Grass is always greener...

Right now P & J are on a plane to their new adventure in Shanghai. Last night we met for dinner at a very amazing foodie-approved restaurant and let them pepper us with questions about what life was like Shanghai. And they gracefully listened to our ramblings of the good ole days and musings of our lessons learned.

Towards the end of our days in SH we were ready to go back to the US and thought of it as a closed chapter. Now, all this talk of adventure and new experiences has peaked old feelings. Looking back at photos brought back a lot of memories. I am genuinely excited for them, they are going to have a great time living in such an exciting city and will love learning about their host country's culture.

Sigh. Part of me wishes it was me.

C25K Week 1 Day 1. Small Miracle - Went to the GYM!

I don't think I've been to the gym since June! Ewe.
Used the Couch 2 5K app and completed Week 1 Day 1.
Putting it out into the universe in hopes of creating a new habit - exercise!

It really helped that my sister A sent an email recently asking exactly how I started running (when I went from non-exercising chunky monkey to slimmer 13.1 mile running self in under a year). Just her asking me forced me to look back at the training program I used and lessons learned. It took some time to absorb, but I've been thinking, I should take my own advice.
Today I did!

REPORT
Jog: 4.5 mph
Walk: 3.5 mph
W1D1 was 30 minutes including 5 min warm-up time. Work out was 20 mins of alternating, 60 sec jogging & 90 sec walking. Then 5 min cool down.
Feel good after.

Itching to Stitch!

I'm sure I drove my friend S crazy today with a zillion emails on fabrics and sewing but she's sweet enough not to complain (love ya S!).  She's expecting a baby girl on October 8 - I am having a blast virtual shopping with her even if we aren't in the same city. 

After looking at all the blogs, fabric swatches and sewing websites, I'm dying to start a new sewing project. Although admittedly much of the things I admire are way above my sewing skill set.  Kind of like shopping and always falling in love with the most expensive dress.

I can't get too excited and post too much since my friend S will see this and gifts are better when they are surprises, right?  Plus, there's always the factor that if it's a total #fail then I can just pretend it never happened.  

Just look at this dress! Isn't it super sweet for a little girl? I think my nieces are too old for this (although it sizes up to 13/14) - but they might indulge me and wear it long enough to send a few photos back.  Just hard to compete with all the latest "must have" fashions that they are starting to like at that age. 

This would be adorable in any of these materials for the July 4th holiday!  I especially like the seersucker check fabric to help beat the summer heat. Too bad I'll be traveling between now and then and won't have time for any sewing. 

   

Exercise. "Couch to 5K" Running Program

Not everyone is a runner - I certainly wasn't a runner when a few friends agreed to run an 8K together... at the bar. Yeah, after a few beers, it's easy to be convinced into running, so I agreed.

Luckily the instigator actually was a "real" runner and shared a few training programs, since there was no way I could just hop up and run a 8km/5mile race.  One of the programs developed by Cool Running was called "Couch to 5K" - the title sums it up and yes, it REALLY works.  I encourage anyone to read up on it and learn why it has been so successful.  I was always (naively) hitting the treadmill on high and disappointed that I couldn't even run a mile so I'd give up.  This program gradually works you up to running - the right way.  Basically you start off walking with a little running in between, and fade to running with a little walking in between and before you know it, you are running full out.
Eventually we all trained ourselves up to running a half marathon race together.  Did you catch that - a half marathon! I loved running and I loved being a runner.

Unfortunately, I did not stay a runner.  I let it slide away but this time I knew where to start. I downloaded the free version of an app called C25K Free to help me put one foot in front of the other and hopefully get a decent jog going.

Just completed Day 1 of the program.  It's the perfect app for this running program.  You can have your jams in the background and then the little app voice lets you know when to walk or run.  It's super easy to stay focused.  When I used the Couch to 5K program, I found myself always staring at the timer, counting down until I needed to switch into a run or a walk.  Very excited to use this app!

Don't let me fool you - I hated running.  If I can grow to love it, anyone can.

Healthy Eating. What's in your cart?

Confession: The groceries shown in this photo aren't mine. 

Am I the only one that looks at the groceries of the person in front of them as they are placed on the conveyor belt? I couldn't help but notice that everything this guy bought was really pretty healthy.  

Look at it - it's mostly fruits & veggies.  Couple packages of fresh fish.  And a rotissarrie chicken & lunch meat.  It's all fresh - the packed stuff is his protein shakes.  Wow.  It was quite impressive and made me take a second look at what was in my cart.  

My naughty chips & salad dressings are towards the back, but otherwise, I think I did okay.  Lots of produce today.  My problem is doing it week after week.