Mindful living.

I wish all of  you were here with me at my house.

More specifically sitting along side me in my office:

(oh and lest you imagine it’s all as immaculate as my desk—this is what’s behind me. a mess of a (finger quote) fitness center (unFQ).)

Because then I could lovingly turn to you and say:

I know youre so very busy (& we’d digress to chatting about why GROWN UPS dont get a summer vaycay) but Id love for you to visit me at the Attune Foods blog.

And you’d sling your arm over my shoulder, smile and respond:

Girl (thats what you’d call me) I am so.slammed.  I cant believe I made it *here* today.  Whatcha talking about over there?

And Id grab you by the shoulders–with a firm yet loving grasp—spin you around to face me and reply:

Yes. Everything. All of it.  A reflection on how I got to where I am (mindfully.), how Ive maintained (weightloss.sanity.) & how I know Ill keep moving forward on my path (focus.priorities).

You’d pause.  You’d furrow your brow.  You’d glance around the room.  You’d admire my mural:

You’d think about all the “stuff” you “have” to do and all the “distractions” from real living and mindful living in the day(s) ahead. 

And you’d say YES.

You’d pause your day.  Give yourself the gift of time & self-reflection.  Youd come hang out with me and we’d ponder together.

This post is sponsored by Attune Foods. My longing for the s-l-o-w life and attempt to force you to slow d-o-w-n with me is all my own.

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Tags: being present, living mindfully, living my priorities

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Father’s Day, Transformers, Laser Tag, Golf, and My Little Walker!

Today was truly a Sensational Sunday but unfortunaly I had to celebrate it with a nasty cough.

Since coming home from Seattle I’ve been battling an upper respitory infection of some kind. The last 3 nights have been rough. I’m giving it one more day and then it’s time to call the doc.

The In-Laws are in town for Little Guy’s 7th birthday so I became an omelet factory.

It’s nice cooking for people who like to eat. ;)

As a Father’s Day surprise Grandma brought a box of The Husband’s old toys.

Old Transformers.

He-Man.

Very cool. Everyone thought so. :)

That’s my favorite Father’s Day picture. My boys. :)

All the toy playing was making me hungry so I decided on some fruit and yogurt cups.

I’m trying hard to stick with snacks like that and this…

…and only eating them when I’m actually hungry. Consider this my Non-Weight Loss Weight Loss Goal week. I’m tired of messing around.

Anyway, today was Ryan’s official 7th Birthday Party with his friends.

We had a BLAST playing Laser Tag! I’m not sure if you can tell from the picture but he’s totally sweaty….

…and so was I. That’s a workout!

Dinner was a trip to fast food mostly because I was unprepared to feed 10 people at the house post-party and we had lots of family over.

I had a breast with the skin removed, baked beans and green beans.

I must admit…. super tasty!

After dinner I took the kids to the park so Dad could watch golf with his parents.

It is Father’s Day after all. :)

When we got back all the boys chipped a bit in the backyard.

We all stayed up so late it was snack time! Guess who had some melon…

I couldn’t belive it. He rarely eats fruit and he was pounded the honeydew. So did I. It was good!

Before bed we practiced a little walking.

He’s getting more and more confident every day!

Ok, I don’t mean to cut this one short but I’ve got to go. Long day, tired and The Husband’s falling asleep on the couch. :)

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Thirty days till 43.

Please commence gazing into this:

For some reason Im really excited about my birthday this year.

Typically Im more about other people’s day of birth mainly because I make time to celebrate and indulge myself daily.

This year, however, Ive been pondering and planning and *deciding* how Ill spend my celebratory 24 hours already.

Im not sure if it’s because it falls on a weekday & making that WORKfree feels decadent or if it’s because Ive been reminded repeatedly this year how fleeting life is.

Which brings me to the point of my post (no, we arent going to merely gaze into navel the entire time):

People frequently remark to me how young I look & that I dont look 42.

The thing is—I do.

I know I do.  I life-guarded too many summers during the time of “lets slather with babyoil!” to not look at *least* my age.

Of course I merely say thank you (as I do not want to denigrate their kind words), yet I know what they’re complementing is my young spirit & my ability to love and accept my rapidly wrinkling countenance aging bod.

What they perceive as ‘youthful’ is my pointy packpack.  The fact Im the comfy in my own skin-suit.  The way I’ll play and laugh with the Tornado without fretting about being “proper” or grownup.

Whether my outer appearance reflects my inner youfulnessment may be debatable, but the fact this will change is not. 

Im going to A-G-E.  A lot lot.  If Im lucky.

Whats important to me isn’t I never lose my muscle tone it’s I never misplace my love and appreciation for my aging vessel.

The below is a snippet from a recent interview.  It contains all my ‘loving my aging bod tips’ straight from my keeping-young-through-the-cardio-I-DONT-love misfit heart.

I’ve coined an acronym (because to know me is to KNOW I love me some acronyms) for my  peeps who remain skeptical about embracing our aging bodies as they are today (not ten pounds or more muscle or *anything* from now).

Appraise yourself internally not externally. Is your energy boundless? Can you literally or figuratively run circles around other moms at the playground?  Can you hoist your suitcase into the overhead bin without needing help? Make time to acknowledge and *celebrate* these facts.

Give yourself a break. My self-love skyrocketed when I embraced the fact I no longer looked twenty. No matter how “young” I may or may not look for 40+—I’d never be 20 again.  There are certain, uh, garments I may never again wear outside the privacy of my home.   There are activities I may not excel in (like Roller Derby) because I no longer have a 20 year old back.  Having that awareness allows me to take more risks because my expectations are realistic (<—- PONDER THIS. It was life changing for me.)

Express gratitude for today… tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Do I really want to waste my time obsessing over gaining three pounds when the alternative is not being here?  And, just when I think Ive got this one covered, something happens to remind me of the frailty of life.  I EASILY choose to be thankful for my careening toward old age bod when faced with the alternative.  And, most days, Im able to also choose LAUGHING at the coming/already here indignities of the aging process.

And thats where I am on this THIRTY MORE DAYS! Monday.

Appraising myself from the INSIDE out.
Planning a fun, festive & work-FREE birthday.Giggling at the Groupon I just received for BOTOX.

and you?

How do you *pause* & celebrate YOU as each birthday passes?

Got any additional tips for aging with joy not a grimace?

Wanna come play with me on 7.18?

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Rhyming Miz. What’s my workout is**.

Crass? yes. Truth? YES.*

My workouts? Not sporadic.

About that Im EMPHATIC.

It’s not so much *what* I do–

it’s consistent training. Good food, too.

Im really NOT all that fit.

Im nonetoosad.  I *own* it.

My weights time? Short!

Im the fast moving sort.

I plan, hoist, 30 seconds between sets

I *never* chat. No friends Ive met.

I breakdown my  body parts.

(This works cuz there’s no fits&starts.)

Chest. Back. Legs. Bi’s. Tri’s too.

OH! And shoulders there’s a place for you!

But *more* than that I see my day

as one BIG chance to move & play.

I take the stairs. I skip some rope.

No workout time? I do not mope!

I skip. I run. Hold my core tight!

Remind myself that it’s alright.

Somedays I workout traditionally.

More often than not it’s creative for me!

Im doing NOW what I can for *life*

And be a mother, friend, employee and wife.

*This image was sent my way by many people after seeing this video. I have no idea where it originated. If you know–let me know below so I may credit…

**This is in response to the five millions of you who cannot watch videos at work & requested a transcription.

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Sprint Intervals to Melt Your Fatty Parts (Home Workout #9)

This workout is NOT designed as high-mileage. Depending on your fitness level, choose either 1 or 2 miles. Sprinting intervals provides MAJOR intensity, so there’s no need for a long run. If you’re a wild person and decide to go for additional mileage (are you kidding me?), it’s really unnecessary and might slay you, so don’t come looking for me if you keel over from excess-mileage.

You should know beforehand how far it is to the end of each mile. Use your Garmin Forerunner, map it out online, or drive the course first to determine your one-mile marker. You could also head over to a school track. Four times around the track is one-mile.

SPRINT INTERVALS WORKOUT

Walk approximately 1/8 of a mile to reach the interval starting point of your choice. Then perform some light stretches prior to your run.

1-mile Sprint Interval (round 1): Start your Interval Timer on the “stopwatch setting” and begin with a medium-paced jog for approximately 45-60 seconds. Then switch it up with a sprint for approximately 20 seconds. Alternatively (this is what I do), choose neighborhood landmarks, such as intersections, street signs, houses, or roadkill to dictate your interval switch-up points. Continue the intervals until you have completed a 1-mile run.

Interval break: Walk for approximately 1/8 mile. Do NOT skip this break. Unless you’re a decorated Olympian, it’s recommended that you take this quick interlude for extra recovery before starting the 2nd round (mile 2) of sprints.

1-mile Sprint Interval (round 2): Reset your timer and begin second round of 1-mile Sprint Intervals.

Now it’s recovery time! Do NOT skip out on proper recovery. Lightly jog or walk back home for a good stretch, then hydrate and re-fuel properly. Record your mileage time in your workout log.

Fitness expert and Yum Yucky reader, Emergefit, said it best when it comes to this type of workout: 

BOOM goes the dynamite!

HOME WORKOUT CENTRAL

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A Sensational Sunday in Seattle and Marvelous Monday at Home

Yesterday morning I packed my bags and checked out of the hotel.

I had a full day to spend in Seattle. My flight was not scheduled until 11 PM PT

I didn’t really have a plan besides wandering around the city. So I headed down to Pike Place Market where I window shopped and people watched.

I found the bubblegum wall everyone talks about.

Click here to see a few more photos of the gum on Poop Butterflies. Posting them all here seemed like overkill but I wanted to share them.

As I wondered around I was amazed how hilly and staircase filled the city is.

There was also a lot of totem style wood statues.

Very cool.

I made my way towards Smith Tower.

I was planning on going to Columbia Towers like Tanne suggested but their observation deck is closed on the weekend. :(

It was the Concierge that told about Smith.

The view was awesome!

I love finding old or interesting buildings from above that you tend to take for granted when on the ground.

I also spied the needle. I really wanted to go.

For lunch I was craving something… something.. well, FRIED.

I had so much good food this weekend. Thai, Sushi, Italian. It was time for a good old fashion fish and chips style meal.

I had it at the Crab Pot and enjoyed a lunch alone reading a comic book I picked up for Little Guy.

I decided the fries just weren’t worth it but the cole slaw? Devine!

Next I made my way over to the Underground Tour.

It was AWESOME! One of the best walking tours I’ve ever taken.

The coolest thing? The old "Sky Lights"

This is what they look like from the top.

After the tour I made my way back to the Market…

… on my way to the Space Needle.

The view was amazing!

I could stay up there all day but I also bought a ticket for the Chihuly Garden and Glass Exhibit.

Honestly, I could have stayed there all day too! Each piece put a smile on my face.

As I walked back to the market I caught a few fun things.

I love fun advertising!

I made my way back to Market just in time to share dinner with Lacey, Amelia and Kath.

I stuck with soup and salad but Kath tempted me with amazing chocolate caramels.

After dinner I raced to the airport and flew home overnight arriving at 9 AM ET. It was a long… LONG.. night but it felt great to get home and see the boys.

I made a quick breakfast with my budding photographer….

Click here to see the recipe.

Then I slept.. and slept and SLEPT! I planned a head and arranged for a baby-sitter.

Pretty smart, huh? :)

The Husband has Tennis on Monday’s so it was just The Kids and I for dinner. I whipped up some Whole Wheat Pasta with Rainbow Chard and White Beans with the veggies from the farm. They picked up our share while I was away.

After dinner? Berries…

a walk…

and.. ICE CREAM!

I stuck with my favorite Banana Soft Serve combo over a tons of berries and adding just a few sprinkles for fun. :)

Phew. The last 48 hours have a been whirlwind! I don’t think I could have jammed one more thing in. Not one. And I’m so happy I had an extra day in the city. Just so you know, all the pictures above were taken in order and on foot. I didn’t take one cab, bus or train all day except to get to the airport. It was a totally foot powered day. :)

Now I must go to bed. Tomorrow I have lots of potential FitBloggin’ sponsors to get back too. My house is a mess, of course, and there’s a few things I learned at the conference that I want to put into practice on the sites.

I guess you can say it’s back to my crazy reality. :)

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