Fall

So summer is officially over. While I'm sad that our schedules are a lot busier now and the neighborhood pool is closed I'm beyond excited that it will be getting cooler now!

Here are some things that I am looking forward to:

1. Clothes! I am a firm believer that people look better with more clothes on. That's why I'm excited for weather that allows me to layer and cover up!! I love this look!

http://sevenlayercharlotte.com

2. Running! It's still in the low 70's to middle 80's but running feels so much better! I've had some of my best runs this last week.

9/27/15
5.00 miles
59:43
11:56 min pace

9/25/14
2.00 miles
19:01
9:30 min pace

3. Holidays! We don't necessarily celebrate Halloween but we do love to dress up, visit our neighbors, and hand out candy. This year Nathan is going to be Buzz Lightyear and Olivia is going to be a princess. My hubby and I are still trying to decide what we should dress as. Any good DIY couple costume ideas? Thanksgiving is one of my favorites because God has blessed us so much. We have so much to be thankful for. Lastly and the most loved by my son, putting up our Christmas tree! He's obsessed. I think he's been thinking about our tree since July. I'm not kidding.

http://www.woohome.com

What are some things about fall you're looking forward to?
Any good ideas for DIY couple costumes?
How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Super fancy or kid casual?

Its Getting Hot in Here

Last night we noticed that our house was not cooling down.

Yep. Our air conditioner will not blow cool air :(

So we snuck into our the kiddo's rooms and turned their fans on and after a quick wardrobe change for my daughter (long sleeves into short) we were confident they wouldn't get too hot overnight.

I don't know if my daughter was too hot or scared because of her fan but she wanted to party from 2-3 this morning. My hubby has the magic touch and was able to get her back to sleep after I had tried for almost an hour. Thank you honey!

We are going to a friend's house today for refuge from the heat and hopefully we can have someone come out today to fix our unit.

Please pray that it will be fixed quickly and inexpensively, that my kiddos have a fun time at my friend's house, and that they will be able to nap well there.

Thanks! Happy Monday!

This Morning's 10k

I am beyond excited to announce that my running partner and I ran a non race 10k this morning!

Our goal was to push hard and go long and that is just what we did. The farthest I had ever run was 5 miles back in May. Since then our long run days have been postponed due to illness, vacation, and Texas humidity and heat!

I knew I had it in me. Staying positive is the hardest for me. My brain is my biggest enemy while running. Luckily I made it to 5mi this morning before asking myself why I do this to myself.

At 6am it was already in the 80's with 94% humidity (thank you Garmin watch!). After a good application of bug spray we were on our way.

Half way through we decided to go on a gravel path. Boy does that work different muscles. It took a while for my calves to cooperate but thankfully they did. It was fun to switch up our route and it was by accident because we took a wrong turn. Go figure!

I'm super pumped, super happy with our time, and super sore. My left knee is swollen and weak feeling. I really hope its just from the added mileage. I can't pinpoint if I injured myself during the run so I hope that's a good sign!

Here are the stats from this morning:

• 1:10:04
• 6.20mi
• 11:18/mi
• 752 cal (cupcakes anyone? Just kidding :)

Hope y'all are having a productive and positive Saturday!

Blessings!

Oiselle's Principles of Flight

I was reading a blog called See Mom Run Far this morning and she has joined the Oiselle running team. I don't know much about the company but I hear they make awesome running wear.

She listed the teams "principles of flight" and I love absolutely every one of them!!

1. build the sisterhood.
We are only as strong as the bonds we build. And while most of us have them, we want to do more. We want to raise the ante in showing how women can support other women. To go further with the sisterhood …fostering strength and leadership not just in competition, but through every action, every day.
2. eat like a human.
No disordered, underweight competition. We know for a fact that this approach is a short-term benefit that detracts from strength, and can spread like a disease. Fuel your body, honor its workload, and create an image of health for other women to follow.
3. tell your story.
Running and racing is not enough to kindle a fire under track & field. By telling your story, you capture hearts and minds. And when you capture hearts and minds, you build the overall success of our sport. You are the story. You are the magic. Let her rip!
4. race with fire.
Fierce, beastly, carnivorous racing. The win, the podium, the qualifying time, the team score. We seek serious victories on significant stages. No matter the goal, the effort is marked by an unconditional desire to push to the limit…to go fast, and take chances.
5. compete clean.
No doping. No cheating. No monkeying with our natural state via chemicals or prescriptions. Eat well, work hard, run fast. Period.
6. be a superfan.
Get fans by being a fan. By being a crazy, cheering, yell ‘til your voice is hoarse superfan. After all, being a superfan, regardless of brand affiliation, is one of the most powerful things we can do to strengthen ourselves and our sport.
7. spread the love.
Oiselle won’t be for everyone, and that’s okay. But if you choose to be here, join because you’re nuts about the brand. You dig where we’re going, and you want to be a part of it. L-O-V-E baby, that’s all there is.

Written by Erin at See Mom Run Far 

You should check out her blog. It's really inspirational!

My Life Style Goal For 2014, Part 2

This is how my journey started.

As soon as my daughter turned 6 months old I could put her in child care at the gym. I joined my local 24 Hour Fitness.

My first thoughts were:
1. I have a safe place I can leave my kiddos.
2. Yay! Me time!
3. Wow, look at all the equipment.
4. Holy smokes! Where do I start?

I started with Zumba. I figured if I'm going to work out it might as well be fun. Well, it wasn't fun. I actually felt like I was going to die. I left crying.

After my pity party I decided to make Zumba and any type of exercise a challenge. No matter how hard it got (and still is) I would not give up.

Thankfully I had a friend during that time who had just had a baby also. We were each other's motivators and supporters. She had been to see a nutritionist so she helped me make a plan for my eating.

By changing my eating/nutritional habits and working out my weight started to come off.

I didn't lose a dramatic amount of weight but that wasn't my goal either. I wanted to lose weight and to do it the right way. While I would have loved to lose 20 pounds in two months I knew I couldn't maintain any routine that cause that amount of weight loss in that period of time.

I was trying to change my life style. I was not looking for a quick fix.

Whoa!

Oh my goodness! I cannot believe it is almost August. The last time I blogged was in May. That's a no bueno!!

I will update soon. So much has happened so I need to organize a bit before posting.

I hope y'all are having a blessed day!

What Went on This Week

Well, since the last time I posted I feel so much has happened!

Here's the run down:

• My son broke his toe, at the doctor's office, in front of the doctor. He might need surgery (we have an appointment today at 4 to find out. Please pray for not needed!)
• I got in several ok runs and one amazing 5 mile run! Wahoo!
• Kiddos had colds.
• School ended for my son.
• My daughter transitioned into a toddler bed and is doing so well!
• My husband and I decided to turn our dining room into a play room (this will be over several months so I'll post pics as we go along).
• I decided to go back to work. My daughter is on a waiting list for a two day preschool so with both of the kiddos in school next year I have some time to try and make some extra income. God's will to be done in this!!

I think that's it. I'm sure there's more but that's all my memory is giving me at the moment!

Blessings!

My Lifestyle Goal for 2014, Part 1

I really don't like making resolutions. I never keep up with them and then I feel like I've failed. I know I'm not alone in this!

So I made one goal for the year. To live a healthier lifestyle. So what does this mean?

Let me give you some background information.

I never struggled with my weight growing up. I was always very active participating in gymnastics, dance, swim team, cheerleading, vollyball, soccer, and track. If anything I was considered too skinny. This was my identity. I found myself saying "at least I'm thin" when I was down. This was not healthy.

Fast forward several years and two babies later. I struggle with my weight.

While I was pregnant with my son I was extremely ill with hyperemesis. While you are supposed to be gaining weight I was down 17 pounds and dropping. I was on a medicine pump and IVs at home to sustain me. When I was finally able to eat I ate whatever I wanted because I had to gain weight. This started some seriously poor eating choices. I was too weak to cook so I ate fast food two or three times a day every single day for about 18 weeks. If I wanted ice cream I ate ice cream.

You know what happened? I gained weight! Go figure!

When I got pregnant with my daughter 9 months later I wasn't at my pre-pregnancy weight. My only exercise during my second pregnancy was chasing my one year old and walking. I didn't gain as much weight as before but I still had very poor eating habits.

My son is now 3 and my daughter is 1 1/2 years old.

I have been on a weight loss journey for a year now.

Such a bummer!

My running partner and I try to run three days a week: one challenging paced shorter run, intervals, and one long easy paced run. She was out of town last week and I have this nagging cold/fever going on so my running is almost nonexistent right now! Bummer!

I have my first 10k in three weeks. The longest I have ever run is 5 miles and that was about two and a half weeks ago.  I'm getting a litter nervous because my training has stopped. I have been doing yoga and some swimming but I've got to get running soon! I'm hoping to run tomorrow night.

Please pray for me! I really want this 10k to be successful!

Blessings!

Happy Birthday

My sweet Mama is celebrating her 61st birthday today. She may be 61 years young but that woman acts not a day over 20! She loves having fun, Snoopy, and playing with her grand kiddos. She was a stay at home mom who always had snacks for my friends and me to eat after school (like fresh baked bread), she is available to call or text day and night, and I can't easily go one day without talking with her about ten times.

She is one of my best friends! Happy birthday Mama!

Welcome

Welcome to Sugar To Sugar! My name is Elise and I am a wife to the most amazing man (going on 13 years this year) and the mother of two sweet kiddos who are 3 and 1 1/2 years old. I grew up in a town called Sugar Land and will be moving to the sugary sands of Destin in a few years. 

I really enjoy crafting, sewing, swimming, yoga, and running. I'm training for my first half marathon in November!

 

Come join me on this blogging journey and let's see where Sugar To Sugar takes us!