Warning: This post has nothing to do with scooting my doot.

So both Meri and Kyle posted this pic today on facebook.

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I’m off work today (four day weekend, thank you Mr. Presidents) and I have no children this weekend.  I saw this and I thought, man, I need a Galentine’s day, but a lot of my gals live in places that are far from me.  I thought, hey, I’ll digitally stalk them instead.  That was way too much work and not nearly as satisfying.  If I were with them, we’d be talking about stupid things that we absolutely love (and hate) or things that we love to hate or things that we love that make fun of the things we hate.  Aside from a super duper skype sesh, that’s not going to happen.  Instead I’m going to share the things that I am absolutely loving right now.

(Family and friends not included.  This is a completely self-indulgent post)

1. I am absolutely loving Southern California right now.

Guys, this is the view from my backyard.

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We here in SoCal don’t believe in seasons.  We only get one.  At least it’s one of the good ones.  I’m wearing shorts today.

2. I am absolutely loving ModCloth.com right now, and probably forever and ever.

Mainly because of this picture:

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But also because of these shoes.

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There’s a part of me that actually tried to rationalize buying these.  “You could wear them with everything,” I said in my head.  “Skinny jeans, shorts, skirts…”

“Yes, Cam, you could.  But you wouldn’t,” I argued with myself.  Ugh, I hate it when I’m so logical.  Someone out there buy these!  And then send me pics of you wearing them so I can live vicariously through you.

3. I am absolutely loving kickboxing right now.

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My kids practice karate.  They hate it.  At first.  Once we get there, they love it.  So in order to increase their motivation to practice, I too have signed up at their dojo.  They absolutely LOVE this.  I’ve been taking a fitness kickboxing class with this badass lady who, despite being tiny and probably in her sixties, could totally take me down.  I love punching things.  I love kicking things.  It’s my new favorite stress release.

4. I am absolutely loving Harry Potter.  Again.

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My boyfriend and my very own brother recently informed me that they had never seen the Harry Potter movies OR read the books.  I was astounded.  How did this happen?  How did my brother, who grew up in the same house as me, NEVER see these movies?  And my poor boyfriend!  How did he live through his middle adulthood without the wisdom of Dumbledore?  Well, this needed to be rectified.  A rewatch was immediately enacted.

5. (And, according to facebook, this one stirs up a bit of emotion) I am absolutely loving this review of the movie that shall not be named.

http://www.mamamia.com.au/rogue/fifty-shades-of-grey-review-rosie-waterland/

I’m just going to leave this here.

 

A Day in the (Thug) Life – Cam

Welcome to the jungle!  I am currently on summer break so you’re going to see a lot of boring pictures in this post.  But I thought you’d all might like to know what a teacher does with her summer vacation.  I know it’s supposed to be ONE day, but I kept forgetting to take pictures.  So I have many days rolled into a synopsis.

Mon-Fri my alarm wakes me up at this god-awful time.

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And I usually look like this…

wake up

And I am usually met with this face. Sookie likes to sleep on my chest. Because she’s trying to suffocate me.

 

I head out to my first workout, Body Back.  After my divorce, my parents added on a suite to their house so my kids and I could live with them.  In-house babysitting is awesome!  Of course, everyone is still asleep at this time. This particular day we were doing circuits in the studio with a one mile run.  I fuel before the fun with banana and almond butter on an English muffin.  And I sweat.  A lot.

Morning workout

Look at my new, new shoes! Skora Core are the love of my life right now, thanks to the recommendation from one of our readers, kylejkranz .

I come home to find this…I don’t know about you other parents out there, but my kids are obsessed with watching YouTube videos of other people playing video games.  They don’t actually want to play the video games, just watch other people do it.

Summer break is off to a monumentally boring start.

Summer break is off to a monumentally boring start.

After we lounge and eat breakfast, I’ll head out for my second workout of the day.

This day, it was Cardio Barre.  Some days, it’s yoga.

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That yoga mat towel is one of the best investments I’ve ever made. Without it, my mat is like a slip and slide.

After I get home and shower, I try to work on homework.  I’m taking classes to earn a Professional Certificate in Common Core instruction.

computer time

I usually start off working and end up reading YA fiction.

On this day, my kids had karate so we headed on down to the dojo.  After my hammock nap, of course.

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Kicking ass and taking names. They are very excited they both earned a stripe today.  After karate, we went to Islands for dinner.  They have amazing veggie tacos!

After karate, I had some new patio furniture to put together so I broke out the power tools.

My helper!

Bitches get shit done.

My day usually ends with me fighting my kids to get in bed.

And then I drink a bottle of wine whilst watching Orange is the New Black.  Like a boss.

 

Ramble On

In other words, the post in which Cam rambles about the various going-ons in her fitness-seeking world.  I have lots to share!  Some of it is exciting.

A. I purchased a new pair of running shoes. 

Finally!  They weren’t even one of the pairs from my list.  I went to a shoe outlet in Lake Arrowhead, because, you know, I was on vacation and what else to do but shoe shop.  I tried on a few pair but these babies caught my eye. They’re colorful and fun and wide…three of my favorite things.  I tried them on and I’ve been kicking them ever since.  I like them still…so far.

New Balance are my new flavor of the month.

New Balance are my new flavor of the month.

I also made the decision to make the switch to a more natural shoe.  Nothing I’ve tried seems to be “made” for me and since I’ve been doing more barefoot exercise, like Barre and Yoga, I’ve come to accept that maybe my feet aren’t made for shoes.  I’m going back to my hunting and gathering roots and trying out what nature gave me.  I don’t intend to go full on nude, but definitely minimal.  I’m going to slosh around in these New Balance until after the April Fools Half in 12 days.  Then, I’m simplifying.

B. I’m playing dodgeball!

And I have never been this sore.  It seems, during my regular workouts, I’m not exerting maximum effort.  Only when there’s a chance of some dude hurling a rubber ball at my head do I really move my ass.  Sure, it stings when you get pegged.  But it’s a total rush and the perfect mix of core, arm/shoulder, and cardio workout.  Moving directions so quickly really does a number on the bod.  And if you get your SO involved, you get to throw balls at each other.  It’s like free therapy.

dodgeball

C. I’m kicking ass at Body Back. 

Yep, down 8 pounds in two weeks.  I’ve been working out like a maniac and eating as clean as I can.  It hasn’t been easy, the meal plan calls for no alcohol.  Not even wine.  I’ve also given up sweets, coffee, dairy, and fast food.  Let’s have a moment of silence for those foods I’ll miss the most…

Brie Cheese

Cake

Soft-Serve Ice Cream

In’n’Out Cheeseburger with grilled onions

Chips and Salsa

Chili Cheese Fries

Did I mention cheese?

But I can still have tacos!  Winning!

I love this program.  I feel like it’s exactly the type of exercises I need to get rid of my pouch…you know, that flap of skin left over from my two c-sections.  And I love my trainer.  She’s an inspiration for health and strength, not just a smoking hot bod.  But seriously, she’s smoking hot.  Like fitness-competition-she’s-going-to-be-in-a-magazine hot.  I’m kind of smitten.

Burn, baby, burn!

Burn, baby, burn!  Powering through Power Yoga.  It hurts so good!

D. My kids are kicking ass in karate.

Did you know ADD is genetic?  My dad has it.  I have it.  And I’m almost positive my children have it, in various forms.  My daughter is more mentally distracted.  My son doesn’t stop moving.  Ever.  We’ve tried baseball and cheerleading but the dojo is where we feel at home!  My kids started taking karate at our local U.S.K.O. and they are loving it.  I love the focus and self-discipline it requires of my kids.  And these instructors are amazing the way they corral these kids and keep them under control.  They both just earned their first stripe and they were so excited.  They’re learning respect for their bodies and I can visibly see the boost in self-esteem and confidence.  I can’t say enough good things about it!

Sweep the leg!

Sweep the leg!