RSV and My Birthday

  Happy Late Valentine's Day, everyone! We had a wonderful day, minus Addison having RSV. She was diagnosed Wednesday and it has been a long terrible week with her being sick. Daddy brought it home with him, then Addison got it, and wouldn't you know it, I got it next. Luckily, I got it the weekend AFTER my birthday. YAY? At least I wasn't sick for my birthday, again.
  I knew I was going to get it too, because yesterday while going for our first outdoor run in a couple of weeks, I felt horrible before I even got a mile in. I pieced together another mile, then walked the third. I was hoping to run 4, but what can you do?
   I did have a great birthday, minus the sick baby. Mark took Valentines Day off (which is my birthday) and watched Addison so I could go to the salon and get a haircut, manicure and pedicure. Basically, it was my own personal heaven. He also got me flowers and we got takeout to eat at home with candle light while Addison happily watched Sesame Street recordings. Oh! And did I mention my husband made me chocolate dipped strawberries rolled in an assortment of candies? Yeah, I have the best husband ever!

Yeah, be jealous! They were YUMMY.

   I hope everyone had a great holiday and will be starting out next week on a great foot. We are starting Level 3 of The Shred, so be praying for me! ;) Hopefully my sick self can handle the burn.

Addison's Birthday Party

    I know I usually talk about what fitness goals I am trying to accomplish, but I have to brag a little about my Pintrest worthy party I just threw for Addison's 2nd birthday. I am not a crafty person. Scratch that. I am a crafty person, too bad my ideas never look like what my hands make. I was worried Addison's birthday would be another disaster brought to you by my un-artistic hands, BUT, it turned out great!

Disclaimer, I didn't get a picture of everything I wanted to because I had a migraine and my meds didn't kick in yet. By the time they did, I totally forgot to get a picture of all of the decorations I had made. :( Oh, well. Here are the projects I did get a picture of.

Cookie Monster Cupcakes

 Elmo Cupcakes

Grover Cupcakes (Addison's favorite character)

Elmo Fruit AND Veggie Platter (with homemade ranch and vanilla fruit dip)

Oscar The Grouch Veggie Platter 

Big Bird Punch

For food we had character cupcakes, Cookie Monster Cookies, Big Bird Punch, and character fruit and veggie platters. For favors we gave out Gold Fish crackers in honor of Dorthy. 

More of The Spread.

Addison's banner and her new friends that match her much loved Elmo. 

A few of the many tissue paper flowers I made. What you can't see is the circle rainbow garland which Addison was very distraught I took down after the party.  Due to my migraine, I wasn't thinking clearly enough to take pictures of all the decorations I wanted to have a picture of. 

 Addison's Elmo shirt and the Elmo tutu I made her. She thought the whole outfit, even her much hated pigtails, were AWESOME.

Cupcake Time! I was surprised she picked out an Elmo cupcake over a Grover one, but I think the red was just too inviting for her to turn down. And luckily for her, she had so many people there that loved her enough to share their food, so she also got in more than a day's worth of fruits and veggies. I heard that she begged strawberries off anyone that would get one for her!

Addison's Thank You Cards

Addison's personal thank you.

The character heads and Sesame signs I made.

All hand cut. We don't own a anything cool enough to keep me from cutting these out by hand.

Grover

Oscar

Elmo

Big Bird with flap-able beak!

Addison's welcome sign. This was on our front door.

THE Song

  I heard this song today on a friend's blog and I knew I just had to watch this video over and over again. Something about the idea of someone fixing you really struck and motivated me. Sometimes giving your all isn't enough. Sometimes you need to ask for help. We are not made, as humans, to be islands. We have to rely on each other. I hope you enjoy the song, get something from it, and pass along the good thoughts to people you love.

Jillian, Running, and WAIT! That's me!

   So as you may know, Mark and I are in the middle of doing The 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michael's. Today we did Level 2, day 4. Well, sort of. Addison woke up an hour and a half early today and I was only allowed to do 16 minutes of it. In order to get more of my burn on, after breakfast I decided to try out a day of Ripped in 30, also by Jillian. HOLY CRAP! That is a workout. I am sore and tired just sitting here! I might have to change my workout plans over the next few months (because, I do have our workouts planned until June 3). And there is a reason for that. Mark and I are now talking about running a half marathon in Boise, ID in May!  In order to get there, we have to start doing a 12 week train soon, right after we are done with the Shred Challenge on March 5.
   I was planning on training AND doing Ripped in 30 4 days a week until we got 30 days in. After today, maybe not. But, maybe still. I know for a fact that doing The Shred has improved my athleticism more than anything in the past has. Seriously, I have so much more stamina when running and strength than I have ever had before. I know that some of that has to do with better shoes too, but I am sure most of it has to do with Jillian. I feel AWESOME since starting the Shred and I am sure that Ripped is even better. Can you even imagine a muscular runner? I can't wait to be one. 
   On top of tweaking my training and stuff, I have been spotlighted for my efforts on my friend's blog! Feel free to stay and read about his crazy weight loss and running journey. He is AMAZING. Anyway, I was able to really thing about what I am doing and where I want to be while answering his questions and I think I have figured out who I am a little more. What can be bad about that?

My First 5K

   Last weekend was BUSY for Mark and I. Addison's second birthday was Friday, Mark's parents came that night, her birthday party was the next day, and his parents left during a snow storm on Sunday. To add to all the fun, Mark and I signed up for a 5K in Orem on Saturday morning, leaving Addison with Grandma and Grandpa. Needless to say, it was a fun and crazy weekend.
   Mark had found the race the previous weekend posted at the running store where I get my shoes in Orem. He mentioned it when we left saying it was indoors and CHEAP (with this inversion, we needed something indoors or I can't run due to asthma). I mentioned it was Addison's birthday party that day and then said "Let's do it!" We then talked a couple of running friends into going with us. So that next Saturday, foggy and freaking early, Mark, Josh (yes the Josh that went with us to Vegas to run that half marathon), and I took off in the heavy fog and trekked it to Orem. We met our other friend Susette there and after registration, Josh and Susette started running because a 5K just isn't enough miles for those two nut jobs. The race took place in the halls at UVU. There was also a dance competition going on and dancers were warming up in the very halls all us runners were jetting down. AND classes were also going on. It was AWESOME!
  While the two nut jobs got in their 5K before the 5K, Mark and I walked about 2 miles to warm up. We got done with lap two just in time to start the actual race. We all started together, but Josh and Susette quickly outpaced us, then I cut Mark loose to go the speed he needs to go to feel comfortable. I am not stupid or prideful. I am a slow runner and I knew I needed to set a comfortable pace in order for me to actually run the whole race. The first lap went great, I was on pace to run a 38 minute 5K. I ended up stopping at the watering station the next 3 laps, but that was only for a few seconds and I ended up running the WHOLE WAY! In order to keep going, I kept thinking about Isabel and talking to her (in my head of course, I didn't want to look crazy!). I know I found great strength in knowing she was there the whole time cheering me on.

 My new running shoes. Thanks Ryan for taking all that time to fit me with the perfect pair. They are great.

 Pre-race with the hubby.

 Josh Hansen, Susette Fisher, Mark and I proving we were really going to race down the halls of UVU.

 And we are OFF! And we were actually ahead of much of the pack. It is a pretty good sized race, considering where it takes place.

 Oh yeah! I am RUNNING!

 This is when I passed Mark during the second lap. Or I should say, he was way passed me, we just met up mid hall.

 Post race. Can you see the pride?

While running I was passed by these two and I tailed them for the my last lap. They were on mile 5 and I was dying on mile 2-3. I guess that is what years experience can do for you.

   I ended up finishing the race in 41 minutes. Was that fast? NO! Was it faster than I thought I could go? YES! And I am so so happy I was able to do it. We eventually met up with Josh and Susette, who decided to quit after only a 10K, and went to the free pancake and oatmeal breakfast. I could feel all those running endorphins surging through my body and I seriously was like "I should run a half marathon soon!" Yeah, I am still, a week later, tasting the running Kool-aid. It is AMAZING. So you, GO RUNNING!

The 30 Day Shred Challenge

   It has been 17 days since I last posted, but I promise you, I haven't fallen off the horse. I have been working out and eating well. Livestrong.com/myplate are best friends. My husband is even joining me on the journey! And we have a goal, for me to lose as close to 20 by March as I can (I think 15 is more realistic, but we'll see what he thinks with March 1st rolls around). To help me reach this goal and to get us both on a healthier path, I was trying to find a workout program that was cheap but results driven. After much internet searching and review reading, I found what I was looking for: Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. And, the videos are FREE on Youtube! Cheap and AWESOME!
   I am no novice when it comes to a Jillian workout. I have cussed her many a times doing Biggest Loser Workouts, or one of her many other videos. But I have never embarked on this kind of a journey before. She promises you can lose up to 20 pounds and lots of inches by following her Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and then doing cardio Wednesday and Saturday, with a well deserved rest on Sundays. Mark and I started on Monday and will finish March 5.
   The workouts are short, only 25 minutes. But trust me, you will be yelling a myriad of bad words at her before the end. She knows her stuff though. And, in between all the "Don't phone this in" and "I need you to be working!" comments, she has some great truths for you to remember. My favorite is "You have to fight for abs like these!" I never thought about that. I guess you do have to fight to be a better you. So that is what we are doing, fighting it out until March 5. Then, guess what? Then it is time for Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30!

Happy New Year, Now Get Off Your Butt!

   Happy New Year! How did you end 2012? I ended my 2012 meeting my weight loss goals for the month of December. YAHOO! I also spent the night with great friends ending the night with an EPIC dance party. I hope that all of you were so fortunate to spend the night with people you love doing something fun.
   But, because it is the new year, I am sure some of you made resolutions. What are you going to do to keep them? Have you made a plan? I can't make resolutions, I never keep them. And I DO NOT need another reason to not like myself. But, I am learning a little bit about keeping goals. First thing you need to do is break you large goals into small, even tiny goals. Trying to lose weight? Then you need to change just one habit you have. Drink 64+ ounces of water today. Or journal your food on http://www.livestrong.com/myplate so you can see how much you are eating to make healthy changes. Or, get up right now, dress warm, and go walking. Go one step further than you ever have. Go one minute longer than you ever have. Then tomorrow, do it again. Do it until you have made yourself a habit. Then pick another small goal and do that. Making lasting changes to improve yourself all start with small tiny steps. You can do it! You are better than every excuse holding you back.