Mom's Little Running Buddy

Take That Pinterest: Message Board + Giveaway Winners

2012-02-21T09:39:00.000-08:00

I'm on a little break from school till early March and I planned on taking full advantage of it by accomplishing some of the MANY projects on my Pinterest boards. I'm happy to report that I've just completed my second project. S and I desperately needed someplace where we could leave notes and reminders so I found this idea on pinterest. Luckily I could buy the lettering for $12 from SomeWhatSimple saving TONS of time and hassle. Then it was just a matter of putting it all together.

Source: somewhatsimple.com via Katie on Pinterest

I found a frame at Michael's on clearance for $15. It was an 11x14 size.

I used the board I have to cut fabric on to turn the frame into a big graph. It made it SOOO easy to keep lines straight and measure exactly how much space I would need for the different parts of it.

Then just like the directions said, I used a sharpie and old school ruler to draw the lines. It went really quick. Then I just cut the vinyl out and stuck it on.

Finally, I had some left over fabric which I just added to the inside of the frame and ta-da, done! I can also change the fabric out to give it an entirely different look if I want. I think it turned out great. We are going to hang it right inside the house as you come in from the garage.

What do you think? I'm still figuring out what the next project is. So much to do, so little time.

Also, our FishFoam winners, chosen at random are:

Kathie

JaTara

OffBeatMammal

Celebrate Fitness Winner:

JaTara

Please send me your mailing address and email addresses to momslittlerunningbuddy at gmail.com and we can coordinate the prizes.

Weekend Recap: Pinterest Projects, Bloggers and Tantrums

2012-02-19T20:42:00.000-08:00

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I don't even know where to start in recapping this weekend. It was busy to say the least. We spent our Saturday hanging out with family. Before we met up with them, we had a chance to get a run in. We got all bundled up and headed out. I'm so thankful E loves the stroller still.

I also got some supplies to work on one of the MANY Pinterest projects I've been wanting to do. I got to do one of those Rag Wreaths. Here's the inspiration:

I bought 1 yard of 5 different fabrics (3 pattern and 2 solid color). I cut them into 1 x 5 in strips and just started tying knots onto a 12 in metal frame. I only tied to 3 of the four wires on the frame. All said, the project costs about $25 but was definitely a lot of fun to make. I think it looks great on our black door.

On Sunday, E and I met with some fellow bloggers that I've been dying to meet. I took my camera and was hoping to get some great photos of a great afternoon but all of a sudden the toddler tantrums reared their ugly head and we were forced to end our afternoon early. I did get to meet them and I really wish I had more time.

Michelle over at: http://confessionsofarecipejunkie.com/
Madeline over at: http://www.foodfitnessandfamilyblog.com/
Kristen over at: http://theconcreterunner.com/

I'm in dire need of some help here. E is 16 months old and I swear he's 2. His tantrums are terrible and I'm not sure how to get him to stop. He refuses to listen to me. He wants to do what he wants when he wants. If that means standing in his high chair at a restaurant so be it. I try to tell him no, to sit but it doesn't work. I end up pulling him out of the restaurant where I try to reason with him. Yeah, not a good approach. Does anyone have any recommendations? Any books I can read? I'm getting really frustrated. I can't do anything without feeling anxious about the tantrum that is most likely about to happen.

Does anyone do time out at this age? How do you do it? We try to do something where I just hold him until he settles down but I have to admit his desire to persevere is strong.

As Seen On TV: Celebrate Fitness and MomsLRB

2012-02-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday E and I had a big day. We were on TV!! We were promoting a charity event I do in St. Louis called Celebrate Fitness.

Shameless Plug - if you haven't registered yet, go to www.celebrate-fitness.org and register. Space is filling up!

Anyway, when we got to the studio, E was pretty clingy. Even with Nana there, he wouldn't let go. He was spooked by all the chaos. We had a friend and her son come along and help with the segment. Before we went on, we had some nice quiet moments reading books and ransacking the diaper bag. Then we were mic'ed up and ready to go. Strollers in tow, we headed to the LONG hallway where they wanted to talk about the event then do a stroller race (not exactly sure why) to promote the event. Either way, we had a ton of fun. E ended up being pretty good during the shoot itself. I even thought I saw some shyness in him. By the end of it, I was wondering who took my son and when do I get him back?

Want to see? Only if you promise not to laugh.

Fox 2 Celebrate Fitness Segment

Celebrate Fitness - Entry Giveaway

2012-02-15T19:48:00.000-08:00

If you're in the St. Louis area or are looking to take a road trip, why not get involved in an amazing event, support a great cause and get a good workout in with 1200 or so of your friends.

Celebrate Fitness is on March 10, 2012 at the Washington University Field house (Doors open at 7:00, Event start at 8:30) and allows you to sweat it out by participating in a 90 minute workout of your choice:

Bootcamp
Yoga
Zumba/Hip-Hop
Water Aerobics
1M Fun Walk
5K/10K (10K is new this year)

Who's invited to attend?
This event is open to all (Men, Woman, Families) and teams are highly encouraged. Prizes are awarded to the teams that raise the most money.

Why am I giving away a free entry?
I personally have had many family members touched by cancer and I'd love nothing more than to never see someone suffer from it again. This funds from this event go to support research and education at the Siteman Cancer Center.

Because of my connection to this terrible disease and my love of everything fitness, I decided to get involved. I sit on the organizing committee and I couldn't be more proud to do so.

What's new this year?
I'm excited to introduce a 10K to the event lineup this year and to celebrate, I'm giving away a free entry to the event ($30 value). A winner will be picked at random on February 20th.

In addition to our top finishers in the 5K and 10K race, we'll also have awards for the top finishers in the Stroller division (for those of us that take our little ones with us everywhere).

What's in it for you?
For $30, you get your registration paid for, participation into the event of your choice, and a highly coveted goody bag or tech t-shirt. (No really, these goody bags are amazing and always filled with lots of goodies). Mine is still one of my favorite bags but every year it's different.

You get to entertained in the opening ceremonies, get to take advantage of the complimentary massage services, do some shopping and get to enjoy being around 1200 of your closest friends. The atmosphere is electric and I'll personally welcome you to the event, when you get there if you let me know you signed up. I'd love to meet you!

If you can't wait to till the 20th to find out if you're a winner, head on over to Celebrate-Fitness.org and sign up. Hurry! Space is limited and events will fill up quickly!

How do you enter the giveaway?

1. Leave a comment telling me which event you'd participate in.

2. Follow Celebrate Fitness @CelebrateFitnes on Twitter and leave a comment letting us know you've done it (with your twitter name).

3. Follow me @momslrb on Twitter and leave a comment letting us know you've done it (with your twitter name).

4. Tweet the following:

I registered for a chance to win a free entry to @CelebrateFitnes on March 10th at Wash U in #STL from @momslrb. Check it out!

5. Update your Facebook Status with the following, then leave us a comment and your Facebook URL:

I registered for a chance to win a free entry to CelebrateFitnes on March 10th at Wash U in St. Louis over at Momslittlerunningbuddy.com. Giveaway ends January 12th, go check it out.

Product Review & Giveaway: Fish Foam Glass Cleaner

2012-02-13T20:59:00.000-08:00

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The last thing I want to do is clean. I hate it. Ask my husband, he does 90% of the cleaning in our house. When I was asked to review a glass cleaner I struggled with whether or not I was right person to do it. Then I realized I was EXACTLY the right person to do it. Why? Because when I clean, I want it to be done right. I don't want to have to go back over it. I have miles to run and cleaning better not get in the way.

So I signed up and ordered the 3 pack of Fish Foam (I love the name) and it within a couple days arrived at my door. By the way, you can only purchase this product online. I was amazed by how much I received. The 3 pack costs $13.95. I'm pretty sure I (or my husband) could clean every glass surface in my house and the cars for the next 6 months. Below I'm trying to illustrate how big these cans are. Thats the economy size jar of peanut butter. Yeah, that big!

Then I set out to clean.

Benefit #1...One of my biggest pet peeves with spray glass cleaners is that you spray and by the time you've reached for the rag, it's dripped down the mirror and all over the frame or whatever is under it. Since this is a foam spray, that is no longer an issue. I even cleaned the inside of my car windshield!

Benefit #2...Since it comes in a three pack, I can put a can in each bathroom and one in the kitchen. That makes it easier for me to keep the toddler hand prints and the dog nose prints away.

Benefit #3...It smells awesome! I love when you can smell the clean.

Benefit #4...It cleans amazingly. I tried to get a picture of the before and after but I'm just not that good of a photographer. Take my word for it. Where there use to be toddler finger prints there is now sparkly pretty glass.

So here's the deal, Fish Foam wants 3, of my readers to try it. Yep, 3. So you better enter!!!

Winners will be randomly selected next Monday...February 20th so hurry and enter.

You've got so many chances to win. Here's how:
1. Leave a comment telling us what you'd clean with it.
2. Pin it! There's a button at the top and leave a comment letting me know you did.
3. Follow my blog, leave a comment letting me know you did.
4. Follow Fish Foam on Twitter. Leave a comment letting me know you followed.
5. Follow me on Twitter. Leave a comment letting me know you followed.
6. Like Fish Foam on Facebook.
7. Tweet the following and leave a comment letting me know you did.
I just entered the #giveaway to get a free 3 pack of @FishFoam glass cleaner over at @momslrb http://www.momslittlerunningbuddy.com/

Good Luck!
Must be a US resident to win.

Ditch the Fear and Tri

2012-02-11T21:37:00.000-08:00

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The other day at work I was talking to someone who was thinking about entering her first triathlon. Of course, the second I heard that I got excited for her. I'm by no means an amazing triathlete but I love it and when I have the time, training and competing are some of my favorite things to do. Anyway, as we talked, I heard her mention a lot of fears. I realized that she probably wasn't the only one out there thinking of doing a triathlon but won't because of fear. Below is a summary of the things we talked about. Hopefully if you're considering it, these will help you get over the "hump" and try it.

Remember, you can do anything you put your mind to. My mom told me that years ago and I'm sticking with it.

Fear #1..I’m a competitive person. While I don’t expect to come in first place, I don’t want to be dead last.
My take is that if you finish, if you cross the finish line, you've not finished last. You have to remember that finishing a triathlon puts you in elite company. Don't worry about where you finish, push yourself and you'll be happy.

Fear #2...I’m used to swimming in a pool with maybe one or two other people around. Will the water be rocky from other people splashing around and will that throw off my swim? Will everyone else be a better swimmer? Do we share lanes? Not really sure what to expect on this part.
Swimming is by far my weakest leg in a triathlon. I'm just good enough not to drowned and I'm ok with that. Yes, the swim can be difficult; it just depends on the race. There will be better swimmers than you and that's ok. My recommendation is to do your research. Maybe find a race that has a timed individual entry versus everyone going in a group. That should help you avoid some of the confusion and difficulty that comes from swimming in a group.

You can also find a Master's Swim class in your area that will help you get used to swimming in groups. Sadly, I have yet to be able to get my swim fitness back up to where it was. I too have a long way to go. If you jump in, I will too.

Fear #3...I’m not sure how to tie it all together. I’ve swam, biked, and run but not consecutively. Will it be too much all together?

In the beginning it's challenging but what isn't. If you're interested in seeing what it might feel like to do some of these things back to back, head to the gym. Spin for 40 minutes then run for 10 or so. That is the tougher of the two transitions, at least it is for me. It takes a little while for your legs to adjust but they do and you'll settle into a run. When you train, you'll do "brick" workouts which combine a swim with a bike or a bike with a run or sometimes a little of all three. These workouts help you build up to the race.

Fear #4...Will everyone else be a super extreme athlete? I work out almost every day but you never know how you compare to others

Um..no. Not everyone is an extreme athlete. There will be those that are and then there will be those that just look like they are. But for everyone one super extreme triathlete, there will be 5 that are just like you and me...just a regular person who enjoys challenging yourself. If we stay in groups we can defeat the evil super extreme triathletes. Ok, maybe not but they aren't bad people, they are just bad ass. :)

Fear # 5...I’m a little nervous on the biking part. I’ve taken spin classes but haven’t in a few months and I haven’t been on a bike outdoors in a while. What if I get a flat?

I would be lying of I said this isn't a constant concern of mine too. I've luckily never gotten a flat but I see it happen a lot. I'd like to think I'm prepared if it were to happen. I've taken a class at my local bike shop on how to change a flat and when I do get to ride, I always carry the parts I need to change it. It's a little nerve wracking at first but it shouldn't be enough to keep you from riding. Just be prepared, always have a phone, an ID and some cash on you just in case you need it.

Fear #6...Isn’t the swimming first? How do you transition to the other parts? Do you change clothes or just throw on clothes over your suit? Do I wear a wetsuit or is a normal swimsuit ok?

Yes, swim is first. Transitions can be easy depending on how you plan for them. Oh and by the way, planning is the key to a successful triathlon. You have to think about everything you need at the transitions and lay it out so that you can easily get to it. Most triathlon specific clothes are meant to be worn throughout. You swim, bike and run in them. Wetsuits can be worn in open water swims where the water temperature allows. My recommendation is not to get into swimming with wetsuits till you're committed. They are expensive and can take some getting use to.

Finally, what if I get halfway in and want to give up or wonder what I have gotten myself into.
Guess what, you wouldn't be the first to think that. I distinctly remember that moment where I wondered why I was doing this but I did it anyway and am soo glad I did. It's an addicting feeling that you'll never regret. Pain only last for a short time, that feeling of accomplishment lasts forever. Suck it up! You'll get through it. If it makes you feel any better, one time, I actually had to walk my bike on a course. It was extremely hilly and my legs just wouldn't do it. No matter what you'll finish and you might even meet some amazing people along the way.

You can do it!!

5 Ways To Get The Most From A Massage

2012-02-06T21:25:00.000-08:00

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I had an extremely rough day at work today and decided that after a good workout, the best thing I could do to end the day would be to go get a massage. I found a place that has 9:00 appointments and that is perfect for me.

While I was sitting in the "relaxation lounge" I started thinking about all the things that I could do to make this massage great. I came up with 5 and I thought I'd share them. They might sound pretty obvious but sometimes you just have to hear it. Remember, while you're there, that time is all for you.

1. Plan..Whenever possible, try to plan it so that it can be followed by additional relaxing activities. For me its right before bed. I come home, take a shower and snuggle in for some good quality sleep free of any tension I might have been holding on to. Hopefully I sleep as soundly as E does.

2. Warm Up..So this might be my inner athlete coming out but it's true. I try to arrive at least 10 minutes before the massage, not to fill out paper work but to create a buffer from the busy day that was and the massage that I'm about to get. I enjoy some peppermint tea and just sit. I try not to think of anything.

3. Communicate..The masseuse is there for you. I know it can be hard to correct someone but if they aren't giving you the pressure you need or are too firm, you MUST let them know. Doing so will ensure you get the most out of your time.

4. Clear Your Mind..This is by far the toughest for me but it has to be done. For that hour I try to think of NOTHING but the muscle group that is currently being focused on. I try to make sure that I'm not tensing in other areas of my body and I breathe. Very Deeply. I also try to visualize the nasty toxins leaving my body with every move.

5. Hydrate..Massage can be very detoxifying which is great but in order to take full advantage it, you have to drink lots of water to help your body flush out the impurities. I try to drink at least 16 oz as soon as I can. As I sit here, an hour afterward, I'm still drinking my H20. I don't get them that often so I plan on getting all that I can out of my massage.

Ok, so there you have it. Hopefully, you'll remember these little nuggets next time you get the chance. What do you think?

Fitness Printable Fun..

2012-02-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

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I got asked if I'd put my At Work Fitness Moves into a consolidated printable. I'm all for making things easy to get to so I did it. Enjoy!

At Work Workout: Link to Printable

What other fitness tools would help you achieve your fitness goals? Let me know and I'll put something together for you!

Half Marathon #10..It's On!

2012-01-30T19:43:00.000-08:00

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I'm linking up to Food Fitness and Family. She's an awesome fitness blogger who also has plans to run the same half. She's going to rock it too!

I've signed up for the Go! St. Louis Half Marathon and I'm so excited to have a goal (date) to work towards.

I picked a training plan than jazzed it up a little. I used Hal Higdon's Novice program and then customized it for my schedule. Hopefully if you're prepping for an event like this and are using an out of the box training plan you are making adjustments based on your restrictions,etc.

I realized a while back that these types of plans are a great starting point but to try to follow it exactly didn't work for me. After all, Hal doesn't know what my constraints are. He only knows what I need to do to successfully run a half but by modifying it to suite my schedule, Hal and I become a winning team.

So I wanted to show you how I modified it.
Before...

After...

First, I added my weight workouts back in. I know it looks a little lopsided but I have found that my workouts at the beginning of the week are always stronger so I want to make sure I get as much in by Wednesday as possible.

Also, I'm not afraid to switch my Saturday and Sunday workouts if need be. With School, there are days when I need to do group work on Sundays and that will mean that long runs need to be done on Saturday.

Now that I've got my plan figured out, I schedule it EVERYWHERE. I added to my outlook calendar at work, I pencil it in to my day planner and add it to my iPhone. Hell, I even print it and put it on my cubicle wall.

Then it's time to get my workout on! I'm so excited to have a plan. I feel much more focused when I do.

Are you training for anything? How did you put your plan together?

15 Month Update -Doctors, Hockey, Toys and Hair

2012-01-26T10:39:00.000-08:00

I figured after that heavy post about regret, I'd turn things around a little bit and show you some adorable E pictures. After all, this blog did start as a way to give family an update on how he was doing.

E is 15 months now and continues to make us laugh. The things he does are just hilarious and scary at the same time.

His new thing has been to climb up on the ottoman that's in front of the couch and LEAP off it onto the couch. He thinks this is great fun. I, on the other hand, just see this as the precursor many other dare devil type activities which I'm sure are bound to give me a head full of grey hairs. I've been trying to get a video of it. I'm confident that I will succeed.

He also seems to have a bit of my klutzy tendencies. He was playing last night before bed when I captured this sweet little video. The end of the video is hilarious. Totally something I would do.

Last week we had his 15 Month doctors appointment and as always, I'm instructed to get him undressed down to his diaper. In past months, he'd sit patiently on my lap, wrapped up in a blanket. Not this time. As you can see, it was all about rearranging the office and climbing on whatever he could find. He did get a shot which upset him for all of about 5 minutes then he was fine.

The other major event of the weekend was the haircut we tried to give him. I don't have pictures of that because I was too busy trying to keep his hands out of the way of the stylist. Terrible! You would've thought I was going to let her cut his ear off. We only got the sides done. Until yesterday, the top was still long enough to Mohawk.

After I had tortured my son with a haircut, I figured we should make it up to him with a run to the yogurt place. That is where I learned a new technique for eating yogurt. For those times when just one spoon isn't enough, E introduced us to the two spoon method.

E's eating habits are picky at best. I continue to try an array of things but his favorites right now are edemmame, pears, string cheese and turkey.

We are also working on turning the cute adorable gibberish that we have now into words. He's saying easy things like Ba-Ba and Dada but I can't get him to say much more. He knows though. I told him that if he wanted to get in the bath he had to take his shirt off and he immediately tried lifting it up over his head. We will get there.

Yesterday, I came home from work to find that S had decided to try to correct E's bad haircut. This is the best picture I could get yesterday but if you can tell, he got a buzz cut. All that pretty hair is gone. Oh well, it will grow back.

Here's the before:

I am having so much fun as a mom. He lights up my day in a way no one else can (S comes in a close second). I'm such a lucky lady to have two great guys.

Here's the after:

Regret can be a Strangely Motivating Thing

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

My motivation for this post is coming from the pressures of school that I'm feeling right now. There are only a handful of things I regret. I can say that honestly because I've tried to live my life with the motto of no regrets. I don't want to look back and wish I would've made a different choice.

I thought about it a lot for this post and really and truly just a couple things. The reason I bring it up is to help you see that doing this kind of assessment is not only good, but motivating as well. It's good because there comes a time when you have to learn a lesson and just let it go but getting to that point, at least for me, was tough. I thought I'd share a couple of my stories to help you get started...

College Volleyball..I loved (and still do) volleyball.
In high school it was, by far, my favorite sport. I loved it so much that it was my one and only goal when talk of college came up (did I mention I don't think I was great?). None the less, I ended up going to my local Junior college for 2 years and walked on their team.

In two years, I went from walk on to a stating setter (an accomplishment I still take a little pride in) to a highly recruited prospect. (I know...you're asking where the regret comes into play? Don't worry, it's coming).

Anyway, I again, became very short sighted by only wanting to play for, what I considered, a good division 1 school even though there were a handful of amazing schools that I could've gone to. I made my choice and trained all summer as prescribed by my coach. Once preseason started I was beyond excited and physically prepared. What I wasn't prepared for was the mental toughness I would need. I was playing on a level unlike any I had ever experienced. (to illustrated, the coach would make us watch game film of the Chinese national team which at the time was on top). I wasn't prepared. The pressure became too much and I cracked. The team tried to help, I got a sports phycologist but it was too late. I went running home with my tail between my legs and it's bothered me ever since. This is one scenario that I usually don't even like to talk about because I'm embarrassed. In the time since this has happened I can look at how I approach a challenge and see positives and negatives of this experience coming through.

Fitness Competition...after college I got back into fitness full time through running and weight lifting. I worked out at a gym that was home to an amazing fitness competitor who often talked about the sport with me. So much so that I decided to give it a try. With memories of my volleyball debacle still fresh, I approached it with an optimistic reality. I worked and worked and got to a pivotal point where I felt I had to make a decision.

At the time, I felt that there wasn't room in my life for everything I was doing (technology consultant career)and a fitness career. I made what I thought was the more conservative decision to "retire" (if you can call it that) and focus on my technology career. The part of this decision I regret isn't the decision itself but rather that I couldn't see that with a little flexibility I could've made it work. Hell, today I am juggling a career, a family (toddler included), grad school and charity work. I'm pretty sure I could've done it. But again, now I have to lingering sinking feeling every time I think about it.

So you may ask why do I let some of these memories continue to live on inside my head?

First, I can't get rid of them, they won't go away. They live right next door to my moms voice (aka my voice of reason) and that's where they'll stay. But I prefer it this way.
Every time I want to quit or give up on a goal, I remember how I felt in the scenarios above and that is usually the exact kick in the pants I need to get up and over the hump.

My advice here is if you're holding on to regret, figure out a way to see the silver lining or the lesson you learned that you learned and then file it away only to live on when you need it to.

Use it as a tool to help you reach your goals, not a crutch to fail.

Make sense? How do you deal with regret?

Execuses for NOT Exercising Debunked

2012-01-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

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Earlier this year I had a chance to guest post on MizFitOnline. I think it's worth sharing if it means, you get inspired to head to the gym. Enjoy!
______________________________________

Hi my name is Katie and I can’t work out before 5:30 at night.

All Respond…Hi Katie

That’s right I said it. I can’t get up early and workout like some many other amazing fitness junkies. I tried a few times and it was a complete bust for me. My lungs don’t seem to want to wake up until at least 6:30 a.m.. So that means that I’m forced to SQUEEZE it in sometime after work, but before dinner.

Luckily, my husband is also an evening exerciser so we usually plan to go together and my son E gets to go to the nursery where he plays and makes a mess which someone else gets to clean up. In my mind, it’s a win-win. Between the time I leave work and get to the gym, my mind goes through a series of checkpoints (otherwise known as excuses that are quickly overruled). I thought I’d share those with you to help you get over the hump and get to the gym.

Excuses for not exercising in the evening debunked:

1. Many people will say that “if I don’t go straight from work, I won’t go at all” That’s NEVER been the case for me. Fitness is a priority and always will be. Because of that, I go home, I change, I get my husband and child ready and we all turn right back around and head to the gym. No excuses. So that’s my first recommendation for you: MAKE FITNESS AND YOUR HEALTH A PRIORITY

2. I’ve also heard…”well, by the end of the day I’m exhausted. I don’t have any energy”. Another excuse that can easily be overcome. First off, GO TO BED!! Get your sleep. Sleep is essential to making sure that your day goes smoothly. Secondly, watch what you put in your body throughout the day…If you’re feeding your body lots of artificial sugars then you’re not even giving yourself a fighting chance. Try adding an apple to the mix if you’re looking for something sweet. Refrigerate it if you want something cold. Add some peanut butter for added protein. My second recommendation: EAT TO SUCCEED

3. The third excuse I hear and again, you can work through it is…”I’ve had a terrible day, all I want to do is go home and veg”. UMMM, no! Sorry. When I’ve tried doing this, I’ve found that I just sit and stew about the bad day that was instead of moving on. Work is work is work. When you walk out the door, try to put it all behind you and move on to the next part of your day. Part of what makes fitness great is that no one is going to bite your head off for pushing yourself. Beside the sweat you’ll produce cleanses yourself of the terrible day’s toxins that might have built up. My third recommendation: SWEAT IT OUT!

4. Finally, there are days when you just need some help, some motivation, some energy and some support. My final recommendation: Use social networks (I can be found on Twitter at @momslrb) for motivation, have a quick pick me up (for me it's 5 Hour Energy) and hug someone. Then off you go!!

Now what were you doing again? Head to the gym…it’s waiting for you.

A 5K Training Plan Anyone Can Follow

2012-01-18T10:28:00.000-08:00

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One of the things I'm asked often is "How do I get into running?" When I hear the question, I get that little Mona Lisa smile, and my brain starts cranking away. I have plenty of opinions and advice on this topic as I'm sure most runners do. I've tried to provide the most important nuggets but if you have specific questions, don't be afraid to ask!

Couple key points first:

See a Doctor Please make sure your healthy enough to be engaging in exercise. (Sorry I had to make sure you knew.)
Set A Goal and by that I mean, if you want to do a 5k, find one and SIGN UP. I'm a fan of deadlines. If you know you've committed and spent the money, you're less likely to give up.
Be Optimistic and Realistic. Becoming an avid runner doesn't happen over night. It takes time to build up your mileage. It's important to start every run with a positive attitude but it's even more important to know that you're not going to conquer the running world today. Work hard and celebrate your achievements.
Reward Yourself. Call me selfish but when I do something that I think is worthy, I reward myself. That usually means new workout clothes or shoes. When you set a goal, celebrate when you achieve it. Figure out what your reward will be and you'll probably work that much harder to get it.

Need a little extra motivation? - Check out 5 Reasons why you should do a 5K

8 Week Training Plan - Link to PDF
There are lots of resources out there to find free training plans. I tried creating one that I felt was truly easy to follow but would challenge you in a way that you'd see results.

Ideally, the workouts will be done every other day (Monday, Thursday, Saturday). If you're feeling motivated, add a cross training workout in there too (elliptical at a challenging page/resistance for 30 minutes). Try not to let more than 2 days go between workouts. I'm trying to find the reference but I've read (and I feel it) that you can lose any running fitness you've built up in as little as 2-3 days.

Let me know how this works for you. Hopefully you will have so much success you ask for a marathon training plan!

Happy Running!!

What's For Dinner?

2012-01-15T20:54:00.000-08:00

I promise we'll get back to our regularly scheduled fitness topic soon (I've been trying to get my hubby to help me video a vlog for a while).

I don't know about you but one of the biggest pains of my week is planning the weeks menu. I wrote an post last month about how crazy our week can be which is why planning dinner options is so tough. There are days where we don't get home till almost 8 which means I have 20 minutes to get dinner on the table.

On Sunday, I sit down and scour my brain, the Internet and all my cookbooks for dinner options. Some of my favorite cookbooks are from Pampered Chef, Betty Crocker and Family Circle. There are weeks where I feel like getting crazy and will find something new but usually fall back on one of my guaranteed stand by options. This week I'm trying a new Chicken Noodle Casserole in the February Better Homes and Garden.

Then I make the grocery list and off we go. Usually it's a family affair because S thinks I don't "get anything good" (i.e. junk food) so he and E escort me. This week, S was especially bad, by throwing a couple items into the cart that I think, if you look closely, you can find.

We usually eat pretty well. Most of our meals consist of a lean protein (chicken), veggies (steamed broccoli, salad, green beans) and a start (couscous).

I thought I'd share my list of stand by dinner options in case you're looking for a change. Let me know if you have any ideas I can add. My criteria is that I can prep and cook in 20-30 min and unfortunately, we don't have that sophisticated of a palette, so we have to keep it simple.

Main Dish:

Italian Beef (this is the easiest crock pot recipe, add beef, water and Louie's P&R seasoning packet, when we come home, it's ready).
Flank Steak marinated in McCormick cracked peppercorn
Pasta Roma (Vegetarian,Whole grain pasta (always) and lots of cheese)
Turkey Meatballs, bocconcini and orecchiette
Grilled Chicken Pita with cucumber sauce
Pesto Chicken Pasta
Pot Roast with Carrots, Potatoes and Celery
Italian Turkey Sausage, peppers and pasta
Hamburgers
Sloppy Joe
Unstuffed Geen Peppers
Spaghetti
Grilled Pork Chops
Steak and Potato Spinach Salad
Panko Breaded Chicken Strips

Side Dishes:

Italian Salad
Spinach Salad
Steamed Broccoli with lemon juice
Roasted Rosemary Potatoes
Sauteed Broccoli, carrots and pine nuts
Tomato, Cucumber Salad
Pasta Salad
Tater Tots (Told you we weren't sophisticated)
Flash Steamed Green Beans
Green Beans with Almonds
Couscous
Brown Rice

Ok, I think that's about it. So what's on your stand-by list? How do you plan your meals? Any favorite recipes or meal sites? I'd love to know. If you want any detailed recipes above, let me know through comments and I'll provide. Happy cooking!!

Had to share one of my favorite grocery store memories. This is when E just learned to walk. He was so proud.

Baby Registry Revisited For Moms To Be

2012-01-12T14:20:00.000-08:00

Pin It

E is now almost 15 months old and live changes everyday. I remember before E came around thinking about all the things I thought I would need in order to care for the little guy. I added them to my registry and went along my way. Now that I look back at it, there are some definite winners and losers from the list and somethings that I didn't even think about. I should tell you I'm not getting paid in anyway for mentioning these products. This is from one mother to another.

Big Winner: B.O.B. Stroller

Before I had one, I had heard that you MUST have one. But I knew they were expensive so I questioned it. My family bought us one and I have to say that I LOVE IT. If you are a runner/walker or thinking about becoming one you really should invest in one.

I have more miles on this thing than my bike at this point and it handles every mile like a champ. It's easy to push, easy to control and E seems to really like it. In fact, I think so many pictures of the stroller (and E of course).

Little hint...look on ebay and craigslist. These hold up really well and sometimes you find a deal.

Other Greats:
Medela In Style Breastpump

If you're a breastfeeding mom, I highly recommend Medela's In Style pump. I used it everyday for 9 months. It traveled with me on business trips, we were joined at the hip. I never had any issues with it. Very reliable.

Little hint...I borrowed a pump from my sister in law. I know they say you aren't necessarily supposed to but I wasn't sure if I was having more than one child so I didn't want to invest and she was willing to share (I just bought new pump parts, hoses, etc).
JJ Cole Car Seat Cover:

If you're having a baby in the winter months, this is a MUST. It saves you from having to try to put a coat on them, and get them strapped in. It also does shield them from the elements while keeping them warm and cozy. We loved it!

Arm and Hammer Diaper Pails

This kept E's room smelling odor free all the time. It has a little pocket of Baking Soda that drops down every time you put a diaper in it. Ours has a weird hang up with it closes. It makes a lot of noise and doesn't close smoothly. We even bought a different one and the smell was so bad we went back to this one and just deal with the weird, clunky close.

Boppy Bare Naked Pillow

Can you say awesome? This was so versatile. I used it when I was breastfeeding but also, I used it to allow E to sit up when he wanted to play on the ground or do tummy time with. I highly recommend having one.

Baby Einstein Discovery Center Entertainer - Around the World

E loved this thing. In fact, he still does. He walks up to it and plays around with it still. It's a little pricey but a great toy that can be used long beyond their first year.

Levana Video Baby Monitor

Nest Diaper Bags Hudson Let me preface this. I love my video monitor. I wish I had this one that was color but the one I have is great. I think a video monitor can be used for years. Especially as they grow out of their cribs. My plan is to keep E's setup so I can see what he's doing when he's just playing around or supposed to be taking naps.

Mine has this clamp on the bottom of it that is supposed to secure to the crib but it doesn't stay in the secured position so often times, I found myself looking at the wall. Here's a small clip of what mine can capture. I would love this one which has an eye that just sits on a shelf.

Modified Bath Towel

So this isn't something you can buy at Amazon but it is great. My friend made them for me and I made them for my Sister in Law when she was pregnant. It's a regular bath towel (I picked the softest white towel I could find), with a strong grosgrain ribbon sewn creatively on to the middle of the towel in a loop big enough to put your head through. The reason...it makes it so easy to use both hands to pick up your wet baby and pull him close to you. Saves you from having to lay him down and try to wrap him up.

Nest Diaper Bags

Nothing makes me happier than buying a nice purse but when baby comes along my purses got retired for a while. My husband bought me this diaper bag and I LOVE it. It's huge and doesn't look like a diaper bag.

Buy yourself a nice diaper bag. It makes a mommy happy. Might I suggest the Nest Diaper bags? If I could, I'd own every one of them.

Hmm..wonder if they need a bloggy spokesperson. Doubt they need my help.

Not So Greats:

First Years Bottle Warmer

For us, this was a bust. I didn't think it worked fast enough. It just wasn't convenient. I ended up having more success running hot water in the sink and submersing the bottle. Now I will say, I did use the cooler on the back side of the warmer because it does fit bottle perfectly and now that we live in a 2 story house, I would take 2 bottles up just in case E woke up in the middle of the night. Saved me lots of trips up and down.

Summer Infant Swaddlers

We noticed very early on that E was NOT a fan of swaddling. When I could get him to do it, I found that using one of our receiving blankets was easier for me. So these for us, were just not worth it.

Ok, so that's some of the big ticket items. I obviously have a ton of opinions on lots of products but I don't want to make this post a novel.

What are some of your best and worst baby products?

Weekend Run Down - When Worms Attack

2012-01-09T20:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday (I'm sure you can't sense my sarcasm but it's there). I wanted to just post a couple cute pictures from our very relaxed weekend (which I still plan on doing) but you'll see when you see the pictures that our weekend didn't end well.

First tons of cuteness. Saturday, my mom and I watched the babies so my sister could get settled into her new home. On the way back, Baby M fell asleep and her head kept falling..Looked very uncomfortable. So we got smart and used E's baby neck pillow to prop her up. So cute!

Then once we got to the house, all the kids came back to life and wrestled the stuffed worm (he obviously provoked them). I think the kids won.

Then Sunday night I made dinner and E wanted to help so I put him in charge of making the pasta.

Ok, maybe not, but he did get countless minutes of enjoyment out of the empty box

Then after a great dinner, we went to bed and everything was good. But then, it hit at about 10:30, E started crying. I went him swooped him up, we took our place in the rocker and he lost his dinner all over the place.

This continued through the night and into this morning. He was pretty pathetic but I did LOVE how cuddly he was.

It's amazing how ingrained it is in us to want Mom when we're not feeling well. Hell, at 32, I still do. I guess that's a sign of a good mommy.

Anyway, we're on the mend now and seem to be getting better. Hopefully we can just make it through this week successfully. We have work, dentist appointments, 2 grad school tests, 2 days of school and a Crystal Ball on Saturday just to tie a nice little bow on all the work we're doing.

On a side note, I did manage to get in a nice run on Sunday. The weather here has been so unseasonably warm that I couldn't resist going outside. Gorgeous!

Hope you're all doing well. Don't miss tomorrow's blog. I have an amazing compound exercise for you to try. I had my husband record it the first time but the angel wasn't right. I think I'll have E try it. He might be more successful.

Guest Post on MizFitOnline

2012-01-08T19:54:00.000-08:00

In case you missed it, I had the opportunity to guest post on one of my favorite fitness blogs: MizFitOnline.com

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Celebrate Fitness - Giveaway

2012-01-06T11:59:00.000-08:00

If you're in the St. Louis area or are looking to take a road trip, why not get involved in an amazing event, support a great cause and get a good workout in with 1200 or so of your friends.

Bootcamp
Yoga
Zumba/Hip-Hop
Water Aerobics
1M Fun Walk
5K/10K (10K is new this year)

Who's invited to attend?
This event is open to all (Men, Woman, Families) and teams are highly encouraged. Prizes are awarded to the teams that raise the most money.

Why am I giving away a free entry?
I personally have had many family members touched by cancer and I'd love nothing more than to never see someone suffer from it again. This funds from this event go to support research and education at the Siteman Cancer Center.

Because of my connection to this terrible disease and my love of everything fitness, I decided to get involved. I sit on the organizing committee and I couldn't be more proud to do so.

What's new this year?
I'm excited to introduce a 10K to the event lineup this year and to celebrate, I'm giving away a free entry to the event ($30 value). A winner will be picked at random on January 12th.

In addition to our top finishers in the 5K and 10K race, we'll also have awards for the top finishers in the Stroller division (for those of us that take our little ones with us everywhere).

What's in it for you?
For $30, you get your registration paid for, participation into the event of your choice, and a highly coveted goody bag or tech t-shirt. (No really, these goody bags are amazing and always filled with lots of goodies). Mine is still one of my favorite bags but every year it's different.

If you can't wait to till the 12th to find out if you're a winner, head on over to Celebrate-Fitness.org and sign up. Hurry! Space is limited and events will fill up quickly!

How do you enter the giveaway?

1. Leave a comment telling me which event you'd participate in.

2. Follow Celebrate Fitness @CelebrateFitnes on Twitter and leave a comment letting us know you've done it (with your twitter name).

3. Follow me @momslrb on Twitter and leave a comment letting us know you've done it (with your twitter name).

4. Tweet the following:

I registered for a chance to win a free entry to @CelebrateFitnes on March 10th at Wash U in #STL from @momslrb. Check it out!

5. Update your Facebook Status with the following, then leave us a comment and your Facebook URL:

I registered for a chance to win a free entry to CelebrateFitnes on March 10th at Wash U in St. Louis over at Momslittlerunningbuddy.com. Giveaway ends January 12th, go check it out.

At Work Move of the Day - Single Leg Stand

2012-01-05T14:31:00.000-08:00

Make sure that you take your heels off. Then slightly lift your left leg first, engage your ab muscles to keep your balance, and stand up. Repeat 10 times then switch sides.

Today's Move: Single Leg Stands

Tomorrow I'm promising an upperbody move to cap off our week of office based fun.

Also, Saturday, I'll be guest posting on MizFitOnline. Check me out!

At Work Move of the Day - File Cabinet Sits

2012-01-04T09:53:00.000-08:00

First off, make sure that your file cabinet (or office wall) isn't going anywhere. It should be stable and anchored. Then, just like at the gym, roll down into a seated position (ladies, take your heels off) and hold.

I usually hold at least 30 sec or closer to a minute if I can afford the time.

Today's Move: File Cabinet Sits

Can you feel the burn? I can. Cubicle butt will be gone soon enough.

At Work Move Of The Day - Chair Dips

2012-01-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

As a way to help everyone try to squeeze in a little extra fitness, I'll let you in on some of my favorite moves to do during the day at work. If you have any you do, send them to me and I'll share them as well.

Today's Move: Chair Dips

I do a set of ten each time I do them. I'm not even going to tell you how many sets to do. Do as many as you can.

What are your favorite moves?

Ready? Go for it!

My 2012 Bucket List

2012-01-02T18:42:00.000-08:00

This year, I'm taking a different approach to the typical new years resolutions because, lets face it, something always happens to through you off course. Besides, with school running the entire year, I'm not going to be able to do much more than what I'm doing right now. So at the end of the year, these are the things I'm hoping to have done, my 2012 Bucket List.

Fitness:
1. Record at least a mile for every day of the year (maybe 2). Total - 730 miles Minimum.
2. Complete 2 Half Marathons and 2 Triathlons
3. Get in whatever workout I can on those days that just get so busy
Family:
3. Teach E to say "Mama"
Fun:
4. Decorate 2 rooms in our new home. I'm thinking my office and the master bedroom need some sprucing up but the entryway is on the list too.
5. Increase my completed Pinterest Project List. I've got a couple that I've been trying to do for a while.
6. Learn to work my new Sillouhette Cameo machine. It's just waiting to be utilized. I just need to sit down and focus. Any projects you recommend?

So that's it. I've been thinking about it and that's all I'm comfortable committing too. What are you doing? What are your resolutions?

Vacation Is Almost Over

2011-12-29T19:21:00.000-08:00

We will be leaving soon but we've had a ball. E has loved playing with his cousins. He finally got use to the ocean enough to walk down to the edge and let the waves lap over his feet. He'd giggle apprehensively. It's so much fun to watch him learn. We talked about shells and sand and everything in between. So much fun!

Today the entire family went down to the pier today. It was a little brisk but still always a lot of fun. Check us out!

We looked liked a stroller brigade walking down the street. Don't mess with the "gang".

E also seems to be having some issues with teeth. He's been very clingy. Seems that when all he wants is me, there's usually something wrong. We might even run by urgent care tomorrow just to make sure it's nothing major.

Because of the clinging, I haven't been able to run as much as I'd like. Sometimes you just have to choose family. I know that so I'm trying not to beat myself up over it too much. It sucks but not as much as watching E suffer.

We wanted to give you a little glimpse of the great weather we're having here so E and recorded a couple small vlogs. Hope you enjoy!

Day 1 on the Beach

2011-12-27T12:08:00.000-08:00

I look forward to this week every year. It's the one time of year where I get to just relax. I don't worry about anything. We're surrounded by family and we have NO set plans. We just hang out. Today the weather was gorgeous in the morning so we took the kids to the beach. They loved it. Then I got to run. It rained but I loved it. I can't tell you the last time I ran in the rain. It was just the perfect mist. I just felt so rejuvenated. Wonderful. Here's a few fun pics from the day. Enjoy!

Getting ready to go outside!

The cousins playing in the sand

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!! I can take a good picture every now and then.

This is fun. Can you tell I took it?

This is cousin Jack. He's pretty much adorable!

Career or Home? What Would You Chose?

2011-12-22T10:40:00.000-08:00

Over the past couple of weeks I've been grappling with a decision that I have to make and it's not an easy one. Basically, I've been offered a different position in the company that provides a different type of challenge but is as important as the work I currently do from the companies perspective.

New Role Positives:
1. More Day to Day Stability. It's more in keeping with that "clock in/clock out" work model. The group is more supportive of work/life balance.
2. The group, as a whole, is more supportive of each other.
3. Some gratification from being able to make a difference.
New Role Negatives:
1. The work itself can be thankless. More often than not I'd be delivering an undesirable message.
2. Opportunity for advancement is not as good.

In my current role, I'm in a high profile role. You've probably read about it in the newspaper. It's that big. It's constantly changing and because of that, requires constant contact. Even on vacation next week, I've got 3 meetings scheduled that I can't miss.

BUT, I'm playing with the "big boys". I'm getting a good understanding of the company rather than just a segment of it.

So the question in my mind becomes...is it career or family? If you have been reading my blog, you know that I'm already taking on quite with this demanding job, graduate school, family, blogging/social networking and organizing a charity event for 1100 (Celebrate Fitness, check it out!!). So the idea of adapting to a new role might be more than I can take. Yes, my current role is crazy but it's a known entity. The other isn't.

If I'm looking to take the next step, I'm in the right place. That means though that there will be sacrifices.

If I'm looking to be more of a homebody, than I chose the new role. My fear though is that my personality wouldn't adjust well to the new role. I always want more. And that dissatisfaction at work would effect my home life. See what I mean? I'm torn. I think, in my heart of hearts I know but it's not the easy answer, but it is consistent with my approach to my career now.

I know this is very vague but I was hoping that writing it down would change my opinion but I'm starting to notice the calm come back and that's how I know I'm going in the right direction.

Ok. Thanks for listening. Any advice or tips? I'm always looking for new perspectives.