The Challenge 2012…

I am a competitive person.  I need a little friendly competition to motivate myself.  I do not run if I am not training for a race and I usually eat like a complete mess.  I am busy.  My life is busy.  I know, excuses, excuses.

However, back in December our Educator’s Health Alliance was promoting healthy living with its month long challenge...Flab on Fire.  This meant tracking the days I exercised for 30 minutes or more.  The reward, a chance to win a Visa gift card if you are compliant for at least 20 days in December.  The chance to win a Visa gift card, although slim to none, won my heart over immediately.  Plus, the upcoming holidays usually involve a lot of extra indulging so I thought it might counteract some of those calories.  So, I started setting my alarm for 5:35 a.m. (most people had to pick their jaw up off the ground when they heard this.  If you know me at all you know I am NOT a morning person), getting out of bed and heading to the gym for a little morning news and running.  I decided that I was going to become a morning person.  FYI...I’m still working on the whole becoming a morning person.  Baby steps.  I met my goal, but did not win.  Big shocker, but no regrets.

Then came January.  I kept running, but wanted to do something more.  I came across a little challenge online, but needed someone to do it with.  I sent an e-mail to a few people at school and they were all interested.  So I thought I would include anyone at school that wanted to participate.  A little modification and 24 responses later, we were ready to go.  It’s a 4 week weight loss/be healthy challenge.  You earn points throughout the week for different things such as eating fruits and veggies, drinking water, keeping a food journal, not eating sweets and exercising.  My nemesis...eating 3 servings of veggies.  I don’t mind them, but I don’t love them.  So 3 servings can be a lot. 

It has only been 5 days, but I love how excited everyone is.  On Monday there were cupcakes in the teachers’ lounge.  Normally they are gone by 10 a.m. but on Tuesday afternoon one little cupcake still sat in the container.  Now that is dedication.  Can’t wait for the coming weeks.  There is strength in numbers...and competition.

Now for some Pinspiration:

… 

TGIF...

{The Launes}

All Things Running…

It is so easy to blog when I am out of school.  Partially because I have a life again, but mostly because of all my extra time.  I went back to school over a week ago and of course I have been running pretty much non-stop ever since. 

However, I did have a rare opportunity last week...to run outside. In January.  Ohmyword.  It wasn’t even just a nice day for January.  It would have been a nice day in March.  So Jamie and I hit the streets of Ashland for a little January run. 

But we soon discovered what a difference a week makes.  Because exactly one week later the weather went from 70 degrees to negative 10 with wind chill.  Back to the treadmill...but, I did get new running shoes this week!  My feet and knees and shins are all very thankful for this new purchase.  It was time.

It is hard to believe that January is basically halfway over.  The days are slowly getting longer and I just know spring will be here before we know it! 

{The Launes}

NYE 2011…

Some of my favorite memories growing up are from New Years Eve.  Each year I had my best friend Niki spend the night.  We would spend the entire night cutting confetti from old newspapers that had been saved and watching Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Years Eve.  The Sunday comics were the best because they added some color!  At 11 we would  watch the ball drop in New York and finish our final preparations of gathering pots and pans and last minute confetti cutting.   Then at midnight, we would run outside screaming “Happy New Year” at the top of our lungs while banging on pots and pans and throwing confetti and mom would shoot off her shotgun.  Then we would return inside so Jamie could play Auld Lang Syne on the piano and we could toast the new year with Welch’s sparkling grape juice.

This New Years Eve wasn’t quite up to those standards, but I am pretty sure Trent would not allow me to spend a whole day cutting confetti.  It was however a good day.

The day started early with breakfast.  Please excuse how terrible I look.  I was in much need of a nap yesterday.  And in case you were wondering...yes I took one :)

At night we did headed to the Vests for a little game night and food. 

Another intense game of Acquire was played...

Welch’s Sparkling Grape juice is still my #1 pick for toasting on NYE...

The only person missing from this picture is Sara...

So...

My best efforts at photo shopping with a limited amount of time.  Not to leave out Brian.  He was also missed.  If he was there we could have played Pictionary!

Happy 2012!

and...go big red!

{The Launes}