I am a 44 year old wife, mom and athlete. I started running in high school and have loved it ever since. As I got older, I had to stop running every day so I added in weight training and all sorts of fun work-outs like Insanity, P90X and Turbo Fire. I'm a certified personal trainer and I love all aspects of fitness.
I think we have a new favorite snack around here!! And, it is actually healthy!!!
Humus!!!
The other night, Chris and I had some humus as one of the courses in our anniversary dinner. We talked to the owner of the restaurant while we ate our dessert and he gave me some of the info for the recipe so I made my version for our Memorial Day BBQ.
This stuff is good!!!
Easy & Delicious Humus (that’s my name for it!)
3 cans chickpeas, drained
1 T minced garlic
fresh mint to taste (I used about 5 stems – pulled off the leaves only)
1/4 c olive oil + more to make desired consistency
lemon juice to taste (I used about 3 T)
1 t vinegar (any white) – I used a white wine vinegar
1/2 t sugar
salt to taste
Combine all ingredients in a food processor.
Pulse until smooth, adding olive oil as needed.
Serve with fresh veggies – we used baby carrots, green pepper slices and sliced cucumber.
I stole a sample before our friends came over:I can’t believe that I’ve never made this – so good!!!
Today’s 43 took a standard move (the push-up) and used it in a whole new way (at least for me!!). I did Frog Push-ups!!!
To do these, start with your legs bent at 90 with just your toes on the ground. Hands are in normal push-up position. The only thing that really moves are your arms when you bend your elbows down.
This was a fun 43 and I loved the extra shoulder benefit of this push-up!!!
Today I finally started a program that I have put off for close to 2 years – Insanity Asylum. I’ve done Insanity a couple of times (the entire 60 day program) but it’s been awhile. These programs have the names they do for a reason – they are intense and not for the weak of heart!!! I can tell that I lost a lot of conditioning the past month so I figured the Asylum would be just the thing to push me!!!
Today was just the first assessment or Fit Test. 25 minutes with a very short warm-up, 9 different drills for 1 minute each and a short cool down. A lot of these moves were new to me because it takes a more traditional move and combines it with some agility training!! Not easy!!! Gonna have to work hard this month!!
Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, not to be confused with Veterans Day which celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans.
On Memorial Day the United States flag is raised to the top of the staff and then lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all. (from Wikipedia) We might not all know someone personally who has lost their life while serving our country, but we can still honor the memory of all who have fought for our country and given their lives.It is also a day that the families who have lost a member (or members) should be remembered since they have made a huge sacrifice for our country.So, whether you are spending the day on the lake, at the ballpark or just hanging out with friends, family and good food – take a few minutes to remember all the many military members who have given their lives for the freedom that we often take for granted!!!
You can tell I wobbled a few times – it happens!!! And, you know, this was the kind of move that I had to do 2 sets of 43 so that both legs could feel the burn!!!
I’m hoping that Hunter will decide to get up soon so we can all go play tennis!!! Jordan and I usually like to get a nice walk after our tennis rounds so I even though I’m not doing a “true workout” today, I will still get plenty of activity!!
Happiness is a state of mind and while I feel like I’m generally a happy person, I know that I’m always much happier in the summer!!!! So many things are making me happy right now!!!
Yesterday I put on a pair of my shorts (the first time of the season is always a little scary) and they still fit great!!
and my longhorn tat makes me very happy!!!
The boys washed the cars yesterday – clean cars make me happy and watching the boys spray each other “accidentally” really makes me happy!!!I just hung out, took pictures and tried to get a little color on my pale legs!!
need a tan!
Swimsuit season = HAPPINESS!!!
ready for some sun!
Chris and I went for the first boat ride of the year – it’s like being on vacation, almost!!!How can you not be happy floating around on the water???
It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere!!! Margaritas on the boat!!
And, since it was our anniversary (another reason to be HAPPY), we got dressed up and went out to a really nice dinner!!We ate at the Row House which is always fun!! We always get the tasting menu which is about 6 courses but none super big!!! Last night we went out to the courtyard area for our dessert!
all of the veggies we had with our dinner came from their garden
How could I be anything but happy when this is the person I’m hanging out with?!
enjoying a good year of Macallan scotch
So many things that are making me HAPPY!!! If I had to sum it up I would say
Chris
my boys (Jordan & Hunter)
the sun – beach, boat & warmth
Like I told Chris yesterday – it really doesn’t take much to make me happy!!! But we all know that this never hurts!!!!!
Today’s 43 was brutal in every way!! I did Man-Makers!! Heard of them? Get a set of dumbbells (I used 15 pounds) and get ready!!
Put the dumbbells on the ground about a foot apart. Jump down to plank placing hands on DBs and do a push-up (you know, like a burpee). Then do alternate arm rows (while still in plank!!). Jump up into a low squat and bring weight to your shoulder. Stand, using your legs for power and push arms straight overhead. That was 1 rep!!! Repeat (43x if you are doing my version!).
After I finished that torture43, I decided to go out for a run to shake out the last bit of soreness in my legs from Thursday’s long run. I finally used my new Garmin on a run!!! I just ran 3 miles in 26:00 + 0.5 miles walking to cool down!! It is already muggy and humid today!!!
Look how young we were!!
Chris and I are celebrating 17 years of wedded bliss today!!! So, I think it’s a good time to share some of our story.
We met in August of 1995 at Whalers Bay in Lubbock, TX. (yep – we met at a bar!!!) Chris was with 3 other guys and I was with a group of people. My roommate that summer was a hostess there and had seen Chris in before. She purposely seated me next to him and his friends. Chris and his buddies all had large notebooks with them (the Dash 1) and were “studying”.
I started talking to Chris and asked him, “Are you a pilot?” His response, “No, but I want to be.” (he was in pilot training at the time)
I drank Rum & Coke that night (more than a few) all paid for by Chris and his pals, and because of that Chris’ buddies called me “rum & coke” for months after we met!!
At some point that night, Chris and I made plans to go out over the weekend. He called me the next day and asked if I had a chance to go out of town would I do it. I figured he was standing me up. Actually, he invited me to go to Austin to hook up with some friends of his and go to a Live concert.
We went to the concert, did 6th Street up rightgot a little sleep and drove back to Lubbock (Oh – it is 7 hours each way). Yep, we met in a bar, our first date was over 7 hours from were we lived – pretty sure we broke a lot of “dating rules” but it all worked out and look at us now!!! And we didn’t go as crazy as some people – the SLS Dating Site scene isn’t for us – but we did break a few conventions here and there!
Chris told me later that he knew on the way to Austin that I was the person he wanted to marry!!! The Monday after our first date he sent these to me at work!!
We dated the rest of the year (my first year as a teacher – 6th grade Science) while Chris was in pilot training. Most of our dates were like this:
Well, maybe not exactly, but we did spend lots of time with the other guys (and their wives or girlfriends) in pilot training at a great piano bar called Off Broadway and karaoke happened often – good thing Chris can sing!!!
We were engaged all of 8 weeks!!! Not because we “had” to get married! Chris graduated from pilot training on May 24 and we got married the day after – we figured it would save his family a trip to TX (from Kansas).
at 2 and on the day of Pilot Training Graduation
The frame says – From long ago and far away…Love brought us to our wedding day.
It was a busy but incredible weekend!!! Chris sang to me at our wedding (a complete surprise to everyone, especially me!!)
Beautiful in my Eyes by Joshua Kadison (now know as “our song”)
Obviously that isn’t him singing but it could be!!! (If you’ve never heard the song, it is definitely worth listening to!!)
Our wedding was Saturday and on Monday, Chris had to go to Altus, OK for his next training phase. I still had a week to finish school. So, we started our married life the way it would frequently be – the life of a military pilot and spouse!!!
The night I got to Altus, we ate at the O Club (Officer’s Club) – right when we walked in we heard our song so of course we danced cause that’s what you do!!!
I can’t even count how many times we have gotten up in the middle of dinner or while cleaning the kitchen to dance to our song (because I had my ipod playing on random)!!! The boys love it just roll their eyes and ignore us!!!
Happy Anniversary, Chris – you will always be the love of my life!!!
Do you and your spouse/significant other have a song? Do you drop everything and dance when you hear it?
Happy Saturday!!! I’m off to spend the day with my true love!!!
Today’s 43 was total core (oblique) work!!! The rest of my body is sore – between the long run yesterday and the burpees the other day (been awhile since I’ve done push-ups!!)so I decided to take it easy today!!!
The set-up for this move is similar to a crunch (on your back, knees bent, feet on floor) except you keep 1 elbow firmly on the ground the entire time. Start with left elbow on the ground at your side and right arm extended straight up – crunch up, reaching arm straight up (elbow on ground).
In the video, I only did 4 per side but you know in “real-life” I did 43 per side!!!
No other workout today – yesterday drained me!!!
Hunter has had a lot of events the past couple of days!!!
6th Grade Graduation:
leading the pack!
His bright outfit made it easy to find him up on stage!!
getting recognized for the Presidential Gold Award
The kindergarten students and 6th grade students all marched up to the stage together and sang the same song that Hunter’s class sang 7 years ago (for his Kindergarten graduation) – so cute!!
Hunter isn’t paying any attention to Chris – but some of his friends are all about waving!!!
And finally, last night was the semi-annual cello bash! Hunter takes private lessons from a wonderful cello teacher and every December and May she hosts the cello bash for all of her students. It’s a great event (but long, very long!!!).
Combine all ingredients in a food processor.
I can’t believe that I’ve never made this – so good!!!
