Mom-Speak 2.0

I've started a new, extensive vitamin regimen this month.

This has me constantly calling my mother up and asking her advice.

You see, my mother used to own a health-food and vitamin store, so she's well-versed in most alternative health supplements.

She also owns her own small library of natural remedy and homeopathic books, so when in doubt of her own personal knowledge, she can look up a cure for approximately anything that ails you.

If it wasn't so useful, it would be kind of creepy.

Anyways, on Wednesday night, I talked to my mom about one particular supplement I'd never heard of. I was considering taking it, but I wanted to make sure I had the dosage and mixture correct. The problem was, I couldn't pronounce the darn herb's name I needed her to find.

So, I texted her.

And a few hours later, she texted me back.

She gave me instructions and recommendations on the herb and gave me the go-ahead to start it the following day. Other than a few minor mis-spellings and a capitalization issue, the texts themselves were easy to read and completely understandable.

Mom may be slow to the table with technology, but she does her best to keep as up-to-date as she can, even if that means tirelessly wearing her reading glasses and squinting at her old-school cell-phone screen so she can read the messages her three children send her.

So there I sat, in the year 2010, exchanging a few texts back and forth with my mother. I was so proud of her. She was being so modern and hip.

Which is why I decided to bring up another supplement I'm currently taking, complaining that it tasted like dirt. My mom sympathized.

Again, her texts were pretty comprehensible. Give or take an error here or there, she was holding her own.

Then, she must have realized how late it was. Or, at least I think she did.

Because she then sent me the following message, which I'm still trying to comprehend:

I love you he its too hard to get down foot sweat it god joys you are taking enough already good night

I lay there in bed, pondering the message. Wondering, worrying, what could it all mean?

Obviously, she loves me. I got that. But then there's the whole, if "it's - [or he?] - too hard to get down" bit.

And let's not even talk about the "foot sweat."

Which doesn't explain how she then leads into a rather religious message of two words: God and joys.

Either way, though, apparently, "I'm taking enough already."

Oh, and "good night."

Seriously, I was flummoxed. I lay in bed, trying to wrangle it into something coherent.

Perhaps it meant, "I love you. As does He. [I'm guessing God here, but perhaps she means my Dad? Or my husband?] If it's too hard to get down, don't foot sweat it. God takes joy in you. [Aww! Thanks, Mom!] You are taking enough already. Good night"?

Yeah, because that makes as much sense as Lady Gaga.

I was really, truly stumped. I couldn't figure out what she meant by it all.

Was this just a case of T9word gone bad? And when, exactly, did my mother learn to use T9word?

Perhaps her glasses were just failing her? She wasn't exactly known for having the sharpest vision.

Though her grammar had never been that bad before...

At this point, I began to worry that perhaps she had suffered a stroke and that my father, probably snoozing away watching The Military Channel in HD in his recliner, hadn't noticed her inability to form coherent sentences.

I began to debate texting my father, to ask him what was going on around there. But then I realized that I didn't have three hours to wait while my father figured out how to text the words "Nothing...haha!"

So I calmed myself down and realized I was probably panicking unnecessarily about the state of my mother's cerebral cortex.

I shut off my phone and went to bed.

But not before thinking about God and all his joys.

And my tremendous amount of foot sweat.

***

So, what do you think she meant by it? Am I crazy? Or does that message make zero sense? Perhaps there's a hidden meaning?

You tell me what you think my mom was trying to convey. Even if it makes no sense, I bet you all can come up with something funny! (In case you need a little extra incentive, let's just say I may be sending a little something to the person who comes up with the funniest interpretation of Mom's message.)

So play along! And have a good weekend, everyone!

Trying to Smile Steady

Happy Monday, my dear friends!

I'm not here today, but I am guest blogging over at my dear friend's blog, Smile Steady! Check it out!
Also, make sure you head on over to my giveaways blog some time today and check out the winner of my Da Vinci Beads Giveaway!
Be back tomorrow with some more regular chatter!

Bling, Bedazzle, and Win Win Win

Happy Monday, everyone!

I'm not here today, but I am over at my other blog, giving away a customizable piece of jewelry!
So, because every woman I know can always use a little more bling, head on over here and enter for your chance to win!

Also over on my other blog, I've posted the winner of the $100 Visa gift card, provided by BlogHer and Crystal Light Pure Fitness. Did you win? Better head over and check it out!

I'll meet the rest of you back here tomorrow with more of my regularly scheduled ranting and raving!

Hope everyone has a wonderful start to their week!

Yard of the Month

My parents moved into their current home about 11 years ago.

And from that my point on, my father had a clear-cut goal:

Our house was going to win the homeowner association's coveted title of "Yard of the Month."

So the man cut and clipped and planted and sewed. He sodded and watered and trimmed and mowed.

He put his heart and soul into that yard, and...

Nothing.

He watched neighbor after neighbor wake up to find the treasured "Yard of the Month" sign stuck in their lawn, all while scoffing, "Look at that uneven trim! And their hedges? We have much fuller hedges than they do!"

Month after month of gardening glory with no title to show for it? It stung.

My dad was like a pageant girl without a crown.

Worse yet, his humiliation hit an all-time low when his own sons - my two younger brothers - began mowing and clipping neighborhood lawns to make extra cash one summer.

Within weeks of starting their own business, the yards they worked on were also named "Yard of the Month."

The grasshoppers had become the teacher, and my father's bromeliads hadn't been given so much as a passing glance by the powers-that-be at the homeowner's association.

The poor man was livid.

And he only grew more so as years passed.

He wielded his lawn shears with venom; he mowed with an intensity that would put John Deere to shame. Fertilizer became his middle name.

Until, finally, one December about four years ago, Dad walked out the front door to go to work.

And saw it.

The little metal sign, proudly emblazoning "Yard of the Month," in his own front lawn.

No one was around to witness the discovery, so we can't be sure, but I'd wager, in that moment, the man did a little heel click of glee, he was so happy.

Soon after, we all started to receive phone calls.

Having moved away years before, I answered the call from my father with just enough time to hear him yell, "I HAVE EXCELLENT NEWS!"

My heart immediately leaped, and the guessing game began.

"Did Brett [my brother] get accepted into the Naval Academy?" (We found out later that he did.)

My Dad replied with a curt, "No. Better."

"Did you get a big raise or promotion?"

Again, Dad said, "No."

"Are you and Mom buying a bigger house/a car/getting another dog?"

I kept asking, and he kept replying with "No, no, no." Then he up-ed the ante by adding the line, "It's something even better than all that."

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. After a small, dramatic pause, he blurted out, "I GOT 'YARD OF THE MONTH!' VICTORY IS MINE!"

My resulting laughter was probably insulting to his green thumb.

But I couldn't help it. And he didn't much care.

He'd summitted his Everest, and all it took was a yard sign.

Still, we celebrated. Days later, I came home to visit for Christmas, bringing several friends with me. They gave him a standing ovation when he walked in the door.

We all patted him on the back and joked about taking pictures of him with the sign.

My mother may have even bought him a new garden hose and hanging perennial to celebrate.

Then, we moved on.

And four years later, it's never come back. The glory days have never returned.

The man's never won again.

His moment in the spotlight has passed.

Until now.

Because just yesterday, I returned to our new home after taking Marvin the Dog out for a walk, and I found a neighborhood newsletter stuck to my front door.

It was a bulletin, peppered with family events going on throughout our neighborhood on the naval base.

There's a family picnic going on tonight, and post-natal personal training classes starting in one week (taught by yours truly.) There's reminders about what day maintenance picks up yard clippings and trash. And there's warnings to keep neighborhood dogs on leashes at all times, for the safety of the small children that seem to be everywhere.

And, at the very end of the bulletin, lay one more note of interest:

Yard of the Month Competition Begins Now!
Winning family will receive a $25 gift card to restaurant of choice.
Good Luck!

For not being much of a gardener, I have to admit, my interest was peaked.

Since the Navy mows our lawns for us, winning this thing shouldn't be harder than planting a few annuals and purchasing a few yard flags, right?

Well, bring it on.

I have a family name to defend.

Time to bring the title back home.

Now somebody pass me my lawn shears. I've got a sign to win.

***

Happy Thursday, everyone! Don't miss out on the chance to win $100 gift card on my other blog.

The Battle of the Sexes

I’ve been hankering to make my own headboard for a while now.

According to the crafting powers-that-be, all you need is some ply-board, fabric, a roll of bunting, and a staple gun, and you, too, can be a furniture-creating phenom.

And nothing speaks to my soul more than cheap-and-easy decorating fame.

So, on Sunday afternoon, I grabbed my husband and dragged him to Lowe's Home Improvement and Wal-Mart Super Center.

And on the way there, I gave him my own version of The Talk:

"Babe, you know how I feel about Lowe's. All those men? With all those saws and tool belts? They freak me out. And the smell in that place? Ick. I can't stand it. So I'm gonna need you to handle the ply-board. I don't care what it looks like. Just make sure they cut it to 77 inches wide and 48 inches tall. Then we'll head to Wal-Mart's craft section, and I'll take it from there."

So my dear, sweet husband obliged.

He had the men with the saws and tool belts cut the ply-board to 77 inches wide and 48 inches tall and strap it on the roof of the car.

And off we went, all the way to the craft department at Wal-Mart Super Center, where I deemed it appropriate to take back over.

I examined the bolts of fabric and narrowed down my choice to a leaf-textured chocolate brown cotton.

I took the bolt up to the fabric counter, the hubs following behind obliging, all while peering over at the games and technology section longingly.

In my head, I did some quick math, knowing I needed the fabric to stretch across the 77-inch ply-board. Then, I proceeded to place my order with the craft-department employee - a sweet elderly lady:

Me: Ma'am, I'd like two yards of this fabric, please.
Hubs: Wait, babe...
Me: No, babe, you order fabric in yards. And I want to two yards. Trust me, I've got this. I told you I could handle this part of the process, didn't I?
Sweet Elderly Lady (SEL): Oh, yes, honey, she's got it. This is her department. You men always want to order this stuff in feet, but back here, we women deal in yards.
Hubs: Yes, ma'am, but, well, but, um...
Me: Exactly, babe. Just leave this one to the ladies. We know this area.
SEL: Oh, yes. We know this department just like you all know the sports department. It's a foreign language to you, back here. Just like the car department speaks a different language than us ladies.
Hubs: True, true. But, the thing is, babe... Ma'am, the thing is...
Me: Yes. That's exactly it! He has no idea about this stuff! Baby, trust me, I can handle this part. I need two yards. So two yards I'm going to get. Just leave it alone, OK?

And just like that, I took my two yards of fabric, thanked the woman and walked away.

My husband followed behind, laughing, until, finally, he couldn't take it any longer.

"Baby," he says, "how many feet are in a yard?

"Three, babe," I smugly retorted, "and I got two yards, so that's six feet, which is plenty, because, with 12 inches in a foot, that gives me 72...inches...Oh, crap!"

The color drained from my face, leaving me paralyzed and clutching a sheaf of fabric that was five inches too short to cover the 77-inch-wide ply-board I'd been so anal-retentive about purchasing at Lowe's.

Meanwhile, my husband couldn't stop laughing.

"I was going to say something," he gasped out between guffaws, "but you all were so self-righteous about women owning the darn fabric department that I couldn't get a word in edgewise, so I figured I'd let you learn the hard way."

I swear, it was all I could do not to throw the 5-inches-too-short fabric right in his face.

Because, heaven help me, I was stuck with two yards of now-useless fabric and - worse yet - he was right.

My husband was right. I was wrong.

It was a world gone mad!

Still, I finally managed to eat my pride and regret my support of such antiquated gender roles, before muttering all the way through the Wal-Mart check-out line, "I can't believe it. But you were right. I was wrong. I just should have listened to you. It's so hard to admit it, but, baby, you were so right."

My husband has never strutted with such pride before.

His chest was puffed out. His gaze was raised. He even ribbed me in the elbows and told the cashier "She admitted it! I was right!"

Then, we went to leave. The sliding doors began to move apart under the "Exit" sign.

But, before they could slide all the way open, my husband made his move.

And ran smack dab into the middle of one bullet-proof sliding glass door.

All was right in the world once again.

***

The good news is, using an old fitted sheet, some ribbon and both our creative brains, we still managed to fashion a headboard out of the fabric we purchased.

It's hard to see, but we used chocolate and aqua ribbon to hide the seam between the chocolate fabric and the tan bed sheet. And, yes, that was my husband's idea.

This prompted my husband to make periodic trips back to the bedroom throughout the day yesterday and mutter, "Darn! Look at the handsome headboard! Who helped you make that, babe?"

We'll see how long that takes before it gets old.

***

Today, over on my other blog, I'm talking about why I choose to stay fit. And I want to know why you all do, too. Plus, Crystal Light Pure Fitness and BlogHer are including another chance to win a $100 gift card. So head on over and don't miss out!

***

Lastly, Happy Belated Father's Day to my father. I didn't mention this last week, but my father is almost single-handedly responsible for making sure our move to South Carolina went as smoothly as it did.

Plus, my dad is this blog's biggest fan. He's probably the only person who reads every single post. Every single day. Seriously. I'm not kidding.

They don't get any better than that!

Thank you, Dad, for all you do. I love you more than words can say.

While I'm Gone...

I'm a big talker, aren't I?

Here I was, making a nice, big stink about how we were moving this past weekend and how all the moving-related chaos would keep me away from the blogging world for the first part of the week.

But, amid all my complaining, I totally forgot to mention that, while I'm gone, I've got another giveaway running on Living in the Moment - Giveaways and Reviews.

You can earn yourself another chance to win a $100 gift card, thanks to BlogHer and Crystal Light Pure Fitness.

And, as someone who is now, as they say, "moving-poor, " let me just tell you, $100 can go a long, long way these days.

So hurry-scurry; head on over here, and check it out.

Meanwhile, I'll still be sorting through all our underwear and wondering how on God's green Earth we own this much crap - er, I mean, prized family possessions.

I'll be back to the regular routine around here Wednesday.

"See" you over at the giveaway! Happy Monday everyone!

The Final Countdown

My friends, there's good news, and there's bad news.

The good news: I am five days away from moving!

The bad news: I've clearly lost my mind because there's no way I'm ready to move in five days!

You see, moving time is this Saturday, at approximately 4:30 a.m. My family, a few friends, and I are caravan-ing up to South Carolina in the wee weekend hours, and as of that point, I will no longer live in Florida, and my four-month separation from my husband will be over.

Great, right? Wonderful, even?

Sure. Sure, it is.

Until you realize that Friday afternoon is when the school year ends.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Less than 24 hours after the last day of school - the last day of me teaching these children - I'm moving.

Genius planning? Or just another reason I could be classified as certifiably insane?

You decide. The idea was that I wanted to spend as little time away from my husband as soon I'm free to go - which will happen at approximately 2 p.m. on Friday.

Then, I thought, I'd be outta here!

But that was before I realized I have so very much left to do.

So much to do it's unthinkable.

Not to mention all those good-byes I have to say.

And the entire classroom I have to pack.

And the various other things that should be done already but are not because certain people I work for can't do their job and expect me to do it for them when all I want to do is run, run, run away from this place as fast as I can and never look back.

Or something like that.

Anyways, I'm begging out of a legitimate blog post today and sending you over to my Giveaways and Reviews blog.

Today, I'm kicking off something super-special. Something that will give you my readers a chance to win a $100 gift card, as well as the opportunity to win $1,000 gift card - all thanks to BlogHer and Crystal Light Pure Fitness.

Trust me, this big. So big and so exciting that I'm bouncing in my seat right now typing this!

So what are you doing? Head on over here now and win, win, win!

I'll be back here tomorrow with more tales of Moving 2o10.

Happy Monday everyone!

Lookie! Lookie!

I'm so excited, my friends, to tell you about a new project here at Living in the Moment.

Drum roll, please...

I now have the pleasure of introducing to you ... Living in the Moment - Reviews and Giveaways!

Yes, that's right. I'll not only be blogging here daily, but I'll also be up and about at my first blog dedicated solely to reviewing products and giving away prizes to my beloved readers, followers, and subscribers.

Pardon me while I squeal with glee.

I'm so abuzz about this new venture that I'm downright twitterpated.

Because not only will this be a way to better communicate with all of you and hopefully bless you all with a few fabulous prizes from time to time, but it also gives me a chance to use the word twitterpated on my blog.

Which means I can now die happy.

Still, all twitterpation aside, I'd love to have you join me and follow along at Living in the Moment - Reviews and Giveaways, as well. Big things are on the horizon, and I'll be posting about them soon over there. Trust me, you won't want to miss it.

And, meanwhile, back at this ranch, I'll still be rambling on about color-coding my underwear drawer and eating sweaty dinners.

So, until then, see around here. Or there! Or wherever this crazy blogosphere takes us!

We'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming around here tomorrow.

Happy Monday, everyone!

***

P.S. A special thanks to my wonderful blog designer friend Kelsey, who took time out of her weekend to update this blog and help me set-up my review blog, as well. She's a true to gem to work with, my friends! Check her out at Kreated by Kelsey.

You're not going to believe who won my giveaway

I can't even tell you how shocked I was when the Random Number Generator spit out the winner to my Bloggy Birthday Giveaway.

And why?

Because there were 223 entries total.

And one of them - ONLY ONE OF THEM - was this post.

That's right: The winner wrote this post, logically arguing with me - and the blog world at-large - that this lawyer-to-be downright deserved to win this giveaway. (Seriously, go read the winner's entry post. It will blow your mind, too!)

And apparently, the Random Number Generator - and God - agreed.

Because Samantha - at The RubyTurtleHippie Times - won my Bloggy Birthday giveaway!

You should have seen my jaw hit the floor when the results came to light.

I couldn't have been more shocked.

And happy.

Because this lady totally deserves it.

She is a real Southern sweetheart and a true friend. I am blessed to know her, and I am thrilled that our blogs brought us together.

So, Sam, e-mail me, call me, Tweet me, whatever. You know how to get a hold of me. Let me know how to send this package your way.

And as for the rest of you, whether you won or not, thank you for entering! Your outpouring of love and support over this past year has been awe-inspiring!

I consider you all true friends, and I am so blessed to know you all.

***

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

P.S. Happy Birthday to my good friend Lauren - another important lawyer-to-be in my life! I love you and miss you, my sweet friend!

Bloggy Birthday: Turning One and Celebrating!

A year ago today, I sat down and started writing.

I sat down and started writing this blog.

I jotted down some thoughts, hit "Publish," and nervously waited to see if anyone, other than my good friends and family, would read them.

It was the only time I've ever been nervous about something I'd written.

Having formerly worked as a journalist, I'd often written for a living. I wrote newspaper columns, online articles, even in-depth magazine pieces.

But only when my career took a different turn, steering me into teaching, did I start to write for myself.

I started to write here, on this blog.

It was the first time I'd ever written about me. As me.

And I wasn't entirely sure how to do it.

Journalists are hard-wired to leave themselves out of the story, but here, on this blog, I am the story.

Flaws and all, I'd decided to put my life on the Internet. For no good reason whatsoever.

I had no real message to deliver. For my life isn't glamorous, or interesting, or exciting.

I don't take pretty pictures. For I lack the kind of patience and skill it takes to keep a camera pinned to my side.

And I have no hidden talents. For I'm pretty sure my love of reading and eating popcorn doesn't classify as a hobby.

To be honest, I really wasn't sure what I was doing.

Like so many of us out there, I just had a desire to blog. To reach out with words that were not carefully crafted to match some media message, but instead, with words that could reach whoever wanted to read them.

But also, words that no one had to read at all.

So I hit "Publish," pessimistically warning myself that no one in their right mind would want to read about a recently married high-school teacher. Girding myself for the lack of commentary my posts would receive. Almost preparing to drop this whole "blogging thing" before I even got started.

And then I received my first comment. And it wasn't from a friend. It wasn't even from my mother.

It was from a complete stranger.

Someone who chose to read my words.

I was blown away.

I was shocked.

I was honored.

And I was hooked.

Now, I blog more comfortably. More calmly. It's a personal goal; it's a personal responsibility. It's one I take seriously, but it's also one I treasure. Blogging is the part of my day that belongs to me, that I shape, that I hold dear.

It's the part of my day where I meet with my friends.

It's the part of my day where I meet with you all.

The response and support I have received from people who were complete strangers to me less than a year ago has blown me away. I have treasured every comment; I have treasured every e-mail; I have treasured every post in which we've all been able to communicate, to reach out for help, to laugh together, to cry on each other's virtual shoulders, to live our lives, and to write as ourselves without fear of judgment and reproach.

You all have made my days, my weeks, my months, my year.

And you all have made me a blogger.

So, with that, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. For being kind, for being supportive. For being willing to read my words when I thought no one else would care.

And I want to offer you all a giveaway; a little token of my appreciation for making this first year as a blogger such a joy for me.

So thank you, thank you, thank you.

Now, let's celebrate!

As we're all well aware, I'm no fashionista; I'm no interior designer; heck, I'm not much of a cook. (Seriously, why do you all read this blog anyways?)

I am just a woman who enjoys a good experience. I enjoy that perfect moment. That moment you can treasure. That moment you can live in.

So today, I wanted to give you that moment. I wanted to gift you all with the makings of a perfect afternoon, so that maybe you can venture out on a Sunday afternoon and create a time that you can just live in. A time where you can just be.

So in honor of that ideal, one lucky winner is going to receive a "Living in the Moment" package, complete with:

*An Urban Outfitters DIY Tapestry, which makes the perfect picnic blanket, or - for you crafty types - can be turned into a hip table-cloth, curtain or bed coverlet
Yours will come in a pink, black, and white pattern, which also has purple and red accents. It's a bit bohemian, which explains why it was the one I went for. I tend to throw buttoned-up and orderly to the wind when it comes to fabric. I live for the crazy in my textiles.
*Next up, you'll get a snazzy red Koko insulated tote, which makes for a fashionable lunch box or cleverly disguised purse.
I don't know about you all, but I enjoy carrying a bag that can help hold my lunch. And keep it salmonella-free.

*You'll also get a a cute Smart Wool Cap in Deep Purple
This little beauty manages to be fashion forward and timeless. Let's just say it's cute enough that this Florida girl is willing to wear wool.

*And last but not least, you'll receive a couple other things that help me complete my perfect day: A fancy-shmancy aluminum water bottle, a few of my favorite reads, some travel-worthy snacks, and a set of four stackable memo pads, each labeled with the oh-so-appropriate, "To remember...," "To call...," "To buy...," and "To do..." (I love me a good list!)
All together, that's 10 items in total I'm sending to one lucky-ducky blog-friend. So, would you like to enter?

I'd love for you to! Someone has to win, so why not you?

Here's how:

Entry #1 - Leave a comment on this post, saying hi! If you're new, introduce yourself! Leave a link to your blog! Whatever floats your boat! There are plenty of you out there I'm achin' to meet.

Entry #2 - Become a follower or tell me if you are one.

Entry #3 - Tweet about the giveaway. (Make sure to leave your Twitter name in your comment, so I can come by and say hello!)

Entry #4 - Blog about the giveaway. (And thank you, in advance, for doing so!)

That's it! I will close the giveaway next Thursday, Feb. 11, at 8 p.m., and the winner will be announced the following Friday, Feb. 12.

Thanks for playing along!

And thank you, again, to all you faithful friends and followers I've grown to love over this last year. You have truly touched my heart and my life! I am so blessed to know you all.

Happy Birthday Living in the Moment!

Workout Wednesday: Running through the pain (and the coughing, and the sneezing...)

I've had about 10 different people inquire over the last month about one thing we can all relate to:

Exercising when you're sick.

And since I (and others I know) have been feeling off-again, on-again yucky for the last couple of weeks, I think it's high-time I addressed the issue of hitting the gym when you're not feeling so hot.

The holidays are right around the corner; temperatures are dropping; people are stressed out, and their bodies are getting worn down.

So the question is, should they exercise through the sniffling and sneezing?

It's very common for exercise aficionados and trainers, like me, to tell you to push through the pain.

But the problem is, sometimes this isn't always in your best interest - especially when you're sick.

From a public health perspective, it's a pretty big no-no. Short of hospitals and schools, gyms are the next place you're most likely to catch some kind of fungus, infection or common cold. There's just too many body fluids, heat, and heavy breathing going on to stop it.

So, if you're at all concerned about those people in the cycling class next to you, or the older gentleman walking on the treadmill in front of yours, stay home.

From a societal perspective, it's the kind thing to do.

That being said, what about from a personal perspective? Is it OK to take a quick run around the neighborhood if you're under the weather?

That depends.

First off, are you running a fever?

If yes, then say "No!", to that run that is. There's no need to drive your body temperature up any higher. You'll be doing more harm than good. (This seems like a no-brainer, but trust me, you have no idea how many people tell me they were "rocking a 101-degree temperature" before coming in for weight-training. Not. Good.)

However, if your body temperature is still hovering around the average 98.6 degrees, take a second look.

Are you achy? Are you very congested? Do you have a pounding headache? Are you nauseous?

In most cases, you still want to avoid the gym. Your body is already under stress, and exercise is going to put it into further stress. When you're healthy, this is a good thing; it allows your body to get stronger, to improve. But if you're not feeling well, you're only diverting the attention away from your body's healing and repair process by making it focus on the simulated fight-or-flight syndrome that is exercise. You could , in fact, be slowing down your total wellness.

But sometimes, there are a few exceptions.

For instance, if you're just feeling a little slow, a little lethargic, and little - well, icky - consider going to the gym.

You might feel like you may be getting sick, but if you're unsure - and you're not running a fever - give it a try. Do 45 minutes of cardio, or do an hour of strength-training.

Exercising builds endorphins, or feel-good body chemicals. After the exercise, you'll feel a release of stress; you'll feel more upbeat. You'll even have more energy - the perfect boost to drive yourself through the rest of that holiday shopping.

Some research shows (although results are not entirely conclusive yet) that exercise can even be a preventative method for the common cold or flu. It can, in essence, bolster your body and energy levels so that you can fight off encroaching germs and illnesses better.

Pretty neat, huh?

So here's to a happy, healthy, holiday season!

I salute any and all attempts to use exercise as a stress fighter; I promise it will work better than any venti-peppermint-whipped-mocha-double-shot holiday treat.

However, if the snow is falling and the flu is calling, stay indoors. It's better for you - and your gym buddies - in the long run!

Until next week, Happy Exercising! Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!

***

Quick Note: Have you all seen this amazing giveaway at Fantabulously Frugal?

Seriously. Go. Now. It will blow your mind!

I know I don't normally do this, but this one is just too good. I've almost given up Christmas shopping entirely, in hopes that I will win it and can then lavish everyone I love (and myself:) with the goods.

So go enter. (Perhaps mention I sent you, if it's not too much trouble? Thank you, sweet friends!)

Be back tomorrow with some regularly scheduled blather!

Workout Wednesday: Giveaway Winner! (And What to Pack in Your Gym Bag)

I am so excited to announce the winner of the first ever Workout Wednesday giveaway!

So, without further ado, the winner of a brand-spankin'-new workout bag, courtesy of CSN Luggage, is....drum roll please...number 15 on the Random Number Generator...

Kayla from Livin the Great Life!

Congrats Kayla! Shoot me an e-mail at britr (at) ufl (dot) edu, and I'll get you your well-deserved prize!

Yay! I'm so excited for Kayla!

But, because I don't want the rest of you to leave completely empty-handed, I thought I'd give you a little something, too...

My recommendations on what to pack in your own gym bag!

(I know, not nearly as exciting as winning an actual bag, like Kayla did. So for those of you that keep reading this, trust me, I appreciate it. Truly, I only pretend that my so-called "words of wisdom" are as near and dear as winning an actual prize. But a girl can dream, can't she?)

So, for the rest of you loyal friends still reading this, I leave you with this.

The Top 1o Items in Every Good Gym Bag

1. Make-up-removing wipes/towelettes: Trust me and my acne-scarred face when I say this: It is not a good idea to wear day-old make-up during your workout. If you hit the gym after work, take your make-up off. Otherwise, in the short term, you're a sweaty mess, squinting through stinging eyes. And in the long-term, you're breaking out like it's your job. You can buy generic versions of these wipes for less than $3 a pack. Wipe one over your face before you hit the treadmill, and you're ready to attack the workout. And your skin won't pay for it later.

2. A pack of pony-tail holders: I go as far to keep a few extra on my wrist at all times, too. These things break easily. And before you know it, you're facing a workout with locks a-flowin'. That's not comfortable. And claw clips, headbands and bobby pins rarely withstand a workout alone. (Again, trust me. I've broken my last pony-tail holder at work, only to try and Boy-Scout my way through the pony-tail process at the gym later that day. Nothing has worked like the real thing, that's for sure.) I firmly believe most problems can be solved with duct tape and/or a pony-tail holder. (Can you tell I used to be a camp counselor?) Never leave home without them.

3. Tampons or your own preferred form of sanitary protection: Here's an FYI for any of you non-birth-control-taking ladies. Exercise can bring on an impending period. (It also can work as a pain/cramp reliever, too, but that's for a different day.) Let me say that again. Exercise can bring on an impending period. You don't want to be caught unawares. And you don't want to have to have your cycling instructor tell you, AT THE END OF THE CLASS AFTER YOU'VE PROPPED YOUR LEG UP INTO A SPLIT FOR A GOOD HAMSTRING STRETCH, that you've brought on your impending menstrual cycle. Enough said.

4. A spare change of undies: We've all been there. You've worked out. You're gross as can be. And you completely forgot you had a meeting, a grocery trip, a PTA thingie, whatever. There's no time to shower, so you make do. You're just going to have to towel off and wear the sweaty-ness you're currently bathed in out and about. Do yourself a favor. Change your underwear. I shouldn't have to tell you that, indeed, these little cotton necessities trap a lot of sweat in a short, short period of time. You will feel, smell and stay a wee bit cleaner if you swap out your undies before you go. Also, see item #3. Just sayin'.

5. An empty bottle: It's a big pain to get off and on the treadmill for a sip of water from the resident water fountain. Fill 'er up beforehand. Then work through your routine without stopping. Don't use that water fountain as an excuse to take a break, ladies!

6. A spare pair of socks and/or a sports bra: These are the most commonly used items that women forget to throw in their gym bag, along with everything else they have to remember. So to keep your feet dry and your chest, well, in place, on an absent-minded day, stow an extra pair in your bag. Always.

7. A bottle of body/deodorant spray: This helps greatly in situations like the one mentioned in #4.

8. A small can/bag of almonds or peanuts: These nuts help control blood sugar and will give you an extra boost of energy if you start to feel peckish in an afternoon workout. They are also quite hardy, and don't need to be refrigerated, so as long they bag/can is sealed, they'll last quite a while in that gym bag of yours.

9. A small towel: Wiping sweat away with your hand or arm is pretty useless, wouldn't you say? You need something more absorbent, and a towel is just the thing. This is also a common gym courtesy, as it's nice to lay it down on community services (a bench, a mat) before you use them, as well as wipe down community services (cycling bikes, steps) after you use them.

9. A light sweater/jacket: Now that we're officially into fall, things will start to cool off. And there's no quicker way to catch a chill than to stop moving and to start air-drying. Your sweat, that is. Even in air-conditioning, you will start to feel cold once you start to slow your roll a little. Walking outside, into cooler temperatures, will only exacerbate the situation. You put yourself at risk for muscle cramps, as the sharp changes in body temperature can cause your previously warm muscles to seize up. A light jacket will help control your body temperature as you make your escape out of the gym and back to your car.

That's basically it on my end. Did I miss anything? What else would you all recommend? Because trust me when I say that if you can think of it, you will need it, at one time or another.

The motto here is: When in doubt, put it in your gym bag.

What do you keep in your gym bag?

***

And remember, if you have a request/question for Workout Wednesday, please feel free to post a comment and ask away! I'd love to oblige!

Also, thank you, everyone, who entered my giveaway! Winner or not, you're all so sweet and important to me! Thanks for making this so fun to host! And thanks to CSN Luggage for making it possible!

So until next week, Happy Exercising!

Workout Wednesday: Giveaway Style

Imagine my glee when CSN Luggage contacted me and offered me a product to give away to all of you wonderful people out there in the blogosphere!

Let me tell you, I did a happy dance.

Then, I spent several hours surveying their pretty fabulous Web site, hoping to find the perfect product for you all.

But, despite the array of bags and duffels and rolling suitcases, and heck, even mattresses, they boast, there was really only one direction to go.

Anyone who really knows me understands that I have a deep and unfailing belief in the Three Gs: God, good friends, and a great gym bag.

And God and good friendship are free for the taking around here, I hope.

So today...Workout Wednesday is giving away a great gym bag!
Because seriously, going to the gym without this lovely piece of luggage would be a real crying shame. One of you deserves it (and my undying jealousy that you get to carry it!)

And for those of you who are not big fans of the gym, trust me, this bag could do a lot more. It would make a great diaper bag (it doubles as a bag and a back-pack.) You could definitely use it was a carry-on for a short trip. And, if you're like me, and you like to travel with most of your worldly possessions with you at all times, well, this bag has the room for them and then some! It's multi-purpose, people!

(Pictured here in tan, but you're getting it in Sea Mist, the blue-green color from the first photo.)

So, without further ado, the rules:
1. Post a comment below about anything, really: What's in your gym bag, how was your day, what do you eat for breakfast, etc. (1 entry)
2. Become a follower (or remind me that you already are one) (2 entries)
3. Post about this giveaway on your blog (3 entries)

So there you have it. This giveaway ends at 8 p.m. EST next Tuesday, Sept. 8. I'll announce the winner during next week's Workout Wednesday, where I'll also tell you what to pack in any good gym bag.

Thanks for entering! And until next week, Happy Exercising!

What's going on here? Any guesses?

The current scene in my office:


You are currently feasting your eyes on 17 brand, spankin' new, multi-colored Rubbermaid containers, people. Thank you, Wal-Mart!

Why, you ask?

Why do I have enough Rubbermaid to store an entire sorority house full of stuff?

Because people...we're moving!

Oh yes, yes we are. Believe it. (Because seriously, I kind of don't want to.)

Now, I'm not going to lie to you. Moving stresses me the heck out. All the packing and unpacking and breaking and lifting and storing and giving away and keeping and folding and throwing and fighting and "Honey! Why on God's green Earth did you put the vacuum attachments in the box full of dishes? Are you seriously trying to kill me?"

But these rather chipper, color-coded Rubbermaids are giving me a wee bit of glee.

I mean, look at them. They are an organizer's dream. Plus, their psychedelic nature is a bit of a pick-me-up, don't ya think? (Yes, I know why they were on sale, Wal-Mart. They were meant for the likes of 18-year-old college freshmen girls moving into dorm rooms this August. But that doesn't mean I'm too old for a neon pink storage container! One never is!)

So, this is what I'll be doing for the rest of the day. Because we are out of this house in three whole weeks. (Three weeks? THREE WEEKS? Crud, now my heart is racing again. Just look at the bright colors, Brittany. Look. at. the. bright. colors.)

Oh, wait, what's that? You want to know why we're moving?

Yeah...about that...

I actually can't tell you.

Yet.

I've alluded several times over the last several months that the hubs and I have some big changes coming up. But the timing is still working itself out, little by little, and until we've dotted all our i's and crossed all our t's, we (and by we, I mean, Patrick...because you know me, I'm an open book, and I can't keep anything in) doesn't want me to leak out what we've got going on around here.

So for now, all I can tell you is, we're moving across town. This is not the The Big Move/Change. Right now, we're moving a total of 15 minutes away from our current house. It's a smaller move that will set us up for The Big Move/Change.

We're actually giving up the current house we rent and are moving into a house that belongs to friends of ours, who are leaving for missionary training. They have a blog, actually, if you'd like to know more about them.

This has been a huge lesson in trust, faith and flexibility for Patrick and I. And it is all working itself out, slowly and surely.

We are able to help our friends by taking over their mortgage and caring for their house, etc., while they go into ministry, and we'll have the flexibility of not signing a lease, so we can leave for The Big Move/Change when the time comes.

So, have I got your curiosity piqued? Have I totally driven you crazy by my vague-ness?

I do plan, within the next few weeks, to tell you all about The Big Move/Change. It really shouldn't be much longer. But until that point (and to keep you all from killing me,) I thought we could have some fun!

I want to to know: what do you all think we're up to? What do you think the Big Move/Change is that is headed our way?

I've two little somethings, which I will mail to the person who comes up with the most correct guess and the person who comes up with the funniest/most crazy/out-there guess!

Now, a couple of hints:

1. Remember our friends Autumn and Adam? After they get married in November, they will be moving into the house with us, because for a while, I will have to live their alone. (They will actually stay in the house after our Big Move/Change. Autumn's sister and brother-in-law are actually the missionaries who own the home.)

2. There is a chance I may miss the last month of the 2009-10 school year.

3. We are having to give away quite a bit of furniture, because we won't be able to take it on The Big Move/Change. (And don't worry, these are not the little somethings I'll be mailing you. Unless anyone is interested...)

4. Two blogger friends actually already know about this: 1) Samantha, because she and I have a secret e-mail relationship (don't be jealous!) and 2) someone who I will have to refer to as Anonymous Blog Girl, who is in a similar situation herself, so we e-mailed and talked about it, but some of you follow her blog, so I don't want to give it away that easily.

And of course, there's all my friends who knew me in the real world before the blog world, like Melissa. (So all my IRL friends, Samantha, and Anonymous Blog Girl - you know who you are! - you all can't play along! It wouldn't be fair! But I still love you all!)

So come on! This will be fun! This should have us all laughing until the day comes when I can tell you all what's up. Give us your best shot!

And seriously, I can totally use the laughs right now, amid all this packing chaos, so the funnier scenario, the better! Plus, who doesn't like a little prize for being funny (or a genuinely good guesser!)

Over the next few weeks, I'll fill you all in, and when I do, I'll have my favorite answers ready, too.

Until then, it's just me and my Rainbow Brite Rubbermaids. Time to get packing.

Happy Thursday!
__
P.S. Also, head on over to Molly Lou Gifts and sign up for her Christmas in July swap. It's going to be so much fun!

Don't forget....

...To enter my giveaway! There are only 2.5 days left!

I'll return tomorrow with Not Me! Monday. Until then, I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend!

101st Post Giveaway!

First off, let me just say, I have horrible luck. I never win raffles, contests, or trivia games.

So imagine my surprise when, all in one week, I won a gorgeous set of sheets in Traci's giveaway and books from Helga-Marie and Mrs. Pott's giveaways! I was so thrilled! Sheets and books? Sleeping and reading? It's heaven on Earth! (Thank you, again, ladies, for hosting such wonderful giveaways!)

Not only did I score some fabulous goodies, I also gathered up the courage to do my very own giveaway, in honor of my 100th post and all of you lovely blog friends who mean so much to me!

And then, for no apparent reason, I decided to do Not Me! Monday yesterday, for my 100th post (I wasn't thinking very clearly.) So, 101st Post Giveaway it is! (Better late than never, right?)

Let's look at the prizes, shall we?

1. Molly Lou Gifts Personalized Mousepad




If you haven't checked out Molly Lou Gifts, you definitely should! They have the most adorable personalized stationary, water bottles, children's clothing, and more! And their lovely proprietress is letting me give away one of their fabulous, personalized mousepads!

Also, she's offering a 15-percent discount for anyone who uses the summerfun15 discount code for their total purchase, and through June 10, they are giving 100 percent of their profits to the Boys Home of the South. Definitely check it out!

2. Vera Bradley Forget-Me-Nots

Remember my obsession with Post-Its and listmaking? Well, I wouldn't be anywhere without my Vera Bradley Forget-Me-Nots! The portable book offers four different size Post-Its, with cute designs to boot. I'm giving away the book in the Purple Punch pattern. Trust me, making lists has never been this cute (and fun!)

3. My Favorite Coffee and "Live Simply" Mug



We have local roasters in my town who make the best and tastiest coffee ever! They roast green beans (no, not the vegetable, but green coffee beans), producing delicious organic, fair trade coffee.

So I'm giving away a package of Sweetwater Organic Coffee, plus a "Live Simply" mug. I collect mugs like these that have sweet messages on them, and of course, I love, love coffee! So I figured you all, dear friends, might want in on my favorite morning (and afternoon!) ritual.

4. Jillian Michaels' New Book Master Your Metabolism

I read Jillian's first book, Making the Cut, and was really impressed (and that's saying a lot because as a trainer, I can be a little snobby about TV trainers:) So, because of my combined love of reading and exercise, I thought I'd give away her new book, since I know a lot of you out there in the blogosphere are big fans of Jillian's exercise videos. Who doesn't need a little summer reading, right?

So, who wants in? You can win a personalized mouse pad, Vera Bradley Post-its, delicious coffee, an adorable mug, AND Jillian Michaels' new book, by following the rules below and entering!

1) To earn your FIRST entry, leave me a comment on this post
2) To earn a SECOND entry, become a follower (or let me know if you are one) and let me know in your comment
3) To earn a THIRD entry, blog about my giveaway and let me know in your comment

The giveaway will run untll midnight on Tuesday, June 9.

Good luck, and thanks for playing everyone! Happy Tuesday!