So this is rock bottom, at least as far as I am concerned

So I am sure that the initial thought of people reading the subject line is that this will be a negative post. I am taking it the other direction.

I stepped on the scale this morning and it flashed the heaviest number I have ever seen. That's it. That number is the final straw. I won't let it get any larger. I refuse to. So what does that mean?

1) Refined Sugar is out
2) I am going to walk daily at work with a co-worker for one of the 15 minute breaks
3) I will be going to the gym at least four times a week
   a) For the next three weeks Cardio only
   b) After that point cardio and strength training

We are starting to utilize the Paleo Diet and I am looking forward to making those changes.

The agony and power of saying no

So on my lunch hour I was floating around the inter-webs and came across a site that is one of my favorites. I have been down about my wardrobe and was just kind of searching. The deal was great 70% off already and an additional 25% off. I went through the site found stuff I loved and started putting it in my card. I wedged it down to a "reasonable" amount and was almost through the checkout process. That was when I asked the question I should have asked well before that point. Do I need this? The answer was no. Do I want this? The answer was yes. Then I started going through a list, do I want it more than the hot tub cover? The bathroom counters? A dinner out with friends?  The checkout process stopped, cart is deleted.

The question and thought process now is about the process I was using and what I am not thinking about in terms of decision making. We talk a lot about priorities in our lives but I am not sure that I am factoring those priorities into daily life. Something to think about.

Finding a way to find myself - Sugar Addiction

One of the things that I have started to consciously work on is making the outside match my insides. After having discovered that Gluten = Sick for me I learned what it was like to feel good. That lasted until I started "cheating" and finding ways to manage symptoms instead of dealing with the root cause. I do that a lot more than I like to admit.
  The past 10 days have been about consciously "eating clean" when it comes to gluten. Does it mean that I didn't desperately want a brownie, nope. Does it mean that I can just walk away from fresh bread without feeling deprived, nope. Does it mean that I need to separate the emotion of eating the gluten from the emotion of the time, absolutely.

I don't have a serious sweet tooth, sweet isn't the flavor that makes me happy, but I am finding myself not willing to give up the sugar filled treats when I am stressed or in the evenings. That is the next task I want to tackle in order to make some changes. So starting tonight I am going to make a conscious effort to go the next six months without refined sugar based sweets. This dovetails into the Paleo based diet that I am working towards as well.

Interesting reads regarding kicking sugar addiction:
http://www.girl-heroes.com/2009/01/29/10-ways-to-help-break-a-sugar-addiction/

http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/2664/1/Break-the-Sugar-Addiction-Six-Easy-Steps.html

Transitions

Planning to get the garden in this afternoon. I want to make sure that there will actually be a crop this year. Got the trees taken care of and some of the other yard work done. It is time to make the house be a showplace again.
Off to see if I can beat the rain.

Rainy day brings hot boots

So yesterday we went out and set all the sprinklers. Every spring they have to be adjusted and so we went through the process. We set the timer for 1:15 am and called it good. Ten minutes after getting into the house the rain started and hasn't stopped since. We can so use the moisture but darn it.....

What made me smile today was getting into the boxes of shoes that I ordered with some "found money." I am really happy with most of them. One paid is eh. Either way hot shoes that I can walk in :D:D

Swine and cheese dinner

For Sunday we had a group of good friends over for a meal. It has been a long time since I was able to spend the day putting together a nice dinner without being totally rushed and feeling like what I was putting out wasn't going to be up to par. For the theme I  had originally planned on just showcasing the cheeses I brought back from Toronto. It morphed into the "Swine and Cheese" dinner. Each course had a cheese component and a pork component.

The menu was as follows:
Greek style Chorizo and raw milk cheddar quiche with Romaine salad with Buche Cabri (Raw goat milk cheese) and black cherry glazed Canadian Bacon. (Pictured)

Pork tenderloin stuffed with Triple Cream Brie, rubbed with apple mushroom paste and wrapped in puff pastry. Green beans with butter and Pepita. Roasted purple sweet potatoes with garlic.

Dark chocolate goat cheese ice cream with maple candied bacon.

It seemed to go over well.

Long Days

It has been a long day. There are not many that just make me want to freak but this one did. Some mistakes were made in the place that I work and it is going to cost big. I have some hard days ahead and that makes for a daunting task. I am going to be in super boss mode for a while which makes things a little harder.

On the upside I planted the raspberries and the roses are in as well. The garden is setting up well and I am looking forward to planning an event centered around cheese on Sunday. I will be hosting seven for dinner and looking forward to it. Bed early for me tonight.

So why Purple Butterfly Nights

I am a simple person when it comes to my core but can be complex from the outside looking in. I chose the blog purple butterfly nights because it speaks to a bit about myself. I love purple in many ways that will certainly be explored through time. I love butterflies. There is a variety and beauty to each one. And the nights. While my days belong split between the public and my employer the nights belong to me to spend how I please.

This blog will be about a variety of things. It will be an adult oriented blog. I am involved in the public BDSM lifestyle and it will factor in my writings here. I choose my path there and I do not apologize for it. If you do not agree that is your choice, I am simply warning you upfront that this will factor in my writing.

I am a foodie. I really enjoy food and the preparation of food. I have special dietary restrictions as does my partner. As a result we get very creative very quickly.