Work it!!

Confession time: Last month, I was amazing with the workouts.  I was working out daily, feeling great, even eating much better.  July?  Not so much....  In my defense, my heel spur on my left foot has really been flaring up, and I haven't been quite as active because the pain to follow is pretty killer.  So, I'll just go with that as my excuse.

Great news!  Yesterday, I got a blessing in the form of a cortisone shot in my heel!  The shots are painful as hell, but the relief to follow is completely worth it.  I nursed my foot yesterday because it was still tender, but this morning was game on!!

I did a double workout: Zumba and Pilates!

I'm always on the hunt for fun Zumba routines.  I rely on my Youtube, so if you have any instructors to suggest, I'd love to hear it.  Ana Jenkins was my workout today.  You can visit the workout yourself here.  It's a fun mix of dancing and plyometrics tossed in.  She had a fun one the other day that included some weight sets, too.

Then, I did a quick Pilates workout.  I follow this great girl on Blogilates (check out her blog here).  I haven't been doing Pilates for too long now.  However, in the short amount of time I've started, I feel a change in my body.  I feel longer, leaner, and stronger.  When I first began?  It was NOT pretty.  In fact, I've never felt to awkward and "whale-ish" in my life!!  I felt like I was rolling-polying all over my mat!  But... I felt better even after that very first session.  They aren't very long videos, which is good for beginners  :)  If you'd like to try a beginner session, this is a good one!  Watch out for the legs at the end!!  I never knew such small, concentrated moves could make your legs feel like they could fall off!!!


What are some of your favorite workouts?
If you haven't, give Pilates a try and let me know how it goes!!

Pokemon Go!

Good morning all!!

So, apparently there's this app called Pokemon Go??  Just kidding.  I haven't been living under a rock the last few days.  I've actually been playing it for the past week!

While on FB this week, I noticed a *TON* of memes, news stories, and jokes (and insults) about people playing the game.  Lots of words like "losers", "nerds", and generalizations that people playing are jobless, live on the government, with nothing better to do.  I was really surprised by the amount of animosity directed towards this app!  I mean, what's the big deal?  Why do people ate this game so much?  I really don't get it....

Like I said, the girls and I started playing this game this week.  Emily has been obsessed with Pokemon for a little while.  She knows all the things names, their points, what kind of Pokemon they are, etc.  (When she starts talking about it, my eyes kinda start to glaze over and I lost time...)  Then, I read all about this Pokemon Go game, how fun it was for people to walk around the neighborhood, and families were enjoying the time doing something together.

There are several reasons why I think Pokemon Go is a great idea:
1) My daughter is thrilled that the rest of her family has taken an interest in something she loves.  No, I don't really care about the details of the Pokemon, or any of that crap, but we'll just keep that between us.

2) We have increased our exercise daily.  We will set out around the neighborhood to check in a Pokestops and find wild Pokemon.  Yesterday, while the girls and Brian fell asleep, I went out for a nice hour-long walk.  And I may have even captured a few new Pokemon while out!

3) We are spending some fun time as a family, and having some laughs.  This week, the girls and I drove to a couple new parks, checked out a few new sights we haven't been to, and had a fun time doing it!  Brian even got in on the fun last night.  On our way home from the fest, we pointed quite a few people walking with their phones playing Pokemon Go.  So, on the way home, he kept shouting out the window to random people "Pokemon Go!!"  and "Go team red!!!"  The girls and I were dying and he had a big smile on his face!  It was a fun end to our evening.

I'm sure there are other benefits out there, but these are my big ones.

In finishing up- to all the people out there that call the people playing the game "losers" and "lame".  That's your judgement, and I'll keep happily playing along through the neighborhood, and spending time with my kids.  While you sit on your couch, on Facebook, passing your judgements on something you've most likely not even tried.

Until later...  Have a great one!

**P.S.** Of course, there is some level of common sense that should be in use while playing.  If the Pokestop involves going to a solemn memorial or grave?  Don't go there.  Be respectful.  If you are hunting a Pokemon?  Stop walking, take a look around you, and be aware of your surroundings.

Why I Apologize to My Kids

Good morning!!

I was just reading something on Facebook written by someone.  This article talked about how she *never* apologizes to her kids.  They need to see her as an authority, what she says goes, etc.  This really got me annoyed thinking.

I disagree with this line of thinking 100%.  Let me explain why...

I apologize to my kids every time I feel I need to- and let me be honest here, mommy sometimes loses her shit patience.  There are some days where I am able to pick my battles well.  I can step back, take a cool approach.  Other days?  Nope.  Not happening.  Maybe it's PMS, maybe it's that I stayed up too late watching Walking Dead and the girls decided to get up at an unGodly hour early, or whatever the reason might be. There are just days where I'm not the nicest to be around.  Any mom can tell you she has days like this.  And, for me, days like this will most likely come with an outburst from Mommy...  I'm not proud of it, it's not a pretty sight, but it's the truth.  I'm human, and I'm far from perfect- but you know what I DO have going for me??  I apologize for my behavior after it's done.

Basically, what it boils down to is this IMPORTANT life lesson: Everyone is human, and nobody's perfect.  We all make mistakes, says things we shouldn't, etc.  But, the key is that a true adult (or mature person) will APOLOGIZE and admit wrong doing when it applies.

To me, nothing is sadder than an adult that will never apologize.  I'm sure you all have at least 1 person that pops into your head automatically when I talk about this.  This is the person that will spout out whatever he/she wants, give their "honest" insult opinion, and are generally referred to others as someone "with no filter".  This is also the person that will walk around saying that they don't care what others think of them, they will say what they want, if they are proven wrong or even after they realize they hurt someone STILL won't apologize.  This is the type of person I have very little respect for, and the type of person I pray my daughters will never turn into.

I want my girls to understand that they need to think about what they say first.  They need to consider other's feelings and opinions.  However, if they get caught in a lie, are rude to someone, or it seems they've hurt someone (even if unintentionally), they NEED to apologize.  They need to show their humanity, by admitting their faults.

Let me just say, I have lied to people and gotten caught.  I've said things to people, that looking back didn't need to be said.  I often joke saying that pregnancy made me an expert at apologizing because you never knew what was going to come flying out of my mouth! I have had others blow up at me for something I didn't do.  In those cases, we've apologized, moved on, and became even BETTER PEOPLE because of it.

So, parents- if you have those imperfect days and what you do/say might warrant an apology to your kids?  Do it!  They will follow your example in the future, and you'll be creating wonderful children that will grow into responsible adults with healthy relationships.