love of FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!

AS I AM INCREASING MY WORKOUT... TO OVERCOME THIS PLATEAU I AM AT WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS. IT WAS KINDA COOL TO CALCULATE. MY GOAL NOW IS TO TRY AND BURN AT LEAST HALF OF MY CALORIC INTAKE FOR THE DAY IF NOT 3/4...IT ISN'T EASY BECUZ I AM FINDING THAT I AM WORKING OUT SUPER HARD TO DO THAT. REMINDS ME OF WHEN I WOULD WORK OUT FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME I WOULD WATCH TV..MAKES YOU THINK TWICE HOW MUCH YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO WATCH. OH WELL... HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL HELP BUILD MUSCLE MASS, AND INCREASE MY BONE DENSITY AT THE SAME TIME DECREASE MY PERCENTAGE OF BODY FAT.
FOOD FOR ME IS ONE OF THE FEW PLEASURES I FIND MYSELF ENJOYING MORE AND MORE. DON'T GET ME WRONG.. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A LOVE AFFAIR WITH PLEASING MY PALETTE. CHRIS LIKES COOKING A LITTLE NOW-WE ARE SPENDING TIME TOGETHER IN THE KITCHEN, SOMETHING WE RARELY DID WHEN THE KIDS WERE YOUNG.(I DIDN'T LET HIM IN THERE...THEN...) LIFE HAS TAKEN ON SO MANY CHANGES...WHAT SEEMED TO TAKE HOURS TO GET THE MEAL ON THE TABLE WHEN THE KIDS WERE LITTLE.. NOW ALMOST SEEMS EFFORTLESS AT TIMES. AS WE EXPLORE OUR KITCHEN ADVENTURES TOGETHER IT ISN'T JUST HAVING GREAT FOOD.. IT IS A TIME FOR US TO BE TOGETHER..TALK & SHARE....HAVING FUN...LIGHT THE CANDLE & SIT DOWN TO OUR CREATION FOR THAT EVENING.. EVEN WHEN IT IS SIMPLE.. THAT IS THE BEST REALLY. SO IT IS QUITE EASY TO INDULGE IN DELICIOUS MEAL A LOT..............WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY FIRST POINT..........I HAVE TO KEEP MOVING IF I WANT TO KEEP EATING. (WHICH SEEMS TO BE WHAT WE ARE TRULY ENJOYING NOW)

So all that to say.. i went to this site to see how much calories i really needed(not what i wanted-lol)
http://weightloss.about.com/od/eatsmart/a/blcalintake.htm

Calorie counter

I have thought about how to count calories burned for the many activities, so glad when I found this calorie counter for all kinds of excercise and everyday activities. I am on a new fitness challenge- to change things up and keep motivated. It is one of those personal challenges, to stay focused & rejuvenated. Mainly we are our own motivator- no one else will do it for you! Find some activities you can enjoy with someone else. Chris just bought a new bike and we have enjoyed going riding together now that we have some cooler temps! We LOVE the Silver Comet Trail.. just beautiful. (finally got CT to get his heart pumping!)

http://primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/jumpsite/calculat.htm

This is my dahlia's and they are doing phenemonal. I love having these all summer in a vase on my kitchen table. The beautiful dark purple ornamental plant is one of my favorites. It is tradescantia pallida. It is amazing to have a splash of purple all around my landscaping. It is technically not a perennial in my zone in GA, but comes back every year. It has beautiful pinkish/purple flowers that will bloom around August. I have transplanted this successfully from cuttings with and w/out rooting hormones. Just snip it and put in the soil! I am also bringing it in as a houseplant. Without full sun it will lose some of the purple and turn more green. It stands out so beautifully against the lush green grass and many assortment of flowers, especially YELLOW!

Photos old & new

http://community.webshots.com/user/Dani1969

This is my site for photos... if you want to check it out.

Spectacular Sunflowers

They are gorgeous. I have many different birds who LOVE them, so if I can beat them to it I will let them go to seed & use them for next year. I use them in the house in my bouquets. The blooms are spectacular.

Passion Flower is one of the most beautiful I have in my garden this year. It comes back every year and can be invasive. You have to keep it under control. You can trellis it or train it to climb where you want it to go. Mine have produced fruit every year. They are fragrant and gorgeous. It will seed itself.. so you will find many new plants starting the next year. You can transplant them anywhere you want and they will take off.