The Running Man

Yesterday, Rowan and I completed our very first "Couch to 5K" running session! woo hoo!

My wonderful sister in law and I decided to do it together and keep each other accountable!  I'm so excited!

The last 5K (5.63k) I ran was the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge with my coworkers 2 months before I got Pregnant. Once I was pregnant I decided after doing some research not to work out (Still walked and did leisurely bike rides though). So if you tally that up... I haven't worked out one single time for 13 months.


(Unless you count the ONE time I tried doing 30 day shred, but the baby kept crying so I eventually gave up with 5 minutes left of the session!).

So I decided that the only exercise I am going to be able to do has to be something my little buddy likes. And he loves the stroller! So tonight I embarked on my first walk/run of the training program. I pushed his big, huge stroller the whole time and we both had a blast! It felt good to get out there and do it! I just wish the whole daylight savings business didn't leave it so gloomy out!

I have also decided NOT to buy myself a jogging stroller until I know that I'm going to stick with the whole running thing, as to not waste money. So if I complete three weeks of the training session, then I have given myself permission to buy it! Garrett said "I'm just going to buy it for you anyways", but I told him not to because its a good motivator!

Check it out!


WeekWorkout 1Workout 2Workout 31Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.2Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.3Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:

• Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:

• Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:

• Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)

4Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

5Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
• Walk 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog two miles (or 20 minutes) with no walking.6Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes)

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2-1/4 miles (or 25 minutes) with no walking.7Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).8Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).9Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).The final workout! Congratulations! Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).

Randoms..

A picture of some pretty Roses from our backyard!

Rowan in his first costume...It was too small! He was too long for it and it wouldn't zip up!

I always wonder what he is thinking..he must think that we are the strangest people always making funny faces at him and talking funny. ha ha!

The Artist Formerly known as Chuck

You might be asking yourself, How does a three month old do art?

In 2.5 seconds flat, that's how!! Before I could get a single wipe out, this child had managed to get poop all over his hands, privates, legs and paint a stunning mural dedicated to his Mother.

I'm pretty sure this is the "Uh oh, I'm in big trouble face". He's practicing for his angst filled teen years!

*Not only does he paint, but he also likes to reach down and grab his twig and/or berries every time I change him. When he realizes "Ouch that hurts", he makes the funniest face. I don't think he realizes he's the one thats making it hurt!

Spooky Halloween Themed Mantle

Every holiday I do my mantle in a theme. My favorite time of the year is Halloween!! Last year I used Apothecary jars and had all sorts of fun stuff like CANDY CORN in them.
This year I went for a black and White Halloween theme with a black and Grey spooky ripped drape, white pillar candles, a brass pumpkin, cobwebs and black spiders on the mirror.

I had Tombstones on the lawn and spooky coverings for the windows.

I took all the decor down on Sunday and I'm going to put up the Fall/Harvest decor this week! I'm so excited!

But I'm even more Excited for Christmas!! Because its the first year that we are doing Christmas lights!!! yeah!

Halloween 2k9

Bekah thinks that the screaming Penguin is NO FUN!

Jane said next year we can put them on the couch again and see how much they have grown! Hopefully, next year Rowan is a wee bit happier!

Garrett and I dressed as "White Trash" for lack of a better word! HILARIOUS. It was so fun to dress up. We love Halloween!

My Mom is so hilarious! When she saw our costumes, she decided to dress as our "White Trash" Stay at home mom (She's normally a super HOT SAHM!). My dad dressed as himself the "Working man" and wore his work clothes that consisted of slacks, tie, collared shirt. They went out to a nice Italian food restaurant and my mom stayed in "character" all night. My dad said all of the waiters were playing along and it was the funniest thing ever. She kept saying "Ya'll have sum ketchup?!".

This is what she posted on her facebook:

"i was a stay at home mom for hallowen a white trash one to much fun. we went out to dinner and were totally obnoxious. the waiters totally played along . i was yelling at people. i loved it. i dont think i will ever have that much fun again. i want to do it again next year with a bunch of people. you get prety brave when no one can tell who you are."

 My parents Crack me up to no ends, I think they are the cutest couple ever!!

While my parents were living it up, we went home and passed out candy to our Trick or Treaters! We watched I LOVE LUCY!!! and relaxed. Look how cute our little penguin is! He just loves his little Lambs on his mobile. Every time it stops he starts crying until you start it again!

This year was very low key, but we had such a blast being dorks together and just hanging out. I love that my husband humors me and will dress up with me!

We couldn't let the puppies go without dressing up! Garrett's mom bought them their Halloween costumes for the second year in a row! Atticus was a prince and Shatzie was a princess! SO CUTE.

Red Door Obsession!

I have always wanted a red front door...Its almost an obsession! When we picked out the colors for our house I vetoed anything that didn't match with RED.

Last month, I finally got my Big RED DOOR! I'm over the moon. Garrett removed our ugly screen, sanded our door and took off all of the knobs and fixtures and painted it for me. It looks much better! Before it was white, but it was all scratched and messed up.

I'm so excited to put up my Christmas Wreath this year!!!

I found this online of the origins of painting the door red: I Sure wish #4 applied to us! ha ha!

In Feng Shui, a red front door means “welcome.” Feng Shui is a Chinese philosophy in which the arrangement and color of objects in a room relates to the flow of energy. The front door is known as the “Mouth of Chi” where energy enters. If you believe in or follow Feng Shui, painting your front door red would create welcoming energy.
A red door means “welcome” in an old early American tradition. If a family had a red front door tired travelers traveling by horse and buggy would know that a home was a welcoming place to rest. They would be able to spend the night there.
A red door provides protection. In Biblical times, the Hebrew slaves were instructed to smear blood of a lamb on their front doors to protect their first born from the angel of death. In old Catholicism churches painted the doors of the church red to represent the blood of Christ. Passing through the door would mean that you were on holy ground. Some believe a red door protects the occupants from evil.
A red front door means mortgage-free. In Scotland, homeowners would paint their front door red to signify that they had paid off their mortgage.

Our Honeymoon Home

When we were "Just Married" we lived in this house. It was built in the early 1900's and was a hop, skip and a jump from downtown. We would walk to the farmers markets, walk to dinners, walk to get a drink at the wine bar. It didn't have a back yard, so we had to take the dogs out to the front lawn on a leash everytime they had to go to the bathroom. And we shared a wall with a tenant in the back. There were SO many great memories in that house. Sometimes we drive by when we are in town, just to see it!

How I loved this house, but I'm SO happy that we don't share a wall with anyone anymore! And super thankful that we have a backyard for the dogs!!

*Picture taken by current Tenant, Sylvain Gentile