{another year of family camping}

We spent this last weekend out of cellphone range. Well, not quite, as I'm sure I could have made a received a call if it was an emergency, but far enough of a range that my internet didn't work very well on the phone, so for the majority of the weekend, I just left it alone. And it felt nice! Confession time, I'm pretty attached to my phone. Too attached sometimes, so it was nice to just go without. Leave Facebook, Instagram, and Blogger alone for a few days and focus on my family instead.

 

We were camping with my dad's family and it was a ton of fun! It always is. Lots of good food. Too much good food! Lots of laughing, sitting around the campfire, swimming, running around, just lots of good family fun! It was also very relaxing. Ayden spent the majority of the weekend playing with cousins and not hanging on mommy. He stayed up too late, ate too much food with sugar in it, and had a great time! I'd call that a success! We all had a good time! And so another year is over and we are all anxiously awaiting next year!

 

We have another family camping trip coming up with Jay's dad's side of the family; however, I will be helping my mom move that weekend, so I probably won't get to enjoy a whole lot of it. I'm okay with that. As much as I love Jay's family (both sides), I just have more fun with my own. In any case, I know that him and Ayden will enjoy it. When Ayden gets together with his cousins on that side of the family, I see even less of him, haha!

 

I wish I had some pictures to share, but I purposely left my camera at home because I didn't want to be 'stuck' behind it the whole weekend. I wanted to enjoy the weekend for what it was, family time!

 

It was back to the grind at work today and it felt nice. The day went fast. I like those kind of days!

 

CIAO! LOVE ME!

{small victory}

{small victory}

 

In a week where the weather has been hellaciously hot, yes I used the made up work hellaciously, I managed to have a small victory this morning when I stepped on the scale and it was nice to me. I got to see (at least for one day) the number I've been striving for, despite knowing that the number that I have been at for the last couple of weeks is perfectly okay too. Why are we so hard on ourselves? Huh? Sucks monkey balls. But at least for the day I'll be happy. Haha! I'm okay with the other numbers, just happier today!

 

We do not have the pleasure of air conditioning at our house (except for the bedrooms where we only turn it on at night), so this week has been almost unbearable even just sitting and doing nothing. I hate humidity almost more than I hate winter. Almost! Because people, I seriously hate winter. Although, at least in the winter, I can be comfortable in the house with extra layers (because you know, I'm a thermostat nazi). In the heat and humidity, I can be in almost nothing and still crabby and cranky from the heat and sticky ickiness! It sucks, it really does! You want to do absolutely nothing when you are that hot. That hot that even sitting still means you have sweat rolling down your face. Ugh!

 

Workouts this week included a run on Monday night, a swim on Wednesday, and you know, that's about it. Just too hot to do anything else! And unfortunately, I don't have access to indoor air conditioned workouts. Take that back. My dad has a treadmill in his cool basement that I didn't even think about using to be honest.

 

However, to combat the heat, I have been guzzling water... and peeing like a who knows what, but having to use the bathroom like every 30 minutes. Ha! What else is new! I'm not drinking the 100+ ounces that I'd (at some point) like to be; however, I am drinking about 75 ounces her day and they say you should be drinking at least half your body weight in water per day and I'm over that. I think the water consumption has definitely helped me this week.

 

We have another busy weekend on tap. Looking forward to some cooler weather and possibly some runs outside in the non-humidity! Probably some swimming in there somewhere too, along with some probably not so healthy food choices, although going to try my best to keep it semi healthy! Here's to a fun weekend with the family!

 

 

 

 

{not enough}

I need to sit back and be honest with myself. I've been major slacking on the fitness and eating right lately and as much as I shouldn't let it get to me (because no one is perfect), I have been because it's been just pure laziness and indulgence. I know that there will (and are) days where I'm just having an 'off' day and everyone has those, but those 'off' days came one too many last week, as well as the 'I'm going to eat better tomorrow' days, haha!

 

Last week looked like this: Monday we were at the zoo and I counted all of that walking around as my workout. Yes, you walk a lot at the zoo, but I didn't over exert myself. Tuesday I had no intentions of working out, but I did go for a 3 mile run/walk (with more running than walking) with the little man at night. Wednesday I counted the walk that Ayden and I took out to a lighthouse as my workout. It wasn't a long walk. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday... zilch! I was on my feet (in heeled boots) on Saturday walking around quite a bit helping to photograph a wedding, but once again, didn't count that as working out. Plus, I totally ate two cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing for breakfast and then a three course supper at the wedding. I know, not horrible, but still. I hate that it's SO hard sometimes. I HATE that I see almost everyone around me eating whatever whenever and despite I have no weight to loose, I'm not trying to gain weight either and maintain is JUST as hard, if not harder than loosing sometimes. I have to say, that I have been maintaining for the last couple of months (maintaining a number that is two pounds higher than I would like it to be). Yes, I'm stressing over two measly pounds.

 

I had good intentions of going swimming yesterday at the pool with the little man. We did not go swimming. Instead, I went out at 6pm in the 86 degree weather that was also about 80% humidity and I ran 4.5 miles. Not going to lie, it was slow, I took plenty of water breaks, and I even had to walk for a bit. But the walking was more due to some leg pain than being too tired. Thankfully it wasn't any knee pain, and after some Dr. Google searching, I think it's some IT band problems... stemming from my lack of stretching, going for a longer distance than I was ready for, and my lack of foam rolling afterwards. Boo on that!

 

But, I felt great after the run. It felt nice to get a good sweat going, which didn't take long as it was, you know, 86 degrees out.

 

I figured, no swimming last night, means swimming tonight. Little man has bowling, so he'll be gone with his dad. I love swimming with him, but that obviously means I need to keep at least one eye on him most of the time (despite their being a life guard and the little man being a pretty good swimmer), and this way I can concentrate on my swim instead of having to keep my concentration on the kiddo.

 

I'm thinking a trip to the beach and/or to the pool is definitely in order for tomorrow as well because the weather is supposed to be so darn hot and humid again. Perfect beach day if you ask me! We shall see!

 

I've been pretty productive wedding wise lately too. Quite a few projects either finished and/or started. I know that September is going to be here before I know it and I don't want to become super stressed at that point in time. Ha me, super stressed?! This type A personality doesn't know what that means, lol! I'm a bit of a perfectionist if you didn't already know. I also have a bit of a control freak problem when it comes to certain things. What, you didn't know that either. It's not all things, just most, lol! I just like things to be done a certain way. Well certain things. Other things I could really care less about. So yes, when it comes to the wedding, I have a vision in my mind and I do want certain things to turn out a certain way. Can you blame me?

Sometimes, though, I sit back and wonder, what is all the fuss about? It is just ONE stinking day in the grand scheme of things. I can see maybe if the couple hadn't been together as long as Jay and I have that it would be extra special and the start of the rest of their lives together; however, given the fact that we have been together for the last 10 years (almost) and that we are saying our vows to each other on our wedding day, it really is just about celebrating for us and not the actual wedding part. I already know I'm committed to him and that he is committed to me, hell, if we weren't, think we would have stayed together this long, haha! So then I wonder, why am I making this out to be something so big and grand?! Why am I putting so much effort into the little things? Then the whole mindset takes a 180 and I say, why not?! Sure, the little things are bound to be forgotten, but I don't want everyone to have a good time. And afterall, it is our wedding day. When else do we get to celebrate with all of our family and have a great time. I continue to get our wedding replies back and it just makes me smile that so much of our family wants to join in our celebration with us. I have high hopes that it will be a grand celebration. It may not be black tie and super elegant, but that isn't Jay or myself. We want laid back true family fun! We want lots of dancing and kids there. We want it to just be a big party! I just want to celebrate with our family and friends all together! 

 

CIAO! LOVE ME!

{let's go for a run}

I had absolutely no intentions of working out last night. I got home from work around 6pm, had supper, and thought about going for a run, but my stomach was full and I had a show on TV that I wanted to watch. I was being lazy. Had no good excuse.

My show started at 7pm (Extreme Makeover Weight Loss) and the little man got home from bowling. He started watching it with me and then around 7:45pm he asked me if I wanted to go for a run with him. I had to ask him two or three times if he was actually serious because I didn't believe him. Sure enough, he wanted to.

I quickly changed out of my work clothes, threw my hair up, and out the door we were. I didn't know how much of an actual run it was going to be because Ayden hadn't run with me in quite a few weeks and I didn't know what kind of attitude he would have while we were out there. We just went to the track like we normally do and after a quick warm up, we started around. Our mini goal was to run two laps, walk one, run, etc...

Ayden managed the first two laps (half a mile) pretty easily and then we walked for about 3/4 of the track before another 2.5 laps. Ayden took a quick potty break and then we started running again. About halfway through Ayden set the goal of us running three miles. As we started back up around 1.5 miles, we made it another two laps around and I asked Ayden if he needed to walk again and he said no. We made it three laps around with no walking and then the little man needed to walk again. We walked, for maybe a quarter of a lap before he started to run again and we finished up running. He ran he last 1.5 miles with almost NO walking! Granted, we went at a slower pace, but it was awesome! So proud of him!

And then of course we raced up the hill on the way home!

No workout Tuesday ended with a fun three mile run/walk with my favorite little man! Great way to end the day!

CIAO! LOVE ME!

{some days off}

I had off for the last six days and it was very nice. The last time I had off this long was at the beginning of the year and it was only because I was deathly ill. Okay, not deathly, but still pretty ill and it sucks being sick over the holidays. First we had a sick little man, then I was sick. Boo on that!

 

Anyways, I ended up having the last six days off because I work Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and our office was closed on Thursday and Friday due to the holiday. It ended up being a pretty nice vacation, despite not going away anywhere totally awesome. But just because we didn't go away doesn't mean we weren't busy busy busy!

 

On Wednesday of last week, Ayden, myself, Victoria, and Parker all went to High Cliff for a picnic and a hike and everyone had a great time! We hiked up and down big hills and ran up the tower, took pictures, smiled, joked around, and had an all around good time. Oh, and got bitten up by mosquitoes. Haha!

 

Wednesday night, once again, all four of us, plus Victoria's sister and her family, went to see Despicable Me 2 at the movie theater and even though I didn't see the first one (despite Victoria loaning it to me... still haven't made the time to sit down and watch it), I thought it was super good and hilarious! I knew that if we were laughing hard within the first five minutes of the movie that it was going to be a good movie!

 

Thursday was the 4th of July. Ayden slept over night at my dad's house on Wednesday because Victoria and I were running in a 5k on Thursday morning and Jay had to work. We rocked that 5k, that's all I have to say about that. Well, I do have more to say. I set goals for each of us to beat in order to get a piece of the apple pies they were serving up after the run. I wanted to come in under 30 minutes and I set the goal of under 45 minutes for Victoria. I haven't really been training hard with running lately... just kind of taking it easy, so I knew that my goal was kind of ambitious. I knew I had done it before, but it had been since my half marathon that either of us had really run our races since we brought the kiddos for the May one and the June one was our mud run. We were both excited to just get out there and get going though.

 

I busted my ass during the run and I think I started out just a little too fast. I hit my goal and came in just under 29 minutes. It was hard though. I definitely felt that I maybe pushed myself a little too hard, but damn when I set a goal, I'm going to hit it! Victoria came in just a few seconds over 45 minutes, but I told her that she could still have her piece of pie. We each gave it our all and we deserved it! It was a good run and I felt really good about it afterwards!

 

Ayden spent the rest of the day hanging out at my dad's house playing with Alexis which meant that I spent the rest of my day reading and relaxing outside. We headed to the beach later that night with my dad and brother and sister and Ayden and my uncle for some fireworks. The fireworks were pretty good, but I have to admit that I miss being right under them like we were while we were in Point. Plus, down by the beach I was freezing. I had jeans, two sweat shirts and a blanket wrapped around me and I was still cold. Haha! And then Ayden and Alexis were in their shorts just playing in the sand and having a great time! It was definitely worth it, that's for sure!

 

On Friday we ended up hanging out with Jay's parents and some of their friends down by a different lake and having fun. We all played a game of croquet and Jay and his teammate were winning for most of the game and my teammate and I were losing most of the game, but we made a come back towards the end and ended up winning. Jay didn't like that, lol!

 

Ayden stayed over night with grandma and grandpa on Friday and Saturday night, so I had the majority of my Saturday and Sunday to myself. I did a few workouts, read some of my book, did a few wedding things, edited pictures, watched TV, did some cleaning. Nothing really exciting either of those two days. It played into my mood too.

 

And yesterday, to cap off my mini vacation, my sister, Emily, her boyfriend, John, myself, and Ayden all went and visited the Milwaukee Zoo! It was raining when we got there, but that didn't last long and we didn't let that hamper our good moods. We had a great day at the zoo seeing all of the different animals. Many of the animals were up and about and interacting in their enclosures so it was exciting. The gorilla even came up the glass and kicked it pretty hard twice... right in front of us! Kind of scary, but cool at the same time because so many times I've been to that zoo and the gorillas aren't even out! All I could think about was that for whatever reason yesterday was going to be the day that the gorilla broke through the glass and went on a rampage through the zoo and we were going to be right in front of it when it happened, haha! And we got to touch sting rays! The elephants were having fun! The brown bear was up and moving around! It was really a good day! Plus, I didn't have to drive which made it even better!

 

I'm excited for Wednesday because I get to go try on my wedding dress again. I think Ayden and I might also picnic on the beach or walk out to the lighthouse. We shall see. It will be another good mommy and Ayden day, that's for sure!

 

CIAO! LOVE ME!

{a few days later}

As life continues to move forward right now, there isn't much new and exciting to report on. Everyone continues to be well in our household. (Knock on wood.)

 

I've kind of lost my luster for writing for the moment, which means few blog posts from me lately. I've been busy doing stuff away from the computer. Well, kind of away from the computer.

 

I've been doing quite a bit of things on the computer for the wedding. Speaking of the wedding, we are getting closer and closer! It probably won't hit me until we are on our honeymoon, lol! It would happen that way!

 

My mom came over this weekend and we were super productive for about 4-5 hours on wedding stuff and put a nice dent into things! SO thankful to have her help with everything! I told her that even though our wedding isn't going to be a five star black tie event, there are still things that I want done a certain way and I am pretty anal about it! Just ask her! It's pretty hilarious, yet not, at the same time! But everything is going to come together in the end and it is going to be great! I just know it! I know that all of the hard work, especially in the weeks leading up to the wedding, are going to be well worth it! In the mean time, I am going to do what I can to prepare for the big day and make sure that we have as much done before the wedding as possible.

 

My workouts have been kind of up and down lately. I usually do good for the first half of the week and then wane by the end of the week. Mondays and Wednesdays are usually pretty good for me. Sometimes Tuesdays and Thursdays, but lately, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, I've just be in a funk. I made up for it yesterday though. I hadn't done anything physically straining for four days and my mood was feeling it. So yesterday, while Ayden and I were starting the first of many mommy and Ayden days for the rest of the summer, we were active! We biked five miles at 9am. By 10:30am, we were at the pool with Victoria and Parker and swam for a good 45 minutes. Ayden had me running across the pool, hopping across the pool, jumping off the diving board. It was a good time! After that it was almost lunch time and then we folded and put away about two weeks worth of laundry before walking to the local bakery for a donut, and then taking the long way home. An hour or two of down time and then we called to see if Alexis wanted to practice riding her bike with us on the track. She is now riding my first 'gear' bike and is a little too short for it, so she has trouble when she stops. So, Alexis, Ayden, and I hit the track for some practice.

 

She does great at getting on and starting and going, so we would bike a mile, then practice stopping and getting off and taking a short break. Five miles later, we were all pooped! It was a great active day!

 

I also thought that maybe if I was more active during the day that I would sleep better at night because I have been sleeping like crap for the last week or so. I think my whole sleep schedule is a little off and it sucks. Doesn't make for good sleep, that is for sure! Then I drag throughout the day!

 

I have six days off in a row after today and they WILL include some kind of activity. Within the next six days I have planned a picnic/hike with Victoria and Parker, a movie date with them and Alexis as well, a 5k and fireworks on the 4th, a trip to the Milwaukee zoo, along with a few other things. It's going to be go go go, no sitting around and doing nothing. Haha!

 

CIAO! LOVE ME!