Friday's Confession: I need more TIME

Friday's Confession: I need more TIME.

There are not enough hours in the day. I KNOW you folks can relate. Here's a snapshot of what my day looked like yesterday.

Me, after I dropped the kids off getting ready for my morning run. I've got my serious game face on!

After my run, my Nina (pronounced Nine-uh, like San Fran 49ners - yes, Husband went there), wanted to go out, too.

Then I kicked out a blog post, visited a few and got some freelance work done. I'm constantly on my computer so imagine this picture popping up after ever other one.

Had to do a little shopping trip to Super Target. For some strange reason my family seems to love it when I grocery shop. Go figure, they like to eat. 

After picking up the kids and knocking out homework I managed to squeeze in 30 minutes of Plyometrics. Got to love those swing kicks!

Next it was off to coach my little sunshine and 11 other 7-year-olds through a highly competetive softball game. We lost 13-12 but the girls gave a valiant effort.

Let's see, I left out about a million other things like cooking (yes, we did eat yesterday), washing clothes, and all that little fun stuff that adds up. I also didn't get to several things on my to do list which left me frustrated and wanting more TIME. I'm a big believer in scheduling, but I think I need to be a little more realistic about how much one person can do in one day.

Am I the only one who turns around and the day is over? I need more time ... or a wife.

Winks & Smiles,

Friday's Confession: Lights, Camera, Secrets

Friday's Confession ... I've been keeping a secret.

GASP!

And, I still can't tell yet.

Double GASP!

But, I will on Tuesday morning when I'm a guest on ...

My Atlanta folks, please tune in during the 8 a.m. hour of Fox 5's Good Day Atlanta this Tuesday, April 12. I will make sure to post the video here for everyone else.

*Insert big sigh of relief here*

I'm so glad its almost time. I'm ready to share the fun.

Winks & Smiles,

Friday's Confession: Running Around Disney WITHOUT My Kids

Friday's Confession ... I've been running around Disney for the past 6 days. Well, not actually RUNNING, although I did log in 13.1 miles during the Princess Half Marathon and three on Wednesday, but I have spent several days exploring some of the wonderful attractions Walt Disney World Resort has to offer someone like me when they are traveling WITHOUT the kids. Ahem.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I was thoroughly wined, dined, pampered and entertained by my good friends at Disney. While I miss my kids I must confess I'm having a blast in the most famous park in the world  - without them.

Here's a quick peek inside my little "adults only" getaway ...

We started off with a tour of the different Disney resorts. They have something for everyone across all price ranges from value resorts like the All Star Hotels: or moderate hotels like this one - Port Orleans.

And even deluxe villas like Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort. I'm in LOVE with this peek-a-boo bed and bathroom. Fab-u-lous!

Afterwards we headed to a private reception and dinner at Disney's Grand Floridian's Citricos for some good food and wine. Ahem.

Wednesday morning was all about some first class pampering at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. 50 minute Swedish massage. Pure BLISS.

After a lovely and healthy breakfast ...

And a few mimosas - gasp! ...

We headed to Animal Kingdom to experience thier new Wild Africa Trek attraction.

Me getting ready to get all geared up. I'll blog about this in a seperate post, but let me just say it was AMAZING - especially crossing the rickety bridge over Nile crocodiles! Yikes!

We wrapped up the day with some African Fusion food from Jiko and the Cirque Du Soleil - La Nouba show in Downtown Disney. It was so good it made me want to runaway and join the circus - or atleast learn a new trick.

I woke up the next day and went to France - in Epcot, of course.

The lovely ladies in Guerlain introduced us to their world of fragrences and cosmetics.

I got make up done.

And took a tour of their fragance garden.

Then we headed over to the UK for a tour and tea tasting at Twinings.

We wrapped up our delightful morning in Germany with a little carmel. Totally sinful.

On Thurdsay afternoon Disney's Dreamer Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine started; I'll be here covering that through Sunday. I'm doing a great job making healthy eating choices, I had no idea there were so many healthy options here, and plan on taking it to the next level when I get home. I'm less than two months away from my birthday goal and so excited that I've been RUNNING around Disney and have stayed on track.

Winks & Smiles,

Disclaimer: Walt Disney Resort provided my travel and accomodations; but as always, my thoughts and opinions are all my own.

Resisting Rest

Me after last year’s Princess Half Marathon. (Yes, I'm crushing poor Mickey.) That’s EXACTLY how I feel right now.

I’m tired. My body is tired. I have been running, strength training and playing tennis, sometimes doing all three in the same day, constantly since the beginning of the year. I’ve increased my workouts because I’m on a mission to bust out my birthday goal. I want it – bad.

Although I’ve schedule rest days I haven’t fully been taking them – gasp – even though I know better. Rest is just as crucial to the work you do. I know my body needs that recovery but sometimes I can’t help but resist it.

Today I’m going to rest. No running. No strength training. No tennis. My mind is mad at me for sitting still but my body will LOVE me for it.

Winks & Smiles,

My Super Bowl Stats

My Super Bowl Stats:

Packers: 31. Congrats, cheeseheads!

Steelers: 25. Sorry, Steeler Nation.

Christina Auguilera: 8. Sounded AWESOME, but she loses points for the missed words.

Black Eye Peas: 7. LOVE the songs, but Fergie was a little off – ahem.

Slash: 7. Kind of irrelevant but he gets points ‘cause he’s Slash.

Usher: 10+. Yup, I’m biased but he still rocked it.

Commercials: 8. Some made me laugh out loud for real; and some were just – dumb.

Beer: 3+. Gasp!

Tacos: 4. They were homemade lean ground beef.

Chips & Salsa: N/A. I plead the Fifth.

Cookies: 2. My first in a month.

Miles run: 0. It was a scheduled off day.

Tennis: 1 match, 3 sets. I was on the court for about 2 hours.

I probably burned off 1 beer, 1 & ½ tacos, 5 chips & salsa and ½ a cookie. Um, yeah ... I think I can live with that.

Winks & Smiles,

Friday’s Confession: Mastering Meal Planning

Friday’s confession … I suck at meal planning.

Well, that’s not actually true. I understand and can meal plan just fine – they’re just the SAME meals over and over again.

Gasp!

While that’s fine for me, I could eat spaghetti and clam sauce five days a week, the other people who live with me aren’t exactly thrilled with the lack of variety.

Yesterday, Husband discovered my stash of cookbooks filled with enticing recipes ready to be thrown into rotation.

Busted.

As he pulled out book after book I realize that I have been sitting on an arsenal of ideas with them and the internet at my finger tips – there’s so many wonderful food blogs out there.

So, here’s my start to mastering meal planning:

Map out the WEEK on Sunday. Great changes come with a plan. It takes the stress and confusion away and will streamline shopping. That’s worth everything right there.

Add TWO new recipes per week. I figure I need to go harder than just one but two is not overwhelming. I’m more likely to stick with it if I keep things simple and pressure free.

Have HUSBAND pick a meal. He found the books, he should use them. Seriously. Getting his input eliminates the guessing game of what he wants; and will help keep me accountable, too.

How about you? Am I the only one needing a little variety in the kitchen? What are your tips for mastering meal planning?

Winks & Smiles,

Friday’s Confession: Roller Coaster Ride

Friday’s confession … I’m on a roller coaster ride.

OK, not only did I show my stomach this week, but now I’m making vlogs sans make up? Oh my.



Anyone else taking a ride, too?

Winks & Smiles,

Friday's Confession: I'm Ready to Roll

Friday's Confession ... I'm ready to roll.

Um, yes. I really am that corny. I've finished shopping and I've stepped into my Mrs. Claus apron. There's nothing but cookin' and wrappin' happening at Wifey's house ... and maybe a little sippin'. Ahem.

May you and your family have a safe and happy holiday!

Winks & Smiles,

Does RUNNING in Stores Count as Exercise?

I wonder how many calories running through the stores burns? How about squatting to get in and out of the car? Hopefully a lot because yesterday I found myself indulging in this …

And these …

And I washed it down with this …

Yes, it’s the holidays and I was out celebrating my sister’s birthday and squeezed in a little shopping.

My sister and me

Before we hit the stores we used our gift certificates we got from my Race & Relax event last summer – big fun! Then we went to Six Feet Under to partake in that wonderful feast you saw above. After that is when we really got serious and headed to Target.

Serious. Calories. Burned.

While I’m definitely on a mission to meet my birthday goal, I’m going to relax my food plan through the weekend and enjoy some of the treats I don’t normally eat any other time of the year. Instead of depriving myself I’m going to stick to good portion sizes and small meals – even if they’re made up of fried chicken and pound cake. GASP!

Oh, and I’ll be the crazy one lunging through the toy aisle at Target.

Winks & Smiles,

Friday’s Confession: I’m Running TOO Fast

Friday’s Confession … I’m running TOO fast. Not my pace, my life.

Yesterday I got smacked in the face with a wake up call. School was delayed two hours due to icy roads, my kitchen sink wasn’t working – my garbage disposal is jammed – and the plumber can’t come until Monday, I didn’t get to write and post, no running or workout happened and then my daughter didn’t feel good and had to say home for the third day this week. Did I mention I haven’t Christmas shopped yet and had a full day planned of everything I was going to do. Argh. Obviously, none of this was major – thank God – but sometimes lots of little stuff is exactly what’s needed to shake things up and put them back into perspective.

As I started to stress out my daughter asked me to sit with her. After she curled up on my lap we sat and chatted. It was calming; and peaceful. As much as I thought I needed to get up and clean the bathrooms or check my email I realized that I really needed to sit there with her and slow down. At that moment I decided to put on the breaks and take some time to catch my breath. As challenging as it was I didn’t do much of anything. I had to slow my body and my mind down. I didn’t even tweet – gasp!

I put this quote on my Facebook page then backed away from the computer.

Midday Motivation: "Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going to fast; you also miss the sense of where you are going and why." -Eddie Cantor

As women we’re often trying to do so much for our families that we’re speeding through our days. Good intentions are there but we aren’t because we’re moving too fast. As much as I LOVE this time of year I was starting to feel like it was passing me by. Today, I’m making the effort to slow down. I don’t want to miss the moment – or anymore hugs from my baby girl.

Winks & Smiles,

Friday’s Confession … I’m Avoiding My Abs

Friday’s confession … I’m avoiding my abs.

There. I admit it.

It’s kind of ironic since a sexy stomach tops my wish list. While this is the most magical time of the year, muscles don’t just miraculously appear. A girl can wish right? Yes, but she’s also got to DO.

Since I clearly was not blessed with the perfect-stomach-with-no-hard-work gene, lack of effort definitely equals lack of abs.

Today wraps up my second week of adding strength training after my morning runs. I’m already feeling the positive effects that strength training adds to my running, to my weight loss goals, to my body definition and to my mood. The sad thing is that I know better than to skip the middle – the center, the core of my body. Abdominal muscles are essential to our body’s movement.

So why am I avoiding them? Good question. Maybe cause ab exercises are hard and my abs are not. Gasp! I’m not sure why (there is no good reason), but it’s time to make a change. The rest of me already has a two-week head start on my abs. Yeah, I know, I’m only cheating myself.

As of today, I solemnly swear not to neglect my abs.

Anyone else with me? Abs, legs, booty, cardio – whatever you might be dodging. It’s never too late to decide to make a change. Holla if you here me.

Winks & Smiles,

Friday’s Confession: I Suck at Portion Control

Friday’s Confession …

I SUCK at portion control. No, really. I’m not being modest here. Portion control is probably the biggest challenge I face when it comes to redesigning the healthier, more fit and sexy, ahem, body I’m striving for.

I’m pretty good at making healthy choices most of the time. I don’t do sodas, I switched my whites to wheats and all that jazz, but I need to remember that just because something is healthy doesn’t mean that I can eat it in mass quantities. My eyes see things bigger than my stomach; and quite honestly if it tastes good I simply like to eat it.

Yes, I would normally fill the bottom bowl with whole-grain wheat pasta and organic ground turkey sauce – and possibly go back for seconds; while really I only need the smaller bowl and maybe some broccoli, green beans or spinach salad to round it out. What I'm choosing to eat is great, but how much of it is not.

Now, I’m trying to eat smaller, more frequent meals (every 2-3 hours) and realize that if I like a dish, I can always have more of it for a another meal later. I’m also using lunch plates for my meals instead of the big ol’ dinner plates. If it can’t fit on the plate, then I don’t need it.

How about you? Am I the only one? How do you handle portion control? Me and my belly would love to know.

Winks & Smiles,

Friday’s Confession: I’m Injured and In Denial

Friday’s Confession … I’m a DUMB ASS. I’m injured and in denial. I have plantar fasciitis in my right foot and for some strange reason I continue to run and play tennis like it doesn’t hurt. I just got back from an 8 mile run and it does hurt - bad.

Now would be the time for someone to kick me in the ass butt. Oh, no really, feel free to do so in the comments.

I know better. I need to follow the doctor’s instructions, once I find them, and probably slow down over the holidays which I will do AFTER I run my third half marathon on Thanksgiving. *insert shaking head here*

Am I the only dumb ass one in denial? I promise to do better as I know I will pay for it later. Please hold me to the fire.

Winks & Smiles,

Friday’s Confession: Sometimes I get on Husband’s Nerves

Friday’s Confession …

Sometimes I get on Husband’s nerves.

GASP!

Or so he says. I know I can run things into the ground be a bit repetitive but sometimes that’s necessary when you have nothing else to say to get your point across.

Ever since my first child was born I’ve strategically used that to my advantage. Ten months of pregnancy, 24 hours of labor, and two hours of pushing is a great comeback when you want to get out of something and don’t want to sound like a wimp. When all else fails it’s my favorite and most frequently used comeback line. Let me show you how it works:

Husband: “Are you going to help me clean the garage?”

Me: “Dude, I gave you a son. Not today.”

And, once my daughter was born and I had two births under my belt it was really on.

Husband: “Let’s get the backyard done today.”

Me: “I bore your children; I’ve done enough hard work for this decade.”

Ok, my success rate is not too high (about 25 percent) but still you would think Husband would be grateful that after nine years of hearing the same ol’ comeback I whipped out a new line on him this week.

Husband: “Are you going to the grocery store today?”

Me: “Um, I just ran a marathon.”

I wonder how long I can milk this one …

Winks & Smiles,

Confession: Hi, My Name is Wifey and I’m an …

Hi, My name is Wifey and I’m an athlete.

GASP!

Some of you might say, “Um, duh!” but for me, someone who was content in her laziness for the first 30 years of her life, it’s been somewhat difficult to actually call myself an athlete. Yes, I played sports growing up, but I was still pretty lazy. Yes, I’ve been exercising for several years now but I still didn’t own it. Sure my tennis team won the USTA 3.0 Georgia State Championship, but somehow that wasn’t enough. Even when I became a certified personal trainer for several years I never looked at myself as an athlete.

Why?

Is it because I don’t have the “perfect” body and could still lose a few pounds; or is it because my 11-12 minute mile pace seems fast to me, but is a walk in the park to most runners? Could it be I was always labeled lazy and uncoordinated and you are what you think you are? Or, maybe it’s because my memory of my lazy days are too strong and I need to leave them in the past and recognize that I’m only days away from running my first marathon. Hello.

I’m an athlete because I’m out there being active – win or lose, fast or slow. I don’t have to be perfect, I just have to do it. I’m an athlete because I love to move, I love to sweat, and I love the way I feel after a good run. If I don’t workout for too many days I’m cranky as hell you don’t want to be around me; oh, and when I lose a tennis match it makes me want to hit the courts even harder so I can come out victorious the next time. Finding the right pair of sneakers makes me giddy and the clearance rack in the active department just might make me squeal. Race recaps and success stories are my favorite reads and I absolutely love cheering others on.

Me Showing Off the Coveted USTA Champion Towel After Becoming a State Champion

Hi, my name is Wifey and I’m an ATHLETE. I’ve decide to celebrate the athlete in me, how about you?

Winks & Smiles,

I Need More Time, Please!

Friday’s Confession …

I can’t tell time. Ok, that’s not true I can tell time, I just can’t stick to it. OK, that’s not true either. This would probably be easier if you just watch the video.



Am I the only one who needs more hours in the day? How do you make things happen?

Winks & Smiles,