{s}chool, {s}weet tooth, and {s}ore muscles

slumbering out of bed from a night of, well...
not enough sleep,
{sometimes, that happens while hubs is away}
i managed to get another day of schooling logged.
despite the fact that i'm still feeling my way through the dark,
so to speak.
mama is taking baby steps in the organization department.

i'm realizing procrastination has not been my friend.
*ehem*

organizing, while teaching...
and shuttling between 2 piano classes,
trips to the airport,
3 theater practices, and the start-up of dance?
completely planned on purpose.
yes, that's it.
*ehem*
excuse me.



*hangs head in shame*



hi, my name is h-mama,
and i'm a home-body.
no, really.
i am.
 
believe it or not, we have homeschool friends much more scheduled than us.
i. just. can't.

oh... seems someone in our house has a sweet tooth.
{notice how i change the subject?}
a complete weakness for whipped cream.



she even knows the sound of our hand touching the can in the fridge,
before it makes an appearance in the kitchen.

one. smart. pup.



if only she knew the exact moment to catch it.
*giggle*



i'm not drowning all of my worries into a bowl of sugar.
i'm pumping it at the gym, too.
proof is in the fact that i haven't been able to completely straighten my arms all week.
can you say, ouch?!

of course, i make it look completely natural by bending my arms on purpose.
*ehem*

when reaching for something, the body must follow...
thereby exerting more energy.
thereby confirming my need to take in a few extra {good} calories.
{muy logical, no?}
like organic blueberries {ummm... just trust me.  they're in there.},
a tbs. {or 6} of whipped cream, and some ezekial 4:9 cereal for good measure.

it's my indulgence of choice, as of late.
jazzy, too.
well, at least the whipped cream.
she may have even held a short-lived grudge after i cleaned her face.

so what's your 'go-to' yummy dessert?
maybe i should ask... low-sugar? ;)

post vacation life

confession:
living life and blogging in real-time are the same as singing your abc's backwards,
while solving an algebraic equation.
at least, as far as my bloggy is concerned.
*sigh*


we hit the ground running.  daddy had to go out of town again.
{excuse me while i grab a klennex.  really.  the overtime has been a bit much lately. only he doesn't get paid by the hour.  okay, i'm moving on... thankful he has a wonderful job.}
so, the girls and i hit chili's for kids eat free.  {woot!}



dental appointment.
a minor repair.
insurance covered.
thank you jesus.
donkey-kong anyone?

this is how we cope with missing dad.
silliness is the key to distraction in our home.
{and, apparently, no makeup - with some sort of pepples flintstone ponytail.}

piano lessons resume.
as do visits to the gym.

i upped my gym membership city-wide so that i could utilize the time the girls are in theater to get my workout in.... but feeling 'at home' in a new place takes time.

mama is not lacking in the cardio department.
each visit has resulted in an hour of full cardio... because someone may or may not be intimidated by the people in the weight area.
*sigh*
or maybe it's the tv's that are attached to the cardio machines.
pandora via iphone plus tv with subtitles... i could stay there all day.
maybe.
i won't be testin' that theory.

oh.... and we had rain!  rain, people!
that's exciting news around here, y'all!

after a hard workout, mama needed some green tea,
so jazzy caught up on some puppy whip.
she would make a great spokesperson for puppy foam.  dontcha think?

and ummm... nothing like one of those visits to jolt you back to reality.
seems my severe pains {you know the ones that leave me blacking out and ultimately throwing up? TMI. i know. sorry.} have baffled the medical community.
the only diagnosis they can give me is a complication with my PCOS. 
i was warned there may be more {pains}.
PCOS is now dead to me.

as if the infertility issues weren't enough years ago...
or the fact that i seem to be able to look at a piece of cake and gain 5 lbs?
geeesh.
good thing i lost 3 lbs since my last appointment.
a year ago.

grilled goodness.
this means daddy is home! :)
we've enjoyed evenings of him coming home at a great hour this week.
rare treat these days.
even a few family games.
{love}
cookies {made with a stick of butter}.  broccoli.
hmmm...
which do you think was mom's idea? dad's?  or paula deen's? ;)

which are your family's favorite games?

365 {iPhone} Catch-up - Week 14/2011

Well, wasn't that a catchy title, eh?

I'm not sure what happened to our 365 updates for 2011.  We were thrown off track somewhere between dance competitions and the flu, I believe.  Here's to hopin' we can get back on-track soon!  My memory will thank me for it. ;)

We started our week with birthday celebrations.  Wait.  Did we tell you that we now have an 11 year old in the hizzay?!  ;)  {*Edit:  We also celebrated March birthdays with our homeschool group.  So... see?  A week of celebrations here. ha.}

Before friends came to help celebrate, we had to catch-up on our {spring} yard work.  I think I might just have to hire these guys.  Well, except for the one who reeeeally did not want to pick up rocks.  Oi.



This is either my hubs... or someone in witness protection.  :)

Hubs started out in the San Francisco area this week, then ended up in Dallas.  We picked him up at the airport at the end of the week.  He missed us.  It's written all over his face.  ;)  We missed him, too.

I loved this picture of Nator receiving praise from her piano teacher.  She makes my heart swell.



Doesn't Gracie look thrilled to help Mama in the kitchen?  Yea, she's working off chore $$$ for souvenirs at her dance competitions.  There's a method to our madness.  And Mama appreciates the help.

It's not all work though.  On Nator's actual birthday, we had some girlie fun... and the girls bought American Girl items, and Legos to play with.  



During dance practices, Nator and I {or just myself} will walk Jazzy.  The weather has been perfect for it.  {sorry to all of our northern friends.} The summer sauna will be here soon enough.

I like to power-walk about 3 miles.  When I walk with Nator, we stroll 1 mile, then Nator picks an ant-free zone to roll down the hill.  Jazzy picks a spot to cool-off.

I'm going for the witness protection look, too.  



This week, Nator ran bases for the first time.  On an empty field.

Me:  Pretend you're hitting a homerun.
Nator:  Which way do I run?!
Me:  Ha!  Right!
Nator:  I feel so silly!
Me:  Run!  Run!  Run!... You did it!!



The girls opted not to have a party for their birthdays this year.  They wanted loot!  ha.  So, the other part of their gift was a lil' shopping at Justice.  {Don't go without a coupon!}  We found a mega lipstick at Forever 21.  Muah!



With hubs in town, I took the opportunity to leave the house.  And shop for a few things myself.  Myself.  This 24/7 homeschool-mama job can take its toll, you know.  And I start to feel overrun somewhere between... keeping the house clean, homeschool, and the misc daily grind.  Alone time is rare these days, but I wouldn't trade it.  And besides... Mama's wardrobe needs serious updating.  Like, really.  :)

Oh, and I went to the gym.  Right hand on hip.  Check.  Sweat dripping.  Check.  Glamorous, no? 

How was your week?

in the {moment} and lots of random

So easily, I get caught up in what the next project should be... that I forget.  Forget to enjoy the moment.  Who cares if the final phase of touching up my walls looks like a different shade of paint.  I'll just do it all. over. again.  *sigh*  Where was I again?  Oh... the moment.

In light of Japan's recent tragedies, we are reminded {once again} how precious life truly is.  I could go on and on about this one topic alone... but it's just so... so... *sigh*

sad.

This computer is completely filled to the brim with pictures and videos in it's hard-drive, that hubs says it's time to delete.  The very thought of deleting pictures gives me hives.  At least in my mind.  Didn't I tell you about the time I lost 5,000 pictures and home movies on a new external hard-drive?  The company that was hired to retrieve our pix was known for retrieving information off of hard-drives that have been rolled over by vehicles and retrieved from burning buildings.  Apparently, they had not met the hard-drive that fell from the coffee table to the plush carpet... maybe 3 times.  ;)  There were tears.  You know, since many of those pix were not backed up elsewhere.

Since that time, I have been diligent about burning pix to DVDs monthly.  And I'm holding out on deleting them till I make sure I've uploaded them for future online orders... and until I find the spare external hard-drive that's around this place.  I've been so fixated on making sure that the last two years are well documented, that I've not taken many new pictures. *hangsheadinshame*

Other than a few with my iPhone.  Wanna see?  {I'll pretend you said yes. Mkay?}



The most expensive thing Gracie and I found at the dollar store.  A $10 pony ride.  We agreed that the lady was not nice to her animals, so we hung around a long time and gave lots of love to her ponies and bunnies.  I think the llama just wanted to kick everyone.  {Sorry, Mr. Llama, we would have even loved on you, too.  Thanks for the ride, Mikey!}  Looks like Mikey is giving us that 'tilted puppy dog face', yes?



They are test-driving possible motor vehicles for future use already.  Can never start too early, right?  I hope you don't take me too seriously.



Gracie has been all about the games here, lately.  I'd forgotten how fun In a Pickle was.



We're losin' teeth here.  Nator has lost one since this, too, but we didn't manage to get a picture.  She informed me that it was her last baby pre-molar.  *sigh*  I believe she was mostly concerned with the dough that was going to land in her tooth pillow anyway.  She couldn't wait to get her hands on an episode of Fetch with Ruff Ruffman for her iPhone {simply used as a touch, not as a phone}.

They've grown to appreciate the value of an iTunes gift card.

They watch Ruff while going to the gym.  Yep.  We are on our third day {in a row-woohooo!} of going to the gym.  Together.  You see, I always had the gym as 'non-mommy' time, but I realize the need for cultivating good habits in the girls, too, so...  We are rearranging our schedule a bit.  Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

Stop trying... and just 'do'.  You know what I mean?

I'm bracing myself for the groans I plan to hear in the coming weeks.  {remember we did this before?  the girls grew tired of it... but mama is sticking to it this time.  i have to.}



Oh... and we all grew a little Justin 'Bieber fever' recently.  We almost cringe to admit it.  Except for Gracie.  She thinks she's his biggest fan.  We took the girls to see Never Say Never.   Nator simply went from dislike to like... not crazed fan.  She's level-headed, that one.

Confession:  It was as great as everyone said it was.  He obviously has God-given music ability.  Wow.  I can see why all the girls crush on him.  I mean, I have a weakness for intelligent, funny musicians, too.  Obviously, a little older, that is.  Without the well-oiled machine of Disney to back him, he did things a little old school, visiting many radio stations, etc.  A bit of ground work.  Did you know he broke his foot while performing on stage, and finished the song? Wow.

He homeschools, too, of course.  The girls liked that part.

{The negatives, Justin?  The short-skirted Miley.  yikes.  And the One Less Lonely Girl... poor thing.   I think the 'lonely girl' you pick out of the crowd really does want to marry you.  Be careful.  You may have them believing you really want to, as well.  ;)  And please, please continue to keep your lyrics clean.  Those R&B singers you look up to should heed that advice, as well.  All spoken in the loving tone of a parent... to one of your biggest fans.} 

Okay.  I feel better now.

Moments.  I'm off to create more of them.  And may or may not take pictures.  And may or may not listen to Bieber sing Never Say Never, Born to be Somebody, or U Smile while tackling my to-do list.  :)

See.  Aren't you glad we caught you up on our pictures and little adventures?  {again, i'll just pretend you said yes.}

I 'did' say there would be lots of random.

i've been reading... and it's worth it

Several years ago, you would have found me elbow-deep in a Beth Moore study.  Workbook and notes all around me.  Homeschool.  Or something health related.  I have nothing against Beth Moore.  Really.  But I haven't picked up an 'inspirational-self-help' book in a few years.  That's a post for another day.  Maybe.

I just can't get into fiction.  Wish I could.  Well, except for The Shack.  Loved that book.  Once I got past the first 5 or so chapters, that is.  I know.  I'm probably in the minority when it comes to my I.C. {Institutional Church} friends.

I'm trying to get my health back on track.  Hubs used to call me a walking encyclopedia of information.  It's hard to pull that title off when you've somehow managed to find 20 lbs over the past 4 years.  Ugh.

Contributor #1:  Exercise. 
{Ummm... I decided not to use the word "Excuse" in place of "Contributor".  Just FYI.}  I used to have a great exercise routine {operative words being 'used to'}.   My alarm went off early-I was at the gym-back home-making breakfast... all before hubs had to leave for the office.  I miss that routine.

Fast forward.  Hubs has a different job.  A bit further away.  When he's in town, that is.  Now, his alarm goes off much earlier than mine used to.  All in the name of beating city traffic and getting to the gym in time to get cleaned up before his first meeting.

The girls and I really do appreciate his efforts in going to the gym.  I've wanted that for him for a long time.  He likes it, too.

Endorphins.  It's a good thing {spoken in my best martha stewart voice}.

Confession:  My exercise DVDs collect dust.  I have good intentions, but those are best exercised at a gym.  I love being driven by my own music via earphones.  And when I'm paying for a membership, I'm more likely to follow through.  It's weird.  I know.

So when do I go?

After feeding everyone breakfast would cut into our school time.  I can usually sneak in a visit to the gym during one of the girls' dance classes and a quick trip between Saturday or Sunday when hubs is in town.  When the girls are sick... it just doesn't happen.  And even if hubs manages to get home at a predictable time in the evenings, Mama is simply too 'tuckered out' to go.

I wish this weren't such a struggle.

Contributor #2:  Toxins.

Have you been wondering when I would get to the 'what I've been reading' part?   Suzanne Somers.  Se*xy Forever.  Don't let the title scare you.  This book is loaded with healthy information {probably similar to her many other books, in which i don't own}.  Se*xy Forever is really not about 'being se*xy'.  More about being healthy.

If you thought the sugar you were eating was the only culprit to the spare tire you may or may not be sporting, you'd be wrong.  Toxins.  Or should I say, a toxin overload!  I can honestly tell you that I felt my healthiest when I was on top of my exercise routine... and cleanses.  It's true.  I'm convinced my liver was never so clean.  TMI?  It's too bad that we're not more comfortable with this kind of talk.

We should know about the cancers caused by the usage of chemicals, like Round-Up.
The poison, which goes by the name of Fluoride, accumulating in the body.
BPA (Bisphenol A), found in many plastics, causing birth defects.
Aluminum, and it's link to Alzheimer's.
Words we can't pronounce in our cosmetics and cleaning products.
What and how our animals are fed... not to mention treated.

"Russia doesn't want our chicken, and they have a food shortage.  That should tell you something!"  {Oi}  
"The more toxins you take in, the more fat is required to store them."  {*sigh*}

There are a number of suggestions for cleansing in her book.  Some, I doubt I could afford.  You know, like purchasing a special sauna.  If I could, I would LOVE to at least have some of these tests done for my whole family.  I haven't been good at picking up on little clues when doing a quick elimination diet.  Maybe because I lose patience with it.  I like to eat.  #hangsheadinshame

So, finding out if specific foods are causing joint pain, bloating, headaches, weight gain, dark circles, and even cellulite {yes, it could be food allergies!!} would be won.der.ful!!

Have I bored you yet?

I say if you're interested in preventative health, you'd like this book.  There's tips on which foods are highest in pesticides {especially apples and grapes, which happen to be gracie's fave.  thankfully, i only buy those in organic.} and a plethora of easy-to-read information, so that you, too, can sound like a walking encyclopedia.

Staying out of the doctor's office {and health} is the goal.  {repeat}  Well, other than the chiropractor.  I see them more as preventative care.  Love them!  They gave Nator's ears a good poppin' on Tuesday.  We were talking about medications causing a plethora of symptoms, etc... and Nator said, "Don't they teach them {doctors} that in school?"  Ha!  If only the health system in America were focused on prevention.  *sigh*

This is the kind of post in which most of my friends politely roll their eyes, smile, and nod.  {here she's goes again, they think}  It's okay.  I've been getting that look for years.  But, secretly, I often wish there were more support for people like me.  Walking against the current gets tiring after a while.  So, I write this {eternal} post to remind myself to keep fighting the good fight.  Kids will get sick, even when all precautions have seemingly been met.  As my chiropractor gently reminded me, they are still building their immune systems. 

Buying organic, not driving through fast-food chains, dishing out daily doses of vitamins and supplements - twice a day, serving vegetables, getting enough sleep, and... even exercise are all... worth it.

#1:  Not sure how {yet}, but I've got to find a workout {routine} again.  Juggling the many logistics of a homeschool and mamahood may prove to be a challenge.  No excuses, right?
#2:  I'm getting started on a cleanse.  Hulda Clark style.  I'll spare you the details, though.  ;)

{suzanne somers did not send me a free book for review, nor does she even know of my existence; however, if someone from her company would like to donate a sauna or blood test results, i would be more than willing to write a review.}  :)

conversation through a window

I worked-out today.  As in, exercise.  I know.  Kinda shocking.  Hard cardio.  40 minutes.  Elliptical.  Varying resistances and speeds.

The last time was a week and a half ago. 

I was breathing heavy... during my warm-up.

There's a {sweet} older gentleman who often tells me that he has had the search party out looking for me.  He misses me.  He's just a southern gentleman.

Sometimes, I miss my days of running.  It was easier to stay committed to exercise then.  People were running all around me today.  {jealous much?}  There was the expected New Year's crowd.  I broke a sweat, to prove myself to the rest of the room.

And I must tell you, my iPod dilemma has long been resolved.  I just made your day, huh?  I get bored with songs, sometimes needing to change them mid-way.  Enter... Pandora.  Thank you, iPhone, for the free app!

Endorphins were pumping.  I wiped my two beads of sweat and realized I was faced with two choices.  The girls were not finished with dance class, so I had a few more minutes.  Do I go home and try to shower quickly... or run through Starbucks with Jasmine and enjoy a quiet moment in the parking lot?

Hahhh... Door #2 just sounds much more inviting, yes?

Him:  "Welcome to Starbucks.  May I take your order?"  {something like that}

Me:  "Yes... I'd like a grande, chai tea latte', non-fat, extra-hot, with one pump of sugar-free hazelnut, please."

{i waited for the typical reaction.  questions.  it seems our order is a bit too customized for many.  it would be for me.}

Him:  "What size did you want again?"

Me:  "Grande."

Him:  "Okay.  So you wanted a vente, chai tea, with lots of fat, ice-cold, and lots of syrupy sugar?"

Me:  *giggle*  "You got it!"

I pulled up to the window and everyone was laughing.  Including me.

He took one look at Jasmine and offered puppy foam before I could mutter one syllable.

Everyone took their turn, peering through the drive-through window, to peek at Jasmine.  She wondered why all of these strangers were looking at and talking to her.  She began to shake.  She's nervous like that.

I was once pulled over by a young, female officer.  Jasmine growled at her from the moment I rolled down my window.  Picking up my vibes, I'm sure.   *giggle*  The officer positioned herself out of Jasmine's line of view.  *giggle*

She's not nervous when it counts.

For the first time, she was too nervous to drink her puppy foam in front of these strangers.

Starbucks man and I shared more conversation and laughs, then I pulled away.  There's something about someone's genuine smile that puts a little pep in your step.

I pulled in the parking lot, waiting on the girls to finish dance.  Jasmine drank her milk and was especially excited to finish my foam.  She likes hazelnut, too.

Then, I noticed this work of art on Jasmine's cup.

They are not only friendly, but artists, too!

Then, I played my turn on Words with Friends with hubs.  We both use wineverygame.com.  We're both okay with that. 

Door #2 served me well... and confirmed that my Starbucks addiction is back, as well as Jasmine's.  And that our pets have almost taken over this family blog.  {i should be writing syrupy valentine posts.}  And that it's hard to write a blog while watching HGTV {which house will they pick?  i would pick #2!  how do people afford these international vacation homes? i'd love to win the dream home.  'selling in new york' is just craziness.  how do people afford this stuff?}. 

Husband needs to come home.  His business trips are aging me.   #mamaneedsmoresleep  #hipsneedlesschocolate   He will be here soon.  I should introduce him to Starbucks man. 

A {good} Mom

What makes a good mom?

I had a light-bulb realization while my girls were with their Granny last week.  

I'm a good mom. 

Such a small statement, but a huge confession.  Maybe you've already made it.

When I told DK of my realization, he looked a bit shocked.  "You're just now realizing that?!"

I promise, I'm not looking for validation when I say this.  Over time, I've had moments of feeling like a good mom, and those who really know me have been generous with their compliments... but I've never told myself these words.  I'm a really good mom.

I suppose, deep down, I felt that self-confession was reserved for mothers who never had an 'off' day.  Some days I felt like I just blew it... I got impatient over something inconsequential, didn't reserve room for enough one-on-one time, or maybe didn't keep my word, etc.

Darn you, mommy-guilt!

I could tell you the heart-heavy story of a mom I witnessed yelling at her teary, sleepy-eyed baby girl in Ross last week, telling her "shut-up!" and "I don't care!"  It was not a normal situation, y'all.  I was 'this close' to calling authorities myself; however, hubs gently reminded me that unless she physically harms the baby, there was really nothing I could do.  So, so sad.
  

I can only hope that on a daily bases, my girls know that they are loved beyond measure.  By us... and God.  He's part of this Family Team, too.

I know there are many answers when it comes to the makings of a good mother.  However, to keep it simple, I will say that it comes with... time.  Time well-spent, together. 

Sometimes, it seems just like last week that I was carting the girls in their baby seat... Time goes by too quickly and I have limited time with them in 'this' season, as an 8 and 10 yr old.  My goal is to make time more of a priority.  Unplugging from anything that requires an electrical outlet... and plugging into their needs more.

Unless...

Spending some fun-quality time requires an outlet! :)

Seriously, y'all... Would a 'bad' mom get up before the roosters {we don't have roosters, but I've always heard they get up early}, take hubs to the airport, return home to cook scrambled eggs and pancakes, attempt Just Dance on the Wii for her girls, taking a break only to make homemade Popsicles??!  That was my morning.

A mom should get extra points if she allows herself to be videoed when she has I-went-to-bed-too-late-showered-and-slept-on-my-hair-wet-didn't-brush-it-no-makeup-soooo-sleepy-look.  Just sayin'.  This may require a nap, in which your dog may decide to have her first potty accident in over 2 years. {weird... because she is good at holding it...  and because she doesn't whine at the back door, but just stands there.  how is that supposed to wake me up?  I could blame the cat, but I don't think her bladder is that big.  Oi.}   More points.  Again, just sayin'.

Pst... Don't judge too harshly.  This was my first day with the game.  I was honestly thankful for the grainy upload this time.  {Does anyone know how I can avoid the grain?  It was recorded on my Flip video and played fine on the computer.  Upload on blogger = grain.  Boo!  Why?  Please email me.}

Even though I didn't work up a good sweat, it served as my workout for the day, too.  Time with girls and a workout.  Double check!  See?  I'm a good mom. :)

If you're a mom and you haven't told yourself this before... 

Give yourself permission.

I'm a really good mom.

Positive things can come of positive confession anyway, right?

Now go un-plug and cuddle your baby {big or small, if they're close} or plug-in...

I recommend Just Dance via the Wii.  Lots of fun!  But if my girls ask, I totally did it for them. ;)

Hows about a lil' {ipod} confession?

Alternate title:  The Post in Which You Lose Any Respect You Had For Me
But I thought that title a bit long... and presumptuous.  I mean, are ALL of the songs in your iPod 'goody-goody'?

I admit it.  I used to be extremely black and white, but I've relaxed a bit.  Maybe it's some of life's experiences that have changed me?  Maybe it simply comes with age?  I suppose many would say the two go hand in hand.
 

Here's the scoop.  I can NOT do a {good} cardio workout withOUT my iPod.  The beat determines the level of intensity.  I have skipped going to the gym when my iPod was not charged.  Of course, I suppose any ol' excuse would do, eh?   Let's just say that if my gym clothes are not layed out, ready to go first thing in the morning, I've used that as an excuse as well.

After seeing a young man {not much older than myself} going from weight to weight via walker, I have no excuses.  Yes, he was very young. ;)   Don't get me wrong, sometimes I really have to do a lot of self-motivation.  Why?  Let's just say that some things will never change without the help of a plastic surgeon.  Big pregnancies were not kind to me. {Sigh}  But, of course, my babies were worth it.  It's all about health... with a little vanity thrown in for good measure, right?

Back to the iPod...
Oh, yes, I have many church-approved songs on my ipod.

But when it comes to my workout playlist??  Well, ummmm...

Here are my iPod confessions.
{i know.  a few of them are... ummm.... inappropriate.  what can i say?  i can thank my hubs for introducing those beats to me. ha! the slower songs i use on a high resistance with the elliptical.}

There and Back Again... Chris Daughtry

What I Want... Chris Daughtry

Shining Star... Earth Wind and Fire

Up All Night... Hinder
{ummm... i know}

Geek in the Pink... Jason Mraz
I'm Yours... Jason Mraz
Curbside Prophet... Jason Mraz
Waiting on the World to Change... John Mayer
{most of his other songs are used for cooling down after my workout}

Walk Away... Kelly Clarkson
Miss Independent... Kelly Clarkson
Happy Girl... Martina McBride
This Ones for the Girls... Martina McBride
Ride... Martina McBride
Smooth... Santana
And Ummm... some Nickelback songs, but let's not go there...
He obviously had relationship issues.
Two Princes... Spin Doctors
{I use another Spin Doctor song as well, but I just realized it opened with a yucky word... oops}
This is Your Life... Switchfoot
Mustang Sally... Eric Clapton
On Our Side... Chris Tomlin
Alright... Darius Rucker
La La Land... Demi Lovato
Yeah, I can thank my girls for that one... among others, like...
A Night to Remember... High School Musical
Why Don't We Just Dance... Josh Turner
{This is one of Gracie's personal faves! So funny to watch her stop whatever she's doing when this song comes on. The child can cut a rug!}
Biggest Loser... Sports Anthems
{I have other Biggest Loser tunes as well, but let's be honest... Much of it is cheese. I usually don't stay on one song long before I skip to the next one.}
Everybody Dance Now
{can anyone really sit still to this song?}

Whew!  Those are many of the songs I've listened to repeatedly during my cardio workout.  I'm ready to give many of them up in exchange for some newer tunes.  Any suggestions?  What are your faves?

Did I lose you at 'work-out'?
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The Belly Bulge {part 2} A Review

After the birth of Gracie {my youngest}, I went on a binge of pancakes, Little Debbie's Nutty Bars, and rice crispy treats.  It always seemed a race to see how much of the rice crispy treat batch I could eat before it started to cool and harden.  Am I being transparent enough?   I had to get back on track... and quick, before I turned into the shape of a pancake... but on a much larger scale!  No pun intended.

I say that to say... I had have a real problem with sweets and carbs.  Maybe they have a problem with me?  I mean, they seem to jump right onto my hips when I walk by them... or smell them from another room.  That's the way it feels sometimes.  So. Hard.

People tend to assume that by appearances, I don't struggle or that turning down sweets must be easy for me.  Those same people should hear the dialog I sometimes have with myself in an effort to get this body to the gym.  Or... see the effort I have to put into my workouts.  I resemble some sort of sweat blob.  Not. pretty.  How is it that everyone else seems to stay lookin' so cute?  The newest sweat machine I'm rotating in my self torture cardio is the stairmaster!  Wow.  I've been working out for years, but my legs have not hurt like this... ever!  Everything about health is... work.

I'm not without hope though!  I began implementing what I had learned from Sugarbusters  again and before too long, I was on my way.  Sometimes, it's 2 steps forward, one step back.  Baby steps.  These genes were not built to eat carbs the way some can eat, escaping negative results.

{*Edit:  I failed to mention that on this 'lifestyle change', I lost 55 lbs overall.  You probably didn't see that one coming, huh?  Ha!}

If you are just getting started and want a deeper understanding, I would say that buying the Sugarbusters book would be a better investment in the beginning.  Unlike The Belly Fat Cure, they go into a deeper education of how certain foods cause an unhealthy rise in your body's insulin levels, telling your body to store fat.

For instance, many people eat a white baked potato, thinking it's a better option.  However, according to Sugarbusters, your body converts that bad carb into the equivalent of one cup of sugar!  Shocking, huh?  They also explain the importance of eating an insulin rising fruit 30 minutes before other foods as to not get a similar reaction. 

My main concern with Sugarbusters is that they promote the use of artificial sweeteners... Which is a big no-no!  I mean, if you don't mind killing brain cells, that is.  I don't know about you, but I need all I have... left.  ;)  However, there are many products to chose from... and that's where The Belly Fat Cure comes in.

Measuring 8x8, it's a great size.

You just gotta love a spiral bound book, too!

 

Chapter 1:  Lose your belly in one week.  What?  Has he seen my belly?

Not. happening.  It's gonna take one week at a time.

 

Here's where he breaks it down.  If you need to lose 30-60+ lbs, expect to lose 10-13 lbs each week.  If you need to lose between 10-29 lbs, expect to lose 4-9 lbs.  If you need to lose 3-9 lbs, expect to lose 1-3 lbs.  I think that's more realistic.

The recipes look both easy and yummy!  I love that he uses bad examples against great alternatives so that we can see how subtle changes make a huge difference in helping to keep our sugar levels from spiking.  Berries, as you see here, are lower in sugar.  The safe sweeteners he recommends are stevia and xylitol.

 

His pictures tempt me to start eating meat again, but I'm holding steady.  There are so many alternatives available, that it's really doable!   Well, I do eat some fish, of course! ;)  How could I resist hubby's yummy dinner??

 

Unlike Sugarbusters, this book offers a system to help you keep track of your good carbs and sugar. For extra help, there's a table in the back of the book to help calculate individual foods.  You can have up to 15g of sugar and 6 servings of carbs a day. {0-20 grams of carbs = 1 serving, 21-40 = 2 servings... and so on}  He calls it the Sugar/Carb Value.  That may seem impossible, but with the recommended dietary changes, it is doable!  It was no wonder I had put on a few pounds... 

Mental note:  Just because something says 'healthy' on the label does NOT mean you can eat 3 servings at once! 

 

Chapter 5 is what makes the book worth buying!  It's the Carb Swap Products list... 32 pages of good vs. bad recommended products.  This book would be great to tuck in your purse while grocery shopping.  He also includes a page of websites to help if you can't find the products in your area.

The author implies that this is a new movement, but I find the premise similar to that of Sugarbusters. However, they each have great things to say.  Basically, doctors love these books because it really works at trimming down belly fat, where it tends to be the most dangerous.

All in all, I give The Belly Fat Cure a thumbs up for the price!  I'm not gaining anything by advertising these books, just trying to keep myself on track... and maybe help someone else out along the way.

To find a copy...

The Belly Fat Cure 

Sugarbusters

If you missed The Belly Bulge {part 1}, click here.

Next...

Do you want to know what some of my favorite products are?  ;)

Email me if you have any specific questions.  I may not have all the answers, but I'm always willing to learn.

And you thought I went for the 6-Pack

The entire time I’m getting ready for my journey to the gym, I must remind myself how much better I will feel ‘after’ the workout.  I can’t entertain one negative thought.

Not. One.  OR I will bolt… back to bed, that is.

I mean, why wouldn’t I want to go when…

I’m greeted by a smiling welcome committee… of all men.  Now, mind you, they are all ‘mature’ men.  DK has nothing to worry about.  If I had a grandpa, I’m sure they would be his age.

It’s as if they have their own club, going from machine to machine, talking with each other as if they have been life-long friends.  I’m not sure how much exercise they get, but if laughter is a good medicine, I’m sure their journey to the gym was worth the effort.

Actually, I’m honored they acknowledge me.

One morning, Charlie was twirling a weight bar (the best he could) for another grandpa.  I asked, “Are you trying out for the gym’s twirl team?” (There is no such thing by the way)

He smiles and says, “No, I was showing that young man how we used to twirl our riffles in WWII.  I can’t do it the way I used to….”

See?  It’s the same great men every morning.  They have a uniform of sorts too.  Polo shirts with belted shorts… they seem to resist sweat too.  Me?  Well, I’m simply sporting a t-shirt, workout pants and sweat a feminine shimmer.

They miss me when I skip a day… at least that’s what they tell me.  Bob always tells me, “I almost sent a search party out looking for you.”  When I’m there, they say things like…

“You look great!”

“Keep that up and you’ll live to be 107.”

“Every time I see you, you brighten my day.”

Would you want to disappoint?  Not to mention, it's like a daily booster shot of self-esteem each morning.

During my workout, one grandpa tells me he needs to consult with me to learn how he might better work this walking machine.  I call it an elliptical machine, but his terminology is cute, so I let it slide.  I am an expert after all, right?  If you believe that, I have an igloo I could sell ya.

Nah, I think he believes I know what I’m doing because my arms are flying around moving as if I’m running.  Gotta get my running in somehow.

Seriously, on the right resistance, that machine is no joke. Through the songs on my iPod, I can still hear Jillian.  “You need to feel like your heart is pounding out of your chest!”

She also says to remind ourselves why we started our workout to begin with.  I would like to work on my 6 pack, yes… (after 2 large pregnancies, mine would never quite look like that by the way)


but for me, I need to make an appearance at the grandpa country club and show these guys how to use the walking machine.

I mean... who else would brighten their day, telling them goodbye, as they’re sippin’ their coffee on my way out?

Signing off to go brighten the days of a group of grandpas.

Oh... and work on my 6-Pack, of course!  ;)

Show us the Money

Ilove really like the Biggest Loser workout videos, but I need a break… something different. I get bored… and my muscles are as bulky as they are going to get using them! Joke.

So, I'm back at the gym... or "meat market" as my hubby calls it sometimes. I missed the challenge of keeping up with the iPod on the elliptical, changing the speed and resistance to confuse my metabolism. I chuckle at what others must think as I swing my arms as if I were running on the treadmill. After my chiropractor strongly recommended that I stop running (wipe tear), I learned that I could do the same thing on this handy machine with less long-term wear on the ol’ joints.

You see, I need to keep up with my hubby. He’s in a contest right now with many of his co-workers... Biggest Loser style! Whoever loses the highest % wins $300! Exciting… and motivating, huh? If he is not the biggest loser, we have to cough up $50. Not exciting.

The best part about it? It was his idea. I know, I’m proud of him too. The very next morning after making this financial gamble commitment, he was at the gym. He weighed himself in and has determined to make better food choices as well. Needless to say, Weight Watchers has faded away. It’s not that we can’t formulate a needed ‘life-style change’ within WW, it’s simply that we do not like keeping a tally of points. I’m too lazy to count ‘points’. I prefer not to count everything I eat.

I do better knowing which foods to eat that will keep my blood sugar level. It’s all about the glycemic index as well as different food combinations. A rise in insulin is not good for Mama’s hips entire mid-section.

Tune in to see hubby's progress... GO, BAY, GO!!

Oh, and if you see a determined lady jammin' to the tunes in her iPod on the elliptical, swinging those arms away... Well, it very well may be the only time I've listened to any music these days. Please don't be offended if I don't wave back.

It's only because it could throw Mama's rhythm off and Mama will go *splat* on the floor! Chiropractor would frown on that too, I'm sure.

All in a days work...

I suppose it could be said that there is something borderline abusive about having your 7 yr old watch you take down her prized swing set. She would swing for hours if I would let her. It's always her favorite thing at any given park. Both girls would use the 'tree house' portion of the swing set as their own personal clubhouse for meetings, picnics, and even schoolwork.

Girls: "You're taking that down all by yourself without Daddy?"

Mama: (thinks, of course I'd rather have help, but says...) "Don't you think us gals are capable of doing things without a man?"

A-Nator: (arms raised as if cheering for a team) "Yes. Look at us! We can vote and we can tear down a swing set!"

It was only 2 yrs old when we had to tell the girls it was unsafe to use. Unfortunately, this $400 set did not have the endurance we'd hoped for... especially after hurricane winds.

So, it has set for months in our backyard... mocking me. I couldn't take it anymore. For now, it will only mock me from the corner of the yard where I hauled most of it's pieces. Maybe I could salvage some of it to make a headboard for my 7 yr old's room?

I think they were more traumatized by having to look at it all the time (and being told not to get on it) more than when it actually came down. Gracie even took out 4 screws for me.

Bob & Jillian would be proud. After I defeated this monster, I still worked out. Although, I'm sure the above project would have counted as a workout. I discovered that Jillian likes to do a lot of jumping in level 2 of this DVD.

As militant as she was, I refused to jump as much as she wanted me to. Through my chiropractor's advice, I've learned there are moderations to exercises that are equally (if not more) effective.

Besides, some of these exercises make it hard to look cute. Parts of my body move that shouldn't. I don't want Bill Cosby showing up at my house singing the Jello-O jingle. Seriously.

Has anyone else noticed that a number of moves do not follow the beat of the music in these Biggest Loser DVD's? I'm sure the music is not playing when they record it, but Kim should have tried to come a little closer.

Now, what-to-do about this blank spot in the yard. Maybe a trampoline (with a net)? I know... they are not the prettiest things to decorate with. A trampoline might grow with them better than a swing set at this point. I grew up with one and managed to stay out of the E.R. Hmmm... We shall see.

At least it no longer looks like an episode from Sanford & Son in the back yard! Well, if you don't look at the pile of lumber that's now ready to be hauled away... :)

Jazzy soaks up some rays while I'm working off my boo-tay! What's wrong with this picture? :)

I'm off to tend to my callouses and sore muscles. I have to be ready for Bob & Jillian tomorrow!

Bob kicked me

I have joined the Biggest Loser torture... um, I mean workout. I bought this DVD on Friday.

So, yes, Bob kicked me... in the rear... in 20 minutes. Did I mention it was just level 1?! Gracie did her best to stay with it too. She took the words right out of my mouth when she said, "Give me some air, Bob!"

This video below is not Bob, but it's a good demonstration of the exercise that caused the pain in my behind! Have you tried these before?! Seriously. I can do it if I flail my arms all around. I'm sure in a couple weeks, I will look as smooth as this guy jumping from leg to leg. Psh, right!

Yep, my rear hurt for 2 solid days! Walking through Target, I whispered this little fact to A-Nator. Her nurturing side kicked in, so she instinctively put her hand on my rear while I was steering the shopping cart. I told her she didn't have to do that. She said, "I just thought I'd smooth it out for you." So cute and yet so awkward all at the same time.

Gracie didn't join me in this exercise the second time, but she said, "Mom, you're really great at those. You know the best thing about it? You don't give up and quit. No, wait, the best thing is that you love me."

tissue please?

I bought these too. I'll un-wrap them soon... promise. I'll let you know how it goes and tell you if any other body parts were unfairly worked out as well. ;)

sweating raindrops

"I love you, Bob. I love you, Bob."

At least, that's what he told us to say...

And this? Well, while we were eating dinner, A-Nator cut up her carrots and put them in her salad. She normally eats them on the side. What's significant about this you ask? I see this as a window of opportunity for future additions to her salad. Yay! I tell her I'm proud of her and she tells me, "Mom, you're my inspiration." My heart melts and feels tremendous pressure all at the same moment.

Oh... Did you notice my fine china?? Don't be jealous. I'm sure Target has more.