Top 10 Posts of 2014

Here's look back at my most popular posts of 2014.

Some I was really hoping would do this well and some really surprised me!

 

Here's to a great year!

10 - A Mustache Bash Baby Shower

Some friends and I threw a party for my Bestie's little man.
 

9 - Roadtrip Game Printable

A great way to keep kids busy on a long trip.

8 - Maple Bacon Apple Bread

Freakin delicious combination of already awesome foods!

7 - 2014 Movie Releases

What was your favorite show?

6 - 33 Perfectly Peach Recipes

An amazing round-up of peachy perfection.

5 - Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt

A fun new tradition for the Holidays.

4 - Snowflake Candy Cane Wreath

Quick and easy way to create a stunning a wreath.

3 - DIY Paper Fans

Whip out a dozen of these beauties in no time.

2 - Teacher & Staff Appreciation Printable

Because everyone works hard in education!

1 - Apple Cinnamon Waffles

A great way to start a Saturday!

 

Thank you for joining me.

I really appreciate my sweeties!

 

Can't wait to see what 2015 brings!

My Top 10 5K Mud Run Tips

With the weather cooling down, 5K runs are heating up!

Their popularity has grown in the past few years.

 

I did my first mud run in the spring and loved it!

Here's what I learned:

Let's break it down!

 

1. train first!

Make sure you get in several weeks of running before-hand.

There are several apps you can download to get you on your way. I use Couch-to-5K. 

 

2. grab a buddy

It makes all the difference to have someone join you on this journey.
You'll keep each other going AND keep each other accountable.
Plus you'll have someone to talk to at the event. =)

 

3. wear junky shoes

You will get filthy; like you've never been filthy before.

Some runs have a recycling program that will clean up and donate your shoes.
Suh-WEET!

 

 

4. wear gloves

The obstacles are built to provide difficulty, splinters included.

 

5. cover your hair

Your hair is not exempt for the mayhem.

I wore a bandanna and put my hair up in knots to keep out the mud.

Gun Show not included. =)

 

 ^^ see why I call my husband The Stud?! ^^
 

6. wear sunscreen

 It takes a while to get through those 3 miles when you're running with hundreds of other people!

Make sure you're protected with at least SPF 50.

 

7. bring a couple towels

Clean up isn't all that clean. In hindsight, I should have brought

one towel to dry off with and one to protect my car seat on the way home.

 

 

8. glide through the mud pit

Don't try to crawl or push through with your feet.

The fastest way to get through a mud pit is to pull yourself forward with your hands while your feet and legs remain still.

  

9. buy the shirt

You'll be SO PROUD of what you've accomplished!
Get the souvenir shirt so you can show it off. =)

 

10. wear light-weight and snug clothing

Besides the fact that you're running and will be thoroughly drenched in sweat, the mud has a tendency to elongate all your clothing. You'll have a good 3 pounds of mud clinging to you.

Most of all,

HAVE FUN!!

NOW FEATURING: Sweat Is My Sanity

My Boys and I are back from our roadtrip and I'm so happy to be guest posting on

Sweat Is My Sanity today!

She's featuring my Top 10 Tips for Weight Loss Success. 

Check it out!

My Secret for Wrinkle-Free Eyes

I currently work at a middle school (grades 6-8).

Last week, I was mistaken for a student.

I thought, "WHAT?!!

Do I look like I'm 12?!"

 

But people honestly don't believe me when I tell them how old I am.

I'm WAY closer to 40 than I like to admit.

And this is why,

MY SECRET WRINKLE WEAPON:

VASELINE!!

I've used this for over 20 years and nothing else.

It's great as a make-up remover, too!

I get the Wal-Mart version of original Vaseline for $2.00.

SCORE! 

After my morning shower, I put that slick stuff on the skin directly under my eye,

I mean, RIGHT under my lashes and on down to the socket bone.

I leave it there while I do my hair and brush teeth, about 20 minutes.

Then, I simply wipe it off with a tissue.

DO NOT RE-WASH.

If there's a slight residue remaining, just rub it in.

Make sure all the shine is gone before applying make-up.

 

And since I'm spilling my secrets anyway,

here are the TOP 10 ways I combat wrinkles.

1- Sleep on your back.

Sleeping on your stomach smashes the delicate under-eye skin in an unnatural way that can set-in over time.

 

2- Always wear sunscreen.

Most facial moisturizers {and even many foundations & powders} contain SPF 15 or higher. 

 

3- Wear your sunglasses.

Otherwise, you'll spend hours squinting, creating fine lines.

 

4- Apply make-up lightly, if at all.

Over-application of foundation can over-emphasize lines. I avoid foundation completely and use only powder, but not under my eyes.

 

5- Cover up for extended sun exposure.

I live in the Valley of the Sun so if I'm outside for longer than an hour, especially poolside, I wear a hat. I carry an umbrella out during my daily lunch duty to avoid sun exposure.

 

6- Drink more water.

I'm a huge proponent of water! It will help your skin retain moisture and elasticity.

 

7- Ditch bad habits.

Cigarette smoke ages skin because it's ingredients break down collagen. Alcohol has also been proven to increase the aging process by causing wrinkles, loss of collagen, elasticity, redness, dehydration and puffiness.

 

8- Be self-aware.

 We constantly make faces when we laugh, smile, and react to life. I tend to smile right up to my eyes so I try to remember to scale it back so reduce wrinkle potential.

 

9- Get some sleep.

Your body uses that time to repair and rejuvenate. Your skin in no exception.

 

10- Be happy.

Everyone looks younger when they smile.

 

 

How do you keep wrinkles from returning?

 

My Top 10 Diet Tips

I did it!

I made it through 12 weeks of

hater comments, will-power, a few tears, and

several stages of "D.I.E.T. acronyms".

{I totally made these up so don't quote me!}

 

My first stage was this:

Do  I  Eat  This?

It was hard to know what I should and should NOT eat.

There are a lot of protein options but getting the

right combination of type + amount can be tricky.

 

 

My next stage was this:

Doing  It  Even  Though  (it's hard)

I decided to not let my hard-earned money go to waste.

No matter the comments I got or

the temptations that came my way,

I figured I could handle for 1 summer.

 

Stage 3 for me was

Discipline  In  Eating  Things

Out of sheer will-power (which is actually empowering!),

I did not cheat on my diet.

Not even a bite.

Not even a taste.

Not once.

 

I've now entered stage four:

Determined  In  Every  Thing

I can do hard things.

If I want to run a 5K, I know I can do it.

If I want to go back to school, I know I can do it.

If I want to learn to play the piano, I know I can do it.

I can do hard things.

 

So here are my tips for those of you

who may be improving your habits of health.

1- Eat 6 small meals a day.

This helps your metabolism stay up and running.

 

2- Never skip a meal.

Your body needs food. Skipping meals will stop your metabolism in it's tracks and put your body in starvation/hoarding mode.

 

3- Eat breakfast within 30 minutes of waking up. 

Jump start your metabolism EVERY day. Don't start your day in starvation mode.

You'll set yourself up for binging later on.

 

4- Drink 80-100 ounces of water a day

Water is vital to your system.

Often we're unknowingly dehydrated and our bodies think

we're hungry when we're actually thirsty.

{Read more about the benefits of water HERE.}

 

5- Have healthy snacks with you, just in case.

We can't always control when and where accidents, emergencies, or just life will happen. Have a protein bar in your purse so you're not stressed about what to eat (or tempted to just grab some fast food).

 

6- Don't cheat.

It takes your body some time to start burning your fat reserves. If you start feeding it more fat, it will only burn that and crave more. You're too strong for that.

 

7- Think about what you CAN eat instead of what you can't.

Focusing on what's negative about your diet ("I hate that I can't have cheesecake!") will make you resent the diet itself. Think "I'm so glad I can still have steak!" instead.

 

8- Find non-food ways to deal with stress.

Listen to your favorite playlist, get out your crocheting,

walk your dog, or hug your children when you're feeling stressed.

 

9- Eat at regular times.

You should be eating every 2-3 hours; no sooner and no later. Your metabolism will be trained to burn off fat until your next high-protein meal. 

 

10- Break down your Final Goal into mini-goals.

If you weigh yourself, do it once a week, first thing in the morning.

Tell yourself how much you want to lose in 1 week, in 2 weeks, in 1 month. Thinking, "I will lose 30 pounds 3 times" is easier to grasp than thinking "I have to lose 100 pounds!"

 

Here's to your health!

You CAN do it.
{linking up here}

Cardio Plateau? Add Weights . . . and Music!

Have you hit a cardio plateau?
Add some weights!

 

"Women generally fall into two categories: those who build muscle easily, and those who don’t." said Belinda Benn, trainer and creator of the Breakthrough Physique home fitness system. "If you build muscle easily, she suggests emphasizing high-intensity exercises. If you develop muscle slowly, you’ll benefit from spending more time on heavy lifting." {source}

 

So, what exactly are "High-Intensity Exercises"?

A great example is Circuit Training: a 20-30 minute workout that alternates light-weight lifting with bursts of cardio. Curves gym uses this type of training. I've also discovered a DVD you can do at home called "Workout: One-On-One Training with Jackie"

(get it at Target for $9.99) that is AWESOME!

 

"Heavy Lifting Exercises" typically consist of doing fewer reps with higher weight.

For instance, do 8 reps per set with a 15 pound weight instead of 15 reps with an 8 pound weight.

You'll need to work up to heavier weights, though. Start by increasing your dumbbell weight slightly and gradually work your way up.

 

Whichever category you fall into,

YOU NEED MUSICAL MOTIVATION! 

 

I like music that's up beat when I run {check out my list here}

but I want something more intense for weight lifting.

However, those kinds of songs are either redundant (on everybody's list)

or they have foul language or it's both! Not my style.

 

Here are my Top 10 songs for weight training.

Some you've seen before, some may be new but

all songs are radio ready; no bad language. =)

1- Fort Minor: Remember the Name

2- Breaking Benjamin: Blow Me Away

3- Linkin Park: Papercut

4- Fall Out Boy: Light 'Em Up

5- Imagine Dragons: Radioactive

6- Digital Summer: Just Run

7- Alter Bridge: One Day Remains

8- Creed: Bullets

9- Korn: Coming Undone

10- Avenged Sevenfold: Afterlife

 

What motivates YOUR workout?

Top 10 Running Songs

After several weeks of running, I'm really learning to love it!

I look forward to seeing how far/fast I can go.

 

I see a lot of other people when I'm out; everyone has their own pace, their own style, their own system. I'm always surprised by those that can run without music. I HAVE to have music!

I don't enjoy hearing my own panting and struggling for breath; it makes me tired!

 

I listen to music whenever I exercise. But it has to be different kids for different workouts.

When I run, I like something upbeat; when I lift, I like stuff that's a little more intense
(check it out here).

I have everything from Neil Diamond to Usher, Led Zepplin to Super Junior and everything in between
(minus country: it does nothing for me!).

 

Anyway, these are my TOP 10 favorite songs for running

{in no particular order}:

1- Lenny Kravitz: American Woman

2- Gym Class Heroes: The Fighter

3- Will Smith: Party Starter

4- Linkin Park: Waiting For The End

5- Skrillex: Bangarang

6- Imagine Dragons: Radioactive

7- Muse: Supermassive Black Hole

8- 2Pac/Dr. Dre: California Love (radio edit)

9- David Guetta/Sia: Titanium

10- Selena Gomez: Come & Get It

 

Now, what song gets YOU moving?