Retire, Run, Work

Wow!  What a crazy week and it's only Wednesday!  I am late on posting from Saturday's race, but better late than never.  I have just been non-stop from Monster Rehab Energy Drinks since Saturday and I have so many posts that I want to blog about...  So here we go!

Saturday morning started out with our LAST 3 year old soccer game that I have been "coaching."  We were the Hawkeyes and honestly, pretty good.  My son, Cooper, could name 263 other things to be doing during soccer.  He hated most of the season therefore, we both retired of soccer on Saturday.  It was a good run of 3 seasons, but he's moving onto swimming, hockey, and drums!

Lunch was at PDQ-- weird name (People Dedicated to Quality), but pretty amazing chicken strips.

Kinnick, my daughter in black, and her friend Addi
Thank you Nadine for the great picture!

After that was a whirlwind that sent my husband and kids to my daughter's soccer game (which I hated to miss) and me to my second ever 5k "night" race.  I run with a wonderful Moms Run This Town group of women from Allen, Plano, McKinney, and Frisco.  We registered with two teams for the Running Moms Rock 5k in Highland Village, TX.  After a few pictures for the costume contest (we were #teamflour- sponsored my The Flour Shop Cupcakes)  we headed to the starting line for a quick and not easy 5k.  There's only a couple hills in NTX and this race course found them...ouch!  But in the end we had a good time!

#TeamFlourShop from MRTT

Look Mom! 1st place until the next 2 girls showed up :)

Really feeling those push ups, hills, and chicken strips 

Of course it was Saturday night so I hung up my Mom bag, cupcake apron costume, running shoes and headed into work.  I really needed to shower but after a quick meal from my in-laws I decided to jump in their pool with my kids.  The first swim of the year lasted around 2 minutes for me... burr, banana, burr.  I was "clean" and headed back to McKinney for work.  I dread my shift Saturday nights but then Sunday night I know I only have one more day of work until Monday I can be back "being mom!"

Does anyone else try to cram their Saturday's full?
PDQ's chicken is great, but Cane's sauce is amazing, agreed?
Any advise on eating before of "night" race?

Spring (Diet) Cleaning

What a wonderful weekend. He is Risen! I love Easter, spring time, Texas allergies, 40 degree temperature changes within 12 hours, crisp air, and the idea of spring cleaning.  So this weekend while I was working at my weekend job, Baylor McKinney Medical Center, I received an email with a link to an interesting article and video about the results of sugar.  This would initiate my spring cleaning of my diet.  Of course we all know to shop the perimeter of the grocery store, filling our buggies (I have waited YEARS to correctly use that word in a sentence) with colorful fruits and vegetables.  But while educating myself more about the consequences of sugar something clicked.  We have a true epidemic on our hands! It's disgusting!  I was reading about Dr Mark Hyman's 10 sugar detox diet and watched his segment from the Dr Oz show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pJOak4kvgU
So here I am early Easter morning knowing that my kids would be kids and want all of their candy that I now see as a drug similar to cocaine.  We're addicted to not only sugar but food in general!  Fast forward 12 hours and I'm cleaning out the pantry before I leave for work.  The ER staff LOVED all of my "treats" of candy, chips, bars, etc that I filled a shopping bag.... ALL gone out of our house.

 "Hi, I'm Olaf and I like warm HUGS!"

 I couldn't wait to pickup Kinnick from preschool and head to Trader Joes and fill our kitchen with healthier options. The kids had a good time shopping knowing that they're normal eating staples didn't make the buggy (sorry, couldn't help it)!  Thank goodness for Pinterest- you have access to everyone's wonderful ideas after a quick search.  Here is to night #1 of fruit and vegetable prepping and eating with no added sugar!  I can't wait to see results as well as feel them, maybe I'll run faster for qualify for Boston by the time I'm 60.




Roasted cauliflower with ranch hot sauce, cottage cheese, carrots, and all natural chicken bites.  Kyron is the chef in our house but tonight it was me... so I had to prepare a back up plan for the kids of the chicken bites just in case :)

What are you favorite clean dishes? No sugar added treats?

Roy Meyers Children's Garden at the Dallas Arboretum

What blessings! Do you know how you are blessed? Are you thankful for them? Some days my life is going round and around, but I don't take a moment to thank God for everything! Last Wednesday I was thankful for a beautiful sunny, warm Dallas day that allowed me to take our kids to the Dallas Arboretum.  I thought we could cruse around the new kids part, head for lunch, stop at the Northpark Disney Store on the way home and have plenty time for the remainder of the day. Um, no! The Children's garden is the Disney of botanical gardens with science for preschoolers through grade school, wow!  I was able to take some pictures of Kinnick and Cooper with some flowers, but these don't even scratch the surface of the beautiful blooms that were on display.

Make sure to check out their webpage: http://www.dallasarboretum.org/visit/named-gardens-features/the-rory-meyers-children-s-adventure-gardenBefore planning your trip, make sure to view online if there are groups or field trips planned to attend your date.  Although we had to park in one of the furthest parking spots away from the front door (bring a wagon or stroller) it was surprisingly not too busy.  The Arboretum offers Mommy Mondays and Toddler Tuesdays that are perfect for little ones.  Lastly, I am so glad I promised the kids a picnic and packed my bag with drinks and snacks.  You are allowed to bring in outside food to enjoy at one of their excellent picnic areas.  One morning spent here allows you to pause your whirling everyday routine and take time with your loved ones while viewing the colorful blooms, posing for pictures, and even learning some interesting science.Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who observe justice (treating others fairly) and who do right and are in right standing with God at all times. Psalm 106: 3

The Right Time is NOW!

What a week.  I was busy but, not... does that make sense?  I hardly ran but did work out from home; the Beachbody 21 day fix workouts are great!  If I would follow the diet plans I'm sure I would look like Jillian Michael's by summer... but we all know that is not going to happen.  I hardly drink but my husband and I love to eat and celebrate everything!

For example this week: last Friday I had a Jamberry Nail party at our house- perfect reason to have treats and sangria.  As for Monday, I worked all weekend so I needed extra sugar and caffeine.  Tuesday was taco Tuesday and my kids love tacos and sitting on the patio.  Thursday was teacher appreciation day so I had to try some yummy treats.  Thursday night we survived tornado warnings, dangerous hail, and minimal fighting in the closet while the storm was hitting our house therefore I think we all deserved a trip to Sonic.  That was just one week!  Just how many celebratory treats to I need to eat?

To top it all off I joined a facebook group called, The Diet Bet.  I weighed in Sunday 15 pounds heavier than I was at the beginning of the year before my Disney Marathon.  Since then it has been either celebratory or stress eating.





When is the right time to start watching what you eat, stop drinking soda, start walking maybe even a run?  I read plenty of devotions, blogs, media about taking mom time and I know that its easier said than done.  That is why I have a love-hate relationship with facebook.  Being in a group that we are held accountable and there's even a cash reward at the end; I am going to at least try to be competitive.  Also, when I register for a race I post it on FB because that means I'm DOING that race; I will train, run, and feel better with an accomplishment.  And now that I have put it in writing on my blog I now have another public place for accountability.  I have a goal of running 500 miles this year and 14 races in 2014!

Here is where I am so far: 120.69miles logged for 2014

1. Walt Disney World Marathon   ✔
2. MRTT Start Your Engines        ✔
3. Dallas Rock N Roll                   ✔
4. Stonebriar Spring Sprint
5. Running Moms Rock
6. Chicago Rock N Roll
7. Run Like A Mother
8. Disneyland 10k
9. Disneyland Half Marathon
10. Dallas Ultra 13.1
11. San Antonio Rock N Roll
12. Fairview NYE Marathon (24.5 miles!!!)
13. Fairview NY Day 5k
14. ???

What are your goals for the rest of 2014? What keeps you competitive, accountable, and motivated?
Do you celebrate with food as much as I do?