Well hello there 120's, it's been a while!

That's right folks... I am officially in the 120's again (129, but still)! It's been over 5 years, maybe even longer since I have been able to honestly say that! Super pumped about it! While I am proud of myself for reaching this "goal" (I use this term lightly as I am not really concerned with the number on the scale as I am with the reflection in the mirror), I still feel like I have a ways to go. I don't think I have an unhealthy body image or unrealistic expectations, but there is definitely a certain way that I hope to look (flatter stomach, thinner legs, less cellulite, blah blah blah, same as every woman in America, right?!) Here is a side by side comparison from when I started Ripped in 30 two weeks ago, and today (just completed week 2).

 

 

 

It's hard to really see a difference, but when you compare it to where I started back in June, you can definitely see the changes.

(still shudder when I look at these - yuck!)

I love seeing my body change and feeling it get stronger and knowing that I am breaking through barriers and setting personal bests, it's very empowering! I wasn't sure if I would really be able to do this whole half marathon thing, but low and behold I ran 6.2 miles the other day (granted it was on a treadmill b/c it was raining), but I couldn't believe it when I moved the towel and saw that I had ran 1.2 miles more than what I had set out to do! (on a side note, in case you were wondering, I always put a towel over the treadmill tracker b/c seeing the time and distance always psychs me out) And the really incredible part was that I could have kept going! I know, right! But alas, I had been running for 68 minutes and needed to go pick up my babies, or believe me I would have kept going just to see how far my legs would take me! I may be slow as all get out, but at least I am running the.whole.time! I am thinking about running a 10K before I take on the half - we'll see. In the meantime, my goal is to work up to 10-11 miles before the half (never knew this, but apparently you don't actually run a bunch of half marathons to train for the half), I've been told 10-11 miles is all you need to work up to, and on the day of the race, your adrenaline and body will carry you the rest of the way to the finish - I sure hope so!

Anyways, I attribute good music on my run mix to being able to "just keep running", but am always looking for more songs to add to the playlist and would love to know what your favorite running/workout songs are? What's on your playlist?

Keep Calm and Run On :)

ABCs at the Miksovskys

So, since Max and Emma have been out of MDO for nearly 6 weeks, things started to get a little boring around here. It's been too hot to go outside (for longer than 20 min), not to mention the mosquitos, and I'm not crazy enough to take them with me by myself to places like the zoo, or arboretum, ect - I did mention that they are almost 2 right?! Heck, we don't even go out to eat anymore b/c it's become such a beat down! Please tell me we are not the only ones dealing with this wonderful independant, attention span of 2 seconds, phase of life x 2!

Anywho, through the joy of Pinterest and numerous blogs and website out there, I took it upon myself to do a little toddler school at home. At first, we started off with colors, and nature walks, and talking about Jesus and God and all the things God made. Then I decided to start doing a letter a week, with coordinating books and crafts - why not right?! So about 4 weeks ago, we started with A, then B, and C, and you get the picture. Here's some of what we've done:

 

Fun times with balloons

 

 

 Painting crabs

 D is for dog

 

Walk to the park to feed the ducks

 

 

 Making ducks (we ended up gluing on the feathers that we collected on our walk)

 

 

 Drum Jam Session

 

And here are some of the books we read...

 

 

We also threw in a couple Bubble Guppie episodes that cooresponded to the letter of the week (they freakin love that show!)

 

 

we watched:

 

Gup Gup and Away (Airplanes)

Build me a Building

Have a Cow

Happy Clam Day

The Spring Chicken is Coming

The Cowgirl Parade

Can you Dig It?

Ducks in a Row

We Totally Rock (Drums)

 

 

We also learned the Baby Bumblebee song, the chicken dance, marched around the house while singing the ants go marching, watched funny dog, cat, and baby videos on you tube, predended to be dinosaurs, cats, dogs and ducks and looked for airplanes and clouds in the sky, and had a dance party :) We also attempted to learn the signs for the letters, but a was pretty much the only one they could do. They have had a lot of fun going to the library every week, coloring and playing "school" at home. We are on E this week (last week we left for Wimberley on Thursday and they started real school, so we didn't get around to doing anything). Gotta love Pinterest and amazing websites with great ideas, cause if it was up to me to come up with all this stuff, it probably wouldn't happen!

 

 

 

 

Ripped in 30 - Week 1 Down!

That's right - I not only suffered through the 30 Day Shred, I have also made my way through week one of Ripped in 30, and I gotta tell ya, that Jillian isn't messin around! Whew! Here are the pics from day 1:

Here's the deets:
weight - 133 lbs
arms - 11"
belly - 34 1/2"
booty - 38"
legs - 22 1/2"
under boobs - 29 1/2"
boobs - 38"

*all measurements were taken on the left side and at the widest point.

Now I have to tell you, I kind of went balls to the walls Thursday through Sunday (drive to Wimbo, floating the river, eating at the Gristmill, complementory hot bfast at the hotel, wings and fries and aggie football, only to be followed by beer, beer, nachos, beer, and more football at the Texas State game, oh and who could forget the Buc-cees beaver nugs! ), whew! Needless to say, my body was in no way used to the crap that I was putting in it, it's a wonder I survived the weekend! Anywho, all that to say that I don't really want to weigh myself at the moment or take any pics, but I did start week 2 of Ripped today and plan to post a pic after week 2 :) I did however weigh myself on Friday and was super pumped to see I was at 130.4! Soooooooooo close to the 120s I can taste it - although probably not quite as close anymore! But hey, I had fun! Here's to a week of getting back on the wagon and kickin week 2's butt! Oh and I move on up to 5 mile runs - thank God for the cooler weather that blew in! Here are some fun pics from the weekend...

Alyson and I at Sean Patricks for some pre-game grub

 

Alumni tent

Eat 'em up cats!

Why does my head always seem so small in pics?

 

I know Jason has more pics on his phone so, I will edit and add more pics later,