The Value of You!

Today in my daily message from CSF She wrote about the Value of Yourself. Being treated with the love and respect you deserve. "Check your price tag and get off the clearance rack and get behind the glass case where you belong." This message really made me think. The biggest lesson I am getting out of this whole experience is making time for myself. I am always making sure everyone else is happy and I am realizing its ok to make time for me and make myself happy as well. This whole journey is so much more than looking good, its about getting up on that stage and being proud of myself for all that I've done.  Its something I have for me. I am a mother, a wife, a taxi car driver, a waitress, a housekeeper, and I love every second of it, but at times I know I need something just for myself! 
Today I was up at 4:30 to get to the gym by 5 so I could make a 6:30 yoga class. Well, I made it to the gym right on time, had a killer chest and arm workout and did my 20 minutes of HIIT cardio. I quickly realized yoga wasn't going to happen today. It was already 6:20 and I was still at the gym with shaky arms. I don't think downward dog was in the cards for today! I decided to head home and be there before my little love woke up so her Daddy could sleep in a bit. With a quick stop at Starbucks for my morning java I made it home just as her little bedroom door was creaking open! Now we are snuggled on the couch watching some early morning cartoons to start off the day! It's still dark out....as you can see in the picture! Oh how I wish my little love learned to sleep in a little bit. Like mother, like daughter I guess! 
Have a good Tuesday friends, and remember to value YOU! You totally rock so I know I don't have to tell you that twice! 

December 1

Happy December! Wow, can't believe it is already December! The amazing weather we have been having is really playing tricks on my mind. 70 degree weather at the end of November is a serious treat in New England. I started the month of December with a 4:30am alarm clock, a chest and shoulder workout, followed by a 6:30 am Yoga class at my favorite yoga studio, The Yoga Tree. I've been trying to go at least one time per week but am thinking of aiming for twice a week during the holidays to keep my stress at a minimum! After Yoga I stopped at Wicked Big Cafe to get myself caffeinated up for the day with a 2 year old and an almost 1 year old! Those two really make me smile and laugh everyday but they sure are exhausting and I always need one or two coffees to get me through the whole day! haha
We spent the day baking, playing, and delivering our letters to Santa at the The Macy's Santa Mailbox. Its a really awesome program they have. At every Macy's across the country, there is a letterbox to collect letters for Santa. You just bring in a stamped letter to Santa Clause and Macy's will count every letter they receive and donate $1 for each letter to the Make a Wish Foundation! Pretty cool! 
Tonight I finally did something I have been wanting to. I registered for the Cathy Savage Camp! It is January 27th, 28th, and 29th. I've been putting off registering for a while because I was nervous, and kept making up excuses as to why I couldn't go. When Adam told me he would take the days off from work I knew I had to just sign up! I am so excited to meet some other Savage girls, see the studio, meet Cathy, my coach Jules and Lori Harder! I am so glad I finally did it! I know I am going to get so much out of it! 
Whelp, its 8:30 and after waking up at 4:30 I'm about ready to hit the sack! Off to lunge on the couch for a bit and catch up on some tv and enjoy my gorgeous Christmas Tree! 
Goodnight friends! 

xox

Getting back into blogging!

I seem to have lost my blogging mojo but am really hoping to have found it again! I would love to document this amazing journey I am on and have something to look back at! So lets see, competition prep is going wonderfully! I'm feeling strong, satisfied, and still continuing to lose weight! My coach Jules said everything is working like a well oiled machine at this point and she hasn't needed to make any changes to the diet yet including my very generous TWO cheat meals! I know I am still a ways out from my show...(april) but so far things are going smooth! When I started with CSF I weighed 158 pounds which was pretty good for me! Today when I stepped on the scale I was 142.2. I can't remember a time in my life I have been this low and can't believe I could possibly be in the 130's within a couple of weeks. However, one of Cathy's biggest pet peeve is the scale, so I am trying by best to only weigh in once a week at most! My shoulders and back are starting to really develop, my legs have been a bit harder for me to see changes in so we have added an extra leg day into my workouts. My biggest motivation is people at my gym have started to ask me if I was training for a competition. Just knowing that they could see the changes in my body was very encouraging. It's nice to see those same familiar faces at 5am everyday and know that you have become a regular part of the morning gym crowd since they recognize me now! 

Thanksgiving this year started early...6:30 am with the Feaster Five. A 5k and 5 mile race in Andover Massachusetts. I chose to run the 5 miles race with my sister and a couple of her friends! This was there first 5 mile race and they did amazing! This race was such a fun way to start Thanksgiving and so family orientated. Every runner.....all 10,000 plus...received an apple pie for finishing! They also had tons of water, fruit, and carby snack at the finish! It was a great race.Heres a video at the start line! After the run I rushed home...after sitting in traffic for over an hour to get out of the parking lot. Then we headed over to my grandfathers for meal #1. Olivia had so much fun playing with her second cousins, and getting a hayride behind Grandpas four wheeler. After dessert we headed over for Thanksgiving number two with Adams side of the family. Just as delicious the second time around! I made sure to load up my plate with turkey and tons of veggies. Just a taste of stuffing and mashed potatoes and one dessert at each location! It was perfect. For the first time ever I left feeling satisfied and not sick. 

I am so incredibly grateful for my beautiful daughter who shows me how to look at this world in a whole new way, my amazing husband who shares in my goals, dreams, and outlook on life. I would be lost without his guidance and support. My parents who taught me what family is all about and my sister who is more like a best friend. I am also grateful for each and everyone of my friends, near and far, who I know will support me through anything. Feeling very blessed and thankful this year during the holidays!  

Sick, 10 hours of sleep, and getting right back into it!

Thursday night I woke up in the middle of the night with some serious stomach issues. I'll leave it at that. Anyways it had me up all night so I knew my 4:30am alarm clock for Fridays workout needed to be shut off! Friday was a rough day. I stuck to my diet for the most part but knew I had to make today a rest day as far as my workouts went. I went to bed at 7pm last night.....woke up at 6:30am as good as new!! Yay! I was so happy to only miss the one gym day. I gathered my things had a little dry cereal and half a banana and off I went! Right back on track! Today I had also planned a cheat meal with Adam and Olivia so I was so excited to be hungry and feeling better. We headed to Jimmy K's for breakfast before Adam had to head to work! I got the m&m stuffed pancakes, Olivia got the Mickey Mouse pancakes, and Adam got the Irish Breakfast! Yum, yum, yum! My pancake totally satisfied my serious chocolate and carb craving I was having. 
This morning I stepped on the scale and was pleasantly surprised with the number I saw! 146.8! I'm not sure if it was because of my sickness yesterday or all my hard work...but I'm going to go with the later! I can't remember the last time I have weighed under 149! 
After breakfast Adam headed to work and Olivia and I headed up North to the Kancamagus for a little hike. We met my parents, my sister, nephew, and brother in law. It was gorgeous! The sudden downpour of rain cut our hike short but it was great seeing all the fall colors and getting outside for a bit! 
Tomorrow I have a 5k Charity run in Swampscott, MA Miles for Kyle. I'm hoping its cool and sunny with no sudden rain showers!! 
I'm off to get Miss Olivia bathed and ready for bed then we have a date on the couch with "It's a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" movie with her then "Bad Bosses for the adults! I am also cooking up some Tuna steaks and asparagus for dinner tonight. Saturday nights are really hoppin around here! 

Run Baby Run!

On the schedule today was 40 minutes of cardio! A Quick easy workout was on the agenda. I decided the night before I would use today to get a run in, since I really miss all the running I had gotten used to during my training for the half marathon. The weather called for rain all day, so I knew I either was going to be running in the rain or had to get up before it started. I set the alarm for 6 am.....woke up to pitch black, rolled back over since it of course wouldn't be safe to run in the dark, and went back to bed. Then my 2 year old alarm clock named Olivia woke me up at 7:15, but when she crawled into bed with us I decided again to roll over and go back to bed. It was perfect sleeping in, cuddle weather. Finally at 8 Olivia had enough and forced me to get up. When I looked out the window I saw it still hadn't started to rain so I laced up my sneakers and off I went for my run! It was perfect....my legs were a little stiff from the workout I had the day before but they quickly loosened up and my run felt effortless and calming. The weather was absolutely perfect for a run, cold and cloudy! 
When I got home I made a quick run to Starbucks for my coffee before Adam headed out to get his workout in. There's something about drinking coffee and eating oatmeal and eggs in a quiet place before the craziness of my day starts that makes me feel like I can handle anything. Adam always lets me have my breakfast in peace by entertaining Liv and I am so grateful for that! 
It rained today, all day, and I had two kids stuck inside. I spent most the day wrapped in a snuggie since it was so cold. The kids spent a lot of the day having a dance party in Olivia's room, coloring,painting, and a little bit of TV time. It's hard work entertaining kids stuck inside all day!

It's 9pm and Im sipping on some green tea to curb the sweet cravings I am having. I will in bed very shortly for a 4:30 alarm clock that is set for tomorrow! Chest, shoulder and tri is on the workout plan for tomorrow! 
Goodnight xox

Officially the worst blogger ever!!

OK, its been over a month since I last posted on the blog. Its probably a good thing not many people follow this and its mostly for myself to hold myself accountable! Let's see.....what has been going on in the last month? I completed my first half marathon in 1:56! Results can be found here! There I am, number 512!! I was really happy with my results and the whole race overall. I woke up to rain, wind, and cold and got a bit discouraged. My husband Adam told me some encouraging words....part of it being "do you know how badass it is to run 13 miles in the rain?" haha so with that I ran my heart out and felt amazing the entire time! I ran an 8:58 pace which I don't think I have ever run on any of my practice runs. It must have been the excitement and adrenaline. I crossed the finish line smiling and am so happy I signed up for this! 

Last 1/4 mile from the finish line! 

The weather in New England has quickly turned into fall. Its cool, crisp, and perfect! My favorite time of year! I even seem to be liking the cold rainy days as it gives me a reason to stop, take a breath, and just enjoy hanging out with my 2 year old instead of dragging her on 100 errands everyday! 
Now as you already know I have signed up with Cathy Savage Fitness to train for my first figure competition in April. Its been about 2 months on the program and I love it! I love waking up in the morning for my workouts, I love Sunday check-ins with my coach Jules, and I love my meal planning. I am so excited to be on this journey and see my body changing on a weekly basis. Its a fun and motivating experience!
I am hoping over the next 6 months or so to blog more regularly so I can have this experience written down to look back on. 
My meals are pretty boring since they have to be pretty plain but every now and then you may get a picture of one of my cheat meals! 
Breakfast today was 1/2 Eziekel English muffin with banana slices on top and an egg white omelet with peppers, onions, low fat cottage cheese and salsa. Basically my breakfast every single day! Good thing I really enjoy it! 
Tonight i am hoping to go to Yoga! I am really looking forward to it, the last time I went Caroline my favorite instructor told me that my back was very tight. It's the first time she's ever told me that and I think it has something to do with the lack of yoga and added lifting! Theres nothing like finishing a long day with a candlelight flow. 
Happy Tuesday everyone! 

Bikram Yoga

Morning! 

I started my morning off with an omelet loaded with veggies, some watermelon and a  piece of Eziekel Cinnamon Raisin bread. Then I made my way to the gym for a shoulders and back workout. I knocked out my workout in a little over an hour. I was meeting my friend Bridget for coffee at Wicked Big Cafe in downtown Haverhill. I had some time to spare so I took my cardio outside for a 30 minute run in pouring rain. There is no better feeling than having your entire workout done before 7 am. If you don't workout in the morning I highly recommend it, and I promise you I was never a morning person before! 

It was so nice to catch up with my friend Bridget over coffee and the the Wicked Big Cafe had a great cozy atmosphere for a rainy morning. 

My Labor day weekend was relaxing and perfect! Even though Adam had to work the entire thing we made do with his mornings off.  I spent lots of time in Newburyport, outside, and at Farmers Markets. Monday I went to an 8 am Bikram Yoga class and met my friend Brooke there. She is training for her first figure competition in October and looks incredible!!! She is one of my biggest inspirations! Such a strong person inside and out! I hadn't been to a Bikram Yoga class in weeks and my body was craving it. I'm actually not a huge Bikram fan during the class, but always feel so amazing afterwards. Towards the end of class the instructor pointed out it was my birthday (3 days prior) and the entire class sang Happy Birthday to me! It was a nice (embarrassing) surprise! 

My parents had a cookout on Sunday for Labor Day. It was nice seeing everyone and spending some time together as a family. Too bad poor Adam had to work! Mom made the perfect meal for me, grilled chicken, roasted veggies, and salad! It was perfect. Thanks Mom! Since they had the cookout Sunday, Monday night I decided to make some "clean" turkey meatballs for dinner. I had mine over a salad and Adam had his smothered in tomato sauce. 

Well since its rainy and chilly here Olivia and I plan on spending the day doing some cleaning, organizing, and lounging!! 

New month, Birthday, and one week down of Cathy Savage Fitness!

Happy September!! Wow, so much to post about! It's September and to me its officially fall! My favorite season full of amazing scents, crisp weather, sweaters and boots! I am more than done with summer and ready to enjoy the cooler temperatures. Right now I have my cinnamon sugar candle burning and my whole house smells amazing! I made a trip to tjmaxx today after my friend Brooke posted about all the new fall candle scents. I scored two Yankee Candles for 7.99 each, and a new adorable sign to place over the doorway! Two thumbs up for some great finds today! 

Yesterday was my birthday...the big 26. I am actually not enjoying the fact that I am no longer in my "early" twenties but at the same time am also proud of where I am in my life at the age of 26. Its funny, as a little girl I imagined getting married, owning a own, and having children. It was just what I thought you were supposed to do. Well, when I by chance met the love of my life at 17, I never realized how lucky I really was. I mean I never had to date, and look for that special someone, things kind of fell right into place for me. Don't get me wrong, we had hard times and have been through so much together. A long distance relationship, a deployment,  a wedding, buying a home, and the birth of our daughter. We stuck by each others sides and the way I pictured my life as a young girl is pretty much all happening. 
My birthday was spent at York Zoo with miss olivia, my parents, my sister, and nephew Jacob. Poor Adam had to work all day but a Saturday morning(the day after my birthday) date breakfast was planned! The zoo was so much fun and everyone had a great time! We stopped for lunch a little restaurant called Guac n Roll. If you are ever in York ME I highly suggest trying it out! It was fresh, friendly, clean, and a great atmosphere! We were able to sit outside and get some of the ocean breeze during lunch, and since we had the kiddies with us it was perfect! I ordered the Cooooool salad with grilled chicken. Perfectly diet friendly and so yummy! After York I headed home to get ready for my night out with the girls! We headed downtown to the Tap Brew Pub in Haverhill to sit out on the deck since it was a beautiful....(a bit chilly) night! I ordered the strawberry spinach salad and a glass of wine. We went out for scorpion bowls later but I only had a couple sips since I haven't drank in forever! I am allowed two cheat meals a week, so I decided to try to keep my meal as clean as I could and order a drink. I knew I was going to breakfast with Adam in the morning for my second cheat. Dinner was full of laughs, and fun relaxing time to unwind child free! 
This morning Olivia woke me and Adam up at 7 so we could get to breakfast nice and early(sense any sarcasm??)Thanks for letting Mommy sleep in for her birthday Olivia! We went to our favorite place in the whole world....Newburyport, MA! We tried Stellas for breakfast which was a cute quaint little breakfast place. It wasn't quite what I was expecting and we probably wont rush back, but it was really good! I ordered a chocolate chip and banana pancake! I have been craving this all week and my craving was completely satisfied with their one huge pancake that I shared with Olivia and even let Adam try a bite! 26 is off to a great start! 
I have also completed my first week on my new plan with Cathy Savage Fitness! I feel fantastic, sore, but fantastic. The clean eating is very rewarding and I feel my energy level has gone way up. I'm excited to take my progress pictures and weight tomorrow. I'm hoping to blog a lot more in September! I'm off to enjoy some time on the couch now that Adam is finally home from work!
Goodnight all! Enjoy your Saturday! 

Holy soreeee

ok, so far I am in love with weight lifting, the Savage workouts, and even the Savage diet! I feel full of energy and completely satisfied throughout the entire day. On Monday I worked my back and bis, Tuesday was legs and abs and today is a cardio only day! Thank god because I basically had to pull myself out of bed this morning. This is all a new feeling to me as I have never pushed myself hard enough to this amount of soreness but I am loving it! My cardio only today is supposed to be a run.....but we will see if I can get these legs to move in a running motion for 40 minutes. 
As far as the diet goes I am eating every 2-3 hours and drinking tons of water. I actually feel full throughout the day. The only time I find myself wanting to snack is late at night so I've been going upstairs and getting out of my kitchen early! 
Breakfast today was a smoothie with 1 scoop of protein powder, 1 cup of spinach, 1/4 cup of oatmeal, 1/4 cup of blueberries and some almond milk! It really hit the spot! One of the hardest things I am finding is having 1/2 cup- 1 cup of veggies in all 6 of my meals.....not easy for me! I took a trip to Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury to stock up on some local fresh grown veggies. Olivia and I picked out some spinach, asparagus, zucchini, cucumbers, blueberries and a couple of peaches! We were sure to take a little ride on the tire horses before we left! its just not a trip to the farm without visiting the chickens and playing on the tire swings! Cider Hill is one of my favorite farms, such a great atmosphere and for a special treat the absolute best donuts around! (I did not have that special treat yesterday I promise!)

 I talk a lot about my daughter Olivia and husband Adam but let me introduce Lance to you all! After reading Julie's very scary morning I realized I don't even talk about my little love on here that much!  Lance is the love of my life....my 5 year old maltipoo! He was given to me as a gift from my husband before he deployed to Iraq and I must say he kept me thoroughly entertained and busy during Adams deployment! I think you will be seeing a lot more of him around here! 

Off to get my morning started and figure out how to keep my Olivia entertained on this gorgeous day! 

Hurricane what???

The rain and wind came and it went.....pretty much like any other rain storm we have. Our backyard has some scattered tree branches but thats about it! Yes I am blogging twice in one day because thats just how bored I am! Adam took Olivia over to Nana and Papas house to help them with a roof leak but other than that things are pretty lame around here today.  I' really glad we cleared off our deck for nothing! Since it was such a lazy day today I'm making homemade turkey meatballs for dinner tonight and slicing up a fresh watermelon I picked up at the grocery store today during the "hurricane." Off to watch the special Jersey shore tonight and hopefully in bed early! I start my Cathy Savage workout tomorrow! yay!! Hoping to be very sore afterwards! 

Savage Girl!

I have officially registered with Cathy Savage Fitness. My original plan was to wait until after I ran the half marathon but I figured hey why not get started on the plan a little bit early! It was an early birthday present from Adam! I am on day 4 of the program and so far absolutely love it! The first 3 days consisted of following a list of clean foods and putting together basically my own meal plan using those foods. Eat what I craved on the list when I craved them. Basically Cathy and my coach Jules will access my eating habits and put together a personalized plan for me. I emailed my 3 days log lat night and am anxiously awaiting my plan! I am starting the workouts tomorrow (Monday) I was planning on starting today but some hurricane Irene is cramping all my workout plans for the day. Vinyassa Yoga, a run outside, Bikram.....all cancelled! 
We took Miss Olivia to Story Land yesterday and I had my first real challenge....I know, I know after 2 days already having struggles! We were out of the house all day before breakfast until after dinner which meant I had to do some serious meal planning.  I stayed on track 100% even drinking my gallon of water! It felt so good to accomplish being out of the house all day and still sick to the plan. It made me feel a lot more confident about the whole figure competition.  Packing meals and eating a spinach and tuna salad on a park bench was totally worth Olivia's reaction to meeting Cinderella!

I'm off to brave this hurricane...or tropical storm...or wind and rain since all my relaxing classes are cancelled. I don't know what is worse the hurricane itself or being trapped inside all day with a 2 year old! In all seriousness she is having so much fun "fishing" in the living room with Adam who got the day off thanks to the storm!! 

Holy Long time no post!!

I am still here, still alive, and still doing really well with my half marathon training! I am up to 10.5 miles! If you had asked me last year at this time if I ever thought I would be able to run a half marathon I probably would have laughed at you. Today I would say hell yes I can! I am totally gearing up for this and have about a month and a half left to train! I received my Carrots n Cake Will Run for Iced Coffee Tshirt in the mail the other day! I love it and can't wait for my next long run day (Sunday) so I can wear it! It's super comfortable and lightweight! 
Over the past week I have made some decision.....I am not going to do the Yoga Instructor Training Course until next year. I am too excited and ready to start training for a fitness Competition that it is taking over every thought in my head! I am having a really hard time concentrating on the half marathon training because I am so ready to stat my competition training! I talked to the hubs and we both agreed I work best when I have one big goal on my plate and not a million things going on! That being said I still plan to do the Yoga Instructor Training next year! So the plan is to continue with my long distance runs until the half marathon. Then Oct 2nd I will be signing on with Cathy Savage Fitness! I am so excited and nervous for that! I hope to continue to run just not as much since too much cardio and a fitness competition don't exactly mix! I am truly enjoying running though, it is my me time and lets me just space out for that hour, its almost as relaxing as Yoga! 
This morning I had a hard 4.5 mile run. I didn't get out of the house until after 8am and the heat and humidity had already set it. My legs were sore from the gym the day before but I managed to get through the whole run without walking even though I was done by the time I made it to the top of my street! 
Well happy Friday and I promise I will post more often! I am off to enjoy my cheat meal--Steak Kabob salad from Giovannis and put my mini me to bed! We are looking forward to a weekend with Daddy since he finally has one off!! 
Oh and I see a movie in my near future.......Something Borrowed on Demand will hopefully be happening tonight! Oh and also my cheat meal dessert.......Peanut buttery bars!!

Gym Yoga

My body was craving Yoga in a bad way today after my 8 mile run yesterday....YES I finally hit the 8 mile mark on my Sunday long run! I must say I'm pretty proud and impressed with myself. Its one of the reasons I love running so much, I can see my progress through my distances and speeds!

This morning I took a Yoga class at the gym, it was pretty impressive for a gym class since normally they don't even compare to a Yoga studio class. It gave my body the deep stretch I was looking for and I feel more than ready for my 5-6 mile run tomorrow. All this running has been leaving my feet craving for pedicures so I've also been trying to keep up with getting them every 2 weeks or so. Nothing like a nice relaxing foot massage to make me want to run more miles!
Its 8:50 and I'm off to lay in bed and read the book RUN for some motivation for a 5:15 wake up call tomorrow!
Goodnight!

Lululemon!

So I may have finally broken down and made a purchase at Lululemon this week and probably spent more than I should I have! I don't regret the purchases one bit though!! I am love with my new running shorts and breathe deep tank! I also picked up a pair of wunder under crops which are amazing! I had Adam take "before" pictures today.....which wont be going up until I have killer after pictures! hahaha Its amazing how different your body looks on camera in underwear!

This morning I woke up for an early morning gym day and hit the weights for about an hour. I have a really hard time knowing exactly what to do when I'm on my own with the weigh machines. I guess that's why I love the classes so much, but I'm hoping to improve on this! Today I last about an hour before heading up to my "happy place" of stair climbers and treadmills. I ran one mile, did fifteen minutes of the stairs, and then ran another mile before heading out to meet my friend Bridget at Starbucks for coffee and oatmeal! I hadn't see her in forever so it was so good to catch up!
Poor Adam is working 11-11 today so its me and Liv for dinner tonight. Since she barely eats anything I have no idea what we will whip up tonight!
Happy Friday! xoxo

7 miles!!

I officially ran my longest route yet! 7.35 miles around the city! I still have about two months left to train for the half marathon so I am feeling very confident! I recently picked up the book Run be Dean Karnazes who is an inspiring ultra marathoner. I read a chapter or two the night before my morning run and get some serious motivation! I have really started to get serious with my training and make running and yoga my most important workouts leading up to the Marathon. I am not crossing weight training off my list, that will most certainly still be done but my main focus will be making sure to get those runs in and yoga to stretch out my sore tired muscles! After my run today I snacked on a chocolate rice cake with peanut butter and strawberries! Yum!
A week after the half marathon I am going to be doing this .....Tufts 10k for woman. I am really excited about this race and running around my beautiful city of Boston! 6.2 miles will be a nice fun race after the half marathon the week before!
I'm off to enjoy my Poppy seed strawberry and grilled chicken salad from Panera Bread. My all time favorite summer salad!!

MIA

Sorry I've been missing in action lately. I really have no reason for not blogging besides pure laziness. I have been keeping up with my workouts and healthy eating though and am feeling great! I met with Sylvia from A Yoga Practice about the Yoga Instructor Training. She made me feel really good about the entire program and is really helping me with my decision as to do it or not! So here's the deal, Its a lot of money, a lot of time, and I have my heart set on another goal as well. I am weighing my options to see if I can swing doing both things at once.......to enter a figure competition and take the 10 month instructor course. I know that while raising my two year old daughter, and taking care of my nephew a few days a week this will be a challenge. However, I do not have a full time job, i have am lucky enough to be a stay at home mom for the time being so I just don't know when would be a better time to take on this challenge. My heart says to just do both! I have a couple weeks to decide on the Yoga instructor training and I can decide anytime I want to start training for the competition. 
This week has felt like a real "vacation" week! Monday was spent in New Hampshire at the lake house, Tuesday was the beach and Cars 2 at the movie theatre, Wednesday was Six Flags, and today we are going to stay in to beat the heat except for maybe a coffee trip to Newburyport to meet up with my friend Brooke! We are in a heat wave right now and as much as I complain all winter, I really dislike heat like this! As soon as out step outside you have to literally catch your breath. So instead of six flags park food we stopped at Fresh City on the way home! I had heard good things about it so we decided to give it a try! It was delicious! I ordered the Chicken Poblano -

Herb roasted chicken, poblano mustard, roasted vegetables, tomato on rustic baguette

While they were making my sandwich someone else ordered an Olympia Greek wrap which looked even better and I am already planning my next trip to order it! 

I'm off to spend my day with  y favorite little two year old...oh and my favorite guy too! (at least until he has to go to work) Enjoy your day everyone! xox

It's hot hot hot!

I realized just how much I really dislike heat and humidity this week. I am more of a spring and fall type of girl. These extreme temperatures have really taken a toll on my outdoor/half marathon training. My legs just wont move in this heat so I've been taking my runs indoors to the treadmill which are better than nothing but just not the same. They are predicting cooler weather later on in the week so I plan on waking up early for a few early morning runs. My body really misses that outdoor run time! Tomorrow morning I am going to a 5:15 am spin class! Its been over a year since my last spinning class so Im really nervous/excited! I'm hoping after spinning my legs wont be too sore to get a 2 mile treadmill run in. 

Godess Mala Bead Necklace from "Tiny Devotions" 

I have some big decisions to make this week regarding the yoga instructor training course and some other things that I have really gotten the itch to do! I need to decide which to concur first and will keep you posted on that! 
My sister and brother in law purchased a mala bead necklace from Tiny Devotions. http://www.lovetinydevotions.com/shop for me as a Thank you gift for watching my nephew. As if I really needed a gift to do that!! I am so excited though that pretty little goddess necklace will be mine very soon! Whichever goal I decide to reach for I know this mala bead necklace will help me reach my goal! This mala will clear the path for you to reach your goals. This includes getting out of your own way. Rhodonite is an emotional balancer that aids in
forgiveness. This mala lends support to the soul during emotional processes. You won't need your punching bag anymore and screaming into your pillow will be a long forgotten habit. Breathe into your heart, let go and REACH to the next level.

I've been reading "The Help" and so far am totally loving it! I love that moment to myself I can find in reading a really good book that I just can't put down. It always seems to help me forget about all the stresses of the day. 

That being said I am off to relax with some tea and my book then off to bed for an early morning workout! 

xox

Yoga Teacher Training

I've really been slacking on the blogging lately. Probably because I have also been slacking on my working out and eating healthy. The 4th of July holiday really threw a curve ball at me. I am proud to say I am 100% back on track! I woke up this morning and started my day off with a 3 mile run, then rushed to the 7am Yoga Tone class at Self Awakening Yoga Studio in Salem NH.  It was an amazing workout and my arms still are shaking a bit from it! I came home and had some cereal with banana and two hard boiled eggs on the side! Of course I also picked up my mocha ice coffee with skim and splenda from Dunks on my way home from Yoga!  The weather is a bit on the fritz today so I am glad I got my run in early this morning! We are most likely going to have a very lazy day! Liv is still in PJ's, I am still in gym clothes. I will be making a trip to my old gym to renew my membership there. I decided it was worth the extra money since they have sooooo many more classes then the current gym I'm going to!

I have decided I love Yoga so much that I would love to learn even more about it and maybe even eventually become an instructor. A Yoga Practice in Georgetown MA is offering a Yoga Teacher Instructor Training class starting in October. It is 10 months long and a bit of an investment but I am going to meet with Sylvia next Wednesday to discuss the program further before I make my final decision! It will be tough with Adams work schedule and finding sitters for Olivia but I think it will be doable! Also the very first class is the day of my half marathon.....Will keep you posted on this! 

Time for me to go watch some Barney with a very clingy/needy two year old! She is normally miss independent so this is really throwing me off! Happy Friday!! 

Yoga, Ice Coffee, and Beach!

Could I have asked for a better Tuesday? I started the morning with Yoga at "A Yoga Practice" in Georgetown, MA, The class was fun, and really woke me up for the day. The studio is adorable and cozy. It really got my mind into the yoga mindset! Since my sister is out of school for the Summer she came with me and we met my friend Brooke there! I was shocked to see how full the 6 am class was.
On the way home we stopped at Dunks for our ice coffees and then quickly got ready for a beach day with the husbands and kids! I made sure to have my hard boiled eggs and cereal before leaving the house. The weather was gorgeous and both kids (well Jacobs still a baby :) ) were perfectly content playing in the sand! We actually stayed about 3 hours which was a lot longer than I had thought Olivia would last! Beach pizza was a must have....Its just too difficult for me to be at the beach during lunchtime and not have it! We left the beach around 12:30 since Adam had to be at work for 3. I took Olivia on a car ride and she has been napping since! For my little non napper a 2 hour nap in unbelievable and I am getting so much done! My house is clean, dinner is in the oven, and I am blogging before 11 pm. Its a good day!
Tonight's dinner is Grilled Chicken Kabobs and mixed veggies. It smells so good, so I better go check on that!
Tomorrow morning I signed up for a Yoga class at "Self Awakening Yoga Studio" in Salem NH. I have a groupon for there with about 5 classes left I want to use up!

Sweet Summertime

With the warmer weather quickly approaching (well except for the 60 degree weather and rain we have had the past week) I'm finding it really hard to stick to my oats for breakfast. There is just something about that hot and gooey texture that says winter to me! Sooo I have found a new obsession! Its Maple Pecan Crunch Cereal and its pretty much to die for!
Today I woke up at 4:45 and headed to Salem MA for a 6 am TRX class. It was sunny and warm so this was the perfect way to get my butt out of bed since I knew I wouldn't have gotten up to go run! They say you will never regret a workout and that is for sure! I always feel a million times better after a good workout.
When I got home I had 2 hard boiled eggs, Maple Pecan Crunch cereal, and some watermelon. It was delish!
Today is the last night of school for my sister which means I will have my partner in crime to hang out with during the summer!! We already are planning on taking the kiddies to the beach tomorrow! As much as I love staying home with Olivia and Jacob its always a special treat to have an adult to hang out with during the days!!
Thursday is my final TRX boot camp class. I am really interested to get my final measurements and body fat percentage! It was a tough 8 weeks but I probably wasn't as strict with my diet as I should have been. I have definitely improved my strength though that is fore sure!
Today we will be starting to assemble the swing set fortress in our backyard....I will keep you posted with pictures on this project! The box says 10-12 hours... a huge swing set clubhouse is crammed into two itty bitty boxes. Ya, this should be interesting!

TRX Double time

Before-(April 4, 2011)

Current (June 20, 2011)

Sunday morning was Fathers Day so I got up early to hit up a TRX class so that the rest of the day would be free to spend with my husband and Dad! I convinced a few of my friends to give it a try as well. I got a couple death stares throughout the class but overall I think they all really enjoyed the pain the next day! Poor Adam had to work so Olivia and I gave him our cards nice and early and he went for a long run at Winnikinni to start his day off right. Then he came home, we made him a brown bag lunch and the poor guy headed off to work for some double time.

Then Liv and I went to the park for some time on the swings. We have a swing set sitting in the garage that  we just haven't found the time to put up with everyone crazy work schedule! It was Olivia's birthday present from Grammy and Grandpa...it will go up before this summer is over! After that we headed back to my parents house for a bbq with Mom, Dad, Jenn, Derek, Jake, and Great Grandpa! We had a great time and it was nice having everyone together...minus one very important person--Adam. We were sure to give him a special meal with Kruegers pizza when he got home from work!! After that we put Liv to bed and watched Hall pass which was great. We both enjoyed the time together since it rarely happens these days, We were up late though and I had to be up at 4:30 am for TRX today and really paid for it! 4 hours of sleep just isn't enough for a hard workout like that, The time with Adam was well worth it though, I skipped my evening run tonight in an attempt to give my sore legs and body a rest. Two days of TRX in a row just isn't the brightest of ideas! Yoga and running tomorrow to stretch out these sore muscles! I promised I would put up a progress photo so here is is! I've lost about 8-10 pounds since I started this blog! My weight keeps bouncing around 149-152. My "happy weight" I am trying to obtain is 135 but I am trying to accept that its not just about the number on the scale! Goodnight all!

Home sweet home!

We had an amazing vacation to Maryland for the Bennett/ Chaffee wedding. We saw old friends, met some new friends, and got to attend a beautiful event! The bride was gorgeous, her family and friends were amazing, and the venue was to die for! Olivia was the flower girl and made us so proud by walking down the aisle! My healthy eating and exercise were completely out the window during the trip and I wish I had tried to at least stay on track a little bit! I paid for it when I got back with a 3.5 mile run that felt like 10 miles and yoga this morning that I really had to fight through. I have to remind myself that there are always going to be situations that arise that bring you completely off track but the important part is getting right back into it! 
My blog is going to be getting a face lift from Jumping Jax Designs! Becca is amazing and has done cards, and another blog for me! I'm excited to see what she will come up with for me this time! 
Today we have a ton of unpacking to do, hopefully a workout, and some serious R&R. I need a vacation from my vacation! 
Here are some pictures from the wedding day! 
Congrats Mr and Mrs Bennett! We love you! 

Smuttynose Rockfest 1/2 Marathon

October 2, 2011 I am signed up to run my very first half marathon! http://www.runningintheusa.com/race/View.aspx?RaceID=21915

I am really excited to train and complete this race. I ran 7 miles Sunday morning, and will hopefully get one more long run in before we leave for our trip to maryland on Thursday night! We are so excited for the Wedding Extravaganza weekend for Katie and Dave!

This morning I woke up at 4:30, went to TRX and stopped for some Starbucks on the way home! I'm watching my nephew today, tomorrow and Wednesday this week so my nights will be taken up packing! I swear I am leaving for 3 weeks when really its about 4 days! haha. Olivia literally has 12 outfits, 8 pairs of pajamas, 6 pairs of shoes, 2 purses, 3 bathing suits, and an assortment of bows and hats for our short trip! Daddy is going to go crazy when he sees all our loot.

So I weighed in this morning at 149.8. My goal was to be under 150 before we left for Maryland and I've done it! Lets hope I can keep my act together and don't ruin it with a few days off my routine! ah I think its time to take some progress pictures like I promised I would when I started this blog..... I will take them tonight and post them later! :)

Lets see what else....We spent most of this weekend cleaning up the yard trying to get it ready for Miss Olivia and Jacobs swing set to be put up! Its a lot of work. I even did a little lawn mowing! It was the first time I've ever done it and I actually enjoyed it quite a bit to be honest! I'm off to meet my friend Brooke in Newburyport for a walk and coffee!

Self Awakening Yoga Studio

It had been 2 weeks since I had last been to Yoga since my groupon ended at The Yoga Tree. I had gotten another groupon for a place in Salem NH, Self Awakening Yoga Studio. I made it to the 6 am class today and was impressed!! It was not quite as good as the Yoga tree but it was still great! I guess the 2 minute drive to Yoga Tree compared to 15 to the one in Salem was one reason I didn't like it as much! Also the 15 minute time difference really made a huge difference. It felt really short today, and of course my favorite instructor Caroline was not at Self Awakening. Other than that though it was a great class and I certainly got my sweat on! Once this groupon is up I will probably purchase a package from The Yoga Tree. I got home to Daddy ready to go to the gym...and Olivia, well being Olivia. The picture above pretty much sums up their relationship!

As far as my diet is going with the new revised plan minus my lunch carbs I am doing pretty good! I got some sugar free dessert gum to help me get through the day when I am really having a craving. So far so good!

Since tomorrow I don't have any classes scheduled I am planning on getting up around 5 to go to the gym for a strength training workout and maybe ending with a short run on the treadmill.

I've been to scared to step on the scale because I don't want to know if its still not budging with this strict diet. I plan to weigh in tomorrow morning though and will have an update then!

In other news, Olivia peed on the potty two times today!! I was so excited and most likely scared her from my yelling, jumping, and cheering! Looks like we may have a visit to the ice cream stand tonight if Mommy can resist the temptation! haha. Happy Tuesday!

Happy Memorial Day!

i started my Memorial day off right.....TRX at 7am which is an hour and 15 minutes later than the normal time for bootcamp! Yay for sleeping in a little bit. My alarm actually didn't go off this morning so I woke up at 6:15 and rushed around to get to Salem MA for 7! Before starting the workout Marjan said she would be taking out our lunchtime carb.....scares me a bit, but I'm up for the challenge! After a great workout I came home to oatmeal and 2 hardboiled eggs. After my cheat meal (day) yesterday it was nice to get back on track.

Its really muggy out today and we are expecting thunderstorms so I am going to hold off on my run today until later this evening, After my 3:00 pm run yesterday in the blazing sun I think I will hold off running outside during the peak of the sunshine.

I'm off to entertain a very hyper 2 year old! Will post again about my no carb lunch and dinner day...eeeek. Wish me luck! This girl sure loves her carbs! xox

Hello Summer

Well summer is here! My car said 86 degrees. I guess as a New Englander I should be used to it by now, but I guess I'm never happy with our weather....What happened with Spring??

Today I woke up at 5:30 am to go to the gym to lift some weights. I had a terrible time sleeping because my house was like a sauna so I'm pretty much going off of 3 hours of sleep today. An IV of coffee would be great!

I spent 10 minutes running at the gym then mostly worked on legs. I really need a lesson on what do as far as strength training, I feel like I always get there and don't know what to do. Adam said he would write something up for me. I spent about an hour working legs, and abs. It wasn't a waste of time but I know I surely could have done more.

I am 4 weeks into the TRX boot camp. I have definitely noticed a difference in my clothes and lost about 6 pounds. Marjan did say she would be removing our 1 cheat day a week for the final four weeks of boot camp to get us into the best shape for the summer. I'm really loving this boot camp and hoping they will continue something like it throughout the summer!

I'm spending the weekend up north at my parents lake house. I havent been there in awhile so it will be nice to get away!

Great Harvest Bread Co. Nashua NH

When I found out we would be getting a Great Harvest Bread Company locally (or somewhat locally, a 45 min drive is as local as they get I suppose) I was so thrilled! My sister first introduced me to their bread when the closest one was in Beverly, MA. Unfortunately that store closed..I'm not exactly sure why as it was always busy whenever I stopped in! Great Harvest Bread Company handcrafts their breads daily using only pure simple ingredients, they never use chemicals or additives, simply ingredients from nature. It is honestly the best bread I have ever tasted and if the store was closer i would most likely be there on a daily basis. It's probably best it is a little drive. The wheat loaf is always a classic staple in my house, but last time I was in I also tried the red pepper Swiss. My husband and I were both crazy about that one! I made a sandwich on it the next morning and was drooling over the fresh flavorful taste of it. My husband made a turkey sandwich on it for a week everyday for lunch......he must not have liked it as much :) We also tried the English muffin loaf, it was so different, so delicious and of course so fresh! My 2 year old daughter who eats nothing absolutely loved it! Spread some peanut butter, Nutella, or Almond butter on top and you have a perfect breakfast! Next time I'm in the store I will be picking up one of the Great Harvest spreads. I also grabbed the Cinnamon raisin oatmeal to try. That didn't let me down either! I am all out of the bread and can't wait to get back there to restock! The staff there is so friendly and welcoming and will offer you a taste of any of the samples! I have heard from many people that the pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and Cinnamon rolls are a must have! My first visit there I brought home a sandwich for my husband to try that he raved about for days. Now if you have seen the sandwiches he normally makes you would know he is not easy to please with his sandwiches!

Nashua Great Harvest Bread Co. I wish you much success, we really need a great local place like you around!

Monday Morning, more rain!

Another Monday morning waking up at 4:30 to cold rain and a hardcore TRX class! Seriously the instructor Marjan really can kick some serious booty! I was still pretty exhausted from the Mud Run yesterday but I really needed to start the week off right! I was glad I got up and went and got it out of the way.

I stopped for a Starbucks coffee with soy milk to enjoy on my 45 minute drive home. When I got home I had 2 eggs and a bowl of oats with cinnamon, truvia, and sliced up apples.

Olivia is still chilling in her bed and my nephew Jacob was up all night for his Mom so he is sleeping now too! I'm having a relaxing morning sipping on some green tea. I'm pretty sure any minute now both kiddos will be waking up so Im off to get a few things done before having to figure out what to do with them on another rainy day!

Hope everyone has a great day!

Hoppin Mad Mud Run!

Today was the Hoppin Mad Mud Run in Amesbury MA. A 10k with about 15 military obstacles thrown in the course. It was the most fun I've had in awhile! I ran with my husband Adam, my bff Des and her husband Clyde. It was cold and dreary but it didn't stop us from having an amazing time!

I was really nervous last night and didn't sleep well at all. We finally got up out of bed around 7:30 for some oats and eggs. Then I went to Starbucks for my coffee with soy milk. We headed to Amesbury for 10 to get ready for the 11:00 start time.

The run was fairly hilly but not too much to handle. There was one hill that almost took everything out of me but ended with a downhill water slide so all was good. I was so excited to see my friend Brooke at the end. She was hardcore like Adam and dove right into the mud! I on the other hand decided crawling with my head out of the mud was best!

After the mud run we had Des and Clyde over for some turkey burgers, Sweet potato fries, mixed veggies, and Tinas Peanut Butterry Bars http://carrotsncake.com/2009/06/peanut-buttery-bars.html

Later on I was still a little hungry so I had a cheese stick and 100 cal pack of almonds.

Dinner tonight was a leftover turkey burger minus the bun over a spinach salad. I was way to exhausted to cook again!

I can cross a 10k race off my bucket list. My next goal is a half marathon and I plan on signing up for on after this summer! A September or October race.

I have TRX in the morning so I am off to bed. its really going to kick my butt getting up at 4:30 tomorrow but I plan on a very lazy day after that!

Goodnight! xox