My youngest daughter will be turning EIGHT in about 10 days. For some reason the number 8 seems SO, SO grown up to me. I'm feeling a little sentimental lately about how quickly the girls are growing! For the last couple of years I've been saying how much I absolutely LOVE the ages they are at right now ... and now those ages are coming and going way too fast for me. :(
In some ways though, my youngest is still very much my baby. She's still full of innocence and at times still acts much more baby-ish than an almost 8 year old. I don't mind though - I want her to stay young and childish as long as possible and enjoy just being a kid without having to grow up too fast.
Today she learned to tie her shoes for the first time. I know many of you are thinking 'what??!! she's almost 8 and didn't know how to tie her own shoes??' ... and yes, you'd be right. We have tried and tried and tried with her and it's one of those things that she just tried and quit and tried and quit and pretty much wanted to stay little and let someone else do it. But today she finally mastered it and I'm so proud of her!
Another thing I want to remember about these days is bedtime. My husband and I still sing songs to the girls each night before bed - Bob sings them 2 songs and then I sing them 2 {different} songs. He sings the same two every night and I sing the same 2 every night. We've been doing this every night since they were babies and they still ask for it every night. If we forget, they remind us. They love having their bedtime songs from Mom and Dad. I often wonder when they will feel they are old enough that they won't want songs at bedtime anymore.
Also every night at bedtime {well almost every night}, Joy will ask me 3 questions:
1. Mama, can you sleep with me? {I answer no.}
2. Well then can I sleep with you? {I answer no again.}
3. Can I sleep in Hope's room then? {No sweetie, you need to sleep in here in your own room.}
She doesn't make a big deal of it, she doesn't cry or fuss over my answers or give me a hard time. She just sweetly asks me the same things every night.
Tonight I went to tuck her in. She moved over and told me 'I made room for you to lay with me'. So I did. She then went through her usual questions. I said 'why do you want me to sleep with you?' And she said 'because then you can be near me'. I said, 'but then Daddy will be lonely if I don't sleep with him' and her reply cracked me up, 'Daddy can sleep with Big Bear'. hahaha
She really is my sweet, sweet girl. I love that she loves me so much that she wants me to sleep with her every night, that she loves to snuggle in my lap and that she just wants to be near me. I pray that as she grows she will always feel this close to me and will always love spending time with me. I am so thankful for my little sweetheart and want to remember these days forever.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Two Book Rec's
Back in November I went to Women of Faith and heard a speaker named Andy Andrews. He was hilarious to listen to, he seemed to be all over the place when he spoke. However I learned that he was also a NY times bestselling author and decided to check out one of his books.
I am happy to say I was blown away by the book! After the first book I ended up borrowing another of Andy's books from my Mom and loved that one too. I'd love to tell you more about the books but wouldn't want to spoil things for you in case you should decide to read them. Below are the two titles I read {and LOVED!}
I am happy to say I was blown away by the book! After the first book I ended up borrowing another of Andy's books from my Mom and loved that one too. I'd love to tell you more about the books but wouldn't want to spoil things for you in case you should decide to read them. Below are the two titles I read {and LOVED!}
Monday, February 7, 2011
1,000 Gifts {317-349}
Oh friends! I got my book in the mail! One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I started reading it the first day I had it. I'm taking my time, trying to fully absorb it all ... but already it's been wonderfully life changing.
I will warn you all, should you choose to read her book, that the first chapter is sort of tough. You will have to get through the tough stuff in able to move on to the good though. So just grab your tissues and a quiet moment alone and read it. I promise you it will be worth it.
It's not too late to join in on the book club too. They posted the first video from chapter one just yesterday and you can still go back and watch it at a later time if needed. So if you're interested grab a copy of the book and get started!
***************************************************************
Last week the girls and I had a little out of town trip. We met my friend Julie and her daughters in Pennsylvania at Julie's in-law's house. We planned to stay just 3 nights and let the girls all play together while Julie and I got some scrapbooking done. It's a 6 hour drive from our house and I am not a fan of driving long distances by myself. {My husband does a lot of the driving on car trips.} On the way there we drove through the Poconos in a snowstorm! There were times I couldn't see any other cars on the road and was very fearful. I prayed A LOT on that car ride and thankfully we made it there safely.
Well, the day we were to travel home there was a significant snow and ice storm across many of the northeastern states and we needed to just stay put.
We ended up staying another 2 nights until the storm was all done and the roads cleared enough to safely travel home. One of the days we lost power for the entire day. The wonderful thing was that it forced the girls to just play and not be connected to TV or wii for the day ... and ended up being a really great day for everyone. I have so much to be thankful for from last week ... here is the continuation of my counting of one thousand gifts ...
* a fun Mommy/daughter date of going out to lunch and the movies
* having a very productive day
* scrapbook supplies
* comforting my little girls
* more snow and more snow and more snow!
* baking cookies with my girls
* the elliptical machine
* 1,000 Gifts book arrived in the mail!
* quiet time with a cup of tea, warm blankets and a good book
* safety in travelling to PA through a snow storm
* girls who are so good in the car
* my awesome friend Julie
* the girls having a blast with their friends
* having a safe place to wait out the storm
* a warm home {even without power} because of the wood stove pumping out heat
* fun things to do together even with no power in the house
* knowing a tiny smidgen of what it would be like to be Amish ... and thankful that we have modern conveniences MOST of the time
* Nana's delicious canned peaches and apple dumplings
* wonderful hospitality - we were never made to feel that we were overstaying our welcome, even though we did by 2 full days and nights
* seeing many Amish people and their different way of life
* recognizing the gift of living a simple life
* layers of warm quilts
* great kindness shown to Hope - who got to have an overnight with her friend at 'Aunt Steph's' - to have a sewing lesson and go out to eat and go shopping -- it was a wonderfully girly, fun day and I know how much she loved and appreciated it.
* clear, sunny days so we can travel home safely
* seeing my hubby after a long 6 days apart
* 83 scrapbook pages done - enjoying the gift of the memories they bring
* little girls who lend a hand at home
* Friday night "date" with my family which involved dinner out and a food shopping trip
* my Mom who is always helping, always supporting, always praying
* Saturday lunch with my Mom and girls - having a good talk with Mom
* a relaxing Super Bowl 'party' with just a few people over
* laughter over silly commercials
* growing girls. ever growing. and growing. and growing.
One Thousand Gifts #317-349
If you would like to join this gratitude community and count your blessings one by one - or perhaps learn more about the book and/or book club, click on the link below to go to Ann's blog ...
I will warn you all, should you choose to read her book, that the first chapter is sort of tough. You will have to get through the tough stuff in able to move on to the good though. So just grab your tissues and a quiet moment alone and read it. I promise you it will be worth it.
It's not too late to join in on the book club too. They posted the first video from chapter one just yesterday and you can still go back and watch it at a later time if needed. So if you're interested grab a copy of the book and get started!
***************************************************************
Last week the girls and I had a little out of town trip. We met my friend Julie and her daughters in Pennsylvania at Julie's in-law's house. We planned to stay just 3 nights and let the girls all play together while Julie and I got some scrapbooking done. It's a 6 hour drive from our house and I am not a fan of driving long distances by myself. {My husband does a lot of the driving on car trips.} On the way there we drove through the Poconos in a snowstorm! There were times I couldn't see any other cars on the road and was very fearful. I prayed A LOT on that car ride and thankfully we made it there safely.
Well, the day we were to travel home there was a significant snow and ice storm across many of the northeastern states and we needed to just stay put.
We ended up staying another 2 nights until the storm was all done and the roads cleared enough to safely travel home. One of the days we lost power for the entire day. The wonderful thing was that it forced the girls to just play and not be connected to TV or wii for the day ... and ended up being a really great day for everyone. I have so much to be thankful for from last week ... here is the continuation of my counting of one thousand gifts ...
* a fun Mommy/daughter date of going out to lunch and the movies
* having a very productive day
* scrapbook supplies
* comforting my little girls
* more snow and more snow and more snow!
* baking cookies with my girls
* the elliptical machine
* 1,000 Gifts book arrived in the mail!
* quiet time with a cup of tea, warm blankets and a good book
* safety in travelling to PA through a snow storm
* girls who are so good in the car
* my awesome friend Julie
* the girls having a blast with their friends
* having a safe place to wait out the storm
* a warm home {even without power} because of the wood stove pumping out heat
* fun things to do together even with no power in the house
* knowing a tiny smidgen of what it would be like to be Amish ... and thankful that we have modern conveniences MOST of the time
* Nana's delicious canned peaches and apple dumplings
* wonderful hospitality - we were never made to feel that we were overstaying our welcome, even though we did by 2 full days and nights
* seeing many Amish people and their different way of life
* recognizing the gift of living a simple life
* layers of warm quilts
* great kindness shown to Hope - who got to have an overnight with her friend at 'Aunt Steph's' - to have a sewing lesson and go out to eat and go shopping -- it was a wonderfully girly, fun day and I know how much she loved and appreciated it.
* clear, sunny days so we can travel home safely
* seeing my hubby after a long 6 days apart
* 83 scrapbook pages done - enjoying the gift of the memories they bring
* little girls who lend a hand at home
* Friday night "date" with my family which involved dinner out and a food shopping trip
* my Mom who is always helping, always supporting, always praying
* Saturday lunch with my Mom and girls - having a good talk with Mom
* a relaxing Super Bowl 'party' with just a few people over
* laughter over silly commercials
* growing girls. ever growing. and growing. and growing.
One Thousand Gifts #317-349
If you would like to join this gratitude community and count your blessings one by one - or perhaps learn more about the book and/or book club, click on the link below to go to Ann's blog ...
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Newlywed Game
Here's a fun little survey I got from my friend Jessica's blog ... ask your husband to answer each of these questions and then post your responses on your blog. My husband was cracking me up with his answers, you'll see my comments below his answers ...
1. She’s sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen?
AMERICAN IDOL
{I told him that was a cop-out answer since it's not a fave show of mine at all, but since it's been on TV lately I have tuned in a couple times. I think it was the first thing that came to his mind. LOL}
2. You’re out to eat, what kind of dressing does she get on her salad?
RANCH
{I'm a fan of many different kinds of dressings but yes, I fall back on ranch a lot of the time.}
3. What’s one food she doesn’t like?
OYSTERS
{Very true, I do NOT like any of those slimy things that come from the sea like clams, oysters or any of that.}
4. You go out to eat and have a drink, what does she order?
VODKA & CRAN
{Well, sort of ... sometimes I do. It really depends on where we are. At Ruby Tuesday's I love their 'Ruby Relaxer', at Margarita's I love their 'Coco Loco', at Chili's and SolToro I love the Strawberry or Raspberry Mojito ... basically I love the sweet and fruity drinks.} =)
5. What shirt size does she have?
LARGE
{Either large or medium ... I hate being kind of in between. But I hate when shirts shrink up on me so I buy large a lot of the time}
6. What shoe size does she have?
7&1/2
{pretty close, I'm usually a 7 but it depends on the shoe}
7. What’s her favorite type of sandwich?
TURKEY
{yes please, esp with REAL turkey breast, stuffing and cranberry sauce - YUM!}
8. What would she eat everyday if she could?
ICE CREAM
{true, I would if I could but I REALLY shouldn't! haha!}
9. What is her favorite cereal?
LUCKY CHARMS ... UH, I DON'T KNOW ...
{I'm not a big cereal fan, it's OK but I don't eat it often. I do like LC but would rarely eat it b/c of all that sugar. I'd say the thing I eat most often is Kashi Go Lean Crunch or granola}
10. What would she never wear?
HE HAD NO ANSWER FOR THIS ONE! HAHAHA
11. What is her favorite sports team?
NONE, SHE DOESN'T LIKE SPORTS.
{very true! But I cheer for the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriot's for my hubby's sake}
12. What is something she does that you wish she wouldn’t do?
SHOP
{aw come on, I hardly ever shop!}
13. What is her heritage?
CANADIAN
{yes, I am but do you think heritage means going back more than one generation? If so I have Irish, English and Scottish in me}
14. You bake her a cake, what kind of cake?
CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING
{sounds good to me! I love most kinds of cake and don't really have a fave}
15. Did she play sports in high school?
YES, SOFTBALL
{yep, I did.}
16. What could she spend hours doing?
SCRAPBOOKING
{again, very true}
17. What is the unique talent that she has?
ENCOURAGING OTHERS
{haha ... not sure I would classify that as a special talent, but I don't really have any special talents so I'll take it!}
18. What is her type of coffee?
FIRST HE ANSWERED HAZELNUT, THEN I SAID, HEY THAT'S YOUR FAVE, NOT MINE - SO THEN HE SAID OH YEAH PUMPKIN SPICE
{truth is I love ALL kinds of flavored coffees. Pumpkin Spice, Island Coconut, Blueberry, Spicy Eggnog, etc ... }
Wanna play along? Copy the questions, ask your hubby for his answers and blog about it!
1. She’s sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen?
AMERICAN IDOL
{I told him that was a cop-out answer since it's not a fave show of mine at all, but since it's been on TV lately I have tuned in a couple times. I think it was the first thing that came to his mind. LOL}
2. You’re out to eat, what kind of dressing does she get on her salad?
RANCH
{I'm a fan of many different kinds of dressings but yes, I fall back on ranch a lot of the time.}
3. What’s one food she doesn’t like?
OYSTERS
{Very true, I do NOT like any of those slimy things that come from the sea like clams, oysters or any of that.}
4. You go out to eat and have a drink, what does she order?
VODKA & CRAN
{Well, sort of ... sometimes I do. It really depends on where we are. At Ruby Tuesday's I love their 'Ruby Relaxer', at Margarita's I love their 'Coco Loco', at Chili's and SolToro I love the Strawberry or Raspberry Mojito ... basically I love the sweet and fruity drinks.} =)
5. What shirt size does she have?
LARGE
{Either large or medium ... I hate being kind of in between. But I hate when shirts shrink up on me so I buy large a lot of the time}
6. What shoe size does she have?
7&1/2
{pretty close, I'm usually a 7 but it depends on the shoe}
7. What’s her favorite type of sandwich?
TURKEY
{yes please, esp with REAL turkey breast, stuffing and cranberry sauce - YUM!}
8. What would she eat everyday if she could?
ICE CREAM
{true, I would if I could but I REALLY shouldn't! haha!}
9. What is her favorite cereal?
LUCKY CHARMS ... UH, I DON'T KNOW ...
{I'm not a big cereal fan, it's OK but I don't eat it often. I do like LC but would rarely eat it b/c of all that sugar. I'd say the thing I eat most often is Kashi Go Lean Crunch or granola}
10. What would she never wear?
HE HAD NO ANSWER FOR THIS ONE! HAHAHA
11. What is her favorite sports team?
NONE, SHE DOESN'T LIKE SPORTS.
{very true! But I cheer for the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriot's for my hubby's sake}
12. What is something she does that you wish she wouldn’t do?
SHOP
{aw come on, I hardly ever shop!}
13. What is her heritage?
CANADIAN
{yes, I am but do you think heritage means going back more than one generation? If so I have Irish, English and Scottish in me}
14. You bake her a cake, what kind of cake?
CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING
{sounds good to me! I love most kinds of cake and don't really have a fave}
15. Did she play sports in high school?
YES, SOFTBALL
{yep, I did.}
16. What could she spend hours doing?
SCRAPBOOKING
{again, very true}
17. What is the unique talent that she has?
ENCOURAGING OTHERS
{haha ... not sure I would classify that as a special talent, but I don't really have any special talents so I'll take it!}
18. What is her type of coffee?
FIRST HE ANSWERED HAZELNUT, THEN I SAID, HEY THAT'S YOUR FAVE, NOT MINE - SO THEN HE SAID OH YEAH PUMPKIN SPICE
{truth is I love ALL kinds of flavored coffees. Pumpkin Spice, Island Coconut, Blueberry, Spicy Eggnog, etc ... }
Wanna play along? Copy the questions, ask your hubby for his answers and blog about it!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Sometimes you need a good cry ...
but today I would NOT have chosen this one for anything.
It snowed A LOT {again} last night and I LOVE taking pictures of the beautiful snow, especially first thing in the morning before it's been walked on and gotten messy. So when I got up I grabbed my camera and proceeded to get ready to take the dogs out. Our puppy is very hyper when she first gets up in the morning, I mean it makes sense, she's been in a crate all night and is ready to stretch her legs and RUN!
So as I'm trying to open the basement door, with camera in hand and hyper puppy + older dog next to me -- she jumps up on me which knocks the camera out of my hand and it crashes to the floor.
I get downstairs to let the dogs out and turn it on and yep, it's broken. Really broken.
I cried. I mean really cried.
Now before anyone thinks I am obsessed with my 'things' you need to know that there is hardly anything in my house that I am really attached to. I mean, aside from my family of course! But if my house ever had a fire the only things I would wish to grab {if I could} would be my scrapbook albums, my camera and our computer. These are my links to all the memories we have made over the years. Pictures remind us of good times and bad. Pictures show me how much my precious girls have grown. Pictures are really my only worldly 'possession' that I care very deeply about. And not having a camera to capture these things just breaks my heart.
The other reason I'm so upset is that I waited for YEARS to have a good camera. We are not a family who has a lot of extra spending money and buying a $400 camera is something that took a LONG time to happen. Now I've had it for less than 2 years and it's broken. I'm not even sure if it's fixable or not and if it is I'm sure it will be costly.
So that is why I'm crying today. Call me silly. Tell me to get over it if you wish. But I'm very, very sad and not taking it too well. And that's just how I feel.
It snowed A LOT {again} last night and I LOVE taking pictures of the beautiful snow, especially first thing in the morning before it's been walked on and gotten messy. So when I got up I grabbed my camera and proceeded to get ready to take the dogs out. Our puppy is very hyper when she first gets up in the morning, I mean it makes sense, she's been in a crate all night and is ready to stretch her legs and RUN!
So as I'm trying to open the basement door, with camera in hand and hyper puppy + older dog next to me -- she jumps up on me which knocks the camera out of my hand and it crashes to the floor.
I get downstairs to let the dogs out and turn it on and yep, it's broken. Really broken.
I cried. I mean really cried.
Now before anyone thinks I am obsessed with my 'things' you need to know that there is hardly anything in my house that I am really attached to. I mean, aside from my family of course! But if my house ever had a fire the only things I would wish to grab {if I could} would be my scrapbook albums, my camera and our computer. These are my links to all the memories we have made over the years. Pictures remind us of good times and bad. Pictures show me how much my precious girls have grown. Pictures are really my only worldly 'possession' that I care very deeply about. And not having a camera to capture these things just breaks my heart.
The other reason I'm so upset is that I waited for YEARS to have a good camera. We are not a family who has a lot of extra spending money and buying a $400 camera is something that took a LONG time to happen. Now I've had it for less than 2 years and it's broken. I'm not even sure if it's fixable or not and if it is I'm sure it will be costly.
So that is why I'm crying today. Call me silly. Tell me to get over it if you wish. But I'm very, very sad and not taking it too well. And that's just how I feel.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Winter Fitness
***BEWARE*** Unflattering pictures below! LOL
OK friends today I want to talk about winter fitness and all the hows, whys and wheres of it. {sorry about the bad grammar!}
One of my focus words this year is the word 'time' and I'm focusing on the idea of using my time MUCH more wisely than I have done in past years. In doing that it hits me square in the face that I have been making excuses for years about exercise. One my my biggest excuses? Because I'm a homeschool Mom, I just don't have time for exercise, I mean, my kids are here at home with me all day long and it makes it hard to go to a gym or anything like that.
This year I have decided I'm done with that lame-o excuse. Yes it does make things more challenging but it isn't impossible. So here is what I'm doing this winter, I hope it will encourage you in your healthy lifestyle.
*Use the snow to your advantage. Get out there and shovel it, play in it, build with it, tromp through the very deep stuff, sled with your kids {walking back up those hills burns a lot of calories!}. My former excuse was that I hated to get cold or for that matter get sweaty under all those layers of clothes. Now I just suck it up and know that yes I will get sweaty and feel icky but a simple solution is coming inside to enjoy a hot shower and a hot drink. And your kids will LOVE you for being out there with them!
*Take a winter hike in the woods. Around here we have several places where they have trails through the woods so even when it's snowy you can still walk there. Just wear snow boots and dress in appropriate layers {again you WILL get sweaty - just suck it up!} and if the conditions are icy consider using YakTracks which slip right over the bottom of your boots and allow a lot more traction. Since our puppy is very high-energy we've been taking her on hikes and it's great for ALL of us to get out and get some fresh air.
*Do something indoors. I'll admit, most days of the week my workouts have to be indoors. Partly because we do homeschool and partly out of convenience. My girls are old enough now that they can play together for a while so that I can get my exercise done. Keep in mind that you don't have to belong to a gym in order to get a good indoor workout.
What can you do indoors?
*Use a machine - if you have one. You can get a great indoor workout on a treadmill, elliptical machine or stationary bike. We have an elliptical machine. I sort of wish we had a treadmill because I'd rather run, but I recently realized that I can get a very similar workout to running on the elliptical - so once again I'm going to suck it up and just use what I have.
*Use hand weights, stability balls, floor mats, etc. You can find TONS of exercises to do by searching youtube or through health magazines.
*Use videos. Either ones you own, or one you borrow from the library or even free ones you can watch online or on netflix. One of the toughest DVD's I have is the Shred by Jillian Micheals and it only cost me $10 at Walmart. Videos are very affordable and easy to use. It's up to you to just pop in the DVD and commit to doing it! One of my faves is the TurboJam set by beachbody.com. Another great one for beginners or those who can't do something too vigorous is the Walk Away the Pounds series by Leslie Sansone.
Other tips that have helped me:
*eat a good healthy breakfast before exercise.
*stay hydrated
*have high energy, motivating music available - it's amazing how music can make you want to move faster, keep going and can really be a great motivator. I have a very small MP3 player that cost about $30. I keep a wide variety of music on it and play the really high energy stuff when I'm working out. {who doesn't love a little 'I like to move it, move it' when working out?!}
*invest in good workout clothes - now some may argue that this has NOTHING to do with getting a good workout but for me personally I feel like it's very helpful. First, have good quality clothing that wicks away moisture - NOT a cotton t-shirt! Wear items that allow for the most comfort and movement - NOT jeans! Wear good, supportive footwear - NOT flip-flops or slippers! Take care of that hair - as in pull it back out of your face - there is nothing worse than hot, sweaty hair on your neck - ICK! {I don't know how those women in the workout videos do it, that would drive me nuts!}
Back in the fall when I was running more consistently I knew that I was *hoping* to continue my fitness into the winter time. This is a first for me as most years in the past I've simply gone into hibernation mode and become very lazy and stagnant for the winter months. This year though I wanted to be different. And I knew it was going to get cold. So I invested in a really good set of workout clothes. It was costly, I'll admit. The top and bottom are from Under Armour and I'll just save ya the trouble of looking them up - they each cost $50.
Also, it's not a pretty sight - as you'll see below - the pants certainly accentuate my large thighs and my pear shape. And I'll spare ya the horror of seeing my backside. ;) But when I wear these clothes I feel GOOD, I can move with ease and the clothes feel GOOD on me. Whether I'm running, walking, hiking, biking, etc they allow for comfortable movement. And that's more important than my large thighs. {which hopefully will shrink as I keep working out! ha!} But I gotta say that I LOVE the Under Armour stuff! The hot pink shirt is sorta cute and it has a nice long torso and nice long sleeves {something I find important}. The inside of the shirt is super soft which feels great on the skin. Having a great workout outfit actually makes me want to work out more! For the record, I do have some other items I wear for working out but this outfit is definitely my fave. I sometimes wash it everyday so I can use it again the next day!
You can also see in the pics that I wear a scarf to keep my hair back. I hate having sweaty, sticky hair on my neck while I'm working out. I also hate when those little tiny pieces of hair fly in my face. So the scarf just keeps it all back and out of my face and also catches a lot of sweat!
{I warned ya it ain't pretty! Good thing I don't mind a little self-humiliation!}
This is my tough guy pose! hahaha - just being silly!
Hope took this pic of me on the elliptical ... yes it's blurry - sorry! And yes I have gloves on. Our basement is always SO cold this time of year and my fingers get so cold until my body has really warmed up. So I wear my warm running clothes and my gloves and all is good!
Well I think that's all for now. For some other great healthy lifestyle tips I highly encourage you to check out Lysa TerKeurst's Made to Crave webcast. It airs on Monday nights at 8pm EST but you can catch it again on Tuesdays at 12noon, 3pm, 8pm and 10pm if you missed it on Monday.
OK friends today I want to talk about winter fitness and all the hows, whys and wheres of it. {sorry about the bad grammar!}
One of my focus words this year is the word 'time' and I'm focusing on the idea of using my time MUCH more wisely than I have done in past years. In doing that it hits me square in the face that I have been making excuses for years about exercise. One my my biggest excuses? Because I'm a homeschool Mom, I just don't have time for exercise, I mean, my kids are here at home with me all day long and it makes it hard to go to a gym or anything like that.
This year I have decided I'm done with that lame-o excuse. Yes it does make things more challenging but it isn't impossible. So here is what I'm doing this winter, I hope it will encourage you in your healthy lifestyle.
*Use the snow to your advantage. Get out there and shovel it, play in it, build with it, tromp through the very deep stuff, sled with your kids {walking back up those hills burns a lot of calories!}. My former excuse was that I hated to get cold or for that matter get sweaty under all those layers of clothes. Now I just suck it up and know that yes I will get sweaty and feel icky but a simple solution is coming inside to enjoy a hot shower and a hot drink. And your kids will LOVE you for being out there with them!
*Take a winter hike in the woods. Around here we have several places where they have trails through the woods so even when it's snowy you can still walk there. Just wear snow boots and dress in appropriate layers {again you WILL get sweaty - just suck it up!} and if the conditions are icy consider using YakTracks which slip right over the bottom of your boots and allow a lot more traction. Since our puppy is very high-energy we've been taking her on hikes and it's great for ALL of us to get out and get some fresh air.
*Do something indoors. I'll admit, most days of the week my workouts have to be indoors. Partly because we do homeschool and partly out of convenience. My girls are old enough now that they can play together for a while so that I can get my exercise done. Keep in mind that you don't have to belong to a gym in order to get a good indoor workout.
What can you do indoors?
*Use a machine - if you have one. You can get a great indoor workout on a treadmill, elliptical machine or stationary bike. We have an elliptical machine. I sort of wish we had a treadmill because I'd rather run, but I recently realized that I can get a very similar workout to running on the elliptical - so once again I'm going to suck it up and just use what I have.
*Use hand weights, stability balls, floor mats, etc. You can find TONS of exercises to do by searching youtube or through health magazines.
*Use videos. Either ones you own, or one you borrow from the library or even free ones you can watch online or on netflix. One of the toughest DVD's I have is the Shred by Jillian Micheals and it only cost me $10 at Walmart. Videos are very affordable and easy to use. It's up to you to just pop in the DVD and commit to doing it! One of my faves is the TurboJam set by beachbody.com. Another great one for beginners or those who can't do something too vigorous is the Walk Away the Pounds series by Leslie Sansone.
Other tips that have helped me:
*eat a good healthy breakfast before exercise.
*stay hydrated
*have high energy, motivating music available - it's amazing how music can make you want to move faster, keep going and can really be a great motivator. I have a very small MP3 player that cost about $30. I keep a wide variety of music on it and play the really high energy stuff when I'm working out. {who doesn't love a little 'I like to move it, move it' when working out?!}
*invest in good workout clothes - now some may argue that this has NOTHING to do with getting a good workout but for me personally I feel like it's very helpful. First, have good quality clothing that wicks away moisture - NOT a cotton t-shirt! Wear items that allow for the most comfort and movement - NOT jeans! Wear good, supportive footwear - NOT flip-flops or slippers! Take care of that hair - as in pull it back out of your face - there is nothing worse than hot, sweaty hair on your neck - ICK! {I don't know how those women in the workout videos do it, that would drive me nuts!}
Back in the fall when I was running more consistently I knew that I was *hoping* to continue my fitness into the winter time. This is a first for me as most years in the past I've simply gone into hibernation mode and become very lazy and stagnant for the winter months. This year though I wanted to be different. And I knew it was going to get cold. So I invested in a really good set of workout clothes. It was costly, I'll admit. The top and bottom are from Under Armour and I'll just save ya the trouble of looking them up - they each cost $50.
Also, it's not a pretty sight - as you'll see below - the pants certainly accentuate my large thighs and my pear shape. And I'll spare ya the horror of seeing my backside. ;) But when I wear these clothes I feel GOOD, I can move with ease and the clothes feel GOOD on me. Whether I'm running, walking, hiking, biking, etc they allow for comfortable movement. And that's more important than my large thighs. {which hopefully will shrink as I keep working out! ha!} But I gotta say that I LOVE the Under Armour stuff! The hot pink shirt is sorta cute and it has a nice long torso and nice long sleeves {something I find important}. The inside of the shirt is super soft which feels great on the skin. Having a great workout outfit actually makes me want to work out more! For the record, I do have some other items I wear for working out but this outfit is definitely my fave. I sometimes wash it everyday so I can use it again the next day!
You can also see in the pics that I wear a scarf to keep my hair back. I hate having sweaty, sticky hair on my neck while I'm working out. I also hate when those little tiny pieces of hair fly in my face. So the scarf just keeps it all back and out of my face and also catches a lot of sweat!
{I warned ya it ain't pretty! Good thing I don't mind a little self-humiliation!}
This is my tough guy pose! hahaha - just being silly!
Hope took this pic of me on the elliptical ... yes it's blurry - sorry! And yes I have gloves on. Our basement is always SO cold this time of year and my fingers get so cold until my body has really warmed up. So I wear my warm running clothes and my gloves and all is good!
Well I think that's all for now. For some other great healthy lifestyle tips I highly encourage you to check out Lysa TerKeurst's Made to Crave webcast. It airs on Monday nights at 8pm EST but you can catch it again on Tuesdays at 12noon, 3pm, 8pm and 10pm if you missed it on Monday.
Monday, January 24, 2011
1,000 Gifts {284-316}
I missed doing my 1,000 gifts post last week, but since I printed out the pages from Ann's blog I have been recording them on paper every day. So I'll just back up a little and do 2 weeks worth here today. Sorry, no pictures today - it's been a busy week.
- the snowiest January we've ever had since I've lived in CT
- sledding at the golf course with my family
- my amazing husband who loves to cook, helps with running errands, plays with his daughters, etc. I can never express how thankful I am for him.
- getting some 'Mommy' time to sew and watch a girly chick flick
- fantastic winter walk in the woods with Bob and the puppy - it's beautiful to take a hike in a winter wonderland!
- another HUGE snowstorm - we're kinda getting used to this!
- fun playing out in the snow with the girls, tromping through DEEP snow, building snow forts, making snow angels and snowballs
- a nice, warm home to feel safe and secure in - the outdoors are great, but once I come in I want to feel warm and secure and I'm so thankful that we are blessed with a wonderful home.
- crafting
- an afternoon at our friend's house where the kids played in the snow for hours and the Mommies got to scrapbook and chat
- hot chicken sandwiches
- getting home safe when the roads are slippery
- a nice clean house
- seeing my brother, sis in law and niece to celebrate Christmas - sometimes our visits are too far between but it's nice to catch up again in person
- Sunday mornings - need I say more? It's my favorite day of the week!
- our church family
- worship time
- a great Sunday school meeting where a lot was accomplished
- a fun Christmas celebration with Bob's brothers and their families
- getting to see his brother {and family}'s new home
- coffee and chat with an old friend who I haven't had a chance to catch up with for a long time
- playing wii just dance with my girls {and suffering with sore calves ever since!}
- getting a good workout on the elliptical machine
- 'The Heart Mender' by Andy Andrews - what an amazing book, I just can't stop thinking about it and how much I loved it!
- seeing how much the girls have learned and grown since we began homeschooling
- the great basement clean up and how good it feels to have some organization again!
- attending a memorial service for a great man of faith - the example he gave will leave a lasting impression on me for a long time
- the gospel message presented by several people at the memorial - not pastors - but regular people who knew Sean as a friend and who were led to the Lord by him - when I think of how amazing that is it just makes my heart break that we have lost such an amazing ambassador for Christ
- Hope scoring 2 baskets at her basketball game - she is loving it and doing so well!
- having great friends who I can trust to watch my kids for me - and knowing that my kids will have so much fun there that they won't miss me one bit
- a LAZY Sunday afternoon
- Hope's braces. They have brought her a fair amount of pain this past week - one day to the point that she was just sobbing in pain. But her teeth literally moved overnight and are already looking fantastic. I'm thankful that even though we sometimes have to endure pain that is when the real work happens.
- it's been absolutely freezing here lately so I can't say enough times how thankful I am for a warm home, heat, comfortable furniture and beds, lots of warm blankets, layers of clothes, warm coats/hats/mitts for when we go out, etc... Many are not so blessed and I don't take for granted how blessed we are.
{1,000 Gifts #284-316}
Would you like to become part of this gratitude community? Check out Ann's blog {and BOOK!} and begin counting the many, many gifts that come in the everyday moments. You don't even have to have a blog to do this. Just start a list on a piece of paper and purpose to find things to be grateful for every day. I promise once you get started you will see multiple things every single day that will make you grateful.
- the snowiest January we've ever had since I've lived in CT
- sledding at the golf course with my family
- my amazing husband who loves to cook, helps with running errands, plays with his daughters, etc. I can never express how thankful I am for him.
- getting some 'Mommy' time to sew and watch a girly chick flick
- fantastic winter walk in the woods with Bob and the puppy - it's beautiful to take a hike in a winter wonderland!
- another HUGE snowstorm - we're kinda getting used to this!
- fun playing out in the snow with the girls, tromping through DEEP snow, building snow forts, making snow angels and snowballs
- a nice, warm home to feel safe and secure in - the outdoors are great, but once I come in I want to feel warm and secure and I'm so thankful that we are blessed with a wonderful home.
- crafting
- an afternoon at our friend's house where the kids played in the snow for hours and the Mommies got to scrapbook and chat
- hot chicken sandwiches
- getting home safe when the roads are slippery
- a nice clean house
- seeing my brother, sis in law and niece to celebrate Christmas - sometimes our visits are too far between but it's nice to catch up again in person
- Sunday mornings - need I say more? It's my favorite day of the week!
- our church family
- worship time
- a great Sunday school meeting where a lot was accomplished
- a fun Christmas celebration with Bob's brothers and their families
- getting to see his brother {and family}'s new home
- coffee and chat with an old friend who I haven't had a chance to catch up with for a long time
- playing wii just dance with my girls {and suffering with sore calves ever since!}
- getting a good workout on the elliptical machine
- 'The Heart Mender' by Andy Andrews - what an amazing book, I just can't stop thinking about it and how much I loved it!
- seeing how much the girls have learned and grown since we began homeschooling
- the great basement clean up and how good it feels to have some organization again!
- attending a memorial service for a great man of faith - the example he gave will leave a lasting impression on me for a long time
- the gospel message presented by several people at the memorial - not pastors - but regular people who knew Sean as a friend and who were led to the Lord by him - when I think of how amazing that is it just makes my heart break that we have lost such an amazing ambassador for Christ
- Hope scoring 2 baskets at her basketball game - she is loving it and doing so well!
- having great friends who I can trust to watch my kids for me - and knowing that my kids will have so much fun there that they won't miss me one bit
- a LAZY Sunday afternoon
- Hope's braces. They have brought her a fair amount of pain this past week - one day to the point that she was just sobbing in pain. But her teeth literally moved overnight and are already looking fantastic. I'm thankful that even though we sometimes have to endure pain that is when the real work happens.
- it's been absolutely freezing here lately so I can't say enough times how thankful I am for a warm home, heat, comfortable furniture and beds, lots of warm blankets, layers of clothes, warm coats/hats/mitts for when we go out, etc... Many are not so blessed and I don't take for granted how blessed we are.
{1,000 Gifts #284-316}
Would you like to become part of this gratitude community? Check out Ann's blog {and BOOK!} and begin counting the many, many gifts that come in the everyday moments. You don't even have to have a blog to do this. Just start a list on a piece of paper and purpose to find things to be grateful for every day. I promise once you get started you will see multiple things every single day that will make you grateful.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
1,000 Gifts Video
I just wanted to share the video that goes with the One Thousand Gifts book I was talking about. It looks amazing and from all the reviews I'm reading I believe this will be a life changing book. Like I mentioned before, the book is only $10, really affordable if you ask me. Please consider joining me in reading it and following the book club! {I get no credit for saying this, I simply think it's going to be soooo worth it.}
Let me know if you need any other information. The actual discussion won't start for another 2 weeks so there is still plenty of time to get yourself a copy!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Questionnaire
Just for fun ... saw this questionnaire on another blog and thought I'd play along!
Are you a morning or night person?
I used to be a night person but the older I get I'm becoming a morning person. I love being up before the kids, having my coffee and quiet time and seeing the sun as it starts streaming through the windows. I love the new-ness of a brand new day.
Which do you prefer, sweet or salty foods?
Sweet! Love cookies, cake and all of those kinds of things. Wish I didn't like them quite so much!
Are you a collector of anything?
Pictures, memories and books. I think that's all ...
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Unlimited energy!
What's your favorite color?
Turquoise! You should see our downstairs bathroom! Someday I'll have to post pics of the lovely wall color I chose! heeheehee
Do you believe in extraterrestrials or life on other planets?
Um, No.
Do you believe in ghosts?
Again, no.
Ever been addicted to a video/computer game? Which one(s)?
Yes, Bejeweled on facebook is pretty fun and addicting.
You're given 1 million dollars, what do you spend it on?
Taking care of my Mom and Bob's parents and our brothers and their families. Paying off our debts and probably buying our 'forever' home. Invest any that is left ... a million dollars wouldn't go too far in today's economy!
List 1 thing you wish you could change about yourself.
{only ONE thing?!} ;)
Probably my insecurities.
Any tattoos or piercings?
Both ears are pierced and I used to have my belly button pierced but took it out when I got preggo with Hope and never put it back in.
What's the first thing you notice in the opposite sex?
Beautiful eyes and a great smile.
Are you mostly a clean or messy person?
Mostly clean but I certainly have my messy moments!!
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
I'd probably stay pretty much where I am but have a vacation home somewhere fun like in Bermuda.
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Some day I'd love to see Europe.
List 5 goals on your life's to-do list
1. Get married
2. Have kids
3. Serve the Lord
4. Have a creative home-based business
5. Have Grandkids
Name 1 thing you miss about being a kid.
I miss the simplicity of it, just knowing that all is taken care of for you and you don't have to worry about finances and mortgages and raising kids and stress and all that stuff.
What's your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon?
RELAX, rest and sometimes be crafty. Or visit with friends.
If you could have 3 wishes granted, what would they be?
1. Be debt free
2. Be healthy and live a long, happy life
3. For my girls to grow to know and love the Lord
Wanna play along? Just copy and paste these questions to your own blog and change the answers to fit your own personality. =)
Are you a morning or night person?
I used to be a night person but the older I get I'm becoming a morning person. I love being up before the kids, having my coffee and quiet time and seeing the sun as it starts streaming through the windows. I love the new-ness of a brand new day.
Which do you prefer, sweet or salty foods?
Sweet! Love cookies, cake and all of those kinds of things. Wish I didn't like them quite so much!
Are you a collector of anything?
Pictures, memories and books. I think that's all ...
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Unlimited energy!
What's your favorite color?
Turquoise! You should see our downstairs bathroom! Someday I'll have to post pics of the lovely wall color I chose! heeheehee
Do you believe in extraterrestrials or life on other planets?
Um, No.
Do you believe in ghosts?
Again, no.
Ever been addicted to a video/computer game? Which one(s)?
Yes, Bejeweled on facebook is pretty fun and addicting.
You're given 1 million dollars, what do you spend it on?
Taking care of my Mom and Bob's parents and our brothers and their families. Paying off our debts and probably buying our 'forever' home. Invest any that is left ... a million dollars wouldn't go too far in today's economy!
List 1 thing you wish you could change about yourself.
{only ONE thing?!} ;)
Probably my insecurities.
Any tattoos or piercings?
Both ears are pierced and I used to have my belly button pierced but took it out when I got preggo with Hope and never put it back in.
What's the first thing you notice in the opposite sex?
Beautiful eyes and a great smile.
Are you mostly a clean or messy person?
Mostly clean but I certainly have my messy moments!!
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
I'd probably stay pretty much where I am but have a vacation home somewhere fun like in Bermuda.
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Some day I'd love to see Europe.
List 5 goals on your life's to-do list
1. Get married
2. Have kids
3. Serve the Lord
4. Have a creative home-based business
5. Have Grandkids
Name 1 thing you miss about being a kid.
I miss the simplicity of it, just knowing that all is taken care of for you and you don't have to worry about finances and mortgages and raising kids and stress and all that stuff.
What's your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon?
RELAX, rest and sometimes be crafty. Or visit with friends.
If you could have 3 wishes granted, what would they be?
1. Be debt free
2. Be healthy and live a long, happy life
3. For my girls to grow to know and love the Lord
Wanna play along? Just copy and paste these questions to your own blog and change the answers to fit your own personality. =)
Made to Crave, Bloom and MckMama
OK friends, bear with me as I might be all over the place today! I have 3 things I really want to talk about/share about.
OK, next up - do any of you follow any of the following blogs; Ann Voskamp's Holy Experience, The Mom Creative, Bring the Rain or {in}Courage?? If you DO - maybe you've heard all about the Bloom book club and the fact that they are using Ann's book for their newest book choice! Her book about One Thousand Gifts has been getting rave reviews and has been moving up the top ten list at Amazon.com. Her blog is the reason I started counting my own list of 1,000 Gifts. I ordered the book and am sooooo excited to take part in this online book club community! My question is ... are any of you planning to do it too? The book is really affordable at only 10 bucks! Please comment here if you plan to participate!
OK, I know I've given you a lot to think about and comment on so let's hear it!
First, have any of you heard of Made to Crave by Lisa TerKeurst? It's a new book and Bible study she has out. She's been doing a LIVE webcast about it every Monday night. The book teaches you how we were made to crave God, not food. It's not a diet book per se ... but helps teach you how to re-direct your thinking. I have NOT bought the book yet, but have watched the first two webcasts and they were really good. And if you miss the webcast on Monday nights you can catch it again on Tuesdays. If you want to watch on Monday night it's on at 8pm EST and just go to madetocrave.org to view it. I was thinking about buying the whole study and doing it with some friends. Just wondering if any of you were following it too? I'd love to post about it and chat about it if anyone else is interested.
OK, next up - do any of you follow any of the following blogs; Ann Voskamp's Holy Experience, The Mom Creative, Bring the Rain or {in}Courage?? If you DO - maybe you've heard all about the Bloom book club and the fact that they are using Ann's book for their newest book choice! Her book about One Thousand Gifts has been getting rave reviews and has been moving up the top ten list at Amazon.com. Her blog is the reason I started counting my own list of 1,000 Gifts. I ordered the book and am sooooo excited to take part in this online book club community! My question is ... are any of you planning to do it too? The book is really affordable at only 10 bucks! Please comment here if you plan to participate!
Lastly, I have to bring up something I really don't like to talk about. I really like MckMama's blog, love reading about her gorgeous kids, seeing her beautiful photography and seeing her passion for Jesus. But lately I'm feeling like I really want to stop following her blog. The really sad thing to me is that it has absolutely nothing to do with her or her blog. It's the readers and the comments! It's not often that I actually read her comments but when I do I'm so saddened by how cruel and mean people are. And sometimes she responds to people's questions, like she did on this recent post - and you can see by many of the questions that people are being just downright mean and cruel and trying to call her a liar and accuse her of being something she's not. The whole thing just makes me really sad. I know I can't control all the mean people of the world and I know it's not really a valid reason to 'leave' her blog over - but I find it makes me angry and becomes a real stumbling block for me. Thoughts?
OK, I know I've given you a lot to think about and comment on so let's hear it!
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