May Foodie Penpals Reveal!!!

April was the first month that I participated in the Foodie Penpals. If you interested in reading about what I received in my first box, you can check out my post here.  I had so much fun the first month, I definitely had to sign up for May!!

For an official description of the Foodie Penpals program and sign up for the upcoming month, head over to the  Foodie Penpals page!

I had the awesome pleasure of receiving a box from Denise at We Love to Cook! Now I have to tell you that her blog is nothing short of amazing! Denise features delicious recipes as well as information about different cooking techniques (check out her post on slicing - very informative!).

wax seal not shown..he he :)

The first thing I noticed when I opened my box was this beautiful envelope with a wax seal! I love wax seals - I insisted on having them on my wedding invitations! Inside the envelope was lovely card written in the most gorgeous handwriting...I'm so envious of anyone who can write in cursive that doesn't look like chicken scratch! :)

Who doesn't take their gifts to work to open?!? ;)

While looking through the box, I found a small item delicately wrapped in tissue paper. My first thought was, "I wonder what food item can you wrap in tissue paper...??" Well it turns out it wasn't a food item, it was.....

A bracelet!!! The bracelet is make of wine corks and some of them are painted in a lovely purple/wine color. I was not expecting any accessories but I'm so happy Denise included it - I love it!

There was a treat that I found in the box that when I saw it, I began jumping up & down (no joke!) and screaming "shut up! shut up!". It was a Chick-O-Stick! Now Denise had absolutely NO way of knowing this but this was one of my favorite candies when I was younger. I don't like coconut but for some reason, I don't mind it when it's on a Chick-O-Stick! The candy is made of peanut butter and rolled in coconut. If you've never had it, you're missing out. I can't eat it right now due to prepping for my shows but it's been placed in my post-show treat bag. I'm so excited about gobbling it down - lol!

Other items in the box included Godiva coffee, pecan smoked sea salt, Ballpark Nacho sauce with cheddar & jalapenos (I can't wait to open that!), pasta de harina (wheat pellets), and sesame snaps! Do you see why I'm in love with this box?!?!

Thank you so much Denise for sending me such an incredible gift! I really appreciate it and will enjoy every last item in the box!

If you're interested in seeing what type of box I sent to Karin at Savor the World, head over to her blog and read her "Treats from Arizona" post.

Something Strange Happened...

There was a moment over the weekend when I thought my countdown to the NPC Terminator was off by a week. I felt sad because that meant more dieting but strangely happy because that meant I had more time to make changes! Well, it turns out that I was off by a week but only because I was counting from the wrong date on the calendar...lol...ridiculous!

I think I might see a shoulder vein...eek!!

For the first time in this prep, I felt positive about my progress pictures when I saw them. Usually my first response when Tom shows them to me is, "I hate them." and "I still look fat". I will sit at the computer and scrutinize the pictures. I will pick myself apart and then I will stomp out of the room declaring that I'm not doing the show. Yes, I have a flair for the dramatics - I own it :)

This week was COMPLETELY different! I looked at my pictures and felt pretty dang good about what I saw! My physique is definitely changing and I can see a visible difference from last week to this week! I'm still concerned about if I'll come in "too muscular" but it is what is :)

I had to come clean to The Boss last Thursday! The family went out to lunch to celebrate the fact that The Princess was promoted to the 6th grade and is now officially a middle schooler (excuse me while I go throw up!). I ate something that was completely off plan and I paid for it dearly! My tummy was gurgling the rest of the day and that's all I'm going to say about that...lol! When I told The Boss what happened, she laughed and basically told me that's what I get for cheating! I love that woman :)

We are keeping things the same for now which means no added cardio (woo hoo) and no diet changes! I received an email question about what meal of the day I'm not tired of eating yet and I have to say it's my salmon + brussel sprouts (or asparagus) meal. I can't have my hot sauce with it right now but the meal still makes me do my happy wiggle :)

I was trying to wait until Tuesday to share this song but I can't!! I heard this song and instantly feel in love!! I think I'm going to have to designate this as this prep's second theme song...oh...wait...maybe it can be the song playing when the credits are playing! It speaks to me because I feel like I've been fighting to carve out a place for myself my whole life, especially now that I'm competing. I've always felt like the underdog and I've had to work extra extra hard at proving myself. That's ok with me - I'm going to do what the songs says and give them hell!

P.S. I'm totally not ashamed to admit that this video makes me teary! :)

Sweat to Street Sundays...#12??

Welcome to Sweat to Street Sunday's!

Each week my fabulously fit co-hosts and I will link up with one everyday outfit AND one fitness outfit that we love!

Meet Your Hosts!

Family and Life in Las Vegas (Emily) 

Wild Things RUN Free (Charlotte) 

Running and Cupcakes (Samantha)

 MCM Mama (Erika) 

Boobs, Barbells, and Broccoli (Tenecia)

***IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW SWEAT TO STREET ON TWITTER OR PLAN ON TWEETING YOUR POST, PLEASE USE THE HASHTAG #SweatToStreet***

Sweat to Street has been created as a place to link up your favorite outfits of the week as a new Sunday blog feature. The idea is to have some fun and change it up! Each week we encourage you to post one workout outfit and one outfit you wore that isn’t fitness related.

Every week we spotlight one awesome blogger who links up with us in the previous week! Our way of thanking you for sharing your fabulous/fun/fitness style! 

  This week's featured blogger: Carly from Rock the Dogs

SWEAT!!! 


This outfit is from ONE of the three times
I hit the gym last week. That's right...I'm only
hitting the weights three times a week...it makes
me want to shed a tear or punch someone in their
throat...I'll settle for either one ;)

Shirt: Forever 21
Shorts: Champion USA (I really really love the fit
of these shorts!!!)
Shoes: Nike
Accessories: Livestrong bracelet, earrings from H & M


STREET!!!

The Princess is officially done with elementary school!
Her 5th grade promotion was last week and I was a big, teary mess!
Anyway, I'm not talking about it right now or
I'll start crying again! lol!!

Here's the outfit that I wore for the ceremony...

Dress: Daisy Fuentes (Kohls)
Shoes: Gianni Biani
Accessories: earrings from McGuires Jewelers, Livestrong bracelet,
cuff from Tiffany & Co, Coach bracelets

 Link-up Suggestions:

• follow the hosts on twitter: @FamilyNLifeLV, @Char__Latte, @MrsFitLibrarian, @MCMmama, @RunCupcake
• Feel free to follow us all via RSS as well so you never miss a Sweat to Street post!
• Snag a button and share the fun!!
• Sharing is caring! Be sure to visit pages participating in the link up!
• Feel free to share this link up on your own blog by grabbing the code here! get the InLinkz code
• HAVE FUN!

Remember if you don't link up, we can't choose you to be next week's featured blogger! We are so excited to see all the fashions that are shared each week!

Reading Round-up!!

It's been about a month since the last time I posted about what I was reading...I promise that I have been reading :) If you're interested in seeing what books I talked about last month, you can view the post here.

Let's talk about some of the books I've read recently, shall we??

The Women's Murder Club is back and there's a possibility that one of their close friends is a murderer. The city is paralyzed with fear...Lindsay is having relationship problems...Cindy is trying to get the scope...hmm...haven't I read this story before..with the same author...just a different book cover?? I'm being a smartass, I know, but I'm just over James Patterson right now! I used to love his books and now I just feel like he churns them out and doesn't care that they're not really quality reading material anymore. Oh well, the book kept me occupied during cardio - I guess that's all that matters ;)

source

I was a bit confused when I started this book. The chapters are written from the different characters points of view and while interesting, I didn't understand how they were connected. My patience paid off and the author reveals the connection between the characters in the latter chapters of the book.

The story starts with Allison being released from prison and entering a half-way house. The crime she has committed is heinous but you're not sure what exactly happened until further in the book. Her parents have erased her from their lives and her sister Brynn wants nothing to do with her. There are secrets being kept, lives that hang in the balance, and all you can do is keep reading. I highly recommend this book - it is captivating and heart-wrenching!

source

I read this book back in March when I attended the Public Library Association (PLA) Conference in Philadelphia. I received a free advanced reader copy while attending the exhibits that were being held during the conference. I started the book on Friday night at my hotel room, read it while waiting for the train to the airport the next morning, and finished it while waiting for my first flight of the day. It's that good, period. I decided to reread it a couple of weeks ago and it was just as powerful the second time I read it.

Laurel has lost her mother, grandmother, and home to "the flood" and is starting a new life in a new state. She becomes a cheerleader and begins dating T-Boom, the star of the basketball team. T-Boom introduces her to moon (meth) and so begins her descent into drug addiction and homelessness. This story haunts me because I know there are Laurels out there and what can be done to save them?

And yes, I did read Fifty Shades of Grey. I don't get what the big deal is and I'm not saying another damn word about it here on my blog. If you want to have a discussion about it or want to know my opinion, feel free to email me ;)

Here's a list of books I have currently checked out but haven't read or finished yet:

Fever by Lauren DeStefano
What Doesn't Kill You by Iris Johansen
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

If you're interested in seeing what others are reading, head over to Running With Sass! Heather just shared some of the books she's read recently.

What about you? Read anything good lately?

New Release Tuesday

I heard this song last night and I'm still on the fence about it. Don't get me wrong, I love myself some T.I. so I dig his part in the song....I'm just not sure about the rest of it...??

Thoughts?

The Countdown Continues...

I want to start with something that's been plaguing me for the past couple of weeks, competing at the national level in the figure division. I chose not to compete at the national level this year despite earning a national qualification twice last year because I wanted to improve certain areas of my physique and I didn't feel that I  was ready. Here's what's bothering me, someone planted the "maybe you should do Nationals at the end of the year if you qualify" seed in my head. Now I can't stop thinking about the possibility of competing for a pro card before the year ends!!

I'm still not sure that I'm ready and I know I still have areas to improve but I still keep thinking that maybe I should stop waiting and give it a shot. Nationals last year had over 1000 competitors and I'm sure there will be more than that this year. I would need to be amazing, to say the least, in order to stand out. I guess we'll have to see what happens. Decisions...decisions...decisions!

Time to focus on the show at hand! The 2012 NPC Terminator! Last Saturday marked 9 weeks out from the show and I feel like I'm slowly making progress. As I stated in my last progress update, I am the Tortoise. Slow & steady will win this race!

Diet - My diet has remained relatively consistent. I am doing keto and truth be told, there is nothing too exciting to share about it. The one meal of the day that makes me do my happy wiggle is meal #5. Meal #5 consists of salmon, brussel sprouts, and ghee. It's not a sonoran hot dog from El Guero Canelo but it does fill my tummy and stops me from repeatedly saying "I'm hangry!" (yes, hangry is a word! lol)

Cardio - There has been an increase in the amount of cardio I am doing. It's not a crazy amount but I cringe each time there's an increase. I wish I was one of those competitors that doesn't have to do one minute of cardio during their prep but alas, I am not :)

Sleep - I've been soooooo tired and I have been struggling to get out of the bed in the mornings. It's natural to be sleepy during prep but my near exhaustion this past week had a lot to do with TOM I think. I have been lucky that there have been very few of those days where I'm extremely tired but the second I crawl into bed, I can't fall asleep.

Training - Well, I knew it was coming but I didn't know exactly when. What am I talking about? I'm talking about The Boss saying that I would need to stop lifting as heavy & often as I have been. The look of figure has really changed recently and I have to be careful that I'm not putting on more muscle. I don't want to move up to the Physique division right now so I have to do what's necessary to make sure I'm fitting in the current figure "box".

Scale & Mirror - I'm not paying attention to the number on the scale because...well....it's just better for me psychologically if I don't! :) I only weigh in on the day that I check in with The Boss and that's what works for me. I'm also avoiding the mirror because it's that time of the month where I'm holding water like a camel, there's a pimple on my chin, and I swear I have a Buddha belly - thanks a lot, Mother Nature! :)

Countdown -  9 weeks until the Terminator and 10 weeks until the AZ Open! It always feels a bit more real when the number of weeks shifts from double digits to single digits.

One week closer - let's do the damn thang!

Sweat to Street Sunday

Welcome to Sweat to Street Sunday's!

Each week my fabulously fit co-hosts and I will link up with one everyday outfit AND one fitness outfit that we love!

Meet Your Hosts!

Family and Life in Las Vegas (Emily) 

Wild Things RUN Free (Charlotte) 

Running and Cupcakes (Samantha)

 MCM Mama (Erika) 

Boobs, Barbells, and Broccoli (Tenecia)

***IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW SWEAT TO STREET ON TWITTER OR PLAN ON TWEETING YOUR POST, PLEASE USE THE HASHTAG #SweatToStreet***

Sweat to Street has been created as a place to link up your favorite outfits of the week as a new Sunday blog feature. The idea is to have some fun and change it up! Each week we encourage you to post one workout outfit and one outfit you wore that isn’t fitness related.

Every week we spotlight one awesome blogger who links up with us in the previous week! Our way of thanking you for sharing your fabulous/fun/fitness style! 

  This week's featured blogger: Lauren from Strong. Healthy. Balanced.

SWEAT!!!!


The Princess took this picture for me
before I walked her into school last week.

Yes, I'm that mom. I drop my kid off
at school in gym clothes because 1) I really am on
my way to the gym 2) even if I'm not going to the gym,
I'm not putting real clothes on
at 7:15 am unless I really really really have to :)

Shirt: Forever 21
Shorts: Danskin (I'm in love with all
things Danskin right now!!)
Shoes: Nike
Accessories: Livestrong bracelet, hat from Bodybuilding.com


STREET!!!!


At my library branch, we always joke that you're not an
official librarian until you start wearing cardigans!

I own very few cardigans but stole borrowed this
one from my mom last week. This is my first time
pairing this dress with a cardigan and I
really like it!

Dress: Old Navy
Camisole: Apt 9 (Kohl's)
Cardigan: Cherokee
Shoes: diba (DSW)
Accessories: cuff (gift from my mom), earrings from Forever 21,
Fossil watch, Livestrong bracelet, Coach bracelets

 Link-up Suggestions:

• follow the hosts on twitter: @FamilyNLifeLV, @Char__Latte, @MrsFitLibrarian, @MCMmama, @RunCupcake
• Feel free to follow us all via RSS as well so you never miss a Sweat to Street post!
• Snag a button and share the fun!!
• Sharing is caring! Be sure to visit pages participating in the link up!
• Feel free to share this link up on your own blog by grabbing the code here! get the InLinkz code
• HAVE FUN!

Remember if you don't link up, we can't choose you to be next week's featured blogger! We are so excited to see all the fashions that are shared each week!

How Do You Know???

Some time last year (or maybe the year before), I read a list on some website about the things that let you know that you're a figure competitor. I found the You Know You're A Figure Competitor When... list again on facebook courtesy of the Recipes for Gals in Figure and Bodybuilding page.

Last night as I was participating a particular activity (which I will share later *) I thought to myself, "Yep, this is how you know you're a figure competitor!"

With that in mind, I would like to present my own "You Know" list!

1. Your neighbors know that during prep they will see you in a bikini on the sidewalk in front of you house taking progress pictures.

2. You don't eat any of your meals off of a plate - you eat them out of a Ziploc or Tupperware container. *

3. You consume your protein & veggies meal while watching the Food Network channel.

4. The idea of going days without using deodorant or bodywash doesn't gross you out. You'd rather smell like a sewer than mess up your show day tan.

5. The appearance of a new vein makes you squeal like it's Christmas morning.

6. You use phrases like "beast mode", "I put in work", "get it girl", and "refeed".

7. Walking by a mirror requires a quickie posing session.

8. Being called "skinny" is an insult and anyone who uses this word to describe you may catch an ass-whoopin' get their eyeballs clawed out  need to walk away from you..quickly!!

8. If you dropped a piece of food on the floor/table/etc, you wouldn't have any qualms about picking it up and putting it right in your mouth.

9. If you're in a store and see something you can't have (ex. Creamsicle Oreos), you take a picture of it and text it to your competitor friends with the subject title "Food Porn".

10. You're not impressed with Michelle Obama's arms or Cameron Diaz's muscularity. It's Erin Stern, Nicole Wilkins, and Candice Keene whose arms & muscularity you long for.

I know I have forgotten a few things so the list will continue to expand as I think of them! For those of you that compete or know someone who does, what would you add to this list?? 

C'mon, let's have some fun with this! Leave a comment below!

Super Powers??

Yes, it's true - I have super powers. I don't usually flaunt it but I'm feeling a little feisty today so I'm going to! Want to know what one of my super powers is?

Check it --->

Source

New Release Tuesday

And my obsession love affair with Karmin continues...I'm really feelin' this one!!!

The Truth About Being A Mom

Some days, motherhood looks like this -

Other days, it looks like this -

Motherhood also looks like this -

Motherhood, no matter what form it appears in, is beautiful!

 Happy Mother's Day!!

New Release Tuesday

Music is so important to me! I can't live without it!

I feel like I'm always on a scavenger hunt for a new artist and guess who just found what she was looking?!?!

I was reading Interview magazine (at least I think that's what it was..lol) yesterday during my lunch break and they were talking about this singer who they were comparing to Adele. The article peaked my interest so off to youtube I went :)

Ummm....SCORE!!!! I don't know that I would compare her to Adele but her voice & sound is tantalizing, smooth, soulful...shall I go on??

Check it out...Next to Me by Emeli Sande!

This Seems Like A Good Time..

Prepping for the NPC Terminator & Arizona HAS been taking place....I've just been doing terrible job of updating & sharing with you guys...oopsie!

Diet - nothing too exciting to report! While there was been a small amount of tweaking that took place last week, I'm still eating a good amount of food. I did have some yummy things removed (my chili sauce, cream of rice) but I'm not starving at this point and that is a very very good thing!

Water - I'm consuming a gallon of water each day but this is nothing new for me. This my normal water intake, during competition season and off-season.

Cardio - There was a slight increase in cardio after my 12 week check-in but thankfully, I'm still at a very manageable amount. Right now I'm doing five 30 minute sessions a week. Some of these sessions are first thing in the morning while others have been lunch dates with the StairMonster.

Training - My hands smell like metal multiple times a week which means I'm still lifting!! Woo hoo!! I get cranky during prep when I don't have "permission" to throw weight around...lol! I know that my strength and the number of times a week I weight-train will be declining in the near future but I'll tackle that when the time comes.

Sleep - I have good days and bad days. I try to be in bed by 8:00 pm and lights out by 8:30 pm. There are nights when I fall asleep right away and others when I toss and turn. I have been using melatonin when necessary and that hasn't been more than 3-4 times

Scale - Let me be honest here, I'm not a fan of the scale. No matter how much I don't want the thing to get into my head and torment me, it does!! With that said, the scale is not moving....AT ALL!! I couldn't believe it when I stepped on it last weekend. I thought it was broken - no joke! I know that I'm tightening up and leaning out but the scale is not reflecting that. UGH!! This is psychological welfare :/

Countdown - 11 weeks & 12 weeks! I'm calling myself the Tortoise (The Tortoise and the Hare) - slow & steady wins the race! :)

Sweat to Street Sunday #10

Welcome to Sweat to Street Sunday's!

Each week my fabulously fit co-hosts and I will link up with one everyday outfit AND one fitness outfit that we love!

Meet Your Hosts!

Family and Life in Las Vegas (Emily) 

Wild Things RUN Free (Charlotte) 

Running and Cupcakes (Samantha)

 MCM Mama (Erika) 

Boobs, Barbells, and Broccoli (Tenecia)

***IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW SWEAT TO STREET ON TWITTER OR PLAN ON TWEETING YOUR POST, PLEASE USE THE HASHTAG #SweatToStreet***

Sweat to Street has been created as a place to link up your favorite outfits of the week as a new Sunday blog feature. The idea is to have some fun and change it up! Each week we encourage you to post one workout outfit and one outfit you wore that isn’t fitness related.

Every week we spotlight one awesome blogger who links up with us in the previous week! Our way of thanking you for sharing your fabulous/fun/fitness style! 

  This week's featured blogger: Laura from Laura Lives Life

 

SWEAT!!!!

I've been really bad at remembering

to bring my camera to the gym!

Luckily, I did have my phone with me

during one of my lunch dates with The StairMonster!

Shirt: Lucy Moisture-Wicking tank

Shorts: Danskin

Shoes: Nike

Supersize Forehead: Genetics :)

STREET!!!!

I tend to dress a bit more casual on Fridays but

I still strive to look fashionable - not really
sure how well I do but at least I can
say that I tried - lol!

One of the perks of living in Arizona is 

the fact that April means tank & cute sandal weather!

Shirt: Old Navy
Camisole: Apt 9 (Kohls)
Jeans: Lucky Brand Jeans
Shoes: Coach
Accessories: earrings & necklace set from White House Black Market,
Fossil watch, Coach bracelets, Livestrong bracelet,
cuff (gift from my mother), MAC makeup

  Link-up Suggestions:

• follow the hosts on twitter: @FamilyNLifeLV, @Char__Latte, @MrsFitLibrarian, @MCMmama, @RunCupcake
• Feel free to follow us all via RSS as well so you never miss a Sweat to Street post!
• Snag a button and share the fun!!
• Sharing is caring! Be sure to visit pages participating in the link up!
• Feel free to share this link up on your own blog by grabbing the code here! Get the inlinkz code!
• HAVE FUN!

Remember if you don't link up, we can't choose you to be next week's featured blogger! We are so excited to see all the fashions that are shared each week!  

Why I Did the Ugly Cry

Something took place at the beginning of this week that seriously scared me. It was so scary that I cried and not the regular cry. No, I'm talking about the ugly "I can't breathe" hysterical cry. Yes, me. Me, the emotionally-stunted heartless woman that I am :)

What caused me to react this way?

This -->

And this -->

I was on the freeway driving home from work on Monday night, listening to my radio and mentally reviewing my to-do list when my car began to shake. I turned off my cruise control, decreased my speed, and slowly moved into the right lane. I turned down the radio so I could listen for any weird sounds that might be coming from the car and thought to myself "What in the heck is going on??". Suddenly I heard what sounded like an explosion and my car started veering off the freeway. I slowly but firmly started pressing down on the brake while gripping the wheel like it was a piece of cake that someone was trying to steal from me!

I was able to come to a complete stop and after saying "oh shit!" a million times once or twice, I climbed across the seat and exited the car on the passenger side. I looked at what was left of the wheel and realized there was a bigger problem than I had anticipated. Without getting into all of the gory details, I'll just tell you that the tire on my passenger side blew causing damage to the wheel hub, bumper, and grille.

What's left of my bumper

I was scared but happy that I was able to call Tom to come and rescue me. I was able to hold it together until Tom arrived at the spot on the freeway where my car was parked. My husband walked up to the car to survey the damage. He didn't say a word as he shined his flashlight on the pieces of the tire I took out of the road, the broken grille, or the bumper that was barely hanging on. He didn't utter a word until he walked up to me, put his hands on my face, and said "You did good".  At that point, I broke down and starting crying hysterically. I knew just as he did that this could have been a very ugly deadly situation. As a firefighter, he sees a large number of deaths that are car-related.

I have been a bit shaky and at times emotional since Monday night. All I can think about is how grateful I am that The Princess was not in the car with me. If she had been in the car, I'm not sure what I would have done. It scares me to my core to even think about it!!

I'm thankful that the only damage is to my car and I was able to walk away unharmed. While I'm upset that my beautiful car is broken and in need of a serious makeover, I know it could have been a lot worse. A car is a material thing which can be replaced, a life cannot.

It's all about perspective.

That's What's Up Thursday

source

I'm not going to mess up this post 

by typing mindless chatter about

how I love everything about this picture

and her physique.

I'm just going to keep quiet and 

let you enjoy the picture.

IFBB Physique Pro Ayanna Carroll - now that's what's up!

New Release Tuesday

If you tell me this song doesn't make you want to cry, I'm going to scream "LIAR!!" right in your face! This song tugs at my heart strings and trust me, it takes a miracle to do that!

I'm not sure how I have feel about Jason's new 'do and facial hair.... *shrugs*

The song is beautiful either way...enjoy!!