Big things are happening

Well...sort of.  I got a job offer of sorts today-to be a Nanny.  Yes, you read that right, someone who I had previously interviewed with emailed me to see if I would be interested in being a Nanny for her two children.  All I can say is that she must be pretty desperate to ask me to take care of her children...I mean, I'm okay with kids but they freak me out a little bit.

I thought that signing up to be a substitute teacher was bad...now someone's asking me to take care of children for days, seems ludicrous if you ask me...I'm in no way qualified to care for anyone younger than the age of 21 (excluding workout dog...but sometimes I need help watching her too...last night that little bugger ate an entire reese's peanut butter egg...foil and all).

Speaking of substitute teaching, I have yet to be called to come in...I think that I may be blacklisted (could be because I spend many nights out drinking wine and teachers have seen me and decided not to ask for me...I wouldn't blame them for that)...

Okay, must run...going to the Dentist...have to bring flowers because workout dad stood them up yesterday AFTER asking them to come in at 7am so that he would be at work on time...not good press for the fam.

Last thing...my new obsession is Love Quotes Scarves...check them out!

xo

Long time no talk...

Hello out there, it's been awhile.  I've been terrible about updating the blog...but I have actually been really busy lately.

Here's what's going on:

1. I have a JOB...well actually it's an internship, but it's paid-so I am calling it a job.  It's in Washington D.C. working to help fundraise for the National Mall.  That's all I know for now!  Also, I apparently need a full-length "gown" for a ball May 8.  More on that later

2. In an act of desperation I signed up to be a substitute teacher at Hanover-area schools. Can you imagine me as a teacher? Thank god I haven't gotten any calls yet!  If I get asked to do a math class I'm screwed...unless they are calculating percentages...in which case I'll just pull out my handy tipulator app on my phone!

3. I have been hanging out with a man-friend lately.  He is very adorable and that's all I have for you at this point in time.  (Here's one detail...Yesterday we went to some tiny town in NH to retrieve a motor...and I actually had fun! We rode in his vintage truck and held hands...it was cheesy and adorable...

4. I got certified to teach spinning...more on that later. I have some great new tips to make the most out of your workout.  

*Tip 1: if you don't already have one, Invest in a heart rate monitor...they are AMAZING...i recommend that everyone have one.

5. William Rast jeans are the bomb....I just got a pair and they are amazing.  You must go out and get some...they make you look so slim!

This post seems to have taken a selfish turn (It's not all about me-I know!) so I'm signing off!

xo

Spring!

Yay! Spring is here....FINALLY!

It has been sooo beautiful here for the past two days...I have been outside constantly.  Poor workout dog is so tired she can barely stand up (right now she's passed out in her bed).

I just can't get over how happy the weather makes me-I can't stop smiling!  It was so nice this past weekend that workout dad and I ran a 5k road race...which was my idea but quickly became a TON more intense than any road race should be.  My goal was just to finish in under 30 min (for 3.1 miles)...but BT had other plans.  He was super intense and even wanted to warm up and stretch...I was like, "Dad, we are out here with people dressed up as leprechauns (it was a St. Patrick's day theme), I don't think I need to stretch, warm up or wear my pacing monitor etc."

Workout dad is all about times, how fast you can go, what your pace is etc.  I don't care one way or the other but usually just go along with whatever he wants...It's easier that way.  So on Saturday he asked me how fast I wanted to go and I told him that any time under 30 min would be fine with me.  He decided from there that we would run faster than that...our first mile was 7:15...not what I'm used to, but I figured I might as well just go with it (to make it easier for myself the rest of the day...he's more agreeable if you do what he wants first)...needless to say, he didn't let the pace drop so we ended up finishing in 22 minutes...he even convinced me to sprint past someone before the finish line (I felt like such a jerk but BT was loving that...loves any sort of competitive streak).

After that lovely and low-key run (NOT) we went to the irish pub for some beers!  We had a great time and ended up getting free beer glasses for doing the run...don't know what we will do with them, but they were cool at the time.

After that we just hung out for the rest of the day.  Sunday was a lazy day spent at home cleaning the garage (another favorite thing of workout dad's) and lounging around...although it was mostly me lounging and him cleaning...:)

xox

Hope you all had a great weekend!  Happy early St. Patrick's Day!

Tough Workout

Hola...Happy Friday!

So yesterday I decided that I needed to step it up in the workout department.  I've been a little lax lately and decided that before my big trip this weekend (!) I would get one last strength session in.

I started off with 20 minutes on the Stairmaster followed by 10 minutes on the bike (changing positions and tension).  Both exercises were definitely leg-focused so I decided to continue to break my leg muscles down...so they can get toned!

Next I did  one-legged squats.  To do this, hold two dumbells (I use 15lbs in each hand), put one leg behind you and rest it on a bench.  Lower your body like a squat-making sure that you keep your upper body as vertical as you can. Try to keep your chest in line with your knee (it's a good guideline and will help you keep good form).  

10-12 Reps (depending on how much you can do) on each leg for 3 sets

In between the sets of squats you can either do a hamstring workout (getting a weighted bar and slowly lowering it to your toes and back) or you can do an ab exercise.

I did an abdominal exercise in between sets...and I am sore today!

Lay with a mat on the floor.  Take a medicine ball (I use 9lbs but they have all weights) and hold it above your head.  With your legs bent and your back flat on the floor, slowly raise the ball over your head until you come up to 90 degrees. (If you want to work your obliques-side abs-try raising the ball slightly to the left and right alternately).  The only thing to remember when doing this is to keep the ball above your head and make sure that your hips always remain on the floor....and avoid using momentum to raise the ball, you want to isolate your abdominals and momentum can render the exercise useless/ineffective.

Next, to complement the squats, I did weighted pliets...which I desribed a couple of posts ago...VERY EFFECTIVE, you can feel them the next day!  I do three sets of 10-12 while holding a 17.5 lb weight.

Lastly, I did some bicep curls on the bosu ball, followed by tricep dips on the bench.  

Curls on the Bosu...I put the "ball" part of the Bosu facing down and slowly stand on the flat part...I usually use 12 or 15lb weights and do 3 sets of 12.  Doing the curls on the Bosu is a great exercise because you are engaging not only your arms, but your whole core because you are trying to balance.

Tricep dips on the bench: put your feet out with your legs slightly bent (the more you bend your legs the easier it is) and your arms behind you.  Slowly lower your body until your arms are at 90 degrees.  Slowly push yourself back up and repeat!  Again, I try to to 12-15 reps for three sets.

Last bit of advice...Stretch!  I've read that stretching after each workout can help to lengthen and tone your muscles.

Enjoy your weekend!

I'm going to D.C. to see some best friends...I've been looking forward to the visit for months! I hate being away from all of my friends...we are all spread out all over the place...

Miss you all

xox

The Bachelor

WOW

I cannot believe what happened last night.  Are you KIDDING me! Jason (the bachelor) dumped fiance (Melissa) on National TV and then had the nerve to tell Molly (the rejected woman) that he actually loves her!  It was better than any soap opera  I have ever seen!

Another thing that really bothered me was the amount of crying on the show...by Jason! What is his problem, why is he so emotional-I was embarrassed for him.  Workout dad came down and watched 5 min of the show with me and couldn't understand what his problem was....Even one of the anchors on GMA (we turned GMA on just because we wanted to see their segment on the bachelor...otherwise I am strictly a Today Show girl) said that her husband who is a Marine...called Jason something that couldn't be repeated  on air...

Also-if you were Molly, and you had been rejected on tv, would you take him back that easily?  I would have used that opportunity to say "SEE YOU LATER SUCKER!"  I really liked Molly too, she seemed like a confident girl who doesn't get jerked around by guys...maybe she's a sucker for tears.  My guess is that tonight on "after the final rose" part 2, she gets her act together and dumps him.  (or maybe Jason will propose...with the same ring no less...I can totally see that happening)...

I also really hope that they have Melissa back on the show...she was SOOOO mad, which made for great TV! (calling him a bastard....so great)!

Everyone watch the "After the Final Rose" episode 2 tonight...I want to hear what everyone thinks!

xox

Adventures in Snowshoeing

Hello All!

So yesterday, in an effort to get out and enjoy the winter weather (and make the most of m last months at home) I went snowshoeing...yes, snowshoeing...it's very big up here.

It turns out, snowshoeing is quite the workout.  The scenery was very beautiful and I had great company.  I went with Amy, her two dogs Gus and Willet, her neighbors dog (aka Spawn of Satan) and workout dog.  Lots of dogs...but they love the snow! Oh if you could have seen them...they were just so happy running around and putting their faces in the snow...Adorable!

If only workout dog was a better sport...while all the other dogs were having a great time Lucy was hanging in the back and lagging behind. (perhaps she was embarrassed that she was the only one with boots and a coat on...)!  So after walking for about ten minutes and having to stop every so often to call to her to catch up I finally had to pick her up and carry her the rest of the way...(picture me carrying a dog against my chest in a makeshift "snugli")...very pathetic sight. Check her out...can you see her in my vest?!  

In her defense, the "spawn" (Amy's neighbor's puppy) didn't play very nice with workout dog.  He must have thought she was some sort of live toy. He kept beating her with his paws and trying to trample her...had I been in her shoes (or boots!) I probably would have wanted to be carried too.  She totally rode the rest of the way in style...although twice we had to stop and "adjust" her because her boots would stick out the bottom of my vest and she would start slipping!

Check her out...Pathetic!

  

When we finally got to the end and all of the other dogs were in the car...workout dog decided that she wanted to run around.  That's right...she ran all around and I had to chase her down...NOT COOL....what a little devil.

Needless to say, workout dog will not be invited to snow shoe again. Her loss! I'm going again on Sunday!

xox

Cold Weather Stinks

Can I just tell you how tired I am of cold weather.  It's almost March...I haven't seen grass in FOREVER!

I am so freaking tired of wearing the same brown L.L.Bean coat every day (but it's the warmest one I have!)...I even got in a fight (gasp) with workout Mom because I bought a new fleece.  (she said I didn't need it and I finally cracked...I told her that YES I DO need that new fleece, because if I have to keep wearing my freaking brown coat I was going to light my hair on fire!

She must have realized that she had opened up a can of worms that she did NOT want to deal with because she just nodded and walked out without any sort of response.  

It's been two weeks since that incident and I mellowed a little bit about the cold...until Monday. Monday would be the day where we got 9" of snow. Yes, 9"...almost a foot!  Usually we use workout mom's car, but since her big car is in the shop-we are using my little VW Passat.  Mind you, there was 9" of snow on my car...when I walked outside the only thing I could see was the tires-Everything else was COVERED in snow.

It took me 30 min to dig my car out.  Imagine me, a person who hates snow, digging out my car in 15 degree weather.  I got madder and madder by the second.  By the end I was hacking my car with the snow-removal brush like it was a punching bag. (I'm sorry for that now, sorry car)

Let's just say that me and snow are in a little bit of a feud right now.

Okay, I'm done venting about the weather.

Now, on a lighter note...Guess who got some snow boots-Workout Dog!

check her out:

  

ahhh! I wish that I had taken a video of her running around in her boots!  She was a little wobbly at first but then ran around like it was nothing.  The only thing about the boots is that they make a "Thump" noise whenever she walks...you can hear her little feet walking on the pavement (I couldn't stop laughing for like an hour)

*sidenote* the adorable dog in the picture next to Lucy is her boyfriend Gus! (and yes, they are very happy together).

I'll try to take a video of her in the boots tomorrow!

xox