No, I'm not just being funny. I really am allergic to exercise...you can read more here. Some people think this is cool, but it's not. I don't burn 500 extra calories everyday just because I'm allergic to exercising. I have to be really careful with what I do when I want to exercise and I can never eat before I go. Plus, it can be really scary.I wish I could run or jog..free, social, but that's the worst thing I can do. Makes me kinda sad. It happened once before I was married, a few times in between, and then in the last 3 years it has happened pretty much anytime I really push cardio or try to run (I've downed more Benadryl than can be good for anyone). Good news? I found out interval training works because my body can heat up and cool down throughout the workout which is key.
Even better news...I can ZUMBA! If you like to dance and haven't tried it yet, I would highly recommend it. Or, if you think exercise is super boring and a necessary evil (I fall into that category really often) give it a shot. I tried it once and was completely hooked...it was a full hour and it didn't even feel like I was exercising, but I came out dripping sweat. (However, the quality of the class totally depends on the instructor). I liked it so much, I got certified to teach, and in Michigan there are plenty of opportunities. I teach about 4 classes a week and get paid to exercise! I realized I wouldn't exercise unless I had a reason to, so it's the perfect fit...I get paid, it makes me work out 4 times a week, and I don't end up looking like an oompah loompah when I'm finished since Zumba works on an interval.
(And no, I don't get paid if you try a Zumba class. Kind of feels like I'm trying to multi-level market here, huh? No, I really do just like it that much!)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Lamest Valentine's Day Ever
I've been reading about amazingly fantastic Valentine's Day celebrations and crafts all week, so I had to put ours out there too:
*When Mike's asked me the week before, "We're really not doing anything for Valentine's day?" I said, "Nope, we're really not. I'm trying to plan/make it to 3 class parties and I have to teach 2 Zumba classes...that's pretty much all I can handle. Plus, I don't want to try and find a babysitter or rush home and get showered and dressed." He was a bit in shock, but he knew I was serious.
*The boys each got new basketball shorts and a box of Jelly Bellies with a handritten Valentine on a piece of pink construction paper from me when they woke up...I didn't even cut it in the shape of a heart
*Jace made everyone in the family really cute Valentine cards...that I forgot to get pictures of before we threw them away
*My kids had store bought valentines (no photos, no homemade suckers, no party bags...I know, failure)...even better, when we were assembling them the night before, I realized that we bought nerds and all the cards said things like, "Here's lookin at you nerd." Hopefully the parents understood.
*I helped plan and administer 2 big school Valentine celebrations and made it to the very end of one (one of the reasons for our lack of family celebrations)
*I taught 2 Zumba classes and felt particularly exhausted after the last one...did you know Valentine's Day is not a REAL holiday where people take the day off from exercise?
*We had no dinner plans...Mike made heart pancakes and we drank red smoothies together...not a bad improv. The kids were pleased.
*We had family night and hung out together and it turned out to be a really nice, low-key night. Exactly what I was looking for.
*We put the kids to bed and Mike got out his laptop to study for a huge midterm, I got my book out and pretended to read until I fell dead asleep at 9:30. Romantic huh?
Well, there is always next year, right?
*When Mike's asked me the week before, "We're really not doing anything for Valentine's day?" I said, "Nope, we're really not. I'm trying to plan/make it to 3 class parties and I have to teach 2 Zumba classes...that's pretty much all I can handle. Plus, I don't want to try and find a babysitter or rush home and get showered and dressed." He was a bit in shock, but he knew I was serious.
*The boys each got new basketball shorts and a box of Jelly Bellies with a handritten Valentine on a piece of pink construction paper from me when they woke up...I didn't even cut it in the shape of a heart
*Jace made everyone in the family really cute Valentine cards...that I forgot to get pictures of before we threw them away
*My kids had store bought valentines (no photos, no homemade suckers, no party bags...I know, failure)...even better, when we were assembling them the night before, I realized that we bought nerds and all the cards said things like, "Here's lookin at you nerd." Hopefully the parents understood.
*I helped plan and administer 2 big school Valentine celebrations and made it to the very end of one (one of the reasons for our lack of family celebrations)
*I taught 2 Zumba classes and felt particularly exhausted after the last one...did you know Valentine's Day is not a REAL holiday where people take the day off from exercise?
*We had no dinner plans...Mike made heart pancakes and we drank red smoothies together...not a bad improv. The kids were pleased.
*We had family night and hung out together and it turned out to be a really nice, low-key night. Exactly what I was looking for.
*We put the kids to bed and Mike got out his laptop to study for a huge midterm, I got my book out and pretended to read until I fell dead asleep at 9:30. Romantic huh?
Well, there is always next year, right?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
What's the Score?
Well, we don't know...because apparently kids are not supposed to keep score when they play sports any more. Even Jace, who is almost 8 is obviously too young to handle winning and losing. Oh, and you can travel, double dribble, you can't steal.. Let me just say, and I'll move on (or not), that I would rather teach my kids at a younger age (for sure by 6 or 7) to win and lose graciously and to play the game right...than to have it hit them in the face at some later point (when?) and then wonder, "Why doesn't everyone win? That's no fair! Everyone used to always win! I thought I was good. What happened?" I fully believe my kids are capable of handling winning and losing. And if they are not, it's time for them to learn how. It's like a major backlash from crazy sideline parents and abusive coaches. I'm pining for a happy middle.
Plus, kids play and try harder when there is something on the line. There is almost no incentive to play as a team if it doesn't matter who wins. Every kid on the court is in it for themselves, no one passes, no one goes for the sure shots, everyone is out to be Jimmer Fredet from half court. Harsh reality of life...sometimes you don't win. Get used to it. Learn to deal. Play harder, you'll have a better shot at winning.
So, I'm kind of sounding like a Tiger mom, but I'm not. Sports here are just a totally different ball game (pun intended). We are getting used to it, seeing the value in the Kumbaya theory, but in all honesty, wishing for better. A little healthy competition and a little intensity by the time you turn 8 doesn't seem like a sin.
That being said, the boys have loved playing basketball this season and had lots of fun.
Boy #3
Loves practice, hates games. Great dribbler and shooter, but when it comes to playing a game, he looks at his teammates as they swarm the ball and the other players like, "You guys are crazy. I'm just going to hang out over here, and if the ball comes my way, so be it. If not, I am NOT throwing myself into that mess of people." He marches to the beat of his own dribble.
Boy #2
Serious skills and seriously tiny. Such a coordinated and fast kid. He's learned so much and is starting to be more willing to be aggressive. Great dribbler, good shooter and plays hard. Jumps non stop and is almost always open right by the hoop, but no one passes. Basketball with 5 and 6-year-olds is always interesting, but he loves playing.
Boy #1
Crazy serious, competitive (though it has been drilled into him that winning doesn't matter, which is probably good for him), just a good athlete. He practices and plays hard and it shows. He loves being out there and loves team sports. Sometimes he thinks he's professional. Case in point: After a particularly lazy game of his, I asked him why he didn't try and get the ball, but just stood down by the hoop, yelling for the ball. His reply?
"That's what they do in the NBA. Other guys get the ball, then they throw it to the best player and he always shoots it."
I kindly reminded him that he does not play in the NBA, he keeps throwing up crazy shots, so he is not the best shooter, and 8 year olds have no desire to work hard to get the ball then pass it to the lazy kid at the end of the court. He didn't think I was being very nice, but really???? His confidence kills me. Lucky for us, the next game he was back into hussle mode. He doesn't like correction, but he's pretty good to put it into practice.
I have to say that one of the best things about having 3 boys is watching them play sports. Glad I like it because it looks like this just might be my life!
To read more, and see some darn cute pics, click here
Plus, kids play and try harder when there is something on the line. There is almost no incentive to play as a team if it doesn't matter who wins. Every kid on the court is in it for themselves, no one passes, no one goes for the sure shots, everyone is out to be Jimmer Fredet from half court. Harsh reality of life...sometimes you don't win. Get used to it. Learn to deal. Play harder, you'll have a better shot at winning.
So, I'm kind of sounding like a Tiger mom, but I'm not. Sports here are just a totally different ball game (pun intended). We are getting used to it, seeing the value in the Kumbaya theory, but in all honesty, wishing for better. A little healthy competition and a little intensity by the time you turn 8 doesn't seem like a sin.
That being said, the boys have loved playing basketball this season and had lots of fun.
Boy #3
Loves practice, hates games. Great dribbler and shooter, but when it comes to playing a game, he looks at his teammates as they swarm the ball and the other players like, "You guys are crazy. I'm just going to hang out over here, and if the ball comes my way, so be it. If not, I am NOT throwing myself into that mess of people." He marches to the beat of his own dribble.
Boy #2
Serious skills and seriously tiny. Such a coordinated and fast kid. He's learned so much and is starting to be more willing to be aggressive. Great dribbler, good shooter and plays hard. Jumps non stop and is almost always open right by the hoop, but no one passes. Basketball with 5 and 6-year-olds is always interesting, but he loves playing.
Boy #1
Crazy serious, competitive (though it has been drilled into him that winning doesn't matter, which is probably good for him), just a good athlete. He practices and plays hard and it shows. He loves being out there and loves team sports. Sometimes he thinks he's professional. Case in point: After a particularly lazy game of his, I asked him why he didn't try and get the ball, but just stood down by the hoop, yelling for the ball. His reply?
"That's what they do in the NBA. Other guys get the ball, then they throw it to the best player and he always shoots it."
I kindly reminded him that he does not play in the NBA, he keeps throwing up crazy shots, so he is not the best shooter, and 8 year olds have no desire to work hard to get the ball then pass it to the lazy kid at the end of the court. He didn't think I was being very nice, but really???? His confidence kills me. Lucky for us, the next game he was back into hussle mode. He doesn't like correction, but he's pretty good to put it into practice.
I have to say that one of the best things about having 3 boys is watching them play sports. Glad I like it because it looks like this just might be my life!
To read more, and see some darn cute pics, click here
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Missing AZ
Feeling a little Arizona homesickness right now. Really missing:
Arizona February...best month of the year
Free, delicious, fresh citrus
Our own grapefruit tree
Chatting at the park in the morning and after school
Couples Valentine party
Final four pool
Driveway play
Out of town visitors
Outdoor birthday parties with 25 kids running crazy
Challenger
Hirable babysitters
Sunshine
Bike rides
Walks with friends
Morning workouts at the basketball court
Juicing lemons for fresh lemonade
Bountiful Baskets
Cousins
BBQs at the park
Mountain time zone
Girls nights
Garage (I've been scraping the inside and outside of my windshield)
So, enjoy everything, for us too! We'll be ready to gloat again this summer.
Arizona February...best month of the year
Free, delicious, fresh citrus
Our own grapefruit tree
Chatting at the park in the morning and after school
Couples Valentine party
Final four pool
Driveway play
Out of town visitors
Outdoor birthday parties with 25 kids running crazy
Challenger
Hirable babysitters
Sunshine
Bike rides
Walks with friends
Morning workouts at the basketball court
Juicing lemons for fresh lemonade
Bountiful Baskets
Cousins
BBQs at the park
Mountain time zone
Girls nights
Garage (I've been scraping the inside and outside of my windshield)
So, enjoy everything, for us too! We'll be ready to gloat again this summer.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Best Salad Ever
I love to cook...not bake (too much measuring and no way to fix a mess) and rarely does my stuff look pretty, but it always tastes good...especially salsads. I got this recipe from Aimee Hada and twisted it up a bit and it was a huge hit at the last shower I went to, so I thought I'd share. The dressing is so fun and different, you might want to drink it.
Chopped Salad:
1 head of Romaine, thinly shredded
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
3 ears of cooked corn, sliced off ear (or 2 cups frozen corn, thawed and drained)
2 avocado, chopped
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 large mango, chopped
4 oz. feta cheese
1/2 bag of tortilla chips, crumbled
Lime-Cumin Vinegarette:
9 limes, juiced
almost 1 cup of vegetable oil
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground chili powder
2 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
Mix lettuce and cilantro, then top with the rest of the ingredients. Shake the dressing together then toss with the salad. You won't need all the dressing, so save some for later!
It's easier than it looks and so good. Enjoy!
Chopped Salad:
1 head of Romaine, thinly shredded
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
3 ears of cooked corn, sliced off ear (or 2 cups frozen corn, thawed and drained)
2 avocado, chopped
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 large mango, chopped
4 oz. feta cheese
1/2 bag of tortilla chips, crumbled
Lime-Cumin Vinegarette:
9 limes, juiced
almost 1 cup of vegetable oil
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground chili powder
2 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
Mix lettuce and cilantro, then top with the rest of the ingredients. Shake the dressing together then toss with the salad. You won't need all the dressing, so save some for later!
It's easier than it looks and so good. Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)