)- Luckily, I have become more thrifty with money since the New Year, so it hopefully won't be impossible.

*I may need to have surgery on my feet again - I think they are getting worse over time and I want to fix what I can, when I can. It scares me though...I don't want to have to learn to walk all over again!!

*My tenants just informed me that the ceiling in the bathroom leaks when the guy upstairs takes a shower. Luckily it leaks in to the bathtub. Unluckily, it looks like the ceiling is rotted from it. WTF do I do now?

* I owe my tenants their $500 deposit cheque next week. I don't have $500.

So, in short: No Money + No Wine + No Food + Sick + Fat = SAD FACE EMOTICON

BUT

I also know that things will eventually work themselves out. And that even though April itself will be rife with more money troubles, it'll be a better month. Least not for that glass of wine I can finally have.

Thanks for listening.

BTW - Stay tuned for tomorrow when I announce the winner of the All Modern Giveaway AND I share some low-cal/good food recipes.

Lindis Pass - my magical place

OK. I'm completely hi-jacking my Music Mondays post on the Gorillaz because I really wanted to show you some photos of a mystical, magical spot on the South Island of New Zealand. I promise to get to my music sensibilities next week, however I was perusing my NZ photos and shots of this place kept bringing me back.

Lindis Pass is nothing special, really. It's just a mountain pass between Queenstown and Twizel. But ever since I saw a picture of the bleek hills and winding roads in a guidebook TEN YEARS AGO, I've been strangely drawn to the place.

Finally in December I got to experience the pass first hand as we drove in our $2 SUV on a gorgeously sunny day up to Twizel.

Again, the pass is just a bunch of rolling hills of dry tussock grass. But just like I have been drawn to the deserts and the craggy bare peaks around Palm Desert, so am I drawn to these. I guess growing up in a wonderfully green place, surrounded by acres of tall trees, there is something novel and whimsical about mountains in which you can actually see the ground and every waning nook and cranny, every fold, cavern and cliff.

In this case, the grass is browner on the other side.



Heading there, leaving the Queenstown area






Taken from the speeding car - took my breath away












M-Patt checks it out





Passing through: out of Lindis Pass and onto the flat plains on the other side. Next stop, Twizel.

Fashion Fridays with Kira: Tattoo Culture

Hay guys, it's guest-blogger Kixy again, here to do the Friday Fashion blog. Weee!

This week I wanted to do a theme, so I could collect my thoughts into one place instead of frittering around with a bunch of random ones. The random posts are fine, don't get me wrong; but i'm totally in a mood for some sort of structured thought right now. And today, that theme is: tattoo culture.

This is a huge scene. A huge, huge scene. Everyone falls in somewhere. There's the people who don't necessarily want a tattoo, or even like them (like Wanderlusting). There's the people who got one because it was the cool thing to do, and stopped at that. And there's also the people (like myself) who have always had an innate artistic nature, and yearned for some way to further push the envelope in terms of expressing themselves. Everyone falls in somewhere, if not in these generic categories, than somewhere in between.

My mini-me ♥ taken from a painting by the absolutely incredible (and my favourite artist) Audrey Kawasaki.

I found out years after getting this done that it's a mantra for AA. I am not an alcoholic, fyi.

One of my faves - sakura blossom behind my ear. surprisingly not very painful and also, I forget about it a lot since I never see it. Oops, lol.

Rose on my forearm - was done super cheap for fundraising, so essentially they could've tattooed a leprechaun on me and I would've said ok. Luckily, I did get to choose this from a whole sheet of things. lol.

Tattoo culture has become so huge that it's hard not to consider it a trend now. Which isn't necessarily bad, as artists are coming up with frikkin' amazing pieces all the time that render into (or from) the tattoo scene somehow, and that is cool beans.

The best thing about this scene is how much variety there is. So many inspirations delivered in so many different ways. From old-school (nautical) to new school (cupcakes) and of course, anything tribal, flowery or dark and edgy - these pieces remind me of the whole tattoo culture and all it's intricacies.

Moving on, let's see some really cool shit:

Sugar Skull Laptop Decal by beepart:

This decal is so damn awesome. I want one nnnnnnnnow! Inspired by Dia de la Muerte (Day of the Dead) Sugar Skulls, this is a quick way to spruce up your laptop for cheap. Great way to make a statement.


Rose & Diamond Necklace by wickedminky:


I loves wickedminky ♥ She hand-paints everything, and does an incredible job. This is made from painted acryclic plastic, and it's probably pretty durable. I have a different necklace from her and it's been awesome so far in terms of standing up to everyday wear (and even a jumping puppy getting tangled in it). The details are amazing and the rose is a great interpretation of a lot of new-school roses that are done nowadays with something in the middle (diamonds, cupcakes, skulls, etc). Lovelovelovelove.


Pinup Tattoo Pillow by AllegraB:

GAH! SO CUTE! This pillow is fantastic, from the crazy patterns to the modern pinups, it's fully representative of tattoos. One of the most popular styles is pinups, from the super old-school Sailor Jerry type to the modern edgy ones like this. Loves it!

Tattoo Man Pendant by QueenBeanJewels:


All I have to say about this is that it's hilarious. Straight up. Best pendant ever. Who DOESN'T want a picture of some old dude in shorts with head to toe tattys?! Excellent. I love the random palm tree in the background.


Peacock Feather Tattoo Print Tights by post:


These are so dainty and classy, and yet have a touch of rawness to them. The gorgeous peacock feather stands out against the nude sheer tights, almost as if you've got this massive black tattoo on your leg. This is a rad idea and major props to them for coming up with this. Check out all their other ones, they've even got ones with bats going up the leg! Awesommmmme!


Sailor Heart Anchor Hairclip by StaySweetDesignz:


The perfect little somethin' somethin' for your hair. You could wear this anywhere: the bar, to work, out with family, whatever. I'm also working on creating some pieces similar to this so I love the idea of layering fabrics and throwing a cute focus piece on top.


And there we have it. I got swamped at work today (for once - go effing figure) and then taken out for dinner as soon as I finally got a chance to start on this so I apologize for it being published so late!

and now, back to Karina! *insert awesome theme song music*

*************

Lusty here.

Sorry for not doing my Thinner Thursdays (I had a really great low-cal snack recipe too) but I've been blasted with a flu that has taken the wind right out of my sails. But stay tuned for next Thursday for more fitness/health updates.

Fashion-wise, I'm slowly coming around. Helps that I'm eating right and working out, so that I feel more confident even though I am far from my "dream body." I've been selling tons of stuff on Ebay, giving away mounds of clothes and in this "Wardrobe Detox" I've found lots of stuff in my closet that deserve a second chance.

One thing I found was this black bag:


Did you know that aside from this bag - and I never bought it so I'm not sure how it came to be in posession - I don't own a single black bag? Weird, huh?

And I've been looking for one, just something simple but with chains and maybe stud details. I found a bunch but the faux leather ones always look cheap and everything else was so expensive. SO, I did what anyone on a budget would do and I blinged up the bag myself. Ta-da!







And now it's paired with a Walmart tweed cropped jacket I also found in my closet - I must have got it at a clothing swap and I almost donated it along with my other clothes but alas I decided to give it a second chance (thanks to the suggestions of my bf and his sister) and I'm glad I did!

(don't mind the bracelet - it was a free gift from ModCloth and I forgot to take it off for the photo, it doesn't really go with the outfit)

Remember to enter the All Modern $65 Giveaway!! You guys have had some FANTASTIC suggestions so far :)

Spring Furnishing + All Modern Giveaway!

Calling all readers: I need help trying to spruce up my small apartment! New bathroom fixtures? Home bars to keep my burgeoning wine collection? New or less Art Work on the walls? Remember, I own it so I can do anything I want...


As most of you know, I am moving back to my Downtown West End apartment on April 1. My man and I could not be more excited, even though having to pay my own mortgage myself again while receiving a meager Unemployment Cheque from the government isn't much fun.

But moving back to my place will mean a whole lot of niceness. Yes, I am still going to sell the place but it's best to do it while we're actually living in it and not renters. But it will take some time, so why not embrace all that living there means:

watching the light bounce off the ocean from my bed*****my favourite spin classes a 15-minute stroll away****jogging in Stanley Park and along the seawall****having the most vibrant neighbourhood just a one-minute walk away****our favourite sushi places all within three blocks****watching the fireworks display from the roof and having my annual Fireworks Party (you know the party scene in Breakfast at Tiffany's? It's like that)****early morning swims in the pool when the sun is raw and the water is still****dining al fresco on the roof with a big bottle of white wine****having friends nearby****being able to cook my own food without someone's mother breathing down my neck and telling me I'm doing it all wrong****having everything in downtown Vancouver within walking distance...and of course, having MY place back, a place that's all MINE. Well, and my bf's.

Of course, the apartment is still a studio, still a shoebox and still cramped for the two of us, so I am hoping to make a few changes in the apartment to make it seem like new.

For one, I'm not bringing as many books and knick knacks, so the place will be less cluttered.

For two, I'm not bringing as many clothes - that's because I just donated a HUGE - like 40 pound - pile of new and used clothes to the SPCA. It was very, VERY cathartic. I'm used to tossing or giving to friends stuff I don't wear or like, but this time I even gave away things I DO like...I just didn't NEED.

AND because I'm selling a whack of designer stuff on Ebay. Wanna check it out? The bidding for some items ends tomorrow (and remember, I'm throwing in a choice of top for any readers who win): MY EBAY LINK

And for three, we're planning on getting a new couch and TV stand, which should help.

BUT I am still looking for suggestions from you readers. What do you think makes big changes in your place? REMEMBER this is a studio apartment so it's small. So think BIG but make it small. And also, I'm broke. So pricey things are out of the question.

Please leave your tips and suggestions below and you will automatically be entered in:


THE ALL MODERN GIVEAWAY!

Courtesy of CSN Stores, I have been given a great opportunity for you readers - a chance to win a $65 shopping spree at All Modern.com.

The contest will run for one week (until next Thursday) and is open to everyone wherever AM ships.

There are THREE ways to enter this fab giveaway:

1) Leave a comment below (hopefully by suggesting some fun stuff I should do to my apartment, perhaps by visiting http://www.allmodern.com/ ?)

2) Tweet about this giveaway (be sure to @reply me WanderlustingKH)

OR

3) Mention this giveaway on YOUR blog (and lemme know about it, K?)

You can do ALL THREE of these things above and it will get you THREE ENTRIES into this fabulous giveaway.

So far, I'm loving everything on their site - I think this Chalkboard Sticker will look fabulous on the one black wall I have:


Hopefully that'll get you thinking....love to see what you guys suggest for me :)

Travel Tuesday - Kapiti Koasting

OFF THE BAT - HUGE GIVEAWAY ON WEDNESDAY! This time at a fab home decor store. Watch this space! I said WATCH IT!

I WAS going to make this an Olympic-based post because I still have many stories to tell (including the time I met real-life Lenny and Carl from the Simpsons walking down the street. Chief Wiggum, Mrs. Krabapple, they were all there too. No, I wasn't high). I also wanted to do a fashiony-post on all the different Red + White Canadian outfits I wore, but I think that will come next week.

Even though right NOW the Paralympics are on in the city. The Opening Ceremonies were lovely and there is something so inspiring about watching these athletes play (they put my disability into perspective, THAT'S FOR SURE) but sadly the city just isn't embracing it as much as they normal Olympics. I think it's cuz we are still a bit burnt-out. I know I am!

So on to the New Zealand Travel Post for Travel Tuesdays:






This pic is a joke for all you Kiwis...all I need now is Lion Red :)

Anyway, I felt like I was neglecting New Zealand a bit, so I've decided to share some fun times and photographs from the last weekend we spent there. I visted my sister and her family who live on the Kapiti Coast, just north of Wellington and stayed with them until we had to fly back home :(

My sister and her husband Hamish are filmmakers...she dabbles in different stuff now, but Hamish is pretty much Peter Jackson's right-hand man (grip-wise). They both worked as grips on his first films (Meet the Feebles, Brain Dead, Heavenly Creatures, etc), and Hamish is still with him all the way up to The Lovely Bones.

Hamish is also an artist and he adorns all of their common areas with peices of his stunning and unusual sculptures.









You might have heard me post about Linda and Hamish before, here. Everytime I have visited them, they've always lived in a different place (filming does that)- Seatoun (just outside of Wellington city, where PJ lives), Punakaiki on the South Island (two different places in that wee hamlet), Paekakariki (also on the Kapiti Coast) but they've finally settled down. On the Kapiti Coast again (it is wonderfully free and only 40 min north of Wellington) but in the perpetually sunny town of Otaki.

As usual they live right on (or across) from the beach, but the Otaki Sun didn't really shine for us on our last days in New Zealand. No matter, it was still a stunning end to our trip and a great way to just CHILL THE F OUT.

It was great seeing my nephews Tor and Bjorn...my goodness...they've grown! Such polite and wildly creative young men, it was a shock since I hadn't seen them for 5 years!

Bjorn taught us how to ride their segway. As someone with balancing problems, let me tell you, that face I am making is genuine.





Hamish and Linda took us out for a ride on their ATV on the beach. The light coming through the clouds was just gorgeous. We were a little high though, which added to the danger (totally thought I was going to fall off the thing).















We ate lots of good food, including a rich Jaimie Oliver lamb stew recipe, Pavlova with homemade white chocolate sauce and local fish and chips.








Mike and I went on a windy beach walk ourselves and even though I have been swimming in that water before, I was a bit surprised to find a stinging Bluebottle Jellyfish washed up on the shore, as well as some dried out blowfish.












The rest of the time we just lounged around, drank beer, talked, smoked, hung out with the dogs.







Needless to say it was sad when I had to wave goodbye to my family!



We were dropped off in Wellington with a few hours to kill before our flight back to Auckland (and then back to Vancouver SAD FACE), so we had a scrumptious Mexican lunch at a breezy outdoor restaurant on Courtney Place called Coyotes, before I dragged Mike to the always free, always cool Te Papa museum.





This was my fourth time there and it never gets old, especially when checking out the exhibits...





Or hanging out in their faux bush walk outside.






SIGH. Good times!

Remember to check back here tomorrow afternoon to enter the swell giveaway! You'll LOVE it :)

Speaking of, STYLE SYMMETRY is having a fab giveaway for a kimono belt. Check it out HERE!