Snow Days – Productive or Play?

February 5, 2014 Kim 1 Comment

Today’s 44 was actually a simple move (some days I need it to be a little easier!!). I think it is a ballet stance (1st, 2nd….???) – anyway start with your heels together, toes slightly turned out –

From the start, squat down and reach your hands to the floor –

Then stand up on toes and reach to the sky –

See, a nice easy move – more of a stretch than anything!!! Maybe these should be called a ballet squat & reach (closest I will ever come to ballet!).

Day 3 of Michelle Bridges – There were 3 different program options (I think 3) and I chose the Lean and Strong plan. Lots of lifting which is good since I haven’t done much lifting for awhile. Yesterday I also managed to get an 11 mile run in!!

So, the call to cancel school yesterday ended up being a smart choice. The snow started around 9:00am and it was still coming down at 10:00 when we went to bed.

I think that I saw about 13″ as the general consensus. UGH!!!!!

back deck - snow almost up to bottom of chairs — back deck – snow almost up to bottom of chairs

Sometime yesterday evening they made the decision to cancel school again today. The snow has stopped and the current temperature is 3* with a high of about 14 for the day. Actually based on the upcoming week’s forecast, we are going to have snow around for a LONG time!!!

mountain in the cup-de-sac from the plow — mountain in the cul-de-sac from the plow

So – how do you handle snow days? Do you use them to be uber productive or do you treat them as a bonus day?

When I worked full time at a school, I always viewed snow days as a gift – a day to relax and watch movies and play games with the boys.

Now that I’m technically self-employed and the work never goes away I still view snow days as a bonus day to enjoy. No alarms, no rushing around, extra time lounging. Yesterday and today are double treats because Chris even got snow days – rare for the base to close!!!

Today I might have to do a little bit of work stuff but overall I’m going to keep to my rule and let this be a bonus day. I think we are even going to try and get in a game of Monopoly later!!!

My #1 snow day rule is always this – I NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE ON A SNOW DAY. NOT EVEN TO GET THE MAIL!!!!

I’m not a fan of snow. I don’t look outside and think it’s pretty or fun or any of those things. I look outside and just see cold and slick and mess. UGH!!

Snow days – do you treat them as a bonus day or is it a day to be productive?
Do you like snow?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

Fitness, Push-Ups

A Slight Overreaction

February 4, 2014 Kim 80 Comments

Today’s 44 was ~~a stupid choice~~ an elevated push-up with a clap. I used a chair for the elevation.

Clearly these are hard for me!! I think the fact that yesterday was also chest day in the Michelle Bridges program didn’t help!! I only did half (22) on my toes then I dropped to my knees so I could actually still do a push-up (without bending my body so much).

And, even though it’s only day 2, I think it’s safe to say that this Michelle Bridges 12 week program is going to be good for me. The soreness I’m feeling today is rare for me!!!

I am going to have to play around some to try and figure out how to do my daily 44, the February challenge with Taylor (which I’m very excited about!), this new program and plenty of solid running miles!!!

Yesterday the weather forecast for today looked something like the above predictions. The snow was supposed to start falling after midnight and by 6:00 am it was supposed to be coming down at the rate of 1.5″ per hour or more.

Instead, it looks like this outside. The backyard isn’t even covered and the snow on the ground is actually from late Friday night/early Saturday morning.

Barely covering the street and again most of it is because they did not plow on Saturday and we have just been driving on snow the past couple of days.

Even now, no snow is falling at all.

The over-reaction might have happened last night!!!

By dinner time we knew that school was cancelled for today. And, Chris actually got the day off because all Government offices had announced they would be closed today.

Now, don’t get me wrong, if school is going to be cancelled, I prefer to know the night before so that we don’t have to set alarms. However, if we don’t get any snow I think that maybe we could have had school today.

I guess we will just take our bonus day and enjoy it!!!

And, I’m definitely not complaining about the lack of snow – if we only end up with what is on the ground right now then I will be HAPPY!!!

Do you think the decision to cancel school should be made based on a weather prediction or what till it actually happens?
Is it a snow day for you?

Happy Tuesday!!!

An update on the snow –

Kim

PS – Please keep my sister-in-law (Dina – she is married to Tim, my twin) and her family in your thoughts today and tomorrow – she is saying her final goodbyes to her Mom.

Fitness, Squats

How Can I Make this Imperfect World a Little Better?

February 3, 2014 Kim 72 Comments

Today’s 44 was rough (mostly because my quads are still a little sore!!). I used my barbell and did squats.

44 of these was a challenge!! (and then I did even more during my workout!!)

Taylor (Lifting Revolution) started a new challenge for February – Let’s Split Challenge. This first week is 100 walking lunges every day!!! My poor quads – but I know it is good for getting rid of that last bit of soreness!

And, I started a new program today! Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation. I actually won this from GiGi (GiGi Eats Celebrities) last week and it started today!!! I had to do the Fitness test this morning and then the first day. I chose the Lean and Strong program and all I can say after one day is – I don’t know how strong I feel!!! My whole body is shaking right now!!!

The only downside to the new program is that it is almost an hour a day/6 days a week and I’m going to have to figure out how to fit in the miles that I want to log running – maybe I need to get up at 4:30 again?!

Saturday morning, Jordan and I went to the memorial service for the 22 year old brother of Jordan’s friend who died a couple weeks ago. It was rough!!!

Several family members shared stories and words about this incredible young man and the Priest said some things that really stuck out to me and I’ve been thinking a lot about them the past couple of days.

He reminded us that life isn’t fair. Clearly it’s not or this young man would still be alive and his family wouldn’t be suffering!

The priest talked about what a light this young man was and how he didn’t let life get him down. He had a bright future and it was obvious to all who knew him.

The thing that really stood out to me was the fact that even though life isn’t fair and we live in an imperfect world, we are capable of doing something to make the world a little better. It is a matter of making the choice to make a difference!!

I’m not sure how I can do this but I know it is something that I truly want to work on!!!

I think that the change really does come from within! I’m hoping that even though I may never affect the entire world, I can start with myself and do what I can to try and make the world a better place!!!

Do you think that one person is capable of making the world a better place?

Happy Monday!!!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness

My Version of Super Sunday!!!

February 2, 2014 Kim 50 Comments

Today’s 44 was fun because I walked around while I did it (trying to get 10,000 steps on my FitBit you know!!!). I used my medicine ball with a handle –

With the medicine ball, I did single arm bicep curls while walking!

I know – the mirror pictures are pretty pitiful!!! But walking around while curling was a fun way to make the 44 on each side go quickly!!

Today is my 2nd day in a row to take a break from working out – rare for me to take more than 1 day at a time but I figured I needed to make sure I recovered from Friday’s 37 mile run – so 2 days now instead of risking injury and having to skip lots of days!!!

Sometimes I need to step back and remind myself of all the things in my life that make it super!

* My top 3 super things –

Look how little they are - Jordan is about 5 here — Look how little they are – Jordan is about 5 here

* Even though Kansas isn’t my top choice of places to live (especially in the winter!!!), we have a beautiful home that is always warm!!!

* The ability to run and workout!!!

running 37 miles and actually feeling good is pretty super!!

* Being able to have friends over for a low-key Super Bowl party always makes my day super!!! Having a taco bar and Texas Margaritas – can’t beat it!

* Knowing that in just a few months I will be spending time in my happy place –

* And, being part of an incredible blogging community make me feel like – My version of the “super” dance!!!

What is SUPER in your life today?

Happy Super Sunday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Resistance Bands

37 Miles of Running (and it was GOOD!!)

February 1, 2014 Kim 72 Comments

Today’s 44 was a fairly simple move but definitely one that works a lot of muscles. I took my resistance band and put the loops on my feet then pulled the middle up to my chest.

Actually I put my upper body closer to the ground (but not on it)

can you tell that my back is not on the ground?

From this awkward position, I did flutter kicks with my legs.

switch (this picture is actually more of a motion shot!!)

(Drill weekend makes it hard to get pictures – Chris leaves early and the boys are still sleeping!!!)

The move was great for working my abs (entire core actually) and my hip flexors which are a little bit sore from yesterday. I counted a right leg down and left leg down as 1 rep.

Yesterday morning after a poor night of sleep thanks to an incredibly loud crash at 2:05 am and time spent wandering through the house to try and find the source, Chris found out what it was when he left at 5:30 am. See the patch job on that fence?

Well, the fence was put up a couple of years ago to surround a generator of some sort that the city/county/someone put in our yard (for the entire lake neighborhood). Anyway, the generator is pretty damaged right now thanks to someone crashing into the fence and it at 2:05 am Friday morning – kind of scary!!!

The morning continued by throwing another curveball into my plans. Hunter came upstairs with a nosebleed (he gets them fairly often) and this was the kind that wouldn’t stop. Poor boy!! His nose bled from 6:30 until about 7:30. We usually leave at 7:20 for school and he hadn’t even been able to eat breakfast.

So, I took Jordan and came back for Hunter (the middle school and high school are pretty much side-by-side and start within 10 minutes of each other). The worst part for Hunter was the fact that his team (they have teams at the middle school) was leaving at 8:30 to go to an elementary school for READ Day. Thankfully he was better when I got back home so I took him to school (he ended up having another nosebleed when he got there but made it to his class by 8:25!!).

I started my run a little later than I had planned to but it all worked out!!!

Plenty of time to watch movies/DVRed TV while running 37 miles – I watched You Again (with Jamie Lee Curtis), What to Expect When You’re Expecting (super cute), finally watched Sean & Catherine get married on The Bachelor Wedding (it was very awkward at times!!!), and the latest episode of Dance Moms!!!

And just a short 5 hours and 23 minutes later, this happened!!!

not just 23 minutes (it flipped 3 times!!)

This was truly the best mega run I’ve had in a long time. I ran the entire way (no walking) and other than achey knees and sore feet, I felt strong for all 37 miles!!!

I’m glad that I did the virtual race – I know that the entry fee went to a good cause and it was fun to think about Kristin doing the same distance out in CA (we actually ran almost the exact same time – she was a minute faster in 5:22) plus it was good for my long distance running mojo!!!

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Day With KT

Monthly Archives: February 2014

Snow Days – Productive or Play?

A Slight Overreaction

How Can I Make this Imperfect World a Little Better?

My Version of Super Sunday!!!

37 Miles of Running (and it was GOOD!!)

Fitness – Food – Fun