Apple Cider Vinegar and other Pinterest Wins!

Happy Sunday Y'all!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Mine was great, we had an ugly sweater and 'as seen on TV' gift exchange party with some of my coworkers.  It was great!

I'm quite sure that made the most awesome veggie tray ever.

 Pinterest Success!!!

It was really good and fun to make!  I highly suggest showcasing your artistic talents this holiday season and whip one of these bad boys up.  

There's one of those green crafty cones underneath it and you simply just poke toothpicks with veggies into it.  

Next on my list of Pinterest wins is learning the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar.  

Pinterest can be such a time-suck, but so educational at the same time.  ;)

I'll admit, when I first saw a few pins about it....I was drawn to the "weight loss" part....you know I'm a sucker for a weight loss gimmick...but have since read more about all of the benefits and thought I'd give it a try.

The benefits listed above are all over articles on the www.  WebMD has a good overview about it and they seem pretty legit.  http://www.m.webmd.com/diet/apple-cider-vinegar

I'm sure happy that Al Gore invented the internet, it has opened my eyes to so many new things!!  Research is at my fingertips and every single thing on there is 100% true I'm sure of it.

I'm on my second bottle and have been taking a shot every morning before I walk out the door.  It's not that great, but I figure I've taken much harsher shots at the bar, so suck it up.  (You can also dilute it with water and sip on it throughout the day)

I like Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, with the mother. The mother are the fine chunks of Apple that are in the bottom of the bottle.  Shake well!!  Here is their website if you are interested in learning more:

http://bragg.com/books/acv_excerpt.html

Bonus: You can get it at any grocery store and don't have to make a trip to an expensive specialty store. 

Give it a try, it's good for you!  I feel great and am excited to keep taking it and reaping the benefits.

Cheers to ugly sweaters healthy shots and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

Positivity on a Tuesday

Oh my. 

I am going to have to start this post out with a few positive selfies.....

This is me this morning on my way to work. 

I'm all about the cardi.  I could easily say I sport some sort of gramma cardigan at least 3 days a week during the winter.  This morning I was feeling especially good about rocking this cougar print cardi.  I've only done animal print accents before and never full on animal.  Growl. 

Today was my day. 

This is me after work on my way to the gym.  (Just in case you don't get enough selfies of me) I'm keeping up with my 'mile a day every day I'm December' challenge and got another 3.1 mi in today. Whoop whoop.  I'm rocking my cute official NY Yankees-straight from Yankee stadium hoodie because the 3 steps I have to take between my apartment and the gym are colder n' shit this time of year.

Plus, I was super excited today that I can finally get my hair in a high pony tail!! Growing hair out takes forever-it's the small victories that I love...

So much for happy selfies. 

The next pics disturbed me.

So much in fact, it inspired me to write about it.

I bought these jeans online about 4-5 months ago.  They cost more than my first car, so dang it, I want them to fit!  Do you ever keep something that doesn't fit as an incentive? Yah, I never do either. ;)

I keep trying them on and hoping that I will magically lose about 10 el bees and they will look great.  It hasn't happened yet.

Here's the front view...

Not horrible, pretty snug in the thighs, but overall not bad. (I've mastered sucking in)

After my sweet sister snapped the next picture, she kindly said: "I don't think you want to see this, let me take another.  Do you want your muffin top in it?"  "Let me get a better angle."

Ass roll much?

Should the pockets go that low to my thighs? Or are they just so tight that I can't pull them up more?  Do they even fit right?

Moral of the story:  This is why I go I the gym and am hoping that this is my 'before' picture.

...Also, never think that just because jeans cost an arm and a leg, they will instantly give you a nice arse.  Or that your normal size will fit!  My experience has been...the fancier, more high-end the clothing, the smaller they run.  Size up, size up!!! 

...Also, take a broadsided picture of your backside once in a while, I might do it with all my jeans. (or not)

Onto arms.  I mentioned in the last post that I am going to start working on my arms...here are a couple if workouts that I am going to try this week. Feel free to join me in the next few months as I work to get my upper arms to stop waving back!

 

I hope you week is going great and you are making the most of what life has to offer!

Cheers to before pictures!

Back in Action

This could be trouble...I figured out how to post my blog on my iPhone or iPad with the Blogger App.  I only knew how to blog before on my computer, so I really had to think about my posts before I wrote them....not anymore! Now you are going to have to deal with my shitty thumb-typing skills and all of the typos that come with that.

(I am also hoping that I won't do any blogging during my drunken wine benders...but....you've been warned)

I'm sitting here in the Denver Airport on my way back to #omahasomewhereinmiddleamerica feeling quite pudgy after 3 Thanksgiving dinners and numerous desserts.  I exercised every day (almost) that I was on vacation, but I still managed to pack on a few lbs based on how my jeans feel.  Is it a sign that your jeans are too tight when you can barely sit down without blowing out the back pockets??!!  No?  I didn't think so either.

This was Thanksgiving dinner #1 with part of my awesome family!  Love these good people so much! 

Dinner #2 was with my hunney's family and I just love spending time with them, good people (and great cooks!). I'm blessed to have them in my life.

#3 was with my Dad and Sister and Grandparents.  Dad turned 60 yesterday (I didn't know he was 60 already, he's been telling me he is 29 for so long..) Gramma cooked up a fantastic dinner and we got to sit around her table that I have so many memories of since I was little.  Thankful to have such great Grandparents in my life.

I also made bourbon chocolate pecan pie. It was so good!!  (don't tell anyone, but I might have added a few extra tablespoons of bourbon to the pies) it was my first time making pecan pie and it's really tough to tell when it's done.

I also might have had a little bourbon for myself too....it's the holidays, isn't it?

My little cousins, sister and I made a really cool turkey inspired veggie platter.  It turned out great and was a lot of fun to make!

Tomorrow, it's back to the grind.  I joined a 'mile a day' challenge for the month.  You have to run at least a mile a day every day in December. (Except, I just realized that it's December 1st and I didn't run today.  Oops, tomorrow, I promise will be better)

I've been tracking all of my non-treadmill miles since August and am up to 171 miles!

I'm excited to see where I'll be after December!  I've NEVER tracked my miles before and just started in August when I got the nike Running App and was training for the half marathon. Its awesome and really motivating to see how far you've come.

I also decided that I need to do something about my old-lady-bus-driver arms.  Man, they are getting a little jiggly. I will be dilligently on Pinterest searching for an arm challenge.  I will post pictures and measurements this week. It's important that I start getting ready for tank top season at least 6-7 months early, I have a lot of work to do.

I was also thinking about a cleanse again to kickstart - but I might be taking on too much at once.  Thoughts?

It might be too much.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Enjoy the week ahead and you can bet your ass I'll be online shopping until I drop tomorrow for cyber Monday!

Cheers to starting new/over and making the most of every day!

Saying Goodbye

2 Big things happened today

1. I resumed my laser tattoo removal...

 You have get to wear these sweet goggles when you are getting lazered.

 

When I was about 18 years old and 1 minute - I did what most small town Montana girls do when they leave home - I ran out and got a dolphin on my ankle. 

I miss 1994 more than you can imagine!  But now would rather have the memories of being blacked out on jungle juice and trying to make it to class the next morning and gaining the freshman 20 30 than a permanent inked in memory.

I know, I know, I should have thought of this back then.  BUT - I didn't.

I had only been to the ocean once - was (and still am) pretty timid of the water - and had never even seen a dolphin in real life.  (I still have never seen one).  But I HAD to have this beautiful sea creature on my ankle to symbolize my freedom, duh. 

No disrespect to the dolphins out there - I still love ya, I hope I see you one day in real life but have no desire to swim with you or have you on my ankle.

Honestly, this feels like its my 100th treatment.  This has been a really long process.  I started getting laser tat removal in Texas in the summer of 2011.  I went around 10-12 times (at $70-90 a pop!)  The first several times it was SO PAINFUL but then it got easier and easier.  The laser basically blasts each layer of ink into tiny particles and then your body naturally sluffs it off until its gone.  You are supposed to get treatment every 4-8 weeks and they cannot guarantee that the tattoo will be fully removed.  Low and behold Green and Blue colors are really tough to remove.

Well, guess what....

A dolphin jumping out of the ocean on your ankle has lots of friggin' green and blue in it.  Who'da thought?

Well, because it was such a long process - I went ahead and took the last 9 months or so off.  #1 - I was sick of it and opted to spend my money on clothing and hair products & #2, I was living in the backwoods of Kentucky and didn't even attempt to find a reputable place to keep up with treatments.   

After being stuck with a half-ass removed tattoo for the past several months - I decided it was go time.  Time for the dolphin to go time.  I went to a place called Skin Specialists, PC.  www.lovelyskin.com They were really nice there and it was much like a legit Doctor's office. 

We opted to do a 'Stacked Treatment' which is 4 treatments at once.  They numbed my cankle with about what felt like 50 shots and went to town.  I didn't feel a thing.  Until now.  Eek - it hurts and I am afraid to take the bandaid off for fear of it being a dolphin-shaped scar.  I hope it works.  I'll keep you posted.

#2  This is random, but I feel like I have to share it because it was a big moment for me - 28 CD's and 33 1/2 hours later, I finally finished the Game of Thrones Audio Book.  Holy shit that took a lot of commitment and car time.  I NEVER would have read the actual book.  It is way too thick and definitely not enough toilet humor to keep me rolling - but the book on CD was fantastic.  The narrator even did voices!  I miss it already!  I am back to the boring old country station listening.  I would much rather listen to fighting over kingdoms.

I usually don't get into fantasy at all - but highly recommend it if you have some car time coming up in your near future.   I am debating wether or not to get the next one - I probably will.

On a side note:  I think Prince Jeoffery is a little prick for be-heading Edard Stark.

FINALLY - if you get a chance, watch Kanye's new video and tell me if you love it as much as I do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr4HVom01T0

WTF was that? 

Cheers to being 18 and dumb - Castles and Kingdoms - and not to Kanye and Kim's video!
Happy Thursday - I'm off to the treadmill!

What? There's no Basement in the Alamo??

No -there isn't a basement in the Alamo.  (for all of you Pee Wee Herman fans out there)

After 12 short weeks of training....we made it to the San Antonio Rock n' Roll Half Marathon.

A half-marathon is 13.2 miles.  (not a 5k - to the guy on the plane who sat next to me on the way to Dallas)

I finished in 2:25 - not too great.  That is about 11 minute miles average and I trained for 10 minute miles.  It was so hot outside and I was really slow. (and more hills than I anticipated)  Also, lets face it, I didn't train hard enough.  Not enough long runs and definitely not enough strength training.  Either way - it was really a good time!  I am still a little sore today, mostly my feet and chafe, but I am planning on hitting the treadmill again tomorrow! 

Here is a race re-cap for you:

We started out in South Fort Worth on Saturday morning for breakfast.  My good friends from met up with us and we had a really nice visit, I was happy to spend time with them.  My favorite thing at the Old South Pancake house are their German Pancakes.  (I might have been more excited for the pancakes than the race, but what did you expect?)

We made it into San Antone on Saturday afternoon and went to the Race Expo and picked up our packets.  The expo was really well organized and it went pretty smoothly and we made it through without spending $100's on race gadgets - guaranteed to make you run faster.

We stayed in the Emily Morgan DoubleTree Hotel which is right near the Alamo and the Riverwalk.  Great location and a really cool hotel.

We had dinner at a restaurant called the Iron Cactus and it was delish!  We sat outside, right on the river and couldn't have asked for a better night out with my best Grass Range Gals!

We were good little racers and actually got our race gear ready to go the night before.  All of the running magazines say to do this...I'm not sure if it saved a ton of time for us on race morning, but it was fun to get everything together.  (note the Glide - btw, it worked for only about 6 miles before I completely sweated it off)

Early early the next morning, we made the mile trek to the start line - and I had to use the can.  There were no lines at all and the bathrooms were spotless.  HA!

I work construction and have seen some gross porta potties in my day - but race morning jons are probably some of the grossest that I have seen. Yuck.  They look like such a nice clean bunch - it's weird.

This is our usual before picture - lookin' good on race day.   So happy to go for a little jog and not yet experiencing the pain that 13.2 miles brings.  It was already getting warm outside and I am pretty sure that I started sweating before I even crossed the start line.

We were soaking wet with sweat!  Eek.  It was awesome having Katie there to support us in the race!  Tami and I have ran several races together and haven't had anyone meet us at the finish line before, it was really cool.  Thanks for your support, Katie!

Chocolate Milk is an awesome re-fuel, btw.  They handed it out at the finish line...nice job RnR San Antonio.  They also gave out Fritos! Again, kudos!

Once we made the walk back to the Hotel and rinsed off the gross-ness, we popped the top on a bottle of Champagne!  Thanks a bunch to my cousin Johnna for giving us the BEST CARE PACKAGE EVER!!  She thought of everything!

Finally - quite possibly the best race re-fuel that I have ever had:

God Bless Texas. 

While shuffle jogging through the streets of Old San Antonio, I got a lot of time to think about all of the things that I love about running.  I love the fact that there are all ages, sizes and shapes of people at the races AND I love all of the signs that people make and the support from fellow runners and strangers that you get along the way.  It's a pretty neat feeling.

The only negative I could really think of are the lines to the porta jons on race day...and I can live with that.    (unless I have an emergency 'situation' going on)

Cheers to making the most of it!  Cheers to another 13 miles with a great friend!  Cheers to many many more!

CARB-O Loading!

Welp - this is it! 

I am sitting in the Omaha Airport - on my way to Texas for the big Half Marathon!

While sitting here, I am doing what any other elite athlete would be doing:  Carb Loading

While I was carb-loading - I was looking on the www and came across this:

Shit

Yep - I'm screwed.  524 Burpees is nowhere near my wheel-house.  I am getting a headache just thinking about it.

I am pretty excited for the race on Sunday - I feel pretty good about my training this time around.  Last weekend I ran 8 miles and felt great afterward - that never happens.  I have gone up to 11 miles this time around - so 13.2 should be a cinch!  Haha!

Last night I carefully selected my running outfit and this is what I came up with:

Thoughts?

I thought it looked the brightest and absolutely the fastest.  I am hoping to find a cute yellow or green headband at the Race Expo tomorrow to complete the package.  ;)

I am really excited for this race - my bestie from way back is running with me (I will be eating her dust) and we are staying on the San Antonio River Walk overlooking the ALAMO.  The River Walk is such a neat area and there are so many things to do and see there.  Hello Texas heat in November - oh how I've missed you.

If you are thinking about running a 1/2 Marathon or, God forbid, a Full Marathon, I highly suggest starting in the Rock n' Roll series.  They are in several locations around the U.S. and are such a cool race to run in.  They have a very upbeat vibe and bands every couple of miles.  You never feel alone in the race and it is a great experience.

Have a great weekend everyone!  I hope your weekend is filled with good times!

Meanwhile - I'll be over here jogging it out and starting on my burpees!

Cheers!

Hot Yoga

Welcome to beautiful Omaha, NE!

This is my comfort zone - a nice outdoor jog.  I haven't found any trails yet - but there are a lot of senic places to run here.  (It's going to be really cold soon and I am going to take all of the outdoors that I can get in)

So far - so good in the Big O as far as the half marathon shuffle jogging training goes.  (these pictures have been taken on my runs, when I need a break)  I joined a gym this past week and have been really looking at changing up my workout routine though. 

SO today I took a great big step outside of my comfort zone and tried something new - HOT YOGA!  My sister and good friend went with me to One Tree Yoga (website:  www.onetreeyoga.com)  they have 2 locations in Omaha (East & West).  We went to the west location and as far as yoga goes - In my limited experience, I highly recommend it.  I can't actually remember when or if I've evervtaken an actual Yoga class other that DVD's.  Live classes are definitely the way to go.  The instructor was really helpful and made sure we were doing the poses correctly, which was great.  She was really nice and didn't make me feel like a big oaf because it hurt  to sit on my knees and I couldn't quite wrap my ankles around my neck.  (Just kididng - we didn't get that in-depth, or slutty)  We went through 26 pretty basic poses and did each twice.  Half of the time was spent standing up and the other half on the mat.

OK - Lets talk about the hot in HOT YOGA.  I've read some articles about it and how good it is for you and have been wanting to give it a try for a while.  It's really good for flexibility and helps with deep cleansing - and I love a good cleanse.  Plus it seems like all of the cool people are doing it.

#1 - I'm not sure why it's not called Hotter n' shit Yoga.  We walked into the room and it felt like it was 300 degrees in there.  I think it was actually about 105 - but it was HOT.  Being naturally inclined to sweat a lot, Big K immediately popped a few beads.  90 minutes later - I was soaked in sweat.  We're talking drip in your eyeballs sweat.  (I checked the room and even the cute little Yoga experts were sweating too - I felt better)

Which brings me to #2 - don't wear a heavy black concert t-shirt to Hot Yoga.  Next time I am going to wear my running shorts and a light and loose tank top.  Or go in a thong and bra.  (which would be ideal, but I don't think Omaha or anyone is ready for that) My yoga pants were actually stuck to me when we were done.  It was kind of gross. 

#3 - Bring a towel and a big ol bottle of water.  You will need it.

#4 - Don't crack up in class when you almost fall or during the weird breathing exercises.  You will be the only one laughing.  They are a pretty serious and centered bunch in there.

#5 - I had no idea that Yoga had digestive benefits!  Although I did fart once in class (SBD) - There are several poses that help your digestive system.  I thought that was pretty interesting.  So next time you see me crouched down like a rabbit in the middle of a public place - don't worry about it, I'm just in a 'code-brown' situation and using Yoga moves instead of the public bathroom.

#6 - Go with good people and treat yourself to a nice cup of coffee and breakfast afterwards.
 

Thanks for going with me today, ladies!  I enjoyed every minute of it and spending time with you!  Hopefully we can do it again soon!  Sorry that the picture doesn't show more of our 'shine'!

Have a great weekend!