She's On Vacation

Heeelloo!

It's been too long since I've last written. Guess that's what happens when you go on vacation!

Let's see...updates:

We went on a hike with my son's school...in the pouring rain!  The kiddos had so much fun though!  They did way better than I thought.  I figured they'd be wet and grumpy within the first couple of minutes and ready to go home!  Troopers.

Later that day: New haircut.  I'm still getting used to the bangs...I actually wear them to the side most of the time.  We will see how I like them as time goes on.

Got my run on.  Super slow.  I was hoping my first 20 min run would be flat so it would be easier.  I was pressed for time and decided to just stick closer to the house and get 'er done.  (do people still say that?  Probably not. ha.)  Ended up being pretty hilly.

Took a quick drive up to Northern California.

On another hike.  Can you spot my wild animal?

for the baby book:  Baby's first trail run!

The couple who runs together :D

Running at the beach with my husband, dad, and doggy

Enjoyed a little bit of vacation reading

Now we're back into the daily grind of things around here.  :D

Happy Fall

Happy Fall!

I ended decorating part of my mantle wed last week. My son picked out the most beautiful flowers for me and they were just so "fall-ish" that I couldn't not put up some additional decorations :) I held out on the rest since it wasnt fall yet- but now its go time!!

FRIDAY -
Can't remember what else we did but I tried a new workout with resistance bands. I felt a little uncoordinated but it was a good workout and I could definitely feel it in my triceps on Sunday.  I did Jessica Smith's resistance band workout on YouTube. I was sweating pretty good. Also - I must say I HATE lunges. I need to practice them because I feel so dang uncoordinated doing them.

SATURDAY -
I went on a run (C25k week 5 day 1 - again.)  My app wasn't working for some reason and won't document that I'd already completed the run.  Good thing though, since I didn't feel as awesome as I had the past couple of runs.  It would have been a little discouraging to up my minutes running and not feel as good.  We went to an Oktoberfest in one of our neighboring towns.  It was just okay.  My husband and son ate a pretzel the size of a dinner plate.  It was actually probably bigger than that.  They had a string they tied around it and you could wear it around your neck while you drank your beer.  They've thought of everything.  Saturday night was a crazy thunderstorm. The house was literally shaking!  Poor puppy was hiding under our bed.  Not gonna lie....I wanted to join her!

Home from Oktoberfest.

On my run.  Please don't change, weather!

SUNDAY - I got really wrapped up in a quilt I was sewing and didn't workout.  Oops.  It happens.  I also fell into a box of Trader Joe's chocolate dipped frozen bananas.  Sometimes that happens, too.


TODAY
After lots of moaning and groaning I finally got my booty out on a run.  The hardest part about taking breaks from exercising is getting back into the routine of it.  Im so glad I finally got out there.  Today was Week 5 day 2 of Couch to 5 K.  It was 8 mins of running, 5 mins of walking, 8 mins of running.  I went on a different trail today and it was a lot more hilly.  Including my walking, warm-up and cool down I was just at 2.19 miles.  The next run has significantly more running.  It's just running 20 mins straight. We'll see how that goes.  I'll be sneaky and go for a flatter trail ;)  When I got home I did the deuces circuit from Housewife Glamour's blog.  Loveee it!

Good Stuff I Ate Last Week

Since I've been out of commission with a cold this week I didn't get around to doing a "What I ate Wednesday" post.  I figured I'd still post some of the yummy stuff I've eaten last week even if it isn't a days worth.

Here ya go:

Branched out and had a different breakfast than usual.  Trader Joe's frozen oatmeal quinoa with strawberries and blueberries 

Egg Scramble with salmon, and veggies

 

 Super Healthy Kid's No Bake Bars

Trader Joe's Super Spinach Salad 

Not as good as "real" Butter Pecan Ice Cream.  But I'll take it.

Weekend Recap

Friday morning started out with a great jog at one of our local trails.  I was on week 5 day 1 of the Couch to 5k program.  I felt awesome.  I seriously could have kept going.  The weather was nice, the scenery was great, and I was jammin'.  Jog 5 mins, walk 3 mins, Jog 5 mins, walk 3 mins, jog 5 mins

Thanks for checkin' my six, dog.

My Garmin said I ran about 2 miles.  This included my walking, running and my warm-up (which was walking).  I turned my garmin off during my cool down.

How could you not want to run here?

Back at home I did the Plank Burner workout from the The Fitnessista.  It's quickly becoming one of my favorite workouts.  Love it.

I also did a "crossfit at home" workout I found a pinterest.  It was basically squats and pushups.

Since Bath and body works was having their candle sale, I went and got my candle fix!  Love me some fall candles.  Although....I will admit it doesn't feel quite right burning a fall candle when it's still in the 100s.  You'd think after living in southern California i'd be used to it.

Saturday and Sunday were both off days as far a workouts go.  Saturday was a fun afternoon shopping with my mom.  We also had some yummy Thai food for lunch.  I started off being a little sniffly and by the end of the day I figured it it was a legit cold....which resulted in not working out Sunday and Monday.  blah.

Hope everyone else had a good weekend!

Wednesday and Thursday Wrap-up

Is it just me, or did this week just fly by?

Wednesday we had an awesome time walking on a new trail.  It was beautiful

 My mom is a trooper.  She pushed the boys in the stroller pretty much the whole way.  It's a big double stroller with tiny wheels - definitely not designed for pushing for a couple miles on a (paved) trail.

We ended up at a bakery which had some great food.  I got this scramble with eggs, salmon, tomatoes, and bacon.  This was my second breakfast.

I also learned from my mom's friend there is a local Zumba class which is very inexpensive and right near my house!  Can't wait to start there!  

My big boy and I made these yummy No Bake Bars from Super Healthy Kids.  They took a loonng time to make since I only have a mini food processor - but they were a hit. :D

Thursday:

Thursdays workout as an "at home circuit" workout created by Julie from pbfingers.com.  I don't know if I'm a big wimp or if this was extra hard but I only completed this circuit once.  

Visit her blog for all the details

Dinner was one of those nights where nothing sounded good.  I must have walked around the store a million times looking for something to eat.  I decided on this Super Spinach Salad.  Question:  What are your go to to "meals" when NOTHING sounds good?  Mine usually end up being a smoothie or eggs and toast.  Something super easy.

It was yummy and filling.  

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Friday Favorites

It's Fridayyyy!!!  Welcome to my first installment of Friday Favorites.  I like seeing what other people are loving so hopefully people will enjoy reading this.

1.  Saucony Kinvara 4.  I love these shoes.  I've been running in them since June (I believe) and they are so, so, so light!  I barely notice I'm even wearing shoes.  I was worried when going to a minimalist shoe because I get shin splints really easily.  I only had a tough time with shin splints once with these shoes and that was after my very first run in just about two years.  That'll do it, right?  Now that I've had these bad boys I don't think I'll ever go back to "normal" running shoes again. Another plus is that they wipe clean very easily.  I've gone trail running in them a few times and they were really dirty.  I just used a cloth and wiped them down and they looked brand new again.  I felt like these, for me, ran a little small.  I am usually a 7.5 in running shoes and I had to exchange them (though Amazon's awesome return policy) for an 8.  

2.  St. Ives Apricot Scrub Fresh Skin. This stuff is amazing, inexpensive, and sulfate and paraben free.  It's a great exfoliant for your face that leaves it feeling and looking smooth.  I bought the travel size to start with to make sure I liked it and it didn't break me out - but I plan to go back for the full size.  Even my husband uses this.  He likes it, too.

3.  Moving Comfort Fiona.  This is the best sports bra.  For me - it's a must for running.  Before this one I was wearing two sports bras at a time to reduce as much bounce as I could.  I never feel bouncy at all wearing this.  It does, however, flatten your chest out.  If you're looking for something to give the girls a boost, pick a different bra.  Also, since there is zero padding in the bra, beware of cold days.  Enough said.  I may decide to go with something a little more lined in the colder months for that reason but for summer, this bra was fantastic.  Check out Zappos.  They were having a pretty good sale on them when I purchased mine.

4.  Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter.  I'm a snob and a half when it comes to lotion.  If it's too strong smelling or too greasy - forget about it.  This one has a pleasant smell and dries quickly so it never makes me feel greasy.  Bonus - it's really inexpensive at $4.99. Can't beat it.  My sister in law and mother in law both loved it and told me to try it.  I've since fallen in love with it and bought one for my mom who also likes it.  I hear they come out with a pumpkin scent in the fall.  Has anyone tried that?

5.  Alcohol wipes.  I'm super lazy when it comes to cleaning my makeup brushes.  I like keeping these alcohol wipes around to quickly clean them.  I don't use them on anything big like blush or foundation brushes.  Just small brushes for my eyebrows, shadows, and gel liners.  They pretty much melt the gel liner gunk off my brush.  Its great.

6.  Nivea bodywash.  I've used the "touch of sparkle diamonds" kind as well as the "touch of happiness".  I can't put my finger on the exact scent of the Diamonds scent, but it's wonderful.  The happiness scent smells like orange blossoms.  If I had to pick between the two I'd go with the diamonds scent.

That concludes my friday favorites.  What is everyone else loving?

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Good Excuses

Good Evening!
Hope everyone's Wednesday is going well.  We're almost through the week!  

Monday started off with an attempted workout which was quickly abandoned since our air conditioner decided to stop working.  On the plus side...since the air wasn't working I had a good excuse to not cook dinner.  Always look on the bright side... :D  We tried a new restaurant which was a super nice treat.  I had a BLT sandwich with Avocado.  Huge slices of bacon.  I could feel my arteries clogging.  I heard the couple next to us raving about the heirloom salad so the next time we go back I will get that with chicken.  yum.  After dinner it was off to the frozen yogurt shop -- and then it was home for a battle royal with our four year old over bedtime.  We finally got him in bed by making him a sticker chart.  When he gets six stickers we will get him some green facepaint so he can be a Ninja Turtle.  Some call it bribery, some call it parenting.  It's a fine line.  After he was finally in bed I stress ate some "ice cream".  It happens.  

I ended the evening with a bedtime yoga routine.  I needed it. 

Tuesday the pup and I headed out for a great run.  I swear - we live in such a beautiful area.  I can feel the hint of fall in the air.  I was actually cold during my warmup.  

We ended up going out to dinner again Tuesday because the air conditioner still wasn't working.  We also visited the Halloween store!  Growing up - we started thinking about what our costumes were going to be starting in July.  It's an almost daily conversation with my oldest.  :D