So, how was YOUR week?

This past week has been an emotional roller coaster.  My company is restructuring and this week we found out who was staying, who was moving and who was going.  I had been worrying about these announcements for the past few months.  While I consider myself to have a job and not a career at the moment, I still needed to worry financially about staying afloat with the kids and the house.  After a lot of soul searching and some in-depth scenario planning with hubby, we decided that we would roll with the punches.  In the end, I still have a job, although I do have a new boss.  After getting that information I was sad and angry.  Firstly, I have a great relationship with my boss.  And second, I was kind of looking forward to having the summer off.  I spent the first half of the week being pessimistic and walking around under a black cloud.  However, by mid-week I realized that it was exhausting to be so unhappy.  At that point I found the silver lining:

New Boss = Change = New Opportunities

Once I returned to positive thinking, things started to fall into place.  [Insert sun coming out and creating a rainbow.]  I met my new boss, a triathlete who grew up in the same neighborhood as me!  How's that for a sign of good things to come.  I think know that I will be just fine.  This is my job and it is only part of my life.  I will not let it define me.

That said, I just received my personal trainer study materials yesterday.  I started reading on the bus this morning and realized that in addition to all the information included in the books, they also double as weights!

Check out the "gun" from carrying this giant book around with me!

I have about two hours left of this work week and then I am headed to Philly for the evening with my girls.  We are going to see Jordan Knight in concert this evening (yes, from new Kids on the Block).  Since none of us have ever been to there, we decided to spend the afternoon eating cheese steaks and running up and down the "Rocky" stairs.  Pictures to follow!

So, how was your week?  Also, if you know Philly, tell me, where's the best cheese steak and what else should we do while we are there?

Foodie PenPal Reveal!

So this past month I joined Lindsay's Foodie PenPal program.  It is a great way to get to know some fellow health and fitness bloggers.  All you have to do is email Lindsey that you want to be in the program and she will pair you with two other bloggers.  One will send you a package of yummy treats and for the other person, you will play Santa Claus.  Who doesn't like mail?!

I know I do!  I especially loved the package that I received from Sarah at GazingIn.com.

It came early and just in time!  I was hungry that day and dug right into the Cran Lemon Zest bar!  I also got some old-fashioned pancake mix, yummy sundried tomatoes (perfect for wraps and salad, almonds and a chocolate bar that will have to wait until after Easter since I gave up candy for Lent.  :)  Thanks to Sarah for all the yummy goodness from the "Left" coast. :)

I also sent my package to Matoya.  Sadly, I missed that some of the yummies had expired and rest assured a new package is going out to her.

This is a great program.  Thanks to Lindsay for coordinating it!

It is MY Life...

Today I decided to stop letting my life happen without my input. In the final workday before big changes in my corporate world, I stopped waiting for someone else to determine my next step. I can now say *GULP* "I am on my way to becoming a certified personal trainer". I made the commitment to learn, study,
practice, and take the certification exam (I could have those steps out of order, this is all brand new to me). I am so excited, in that nervous-throw-up-feeling way that you had when a boy kissed you for the first time or on a job interview.

I am still anxious for what may happen on Monday, but now I know that I control what I do with my life. Too often I have this behind words like kids, mortgage, bills, etc. All these things are my responsibility, but they are no longer excuses for why I cannot pursue my personal goals. Over the past year I have learned so much from my fellow bloggers about their lives, struggles, their goals, and their successes. No one wants their legacy to be "she went to work, she came home and then she did it again and again". I love my children with my entire being and they will always be my proudest accomplishment however; they do not have to be my only accomplishment. I have much more to give this world and it's about time that I do.

That said, I am not quitting my job and joining the Peace Corps, but I do want to learn how to help people change their lives. Personal training is how I can help others while doing something that I love. I guess this is how some people have always considered their jobs, but I'm a worker bee and this is all new to me. Please bear with me while I figure it all out (hopefully with some help from above mentioned awesome blogger community).

Lastly, I'd like to know, are you proud of me? Have you been in this moment in your life? And if so, what did you decide and did it work out?

Strong Women Inspire Me

In honor of March being Women’s History month, my Company has planned events to celebrate the strength and power of women.  Two weeks ago, we had a presentation given by Helene Lerner who is a lifelong advocate of empowering women.  She is an author and Emmy award winner among other things.  She spoke to the audience about being healthy and comfortable in your own skin, speaking up for yourself and using your power.  She talked of how her turning point was when she considered suicide and then changed her life for the better.  I also received a copy of her newest book, In Her Power: Reclaiming Your Authentic Self, which I have started reading.  It is not an easy read, but more of a personal inventory of where you are and where you need to go.

This week I was lucky enough to listen in on a panel of strong female veterans in the workforce.  Among them was a small pretty, blonde woman who also happened to be retired from the Air Force after 20 years of service.  Her husband was killed in Afghanistan ten years ago and she was left to care for and support their three sons.  If that doesn’t make her bad ass enough for you, she also flew military planes and then worked at West Point!

Sadly, I was also told of the sudden death of a friend of my mother’s.  She left behind a husband, and two children.  She had a 10 year old boy and a one year old baby girl who will never remember her mother.  She was 36 years old.  She was a sweet girl and my heart breaks for her family.  May she rest in peace.

These are the events that have been on my mind.  The underlining theme is that I am at a crossroads in my life.  I struggle with trying to get everything done as a mom, wife, employee, sister, friend, etc. and yet I want to do more.  I want to challenge myself because I know that I have more to give, yet I am afraid.  I am 36 and I have 2 kids and guess what, that's no longer an excuse why I can't do it.  Now it's the reason why I have to do it!  Tomorrow might not be an option.  I have to do it today.  **Hearing RENT theme song in my head** (Extra cheesy, but true.)

There is definitely more on this to come, I promise.  For now, I  need to start doing and stopping writing/talking about doing.  

**That said, what do you want to be/do that aren't because you feel like you can't or shouldn't or the time isn't right?  What excuses are you hiding behind?  And for my doers, what did you do finally that changed your life?  Please share!  I need the inspiration.

Sunday Check In

Figured I would check in since it's a lazy Sunday in these parts today. Hanging out on the couch with my little princess and my little furry princess. We just had some Chinese/Japanese take out for an early dinner and I'm enjoying my freebie Chinese tea bag. My boy is writing notes for a school project on matter. Yup, the solids, the liquids and the gases. Hubby is resting (aka Facebooking in bed). Yes, "Facebooking" is a verb. Trust me, don't ask Webster.

I went to the gym earlier and did a long 45 minutes on the arc trainer with high resistance and then I ventured down to the boys' club aka the weight machines. It is so funny that at my work gym (that I have been going to for 6 years) I am comfortable in the weights section. It's one floor and it's pretty open. In my home NYSC, I find the layout to be unwelcoming, to me at least. All the big machines, weight benches and heavy weights are downstairs. It's likely just me buying into the stereotype that it's the "boys' section" but personally I've never seen more than 2 women down there at a time and 1 is usually with a personal trainer. I need to get over this intimidation and use my gym for all it's resources.

Please tell me I'm not alone. Do you feel this way at the gym? Did you ever? How did you get over it? Help!!

Emotional Eating

Sorry I have been out of communication for a minute.  It's been a busy few days.  My husband had some surgery on Monday and I was trying out a role as Florence Nightingale.  Needless to say, I am at work today.  I am not the nurse type so I'll stick to what I know.

I did have a bad few days though with the stress in advance of the surgery.  There may have been a binge late one evening that I am not proud of.  I realize that emotional eating is probably one of my biggest issues.  Since I am a very emotional person, this is an issue.  I actually cry during commercials and not just the sweet ones, sometimes even the beer commercials (mostly because I miss it so much).  All jokes aside though, I know that eating will not make me feel better, but in the moment I ignore the logical side of the brain.  I know that this is very common.  If you google it, you get tips like:  - Try to manage your stress, food diary (got one), snack healthy (tried that), take away temptation... ding ding!  That's it.  All good unhealthy stuff must go!  Hmmm, now who's going to tell my kids they cannot have some M&Ms once in a while because Mommy cannot control herself.  Back to Square 1.

Any ideas?  Help!

• 
  

Happy International Women's Day!

Today is International Women’s Day (per today's Google Doodle).  I thought I would use today to shout out a few awesomely fit, inspiring women!

Rest In Peace

Closer to home Inspirations:

To a woman who is making big changes in her life and I am so proud of her...

Rockstar Nicole on the left (before 12 lbs lost in the first two weeks)

And the woman who helped get Nicole started on her journey, another amazing successful lady on her way to the top who is somewhat responsible for my wedding day (story for another blog)... Toni Senecal

Special Shout to some of my fav blogger ladies:

Theodora

Ali

AliMc

Dori

Heather

Bex

Stephanie

Janae

Michele

Keelie

Gina

Chelsea

Jocelyn

Gia

Emily

Emily M.

Ashley

Laura

etc. etc.

And to the future woman who inspires me to be the best that I can:

My little lady

What women have inspired you throughout your life?  How do you try to inspire other women?

All Over the Place

So, I have been trying to think of more interesting topics to blog about lately, but my mind has been all over the place.  So, if you read my blog, then you must be used to my random ramblings.  Hey, that's a great name for a blog.  I wonder if it's taken.(Just checked and there are several.)

Anyway, I am in full force with the PLO challenge.  I have been eating well and have not cheated with bread, candy or booze.  The only real temptation is that it is almost St. Patrick's Day.  And with that day comes my favorite treat of the year, irish soda bread.

It is probably one of my favorite things in the world.  Usually the entire week before St. Pat's Day, I will buy and eat nearly a full loaf of bread on my own.  I am so not exaggerating!  And what's the best thing to put on it, butter of course!  (Pondering how I am not heavier.  Thank God for good genes and my love of exercise.)  When I was in the fourth grade we had an international food festival.  Everyone had to bring something from your culture.  Since I am half Irish, mom and I decided on irish soda bread.  (Note: My mom is as much of a baker as me.  Read: Not at all!)  Well, that bread was not even fit to eat.  So, now I just buy it!  And a whole bunch of it.  But alas, none this year.

Aside from that, all is well.  I was lucky enough to hear Helene Lerner speak yesterday.  She is a very successful woman with lots of knowledge to share.  She is a huge advocate of womens empowerment and  leadership.  She mentioned a few tips from her new book that I thought were very true and worth thinking about.  The theme that most stuck with me was about sabotaging your own success.  I think that it is a huge issue for many women and it is important to think about what we are doing to hold ourselves back from professional and personal success.  I am definitely going to be reading her book and thinking about how best to address this within my own life.

Also in important news, my nephew had veggies for the first time this weekend and I was witness to it!  Oliver loved the squash!  Yea!  Another veggie lover in the family.  Go Oli!  This weekend... carrots!

Finally, I want to send a huge congratulations to one of my favorite bloggers, Janae over at HungryRunnerGirl.  She is having a baby and shared the news in the most adorable way!  Best to you and Billy!  You are in for the ride of your life.

xox

Mikey likes it!

I've never been the type of parent to cater to my children's wants. Even as toddlers, hubby and I didn't work around their naps or tiptoe in the house around them. I've always tried to raise my kids to be adaptable to any situation. When I are around parents who make 3-4 different meals in one sitting to please all the kids, I would shake my head in disbelief.

As a baby, my son not only ate peas, but he wore them too. 

My daughter is two an sometimes a bit stubborn (btw- I have no idea where she gets that from). I give her a plate or bowl an she usually eats most of what's in it. On any random day though she'll decide she doesn't want chicken or carrots or steak. So, let her eat until she's done. And she does. She never complains that shes hungry afterwards so I assume she's eaten enough. (Yes, I know. I'm very scientific).

 There are very few things my boy doesn't like and he's, at least, consistent about it. We make him try everything and if he doesn't like it, he tries it again next time. His tastes vary between regular kid food (nuggets and French fries) and more grown up flavors (basil leaves- right off the plant, red onions, and hot sauce).

So, now that you have some background and alot of pictures of my kids eating random things... My son does not like tacos or burritos.  But, last night I called Toni for a dinner suggestion and she gave me a great idea for some soft tacos with chicken and black beans.  I thought if I kept it as a rice bowl for my boy, we'd be okay.  He helped me measure and clean the veggies as I took low quality pictures of the ingredients.

Jalapeno on the side (just for Mommy)

Nothing is more appetizing than raw chicken (with Sazon)

Black beans

Then we sat down to a beautiful meal.

So colorful and flavorful

Half way in, he looks at wraps and asks me to "wrap his up" because he wants to try it.  Success!  The boy ate it!

A boy and his wrap

This point of my long-winded story is... hmm... well, I guess that my dinner was yummy and sometimes kids do come around.

Recipe:
Chicken breast (sliced in strips) with Sazon on them
Can of black beans
Can of corn
Red Pepper
Cubanelle Pepper
Onion

Brown the chicken, Add everything else, plus packet of taco (or fajita) seasoning and some water, Simmer and serve over brown rice... or Wrap it!  :)

Food Network here I come!

Do you enjoy cooking?  Do your kids/husband/boyfriend/pets eat what you make for them?  Do they enjoy it?

Marching In

First day of March and I am ready for a new month of challenges and new things.  So far, I am down two pounds this week for which I can likely thank the removal of alcohol and bread from my diet.  It's officially been one week since I started the PLO challenge.  I haven't missed alcohol that much... yet.  But I also haven't been in a social setting where others are enjoying the libations.

The first time I stopped drink
9 months pregnant with my son (November 2005)

The last time I stopped drinking
(6 months pregnant with my baby girl - September 2009)

I do miss the bread and boy, do I miss candy.  I have dreams of Skittles dancing in my brain.  And I'm pretty sure that I should stopping reading Janae's blog until Lent is over.  I read her posts and I can almost taste the candy.  (NOTE: I will continue to read her awesome blog and torture myself.  If you don't read HungryRunnerGirl, start now!)

So sour, so yummy and so colorful... Easter come soon!

Some of my friends have also joined in the challenge with me as well.  The lesson here is that deprivation is fun when you do it as a group.  One of my very best friends who has a significant amount of weight to loss is joining me.  It's not that I have forced her to finally make a chance, but let's just say that Toni made her an offer that she couldn't refuse.

Bestie in spin class.  She is 5lbs. down in the first week  GO NICOLE!

Also, my sister's husband is doing the challenge since he is still trying to get rid of "baby weight" since my amazing nephew was born last August.  And my friends, Pam and Kelley (who is also my neighbor) who are new moms and ready to shed the weight before thinking about baby #2.  So far everyone is hanging in and making changes.  It's also a great support system for ideas, recipes and even babysitting so everyone gets their gym time.  A prime example is Nicole's cracker  breadcrumbs that we brainstormed on how she could "bread" chicken without bread.

Smashed crackers "Bread crumbs"

Accountability really is the key.  Whether it is being accountable to yourself or to others, you have to make the commitment to follow through.  I have been eating tolerating oatmeal for breakfast and I am even going to try salmon even though I do not eat any seafood.  (Nope, not even shrimp.)  It is all about your goals and making the right choices to achieve them.  Happiness comes with success not a bag of sour patch kids.  This is my mantra of the day. :)

My goals this month are simple.  To make healthy food choices and workout consistently.  I plan to workout at least once a day, six days a week.  And to continue to try one new thing every week.  Additionally I think I need more sleep since I am up at 5 a.m. most morning.  Therefore I am going to try to get at least 6 hours of sleep every night.

March On!

What are your March goals?  Do you have "fitness buddies" that help to keep you accountable?