Category Archives: Chest

500 Posts!!!

November 16, 2013 Kim 68 Comments

Today’s 44 was a super fun move!!! I got it from the super cute Allie @ VitaTrain4Life. Allie is tough and she made this move look easy but it was hard!!! She actually included this move in an entire ab workout – Allie’s Abs – I should probably do the entire video for a 44 – maybe then my abs would look more like hers!!!

Anyway, the move – 4 mountain climbers and a push-up x 44!!!

I realized the other day that my published posts were getting close to 500 and TODAY is the day that I’m publishing my 500th post!!!

I have actually only blogged for 427 consecutive days (365 days of 43 and 62 days of 44) but along the way I’ve done posts with recipes, boot camps, some workout reviews and even a few random fun posts!!!

To celebrate my 500th post I thought I would share a few of my favorite posts.

My very first post ever was on my birthday in 2012 when I turned 43 – I had absolutely no clue what I was doing but I’m so glad I decided to give blogging a try!

Because we all know by now that I love a nice ~~bottle~~ ~~glass~~ bottle of wine, this post about German wine makes me smile!!! (Except I’m down to only a couple of bottles left – not cool!!)

Some of the pictures we took in our attempt to get a good one for our Christmas card last year were super entertaining – mostly thanks to Jordan!!! Actually, it’s about time for me to think about this year’s family picture – better get on that!!!

I have to share my all-time favorite drink – The Educated Cosmo – just saying the name makes me happy!!!

I love to try new recipes and only have a few stand-by dishes that I go back to over and over. The sad thing when I try something new and we all like it, months down the road Chris or one of the boys will ask me to make such-and-such again – ummm……I have no idea how I made it on that day!!! Last February I tried a new crock pot soup and we all loved it – Chicken and Rice Gumbo Soup. I figured that by putting my recipe on here I would be able to go back to it!!!

I think that my favorite boot camp workout that I did this summer was Tabata Boot Camp – super fun way to get in a great workout!

And, I can’t do a list of my favorite posts without listing some of my favorite blogs and blog friends!!! The only problem with that list is it’s a couple months old and I’ve added in a few more favorites since then!!!

I have other favorites but I figure that I’ve been self-indulgent enough for one day!!!

Feel free to link up one of your favorite posts from your site in the comments – such a great way to catch up on any that we might have missed out on!!

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Chest, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Do you Write Like you Talk?

October 17, 2013 Kim 84 Comments

Today for my 44 I did weighted burpees!! Sounds fun, right?! I held 10 pound dumbbells while doing these super fun little gems!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-RpUfTqSsc’]

Not gonna lie – these were hard!!

I also had Garage Boot Camp. I thought about just winging it today but decided that would require way too much thinking on my part so I did a version of my very fist boot camp from the summer – 10 x 3 but today I surprised them and we did 10 x 5!!

Jordan got back his first high school English paper yesterday and said he didn’t think his English teacher liked the way he wrote based on the comments he gave. Some of the comments:

This doesn’t make sense here. Jordan – it made sense to me. Yes but you aren’t the teacher.
Don’t use quotes unless you are actually quoting something. Jordan – I was using them like you do when you talk and do finger quotes. Yep -makes sense to me but not gonna fly on an English paper.
No run-on sentences or fragments. Jordan – I was just writing the way I talk. Dude – I get it – I’m the queen of using dashes instead of ending my sentences. However, once again, this will not work on an English paper.
Don’t bold a word. Jordan – it was to show emphasis. Yep – makes sense but I don’t think that is the way to do it on an English paper.

Basically, I told Jordan – writing is all about creativity and self-expression EXCEPT when you are still in school writing English papers. Then it is about following ALL the RULES.

Listening to him talk about his writing and the fact that he was just writing the way he talked made me think about the way I write.

I totally write the way I talk. The never ending run-ons with dashes – just the way my thoughts and words flow. The constant use of (_____) to add that little extra thought – exactly how I think and say things (hard for me to stay on topic all the time).

When you think about it – the whole writing mold that is taught all the way through school is rarely followed later in life (and I mean no offense to English teachers because I understand that it is an important thing to learn!!!).

Look at some famous authors that have very unique writing styles:

E. E. Cummings – no caps, no punctuation and yet he was published numerous times. Pretty sure that wouldn’t pass even the most basic English class.

When the boys were little we read lots of Junie B. Jones books – Chris hated it because the grammer was so poor – I tried to explain that it was written from the point of view of a first grader but…

So, I told Jordan that for now he has to apply all the rules of his teacher – which even includes the font style and size (yikes!!!).

Then, start a blog and write in whatever style makes you happy!!!

Do you write the way you talk or do you follow all of the rules you learned in your high school/college English classes?

Happy Thursday!!

Kim

Chest, Core, Fitness, Triceps

Wacky Wednesday

October 16, 2013 Kim 68 Comments

Today I did 44 “chest, fly, bangers” with a hip raise. Basically, I kept my hips up (the entire time) while doing a chest press, opening to a fly, bringing the weights back together and doing a head banger (triceps) before lowering the weights to repeat.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSoEYJO6g8g’]

Once again, the video was after doing all of my 44 and my workout – my arms were shaking the entire time. I used 10 pound weights which was plenty for the # I did.

I tried a new DVD today – Jillian Michaels – Hard Body. Yikes!!! I did Level 1 (there are 2 45 minute workouts) and it really pushed me today. In fact (here’s something wacky), I actually did the modifications on a couple of the moves – not quite ready to go hard core I guess!!!

Hunter always has “Wacky Wednesday” at school – not really sure what is different from other days but I decided that today could use a bit of wacky!!!

I can’t even imagine staying in a hotel made of ice – just looking at this picture is making me cold!!!

Driving around in this might be kind of fun for a day or so!!! I wonder if there are any restrictions involved?!

This completely cracks me up!!

Umm….I don’t even ride roller coasters the way they are meant to be ridden. This guy is an IDIOT!!!

I guess this gives a whole new meaning to – “basket toss!”

I think it would be impossible to be in a bad mood driving around in this van!

I think if you can pull off that look and still be so cute – go for it!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-50GjySwew&feature=youtu.be’]

And I’m really not even sure how I feel about this!! I’ve seen the Prancercise video several times now and really can’t tell if she is being serious with this or if it is supposed to be a joke!

Rest assured – no form of prancercizing will ever be a daily 44!!!

And, the final wacky –

Last night I told Jennifer that I was done with the hair growing out gig – back to short!!! (umm…this picture would be early morning right after my workout so hopefully I can fruiff it a bit more!!)

Happy Wacky Wednesday!!!

Kim

Chest, Core, Fitness, Running, Shoulders, Treadmill, Triceps

I Almost Fell off my Treadmill

October 4, 2013 Kim 62 Comments

Today’s 44 was another combo move – I worked my shoulders, triceps and core!!! I held a 12 pound dumbbell with both hands while laying on my back. Push the weight over head, drop the arms down (like a skull crusher), reverse arm movements, sit-up reaching weight to toes – or just watch the video!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P13mPcqKPqY’]

(look – not quite as yellow!! Thanks, EvilCyber for the tip!!)

I ran again today – because I figured it would be good to run on tired legs (I stood for almost 9 straight hours yesterday between boot camp, cleaning the venue, set-up for today’s wedding and ironing tablecloths). I just did an easy run for 5 miles (about 42 minutes) and then 2.5 more even slower.

I spent most of my treadmill time watching Project Runway – always a great way to pass the time. However, thanks to the awesome DVR feature and not having to endure the commercials – the show ended a little before I was done on the treadmill.

I made the STUPID choice to just put the TV on the local news!!!

Federal prison guards are currently not being paid (THANK YOU GOVERNMENT SHUT-DOWN!!!) yet they have to continue to go to work and do their job because it is considered essential (YOU THINK?!).

However, in these same prisons where the guards are working for free, there are prisoners who have various jobs that they are paid for and THEY ARE STILL GETTING PAID!!!!

Now you see why I almost fell off my treadmill?!

I don’t even have words to express my thoughts on how completely ridiculous this whole situation is.

Happy Friday (I’m going to try to get over my outrage and enjoy the day)!!!

Kim

Chest, Core, Fitness

Monday Morning Musings

September 30, 2013 Kim 62 Comments

Today’s 44 was one of those great combo moves that I love!! I did an alternating arm chest press on a bench with my legs at about 45 degrees (to work my core!).

start - need to lower my legs a bit! — start – need to lower my legs a bit!

I counted a right and a left chest press as 1 rep. This was a good move – my abs were dying by the time I reached 44 reps! (15 pound dumbbells)

I decided that today was a good day for some Turbo Jam – Cardio Party 3. Working out with Chalean and her crew is always a great way to start the day – good workout and some fun at the same time!!!

1. I have spent the past 2 days painting – ALL DAY!! One of the apartments above our new venue has been vacant for a week and I needed to get it ready to rent out again.

I know the pictures aren’t great – chalk it up to being tired!!! The walls were very dingy and mismatched before. Now they are all a nice tan color (very rich looking!!) except the bathroom which I painted white because it is so small. I don’t know if you can tell from the before shot but it was 2 shades of green (even the ceiling was painted!).

2. While painting, I showed the apartment 3 times!!! We have a new tenant and I love her!!! She is the sweetest lady (probably helped that she has raised 6 kids) and yesterday when she came back by to sign everything, she hugged me (nasty, sweaty, paint covered and all) when she left!!!

And – our sweet new tenant asked me who did the gardening (there is quite a bit around the entire house!!). I told her that would be me if you counted pulling weeds since that is all I’ve attempted so far and I have a black thumb!!! She asked if she could work in them!!! Ummm….YES!!! Work in them as much as you like! She said she loves gardening!!! (Look, someone offered to help and I didn’t even have to ask – bonus!!)

3. Last week I scrambled around for dinner pretty much every night and I had big plans to do better this week. Epic fail!!!! I didn’t plan a single thing – gonna have to go with a lot of stand-bys this week!!!

4. I wish I were here –