Snap! Crackle! Pop!

We finally have Internet!

Pete is currently en route with a moving truck so we should have our things pretty soon. I think my love affair with the aerobed is over and has been for about two weeks -or in other words- the entire time I have been sleeping on it with two squirmy children. My back has been killing me. I slipped on the ice in Charlotte right before we moved and definitely threw myself out of whack. Add that to the car crash on Labor Day and it was definitely time to see a chiropractor.

I joined a local Green Moms meetup and the organizer's husband is a local chiropractor. I was able to get an appointment immediately and I am on my way to feeling better.I haven't been working out which leaves me feeling a bit surly. I am looking forward to getting back on track this week. It looks like I may be run/walking the Cooper Bridge Run in April at this point...we shall see.

I am looking into teaching some My Smart Hands Classes. The founder Laura Berg struck a deal on Dragon's Den recently.

I started a Meetup Group for My Smart hands Charleston Here! Feel free to join so that I am not the only lonely member...LOL. I am currently looking into possible venues to hold classes as well as possibly volunteering to do a class for the library.

Getting Settled

We are moved into our new place minus furniture and most of our stuff. We are there in mind, body and spirit. Aside from the Internet I am really missing couches and beds and dressers and a shower curtain. Pete is doing a bridal show this weekend-his first- so all of his time and energy is on making it a success.

Last night Eliza christened the place by jumping on the air mattress and launching herself face first into the wall. She bit straight through her bottom lip. This morning a marker exploded green ink all over our kitchen wall. In other words, it is really starting to feel like home.

I am without internet for the most part so I will be blogging here and there until I am once again connected to the outside world.

Thanks Marty!

I was only in Charlotte a few days when i decided to go to the park to walk with Jude while Eliza was in preschool. I didn't know anyone and had nothing to do so I figured I would try to get my butt moving. As I was walking around the park i saw a group of moms exercising. I remember thinking , "I wish I had a group of moms that i could walk with." But groups of women can be intimidating, and although I am far from shy once I know you and I do have a bit of anxiety when it comes to new situations and new people. On my second or third lap around the circle one of the moms ran over to me and introduced herself. Her name was Marty and she was running a fitness groups for moms with strollers called Stroller Strides. She gave me some information and told me that the group would be at the park everyday at 9:30.

I was so amped I am pretty sure I called both my mom and Pete right away to tell them out SS. I showed up at the park the next day and so started my foray back into working out. That chance introduction was enough to get me started and sometimes all you need to do is take a first step in order to get going. Marty is amazing as are all of the moms who are in the Lake Norman SS group. Living in a new town can be difficult especially when you don't really know anyone. Becoming a part of something certainly helped me to feel more at home. I am not quite sure how my four months would have turned out if Marty hadn't come up to me that day-so THANK YOU MARTY!

Stroller Strides is a great way to get a workout accomplished with your kids in tow. I am very disappointed that the Charleston group is currently inactive. I do know I need to get involved in SOMETHING or I might go a little nutty.

Not familiar with Stroller Strides? Check them out at www.strollerstrides.com

Gearing up for 2011

I didn't set any resolutions this year but I have been thinking a lot about goals and what I would like to accomplish in 2011. I want my goals for this year to be measurable and specific. So far this is what I have come up with- though I am sure I am forgetting something.

Obtain a an AFAA certification as a personal trainer- I ordered my book today!
Run a 10k (I completed 2 5k's in 2010) I am hoping to do the Cooper Bridge Run in Charleston.
Go on at least one date a month with my sweetie
Get a job!
Blog with some regularity
Abs of steel- so maybe this one isn't really measurable but...

What's in store for you in 2011?

Stocking the Primal Kitchen

We are starting out from scratch in the kitchen and we need to stock everything. I have been eating real food- not crap-(primal/paleo) for some time now. We will pretend those Christmas cookies didn't happen for the sake of this post. The kids and Pete are about to join me in eating clean. I am thinking in February we might do The Whole Thirty. It is a 30 day challenge where you basically clean up your eating act. Of course I pick the 28 day month to do the thirty day challenge.

Here is what I have planned for this weekend's pantry run. I am going to cry because Trader Joe's does not open in MP for a few months and I am basically a TJ addict. I am stuck with Harris Teeter, Whole Foods (Whole paycheck) and Earthfare for now.

bananas
apples
eggs
bacon
sausage
So delicious unsweetened coconut milk
frozen blueberries
chicken
salad greens
Tongal Tuna
ground beef
raw almonds
almond butter
nitrate free turkey breast
avocado
carrots
celery
onions
chicken broth
organic diced tomatoes
almond meal
mustard
salsa Verde
lemons
cinnamon
EVOO
balsamic vinegar
sea salt
pepper
chili powder
cumin
frozen chopped spinach
frozen broccoli
frozen peas
coffee
coffee filters
Chao Koh cocnut milk
tin foil
saran wrap

Playing Catch-Up

It sure seems like a long time since we have actually been home. We left our condo in August the day after Jude & Eliza's birthday party. A house full of people the day before moving...only me. The house wasn't even fully packed up but the kids and I were going to spend the week in Cape May with my parents, a vacation that was planned before we decided to move. That was our first week away from Pete and although Cape May was amazing he was certainly missed.

After returning from Cape May we stayed at my parents house for about three weeks while Pete packed up our condo. It was during this time that Jude and I were in a car accident and my car was totalled. We had planned to be down in Charlotte before my niece started school so Pete borrowed my parents car while I borrowed Pete's car. Pete and I drove down with the kids on September 9th. At this point we had been living without Pete for four weeks.

At my parents we celebrated the kids birthdays again!

My poor CRV- not even a year old. BLERG

We have been staying at my brother's place in Charlotte since September. We see Pete on the weekends and it always goes too fast. He did get to stay here for two weeks while in training for his job and it was great being all together again.

On Thanksgiving my brother, Pete and I ran a 5k. Here we are the morning of our Turkey Trot.

On Saturday we are leaving to go start setting up our apartment in SC. We will be living in a small apartment that fits about an 1/8 of our stuff- but living away from Pete for the past five months (and without most of our belongings) has definitely made me realize that we don't really need THINGS we just need each other. So 2011l be about downsizing, living simply, and working on being a family again.

Going, Going, Gone

A new location hasn't been the only change around here. My hair seems to have disappeared over the last four months...is it time to get out the straight razor?

2011-Update

Last I wrote we were getting ready to leave for Charlotte, NC. Well...we have been in Charlotte since September and we are now moving to Mount Pleasant, SC. Peter did not stay in NJ long after we left. He moved down to SC shortly after to start building his photography business.It has been amazing living with my brother and nieces for the past few months- but we have certainly missed Pete and are looking forward to reuniting as a family again.

We certainly have been keeping busy. Eliza has been attending preschool 3 days a week at the local aquatic center. I jumped back into working out- both running and strength training. (I have to thank Stroller Strides for getting me started) I also ran two 5K's; one with my brother and one with my brother and Pete. I've pretty much been living a primal/paleo lifestyle since September. more on that later).

And Jude- well h is one busy little man with an amazing vocabulary. I can't believe my baby is starting to look more and more like a lil man.

Not sure what 2011 has in store for us but I know it is going to be good.