Yoga Series Finale: Well Rounded Workout

First of all, I'd like to congratulate Amanda Cedergreen on winning the Muddy Buddy entry!  We have some great stuff going on today.

Photo Contest Voting

Please vote for your favorite photos by leaving a blog post comment at the end of the post, click here to see the photos and vote.

GIVEAWAYS

• Handful Bra
• Sweat Pink Swag bag
• Swiftwick socks:  6 size small Swiftwick socks!

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Yoga Series Finale

This may be a finale but there's nothing final about my yoga lovin'.  Over the course of this month I've shown you four idea based yoga workouts.

• Balance
• Abs
• Relax
• Strength

So now it's time to put it all together.  Thats one of the best things about yoga.  You can work your whole body in 10 minutes.  Usually it's best to start with some meditating or, in layman's terms, sitting indian style, closing your eyes, breathing, and imagining you are some place amazingly wonderful.  Usually I'm sitting in the sand next to the ocean at sunrise, well in my head I am!

Basic Yoga Workout:

• Meditate
• Stretch
• Sun Salutation
• Balance
• Abs
• Relax
• Meditate

Of course this is just a suggestion to go by.  If you only feel like doing certain things that do what feels right.

Sun Salutation

A series of yoga moves that you can smoothly move from one to the next.  An example of a sun salutation could be table, plank, downward facing dog, plank, cobra, monkey, forward fold, mountain.  Take your time as you move through the poses pausing in each to feel the burn and stretch of each and keep your breathing steady throughout.

Yoga App

Once again I have to remind you about this app my yoga instructor showed me because I love it and it you are interested in yoga and doing it on your own then you'll love it.  And it's free so it's even better!

Blogger find + RMR

Don't forget to enter our photo contests!  I've gotten quite a kick out of the silliness going on!  Entry ends tonight AND voting begins and goes through February 1st.

I love finding new blogs to read.  Yes, my inbox is overflowing with blogs I subscribe to so I have to share the blogging love by passing on my suggestions to you.  I am always on the look out for new blogs so if you know of a really good one that I need to start reading please suggest away in my comments section!

Pbfingers.com

I found out about Julie on pinterest via someone's pin of one of her circuit workouts.  I followed the pin back to her blog and was instantly hooked.  She is actually one of the reasons I started blogging in the first place.  Her daily musings are addictive and entertaining.  I love that I can totally relate to her and feel like I know her personally even though we've never actually been in contact.

She definitely an inspiration to me on how healthy she eats and how well she comes across in her writing.  I try to find ways to reach out to my readers so they can feel they know me personally.

Check out Julie at pbfingers.com 

RMR

I know it's sort of late in the month to be getting out fitness info but I like to share interesting articles that I've found in magazines with ya'll so you can reap the benefits of my strenuous magazine reading.  Notice the sarcasm...

Well, I recently found an article called Supercharge your Metabolism Workout in Fitness Magazine.  Within the article was a blip about RMR.  RMR is your Resting Metabolic Rate or the amount of calories you burn when you do nothing.  I'm not saying it ok to do nothing.  Use your RMR to find out how many more calories you can burn resting by making more use of your workouts.  

Ok, when you lift weights or run, even when you've stopped working out and taken your shower and sat down to watch Vampire Diaries...you are still burning calories.  You are burning that many more calories since you DID work out than you would have if you HADN'T of worked out.

Here's the equation:

(10 x weight(kg)) + (6.25 x height(cm)) - (5 x age) - 161 = calories burned at rest

To find your weight in kg: (weight/2.2)

To find your height in cm: (height x 2.54)

Using me as the example:

(10 x 59) + (6.25 x 170) - (5 x 29) -161= 1,347 calories

So my body burns approximately 1300 calories everyday even if I just sit in bed all day long.

GIVEAWAYS!

Right now myself and Sarah from How My World Runs are hosting a plethora of giveaways for our Grande Finale Week!  Today's giveaway is a sweet Swag bag from Sweat Pink!  Keep scrolling to check out the other current giveaways we have going on.

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• Handful Bra Giveaway
• Allied Medals Display Giveaway

Bally Sport Bra Review + Giveaways!

I have the hardest time finding sports bras that I like.  I just don't get it, I'm an A cup and yet I have to get medium and larget sports bras because they are too tight on my ginormous rib cage!  Anyone else have this issue?  Super frustrating and uncomfortable.  Grrr!

So you can imagine the annoyance when I opened a present from my MIL that contained sports bras.  First thought, "Great, another sports bra that won't fit".  But much to my surprise, these quickly turned into my new favs!

I do want to let ya'll know, I'm not getting paid to write this.  I received it as free product...as a Christmas present (from my MIL).  So this is all just my opinion that I have to share with you!

These came in a two pack bundle with this blue one and a white one (sorry no pic, it was in the wash!).  The material is stretchy and breathable like your dri-fit running clothes.  It has inserts so you can't see when you headlights come on, yes, I have this problem when I workout.  And I seriously think this little clasp in the back is the key to it's super comfy fit.  This bra actually doesn't squeeze my ribs so I can wear it all day long!

My MIL said she got it at Sam's but I've found it on Amazon.

Grand Prize Giveaways!

January is almost over so we are doing a grand finale of giveaways to fill you last week in January with lots of excitement like the 4th of July fireworks display! 

• Flip Belt closes tonight!
• Get an Allied Medals display, win it here!
• Win a Handful Bra or Tank!

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Photo Contest

Don't forget about our photo contest!  Enter your photo by midnight, January 30th and come back to vote on January 31st for your favorite.  Each winner gets a Bondi Band!

Check out our entries so far and enter your own picture!

Last day of Muddy Buddy Giveaway!

So weekends aren't exactly the easiest time to find me.  If I don't already have a blog post written and scheduled, it's just not going to happen, especially if I go out of town!

Giveaways!

We have several things going on right now.  

• The Muddy Buddy Entry Giveaway closes TODAY! So if you haven't already be sure to get in there and tell your friends! a Rafflecopter giveaway
• The FlipBelt Giveaway ends TOMORROW!  This belt is seriously awesome.  Even if you don't run outdoors it is a great handfree way to carry your keys and ipod at the gym.
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• Allied Medals Giveaway opens today, check out How My World Runs for the info and enter to win.

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Contests!

You have till midnight on January 30th to enter the photo contests to win a Bondi Band!  Once you enter you photo don't forget to come back on the 31st to vote on your favorite!

Biggest Muscles

Best Workout Bud Funniest Photo

  

Menu Planning

This is a long week in my cooking kitchen!  I've been pretty proud of how much I'm saving by planning out my meals for the week.  I like to see all my food eaten and my fridge clean on Sunday night.  I will admit that I have mini panic attacks that I'm going to run out of milk (my 3 year old goes through it like crazy) but I've been making it till the next Monday each week since January 1!

• MONDAY:  Potato soup and "Red Lobster" biscuits.  Both grabbed out of my pantry that I have decided, need to be used NOW!  They are both mixes that I'm going to, of course, add my own random ingredients to make them awesome.
• TUESDAY:  Jambalaya.  Okay, maybe not like super duper awesome Cajun jambalaya but its our own version.  It's basically red beans and rice with some sausage and Rotel and bell peppers.
• WEDNESDAY:  Chez it chicken.  I copy this from my SIL.  Roll chicken breasts in crushed chez its and bake.  Yum.
• THURSDAY:  Chicken Parmeasan.  My sort of knock off version of Chicken Parm.  I love Target's Chicken Parm breasts are perfect and I just cook some pasta and add some sauce and cheese.  
• FRIDAY:  Don't choke on your wine!  But...GASP!...I'm cooking on Friday.  Taco salad/tacos/quesadillas.  So I should just have stuff and only have to make the taco meat and then make it to order.  Fun Fiesta Friday sans the ritas though...maybe.

another giveaway...oh yes!

As if the Muddy Buddy entry and Nuun hydration 4 pack wasn't enough, here's another giveaway for a super awesome prize.  Hey, I am even entering it!  Be sure to enter by Tuesday to win.

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Here's some other fun stuff!

Don't forget the other giveaways we have going on!  Enter to win one free entry to any Muddy Buddy race! Or get your hands on this Nuun Hydration 4 pack, don't know about Nuun?  Check out my review.  The Nuun giveaway ends tonight and the Muddy Buddy giveaway ends Monday so...GET IN THERE!

Don't forget to get your photos in for our photo contests, each winner gets a Bondi Band!  You have until January 30th to enter.

I have a little surprise so keep your eyes open for something fun from She cooks, She crafts, She Runs!

Yoga Series: Strength

Let me start by saying I'm sorry for these awful photos.  I'm tired and my hubs isn't exactly a fantastic photographer, 'nough said.  My form is a bit off but I had to get this post out.  I must also add a little disclaimer that I am NOT a professional.  I am a practicer and lover of Yoga.

The plank

Oh yes, the plank is a strength move.  Oh yeah.

Warrior 1

Sorry for the crappy photo, apparently he didn't realize he had his finger over the flash.

Warrior 2

1 minute in this position and your legs will be begging you to sit.

Warrior 3

Also known as flying bird, this is also a balance position.

Downward Facing Dog

Ok, I suck at this position but I've been trying to get better at it.  I can't get my heels to the ground, I can't straighten my legs, and I can't relax my back.  See, I'm definitely not a professional, I'm just trying to get better through practice.

 Crow

This pose took alot of work.  Alot of practice. And it still is hard for me to hold for more than 5 seconds.

Wedge

Looks like a pelvis thrust but with the hands pushing up your waist, it definitely kicks in your abs and buttocks!

Chair is another good one to try to work on strengthening those thighs.  Think wall squats with no wall.

Try them out and let me know what you think!

Muddy Buddy Giveaway!

Be sure to check out our #30dayhomies giveaways this week!  

• Free Muddy Buddy Entry
• Nuun Hydration 4 pack

Bella's 1st Birthday Party

My baby girl's 1st birthday was this weekend.  Originally I wasn't going to throw a party because I did want to cook.  Well, after a talk with some girlfriends I jumped into party planning with two feet!

So here we go on the journey of party decor, sweets, and of course, my sweet Bella eating cake!

Greeting guests at the door is a pink and burlap wreath, with a cupcake covered B of course!

These are my goodie bags, don't mind the grease spots!  I didn't know that animal cookies did that to paper bags.  But everyone loved them, they said their kids were pumped about finding yummy animal crackers in their bag!

For each birthday party I have a frame with a mat.  I then place a photo from their birthday shoot in the mat and they are surrounded by signatures from people that came to the party.  I love that folks can leave a sweet note she can read years from now.

This is the full table that greeted guests by the door.

Of course, we need to get on to the food.  Cupcakes!

I finally purchased this drink canister at my son's last birthday.  I think it was around $40 from Bed Bath and Beyond and totally worth it.  I used the same punch from my son's birthday.  My SIL told me about this Fresca/Pineapple juice/Country Time Lemonade mix and it pairs PERFECTLY with Rum and vodka.  Oh yes, we break out the Mama/Daddy additives at our parties!  Don't worry, we place them behind the canister and only the adults can reach!

Check out the serving table!

I saw some heart shaped cookies on Martha Stewart's magazine I got in the mail and decided to take it one step further.  Cake bites!  I made thin cakes and cut them out into shapes and put them together with homemade buttercream icing.

The serving table was under these poms and floating photos I hung with fishing line.

Pale pink roses and babies breath were the perfect flowers for the party, because you have to have flowers!

These kabobs are strawberries, marshmallows, and bananas drizzled with chocolate.  OMG these were so good!  I couldn't get enough!  But I also had funfetti dip with fruit and cookies to dip.  Of course I had to have something salty with this table of sweets so I added some pretzels that were dipped in chocolate and white chocolate and covered in crushed M&M's.

R helped me and the birthday girl open presents.  He loved it!

Me and my sweet B right before her cake attack!

Sweet B's birthday outfit.

Sweet girl and her homemade hat I made!  Did you know when you put mod podge on scrapbook paper that it like laminates it?  With some fluff and a puff on top it was perfect attached to a headband.

She was pretty proud of herself  and all her cake eating!

Flash Giveaway!

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Muddy Buddy Entry Giveaway

Yesterday we announced our giveaways for this week.  I'm so happy to be hosting a giveaway for an entry into one of the Muddy Buddy races, I have a very personal connection to this giveaway and I have to share!

Last May my friend and I teamed up to run the Austin REI Muddy Buddy Race.  It's a mud run that you CANNOT complete without your buddy.  So every obstacle you have to have your buddy in order to do it.  It was a great team building experience.

The Austin race takes place in Pedernales State Park and is quite a rocky course.  You definitely need to have quick feet and be used to trail running to keep up your tempo on this course.  I loved the scenery throughout the whole race.  Who doesn't love the beauty of central Texas?!? 

Up and down rocky hillsides we went, over barricades, and up a steady flowing ankle deep stream we went.  My personal "wow that was tough" was one of the last obstacles they used to call "The Beast" and now it's the "Slippery Mountain".  Basically you use a rope to climb your way up a steep wooden board.  Seriously, I did not think it would be so tough.  But I was pumped when I got over it! Check out their obstacles! 

The folks over at Muddy Buddy also run the Rock n Roll series and Women's Run series.  I ran the very first San Antonio Rock n Roll and had a blast seeing all the bands.  These races are incredibly well run and offer so many options.  I'm definitely planning on getting my son entered into the Mini Muddy when he turns 4!

The Muddy Buddy isn't just for fun!  REI's Muddy Buddy series raises money for Prostate Cancer Foundation Athletes for a Cure.  What can you do to help?  Raise $30 or more and receive a REI Muddy Buddy Adventure Series Benefitting the Prostate Cancer Foundation technical t-shirt along with your participant tee. 

The Austin REI Muddy Buddy is on May 11th but you can check out there other dates and locales to see if there's one that is closer to you that you can use your free entry for.  Also, if the registrations are mad crazy full they might even open up a second date (May 12th) for the Austin race!

• Richmond Apr 20
• Austin May 11
• Atlanta June 8
• Nashville June 22
• Chicago July 20
• Boulder August 10
• Seattle August 18
• San Jose Sep 28
• Los Angeles Oct 26

This is my Rock n Roll San Antonio Half Marathon medal and it was my very first half marathon to run!  My time was 2:06 and I sure was proud!

This is my medal from the 2012 Austin Muddy Buddy race.  It was so much fun!  It was my first race after having my second baby and was my official "I'm back!" run.  I wish I was the one winning this giveaway!

I may not run it this year BUT next year I'm totally getting my sweet little boy to be my buddy for the Mini Muddy Buddy!  He's already so excited!

Can't wait?  Head over to www.muddybuddy.com to register!  Check out their facebook page to stay on top of the good stuff!

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Giveaway, Contests, Reviews...Oh my!

Nuun Review

The awesome peeps over at Nuun sent us some of their product to test out.  And I LOVE them.  I am not a big fan of sugary sports drinks so I was super pumped to get these testers.  I chose the Strawberry Lemonade and Tri berry.

The Strawberry Lemonade was my favorite.  It was like a lightly carbonated glass of strawberry Lemonade!  

The tri-berry was pretty good as well.  I'm usually not a fan of berry flavored sports drinks due to the crazy amount of sweetness that overwhelms but this did not have that issue.  It was like flavored water, just enough.

All you do is drop one of the handy tabs in a big glass of water and let it dissolve.  And it's ready!  I tried out the tabs with several different circumstances.  I downed two big cups after a half marathon, one cup several 5-8 miles runs, and even after a late night of drinking!  Each time it did the trick!  I usually get a headache after a long run because I can't seem refuel and get enough water so I tried these out and they did the trick, no headache!  Yay!

Twelve tabs come in a tube and the tubes are perfect little storage containers.  Easy to open and easy to store.  Check them out!  Way better that a bottle of too sweet Gatorade or Powerade!

Photo Contest

Funny Foto

Workout Buddies

Biggest Muscles

This Weeks Giveaways!

Check out Sarah's giveaway here

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Sunday Funday

I. am. so. tired.  Period!  Sorry I've been MIA this weekend.  My sweet baby girl's 1st birthday party was yesterday and I was crazy busy getting things done for it.  I'm spending today just recouping and I'm  planning on a small nap and football.  A few things first...

We have winners!

Congrats to Sarah Gabriel won our Headsweats Hat and Carey Bromgren, Alma McClintok, Jessica Thompson, and Rachel Mano'o the winners of the Swiftwick socks!

Menu for this week

• MONDAY:  Beef tips and gravy(crockpot tryout here!) with brown rice and green beans
• TUESDAY:  Crockpot Pulled Pork sandwiches
• WEDNESDAY:  15 bean soup and corn bread
• THURSDAY:  Pizza

My crockpot is going to be busy this week!

Sweet B Birthday Party

Later this week I'll be sharing photos from my Bella's first birthday party.  I had so much fun and I leave you with one word and one photo.

PINK!

EZ Salmon Salad

Get stuck in a lunch rut?  I do and I'm a SAHM!    Truth is I don't have alot of time to make myself a lunch and I'm not a big fan of leftovers.  Lately I've been trying to do better than Totino's pizzas and not going out for lunch!

One thing I've found is HEB's rotisserie chicken salad.  It's made at the store and I love it with Pretzel crisps from Costco.  But it's not exactly the healthiest thing due to all the mayo.

I've committed myself to trying more fish dishes this year.  I bought some Panko breaded cod from Costco last week that was delish with my homemade stir fry.  I really don't like a fishy taste in ANYTHING.  It totally grosses me out!

So for my lunch I've been wanting to do spinach salads and add some protein in the form of meat.  In steps, the Salmon.  I've tried salmon on salads at restuarants and it made the salad so filling and yummy!  So I've been picking up 6 oz filets from the Fresh Fish section at HEB and baking them.  I've seasoned them with soy sauce and Sriracha sauce or lemon pepper with some lemon juice.  I add some garlic salt and Italian seasoning for added tastiness.

Simply place your salmon filet in a oven-friendly dish and drizzle with olive oil and then season.  Cover dish with foil and add to a 400 degree oven for approximately 10-20 minutes.  Just keep checking it.  Online it says till its opaque, well I don't know what the hell that means so I'll say till it white/pink and when you use a fork in the meat it peels nicely.  Yeah, sorry that's vague but it's hard to tell.

Put the meat on some spinach, with roasted red bell peppers, tomatoes, avocados, and cucumbers and drizzle some ranch for some creaminess.  Think of how many veges you are getting in ONE meal!  And other than the ranch, it's all good for you!

Last Day for Giveaways!

Don't miss out!  Today is the last day to enter the Headsweat's and Swiftwick's Giveaway!

Yoga Series: Relaxation

I cannot express how upset I was that my yoga class was cancelled today!  I just love the hour of stretching, pushing limits, and thoughtless comfort.  Luckily, I was fully intending on writing this post for you so I got to do a little at home!

Today's theme is Relaxation.  Oh yes, relaxing is needed by us all!  I've demostrated some poses below but I have to disclaim that I am NOT a professional!  I do what I can and what is comfortable to me as you should for your own self.  If you have questions feel free to ask and I will answer them to the best of my ability.  I share with you because I know yoga can be daunting and I want to show you that any ole gal can do it!

I can't do a full Lotus.  I'm just not flexible like that.  I also have a hard time sitting indian style for very long so I've been working on this seemingly simple pose to get better.

Looks lame BUT it's really relaxing.  I mean how often do you just lay down on the ground and let your legs flop out and your arms and hands relax at your sides.  Just close your eyes and RELAX!

Stand with your legs spread and lean forward slowly to touch the ground.  Then look at the back of one hand and follow it as your raise it to the ceiling, then alternate your arms slowly.  I love this pose because it just seems to unwind me.

Put the souls of your feet together in front of you around 2 feet away and lean forward.  Don't pull hard and just let your body lean forward for a good warming stretch.

Plow is just bringing those legs over your head.  If you can touch the floor with your feet then that's awesome.  I can take my toes to the floor but it's not comfortable so I don't do it.  This feels great to your back.

Lay on your tummy then push up with your hands.  Be sure to keep your shoulders down, I have a bad habit of letting my shoulders inch up to my ears.  This feels so great on the back especially after doing some ab work.

Love this one.

Let your back dip.

Push your back up.

Always grounding.

From Mountain just lean forward and let your neck and arms relax and hang.

Ahh.  Feels good!

DON'T FORGET OUR GIVEAWAYS!

What the Headsweats hat?  OR how about the Swiftwick socks!