As August Winds Down...and FIT TIP (#141)

Took a spontaneous tripto the San Diego area.
**Carlsbad, Coronado Island, Del Mar, etc.**

Ate some yummy meals...
best calamari ever at one restaurant in Carlsbad
and best garlic bread **shhh, don't tell my new workout partner**
the next night, right around the corner.
**and those were just the appetizers!**

Went on some fun bike rides...
including one around Coronado Island
on a double bike. **I only feared for my life once ;)**

Relaxed on the beach, shopped, and
visited the Mormon Battalion Memorial in
Old Town San Diego.
So impressive...if you've never been...go!

All in all, it was such a fun escape
from **record-breaking** temperatures here in
the Valley of the Sun!


Words for the Week
{8.22.2011}




FIT TIP (#141): Think Beyond the Dumbbell
To de-jiggle your arms faster, trade tricep kickbacks (which I love, by the way) for the body-weight-only Crab Crawl.

~~Sit on ground with knees bent, feet flat, and place palms on ground by sides and slightly behind you.

~~Lift hips to form a tabletop from knees to shoulders.

~~Crawl forward 10 steps, then crawl back 10 steps.

~~Rest 20 seconds; crawl left 10 steps and right 10 steps.



Words for the Week
{8.15.2011}

Summer Showers...and FIT TIP (#140)

Couldn't resist taking a picture **thank you iPhone** of this creative water feature in front of a darling cafe **on one of my summer getaways**.

Speaking of getaways...this summer has been so fun
and gone so fast!
School has begun in the Valley of the Sun.

Besides a few fun trips
I've been working on a few projects
and not blogging.

Maybe I'll share soon!?!

Since I mentioned **on one of my last posts**
that I'd been "treadmill-ing" it lately
I've been asked what I watch and/or listen to
while exercising.

I actually put together an up-tempo
playlist specifically for my indoor endeavors.

Club Can't Handle Me - Flo Rida
Firework - Katy Perry
Yeah 3x - Chris Brown
Please Don't Go - Club Mix
Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
Green Light - John Legend & Andre 3000
Raise Your Glass - Pink

I trade off between my "treadmill playlist"
and a few other fitness playlists I have.
I love iTunes!



FIT TIP (#140): Work With Your Strengths
Instead of focusing on what you aren't good at ("I'm not a runner" or "I've got bad knees"), concentrate on what you excel at ("I walk really fast" or "I have great core strength"). Building on the positives by choosing activities that play to them will help you find your inner athlete.



Words for the Week
{7.25.2011}
"The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Beyond the Baywatch Moment...and FIT TIP (#139)

Summer's begin brought a "Baywatch" moment.Compliments of my trip to Cali. **no worries, just a jogger's bloody toe**



June also brought Tanner's cute familyto the Valley of the Sun.
It was so much fun to hang out with Tanner, Charee and Chloe & Tru before their move to Germany. I am so excited for them and the adventures and opportunities they have to look forward to!
xoxo to the T. Brown crew!!!

I also got to spend some fun June time in Texas...but those pics aren't on this computer. Had a blast with the Jessups, as usual. Also had an interesting flight from Dallas to Phoenix...which is becoming the norm.

The middle of summer **July** is turning out to be as enjoyable as the **June** beginning. The heat hasn't even gotten on my nerves yet. Escaping a few times each month surely helps!




FIT TIP (#139): Laugh it Off!
Laughter is very healthy! It's also very aerobic--engaging every single organ system in the body. There are certain core muscles that only become engaged when you're laughing.

A study by the American Physiological Society found that even anticipating a laugh could produce endorphins and shut down production of the stress hormone cortisol.




Words for the Week
{7.11.2011}

Speed Bump Ahead...and FIT TIP (#138)

Slow down summer...speed bump ahead.
**took this photo while visiting southern California last week...ahhh!**


My Summer Crushes:


Frozen Strawberry Lemonade...from McDonald's.
I'm not a big McDonald's fan. **except for their straws...I love how substantial they are**
Their frozen strawberry lemonade is as good as any I've enjoyed.
And can we talk convenient **drive-thru**...and inexpensive? Winner!



Tom Hanks...as Larry Crowne.
I loved the way this character took an unfortunate situation and used it as an opportunity to transform himself inside and out!
**he looks so cute on that scooter...go figure**



The treadmill...has become my summer buddy, thanks to triple-digit heat outside.
Hopefully this crush will last until cooler temps return!



YogaToes...expediting recovery time after activity...such as exercising, sight-seeing, shopping. **look strange but feel good**
Retail for $39, but I found them at TJ Maxx for under $10.



And for coconut lovers...run, don't walk...for a limited time only.




FIT TIP (#138): Take a Breath
Even if you're not in yoga class, being mindful of your breathing can pay off. Inhaling and exhaling evenly and completely makes any workout more effective by bringing extra oxygen to your muscles.

Aim for about 12 inhalations and exhalations per minute.



Words for the Week
{7.4.2011}

One-Third Gone...and FIT TIP (#137)

Where did you go, June?

One minute you were here...
and the next you were gone!

To me summer is June, July and August.
Official "begin of season" dates mean nothing to me.
So, you know what that means?
Summer is one-third over.
**although the heat remains, here in the Valley of the Sun, long after August's exit**

I have a handful of SUMMER CRUSHES...
and it's thanks to them that summer seems
to be clipping along at such a ferocious pace.
I would share them right now,
but I'm off to give July a proper welcome!

Next post, I promise, I will give introductions!!!



**and because I eat out a lot...some tricks for cutting calories when doing so**
FIT TIP (#137): Just Ask
Some restaurants offer small side orders, despite the fact that they're not actually listed on the main menu. Also consider: ordering from the child's menu, bringing half your entree home (or share your entree), or eating an appetizer for your main course.




Words for the Week
{6.27.2011}



Words for the Week
{6.13.2011}

Sum Sum Summertime!...and FIT TIP (#136)

Summer has unofficially begun.
And I've officially become a blog slacker...oops.


I came across this today...
Yup!
That pretty much sums up my first week of June.



FIT TIP (#136): Flick on the Lights
The dimmer the room, the more you'll eat. Why? One theory is that low lights make you feel more relaxed and less self-conscious. On the flip side, research suggests that the brighter your dining area, the less food you'll likely consume.

Try this: Adjust the lighting in places where you eat most often.



Words for the Week
{6.6.2011}




Words for the Week
{5.23.2011}

Tickle Me Pink...and FIT TIP #(135)

I don't really consider myself a **pink** person...

but I recently came across a folder of pink images I'd collected.
They make me smile, so I decided to share.















FIT TIP (#135): Interval Bonus
By doing intervals (alternating pace/intensity) while on the elliptical, treadmill or while walking or running outdoors, you may feel even happier when your workout is over.

According to a recent study, women who did interval training had a bigger boost in mood immediately following exercise than those who worked out at a steady pace.



Words for the Week
{5.16.2011}

Picnic Perfect...and FIT TIP (#134)

This scene **from Country Homes and Interiors** makes me happy.It contains so many things that I adore:
~paper lanterns
~vintage luggage
~bicycles
~quilt & pillow picnic
~big trees
~music
~tall grass

Our recent days **in the Valley of the Sun** have been unseasonably cool and breezy.
Perfect picnic weather!



FIT TIP (#134): Scramble Your Breakfast Routine
Start your morning with one-half cup of Egg Beaters. They're just 60 calories, fat-free, and packed with protein and vitamins. AND they contain no cholesterol.



Words for the Week
{5.9.2011}