Saturday's Shenanigans

The goal of today was to pack as much in as we could. I think we managed! I suffer from 'I hate to be home all day -itis'. Most weekends my hubby works Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 13 hour shifts. If I am without adult conversation and stuck indoors the whole time I start to go a little cuckoo's nest. So we started out this morning by me dragging the boys out of bed bright and early to support a great charity event hosted by Run Eat Tweet AZ. The rest of the peeps in the group did a run together. I am still not cleared for running. So I brought the boys' bikes and walked while they rode. The boys had a blast. There was lots of people walking their dogs, or running around the big lake at Chaparral Park in Scottsdale. I was just happy the boys didn't run over any puppies, or ducks from the lake! The charity event was for the Max Cure Foundation. It was so incredible to learn of their program and all they do to help fund cancer research. Our group donated 3 huge packed bags full of shoes that went towards their cause.

I am so glad another mommy from the group brings her cute boy so mine can have a buddy!

We all went out for brunch after the event. It was fun to visit with everyone since I did my own thing during the run. By the time we left 'Morning Squeeze' restaurant, it was only 11:30 am and we had nothing planned for the rest of the day. The freeway systems in AZ still freak me out after 7 years. I still get lost everywhere. But we were already out so we were gonna make the most of it and waste some time having fun. First stop was the Chandler Mall. The boys love the play place there. I love it because it's: air conditioned, the boys can run like crazy, they have soft seats for me, and I can sit and wave at the boys while checking stuff on my phone. An hour to Instagram and Pinterest, yes please! Any chance I can squeeze in some 'me time' while the boys think I am watching them play is good in my book.

While the kids played I snacked on the Huppy Bar I was given to do a review on. I wanted to like these so bad. The ingredients are amazeballs. So clean, and all natural. I live on bars since we are always on the go. I don't think I have ever seen a bar with all the super food in it before. Nuts, seeds, organic oats, flax, etc However, I just didn't like it. It contained spirulina, a superfood, and I think I tasted that too strongly. If you have a palate that can take strong flavors and wholesome ingredients than this is a bar for you. After a good hour at the play place we browsed a few clothing stores. That went pretty good until the boys decided to trick me and hide under the clothing racks to quietly watch me panic and run around yelling their names. They would pop out and yell BOO just giggling away. I don't know if I should've laughed or paddled them.  I had about enough of the trying to shop, but we couldn't leave without spending another hour in the Lego store. Free fun is about my favorite thing in the world. The Lego store is always a hit because they can build Lego's, play interactive games, and I am mean enough to be able to  leave the store empty handed not having spent a dime. I am lucky that my kids have learned that although I may like to do fun things with them, and most days are centered around them, I rarely buy them something unless they have earned it. I don't want it to be a battle every time we walk in a toy store. I don't want them to expect to come away with a new toy each time. 

We capped off the day finding a great park to play at. I was starting to have some negative self talk by this point. Friends from my running group had started texting pics of our morning's event. Between looking at those pics and trying a few outfits at the mall, I was starting to get down about my figure. None of the clothes I tried on looked good. My arms are starting to look like linebacker arms. My shorts leave intentions on my gut. I hate to blog about body image because I know we all look so different. But I do believe that this is a topic we can all relate with. I have put on 8 lbs since surgery. I haven't run in 89 days, but spent lots of those days eating like I was still running. 3 months ago I could still find stuff I didn't like about my body. If only I could get rid of my back fat or my butt more lifted and so on. What would I give to have that body I previously had! Why did I have to find stuff wrong with it when now I wish it for it back? Why do we do that?? Most women can find some thing wrong with our self image no matter how fit or unfit we are. I am sure that a time will come that I will look back and think, "why the heck could I have not just been happy with how I looked after surgery compared to now?!"  I want to make a conscious effort to STOP that negative self talk. Hopefully if you struggle with this, you can join me in this effort. I was pushing my boys on the swing while whining about my gained weight in my mind. My oldest son Kade suddenly yelled out to me... 

"Mom guess what? I am so lucky!"

"Why are you so lucky bud?"

"Because I have the best mom in the whole world".

I immediately teared up. I owe it to my boys to love myself so that I can love them. I owe it to my family to be happy with who I am no matter if my arms are perfectly toned or not. I have to accept that no matter if I am 115 lbs or 125 lbs, there will prob still be something I don't like about my body. But I need to punch those thoughts in the face. My family and friends do not care what I weigh. I don't want to let that negative self talk dictate my mood any longer. 

We got home in enough time to get dinner ready for my hubby after his long day. It was grilled cheese and apples for the boys and chili for Nate and I. Yes, I make separate meals every night for us. I envy the moms who are determined enough to just make one meal and the kids know they have to eat what the parents are eating or they go to bed hungry. I am not there yet. On the nights I cook, the boys get a separate meal of nuggets or mac&cheese etc. You just do your best right?! The boys are great a drinking green smoothies but still struggle with eating veggies. If you are a chili lover then you have got to try this. Ground turkey, diced chilied tomatoes, whatever cans of beans you like (I do pinto and black), corn, and my favorite is El Pato' sauce mixed in. I microwave a sweet potato and throw the chili on top. Paired it with my favorite way to eat veggies which is oven roasted. Spray a little EVOO on top and there you have it. Easy, simple, and pretty healthy.  Hope everyone had an eventful weekend. And remember to love your imperfections!

Magical Running Shoes

One thing that most all runners have in common is our love for running shoes! Runners are a funny breed and most of us hoard running shoes. Guilty here! Between my hubby and I, we go through an insane amount of running shoes. It is important to change out your shoes anywhere between 200-500 miles. We tend to aim for the 400/500 mark because of the cost. My hubby averages 200 miles a month. When I was healthy I averaged 160 miles a month. That has us buying a new pair of shoes every couple months. Yikes!

So question is, what do you do with your worn out shoes?? Use them for walking, yard work, chillin shoes, lifting weights??


What is it about a running shoe that makes it SO dang hard to part with? Some of those darn running shoes have a hold on me! A lot of blood, sweat, and tears happen between you and your shoes. "Our running shoes have magic in them-the power to transform a bad day into a good day; frustration into speed; self-doubt into confidence; chocolate cake into muscle"-By Mina Samuels.  I still have the pair that I ran in while running my first marathon with my hubby. We finished hand in hand (yes, I admit we are total cheese balls). It was back when Saint George Marathon still did the chips on the shoes. I took that picture today of my shoes, the chip is still laced on them. I will never be able to part with those stinky shoes. We have gone on to do 7 Stg Marathons together since then. We leave tomorrow morning for this race. This will be my dad's 18th Saint George Marathon. I have the fondest of memories watching him race there. It is one of my very favorite family traditions that I have. I will be cheering from the side lines this year because of my ankle surgery. I am heartbroken that I have to miss it, but I am still happy to cheer on my family and the other runners.

If you are being honest with yourself. You really don't need to hoard old running shoes. Your closet and garage space will thank you if you find something worth while to do with them. Nate and I love to donate our shoes (Well besides those ones mentioned above lol) We have given them to friends in need and different charities. Many of the shoes still look brand new! Too many running shoes get thrown away or just take up space. Your worn out shoes really can make a difference to another person.

There is an AWESOME opportunity on October 11th to donate those worn out shoes. I totally understand that we all have that one pair that is just to hard to give up! BUT, what about the 2-10 other pairs laying around?! The awesome running group that I am a part of , Run Eat Tweet AZ , they are joining forces with  Dunk your Kicks for Pediatric Cancer! They are collecting those worn out shoes and all proceeds go towards local Arizona Children! Everyone who donates a pair of shoes will be entered into a giveaway for a $100 gift card to Fleet Feet Scottsdale...Yes Please! What an awesome chance to get money for a new pair! So anyone who happens to be in AZ Oct. 11th should come check it out. There will be multiple group runs available:

• 10 mile long run starting at 6:00 am
• 5 mile run and a 3 mile run/walk starting at 7:00 am

Everyone will meet at Chaparral Park in Scottsdale for scenic views around the Lake. Go check out Run Eat Tweet AZ Facebook page for more details.

Oh, and some more perks about coming: 1. Meet some awesome running peeps 2. Warm fuzzies for serving others in need. 3. Additional drawings for FREE race entries into StartingLine Racing Events events!