Happy Anniversary!

Last night my husband and I celebrated our 11th anniversary! (You can see my hot DH in my “About Me” tab). We had so much fun on our date! We went to see “Julie & Julia”, had a nice dinner & browsed the bookstore.

The movie was good…made me want to eat- so I did, without guilt (totally strange) when we went to dinner at an Italian restaurant after. I just tasted the food and enjoyed it, like the movie taught me. Also had some wine and chatted with our wonderful waitress who threw in the exquisite tiramisu dessert as an anniversary present!

Then we went to to bookstore and browsed around- which doesn’t happen often because kids are usually in-tow, and that was fun! We stood for awhile laughing loudly and reading a non-kid book- “South Park: Guide to Life” 

Yes, it’s funny & offensive… and we watched that show before our boys were born. We had so much fun reading stuff aloud to each other and laughing like kids!

If you haven’t done that in awhile, you should!

It’d be easy to do to with this book, too! I took a picture of my favorite page and will twit-pic it later. It’s something about parents, which is something we are now, but we’re more than that & it was fun to remember it!

Here’s a funny story about our actual wedding night 11yrs ago to the day:

We got married the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.

Our wedding was at 11am and all the day’s festivities were done about 5pm, I guess. We drove to his our apartment, with a picnic basket full of the food that was served. Our caterers packed it all up for us since we were too busy to eat at the reception.

We went home and ate, still sitting in my wedding dress & him in his tux.

We were exhausted & wanted to change clothes and chill out. Only problem was, I hadn’t moved in yet and didn’t have ANY clothes there!

The plan had been for us to have a brunch the next morning with our families- since we still had so many people in from out-of-town, then move me in that day & the next (Labor Day). Then, leave for our honeymoon Tuesday. I never planned to bring stuff to change into after the big day!

I needed to get something to change into and I was also starting to feel a little sick by then, I think because I hadn’t eaten all day and then pigged out on the good food our caterer sent with us.

Of course since my husband’s apartment was a bachelor pad before that day, he had no stomach medicine or remedies in the place.

So, we had to drive to my house my mom’s house so I could get some clothes and some Pepto Bismol or something. (Nice story, huh?)

When we got there my sister was just about to watch a movie she rented and we decided to join her. My parents were going out dancing with some other friends since they were all “dressed up” after the wedding.

So, my new husband and my sister and I sat in the den and watched “Senseless” with Marlon Wayans & David Spade.

It was a funny movie, from what I can remember, and I have a wedding-night story that I definitely remember! Ha!

I am truly blessed that 11 yrs later, xxlbs heavier (did you really think I’d say the number), more gray hair (Loreal takes that away) and the beginning of lines & wrinkles (Oil of Olay will be my new BFF), my husband looks at me the same way as he did on our wedding day! We still laugh together and enjoy hanging out and watching movies. =)

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful to be almost done with the 1st week of back-to-school! Wow! In 3yrs I have not seen a carpool line like the ones I’ve seen the past 4 days…I’m hoping more kids (but not mine) will be taking the bus starting next week!

I am thankful that my husband & I will be celebrating our 11th year of marriage next weekend and are still happily in love! We dated for 7 yrs + engaged for 1 year= so have actually been together for 19 years! We laugh everyday and sometimes giggle like kids while acting silly. I’m very thankful God put him in my life and we continue to be best friends!

I am thankful for our 2 sweet boys ages 4.5 & 7.5 years old! They definitely complete our lives!

I am thankful that I’m finally getting into a routine of exercising everyday (have been for 2 weeks) and the way it makes me feel. I WILL be thankful when the scale & my clothes finally start to notice!

Fitness Friday

It has been a great week! I’m finally excited about a few things having to do with FITNESS!

I remember turning fourteen years old (not too many moons ago) and my mom excitedly telling me I could join her gym now. I also remember what I said to her, “You exercise because you like it, I’d only do it if I have to!”  Terrible, right? So young and stupid naive.

I didn’t like exercising. Lots of people don’t.

I have come to the conclusion, though, that they don’t like it because they haven’t done it.

Exercise makes you feel so good! And not just physically- its very mental, too! I mean- I know I walk taller, am proud & more confident after I’ve worked out. It’s also been proven that exercise relieves stress and anxiety (more of the mental goodness you get from sweatin’ it up!).

 I make better food choices, too,  because I don’t want to undo the workout I did. Or workout, and just end up burning off that donut someone brought into the office & you ate without thinking. Exercising regularly makes me think about what I should (and shouldn’t) be eating and makes me want to do better. Not just for fitting into a certain size, but for my cholesterol and blood pressure, heart & bones- the whole INNER beauty that is me! =)

Speaking of “doing better” let me tell ya about the Wii-Fit! I am SO INSPIRED by THE “wiimoms” Julie, Jenn & Sarah, I just started a Wii-Fit challenge this past Monday with 2 *other* wiimoms! My sister Erika and a friend we met on twitter, Christine. The 3 us are accountable to each other to workout on our Wii-Fits and “report by tweet” to each other that we did it! REALLY helps having a buddy or a support system to keep ya going! Really!

It also helps when your husband is in 1st place on every single exercise on the Fit and your kids sit on the couch screaming, “Go Faster!” “Do it like Daddy!”  ”Daddy’s in 1st place on this one!” I keep going and going until I can make them lose their voices get as close as possible to knocking my DH out of his championship title!

As hard as it can be to keep exercising with an audience that loves to heckle their amazingly awesome mama, it’s important for my 2 boys to see exercise WILL BE a daily part of life for ALL OF US…and it’s FUN!

On a side note, I bought “Personal Trainer: Walking” for the Nintendo DS. I wear 1 activity meter and DH wears the other. After 3 weeks (today), I have 97,647 steps and he has 78,550. Oh YEA- I’m in 1st place in that one! How ya like me now??

Tuesday in Two-Hundred

Hi there! Well today was day 2 of my New Wii-Fit Workout I started with Erika & Christine.  I almost didn’t get up for it! I overslept, but managed to squeeze in 16 minutes of hip-shakin’, advanced steppin’ & Free runnin’ on my Fit before having to get ready for work! Whew! The other 2 have been logging way more time than I have so far and tweeted about it EARLY this morning! We’re on a roll!

Are you following us on twitter and keeping up?

How about on the wiimommies.com forum?

I’m going to be writing a post on Friday that is going to link to the wiimommies.com “Fitness Friday” post- how freakin’ exciting is that!? You don’t have to answer, it’s extremely exciting and I’m totally honored I was asked!

I’m having so much fun “getting my groove back”,  just wait! There will be lots more for me to write… & for you to read because I’m just getting started! I might also be participating in a new challenge The Fab Fatties: Shannon & Angie are sharing tomorrow. You can check their blog, too, for details! (www.thefabulousfatties.com)

So, tomorrow will be day 3 and I’m going to try a routine from www.inwiifitness.com and post tomorrow!

 

Word count: 200

Monday Monday

It was a real “Monday Monday” today. The title sounds like that song in my head…sing along please!

I didn’t have too much to do today, outside of the house. Always have alot to do inside. It rained and was just kind of dreary, but we desperately need the rain so that’s ok. Exciting actually, and we need days like this every once in awhile to just unwind and not have to look at a clock, make appointments or deadlines, etc.

So, it was a good day!

Another reason it is a “good day” is because I started a new workout routine today on my wii-fit. I’m working out with (but not actually ‘together’) my sister Erika (@MeSoupBlog on twitter) and Christine (@cnstarr on twitter). I did 20 mins today but will work up to more.  And was sweating!  Most of all, though, it was FUN!!

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit so I’m thinking 1 week into my son starting back to school I’ll have daily exercising as a definite routine! Start of school = crazy schedule.

Day 1 was great! Woke up & worked out, started coffee &  jumped in the shower. All that by 8:30am…on my day off! I’m proud!

You can join in our little Wii-Fit Challenge, too, if ya want, & read more about it on the wiimommies.com forum http://tinyurl.com/lf6deo. You can also follow me, Erika and Christine on twitter. But most of all, follow the REAL @wiimoms that inspired us: Julie (@Momspective), Jenn (@SuperJennBlogs) & Sarah (@RealLifeSarah). All their blogs are also on my blogroll…so go ahead, take a look!

Feeling relaxed and still singing… with a smile on my face…”Monday Monday”.

Fitness Friday

I use Fridays for my fitness post just like the inspiring wiimommies! The wiimoms are Julie, Jenn & Sarah…check out their collective blog and their individual blogs! Another inspiring mom that has has an amazing post about working out on the wii and achieving her goals is Lisa from CrazyAdventuresInParenting, ALL links in my blogroll to the right!

I bought the Nintendo DS & “Personal Trainer: Walking” game last Wednesday and my husband & I started using it last Thursday. And competing! It’s soo super fun and really has us moving more than ever before! Being aware of how long we move…or sit still! =)

My steps for the week are 38,581 and husband’s are 29,587! WOW! I’m proud of those numbers, however the GOAL is to get 10,000 a day. Obviously, we have to work up to that. When we do…we should each have 70,000 steps a week. HA! Little goals…babysteps…small achievements! Ya know, don’t want to overdo it! =)

I’ve also done more with the Wii-Fit this week! Lisa has an awesome routine that she was sweet enough to share with me and I can’t wait to try it! It’s step aerobics, yoga, and balance games on the Wii-Fiit! She also throws in the EAS Active (also for the Wii) and does boxing & dancing. Check it all out on her blog- her “Diet-o-versary” post is very motivational! And the WiiMommies started all the working out and inspiring we moms (get it? *roll eyes*) to get FIT!  Like WiiMommy Jenn says…”I’m soon to be a skinny mii!”  I, too, am on my way!!

Thankful Thursday

This will be my weekly version of the “Grateful Journal” I used to keep years ago. Except that was daily…I really should go back to that!

I am thankful for:

1) My family

2) Our health

3) Our home

4) I’m off work today

5) I’m going on my first Scrapbook Retreat this weekend (it’s only 30 mins away but I’m still…AWAY & stampin’!) Fun, crafty girl time!

Wednesday WOWs

Wow! Today, Wednesday I learned some things!

First, I have a Wii-fit that I got this past Christmas. I did NOT know until today that you can choose “Free Step” game in “aerobics”, choose the amount of time you want to do your “Step workout” and then CHANGE THE CHANNEL to watch TV or listen to the radio while it counts your steps!!  That’s right!! I picked 10 mins because I didn’t know I could change the channel for my kids to watch “icarly” while I was working out. I did 800 steps in those 10 mins…totally great for my Nintendo DS- Personal Trainer:Walking competition with my husband (See last “Fitness Friday” post)- AND “banked” the time on my Wii-Fit! VERY exciting info for me!!  Let me know if this helped you, too…or if you already knew this and I must be like a man and don’t read directions! LOL!

Second, I passed by 2 car accidents today…minutes after they happened! The rescue workers & wreckers had to go thru the traffic to get to them! Very scary! If I would’ve been a few minutes earlier to and from work today…ugh- not good!  Just didn’t know what was going on today, makes ya think…WOW!

Tuesday in Two-Hundred

Trying to start a new (GOOD) habit of going to bed soon after the kids do. These circles under my eyes will never go away if I keep staying up until 11pm watching re-runs on TV or being on the computer! Started last night. And 4.5 YO slept ALL night last night without coming into our bed; that’s happened only a hand-ful of times. I kept waking up and looking at the clock thinking…”It’s ONLY xx:xx” weird how that happens when you go to bed at a decent hour!

Upon The Fly Lady’s suggestion, I used my crock-pot today & haven’t in a LONG time- SOO easy! LOVE how dinner is ready and waiting for the family with no afternoon craziness! The Fly Lady freakin’ ROCKS! If you haven’t, read my “Falling in Love Again” Post and visit her site (on my blogroll).

 I mean, I even had time to get on my Wii-Fit which I also haven’t done in a LONG time! (It said, “If it isn’t Shannon! It’s been 18 days since I’ve seen you last!”- Hey, thanks!)

Tried to do “Tuesday in Twenty” but had too much to say. 200 is hard, too! We’ll see if it sticks!

 

Word count: 200

Fitness Friday- my 1st

This is my 1st Fitness Friday post (I read a slew of other’s- follow my blogroll) and want to give a shout out because it’s Friday & I’m excited about something to do with Fitness!

I bought a Nintendo DS and “Personal Trainer: Walking” game 2 days ago after hearing and reading the rave reviews about it from the wiimommies: Julie, Sarah & Jenn (again, blogroll)! For one thing, they totally ROCK and are my new BFFs! Secondly, YES I’m a follower! There, I said it and it’s fine! I don’t set trends, but big deal! I talk about stuff like crazy when I like it and encourage others around me! So, after meeting my mom at Toys ‘R Us (my 2nd time there in 2 days) for her to buy the DS & game I thought I need to write how much I’m LOVING my new toys!

I’ve worn pedometers for years, ever since I heard that the recommended amount of steps per day to be “healthy” is 10,000! Yes, that’s right TEN THOUSAND steps! It’s alot! So, usually I need to make myself get steps in.

THIS is no ordinary pedometer! The “Personal Trainer: Walking” is the best freakin’ invention!!  It MAKES you want to move!!  Yes, WANT to!! You download the info from the “activity meter” that you wear daily, into your DS. Then, your little Mii (that you import from your Wii or make on the DS) appears on the screen and shows you how you did. You see it walking or standing still! There are graphs WITH DETAILS- including the time of day- you took your steps…or sat inactive. SEEING this in all it’s glory (or not) is Eye-Opening! And FANTASTIC!

The PT Walking game comes with 2 activity meters so you can wear one and another member of your family can, too. You can even put it on your dog, which my friend Julie @ www.Momspective.com did! I’m “challenging” my husband and thought for certain that I had this in the bag! We have a Wii & the man is in 1st, 2nd & 3rd place on almost everything. Every board game we play, every sports game we play…whatever it is- HE wins! (Except Chuck E. Cheese skee ball- HA, oh yea, that’s MINE!) I was happy to put an activity meter on him and run circles around him.

I was wrong! At least on our 1st day, which was yesterday, he beat me! Totally shocked! Today, we haven’t downloaded our info yet and he’s still at work so I have a chance to run laps in the house or take the dog for a walk to try to get some steps in.  Gotta get off the computer and get to steppin’ otherwise my Mii will tell me I had alot of “inactive” time and embarass me completely in front of his Mii. The game is ON!

I’ll tweet about it with the hashtag #ptwalking on twitter with all the wiimommies and others who have discovered this GREAT tool!  

Thanks for reading my 1st Fitness Friday post!