Martini Momma

Moving On:)

The time has come to move on...funny how this is the final chapter of what might have been the BIGGEST chapter of in the story of my life. 

The story that I re-wrote when I broke my own rules, the rules of 'others' and opened the store with Brandi. 

Opening the store was a life creating moment - much like having children:)  I will be forever thankful to the friends I made through the store and this blog.  Looking back and reading some of the memories bring me to tears - Did I really blog about my water breaking with Evy and did I really tell the world my husband lost his wedding ring at an Ozzy concert?  I have no doubt that the newest momma Katie will be amazing at helping others through the birth of babies and all the good stuff and excitement that comes.  She is a most welcomed addition!

Tonight, I am moving on.  I am concentrating my efforts and time (that precious commodity) on a new passion that connects with me and my current stage of life.  Balance.  This word means so much more than coaching or standing on one leg.  It is the fine harmony of sense of self and motherhood.  It is a combination of dream chasing and nuturing little beings.  It is putting myself first when needed and being okay with that. It is challenging myself to challenge others.  It is focused on BEing healthy, BEing fit, BEing a mom, BEing driven to success in a career, and BEing myself.

I have partnered with 2 other amazing women who believe in this cause and the beauty that comes from growing into our 30's by taking care of ourselves and commiting to balance and for that I am excited.  We launch our new blog/business this July so please check us out.

I will still be an avid reader becasue where would I be without YOU the readers - us mommas have to stick together:)  and maybe who knows, just maybe I will be welcomed back every now and then for an update post!

Until then, I hope I cross paths with each and every one of you - YOU have changes my life for the better!

Much Love,

Kathryn

So what? SoMed

I will be the first to admit that I live in a bubble:)  Sure -  I blog...I send email...I use outlook calendar to send appointments to my husbands iphone (even stuff like pick up dry-cleaning is an actually appointment - YES, he might no survivie without me:))...I go on FB (mainly to see what the rest of the world - aka my friends without blogs are doing)...I own a cellphone BUT it is rarely charged or with me.

Last week I heard of soMED (social media and don't be embarassed if you too didn't know this term either) and mashable for the very first time.  I am taking a very cool cyber course (EB4W - Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Women) and would definately recomend it to anyone that it might apply.  It has confirmed that although I once came from a field of technology and although I think I am hip to the teens of today - I AM NOT - I am a social media and technology dinosaur.

Well, this bubble that I live in is about to pop - NOW!  Let's face it  - FB might be the best way for me to keep up my kids lives as they grow (sad yes, but true maybe), it is the vessel to a mega kick ass businees, and it is a way to connect with people and leave a footprint and impact on this world - ALL OF IT!

Check out this video:

This video floored me - I had no idea!  It has burst my bubble ten-fold.  What am I doing?   I am currently working on a new page/blog that will reflect my business and talk to my clients.  We are posting DAILY DOSE OF BALANCE TIPS that will change your life - people.  They are seriously changing mine:)  You can read them every day HERE or you can follow me on twitter (kathGompf).

Yes, I am up on twitter and I am keeping up with my tweets.  Tweets actually work awesome for me - I never can get the writing to the blog. I struggle with putting my thoughs on paper - that's why my blogs ramble and use hyphens as some new fancy form of punctuation but tweets have to be short and sweet (max 140 characters) so hurrah.

Twitter is described as a coctail party - it's social....and we all know I LOVE cocktail parties...so join and be my friend - KathGompf

Yes, so my bubble has burst and I have joined the masses (YES - masses - Did you watch the video? Facebook would be the 4th largest country based on population)

Come join me!

Your Daily Dose of Balance

Live a Balanced Life is still a work in progress but we just can't keep these tips to ourselves anymore - they are changing perspectives, health, habits, and bodies in women who our taking our course and they are changing us too.

The reality is that too often women let themselves go.  We become wives and mothers and begin to put ourselves on the back burner of our life!  This means putting on a few pounds, exercising a bit less, becoming 'frumpy' (I hate that word and yet somedays that is exactly how I feel), giving up things we love because of guilt and time.  Slowly, we become resentful, stuck, empty, and crabby and we begin to wonder if the pot will ever sparkle again.

The truth is that you can have it all!  You can be first and still be an awesome mom, wife, daughter, sister, and friend.  We can show you how....

Live a Balanced Life is powered by real women and moms who are doing it right now.  They will give you the tools to get off the back burner of life and start to sparkle again. These experts can 'un-frump' you with holistic nutrition tips and physical training programs that are realistic, energizing and hold you accountable.  They will walk you and help you through the guilt, the bad habits, the empty slump and teach you how you can become first again and why that is mandatory for your family and your future.

Stop waiting and feeling overwhelmed – join us and partner up now with women who have done it and can show you how!

What can you do?

1.  Visit our site daily for you daily dose of balance! Subscribe to our blog to get real-time info.

2.  Subscribe for our newsletter!  Encourage a friend to do so....when we reach 1000 subscribers we will draw for a free space in each of our 3 upcoming sessions.

3.  Follow us on twitter - see what we are up to and how we are putting balance into action in our own lives (kathgompf, wendynovotny, nutritionnat)

4.  Jump in - take a course - find that sparkle again!

Hey Strangers...

I will admit I have been the Biggest blog slacker of the three for the last while - it's just life - there is alot going on for me these days and I have been busy.  I have coached myself into knowing where to let go and last week the blog didn't make the cut.  I am ok with that - hope you are too:)  I have no big story to share or thought of the day so here are just some of the random going on's in my life!

1.  Toronto was needed.  It was important and although nothing could have kept me away I will be forever grateful that nothing did.  I learned so many things about my family this weekend about my Grandma, my Uncle's, my parents, myself.  Why is it that we talk when life is over?  It seemed sad that as my sister and I went through my Grandma's jewelery (she wanted us - her two Grandchildren to share it) we found signet rings and dainty earrings she had saved all left to us with out the story.  Did she get these for her birthday from her parents?  Were they from my Grandpa when they first started dating?  Stories left up to our own imagination now.  Share the stories while you can - lesson learned.

2.  Mother's Day!  We woke up with my mom in Toronto...spent the middle of the day with my own kids...and then had dinner with my Mother in Law.  It was perfect!  I feel so fortunate to have both my moms around and to share my children with them.  Our kids know and love their grandparents beyond words and it completes me.  I want them to know each other - the quirks, the fun, the love.  It is so important to me and present.

3.  I ate like semi-shit this weekend:)  My Dad put out a huge bowl of chocolate at my Grandma's house and in between cleaning and sorting I indulged:)  Thanks to NAT and her talk last night for LIVE A BALANCED LIFE I woke up and hopped on the wagon again... she stressed the 80/20 is rule - be really good 80% of the time and indulge the other 20% because life is still about living.  I heard ya Nat and this morning I headed out to run my missed training run and knocked off a 10km run in 50 minutes flat.  YES, I am celebrating bragging whatever - it was raining, I drank wine last night, it was early BUT I did it!  I had to chant the names of about 10 people in my life who are never quitters to get me through the last 1 km but it worked! I am happy and proud of myself:) 

4.  My husband is taking his final motorcycle safety course this week and then he warns me he is likely buying himself a motorcycle this summer.  I think I might die!  I do not like the idea one bit (to quote Dr.Seuss) but it is one fight I wont win and need to let go of.  You will never catch me on it because someone needs to be here for the kids:)  He is heading out for a 2 week motorcycle trip next summer with his Dad and Brother to an exotic place which I do think is great (again minus the motorcycle).  I know he is responsible and a great driver BUT! Ok, breathe.....

5.  LIVE A BALANCED LIFE!  It is coming...we are working hard, hard, hard on a new super cool website that will motivate each one of you mommas.  It is my favorite thing to do these days and is teaching me more than I thought possible about myself and live.  I promise you will be the first to know about the site and will get lots of good tips/advice/info on it!  Our next course is starting in June  - Wednesday nights - if you are interested let us know because space will fill up fast! 

That might be it - hows that for rambling on on a Monday Morning?  And seriously, soccer canceled again?

A Well-Balanced Wednesday

Here is the Daily Food for Thought from A Balanced Life for Today!  I thought it might inspire and challenge all of you!

Life Balance: Say no 3 times today to things that step on your values

Physical Balance: Dance hard to an entire song (arms too!)

Nutritional Balance: Muscles sore? As you increase your exercise regime with Wendy you may feel held back by muscle stiffness. To naturally combat muscle soreness use arnica lotion topically, drink ginger tea for joint inflammation, and eat fresh cut pineapple for the anti-inflammatory bromelain.

 

The course is awesome so far if I can be involved and say that!  I LOVE it and it is challenging me and opening me up to new discussions.  We just finished one round of 'balance' with cool topics of values, cleanse and detox, and what body do you want?

 

Hot topics on our private social site include superfoods, recipes, tips for working out, and putting fitness goals out there to the group so that there is serious accountability. 

 

I am testamonial to IT WORKS...last night I pushed myself to to run harder and faster just thinking of a girl in our group who just ran a personal best half of 20 minutes faster than MY wildest dreams.  She will inspire me on every run from now on.

 

Here are a few things the group is saying.....

 

"Just wanted to say thanks again for encouraging me to sign up! It has been so informative and has totally made me do some 'real' soul searching as well, define who I am as a person.
I thought the values seminar was very thought provoking and made me refocus on what is important to me and what REALLY makes me happy. I am loving it!"

 

"ABL is pushing me to try new things and step up to take control of everything I have wanted in my life: happiness, health, fitness"  I already am so inspired and motivated and it is showing around the house. Thanks!

 

Watch for more super cool stuff coming and more classes coming soon.

 

Happy Hump!

 

"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth."

-Mark Twain

Bringing Balance Home

Last night kicked off this session with a group of 11 amazing women.  As much as I am leading it, I needed it...you women will inspire me too to grow, push, and get better all around...so great to meet you and I can not wait to see how it unfolds. 

Today, I am starting a spring hypoallergenic cleanse at the recommendation of my nautropath and our meeting Friday.  It is two weeks.  I am ready ( I think).  I am excited (I am rather grossed out by the amount of food I squeezed in at The Lobby and Brunch at the Fort Garry).  I am stocked up.  Here is the nitty gritty:

1.  The diet - no allergens, therefore no gluten, no dairy, no eggs, no caffience, no alcohol, no crappy cuts of meat, shellfish, peanuts....SO yes, you can still eat fruit, veggies, many select grains (brown rice, millet, flax), nuts, organic meats, lentils etc.  It will just require some extra planning and cooking.  I like that so I am looking forward to re-connecting with that.

2.  Dry brushing to stimulate the removal of toxins from the lymphatic system

3.  Cod Liver Oil heat pack/liver soothe - NO I do not have to drink it, just rub in into my liver and soothe

4.  Sauna - 10x in 2 weeks for 30 minutes

5.  Supplements - a few simple supplements to cleanse

It seems not too bad and should have me feeling like I million bucks - check back I will report...

Oh ya, she recommends also detoxing the soul and stuff SO I happened to already have a big swap and shop party with girlfriends planned for Friday so that TOTALLY works (more details on that - would so reccommend it - planning to post photos and tips next week) and for the soul I am going to read this book seems fitting. 

How are you going to kick off this week and Spring?

The Fountain of Youth

This past weekend we had A Balanced Life meeting of the minds and I NEED this course....sure, I am doing the coaching portion but the other 2 experts I have teamed up are so well read, fascinating, and challenge me to grow big:)  We outlined all 12 topics for the session and they are awesome. 

We have 2 more spaces left and if you are interested in kicking your health into high gear and being pushed by some serious motivating debates and topics - sign up soon:)  The course start date is April 11, 2010 (one week further than planned because of Easter) and is completed entirely over the phone from your jammies....

Here is a snippet from Natalie - our Holistic Nutritionist and her talk on alkalinity and the fountain of youth...way cool!

If you're a living, breathing woman, chances are there is something about your skin, energy levels or general health you'd like to improve.  If you feel you're aging too fast there is something you can do about it.  The "fountain of youth" is a simple lifestyle to follow that has been backed by science and is well known in the medical field.  In fact, it was discovered in the 1900's by a scientist who later won the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking cellular research.  Why is something so important and useful such a well guarded secret for over 100 years?  It doesn't have to be. I'll tell you all about it.  Learn how to stay young on the cellular level and improve every aspect of your health.

Sign up at www.liveabalancedlife.wordpress.com

Bringing it All Together....To Be in Balance....

Upcoming Seminar - A Balanced Life

Three life experts have come together to create a one stop opportunity for busy women to find clarity, gain knowledge about fitness and implement a holistic nutrition approach to life.

How do you know if this is right for you?

Are YOU in need of a personal Spring Cleaning?   

Do you feel too busy to commit to meeting with someone outside of your home?  

Do you wish you had a life coach, a personal trainer and a holistic nutritionist at your disposal? 

Are you lacking motivation to get started? 

Or do you simply need a cheerleader to help you to do this on your own?

Here is your chance.  Join a group of like minded busy women who are ready to kick their physical and mental well being into high gear while being led, inspired, and pushed by a dynamic threesome.

What will YOU get out of this?

• 4 Fitness, 4 Life Coaching and 4 Holistic Nutrition seminars via a weekly dial in information session on a hot health/wellness topic followed with inspiring homework

• A daily dose of inspiration and a small challenge to set your day up for success.  We will help you build your new life habits!

• Online access to a password protected Balanced Life community where we can share, discuss and support each other

To Learn more or Register:

Visit www.liveabalancedlife.wordpress.com

Phone Wendy at (204) 898-2763

Email [email protected]

NEXT SESSION STARTING APRIL 4, 2010

Heros and Heartbreak

The Olympics were both breath taking and heart wrenching this weekend, teaching us so many important lessons that each one of us can weave into the fabric of our own life.

Celebrate! Celebrate your successes - it encourages others to GO FOR IT, dream big and celebrate their own success.  We need MORE of this in the world!  Who wasn't inspired to run faster, eat better, be nicer,and just do more after watching Jon Montgomery win GOLD.

 
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others - Marianne Williamson

Courage - Olympics athletes risks it all to train for 4 years for a medal moment.  In skeleton, that 4 years of training is for just over 2 minutes of sliding down a track head first where a medal finish is up 1/100th of a second.  The put lives on hold, dream big, RISK everything and GO FOR IT!  It might seem like a crazy thing to do but they are so courageous in following dreams and passions that I am convinced not one of them would ever issue a statement over any regret.

This weekend we watched with heartbreak and emotion as Mellisa Hollingsworth had a small error that erased her dreams of Canada gold on Canada ground.  She teared up talking about the dissapointment she felt to her country. Imagine, disappointment to US? You are nothing less than inspirational.  The next day when she talked to the press about her heartbreak and the risk she took to get their I was SO INSPIRED.  I am going to re-tell her story to my kids over and over throughout the years. 

Including the hockey game in this discussion Gretzky says it best....

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.

 

"It's going to change me as a person," Hollingsworth said of her disappointment. "I hope I become a better person for it and I hope I show others it's okay to dream big and take risks."

Strength - Strength seems obvious, they are incredible athletes, solid is strength and performance, the best in their class.  It is the mental strength that inspires me over and over.  The strength to move past a tragic luging accident and death of a team mate.  The strength to overcome losses and fallen dreams.  Today, the strength that most inspires me is that of Joannie Rochette.  Every Canadian is heartbroken for you and the sudden loss of your Mother and yet you will find the strength to dig deep and finish what you set out to do.  We are all behind you.

The lessons from these athletes are unbelievable, inspiring and motivating.  Use them to dig deeper and influence your own olympics of life.  As they all have been teaching us - there is always a better time, a better way, a new world record.

The sand in my jar...

I haven't forgot about this....what I have discovered is that the sand is one of the most important things in my life - it's the little things that matter most.  The sand is what keeps me connected to the rocks and pebbles. 

My grains of sand:

a good run

a quiet walk with the dog (it is her total happy place)

fresh, crisp air, horefrost

waking up early and enjoying a few minutes of quiet and peace

an awesome new recipe

new jeans that fit perfect

hoodies and flannel pj bottoms

starbucks chai tea on an afternoon

finding my kids softly singing to themselves

Foxy curled up sleeping in a sunbeam

a inpromptu glass of wine and conversation with my husband on a 'school night'

little gifts of affection

homemade soup

sugar cookies

a laugh with my sister

a cool new song discovery on itunes

reading a book you can not put down

sleeping under the stars at the lake

getting tipsy with girlfriends

a hike, bike, or skiin the wild outdoors

crazy dancing in the kitchen to sexyback with my kids

meeting new, inspiring, motivating people

pizza on Fridays

healthly food ideas

helping someone in need

sleep

sunbeams and sunshine

thunderstorms at night (especially at the lake)

I spent the weekend thinking about this and planning for a kick ass SANDY Spring....Here is my new vision board...

It is amazing what a little vision can do...

Question:  What do you get when you cross a personal training guru, a life coach, and a holistic nutritionist?

Answer:  A super kick ass Spring cleaning program that will motivate and elevate your BEing beyond your wildest dreams.  Watch for it...more info coming soon.

Tommorrow I will see (ilasik here I come)