Cosmic Kids Yoga

On my drive in this morning, I was (of course) listening to my FAVORITE podcast of the moment - Parent Savers - and came across Episode 106 - Yoga For Kids.

I am not a Yoga person.  At all.  I went with my lunchtime crew to the gym a couple times and did not like it.  I didn't sweat, I didn't get out of breath, but I also couldn't do jack squat other than child's pose over and over.  (Hello, I do NOT like failing at stuff.)

I did like the laying down thing at the end though.  Don't judge me.

Anyway, I was skeptical that YOGA would be appropriate for high energy, active kids.  But I am all for considering new things, and hey, I gotta drive to work so listening to the podcast is low risk, right?

WELL.  I am soooo excited about this concept.  I cannot wait to incorporate it when Ethan is older and um...walking (or standing, or sitting on his own, LOL).

Cosmic Kids Yoga is a Youtube series where the "instructor" tells a fun story, all while incorporating movement (aka yoga poses) with a cartoon-y green screen background.

I can totally see toddlers and preschoolers trying to follow along, moving their bodies just like the instructor, while listening to the story.

Each story is about 15 minutes long, and is so fun and silly, and is 'familiar' to other books and stories out there.

Check it out for yourself!  Cosmic Kids Yoga Youtube channel - Squish the Fish Episode 1

The Biggest Loser gets it wrong

I like The Biggest Loser. I like seeing the transformations, the personal journeys and stories, people fighting for their lives...

I also love the trainers. They have so much knowledge, empathy, and skill. I wish I could bottle them up and dose them to me daily!

And fact of the matter is, I lost weight. Not on a ranch or by putting my life on hiatus, but with Time, Weight Watchers, the gym, My Fitness Pal, working with my trainer (hi Carla!)...80 lbs is a lot of weight to lose but I did it.

I'm still heavy. I still have a long way to go. And I know it won't be any easier post-partum, with a new baby, and going back to my new job.

It truly inspires me to see someone my size KILLING IT in the gym. And going through the same struggles as me. And getting to a place physically (and sometimes mentally) where I haven't gotten yet...it's awesome.

But here's where The Biggest Loser gets is wrong for me:

1. The weigh ins. Seriously - why does it take 25 minutes of show to weigh in? I guess it makes for efficient Tivo-ing but it's a waste of airtime.

2. The challenges. These are stupid. I guess it is a "gameshow" so it's probably not going away, but when in real life do you have to open pumpkins and force yourself to eat candy in order to win something? Real temptation success is in the weeks leading up to Halloween where you avoid the candy displays at the grocery store and don't come home with candy in your cart.

3. The education. I wish-wish-wish they would focus more on the nutrition piece of what it takes to "eat right" to lose weight (I bet you the trainers don't follow Myplate.gov). And how do they track calories burned? How do they cycle workouts? How much do they burn per day versus consumption? What about water? Do they have rest and recovery periods? DO THEY USE SUPPLEMENTS????????????????????????

4. The drama. If the show were more transparent about what it takes to take someone who is morbidly obese and change their physicality, the drama of last week's 'cheating scandal' wouldn't have occurred. I have never ever heard of any "rules" on the show - so a "rules violation" to me was crazy. (And seemed like a ruse to bring Ruben back, although I love him too.) Add in nastiness that 'occasionally' occurs in the house, or the true competitiveness, and guess what...I'm Tivo-ing through all of the show again.

So NBC, hear me out - please consider toning down the rhetoric for TV ratings, and increase the focus on weight loss and how it's happening.

You might just be able take your enormous success and change lives.

Top 5 things a TV serial killer taught me

Jeff and I have been watching Dexter, and just finished up Season 2 (Ice Truck Killer season) and started Season 3 (Trinity Killer season).

I know it's kind of the premise of the show...but I more-than-relate to this serial killer at times...and I think it's ok (?).

Top 5 ways relating to a murderous member of society might be ok

1.  He takes no shit. Well, he might in the short term, possibly to keep the peace or perhaps for political or personal gain...that stare and lack of response / reacton is something I could definitely work on adapting to my own style. Also while knowing "it will work out in the end" but not in knifing kind of way.

2.  Normal social responses to absurdities are foreign to him...but that same shit being said during the internal monologues might also go through my head.

3.  Realizing you never know someone's whole story is a powerful self-discovery tool.   Harry was flawed. We all are. Sometimes it is ok to realize that and begin the acceptance process.  For them and for yourself. 

4.  Hobbies can sometimes border on obsession but you have to remember to still keep your house in order.  In my crochet heyday, I could skip meals, not sleep, wear dirty clothes...but eventually someone will notice. Balance, people.

5.  No one is normal.  Duh.

Eye Surgery

Sorry for the lack of posting the past week...but I had eye surgery so I could not SEE to TYPE my awesome updates.

On Wednesday last week I went in for PRK. Yes it's sort of like Lasik in that it corrects your vision.

But in every other way (ie, the important ones like pain & recovery time) it is much sucky-er. They scrape off the protective layer of your cornea, laser your vision into submission, insert some protective lenses, squirt the hell out of your eyes with icy water, and send you on your way.

Here is a photo of me right after surgery - before the pain started.

As I was sitting in recovery, I started to feel a bit of an itchy burning. By the time I got out of recovery and in the car on the way home, prior to the Vicodin kicking in, I had a "wee bit o' panic attack" from the bright sun and pain...Jeff's "Get ahold of yourself" was all that it took for me to reel it in, but it was scary.

I proceeded to pretty much sleep and eat for 2.5 days. (Maddie thought it was the greatest 2.5 days ever. Kitty needs nap? Yes please.)

Then I started to move around but was still pretty drugged up. (Sorry, Lois, if my phone call was too hilarious.)

Finally by the weekend I could start moping about my blurry vision and still being in quasi-pain, but not enough for the good drugs (which also made me completely nauseous).

I 'listened to' Season 4 & 5 of Burn Notice. I 'listened to' NPR. I 'listened to' Taylor Swift. By Tuesday my brain was ready for work. My eyes were not. Today my brain was ready for work. My eyes kind of were, but not for driving.

HOPEFULLY TOMORROW MY DOC WILL CLEAR ME FOR EVERYTHING AND I CAN GO TO WORK!!!!!! I miss my Delta family. And shhhhhh...I'm a little bored.

Pentatonix.

What...............what.............what...........mind blown.

Premieres

YIPPEE!!! As a self-proclaimed tv-lover, I am so excited my shows have started back up.

Since we have a Tivo, we watch at our leisure but Tuesdays are always a big one:

Glee
I thought the season premiere of Glee was good enough. I did not like how they dismissed several characters (um, Sam!), and also emphasized the 'hey, we're seniors and leaving' element. I was actually pretty unimpressed all in all - until the final 3 minutes. "You Can't Stop the Beat" blew my mind - LOVE ME SOME HAIRSPRAY (and did anyone else remember Matthew Morrison was in the original cast on Broadway?)! Scene-stealer award: Brittany (Heather Morris) for always bringin' it.

New Girl
Zooey Deschanel is charming...and funny...and hopefully grows her character in this one otherwise it could get old, fast. Anyone else watch it?

NCIS
TONY! GIBBS!! ZIVA!!! PROBIE!!! Need I say more?

We're back!

Something Borrowed

I am a self-confessed non-movie person. (I LOVE TV. Mostly don't like movies.)

But I do like the rom-com genre, although it's been awhile since I've seen one worthy of mention. A long while. Maybe not since Sweet Home Alabama.

Readers, feast your eyes on "Something Borrowed":


My top 5 reasons why you should rent the DVD on August 16th:
1. Love, love, love Ginnifer Goodwin. I will now watch anything she is in.
2. Hello - who is the hottie she is in love with? I will also now watch anything he is in.
3. I cared about the characters. Rare find in a rom-com.
4. It took place in New York. Very hip.
5. It was fun to see Kate Hudson be the bad guy a little. Nothing wrong with that.

Glee Season Finale

New York, New York!

Who loved the season finale of Glee? I DID!!!!

(Although the prom episode may have been stand-alone better. Just sayin. I loved the dresses. And the drama.)

We invited some friends over for the (one-hour later) finale, complete with chips and dip.

My awesome chip dip recipe:

1 lb hamburger
1 packet Ortega taco mix
1 lb Velveeta, cubed
1 small jar Tostito's salsa
1 small can green chilies

Brown up the hamburger, then add the taco mix according to the directions. Place into medium size crock pot (not the huge soup or whole chicken kind, and not the mini-wiener kind) with the cheese, salsa, and chilies. Wait 30 minutes and voila!
A Scrumptious snack.

TV Commercials

Did you see these in your neighborhood yet?

This is definitely a fun one if you have a phone better than mine...



And - please, please, please watch this one...I love it!

Fire Hose

My new job rocks. I love it. However, I feel a little like the kid in this video after getting acquainted with the job this week...

The Tudors

I know I am a little late to the party - but who is with me in LOVING The Tudors?

Seasons 1-3 are out on DVD...but be warned, this Showtime Original is NOT for kids.

Also, I am in love with several members of this royal family...namely one King Henry before he got old and paranoid.

I have learned SO MUCH about English history this way!

Chrysler, Eminem, and Detroit

If you have been living under a rock, or didn't watch the Super Bowl, you missed one of the greatest pieces of advertising this year. You know it's good when 2 weeks later you turn to your partner and say, "Remember that car commercial with Eminem in it? Man that was good. It still gives me chills."

Enjoy

Parks and Recreation

Welcome back, Amy Poehler! The real question - who watched tonight? WE DID!!!

Please vote on your best looking Parks and Rec dude...
1) Rob Lowe
2) Aziz Ansari
3) Adam Scott

No matter who you choose, we ALL win.

A very Potter weekend

Well, ABC Family did it again. They sucked up random 30 minutes of my life, bit by bit this weekend, by showing all the Harry Potter movies back to back.

Of course, then we had to watch the most recent movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, to get psyched up to go to the new Deathly Hallows movie part one.

Did we ever make it to the movie theater? No. We got caught up with more Christmas decorating and baking. (Photos are waiting for a sunny day. Literally. The weather here SUCKS right now!) Guess HP will wait till later this week!

My new non-gay crush

Ok, so on Glee he is playing the friend / potential love interest of Kurt...

In real life, in my heart, not so much!!! Welcome to the Glee family of superfans, Darren Criss!

Back on the Wagon

Well, I am back at it this week. Finally! Some normalcy to my life returns. Items to accomplish in the front part of the week:

Grocery shopping, including perishables which I will actually have time to eat
Watching the latest True Blood and Drop Dead Diva
Cleaning the bathrooms and kitty box
Working out 30 minute cardio for 3 days, and 2 days of weight training
Petting my kitties!!!!
Spending quality time with my honey bear

Who knew ordinary life looked so appealing?

GLEE returns...TODAY

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

The long awaited return of GLEE is tonight! I have been waiting 6 months - yes, 2 trimesters for all the preggos out there that talk in trimesters instead of normal time - for this thing to return and I, for one, cannot contain my excitement. (Obviously.)

So here is how my day transpires:
8am - prep for meeting
9am - meeting about scorecards
10:30am - chat with a colleague about recent trip
11:00am - respond to email and follow up items
11:30am - eat lunch
12:00pm - meeting about a proposal
1:00pm - leave for airport
3:00pm - take off for Providence, RI
5:30pm - land and get car
6:00pm - check in and settle in
6:45pm - work out (yea, Day 1 of Week 3)
9:00pm - GLEE!!!

This whole exercise was meant to illustrate that a semi-boring lame-o day can end great!

NCIS

Any fans out there? Jeff and I got hooked a few weeks ago when an NCIS Marathon was on USA. (It was the one where every story involved an agent being undercover. Did you love it?)

Anyway, we have been watching episode by episode of Season 6 and have just started Season 7. AKKK!!! This show is awesome - I can't believe such great TV went unnoticed by our household for so long.

So - who is your favorite character? Or do you watch NCIS LA instead (Boo)?

I like Ziva. Assassin and good-natured and beautiful. Just what I always wanted to be.