Happy Birthday, Ken!

Today is my great friend Ken's 26th birthday! Friends gathered and we spent the weekend celebrating Ken and his birth. It was a memorable weekend and I'm so glad I got to be a part of it. And as the weekend comes to a close, I wanted to take the time to express how much it means to have a friend like him. 

Ken is one of the kindest people I know. He is extremely likable and makes friends quite easily because of it. He is genuine and I admire his ability to see the good in all. When I moved to Beijing almost 2 years ago, I knew right away that Ken and I would be great friends. He has an amazing sense of humour, he is light-hearted, and loyal. Moving to the other side of the world is a tough thing to do, but it is made easier by people like Ken. I don't know if he truly knows how much I appreciate his friendship. He made the adjustment to my new life much easier. 

It's true that all of my closest friends are women. It's easier for women to talk to other women about womenly things. I've never had a guy friend that I felt I could talk to about anything: life, problems, family, work, my past, my present, and my future. I can talk to Ken about anything! He is an amazing listener. When I just need to ramble and have someone on the receiving end of it, Ken is always there. He knows that sometimes I don't need a response. I just need to vent slash verbalize my thoughts. He is a great listener. And gives the best bear hugs afterwards. 

Lastly, and this is definitely one of my favourite things about Ken, is he knows how to brighten my day. Face is, I'm moody. And I run on extreme highs and extreme lows. It's very rare that I'm just coasting at a 5. So, when I hit those extreme lows, at the perfect moment Ken will say or do something that lightens my mood. Whether it's making a joke, a funny face, or doing some hilarious dance move, I can depend on him to cheer me up. That, folks, is a great friend! 

Now that I've pumped your ego, Ken, I truly to do hope that you had a wonderful 26th birthday! I'm glad I had the opportunity to be a part of it! Oh, and PS - thanks for putting up with me :)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy Birthday to one of the most beautiful people in my life, my mother! In case anyone who is reading this has forgotten, my mother is AH-mazing! If you need reminding, you can read about her amazingness in my previous birthday posts here, here, and here. 

My mom just had a knee replacement surgery. She is currently at home resting and recovering. I Skyped with her and Dad last night and she's doing well. She's nailing her exercises prescribed by the physiotherapist and she is up and hobbling along with a walker. She's feeling good and excited for the future and what is to come with her new knee. I wish nothing more for her than a complete change in her quality of life! 

I think one of my favourite qualities about my mother is that she is the BEST listener. And this is great news for someone like me who loves to talk. She listens to me rant. She listens to me rave. She listens to me vent. She listens to me ramble. She listens to my problems. She listens to my successes. After she finishes listening, she always comes back with the most sound advice, whether I want to hear it or not. She comforts me with her words, and that's something I'm so grateful for living on the other side of the world. I am so thankful to know that when I need her, she's always there for me. And I hope she knows I'd do the same for her in a minute!

Mom, I hope you have a fabulous birthday and you are spoiled immensely! Enjoy your lobster dinner (especially before I get home!). I'm sending you lots of love and hugs on your day. 

See you in 49 days. Love you, always and forever! 

#bebetter Update & Recipe Sharing.

I'm half way through my second round of the 21 Day Fix. After my first round, I took a weekend off while I was on holiday in Hong Kong. I gave myself permission to have a treat here and there and to not be too worried about what I was putting in to my body, but still being mindful. WELL...I ate a lot of cupcakes, had a beer or two or three, and ate some sauce-y dishes! However, I vowed to myself that as soon as I got back to Beijing I'd start my second round. And I stuck to my promise!

I'm feeling so many different things during this second round. I'm definitely not as sore as I was during my first round; it's probably because I'm used to the exercises. I'm building muscles in places I've never felt before: My legs, my upper back, and my arms. I still don't have "abs", but I certainly see some toning happening and my midsection is "smoothing out"...if you will. I definitely have more energy and feel lighter. 

I think my greatest success so far this time around is just getting back on track after having indulged while away. I let myself have some foods that Autumn (creator of the 21-Day Fix) would have scoffed at. But, I didn't let them sway me in to quitting. I enjoyed the treats, but was still motivated enough to get back in to my lifestyle change. I think my greatest challenge so far this round is being too impatient with seeing results. I step on the scale too frequently and get let down when the numbers have hardly changed. I expressed this discouragement to my coach, Sam, and she was so good at reminding me that the scale is just a number. That it's the inches off my body that I'll notice more. Remember: muscle weighs more than fat! I decided that I'd take some after pictures so I can really see the difference in my physical appearance from day 1, and there is definitely a difference! (PS - I'm not brave enough to show those pictures yet. Some day...)

Oh! And another accomplishment - I had to go up to a heavier set of weights this week because I was finding my lighter set too easy during the workouts. I used the 10lbs weights for the first time tonight, and WOAH! A BIG difference! I had to push much harder and I can feel it in my arms already! A good kind of pain. 

I love to cook, so I haven't been finding eating that difficult. I search out new recipes online and try to give myself as much variety as I can in my meals. I like big flavours, spices, and cheese! Thank goodness I can still have cheese! One of my favourite go-to meals right now is a rice bowl that I came up with based on one of my favourite dishes at Moka Bros - a delicious restaurant here in Beijing! The dish at Moka Bros is called "Dr. Rice" and includes a lot of brown rice, some spinach and roasted cherry tomatoes, some basil and two poached eggs. My recipe is a little bit different, includes a lot more vegetables, and chicken! I thought I'd share it on here with you, and I strongly encourage you try it. It's not hard, it's packed with protein and vegetables, and for something that's "good for you" it's quite hearty and filling. 

Hearty & Healthy Rice Bowl

Ingredients:

• 1 yellow container cooked brown rice 
• 3 green containers of vegetables (today I used broccoli, cherry tomatoes, bok choy, and spinach)
• 1 red container of cooked chicken, chopped
• 2 eggs 
• garlic 
• extra virgin olive oil
• balsamic vinegar
• green onions for garnish 

1. Cook the rice as directed on the packaging. While the rice is cooking, prep your vegetables. You can really use any combination of vegetables that you want. I usually use asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and spinach. Today, I didn't have any asparagus so I opted for broccoli. Let your imagination run wild! Have fun with your choices and use what you have on hand. Chop the vegetables in bite size pieces (except the spinach). Put them on a pan with 1 tsp. of extra virgin olive oil and roast in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until the cherry tomatoes "POP."

2. While the vegetables are cooking in the oven, sauté the spinach with garlic. I didn't use any oil because there is a lot of water in spinach and it will come out as soon as the spinach touches heat. Cook until the spinach is wilted to your liking. 

3. Set the cooked spinach aside, and start working on the poached eggs. It has taken me a long time to learn how to cook poached eggs. I'll tell you now it takes practice, but hopefully my tips will help. Bring to a boil 2 cups of water and 2 tsp of white vinegar. There's something about science that makes the eggs poach better with the vinegar. I don't understand it, but it WORKS and your eggs will taste NOTHING like vinegar.

4. Once the water has come to a simmer, lower the heat. Crack one egg in a small dish. (It's important to do this and not crack the egg directly in the water. The dish allows you to put the egg in to the water gently). Before placing the egg in the water, take the end of a wooden spoon and make circles in the water to create a sort of "whirlwind" effect. Then place the egg in the water and take the back of the wooden spoon and gently push the egg whites over the yolk until the egg whites are no longer translucent. Repeat this step for the second egg.

5. Depending on how you like your eggs cooked will decide how long you should poach them. I used to like my eggs cooked hard, all the way through. But now, I kind of like a soft poached egg. The yolk creates a sauce for the dish and it's quite delicious. So, I cook my eggs until the whites are firm to the touch, but the yolk still has a bounce when you touch it. (Maybe 2 minutes...I didn't actually time it).

6. Assembly time! I put the rice in as the base, then top with the broccoli and tomatoes, then spinach, then chicken. The poached eggs are placed on top. I sprinkle with pepper and green onions to garnish. Then, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. I just like enough to add some flavour, but this step is completely optional. I think a little soya sauce would taste good too!

7. Enjoy! Break in to those soft poached eggs and starting tossing together all of the layers so the yolk and balsamic vinegar coat every bite!

For anyone reading this who is on the 21-Day Fix, for me this worked out to 1 yellow, 3 green, 2 red, and a teaspoon.

Let me know if you try this recipe and if you like it. It's definitely open for interpretation. You can add, take away, and modify as you like! If you try the soya sauce, let me know what it's like. 

Four Years & Breathless.

Four years.

It kind of takes my breath away to think that it's been four years since we lost Grandad to cancer. Four years since we had to say goodbye. Sometimes I can't remember what I had for lunch the day before, but I can clearly remember the sounds, sights, emotions, and feelings that I experienced in the early hours of May 9th, 2011. I can remember the sniffs and cries from myself and my family. I can still hear my Grandmom assuring my Grandad it was okay to let go. I can still feel the panic that set in to my heart when I was told it was "time." And while I'm typing this, I'm consumed with heartache and I'm experiencing a shortness of breath. And it's now that I realize I haven't experienced these feelings for quite some time. 

I think that's because when I think of my Grandad now, I don't think of his illness and demise. I remember who he was as a person. And you should all know that my Grandad was an amazing human being. Supportive, loving, and so strong! I see these same characteristics in my brother: protective and strong. I see them in my Uncle Mark: loving and supportive. And in my own father: supportive, caring, and oh so patient! 

Grandad was always so proud of his family. He was an amazing leader and support system. Today, when I look at my family and how we've grown and changed over the last four years, I only wish he could be here to see it. If I could talk to him, I would tell him so many things! But here is what I'd want him to know about his family: 

Your grandchildren have grown so much in the last four years. Brad has found a career that suits him, that he's good at, and that he loves. He is strong, protective, and has grown in to an amazing man. And our relationship as brother and sister has strengthened. We support each other and care for each other. He and dad are my rocks. They keep my panicky, over thinking mind grounded. 

Rebecca and Rachel are beautiful young ladies. They excel in so many ways: sports, academics, and just being amazing young women. I see myself in Rebecca in so many ways when I was that age. She's coming in to her own, driving a CAR, and is so mature. Rachel is a basketball superstar, has legs miles long, and is so charismatic. You would be so proud of them! 

My personal connection with Uncle David has strengthened since your passing. I've visited him twice in Vancouver, and he is making his second trip out East this summer. We send postcards, emails, and stay in touch regularly. He is an amazing human being and has taught me a lot about life, and a lot about your younger years. I'm so thankful he is a part of my life, because he reminds me so much of you. 

Mom, Dad, Uncle Mark, and Aunt Carolin are amazing parents. They are the most caring and supportive people. But above everything else, they love. The love each other, they love their children, they love their nieces and nephews, and they love Grandmom. They have taken such good care of her, looked out for her, and protected her. I think they learned from the best - YOU! 

And Grandmom. I would be lost without her! I am so proud of the strides she's made and how she has adjusted to her new lifestyle. She continues to be active, she supports our family in so many ways, and she's a pro at the computer now (It's true! Don't shake your head, Grandmom!) She is one of the strongest and most beautiful women in my life. She inspires me, and I love her with all my heart. You would be so proud of her!

You are missed every day. And everything I accomplish, every step I take and new path I explore, I think of you. I love you Grandad, always and forever. 

Love from your #1 Granddaughter. 

Your girl,

Melissa

My 21 Day Fix Experience.

At the beginning of the year, I made a deal with myself to be better. What I mean by this is that I wanted to stop stressing about things I can't control and to be more patient. I also wanted to take better care of my body by eating healthier and being more active. January went by, and February, and there went March and I hadn't made any valiant effort at being better to my body. My biggest fault - snacking. Chips, chocolates, and sweets. In the afternoon, before bed, and any other time I felt bored. Before moving to Beijing, I had lost almost 40lbs on Weight Watchers. Over the last two years, Im embarrassed to admit, I've put it all back on. And then, I got looking at pictures one day on Facebook and stumbled across this one from the summer: 

I can see how my shorts are to small. My cardigan is being worn not because it's cold, but because it's covering my flabby arms. I also have a great muffin top going on. I know I am sounding very harsh about my appearance, but it's the truth. And if I didn't make a change, it would only get worse and I would only become less confident in my own skin. I want to look in the mirror again and see the reflection of the person who moved to Beijing two years ago. The person who was healthier and as a result, happier.

Before going on vacation in February, I tried on my shorts. Only one pair fit properly. The others I had to squish myself in to and they felt very uncomfortable. Jeans that I brought to Beijing with me that fit when I arrived are impossible to put on now. It's not only that my clothes don't fit, I just don't feel comfortable in my own skin. I had to stop complaining and making these bold statements about changing (soon), and I finally needed to do something about it. 

I had seen a few people from home posting on Facebook about the changes they were making to their lifestyle through the "21 Day Fix." I read their comments and posts, and finally decided to approach someone about it and learn what it was all about. I reached out to Sam. I've known Sam pretty much my whole life. She and I grew up together, went to Elementary school together, my Mom babysat her, and when she moved to another town we kind of drifted apart. But through social media, we've always been connected in a way. Sam told me about her experience, walked me through the program, and answered all of the MANY questions that I had. After much thought and research, I decided to take the dive. It sounded like this program would fit my lifestyle, and ultimately, it would teach me how to treat my body properly. 

Essentially, the 21 Day Fix is a program that teaches you how to eat clean, whole foods at appropriate portion sizes. You are given 7 coloured containers that help you to measure the correct serving sizes for the different food groups (green = vegetables, purple = fruits, red = proteins, yellow = starches, blue = healthy fats, orange = nuts, seeds, and dressing). Depending on your body weight, you are allotted a set number of containers of each colour you can have each day. In addition, there is a workout program. The workouts are 30 minutes long and you do one a day. The combination of the eating plan and the workouts will help you to lose weight and inches off your body. 

I was extremely excited to start the program. I went through the fridge and pantry and gave away all of the food that I was eliminating from my diet: meals in a box (AKA: Kraft Dinner, Sidekicks, Hamburger Helper), white rice, prepared salad dressings, processed meats, white pasta, potato chips, chocolate (which I may have eaten all of it prior to the morning of my start day...), and anything with added sugar or salt. I then went grocery shopping and stocked up on A LOT of fruits and vegetables, chicken, brown rice, whole grain bread, frozen fruit and plain greek yogurt. Day one started, and I was ready! 

I found difficulty in meal planning during the first week. I started the week by planning what I would eat EVERYDAY to ensure that I'd met my allotted containers for each day. This took me a long time to do, and as the week progressed, I found it very daunting. I veered away from the meal plan, and started doing my planning the night before. I found this much easier for my lifestyle. 

I've discovered that I am a woman of routine when it comes to my breakfasts. I've never been a breakfast person, and I was a frequent breakfast skipper growing up. So, I'm not very spontaneous with my breakfast choices. I've found something that I like, and I'm gonna stick to it. At the beginning of the program, my breakfast usually consisted of cooked rolled oats with cinnamon and blueberries, or banana and peanut butter. Then, when my Shakeology arrived in Beijing, I switched to having a Shakeology shake in the morning with banana and peanut butter. Then, around 10am I had my FAVOURITE snack of the day - plain greek yogurt with mixed berries and granola with cinnamon. YUM! And very filling. 

When I made my dinner on Sunday nights, I'd make extra protein to have for lunches during the week. One week I made extra chicken, one week it was lean ground beef, and another it was pork meatballs. I found that with planning and preparing the night before, I was more likely to eat the food in my fridge then opt out for the easier option of eating in the school cafeteria or buying instant noodles at the convenience store in our school.

Struggles I had during the 21 day's: Sometimes I had a hard time meeting the daily quota for each container. Usually I was short 1 protein or 1 vegetable. It wasn't until the last week that I figured out how to spread my containers out over the day properly. However, once I got my Shakeology, I was able to tick an extra protein off my list for each day.

Speaking of Shakeology! I love it! Shakeology is a protein shake that I drink once a day. Currently, I'm using vanilla but will be very excited when I get my hands on the chocolate. You can blend it up with a variety of things, but as I have been learning about myself over the last 21 days, I am a creature of habit. I love peanut butter! So, most mornings I have a Shakeology shake made with 1 banana and a teaspoon of peanut butter. It's gone in no time! It tastes like I'm cheating, but I'm not! And it's a superfood-protein packed with a multitude of vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and all things good for your body. It's proven to help with weight loss, the building of muscle, and to cut cravings.

So now my 21 Days is officially over. I am so pleased with the results I'm seeing and feeling. I've lost 6lbs and 6.5 inches off my body. I am more energetic, motivated, and aware of what is going in my body and how I'm treating it. I am making better decisions about how I treat my body, while at the same time not depriving myself completely of some of the foods I love. I still go out on the weekends with friends to our favourite restaurants. In fact, every weekend since starting this journey I've eaten out. I've just made better decisions - I get grilled chicken with a side of mixed vegetables instead of a burger and fries. I have a salad and add cheese on it instead of nachos. I've had a few beers, and (to my surprise and happiness) I am still allowed to have wine on the fix! It's all about moderation and making wise choices.

I've decided to do a second round of the fix, which I will start next week. I'm going away to Hong Kong this weekend, and while I am going to be wise about my food choices, I'm also going to treat myself a couple of times. But once I'm back in Beijing on Monday, it's back to the routine that I have grown to love.

*This is not an advertisement for Beachbody or the 21-Day Fix. This is only my notes and personal experience on the program. Photos of the program and Shakeology were taken from the Beachbody website. I do not own these photos. 

Beijing: Round Three!

Beijing's got a hold on me, and I'm not going anywhere! (Well, until vacation time where I'll set off exploring somewhere new...and this summer when I am home for 4 weeks). The point is though, I've signed a contract to come back and teach in Beijing for my third year. Exciting! A few changes are happening in that I'll be transferring to the International school in the city to teach. Broadening my horizons and becoming a city girl again! (Right now, I'm living in a small village outside the city. And I mean a SMALL village. Me, my fellow Canadian teachers, and many many Chinese families and retirees). I'm extremely excited for what is to come and for new beginnings. I'm really enjoying my life right now as an expat living abroad! The opportunities are endless and there is so much I still have yet to see. It's a big world out there folks, and we only have one life. Might as well go big!

PS - Home in 75 days! :)  

April Fools' in Classroom 2004.

To those of you who read my blog - HELLO! Long time no see. Sorry to have left you high and dry. I keep saying out loud "I need to blog. I need to blog! I NEED to blog!!" And I have been working here and there on a LONG post about my Spring Festival vacation, but it's not quite finished yet. Soon! I thank you for taking interest in my life and my goings on. I don't think of myself as a very interesting person, but I'm glad that you want to stay up to date on my life. Because I love catching up with all of you, too! 

*******

April Fool's as a teacher is a lot of fun! The students are always on their guard, always trying to trick you, and are sometimes easily tricked themselves. Today, I had several students attempt to get me to "check if my shoe laces were tied" (I was wearing ballet flats) and get me to wipe my face because "there's something on it right there." I even had one student tell me he heard I was getting fired! Out of all the tricks and games, one student successfully had me wipe at my face when he told me I had ink on my chin. He had bragging rights for the day. 

Today, I got my students good! Last year I pretended I lost my voice and that worked well. Until someone caught on and screamed "APRIL FOOLS'" and then my cover was blown. But this year, I vowed to not crack. I vowed to not smile. I vowed to convince them that I was NOT joking! 

As the bell rang, I had my principal come in and make an announcement to the students...

"Everyone have a seat please! Shhh! Okay, I have some bad news. We received an email this morning from the government of New Brunswick. As of today, all students will complete the ESLA exam in Grade 10 and not in Grade 11. But it gets worse. The test will be tomorrow." 

Sidenote: ESLA is the exam the students need to take at our school to receive their New Brunswick diploma which allows them to attend universities in Canada and the United States. 

The students gasped and groaned and a few cried "OH NO!" However, some of the students were on their guard and a couple whispered to their friends "It's a joke." "April Fools'" "She's not serious." This is when I stepped in. 

"Guys. I know it's April Fools' and you think we are tricking you. But it is just a coincidence that this is happening on April Fools' day. This is not a joke. It is very serious. We've talked before about this test and how important it is. We wouldn't joke about such a thing." 

This is the point where things changed. Students jaws started to drop. You saw panic start to set in a little bit. But some still seemed a little skeptical and not phased by my prank. I knew I needed to act sterner and a little more agitated. 

"So today we have a lot of work to do. Essentially, we are going to teach you all of the Grade 11 knowledge you need for this exam in our 40 minute class."

Yelps of "WHAT?!" and "SERIOUSLY?!" came from all corners of the classroom. And guys, I didn't crack a smile. (If you know me, I am NEVER successful at pranks because I always burst in laughter or am grinning. I was quite proud of my acting!) 

"Okay. I think you guys will be successful in the listening and speaking portion of the exam." I pretended to be a little scattered in my thoughts and actions. I even stopped and talked to myself sometimes being like "No, that won't work." and "There's not enough time, Melissa!" I really made them think I was going crazy! "So, I think it's best if we work on your writing. For ESLA, you need to write TWO five-paragraph essays. You guys are getting really good at writing one strong paragraph. But today you need to step it up and write 5 paragraphs about one topic. Okay, take out a pen and a paper and write a 5-paragraph essay about your favourite movie. You have ten minutes to do this." 

Students were frozen. They were so overwhelmed by all the information I was giving to them that they just didn't know what to do. Some got out a paper and pen and started writing furiously. Others sat frozen, mouths open, breathing heavily. Others were just looking straight ahead saying "What? How is this possible?" One student even slammed his pen down on the table and yelled "Impossible! Ten minutes is not enough time." I yelled back to him: "That's all the time we have!" 

I circulated around the class urging the students to work faster, put pressure on them, reminded them how important their success was. I handed out pens to students who forgot them and sternly told them how important it is to bring a pen to a test, in which I received responses of "But we didn't know!" 

"Okay guys! I changed my mind. Scratch out everything you just wrote. I want you to do a different topic that I think you can write more about." 

"What?!" 

"I want you to write a 5-paragraph essay about how Melissa is the most clever teach you've ever had because APRIL FOOLS'" 

Nothing. They all froze. And then one student yelled "I KNEW IT!" and then the class erupted in cries and yells of "OHH!" "OH MY GOSH!" "WHAT!!!!" and "AHHHH!" They laughed. A couple of students teared up in relief. Others pointed at me and said "You are SO tricky!" My favourite response though is the student who said: "Melissa, you should quit being a teacher and become an actor. You are much better at acting!" (I'm not so sure if this was meant to be an insult or a compliment...) I got applause and we all laughed and replayed the moments out loud for about 10 minutes. It was a pretty good moment! And it went so well! 

As I was writing this, I thought that some people might think I was a cruel teacher. But it was all a joke and I did it with a class who I knew would find it funny! Which they definitely did, because the next class that came to my room were congratulating me on my well thought out prank. 

Teaching on April Fool's Day is fun! Get creative, guys. I remember the jokes my teachers played on me and my classmates when I was a student. I once had a teacher that gave us picture books that wouldn't open. I had another teacher in high school make us do a retest (THAT MADE NO SENSE!) after telling us we had all failed the previous curriculum test. I think my students will remember this joke for a long time to come. I know I will!