Our Trip In A Blog Post

 Okay, I'm fully committing myself to an overall recap of my holiday so far...

 We arrived in Thunder Bay on December 18th around 10 pm Thunder Bay time. Papa, Nonna and Alina's Great Grandma were there to meet us. The flights were a total dream. We didn't have any problems and Alina was a complete angel. We took Alina to get her hair cut the following day and we got a family photo with Santa at the mall. We had Rob's skates sharpened at the same store he bought all of his goalie equipment as a kid.That evening we had a nice dinner and visited with some family. Afterwards, we bundled Alina up in her snow suit and took pictures of her outside in the snow!

   Alina was very busy meeting new friends and family members. We had a couple of turkey dinners to eat and some presents to open for Alina. The people here are so generous and kind. Rob and I are really enjoying our time here. We can relax because Papa, Nonna, relatives and Auntie Buggie are always wanting to hold and play with Alina. We have been drinking some beers, watching Christmas movies and sneaking out after Alina goes to bed, to have some grown up time. Of course, grown up time means skating outside at the marina and going to a late night movie!

 Then it was Christmas Eve before I knew it and we had a nice day. Rob, Alina and I went skating at one of the outdoor rinks. It was Alina's first skating experience and we ended up taking a zillion pictures. Her cheeks and nose were getting redder and redder by the minute! After going to church as a family to hear Andrea, Rob's mom sing, we came home to watch the rest of "Christmas Vacation" and to eat some more crab dip. (My all time favourite Christmas tradition in my household. It just isn't Christmas without that treat!)

  On Christmas morning, we all opened presents together, with Papa dressed as Santa again. I ended up scoring some really, really great things!! My mother in law knows my style and bought me some really incredible gifts. Rob listened to all of the things I said I wanted early in the fall and ended up going back into stores when I said I liked something and buying the items. He ended up having every one of my Christmas presents bought early in December. We went to church after we opened presents and Alina was baptized. It was a beautiful thing to experience. I'm not baptized and I am not an active Catholic. I went to a Catholic Elementary school but I don't actively go to church. I was moved by the sentiment of the baptism and really, really proud of my baby girl.

 Christmas morning and afternoon was really busy for us. We all had a little bit of down time before we went to Rob's Great Uncle Pecho and Auntie Emma's to sing Christmas carols, to eat junky, homemade Christmas food and to introduce Alina to her oldest relatives. These old folks are Rob's Nonno's siblings and cousins. Rob was raised in an Italian upbringing which meant; a lot of good food and the importance of family values. Family comes first, always. You make time for family, always. I admire how much family means to Rob and I respect the way he was brought up. Going to his aunt and uncle's for Christmas evening is a tradition in his household, so we went along. I love living those moments when you know something special is happening. Auntie Zelda is in her nineties and she has alzheimers. She had little Alina on her lap and it was so nice to see the two of them together. The youngest and the eldest in the family. (As far as I know.)

On Boxing day, Rob and Alina braved the mall for some deals. Rob loves to shop and finally, he has a friend to take along with him. I stayed home and did my workout instead. Later on in the day, Rob, Papa, Alina and I drove for a half an hour to find a remote gas station that sold booze on Boxing day. (All of the liquor stores in the city were closed.) Once we were successful we returned home to help tidy things for Rob's parent's annual Boxing day party. The first guest arrived at 4:00 and the last of the hardcore party goers left by 3:00! We all had a really good time. A couple of Rob's friends stopped by and once we had a few drinky- poo's we joined the fun in the basement singing and playing tunes.

 I feel as though this recap is getting quite lengthily. We have two more nights and one full day left in Thunder Bay before we head back home. Today Rob and I escaped to a movie, while Alina and Auntie Erin spent the afternoon together. The movie was great and it felt awesome going to see a flick during the day with Rob, like old times!!

 That was our trip in a nutshell blog post! We are having a nice time. We're both looking forward to returning to our king size bed on Monday night though. We are sad for Rob's folks because they are going to miss the hell out of their baby girl. But, until the next visit... (Which I believe is in March, when Alina turns one!)

**Side Note: I can't believe I just wrote the words; "When Alina turns one!" (Insert sad mom face here!)**

Mission Hot Bod- Week Five

 It's the end of the week again and to top it all off it was a holiday week, so I get a big pat on the back for not completely vegging out because of it!

MONDAY-

An image of my temporary work out set up downstairs; lap top, water bottle and snot rag. (Cat Allergy!)

 Day One was the Strength and Endurance workout. My tail bone was a bit sore from our Friday workout, without a mat. So I used a pillow under my back in round five for the ground work. My legs will be like jelly later on because of all of the air squats!
Goals: Honestly, my goals all week will be to keep at this while on holidays because that alone, is a large task. Eating what I would like, without binging is another goal. Christmas treats are so tempting!
Improvements: I'm getting much better in round four where it's all ground work. It burns but I don't struggle with it as much anymore.

TUESDAY-

 Day Two was Abdominal Strength and Core Conditioning. I was slightly distracted by the two cats that lazily sauntered around me in the basement. Buddy decided to just sit on my mat and wait for me to push him off and then he decided to join me on the ground for one round. Needless to say; I did work out but it wasn't my best performance.
Goals: To heal my tailbone because it ended up hurting more than I anticipated. (I found out that they did own a yoga mat and some light weights! Bonus!)
Improvements: Round five! I am much better at my back bend and my form during the entire round has improved considerably.

WEDNESDAY-

Day Three was supposed to be my Abdominal Strength and Core Conditioning but I did that workout yesterday. I considered Wednesday to be a cardio workout. It was also Christmas day, which turned out to be a very busy day for us! It was Alina's first Christmas and then immediately after, we dressed for church and had Alina baptized at Christmas morning mass. It was very special.

THURSDAY- 

My Christmas body (you can see where I stored all of the goodies from the day before), Buddy the cat watching me again and me dieing after I finished..

  Day Four was Fight Conditioning and it definitely kicked my holiday binging ass. I know I mentioned not wanting to indulge in too many goodies. But on Christmas Day we went to Rob's great aunt and uncle's home. This aunt of his is serious about Christmas. I mean, dead serious. Her tree revolves and she has revolving ornaments. She makes candied popcorn and popcorn twists, all kinds of baking, homemade eggnog, cream pies, pumpkin pies.. You get the picture. Well she's also gruff and scared me a touch. So when she offered me eggnog, I took it. When she offered me cream pie, I took it. I felt it this morning when I was doing the workout, that is for darn sure!!!
Goals: To get better at the hip escape. Actually round four needs some serious improvement. It's tough to wiggle around on the ground with my sweaty body sticking to the floor when I'm trying to pull off these maneuvers.
Improvement: The combination kicks and punches. I used to be badly coordinated and not familiar with the movements. Now that I've been doing these combinations for over a month, I'm starting to really figure it out!

FRIDAY-

 Today was another cardio day. (It could have been Thursday, but I knew that Thursday was going to be more of a party day. Rob's folks have an annual party on Boxing Day every year. This year it wasn't as crazy as it has in the past. Alina was a little star with all of the commotion. She ended up being passed around with Andrea's friends and then when it was time for bed she went down with no problem. The picture I chose to represent Friday just goes to show what our night was like on Thursday... I stopped drinking around 12:30 - 1:00 in the morning and I'm so glad that I did. I hydrated and ate a couple of oranges and some sausage rolls and I feel great today!

 We had a few musicians playing in the basement during the party. One song that stands out in my mind will be my Friday's BackThatAzzUp with Yoga Pants.. "Good Morning America" by Arlo Guthrie.

On Christmas Eve

 Today has always been my favourite day of the holiday season. It's the day that you wake up as a kid fully knowing that it is the day before Christmas.  Today is the day when your parents tell you that there is only ONE more sleep until Santa comes. Today will be the most exciting day because Christmas is so close you can taste it. You are practically vibrating from the minute you wake up until the minute (and many after, in my case) you go to sleep.

  We always went to Grandma and Grandpa Wirth's house for dinner on Christmas Eve night. Their house wasn't always super exciting but it meant that it was Christmas Eve and that was enough for us kids to get through those hours of anticipation. We knew that after we left Grandma and Grandpa's we would be going home to get ready for bed. !!! The one day of the year that kids want to go to sleep!

Christmas 1989

  So I sit here on Christmas Eve, the baby girl is asleep upstairs, my husband is napping on the couch beside me. I still feel that tickle of excitement and anxiousness in my tummy in anticipation for Christmas! I am watching "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" on t.v. and I have plans to pick up one more present, wrap all of my presents and to take Alina skating on an outdoor rink later on. We're going to church tonight and Rob is playing guitar to "Oh Holy Night" while his mama sings along. Andrea sings in the church choir and we are getting Alina baptized tomorrow during Christmas morning mass, so we thought it would be a nice idea to go to mass tonight too.

 Today is still my favourite day of the year. I will enjoy every moment of today and I will soak it all up because before I know it; it will be over.

Christmas 2013.

 I may look like the young lady in the picture above, but I feel like the little girl in the first picture! Merry Christmas to everyone out there.. The holidays are such a special time to appreciate what we have, who we love and most importantly- to get presents!!! Soak up every moment of this magical time of year!

Haley's Christmas Sugar Cookies

 This recipe comes from a co-worker's mom. So she should get the credit where credit is due. Thank you to Elaine and to her daughter Erin for sharing the recipe with me.

Via

 I forgot to take a close up picture of my cookies once they were fully decorated. Darn it! I borrowed what looked the most like my cookie from the worldwide web.

Ingredients for Cookies:

- 1/2 Cup Icing Sugar

- 1/2 Cup White Sugar

- 1/2 Cup Margarine

-1/2 Cup Canola Oil

- 1 Egg

- 1/2 tsp. Vanilla and Almond Extract

- 1/2 tsp. Salt, Baking Soda, Cream of Tartar (A type of sugar in the little blue and white box.)

- 2 Cup, 2 Tbsp. Flour

Ingredients for Icing:

- 3 Cups Icing Sugar

-1/4 Cup Milk

- 1/2 tsp. Vanilla

- Dash of Salt

*** If you already have a go- to icing that you use for cookies, use that instead. This is just a basic, nothing special icing I found. ***

Mix sugars, margarine, oil, egg and flavouring together.

Then add your dry ingredients. (Flour, baking soda, tartar, salt.) Mix together.

Chill the dough for TWO hours in the fridge. (This is a really annoying thing to overlook because I've done it when I was very ready to get started on making the cookies!)

  Throw flour over your work station so that the dough won't stick to the counter. Roll the dough into balls with your hands . . .

 Flatten the ball of dough with a spatula that is covered in flour against the counter that is also covered in flour. This dough is very sticky and if you don't have enough flour, you won't have much success.

 Place cookies onto a baking sheet and bake for eight minutes at 350 Degrees Celsius.

  Lay the cookies out and find something to do while they cool. In my case, I fed my baby spaghetti and wow- what a mess.

Mix the icing ingredients altogether and ice the cookies with a butter knife. Immediately add the sprinkles while the icing is wet.

 Yes, those are swimming goggles and a tooth brush on my kitchen table. The joys and randomness that is my life!


 It may be a little late in the game to be baking for Christmas- but hey- you just never know. This is a nice little recipe to show off to your in-laws to show that you really do have a domestic side...

 Do you have any go- to baking recipes that you are proud to show off!?

Mission Hot Bod- Week Four

 It's that time of the week where I recap my working out process! This week has been a bit chaotic. I started the week off somewhat normally, minus Alina's ever evolving sleep patterns. (Insert huge sigh here.) But mid week, we had to pack our life into three suitcases, three carry on bags, a diaper bag and a purse and tackle traveling with our nine month old, for the first time. But it was important to both Rob and I, that we keep at the exercising no matter what changes we experience during the week, including the traveling.

MONDAY-

 Day One was Fight Conditioning training and I only got to my third round before I was interrupted by an earlier than usual riser. It is frustrating trying to exercise with a baby because I am one of those people that really, really likes to be able to finish something I have started, while I'm in the middle of it. So having to stop, to nurse the baby in hopes that she'll fall back asleep makes me feel very frustrated, but that is something I have to just get over. She's not going anywhere and I'm not going to stop exercising!
 Goals: I still really suck at the Uchi Mata kicks. It was a goal last week to improve and I feel like I haven't reached it yet. So I'm keeping that goal!
Improvements: I just feel like I'm improving in a general way with this workout. I did this workout near the end of last week and have revisited it early this week so it feels like I just did it. So, I noticed more that I am having an easier time overall, which I believe is a great sign!

TUESDAY-

Yes, Alina's eyes are closed but it was the only picture I took with her and her buddy Lisa..! The second picture; the littles are taking over the stroller classes!!

 Day Two was my Cardio. Unfortunately Alina was quite the performer on Monday night, so we were up much, much earlier than usual. She was extremely tired but refused to go back to sleep before we left for the class. Somewhere along the way, I ended up being late even though I didn't leave late.. (Insert another heavy sigh here, please.)
Goals: I'd like a stab at doing more with the kettle bells. I just did the general drill that Lisa showed us. But I noticed the other two girls did a variation that was a little tougher. I am always up for the challenge.
Improvements: Wall push ups! They weren't nearly as hard at all this time! Something must be working. Whoop whoop!!

WEDNESDAY-

 Day Three was abdominal strength and core conditioning workout. I ended up getting up early and getting my workout out of the way before we left on our little Christmas vacation.
Goal: There's a combination in round five that is quite a challenge. I have been improving, but I'd like to improve and move a lot faster than I have been. (Next week!)
Improvements: I did improve on my leg raises and v ups from last week. I was able to have my legs a bit straighter than usual.

THURSDAY-

Look at all of the snow!! We took Alina and her Papa to get haircuts at Sears today!

 Day Four was supposed to be a cardio day. There's a three hour time difference from Vancouver Island to Ontario. So Alina woke when the sun came up, which was 9:00 local time, 6:00 our time. Needless to say, Rob and I were both pretty tuckered out when we got up. We made an executive decision to skip the cardio. I think we may have to skip the cardio days just because it will be too tough to run in the snow, or expensive to run at the athletic club.

FRIDAY-

Day Five was the Full Body Strength and Conditioning workout. This was the first time I have done this workout. Unfortunately we're in Thunder Bay and we don't have any weights so it was a lot less intense. I'm proud to say that Rob tapped out a few minutes early because he was, "done" but he snapped a few pictures of me trooping through round five.
Goals: I'd like to be able to do a Hindu push up better. My form isn't great but I also need to build up enough muscle to be able to do a full push up. I always have to do girl push ups!
Improvement: Air squats! I've definitely improved on those. I can go deeper and faster now.

To see my progress from the past three weeks- you can see them here:

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

  It's Friday - whoop whoop! I'm sure today is the last day of work for many of you that are lucky enough to get the holidays off! Keeping up with the theme of Christmas I would like to BackThatAzzUp with Yoga Pants to one of my favourite Christmas tunes of all time. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, enjoy!! Judy Garland's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"...

 

Alina's Papa

This is my third time participating in the "Boys Behind The Blog" link-up. Five questions are posted on Mal or Stephanie's  blogs on the first Thursday of the month. On the third Thursday, you post your answers and link-up! The questions are directed at a male in your life, any male.. It could be your brother, husband, dad or I'm betting even your five year old son, if you had one!

 This month, the month of generosity and spending time with your family; I introduce, my father in law; Rodney. It's very appropriate that he would be my Christmas "Boy" Behind the Blog. He is the true definition of generous. He is a family man through and through. There isn't anything I could honestly think of, that he wouldn't do for his family. I'm not even exaggerating. I've joked that Papa is in trouble once Alina figures out how to manipulate him. He'll take her out and she'll come home with an outrageously expensive golden chain with a heart on it and a puppy. We'll be giving Alina hell for asking Papa for things she knows he won't be able to say no to. Then we'll be telling Rodney that he has to stop buying Alina everything she asks for!! But in all seriousness, Rodney is the one man in my life, that I can call dad. He's proudly stepped in, as my dad here on Earth and I wouldn't have anyone else stand there, but him. I also know that he will be the very best Papa he can be to his first grand baby. It is unfortunate that my dads passed away and that Alina won't get to know her other papas. But, she is lucky for the one that she does have because he is all that she will ever need in this world.

Rodney is always putting others first. Whether it be driving an aunt to a doctor's appointment, picking up stranded hitchhikers and bringing them home for a place to eat and rest, to helping his sister with a renovation. He is always there, every time you need him, no questions asked.
 So Rodney was off of work at eight at night, went to help a friend snow blow his driveway. There was some kind of trouble with the snow blower (isn't there always...) and then he was at his own driveway, hard at work. It wasn't until nearly eleven his time, that he called me back. I called earlier and let Andrea know that I needed to interview Rod for my blog. I was surprised and then immediately not surprised that he called me after his long day of work and then snow blowing. I got my answers and quickly let him get on with his night, which was made up of finally going to bed!

 I'll try to write word for word what Rodney's answers were for each question, with a little bit of my own commentary afterward.

//1 What is your favourite cereal?
Rod: Well I have two. Well no, there is one that we always have in the house. But my favourite would be Fruit Loops. Andrea buys them for me and I eat them raw by the handful. I could go through a box by eating them in the basement while watching t.v. But we always have Cheerios because those are healthier for you. 

 I agree! I love Fruit Loops. When I was pregnant- I requested them early in my first trimester. They were the only things I really wanted to eat first thing in the morning, for about a week! Mm-mm. AND- just the other day, Rob went to the grocery store for junk cereal and came home with Fruit Loops. Like father, like son.

//2 Do you prefer pancakes or waffles?

 Rod: Finn pancakes.

 Well this was a no brainer. Rodney is Finnish and there is this restaurant in Thunder Bay called The Hoito. Every time we're in Thunder Bay we go there for breakfast. It's in this dingy basement of an old building. It reminds me of a church basement. But it's like we're lining up to get into the Keg on a Friday night, without reservations. This place is packed in the mornings, especially during the holidays. They are known for their Finnish pancakes!

via

The Hoito is so famous Jordan Staal brought the Stanley Cup to it!!!

//3  What is your favourite holiday tradition?
Rod:  Family reunions- but that's not really a holiday tradition... The Christmas tree. Well until Andrea got it one year from A&P and it was a real Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. I ended up drilling holes into the trunk and taking branches from the bottom and sticking them in the empty spots. It worked out perfect.

 I mean, yes I realize that Rod is Rob's dad. But these two couldn't be more alike. They see a problem.. bingo bango- they find a solution. Very clever there Mr. J.. very, very clever...

via

//4  Finish this sentence; All I want for Christmas is . . .
 Rod:  I want everyone to be happy and healthy. Appreciate what we have because there are a lot of other people that are a lot less fortunate.

 I read him the question and then quickly answered for him; my two front teeth! Rodney was a daredevil when he was growing up and he ended up getting in many, many car accidents. He is missing his spleen .. and at one point some of his teeth. Ouch! So I jokingly said his two front teeth and he laughed and said he was thinking about saying that!!

Rod- the younger years.

 //5  What was your best moment of 2013?
Rod:  This Christmas coming up will be.. because it will still be 2013. We'll all be together again. Oh and when Alina was born too. That was the last time we were all together as a family.

 Aww shucks Dad...! You're too sweet. I agree that Alina's birth was definitely a highlight and I'm really looking forward to spending Christmas in Thunder Bay in just under two weeks!

  Alina meeting her Papa at the airport for the first time. Rodney dressed as Santa, to surprise us on the last Christmas we all spent together.

 I wrote this post ahead of time because we'll be arriving in Thunder Bay on the 18th. The link up is set for the 19th. Just think- Alina will be reunited with her Papa once again when you are all reading this! (The last time he saw her was when she was three weeks old).

 Not only is Rodney a great dad and a person that genuinely cares but he's also a total brat. They don't call him Rotten Rodney for no reason!  Here's a series of photos to show his sense of humour and some times that we've spent together...

Here's to another "Boys Behind The Blog" link-up!! I enjoyed interviewing my father in law and it was nice to reflect on how lucky I am to have him in my life!




 To read my posts from "The Boys Behind The Blog" that I've written in the past, you can find them here:

 1. He Bites

2. A "LINC" -Up

True Canadian Winter

 I'm half way through Wednesday and I am just getting to my blog post for the day. I wanted to write a short piece before we head off to the bitter cold of a true, Canadian Christmas! We leave tomorrow for Thunder Bay, on Alina's first long trip and plane ride. She will be meeting many, many, many of Rob's family members and many of his parent's friends. The food, laughter and snow will be plentiful and I'm looking forward to getting into the Christmas spirit there. (I still haven't done any of my Christmas shopping!)

Our Christmas in Thunder Bay a couple of years ago.

 This will be my first trip while I'm blogging full time. I do have some posts written in advance but we'll see how I am with keeping up on the blog demand next week during the actual holidays. I'm sure everyone else in Blogland will be on and off with the posts as well, so I'm not too worried about it.

 My house is chaos, I am so tired from Alina's new sleeping patterns (not so great) and I just finished rushing around packing and doing all of the odds and ends that need to be taken care of before we leave while Alina is napping. She has suddenly become quite clingy and cries very, very hard whenever I leave the room or sometimes when I just stand up. It's been frustrating and it is starting to wear on me a little bit. But luckily, the holidays are around the corner to change things up a bit and I will have Rob for the next couple of weeks to help me out with the clinging. Plus Alina does much better with a group of people, rather than just her and I, one on one. So she will probably be a little angel for the in laws once we get there. (That would be ideal, anyways. Fingers crossed.)

   Basically that is what Alina looks a lot like these days, at least whenever I leave the room. (Or stand up!) Our house is pretty small so when we're packing for a big trip we have very little space for opened suitcases lying around. This is a lovely little window inside of my life right now. The last picture is how I feel; like sleeping, but of course- this will not be happening.

  I just wanted to say a little 'peace out' to my blogging homies. I would also like to put my hand out and ask for good vibes to be wished our way for our plane rides. I think Alina will do fine, but it doesn't hurt to have some positive vibes coming our way! I promise to do my best to keep up with e-mails and checking other blogs but if I slip up, sorry! I'll be back to my (somewhat) normal self come January!

How To Do A Christmas Party Worthy Up-Do

 It is that time of year when we all have to get dolled up for multiple Christmas parties. I was that friend in high school that had her friends do her makeup, hair and sometimes I even had my girlies pick out what I would wear to school dances, or to simply go 'out'.
 When I moved away from my home town I was on my own when it came to the 'being a girl' department. It was tough at first to fend for myself. After a few years and make up tutorials on YouTube and DIY hair tips I think I've come along just fine.

 This year we had both my work Christmas party and Rob's fire department party on the same night. Which worked out great for us this year because we're going to Thunder Bay on Wednesday. This way we got to enjoy bits from each party.

 I found an easy hair tutorial online that I did for the parties;

The Steps Word For Word Are HERE

 I didn't want to do anything major because I knew I wouldn't have the time to go about getting it just right. This one hairstyle seemed fancy enough and very, very easy.

Step One:

 Take about two inches in width of the bangs and pin it back. Once pinned, pull it forward to create what I like to call 'the poof'. The bigger the poof, the better just because my ordinary poof is tame, but 'going out' poof is a bit wild.

Make sure you are happy with your poof before you get started on the rest of your hair because it will be a bit riskier messing with it, once the rest of your hair is up.

Step Two:

Take the same amount of hair behind your left ear, about two inches and twist it towards the back of your head and pin. Do the same on the on the right side. Pin those two pieces together at the back.

Step Three:

 This is where it gets a bit tricky. (For me anyways.) There is some hair left in the back, most people would refer to as the 'mullet'. In order to not look like Ellen Degeneres in the nineties, take one inch thick pieces of hair and with your forefinger and thumb roll the hair upwards until you can't roll it up anymore. Then pinch the hair and pin it in place. It could take a few bobby pins to get it pinned secure. Continue to do this until all of your hair is pinned up. Keep in mind that this is a messy look and it's okay to have some hair sticking out.

 That's it! If my instructions are a bit foggy- click HERE for the steps I followed to do this hairstyle. My hair lasted the whole night. I sprayed it well with a cheap, firm hold hairspray. Although, sadly enough; I didn't do any dancing, so I can't promise that it would last through a night of dancing!

The fam before 'Mom and Dad' went out!

Mission Hot Bod- Week Three

 Another Friday and I just finished my third week of RushFit! I realize that the weekly workout recap posts are a bit on the boring side. I thought about it and I'm pretty sure I would just scroll through the pictures and say something encouraging in the comments if I was reading all of this on another blog. So I will try to keep it relatively short!

MONDAY-

 Day One was the Strength and Endurance workout.
Goals: I'd like to improve on my burpees. They always wind the hell out of me and I'd love to be able to rock out a bunch with minimal effort.
Improvements: I can do the push up where I let my hands go when I reach the mat and then I push up from a lying position, much, much better than when I first started!

TUESDAY-

Day Two was my Cardio but also the day that I go to Happy Fit Stroller Classes with Lisa instructing. These classes have turned into something I look forward to every week. Even though I'm working out my body with sprinting and new stretches, it never feels like it. You know when a friend calls and you're folding laundry and then as you chat, you continue to do housework? Well, that's what Happy Fit Stroller Class is to me; housework that I don't even notice I'm doing, because I am enjoying the company of the people and babies around me!
Goals: I want to be able to do the Pigeon Stretch with more ease. I asked Lisa what the name of this stretch was and she offered to make a little video to show me how to do it. So now everyone can practice this stretch if you want! Thanks Lisa!!



Improvements: My regular push ups are still difficult to do but I am able to successfully get through two or three before my form begins to suffer. (I couldn't even do ONE before I started three weeks ago!)

WEDNESDAY-

World's worst photo ever.. I hate feet and mine aren't painted pretty enough to put them on the world wide web.

Day Three was the Fight Conditioning workout. I used to think this workout was an easier one because there isn't any push ups, weights or stretches. But I'm constantly moving in this workout and it really gets my heart rate going and I'm sweating buckets by the time I'm finished.
Goals:  I totally suck at the Uchi Mata kicks. I have no coordination for this one, so by the time I sort of have this kick figured out, I'm supposed to switch legs and it completely baffles me. I'll get there, it will just take some time!
Improvements: I'm working up quite a sweat with the striking kicks and level change combinations. It feels great.
 I also realized that I have lost one pound. I still don't care too much about my weight loss throughout all of this, but it is nice to see that I did lose!!

THURSDAY-

Lisa on the left from my RushFit video showing a Lateral Plank and Lisa from Happy Fit showing a Back Bend. (Thank you Lisa for sharing your Tumblr page with me.)

 Day Four was Abdominal Strength and Core workout.
Goals: I need to straighten my legs more with the leg raises and v ups in round three. I am doing okay but I know it would be a lot more challenging if I could straighten my legs.
Improvements: I can do lateral planks much easier than before. I also can now do what I probably incorrectly call the Back Bend. I couldn't do it last week and made it a goal and I've reached it! There's always room for improvement but I'm pumped that I can actually do it now.

FRIDAY-

 Day Five was a Cardio day. So I hit up the fire hall's gym and got to run/jogging. My average speed was 4.4 which isn't super great. But I think the most important thing with my cardio is  to never stop. I speed walk for the first few minutes then I turn it into a jog, followed by a short speed walk and then a sprint at the end.
 Goal: To have a higher average speed than 4.4 next week.
Improvements: I was much more consistent this week with keeping a steady pace. Many times before I would flat out give up on the run before I reached my mini goal. (Ex: I'll run until this song is over, etc.)

 So it went really well! I've been tending to Christmas duties, like baking cookies for the cookie exchange we do every year. So I got rid of my five dozen sugar cookies ( I ate TWO) and then I received oh, too many goodies to mention. My plan is to give most of them away and to let Rob eat the rest of them. I had a glass of wine at the cookie party and I ignored the treats and just ate the salsa, guacamole and tortilla chips instead. I can't say no to everything, but if I have to say no to some things, it's going to be the sweets. I like salty treats much more anyways!

 What are your healthy goals this holiday season?!!

It's BackThatAzzUp Friday with Yoga Pants. It's nice to have you back Whitney. In the spirit of the holidays, I thought I would share one of my all time favourite Christmas tunes. A few years ago, Rob picked me up from work on Christmas Eve blasting this song in the Jeep. It got me so excited and pumped up for Christmas! I also live on Vancouver Island, so it is an appropriate song for my island Christmas'! Enjoy Bing Crosby's "Mele Kalikimaka"!

The Good & The Bad

 The best present - the worst present I ever received...

 I was reading one of my favourite blogs, The Blogess today and she wrote a post about her best gift and worst gift she's ever received at Christmas time.. I thought it was a good idea for a post so I flat out copied her! Thank you Jenny.

The Best Gift I've Ever Received :

 The best Christmas gift I have ever received was actually just a couple of years ago. My mom bought me a Kindle. I absolutely love to read. It's one of my favourite things to do when I have a spare moment to myself. It's relaxing and enjoyable. I get myself in a comfortable spot, whether that be a bath or on the couch in front of the burning log wrapped in a cozy blanket. I love reading in the summer on the beach, or in the Westy camping in the rain. It's part of my life and that is why the Kindle was such an amazing gift. It's like when we finally bought a PVR to record television. I mean, seriously, we never watched t.v. the same ever again.

 At first I wasn't sure about the Kindle because I'm a creature of habit and I don't like to change something that is working just fine for me. But the fact that all I have to do to turn the page is click a button is mind blowing amazing to me! I also hated trying to read in the dark, with a light propped under my chin and then every time I turned the page it was excruciatingly loud in the quiet of our bedroom.

  As you can see, Rob knows me so well that he knew to take pictures of me opening this gift. He knew my reaction would be great and he was right! I couldn't believe she got me something so awesome and perfectly suited for me! Best Christmas gift, hands down.

 The Worst Gift I've Ever Received:

 The actual gift itself isn't that bad. But the reason why I was given this gift is why it was so awful. When I was fifteen I had my first 'real' boyfriend. His name was Derrick P. and he was only a few months older in age, but in a higher grade than me. We were the most pathetic boyfriend and girlfriend in history. First off, he was horribly clingy. As soon as I got to school, he'd be there sitting right beside me, trying to hold my hand. Puke. Then, he was always calling me and I would constantly tell my parents or siblings to tell him I was in the bath!! I basically wasn't ready to have a boyfriend yet. I was afraid of what being a girlfriend meant. I liked the idea of a boy liking me enough to want to call me, 'girlfriend' but I was really uncomfortable with having to kiss and all that comes with being in a relationship. He was my first kiss and it was AWFUL. I'm sure I had a lot to do with it, but he was sloppy and our teeth hit and it was just b-a-d!

 We shared one Christmas together. He ended up buying me a few different items. But one thing he bought me was a basket full of bath salts, bubble bath and all kinds of bath related goodies. He told me that he bought me the bath stuff because of how much I loved having baths. HA HA HA!!! The poor bugger bought me a Christmas gift based on my LIES. I knew then and there that I had to break up with this poor soul... Worst Christmas gift ever because I was a liar liar, pants on fire!

 That's me desperately trying to escape his clinging hold in the picture.. Poor guy!!

Let's hear it; what are your best and worst gifts ever received at Christmas time!?