A Great Spin to the Week!

WOW! I love today already!! I have the whole week off and do not want to waste a second of it!! I was up and moving early this morning. B had to be up at 6:30am and being the amazing wife I am, set the alarm and woke him up, it took some extra nudging this morning. I think all of the country is being hit with a cold spell. Down here in Sugar Land it was a balmy 38 degrees and pouring this morning! I was happy when I could crawl deep under the covers after waking him up! Thank you Thanksgiving break!!

I put on my carpi's, long yoga pants, tank top, fleece-lined jacket and UGGs and headed out the door at 8:30 to make it to Spin at 9:00. Yup, it was COLD!

I know for some people 41 is nothing... For us in Southern Texas this is day-stopping FREEZING!!! It was rainy and messy but I made it to Spin just in time...

 

Now, I know they have spin classes at my gym, but at this Spin Studio the class is AMAZING!!! They have one big spin room, awesome bikes and the best, best, best instructors with GREAT taste in music. The classes are only 55 minutes long and I always leave there pumped and excited for my next class. Yes, I love it that much!

 

When I got home this morning I was pumped and ready to tackle some chores! The first of which was starting dinner. My mom was never a good cook and the only thing she taught me how to make well were Ruben Sandwiches and grilled cheeses (I make a MEAN grilled cheese!). So part of my blog has been about me improving my culinary skills. I know using a crock pot is a no-brainer, but I am still a rookie. This is what I am making for tonight,



I popped in some chicken and this packet and turned the crock pot to low. Dinner should be ready around 6 o'clock tonight! I will have to let yall know!! I hope everyone is having a fabulous start to your Thanksgiving week!

What is your favorite crock-pot recipe?

Taking The Stairs

      Today marks one full week 'sans' exercise due to doctors orders to lay low for 5 to 7 days (nothing major just some tests). So I was MORE than ready to hit that gym this afternoon! My initial plan was to get up at 5am and get on the treadmill for an ease-back-into-it run. Well, that buzzer came and left. And after pushing snooze five to seven times it was time to get up and get in the shower. That's okay, I will get another chance to get in a run tomorrow. I do LOVE a morning run.

      When I got to the gym today I decided to do the StairMaster for a warm up. I ended up staying at work a little later than planned so I only had about 10 minutes to do the stairs. I don't know about anyone else, but the StairMaster is my Achilles heel of exercise. I immediately get my heart rate up and begin huffing and puffing. Even at my fittest, the stairs kicked my butt. My husband always makes fun of me because I sound like the most out of shape person trying to catch my breathe going up a flight of stairs and I have ALWAYS been like that. Today was no exception. Even though I didn't have a very long warm up, it definitely got my heart rate up!

You can tell from the blurriness that I was trying to catch my breathe after my short 8 minute climb! But it felt great (once I was done!)

This was on the cool down, I mostly stayed at level 6. I also got in a great full body workout with some free weights!

Lets hope 5am comes with a sweet jog on the treadmill tomorrow morning :)

Smiles!

What cardio machine gets your heart pumping?

Farmers Market Finds

Oh my GOODNESS! I cannot believe I have let so much time lapse between my last psot and now! I have missed it soooo much!!! This blog has become such a healthy way for me to express myself and help to motivate me to exercise and lead a healthier lifestyle. I hope to not let it get away from me again.

Farmers Market Finds! I don't know about you, but I LOVE our local Farmers Market. It began as a temporary selling spot for a few yummy veggies and has exploded to sell all kinds of treats and goodies! Check out our finds from this past Saturday!

I am especially excited to make something with the homemade breads! They smell AMAZE! I have also found a new love I never knew existed before... Sweet Potatoes! Oh sweet fix, where have you been all my life!! These delectable delights should encourage some tasty treats this week for sure!! I am slightly sad with our local Farmers Market though, I have been several times with hopes of finding some fresh fruits... But, alas, they NEVER seem to offer any. I know the time of year isn't exactly fruit harvesting time, but I guess as long as the temperatures stay in the mid to upper 80's I still want fruity fun!

I have been off of the wagon work-out-wise for the past week due to a jam packed work schedule, but things are calming back down and I am ready to hop back on again!! Hope everyone has a fantastic night!!

Smiles!

What is your favorite Farmers Market find?

Busy, Busy!

          Hey there! This is how busy I am these days... I am writing this blog whilst I sit at my salon with foil in my hair waiting for the timer to ding and tell my amazing hair lady it is time to wash... Yes, that busy!!

                                                  

      This place has the most amazing coffee!!! I think I look forward to this more than the hair uplift!

        Well, I feel horrible I have been MIA from my blog in a while... This Masters stuff is no joke! The first few days were filled with reading, crying, typing, crying, chatting with my classmates oh an more crying! Seriously, I have been out of school for so long (really not that long but you know) that I had become accustomed to making my own schedule... I love my gym time, my pool time and my family time and I was beating myself up cause I thought I was missing it... Then I had a come to Jesus meeting with myself.... I can TOTALLY do this I just need to take control of it like I do other parts of my life. Like at work, I can choose to let a rude coworker or a mean parent ruin my day, or I can laugh it off and say, (in my best southern accent) "bless their heart". I could choose to get unhealthy and sloppy and not care about what I look like cause I am married and settled. Or I can choose to workout, dress cute and make my husband want to be with me!! (I def choose the latter!). Well, I decided to do the same with this Masters program! I can make my schedule and make it work for me and still get my pool, family, and workout time! So now I love it!!!

See, best of both worlds, studying and Starbucks! And I must say I SOOOOO lucked out! I got THE best partner for my group work in my class! She is motivated and driven and the sweetest person ever!! In fact thanks to her, I should finish up everything due for my first class by the end of this week (THAT IS TWO WEEKS EARLY!!) so I am loving it!!

           On to the workouts! I AM OUT OF THE BOOT!! For those not on my same schedule, I have been in an Aircast for 10 L-O-N-G. weeks!! Last Wednesday I graduated!!! I am OUT!! I still have to take it easy and follow an "easing back in plan" but I don't mind... I can see the light and and I am beyond ready!!

Adios boot! I am soooo over you!! haha!

Smiles!!

Summer BABY!!!

      Hey there! So I have been gone a while and I am back baby! And even better, it is SUMMER BABY!! The last two months have been pretty busy with school and everything. But, trust me when I say how much I have missed my blogging! So let me catch you up on a few things. Ready, set, go...

1) I got into the Masters Program in Curriculum and Instruction at Texas A&M University (which started this week by the way... so my free time is null)

I am SUPER excited, but a little nervous at the same time, just want to be successful... I plan to take it one class at a time!!

2) SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMER!!! I am really excited, but it is bittersweet... I am happy for the break, but going to miss my sweet, sweet babies that have been my life for the past 9 months! Look what some of my girls did during stations earlier this week...

 

I know that may be hard to read, but I know their handwriting too well, and this melted my heart!

 

3) The last two pictures go hand in hand.. I did have to work today though really only a half day getting my room cleaned up and ready for the summer. When I got in my car this morning it felt amazing! We had a "cold front" come through yesterday.. When I said cold front I mean the temperature dropped from 95 to 80 degrees and it feels amazing! When I got in the car this morning I had to document how amazing it felt!

 

It may be awhile before I can post a pic like this again! :)

 

4) When I got home I sat back and relaxed...ahhhhhhhh....

 

Perfect way to end the school year and start the Summer! I am excited for the next few months and cant wait to blog about it!! Have a great start to your Summer as well!!

 

Smiles!



 

Its Shiner Time!

WOW! What a week! Well, my plan to begin Clean Eating did not quite go as intended and this is why...

 

Meet Shiner Blonde Fikac! The newest member of our family! She is an 8 week old Australian Shepard Lab Mix. She is absolutely adorable!! I know it seems really soon after losing our sweet Dutchie to get another dog. But our other two dogs (especially our yellow lab mix, Oakley) seemed withdrawn and depressed since their sister has been gone. And when we went to pet her, we were not even looking to adopt, it was just sort of meant to be! We adopted her from a pretty cool shelter called, "CAP" in Katy .We brought her home on Sunday night and things have been pretty hectic, but really great! She got a clean bill of health from our vet on Monday. But, on Tuesday when I got home from work, it seemed as if her incision from her spaying was coming open so I rushed her back to the vet (in a whole 'nuther town, but he is such a wonderful vet we could never imagine switching). Only to find out I was an over protective mommy and she was fine. Turns out she loves the car and she slept the whole way home, sans carrier, and even let mommy stop off to get a Starbucks!!

 

The other pups are accepting her quite well.

 

See the resemblance! It is a baby Oakley!! I cant wait until she is one week post surgery (Sunday) and they can play full force! Its going to be hilarious!!

 

My dinners this week were pretty good, chicken tenders and red potatoes one night and a frozen pasta and veggie stir fry another night. But, the highlight meal of the week was this...

 

Who doesn't love breakfast for dinner! It is da bomb! My only compliant, the bacon was not crispy enough for me! Burn it, that is how to do bacon right! haha!

 

Well, off to play with the pup! Hope everyone has a fantastic start to the weekend!!

 

Smiles!

 

 





"The Challenge"

So, Wednesday afternoon while I was changing for yoga, a flyer in the restroom caught my eye...

I was intrigued! So I asked the lady at the front desk and she told me all about it. It sounds absolutely fantastic! She said it is a 2 hour class that involves a yoga session, discussions about healthy and clean eating and mediation practices. After she finished talking I was SOLD! I signed up. I cannot wait. I don't know much more about the challenge yet, except I have to journal what I take in, commit to yoga 5 days a week and EEKS-- give up caffeine and alcohol. The alcohol will be easy, but I don't know if I can go with out my morning coffee!! Our first session may be to try and convince this First Grade teacher how to go with out.. not sure that part of the challenge will happen. But the rest I am stoked about!

This challenge got me thinking. The working out and running is helping me to drop some lbs, but I feel I can still do more. I feel I am getting burned out with the same ole food in the kitchen so I want to try clean eating. I have read a bunch on it and have heard how great it is for your body. So I am going to give it a try! The next month of blogs should have some fun cooking stories in it!! haha!

Have a great rest of your weekend!

Smiles