Challenge Update: Week 4

This week was sort of blah.  I started really strong and just kind of fell of it through the course of this challenge.

Really, I shouldn't beat myself up too much.  I lost about 10 pounds in the last month.  I busted my ass through fibromyalgia flare-ups, mother nature, and a serious repetitive stress injury.  Huzzah!

To boot, I've been eating pretty well.  Snacking maybe a little more than I should, but I've found myself addicted to Green Giant Steamers (broccoli and potato) and being super filling they've been helping me stay on track.  Having said all that, I've been inconsistent about tracking my actual food intake most days.

I didn't get a chance to weigh in last Friday because I woke up late (after having not slept again) and rushed into the office for a time-sensitive issue I needed to resolve ASAP!  But my clothes fit better, I am much stronger (even Danny said, "Why did you get stronger than me, mommy?"), and I feel better.  It's just a matter of time.

I loved the results from Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, but I got bored.  I was hoping to do the next workout on the difficulty scale, but I don't want to fail due to bored.  I think I'm going to go the route I came up with months ago: 30 minutes of vigorous activity every day.  I'm going to strive for two to three days a week working the next level on the 30 Day Shred so I can have a structured work out, but other days I will supplement with bellydancing, running, swimming, and some much needed gardening.  All this supplemented with 30 to 60 minutes of yoga and meditation every day to keep me grounded and working towards my other goals.

This week I'm going to take a bit easy.  Last week was mentally trying, and I need to focus on recuperation and restoration.

How are your summer activities coming along?

Let the Summer Begin!

Technically I have been blogging over the last couple weeks, I just haven't been posting.  Yes, that means lots of new content is coming up...eventually!

So, where have I been?

Mostly keeping busy, very busy, helping my bestie prepare for her wedding.  Which was gorgeous!  I scored some AMAZING photos, here's a peak.

Michael and Cyndall M

Did I mention it was gorgeous?  The photo above was taken on the boardwalk in Curry Village, Yosemite National Park.  The actual ceremony took place at Glacier Point where there was still a ton of snow on the ground.

Jeff and me in the snow! Sort of!

See?  Proof that I actually went to the snow this year!  Willingly!  I only cried a little bit.

Last time I was in Yosemite, it was in 1996 to climb Half Dome but the mountain was covered in clouds so I didn't get to see these spectacular vistas.  It was such a treat to be there.  Jeff and I are looking forward to going back this summer, hopefully with the boy.

When wedding planning wasn't my focus, we had birthday activities for the boy.  He turned 5 on June 8 but we celebrated his birthday with a party with family and friends from dad's side and mom's side.  There was a huge turnout!

I didn't eat anything, but I'm told that the cupcakes were completely inedible by anyone with taste buds.  But the kids seemed to enjoy them (perhaps the lure of the Oreo on top?).

Immediately after the wedding, we picked the boy up early to take him on a long trip down to Orange County to visit Mickey Mouse.  Sunday evening we planned to shop Downtown Disney (the favorite spot for the whole family is the Lego Store of course), buy our tickets for the following day, have dinner, and call it an early night.  But when we got to the ticket booth we learned that we didn't have to be Southern California residents to apply for the monthly installments on the annual pass.  I think the boy's reaction sums up all of our excitement.

Complete with crotch-grabbing action.

Once all the paperwork was done, and the boy got his birthday button AND his first-timer button, we rushed over to Disney's California Adventure and hit "A Bug's Land" and hopped on every ride available.  He loved it!  We tried to check out the World of Color show, but the boy and I were too short and only one of us fit on Jeff's shoulders (ahem....NOT ME).  We finished our evening on Soaring Over California and hurried back to the car.

The next day, we hit up the Land proper.  We had a blast in Tomorrow Land but quickly lost steam afterwards.  Jeff and I were just worn out from being in Yosemite all day Saturday.  The boy had a BLAST and seemed content to leave at around 4pm.  That meant LA traffic for the next two hours and we got home around 9pm.  Everyone slept well.

Then I got a stomach bug.  Boo.  I missed the rest of the week at work.  Boo.

Finally this last weekend, I got some girl time.  We got mani/pedis as this neat place in Clovis.  I got a little emotional when I was put in a corner away from my friends (I spent the week couped up in the house, I wasn't out to be by myself) but it was a good time nonetheless.  We had sammies then departed for swimming.  I got a nice tan.  I hopped over to another friends house for more swimming and dinner.

Father's Day was kind of a bust.  I hope Jeff had a good time but we went to a buffet, spent way too much money for crappy buffet food and I got sick again.  The boys played video games and I rested.  Then Jeff and I saw Super 8 and went out for Italian with my folks.

THAT'S what I've been up to!  Amazing start to the summer.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I'll have an announcement that's probably a bigger deal to me than it is to you in the next couple days, but I'm excited.