The Floor is Comfortable To Sleep On (Day 24-29)

Daily progress on the Juneathon challenge. If you want to know more about the challenge, check out the Juneathon page.

Day 24:

Type: Run

Duration: 17 min

Distance: 1.14

Calories: 150 cals

Juneathon total: 51.72 miles

Day 25: 

Type: Strength

Duration: 25 min

Distance: 0.00

Calories: 100

Juneathon total: 50.58 miles

45 push ups

30 lunges

80 crunches :)

2x45 sec planks

Day 26:

Type: Strength

Duration: 30 min

Distance: 0.00
Calories: 100
Juneathon total: 50.58 miles

45 push ups

50 lunges

80 crunches

2x45 sec planks


Day off. We went to the doc for Jackson's regular appointment. Not much else :)

Day 27:

Type: Walk (at the park)
Duration: 35 min
Distance: 1.2 miles

Calories: 200

Juneathon total: 51.78 miles


GREAT morning walk at the park with my little guy. Watched the ducks!

Day 28:

Type: Strength
Duration: 15 min

Distance: 0.25 miles

Calories: 100

Juneathon total: 50.63 miles


Day 29: 


Type: Running
Duration: 11 minutes
Distance: 0.83
Calories: 100
Juneathon total: 51.46 miles


If that isn't enough of a recap I don't know what is. Gosh, I got bad about posting. Only one day left and you better believe I'll be hitting it hard. This whole month has been a great challenge and what a way to get me back into being active. I'm going to secretly continue the challenge, though not beating myself up if I don't get out there every day. Hey, it's the desert and running outside is pretty brutal when the temperature doesn't even go below 90 F degrees in a day!

I hope you all have enjoyed, or not hated me, for these posts. They will be stopping :)


Go out and be active this weekend!

Yep, this is way more comfortable than that hard-uncomfortable-looking pillow over there. At least I got my doggy with me. (This was post- 9 month check up with 1 shot. Poor guy)

Hello Arizona, The clouds are coming

The Monsoon has arrived in Arizona. Even though it may not seem like it quite yet, we're on the look out for storms. Dust storms have made us pretty newsworthy over the past year (read haboob) and some of the most amazing video, timelapse and photography have come out of it.

Here's to another active summer. But maybe a little less dust?!

These pictures are from Wednesday June 27th. Looking to the southeast.

Bacon with a side of Salad

Another food post, lucky you! Trying to take more pictures of what I've been cooking. I'll get there slowly but surely.


This recipe is part idea from a friend and part made-it-up with what sounded good and what I had. Very easy, light, cool, salad (read good for you) and bacon (ok, not that great for you)


Bacon with a side of Salad


half a head of romain lettuce, rough chopped (or lettuce of your liking)
about 1 1/2 cups miracle whip mayonnaise
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 a cucumber, sliced 
2 packages raw ramen noodles, broken up
about half a pound of bacon, cooked and chopped

Put chopped lettuce in a bowl. In a side bowl, mix miracle whip and sugar. Taste, if you want, and see if it needs more sugar. It shouldn't be super sweet, but you should be able to taste a subtle difference rather than just the normal miracle whip. Add broken up ramen noodles to lettuce, and sliced cucumber. Next, when you are ready to serve, add miracle whip dressing on salad, turn lettuce mixture over trying to coat everything. Don't "toss" too much. Add bacon at last. You can add onion if you want, I think that was in the recipe I found but I'm not a raw onion kind of person. 

This is pretty good the next day, though the crunchy ramen noodles are no longer crunchy, but still good. 

Finger Paint for Dad's Day

Father's day was a week ago and I'm just now posting about it. Yep, I'm on top of things don't you worry. We celebrated Josh's first father's day pretty well. I made breakfast for him while he slept in. I should get that sort of treatment too! Then Jackson and I gave daddy some pretty cool things. 

Hand and feet paintings, Jackson's hands and feet not mine. It was kinda difficult to get him to put his foot down and leave it in a single spot. And his hands, he didn't want to open them once I got paint on them. It was a sight to see! Luckily we didn't get paint everywhere else though. Not too bad for a 9 month old! We were able to get at least one print with his toes and one with all fingers.

Happy Father's day to all the great dad's out there. Happy 1st Father's Day to Josh.

I'm thankful to have grown up with two wonderful Dad's. Now I have a father in law who is also very amazing. My Grandpa was a very wonderful grandpa to me.

Turkey Burger & 50 Miles (day 22 & 23)

Daily progress on the Juneathon challenge. If you want to know more about the challenge, check out the Juneathon page.


Day 22:


Type: Run (outside!!)
Duration: 12 min
Distance: 0.92 miles
Calories: 112
Juneathon total: 49.36 miles


Day 23: 


Type: Run (outside!!)
Duration: 17 min
Distance: 1.22 miles
Calories: 120
Juneathon total: 50.58 miles


Slowly getting there, at least I've reached the 50 mile mark! 


Running outside is pretty difficult. For me especially since I work inside an office all day so I'm not exactly used to being outside in this heat so much, but I'm trying. 

Not too shabby progress since the end of May. Mileage keeps going up each week. I really enjoy mixing up my workouts. Running, Elliptical, Biking. And I always do crunches, push ups and lunges each day, even though I don't always log it/talk about it. I always try to make time for those and am finding ways to squeeze them in, even during making dinner! I'll do lunges in the kitchen while waiting for water to boil, or something else that's cool.

Another healthy thing, here's what we had for dinner last night. Food & exercise in one post!

Homemade Turkey Chipotle Burgers

2 lbs ground turkey

about 10 saltine crackers, smashed up good

3 chipotle peppers, diced w/adobo sauce

about 1 teaspoon garlic salt

about 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

3 green onions, diced

Mix all ingredients in a bowl & grill. I used our George Foreman grill inside. Perfect! Took about 5-8 min each side. I left the seeds in the chipotle peppers and found it had a slight spice/flavor to it but by no means was it spicy. Topped my burger with Chipotle Mayo and spinach. Light, healthy, easy dinner. The 2 lbs came out to 6 patties.

I've never made turkey burgers before so this was an on-the-fly recipe. Turned out great! Love that chipotle flavor!

Enjoy your weekend!

As old as he was in my belly

Get it? 9 months pregnant, 9 months old. Anyway...


Jackson is 9 months old today! Wow does time fly! Everyone says that, I know. And it's true! 


Each new milestone is a huge deal and as a parent we make it a huge deal. I'm not kidding. When he smiles I get excited. When he giggles I go crazy. When he takes a nap, well I usually take one too, but that is exciting! And as a mom, don't even get me started on poop, that is exciting stuff right there I don't care who you are!


Jackson has made my life better in so many ways. Watching Josh and I as parents has also helped us realize just what life is about. The little things. It doesn't matter if the house is a mess. If I've taken a shower today (though that is a perk!). Whether we missed our favorite TV show. TV? What's that?


Hard to believe 9 months have come and gone. Before I know it, his 1st birthday will be here. And then soon after he'll be driving. Ok, maybe there are a few more years in there.


Here's to you Little Bean. Mama loves you so much. Thank you for being such a personality and learning so much so quick!

Hours after birth, with his Uncle Jimmy Bear

2-3 weeks old, October 2011

December 2011

A baby was growing in there

4 months old, January 2012

Big sister Lucy keeping him safe. January 2012

1 month old, October 2011

2 months old, November 2011

3 months, December 2011. 4 generations of Dewey's

December 2011. With cousin Corbin (3 and 5 months old)

7 months old, April 2012

Remember me that huge?!

6 months, March 2012

8 months, May 2012

Love this last one. My how he has changed. 

2 weeks old, October 14, 2011

 

I drink like a fish (Day 21)

Daily progress on the Juneathon challenge. If you want to know more about the challenge, check out the Juneathon page.


Day 21:


Type: Bike Ride
Duration: 30 min
Distance: 6.7 miles
Calories: 140 (that sounds a bit off)
Juneathon total: 48.44 miles


Only 52 miles to go and 9 days left!

Post workout pose. 

Don't judge my post-workout attire. It was a great workout. Yes, we write love notes on our bathroom mirror to each other. My sparkle head band is from Bic Bands. They rock and don't slip on your hair or hurt your head. I'm thinking I need a few more. 

Dinner loaded with carbs for a good workout. 

I'm a spaghetii LOVER. And yes, this may not TECHNICALLY be spaghetii with bow tie pasta, but it's the same thing. Pasta, sauce, homemade turkey meatballs and homemade garlic-parm bread. Carbs anyone??


I finished with a tall glass of Strawberry Lemonade Nuun. And of course 2 liters of water. I'm a fish honestly. 


Speaking of how much water you should drink, funny you should ask.

Go here to use the Hydration Calculator

Daily Hydration Calculator Results (My quiz results)

A person who is my weight
and is exercising for average 45 minutes ,
is not pregnant,
is not breastfeeding,
does not live at a high altitude,
lives in a dry climate,
when the weather is very hot or very cold, (**Um, Arizona is VERY HOT!)
and is not sick with fever or diarrhea should have:

129 ounces of water today, or 3.9 liters.

Ok, so that is a rough estimate of how much water you should drink each day based on some questions about your daily life. According to this I should drink about 4 liters of water a day. That is roughly 4 nalgene's full of water. I'm right on track, as I usually drink about 4-6 a day. I've always thought of myself as drinking WAY too much water, but it can't hurt you. Unless of course you drink WAY too much, but I'm not close to that. Moderation. Stay hydrated! Have I mentioned it is the desert out here?!

Happy Weekend everyone!

102F is running weather! (Day 20)

Daily progress on the Juneathon challenge. If you want to know more about the challenge, check out the Juneathon page.


Day 20:


Type: Running
Duration: 25 min
Distance: 2.3 miles
Calories: 275
Juneathon total: 41.74 miles


It was only 102F degrees out last night when I worked out, perfect! Ugh, or not. Slowly but surely I'll get used to it...or just have to go slow until October when it cools down, cool down to below 98F!


Only 10 days left, and 60 miles to go? Not sure I can do that, but I'll give it my best shot.

Workout (Day 19)

Daily progress on the Juneathon challenge. If you want to know more about the challenge, check out the Juneathon page.


Day 18:


Type: Running
Duration: 27 min
Distance: 2.56 miles
Calories: 305
Juneathon total: 39.44 miles


Great workout tonight running! Finished off with some Nuun after the workout. Love this stuff!

Overview of my progress. June has quite a bit of variety which I like and just over 40 miles. Hmm...my calculations may be off a bit. 

Random Plane (Days 16, 17 & 18)

Another combined post. And wow, over half way done!


Daily progress on the Juneathon challenge. If you want to know more about the challenge, check out the Juneathon page.


Day 16:


Type: Walking
Duration: 25 min
Distance: 1.0 mile
Calories: 100
Juneathon total: 31.1 miles


Day 17: 


Type: Swimming
Duration: 60 min
Distance: 1.0 mile 
Calories: 250
Junathon Total: 32.1 miles


Day 18:


Type: Cycling/Biking
Duration: 23 min
Distance: 4.78 miles
Calories: 100
Juneathon total: 36.88 miles


And boy do I need to get going. I'm nowhere near that 100 miles I had as a goal. I guess that's what happens when life, work, family, life, being a mommie, life get in the way. At least I'm staying active. That's always a plus!


Here's to putting on some miles this week!

A post overnight shift checking out the clouds and random plane, picture.

Day 14 & 15 and the Zombie Shifts Are Over

Combined 14 and 15 and finally done with zombie overnight shifts, yay!


Daily progress on the Juneathon challenge. If you want to know more about the challenge, check out the Juneathon page.


Day 14:


Type: Strength/Core
Duration: 20 min
Distance: 0.5 mile in between
Calories: ~250
Juneathon total: 29.55 miles


Day 15: 


Type: Strength/Core
Duration: 45 min
Distance: 0.5 mile walk in between
Calories: ~250
Junathon Total: 30.10 miles


Had to combine two days here since I was a slacker and didn't do much the last two days. I always try to make it a point to do some crunches or push ups everyday, so that is what I did. Now that my stretch of overnight shifts are out of the way, on to some days off and some more running and cycling! I got such a great workout in the other day doing cycling and felt sore afterwards, I loved it!


On the agenda for my days off: Grocery shopping, workout, swimming with Little Bean and possibly getting out and about for an afternoon. Nothing real exciting, just the normal stuff.

Slop Sloppy Joes & Homemade Ketchup

Food overload. This is a great go-to dinner meal idea when nothing else sounds good or you don't have all these elegant ingredients to make a huge over-the-top dinner. Who doesn't like Sloppy Joes? Maybe the guy they're named after, ok touche.

I promise a better picture next time. I ate mine before I could photograph it. I was hungry!

Sloppy Joes


Ingredients:


2 lbs ground meat (I used ground beef, but have used turkey & its just as good)
about 1 cup brown sugar
about 1 1/2 cups ketchup (cool people like me make my own, below)
about 3/4 cup mustard
Italian seasoning


Brown meat until cooked. Season with Italian seasoning. Once cooked, turn heat down to low and add brown sugar, ketchup and mustard. Add to taste, hence my measurements are "about" and not exact measurements. Tangy? Add more mustard. Sweet? More ketchup/brown sugar. Delicious served on toast or buns, and topped with relish. Don't ditch it until you've tried it! This is a super easy meal that can feed leftovers and are great re-warmed up.


Made-my-own-ketchup-because-I'm-cool


Or because I didn't have enough and needed enough to make Sloppy Joes and was too lazy didn't go to the store to get more. Don't judge me. I looked on the back of a ketchup bottle and created this myself. It wasn't just like ketchup, but it was pretty close!


1 small can tomato paste
about 1/4 cup white vinegar
about 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar
about 1/4 cup water


*These were some of the main ingredients in ketchup and the ones I could pronounce and had on hand.


Mix all in a bowl and taste. Add more of something to alter the taste. Experiment! I found it took a lot of sugar to get it sweet, and still my end result was very tomato-y. It didn't have to be EXACTLY like ketchup though because it was going in Sloppy Joes.

Grandma Said I Could

Mommie-hood has been exciting lately. Here, let me share with you!

Bathtime is always an exciting time. As you can see from the splashes of water on the mirror we don't like to keep any water in the bathtub! I think he's practicing for the Olympics. He's a bit calm in this shot. I had to take what I could before my camera got drenched.

Morning play time in the crib. He loves when I duck down below and he can't see me, then I come back up and surprise him. The little things :)

Swimming in our baby pool on the porch.

Can't forget lifeguard Lucy. She's here to make sure everything is going well. And that no crickets or bugs are nearby. Heaven forbid she has to get in the water to save anyone.

Having a snack. "Grandma said I could" isn't this the motto of life?!

On a walk to find ducks in the nearby ponds. No luck. So we chewed on the keychain for a bit. Did I mention we're getting another tooth, on top? Jackson is, I'm all full.

Sleeping holding on to a handle. We know this ride is a violent one and needs a handle. So funny!

That's the past week or so in pictures, during my daytime awakeness anyway.

If you've got this far, thanks. What do you think of the title being a random phrase from the blog? Confusing? Misleading? Funny? Hate it?

Happy Friday & TGIF to you all!

Mexican Food is Back

As promised from this post, I'm giving you some food to stare at and recipes to go try out yourself. 


Pork Fajitas


It's been too long since we've had any Mexican food in this house, so I saw we bring some in! And, I don't make fajitas nearly enough, but come on, this is the simplest meal there is! I never know what else is in fajitas, so its pretty simple here.

Ingredients:


3/4 lb thin sliced pork chops, sliced into strips
taco seasoning (or if you're weird like me make your own, below)
3 bell peppers, your choice of color (2 red, 1 green for me)
tortillas (or leave these out if you're going no carb)


Slice up, julienne style, bell peppers and set aside. Season meat and let sit in the fridge for at least an hour, longer is better. I let mine sit for about 2 hours, overnight would work too. When ready, cook meat until 90% cooked through and add bell peppers. Finish cooking, so peppers are soft but not soggy, or cook to your liking.


Super easy, and easy to get things prepped ahead of time. This made enough for 2 people, or 1 person for lunch & dinner. 


Taco Seasoning (make do with what ya got)


Chili Powder
Cumin
Garlic salt
Salt & Pepper


Season to taste. The main ingredients are Cumin and Chili Powder, at least that I taste/can think of. 

Staple Food--Fried Rice

I'll take one order of this please. 

That's Pork Fried Rice, as promised from this post talking about a bunch of good food. Remember?

Fried Rice has become a staple for us. It has been a while since I've made some, but it is so easy and when you love rice like we do, its a great go-to meal. I personally love steamed white or brown rice, but fried rice is also good too.

Pork Fried Rice

2 cups steamed white or brown rice, cooled

1/2 to 1 cup frozen peas (or veggie of your choice)

1/2 lb pork, sliced into strips (think stir fry)

2 eggs

Soy Sauce

Hot sauce (I use Siracha)

Marinade pork in soy sauce (about 3 tablespoons, or whatever "looks" like enough) for at least 1 hour. I did mine overnight. Steam rice and set aside to cool. I let mine cool overnight in the fridge. Easier this way! Cook pork in a pan until cooked through. Add eggs and scramble. Next, add in rice while heat is still on medium high. Poor soy sauce over, covering rice until most of the top is covered. It really is up to you how much you like soy sauce or how strongly flavored you want. I go for a medium flavor. Toss rice in the pan and cook for a few minutes to get the flavor and things mixed up. Next, add in some frozen peas. Cook for another few minutes to "thaw" out peas and get them warm. 

This is great warmed up the next day for lunch. Add in hot sauce to your liking. This works as a side dish or a whole meal itself. This made enough for a good size bowl for both of us with left overs for each of us for lunch the next day. This can be halved too. 

Wednesday is Thursday? Juneathon Day 13

Getting tired of all these Juneathon updates?! Only 18 days to go!


Daily progress on the Juneathon challenge. If you want to know more about the challenge, check out the Juneathon page.


Day 13:


Type: Elliptical
Duration: 20 min
Distance: 1.7 miles
Calories: 200
Juneathon total: 29.05 miles


Didn't get to do as much today as I wanted. I was so stoked after yesterday's great ride. When I got to the gym there were 20 guys playing basketball (in the next room) and the air conditioning must have been off because it was the same temp inside as it was outside, and it was nearly 105 degrees. Perfect workout weather....um how about no! I'm all for a good sweat but that was pretty tough. Maybe I'm just not accustomed to working out in that heat yet. So I gave it my all and went hard for about 20 minutes and called it quits. I have plans tomorrow (today) to get a good workout in early in the morning after work (read 7am).


Speaking of tomorrow/today/what day is it. I've gotten my days mixed up a bit. See post below: 

Look at me trying to skip 10 days ahead...er 9...whatever.

Geez, get your act together! First I hit 22 instead of 12, because obviously I still thought it was Tuesday. Then my good friend kindly told me to get my act together I was wrong.

Ok, on to the workout! 

Good to know that it is still Wednesday...er wait it's now 3am on Thursday. Yep, I'm ok I promise. Only 2 more zombie shifts to go. 

Palm Trees & Bike Ride (Juneathon Day 12)

Getting tired of all these Juneathon updates?! Only 18 days to go!


Daily progress on the Juneathon challenge. If you want to know more about the challenge, check out the Juneathon page.


Day 12:


Type: Cycling
Duration: 25 min
Distance: 5.07 miles
Calories: 100
Juneathon total: 27.35 miles


Did some bike riding today, mainly because every other piece of equipment was taken at the gym. Oh well, I rocked out a really hard workout! Didn't even realize how far I'd gone until I looked up. That's what happens when you read a book while riding and tuning out the world with some music. What a great way to start my day. Yes, I'm on overnight so my day is just starting. 





I do feel oddly refreshed after sleeping today since I went 26+ hours with no sleep yesterday and crashed this morning after 8am. Ahh, and a nice workout to get my blood pumping. Love it!


Racking up the miles. I think I may be in ear shot to get to 100 by June 30, but we'll see. 


Here's some blog love to some of the other Runner/workout peeps that I've been following for a while now, and some that are also doing Juneathon. Tuesday shout out? Sure, why not.


Hanna - Bouffe e Bambini
Sarah - Sarah Oual
SR - Skinny Runner
Margot - Faster Bunny
Christy - The Buhrs
Becky - Random Blog

Here's a picture, just because we can't have a post without a picture!

Juneathon Day 11

Daily progress on the Juneathon challenge. If you want to know more about the challenge, check out the Juneathon page.


Day 11:


Type: Swimming
Duration: 45 min
Distance: ~3/4 mile
Calories: n/a
Juneathon total: 22.28 miles (I'll just keep it the same)


While I wasn't able to sleep today in preparation for my overnight shift, Jackson and I went and swam for a bit. We've been trying to go out and swim a couple nights a week for just a bit to get him used to the water. He absolutely loves the bath water so this is just a large scale for him. 

Our very own personal pool. Wanna come swim?

It takes him a bit to get into swimming. Especially if there are other people there, he gets shy and just people watches :)


Gosh I love this kid!