Greetings!!
Last Monday was the beginning of the most awesome and most energy-demanding VBS week ever... During one of Maryland's hottest temperature weeks as well, whew!!
Everyday started with me having to wake up at 5:30am to drop the hubs off at work (our other car is in the shop) and then head back to the house in time to wash up and dress all the kids, feed everyone (including my nephew), and have my sister get him ready as well so I could take all FIVE kids to the church building for VBS between 9 and 9:15. Then drop them all off to their classes (I was so proud to see my oldest in her first actual grade level class :) So cute!) Oh, and then pin my name tag on and join up with the 3rd graders in the VBS morning rally!
The VBS day consisted of: Following the students to each station (rotation style): Crafts, Music, Bible time, Recreation and Snack, Small Groups, Music, and Closing Rally. Rec & snack was outside! In the hottest, most humid weather I've EVER experienced. I'm still trying to regain energy because it all but cooked out of me. LOL! Then after closing rally I would run back around and pick up all five kids from their classes and head upstairs to the offices where we would eat and then pass out in Mom's office. (That is, if the kids cooperated enough to eat and take a nap)... I'd cat nap and then I'd grab up FIVE sleepy-cranky kids and load them up into the van to head an hour out to pick up "Daddy" aka "hubs" and then... HOME AT LAST! Where I'd cook dinner if we didn't grab it already on the go and struggle to get the kids to sleep at a decent hour.
VBS week wrapped up with Friday's performance (which we attended and my oldest child sang in - awwww) and then as soon as it ended, Friday Night's VBS Coney Island Carnival began, indoors. So before we had even set up for my facepainting station... a line had formed from the front of the auditorium, to the back. LOL I never knew anything about Angry Birds until this week and I ended up face painting more angry birds than ever!!! Yep, angry birds and butterfly eyes, tiger faces, and unicorns... ahhhh, good times! This week was so much running around non-stop, going up and down stairs repeatedly, soaking in my own sweat outside during recreation, cramming a handful of grapes in my mouth here and there... Never a dull moment! :0) But I had a blast!!! My VBS kiddos, the 3rd Graders, Rocked!
I wonder how many calories melted off of me this week? I recommend committing to help out with a kids summer camp or a VBS week, you don't stay still and just keeping up with them makes you workout in ways you can't imagine. My legs, at this point, are sore and my back is whack, and my body is just overall tired... But I can't wait for the next one :)
XOXOX
~Steph
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Getting better, Steph-DayCare, and Plans to get OUT and enjoy me!
Hey there!
Here it is Friday and I haven't filled you in all week? What's up with that?? Alright to catch you up, the first part of the week I was still recovering from feeling horrible. I was dancing while doing chores during the day and then I was having stomach issues at night... that's a recap. But this week starting Tuesday, I believe it was, I had some strength back and I did some nighttime workouts. Being sick for such a long week and then doing crunches and core building exercises was like AAAAARRRRHHHHHHHH!!!!! But I pressed forward.
The children were shall we say, "Less than cooperative", all week long. I actually have another kid to watch during the day now. My nephew is now in my care from 11:30am to 6:30pm... Thank God that my husband gets home around 5!! But still!!!!!! I spent the whole week keeping my son and my nephew from beating each other up over toys and pulling them out of things they shouldn't be in, and fighting them to take naps, and so on and so forth... in fact, I'm exhausted right now just talking about it!
This will be a short posting, as I am going to try to catch a nap... tonight is DATE NIGHT and I have plenty of dancing to do at the lounge. Better reserve my energies!
xoxo
~Steph
Here it is Friday and I haven't filled you in all week? What's up with that?? Alright to catch you up, the first part of the week I was still recovering from feeling horrible. I was dancing while doing chores during the day and then I was having stomach issues at night... that's a recap. But this week starting Tuesday, I believe it was, I had some strength back and I did some nighttime workouts. Being sick for such a long week and then doing crunches and core building exercises was like AAAAARRRRHHHHHHHH!!!!! But I pressed forward.
The children were shall we say, "Less than cooperative", all week long. I actually have another kid to watch during the day now. My nephew is now in my care from 11:30am to 6:30pm... Thank God that my husband gets home around 5!! But still!!!!!! I spent the whole week keeping my son and my nephew from beating each other up over toys and pulling them out of things they shouldn't be in, and fighting them to take naps, and so on and so forth... in fact, I'm exhausted right now just talking about it!
This will be a short posting, as I am going to try to catch a nap... tonight is DATE NIGHT and I have plenty of dancing to do at the lounge. Better reserve my energies!
xoxo
~Steph
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Sick as a dog but dancing through the chores
Hey folks =-)
So, for whatever reason, my digestive system is out of whack - probably from postnasal drip! I spent the past week sick as a dog - I originally thought I was coming down with strep throat, but it turned out to be a severe sinus assault on my life. LOL. My head felt like it was going to pop open, sinuses were in a pressure cooker, nose stuffed and then draining and then stuffed again, eyes burning and leaking, and to top it all off, sore throat and minor inner ear issues. I almost went in to see my quack, I mean - my doctor, lol to ask "what in the world should I do and where do I start?" But I remembered that my mom picked up some Tylenol Severe Sinus caplets... I figured I'd much rather give those a shot than drive 45mins. out of the way to meet with my doctor for two seconds (with her barely paying attention anyway) - only to turn around and write a prescription that is supposed to rectify my snotty situation, but might (since she barely pays attention) counteract with another symptom and have me wind up on the set of HOUSE with some situation bigger than it needed to be but medication made it worse!
Paranoia? Maybe so, but I really need to switch primary care physicians because if this doctor is supposed to keep me healthy, she's doing a crap job... cuz I don't even want to see her! Lmbo.
Anyway, being sick and taking care of four wild and crazy kids is a hardship. Not much time to workout when you're popping meds, getting drowsy, doing chores, and changing diapers. I had to modify my workout time, I did my workouts during chores this week. I turned on the radio and cooked while dancing, did dishes while dancing, served the kids their food... while dancing, swept crumbs while dancing and did plenty of sweating too!
Dancing while sick must burn a lot of calories! Also, I had to keep myself super hydrated. As I hinted at earlier... I had a major case of the bubble gut. (yea, IT happens) I drank a great deal of ice water and sweat that out pretty much as soon as it went in. Last night the hubs and I went out to eat @ Red Lobster and stuffed ourselves pretty full. I wanted to be carried out of the restaurant!!! =-)
When we left Red Lobster, I wanted to throw my body on the curbside and sleep... feeling rolly polly and sluggish, I was fittin' to go in hibernation mode. But we drove over to the mall, parked the car, and walked a lap around the mall. Surprisingly, I felt awesome when we finished. My stomach didn't feel filled to capacity anymore and it made for a pleasant change of pace - you know, instead of the whole sleep on a full belly episode. (Which is really bad for you anyway).
After the mall walk we went to the Wal*Mart over our way to pick up some essentials, I also treated myself to two new nail polishes (yeah, I paint my nails now - imagine that! Even though I know that babies and dishes, and scraping grime off of tables and counters and floors will completely destroy them right away, I actually don't mind keeping up with the attempt to bring my SEXY BACK.) Oh, so anyway, then we went to a lounge and sat in a dark corner, listened to Caribbean music and Highlife. I started jammin'! The DJ was picking a lot of my faves and before 1AM rolled around, we were in that corner dance-sitting (hey, it was the best we could do, we were tired) LOL. Awesome time! Next time around, we'll skip the mall and restaurant and eat at the lounge, dance at the lounge, and get our grown people on!
So, when's the last time you went out? Seriously, put your hands up and step away from the diapers - set up some babysitting services and step out, get your grown woman on! Feeling overly domesticated?: "Somebody has to keep up with the children and the house"... true, but make it fun and dance through it. What step are we on now? That should be a step! Step *whatever*: Dance while doing domestic duties - practice for when you go out on the town to dance with the hubs or the girlfriends. If you aren't confident about your moves, ask someone to check out what you're working with first and give honest feedback. "No honest friends?" "Friends afraid to give you the steaming hot harsh reality in a mug that says I <3 U?" Shoot, ask me. I'll tell you that as long as you're comfortable, move to your own beat! Don't worry about comparing yourself to anyone else out there. If you skip a step, lose the beat, fall down... PLAY THAT JOKER OFF and start pop-lock-and-droppin'. Trust me. I'm a big fan of making those crazy embarrassing moments worth having!
xoxoxo
Steph
PS~ know any good doctors?
So, for whatever reason, my digestive system is out of whack - probably from postnasal drip! I spent the past week sick as a dog - I originally thought I was coming down with strep throat, but it turned out to be a severe sinus assault on my life. LOL. My head felt like it was going to pop open, sinuses were in a pressure cooker, nose stuffed and then draining and then stuffed again, eyes burning and leaking, and to top it all off, sore throat and minor inner ear issues. I almost went in to see my quack, I mean - my doctor, lol to ask "what in the world should I do and where do I start?" But I remembered that my mom picked up some Tylenol Severe Sinus caplets... I figured I'd much rather give those a shot than drive 45mins. out of the way to meet with my doctor for two seconds (with her barely paying attention anyway) - only to turn around and write a prescription that is supposed to rectify my snotty situation, but might (since she barely pays attention) counteract with another symptom and have me wind up on the set of HOUSE with some situation bigger than it needed to be but medication made it worse!
Paranoia? Maybe so, but I really need to switch primary care physicians because if this doctor is supposed to keep me healthy, she's doing a crap job... cuz I don't even want to see her! Lmbo.
Anyway, being sick and taking care of four wild and crazy kids is a hardship. Not much time to workout when you're popping meds, getting drowsy, doing chores, and changing diapers. I had to modify my workout time, I did my workouts during chores this week. I turned on the radio and cooked while dancing, did dishes while dancing, served the kids their food... while dancing, swept crumbs while dancing and did plenty of sweating too!
Dancing while sick must burn a lot of calories! Also, I had to keep myself super hydrated. As I hinted at earlier... I had a major case of the bubble gut. (yea, IT happens) I drank a great deal of ice water and sweat that out pretty much as soon as it went in. Last night the hubs and I went out to eat @ Red Lobster and stuffed ourselves pretty full. I wanted to be carried out of the restaurant!!! =-)
When we left Red Lobster, I wanted to throw my body on the curbside and sleep... feeling rolly polly and sluggish, I was fittin' to go in hibernation mode. But we drove over to the mall, parked the car, and walked a lap around the mall. Surprisingly, I felt awesome when we finished. My stomach didn't feel filled to capacity anymore and it made for a pleasant change of pace - you know, instead of the whole sleep on a full belly episode. (Which is really bad for you anyway).
After the mall walk we went to the Wal*Mart over our way to pick up some essentials, I also treated myself to two new nail polishes (yeah, I paint my nails now - imagine that! Even though I know that babies and dishes, and scraping grime off of tables and counters and floors will completely destroy them right away, I actually don't mind keeping up with the attempt to bring my SEXY BACK.) Oh, so anyway, then we went to a lounge and sat in a dark corner, listened to Caribbean music and Highlife. I started jammin'! The DJ was picking a lot of my faves and before 1AM rolled around, we were in that corner dance-sitting (hey, it was the best we could do, we were tired) LOL. Awesome time! Next time around, we'll skip the mall and restaurant and eat at the lounge, dance at the lounge, and get our grown people on!
So, when's the last time you went out? Seriously, put your hands up and step away from the diapers - set up some babysitting services and step out, get your grown woman on! Feeling overly domesticated?: "Somebody has to keep up with the children and the house"... true, but make it fun and dance through it. What step are we on now? That should be a step! Step *whatever*: Dance while doing domestic duties - practice for when you go out on the town to dance with the hubs or the girlfriends. If you aren't confident about your moves, ask someone to check out what you're working with first and give honest feedback. "No honest friends?" "Friends afraid to give you the steaming hot harsh reality in a mug that says I <3 U?" Shoot, ask me. I'll tell you that as long as you're comfortable, move to your own beat! Don't worry about comparing yourself to anyone else out there. If you skip a step, lose the beat, fall down... PLAY THAT JOKER OFF and start pop-lock-and-droppin'. Trust me. I'm a big fan of making those crazy embarrassing moments worth having!
xoxoxo
Steph
PS~ know any good doctors?
Sunday, July 3, 2011
PS~ Workout Videos
I forgot to mention this earlier, and I certainly don't want to knock personal trainers or workout gurus, mad props to them for keeping us all motivated and for changing lives.
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But if you're anything like me, chances are a size 0 Brazillian model working out in front of you while you try to sweat away the pounds is doing the opposite of motivation for you. When I see a size 0, Brazillian model type doing a crunch... my crunch looks worlds different from hers. Like say for instance you grew up in a family where there was always the pretty one and you were like the awkward one... yea. Kind of like that. I lose motivation, I even begin to loathe the poor size zero chick simply because of the fact that when she works out: A) she's not even close to being out of breath, B) she's wearing something that I could maybe fit on one leg, and C) she's sporting the most ripped abs and tightened glutes I've ever seen... and I'm sporting a lot more jiggle and a delightful kangaroo pouch.
I don't know that I am built to look that way, in fact, I can assure you that my bones probably don't wear a size zero and so, I don't recommend viewing videos where model types are working out in front of you, if that just makes you feel more like CRAPOLA! Working out is supposed to make you feel GREAT! Emotionally and physically. So, if you're feeling down while watching hot model chick, memorize the workouts... play some music in the house, find a nice quiet place, and workout to the beat of the music! Have fun with it. Now, you're not feeling like you're competing with size zero.
For those of you who love size zero model workout videos and feel entirely motivated and fabulous while working out, I say... Men! Get off my blog. LOL nah, just playing. Sometimes seeing your "goal self" is a good thing and I can't knock you for it! Keep it up!!!
But size zero is not a realistic "goal self" for me.
Step: 10 is it? "Workout to your own beat, get fit for you and don't compete!" Yea, I'm totally aware of the fact that I just rhymed :)
xoxo
~ Steph
But if you're anything like me, chances are a size 0 Brazillian model working out in front of you while you try to sweat away the pounds is doing the opposite of motivation for you. When I see a size 0, Brazillian model type doing a crunch... my crunch looks worlds different from hers. Like say for instance you grew up in a family where there was always the pretty one and you were like the awkward one... yea. Kind of like that. I lose motivation, I even begin to loathe the poor size zero chick simply because of the fact that when she works out: A) she's not even close to being out of breath, B) she's wearing something that I could maybe fit on one leg, and C) she's sporting the most ripped abs and tightened glutes I've ever seen... and I'm sporting a lot more jiggle and a delightful kangaroo pouch.
I don't know that I am built to look that way, in fact, I can assure you that my bones probably don't wear a size zero and so, I don't recommend viewing videos where model types are working out in front of you, if that just makes you feel more like CRAPOLA! Working out is supposed to make you feel GREAT! Emotionally and physically. So, if you're feeling down while watching hot model chick, memorize the workouts... play some music in the house, find a nice quiet place, and workout to the beat of the music! Have fun with it. Now, you're not feeling like you're competing with size zero.
For those of you who love size zero model workout videos and feel entirely motivated and fabulous while working out, I say... Men! Get off my blog. LOL nah, just playing. Sometimes seeing your "goal self" is a good thing and I can't knock you for it! Keep it up!!!
But size zero is not a realistic "goal self" for me.
Step: 10 is it? "Workout to your own beat, get fit for you and don't compete!" Yea, I'm totally aware of the fact that I just rhymed :)
xoxo
~ Steph
Daily Workouts - GET SOME
First off, let me say that I'm typing this post while a severe thunder & lightning storm is blasting over the house, and the storm of children fussing and fighting, certainly matches the outside weather conditions... and certainly distracts from my train of thought, so wow, let's see how well I focus.
I've been doing some working out, usually when the kids are asleep, and I'm finding that indoor workouts are awesome for multiple reasons... weather issues, lack of childcare, and complete and total busy-bodiness!
How awesome it has been, for the past few days, to work out in my room when the kids are in bed! Really I could do the workout anywhere, I don't need that much space - I just need my hand weights (and a little music really helps) and then it's off we go on the journey to getting fit!
I do A LOT OF ARM WORK! I'm kind of built like a T-Rex, in the fact that my arms are drastically weaker than my legs. If I ever needed to fight someone to save my life, I would probably have to kick them to death or something LOL. Despite how weak my arms feel, after child #1 I noticed that my arms were accumulating some sort of stretchy batwing effect. By the time children #3 and #4 (twins) came, I could fly away. I just need a little fairy dust and I could be gliding from the top of trees... tree to tree like a flying squirrel... well, that or maybe that sparkling, poor excuse for a dangerous vampire, Edward. My bad, Team Edward, peeps out there, but really? If glittering dudes work for you, there's really nothing I can say to cure what ails you LMBO. But I digress... So the arm work is going to help me suck those bad boys back in, afterall, I don't need to fly if my sexy legs are walking again!
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Speaking of which, I don't have any clue how much weight I've already lost, haven't stepped on a scale in a while... but I can feel the changes and the way I'm fitting into my clothes is a great indicator. I think I might have even stated it in a previous post, "I'm not as interested in putting a bunch of numbers in my face. The only descending numbers I want to see are my clothing sizes." This whole journey is about changing my life: putting daily exercise in my routine and GETTING IT DONE or as I like to say, "GET SOME!!!" LOL and refocusing on who Stephanie is. That means that more often, I'm going to do my hair, I'm going to paint my toenails, I'm going to put on something a little bit more dressy than jeans and a baggy t-shirt. I mean, really, it gets better people! Don't ever feel like you can't do any better for yourselves! I felt that way for a while - I was like, "man, there's nothing I can do. I'm too busy... I'm too tired, I'm too depressed, I'm too this and too that." But the reality was that I was just too blind. I needed to see myself just how I had become: lifeless, filled with excuses, completely drained and overworked, no effort put in to keep up with my own appearance because I had forgotten who I was. I had become about as exciting as a worn out momma pig, just flopped over onto one side with no ambition in life but to suckle all the baby piglets in the pen for the rest of her natural life. I was literally flopped over, maybe I don't nurse my kids anymore, but pretty much a defeated spirit... locked in the four walls of a mental prison... and a reality that I'm not nearly as in charge as I think I am... the kids dictate just about every second of my life from the time they wake up to the time they go to bed.
But I realized. I may be busy... I may have a lot of demands on my time and my attention... I may have very little me time at all... but I'm going to make the MOST of my ME TIME! And one surefire way to make the most of my me time is to focus on making ME a whole heck of a lot healthier and sexier. Confidence is a must!!!
Oooop, gotta run, the oldest child wants family time in the basement. See, what I mean? LOL
Luv,
Steph
I've been doing some working out, usually when the kids are asleep, and I'm finding that indoor workouts are awesome for multiple reasons... weather issues, lack of childcare, and complete and total busy-bodiness!
How awesome it has been, for the past few days, to work out in my room when the kids are in bed! Really I could do the workout anywhere, I don't need that much space - I just need my hand weights (and a little music really helps) and then it's off we go on the journey to getting fit!
I do A LOT OF ARM WORK! I'm kind of built like a T-Rex, in the fact that my arms are drastically weaker than my legs. If I ever needed to fight someone to save my life, I would probably have to kick them to death or something LOL. Despite how weak my arms feel, after child #1 I noticed that my arms were accumulating some sort of stretchy batwing effect. By the time children #3 and #4 (twins) came, I could fly away. I just need a little fairy dust and I could be gliding from the top of trees... tree to tree like a flying squirrel... well, that or maybe that sparkling, poor excuse for a dangerous vampire, Edward. My bad, Team Edward, peeps out there, but really? If glittering dudes work for you, there's really nothing I can say to cure what ails you LMBO. But I digress... So the arm work is going to help me suck those bad boys back in, afterall, I don't need to fly if my sexy legs are walking again!
Speaking of which, I don't have any clue how much weight I've already lost, haven't stepped on a scale in a while... but I can feel the changes and the way I'm fitting into my clothes is a great indicator. I think I might have even stated it in a previous post, "I'm not as interested in putting a bunch of numbers in my face. The only descending numbers I want to see are my clothing sizes." This whole journey is about changing my life: putting daily exercise in my routine and GETTING IT DONE or as I like to say, "GET SOME!!!" LOL and refocusing on who Stephanie is. That means that more often, I'm going to do my hair, I'm going to paint my toenails, I'm going to put on something a little bit more dressy than jeans and a baggy t-shirt. I mean, really, it gets better people! Don't ever feel like you can't do any better for yourselves! I felt that way for a while - I was like, "man, there's nothing I can do. I'm too busy... I'm too tired, I'm too depressed, I'm too this and too that." But the reality was that I was just too blind. I needed to see myself just how I had become: lifeless, filled with excuses, completely drained and overworked, no effort put in to keep up with my own appearance because I had forgotten who I was. I had become about as exciting as a worn out momma pig, just flopped over onto one side with no ambition in life but to suckle all the baby piglets in the pen for the rest of her natural life. I was literally flopped over, maybe I don't nurse my kids anymore, but pretty much a defeated spirit... locked in the four walls of a mental prison... and a reality that I'm not nearly as in charge as I think I am... the kids dictate just about every second of my life from the time they wake up to the time they go to bed.
But I realized. I may be busy... I may have a lot of demands on my time and my attention... I may have very little me time at all... but I'm going to make the MOST of my ME TIME! And one surefire way to make the most of my me time is to focus on making ME a whole heck of a lot healthier and sexier. Confidence is a must!!!
Oooop, gotta run, the oldest child wants family time in the basement. See, what I mean? LOL
Luv,
Steph
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