Sole Momma Week in Review!

Feb17

It was a busy week here once again… But then when isn’t a week busy with 3 kiddies, a hubby who just got back from India (ugh, the time change-awful), my birthday, Valentines day, work and training, training, training.

Well let’s see…My baby boy did his first reconciliation. He was so nervous.  He took it so seriously and gave it a lot of thought which just makes me so proud.  He was very proud after the service.  We went to a celebration dinner and had special dessert called the Titanic!

Valentines Day is always fun but now more than ever with 3 kiddies.  We made all of our Valentines this year and school would not allow candy which is fantastic.  I started the day by making heart shaped pancakes.  My daughter said “mom this is the best Valentines Day ever!”  Who knew all it would take is a heart shaped pancake and a button next to her plate.  Just goes to show you don’t have to spend a lot of money for it to be special.  Later in the evening we had a little party at home.  We opened gifts sent by our grammy’s and memere’s.  Everyone was so excited! 

Lastly training…I have had to decrease my mileage to stay on track and keep injuries at bay.  My hot yoga 2x per week has become addictive and a necessary evil for my running.  I went for a 14 mile run this past weekend with my 16 miler tomorrow.   It wasn’t my best run ever.  But I did it without a lot of pain.  I had to wear my knee brace which sometimes makes me feel defeated, but makes a big difference during my long runs.  Also I cannot compare my training this year to last year which I have been doing.  As my friend and trainer Nikki said to me…that was then this is now!

So my mantra and quote for this past week has been…

Linking up again with Life Re-Arranged~Insta Friday! Have a great weekend! 

Instagram Week in Review!

Feb4

So it has been a busy week here…Here it is on Instagram…linking up with Life Rearranged!

Last weekend I was lucky enough to have a little date night with the hubby at a new restaurant called 1249 Wine Bar!  If your local this is great new restaurant!  But beware you need a reservation.  We were lucky to snag seats at the bar.  But there aren’t many seats there.  The food was amazing, atmosphere vibrant.  My only suggestion to them would be to offer some higher end wines  by the glass.  But they have tasting of different wine, so we got to try a bunch of wines without the committment of a full glass.  I wore a new dress that I got this summer at a consignment shop in Block Island!  I bought it without trying it on knowing full well it was too big.  But the print was so cool.  The olives reminded me of a Kate Spade® print.  I took it and had it altered and whlaha~ awesome unique dress for under $50 bucks!  Gotta love it!

 The kiddies also had many activities as usual!  My oldest son had his first trumpet lesson at school and was eager to play for me.  The other two kiddies are just too darn cute, providing entertainment as usual while we were out and about doing errands!  My running has been good this week.  I have taken major steps to get let my IT band rest and nip any injuries in the bud.  For the last 3 few weeks I have seen my chiropractor  and doing baptise style hot yoga 2x per week.  I have been more faithful at doing some leg strengthening  and I cut back on my runs for 2 weeks.  The result an amazing 10 miler pain-free!  Ok DC is looking like a go!

A new favorite post workout smoothie!  1cup unsweetened almond milk  1 scoop orange cream protein powder by syntrax (21 gms protein) and 1/2 fresh blueberries.  Throw in a 1/2 cup ice and blend. Outrageously tasty!  Oooo now I’m craving one!  And more winter bulbs blooming in the house.  These smell amazing.

And lastly a girls night out with my “Moms Night Out” gang.  We celebrated another 40th.  This one was a belated 40th since Shelly joined our group after she turned 40.  But we all wanted to show here how special she is and that we ♥ her!

Well that was my week! How was yours??

Day Late…Dollar Short

Jan28

Well I have been wanting to do this each week and Friday’s seem to pass me by…but I decided I would link up and post this anyway!  I love the concept of Insta Friday and started to become a little obsessed with Instagram on my iPhone.  If you haven’t heard of it yet it’s a great way to capture sip bits of your week. The app is free!  I’m linking up at Life Rearranged to share our pictures of the week.

We have a wonderful dog- his name is Gus.  He’s the old man of the house.  If he could be a lap dog he would, but alas he is about 90 lbs.  I’m craving a little lap doggie.  We fostered my SIL’s puppy for about 5 months over the summer while they acclimated to having two new twin baby boys.  So here’s these cuties…

Good Ol’ Gus…our 11 year old wanna be lap dog! 

Cooper…the spoiled foster dog…((he’s sleeping on my bed))

puppy love ♥ I want this cutie a 10 week old Maltese-Shitzu Mix.

We also got to go see my SIL and her family for dinner last Saturday.  My little nephews not so little anymore!  Other things that made me smile this week…

My amarylis that bloomed this week! Such a great pop of color in the gloomy winter.

My girlfriends daughter made cupcakes for my kiddies…don’t they look delightful!

Gotta love getting organized! Cleaned out all the cabinets re-arranged dishes which I really haven’t done since we moved in 7 years ago.. (the re-arranging part, not the cleaning) that I have done at least once or twice LOL!

My favorite quote of the week!  I got this from Jess at Allhora Handmade!  She did a presentation on making your dreams a reality and how she has been successful at making her creative passion into a business.  I so wish I loved in Cali so I could have gone to that presentation!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

2012 Words to Live by…

Jan22

So I’m sure if you read blogs out and about that right after New Year”s you may have heard many people talk about the One Word Resolution.  The concept is pretty simple.  Instead of trying to accomplish fruitless new years goals, think of one word that encapsulates many of the common themes you would like to work on this year.  There have been some very interesting words chosen and even more captivating are the reasons why people chose those words.  Choosing a word to encompass the essence of you and what you’d like to work on, reach ect it isn’t as easy as you might think.  I have been giving it some serious thought and found the concept inspiring.

Melanie at Only a Breath offered to make buttons for people who chose their one word. I read in a recent post she made over 200!  That’s amazing and a wonderful gift of her talents as a graphic designer. You can read Melanie’s One Word here. Can you guess what it is?? (hint GIVE)

Other One Word Inspiration:
Jess at Allora Handmade, Mingue at 30 days Handmade and hop on over to Lara’s a.k.a. Ellie G.’s blog at Less Cake {More Frosting} she is featuring a different blogger every day this month on what their one word is and why it is meaningful to them. 

My One Word is…

 
So why did I chose the word Grace.

The dictionary has many definitions of the word grace.  During bible study last summer I learned that the word grace as refered to in the bible means God’s Love.

But there are other meanings as well, some which I am sure your familiar with.

grace (grs) n.

1. Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.

2. A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.

3. A sense of fitness or propriety.

4. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.  Mercy; clemency.

5. A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.

6. A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.

7. Graces Greek & Roman Mythology Three sister goddesses, known in Greek mythology as Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, who dispense charm and beauty.

8. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people.  The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God.

An excellence or power granted by God.

9. A short prayer of blessing or thanksgiving said before or after a meal.

10. Grace Used with His, Her, or Your as a title and form of address for a duke, duchess, or archbishop.

11. Music An appoggiatura, trill, or other musical ornament in the music of 16th and 17th century England.

tr.v. graced, grac·ing, grac·es

1. To honor or favor: You grace our table with your presence.

2. To give beauty, elegance, or charm to.

 
Now that’s a word that encompasses a lot.  I want to live more in Gods grace.  To allow him to define the path for me.  To speak and listen to my children with more love, mercy and patience.  To help others more and donate my time and treasures to those who can be helped.  To continue my fitness journeys and share them with others so they may be inspired.  And who doesn’t want to walk with charm and beauty in heels at a dinner party or sneakers at the gym.  I also what to remember throughout the year that I cannot be all things to everyone everyday.  I want to allow God’s grace to remind me of that.
 
Do you have a word?  What is it and why?
 

My Pearls of Wisdom

Jan6

So this post is inspired my one of my moms night out peeps, Heather Norris. She also is quite the fantastic photographer. You can check her out here Heather Norris Photography. She  also has a fun blog, called In the Studio  that show cases her life as a photographer and some of her favorite images.  (check it out)  Ok back to my topic. So Miss Heather called yesterday and said “I need some fashion pearls of wisdom”… My ears perked up…”I am cleaning out my closet and what do I do with clothes that are too big, but who knows maybe I’ll need again someday…and clothes that are nice, maybe even new but I haven’t worn?” It didn’t take long for me to answer.
So here’s my 2 cents a.k.a fashion pearls :)
1. If you haven’t worn it in a year – a stretch would be two years toss it. Unless it’s a classic coat, shoes etc. the likelihood you’ll wear it is slim to none.
2. If it has sentimental value. Take a picture of it! Think outside the box…repurpose that sentimental sweater.  Make a pillow out of that beloved childhood sweater or use a piece of fabric from your favorite jeans as matting behind a picture of you wearing the item and frame it.  This way you still have the memories but it’s not cluttering your closet.
3. Fat clothes, skinny clothes….maybe someday it’ll fit clothes….gone!  They provide no value in your wardrobe.  Think of it this way. If you did unfortunately gain weight (for whatever reason)  it would make you feel like crap, to have to dig into the old, out of date,  fat clothes.  Skinny clothes just make us feel inferior and puts ideas into our heads that were not meeting expectations.  The maybe someday it’ll fit clothes don’t allow us to focus on the here and now.  So stop wishing for the past or future what if’s… live in the now! Clothes should make you feel happy, strong, athletic, sexy.
4. Lastly when you are done weeding through all that stuff make a list of what you need ie: dark jeans, boots, skirts for work. Have a shopping plan will help you not to get distracted.
5. And one more rule…this is my personal sole momma rule for shopping don’t buy it unless you ♥ love, ♥ love, love it!  The clothing in your closet should make your heart ♥ sing.  It should make you feel good when you put them on.  Not just so-so.  Don’t buy it because it a “good deal”.  It’s not money well spent if you never wear it.

So there you have it…the sole mommas fashion pearls of wisdom for cleaning out your closets.  Do you have any tips you’d like to share? Leave me a comment!

Happy New Year!

Jan4

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I hope the beginning of 2012 has been uneventful but full of glorious possabilities. After visiting over at my favorite tri-fit mom blog I realized why i have not committed to a new years resolution….its because i don’t have a pivotal goal for this year. I have goals…lots of them. But nothing that needs “resolving”. (although my hubby may disagree and he can comment in the comments section). :) one of my goals for this year is that i want to finish my marathon at the 4 hour mark or better. Its not a resolution….just a goal. But for those of you who want to start fresh make 2012 the year that you strive to reach your full potential as a wife, mother, entrepreneur, fitness fanatic, or craft diva. For me the past few weeks have been filled with much joy. Laying low, enjoying a quite break. I was able to be in the moment and appreciate the little oddities of life, at work and at home, be them stressful or silly.

I haven’t blogged in awhile partially because I am struggling with where do I go with my blog. This month is the 1 year mark for my blog. I have had to take a step back and look at why I am blogging and where I fit into the blogging world.

If you do blog or read them, the blog world is a daunting place. You look at some of these blogs and you feel inferior. Trying to write posts that are true to myself and still partially inspiring is difficult. I graple with how much information to share and what to hold back. I wonder if people find my blog inspiring, entertaining, educational or none of the above.
So I’m still getting my feet wet, testing the waters and thinking how to take soles of a mom to the next level.
What would you my readers like to see??
Did you like the 31 days segment in October?
Do you want menus and recipes?
Do you want training tips? Or an exercise of the week? Or some posts that focus on a certain area of nutrition?
Or does linking up with me to help you with your nutritional and weight loss goals sound appealing.
Let me know why you follow or what peeks your interests at soles of a mom. Because I’d like to take my blog to the next level and value all of you who follow, comment etc.

HAPPY 2012

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It’s the Most Crazy Time of the Year!

Dec12

You know the song…. It’s the most wonderful time of the year….Well it is wonderful but crazy.  I can’t say I am particularly stressed.  But busy is an understatement.  I literally have been taking everything in small 1-2 day increments, checking off each task/event as I go otherwise the schedule would be overwhelming.  It’s all good things but hectic none the less. 

Let me give you a run down on the latest in Sole Momma Land.  So I started my marathon training yup I am now in week 14.  I have been able to get in my runs and my speed work, but it has been slightly stressful squeezing it in.  I have to remind myself that I need to take this time for myself because the endorphin release I get from running really allows me to cope better with the stress.  Secondly our stove died…yes died on Thanksgiving morning.  We were hosting and had a beautiful turkey ready to hit the oven.  We had to do the turkey on the grill.  It was slightly stressful figuring out how to do that and heat up all the sides, but we managed.  The day after Thanksgiving I didn’t hit any Black Friday sales I hit the appliance store and bought all new appliances.  Jenn Air Pro Series. :) Talk about blowing your holiday budget.  Getting new appliances creates the snow ball effect… it’s now kitchen cabinets,counter tops…blah, blah, blah.  We have been talking about re-doing our kitchen for two years.  My microwave died three months ago and I have been holding out on getting a new one.  Now with the oven officially dead we had no choice but to dive in.  It is the last real room we need to re-do in this house.  The oven was the catalyst for this process. 

The first week of December was the kick off of a two-week stint of craziness.  Number 2 was in the Nutcracker.   This year she was in the fight scene as a the “white mouse”.  Basically the Mouse Queens princess.  OMG she was so excited and beaming.  She also was in Trepak which is a big deal for the girls as it’s the a high energy dance that the audience always claps along with the music.  She had dress rehearsals Thurs & Friday night until 9:30.  Late for a 7-year-old who still has to go to school the next day.  Then we had a  Saturday night performance and Sunday performance.  To say she was fried on Sunday was an understatement.  Later that night  I helped my friend by having her three kiddies sleep over so she could go to London for the weekend with her hubby.  Actually that was easy as her kiddies kept my kiddies entertained.  Number 1 had a cub scout wreath sale and a pack meeting later in the week where he got his Ready Man, and First-aid pins.  Number 3 had a birthday party to attend and Dad did some traveling  for work.  I also participated in a vendor event in the evening last week where I sold my hair accessories from www.princessdivabows.com. The following night was my annual Mom’s Night Out holiday party and the next day a holiday dinner party with our “Napa Valley wine drinking friends”.  (PHEW I needed that glass of wine!) In my spare time I helped make fleece scarfs for the homeless shelter in our area that was part of a church outreach project and oh did I mention yesterday I co-hosted a cookie swap.  Yes you read that right a cookie swap.   I have been doing it for the past 7 years.   Thankfully a friend offered her home this year.  So I just had to do the invites and the little extras.  However I did have to bring my own cookie creation which is funny since I have no oven yet to bake them in!  Luckily I have great neighbors who allowed me to run back and forth with trays of cookies to bake in their oven.  Double Stuff Peppermint Cookies from Rachel Ray, the recipe is here from Taste and Tell blog.  They were awesome!  Can you say CRAZY girl?!  I actually think I thrive on chaos.  When I am booked to the max my efficiency is through the roof.  When I have tons of time I procrastinate and nothing gets done. 

pic via {taste and tell blog}

How’s it going for all of you???? Stay sane…savor the memories.  It’s crazy but I wouldn’t have it any other way!  Traing run’s on the docket this week….

  • 4 mi easy – 9:54 pace
  • 5 mi tempo run- 1 mi warmup, 3mi at 8:21, 1 mi cool down
  • 5 mi easy- 9:54 pace
  • 14 mi- Long run 9:54 pace

It’s official!

Nov26

Yes I took the leep- I finally registered for my next marathon. Let me tell you it was not as easy as you might think. Hitting send and committing to 16 weeks of training was mind boggling to
say the least. Sure it’s fun thinking of where that race will be… Florida, Rome, Texas, California were all on the radar screen. I am definitely a destination marathon girl. It just makes the work that much more rewarding. Plus once you start booking hotels etc your commitment level increases. No backing out. As much as Rome would be FABULOUS, the logistics of traveling and who would take care of the kiddes became a factor. So the decision was made and I signed up for … D.C. Baby!

So my official 16 week training starts this next week. Crazy right. I learned many things my first go around. Winter training last year was brutal and exhilariting. I really learned how to appreciate a “warm winter day”. I saw many beautiful sights on my runs. I love seeing how icsicles form on trees and buildings. I love how when the sun hits the snow just right it twinkles. I thrive on the runners high I get after completeing my long runs. I learned how the support of my family and friends is key to my success. These are the good memories and this is why I signed on for another.

But why do I hesitate? Its from those “mistakes and bumps in the road I experienced, so to speak.” Number one on my learning curve list…
1. I learned not, I repeat DO NOT over train. Last year every time my plan said run 20 miles I thought more was better. I never thought the opposite would be true, until after completeing the marathon and talking to someone. A seasoned runner…when I gushed about my “24 miler vs 20″ they were quick to point out “So you basically ran a marathon (24 mi long run vs 20, and then ran the marathon (26.2) 2 weeks later?” Never thought about it that way. But looking back at my time I did for my 24 mile training run I thought ((man I’ve got this, locked and loaded))… But my body had other plans as the breakdown of the IT band started at mile 16 on race day.
2. This time I will try to do more speed work as the plan calls for. Basically given our brutal winter last year I was more concerned about getting the miles in vs time.
3. Do not, again I repeat DO NOT schedule any races after the marathon. I have to allow myself time to recover. Enjoy the process of “not having to run”. Last year I set myself up for failure big time, pre- registering for races another full marathon & a half that I never got to run. I felt so defeated.

So I loaded up my smart runner coach app(which I ♥) and surveyed the next 16 weeks ahead. As I scrolled through the 16 weeks I started to get discouraged and feeling as if I might not be able to do it again. The process seems daunting. I looked at the plan and thought- “ugh the week between Christmas and New Years I should be running a 16 miler…Can I really get there again?” In October at the Hartford 1/2 marathon as I ran up under the finish line I remember thinking “Wow I did double this??? That’s crazy.”

The weather has been so balmy here in the NE- with a few cold snaps sprinkled in. But here I was last Tuesday running in 60 degree weather and then went for a run with a friend on Saturday only to wish I had put on my gloves. My fingers were numb by the time we got back from our 6 mile run. I’m so not ready for this. But I put it out here because I want to held accountable…I want to do this, otherwise I would not have hit send on the registration form.

So what’s on the docket starting Monday November 28th.

  • 5 mi easy – 9:54 pace
  • 5 mi tempo run- 1 mi warmup, 3mi at 8:21, 1 mi cool down
  • 6 mi easy- 9:54 pace
  • 10 mi- Long run 9:54 pace

One of my easy runs may be replaced with a 60 minute spin class some weeks- which for me is the equivalent of a 5-6 mi run. The trainer who who runs that class- kicks ass! ((smooches Marc!))

Are there any Sole Moms who want to take on the challenge with me?? Half {13.1} or Full {26.2} Marathon? If we get some Sole Mommas to come I would coordinate a Sole Momma pre-race dinner and meet up after the race etc. It would be great to have some camaraderie with training and on race day.

Leave a comment if your interested or email me at solesofamom@gmail.com.

Happy November!

Nov5

So if there was any doubt that I am a Martha Stewart wanna be well here’s a pic to prove. I have every issue of Everyday Food since its inception January 2003.

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I cannot seem to part with these handy little recipe books. The thing I love most is the recipes are simple and if you use the issues in the month they are printed, ie: November issue for November meal planning and so on it actually uses fruits, vegetables that are in season. My favorite thing to do is pull all my recipe books for November for the past 9 years and plan my menus accordingly.

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So today as many in my town in Connecticut and across the state are still without power or cable due to this past weekends recent snow storm. I’m planning a months worth of meals!
Did you notice my cool monthly dinner time menu planner and grocery list? They are from Jones Design Company and her JDC Monthly Printables ! You can check it out on the link. The first month is free to try. You get something different every month! Like September we got chore charts the kids weren’t too happy, but mommy loved it!

So here is what I have on the menu so far this week!

mon. halloween open house – snacks
tues. pasta carbonara with leeks & lemon ((this is in the most current everyday food recipe booklet. Not on the site yet! It was delicious!!!
wed. chicken with dried plums ((all time favorite!))

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thurs. salad with roasted fall vegetables

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fri. butternut squash soup ((if you can, make the pumpkin seeds to they are delicious!))

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sweet treat: pumpkin doughnut muffins!

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So it’s been a whole week without phone, Internet or cable. Yes I am one of the lucky ones with power. So I did this whole post from my iPhone. If there’s typos or the formatting isn’t pretty I apologize. But hey Not too shabby for a non- tech girl! :)
How do you plan meals for your brood?

Living Solefully:: Day 31 ~ Sole Momma Feature!

Oct31

Hello everyone. I couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up our 31 Days of Living Solefully then by featuring one of the coolest, most courageous, and talented writers I know… Miss Maria.

Name: Maria, age 44 is married to her best friend Marc and has two fantastic children. A little girl age 5 and handsome boy age 9. Maria is a mom, wife, freelance writer, blogger extraordinaire! and breast cancer survivor. Let’s meet Maria our featured Sole Momma!

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1. When were you diagnosed with breast cancer? I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 30, in October of 1997, one year after I was married.

2. What was the course of treatment? Treatment was lumpectomy (2) The first one didn’t result in clean margins — cancer was still there — and they had to go back in for the rest. Then 8 weeks of radiation therapy. No chemo. No hormones either as I wanted to have kiddos.

3. How does the threat of recurrence affect your life? It’s been 14 years since my diagnosis. To say that I don’t think about breast cancer everyday would be a lie. It’s so prevalent. It took my father in 1989, and affected to many people in my family and my life. Just in our little town alone, I have met 7 women who are survivors and just found out another woman I know was diagnosed. Every year for my annual screening I am an internally emotional wreck. It just is what it is. I have had many biopsies since then — once you had cancer, there is no more “let’s wait and see.”

4. What are the positives you have taken from having breast cancer? What has it taught you about life moving forward? Since I came out as a survivor at my 10 year mark, I feel like I have empowered others to take hold of their own breast health. I did several Avon Walks (one with my friend Deana here!) which was amazing. I organized a local chapter of a club for high school girls called the Pink Ribbon Club that promotes BCA in the younger set ( it’s now defunct unfortunately). I have organized some breast cancer awareness events locally and spoken to some girl’s sports teams about it. I am really lucky, that I know. Mine was caught VERY early and I am a firm believer in early detection. I balk at the reports stating mammos are unnecessary until women are in their 50s. 40 is a good time and earlier if you have a family history. And if you have dense breasts (which many younger women do) then know that too and get yourself additional screening in the form of ultrasound or MRI. It’s law in CT and other places too that your MD tell you whether your breasts are full of dense tissue — the same color as cancer on a mammogram.

5. If you could share one thing about surviving breast cancer to other woman what would it be? One thing I would like all women to do is take control of their breast health. They are YOURS! Know them and know your risk factors. Exercise and eat right and don’t ignore any change in your breast. I would rather have 5 negative biopsies because I was dilligent than one positive one because I was afraid. Wouldn’t you?

6. Lastly…What are your favorite pair of shoes and why…wouldn’t be a sole momma feature with out this question. Okay, Deana wanted me to share my favorite pair of shoes for Soles of A Mom. Let me just say I live vicariously through Deana and her fashion choices. I just might have high fashion in me somewhere, I just haven’t unearthed it yet!! So I just sigh with envy at what Deana can pull off and what I am too set in my comfortable ways to attempt. So, sadly, my favorite pair of shoes would probably be my Skechers or a pair of very comfortable Aerosoles loafers. (Deana used to have the same pair I believe so perhaps I am on the right track after all!)

Thanks Deana!! Your blog is awesome and thanks for letting me share very important BC information with your readers!!

If you want to learn more about breast cancer you can visit The National Breast Cancer Foundation. To learn more about Maria visit her blog This Mom is Always Write.
Thanks Maria, your an amazing sole momma & friend!