Thursday, April 29, 2010

MIA!

My Inner Athlete (MIA) went  missing about a year ago. Right about the time my inner "A student" showed up.

It's not that I haven't exercised in a year. It's just that the best of my energy and focus has been on school and my family.

But her absense has been missed and she's been asked to come back. So MIA is back. And her motivation has changed.

No longer does she care about being thin, or looking hot. Her newly found, stronger motivation is based solely on health and feeling good.

She's driven by the feel of endorphins pumping through her body. Driven by the knowledge that an exercised body ages well. Driven by the connection exercise gives to her and her studly swimmer husband.

To celebrate, the hubby and I bought the inner athlete a gift. It is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday.

no, that's not me.

See, my inner runner has also returned. And she's starting a half marathon training June 5th.

Yes, I'm back. And I feel good!

No more excuses! I am finding time to break a sweat every day. I can survive without exercise. But it is essential if I want to thrive.

I had a little aha moment earlier this week when I realized: I wouldn't skip out on sleep for almost anything. So why skip out on exercise, which gives just as many immediate feel good benefits?

Today I did a workout DVD at home. It was the "Women's Health Total Workout in TEN" DVD. There are 4-10 minute workouts. I did all 4, to see if I liked it. I will say, they use each 10 minute segment wisely, cuz you get a really good, well rounded workout!

My daughter thought I could use some better instruction, so she picked up my light dumbells and showed me how it's supposed to be done.


She's got an inner athlete too. :)

like my messy house? Somethings gotta give.

Need some motivation to find your inner athelete? Check out my friend, the Goat's, blog. She's like a little Jillian right now. :)

Thursday, April 22, 2010

My Backyard View

My backyard view at 6:00PM on a Thursday...

My NO maintenence garden


popsicles any time. any where.

climbin' the apple tree


tooth number 3 is hanging on for dear life


chocolate giggles... priceless

Monday, April 19, 2010

Tea Time Made Easy!

I heart tea.


and I heart my new dream gadget for tea lovers.


208 degree water all day long! Endless cups of tea!
It's also convenient for oatmeal. :)


Tea time, made better.

I'll end with a funny story about me and tea...

My family is English, and I grew up with mom brewing at least two pots of tea every day. I have loved it as far back as my memory takes me. 

On a drizzly day when I was 9 and mom was at work, I had a brilliant idea to have a hot tea stand in my neighborhood. I brewed a big pot of loose tea and set up a table for my customers. Then I posted a sign that read, "HOT INGLISH TEA. GET IT WHILE IT'S HOT! 10 cents/cup. I was ready and eager to serve tea all day long if I had to. Maybe I'll do it every week, I thought. I'll be the richest kid in the neighborhood, cuz tea is the best! 

Only no one showed up. All day. Poor little 9 year old me.

Did you notice how I spelled English on my sign? I only know this because my mom still has the sign, with hello kitty tape still attached. :)

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Pencil Sharpening Lessons from My 4 yr old

I sharpened a bunch of pencils with my 4 yr old this morning....


We used the glass slipper pencil sharpeners left over from their birthday party goodie bags... aren't they cute?..


Hers turned out sharp.


Mine did not.


She had almost no shavings. I had a lot.


I asked her what her trick was. "Just keep going. Doing is slowly and doing it hard-ly".


I should have known!

Friday, April 9, 2010

A Day at the Beach

The weather has been so beautiful here. We soaked it all in yesterday, joining my dad and step mom for a day at the beach.


I didn't want to babysit my SLR, so I brought my crappy camera...


We looked for sea shells and rocks along the beach.

 This is my 4 yr old's idea of "rocks"....

My dad and step mom bought an ancient motor home (it's in really good shape) and made it into their beach mobile. The kids think it's cooler than Disneyland. This was in the parking lot. We didn't drive without carseats!


Life is good.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Time


Happy Spring!!!

Remember me? It's been a while.

Most of my time lately has been spent on these things:

Physiology... a lot of it.


My favorite 4 and 6 yr olds, who happen to be on spring break with me...


And lastly, daydreaming about getting one of these...


I hope this post finds you well. I'm sure I'll be back in blog land soon!