it's my second full week of work since june. it's tough. but it's a sign of things to come.
school starts in less than two weeks. dance in three. high school football is underway. yes folks, fall is almost here.
for some reason, last year, i had a hard time with fall (and the winter and spring that followed). i'm working really hard on getting a good start this year and not letting the end of summer get me down. we have a lot to look forward at our home this year.
hubby has returned to high school football and it looks like it is going to be an amazing season.
big sis is in her last year of elementary school. it sounds like she's getting to compete in 4 dances this year in her dance company (last year she did 3), which is what she was hoping for. she's getting taller and smarter and more grown up every day. it's hard to believe.
and lil' sis is starting kindergarten. yes, i now have two kids in school full time. life is really going to get busy now! she's also starting a dance program where she'll get to do a lot more. she's really excited about that and asks every day when her classes will start. this year will be full of firsts for her. riding the bus, buying lunches at school, learning to read. i cannot wait!
as for me, nothing has changed personally, but i will get to enjoy the changes my family members are experiencing. i'm working out faithfully, reading a lot and dreaming. mostly, this year, i just want to enjoy each day as it comes.
so my promise to myself is not to stress. everything will turn out the way it was meant to. i need to breathe every day. take time to enjoy the girls. support my husband and his new football team. find as much time as possible for fun.
i have a feeling it's going to be a great school year!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
double day
we have a busy weekend ahead of us so i went ahead and did a focus t25 double day. normally i just add a sixth day to get in all six workouts, but i figured i'd see what it was like to do two workouts back to back.
it was tough.
but i loved it. maybe, just maybe, i'll try insanity soon. i woke up ten minutes earlier but had no problem getting in the 50 minute workout. i had to be more focused this morning and had less time to dilly dally, but it got it done!
today's double was speed 1.0 and abs. i love the speed 1.0 workout because it isn't as intense as some of the other workouts. you get to stretch between a lot of the cardio exercises. i am terrible at stretching and have noticed some tightness in my hip flexors and hamstrings, so this workout felt really good today.
the ab workout kills me. i cannot do v-sits very well. i don't know if it because my legs are tight or just because my abs are weak. needless to say, there were many modifications during the ab workout. i honestly don't know if i'm getting stronger...
week four of focus t25 is now done. one more week of the alpha phase and then its off to beta! i'm really excited because there's at least one workout in beta that includes weights. i miss my weights! so much so that i'm dying to get gamma as i think all of those workouts are strength based and require free weights. but that time will come soon.
for now, i still have to finish the alpha phase!
it was tough.
but i loved it. maybe, just maybe, i'll try insanity soon. i woke up ten minutes earlier but had no problem getting in the 50 minute workout. i had to be more focused this morning and had less time to dilly dally, but it got it done!
today's double was speed 1.0 and abs. i love the speed 1.0 workout because it isn't as intense as some of the other workouts. you get to stretch between a lot of the cardio exercises. i am terrible at stretching and have noticed some tightness in my hip flexors and hamstrings, so this workout felt really good today.
the ab workout kills me. i cannot do v-sits very well. i don't know if it because my legs are tight or just because my abs are weak. needless to say, there were many modifications during the ab workout. i honestly don't know if i'm getting stronger...
week four of focus t25 is now done. one more week of the alpha phase and then its off to beta! i'm really excited because there's at least one workout in beta that includes weights. i miss my weights! so much so that i'm dying to get gamma as i think all of those workouts are strength based and require free weights. but that time will come soon.
for now, i still have to finish the alpha phase!
Thursday, August 1, 2013
the thief
for some reason the following scripture has been playing over and over in my head for the past 24 hours:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10 (NIV)
not sure how this got stuck in my head, but God must be trying to tell me something. i have been thinking about how some things steal my joy...mainly comparisons, perfectionism, too high expectations and jealousy. i have also been thinking about bad habits that steal my joy...for example, too much time on social media, procrastinating, and junk food.
i guess lately i have been falling for the thief's (satan's) tricks instead of seeking Jesus. i've been easily distracted by the things that steal my joy. i'm not sure why i'd let anything get me down, but i have. this past school year, in particular, was a real tough one for me. i was down more than i was up.
now that the new school year is upon us, i have to admit that i'm a little nervous. will i fall back into that slump i was in last year? or will this year be better. i guess the answer is in God's word. i know where my focus needs to be. here's to keeping it there!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
disconnect
yesterday i ran to panera for lunch to grab my favorite strawberry poppyseed chicken salad. as soon as i got on the road i realized i had left my phone on my desk. gasp! but then...
freedom!
sad, isn't it. i felt a little lost and nervous at first without my phone. even if it was only for a quick 20 minute jaunt away from the office. but what if there was an emergency? what would i do while i waited for my order? could i live without my phone for 20 minutes.
crazy! thankfully those wacky thoughts only lasted a few minutes. and then i felt relieved. and excited. no temptation to check my email or facebook feed. no way to take a quick picture of my panera bag to instagram to everyone. i could only enjoy the moment that i was in. and focus on what was around me. or think my own thoughts. i even had to listen to the radio, ads and all.
i loved it.
and i realized i need to do that more often.
so last night i took the girls for a walk to a local ice cream place. it's a half hour each way. i had my phone with me for safety reasons, but it was at the bottom of my purse. i didn't check it at all during the entire hour and a half we were out. and i resisted the temptation to get on facebook to thank someone who had stopped to let us cross a busy road.
being in the moment with my daughters who are growing up oh so fast was so much better than taking pictures of us to share with the whole world right away. being able to talk to them without worrying about things happening at work was refreshing. showing them that mommy could step away from the phone was priceless.
and it will happen more often.
i realize i have done what i said i'd never do. i've become addicted to a phone. that stops now. no checking it at every stoplight on my way to and from work. no using it when i'm with the kids. no checking email while i'm making dinner.
i think getting stepping away from the phone is going to be life changing!
freedom!
sad, isn't it. i felt a little lost and nervous at first without my phone. even if it was only for a quick 20 minute jaunt away from the office. but what if there was an emergency? what would i do while i waited for my order? could i live without my phone for 20 minutes.
crazy! thankfully those wacky thoughts only lasted a few minutes. and then i felt relieved. and excited. no temptation to check my email or facebook feed. no way to take a quick picture of my panera bag to instagram to everyone. i could only enjoy the moment that i was in. and focus on what was around me. or think my own thoughts. i even had to listen to the radio, ads and all.
i loved it.
and i realized i need to do that more often.
so last night i took the girls for a walk to a local ice cream place. it's a half hour each way. i had my phone with me for safety reasons, but it was at the bottom of my purse. i didn't check it at all during the entire hour and a half we were out. and i resisted the temptation to get on facebook to thank someone who had stopped to let us cross a busy road.
being in the moment with my daughters who are growing up oh so fast was so much better than taking pictures of us to share with the whole world right away. being able to talk to them without worrying about things happening at work was refreshing. showing them that mommy could step away from the phone was priceless.
and it will happen more often.
i realize i have done what i said i'd never do. i've become addicted to a phone. that stops now. no checking it at every stoplight on my way to and from work. no using it when i'm with the kids. no checking email while i'm making dinner.
i think getting stepping away from the phone is going to be life changing!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
halfway
it's hard to believe, but our summer is halfway over. i've already received backpack catalogs from pottery barn kids and noticed that the school supply section is ready to go at target. how did this happen?!?!?
i'm officially on a mission to make the most of the next 6 weeks before school starts. it sure helps that we'll start off with a trip to the ocean. following that we plan to see the lion king musical, visit the american girl store, and spend lots of time in the pool. unfortunately big sis came down with swimmer's ear so the past week and a half has been "pool-free" except for lil' sis's swim lessons.
my goal for the kids is to do a minimum of one "special" thing a week. to get the most out of our swim passes, i'd like to see us go to the pool at least 7 more times before school starts. and the rest of the time? we'll just chill at home, summer style with no worries about homework or crazy busy schedules.
personally, i'd like to read a lot more. and relax a lot more. but i should also try to get some projects done around the house before the school year madness begins.
6 weeks. 42 days. i am going to make the most of each and everyone. beginning with pedicures tonight!
how about you? how are you making the most out of the second half of summer?
i'm officially on a mission to make the most of the next 6 weeks before school starts. it sure helps that we'll start off with a trip to the ocean. following that we plan to see the lion king musical, visit the american girl store, and spend lots of time in the pool. unfortunately big sis came down with swimmer's ear so the past week and a half has been "pool-free" except for lil' sis's swim lessons.
 |
| before swimmer's ear |
my goal for the kids is to do a minimum of one "special" thing a week. to get the most out of our swim passes, i'd like to see us go to the pool at least 7 more times before school starts. and the rest of the time? we'll just chill at home, summer style with no worries about homework or crazy busy schedules.
personally, i'd like to read a lot more. and relax a lot more. but i should also try to get some projects done around the house before the school year madness begins.
6 weeks. 42 days. i am going to make the most of each and everyone. beginning with pedicures tonight!
how about you? how are you making the most out of the second half of summer?
Saturday, July 6, 2013
double day
today was double day for me. thankfully it's a saturday so i had time to do the workouts back to back.
the plan says to do lower focus and cardio. i did lower focus and core speed (the bonus workout i received). i already did cardio once this week and i like to mix it up to not get bored. again, i had to modify parts of both workouts. but even during the modified parts i felt i was getting a great workout.
after the first week, i'd say my favorite workout would be either the cardio or the core speed. the ab intervals will be my biggest challenge and i'll be thrilled when i feel i've mastered it. i'm already anxious to see how the beta workouts will be.
today is also stat saturday. i took my initial measurements on monday and measured again today. the good news: i lost half a pound, an inch in my chest and a quarter inch in my thighs. the bad news: i gained an inch in my waist. which is my trouble area. what's up with that?!?!?! i'm guessing i'm retaining water. i have not been drinking much water so i will be sure to up my water intake this week.
i'm not gonna lie. when i saw my waist got bigger i wanted to give up. it's so frustrating to see that. but it has only been a week. this is a ten week program. i'll be taking a week off for vacation. while i'll be running that week, i'm not sure i'll be eating very well. i will try my best to balance enjoying myself and not overindulging. but when i get back, i'll have 8 more weeks of the program. i'm going to stick to the plan and not give up so that in mid-september i can see some sort of results. even if it's only a tiny change. that's better than nothing.
in the meantime, i'm going to enjoy my weekend!
the plan says to do lower focus and cardio. i did lower focus and core speed (the bonus workout i received). i already did cardio once this week and i like to mix it up to not get bored. again, i had to modify parts of both workouts. but even during the modified parts i felt i was getting a great workout.
after the first week, i'd say my favorite workout would be either the cardio or the core speed. the ab intervals will be my biggest challenge and i'll be thrilled when i feel i've mastered it. i'm already anxious to see how the beta workouts will be.
today is also stat saturday. i took my initial measurements on monday and measured again today. the good news: i lost half a pound, an inch in my chest and a quarter inch in my thighs. the bad news: i gained an inch in my waist. which is my trouble area. what's up with that?!?!?! i'm guessing i'm retaining water. i have not been drinking much water so i will be sure to up my water intake this week.
i'm not gonna lie. when i saw my waist got bigger i wanted to give up. it's so frustrating to see that. but it has only been a week. this is a ten week program. i'll be taking a week off for vacation. while i'll be running that week, i'm not sure i'll be eating very well. i will try my best to balance enjoying myself and not overindulging. but when i get back, i'll have 8 more weeks of the program. i'm going to stick to the plan and not give up so that in mid-september i can see some sort of results. even if it's only a tiny change. that's better than nothing.
in the meantime, i'm going to enjoy my weekend!
Friday, July 5, 2013
faves on friday
today's a tired day. three late nights in a row. three early mornings. busy, filled days. a few more hours until the weekend, thank goodness. and a cut and color, which is about two months overdue. i have been mostly happy this week, but have had some down moments. so glad vacation is coming up soon. i need to get away from it all and come back to a fresh start.
what i've found this week online that i love:
july 4th - i recently discovered the life with greyson + parker blog. i think i need to read all of chrissy's posts. although we have different struggles, i find her to be very inspiring and motivating. today she talks about facing reality, in a good way.
july #bodyLOVE summer challenge - another new blog for me and another positive message. this time about body image. something i struggle with greatly.
be like the sun - simple mom's monday inspirational pieces are the best!
that's all for now. it was a busy week with little time surfing the net. that's a good thing since it meant more time for family and fun. happy friday everyone!
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| source |
what i've found this week online that i love:
july 4th - i recently discovered the life with greyson + parker blog. i think i need to read all of chrissy's posts. although we have different struggles, i find her to be very inspiring and motivating. today she talks about facing reality, in a good way.
july #bodyLOVE summer challenge - another new blog for me and another positive message. this time about body image. something i struggle with greatly.
be like the sun - simple mom's monday inspirational pieces are the best!
that's all for now. it was a busy week with little time surfing the net. that's a good thing since it meant more time for family and fun. happy friday everyone!
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