Health & Fitness Friday: Deep Thoughts and a New Resource for Healthy Meals

Well it's here, my friends...Memorial Weekend. The kick-off to summer and BATHING SUIT SEASON!!!

{GASP}

I've been working really hard for this day. Running, exercising, trying to eat right. My body is still no where near where I want it to be, but I'm slowly learning to be okay with that because I AM trying. I turn down donuts, I do yoga before bed and I take my running shoes with me on camping trips. I am trying to be a healthy mom and that alone makes me proud.

Last week, I was talking to one of my students (who is also a mother) about running. She asked how I got started and the very first thing out of my mouth was, "To lose weight." That really is why I started. I wanted to lose those last stubborn 10 post-baby pounds and running seemed like the "easiest" way to do it. And I was right...it only took a few weeks to shed those 10 pounds and I was back in my pre-baby jeans before I knew it. I could have stopped then with Couch25K...but I didn't.

Half way through the program, something changed. I started caring less about the scale, and more about my pace and distance. I was becoming a runner and I didn't even know it. I felt myself wanting to run even when it wasn't a scheduled day on the training plan. I loved it. I really, really loved it and actually looked forward to lacing up my shoes and hitting the pavement.

That was almost 3 years ago and I still love running just as much as I did then. I still find it therapeutic and fun, as long as I don't start taking myself too seriously. It's natural to feel competitive with any sport and I am definitely competitive with myself at times. I want to beat my PRs, I want a sub 8 minute mile someday and I want to finish another half marathon. But as soon as I start worrying too much about that stuff or on how quickly the scale is moving...the fun is gone. I think even the best athletes in the world feel this way when they start stressing over performance, which is why ALL of us need a reminder from time to time.

I love this quote so much. It's what got me thinking about all this today...the true reason I run. I am lucky that I am healthy enough to do it, that I have the time to do it and most importantly...that I have the drive to do it. I never want to take that for granted :-)

So that's my FITNESS inspiration and deep thought for the week. Ha!

And here is a little recap of my workout schedule. I am happy to say I worked out {almost} every day again AND started a new challenge!!

FRIDAY: Yoga

SATURDAY: Ran 5 miles {9:19 average pace. Woohoo!}

SUNDAY: Rest

MONDAY: Ripped in 30

TUESDAY: Ran 2 miles

WEDNESDAY: Yoga

THURSDAT: Ripped in 30 and the new 300 Ab Challenge

I am hoping to have a similar schedule this week with a few more runs thrown in {hopefully}

Next up, let's talk about HEALTH.

Overall, this week was decent in terms of eating, only because I didn't prepare many big meals. Eric and I ate at different times so while I was feeding the kids, I would make myself a big ass salad and chow done while standing at the kitchen counter. Not exactly the best way to eat, but whatever. It got the job done.

Sadly, I didn't try any new recipes this week but I do have one planned for this coming week that I am DYING to taste. It's called Cool Ranch crockpot chicken and it sounds absolutely AMAZEBALLS!

I got this recipe from one of my new favorite recipe blogs, Family Fresh Meals. When you have some time to browse, check out all the delicious, fun recipes she has to share. I love that all of her meals are fresh, creative and EASY!!

Well guys...that's all I have for today's installment!! I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Weekend!!

5 Reasons to Take Your Kids Camping

Memorial Weekend is the official kick-off of to the camping season and in an effort to convince all of you to join us camping this weekend, here are 5 reasons to pack up your tent and your kids for a weekend of fun and memories that will last a lifetime :-)

Eric and I have always been campers, but it was only within the last year that we started camping with our kids. And let me tell you friends...that's an entirely DIFFERENT camping experience than we were used to. Long gone were the days of just pitching a tent anywhere we wanted and surviving on chili and spiked apple cider for 3 days.

But now that we've done it and survived an entire camping season with a 2 and 4-year-old...we can honestly say that camping with kids is SO MUCH MORE FUN!!!! And here's why:

Camping gives you the chance...

1. To Explore the Great Outdoors

I will never forget the first time we went camping with the kids. We only drove 30 minutes from our home but to Addie and Blake, it felt like a vacation. We took them down to our recreation club, a place they have been a million times, but when we pulled into our space next to the woods, the kids were enchanted. The trees, the smells, the squirrels...it was all so exciting! We gathered acorns, we fished in the lake, we hiked on the trails and when night came...we looked at the stars. I couldn't believe how adventurous both of them were, considering the mere presence of a fly at home sends them both into a total panic. But here they were picking up worms, chasing frogs and catching fish! They both learned how to skip rocks on the water, how to tell the difference between a pine tree and an oak tree and what happens to food when we leave it on the picnic table (hello scary raccoons). Ha! There is just so much beauty to see in this world and when we spend our days rushing from one activity or commitment to the next, we miss incredibly peaceful, precious moments like these.

2. To Travel on a Budget

Last year, Eric and I were able to take not one, but TWO very special 4-day trips with our kids for about the price of one plane ticket. We were also able to spend multiple weekends at our local campground for next to nothing. If you and your family are new to camping, there is obviously the initial expense of purchasing tents, a camper, gear, etc. but once you have all that, your travel possibilities are endless. There are SO MANY places Eric and I want to take the kids and most of them have State Park Campgrounds, which can be as cheap as $5 a night if you are tent camping. The best place to start when searching for a campground is your state's Department of Natural Resources website. This is ours for Illinois. Now, if you and your family are looking for a few more amenities or activities, you can stay at a camping resort like Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park. We had the best time camping at Yogi Bear resorts last year and we can't wait to go back again this year. And of course, if you are on a super tight budget (or want a little camping test-run with your kids), let's not forget how perfect your backyard can be too! The great thing about camping is that you don't need a plan or itinerary to have the time of your life. You can just hop in your car or camper and head out on the open road. No matter where you go, there is ALWAYS a place to stay :-)

3. To Build a Campfire and Eat Campfire Food

I won't even pretend like this isn't one of the BEST parts of camping. The campfire is the one thing I look forward to most. I love the smell, I love the coziness and I love the FOOD!!! Eric has become quite the master at building the perfect fire and I look forward to watching him teach Blake (when he is way, WAY older). And while the boys do that, Addie and I can get all the food ready!! Her and I are so alike in that we wait all. stinkin. day. to have one of those delicious, gooey s'mores. And really...eating s'mores is a right of passage. ALL kids should taste one hot off the campfire at some point in their lives. And while their mouths are full, you can tell them stories. We so rarely get the chance to just sit and talk these days without the distractions of home. When you are around a campfire, there is no TV blaring, no phones ringing and no one coming to the door. Around a campfire, the kids aren't begging for the iPad or asking to go to their friend's house. Around a campfire, there is nothing but laughter and marshmallow mustaches :-)

4. To Make New Friends

When Eric and I bought our camper, we knew ONE other couple that camped with their young kids. But that didn't last long because after only our second trip, we had made a whole new group of camping buddies!! The families we met our first year camping are now some of our dearest friends. We schedule weekends together at our club, we plan trips to Yogi Bear and we've even started a little Facebook page to keep in touch with each other throughout the year. What Eric and I learned early on is that camping brings people together. Everyone isn't just sitting alone in their tent or camper. People are out mingling, talking, sharing firewood, sharing marshmallows, sharing a beer...it's like a little community no matter where you go. How often does that happen in a hotel? I think it's so important for the kids to have experiences like this and practice making new friends. And as much as Eric and I love camping alone too, we have grown rather fond of our camping buddies and all the great late night campfire shenanigans that take place :-)

5. To Make Memories as a Family

When I see teenagers still camping with their parents during the summer, I want to cry tears of joy. I know that there is going to come a day when our kids will no longer want to be with us every waking moment. They will have friends and social lives and sports and activities and we will be the LAST thing on their priority list. But...I truly believe that if Eric and I always make family time a priority and make camping our tradition, the kids will always look forward to it, no matter how old they are. I am excited to sit down each Spring and plan our summer trips. There are so many places to see in the U.S. and I think involving the kids in the planning process is half the fun. Seeing the world's largest Ketchup bottle will be WAY more exciting if it is their idea :-)

*****

So...have I convinced you to take your kids camping this summer?? If so, here are just a few helpful tips, links and apps to get your started. You can also follow my Cruisin in the RV Pinterest board for more info and links to fun stuff :-)

Finding Gear: The biggest decision in the beginning of this journey is to decide how you will camp. Are you going to rough it in a tent, or go "glamping" in a camper? Here are some of the websites where Eric and I buy all of our gear and goodies:

* Camping World

* Cabella's 

* Gear Trade: For buying and selling used camping gear. 

Picking a Campground: When picking a campground, take into consideration how long you want to stay (some places do have a time limit), what recreational activities you want to do while you are there (fishing, hiking, etc.), what amenities you prefer (like having toilets and shower or full hook-ups for campers/RVs) and if the campground is "kid friendly".

You can also start by looking online at Woodalls or downloading their app to read reviews of places before you stay. They have a great rating system and a pretty comprehensive list. But, if you really want an app for finding campsites on the road, you have to check out Allstays. Not only does it show you all of the surrounding campgrounds (with reviews), it also locates rest stops, 24 hour stores like Wal-Mart, RV repair shops and also notifies you of low clearance bridges (for those pulling or driving a large motorhome). It's a little pricey for an app, but could be SUPER handy on long distance trips.

Packing for Your Trip: Whether you are packing for one night in a tent or a week in a camper, there is a LOT to remember...especially with kids!! Start by getting together some checklists. You can find a ton of AMAZING resources on Wilderness for Kids, especially if you plan to really rough it.

There is also a fabulous list-making app called Camping List Pro that allows you to customize a packing list for each trip you take! This app is like any other list maker, except it has tons of lists already programmed with suggestions for what to pack!!

But if you are a paper person like me and just can't stand making lists on your phone, feel free to download all of the camping printables I made for our camping binder last year. They have come in very handy, but I also plan to do some updating this summer now that we have had a year of experience :-)

Once you have your gear, your campsite booked and stuff all packed...you are ready to make some family memories!!! I really hope you found this post helpful and in honor of camping season, I have decided to do a little camping post every other week to share new campfire recipes, tips and tricks. And of course, I will share LOTS of pictures from all of our trips this season :-)

Happy Camping Friends!!

The Past Few Weeks in a Nutshell

It's no secret that I have been a busy little disorganized bee the last few weeks. I keep meaning to recap some of the fun things we've had going on lately but time has seriously gotten away from me! It's almost the end of May and I haven't even posted about our Cinco de Mayo camping trip, Mother's Day or Eric's birthday!

So lets take care of that now with a big old picture post, shall we?

After a very looooooong winter away from our home-on-wheels, Eric and I decided it was time to Spring clean the camper and take her out for a little weekend away. Apparently the rest of our camping buddies were thinking the same thing and we all decided to meet at our club for a Cinco de Mayo extravaganza. Think lots of Mexican food and Lime-a-Ritas. We had an awesome group that weekend and despite the rainy forecast, the weather ended up being absolutely beautiful!! It was so great to get out and see everyone.

We were also able to convince Uncle Ryan, Aunt Meagan and Owen to make the long haul down for some camping fun. Owen LOVED his first bite of campfire s'mores and Uncle Ryan had WAY too much fun chopping logs and building the fire.

 I was so glad we were able to get away for the weekend and recharge our batteries because the next 2 weeks were full off paper grading and coffee drinking for me.

I love teaching more than I can ever explain and in my opinion, there is no greater job in the world. But man...I was SO READY for this semester to be over. Although in 3 short months, I will be SO READY for a new semester to begin :-) That's just how it goes. But until then...I am excited to spend more time on my #1 job...being a Mom. And speaking of which...

The Friday before Mother's Day, Addie's Preschool hosted a Mother's Day Tea party. The teachers asked all of the students in private to explain why they love their Mom. Addie's response was,

"Because she's kindful, she's in my heart and she's beautiful."

That response is so Addie and she tells me all the time how I am in her heart. I will honestly cherish that pink piece of paper forever :-)

Next year, when Blake is in preschool, he will have the opportunity to make me crafts and share his own feelings and I'm a little nervous for that. Ha!! The kid is NOT afraid to tell me how he feels. Although, he did tell me on Mother's Day that I was "Bootiful" and that he "Wuves me Berry Much." I'll take it :-)

Our Mother's Day was pretty low-key around here, especially since Mother's Day was also Eric's Birthday!!! I know this isn't very romantic, but we both decided to just go out and buy our own gifts this year. I wanted to upgrade my phone and he wanted some stuff for his fishing boat so we just exchanged cards, hugs and kisses. 

We did have brunch with my Mom and Grams and managed to take this sweet 4 Generation picture...

As well as a few candid shots with Grams and the kids. These make me tear up every time I look at them...so precious.

The best Mother's Day any girl can ask for is a day that she can spend with not only her kiddies, but also all the other very special Mommies in her life. I got to see my Mom and Grams in the morning, and my Mother-in-law and Sis-in-law in the evening for dinner. It ended up being a joint celebration for Eric too so we ended the day with a big old cake!!

That next week, Eric had to finish up his overtime job and I had to submit final grades so we were a little cray-cray around here. Luckily, the kids still had all kinds of fun things to do like playdates with friends and sleepoevers at Grandma and Grandpa's house...

And then when the week was FINALLY over, it was time for some much needed R&R.

This weekend, we were able to spend a lot of time having fun and playing with kids. Addie asked Eric on Friday if he could take the training wheels off her bike and by Saturday, she was cruising all over the place!!

My big girl :-)

And then on Sunday, we had a little belated Mother's Day/Eric's Birthday celebration at Stone Eagle Tavern (which was SO DELICIOUS) and then we headed over to Cabella's to walk around and check out some fish. The boys (and Addie) had a ball!!!

And now we begin the countdown to summer break! This is Addie's last week of preschool and she has her little graduation on Friday. I am already stocking my purse with tissues :-)

We are planning to camp this weekend for Memorial Day and then after our big dance recital on June 1st, we will be free for the summer!!! The kids are both doing a little T-ball class together and Addie will be taking gymnastics (just to try it out for next year) but other than that, we will be spending a LOT of time in my parents pool and frequenting the splash pad with all of our buddies. Oh, and let's not forget all the camping we have planned. SO MUCH FUN I CAN HARDLY STAND IT!!!

Yay for summer!!! And yay for being caught up on my blog. Ha!

Happy Monday friends!

Health & Fitness Friday: Breaking up With my Treadmill and Doin Some Juicin

Happy Friday peeps!

I haven't been this excited for a Friday in a LONG TIME! Of course I love this link-up, but the real reason I am excited today is because summer break has officially started for me!! Woohoo!! I've been buried in a pile of final exams and writing portfolios the last 3 days and when I submitted my final grades yesterday, I let out the biggest sigh of relief ever! It feels SO GOOD to be done with another semester of teaching and as much as I will miss being in the classroom this summer, I know fall will be here before I know it. That is why I need to enjoy every last minute of sunshine and freedom :-)

And speaking of sunshine, it has been a great week for outdoor running around here!! I've broken up with my treadmill for the season and it feels SO GOOD!! I know I will have to come crawling back at some point but for now, it feels good to look at some new scenery :-)

With Memorial Day right around the corner, I decided it was time to really kick things into gear with working out. I think it's that bathing suit hanging in my closet calling my name :-) 

I am happy to say that I worked out every single day this week (except Mother's Day)! Woohoo! 

SATURDAY: 3.5 mile run

SUNDAY: Mother's Day

MONDAY: 3 mile run

TUESDAY: Yoga

WEDNESDAY: Pilates

THURSDAY: 2 mile run and TIU Arm Pyramid

FRIDAY: Ripped in 30

I can't say every day was a slammin workout, but considering how busy I was, I will call it a success. It feels good to be motivated again and I just hope I can stick with it more consistently now that our schedule is going to be a little less crazy (I hope).

Next up...let's talk about HEALTH.

So my buddy Joe has just invested in a fancy juicer and has agreed to make some special juices for me. I can't say I am totally on board with a 3-day or 5-day cleanse yet, mostly because everyone who does it says they have NO energy to do anything when they are juicing and seriously...I barely have energy for my kids as it is...I can't imagine feeling more drained. 

However, I would very much like to substitute one meal a day and see how I feel. Joe says he has more energy and a lot of his allergy issues have cleared up just from substituting one or two meals. I tend to have a lot of tummy and indigestion problems and I've heard that juicing (and cutting out some grains) helps tremendously so I am willing to give it a try!! Especially now that I have a juicer hook-up.

And speaking of meals...

Our meal planning really took a dive this week. It's actually not that I didn't plan...it's just that I didn't execute very well. I blame it on all the grading I was doing and straight up lack of motivation. But this coming week will be different and I have some yummy summer food I have been waiting to cook.

I don't know about you guys, but I LOVE chicken kabobs on the grill. We don't make them often and I honestly don't know why because they are SO easy and SO freaking delicious! My favorite is barbecue chicken kabobs. All you need to do is cube some chicken breasts, cut up thick chunks of sweet onions, green peppers and red peppers. Skewer them and brush with your favorite BBQ sauce (we love Sweet Baby Rays) and then toss them on the grill!

This recipe will be a really easy go-to dinner this summer once our garden is up and running. Eric and I sat down at dinner last night and planned what we want to plant this year. Our list looks like this:

Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes

Zucchini

Squash

Red Peppers

Green Peppers

Cucumber

Brussel Sprouts

I also want to plant some fresh herbs but I will be honest...I am a shitty gardner. I hate bugs, I hate sneaks, I hate weeding and I hate watering. Every year I tell Eric we should just skip the garden but then when we grill our first zucchini or I make my first fresh batch of garlic brussel sprouts...I am eating my words. I just need to learn to be a better gardner because there is something pretty awesome about growing your own food and knowing where it's coming from. My sis-in-law Diana is the MASTER at this sort of thing and I guess I need her to give me a few more lessons. Hint hint Di :-)

Alright guys...I think that's all the rambling I have for today!! I hope you all had a fabulous week and I can't wait to read about it!!

Keep Calm & Make it Through Finals Week

I am about to admit something really dorky right now...but I used to love finals week in college.

Of course I was stressed as hell, considering I have the WORST case of test-taking anxiety ever, but there was something so fun about the preparation of it all. I remember being at the library with my buddies for hours and hours drinking coffee and laughing about how screwed we were on Dr. Sunburg's Geology final.

I remember cramming for math in my dorm lounge with a group of friends I used to go swing dancing with (Don't make fun...it was the 90s). We were only 20 minutes into our study session before someone busted out the Brian Setzer Orchestra. We all got a D on that exam.

And of course, I remember my first finals week as a teacher. I was taking my own grad classes and studying like a crazy person, all the while preparing my own students to take their final. After 6 years as an English major I really only had one piece of advice for them...

11 years later, I still have the same advice. Well that, and...

No coffee, no workee.

So while my students are pulling an all-nighter tonight preparing their writing portfolios and studying for tomorrow's exams, I am going to sleep soundly in my bed :-)

But then tomorrow night, while they party and celebrate, I will be up to my eyeballs in essays and exams pulling my own all-nighter. I just need to remember that in 72 hours, my final grades will be in and school will be OUT FOR SUMMER!!! WOOHOO! Then I will finally be able to spend some time on my other dorky hobbies like making planner pages and rereading Harry Potter from the beginning. Ha!

But until then, I am just going to...

Happy Almost Tuesday friends!! Be back soon!

For My Mama

Someone once asked me what my favorite blog post of all time was and I answered them almost immediately. I think they expected me to say my pregnancy announcement with Blake, my recap of Addie's birth or Blake's grand entrance. Although these posts are VERY dear to my heart {and I read them often}, my all time favorite post was one that I dedicated to my Mom in 2009.

At the time, Addie was just a baby and I was about 6 weeks pregnant with Blake. I was in that stage of motherhood where I questioned everything. Was I being the best mom I could to Addie? Was it too soon to be having another baby? Should I accept the night class I was offered to teach? Would I be able to handle two kiddies and give them all the love and attention they needed? I lost so much sleep that year worrying about being the best Mom I could and then one night, as I sat down to write a little post to my Mom, I realized that by having the best Mom in the world...I already knew everything it took to be one myself. I wrote this little note to let her know how much I love and appreciate everything she has taught me and how incredibly LUCKY I am to have her :-)

So Mamacita...here is a little Mother's Day flashback for you.


When I was just a baby...

I didn't realize how special it was that my mom was willing to sacrifice her career to stay home with me. She was already teaching me that being a Mom is the most important job you will ever have in your life.

When I was a toddler...

I didn't realize that my alone time with Mom was coming to an end very soon. My brother Ryan was already on the way and Adam would shortly follow. She was already teaching me that it is possible for a Mother to love all of her children just as much as her first.

When I was a little girl...

I didn't realize that I could survive without being by my Mom's side. I cried every day on the way to school, but she made me go anyway. I cried everyday on the way to gymnastics and piano lessons, but she made me go anyway. She was already teaching me that even though she wasn't right by my side, she would always be there for me when I needed her.

When I was in grade school...

I didn't realize how silly it was to want to be like everyone else. If it was cool to have feathered bangs...I had them. If it was cool to wear 36 friendship bracelets on one arm...I wore them. If it was cool to have a new Halloween costume every year...I had one. My Mom knew I didn't need all these things to be special, but she still helped me feather my bangs every morning and helped me braid friendship bracelets out of her good cross-stitching floss. She was already teaching me that being a good Mom means doing anything you can to make your kids happy...even if it means staying up until 2:00 in the morning to make a one-of-a-kind French Maid costume the night before Halloween.

When I was in high school...

I didn't realize how cool my Mom actually was. Like most teenagers, I thought my mom was out-of-style and out-of-touch with "reality". I remember her saying "Well...then HELP me be more stylish and help me understand your reality". So, we emptied her closet of all jumpers and wooden birdhouse pins and we sat down over coffee and talked about boys. She was already teaching me that Moms don't always know everything...but good Moms are always willing to admit it.

When I was in college...

I didn't realize that my Mom was becoming my best friend. She let me cry to her on the phone when I had a bad day and she let me celebrate with her when I aced a test. She would drive 150 miles in one day just to take me shopping and out to lunch. She would drive 320 miles just to see me dance at one basketball game. She was always there for me, just like she said she would be. She was already teaching me that Mothers and Daughters CAN be best friends.

When I was in grad school...

And stressed beyond belief, I didn't realize that a girl's weekend in Chicago with my Mom would be my saving grace. Once again, my Mom knew what I needed and spent the whole weekend talking to me and encouraging me. She was already teaching me to never give up on my dreams.

When I graduated from college...

I didn't realize just how much my parents sacrificed to send me there. The books they paid for, the rent they helped me with, the campus parking tickets they overlooked (even though I knew they were furious), etc. She was already teaching me that parents still take care of their kids, even when they are hundreds of miles away.

When my Mom graduated from college... 

I didn't realize what an amazing accomplishment that was...until I started working my first full-time job and thought to myself, "how can my Mom find time to work, commute, take care of a family, go to class AND do homework?!!" Oh...and get straight A's while doing it. She was already teaching me that achieving your dreams isn't always easy, but if it is what you want...you can make it happen.

When I got married...

I didn't realize how much my life was going to change. I was now sharing a home, a bank account and a life with someone else. Two sets of hopes, two sets of dreams...both trying to work together as one. My Mom told me that there would be wonderful days...and not-so wonderful days. Easy times...and hard times. But loving someone meant loving them through all of those times. She was already teaching me that being a good wife meant letting go of some of my wants...for someone elses. 

When I was pregnant the first time... 

I didn't realize I would feel so anxious about becoming a Mom myself. Would I know what to do with a new baby? Would she breastfeed? Would she sleep well? Would she bond with me? Would I bond with her? I was so scared about all the unknowns, but my Mom just kept reminding me that I would know what to do when she arrived. She was already teaching me that motherhood comes naturally.

The day I became a Mom...

I didn't realize that I already knew everything I needed to know about being a good Mom because I had learned from the best. She had already taught me how to be caring and nurturing. How to be firm, but understanding. How to be encouraging and supportive. And best of all...she taught me how to be loving and patient. Being a good Mom doesn't come to you all at once. It takes time and practice and I thank God every day that I was blessed with the most amazing Mother, teacher and friend a daughter could ever ask for.

Happy Mother's Day Mamacita. I love you with all my heart :-)

Health & Fitness Friday: ANOTHER Personal Record

It's Friday!!! Woohoo! Is it just me, or was this the longest week ever?!!

Considering how my posts have gone the last few weeks (with minimal working out and eating like crap), I am happy to report today that I am definitely getting back on track!!! I think my motivation had a lot to do with another fantastic 5K last weekend!!! 

I set yet another PR and I could not be more excited!!! 26 minutes is a time I never though I would see and the crazy thing is that I didn't end the race feeling like I was going to die. I knew I was moving fast trying to keep up with my buddy Michael, but at no point did I feel the need to slow down. I knew my pace was good by the alerts from my Nike app but when I got to the finish line and saw the time...I was SHOCKED!!! Pretty sure I screamed really loud with my headphones on.

Getting 2 PRs in 2 weeks was pretty exciting and it definitely gave me the motivation I needed to kick things into gear. This is a little run-down of the workouts I managed to make happen:

Saturday: Ran a 5K

Sunday: Cleaned the house, car and camper. I swear...this was a SERIOUS workout.

Monday: Ran 3 miles

Tuesday: Ripped in 30

Wednesday: Rest

Thursday: Yoga Meltdown

Friday: Planning to Run 3 miles before date night!!

Next up...lets talk HEALTH.

Isn't it amazing how different you feel when you fuel your body with the right food? We ate pretty bad camping this weekend so when I came home, I was hell bent on eating right. I ate lots of greek yogurt, fresh fruits and veggies, salads and chicken. We did have burgers for dinner last night, but I made sure to eat smarter during the day {aside from the pineapple upside down cake my grandma made for Eric's birthday}. 

Instead of breaking down our whole meal plan each week, I thought I would just start sharing one or two NEW recipes each week that we hope to try. This week, I am giving one of the meals on my Emeals menu a try {Zesty Chicken Kabobs with Creamy Cilantro Dip} and I'm also going to make Martha Stewart's Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad. This is actually something the kids will eat too. They love shredded chicken, cheese and hardboiled eggs. Addie will eat the lettuce too, but Blake is a work in progress in that department :-)

So has anyone tried a really great recipe lately? I have been all about salads for dinner lately, but I have a meat-and-potatoes husband that doesn't believe that a salad is a meal. I know he will go for the cobb because it is packed with things he likes, but what else can I do??

Well before I go today friends, I just want to say thanks to all of you that left such sweet comments about my PRs the past two weeks!! You guys are the best and I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the encouragement :-)

I hope you all have a fabulous week!!!

100 Days of Summertime

It's no secret that I love to organize. I post about organization allllllllllll the time, which may lead some to believe that I am an incredibly organized person. Although I do try VERY hard to be organized, the fact of the matter is...I am a mom. A hot freaking MESS of a mom who is always searching for car keys, missing important appointments and running around town with coffee on her pants.

I know I will never have it all together, but that doesn't mean I am willing to stop trying! I love making binders and checklists and printables and when I can find the time to read...I LOVE following along with books like 100 Days of Summertime.

 

I first became a fan of Jennifer Tankersley in 2010 when I bought her eBook 100 Days to Christmas. That book completely changed my way of planning and organizing for the holidays. My gifts were purchased early, everything was wrapped before the first snow had fallen and I didn't forget to mail out a single Christmas card. In addition to all that, I ended up making some wonderful new traditions for my family and spent a lot more time enjoying the season.

In 2012, Jennifer added a new book to her collection titled 100 Days of Summertime and I was BEYOND excited. I was flattered when Jennifer asked me to review it and I followed along faithfully all summer. By September I was prepared for back-to-school, my house was organized and de-cluttered and we were ready for our new routine. We also made sure to enjoy fun holidays like National Ice Cream Day and schedule plenty of family time. It was a fantastic summer :-)

So this year, when Jennifer asked if I was interested in reviewing 100 Days of Summertime for 2013...I   jumped at the chance! Seriously...I couldn't respond to her email fast enough :-)

For the last two days, I have been glued to my NOOK reading through all of the wonderful activities that Jennifer has planned for this summer. Many of them were part of the eBook last year but strangely...they all feel new to me again! For example, I remember reading about Summer Camp at Home in last years book, but felt like Blake was still a little young to grasp the whole idea. But with preschool on the horizon for him and Kindergarten on the horizon for Addie, I think it is important to incorporate some learning and school-like activities into our summer routine. I love Jennifer's idea of making different "theme weeks" throughout the summer and scheduling activities and outings based on those themes. To help me plan, I went ahead and made some fun summer calendars to put on our fridge  and I will share them with all of you as long as you promise to post and share some fun theme ideas with me :-)

 {download this set here}

If you read my blog at all, you know that camping is a HUGE part of our summer so another thing I really love about this book is how Jennifer includes the Great American Backyard Campout, as well as a day strictly for gathering camping supplies and spending time in the great outdoors. Camping is, without a doubt, one of the BEST family bonding activities ever. It's an opportunity to shut off your phone, TV and computer, get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and just have fun the good old fashioned way. Get dirty, catch some fish, build a fire and eat nothing but s'mores for dinner :-) The eBook has a great hyperlink to some camping tips on ListPlanIt.com and if you would like to start your own camping binder like me, here is a link to all of my camping printables and checklists. 

I know the goal of summer is to relax and go with the flow...but I simply can't handle last minute preparation before going back to school. Between getting the kids ready to go back and getting myself ready to teach my own class, I like to have all my ducks in a row. So perhaps the thing I love BEST about this eBook is that it keeps you on track with little back-to-school tasks the entire summer. By the time Labor Day rolls around, you will be refreshed, organized and ready for a great school year! And best of all...you will have a million wonderful summer memories to look back on :-)

So...have I sold you on this fabulous eBook yet?

100 Days of Summertime 2013 is ON SALE now for only $5 and you can download it to your Kindle, NOOK, iPad or computer. And while you are at it, be sure to Like 100 Days of Summertime on Facebook and join in on the discussion all summer long!

A huge THANK YOU to Jennifer Tankersly for giving me the opportunity to be a reviewer again this year. I can't wait to get started :-)

Updates from ThePolkaDotPosie...One Year in the Making

It's hard to believe that my mom and I have owned our shop for an entire year now!!! One crazy busy, crazy SUCCESSFUL year!!!

We don't want to pretend like it's been easy or that it hasn't come with its challenges. For one thing, we are just two little elves trying to run this business in our "spare time" and although we have learned to make the shop a priority...spare time is hard to find sometimes. We have a notebook FULL of ideas for new products and our friends, family and loyal customers are always so great about suggesting new things for us to make. We fully intend to make them ALL...as soon as we find a way to make the day 25 hours long, instead of 24 :-)

But, we are hoping to do some great things this summer and do a very big Back-to-School launch with some new totes, new accessory pouches, new notebook covers, new printables (hello custom planner pages), new kid's accessories (hello chevron and polkadot ties) and of course new tooth fairy pillows!!! You see friends...TONS of ideas for fabulous new products...we just need to get them made. We promise it will be worth the wait :-)

But in the mean time, our adorable Rosie Posie necklaces are still flying off the shelves and we have some beautiful colors for summer!!! We have a fresh stock of chevron clutches and totes and of course, don't forget about our fun coffee cozies!! They work for iced coffee in the summer too :-)

And our newest product, just in time for wedding season, is our Set of 8 Rosie Posie Zipper Pouches! 

These make the PERFECT Bridesmaid gift and you can fill them with anything from jewelry, to make-up for the big day, or even a "Hangover Kit" like my girl Mandy used for our friend Amy's bachelorette weekend!!

Hope on over to House of Rose and read all about how she filled and used them on her girl's trip to Vegas. Also, she takes WAY BETTER pictures than I do and you just have to see how cute the bags look all done up for the bridesmaids.

This set can come with an assortment of colors:

Or you can choose just your wedding color:

They are lined on the inside with our favorite pattern of all, polkadots:

And if you would like a special tag created for each pouch with either your Bridesmaids names, monograms, special message or a "kit" name...you can contact me in our Printables Shop.

This set is listed with a quantity of 8, but we can make up a custom set with any number...including 1 (if you just want to order one of these for yourself). The bags run $15 each and with my mom's beautiful sewing...they are worth every penny :-)

And speaking of my MOM, she was the one who inspired one of the free printables we are sharing on our Shop Blog today!! Be sure to head on over there and download all FOUR printables we have for Mother's Day and Teacher Appreciation week.

And before I go, I just want to give a huge

THANK YOU

to Mandy and every other friend, family member and loyal customer that has shared our shop name or took the time to leave us feedback. You are the reason that our shop has been so successful this year and we can't thank you all enough for your love and support. Here's to many more years to come!!

And with that in mind, we would love for all of you to leave us some comments with items you would like to see in the future!! Our notebook is certainly full, but we have plenty of blank pages left :-)