Tennis Anyone?!?!?

I have had such a wonderful time picking up tennis again. It makes me feel so alive! I just love it!!! I played when I was younger, probably up until 15 or so, and I don't know why I waited so long to get back into it. Oh yea marriage, kids, house, chores, teaching , working etc etc... Anyway, I have a wonderful coach name Bob Ellison, he is incredible, breaks everything down so you fully understand every movement and technique. He takes his time to give me the right tools to succeed and build a solid foundation before moving on to the next level. There's something electrifying about hitting that ball with power, direction and purpose. It feels AWESOME! So I am very excited to play tennis again and not just running all over the court hitting the ball randomly - but actually learning all about the sport and showing improvement I might add. I have learned so much over this little while and I am so thrilled to be dedicating these next few weeks to train with such a amazing teacher.I spend a lot of my time making sure the boys have everything they need and everything they want to experience in relation to sports and fitness and its about time that I don't just workout (because I have been doing that for years) but that I am having FUN!!!! I can't wait to see my results at the end of this next year and finally be able to play my brother and Dad and knock their socks off with how much I have improved. My coach wants me to play in a women's group and even play tournament, he's very ambitious and I am glad he sees that potential in me- only time will tell! We will see if I am ready for that in the months to come. I think having "me" time is so vital. To get that release is wonderful! To have fun, learn something new, workout, etc its great! As an added bonus its winter - so its cold, gloomy and just blah so to be able to go out and still play is refreshing! I train in the indoor courts at Gold's Gym. I Love it!

Sometimes...

Sometimes... I forget that I am a mom of 3 boys driving a minivan... I am listening to my music, driving way too fast, on the way home from the office when I start getting these looks- then I remember "Hey I'm not in the Porsche, single and ready to paint the town I AM A MOM IN A MINI VAN time to slow down!" But WHY!?!?!? Why can't I just be ME sometimes....

Sometimes... I want to be 18 again with no responsibility!

Sometimes... I want to flirt with some hot guy!

Sometimes... I want to pig out on my favorite food and not feel an ounce of guilt!

Sometimes... I want to dance all night!

Sometimes... I want to be noticed!

Sometimes... I want to drive way too fast!

Sometimes... I want to go back to SOMA and see an awesome garage band!

Sometimes... I want to forget I am a mom!

Sometimes... I want to be single even if its for 5 minutes!

Sometimes... I want to just scream!

Sometimes... I want to laugh so hard that I actually pee my pants (I've never done that!)

Sometimes... I want to forget about all the "shoulds" in life and just be!

Sometimes... I just want to fly away to Spain or Argentina and lose myself in the culture!

Sometimes... I want other people to make an effort!

Sometimes... I want someone to tell me the everything is going to be alright!

Baking

Noah and I were reading this wonderful story titled "All for Pie, Pie for All" by David Martin. A very sweet book with of course kitties in the story which Noah loves. Well this story is about baking a pie so we thought after reading it a few times that we would finally use a recipe I had been dying to try. Triple Berry Pie! It has blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Noah was such a great helper and way too cute -the ironic thing is that after we baked it he didn't even want to try it. Brandon and I finally convinced him to take a bite but he was already set on not liking it so he didn't however Brandon and I thought it was the best pie we had ever eaten and quickly it became our new favorite. Isn't it great to try new things! Anyway here are a few pictures of my very cute baker!

The challenge

About 2 years ago, maybe longer, I really wanted to refocus on my health, shed some unwanted pounds, and get back in shape and with that came great sacrifice. I accomplished my goal and have been maintaining ever since and it was an incredible experience....however there was one draw back. Since I needed to restrict my calories and really change my eating habits I still wanted to be able to indulge in something so I turned to Diet Coke & Pepsi and I thought well if I drank it in moderation it wouldn't be any big deal at all. Well, it started out as drinking it once in a while when we went out to eat , to then starting this new healthy lifestyle and drinking it almost every day- just one can but about everyday. Jordan has challenged me on several occasions to stop drinking it and would give me SUCH a hard time about it (he doesn't drink soda at all!) I always rationalized that if that was the worst thing I was doing health wise then I was pretty OK after all I was eating fresh fruits and veggies , hardly anything processed, "evaporated cane juice" became part of my vocabulary and I was shopping more and more at the health food store, making as many items from scratch as possible , trying to buy all organic etc etc ... so giving me a hard time about one can of diet soda come on!!! Its not like it is beer or anything but he sure was making me feel that way!!! Since diet soda had become my crutch these past two years and now I was just drinking it out of habit , not out of desire or anything-- I know its bad for you but hey I need to live it up a little???? Right. IT was time to let it go besides how could I look my 11 year old son in the face and tell him that I would NOT stop drinking it -- as if it was becoming like a drug to me , was diet soda more important to me than proving to him that you can do ANYTHING you set your mind to doing??? So last week , wednesday to be exact, I told him that I was FINALLY going to accept his challenge. 3 months no diet soda not only that but no soda period!!! ( I almost said a year but I needed a realistic goal first!) It may not sound like a big deal at all but I have been drinking it just about 6 days a week for 2 years , my way to indulge & de-stress so it is a big deal! I accepted this challenge to PROVE to him that he is WORTH it, that one CAN accomplish their goals no matter how small, that you don't need junk food or drink in this instance and that one can choose to change their poor habits at any time!!!! So what's in it for him besides learning all this .... well if I break my promise I will pay him $50!!!! And that's a lot of money to a 11 yr old and to me - it'll be the most expensive can of soda I have ever purchased BUT I am not going to break it! He has also promised to be my SUPPORTER not my TEMPTER so it will be a great experience for both of us. I am very interested to see how my body reacts, if there are any changes etc etc. Yesterday I drank my last few drops of soda and I am officially on day one. I am lacking energy but don't need the caffeine! I will succeed!!!!! So let the challenge begin.....

Hope and Inspiration

I was pleasantly surprised today to open my eyes a little wider and see hope and inspiration all around me. I usually walk/ run the track while Noah is in Itty Bitty Basketball. I turn on my iPod listen to some great music and away I go. Today was different, even though I had music blasting in my ears I was able to quiet my mind and actually see those around me with a new perspective. I realized that there is good in the world, we just have to open our eyes. As I am walking round and round this track I look down to the first level of the gym and I am amazed by what I see. Incredible people. There are the very pregnant moms, about to pop, teaching a gymnastics class, the trainers helping men and women achieve their fitness goals, coaches who volunteer their time to teach 4 year olds basketball and the moms who give of their time to teach children about fitness and fun in the "kid fit" class. They are all happy, sharing their talents, sharing their smiles and joy, filled with patience, they are giving of themselves to another. They are proving that there is still happiness, hope and love for the new rising generation. They don't think they are doing much but they are changing lives.Then there are the amazing people on the track. Those that may appear the least inspiring are actually the most. There are two ladies walking one with a cast and another limping. One might think, why are they here they are slowing down the pace as we all try to get around them. But they are here at the gym despite their injury moving forward trying to heal! There is the mom who is in fantastic picture perfect shape yet I over hear her tell another that her husband challenged her to do a triathlon with him and she doesn't know who to swim so instead of saying "no" she's taking lessons. There's the senior walking group, as I call them, there diligently ever day walking and talking -they are in their 60's and 70's some limp, some out of breath but they are there and one of them today started running!! He zoomed passed me. He's wearing exercise pants (most of them wear jeans) and a button down shirt with a red baseball cap, clearly in his 70's but he's doing it running past us all. There is the sweet mother with toddlers in a double stroller they are screaming at the top of their lungs- we all can choose to be so annoyed- she runs a lap, stops, tries to settle them down, sighs and starts running again- some of us shake our heads because the screaming really is bothersome but she is amazing she's not going to let anything stand in her way of her health, she is choosing to still come to the gym. There are examples of true determination, endurance, and hope all around us ...we just need to open our eyes, quiet our minds, and we will seem them everywhere. Every one at that gym, and their were hundreds, were doing good for someone else or for themselves in the way of health or fitness. Its was beautiful to see this good all around me. I will open my eyes more often!

Hold on!

"If ever you are tempted to become discouraged or to lose faith, remember those faithful Saints who remained true in Kirtland. Hold on a little longer. You can do this! You are part of a special generation. You were prepared and preserved to live at this important time in the existence of our beautiful planet earth. You have a celestial pedigree and therefore have all the necessary talents to make your life an eternal success story."

--Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Hold on a Little Longer", Liahona, Jan 2010 4–8

Hair Cut

Its a new incredible year and time for a fresh start! So I decided to cut 6 inches off my hair! That may not seem like a lot but I have NEVER cut off 6 inches all at once! It felt so liberating, light and healthy. My hair feels good. Instead of going to a salon I decided to go to Supercuts, get their tea tree treatment which was wonderful, and with the extra cash I saved go out to lunch! So they didn't blow dry my hair or style it so this is a very basic look- I just dried it quickly when I got home. I took this quick picture in the mirror so it might not be too clear but you get the idea. I absolutely love this new length. Its much easier to manage and feels so healthy. I love it! Here's to a new year and a new me! ; )