The Gym Chronicles: YOGA ROCKS!

Wait a minute...you could have possibly read that header wrong....When I say Yoga Rocks, I am not meaning that Yoga is the greatest most fantabulous thing ever...although it could be...it IS crazy cool....But what I was TRYING to say is that WE ARE YOGA ROCKS...as in we STINK! We are hopeless! We are big, fat, tight, weak, old, slow, wannabes! Like THESE kind of rocks...



Not like this chick, who totally ROCKS! Go Locust Girl! That's what that position is called for you totally UNcool NONyoga people out there...They name all the positions of Yoga, don't ya know?

This position is "man-in-a-world-of-hurt"....also known as "extreme-pretzel-boy"....or "owey-i-want-my-mommy".....

Our first Yoga experience was eye-opening to say the least! Much more physically challenging than we were expecting! Our Pilates instructor placed more emphasis on stretching and caused me to experience much envy over her super-human flexibility. Our Yoga instructor focused more on strength and mental calming, causing me to experience much envy over her freakish monster strength and complete emotional tranquility....I know, I don't understand it all myself either....But we are hooked! If we can even get halfway to the place where our instructors are now, we'll be satisfied....the bending, stretching, core strengthening, and yes, even the meditation are just what the doctor ordered! Who doesn't need a little quiet time? I am just glad JR was there to help me out of some of those real freaky deaky positions...Thanks hon! Here is JR coming to my rescue...whata guy!

To top off the uber sweet night of mental and physical growth, Little Brat was a perfect angel and had a great time in the Kid Zone....she is constantly asking when we are going back again, so I think she's really enjoying this family adventure as much as her Daddy and I are! She even gets to change into her "Gym" clothes after school like Mommy and Daddy do, which really makes her feel like part of the team....I expect to find her, Spongebob water bottle in hand, each and every morning as we leave for school/work until she gets to go again! 3 days a week may not be enough for the munchkin, but I can tell you that is all Mommy and Daddy are able to handle!

Happy Trails!

Leah

The Gym Chronicles: MIXED FEELINGS

It's a rough start to our exercising escapades, but we're hanging in there!

DAY 1:

This past Sunday we had an appointment with a personal trainer at our local gym. At this appointment, the personal trainer was to assess our physical conditioning, flexibility, and so on....we showed up, placed the Little Brat in the Kid Zone, and waited....and waited and waited...and spent some time on the floaty run-like machines...and waited....and stole some time on the hydrotherapy massage bed...and you guessed it, WAITED! The personal trainer was a no-show....sigh....JR convinced me to work out with him a little bit on some of the machines, but my heart wasn't in it....I have never been fond of working out on machines, but I did enjoy the time doing something with my old man....When we were ready to leave, I stopped in the Kid Zone to get LB...something didn't smell right though....It really didn't SMELL right....so I check her out, and sure enough her little hiney is covered with dooty....I open the door to the bathroom and there is dooty covered TP strewn from wall to wall...you have to give her a little credit, she TRIED to clean herself up....she IS only knee high to a grasshopper though, and her 'clean-up' skills aren't 100% accurate as of yet.....and her 'teachers' did not know to lend a hand....so we cleaned up a little, apologized for the stench, and headed home....Day one was a disappointment overall, but at least we got familiar with the territory.

DAY 2:

Monday night was our first Pilates Class. I was ready to shake off the doom and gloom of the day prior and get busy! We dropped LB off at the Kid Zone again. This time I brought along her booty wipes and explained to the 'teachers' that she may need their assistance....surely that would prevent any further issues in the potty department....we showed up a bit early so JR and I could get a warm up on that floaty run-like machine before we hit the mats....I learned that I kick spouse booty! I can go further and faster than the old man....GO ME! After a good brisk float, we went to meet our Pilates instructor, grabbed some mats, and got started!

Pilates was just what we were looking for....LOTS of stretching and exercises focused on our abs and backs....some of the stretching and core exercises magnified just how stiff and weak we have become....it will be really great to see how much stronger and more flexible we will get over time....as for the position in the picture above...yeah, we did that....or at least attempted too...my legs were not so straight, and I was definitely not so balanced...I was kinda wobbling back and forth and the expressions on my face was a little less pleasant...OK, a LOT less....but I loved it, and JR got into it too! I am looking forward to our next class on Saturdays.

After class ended, we stopped back by the Kid Zone to pick up LB....here is where our wonderful experience gets a little tainted....much to our surprise and dismay, LB had been having such a great time playing on the behemoth jungle gym, that she waited too long to use the potty and peed all over herself and the slide.... UH-OH! In over a year of being potty trained, she has NEVER had an accident...not ONCE...not even in bed at night! I was so embarrassed, apologetic, and downright flabbergasted, the I scooped her soggy little bottom up, apologized profusely and hustled to the car as fast as I could....When we got home, she got to wear pull-ups to bed as a punishment...you see, pull-ups are for BABIES, and just the thought of her having to wear BABY pants was punishment enough to her....So, this morning when she woke up and got ready for school, she got to take her baby pants off and put her big-girl pants back on...promising to use the potty like a big-girl from now on.....will she? I don't know for sure...But all I can say is that must have been one heck of a good time for her not to want to break for 5 minutes and relieve herself! I don't know if the Kid Zone is going to let her back in after 2 incidents in a row, but I guess a Mommy can ask....we'll see how it goes.

Our next activity on the schedule is Yoga on Wednesdays....we are not sold on it yet, but wanted to get another activity in between Pilates on Mondays and Saturdays, and Yoga was all that we could fit in....stay tuned!

Happy Trails,

Leah

Bonfire!

LOVE this picture...

It's been one heck of a long time since we herded our extended friends and barn family together for fun with FIRE and FOOD! The essential ingredients to any good time HAS to be fire and food! So, we grilled up some Brauts, Hamburgers and Potatoes, and our guests brought the rest...It was quite an impressive spread!

Bob deep fried TWO Turkeys!!! They were FANTASTIC!

After we filled our bellies with all the delicious eats, we attempted to roast some Marshmallows and make some Smores...I say attempted, cuz those embers were HOT, and only the hard core marshmallow roasters could stand near them long enough to get their mellows marshed....

Mickey brought along his star gazing machine and everyone got to take turns getting up close and personal with some planets! Really, really cool!

Vickie was the coolest adult of the night, taking all the brats on go-cart rides in her fancy shmancy horse show cruiser....they were ridin' in style for sure!

And of course EVERYONE brought along their canine pals...we are a puppy friendly place around here....and they all got along great....

Kate and her main squeeze, Mark even made it out to party with us!

Just look at all the smug mugs...

This is Dena, she one of my oldest friends...she a happy gal....she's also a massage therapist and can make you happy too....Really, she is GOOD!

THANK YOU to everyone that came out....we enjoyed your company immensely! We'll have to do this again sometime...

Happy Trails,

Leah

Ye' Halloween...

A Big Black Cat

By the Pumpkin Sat

With Candle a Gleam

On HALLOWEEN!!!

Spooky was the perfect model for this poem, sitting so distinguisehd and spookily by the pumpkin and all....Until I broke out the camera. The shot I ended up getting, as you can see, is more of an Spooky apparition. But, you get the point. Happy Halloween!

And STRETCH and two and three and four...

You said it sister! Can I get a Woot-Woot?!?! I could not have described this throb in my head any better....of course, the throbbing in my neck, shoulders, knees and every other inch of my body I can blame on nobody but myself....things like THIS should not be happenening...and we are ready to do something about it!

So, WE DID IT! We broke down and joined our local Sport & Health Fitness Club this week. We have a few, fairly reasonable, slightly intimidating, yet highly encouraging goals in mind....We plan on attending the Pilates type classes offered in the evenings and on the weekend three times per week. The gym has a pretty elaborate kiddie zone for the Little Brat to enjoy while we do our thang too...I took her with me to tour the place and she has asking to go back ever since we left!

Benefits of Exercise to keep in mind....and to remind us that this is for our own good:

1. It will make us feel better. Honestly, and I am the first to admit this, the gym is a daunting place. But it will get easier. And eventually it really will make us feel better.
2. Daily exercise improves stamina. (No elaboration necessary. We aren't kids anymore!)
3. Being in shape (and round is not the shape I'm talking about) is sexy.
4. Exercise helps control weight. (We hope to be reintroduced to our toes again)
5. Exercise improves flexibility. (We hope to be able to TOUCH our toes again too)
6. Competing with yourself (or your spouse) is healthy. May the best man (or woman) win!

Our simple Goals to keep us honest:

1. Attend stretching and/or core strengthening classes 2-3 times per week.
2. Increase our flexibility thru monthly assessments.
3. Increase our core strength thru monthly assessments.
4. Loose that pesky joint and muscle soreness.
5. Set a good example of healthy fun & fitness for our family!!!

So, HERE WE GO! Wish us luck...we'll keep you updated on our trials and tribulations...we can't be the only goobers out there trying to regain some of that youthful elasticity to our bodies we once took so stupidly for granted!

Happy Trails,

Leah

Just another day at the office.....

Our office had a Halloween Potluck today (I brought some Banana Pudding)....a few of us got into the moment and came all decked out in our Halloween best! I even picked up the Little Brat from her Daycare to join in the fun...she's the precious little pumpkin sitting on the 1st place horseback riders knee (yes, that's me....and yes, I can hear you laughing at me, so be quiet! I did not have time to buy or make a costume, so I grabbed my horse show garb out of the closet...what more do you want from me?!?!) The rest of these shady characters share my office space....it's a good bunch of people and a real fun place to work....

No, I don't really think my brain bucket is supposed to sit THAT high on the peak of my noggin'....I really never paid that much attention to it before I guess....good thing the little darling in the picture with me distracts your eye away from the bulbous eye sore that is my head. Isn't she precious????...OK, seriously, stop staring at it...you are going to give me a complex!

After we stuffed our pie holes full, I took LB back to my desk to hang out while our traumatized bellies settled...I think she got more work done today than I did! Look at her go! Multi-tasking on dual screens....

Answering calls and taking notes....

And just having a grand ole' time as mommy took a much needed and deserved nap in the corner of my office.....What? She had things under control!

Note the "Baby Art" in my window....those are some of my favorite masterpieces the LB has created for me at school...they make me happy.....they make work a jolly place to be, even if my baby is not there.....her handy-work keeps her close at heart....


Gotta Love a good kid with a good work ethic....I DO!



Happy Trails,
Leah

Barn Kids are SCARY...

I don't have any cute way to say this...no gentle way to describe the way I felt this morning when my dearest little brat appeared out of the darkness to greet me half-way through my regular feeding ritual....surprise maybe? shock? terror? all of the above?????

You see, Daddy is out of town this week, so I am on my own when it comes to the chores around here until he returns....I can handle it, really, I can....Until my precious punk pulls one of these moves on me, then I realize that single parenthood is SCARY!!!! And I want Daddy home...like YESTERDAY....cuz I can't handle it!!!!!

Let me back up a little bit so you get the full picture here....I woke up at 515am....rolled out of bed and out the door at about 530am....all is well...all on schedule.....one difference tho, the Little Brat was sleeping with me....that's the norm when Daddy is away....the girls cuddle up and keep each other company.....it's really nice.....then when Daddy gets home, it's back to her big girl bed....no fuss no muss.....it works for us! NORMALLY, it does anyways....What happened THIS morning, is that I must have disturbed the punk out of deep sleep as I left the bed and headed outside to feed the horses....she has ALWAYS slept soundly until I wake her to get ready.....however, about half way thru my rituals, I see the Little Brat come strolling in the barn...out of the dark night, STILL in her footy pajamas!!!!!! My heart skipped a beat...wait, make that 23847289745293 beats! You see, the barn is a couple hundred yards away from the house....and the thought of my precious little pumpkin bum, babe of my loins, daughter of my dreams, and love of my life strolling down the drive all by herself and surrounded by darkness and who knows what other baby hatin' forces....Lordsy Mercy......the words for such a feeling escape me!!!!! i think THIS picture may capture the gist of it tho....

I have been trying to bury this lingering fear all day now...it has taken me over tho! I am on the edge of my seat, holding myself back from going to her daycare right this minute, picking her up, and hugging her tight...just to be SURE she is OK....cuz anything could have happened!!! Am I over reacting??? I'm still freaked out here...

The Mom.

One of my favorite things....

From time to time we stumble upon special little things that make our life more wonderful and complete.....before these special little things come into our lives, we are just plowing thru life, oblivious to their wonders and beauty.....and once we have found a special little thing, our lives are never the same again....

Case in point: LEMON OIL!


I was introduced to lemon oil by Kate, and am a happier, glad, more fruitful person today because of it! (Get it? Fruitful? hehe) She used it on our wood floors and bricks around our fireplace when she performed our living room re-design. I haven't been able to get this stuff out of my head since!

Lemon Oil cleans, nourishes, and pleases those things that clean, nourish and please us! Just look at just a few examples of uses for this handy little solution:

• Lemon Oil on furniture does an excellent job of nourishing & protecting your low luster furniture. The oil leaves a beautiful shine, and prevents fine wood finishes from drying out. Lemon oil replaces lost moisture in older wood surfaces and penetrates worn finishes.


• On heavily soiled surfaces such as painted wood, plastic-laminated surfaces, fiberglass shower stalls and glass shower doors spray a small amount of lemon oil on the surface before spraying with the all purpose cleaner of choice. The lemon oil penetrates deeper and loosens the dirt. The combination of oil with your cleaner will result in a cleaner surface in half the time.


• An oil treated cloth will quickly wipe away the beginning signs of tarnish on silver and brass knickknacks. This served to extend the length of time between thorough cleanings.


• The face of the microwaves which get so greasy from fingerprints will wipe to a clean and brilliant shine with a magical lemon oiled cloth.


• One more use is the cleaning of scuff marks on floors. On wood floors use a very minimal amount on a soft cloth or sponge and rub ever so gently to remove stubborn scuff marks. On other floors you can use a little more and rub a little harder. The oil lifts the scuff marks like magic and then mop as usual.


• You could also salvage many hard covered books by wipe the outside with a cloth that had been pre-treated in lemon oil. It would help to remove any water stains. The oil did darken the color of the book cover a little. The key factor is to use just a little and not to put the oil on the book but on the cloth.


• The important thing to remember when using the lemon oil is ‘less is best’.

Isn't this just terrific stuff??? Maybe I am just late to the game here, but I sure wish I had known about this liquid gold ages ago! I have about 23847327430218419841 surfaces and items in my house that are going to be benefiting from this new found knowledge! For the first time in a LONG time, I am actually a little enthusiastic about cleaning the house! Don't get all silly on me tho, I said a LITTLE....it's just that it smells so lovely! Makes me want to wipe it all over the place and bask in it's sweet aroma....

Please try it out and let me know what YOU think! Enjoy!

UPDATE: The brand Kate used in my home was Weiman's Natural Lemon Oil!

Happy Trails,

Leah

Our newest addition: FANCY

We have welcomed a new family member over the weekend!

"Fancy" is a 2 year old registered Quarter Horse. She is bred to be a great reining prospect, and we look forward with hopeful anticipation of seeing her reach her full potential! She has had minimal handling to date, so we are starting from the ground up with her....I'll spend the next couple months getting her basically trained, then pass her off to a professional for the finishing touches in the spring...that's the plan anyways! We all know how plans can change, and there are a lot of unpredictable factors when you are dealing with horses!

Here are some pics I took of Fancy this morning hanging out in her new paddock....Enjoy!

Happy Trails,

Leah

Living Room Remodel: IT'S DONE!!!

OH

MY

GOODNESS!!!!

Words cannot express the jubilee I experienced when I walked into my once forsaken and pathetic excuse of a living room and found this oasis of country livin'!!!! It is PERFECT...It is WARM...It is everything I wanted and MORE...to catchup on the whatsup, start reading HERE and HERE.

Let's take a little walk down memory lane, shall we? Here is our living room when we bought Westwood... Here is our living room with our own possessions in it...

And finally, here is our living room after a relaxing walk down a warm sandy beach, breeze off the bright blue surf gently blowing thru its' silky hair...Seriously people, IS this the same house? I am pinching myself...it is so cozy and inviting now! Keep in mind that with the exception of the couches and bookshelves, almost every other item in this room Kate 'permanently borrowed' from another area of the house....she did an amazing job of reusing my own goodies in ways I would have never considered! And it WORKS!

Here's another view of the room when we bought the house...

And here is the same view post-Kate...I am speechless! Kate hand made that hanging picture frame doo-hicky...with her OWN hands even!

Here is a view into the living room from the foyer...we'll refer to the foyer hereunto and fortwith as #4 on Kate's ever growing to-do list...

Here is the same view after Kate worked her magic!

Here is an angle of the living room looking out towards the front of the home and out the window. That floral arrangement at the right end of the sofa was also "kustom by kate"...I LOVE it! Notice the window treatment?

You guessed it! "kustom by kate" too! This woman is a walking talking design genius...

Last, but not least....one of the grandest improvements in a sea of remarkable candidates....remember that tired ole mantel? If not, see below...don't look for too long tho, it may burn your retinas out your poor little eyeballs!

Well, here it is NOW....go ahead...drool....you can't have it...Kate made it pretty just for ME!!! MINE MINE MINE MINE!!!!!! *bwahahahahaa*

Thanks again to Kate, aka Simply Beautiful Spaces....you have created a monster now, and I can't wait to continue working with you on the rest of the house!!!!!

Lots of love, respect, and appreciation,

Leah