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The last few years I’ve run a zillion half marathons, done my share of triathalons, and even my first marathon. Hours of training miles were logged. Yet I was still so frustrated that while I knew I was stronger my body wasn’t really changing. Well that is except less flexibility!

Now don’t get me wrong I love a good run and while I’m not training for anything I still get the itch go run a few miles.

However my workout of choice is the Dailey method. It’s low impact and high results. I was intimated at first. Me at a barre class full of long and lean ladies with incredible bodies and form…but it didn’t take long till my legs could handle all 3 of the thigh sets. That I could let go of my thighs on high C curve. That I could touch the bar in bar stretch.

Now a year later I’ve dropped at least 3 dress sizes and pant sizes. I’ve had mb ask me what are those as my abs got definition. A very proud moment!!

I had one of those frustrating moments yesterday getting ready for brunch when I tried all 4 dresses that all looked like sacks. Dresses that I had held onto hoping to fit into again after 10 plus years and now I find them too big. I was frustrated till I smiled and thought well there are worse problems!!

The Dailey method is one of the toughest core workouts. It tones your upper and lower body. I know they aren’t every where but if you get one in your area run and try it out… I love it!!!!

And nope didn’t get anything for this review I just love this place and had to share!!!

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I’m enjoying a day of nothing with my family today. Hope everyone has a happy Mother’s Day!

Here are some photos that have captured my heart the last few weeks. It’s been full of emotions, memories, moments, and love!

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For a second the world stops. I immediately cringe thinking there has been another terrorist attack. Not again.

The pilot then confirms its an issue with our plane. An engine issue but we will be ok things and operating fine and we will have a normal landing. I must admit that didn’t settle the nerves too much until I was back on the ground.

Now back at home I think about my first reaction. Terrorists. An attack on New York. It’s so sad that the thought isn’t so unreal or means I’ve been watching to many movies.

Things that happened all around the world but never here are now becoming common in our backyard. It makes me sad.

I hope we find a way back to what was.

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This was a jam packed weekend so I have to admit I wasn’t too thrilled at this being in the mix.

However once we actually got there that all changed.

MB was so excited as we packed our bags and put together our mess kits.

We arrived and setup camp…the older girls had set up a couple tents for us so it wasn’t to hard to get settled though seeing the campsite was on gravel was a little unnerving.

After 30min of card games the girls were called over by their middle and high school PAs to begin the activities. Now for the next 5 hours us moms sat in the shade and marveled that the girls never came back over to see us, there were no arguments, no issues. We joined them for cooking eclairs- wow impressive what you can make on an open fire ….and got little glimpses of them learning knife safety, how to pitch a tent, cooking, swap making, etc.

After 5 hours they came back to camp for about 30-45 min before dinner…the girls all went into their tents/shades and played UNO.

Then it was time for Tacos in a bag. Not a single complaint about food….group think we decided . One girl said it was the best thing she had in 3 years…which of course I passed on to her mom the next morning.

Dinner, clean-up then time for campfire songs…the giggles and laughter was infectious. Smores sealed up the night and you can’t do anything to screw that up. Back to bed and with the normal noise and settling down we settled in for the night.

At some point across the tent MB exclaimed “mommy I love you”….which I took for thank you for a wonderful day and for being the one closest to the tent opening. I had to laugh when I saw the girls had set up my sleeping bag…sweet or strategy for positioning. I dread the day when she thinks saying I love you where everyone can hear is not cool…I relish it now!!!

I have no clue how much sleep I actually got…but at one point MB woke up and was cold and I told her to come get in the sleeping bag with me…seriously I couldn’t think of anything better than being snuggled in close with that sweet thing. She swears she didn’t sleep but I can attest to the fact that she was zonked out for the rest of the night minus when I leaned on her hair….our other tent mate had to get dressed warmer in the middle of the night which I had prepared for and then it was sunrise and the night was over.

We of course had to race home to quickly shower and become presentable for the soccer end of year party. Fun to see all the smiling faces and I loved that MB just wanted to dribble the ball around- she really does have a love for the game.

While the moms talked my little one came over to show me something on the jungle gym…I have to say it was sweet to walk across the grass and have her show me how she could climb to the top – so proud and quite happy to have her mommy there to share it with. I spent the next 15min with the girls on the swing set loving that just as much as sitting with the moms…never forgot that watching from afar sometimes is just not the same.

This weekend was totally her weekend — everything on the agenda was hers and actually sitting back and watching her might have been the best thing I needed tooo.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!!!

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The universe has thrown about everything I can think it could at us.

To say stress was in our lives would be the biggest understatement.

Yet last night we sat on the roof top deck with friends watching the sunset. I had my girl snuggled in my lap like she was a little baby. Just quietly sitting there to be a part of it.

Just peaceful.

The friends left and I had my family under one roof. One last night before we head off in different directions for a few days.

We all crawled in and snuggled together for the night. I find such strength in my family.

Together we can tackle anything.

I’m thankful for that balance. The love and strength that lets us live with the stress and turmoil that can be thrown at us.

Happy Easter!!!

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I probably should have a glass of wine but my throat is scratchy and my head hurts and I know I should just go to sleep, but I had to make some chaos of my to-do list…which tonight resulted in dividing my lists in 2 different ones so I don’t have to look at it all at once.

Can we say ARGGHHHHH. I need a good run or sweat in the gym but not sure that is going to happen…hoping tomorrow but I just realized I forgot to line up help for the soccer carpool.

The highlight of the day was wedding cake tasting. If it weren’t for the fact that lunch had consisted of an iced coffee and dark chocolate M&Ms my stomach might have been a little more forgiving of all the sugar, especially since I have been cutting back so this was like sugar overload!!! Anyway all of it was delicious….we decided on almond cake and vanilla icing for the top, carmel cake with chocolate icing for the middle (my favorite), and chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting for the bottom. MB was in heaven…I totally lost count of how much cake she had..but thankfully we sent the tasting tray back to the kitchen with half of the icing bowls still full!!! Between the sugar rush and the design discussion my head was spinning- another 2 hours of decisions.

I swear every time we meet I feel so lucky to have my wedding planner…I seriously don’t know what I would do without her. There are so many things that I count on her for…including swinging by and picking up the reprinted envelope for my invitations so I didn’t have to make that extra trip. I really couldn’t imagine doing that without her.

After I wrote about the highlight I don’t want to complain about the lowlights…sometimes it is better just to not try and reason with those who are unreasonable.

Now I just hope I can kick whatever bug MB brought into the house because I can feel it attacking and this is no time to be sick….

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Sunny and 80.

We stocked up Friday night with fresh eats for the weekend.

Saturday morning I made bacon and eggs and we ate on the roof deck. Chores and the gym then we laid out by the pool and grilled up some meat for lunch.

Sunday was a repeat for breakfast and the gym then I had an impromptu spa day first getting a mani/pedi and then a facial and I fit in a little more sun time before heading off to pick up our girl!!

So a perfect weekend with a perfect ending of the whole family getting their mb snuggles.

Hope everyone else found some gold at the end of their rainbow…now off to Monday!

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I have had some pretty dark days. I know everyone has…I had a dark season. Yet now that season seems so long ago and believe or not hard to remember.

Today was one of those days where the dark season seems so far away and the heart swell are abundant.

Here are just a few of the moments of heart swells.

1. getting to the bus stop and noticing that our little neighbor has gotten taller…realizing its been 3 years with the same morning smiles. Waving good-bye as I drive off to work and L mans the bus stop.
2. a mid-day text from a brownie mom asking talking about cookies and camp and just thinking about how lucky I am to be “leading” these girls for another year
3. scoring the approval for another project– yes sometimes my heart swells at work. Being appreciated, closing the deal for your team, making it happen. It makes me happy.
4. picking up my soccer carpool. these girls can really be the highlight of my week. the 45min drive home is just full of simple problems. lots of laughs. it’s grounding. tonight we had dinner together– and freaking them out that I messed up their order, talking about being “grounded”, just made the night that much sweeter
5. eating dinner in a packed smashburger filled with so many familiar faces. It was our school fundraiser night- another thing my fundraiser partner/neighbor and I put together- but it’s more than that its the smiling faces, the hugs, the catching up…this is my community. It’s our version of CHEERS.
6. a simple email from a friend that wasn’t so simple. the lasting connections I have made along the way.
7. MB running out of the room on the phone with TB to strategize on my “surprise”
8. reading 2 perfect cards from the love of my life

It’s funny as I read back over that I realize that 80% of these things happen every day.

The new normal. I will take that. A new normal full of daily heart swells.

I am very lucky. I am very blessed. Life is good. Life is great. I can’t wait to see what the next 35 years bring.

Happy Birthday to me.

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