[Fitness, Health and Happiness]

Team Up Thursday

Theme: Spring

Images of spring.

When I think of spring I imagine beautiful weather and wanting to be outside. And, as captured by Tina at Just a Minute of My Time, the flowers and abundance of colors. Such a stark contrast to the grays of winter. 

For more Team Up Thursday visit Mental Inventory.

Team-Up Thursday

Music

This week's team-up is music. My photo is a new-to-me purple iPod. Compliments of my daughter after mine was stolen out of my luggage last weekend. I now have music for running again. Life is good. Thanks Alyssa. Love u :)

Tina at Just a Minute of My Time captured music with a shot of her son. He looks very focused.

For more Team Up Thursday visit Mental Inventory.

Team-Up Thursday

Everyday Beauty

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The appeal of my Everyday Beauty. Blue skies. Sunshine. Running outside. And new running shoes. Life doesn't get much better.

Tina's Everyday Beauty. While I've had my fair share of snow this year I love the look of it as it covers the trees and ground. 

Visit Mental Inventory for more Team Up Thursday.

 

Team-Up Thursday

Blue

Teaming up with Tina again and this week we captured blue. A favorite pair of jeans and blue skies. I think our combined photos have a relaxing feel.

For more Team Up Thursday shots visit Mental Inventory.

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13 Movies that Made Me Cry

1. Blind Side
2. ET
3. Steel Magnolias
4. Shawshank Redemption
5. Braveheart
6. Time Traveler's Wife
7. The Notebook
8. P.S. I Love You
9. Schindler's List
10. The Green Mile
11. Million Dollar Baby
12. A Beautiful Mind

At first I was going to rank the movies by "cried the most" and then I realized I cried a lot in all of them. If I had to pick the top "Made Me Cry" movie it would be Blind Side. What movies made you cry?

For more lists of 13 Thursday Thirteen

Team-Up Thursday: Fun

The Team-Up theme for this week is FUN. Tina at Just A Minute of My Time captured the joy of homecoming. My photo is my son during out annual family photo shoot at an abandoned building. He is not a fan of our annual photo tradition but he endures. This year the location was perfect for climbing, jumping and exploring. This year's location had the perfect opportunities for fun.

 

Thursday 13 : A New Fitness Challenge: P90X

 

Since my next marathon training program won't start until January I thought this would be the perfect time to commit to an intensive strength training program. Details: the obligatory "before" photo, 4:30 a.m. workouts, a fitness coach, breakfast smoothies, DVD home workout (a first for me), motivation and inspiration, a training schedule, a nutrition plan, weights, and my favorite Smart Wool socks. 90 days. Intense. 7 days/week. Kicking my butt. Loving it!

For more information on P90X click <HERE> 
Read more about my coach here Rhonda

Team-Up Thursday: Fall. My Favorite Time of Year.

 

For more Team-Up participants visit Mental Inventory. 

 

  

Team-Up Thursday: Small

This week's theme and my photo reminded me of a Winnie the Pooh quote, "Sometimes it's the smallish things that take up the most room in our hearts."

Tina's photo is the small book bracelet. As an avid reader I think I need one of these. SO cute. You can read more about Tina's photo here at Just A Minute of My Time. My photo is the chocolate chip cookies. No the cookies themselves were not small. It was Alec's small act of kindness (with a little humor) that I wanted to capture in this photo. Alec is taking a Life Skills class (a.k.a. cooking) and the first baking assignment in class was chocolate chip cookies. Each student that baked was allowed 6 cookies. While the majority of the class enjoyed their cookies some time during the school day Alec simply wrapped his up to take home. He didn't eat a single cookie. He told me, "I had to guard them with my life!! Everyone wanted to eat them!" and "When they asked I told them no, these are for my family." They were the best chocolate chip cookies ever <3

 

 

You can see more Team-Up Thursday at Mental Inventory.

 

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Products I Highly Recommend

1. Smartwool Socks Outdoor Sport
2. Aveda Shampure Shampoo and Conditioner 
3. MaraNatha Organic Creamy and Raw Almond Butter
4. Saucony Pro Grid Guide 2
5. TLC Chewy Granola Bars, Honey Almond Flax
6. Bare Escentuals Mineral Make-Up
7. Crystal Light Pure Fitness
8. Women's Health Magazine
9. Dark Chocolate M&Ms
10. Starbucks Shaken Iced Tazo Green Tea
11. Nike Pacer Women's Running Skirt
12. Runner's World Magazine 
13. Lysol Healthy Touch No Touch Hand Soap System              

Do you have a favorite can't live without product or products?

You can see more Thursday Thirteen participants here Thursday 13.

 

 13 - What Moms Do

 Happily, without thinking twice and without hesitation. Always.

1. Leave the house 20 minutes earlier than I have to so I can drive Alec to school.
2. Wake up at 4:30 to have "me" time. That leaves the evenings open for family time.
3. Share ponytail holders knowing they will disappear and I'll have to buy yet another new pack.
4. See more kid movies than adult movies.
5. Stay up all night, if needed, with a sick child even if you have to work the next day.
6. Become a fan of the Transformers movies.
7. Learn about football and more specifically the Pittsburgh Steelers.
8. Take turns choosing radio stations in the car knowing I may not be a fan of what is chosen.
9. No matter what I'm doing make time for "Mom can we talk in private?"
10. Take turns choosing restaurants.
11. Your heart seems to stop just for a second when the school calls during the day.
12. Share what is on your plate. Even if it is the last bite.
13. Make sure there is enough time in the morning when Alyssa asks "Will you put my hair up?"

 

View More Thursday 13 Participants Here
 

Team Up Thursday: Work

This week Tina, at Just A Minute of My Time, and I took our cameras to work. Tina happens to be married to her boss. Her shot on top is a peek at her husband's business. My shot is from the playground. This week's theme reminded me that I have worked with children my entire adult life. And as a psychologist in a school district I combine psychology, working with children and an academic environment which, I think, is the perfect combination. 

   

View More Team-Up Thursday Participants Here

Team-Up Thursday: Selective Focus

Tina's  camera is repaired so we're back with Team Up Thursday again. This week we played along with the theme from Mental Inventory. Tina's shot captures her selective focusing, colors and the sunlight beautifully. I played around with my daughter who was more than happy to try on all of her new school clothes. 

 

 

After a few days of being miserably sick this week's T13 topic was an easy choice.

13 Things That Make Me Happy 

1. The Running Makes Me Happy necklace I ordered came in the mail yesterday. I love it!     
2. I'm feeling better and I can stop taking Sudafed, which, by the way, I'm not a fan of.
3. My marathon is this month (serious mixed emotions about this depending on the day).
4. A request for some of my race photos for OhioRunning.org.
5. Shaken Green Tea Unsweetened.   
6. Long runs.
7. I start another photography class next week, Finding Your Joy by Kelly Willette.    
8. The anticipation of starting the P90X or Insanity workout at the end of Sept.
9. Smart Wool socks. I didn't think socks could make this much of a difference.   
10. I'm back to running this evening!
11. Sunday evening walks with Chad, Alec and Alyssa. 
     
12. The cooler weather.
13. Hearing kids play on the playground while I'm at work. 
       
     

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!

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View More Thursday 13 Participants Here

Team-Up Thursday: Me Time

This week Tina and I focused on "me". I knew what I wanted to capture but how. Since I took the pictures with the camera on the trunk of my car that was in the car that was in the garage I had the shadows to contend with. No amount of editing corrected the dark areas so I went in another direction with an action to enhance and add an artistic feel to the photo. I used CoffeeShop's Moody Action. Tweaked the layers a bit and was happy with the results, shadows and all. Tina's use of depth of field immediately caught my eye. The contrast is striking.

 

What does "me time" look like for you?

Trying new recipes. Finding new family favorites. Searching for that perfect recipe that all 4 of us will eat. 

13 New Recipes I Have Tried or Want to Try This Summer

1. Cilantro Lime Shrimp by Gina's Recipes
2. Chicken Sandwiches with White Barbecue Sauce (Weight Watchers' Our Best Quick and Easy Meals)*
3. Chicken and White Bean Enchiladas with Creamy Salsa Verde  by Gina's Recipes*
4. Baked Lump Crab Cakes with Red Pepper Chipotle Lime Sauce by Gina's Recipes
5. Grilled Chicken with Queso Verde (Weight Watchers' Our Best Quick and Easy Meals)*   
6. Goat Cheese, Tomato and Basil Pizza (Weight Watchers' Our Best Quick and Easy Meals)
7. Bruschetta Topping by She Wears Many Hats 
8. Restaurant Style Salsa by Pioneer Woman*
9. Asian Cabbage Slaw by Cathy Zielske
10. Grilled Peaches by Gina's Recipes
11. Shrimp Pasta in A Foil Package by Pioneer Woman
12. Asian Noodle Salad by Pioneer Woman
13. Seared Scallops Over Wilted Spinach and Parmesan Risotto by Gina's recipes  

(*recipes that have been tried and is a cook-again for at least 3 of us)