Who wants to see me fall on my butt via live stream?

Goody!  I just knew you all would!

So here are the details – I am going to be participating in a Twitter Party for Sondra Roberts New York…and “modeling” (using the term very, very, very loosely) in a live online fashion show on Stickam this Thursday night!

Now, of course, if  seeing me fall on my butt watching me online is not enticing enough, know that you will have the opportunity to win one of the beautiful Sondra Roberts bags – because the hosts will be giving away over $800 in Sondra Roberts New York and SR Squared bags.

When: Thursday, November 19

Where: Twitter (follow #sondraroberts) and ResourcefulMom’s Stickham channel: http://www.stickam.com/resourcefulmom

Time: 8:00 – 9:00 pm (cameras will start rolling earlier – zoinks!)

I’m participating in FLASHBACK FRIDAY put on by Texan Mama! Yeehaw!

My husband is a good man. He puts up with A LOT.  He and I are opposite in so many ways.

He is a detail man.  An everything-has-a-place-man. An if-you-put-things-right-back-where-you-found-them-we-wouldn’t-have-this-problem-kind-of-man. I am NOT. I try. But I am more of a free spirit when it comes to organization, especially when it comes to housework. And, of course, my husband is essentially right. (Albeit in a housework-utopian-society-kind-of-way.) But, as for me, there is always SOMETHING that comes up to thwart my efforts.

Let’s go on a journey through 10 minutes of the mess and chaos of my life shall we? One example – a pair of my running shoes that has not yet made it back into the closet. So, theoretically, I should have been able to take them off my feet and toss them into the closet. Oh, I mean, lay them gently into the designated running shoe cubby. Yeah.

So here is what happened instead. I took them off…  At that precise moment, my son yelled dramatically from the other room. I sprint over to him and find that he and his brother are pounding each other over a Light Bright design. I settle the argument and notice hundreds of Light Bright pieces all over the floor. Oh dear. (Dad won’t be amused by that.) So we make a game of it and pick them up. In the middle of that the phone rings. It is my friend reminding me it is my turn to bring snack to soccer. I run down the stairs to see if I even have something that would qualify as a snack. Nope. Put it on the list of things to do. I then notice the laundry is finished. I put a new load in and take the other out and begin folding it. Kids come running downstairs and want a drink. I get them a drink. They spill juice everywhere and I clean it up. I begin emptying the dish washer because I can’t even put the juice cups away due to the overflowing sink with dirty dishes in it. I am halfway through this task when hubby comes home.

So this is what my husband sees: Kitchen a mess. Sticky floor. Laundry strewn everywhere. Light Bright pieces not picked up. (Because they decided to dump them out again while I wasn’t looking.) And then, of course, he tripped over my shoes. Yeah, those shoes. The ones that should have been put away as soon as I took them off my feet.

And then he says…. “Jen. Why don’t you just put these away right when you take them off?”

(RACHEL’S) EMERGENCY TIPS FOR SURVIVING HALLOWEEN CANDY DELUGE

BUY CANDY LATE: Don’t bring it into the house before October 31

BUY CANDY YOU DON”T LIKE: You’ll have less temptation to cope with

DITCH THE SENSE OF OCCASION: Remind yourself that you can buy candy any time of the year; there’s no need to load up on candy on October 31 when you can have it anytime.

KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE: Don’t assume you can’t enjoy even a single treat, especially since deprivation is a dieting tactic that often backfires

MAKE SMARTER CHOICES: If you know that there’s no chance you’ll nibble a couple of Starbursts without tearing through the whole pack, it may be best to avoid them altogether. Keep healthier alternatives such as fruit or Jell-O on hand.

ABOUT RACHEL: Rachel Swartz-Hartje is an NASM certified personal trainer and is currently completing her degree in community health promotion.  She enjoys running, bodybuilding and torturing her clients (and friends) into submission.  She is definitely a bad-ass.  Don’t let her nice profile picture fool you. Her mantra? “Discipline is the Bridge Between Goals and Accomplishments.” Oh yeah, she also used to be in the Navy.  Don’t. Mess. With. Her.

As you may have noticed, last week I took a one week break from the Fitness Friday schedule to post my interview with Uma Thurman.  Seemed like an okay substitution, although some have asked if I was planning on bringing little Ms. Rachel back…. Well, of course I am!

And because I am a selfish-type blogger I kept this week’s post to something that I could benefit from – exercises you can do at work, specifically for the lower body!  Hope you enjoy and pass it along…..

Here are a few easy lower-body exercises for squeezing fitness into your day at work.Whenever you have a few minutes choose one exercise and complete the recommended number of reps and sets.  Remember to always warm-up prior to beginning any physical activity. You can do this by taking a quick 3-5 minute walk through your office.

Note: Maintaining good posture throughout the entire range of motion is critical to prevent injury and get the most out of the exercise. This means abs drawn in, chest up, shoulders drawn back and down, chin parallel to the floor, and hips tucked.  Breathing is also very important.Typically you should inhale on the first phase of the exercise and exhale as you exert force.For example, this means inhaling as you sit into a squat and exhaling as you stand up. Be sure to remove your shoes if you work in heels before performing these exercises!

Squats: Stand in front of a chair with feet hip-width apart, abs in and back straight. Keeping your chest up, slowly bend your knees and lower your butt until it just touches the chair. Pause for 2-3 seconds and, pressing through the heels, return to standing position. Repeat for 12-15 reps, 2-3 sets.

Lunges: Stand with your feet together, hands on hips. Take a step forward with your right leg, bending both knees and lower into a lunge, keeping the front knee behind the toe.  Do not allow the knee to touch the ground. Press through the heel to push back up to standing. Repeat for 10-15 reps, 2-3 sets each leg,

Hip abduction: Stand sideways to a chair or wall for support and lift one leg out to the side, foot flexed and hips, knees, and feet in alignment. Repeat for 12-15 reps, 2-3 sets each leg.

Hip extension: Stand facing the back of a stable chair or wall for support and extend right leg straight out behind you, squeezing your butt to lift leg. Pause while continuing to squeeze glutes, then lower.Be sure to keep your hips level throughout the entire range of motion.Repeat for 12-15 reps, 2-3 sets each leg.

Calf raises: Standing with your feet close together and lightly holding onto a chair or wall for support, rise up onto your tiptoes.Pause and lower. Maintain erect body posture.Repeat for 12-15 reps, 2-3 sets.This can also be done on stairs with the heels hanging off the step. *If you wear heels all day I would skip this one since the calf muscles are in a constantly contracted state. Instead, be sure to stretch your calves.

Wall sit: Stand in front of a wall and lean against it.  Slide down until the thighs are parallel to the floor (or higher for an easier version) and hold for 20-60 seconds. Your head, shoulders, and back should maintain contact with the wall.Do not hold your breath!

Throw in a few 5-10 minute walks (walking stairs is a good option too), some stretches, and you’re on your way!

ABOUT RACHEL: Rachel Swartz-Hartje is an NASM certified personal trainer and is currently completing her degree in community health promotion.  She enjoys running, bodybuilding and torturing her clients (and friends) into submission.  She is definitely a bad-ass.  Don’t let her nice profile picture fool you. Her mantra? “Discipline is the Bridge Between Goals and Accomplishments.” Oh yeah, she also used to be in the Navy.  Don’t. Mess. With. Her.

You see, my kids just spent the evening penning their first novels.

Yeah, you heard me.

Instead of merely being content tackling their classroom’s required reading, my budding authors decided that they were going to write their own stories and read them to each other thankyouverymuch.

I was overjoyed to hear them in their rooms writing away on their notepads and devising new plot points for their characters.  It was adorable!  (As you know, this Mamma loves books and always has.  It has been an obsession since my youth.)

But at this point, I am afraid that their little projects have spun out of control.

My oldest now wants his book sent to a publisher. And he would like that publisher to make his book into a movie.  Like, pronto.  Meaning – tomorrow.  Or at least by next weekend before our Blockbuster goes out of business.

He is unbelievably serious about this.

Oh dear.

There wouldn’t happen to be any publishers reading this right now that are interested in a story about a princess who finds a secret world? I, um, think she gets eaten by a cat.

Riveting, I tell you.

No idea what I just said? That is because I am so excited!  (WARNING: This blog post might be peppered with an unbelievable amount of exclamation points.)

I just got the new issue of Frederick Magazine in which appears my first ever STYLE SECTION!!!  Yes, I am going to be obnoxious about this because really, am I qualified? According to my sister – NOTSOMUCH.

According to my editor – apparently.

NOW do you understand my unrelenting need for exclamation points???!!!!

A magazine girl’s dream to be sure.  To bad I don’t get to keep the fab clothing that I featured.   At least I got the chance to try on the hat before I had to return it.  (It is one of many from the fabulous Tiara Day store. I could live there, truly.)

Come to think of it, this section might end up being more of a problem then a blessing.  I have a feeling my wardrobe might be expanding in the future. Oh well, all in the name of research right?

If you have read my blog more than once you already know that I am a sucker for books. Specifically self-help books.  So when I was given the opportunity to review one – I jumped on it.  Hey, I’m lookin’ for my MOJO, remember?

The book is called Stop Praying. Now, right off the bat I didn’t know what to expect because I am a faith-filled gal.  Turns out it is not anti-God just more directed at motivating readers “who are fed up with a normal, go nowhere life.”  Okay, then. I’m in.

It uses five daily disciplines to spur you into action for a 21 day commitment, complete with journal for writing activities.

I must say that one particular chapter struck me.  It was the chapter on Choice Awareness. (Wince) I’d never thought about choices the way they were presented in the book before: “Every day we are subconsciously making hundreds of mini choices….by mini choices I mean things like tossing something towards the trash, missing by a little bit and walking on.” The author goes on to give examples of stopping your three mile run at 2.5 because you are “close” or having “just one” brownie because you skipped breakfast, ect…  The point being made is that by choosing the easy way out, not finishing and not taking the high road, you dismiss the little decisions as “unimportant” and consequently you are not living up to your potential. Basically arguing that our subconscious KNOWS and RECORDS these little moments.  Thus killing your self-confidence.

Fascinating and unnerving at the same time.  I’ve found myself way more conscious of these “mini-choices.”  So I’m committing to the 21 day journaling exercize.  I’m hoping that it will create a greater awareness and intention in my life.

AND BONUS: Two lucky folks will receive a free book copy and tote bag!  Just visit this site and enter the promo code “hip” … IT IS THAT SIMPLE!

Case in point – my newest reading pile.

At the moment I am trying to power through five books.  Two I have read previously so they are just a “review.”  Two are faith-based and the other is a fab diet book called “The Skinny.”  (I’m hoping that when I finish it I will be miraculously thin and fabulous! I can dream, right?)

Just  a little “light reading.”

I really do have an obsession with books.  I love the smell of their pages- old or new.  I love the feel of their spine in my hands.  Nothing makes me happier than to cozy up with a book and a cup of coffee on a cold, rainy day.  I could easily spend a week in a book store and never come up for air.  My dream is to one day author my own.

When my kids were little, they used to tell me that I was Belle from the cartoon Beauty and the Beast.  Now that they are older, they just compare me to Hermione of the Harry Potter series.  Like both of those gals I always seem to have a couple of books with me.  I try to sneak in a chapter whenever I can.  (You know – grocery line, bus stop, waiting for laundry to finish, meeting running late…)

The challenge with this obsession of mine is that I can never have enough.  I always feel like there are at least three more books that I should be reading.  I literally have 10 surrounding my nightstand at any given time.

I guess it is no wonder that I never sleep.

PS – Yes, I know I am a slacker and haven’t posted any pictures from the Disney trip. Alright, already!  Quit yellin’ at me!  I’ll put them on my Flickr account this weekend.  (My husband took 1,586 pictures. That is not an exaggeration.)

Monday as I was being zapped by my physical therapist I was reviewing my notebook when I came across this book excerpt.

It really struck me.

It is from the the book “Become A Better You” by Joel Osteen. I am a big Osteen fan.  His books on faith really speak to me. 

“The enemy knows something about about what is inside of you, as well.  He knows the POTENTIAL you are carrying, so he does everything he can to keep that seed from taking root.  He doesn’t want your (dreams) gifts and talents to FLOURISH.  He doesn’t want you to accomplish your dreams.  He wants you to live an AVERAGE, MEDIOCRE life.”

That is really powerful when you think of it that way, isn’t it?  I think my biggest fear has always been to live a mediocre life.

Just thought I would share.

I “HEART” my new shirt. 

I know, I know… It is the coolest.  I got it in Ocean City, MD last weekend at Jolly Roger Amusement Park. 

I really, really, really, really wanted it.  It didn’t come in adult size (Grrr…) so I just bought the extra large kid size.

My husband thinks I am ridiculous. And probably a little immature.

He is right.

After all, I have this thing for pirates, and then there are those darn vampires (books) (Pattison!) and well, of course, we can’t forget my obsession with all things  Harry Potter, can we?  (Snape!)

Jeez. Come to think of it.  I am a freak.

A freak that is raising children.  Hmmm…. that is a bit unsettling.  

I’m lucky to be married.