I’ve spent some time lately thinking about the things that make me happy because that is where I want to spend my time and energy!!!
I know that we have all heard the phrase – “Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to.” I agree that sometimes we do have to do things that aren’t really high on our list of fun things.
However…..I think that the majority of our life should be filled with things we love and things that make us happy!!!
The things that make me the happiest have very little to do with material things (much as I love my boots and cocktails!!!) and everything to do with people!
Spending time at the end of the day catching up with my 3 favorite guys always makes me happy!!!
Having my boys spend time doing wall sits because I chose to do 45 1 minute wall-sits in an afternoon is priceless!!!
Spending Thanksgiving with good friends makes me happy!!
Phone calls with my sister and sister-in-law always make me smile!!
Knowing that we helped our newest tenant out a little makes me happy!
Running, even if it is slow, makes me happy!!!
What makes you happy? Do you spend more time doing things that make you happy than not? (that is my new goal!!!)
This week I decided to push myself a bit even if it “hurt” and I ended up feeling very thankful for all that my body is capable of doing!!!
Sunday 11/23 – 45 calf pulses with feet front, feet out and feet in.
ready (toes out)up
I just bounced up and down – this was a fun way to work my calves!!!
toes straight aheaduptoes turned inup
Since this was such an easy move I decided 3 sets of 45 was good!
Monday 11/24 – 45 double crunches with feet on a chair (lift butt while crunching up).
readycrunch and lift butt
I decided to try running some this week.
Today started with a 3 mile walk/jog followed by 5 slow miles of running and a mile cool-down.
Tuesday 11/25 – 45 plie squat on upside down wobble balls.
readydown
I did one of my favorite workouts ever – Les Mills Combat: Extreme Cardio Fighter – 60 minutes of a super fun workout!!!
Wednesday 11/26 – 45 bridges with alternating foot lift and touch (right – left = 1 rep).
ready positionlift left foot and reach with right hand
Return to start and switch sides –
lift right hand – reach with left hand
This was a challenge to keep my butt up the entire time!!!
I decided to try running again.
2 miles of walking/jogging followed by 5 miles at a moderate pace and an easy mile cool-down.
Thursday 11/27 – 45 pulsing lunges with feet on upside down wobble balls.
downpart way up
This move was a challenge because of the balance aspect!!! (The hardest part was getting set up on the wobble balls!!!) After I did the first set, I switched around and put the other foot on the front ball.
downpart way up
I think this is the first Thanksgiving in at least 5 years (probably way more!!) that I didn’t do a hard workout in the morning!!!
Friday 11/28 – 45 butt lifts with legs up and a medicine ball (8 pounds) in between feet.
readyup
I’m happy that I didn’t drop the ball on my face!!!
I ran 7 miles (57:51) and then did an easy mile cool down.
Saturday 11/29 – 45 twisting crunches on a stability ball while holding an 8 pound medicine ball.
You can see that the move is a twist to each side and then a crunch. This was a great core workout!!!
Overall, I’m happy with this week of workouts. The running is slow and sort of painful but it is good for my mental state!!!
Basically this week has been one of very minimal workouts. But…I still did a 45 everyday!!!
Sunday 11/16 – 45 low duck walks.
So, this is a move I actually did while we were cleaning the apartment – the layer of filth was deep and after I scrubbed all the walls I duck walked the entire perimeter of the apartment cleaning the baseboards and floor line. (this ended up being way more than 45 duck walk steps!!!)
Can you see the dirt on the baseboard?!
Monday 11/17 – 45 roll-ups with one leg straight and one bent.
left leg out – ready to goroll up
(keeping your hands under your back helps you remember to keep your back pressed to the floor!!)
right leg extendedroll/crunch up
This was a new (to me) move and I liked it!!!
Because I new that this was one of my last chances, for a few days, I tried to run. Didn’t happen. I walked 4.5 miles with a 9% incline after running 2 miles super slow.
Tuesday 11/18 – 45 single arm reverse curls to shoulder press while standing on upside down wobble balls.
readyright arm – reverse curl (curl with palm down)press up
I did all 45 with my right arm then switched and started over.
left arm curlpress
I had to work my arms since I knew it would be the last time for a few weeks!!!
I walked 6.5 miles with a 10% incline – fun times for sure!!!
Wednesday 11/19 – 45 raises (upper and lower) while on stomach.
easy partlift and hold 3 count
I don’t work my back enough but I really liked this move!!!
Thursday 11/20 – 45 inner thigh lifts with foot touch (non-lifting foot on wobble ball).
ready to work the right leg and balance on the leftlift right leg – touch foot with left hand
This move went quickly. I had to do 45 on each leg of course!
balance on right leg, lift left footlift foot up – touch with right hand
Friday 11/21 – 45 flutter kicks while on back (right – left = 1 rep).
“easy” partright foot up, left foot downleft foot up, right foot down
This move went quickly and is a great way to work the core.
Saturday 11/22 – 45 leg extensions with the figure 8 band.
right legextend
And, I had to work my left leg!! (I held the band in my right arm still because when I tried it in my left it rubbed right over my stitches.
Left legextend
I’m hoping to add in a bit more next week – I hate not working out!!!
Today I’m participating in my first ever Ask-Away-Friday.
And, I get to answer questions from one of the hosts – Tamara. Yes, from Tamara Like Camera!!!!
Not only is Tamara gorgeous, she is the sweetest person and writes some of the most heart felt posts ever and her pictures are phenomenal!! (she is a photographer extraordinaire!) She reads and comments on numerous blogs every day(not sure how she does it all!!) and makes each person feel special!!!
If you don’t already read her blog then it’s your lucky day!!! Head over and read her answers to the questions I sent her. I promise you will be glad!!
Here are the questions from Tamara:
1. I know you’re like me with summer love/winter.. not so love. If you could have a second home anywhere in the world, where would you build/buy one? And why?
This one is easy!!! We would have a house on the beach in Hawaii!!! That is my happy place. I love that the temperature is right around 80 every single day!!!Hawaii
2. If I came to visit you (which would be fun!) would what we do together?
Well, I’m going to assume that you are coming in the summer because the winter sort of sucks!!! We would sleep in (let’s just pretend!!) and then spend the day on the boat. First we would go to a local bakery and get some cookies for you and Devlin’s (liquor store) to get a treat for me!!
You could pick the playlist for the music on the boat.
If you want to do something “native” to Kansas we could tour the state capital. But, I think the boat is more fun!!!
on the Pontoon!
3. How has the new school year been for your boys? Any challenges to share? Triumphs?
So far I think this has been a good year for both boys.
Hunter is in 8th grade and has a goal to keep all of his grades above a 97%. So far he is achieving this!!! He had a great cross country season and now has moved on to wrestling. His last meet he got 2 pins (out of 2 matches!!!).
the wrestler
Jordan has had a great 10th grade year so far. Marching band is his favorite and it just ended but he is on to Pep Band, Jazz Band and possibly being in the pit orchestra for the upcoming school musical. He has all honors or AP classes and has had to put in lots of hours studying – he is learning some valuable life skills. And – he is a driver now!!!!
Driving
4. I know from Facebook that you did a commercial this week! How did it go? What are your next goals for your business?
Well, I realized after I put my picture up (and finished the whole deal) that I used the wrong word. We did a TV spot for one of the local channels morning news program.
We are part of the CASA home tour – we are hosting the boutique for the event. There are 5 homes on the tour and each home-owner got to contribute a recipe. Since we are participating as our venue we decided to do a drink recipe!!
The Victorian
1 part vodka
1 part triple sec
1 part Razzmatazz (raspberry liqueur)
1 part Cranberry juice
splash of lime juice
Mix in shaker with ice. our into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish rim with red sugar and a lime slice if desired.
Enjoy!!
5. How did you find yourself as a blogger? Was it surprising, or a goal/dream of yours?
I worked at my boys elementary school for 5 years. It was a great job but I didn’t have enough work to stay busy so I started reading blogs. (at that time I never commented – I was a lurker!!)
I had already been running my age on my birthday for a couple years and before I turned 43 I decided that I would run my age on my birthday and then pick a different exercise each day and do 43 reps. I thought it would be fun to start a blog to chronicle my daily exercises.
Chris was gone all of August that year (2012) and at some point while he was gone he set up my blog domain. On 9-16-12 I published my first blog post and I’ve been blogging ever since. At that point I had no idea that I would meet so many incredible people through blogging so, yes, it has been very surprising.
6. What would be an absolute dream trip to take with your family, while they’re all still young enough to live home?
We are hoping/planning to go to Germany at some point in the next 2 years. Chris has been many times and has become good friends with Barto who owns our very favorite winery.
a favorite!!! Wine from Germany
Our plan is to go the year before Jordan’s senior year in high school!!
7. When was the last time you really pushed yourself to your physical limits?
Not recently, sadly!!!
I think back in May when I attempted the 50 mile race through the Kansas Flint Hills would be the time I pushed all the way to my limit.
8. What blog post(s) were you most afraid to publish, but did anyway?
Truthfully I think I feel OK about all the posts I have clicked publish on. The ones rattling around in my head are another story. Maybe one day some of them will be shared – not sure.
9. As you know, I just read and reviewed “My Other Ex.” If you could restore one broken relationship, which would it be?
HaHa -sort of a timely question since I just wrote about the “break-up” with my best friend earlier this week.
10. What’s something that amazes you?
This is hard – like Jordan said when I asked for his thoughts, “that’s pretty broad.” Since I’m writing this at bedtime (for me!!!) then my brain can’t wrap around this concept.
I think that one thing that amazes me is how very different each day can be – in every way. From the weather (on Monday we went from 72 to 37 in just a couple of hours) to people’s attitudes (nice one day, cranky the next!!) to the things that make up the day (wrestling, lunches, cleaning venues, ironing tablecloths, running, celebrating birthdays).
HaHa – I sort of took a cop-out on that question.
Thank you, Tamara for swapping questions with me – this was so much fun!!!
Sometimes as runners/athletes we make choices based on what we want to do and not what we should do – at least I know I’m like that. This week was one of those times – I just tried to do what I wanted as far as working out. It didn’t really work but…..
Sunday 11/2 – 45 machine gun kicks.
balance on right leg – left leg kicksextend leg
These go quickly – the challenge is supporting yourself on the standing leg and staying balanced while moving your leg back and forth!! And, both sides have to be worked equally –
ready for side 2go
This move is actually one I learned from TaeBo!!!
After a week almost completely off and a couple other minimal weeks, I decided to try and run. It wasn’t great but I pushed through and did a slow 5 miles. (sometimes I’m not very smart!!!)
Monday 11/3 – 45 star crunches – right hand to left foot, down, left hand to right foot = 1 rep.
the nice partup and reach
Return to extended position then switch sides –
reach
And, since I was already working my core I decided to do TaeBo Insane Abs. This workout always makes me sore for a few days!!!
Tuesday 11/4 – 45 standing crunches (hold each crunch about 3 seconds).
readyround and squeeze – blow all the air out and hold
I really like standing crunches like this even though it looks a little odd!!!
I wanted to run again but it only took about 3 steps to realize that wasn’t going to happen. So I walked 6.35 miles at a 10% incline.
Wednesday 11/5 – 45 elbow plank with knee tap to a leg lift – alternate sides (right – left = 1 rep).
start in plankright knee barely taps groundlift right leg
Return to plank then do left side –
left knee taplift left leg
This ended up being a LONG time to hold plank by the time I did all 45 reps!!!
I pulled out another older DVD – Denise Austin: Personal Training System. Many years ago this was my go-to workout when I had a stress fracture in my foot and we were traveling – 20 minutes of cardio, 10 minutes upper body, 10 minutes lower body, 10 minutes abs and 10 minutes stretching.
Thursday 11/6 – 45 fly to pull-over. (8 pounds because 45 is a lot!!)
startopen to flybring arms back to center and push weights togetherpull arms over head (don’t touch the ground)
Keeping this movement slow and controlled is the key (especially on the down part!!). My chest is still sore from this one!!!
I’ve mentioned before that I love the 10 Minute Solution DVDs. I chose Sculpt, Tone & Reshape with the Figure 8 for the workout. The figure 8 is a resistance band.
figure 8 band
I like the combination of moves in the workout using the band!!
Holding plank while lifting and lowering your hips is a challenge – holding the plank on the BOSU makes it an even better challenge!!!
2nd side readydown
And, I tried and failed at running again!! So I just walked 4.25 miles at a 10% incline.
Saturday 11/8 – 45 standing pilates leg circles.
frontout to sideto back – squeeze your butt at this point to help with balance!!
If you look closely you can see that my foot is barely off the ground. Even to close the circle (half circle actually) you keep it just above the ground.
I did all 45 on one leg before switching sides.
frontsideback
I like this move even though it is small – after several reps you will start to feel it in your thighs, core and butt!!
I’m not thrilled that I can’t run still but I guess I will just keep doing things that don’t make my leg hurt worse until I get some answers from the DR(s)!!!
I’ve spent some time lately thinking about the things that make me happy because that is where I want to spend my time and energy!!!
Having my boys spend time doing wall sits because I chose to do 45 1 minute wall-sits in an afternoon is priceless!!!
