You Wanna Do What??!!

These days my exercise loving alter ego seems to have taken over. Never was this more clear than yesterday afternoon. The new Holly Taylor fabric, Natural Garden, arrived around 1:00.

I LOVE new fabric. Usually I can't wait to bust into the boxes and start ooohing and ahhhhing. However, since I went straight home at noon and started quilting in a futile attempt to catch up before vacation week, I hadn't yet worked out. (Which, believe it or not, I do every day now) When my mom called to tell me the fabric was here and did I want to come down and help put it away and ship preorders, I heard myself say, "Yes, but I have to work out first."

What???? Wait a minute, did I really just say that??? Apparently I did, even though a voice in my head was going, "What is WRONG with you?! There's new fabric in the shop!!!"

I did work out, and then I did go to the shop and pet the new fabrics. Then, when I got home, I did another 45 minutes of cardio since I'd been distracted earlier and didn't quite feel like I'd gotten a real work out. Yes, sick, I know. If I don't get my workout in I get cranky. At least according to Monte, who said Sunday in response to my request that he entertain the kids for an hour, "Come on kids, your Mom's working out and if she doesn't get it done I'll hear about it all day."

Yesterday, my younger 2 decided they'd join me. Will was especially getting into it when he got a little too close and took a kick from me to the head. Whoops! He wasn't hurt, but he did stand back for the rest of the time! Still it didn't stop he and Kylee from trying to follow along, which was quite entertaining to say the least. Even so, I think I'll try to get my work outs in before school gets out from now on!

I'm Addicted!

About 3 or 4 years ago, I ordered a set of work out DVD's called Turbo Jam. I used them intermittenly for a few months, but eventually they found their way to the back of the movie cupboard, collecting dust. Well, a few weeks ago I got them out again, and for some reason this time it's sticking!
Anything that can tear me away from quilting must be pretty good, and so far Turbo Jam is doing the trick. I workout with the DVD's 45 minutes every day except weekends, and some days I do over an hour! For me, this is some serious progress, since I've never been paticularily athletic and especially not good at pushing myself into a sweat. It's making it especially hard to get much quilting done, but I just can't seem to help myself!
I usually miss work outs over the weekend, since it's just too hard with the kids and Monte home, and not as much fun with an audience. Boy do I feel it, though! All weekend, I'm tired, cranky, and just generally don't feel well. By Monday, I can't wait to work out again. It's getting so bad that I've decided to start finding things for Monte and the kids to do outside the house, just so I can get my weekend work out in.
So, you might think that this would be creating some serious weight loss. So far, sadly, that's not the case. I've just about decided to quit weighing, because it can be discouraging, even though I feel so much better. If I could just give up that morning latte, it might help, right? And then there's the evening glass of wine. But hey, Dr. Oz says that one glass of wine a day helps keep you young and healthy. Who want's to give that up, especially since I found a red wine I actually kind of like. (I tried one over Christmas that tasted like smelly feet, no kidding!)

My latest obsession is the annual Camp Turbo Kick. I'm seriously considering going, it looks like a blast. Since I won't go alone, I'm trying to talk my mom or sister into going with me. I can't be the only uncoordinated one there, can I?

Our only close neighbor returns from Winter in Mexico next week. Guess that means tomorrow I'll be buying the remaining window blinds for my living room. They'll stay shut until I start looking like the people in the videos. Hey, stop laughing, never say never, right?

She's Baaaaaack!!

Yesterday was the monthly Moda-University club meeting at my quilt shop. It's always a busy but fun day. And guess who decided to show up? That's right, my exercise loving alter ego. Right in the middle of the afternoon, she decides to do more kickboxing. I tried to tell her I had a meeting to prepare for that night, I tried to tell her I had quilts to quilt and dinner to fix, but she just wouldn't listen! So I was forced to do 45 minutes of cardio kickboxing, and I am feeling the results this morning! I am a little less sore than last time, so maybe that is progress?
Moda University is always a ton of fun, it is a great group of ladies. This month starts the second trimester of the Moda-U mystery quilt, "Piece and Plenty." It is getting soooo good, and now I am wishing I had kept up on mine! I decided in month 2 that I just didn't have time to make my own, and I am really reconsidering. The second set of blocks is even better than the first, and the blocks I have seen completed are gorgeous!!! I am a terrible at needle-turn applique, so I will need to work on that before I attempt it again.
After the meeting, I went home and got a little revenge on the exercise diva by eating a giant hot fudge sundae! There was only a tablespoon of fudge left, and I couldn't put it away like that, so it was extra chocolaty and wonderful. (Plus, Kylee thinks "Dad" ate all the fudge) I tried to go to bed around 11, but I don't think I fell asleep until 12:00. This is what was going through my head while I tossed and turned:

We're knights, that's right, we're always polite,
Our knightly skills are out of sight,
We're knights, that's right!

Will has been watching the hour long Backyardigans special 2x every day this week, usually once while I am quilting. And what did I wake up to this morning at 5am? Will was up watching it again! It's no wonder I can't stop singing it! My technique for today is NO caffeine so maybe I can get some rest tonight.

Return of My Alter Ego

After a brief hiatus on Thursday, during which I ate peanut butter m&ms & cookies all afternoon and avoided the treadmill, my alter ego returned yesterday. First, she only wanted a single shot latte. (A weak drink at best)AND she didn't even finish it!! Then, she decided to do 45 minutes of kickboxing cardio in the afternoon. (so much for m&m's) I need to have a talk with her, since today I am feeling muscles I didn't know I had! To top it all off, my alter ego likes to cook, and actually tries new recipes.

If you know me at all, you already know I don't cook unless it's very simple. I'm just terrible at it, and I don't normally enjoy it. However, for the past couple of days I seem to be turning. First, I baked cookies Thursday night. I bake so little, in fact, that it took me 2 pans of cookies before I realized if I used both ovens I could be done in 1/2 the time! Then yesterday, I make a fruit dip to go with dinner. It was excellent, and very easy. Here is the recipe, from a Kraft Foods magazine: 1 16oz can of whole cranberry sauce and 8oz cream cheese, softened. Beat together and add 2 cups of cool whip. Stir in cwhip gently, then refrigerate 1 hour. We had this with apples, bananas, pineapple, and kiwi and it was very good.

So, I'm almost afraid of what my alter ego has in store for today. So far, only a single shot latte. My muscles are screaming NO! NO! NO! already in fear of what's coming!

Who are you, and what have you done with the real me???

Monday I broke down and moved my treadmill to the living room. Normally, I like my house in order, decorated and arranged just right. A treadmill is not the perfect accessory for my living room. However, in the name of a happier, healthier Summer, I decided staring at my bedroom wall for an hour a day wasn't very motivating.
Even more strange is that I have actually been using the treadmill every day! Strangly, I find myself wanting to work out. Weird, since I usually can't force myself into it! Even weirder, it keeps getting easier and easier. Yesterday I actually did 2 miles, amazing since last week I was excited about 1 mile! (Yes, I'm in terrible shape. It turns out espresso, cookies, and muffins do not improve cardiovascular health.)
I don't know where the real me is hiding, but hopefully she doesn't return any time soon! I'm hoping the new me doesn't like espresso and sugar so much, but I'm not holding out for any miracles.
The strangest part about all of this? Monte seems to have found his inner me. "Notice anything?" I asked him, after he didn't say a word about the treadmill towering over our living room. "Yeah," he replied, "Your treadmill's in the living room. Do you really think it belongs in there?"