Watch you like a hawk.

My mother always use to tell me as I would walk out the front door... 

"Remember who you are!  You never know who might be watching."

Likewise, our own children watch everything we do as parents.  

Don't they? EVERYTHING!

I use to watch my parents. For example my mother would do her hair & make-up every single day. 

Sometimes towards the end of the day, I'd find her freshening her lipstick. 

I'd ask, "Where ya goin'?" 

Her reply with a smile would be, "Nowhere. Your dad is on his way home from work."

I find myself following in her footsteps & my girls asking me the same question.

"A good example is the best sermon." ~Ben Franklin

A month ago I was in Idaho with my parents. I loved having them both all to myself! 

For the first day or so my dad got out his fancy pants camera & took some shots of me. It was so fun! He loves photography & is quite good at it I might add. The photo above my mother labeled 'LadyHawk'. Look closely. My artsy parents are truly the best. I'm so grateful for their examples.

The skinny...

I was recently asked my opinion regarding the "healthy" energy drinks. (First off, thanks for asking!)

OK. 

My opinion.  Actually, I think you already know what I am going to say. I personally would not use them. Ingredients like: Cane juice is basically sugar. A variety of juices is just juice. And then there's the caffeine...... 

I would not supplement with energy drinks or the like. 

Get extra rest. Drink water and herbal tea. Recognize that our bodies do get tired...for a variety of reasons. This is the body's way of trying to talk! (I wouldn't mess with those signals, and these types of drinks will do that... make sense?).  

Your body is SMART!  

 

Let it do it's job... naturally.

My new friend...

Introducing the AMT! I love this machine! Look for one at your local gym & give it a try. It glides, it steps & relieves pressure from your knees instantly! And what a workout! I gave it a whirl yesterday as I toured Apple Creek. Much of the equiptment there like the steppers, treadmills and bikes have there own personal "theatre screens". 

Adding to my repertoire

It's official.  In addition to my existing classes at Heart of the Valley, I will be adding a class at Apple Creek. The facility is beautiful ("resort" looking).  It is surrounded by evergreens and trees, trails & wildlife all of which will be available to you (watch for more on that under "Green Fitness"). 

Join me there for Sculpting Body Blast: A total body sculpting workout to strengthen, tone & define your shoulders, arms, upper body, glutes, hips, & thighs, quads, calves & abs. This effective nonstop class uses a variety of equipment to keep you challenged & motivated with great music to keep you energized!  All levels & genders welcome.

Every Tuesday begninning June 9 @ 8:30-9:30 a.m. I'm excited to get started and bonus for me it's not far from my home! You must register. (FYI: Funky Fusion will be added this fall.) 

The doors open tomorrow June 1!  

Also, check out the outdoor skills camps like Spelunking, Eco Exploring, & Begining GPS. My girls would love those!

Nothing tastes as good as being fit feels!

You know those crazy family moments when you wonder... "How in the world did this get started?" Well, we had one of those. 

Like last Sunday for example, when one of the girls grabbed the stopwatch & next thing I knew we were taking turns racing around the outside of the house timing one another trying to "PR" (track term for breaking your own "personal record"). I made it in 31 seconds flat. I will not mention any other records, except a certain someone did it in half my time...(huh humm KEVIN!)

Here 2 days ago I walked into the kitchen to find Kevin levitating the girls on his back, their legs extended, their bodies flat as a board. Mmmmmm. I nodded my head and assessed.

"Mom! YOU DO IT! Come on it's your turn!"

Okaaaaayyy! "So what? You just hook your arms around like this & now lift... lift.... LIFT YOUR LEGS! LIFT I SAY!" 

"You can do it MOM! Here we'll help you!"

"No no. I've got this. I just have to quit laughing! Give me a sec."

Ta-dah! Be amazed! The veins in my neck popped out, all muscles contracted & the abs pulled through! Hence... the levitating began!

Coloring my World

It didn't matter what else was going to get done for the day... I had to make two stops. And how convenient for me that each stop just happened to be right next door to each other.... I needed 'raw food' and paint! A girl on a mission, that was me.

Two hours later I had $200 worth of rainbow colored food & $200 worth of gorgeous paint in 4 shades. Money well spent. I was happy, mission complete.  Well, sort of.

I got it all loaded into the house... mango's, kiwis, strawberries, blackberries, honey dew, pineapple, broccoli, green beans, avocado's, baby spinach, mushrooms & sooooo much more. 

My focus is on eating nutrient dense food, not calorie dense food. Sure, I have an allotted amount of calories I need to consume each day, but not with 'garbage'! I want as many nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins & minerals as I can possibly get each & every day. The real stuff. Raw food. Why? 

Just a few benefits:

#1: Weight loss 

#2: Increase in energy 

#3: Prevents sickness & fights disease 

#4: Natural anti-aging components 

And it tastes good! Last night after dinner I pulled out the blender & quickly threw in 2 mango's, 2 handfuls of strawberries, 2 handfuls of ice & a cup or so of vanilla soy milk.  I poured it into some fancy glasses, topped it with a T. of whipped cream and a cherry. Delicious! The family loved it! 

So it's simple. I say the richer the color, the richer the benefits! Color makes me happy. 

You know what else makes me happy... looking out the kitchen window & seeing my plum, pear & apple trees in blossom! Beautiful. I'll be sharing again at harvest time!

p.s. I'll post some pictures of the paint job later.

Literally...

'Oh-no there it goes, sky opens up like a firehose, & it must be soakin' someone... can we stay here together, stay here forever & get lost in this weather!'

I could barely see driving home as my wipers were exhausted, as was I.

I had just finished my late night workout.  As I pulled into the driveway I could see my two teenagers in the driveway dancing to their hearts content! 

It was pouring, I mean torrential downpours! They were DRENCHED!

"MOM! Dance with us!" they cried out.

"I'm freezing!" I hollered back.

"Open the hatch! Turn up the music & DANCE with us!!!!"

I grabbed my gym bag & began to head into the house shaking my head but grinning at their fun.

And then I remembered as this little voice spoke inside my head....

"it's not about waiting for the storm to pass.... it's about learning to dance in the rain"

I was sopping wet as it was... I spun on my heels & turned the speakers up loud! The girls squealed. I started to laugh... so did they. 

And then we danced.

Mother's Day & Important Re-post

The girls made me the cutest card.

Mom,

You are such a SWEETTART. You make life a BIT OF HONEY.  You are EXTRA special & I know you were MINT to be my mom. You're the REISEN I'm growing up to be such a SMARTIE. 

Happy Mother's Day.

KISSES

I woke up Mother's Day to this beautiful ensemble hanging in my closet.  Kevin did a little shopping while I was gone at my favorite store White House Black Market...

dress, jewlry, shoes, the works! 

There are benefits to a husband who knows your size!!! 

And of course some dark Godiva chocolate & flowers made it for a perfectly perfect day after I finished eating his delicous roast, rosemary baby reds, grilled zucchini & green salad. 

And for dessert a homemade carrot cake prepared by my Soph. 

Am I bragging a bit... well yes, but they deserve it! Thanks family! It's so good to be home!

Click here for the #1 way I keep my weight in check.

Being Aware

A patch of sunlight to rest my bones.

Reuniting with the ones I missed.
Visiting with an old friend.
 Holding a day old baby bunny.

Seeing a complete double rainbow touch both sides of the earth. 

Ever been in the right place at the right time and you new it was meant for you. For instance, you're on a walk & right above you flies a flock of geese coming home from the South.  

It makes you smile inside and out and you know the 'snapshot' was meant to make your day just a little brighter.  I've always referred to them as God Gifts. He is aware of me and aware of you. I am so grateful. Just a few of my God Gifts over the last couple of weeks.

I'm Back & Ready to Work!

But first a few pics of my trip....        My dad.
              My mom.
My Grandma & Aunt.
My siblings.
         My nephew.

It's all good.

Feel Good.

Be Good.

Do Good.

Think Good.

Yes, Life is Good.

Digging in... with Photo Booth?

I once read you should spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6!  Well aren't I lucky.  I get that everyday!  My little 6 yr old Gracie & I have been practicing for her "Knowledge-a-thon"... 100 questions taken from the Classical Charter School's Kindergarten Curriculum. We were studying online yesterday.  

Me: Q #54- Four presidents are on what famous mountainside?

Gracie: (thinking very intently...) "OH! I know Mt. MUSHROOM!" (I begin to laugh...) Gracie says, "Oh no, its Mt. Mushmore!"

Me: Q # 89- Where would you find the Statue of Liberty?

Gracie: "You NORK!"

Before we knew it, we'd had enough and were both laughing & giggling too hard to continue & then found ourselves in Photo Booth, one of Gracie's favorite past-times.

I could just eat her up!  

"Give whatever you are doing & whoever you are with the gift of your attention."

YOU are a gift to someone.  Be there.

100%.

 

Herbal Tea

I am a fan of herbal tea. The kind with no "black or green tea" & no caffeine. Herbal teas are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, etc.  There are so many benefits. It's a great way to get your water in as well. If you live in the Fox Cities & have not been to the FAVA TEA COMPANY... then you are missing out!  

They have a whole wall dedicated to these types of teas. My #1 favorite is Ginger, others include Carrot Cake & Lemon Chiffon. And no, I do not add honey or sugar. Just steep & drink!

I'm looking forward to chilling the tea once the weather warms up.  

ENJOY!

p.s. My cholesterol numbers came back yesterday! Passed with flying colors!!!

Annual Exam

I spent a good part of my day being a good girl. And you should too. 

Not only did I have my yearly exam but I had a Lipid Panel done, you know where they tell you all about your cholesterol. Do you know your numbers? You should. Schedule your annual exam TODAY. And not only for you but for someone you love as well.

For some things to expect during your exam, click here. I left the doctor's office feeling pretty good about myself. So far so good. I'm right on track & passed with flying colors; however, I'm curious about my cholesterol & other routine test results that will come back next week.

Preventative Health is key and a MUST! Please let me prick your conscience to be "pricked" by your doctor. Ignorance is NOT bliss, NOT in this case...

Oh Sweet Endorphins

"Exercise releases endorphins, endorphins make you happy.  Happy people don't kill their husbands. They just don't."

Shoes

I am often asked about what shoes are best to wear when working out. I replace my shoes every 6 months.  My most recent are these... Nike Shox Vivify.  I've tried so many different brands and always end up back to my Nike's. Just fits me the best I suppose. You may be different.

But here's the deal. I suggest going to the Running Store.  CLICK HERE. You will be put on a treadmill for a couple minutes while being videotaped.  They will play it back in slow-motion and help determine your gait.  CLICK HERE. You will be sent outside running to "test" each shoe he fits you in. I was even put in a different  shoe on each foot and sent running so I could compare. 

Now with that being said, my brother-in-law is in podiatry school.  I just got this email from him.  He recently attended an "Athletic Shoe Conference". He said, 'You should test all your shoes in the store before you buy them, and don't let the salesman try to tell you otherwise unless he can tell you the 3 tests (shown above) and why each is important.  All the sports medicine specialists at our conference agreed that you shouldn't ever have to spend over $100 for your shoes.'

Spend it now... or spend it later. Either way you'll have to spend it.

I enjoy eating fresh crispy yellow, orange & red peppers! One of my all time favorites.

And can they be pricey! 

Yesterday as I went to the grocery store, that's what I wanted.  Are they in season? No. But my body was craving them, so that's what I got. I spent $10 on just a few peppers.  And to me worth every penny. They were cruncy, sweet & beautiful & I enjoyed every bite.

I say spend the money now so you don't have to spend it on meds later on. 

Meds like Glucotrol (Type II Diabetes) 

or

Digoxin (Heart Disease) 

& on & on...

with possible side effects of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, palpitations, confusion, fainting, vision trouble, weakness, etc.  

Can't ever recall a veggie doing that.

WHOLE FOOD is medicine; chalk full of nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants & minerals, etc.  Let your body reap the benefits today. It's worth it. You are worth it. Your body is worth it. 

"Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food."  Hippocrates

Specifics from my point of view.

OK... Let me think. So specifically.  Here it is. Yes, I do specific things to stay healthy & keep my weight down. 

-I rarely snack.

-I eat breakfast.

-I usually leave food on my plate at the end of each meal.

-I do not drink soda.  (Maybe 1 a month.)

-Nothing is "off limits" like sugar.  

-I have trained my body to NOT like the over-full feeling.

-If I eat more than what I normally do... I compensate & wait until I am on "empty" again.

-I found an exercise I love! 

-I understand that if there's too much food going in, it won't matter how much exercise I do.  It just won't.

-I exercise first for mental benefits... then physical.  

-I listen to my body.  If I feel like emotionally eating, I do my best to recognize it & work through it.  Emotional eating is normal for most women.  Acknowledge it for what it is & pick up something besides a fork. A distraction I call it.

-I like to stay busy.

-I am highly motivated by music.  I keep my iPod handy. It's a great "pick me up"!

-I chew gum!  Love the minty stuff!

I'll keep thinking.  

Wherever you are...

My favorite new saying... 

This has been on mind a lot lately. Being present and staying present. No matter who I'm with at the moment, giving them my 100%.  Life surpasses us way too fast!  Just enjoying every morsel that life feeds me... 

Today is my little Gracie's birthday.  She is 6. Home from school, she ran up the driveway with a big birthday crown on her cute little head.  I couldn't wait to hold her and her sweet face in my hands.  A moment I didn't want to end. Happy Birthday baby girl.  This is what it's all about.  Surround yourself with those you love... & then tell them.

A Blast from the Past & Finding Passion!

Yes, that's me in 7th Grade----

What a week!  It all started by connecting with an old friend I knew while I was in Junior High. It's been 20+ years!  Then to end the week I was asked to chaperone an 80's dance for our church group. Ever been in a time-warp?  

So I got to thinking as I looked back through old journals and scrapbooks.  Aren't memories the best!!!!!  I'm so grateful I kept a journal, took pictures & kept it all!!!  

Oh sweet memories...

The driving force behind this blog & its title is just that... building memories!  Digging into life! A couple years ago I basically wrote a book on how to lose weight and being motivated to live! During that process, I interviewed a gal who said, "Food is constantly on my mind.  The moment I wake up I think about what to eat.  The second I'm done eating breakfast all I think about is what am I going to eat for lunch... & so on."

Don't get me wrong... I enjoy food!  But when you find passion in your life you begin eating to live and not living to eat!  

I love people.  I love special moments.  I love making memories!  I love doing what I enjoy!  I love a challenge.  I love doing something that's hard to do!  I love reflecting.  I love experiencing life.  

I don't love food.

Not sure what your passion is?  Try something new.  Anything!  Just try!

TO BUILDING MORE MEMORIES!!!!!

....Off to join the Fox Cities Rowing Team!!!  Want to join me!