6/26/14

Gray morning clouds my second day walking

Today I got up and went!  Today is just over halfway to making it a habit. Today my brain got me going, yesterday it was my body.  One of these mornings I am sure it will be the dog making sure I don’t slack off.  I have been walking every morning for eleven days!  I even made it through the dreaded first weekend!

And the next day I needed sunglasses!

I am using the app Map My Walk and it sent me a summery a couple days ago.  It was really amazing to see the progress.  My pace per a mile has decreased by about a minute and my body has started to change shape. 

All this is great and makes me feel good but the benefit that has made me the happiest is that I have now have more hours in the day!

My third harvest of baby radishes.  I prefer them this way when I have them for breakfast.

It has given me time to be fully awake when my daughter wakes up.  It has given me time to have breakfast and do the first load of dishes for the day. It has given me time to work in the yard and garden.  I have radishes and eggs from my own yard for breakfast.  I have time to write!  And to read.  And to dream.

Yum!

Back to Me

I have been thinking a lot lately about the healthier times in my life.  Years ago (years it can’t be years!) I was playing football and I loved it! Then I decided to be a mom and put that on hold and the team moved out of town.  While I was pregnant I walked with the dog nearly every day.  It was great for the dog and great for me.  The latest was my jump into Crossfit.  I love it!  It was amazing! The support, the sweat, the pushing past the mental blocks.  It was the best workout I have ever had and the people were amazing.  Then my box (gym) fell apart.  It was one big mess and it was miserable.  So fast forward a year and a half and I have let myself go.  And I am not talking about weight I am talking about muscle and strength and stress relief. 

So I have been trying to get outside.  I have been working in the yard.  And it has been great!  But not quite enough.  I looked into Crossfit again but at this point I cannot justify the $100 a month!  So I jumped back to the last time I was consistently moving.  Back when I was pregnant and being healthy was a whole lot easier because it was not just for myself.  I was walking every day.  The dog was happy!  I was happy (gotta love that vit D).  And I lost over 15lbs while pregnant!  

So I decided I needed to change my brain a bit. It was easier when it was for two not just me but I am realizing that I am do need to be healthy for my whole family. My husband, my daughter, my dog, and most of all me.  I am not doing this to lose weight.  Whenever I think about losing or try to lose I always gain.  I have realized I need to focus on being strong and liking what my body can do. I like being the woman that can lift the furniture that move that load of brick.  I especially love being that mom that can get in and really play with her kids, I mean really make of fool of myself playing!

So today I started on the new journey to make myself happy.  I got up early (ugh) and took the dang dog for a walk!  Just her and me!  I will be working on no excuses and no giving up.  And the weather decided to test me yay rain for my garden!  I did it.  It was a start of one mile and twenty minutes but what matters is I was out there and I will continue to push to make my body work for me.

My Biker Babe!

Biker Face!

   So she comes running in wearing the enamel bowl we use for chili while camping telling me to come look at her riding her motorcycle.  I tell her I love it and I do!  I love her imagination and her resourcefulness.  She amazes me everyday.  She makes me smile, laugh and feel like a kid again.  It is amazing how fast you can go from that to being a very scared parent.  As you might notice the bowl has a handle that is also metal.  Not too long after this picture was taking she decided to sit up to the table and color.  No biggie does it all the time.  I am in the kitchen cleaning!! Yay for clean dishes!  Also talking to my sister to help me through the cleaning. Yay for sisters!  

   When clang! Screaming child....screaming child and freaking out child.  She had fallen off the side of the chair and hit the bowl on the step up into the next room. The impact dented the bowl just enough that the handle was pulled out and tight against her neck.  Enter me---- dropping the phone trying to stay calm while I try to calm her and figure out how I get the thing off (while in my frantic mind wondering how much air she has, where the bolt cutters are and how long an ambulance will take to get here)! Next is getting her to relax and close her mouth while pushing the handle in and off!  Holy smokes! 

   No permanent damage no temporary either.  And she only continued to cry because I wouldn't let her put the bowl back on her head!  It doesn't actually fit anymore.....good?  And off she ran to next adventure while mom tells herself she did not have a heart attack.

This is my helmet and my motorcycle Mom!

We got your 6 Cody Patterson!

This last Sunday I witnessed something amazing please read about it below.

Today I witnessed an amazing gathering of people.   Thousands of people who gathered together with one goal in mind: protect the peace so that a well deserving family could celebrate the life of a loved one.   Their young man gave his life doing his duty.   And they got a peaceful supported memorial for their son because thousands (thousands!!!) of people showed up.   That is it all they had to do was show up!  They stood proud, strong and united.   People who did not know Cody.  People who drove for hours to stand for hours.   People who do not support the war.   People with their own lives and families and obligations gave their time so that this family could have theirs unmarred by the threats of others.   And it worked.   It worked so well that most of us have no idea if the dealers of threat and hate even showed up.   It was such a sight to see I feel inadequate to describe it.   I just know that on this day love and peace won over hatred. 

http://www.gazettetimes.com/gallery/slideshow-service-for-army-spc-cody-patterson/collection_84a1b006-e185-5cbe-b732-919d7bf444d2.html#22

http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/thousands-turn-out-in-show-of-support-at-cody-patterson/article_f2ef48e4-39e0-11e3-a363-0019bb2963f4.html

Chili with Kale

On my quest to be strong enough to surf in Hawaii this year I have been trying 2 new things; Crossfit and Paleo.  The results have been amazing and I will share more another day but today I just wanted to share this amazing new recipe!  It is a bean-less chili and it was so very yummy.  Of course we ruined the Paleo-ness of it by making a batch of corn bread to devour with it.  Oh well baby steps right?

Chili with Kale
Serves 4 generously

1 lbs hamburger
1 32 oz jar of tomatoes
1 onion chopped
1 teaspoon of chili powder (more if you like it hot!)
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 dash of pepper
1 teaspoon of salt
1 bunch of kale chopped (stems included)

In  pot bring tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, and oregano to a boil.  Turn down to simmer add the kale and cook for 10 mins. In a pan cook hamburger until nearly all the pink is gone and add onion.  At this point you can cook the onions more or less depending on how crunchy you wan them in the chili.  I cooked them for about 5 mins.  Add pepper and salt to the meat and cook one more minute.  Add meat and the rest of the kale to pot and simmer for additional 10 mins.  Enjoy plain, with cheese, sour cream or a nice slice of corn bread!

I am a Librocubicularist

I was the kid that followed the rules

House Rules

I have been joining in on a parenting group here in the valley.  It is called Parenting in the Park and it has been a wonderful way to get out of the house this summer and connect with other parents.  Last week we had a discussion on Loving Discipline.  

One of things we discussed was house rules.  Rules that are set and therefore not a battle to enforce.  That said depending on the age of the child there will be some daily struggle to teach and remind them of the rules.  The following is a quick format of what has been working for us right now.  Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments.

1.       Feeling are ok

a.       Hurting people because of feeling is not

b.      You may stomp your feet or go outside to yell or punch your pillow.

2.       Use your words to have a better day

a.       Use calm pleasant voice when asking for things (no whining or yelling)

b.      Phrases to encourage

                                                               i.      I need some help

                                                             ii.      Please stop

                                                            iii.      No thank you

3.       If words aren’t working take a deep breath and try again or walk away

4.       Respect others turn/wait your turn

This is just a general idea for what we do around our house. 

One of the things that help us the most is to talk things through before the situations happen ie: We are going to walk to the park to day.  I need you to listen to me and stay close because we will be crossing streets with cars and bikes and we want to stay safe.   We are going to have some friends over and they are going to want to share your toys.  Remember when you were at Ella’s house and she shared her toys with you.