If we had coffee…

ahh sweet sweet morning java.

A little while ago I stumbled upon this blog post.

It resonated with me because it’s precisely how blog reading feels/is to me.  I read blogs in the morning with my coffee *before* the zaniness of my day begins.

I also liked the concept because my favorite blogs to *read* are written in that manner.  

As if we were just two friends getting together and chatting over coffee.

Ive got lots rolling around in my cranium today and really–if I could–I might not blog at all.

Id just invite you over for a cup.

Id tell you Im kind of terrified for the summer.  We’ve found our Oakland groove.  A few after school activities, a smattering of play dates, & the Tornado still surrenders to some mommy & me time.  It’s perfect.  And, in almost exactly a month, this new-perfect ends and summer begins.  Back in Austin Id know precisely how it would unfold.  Here? In Oakland? If we could meet for a latte Id tell you Im kind of terrified for the summer.

Id share with you how Id hoped this post would give me an epiphany.  Id overshare & ramble about how Im not sure what direction Im headed next.  Id badger you about whether you thought it’s time to shed my MizFit moniker.  Id repeatedly, annoyingly bring up how Im forty-three and ten months old and Im not sure where I want to weave my words anymore.  How Im ready to leap and make changes before 50 (!) — but uncertain where to begin.

Id smile in remembrance & share a Tornado story.   Id yammer about how she & her dad took a trip, had fun, sang songs and exhausted themselves.  Id laugh about how they inexplicably sang—at a random tour guide’s behest—rounds & rounds of You Are My Sunshine.  I’d stop, smile and tell you about how that night, as she couldn’t fall asleep, she told him:

Dada my skies are gray.  Mama is my sunshine.

Id tell you about a book Id just read & how it caused me to stop, think and *really* see the people around me.  Id ask you if you ever pondered things like that.  Id implore you to read it too so we could discuss.  Id giggle & tell you how I LONGED to start an early morning walking book club in my new neighborhood but I wasnt certain they were ready for Morning Me yet.  I’d grab my iphone and make you tell me all your favorite books and write done the ones Ive not read.

Id horrify you with my abundant knowledge of all the trashtastic shows on BRAVO.   Id yammer about Kroy, Bravo Andy, Patti Stanger, Josh Altman et al until youd wonder if I realized they werent really my friends.   Id beg you to DVR them and claim to only ever ever watch the stuff while I did cardio.

Id grow serious and share how the Tornado cried the other night as I held her.  How she said it was hard & she felt like she wasnt ten but wasnt four.  Id tell you how Id told her I understood.  I feel like Im not twenty—-but Im not 43 and eight months either.  Id tell you how she sobbed and said she didnt know what she was and I told her it’s ok.  Sometimes we dont know exactly what we are or how we feel and it’s ok.  Big people feel like that sometimes, too.

And then we’d both look at our watches and realize we needed to go.  Our to-do lists summoned and coffee time was over.

sad face.

We wouldnt mind, however, because we’d know we’d be here again. 

Tomorrow. 

Sharing stories and drinking coffee.

If we had coffee—-what would you tell me?

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Im not boring.

The pink gloves phase was definitely not boring.

The other day I stumbled upon an article which resonated with me.

I usually avoid “list articles” as the voices Im drawn to dont typically lend themselves to 8 Ways to Drink More Water Than You Ever Dreamed Possible or 5 Tips for Creating the Life You Want in 7 Seconds.

This article, however, had me nodding in agreement as it listed ways/tips to be more interesting.

First, it reminded me of a story (yes. apologies but that IS your cue to have a seat & relax.  Im going to yammer.).

Many years ago, in a hot, dry and sunny land my marriage was going through a rough patch.

We looked a lot like this.

Nothing major but a perceived vibe on my end the husband found me boring.

I interpreted his verbal/non-verbal responses as those of: Yeah I know. Ive heard it and seen it all before…

I recall saying to him (in my perhaps misplaced yet ever-present it’s SO YOU and NOT ME way):

Youre responding to me as if Im boring.  Im many things–annoying, overly talkative etc—but I know Im not boring.

I remember this interaction because it was an ah ha! moment for me, too.

My self-confidence (misplaced or not) has never been faked for the facebook or blog—yet it was *in that instance* I realized I was interesting.

Sure I may also be irritating & exhausting (Im nothing if not self-aware) but Im not boring.

not dull.

(it was, if you recall, a HERCULEAN TASK for me to become bored)

The article also sparked for me the realization the very notion of being interesting is inextricably tied with getting outside of ourselves.

With doing unto others.

With trying new things.

With sharing what you do/learn with others.

With being your authentic, weird, pointy backpack wearing, freak flag flying self.

Being interesting is the same as healthy living (OH SNAP! see? I managed to tie it back to what this blog is *supposed* to be about!):

It is all about the 80/20.

Being interesting is EIGHTY PERCENT focusing outside of yourself & TWENTY PERCENT sharing the humble brag in the same way healthy living is EIGHTY PERCENT abut living clean and TWENTY percent frolickingandfun.

Id never considered what it took to be interesting because from my vantage point we’re all interesting.

We all have stories, passions & unique freak-flags we fly—whether we do it publicly or not.

Actually—now that Ive sucked up 2 minutes & 35 seconds of your life youll never get back—being INTERESTING is as simple as living this Dr. Seuss quote:

Those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

Now you.

What traits do YOU find makes someone interesting?

View the original article here

Birds Eye Steamfresh Cut Green Beans Review

Reviewed by Tanya Patrice | May 20, 2013
Rating:

I first reviewed Birds Eye Steamfresh Cut Green Beans way back in 2008, so it was definitely time for an update. Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables are packaged in a special custom designed bag. While microwaving, this special bag becomes a steaming vessel as it puffs up under the pressure of the steam created within the bag. Vegetables are steamed to a crisp, colorful and tasty perfection.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 2/3 cup (81 grams)
Calories: 30
Total Fat: 0%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 0%
Carbohydrates: 5 grams, 2%
Fiber: 2 grams, 8%
Sugars: 2 grams
Protein: 1 gram

The package of Birds Eye Steamfresh Cut Green Beans that I bought is part of the "Pure & Simple" line, which means that it's not enhanced with any sauces or seasonings. The ingredients list simply states "green beans" and that's the way I like it. Green beans are my favorite veggies to eat cooked/ steamed, and this came out just as I expected - firm with a little softness to it and fresh but with a hint of sweetness.

Each 2/3 cup serving of Birds Eye Steamfresh Cut Green Beans provides 30 calories, no fat or sodium, 1 gram of protein, 2 grams of fiber (8% of the daily value) and 2 grams of sugars. There are about 4 servings in the 1 ounce (340 gram) bag that I bought for $1.93, so save extras in an airtight container for another meal - or snack on it throughout the day. Yes - I love green beans that much!

Don't hesitate to buy this in the grocery store if you see it. I ALWAYS have frozen veggies in my freezer - some steamable and some which can be made on the stove-top.

{Website: Birds Eye}

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Fiber One Honey Clusters Cereal Review

Reviewed by Tanya Patrice | May 8, 2013
Rating:

The only cereal that my husband will buy for himself is Fiber One Honey Clusters Cereal. It's described as, "lightly sweetened whole grain flakes with honey clusters" and provides 51% of the daily value for fiber, which is the reason he buys it.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 cup (52 grams)
Calories: 160
Total Fat: 1.5 grams, 2%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 230 mg, 9%
Carbohydrates: 44 grams, 15%
Fiber: 13 grams, 51%
Sugars: 6 grams
Protein: 3 grams

The cereal looks like cornflakes with small oat clusters. I decided to see what it tastes like sans milk, and it is, as they say, lightly sweetened. When milk is added to the Fiber One Honey Clusters Cereal, somehow the sweetness comes through more, and while there are no unpleasant flavors, it's nothing that will make you go "wow!" The taste is a bit bran-ish, and sweet but not too sweet. For 51% of the DV for fiber though, I'll forgive a lot. Not to mention that there's only 6 grams of sugars per 1 cup serving - most other cereals I've come across have between 9-12+ grams.

A closer look at the ingredients list does reveal that they use sucralose (Splenda), an artificial sweetener, in addition to sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, and malt syrup. Plus, the oat clusters have molasses and honey ... that's a lot of different types of sweeteners used to make this "lightly sweetened." Fiber One Honey Clusters Cereal also provides 160 calories per serving, only 1.5 grams of total fat and 3 grams of protein.

So if you don't mind artificial sweeteners, like the high fiber content, and don't mind that Fiber One Honey Clusters Cereal won't win any contests for it's taste - then this is not a bad way to start way to start your morning. I have this sometimes, but I much prefer Fiber One Frosted Shredded Wheat Cereal. It has more calories at 200 per 1 cup serving, less fiber (9 grams, which is still 35% of the daily value) and more sugar (12 grams), but it doesn't have the artificial sweetener sucralose and I prefer the taste.

{Website: Fiber One}

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OM yoga teacher training!

The universe whispers us messages and, when we dont listen, they get louder till we do.

Ive googled searched high and low and cannot find who said the quote above.

It isnt original to me (was it OPRAH?!)—but I *am* living it.

Allow me to explain.

The Tornado did not earn her nickname because she was docile & mellow.

First day in TX…shes trapped in sling for a reason.

In fact, at night when she wouldnt slumber, Id often watch as she’d do pull-ups on the side of her crib.

(which earned her other nicknames like Toddler FreakyStrong & General Mayhem.  neither of which flowed well on a blog.)

Toddler FreakyStrong.

General Mayhem The Tornado was a horrible sleeper. 

She ceased napping at age one.

Her typical routine was to fall immediately asleep from all her activity & wake a bit later for her nightly lung workout:

ahhh memories.

As a result we weren’t home from Guatemala very long when I decided to take a Radiant Child Yoga course.

I had zero plans to teach other than my class of one, but LOVED the idea of doing poses before bed as part of a wind-down routine.

Being the overzealous misfit I am, however,  I was so excited by the training I created ToGa (toddler yoga) and dragged friends & their tornadoes into the fun.

Yes. I had to have a logo…

We did poses & frolicked—but I quickly realized—more than anything—the Tornado needed to learn the art of self-soothing. 

For nighttime and beyond.

We both learned a thing or three about that from this guy (pour out some dog food for our fallen homie):

a face only a misfit could love…

Life grew busy & got in the way—but the universe still whispered.

At our photo-shoot for Austin’s Fittest Mom it was *she* who suggested we do yoga poses:

closetotoppling trees.

Namaste.

Still I didnt heed the messaging.

Id head off to yoga solo only to find her like this when I returned:

sweet, sweet limber youth.

Other days she’d spontaneously lead me in a practice:

“Mama do this!”

“0ooh I like!”

In the stress of the move I turned AWAY from yoga instead of toward.

I knew better, but was too exhausted to add another item to my list—even if my hips demanded it it was self-care.

Shortly after we hit OAKtown the Tornado started asking if I would teach yoga at her new school.  She said she’d be my helper.

She made me a coffee cup emblazoned with the image of us doing yoga.

(the universe was shouting)

I do love my coffee…

I picked her up from school one day & instead of the usual OOH MAMA CAN WE GO TO THE PARK? or IT’S HOT CAN WE GO GET A POPSICLE? she announced:

I wanna go right home and do yoga.

DoGa? Deck Yoga?

And we did.

We took turns “teaching” and she shared, again, how she wished I’d teach yoga to her friends at school.

And the universe hit me over the head.

And I listened.

FINALLY.

To bastardize a quote Ive decided to LEAP and *know* the class will appear.

A class of one.  A class of many.  I have no clue…yet.

All I know is I’ll have a tiny helper by my side & am excited to let go and watch this all unfold.

What messages has the universe whispered to you recently? Are you ready to listen?Do you ever leap & “know” resources will appear when you need them?

View the original article here

Home on this Sensational Sunday!

I don’t have much of a traditional Sensational Sunday because 9 hours of it was in the car, but I did start it off on the right foot!

Then we got ready to hit the road.

That picture cracks me up. I was already ready after a 3 mile hike, a shower, and packing. The Husband slept in and was STILL getting ready.

After watching him primp himself for 20 minutes we hit the road.

Ugh.

About 2 hours in we stopped for lunch and I went light.

That’s a smoked trout salad and it was delicious at Fredrick’s in Bolton Landing NY.

The Husband ordered what he always orders:

Wings.

The rest of the day was spent in the car.

It took us about 9 and a half hours and someone was waiting up for us when we got there.

Oh how nice it was to see him.

Tomorrow’s going to be a rough day catching up on everything. I attempted the food journal but it fell apart when I got home. Tomorrow the goal is to get right back to my routine. Gym first thing and some home cooked meals would be nice!

I have so much I want to do right now but I just don’t have it in me.

Hope you had a great weekend!

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Running on Vacation

Super quick as I’m heading to the pool!

I recorded this on my run this morning. I’m going to have to start bringing good camera with me because my crappy iPod did NOT do the view justice. It was GORGEOUS there.

Anyway, we’re having a blast. If you want to road trip with us, click here to check out The Unworldly Travelers. I posted picks from yesterday.

Have a great day!

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