Today:
I literally was beaten down, angry, exhausted, and really really grumpy. Until I walked in the door and my husband not only prepared an AMAZING spaghetti squash dinner - but also had this gorgeous appetizer waiting for me.
I realized that being with him, makes every day a good day - even when it’s a bad one. I am the luckiest girl alive.

NoSauce Book Review - I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron
I know I am a little young for this book, but I found it in my apartment building, and thought the average age of people that live here is like 35 or something, so maybe it will apply to me.
If I had read this at 20 I would probably have given it 1 star.
Reading now in my 30’s I am giving it 3.
I wonder if I was 40ish if I would give it 5?
It’s a humorous look at aging, and so much of it rings true, but Ephron does something amazing which can be illustrated by this general idea:
If people see you slip and fall on a banana peel and laugh, they are laughing at you. However, when you tell them the story, and are laughing yourself about slipping and falling on a banana peel you are controlling the situation - they are laughing with you.
Basically you always have to be able realize that all life is, is a series of stories. You can be the victim, or the hero, either way is in how you spin it.
Enjoyable, and an incredibly fast read. Very easy summer beach friendly. Even if I have a few years before my neck goes (or so I hope)
I have this fear of bulking up.
See photo exhibit a pictured here below:

Obviously while I do admire her dedication to fitness, this is not what I want to look like. What I am going for is exhibit b pictured below:

curvy, super fit, skinny but strong. Plus, I wouldn’t complain if my hair looked like the brunette version of this above. Just saying.
So when LAEL read my last post on legs, she was like dude, stop doing 8,000 lunges, and do less holding weights. I was like I don’t want to bulk my legs, I want to slim them down. She proceeded to lecture me the same way MFT would about how basically I am an idiot if I think it can bulk me so stop whining and do it.
So today I did. We will see.
I know in my head I will never look like photo exhibit a - but I get so freaked out about it for some reason I end up using lighter weights than I should.
Wednesday’s are for being strong - so I will see how sore I am tomorrow. If not, maybe heavier weight, or all 6 sets with weights. I need to play around to get it right.
Push through the mid-week slump! Go get after it!
I went to my usual Tuesday bootcamp this morning, but I am thinking it might be the last time for a bit - it’s just not hard enough. I wonder if I should give it one more shot and push myself harder, or if actually the class is just too easy for my skill/strength level. I say this because:
Maybe I didn’t push myself, maybe class isn’t that hard. Either way, it’s always frustrating to haul yourself awake and out the door before 6am, just to get an average workout.
At least it’s better than nothing - get your Tuesday burn in! 
NoSauce Book Review - The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
This book was amazing.
Virginia hills, late 1800’s, plantation owners and slaves, ladies, and immigrants, it was a perfect historical fiction for this setting.
The book goes back and forth between two characters. The first, Lavinia who is white but enslaved (indenture servitude) at 7 years old, away from her family, away from Ireland, away from everything she has ever known. The second, Belle, a half white half black slave who is gorgeous and in a tough spot being the owners illegitimate daughter. She doesn’t fit in with the ladies, she doesn’t fit in with the other slaves.
It was written like Downton Abby - you love the help just as much as you love the family. You love watching their individual stories along with their twists in interaction.
The picture was painted in a beautiful way. I really felt like I was there living the story with the characters. I had no idea what was coming. I loved every page of this book and was sad when it ended.
There is a secret society that I am a part of: the early morning runner.
I woke up and I could see the sunrise gleaming off the Empire State from my balcony and I felt like it was a beacon. Every time you see another runner on the street, it’s like they know. You all share this secret, this I am a bad-ass that I wake up before 6am, and get outside where the road will always rise to meet your stride, no matter how fast or slowly you take it. Where it’s just you, and the street. And you don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Every time I pass someone I can see it written in their face. They are thinking the same thing.
The last time I had run outside here was probably a year ago. It’s time to get off the hamster wheel and get outside.
I ran 4.08 miles in 36:58. This was averaging a 9:04 pace. When at the gym, I usually run a 6.0ish pace, so I basically ran a full minute faster every mile outside on my own. Which is incredible.
Happy Monday!

Overall I guess I am still coming out ahead? Happy Mother’s Day!!
Getting to wear new Jimmy Choo for Hunter rain boots (courtesy of my SIL) make me almost happy it’s raining!
I had an early morning meeting up town today so I knew I had to get up early to go to the gym. It’s not an excuse not to go - although to be honest I did debate.
I was able to have a totally kick ass workout in a very short amount of time:
Intervals on the tread-climber for 30 minutes - I climbed just over the height of the Empire State Building.

After that I did arms and shoulders - and some obliques. My version of the Iron Cross (3 sets) using 10lbs in each hand:
After this 3 sets of 10 on the Captain’s Chair.
All in I banged this out in about 45 minutes. I was totally stoked to get it in and make it to my meeting with enough time to grab a steaming cup of coffee on the way!
Almost mid-week - stay strong and get it in!
Dinner tonight - 4oz Pork Chop prepared in a new way - salt, pepper, and thyme crusted and simmered after browning for 20 minutes in chicken stock. Served with roasted sweet potato, 1 cup of whole wheat pasta, and roasted asparagus. Total calories: 532.
Feeling no guilt and eating dinner with abandon: Priceless.
11 miles! Not bad for a Monday!