Color Me Rad 5K

I am super-duper excited right now.

I just found out the my local city - Charleston, SC - is finally getting a Color Me Rad 5K!

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I have been dying to participate in one of these races. I mean, how insanely fun and awesome does this look?

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The race is going to be on 3.23.13. Consider me registered.

SO FREAKING EXCITED!!!

Check out their website to see if they have one near you! Another race option that is the exact same as this is The Color Run. Check out their website too.

Easy Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas

Thanksgiving is a week away, so by now most of you have made your plans. Some of you are lucky enough to be invited as a guest to someone else's home, likely leaving a lot of the work off your shoulders. Maybe you are hosting your family and friends this year for the first time, or for the 20th time...either way, here are some Thanksgiving centerpiece ideas you may want to try to add some decorative flair to your table setting:

Add a non-traditional splash of color - I love this one because it takes the color blue (a personal fave), which is not normally thought of for an autumn holiday, but makes it work by adding natural browns with the use of pecans. You can make this your own by finding glass bottles or vases and using any type of nut:





Create the illusion of a table runner using pumpkins and ribbons with little berry sprigs. You could make it your own by collecting leaves from outside and sprinkling them along the sides of the ribbon in a whimsical fashion:

I adore the use of pumpkins in this centerpiece. Placing them at different levels using candleholders, etc. keeps it interesting to the eye. You can get pumpkins in white, orange and yellow to keep it colorful. Another thing I thought that I would add to this centerpiece would be name placards at each place setting using a tiny pumpkin stabbed in the top with a toothpick and a name card taped to it. You can either print up the names using the computer, or if you have lovely handwriting, make it even more personal!

Add a golden glow to your table by using dried kernels of corn in a round vase with a lit candle. Candles make the home feel more cozy and what could be better than feeling even more cozy and intimate around those you love?

Another brilliant use of the pumpkin - I am a fan of pumpkins as decor in the fall! Here it is paired up with a candle and some lovely sprigs. Simply carve a place in the top of the pumpkin that the candle can sit in. Use your own decor such as leaves, corn, sprigs, berries, etc. to make it your own!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Photos Courtesy: www.bhg.com

Taking It Up A Notch

For some reason, I am unlike the norm and actually like to work my ass off throughout the fall and winter season. Don't get me wrong, I of course like to keep in shape for bikini season, but I feel like workout-wise, I am much better about it during the colder months. Must be due to the fact we don't actually do a lot during this time of year in terms of traveling and social things so I don't have a lot standing in my way? We have holiday parties and such, but really nothing too hectic.

I am training for my half marathon coming up in January, so that is definitely one way I'm kicking my own ass this winter. But I've decided I also want to take on Insanity again.

There are a few reasons why.

1. The obvious - to have a hot body. Yeah.

2. Anytime I've been doing Insanity, my running has benefited. I can run further, faster...it definitely increases my endurance.

3. Completing a 60-day round of it is on my Thirty Before 30 bucket list and as of today, I've got 5 months to go. Subtract 60 days from that and I really have to start within the next 3 months. I figure now is as good a time as any. {You will also see I then have completing a round of Insanity: The Asylum on that bucket list, which is a 30-day program, so really I have within the next 2 months to get going...so again, starting sooner than later is best!}

Have you ever taken on the Insanity challenge? You can purchase it here if you are interested in trying it. If you already have the workout, I encourage you to do it with me! I am starting today.

Here is the schedule if you need it:

And for the sake of it...here's what I'll call my "before" pictures {ever-wonderful and overexposing they are - but it's necessary for motivation and progress tracking}:

Forgive my hair, I had just run. And here are my stats for right now - will take measurements later this week:

Height: 5'8"
Weight: 135 lbs

Wish me luck!

Nate Berkus for Target - Chevron Urn

Ever since I first saw this image over at Made By Girl:

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I have been somewhat obsessed with that crazy-cool black and white chevron urn. Like, I actually went to her site and looked for the link back to where she got it, only to find it was WAAAAAAAAAY out of my humble price range. Darnit to heck.

It's been months since then...so imagine my extreme delight when I found out that in Nate Berkus' new collection for Target, there was this:

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O - M - Geeeeeee!!!! And at only $22.99, sooooooo affordable! Consider it mine.

OK, consider it mine...twice.

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World Run Day - Recap

A few weeks back, I posted about World Run Day 2012. Did any of y'all participate? Well, if any of you ran at all this past Sunday, you were a participant in World Run Day as far as I'm concerned.

My goal was to run 7 miles, as that is the mileage I was due to run that day per my half marathon training schedule.

I worked on Sunday until 1:30pm, but was determined to run as soon as I got home. I knew my youngest would be napping, so I would have the opportunity. And I've learned I need to take the opportunity when it presents itself rather than wait for later because if I don't, then it never gets done. {Plus, I had to work off the birthday cake I ate the day before at my son's birthday party.}

Looking forward to my half marathon in January...it's going to be quite the challenge.

Tanner's Lego Birthday Party

For Tanner's Lego Birthday, I knew I wanted to go all out with the Lego-themed decor. I browsed Pinterest for ideas and was really happy in the end with the turnout.

Goody Bags for the Kids

Coloring Pages for the Kids

Rainbow Kabobs

Lego Candy

One Excited Birthday Boy

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It was a great turnout, a beautiful day and everyone had a great time. We couldn't have asked for more for our little man.

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My Gym Routine: Legs

Welcome back to my little mini-series, My Gym Routine!

Today, I am letting you in on my favorite leg exercises.

Here is the schedule of posts for your reference:
Mon 11.5.12 - Glutes
Mon 11.12.12 - Legs {Thighs, Hamstrings, Calves}
Mon 11.19.12 - Shoulders
Mon 11.26.12 - Back
Mon 12.3.12 - Chest
Mon 12.10.12 - Triceps
Mon 12.17.12 - Abs

For me personally, legs {and glutes} are the areas of my body that I feel need the most consistent effort as it seems that's where the "junk" likes to strike first. I actually do my glute and leg exercises at least twice a week {with at least 48 hrs between to allow sufficient recovery}. The other body groups get one day each...and abs are done every day.

Here are some of my favorite leg exercises that I find the most effective:

Step Ups

For this exercise, I typically use a step and risers. I'm fairly tall at 5'8", so I like to use 5-6 risers on each side. I recommend a height that puts your thigh parallel to the floor when you set your foot on the bench, but some prefer a little lower, and that's OK too. To perform this exercise, step your foot onto the bench and slowly, using your thigh muscles, lift yourself up. Go back down and right back up again, concentrating on using the thigh, and not your momentum, to lift yourself. Do 12-15 times and then switch legs. Do 3 sets on each leg.

Plyometrics - Platform Hops

Find bench with a height you are comfortable with for jumping onto. To prep for the jump, squat a little, and using your leg power, jump onto the box in one swift motion. Step back down slowly and do it again. Complete 10-15 jumps, rest, and then do another set. I recommend 3 sets.

Calf Raises

Don't neglect those calves! Start in a standing position and simply lift up to your tip toes. You can also do this while standing on a bench with your heels hanging over to get a longer range of motion. I like to use a staircase or step bench. Do 20-25 reps, rest and repeat for 3 sets. You can also try single leg calf raises. Optional: Hold dumbbells at your sides.

Hip Abductor/Hip Adductor

These are great machines for your inner and outer thighs. I usually do 3 sets of 20-25 reps each. I also like to switch between machines during sets, i.e. one set of adductor, straight to one set of abductor, without rest in between to save time. It's otherwise known as a super-set.

Lying Leg Curls

There are a few different machines for leg curls, but I prefer the lying leg curl machine. I feel like I get more work done with those. For these, I complete 3 sets of 10-12 reps, making sure my last rep of each set is to failure {meaning, I can't possibly do one more - it may take a few times until you figure out what amount of weight that is for you}.

Do you have any great leg exercises to share? What are your favorites?

Monday Musings

This weekend was AWESOME.

We celebrated our sweet Tanner's 7th birthday  on Saturday {actual birthday was November 6th} with some family and friends at our house. As previously mentioned, we did a Lego theme since Tanner is Lego-obsessed. I had a lot of fun putting the decorations together...I'll be posting about his party tomorrow.

I seriously cannot believe my main man is SEVEN. Am I really getting that old? He is getting so big right before my very eyes...it's bittersweet.

I love that Tanner's birthday is at the beginning of November. For me, it sort of feels like our kickoff to the holiday season. We get to see a few family members and friends...in just over a week from now we'll be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary and Thanksgiving...it's just a time of togetherness for our family and Tanner himself has always symbolized togetherness for our family...at least to me...he is the reason we are a family. God has blessed us so much with this little boy...Tanner serves a larger purpose in His plan than any of us may ever know.

On Sunday, I went to work - I know, do I EVER have a weekend off? This one was my doing though...after taking off last Tuesday for Tanner's birthday, I decided to make up some time and offered to work. I'm actually very fortunate that my job provides that opportunity. I do know that I'm not scheduled to work any weekends until December, so that will be nice. I can finally use the weekends to get some much-needed tasks marked off my to-do list. Speaking of my to-do list, I decided to put one together for what I would like to accomplish by the end of the year, this way I can stay focused on some small goals rather than stressing myself out with the big picture of everything I'd like to get done. Here's what I've got planned:

TO DO BY 12/31/12

1. Paint Kitchen, Living & Upstairs Hallway {Gray} - All of these walls run together, you do one, you do them all...but I may break it up over a couple of days or weekends.

2. Christmas Decorating - Find accents to switch out in place of current accents

3. Finish Painting Wall Shelf from Goodwill & Hang

4. Make a Gallery Wall with the White Frames I've Bought

5. Book Nook for Boys

6. Organize Office/Play Room

7. Paint Boys' Rooms

I do hope to get a little more done, but I will consider myself a success if I can manage to do all of this.

Items 1 & 2 are first on my list {I generally decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving}. I have been perusing some color choices for the walls and I really like Colonial Revival Gray by Sherwin Williams:

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 Here are some rooms I found that are painted with this color:

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 Can't wait to finally have some free weekends to make some progress around here!

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