Freebie Alert! Get your Copy of the "What to Expect Guide to a Healthy Home"

Wow this is Freebie Alert I had to share with everyone!

Get your Copy of the "What to Expect Guide to a Healthy Home" written by Heidi Murkoff, the author of the "What to Expect" book just about every pregnant mom in the US has referenced a zillion times in their pregnancies! Heidi donated her time to create this fabulous guide to a healthy home as part of a partnership with the Clorox Company. Clorox donated $1 Million to the What to Expect Foundation to support the Baby Basics Program wich helps families in need expect healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries, and happier babies.

You can download the book and/or order your FREE copy here! This website also has tons of useful tips and seems to be a super resource. Classy Mommy was able to review a copy of this guide and I found it very useful as a reference guide for things I need to frequently remind myself - ie how can we keep foods safe, where are we most likely to pick up germs, what are some good flu fighting tips, and now that I have a newborn baby again - what are the rules on freezing, defrosting, and storing breastmilk!

BIrthday reflection

I am sitting here in relative quiet, which is rare in my household, thinking about how this is the last day of being ?? years old. Tomorrow is my birthday, and although I won't be hitting the next decade, it is now so close that I can feel it's breath on the back of my neck. Twenty, ten or even 5 years ago I would not have pictured my life the way it truly turned out. That's not a bad thing and actually it is better than I could have imagined.
In my teens I just wanted to be in my 20s, in my early 30s I felt like I was in my 20s and now, I just feel pretty content. I always had looked forward to 40s. I had my first two boys when I was too young, but that also meant they'd be grown or close to it when I was 40. I used to be a career ladder climber, knowing I would oh so be the big kahoona by 40. Top of my game, money, time.........but as chance had it, I met the love of my life and re-thought and re-planned. Trust me, I don't take to change all so well and didn't transistion so well in the beginning. Now, here I am; career on hold, stay-at-home mom with two more boys who I have had to unique opportunity to learn from all my previous parenting mistakes in addition to staying at home with them. When I was the "career gal" and my first two were babies, I really thought stay-at-home moms didn't have a real life.....had it soooo easy. Boy, have I learned my lesson by walking (even running now) in those shoes.
What is that old saying? Life is what happens when you are busy planning it. No, I am certainly not where I thought I'd be but, boy have I been pleased with how it all turned out anyways. I am looking forward to all the suprises life throws at me during my last year of this decade. I've even registered for a 1/2 marathon this year when the farthest I've ever run is 7 miles....wish me luck (they do let you walk some don't they?? ;) ).

On the Run

Long Distance Running isn't for everyone.

Your doctor won't tell you, but some people should not run for more than an hour: the guilty (the truly guilty). Or the ashamed. Or the secretive. For there is a seldom discussed aspect of Long Distance Running you should be aware of before venturing out with a group of others; a phenomenon that occurs approximately 1 1/2 hours into a run (although it has been known to occur as soon as 1 hour): your body releases Truth Serum.

It is subtle at first. You'll begin with a story about how you told your children that all of the Snicker's bars in their Halloween stash were tainted & unsafe so that you could eat them all, but then you'll find deeper secrets bubbling to the surface. You'll then tell your running partners how you once stood buck naked outside your crappy college house with another female roommate to see if any of the cars driving by would notice - and how they didn't. Then you'll get mushier...or darker...or weepier...or more conceited. No one reacts the same to the endorphins, but EVERYONE opens up. So if you've got a deep, dark secret (like how you're running from the law), I'd stick to 10K's if I were you.

Unless you need to take a load off your shoulders.

ABC, easy as 123......

While running today, I got alot of looks and giggles.......................
For Christmas Santa brought me a "stroll a tune" from www.joggermom.com, conveniently located on www.seemommyrun.com!! If you aren't aware, it is a small speaker system that connects to your IPOD and onto the handlebar of the stroller. The first time I used it was listening to my music which was pretty nice. Today, I took out my double, with my double trouble two boys (18 & 36 months), who usually love to fight the entire time. Instead of "my" music, I down-loaded a "babies run" play list from educational toddler songs, oh yeah, and a little classic Michael Jackson ( they really like his music??). Anyways, it made the run so much more fun for them and so much more enjoyable for me since they behaved the whole time. The B-I-N-G-O and A-B-Cs, didn't do much for motivating me (Except when Michael sang ABC....Easy as 123....) but I didn't have fighting boys encouraging me to head home either. The people I passed along the way got a good snicker out of hearing us jam to those tunes too!!

Im in love.

I oft tell my husband that, if I could, Id marry various items in my life.

For example I purchased a fan for the room where I do the stationary bike and it FREAKIN CHANGED MY LIFE. Ceiling fan? WHATEVER. FanRightUpCloseToMySweatyBod? Adore.

I informed my hubby that if I could Id marry it. He could still be hubby number one (my ARCHOS 404 is husband number two. GOOGLE IT. It's amazatastic. number 3? a secret (*wink*))

Husband number four? These things:




Blahblahblah heart-healthy, yes.

But they are TASTY as well and Im not normally a chip fan (Im sugar. Lots of sugar).

Check out the flavors here: http://www.corazonas.com/products/mmm-mmm_chips.html

my personal favorite? margarita lime.

my toddler's? baja bean dip (weird. I know.)

my husband was just OVER THE MOON that free chips appeared on our doorstep.

THANKS ANDREA & CORAZONAS!

disclaimer: Im blogging about stuff other than runningexercising...

but Im still doing it.

really.

I just know you MIGHT not wanna hear all about how warm it is here in Austin TX and how fantastic it is to don SHORTS in January.

(see? I told you...although as I type that I do ponder the notion that not everyone loves the heat as I.)

so I give you a site which is new but makes me LAUGH:

http://www.stuperb.com/


read.

laugh.

submit.

:)

R.S.V.P.

Shelley gave me a great idea about how to amend my Wish List. You see, in addition to the beautiful home on 10+ acres in the countryside, I now wish to add that the house should be equipped with a gourmet kitchen and spacious living area so that when you all come over for dinner or the weekend (because you'll want to ride the horses, of course, and your husbands will want to play golf on my husband's private course), we will all be comfortable and able to enjoy ourselves.
So, this is my R.S.V.P. to my own invitation to the life I have been working so hard to live.

(Naturally, I also plan to provide all of the children with activities, as well.)

See you then!
Steph

Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now?

Cold Weather – Part 1

It is cold out, but is it TOO cold out? It is personal decision with lots of conflicting opinions out there but here are the factors I consider:

How to decide what is too cold:

1. What is the temperature outside? I use 30-32° F as an approximate minimum temperature for jogging with the kids in the stroller. Older kids can handle colder temperatures and will be able to verbalize that they are too cold if that becomes a problem. When my son, a November baby, was a newborn, my minimum temperature was closer to 40° F.
2. Is it windy? In winter sailing (aka frostbiting), there is an unofficial guideline called the “20-20 rule”. If it is colder than 20° F and windier than 20 knots, they cancel. Some wind is inevitable, but you may want to find a more sheltered route. For example, try a route through a neighborhood or among lots of trees rather than a path along a river or over bridges. You probably want a headwind first to get it done while you still have more energy.
3. Is there precipitation or an imminent threat of precipitation? Snow is actually very fun to run in. (Sing “Jingle Bells,” “Let It Snow,” and “Winter Wonderland” as you run.) Sleet or excessively slippery conditions should be avoided. Strollers come with a runaway strap: USE IT!
4. Do you have weather-appropriate equipment? A rain shield is invaluable! There is one to fit nearly every model of jogger at www.joggingstrollers.com and surely elsewhere. It is a great windshield and keeps the temperature inside the stroller very pleasant – we’re talking greenhouse here.
5. How badly do you need to get out? That “cabin fever” will keep everyone a little warmer.
6. Keep a log. Record what the weather conditions are each time you go out and how comfortable everyone was so that you can check back later to determine your own guidelines. A good one on-line is at http://athleticlog.org/.

Up next: How to prep the kids.

Because nothing says IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT WEEK

like an awkward self-portrait in running shorts.

(2 things. 1. it's entirely hidden when aforementioned shorts arent hiked up. just fyi :) and B. yes there is meaning behind it I didnt just leap on the Day of the Dead popularity train)






anyone else wanna share?

Finally some yummy healthy tortilla chips!

I also received the yummy Tortilla chips. I cannot tell you how long I've waited for something this good as an alterative to the saturated/trans fat crowd of snacks. My famiiy also loved them and I do not have a favorite, but am absolutely going to buy these.

My husband was there when they arrived and after all the Christmas packages (I hate to shop and do a lot online)- he was thrilled to partake and gave them high reviews. My kids will eat anything in a zip lock bag :)

Thanks so much.

No Doubt

Fifteen weeks ago, I held up my hand in a meeting hall filled with hundreds of people as Coach called out "Where's the 11:30 pace group?" Around 25 people made their way towards me and my partner while the rest filtered towards faster or slower pace groups. On that first morning of Half Marathon Training, I stood before a throng of strangers who all had hopes of completing 13.1 miles a few months down the line. To some in the running world, completing a Half Marathon doesn't seem so extraordinary. But there are some of us who remember a sleepless night before our first FIVE mile run. This was going to be a first for the majority of this new group, but all were optimistic (even if they looked nervous). Among our new pack, there were mothers of all ages and sizes, some college guys, a few fathers, folks decked out in the latest gear and others in cotton Ts. I could sense them looking at each other, wondering if this was a good decision or not....and I feared they might be disappointed to realize I've only been running for a few years.

Some shifted to other pace groups early on, some others vanished from the program completely, and one runner was injured skiing, but each Saturday, as our miles have slowly increased, our core group has come together as a team. Not only have we exchanged running advice, we've learned hysterical things about each other's kids; we've confessed our fears to each other; we've admitted to embarrassing events. I think I've even made a few lifelong friends.

Yesterday morning, in weather 30 degrees colder than usual, I stood before nearly every member of our group. Three weeks before our Race Day, we headed out into the dark and cold rain (impressive for a group accustomed to running only in 85 degree weather). A couple hours later, our team finished our longest scheduled run: 14 miles. It was a moment that will make the cut when my life (edited for time) flashes before my eyes. Soaking wet hugs, cheers stoked by a 2nd wind, and so much pride in the air, you could smell it (or was that sweat?). There was no crowd, no band, no table of bagels & bananas, no medals. It was just a group of friends inspiring each other to go farther than they had before. There was no doubt that they had made the right decision to join. No doubt they can complete the 13.1 miles on Race Day. And I think they'll have even less doubts about other things in their lives, too.

CHIPS, CHIPS and More CHIPS

THANK YOU ANDREA!!!
I love the chips that were sent to us.....my favorite are the Black Bean. My huband likes the margaritta lime.
I was pleasantly surprised on Wednesday morning when there was a knock at more door and FEDEX had dropped off a big box...inside were the CORAZONA'S Heart Healthy tortilla chips....several bags and a lovely display basket!
My family has enjoyed eating them, and My four year old daughter LOVES them too. Like I mentioned above my favorite are the Black Bean.

I work in the wellness field and we spend alot of time talking with our patients about the importance of FIBER and their understanding of the INGREDIENTS and NUTRITIONAL VALUE of food items. I think that Ramona Cappello and her Corazona's chips have helped to bridge a gap between the consumer and healthy choices. What other chip has this much FIBER, and as we know......we all NEED more fiber in our daily nutrition.

KUDOS to Andrea for making this connection.


Thansk so much!

Hi. My name is Shelley and I'm a Slacker

I can't believe I haven't posted for so long. I should be ashamed of myself, but the holidays have taken their toll on me. So there. No more excuses. Suck it up Shelley!

I can tell you that I thank God (literally) for my (almost) daily workouts during the holiday break for my girls' preschool. I have needed that "me" time more than ever over the last few weeks. The girls and I are just plain sick of each other. You know it is bad when one of your daughters says...

"Mommy, I'm tired of you."

Thanks honey. Now go to your room while mommy looks for the Excedrin.

Run-Burrr-Run-Burr-Run-Burr

At what point do you decide it's too cold to run outside? I know I harp about this all the time but this is my first winter with my new running hobby/training routine and I'm having a heck of a time with the weather. I can do cold (well, pretty cold) and I can handle rain but I can't handle wind. No thank you. Can't deal with running into the wind.

Today was pretty cold at bus stop time so I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to do my weekly long run on the treadmill...insert major groan and "Idontwanna!" whine here. On my way to the gym, I realized it wasn't as windy as it's been and that maybe I should make a go of it. I did and boy am I glad. Was it cold? Yes, it was. But I ran a heck of a lot further than I would have if I had been indoors. I got my longest run in yet - 11 miles! At this point, I'm thinking that as long as there is no snow and the wind is minor to non-existent, I can handle the winter. Maybe I'm being a bit to bold seeing as it's only January 4th, but we'll see.

On that note, I'm interested in hearing what kind of cross training you all do. Is there something that you love to do on those non-running days or just to dang cold to run outside days that you feel makes you stronger? I've got to get some leg strength because it is one of the major things that is holding me back a bit.
Happy Friday everyone!!

Edgewise, As in Word in

I wake up in the morning and the first question I ask myself is if I'm happy. I look around and then I smile. Because yes, yes I am. Subtract the last three years from the rest of my life and you can get a pretty fair idea of how miserable I've been.
But, Andrea, this will be a rockin year. And, Trice, that puppy will be the greatest trainer you've ever had. My dog gets an amazing pace from me, though she tuckers out at the end and I end up teasing her for it. She just kind of grins at me and keeps truckin' right along. I'm totally with...oh, it's been over a minute and my memory is thin...Crumbs (?) about the baby jogger, just check those tires! I don't know how many runs have been ruined by low pressure. I am happy to report that my husband so enjoys having a buff wife that working out is totally not an issue and I am so, so, so blessed for that. And eating? As long as I cooked it, I'm all over it. Ain't no one in this world can cook like I do. No one.

I love you, Ladies! Happy New Year!

How do you tie YOUR shoes?

I've started looking at shoe laces and giggling ever so slightly, for my laces are nearly always knotted on the inside of my shoe. Guess it's time to fit in some flexibility training.

Zooma Race-- Annapolis

I have been meaning to post this F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!! My husband and I had THE most fabulous weekend right after Thanksgiving in Annapolis to celebrate our anniversary. Why do I share this? Because that is the exact location of the Zooma Race kick off in June. First off, our plan was to take the haunted pub crawl through the historic district. We made hotel reservations, had the in-laws come into town to watch the rugrats, hopped in the car and headed out for our destination. Unfortunately, I didn't bother to check the schedule for the haunted pub crawl and well, it was cancelled for the Turkey day weekend. Not being quitters, hubby and I headed out on our own pub crawl. But, let me digress......we checked into the Westin which I believe is the hotel being used for the Zooma Race and it is FABULOUS!! I don't say that lightly. When we first arrived I thought they might be a bit arrogant about their "beds", there were pamplets and advertisements on how you could own your own Westin bed and/ or linens. "Really", I thought, how great could a hotel bed be? We got to our room to find it was beautiful; the decor, the lighting and Yes, the bed was inviting with the pristine white linen, down comforter, fluffy pillows to include neck pillows, but still, how great could it really be?? I didn't give it a try yet. We settled our stuff and noticed the coffee maker in the room, which in my experience with other rooms is less than desirable, it actually had Starbucks coffee and Tazo tea. Hmmmmm, we did bring our own supply of mini bottles to include baileys and Starbucks liquor, so why not give the room coffe a try. Certainly the alcohol could make most coffee exceptable. Well, let me tell you, it was AWESOME!! So, with a drink (or two) under our belts we set out on foot to explore historic Annapolis. We found great little boutiques, fun little pubs, friendly people but very few ghost stories. A previous visit a few years ago, took us to other establishments with more sppoky tales though!!
Summary of some of the places we visited:
**Our favorite pub/ restaurant by far was Stan & Joes. It had more seating, great staff, fun patrons and great food/drinks.
*Our least favorite was Fox Lair. It was small, and well, rather snooty.
*Everyone recommends Pussser's for seafood and we did end up there at the end of the night but was too tired/ full to eat anymore so just shared an appetizer.
*Another great place to visit is the Naval academy. Being Navy, I love this place. It is right on the water, has a visitor's center complete with movie; a beautiful chapel, an interesting cemetary.....I could go on....
*If you like breakfast, try Chick and Ruth's, this is a little nook that is full of personality. It is a second generation family owned establishment that is very patriotic. They even do the pledge every morning. They have a website to view also.

*Our last visit we sent on a 2 hour sailing trip which was alot of fun too and family friendly.

Many of the establishments have been there since George Washington and the other founding father's frequented them. It is a great place for family and /or adult fun. Basically what I am saying that besides running the Zooma, this could be a great weekend get- a-way for the family or just the girls or anything in between!! Lastly, in closing, the beds at the Westin are every bit they were cracked up to be. I couldn't believe it!! I didn't want to get up. I didn't bother to look at how much it would cost to have "my own", because I am sure they weren't cheap!!!

Sorry this blog is so disjointed! It took me three days. With four boys, it seems that lately I can't get 5 minutes to myself without one of them"needing" me!!
Happy New Year gals!

waiting. waiting.

Alas, my plan had been to wait until I had something really GREAT to post here (not sure what that would look like---but I was waiting none the less :)).

And I waited.


and waited.


And just now realized that this is pretty much it. Im a faithful reader and return here daily to snatch up some motivation and encouragement from my fellow bloggers so Ill toss at you what I have & return to WRITE when I have more.

we moved over Christmas (Im never NOT thankful to be Jewish but I was EXTRA thankful that we had the days off/no at-the-house festivities for which to prepare. it made for a FAST MOVE) and I guess my small victory was that I keep up with my workouts even given the craziness of life.

I know it is TRITE but it's also so true that we women tend to GIVEGIVE and neglect ourselves.

I always fret about my husband and try to sneak him as much sans-toddler time as I can so he can relax.

all that to say I gave myself the gift of SELFISHNESS this holiday season.

instead of saying "is it ok if I work out for 30 min?" I asked "I wanna work out for 30 minutes---YOU pick the best time!"

and it was amazing.

and energizing.


and stress reducing.


(oh, and I also gave myself the gift of an AWESOME new tattoo (2 years in the planning) which I may or may not share with ya'll later :))

hope your holiday was as relaxing and here's to a FANTASTIC 2008.

It's begining to look like 2008 is here

Greetings from the first snowfall in Kentucky! I am glad to stay all is well here and writing today will get me to the gym and on the treadmill. I've only had a few sporadic runs the past few weeks. I did however get for Christmas a new running partner. No, I've not turned the husband in, but we adopted "Chrissy" the Christmas puppy. She's a German Shepard and quite the busy one. I am out of my mind since my little one has only been sleeping through the night for a month. Now I'm outside pottying the dog every two hours. This is nuts. I think my kids need a dog, but I'm getting ready to move to DC next summer and already have my hands full. I did have a thought today that helps. Wear out the kids and wear out the puppy goes hand in hand with running. I make it a point to get us all out every day and just move. Now we all get to take turns walking her. Happy New Year.

Faster, Mommy! Faster!

Paula Radcliffe’s success at the NYC Marathon this past November, has brought a lot of attention to something that I have known for a while: kids can make you faster! It is not automatic, but having children and training with them has made me faster, stronger and more resilient. This can apply to anyone. I’m no Paula Radcliffe, but the great thing about running is that you are generally competing against yourself anyway. On most runs, you are probably either trying to beat your own time or beat that internal clock of your child(ren) that EXPLODES after 44 ½ minutes in the jogging stroller.

I have several hypotheses as to why there is so much anecdotal evidence for women getting faster after having children. In no particular order,

1. There is a physiological explanation such as the increased blood volume or lung capacity of pregnancy has some lasting effect.

2. There is a mental explanation. You are just so glad to “have your body back,” as they say, after your forced hiatus, that you expend a greater effort and therefore, see greater results. Such is the example of an injured athlete coming back stronger after an injury.

3. It is a matter of maturity as a runner and you would have gotten faster as you logged more miles and experience with or without the kids.

4. A little something called RESISTANCE TRAINING in the form of 70 pounds of children in a 30 pound jogging stroller.

I am certain that I improved my running at a much faster rate by training with my kids in the jogging stroller than I would have on my own. You get more anaerobic strength training going uphill, faster turnover going downhill, and you can bring all the water you want along with you. The hardest part for many people is how to get your kids to cooperate with these jaunts. That is what this blog is going to be about. My PR stroller run is 21 miles and my daughter still hops right into the stroller today, so I hope to share some tips and stories to help you get out the door WITH your kids in 2008. Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Tomorrow

I remember the pure joy of ringing in the new year. Especially when single and on the prowl or with a new boyfriend (or new husband) and cherishing that midnight lip lock!! I even remember celebrating midnight when I was a kid during one of my parent's big parties. It was so much fun sneaking into the kitchen to see if there was still a few drops of margaritas clinging to the sides of the blender!

It is 11:00pm EST. I have not been awake at midnight to "ring in the new year" in 5 years. Yes, 5 years! My youngest is 3.5, so I was lame about New Year's Eve before having kids. But I was soooo not lame in many other ways - so hush (okay, I was really going to type BITE ME)!

This year's Plan #1:
This year I was going to head to a dear friend's house and get in the spirit (if you know what I mean). Alas, my 1yo began puking last night. She stopped this morning after being up 4 times last night and covering us both with (well, I won't go into details). Poor little thing. It was so sad to watch. However, I decided it best to keep our germs to ourselves and forego the party.

Plan #2:
I was exhausted from being up all night. So at 6pm I headed out to get a triple shot latte!!! That should do the trick and keep me awake when the clock strikes 12!
Ate dinner.
Baby down at 7:30pm.
Hubby let me squeeze in a workout in our garage gym.
Toddler down at 8:30pm (with hubby who was supposed to stay up, drink wine, and play Scrabble - which we used to enjoy playing years ago).
Hubby fell asleep with toddler.

And here I sit with some dark chocolate (thanks Brae) and red wine (really, really good red wine - thanks Amy).
I began working on my laptop because my work has been piling up.
Chocolate is gone.
Wine is gone.
House is quiet.
My mind is quiet.
My heart is full and thankful for all the love I share.
Should I watch a movie?
Should I read?
Should I sanitize this germ-ridden house?

Nope, I'm heading to bed.
Signing off at 11:12 pm EST.
Happy New Year to someone somewhere OR everyone everywhere.
I will go kiss my kids and husband on the forehead while they sleep. (or maybe not - it might wake them!!!!)
Silence is truly golden!

Here's to a fabulous 2008!!!! This year is going to truly ROCK!

Gettin' Back in the Groove Post Holiday

So how did everyone do? I know we haven't made it past New Year's Eve yet, but most of the holiday eating-season is behind us. Wow. I, for one, am glad it's done! I am so tired of massive meals! I'm sure I'm like a lot of people who have to do multiple-celebrations...you know, one with the parents, one with the step-mom and dad, step-dad and mom, step-grandparent and other, um, grandparent....you get the point. My kids are over-gifted, I'm over stuffed and in need of some veggies!

I've somehow managed to keep up some running during the past week. Leading up to Christmas was hard because of all the errands but once we got to the big day, getting out for a run was a huge stress reliever for me. I got in my longest run ever just before the holiday of 10 miles! I'm pretty pumped about that one still. I think knowing that I was able to do that helped me stay active through the following week and was able to do another 10 mile run and then some. I'm still amazed at what getting out for a run can do for me mentally, not just physically. I truly am a better wife and mother if I'm able to get that me-time in especially knowing that it is time spent making myself better physically and working for that big overall half marathon goal. I think that is something that some day, my kids will be proud of. Happy New Year to you all!!

Space Coast Half

Although I trained for and ran a marathon last January, and although I have kept up a somewhat respectable training routine since then, I completed my first official half-marathon last month. I was timid, mostly because my left foot had been aching; a mysterious soreness that seems to alternate between my plantar and my achilles. Basically, I feared that a long run at race pace might knock me out of the sport for a while. No one has ever confused me for being Kenyan, so it wasn't a huge shift to slow to a 12 minute mile.

I drove up to Cocoa for a warm Florida race that unveiled a new theme this year: Space. From the countdown of the Space Shuttle on the jumbotron at the start, to the alien costumes running past me, the excitement was in the air. I even saw dolphins twice along the Indian River route. Without the lust for a PR, I was able to pay attention to the moment and really enjoy running for running's sake. After feeling fine at the turn-around, I started to pick it up a bit. By the last 5K, I was full of energy and inspiration. I was passing people left and right, even skipping my intervals with little effort. All was well, I had made up lots of time and was ending up a little faster than predicted.

When I came around the corner of the public park, the crowd went wild. Not only did I have the regular race photographers snapping away, I had video cameras surrounding me. People were clapping and yelling "Looking good!" I felt like a million bucks....until I heard a bicycle approaching from behind and a man yelling "Get out of the way!!!!!"

Thirty-three year old, Ezekiel Ruto, was hurtling towards me and quite possibly would have mowed me over had the "Lead Runner" biker not come through. Ezekiel was completing the full marathon just about the time I was finishing the half. Still, it was a great race. And basking in the winner's glory for 25 seconds was nice, too.

Truth is out-- laundry is bad for your knees

Hello Running Mommies! I'm at the tail end of caring for my sick family. Two straight nights of my 4-year old vomiting, even my baby vomited once and my usually energetic husband spent the day in bed. Me-- I do not have the good luck to get a day in bed. How pathetic am I that I'm jealous of a sick person :)
I was carrying a load of laundry up from the basement and somehow twisted to get up the stairs and hurt my left knee. It really hurts. I've never really hurt anything before (except broken leg/arm as a kid). I know my side of the family is expecting this. I keep showing them Runners World articles that emphatically deny knee problems have to go with running. I'm healing and trying not to eat all the stuff that comes with the season. I must make a New Years resolution to give up laundry. Merry Christmas Ladies!!

The Wrath of the Cookie Recipient!

Ok people! Those loved ones that sent us the two HUGE boxes of gourmet (size of your head) cookies? Yeah, you! I love you, but you are apparently trying to fatten me up before my 1/2 marathon training. Seriously - I won't even be able to run up the stairs of my house by the end of this week!

I WILL find a way to retaliate! I WILL get my revenge!

I WILL....ok, I WILL eat another cookie!

Dang it!

Happy Happy & Merry Merry!

Packing up the computer on this end as there's a move afoot in my world (thankfully not ON FOOT although that would at least mean I was exercising through the holidays!).


have a great holiday.

stay safe.


And ENJOY everyone and everything to its fullest.

Life is too short not to.


Carla

Tracking Workouts

I found a new site today, Buckeye Outdoors, that allows you to track all your workouts in one handy-dandy place. I just joined so I'm still feeling my way around, but so far, it seems pretty cool! It is super easy to add workouts and then it tracks your weekly and monthly totals included calories burned. There are also a lot of different training plans on there if you have a long term goal such as a half or full marathon, 10k or a strength training goal. Anyone else use a site like this to keep you on track with your goals?

Classy Mommy Giveaway: Angelina Ballerina: A Star Collection DVD Box Set

Thanks to Hit Entertainment and Fox for offering this charming girly DVD giveaway!Almost every little girl adores Angelina the Ballerina!



This box set of 3 DVD's is super with many of your favorite Angelina adventures. Mackenzie at age 2 is totally an Angelina fan - along with being fascinated by cousin Henry too!

Win it! Enter by the end of the day on 12/19/07. Click here for entry details.

You Have The Power

Two articles caught my eye in today's paper. First off, smack dab on the front page AT THE TOP, was an article about the rising cost of groceries and how in the (near) future the cost of cooking at home would be equal to the cost of eating out. Not to mention the cost of oil and the cost of driving to the grocery store to pay those higher prices. That, my friends, is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard. Secondly, the need for ethanol is causing an increase in chemical run-offs into the Mississippi which then runs-off into the Gulf causing a "Dead Zone" where sea life basically suffocates which then causes the people who make their livings from fishing have to go farther and farther out. Using more fuel.
My question is: When will enough be enough?
Really. When I look at our society, I see a bunch of yapping dogs chasing their own tails.

Life is so much more than this rudimentary nonsense and you don't have to live like a hamster in a wheel. It's in your power, it's in all of our powers.

Walk. Run. Garden. Cook. Live.

The dots above will link you to a related article.




Walk. Run. Garden. Cook. Live.

Holiday Baking

Are you guys baking for the holidays? I am a horrible baker. Horrible! But! I am thrilled to say that I have found the perfect no-bake holiday treat! It's perfect for me because as I said, it's no-bake and from what I can tell so far (and I've made a few batches!) it's impossible to screw up. I'm willing to bet that I'm the last mom on earth to have heard of this so bear with me if you've been making this up for years, I'm just so stinkin' excited!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
1 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cup crushed vanilla wafer cookies (about 45)
1 lb powder sugar
1 cup melted butter
12 ounces milk chocolate chips

Mix peanut butter, sugar, wafers and melted butter together. Press into a 9x13 dish.
Melt chocolate over a double broiler or in the microwave. Spread chocolate over peanut butter mixture. Cover and chill for 2 hours.

Oh. My. Gosh. It is so rich and so good you will not believe it! I am cutting them into little triangles and packing them up for last minute neighbor gifts. And I think I'll need to add a bit of extra cardio to combat all the sampling I'm doing!

To Cross Train or Not To Cross Train,

There shouldn't be a question.

This piece was written on spec & ended up more just being a personal kick in the pants.

Im in a huge workout rut.

And it's the holiday-food-treats time of year to boot.

All that to say FEEL free to skim---I just thought Id share in case anyone else needs some CROSS TRAINING ENCOURAGEMENT.




Even when working full time as a personal trainer, I was the queen of do as I say and not as I do.

"You must cross train!" I would admonish a client.

"You can not whine about plateauing," I would tease another. "Have you done any form of cardio this month other than the treadmill??"

I would cajole and chastise-while all the while hiding my own dirty little secret: my stationary bike. Each morning I would climb on the bike and pedal away for 40 minutes while watching TV.

Morning after morning.


For years. Still.

And now I have plateaued.


I knew I needed to change up my cardiovascular routine. And recently. FINALLY. I decided to put myself out there and try something really different.

So I tried NIA.

NIA is a unique combination of modern dance, martial arts, yoga and African dance.


I have to admit that I have preconceived notions regarding "holistic" exercise. While I have shed the '70's no pain no gain mantra but the notion of flapping my arms and chanting my way to a size 8 still gave me pause.

From my first step into the NIA studio I knew this surely wasn't my old stand by Powerhouse Gym. A pungent aroma of patchouli incense filled my nose (!) and various candles and weavings filled the studio's waiting area.

At this point I had to squelch my instinct to turn and run (pun intended). I had the sudden fear that even with the sense of open-mindedness the NIA studio had so painstakingly created, I would do something "wrong."

Something not laidback enough.


Arriving early I had the opportunity to meet the (male) instructor and chat with a few other class members. Can I say that I was surprised how normal (read: like me) they all were? I don't know what I was expecting-but these people did not embody it. We all talked for a bit and after hearing the word dance and free form tossed about repeatedly, I decided to grab my hand weights and make a beeline for the back for the room.

My new vantage point gave me a great view of a rather large painting in the front of the room. The painting was of a naked woman dancing. This woman was naked and voluptuous and frolicking and HAPPY.

That figure seemed to follow the NIA theme: love who you are and the health will follow.


Loving who you are or not, I had wrestled with what exactly one wears to a NIA class. Gym shorts and a t-shirt? A unitard? Flowing pants? Tie-dyes? Robes? In a word: YES.

Unlike many gyms where there is inevitably a "cool" uniform (and usually a mandatory perfect body to be placed in it) at NIA anything goes.

Literally.


No one in the room either appeared interested in what the other people were wearing or seemed to feel uncomfortable with how much or how little he had on. Big women in little outfits, little men in long flowing outfits-if ever there was a workout filled with unconditional positive regard NIA is it.

And then the dancing began. Just like that. The instructor turned on George Michael and we were off.

The notion of NIA lost me a tad here. I wasn't sure exactly what our goal was, what muscles we were going to work, and in what order we were going to attack them.

I soon realized I was thinking inside the box in a room filled with people who hadn't seen the box's interior in a while.
I needed to loosen up not only my cervical spine-but my mind as well.

The class quickly progressed. We were encouraged to dance what we were feeling.
Me? Im someone who inevitable claps off the beat when music is playing! I wasn't quite sure how to display through dance my feeling of wanting to crawl and hide in a closet.

So I just wiggled my hips a bit.

And waved my hands.

And tried not to look in the mirror.

Eventually, I recognized that there were a few steps that we did simultaneously. Although I also recognized that my classmates whooped and kicked and fluidly moved their arms in a way I had yet to master.

When the instructor encouraged us to imprint these routines with our own creative stamp-I didn't even know where to begin. It was all slightly embarrassing and it was all very amazing.

I might have been focusing on my jerky movements and off rhythm stumbles-but no one else was.

Check out NIA, try a new class at your gym, run outside if you typically use the treadmill---remember, variety is the spice of life! (And it also helps tighten up your glutes…)

Ear Problems

I'm sending out a big fat S.O.S for ear bud ideas. I am so over my iPod ear buds flying out of my ears while running so I have decided it's time for a change sisters! I know, I'm a wee bit dramatic today over the ear bud issue. Please tell me I don't have some kind of weird ear issue but I really think I do! I can't get them to stay in to save my life...or my run as it so happens! I've tried the ear wrap things too but apparently I have child-like ears because they are too big!! Help! What to do to keep my music playing during these long runs?

Dire Warning!

Oh, gosh! I hope I'm not too late. I just wanted to warn everybody about the danger of performing The Rat Pack's Greatest Christmas for your child(ren) while wearing socks on the tiles of your kitchen floor! I won't go into any greater details, just know that you've been warned!

C'mon cold weather! I'm ready for ya!

So I went out today (in Nashville's 78 degree weather - what the heck is up with that!) and purchased some cold weather running gear. I was literally giddy over it as I feel that I am truly committed to running this darn half marathon in April. I'm excited about it! I'm excited about the training process. Craziness!

Now if I can just find the evil person that created those mint chocolate covered Oreos and beat him/her to a pulp then I will be at peace.

Running as a Lifestyle

Well, I'll mention this on my personal blog, but since seeMOMMYrun probably gets a teeny-tiny bit more traffic than my blog does (hee-hee-hee-ha-ha-ha-ho...ho...ahem) I'll blog about it here, too.
(What Stephanie??? Would you get to the point! As my husband would say.)
Hopefully you can tell from my high spirits that I went for a run. How far I went is not nearly as important as where I went. I ran to the library for the 10:05 Lapsit with my little baby buddy boy. He had a great time and so did I. It's so fun to watch the little tykes. And then I ran back home.
So my point is that running is a lifestyle: I hate cars. I mean, obviously they are a necessary evil but, ultimately, I have a choice in the matter. If that means my life moves at a speed that is less than 70 MPH, then that's just the way it is.
Of course, I'm more self-conscious of my Ped lifestyle here than I was in that other country I used to live in and that's because, as Trice commented, that country is full of active walkers. But I imagine I'll get over it. Then I'll be running to the grocery store and to the post office and anywhere else that I am required to be.
Otherwise, I'll just stay home.

Mommy running in the cold

It is that time of year again when it is oh so much easier to stay inside than get out and run, but if you can just squeeze in a little one it will make this whole season so much more pleasant. All those relatives that come visiting make great baby-sitters for you to get out and get a run in. Christmas Day too!

Good that You're doing That

Once I was running up my old German village's hill as one of the villages old timers was hobbling down on thick ankles. As we passed, our eyes met and she nodded with approval.
"Gut das du machst das." She said.

"You're doing a good thing."

The image is emblazoned in my mind

In case you're like I am...

and still planning your christmas gifts (no such luck with Hanukkah this year as it was too early. I had to have that stuff organized and bought before thanksgiving!) I found two online that I adore.

Not exactly running related (or so they think :)) but I tweaked them a smidge and made em 100% running treats.

the first? silly but fun. check out www.myjones.com

Im a huge fan of My Jones soda and at that site they'll slap ANY PICTURE you choose on a case of your favorite flavor.
One special runningwoman in my life is receiving a case of her favorite sugarfree flavor with a photo of her finishing a race plastered on the front.

feeling more serious? check this site out:
www.fineartprintingny.com

My words wont do his work justice but, essentially, he tweaks your photos (read: polishes & perfects) and then amazingly mats, frames and sends.


Different fabulous running friend is getting a black and white pic of her finishing her first marathon so she can hang it in her living room (figured out who you are yet? please to pretend to be surprised!)

just some ideas from a woman who CAN NOT believe how quickly december is FLYING past!!

Run Indoors or Out?

This morning, I'm pacing around the house trying to decide what to do about my run. It's cold outside but the snow has stopped and so has that rain/sleet crap that we had yesterday. From my window, it looks like the sidewalks are all clear but I have no idea what some of the paths look like. I desperately want to run outside and not on the treadmill. I've been trying to get along with that thing, but seriously, it is hard to run indoors! Anyway, back to my problem: it's really cold which I can deal with but I have this crazy fear that is taking over about slipping and taking a bad fall that could mess with my half-marathon training and I just can't get past it. So I'm weighing that fear with the fact that if I run inside today, no way will I be able to get a 'long run' in which I really need to do.

How boring am I? Who spends their Saturday morning obsessing about things like this? Maybe I should just have another cup of coffee and look out the window later. Please tell me some of you have some treadmill tips for me! How, how, how do you do it?!

starting with me

I started that blog. All the names I wanted were taken. Out of desperation I came of with mojojavajo.blogspot.com. I'm hoping that keeping an online journal will keep me motivated!

Road Trip!

Ah - the glory of the open road - yeah, right! The girls, my father and I took an 8 hour road trip to Mississippi this past week. What is it about a road trip that gets us all excited? I mean, it is hours and hours of time in an enclosed space - hmmm...might be a great idea for a reality show. Nope - Mtv's Road Rules already has that covered, but that is with all scantily clad 20-somethings. I could DEFINITELY put on a new twist...30-somethings with children and attitude...yep - I'm going to the networks with this idea!

Road trips in college meant great times listening to "mixed tapes" (I'm dating myself), eating fast food and telling your life story to your traveling buddies (typically a bunch of girlfriends). Now road trips take on a whole new meaning. Shoot - it takes more time for me to plan a road trip with my twins than to actually complete the road trip. My, my...these times they are a-changin'.

And speaking of roads...I'm just about ready to start the 12-week Hal Higdon 1/2 marathon training program that I have been staring at on the inside of my kitchen cabinet. Starting the first week of January it will be exactly 12 weeks til the Music City Marathon. Yeehaw!

Lunge Mommy Lunge

Subtitle: this post is so trite--but since Ive only just experienced it please to indulge me.

Im not great about making myself do things that I dont like to do.

In the exercise/diet realm anyway. Im fully aware (*sigh*) that as an adult my life shall be crammed with doing stuff I dont r-e-a-l-l-y want to do, however, I shall spareth you THAT rant.

I definitely cling to the notion of consistency with my workouts (as in if I do it 6 days a week for YEARS then it mightcould be ok that I am not good about mixing it up).

In a really obvious way.

Im certain that the people who are at the gym the same time I am in the mornings could tell you precisely which machines Im going to do in what order once they know the body part Im lifting/if Im there to do cardio.

today? I MIXED IT UP AND BIT AND MAN DID IT FEEL FANTASTIC.

It was leg day (extensions, inner/outer, seated ham, prone ham and DONE) and something possessed me at the end to throw in a few sets of lunges.

The exercise of champions and one which I detest.

You know what? it felt really really good.

I may do nothing else today to challenge myself but as of 8 am I already had.

what did you do today that challenged the way you think or work out?
That scared you just a little bit but you did it anyway?

APROPOS!

This morning as I was doing my usual penance of exercising the dog (she's fine once she gets her exercise, but gosh does she tug that leash until I let her run free) two young XCountry runners whizzed by me, their coach trailing behind on his bike. They looked so strong and determined. And they were FAST. I'm guessing they were the top runners.
I got to get this bod back and between the workout regimens in Men's Health Ultimate Dumbbell workout and my Complete Book of Running and Fitness, I should be able to do it.
I'm going to follow our little world's lead and blog about my training. As soon as I come up with a catchy little name.
Those young men inspired me. Thanks to the universe for sending me that message.

The Body I was Given

It's not a fact that I am necessarily proud of, but here it is: I have flat feet. Wait. The disappointing news doesn't end there. My right leg kicks out behind me, something my Xcountry coach brought to my attention in high school. (Man, I would love to still be on a Xcountry team...with a kick-ass triathlete coach and his running gear sponsored sidekick...I used to be one mean and lean little mama.) He didn't know how to fix it, so we just kind of let it be. Now, some twenty years later, the back of my right leg is crawling with spider veins. And sometimes the leg, I don't know, just goes weird on me and I can feel myself limping. When that happens then the front of my right foot joins in on the fun and starts aching, too.


And you all thought I was perfect :)

Mommy lost that loving feeling.

I'm at the gym getting ready to take my own advice and run/walk and get some speed back. Well the gym has all these TVs lined up, but I need an FM tuner to hear them. I thought ok, I'll join this century and get an MP3 player/FM tuner. I tried Napster, Itunes, etc.. and could not get any songs I liked and gave up. Then I ran for 40 minutes and it was awful. I was fiddling with the damn player and almost fell several times. I probably should have thrown the thing away, but I was determined not to be beaten by technology. It was ok and I finished the workout. I'm going to beat this. My kids are getting Ipod nanos for Christmas-- how wll I ever get them loaded up? Have I mentioned what a great bunch of people contribute to this blog? I've never written one never mind read one and this just makes my day.

On SEP 11, 2001 I was at the gym and the TVs played the tragedy over and over. I had earphones then and unfortunately could not stop listening/watching. I think I'm feeling pressure not to miss thew news. Since then I've read the entire 9-11 Congressional report and just about every book written on the subject. I still cannot believe it happened.

Im in love.

please not to tell my husband.

with these: http://tufortee.com

and not for my daughter.

You might not know this about me unless you roll with me in real life but I ADORE SKULLS.

Any kind and no Im not sure why.

From the Pirates of the Caribbean vergingonscary ones to the silly, girly pinkbowed kind.

Love.

It's going to be a struggle but Im going to TRY and not request a woman-sized version of their black skully thermal top.


Maybe.


Regardless there are a few little ones in my life who are DEFINITELY getting these for Hanukkah.

if youre still shopping definitely check them out and, by means of disclosure, Im definitely not getting paid for my love.

:)

Classy Mommy Giveaway: Box Set of Barney DVD's

2 lucky readers will win the recently released DVD box set titled, Barney: The Imagination Collection. This is a super collection! Thanks to Hit Entertainment and Fox for sponsoring this giveaway! Value of $30. On sale at Amazon right now!

know my daughter adores Barney. I have to admit as a parent, I find many characters are not always as amusing and as a household rule we are strict about limiting TV time to a minimum. However, I adore how my daughter sings the Barney song again and again and sweetly says, "I love you, You love me, We're a happy family". So, Barney is a winner in our house!

Click here for contest entry details.

Mommy at the gym and not the road

It is December! 24 more days till the big day. My children are so happy and trying so hard to peek. I usually find this time of year as an essential time to work out and remain sane. When I lived in NY I had to go to the gym because 26 inches of snow kept me inside. When I lived in TX-- 110 degrees kept me inside. During those times I ran on the treadmill, did the elyptical, and in TX I always went to a BodyPump class twice a week. I like the gym, but then moved to KY when the weather is almost always conducive to running outside and I never run inside. What happened was that I got slower. On the treadmill I always had the speed at 7.5 or 8 and ran for 40 minutes. Now I'm outside having a grand old time, but my speed has slipped drmatically. I was forced to the gym because of pouring rain last Monday and loved my time on the treadmill. I walked at 3.8 for 10 minutes, ran at 7.0 for 10 minutes, walked at 3.8 for 10 minutes, ran at 7.0 for 10 minutes and finished walking at 3.8 for 5 minutes. I'll get back to running the whole thing for 40 minutes, but this way I know I'm doing it and truly we can really do almost anything for 10 minutes. I think I'll break down and buy an MP3 player and keep going to the gym for a while. Speed means longer distance in the same time. I once ran 12 miles on a treadmill while training for the Houston Marathon. It was pouring out and I was too frightened to miss a run on the training schedule. It was hell.

Flu shot for KIDS???

Not sure how I feel about the flu shot for kids....this is the second time my little girl has gotten very sick after the flu shot. Now I know that when they inject the flu shot they are giving you the live virus....(did you know this) it is in order for our body to create antigens to fight the virus if ever exposed again. So LIVE virus means YES you can get sick from the flu shot (especially if your immune system is already DOWN). my 3 1/2 year old had hers ONLY because she goes to daycare and around other KIDS, otherwise I wouldn't get her one. WHY do I feel this way...MAYBE because I went ALL my infant/adolescent years WITHOUT it and I am still here! I have gotten the flu 4 times in my life....Twice was after I received the Flu SHOT....HMMMM what does this mean?
The Center for Disease Control is ONLY predicting the strain of FLU that will come around each year...you could still get exposed to another strain and be DOWN with the flu.....so WHY get a FLU shot?
My little girl got PNEMONIA this time.....it started like this....low fever within the 24 hours following the FLU shot......2-3 days following a dry cough....then about a week later still coughing and a running nose....10 days later deep cough followed by HIGH fever, vomiting for 12 hours, then "crackling" in her chest.....a call to the doctor and then a rush visit to the MED CHECK b/c it was Thanksgiving....she has pnemonia.....
She is better now but I am seriously debating whether or not NEXT year I will get in the flu shot.
What are your thoughts?

Not so much a shameless plug

or even a begging-for-ideas post (as I really do have a plethora of my own) but a "what would you like to read about?" query.

here's a(n ugly) link to my magazine column---anything youd like to learn more about?

email me!


http://www.goodlifemag.com/archives/2007/12-07/12-07_Fitness.pdf

Bad, bad blogger.

please to know Im giving myself 0387420478 lashes with a wet (low carb) noodle.

may I pathetically state that, even though Ive been UpToHere with work, life and toddlerville, I still have been working out (not that THAT'S pathetic...I mean using it as an excuse :))

this morning I was thisclose to losing my mind at the gym daycare woman when she sauntered in at 910 (the place opens, technically anyway, at 845) and we (the royal. really my daughter) had a class at 925.

I didnt however.

I smiled.

Tossed, errr, handed over my daughter.

and proceeded to lift weights for the eight minutes I had.

whats the point of my post? (besides NOT MUCH) I command all of you to do what I SO RARELY do: dont blow off the work out but use the time youre given.

happy happy FRIDAY!

What to do when your kids see all their Christmas toys??

Crap. This must be one of those 'what comes around, goes around' moments. When I was a kid, I was....um...lets say a wee bit anxious about Christmas and what gifts I may or may not receive. As a result of my....inquisitive....nature, I may, (or may not - my mother might read this!) have seen a gift or 10 before said holiday. I have never seen any problem with this. I've grown up relatively normal and my parents have never looked particularly distraught.

Fast forward to yesterday.

I shopped like a crazy person on Black Friday for my boys. My husband lugged the loot in and after asking me where I thought they'd never look, stashed it all in the closet in his office. Since he is out of town, they were able to play down in the basement, where the office is, yesterday afternoon. My 7-year-old came upstairs and said "I have to tell you about something that happened in the basement." So I figured something broke and said "What'd you guys break?" and he said "Uh, nothing. But, uh, we were looking for the balls for that pool game and, uh, well, uh, we looked in the closet in Daddy's office." So I was clearly (a) only half listening, and (b) had totally forgotten about the stash so I say "Yeah, ok. Were they in there?" and little man's eyes got all wide and he says "No but there are all these bags in there! With toys in them!!" So I freak and say "No! No no no! No bags! What did you see!?? Tell me!!! WHAT? DID? YOU? SEE???" Ok, note to self: if you want your kid to be honest with you, do not freak and act like a total idiot and make it so damn obvious that you are upset. So he totally back peddles and says "Uh, well, nothing. I saw that it was toys so I didn't look. Not at one single thing! I closed the door!" Then my 4-year-old who can't keep anything to himself to save his life comes up and says "There are TOYS in the closet!!!!! TOYS!!!!!" Crap crap crap. Calm down. So I say, a bit more calm this time, "Ok guys. No big deal. Tell Mommy what you saw." So the big one says "Nothing. We closed the door." And gives his brother a look. My 4-year-old, trying to catch on, says "Well...uh...nothing." So I let it drop. Then about 2 or 3 hours later, my sweet baby who I can get anything out of says "Mommy, why are all those toys in the closet?" and I said "What toys did you see?" and he says, "Well, nothing but I'm really glad you bought that space ship because I always wanted that!" His brother groans and says "We didn't see anything! He probably just saw that through the bag!" So I say "What else did you see honey?" And he says "Oh, uh, well, that robot guy and that car...." My 7-year-old cuts him off "Q! He didn't see anything Mommy."
Crap.

Crouching like a Tiger

Twelve years ago, when I followed a young man to his home country of Germany, I believed myself to be the heroine of a wonderful romance. We married, I had a baby and reality quickly set in.
I was a much different person then. Impetuous? Well, yes. Irrational? Almost certainly. Immature? Rash, quick tempered and ignorant? Yes, yes, yes and yes.
German speaking? Um...no. And that's where reality bit me in the butt. Our apartment was in a small village nestled in the vallies of North Rhine Westphalia. I was the only American for miles around.
So many experiences shaped my identity in the eight years that it took me to correct my error of rash judgement. To say it was a struggle would be an understatement and as much as I would like to let the past remain in the past, the fact of the matter is that I thank God everyday for forcing me to recognize my own strength.
I am now fluent in German. My daughter is intelligent and beautiful. I published a novel and then some. I discovered that I can run a mile straight uphill in 20 degree weather. Perhaps most notably, I learned to respect myself enough to walk away from a mentally abusive marriage.
It is who I am, although that kind of strength and determination is no longer required in my everyday. But it's there. Crouching like a tiger.

Cool New Vitamin/Energy supplement found

Just a quickie~~~~~~
I did an impulse buy on the internet for antioxidant/vitamin/energy supplements. It is a 2 week free supply for only shipping ($3.95). I figured, why not? Lance Armstrong supposedly uses it. I wasn't even sure anything would arrive after I submitted my order. I DID get a box about a week later and now am addicted. This stuff is like crack for a busy mom. I'd rather have it than my coffee in the morning. It is an never ending supply of energy with out the caffeine jitters/up-set stomach. Anyways, give it a try for $3.95. Read everything though. If you you don't love it you have to call and cancel any future mailing. I am keeping mine coming but changing the monthly shipment to every other month. And NOOOOOOO they are not paying me for endorsing their product. It just isn't very often I find something that works so well!!!
www.healthyenergy.com

Happy Baby

I downloaded the Happy Baby coupon (fresh frozen organic baby meals, sponsor of seeMOMMYrun) and look forward to trying out the new product. Which grocery stores sell it?

See Mommy at the Reunion

It's been too long since I've written. Last Friday night I had my high school reunion. I will admit that I really worried about how I'd look. I was pretty average in high school and am still pretty average so what was I worried about? I will also admit that I HATE to shop and had to go to the stores 3 times and ended up wearing something out of the closet. I had a baby 11 months ago and had not tried anything on in while. My Mom came through with a suggestion of a red dress she remembered and oh miracle, it fit. I got on a plane in KY at 1pm, got to Boston at 5pm, my sister's house to change at 6:30 pm and before that stopped at TJ Maxx to find one of those slimmer panty deals I've been hearing about. No luck there, but some good control top. Did I mention that I left Boston 20 years ago and it seems most of my classmates did not? I had all the turmoil you might think about seeing people after all these years. My hair felt too blond (I was light brown in high school). It was great to see my sister. She and her roommate made me feel good as I trouced out the door wearing heels I've not worn in 13 years (my husband is my height-- no heels w/him). I navigated my way to the hotel and met my brother in the parking lot. He graduated a year before me and sees these people regularly. My best friend since I was 4 years old (the yoga queen) also met me there and boy, was it strange. I walked in and there were two tables set up. I almost attended another high school's graduation till our event person saw me and called me over. For the first hour I was absolutely dizzy with hugs and old faces at the door. It took me that long to get inside. I graduated with 700. We had a good showing. As the night wore on and I got my eyes full -- so much came to me. First, it was so not about what we looked like now. It was who we were then.

I was a non-gossipy, friendly person in high school with nothing for anyone to ever be jealous about. People were happy to see me and I was happy to see them. As a generality- the ladies looked great and the men were a bit bald/chubby. But that also was pretty irrelevant. I remember thinking you can tell who works out and who has not. There was one guy who is now a police officer who clearly works out, but he was one of just a few. The ladies on the other hand- walked, did yoga, hit the gym..... When I was in high school I walked a lot out of sheer necessity to get where I was going and not for exercise. Also, I made sure to attend the Red Sox game that took place on Patriots Day in April (did you know Patriots Day is only Massachusetts?- I did not until 1990). That same day is the Boston Marathon and I would get with some friends and watch the runners come in. At that time in my life I would have thought I'd be a more likely candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize and never a Marathon finisher.

One of the things that hit me most was what you told people about yourself. I first mentioned my Army husband, my 4 children, my service in the Army and not at all that I am a lawyer and once jumped out of airplanes for a hobby. It is all about being a wife/Mommy for me and it felt so good to really be proud of those things. I really am so happy to be able to love on my family. I think being 43 is so great. I'm so much more comfortable than ever before.

Another good deal-- my husband got my 11 month old to sleep through the night (I was only gone for 13 hrs) and now she is doing it each night. It is a good thing I did not teach him how to nurse before I left. Now I'm sleeping through the night too! Did I mention that I came in at 2AM to my Dad's house and felt like a naught teenager. I flew back home at 0530 and in my families arms by noon. Ahhh, what a great time.

Rain Smain!

I have the most supportive husband ever: he is 100% behind me in my 1/2 marathon dream and will give me an enthusiastic "Go for it!" whenever I ask for a spare hour or so to go for a run. He works from our home and when not on the road, is always willing to hang with our 4-year-old during his lunch hour so I can get a short run in. Today was such a day. I was trying to talk myself into the idea of getting out there because (a) it's my day to run! and (b) it was 58 out and I know these kind of days are soon to be a thing of the past. However, I spent the morning cleaning after having house guests and feeling that overall post-holiday sluggishness (sluggishness?) feelings so I was willing to skip the run and was even preparing excuses when my perfect man came up the basement stairs and said "I'm going make lunch for me and Q so you can go for a run if you want." Seriously? How am I supposed to be a sloth and make some lame excuse after that perfect husbandness?? I quickly geared up and out I went.

My plan was to get in at least my normal 4 mile run but I really think I need to start bumping up my short runs in addition to my long runs. I went out with the feeling of 'go for 4, but 4.5 or 5 would be even better'. I went a totally different route as a last minute decision as well. I got about a half mile from my house when the rain started. It was just a light drizzle and it wasn't cold out so it actually felt kind of good. I stuffed my iPod up my sleeve to keep it dry (I can't seem to find a holder that I like) and kept moving. It stopped as quickly as it started but then 5 minutes later, started back up. This starting/stopping went on and on every 5 minutes or so for a bit but then on the back part of my route, I got to the base of the 'big stupid I hate you bastard never ending hill' hill and it really started to come down. It was one of those moments when I was feeling really into it, having a great run but the combination of the hill and the hard falling rain could have sent me either way. This is one of those times when I realize just how much of running is psychological. I had a little inner chat about how this was no big deal and it worked. Off I went, up that damn hill and I felt great. I ended up running 5.5 miles today which I think is good for me right now, for a 'short run' day. Shows me that even on days when I don't think I can do it, I can. Thanks to my inner chat and my super supportive fantastic and easy on the eyes husband!

Another Health Tip

26 weeks pregnant now and hatin' it! Especially the heartburn! Someone told me sparkling water helps, and the $11 spent on a case of Pellegrino at Costco was a steal!
I am all for herbal remedies, but I like to pop my pills too (yeah, Nyquil!). Obviously I can't do too much of that these days, so I am considering every old wives tale that comes my way. Sparkling water works better than Zantac (Zyrtec...what was I taking???). And I am still swearing by Vicks Vapor Rub on your feet for a cold.

Oh my beloved Spanx

How do I love thee my beloved new Spanx? I love the fact that even though I must jump off the top of my house to get into you, that I look smooth and lean once you are on. I love that you hide those yummy holiday goodies in which I have already indulged.

Ah, yes, if I could write poetry (nope - can't) I would write one heck of a love sonnet to you.

And - I'm definitely not getting any sort of kickback for this endorcement, but - let me tell you - if ANY Spanx products showed up on my doorstep I would definitely NOT complain (wink, wink - nudge, nudge). C'mon little Spanx elves - give a girl some love...

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What's on YOUR iPod?

I need to rebuild!
WHat get's you pumped up?

Two standbys for me:
Scotland the Brave on pipes (I used to wake up to this played on a recorder every day during an Outward Bound trip)
Eye of the Tiger... I can run sprints to that, no matter what!

Thanksgiving Diet Tip Number 1925610924670912874

Subtitle: while Im not headed out of town (thank you lord) Im hosting this year so I wont be around much for a few days.

My biggest diet tip?

Skip the dessert? NO.
Eat before the party so youre not hungry for the tantalizing delights offered? NO!!!
Exercise more? NOPE. This is a great time to, if you feel like it, TAKE A BREAK.

what do I give up between now and January second? Eating stuff I dont like just to be nice.

Im such a picky eater. It's immediately evident and, once you get to know me, IMMEDIATELY evident that it isnt a health thing (read: I cant stand green peppers, red peppers or mushrooms).

As a result I spend ERRR SPENT a lot of time eating stuff I really couldnt stand (see above veggies and add MAYO and onions to the list) just to be nice.

So as not to hurt people's feelings.


that's my one tip and suggestion for you: dont be nice. smile and say no thank you if it isnt something you REALLY want.

otherwise: ENJOY. INDULGE. There's plenty of time to give a care about caloric content later.



that's just my .02


HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

Thanksgiving 5k Run

Today was the Freeze Your Gizzard Cross Country 5k. It was a great morning for it, cold at 36 degrees but virtually no wind which was a real treat. After running in very gusty conditions yesterday, I was a bit worried about what today would bring.

The route was pretty hilly today. The "cross country" part was no joke. I ran the entire thing looking down at my feet worried about twisting an ankle. I like the cross country races though, the terrain takes your mind off of how far you've been and how far you still have to go!
Early on, I'd say about 1.5 miles in, I found myself directly behind two boys that couldn't have been a day over 15. They were all arms and legs. Long thin limbs flying around. They had creaky voices and were talking non-stop about video games. As much as I'd love to hear about the newest advances in X-Box, I decided to pass. There were a lot of runners and the course was pretty tight so it was hard to get by people but everyone was laughing and having a great time.

As I was nearing the finish line, I looked up ahead of me, I'd say about 100 yards, and spotted to young kids. I'm talking 7 or 8 years old. Just trotting along having a great time and here I was, behind them, breathing pretty heavy by now and thinking to myself 'I signed up for a half marathon (something I'm still kind of freaking about having signed up for!) and 2 8-year-olds are kicking my butt in a 5k?!' So I dug deep and found some more gas and managed to pass them just before the finish line. It wasn't until after the race that I found out there was a 1-mile 'Fun Run' for the kids and they were running in that one! Kind of a relief, I have to admit.

It was a good time and I'm happy I attended.

Can't think of a title

Me and my posse are headed out of town for the week of Thanksgiving. Don't worry, the neighbor's going to feed the dog but I do need to cancel the paper. Don't let me forget. Oh, and diapers, baby food...should we take the stroller? Pack sandwiches, napkins...the camera. Ummm, I know I'm forgetting something...socks, underwear, nursing pads...oh, yeah, and my sanity.
Have a great Thanksgiving, SMR crew!

if you can look past the weight loss focus...

this site has some really good recipes:

http://www.shapefit.com/weight-loss-recipes.html



Im seriously considering making my own pretzels now.

No reason.

Just the fact I now have a recipe.

Why - oh why - didn't I take Auto Mechanics in school...

I hate vehicles! With as much fiery passion as I hate a not-to-be-named-evil-mega-store-starting-with-a-"W" (different post for a different day) I hate my minivan. Let me tell you it is definitely not the "minivan that drives like a sports car" right now (true sales pitch for the Mazda MPV Minivan when we bought the sucker about 6 years ago). More like a "minivan that moves like an old biddy with a walker" on the highway.

Last week I had the emissions test done on the minivan. This is something you have to do in Tennessee before paying the annual registration fee. I think it is all a farce and is a way for the state to embezzle $9 per vehicle - genius!

Anyway - all was fine til I started to get on the interstate. I was pressing the gas, the engine was "revving", but the speed was not increasing - lovely! I was able to get to about 50 miles per hour and had about 3 semis coming up behind me - again, lovely. Thankfully, my exit was the next one down so I was able to make it without too many people honking their horns at me (I've got your license plate numbers suckers - not sure what I'll do with them, but I'll figure something out).

So - after an hour long visit to the dealership the very nice head of the service department (not being a smart a** here, he really is nice - must be some sort of mutated dealership employee) told me the bad news. Vanessa (the girls' nickname for the minivan) needed a boob job and a tummy tuck - ok - not really - but that would be what I would consider the equivalent of a new transmission.

As the cost of this overhaul almost knocked me over, I thought I would be a bit more creative in retelling that part of the story. Here goes:

A new transmission for Vanessa equals:

1. 7 pairs of brand new Jimmy Choo shoes
2. 700 boxes of Starbuck's Refresh Tazo tea bags
3. 10 Kate Spade Tarrytown Samson purses
4. 40 American Girl dolls
5. 1 lower level 2008 Super Bowl ticket
6. 35 one-hour-long messages
7. 9 iPhones
8. 5 Wii Customer Choice Bundles

Happy Birthday, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year's, Happy Valentine's Day, Happy St. Patrick's Day, Happy Easter, Happy Mother's Day and Happy 4th of July 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 to me!

Why, oh why - didn't I go to a vocational school and learn the amazing skill of auto mechanics. I just HAD to have that Public Relations & Psychology degree! Dang it!

Health Tip

A colleague clued me in yesterday: To prevent coughing at night, put Vick's Vapor Rub on your feet, with a pair of socks over it. I tried it yesterday and I swear it works! Let me know if you have heard of it, or if you try it and get results.

Winter in Virginia Part II

Thanks for all the great comments I got on my Winter has arrived in Virginia post. You guys had some great tips! As a result, I'm happy to report that you all successfully got me off my wimpy butt and out on the path and I had a great 6 mile run that morning! The cold was only a factor for the first few minutes but I started off slow, dressed for the weather and had a great run. I'm hoping to keep up this trend and become a fan of running in the cold like Kimberly because I am not looking forward to being banished in doors already. And another thing Kimberly, you are so right, it isn't that cold and I totally agree, I'm sure there are a lot of people out there laughing at my wimpyness over the weather! : )
This weekend, I am participating in a Thanksgiving run - the Freeze Your Gizzard 5k - at Ida Lee Park. I'm sure it's going to be quite chilly on Saturday morning but I'll be ready for it!

Win 1 of over 60 Prizes at the Classy Mommy Cyber Baby Shower!

Hi See Mommy Run Gang - We're having a "Cyber Baby Shower" at Classy Mommy right now to benefit the Project Peanut Butter charity - and in honor of my future arrival that is waiting to come into the world any day now! We've raised $685 for Project Peanut Butter and there are over 60 prizes for Readers. Check it out to see the gift items I reviewed, what prizes are available for you to win, and to play fun baby shower games too!

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time change lament.

For some reason after a day or so my daughter easily adapted to the falling back.

She's an up at 5 down at 6 (am and pm respectively. her day isnt only an hour long) kid of gurl and after 2 mornings of up at FOUR even she had enough.

Me? for some reason *I* am up at four...have been up at four since the time change I mean.

there's nothing better than having this quiet hour or so to work and nothing WORSE than the brutal realization that I'll be tired around 7 when the toddler tornado is just getting going.

that's about it from this None Too Motivational Mama this morning.

Oooh, except the fact that I WILL be working out in 3 or 4 hours (is that motivating or tiring sounding? I cant tell.) AND Im working on a new project which will involve workout demos (nongym. with your toddler in tow :)), free and a blog.

Good times.

Needed--Songs to motivate!

Just a reminder, I hope everyone is submitting their fav songs to run with to SMR. I am in serious need of new tunes....To make a long story short: A group from my running group was out for a girl's night out to wish one of our fellow runners good-bye ( Her family was relocating clear across the country and that made us all so very sad). Since we are a bunch of mid-late 30 year old moms who don't bar hop too often now, we didn't know where to go.....somehow we ended up at a hard core dance club/ most certainly drug infested local establishment (picture the frisking, pat downs, and electric wands upon entering to detect weapons....). Once there we were pretty much stuck since my 17 year old son was the Designated driver and just dropped us off......back to the music..........one of my favorite running songs, which happens to be an older rap song, came on....I exclaimed how much I love to run with this tune. To my shock and dismay, my friends exclaimed how such a song would certainly slow them down while running......hmmm.....I am the self proclaimed slowest runner "ever"..........but then I thought.......(this is my mind excusing my slowness)......It must be my music that has made me slow!!! Not MY fault.......Right?!! Soooooo----Help me speed up by giving me what songs motivate YOU!!! I mean submit them to SMR. Thanks! My slowness is now in your hands!

Write Stephanie Write

Just wanted to let you know that I am in the THRILLING final draft(s) of my children's book! No time for anything...barely time to cook. But when it's done, it will be DONE! And I will be able to sort through the guest room, dust the furniture, clean the cabinets, buy new clothes, have my hair done, get that root canal, call my mom, train for a marathon, pry my hinter region from this chair...

Burrrr! Winter Has Arrived in Virginia!

It's 27 degrees out this morning. 27!! Yesterday I attempted to run and ended up coming home for two reasons (1) I don't think I had on enough layers, and (2) I just couldn't breath!
This is my first experience with running in the cold. How do you people do it?! I simply cannot catch my breath when it's super cold outside. Do you slow down and run much slower than you do when the weather is warm? Walk for a long time first? Or simply run for a treadmill which I'm quite tempted to do at this point. I was hoping to make it through November before heading inside for the simple fact that I get so bored on a treadmill and if I go in now, it's going to make for a very long winter!

Ouch this hurts

Hello Running Mommies. I've been quiet this past week because someone stole my yahoo account, got into my inbox, address book, and messed with my life. I felt so incredibly vulnerable. They know my full name, address,kid's names, password. They wrote to merchants I'd dealt with including ebay and paypal and tried to get more information and more passwords. My invite to blog was there too and it left me feeling like my identity was raped and do I really want to put myself out there. I'm back and feel stronger after this whole yuck fiasco. I think I was phished by signing onto a fake yahoo sign in page where they grabbed my password. Yahoo took a week to get me my account back. They emailed my address book asking for money too. Knowing they know about this blog too just left me feeling so vulnerable. Then I stood up, brushed off the dirt, and went for a long run. I'm still out there and am not going to be bullied off the web or anywhere else. What else but feeling physically strong could do that? Keep running, keep going for good health and Run Mommy Run.

What do WE think?

the royal we I mean.

Check this out:

http://www.weightview.com/portal/

Now, at first I thought it was pretty cool!

Lots of us are trying to lose weight and what better motivator than slapping a photo up of YOUR OWN DANG SELF on the fridge (or Heidi Klum now that we've established that she works at staying fit & all)?

and then I thought.


for a while.


and did a 180.


I mean, unlike a HAIR CUT where there's no going back (& it's a gift to be able to check out what youd look like with Reece Witherspoon bangs BEFORE snatching the scissors) most of us are aware we'll look pretty fab after we shed the pounds.


I "get" the notion of motivation but am now stuck on wondering whether it doesnt emphasize the wrong thing.


me? as I edge toward 40 Im less obsessed with the LOOKS of it all and more obsessed with seeing my daughter walk down the aisle/meeting my grandkids/the HEALTH of it all.


YOU?

WOW!!!!

I don't even know where to begin describing how utterly and totally impressed and amazed I am that Paula Radcliffe of Britain won the NYC marathon NINE MONTHS after having a baby!! Wow. I mean, really, wow.

$180 Birth'a Bag Giveaway for all you Pregnant Moms!

Since I'm ready to deliver any day now, I've been scoping out a selection of "pre-packed" delivery bags that are alerady set for you to bring to the hospital with you. The Birth'a Bag is a wonderful option! Check out our latest review and giveaway at Classy Mommy to enter and win this Labor and Delivery pre-packed Bag - that doubles as a diaper bag and is pre-packed with many natural and organic goodies and beauty products. Run on over and enter here!

Aw, gee shucks it really happened

I'm not sure if I mentioned among my many roles that I'm also a homeschool Mom to a 6th grade gal. The 3d grader is in school, the preschooler goes if he feels like it, and the 10 month old likes to go anywhere.

The 6th grader just finished her soccer season and since we homeschool it is important to us as a family that she get excercise every day. My husband suggested she run with me and I was sort of intrigued about how good of a run I would get in. We went during lunch on Friday and I lifted weights earlier just to ensure that I was getting a workout regardless of how the run went. We took off and I was so happy to tell her about warming up with a walk/gentle jog first. Show her my route and how I run across a railroad trestle that she should not. I chatted about form and not clenching your fists and keeping your shoulders back and down. She's a sweet girl and listened and smiled at me nicely. I told her about walk breaks that will keep you out there and enable you to make it entirely running after a while. In the middle of the run I explained what a fartlek is and what a great training tool it is. She suggested we run to a pole and we did. She seemed a bit faster than I expected, but I wasn't thinking too much of it. My husband and I always sprint the last straight away of every run and I told her we'd be doing this. We get to the end and the girl beat me fair and square. She is really faster than me. I've always been fast- sort of smugly so now that I think of it and my 11 almost 12 year old sprinted and I could not keep up. Wow, what a day. Love it. She is empowered too. This little one has been to way too many races watching Mommy run. She's come of age. Gosh, do you think periods could be next?

Adding Miles and Time: Tips Needed!

In my on-going quest to pace myself so that I can add mileage to my runs, I've decided to do two things: (1) add distance slowly to the middle of my runs, and (2) concentrate on time run rather than worrying so much about miles covered.
I decided to add a bit to the middle of my run because every time I would try to add to the end, I just couldn't do it. Psychologically, I couldn't make my brain agree with my legs and keep running past my house in order to get more time/mileage and physically, I was beat. My front door and the couch that I know sat just beyond it were just too tempting. Today, in the middle of my typical out and back route, I kept going at my usual turn around. This helped quite a bit. I wasn't totally fatigued like at the end of my run but I also wasn't gung-ho sprinter girl like at the beginning of my run so I was smart about how much distance I added. As for my second plan, adding time, by focusing on the minutes rather than miles, I have found that I am able to slow down. I have added time in small, 5 minute increments every other run so it's not that noticeable at the time, but is really adding up. I'm curious to hear if you guys have any tips for those of us trying to add distance to our runs.

ok. This has been everywhere already so

feel free to imagine me as that LAST PERSON climbing on to the bandwagon BUT it simply makes me laugh and I now think of it each time I wet a tissue via my MOUTH and use that to wipe the wriggling one's face.

(which Im sure was their plan)

anyone try it yet?

Im too cheap, err, frugal.

www.momspit.com

Inner Vixen

We all have her. She's how we really feel. To visit mine, visit The Dallas Morning News at the linking dots above.

Curse to All the Halloween Candy in this House

Holy cow! Who allowed these children to go trick-or-treating!?! Oh crap, that would be me.

Thing 2 (I have twin 4 year old girls) pooped out on us pretty early, but Thing 1 was like an Energizer bunny (dressed up like a Bengals football player - my dainty flower) and there was NO WAY she was going to stop. She made THREE - yes, 3 - trips to areas around our subdivision (properly supervised) for candy and now has a large pumpkin FULL of goodies. Nothing like a large orange ball full of temptation placed right smack in the middle of your kitchen table to make someone like me go nuts. I'm about to go all Michael Myers on that candy engorged pumpkin and take an ax to every last piece.

hmmm...that's a bit violent...but I am on steroids for bronchitis so I'll blame these emotional outbursts on the 'roids! Think I can use that excuse to get myself an hour or so of free time when the hubby gets home? Yep - gonna try it.

I just hope I'm over this soon so I can start running again and burn off that bloomin' (I'm from the South y'all) mini-Snickers (or two) I crammed in my mouth a few minutes ago.