Children's Claritin Back to School Allergy Tips

Everyone is well into the swing of school now, and the Fall has arrived in many parts of the country. With the changing of seasons comes the dreaded allergy symptoms for moms, dads, and kids alike. Does your family suffer from allergies? We do. And it is no fun. Joey and I both have terrible allergies at peak seasons. Luckily, I am a member of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew, and they help me by sharing lots of tips, promotional products, product samples, and coupons.

The following is a list of tips that I received that I would like to pass along to you, to help your family deal with the nasty allergy symptoms. A few things that I didn't know or think of, and hopefully we can all breathe a little easier thanks to Children's (and adult’s) Claritin.

1. Be sure to have Children’s Claritin, the #1 pediatrician-recommended non-drowsy allergy brand, on hand!
2. Multi-vitamins are building blocks to having a strong immune system. Make taking a multi-vitamin part of your child’s daily routine.
3. Let there be light! Mold doesn't like sunlight, so try to keep your curtains open during the day.
4. Did you know that most pillows trap allergens, dust mites, and bacteria? Monitor the cleanliness of the pillow your child with allergies sleeps on and replace if necessary.
5. Back to school season means lots of laundry for many moms. Be sure to remove laundry from the washing machine promptly. Allowing wet clothes to sit in the washer means mold can quickly grow there.
6. Monitor pollen counts and adjust outdoor before and after school activities accordingly. Dry, windy days can be particularly high in pollen.
7. Showering or bathing at the end of the day as opposed to the morning can be helpful in removing allergens from body surfaces and hair.
8. Stay hydrated! Always send your child to school with a bottle of water. Drinking lots of clear fluids through the day can help get rid of toxins and flush out body.
9. Peak pollen production typically occurs in early morning, so try to plan outside activities at other times of the day.

Disclosure: As a member of the Children’s Claritin Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit. No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

Well, we weren't exactly on our way to the forum, more like our house, but the title just struck me as I decided to write this...

After my last blog post I figured it was time for something light hearted, and Olivia provided the inspiration for just that as we walked home from my sister's house this evening.

My children wear Crocs 75% of the time all year round. And I love it. However, these rubber shoes can be as annoying as they are convenient, because it is inevitable that someone will get a rock, piece of mulch, sand, or other foreign object stuck in their shoe while we're out for a walk or playtime, holding up the whole group or activity to remove said object.

True to form, about 20 yards away from my sister's house Olivia shouts at us all to stop as she leisurely sat down so on the curb to remove the mulch from her Croc. Moments after she sat down, she declares in a panic, "I'm peein' Momma!" Sure enough, the curb is wet, and a trickle of urine is streaming down between my daughter's legs. The other two kids stare at me with that "what are ya gonna do now, mom?" look, to which I responded, "At least it was in the street." I mean seriously, what was I supposed to do? Rinse off the curb? I don't think so... Dogs pee all over the freakin' place. And apparently, so does my kid.

And with that, we continued our walk home. Well, Olivia's was more that damp pants waddle kinda walk. ;)

Losing It

I've officially hit rock bottom. I have a secret... -I've been a sleep-deprived, grumpy, impatient monster of a mom for 3 months now, and I can't bear it any longer. With children well past the infancy stage of wakeful nights it is frustrating to me that my 4 year olds have such horrible sleep habits that I would gladly trade them in for newborn twins that wanted to be breastfed every 45 minutes all night long. At least those twins didn't talk back, kick doors, throw things, and scream bloody murder at me for trying to get them to stay in their beds. And at least those twins were containable. At least those twins didn't conspire against me by waking each other up, and then run in to their peacefully sleeping brother's room to see if they could get him on board. (They couldn't, he cried for being woken up, and told me this was "the worst night ever.")

I have done all but install a deadbolt from the outside of their bedroom door. On that note, it's probably a good thing that Home Depot is not open 24 hours because that is what I would be doing right about now instead of blogging about my sleep deprivation at 3 AM if it were.

Prior to starting this blog post I had one of my not so impressive mommy moments. I was so angry at my daughters for keeping me out of my cozy bed for the last hour and a half, and then proceeding to try to wake up my one sleeping child that I ripped their existing sticker charts off their bedroom walls and shredded them to pieces with my bare hands in a fit of rage. Then I got one of those doorknob covers that we have left over from our child proofing days and put it on the inside of their bedroom door. Oddly enough, they never did figure out how to open those suckers. Joey knew at the age of 2 that all he had to do was smack the thing hard enough and it would break in two halves, giving him full access to any restricted area. Anyway... I digress.

After installing said door knob cover I yelled loudly enough that most of our subdivision likely heard me about them being naughty, losing iPad time for tomorrow, and never, ever, ever getting another princess sticker for their aforementioned sticker chart. Ever. I slammed the door, moved Joey to my bed downstairs (where my husband lay getting his beauty rest) and returned to the playroom couch outside their bedroom door to endure the yelling, crying, and kicking of the door. What was interesting to me is that in between the yelling, crying, and kicking, they could have a completely calm and civil conversation with each other. In other words, they are totally capable of turning it off as soon as they think I'm not listening... Little boogers.

So what's a mom to do? I can't do this much longer. I need my children to go to bed on time without delay, and sleep for 11-12 hours a night so I can be a functional human being. I am tired all.the.time. Simple jobs like cooking dinner, grocery shopping, and folding laundry are daunting and overwhelming because I am just too freaking tired. Trying to keep up with my orders for Bugaboo's Closet, and grow my business is next to impossible when I am spending my evening work/sewing time trying to get my kids to stay in bed for 3-4 hours past when we actually said goodnight. I can't do this anymore. I am out of ideas, out of patience, and definitely out of my mind...

My Last Day of School Post

This is a long post.... you've been warned.

Today would have been Joey's last day of Kindergarten.  He would be moving up to 1st Grade in 10 days.  (year round school... no summer break)  But it's not his last day.  In our house it's just another hot day in North Carolina.  It has taken me 7 months to get the courage to publicly share what I struggled with most as a parent thus far.  But on this Last Day of School it seems appropriate.

Joey started Kindergarten on his 5th birthday last summer.  He made the age cut-off for Kindergarten by 7 weeks.  Meaning if his birthday was 49 days later he would not have been eligible to attend school until the following year.  He is a smart boy, and we knew he was academically ready, but struggled with whether or not he was mature enough and socially ready to begin Elementary School.  I went back and forth for months.  I spoke with professionals, friends, family members, and strangers.  I prayed that we were going to do the right thing for our son.  Ultimately we agreed to send him, to "try it," and make a change if necessary.

The first couple months were relatively smooth, with a few minor bumps in the road as our boy learned the routines and expectations of the big school.  Joey was making friends, learning tons, and happy to go to school.  He was lucky to have a teacher who is fantastic in every sense of the word.  After about 3-4 months, I was in close contact with Joey's teacher.  And not because he was winning the citizenship award.  Listening became an issue.  Keeping his hands to himself became an issue.  Impulse control became an issue.  My calls from Joey's teacher started to mimic calls an emails that I had made when I was a teacher.  Calls to parents of "that kid."  We discussed things like "thinking time, reward systems, and behavior charts."

Nothing prepares you for the heartache that comes when you find out that your child is having trouble.  We have been blessed and fortunate as parents.  Our children are healthy, happy, and adjust well to just about everything.  But suddenly it became very clear to me that something wasn't right.  One day in late November, Joey came home sad and disappointed when someone told him, "I don't want to be your friend anymore."  My happy in life boy was deflated.  I believe it never crossed his mind that someone wouldn't want to be his friend.  In the coming days, as I watched Joey interact with his classmates, there was a painfully obvious gap in maturity.  Joey was struggling to fit in.  So he acted out.

After shedding more tears than I knew my body could produce, and many in depth conversations with Joey's teacher, my husband, my mom, my husband's parents, and anyone else who was within ear shot, I knew what we had to do.  I knew he wasn't ready.  So why all the emotions?  I was so scared to make him feel like a failure.  My child is a success.  No matter what.  Needing more time is not a failure in my book, and I had to carefully consider how to make it not be a failure in his.  I also didn't want him to get the impression that he could get in trouble and then not have to go to school anymore.  I did not want to send him back to Pre-K, because I felt like he would most definitely get a feeling that he did not succeed.  I felt sad for him.  He made friends that he liked.  He liked school.  He worked hard to learn new things every single day, and he truly loved his teacher.  I felt like I was ripping him from everything familiar in his world, and not even sure if it would make a difference.

We approached the topic with Joey by telling him that Mommy was going to homeschool him for the rest of the year, and then he would go back to Kindergarten when he turned 6.  This made sense to him.  He did not question it, never said he didn't want to stay home, and honestly hardly asked about it since.  There have been a few times over the past several months when we've had to remind Joey that his "friends" from his Kindergarten class will be moving on to 1st Grade.  He's a pragmatic child, and this has been OK with him too, knowing that many of those students are turning 7 when he is not even 6 yet.

Now... Did I make the right decision?  I believe I did.  Joey may struggle in school regardless.  But at least at this point I know that I did everything in my power to give him the best start.  There is no "what if?" or "maybe we should have..." There was a point in April when I knew he was ready.  A feeling that I had after working with Joey on some school work, and watching him interact with some peers when I realized that he is demonstrating readiness signs that were not there when we made the decision to send him to Kindergarten last year.

So, on this Last Day of School, I am hopeful.  I am happy that I've gotten some extra time with my son that I never would have had if we decided to have him finish out the year.  I've witnessed some huge changes in Joey.  We've had some great conversations, lots of fun times, and I've appreciated every moment with him knowing how quickly it will pass.  Tomorrow we go on vacation, and about 5 weeks after that Joey will start Kindergarten.  And I will miss my little buddy (and probably spend a week crying all over again!) as I see him go off to the big school once again, but I am grateful for every minute we've spent together during the last 6 years.   I'll leave you with his first and last day pics:

First Day of Kindergarten, July 16th, 2012:

 

Last Day, June 29th, 2013

 

What I made: Father's Day Edition

My husband and I usually keep things simple when it comes to exchanging gifts with each other.  We are a family of 5 on a teacher's budget, so spending money on frivolous gifts for each other when the holidays roll around has never been super important to us.  We love simple things: going out to eat as a family (even if it's Chick Fil A!), taking a trip to a new park, or just hanging around the house together.  Now don't get me wrong... someday I hope to get a whopper of an anniversary gift that has some serious bling factor.  You know, like someday when we hit the lottery.  But for now, being around for our kids is more important than spending money on stuff we just don't need.

Now I'm not saying we have a "no gift" policy up in here.  We love presents.  I mean seriously, who doesn't LOVE presents?  But we don't buy things we can't afford, or normally wouldn't.  A well thought out gift that says "I love you," is far more important in my opinion than something that cost big bucks that was purchased out of obligation.

Father's Day was no different for us this year.  We are getting ready to go out of town this month, so we've been extra careful about spending, trying to make sure that we have some fun money during our trip.  But my hubby really is an amazing Dad, so I needed a Father's Day gift that had some wow factor without breaking the bank.  (Or breaking a 20 if I'm brutally honest...) So where's a girl to turn for some meaningful gift giving inspiration?  Pinterest, naturally.  I found several cute ideas for the kids and I to replicate for Father's Day this year.  And I'm proud to say that I actually put my pinning to good use and our gifts for my hubby were Pinterest knock offs.  And he LOVED them.  He actually said that it was the best gift he's ever received.  How's that for $7.98?  Yup... I spent less than 10 bucks on his gift and it was declared Best.Gift.Ever.  Score!  The original pins can be found here, and here.

 

When I first saw this photo collage, I just knew it was the perfect gift for my hubby.  So I took an old white board that I had in my collection of (haven't been used in 6 years, but yes we have to hold on to all of it) teaching supplies.  With the help of some Chalkboard paint from Walmart ($2.99) I turned it into a brand new chalkboard for our project.  This was the first time I actually used Chalkboard Paint.  And oh my goodness, what was I waiting for?  I want to turn lots of stuff into chalkboards now.... seriously, so fun!

 

I put a couple childish-looking decorations along the edge of the board, and asked my kiddos why they love their daddy.  Then we took to the front porch for a little photo session, and voila!

 

 

I then grabbed one of these awesome graphics, made available for free download at Positively Splendid.

 

 

 

And with a little help from Picasa Editing Software, I was able to make this awesome collage:

 





I uploaded that badboy to Walgreens photo, entered my promo code for a free 8x10 collage print in honor of Dad's Day, and drove over 47 minutes later to pick it up.  For free.  Yup.  I'm awesome like that.

A couple days later, I picked up one of these funky frames at Michaels Craft Stores.  It was one of the few frames NOT on sale that week, so I was able to use my 50% off coupon and got it for $4.99.

Insert photo collage into frame, had kids fill out a few of these free printable cards from Martha Stewart, and there you have it.  A great gift for the hubs that cost less than a coffee from Starbucks.  Well... maybe not quite, but you get the idea.

**Please excuse my not so great cell phone picture of the final product.  It's not easy to get a picture of a picture with the glass already in the frame.  And I'm not taking it apart now.  Ain't nobody got time for that!

Giveaway Time!

If you haven't already "liked" my Facebook page for my business, now's the time to do it!  We are having our biggest giveaway yet!

This is a very trendy style right now, and simply perfect for summer!  It also makes a great gift!

Don't want to wait to win?  Head on over to my Etsy Shop to purchase one of these ready to ship styles for just $28! 

 

 

Kid Update

I realize I rarely use this blog for what it was once intended for.  Having a blog helped me in those early days of motherhood when I felt like I was going to lose it if I didn't at least laugh about it.  It was a fun way for me to channel my thoughts, share my pictures, and share new products and info from time to time.

However, I still really enjoy writing, and I have always been better at expressing myself via written language than verbally.  Any one who has ever gotten into a fight with me can attest to that.  I'm going to make an effort to carve out a little more time to get on here and blog once in a while.  My posts may not be funny, interesting, or shared on Facebook 63,000 times but I'm here for me.
Joey is really into The Wii right now.  Lego Star Wars pretty much consumes his thoughts, and we have a rule that the Wii stays off until 4pm on weekdays.  Sometimes I'm thankful that he can't tell time so he doesn't know that I'm breaking my own rule when I let him start playing at 3:15 noon.

Olivia is Joey's shadow.  She goes where he wants her to, plays how he wants her to, and laughs at everything he does.  She is everything a 5 year old boy would want in a little sister.  She spends a good deal of each day pretending that she's an animal.  Usually a doggie named Minnie.  A black one.

Katelyn is Miss Independent.  She plays how she wants, and is usually right by my side while the other two are off playing the Wii doing something educational.  She loves make-believe, and taking care of her babies.  She is very musical, and will sit for hours listening to songs and singing along.

So there you have it.  A little update about my kids, and a intent to blog more from me.  Now I'm off to my sewing studio to work on a dress for my little spunky monkey.

The Croods Giveaway -Dreamworks Animation and General Mills

As a mom, I can't help loving some of the movies that my kids love.  And in my opinion, Dreamworks Animation has yet to disappoint me or my kids.  While some of these movies came out a few years ago, my children are just getting to the age to appreciate them.  Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and Shrek have hilarious, lovable characters, and these movies are included in our regular rotation of movie watching.

Dreamworks just released a new film, which starts in theaters this Friday, March 22, 2013.  My kids are excited about it since  we were lucky enough to receive a gift pack featuring some Dreamworks Animation DVDs, favorite movie treats, and products from the new movie, The Croods.  Each of the 4 sampler DVDs can be found in specially marked boxes of favorite General Mills Cereals in stores now.

My kids love the episodes featuring characters from Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, Madagascar, and How to Train Your Dragon.  The DVDs and treats actually made it perfect for us to have a "family movie night."

Want your own "family movie night" delivered to your door?  Great.  Comment on this post for a chance to win a prize pack from General Mills including the following:

*	Set of 4 DreamWorks Animation DVD samplers
*	The Croods: Grub's Survival Book
*	The Croods: Movie Novelization Book
*	Film Reel tin filled with some of your favorite movie theater treats
	Combined Retail Value: $53

So go ahead and leave a comment telling me what YOUR favorite kids movie is.  This giveaway starts now and will end Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be selected via Random.org and will have 24 hours to respond with shipping info. Good luck!





Disclosure: The information, products and General Mills gift packs were provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.  All opinions expressed are my own.  Obviously.

Bugaboo's Closet Etsy Shop Giveaway

I'm so excited to share this fun giveaway with you! And yes, this is me shamelessly self-promoting my very own Etsy Shop, Bugaboo's Closet.

A little about my shop: I try to create timeless styles that can be worn for multiple seasons and years. The dresses I feature in my shop are designed to last. I use high-quality fabrics, and notions, and each item is handmade with lots of love.

My friends and family have been working hard to support me and spread the word about my latest business venture, and to show my enthusiasm and appreciation I'm ready to host my first giveaway. This giveaway requires a little more work on your part than my usual blog giveaways, as you have to go on Facebook to enter. But the lucky winner will be able to select their own fabric and size for a FREE pair of kids lounge pants!  How's that for a prize?  Win a pair of PJ pants made to order! So here's how to enter:

1. Go to www.facebook.com/bugaboosclosetnc -click the "like" button..
2. Once there, Share the giveaway picture on your Facebook page. -click the "share" button, write a little something if you want, and click post.  It will post to your timeline.
3. Leave a comment on the giveaway picture to be entered to WIN! -this is important.  Sharing or liking without commenting won't count as an entry.  So make sure you let me know!

That's it... 3 little steps and you're on your way to a free pair of comfy adorable pants like these:

And here's a few fabric samples that I have in stock.  You can see all the choices in the "Flannel" album on my FB page.  Seriously... I only sew with the cutest stuff.  Who wouldn't love to win these?  Now GO ENTER!

Crayola Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to post #4, Brittney who said, "my daughter would love these!! we have a ton of crayola stuff and it all gets used."  I've sent you an email, please get your shipping info to me ASAP. I hope you and your daughter love the new Crayola products!

*Sorry for no Random.org picture... Blogger isn't letting me upload this AM.*

Crayola Review and Giveaway

Over the holidays, my family and I had the opportunity to try out some great new products by Crayola.  With 3 young children, Crayola is a household name in this house.  In my opinion, they make great age-appropriate products that keep moms in mind.  (i.e. not so messy!)

The products we got to try were the Digital Light Designer and Marker Airbrush.  Both of these products state for ages 6+, so my 5 1/2 year old son and I worked with these together.  He absolutely loved these new products, and since he's still young I think he'll get lots of use out of these for years to come.

Joey is huge fan of stuff that glows and lights up in the dark, so the Digital Light Designer was right up his alley.  What we loved the most was that we were able to create art and projects with the lights off. -It doesn't have to be played with in the dark... my kid just happens to think that is the best way to use anything that glows or lights up!  A great feature of this product is its' ability to save your favorite drawings and creations.  The interactive game mode was a lot of fun, with mazes and funny faces to keep Joey entertained for hours.

The Marker Airbrush is a more advanced toy that allows kids to create cool airbrush effects on lots of different surfaces.  We only used it on paper for now.  This toy is also recommended for ages 6 and up, so Joey was still a bit young to appreciate all that it can do.  What I love about it is that you can attach any Crayola marker to the sprayer, and use it however you like.  We will use this a lot as my kids get older.  I'm sure they will even have fun spraying the driveway outside.  It is a two-handed operation, which may be why its recommended for older kids, but with assistance Joey was able to make lots of fun airbrushed designs.

Both of these products are innovative and unique.  They help kids express their individuality and can keep them engaged for hours.  With so many different modes and applications I don't see my children getting bored with these anytime soon.  And a huge plus in my book is that there is not a ton of mess!  I stress about messy toys, and am always happy to find something that can ease that stress for me.

Unwrap the gift of imagination with Crayola by visiting Crayola’s Holiday Gift Guide at www.crayola.com/gifts, where you can find the perfect gift to unleash your kids’ creativity. And don’t forget to “Like” Crayola on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter to keep up with the latest Crayola news and updates!

Want to try out these fantastic new Crayola products with your kids?  Leave a comment for a chance to win a gift pack with the Crayola Marker Airbrush and Crayola Digital Light Designer.  But hurry!  This giveaway starts now and will end tomorrow, Wednesday, January 9th, 2013 at 11:59pm EST.  Winner will be selected via Random.org and will have 24 hours to respond with shipping info.  Good luck!

Disclaimer: The Crayola product to try, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by Crayola free of charge to me and the giveaway winner.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Announcing: Bugaboo's Closet, my New Etsy Shop

Sadly, this blog has been quiet for about a month.  Did I give up on the C25K?  Maybe I did, maybe I didn't.  OK. Yes. I did.  Running freaking sucks people, and if you say it doesn't, you're lying.  Do you hear me?  LYING.

I honestly did not intend to give up on the whole "I'm gonna be a runner" thing -even though it does totally suck, it just kinda happened.  Actually, during my last run I was so sick, and having so much trouble breathing I just never did it again.  2 days after the run I went to the doctor and was told not to run again until my cough was cleared up.  I just cleared my throat.  That's considered coughing, right?  Just following doctor's orders...

It's not like I haven't been busy though.  See, I thrive on being extra busy.  It makes me feel like I have more control over my life when I fill it with more stuff to do.  And when I actually get stuff done I feel that much more accomplished.  So since I am not running, I decided to give my sewing machine a workout instead by making this:

this:

this:

 

this:

and this:

 

 

What on earth am I sewing for?  My new Etsy Shop, obviously.  Owning my own business, however modest or small it may be, has been a dream of mine for a while.  When I discovered just how much I love creating adorable clothing and accessories for my own children, I knew that eventually it would come to this and I would be sewing for other peoples' children as well.  Now I am creating and selling something that I really love and believe in, and what could be better than that?  And while there are about a gazillion other Etsy owners out there making a name for themselves, I do hope that some of you will take the time to check out my shop (please, please!) and help me make my dream come true!

I still plan to use this blog as my place to vent, share a funny story about my crazy family, discuss one of the many ways I continue to try to lose weight, share a product or experience that I've been lucky enough to receive.  And hopefully you all won't mind me sharing my Etsy items and experiences on here as well!

Visit my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BugaboosCloset

Like my shop on Facebook for exclusive sneak-peeks, sales, fabric selections, and more: https://www.facebook.com/bugaboosclosetnc

Pinypon Party Sponsored by MommyParties

Recently I was chosen to host a party featuring some great new toys for little girls.  Pinypon toys are so much fun to play with, and come with lots of neat little accessories to mix and match.  I am not exaggerating when I say that my children have played with their new Pinypon set and dolls for hours, long after the party was over.  Here are some (not so great cell phone pictures) of them mixing and matching the dolls, discovering how to customize each doll to wear it's own individual style, and playing with the very cool Caravan set.

 

 

 

Yes, even the boys played!

 

 

One VERY excited party guest got to leave with a Pinypon Caravan of her own as part of our raffle.  And I was told later by her mom that she and her brothers had hours of fun with this set.  Definitely kid-approved.

 

 

My perspective on these toys as a mom:  They are great for strengthening fine motor skills, as each doll comes apart in many different ways, and children have to grasp, pinch, and rotate items to put them together and change their accessories.  The Caravan has many different compartments, doors, drawers, and windows that made it fun for the kids to use in lots of different ways.  In an afternoon they used it as a camper, ice cream truck, and flying spaceship.  The roof even doubles as a raft with surf boards.  I felt like we got a few different toys all in one package.  The only negative I found with the Pinypon toys is the MANY little tiny pieces.  This can be stressful for a mom like me that likes to have everything in one place and in one piece.  But I also think that the reason this entertained the kids for so long is because there ARE so many little pieces.  So it's not really a negative.  We just made sure to clean up really well, and everything went in one extra-large size Ziploc!

 

Overall, we had a great time playing with our friends and the Pinypon toys.  The kids enjoyed the figures and play sets, and the moms enjoyed the kids playing without argument so we could socialize.  And everyone left with valuable coupons in addition to their own Pinypon figures.  Thanks MommyParties and Pinypon for a great afternoon of fun!

 

Want to discover more about Pinypon and what they have to offer:  Vist their Website, or Facebook Page!

 

Disclaimer: The party kit with Pinypon products was provided to me free of charge in exchange for sharing my honest party experience and thoughts.  All opinions expressed are my own.

C25K -The Mom's Perspective: Week 3

Week 3 of my Couch to 5K Running Program started about 2 and a half weeks ago.  Sadly, I have yet to move on to Week 4.  I can explain...

Week 3, Day 1:

Oh My God, this was hard.  As I said last week, going from running for 90 second stints to 3 minutes feels like mission impossible.  And it kinda was.  I'm not gonna lie, I had to walk the last minute when I was supposed to be running.  My friend Kelly said to run until I feel like I'm going to fall down, then I can walk.  And I did exactly that.  I felt guilty as hell about it though, and vowed to do the workout in its entirety again the next day.  Until...

WHAM-O!  I got hit with a terrible cold, and had company arriving for the weekend.  Running was not an option.  Between my hacking, nose-blowing, and alternating doses of DayQuil, Tylenol Cold, and NyQuil, it just was not possible.  I was run down and tired from being sick, and I knew I had to give it a break until I was better.

Feeling better this week, I finally got to the gym on Wednesday. (8 days later than my last run!)  I re-did my Day 1 workout.  Without cheating.  I think I coughed up a lung though, and had a terrible night's sleep because I could not. stop. coughing.  Also, I'm more than certain that the people on the treadmills to my left and right did not appreciate the fat girl's huffing, puffing, and now hacking in way too close proximity.  Oh well.  That's what showers and hand-sanitizer dispensers are for, right?

Feeling empowered because I did what I set out to do, despite not feeling 100%, I often remind myself of this pin from Pinterest:

 

Or this one:



Week 3, Day 2:

Today I returned to the gym to run again.  Unfortunately, my cough is worse, not better, and the lack of Oxygen was just more than I could deal with.  I found myself struggling to catch my breath as I ran, and in an effort to not pass out, I decided to just walk it out.  So I walked during 2 and a half minutes that I should have been running.  I still managed to go 2.15 miles, but I was disappointed.  My lungs were just not happy.  (Doc appt. is set for Monday, I swear!)  So I'll re-do this day too.  Or maybe I won't.  I'm back to thinking that running is a stupid idea anyway.

To be continued...

Kroger Gift Card Winner

Congratulations to Post #15, Kristi, who said, "I would love to stock up on Cheerios."  Well, now she can.  Kristi, I sent you an email so please check your inbox!  Thanks to every one else who entered.  I really appreciate y'all reading my blog!  (yea, I said y'all... deal with it.)

Sibling Love?

If you've had the privilege of spending time with my family you'd notice within just a few minutes that 2 out of 3 of my children do not get along very well.  This is not a new phenomenon.  Not a stage that they will eventually grow out of. (although I pray that they will)  Put frankly, for one reason or another, Joey and Katelyn just don't like each other.

Sad?  Right.  Yea, it's a real downer.  I've tried countless ways to figure out why my oldest and youngest don't show the love for each other like they do towards Olivia.  They both really love Olivia.  I guess the main reason I can come up with is that they are more similar in personality.  Joey and Katelyn seem to take after me in the personality department.  Strong willed, opinionated, inquisitive, strong willed, stubborn, strong willed... yea, that about sums it up.  Olivia is more subdued like my husband.  She of course has her own opinion about things, and can throw a tantrum over a pack of gummies with the best of them, but she is definitely more compliant and accepting than the other two. 

Joey and Katelyn battle over just about anything.  Toys, shoes, (yes, Joey will wear her most favorite sparkle shoes around the house just to piss her off), what to watch on TV, who goes first, last, etc.  It's pretty endless.  And beyond frustrating as a mom who just wants peace in the house.  Sometimes they do it deliberately.  For example, Joey will purposefully act like Katelyn mispronounced something even though she didn't.  Katelyn will yell about it.  Joey will insist that she said it wrong.  Katelyn will yell some more.  Joey will yell back.  And eventually one of them will either throw something or smack the other one unless I break it up by using my scary mom voice telling them to CUT THE CRAP!

I noticed something the other day while I dropped Joey off at school.  These two, who act like they can't stand each other 90 percent of the time always say goodbye to each other.  He even turns after getting out of the car to say goodbye to Katelyn with a wave and a smile.  Maybe it's because they are so glad to have 7 hours away from each other.  But I'd rather think that its because deep down they actually do love each other.  So I'm going to go with that.  They totally do, right?

C25K -The Mom's Perspective: Week 2

Well, I'm happy to report that Week 2 was a success.  I actually did all of my running inside on the treadmill at the Y during week 2.  While I thought I liked it better during Week 1, I'm now ready to get back outside. (And by outside I mean after dark when my neighbors hopefully won't see me.) Running on the treadmill is sooooo boooooring!  Regardless, here's a quick recap:

Week 2, Day 1:

My body was in shock as I worked to complete this first workout.  While it may not sound like much time to you, to a self-proclaimed running hater like myself, going from 60 seconds of running to 90 seconds of running was a big change.  HUGE.  At least that first day it felt huge.  I could not stop watching the timer.  It just hurt so bad.... I was convinced that I was done.  Running was over for me.

Week 2, Day 2:

Not so much.  You see, I feel so great on the days after I run that it makes me want to go back for more the next day.  It's so strange.  I have more energy, more patience, and get a heck of a lot more done the day after a work out than I did before I started this.  So in some weird way, that motivates me to go back for more... Day 2 was probably my easiest day so far.  And by easy I mean I huffed and puffed my way through each running segment without cheating the clock a few seconds.  I even turned the treadmill up a decimal point or so during the walking segment to increase my distance and keep my heart rate up.  So maybe I'm getting the hang of this.  I don't know.  I still don't like it very much.

Week 2, Day 3:

Against all odds I made it to the Y to complete my workout for Day 3.  My husband and I each had activities planned for the day, so we were passing off the child-watching duties for the day.  He wasn't scheduled to be home until 8 or so and I really didn't want to do another late night run.  So, I made a last minute decision to pack up the kids and head to the Y.  We got there in the nick of time, as the Nursery was closing in 34 minutes.  Good thing this stupid workout is only 31 minutes.  I dropped off the little boogers, and charged upstairs to the last treadmill of the row.  (I feel like people don't see me if I'm all the way at the end.)  I cued up my iPod, pushed the green "go" button on the treadmill, and got to it.  A little problem came along around the halfway mark when my iPod died.  I easily could have given up there.  "Eh, no music, no one telling me when to run, when to walk, I'm done."  But I didn't.  I timed myself, paced myself, and finished my workout with only the pounding of my sneakers on the treadmill and the sound of my own puffing and huffing to listen to.  That in and of itself was a huge accomplishment for me, as I'm pretty much the queen of excuses.

Looking Ahead:

Week 3 has two segments of running for 3 minutes.  3 minutes?  Double what my body has just sort of gotten used to?  I'm cringing at the thought.  I'm not kidding when I say I can barely get through 90 seconds.  I really don't know how on earth I'm going to double that starting now.  If anything is going to break me, it'll be Week 3 for sure.

Kroger Buy 5 -Save $5 Event with GIVEAWAY

Attention Kroger shoppers! Grab a cart (or two!)and head to your local Kroger Co. Family of Stores for the Kroger Buy 5 – Save $5 Event! From October 14th through October 24th (RIGHT NOW!) purchase 5 participating General Mills products, and receive a coupon for $5 off your next shopping order.

If you combine this promotion with Kroger's sales and manufacturers coupons, you're looking at saving some serious money people!  Look for some of your favorite participating General Mills products like Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Pillsbury Toaster Strudel, Betty Crocker Cake and Brownie Mixes, Hamburger Helper, Totino’s Party Pizza, Yoplait and many more!

This promotion varies in different locations so please be sure to check your local Kroger Co. Family of Stores for specific deals and offers which include: Kroger, Ralphs, King Scoopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Fred Meyer, Pay Less Supermarkets and Scott’s Food & Pharmacy.

Don’t let the savings pass you by! Fill up your cart and save with the General Mills products you love at the Kroger Buy 5 – Save $5 Event!  And to sweeten the deal, I have a $25 Kroger Gift Card to give away to one lucky reader!  Want in on it?  Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win!  This giveaway starts now and will end on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012 at 11:59 EST.  Winner will be selected via Random.org and notified shortly thereafter.  If after 48 hours selected winner has not responded, a new winner will be chosen and notified.

Disclosure: The gift cards (one sent to me, one for a reader) and information have been provided by Kroger and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.  All opinions expressed are my own.

***By the way... I have NOT given up running. Yet. If you're following my quest to be physically fit using the Couch 2 5k program, stay tuned... an update is coming soon!

New Updates Are Up!

I finally got around to updating my sidebar with new pics and bios of the kids.  Aren't they adorable? ;)  Here's a new picture of them all together, from last weekend's trip to the corn maze:

 

And yes, I realize none of them are looking... but I kind of like it that way.  This is how they are when I'm not bribing them and/or screaming at them to sit together, smile, and look at me while I take one decent picture.

C25K -The Mom's Perspective: Week 1, Day 3

Week 1, Day 3:

I have to admit that I surprised myself when I decided to go out running a 3rd time.  It wasn't easy, but I did it.  It had been 4 days since my run on day 2, and that made it especially hard to motivate myself.  If you are thinking about doing this running program, I highly suggest not going more than 1 or 2 days in between runs, as the longer you wait, the harder it is to get back out there.  Look at me now... dishing out exercising advice, like I'm some kind of expert all of a sudden! Yea, hardly an expert.  But it's still probably sound advice. 

It was a cold and kinda rainy night, but I was actually kind of glad about that because it was already dark so the neighbors wouldn't see me, and the weather was more than likely keeping everyone inside and away from doors and windows.  The run itself was basically uneventful.  More of the same, I guess you could say.  I hated every painful running segment, and my brisk walking segments didn't seem very brisk at all.  More like a slow, leisurely pace.  It was all I could do to keep my legs moving after the running part.  I noticed, though, that I must have gone a little bit faster because I went a longer distance.  Hmmmm... maybe I'm improving?  Nah, must have just been luck.  Maybe I cut a corner somewhere, or jay-walked, or something.

Anyway, I got home, stretched, and drank a gallon of water.  Seriously, it probably was a gallon as I got up 3 times to pee in the night.  I had tons of energy that night, and didn't actually get to bed until after 1am.  My kids were still up at the butt crack of dawn, making me a very tired and grumpy mommy in the morning.  Running at 9 o'clock at night probably wasn't the greatest idea.

OK, so now I'm about to make a commitment.  I'm going to keep doing this.  I'm going to give it at least another week before I decide whether or not to continue.  I definitely don't like doing it, but I definitely like the way I feel after I've recovered and into the next day.  I know, I know, it's only been a week.  Hard to make a judgement on the program as a whole when I've only completed 1/8 of it.  Will I complete the other 7 weeks?  I really don't know.  I actually doubt it.  But there will be a Week 2 post... I can promise you that.