Looking Good

This is one of the inspirational quotes circulating the web.  I found this on Pinterest and I think it's pretty cute.  For all those who are stylish and have trendy and cute workout clothes, this is a funny little saying.

You start out looking like you're going to tear it up...and then you end up looking like you tore it up, right!!

I must have missed the memo on the part where you are supposed to start off looking cute in order to have something to compare to at the end of your  workout.

Something went bad wrong this morning when I suited up for my 10 miles.  I was under the impression that everything was just fine; right before I left Sweet J said, "Mom, you look fabuwous!"  There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in her voice when she said this, however she must have been lying through her adorable little teeth.

Hubby shot this picture with his phone before I left.   I'm not sure why he, also let  me leave looking like a deranged frog.

Oh yes.  I spent 1 hour and 30 minutes running through town looking like an alien from another planet.

What you can't see in the picture are my light baby blue fingerless gloves.  Those really pull the neon green and the forest green together.

Of course this was the run where I ran into actual people that I know along the way, driving in their cars probably wondering if I lack mirrors in my house!

However, I am glad I had my Camel Back for this run.  I don't know why I haven't been using it all along!  I think it really helped.  A few weeks ago I dropped my water bottle and it rolled under a parked truck about 1 mile in.  I hadn't even had a sip yet!  So this worked out much better.

This is the one I have and I really like it.  There are different styles of course: a back pack style and one with a water bottle instead of the water pack and hose straw.

Oh Yes, I almost forgot!!  Once I reached my destination at the end of my run, I unhooked my Camel Back and discovered that somewhere along the way I got dive bombed by a bird.  A bird pooped on the front of my shirt while I was running.  I had no idea!  How did that happen without me knowing it? I got pooped on.

Special thanks to my Mom and Dad...mom, for providing me with the plastic bag to put my bird shirt in, and Dad for driving my sweaty self home!

I mean, am I the only one who just can't pull a cute workout outfit together?  


Do you make sure to hydrate before, durning, and after a workout?  I found that during is one of the times I pay least attention to and it's probably most important! 

Losing It

It's always a pain in the butt when you lose something.  I know this from experience.

My glasses -I found those in a dusty dress shoe in the closet- that I lost a couple of weeks ago.

My IPod.  I had to pretend I just wanted to run without it 2 days ago because I didn't want to admit I didn't remember where I put it.  It was on the wine rack.

The car keys.  It's pretty much a mad search for them every morning.  Yes, we do have a key rack on the wall right when you walk in from the garage.  I tend to drop them on the counter along with the 10 other bags I have in my hands, or they go in my coat pocket, or in the abyss that is my purse.

Chap stick.  Where is all my chap stick.  Somewhere, there is a chap stick  hoarder who is in hog heaven from all of the dang balm I've lost.

My shoes.  Since I usually have to rush someone to the bathroom as soon as we walk in the door, and then I never really sit until after 830...my shoes end up in the oddest of places.  I had to change my entire outfit last minute yesterday morning because I couldn't find my brown boots.

My wallet.  Since Sweet Jordan periodically empties out my purse, you never know if all of the contents have made their way back in.  How many times have I gone to the grocery store without it?  Super awesome that I don't find out till the checkout.  Good thing it's only 5 minutes from home.

My school keys.  This sounds so horrible, I know.  It's my job...get it together at your job!  But, those things are going to be the death of me.  Today, I asked my awesome friend and our secretary if she'd seen them and the other 3 people in the office said, "Again?"  That's a bad sign.  They were in my abyss purse.

Anything I ever put in the zipper pocket of my purse.  Come to find out there was a whole in bottom of the pocket, sucking everything down into the lining.  A true abyss.  I wasn't going crazy!  Found 7 chap sticks and about $15 in change.  No wonder that thing was getting so heavy.

My planner.  I thought, hey, keep a planner.  Try to pull yourself together.  Write stuff down, get organized and get a grip.  I lost it.  I lost the stinking planner.

I'm going Loca!

One of the reasons why I run is to clear my mind.  It helps me to feel more cool, collected and I swear I can think better if I've been running on a regular basis.

What the heck would happen if I ever stopped running.  I shudder at the thought of it.

Can I still use the excuse of "baby brain" when my kids are almost 3 and 5?

8:40

It's 8:40.  Kids in bed.  Waiting for.....The Bachelor to run a little longer.
Why?
Because I hate tons of commercials I've seen a million times, and if I wait a little bit longer, I can fast forward through them all without catching up to real time.  It's all about strategy.
Although, I think Ben is blowing it with his strategy.  Turns out he might just be a regular d.o.g. after all!  Bummer!!

My run today was not supposed to happen.  But, it did.  The day after a long run is usually reserved for a day of rest, so to speak.  For some reason, the voice inside said, "Go And  Run."  It ended up being a short 3 miles, but it felt great.  However, now, my knees are telling me otherwise.  
Tomorrow might be an ABS only day.


Yesterday, I ran out of Shakeology.  It comes in a 30 day supply bag each month.  Right to my door step. It's glorious.  I was prepared to spend a few days without my lovely breakfast drink.
But, like a miracle from UPS, a package was waiting on my doorstep when I got home from work.  
Wooo Hooo!  Gotta love Home Direct Delivery!


I've updated my IPod, thanks to tons of great suggestions, and now I have a good 30 songs to keep me going for a while.  Thanks!
Although, today I ran without it...sometimes just thinking makes the run seem shorter. Go figure.


I plan to do a few short circuits with my 10lb. weights during The Bachelor. That's all I've been doing weight-wise.  Every couple of days, while I'm watching TV, just pick up the weights and do a few exercises.  
Lots of reps with lighter weights.  Totally do-able.  
I got  mine at Target...where else?  Probably along with pull-ups, deodorant, a Hot Wheels and a slushee.  Isn't that place great!?!


I loved the SuperBowl commercial (because it was new and I hadn't seen it a million times) for The Voice with Betty White.  She's Awesome!  We heard a snipit of it on the radio this morning, and Jordan said, "Hey, I saw that lady last night!  She was funny!"
AND, the Clint Eastwood, "It's Half Time" was pretty sweet too!


Did you have a favorite Superbowl commercial?

The New Friday

My favorite day of the week always used to be Friday.  Once all responsibility was officially over; at like 3:00, it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.  Nothing to worry about.  Free as a bird.  What shall we do?  Go shopping?  Go out to eat?  Go to the movies?  How about all three, and then hit up the bar after!  Sounds like a plan!

All of the sudden, I find myself in bed, on a Friday night at 10:00.  My husband might even argue it's closer to 9:30.

There are tons of chores left over from the week; the counter's still sticky from a cake making extravaganza, the laundry is still in baskets to be folded, there's dust on the side tables in the living room, there is a scooter in the kitchen, and Hot Wheels in the hall, piles of mail hidden on the other side of the fridge, not to mention the basket full of socks begging to be sorted.

It's always a struggle to get it all done.

I wonder if I'm the only one here, but I'm willing to stick my neck out.  Here goes...

It's Sunday, the week is about to start over again in less than 24 hours, and...there's still laundry to be done, there's now a scooter in the bathroom, there are Hot Wheels and trains in the living room and hall, the mail is still there, a few socks were sorted (a few is 2, right?), the bathrooms need to be cleaned, so does the living room, the house needs to be vacuumed (who decided to carpet the entire upstairs?)

But, we had fun this weekend!

We went to the library and stumbled upon a story time session.  Drew found a coveted football book, and Jordan fell in love with Pinkalicious.

We watched their new favorite movie "Everybody's Hero" a baseball movie, 2.5 times.

We played in the snow at our house and at Grammy and Pop's.

We had front row seats to watch Drew Sikora star as QB in tons of football games in the living room.

Princess Jordan debuted in her Rapunzel dress and crown to make breakfast and lunch today.

We  went out to dinner at Outback with a gift card Kent had in his wallet...Bonus!

I still have a lot of "chores" left to do.  I'm sure the ones that need to get done will...but spending the weekends with my kids is much more important to me than having 200 paris of matching socks  (clearly socks and their lack of organization is an issue in my house, and I'd be willing to bet that 200 is not an unrealistic number).

How could a weekend of rated G movies...on repeat, games of living room football, princess, and the occasional "chore" have won out over anything involving the words 'bar' or 'partying'?

Here's how... my party people are already at home!

My weekend party crew!

I Hope They Know

It's 7:45.

The bell rang, everyone is sitting in their seats.  They're silent.  Working on the yellow paper; they read the board and picked it up from the front of the room, just like they're supposed to.

One student looks around, realizes he doesn't have that yellow paper, and gets up to get it.

I take attendance.  It's one of the very few times all trimester that every student is in class, and on time.

They start to finish their work, and look up at me.  Waiting to hear what I have to say.

Man, I have so much to say.  I want to tell them to act right, and to make good choices.  To be good people.  To treat others as they would like to be treated.

I want to tell them that these years may be hard, and awkward and just plain awful, but that it will get better.  That they will become more confident.  And they will begin to trust in themselves, and make decisions on their own.

I should have brought in some juice and bagels.  I'll bet half of them haven't even had breakfast for one reason or another.

I would love to give some of them a big, huge hug.  Some of them look like they really need one, bad.  I would love to go watch them play in their games since they don't have anyone in the stands rooting for just them.

I'd love to share with them my passion for exercise, and fitness.  That playing outside isn't uncool.  I wish they still loved to ride bikes, and go for walks, and run around and have fun.

I take a quick survey.  Can I see a 14 year old Drew in the crowd?  Is there a teenage version of Jordan?

They all sit there and they wait for me.  I have an hour to talk with them, find out about them, steer them in the right direction.

I say, "¡Buenos días, clase!"  Half of them answer, the other half just sit, still waiting.  There are 37 (well, times 2) eyes, wondering.  I know what they're thinking.  Is this going to be boring?  Will there be a lot of work today?  Will we have to do a lot of writing?

I delve into the wonderful world of adjective / noun agreement, and I see their sighs.  Here we go.

Sometimes I feel the same way.  I wish we had more time.  More time in the day to make connections, I mean more connections.  I wish the kids knew that, even though there are 140+ of them, I really do care about them all.  I mean, I think they know that.  But I don't know for sure.

A lot of times, I can picture myself sitting there.  Quiet, worrying about if anybody is looking at me.  Wondering if the teacher notices me, that I've done my homework.  Thinking about practice, and friends, and boys, and what I'll wear tomorrow, and what's going on this weekend, and...oh, was I supposed to write that down?

They listen, answer questions, they take notes, they practice with partners, out loud and on paper.  All of the things that students in school should do.

I crack a few very corny jokes, they laugh.  I tell a quick story about Drew in his little pre-shcool, they laugh.

I tell them how important it is to take initiative, to study, and to do well.

I hope they listen.  I hope they do well.  I hope they make good choices.

I hope they know I care about more than textbooks, and worksheets and power points, and taking notes and being quiet and sitting in rows.

I hope they know I care about them.  And the people they are growing up to be.

It's Time for Bed When...

You it's time for bed, when the first thing you think about when you wake up, is, "When can I get back into this bed?"

Other than that, you know it's time for bed when...

• During your 2nd hour prep period at school, you can barely keep your eyes open.
• You feel like you need your 3rd cup of coffee at 3:30 p.m.
• It's 5:00, and both kids are yawning and rubbing their eyes, and you haven't even had dinner yet.
• The thought of cooking dinner gives you a headache, but you're too tired to pack the kids in the car to go out.
• At 6:00, your 2 year old asks if she can go to bed.  You say no.  You don't want your 2 year old to wake up at 4:00 in the morning.  Selfish, maybe, but I can live with it.
• An innocent game of Candy Land ends with a brutal wrestling match over who landed in Licorice Lagoon.
• You're on your 10th trip to the bathroom with your 2 year old who keeps "changing her mind" about going #2.  Last time I checked, your "mind" wasn't in charge of that process.  But, you're too tired to argue.
• At 7:00, you're sitting on the couch, and open your eyes, and thank the Lord that only 4 minutes have passed since you last looked at the clock.  It seemed like an hour.  You get some ice water to drink.
• At 7:25, everyone is crying, because your 4 year old couldn't zip his pajamas.  Then, everyone is crying because you say it's bedtime.
• At 7:30, your 4 year old is now crying because he's not in bed yet.
• It's Friday, the end of the first week back in the routine after a 2 week Christmas break.

Somehow in the midst of the Friday evening haze, we had a long jump contest.  It was pretty fun...maybe that did us in...

We'll call this "Yoga Mat Long Jump, with Kitchen Towel Markers"

Tomorrow will be a better day.  With a good night's rest, everyone will be back to their chipper selves and we can start fresh.  And, it's a Stay Home Day, which is the icing on the cake.

Speaking of cake...No workout for me today.  I didn't get up in time this morning...add that to the madness, and I am just too freaking tired to do it now.  

Oh well, tomorrow's another day.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?  Or, are my family and I just CRAZY??

1, 2...3

Today was one of those days, when I'm racking my brain for things to do with the kids.  We had breakfast.  We made a lava obstacle course on the living room floor.  We painted with water colors.  Just basic stuff.  It made me realize I really need to amp up my treasure chest of "Things to do with kids".  My big, "What the heck am I going to do's" are...1.  Free time with the kids,  2.  What's for dinner?, and 3.  What am I going to do today for my workout?  Oh, and when?

This brings me to my point...I need to Amp Up 3 things in my daily routine.

1.  Dinner making skills are on the pathetic side.  Nobody was a real fan of my bundt cake pizza.  Was it the shape?

2.  Arts and crafts time could use an overhaul.  Next time we're going to get crazy and dip our hands in it!

3.  Last thing I want is to get bored with my Fitness Routine.  Just like Nike says, I'm Just Going To Do It!

How about signing up for a road race?  Getting back into the Half Marathons...Anybody IN?  

Today I did my INSANITY MAX CARDIO with Drew.  He loves working out with me.  He was clad in his Buzz Lightyear jammies and slippers.  So cute!  

Why didn't I get a picture of that?!

A Few of My Favorite Things

There's no way I can put these things in order from most to least favorite.  These are just a Few of My Favs, and why...

1.  These are my 3 Favorite Peeps.  Well, OK, they can officially take the #1 Spot.  Kent, Drew and Jordan...and the train.  Drew loves the trains; I figured it could make an appearance.

2.  I am LOVING my new coffee maker.  I have used it once so far; the single cup.  We are going to be "brewst" friends!  Thanks Bea!

3.  What a difference this baby has made!  My new 2" Memory Foam Mattress Cover.  In fact, I can't wait to test it out for the  2nd time in a few!  Thanks MOM and DAD!

4.  US Weekly has not been replaced, however, a new kid has moved in.  Better Homes and Gardens Mag. has been in my life for as long as I can remember thanks to my mom.  I'm pretty sure she has issues dating back to the 80's!  But, I have been reading monthly, trying recipes, and taking some design tips.  Well, admiring some design tips.

5.  Pinterest  I love it!  I'll be Pinning and Liking much more, I'm sure.  So many cute ideas for activities with kids, food, clothes, style, and fitness...love it.

6.  My Shakeology.  Who knew I would be doing a shake?  I actually really enjoy my Chocolate Shake, and my coffee every morning.  It makes me feel full, and energized.  I've found a few other benefits as well; my skin has become clearer!  WooHoo!  The only pain is cleaning the blender every day, but it's a small price to pay to know that I'm having the healthiest breakfast possible!

I intend to make my list longer, and I'll add on soon...

What are some things you love, and why?