Tag Archives: music

Happiness Is…

Today’s 43 was a bicep curl while in a V-sit.  (I know that I’ve had a few 43s in a row that work my abs/core but that is because I’m resting my legs!!!)  

start
start

I tried to hold my entire body still except my arms from the elbow down.  Because of the core work involved here – I only used 8 pound dumbbells – I was afraid if I went heavier that I would start swinging my arms and end up hurting something like my back!!

curl
curl

I liked this move since I got some upper body work, core work and even my hip flexors got a little work while I held my legs up.

And, as hard as it is for me to take days off from working out, I’m giving myself another day off today.  I know that after running 31 miles on Friday my body needs it!!  Of course, I have Jordan who keeps saying – it would have been more impressive if you had done Insanity on the day you ran 5 hours!  Today he is giving me grief for not doing Insanity or “at least do some Tae-Bo!”  Silly boy!!!Screen shot 2013-07-14 at 7.49.47 AM

When I was in 2nd grade, we had a big music production at my school and I actually had a solo (crazy since I can’t really sing!).  I was Snoopy and sang the song Happiness Is.  There is one section of the song that I have always remembered:

          Happiness is morning and evening,
          Daytime and nighttime, too.
          For happiness is anyone and anything at all
          That’s loved by you!

So much truth to those last 2 lines – happiness can be anything!!!

Family

my boys
my boys
Poppa
Poppa

Locations

the beach
the swim beach
Hawaii - this was several years ago
Hawaii – this was several years ago

Having friends over – for dinner, drinks or just to sit and visit!!  No pictures – I try not to put pictures of people on here unless I have asked if they mind (which I always forget to do!!).

Shoes – I know it’s materialistic but I LOVE shoes!!  All types of shoes!!  And shoes in a well organized closet = pure happiness!!!

some favorites!
some favorites!
shoes!!!
shoes!!!

One day Chris said my closet looked like a shoe store – NICE!!!

Books and Reading – I’ve mentioned my cookbook obsession before, but I also love to read.  Having a Nook makes me HAPPY!!  So many books all in one little spot!!!

my Nook
my Nook

CookbooksWine – I love a glass of wine or other cocktail!!!

cases of my favorite German wine!
cases of my favorite German wine!

Music – music and happiness are a perfect pair!!

Reality TV – pure entertainment!!!

Running and working out!!!

nothing like a good sweat!
nothing like a good sweat!

There are so many things that make me happy – some big and some  little – but like the song says – happiness is anyone and anything at all that’s loved by you!!!

What makes you happy?

Happy Sunday!!!

Kim

Music and Running

Today’s 43 was pretty much good for my entire body!!!  I did a clean & press with a dead-lift.  I used my Body Pump bar with 10 pound plates on each side (I had 15 pounds/side but realized after 3 reps that I would never be able to make all 43 with proper form at that weight!).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QoK3fDshhs’]

I would like to really increase my weight on these but that shoulder press kills me!!!

Today’s Boot Camp was fun – I set up a circuit with 18 stations and all sorts of equipment (medicine ball, stability ball, step, jump rope, agility ladder).  We did 50 seconds and then had 10 seconds to move to the next.  We went around the entire circuit 2x and the 2nd time was supposed to be FULL effort since everyone knew the moves then!!!  I love short little bursts like this because it makes the time go quickly!!!

After boot camp, I decided to take advantage of the incredible weather that we are still enjoying (65 at 7:00) and go for a run!  I ran 5.67  (I still can’t believe that I stopped at such a random # but I was at my driveway and ready to walk!!!) in 47:23 which is 8:21 pace.   Considering the issues I’ve had the past couple of months with running – I was very happy with this run (and actually felt pretty good the entire time).  Now, if I could just figure out how to get rid of some of the hills!!!  (seems like way more steep up-hills than down hills – weird!!)

Screen shot 2013-07-03 at 8.36.56 AMAnyone who has read my blog for very long knows that I love running on my treadmill – it paces me, I can control the hills (or lack of hills), I can watch all my favorite DVRed Reality TV shows and I keep myself totally entertained by playing games with the speed while I run.  

Screen shot 2013-07-03 at 8.56.04 AMHowever, I’m trying to transition at least some of my runs back outside in preparation for my 50 miler in October!!  

One thing that has helped lately is the nice weather!!!  And the scenery around here isn’t too bad either – I follow the lake a lot of times.  It’s nice to see plenty of other people out walking (often with dogs), running and biking!!!

But – the biggest help is MUSIC!!!  I tried using my iPhone but the long cord for the headphones always drove me crazy!!

Then I bought these:DSCN1292

This is actually a Sony mp3 headphone and it is awesome!!  It came with 3 different sizes of earpieces and the small ones fit perfectly in my ears (without hurting them – a small miracle!!) and they don’t slide around at all.  The only downside I’ve found is that when I sweat (a LOT when I run), having the earpieces in my ears on top of the sweat makes my ears feel all stopped up but now that I’ve used these a couple of times it seems to be getting better.

I love this little device!!!  Having some tunes while I run helps keep me entertained and sometimes the songs even motivate me a little.  Like today – the song that came on during the last 1/2 mile (I just have my play list on shuffle!) was old school – Salt n Pepa – Push It!!!  (college day memories!!)Screen shot 2013-07-03 at 9.10.30 AM

Now I’m not stupid (I know what the song is about) – but today I used the words to “push it” harder and finish my run with a sprint!!  

And, of course, there are plenty of songs that come on that I feel the need to sing along to!  Probably not a good thing since my ears are semi-stopped up from sweat and who knows how loud I end up singing and it’s a given that I don’t sing in tune!!  I just figure it is adding to the workout challenge because it is pretty hard to run and sing!!!

Some of the tunes that I enjoyed (and anyone within hearing distance) today while running:

  • Rockin’ the Beer Gut
  • Redneck Woman (Gretchen Wilson)
  • Play that Funky Music (Wild Cherry)
  • It’s Tricky (Run DMC)
  • If I had $1,000,000 (Barenaked Ladies)
  • Sin Wagon  (Dixie Chicks)
  • Single Ladies (Beyonce)
  • Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band)
  • and of course, Push It (Salt n Pepa)

See why I feel the need to sing?!  

I think that the Sony mp3 might be a good giveaway  for me to do later this summer!!!  (look for it around the time school starts – mid August here!)

What are your favorite running tunes?

 You can tell that I’m pretty old school – I don’t think any of my favorites are very recent – many are from previous decades!!!

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim