[Fitness, Health and Happiness]

Random 13

1. This book, Expressive Photography: The Shutter Sisters' Guide to Shooting from the Heart , will be my next Amazon purchase.
2. And this book too, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are.
3. For early morning runners, Signs You Might Be A Predawn Runner.
4. I'm using photography challenges to practice and improve my photography skills. They're addictive.
5. This weekend I'm going to try and meet one of my 2010 goals by running to the top of this hill 
6. Enjoying this photoshop class, Photoshop Skinny-Mini eCourse with Kim Klassen.
7. I"m on week 3 of the P90X 90-day challenge and loving it.
8. I've started planning Thanksgiving and Christmas menus.
9. I"m enjoying the inspiration of this class, Picture Fall with Tracey Clark.
10. Alec finished his second season of Cross Country this week.
11. Alyssa started her third season of competitive cheer.
12. Meet my P90X eCoach, Motivation Mama, also known as Rhonda. She's awesome!
13. This video is one of my You Tube favorites

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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. 

 

  

 

4 Months of Training Motivation and Inspiration
Words. Images. Humor. Real life stories.
Celebrating my last run of 4 months of marathon training.

 
1. If you only watch one You Tube video this year make it this one.  

2. ANNA QUINDLEN : Life is made of moments, small pieces of silver amidst long stretches of tedium. It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won't happen. We have to teach ourselves now to live, really live...to love the journey, not the destination. 

3. I want to run the Chicago Marathon 2011.

4. A plan. Knowing what I needed to do day-to-day.

5. BILL COSBY: In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.

6. NIKE AD: You pretended the snooze button didn’t exist. You dragged your butt out of bed while others slept. While others ate their pancakes you had a feast of protein, glucose and electrolytes. You double-knotted. You left the porch light on and locked the door behind you.

You ran 5Ks, 10Ks, 26.2 miles. Some days more, some days less. You rewarded a long run with a short run. And a short run with a long run. Rain tried to slow you. Sun tried to microwave you. Snow made you feel like a warrior.

You cramped. You bonked. You paid no mind to comfort. On weekends. On holidays. You made excuses to keep going. Questioned yourself. Played mind games. Put your heart before your knees. Listened to your breathing. Sweat sunscreen into your eyes. Worked on your farmer’s tan.

You hit the wall. You went through it. You decided to be man about it. You decided to be woman about it. Finished what you started. Proved what you were made of. Just kept putting mile after mile on your interval odometer. For 25 years, you ran. And we ran with you. How much farther will we go? As far as you will. 

7. The comfort of a new running shoe.

 
8. Nike.

9. Lou Holtz: Ability is what your are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. 

10. Dean Karnazes' Life's Little Wisdoms: There is a very fine line between hobby and mental illness. Many a runner has crossed it.

 
11. More Nike.

12. A blog, Motivation Mama Drama. Meet Rhonda. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Her stories are hilarious. And her accomplishments are admirable. 

13. ROBERT BRAULT: How often in life we complete a task that was beyond the capability of the person we were when we started it. 

For more Thursday 13 participants Thursday Thirteen

 
 

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?"

 

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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. 

   

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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. 
       
     

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For Today 

Outside my window...it is dark and quiet
I am thinking...the weather is probably perfect for an early morning run
I am thankful for...my health
From the kitchen...coffee is brewing
I am wearing...pink pajamas
I am creating...documenting memories of the day to day
I am going...to run a 5k trail run with my husband, son and daughter this weekend
I am reading...the Sookie Stackhouse series
I am hoping...for cooler weather
I am hearing...the small fan in my studio
Around the house...we see back to school stuff...backpacks, lunch boxes and homework
One of my favorite things...photography
Here is a picture that I am sharing...

Home. Sunset. Tranquil.

Inspired by The Simple Woman's Daybook

 

I drew a blank for T13 this morning so I thought I would give random a try. 

 

13 Random Thoughts

1. I'm not a pet person but if I were I would clean up after them during our walks (I could write an entire blog post on this!).
2. My next purchase is going to be this Running Makes Me Happy.
3. I have a thing for cute shopping bags and I hate to throw them away.
4. My son came home from Cross Country practice yesterday and told me that was the best run he has had in a long time. That made me smile.
5. I'm so grateful to have a job that I love that includes winter, spring and summer breaks.
6. I work in a brand new school and wonder if the students truly realize the technological advantages they're being given.
7. When I'm driving and see a runner it makes me want to run. So, when I'm running what do drivers think when they see me.
8. I'm hoping to visit a friend in Canada during my spring or summer break next year.
9. I want to read through most of these 100 Helpful Photography Tutorials.
10. Why are artificial plants so expensive?
11. I'm ready to trade in my sandals for boots.
12. I don't feel ready to run a 1/2 marathon on Sun. I blame it on the heat.
13. My random thoughts don't seem too random-ish. This probably should have been 13 Things on My Mind.

 

Thursday 13 : Celebrating. Remembering. Documenting. Summer 2010.