Vlogging with a Friend.

I'm almost sad my long run is only 3 miles today.
ALMOST.
I have actually been enjoying my long runs and how accomplished I feel after them. I am running today its just a quick 3 mile run.
So instead of my run-recap today I did a question and answer vlog with my sister-in-law Lena.
It's a little long because I like to go on tangents, but there a lot of good info in it!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Honey Dew and Twizzlers.

Mothers day is coming up.

By coming up I mean over a month away but my husband is freaking out thinking he won't find me the perfect gift. 

As much as I tell him I don't need any gifts he doesn't believe me (good boy). 

I've also told him that I think it would be cute to start the tradition of the kids giving me what I craved during labor for Mother's Day. It's cheap, easy, requires no thought, and I still love them both. 

When I was in labor with Mabel I couldn't get enough honey dew melon. 

I believe I ate three.... whole melons. 

If you have any children you are probably thinking to yourself

"She must have done that whole thing naturally because you can't eat when you have an epidural!!"

First, there is no way I would push a bowling bowl out of my lady parts without some meds. 

Second I'm a rule breaker.

In other words, I don't head warnings, and typically end up cursing my own name. 

So the nurses were all no food, and I was all GIVE ME THE FUCKING MELON. 

Then I threw up after every push, and almost died. 

The whole almost dying thing was caused by me thinking I was way more bad ass than I am. 

During my pregnancy the doctors told me I was extremely anemic and I needed to take Iron pills. 

Iron pills suck and I didn't want to take them, so being the young and bratty version of myself I thought

"What's the worst that can happen I need like a blood transfusion or something."

Two actually. I needed two blood transfusions, and a week in the hospital where I was literally dying and not recovering from the amount of blood I lost during birth. 

Totally normal. 

Then I had Chip. 

Chip's birth was insane all in it's own but we just so happened to give birth at like the largest hospital ever (We live in the woods, and my idea of a large hospital is based entirely off of their cafeteria size). 

I wasn't in labor very long but I sent my husband downstairs to re up my supply of Twizzlers about 5 times. 

Thankfully I half listened this time and didn't eat any (or very many) after the epidural, so there was no throwing up. 

What mother wouldn't want to be reminded of that time their Va-jay was ripped open with Honey Dew and Twizzlers! So seriously babe if you are reading this you can put your mind at ease, that's all I want (along with new compression pants and running socks)

Today is the LAST DAY to sign up for our Swag Swap so hop on over here to find out how to sign up!

Did you crave anything during labor or pregnancy? Do you have any Mother's Day traditions??

One, Two, Three

Hello out there!

I have much to tell you. 

First things first. Tomorrow is the LAST DAY to sign up for our Swag Swap. 

It's going to be amazing and I have met so many great gals through swaps so I highly recommend it! 

You can read all the details about it here. 

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Second. 

Everyone needs a little sunshine in their life. I also firmly believe in remembering to be thankful for what you have instead of focusing on what you don't. It just makes life better. 

Remember in school when you heard the teacher say 

"Eyes on your own paper"

about a million times. 

I live by that. 

Everyone's life is different and if you are basing your opinions and answers on someone else's paper, than you risk never learning it yourself. 

Alicia, Val, Aubrey and myself have decided to team up and take part in the 100 days of happiness on Instagram. 

You can read all about the challenge here and even register to do it yourself! We created our own hashtag (#blogwives100happydays). In a nutshell you post a picture every day for 100 days of something that makes you happy. That's it. 

Come join in the fun!!

Third

I hope you all have been enjoying my Friday vlogs! This week in my training is a fall back week so my long run is only 3 miles. (YAHOOO!). 

To celebrate I decided to open up the vlog to any questions anyone has. 

I promise to answer anything and everything to my best ability. 

This Is my United States of Whatever

As much as I wanted to use this post to bitch and moan about stupid things and stupid people I will practice my new found will power and restraint and I will not.

I will not bitch I will not bitch I will not bitch. 

Okay so let me tell you a little secret about life that will make you succeed in anything from dieting, to training for a marathon, to parenting, to sex. 

Yup the same little secret to succeed at all of those things. 

Do what works for YOU.

Then when everyone tells you how crazy you are and how that's not how THEY do it, just show them your skinny ass, or how much you bench press, or your smiling husband. 

Then smile and back away.

I am dairy and gluten free. 

I also do a fair amount of cardio 

I drink protein shakes and I stick to clean and as minimally processed foods as possible.

Sometimes I lift heavy and sometimes I just lift my kids 

I can't do weekly cheat meals because they tend to turn into cheat weekends.

I also like to weigh myself after I pee.

I don't shower every day and I don't let my kids drink soda. 

When I run I unleash my inner geek and listen to podcasts about the science between being left handed and right handed. 

I listen to rap in the car by myself and Disney with my kids. 

I sometimes get down about my progress and I have a real hard time listening to all the advice I give, but I keep going.

So far it seems to be working for me.

No matter what you do you will find people who will tell you it's wrong or that it's all bullshit. 

Well if it works for you then fuck them. 

Don't get wrapped up in someone else's plan. If you don't stick with what works for you, you won't stick with it. 

That's not to say you shouldn't step out of your comfort zone because that's where the magic happens BUT you shouldn't do it because someone tells you it's the only way. 

The best part is there is probably someone reading this thinking "she's doing this all wrong" and I could be but I'm doing it and doing it and doing it well.

Embrace the Hill.

It's finally Friday, which means it's Follow Through Friday AND its finally date night for me and the hubs!!!
We are going out to dinner and to see Jim Belushi and Larry Joe Campbell tonight.

To say I'm excited would be an understatement.
The hubs and I will seriously binge watch According to Jim on our days off even though we have seen every episode a million times.
The two of these guys together is going to be awesome.

Today is also my first day home with the kids on Fridays... which means I had to rearrange my long run again and bust it out last night.

This morning I feel....
...amazing.
I haven't really had any lingering soreness after any of my long runs and I'm pretty sure it's due to the massive amount of foam rolling I do after runs.
This time I used plain water and Clif shot gels.
I need something else in my water. I  am going to stick with Nuun.
I also didn't love the gel.
It wasn't horrible but call me crazy I think I prefer the shot blocks.
So I'm going to stick with those two for the rest of my training.
They are both easily portable and I like them. So bam.

As usual for Follow Through Friday

Here is my vlogggg for you all.

As promised here are all the links for Sarah and all the amazing work she does.
She blogs over at Runfargirl
You can read her sons story here and purchase her shirts here.
I mean check them out... they are gorgeous!

So if you are having a shitty run, a shitty day or even just a shitty moment, just take a deep breath and remember

Embrace the Hill.

Que tears.

An InLinkz Link-up

The Swag Swap Gates Are OPEN!!

It's official. For the next week you can sign up for the Swag SWAP.

Grab our button and tell all your friends... the more the merrier!!
or use hashtag #swagswap14

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Alicia and I posted a some important information yesterday but we both got some similar questions so I will try to answer them here. 

One important thing we changed from yesterday 

Please let us know if YOU DO NOT WANT TO SHIP INTERNATIONALLY. (Meaning Canada).

We will match partners after swap in complete based on your choice of fitness or diva. 

The swag minimum is $20. 

Please keep in mind this does not include shipping fees. 

Please include all new products unless it's something you have up-cycled or made personally. 

We decided to limit this swap to bloggers and instagram users. 

Again here are the important dates to remember. 

April 3-10 sign ups

April 12- Matches made

Please contact your match within 48 hours of being paired. 

Packages must be sent by May 1st

We will also have a big link up to share our goodies and our new friends on May 14th!

To sign up please email us at swagswap14@gmail.com with the following information

1. Indicate which swap....Diva or Fitness
2. A social media link
3. Please let us know where you're from....and if you are ok with shipping internationally. 
4. Any other questions you may have. 

If you jumped the gun because you were so excited and emailed us yesterday it's okay we don't hate you. 

We love you. 

You don't need to email us again unless you are NOT okay with shipping internationally. 

Btw way here are our social media links in case you want to creep on us. 

We love creepers. 

We are creepers ourselfs. 

Alicia, when she's not lifting all the weights blogs over at Brew Mama

She posts endless selfies at @brewmama5

and she likes every post on her Facebook page here.

Candra, when she's not upside down blogs here... duh

She posts pictures of random yoga poses and her sour face after running at @camonlipstick

She loves talking in third person on her Facebook page here

Swag Swap Details

Alicia and I posted a little while ago on Instagram about possibly doing a gift exchange geared towards fitness. A lot of people were interested and a lot of people wanted to do it but weren't interested in the fitness theme.

So we decided to make everyone happy and do a swap where you can choose! 

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You can pick a fitness themed swap or a diva themed swap ( pretty much a free for all). 

Sign up for the swaps will start tomorrow and all you have to do is mail me your first born child. 

and diapers. 

Just kidding. 

Just email us at swagswap14@gmail.com with your name, your choice and a link to your social media. 

We decided to limit this swap to bloggers and Instagramers for our own selfish reasons. 

We want to be able to watch all the new connections and see all the swagggg. 

I have met some amazing ladies through gift exchanges who I still keep in contact with so it's important to me to be able to keep up with everyone! 

Below are some important dates for this swap (I highly recommend checking your schedule around these dates before you sign up!)

April 3-10 sign ups

April 12- Matches made

Please contact your match within 48 hours of being paired. 

Packages must be sent by May 1st

We will also have a big link up to share our goodies and our new friends on May 14th!

If you have any questions or need any clarification please feel free to ask either one of us. 

Share this with as many people as you want. The more the merrier!!