No Pain!!!

So this weekend I took my first step out for a run and I'll be honest I was very nervous. 

Nervous to find out if I still had pain in my Achilles tendon. 

Nervous to see how out of shape I have gotten in the last month with not running. 

I finally purchased some longer tights and headed out Saturday afternoon.  And it wasn't all that bad.  It was cold but thankfully not that windy.  My breathing was all over the place and I had to really pay attention to it to keep it calm and smooth. 

It felt great to be out again.  I was definitely slower and definitely could tell I had lost some of my endurance but was shocked when I finished that I did 1.5 miles.  I was just wanting to do a mile test run.  And best of all, there was very little pain in my heel.  I walked around the block a few times after I finished running and the pain was gone.  Got home and stretched more and I was fine.  No pain! 

It is a Christmas miracle!!! 

Now to focus on building up my strength again and make sure that I stretch better before and afterwards.  I think if I make sure I do that I'll be golden!! 

My only thing now is deciding if I want to join a gym to run inside this winter or just run when I can this winter outside.  Part of me wants to join a gym just because then I know I'll be able to work out daily even if the weather is crazy but the other part of me knows that as soon as it gets nice out again, I want to be outside running. 

For you runners out there....what do you do?  Do you run in the snow and ice?  After Saturdays run in the afternoon I had to be careful to avoid the icy spots and I'm not sure I would have seen those if it had been dark out, which it would be normally through the week when I'm running. 

Decisions decisions!!  Please share your thoughts!!

Merry Christmas Eve!! 

Being a Bum isn't all that Awesome

It has been almost a month now, with the exception of the one day, since I ran the 5 mile turkey trot and hurt my Achilles tendon.  I'm gonna be honest with you, when you go from not exercising to exercising regularly and not again....it sucks! 

I feel like poo.  I feel disgusting.  I can't believe I probably felt like this all the time before April this year....gross, nasty, ick!!! 

This weekend after Miss H goes to her dad's I am getting back out there, even if that means going and paying $9 to use the YMCA's treadmill...I gotta do SOMETHING!  I can't keep feeling this way...it's despressing!  Hopefully it's not too terribly windy/snowy this weekend and I can try to run outside..even a mile would  be amazing!

I don't know about you all but I am feeling stressed and overwhelmed lately.  Maybe something to do with all the wedding plans but I think it's also because I just haven't been burning my energy like I was when I was running.  Being a bum isn't all that it's built up to be...let me tell ya! 

And it doesn't help when I walk into work in the morning and I've got a box of this golden deliciousness waiting for me! 

That's the shiz niz right there if your from the Dayton area...you know what I'm talkin' about

Another reason why I'm stressed....

stupid tree

I love my tree.....when all the damn lights stay on!  When Tony sent this picture to me yesterday while I was gettin' the hair did I wanted to scream right then and there!  This is the second time this darn thing has gone out on me.  Thankfully my future-father-in-law has one of those "guns" that you use to recharge your lights or something and he's going to come over today to hopefully fix the darn thing so it at least stays lite until New Years.  I'm not even annoyed with my decorations yet with them being in the way but I'm annoyed they won't stay PRETTY!!!!  ERRR!!!

Yesterday Miss H also got her new glasses she picked out.  No more cute purple and pink ones...she wanted grown up ones that "blend with her hair"...huh???  She is 6 right??  After more trying to convince her otherwise I finally gave up and realized she had her mind made up and she was the one who was going to wear them anyways.  Just kind of a sad mommy moment if you know what I mean! 

6 going on 16 right??



she's too cute for her own good



Last year's picture of her glasses...such a cute face!



That's the awesomeness going on right now...I know...your jealous.  no??  hmmm

Please say a prayer to the running god this weekend that I am healed and am able to run.  I don't even want to run long distances right now...just 2 -3 miles would be perfect!  I just wanna run so I don't feel all icky!  PLEASE!!!!!!!

Christmas Traditions

Has Christmas snuck up on anyone else this year?  It has for me!  I've got all my Christmas shopping done, half of my wrapping done but then I realized this past Sunday I have just one week left with Miss H before she leaves for her dad's until Christmas day.  YIKES!

I'm all about memories and experiences and doing the same thing each year.  I know those are the things that I remember from my childhood and that's what I want Miss H to remember when she grows up. 

So what that meant was instead of being lazy on Sunday afternoon and taking a nap and watching movies...it meant I was in the kitchen the ENTIRE DAY baking.  And to top it off I had a massive headache...awesome timing! 

Last night we finally cut out and baked our sugar cookie dough we made on Sunday.  I hate this part of doing sugar cookies.  It's so hard and long and creates such a mess.  But we got it done.  Miss H's job was the "Cookie taker off-er", that's her new thing where she likes to take the cookies off the cookie sheet. 

I've been working hard on letting her be more involved with things even if it takes longer and creates more of a mess.  I know it's not a big deal and it's great to have her involved and yes it creates awesome memories...so bring on the mess!! 

After they were all baked, I was ready to sit on my arse for the night, Miss H talks me into decorating them.  SURE, why not, I haven't sat down since I walked in the door from work but let's do it!!!



That's green and RED icing



Our official Cookie Decorater

I really do enjoy doing this with Hailey, I remember my mom baking a TON of sugar cookies before Christmas then all four of us kids sitting out the table anxiously ready to attack any cookie with massive amounts of sprinkles as soon as she laid it down.  I can barely keep up with Miss H I'm not sure how my mom kept up on her icing skills with four kids ready to decorate. 

Finished product

Miss H's special cookie made just for herself...and to which 75% of those sprinkles fell off the cookie when I packed them away at the end of the night. 

Afterwards we settled in to watch my favorite Christmas movie....Charlie Brown Christmas.  LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! 

The Tobster aka Toby

Overall it was a great night.  I may have sprinkles and flour all over my kitchen floor for the next month but you better bet we had fun while we did it! 

Not Enough Tears

We all have heard of the tragic news that happened in Connecticut on Friday and I don't know about you but my mind just can't grasp it.  More than anything this weekend I wanted to run and I couldn't.  I wanted to run the pain away, run until I couldn't any longer and all that was left was the pain that I feel for the families effected by this.  I can't even count the number of times I fought back tears this weekend thinking of those families. 

Being a mom myself, times like this just makes it seem just too real and hard to imagine.  Hailey is the age of those children that were lost on Friday and I just can't bare to imagine how those poor parents are feeling. 

There are no words and definitely not enough tears. 

My heart is broken for those children and the parents.   I can't grasp how those teachers had to feel trying to protect their students and for some reason it makes me even more grateful to have teachers that take our kids each day and love them and care about them as much as they can while they have them. 

There are just no words. 

It's not fair. 

To the families and community effected by this tragedy...I am so sorry.  Sorry for your pain.  We are all heartbroken with you and somehow, if it's possible, that you find comfort in knowing that you are not alone. 

Hair Product Finds

Sorry I haven't been posting much, super busy and also being super lazy resting and healing and it's driving me nuts.  I'm anxious to get back out and run but I'm also afraid it's gonna hurt when I do and it's become a struggle of do I really want to know if I'm better or not?!?!  ugh! 

Since not much is new in that area that I'd share some awesome finds I've found and that are actually really making a difference....on my hair! 

My hair is kind of funky.

It's thick but it's fine.

It's curly but it's straight.

It's soft but it feels like straw. 

My hair is a total womann and can't make up it's mind on what it wants to be...totally annoying if you ask me! 

I round brush my hair every day, it's easy and it creates a nice look when I actually don't rush through the process.  I used to be able to curl my hair and now its like I'm all thumbs when I try so round brushing it is!  I used to fret over a hair not doing what I want it to do and now if it's decent it's a good day! 

HELLO that's what being a mom does to ya! 

But with round brushing lately it seems like my hair has been breaking off more than normal and I'm not sure what the deal it.  Maybe it's because I've been pulling my hair back more with running...that's probably part of it. 

And with getting married in less than a year, I wanna have great hair on my wedding day, or at least something the stylist can work with besides of bunch of split ends...so I decided to invest is some good hair product. 

Totally expecting to have to drop over $50 on product...however...I didn't!!!!  HOLLER!

And I can already tell a HUGE difference in my hair. 

What am I using??  You'll probably be shocked a little. 

RedKen Anti-Snap

This stuff is the most expensive stuff...around $15 I think I spent at the salon but it's worth it.  You put two pumps of this stuff on right after you get out of the shower and gently massage (maybe you can convince your hubby or children to massage your head....I have yet been able to get Tony to cooperate in this area...to be continued...) it into your hair and then blow dry/style how you normally would. 

I also switched up my shampoo and conditioner...and I got this tip from the stylist at the salon when I was trying to find a good shampoo...she was like...I've been using this stuff with Heidi Klum in the commercial and I'm shocked how great it's been on my hair and it's less than $5!  Well slap me silly and call me Sarah....oh wait..errr....never mind.  

In the past I have found that stylist really do know their stuff when it comes to product and if they suggest something to you, you should use it so I thought I'd give it a try. 

Clear Scalp & Hair 
PS...you can get this stuff at Wal-Mart!

This stuff too is...AMAZING!!!  I wash my hair with the shampoo (duh right?) and then I massage the conditioner in and I leave it in while I do the rest of my showering duties (shaving, body wash etc) and then I flip the water to cold and rinse the conditioner out. 

And I'm telling you...after just a few uses I can totally tell a difference and after 1 week I was sold on both of these products! 

Now I just gotta get my hair trimmed and we'll be good to go on hopefully having much healthier hair! 

Do you have a hair product you swear by?? 

Since I Can't Run...

I'm doing other stuff! 

What stuff??

Monthly Squat Challenge....FUN YO!



If I can't run...I figure I might as well build muscle and so that's what I'm doing. 

I've been reading up on my Achilles tendon problem and it say that stretching is even bad for it....soooo I'm just icing it and resting it.  They also say that the best thing for it to not happen again is to work on strength training and so that's what I'm doing! 

Squats, lunges, sit ups, etc. 

All those things effect my running and make me stronger.  For someone who has never been a "weight person" after doing the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, I could definitely tell on my runs that I was stronger and couldn't believe how much easier it felt to run. 

So I guess I'm gonna need to be a weights gal...and that's ok. 

So during commercials as I'm "resting" but to me it feels just plain lazy...I'm doing squats, lunges and lifting free weights. 

If you've ever been a mom,  you have some pretty awesome "guns" just because 80% of your day your probably holding at least a 15-30lbs child in ONE arm and doing something with the other arm.  And since Miss H is 6 1/2 years old now and over 50lbs...I just don't carry her anymore and with that has gone my arm strength.  And that bothers me. 

So I'm working on that...plus I want to have amazing arms for my wedding! 

If I can't run I gotta start somewhere right?? 

Have a great weekend!!

I'm Hurting Bad...Like REAL Bad

Remember when I said my Achilles tendon was hurting after my 5 mile run on Thanksgiving and how I planned on resting? 

Well I did that and was feeling better after 12 days of rest and was itching to run again. 

Tuesday morning my BFF and I went out to run at 5:30am and I was excited.  I haven't ran with her probably since September we were thinking and that was probably the last time I actually ran with a partner too! 

However, after a mile, my Achilles tendon was hurting again BAD!  I couldn't believe it.  We pushed to do 2 miles and by the end I was limping and in pain.  Got home and I iced and stretched for a bit before work and could have just cried. 

I don't understand what's wrong and it just makes me mad and want to cry.  

Last night I rested more, lots of icing and stretching for a couple of hours and just praying that if I'm better about doing that religiously that things will get better. 

I just want to run! 

That's it! 

Not training for anything, just want to be able to run this winter and right now I'm not sure if and when that's going to happen. 

I'm so beyond frustrated!! 

Let's hope things improve soon!  Until then...this is what I'm doing in my evenings...

icin'

stretchin'