Shape up for Christmas

[Lilya]

OK, I´m over my crisis and I think - and hope - the flu is behind me. Now I want to start working out. I don´t dare to go swimming yet, nor go the health club - in any case I´m saving for my Cuba trip.

I´m starting abdominals and yoga at home, using aromatherapy as I inhale. It´s imperial to exercise with the darker, shorter days. Also, and very importantly, Christmas is approaching and it´s a difficult time for us depressives. Let´s meet the holidays in great shape and look our best. :redrose

Let´s share ideas for a stressfree, healing Christmas. We deserve it!

I´m bying apple and cinnamon candles and Christmas stockings for my nieces and nephews. And I need a Christmas cleaning!

Use adversity

[Juls]

Lilya,

Oh I definitely need a christmas cleaning. LOL I'm not sure how to get through the holidays stress free, but at least minimal stress would be a good goal.

Yoga is great for exercise. Can be done anywhere with minimal equipment. I know a great ab routine that I do that doesn't take alot of time but is very effective for all the areas of the stomach.

Lilya, are you famous? It sounds like it with your book and movie. Can I name drop? LOL What about bit part in your upcoming movie.

I have to say your life style sounds somewhat envious to me with the traveling that you do and the places that you go. Scandinavia, I would love to visit there. If I ever get to Europe I'm am going to come and see you in Paris so you can show me the sights. Also if you ever come to California, please come and see me so I can show you around here in San Francisco and all.

Juls

[Mamabear]

Lilya,


This is an awesome idea for a thread. Geez I turn into a 13 year old when I'm around all of my extended family. EEk. Those old roles pop up before I know it. Add to that the pressure of "Let's have fun cause it's the holidays" and that pressure sucks.
So, how do y'all cope?

I also appreciate the reminder to exercise during these dark months. My hips are telling me the same thing
o' la la
Mamabear

[Lilya]

Let´s do something fun, then!

Juls, I really need those abdo for the stomack. I´m too weak to do bellydancing, which I´ve studied for years, but that is the best exercise, of course. I´m just flat out tired after all this craziness.

Andy Warhol said that everyone has his fifteen minutes of fame. That is so true. As I understand it, fame lives briefly and gives little satisfaction, at least not when you get used to it. It´s the big projects that are done quietly that really live on and mean something. I don´t know anyone famous who is happy. That´s why anonymity means so much to me. Many famous people live like freaks.

On the other hand, travelling is fun. I would love you to come to Paris and I would show you things the tourists don´t know about. And I would love to visit San Fransisco. I once dated a sculpturist from San Fransico living in Paris. He told me the city is like a European/American city, has the best of both worlds.

I´ve been to many cities in the States and this continent fascinates me. I´ve never seen such a big country. Someone told me the US are horizontal but Europe is vertical. I knew what that person went when I came back from Boston to Paris and drove through town with all these tall, old buildings. In America you get this enormous space. I found it so strange when I was travelling in the states of Washington and Oregon.

That is what is so fascinating in this worlds: Contrasts!

Mamabear, my hips agree with yours. Juls, give us your expertise!

Use adversity

[phoenix]

I am in Michigan and the cold really lingers.I love to walk and even run,but it's harder with the winter months.I got a small trampoline and I can run on that with a lot less stress on the joints.I also use my 15 minute break at work to alternate running and walking in the gym.It's one of the perks of working at a school

I also love yoga and recently started karate lessons with my boy.It's an awesome workout,and very good for my mind as well.

Great topic!

phoenix

[2stop]

Walking has definitely been dropping the inches off me. I walk 2 miles a day taking the kiddo's to school. I have been trying to do yoga more than I used to. Meditating helps...when I do it.LOL I will stock up on candles soon, and candles for each window in the house. I need to make a wreathe for the door. And I love stockings hanging everywhere. I don't always like traditional Christmas food, so may plan an alternatively themed feast. Love Mexican food! I am not sure yet though. Have to make a stocking for my cat. may get the kids a puppy..let it jump and wiggle out of a large box.....train around the tree...I am getting excited already! I like to take the kids to a nursing home and pass out little gifts, love to invite people to dinner with no family in the area...make homemade gifts for their teacher, and for our neighbors.. Good grief...could someone add a few hours to my clock??:p Can you tell I like Christmas..that and high expectations. May need to modify!

((((((((((((((Hugs everyone!!!!!)))))))))))))):bluerose

[Lilya]

Tammie,

How do you make a stocking for your cat? Will it sleep in it or is it to put cat candies in it? LOL, I know it´s a silly question, but is this an american tradition?

I will definately ask in my animalerie, where I buy stuff for the cats, but I haven´t seen any yet!

I have put up stockings for the kids. Each week there is a gift in it.

But I´m thinking more and more about celebrating Christmas in Copenhagen. I lived there once, and it´s a great place for the holidays. People are really laid-back there and many have their Christmas dinner quite calmly in restaurants. I would go out and have dinner with old friends, stroll down the Ströget and maybe see a good play on Christmas day. Then take the train back to Paris and just rest.

This is such a difficult time and I feel it´s time to take advantage of it and enjoy it. At least these are holidays and great for good rest. I´ll probably be on this board and exchange Christmas greetings with all of you!

I went for a walk today and I´ve done some abdominals. It feels great.

You sure sound excited about the holidays, Tammie. You´re lucky! Would you have Mexican food? If I´m not in Copenhagen, I´ll have wild game or a mandarine duck. Snails for starters!

Use adversity

[Bonni]

(((Lilya)))
You sound like you like to do the same things for Christmas the way I would like to do. Sounds like fun going to a different place or society for Christmas. And take in all the cultural surroundings. Wild game and mandarin duck sounds great, and I love escargots, one of my very favorites. And I would love to be in Paris at christmas time some day.
Usually I go to my Mothers for christmas for our traditional american christmas, with turkey and dressing, or ham and sweet potatoes for dinner. Which is fantastic, but I love to do something different once in awhile. Last year we did go to Japan, right after christmas day, to celebrate new years with my husbands family, Japanese celebrate new years in the same manner that we do christmas. That was really wonderful and a lot of fun. And our son doesnt get to see his oba-chan (grandmother) very often, so that was wonderful for him too.
Oh, and you were asking about christmas stockings for cats; we have 3 siamese cats and we always hang stockings for them.(lol) I always put there favorite treats in them like, little bags of tender vittles, and little toys with cat nip in them. They love it, spoiled cats huh? (lol)
And I'm like you, I'll probably be on the boards exchanging greetings at christmas this year too.
((Tammie)) Mexican food sounds really yummy for christmas! I have some mexican friends here in Calif. where I live, some of my mothers neighbors, and they always make tamales for christmas and give some to all of us. thats a traditional mexican dish, and so delicious!
((Jules)) San Francisco is beautiful at christmas time, or anytime, your lucky to live there. I visit there every chance I get, we live about 2-!/2 hrs south of San Francisco, over in the San Joaquin valley. Now I might lose some weight if I lived in San Francisco, because there are a lot of places I like to walk to there, if I could just stay away from all of those wonderful seafood restaurants.(LOL) Another wonderful place I'd love to go for christmas some day is NYC!
Have a great weekend all of you, lots of ((hugs)) Love Bonni

[Lilya]

Bonni,

Snails are great, the French´s excuse for eating lots of garlic and butter and white bread. LOL

Sounds really exotic, spending Christmas in Japan! I´ve spent January in Thailand and it was so wonderful. I travelled around the country, went sailing to the coral islands in the Gulf of Thailand and went to the borders on Cambodge and Vietnam. Being on the beach and staring at the jungle was amazing, and sailing on the rivers inside the jungle was like poetry. I have no words to describe it.

Cat stockings! I´ve been laughing my head off! This is the cutest thing I´ve heard in a long time. I will buy the biggest Christmas stockings and put both of my cats in them to snuggle and sleep. It will be hilarious!

Good night everybody. For those who hurt, please remember that this too shall pass. We´ll be all exchanging Christmas greetings in about a month!

Use adversity

[2stop]

Cat stockings are as much fun as the kids!! I am going to make my cat a scratching post by getting a three or four step ladder, carpetting to cover the steps, and I will hang bells and toys full of catnip and little goodies on it...and of course the stocking. He will have a"entertainment center" and a place to scratch instead of my furniture. Christmas morning should be fun!! The kids get a kick out of it too.
Lilya, I love your idea of getting stockings big enough for them to cuddle in!! Oh they will LOVE it!!!
My cat is sitting my lap as I type. He is such a hoot. Lays down and covers my hand on the mouse! Walks across the keyboard. If I try to write he grabs the pen from my hand. A very jealous cat..wants my full attention. He has been sleeping next to my sons bed in a chair with a blanket over him. he'll talk to me when I go in to wake my son up for school. I love my cat so much, I might get another one. I want a Himalayan. I used to have one..he was delightful.

[Mamabear]

Hello everyone,

I'm still on and off with computer challenges.
Tammie, 2 miles is awesome!!! I have dropped 10 lbs. I am shocked and pleased. I have stopped cramming food in my mouth when I am not hungry and am relishing food I love. I don't really have a weight problem but those extra lbs are rough on my joints. Know what I mean. I think your walking is awesome. You rock girl!!
Lilya, we have several "famous" friends (whatever the heck that means) and I think the reason our relationships have thrived because we treat them as we do other friends in our home. No big deal. No ga ga over them. I think it must be terribly lonely to be famous. It would give me a clautrophobic feeling. So, if you want to come here for the holidays, I promise no one will give a rip (tee hee) and you'll enjoy your self.
This holiday will be much quieter than those in rhe past. My husb lost his mother in the summer and it's rough( he lost his father several years before)....those first experiences without a beloved are rough. I knew her for over 20 years. That's a long time. I will miss her.
What are your plans w/ your dad?
The cat stocking sound funny. I'm more of a dog person. Have an old balck lab. He's a goof and a very lovable one. Geez. How did I get so attached to this animal!
Mamabear

[Lilya]

I think I´ll start a thread on Christmas for support and fun. We will describe our Christmas, down to the dinner and gifts, and go through all of this together.

Tammie, what´s a Himalayan cat? What do they look like?

I´m starting abdominals at home and took a nice walk just now. It´s getting so dark, but in a month we´ll have Winter Solstice and then the days will grow longer again.

I found my Native American healing cards. I wonder if there I have been speaking to anyone who knows about these cards. At Christmas time I like to look at my healing cards, I´ve got angel cards and all sorts - to get in touch with my subconscience. I am a Hawk and a Spider in Native American cards, if anyone knows what I´m talking about.

I will do a ceremony at Christmas to see what the year will behold...

Use adversity

[Mamabear]

Native American cards sound cool. Very cool sense of spirituality isn't it? Today a friend was explaining a NA ritual: during warring times the winning tribe sent a priest like figure to mourn the loss of lives and cry for all those who died at their hands. All stood and watched and cried.

Mamabear

[2stop]

A Himalayan is a mix of persian and siamese. They are quite beautiful and have a much friendlier, outgoing personality than a persian..persians can be such stuck up snots!! Gorgeous yes, but not as loveable I feel. Some are of course.

Yes I know alittle about the NA Indian cards...I forget my signs. I can't find the website I used to read about it. All I know is I am a Capricorn, December 28. Do you know all the signs Lilya, by date?

Good grief, It just hit me... my birthday is coming up!!!!! I will be 32, I feel 92, but oh well, I plan on growing younger not older..LOL!!

[Lilya]

Ha ha! Do I know the signs?

I was an astrologer under a pseudo name in London and Madrid and made good living!

I´m Gemini, Ascendant and Moon in Scorpion.

But I won´t be taking clients! I would love to know your sun signs, Ascendant and Moon to the degree. But that´s all, my friends! I´ve said goodbuy to my fortune telling days and just like it as a hobby.

So you´re a Sagittarian, Tammie. That´s a good fire sign. You´re outgoing and proud, like a Himalyan cat. My other cat is a Persian and he´s very grumpy, but cuddly.

Use adversity