Mom Without Baby-A Day in Pics

I am lucky enough that my MIL and SIL live nearby and are usually fighting each other to take G whenever the need arises. In fact, G gets to play hookie from school most Fridays to stay home with her Aunt and she has even spent a few nights away too.

Grammi and G at her first WV Mountaineer game!

But this weekend she left early Sunday morning and didn't return until Monday evening. So-what's a mom to do without a wanna-be-walking, I prefer attention at all times, almost toddler, scrambling up her leg or climbing anything else in sight? Well, here is what I did-in pictures (and captions!) pretty much in order of my crazy (somehow busier than when G's here!) day.

Baked bread!

Make 3 kinds of protein/snack bars!

Made a mess, and then cleaned it up!

4 mile run...

Went shopping for myself, came home with G's birthday dress instead!

Took these goofballs for extra walks-beautiful day!

Hard wood=Hard work!! This literally takes hours!

Rolled coins for G's bank account...while eating ice cream and watching Project Runway! :)

There were a few other things, like grocery getting (ugh!), laundry and general tidying up, but for this Type A chic a very productive and anxiety reducing day!! It was great to knock out some chores but I miss my baby girl. So do the puppies, they are pacing around wondering why G has been missing for so long, it's very cute. She'll be back soon and then the fun can begin again!

Happy G in the stands at the game!

Best Body Bootcamp...the Final Phase

That title sounded kind of Star Trek-y didn't it? Believe it or not I meant it to-because this plan is out of this world *cheese ball alert!* I have been nothing short of amazed.



Amazed at how quickly 8 weeks went by;
Amazed that I have managed to sneak in almost every.single.workout;
Amazed that my body was able to accomplish almost every.single.workout;
Amazed that each phase threw me for a loop, made me groan, and then made me grin;

And best of all...
Amazed that I am in the best shape (ever) less than a year post baby!

I love them!!

This is NOT the type of picture I would normally post, but I thought maybe some #proof was in order here. I mean seriously, I have guns biceps.  Of course they were always there and I've always considered myself somewhat strong (for a chick!) but I can't believe what I see when I flex now. And we haven't even been doing dedicated bicep work. That's the beauty of the plan to me. All the moves are very functional and sequenced in a way that you get in, get out and get the job done in the time you have. Which, for a busy mom is perfect!

Here's another great thing...Round 3 of BBB just opened. I highly recommend checking it out. It's the most bang for my buck, fitness-wise, I've ever gotten. Of course you get out what you put in but the facebook group and great motivation/advice they provide will be there for the days you feel down. Sometimes just reading a few of their comments got me headed in the right direction.

Half marathon training has been fitting right in as well. I use the 2 cardio segments of BBB as my short runs, doing the interval work prescribed and using the 'cardio of choice' day for the long run listed in my training plan. I finally made that 6.5 mile run and felt awesome about it. 2 short walk breaks and still gas left in the tank at the end.

It didn't hurt one bit that the weather was perfect, I was the only one out there, and the new sports complex where I ran had nice (open!) bathrooms to look forward to at the end ;-) And check out this awesome sign they had hanging at the entrance to the ball fields. Great advice!! It 's unfortunate they felt the need to do this, but at least it was done in a cute, funny way. Kudos.

I mentioned before that I will probably take the BBB plan and go through it again. I'm in the middle of a little and much-needed break from 6 day/week workouts, but when I get back on track that is what I'll do. It's the type of plan you could repeat, make a few modifications to suit your style, and never get bored.

Bottom line-sign up. And Thank You Tina!! I only wish warm weather would stick around a little longer so I can sell some tickets to the gun show! Haha!

Just because she's so darn cute!

Taking the Plunge

I did it. Finally. I registered for the race I've been talking about...the Disney Princess Half Marathon!!! Ok, I did it a few weeks back, but still-it's done and there's no turning back now! I can't believe how excited I am over something so far in the future-I'm so glad I chose a race like this for my first, it's more of an event than a race and I think the atmosphere will be so much fun that the run itself will be an afterthought!

Seriously, how much fun does this look?

I've also mentioned the Jeff Galloway plan I'm using to train. I made it through the first 4 weeks without a bump. I even finished my first non-treadmill 5-miler without much incident so I figured things would continue to progress steadily (and easily) along.

Princess Pics Source

Wrong. This past weekend we came upon the 6.5 mile run. I woke up dreading it. I haven't been dreading running in quite a while so I knew this was not a good sign. It was also pouring down the rain which meant being confined to the basement treadmill-blah.

I decided to try a similar tactic as the 5 mile run with predetermined walk/run intervals. I think this works much better than waiting until you need to walk. This time I counted steps- 500 run, 100 walk. I only count one foot when I say steps, btw. I've used the step counting thing for a long time to keep my mind occupied. *It's also an easy thing to do when you first start running and actual distances freak you out, or you just can't tell how far a quarter mile or 400m or something like that is. Just get yourself to run X number of steps and then walk X number, increase the running number each time you go.* I also find the pure monotony of listening/counting my steps soothing, I get in a rhythm, so to speak.

Generally a good pace should be about 90 steps/minute (I think I heard this on another mother runner podcast, can't be sure though) so this was only 5-ish minutes of running at a time but I was still barely slogging through each one. It didn't help that I was feeling guilty for leaving G upstairs with her daddy who also had a million things to get done on the one day of the week we were actually home. These two things combined gave me an easy out and I only ran 4 miles in 42 minutes.

Should I enter G in the kids race?

I'm lucky. I'm way ahead on this training plan for my race so repeating Week X isn't a problem. The problem for me is always the mental game. Why was I dreading the run in the first place? Let's run down the potentials...

1. Because I hadn't had enough sleep-no, I get the same 6.5 hours every night (this is the compromise for me to both function and get stuff done!) 
2. Hmm-did I hate doing it on the treadmill? Sure, but I'd better get used to it with winter and looong training runs unfortunately coinciding soon. 
3. Was it leaving G with the hubs? Maybe, I always feel guilty (please don't ask why) about doing that even though they need their time together. 
4. Because I doubt that I can do it and hate failure so much that I tell myself ahead of time that I probably won't be able to do it so that I'll be prepared? DING, DING, DING-I think we have a winner!!

Ah-the psych out. Now here it is the beginning of repeating that week. I have two interval runs before I tackle that 6 miler again. So I have that many days to get myself mentally prepared-this time for the fact that I CAN do it. I need to keep my eating in check-I've noticed almost immediate fatigue when the processed stuff sneaks back in-and practice some positive self-talks during my week day runs.

I've continued to follow the Best Body Bootcamp format for those which means hills this week-yikes! That plan has helped tremendously with not getting bored with the weekday treadmill runs. In fact, even though this is the last 'official' week I think I'm going to turn around and do it for another 8 weeks. I plan an entire post about the overall experience, but it was great and highly recommended.

Here's to positive thoughts this week!

What run/workout thoughts keep you going?

My New Training Buddy-Podcasts!

Some people swear by having a training or workout 'buddy', someone to hold them accountable either by meeting up with them or just talking about your workouts. I think it's even more common now to have virtual workout buddies. Through blogs, instagram, twitter, daily mile, etc. we can keep tabs on each other, but better yet-we can motivate each other!

Honestly, for the most part I enjoy my workout time as just that-mine. I like a good class once in a while but I've never met up with a friend for them or made running dates. I'm not against them, I just generally like to have those few precious hours each week to myself. Sometimes it's for blowing off steam, sometimes for quiet reflection, sometimes for thinking through a tough decision...and now sometimes even for learning!

I'm a voracious reader, I have magazines and books all over my house on all sorts of subjects-parenting, food, exercise, fashion, green living. I used to be one of those that read while walking on the treadmill (I know, I know!) but now that I run it doesn't work as well. In steps the podcast. I feel like I'm always the last person to get on board with technology trends and I know podcasts have been around for-ever, but I never thought I'd want to listen to people talk while I worked out. I was so wrong.

If you find the right one(s) it's kind of like watching tv with your eyes closed! You can really get into the subject, get 5 miles in and not really remember doing it! To me, that is priceless!

I totally went into this run doubting myself. I've never run 5 miles outside before and for me, outdoor and treadmill runs are two different beasts! I decided to run until my Garmin beeped for the mile marker and then walk counting my right foot falls 100 times, then run again until the beep. This actually worked brilliantly for me and I had a decent overall pace even with the walks. Week 3 of half marathon training in the books!

What also helped was listening to a podcast about running. I was really in the zone! So, without further ado-here are my new favorites (I use the stitcher app on my phone to play them).

• Another Mother Runner -these chicks will be your new BFFs, great running talk with some side notes of the struggles (and hilarity) of motherhood. Oh-and they have super cute tops too!

• Jillian Michaels-her abs face have made me buy so many magazines that I figured, why not? And I wasn't disappointed. With topics anywhere from losing weight to food additives to grieving a loss it turned out to be more life-coachy than I expected, but she's still very knowledgeable and I always learn something. 

• Balanced Bites-any Paleo-ites out there probably know all about this site and the new Practical Paleo book. I don't spend a lot of time not he site itself (yet!) but I do like to listen. I crack up every time because somehow these two remind me of the NPR skits that used to be on Saturday Night Live, but only in the best way! Serious science alert here though, you may feel like you've been at a college class when you're done but the info is great. And wouldn't you have liked to be able to work out while in classes in college, what a great way to avoid the Freshman Fifteen?

I still love a good playlist full of high powered man-bashing songs (that's what the hubs calls them!) but this is good for a change up and just one more way for me to multi-task. Hey-I bet there is someone podcasting about that... 

What do you do to pass the time during your workout?

Best Body Bootcamp Update

Well kids, we've made it to the halfway point of Best Body Bootcamp. Hard to believe it's been 4 weeks already. To me, this is the sign of a great program since I am anything but bored and I continue to see results. Tina just announced there will be round 3 (yay!) so check it out if you're interested!


This week we continued tempo workouts, but changed the counts holding the contraction portion for 4 seconds. Sounds like a short amount of time, right? I challenge you to do some squats like this-2 counts to lower, hold for 4 (no cheating!), 2 counts back up. Now do that 10 more times. And then do 3 sets of that. Yeah-no joke!
Running went really well this week. I completed the workouts as written-even though I worried about the 5/5 intervals I ran a full 4 miles at speeds I wouldn't typically attempt. That is what I'm loving most about BBB, it's pushing my preconceived thoughts of what my abilities are. 

It was 57 degrees and I'm still dripping with sweat-hot!

I've been saying for awhile that if I would just get out of my own way, I'd be further along with my half marathon training and I think this program is helping me do that. Thanks Tina!! I managed another 4 miler on Sunday as my cardio of choice, so back on track with the training program.

We also set 2 goals each week as part of BBB. I haven't really been talking about mine, and apparently I need to so that I hold myself accountable. I decided on a 2 minute plank a day. I did get 6 of these but in the middle of one I realized I hadn't started my timer and I'll be damned if I was starting over!!!

My 2nd goal was to hike from my basement office to the fourth floor via the stairs at least once a day. I chose this because there is only one bathroom in the basement and the only other one I care to use is located on the 4th floor. I drink a lot, therefore I pee a lot; there are at least 25 women to this one bathroom-easy goal to meet thanks to mother nature. And I must say it's getting easier (when I don't wait to long to go!)
The hubs and I also kicked off a challenge for us-30 days of Clean Eating. I generally eat this way, but there are a lot of non-clean convenience foods that make it into the house each week. The more educated I become about food and the food-like products we consume, the more important this becomes to me. Day 1 is in the books so I'll keep talking about our struggles and how we're coping throughout the month. I'm sure there will be lots of positives to talk about as well. So-help me out:
What is your favorite clean eating snack?

Before the Crack of Dawn...

That's when I worked out this morning. Why? Because sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! I knew there was no way it was getting done this evening so I sacrificed a little sleep and completed the 30 minute progression intervals from Best Body Bootcamp. I think I would have pushed my speed intervals a little faster had it not been so early. Seriously, all I'm thinking as my short little legs go at 8.5 mph is "Don't bite it, you can't go to work with treadmill burn on your face." I'm not even close to kidding.

We are in Phase 2 now which includes push/pull workouts done at tempo speeds. This is new to me and in all honesty, is testing my patience! I like a tough, quick workout so taking my time is hard to get used to. We're lifting and lowering at a set number of counts (for example 3 counts up, 1 count down). I do admit that I noticed soreness after what I thought was an 'easy' push workout. Tina knows her stuff, that's all I'm gonna say! :-)

I've been pretty happy with my weight and am not really trying to lose any, but I actually have dropped a few lbs on this plan. I don't know if my routine just needed a shake up or if more concentration on weights vs. cardio was needed but something is working. Even though my runs are still not long, I feel strong during them and like I said, have been sore following most of the circuit sessions. 

One more circuit to go for Week 3 and my cardio of choice workout, the weekend run from the Jeff Galloway half marathon training plan I'm trying to following. 196 Days people. We're in full planning mode for the trip, and it's been frustrating. I need to find someone who has run at Disney to recommend accommodations. I'd love to stay right there, but hey it's Disney, and you pay for that. When I go for an all-out Disney vacay with G and the hubs I'm sure we'll do the whole thing, but not for this. At least I don't think so. Anyone know anyone?
Have you done a "Destination Race"? How was it?

Road Trip!!

It's time for another trip to MI to visit my lovely family. Only this time it's just me and G. Girl's trip!!

Just in the past few days she's become increasingly stubborn and all about G. As in, this is what I want and I want it now and I'm going to scream at you when you disagree. We were planning to drive overnight tonight so she'd be asleep for the trip but some last minute changes have me getting up SUPER early to leave tomorrow. Can you say caffeine??

That means this evening was filled with unpacking for 3 and repacking for 2 and I didn't get my workout in. Hopefully I won't be too exhausted when I arrive tomorrow to do Workout C, even if I don't get to the cardio part after.

Best Body Bootcamp Week 2:

Monday:  Workout A plus HIIT-awesome once again. I thought I'd get more reps to fatigue during the second week, but it was the opposite. I'd never done HIIT on the elliptical before but it kicked my butt. In a good way.

Tuesday:  Run intervals on treadmill-3.6 miles

Wednesday:  Workout B plus steady elliptical cardio-My goal was 2 minute wall sits. I got one (out of four!) Progress is progress right?! My gluteus are definitely feeling it today! Oh yeah, and core.

Thursday:  OFF

Friday:  Plan is for Workout C plus core. Maybe an evening walk with the folks and G.

Saturday:  Run 5k race. Shooting for under 30:30 finish.

Sunday:  Golf-I always walk when playing with my dad. And I'm horrible so there is a lot of walking from one side to the other...and a lot of searching for golf balls!

It's a big, busy weekend of fun with the fam in MI. I can't help but wish every time I have to make this trip that I could blink my eyes and bob my head like I Dream of Jeanie and just be there. 8 hours is a long time in a car, and it's likely to be longer on my own with a 9 month old! Please send me all of your patience, I may need some extra :-)

Then I'm excited to start with BBB Phase 2. Tina sent us the plans already and I know it's going to be a whole new kind of hurt. Gotta keep those muscles guessing!

Big weekend plans? Do they include some QT with your favorite peeps?

Best Body Bootcamp-Week 1

I had meant to do a few updates throughout the week, but a lot of planned things went down the drain with the computer crash. The Macs are up and running (obviously!) and other than some learning on the file downloads things are going well. It's amazing what a difference in speed there is when compared to our ancient outdated ones!


Anyway-Week 1 is in the books!
I really enjoyed the strength workouts, and by enjoyed I mean sweat and grunted for every last rep-especially the moves we did to fatigue. I've never completed circuits where you fatigue the muscle first and then do a second complementary move directly after. And man, did I feel the burn :-) 
There was an upper, lower and combined workout like this. Can I just say how much I hate working lower body? I know you burn major calories doing it and that it's uber important as a runner to get those muscles in tip top shape, but squats and lunges really suck. And wall sits? I'd rather watch paint dry. But I fought through it and I'll be better for it. Maybe I'll learn to like them through boot camp? Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!
Speaking of lower body, I got this cool new piece of equipment at Dick's last weekend (on clearance!!!) SCORE!

I'm using it in place of a Bosu ball, which I've been wanting for a long time, but they're pricey. This bad boy is similar in that the base is made of air chambers so you can leave it as soft as you want, challenging your balance and core. I've been trying to stress the importance of core work to the hubs for-well, forever. This is a step (pun totally intended!) in the right direction.
Bootcamp calls for doing cardio after circuit work, which is tough, but in a good way. I'm using our elliptical for that since I spend too much time on the treadmill already. I also completed two cardio-only interval workouts (running) and one cardio of choice workout (again-running!)

This is probably the last picture of my sweaty self you're going to see-ugh!

I'm just not making the headway I'd like to with what is supposed to be my 'long' runs. I'd love to blame it on those wall sits but the fact is, I'm pretty sure it's all in my head. I'm at a complete plateau and I know I need to get my mind out of the way of my body. Easier said than done, eh?
Week 2 has already begun and I'm running a 5k on Saturday in MI...wish me luck!
Have you ever hit an exercise plateau? How did you break through?
 

WILT...Interval Training

Happy 2nd Monday of the week!!

So-back to What I Learned This...Interval Training session. In meeting my new goals I did Run #2 tonight. I thought it would be good to add some speed work to try and increase both my cardio threshold and my PR for my next 5k. Plus, don't we all get a little bored just running sometimes? Especially on a treadmill-blah!

But first, I was also pretty successful in the clean(er) eating today. I started with some pumpkin overnight oats (they do not make for a pretty picture!), and had a chicken-cranberry salad for lunch. I even caved and bought a candy bar...but ate only ONE bite. The hubs calls that sandbagging, but it'll be there waiting for me when I want just one more bite. On another day.

I still haven't eaten dinner, but I'm thinking scrambled eggs with spinach, feta and salsa?

Ok, back to the interval training and what I actually learned...tonight I did the following treadmill workout:

5 minute warm up walk

Intervals (3x through)

90 sec @ 7mph

30 sec @ 4mph

60 sec @ 8mph

60 sec @ 4 mph

30 sec @ 9mph

90 sec @ 4mph

7 min @ 6mph

5 minute cool down walk

3.06 miles, 35 minutes

I don't really know if this counts as HIIT (high intensity interval training) but who really decides what is high intensity if not the person training? So-I vote yea as my legs were on fiyah! I didn't wear my heartrate monitor so I don't know how many calories I burned but I do know that through the interval portion, even with walking in between, it worked out to just over 10 minute mile pace. But I was WAY more scorched than if I had just run that pace for 18 minutes!

Basically I learned that HIIT=a huffing puffing good time workout :-) And that it will make it's way in to my rotation on a regular basis.

Some random fun pics-G and I went 'swimming' on the 4th of July. Babies in swimsuits is just too cute not to share! And I think I figured out some sort of pic ture collage that works better. Now bring on Friday!!

Time to Hit Reset!

I feel like maybe I've been hitting the snooze button lately on the old 'healthy living thing'. You know, where you eat well, exercise and keep a positive attitude. Since the whole semi-hurt ankle deal I kind of just haven't felt like it. So here is my re-commitment, out there in (virtual) public to Reset and get back in gear!

I thought it would be a good idea to start with some goals for the month. My only new blogger friend Sabrina did it and I think it's a good way to get back in gear.

1. Run 3x per week-not setting time or distance goals right now, just get out (or on) and do it

2. Clean it up-the diet that is. It's hot. Ice cream is cold. Enough said.

3. Spend time each Sunday preparing for the week. This one is huge, I know just how much it can help me, but I still don't do it...a meal and exercise plan would be a great idea. Even if the plan goes to crap at least there was one to begin with!

4. Hold myself accountable for these few simple things through the blog.

Sounds easy, right? I sure hope so! In an effort to start of right, let's talk about goal #1. Tonight I ran my first consecutive 3 miles since being prescribed to take a few weeks off. It went ok, not great but I made it.

PS-I have to figure out this whole photo collage thing, not liking this format!

I felt good until about mile 2 when my legs got heavy. I think that is due to the pretty awesome 5-4-3-2-1 Workout the hubs and I did Monday night (props to Carissa!). Switch jump lunges? Yeah, those'll getcha every time. Every time.

So 1 out of 3 runs down, already 33% of the way there for the week. Yay! Time to start celebrating the small victories...and not with ice cream :-(

Happy and safe 4th of July!!

Weekends & WILT

M.I.A.-that is where I feel like I've been the past week. So-for the three of you that read this, I apologize ;-) I've honestly been a bit overwhelmed lately, I look around and think "I'll never get it all done, so why even start". I had time to blog last night but chose to lay in bed and catch up on Grey's Anatomy (can I just say that I hate season finales?!)

It all started with the weekend, who isn't excited when it finally gets here, right? I got up early and went for a run, I was even happy after that since it was my first 4-miler off the treadmill.*pats self on back*

4 miles

00:41 time

10:15 pace  

And then I got home. And started to limp around. My ankle had been feeling a bit sore for a while but nothing big; then it hurt all day Saturday and I started to worry I was getting a stress fracture-I know jump right to the worst conclusion!

The hubs and I had decided to go on a 'date': early lunch (so early we had to eat breakfast!) and matinee (have you seen movie prices!?). I begged for this one:

Bust. Disappointed. Hours wasted. Adding to my bad feeling for the day. So we came home, did chores and hung out with G.

Sunday I had big plans to take G with me to run to what is the biggest drain of my checking account:

Then to the Farmer's Market and after for groceries. I thought it would be fun. Not so much. G is a good baby, a great baby actually, but she isn't quite big enough to be comfortable in the seat of the cart so she was a bit fussy. In fact she chewed up the Elmo book I had (thankfully) already planned to buy her. Love those Target $1 bins!! :-)

One of the things I had intended on picking up at the Bullseye was a simple collapsible stroller so I didn't even pack our big one. I forgot it, checked out, changed G in the restroom, realized there was no way I could pee without a stroller to put her in-duh, I was supposed to have bought one!

Now carrying bags and a baby I ran back in the store searching the baby department and simply did not see one. I gave up quickly (I had to pee!!) and left. So now the Farmer's Market is out unless I want to carry her around-no. And I'm getting crankier knowing I still have to get groceries. I hate getting groceries. And...I STILL HAVE TO PEE!!! Needless to say, I omitted anything non-essential and got home as quickly as possible.

The saving grace was a family nap where G slept between us after entertaining us by making fart sounds on my arm. This is her new trick and she loves to make daddy laugh with it!

So here's what I learned this weekend: There really is no such thing as done, especially in the world of a new mom. And that taking things in stride is a serious gift. One that I wish I had inherited, but hope to learn instead. Thanks for sticking with me! And yes, I realize that it's Wednesday and I'm just now posting about the weekend. Don't judge.

National Running Day

Happy National Running Day! I had no idea this existed...did you? I think there may be a "day" for everything now, I mean national donut day was recently too-although I will admit to being acquainted with that one ;-) Who doesn't love a free donut, right?!

But a day dedicated to promoting the benefits of running is pretty cool. Maybe if I had known about it I would have planned my week to run today, but it happened yesterday instead. My MIL stays with G every Tuesday so it is a perfect opportunity for a baby-free, worry-free, treadmill-free run.

I had left my Garmin charger in MI and it just arrived back here (compliments of my sweet mama!) so I decided to try a new place. It was a cloudy 60 degrees and pretty breezy. Time to get used to running in the elements! I went for time today-35 minutes-and managed 3.35 miles. Not great, not horrible-but complete. Sometimes that's all you hope for.

It's hard to tell from the picture but this is part of the new recreation park where I ran. It has a one mile paved loop around it. It isn't complete yet but these ball fields are really nice and the rumor is that we'll be getting more fields and a minor league team to go with them!! This is great news for me because #1-I love to watch (live) baseball, #2-I love the potential of having things like that to take G to and #3-I own a townhouse across the road and this can only help being able to keep it rented!

Speaking of G, she got this new piano over the weekend and she is LOVING it! I think babies this age love everything that makes noise, but I can be hopeful that she'll be musically inclined!

She's also starting in with new sounds-we've mastered dada and have moved on to baba and now vava. That one is really cute because she puts those two big front teeth over her lower lip to get it out! Wow- 8 month update coming next week already!

Keep on running-even if it's after the ice cream truck. :-)

Fitness Friday

I've been trying to figure out a way to get my workouts into posts and have it make sense all mixed in with the baby stuff. I found that I liked the way another blogger I follow does it: Fitness Fridays (check out Food, Fitness, and Family). She is really great about providing versions of her workouts for readers to do; hopefully I'll get there too, but for now I'll just tell you what I've been up to!

This week is more like what I haven't been up to...

Saturday:   5k race with my mom, bested my time from earlier this year :-)

Sunday:     Lots of family time-chasing kids is a workout right?!

Monday:    Stuck in a car for 8+ hours...BOO!

Tuesday:   Lunchtime power walk-hey, I had a hair appointment after work!

Wednesday: Jillian Michaels 30-Day shred before work

Thursday:  3.25 mile walk/run intervals, ab work while on the floor playing with G

Friday:      P90x Core synergistics before work 

I've been trying to find a good post workout snack. I've been using these Myoplex shakes. I need quick, and also portable since I multi-task like a mad woman at night. Any ideas???

I wish I could have gotten a shot of the mess I made in my car when opening this. I have some scrubbing to do this weekend. Why did I have to get the chocolate kind?!

I'm also now addicted to these super simple protein 'pancakes'. 2 base ingredients (egg whites and oatmeal)and then you take it from there.

I've been adding PB2 powder, cinnamon and sometimes for a treat, a teaspoon of mini chocolate chips. I haven't done the nutritional value on these yet so I'll repost as a stand alone recipe once I get all the deets in order. I'll try some different add-ins before that too. I'm a creature of habit so it'll be good for me!

They're pretty filling and take the place of a muffin for me with my morning coffee.

And just because I thought this pic was hilarious...G has decided she does not like broccolli!!! She kept putting it in her mouth though-silly girl!

Weekends-Road trip with a 7 month old!

With the extended holiday weekend it was our turn to make a trip to MI to visit with my family.

*Let me add a THANK YOU in here for both active military and veterans for Memorial Day. These days have a different meaning around our house with the hubs being a combat vet and both of us working for the VA*

We decided at the last minute to leave on Thursday night in hopes that G would sleep through the trip uneventfully. She did. We arrived very early on Friday morning.

It took her a little while to warm up to Gramma & Grampa again, but once she did life was all good!

This is the view in my parent's backyard now. Kind of disturbing to me. Can you see all of these windmills? I'm all for alternative energy but I also love trees! In the second picture is actually the house I grew up in, years ago I saw all the trees taken down for irrigation machines to go in and now these things go up for electricity generation. Progress? Hmmm.

Anyway, I talked my mom into doing a 5k with me at a local festival. We woke up to stormy skies and I thought she might get out of it-but she didn't even try! We wore matching way-to-bright tops and decided to have fun with it.

G was a trooper in her stroller with Grampa and Daddy while Mommy and Grandma posted good personal times. It's been 10 years since we did one of these together and we both beat those times. Take that Father Time!!! :-) 

By the time we cleaned up and came back to the festival it was hot and humid. We rewarded ourselves with some ice cream. This place had a ton of flavors-all with a little twist. Mine was a delicious salted cashew ice cream with ginger caramel. OMG-I love ginger. So good!

That evening my younger brother and his 3 boys came over to play. It is really fun to see G with other kids. She is totally content to watch everything they can do and just take it all in. My youngest nephew (13 months old) is able to throw a ball and he kept throwing it at G, she'd just pick it up and try to put it in her mouth, but you could tell she was having fun!

Sunday was another family visiting day with my cousin and her three boys stopping by and my aunt and uncle as well. It's so good to get up there and see everyone, especially now that we have G to show off!!

We left bright and early Monday morning hoping G would travel well during the daylight hours. It was hot and I'm sure she got cabin fever like we did, but she was a trooper. She ate her veggies right from these awesome packets. I squirted it right into her mouth and we made a game of it. Note to self (and other moms traveling with little ones): always travel with these!!!



Weekends always go too quickly, but weekends spent with people I love and miss go even faster. Can't wait to have the whole crew here in June for another adventure!