So much has changed in the last...shoot, I don't even know how many months it's been! It's almost midnight, so I'm going to make this quick.
Quick rundown:
-We moved
-We bought a HOUSE!Yes, a real HOUSE. Never thought that would be possible. Woo!
-Our son is talking/counting/singing like crazy
-We may be moving again with a new job opportunity
-I've FINALLY started working out again with weightlifting at my local Gold's and just started doing Piyo at home. Holy crap, that's freaking HARD. Chalene, you are craaaazy. I don't know how she stays so peppy during these videos. Haha!
Oh and one more thing. I've decided to share three things I'm grateful for with each post and share it with all of you. Here they are:
-I'm so grateful for my body exactly the way it is. It's not "perfect," then again, perfection is an illusion. It's exactly the way it needs to be in this moment.
-I'm so grateful for my son. He is the absolute light of my life and reminds me to not take life so seriously and see all the awe and wonder in the world.
-I'm so grateful for the internet. I find out the weirdest/coolest stuff. It's awesome!
So that's it for now! When it's not such an ungodly hour, I'll go more in depth. So excited for the future!!
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Sunday, August 10, 2014
My Skin has Fallen in Love with a Sponge
The other day I was watching one of my favorite natural bloggers, Genevieve from Mama Natural describe her usual nightly routine. In it, she mentioned something called the Konjac Sponge. She said that since she started using it, she has stopped using soap on her face and loves this sponge because it's biodegradable AND it made her skin super smooth and soft. I had to try it.
I've always had semi weird skin. In elementary school, my mom started selling Mary Kay. In third grade when I started washing my face, my mom and I were both perplexed as to why my skin started getting worse and worse. More specifically, why was I looking like Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer (I had a huge, yes, HUGE zit on the tip of my poor 8 year-old nose)? After showing my mom my routine, it turns out I had been using the moisturizer to "cleanse" my face. UGH.
Then, in middle school when I started to get "bad" skin, I started using Mary Kay's hip, new, specifically teen line, Velocity. My face continued to feel the woes of puberty. I came across a pink book with cutesy skin recipes that promised to clear up my skin. I tried some, but never really continued with it.
High school was more of the same, except this time I used Proactiv. Then I went to the dermatologist and got weird, burning creams that needed to be kept in the fridge, burned my pillows, and made layer upon layer of my skin instantly peel as soon as I went into the sun. Then I went back to Proactiv and also started using Murad, obsessively using the toner on my shiny, oil-slick skin and constantly dabbing my face with paper towels to soak up the oil. I always joked that I could make millions if I could sell all the oil on my face to the US. I'd be rich AND solve the conflict in the Middle East. Outwardly I would joke, but inwardly, I hated looking at myself in the mirror. At this point I became obsessed with scouring the Internet for "acne cures." I would spend hours and hours trying new, DIY, natural cures...nothing really worked, and besides: how could I possibly change my diet? That would never work! Right?
In my junior year of high school, I BEGGED my mom to allow me to start using birth control. I wasn't interested in sex. All I wanted was the smooth, clear skin that birth control companies proudly advertised as possible if I started taking those little pink pills.
So, my skin kind of cleared up (sort of), my boobs got bigger, and then I gained weight and had weird mood swings. Birth control sucked. Back to square one. What I did notice was that laying out seemed to really clear up my backne (acne on my back), and I loooved laying out so I did that a lot.
When I was 18, I left home to start my new life as an adult. I moved to the East Coast and had an insanely stressful job. Whether it was the climate change, the water, being stressed out constantly, or a million other variables, my skin EXPLODED. It was awful. The sort of good thing was that if you were looking at me straight on or you were taller than me, you would never know that I had major skin problems other than having super shiny skin. I had never had such big, deep, cystic-type acne until I moved out there, but luckily (?) for me, it all resided just beneath my chin, in the high neck area (is that even a place?). Although no one could see it, my neck freaking HURT and my face was still one big oil slick with random dry patches. I still pored over acne cure websites with the biggest piece of advice being to give up dairy and sugar, but I told myself, "HA, that's totes impossible. No way."
When I turned 19, I then made a big purchase: a Clarisonic (cue the angels singing). This, I just knew, would be the answer to my prayers (yes, I absolutely prayed that my skin would clear up). Lo and behold, the Clarisonic worked temporarily and then was a huge disappointment. I finally decided that, maybe, just maybe changing up my eating and trying something as awful as oil cleansing (*GASP!!!* Isn't oil going to CLOG my SKINNNUH?).
Super long story even longer, I did try it. I did a Whole30 challenge and swore off dairy, legumes, grains, and sugar. I also oil cleansed with extra virgin coconut oil and toned with Bragg's apple cider vinegar (ACV). My skin definitely cleared up, but I was still semi-oily. I slowly stopped using the ACV all-together, and there were actual times when my skin felt dry, yes, dryyyy. Super weird.
Then, I got pregnant, and every time I would touch my skin, I swear I heard angels singing. My skin was smooth, bright, acne-free, and just about as perfect as I could ever hope for. Fast forward almost a year, and I have had incredibly dry skin and felt like my skin was never smooth enough, but thank you God, it has still been amazingly clear. While I'm not following the Whole30 or even Paleo to a T, I almost never have dairy and consume mostly whole, nourishing foods with very minimal sugar. Don't get it twisted, I still very much enjoy my cheats, and sometimes I enjoy them a little too much.
So now, back to the other night when I was watching Genevieve do her thing. I saw the Konjac sponge and pounced on it as soon as I found it on Amazon. For $10, it's a great purchase. It would still be a good product for $20, but $10 is definitely the sweet spot for pricing. I have now used it twice, and my skin feels hydrated, smooth, and so, so, so soft! Both times I haven't used soap or moisturizer or anything (which I never do now, to be honest). Yet somehow, my skin feels fantastic.
The Konjac sponge not only makes my skin feel incredible, but it is also bio-degradable, environmentally friendly, and has naturally occurring antioxidants. It is literally the root of some plant...THAT'S IT. Not only is it making my skin feel and look great, but it's also safe to use on my son. Apparently, this is a really popular product in Asia that has been used for...well, forever! So here will be my routine from now on:
-Wake up, get the konjac sponge wet and gently wipe my face with the sponge in small, circular motions
-Maybe put on makeup, maybe not and go about my day, touching my face every so often to admire how soft it and dewy it is and how oily it is most certainly NOT.
-At the end of the day, if I have makeup on, use coconut oil to dissolve it, then follow with the first step
-If I have no makeup on, then repeat the first step and go to bed (and maybe use some rosehip oil here and there)
So, that's going to be my new plan for now, and hopefully from now on. I'll keep you posted on the results. So far though, this mama is beyond ecstatic and will be buying one for her mom, sisters, and besties.
That being said, have you tried the Konjac Sponge? What's your current skincare routine? I'd love to hear about it! Until next time!
I've always had semi weird skin. In elementary school, my mom started selling Mary Kay. In third grade when I started washing my face, my mom and I were both perplexed as to why my skin started getting worse and worse. More specifically, why was I looking like Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer (I had a huge, yes, HUGE zit on the tip of my poor 8 year-old nose)? After showing my mom my routine, it turns out I had been using the moisturizer to "cleanse" my face. UGH.
Then, in middle school when I started to get "bad" skin, I started using Mary Kay's hip, new, specifically teen line, Velocity. My face continued to feel the woes of puberty. I came across a pink book with cutesy skin recipes that promised to clear up my skin. I tried some, but never really continued with it.
High school was more of the same, except this time I used Proactiv. Then I went to the dermatologist and got weird, burning creams that needed to be kept in the fridge, burned my pillows, and made layer upon layer of my skin instantly peel as soon as I went into the sun. Then I went back to Proactiv and also started using Murad, obsessively using the toner on my shiny, oil-slick skin and constantly dabbing my face with paper towels to soak up the oil. I always joked that I could make millions if I could sell all the oil on my face to the US. I'd be rich AND solve the conflict in the Middle East. Outwardly I would joke, but inwardly, I hated looking at myself in the mirror. At this point I became obsessed with scouring the Internet for "acne cures." I would spend hours and hours trying new, DIY, natural cures...nothing really worked, and besides: how could I possibly change my diet? That would never work! Right?
In my junior year of high school, I BEGGED my mom to allow me to start using birth control. I wasn't interested in sex. All I wanted was the smooth, clear skin that birth control companies proudly advertised as possible if I started taking those little pink pills.
So, my skin kind of cleared up (sort of), my boobs got bigger, and then I gained weight and had weird mood swings. Birth control sucked. Back to square one. What I did notice was that laying out seemed to really clear up my backne (acne on my back), and I loooved laying out so I did that a lot.
When I was 18, I left home to start my new life as an adult. I moved to the East Coast and had an insanely stressful job. Whether it was the climate change, the water, being stressed out constantly, or a million other variables, my skin EXPLODED. It was awful. The sort of good thing was that if you were looking at me straight on or you were taller than me, you would never know that I had major skin problems other than having super shiny skin. I had never had such big, deep, cystic-type acne until I moved out there, but luckily (?) for me, it all resided just beneath my chin, in the high neck area (is that even a place?). Although no one could see it, my neck freaking HURT and my face was still one big oil slick with random dry patches. I still pored over acne cure websites with the biggest piece of advice being to give up dairy and sugar, but I told myself, "HA, that's totes impossible. No way."
When I turned 19, I then made a big purchase: a Clarisonic (cue the angels singing). This, I just knew, would be the answer to my prayers (yes, I absolutely prayed that my skin would clear up). Lo and behold, the Clarisonic worked temporarily and then was a huge disappointment. I finally decided that, maybe, just maybe changing up my eating and trying something as awful as oil cleansing (*GASP!!!* Isn't oil going to CLOG my SKINNNUH?).
Super long story even longer, I did try it. I did a Whole30 challenge and swore off dairy, legumes, grains, and sugar. I also oil cleansed with extra virgin coconut oil and toned with Bragg's apple cider vinegar (ACV). My skin definitely cleared up, but I was still semi-oily. I slowly stopped using the ACV all-together, and there were actual times when my skin felt dry, yes, dryyyy. Super weird.
Then, I got pregnant, and every time I would touch my skin, I swear I heard angels singing. My skin was smooth, bright, acne-free, and just about as perfect as I could ever hope for. Fast forward almost a year, and I have had incredibly dry skin and felt like my skin was never smooth enough, but thank you God, it has still been amazingly clear. While I'm not following the Whole30 or even Paleo to a T, I almost never have dairy and consume mostly whole, nourishing foods with very minimal sugar. Don't get it twisted, I still very much enjoy my cheats, and sometimes I enjoy them a little too much.
So now, back to the other night when I was watching Genevieve do her thing. I saw the Konjac sponge and pounced on it as soon as I found it on Amazon. For $10, it's a great purchase. It would still be a good product for $20, but $10 is definitely the sweet spot for pricing. I have now used it twice, and my skin feels hydrated, smooth, and so, so, so soft! Both times I haven't used soap or moisturizer or anything (which I never do now, to be honest). Yet somehow, my skin feels fantastic.
The Konjac sponge not only makes my skin feel incredible, but it is also bio-degradable, environmentally friendly, and has naturally occurring antioxidants. It is literally the root of some plant...THAT'S IT. Not only is it making my skin feel and look great, but it's also safe to use on my son. Apparently, this is a really popular product in Asia that has been used for...well, forever! So here will be my routine from now on:
-Wake up, get the konjac sponge wet and gently wipe my face with the sponge in small, circular motions
-Maybe put on makeup, maybe not and go about my day, touching my face every so often to admire how soft it and dewy it is and how oily it is most certainly NOT.
-At the end of the day, if I have makeup on, use coconut oil to dissolve it, then follow with the first step
-If I have no makeup on, then repeat the first step and go to bed (and maybe use some rosehip oil here and there)
So, that's going to be my new plan for now, and hopefully from now on. I'll keep you posted on the results. So far though, this mama is beyond ecstatic and will be buying one for her mom, sisters, and besties.
That being said, have you tried the Konjac Sponge? What's your current skincare routine? I'd love to hear about it! Until next time!
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Year of the Book Quest Update
I've finally accepted the fact that I'm a serial book purchaser. Uuugghhh. I know, I know. There could be serial habits that are a lot worse, but dang! Book buying can be expensive and take up some room. I have a Nook, but I'm a BIG fan of the real thing. There is just something about holding a real book in my hands, turning the pages...shoot! I even love the smell. I get excited just walking into a book store. Seriously, it's a problem.
Now that I've admitted my addiction, here is my Epic Book Quest Update! I want 50 this year, and I'm a bit behind. Eek! I need to step my book reading game up, and step my book buying game down:
4. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Interesting to read from the perspective of someone with autism.
5. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
Learn to recognize what your brain/unconscious mind is telling you...and LISTEN.
6. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this. Although I do wish it ended a bit differently, it did end exactly the way it should have...a cheerful yet melancholy ending.
7. How to Raise a Healthy Child...In Spite of Your Doctor by Robert S. Mendelsohn, M.D.
Great read with lots of information. It reinforced my intuition that I can take care of my child much better than a doctor can in many instances. Stay out of hospitals as much as possible. Trust your gut. Sometimes, all the baby needs is breast milk, sunshine, rest, and lots of love :D
8. Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten by David Perlmutter, M.D.
Talk to your child. Take him outside. Involve your child. Try new things. Don't sit in front of the TV all day. Eat healthy and have fun with your little ones.
9. The Cosmic Power Within You by Joseph Murphy
You are exactly what you think.
10. Inferno by Dave Brown
Interesting take on what humans are doing to the planet just by procreating.
11. The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner
Very inspiring! Working hard, a willingness/desire/fervor to learn and help those that also show those traits is one of the great keys to success.
12. Aleph by Paulo Coelho
Lots of spiritual/mystical references. Not as good as the Alchemist which I LOVED. I found myself irritated by things happening in the book. It ended up being a disappointment, too boring, and weirdly stressed me out. What the heck?
13. The 5 Love Languages by Gary D. Chapman
Wonderful!! So many great ideas to enhance the relationships in your life, not just the relationship with your spouse or significant other.
14. Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey
Informative, quick, easy read that reminded me that I need to tithe again and give my time more often. Also, there is no point in getting a mortgage and/or buying a tone of unnecessary crap that society deems as necessary. This was very refreshing. I personally loved the ideas, but I know a lot of people could see it as a "radical" or impractical take on finance.
15. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Really enjoyed this! I was surprised by the slew of adult themes. I definitely did not expect the twist at the end. I won't spoil it, but DANG. That was a shocker.
16. Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis
Wheat effs you up! Schizophrenia?! Alzheimers?! AHHH!
17. Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan
WOW. I definitely do NOT want to lose my mind, ever. Let's be honest, who really wants to lose their mind? But seriously, after reading her story, I just wonder how many other people have had this and gone on undiagnosed left to forever rot in an asylum or on the streets? Sounds awful.
18. The Most Dangerous Animal of All: Searching for My Father...and Finding the Zodiac Killer by Gary L. Stewart
So creepy! It's gotta be him! I'm glad my dad is awesome and not a serial killer.
3. The Cosmic Power Within You by Joseph Murphy
4. America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines by Gail Collins
5. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
6. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
7. The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner
8. Stuck: Why We Can't (or Won't) Move On by Anneli Rufus
11. Dracula by Bram Stoker
6. They Like Jesus but Not the Church by Dan Kimball
7. Brave Girl Eating by Harriet Brown
8. The Little Prince
9. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
The books that are lined through above have either been finished, or I've just come to the realization that I will likely never finish them. Feels good to let 'em gooooo.
What books are you reading? Any must reads I should add to my quest? I'd love to hear!
Now that I've admitted my addiction, here is my Epic Book Quest Update! I want 50 this year, and I'm a bit behind. Eek! I need to step my book reading game up, and step my book buying game down:
1. Bubbly on Your Budget by Marjorie Hillis
Enjoy life! Find a way to make it work.
Enjoy life! Find a way to make it work.
2. Savvy Chic: The Art of More for Less by Anna Johnson
Simple/easy ways to enjoy life with very little...get creative and personable.
Simple/easy ways to enjoy life with very little...get creative and personable.
3. I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
Great read. Consciously spend/save. Ramit Sethi laid out an easy and simple framework to automate funds, invest, and enjoy your money the way that you want to.
Great read. Consciously spend/save. Ramit Sethi laid out an easy and simple framework to automate funds, invest, and enjoy your money the way that you want to.
4. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Interesting to read from the perspective of someone with autism.
5. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
Learn to recognize what your brain/unconscious mind is telling you...and LISTEN.
6. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this. Although I do wish it ended a bit differently, it did end exactly the way it should have...a cheerful yet melancholy ending.
7. How to Raise a Healthy Child...In Spite of Your Doctor by Robert S. Mendelsohn, M.D.
Great read with lots of information. It reinforced my intuition that I can take care of my child much better than a doctor can in many instances. Stay out of hospitals as much as possible. Trust your gut. Sometimes, all the baby needs is breast milk, sunshine, rest, and lots of love :D
8. Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten by David Perlmutter, M.D.
Talk to your child. Take him outside. Involve your child. Try new things. Don't sit in front of the TV all day. Eat healthy and have fun with your little ones.
9. The Cosmic Power Within You by Joseph Murphy
You are exactly what you think.
10. Inferno by Dave Brown
Interesting take on what humans are doing to the planet just by procreating.
11. The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner
Very inspiring! Working hard, a willingness/desire/fervor to learn and help those that also show those traits is one of the great keys to success.
12. Aleph by Paulo Coelho
Lots of spiritual/mystical references. Not as good as the Alchemist which I LOVED. I found myself irritated by things happening in the book. It ended up being a disappointment, too boring, and weirdly stressed me out. What the heck?
13. The 5 Love Languages by Gary D. Chapman
Wonderful!! So many great ideas to enhance the relationships in your life, not just the relationship with your spouse or significant other.
14. Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey
Informative, quick, easy read that reminded me that I need to tithe again and give my time more often. Also, there is no point in getting a mortgage and/or buying a tone of unnecessary crap that society deems as necessary. This was very refreshing. I personally loved the ideas, but I know a lot of people could see it as a "radical" or impractical take on finance.
15. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Really enjoyed this! I was surprised by the slew of adult themes. I definitely did not expect the twist at the end. I won't spoil it, but DANG. That was a shocker.
16. Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis
Wheat effs you up! Schizophrenia?! Alzheimers?! AHHH!
17. Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan
WOW. I definitely do NOT want to lose my mind, ever. Let's be honest, who really wants to lose their mind? But seriously, after reading her story, I just wonder how many other people have had this and gone on undiagnosed left to forever rot in an asylum or on the streets? Sounds awful.
18. The Most Dangerous Animal of All: Searching for My Father...and Finding the Zodiac Killer by Gary L. Stewart
So creepy! It's gotta be him! I'm glad my dad is awesome and not a serial killer.
Books that I need to finish:
1. Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food by Catherine Shanahan
2. The Power of Now: A Guide To Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
4. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Marting
5. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell6. They Like Jesus but Not the Church by Dan Kimball
7. Brave Girl Eating by Harriet Brown
8. The Little Prince
9. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
The books that are lined through above have either been finished, or I've just come to the realization that I will likely never finish them. Feels good to let 'em gooooo.
What books are you reading? Any must reads I should add to my quest? I'd love to hear!
I Quit Sugar and Gluten for a Week
A week of no sugar and no wheat/gluten...and I've lost 6 pounds!!!! Okay, okay, I didn't lose it in a week (more like a month and a half), but I'm feeling great! I used to never think I had much of a sweet tooth, but today I decided to splurge and make myself some homemade Nutella from Sarah Wilson's I Quit Sugar. Oh my gosh, it was AWESOME. Then I decided to get a little frisky and make some mini cakes. All I did was add three eggs and popped it in the oven at 350F for about 30 minutes. I let them cool and voila! Topped with some coconut cream and frozen blueberries. So, I took some bites, and it was GREAT. I took a few more bites and started to feel sick. What the heck?! As I type this, I still have more than half of it in a bowl staring at me, and I am way over it. This is mind blowing for me because I have always been one to finish everything in front of me as well as whatever is on my hubb'z plate. Ever since I can remember, I have always basically been, the garbage disposal of the family. Not the most elegant job description, but whatevs...I have no shame.
Anyway, that's what is so crazy about this! I have always had what I thought to be an insatiable appetite. Now that I've done a week without gluten and especially sugar, taking those bites from an "I Quit Sugar" recipe showed me that my palate is changing and, consequently, the mind/body connection with my appetite. So exciting!!! There is even a somewhat bitter taste left over. I'm going to have to do some major oil pulling to get that leftover sugary taste out of my mouth.
The whole reason I made this dessert thing in the first place was because my birthday was coming up ...woohoo! I wanted to enjoy a piece or two of cake, and I didn't want it to be filled with a bunch of nastiness so I tried this little recipe out. Oh and ALSO...I decided to try an all-fruit fruit roll up copy cat thing. It was preeetttyyyy gross, so I spit it out. AGAIN, I didn't finish it. Is this a new grown up chapter in my life? Yay!!
Anyway, I'm so excited about this and had to share. Has anyone else tried quitting sugar? I'd love to hear your experiences!
Anyway, that's what is so crazy about this! I have always had what I thought to be an insatiable appetite. Now that I've done a week without gluten and especially sugar, taking those bites from an "I Quit Sugar" recipe showed me that my palate is changing and, consequently, the mind/body connection with my appetite. So exciting!!! There is even a somewhat bitter taste left over. I'm going to have to do some major oil pulling to get that leftover sugary taste out of my mouth.
The whole reason I made this dessert thing in the first place was because my birthday was coming up ...woohoo! I wanted to enjoy a piece or two of cake, and I didn't want it to be filled with a bunch of nastiness so I tried this little recipe out. Oh and ALSO...I decided to try an all-fruit fruit roll up copy cat thing. It was preeetttyyyy gross, so I spit it out. AGAIN, I didn't finish it. Is this a new grown up chapter in my life? Yay!!
Anyway, I'm so excited about this and had to share. Has anyone else tried quitting sugar? I'd love to hear your experiences!
Friday, May 23, 2014
Feeling Pretty…Pretty Dumpy
I've always been pretty athletic. I started running in 3rd grade because my much older sister was a national high school track and cross-country champion. Being 8 years old and believing that anything is possible and easy, I just knew that I would someday be a national champion as well. In fact, I would be so good that I would break ALL of her records, including a 4:43 1600m time…HA. Well, I got older, and that didn't happen. While I was very promising for my age, I never got to that point. I think my best was like 5:15 or something, if that. Then, running put a bitter taste in my mouth during high school, and I wanted absolutely nothing to do with it.
Fast forward a couple years, and I started running again. It was something that I thought I would never be able to be really good at again unless I had a coach. Instead, I pressed on without a coach and finished my first marathon. Then came my true love: CrossFit. After CrossFitting for about a year, I ran my second marathon and lowered my time by 90 minutes (yes, NINETY minutes, as in, an hour and a half).
That second marathon was incredible. I finished it in 4:23 and was absolutely blown away. The day after, I was able to walk and carry on with my life unlike the first marathon where I was essentially an invalid for about 5 days. I hardly even "trained" for this one in the typical running sense. The most I had run was 6 miles, and I had done that MAYBE 3 times…maybe. Instead, I was doing a lot of heavy lifting, HIIT, some sprints, and eating pretty hardcore Paleo. Oh, and did I mention my SIX PACK? It was glorious, just glorious. I continued doing some 10ks and half marathons sprinkled here and there.
Now here I am 7 months after giving birth, and my mommy brain can't do simple math (or doesn't want to) to tell me how long it has been since my bod felt it was in its athletic prime. I just finished a fitness test for my job and was still able to score a 96.9% which is no easy feat. I should be proud, excited, happy, and yet, I am none of these things. For the first time in the last 5 years, that test was HAAAARRD. The one aspect that I wasn't worried about--the run--was the absolute worst part of it, to the point where my teeth hurt afterwards. Ugh.
I look in the mirror, and I try to keep it positive, but, damn you Instagram, WHY-OH-WHY do I always stumble across the moms who are showing off their righteous bods 2 hours after giving birth. Oh yeah, and by the way, they have zero stretch marks even though they gained 60lbs during the 9 or 10 month long process. What the EFF? Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one that gained the weight, got tons of stretch marks, and lost a significant part of my hairline (side note: my hairline is filling in quite nicely…thank goodness! I was beginning to worry that I would start to bald before my husband did).
These super moms, are super everything. Super hot, super blond, super fit, super sexy, super booby, super perfect makeup, super freezer meals, super cloth diapering, super Imawesomeandmakeitlooksoeasyandmyvaginadidnttearandimhavingabunchofsexandmybabyis2monthsandcanspeakSpanish. STOP THE MADNESS.
It's a struggle every day to look in the mirror and see that my once flat stomach now has strange humps in it and the skin looks kind of like fried chicken skin when I smoosh it together. Ultimately, I know that while some days I feel like a total disaster, I'm doing the best I can, and you know what? I'm a great mom. No, I'm an amazing mom. I work full-time, I've been able to exclusively breastfeed (obviously, you are still great mom if you needed to supplement. No judgement here), and my son is amazing! I'm doing great...even though I feel like a crap a lot of the time.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
The Year of the Book Quest
By the end of 2014, I will have reached my goal of reading 30 books in a year. Actually, it will be less than a year because I started this journey in early March. The books I have read so far are as follows:
1. Bubbly on Your Budget by Marjorie Hillis
2. Savvy Chic: The Art of More for Less by Anna Johnson
3. I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
4. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
5. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
Books that I need to finish:
1. Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food by Catherine Shanahan
2. The Power of Now: A Guide To Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
3. The Cosmic Power Within You by Joseph Murphy
4. America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines by Gail Collins
5. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
6. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
7. The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner
8. Stuck: Why We Can't (or Won't) Move On by Anneli Rufus
9. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Marting
10. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
11. Dracula by Bram Stoker
12.
11. Dracula by Bram Stoker
12.
To be fair, I have started all of the books mentioned and, as I stated, need to finish them. All are way less than halfway finished. What can I say, I love reading, and when Amazon can fulfill my addiction, I tend to get a little carried away.
While I do have a young son that will be turning a whopping 7 months soon (holy crap!!), somehow I still get time to read here and there. I owe that in part to my amazing husband, my pumping breaks at work, and choosing to not watch as much TV. When I do watch TV, I'm trying to watch it while on the rebounder, although I'm not always quite so successful in that respect.
This "book quest" came to me after I read an article about some amazing CEO that stated she tries to read 100 books a year and is usually quite successful. ONE HUNDRED BOOKS IN A YEAR?!…..as a CEO?! I figured that although I'm a mom and in a full-time job, I'm definitely not as busy the CEO of a multi-million (or billion?) dollar company, so I'm more than capable of reaching my measly goal of 30 books. In fact, I'm going to sweeten the deal. I'm going to make my goal 50 books. It's still attainable yet slightly more daunting than 30. That would mean that I need to read approximately 5.5 books a month. I've got this.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
My Hair is Detoxing
A few weeks ago, I finally made a long-awaited purchase that I had been putting off until I had my debt paid off. I finally, finally, FINALLY bought myself the Healthy Hair Starter Package from Morrocco Method. Many of my favorite bloggers had recommended this brand for a long time, and I was itching to get my hands on it. Rather than do the impulse buy of years past, I waited and salivated over it for MONTHS.THen the day finally came for me to make my big buy. Victory.
As I anticipated the arrival of my hair package, I eagerly devoured all the videos of the crunchy-granola Master Hair Shaman, a.k.a., Anthony Morrocco. Although the videos were kind of weird and poorly produced, the information he shared made sense and was really useful. I learned that I was brushing my hair incorrectly, so I changed that right away. Just from brushing my hair differently, I noticed a huge difference in my overall hair health and my scalp. After giving birth, my skin, scalp, and hair (among other things) freaked out on me, and I found myself with a GORGEOUS receding hairline, a sexy dusting of flakes, and strange rough patches all of over my face. So, when I changed up one aspect of my routine (brushing my hair differently) and noticed that my flakes were almost completely gone and my hair was shinier, smoother, and felt thicker…I couldn't help but get even more excited for UPS to knock on my door.
A week or so later, my package arrived!!!!! I immediately started watching all the videos again, looking up other blogs that had used the products, pulled out the head massager they sent me, and went to town on my scalp for about 30 minutes. It was heaven.
Then I drew a nice bath, (sorry, Californians! I hope that drought ends soon!) and tried the apple cider vinegar shampoo first. It was a little strange because it didn't lather and was a bit like the consistency of mud, but I didn't mind that because I had tried no-poo, Wen, knock-off Wen, and other low/no-sudsing shampoos. Once I was done, my hair felt decent as though it didn't feel fully clean. I wasn't too worried though, because I figured this could be part of the detox process and that the shampoo wasn't going to strip away all the natural oils in my scalp like other shampoos did. Once my hair was dry, I did the Morrocco Method of brushing and noticed some white-ish, chalky looking stuff on my brush. The second time I washed y hair (maybe a week later), my hair felt even cleaner and looked much healthier, and there was even MORE chalky/white stuff on my brush….
After some more time spent perusing the Internets (or was it the FAQs section of Morrocco Method?), I found that my hair was indeed detoxing and that white stuff was most likely plastics or waxes that my hair was releasing from all the years of using conventional shampoos. So cool! While the detox process may take up to two months, I'm in it for the long haul. Even amidst the detoxing, my hair looks and feels better every day, and it's great to know that I'm using a product that is good for me and safe for the planet. Yay! On top of that, my hair can actually smell NICE like a normal person rather than some homeless guy on the street. I'm over the moon that I got my order, and I can't wait to see what my hair is going to be like when I'm finally done detoxing.
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