[Fitness, Health and Happiness]

To the veterans who have served our country as well as today's armed service members who sacrifice and risk their lives to protect us...a heartfelt thank you.

And a very special thank you to my husband and my dad.

Chad J. Conyers
 United States Marine Corps 

 

Travis P. Fickling
 United States Navy

 
 

By 39 seconds!

 

 

Two weeks after running the Flying Pig Half Marathon I set a half marathon PR by 39 seconds at the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon this weekend. And because I love stats, by the numbers...

 

 

My biggest fans. Thank you Chad, Alec and Alyssa! Chad and Alec I'm ready for the trail run relay.

 
 
   

And to make a perfect weekend even better I met Tina  and her family. It was her first half marathon and she did awesome! After several years of following her blog it was great to meet her in real life. Now I'm trying to convince her and Chlesea to meet me in Akron for a fall race.

 

More photos later of our visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
 

It all started with 7th grade health class...

• Alec questioned why the school teaches us to make healthy choices but the they offer very few if any healthy choices for lunch. Cheese filled bread stick is an entree...really?
• When he asked his teacher he was told you're right, pack your lunch. So he does everyday.

 

• Alec now reads labels and among other things he looks for HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) and if it's not at the very end of the ingredient list he won't eat it.
• During spring break we planted an herb garden.
• We started watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.
• I bought Alec Jamie's cookbook and he tagged all the recipes he wants to try first with post-it notes.

   

 

• And now, he cooks dinner for the family 1 night/week. His first menu:

Appetizer: Bruschetta (using fresh basil from his garden)

 

 

And from the cookbook: Shrimp and Avocado with Old School Marie Rose Sauce

 

 

Yes, it is as good as it looks! And we all voted that it's a make-again meal.

I'm excited about this and not just because that is one less night I have to cook dinner. I'm often referred to as the mom with the most rules particularly about what we eat. Now, Alec gets it! He even said that he is glad that I'm careful about what we eat.
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

A Revolution for the Kids

Did you know "the children of today, in 2010, are going to live a shorter life than there parents."

After reading my friend, Lee's blog post on Must See TV and being a long time fan of the the Naked Chef I couldn't resist seeing what Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is all about. It is truly a "revolution for the kids." This is perfect timing. As I've mentioned before, after starting health class this semester he has become more aware of what he eats. Reading labels. This is perfect for him (and the rest of the family). I try to teach by example when it comes to nutrition, health and fitness but it I don't think it's enough. In fact, it has become a family and friend joke. There are mom-foods, mom restaurants, mom-meals, Jill-foods. Yesterday a co-worker commented that I need to "live a little" when I didn't want to eat any of the homemade chocolate cake being offered. I thought to myself, to me eating that is not "living". It's all in perspective.

So thank you Lee for sharing this! Here's a sneak peek into Jamie's new show

And you can link here to  sign Jamie's petition. 

What I will remember most about Easter 2010

• Alec didn't want his picture taken and I didn't make him.
• I thought a lot about how Easter now compares to when when Alec and Alyssa were younger.
• I had a great run before lunch.

• An Easter basket for a tween and a teen that eat very little candy.
• We ate lunch at Bravo Cucina Italiano. The food was just ok but the 4 of us laughed a lot!
• Alec wore a t-shirt and shorts and I was ok with that.
• How much we laughed when Alyssa made a very strange sound when Chad repeated a "bad word" from a Lady Gaga song. 

 

• Fresh flowers in the house.

 

• Just being with him. A holiday means more time with Chad.

 

 

Earth Hour 2010

This year's Earth Hour is dedicated to my son, Alec. For the past few weeks Alec has been working on a project for Advanced Social Studies on famine, health care, government, etc. in Sub-Saharan Africa, more specifically, Chad. 

I have watched him research, write, and research some more. We've edited together, discussed ideas and simply had conversations. Yesterday while noticing his reactions to what he is learning it hit me...one day he is going to do something great and that something great is going to be something to do with being green. Something to do with making life better for others. Something to do with protecting our earth. Something totally selfless and just because it's right.

So, what are our plans for Earth Hour this year? It's going to be up to Alec.

You can register to join Earth Hour here My Earth Hour.

And for the kids Earth Hour Kids.  

 

Project 365, A Race, Crutches and 8th Grade

Project 365 with Gratitude Week 8

 

I ran my first 2010 race...the Shamrock Shuffle 2010! Despite the cold and rain I ran a 9:30 pace and I was behind Chad only by mere seconds. I'm ready for the next race...The Mini Marathon and Heart Walk in 2 weeks!

 
 

Good news for Alyssa. She has started physical therapy and no more crutches!

 

Last week Alec met with his counselor and started scheduling classes for 8th grade. Wow...my son is going to be in the 8th grade. A son that is talking about college. A son that, "I want to keep on top of things" and has. A son that I am incredibly proud of.

 

 

 
 
 

  

 

13 Reasons I Love Chad

Template : Ali Edwards. Word Art: Ali Edwards, Paislee Press. Scroll Embellishment: Paislee Press.
 

1. He makes me laugh.

2. When things happen he is the first person I want to tell.

3. His never ending support.

4. Kind.

5. Amazing father.

6. He sees the best in me.

7. Because of him I believe in forever.

8. He always does what is right.

9. He likes to run.

10. Romantic.

11. He is rational when I am not.

12. Random texts and emails throughout the day.

13. He remembers the day we met.

 

Life in the Conyers' home...

...or maybe the title should be life with a competitive cheerleader?

All it takes is something as simple and random as landing wrong.

 

Immediately start ice and Aleve.

 

It turns out that at some point a landing moved (is that the same thing as dislocated?) her knee cap causing the swelling and deep bruising. The doctor says she should be pain free by Sun.

Check out the latest in cheer fashion. An elegant black knee brace. At least it matches her uniform :)

 

And just because I like this picture...

 

Me? I'm running, reading, scrapbooking and taking a lot of pictures. I also started a new class, Pen Tablet for Scrapbookers at JessicaSprague dot com. I'm looking forward to my first race of 2010, spring, warm weather, blue skies, and sun. I'm done with the snow and cold!   

 

 
 
  

In 3-D

We went to see Avatar last weekend. The creative minds that it took to make this movie is nothing short of awe inspiring. The details. The story. The special effects. The characters. Awesome movie! 

A great way to spend a few hours on a cold Sunday afternoon. And there's movie popcorn.

I highly recommend seeing the movie in the new Fusion 3-D. Amazing.

 

For years to come it will define what movies can achieve. You're meant to cheer. And You Will. Time Magazine