forty before forty

hello 39

Posted by

3

Remember last year on my 38th birthday when I decided to publish a forty before forty bucket list? Yeah, maybe I was a little too ambitious… I mean, how does one master and perform the Footloose dance annnnnd get bangs in only two short years?

Perhaps I should change it to fifty before fifty and add ten more items to the list? Regardless, I am trying, slowly plugging away at my list and since today is my 39th birthday, I thought it’d be fun for a little update on progress.

  1. Take piano lessons (I quit after one year – my sisters are beautiful players, and I’ve come to regret dropping out).
  2. See Hawaii – it has been my dream to take David to Hawaii for his 10th birthday since the day he was born. He will turn 10 less than two months before my 40th, so the timing will be tight, but I am sure Mike can make this happen.
  3. Make some pottery – take a class.
    YES! And it was so much fun. I really want to find the time and go back and make more bowls. One can never have too many deformed bowls.

  4. Visit all of the National Parks in Atlantic Canada. There are 10, I’ve seen 5 (can you go to Sable Island?)
  5. Get a tattoo. Hah! Where the heck did that come from?
    YES! Thanks to Jodie, I actually got a real tattoo! It may be the smallest tattoo, but still, it’s legit, and I love it.

  6. Make a move. Not sure if it will be career or school or a move to the country, but I like the idea.
  7. Sail away – even if it’s just around the Armdale.
  8. WALLPAPER my itty bitty bathroom.
  9. Bangs. Try them out.
  10. Rent a cottage with some lady-friends for +2 nights and drink way too much wine.
    Can I count Savannah? My lady-friends and I rented an Airbnb and tried a variety of southern drinks. Please weigh in.

  11. Scuba dive. Ideally off the Florida Keys. With Kyle Chandler.
  12. Win something.
  13. Buy a silk blouse. I’m thinking a nice deep midnight blue button down.
  14. Try Whole 30. It’s just 30 days… how terrible can it be?
    YES! I am not going to sugarcoat it (because sugar is not allowed), it was terrible, but I did it. See the full recap here.

  15. Sip sweet tea in the South like a Georgia Peach.
    YES! Y’all, sweet tea is SWEEET (dare I say too sweet), but Savannah is amazing. I highly recommend it for a girl’s weekend getaway. We had the most wonderful time, and we also had a lot of fried green tomatoes.
  16. Take tennis lessons.
  17. Sign up for a Yoga session.
  18. Get eyelash extensions.
  19. Make a batch of wine. I promise, it won’t be low class, and I promise I will not force you to drink it.
  20. Run a Spring marathon (I’ve run September, October and Novembers only)
  21. Get a new personal best in a marathon (which would be sub 3:56:00)
    YES! 3:45:45 – bam. I ran the Wineglass Marathon in the fall and can’t say enough good things about this race. Actually, I did say a lot, you can read all about it here.

  22. Learn and perform the full Footloose dance.
    Currently in training. 
  23. Try snowboarding *again.
  24. Buy watercolours. Watercolour.
    YES! I bought watercolours, and they’ve been sitting in my desk drawer for months, but I was determined to get one painting done before this week. Just like art school, all the best work happens right before the deadline. 
  25. Attend an epic festival, concert or event (like Mardi Gras, The Beach Boys in California, Running of the Bulls, etc.)
  26. Donate plasma.
    I should have done this before the tattoo. 
  27. Ride in a helicopter (ideally while visiting #2)
  28. Volunteer.
    YES! I joined the Youth Running Series board this year, and it’s been fun. Getting kids active is something I am pretty passionate about.

  29. Get a reading done by a psychic medium.
  30. Go to a drive-in movie.
  31. Explore a new country.
  32. Read a novel in one weekend.
  33. Take a solo vacation.
  34. Host a holiday dinner or a murder mystery party.
  35. Change a tire. Change the oil. Learn these skills.
  36. Scoot around on a scooter and end up at the ocean.
  37. Attend a retreat or workshop of some sort.
    YES! Amanda, my mom and me attended a macrame workshop last June. It was a great time and much to Mike’s distaste, we now have a happy fern hanging in our living room.

  38. Watch all of the movies on the AFI’s 100 Greatest American Films of All Time (I’ve seen about 40 so far).
  39. Dip my toes in Lake Louise.
  40. Party like it’s 1979.

As you can see, that’s 8 out of 40. I’m no mathematician, but I don’t think that’s great. Like I said, I am not giving up and even have the following 8 items on this year’s 100 Day of Summer list:

  • Buy a silk blouse
  • change a tire. Change the oil. Learn these skills.
  • visit Kouchibouguac National Park
  • get bangs
  • go to a drive-in
  • explore a new country
  • learn and perform the full Footloose dance
  • go sailing

So wish me luck! Forty is coming.

psst. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe and share. xomeg

holy **** I finished whole30November!

Posted by

0

It’s over. I’m done. I did it. Now where the heck’s my medal?

Seriously, guys, I am so happy to be done but before I finally stop talking about #whole30November, I thought I’d share 3o THINGS ABOUT WHOLE30:

  1. I have willpower like a rock star… or a Hollywood actress who doesn’t eat anything. I never cheated once. Not even a lick from the Nutella spoon.
  2. My body runs on carbs. Some days I felt great but most days I felt really weak.
  3. Week one sucked, week two and three were pretty good but week four sucked more than week one.
  4. I ate +60 eggs.
  5. I am day drinking right now (not really).
  6. I did miss my weekend drinks but alcohol was definitely not the hardest things for me to give up… What was the hardest thing you ask? Sandwiches.
  7. The Whole30 made me antisocial. No one wants to hang out with the girl who eats raw nuts as a treat.
  8. The Whole30 made me shop online more. I think it’s called retail therapy.
  9. Do not attempt the Whole30 if you’re vegan or if you don’t eat fish. You may evaporate.
  10. Eating meat would have helped I bet.
  11. There were times I was secretly hoping I’d faint so I’d have a legit excuse to quit.
  12. News flash, sugar is in everything.
  13. I went from carb loading September to recovery October to Whole30 November… not a health plan I’ll endorse.
  14. I’d rather run a marathon any day than do this again plus, the finish line of a marathon is definitely more rewarding.
  15. BUT I think I talked as much about the Whole30 as I talk about marathon training. Sorry.
  16. My skin is drier and I broke out more.
  17. My hair, however, seems shinier (Sophie agrees).
  18. I was never bloated and never had indigestion.
  19. … But my system was not happy (do I need to explain?)
  20. It’s a lot of work. Planning, prepping, cooking. There is no easy way around it.
  21. What everyone really wants to know… I lost ~5 lbs. I wasn’t setting out to lose weight. If I was, I would not have eaten so many figs.
  22. Having a support team helped.
  23. My mother-in-law cooked for me one night, it was a definite highlight.
  24. There are a few things about the Whole30 I disagree with (if all of the ingredients are compliant, I ate it).
  25. I am slightly curious to try variations of the Whole30… like monthly eliminations of specific foods to see how my body reacts. I think eliminating everything at once doesn’t tell you much.
  26. … But don’t worry, I won’t be doing that anytime soon.
  27. I apologize for whatever I said this month.
  28. Busy Philips did, and so did I.
  29. It’s a check off my forty before forty list!
  30. I will likely not do it again!

In summary, #whole30November was not life-changing. Am I better for doing it? Meh. I will say that I’m happy it’s done but I am most happy with learning that I had the willpower to get through hard things. I am pretty good at setting personal challenges but I’m also pretty good at eating what I want when I want so this was a bit of an eye-opener. My friend once said I run so I can eat what I want which is how I often feel so this was a great introduction to adding a better diet to good fitness. I’ve been told it’s all about balance.

Good luck if you dare to try – I have the cookbook if you want to borrow it!

THIS HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DESK FOR 30 DAYS!

Week 1 / Week 2 / Week 3

psst. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe and share. xomeg

twenty-five favourites

Posted by

0

Step aside Oprah, I have a list too and it’s fit for a princess!

Meghan’s favourite 2017!

  1. Cashmere Hoodie – Everlane (splurge):
    Because I am always cold. Plus it’s pink!
  2. Full-On Luxtreme Tights – Lululemon:
    Because I plan to do a spring marathon and need more winter tights.
  3. Necklace – Catbird:
    Because it’s Catbird and it’s pretty.
  4. Pajama Pants – J.Crew:
    Because I need something warm to throw on when I come in from running.
  5. Watercolors – Sakura 24-Colors:
    Because of #24 on my forty before forty: “    Buy watercolours. Watercolour.”
  6.  Everyday Watercolor: Learn to Paint Watercolor in 30 Days:
    Because I have no clue how to watercolour.
  7. Online Photography Class – Minimalist Baker:
    Because I plan to spend more time with my camera and need inspiration and a guiding hand.
  8. Run Fast Eat Slow – Cookbook:
    Because I want to run fast and eat slow.
  9. iPhone Case – Apple:
    Because Erin Mac has one and now I want one too.
  10. Pre-Fold Coffee Filters – Chemex:
    Because I ran out and the grocery store cone filters suck.
  11. Satsuma Shower Gel – The Body Shop:
    Because Satsuma reminds me of the 1990s and that’s not a bad thing.
  12. Wicked Good Slippers – L.L. Bean:
    See #4
  13. 1/4-Zip Fleece – Patagonia:
    Because it’s the best feel-good, fits well, casual but not frumpy fleece.
  14. Earbuds – JBL:
    Because I’ve been running with broken earbuds for 8 months.
  15. Wireless remote control – Nikon:
    See #7
  16. Wireless Mobile Adapter – Nikon:
    See #7
  17. Capri Blue Candle – Anthropologie:
    Because I’ve been told this is what makes all of the Anthropologies stores smell so good.
  18. Cute hat – Oiselle:
    Because I like Oiselle and I like this toque!
  19. Dream Cream – Lush:
    Because it lives up to its name.
  20. Sea Spray – Lush:
    Because the ocean can never be close enough.
  21. Cosmetic Bag – Rifle Paper Co.:
    Because I’m dreaming of great travelling adventures in 2018.
  22. Dry Shampoo – Living Proof:
    Because I’m a girl who washes my hair every third day.
  23. Mirror – Ikea:
    Because I have no idea what I look like from the waist down (we don’t have a great full-length mirror in the house).
  24. Potato Ricer – OXO Good Grips:
    Because I hate poorly mashed, mashed potatoes.
  25. Running Socks – Smartwool:
    Because I ruined a half-dozen pairs of running socks this year + Santa always gives socks in stockings, right?

What about you? Tell me what’s on your list!

psst. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe and share.Happy holidays! xomeg

**

here’s the last list I made, way back in 2014 with a small update in 2016.

30 whole days

Posted by

0

#14 on my forty before forty bucket list items is: Try Whole 30. It’s just 30 days… how terrible can it be?

I ran a marathon on October 1* and I’m giving myself 30 days of recovery and indulgence before November 1, when I will officially start the Whole30. So here we are, 10 days out and I am gearing up by doing the following:

  1. Recruit
  2. Research
  3. Plan

1. RECRUIT: Who wants to join in? My mom and my co-worker Sophie are also going to give it and try. How about you? It’s not like you have anything better to do, it’s November.

2. RESEARCH: (source) What you need to know:

What You Can’t Eat on Whole30

1. Dairy: no cheese, cow milk, yogurt, cream, sour cream, kefir, and butter. The only exception to this rule is that you can have ghee.

2. Grains: This means no corn, rice, quinoa, wheat, rye, millet, sorghum, amaranth, buckwheat, bulgur, or sprouted grains.

3. Alcohol: No alcohol for cooking or drinking is to be consumed while doing Whole30. This includes vanilla extract. You can have something like kombucha.

4. Legumes: For 30 days you can’t eat beans of any kind, soy of any kind (including tofu, soy sauce, miso, edamame), chickpeas, peas, lentils, and peanuts.

5. Added Sugar: Don’t consume sugar that is real or artificial during the 30 days. This includes honey, maple syrup, agave, Splenda, xylitol, and Stevia. 

6. Carrageenan, MSG, and Sulfites: Avoid processed foods while doing Whole30. 

7. “Junk” Food: This means that you can’t recreate your favorite junk food or baked good recipes even if they use Whole30-compliant ingredients. This is less to do with your physical reactions to food, and more to do with the mental side of things. 

What You Can Eat on Whole30

After that pretty exhausting list of foods you can’t eat, it might seem a little daunting to start the program. But there’s still a bunch of delicious ingredients that can comprise a good — no, a great! — meal.

1. Vegetables: Eat vegetables — including potatoes! — to your heart’s content.

2. Fruits: Fruits are allowed, in moderation. Remember that you’re trying to limit your sugar intake during the 30 days.

3. Unprocessed Meats: Sausage is still okay, but check for added sugar and other off-limit preservatives.

4. Seafood: Fish and shellfish get the Whole30 nod of approval.

5. Eggs: Eggs will become your new breakfast bestie.

6. Nuts and seeds: All nuts and seeds are okay, with one exception: peanuts, because they are a legume.

7. Oils (some) and ghee: Just say yes to olive oil and coconut oil. Ghee, which is a type of clarified butter, is also allowed.

8. Coffee!!!!: Yes, you can have coffee while on Whole30, but you can’t add any milk products or sugar to lighten it up.

***

3. PLAN: What does this all mean for me? 

  • I don’t eat chicken or red meat so I will need to be careful (especially without beans and peanut butter)
  • I like seafood and LOVE eggs so that’s a relief.
  • I can still have my coffee, which I always drink black, so that’s awesome.
  • No wine – yes it sucks but I can manage. I am not really a big drinker and there are no major holidays to worry about.
  • Grains… and dairy. The struggle will be real.
  • Junk food… chocolate. It will be hard to avoid it, especially since I am starting this the DAY AFTER HALLOWEEN but, that’s the exact reason why I choose November 1. Avoid temptation.
  • If I keep on top of prepping snacks and lunch + stock my fridge full of the right stuff, I should be okay. Salvatore’s I will miss you most, but don’t worry dear friend, I will be back.

Although Sophie is in Montreal and I am here, we’re swapping recipes and making plans. I’m not a chef so if I keep things simple and live off of mixing and matching the things I love most (eggs and spinach), I can survive. I once tried a 14-day detox which included no caffeine and only lasted 7 days. It was not pretty… But when I was pregnant, I gave up coffee, all the good cheese, alcohol, running(!!!) for 10 months and made it through. So, even though there will be rough patches in November, at least I can still run and have coffee. Right?

What about Mike and David?

Ha! There is no way my eight-year-old child could survive. David’s diet is basically everything from the what not to eat list. Mike may dabble but he’s going to Vegas midway through the month and I can not see him asking the waiter if menu items are Whole30-friendly.

And why is the Whole30 on my forty before forty bucket list?

I love a challenge! I am physically healthy but I know I have bad eating habits – I want to see if these restrictions make a difference. Will I feel better, less tired, less mopey? Guys, it’s just thirty days. I can totally do it!

Here are some resources if you want to join in:

I’ll keep you posted on our progress.

*#21: Get a new personal best in a marathon

psst. If you like what you’re reading, please subscribe and share. xomeg