Books, Bites and Indecision
It’s library day. Every other Thursday is library day. Why every other Thursday? Because it’s not Ballet Day (Wednesday) or Grocery Shopping Day (Friday) or Church Day (Sunday) or Stay in Your Workout Clothes And Simply Reapply Deodorant Day (Monday and Tuesday…and often every other day, too). Library books technically aren’t due until three weeks after we check them out, but after a week and a half, I’ve grown tired of the Junie... Read More
Wacky Wednesday: Work It Out Now
I didn’t want to do it. But you gave me no choice. I mentioned I had a workout routine that was helping me sleep like a baby, and in response, I got over 117 comments, emails and Tweets asking for details on what I’m doing at home to keep in shape, keep my sleep cycles in rhythm and keep men who are addicted to root beer and overpriced resort wear interested. Okay, I added that last part. Wishful thinking. I hesitated to post my workout... Read More
How Do You Sleep At Night?
The problem with being a person who jokes around a lot is that people never quite know when to take you seriously. People like to flatter me and ask, “How in the world do you get everything done in a day?!” And I like to answer, “I don’t sleep.” And they laugh and say, “You are so funny!” But I’m dead serious. And dead tired. The truth is, I’m a lifelong insomniac. Until now. If you suffer from insomnia, I’m sure you can... Read More
Disadvantages of a Home Gym
I used to belong to a gym. A gym that wasn’t in my living room Where I lifted weights that were not shades of purple or pink (those dumbbells, for the record, aren’t mine. Or Pea Daddy’s). Where children did not fight over hula hoops, red crayons or who got the grape gummy vitamin. Where the only grunting that went on took place during a squat that didn’t require my help wiping afterwards. Where people only got in my personal space to... Read More
Totally Quoteable
The day was totally quotable. During the morning workout: Gigi: “You want your abs to burn like a fire!” She’s right. Someone should card her for that six pack. When I discovered that someone had unfurled an entire roll of toilet paper and asked who did it: Lulu: “I did it! But the lady comes to clean our house…” Oooh, why I oughta…. After I asked Gigi why she had the DVD player remote outside: Gigi:... Read More
Flying Solo
It’s no illusion that the girls are the best of friends. I’m able to keep all the balls I’m juggling in the air because they really do entertain themselves quite well while I cook, use my PedEgg, write stories and find LOST characters’ muppet counterparts. Locke: Cookie Monster Driven by a singular purpose (we prefer Cookie’s to Locke’s) and sometimes so cryptic as to be incomprehensible. Source Not that I don’t... Read More
Lots of Estrogen Up in Here
Am I talking about my soy intake or my company for the day? Guess you’ll have to read on to see. I woke up this morning and spent time with this lovely lady and her six-pack. The Body for Life weight workout can be found here. While it’s a great workout for use at the gym, I’m currently shying away from doing it at home because it is based on increasing/decreasing your weight with each set. I only have your basic dumbbells with... Read More
I Am Protein
And Pro-Teen. He’s dreamy. And in third grade. Thanks for everyone’s supportive comments on the new road I’m heading down. Very few of you voted for a one liner about potty training and a vegan cookie recipe, though you’ll probably get that tomorrow anyway, so put on your plastic pants and preheat your oven. As for how this will play out blog-wise, I may return to the food diary format on some days and on others just have... Read More
Can a Vegan Do Body For Life?
When Gigi was a baby, we were perusing the local Borders when I stumbled across a cookbook called Eating for Life. I wasn’t looking to lose weight at the time, I’d already lost all my baby weight and then some, through skipping meals and acting as a personal all-you-can-eat buffet to a nursing baby. I had no balance in my life, and was basically at a colicky infant’s beck and call, so discovering this way of eating (and exercising... Read More
I Haven’t Got Time For the Change
Thanks a lot, Benjamin Franklin. Though Daylight Savings Time wasn’t instituted until WWI, Franklin is credited for having come up with the concept far earlier (that is the most educational information you may ever get out of this blog, so savor it). Yes, today I’m cursing old Ben for robbing me of an hour of sleep. You might as well take my Wonderbra, coffeemaker and stroller flask while you’re at it and then send a marching... Read More
She Should’ve Told Me
Do you have in your memory any moments that are just frozen in time for you? I’m not talking about your high school graduation, your wedding day or the second you felt the disc in your back rupture when an over zealous chiropractor told you, “No pain, no gain!!!” (legal action may be pending). No, I’m talking about those moments that may not seem monumental, but that for some inexplicable reason remain a perfect snapshot... Read More
Helping Hands
You know how some people say, “I could use another set of hands”? Not me. In fact, sometimes I wish I had two less sets of hands. I have all the helping hands I need. This morning Slim Shady helped me hide my stash…of empty nut butter jars. I came in from my workout and found two near empty jars of peanut butter that I’d been hiding in the back of the cupboard set out on the counter to go in the recycling. Whoever did... Read More
Field Trippin’
I’m currently playing nurse to an injured Lulu. Call it the dangers of having a home gym. Miss L was bouncing on an exercise ball in our living room when it slipped out from underneath her and she bonked her head on the tile surrounding our gas fireplace. There’s no more horrific sound than your child’s skull hitting a hard surface. It ranks up there with the sound of your cat coughing up a hairball on your down comforter, the... Read More
Make New Friends, But Keep the Old
I did most everything yesterday with the aid of an old friend, my glasses. I got the fun diagnosis from the optometrist on Friday that I need to wear my glasses primarily for the next three months since I am guilty of overusing my contacts even more than I am overguilty of using my liquid eyeliner and “That’s What She Said” jokes. Can you blame me though? Like a man in a mid-life crisis, I’ve got a new friend coming in... Read More
Site Under Construction
After my tough but enjoyable workout this morning, I came into a tangle of tent poles and two girls yapping at my heels to put together their playhouse. The poles are tethered together with thin, nylon rope, and somehow in her excitement, Gigi managed to twist and knot those poles together as if she were deliberately trying to create a Survivor challenge for her sweaty, hungry, desperate for a cup of coffee mom. Still, miracles happen. $8.50... Read More
Back Asswards
Today’s been like Anne Heche’s relationship history: completely bizarre and to be blamed on daddy issues. In our case, Pea Daddy had an arbitration early this morning, followed by a meeting tonight (or so he says…), so our whole day was kind of thrown off. Every morning my workout time is from 6:30 to 8 a.m. each morning, but since Pea Daddy had to leave early, I had to get up a half hour earlier than usual. That half hour... Read More
All Before Breakfast
Subtitle: How I Make My Life Harder Than it Should Be Due to just having a gut feeling that Gigi’s ballet class wasn’t the best fit for her (she can’t wear her fuchsia tutu, for goodness sake!), I decided to enroll her in the same class she took over the summer. The bad news: it’s a forty minute drive and starts at 10 a.m. Please note, we deliberately don’t collectively leave the house until at least noon each... Read More
The Grapes, er, Peas of Wrath
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I appreciate that God likes to remind me that He’s in control, and not me, but it’s a bitter pill to swallow sometimes. Much like this wine I’m drinking right now. (Sweet PEA’s farm!!!) I wanted a glass to unwind and help the words flow tonight, but am thinking that this bottle that was in my White Elephant gift from Christmas was likely also purchased at the Goodwill. ... Read More
The Fast and the…Mildly Disappointed
Wow! Thank you guys so much for all the feedback on the Dressgavagantza. It was surprising to me how much of you liked the dress that Gigi and my mom liked best (the purple Diane Von Furstenberg), and how many of you liked the dress Pea Daddy liked best (the orange Herve, shocking!). What was most surprising to me of all though, was how many of you said things along the lines of, “Please don’t choose the ____ dress!!!” I can... Read More
Dream Date
..for Gigi at least. Lulu is another matter entirely. We had nothing on the agenda for the day and with it being Winter Break, we were free to go and do whatever we wanted. I got up and got my workout done as early as possible, followed by a green smoothie in a bowl, so we could attempt to leave the house before the next presidential election. spinach 1 scoop vanilla soy protein powder frozen strawberries frozen mango almond milk cinnamon Kashi... Read More
No Sweat
There have been some highly questionable choices made in 2009: McCain’s choice of running mate, (edited to add: this was actually in 2008, but still: poor choice) the choice of Pea Daddy and I to waste two hours of our lives and 667 unique page views worth of income on Couples’ Retreat, some incredibly desperate woman’s choice to use a surrogate whose last name also is a type of hard liquor, my choice to not start even planning... Read More
A Winter Fantasy
My breakfast fantasy: After a leisurely run in the warm sunshine, I’d enjoy a scrumptious almond butter jar of pumpkin oatbran, topped with apples and granola, brought to me on a tray carried by my perfectly groomed children in adorable matching “I Love My Mommy” sweaters and pleated skirts. My breakfast reality: After cursing my alarm, Jillian’s Level 2 Shred and my freezing cold garage treadmill, I enjoyed my oats with Rapunzel... Read More
What a Faker!
I totally faked my way through a workout this morning and then had a deep yearning for Oats In a Jar. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), all my nut butter receptacles are full. Empty jars? Those I have. I made Fake Oatmeal in a Jar! In a play on Courtney’s upside down oats, I put a dollop of almond butter in an empty jar, and then smeared it all around like I’d been sneaking baby spoonfuls, carrot swipes and finger scoops out of the... Read More
Christmas Came Early
This morning was my fourth morning in a row that I’ve gotten up early to work out with Jillian. I am so SORE, specifically my legs. I’ve been waking up with terrible leg cramps that have me leaping out of bed and hopping around like someone smashed a pickle ornament on the kitchen floor and I’m avoiding dill shards. Sadly, I know exactly what that is like. After a little Googling, I learned that my nocturnal leg cramps are... Read More
A Day for Sharon
You’re thinking, “Who the H is Sharon?” Not her. What I meant to say is, “A Day for Sharing.” When you become a mom, NOTHING is your own anymore. My smoothies get divided by three, my peanut butter jars have tiny finger tracks throughout them and my bras become headwear during impromptu dress-up games(which are actually probably more necessary than me needing any form of support for my little kiwis). Still, it... Read More
Helping Ourselves
Mooch much? Today we made ourselves at home in a variety of places, and most certainly outwore our welcome. Memberships will be revoked, locks will be changed and phone numbers will be lost. I started out my day taking advantage of my own free personal trainer. I haven’t been this sore since my half marathon. Funny how you think you are in shape until you get a wake-up call like a fog horn in your eardrum at 4 a.m. However, somehow it’s... Read More
No Regrets
My main goal in life is to have as few regrets as possible. Today was no exception. I thought I would regret not going for a run, but I actually enjoyed getting a killer workout from a hot broad with a killer ankle tat. If I could do this everyday until our Hawaii trip, maybe I won’t regret that new two piece I plan to buy. I do regret letting my toddler have coffee. I think she tore out the springs on her Jumperoo that day. I didn’t... Read More
So Sneaky
I’m sneaking in a post while Daddy gives the girls their baths. Last night, Lulu “dropped some kids off in the pool,” so I don’t anticipate I’m missing much. Let me just sneak in a quick “Happy Birthday Mimi” in case she happens to read the blog today. Love you, Mommy! This morning, after a quick run, I snuck in some upper body resistance training. She’s about thirty pounds, so it was actually a... Read More
Let’s Keep It Clean
We woke up this morning in some serious need of cleaning: our digestive systems, our house, our mouths and our minds! Before Daddy went into work for a few hours, I did a treadmill walk, some light weights and ab work (I should be clear to start running again tomorrow). After forty five minutes, I had wine and pie coming out of my pores. I could have wrung my sweaty socks out and taken communion. Instead, we made ice cream. I threw some bananas... Read More
I May Be Wrong
When I’m wrong, I’m the first to admit it. But I’m also not afraid to call out others when they are talking out of an orifice other than their mouth. I was wrong to stay up until 1 am watching Sarah Palin’s interview with Oprah on the DVR. Politics and the fact that Ms. Palin wears full makeup, a French twist and cat-eye bifocals to step aerobics class aside, I was so disappointed in the lack of sincerity in the interview. ... Read More
Good Things Come in Daddy’s Package
I must love you all a lot. It is nearly midnight and here I am like a lunatic posting because I operate under the illusion that somehow you won’t survive your Thursday morning without a new post from me. I have my excuses, but hopefully I can reserve those for a later date. Right now, let’s just feel the love. Like the love that fills my heart when I think about what Katie of Chocolate Covered Katie is doing, donating all of her blog... Read More
What I Learned From My Kids Today
If you run out of cinnamon rolls, it’s just plain fine to eat icing for breakfast. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. heated Honeycrisp apple cinnamon Kashi Go Lean Pumpkin Spice Granola Don’t ask Daddy to take pictures for the blog. He will take only one photo, and make it as unflattering as possible. The only reason to take a shower is if you smell bad or you think you might get some your mom tells you to. Don’t... Read More
They Gave Me “Doh” Boot
“Mahhhmmeee…wayow awe YOOOOOU?” Translation: “Mommy, where are you?” That’s how I woke up at 6:20 am. Geesh Lulu. We’ve been over this a hundred times. It’s “Daddy! Daddy! I want Daddy!” Still, I decided to do the right thing and let Daddy sleep a little longer. Hmm..what quiet activity could we do at 6:20 am, when I’m still half asleep, blurry eyed and in need of a Super... Read More
It’s All About the Form
Sometimes life is like a jump shot. It’s all about the form. Good form: I managed to get a thirty minute run in this morning before the hubs left for work. Bad form: Though I’d planned on lifting weights and doing some ab work, I simply stayed in my workout clothes for the next four hours with nary and outing nor a respectable degree of work to show for it. Good form: I had a green smoothie for breakfast. 1/2 c. frozen strawberries 1/4... Read More
Mind Tricks and Treats
Roaming around the cold streets of our neighborhood, smelling the singed pumpkin from our suprisingly flammable jack o’ lantern and fearing that my children will never go to sleep due to the candy that they are opening and shoveling faster than I can grab it from their sticky paws has made me delusional. First, I woke up this morning and had a cookie for breakfast. In my mind, it tasted like this: But it actually looked like this: A Fitnessista... Read More
A Day With A Peel
I can’t leave you hanging on the pumpkin situation. Despite my protest desperate excuse that it was still too early and our pumpkins would turn into blue furry mushballs before Halloween, we did in fact get a carvin’. We had a fool proof system. Lulu gutted. Gigi and I drew. Did you know that having your tongue out increases your concentration by 40%? Uh…yeah…and you are also a winner in the British National Lottery…please... Read More
Isn’t it Ironic?
Isn’t it ironic that while doing Jillian Michaels’ Power Sculpt this morning, I tried to prevent back injury while putting down a dumbbell, so I threw it in our chair and proceeded to tear a hole…in it’s back? Oops. I’m such an animal. Isn’t it ironic that while Gigi was at school learning to write her ABC’s, I had a K-inspired ABC breakfast? Apple, Banana, Coffee, Doughnut. Isn’t it ironic that... Read More
While You Were Sleeping
This morning I awoke to hear a cackle coming from Gigi’s room. There is no better time than 7:30 a.m. on October 17th to try on your Halloween costume. Again. Once Gigi informed me that she was in fact her in disguise and not an actual witch, I made a quick breakfast. ~1/3 c. Kashi Go Lean 1 peach, sliced cinnamon ~2 T. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Granola I had some coffee with almond milk and stevia, and then headed out to the gym,... Read More
