My Own Little Spot

My kitchen

2012-02-06T11:07:00.001-08:00

Just got some gorgeous curtains at JCPenny (and I can't figure out how to clip them to polyvore!). My kitchen is goign to come together after we get the curtain rods put up!! Our curtains are sheer "aqua" with an antique-ish embroidery at the top and hem. They seem more green than blue at times. I plan on getting the chair cushions...and that coordinating chair is on my wish list. I'd like it to be our computer chair...so that would be where my bottom would be resting as I post. haha!

The dishes and most of the other decor came from Pier One...my absolute favorite home store.

My kitchen by annethro on polyvore.com

Valentine Decor

2012-01-31T13:09:00.000-08:00

This is not a good picture of my Valentine decorations...but it's the only one I have right now! I saw Eleanor's post about her decorations and tried to copy it!

I got some valentine plates and cups at target two weeks ago, but they have been shoved aside to make room for all the homework!! Besides these cheery decorations I have another reason to be in a good mood: It got up to 65 degrees today!!!!

New Year, New House, New Client...

2012-01-30T03:56:00.000-08:00

{this is the day we found out our move was ON! very good day!}

We are settling in to a new house, in a new town with the kiddos in their second new school this year. It's been as wonderful as it has been stressful...and guess what!!?? I can't get to the gym as much to burn off this stress. I also hate home video workouts, but I do them...and they put me in a bad mood. Oh well...this too shall pass.

So anyway...I am not doing personal training although the fitness manager at my new gym has asked me to a few times--and he told my husband "we are eager to put her to work here!!" So this pulls me into a whole new topic---isn't it so odd how you view yourself vs. how other people view you?? I honest to God would never think someone would see me at the gym and assume I'm a fitness professional...yet I get interrupted several times a workout by someone wanting to know how to use a piece of equipment, and fitness professionals solicit me to work for them. Probably means I have some sort of issues with body image, but I really don't see or get that.

But anywhoooo...I am sticking hard to my "no personal training!" guns. Not going to work, not going to spread myself too thin. I need to get my life organized and in order so I stop getting daily sticky notes from the teachers "so-and-so isn't wearing the socks that are dress code...Monday isn't gym day this week, we are on a week "B" schedule..pick up will be in the Marian Inn tomorrow (the WHAT? where's that???)...etc"

{Eliza doing her science vocab words...which were not due this week but next. She was supposed to have been doing her social studies vocab words}

So yeah...no personal training. Period. Then a man who has a face I really can't say no to asked me if I'd be his personal trainer. ERIK!!!! *squeal and giggle!!!!!!!!!*

{Erik asking me "do I look like Scuttle?" haha..get it, from The Little Mermaid?? Love a man who knows his princess movies...LOL! this was also taken day we found out the move was on}

Since I have met Erik he has been THE most arrogant I-know-more-about-the-gym-than-you-because-I'm-a-man kinda guy I've ever met. EVER! So this is good. He has let himself get in the worst shape of his life (which isn't even bad) and I am psyched to train him. So...without further ado, here is his plan!!

Erik's goals:
#1. lose his gut (this equals sprint style workouts and less beer)
#2. get stronger so his back doesn't ache (this means he will be doing Pilates)
#3. get his cholesterol and blood pressure down (improve his cardio fitness)

{Erik in direct violation of goal #1, 2, and 3! haha! this was last spring...this spring he'll be packing water bottles in his back pocket as he grills up some chicken or fish!}

Ok, so here is the plan to attack those goals:

Monday- shoulders: lifting tabata style (40seconds as many reps as possible, 20second break, repeat for total of 5sets) I told him to write out what he likes to do for shoulders and it looked good so I said go ahead and do your shoulder workout in that tabata style. Tabata will work as a "sprint style" exercise so that will train his lactic acid system, which in turn will help with the gut (goal #1)! Also, he loves doing shoulders so I figured day 1 is best being a body part he loves to train. I also played to his macho ego letting him decide what shoulder exercises he does. He hasn't even noticed I change it with "well, now that you are getting stronger do you think you want to add military press with dumbbells instead of the hammer strength?" "yeah, of course..." ;) And using dumbbells (standing) indirectly gets the core (goal #2!).

Tuesday-back and biceps tabata style

Wednesday- I had him make a 5 song playlist. First song is for getting the dog on the leash and his butt out the door. Next three songs are for a low key relaxing jog pace. Last song is to walk/cool down. Then I take him through 45minutes of stretching/ab work (shh, it's Pilates he just doesn't know that) This is building his base for a good cardio session (goal #3!). After two weeks he is going to increase the jog to 4songs...increasing every two weeks until he is at an 11 song jog)

Thursday-Chest and Triceps tabata style

Friday- LEGS! Erik hates doing legs which is why I put it on Friday. Get it?? Friday people are stoked for the weekend, so least fave muscle group is more bearable. He needs to build up strength in his legs so he isn't doing tabata style at all. Here is what his leg day looks like:
squat heavy as he can handle for 10reps, rest one minute, repeat for total of three sets.
lunges with 20lbs barbell, 20 on each leg no rest.
stretch good.

Saturday I take him through a plyometric HIIT workout. This is what we did this past Saturday:
1minute of straddle squat hops (you straddle a step, squat as low as possible, jump up onto step and do another squat as low as possible) go hard for the entire minute.
rest 30seconds
1minute of mountain climbers
rest 20seconds
1 minute of jumping lunges
rest 30seconds
1minute plank push ups with twist to lateral plank
rest 20seconds
1 minute foot fires
rest 20seconds
1 minute squat with alternating side kick
rest 20seconds
1 minute plank push up with knee to elbow ab drill (same knee to same elbow, then opposite, then you go outside elbows)
rest 30seconds
1 minute lunge back and kick front on left side
rest 20 seconds
1 minute lunge back and kick front on right side
rest 20 seconds
1 minute toe taps (keep heels off floor and tap toe on step alternating feet)
rest 20seconds
1 minute one legged lateral hops (stand on left side of step on left foot, hop across step, land on right foot only and keep going back and forth)
rest 20seconds
1 minute tricep push ups with knee drives (put sweatshirt/towel/whatevs under ur feet in a tricep push up position. After you push up, drive your knees in using ur core)
rest 20 seconds
1 minute lunge step ups with a kick (put right leg on step, lunge down, drive up and kick with left foot)
rest 30seconds
1 minute lunge step ups with kick other side
rest 30seconds
1 minute of burpees!!!! Done.

This is an intense workout, especially when you have me right next to you pushing you to go harder. Our first week of HIIT training he did vomit. Ooops. This is week two and he thought he was going to be sick again, but he held it all down!!! Woo-hoo!!!

I will keep you posted on his progress :)

"I’m running with this plan"

2011-11-06T03:39:00.000-08:00

{photo belongs to women's health: college edition

Every single morning, every day of the week I see the same woman jogging the same route. Now, I honestly don't like saying "you are doing it wrong" because who knows what her reason for jogging or what her goals are. She could just be getting the frikk out of her house for an hour so she doesn't rip her hair out and beat her kids with it.

But if she is trying to tone up and lose some extra adipose baggage, she is going about it the wrong way. Running is tough, way tougher than most people know and it needs to be respected.

I cringe when I hear "I need to get in shape. I'm going to start running." That sounds a lot like "I need to teach my pre-schooler his numbers. I'm going to sign him up for a calculus class."

When your body is at its' ideal composition (you have just the right amount of muscle and fat for your body) then I would say go right ahead and run but make sure you are not running too hard, too long, too often, and don't JUST run. You need to do cross training, core training, and some light weight lifting to prevent injuries. Runners get injured, always have and always will. There is nothing harder on the body then running. Ok, so having said all that can you see why I would tell someone who has an extra 15+ lbs of dead weight pounding on his/her joints and unconditioned muscles to put down the running shoes. Step away from the track. You want to get stronger, fitter, healthier--and nothing throws a road block into your path to those goals like an injury. If you run when you are very fit you will still probably get some type of injury (plantar fascitis, stress fracture, horrificly tight IT band, hip popping syndrome, knee aches, etc). If you are not in shape and you suffer a running injury it will probably be to a worse degree and the saddest part--it increases the chance that you will get frustrated and give up. So don't send your little 4 year old to a calculus class that he is NOT ready for and will only make him feel like a failure!!!! Here's what I think those "I need to get in shape, I'm going to start running" people should do:

Get a notebook. Write down every single food you eat (taking tastes of the batter for the cake/cookies you make count...everything that goes in your mouth goes in the notebook!) At the end of one week take a good look at your food diary and make positive changes. Examples/ideas for positive changes: have one full glass of water before every single thing I eat so I eat a little less. Add some protein to every snack/meal I eat to help keep me full longer (nuts, seeds, cheese, peanut butter, egg) Allow yourself a sweet treat after first eating a generous portion of fruit (easy to grab a cookie, but first peel an orange and eat that...or a banana, or some berries--and don't forget to add some protein to your sugary snack to avoid the carb crash that will cause you to feel hungry 20minutes later!!)

Once you start to implement the positive changes to your diet (and do it gracefully, be easy on yourself, don't beat yourself up if you slip up, just keep forging forward) start to formulate an exercise regimen that works for you. If you can join a gym that is obviously the best way to go. If you can't, don't think that's any excuse to use--you can still get really fit. Look at your gym's aerobic schedule, or the exercise video section of your local best buy (or even at used DVDs on ebay). You will need three days of total body strength training (light weight, higher repetitions). Either take the same class three times a week, or the same video three times a week. Mon/Wed/Fri is ideal, but any non-consecutive days will work. You will also need cardio and there is a lot of flexibility here. Cardio is any exercise that stresses your heart/lung systems so that they improve. Everyone has different starting points for cardio--if you can do cardio for 35minutes that is awesome, do it for 45! haha...if 35minutes is too much for you just do what you can and keep at it. Your cardio fitness improves quickly (2weeks and you will see a difference). Walking your dog, taking your kids for a stroll, swimming, bike riding, zumba dance, kickboxing, spin class, step aerobics, etc. are all good forms of cardio. Be careful if any instructors add in some weights--don't lift biceps after kickboxing if you did biceps yesterday in a different class! I also have heard many people say classes intimidate them. "Everyone knows what they're doing, they have a special spot in the room..." Ok, yes that may be true in some cases but every single person in there had a first time they took the class and didn't know what they were doing. Trust me, as an instructor I can assure you most of them STILL don't really know what the hell they are doign!!! haha...but seriously, I have found people who take group exercise classes to be very helpful and supportive of each other, and especially to new members. It's like when there is a first time expectant Mom--all the Moms can't wait to congratulate and tell her birthing story??? "...my first class there was no time for an epidural and I tore horribly and couldn't walk for..." umm, please stop. haha ANYWHO...

You will also need to add in a good core session at least 2 times a week. I highly recommend Pilates (you will hate me for this and think "it is not humanly possible to DO these exercises like the instructor" at first but stick with it--the instructor IS human and she may actually have not been that strong or fit her whole life). In two months you will be able to do all those things! You could also take an abs/core class but be careful because often times instructors teach to the higher level for this class and injuries occur. Just remind yourself: your rectus abdominus (6pack muscle) works to round your spine--so if your lower back is starting to flex you are NOT DOING IT RIGHT!!! And you will get injured so absolutely always sacrifice quantity and intensity for form. FORM, FORM, FORM!!!! Always keep good form, ALWAYS!

You will also need to pick a day for rest from exercise completely and add in a yoga or stretch class day. Here's a sample weekly schedule:
Monday-bodysculpt class/video and take dog for 35 minutes walk
Tuesday-bike ride 35min and yoga class/video
Wednesday-bodysculpt and swim 35 minutes
Thursday-walk dog 35minutes and pilates (or 30min core class)
Friday-bodysculpt and zumba class/video
Saturday-kickbox class and pilates/core class
Sunday-REST!

Now I am off to teach an insanely intense circuit class that has left me with a severe scapular strain and a prescription for muscle relaxers. I should practice what I preach, right...haha

Risingtaste.com

2011-10-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

{this picture is not my own, it is from the Risingtate.com website}

We are saving all our pennies right now for our move, so I haven't really spent anything on any new clothes items....except for an adorable dalmation print mini dress from ASOS (which my husband wittily pointed out "isn't dalmation print just polka dot?" hmm). Anyway, I was contacted by Peter Klein about writing a post about his online store "Risingtaste.com" As far as I can tell, their stuff is really cool and not expensive at all. Here are a few of my favorite things from their website:

{another photo belonging to Risingtaste.com I love this white blazer!!!}

And my affinity for anything striped collides with my addiction to cutesy casual dresses :)

{photo belongs to risingtaste.com how cute is this dress!!?}

and the cutiest pie bracelet I am so tempted to get...BUT I have colossal wrists--they don't have hula hoop size :(

{photo belongs to risingtaste.com I love how simple and elegant this is}

So from everything I saw on their site, I think I'm going to get the coat in the first picture...how cute with skinny jeans and boots??

The New Kid in School

2011-10-01T03:06:00.000-07:00

As I was tucking Ava into bed Monday night her big blue eyes welled up with tears.

"Ava, what's wrong?"

She bit on her lower lip and tried to stop the tears, "I don't want to tell you, but I hate my new school" the tears opened the door to sobbing, "I have no friends to play with at recess and I miss all my friends in Chicago."

To say my heart ached would be an understatement.

"Ava you are a really kind girl and there are little girls at your new school who will have so much fun playing with you. You just haven't met them yet."

She was biting on her fingernails now (lovely things she gets from me) and protested, "I see girls playing and I ask 'hi can I play with you' and they say no. I sit on the bench and try not to cry every recess."

Heartache is rapidly turning to anger...of all my kiddos Ava is the absolute kindest. What kind of idiot jerk-face 6 year olds would be mean to her??? I quickly remind myself that kind of thinking won't help Ava. This is some kind of learning opportunity.

"Ava, people are not always kind no matter how nice you are. But there ARE kind first graders at your new school, I know it."

Those giant sapphire eyes sparkled with hope, "you know them? Can you introduce me to them and have a playdate?"

"Honey, I don't know them, but I know that there are nice girls there. There has to be. Maybe ask your teacher if she knows any first grade girls to introduce you to." Ava's teacher was a kindergarten teacher last year, so I was hoping she may know some girls who are not in Ava's class.

Tuesday afternoon at parent pick-up Ava is ALL smiles as she happily gushes, "Miss K. introduced me to my new friends and they are so fun!! We played tag and then went..." we were interrupted by a pig-tailed cutie

"Bye Ava! See you tomorrow!!"

Ava beamed, "By Allison! I'll race you down the slide tomorrow and maybe win this time!" they both giggled. I held back tears and thought of having an awkward bear hug "THANK YOU ALLISON!" moment. LOL. I did not.

*sigh* Mother knows best...and by "mothers know best" I am talking about the time I called my Mom sobbing when I had three little ones in diapers--up all night with a newborn and having to care for the "big kids" by day "Mom, I don't know how you did it! Once Gabe is sleeping at night and Eliza is out of diapers..." and she said "Anne, it only gets harder. Diapers are a lot easier to change than the big world you have to let them go out into.."

yikes.

What a rebel..

2011-09-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

{my crummy phone pic because it's all I've got! top and bottom forever 21 LISA from Respect the shoes sent me the top!!! Thanks Lisa!!}

I am going to single-handedly abolish a fashion rule. So...if you are wearing short shorts you are supposed to cover the top half with a flowy 3/4 blouse or something--and if you're wearing a tank top, you should cover your bottom half with capri's or something. What about the women, like me, who wear a tank with super short shorts and still sweat their balls off. In Sep-freaking-tember?????!! I'm not trying to follow this anymore. It's too painful for me.

All joking aside, it truly is a hard rule for me. I get so hot and do sweat easily. Well oiled machine is what I like to think of it as...

PS, the move is on...just post-poned until our house sells :)

Feeling HOT HOT HOT!!!

2011-07-22T05:20:00.000-07:00

My husband and I were feverishly frustrated with the relocation offer that was presented to us...so for now the move is OFF. Although we're fairly certain they'll come back with another offer, it is a huge source of stress right now. I started yesterday off with a pathetic internal dialogue on how sad I was about it all.

Then I sat on the old porch, listened to the waves crashing, felt the sea spray curling my flyaway hairs, and watched my kiddos play wiffle ball. I heard the radio mention heat wave as I grabbed a sweatshirt to put on over my sundress. The ocean breeze is cool, ya know!! It's easy to forget how incredibly lucky I am. I spent time with my sister and her family, my parents, and my children for the whole afternoon. There is so much love in my life and so much to be thankful for.

BUT...on to superficial things!! Don't you hate getting ready for a day with absurd humidity? I don't blow dry my hair in the summer, hardly ever. What's the point? My hot, humid staple is a slick back, tight bun (or a little headband french braid and let the rest of my main free n beachy wavy), a flowy sundress, and of course flip flops (they are mandatory on the Cape actually). One thing I am horrible at is summer make up. I need the tinted moisturizer in the winter, but in the summer I look like an oil painting with it on. What do you guys do about make-up in the summer?

I will be here waiting for your comments about your summer hair/make-up tricks to beat the heat and humidity so you always look like a fresh morning dove before I get dressed today. LOL

PS---anyone have any advice on getting BACK to your natural dark brown hair? I stupidly started coloring and I miss my regular dark brown hair. I went from dark brown (my profile pic is my natural brown) to a lighter brown with highlights. Everything has been done in a salon and will be done in a salon...thanks :)

Nostalgia

2011-07-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

This morning, I grabbed an ultimate chocolate iced coffee from the world's best coffee shop (Cup of the Bay) and took the usual troll home, past the pier where I met my husband thirteen years ago. The humid, salty air always jerks my memory back to my summers working as a deckhand. I know I've posted pics of my fabulous uniform shirt (that I somehow allow myself to still wear on occasion) but it's funny when I think about how much my fashion sense (or lack of) has evolved.

I have been blessed/cursed with an absurdly fantastic memory, so yes I can remember my outfits from when I started dating Erik...

First date: I wanted to look GOOD, we were going to a casual BBQ at his friend's house. I wore a white cotton tank top with orange cargo shorts (both from Abercrombie) and my birkenstock sandals. I clipped my super-short, layered, beachy hair off my face with a little seashell clip from American Eagle, and I brought a royal blue JCrew rugby to put on as afternoon faded to night. My jewelry was a mood ring I got in Boca Raton, (shaped like a moon) a hemp and seashell necklace, and a hemp wish anklet (red for love). No make-up, but I did have some bath and body works strawberry lip gloss. LOL!!!!!

As Erik pulled up to my parents house to drop me off after our first date, he kissed me for the first time.

Erik: "I have a few things I need to discuss with you, Anne." I started laughing at him..

"You laugh!! Ok, listen up. What are you doing tomorrow?"

me: laughing "nothing..."

Erik: "Wrong answer! You're supposed to say 'oh, I'm going to call you as soon as I wake up Erik so we can make plans to go to the beach all day.' Ok? So Anne, what are you doing tomorrow?"

me: "I wake up at 5:30 am."

Erik: "We'll have to fix that before we get married. Seriously? 5:30? To do what?"

me: I like to run and write in my journal.

Erik: Really? Cool. Ok then call me when you're done writing in your diary about me and we'll go to the beach. I need to see you in a bathing suit before I make any serious decisions about our future together.

me: *laughing* sure. Anything else we need to discuss?

Erik: Just one more thing. Will you marry me?

me: "Yeah, sure, if you go for a run with me tomorrow morning!" I smiled over my shoulder as I walked to the door.

Erik: "You laugh...just watch, we'll be married within 5 years!!" he winked as he drove away holding up 5 fingers. He was right. Three and a half years later we got married and moved to California. Had to be the wish bracelet!!

Excuse me...

2011-07-16T05:14:00.000-07:00

At the gym the other day I'm sweating hard, listening to some music that totally pumps me up and letting my mind space out as I train my body. I can feel my heart rate soaring and then recovering, I can almost taste the lactic acid as I push myself harder than I ever have...I am definitely in the zone. I notice my zone getting crowded with some guy who was lifting next to me. I refuse to look up or make eye contact with him. He'll get the hint and back up eventually. As minutes pass by I am not polite when I notice he is STILL standing too close like he is waiting to talk to me and I take out my earphones. Annoyance is very clear in my voice

me: "can you back up and give me some space please!?"

Gym guy: "Sorry, just thought you should know your finger is bleeding."

I look down and see my sliced finger has dripped blood all down my arm, onto my skirt, my legs!!!

me: {sweet smile} Oh, thanks! *embarrassed giggle*

YIKES...

The funniest thing is I felt NO pain! Now, three days after my mystery injury I can not even use that finger it hurts SO BAD!!! haha

Vacation?? Frustration??

2011-07-16T04:39:00.000-07:00

While spending the summer on the Cape is NOT typically grounds for frustration, I am allowing myself to feel entitled to be frustrated. We are moving {maybe not moving} from Chicago to the east coast {YIPPEE!! wait, don't get your hopes up} as soon as all the dust settles from my husband's company's reorganization and relocation stuff. Oh, and selling a house in this market should be as easy as stealing candy from a....dog? Hmm. We try our best to roll with it, but were told we'd know my May 5th. July 15th things seem to be rolling towards we ARE moving...*sigh*.

Hey, I have three healthy kiddos and my husband and I are in love. I really have no reason to complain.

So what kind of workouts do I do when I'm not compelled to teach 14 classes a week!?? Here's my plan I'm currently LOVING!

First let me tell you my method:
I want to do two total body strength circuits to promote 'cutting.'
I want to habitually eat very clean so those cookout indulgences won't add up.
I want to do one long cardio session a week to hold onto some endurance.
I want to do various modes of sprint work to get some good cardio without cutting into my beach time too much.
I am allowing myself to also do a split lifting routine (not really recommended along with the strength circuits) because I enjouyi t so much and need a stress outlet right now.

Monday: strength circuit-- 15 assisted pull ups, 15 burpees. Repeat for a total of 5 times with NO rest. Then I will lift shoulders a bit and finish up on the spin bike. I will do a sprint song (20second sprints, recover for 10 seconds). Then a jump song (I usually do 4 count jumps for a long song--8minutes or so). Finish with another sprint song.

Tuesday: I hit abs hard with as much hard ab work as I can think of. Then I'll lift some back and biceps (lightly and carefully since they are sore from pull ups/burpees the day before). Then I will do 200 meter sprints either on the track or outside (estimated 200 meters).

Wednesday: LEGS!!! I have been having so much fun piggy-backing plyometric moves with heavy strength moves. My butt/hips/thighs are not shapely without the help of serious squats so I like to keep up the lower body curves with heavy lifting. I usually don't do any cardio after hitting legs since my heart rate does go up considerably when jumping over and on to things in between squat sets :)

Thursday: strength circuit-- 30 seconds punching the heavy bag, 30 seconds of lateral hops over my water bottle, rest 30 seconds. I repeat this 5 times. Then i will lift chest and triceps lightly and then finish up with sprint session on the rowing machine.

Friday: I hit abs again, as hard as I can and then do my own spin class on my own spin bike.

Saturday: I do a long relaxing jog along the Cape Cod Canal...words can't even describe how awesome this feels!!!!

Sunday: yoga

My diet has been 1/2 cup of plain oatmeal for breakfast (maybe blueberries in there too if available) and one hard boiled egg white. Three hours later I eat another egg white and some cottage cheese. Three hours later I have tuna (solid white albacore in water) and a garden salad. Three hours later I have fruit and some almonds. Then three hours later I have dinner--usually chicken and some veggies. I drink TONS of water and steal some trail mix from my kids at the beach :)

*I have actually lost 5lbs since June. Weight loss was not a goal, and I'm not sure if it's water weight, or muscle, but I am suspecting it's because I am not working out as much as I was in Chicago so my rest/work ratio is more ideal so I can better reap the benefits of my ONE workout a day. Or maybe my body isn't in hyper-training mode so it feels comfortable letting go of it's emergency supply of water {or butter}.

Kid Fit!

2011-06-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

{outfit today is simple--romper from shopkempt! easy-breezey}

I'm lucky enough to be the instructor for a fitness class called "Kid Fit." The description says it's for ages 7-13 but I will let some 5 year olds in as long as they follow my instruction--and if a 13 year old's mom makes him/her go to the class, they are more of a "helper" than a participant (although I make sure he/she sweats just the same!).

The epidemic of childhood obesity is truly saddening to me. Kids can't go grocery shopping. They will eat what you eat. They are totally at the mercy of their parents--and parents are human and by nature, imperfect. It's not easy to feed your kids healthy (trust me, I KNOW) but it is possible.

I have had way too many Moms belittle their overweight daughters (age range 5-8, mind you) in front of them.

"She is so fat, is this class going to get rid of this?" {pinching child's stomach/sides}

It usually only takes a minute or two with these children to see where they sparkle--they like to dance, have great flexibility, excellent agility, not afraid to laugh at themselves, super competitive, careful attention to detail--never missing a square on the agility ladder even if it means they go .00001 MPH ha ha...I could go on and on. Every person has a physical gift--and children never hide it! All you have to do is find that physical spark and make a huge deal, "Woah, you guys! Did you see Daniela jump over all the cones?? Daniela, can you show us that again?" or "Caden you are ALWAYS smiling, it is so great having you in class! Do you want to be the line leader to the water fountain?"
They grow to love the fitness classes (even though they would rather not do sprints and push-ups) and hopefully they will always feel comfortable going to a fitness club and working on their health.

Few things are as rewarding as helping an overweight child find their healthy set point. (set point is what you weigh when you are at your healthiest--not lightest--healthiest..some people are meant to have more body fat than others--that's why there is a healthy range not an absolute healthy percentage). I am digressing...This is the diet plan I help my kid fit parents implement into their household. It takes planning, and usually an afternoon on a weekend to get some baking done so you dont' have to do it mid-week--but they all agree it is worth it!!

Ok...healthy diets plan for kiddos:

oatmeal for breakfast with a glass of milk (or whole grain, made from scratch pancakes, or muffins, add some berries to any of these--but do not add sugar!! Eating is a habit, help them develop good habits!!)

snacks: drink some water choose from fruit, cheese (string cheese, sliced cheese, cottage cheese..), nuts (as long as there are no allergies), raisins, whole grain apple crackers, veggies with hummus, yogurt with wheat germ

lunch: water again, with protein in form of natural peanut butter (homemade almond butter is awesome if you can do it) on apple slice or bread, or they can have tuna, turkey, chicken, any fish, cheese, and nuts/seeds. A fruit, a veggie (try to get all colors into his/her diet throughout the day; red-strawberry, red pepper, tomato, etc. Orange-orange, carrots, sweet potato, squash, etc. Yellow-wax peas, yellow peppers, summer squash, pineapple etc. Green-asparagus, broccoli, spinach, green beans, etc. Blue-blueberries, ?suggestions?, Purple-cabbage, blackberries, raspberries) and some crunchies in the form of whole grain crackers (homemade is best--preheat oven to 350, spray baking sheet with cooking spray, put 1 cup whole wheat flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce, and 4 tablespoons melted butter in a bowl and mix together. if it's sticky, add more flour until it's dry but not crumbly. Put the dough on a piece of wax paper that has been dusted with flour, roll the dough until it's as thin as you can get it (the thinner, the crispier your crackers will be) cut them however you want, I use a pizza cutter and do small wheat thin sized squares. Put in oven, bake 10 minutes. take them out, flip them over, bake another 5-10 minutes.)

afternoon snack: more water and the same options as morning--maybe even a protein packed smoothie made with Chobani yogurt, frozen fruit, some seeds, and maybe wheat germ.

Dinner: milk with whatever you are having for dinner. Eat a huge healthy salad (add chickpeas, sugar snap peas, celery, craisins, walnuts--anything fun to add some extra interest to salads or maybe some raw veggies with hummus. Have some grilled chicken or fish--maybe even a big omelet (made with mostly egg whites and a few egg yolks) with frozen spinach, tomato, and some cheese! Dessert can be warm whole grain apple muffins with a scoop of vanilla ice cream--or some warm oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with a scoop of ice cream!

*If you are able to, it helps a TON to learn about what different foods do once you eat them--how they are broken down, where they go, and what your body uses them for. Kids LOVE to know that stuff and it helps them make healthy choices.

Some things you can make ahead of time and freeze until you're ready for it: healthy recipe for oatmeal cookies---make the cookie dough and refridgerate it like you would that tub of tollhouse unhealthy cookie dough ;) or mashed sweet potato (boil, smash up, freeze in a ziplock bag), bananas (mash up, freeze in an ice cube tray and then put the cubes in a ziplock bag--throw a banana cube into plain oatmeal to make it sweeter), whole grain fruit muffins--google a recipe you'd like to try, make it on a weekend afternoon and freeze in a big ziplock to thaw out and heat up as a dessert or breakfast), some kids love frozen grapes as a snack--just take off the vine, put in bag or tupperware and freeze! Mash up an avocado (add one teaspoon lemon or lime juice per avocado) put into a ziplock bag--take the air out and freeze. Mashed avocado is great to spread on a turkey sandwich instead of mayo. Ok...all I got for today!!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!

Your workout is only as good as your breakfast...

2011-06-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

Period!

If I have one more person ask me "so what kind of workout do I have to do to cancel out {insert nasty meal of choice}?" I am going to...

write a post about it? I am so tough. ha ha

You can't cancel out the junk. Your body is hard at work on the partially hydrogenated oils and trans-fats...trying to figure what the heck to do with them (hmm, I have no use for these chemicals, I guess we'll just stick them to the artery walls) and the sludge-like "bad fat" is ever-so-slowly dragging down your metabolism. You aren't going to get a good workout with garbage for fuel. Just move forward, don't dwell on it and commit to nourishing your body from here on out.

Fitness is like a bicycle--front wheel is your diet, back wheel is your workout routine. They both have to work together in order for you to move forward. The better in tune they are with each other, the faster you will reach your destination.

Please, if you do nothing else, do not be the "I'm-going-to-burn-1000-calories-on-that-machine-to-cancel-out-the-McDonald's-lunch-I-had" girl.

Don't do it.

Pen Pals

2011-05-31T06:09:00.001-07:00

"Then she opened up a book of poems
And handed it to me
Written by an Italian poet
From the fifteenth century
And every one of them words rang true
And glowed like burning coal
Pouring off of every page
Like it was written in my soul..." ~Bob Dylan 'Tangled Up in Blue'

There are pieces of literature that defy time and allow the author to connect and comfort readers for generations to come. This amazes me. A much-needed literary hug was given to me by Max Ehrmann in Desiderata. My sister printed up the piece, added her own illustrations, and framed it for me when I was in high school. I had committed the beautifully succinct life-manual poem to memory in a few days. Max will speak to me several times a week.

A couple examples:

in my head: hmm, it's hot out today...can I still pull off this sundress that I wore in high school?
Max Erhmann "Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth." And into the throw-away-pile the dress goes...

or

Erik out of town for work, Ava having seizures at night keeping me awake I start to get so lonely and scared worrying that she might hurt herself, or if I heard Gabe having a seizure (when he was really just talking in his sleep), but Max chimes in "do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness."

and when I start to get wrapped up in day-to-day stress Max always reminds me "Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."

Last winter, when Ava's seizures started coming every night and grew from simple partial to gran mal I knew we had to do another EEG and get to the bottom of it all. In the pediatrician's office I was asked if she had any headaches.

"No. Well, she does complain of headaches sometimes...I thought it was for attention."

Then they asked if she felt nauseas throughout the day.

"She does say her tummy hurts...but she doesn't vomit. Well, no, there has been one time she did throw up and wasn't otherwise sick" I thought to myself 'Oh my God...they are asking me if she has the symptoms of a brain tumor and so far, she has all of them."

Has she had a change in sleep patterns, is she unusually tired?

"Yes. Definitely. I can't remember the last time she woke up on her own. We wake her up every day. She sleeps a ton."

That's when I got the overwhelming numbness from a surge of fear-induced adrenaline. The nurse scooped up Gabe and asked if she could go show the kids the fish tank while the doctor and I get Ava pre-registered for an MRI of the brain. On the phone with diagnostic imaging I played with the tangled phone cord and fought back tears as I told the sympathetic voice on the phone Ava's height, weight, and date of birth. There was a pause while she entered the information in her computer. The silence let the enormous guilt clench down on my chest. Why didn't I notice the brain tumor symptoms? How could I let that go? What if it has progressed too much to have a good prognosis...and it is all my fault I didn't catch it earlier. How many times did she look at me with those big blue eyes and tell me her head hurt? I didn't believe her. What if Ava has to suffer all because I didn't stay on top of her symptoms..then I looked up at the wall and saw a poster of Max Erhmann's Desiderata. My eyes immediately drawn to the words,

"be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."

And I was able to take a deep breath. It's amazing how much comfort Max Erhmann's words have brought to my life. Writing is truly powerful.

*and the MRI was normal*

Sprinkler Stud

2011-05-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

me to Erik (who was doing yard-work) "Take your shirt off! I want to look at your muscles, handsome! ;)

Erik (deaf from being a pilot in the navy): ........

Gabe: Not right now, Mom. I'm going to wait until you turn on the big sprinkler.

{Weekend Errands} OOTD

2011-05-29T14:59:00.001-07:00

This is what I wore to do my errands today and it was sooooo comfortable!!
Oxford: American Eagle
Leather shorts: Urban Outfitters
starfish earrings and sea life necklace: Banana republic (surprise gift from Erik on Friday!!)

Seven Random Facts

2011-05-25T06:14:00.000-07:00

The lovely, funny, and fabulous Amy at Kelinda.Kelinda tagged me!! I have to write 7 random things about myself...in no particular order:

1. I count stairs when I walk up them (but not down)...I also wonder if everyone else does this and nobody talks about it.

2. I love, love, LOVE to dance. LOVE IT. I dance every night while I do the dishes--dishes make great dance props BTW..

3. Small dogs (and most small animals--besides cats) really creep me out. I will deny this and act cool (bc I realize it's really weird), but a little 4 lbs animal is a rat to me...even if it's a fancy toy breed. Totally creeped out.

4. I have always wanted to be some kind of performer--dancer, singer, actress, etc. but never actually enough to try it out...but I did do a SNL skit with a friend at a school competition in high school and we got a standing ovation and several parents encouraged me pursue acting, since I was going to college near NYC (of course I never did). LOL I truly love being on stage.

5. When my children were new babies I used to wake up and check the clock, excited for the next feeding. I was surprised to find out how much I treasured those sweet, quiet moments awake at night with this new little love in my life.

6. I talk to and assign personalities to my gym shoes. My running shoes are very fussy and have to tied precisely--and don't even think of taking them off without untying them carefully, my cross trainers are adventurous and don't mind stepping in puddles, my lifting shoes think they are so tough and better than my other shoes, my spin shoes are shy and intense. Also...come in *whisper--they don't know I also wear heels* This ridiculousness makes it tough for me to get new gym shoes...I feel guilty throwing old ones out. I feel like they are asking me "hey, what are you doign? We've been through so much!!!" LOL {can't believe I just admitted that}

7. I am often told how patient and laid back I am, which is true...unless you are meandering through the parking lot that I'm trying to drive in. I get personally offended by slow walkers crossing the street--GET THERE!!!! UGHHHHH!!!!

Ok, I'm supposed to tag 7 people (I think..)

Marie <3 at Everyday Matters
Krys at Fierce/Fabulous/Fit
Lisa at respect the Shoes
Jamie at Thrifty Threads
MrsChong thriftstyle blog
Laura at Anthro Closet Chaos
JG at Stuff jewish Girls Like

:)

Most People's Mistake

2011-05-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

{Erik working on his hotness}

Most people who get started on a workout program do so to lose weight, look better, and tone up. The most common mistake is they try to do this with cardio. You might get there with cardio, if you are the type who can partially starve yourself into calorie defecit, but nobody gets there and stays there with cardio. It's the biggest mistake.

Learn from it!!! Cardio is excellent--I do cardio every single day. Love it. Not a cardio-hater. BUT...if you want to lose some lbs...if you want to tighten up...if you want to shed some fat...cardio, my dears is not the answer. You have to do strength training. Do a simple experiment:
step 1. Go to a gym
step 2. look at people on cardio equipment
step 3. look at people doing strength training.
step 4. realize I am right

Stop trying to burn more calories than you eat by running, using the elliptical, stair mill, arc trainer, taking zumba, spin, etc. You absolutely have to target your musculoskeletal system to change your body composition. Cardio exercise will target your heart and lungs, which is very important--and you may lose some weight initially--but it is not enough and will certainly not yield long-term sustained weight loss.

Cardiovascular Training
Exercises of, pertaining to, or affecting the heart and blood vessels.

The beneficial effects of cardio exercises:
~Increased ability of the heart and blood vessels to supply nutrients and oxygen to tissues during sustained exercise.
~reduces heart rate
~reduces blood pressure
~may help reduce bad cholesterol

Strength Training Fitness
Exercises performed specifically to develop strength. Strength training can be achieved using a wide variety of exercises, including body resistance exercises, exercises with a medicine ball, circuit training, and plyometrics.

Strength training affects muscles, their nerve supply, and other associated structures. The beneficial effects of strength training:

~ increase in muscle strength
~ improved blood supply to the muscles and joints
~ toughening of connective tissue in the tendons and ligaments
~ increase in bone density and strength
~ reduction of the fat content in the body
~ increases body's metabolism

So now you're sorta convinced but you say you don't want to bulk up. Strength training doesn't have to be lifting weights if you insist(although I would challenge you to try lifting weights for three months and see if the bulking up actually turns out to be getting smaller and tighter, which has ALWAYS been the case with my clients). Ok...there are many, many, MANY ways to strength train--endless possibilities. It's exciting actually, especially if you're a gym-dork like me.

{dancing on the counter is cardio..climbing on the counter is strength training LOL}

There are some absolutes and here they are:
1. you have to push your muscles to volitional fatigue~which means when you get to your last repetition, you should be unsure if you are actually able to do it, it is that difficult. So if you are doing a squat with heavy weight, that may be 5 reps...if you are doing plyometric box jumps, that may be more like 30 reps.

2. You can not train the same muscle group on consecutive days. This includes abs!!! If you can do abs every single day then your ab workout is weak. Kick it up a few notches until you NEED that day of rest. That is when you'll really see strength gains and positive changes in your figure.

Ok...all I got for you today...we are off to the gym :)

***CLARIFICATION***This is all geared towards someone who wants to lose body fat! You don't have to push yourself to volitional fatigue if you simply want to maintain where you're at right now. Maintenance is EASY PEESY LEMON-SQUEEZEY!! Just another reason to get to your goal :P

New Fab Ab Move

2011-05-19T09:01:00.001-07:00

I did this Tuesday in the weight room and it is *AWESOME*

You put the tricep rope pushdown handle on the lat pull down spot. If you are unsure of what those things are you can ask your friendly gym floor staff--that is their job. You back into the lat pull down spot, the padded rollers that help hold you legs down when doing lat pull downs will now act as a seat. You hold the rope on either side of your head

like so....(LOL)

Think about your spine. Imagine how your abdominal muscles run from your ribs to your pelvic bone and work to curve your spine, pulling your belly button in...never, ever, EVER should your back arch when you are working you abs. Let me rephrase that: if your back is arched, there is no way your abs are working. When your abs are flexed, your pelvis is in a posterior tilt (think of your pelvis as a bucket suspended between your hips--a posterior pelvic tilt is going to pour water out of that bucket BEHIND you--scoop pelvis forward!)

Ok, then use those abdominal muscles to draw your belly button in, and squeeze your lowest ribs closer to your hips.

Hold that crunch pose for at LEAST 5 seconds and as slow as you can release to start position. Repeat until you are totally spent.

As a general rule, you don't want to add too much weight when training your ab muscles. Keep the weight at a place where you can do 20 good crunches, but your 20th is really, really tough. You want your abs tight, not thick. This exercise stresses the rectus abdominus (6 pack muscle) similar to the way hanging leg raises do, except you don't have to work your hip flexors. If you run, spin, or do other forms of cardio, your hip flexors may be too fatigued to work your abs hard enough on the floor or hanging from the ab straps. Am I making sense??? Anyway...this is my new fav move and I wanted to share :)

Thank you!! ....uh....I think?

2011-05-18T17:28:00.001-07:00

Walking out of church this past Sunday a woman came up and put her hand on my shoulder.

V. "Anne, your spin class Wednesday was torture."

me "ha ha! Did you have fun?"

V. "I wanted to get off my bike and hit you, but I don't think I would have been able to walk."

me *awkward giggle*

V. "It was a fantastic workout! I needed it...but I wanted to kill you. I wanted to get off my bike and kill you."

me "Ok...well...see you Wednesday?"

V. "ha ha! Yes! I need workouts like that! You'll see me Wednesday!"

.....

Healthy Recipes to Try (plus a healthier snack option)

2011-05-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

The first two recipes are ones I like to do the night before and have on hand in the fridge...ready to be eaten when the need arises. LOL...the second two are ones we have on the weekend as a family. Try these!!! They will not disappoint you :)

Deliciously Healthy Shrimp Ceviche!
*warming!* this dish will make your breath wicked fired-up..but it's worth it

Ingredients:
2 -3 lbs shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 large tomatoes, diced
1 red onion, diced
1 bunch cilantro, diced
1 serrano peppers or 1 jalapeno, diced
8 limes, squeezed
8 lemons, squeezed
2 oranges, squeezed (preferably sour oranges)
2 large avocados, diced
2 large cucumbers, peeled and diced
*I also added one garlic clove, pressed.

Prep Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 4 1/2 hrs
1 Blanche shrimp in boiling water for about 5 minutes, then shock in ice cold water. Strain when cooled.
2 Cut shrimp into 1-inch pieces and add to bowl.
3 Add citrus juice and marinate for 2 hours.
4 Add red onion, tomatoes, chilies and cilantro, marinate for 2 more hours.
5 Add avocados and cucumber before serving.

Yummy Fruity Curry Chicken Salad

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cooked and diced
1 stalk celery, diced
4 green onions, chopped
1 Golden Delicious apple - peeled, cored and diced
1/3 cup golden raisins
1/3 cup seedless green grapes, halved
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
3/4 cup light mayonnaise (or fat free greek yogurt *lotsa protein!!!*)

Directions
In a large bowl combine the chicken, celery, onion, apple, raisins, grapes, pecans, pepper, curry powder and mayonnaise. Mix all together. Serve!

Grilled chicken with Watermelon Feta Salad Salsa

Watermelon feta salad
Ingredients
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
no-stick spray
Watermelon-Feta Salad

Preparation
1. Whisk first 7 ingredients in a shallow dish; remove and reserve 2 tablespoons marinade for Watermelon-Feta Salad. Add chicken to dish; cover and chill 30 minutes.
2. Spray cold grill cooking grate with grilling spray; place on grill over medium heat (300° to 350°). Place chicken on grate.
3. Grill 6 minutes on each side or until done. Serve with Watermelon-Feta Salad

Rosemary Chicken Kabobs!!!!

Ingredients
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
4 garlic cloves, pressed
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 pound skinned and boned chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 large green bell pepper, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pt. cherry tomatoes
1 (8-oz.) package fresh mushrooms
16 (6-inch) metal skewers

Preparation
1. Preheat grill to 350º to 400º (medium-high) heat. Whisk together first 6 ingredients in a small bowl. Pour half of olive oil mixture into a shallow bowl or zip-top plastic freezer bag; add chicken, turning to coat. Cover or seal, and let stand 10 minutes. Pour remaining olive oil mixture into another bowl or freezer bag; add bell pepper, tomatoes, and mushrooms, and toss to coat; cover or seal, and let stand 10 minutes.
2. Remove chicken and vegetables from marinade, discarding marinade. Thread chicken onto 8 skewers. Thread vegetables alternately onto remaining 8 skewers.
3. Grill kabobs, covered with grill lid, 10 to 12 minutes or until chicken is done and vegetables are tender, turning occasionally. Remove kabobs from grill. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Super Snack (doubles as a house air freshener as well)
Homemade Healthier Roasted Pecans!!

1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
2 1/4 cups pecan halves
1/2 cup white sugar (I use splenda instead)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon clove

Directions
Preheat oven to 225 degrees F (105 degrees C). Lightly grease a rimmed baking pan.
Combine the egg white and water in a mixing bowl; beat until fluffy. Fold in the pecans to coat evenly. Combine the sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove in a bowl or cup with a lid. Dust the pecans evenly with the sugar mixture. Spread the nuts over the prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven until toasted and fragrant, stirring every 15 minutes, about 1 hour. Cool on pan, and store in an airtight container.

Dino Dreams

2011-05-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

In the minivan...

Gabe: Mom, I already know what I want to be for a job when I grow up.

me: Cool! What is it?

Gabe: (in a gravelly voice) A DINOSAUR TRAINER!!!!

me: Very exciting! But, you think you'd really enjoy that? You get very frightened by houseflies Gabe.

Gabe: Ugh, MOM! Flies might be hiding stingers and they could STING you?!

me: Hmm, but dinosaurs are gigantic meat eaters. They could kill you.

Gabe: Not if they are trained.

Brainstorm...

2011-05-17T05:18:00.001-07:00

Untitled by Anne-thro featuring floral print dresses

Ok, I need help with these items. The striped shoes, I can probably figure out, but the red ones wiht the polka dot bow are giving me trouble. What would you wear them with??

The yellow striped dress has a really cool back to it...I think I'd go simple with sandals, but what kind of bracelet??

And the striped maxi skirt...I LOOOOVE...I was thinking plain black tank, and that's as far as I got. (hmm wonder where I got that idea from...LOL) What else?

And the cream & floral dress...what shoes?????

Any ideas appreciated!! Thnak you :)

Plateau Poison

2011-05-15T18:59:00.001-07:00

So you start up an exercise program, lose the first XX lbs and then you just sit there, close to your goal but not making any strides. This is what is called a plateau. You are staying the same...working hard, but not seeing any results. There is a cure for that. It's called an early morning interval session. Take one every morning with water (5 or six days a week) for 12 weeks and the plateau will be gone.

*You have to finish the prescription...you can't take it a few mornings and stop!! Give the prescription the time it needs to work for you. It will work...assuming you are human.*

This will kill your fitness plateau faster than you can say "is Anne absolutely insane???!!"

Doing the same old, same old exercise routine will not actually yield the same old results. Your body gets very efficient and adapts. A workout that takes so much effort that it burns 300 calories for you, after doing that same thing--same time, same intensity--over and over, your body will get so good at it you can perform the same task but expend less energy, making it burn less calories for you. That is why I NEVER encourage people to put much weight in the calorie count of cardio machines. They are too generous, in my opinion. Look at the people on the same cardio machines, day after day...they aren't usually the most fit in the gym. So...here is an easy (by easy I mean it is possible to do, although it may make you want to vomit and hit me--in reverse order) early first-thing-in-the-morning interval routine you can add to your already existing exercise routine to give your plateau an eviction notice.

Wake up, throw on the exercise clothes you laid out the night before (or sleep in them, whatevs) and start your interval session:

jump rope for one minute (if jumping rope for one minute is too much for your coordination, just pretend you are holding a rope and jump)
no rest, two minutes of lunges
back to one minute jumping rope
now two minutes of squats
back to one minute jumping rope
back to two minutes lunges
finish it strong with one minute of jumping rope

That is all. Try it five or six days a week and see what you notice!! I find it increases my metabolism all throughout the day...boosts my early morning energy level and mood...and best of all, my exercise regime seems to get an extra ooomph! I overcome the slum of not getting stronger, faster, fitter!! :)

Rainy Saturday

2011-05-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

{urban outfitter blazer, anthropologie maryam tank, banana republic outlet jeans, steve madden heels}

It's not warm and it's not sunny, but it's Saturday!! Rainy Saturdays are great for seeing movies...so that is where I'm going with one of my buddies. We're going to see Bridesmaids :)

Mother's Day dress...few days late

2011-05-10T11:56:00.000-07:00

This is the dress I wore on Mother's Day. It's a Kate Spade dress I found on ebay. My shoes are also from ebay (pink duchess)...my pearl necklace (that you can't really see LOL) was a gift my husband got in Japan when he was deployed for the birth of our first baby (born in June, hence pearl...awww, I know haha).

We went out to eat after church on Sunday (like the rest of Chicagoland) and had an offensively long wait time--but didn't mind a bit because we got to bask in the gorgeous sunshine right on the river...even the kids enjoyed themselves. After brunch-turned-into-dinner-becuase-it-took-for-freakin-EVER, we went to the park and got a little sunburnt. Sitting on a bench with Erik, holding his hand and watching our little ones play--it truly is the simple things that bring the most treasured moments.

Feeling hot, hot, hot!!!

2011-05-10T11:43:00.001-07:00

Wooah doggy! So the frost advisory we got last week has been replaced with brow dripping HOT weather this week. And I love it!! Gabe and I hit the park after dropping Ava off for afternoon kindergarten. We had to leave the park earlier than we planned to go on an emergency popsicle run.

I wore my free people halter crocheted dress, banana republic outlet flat slingbacks (bronze), and a bronze cuff bracelet from Pier 1 (and all of those items are older than your first car so if you want them you'll have to visit an antique store LOL).

Outfit of the Day

2011-05-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

cardigan: JCrew
Dress: Dorothy Perkins
Shoes: Naturalizer

That is all...just my outfit. Happy Friday :)

Puppy Love

2011-05-05T04:29:00.000-07:00

"A man may smile and bid you hail

Yet wish you to the devil;

But when a good dog wags his tail,

You know he's on the level."

- Author Unknown

Leading little feet with faith

2011-05-02T06:21:00.000-07:00

Some days, as a parent, I can feel a little lost and confused. Being completely responsible for another person (x3!) is not something I take lightly. It can totally stress me out and make me second guess myself like CRAZY! This morning I was doing just that as I got Eliza's lunch ready in the wee hours of the morning. Then a song came up on my playlist. It's written and sung by my cousin, Ryan. As the song came on I just sat down with my coffee and enjoyed the sun that was creeping through the crack in the curtains. I opened the curtains, relaxed in the sun and felt totally at peace. Here are some of the lyrics to his song, "Pray"

"...Pray to the spring that will teach you how to sing when your words have all run dry. Then give your soul, empty and used, to the light that knows what the tree needs to grow, the breath that breathes when the gentle breeze blows, the faith that teaches every mind what it knows. He's going to lead these wandering feet. He's going to lead these wandering feet..."

Birthday and Bubbles

2011-04-30T19:20:00.001-07:00

Untitled by Anne-thro featuring silver stud earrings

Here is what I wore to a 4yr old birthday party today. The sun couldn't decide if he wanted to join the party or hide behind some thick clouds, but my boden sweater kept me warm through Mr. Sun's indecisiveness. Sitting on the deck with a handful of friends, I watched my kids blow bubbles and run around laughing with their buddies. What a simple, genuine pleasure it is to relax and enjoy the company of friends. It's sweet moments like that where I remind myself "this too shall pass" and I do all I can to savor my kids' fleeting childhood moments. Then Gabe stumbled onto the deck, tripped and spilled an entire bottle of bubble mix down the inside of my boot. As I handed off the 8 week old baby to his Mom so I could attend to my soggy jean/sock situation, the aforementioned baby spit up in my hair and ear. I didn't get upset, I just cracked open another Mike's hard lemonade and reminded myself "this too shall pass." They won't stay little forever...{a tear and a fist pump}

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday Bandit...oh snap!!

2011-04-29T06:13:00.000-07:00

I saw these interesting fitness/fashion questions on Krys' blog "Fierce Fabulous Fit" If I knew how to post a link, I would. Yes, I am that pathetic. I want to join the fitness/fashion blog community she belongs to, but again...my technical skills are so limited I couldn't find the page she was referring her readers to. LOL...without further embarrassment to myself and my stellar type-writer skills, here are the questions and my answers :)

1. Do you keep some kind of fitness routine? Why?

Absolutely! Well, besides being obligated to teach my 14 classes a week (spin, abs, kid fit, bodysculpt, silver sensations, etc.) I write out a workout plan for myself. I will do my best to stick to a training program for 12 weeks and then move on to a new program I design for myself. I have four "seasons" to my workout plans...I try to challenge myself and push my "perceived boundaries." I can't run a 5 min 30second mile. Wait...I just did. See? Feels awesome :)

This may sound silly {stupid}, but I don't know why, exactly. Why is my favorite color blue? I don't know. Fitness is just something that truly inspires me and it is also something that brings a lot of enjoyment to my life.

2. Has working out, maybe training for a marathon or something of that nature, helped with your own perception of body image?

Helped? I don't know if I would say helped. Like many (all?) women there are tons of things I don't love about my body...but I try to keep myself focused on what my body is capable of doing and not what it looks like. I wish I was a few inches taller but no amount of gym-time is going to add some height! While focusing on my body's physical capability may seem like a healthy approach, I can be quite hard on myself when it comes to athletic performance. A few years back I put so much pressure on myself training for the Chicago marathon (ahem*holding..6min/mile..pace..for..my..ten..mile run*ahem) that I ended up with a stress fractured femur. It was very stupid of me, I totally knew better. I felt like a huge failure on so many levels, and I felt really old. I was furious with my body for letting me down.

On the other hand, I won first place in several 5k races I did, and while that was a fantastic feeling, I didn't quite let myself enjoy it long before my internal voice started in, "that was a slow race, you need to sign up for a faster race and see if you can beat this time.." so I think my competitive streak gets the best of me when training for races. *no races on tap this year* LOL

But having said all that (and confirming your suspicion that I may be really weird) there is such a huge sense of satisfaction in seeing strength and endurance gains. I am proud of my hard work most days.

3. When you are hitting the gym or just going out for a long walk what do you wear? Is it about functionality or fashion?

BOTH!! I saw my sister wear a running skirt a few years back and bit her style faster than you can say "lululemon athletica!"

Fitness fashion styles I love :

~cute skirts
~athletic halter tops
~lululemon deep-v athletic tanks
~lululemon's power-Y tank tops
*Occasionally I'll wear a wife-beater tank, but that's usually only if I haven't done laundry and have no other options

Functionality:

~anti-chaffing pieces for long runs
~no halter tops if I need upper-body support ;)
~lululemon's anti-stink pieces when I have 2 or more classes in a row
~pre-wrap in my hair to keep the strays out of my eyes
~french braids for days I do bench press (nothing like a bun or ponytail digging into the back of your head LOL
~mizuno wave rider running shoes for my running days
~hard soled cross trainers for lifting
~spin shoes for spin (derr)
~Red Sox zip up as a cover up!

4. Do you feel there is a cultural perception of what you ‘should’ be doing for your own physical fitness?

Overall, I feel very much encouraged by the people I encounter. In the weight room people ask me for tips on how to train. One of the other trainers in my gym told me that the most popular goal of her clients is to have my figure (which is so humbling...I feel like saying "tell them not to look too closely!" ha ha). In my kids' school environment I get a lot of compliments on my physique and get asked what I eat and what my workout routines are. In the grocery store I have had people make comments like "if I copy what you have in your cart can I look like you!?" LOL! So I'd have to say that the people I've encountered feel like they "should" be doing what I'm doing.

5. Dream big… what would be your ultimate fitness goal.

I am so scared to put this down!! aaahhhh...Ok. Let me preface this goal with: if I EVER do this I will keep it a secret and not tell a soul...maybe.
Ok, compete in a fitness or figure competition. The first time I was asked if I "compete" I was stumped..."umm, compete in what? Road races?" and when he said "no fitness competitions" I was offended! I am muscular but I don't look like those girls!! Then I went to a show that my friend was in, and those girls are AWESOME! I'd like to try a competition because it is pretty far out of my comfort zone; equal parts exciting and scarey. I would never want anyone I know to see me in a sparkling bedazzled bikini flexing on stage (CRINGE!). So there...that's my "dream big" goal (since a marathon was a failure of epic proportions)! LOL

Help Wanted

2011-04-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

Ok...I need some brainstorming ideas from brains that are not in my own head...becuase my own head is really tired and confused and lazy these days.

First we have sea scallops...

#1. How would you wear this scalloped skirt? Should I throw a belt with it? Untuck the shirt? What kind of accessories should I wear? Any ideas are appreciated!!

Next we have {un-ironed} lacey dijon...

#2. I love this dress but I don't know what shoes to wear with it..or what kind of earrings/necklace? Or belt...I think I want to put a darker belt with it...I dunno. Help, please :)

And lastly we have candy stripes..

#3. Again, I love this dress...and I also love the lemon yellow shoes with white polka dots with it...I also have pink shoes I could pair it with...and I have a pink belt I could put on with it too...but what kind of earrings? Necklace? Any creative ideas are welcome and thank you!

Wait, how old am I?

2011-04-27T06:37:00.001-07:00

I mentioned before that sometimes I forget I'm no longer a college athlete..that I am getting a year older, every year, and that keeping my exercise regimen at one suited for a 20 year old athlete isn't quite appropriate (ahem, smart) right?

Today, I feel old. The pain in my right knee is actually audible, the vice grip my hip flexors have on my femur and pelvis makes walking kind of tricky, and the familiar achey-creaking in my wrist will probably not be resolved by a shot of cortisone like it was in college. I am not a college athlete, yet I train like I am...today I feel it.

SO...on to a reassessment of my own training schedule. This brings me a huge amount of anxiety/dread because I burn off stress with intense workouts. I also truly love, love, love these regimens that leave me almost crippled. Ok, I am being dramatic, but I'm sad.

So I am formulating a new plan for Anne. It will bring more yoga to my life (eye roll) and my "runs" will incorporate walking breaks (eye roll and foot stomp), and my lifting schedule? I don't know. I'm thinking maybe change it to core challenging balancing stuff while lifting *sigh* so I am not able to go real heavy. I am also thinking maybe a (cringe) total body routine just twice a week.

Anyway...I'm off to teach silver sensations...and to be honest, I don't konw if my body can handle it right now. ha ha!!

Ava's deep-blue laughing eyes...

2011-04-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

Ava's diagnosis has been tricky for us. I'm thankful for so much; her being seizure free for a month is on the top of the list. There is just so much heartache and headache with all the medicine tweaking and it can really shake my confidence as a Mom.

Her medicine is making her very groggy. She will take a 4-5 hour nap on non-school days...and she'll still go to bed for 10 hours. It's not Ava. It's odd. I lose my patience with her way more than I care to admit. The crying, the whining, the fussing...it gets too much at times.

It's different for Erik. He is always patient with her. He knows how to finesse her moods and make her calm. Since she was a baby there's a song he would sing to her, "Katie-bell". He changes it to "Ava-belle". LOL It's written by guy Clarke (I think) but the sentiment is so spot-on for his relationship with Ava. Erik sings this to her every night. Lately he has been singing it in the morning too. She is a tired, tired baby girl :(

There is no deeper blue
in the ocean that lies
as deep as the blue
of your laughing eyes
no sweeter sound
than your gentle sigh
no heart was ever so pure

Dream pretty dreams
touch beautiful things
let all the skies surround you
swim with the swans
and believe that upon
some glorious dawn
love will find you

Come some day
I'm bound away
wind and wings on the water
whatever may
you must stay
and remain my beautiful daughter

There is no deeper blue
in the ocean that lies
as deep as the blue
of your laughing eyes
no sweeter sound
than your gentle sigh
no heart was ever so pure

Good night Ava Belle, good night

LEGS!!!!

2011-04-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

I worked legs today...man oh man...fatigue has already set in!

Squats: I used the bar and two 45lbs plates. I did 10 sets of 10 reps.
If you are partial to just using your body weight, I recommend doing explosive jumping squats (called jumpies) 10 sets of 15-20 jumps

*difference between using weights and using body weight* bigger weight = bigger muscle. If you are like me and you have no hips, a more then modest backside, and thighs that never fill a pair of skinny jeans you probably want to try to go as heavy as you can.

If you are pear shaped, have a curvy backside, or just want to shave off AND tone your butt/thigh area then jumping is the way to go. Your body is a very smart machine. The bigger your body is the harder it is to jump. You keep jumping and your body will respond by getting smaller--because being smaller will make jumping easier.

One-legged squats: no weight, just your body weight. This is best done with a partner. Stand on top of a box (or a chair at home) stand with right leg on box/chair and your left leg dangling, squat and go back up to start position. Try to get your left foot as close to the ground as possible. Hold onto your partner's hand and have them assist you as needed. Ten repetitions, three sets.

*one-legged squats are great for coordination, balance, and while you're only using your body weight, it's one leg doing all the work. It won't add shape/bulk, but it will strengthen your legs significantly. This is an athletic training exercise.

Lunge-walk with medicine ball toss: hold onto medicine ball handle with right hand. Lunge forward with left leg, as you drive up with your left leg (specifically glute) use that momentum to toss the medicine ball slightly in front of you. Catch the ball with your left hand as you step forward with your right leg and repeat. I do this the length of our track (1/6 of a mile). It's tough...it will add shape, tone, and definition to your leg. You can't be sheepish and do this...it draws attention to you and you will drop the ball at least once. No biggie :)

Step-ups super-setted with frog tuck jumps: Ok...you need a good bra for this exercise. What? Just a friendly heads-up! Ok...step-ups: I used a set of 15lb dumb bells. Stop judging me, I was fatigued!! You can go heavier (if you have something to prove) if you really need some added volume to you badonkadonk...or you can go lighter/no weight if you would just like tone and slimming effects. Put right foot on bench (or chair). Make sure you heel is on the bench/chair...put all your weight in your heel and drive up...push so you are standing up on top. Lower yourself back down s...ll....ooooo....wwww...llll....yyy. No, slower! Make it TOUGH! Do ten on each leg (alternating). Then no time for rest, grab a medicine ball (10 lbs max) or nothing and squat as low as you can (think softball catcher position) and jump up as high as possible and drive those knees UP and into your chest. Try for ten. I got eight in. Rest and repeat for a total of three sets. I had a guy who thinks he is so funny keep saying "Ribbit" as I was doing this. Rage-o-meter = seven

Calf-raises: to really get your calves good you have to mix it up. I did one set of 100 as fast as possible with no weight. Then I put 135 lbs (in the form of a bar and two plates) on my shoulders and did ten calf raises. Then I reduced the weight to 65 lbs and did one legged calf raises (10 reps on one leg, 10 reps two legs, ten reps other one leg). Then I finished it up with seated calf raises: four sets of 15 reps...70lbs.

That, my friends, was all the juice I had in me..

3 kids for sale...

2011-04-20T05:38:00.000-07:00

I love my kids. I did not love them slinking silently into my bedroom at 4:30am, crouched at the side of my bed stiffling giggles. Eliza motioned "1, 2, 3" and they all screamed

COCKADOOODLE-DOOOOO!!!!!

Here we go again...

2011-04-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

This sweet, handsome man does many, many things that piss me off. He can make me irate, get me fuming with anger, but ultimately I forgive. And it is the same way for him...he loves me in spite of me being human.

One of our favorite songs to dance to is sung by Norah Jones and Ray Charles: "Here We Go Again" It makes us think of those times where we steal each other's heart like we did thirteen years ago as kids when we first met working a summer job off the same pier. Only now we know better...but we fall in love again anyway.

This past week he had to work through the weekend. So, the kids and I met him at his hotel for a mini-vacation. When he met us at the hotel he was dressed in his business suit....woah, holy-handsomeness! Here we go again! ha ha

Then we went out to dinner. He ordered me my favorite glass of wine, gave me a smile and a wink...that smile! Here we go again!

When we took the kids to the pool that night, the water was absolutely FREEZING!!! Without hesitation he got me a towel, "Go sit down and relax. I'll stay in the water with the kids." His thoughtfulness, his eagerness to play with our babies...here we go again...

Here We Go Again
Ray Charles and Norah Jones

Here we go again
He's back in town again
I'll take him back again
One more time

[Ray Charles]
Here we go again
The phone will ring again
I'll be her fool again, I will
One more time

[Norah Jones]
I've been there before
And I will try it again
Any fool, any fool knows
That there's no, no way to win
Here we go again
She'll break my heart again, yeah
I'll play the part again
One more time

I've been there before, you know what?
I will try it again

[Norah Jones]
But any fool, any fool knows
That there's no, no way to win

[Together]
Here we go again
She'll break my heart again, yeah
I'll play the part again
One more time
I'll take her back again
One more time

A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers. ~Ruth Bell Graham

Tongue Twisters?

2011-04-13T20:52:00.001-07:00

When Eliza was one she would call oatmeal "mokey-oh" and we still refer to oatmeal as mokey-oh. No idea why. This morning, I overheard this very funny breakfast conversation. Eliza and Gabe were at the table next to each other. Remember...Eliza is three years older than Gabe and she is NOT a morning person:

Gabe: Hey Eliza, what's this toy called again?

Eliza: Cat's cradle.

Gabe: Crats cradle. Hmm...wanna play?

Eliza: No. It's CAT's cradle.

Gabe: Uh-huh! That's right!

Eliza: No, that's not what you said.

Gabe: Cratsull...what's it called again?

Eliza (rolling her eyes): Cat's cradle!

Gabe: See Eliza you say it like this. Look at me..look at me! ok, say 'cuh-aaaaa-tuh'

Eliza fights back a smirk: cat

Gabe: Very good! Now say 'ssssss'

Eliza laughs: Sssss! Gabe, I know how..

Gabe: Wait, wait wait!!! We're not done. Now say cuh-ah-rade-ull!

Eliza (annoyed and unamused): Cradle.

Gabe: Yup! See! Easy peasy lemon squeezey! Crats Cradle!

Eliza: Gabe! UGH! You are so immature! Just eat your' mokey-oh!

Goldie-shorts suggestions...

2011-04-13T20:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, I went back to the polyvore drawing board and I tried to put together a fun, casual outfit with the gold shorts. I also reworked my black and gold (GO ARMY lol) dinner date outfit with the gold shorts. Let me know what you think! I will try these on, and post pics soon as I can.

not sure about the red headband/nail polish...what do you think?

goldie-shorts by Anne-thro featuring striped tops

more goldie-shorts by Anne-thro featuring beaded jewelry

Gimme Five!!

2011-04-13T18:42:00.000-07:00

So I have this embarrassing habit of always thinking someone is giving me a high-five when they are really just waving hello. It happens way more often than I will ever admit--and I always vow to never do it again! It makes me feel so dumb!! But then the next "Hey Anne how are you" and there I go, running over to high-five em! Ugh...ha ha

Any embarrassing habits you can't break???

Unwritten rules of the gym..

2011-04-12T17:54:00.000-07:00

There are some unwritten rules of fitness clubs. Here are just a few examples of how they are broken and can ruin someone's workout and maybe even her day:

Here is my morning workout plan:
warm up with 10 minutes of cardio, do a total HIIT circuit (15 box jumps, 15 sumo deadlifts with upright row, 15 burpees, 15 BOSU squat hops, and 15 wall shots) after that I would hit chest and triceps hard, then finish it off with a relaxing 45minute cardio session--either run or stair mill.

Here is what happened:
So, I warmed up for ten minutes (jogged) got my equipment set up for my circuit...and then we had an unwritten rule offender...

RULE #1. If someone is wearing BOTH earphones and not making eye contact he/she does NOT want to be engaged in conversation.

"Hey! You're a trainer here, right? Can I ask you a couple questions?"

me: "I don't want to be rude but I only have a short period of time to get this workout in so.."

"Oh no this will take a second! When I walk up the stairs, after I have been using the elliptical machine, it sort of feels like a weird twingey-spazz thing by my knee. Could you show me some stretches for that?"

This is also in direct violation of:

Rule #2. Trainers are people too. When they are off the clock, they are OFF THE CLOCK. Treat them as you would any other member, afterall I am paying for childcare for the ten minutes you just wasted.

So ten full minutes later, I have successfully lost all warmth from my warm up and need to start over. "No biggie...don't let it stress you out" I tell myself. I'll get it done, keep it positive!!

After warm up number 2 I get into my circuit, get a GREAT burn and forget all about that rule breaker!!

On to chest and triceps:
I started with chest fly, 5 sets of 12, ten seconds of rest between each set
On to decline bench press (10 reps) supersetted with plyo push ups (25).
unwritten rule offender once again:

Rule #3. Never, EVER, interrupt someone who is in the middle of a set. Ever. Even if the place is on fire. Wait until his/her rest period to tell them the place is being evacuated.

"Hey Anne, are you teaching abs tonight?"

me: [grunting, and puffing as I struggle to finish some plyo push ups] "yup!"

"Oh I can't make it! So bummed! I love your class. You know when we do the plank series, I get some..."

*violation of rule # 1 and #2!!! I am wearing headphones, I am not on the clock! I was able to continue with my workout, it is just not as effective when you have someone trying to chat with you...I was very distracted. Distracted enough to lose some form on my bench press and hurt my left shoulder a bit. Awesome.

Joint pain is never OK and if a joint is complaining you need to back off. So that was the end of that superset. Uh...SuperSUCKS!

Triceps need a good tri-kicking. They have an excellent blood supply so they recover fast and can take a good beating. They actually need a good beating if you really want to tighten up your "Hello Hellen's!!!" (picture an older lady waving "hello" to Hellen...yeah...tighten that up) I like to do a tricep circuit that would probably be against the Geneva convention as cruel and unusual punishment for prisoners of war...but hey, we'll look great in sleeveless tops! Yay!!

Ok, ready? Good. Tricep dips (20 of em) no rest go right into tricep rope push downs (15), no rest go right into tricep supine extensions 15, and then finish it off with 15 tricep push ups...no REAL tricep push ups. Now you get to rest...for 15 seconds and then go through it two more times!!

But that's not how I did it. I crushed my dips, killed my push downs, and began my supine extensions when I was rudely interrupted by the worst kind of unwritten rule breaker:

Rule #4. If a woman is not wearing make up, does not have her hair done, and is pushing her workouts so hard that she is sounding like a woman who is in labor then she is NOT at the gym looking for a date. She is there to workout...leave her alone. *FREE TIP* you can also look at a woman's left hand--if she has a wedding band then she is also not looking for a date.

So after politely getting rid of the unwritten rule breaker I finish that circuit...rest fifteen seconds and start my second circuit--dips are tough but I am tougher!! On the rope push downs I feel so good, getting a great burn and..what--is someone tapping my shoulder? Ok, this is not only in direct violation of Rule #1 and #3 this woman actually broke a rule that I think is written somewhere.

"How much do you weigh?"
me: "what?" headphones come off (and maybe a record skips somewhere...and the earth stops rotating for a moment)

"how much do you weigh?"

me: "130"

"yeah, that's exactly what I would have guessed. You're a little bit shorter than I am, and you weigh fifteen pounds more than I do...but that's because muscle is so heavy and you're all muscle. I knew you were heavier than me."

...yikes...

So on to cardio. I need a long relaxing run to drown out all the craziness...play my "relaxing run" playlist and hit the track. Only to have a man who takes my spinning class run next to me and violate Rule #1

"Hey Anne, how did your stress fracture heal?"

This seemingly benign question led to him lecturing me(for two miles of my run) on how I can improve my running form and performance. That brings us to:
Rule #5: Do not give unsolicited advice.

I was told I need to take 180 strides per minute. I was told I need to drop a few pounds to decrease the stress on my joints. I was told to back off the stretching because my flexibility was making my stride way too long.

And all of this brings me back to a lesson I try to teach my own kids: You can't control other people, you can only control your actions and reactions to them. So I need to maneuver the gym and all it's rule breakers in an assertive, but polite way so that I don't give these people room to stomp all over my workout!!

Goldie-shorts...

2011-04-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

So I found these sequin shorts (don't laugh) and that little girl in me who LOVES spark-ally things fell in love. It helps that I actually AM ridiculous enough to wear gold sequins anything, so I got them. Now how do I style them? Here are two of my (failed?) attempts. Let me know how you would style these puppies!! They are kind of big on me, but I think that adds to their charm, no?

Please use your imagination to clean off my bathroom mirror--and you can pick up some of that laundry while you're at it!

What was that? Where would I wear these? No, not the gym. To do errands, of course! That way everyone would move out of my way because I'd obviously be on my way to somewhere really important..like dance class--tap or jazz, I dunno...

"I get the news I need on the weather report..."

2011-04-10T17:41:00.000-07:00

"Oh, I can gather all the news I need on the weather report
Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..." ~Paul Simon

I got this dress for $2.50 at Marshalls last summer. It is so comfortable, it feels like I'm wearing nothing. ha ha! Sorry the picture is blurry...our camera has gone MIA and my husband took this with his phone. Hope your weekend was as chillaxing as mine!

Sunny Days :)

2011-04-10T17:00:00.000-07:00

What an absolutely gorgeous weekend we were spoiled with out here in Chicago!!! I don't care if we get nasty tornadoes tonight...I really, really needed the sunshine therapy I soaked in all weekend.

We didn't really take many pictures...but we did fill up our water table, played with bubbles, went under the sprinkler, grilled up some chicken, cooked some corn on the cob, and ate fresh watermelon. I'm looking forward to many more weekends like this now that the weather is friendly again!!

There is Gabe using his paint brush to "paint" my nails..ha ha!!

What? It's warm in my dreams...

2011-04-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

I can pretend it's warm and wear my summer clothes...but I don't recommend you do it.
Although spring is certainly dragging her feet, it is getting warmer and I'm always a bit too eager to wear my warm weather clothes. I might believe that my bare arms will force the sun to shine brighter, I dunno. In any event...here is my jumping-the-gun spring-y outfit that I froze in.

I love, love, love my zebra-ish print wedges. I missed anthropologie's sale on them...but that turned out lucky for me as they found ME in marshall's for 29.99 last summer!! Waaahhoooo! Wait...you can't see my shoes in that pic?

Hmm....is this better????? LOL

Wicked Supah-Mom

2011-04-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

This is what I wore to volunteer in Eliza's class yesterday. In the hallway I saw her art teacher, Mr. O. He said "wow, you look so pretty!" Very sweet, and slightly awkward...just like me. LOL

I did reading groups with the second grade kiddos...they call it "supermom." SO. MUCH. FUN. Seriously, think I missed my calling as a teacher. When I started working with the kids I was using my phone voice (don't act like you don't have one). About a half hour into it, I relaxed and unleashed my Boston accent which never fails to make them laugh. They got kind of giddy and chatty...so I reeled them back in by saying "hey, guys...staht listenin' when I'm talkin to ya or else I'll tell ya teachah!!" Ha ha!!

It's All Right to Cry

2011-03-31T18:09:00.000-07:00

One of the possible side effects of Ava's anti-seizure medicine is depression. Usually she is regular silly-billy Ava, but there are times she sucks her thumb and lays on the couch with tears streaming down her face. She will say "Mom I don't know why I feel sad, but I feel like I need to cry. Why am I sad?" and it's heart-wrenching. I'm not sure if it's an acceptable necessary evil...I'll bring it up to the neurologist at our April appointment.

After we went on a treasure hunt walk today (we found some cool rocks, leaves, feathers--yes I know they're gross--and a piece of a key ring) I started to get dinner ready. Ava came in, thumb in mouth, in tears. "I don't know why I'm sad" she sobbed into my legs. I picked her up and brought her to the couch. "Just let yourself cry and I'll hold you." Trying not to cry myself I focused on Eliza who was sorting out the treasures from our hunt. She asked me why Ava was crying. "Well, the medicine she takes for seizures can make her feel like she needs to cry sometimes." Eliza sat next to me and rubbed Ava's back. "Hey Ava, want me to sing for you?" Ava didn't look up "No fanks." Eliza thought for a minute and then perked up "Wait!! I know...hey Ava, want me to read to you? A poem?" Ava sat up and nodded. When Eliza returned with her "Free to Be You and Me" book I knew which poem she was going to read. I was so touched by her thoughtfulness that I stopped trying to hold back tears...afterall...its' all right to cry..

"It's All Right To Cry"
by Carol Hall

It's all right to cry
Crying gets the sad out of you.
It's all right to cry
It might make you feel better.

Raindrops from your eyes
washing all the mad out of you.
Raindrops from your eyes
It might make you feel better.

It's all right to feel things
though the feeling may be strange.
Feelings are such real things
and they change and change
and change...
sad and grumpy,
down in the dumpy
snuggly, huggly,
mean and ugly
sloppy slappy,
hoppy happy
change and change and change...

I'm a big kid now!!

2011-03-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

This past fall I had one of "those" days. You know...the kind we all have. My husband was out of town (where else) and the kids were on every last nerve and into everything. While I was putting out one fire they started, they managed to find a box of "magic wands" under the bathroom sink. They also discovered that if you took the magic wands out of their wrapper and plastic applicator and put them in the toilet they started to look like Jellyfish!!! How cool!! Except, later that night...after the kids had gone to bed, my friend came to visit me and I had NO magic wands. Did I wake up the kids and run out to CVS? Nope. Did I run out to CVS and leave the kids alone? Nope. Did I grab a Diego pull up from my son's bedroom? Yup.

The Iris

2011-03-30T04:59:00.000-07:00

My Mom has the warmth of summer, tempered with a refreshing ocean breeze all in her eyes. Or maybe it's the mysterious part of a sapphire night-sky, illuminated with a gorgeous full moon.

She is so gentle; she is so strong; she is so beautiful. And she loves things of beauty in nature. Her morning walk along the beach leaves her with all kinds of treasures: driftwood, sea glass, some beautiful beach rocks. I loved when she would call me from the doorstep "Anne, come out here--quick!" I'd come outside and she'd point out a full moon, or show me a new flower popping up. Her appreciation/adoration of the beauty in nature is contagious. She would show me an iris flower and say "doesn't it look like an old man? Can you see the face? Kind of droopy and look, those are his whiskers.." I never really got it, but I always pretended to. The deep blue of the iris flower has always reminded me of the blue eyes my Mom has.

When I was putting together something for Inspiring Interpretations for the blog "Stuff Jewish Girls Like" I went with Dea's crochet/lace piece and how she said she loves the details in crocheted items. So does my Mom! I picked my lace forever 21 skirt, a tank top from Banana Republic Outlet with crocheted detailing...and I paired the blue top with a yellow cardigan because that blue/yellow combination reminds me of the iris--and the iris reminds me of my beautiful Mom.

I originally put tights on with the outfit, but decided against them. Bailey was so funny...he kept getting in my pictures. Handsome little guy!! Can you hear him saying, "I am your cutest accessory Mom!"

My Spin Class :)

2011-03-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

I tend to write off the classes I teach as non-workouts because they aren't for me. They aren't designed with my goals in mind...but they are hard work nonetheless and I thought I'd share one of the classes I taught yesterday.

Shaking my shakeology...get it?? Get it?? ha ha --------->

SPIN
1. One Tribe by Black Eyed Peas: warming up...seated ride--our pace at 85 RPM, add more resistance and then stand up and jog in 2 for 45seconds, then seated 45--repeat until song ends.
2. Shake That Thing by Samson: sprints--10 second sprint in 3rd position, sit down--leave resistance on and keep going 10more seconds. 10 second recovery REPEAT 3minute song.
3. Roll On by Kid Rock: jumps on a hill. Start up in 2nd position, add resistance to slow yourself down to pace of 65 RPM. Stay in standing 2nd for 8beats, sit for 8beats--keep going for whole song (6 minutes) if you need to, you can take some of the resistance down but try to keep it there and hold your RPM steady.
4. Love Won't Wait by The Ian Carey Project. Seated sprints--bring pace to 110 RPM, add resistance until you are struggling HARD to hold that pace--stay there 20seconds. Recover 20seconds. Bring RPM to 90 and add resistance until 90 is a serious struggle--hold it 20seconds and then take a 20 break. Repeat (8minute song)
5. S&M by Rihanna. Standing climb. Stand up in 3rd position. Add enough gear to slow yourself down to a pace of 65 RPM. Hold that pace, adding some resistance when I say so!
6. Dj got Us Falling in Love by Usher. Moving it around: start seated with enough resistance to stand up...but stay seated. On the refrain explode out of the saddle and run HARD in 3rd position--on the "dance, dance, like it's the last, last night of your life, life.." we have four jumps (four count jumps) after the jumps run again hard in three. Then slow down, sit down and we start over again. Repeat total of three times.
7. Pride by U2. Seated climb. Starting at the top of our hill...RPM to 60-65 pushing as HARD as you can but you can't go any faster than 60-65ish. One minute and we take a little gear off and pick up pace to 65-70...keep going so we finish it at 80 RPM pace.
8. Dirty Bit by The Black Eyed Peas. Endurance run: start out in standing 3 take it to an uncomfortable run (not a sprint, but just under) stay up 30seconds, then we sit down and hold the SAME pace (everyone picks their own pace) for 30 seconds then back up to standing 3 and we keep going till the end.
9. Down on Me by Jeremiah and 50 cent. Jumps on a hill. Heaviest gear you can handle (you have to be able to keep your pace above 60 RPM) start standing in position 2 for 8 beats, then seated 8 beats--repeat the whole song, taking resistance off as needed.
10. Late in the Evening by Paul Simon. Run it in standing 3rd position the whole song. Push yourself out of your comfort zone, focus on your personal best RPM. I like to ask participants to tell me what pace he/she is holding and I have a good memory with that stuff so I push them and try to keep them honest ;)
11. Radioman by Afrojack. Sprints on a hill. Add heavy, heavy resistance then come up to standing 3rd position whe Ni count down "three, two, one, GO" sit and push as hard as you can for 15 seconds. 15 seconds to recover and we repeat. 7.5 minute song!!
12. Breakdown by jack Johnson. Cool down :)

*I try to be funny at times when I'm teaching. My participants seem to appreciate that...here are a couple of the things I said to make them laugh yesterday:

~One of the personal trainers took my class and oh boy can that boy SWEAT! He was in the front row and there was literally a puddle underneath him. As we were cooling down I said, "Dan I think your water broke."

~One of our regulars was 15 minutes late! She walked in just as we finished a kick A sprints. I said "Oh good, my favorite is here! Guys, we're just going to start over for her. You don't mind doing all that again, right?"

~Another one of my regulars was heckling me--saying she knew she shouldn't have come to spin she was exhausted. I turned my music up really loud and said, "I'm sorry, what Diane? I can't hear you..."

Shakeology: how I get through my Manic Marathon Mondays...

Skyping with my husband I said I was totally capable of crushing my plastic shake thingy, don't be ridiculous. Well, I took that dare and failed. I did not crush it.

My Planning Session

2011-03-27T16:54:00.000-07:00

To reach your goals you HAVE to get a plan...plan, plan, PLAN!!!!

I don't really have a fitness goal right now. Maybe it is to not get injured?? Lame. But I teach so many classes and I love being at the gym so that is a very real challenge...to stay as active as I am, without sustaining an injury. That being said, I am still trying to stick to the hormone training (HIIT training, or anaerobic, etc). As an athlete it is right up my alley--I absolutely LOVE it...but I do fear I'll end up on the injured reserve list. Then I can really kiss the Olympics good-bye. Totally joking/making fun of myself BTW. Anyway...here is my workout plan and menu for the week!!

Monday:
I teach way too many classes on Monday to be able to get my own workout in. I call it my non-Anne workout day...but the other trainers at the gym call it "Anne-tastic Marathon Monday--You can catch a class by Anne morning, noon, and night!" LOL

Tuesday:
morning workout: SPRINTS! As I'm running suicide sprints on the basketball court
a few weeks ago someone asked, "Hey Anne, what are you training for?"
me: "uh, I dunno...nothing." DERRRRRR
afternoon workout: Back and Biceps

Wednesday:
morning workout: legs and abs
afternoon workout: spin

Thursday:
morning workout: run 5miles (try to do a sub 8minute mile pace)
afternoon workout: shoulders

Friday:
morning workout: chest and triceps
afternoon workout: do the stair mill machine (interval training level 16 for 45min)

Saturday: spin, abs, and long relaxing jog

Sunday: yoga

<---DORK, DORK, DORK! hey, that's me! LOL

Our menu:

Breakfast: (kids drink milk, Erik and I drink black coffee) oatmeal and berries (we have raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries) OR scrambled eggs with spinache, feta, and tomato (I eat all of the above, thankUveryMuch!)

Morning snack options: cottage cheese, or a piece of fruit, or trail mix, or string cheese, or yogurt with wheat germ, or peanut butter on a graham cracker

Lunch: (we all drink water) cabbage soup (made a big batch Sunday night for the week and put in tupperware in fridge and freezer), half of a tuna sandwich (Since Eliza has to have a bagged lunch I will be packing her a peanut butter sandwich, a piece of fruit, some trail mix, water, and a whole grain apple muffin)

afternoon snack: same options as morning snack

Dinners:
Monday: my Mom's vegetarian chili recipe (made in crockpot) with corn muffins
Tuesday: baked tilapia with steamed broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots
Wednesday: chicken and salsa in the crockpot over brown rice, red and green peppers,
onions,cheddar cheese, and lettuce
Thursday: home made pesto over whole grain spaghetti with a side of caprese salad
Friday: baked salmon, garlic mashed cauliflower, and peas.
Saturday and Sunday we play it by ear!

Phew! I am as tired and cranky as Gabe at the end of my days...where the hell is my sippy??? ha ha

Sunny Sunday!!

2011-03-27T15:40:00.001-07:00

Today was beautiful and sunny...could have been warmer, but I won't complain. I wore my Leifsdottir dress to church today!! I love, love, love, LOVE it!!!

I don't know who is cuter...LOL! Erik did not want his picture taken, and Ava is hamming it up!! xoxoxo

Leifsdottir dress (on second slash sale)
target tights
Sofft shoes (got them at a thrift store)

My favorite details: shoulder and pocket :)

Mmm, mmm...

2011-03-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

You asked. You receive.

at 6am: 1/2 cup of plain oatmeal and some blueberries

after my morning workout: Scrambled eggs (one whole egg, three egg whites, spinach, feta cheese, and tomatoes)

Lunch: Turkey lettuce wraps (basically a turkey sandwich in lettuce instead of bread) and tuna salad(the kids dissect their lettuce wraps, but they do eat the lettuce). I LOVE radishes...I can eat a whole bag myself. Gross, I know--but it's true!

snack: orange and some almonds (the kids also had some graham crackers with peanut butter and raisins stuck on)

Dinner: Baked salmon, cottage cheese, and brussel sprouts.

One glass of chocolate shakeology (made with 8oz skim milk) as a night snack. This is my multivitamin/protein shake in one! The kids had a fruit smoothie made with chobani yogurt, blackberries, and whole milk.

Performance Nutrition

2011-03-25T06:04:00.000-07:00

I was at a continuing education workshop and we were discussing nutrition. Seated among all fitness professionals I noticed they all nodded heads as if to say "yes, I know this stuff.." Then our presenter said, "Ok, write down what you ate this morning before you came here, everything and don't lie. Write down what you had all day yesterday, everything and don't lie."

I ate black coffee, the crusts of my daughter's toast, and I started to eat an apple but my son wanted it so I gave it to him...and then I ate a piece of his Halloween candy when he wasn't paying attention (snickers, what else?). The day before? No breakfast, just black coffee, lunch I had the crusts of their pb&j sandwiches and some almonds on my way to kindergarten drop off...and I taught classes at night so when I got home I was so ravenous I just ate through an entire bag of whole grain tostidos. I wanted to melt cheese on them but there was no time for that!! So why on earth was I feeling fatigued and sore all the time? Hmmm...diet is so key.

There are many ways to approach your diet and there is NOT a one size fits all diet out there. We all have different preferences, schedules, metabolisms, bodies...you need to find a diet that works well for you. I found mine and it is amazing how much better I feel when I stick to it. It's not a restrictive diet (weight loss is not my goal right now). I like to read performance nutrition books and how training your body in one way with a certain diet can optimize your athletic performance--but I also realize not too many women really care about their athletic performance. The typical questions I get from clients are usually about spot reduction (which is not possible) and just general fat loss. But, I am me...and I like to eat to fuel my athletic performance (my Mom teases me that I'm not going to make it to the olympics anytime soon) so I'll post my diet/exercise routine and how it relates to my goals.

Email me or comment about any specific diet/fitness/health goals you have (even if you think they're silly) and I can run a post illustrating what a plan for that particular goal would look like!

Warning

2011-03-24T18:37:00.000-07:00

Do not attempt this leg routine if you have to walk at all the next day...or if you have three exercise classes to teach the following day..(ahem, what kind of freak would do that?)

LEGS!!!! Here's what I foolishly did Wednesday morning--for some reason I was thinking I had an open Thursday??? Well I thunked wrong. My Thursday was quite closed.

Squats (using 45lbs bar with plates on rack)
first set 30 lbs plates 25 reps
second set 50 lbs plates 20 reps
third, fourth, and fifth set 60 lbs plates 12 reps

Lunges: using a 35 lbs barbell 4 sets of 20 back lunges (right leg 20 lunges, no rest, left leg 20 lunges, repeat total of 3 times on each leg)

Dumbbell step ups on bench: holding a 20 lbs dumbbell in each hand 3 sets of 15 step ups

One legged squats on the plyo box: 3 sets of 10

PHEW!

Cowboy Dreams

2011-03-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

Gabe: "Hey Mom, I have a great idea."

me: "Awesome! What's your idea?"

Gabe: "Well, I was just thinking that you could change something."

me: "Hmm, what should I change."

Gabe: "Know how you gave up desserts for Lent?"

me: "Yes.."

Gabe: "I think you should change it. You should give up cooking vegetables for Lent. You cook vegetables way too much."

me: "In your dreams, Cowboy!"

ha ha

A Dog Named Cookie

2011-03-22T05:12:00.001-07:00

Flipping through a magazine, Eliza came across a German Shephard puppy.

me: "I used to have a dog like that!"

Eliza: "You did? What was her name?"

me: "Cookie."

Eliza: "Is she still alive?"

me: "No, she died a long time ago."

Eliza: "Of what, embarrassment for being named Cookie?"

Party Time!

2011-03-19T05:38:00.000-07:00

I made this cake at 4am on Ava's birthday. When she woke up and saw it she gasped and said "Mom, this is so beautiful, but I actually think I want a fairy cake instead."

Don't ask any questions...

2011-03-19T04:32:00.000-07:00

Just cook this and you won't be disappointed. Trust me.

Wanna-be PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Ingredients for pouring sauce:

1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup warm water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon hot water
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
Ingredients for stir-fry sauce:

2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
Ingredients for chicken stir-fry:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed to 1/2″
1 – 8oz can sliced water chestnuts, minced to the size of corn kernals
1/2 cup mushrooms, minced to the size of corn kernals
1/2 onion, chopped fine
3 cloves garlic, minced fine
6 large leaves of iceberg lettuce or nappa cabbage
To make the pouring sauce:

In a large bowl, dissolve sugar in 1/2 cup warm water, then add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice and sesame oil. Mix well and throw in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.
Just before serving, combine 1 teaspoons hot water with dijon mustard and garlic and mix in small bowl. Add to the pouring sauce, 1/2 a teaspoon at time to taste.
To make the stir-fry sauce:

Prep the stir fry sauce by mixing soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar in a small bowl.
To make the chicken stir-fry:

Combine oils and add to wok or large frying pan. Heat oil over high heat until it glistens, about one minute. Add chicken and saute until mostly cooked through, about 5 minutes.
Turn the heat under the wok down to medium-high. Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pan, wait one minute, and then add garlic, onions, water chestnuts, mushrooms, and the stir-fry sauce you prepared earlier. Stir-fry everything until the mushrooms have cooked through, about 4 minutes, and remove to a serving dish.
Serve stir-fry with iceberg lettuce or nappa cabbage leaf wraps and top with pouring sauce.
Variation: you can do the same thing with ground beef, if you like.

Bailey Boy

2011-03-18T05:52:00.000-07:00

This backyard is getting smaller every day. I could use a spring break vacation from it. I'd like to hop in the minivan and head out east again like we did last year. Mom got me a new hairdo at the groomers. I felt really handsome. I like to make a good impression on the extended family. I think I was a hit. Well, except with Uncle Tim. I pooped in his room but you would have too. That house is a MAZE and I couldn't find the door. Anyway...trying to convince Mom that it's time for another road trip by digging some muddy holes in the back yard. Hopefully it works. :)

Old Cape Cod

2011-03-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

If you read "Stuff Jewish Girls Like" then you may have already read this.

I was the twelfth (and last) baby born to my Irish Catholic parents in Cape Cod, MA thirty-two years ago. This is why I am always referred to as "the baby" and I wouldn't wish it any other way. Below is a sestina I originally wrote in college, and revisited this past week for JG's guest blog post. Our writing assignment in college was to write a poem from another's perspective. I chose to pretend to be me, at the end days of my own life. There were many tears shed while I revised this poem--my Dad is still alive, but I only get to see him once or twice a year as I am landlocked in the midwest (for now). Without further ado...here is my sestina :)

Through the Eyes of a Sunset
a sestina poem by ACF

The ice cream dripped down my arm and onto the porch
as I sat beside my Dad on the old wooden swing.
We breathed the saltwater air and my Dad
told me stories about where the sun
goes after it sinks behind the deep ocean.
His eyes looked sad when he said it's never truly gone.

Sometimes, when July's ripe sun is setting, I'm reminded of what is gone
and of what remains. Memories of summer days with Dad linger on the porch
but the echo of what's truly eternal exudes from the crashing ocean.
And I'm left yearning for an afternoon talk about nothing with him on the swing.
His eyes looked a warmer shade of blue when the setting sun
would shine into them. I have the same pale blue eyes as my Dad.

I can remember looking up at my Dad
with excited child-like pride for him; and that pride isn't truly gone,
but it is different. Similar to the way the gentle warmth of the sun
comforts you differently through a window than it does when you're on the old porch,
lazily rising and falling with the creaking swing,
echoing the tides of the ocean.

I used to be so afraid of that ocean
unless I was held tightly by my Dad.
And even then, I preferred to be dry on the swing.
I would play until the sunshine was gone;
in the comforting embrace of my porch,
my small shoulders kissed by July's fiery sun.

Sometimes Dad and I would sing songs about the sun.
How sun-crystals dance like glistening lace on the face of the ocean...
I think he made the song up when he was little and would look out at the same horizon from the same porch
but not with me; with his brothers and his Dad.
His Dad was gone before I was born, but my Dad told and retold me all about their summers together on the same swing.

And my summer afternoons are retold to my children on the same swing.
It's all nurtured with the ebb and flow of life, the rising and falling of the sun,
because love, relationships, and memories--like the sun--will never truly be gone.
The salty, sandy nostalgia wafts warm memories to us with each crash of the ocean.
At least, that's what I was told by my Dad
when we were younger and would swing, talk, and sing on the porch.

And sometimes the sun brings me a smile as the breaking waves retell me childhood memories on the porch
But when my pale blue eyes rest on the empty porch swing,
My heart aches in knowing that when the sinking sun returns tomorrow, it won't bring me back my Dad.

Shoulders and Shades!!!

2011-03-16T17:26:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah...those are sunglasses on my head. It was not only sunny today...it was WARM! Well, relatively speaking. Sure I did have some frost to scrape off the minivan at 7am, but by noon it was in the 50's!!!! Today I worked my shoulders...got a great burn and I am such a fan of this hormone training. I'm hoping I can truly commit to it for a couple more months. Ava's hospital stay threw a wrench in my workout routine but things seem back to normal. Sorta. Here's what I did at the gym today!!

Shoulders!!
dumbbell overhead press: 5 sets of 14, ten seconds of rest between each set
lateral raise (hammer strength): 6 sets of 10, ten seconds rest between each set
standing dumbbell frontal raise: 6 sets of 12, ten second rest between each set
rear delt fly (hammer strength): 6 sets of 14, ten seconds rest between each set
cable rotator cuff internal rotation (for joint health, injury provention, not really for strength): 3 sets of 12
then external rotation on cable: 3 sets of 12

Then I rowed 2k meters on the rowing machine. I hate that thing, but you gotta change it up!!

I wanted to do abs and cardio tonight, but we were invited to a birthday party and I got plenty of cardio racing the kiddos through the inflatable obstacle course for an hour and a half. Ha ha!! Why were the kids lining up to race me? Obviously it's because I'm the kindergarten room Mom. Duh. It can't possibly because I am an immature, odd-ball Mom who likes to race 5 year olds or anything. LOL

Feeling Good ;)

2011-03-16T05:13:00.001-07:00

Lisa at "Respect The Shoes" had her readers send in an outfit that makes them feel good...she also encouraged you to explain why it makes you feel good and say what you wore it to, or anything else you have to add. It took me about 15 minutes for me to decide, but it wasn't because I didn't know what I love. It's because I knew what I love is pretty silly..ha ha. So here it is. My St. Patrick's day outfit where I find an excuse to wear my 13 year old deckhand uniform from my Cape Cod Canal Cruise days.

"Welcome Aboard the Motor Vessel Viking! We are required by the US Coast Guard to familiarize you with the location of our life saving equipment aboard the vessel." Ha ha!! This was my uniform shirt from way back in the day when I was a deckhand on a Cape Cod Canal Cruise boat. It's the shirt I wore when I met the handsome Harbor Patrol Boy who is now my husband of 9 years. I wear this silly shirt every St. Patrick's Day, and it never fails to make me feel comfortable, nostalgic, pretty, and if I have some Irish beverages, I may even feel like rambling off the commentary! So please sit back, relax, and let the beautiful waters of Cape Cod Bay wash away your stress!
Old Hy-line Cruise polo shirt
citizens jeans
forever 21 belt
anthropologie spectator shoes

I do believe that's not butter...

2011-03-15T18:38:00.000-07:00

One morning when I was in high school I sprayed some "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" onto my toast. My Dad exaggerated his confused face at me.

"What in the world are you spraying on your bread!?"
I walked over to him, "it's really good, Dad. You should use it. It tastes like butter, but it's good for you."
I handed him the bottle. He tilted his head back so he could read the bottle with his bifocals, "Calories: zero!? Hmmm. Fat: zero!? Jeesh! What the??! This can't be right...sodium: ZERO!? You have got to be kidding me!! Well, ok. I do believe that's not butter...but what the devil IS IT?"

I need a 20!!

2011-03-11T06:45:00.000-08:00

I'm not asking for a full time-out...just a quick 20seconds. But the kids (and universe) are all hard at work against me. Diarrhea, vomitting, seizures, bed wetting, putting dirty laundry in a basket of clean laundry by accident, garage door breaking--not having a house key on my key ring (!) so I had to break in house myself, running out of anti-seizure meds, laundry detergent, carpet cleaner, and patience. PRAY FOR ME!!

PS--how many mattresses can three children ruin in one night? (the answer is four)

My outfit of the day and workout of the day!!

2011-03-08T17:32:00.000-08:00

This is what I wore in between my stress release sessions at the gym:
modcloth Acorn-ucopia dress (on second slash sale for 37!),
JCrew cardigan (thrifted),
forever 21 belt (Eliza asked me to give the belt up for lent because she hates it and I wear it a lot),
Steve Madden shoes (clearance at Famous Footwear!)

I crushed it at the gym today. Felt A-MAY-ZING!!!!!! I almost went back to sleep when my alarm rudely beeped me awake at 4:30am. I knew I wouldn't regret a workout at the butt-crack of dawn and I assure you as I type this 15 hours later, I was right.

Morning workout: ran ten minutes to warm up and then lifted back and biceps.

bent over dumbbell rows (8 sets of 16reps, maximun 10second rest between sets)
lat pulldown (8 sets of 20 reps, max rest 10 seconds)
seated row (8sets of 15 reps, max rest 10 seconds)
straight arm pushdown (5 sets of 10 reps, rest as long as needed)
back extensions on back hyperextension machine (5 sets of 10, hold last rep 10seconds)

bicep curl (3 sets of 14)
hammer curl (3 sets of 12)
open curl (3 sets of 12)
cable curl (4 sets of 12, last set to failure)

Then I ran four miles in 32 minutes and 15 seconds. It felt AWESOME!

This afternoon, before training my tennis kiddos, I added another workout to burn some stress.

Ran slow for an hour to my "relaxing run" playlist...what? Don't look at me like that...you don't have a "relaxing run" playlist? Anyway...then I did abs. Here's what I did for abs today:

lateral planks with mermaids (20 each side)
hanging straight leg lifts (10 sets of 10)
incline sit ups with 2 lb. medicine ball (10 sets of 10)
side bends on back hyper-extension machine (100 on each side)
plank 1 minute with hands on BOSU and feet on stability ball
roll ups with feet on stability ball (2 sets of 25)
reverse crunches to failure
plank again with hands on BOSU and feet on stability ball to failure.

So now I am completely spent...and there is no question how I will sleep tonight. The only question is, will I be able to get out of bed tomorrow? ha ha!

Fat Tuesday: Bon Ton Roulet!!!

2011-03-08T09:14:00.001-08:00

Eliza and cousin Todd at a family crawfish broil in New Orleans!! Currently contemplating what to give up for lent...while I'm eating peanut butter chocolate kiss cookies...hmmm..

...things are changing...

2011-03-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

"Mom, I lost my first tooth!!" Ava beamed, showing a little space where her baby tooth used to be. I usually consider myself a very level headed Mom but this knocked the wind out of me and sent me to tears. She is supposed to stay a baby!! Ava, my people-pleaser, quickly said, "It's ok Mom. I still suck my thumb!" ha ha! Now we are done with the invitations for her birthday party. SIX YEARS???? I need a drink.

"...My dreams are a little bit bigger than me
But who knows how much longer things will be like that
Cause things are changin'
And I've been changin'
I get a little bigger every day

Ho-dee-oh, over the rainbow
Hi-dee-hi, to the top of the sky
Look at me, ma, I'm riding with no hands
And tippin' back my chair
I didn't brush my hair
But I do the best I can..."
-Ralph's World

My Little Moon

2011-03-07T04:47:00.000-08:00

"Baby you're a firework! Come on let your colors burst....Boom, boom, boom! Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon!" Katy Perry sang to my kids from the minivan's radio. Eliza, my thinker, says "Hey Mom."
"Yeah?"
"She says even brighter than the moon. That fireworks are brighter than the moon." with a confused look on her face.
"Yup. Those are the words."
"Yeah but maybe they can be brighter, but brighter isn't better. She says it like it's better than the moon." I smile at her insight.
"I agree with you."
"Because fireworks are so loud and they don't last long. The moon is peaceful and beautiful and it's always in the sky for you."
"Eliza you are absolutely right. And the song is telling a person to be like a firework. What do you think about that?"
She didn't even hesitate, "Oh I know what she means. It's like being really flashing and really loud and trying to be funny so everyone pays attention to you. But moon people aren't loud. Moon type of people are kind and they're quiet. Moon people could sing if they want but maybe not on stage." My Eliza is most definitely a moon person. Her kind, gentle soul is very quiet, peaceful, steady, and beautiful. And personally, I'd never in a million years trade in the moon for a firework.

Frustrations of a Four-year old

2011-03-05T05:27:00.000-08:00

Gabe sat down next to me and sighed.

me "Is something wrong, buddy?"

Gabe "Oh, it's just that I'm frustrating."

me "What is frustrating you?"

Gabe "Well, I have awesome spiderman underwear and cool Buzz Lightyear socks but you always say 'Gabe put your shoes back on' or 'Gabe it's very inappropriate to pull
your pants down.' *sigh* It's very frustrating, that's all."

Sunday Funday!

2011-02-27T13:58:00.000-08:00

This is the outfit I wore to church today. It's a gray gloomey day out--no rain, no snow, but it is threatening. The house is clean, the grocieries are put away, my delicious pot roast wafting through the house. I pour a warm batch of clean laundry onto the table to fold. My first mistake was attempting this chore with my husband nearby. We quickly, and unexpicatly, started acting ridiculous and documented our silliness with the webcam. Not sure why I'm going to post a couple pics, but maybe they'll make you smile. Sunday Funday, right??

plum perfect by Anne-thro on Polyvore.com

Healthy Weekend Snacks :)

2011-02-25T09:09:00.000-08:00

Sharing some of my favorite treat recipes that are not only delicious and kid approved, but also good for you!

Hummus, from southern living

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Yield: Makes 1 1/2 cups (serving size: 2 tablespoons)

Ingredients
1 (16-oz.) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)
Garnish: lemon slice

Preparation
Process first 6 ingredients and 2 tablespoons water in a food processor 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth, stopping once to scrape down sides. Add salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a bowl. Cover and chill 2 hours or up to 3 days. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil just before serving, if desired. Garnish, if desired.

Spicy Cilantro-Lime Hummus: Prepare recipe as directed, substituting lime juice for lemon juice, increasing ground red pepper to 1/2 teaspoon, and adding 1/3 cup firmly packed chopped fresh cilantro and 2 teaspoons grated lime rind to the ingredients in food processor bowl. Garnish hummus with 1/8 teaspoon grated lime rind, if desired.

Per serving (2 tablespoons): Calories 89; Fat 6.3g (sat 0.9g, mono 4.4g, poly 0.8g); Protein 1.5g; Carb 6.9g; Fiber 1.3g; Chol 0mg; Iron 0.5mg; Sodium 92mg; Calc 11mg.

We also love these yogurt smoothies!!!
two chobani yogurts (14 grams of protein EACH!!)
some milk (soy, fat free, whatever you like)
frozen berries as much as you like (I get whatever is on sale)

Throw it all in a blender or food processor and mix until desired consistency. \

Another favorite of ours is Tabouleh, which is a wheat salad...SOO tastey as a salad or you can dip pita chips in it.
Thsi recipe comes from Food Network:

Ingredients
1/2 cup medium grain bulgur (found near rice in grocery store)
1 1/4 cups water
4 cups loosely packed, roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley, about 3 bunches
1 1/2 cups peeled and diced tomatoes, about 3 to 5 Roma tomatoes,
1/4 cup green onions chopped, white and some of the green, about 2 green onions
1/4 to 1/2 cup loosely packed, roughly chopped mint leaves
For the dressing:
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
Pinch kosher salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Directions
Bring water to a boil, pour in bulgur, stir, cover, and turn off heat. Let stand 20 to 25 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed and bulgur is fluffy and tender. Pour off any remaining liquid.

To prepare dressing, in a small non-reactive bowl, whisk together lemon juice, garlic, salt and oil. Taste and adjust seasonings.

In a large salad bowl, toss together parsley, tomatoes, green onions and mint. Add bulgur. Pour dressing over salad, toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Morph 1: Add more diced tomatoes, diced cucumbers, and diced raw zucchini to the tabbouleh.

Morph 2: Add rinsed and drained canned chickpeas, and rinsed and drained canned lentils

Morph 3: Grill some boneless, skinless chicken breast, dice, toss with the tabbouleh and wrap it up in fresh pita.

Morph 4: Serve as a small side salad with fish

Roasted Garlic Edamame Spread or dip...so yummy (from Southern Living)
Prep: 15 min., Bake: 30 min., Cool: 5 min. This is delicious on toasted crostini and topped with fresh basil. It also works well as a sandwich spread and can be made up to three days ahead.

Yield: Makes about 2 1/2 cups
Ingredients
1 garlic bulb
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups fully cooked, shelled edamame (green soybeans)*
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Assorted fresh vegetables
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 425°. Cut off pointed end of garlic; place garlic on a piece of aluminum foil, and drizzle with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Fold foil to seal. Bake 30 minutes; let cool 5 minutes. Squeeze pulp from garlic cloves into a bowl.

2. Process edamame in a food processor 30 seconds or until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Add roasted garlic, ricotta, basil, and lemon juice; pulse 2 to 3 times or until blended.

3. With processor running, pour 1/4 cup oil through food chute in a slow, steady stream, processing until smooth. Stir in salt and pepper. Serve with assorted fresh vegetables.

*2 cups uncooked, frozen, shelled edamame (green soybeans) may be substituted. Prepare edamame according to package directions. Plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process; drain. Proceed with recipe as directed.

I feel like EVERYONE knows this awesome recipe, but just in case you don't...you really need to. It's so delicious!!

Strawberry and Chicken Salad

1/2 cup poppy seed dressing
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 pounds chopped cooked chicken (about 3 1/2 cups)
2 celery ribs, sliced
1 pint fresh strawberries, halved
1 avocado, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1 (10-ounce) package mixed salad greens
Garnishes: avocado slices, whole strawberries
Preparation
Whisk together dressing and mayonnaise in a large bowl; cover and chill 30 minutes.

Add chopped chicken and next 5 ingredients to dressing mixture, gently tossing to coat. Serve over mixed salad greens. Garnish, if desired.

Ok...now I'm really hungry...

Ding-Ding!! Last Lap! (& my inspired outfit of the day)

2011-02-25T06:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, when I wake up on Friday mornings I think "phew, last lap!" But not this Friday. Was it because I had an easy week? Oh. No. It was because I was woken up at 3am by Eliza.
"Mom, my tooth is really, really wiggly."
Now I like to encourage their enthusiasm and celebrate all these exciting life moments with my kiddos, but not at 3am.
"Eliza, I know honey. Go to bed." disappointed she put her hands on her hips and began to whine.
"You don't even care that my tooth is hanging by a thread!" In walks Ava..
"Mom, I had a night mirror!" she crawls into bed, steals my pillow and starts to fall asleep. Eliza chimes in,
"No fair Ava gets to sleep in your bed!!"
"Eliza, stop shouting and just get in bed. You can sleep here too. Jeesh, just STOP!!!" in case you were wondering, yelling at a whining 7 yr old at 3am doesn't calm the situation.
"I wanted to sleep on that side!!" Eliza is staring at Ava, who has already fallen back to sleep. I pick Ava up, walk around to the other side of the bed (stubbing my stupid toe on the way) and then tuck them both in.
"There...now just go to sleep. Please." silence for about a minute.
"Hey Mom.." ughhhhh!!!!!
"What, Eliza?"
"Why did you say 'what' like that? Are you mad at me?" she starts to cry. Oh...my....
"I'm not mad. I'm exhausted. What is it?"
"I just wanted to tell you that I love you!"
"I love you too. Now go to sleep."
"Ava, stop putting your feet on me!!" Ava groans awake and yells,
"I won't put my feet on you if you stop stealing the covers!"
I can't think of any 'out' for me so I just get out of bed and storm into the kitchen. 4:30am. Let's make coffee. I call my husband (who is out of town on business) and delightfully tell him about my glorious night's sleep. He's in another time zone so it's later for him anyway...ooops, or is it earlier? Poor Erik.
Erik and I got lost in conversation over our morning coffees hundreds of miles away from each other. Laughing, babbling, and flirting is definitely a good way to start a Friday! An hour and a half later, I ended the conversation with Erik when I heard Gabe upstairs shout "Mom!! I peed my bed!!" I hung up the phone with a smile on my face, took a deep breath and said "last lap!"

Here is my outfit for "Inspiring Interpretations" on 'Stuff Jewish Girls Like' blog!
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!

Ava's Fashion Tip

2011-02-22T14:04:00.000-08:00

Always wait for your nail polish to dry before you suck your thumb. Always.

Lazy Sick Day and my outfit of the day

2011-02-22T08:56:00.000-08:00

Eliza is home sick from school today. I absolutely LOVE having her home with me. I miss my big girl (Bailey does too!)..

Here is my outfit for today...we are having flurries, but it is SUNNY :)

ladylike by Anne-thro featuring a tweed jacket

Half Pass Jacket
$60 - anthropologie.com
Tweed jacket »

Skirts Â -Â Sale Â -Â Anthropologie.com
$40 - anthropologie.com
Skirts »

Cream pelerine tights
6 GBP - dorothyperkins.com
Cream tights »

NWT Anthropologie 'Floreat" Remember Me Surplice Top (07/15/2009)...
worthpoint.com
Tops »

inkFrog
inkfrog.com

I heart dresses

2011-02-21T07:04:00.001-08:00

I bought this leifsdottir dress this weekend!! I have been obsessing over it for a month or so! The price was cut a 2nd time so I snatched it up before it sold out!

Also, tried on the Glanz dress and LOVED it. I wasn't too impressed when I saw it online, and I was certain it would need a cardigan or something for the blocks of color to make sense. Kim at Anthroholic said it was fine by itself and she was right! It is gorgeous.

The Take Action Dress, I both love it and am unsure of it. I feel like it's too shapeless for me...not for the athletic figure?? I don't know. I have time to decide because if it is "a go" I'd wait for it to go on sale to pull the trigger. What do you think?

Um, I didn't have time to put my contacts in today...

2011-02-20T09:58:00.001-08:00

At the bagel shop:

"New cream cheese flavor!! What does seal lion taste like? Sounds so cool!!"

"Ummm, you mean SCALLION?"

"right..."

Gabe-ism #723

2011-02-19T11:20:00.001-08:00

Gabe put an apple slice onto the hook of his toy tow truck and pushed it across the table, "Ava, want my apple slice?"

Ava took the apple slice off and ate it.

I interceded, "Gabe that is inappropriate."

"Yeah but Mom, sometimes inappropriate is AWESOME!"

can't argue with that truth...

My non-gym outfit of the day :)

2011-02-18T09:23:00.000-08:00

I have noticed I love stripes..LOL. Above is my favorite detail about this outfit, that's why it's framed. :)

almost spring, but not quite by Anne-thro featuring petal tops

James Jeans Cooper Cuffed Capri in Urban
$167 - revolveclothing.com
James Jeans »

Four Petal Cardi - Anthropologie.com
needspark.wordpress.com
Petal tops »

Coquette: Poetic Licence Shoes
coquette.blogs.com
Poetic licence shoes »

What Would Emma Pillsbury Wear?: get the look
blogspot.com

Chocolate + Peanut Butter = True Love..

2011-02-18T08:39:00.000-08:00

Currently loving my P90X peak performance chocolate peanut butter protein bars!!! I eat half of a bar one hour before my workout and then the other half within 30minutes of finishing my workout. xoxoxo

Ok, look below...this is my new tank top from lululemon athletica. I thought I loved it...I might love it. Just had this annoying feeling today that I may look like a highlighted paragraph...what do YOU think??

(little) Men

2011-02-17T08:53:00.001-08:00

Today, at the aforementioned opthamologist appointment for Ava, wearing the aforementioned outfit, I sat with my legs crossed in the chair. Gabe was driving a car on the floor when he ran into my foot. Distracted by the shiny red shoe, he forgot about his car and then touched my leg. Then kissed my ankle...sweet but kind of odd.

"Mom you smell so good. Can I lick your leg?"

"Thanks Gabe...and no. That's inappropriate."

"Oh." He was rubbing my leg and then sniffed loudly "ahhh, smells so good." then he kissed my shin.

"Gabe please stop. Let's keep our hands to ourselves." His little face looked so offended.

"Come here, buddy. Let me hold you." He climbed onto my lap and I kissed his nose.

"You can kiss my face!" I laughed.

Gabe held his nose, "but your legs smell delicious. Your face smells like coffee."

60 degrees in February Outfit!!!!

2011-02-17T05:28:00.001-08:00

Is there anything more exciting than an unseasonably warm day after suffering through sub zero temps just last week? (The answer is no)

So I celebrated with my favorite Boden outfit. We are off to Ava's appointment with Dr. Kipp (my future son-in-law)!

Happy Thursay!!!

60 degrees!!! by A

Gabe-ism #722

2011-02-16T06:27:00.000-08:00

Ava and Eliza were going back and forth arguing and fussing. Gabe was frustrated that they were crowding his space with noise, so he took a break from coloring to say,

"Girls, enough! Have a scoop of chill-a nilla would ya!?"

Drinks and Appetizers :)

2011-02-16T06:05:00.000-08:00

This is the outfit I wore when Erik and I went out for appetizers and drinks the other night. We had so much fun, and couldn't remember the last time he and I just hung out together. Definitely need to make that a priority!

Scenes from the pediatric unit

2011-02-15T14:42:00.000-08:00

After 5 days and 4 nights in the pediatric unit of a fantastic hospital, Ava's eye infection was on the mend and we were ready to go home; VERY, VERY ready! Here are some snapshots from our extended vacation at the hospital in absolutely no particular order because it's all a jumbled mess of disjointed, sleep-deprived happenings in my memory:

me on phone: "I think she is doing better...I don't know. Hopefully we'll be able to go home tomorrow.."

Ava pointed a finger at me (quoting Lotso from Toy Story 3): "Now wait a minute there sweet potato! You ain't LEAVIN' Sunnyside!" then she dissolved into a fit of giggles..

One morning/afternoon/evening (no idea which) Ava was making her ten thousandth trip to the playroom on the pediatric floor. Swaggering through the hallways with her "cowgirl hat" (actually a fireman's hat but whatevs) she tipped the hat and said "Howdy-do Doctor!" in her best southern accent to every person we encountered. Every face that lit up with laughter encouraged her even more...and most of those lit up faces averted eye contact with the zombie-eyed, unamused Mom-ster who was straggling behind the adorable, puffy-eyed peanut. I was always on the verge of losing my patience with that stupid hook IV pole on wheels. I felt like a broken record "oh, jeeze! Ava, slow down, AH! Yikes...the IV is going to rip out of your arm, stay CLOSE!!" Just writing about that stupid thing made my blood pressure rise.

So, we arrived at the playroom--empty except for a grown woman doing a puzzle at the miniature table. I smiled and tried to discreetly read the name-tag on her uniform shirt. Definitely not a nurse or doctor because we would have met her by now. Maintenance worker on break? Doesn't make sense. Too tired to play the role of super-sleuth Annie, I decided to introduce ourselves,

"Hi! My name is Anne and this is Ava."

"Oh, hello! My name is Janet! I'm a volunteer!" woah, Janet--that was loud.

"Howdy-do Janet!" Ava tipped her hat.

Janet laughs and shakes Ava's hand. "Ava, would you like to do this puzzle with me?"

"No thanks."

"Oh, ok. Well, there is play dough in this cabinet! Here, let me set up the play dough for you! We can pretend to make cookies together!"

"No thanks."

"No? That's fine! How about I grab some crafts? You like crafts? I bet you're good at coloring. Look, here's a wooden puzzle that you get to color and..."

"No thanks." Ava's thumb has now made it to her mouth and she is nestling in to my leg. At least I don't have to worry about her wandering too far from the IV pole. I feel sorry for the volunteer and nudge Ava "Oh, look! The puzzle has a rainbow and it's own markers!!"

Ava's got a death grip on my jeans and whispers "Mom, I don't want to play with her. Why do I have to play with her!?"

"You don't HAVE to play with me, Ava. But if you want, I can get down some baby dolls and we can play house!" Ava buried her face into my pant leg. I imagined that this poor woman maybe lost a child and volunteering at the hospital helps fill a void for her. I then decided it was my duty to make Ava play house with Janet.

Now, if you know Ava...you know how this ends. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY makes Ava do anything. Stubborn as a mule. So after several pathetic attempts to get Ava to accept Janet as her new BFF, I snapped to my senses. We're not here for Janet, we're here because Ava's sick! She's sick...and I'm exhausted...we don't have to cater to the volunteer in the playroom! So I ended it with a simple,

"Ava, would you like to go back to your room and watch tv with me?" Her little face looked tired and scared from all that pestering as she nodded yes, thumb in mouth.

"Mumma will you hold me?" I gathered her up in my arms and she fell asleep on my shoulder before we got to her room.

Erik stopped by on his way in to work today. "How about I take Ava to the playroom for a little bit so you can relax?" Sounded so good! I sat cross legged in the chair and enjoyed my coffee while watching Elmo's world. I was genuinely amused...new low point.

"Mom, I'm so hungry" Ava's face looked so pale and sad.
"I know sweetheart, you can have some ice chips if you want!" I was embarrassed by my lame attempt to comfort her. She turned away from me, folded her arms across her chest and fought back tears.
"Ava, the doctors might need to do surgery to help your eye feel better. If they do surgery and you have food in your tummy it will make you sick."
"But I already am sick." Ava 1, Mom 0.
"I know but..." in walks the pediatric ear, nose, and throat doctor.
"Hello! We are going to do another cat scan on Ava to see how the infection is doing."
"I'm hungry."
"Yeah, let's go get a picture of your sinuses, and see if you can eat!" Ava smiled and we waited for the transporter.
"Uh, hi. I'm here to take Ava to diagnostic imaging. My name's Bryce." Bryce looked like he was still in high school and he never made eye contact when talking to us. Ava stared at his ear hole spacer the entire time he pushed her bed to the elevator.
"Is your earring made out of air?" He pressed the LL button and didn't answer her.
"Excuse me, Rice. Is your earring made out of air?" Bryce smiled at her.
"Well, the middle part is air." Ava rested her head back but never took her eyes off of his spacer. I followed Ava and Bryce out of the elevator and through unmarked double doors.
"This hospital is a maze! How long did it take you to learn your way around?" Bryce perked up and looked me in the eyes.
"This is my first week and I get lost all the time. I don't know." And there we were...in the mother baby unit.
Hi-ho, Hi-ho it's back to the elevator we go.
*below is a picture of Ava when she was finally cleared to EAT!*

In the earliest hours of the morning, the pediatric opthamologist would come in to see Ava. He was so kind, so good with her, and really took time to answer not only my questions, but hers as well. These are just a few of the reasons why he made it into Ava's prayers every night and into her sweet little heart. One day when he was looking in her eye with the light she said,

"You know what, Doctor Kipp?" He turned off his eye light.

"What's that Ava?"

"My eyes are usually really beautiful and blue and not even at all swollen. I'm actually kinda beautiful, really." her face held a proud little smirk.

"Oh, yes...you are a very beautiful girl. You remind me of a Disney Princess."

Ava let a laugh escape through her nose, and tried to hold back a smile. After he left she looked at me and said "I think I'm going to marry Dr. Kipp when I grow up. Well, unless he's a wrinkly old man by the time I grow up. Then I'll just marry Patrick Dempsy from the Enchanted movie."

Developing Strength of Character

2011-02-12T06:14:00.000-08:00

I was just finishing up a fun dance warm-up I choreographed for my group strength class. We were sweating, having fun, warmed up and ready to get into it. In walks Dawn, the fitness desk employee and the beginning of a very stressful time for my family...

"So sorry to tell you this, Anne, but your husband just called and said he is taking your daughter to the ER. You need to leave. I'll take care of the class." A numbing anxiety swept through my body--on autopilot I gathered my things, apologized to 40+ sympathetic faces and left. As I was going out the door my friend asked "Is it Ava?" I nodded "Yeah, it's Ava." But Dawn said "your daughter" she didn't say Ava, but without hesitation I said yes...I just knew.

At the ER I choked back tears with deliberate deep breaths...in through my nose out through my mouth. It will be ok. Ava's 40 lb body has been through so much the past few months. "She is a strong, healthy girl--she'll be fine." I was telling myself but is she a strong healthy girl? She has strep, everybody gets strep. But her relentless 105 fever is taking over her body--dragging this 5 year old away from movie night (she picked "Despicable Me")and into some pretty intense seizures. Her seizures are familiar now. I know how they go, I know what to expect...she's sits upright, moving her legs like she wants to get up and stand but never actually does just moves her legs like that over and over and over again. She makes desperate eye contact that says "help me, Mom. Please, help me" but she has no control over her mouth. She can't talk. That's how they start. I hold her. I make eye contact "Ava you are ok, love. This will be over. You are going to be fine, sweetheart." She looks at me with intense fear in her eyes. My niece Patty looked at me that way when we were at the beach together, years ago, and a wave crashed over her little body. Her giant brown eyes were terror struck--I scooped her up and made her safe again. But I have no way to help Ava. I can't make her better. So I fake a calm, soothing voice--try to be a soft, warm place of comfort for her tired body. The fear fades away from her eyes as she loses consciousness and her body tenses in a tight hard ball and then jerks hard...legs kicking crazy, her little heart races, and she wets herself. Then the violent movements give way to small twitches and then she is sound asleep. That's when I just hold her close and cry. This gets too big for me at times.

Romans 3:5 "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment."

Snow Day Mischief ;)

2011-02-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

We did get two feet of snow dropped on us the other night...you'd think I would have posted some pictures of it all. I took a bunch...kids playing, husband shoveling, dog frolicking...so why didn't I post any? Well, I couldn't find my camera. But, today I found it...and I also found out WHY I couldn't find my camera...scroll through my pics and you'll see why my camera wasn't in it's usual place....ha ha

Bailey the Wonder(full) Dog!
No, I don't have a beard. Shut up..

Hmmm...I didn't take this picture...

BUSTED!! Sleeping on the job! Ha ha! Before you go judging us for napping and thereby leaving the urchins unattended, (all you childless people---a fellow parent would never judge) I'll have you know we both had high fevers. We were sick...and we shoveled our butts off.

Snow Day Pirates and my outfit of the day :)

2011-02-04T11:37:00.001-08:00

My kitchen island swiftly turned into a pirate ship with two very different kinds of pirates on board. Gabe, seen wearing a nascar hat, Harley davidson scarf as his beard, and a blue sparkling scarf as his belt (to hold his binoculars when not in use) likes to hunt sharks and fight off bad guys. Eliza, wearing a fedora from H&M, a one-of-a-kind hand made macaroni tissue paper necklace, and a pink Hello Kitty scarf (from payless) spends her days making friends with mermaids where they can together search for sunken treasures.

There I am...ready for the teacher appreciation brunch. Boden cardigan, nicolette tank top (from nordstrom rack) and softest pants brand is Tailor Made (from anthropologie). My shoes come with a little story. Anne Klein from tjmaxx...got them on my way to a wake--long story short: very unexpected death while I was visiting home so I had limited "funeral appropriate" clothing. So...picked up these boots (as well as a pair of charcoal grey pants) on my way to the wake. Once I was there and standing in the long line to pay my respects, I remembered I had to kneel at the casket in front of everyone and the boots had that GIGANTIC obnoxious orange sticker on the sole reading 9 1/2!!! I felt like I was in a Seinfeld episode. So that is what I picked out to wear to the teacher luncheon. Except I didn't go to the luncheon. I had to take Ava to the doctor instead. Strep throat has claimed it's second victim in my house. Happy Friggin Friday!!!! ha ha!

Stupid questions

2011-02-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

Two and a half weeks ago our Ava was diagnosed with epilepsy. No dramatics--it's a very manageable syndrome, and she isn't in any danger. It is mildly life-changing but my patience level for "stupid" questions is getting shorter with every week.

"So what caused this?"

"Do you think your other kids have epilepsy and you just don't know because they don't have seizures?"

"Do you think there could be other things wrong with her too?"

"Is it safe for her to go to regular school? Is this sort of thing contagious?"

But today I was asked a very innocent question that knocked the wind out of me. I was measuring Ava's medicine into her little cup. She looked so snuggly in her fuzzy pajamas, thumb in mouth and her hair all crazy bed-head-ish. She looked up at me with her big blue eyes,

"Mom, when am I going to be all better? How many more days till I can stop taking this medicine?"

Dashed Dinner Plans..

2011-02-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

guess I'll revisit my plan to have grilled kebobs for dinner tonight. Jeesh, couldn't the weather channel have given us some kind of heads up that we were going to get some snow?

But I'm actually from Cape Cod...

2011-02-02T12:22:00.000-08:00

actual conversation between me and (ahem) M.

M. "Are you Irish?"

me "yes! 100%!"

M. "yeah, I could totally tell from your accent."

me "my accent?"

M. "yup! You totally sound like the Kennedy's"

yikes...

Feel SPIN-tastic :)

2011-02-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

Why should I try spinning? You ask...here are just a few of the many reasons:

*tightens and tones your butt and legs

*will work your heart muscle, making it stronger

*you can burn 1,000 calories in just 1 hour

*you're on your own bike, so progress at your own pace

*music based workouts make the hour fly by

*low impact (easy on your joints)

*natural endorphin boost

There is no better way to burn 700+ calories while doing a non-impact aerobic activity. Period. Spinning at least three times a week will make your heart and lungs healthier and more efficient. It will suck the first time you go...but the exercises you enjoy the least are usually the ones you need the most. Here are my spin tips to help a newbie become a regular:

1. WATER...you need a water bottle

2. towel...you won't believe how much you will sweat. I don't care if you are one who claims "I don't sweat" you will. You will..

3. Hard soled shoes...the bottom of your feet need a firm sole to press down on the pedals with, so put away those ballet slippers.

4. Hair pulled up, off the shoulders. There are few things more disgusting than the end of a ponytail sopping up the aforementioned sweat. off your neck and back...blech!

5. An easily digested meal about 1.5 hours before class (a banana with some almonds or peanut butter is best).

6. Make an honest attempt to attend two classes per week for at LEAST two weeks (preferably with different instructors, if possible) before you decide if you like it or not. It's amazing how different a class can feel just from having a different instructor...they each pick their own music and workouts.

HAVE FUN WITH IT!!!!

Church Outfit!

2011-01-30T12:55:00.001-08:00

Ode to my Odille skirt

whom fate had us meet at the Goodwill

A mere 3.99 and I took you home.

Ode to my Odille skirt

where sunset petals cascade to the hem

remeniscent of a midsummer gloam.

Ode to my Odille skirt

whose southernmost button is lost

a victim of the unfortunate ice slip.

Ode to my Odille skirt

I pledge to find that adrift button

and evermore pair you with shoes of finest grip.

Ode to my Odille skirt.

LOL

This looks like a job for....SUPERGIRL!

2011-01-29T12:44:00.000-08:00

How do you go from a St. Anne's lady brunch to yoga with NO time to spare?? Strategic wardrobe planning, obviously ;) I wore my lululemon athletica top and pants underneath my cardigan and skirt! No need to spend time changing everything in the locker room...pop into a telephone booth, supergirl style, off with the cardi, off with the skirt and voila!! Ready for some vinyasa!!!

Casual Sophistication ;)

2011-01-28T18:45:00.000-08:00

I decided to postpone my back and biceps workout until tomorrow because my body is wiped out from the plyometrics and sprinting yesterday! This left me plenty of time to put together an outfit so I decided to go with some of Kim's suggestions: skinny jeans, boots, flowy shirt, cardigan, and accessories! I love this purple velvet cardi, it's cozy and sophisticated. I feel like a real live grown up...in my picture the size of a postage stamp :)

Ah, Glory Days!!

2011-01-28T07:08:00.000-08:00

So training with those tennis kids was way more fun and way more challenging than I expected!! The plyometric portion was great, I had enough wind to yell some form correcting cues to the group as I was gracefully jumping myself into the anaerobic zone..LOL. The sprints? YIKES! I haven't actually done any sprinting since I sustained a stress fracture in my femur (July 2009). So why did I think I would be able to hang with 40 of the best teenage tennis athletes in the area? I think it goes back to why the bumble bee can fly--he may not be aerodynamically designed, but he doesn't know that so he just does it! I don't really know I'm 32 years old and have three kids and I'm not a college athlete anymore...so I just did it. I am paying for it today, but it was definitely worth it for two reasons:

#2. I am motivated and thrilled to add a sprint workout to my training routine (it's like reuniting with a long lost love...)

#1. The breakdown of some teenage "I'm too cool to show vulnerability" barriers was astonishing! Those kids are all really great kids and they are always personable with me, but last night I had SEVEN kids separately talk to me about their own personal fitness goals and if I would be willing to help them. All because they watched me suck wind after an 8minute session of intense sprinting!! I'm excited and feel incredibly lucky to watch these people attain their respective goals through their own hard work and dedication.

OH! Almost forgot...p90x protein bars (great to have if you can't be home to make a healthy meal) and p90x results and recovery drink (my absolute FAVORITE recovery drink) are on CLEARANCE!!! You can find them here: https://extranet.securefreedom.com/MillionDollarBody/csShopping/ShoppingCart.asp?Cat=Clearance|ALL

Fitness Fuel matters!!!

2011-01-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

This is week one of my hormone training...sounds creepy, right?? ha ha! It's just another term for lactic acid training...high intensity training (or HITT), anaerobic training, yadda-yadda-yadda. The point is to push your muscles HARD to their limit, which results in lactic acid build-up--once your body starts it recovery process (eliminating the acid and repairing the muscle fibers) your body is turned into a fat burning machine. Diet is key for this type of training--I need 40% protein, 40% carb (from whole grains and/or fruits and veggies), and 20% fats an hour and half before my workout, and a protein recovery drink within 30minutes of finishing the workout. The pre-workout meal is important so I have the fuel to rev my engines LOL, and I can't have high fat or that will interfere with the lactic acid build up. My post workout recovery drink nourishes my poor twitching, spent muscles and helps them to recover. I use p90x smooth orange which you can buy here:https://extranet.securefreedom.com/MillionDollarBody/csShopping/ShoppingCart.asp?Cat=Nutrition%20and%20Supplements|P90X%20%20Nutrition

Monday was chest and triceps (for cardio I did the stepper for an hour), Tuesday was legs (for cardio I ran), yesterday was my rest day (only taught two classes LOL) and today I am going to lift shoulders and abs.

Shoulder workout: each exercise I'm doing 8-15reps 5-8 sets with only 15seconds of rest between sets

barbel overhead press

lateral raise with dumbells

alternating frontal raise with dumbells

upright row with barbell

Ab workout: side bends on the back hyper-extension machine (to failure*)

decline sit-ups 5 sets of 10-15 reps

hanging straight leg raises 5 sets of 10

*to failure means I do it until I can not possibly do another one with proper form

No mind clearing, stress burning, solo cardio workout for me today as I'm training my tennis kiddos (group of about 30-45 teenage athletes). Last week they complained that I always tell them what to do and I never do the workouts myself. I promised I'd workout with them this week. Little do they know that the 30seconds of plyometrics with 30seconds recovery that kicks their butts every week is a cake walk for me. If they want to workout with me, they will be doing a workout suited for me: 1minute of work, 20seconds of rest! That should learn 'em!! I hope they drank their shakeology smoothie today!! ha ha!!

Happy Friday Eve!!

2011-01-27T06:36:00.000-08:00

Yay! Thursday is here!! After a day or so of thinking Gabe was just being dramatic, I am convinced his little foot really is hurting him, his cut is probably infected and we are going to see if the doctor agrees. Poor little man. He is always so tough. Just yesterday I bonked his head while settling him into his car seat.

"yikes! I'm sorry buddy!!" unfazed he took his little pruned thumb out of his mouth to say,

"no worries, Mom. My hair was actually already messed up." ha ha!!

"I meant sorry for hitting your head on the van, not for messing up your hair."

Bored with the whole conversation he shook his head and said, "don't you know I'm tough like Buzz Lightyear Mom? I didn't even feel it."

So after dropping Eliza off at school we will be heading to the doctors instead of the gym so I get to put on real people clothes!! Not that I don't love my gym clothes, but I've been dying to wear my new purple sweater from Boden!! Upon awakening to see me in a sweater Ava's face lit up, "Mom I love the feather petals on your shirt! You look beautiful! Are you going on a date?"

Yeah, Dad is out of town and I have a date...

"No Ava we're taking Gabe to the doctors."

Gabe immediately shot up from playing with his monster trucks, "what did you said!?"

"I think the cut on your foot is infected. We are going to have the doctor look at you and see if you need medicine."

He thought about this for at least ten seconds, "are you going to at least take me to old McDonald's afterwards for a treat or something?" nice try...

"no, buddy. We are going to head to the gym after." disappointed and confused he shook his head and said,

"so Mom, you are going to exercise in a sweater with petals and stuff??"

"no. We'll come home after the doctors and I'll change." I said, doubting the efficiency of my plan for the day.

"but that doesn't even make sense..you can even wear gym clothes to the doctors you know." Trying to get my husband to understand why living in gym sweats as a Mom is horrible for my self image is hard enough, I don't even want to try explaining this to a 4 year-old boy.

"just go with it, Buzz."

New Year's Gym Tourists!!

2011-01-26T10:25:00.000-08:00

*picture of me in our new activity guide...just a regular Saturday for me, a soldier in the fight against childhood obesity..ha ha ha!!!*

Childcare was FULL this morning at the gym...that is when I KNOW it's January! Us gym rats know that we only have to wait until March before they all give up so we wait it out and complain to each other.

My Own Little Spot

My kitchen

Valentine Decor

New Year, New House, New Client...

"I’m running with this plan"

Risingtaste.com

The New Kid in School

What a rebel..

Feeling HOT HOT HOT!!!

Nostalgia

Excuse me...

Vacation?? Frustration??

Kid Fit!

Your workout is only as good as your breakfast...

Pen Pals

Sprinkler Stud

{Weekend Errands} OOTD

Seven Random Facts

Most People's Mistake

New Fab Ab Move

Thank you!! ....uh....I think?

Healthy Recipes to Try (plus a healthier snack option)

Dino Dreams

Brainstorm...

Plateau Poison

Rainy Saturday

Mother's Day dress...few days late

Feeling hot, hot, hot!!!

Outfit of the Day

Puppy Love

Leading little feet with faith

Birthday and Bubbles

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday Bandit...oh snap!!

Help Wanted

Wait, how old am I?

Ava's deep-blue laughing eyes...

LEGS!!!!

3 kids for sale...

Here we go again...

Tongue Twisters?

Goldie-shorts suggestions...

Gimme Five!!

Unwritten rules of the gym..

Goldie-shorts...

"I get the news I need on the weather report..."

Sunny Days :)

What? It's warm in my dreams...

Wicked Supah-Mom

It's All Right to Cry

I'm a big kid now!!

The Iris

My Spin Class :)

My Planning Session

Sunny Sunday!!

Mmm, mmm...

Performance Nutrition

*Warning*

Cowboy Dreams

A Dog Named Cookie

Party Time!

Don't ask any questions...

Bailey Boy

Old Cape Cod

Shoulders and Shades!!!

Feeling Good ;)

I do believe that's not butter...

I need a 20!!

My outfit of the day and workout of the day!!

Fat Tuesday: Bon Ton Roulet!!!

...things are changing...

My Little Moon

Frustrations of a Four-year old

Sunday Funday!

Healthy Weekend Snacks :)

Ding-Ding!! Last Lap! (& my inspired outfit of the day)

Ava's Fashion Tip

Lazy Sick Day and my outfit of the day

I heart dresses

Um, I didn't have time to put my contacts in today...

Gabe-ism #723

Warning