Health & Fitness Friday: Pinterest Edition

Happy Friday Peeps! It's Health & Fitness Time!

Can you believe that tomorrow is JUNE 1st?!!! I have absolutely no idea where this month has gone. I feel like just yesterday I was writing down my May fitness goals and here I am...doing it again already!!!

Last month, I set only a few goals for myself:

1. Run 50 miles.

2. Sign up for another race.

3. Do Yoga 3 times a week.

4. Eat at home 5-6 nights a week.

Sadly, I did not meet a SINGLE GOAL this month!!

Isn't that pathetic? I am such a goal oriented person...I HATE this feeling of not being able to check one thing off my list. The perfectionist in me wants to cry and beg for a do-over, but the optimist in me wants to say, "HEY!! You did run 30 miles this month, and did yoga a lot, and ate at home as much as you could with your crazy end-of-the-school-year schedule. That all has to count for something, right?!!" 

The answer is YES JEN!!!

I just need to keep telling myself that. June is another month to start again :-)

And so, I am going to keep all of my same goals for June in an attempt to redeem myself. But at the same time, I am going to try harder to focus on the overall goal, which is to just...

So with that in mind, I would like to share some of the fun little workouts I am going to try to do on days when I am strapped for time. All of these workouts I have pinned to my Get In Shape Girl board on Pinterest.

First up is this great Power Abs workout from Fitness Magazine.

I know I said last week that I was going to commit to the 300 abs challenge again but I just get SO TIRED of doing the same moves. So I gave this routine a try this week and I loved it. I was definitely feeling the burn :-)

Next up is the Lean Arms Pyramid from Tone it Up girls. I have linked to this before but it is still one of my favorites to do while watching TV.

 

And finally, I found this great new stretch routine for after runs. I can't find the actual source, but I have it pinned to my Running board on Pinterest.

So is anyone else totally guilty of pinning workouts on Pinterest and NOT trying them? I am so freaking bad about that. But maybe this can be the month I try some new ones out and share them with all of you guys! And of course, if you have a fitness Pinterest board, be sure to share the link in comments so we can all follow each other!

Now...moving on to HEALTH.

One of my health goals for the year has been to make sure that I am scheduling all of my important check-ups. Dentist appts, Lady doc appts and most recently...my dermatology appts. Ever since I was diagnosed with that minor skin cancer in the fall, I have been crazy about checking my body all the time. In fact, when I went it for my 6 month follow-up this week, I had like 9 places to show her. Luckily, none of them looked bad or "suspicious" to her so I got a clean bill of health this time!! I will still have to continue 6 months check-ups for the rest of my life...but it's a small price to pay for catching things early!

Now, I know this is the point where I talk about how we ate this week, but I suppose that's already been covered both in my camping post and in my failed goal above. We did not eat great this week and I certainly didn't watch portions of anything over the weekend. I have a MAJOR problem with snacking. In fact, I could honestly skip all big meals and just snack throughout the day. I suppose that would be fine, IF I picked the RIGHT snacks. 

If you have the same problem, here is a great list of 100 Calorie Snacks.

and here a few more.

I also found this fun Smart Snacking Shopping List.



And this list of snacks that make great Antioxidants.

So all you healthy snackers out there...what do you snack on during the day? I know fruits and veggies are an obvious choice but let's get real...sometimes a girl needs a little more :-)

Less Glamping, More Camping

Memorial Weekend was supposed to be the kick-off to our "Fun Old-Fashioned Family Summer" (Clark Griswold style). We had our camper packed, our new beach toys ready to go and a mini fridge full of burgers and dogs. We had patriotic lights to hang, fancy popcorn for Movie in the Park and I even went and had a little spray tan (so that I didn't blind everyone on the beach).

For about a week, my favorite weather man, Tom Skilling, was predicting a wet and cold Memorial Weekend. In fact, he predicted almost the same temps for our last camping trip a few weeks ago and it ended up being a BEAUTIFUL weekend with temps at least 10 degrees higher than they predicted. So mix that with Eric's unwavering optimism when it comes to camping weather and I was convinced that it would all be okay. I still packed all of our swim suits and assumed that we would get at least one day at the beach.

When the kids and I got down to the campground on Friday, the sun was actually out! We greeted all of our friends...

Played some games and built a cozy campfire.

It was a great start to the weekend. 

That is...until Eric dropped a few little bombs on me.

"I have to work 12 hours tomorrow."

Boom!

"And Sunday"

BOOM!

"And possibly Monday"

BOOM!!!!!!!!!!

I honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but seeing the sadness in Eric's face made me hold it all in. I know that working was the LAST thing he wanted to do this weekend, especially since he's been talking about it non stop for weeks. Eric lives for camping and I know this was heartbreaking enough for him...he didn't need me crying and whining. Plus, whenever this happens, we both try really, REALLY hard to be grateful for the overtime.

So that was that. Eric had to work, which meant I was camping ALONE with both kids during the day. At first it didn't seem like a big deal...I am home with the kids alone every day. How different could it be out in the woods? Turns out...it is a LOT different.

For starters, my kids have NO DESIRE to be inside the camper when we are at the club. They always want to be playing with their friends, going fishing, going to the park, going to catch bugs, etc. And obviously, that's what you are supposed to be doing when you are camping. But the hard part is...the kids always want to do different things at different times. One wants to play with their friend, the other wants to fish and then 5 seconds later, they are both dashing for the playground. It was hard keeping track of them, especially when I had to cook or even run inside to go the bathroom. Also...did I mention how it rained THE ENTIRE rest of the weekend?

I laugh so hard when I think about how I packed magazines and nail polish (I sometimes sit and paint my nails when we are camping). Like I said...I am used to GLAMPING and this weekend was straight up dirty camping. Muddy-shoes-wet-clothes-dirt-under-the-fingernails-kind-of-camping. I did things I have never done before on a trip, like let Blake pee on a tree at the park, or let the kids run in the pouring rain, or encourage them to sit and dig up worms so we didn't have to drive somewhere to get bait. 

I was in survival mode, baby! 

I did the best I could during the day without Eric but there is one thing I can say with absolute certainty...if it were not for all of my AMAZING camping buddies...I would have packed up all our shit first thing Saturday morning and headed home.

But the kids wanted to be there so badly and they had looked forward to it for weeks. Thankfully, I had so many friends helping me with the kids. We would take turns watching them at the park or letting them play in our campers when the rain would start. And then when my kids were literally CRYING to go fishing, our friend Josh took them both out on their own little trips with his kids. The girls went first, of course :-)

And the boys went next. I asked Josh to take pics of the kids so I could send them to Eric and Daddy was SUPER proud when he saw that his boy caught not one, but TWO fish! Blakers was so proud.

Although I had a ton of help from everyone while we were out there, I still felt a little overwhelemed. The rain was NOT letting up and when they finally cancelled Movie in the Park, I considered just taking the kids home for the night. But then when I saw all the kids in Sarah and Josh's camper laughing and watching a movie together, I knew they were having the best weekend ever and I didn't want to ruin that for them. So I sucked it up, put on the last dry sweatshirt I had, and started making dinner.

We decided to all combine whatever yummy food we had left to make and have one big "family dinner".

All the food was absolutely delicious, but the company was even better :-)

Although...it would have been AWESOME if so many people weren't around when I slammed my head into my kitchen cabinet. Oh well...at least they were all there to get me ice and pour me a margarita!

And Richard Gere was there to give me a hug too :-)

And this is where the night just got all kinds of silly. Our kids were all cozy in bed, we were listening to the rain, having some laughs and clearly drinking one too many cocktails. Ha! I will never let Heather forget this one :-)



We can all blame it on the margaritas and boxed wine :-)

It really was the PERFECT way to end the weekend. I know I've said this a million times, but we couldn't ask for better camping buddies.

CBs FOREVER!!!!!!!!!

Addie Graduates From Preschool

It seems like only yesterday that my baby girl was starting her SECOND year of preschool. K4, as they call it, was for the "big kids" and Addie couldn't wait to be one of them.

Once again, Addie was blessed with two AMAZING teachers. Teachers who loved her, cared for her, and taught her so much in just 9 short months. She can write her first and last name, she knows her address, she can count to 100 (and loves to skip the 60s for some reason. Ha!), she can do simple math and remember stories and songs by heart. She sings about Jesus ALL. THE. TIME. and asks me to read her bible stories. Although she is a bit of a talker in class, her teachers have always made it a point to tell me how caring, generous and loving she is with the other kids and that just makes me so incredibly proud :-)

On Friday, Addie put on her brand new graduation dress and headed to preschool for one last performance. Audrey was waiting for her of course :-)

The kids put on a great show and sang a bunch of songs from the school year. I took a million pics of them on stage, but this is my FAVORITE because it's obvious that my girl is not afraid to be on stage.

When the kids were done with their performance, they sang one last little number called, "It's Time to Say Goodbye to All My Friends" and I might have lost it just a little. I blame it on Dana...she started crying first :-)

Then it was time for diplomas. I know this isn't the best shot, but it is precious to me. I know I am going to look back on it when she is crossing the stage as a teenager and wonder where the time went.

Before graduation, the teachers asked each kid what they want to be when they grow up and then as each of them went up to the stage, the teachers read their responses. The crowd was in tears listening to them. Her class was full of future fireman, police officers, mommies, cheerleaders, Subway and McDonald's workers and veterinarians. Addie's response was still the same as it was the first day of school...she wants to be a doctor. 

And cue more crying...

After the kids got their certificates, they were able to join all of us in the crowd. Addie spotted her flowers right away :-)

And gave everyone hugs and kisses.

Our little graduate :-)

Although I am so proud of my peanut and so happy that we have another successful school year in the books...I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was a little sad that it's over. I genuinely LOVED her teachers this year.

I guess the only thing that's getting me through is knowing that Blake will hopefully have them one day too. Although, they may not like me as much after they have him. Hahaha! Kidding!! 

Kinda...

I know Addie is excited to be done with school for the summer too, but I know she is going to miss all her buddies.

I guess that just means we have LOTS of playdates in our future!

Before we left, we did our best to grab a few family photos. You will notice some family members missing (ahem...Dad and Blake) but you get what you can get! At least the back of Blake's head is in the one above. Ha!

So here is the graduate with Mima and Papa Steve...

And Nana...

And a very proud Mommy and Daddy.

Aunt Dana was even able to stop in on her way to work to give her favorite niece a big hug...

And some graduation money...which will be spent at Target later this week :-)

So you know what this means...my baby girl is now a 

KINDERGARTNER!!!!!!

Health & Fitness Friday: Deep Thoughts and a New Resource for Healthy Meals

Well it's here, my friends...Memorial Weekend. The kick-off to summer and BATHING SUIT SEASON!!!

{GASP}

I've been working really hard for this day. Running, exercising, trying to eat right. My body is still no where near where I want it to be, but I'm slowly learning to be okay with that because I AM trying. I turn down donuts, I do yoga before bed and I take my running shoes with me on camping trips. I am trying to be a healthy mom and that alone makes me proud.

Last week, I was talking to one of my students (who is also a mother) about running. She asked how I got started and the very first thing out of my mouth was, "To lose weight." That really is why I started. I wanted to lose those last stubborn 10 post-baby pounds and running seemed like the "easiest" way to do it. And I was right...it only took a few weeks to shed those 10 pounds and I was back in my pre-baby jeans before I knew it. I could have stopped then with Couch25K...but I didn't.

Half way through the program, something changed. I started caring less about the scale, and more about my pace and distance. I was becoming a runner and I didn't even know it. I felt myself wanting to run even when it wasn't a scheduled day on the training plan. I loved it. I really, really loved it and actually looked forward to lacing up my shoes and hitting the pavement.

That was almost 3 years ago and I still love running just as much as I did then. I still find it therapeutic and fun, as long as I don't start taking myself too seriously. It's natural to feel competitive with any sport and I am definitely competitive with myself at times. I want to beat my PRs, I want a sub 8 minute mile someday and I want to finish another half marathon. But as soon as I start worrying too much about that stuff or on how quickly the scale is moving...the fun is gone. I think even the best athletes in the world feel this way when they start stressing over performance, which is why ALL of us need a reminder from time to time.

I love this quote so much. It's what got me thinking about all this today...the true reason I run. I am lucky that I am healthy enough to do it, that I have the time to do it and most importantly...that I have the drive to do it. I never want to take that for granted :-)

So that's my FITNESS inspiration and deep thought for the week. Ha!

And here is a little recap of my workout schedule. I am happy to say I worked out {almost} every day again AND started a new challenge!!

FRIDAY: Yoga

SATURDAY: Ran 5 miles {9:19 average pace. Woohoo!}

SUNDAY: Rest

MONDAY: Ripped in 30

TUESDAY: Ran 2 miles

WEDNESDAY: Yoga

THURSDAT: Ripped in 30 and the new 300 Ab Challenge

I am hoping to have a similar schedule this week with a few more runs thrown in {hopefully}

Next up, let's talk about HEALTH.

Overall, this week was decent in terms of eating, only because I didn't prepare many big meals. Eric and I ate at different times so while I was feeding the kids, I would make myself a big ass salad and chow done while standing at the kitchen counter. Not exactly the best way to eat, but whatever. It got the job done.

Sadly, I didn't try any new recipes this week but I do have one planned for this coming week that I am DYING to taste. It's called Cool Ranch crockpot chicken and it sounds absolutely AMAZEBALLS!

I got this recipe from one of my new favorite recipe blogs, Family Fresh Meals. When you have some time to browse, check out all the delicious, fun recipes she has to share. I love that all of her meals are fresh, creative and EASY!!

Well guys...that's all I have for today's installment!! I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Weekend!!

5 Reasons to Take Your Kids Camping

Memorial Weekend is the official kick-off of to the camping season and in an effort to convince all of you to join us camping this weekend, here are 5 reasons to pack up your tent and your kids for a weekend of fun and memories that will last a lifetime :-)

Eric and I have always been campers, but it was only within the last year that we started camping with our kids. And let me tell you friends...that's an entirely DIFFERENT camping experience than we were used to. Long gone were the days of just pitching a tent anywhere we wanted and surviving on chili and spiked apple cider for 3 days.

But now that we've done it and survived an entire camping season with a 2 and 4-year-old...we can honestly say that camping with kids is SO MUCH MORE FUN!!!! And here's why:

Camping gives you the chance...

1. To Explore the Great Outdoors

I will never forget the first time we went camping with the kids. We only drove 30 minutes from our home but to Addie and Blake, it felt like a vacation. We took them down to our recreation club, a place they have been a million times, but when we pulled into our space next to the woods, the kids were enchanted. The trees, the smells, the squirrels...it was all so exciting! We gathered acorns, we fished in the lake, we hiked on the trails and when night came...we looked at the stars. I couldn't believe how adventurous both of them were, considering the mere presence of a fly at home sends them both into a total panic. But here they were picking up worms, chasing frogs and catching fish! They both learned how to skip rocks on the water, how to tell the difference between a pine tree and an oak tree and what happens to food when we leave it on the picnic table (hello scary raccoons). Ha! There is just so much beauty to see in this world and when we spend our days rushing from one activity or commitment to the next, we miss incredibly peaceful, precious moments like these.

2. To Travel on a Budget

Last year, Eric and I were able to take not one, but TWO very special 4-day trips with our kids for about the price of one plane ticket. We were also able to spend multiple weekends at our local campground for next to nothing. If you and your family are new to camping, there is obviously the initial expense of purchasing tents, a camper, gear, etc. but once you have all that, your travel possibilities are endless. There are SO MANY places Eric and I want to take the kids and most of them have State Park Campgrounds, which can be as cheap as $5 a night if you are tent camping. The best place to start when searching for a campground is your state's Department of Natural Resources website. This is ours for Illinois. Now, if you and your family are looking for a few more amenities or activities, you can stay at a camping resort like Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park. We had the best time camping at Yogi Bear resorts last year and we can't wait to go back again this year. And of course, if you are on a super tight budget (or want a little camping test-run with your kids), let's not forget how perfect your backyard can be too! The great thing about camping is that you don't need a plan or itinerary to have the time of your life. You can just hop in your car or camper and head out on the open road. No matter where you go, there is ALWAYS a place to stay :-)

3. To Build a Campfire and Eat Campfire Food

I won't even pretend like this isn't one of the BEST parts of camping. The campfire is the one thing I look forward to most. I love the smell, I love the coziness and I love the FOOD!!! Eric has become quite the master at building the perfect fire and I look forward to watching him teach Blake (when he is way, WAY older). And while the boys do that, Addie and I can get all the food ready!! Her and I are so alike in that we wait all. stinkin. day. to have one of those delicious, gooey s'mores. And really...eating s'mores is a right of passage. ALL kids should taste one hot off the campfire at some point in their lives. And while their mouths are full, you can tell them stories. We so rarely get the chance to just sit and talk these days without the distractions of home. When you are around a campfire, there is no TV blaring, no phones ringing and no one coming to the door. Around a campfire, the kids aren't begging for the iPad or asking to go to their friend's house. Around a campfire, there is nothing but laughter and marshmallow mustaches :-)

4. To Make New Friends

When Eric and I bought our camper, we knew ONE other couple that camped with their young kids. But that didn't last long because after only our second trip, we had made a whole new group of camping buddies!! The families we met our first year camping are now some of our dearest friends. We schedule weekends together at our club, we plan trips to Yogi Bear and we've even started a little Facebook page to keep in touch with each other throughout the year. What Eric and I learned early on is that camping brings people together. Everyone isn't just sitting alone in their tent or camper. People are out mingling, talking, sharing firewood, sharing marshmallows, sharing a beer...it's like a little community no matter where you go. How often does that happen in a hotel? I think it's so important for the kids to have experiences like this and practice making new friends. And as much as Eric and I love camping alone too, we have grown rather fond of our camping buddies and all the great late night campfire shenanigans that take place :-)

5. To Make Memories as a Family

When I see teenagers still camping with their parents during the summer, I want to cry tears of joy. I know that there is going to come a day when our kids will no longer want to be with us every waking moment. They will have friends and social lives and sports and activities and we will be the LAST thing on their priority list. But...I truly believe that if Eric and I always make family time a priority and make camping our tradition, the kids will always look forward to it, no matter how old they are. I am excited to sit down each Spring and plan our summer trips. There are so many places to see in the U.S. and I think involving the kids in the planning process is half the fun. Seeing the world's largest Ketchup bottle will be WAY more exciting if it is their idea :-)

*****

So...have I convinced you to take your kids camping this summer?? If so, here are just a few helpful tips, links and apps to get your started. You can also follow my Cruisin in the RV Pinterest board for more info and links to fun stuff :-)

Finding Gear: The biggest decision in the beginning of this journey is to decide how you will camp. Are you going to rough it in a tent, or go "glamping" in a camper? Here are some of the websites where Eric and I buy all of our gear and goodies:

* Camping World

* Cabella's 

* Gear Trade: For buying and selling used camping gear. 

Picking a Campground: When picking a campground, take into consideration how long you want to stay (some places do have a time limit), what recreational activities you want to do while you are there (fishing, hiking, etc.), what amenities you prefer (like having toilets and shower or full hook-ups for campers/RVs) and if the campground is "kid friendly".

You can also start by looking online at Woodalls or downloading their app to read reviews of places before you stay. They have a great rating system and a pretty comprehensive list. But, if you really want an app for finding campsites on the road, you have to check out Allstays. Not only does it show you all of the surrounding campgrounds (with reviews), it also locates rest stops, 24 hour stores like Wal-Mart, RV repair shops and also notifies you of low clearance bridges (for those pulling or driving a large motorhome). It's a little pricey for an app, but could be SUPER handy on long distance trips.

Packing for Your Trip: Whether you are packing for one night in a tent or a week in a camper, there is a LOT to remember...especially with kids!! Start by getting together some checklists. You can find a ton of AMAZING resources on Wilderness for Kids, especially if you plan to really rough it.

There is also a fabulous list-making app called Camping List Pro that allows you to customize a packing list for each trip you take! This app is like any other list maker, except it has tons of lists already programmed with suggestions for what to pack!!

But if you are a paper person like me and just can't stand making lists on your phone, feel free to download all of the camping printables I made for our camping binder last year. They have come in very handy, but I also plan to do some updating this summer now that we have had a year of experience :-)

Once you have your gear, your campsite booked and stuff all packed...you are ready to make some family memories!!! I really hope you found this post helpful and in honor of camping season, I have decided to do a little camping post every other week to share new campfire recipes, tips and tricks. And of course, I will share LOTS of pictures from all of our trips this season :-)

Happy Camping Friends!!

The Past Few Weeks in a Nutshell

It's no secret that I have been a busy little disorganized bee the last few weeks. I keep meaning to recap some of the fun things we've had going on lately but time has seriously gotten away from me! It's almost the end of May and I haven't even posted about our Cinco de Mayo camping trip, Mother's Day or Eric's birthday!

So lets take care of that now with a big old picture post, shall we?

After a very looooooong winter away from our home-on-wheels, Eric and I decided it was time to Spring clean the camper and take her out for a little weekend away. Apparently the rest of our camping buddies were thinking the same thing and we all decided to meet at our club for a Cinco de Mayo extravaganza. Think lots of Mexican food and Lime-a-Ritas. We had an awesome group that weekend and despite the rainy forecast, the weather ended up being absolutely beautiful!! It was so great to get out and see everyone.

We were also able to convince Uncle Ryan, Aunt Meagan and Owen to make the long haul down for some camping fun. Owen LOVED his first bite of campfire s'mores and Uncle Ryan had WAY too much fun chopping logs and building the fire.

 I was so glad we were able to get away for the weekend and recharge our batteries because the next 2 weeks were full off paper grading and coffee drinking for me.

I love teaching more than I can ever explain and in my opinion, there is no greater job in the world. But man...I was SO READY for this semester to be over. Although in 3 short months, I will be SO READY for a new semester to begin :-) That's just how it goes. But until then...I am excited to spend more time on my #1 job...being a Mom. And speaking of which...

The Friday before Mother's Day, Addie's Preschool hosted a Mother's Day Tea party. The teachers asked all of the students in private to explain why they love their Mom. Addie's response was,

"Because she's kindful, she's in my heart and she's beautiful."

That response is so Addie and she tells me all the time how I am in her heart. I will honestly cherish that pink piece of paper forever :-)

Next year, when Blake is in preschool, he will have the opportunity to make me crafts and share his own feelings and I'm a little nervous for that. Ha!! The kid is NOT afraid to tell me how he feels. Although, he did tell me on Mother's Day that I was "Bootiful" and that he "Wuves me Berry Much." I'll take it :-)

Our Mother's Day was pretty low-key around here, especially since Mother's Day was also Eric's Birthday!!! I know this isn't very romantic, but we both decided to just go out and buy our own gifts this year. I wanted to upgrade my phone and he wanted some stuff for his fishing boat so we just exchanged cards, hugs and kisses. 

We did have brunch with my Mom and Grams and managed to take this sweet 4 Generation picture...

As well as a few candid shots with Grams and the kids. These make me tear up every time I look at them...so precious.

The best Mother's Day any girl can ask for is a day that she can spend with not only her kiddies, but also all the other very special Mommies in her life. I got to see my Mom and Grams in the morning, and my Mother-in-law and Sis-in-law in the evening for dinner. It ended up being a joint celebration for Eric too so we ended the day with a big old cake!!

That next week, Eric had to finish up his overtime job and I had to submit final grades so we were a little cray-cray around here. Luckily, the kids still had all kinds of fun things to do like playdates with friends and sleepoevers at Grandma and Grandpa's house...

And then when the week was FINALLY over, it was time for some much needed R&R.

This weekend, we were able to spend a lot of time having fun and playing with kids. Addie asked Eric on Friday if he could take the training wheels off her bike and by Saturday, she was cruising all over the place!!

My big girl :-)

And then on Sunday, we had a little belated Mother's Day/Eric's Birthday celebration at Stone Eagle Tavern (which was SO DELICIOUS) and then we headed over to Cabella's to walk around and check out some fish. The boys (and Addie) had a ball!!!

And now we begin the countdown to summer break! This is Addie's last week of preschool and she has her little graduation on Friday. I am already stocking my purse with tissues :-)

We are planning to camp this weekend for Memorial Day and then after our big dance recital on June 1st, we will be free for the summer!!! The kids are both doing a little T-ball class together and Addie will be taking gymnastics (just to try it out for next year) but other than that, we will be spending a LOT of time in my parents pool and frequenting the splash pad with all of our buddies. Oh, and let's not forget all the camping we have planned. SO MUCH FUN I CAN HARDLY STAND IT!!!

Yay for summer!!! And yay for being caught up on my blog. Ha!

Happy Monday friends!