Life got busy

Sorry about the lag the last couple of days. Life happened. Had two choir concerts in one night and Daddy Warbucks out of town. That's a hard thing to do. Be at two places at once. Got it done with the help of wonderful friends and family who helped watch some kids so they all did not have to come. I shouldn't say that, so they all did not have the opportunity to come. Both concerts were well done and of course the singers I know really well did amazing.

Actually Trout had her own on stage solo and nailed it. She did such an amazing job, her friends had no idea she had such a voice. Well done. We celebrated with cheesecake!

School is almost done on the home stretch now and I can't wait.

I'm on day 4 of working out and trying to eat clean. As you can see a couple of sentences earlier, it was a cheat day. Cheese is natural right, it had cheese in it.

 

Yesterday was legs. Since my knee is giving me grief still I just did body weight no extra lbs and did not go fully parallel on the squats and lunges, plus I was at home cause Daddy Warbucks was coming home and I did not want to miss him since he was getting clean clothes and heading out of town again.

 

3 sets 12 reps/ min rest

Squats

Walking lunges

Quad extensions ( sat on the couch and extended out, bad knee)

Sumo squats

Donkey kicks

Calf raises

1st position calf raises

 

Today is running ( outside) then shoulders and abs

Run 4 miles

3 sets 12 reps/ min rest

Seated dumbbell press

dumbbell straight arm raise

Side lateral raise

Seated bent over rear raise

Star sit ups

Ball crunch with a twist.

 

The come home and do chores. Clean, fold, clean, fold, and keep deer out of my fruit trees.

Loved this and at times we need to remember it.

Make your day great!

New Workout Goal

I'm loving my workouts. I'm loving my gym and can't wait until the basement is finished and I have my own Gym area where I have my own weights, my own bench, all my own stuff. Today while at the Gym I did my Yoga class which I love, then went to go do some free weights. Well, everything was taken. All the benches were being used, all the floor space was being used. A hulk of a guy was on the leg press, another guy was doing squats, guys were doing pull ups, lat pull downs. So everything was busy. I hate waiting for the equipment. I hate standing around with all the hulks, ( me looking like a little waif) then having to sneak in grab my little weights, or change what they were doing and workout. But I really like my gym. So to get my life back on line and my body back from winter and surgery. ( oh that's a whole story of it own). I'm going to start a new program. With my knee acting up, I feel that I have not built enough muscle in my legs to keep things running in the right tracks and feeling a lot of muscle fatigue while running. I'm hoping that working on certain muscles groups, I'll be able to run much better. But I guess only time will tell. So today, I'm trying to eat cleaner, ( not that I ate horribly but, everyone can improve), trying to eat more regularly, and drinking lots of water ( which I'm already good at, yay for me). Also the muscles groups that I worked on today was chest/triceps. The work out was great. But I was feeling very week and I could not lift what I wanted. But baby steps, Rome was not built in a day.

So today was yoga. love the class. I love feeling stretched, calm and in control of my body. Although most times I'm sure my limbs are every where. Then off to weights.

So I'm doing 3 sets of 12, with a minute break between sets first to build up muscle endurance.

 

Wide set push ups.

Dumb bell bench press.

Cable bench flys

Narrow push ups

Standing Dumbbell triceps extension

Triceps push downs.

 

Needless to say. I think my max weight was 12 lbs (now to you see why I hate waiting around for the equipment. Sorry He-Man, I'm going to have to take your weight of 300 lbs down to 12, but you can have it when I'm done.) But I feel soooo much better when I push my body (yes 12 lbs was a push, hehe).

 

So if you are interested I will be posting my daily workouts, yoga classes, and maybe some clean eating ideas. 

Here is a little something that I love, that a dear friend has up in her house.

" Keep your eye on the prize and your hand on the plow"

Have a great day my friends. 

 

 

Friday

I woke up with a smile on my face, just giddy with anticipation to greet the day. Hahaha, ya right! I stumbled out of bed, making sure that I did step on the child that now thinks my room is way cooler then hers. (She's on the floor, cause for some strange reason, sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor is way better then sleeping in a nice soft bed with a comforter, but what ever gets them to go to sleep sometimes.) I go look in the mirror, really at that early in the morning I don't even know why I bother. It's not like I'm going to see anything amazing. Ok, maybe my hair. Since I chopped it all off, I have some of the best frankenstien bedhead in the world. After that shock in the morning I make sure all the little ones doors are closed because or some reason the older ones, ( who are up getting ready for school already) think that they need every light on in the house. Now, I do admit that when I have to go down stairs and it is dark out, I turn on every light also, but I also turn them off when I leave the room. So I methodically, like a zombie, cause they are soooo methodical, turn off all the lights that are now blinding me ( remember just woke up). Down the stairs I go hoping not to fall, get the older ones lunches packed. Yup I still do that. Try to get them to hurry up and get ready. Then when it is my week to drive car pool off we go. The older kids looking pretty good for that early and me well I'm in jammies, with Frankenstein hair. I'm sure my kids are mortified every time that I drive, but that is way to early to look pretty. Then back home again, jiggity jog, to get the other set of children out the door with hair brushed, and clean faces. Most of the time I'm just happy with clean faces. They are off, the youngest and I get to hang out and do well jobs around the house, go workout ( for my sanity) and try to do something productive. Some days we are really good at it, today well not so hot. Kids will start filing home with wonderful stories to tell of all there adventures. I wont hear any of it cause trying to get the daily happenings from school out of a teenager is like to trying to pry open an oyster that is dead set on you not getting in. So my days look like nothing that TV portrays, or that that I even thought it would be like. But I like it. I like the challenge, I like the smiles I get from the kids, I like the satisfaction of doing something. Hence I don't do things that often, I don't want that excitement to seem common place. HAHAHA! Nope I think that I live a pretty charmed life.

Oh see look how productive. ( That was not today, I'm too tired to be productive today, but that is Gluten free bread that was really good. I'll post the recipe and step by step)

Running ...

Yuck! I think that I have runners knee. Now if I tell Daddy Warbucks, he will just say stop diagnosing yourself and take it easy. Take it easy! How on earth do I do that. I have signed up for a race here in town that is one of the hilliest races. Plus it is 13.1 miles. I have done it before but this times seems like I'm brand new to this running thing. I can tell you that I am not. Am I the best and fastest runner no, but I'm steady and it has kind of come to define me. I feel that I'm letting myself down if I do not do this run. Mentally and physically I don't want to do it. Why the heck did I sign up? Oh I know they have a pretty good pre-race bag. Man those goodie bags they give at races. Plus I like the big bling hanging around my neck. So I probably just need to suck it up and run the silly race. Last time I ran a 1/2 marathon, I had plantar faciatus, ( totally spelt that wrong, but you get the picture. I'm just to lazy to get the right spelling so sorry) I taped up my foot, downed some painkillers and went off to the races. I probably will do that with this one. Or just go get the goodie bag and not worry about the actual running part. HAHA! So to try to get me motivated and healing, I will post some of my running photos. Don't worry there are not a lot.

 The top ones are from running the hills by my house. I have respectfully named the biggest " Brutus". I think about him every time I step out of my front door for a run. One day Brutus I will conquer and it will be sweet.

 The windiest race I have ever ran in my life. And I got a stupid glass instead of a medal. I felt so ripped off. Until I realized "Hey this cup is actually a pretty good size". Now it is my water cup everyday. 8 of these babies everyday.

Last but no least. These pretty ladies, the socks look good too. Haha. No really I bought some compression socks to see if it helped any with my sore legs. They seem to cramp up in the calf every time I run. So I wear these sweet things and hopefully it will help.
Well with that said I need to go for a run now. Actually I need to ice and do some leg extensions for this silly runners knee and hopefully get everything tracking in time for the race, in 3 weeks. I'll keep you posted about how the running thing is going. Time to go and tend to the zoo and other things in the house that I am procrastinating doing. Like running.

clean and simple

clean and simple by jamiemonster featuring majestic tees

Firetrap cotton cardigan
$54 - houseoffraser.co.uk

Majestic tee
$77 - zalando.co.uk

River island
$38 - riverisland.com

Lanvin slip on shoes
net-a-porter.com

clothes

clothes by jamiemonster featuring knit tops

Strenesse sleeveless top
$235 - veryeickhoff.com

Karen Millen knit top
karenmillen.com

Lanvin bow skirt
net-a-porter.com

Nicholas Kirkwood multi colored shoes
kirnazabete.com

Mint necklace
shopsosie.com

just for fun

just for fun by jamiemonster on polyvore.com

spring dress

spring dress by jamiemonster featuring floral cocktail dresses

Coast floral cocktail dress
$230 - coast-stores.com

Valentino mid heels
mytheresa.com

Aqua earrings
fornash.com

Maison Boinet genuine leather belt
barneys.com

relaxed

relaxed by jamiemonster featuring a vintage leather messenger bag

British flag t shirt
oasap.com

Abercrombie & Fitch skinny fit jeans
abercrombie.com

Converse star pumps
$58 - swimwear365.co.uk

Vintage leather messenger bag
etsy.com

Why did no one tell me this...

Have you ever had those moments when you think you should have known something that everyone seems to know about. But you were never told. Ahhhh, I had one of those moments today. Why has no one ever told me about...

1. A 13 yr old girl can be really sassy, yet can also be your best friend.

2. Even when little boys are trying to be tough, they are the sweetest most sensitive little men.

3. Never lick a metal pole when it is really cold outside. ( haha I never did that but saw it ouch)

4. No matter who much you tell them children will still put clean laundry in the dirty pile.
5. If there is no rest for the wicked, and the righteous are always working. I'm always in either way going to be tired.
6. Rice pudding is so good. I'm totally addicted.
7. Motherhood is very hard. Would I change it for the world? Never
8. Taking a bubble bath really does wonders.
9.  Family is closest thing to heaven. Even if they do drive you bonkers.
10.You can do anything you really put your mind to.

One thing that I just loved today was the finding of this wonder little nugget of gold. A wonderful blog ( well I have stalked her for awhile now), that links to this beauty right here. I'm just amazed that no one told me about this. I'm excited to read some of the books they link up. The articles, that seem to inspire women to do their very best. Not what someone else or society says is the best.

I'm inspired by the Mommy retreats. How I would love to have a group of my favorite moms come together and help lift, teach, laugh and cry with. I would love that, I would come away with just a great feeling. There is so much to learn from each other, we have so much to share. Why did no one tell me about this. I love it. I know that maybe this with other things in my life that I'm striving to do better with will get me to the top of that mountain that I so want to climb. I'm yearning to gaze down from the peak and see the great creations for what they are. To see them from the true perspective that they were made for. Then in turn, help pull those around me up so they too may become breathless at the glory and beauty of all that there is. I'm so excited, I pray that I will continue my excitement even when in the deepest trenches of motherhood.

The dreaded BUDGET!

Well I thought that I had everything in control today. My ship was sailing very smoothly along the sea of life. The breeze gentle and sweet as it pushed my little vessel closer to serenity, being lulled into a false sense of peace. Oh, how the sea of life is fickle. I opened my eyes and realized that I was in the middle of a horrible storm. I was being tossed like a toy boat in a bathtub of very exuberant children. I was on the edge of drowning.

 I am the worst at keeping a budget. No I should really say that I can have a budget, I just don't stick to the budget. I have tried so many different ways of staying on task, always being ahead of the game. But alas the game changes ( ok really it doesn't but it makes me feel better). New players are added and I'm still in the corner trying to figure out the rules. I scream "UNCLE", I don't like this game, I want out. Why can't we just get everything we want? Why do I have to save, to watch were my money goes ( usually down in the belly of the Zoo animals), and suffer defeat after every shopping trip. I always come home from grocery shopping feeling beaten. Those darn sale racks at Target, they get me every time. ( like the cute blue skirt I just picked up, oh drat there's my problem)

There are sooooo many things in this world that I would love to have. But I  must try to  be a good steward of the blessings given. I wish that there was some magic potion, or maybe a money dance. An app ( oh there is probably one for that, I would just forget to use it), a club that would follow me around and whack me on the head when thinking of going over budget. An easy fix. But as we all know life is not easy. Money is a wild beast that needs to be tamed or it will eat you alive.

 

 

So the plan is that I will work my very hardest to keep the beast at bay. I will put my all into keeping my budget. I will, I will, I will. ( Until the next trip to Target, they will have shoes on sale! HAHA)

I'm going to win this twisted game if it is the last thing that I do.

I was as shocked as you to find this little puppy hiding in my wallet. Isn't that a bummer when finding a $1.00 in your wallet makes you happy. Probably 'cause it does not happen very often in my purse. Hip Hip Hooray!



Daddy Warbucks Birthday!

Daddy Warbucks birthday is usually a day that gets eaten up in the daily running of life. He works all day, supporting his family, then comes and helps take care of the house. So today we gave Daddy a special day. He still had to work but we tried to give him what he really wanted. A tidy clean house ( with 5 zoo animals, it is really hard to keep things tidy yikes) and a delicious meal that would warm his heart.

Our family tradition is that on the day of the birthday the birthday boy/girl gets to pick what is for dinner. It can be anything. One birthday we had a pancake bar, and another we went to McDonald's. ( Yup the child wanted fries!). This is what Daddy Warbucks picked. A dish made for him while he was on his mission. Chicken Couscous! ( good thing he bought me a french cookbook)

 

 

I felt so french as I went to the supermarket ( ok that part is not very french) to pick out my fresh ingredients. I even dressed for the occasion. A striped black and white shirt, scarf, skinny jeans, and red lips. ( I know only missing the beret). Anyway the ingredients look so lovely and welcoming. They call out come and eat me.

 

The spices alone I could have eaten on their own. It looked so festive for fall the colours the aroma. Oh my, my house smelled like heaven. ( not that I really know what that smells like.)

 

Of course like any good french dish, there is butter. Oh glorious butter. Everything is better with butter. It just melts so smoothly and looks like gold. How could this dew from heaven be so bad. Oh my friends, butter is glorious.

 

Sorry just a cooking picture. Oh look at all the spices, the butter the fresh chicken. If I had the ability to blog smells you too would be in heaven with me.

 

This is why the french can use so much butter. Look at all the vegetables that they use. And not just your usual suspects. Leeks!!! I have never cooked with a  leek, my world has changed.

 

 

Dinner is served!

 

 Daddy Warbucks said that it was one of his best birthdays that he ever had. The house was clean, ( thank you my little Zoo), dinner was amazing ( thank you the french nation), and the company excellent ( thank you well, me haha). We had fun, ate by candle light until it got too dark that we could not see our food, spoke what little french that we know. Daddy Warbucks thought it was pretty entertaining since he is fluent, ate our amazingly delicious dinner with bread and cheese on the side and listened to french music in the background.

Best Birthday Ever.

( I have a feeling I just set the bar a little too high for next year, oh drat!)

Ahhhh!

 

Halloween in done. Phew, it's hard getting ready for Halloween. Kids getting costumes ready then at the last minute changing ideas. ( urg, I hate when then they do that, I'm sure that's the way my mom felt). Ok where were we, right the changing of costumes last minute, then the face painting. Don't get me wrong I do like doing that part, but getting it off is a bear. So let's say costumes are done, ( but we all know that there is going to be a last, last minute change, happens every year). Then buying the candy. Yikes!!!! This is the part that I really hate. The reason I hate this part is because.... I end up having absolutely no self control. I eat so much candy. I know I admit it I have a Halloween candy addiction. The problem is that this candy isn't really even the good candy..

 

 

( This used to be over flowing, and I wont tell you how many times it was filled)

 So by the time the big Trick or Treat day arrives, I have already eaten almost my weight in candy. Now are you getting why I think Halloween is so hard. Let's not even get started on decorating the house. That's a totally different post that I don't think I want to write. Only so many skeletons from my closet come out on this blog.

But by the time the nigh has ended, I'm glad that we go through all the headache and toothaches. The Zoo had so much fun. Trout was getting kind of old for the trick or treating so she walked with the littles and the littles friends around the community. She was a great big helper. Monster got to go out with his buddies. He had so much fun and figured out a system on how to get as much candy as he possibly could. He ran the whole time. Daddy Warbucks and I got to sit with some good friends in the driveway and handed out candy. The night was filled with ghosts and ghouls, princesses and fairies, some tricks ( more treats for me, I know I have a problem) and lots of laughter. Look forward to next year.

 

 

Now time for Thanksgiving and of course Christmas!!

Sorry took a break.

  Sorry, took a break for a while. I'm going to say that I conscientiously took the break but lets be honest. Because that is what I do here. I totally didn't blog. Sorry. But I did have great photo opportunities and tried so hard to get the pictures but I can't find my battery charger for my camera. I left it on and now battery dead. Yikes. So you will just have to imagine what it was like in our home. BUSY!

With all the activities that the "Zoo" is part of, man it keeps me at the gas station on regular intervals. I should probably just have a spot reserved just for me. Sheesh!

My In-laws just left and the house has been really quite. Bug is wondering around looking for something to do. Grandma read to her for a whole month ( yes, at least someone is.). Played Candyland,( you all know how much I loooove that game). And just generally showered the little one with as much love as a little person can hold. The rest of the kids mourn their leaving but they have things that they have to get doing so there is really no longing like the Bug, who is all alone with her mom. Boring!

Other then that, nothing else really happened. Trunk or Treat was on Saturday and all the kids, ( including the ones over 18) had fun. There were some really good costumes this year. But really there are some really creative people out there and they really showed up for Halloween. Me well I'm lucky that I got all 5 dressed with full makeup, chili, and me cleaned up from my run, and to the church in time for the festivities. They had a blast and I'm still looting candy from their pillow cases. ( Yup we go old school, no fancy bags here, you get more candy when you use a pillow case. Plus, yes we can all say it, I'm cheap.)

 

 

 

What else has happened. Training again for a 15km. Couldn't do the 1/2 marathon this year so the 15km will have to do. Running with a friend so it'll be fun.

 

 

 

 

 Did laundry today and a Yoga class. It was fun. The instructor is leaving come this Wednesday. Sad, I really liked him. He was good. Not a lot of crazy stuff that I can never get my body into and if I do get into the position, stuff that I will never get out of. He calls it more of an athletic yoga. It's good, good stretching, strength and balance, I will be sad when he leaves. Hopefully, the new instructor will be just as good. ( By the way, I wish this was me, but in reality my face would be smooshed into the ground and the rest of my body piled in a heap behind it. But one can always dream.)

 

 

 

So what am I grateful for today. Remember I wrote a while ago that I was going to find something, any thing in the day that I was grateful for. Well, I did, I'm grateful for Sunday teachers that study and pray about their lessons. That teach with the Spirit, it made all the difference yesterday. It was a feast that filled my soul, one that makes my spirit and body want for more. That is what I'm grateful for today. Have a great Monday, I know so far I have.

Something quick.

Ok nothing really big to write about. Today was just like any other day. Waking up before the sun rise to get kids ready for school. Then reading my scriptures ( I try to do it when the house is quite, you know the time, right before everyone wakes up.) Most times I'm really just sleeping on the scriptures hoping that maybe by laying my head on them I'm getting some kind of spiritual nourishment. Then the rest of the day chores, dishes, laundry, dishes, laundry, sweeping, dishes, laundry. I'm sensing a pattern here. Did yoga that was a nice break until I thought I broke something. I don't think bodies are really supposed to bend that way. Anyway, for such a short post this is turning into a very long drawn out play by play of my day. So I was just going to add something for those that are looking for a little pick me up. No matter what you are facing right now. What trial may be at your doorstep or passed over the threshold into your life. I think that we need to remember this.

"When life is hard, remember-we are not the first to ask, "Is there no other way?"

                                                                                 Jeffery R. Holland



A blustery day!

Ohhhhhh! The wind is whipping. The temperature starting to drop. The trees are shuddering with the thought of another winter. The animals are in a feeding frenzy, trying to get as much stored on their bodies before the first glistening white flakes dance and twirl in the sky. So with this blustery day what would we find that is good. Oh let me tell you.

 

 

Watching people run from their cars to the store fronts. With their hair whipping and waving as the wind's fingers run through their hair. Smelling the crisp smells of fall. The sharpness of the cold, as you take a quick inhale of fresh air.

The twisting and shuddering of leaves before they are blown from their posts on the trees. The colours that nature provides to remind us that even when the death of winter is coming, there is always great beauty no matter what may be. This has to be one of my most favorite times of the year. The colours, the brisk cool air, the smell of the first frost hanging in the breeze. The warm sweaters, the cute boots, the warm hot chocolate that not only warms the belly but also the soul. The rosey cheeks and red tipped noses of those little ones we love as they run in the house from the bus stop. Playing in piles and piles and piles of leaves with no care in the world. Yes I love Fall. One of my most favorite times of the year.

 

 

 What do you like about Fall?

Gratitude!

So this week is another busy week. Really just today. Today is the day that I found the fountain of youth. Well not right now but 9 years ago I did find that mysterious, and ellusive way to stay young forever. Time and age has unfortunatly not figured this out, as wrinkles are still making their marks. Grey hair is sneaking its way into my life, joints are aching and well as I found out a couple of days ago, my body is not as limber as it used to be. ( Not making a full rotation while doing a back roll will let your body know pretty quick how unlimber you really are.)

 

But this day I stay 26 forever. This day another animal in the crazy zoo made her appearence. This day which is the day that I graced the world with my little light, another was sent on the same day to grace with the world with her enormous flame.

Everyone says what a great gift, this is the best gift to ever have, a child that shares your birthday. Somthing that will always connect us. Now it is the best gift I ever did recieve on my birthday, but at the moment of birth, I was not really thinking that.

 

She is an amazing little kangaroo. She brings such joy and a calm spirit into our house. She is quite, she is soft spoken, she is shy and she is a snuggler. Like all my children she is strong, she knows what is right and what she wants.She follows the promptings of the Holy Ghost. She is a wonderful girl. Today that is what I'm grateful for. My own little Fountain of Youth.

 

Ok here's the secert. Subtract our ages and I'm always 26!!!!