Quick Workout

A friend and former client texted me this morning and wanted some input on an at home workout. Hi Kristin, I know you're reading!! 

Try the workout I sent her, and Kristin, make sure you do it because I'll be checking in later ;)

Connor's First Birthday Party

 I've been pretty MIA lately- so busy planning and hosting Connor's first birthday party! He isn't actually one until September 14, but we had his party on the 7th because we have a family wedding to attend on the 14th. I originally wanted to keep things pretty low key, but we ended up having quite the party!

Anytime you open the party to friends, and not just family, the list grows exponentially- especially when many of your friends have multiple kids. We ended up having about 60 people (including kids). I did a bit of a "circus" theme, and the main colors were red and light blue. We rented a tent, tables and chairs, a popcorn machine, and a snow cone machine. Originally I was a little stressed about activities for the kids to do, because I honestly only know how to entertain babies one and younger, but the snow cones and popcorn provided enough entertainment. They also kicked around balls and played with sidewalk chalk outside.

I got this cute little felt "happy birthday" banner that I plan on using for a picture each year; I better not lose it!

His little buggy car was a birthday present from a friend with a daughter one month younger than Connor. He absolutely loves it! I think it's such a hit because he has a different vantage point from the stroller.

Keeping with the color scheme, I made a yarn wreath and put a copy of his invitation inside. I am not big into crafts at all, but this was actually fun!

 



I totally forgot to get pictures once the backyard was all set up, but here it is with the tables and chairs together:

 

 

We had such a great time celebrating with family and friends. Connor got SO many great gifts. So far, he's been using his walker, parum pum pum drum, and other musical toys often. He also got a ton of very cute clothes for the fall and winter.

 

Grandpa and the birthday boy

My brother, Dad, and I

 

 One of C's favorite Aunts feeding him chicken fingers for the first time!

 

Trying to sneak a little adult beverage. Not yet, buddy!

 

 

 

Not the greatest pic, but this is my girlfriend's baby that looks shockingly similar to Connor. My brother and sister in law saw him first and said "happy birthday!". It really is funny how much they look alike!

 

 

Happy birthday to my favorite little boy in the world!

 

This week I'll be posting a lot of work/life updates, I'm really excited to share some new things I'm involved in. Stay tuned if you live in the area and are interested in taking a class of mine!



 

Bring on fall!

Yesterday, I ran 5.2 miles and was dripping wet and miserable with the heat by the end. So ready for fall and cooler temps!

It's crazy to think that this time last year I was hugely pregnant and swollen. So much has changed this last year, all good things. We're less than a week away from Connor's first birthday party! Crazy.

This morning I was hoping for cooler weather, but no dice. My girlfriend Alia met me for six miles. Because it was so hot, I thought we should bring water, but I was out if water bottles. I've been meaning to buy a handheld water bottle for longer runs, but haven't gotten around to it. While rummaging around the cabinets for something that might work, I had an idea. Sippy cups are pretty much the same thing as the handheld water bottles meant for running. We filled two and brought them with us. 

We looked a little crazy, I'm sure, but I swear this might be the best thing I've ever thought of!

During the run, I saw a few other hints that fall is just around the corner.

One of my other fall favorites is now in stores, too.

Now, if the weather would just catch up with the scenery.

Earlier this week I did a quick workout that I enjoyed. It is very simple, which takes any thought out of what you're doing.

In total, you'll do 100 squat jumps and 5 minutes if plank. I know, that sounds pretty miserable, but when you break it up into 20 squat jumps and a 1 minute plank, it's easier. I alternated different variations of plank in between the jumps. After, I did an ab workout with scissor kicks, bicycle crunches, and jackknives.

Try it:

20 squat jumps

1 min high plank 

20 squat jumps

1 min low plank

20 squat jumps

1 min side plank R

20 squat jumps

1 min side plank L

20 squat jumps

1 min high plank with shoulder taps

It's official, I'm SO done with this heat. Despite how disgusting it's been out, and the fact that I'd rather stay in air conditioning all day, I would literally lose my mind if we stayed in the house all day. Connor and I usually go out in between his naps. Errands, grocery store, play dates, etc.

On Wednesday we had our weekly music class, held at nest in Center City. It was our second class and SO much fun. Before we started, I wasn't sure if Connor would really be interested for an entire hour, but he certainly is! The second the instructor started strumming her guitar, all of the babies zoned in. I love it!

We all had our babies in our laps, but once the song started, Connor crawled right up for a front row seat. He's looking at his Aunt Beth and Ray in the shot below.

The babies are given all sorts of toys/instruments like tambourines and maracas. All of the babies take instruments and immediately turn them into teething toys, of course. 

My friend Angela that I train came with her son Desmond. Angela started training with me THREE WEEKS after having Des. THREE WEEKS! That is dedication, seriously. Her arms are looking pretty buff, too :)

Another girlfriend, Trish, came with her almost 5 month old, Brady. Connor and Ray are clearly interested in him! It's awesome to have all of the boys together. 

After music class, Beth and I took the boys to grab a quick lunch and frozen yogurt. By the time we got back to the parking lot and got our cars, Connor was sweating (and so was I). Usually, I'll pre start the car with the air conditioning blasting to cool things off. The parking attendant had my keys, so I couldn't do that. I felt really badly buckling Connor in, because the car was just SO hot. Right when I got the car started, I got the AC going, and rolled down his window until the air cooled down. After a block, he fell right asleep. Awesome. I had to stop for gas quickly. I peeked back at Connor while the gas was pumping, and realized his whole face was beaded with sweat. I called his name but he was still asleep. I freaked out and thought he possibly had heat exhaustion or something horrible, so I went into the back seat, started yelling his name, and jostled him until he woke up. He looked at me like, "what the hell, mom?!" and started crying. After a minute I realized he was JUST FINE and that maybe I'd been a little paranoid. Me? Paranoid? Nonsense!

I'm still on a running strike due to the heat, so I did a quick workout inside today while Connor watched from his exersaucer. He seriously gets a kick out of watching me work out, I love it. 

Tabata (4 min total- 20 sec work, 10 sec rest) 

First tabata I did jump squats, second was high knees, third was alternating jump squats and mountain climbers

1 min bicycle crunches

1 min leg lower (flat on back, low back stays pressing into the mat)

12 slow lower pushups- count down from 4 as you lower down from plank, hover about the ground for a second, lower all the way to the mat, push up to knees, and back to start at high plank

10 lunge/hammer curl/shoulder press per side. Step back into a lunge position, lower down into lunge, hammer curl as you rise up, press arms up into a shoulder press. Stay on one leg for 10 reps and then switch. 

I did 3 rounds for my workout. 

Let's all pray for cooler weather ASAP!

Oddyssey Half Marathon- Race Report

 I can now officially call myself a half marathoner! Sunday marked my first (I can already tell there will be more), and I really feel a great sense of accomplishment. Although I've been running for years, I never raced much. Running was strictly my cardio component, and I think that's why I hate such a love/hate (emphasis on the hate) relationship with it. Races have given me goals to work toward, and helped me focus my workout plans. I've always been big on planning workouts, just like I plan meals. If I went to the grocery store without a plan or list for the week, things would inevitably be messy. Too much of one thing and not enough of another. That's how I feel about workouts, too.

Sunday started early- 5 am. I wanted to give myself enough time to wake up, have coffee and breakfast, and get things ready for when Connor woke up. Coffee is a must before any morning run for me. Breakfast is always the same- a piece of whole grain bread with peanut butter and sliced banana.

My running buddy Alia picked me up at 6, and we were down to the start with more than enough time. The Oddyssey half marathon was a much smaller race than Broad St, so the lines to the port-a-potties weren't bad at all. We went twice before even starting, haha. Nerves were getting to us!

Pre-race shot 

Since this was a much smaller race, things started out somewhat crowded but spaced out a lot once we got going. We both use a running app on our phones, and we were both very surprised when they told us we were going at a 7:15-7:30 pace. Neither of us felt like we were running very fast at all, but since both of our apps said the same, I believe it. 

Around mile 2 there was a bathroom, and other runners said it was the only one for a few miles. We waited in line (which took much longer than expected), and kept going. Bathroom breaks were something that certainly affected our time. I'll just say that we both had babies this year...the pee breaks were necessary!

Some of the course took us along the MLK Drive and Kelly Drive, both locations that I frequently do my longer runs. That made me feel comfortable, since I already knew the terrain. It did surprise me that when we ventured into areas I didn't know, there were some serious hills. I guess I'm not familiar with them because I avoid those hills!

I knew Matt and Connor were stationed around mile 9, and it was such a great motivator to see them and know the race would be over pretty soon. We were both feeling really good at this point, and even Matt later commented that it seemed like we were just hanging out like normal, laughing and chatting as we ran. That's the great part about having someone to run with. Alia and I are a lot alike and can just talk about anything for awhile. That comes in handy when you're running 13 miles!

So happy to see my little man

A nice police officer took this for us

At this point, we were right before running over the Falls Bridge and back down MLK Drive to the Please Touch Museum (if you're familiar with Philly). 

I did start to struggle a bit at mile 11. We drank some energy drinks and I ate a few energy beans. I'm not sure if that was it, but I started having a few cramps. Once we hit the mile 12 sign I felt better. What was one more mile, anyway. Well, that last mile was a freaking hill! Seriously, who would do that? It felt a bit daunting to come around the bend, see the big hill, and then see most people walking up it. Ugh. 

Looking back at the race, I definitely felt prepared. There were some moments that I was feeling pretty tired, but I never had a "I can't do this anymore" feeling. To be honest, I don't think I'll do this particular race again next year. The hills weren't my favorite, and it was pretty expensive for a smaller race- $80. 

Alia and I are now planning our next race- most likely the Philadelphia half marathon in November! 

Broad Street Run- Done!

It's official- I've now completed my first Broad Street Run!  Yesterday was an amazing day. The weather was very chilly in the morning, but as expected, by the time we started running I warmed up. The outfit was (of course) something I debated for a bit, and ended up wearing crops instead of shorts. Because it was so cold that morning, I'm happy I did. At the race, you can discard any sweatshirts or outer layers, and they're donated to Philadelphia's homeless population. I brought an old sweatshirt and donated it right before we started.

Looking like Minnie Mouse with gloves to keep warm!

It took at least 30 mins to get to the start

Temple University is about 2 miles in

Broad St is a BIG race- about 40,000 runners. Because of that high number, things are hectic at the start. There are many different corals, although it really doesn't matter how you line up because no one is there to check. The biggest stress is trying to access a port-a-potty before starting! I ran with my girlfriend Alia (who also had a baby this year), so we definitely needed to use the restroom before running! The good news is, you can also stop during the race (if you don't really care about time) because you're running through the city and inevitably pass restaurants that will happily let you in. 

Although I live in the suburbs now, Matt and I lived in the city for years, and really miss it. Running through the Philadelphia reminded me of the runs I used to take. We lived in Old City, and I would run from there to Society Hill, Queen Village, up to Rittenhouse, and back down to Washington Square. Broad St takes you all the way down Broad (obviously) and the view of City Hall is awesome.

City Hall

Union League

Physically AND mentally, I felt great. Although I did a modified training plan and only ran 3 days a week instead of 4 or 5 (which most training plans suggest), I think it worked out because I was still working out an additional 2 days. On most runs, I go through the "keep going, you've got this" mental conversation, but I felt so pumped up by the crowd that I just didn't have to. It wasn't until about 7.5 miles in that I started to feel a little tired. Once we were finished, my legs felt pretty beat, but I really don't feel too sore today. 

I will say that it is SO great to have a running partner that is the same pace as you! Alia and I both really didn't train for time, and ended up running each mile around 10 minutes, some just under. We were both really happy with that. 

Alia and I have decided to go ahead with the Odyssey Half Marathon, also in Philly. It's in 5 weeks, so the training is really just adding on to what we've already been doing. I predict many stroller runs in my future! The race takes you along the Kelly Drive loop, so it's a "home" race for me since I already run that often. 

A friend from high school finished 200 out of 40,000. Now THAT is simply amazing! Go Adam!

Around mile 7 

Finish!

We went out to lunch in Old City at the Continental after the race. That was one of our favorite spots, and only a block from where we used to live. We were happy to show Connor around our old hood!

Connor deserved this medal after training with me!

Lastly- In honor of Mother's Day, we are offering one free session at ZAKTi! Email me for more info, or check out the class offerings at ZAKTi. My workshop is offered Tuesday and Thursday from 11-12.

Happy Monday!

Saturday

Yesterday was a very busy day, but in a good way. My girlfriend Alison asked if I wanted to do a 10k, exactly 5 weeks before the Broad St 10 miler. It was a really good thing to do for race preparation. It might sound strange, but running 6.5 miles on your own is a lot different than running the same distance during a race. I think races help push you along because you typically feed off of the energy of other people. I did about 5.5 miles on the Wednesday before this race and felt awesome. No cramps, achy feet or ankles, it was great. Yesterday though, there were definitely a few moments where I struggled. The course was really beautiful and took me through suburban neighborhoods I'd never seen before. Absolutely beautiful houses. It also had a few hills that were long, steady upward grades. There was one right before mile 4 that actually made me walk for a few seconds before pushing through to the top. 

Broad St is mostly flat and even a little downhill, so hopefully I won't have any "moments" during that race!

I started off freezing, so the vest seemed like a great idea. 

I wanted to rip off that damn vest by the end of the race!

After I got home from the race, and Matt got home from golf (my mother in law was nice enough to watch the baby during that time), we decided to go out to an early dinner. For a few months, we've kind of felt trapped in terms of going out with C except for daytime outings. He has needed to nap so often, and really naps so much better in his crib that sometimes it just didn't seem worth going out. Now, he's getting to a point where he can stay up longer in between naps. We left for dinner at about 5, yup, early bird special. Or, happy hour. I guess those are two ways of looking at it. 

We went to the St. James in Ardmore, which is a new favorite. They're always very accommodating with the carseat/stroller. 

Apple Sangria

Photogenic little guy!

Daddy making C laugh

6 months is really just such an awesome age. People always tell me that he's so "good", and I agree, but I also think this age is just so fun! In total, we were there for about an hour and 45 minutes. He was happy the entire time. I even brought his dinner- steamed/pureed broccoli and oatmeal- and he sat on Matt's lap while I fed it to him. Broccoli is a new vegetable to him and really produces interesting faces :)

We got home just around C's bedtime, seven, and he went down very easily. 

Easter Sunday will be a busy day around here, we're hosting. I'm trying a few new recipes and will post them if they turn out well! 

Haddonfield

 This week, I felt a little cabin fever setting in. As much as I get out and have play dates with my other mom friends, even a few days at home can start to feel like groundhog day; each day pretty much the same. 

With the weather so nice, we decided to take a little "field trip" over to New Jersey and visit a very cute little town called Haddonfield. There are a ton of boutiques, restaurants, and coffee shops. We really didn't have anything we were looking for, just wanted to get out. 

We started by doing a loop around the main street to check everything out. 

After checking things out, we decided on lunch outside at a place called Bistro. They serve breakfast and lunch, and we split a greek salad and cheeseburger. The food was good, and the atmosphere was especially nice because we got to sit outside.  It's funny how weather in the 50's suddenly feels so liberating after being inside all winter. Some people got a little too excited though. I spotted a few walking around in shorts and flip flops. Let's not get ahead of ourselves here.  

C slept during lunch

After he woke up 

He was smiling soon enough

Surprisingly, didn't have anything for me

Cute Easter window

We stopped in a running store; I really need new shoes but didn't want to go through the process of getting fitted. If you're a runner, make sure you get properly fitted- don't just buy what looks cute. It can make a big difference. 

C inside Haddonfield Running Co

Indulgence Cupcakery

On our way back to the car we found a place that does customized cookie flavors. You pick a cookie (chocolate, butter, or original), spread (peanut butter, white chocolate, chocolate, or marshmallow), and toppings that were all over the place. You could also pick a cookie that was pre-made. We got a 6 pack of different flavors, and the few that we've tried are amazing! They're a very cute wedding favor idea too (Michelle!).








It was the perfect way to spend our Saturday, and I am so excited for the weather to keep getting warmer!