Monday, April 29, 2013

Here comes the sun (du dn du du)


I'm happy to report that what I thought was a terrible cold, was actually terrible allergies!  I knew it!  The problem was the medicine I was taking.  I was taking zyrtec, and it just wasn't doing anything, so I took a nasal decongestant, but I still felt blah even though I could finally breath, which made me think cold since my allergy meds weren't doing anything.  Well, I realized that the allergy meds I was taking were from when I was pregnant.  Now, if it's okay-ish to take while pregnant, that means it's probably not doing anything because there's no real good working active ingredients.  So, Sunday morning I went to Walgreens and got some Claritin-D, and my world is such a better place!

This weekend was awesome!  It was so nice outside!  While the kids were napping on Saturday, Kyle and I did some yard work, and now our yard looks so much better!  Kyle's brother Aaron came over in the afternoon, and the kids were so excited to see him!  We went to the park and they played a ton!  Sunday they didn't wake up until 7:00 - which is sleeping in a ton for them (and for Kyle and I!!).  Sunday we spent the day at the park, coloring on the sidewalk, playing in our yard, and taking a nice long walk.  Both kids had baths and were ready to go to bed!  I love that we're able to get them outside!

Sunday evening I went for a run, and I'm glad to report that I took 1 min 1 sec off my mile split time!  The last time I ran I averaged 11:47 min/mile, and last night my average was 10:46 min/mile!!  I mean, I'm nowhere near winning races speed, but I'm pretty happy!  I'm hoping I can do the same this weekend!  When I left for my run I reminded Kyle to lock the door behind me (Elliot has been trying to escape lately - and figured out how to unlock the screen porch door).  I got back from my run, and knocked on the door, then sat down to stretch out.  After a few minutes I was wondering where Kyle was.  I called his phone, and could hear it ringing in the kitchen...  then I realized it was (by now) 7:50 and Kyle was probably giving Elliot a bath....  greeaaaaatt....  So, I stretched some more, played some candy crush saga, called my mom, and then finally at 8:05 Kyle was back downstairs and let me in, lol :)

On Thursday, on of my friends let me try part of her lunch, and then gave me the recipe for this really easy quinoa dish.  I made it on Sunday and it is amazing!!  The recipe makes a ton, so I think I'll half it next time, but I brought some today to eat for a snack, and I'll probably eat it again for dinner!  It's a vegan recipe, but by no means am I going on a vegan diet.  Saturday night I had a hamburger, and it was amazing.  

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

10 days til 5k


Well, spring is definitely here!  My allergies are in full swing!  Either that, or I have a cold :/  I'm really hoping it's allergies, but so far my zyrtec hasn't really seemed to be doing anything...  I took a nasal decongestant last night and that really helped me be able to breath!  Of course, I thought maybe it was my allergy meds kicking in, so I didn't take another one this morning, and forgot to put one in my pocket.  So in a little while I'm going to walk over to Walgreens and get some more nasal decongestant.  My nose is so plugged that it's hard to drink water or eat anything because when I close my mouth, I can't breath at all :/
 
I am sooooo happy with today's weigh-in!  I lost 3.8 lbs this last week!  I'm only .8 lbs away from being back in the 100's!!!!  It's been about 4 years since I've seen a number this low (and I understand, "low" is a relative term in this case, lol)!!!  I am so excited!  I haven't really done anything besides eat well and get lots of rest.  On Monday, the kids and I went for a 3 mile walk, but that was all the exercising I did this week.  Kyle gets home tomorrow night (FINALLY!!!), so I'm going to try to run as much as I can this weekend in preparation for my 5k!  And I just realized the 5k is in 10 days!  So hopefully I can run a lot!  I'm not looking to place, just do well :)    

I was so excited this morning that I even spent extra time getting ready and blow-dried and straightened my hair!  The kids also slept later, so that was awesome!  I drank some coffee and watched the news :)  I'm hoping that it's nice out when we get home so the kids and I can go on another walk!  Elliot thinks a walk means going to the playground, but I think a walk means me pushing them in the stroller.  Maybe we'll do both tonight :) 

Last night I had a dream about how to structure my cross-cultural psychology paper.  Siiiiiiiicckkkk.  Thankfully I have more time to put towards the cross-cultural paper because the due date for my final paper in field training got pushed back a week!  I still have a ton left to do, but the end of my semester seems a little more manageable!  Only three weeks left!!!

And 10 weeks until Aruba!!!!!!!!!!


Monday, April 22, 2013

Productive Procrastination


This past weekend, I took both Elliot and Caroline to a birthday party for my friend's daughter.  I'm happy to report it wasn't as bad as my nerves had thought it would be!  I tested them out Saturday morning by taking them to the grocery store.  They did really well, so I figured that was a sign that I would be able to take them both to the party by myself.  Now, some of you may be reading this, and not understanding what the big deal is.  Elliot will be 3 in may, and Caroline turned 1 in February, and she can walk.  Now, two kids, one parent... what happens if they both walk in different directions and are both doing something that they shouldn't??  Not the end of the world, but the only person I knew at this party was my friend and her daughter.  I can't really ask strangers to watch my child as I go get the other one.  I also wasn't sure where I was going, so I ended up parking as far away as possible, so reigning in both kids while caring my purse/diaper bag and a gift was kind of stressful.  But the kids had a ton of fun, and it wasn't until we started getting closer to noon (read as closer to nap time) that they started losing it and we needed to go home.  There were a few times that Elliot ran into another birthday party room, or Caroline wanted to eat a non-edible toy (and then lost it when I took it away from her), and that sucked because you feel like all these other parents are watching you to see what you'll do.  But really, I realized it doesn't really matter because, besides my friend, I'll probably never see them again.  Also, they all have kids, and I know mine can't be the only crazy ones.  One of the ladies I met (her husband was also their) had their three kids, and she was pregnant with their fourth - so I know she could empathize with my anxiety!  So all in all, it went fine :)  My parents came over that afternoon, and the kids were excited to see them once they woke up from their naps :)   

Sunday, I opened up the tent and tunnel that we got the kids for Easter.  It was meant for them to play with outside, but the weather hasn't really cooperated (and even if it was nice, our lawn is so full of sticks and leaves that it needs to be cleaned BAD) so I decided to just set it up inside.  They had a blast!!  I'm so glad I did it because I wasn't feeling very good and didn't have anything else to entertain them with!  Both of them tried to drive their little foot powered "cars" through the tunnel, but they didn't fit.  It was funny watching Caroline try to duck to she could fit through, lol.  

This morning I've gotten a ton of work done!  I'm getting a lot of the little things done so I can focus on my big papers and presentations.  This could also be read as I am procrastinating doing my big papers, but at least my procrastination is productive :) 

Happy Earth Day!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

77 Days!

Song of the Day: Justin Timberlake - Mirrors

This is going to be a pretty quick update since I have an exam today that I need to study for!  The start of this weigh-in week, I did pretty good at exercising (Wednesday and Thursday), then I completely stopped.  I was just exhausted.  Caroline was up almost all night last Wednesday, and I think I finally just caught up on sleep from then.  But sleep is needed, and important, so if I don't exercise because I'm genuinely too tired, that's okay.  

Even with my lack of exercise, I still lost 1.2 lbs this week!  

We have a mere 77 days until our vacation!  We have so much stuff between now and then, so I know the time is going to fly by!  And now, time to study!

Monday, April 15, 2013

Greetings from London

Song of the Day: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Exclusive Teaser Trailer  .... because everyone should to be excited about this!

Don't worry, I'm not actually in London, but I did just receive an email with that subject line, from one Mr. Orlando Bloom, letting me know that he is now an investment banker, and is willing to lend me $1-500 million U.S. dollars.  I bet you're all just jealous that we're obviously best friends and he contacted me.  Hahahaha :)

Anyways, I'm currently working on a paper, homework assignment, and exam review... but I think my focus for the day has timed out.  I also have some reading I should do to prepare for class tomorrow morning, but I just can't focus right now.  It's finally nice outside!  You know it's been raining and cloudy for far too long when your almost 3 year old says, "Oh, the sun! The sun!" on the way to the car in the morning.  Well, it seems that others have the same sentiment, because the library is pretty empty compared to last week.

And I could really use an M&M cookie, but the little cafe thing is closed... that's probably a good thing!

Until Wednesday! 
  

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Looking Back on the Years

Song of the Day: Tegan and Sara - Closer

Well, it looks like I've lost 5.2 lbs, but in reality, I've gained .4 lbs since March 20th, still, not bad either way.  I'm still working on getting in the mode of doing something every day, and so far so good!  Sunday and Monday I ran, and last night I did a pilates video.  I've also been better about eating healthy, so all in all, a pretty good start to my week :)

Yesterday, I registered for classes for the LAST TIME as an undergrad!  It's so exciting to think that I'm FINALLY almost done with my bachelor's!  Really, I don't regret anything that contributed to me finishing at 26, and I'm actually kind of glad that I'm older.  I have a different view of the world, and experiences that have really contributed to my education.  But I'm still excited to be (kinda) done soon!! 

I registered for the La Crosse Fitness Festival 5k on May 4th!  It's the first 5k that I did two years ago!  Being nostalgic, I decided to look back at some of my old entries (since I've now been writing this blog on and off for two years)...

4.11.11 - 207.6 (I had lost 25 lbs since starting to work out)
4.9.12 - 230.4 (This was the first day I could start working out after having Caroline)

and today, 4.10.13 - 205.8 

I've lost 24.6 lbs this past year!  At first I was kind of depressed, like, ugh, I've only lost 24.6 lbs in a year?!!?  But then I realized that I should be proud of that, because it's better than losing nothing, and waaaay better than gaining weight!  So, I'll take it, and be proud of myself today :)

   


Monday, April 8, 2013

Turning Point (hopefully)

Song of the Day:  Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart  ... any time I hear the word "turn" or any form of that word, I automatically think of this song.

Well, I was really into writing an assignment that's due tonight, and when I finished I looked at the clock and it was 11:02.... two minutes after my class (across campus) had started.  Oh well, I guess now I have an extra 1 hour 15 minutes to work on stuff for other classes!  

This weekend we got outside a ton!  It was so nice to have the windows open and go to the park!  Caroline has been able to really enjoy outside now that she can walk and actually play on the equipment.  It was so much fun to be able to play with Elliot on the slides and help him climb the thing that looks like the small plastic version of the aggro crag.  I'm able to actually play with him instead of watch him play.  I don't know if I would have been able to, or comfortable running around with him, 25 lbs (and many many inches) ago.  Granted, at the end of the day I was exhausted (we all were), but I'm glad that when Elliot looks at me and says, "Come on mommy, lets go slide" that I can go with him.   

Sunday night I went for a run outside since it was so nice!  It felt great to actually run outside, and thankfully it wasn't too windy.  I ran 3.12 miles (5k) in 36:45 minutes.  I was partially doing the C25K program and partially just running.  I'm on week 3, which is 90 second jogging, 90 second walk, 3 min jogging, 3 min walk, but sometimes I want to keep jogging, so I do.  I would jump to the next week, but I don't want to not be able to do it!  Lol.  I think my new route is pretty good on the hills too.  There's quite a few of them, but not as bad as some of the routes I've taken in the past!  Maybe I should actually look for a May 5K to keep me going....  

Thankfully we got out a ton this weekend because it looks like it's going to rain all week, with possible SNOW on Thursday - WHHAAATT?!!?!! I really hope it doesn't snow :/

Hopefully this week marks a turning point in me getting back on track.  Mentally, I feel like my break is over, and I'm ready to get back at it.  The same goes for school.  Granted I am currently skipping my class, but that was an accident and I missed it because I was doing work for another class and lost track of time.  I'm going to try to get ahead on my work so I don't  have a crazy busy last 5 weeks! 

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

91 Days


Well, up 5.6lbs!  But I'm not really worried just yet.  I'm currently experiencing the joys of being a women and am retaining water like crazy right now.  I normally get a really bad migraine, but this time I have no headache and crazy bloating.  To the point that I was actually in pain yesterday.  So not fun.  I'm hoping that once this is over I'll go back down!

Today is 13 weeks or 91 days from our vacation!  So many body change workout plans promise 90 days til blah blah blah if you follow their routine, so I'm thinking now is the perfect time to really get back to my routine!  I'm going to try to do Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (Elliot will enjoy being able to do his "dancing movie" with me).  I've started it so many times I know phase 1 by heart, but I've never actually completed the 30 days.  I'm also going to do the couch to 5k training program every other day.  I've been lightly doing this for a while, so I'm actually on week 4, but I want to actually do it every other day instead of once a week ish.  

I'm thinking of finding some 5k runs to keep me motivated to keep running, and I have this ideal goal of doing a half marathon by the end of the summer/fall, but the other part of me really doesn't want to make that goal because, honestly, I don't want to fail at it.  Also, I like running, but I don't know if I like it that much!  I think I'll start with a 5k, then maybe a 5 mile, then go from there :) 
 

Monday, April 1, 2013

Hello April

Song of the Day: Pitch Perfect - Bella's Final Performance ... this is what I was listening to when I got a speeding ticket on Friday.  I blame the music.

Well, first day back!  We did okay this morning with getting out of the house on time, but tomorrow morning may be a little bit of a struggle.  I'm definitely going to have to go to bed earlier than I have been!  I realized that I have 6 weeks left of school!  Of course I'm going right into a summer class, but I am so close to being done!  I should probably start studying for the GRE.... hmmm.  

Along with my mental spring break, I definitely took a spring break from eating well and working out!  I'm not excited at all to see what Wednesday will bring!  Oh well I guess.  But it's time to get back on track since our vacation is 93 days away!!!

I can't believe it's already April!  These next few months are going to fly by!