Ballet School

For the past few months, I've been looking at several ballet companies. Not for me, but wouldn't that be fun?! I've been looking for Cheyenne. After checking out a few places and after several email exchanges with a staff at a particular location, Trey and I have decided to enroll Chey in Ballet School. She'll go once a week for a semester.

If she likes it (which I think she will) and if we have available funds for tuition, for the following semester -- we'll enroll her again.
(Photo) Cheyenne at ballet camp, this past summer.

The other day, we went to The Dance Shop which is a ballet specific apparel store.Trey and I bought her a leotard and leg warmers and Trey's parents got her shoes.  Since she was with me, I lied and said the uniform was for her friend Brianna. She said, but Momma, I want stuff too!!!! I told her, I'd put it on the list and maybe she'd get it later. I plan on wrapping the stuff and putting a school print-out with it, so she knows it's for her class. She'll get her gifts, Christmas morning.

First Position on Netflix
Speaking of Ballet, the other night I was in bed watching the documentary First Position --- That's when Chey walked into my room and decided she wanted to join me. We cuddled and watched 30 mins of it, before I realized it was past 10 pm. OOPS! I sent her to bed and told her, we would finish the movie another night. If you are looking for something to watch over the holiday season, you should check out the documentary. I already watched the entire movie, it's outstanding and amazing how some of the kids are extremely motivated to get dance scholarships and jobs.

My Week in Photos

This is the light edition of my week in photos. I didn't take as many photographs as I normally do. You are shocked, right?

If you ever want to thank me, this is how you do it... 
A few weeks ago, I helped a faculty with a project and to thank me she bought me wine. This is the second time she's done this, so anytime I know she needs help, I'm more than happy to assist. Yes, my work can be bought with wine and don't forget food! P.S. how do you like my office decor? That's one of my favorite pictures of Trey and my mom. Some of my co-workers have told me, that's a lovely picture of you... (the picture to the right). I have to tell, them: no, that's my mom and my ginger husband. I like to drop the ginger reference whenever possible. Red hair don't care :)

Another Work Related Picture
Someone I work with put this in my office box. I want to know who they are, so I can thank them. Cheyenne is going to love these, magnets.

Do you have any plans for the weekend?
I didn't have anything planned and then about an hour ago I got this email -- Now, I know exactly what I'll be doing. I'm obsessed with 90210 and the fifth season starts on the CW next month!!!!

Alternatives to Cable & Satellite Service

Let's see, it's been about a month, since we had satellite service. So, far I don't miss it. For entertainment, we've been watching Netflix and Hulu-Plus.

Netflix and Hulu-Plus both cost the same per month, $8.65. That sure does beat a $98 satellite bill! Hulu is free if you want to watch from a laptop, but I like the option of watching it on my TV or phone, so to me it's worth the pennies. There are some other bonuses to having a Hulu-Plus account, but to me that's the main one. There is one thing that surprised me, some of the shows you can only watch on a laptop and not on a TV or phone. They call them web based shows. BOOO! The Chew is one of those shows. But for the most part, the main Network Evening shows are not Web based only.

It seems like Hulu has replaced my DVR.

Cheyenne gets the most use out of Netflix-Kids. They have a nice selection of cartoons. Right now, she's on a my little pony kick.

When we want to watch new Movie Releases, Trey and I will go to a REDBOX station, which is only $1.62. There are several kiosk machines, less than a mile from home, so it's really convenient. We probably REDBOX it about 4 times a month.
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This week, I haven't been walking at work. I decided to listen to my body and take it easy.  Trey would be so proud of me. Tomorrow, I may be feeling less achy, so I may walk then.

Do you want to hear something bizarre? 
Sometimes I forget I'm pregnant. It happens when I wake up in the middle of the night to pee. I'm already out of it because it's like 2 am, but by the time I walk to the restroom, I'll have a moment of -- OMG! I'm 8 months pregnant! Late night feedings and a messed up sleeping schedule is going to suck the life out of me. 


And then I'm like whatever, Pee and Sleep <------MY IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES.

I have a Prima Donna on my hands
Lately, Cheyenne likes to put her hands on her hips when she talks and the other morning she demanded to wear a dress. Oh, I love wardrobe fights at 6 am. Ummm, no thanks. We comprised on this outfit (see picture). Now, I make sure she picks out her clothes the night before, so I can remind her (when she's screaming and she doesn't want to wear it at and it's 6:05 am)...."Remember you picked this outfit out yourself?" My strategy worked this morning.

I don't mind if she wears skirts or dresses, but not on school days. Her school prefers that the girls not wear them without shorts, which makes sense, since they are so active playing. If it's a school day and she insists on wearing a dress, I might have to start making her wear shorts underneath. Everyone wins!

Last night, we had a precious moment together. She was getting ready for bedtime and she said OK, cuddle time! She crawled into my lap, like she was a baby and we sat there holding each other for several minutes.

It's That Time of Year When We Cancel Our Satellite Service

It's that time of year when Trey and I drop our satellite service.  Bye-Bye Direct TV!

This time, we didn't suspend our account, we actually cancelled it. They should be sending us a box so we can mail them back their equipment. When football season rolls around we'll probably sign-up with AT&T u-Verse. I've heard good things about their service.

Tonight, at 11:59 pm Direct TV will officially pull the plug on our dish and all we'll have to look at will be a black screen --- that is, until Trey hooks up our antenna. So, my plan for this evening is to rush home and watch as much TV as possible.

I knew this day was coming, so for the past few weeks, I've been busy building my Hulu Queue. Am I missing any shows? What are you watching on Hulu? Or Netflix?

enduraFIT Challenge 

Guess who ran a timed mile? My husband. He's so BA. 

We're both participating in the enduraFIT Challenge and yesterday, he had his baseline testing at the LAB. He ran a timed mile and then completed a timed WOD (workout of the day), that included a few sets of kettle ball swings, jump box hops, and jump roping. In 10 weeks, he'll do the test again to see if he's improved.

I decided not to participate and do the baseline testing, since my fitness results would decline as the weeks progressed. At the moment, I'm 28 weeks pregnant, that means when we test again, I will be 38 weeks bearing a child. Can you imagine a 38 week preggo Dom doing jump box hops? Oh, yeah and the doctor doesn't want me to run....

That's okay, while Trey was getting his sweat on, I rowed 3 miles on the rowing machine. Seriously, I NEED A ROWER in my home GYM. I'm going to make that happen, one of these days. I will. Yes, I will. This is the machine I want. It's also a space saver, when not in use you can stand it upright, against a wall. Brand new, this model cost a little more than my used Treadmill and apparently it's good enough for commercial use, they use it at the LAB. It's FANTASTIC and my new best friend.

Update on my home treadmill: 

The replacement part has been on back order, but the company emailed us and said they finally received the part from their supplier and we should be recovering it in the mail as soon as tomorrow!!!!! I can't run, but you better believe, I'll be doing some serious walking.

The Show that Makes Me Want to Visit NYC and a Teaser

In November, I started watching How I Met Your Mother. I started at the beginning with episode 1. Netflix has 6 seasons of the show. Yesterday, I watched the 100th episode, the LAST ONE. Technically, there is a 7th season, but Netflix doesn't carry it, yet. I LOVE this show! I want to travel to New York, now!

It's time to move on and find a new show to watch, on Netflix, BUT WHAT?
Here is what I'm considering:
1. 30 Rock - I've watched a number of these episodes - but it would be cool to watch it all the way thru.
2. Parks & Recreation - the same as above....
3. Scrubs
4. Shameless

Do you have any suggestions?

It's Already Time for Another Pair
Last night, I had a great workout with EnduraLAB. We ran some drills. There was a lot of sprinting and throwing a medicine ball mixed with squats. It was a fast and furious one. At the lab, they have a box full of shoes available for product testing -- Oh, I should mention the LAB is a gym, but they also sell shoes.

I took these Altra's for a test run. If you ask me, they look kind of silly. How did they perform? Well, I only wore them for one run, so it's hard to give a detailed review -- but I have to say it was a smooth ride. I like them. I don't like the price. They retail for $99.

I'm due for new running shoes. My Nike Lunar Glide2's have 500 miles on them. I think my next pair will be in the $50 - 75. price range. I'm leaning more towards the $50 range. I'm seriously thinking about picking up a pair from a place like Academy. Why go with lower priced shoes? Well, after Cowtown, it'll be a while before I train for a race, and with the upcoming delivery and being postpartum returning back to running -- Let's just say it'll be a while before I'm training like my old self again. I don't need expensive shoes.

BIG TEASE!!!!!!!!!
I will host a blog giveaway! I'll post all the details tomorrow, but here is a teaser picture. What could it be? What could it be? It could be yours too! Stay tune, you don't want to miss it! And no, it's not shoes.

20 Weeks: Pregnancy Snapshot

How far along?
20 weeks. Half-way there. 20 weeks to go.

This time around, I'm in no rush. I'm excited, but now I understand the whole --- It's soooo different with your second one. I get it. When I was pregnant with Cheyenne and I was 20 weeks, I was so involved in reading up all about pregnancy and baby gear and now I'm like -- I know everything. <------Not really, but I feel like I'm better prepared, since I've gone through pregnancy before. Does that make sense? The excitement is there, but I'm not as anxious.

The picture on the left is Dakota and I (present day) AND the picture on the right is when I was 20 weeks pregnant with Cheyenne. I overheard Trey describe my size to a friend of his...he said I'm as big as a house. Ha-ha! He jokes, I think.
 
How I feel: 
Great. I have lots of energy - thank you 2nd trimester. I ran 4 miles this morning before work. The time is not important, only the distance :).  I have my blah moments, but for the most part, it's been a good week. Wearing comfortable clothes and not overeating makes a world of difference. I hate that overstuffed feeling.

What annoys Me: 
My normal shirts are starting to ride up. It's time to make the big switch to maternity tops. Also, my bladder is extra sensitive. TMI? IDK. Sleeping on my stomach is uncomfortable. I'm still sleeping on my back -- but not a lot.

Food Cravings This Week: 
Limon Chips (ALWAYS), Panda Express, Roasted Veggies, and Hard Salami. Last night, I was craving chips, so after dinner we stopped at the grocery store. Gosh, I'm high maintenance. "Yeah, I just ate dinner, but can we stop and get chips -- oh and frozen pizza too." Please tell me I'm normal.

What I've been doing to prep for Dakota's Homecoming: 
Nothing. Trey suggested I sort through Cheyenne's newborn clothes and organize the closet. That sounds like a good idea.

What I've bought: 
Nothing. When I go shopping, I plan on buying diapers and wipes -- maybe not every trip, but at least every other time I go. I think we are set on most of the big baby items and clothes, although I need some small random items. We'll be borrowing a few things and reusing Cheyenne's baby crib, which means we'll be in the market for a toddler bed. OR daybed. Not sure, yet.

I'll be reusing my breast pump -- Dear Jesus, I hope that it holds out for another baby. Lord knows, I spent more time with that pump the first year of Chey's life, than I did with Trey. It's got a lot of miles on it, but it's a Medela, so it better make it another round.

Gifts:
Our neighbors bought this for Dakota. I'll be rolling this all around the house. It'll be in the bedroom, when I'm sleeping at night, guest bedroom for naps, and the living room during the day. We are thankful for the nice gift, thanks neighbors!

What are your plans for tonight and this weekend? 
It's a pizza and movie night for us. Lately, Trey's been playing video games at night, while I fall asleep watching episode of How I Met Your Mother. BUT tonight, I want to watch a movie!!! Any Netflix recommendations? QUICK, we'll be watching soon!! I have the Fighter in my instant queue, that sounds good to me.

Have a fantastic weekend and if you are running long tomorrow, good luck. I'll be running too! 

Oldie But A Goodie & Sucky Netflix Streaming Selection

I've modified a tuna fish salad that I like to make and I've made it paleo-friendly. I had this dish with a side of baked sweet potatoes fries.

Ingredients: Tuna, green apples, avocados, purple onions, thyme, Chia seeds, S/P, and lots of lime juice

Before I would add greek yogurt to the mix, but I didn't this time, since I'm participating in the 30 day paleo challenge. So, far it's going great, the sugar cravings and bread cravings are not strong -- so that makes it easier on me.

Do you have big plans this weekend? Staying in? Going out?
I'll be staying in tonight and hopefully I'll sleep well. I've got a lot of miles to run this weekend. I need to get out early, so I won't have to rush thru my miles. I want to focus on taking it slow. Other than fueling and resting, I plan on watching a movie tonight. I'm going to see what is available on Netflix streaming. Is it just me or is Netflix movie streaming selection SUCKY?!? I usually have to dig and dig to find something good to watch. It's like thrift store shopping. If you have any suggestions drop it in the comment line and I'll add it to my que. Enjoy the weekend!

Oh and I'm looking forward to spending quality time with this princess.

Summer Flicks

Every so often I forget to check my Netflix Que. This week, I was sent Wall-E.

That movie has been sitting in my list for FOREVER. It's not exactly something I wanted to watch, this weekend, but who knows I might like it. If anything, it's something that we can all watch as a family.

Here are a few movies I have lined up to watch:

I'm not sure Trey will appreciate all the chick-flicks, I'm stock piling, so if you have any adventure, thriller movies you'd recommend -- send them our way.

 This movie has been out since 2008. I've heard it's great and I've been meaning to get to it.

I need some Will Ferrell Comedy in my summer. I'm a super fan of Brothers, Talladega Nights, and Anchorman. I hope this one lives up to the rest of his films.

My Que & Freezing Weather....Right on Time for Race Day

We're still doing the whole pizza and movie night thing. Here are the last few movies we’ve watched:

Knowing

I didn’t know this was a scary thriller. I probably wouldn’t have got it, if I knew that, but then again I would’ve missed out on a pretty decent flix.

(500) Days of Summer

Wow, talk about disappointed and overrated. I had more than one person tell me, “You gotta see this.” And looking at the trailer, I thought, “hey this is my kind of film.” But really, that Summer girl really got on my nerves. I wanted to slap her.  I just couldn’t believe her character could be that cold.

Adventureland

I had low expectations before I watched this movie, but a co-worker recommended it. I watched it with Natasha and not Trey. I’m glad I did because it was more of a chick-flick….but a really good one with believable characters. I highly recommend this movie, especially if you like 80 teen movies, like sixteen candles. 

Grandma’s Boy

Don’t waste your time. To sum it up, it’s a low buget,-trashy movie. I feel asleep watching it.

Currently, on the que I have The Proposal, The Transporter,  and Management (recommended by Linda). Tonight, we're going to watch Star Trek and then I'll get some rest before the race tomorrow morning. A COLD front is lingering and it looks like it will be freezing tomorrow morning. Most likely, ice will settle on the roads. Well, at least I'm accustomed to running in the cold and I'm glad I have full length tights and warm running gloves. Trey and I have already talked about it and I will jog (I hate that word...I will run at a slow pace) from the house to the race start line. It'll be a good warm up for me and then he'll drive to the finish line with Cheyenne right before I cross it. I'm really excited and scared and ready and not ready---all at the same time.