Thankful Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday!

I remembered where the link up was so we are LINKING UP! :D WOOT!!!

Sweet! :D 

Lets go on with this!

1.) Toddler Giggles. On days where LW makes me want to pull my hair out. When I have mental and emotional break downs. When I am fighting, really really fighting, the urge to scream at him. When he has effectively dissolved every ounce of patience I have left. (all of which happened yesterday) His giggles make everything better. Today is a much better day and I love listening to him giggle. 

3.) A Loving Hubby. I miss my hubby every day when he leaves for work and I can't wait to see him when he comes home. Some days I miss him more then others. Yesterday, with having the bad day that I did have, missing him as much as I did on top of everything else was not helpful. I was so thankful when he came home and was very patient with me as I became more normal. He helped with LW more then usual, did most of the talking throughout dinner while I tried to be happy. We laid LW down, he went right to bed, and instead of finishing our plans of cleaning the hubs let me have a nice shower and then we cuddled and ate popcorn. It was exactly what I needed. Just time with my hubby/best friend. :) I say it often, but it is just as true as the first time I said it. He is the BEST thing that ever happened to me. I love him so much.

I only have two for you today, but I think that is good enough. :) Sadly I didn't do Workout Wednesday yesterday, but from the day I was having, I think I can be excused. I did have a great workout though. Maybe I'll share it with you next week instead, unless I have a different one... or maybe I'll share two! You'll just have to wait and see!

Also, I purposefully didn't update belly stuff this week. I will again next week though. I'll be 34 weeks! Crazy! Check back tomorrow for Five on Friday Link Up! :D

Until Next Time!

Spicy

Five Friday Favs

LINK UP!!!! YAY!!!!

My first link up since being back to blogging! It's a fun one too! Woot!

Welcome too.....

1. FALL/AUTUMN!!! I may be a little obsessed.

PB Pumpkins - via pintrest

via pintrest

via pintrest

via pinterest

I could post a million pictures of things I love about fall/autumn time so I'll just leave it at that. I'm obsessed with long sleeves, sweaters, boots, and all things pumpkin. :) I LOVE cold weather! Everyone here has been complaining about the sudden weather change, it went from 80 degrees to 50 degrees in two weeks(we even had a SMALL amount of snow on our playground in our backyard this morning), but I am loving it! Bring on the cold! :D And it's been super rainy and I love that too. I just love it! :D

2. Planning. Another thing I may or may not be obsessed with.

I love planning things out. I love having things to write in my day planner! Right now I'm currently obsessing over workouts and running and eating healthy. I want to wright it all down! But I have a rather small day planner and I don't like using pencils... so then I have to cross stuff out and then it looks messy. Maybe I should just get over my "no pencil" thing. ;)

3. Creativity.
      Do I really need to explain this one? I have a blog. I'm a writer and aspiring author. I draw. I have had a blast coming up with ideas to decorate our baby girls room (a lot of them I can't do because they would cost to much). Creativity all around is amazing.

4. BOOTS!!!


I may or may not be obsessed about these as well. I only have two pairs of boots... I need more!!! XD

5. Running.

via pinterest

via pinterest

via pinterest

via pinterest

via pinterest

via pinterest

I WANNA RUN!!!! I want to scream that at the top of my lungs! I miss running! Why did I ever stop? Oh ya... I got injured. I could have gotten back into it though, before becoming pregnant and then I could have continued running throughout my pregnancy, but starting to run in your third trimester after not running for ... a long time... is not smart or safe. I can not wait to hit that pavement after this baby girl comes and I've been cleared by the doc. :)

So if you are out hitting the pavement or trails or even the treadmill, run a little for me please! :D And I'll do the same for you when I can. :)

Happy Friday! :D
Enjoy the weekend!

Until Next Time!
Spicy

Workout Wednesday - Deck of Cards

I apologize for being MIA for the passed week. I had planned on posting last week after W.O.W and it just didn't happen. Then this weekend I had a KILLER workout! Whoever says gardening/weeding for 2 1/2 hours then painting the rest of the day is tiring! We finished the second coat of paint on Sunday and I've been taking a day or tow to recover. Yesterday I finally felt more like myself and not WAY exhausted. So I came up with this...

Welcome to Workout Wednesday!

Have you ever done a Deck of Cards workout? It sounds easy. You only do four moves and your done when you've gone through the entire deck. I first saw this on The Biggest Loser and thought it was amazing. I remember looking at the contestants doing a Deck of Cards workout I kind of chuckled to myself and thought, "That wouldn't be such a hard workout."

Have any of you ever thought that about one of the biggest loser workouts? Or maybe one of the moves they do, like when they grab the ropes and start whipping them around (that's not easy by the way)?

Well, I assure you, this workout will KILL your legs!

Here's the deal...

• Each suit represents a different exercise
• Each number tells you how many reps you'll do
• Face Cards = 10
• Aces = 11

Good Luck

Deck of Cards Leg Killer

Hearts = Deadlifts with 10 lb weights

Diamonds = Alternating Lunges holding 10 lb weights (one left AND one right equals one rep)

Spades = Squats holding one 10 lb weight in front of you (Keep your butt back and tight, use your butt and hamstrings to squat and lift, squeeze your butt once your standing and tilt your hips slightly forward)

Clubs = Inner Thigh Burners (that's what I call them, it looks like this...) Do number of reps on both sides!

Not me or my picture, I found it on google images

If the weight is to heavy for you, lower it. If it is to light, raise it. This is just what works for me.

If your legs aren't jello after this workout, you're not doing it right. This can be adjusted to any fitness level and it should burn. Make those legs shake with effort!

I love working out my legs because they are powerhouses, but I have weak hamstrings and inner thighs. It's what caused my hip pain during my half marathon. Basically I have uneven legs. My thighs are WAY strong while the rest of my leg... not so much. This workout works all parts of your leg.

Oh ya, all of these moves are safe all the way through your pregnancy as long as you have clearance from your doctor.

I had a lot of fun making this workout and just as much doing it. Now, I'm going to go collapse on the couch and not attempt to move for a while. ;)

Until Next Time!
Spicy

Workout Wednesday!

Alright, so yesterday I was still trying to get in the swing of things after Memorial Day so I didn't get to post about the ab challenge. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't do as much as I wanted to last week when I started so I took it down a notch. Being fifteen weeks pregnant I know I'm going to have to cut back on ab exercises like these soon so I think what I did was great!

I did each exercise 10 times instead of doing the first one 25 times, and having it pretty much get worse from there on out. I didn't do the Scissors or the Leg Climbers. Both of those exercises I do not like. I like to MOVE and Scissors doesn't give me enough movement and I can't get my leg straight which drives me bonkers! And then there are Leg Climbers! Why on earth would I want to "climb up my leg"? Plus, then my leg gets in the way of my growing belly and it's just not a comfortable move. I've done these exercises before when I wasn't pregnant and they are fine, but I always resented them.

I was able to do the whole workout, minus those two moves, with ten reps each move. That may not seem like a lot, but I felt it! I also listened to my body and took the necessary breaks when needed. I am thankfully pretty in tune with my body, I listen to it all the time. When I felt my stomach or my uterus tighten to much, I backed off for a bit. I talked to my doctor and she said I am fine to keep doing this as long as I listen to my body which I am doing.

The squat challenge is still going good and strong. I'm happy to say that I have a rest day from the squat challenge today. Yay! My hamstrings and butt are SORE! That could have to do with my gardening yesterday too. It's amazing how many muscles you work doing that.

Workout Wednesday today is me posting yesterday's workout. It was a good one. So... let's link up!

Quick update on Skinny Meg and Mama Laughlin, they are getting together for the Pretty Muddy and want to meet people! I am so jealous that I don't have the funds to go meet them. Now I don't drink so that part of the night I would probably end up being the designated driver if I could go, haha. ;)

Seriously though, if you can make it, you should. Those two ladies are rock stars.

Now for the workout. 

I started with the squat challenge and the ab challenge then went on to do this...

This BURNS!

Squat, Bicep curl, Shoulder Press, repeat for 3 minutes (I used 10 lb weights)

1 Leg Deadlift Left Side - 1 minute (I used 10 lb weights)

1 Leg Deadlift Right Side - 1 minute (I used 10 lb weights)

Shoulders - Lift arms out to sides until aligned with shoulders then lower, lift arms front to shoulder height then lower, bend at the hips and perform a butterfly (mama laughlin demonstrates this move here). Repeat for 3 Min (I used 5 lb weights, I have a weak shoulder from an injury)

Bent Over Rows - 1 minute (I used 10 lb weights)

Plank - 1 minute

Repeat 3x's

I feel really dumb for not knowing the names of those other two moves in the Shoulders part of this exercise, but my mind is blank. I really can't think of them. They are actual moves, I promise, haha. I hope I described them well enough so you understand. Anyway, enjoy the workout! It was a good one. ;) 

Until Next Time,

Spicy!

If I Won The Lottery/Link Up

I happened to stop by Hang On, Honey when I was reading Holly's blog and I saw this Link Up posted a couple days ago. I thought it would be a fun, light hearted post after my heavy one on Thursday. Plus, like Beth said, who doesn't think about this?!
Now I don't play the Lottery or buy the tickets or whatever you wanna call it, so I won't ever win the lottery, but I can still dream about having that kind of money.
I'm probably really weird compared to most people because my dreams of having that much money and what I would do with it aren't like most peoples. A lot of people want a big house, live on a beach or near one, you know... luxury stuff.
Unfortunately, and fortunately for The Hubs, I'm kind of a tom boy. Yes, I have a major girly side. I would love to have a closet full of cute, well fitting clothes and racks full of boots, but when I do my hair and makeup (even if I do it every day, which I don't) it's all for The Hubs. I would be happy almost never wearing makeup and throwing my hair up in a ponytail most days.
So without making you wait much longer, this is what I would do with a LOT of money.
1.) Pay off our house mortgage, then sell our house.
2.) Buy a LARGE plot of land (I'm talking like 200 acres) with lots of trees and land for so many different things.
3.) Build our dream house on said land, similar to this...

With many different dream features, but HAVE to have a giant library. 
4.) Bring my family and the hubs family to said land and build our own little community. Each having their own home. Plenty of  trails for running/walking and areas on the outskirts of our land to even go camping! There would be a park in the middle of the houses. A large gaming home with a pool table, ping pong table, a workout room, a pool! And a giant garden we would all work in.
5.) Build my dream barn with neighboring sheltered arena. Own many horses!
6.) Own many BIG dogs. 
7.) Whatever money we had leftover we would put away into savings. 
We live a pretty simple life and probably still would even with that much money. We both love our families and both my sisters and his sisters have talked about all living on the same plot of land near each other. I could live without either family, I love them both so much. 
So, what would you do?
Until Next Time! Spicy

It Feels Like Monday/Workout Wednesday

It feels like Monday today. I didn't even realize it was Wednesday this morning until I got online to check out a few of my favorite bloggers sites. I was fully prepared to talk about last weeks goals, which I may do anyway. Then I saw Workout Wednesday! I briefly thought, SkinnyMeg hasn't posted in almost a week? Then I looked at the date, then at the date on my computer, then back and forth between the two until my tired brain realized what I was looking at. That TODAY is Wednesday!

You see, today is really my first day back in Utah since EARLY Saturday morning. The Hubs, LW and I flew out to Kansas to have a family get together. We flew back in yesterday night and I'm a little travel logged and keep thinking today is Monday. Whew, I hope that goes away soon.

After we landed two of my sisters and one of my brother in laws picked us up. I wish I had a video or picture of my reaction when I saw them because I'm pretty sure it was awesome. It's been a long time. Then we climbed into a car and headed to their house. This is what happened on the way home.

LW and The Hubs fell asleep

I chatted it up with my sis, then a few hours later snapped this shot.

LW sitting on a chair waving to family members. The person sitting next to him is our one and only Spunky!

These are the only pictures I have on my phone, but MANY were taken. I will try to post more about our weekend. :) 

Just a quick overview of my goals last week. I didn't have a third walk/run, but I did get two in. I went on a walk with one of my sisters yesterday. It was nice! I am going to go on a walk/run today and again on Friday. So I will get three in this week!

Water I did great on! Except while in Kansas. I still drank pretty good, but not as good as I should have.

Lifting weights. Um... Hello? Did you not see my workout last week?! Haha, yes I lifted weights. I want more though!!! Is that greedy? ;)

This weeks goals (even though I know it's a short week for me):

1. Walk two more times

2. Keep hydrated!

3. Eat five meals a day (new thing I'm going to start doing, we'll see how it goes)

Alright so... My workout of the day... what should I do... hmm....

Well, I have my squat challenge which I'll be doing 70 squats. I'm also going on a walk/run. Which will probably be about three miles, maybe a little more. Let's do this:

High Side Plank Reach Through - 15 reps

Single Leg Dead Lift - 10 lbs. & 15 reps

Walking Pushups - 5 reps

Temple Tap Abs (a favorite move from Melissa Bender) - 15 reps***

Workout Ball Inner Thigh Squeeze - 15 SLOW reps, 15 sec hold at end

Elbow Plank - 60 seconds (that's my goal)

Repeat 2 - 4x's

*** Temple Tap Abs are a flat back exercise! I have been cleared to continued doing these kind of workouts until I am half way through my pregnancy which is 20 weeks. PLEASE consult your doctor BEFORE doing this! These workouts are what works for my and my VERY LOW risk pregnancy. I will be listening to my body A LOT on these. If I feel even the tiniest bit uncomfortable I will stop and do something else and I will update this post and let you know. Listen to your body and consult your doctor!

Have a GREAT workout!

Until Next Time!

Spicy

Workout Wednesday - Making An Already Awesome Workout My Own

So... last night I had a super giddy, dorky moment. I started giggling like crazy and the hubs looked over at me and asked...

"What?"

Well, then I obviously had to explain EVERYTHING! I told him how there is this Mommy Fitness Blogger I really really admire and look up to. She's lost tons of weight, looks amazing, and is way funny and just plain awesome....

And she commented on my post(last weeks workout link up)!

ME! 

WHAT?! 

I'm still getting giddy, haha!

Now, obviously this said Fitness Blogger would be Skinny Meg! Who I'm linking up with again today, because she is awesome and she read my blog... and commented on it! 

Sorry... I'll try to calm down now...

I briefly explained, and not to well I might add, what my workout was last night... but I really did take it to a whole new level folks! I'm here to tell you exactly what I did in this awesome workout linkup

As for today, I'm taking a semi-rest day. I'll be doing some yoga to stretch out my sore muscles from the past two days and the squat challenge. Nothing too exciting, unless you really like yoga like me.

Yesterdays workout consisted of Mama Laughlin's Arm Workout which is amazingly awesome and my own flare as well. I mentioned I like making things whole body instead of just targeting one area. That's exactly what I did.

If you need videos on each of the basic moves without my added awesomeness, Mama Laughlin has some great videos on her post with them being demonstrated. I'm just not cool enough yet to post videos. 

This is my Pumped Up Version

Set One

Hammer Curls - 10 reps w/ 10 lb. weights and alternating lunges

Shoulder Press - 10 reps w/ 10 lb. weights and a wall sit

Butterfly - 10 reps w/ 5 lb. weights and dead lifts

Squats - 5

Repeat 4x's

Set Two

Bicep Curl - 10 reps w/ 15 lb. weights ( had to drop to 10 lbs. on last set)

Walking Pushups - 4 

Squats - 5

Repeat 3x's

Set Three

Tricep Press - 10 reps w/ 10 lb. weights and ball squeeze (straddle a workout ball like your sitting on a horse and squeeze with your inner thighs as hard as you can each time you lift the weight)

Chest Fly - 10 reps w/ 10 lb. weights on ball. Shoulder blades on ball, keep body level like a table (works the core really good)

Tricep Pulse - 30 sec. pulse w/ 5 lb. weights - 45, 48, 45, 49 (OUCH!)

Squats - 5

Repeat 4x's

30 sec. front plank on forearms

30 sec. left side plank on extended arm

30 sec. right side plank on extended arm

STRETCH!!!!

This hurt so GOOD!!! The 5 squats at the end of each, repeated that many times will give you 55 squats total which was my challenge number for yesterday. I will let you know. I am going to be so sore! I'm tight as I'm typing this and that always turns into soreness. The second day is always worse for me which is why I will be stretching and yoga-ing like mad today. I also have to drop the weights  to 5 lbs on butterflies because of an old shoulder injury. 5 lbs is even too much some days. Listen to your body! Don't push it if it's telling you not to (not your brain, that's different). Enjoy the workout and don't forget to check out the other awesome ladies on Skinny Megs Workout Wednesday Link Up!

Disclaimer - I am NOT a personal trainer (yet). 

Please talk to your doctor/physician before beginning any workout program or exercise. 

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! I can not stress that enough. 

This WILL get your heart rate up! I don't have a heart rate monitor, but I can tell you my heart rate got up there. That can be dangerous for some pregnant woman. I have a VERY LOW RISK pregnancy and my doctor told me to use the talk method. I was holding a steady conversation with the hubs during this workout so I knew I was okay.

I workout from home so all of this can be done without a gym membership. 

This is just what I do that works for me, but people are different. If it works for you, then great! 

Have a fabulous day!

Until Next Time!

Spicy

Finish the sentence...

So, I'm doing another link up! Holly is also someone I follow around on Blogger. I don't know her in real life and love her posts, but at the same time... Little missy... may I just say your gorgeous! And I would almost kill to look like you. Seriously! The post you did the other day about your shorts, PUH-LEASE! You  look great. No saddle bags or turkey legs from six flags that I can see. I'll switch you any day. wink wink. Now that I've thoroughly embarrassed myself, how about I finish these fun sentences for ya'll.

Unlike my siblings (that I love very much)... They all know I'm the prettiest and most talented *wink wink* (so not true, I think the opposite of myself actually. Spunky is SO beautiful, inside and out! And that is only one of my four siblings! Your mind would be blown away if I mentioned the other amazing things they all could do)

My best friend says... What best friend? I joke. The people that are closest to me all know I'm really crazy. And the biggest nerd around. Hello? What wife goes around quoting Star Trek with her husband and or recognizes almost every Star Trek quote he says? Mostly from The Wrath of Khan. Oh dear... now I'm really showing my true colors.

People call me... A lot of people think I'm really mean when they first meet me, BEFORE talking to me. I don't know why they think that, it kinda hurts when I find that out, but usually the only ones who tell me that are WAY close to me now so that helps a little. I promise I'm not mean. 

I most often dream... Weird things people. No joke(must be the writer in me, my imagination goes wild). And I tend to think during them too, which is just odd. I'll have dreams that someone in the family is trying to set me up with some random guy and in my dream I will be thinking "I'm married." or telling them "I'm married" or asking where the hubs is. Last night I had a dream where I wasn't pregnant and the whole time I was thinking "I'm pregnant" or "where did my pregnancy go". Pretty sure the whole 'thinking while sleeping' is not healthy. Hey, at least I'm not torturing people with fire pokers in my dreams... (you better get that Heather)

The best part of my day... Aside from when my wonderful handsome man gets home (which really is the best part of my day, I love that man) is when LW takes a nap. I don't know if that makes me a bad mom or not and sometimes I seriously wonder if I'm cut out to be a mom, but really... don't you all have those moments or those days? I love my little guy, but I NEED some MEEEE time, please.

I really don't understand... HAHA!!! A LOT! :S

I get really annoyed... when I tell people I'm a write/aspiring author and they go... "are you published?" or "well lots of people want to be authors" or "they don't make very much money" (or a whole SLEW of other things said). I mean, really people!? It's my dream! You don't hear me dashing your dreams! And besides, I don't want to be an author for the money! If you want to be an author for the money you are doing it for the wrong reasons! I write because I love it and if it gives someone else, even ONE person out there some joy, then that right there is worth more then any amount of money.

There's nothing like a... Nice long rain storm with lighting and thunder. love.

Lately, I can't get enough... SLEEP! Or TIME! Seriously way to much to do and being a person of current previous procrastination and trying to get better with time management .. the lack of time in a day is discouraging. How do you other stay at home moms do it(it as in; clean, spend time with the kid(s), yard work, workout, and self time)?

One thing I am NOT is... a girly girl(even though I'm a licensed beautician). I've always been more of a jeans, t-shirt and ponytail kind of gal. I would love to have a bunch of cute clothes and shoes to wear and an hour and a half to get read everyday, but truth be told... I don't have that kind of money or time. And you can't wear cute clothes and shoes without doing SOMETHING with your hair and makeup. 

I spent too much money on... Uh... Um... Food? I don't do a lot of shopping. Sorry. Trying to eat healthier though is making me go a little over our monthly food budget. Oops.

I want to learn... SO MUCH! Oh man... I can't even tell you all the things I want to learn! It would take way to long, but I'll list a few things. How to manage time, be a pro gardener, curl my own hair the way I can on clients (ya, I know that's ridiculous), Italian, Latin, Ice skating, be the perfect homemaker, play the viola, play the piano WELL, archery, diy stuff like Skinny Meg... etc. See? I have a bunch more off the top of my head too. Seriously, I never want to stop learning, I have to much I want to know.

If I ever met               , I would...  Skinny Meg! (she's the first person I could think of after skipping that one and then staring at it a long time) I would want to be her friend, dive into all of her weight loss/fitness secrets, and tell her that I both LOVE her style and think it's extremely weird, haha. 

I can't stop... uh... mind went blank... Haha! I know. Procrastinating!!! Lol.

Never have I ever... Had an alcoholic drink in my WHOLE life! Not once. Never have. Never will. Not my thing people. Has nothing to do with my religion, which doesn't approve of drinking anyway, it's totally a personal choice. It's just not appealing to me. I've been in plenty of situations where I could have, but no thanks. Ya'll can keep your nasty drinks. :P haha

Reese Witherspoon... is an awesome actress in Sweet Home Alabama (along with other movies), she is just so cute and sassy in that one and I love it. Herself in person... meh, I don't know. I don't follow celebrity stuff. Don't care. However... her name Reese... really makes me think of Reeses... darn it.

Ta Da! Link Up Done!

Now I'm going to go workout. 

Until Next Time!

Spicy

Pregnancy Workout/Link Up!

This is my first Link Up! I'm way excited! I LOVE Skinny Meg. 

She makes me smile and I love how real she is. I also tend to go back to her older posts and read all about her. Sorry Skinny Meg. I may be a mini stalker. ;) I joke, I joke.

Anyway, I thought a link up would be the perfect way for me to get started on blogging about my Pregnancy workouts! And a good way to get me to blog for at least two days in a row. 

I know, shocker, right?

Hey, I'm working on it.

Well, first off I'll tell you what I'm eating for lunch at this moment. 

4oz. Salsa Chicken (recipe curtosy of He And She Eat Clean), 1/2 cup brown rice, nearly a whole cucumber (LW took some of it) and a handful of baby carrots dipped in ranch. I don't know if I'll eat the whole cucumber what with my stomach having less room in it, but I'll do my best. VEGGIES PEOPLE! You NEED them. :) 

Haha, LW just saw another cucumber and called it a "cookie", I love this kid. Anyway.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING ANY WORKOUT PROGRAM. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE PREGNANT!!! With that said, I was told by my OB/GYN that I can do anything I've already been doing, and just to listen to my body. Once at 20 weeks I need to stop doing flat on my back exercises, which I don't do a lot of anyway. 

So this is what I'm doing today.

Day One of Squat Challenge - 50 Squats

Workout (repeat 2x)

High Knees (or Run in place) - 30 Secs

Close (arms to your sides) Pushups - 10 on knees

Walking Lunges - 20 reps

Plank - 30 Secs

Three Point Lunge Kicks (lunge back[1 rep], side[2 rep], front[3 rep]. kick after each then swith and repeat) - 12 reps ea side

Slow Mountain Climb with Knee twist - 15 reps

Left Side Plank w/ Lift - 15 reps

Right Side Plank w/ Lift - 15 reps

Wide Pushups - 10 on Toes

DONE!

Wooh, I'm tired. Typing that out was hard work. ;) Haha.

Please, remember to refuel after your workout. Drink LOTS of water and STRETCH!

That's it for today! 

Until Next Time!

Spicy