Fun Times at the Luchka House

One thing I LOVE is spending some quality time with my husband and little girl.....and of course all the animals!  lol.  Our weekends are usually pretty busy....there is always something that comes up.  Isnt that the way though.

We are slowly getting things ready for the arrival our our new little family member....a little boy.  He wont be saying hello to the world until July 3rd.  Now if he is like Aspen then he will be here in June....Aspen was a week early.  Yes, I know, not that common to deliver early on your first baby. I was painting the basement at the time when my water broke.  Looks like I will be doing the same around the time when baby is due.....I repainted the basement before christmas and still need to finish it.  Aspens room is finished being painted, and Vince is finishing up the shelves in her closet.  I have to finish decorating the walls with "things" over the next little bit.....so pics will come soon when its totally complete.

Next is doing a second cost in our room and starting the baby's room.  I've picked out the color for baby's room.....I really like it!!  Im not the type of person to do bright colors or pink for girls room and blue for boys.  The colors still have to flow with the rest of the house and im an earth-tone girl!  For Aspens room i went with a purple (cause thats what she wanted - yes, i let her pick).  Its hard for me to have a "color" on the walls but it actually looks great.  Its a very crisp, clean looking Lavender Mist by Benjamin Moore.  LOVE their paint!    I deal with Oshawa Paint and Wallpaper on Simcoe st in Oshawa and ONLY deal with Mark (one of the workers there).  He's fantastic!!  He knows what color tones I like, which is so helpful. 

For the new baby's room, I'm doing a steel blue!  So more of a blue grey as apposed to a "blue".  I cant wait to get that color on the walls and see what it looks like finished!!  ...ugh!  More painting!!  lol
Used to LOVE painting....it was my downtime.  I got to think and clear my mind.  I was so fast at it too.  Things are different now with a little one who needs you.  Aspen will want me to get something for her, or i will stop to play with her for a bit, get her something to eat, etc.  So painting, and all other things, take time now.  But all worth it and I wouldnt have it any other way. ;)  I'll have to get some pics up of the final product once its all done.

Vince sometimes has to work here and there on weekends (self employed so this is what we have to do), but when he's home we have a lot of fun together.....

Vince playing with Aspen!  He is trying to see what shoes fit on Tinkerbell.
Aspen is looking for the other shoes....with her cute little Tinkerbell dress on!

Another day of Aspen in her Tinkerbell dress!!  This time its half on.
And how cute is our kitten, Angel.  Aspen was watching Snow white and the
Kitten jumps up beside her to cuddle.  Aspen's little buddy!!!

A day full of fun and this little kitten still doesnt leave her side!!
Look closely and you can see Angel sleeping in the white part of the blanket!
My little angels!!

LOVE LOVE spending time with my beautiful family!!  I'll be sure to get the dogs in the blog next time!!  Its hilarious how Aspen sits on Kona, our doberman, and grabs his ears to steer him!!!  He loves it!! 

Vince and I are so excited for baby B to come!!  His room should be finished in the next couple weeks.  He absolutely LOVES my baby belly!!  Its too cute.  Aspen knows she is going to have a baby brother!  And she knows her old room is now the baby's room!  She even says his name, as we have already picked it out.  So far its sticking!! 

More bloggin to come....next up will be more fitness, and health stuff.  Enjoy

Nina xo

Knowledge and Doing the Right Thing

Im a listener....and observer.  I LOVE to and need to find out answers....WHY!  This is who I am.  I need to know answers and I ask a lot of questions, keeping an open mind and taking in what I need.
When I got into my sport of Fitness/Figure, I did my research and looked for the best on how to train.  Over the years (10 years) of training for shows I got to understand a lot.....A LOT that could not have been learned from a course or books.  This is hands on learning.  And this is why I've always went to the best in a sport, to learn.
I see many people who run their business soooooo terrible.  They think they know what they are doing but in actuality they dont!  Kind of scary really.  NOT saying that i know everything about running a business, but I do notice a lot of mistakes.  Ones that will destroy a business.
Ive seen people in my field, personal training, think they know what they are doing, and totally far from it.  I've seen them injure clients (pretty bad sometimes), i've seen terrible form, terrible meal plans, their clients not getting any results (but you can tell from how they are beign trained).
I've seen people (who say they are qualified trainers) get ready for a sport, THINKING that aerobics class are going to help them gain the athletisim they need for the sport.  NOW dont get me wrong, aerobics classes are great for everyone but when you are getting ready for a sport you need athletic type training.  You dont see a hockey player or Lance Armstrong or a triathlete or a bodybuilder doing aerobics classes to prepare for there game, race or competition.  When you are training for something you NEED the proper training for it.  ANY professional trainer will know this.
I've seen companies highball on prices and tell their customers they need a new furance, when all that customer needed was a $50 part to fix the problem. 
Its unbelievable the people that are out there that own their own businesses and dont have the knowledge or the skills to actually do it properly.  Or the businesses that are out there that will suck all the money out of you when its not needed.
My husband is in to heating and air conditioning and the stories I hear first hand are incredible!!!  I wont mention the company that is bad for highballing and sucking the money out of their customers, but if you ask me I will tell.  ;)  These poor customers will call my husband for a quote jsut to make sure, only to find out that they would have had to pay $3000 plus, when all their furnace needed a $50 part.  Sure my husband could do the same, but at the end of the day, he (nor I) would be able to live with ourselves......and What comes around goes around. 
So my piece of advice for those out there looking for a service, do your research!
And for those who are running a business and have NO CLUE what they are doing, educate yourself better! Or go back to working for someone else.  With lack of knowledge, you are no only hurting your business, but you can hurt others (customers) as well.

Nina xo

Quick to Blame

Funny how people are QUICK to blame!  SOOOOO quick to blame!!
I've seen this for so many years and especially being a Personal Trainer,  we get the blame A LOT!!   We train people, tell them how and what to eat, etc, we understand and know how to help people lose weight or reach their fitness goals, BUT its our fault cause they didnt lose weight or reach their goals.  They dont take the blame on themselves, own up to it and say "hey i ate this that I shouldnt have or didnt do my cardio as long as I was suppose to". 
Or lets take for example a PRODUCT....people will blame the product cause it didnt work for them.  But meanwhile this product is a strong company, strong product, helping MILLIONS but that one or two or handful of people WILL blame the product cause it didnt "work for them".  HMMMM.  Really!  How is it that Millions of people are seeing great results buuuut the few arent?.. 
Like I said I see this all the time over the past 11, 12 years of being in a business that gets blamed a lot. 
There has even been times where us trainers will get the blame cause they didnt look good for a show.  Now Mind you, some trainers have NO clue how to get someone ready for a show (fitness, figure, bikini or bodybuilding), but the ones that do, we get blamed.  The thing is, is WHY would we send our client on stage looking sloppy?  That client is a walking business card for us.  We bring in clients in top shape for stage, helps our buisness grow.....PLUS we want the BEST for our clients! 
So when I see people that are quick to blame something or someone else for THEIR error or failure, I have to giggle at it.  What are they thinking??  Who do they think they are fooling??  THEMSELVES!! 
Own up to YOUR mistakes!  OWN up to YOUR failure!  Instead of blaming others, if you stand up and confront YOUR failure, you WILL get back up and try it again and this time SUCCEED!!!  And if not, THEN TRY AGAIN! 
There is nothing wrong with failure, this is own we learn in life.  But if people go through life and not taking credit for THEIR failures or mistakes, then those people will NEVER get anywhere in life....and never achieve their goals! 

And a little side note for those out there who say they CANT lose weight or have followed a program and got nowhere.....cant fool us professional trainers!!!  We KNOW what works and what doesnt, this is what we do and why we are good at it.  Sorry...cant fool us!  ;)  Nice try though.  Food, exercise, strength, agility, weightloss, weight gain, maintaining weight, etc  is what we are good at and know all about.

;)

Nina xo

Our Newest Little Family Member

So Aspen has been asking every day for a Cat.....we say Keet.  Vince would come home from work and Aspen would ask "daddy, where's Keet?".  Too cute.  Well, we then decided to get her a Keet.  I went through pictures online and we came to a conclusion that we would adopt a kitten from the humane society or rescue.  We saw a few Keets but things never worked out....things happen for a reason!   Then I came across a little cutie online.....a little white kitten and his name was Toupe!  He is all white with a light grey patch on his head.....so cute.  Now that was jsut a name the foster parents gave him.  Aspen already had the name picked out....months ago!  Aspen had named her Keet, ANGEL!  Where she got this name, i have no idea.  I dont think I have even said the word angel around her yet.  But Angel sure suits this little white kitten. 

Angel LOVES playing in the shower!!!

LOVES to cuddle!!!

He is soooo playful and soooo cuddlely!  He plays with Aspen and she absolutely LOVES it!!  I must say that we ended up picking the right Keet for Aspen and us.

Nina xo

20 Week Ultrasound.....its a BOY!

Had to share....I went for my 20 week ultrasound to see how baby is doing, and find out the sex, the technician was showing me all the body parts.  As we got to the face, the techinican giggled and said look the baby is smiling!!  Whether its an actual smile, I must say it was pretty amazing!!You could actually see the baby's mouth form a smile and then open and close his mouth.  SO cool. 

So Vince and I are pretty happy.....we are having a boy!  REALLY it doesnt matter if it was a boy or a girl.  Although a girl would have been easier.....we have SO MUCH clothes from Aspen!!!  But all in all, as long as baby is healthy when baby is born. 

We already have the name picked out!!  We will keep that secret until baby B is here.

Its funny too, Aspen is excited to have a baby brother!  She tells me what she will do when baby cries, and how to feed baby!!  What a cutie!  She even knows that her old room is for her brother.

My little cutie is going to be such a great, big sister!

Nina xo

A Day of Relief!!!

A huge sigh of relief came out of me when the Genetisis told us that the ultrasound looks normal.  The list of things they look at, and how in depth they go, everything is perfectly normal!!  Thank you!!!

I had blood test done at 16 weeks to check for down syndrome, spinal bifida, and a couple other things they look for.  This is done for women 35 and over.  I had this done with the first pregnancy too.  Well, the blood test came back in the red zone for Spinal Bifida.  My numbers this time were worse then the first pregnancy.  3.2 (which is 1in 124).  First pregnancy was 2.4 (which is 1 in 362).  How is it that AGAIN, my levels for spinal bifida are red zoned??  Even the ultrasound doc asked me "makes no sense how you had this situation in the first pregnancy and everything normal and again this time and everything normal).  So the ultrasound doc even told me right there that everything was normal, which was a fast relief instead of waiting and waiting for an answer.    Now this makes me wonder and I HAVE to find out.....why are my blood test coming back red zone?!!!  And I WILL find out....the research has already begun and I've already made phone calls to head departments.  lol..  I ALWAYS need answers.

But at least things are perfect and all is ok!  PHEW!!! 

We wanted to find out the sex of the baby today, but the other ultrasound lady who did a bit of the ultrasound was a student still.  So she wasnt 100% certain.  Plus baby was moving too much.  She thought she could kinda see but told us to confirm in 2 weeks at our 20 week ultrasound.  Then things start going through my head and I'm having feelings.....I would LOVE another girl!!  BUT is it  cause I want another Aspen??  Yes!!  I do!  But I have to realize I wont have another "Aspen".  And if I have a boy, will I be upset because its not another girl?  Maybe??  But then I thought to myself that no I wont be upset because I will never have another Aspen.  Aspen is Aspen.  There will only be one.  Each child we have will have their own personalities and character.  Aspen was SUCH a good baby, no problems, and her character now is incredible!!  But each child will have their own unique character that I will LOVE!  But I must say there was a moment that I felt sad.  Sad that I couldnt have another Aspen. 

Have any moms out there felt this way?  How did you feel when you wanted all boys or all girls or maybe one of each, and you didnt get that?  Were you sad?  How long did it take to get over it? 

People should warn you ahead of time of what feeling you might feel.  I had a client that said she wished they warned her or prepared her of how she was going to feel when she was pregnant with her second child....she felt guilty!!!  Everyone will have different feelings over different things.  I didnt feel guilty at all....I jsut wanted another Aspen.  But quickly realized that I can't. 

Wow the feelings you can feel as a mother!!

But all in all ...... as long as baby is healthy!

Nina xo

4 Months Now!

4 months now and everything is EXACTLY  the same as the first pregnancy!  My husband is SOOOO FREAKIN EXCITED!!  I love it!!  He is SUCH  a fantastic dad (and husband of course)!!  I know everyone will always say that about their man, but I am dead serious!!  He is one in a million!!  My daughter and I are VERY lucky girls!! 
We will be finding out the sex of the baby in the the next few weeks!  I need to know so I can be prepared.  Vince wants to know REAL bad.....its actually funny to hear his excitment.  lol..   He's so cute.

I started back to working out again....feels great.  I will be posting workouts/exercises during the pregnancy and after pregnancy  (getting body back into shape).  This is great for Aspen to see mommy working out, as she will likely do the same.  She already comes to my bootcamp classes when vince works late and I dont have anyone to watch her, and she does what the ladies do,,....so cute and funny.  She even rolls out her yoga mat to do abs on!  She sets it up in between the ladies mats.  I'll have to videotape or take pics sometime.  She's asking to go again this week, but it is kinda late for her as shes in bed by 7:30pm, and I dont get home till 8pm.  But those days where my neice cant watch her cause she has class, and my sisterinlaw cant as she does live a half hour away, our only other option is that I have to take her to bootcamp.  Its late but she does love it......its a lot of work for me though!,,,,,

Get this one,.....last week, Vince didnt find out till 4pm that there was NO WAY he was going to be home on time ( i leave the house, latest, 5:45pm to get to Port Perry for 6:30pm).  My neice has class late that night, and my sisterinlaw had plans.  So we are stuck!!  Aspen only had a 20 min nap and was up early so that means she would be going to sleep around 7pm and NOW i have to take her to bootcamp which is WAY past her bedtime.  We jsut finished swimming, got in the truck and thats wehn vince called.  Its now 4:30pm, and if Aspen is coming to bootcamp I need to HURRY and get home and pack everything!!  So i rush home but its 4;30 and now its traffic and the roads are slow ( the storm just left but roads are messy).  I get home from swimming by 5pm and HAVE to have her changed, extra clothes packedm so food packed, a couple toys, AND feed her dinner all in 20 mins!!  Well, I was running behind, got food into her (left over pasta), and left the house by 5:45 which is late as i have to unpack everything when i get there plus unpack and get Aspen settled.
YOU MOMS THAT DO IT ALLwill appreciate this......and understand how hard it is......heres the quick breakdown......leave the house late after packing everything; jsut leave our street; I'm STARVING as i didnt have time to eat, AND im preggo so I NEED to eat; then Aspen needs to pee!!; we stop (which i DONT have time for) at A&W; I rush her in and she doesnt want to go!; I grab a sirlion burger (which is SO bad for the normal person nevermind a preggo- but had to eat); get to bootcamp right at 6:30pm; doors are locked; have to go find superintendent (at the hockey arena) running around looking for the superintendent, with a 2 year old in my arms; get inside finally; set up; girls warm up and start exercises and Aspen has to go to the bathroom; she ends up messing her pants abit; Im running back and forth from the bathroom to the gym room (right across the hall) and tell the girls when to switch exerices; Then Aspen finished on the toilet (poop) and now have to change her dirty pants WHILE i'm teaching class!;  End of class she is tired and cranky (poor little thing); on the way home she doesnt fall alseep but keeps asking to lay down.......I then break down into tears as this was all so stressful,.... running my own business, AND being a full time mom, and not a lot of help......thats when I wish my mom was still here!!!  SHE WOULD BE ALL OVER ASPEN AND THERE TO HELP ALL THE TIME!!!!  Aspen would have had a wonderful grandma.  Of course my dad is FANTASTIC with her (and calls almost everyday to see how things are) but wouldnt really know what to do.(old european - women did everything) 

PHEW....what a hectic 4 hours!  lol

But Vince and I manage with jsut the two of us!  Its VERY hard and hectic but we manage with the cards we were dealt. 

Nina xo

Pregnancy and Starving!!!

K I am now 3.5 months prego!  I am going through everything EXACTLY the same as the first pregnancy!  Now I dont mind the tiredness, or the exhaustion.  The nausea, wow....but the WORST is that some days and most evenings I am STARVING!!!!!!!!  STARVING like you wouldnt believe!! 

You that starving feeling you get when you have missed a meal and its been HOURS since you ate last and you could eat your arm you are SO FREAKIN hungry!!  Thats how I feel!!  And no matter WHAT I eat, it DOESNT fill the void!  Thats the worst part.  So I have to watch I dont over eat.  Its like a bottemless pit!  lol  Actually its not that funny. 

Now I know some of you will say "but you have to feed baby".  Yes you need a couple extra hundred calories, which is something small.  But when I can eat a bowl of pasta, toast with PB and honey, shake, drink more water, etc, and NOTHING fills that void, thats a little too much food for your body.  Just a little. lol  So i make sure I get enough food in for my body and baby, and then eat a couple hours later (sometimes closer cause i cant handle the hunger pains!).

Crazy!  Not sure if anyone else has experienced this.  This happened with the first pregnancy!! 
So you wil probably be seeing me posting more recipes as I will be experimenting with foods....cause im so hungry.

......it should pass soon though .....if its like the first pregnancy.

Nina xox

New Years Resolutions....Why Do They Fail?

After working many years in a gym and seeing the gyms get PACKED in January and start to die off in February, and basically back to normal in March, I've come to a conclusion.....THERE'S NO BALANCE

People will start at the gym, not really knowing where to start or what to do, they have this focus everyday of their Resolution and how they NEED to go everyday!  So their whole focus is on the gym and working out....their New Years Resolution!  Then there will be a day they cant fit it in.  Life got in the way.  They miss a day.  They get down on themselves.  They are not seeing results.  Its been a month.  And they give up! 

Why not, instead of making a resolution on getting fit, and all your FOCUS is on 'getting fit', have your resolution be "BALANCE"?!  Dont be hard on yourself.  Fit in some sort of exercise a few days to every day of the week.  If you dont make it to the gym, no worries.  Get out and go for a walk!  Enjoy some time outside playing with your kids.  Get them involved and then will follow your lead and become active!  Dont have all your focus on 'getting fit'.  Enjoy life and have some balance.....go to yoga/go to the gym/get outside, play with your kids/your animals, make some healthy meals, work good hours, get some reasonable sleep, find time to read/listen to music/journal.

When you think about it we need Balance in ALL aspects of our life....Money for example.  When there is no balance what happens....you spend more then what you make which then equals debt!.  And look at nutrition.....you eat more junk or too much fruit or too much carbs and that equals weight gain. 

Balance is Key! 

I see many competitors in the fitness industry with all their focus on getting ready for the shows!  TRAIN, EAT, TRAIN, SLEEP, TRAIN, EAT, etc.  And what happens, they lose friends, lose family, lose themselves....it becomes very lonely.  Trust me cause I've been there!

I started to compete in 2001.  All my focus was on was training and the show.  What else did i have?  Everything revolved around me.  Parties, wedding showers, baby showers, weddings would all come up and I didnt go cause I was 'TRAINING' for a show!  It was until 2005 when I was going for my pro card, I really started to realize things.....I missed out on my cousins wedding which would have been jsut beautiful, and for WHAT!!!  Because I was training for a show??  Come on!!  So I did some soul searching, read some GREAT books and came to a conclusion.....this journey would be a much more enjoyable one if I had BALANCE!!!  And the funny thing was when I realized I needed the balance, show prep became easier and less stressfull, and the show I did (olympia) was the BEST I ever looked!  My training was just as intense but once I was done, My focus wasnt on the training or the show.  I now had balance.

Another part of my life where I lost myself was when I had my little girl!  All my energy and time is with her.  Nothing for me.  No workouts, no enjoying some nice shopping at the mall, or tea with friends, etc.  I was with her 24/7, and if I wasnt, I was teaching my bootcamp class.  So again I feel as though I lost myself again.  Im not grounded.  I dont feel at ease.  Since then I've Signed up for yoga, signing up for a few 5k runs, etc.  BUT IM BACK and I feel like me again!!!!

So there it is, start off the year right....dont focus on ONE thing and ONE THING only!  Find balance in all that you do.  You will have much more enjoyment this way and you will feel more accomplishment!

Nina xo

Here's the Post!

K, so I said there is a long overdue post.....FINALLY here it is.

Its been awhile since I've blogged, Tweeted, Facebooked, etc....but my first update will be the Santa Claus Parade!  I put a float in the Port Perry Santa Claus Parade and it was FANTASTIC!!!!  Thanks to Canadian Tint (Scott Primo) for doing the signs!!  A HUGE thanks to Marie Turner and Cindy Primo (both fellow bootcampers), for helping handing out candy canes and flyers!  I truly appreciate everyones help!!  Next year I have BIG ideas for it!!  SO much fun.

Second Update .....Thanksgiving weekend was a beautiful!  We had our closest friends over for dinner and I absolutely LOVED every minute of it. Such a GREAT time!

Third Update....Halloween was too cute!!  Aspen went to her first Halloween party!! (gotta get pics still from that!).  The kids were SOOOO cute!  Our friend Tanya and Marc and Daughter "C", hosted a Halloween Brunch.....it was fantastic!!!  Aspen wanted to dress up in her tinkerbell costume that she had gotten for her birthday!  ADORABLE!  And for Halloween night we dressed her up as a cat....the costume was a warm one, plus she LOVES cats!  She went trick or treating with her friend Rayleigh....She LOVED every minute!!!  LOL.  Saying trick or treat and then Thank you!!!  My little sweetie!

Fourth update.... Christmas was fantastic!!  Aspen was LOVING it this year.  Such a fun age!!  It was nice that we got together with everyone over the holidays....as it is hard as everyone has other family to see too, so to coordinate it all can get a bit hectic.  But I really enjoyed the holidays!  We also got in a photoshoot with the GREAT Adam Belnap!!  I LOVE his work.  A Play in Whitby, Snow White.  Skating.  And we got to play in the snow for the little while we had it!  Great times and beautiful memories!

Aspen just LOVED what Santa brought her.....Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, and Pluto plush toys!!!!  lol!!  Along with the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!!  She STILL hasnt gotten tired of them.

And my Fifth update.....I am 14 weeks Prego!  This is why i have not been on FB, Twitter, Blogging, etc.  I have been so nausea in the evenings and thats when I get on the computer!  But my energy is coming back slowly, Nausea is almost all gone, and I am feeling ME again!  Phew!!  This pregnancy is EXACTLY like the first one!!!  Vince and i are soooo excited!!!!  And Aspen says Mommy has baby in bellybutton!!  Too cute!! 

I have a couple more updates to do but it has to wait jsut a little bit....until they finalize! ;)

keep checking back.....2012 is going to be ONE EXCITING YEAR!!!!

Nina xo

HUGE Update to come!

Just a quick post to say I WILL be posting a HUGE updated post as I havent been posting in awhile.  Back to informative information, personal opinions, fun kids things, yummy recipes, great workouts that can be done at home!, etc.

check back shortly!

Nina xoxo

Enjoy Life! Take Care of YOU!

Sometimes there is just not enough time in a day, and I blame it on society and what it has done to all of us. We have taken on too much and we rush around and get a few things done on our HUGE to-do-list!  Its unfortunate that many people will jsut keep going, until they burnout or break down, not realizing that PROBABLY most of the things that they have on their to-do-list is MOST LIKELY not important at all.....
All the rushing around.... people getting stressed out.....no time for QUALITY family time....no time for exercise.....no time for THEMSELVES!  Its very sad.  And the fact is, is that when you are rushed around, stressed out, being pulled in different directions, and you dont take that 30 mins (at least) each day to exercise, your body WILL tell you in ways you may not like!  And how will you body tell you.....with health problems. 

Maybe you've already experienced them but jsut thought, "hmmm, must be age", "hmm i must be tired", etc.  Listen to your body as it will subtly whisper to you!  Maybe you all of a sudden have skin problems, or you get more headaches, or you are extremely tired.....these are ALL signs of the stressed out body that WILL one day soon, fall ill.

Who cares if the house is not cleaned THIS week.....
Who cares if you didn't get to the hairdressers this week....
Who cares if you didn't get the yardwork done today....
........go and spend time with your kids and spouse and get some exercise.   All those other things can wait another day or two to get to!
 
Make it a habit to go to bed at a decent time and wake up early!  Waking up early will honestly refresh your mind, and keep you feeling energized all day.  Wake up and exercise.  even if its for 20 mins.  Its something.  Get the blood flowing. 
Dont wake up and watch the news or read the newspaper!! The news is soooo negative.  My husband and I NEVER watch the news or read the paper (well, only the flyers!).  The news is always so depressing.  Why would I want that dragging my spirits down!

Eat healthy too!!  This will help your body throughout the day and to help your body fight off health issues.  You eat like shit, you WILL feel like shit!!  Thats as plain and bold as I can say it!  Get a varitey of fruits and veggies and DO NOT forget the lean proteins too!!!  Too many of you DO NOT eat enough protein!!

Slow down your life a bit and you will start to enjoy all the little things that life has to offer....instead of racing by them cause society keeps us running on empty.  And by the end of your life you wont be saying....."geeez, what did i do with my life"!

Something to think about.  Whats most important to YOU??  For me its MY FAMILY!, And also some of my friends (you know who you are) who have become my family as well. Spending time with loved ones and creating memories.....enjoying all of what life has to offer.....its such a great feeling inside.

NL xoxo

BeautyBit #5

Todays  BeautyBit is my favorite mascara!!  Revlon Voluminous! 

Fantastic Mascara!  I've been using this mascara on myself and clients for about 6 years now!  Because i have darker hair I use the Carbon black. Those with blonde hair can wear black or for a softer look go with a brown/black or brown....depennding on the person.
The BEST tip I can give anyone when wearing mascara is....GET WATERPROOF!!!  It lasts longer and wont run at all if it rains, humid, if you cry, etc!!  I always wear waterproof and only use waterproof mascara on all my clients.

My little beautybit for the day.

NL xoxo

Sounds Too Good To Be True!

Sounds too good to be true.....but it isn't. 
When I first got into the business side of things with Body By Vi, I thought "There's No Way!  You can't make good money, getting FREE product and getting a FREE BMW without busting your butt day and night.....AND there has to be a catch"....WOW, was I wrong!
I started the business back in January.....by April I had qualified for the Free Black BMW and making approx $1500 per month.  Summer I got busy with fitness shows and side tracked away from promoting (online),  So I've just started back with promoting again!  It's exciting!!!  I LOVE to help people as much as I can....I've always been this way.  And now I can help people eat healthier, easier, and make a great income!!....on top of training clients and putting clients through bootcamps!

So I jsut wanted to share with you the reality of the business....

QUALIFIED FOR MY FREE BMW!

ONE OF THE MANY CHEQUES PER MONTH!

TODAYS FREE PRODUCT...IT COMES EVERY MONTH!  FREE!

2 BAGS OF PROTIEN FREE EACH MONTH!

HERES MY RECEIPT FOR THE PRODUCT!  SEE, FREE!  ALL
I PAY FOR IS SHIPPING.....PRODUCT IT FREE!!  :)

 .....So keep checking back for updates and posts! 
If YOU are interested in the business side or the 90 day challenge, message me at nvluchka@msn.com .....I would LOVE to help you reach your goals!!!!  Christmas is coming.....all those parties to look good, and the presents that need to be bought!  The 90 day challenge can help both!

www.90dayswithnina.com

NL xoxo

My Little Makeup Princess

So the other morning Im getting myself ready and things cleaned up to start the day.  Aspen Was still in her Pj's playing and finishing eating her breakfast. She was quietly playing when I heard...."mommy SIT DOWN!"

Uh oh.....she's into something!  I see her with my makeup brush.  Ah, no worries, its jsut a brush.  A few minutes go by and Im now ready to get her cleaned up and dressed for the day......WELL, a little more cleaning had to be done!

The pictures will show you how much my little girl LOVES makeup!!! 

You see me holding the brush and "pretending" to put the makeup on....but I had to pretend so i could get some good pictures!!!  lol!!

My little makeup princess!!!

NL xoxo

Thanksgiving....I Cant Believe How Time Flies

Even though we count the actual Date of an anniversary, I am thinking of the day of the week....Thursday, today, the Thursday before the Thanksgiving Long Weekend.....15 years ago today was the last day I saw my brother Mike.  The next day, Friday, he passed away in a car accident. 
I can remember the Thursday clear as day!!!  He came to my place and spent a few hours with Vince and I .....laughing, joking, and talking about whats going on Thanksgiving and when we were heading up to the cottage.  That didnt happen.....instead I get a call late friday night telling me what has happened. 

Just thinking of it still puts that sick feeling in my stomach.

But how can this Thanksgiving weekend still be a favorite holiday?

5 years later on the Saturday of the Thanksgiving Weekend my mom passed.  And still, Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday.  I LOVE this time of year.  It means A LOT to me to be with my family and people I care about, on this long weekend.

Maybe thats why i do love it so much still.....its thanksgiving.....we are to be thankful.  And I really am thankful for a lot.

Too many people have WAY too many "issues", and honestly I dont have time for any of that.
Life is precious and sometimes WAY too short! 

This weekend I get more emotional but at the same time feel so much love!  A time I can't stop thinking of my brother Mike and my mom!

My brother passed on Oct 11, 1996 at the age of 26 and my mom passed Oct 13, 2001 at the age of 56!  Two lives gone way too soon.....but at least the time that they were here they both taught me SOOO much.  My brother taught me to always be who I am, never change for nobody!  And live life...have a blast....and have no fear!  My mom taught me how to be a good person....help those who are in need.  Take care of myself and my surroundings....she always taught me to look good and feel good.....take pride.  And both taught me Respect....have respect for myself and others.

15 years and 10 years already.....WOW! 

And how I miss them both jsut as much as when then first passed.

*note the following pictures were not saved on the computer so i took a pic of them!  I have them up on my wall in my office.

NL xoxo

A Twist of Festiveness

I went to VanderMeers yesterday as I LOVE that place!!  The flowers, the decorations, the one of a kind things you can find.....and the ideas are jsut incredible!  I had to go to see some of the fall decorations and to see if my favorite Christmas tree was up yet.....as I WANT to purshase it this year.  But Im a little iffy on getting it......cause its a BLACK tree!!  Will I get sick of it after awhile???  Not sure.  But it is BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Anyways back to the fall stuff.  lol

Vince had bought me a beautiful plant arrangement back a few months ago, and I thought to add of festiveness to the house so i added a bit to the planter.....something so simple that can make a huge difference.

Before

After

All i did was add in a small pumpkin, the orange flowers and the dried lotus.  All the ornaments are fake but it makes the arrangement look festive without having to buy a whole new arrangement for the occasion.  I bought them from Vandermeers but you can also buy things like this from the Dollar store.  Dollarama being one of my favorites for dollar store stuff....some of the things there dont look as cheap.

Little things can make a big difference.

Spice up your living area for each occasion!

NL xoxo

Run For The Cure

My first experience at the Run For The Cure.....and it was FANTASTIC!!! The people, the support, the dress up, the dogs, kids, you name it, the support was great!  I had created a team of 7 and 2 toddlers.....Lynn, Sue, Anansa (and son Kai), Sheri, Vince, our daughter Aspen, Nelly, and myself. We dressed warm as it was CHILLY and RAINING.....but that definitely didn't bring down the spirits of anyone.

Here's the Team!  Lynn (my Bootcamper), Sue (my Bootcamper), Anansa and Kai (sheri's client), Sheri (my client/friend),
Vince and Aspen (my amazing husband and daughter), and Nelly (my client/friend).

Sue, Lynn, Nelly and I have all ran races before (well i ran one before! lol), and for sheri, Anansa (Kai), Vince and Aspen, this was their first experience.
The race started and Vince pushed Aspen in the running stroller. He was doing great as he took off and I ran back a bit. Vince is a strong runner.....even though he doesnt run that much. Then, Aspen had to go peepee!! lol So i saw Vince stop to the side and I stopped too. So i waited for him while he took aspen off to the side behind a bush! As lots of people passed while I waited for Vince and Aspen, it was really nice to see the support and the signs on peoples backs stating who they were running for.....this is what i saw.....Baba, My mom Maureen, My daughter, My sister Sarah, there was one mom who wore a sign "my mom" and her ittle daughter about 8 years old wore the sign "my grandma". Its then that you realize how real it is, and knowing the pain all these families go through......I went through my mom having Ovarian Cancer.
Vince and I then ran together for the rest of the way, talking, laughing, and we even stopped and helped a lady whos front wheel of her strolller fell off! Way to go Vince for Fixing it! She felt bad as she kept saying "I dont want to hold you guys back"....ahhhh no worries! Its all good!
It was such a great race! I got to finally do a sport TOGETHER with Vince!! And it was "icing on the cake" to have Aspen with us! It was a family affair. It was great to have her involved and she was sooo good the whole way.

Our First Family 5k!  -- its was pouring so we kept the cover on the stroller.....but Aspen is
in there all comfy and warm....and DRY!

More races to come in the near future!!

When we got home Vince started a fire for us all to warm up as that inner chill from the rain and cold weather really is hard to shake off. 

Aspen helping Daddy with the fire!

Aspen waiting for Daddy to build a fire for us.

My heart goes out to all those who have fought through or lost their battle with any kind of cancer, and all the families who are there to support their loved ones.

And thank you to the Team for coming out and having a good race!
NL xoxo

Steppin in Style for the Winter!

Went out to Kiddie Kobbler today and found Aspen some winter boots!.....and they are AWESOME!!!!  I LOVE them!!! lol....yes I want a pair.
They had some great selections at the store but i settled on the Geox Boots.....an extremely comfortable boot, and very warm.  You definitely pay for what you get.
Aspen loves them....walking up and down the store and then when she found out they light up, WELL!!  She wouldn't leave the mirror, watching them light up everytime she stepped down.  LOL  Too cute.

And of course something always funny happens.....we were leaving the store and aspen sees a broom in the store!  Well....she wants to sweep....so of course i ask the lady in the store if i can jsut go outside with aspen so she can sweep.  We go outside and she wants to take it home now. lol

I get her back in the store after a few minutes and im talking to her in the entrance, while she hugs this broom, crying.  I tell her that we have to leave it here and if she really wants one we will go to the store next door and get one (cause we needed one anyways for the back deck).  A lady leaving the store overhears this conversation and bursts out laughing, looks at me and apologizes for laughing and says "sorry but that is soooo cute!".  Im giggling the whole time its happening because it is sooooo funny.  But at the same time trying to keep and "sensitive face" for Aspen's sake as i dont want her to think Im laughing at her. 

Oh the joys of parenting......and I'm loving every second of it!!!

Love my little girl!

NL xoxo

A Little Creativity!

My daughters 2nd Birthday was back a few weeks ago and I always like to do things as beautiful and creative as I can. The theme for her birthday was Hello Kitty.  Once i sent out the invitations and got some decorations, she quickly took a HUGE liking from Hello Kitty to Tinkerbell!!  But i couldnt change things now. 
When I do decorate for her birthday or any occasion, I decorate with "balance".....i dont decorate EVERYTHING in "the" theme.  That would be overkill. One thing i did this year was make her birthday hat.  Why not spice up those boring hats and put a little more pizzaz into it.  Now i kept it plain and did not add the theme to it.  But it did turn out fantastic!

Next time I will make the number "2" a little more fancy.  This will be a birthday tradition.

NL xoxo