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#ComeAlive with MyEducation.com and Zoey the Zombie to Win $2500

October 17, 2011 By 1 Comment

I’ve been back to school since last September, 2010 and since then have more about my inner-strength and determination than I ever have before.  I’ve been challenged and have triumphed equally; each new triumph further fueling me – pushing me on to the next challenge.  I have truly come alive, or in this case #comealive, during this past year…of course while at the same time still trying to find time for sleep.

Along with my thirst for learning comes my thirst for brains…oh…wait…no…that’s not right.

My thirst for zombies…that’s what I meant.

Satisfying my love of continued education and zombies, MyEducation.com introduced me to Zoey the Zombie and her thirst for freedom from her deadend job.  I get that.  Totally.  When I was first pregnant with KJ I was stuck in a position where I was overqualified and understaffed; every day I went to work I was miserable.  Then I was put on bed rest and lost that deadend job.  Ya know what’s worse than a dead end job?  No job. And a new baby.

After KJ was born, thankfully, Jon had a good job and I didn’t have to stress about finding a new job immediately.  As we began nearing the age when she, the baby, would start to school I began to think about finishing up myself.  Here I was already working in the marketing field, why not finish my degree so that when KJ starts Kindergarten next year I am ready to either work for a marketing company or expand my own business further?  Either way I am going to need a degree.

So early last Summer I started the search for a good online college and answers to help me decided what kind of funding would be best for my situation…it was an arduous task and I nearly gave up early on.  If I had known a website like MyEducation.com existed it would have made my journey and the information navigation much more streamlined and simple; all you have to do is fill out a simple for and let MyEducation.com do all the hard research for you!

MyEducation.com is sponsoring a scary awesome contest right now for a chance to win $2,500! All you have to do to enter the MyEducation.com Come Alive Contest is to create and upload an original video telling how education can make you come alive! These videos will be judged by popularity so the key is to get all your friends and family to view your video and leave comments on it. Head over and enter the contest now…but first watch Zoey the Zombie’s video!

I am ambassador for MyEducation.com, however all opinions are my own. Find out more at http://www.myeducation.com/myeducationgirl?campaign_id=13161398.

Filed Under: Impact Video, Positive Changes, Promos Tagged With: , , ,

Reconnecting as a Couple – Our Weekend Away

October 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Last weekend Jon & I dropped the girls off with Poppaw and tucked ourselves away in an adorable little cabin at the Edgewater Resort at Taylorsville Lake.  After arriving frazzled & stressed early Friday evening, Jon and I spent the evening relaxing in the cabin’s hot tub and enjoying a bottle of wine together.  I swear we were almost like kids…giddy with the freedom of relaxation.

 

We spent the weekend kayaking, hiking and enjoying the time away and each other.  On Saturday we rode over to Bardstown and enjoyed a delightful wine tasting & winery tour at McIntyre’s Winery where we met the kind wine master, Tommy McIntyre.

 

He was wonderful, seriously.  Tommy let us taste every kind of blueberry and blackberry wine he had in stock, made us wine slushies, and gave us a tour of his entire operation.  I’m gonna write more about Tommy and his winery later this week because I really want you to learn more about his fantastic winery!

Check out my Smilebox Creation for a better look at our weekend away!

Jon and I needed this weekend away and I’m so thankful we took the time and spent the weekend reconnecting and just being together.

Filed Under: Impact Living, Impact Video, Positive Changes Tagged With: , ,

Mamavation Monday – On a Tuesday

October 4, 2011 By 5 Comments

Just another Manic Monday…oh and Mamavation Monday.  Looks like I missed last week since I’ve been crazy busy at work.  Except that it’s ya know…Tuesday night.  Sigh. See? This is how life gets away from me. And I’ll admit to my share of getting buried in funneh pictures and Facebook updates.  Anyhow…it’s been two weeks since my last update. WOW. Sorry about that!  I had my last weigh-in of our local Biggest Loser challenge and am proud to say that I ended it with a loss!  Woo!  Thank you to everyone who has supported me through the past ten weeks and will continue to support me beyond. I love you guys.

In the last two weeks the Mamavation group has ended and started a new #2weekchallenge with Jon and I plugging right along.  I am thrilled to say that I and another awesome woman won the last #2weekchallenge!  I will say that I don’t feel pushed as hard with this challenge and have been giving myself time to slack off in the last two weeks.  I have a feeling that coincides with the not staying responsible to the group or being adult enough to even post here despite my schedule.

The Numbers
• Date: 10/4/11
• Non-Scale Related Triumph: Jon works out with me every day.
• Weigh-in: 161.4 {- 3 lbs!!}
• Goal Weight: 140

Measurements

• Waist: 31 1/2
• Hips: 41
• L-Arm: 11 ½ (-1 ½ inch)
• R-Arm: 12 (-1 inch)
• L-Thigh: 21 ½ (-2 ½ inches)
• R-Thigh: 22 (-2 inches)

Healthy Living Breakdown

Exercise: We started a new GruntStyle/Mamavation #2weekchallenge last week and am now a full 8 days into it.  I’m getting more winded at the end, but am not nearly as sore.  I don’t feel like I’m getting as good a workout as I should be. So obviously I can’t be doing this all right.  I desperately want to see some waist shrinkage…and some bottom perkage too. What is your favorite exercise?

Water: Still? Still. I am a slacker. HOW are you getting all your water?

Eating Habits: Yeah. This is not so good. I have totally stopped being diligent in the last two weeks since finishing the Biggest Loser contest and the #2weekchallenge.  NOT GOOD. I have got to get myself back under control, eat some of this produce I am letting go bad in the fridge and stay away FAR AWAY from the snacks. What are you snacking on this week?

Alright. Here’s my weigh-in picture for the week to keep me motivated and keep me strong!

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Jillian Michaels Interviews Rita Wilson on EverydayHealth.com

September 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I love Jillian Michaels. Love.  Her sheer determination and drive for a healthy and successful life inspire me in a way I’ve never experienced before.  As a woman who is on the never-ending journey of a healthy lifetime, I was thrilled to see that Jillian would be a regular contributor to Every Day Health I was thrilled and when I saw that she recently interviewed another favorite of mine, Rita Wilson, I knew I just had to share the interview with you.  Did you know Ms. Wilson is a brand new editor at HuffPo?  She is!  Such amazingly strong women, it’s hard not to be inspired.

Go on.

I dare ya.

Tell me, who inspires you?

Filed Under: Positive Changes, Promos Tagged With: , ,

Mamavation – Seeing Changes

September 19, 2011 By 14 Comments

Wow. What a week! I started a new college class and am finishing up my math course this week. Jon and I have been good about working out nearly every day and making up for anything we might have missed. We’ve also been doing a good job of watching what we are consuming this week and making conscious decisions about what we allow our bodies to ingest. Yes, I’m talking a bit more about Jon this week since he’s been key in this challenge and for the last two weeks. It’s really nice to have him there to work out with and to have his encouragement while also being able to offer him my own. I think he’s really starting to like the differences he’s seeing in himself and the strength he can feel growing. I told him it was addictive.

The Numbers
• Date: 9/19/11
• Non-Scale Related Triumph: I can complete the #2weekchallenge workouts faster now even at two a day.
• Weigh-in: 164.4 {- 2 lbs!!}
• Goal Weight: 140

Measurements {Today was the last day of the Gruntstyle workout so I’ve updated the measurements. I will update again in two weeks.}
• Waist: 31 1/2
• Hips: 41
• L-Arm: 11 ½ (-1 ½ inch)
• R-Arm: 12 (-1 inch)
• L-Thigh: 21 ½ (-2 ½ inches)
• R-Thigh: 22 (-2 inches)

Healthy Living Breakdown

Exercise: This week marked the second (and technically the final week of the Grunstyle/Mamavation 2 week challenge and for the last couple of days we even moved up to doing two sets of exercises a day. Let me tell you I can feel it and I the ramp up to two exercises a day is just what Jon & I needed to see results and really push ourselves. I am thrilled to say that now that Jon has started to see results as well he’s really enjoying it and joins me pretty much every day. We’ve decided to keep going and with the current 2x a day pattern until the next #2weekchallenge starts up. I would really like to see some numbers change in waist and hips, but I know those are the hardest…I may have to throw in some more crunches or something during the day as well.

Water: All of the working out that we’ve been doing recently has certainly pushed my water level up, but I confess to needing to focus more on this in the coming week.

Eating Habits: Oh I did so much better this week! I am so proud of myself! I did indulge, but not to a point where I am regretting it today! I weighed myself on Friday and say the weight-loss first hand and I think seeing how much I had lost was a motivator for me to be conscious about my food choices and to indulge in small amounts. I’ve been upping my fruit and vegetable intake recently and plan to keep that a habit for this week as well. We stocked up on fresh fruits & veggies at the grocery this week so there’s no excuse for my not eating them.

Alright. Here’s my weigh-in picture for the week to keep me motivated and keep me strong!

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Mamavation Monday: Needing to Make Some Changes

September 12, 2011 By 8 Comments

Short update this week since I just updated everyone on Friday for Fitness Friday, but good news: I didn’t have to pay since I didn’t gain! Instead I lost .2 pounds…yes, I know it’s just .2 but it’s something right?!  I also went shopping for some new clothes to meet clients in last Friday and had a nice surprise there as well!  Let’s get to it this week:

The Numbers

  • Date: 9/12/11
  • Non-Scale Related Triumph: I have lost an entire pants and shirt size!! YAY!
  • Weigh-in: 166.4 {-.2}
  • Goal Weight: 140

Measurements {I won’t be updating these until after the GruntStyle 2 Week Challenge is over.}

  • Waist: 31 1/2
  • Hips: 41
  • L-Arm: 13 1/2
  • R-Arm: 13
  • L-Thigh: 24 1/2
  • R-Thigh: 24 1/2

Healthy Living Breakdown

Exercise:  I’ve been literally working my ass off with this GruntStyle Two Week Challenge with the Mamavation Sistahood and I’m thrilled because my Jon has been working at it as well.  I think it motivates us both to see the other working incredibly hard and getting exhausted…in such a good way.  I think the part I’m struggling with is that when I’ve doing the 900 million pushups or squats is my form.  I need to be focusing more on my form at this point, I find that when I near the end of the 900th set I’m just doing them quickly and rather sloppily just to get it done.  My worry is that I’ll not be able to finish if my form is perfect.

Water:  I’ll admit to slacking this weekend and not drinking all the water that I should be and partaking in some less than healthy drinks.  I am going to need to focus on getting what I need this week.

Eating Habits:  Alright. Here is the part I always struggle with right?  This week is no different. I do so well all week long, but come the weekend I convince myself that I deserve a day of no cooking and splurging.  That’s ok right? Well, then because it’s the weekend we inevitably end up eating out several more times before the weekend is over. This is becoming financially costly as well as physically costly.  It’s stupid for me to work so hard during the week to see it all go up into flames over the weekend. This is the real reason I’m not seeing any significant weight-loss. I simply cannot do enough exercise to work off the extra calories that I take in over the weekend…I do not like the idea of working hard all week just to eat it all up over the weekend.

I’m going to refrain from posting a picture of myself today since I just posted one last Friday on that post. You’re gonna have to wait until next week. ;-)

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Fitness Friday – formally known as Fat-Burning Friday

September 9, 2011 By 3 Comments

and about a dozen other names in the last 4 years.  Ha.

I figured since I missed my Mamavation Monday post this week due to being at King’s Island with the fam (more on that soon), I would check in with you today and maintain some semblance of accountability.    I haven’t weighed in in what will be two weeks Monday (no weigh-in due to the holiday), so I haven’t got any numbers to share with you, yet, but I did want to give you a weekly update and drop my weekly weigh-in picture with y’all.  I will say this, last week and this week have been much better performance and lifestyle wise.

The Numbers

  • Date: 9/9/2011
  • Non-Scale Related Triumph: I got my husband to start working out with me!
  • Weigh-in: 166.8 {I’m leaving it the same as last week since we haven’t weighed-in.}
  • Goal Weight: 140

Measurements

  • Waist: 31 1/2
  • Hips: 41
  • L-Arm: 13 1/2
  • R-Arm: 13
  • L-Thigh: 24 1/2
  • R-Thigh: 24 1/2

Healthy Living Breakdown

Exercise:  I have done really well in the last two weeks!  I’ve been working out daily, but I took off last weekend for some relaxation.  Last Monday I started Mamavation’s Gruntstyle #2WeekChallenge.  It’s kind of awesome.  I’ve done so many more push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, and squats than I have done in my entire life.  I’ve still been walking about 3 hours a week with some girl friends and just this week Jon finally bought me an incredibly cheap mp3 player that clips on my shirt, so now I can stay entertained even without anyone to walk with me.  Also got my new Brooks in the mail this week, but they’ve been rubbing blisters like a fiend while I’ve been breaking them in.

Water: This I’m doing pretty well with.  Thanks to the water pitcher I keep refilled constantly I’m able to meet my water goals easily.  

Eating Habits: Honestly, I’m doing ok here. Nothing special to report. I’m continuing to make (mostly) smart choices about the food I’m putting into my body, as well as my daughters’.  I have still splurged, but I’m not dwelling on it.  Fresh fruit, whole grains, and veggies have been filling my plate but I’m growing bored of the same old thing, so I’m going to need to spend some time researching new and healthy recipes to try with my family.

What’s your favorite healthy recipe?  Share it in the comments!!

Each week I am posting an updated picture to help motivate me and to hold me accountable…

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Healthier Breakfasts for Back to School: French Toast

September 1, 2011 By 6 Comments

I’m talking toast today y’all!

The French kind…

no…not kisses, this is all G rated.

Today we’re making over French toast. Mmmm…YUM, as my nephew would say.  But OH how bad it is for you!  I don’t even want to think about it!  Thankfully with a few small adjustments you can make delicious French toast the whole family will enjoy without knowing it’s good for them!

Print
Healthier Back-to-School French Toast

Rating: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Serving Size: 2

Calories per serving: 178

Fat per serving: 2.4g

Ingredients

  • 4 slices whole wheat French bread
  • 3 egg whites
  • ¾ cup 1% low fat milk
  • ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon
  • ½ cup fresh berries
  • powdered sugar
  • organic pure maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Heat griddle or skillet to medium-high.
  2. Beat the 3 egg whites, milk, and cinnamon until well blended and smooth.
  3. Spray your hot pan with cooking spray to reduce the use of butter.
  4. Soak bread in the mixture, place in pan and allow the bread to cook until brown on each side (about 5-7 minutes).
  5. Serve with fresh fruit and just a sprinkle of powdered sugar or a bit of pure maple syrup.

For more of my Healthier Back to School breakfasts check out how to make Lucky Charms & yogurt, a bagel & cream cheese, and healthier instant oatmeal.

Filed Under: Impact Living, Positive Changes, Recipes Tagged With: , ,

Mamavation Monday: Move Along, Move Along

August 29, 2011 By 10 Comments

Here we are, another Monday, I know I’m late on this post…but bear with me.  I didn’t weigh-in yesterday due to the tight schedule and looking back over the past week it’s only one of the dozen or so things I would change.  Happy Mamavation Monday to my Sistas.  Today was my weigh-in day and sadly I had to pay up; $5 to the county’s Biggest Loser campaign. {Hey, at least it’s going to a good cause right?!} Oh and hey, I’m guest posting about reclaiming my fit me on Ciao Mom so go check that out…go on. I’ll wait.

….still waiting….

All done? Thanks for reading! What’dya think?

The Numbers

Date: 8/29/2011

Weigh-in: 166.8 (+.2) {I’m choosing to believe this is muscle gain.}

Goal Weight: 140

Non-Scale Related Triumph: A member of my Biggest Loser team just asked this on Facebook, so I’m just going to paste here what I told her. “I can hold poses in yoga that used to just kill me, I’m WAY more flexible, I can run faster and harder, I’m drinking lots more water, and fast food makes me nauseous.”

Healthy Living Breakdown

Exercise:  I am not impressed by my exercising last week.  I did burpees every day this week except Friday and Saturday, walked for 2 hours at a leisurely pace on Monday with friends & 45 minutes at a killer pace with Starr on Thursday, and did various EA Sports Active workouts.  I did not, however, spend even a single day practicing yoga; by Sunday I couldn’t even bend over without being in pain I was so stiff.  Lesson learned.  I didn’t do any sort of working out Friday/Saturday and only did yoga last night…so in that sense I was definitely slacking.  I’m adding some new music to my playlist this week, including some Flogging Molly and The Dropkick Murphys…I’m on a bit of an Irish rock band phase and the upbeat tempo pushes me.

Water: Filtrete Water sent me a water pitcher {disclosure: as a thank you for representing this at BlogHer11} this week, so we’ve been filing water bottles up and keeping them (and the pitcher) full in the fridge.  I did really great all week with drinking until Friday and then I started slacking.  (Seems Friday was the trigger day for me.)

Eating Habits: Another mixed result week here.  I probably didn’t eat enough on most days and then beginning on Friday I ate terribly through the weekend.  I can’t blame it on anything other than laziness and the mood I was in.  Note to self:  Your desire to eat is not contingent on your mood.  Take me at my word when I tell you it wasn’t pretty this weekend and had I been working out those days it might not have made a difference…but I didn’t.

SO yeah…probably if I’m being honest that .2 in weight gain didn’t come from muscle addition.  I’m looking for a better week nutritionally, physically, and mentally.  I can do it!

Each week I am posting an updated picture to help motivate me and to hold me accountable…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s your triumph for the week?

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Healthier Back-to-School Breakfasts – Instant Oatmeal Makeover

August 25, 2011 By 3 Comments

One of my girl’s favorite back-to-school and cold weather breakfast is oatmeal and why not?! I mean, oatmeal’s warmth takes the chill off a crisp morning and it’s just the right amount of sweet to make a person enjoy it.  Instant oatmeal has artificial flavors and way too much added sugar, so before you reach for the instant oatmeal {which is ok in a pinch}, consider taking a few extra minutes and fixing your kids a slightly healthier warm oatmeal breakfast.  Your child’s teacher will thank you.

Instant oatmeal makeover

instant oatmeal substitutes: Quaker Quick Oats {or if you have even more time, try their Old Fashioned Oats} provide a sodium-free, 100% natural, whole grain breakfast that will fill your kids up with 3 grams of protein and the whole grain will keep them feeling full and fueled up until lunch time. And it takes about 1 minute to warm up!

give your oatmeal some personality: add wheat germ, honey, cinnamon, brown sugar, toasted almonds, fresh or dried fruit, pecans, you get the idea.  As long as you keep it healthy and proportionate, you’ll only add to the appeal of this tasty meal.

use milk instead of water for a more creamy texture and taste, plus you’ll up your child’s calcium intake a bit.

{I don’t have a picture up yet, since we had this yesterday but I couldn’t find my camera before it was all eaten.  I’ll make some more today and post a pic soon.}

In our house I always supplement with a bit or wheat germ{since the taste blends right in} and then add whatever toppings we have in the house or that one of the girls has requested.  We regularly end up with a mixture of quick oats, wheat germ, brown sugar or honey, and dried fruit. By taking just a bit more time {barely!}, you can provide a healthier, lower in sugar, and tastier breakfast for your child as they head off back to school with this filling breakfast.  What’s your child’s favorite breakfast?

 Image Credit: time_anchor
Filed Under: Impact Living, Positive Changes, Recipes Tagged With: , , ,
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