Friday Stuff

So today is "Crazy Hair Day" at my youngest daughter's preschool.  So I put her hair in a bunch of braids last night so it'd be all kinky and crazy and she could leave in the braids if she wanted for today.  Hubby snapped a quick pic.  I'm not sure what this look on her face is...maybe just because it was early but it made me laugh.

This weekend is somewhat of a food fest but I'll try my best to keep it under control.  Tonight, we're taking my dad out to dinner for his birthday.  He's turning 65 on Monday but weekdays are tough to change routine for my girls so tonight it is.  Not sure where we're going but I'll most likely get seafood or pasta as it's Friday during Lent so no meat for Panda.  Tomorrow morning we're heading out to the Renaissance Festival.  Huzzah!  What's that?  You don't know about the Renaissance Festival?  Basically it's a little medieval village out in the middle of nowhere that opens for a month every spring where you can get steak on a stake, turkey legs, roasted corn, chocolate confections, beer and so on.  Along with a bunch of medieval performances mixed in - Irish dancing, birds of prey show, death defying feats and of course, jousting.  We go about every other year and it's great fun for the kids.  I'll probably just have some steak on a stake and roasted corn and call it good.  Tomorrow night, we're celebrating Hubby's birthday with his friends.  We're having dinner with another couple and then meeting a larger group out at a bar.  My niece is babysitting so we have no curfew.  Should be fun.  Sunday should be pretty laid back.  Probably breakfast out and then home to help Hubby start his container garden.  The girls are very excited about planting seeds and seeing if they'll grow.  Hopefully they will.

My girls have made friends with our next door neighbor.  They have a son who is probably 4 or 5 and an older boy who's probably closer to 13 (they may have a daughter who's a little baby but I'm not sure about that - I'm a terrible neighbor).  They come out and play soccer quite a bit and my girls LOVE that. Funny...we have a soccer ball and my girls couldn't care less.  Throw a couple boys into the mix and voila!  We're going for the World Cup.  *rolling eyes*  Anyway, the weather's been so nice they've been out every evening before dinner running around and burning off the energy.  I came home from work yesterday and found my oldest on her pogo stick and my youngest on her scooter.  I like that they're being active and playing outside after school as opposed to sitting in front of the TV or playing video games or something.

So I'm gearing up for training starting Monday.  Outside of my online tracking, I've decided to print my calendar up and put it on my fridge.  I'm going to use my daughters' reward stickers for each day I work out.  I'll let them put the stickers on and maybe even bring them along for a pedicure when I go.  I bet they'd love that.  I'm definitely ready to start this.  I'm finding myself VERY inspired by all the bloggers out there, getting their exercise groove on.  I miss working out.  I really do.  I still don't like to do it but I LOVE the way I feel after I'm done.  I need to find a way to capture that feeling...bottle it or something as a way to keep me motivated.

I may do a quick 5k (Did I just say that? When did 5k's become "quick"?) next Sunday.  The National Brain Tumor Society is doing a walk in downtown Phoenix.  I'd like to do it for my brother-in-law.  I emailed my sister asking if she's heard of this group because I wasn't aware they existed.  If she says they're on the up and up then I'll probably do it.  I don't have anything else going on next Sunday morning anyway.  We'll see if Hubby and the girls want to join in.  They have a discounted youth rate so it may be the first 5k I let the girls do with me.  We shall see.

So I read yet another article this morning...very news focused, aren't I?  Article is here.  Anyway, it's more like a little testimonial from an ex-smoker who talks about how he traded one addiction for another .  He basically traded smoking for exercise.  There's no scientific facts presented here...merely anecdotal evidence based on this and all the comments in response to it.  Now food addiction has been discussed at length on these blogs and whether or not people think it's real and if they have it.  The recommendation here is that you give up an unhealthy addiction for a healthier one - a hobby, exercise, whatever.  If you truly have an addictive personality, this should work for you.  It got me thinking that a lot of the stuff this guy used to address symptoms of smoking withdrawal, we do in the dieting world.  Chew gum to keep your mouth busy, journal our feelings, find a way to deal with stress, etc.  Obviously, in some aspects, kicking a chemical addiction is easier than food because you can't quit food cold turkey or stay away from your "dealer' (aka girl scouts) but a lot of the same components come into play.  This part really hit home to me: "Obviously, I had placed the enjoyment of smoking above all else. No regard for my personal health. No regard for my family's health. No regard for anything detrimental from smoking."  I think those of us who have let our weight get in the way of life - playing with our kids, travelling, suffering from diabetes or high blood pressure or cholesterol, being the best "us" we can be - have placed food and living a lazy lifestyle (yes, I said lazy) above all else.  And that's just wrong.  And those days are over for me.  Having fried stuff or oreos or Starbucks or fast food or whatever should NEVER be placed above my health, my happiness, my LIFE, my kids or my Hubby again. It's OK once in awhile...as a one off treat that occurs as a part of LIVING.  


OK...enough Tony Robbins for one day.  How 'bout a Friday Funny?  Y'all have a great weekend!