Healthy Tipping Point

This post is sponsored by Sargento Foods.

Kristien and I keep joking that this summer is known as Brainwashing Henry into Loving Sports Summer <— that’s the official title.  Honestly, it’s not hard – this kid has been kicking a ball since he was barely able to walk.  And thanks to spectating a few races and doing a stroller-friendly 5K, he’s super into the idea of racing.  He keeps asking me when we can do a triathlon!  Love it. 

My husband’s two favorite hobbies are soccer (he’s on an intramural team) and golf (he dreams of one day joining a club, but is currently content to play a round every now and then and drive balls on the weekend).  A few months ago, Kristien started taking Henry to once-a-week soccer lessons.  Now that the weather is nicer, we’re trying to throw in some golf, too.

Driving balls is SUCH a fun family activity. It also teaches really good life skills, such as waiting turns, listening to instructions (although we’re intentionally not heavy on instructing), and encouraging others. 

Snack break…

Chowing down on the Sargento Balanced Breaks snacks again!  My family is crazy obsessed with these on-the-go nut, cheese, and fruit snacks.  I love the combo of the crunchy nuts and creamy natural cheese.  Plus, it’s the perfect balance of sweet + savory to keep our family snacking interesting!  You can read my complete review of the individual-sized snack trays right here.

The Natural White Cheddar Cheese with sea-salted almonds and dried cranberries is Henry’s favorite!   A tasty and nutritious snack is a win for both him and me.  This is way better than grabbing a bag of potato chips from the pro shop, right?

I’m looking forward to the days when Claire can play, too.  But right now, she’s pretty content to watch her brother have fun.

What sporty activities do you like to do with your kids?

Because I can’t think of 1 more to make it an even 30!

I have a natural immunity to mosquitos – they never bite me.

One of my pet peeves is when you’re assembling furniture and the Allen keys are too wide to turn an entire rotation without running into the side of the furniture.  Know what I mean? It’s the worst.

My other pet peeve is when people wipe their mouths after brushing their teeth and get toothpaste on the towel.

My middle name is Joy.

I am the kind of person who truly enjoys the games at baby showers. 

I didn’t own a pair of closed toe shoes when I went to college (from Florida to Pennsylvania).

I had never changed a baby’s diaper until I had my son.

I have written three books and another 40 pages of a fourth, but it’s been languishing on my desktop for about two years. 

Nothing makes me happier than the first signs of spring.

My friends and I exchange about 4,000 texts a month (!). 

I have 2 tattoos, and neither are visible unless I’m naked.

I’m not a judgmental person, but I do judge people by their bumper stickers.

I’ve had the same cell phone number for over 13 years.

I was yearbook editor in middle school.

I had light blonde hair until I went through puberty.

I am really cranky when I wake up.  I need 30 minutes or so before I’m human.

In real life, I have a pretty dirty sense of humor, but it rarely finds its way onto the blog.

If Spinach and Artichoke Dip is on the menu, I’m probably going to order it.

I almost bungee jumped once, but I backed out at the top of the platform and made them take me back down to the ground.  I was terrified!

I can pop my shoulders out of joint and put both legs behind my head.

I went to a horseback riding camp when I was a kid.

When I can’t fall asleep, I fantasize what it would be like to win the lottery.

I’m not afraid to get dirty or sweaty, but I find the idea of camping to be horrifying.

I used to be obsessed with The X-Files and even attended a convention.  Nerd alert.

I kiss the airplane before I board for good luck.  If I forget, I get really, really nervous (but no crashes yet, so…).

My favorite drinks are sangria (<—my recipe!), white wine spritzers, and gin and tonic with lots of lime.

I am a terrible driver (but I try hard not to be).

I would rather re-make the entire pot of coffee than drink a single cup of poorly brewed coffee.  Life is too short to drink bad coffee.

Once, Ricky Martin kissed me on the cheek.

Share a random fun fact about you!

Happy National Running Day!  I LOVE to run.  I started running nine years ago in a quest to improve my physical health and mental outlook, and it really did change my life.  I remember that first run so clearly – I made it only a few minutes before I found myself almost dry heaving on the sidewalk!  “Running is HARD!” I thought… but I found myself lacing up my sneakers the very next day.  Why?  Well, it may be hard, but it’s also really fun, especially as you see yourself grow and improve as a runner.

Tried-and-True Running Tip #1:  Your gear matters.  Sure, there’s the extra bells and whistles that you don’t need but is sure nice to have… But the quality of your basic gear matters.  Right down to the insoles in your shoes.  

OrthoLite foam technology can be found in over 200 million pairs of shoes, including popular running brands like Nike, Adidas, Reebok, New Balance, Asics, and more.  You can figure out if your shoes already have OrthoLite insoles by inspecting the bottom of your shoe’s insole – if you see little black flecks, those are pieces of recycled tire crumb, which is signature to the OrthoLite technology.  Cool, huh?

OrthoLite insoles are a cost-effective way to upgrade your running shoes, providing cushioning, long-term structure, and breathability.  I’ve run with OrthoLite insoles for a long time, and they really are quality insoles.  My feet actually get HOTTER when I run in shoes without them – I love the breathability.  I’m giving away three pairs of OrthoLite insoles so you can upgrade your running shoes, too!  Simply use the widget below to tell me how you’ll #RunOrthoLite on National Running Day.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oh, and good news – in addition to the giveaway above, if you share a photo of your run TODAY (June 3), tag @OrthoLite and #RunOrthoLite on Facebook and Twitter and you’ll be entered to one of three $100 American Express gift cards for new running gear + OrthoLite insoles – wahoo!

Tried-and-True Tip #2:  Wear a hat!  Why?  Hats, in my humble opinion, are the perfect running accessory because they keep you comfortable in more ways than one.  Hats keep the sun out of your eyes, protect the delicate skin around your face, keep your head warm in cold weather, keep the rain off your face in wet weather, and keep your hair from falling in your eyes.  Get a sweat-wicking hat (or try a sweat-wicking visor, if you can’t stand to have your entire head covered in the summer).

Tried-and-True Tip #3:  Walking is okay.  In fact, walking can be awesome (and your overall run time may actually increase!).  I think a lot of newbies think that “real runners” don’t take walking breaks, but that’s simply not true.  Heck, Jeff Galloway’s entire running method is based on well-timed walking breaks!   (For more on this subject, check out my post “Six Ways to Embrace the Walking Break.”)

Tried-and-True Tip #4:  Consider ditching the fancy watch… at least for one run a week.  I used to run OBSESSIVELY with my Garmin GPS watch.  But when training for a big race, I consistently couldn’t get pace “up” where I wanted it to be.  It made me sad and frustrated! So I stashed it in a drawer.  And guess what?  I really, really loved running without a watch.  So much, in fact, that it’s still in that drawer collecting dust.  Time goals are great, but I think gadgets can suck a bit of the fun out of running.  Never forget why you started to run in the first place – for the sheer JOY of it!

Tried-and-True Tip #5:  If you want to be a better runner, treat your body right in all ways.  Sleep.  Eat well.  Hydrate.  Stretch.  Spring for a massage every now and then.  Don’t beat yourself up when you don’t hit your goals; celebrate really hard when you do.  Thank your body for every single run. 

Visit OrthoLite.com to save on OrthoLite insoles!  Use coupon code FITCOMFY for $5 off.

And remember to tag @OrthoLite and #RunOrthoLite on Facebook and Twitter to be entered to win a $100 American Express gift card for new running gear + OrthoLite insoles!

This post was sponsored by OrthoLite.  Thanks, as always, for reading sponsored content.  I really appreciate the support.

Things are… looking up!  Not “great” yet but getting closer.  After my not-so-fun weekend, I took some big steps to improve the situation on Monday.  First things first: a date with my gym hot tub (so I could get a momma break and ease my aching body).   Step two was getting my back adjusted again (feels almost perfect now), and then I just tried to take it easy for the rest of the afternoon.

I have fallen SO far behind on Book a Week. I’ve read 18 books but there’s 21 weeks – almost 22 – completed in 2015.  I may have slipped too far behind to read 52 books in 2015, but I’m sure going to keep trying!  I just finished up this one (which was super long <—a problem for Book a Week!).

Week 18:  City of Bones

This book was actually my Mother’s Day present from the Husband!  He knows I like Young Adult fiction and also like series, so he thought this would be a good fit.

Description: “When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…”

My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars.  Unfortunately I just didn’t like it.  Seemed formulaic (which I normally don’t mind), and also didn’t have me gripped and dying to continue the story… I put it down for days at a time sometimes.  And I have no desire to read the rest of the books in the series, so… That says a lot.  I think it was too “young” in “young adult” for me.  Plus, one advantage to my Book a Week project is it is making me slightly more picky than normal (I usually love all books simply because they are books!). 

Okay… let’s talk about that sandwich.

To make this awesome grilled cheese:

Butter one side of each slice of bread. Flip over.

On one slice, spoon some vodka pasta sauce.  On the other, put a big pile of mozzarella cheese.

Top with fresh basil.

Proceed to pan-fry as you normally would.

PERFECTION. <— See, my week is already better than last week!