Goals For 2015: Re-Do

Good morning friends! 

After reading Jessica's (TheFitSwitch) post about going after your goals now, not waiting for the new year or even taking the entire year to reach certain goals, I wanted to re-do my list of goals for 2015. I want to take a big GULP of life at a time instead of a little SIP. I want to make the most of every day! Without setting anything in stone (besides that half marathon) because life is so unpredictable, I want to create a list of things I want to accomplish in 2015. I'm also loving her slogan for her upcoming fitness apparel: Love the Challenge! (I might be the first to order a shirt :-))

Life is too short to sit back and wonder if I'll be healthy enough, strong enough or good enough to do something amazing. I want to jump into 2015 with both feet and face it head on. If life hands me lemons, I'll make the best lemonade I've ever tasted! 

So here we go! 2015, watch out!

*First and foremost: Run a half marathon by April (depends on how my training goes) and finish in under 2:20. 

*Run a 7 minute mile. My current time for 1 mile is 7:46! I wish I could hold that pace for longer than one mile, but I'm just thrilled I can run a sub 8 minute mile! I'm one of those sick and twisted people that love speed work, so I will get this 7 minute mile! .... Getting butterflies just thinking about it!

*Increase posts on the blog and spruce it up a bit. ;-)

*Trail run! I have yet to do a trail run and I'm just chompin' at the bit! I really want to run up in the mountains and soak up the sun, breathe in the fresh air, and run with nature! ...Just without the mountain lions please. 

*Practice Yoga & gain flexibility. 

*Do Yoga outside more often!

*Spend more quality time with my kids and husband and make happy memories that will last a lifetime. 

*Increase strength in my core and arms, as well as my glutes and legs. So, I guess I want to strengthen my entire body. haha This could mean more personal training sessions..sorry husband. :-D

My motto/slogan for 2015 is:

I spent way too much time fearing, or worrying about the "what if's". What if I get injured, what if I don't finish, what if I can't lift it, what if I just can't do it?.. I'm done worrying. I'm done stressing. I'm just going to take the leap and spread my wings and fly through 2015. Just not too fast. ;-) 

Ready or not, 2015, Here I come!

Ps.

I'm linking up with Jessica & Jill since I happened to finally get this post finished! Join in on the fun and come dish the fit with us with our weekly link-up: The Fit Dish! 

The Fit Dish: Dear Body...

G'day mates! Welcome to another session of The Fit Dish where the fitfam dishes out the good stuff. Today we're gettin' all mushy and writing thank you letters to our bodies. Oh yes, we're goin' there. So sit back, maybe grab a tissue or two and enjoy! 


Dear Body,
     First of all, I need to thank you for putting up with me. I can be so stubborn and push you past your limits just to get that sick satisfaction of "ah, I ran my fastest mile ever and I don't even care that I'm limping now." And you still keep on moving. So thank you for not stopping when my mind kept saying go, go, go! 

Thank you for not giving up when my mind said, "Just one more mile, just one more push up, just one more..." 

Next I'd like to offer you a peace offering. I fully acknowledge that I have abused you in the past by feeding you garbage then expecting you to perform like a champion. I realize that most of my injuries were caused by my stubbornness and not your lack of strength. You're strong and more than capable to perform but it's high time I treat you with the care you deserve in order to keep chuggin' along. I promise I won't keep pushing if you raise your red flag by shooting me a sharp pain here or there. I'll stop, evaluate and reassess the situation. I know that the pain I'm feeling right now behind my knee is because of my own stubborn mind wanting to finish that speed work last week, and for that I'm sorry. I'm calling a truce. I'm promising to work as a team and no longer a slave driver. 

So thanks for all the miles, dear friend. You've treated me so well. You've gotten me through countless workouts, hikes, and runs but you've also created two miracles which is the biggest feat of all. You housed two beautiful, healthy children and withstood 16 hours of hard back labor at one point in your life. For that, I give you huge kudos. YOU ARE AMAZING. 

                                                                                                       Much love Body,
                                                                                                               -Self

Ah, that felt nice. :-) Your turn! Post a little, sweet thank you post-it sized note in the comments to your body. It's rejuvenating! 

Shout Out Sunday #2

Good morning friends! 

I'm back for another Sunday Shout Out! (I know it's Monday, but hey, spending time with my husband yesterday was more important than typing away on my computer.) Here are three more blogs that I love to stalk follow! These blogs are fairly new to me but I always enjoy reading whatever they have to say! I hope you find something you'll like as well!

It looks like I picked three blogs that all have something in common: pure motivation! 

Runner Unleashed
Here is where you'll find posts by Gelcys. She's a mom, wife and runner with Scoliosis. She is incredibly inspirational and I love her determination. I just recently started following her but I absolutely love everything she posts! She's such a strong woman and I always feel pumped after reading her race/run recaps! Go check out her page now!

Tri Hard Mama
This is where you'll find posts by Jennifer. She's a mom, wife, triathlete and fitness enthusiast who helps others get on the right track to leading healthier lives. She motivates me to try new things and step outside my comfort zone. You're sure to find some motivation from her blog just about every day!

Fit Life Wtih E
This is where you'll find posts by Elizabeth. She's a mom, wife, personal trainer and healthy living enthusiast. You'll find anything from posts about being a mom, to how to stay fit and everything in between! She's such a positive woman and I love everything she has to say! This is another blog that is fairly new to me but I'm enjoying everything about her (and her page) so far!

Have an awesome Monday everyone!! 

Am I Still a Runner If I Have to Walk?

Good afternoon friends! How's the weather in your neck of the woods? We're getting lots of rain here in Central California, which we desperately need! 

Today I'd like to talk about something that has been on my mind for some time now: walking while out on a run or during a race.

When I first started running I couldn't even imagine running a whole mile without a walk break. Once I finally pushed myself (thanks to my husband) to run an entire mile without walking, I felt like I had finally become a runner. As time went on I pushed myself and was able to run 5 miles without stopping. I had this weird way of thinking that if I stopped and walked, I couldn't say I ran such & such miles. I had to say I ran 2 miles, walked a quarter mile then ran the rest. Why did I think this way? I'm not exactly sure, but I felt this way up until recently.

Training for my first half has been tough! I'm not going to lie. With a year full of running related injuries caused by my stubbornness, it's been difficult getting my miles back up. Thankfully I'm going about it a lot smarter this time with a personal trainer helping me to strength train and me spending time foam rolling through out the week and most importantly, listening to my body! I have finally broken the 5 mile point and ran 6 miles on Monday! I went in not sure if I'd even do 3 miles but at about 4 miles I decided to take a break and walk for about a quarter of a mile and see how I felt afterwards.

That walk break changed the way I view walking while out on a run or during a race. Giving my body a small break helped give me a boost to finish 6 miles. I didn't stop moving, I didn't go home then run 2 miles later in the day. I ran 6 miles with a quarter mile walk break that didn't hurt my training one bit. It actually helped!

I want to be able to run 13.1 miles nonstop, and I know I am capable, but if I have to walk at some point to retain some energy in order to finish strong, I'll do so without feeling like a failure or "not a runner".

So what makes me a runner?

*The moment I decided to lace up my shoes and head out the door*

*The drive I have inside of me to finish what I started*

*The desire to push myself beyond my limits*

*The wisdom to listen to my body and allow it rest when needed in order to press on*

*The LOVE of the sport*

Side note: I never saw other runners as "non runners" if they chose to do walk/run intervals or have to walk while out running. This was just a weird way of thinking I had set up in my own mind for myself. What matters is that you keep moving forward. :-) 

The Fit Dish: Embarrassing Fitness Moments

Well hello there fitfam! Long time, no talk. I know, I know, I've been MIA again. Life tends to take control sometimes and you have to decide what's more important to spend your time on. I'm still trying to balance being a stay at home mom, taking care of the house, groceries, errands and fit in half marathon training so blogging has come in last these days. Unfortunately my faithful readers miss out, but I know I'll feel in over my head if I try to do it all. 

But, I'm here on this lovely, sunny Tuesday morning! Comin' at ya with another Fit Dish post with the wonderful hosts: Jessica @ Jill! Today's optional topic: Embarrassing Fitness Experiences. Ooh, this should be good! 



It's almost noon and I'm just sitting down to get this post out. I had a brutal, yet satisfying physical training session this morning, came home, showered, had a late breakfast and throughout all of that I was pondering, "what in the world can I write about today?" 

Confession #1: I am THE CLUMSIEST, awkward white girl that ever walked the earth so you'd think I would have some juicy moments to share. But I don't. Boo.. Knowing that I'm super clumsy and awkward causes me to be extra careful so maybe that's why I haven't had any mishaps (knock on wood).

Until today.

I woke up later than usual, rushed to get the kids ready for school. Made it to my physical training session with only a couple minutes to fix my hair in the bathroom. I felt "off" today. Most likely due to the lovely thing called mother nature. First of all, working out while on "that time of the month" is hard enough. But today I felt a little light headed and loopy. I was there, which was half the battle so I trudged on. My trainer had me warm up with the dreaded ropes then we went on to the step up stand or "box jump"... I never told him I was feeling a bit off because I hate sounding like a baby. So he had me jump up (on the lowest level) using one leg! Umm...in my head I knew this was a recipe for disaster! And sure enough, after a few hops up and down on one leg, I jumped up, hit the stand with my toes and fell forward-catching myself with my hands which protected my face from getting smashed into the pole in front of me. I said out loud, "THAT was embarrassing!" We both laughed although he looked terrified every jump afterwards, but I made it through and didn't make a big scene. I was completely off balance throughout the entire session and I felt like a complete idiot. To my surprise he told me I looked great and he can see that I'm much stronger than day one. Phew!

I do have a really embarrassing thing about myself that I can share. What the hay, we're all friends right?

Well, here goes....

My butt tends to sweat a lot. Ah, there I said it! (Not on a regular basis, just when working out.) And although I wear a workout skirt over my leggings (for modesty) sometimes sweat likes to soak through the leggings and appear on the skirt. Well one day at the gym I had an amazing, sweat in your eyes kind of workout (and butt) and afterwards I walked around a bit, got some water, went to the back to stretch then left. Well after going outside I realized my back side had a nice spot at the top of my bum that said, "hey I'm a butt sweater!" 
I was pretty mortified and wondered if anyone noticed! For about a week or two I kept telling my husband, "check my butt". He would either tell me yes or no but either way there's nothing I can do about it. haha pretty gnarly, I know. Don't worry, if you ever visit the gym I go to, I always make sure to disinfect the machines with seats really well. ;-)

So what's something embarrassing that's happened to you during a workout sesh or run? 

Join in on this fun topic and dish the fit with us! 

The Fit Dish: What's Next?

Happy Tuesday friends & fitfam! Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll stick around and #dishthefit with us. We're talking about goals for 2015! So sit down, relax and dive right in to this week's The Fit Dish!

Thanks Jessica & Jill for this awesome link-up once again! 

Wow! What a year 2014 turned out to be! I would love to say I wouldn't want to change a thing, but that would be lying. I'd erase the running injuries I had that kept me out of running for 6 months and I sure would've kept my grandpa around a lot longer if it were up to me. But, that's the crazy thing about life: it's unplanned. I've grown so much mentally, physically and spiritually. <----All of which wasn't planned.

So what's next? What are my goals for 2015? 

Physically:

As of right now, I'm hoping to run my first half marathon by the Spring. Now, this depends on my body and if it can handle the mileage. I've never run more than 5 miles and I'm at that point right now, which is pretty scary for me since I'm so injury prone; but my heart and my mind are set on finishing what I started a few months ago. 

I've never been one to plan races for the entire year because you just never know what's going to happen. I'd like to keep increasing my mileage and if a race comes up that I'd like to run, I'll run it. Keepin' it simple folks. ;-)

Mentally: 

I would love to continue on with this positive mindset. Who wouldn't?! 

Spiritually:

I want to spend more time reading and praying, as well as doing yoga and meditation to keep me centered and level headed. It's been some time since I've done yoga to relaxing music, but I haven't forgotten the benefits!

This sums it all up for me :-)

I'm keeping it pretty simple today friends! But that seems to be my thing these days. Before you leave, tell me what is one goal you have for 2015, no matter what it may be! 

Make it a great week everyone!! 

How to Beat Defeat

Hello there ole chums! 
How's life treatin' ya? Good, I hope! 

You may (or may not) be able to tell, but I've been BURNT OUT lately! This past week was just plain hard mentally for me. I was able to get in my 4.5 mile run on Monday, finish an excruciatingly painful personal training session on Tuesday which left me sore for days, but ever since Wednesday my head (and my heart) is just not in the training. I'm mentally wiped out from all the numbers, miles and planning.

So what should I do to kick this burn out to the curb??

I need to reevaluate my goals, my current fitness level and most importantly- take a step back to BREATHE!

Yesterday (Friday) I had 5 miles planned. I'm taking a super safe approach to this half marathon training so I can prevent any injuries from happening. So I only increase my miles half a mile every other week. I know that's not much at all, but this girl is very injury prone! Ok, back to Friday. We had lots of rain this week, which is great, but it left my running route a bit slippery because of all the leaves on the ground. So, I opted to run on the dreadmill at the gym for 5 miles. I had music, tv's and people to watch. These 5 miles should fly by with all this entertainment, right? .... Wrong! I get on the treadmill, warm up for 5 minutes. Stop, stretch, give myself a mental pep talk, then start running. I kept it at a 9:15 pace which is great but I struggled to finish 1 mile! ONE measly mile!! I stopped, wiped a few tears from my eyes (yes, I was quite upset with myself, but I didn't let anyone see) stretched, then told myself to do one more mile. I did another mile, repeated the last couple things, minus the tears, then trudged on for one more mile. This run was the most mentally tough run I've EVER had. I ran 3 miles with walk breaks in between. I felt so defeated but I wanted to finish the 5 miles some how. I decided to finish it outside.. well, my husband was in the car waiting for me so that irritated me because I hate feeling rushed, so I gave up and went home.

I understand we're bound to have "bad" running days, but this was a horrible running day! And it was a different kind of horrible because I've felt mentally tough this whole training period, so why am I crumbling now??

I'm experiencing mental burn out and I need to take a step back...

So in order for me to get back on the right track to training well for my first half marathon, I need to get out of this burn out funk. Here's how I plan on defeating defeat:

*Reevaluate my goals & fitness level* I know my body is capable to run 5 miles right now. I know my body is strong enough to carry me to 13.1-eventually. I'm working on strength training with my personal trainer and also working on flexibility to keep any strains or kinks from occurring. So what's the problem? I'm worried I won't be able to run 13.1 miles by the end of March 2015 with the training I have planned and it's wearing on me. Big time. So, I'm reevaluating and readjusting my plans/goals. I may have to run an April race, and that's okay. I want to cross the finish line feeling strong and if that means extending my training period, then so be it.

*Take a step back to breathe* I'm stepping away from numbers. I will do my runs outside to keep from over analyzing what the treadmill says. I'll listen to my body and tell myself "it's ok" if I have to take a walk break in order to finish the planned miles, no matter what my pace is! I'm going to take it a day at a time and do what I can. My mind needs a break so I'm going to do my best to let it regroup. Running my first half
is supposed to be exciting, not stressful.

*Do more of what I enjoy* If I feel like skipping an intense workout at the gym, I just might do that this week. I know I can't always do that, but for now, while my mind is regrouping, I'll do whatever it takes to clear up the fog looming inside my mind. I'll sit and relax and catch up on my favorite blogs and maybe find time and energy to put up a few of my scheduled posts. I'll get back to doing yoga and coupling it with prayer again-a total mind clearer! Most importantly, I'll use this mental burn out as a time to realize I need to stay mentally fit because if I don't, I could end up quitting when the going gets tough. That's definitely NOT what I want to happen!

Mental burn out is going to happen at some point or another. It's up to us to decide if we let it turn into defeat or use it as a lesson learned and grow from it. I'm choosing to grow and watch for burn out signs in the future so that I can beat it before it turns into defeat!

How do you avoid burn out? 

How do you kick a burn out to the curb?

The Fit Dish: Favorite Fitness Accomplishments

Hello fitfam and friends! Welcome to Tuesday's Fit Dish! Today we're bragging a little (or a lot) so grab a seat and get comfy while we dish the fit!

Per usual, I'm linking up with Jessica @ The Fit Switch and Jill @ Jill Conyers.

Today's topic: Your Favorite Fitness Accomplishments  

As a runner, I've had my share of ups and downs. I've dealt with numerous injuries (most of which were caused by my own stubbornness) had times of burn out, but I've also had many triumphs and victories.

I'd like to share with you all the mile that started it all. 

Finishing my first 5 mile race!
So relieved I finished!

When I first started running almost 3 years ago, I couldn't even run for more than 30 seconds at a time. I remember the pain in my lungs like it was yesterday. I remember how my bouncing, heavy body felt with each step. I hated every second of it but loved it because it didn't take much brain work to put one foot in front of the other. I was bored with working out in my living room, waving my arms and kicking my legs as I watched thin women in tights and leotards prance around as if they weighed nothing. So I laced up my casual Sketchers and went for my first run. By the way, newbies: invest in New running shoes. Do not wear whatever you have laying in your closet!

Our first 5k together. We both placed 2nd in
our age group! This picture shows sheer joy,
despite my broken thumb...

I, like many others, used the couch to 5k training plan. It worked wonderfully to keep me moving but why couldn't I run an entire mile without a walk break?! My husband began running soon after I did but it was much easier for him since he didn't have 50+ lbs to lose.

We started running at the high school track so our kids could play on the field while we ran. (And walked)

I had a couple miles planned but I knew there would be walking. Until my amazing husband gave me some advice: try to run one entire mile without stopping. I was so intimidated by the challenge but I wanted to be able to run a full mile non stop so bad, I said ok.

Then I ran. One glorious, yet painful mile. My lungs felt like they exploded and I'm pretty sure I tasted blood. I will never forget that feeling of accomplishment when I slapped his hand at the end. I get a little choked up thinking about it. That mile changed my life. I felt set free. I did it! I went on to run my first 5k, finishing 4th in my age group and not taking one walk break! Since then I've run several 5k's, a 2 miler, and a 5 miler. I am now training for my first half marathon-which I never even thought would cross my mind!

That day I learned I could do anything if I wanted it badly enough. I also learned I love a good challenge! ;-)

So, what is one of your fitness accomplishments? Go ahead, brag a little. :-D

Fill 'er Up Friday #2

Happy Friday! 

How was your Thanksgiving? Delicious, I'm sure. We still have one more to go on Sunday with my fam so I took it easy on the indulging yesterday. 
Anywho, let's dive right in to Fill 'er Up Friday! 

This week's workouts and running plans did not go quite as planned due to Thanksgiving, our kids being home on break and a head cold that tried to kill me but I prevailed!

I couldn't figure out why it was so difficult for me to finish 4.5 miles on Monday, but it was probably due to the lack of appetite during last weekend since I was coming down with a head cold. I loaded up on goldenseal with echinacea and kicked that cold to the curb! I did a couple home workouts since I didn't make it to the gym and today I ran 5 miles! What?! I ran in my mother in law's neighborhood and it was marvelous. A tad bit tough at around 2.25 miles but I pushed through and focused on my breathing and finished feeling great! (and no dogs chased me-a huge fear of mine!) This run was huge for me because I haven't been able to run five miles since last year around this time! Listening to my body = better runs and a stronger body! :-)

Instagram likes & my run from today. I want that cat!-sorry, I totally stole that
photo..

I apologize for not keeping up with my scheduled posts. My mind has been completely consumed lately with all the statistics of training for a half. I feel bad that I find it hard to think about anything other than training.. I did set a goal even though I said I just wanted to finish feeling strong. I set a goal to finish in 2:20 or under. 

:-D 

I plan on catching up on my posts and linking back up with the #fitfam for Tuesday's #dishthefit. I'm learning how to balance it all without getting too overwhelmed. My spiritual life and home life comes before my social media life. ;-) 

Speaking of running, oh wait, was I talking about running? Oh well, I am now. Boy have I been hungry!! Or is it rungry? Runchies? <----Yep, that's the one. RUNCHIES! I have been eating almost everything in sight! In moderation, of course. But I just polished off a pizza hot pocket, and I NEVER eat those! Do you get the runchies? 

Moving on. Actually, I'm not moving on. I forgot I wanted to mention that I made some delicious cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting! The rolls have less sugar and butter than traditional rolls, but I went all out with the frosting. DE-LICIOUS! Proceed with caution:

Yeild: About 20 Rolls

Total Time: 2 hours (most of the time is waiting for the dough to rise)

Ingredients:
1 cup warm fat-free milk (100° to 110°)
6 tablespoons melted butter, divided
1/3 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 package quick-rise yeast
16.88 ounces all-purpose flour (about 3 3/4 cups)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Frosting:

2 oz. Cream Cheese

7 Tbsp. Butter-softened

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

2 Tbsp. Milk

1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar

1/4 Tsp. Salt

Cream together cream cheese and butter. Slowly add the other ingredients and mix until fluffy. Spread over warm cinnamon rolls and enjoy!

Directions:
1. To prepare rolls, combine milk, 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, and yeast in a large bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups. Add egg and remaining granulated sugar to bowl. Stir in 4.5 ounces (1 cup) flour; let stand 10 minutes.

2. Add 11.25 ounces (about 2 1/2 cups) flour and salt to milk mixture; stir until a soft dough forms (dough will be sticky). Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 6 minutes); add enough of remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands. Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray; turn to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 35 minutes or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, dough has risen enough.) Punch dough down; cover and let rise 35 minutes or until doubled in size. Punch dough down; cover and let rest 5 minutes.

3. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; roll dough into an 18 x 11–inch rectangle. Brush remaining 3 tablespoons melted butter (I used a little more, 3 tablespoons just didn't quite cover the dough) over dough; sprinkle evenly with brown sugar mixture. Beginning at one long side, roll up dough tightly, jelly-roll fashion; pinch seam to seal (do not seal ends of roll). Cut dough into 18 (1-inch) slices. Arrange 9 slices, cut sides up, in each of 2 (8-inch) square baking dishes coated with cooking spray. Cover and let rise 35 minutes or until doubled in size.

4. Preheat oven to 350°.

5. Uncover rolls. Bake at 350° for 22 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 10 minutes in dishes on a wire rack. Turn rolls out onto wire rack; cool 5 minutes. Turn rolls over.

6. Frost and eat!

Do you like cinnamon rolls?

Have you ever had the runchies?

Have a great weekend friends! 

Mom Monday #2 Surviving School Breaks

Hey hey! It's Monday! 
How was your weekend? Grand, I hope! 

Before I dive into Mom Monday I want to shout from the rooftops that my husband received a conditional job offer from the City Police Department this morning!! Conditional, meaning: pass the psych and medical and you've got the job! I'm pretty sure he's not crazy so he's got this! I'm so excited I'm dancing-on the inside. ;-) 

I woke up today feeling like a change was about to happen! 

Ok, back to our scheduled broadcasting.

So this week our kids are out of school, as are so many other children around the US. As parents, we cringe and look for the nearest corner to hide in as soon as we read the words: School Break on the school calendar. Bill Cosby said something so profound, "As the years go by, my wife and I grow closer together. Mainly because we're afraid of the children." 

First day of Thanksgiving Break

It may sound like a joke, but I'm sure he was very serious. If you're a parent, you know what I'm talking about. Especially if you have children who are polar opposites and do not get along for more than 5 minutes at a time. So how does a parent survive during these school breaks? If you're lucky, you'll make it to Monday with at least some of your hair. Here's what we do to make the most of our time with our kids, and avoid tantrums, boredom, boxing matches, and keep from going crazy. 

Step 1:

Bring in some reinforcements. IE: More kids. You're probably thinking, how does more kids make things easier? Well, if you're kids don't get along and don't seem to like anything they have at home to do, set up some play dates with friends and/or cousins. My kids have cousins that are just a little younger than they are, so they'll play nicely for hours. My sister needed me to fill in for her to babysit my niece and nephew, so I gladly said ok since I knew my kids would be preoccupied for long enough for me to get this post up and maybe even do some yoga while the little one naps. :-) We all win! Plus, I'm watching them at their house so my kids are happy to have new things to play with.

Step 2: 
Always have a plan. If you seem to have a plan of attack, er, I mean, plan for the day, your kids won't get bored as often. Think of all the things they can do to keep their minds busy. Board games, chores, activities to break up the day like going outside to play are some simple ideas. You could even plan a trip to a petting zoo, the park or even the library. So when my kids wake up and ask, "what are we doing today?" I try to have a plan so I can tell them, "We have lots to do today!" That way, they don't start their day off thinking they are just going to be bored all day. Easy enough?

Step 3:
Let them stay with grandma. <---'nuff said.

Step 4: 
If 1-3 aren't working, there's always Robitussin or Dimetap. . . haha I'm totally kidding!
Use school breaks for time to do something different. Maybe save a big craft project for the days they are home from school. Or, take them to a hobby store like Hobby Lobby or Michael's and let them pick out a project that will take some time over the course of a couple days to finish. This will keep their minds occupied and give them something to look forward to the next day.

Step 5: 
Let them play video games. GASP! I said LET THEM PLAY VIDEO GAMES! I'm not saying to let them have a free for all. But I am saying to give them some free time to play on the electronics since they are on vacation. Plus it will give you some time to breathe and think of what to do next. Maybe you'll even be able to get in a 30 minute workout while they warp their minds!

So if you find yourself going crazy at the beginning of every school break, don't worry, you're not the only one! Just go with the flow and remember, what doesn't kill ya, only makes you stronger. ;-)

Have a great week everyone! 

Thankful Thursday #2

Good afternoon friends! How's your week going so far? 
Mine has been great and it just got better! My husband received a final interview for an awesome job on Monday! Now, THAT'S something to be thankful for! :-)

I've been a bit preoccupied with training for my first half marathon, and I apologize because I haven't been posting or commenting on other blogs lately. For the first several weeks of training I was pumped up mentally and physically. I'm still pumped physically, and doing quite well, but mentally I'm psyching myself out. I haven't registered for the race yet and today I realized that I should because that way the only way I'll back out is if I'm injured. *fingers crossed* that doesn't happen! So, I may register by the end of this week...I think I need to do that in order to keep my head in the game.

Ok, since this isn't a "Fill 'er Up Friday" post, I'll get back on track here. I have so much to be thankful for this week!

First off, of course is the job opportunity that could be offered to my husband on Monday! I won't go all "poor me" on you, but we have struggled ya'll. We have had our share of struggle and have had to tell our children no to many things, so it's high time for things to change! We give God all the glory and thanks for providing for us and never allowing us to go without. We are so thankful that He has kept His hand upon our lives at all times, and we trust He will continue to do so. We have always felt blessed, even while unemployed and raising two children. We have always been able to pay our bills and provide food and shelter for our family, and for that, we are thankful.


I'm thankful for the opportunity to work with a personal trainer for the next couple months. 
My trainer's name is George and he seems well educated in fitness and nutrition. He has been able to answer all of my questions. He is able to make modifications to some of the exercises that I just cannot do right now due to lack of upper body strength and core strength. (which is ok, because it gives me something to work towards) He's fun, encouraging and very respectful. I'm so thankful for this opportunity because I'm learning so much that I didn't know and I'm realizing where I need to strengthen in order to finish this half marathon strong.

I'm thankful for the rain and cooler weather! Training for this half would be much harder if it was hot out! Most of you know I suffer from exertion migraines due to over heating and dehydration. So the summer months are months where I either run before the sun comes up or run on a treadmill indoors with AC blasting in order to prevent one of those monsters from attacking. So I am definitely thankful for the cooler temps and the rain to keep the air clean and crisp for some awesome runs!


What are a couple things you are thankful for this week?
Any exciting news come your way?

Enjoy your weekend everyone! 

Shout out Sunday!

Hello! & Welcome to my first Shout out Sunday! I follow some amazing blogs, so every Sunday I'd like to shout out to some of them and give you guys the opportunity to discover new blogs if you haven't yet heard of them. 

Ready?

Here we go!

(In no particular order and chosen at random)

 Ali On The Run: Here you'll find posts by a girl named Allison (goes by Ali). I have been following her blog for 6 months or more and I love her sense of humor! She shares her racing experiences as well as her experiences with Crohn's Disease. She is a free spirited, funny and inspirational woman who loves to run. Her posts are usually longer than the "norm" but I always find myself reading to the end! Go check her out now! You won't be disappointed!



Up and Humming: This is where you'll find posts by Flower. She lives in Florida with her husband and two dogs, Boomer & Hank. She always has the most interesting posts! She always has something to surprise me with! She posts regularly with one of them being: "WTF Wednesday". (Can't believe I just typed WTF! Hahaha) She's a runner but enjoys all things out doors. She's hilarious and always has something crazy to share! Like last week a squirrel landed on her head while she was out running! If you need a good laugh, go follow her now!

Chaitali is in the middle

Running and Enjoying: This is where you'll find posts by Chaitali. She's a sweet runner living in DC (right Chaitali?) with her husband and cats. She just finished a 10 mile race and is still truckin' along! She has her first half marathon this weekend and I'm cheering her on from California! She posts anything from updates on her training/running to informational posts and recipes. She's a dedicated reader of mine and I have enjoyed getting to know her the past several months. Please go check out her blog, you're sure to find something you'll enjoy reading!



Please don't be upset that I stole your photos! :-D 

I hope you'll take the time to check out these awesome blogs! I love reading what they have to say and I think you will too! 

Have a fantastic week everyone!! 

Fill 'er Up Friday!

Good afternoon friends! Welcome to Fill 'er Up Friday-where I fill you in on how my training is going and whatever else I'd like to talk about! So sit back, relax and get yer fill!

So, this week did not go as planned and it's continuing to not go as planned, so I have let go of the wheel and I'm just going along for the ride!

It all started with the flu last weekend. I guess not being able to eat can make for a pretty crummy workout week. Who knew?.. I also had a very strange, yet strong, craving for mini Twix. Did I cave, and buy some? You bet I did. Do I regret it? You bet I do. Since I'm having eaters remorse, I'm going on a sugar free diet for this weekend. If the weekend goes well, I'll extend this "diet" a few more days. Baby steps folks, baby steps.

Monday: Scheduled 3.5 miles-didn't happen because I had no energy.
Tuesday: Personal Training Session-Went very well! Learned a lot & I'm looking forward to working with my trainer every 2 weeks! He's a rock climber so he knows his stuff when it comes to ab workouts!
Wednesday: Cross trainer-20 minutes + lots of stretching (so sore from the personal training session)
Thursday: Stayed home and did some much needed yoga.
Friday: Scheduled 4 mile run-felt like garbage. Forced myself to run 2, still having some shin splint pain...
Saturday & Sunday: Lots of foam rolling, icing, resting AND eating healthy!

Sugar is the devil!...So are germs...

I'm really loving this app that I get to use since I signed up for personal training sessions at the gym. It's called DotFitMe. It keeps track of all of your food and activities throughout the day and tells you if you are below or above your calorie level. When you sign up you pick what your goal is then you put in your weight, height and all sorts of other info and then it tells you what your daily calories should be. Mine is at 2177 and to be honest, I find it hard to eat that many calories. Right now it is 2:40 pm and I'm at 1044 calories. How am I supposed to eat over 1000 calories with only an evening snack and dinner?? I just simply cannot eat that much so I'll just have to wait and see what my trainer says. I'm not too worried about my weight right now so I think as long as I'm eating healthy and I'm satisfied throughout the day, then I'll be fine.

This app is a great way to keep my bad eating habits in check because if it's not something I want my trainer to see, then I either don't eat it or don't record it. But, I'm honest and I can't leave out something that I ate.
:-)

This week I have felt so sluggish and tired. I was thinking it was due to the fact that I had the stomach flu and was living off of crackers and water with a little soup here and there. Then yesterday I start to feel the dreaded head cold coming on! I quickly loaded up on tons of vitamins and started to feel better. What a week! Speaking of things not going as planned, I wanted to get this post up sooner (and veg out on the couch all day) but my sister needs me to watch my 2 year old nephew for a couple hours, so now it's going to be even more delayed...Let it go, let it gooo! Taking advice from a Disney Queen....Nice.

(Ok, it has been about 2 hours since that last paragraph was typed up. I'm back and I have about an hour before my kids get home.)

Here's a bit how my visit with the little man (Colton) went:

He was helping me ice my leg (shin splints)...then he snapped.

Career/School Update:

A while back I mentioned wanting to take online classes to become a Nutrition Consultant or Health Coach. After lots and lots of research, it's just not something we can pull off right now. I have the time, there's no doubt about that. I just don't have money and I do not want to take out another student loan. I payed off my Dental Assisting student loan a couple years ago but I'm obviously not even working as an assistant so (understandably) my husband doesn't think another student loan for a larger sum of money is a good idea. I have searched and searched for grants/scholarships or even federal aid and so far I haven't found any help. I'm taking a slight step back for now, but it still continues to be something I think about every day.

Recipe:
After my pathetic 2 mile run this morning, I was starving but I wanted something fast. I wasn't exactly sure how this would turn out but I tried it anyway and I'm so glad I did! Enter: Banana Protein Smoothie.

I didn't measure anything, because when you're as hungry as I was, you can't wait for things like measuring.

-Frozen Bananas
-Splash of milk
-1 tsp. Crunchy Peanut Butter
-Almost full scoop of chocolate Whey Protein powder

Blend until smooth & enjoy! This would satisfy any sugar craving I could have in the future. I'm so happy I whipped this up today because it will really help me stay away from sugar!


How was your week?

Do you ever just give up on your schedule when too many things keep throwing it off?

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend! (I hope I do too! :-D)

The Fit Dish Link-Up: Wandering Thoughts

Hey there #fitfam & friends! How are you on this fine Tuesday? 


Let's jump right in and #dishthefit with Jessica & The Fit Switch and Jill @ Fitness, Health and Happiness! 


Not sure what I'm talking about? Click here to find out! 


Today's topic: Does your mind wander during a workout or while running? 

When I saw Jessica's Instagram update about the topic for this week, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself and think, "Ooh, this is gonna be good!"

My mind wanders when I'm showering, working out, washing dishes, reading, eating....oh what the heck, I'm a space cadet! So now you, my lovely readers, will get the chance of a lifetime to catch a glimpse of what goes on inside this brain of mine during a run. I'll keep it to outdoor runs, because when I run on the treadmill inside the gym, I have a lot to keep my mind busy. IE: tons of tv's with different channels on every set, music to listen to and people, lots of people, to watch. (I will not be bored when I'm old. Walmart, here I come)

Ok, back to the topic at hand. See, my mind was wandering.

So what do I think about while I'm running? Since I'm a mom you'd think I'd be thinking about the kids and stressing over what we're going to have for dinner, or if I'm caught up on all the laundry. But I don't think of any such thing. Running is my time. It's my time to enjoy my own thoughts.

Ready? Here we go!

Start running: "I sure hope I have a good run today."

Half a mile in: "Boy this feels harder than it should."

1 Mile: "Hey, that's a pretty good pace."

This is where I settle into my "good pace" and my mind starts to wander...

"I wonder what I look like...cool runner...dorky runner...stiff runner..."

Spot my shadow...observe my shadow for a minute or so.

"Yikes, I need to lean a little, I'm as straight as a board!"

"Pick those knees up, that'll keep you from tripping over your own feet."

"Ok, you're over thinking it. What mile am I on?"

Mile 2: "Yes, half way there."

Begin to enjoy the scenery. Watch cars go by. Try to keep a smile on my face so that people won't think running is horrible.

"Man, my butt sure bounces a lot."

"I wonder if anyone notices it?"

"I'm sure they notice it if you can feel it." 

"Well, at least I'm out here getting some exercise."

Mile 3: "I sure hope no dogs come out because I don't think I have enough energy to out run them."

"How would I get help if a dog attacked me?"

"If it attacked my leg, I wonder if it would be so bad that I couldn't run anymore. Or ever again."

"I wonder if anyone else thinks as much as I do while running."

"Probably not."

Mile 3.5: "Almost done! Yes! I love running, now it's time to sprint!" 

Rocky theme music plays in my head

"What if I tripped and ate the concrete?" 

Shudder...I don't even want to think about that! 

Mile 4: "Yes! I'm done! Don't forget to stretch or you'll be sorry" Brag to my husband about how marvelous that run was.

So there you have it, some of the thoughts that run through my head while I'm out on a run. It's ok if you think I'm weird, I've accepted it, so you can too. ;-)

Please feel free to link up with us and share your wandering thoughts! I'd love to know if there are others out there just like me! 

Have a fantastic Tuesday friends! 

Mom Mondays: What happens when mom gets sick?

Good morning friends! How was your weekend? I spent the majority of mine laying in bed, sick with the stomach flu. Thankfully I'm feeling about 98% better now. Let's be real, moms can only take so many "sick days" before the kids start going crazy and the husband starts crying. ;-)

As I was laying in bed, so pathetically, I thought about what I should write about for my "Mom Monday" post. The idea came to me soon after I felt strong enough to get up and walk around the house. "What happens when mom gets sick?"

After observing for a few minutes I wanted to crawl back into bed. So I did. I stayed in bed all day Saturday. But I was foolish to think my mom duties would be taken care of while I was bed ridden. There I was, laying in bed, sicker than a dog (what does that even mean??) thinking the kids were being taken care of, dishes were being washed, laundry was getting folded, trash was taken out... Oh no. I was wrong. Oh so wrong.

I take that back, the kids were taken care of: they had quessadilla's and chicken noodle soup for dinner.

If I would have known that getting sick would only cause my duties to pile up on me and cause me to have double the work when I was well, I wouldn't have gotten sick in the first place! ... I say this as if I have a choice...

So what exactly happens when mom gets sick?

*The kids dress themselves and their hair does not get brushed before leaving the house.

*Dishes pile up in the sink until there's no room for more, so they begin to pile them onto the counter.

*The trash bag that I set out by the back door before getting sick, still sits there and begins to smell.

*Lysol gets sprayed on every surface of the house as if I have a deadly plague. 

*The kids decide to play with puzzles, blocks, legos and anything else you can build with in the living room, which stays there until mom is better.

*You hear the kids say numerous times, "But that's not how mom does it!"

Please tell me my husband is not the only man who seems helpless when his wife is sick! But when they get sick, CALL THE DOCTOR! <----that's a post for another day.

Don't get me wrong, my husband dropped the kids off with his mom while he went to help a friend move furniture so I could be alone most of the day, but I sure wish men understood that a little help around the house goes a long way! He also told me several times to just tell him if I need anything. Any time I asked for something, he seemed more than happy to help. I appreciate what he did do for me while I was sick.

If I'm a bit MIA the next few days, I'm working on this mess we call a house.

So tell me, what happens at your house when you get sick? 

Thankful Thursday #1

Hey there friends! Welcome to the first Thankful Thursday! Feel free to join me on Thursdays and talk about all the things you're thankful for, big or small! 

November is here. That means it's time to be thankful. Right? I mean, this is the time of year where most people start talking about how thankful they are for the many blessings in their lives. I'm no different. I guess it's because Thanksgiving takes place at the end of this month and it reminds us that we should be thankful for all that we have. I thank God on a daily basis for all that He has done for my family and I, but it's nice to have an entire month to think about all things big or small that we are thankful for.

Today I'd like to mention the little things I'm thankful for.

Like hot, running water. I'm not kidding. Every time I take a shower I am extremely thankful that I live in a country where we have hot, running water right at our finger tips. All we have to do is turn a couple nobs and out it comes. People in other countries aren't so fortunate. They have to work hard for cold water for the day, and hopefully it's clean. Yes, I am thankful for hot, running water because without it, I don't think I'd ever bathe. ;-)

I'm thankful for the little things that we use every day and probably take for granted. IE: internet for quick recipes, apps for workouts, GPS (phones or devices) so we don't get lost, a fuel efficient car to take my kids to school and go to the gym every day without breaking the bank, and something I have been blessed with so much of lately: quiet time at home. I try to use my time wisely, but some days my laziness gets the best of me. I am blessed and I know it. <----That's not a song yet right? Haha, maybe I have too much time on my hands! 

I am thankful for all the little moments I have with my kids. Even if they don't realize it's a "moment", it still is to me. For example, when Kate falls asleep next to me on the couch before bed time. Yes, I love watching her sleep. She looks so sweet. But what I'm really enjoying is the fact that I won't have to chase her around the house trying to get her into the bathroom to brush her teeth. (I'll brush them in the morning) I won't have to spend 20 + minutes looking for a book to read since we've read everything in our house about 500 times. I will be able to take a shower, uninterrupted because she is already asleep and doesn't need another cup of water, or need to use the bathroom for the second time. Ah, the little moments.

Life is good, friends. Take some time to enjoy and be thankful for all the little things in your life today. 

Before you go, tell me one thing you are thankful for! Anything!

Speaking of being thankful, don't forget to enter my giveaway and make your way around the Thankful For My Followers Giveaway Hop! Enter here!

Have an amazing Thursday everyone!

The Difference Between an Average vs Awesome Workout

It's Tuesday friends! You know what that means! It's time to dish the fit with Jessica & Jill with the Tuesday link-up The Fit Dish! 

Today's topic: What's the difference between an average workout vs an awesome workout? 

We've all experienced good and bad workouts. But what is it exactly that makes a workout so awesome it leaves you floating on a cloud the rest of the day? Or even the rest of the year! Ok,I have yet to experience something like that, but I'm sure you catch my drift.

I can think of a few reasons why a workout would go from just "meh" to "I'm so happy I can't stop smiling and now I can't feel my face!" 


Proof of a really awesome run:

Can you see my teeth? I don't think you
can see my teeth.

#1 Nutrition 
If you had a terrible workout or run, think back to the day before and evaluate all that you consumed. Did you put garbage into your body? Cuz if ya did, your body is just rebelling and trying to teach you a lesson. If you want your body to perform, feed it properly.

#2 Music
Need I say more? I recently became a believer in listening to music while running and working out at the gym. It pumps me up, gets me moving and makes me happy. When I'm starting to feel like I want to quit, I'll skip to a song that I know will get my blood flowing, then I'll step up my workout.

#3 Do what feels right
If you have a training plan that you are following but wake up one morning and complain about the planned workout, don't do it. Now, I don't recommend doing this the entire training process, but every now and then is ok. You're more likely to get in an amazing workout if you do what feels right, rather than what's planned. Sometimes Our bodies are in charge and if they say let's dance instead of drop and give me twenty, then you're better off shaking your groove thang.  ;-)

You're welcome for getting that song stuck in your head. 

Join us and link up your fitness related post or use this topic! Link up on Jessica or Jill's site or make your way around the fit dish table and get your fill on all things fitness! 

Make it a great day people! 

Thankful For My Followers Giveaway Hop

Good morning! How's it goin? 

When I found out Kristy @ RunawayBridalPlanner was hosting a giveaway for her followers, I jumped on the opportunity to sign up. I appreciate all of my dedicated followers/readers and thought this is a great way to say Thank You! 

I'm so thankful for all of my followers! What better way to show you guys how much I love you by giving you a little gift?! I wish I could give all of you something, wait, I do. I give you my posts. hahaha just kidding. But seriously, I wish I could give all of you a sweet little something, but since I'm not rich, nor do I have the time or energy to send off a ton of gifts, I'm giving you all a chance to win something! 

Wait for it,....wait for it....

I'm giving away a $20 gift card to Big 5 Sporting Goods! There's something for everyone there so you're bound to find something you'll use to keep you moving! 

So what is a giveaway hop? It's this wonderful opportunity to receive a cool prize or prizes, yes, PRIZES by hopping around from one blog to the next, entering for your chance to win what they have to offer. It's also an awesome way to find new blogs and meet new people! 

So after you're finished here, hop on over to the next blog, go ahead, I'm giving you permission. :-D 

Simply enter by using the Rafflecopter widget below! 

*I apologize, but this giveaway is US only!*

a Rafflecopter giveaway