Bikini Body Mommy

Through a friend's mention of this short and sweet (and FREE) workout program, I decided to give the Bikini Body Mommy (BBM) 90 Day Challenge a try - even though I will never wear a bikini, even if I had a bikini body. Once I got past the first day (where she insists on you taking pictures of your body in a bikini and take measurements), I was hooked! The workouts are all under a half hour - most closer to twenty minutes. And they work so many different muscle groups! You really FEEL like you just had a good workout! And without much time!

But the REAL reason this workout is so fun and successful is that Briana (BBM) is not a Jillian Michaels. She is a real mom working out and panting and groaning right along with you. Sometimes she has toy cars/trucks she has to step over when her son is playing right by her side. Sometimes she has to take a quick break to catch her breath or shake out some muscles. She adapts some exercises as she gets tired. She is real!

So you can go to the BBM site and print off the workouts so you know what you are doing and then watch the videos and work along with her. Or you can just go to her youtube channel and watch the videos (that's what I did). But YOU NEED TO WATCH THE VIDEOS! Not only because Briana is so real, but because without that timer pushing you, you can easily "cheat" or even give up. (You can take two minute breaks instead of one minute breaks - so not only have you just lost intensity, but now you have just added ten minutes to your short workout. So then you aren't as eager to work out the next day because you think of it as a longer workout. Or you think an exercise is too hard so you just don't do it. But if you watch the video, you see Briana adapting for herself because it IS hard - so then you feel better about yourself.)

Back to the taking pictures... yuck! But Briana wants you to be able to look back and SEE a difference, and not just rely on the scale. And taking measurements defines those differences. So I sucked it up and took my very first bikini -actually, underwear- pictures (gross!). And I measured. (Again, yuck!) After that grossness was over, I enlisted my thirteen year old daughter to join me in these workouts. Accountability is always good and teaching her to be strong and healthy is important, right? And Briana does focus on being strong and healthy - not being "skinny."

She also has a meal plan which I may try out now because I rewarded my workouts with sweet treats, which almost negated all the hard work... Not quite though. This morning my daughter and I completed the 90 day challenge and I took my measurements and lost 4.5 inches in my waist, 2 inches in my hips, and an inch on each thigh. (No, I'm not sharing pictures!!!) Best of all, I am so much stronger (as is my daughter)! --Remember, that is without changing my eating habits - actually, that is with eating worse than I did beforehand - those darn desserts! Even without the meal plan, but with eliminating desserts, think of what I could do! BBM is doing a 2.0 Challenge and I'm in! Are you?

Frog Tape!

I have been doing a lot of painting lately - which means a lot of painter's tape. I ran out of the 'blue tape' while painting an accent wall. One side was painted with 'blue tape'

and the other side was painted with the green Frog tape.

 Look at this difference! They were honest when they said "Keeps Lines Sharp!" WOW! I think the pictures speak for themselves! Go FROG TAPE!!!

Oscillococcinum

You know that feeling when you just "hit the wall" with fatigue, aches, and chills? I had heard that this 'Oscillococcinum' was the wonder drug for that. Although it isn't really a drug - it is a homeopathic medicine with zero side effects. I have always been a bit leery of homeopathic remedies (I'm not sure why I trust man-made chemicals more than the natural stuff???). I had heard so many great things about this from different people that I rushed out to buy it when my son 'hit the wall' and came down with a fever after dinner one night about six weeks ago. 
There are these little vials (pictured in the bottom right corner on the box) packed in groups of three in the box. You take three vials, one every six hours. Inside each vial looks like large salt crystals - like you see on hot pretzels. These crystal-like things are tasteless and dissolve in your mouth. And they work! My son's fever broke overnight and he was just a little puny the next day and perfectly fine the next.
So then this week when my husband 'hit the wall,' I pulled out the Oscillococcinum again - but this time not until the morning after his 'crash.' He slept most of that day, his fever broke, and then he was almost back to normal.
Now I suppose these 'bugs' could have just been the 24-hour variety and the Oscilloccinum didn't really do anything... but others who have had the same thing this winter who didn't take Oscilloccinum have been down and out for several days, and close to a week in some cases. So now I am a believer in what we call 'the ossy-oxy-stuff'. (You can hear how to really say it here.)

Akeelah's Bee

Akeelah's Bee is a great underdog story about a girl working her way up to the Scripp's National Spelling Bee. Since we had just watched the actual Scripp's Spelling Bee a couple weeks ago, this was of great interest to all of us. We were glued to the movie, many (sentimental) tears were shed, and (hopefully) we learned the benefit of perseverance!

Just as a warning, there are a couple of spots with foul language that I wish they would have omitted.

Thunder Shirt

Sophie has never liked loud noises. But for some reason this year the fireworks were driving her crazy! Pacing and yelping and trembling. And this was the weekend before the Fourth! This was just from some little neighborhood fire crackers. So we invested in a Thunder Shirt. We figured if it doesn't work we would just take advantage of the money back guarantee.

So the next night before the fireworks could get started we got Sophie dressed in her Thunder Shirt. She immediately laid down and went to sleep! Of course there weren't fireworks that night! The next night the fireworks started, Sophie began trembling and pacing, we put on the Thunder Shirt, and she relaxed. She still kind of looked around like, "I wonder what this is" but she really didn't care. Since then, we have dressed her with the Thunder Shirt for more fireworks and for a thunderstorm. I LOVE this Thunder Shirt and so does Sophie!

Sonicare

We LOVE our Sonicare toothbrushes! I have always heard great reviews of the Sonicare toothbrush. I have even had dentists, orthodontists, and periodontists recommend it to me (and my kids). I wanted one but just wasn't willing to spend that much money on a toothbrush! But when Target had a sale AND I had a coupon AND there was a rebate I took advantage of it! Now all four of us have our own Sonicare toothbrushes! We love them! They have been worth every penny and more! We just went for our six month dental cleaning after only using them for one month and received rave reviews on our dental care! (My son told the dentist he has a "secret tool"!) There is a timer (once you turn it on, it goes for two minutes and then automatically turns off) to be sure you actually brush long enough - big plus! But the biggest plus:
There was a visible difference in my son's teeth after one day!
There was a visible difference in my husband's teeth after two days!
There was a visible difference in my teeth and my daughter's teeth after just one week!
(Yes, that is a lot of exclamation marks - but, WOW! We LOVE our toothbrushes!)

Now let me warn you, as the instructions did: The first time you use it, it really tickles and is uncomfortable - your gums and lips get all tingly. You want to stop before the two minute timer is done. That is okay. The next time you use it, it is much better - you at least know what to expect. By the second full day of using the Sonicare, you notice the "tinglies" but it is not an issue. After that, it is all just routine and completely comfortable.

Oh, another warning: make sure you keep your lips closed unless you want beautiful splatters all over your bathroom! :)

Perler Beads

Here is a wonderful (inexpensive - around $10 for 5000 beads plus pegboards) craft that has kept my kids busy all summer: Perler Beads! There are little pegboards you place the beads on to make a design. When the design is complete, the adult irons it so that it melts together and comes off the pegboard. You now have a Perler Bead Creation and are ready to make another! I have bought "Perler Beads" at many different times and at different stores. I did not realize there was more than one kind of "Perler Bead." Here is what I have discovered:

• Perler Beads (also called Fun Fusion) are the best. They are the most uniform and they melt together well.
• Hama Beads are a close second but do not mix well with the Perler brand.
• Melty Beads (found at Wal-Mart) are very poor quality and not worth it - AT ALL! They are not consistently flat on the bottom, causing them to pop off the pegboard, many beads are deformed and not usable at all, and they stink when they melt, if you can get them to melt to one another!
  

No Stress Chess

My husband and children have wanted to learn to play chess... I know how but I'm really not any good... I found this "No Stress Chess" game by Winning Moves Games at Barnes & Noble and had part of a gift card left over, so I decided to give this game a shot. It is amazing! You start out playing with a deck of cards that tell you which piece to move and how to move it. The goal at that point isn't to win, but just to learn how the pieces move. Then you take it up a step, choosing between a few cards to help build some strategy into the game; but not to overwhelm you with the 16 pieces on your side. In just a few short days, my children (ages 7 & 9) are playing Chess without the cards - and loving it!

Update on the Chacos

So remember back when I bought my Chacos? How excited I was? Well, the toe thing started hurting my toe again. The wonderful people at Mast General Store suggested I adjust them so the toe strap was under my toe. I thought that would be uncomfortable but it was fine. However, there must have been some glue stuck because when I pulled the straps, the bottom of the sandal tore where the strap enters. Grrrr. But again, bragging on Mast General Store, they ordered me new ones (in brown without the toe) and held back the other 9-wides they had so I could choose. Even without my receipt, they took my "old" Chacos, fitted me with the ones they had saved for me, and I was out the door with the black ones. I think these are even cuter, don't you think? Needless to say, we will be returning to Mast General Store for future shoe shopping trips! In fact, we returned later that week to buy new sandals for my husband.

Residence Inn

I just have to brag on our experience at the Residence Inn in Deerfield, IL. My husband made reservations there for a business/leisure trip, knowing it was close to his appointments but also close to some shopping for me to enjoy while he was working. When we first arrived, we were told we had been upgraded to a "Two Bedroom Suite." We walked in the door, shocked by the enormity of it!
We walked into the living room area (view of the living area from the loft) with the first bedroom's French doors open ahead of us next to the stairs leading to the lofted bedroom and bath. Here is the lofted bedroom,and a view of the living area from that area. There was even a full kitchen. I was ready to move in! The simplicity of it all and the great breakfast provided... the nearby shopping, the train station right down the street if wanting to go downtown... And with the state rate for business of only $79/night! :)

Chacos & Mast General Store

Really, I just spent $100 on a pair of SANDALS?!?! I, who love a good bargain, who am very frugal, and who rarely pamper myself, just spent $100 for ONE pair of sandals?? Really???

Here is my story (rationalization):
Last fall/winter (2008), I found these Mudd sandals clearanced for around $10. THAT is my kind of bargain! And aren't they cute? So last summer I started wearing them. One of the straps immediately tore... I found a cobbler that was able to fix it for like $8 or something. In the mean time, I bought a pair of $5 flip flops to have something to wear. By the time my Mudd sandals were ready for me, my big toe had started hurting... it continued hurting when I wore the Mudd sandals. At one point I was in so much pain and had taken so much Tylenol and Ibuprofen ($5?), I decided it was time to see the doctor ($40)... Diagnosis: My big toe was stressed from wearing flip flop type shoes... Rx: Find new sandals. So for the rest of the summer I wore an ugly pair of mens sandals - they were on sale ($20) and they fit.
This summer I started wearing those ugly mens sandals but they were literally falling apart - I was leaving a trail of strings wherever I walked. So I got rid of them (without getting a picture) and started wearing my cute Mudd sandals again... After a couple days my toe started hurting again. Ouch!
I started sandal shopping again. My feet are picky and I'm cheap so I wasn't having any luck. I finally decided I would invest in a pair of good supportive sandals that wouldn't bother my feet or back. I decided I would find some Keen's.
They feel like tennis shoes, supportive-wise, and they are kind of cute... I went to Mast General Store (AWESOME place!) and had REAL shoe service - the manager put the shoe on my foot for me, etc. When I tried them on, I couldn't decide - they didn't hurt, but they are expensive... I kept walking around the store wearing them to see if that's what I really wanted but my feet started sweating. That wasn't going to work! If my feet are going to get hot in just a few minutes, who wants to smell my feet at the end of a hot summer day?!!?
So the manager suggested Chacos (which a few friends had recommended to me as well). He said he wanted to check the size of my foot before going back to get the sandals. Okay, fine but I've worn a size 10 for as many years... SURPRISE! I don't wear a size 10! One foot is an 8.5-wide and the other is a 9-wide. (Maybe that is why I can never find shoes that fit right - I've been trying on the wrong size!) So the manager brought out some Chacos for me to try on and I was sold. They are comfortable, airy, and supportive. Unfortunately, the "stitch-brown" color I wanted had to be special-ordered in the 9W so I had to be patient... But I picked them up yesterday and am convinced after walking the dog for 45 minutes while wearing them that they were worth the investment! (Plus, they can be resoled and if the straps tear, they will be re-strapped for free.)
So, if these shoes really do last "forever" as advertised, they were/are a bargain! Even if they only last a couple years, they will be a bargain after looking at last year when I never found anything that worked, was in a lot of pain, and spent around $88! ($10 + $8 + $5 + $5 + $40 + $20)

Brand Names I'm Stickin' To!

I usually buy generic items - usually WalMart brand - but some generics just aren't worth the savings!
Here are some brand names I am sticking to (I will add to this as time goes on...):
I used to have PAM non-sticking spray on this list but I just discovered Crisco non-stick spray! It is a million times better than PAM! I am very excited!

Bandaids - the generics just seem to fall apart in pieces when removing - either that or leaving a bunch of sticky residue. Ewww!French's French Fried Onions - I'm not sure what is up with the generic on these... they are just odd-tasting and crumbly.
Q-Tips - Whew! We finally finished our generic swabs after weeks (months?) of having swabs where the cotton came off the end, the stick bent in half, or there was hardly any cotton on the end... too much inconsistency for me!

Cheerios (plain - generic Honey Nut Spins are yummy)
Nylabones - the generic "indestructible" bones leave lots of bone shavings all over the floor from the very beginning.

Sleep Number

I love our bed! Almost every night when I lay down I say, usually aloud, "I love this bed!" But after having a really cheap hotel mattress for three nights, I appreciate it even more. I really can't say enough good things about this bed! I don't wake up stiff any more. I don't feel like an old lady at only 32 anymore. I sleep through the night now (as long as my bladder doesn't wake me up). It is just a wonderful bed and I needed to blog about it after my WONDERFUL night of sleep again last night! :)
www.selectcomfort.com

Wii Active

I splurged a couple weeks ago and bought Wii Active. I rationalized it by saying I'm done paying the monthly fee for Curves and only two months of Curves pays for this. (I haven't been using Curves because I don't have childcare beyond my work hours...) Wii Active is very fun! There is a lot of strength training and cardio. It is a great workout each time. You get a personal trainer that encourages you as you work out. Right now Chris and I are doing the "30 Day Challenge" which adds different activities each day and tracks calories burned, etc.
There are some frustrating parts of Wii Active though (but it is still COMPLETELY worth it). If you don't have the nunchuk held in your hand just right, you might get "yelled" at for not doing the exercise correctly. Or if you stop to wipe the sweat (boy, do you sweat with this!), it "yells" at you. But overall, it is a great workout! We can do it at home rain or shine, under a ceiling fan, and without childcare!

Turbo Dry Jet Dry

Yeah! Our plastic stuff is dry from the dishwasher! All those bowls and cups and measuring cups and plastic storage containers are dry! They don't have to sit out on a towel all day! Yeah! All of this thanks to Turbo Dry Jet-Dry Drying Agent! (We used to use just regular/original Jet-Dry.)http://www.finishdishwashing.com/product-finish-jet-dry-turbo-dry.php Yeah! (Can you tell this is exciting to us?!?!?!)