WOW!!WOW!!WOW!!! HUGE NEWS!!!!

I AM STILL IN DELIRIOUSLY HAPPY DISBELIEF ABOUT THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT IT'S TRUE!!!! IT IS FOR REAL!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!

Today, I had the most fascinating telephone conversation with a woman who just made this one of the best Monday's I've ever had!!! She works with a magazine, unfortunately, with all the excitement, I didn't even get her title, whether she's an editor, writer, owner!! I don't know!! She was really friendly and gave me really, really great news!!! Anyway, she works with OttawaLifeMagazine. This magazine features an annual list of its TOP 50 PEOPLE IN OTTAWA (my hometown, the nation's capital)!! In the past this list has included politicians (Prime Ministers, Governor Generals, Premiers etc.), business and media moguls, police chiefs, entertainers and educators to name a few. Max Keeping made the list one year (for those not from Ottawa or Canada...Max Keeping is a very well known and well loved and respected television news anchor)!! It's just a list of awesome people who make our capital city of Ottawa wonderful!!! :) Alanis Morisette (Ottawa born singer/songwriter who sold more than 40 million albums worldwide) was also featured in this magazine as one of Ottawa's TOP 50!!!!

Anyway, what does this have to do with me??

Well, yours truly will be featured in the next TOP 50 IN THE CAPITAL ISSUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! LOL!!! :) :)

I was so stunned when she told me...at first, I thought it was my girlfriend Janet punking me...but it wasn't!! This is for real. I provided my address and a package will be sent to me with details this week...I was even invited to a reception for the event this September!! I can't wait!! This is awesome motivation...you can bet my next 10 pounds, I'll be working my butt off in that gym!!! Yeaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!:)))))

I'll keep you guys posted as I get more information!!!! In the meantime, feel free to check out their website http://www.ottawalife.com/index.php for more details on the annual list. On the left sidebar (about 3/4 of the way down....under "OLM FEATURES", select "OLM Cover Gallery" and there you will see a few past covers of the TOP 50 PEOPLE IN THE CAPITAL issues..see if you recognize any of them)..

That's my huge news...more to come!

Until next time...
Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Newspaper Article - Ottawa Metro

Hi guys,

I'm still away on business but had to come on quickly to put up the link to the newspaper article. It ran in the paper today and my husband picked up a few copies this morning. It's available on line, and here's the link:

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/227085--joania-s-amazing-journey

Tell me what you think!!!

Until next time....

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

More Big NEWS - Metro News Ottawa!!!

Hi everyone,

I've got news again!!!! A couple of weeks back, I was contacted by a representative from Hill and Knowlton -the public relations firm supporting ParticipACTION's Inspiration campaign.

Since my story was chosen to be featured in the upcoming ParticipACTION commercial, they (the PR firm) wanted to share my story with the local media and some of Canada’s marketing media. They wanted to know if I would be okay if they went to the media with my story. I told them, "Sure!" ;)

Anyway, I received a telephone call from Metro News Ottawa and gave a telephone interview to a writer named Tracey Tong. She was super nice. Anyway, the article will run in Tuesday's (May 12th, 2009) newspaper!!! The day after the participACTION commercial goes to air!! It will discuss how I feel about being chosen for the commercial, my blog, fitness routines, trainer etc. I'm so excited!! I'm out of town so of course I've tasked my husband with picking up a few copies!! :) My scrapbook will be awesome! Too bad I don't scrapbook!! I am not very artistic when it comes to things like this. Maybe I'll take a scrapbooking course!! It's a thought! :)

Anyway, can't wait to read it and I hope all of you will check it out and like it!! For those not in the Ottawa area, as soon as the link becomes available, I will post it!!

All this is truly helping me stay on track!! It's awesome!!! When I started on this journey, I knew that being accountable and putting myself out there would help me to succeed!! Never in a million years did I anticipate this level of "accountability". This is one of the reasons I kick my own ass working out regularly!!LOL!! Seriously, it really does keep me motivated.

Anyway, 5 month pix next week!!!

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!)