Back from vacation motivation

So we're back from vacation, back to reality.  And as I type this I'm not even sure if I mentioned that we were going away at all.  We went to St. Louis Wednesday through Sunday...Thursday and Friday I had a work conference, and I did things with T and Aubrey in the afternoon. And then on Saturday, we had a family day.  It was a blast, but we were definitely ready to come back home.  And...being on vacation and what not, we ate like we were on vacation.  Granted, that deep dish pizza on Friday was worth it.  As was that whiskey and chocolate cake on Saturday.  We did work out separately twice using the hotel gym and walked around a ton, but...yeah...I'm going to have to stop eating like I'm on vacation.


So that's my motivation this week.  And I need to stay away from the chocolate.  Some evil person at work brought in a few boxes of chocolates, and I have had some will power problems.  I haven't gained weight or anything but still...you just don't feel the same, less energy or what have you, when you are eating badly.  So I need to kind of steer myself back to the eating healthy thing.



Working out, too, is something I need to keep up this week.  But I may have to be careful with the running.  I ran on Thursday, and I did notice, as we were walking around Thursday night, that my right shin hurt.  So...don't want to injure myself.  I did an elliptical work out Saturday, and we have the bike so I might have to take it easy on the running, even though I really really don't want to.  But I have a goal of running another mini either in September or October.  Leaning towards the October one because when I did the women's mini in September, it was hotter than hell.  I hate heat or at least running in the heat. 


So stay away from the chocolate this week, Nain.  Just say no. 


What's your motivation this week?  Anyone else having a problem with saying no to the chocolate? 


Happy motivation Monday, everyone!
       

I've got a problem

 

This week's Spin Cycle is on Obsessions.  And automatically I start singing that song from the 1980s...you know...this one:
 

See, now that's going to be in your mind, too.  (Evil laugh)  Anyway, Gretchen, you couldn't have piked this topic at a more ironic time because I have a new obsession. 


Pinterest. 


I made fun of people who used it in the past.  I was all "what the hell is that all about?  What's the point?"  That is, until about a month ago, when I had my first taste.  And I was hooked.


Seriously, there is a lot of good stuff out there.  I could literally spend forever just browsing and getting ideas.  Holidays, gifts, organization tips, especially the organization tips.  I've used these gems since joining Pinterest (one to organize Tupperware lids and the other to organize all that clutter in my kitchen and on the table):

 

 

 

I heart this site.  And these are just a few of the things I have tried.  Did you know you can make your house smell really good by boiling orange peels with cinnamon?  Because it does.  I made my Mom a Mother's Day present of coasters you can make with small picture frames and wine corks.  And I made a cute little sign for our front door saying "Please Remove Your Shoes" with cute little back and white pictures as a passive way of getting people to take their shoes off when they come in our house because it drives both me and T crazy.  I'm working a couple other projects, but seriously...I'm hooked.  I've got it bad. 

 

 

I've found some great ways to trick Miss Aubrey into eating her veggies.  The other day I tried out some cupcakes using Bisquick and veggies.  She ate them up.  I found an awesome recipe for buffalo chicken wraps, for pizzadillas, and for some grilling recipes.  I'd love to try some of the desserts I've seen on there, but....

 

 

T laughs at me every time I say "you know, I have this idea of something I saw on Pinterest..."  But even he can't say he hasn't benefited from it.  Cleaning tricks, organizing ideas...I'm all over this like white on rice. 

 

 

But it's a fine line, I tell you.  A fine line. 

 

 

So stop by Gretchen's and see what other Spinners have to share!  Maybe we can all join a 12 step program together. 

 

 

   

Giving up or giving in

 What am I doing? 

 

 

Seriously...what am I doing?

 

 

This past weekend I kept asking myself that same question over and over.  It was a tough parenting weekend.  Hell, it's been a tough parenting couple of weeks.  Aubrey has been so moody lately, so fussy, just plain rotten.  And sure, every parent says that, and yes, I've had people tell me "oh wait until she's 2...or 3..."  Yeah, well, this phase sucks, too.  And Mommy and Daddy are just about broken from it. 

 

 

It's the constant tantrums if we take something away from her.  The bucking bronco thing.  The constant crying.  Dear God, the crying.  And we can't take her anywhere without her fussing...out to dinner, to Target, to church...this past weekend we tried to go to mass where I spent half of it at least in the outer gathering room, part of that period of time in tears.  I couldn't figure it out.  Why was she crying?  I let her walk, she was upset.  I let her sit with me, she was upset.  Crawl, upset.  Sit in her stroller, upset.  No idea.  And I was just about to lose it.  Where was my little girl who is always so happy? 

 

 

Bath time for the past five nights have just been terrible.  Screaming like we are torturing her, as one of us holds her in the tub while the other cleans her, as she tries to claw her way out of the tub or throw herself back directly into the water.  I can't remember a time when we had a good bath night. 

 

 

It's hard to get her to understand that "no, don't do that Aubrey" even though we say it.  And I hate to say I have raised my voice, as has T.  The girl doesn't understand punishment.  It's not like I could take something away from her, and she would understand it was a consequence of her behavior.  Instead we just wrestle with her as we get her ready for bed. 

 

 

She's teething, getting two of her molars at once.  We try to stay on top of it with orajel and tylenol.  But she's also transitioning to toddlers so she's more active, doing more during the day, probably more tired, and she's around toddlers now.  Could she be picking up behaviors?  Is she upset with us over the change? 

 

 

The thing is I don't know.  I just don't know.  And I have no idea what I'm doing

 

 

So yeah, I know...it gets worse, I know.  But that doesn't help at the moment.  Right now, I'm considering just giving in and waving the white flag.

       

Motivation Monday 13.1 edition

Happy Motivation Monday!   So I survived!  Yay!  I ran 13.1 miles...well, ran most, walked some, but I did it!


I actually did a ton better than I thought I would.  I was so incredibly nervous that I was driving both myself and T crazy, as well as making myself physically ill.  See, I'm really good at that - just ask pretty much anyone who knows me at all.  Anyway, so after driving T and my family crazy, Saturday morning finally arrived.  We had to be downtown around 6:30, and we were picking up my brother on the way from my parent's house.  So that meant T and I got up at 4:45 a.m.  I do not - I repeat - do not - get up when there is a 4 on my clock.  But it was a good thing that Aubrey was looking out for us because she wanted to make sure we didn't get into a really deep sleep, by waking us up at 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.  So when the alarm went off at 4:45...we were pretty much awake anyway.  Tired, but awake.  So we dressed, coffee-ed up and headed out. 


One thing I hate about races is the waiting.  You have to get there early because you can't be one of those crazy people who thinks that they'll be able to find that magical parking spot despite the fact this is the biggest half marathon in the country and 35,000 people are running this damn thing.  But the waiting just makes you nervous and more nervous.  And I was in corral X.  I was sooo far in the back it took me over 30 minutes to actually start.  Ugh, the painful waiting.


But it started, and I just started runnin' (I say in my best Forest Gump voice, for those of you who get the reference).  I ran the first two miles straight, no stopping, which is an all-time best for me.   My official finish time was 2:39:39, and that included a 4 min stop to go to the bathroom.  I actually ran quite a bit more than I thought I could.  The race takes you to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and you run the track for miles 6 through 8.  I was determined to run the whole two miles, but dude, that track is huge.  And it is a lot more than you think it is.  But I was running when I crossed the yard of bricks, so that was awesome.  Once you're out, you run the last 5 miles back to downtown, and it's a straight shot which is tough.  I'm not going to lie, miles 11 through 13 were tough.  They have the big last mile marked with checkered flag banners, and it took all I had in me to finish running it, but I did it!


When I was running, I passed this woman who had a t-shirt for congenital heart defect awareness.  I said she had an awesome shirt, and apparently her daughter had a congenital heart defect, too.  Anyway, so that got me thinking - here I am, asthmatic and heart defect, I am running 13.1 miles.  I mean, a lot of people let obstacles or conditions like that prevent them from pushing themselves, but I view it as a challenge.  I did this race for me, but in a way, I also did it for Aubrey.  I want her, as she grows up, to see that she can do anything she puts her mind to, no matter what roadblocks are in the way.  Yes, this is cheesy, and I hate that I'm actually boasting about something because I'm normally self-deprecating.  But maybe it was the runner's high, it was just a thought that came to mind. 


And I thought "I have to do this again."  So now I'm looking for other races to do.  I've got the bug, man!



       

Bucket list

 

It's all about bucket lists this week on the Spin Cycle with Gretchen at Second Blooming.  What things have I always wanted to do?  What things would I like to do before it's my "time?"  I haven't really thought about it, honestly.  I mean, the biggest item on my list was go to Ireland, and we did that, as well as go to the Guinness Storehouse, so I can die happy, right? 

 

 

But I'm sure I can come up with some things...so here are just a few things I would like to do in my time.  (In no particular order, of course):

 

 

Get married to the love of my life (check)

Start a family (check)

Go to Ireland and drink lots of guinness (check)

Write a book (I started this way back when and yeah....it hasn't gone anywhere)

Start my own law practice

Travel across the country (road trip!)

See the Pacific Ocean

Make Thanksgiving dinner for my family

Go sledding.  Seriously, I have never been sledding.

Go on a hot air balloon ride

Meet a U.S. Supreme Court Justice...preferably not one of the following:  Scalia, Alito or Thomas

Go to Hawaii

Go to Spain and meet one of my bloggy friends, Chloe, her husband MJ, and their new baby who is on the way!

On that same note, travel through Europe, including going back to Dublin

Become grandparents (faaaar in the future)

Become ridiculously, independently wealthy

AND completely pay off Sallie Mae so I can get rid of that (insert not nice word) for good

 

 

So while this list might not be glamorous, and I'm sure, given a little more creativity, I could come up with more, I think it's a good start.  And look!  I'm already checking items off!  

 

 

So wish me luck this weekend...I'm going to be the crazy woman getting up at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday to run 13.1 miles in what is looking like will be a rainy morning.  Keeping my fingers crossed that the rain holds off!  Have a good weekend!

 

 

So what else do people have to share?  Stop by Gretchen at Second Blooming and find out!

     

Momma time

I took a few hours for myself yesterday.  T and I had plans to take care of a few things, transition conference at Aubrey's daycare and of course, a wonderful and happy topic - executing our will.  So in between those fun appointments, Momma went shopping!  My birthday present was the chance to get some clothes for the summer that actually fit, and I had some money from family, too, so I hit up my two favorite places - Kohls and Target.  I got myself some new Capri's for summer, tops, skirts, and I still have some of my birthday money to spend!  It is kind of nice because none of my summer clothes from years past fit.  Nice and not so nice...I mean, I have no clothes now.  But the reason for it is fine by me!

 

 

And I have to say, I enjoyed the hell out of walking around the stores without a one year old fussing constantly and throwing random items out of the cart.  And I actually got to try on clothes, too!  Whoo!  I think someone needs to do little things like this more often, and if it needs to be during the work week, then so be it.  I can gladly make up a few hours here and there for work if that means Mommy gets a sanity break.

 

 

I needed it for sure, too, because little miss was so tired when we got home.  Putting her to bed, she reenacted a scene from the Norman Bates movie.  Her liking the baths lately has become hit or miss, and last night she was not having it.  But being a toddler, she's out in the playground more and needs a bath.  But apparently bathing and putting lotion on her equals child abuse.  So this is the conversation we had, as I was clothing her for bed: 

 

 

Me to Aubrey as I was getting her dressed for bed tonight: "Look, Aubrey, I know this whole bathing thing is painful and I'm an awful mom for doing this to you. Let's just get through this together right now, and in the morning I'll give you the DCS hot line number. Keep in mind it's a statewide number, but someone will come talk to you locally. You might not have much of a claim because there ...are no outward signs of abuse and neglect. Clearly you are fed, no bruises, you're healthy, and I don't know...I'm not sure use of Johnson and Johnson bedtime lotion is included as abuse. I can check the statute tonight and get back to you, but from my experience, it's normally a good thing when a mom bathes and cares for her child. But I'll leave that to your discretion." (She cries all while I'm doing this, of course).

 

 

She was out as soon as her head hit the bed, so I'll give her a break.  Just this once.  Or this week.  We'll see if she follows through on that DCS phone call.  Something tells me when I'm the one with the warm clothes and bottle tomorrow morning, all will be forgotten.

     

Bunnygate 2013

T and I have a history with...well...wild life.  Mice, squirrels, you name it...we've had it in our house, this one or the rental before this one.  We recently had three mice in our window well down in our basement last fall.  T had to mercilessly kill these mice, unfortunately, because we couldn't catch them, and two of them were dying if not already dead.  It was gruesome.  So we took the window screen out of the window, and we haven't had any mice since. 

 

 

Well yesterday, T noticed a baby bunny down there.  Poor little thing must have fallen in a crack in the grate covering the window well.  I don't know....it might have been with its mommy and gotten lost.  But the poor little guy was stuck down there.  So T is too chicken (sorry, T!), so I was the one left to catch Thumper.  So rather than climb down into the window well, I opted to open the window from down in the basement, reach in with gloves and pick him up.  Ill-advised decision.  I chased him around and around the window well until he leaped over me and into the basement.  I screamed, T jumped back, and the little sucker made its way across the basement and promptly hid under the water heater. 

 

 

Getting him out of said water heater was not easy.   We found a curtain rod, and I grabbed our big orange Home Depot bucket.  T took the curtain rod and carefully poked at the bunny as I waited on the other side to throw the bucket on top of him as he ran out the other side.  Yeah, that didn't work.  He made his way past me and into the other corner of the basement behind T's golf clubs.  I moved the golf clubs and threw the bucket down on him as hard and fast as I could, hearing him squeal so I'm sure I hurt him.  I felt bad about that, as T looked at like me like I was flipping crazy.  Anyway, I got the idea to put a cardboard box piece underneath the bucket, and we flipped the bucket over, keeping Mr. Bunny inside.  I ran up the stairs like a mad woman, as T made sure the door was open and then shut before I let the little guy out.  It's a good thing, too, because Thumper ran back towards the house. 

 

 

I think at some point before we even tried this animal rescue event, I said "oh he's so cute, can we keep him?"  Yeah, scratch that.  Definitely not how I envisioned spending my Tuesday evening, but what can you do?  Never a dull moment in our house! 

 

 

And thus ends Bunnygate 2013.