Training!

As some of you already know, I have started with a personal trainer at Servus Place. I have purchased him (haha) for 8 sessions, 1 session per week. I have had 2 sessions already and feel stretched in my view of fitness and how I see myself on the 'fit' scale. Our first session was several fitness tests; these included: broad jumps, sprints, endurance and various strength exercises. This only solidified which I knew already - speed and endurance are my friend, strength is not. This past Tuesday, CJ (my trainer) gave me my workout plan. This is 3 workouts a week for the next 3 weeks, filling in the other days with cardio or drop-in classes.

Day 1 - Power: Olympic Lifting.
Day 2 - Strength: Box Jumps, Core med ball throws, Clamshells (conditioning the hips), Squats, Bench presses and Wide Grip Rows (all using a lot of weight... eek.)
Day 3 - Strength: Glute and Hamstring Raises, Plank with weight transfer, Chin ups, Dead lifts and Resistance Band Core work.

After leaving my session on Tuesday, I felt very discouraged. And nervous. And really sad. I was under the wrong impression that I was fit... in which yes, in some ways I am but fitness is not just endurance or conditioning. Nor is it just strength. Or flexibility. It is ALL OF THESE THINGS! I have no problem running 60 minutes at 7.5 mph working my way up to 9 mph but weightlifting? In the weight room? with other people around? Not my game. However, I signed up for this. My goal was exactly this: strength. And the only way to get stronger is to diligently do my work outs and put in the work. So, despite my anxiety, I did my Day 2 work out today. And guess what? I feel great!!! The first half of the workout was awesome! The second half, when I went to the weight room, I was so nervous. Luckily, just as I was approaching the squat rack, racking up my weights, in walks CJ! He spent a few minutes with me, helping me with technique and just encouraging me. He walked me through the rest of the workout and was so supportive and encouraging! One thing I learned: NO ONE CARES! No ones watching me or making fun of me or whatever I thought was going to happen. Nothing fell on me or crushed my chest nor did I squat and fall on my butt. I did it! And I am going to channel these empowering feelings into the rest of my program. I am looking so forward to increasing my weights and getting ripped! Haha!

More Peas Thank You

I just ordered this cookbook from Amazon.com - $11.80! Besides that crazy cheap price, I am so excited for this little goodie to arrive in my mailbox! Sarah Matheny is a busy mom and has created an easy, super healthy, kid friendly recipe book. I am pumped. I never knew recipe books could get me so riled up with excitement! I'll let you know how it goes!

My Mom

Just thought I would I dedicate an entire post to one of the most special people in my life, my Mom. 

us, Lombard Street, San Francisco circa 2009. (*note, a little 16 week old Isla in the oven)

My mom is one wonderful woman. She's kind, generous, spirited, sensitive, giving, supportive, determined, strong, faithful, loving and so much more. I am so thankful that she's MY mom. In my adulthood, and more specifically, since having my own ladies, my relationship with my mom has grown exponentially in strength and depth. Her generosity is unparalleled and I am so appreciative of all she does for my family. Babysitting, dinners out, girls weekends, date nights and kind words. Our relationship has gone from mother-daughter to great, life-long friends and really, what more could I ask for? I hope one day, my girls can look at me and call me a friend too. 

She's an inspiration to me on so many levels, but one main thing: she's a fighter. She fights for what she wants and her determination and drive are both admirable and encouraging. She has battled cancer at several points in her life and has always come out on top (she's kicked cancer's ass!). I am just so proud of her. I have learned a lot from my mom and after becoming a mom myself, my appreciation and understanding of her soared to new heights. There are things we do differently, most certainly, but there are definitely things I have learned from her and have incorporated them into my own parenting. 

All this to say that I am so incredibly blessed beyond measure to have the mom I have and one day, I want Isla and Annie to say that about me. Love you Mom!

5 Favorite Things...

April Edition.

1. Laughing Cow Cheeses - I have been buying the individually wrapped, spreadable soft cheeses in Garlic & Herb, Jalepeno and French Onion and I am obsessed! Best. Snack. Ever. I spread them on plain rice cakes or crackers and it's so delicious. Yumma Yumma!

2. The Voice - Adam Levine and Usher in one show? Holy Hannah. My Monday nights just got that much better! In all seriousness, I actually just love this show! The talent is incredible, the competitiveness of the judges and the way they interact with the hopefuls makes for some enjoyable, light TV. With a side of mega hotness. 

3. Gangsta's Paradise - Yes, as in Coolio's song from 'Dangerous Minds'. Such a great workout song. Belting it out as I squat or run makes for a great workout!

4. Gary Chapman's "The Five Love Languages" Book - Cam and I have been setting aside time each week to read out loud a chapter of this book and discuss it. I know we've read it before but it has been a really nice refresher. I look forward to this time, with the girlies asleep, the TV off and our minds and energy focused on our marriage. We have discovered a few interesting things during our study and have already noticed the benefits of this book on our relationship. 

5. Stove-top Oats - I eat oatmeal fairly often. And I've always made it in the microwave because it's quicker and some mornings, that's all I've got time for! However, I have been making them with the stove instead and what a difference! Soooo creamy and delicious. My new breakfast addiction. I mix up the flavors each time but my love affair with oats just got better!

And there you have it!

Becoming Beautiful

This past weekend, I had the honor and pleasure of attending City Centre Church's annual women's retreat. I attended last year, when Annie was 3 weeks old. Let me tell you, this year was a lovely breath of fresh air. It was a gift, truly, to spend 2 days with incredible women, friends and mothers. It was like youth group all over again... 7 ladies that I grew up with and have known since birth were alongside me. And some newer friends too. It simply was a fabulous time. The theme of the retreat was 'Becoming Beautiful' and the speaker's messages focused on renewing our minds as well as the power (and importance) of prayer. It was so refreshing to relax, cry, laugh, listen, pray, sing, eat, read and just 'be'. I learned so much... about myself, my friends and what it is I want in this life. And how to get it. I came home feeling rested (well, not physically as we had late nights full of hot tubs and snacks) and ready to love my husband, my kids and myself in new ways with new passion. I'm already looking forward to next year!

The Storyteller - Jodi Picoult

This is Jodi Picoult's latest novel. She has written 21 books and I am sure I have read 14 or 15 of them. Her most famous novel is "My Sister's Keeper" - this was adapted into a motion picture in 2009. She is a gifted storyteller. When I read her novels, her characters become real people to me. She grips me... they grip me, and more often than not, I find myself lost in their world, craving more of their lives. Each 'chapter' is written from a different characters point of view, which is precisely why her readers get so encircled by their stories. Her past 2 novels, "Sing Me Home" and "Lone Wolf" have not been on my favorites list. It's not that I didn't like them, they just weren't "Jodi" enough for me... no twists, no intoxicating legal battles, no characters that I was drawn to so when I stumbled upon "The Storyteller", I was skeptical... momentarily of course, because I knew I would eventually read it. I got it Thursday evening. I finished it Saturday night. Enough said.

In my opinion, this is hands down her best novel. I was addicted to this book. Any chance I got, I read... even if it was 2 or 3 pages. I simply could not put it down. I don't know how many details I want to give. One thing I will say is that it is sad. Heartbreakingly sad. And horrible. A section of the novel is a character, Minka, describing her experience at the concentration camp 'Auschiwtz' during the Holocaust. Yes, this novel is fiction, but her depiction of the genocide I have no doubt is filled with many truths. Each page described the desolation, the discrimination, the ghastly acts, the repulsive living conditions that were Minka's reality. I was devastated. And drawn in. However, this is not necessarily the 'meat and potatoes' of this novel, so to speak. There is more. Much much more. I found it to be refreshingly different than her other novels. And yet, it had the same delicate thought put into her characterizations and of course, her ending. I am salivating for more of Jodi. If you get a chance, read it! Mainly because I NEED someone to discuss this with :)

My Five Favorite Things...

Right now of course. These 5 things will change next week I am sure :) Just thought this was a cute idea for a blog post (yes, I did steal it from another blog I follow). Somedays, my creative juices just do not flow.

1. Creamy Almond Butter -

I literally eat a jar a week. On anything. In anything. With a spoon. It is delicious. A few of my go-to snacks: a plain rice cake with this, topped with a drizzle of honey or a scoop of vanilla Greek Yogurt and a heaping teaspoon of this vigorously mixed in. So darn good.

2. Protein Pancakes -

I came across these recently and haven't been able to stray! I have a sweet tooth and starting my day off with these deliciously tasty pancakes help satisfy that craving. I top them with *SHOCK* almond butter and eat. They are perfection! And healthy to boot!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup rolled oats

• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder 

• 1 ripe banana

• 1/3 cup liquid egg whites

• 1/2 tsp baking powder

Directions:

1. In a bowl, mix together ingredients.

2. Preheat a skillet (medium-low heat), spray with non-stick spray, and pour in half of the batter while shaping it into a pancake with a spoon.

3. Heat until partially cooked and flip pancake.

4. Once cooked through, top with syrup, nut butter, fresh fruit or anything else your heart desires.

This recipe yields 2 big, banana-y pancakes. *drool*

3. Food Blogs-

Oh man, I LOVE food blogs. Love them. I read them nightly and have come across so many delicious recipes, including my protein pancakes :) Here are my top 3:

Peanut Butter Fingers
Carrots 'N' Cake
Eating Bird Food

4. Balsamic Vinegar + Oregano + Tomatoes = Best Combination Ever

Not much more to say here. My lunch today: the aforementioned ingredients plus spinach, chickpeas, zuchini and salt and pepper. I have leftovers and I can hardly wait for tomorrow's lunch! Yum a yum!

5. Mirrors - By Justin Timberlake

Since I didn't want to sound like a piggy, I figured I better include something non-food related in this post. I love JT. Always have. Always will. And I can hardly wait for his album, 20/20 to drop on March 19th. This song is his second single from the album and it is A-MAZING. SO much better than Suit & Tie (which I also love but just does not compare). I listen to it while I cook, while I work out... it's just so dang good. Give it a listen on iTunes.

(well, hello there JT)

What are some of your favorite things?