Tasha's Little Products

That Bachelor Bastard Show

2012-01-26T09:33:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago Cole made an announcement, "Mom, we are not watching enough reality TV, it's time to start recording some shows for us, you know there's a lot of TV out there we're missing." That is how the ever so popular show, The Bachelor has come into our lives. That's right peeps, I'm not a TV person, actually I watch little to no TV, an occasional Modern Family, or 30 Rock for laughs and then there's... yep ain't got nothing for you! My best friend has actually told me to watch more TV and now that the boy wants it I guess I gotta go there! NOOOOOOOO not The Bachelor!!!! Ugh! He'sNot even cute and I usually like the longer hair boyish look. :)

The boy has figured out to record all his shows, and I will take a few minutes to watch Gator Boys or perhaps River Monsters.... ahhhh what happened to the days of The Backyardigans and Jeff Corwin, LOVED him, but The Bachelor I can't handle. It kills me to see women like this, trying to hook the dude, it's just wrong am I wrong?!* So I try to talk Cole out of it but he's set on watching it along with a few of his buddies; they do a little texting throughout the show to discuss the babes, what do you think, yeah she's hot, blahblahblah! (Believe me I've tried to ignore the buzz.)

Ahhhhh MY Littles... how they've grown :)

I'm pretty sure we've missed a few episodes but last night the show was on and I hear Cade complain, "We have to watch this show?" Thank you Cade! My vote is for Gator Boys too. Cole replies, "Cade aren't you interested in how to start a relationship?" Oh MY!!! So I can't contain myself I had to blurt out, this show is so bogus, what guy actually has all these women, mostly who are CRAZY and ok beautiful, but I didn't say that, after him? Come on!!! This is not the show to watch to learn ANYTHING but maybe how to make out! Ohhhhhhhhh nooooooo! Cole replies, "Mom, watch what you say, I got like 20 girls on me." What? What did my almost ten-year-old little boy just say? Womanizer! You little DOG...YOU!

Yes, I became a ranting screaming lunatic, the scene in The Christmas Story comes to mind, when the father is chasing the dogs around the house because they have eaten the Thanksgiving dinner. Yep that's me...well in my mind anyway chasing this little dog around the house and when I catch him I'll give him 20 thrashings!!! Ha! Who does he think he is this little...SH*#! I mean beautiful boy who was blessed, F! Both of my boys were blessed with pretty boyish looks, totally blaming their father on this but wait it does describe me...NO it's from their FATHER! :) I'm still on a rant aren't I?

Cole knows the show is bogus, that girls aren't really like that, they don't talk about each other behind their backs, fight over a silly boy, and cry, blahblahblah, "He doesn't like me and it hurts soooooo bad." F ME! Shit girls are like that! The point is Cole knows it's silly made for TV drama, and even though he may be learning some good pick up lines and how to kiss a girl he will learn how to treat a girl from his MOTHER! It is my mission to teach my boys how to respect and treat women as friends, equals and with compassion. I have never used the excuse boys will be boys, NO! Boys must learn how to be men to be compassionate, empathetic individuals; they must learn to trust in their feelings and to learn that it's ok to share them. The tuff guy shit, total BULLSHIT! I want my boys to learn how to communicate and be ok in a messy world to enjoy relationships and connections with people. I want them to be open to love and all it's joy and be ok through the heartbreaks it is sure to bring. I will do my best in the next few critical years and I know their father is committed to this as well, to teach our boys how this is done. F! I'm sure I'll F them up someway or another, kind of in my job description as a parent. Please if you must protect your precious girls from the Verrico boys I completely understand. The thing is, I am already proud of them, and the men they are becoming. They have a lot of potential, they both have beautiful kind hearts, so it would be your daughters' losses I'm afraid. Ha! :)

p.s. A great book if your raising boys is Raising Cane Protecting The Emotional Life of Boys by Dan Kindlon, P.H. D and Michael Thompson, P.H. D.

p.p.s. How's the exercise coming along? Making time? New Year's Goals? I've been cleaning up the eating but not ready to let go of the cookie weight yet. I have a new routine for Feb. and will share next week! xo

HowARD JorDAN!

2012-01-19T10:38:00.000-05:00

That’s right H O W A R D F'N J O R D A N, my old boyfriend from HighSchool, the one I dated for a vERY long time – 4 years? Hummm seemed muchlonger than that! I ran into him –well actually I saw him from afar walking up to the ESPN center where Cole wasplaying in his 3v3 tournament last weekend. I had run back to the hotel to grab the blanket off the bedand to grab more clothes, can you believe it, we were freezing our butts off insunny Florida. So I’m walking into the complex andsee this man standing right in front of me maybe 100 yards away and I recognize himimmediately, it was like my body took over because I had no thoughts, I just kept walking until I found myself standing right in front of himsaying his name. He starred and starredat me…can you believe he did not recognize me? I was wearing this…

Moooooooo!

Totally recognizable right? Hehehe. So I tell him who the moo chick is and eventually remembered to take my sunglasses off. The poor man was in shock. I was NOT awkward with my greeting people! I stood on my toes and gave the BIG HEAD a HUG! :) He started rattling off questions, how are you, where do you live, how are your parents, your brother, tell them I said hello. I stood there...starring at this man from my past, this man who was a boy and one of my first loves. It was one of those relationships at the beginning of my life that shaped me in many ways into who I have become. He swept me off my feet, it was fun and in the end hard, endings always are. I did not like who I became when I was with him and it took many years to get over that, and as I looked at him, as a 40 ish old woman, and answered his questions I realized we had nothing else to talk about. No, I didn't ask any questions, maybe I was in shock too, it did feel like a dream. It was a moment...where our lives were meant to come together once again to confirm that we both have grown up and moooooved on. We wished each other well and said good-bye.

This is life, I am not dreaming. Some people come into our lives at just the right moment to teach us something or to remind us of the past and all that we've learned and some move us so much our lives take a turn and we find ourselves on a new path. F! I love this life this ONE life and this path I am on and I'm so very grateful and yes still hopeful. :)

HOPE

2011-12-31T08:18:00.001-05:00

Today I am filled with HOPE. These past few months have been so hard, thankfully they start to blend together and yet each day brings its own wave of emotions and feelings, old and new. It's a process, a LONG process that takes patience. Patience patience, PATIENCE!!! That's right don't have patience for the patience! Sometimes I want to scream, ask for help; I want a shortcut to jump over some of these steps, sometimes I just want to know the FUTURE already!!! And then instead of really focusing on me I've found myself distracted, in my words, in letters to far far and away people and places. I've gotten lost in fantasies and thoughts and in wanting to help others but in the end I'm in the same place - on my own with my own problems. I don't regret anything so please don't question me, don't ask me why I've allowed the distractions. They have helped me grow; my heart is even larger than it once was. This is MY journey and I find myself still learning good-byes, still learning to let go, still learning to to BE ok with the choices I've made on this path to being WHOLE.

This year I will give it a real go... I will stand alone, FOCUS on me. I will get a job, I will balance my life, I will shed body fat - that's right MF'ers, I'm STILL on that kick and truly am an EFIer, every F'n inch counts! I will stay open to the future and yes I will have HOPE. I will forever be grateful for the old friends who came into my life, for the one who will always be there, and for my dear friends and family HERE who hold my hand and surround me in LOVE. I will dip my hand into this jar of HOPE and HOPE it will help me to move forward with new found strength to walk on my own. I will walk on with this HOPE letting it fill me. F if I don't have to refill this jar of HOPE over and over again as I do expect there will be days when I will need to slather this HOPE all over my F'n body! hehehe. I WILL fill it, with MY HOPEs and HOPEs for my family, and for all of my dear friends and I will hold on... hold on and have FAITH... Faith that my purpose, my life will open up to me and I will find myself HERE - happy and WHOLE, but it may take F'n years, so have patience! :)

This is my HOPE for you too.

where there is hope there is faith. where there is faith miracles can occur.

Happy NEW Year!

Bloody...

2011-12-21T07:53:00.002-05:00

Baking with Cade was so much fun and the cookies? Well...see I had an idea to add TWO simple ingredients to the chocolate chip recipe. I know why mess with perfection; I only messed with half the dough. In our house we call it "experimental kitchen" it's what we consider true cooking, if we don't play with our food, what else is there?!* :)

I'm addicted to chocolate peppermint ANYTHING, coffee, cookies, bark, hot chocolate with the peppermint stick... yeah SeanT, ShaunD, whateva your name is INSANity shirtless chocolate man. :) So I added some dark cocoa powder and chopped candy canes to the mix, baked them and to my utter surprise I was faced with a dozen small round brown masses oozing a red substance, they looked like painful open sores! My experimental cookie looks like a bloody stool!!!! :( Well, I had to try one, hopefully they would taste better than they look. I had a really hard time getting them off the cookie sheet, sticky that candy cane melted shit is. Many of the cookies didn't make it - yes I ate them, all of them and you know they were not bad, not great, kind of chewy, but overall a doable cookie that will never be made again - yes a misfit cookie. Thank goodness for the original tollhouse cookie - not only is it beautiful but tastes as good as it looks. :)

COOKIE Workout:

INSANity - Plyo Cardio Circuit - I liked this one, found it challenging and again the length perfect. Shirtless dude knows how to get your heart rate up and push you through it - bring on the cookies! :)

Shoulders 4x8

Barbell overhead press

Db lat raise

Cable crossover real delt flye

EZ bar up right row

Enjoy!

BAGged...

2011-12-20T14:23:00.000-05:00

I was bagged today... sorry? Did you think I bagged my workout? Silly people N E V E R! haha! No, today an old lady bagged me; the sweetest most wrinkled grandma who wore a face caked with make-up, adorned by the most gaudy of Christmas sweaters. I could have eaten her up she was so cute. (She BAGGED my groceries people.) Oh the eggs were up-side down and... Well maybe bagging isn't her forte but she made my day with that cake faced smile and her Christmas well wishes - F! Do you think she was Mrs. Claus? She did have a twinkle in her eye and her Christmas cheer made me warm and fuzzy.

Where am I going with this story? Shit if I know... OHHHH I wanted to share with you my new journal thing I've got going. I've started a gratitude journey. Each night I write what I am grateful for interesting enough my tea BAG said, "An attitude of gratitude brings opportunities." BAG that people so worth it right?!* Thought it might be something you'd like to do too? Yes, I know Oprah suggested this many years ago whateva... it's new for me and guess who will make the list tonight? Yes, Mrs. Claus for her kindness and her Christmas cheer that so made me smile.

I'm off! Baking COOKIES with Cade. :) :) :) Here's a workout for you and hey feel free to BAG it! :)

Workout:

30 minutes Bike (INSANity and shoulders tomorrow:)
Legs; superset each set of 2 exercises, no rest, 3x15

Spiderman with push-ups
20lb db walking lunges

Reverse db lunge
DB stiff legged deadlift

Sumo squat
KB swing

Leg extension
Leg curl

Donkey kicks
Calf raises

Protein Shake - BerryGreen
Frozen mixed berries
Ice
Acai juice
Greek yogurt
Barlene Greens
Vanilla protein powder
Flax meal
Peanut butter

p.s. Happy Birthday MY Shannon, so very grateful for YOU!!!

INSANity YO HO HO

2011-12-19T10:04:00.001-05:00

That's right I did it! Are you surprised? HA! I know you're worried about me but really I'm fine just going a little INSANity why wait, I always wait until January 1st, we all do don't we? When I got up today I realized there really is no reason to wait - why not jump-start my metabolism this morning! The cookies have been yummy and the ice cream, well ALL that the holidays have to offer have been YUM but the jeans are snug and it's not a good feeling on top of everything ELSE, ugh! The boys have also been pressuring me to do this with them; funny to see them go down to the basement in workout attire with their water bottles and notebooks and then... that's right the highlight of the workout is the stripping of the SHIRTs. Dude all the dude's DO IT!

DUDE!

Sean T or is it Shaun D or... really I don't care what his name is, hey why don't we call him Pretty Chocolate Dude with no SHIRT, is fun and I like the whole gym atmosphere. The crowd is fit, really serious; I guess there's no smiling when you go INANity. I loved how he singled out the lady in the back and asked her age...OMG she's 40 and still going strong!!! hehehehe. I picked the "Pure Cardio" workout this morning. It was great, just what I was looking for about 30 minutes total and the sweat was a steady stream - OH I sweat like a.... lets not go there it's so not lady like. :)

Here's my plan for the next two weeks; hopefully wake up well rested, have my coffee, get the kids off to school for one of the two weeks, have a protein shake, go INSANity, and eat a yummy breakfast like two eggs, spinach, and beans with salsa. Later on I'll hit the gym to lift - COME ON!!! I don't have a job yet people - I'm looking OK. ;) I'll have another protein shake after I lift, snack, dinner and well COOKIES of course! The real deal starts January first! :) I don't think I'll go INSANity everyday, but lets try for...FOUR days out of the week. Anyone want to play? I will try to post some of my workouts for you, here's todays. :)

Monday Workout:
INSANity Pure Cardio
Back and Abs

Pull ups - 4 set of 8 wide grip and work your way in
One arm row in a lunge position/ switch up, each side - 4x12
Lat sweeps with rope - 4x12
Cable row - 4x12

Abs - rocked out the new Oxygen Mag routine (Jan. issue)
Start with one set of 15-20 - it's very different because of the weight it's HARD did I say different?!* :)
Cable obliques side bend
Stability ball cable crunch
Cable woodchop
Cable reverse crunch
Kneeling cable crunch

My Protein Shake today - EggNOGish
Vanilla soy milk
Greek yogurt
1 scoop protein powder
Flax seed meal
1/2 of banana
Handful of almonds
Ice and blend and top with NUTmeg - DEliSH :)

Is it strange that I haven't cursed at all in the last few weeks? That's F'n WACK! :)

MY Family

2011-12-15T08:45:00.001-05:00

This is M Y Family and it will always B E
my F A M I L Y.

The Verrico Family

Are appearances always what they seem? No, they rarely are. We really don't know what goes on inside a home, inside a family, and if we're honest we don't really want to know. We like picture perfect, we prefer to hear, "Our family is great, thanks so much for asking." This is N O T the case for us, the past few years have been difficult for O U R family. We are changing; my husband and I are separated and working towards the end of our marriage. It's a L O N G and painful process that has taken us T I M E to K N O W that we are doing what is best for ourselves. I know this is difficult to hear, heartbreaking to see, that you may not understand, you might want to F I X us, you might even question your own happiness, oh the list goes on... but if you know U S you know we H A V E what it takes to make and create a new kind of family for ourselves and for our two boys who hold us together in this O N E life. Our family picture is sure to change over time, there might be more people, two families, another D O G?!* :) In the end we will still B E a family and I can guarantee you will see U S together, just like this, enjoying a moment of happiness.

We are NOT what we appear and yet we ARE what we appear to B E... a F A M I L Y, made up of two loving parents, beautiful kind boys and a crazy B I T C H dog. There is L O V E and kindness and more hard times ahead. My dear friends please keep us in your hearts; pray for us, and L O V E us.

We celebrate this holiday season with you and wish you P E A C E, J O Y, and LOVE.

The Verrico FAMILY

Fix you...

2011-12-09T07:42:00.001-05:00

When you try your best but you don't succeed

when you get what you want but not what you need

when you feel so tired but you can't sleep

stuck in reverse

tears come streaming down your face

when you lose something you can't replace

when you love someone but it goes to waste

could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones and I will try to fix you...

Coldplay

Art by David Stabley

I love this song; it reminds me that we are only human and that I am not alone in making the mistake of trying to fix someone. Sure, this WILL to help, to fix comes from love, kindness and the best intentions, but it's not possible and even if it was is that really what our loved ones want or need?

We can't fix one another we can only walk together, hold each other's hand, and LISTEN to each other. We may be walking in life together but ultimately we are on our own journeys. We need to go at it at our own pace and learn and grow in stages. But isn't so hard to see the people we love struggling, not knowing what to say or do? And maybe we get so frustrated by the injustice of it all that we can't listen any longer and all we want to do is take ACTION, to fix, and then we question... We question their choices and actions thinking we know better or have a short cut. In the end we don't want to be questioned or fixed, do we? No, we only want the lights to guide us, we want our bones to ignite, we want our hearts to open and we hope and pray to have the WILL to follow it. We want our friends to hold us, laugh with us, share in special occasions with, take a walk with us and LOVE us unconditionally.

I'm sorry for trying to fix you and for my dear friends who walk with me, who listen and at times may want to fix me, THANK YOU for your patience and most of all for loving me so much.

PEACE, JOY, AND LOVE

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

S H o o T... IT Happens

2011-11-27T14:10:00.001-05:00

Ever meet a lady? Oh they are beautiful, sophisticated, and elegant in dress and withtheir words. A lady does notcurse, expel gas, or ever lose her cool, well not in front of anyone. I’ve beengoing through, I guess we could call it a mid-life crisis this past year andpossibly moving into next year. Is there a limit on how many years a mid-lifecrisis lasts? I’ve been trying to figure out who I am. Together we’ve discovered Iam boyish, attracted to extreme, etc... Through a series of deductions I have come to theconclusion I ain’t no lady. Could I ACT like a lady? Could I dress like a lady?Yes and yes for a period of time, I do believe we've discussed this?!* Could I NOT curse??? PLEASEdon’t insult my intelligence. Icould choose to use the words; shoot, shucks, poo...p, doo doo, defecate, feces,crap, but none of these words feel right, no I wantto use the word S H I T, and sometimes F’ N SHIT sounds even better! SHIT! Oh it happensand it happens A LOT, and in my little life it has accumulated to an amazingsuper human/canine PILE in the last week.

Yes the dog, my sweet girl got into something and was sick, the poor thing, but here’s the thing, my house is wall-to-wall hardwood floor!I have rugs throughout the house but they are NOT substantial and the only oneI LOVE is a beautiful long haired, poo colored, shag rug and yes you knowwithout me saying that this is the ONE, my bitch likes to CRAPon! No it wasn’t a little area ofdoo doo, it covered 1/3 of the rug, blended in perfectly too. Whatever... theprofessional cleaner came, the rug appeared to be in good shape, smelled better… FECES it happens, right? It was Thanksgiving week and time to get on the road to Vermont.

*Chloe does not usually travel with us, she’s abit large, and is still very much a puppy. She has the bestdog-sitter, our neighbor who loves her, leaves many lights on for her, feeds her, spends hours with her and walks her daily. The best, I never worry.

Vermont – wow so beautiful, check out these pictures!

Yes, that’s S N O W, we couldn’t haveasked for a better Thanksgiving, surrounded by our best friends, beauty andfood, so much to be thankfulfor. The visit was in one wordWONDERFUL in two words wonderful and FRUSTRATING!

The boys and I were to head home on Friday, we were packedand ready for the 5 ½ hour ride home at 10am but... what the H E L L happened to my keys??? The following 24 hour fuckery (picked up that word from that lady Tina Fey, loved her Bossypantsbook!) of events could be labeled a comedy of errors or just F'N bullSHIT. SHucks it happens! Check it...

Lost keys series of events: tried to find keys, everyonetried to find the keys, the keys could NOT be found. At a loss, loser of the keys, brainstorming, resolving tostay another night. Call to myDaddy who happened to be checking in on my dog, he grabbed my spare set, and sent them overnight FedEx. End ofstory, we could leave by 12 on Saturday, but not the end of the story.NOOOOOOOO!!!! Because losing your keys stays with you. My mind was constantlyworking to remember, to figure out that block of time I absolutely had nomemory of. Then it's Saturday and the dog-sitter informs me that the bitch has SHAT once or twice or thrice on that ONE rug, and that’s how my day starts out. I call FedEx totrack my keys so I can be reassured they are in VT and I will be on theroad soon, but I hear instead a sigh. John is so sorry to report my keys are not in VT, they are inUT, that’s U fucking TAH!!! Cryingnow, really crying. Did I fail to mention that I had pissed one of my good friends off this week as well? So besides the brain fart of the missing keys, I was sad too for hurting someone I care about. These two events sent me spiraling down to a very low point, yes cursing and crying, involved, in FRONT of EVERYONE. The address was correct, but the FedEx store coded itwrong. Yes, more crying... What to do what to do what to do??? The boys needed to be home, to celebrateThanksgiving with Brad's side of the family and then there's the soccer tournament!!! What to do? FINDthe fucking keys you fucking cock-sucker! Ha! That’s what my friend Bob from BMWadvice was, because it takes 3 days to make a key but in the meantime theywould open my car remotely, from space, maybe the keys are in the car! Yes so please let’s open the car – thiscould take 5 minutes or 17 hours! I am not lying that’s what they told me. In the meantime it seems I should just rent a car, get theboys home and come back up when I get my spare set of keys from Utah, lookinglike the end of next week. Theclosest car rental is 45 minutes away, it’s 11:30 and they close at 12. I jump in the car, with my girl'sparents who are heading home. I will have to get the car and drive back to getthe boys. Action, yes, goingsomewhere now, 15 minutes have passed and I get the CALL, the KEYS have beenFOUND!!! Right where I left them, in one of the girl's jacket pockets, the jacketI put on Wednesday morning to go out and shovel my car out in. I put them there and there, theyluckily stayed! At this point Iscream to be let out of the car, I will walk back to the house, I am elated theKEYS have BEEN FOUND! All is goodin the world. By the way I didn’thave to walk…my girl picked me up. We graciously thanked our dear friends and left IMMEDIATLEY!!! The boys and I were on the road by 1:00 andhome by 6:30 pm. NO we did not stop, not even once. I did make a few courtesy calls, one to my BMW friend to let him know they could cancel the satellite signal to open mycar. Come to find out, Bob was sorry to report, that when he entered itinto the computer the command was somehow erased??? There was no satellite car door operation going down.

UGHHHHHHHHH!!!!! S H o oT does stupid stuff happen. In the end, it’s just SHIT and Ican deal with it, I have no other choice, no CONTROL. I am learning how to let go, to say I'm sorry, to not make it about me and be hurt. It's SHIT, I can now laugh and feel ok and it's good to be home. I am also HAPPY for the removal of my S H I T rug from myhouse FOREVER!

Hopeful you all had a wonderful and non-frustrating Thanksgiving. Special thanks to my best friends and their entire family, and MY family for helping, sharing, caring, and most of all LOVING me. :)

Horny TIME & Workout with the B*tches

2011-11-04T07:34:00.003-04:00

I can't help myself, it's in the air, you know when you feel that chill and your body is craving warmth and coziness. I find myself in the late afternoon, after a shower, wanting to get all HORNed OUT in my favorite Horny Toad OUTFIT. It's so fuzzy and comfy and I want to put it ON EVERYday!

REALLY? SERIOUSLY? You thought I was going THERE!!! That's F'n funny my friends. No, NOT going there... Back to my yummy outfit; I've got the loose fitting pants, several sweatshirts, and the blanket that is sooooo irresistible. When I wear it I don't feel frumpy I feel comfy and for some reason I just can't stop touching the fabric it's so soft. This IS the outfit I will go to my grave in, be burned in, this little Horny Toad lovin woman is SO looking to feel this good and peaceful in the after life. (Someday... after life, not any day soon. I think it'll be time for the Horny outfit to be put to rest too, by then, goodness me!)

Sold ya on it right? :) Check out their web site www.hornytoad.com and get yourself and ALL of your loved ones some Horny Toad Cashmoore fleece, it is so "HORNY TIME!" hehehehe. :)

I have not been on my bike in several weeks, yes missing my BUNDAS and the BUTT-kicking good times. What's really strange is that I've found another group to totally KICK my ass and I call them the BITCHES. I love the extreme ass kickers, these women are total muscle heads and love the weight room as much as I do and the workouts, I LOVE to hate. The Bitches are the Bundas and the Bundas are the Bitches, sorry guys and girls! There is love.

Here's the Bitch's workout A.K.A. dear friend and AMaZing Personal Trainer Vicki. Check out her web site www.vixiefit.com and if you're looking for a trainer she's incredible and will even kick your butt in your own home. :)

Workout:
4 Rounds
DB hang squat clean (18)
Alt. hand kb swings (20 each)
Close grip pull-ups (8)
DB v-ups (15)
4 Rounds
T-bar rows (8)
Weighted step-ups (8 each)
MB Crunch Pass (10)

Peace, love, and HORNY Toad,

Get OUT Much?

2011-10-31T08:16:00.000-04:00

Get out much? No, not that often really but enough to look familiar to most and not at all to some. I went to a fundraiser/party on Friday night with one of my best friends, whom I'm seen with occasionally. This friend of mine, I should tell you, is like the Mayor, a total overachiever, a Miss Goodie two shoes, in the community. She is involved in EVERYTHING and knows EVERYONE. Me? I live in the woods people; I get out some, to go to the F'n gym ok! So back to Friday night, I get dressed up, aware I need to start wearing more girly attire to confirm that yes I am a woman and not a BOY. I arrive with the Mayor and the questions start; "Have we met before?" "You look familiar, how would we know each other?" "School?" NO. "Do you live...?" NO. "Church?" NO. Blahblahblah... Sometimes as you know, to switch it up and because of course I have met some of these people before I reply, "Yes, I do believe we've met, I GET AROUND!" I even said to one woman, "I have many looks, that's why you don't recognize me!" WTF - I am so weird!!! Why do these stupid remarks fly out of my mouth?

My Many Looks

Pirate Dude

Vamp Tramp

BOY - Cole Verrico #4

Diva

I'm still making the rounds with the Mayor as we come up to a couple I think I have met before. The Mayor is immediately engaged in conversation and forgets I'm her little sidekick; I'm left to fend for myself. I stand there looking at the couple, yes I have so totally met them before and I'm trying to make eye contact, to say hello, but the Mayor is working here, there's not much opportunity for the strange little woman who is attached to the Mayor. Finally the man, feeling sorry for me, reaches out his hand and says, "Hi, I believe we've NEVER met." So what do I do? I say, and I say this very loudly so the Mayor and the wife hear, "Oh no, no we've met SEVERAL times!!!" Everyone stops and looks at me, the Mayor quickly surveys the situation, makes a joke and swoops me away to a corner of the room. She looks at me, smiling, and asks, " What the hell was that? They are the nicest people Tash, you were such a bitch, I'm kind of proud of you." (Ok maybe those aren't her EXACT words.) We did get a good laugh out of it though, because as she knew, I had NO idea why I said what I said! I made the Mayor promise to apologize for me, to tell her nice friends that I'm not always such a bitch and that I've only met them ONCE before not SEVERAL times. Seriously I still do not know their NAMES! I stayed in the corner with the Mayor's husband the rest of the night, enjoying the sites and listening to the live band and mostly being proud of the Mayor. She's an amazing woman, that one, so glad she's on my side. :)

Yes I hear ya, I should try to get out more! I know I need help with my social skills, I've started the job search and the interviewing is helping. I can't promise that there won't be more awkward moments to come, come on, I'm 40 something and I will always BE mostly AWKWARD!!!

Workouts have been great lately, the eating horrible, I am completely addicted to sugar! I am planning to quite cold turkey this week; it's the Halloween candy! I may need HELP...:(

Thought I'd share my workout with you that I did with the Mayor on Friday and a quick glance at my week of workouts, hope to keep you motivated while we enjoy the candy that we are NOT eating anyMORE! :)

Friday Workout with the Mayor - Chest/Triceps/Abs
2 circuits, 4 Rounds of 12 reps, rest 1 min. after each round
Workout takes 1 hour and if you have time add 30 minutes of cardio. :)

1. Chest press, tricep push-down, decline push-up, tricep overhead ext. w/ ropes, weighted crunches on ball
2. DB flys, tricep kickbacks, overhead db chest press, rocking chair push-ups, boat pose side twist w/ weighted ball

Week at a glance

Monday - Back/Biceps/Ab, 30 minutes of cardio

Tuesday - Legs, 40 min of cardio, 20 before lifting 20 after

Wednesday - Shoulders, 30 minutes cardio

Thursday - Legs, 40 min cardio, 20 before lifting 20 after

Sat/Sun - REST

Can't STOP the CHEATing

2011-10-22T09:40:00.000-04:00

I can't STOP the CHEATing! REally thought my plan, the PLAN that we should allow ONE cheat day a week to enjoy guilt free eating, was a good one, it works for people, right?!* Well it doesn't F'n work for me! I mean if I'm going there, I'm going there, and I want to keep going there. ONE day a week that's NOT living! What is that?

No no no no... for me it's got to be more black and white. I need EXTREME. Ha! EXTREME that word cracks me up, mostly because so many of my friends use it to describe me, in certain circumstances; like when I grow my hair EXTREMELY long and then cut it the next day to an EXTREMELY short DO, like my exercise routines, hours on the bike, wanting to go to Alaska - to? I don't know to BE EXTREME OK! hehehe.

OK I agree, I might be a LITTLE extreme but no more than a little and what I realize as I continue to grow and mature is WHO the HELL restricts their diet in the FALL when that's the best EATin time of the YEAR! Yep, I've been an ASShole, ONCE again. :) Cheat day smeat day! F it! Enjoy the fall and all it has to offer. Yes, diet and getting a grip on what we put in our bodies is a constant battle, our bodies tell us what it needs and sometimes we push the limit and feed it more than it needs, the bottom line is understanding it's normal. Go with it, I am. It comes down to balance doesn't it? Loving our bodies, loving ourselves. I believe in eating well, eating clean, the black and white EXTREME in me can be very disciplined when I have a goal in mind, like building muscle, like lowering body fat, like getting the abs my girl Zuzana has, and if that is my goal the cheat day does not work for me but the softty in me says accept, enjoy, keep working hard, and balance it all. (BTW only really EXTREME wack-jobs have abs like that girl Zuzana BodyRocker Spears Lite does and I totally think that's cool!)

EAT the F'N ice cream once or twice week and enjoy it!!!

WORKOUT by VIXIE FIT

I've been working out once a week with one of my extreme friends. :) She's an incredible trainer, and has just launched her own website, vixiefit.com . Check out the "Cross-fit" routine she put us through yesterday on her BLOG tab. HARD and fun, when you've completed the three rounds of torture. Thanks Vickie!

Life is so "Unfair"

2011-10-11T09:54:00.001-04:00

"Lifeis so unfair, that's what Mom always says," I hear Cade tell his brother. WAIT hold up, I did NOT say that! I said life isn't"FAIR." Completely different Cade! Ughhhhhh.... I do seehis 8-year-old point of view though and sometimes want to go there myself. A few weeks ago we got a call that rocked our entire family. Ty's daughter, mybrother's little girl's fate was up in the air again. Her motherpetitioned the court for her return to her. My little little was finallyadjusting to her life with my brother and their family, she was happy,thriving, how could this be happening? "Life is so UNFAIR," Iwanted to scream!

Ifind myself feeling overwhelmed sometimes with all of LIFE's bullSh*t, it seemslike there is ALWAYS something. My instinct is to "FIX" theproblem, everyone's problems. I also want to take on the responsibilityof everyone's mess, make it my own, wear it, put it on my back because I canhandle it I'm an F'n BEAST people! Right, so not healthy. No, Irealize I'm very good at avoiding the "feelings" that these"unfair" moments bring me... so I'm working on this, you know thewhole staying present thing. To be fully aware of our surroundings,staying in the NOW, giving yourself time to FEEL it all, and letting thosemoments pass through us, giving them to our higher power. If we can stay HERE we deal with the present moment one step at a time.

Weended up taking a trip, my parents, my brother, his fiancée, and I. We prepared ourselves to go to court to fight for our girl to remain with Ty and his family. We were scared, stressed, F'n out of our minds really but we held on toeach other. We also had the support of somany friends. It all worked out in the end, we met Ty's lawyer and asettlement was agreed upon. LIFE!!! I, we had no control of the outcome,we made choices, believed, and for now and I say now, because I have finallylearned that LIFE, it changes on us all the time, for NOW... Ty has HER!!!

My LITTLE Family

Lifeis NOT unfair and it's NOT fair. LIFE just IS and I am grateful for allit's bullSh*t because this is IT my friends, this is where we grow, learn thelessons and move forward. One of my good friends would say, "whatother choice do we have," well he's really persistent. :) There is anotherchoice and that one takes us round and round. It's a place we've all beenand go when we are scared and want to resist LIFE, where we fall into the lifeis UNFAIR place. I do believe that is why we have each other, why we haveour family and friends and our faith and the power of NOW, the present thatgives us the ability to stay HERE and in time move forward and face LIFE one step at a time.

Sohold my hand my friends because I do believe there is more bullSh*t to come and there's absolutely nothing we can't handle. :)

My Higher Power...ha!

FALL is for ScarVES, OctoberFEST, and CHEATing

2011-10-04T20:10:00.006-04:00

So NOT showing you my WADDLE!

Really it's October? Unbelievable how quickly time is flying... and it's cold! WTF? Are you ready for this? FALL? I'm not, NO I want to resist this change or maybe I just want to hold onto time for just a few minutes. My baby just turned eight, is it that? Or is it this loose skin that I found under my chin that's so F'n depressing, ha! :) It's called a waddle, right? Yep, I do believe this is a sign of aging, why women start to wear scarves and turtlenecks, hey it's FALL it's perfectly acceptable to wear them! There's got to be a cream for this right? So we slather that shit on, wear the scarf/turtleneck and walLAH come spring we can unveil the neck and the waddle is no longer there?!* Yeah right!

What is wrong with me? I love aging, NO! I love celebrating birthdays and seasons. I love the FALL and appreciate the beauty of what it brings; the leaves changing, the crisp air, the smell of pumpkin spice candles, the warmth of the fire, and the yumminess of BEER. Yes, I mostly love the fall for my OctoberFEST beer! Now you know me, I'm not a big drinker, kind of got something else up my sleeve this FALL, like a new workout routine and diet plan, but there is room for BEER my friends. :) I'm NOT going all crazy, now it really is time to slow down and enjoy but I'm wanting to try something new. Once a week or maybe even twice a week I'm going to give myself a cheat day, it's all the rage, my boyfriend Tim Ferris is into this and my girlfriend Zusana Light or Spears, what is her name? And so I too will enjoy a day or two of guilt free pleasures with my BEER and food. On the other days going back to the "clean" diet, eating 5 to 6 times a day, lean protein, fresh veggies, NO SUGAR, etc... When I eat like this, I feel at my best and I do believe it's good for the waddle! I'll share some of my diet with you this month and post some of my favorite workouts.

Life is so busy and throws so much at us, I so hope that YOU, my friends are doing well and that we can enjoy a yummy beer this FALL together. :)

My Mom's NEW Art
Scarves :)

Workout: Killer Back/Shoulder/Abs & MORE...
Warm-up - Stairclimber 20 minutes

Pull-ups - 4 sets of 5 reps
Barbarians, I think that's what they're called?!* Series of 7 exercises using a barbell, pick a weight you can press. I did 4 sets of 8 reps.

1. Deadlift
2. Stiff-legged deadlift
3. Bent over row
4. Snatch and press, bring the bar back down into a...
5. Squat, bring it down to the ground, kick the legs back into a...
6. Push-up, place knees on the ground and pull the bar in...
7. Ab roll out

Circuit 1 (complete 1 set of 8 reps and repeat 4x)
1. Lat. Pull-down
2. Arnold Press
3. Hanging Ab twist

Circuit 2 (complete 1 set of 8 reps and repeat 4x))
1. Side Plank Row
2. Rear Delt Fly
3. Obliques crunch on ball

Stairclimber 20 minutes and stretch!
This workout is totally KILLER, and now that I've written it down realize it's a little INSANE, who has time for this kind of workout? Yep, I'm a total LOSER! One to two sets is plenty if you're going to give it a go. GOOD LUCK and let me know if you have any questions.

The Fortune Teller Predicts 15 years...

2011-09-14T08:54:00.000-04:00

Yep, I had my fortune told, well not by a typical oracle type NO... an orthopedic surgeon gave it to me straight. "Stop running, here's the bottom line Tasha, YOU ARE SO EFFed!" Did I fall in love? Absolutely, he was relentless, tore me a part, but he was also kind. He went on to say in so many words that I was clearly and severly bowlegged and obviously ACL deficiant, and that I would do ok until I turn 50 or 55 and then the pain would start and I guess the EFFed part too. When was he kind? I believe he said I could call him when the time came - great thanks! hehehe. :)

I've always known this was my future, a knee replacement at a younger age. I've had 4 ACL reconstructions starting when I was 16 years old, I've been told over and over again I would eventually be looking at a knee replacement or two. So this is NOT new NEWS for me but it was a wake up call. I've been feeling good, strong, I've been running for the last year thinking I was beyond it, if it wasn't hurting than I continued. I've been pushing my luck or maybe I've been speeding up the time it will take to get a replacement! NOoooooo! I don't want that. It's time to SLOW down. I'm not in any rush, these surgeries don't last long enough only 15 years at the max and I only WANT it done ONCE thank you very much! I've had my fortune told before... he told me at age 40 I'd have my knee replaced, well, that hasn't happened. So I have a chance now to be kind to myself and stay strong and fit to prolong my little OLD knee and keep it healthy for another 20 years - come on! 60 sounds alot better than 55! :)

Knowing my future and knowing that RUNNING is NOT apart of it made it interesting going into the Triathlon I signed up for, the ONE that took place last weekend. I was honestly thinking about bagging the run. For all of a minute! Hell NO, I desided to RUN as fast as my little legs could RUN, MF'er it was my LAST F'N RUN EVER! :)

The triathlon was a great experience and I'm so glad I did it and with one of my best friends too, Heather. The swim was all stragegy, I went out hard, stayed to the inside, NOT what a newbie is supposed to do but I just had a feeling I could beat out the pack. OH and I did and just about drowned doing it! I eventually caught my breath and got into a grove, and made it to the shore amazingly with my girl right next to me. We stayed together the entire race, coming in 12th and 13th in our age group, out of 315 old ass 40-44 year olds. It WAS fun, I loved the bike, and the RUN, well that sucked the entire 3.1 miles of it. I hate running - sorry I do, so knowing it was my last RUN was all I needed to keep me RUNNING. In the end my first triathlon was my LAST triathlon, it's checked off the bucket list - DONE!

My Girl Heather at the DANSKIN Triathlon

My Girls Carrie and Lisa the Winners! 1st & 2nd place out of 1600 women!!!
So proud of you ladies, YOU ROCK!!!

NOW... the plan is to enjoy my 40's, turns out I'm not into races, NO, not me. I just want to get on my bike and ride, ride with friends, my BUNDUS, I want to keep riding - into the sunset, with no pain, taking it easy and SLOW. Ha! I'm kidding myself. I like it hard and fast sometimes too, hehehe. I know I'm a mess! Ahhhhh it's all gooooooood.

MY DREAM BIKE (Lisa's Bike)

Riding the W A V E

2011-09-07T09:37:00.001-04:00

"Totally Awesome Dude"

What a great way to end the summer, one last beach weekend and time with best friends. Oh and surfing, how could I forget that!

Saying goodbye to summer, does it bring you sadness, relief, or mixed emotions? It's a wave of emotion for me, I feel it all. So loved the summer with the boys. Yes it went fast, yes I do believe it was H O T, yes we were busy and bored, and we enjoyed time with friends and family. We had great vacations, enjoyed the pool, eating ICE CREAM, sleeping in and SOOOOOOO much more. NOW, the summer wave is bringing us right into fall, ready or not, we are in constant motion, aren't we? I'm ready, I think...

The boys are back at school and I'm trying to stay on top of the paperwork, trying not to miss anything, oooohhhh BALLS, too late, missed Back to School Night for Cole! Uuugghhhh.

The wave continues and I know it's perfectly normal to slip off the board to crash, heck we crash all the time. It's life... but the feeling of riding that wave, that smooth perfect wave, my guess is, it's AMAZING. I saw the look on the boy's faces, it was of pure happiness. They couldn't wait to try it again and again and again. I LIKE this. :)

So I will try AGAIN.

My goals for the fall are to stay on top of the WAVE of paperwork, to be more organized. Yes, I have fitness goals! Don't be silly. :) I've had enough ice cream, I think for awhile anyway, so I'm back on the "clean" diet. I've been doing some of Zuzana's Bodyrock.tv workouts and I'm really enjoying the 20 minutes of hard, butt kicking, sweaty fun. My tri is this weekend so I'm backing off a bit, until next week... :) Another one of my goals is to start researching the job market, yes I've been working on my resume and yes I do realize the job market SUCKS, but it's time for me to start the process and I'm ready and so grateful to have the opportunity to find the right job.

It's fun this wave, that takes us into another season. It's exciting and scary too because I am a little afraid of crashing, but I WILL get up and I WILL go at it again. Come on I'm a persistent little F***! hehehe. :)

How about you? You with me? Let's RIDE.

WORD!

2011-08-10T10:52:00.002-04:00

I was watching True Blood the other night, still haven't caught up, and the witch told one of the other wacko's to stop using the F WORD so much, that it was "stressing" her out? Now the witch was about to be attacked by a vampire... I think she was already a bit stressed out!:)

I received an email from a dear friend, saying the same thing?!* "Why are you using that WORD so much it's stressing me out?" Funny how life sends you messages, and now that I think of it, it seems the close friends have "talked" and are wondering and maybe are even a bit concerned about why their "little" Tasha IS using the WORD so much. "Why does she use that WORD so often, what is she getting from it? Has she always talked like that? Does she always write like that?"

Well now there's a word for you ALWAYS. No one is ALWAYS the same are they? They don't ALWAYS act the way you want them to. They don't ALWAYS choose the direction in life you think they should. People, our dear friends, our family, our children, do they ALWAYS behave? We have no control over the ALWAYS but when we use the word ALWAYS it seems that what we really are screaming for is control. No? Yes? Maybe?

I've avoided the question, haven't I? Why am I using the WORD so much? Well, off the cuff, it's FFFFREEING! I am writing, this is MY blog. I live in a country where I have FREEDOM of speech, and it feels so good to not be inhibited. I don't ALWAYS talk like this, or write like this. I can also write directly from my heart, I can express myself through other words, and I have fully done this with each and every one of my true friends. If I go deeper to explain my use of the WORD than maybe I'm using it more often because I find myself on the EDGE, my future is unknown, my life is changing, and I'm scared and searching, searching for myself. I'm trying to figure out so much right now. Maybe it's my message in the bottle asking for "HELP" or I'm using IT to express, my sadness, the feeling of being out of control, or I'm just angry??? Hummmm.... I think maybe it's a combination of all of it, my dear friends.

MY Roberta Little Sculpture

I do realize that my choice in using such a WORD may offend and I must apologize for that, that is NOT my purpose. I have not directed any of my F bombs at anyone in particular just USED it for ME. I appreciate the feedback and KNOW it only comes from LOVE. It has made me think and go deep once again. I am on a journey and am grateful for it! In the end, which happens to be a beginning, I am ALWAYS evolving and ALWAYS open to hearing your thoughts and opinions as I hope we all are... open to LOVE.

BUTT-Kickin Good Times!

2011-08-09T17:18:00.000-04:00

The BUNDAS, my Tuesday riding group, never fail to inspire me... to WRITE.
Oh the humility I felt today as they literally stopped three times and got
off their F'n bikes to wait for me. See, it's better to stop then to slow
down, don't want to F UP the average speed! EFI'ers! (Every F'in INCH counts
- that's what EFI stands for, learned this today.) These are the kind of
people I find myself strangely and LARGELY attracted too. So not in the
mood to look deep into myself to understand why, why, why I'm into this kind
of person. Maybe, it's because I'm on the edge of becoming one of these F'd
UP people! :)

I made it to the diner, to chow down on my Texas toast and two scrambled
eggs second breakfast, to find myself listening to the topic of riding 3,000
miles across the country, on a BIKE, in ONE month. So totally DOable by the
EFI'ers - F***ing HELL!!! I ate my second breakfast in two minutes and I
wasn't even hungry. Turns out several of the BUNDAS have done this - gone
the distance and the ones that haven't turns out WILL. Why, why, why? Why
NOT? I get it, how cool would it be to say you've done that, to know you've
got the stuff, to belong to the Crazy Guy on a BIKE CLUB? Pretty F'n COOL.
:) Do I want to do this? HELLLLLLL NO! Not now but...maybe someday...when
my BUTT doesn't hurt so bad or get kicked as much as it does now. I think
I've got 10 - 15 years of the BUTT-kickin good times left. Do I have the
endurance for it? Can I put up with the encouraging remarks, like, "Tash,
your stroke is looking jerky." OK! I'm not a SMOOTH STROKER! It's been a
month since I've been on a bike - EFI'er! Can I handle theses OLD BASTARDS
laughing at me, and yes loving me for always taking it in the BUTT? I mean
being in the back of the pack looking at BUTT. :)

Fav BUTT picture and JackASS!

Hmmm..... gotta go deep again to find the answer... and see I realize my
answer might just send me over the edge to fully becoming an EFI'er.
WELL... WHY THE F NOT! I'm going THERE... anyone else coming?
hehehe. :)

p.s. So we're talkin BUTT, I must share a fine ONE with you my friends, cause I'm an EFI'er and this chick's website, bodyrock.tv, and her workouts are super HARD and so is she. Zuzana Light started out in soft porn as Zuzana Spears, yes, I looked, and now she is a burpee F'in BodyRocker idol! I am not lying and I will go so far as to tell you that these workouts are nearly impossible but... DOable in time. Check out - 300 Reps of Brutality - BodyRockers don't Give Up workout - when your children are ASLEEP! :)

Bring IT!

2011-08-02T09:18:00.001-04:00

Recently I was out to lunch with a few girlfriends the topic of pageants came up, not gonna get into my opinion on them but what caught my interest was the variety of the TALENT. Our friends niece's talent was balancing cups to music. Well I NEVER... I mean I just didn't think I had the stuff to be in a pageant, NOW... I'm rethinking!

So at first I thought I could bring my mad dribbling skills, talking basketball friends, not drooling dribbling - pLEAse! Then I thought I could incorporate my fitness like push-ups into the mix, and then I thought I could put a little stand-up comedic routine together. I have always thought I had the stuff to be a real comedIAN. I do find myself rather funny...hehehe. Wouldn't it be fun to bring your talent to a party - I'm in my young forties, I AM NOT thinking about auditioning for "America's Got Talent," NO, NO, NO. I'm thinking a small party with friends where you've got a couple minutes to show your stuff. Good idea?:)

My Pageant Talent OUTFIT?!*

Well, yeah I thought it was a good idea until I went out for a girlfriend's birthday where we went dancing. She loves to dance and her friends like to dance and me? Well, no I don't really like to dance. See I've been trying to find my groove, going to Zumba, but to be straight with you I'm as stiff as they come. I do believe I've got the groove deep down but it comes out awkward. Now car dancing I'm AWESOME at, doing the ELAINE, I so can rock that move. I'm corky, (or is it quirky???:) not sexy and I'm reminded of this often. "Tasha! Retake that picture, Tasha looks ridiculous! Come on Tash, try to look sexy!" So back to the dancing, I was trying to move but I don't know can I blame the music? It was like a tribute to the New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys - WTF! I'm too old for that shit. I'm moving to the beat maybe, and then my jaw drops, a woman in our party, jumps up on a stand with a pole and is totally working it. Oh WOW like it could have been her profession, it wasn't I asked. YES, I'm jealous, there is no way I can move like that or feel comfortable moving like that. I dig her, I dig her because she's got mad talent, and mine, well it doesn't compare. The only thing that I WORK, like she works that pole, is gum!

Talent? Do I still want to bring my talent or lack there of to a party? Well sure why not - but only with my closest friends and AFTER I've taken a private pole dancing lesson! I mean come on, I don't think I'll ever be at a club and pull out my pole dancing moves. No, I've only been known to pull out the push-ups but it would be cool to be comfortable dancing. Aren't we supposed to try new things and get uncomfortable every now and then, stretch our boundaries a little bit, get a little crazy? YES, the answer is YES!:)

I'm doing my first triathlon in September, a huge stretch for me, in terms of my fitness goals. I'm nervous to compete, (I am a LITTLE competitive, just a little.) So it's time to get back into the water and to incorporate more bricks into the routine. FUN, FUN... :)

There's MORE...

2011-07-19T07:36:00.001-04:00

So I'm a 12 year old boy living in a 41 old boyish looking woman's body, I'm more than a LITTLE NUTS, and have I mentioned there's MORE? Did I fail to mention I can't hear and my memory SuCkS!

Sh@#! Does Tim Ferriss have a chapter on this? He probably does, my favorite author of The 4-Hour Body. Yes, LOVE this book, he writes like he's talking to you, curses, is creative, smart, F! He's the male version of ME!!! hehehe.

* Check out Tim's blog! He just turned 34 and his birthday wish is to build a library for the poorest kids in the world through Room to Read. You can help and maybe even win a trip anywhere in the world! Diggin it!

This guy is NUTS!

I'm in LOVE, he had me at... the all NUTS & .... diet! ha!

Back to my hearing and memory; ever been to a party where some people really do look familiar but your memory fails you and you can't place them? Honestly you're too busy to really care, it's a night out and you haven't had one in a while. Well yeah, so the person comes up to you and starts a convo, small talk, "You look just like a girl I went to high school with." Yeah yeah - hear that a lot, blahblahblah... She mentions a high school. I have no idea what she said, see because I really don't hear well, especially in a crowd, I find it really hard to focus; it's sensory overload. I tend to just sit back in my silent head, smile and depending on my mood either shake my head NO or maybe nod a YES. So in this particular instance I shake my head, no, no I didn't go to that high school, see ya, nice talking to you, what was your name again? I've already walked away, didn't hear a damn THANG she said. The night goes on and I'm starting to have a recollection of this woman, strange she does remind me of someone I went to high school with. I wonder what high school she mentioned. BALLS! Now it's killing me - I gotta go up to her and ask. So I do, and yes I'm an ASSHOLE! She and her sister BOTH went to my high school. WTF! How do I explain, yeah, didn't hear you, don't hear much in a crowd, uuuuhhh... Nope I just came clean, "Sorry, I've been in a witness protection program. I am who you think I am but now you have to forget this meeting ever took place." I go buy her a "MIND ERASER" shot or two and it's all good, she forgets... right?!*:)

Those who love me, know when in a crowd I can't hear an F'in thing you're saying, so if it's important take me out of the environment or write that SH@# down. Thank you my dear friends and yes I'll consult with my "new" boyfriend, Tim, on the possibilities of reversing hearing loss, quickly. Maybe there's a special kind of NUT to get the job done?:) The memory thing, well... F! I like living in the moment!:)

So how's the summer workout routine going? Diet? Not diet, like are you dieting, diet like how much ice cream have you consumed?:) Me? Yep totally enjoying my summer, the workouts have been fun and spontaneous. Working out at different times of the day and making it up as I go. Love the sleeping in and naps.:) My diet, good, very much enjoying my food, the fresh fruit, the spicy hummus on my turkey wraps, the sweet potato fries, and on occasion cookies and YES ice cream!!!

Here's a workout for you:

Bike 6 miles or 20 minutes on a stationary bike.
Run 1.5 miles as fast as you can, I started at 6.0 and went to 8.0 on the treadmill, increasing my speed on every lap.
Lift: Shoulders, consulted with my Oxygen Mag beasts and did a Tri-Set routine.
1st Exercise, Front DB raise, 2nd Arnold DB press, 3rd Lat. DB raise. A Tri-Set means completing 12-15 reps and moving to the next exercise without rest. After you complete all three exercises rest for 90 seconds and repeat up to four times. You WILL feel the burn!
Abs - 4 exercises 3 sets of 12-15 reps - come on you can design this!
Run 1.5 miles as fast as you can.
Bike 6 miles or 20 minutes on a stationary bike, yes as FAST as you can!

FUN!:)

Text Your MOM! (Missing My Boys - Killer LEG Workout;)

2011-06-28T08:26:00.000-04:00

I am already making excuses for my son. He's only nine and I'm apologizing for him not texting his girlfriends! My best friend, Shannon, has the sweetest most beautiful girls in the world. Our children have been friends, BEST FRIENDS, their entire lives. Recently Shann and I have felt their friendship flourish, and as BEST FRIENDS, it makes us have warm fuzzies, and yes we sometimes dream about the kids going to proms together, etc... not really thinking romantically but mostly about their really cool friendships! MOSTLY!:)

So the girls have been texting Cole, counting down the days until we spend the weekend together and Shann tells me that the girls NEVER hear back from Cole. "Cole! Have the girls been texting you? And why aren't you getting back to them? Dude just reply, come on!" He answers, "Mom, every time I reply it turns into a LONG conversation!" So I say, "Nice Cole, please just acknowledge that you too are excited to spend time with them, these are OUR girls and someday mister your gonna wish you were getting into a LONGER convo with a girl!" Had to throw that in! His reply, a very lame, "Probably."

Uggghhhh! Sorry girls he's a BOY! He really does care about you and if it makes you feel any better he doesn't text his MOM either! He's away at camp, an overnight camp, his first time AWAY from ME, and I've received NO calls, and only two texts!!! OK my texts are a little long, but when I write, "How are u? I lov & miss," I'm looking for more than, "me 2." BOY! Guess I've got some more MOM work to do here, hehehe. :)

Best Friends Summer 2006

Missing MY Boys LEG Workout: (That's right Cade's away too - NO calls but Grandma texted LONGer!)

Run 1 mile
Stationary Bike - 30 minutes
(push it on the hills:)

LEGS Tosca Reno's Butt-Blasting Routine - July Oxygen Magazine
(This woman is amazing, totally dig her!)
20lb. DB - 20 lunges
Reverse lunge using a box, 3 sets of 10 alternating sides, yes with the DB
20lb DB in hand, Stiff-legged deadlifts, on the box, 3 Sets of 15
Kneeling weighted alternating kicks, 3 sets 15
There is no rest in between exercises and sets!

Run 1 mile
Stationary Bike 30 minutes
(Push it and get ready to EAT!)

Let's Make A Deal

2011-06-27T09:56:00.000-04:00

"Mom come snuggle with me on the couch." I was busy cleaning the kitchen, moving, moving, moving but wait, what did he just say? A light went off in my head, the "opportunity you shouldn't miss" light, hello, my son just asked me to snuggle, how many times will he ask me that again? I dropped what I was doing and went to the couch to snuggle. We laid there, the two of us looking at each other. I moved the hair off of his forehead and I had a glimpse of my baby with the perfect head. Isn't it strange how these moments come to you, the memories of our children as infants? Cade had the perfect round head with the huge avatar eyes and I'll never forget how he would suddenly hit you in the face!

Baby Cade

Suddenly he touched my face.:) My boy moved the hair off my face and softly put it behind my ears and noticed... my gray hair! He started to cry, "Why are you gray, don't you get your hair dyed anymore?" I started to laugh, "It's good that I'm gray baby, means I'm getting older, living, and someday my wish is that all of my hair will be gray. I'll be sporting a cute bob and come visit you with your kids. You'll recognize my eyes sweetie, promise." He replied, "Mom, I don't want you to have gray hair, to get old. I don't want you to leave me. I don't want to leave you."

How do we respond to these questions? I want to promise him, I want to guarantee him that I won't leave him, but life doesn't work that way and I know better than to make that promise to this boy who is an old soul and would know I wasn't telling him the truth. Why does he have to be so damn DEEP?!* "Oh my sweet boy my wish is a lifetime together with you and you know I'll never leave you, I will always be in your heart." But this is NOT enough for the boy that is crying next to me and I look at him and have the same wish, I don't want him to get any older, I want to freeze this moment. So I say, "Let's make a deal? Let's both stay the same age, well of course after I get my grays dyed? What do you say Cade?" He replies, "Don't be silly Mom, I want to grow up. I can't wait to be in the 2nd grade and then the 3rd, and then the 4th..."

Silly me for trying to freeze time!

NUTs... NUTs?

2011-06-26T10:55:00.000-04:00

Wasn't June the month I was gonna kick some butt, like totally go NUTs by eating more strictly and lifting heavy to GAIN muscle? No? No, that's right I changed my mind and decided to ride and chill. Yeah, my memory is not so good. That's right, ONE more thing about me YOU should know, I don't remember much, we'll get into that later. So, I've been riding, lifting, running, and quite frankly I've gone a LITTLE nuts!

We're talking Nuts: Rosemary Pecans and Cranberries, Dry Roasted Mixed Nuts, Peanut Butter Cup Trax Mix Nuts, Dates with some kind of yummy nut in the middle, from Saudi Arabia, you have to special order those, and my favorite Lime & Chili Mixed Nuts! The Lime & Chili Nuts are F'N HOT my friends, we're talkin get a beer to chase the mothers down with kind of HOT! hehehe.

I came home from Trader Joe's with an assortment of nut sacks, bags, MIXED NUTs! I'm serving every meal with a side of NUTS. I wake up and put NUTs in my cereal, have it for a snack, NUTs, NUTs, NUTs. I'm totally addicted to NUTs! BALLs!

You're wondering if I'm keeping my boy-like girlish figure right, with all this NUT consumption? Well, actually I put on a solid 3 lbs, ok maybe 4 lbs, ok maybe not so solid! But, and I know I risk you hating me for this, but I am now a proud owner of a set of 32 B's! That's right just like that, right to the boobs - hey I am a woman after all! hehehe. Well, what more can I say my friends, it's all in the NUTs or am I simply... NUTs? Don't answer! hehehe:)

check out my nuts!

Here are some of my summer goals:

Eat less NUTs
Read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer with the Boys
Take a surfing class
Go to DC with the boys
Go to the movies - A lot!
See U2 in concert, never been, going in July
Kill all the stink bugs in my home
Play with the boys, play with friends
Go to the Pool
Truly enjoy our beach week with all my LITTLES
Ride a century or two
Eat lots of ICE CREAM
Sleep in a few times a week?!*
Finish the Hunger Games Book Series by Suzanne Collins
Watch a lot of SOCCER :)

It's Official, I'm A...

2011-06-23T10:42:00.002-04:00

It's summer and I don't think I've slept in ONCE! What is up with that or is it down with that? I always get that confused, hehehe. It's the first week of summer and yes, we are up early, I'm busy making breakfast, making lunches, getting everyone ready for SOCCER camp, go, go, go, go! The only difference I'm finding with this routine and the school routine is I'M the bus driver.

I get the boys off, one going this direction with another parent and one going the other direction and so on... I'm tired, grumpy, this sucks, but I do get time and of course I'm working out or riding my bike but the time flies and it seems I have to leave again but I have just sat down! So I'm off, it's time to pick the boys up. They fill the car and immediately the chatter begins. I was pleasantly surprised, boys talking?!*:) It begins with the rundown of the days events, Tyler the talker, fills me in, all top level stuff, mostly telling me about people that got on his nerves, etc. We discuss that sometimes you just can't BE friends with everyone...blahblahblah, so Tyler, clever boy, changes the subject to ask, "Mrs. Verrico do you have any embarrassing moments?" I respond, "What? Huh? Yeah... actually my whole life has been a series of embarrassing moments but ummm I'm not too sure how many are appropriate to share, hehehe." Tyler replies, "That's ok Mrs. V, there was a lot of inappropriate things said today at camp we can handle it." "Oh," I reply, " like what are we talking about?" Come to find out the boys learned a new word which I'm sure I don't know the meaning of! Good stuff these camps.

This car ride and the ones that followed CRACKED me up, turned my tired grumpy days into ones of laughter. OK, it was the silliness that got me going, the singing "Til the World Ends," and replacing one of the lines perfectly with "I just farted." It was the conversation of embarrassing moments where we all shared and laughed. It was Cole telling the boys that all they have to say to get me to laugh is "BALLS" and they do and go out of their way to say it and I laugh and laugh and laugh. It was the terrible smell of stinky feet and our ritual of stopping at Wawa for a slushy. It was seeing these boys, being themselves, comfortable with each other and with me. Of course the "Mom" voice came out a few times and I made sure they heard it. I feel like I got a glimpse of what is to come, with two of the boys being 12, and I have to say I love it. I LOVE my BOYS and it's official, I'm a lover of boys, they make me laugh and I get them, I totally get them - yeah I'm a 12 year old boy at HEART! hehehe.

Little - BIG

2011-06-21T07:05:00.000-04:00

Just about every night I take my bitch Chloe out for a walk, aka my girl dog, best friend, the one who never leaves my side. :) We enjoy the stars, the moon and the peace together as another day is at its end. So we, well I reflect and work on what Chloe is so best at... staying in the NOW, staying present. This past week as I was working on the nonthinking thing I noticed on our return to the woods that the trees were twinkling. It was amazing, like Christmas at Longwood Gardens but it was thousands and thousands of fireflies dancing in the trees lighting our way home. Almost immediately I lost the present moment and THOUGHT that I must share this with Cade, my animal, insect, lover, sweet little boy.

So last night as Chloe and I returned home I called up to Cade, who was all ready for bed and quite sleepy and told him I needed to take him outside for just a few minutes, that there was something he had to see, right NOW! The boy came down the stairs bare footed, in his pajama pants, no shirt, NEVER a shirt. Remember this is the same boy that does not wear underwear on the weekends, on spring break, or in the summer, come to find out. NO, no shirt, even in the middle of winter! (Crazy little bastard - just love his free spirit!:) I put one of my sweatshirts on him, yes my favorite WACKED was handy, and had that little monkey dude climb on my back. Off we went into the woods and up to the top of our property. As we approached the top I told him he was going to see something really cool, something so amazing, something so...."OK Mom, I get it!" We turned around and it was PERFECT, his excitement, his laughter, the moment... perfect. "Mom, it's like Christmas!"

We stayed for a few minutes slowly making our trek back into the woods taking in the dancing of the lights and the trees and their shapes as Cade told me about the fireflies and what they're like, how they glow, etc... as we found ourselves in the woods again I said to Cade, "Wow, look at the trees, they're sooooooo big sometimes I feel so little." He said, "Yeah, I feel even littler, but I feel big when I stand up for myself." I wanted to make sure I understood what my little dude was saying, "You mean you feel big when you let a person know what you're feeling? So that makes you feel confident, good about yourself, like you can take on the world?" Cade replied, "Yes Mom, exactly."

My sweet wise little boy, I so needed to hear that message. Thank you my Cade, I loved our little BIG walk into the lights last night.

p.s. Did I workout today? HELL yes! hehehe. Back, biceps, abs, stairclimber, and 4mile run tonight. It's what I DO people! :):):)

Ready or NOT Summer is HERE!

2011-06-14T09:51:00.000-04:00

Wow is it really mid-June? School is OVER for us this Thursday. Are you ready for summer? I think I am?!* Ok not sure yet, but I'm starting to wrap my head around it. The summer calendar is FULL, but there is still room for relaxing with the boys. OH I forgot they don't like relaxing especially my oldest. "What are we going to do, what's the plan, I'm bored, I don't know what to do?" Uuuggghhh RELAX! Do nothing, read a book, chill out DUDE! hehehe. Poor boy just likes to know... so I have a plan. Tonight I'm grabbing our little dream book that I made for the family, a book we keep in the family room, open to whoever would like to write in it. You can write a wish, a goal, an accomplishment, what your grateful for etc... Does it get used much? Hell NO! But I'm pullin it OUT tonight. We're going to think hard on what fun things we want to do this summer. At home when we are bored we'll have a list to refer too; a reading list for sure, a list of fun things to do, etc... Yes, I am also thinking we need to have a few other lists, like chores, and a whining chart. Whining is NOT tolerated, we actually started it this weekend. If the boys whine they are asked to put the time of the whine on the board - yes more lists! hehehe No wonder Cole is crazy WE have made him that way! Really I don't think his parents can take all the credit - he was BORN that way, a little. :) Yes, I like my plan, now it's all about follow through. Wish me luck with that one!

So what up with your personal goals? Fitness goals for the summer? Did you buy the bathing suit? I bought two new suits - NO! Not a bikini! So not a bikini girl, dude, lady, OLD woman. I love my one piece suits, one is super sexy and one is totally feminine, I know not really me, but I decided my girlish looking boy body could use some help with a pretty girly look to give me the illusion of having curves!:) Check out Swimoutlet.com great deals and the pretty suit I purchased through Neimanmarcas.com, they are having a sale and free shipping this week.

Cute right?!*

Let's chat more about Fitness Goals this week! I gotta get out and RIDE!

Old Soul...(Chest/Ab Workout:)

2011-06-02T08:38:00.000-04:00

Cade has always loved horses, just born that way, my mother says it comes from her, she was a horse in her previous life. We put Cade on his first horse at the age of three and its become a weekly visit to the horse farm ever since. Cade recently told us the two happiest days in his seven years was; "the day he met Solider," the pony he rides, and "the day Mary Jane went home with Ty." This boy who came to us amazes me with the thoughtfulness of his words. We play a game, lots of Mommies play, "I Love You More." I usually start but I never win. He told me there is no way that I could love him more, "it's just not possible." Well as a mother, and not fully understanding the love of a parent until I was a parent doubted him on this until one night... On this night I stopped looked at this precious little perfect boy with the big dreamy eyes, I saw a knowing in him, like he was an old soul, and I realized he may KNOW, he just may KNOW how much I love him and he just might love me MORE. NO!!!!! How can that be!!!hehehe:)

While Cade is riding Cole and I enjoy some playtime together on the farm, our favorite farm, Second Nature Farm. This video is for Mary Jane - it cracks her up. (I remember my Little Little, our shared giggle fit. xo)

Wednesday Workout Chest/Abs:

Warm up: Lunge Twist, Inchworms, Spiderman Lunge (4push-ups), Inchworms (2 lengths of gym each)

Chest Routine: Found in the New Oxygen Magazine - it's a 4 week program, this week was Strength Building.

Exercise Sets Reps Rest

Bench Press 3, 6-8, 1-2 min

DB decline Flye 3, 8-10, 1-2 min

Machine Chest Press 3, 6-8, 1-2 min

Machine Pec Flye 3, 8-10, 1-2 min

*Push-up 3, 15, 1-2 min

I love push-ups and wanted more of a challenge than doing just regular push-ups so I did push-ups on the 1/2 bosu ball, one hand in the middle and one hand on the floor, alternating from side to side, 10 each, 20 total.

Abs:

Hanging Abs, Legs up to bar to exhaustion, then knees up 2 Sets 15 reps

Hanging Abs, Knees to chest with weight, I used a 6lb. ball, 2 Sets 15 Reps

Hanging Abs, Single Knee to chest, 2 Sets 15 Reps

Rope Crunches using cable & weight, 2 Sets 20-25 Reps

Oxygen Ab 3x3x3 Routine:

Stability ball roll-up with twist

Bicycle crunch

Stability ball leg lift

I was tired did 2 Sets 15 Reps and YES I'm sore today! I didn't do any cardio how about that!:) Getting on that bike of mine this morning, yes riding to the gym to do Back and Shoulders, and then riding some more.:):):)

Dude?!*

2011-06-01T07:46:00.001-04:00

You already know that I'm awkward and like to curse, so I'm thinking I might as well just come clean and lay it all out there: I am a VERY nice girl, always thoughtful, yes loving, blablabla but not so much a LADY! Yeah sorry, I've set an example, and my boys WILL be shocked if their girlfriends don't belch or for that matter fart. Come on! Why hold on to that - it just hurts! I'm NOT saying that I don't use my manners and that I do this in public, however I am finding it harder to hold on to - but this is what we do, ladies, right? GAS is NOT just a male trait.

This weekend in Vermont with my girl's girls was great, so much fun. I happen to know these women pretty well, but I do always find it fun to push the limit a little to shock people when given an opportunity. For example announcing that "I've gotta take a leak" or "it's time to 'dump' out!" OH MY and these poor women thought they were getting away from their husbands - wow sometimes I DO ACT LIKE A TOTAL DUDE! Oh the ladies in the room - I know it, I do OFFEND! I was told, "TASHA, I've gotta teach you to be a lady." My reply, "You are not going to change me, I am 41 years OLD, you need to accept me for who I am!" hehehehe. The funny thing is in the end they accepted me and yes, saw right through me! I'm mostly ALL TALK, am totally a chick, who on occasion can "act" like a lady and well, yeah, daily has GAS! hehehehe

So man am I hooked on riding! I rode 3x last week and had a great ride today with MY BUNDAS. Yep, I've made up my mind - summer is for riding. I am NOT starting my new diet and lifting routine to gain muscle. NO! That is what winter is for. Here's the thing, fitness is a way of life, it changes, your goals change, just like life, constantly, and it's ok to let go of it for a time, to let go with NO GUILT.

I love summer with the boys, going to the pool and taking a break from the gym living our life of soccer, soccer, soccer. My goal is to ride at least 3-4x a week and lift at home. I'll be making it up as I go, all upper body routines to maintain my strength. Yes, of course I'll share. Oh and the diet - loosen it up, more fruit, more food, more martinis or beer, if I feel like it!

DUDE chill out!

The Weekly BUNDAS -"He Told Me He Loved ME"

2011-05-25T08:03:00.000-04:00

Dave Bundas

He told me he LOVED me... as he looked back at me. I was looking at the steepest climb I've seen in my short lived Bundas life. What the!!! Uuuuggghhhh... So didn't FEEL the LOVE. I did tell him I loved him too, actually I told him first. And now that I think of it I didn't mean it - I was thinking I HATE you... Ok so that's a little strong - I do love the Bundas but I'm still struggling with who I want to be when I grow up and I think I'm getting close to grown up!

These people I love to hate are 15 to 20 years my senior and in the world of cycling that makes them "Total Badasses!" They are retired, strong and did I mention RETIRED? They talk of riding 180 miles over the weekend, two day trip, pack on the back, change of underwear kinda thing and this weekend, Memorial Day weekend, the plan is to climb Mt. Hawk, a 300 mile trek. Did I mention they maintain 18 mph on these long, hilly treks?!* Hard Core MF'ers! ha! See I told you I HAVE NO BUSINESS RIDING WITH THE BUNDAS!

Are you wondering if I was prepared for my ride, since I took it easy on Monday, stretched and was mentally and physically preparing for the Bundas ride? Well, NO I was tight the minute I woke up, got on the bike and immediately felt the ass pain, parformas muscle - we're talking DEEP ass muscle pain and the right calf cramping. I am not one of those people that pop the Advil, just won't do it - I WILL not take Advil in order to ride or workout - that's CRAZY, if I'm in that much discomfort I'll just ride right through it! ha! No, I'll rest idiots.

I'm not calling you an idiot; I'm the ASSHOLE here - I cannot keep doing this to myself. I love to ride but one day a week isn't cutting it, either I need to start doing this 3-4 times a week or I need to back off the Bundas. I did eat smart and rode strong today for most of the 72 miles and came home utterly exhausted and so hungry I think I bit off the head of at least one adult and at least one child too.

This weekend while my fellow Bundas are out kickin butt I'll be up in Vermont kickin back and hopefully I'll figure this out, my summer fitness goals. Do I lift gain muscle and back off the riding or do I stay lean; ride, lift, ride, lift, and ride some more? Hey isn't winter MADE for the gym and summer for playing outside??? I think I made my decision. See ya next week MY BUNDAS. :)

MY... Dear Friends

2011-05-23T07:04:00.001-04:00

I am truly blessed with amazing friends. Some of my friends I've had forever, some I made in college and others as an adult. Some friends have come and gone and come AGAIN into my life, it seems, at just the right time.

I try to express my gratitude to my friends as often as I can. Last year, for my big 4 0, I wrote little love notes to many of my friends to let them know how much they mean to me. I guess as my 41st birthday approaches I'm thinking, yes, it's a perfect time to do this again. I love celebrating my birthday, F! I'm alive, living, having a blast, walking, playing, exercising, laughing and loving. My birthday signifies a time of reflection and of overwhelming gratitude for all that I have in my ONE little life, right here right NOW. So I will write to my Dear Friends and tell them in so many words how much I love them and thank them for loving me too.

Pictured below are MY beauties, my sweet girlfriends, my sisters, and soul mates. They walk very closely with me through this life and I AM because THEY ARE, WE ARE ONE. I do have a few that are missing from this picture, my BUBBY, my Big and my Little, my BoyZ and their beautiful wives, and my dear friend who lives far far and away, and WOW the list goes on and on....

Love MY Friends, LOVE.

My Beauties... Love, Love, Love and Love

Notice I'm NOT in the picture, I tend to ruin a good picture by being awkward or silly or recently I was told, to my utter surprise, that I am sometimes "inappropriate!" hehehe. For whatever reason though I am DEEPLY LOVED.:)

The Birthday Workout Week Plan:

Mon. Chest/Tri/Abs
*Going to do some light cardio and stretch because...

Tue. I'M GOING BUNDAS! (70 miles!)

Wed. Yoga/Swim/Abs

Thurs. Back/Bi/Run

Fri. Pilates/Shoulders and then...

LEAVING FOR VERMONT TO PLAY BIG TIME!

"You're Gonna Be a BEAR"

2011-05-19T07:51:00.000-04:00

My Cade says to me, "Mom I want to be an animal in my next life." I say," Sounds good just promise you'll come find me again." He asks, "How will we know we've found each other?" I tell him, "We we feel it in our hearts." Cade says, "Mom you're going to be a bear in your next life because they totally like to workout and they are soft too." I ask him what he's going to be and he doesn't know. "I just hope you're not something I want to eat, because I so want to eat you up right NOW!" Love MY Cade.

I really enjoyed my workout today. I took a yoga class and went swimming. Lost my thoughts in both and I feel great like a "young boy!" ha! No I feel great like the WOMAN I am!:)

Our yoga instructor ended our class with this prayer, so worth the share.

May you be happy
May you be healthy
May you have no suffering
May you have a calm and peaceful mind

Namaste "I bow to the divine qualities in you."

"You Look Like a Little Boy."

2011-05-18T07:42:00.000-04:00

"You look like a little boy!" She says as she shoots me the finger left and right! ha! I couldn't stop laughing, only one of your best friends could say such a thing. In the last week my closest and dearest friends have been all over my ass, you're too skinny, you're crazy, what are you doing, and I'm like are you my mother? Then my mother calls and says the same thing.

Ok my dear friends and family, I HEAR you, I have dropped a few pounds, I do realize I look a bit different then I did a few years ago but come on, I DO NOT LOOK LIKE A LITTLE BOY! (Ok maybe my body is kind of boy like but at least I'm a pretty girlish looking boy.) I am eating and I am healthy and I am super strong! But no I do not want to shop in the teen department and start wearing training bras (OK I am wearing training bras! hehehe) So I called my trainer boy and asked for some advice - see I still have a goal of being in the athletic range for body fat composition. I'm not talking "Olympic" athlete and yes, I'm very close to my goal. Remember I LIKE muscle but I am also into my SOFT side. I am not training to be in the next Arnold Sports Festival, Fitness Competition, he's a jerk, but I do admire the dedication that these women have.

So here's the deal: it's time to gain some weight, it's time to gain MUSCLE. I'm going to back off the cardio, change my diet, yes, eating more carbs, and more meals, I have no idea how I'll be able to consume this much food, but I'll give it a try! The workouts, different too - for one solid month I will lift 4x a week, 2 upper body routines and 2 lower body routines, the focus heavier weights, 3 sets, of 8-12 reps.

I don't look like a little boy I look like a monkey!

So giving you the finger MY Love:)

My best "model" pose, chest out and WOW I am looking chesty, love the lululemon padded inserts, butt out, shoulders back, chin forward shoot, missed that and the hands are all wrong. Maybe it's just a little too exaggerated, no wonder I haven't gotten a job. ha!

I will start this NEW plan in June. For now I am going to do less cardio and take a break from the usual routine, think I might even get a Zumba class in next week. Oh, and most importantly I'll be celebrating my birthday a few times! Love making a week out of it, or more, yes celebrating the 42nd year - BRING IT!:)

Jillian Workout #2
Warm up - 15 on Gauntlet Stairclimber
Circuit 1 Repeat Twice
Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown (pyramid increase wt. 20, 12, 6-8 reps)
Cable Row (15reps)
Lunges (50)
1.5 min. hill run at incline 10, speed 5.5 - 6.0 mph
Circuit 2 Repeat Twice
DB Row (15 reps)
Seated Hamstring Curls (15)
Step-ups 10 - 15 each leg with weight
1.5 min. hill run at incline 10, speed 5.5 - 6.0 mph
Circuit 3 Repeat Twice
Crab walk 10 steps forward
Reverse plank with 10 leg lifts, each leg
Crab Walk 10 steps backward
Reverse plank with 10 leg lifts, each leg
Supermans 20 reps last one hold for 20 sec
Reverse Crunches 25
Mountain Climbers 1 min
Circuit 4 Repeat Twice
Lunge with hammer Curls (10 each leg)
Hammer Curls to failure
Static Lunge with Reverse Cable Fly (10 each leg)
1.5 min. hill run at incline 10, speed 5.5 - 6.0 mph
Circuit 5 Repeat Twice
One-Leg Pelvic Thrust (15 each leg)
Toe Touch Crunches (25 reps)
*Mountain Climbers 1min - F! The Mountain Climbers I was done, hit the Gauntlet Stairclimber for another 15 minutes of RANDOM PLAY:)

Identity Crisis - Workout

2011-05-17T07:38:00.001-04:00

I am really struggling with my identity, am I a BUNDAS, a BIMBO, or a B.... Ugghhh or maybe something else altogether. I like the intensity, I like to be pushed, challenged, but I also like to chill, relax and be kind to my body. I like to stop and eat, look at the scenery, play in the dirt, not go so fast, breathe a little. I don't need a competition to be motivated, I really don't need others to WANT it. I motivate myself, I like my alone time, I'm disciplined and focused. There is one side of me that is really into muscle and just IS intense and driven to excel, but the other side wants to embrace my softness. I'm soooo confused...

My son Cole knows exactly what he IS, a soccer player. That is all he IS and all he is striving to be. He is very intense and focused, it really is quite remarkable, to be so driven and so very young. Sweet boy, of course I'm always talking plan B! "What do you want to study in school?" You can work with athletes, be a coach, a sports agent, etc... Recently after a lacrosse game, the only "other" sport I will not let him stop playing for soccer, I mentioned to him that he shouldn't count out a lacrosse scholarship. He really is athletic, one of those kids, who is coachable and picks it up effortlessly. Cole's response to the lax thing, "Well then I won't play lacrosse..." He WANTs to play soccer - period! Crazy little kid - I assured him that he can do both and of course I told him to "BELIEVE" in his dreams. I believe in him. He's a beautiful boy, I already see the man in him, the man he is becoming, a wonderful, kind, and loving man and right NOW he's an amazing soccer player. I believe Cole, I believe in YOU.

I think maybe I'm a little like Donny and Marie, I'm a little bit hard core and a little bit SOFT. The kind that likes to enjoy a nice ride, with my head in the clouds, stopping every now and then to truly appreciate my surroundings and of course to feel the "wind in my face." When I feel rejuvenated by my down time then it's time to go BUNDAS!:)

This Weeks Plan: How 'bout we go Jillian! Picked up my Making the Cut by Jillian Michaels book, and decided to focus on a few of these workouts this week, no extra cardio, because these are intense circuit workouts. The weather doesn't look good for the Bundas ride so I'm thinking M, T, TR Jillian workouts, Wednesday Yoga/Swim and Friday Pilates class, with Jen, "perfect body" Jen, really hard class that I have not been to in months. This is nice right? A good mix of intense, relaxing, and sculpting workouts.

Monday Workout by Jillian with some minor Tasha adjustments:
Circuit 1 (perform twice)
DB press on body ball (10 each arm)
DB Fly on Body Ball with Crunches (15 reps)
Squats 50 fast (no weight)
Run on Treadmill 2 min. 7.5mph
Circuit 2 (perform twice)
Plank with body ball - elbows on ball, rotate elbows one direction for 10, change directions for 10
Close-Grip Push-ups (15)
Side Planks with Inner Thigh Raise (10 each side)
Plank up downs (10)
Close-Grip Push-ups (15)
Side Planks with Inner Thigh Raise (10 each side)
Plank up downs (10)
Burpies (15)
Sumo Squats 50
Run on Treadmill 2 min. 7.5mph
Circuit 3 (perform twice)
Frog Push-ups (20)
Squat Thrusts (20)
W Shoulder Presses with Leg Extension (10 each leg)
Jump Rope 2 minutes
Circuit 4 (perform twice)
Bench Dips (20reps)
Rope Tricep Presses until muscle failure
Static Lunge with Lateral Shoulder Raise (10 each Leg)
Mountain Climbers (1 minute)
Boat Pose (hold for 30 sec.)
Circuit 5
Abs Pick 3 exercises Do 3 Sets of 15 reps

Tasha's Tip: During my workouts, especially if they're over an hour long, I drink Acclerade. Like the Orange flavor, helps with muscle recovery, rehydration and extends endurance.

The Beat Down

2011-05-16T07:43:00.000-04:00

Steve's CRAZY Ab Routine

Steve, aka Big Billy, is crazy about abs. The dude is strong and I have to say he's helped me a lot, always providing a new twist to my routine, making it harder, and fun. The photo above was one of the events in his Strongman competition a few weeks ago. You're hanging with a yoga ball between your ankles lifting your legs over Steve's crazy contraption punching bag thing with a bell on it, you have to touch the blocks on each side. If you ring the bell by knocking into the bag, it's minus one point. I was able to beast out 16 of these but rang Steve's bell three times, BALLS! The guy that won completed 24 reps.

Hanging Abs & Around the World:

This exercise is way cool, I love these kind of party tricks! When I first started I could only bring my knees up to my chest, I did not think it was possible to bring your legs ALL the way up, but guess what it IS, just takes practice. Yes, they are beating each other with the foam roller. I DO NOT participate in the "beat down." They tried once, I couldn't help myself, blurted out, "thank you sir may I have another," fell to the ground in hysterics. They did not think I was funny - it was funny though, wasn't it?!*:) It still sends me into giggles when I see Steve abuse the boys with the "beat down!"

Around the World is crazy hard - I can NOT do this! I've been breaking the move down, in order TO DO THIS, someday. Start with the ball, legs out in front, pull straight up, and lift, you want to keep your lower back off the bench as you start to rotate.

Love this STEVE - you win with this party trick for sure.

Tasha's Tip: When it comes to Abs and you're like me, I tend to wait until the end of my workout to do them and conveniently run out of time, so "SWITCH UP" get the bastards done first! :) Core strength is so important, so hit it hard and hit it first! (Am I starting to sound like Jillian Michaels? Cool - LOVE HER!) I target Abs 3x a week, do at least 3 exercises 12-50 reps each.

This weekend was nice and relaxing. I ran a 5K with MY Jilly, and took a lovely 20 mile ride on my bike. Todays program.... hummmmm definitely weights!)

White Knuckles

2011-05-13T19:38:00.001-04:00

Ah a massage it’s supposed to feel good right? One of my girlfriends and I seem to debate this often. She enjoys a relaxing, soft, long massage, where she can fall asleep and wake up feeling rejuvenated. That sounds nice, it really does, but I’ve got work to do. I work out hard and my body, I feel, needs a deep tissue massage. So I guess what I’m saying is I like it hard, deep and a little shorter, due to the pain!:)

Yesterday I was on the table, telling my massage therapist the issues, entire back and glutes – tight, really tight, you’ve got some work to do, let’s get her done! Yeah so I’m hurting, trying to relax, working on my breathing, eyes squeezed shut, and I feel my hand being pried apart and a voice saying, “Honey, you’re white knuckling this, let it go and release it.”

“I’m sorry but isn’t your elbow in my ass?” How the hell???

Maybe it’s time to try a soft, long, relaxing massage… yeah that sounds NICE.:)

My body is really telling me to slow down this week. So I ran a little last night, stretched and no lifting. Today my Daddy came over and we worked the land, mulching, gardening, and getting the patio furniture out. That’s it! That’s my workout and that's me, pictured below... WACKED! Having a beer now.:)

Daddy on his Honda Goldwing. Yes, I KNOW my Dad is SUPER COOL and you have a crush on him! hehehe:)

WACKED fav sweatshirt:)

Thanks Daddy - it's looking good!

My patio;)

My Young Grasshopper

2011-05-12T07:32:00.000-04:00

We went to the first grade's "Bugz" performance last night. It was brilliant! The children were wonderful, well done AGCS. The grandparents hit the morning show and Cole and I went to the evening show, poor Brad is on the road again.:( Cole and I could not stop smiling and pointing out our favorite performers. "Mom, see that little butterfly, wow she has better moves than you." (Hey! So you know I never claimed to have moves, that's why I'm going to Zumba, working on the groove thang, it's a must have in your 40's. hehehe)

Our boy was a grasshopper. At first he was upset, no lines, no singing, just jumping. He jumped into his role and as the proud mother I have to say, he was the ultimate, most athletic, beautiful, young grasshopper out there! He's asking for acting classses, after that performance, I'm thinking Cade, let's go for it.

I can't help but to reflect a little on the young grasshopper thing... the teachings of life, what we try to explain to our children our core values that we are trying to pass on sometimes with ease and most times by repetition and some yelling. I've always been the mom that has explained things factually and scientifically. I recall being in the grocery store with Cole, age 2, telling the woman in front of us that he thought her daughter needed to go to the bathroom because she was holding onto her "vagina." Yeah, I'm that MOM! Come on it's NOT a peanut! Always hated that one - I'm a fan of giving it to them straight, we're just talking body parts here. Ok, maybe I went a little deep when the boy walked in on me inserting a tampon and I explained menstruation as the shedding of my uterine wall...

Today sex is everywhere right? I have not had "the" talk with my boys, but today as I heard the word shouted out in one of our new tunes, I thought let's do it. "Boys, do you know what sex means?" Cade's hand shot up, "it's when two people like each other." Cole, the oldest, sat there, and said nothing but open to the discussion, not too uncomfortable yet. ha! So today for whatever reason I decided that was a great answer! My best friend has always been a fan of keeping our children, children for as long as possible. (I'm with ya sister.) I did tell the boys, that it's a very special thing that adults do to show love for one another. That it's a way of life, and as you get older, you may have friends talk about it, and as with everything else you may have questions about it. Your dad and I will be here for you, "cool?" Oh yeah it's "COOL.":)

Workout today, yes, my body finally feels better, yoga really helped. Still striving to be kind to myself the rest of the week. (Easy Chest/Tri, 30 min of cardio, and a massage - I'll write it up for ya tomorrow.:)

Just Call Me "Ham Steak!"

2011-05-11T07:55:00.002-04:00

The Bundas are cruel riders I LOVE to hate! Yesterday I woke up rested and felt great until I got out of bed and my calves seized up. Yeah, running the hills backwards, what the?!?! I'm such an asshole - always making rookie mistakes. I am smarter than this, well maybe NOT.

I met the Bundas for our planned 50 plus mile ride and you know I felt great, really strong. The first 28 miles I'm thinking I can take these peeps. I'm hitting the hills hard, busting my move, yes taking the lead on several occasions and hanging, really hanging with the pack. Of course in the back of my mind I'm thinking slow down rookie, don't blow your load too early... We hit the diner for breakfast and I order smart, two eggs over easy, and dry rye toast, craving the waffle and the ham steak, but I'm thinking "sustain your performance rookie." The eggs sat well, I was not full, I felt good. I got on the bike and immediately the legs are screaming, always hard to get moving again, but I push, to warm um up again and I'm thinking I CAN DO THIS. I made it for about an hour then it hit me, I was DONE. I had nothing left. I tried to fake it, went into a hill strong with the Bundas behind me when suddenly they take off, speed past me at 20 miles an hour up a hill! KILLING ME THESE PEOPLE. So they yell at me as they pass me effortlessly, "Ham Steak, what's up?" haha! And Jamie, my girl, says," We like to abuse you, Tasha."

See I'm mad now! The Bundas they lead you to believe that if you just eat well you can hang with them, if you can maintain 18 miles an hour, you can ride with them. Well I can't! I can't maintain that. I can't increase my speed on the hill to 20mph. Who are these people??? Why do I want to be them? They used me and abused me yesterday and YES, I want more! I'm thinking I need to ride with these people at least two days a week! Hehehe:)

54.8 miles

Cole and "Fernando" my bike!:)

The plan for today - yoga - lots of water and a nap. NOOOOOOO swimming and I'm taking it easy the next few days, yeah I'll lift, but maybe just my body out of bed.

In Memory of our Sweet Bear

2011-05-10T07:56:00.000-04:00

Last Friday I woke up at 5am and Chloe wasn't by my side. She is always by my side! I immediately went into a panic, wondering if I forget to bring her inside before I went to bed. I briefly looked around upstairs and down, then went outside. It was still dark and I started to call for her, but I seemed to lose my voice. I was so upset, filled with sadness, I started to cry.

It turns out she was in Cade's room, she had followed me in there and I had shut the door, leaving her there, in the jungle room!:) I was so relieved but couldn't seem to get rid of this sad feeling, like a heavy weight on my chest. Then I remembered... my sweet Tahoe ran away for a 24 hour period exactly one year ago. It was the beginning of the end of his life with us. He started taking off, wandering around, not coming when I called for him. Where I found him often, was down in our stream, almost hidden, in all the green of spring, but he would be there at the edge of the water.

Our loving Tahoe Bear spent 12 years with us. We celebrated his birthday, May 8th, and rang our swiss bell 12 times. We decided it was time to spread his ashes in his favorite spot and remember him by saying a few words, silently or out loud. It was...lovely.

We love you Tahoe and you will be where you always loved to go, in our stream and in our hearts forever. (Tahoe's song "Rain King," by the Counting Crows.)

If you look closely you'll see Tahoe on the left bank.:)

Monday Workout:

Could NOT get motivated to run with the Rain King playing in my head! So had to "switch-up" hit Rage Against the Machine for a hard core RUN!:) 30 min. running the hills backwards and sprinting down!

Shoulder Routine:

Seated Barbell press - Front 3x12, Back 3x12

Side Lats - 3x12

Rear Delt Fly on ball - 3x12

Abs: Still doing the Oxygen Routine - usually like to switch this up but it's still really hard, I've been increasing my reps, and they said do it for a month, so I'm doing it for a month!

I am still sore from the weekend and maybe the silly pull-ups I did the other day! Hoping this does not hider my performance with Bundas!

Tasha's Tip: People, I do not stick to my eating schedule 100%! I allow myself to go out to dinner, or lunch, or have a nice Mother's Day dessert! I do try to choose wisely and I look at my day as a whole, actually even my week, there is nothing wrong with giving yourself a cheat day. Just think moderation. If you overdue it with food you're not used to eating, like a bag of rollos, trust me, you will NOT feel well for several days!!!

Big Billy's Strongman Event

2011-05-09T08:04:00.001-04:00

Big Billy is Steve! Saturday was sooooooo much fun! Imagine a field day for grown ups! The event all took place at Steve's house, in his driveway, garage, and basement. Did I get my ass kicked, you bet I did! 13 people participated and I came in 11th! ha! There were 7 events and they were HARD! If you've attended in the past you can pick what order you want to go in - lots of strategy here. You receive points for every event, weighted differently for women, and each is timed. You have an opportunity to re-do or "mulligan" one event. I kicked butt in the the strength events, but the rest, like the shuttle run, picking up objects like a keg, sled pull, way heavy, and wheelbarrow run, where it takes special coordination - NO didn't do so well! I went 3rd in every event, my competition was behind me - they out did me EVERY time. I am so going behind them next year - competitive me? Only sometimes and next year - I'll bringing my A GAME!!!

It really was a great day, met all new people. Now I know what you're thinking - all new people for me to meet, how did the Master Greeter do? Well, I am proud to report only ONE awkward exchange! I went in confidently with a handshake, but the thumb, got all weird on me and I ended up with a strange thumb wrestling move. The woman a kindred spirit for sure, laughed. I apologized, laughing and said "it's me, I'm sorry," she said, "no, it was great, like the thumbs were kissing or something!" Yes kissing better than wrestling!!!

I am totally sore and looking forward to doing absolutely NOTHING today!:)

Thanks Steve & Anita!

This weeks plan:
Monday - Shoulders/cv
Tuesday - Bundus Ride
Wednesday - Yoga/Swim
Thursday - Chest/Triceps/cv - Massage:)
Friday - Back/Biceps
Saturday - Girls on the Run 5K
Sunday - Sprint Triathlon

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T09:03:00.000-04:00

My weekend started out with my very special date with Cade. He took me to the Mother/Son Dance. We've gone the last two years together. Cole has always been busy; the boy can't miss soccer practice! Ha! Cole and I have other moments, like playing basketball, lacrosse, poker, slap jack - we laugh! He's also my cuddler. Now I hate to doubt him, and he has a lot of potential, but Cole: not the best date. I've been asked to go on field trips with him and he leaves me high and dry! Yeah, I usually end up hanging out with kids I've never met before. He appreciates me being there, always says how his friends think I'm cool...sure, I get it! hehehe.

Back to Cade: my dreamy boy, he was so attentive on our date. We went out to dinner first, one of our favorite spots where he gets to play with pizza dough and they bake it for him. He made me an ant, and we ate his head off!:) The dance was great...wild boys and their moms. All the moms had the same expression on their faces: one of acceptance and knowing that the Father/Daughter Dance in NO WAY could compare to the kind of fun we were having. The first slow song, Cade brought me out to the dance floor; I usually am NOT the emotional Mom! I don't tear up, but the song was "When you look me in the Eyes" by the Jonas Brothers, yes love them! Well, he did: he looked me in the eyes, and told me that he loved me and I was done, totally fell MORE in love with that boy and I felt his love for me, really felt it!

My dress has a zipper - good thing for the belt, 'cause the boy tried to unzip me! Hey, if you're a boy, and there's a zipper I'm thinking you're going to give it a try! hahaha! He is the same boy I took to Victoria's Secret at the age of three and found him with both hands on the mannequin's leg, reaching up!!! oh my!!!:)

When we got home, my date had fallen asleep and I carried him to bed. I will never forget our dreamy date, it's a keeper! Cole came to me to see how my date was and I told him it was the best, that Cade was the best date and he smiled the sweetest smile and said, "that's awesome Mom..."

Thank you my sweet boys.

Happy Mother's Day to my Moms - I KNOW! I KNOW how much you love me!

Happy Mother's Day to YOU too, wishing you a heart bursting with LOVE.

Split Routines & My JOYs

2011-05-06T07:56:00.000-04:00

Ahhhhh running with my girl Chloe, the dog aka "my bitch." Today was beautiful, so green, a little breeze, and the sky so blue. We took one of our favorite runs down creek road and like most days she jerked me around! ha! No, she just stops suddenly, to smell the flowers, often.:) Where it starts to get annoying is when we stop at the base of the hill! At the base of a hill? Why not the top? Why can't we get to the top and then stop?!? Wait a second - Chloe totally reminds me of one of my best friends, Jilly my JOY!

Jilly and I ride together, well we haven't too much recently. She thinks I'm crazy, riding with the Bundus. Jilly likes to ease into things, really think things through. She told me that she won't even consider riding with me this season until she get 10 rides in on her own! Totally ridiculous! See I really miss how Jilly and I ride! We talk, stop and take pictures, stop to drink, stop to pee, stop to catch our breath, stop and sometimes fall over, stop to laugh and stop to eat. Just like Chloe, we tend to stop at the base of the hill! I really miss you my Jilly!!!

The Split Routines:
Wednesday Workout - Cardio - Chest/Back - Cardio & Abs
Early Morning
30 minute recumbent bike - hill program level 8

Mid Morning Gym
Chest

Alligator push-ups - 40
Chest press (55lb. straight bar - 100 reps - took me 3 sets to complete, 40, 30, 30)
Dive Bomber push-ups (4x10)
Incline DB Flys (4x20)

Back

Deadlift (1/2 body wt. 4x20)
Lat. Pulldown (4x20)
Pull-ups (4 sets, 4 arm positions on bar, 5 reps for me!:)
Seated Row (4x15)

Evening

30 min recumbent bike

Oxygen Ab. Routine

Thursday Workout Cardio & Shoulders
Morning
5 mile run - slow
Stretch and roll out

Evening
20 min. stationary bike - easy
KB circuit 3 sets of 20 (focus shoulders)

The Halo - on bosu ball
One arm waiter's press - on bosu ball
One arm front raise swing
One arm lateral swing
Deck Squat

Stretch and roll out

Tasha's Tip: Quick lunch meal - quinoa, tofu, kale, and cherry tomatoes. I usually prepare the basics for the week, chicken, rice, quinoa but sometimes it just doesn't work like that. So when you're in a rush have a bag of the already made quinoa, a package of tofu sliced, rinse and chop the kale, add cinnamon and heat in the microwave for one minute, top with cherry tomatoes. YUMMY!:)

Tomorrow I'm taking the day off! That's right I'm NOT exercising, gotta rest for Steve's Fitness Challenge on Saturday. He told me to plan to be there for 4 hours! I hope I don't cry!

Triceps/Biceps Routine... ME? Awkward? YES!

2011-05-05T07:08:00.000-04:00

NO the Triceps/Biceps workout isn't awkward, I am! For some reason I have this strange inability to read people when it comes to greeting them. We're talking old friends, new friends, acquaintances, peeps you meet at parties, etc... See the problem is I try to read the individual. Yes, it has to be a quick evaluation, it's like I want to sense what they're into; are they huggers, cheek kissers, handshakers, high fivers, do they avoid contact and just say hi with maybe a wave? With this approach I really thought I would be a master greeter but something is WAY wrong with my GREETAR! I have gone in with a handshake to be quickly taken in for a hug and then blundered the whole greeting by adding a very loud "air" kiss smooch! I have greeted a friend at the gym who was on a bike by going around him, basically putting him in a headlock, where he went to reach back and kiss me on the cheek and I ducked and buried my head in his neck! Luckily he is quite used to my affliction and we laugh and I usually say, "sorry that was awkward" and he says, "Tasha it's YOU, you're always awkward." The GREETAR usually sends me into fits of laughter thus making the exchange even worse! Good friends try to give me advice by telling me to pick one form of greeting and stick with it! I CAN'T! So recently I've just come clean, when in a situation of greeting I will ask the newbie how they would like to greet, yeah, it's still AWKWARD!

My friend Scott who puts up with my awkwardness time and time again!

To be clear when I'm beasting out the Triceps and Biceps workout - I am so totally cool!

Triceps:

DB Tricep Ext (12x4)
Overhead Press, using cables and ropes (12x4)
Cross Ext. using cables (12x4)

Biceps: Oxygen Mag. Routine, April Issue
"Quick & Easy Biceps"

Twisting biceps curl (15x2)
Cross-body biceps curl (15x2)
Dumbbell curl at preacher bench (15x2)
EZ-bar curl at preacher bench (15x2)
Concentration curl (15x2)

MY Treadmill Workout: (35 minutes before or after workout)

DJ Khaled "All I Do is Win" a must on the Playlist for this workout!:)

Warm-up: 5 min.
Speed Incline Time
3.6 0% 2.5 min
5.5 0% 2.5 min
6.0 0% 30 sec
6.0 2% 30 sec
6.0 4% 30 sec
6.0 6% 30 sec
6.0 8% 30 sec
6.0 10% 1 min
6.5 0% 2 min
5.8 10% 1.5 min
5.8 8% 30 sec
5.8 6% 30 sec
5.8 4% 30 sec
5.8 2% 30 sec
5.5 0% 2 min
6.0 0% 30 sec
6.5 0% 30 sec
7.0 0% 30 sec
7.5 0% 30 sec
8.0 0% 2 min
6.0 0% 30 sec
6.5 2% 30 sec
7.0 0% 30 sec
7.5 2% 30 sec
8.0 0% 30 sec
8.5 2% 30 sec
9.0 0% 1 min SPRINT IT TO THE FINISH!

Cool-down:
5.5 0% 1 min
3.7 0% 4 min

YES, I like my buttons pushed! hehehe:)

Tasha's Tip: I'm a big fan of split workouts. Lifting in the AM, hitting the bike in the evening, walking the dog after getting the kids to bed, etc... Time - when you're just starting out we're talking 15 min per workout. COME ON! You totally could do this!:) The reasoning for the split routine is to surprise your body, shock, it! You'll find when you "switch-up" your body will respond! Like losing the last few pounds or inches. Give it a try. I find the split routine, especially working cardio in the evening or late afternoon helps to curb my appetite as I am usually hungry, even after my snack bewtween 4-6:30. (On my current diet, I don't eat dinner until, 7:30pm and yes, I eat AGAIN at 9:30pm - I'm wanting my greek yogurt dessert!:)

Check'n IN & Shoulder Ab Routine

2011-05-04T07:48:00.000-04:00

It's MAY! Yikes is time flying by! Four more weeks to go on my program. Yesterday I checked in, took a look at my progress, the key, YES, my journal.:) I've been weighing in every Monday, same time, same scale. The number, not that big of a deal, but it's one way to measure progress, I prefer, measurements, or noticing how your clothes are fitting, or maybe the best way to to judge your progress is how you feel. I feel good people, strong, and I'm seeing results, very cool!

So if you haven't done it - get started! Start journaling - write your goals down!

Tasha Tip - I treat myself daily with a piece of dark chocolate ok maybe two pieces! Favorite Pure Dark, Rounds chipotle cinnamon. Also happens to be the two spices I use in my food!
Check out puredark.com

Shoulder and Ab Workout:

Overhead Press with anterior rotation (12x4)

Open-Close the Book - front raise, open to T, and drop arms down just before touching thigh, straight into a lateral raise, reverse. (opt. at the point of completing the lat raise rotate palms facing each other, then at T, rotate down.) (10x7) You should feel the burn!

Stride Front Raise (10 each arm 4sets)

Bent-over Flys (12x4)

One arm weighted (kb) lift (10x4)

Lat Raise with Ant. Rotation

Steve:)

Steve's KB One Arm Press

Abs: Oxygen mag routine with 10 lb. med ball to make it harder!

Cardio: 30 min. before & 20 min. after workout

Steve is the dude at the gym who corrects you and ALWAYS has an idea to make the move harder. He usually tells you this on your last set, when you're already exhausted and asks you to do one more set! Good guy to have around. This weekend I'm competing in his annual "Strong" man/woman competition. There are 7 unknown events - I'm a LITTLE scared!:)

My Life...My HEART

2011-05-01T14:05:00.000-04:00

My good friends know I like to take action, always wanted to be a Navy Seal, jump out of a helicopter into freezing waters to save people. Crazy, I know, but it's instinct for me, it's the process or the knowing that my actions are the right thing to do that I'm slower at. Where is this going??? I want to share a story that's close, really close and some may ask, "why?" Why share this? It's so personal, why do you do this, write it and put it out there for all to read? Well... first of all not many people read this shit! ha! No really, I do this for me but I also do it for you-for us. This may be my story, but it's yours too. We are all living our lives, and I don't want to do it alone, don't we LOVE to live for one another? Don't we all share similar experiences? Isn't it nice to know that we are NOT alone. That's WHY MF'ers! That's WHY!hehehe:):):)

The Story:
My family went on a roller coaster ride last week. My brother, my hero, has been struggling to get custody of his daughter. Our sweet little LITTLE. She was taken from him suddenly when her mother was granted custody last fall. Unfortunately the mother is not well, she suffers from mental illness and drug addiction; her life is spinning out of control. Her mother, our Little's grandmother, has been a savior for our girl, taking her in, loving her, and providing a stable environment around the craziness of having a mother who comes in and out of their lives.

As with all addicts, life is unpredictable and changes on a dime. This week the mother of our Little sadly lost it, obviously off her medication and living on the streets. With the guidance of our lawyer, we were able to take action! My brother and I flew down to get this sweet girl, not knowing if it would go smoothly or not. I had hope that all involved would do the right thing, but my brother, having had the brunt of the pain and hurt in the past struggled with this; his heart did not trust. He needed me, my sweet brother, and at first I wasn't sure. Wasn't sure it was my place to step in, to go, but others believed I should go, and in the end of course I went. The strength came to me: we had a plan, I was to do all the talking, calmly, with gentleness. I was prepared to deal with the pain and anger we might receive for taking this precious girl away, but I believed it was the right thing to do for my little LITTLE.

In the end, they showed us grace - we got our girl back, and I am so grateful. I have hope that we can unite as a family for this girl for she is our HEART.

This morning she is safe and in great care, with two beautiful, loving, caring, thoughtful people who have created a family.

She is HOME.

my life is opening... or is that my heart?

or both...

for her
for him
for MY Family

for...

me

I think I LOVE to Swim?

2011-04-28T22:53:00.001-04:00

The POOL... Tuff to get motivated to swim, you so have to get wet! It just takes a lot more planning, the change of clothes, the goggles, cap, suit, towel, toys, etc... Back to the change of clothes, I ALWAYS leave something at home and it's usually my UNDERWEAR!

So why train in the pool? It's something different, feels really good, and man do I take the best naps after a good swim. Honestly the pool is very therapeutic, great on the joints, no or low impact, and it can be one heck of a workout. I recently started swimming again, it was winter - too cold to think about! So I'm getting in once a week after yoga - great together these two routines. Swimplan.com is a nice website that builds a program for you, good way to get started. I only swim freestyle, ok bust out butterfly to show off every now and then, I grew up swimming, but you really don't have to be a swimmer to have fun in the water. I taught aqua aerobics for years - loved it and it was hard! Check out your pool schedule, get in, take a stroke clinic, or take a deep water aqua class!

* My Sweet Aqua Class - I made them do the craziest things!!!:)

The pool is a lot like the treadmill for me, yeah sometimes a nice steady walk or run is nice and you could just swim, lap after lap after lap...... BORING!!! If you're doing that who's gonna come up to you and ask you "What are you training for?" You're never going to be able to say, " For LIFE, thank you very much!" Come on sometimes it's fun to push it, I workout to workout, to kick my own ASS! Play, sweat, and get results.:):):)

Yesterday I swam 1250 meters, it took me about 1/2 hour. I usually start with a warm-up, kicking, working on breathing, slowing my stroke down, 300m, the main workout I did yesterday was 900m, I swam 100m free, rested 30 sec, then did a 50m free sprint, rest 15 sec and hit the next 100m. I did 6 sets, and wrapped it up with a 50 of whatever. FUN!

Then I napped!:)

Today I was in the gym again and hit the shoulders and abs with a total of 40 minutes of cardio split in-between the lifting. Check out my next post for the workout!:)

Legs - BUNDAS Bike Ride:)

2011-04-27T07:10:00.002-04:00

Ahhhh Tuesday rides with the BUNDAS! We took a beautiful ride through the Pennsylvania Dutch country, 56 miles, nice rolling hills and a stop at mile 38 for breakfast.

I've struggled with the breakfast choice in the past ordering a side of ham with my waffle thinking I was all cool and ended up in the back of the pack giving myself the finger the remainder of the ride. Well today absolutely made the SAME mistake! So I'm thinking I need straight up carbs - blueberry pancakes. Did I fail to mention when you ride 56 miles you EAT, F! the diet!:) Half way through I'm full but keep eating right cause I've got to get home still. NO!!!! Should have stopped, those pancakes dropped like bricks in my belly. I had cramps the minute I got on my bike and actually still do!

One of these days I'll get it right. I HOPE!

Spring! I think it's here.

This is BUNDAS, the man, the one in the hat. Totally crushin on that man.:) Did I mention he does the greatest animal calls, rides like one, and pounds down the food! A man to love.:)

That's Jeff, next to Bundas, he has the largest calves, I've EVER seen, the man is amazing - the one who pushed me up the hills.:)

No picture of Ric, he's sweet, and always laughing.

Jamie, she's a beast and I want to be her when I grow up. The woman can hit a hill like no other!

That's the core of the BUNDAS, and then there's me, the one that truly shouldn't be there, but I love it, the torture that is!

Back to the Gym with my Dudes

2011-04-26T07:04:00.000-04:00

Had to go back to the gym today to lift with my dudes! DUDE - those home workouts killed me! I love chillin out in between sets!:) hehehe

To switch it up for myself I've been eating a protein bar first thing in the morning and doing 30 minutes of cardio, run or bike then I eat breakfast and hit the gym.

Basic Routine Chest/Back/Abs

Alternating Chest Press on Ball - knees in tight, works core! (10x4)
Incline Press (10x4)
Incline Flys (15x4)
Overhead Press on bench(10x4)
Close Grip Lat Pulldown (10x4)
One Arm Lat Pulldown (10x4)
Bent over Rows (10x4)
Side Plank w/Row (using cable) (12x4)
Oxygen Mag Ab Routine

20 minutes of Cardio - I love the Gauntlet Stair Climber

I promised I'd give you a look at my diet. This is NOT my normal diet - this is much more restrictive, than I like to live but doing it until the end of May.

Coffee - One cup with a splash of vanilla soymilk
My favorite protein bar is the LUNA bar, I like the taste of it, lower sugar and more protein.
Breakfast - Eggs Whites (6 eggs) and Bob's Red Mill 7 Grain Hot Cereal, made with water or oatmeal, I like Country Choice Organic Hot Cereal Multi Grain. I make it with water and add a teaspoon of peanut butter, and a little soymilk, another breakfast favorite is Kashi GoLean cereal and two eggs. I usually add flax seed meal to everything - just a little crazy like that.
After workout Protein Shake - I like GNC's Amplified Wheybolic Extreme 60, vanilla, I use one scoop, in 8oz of water, with a splash of pomegranate juice, and of course flax seed oil, yum! NOT really:)
Lunch & Dinner- 1/4 cup of quinox, brown rice, lentils, or small sweet potato, cup of veggies, and your choice of lean protein, chicken breast, tofu, turkey, fish etc... To estimate how much look at the size of your palm. Yep that's it!
Afternoon Snack - small apple and raw almonds (10-12)
9:30 Snack - 1 cup plan greek yogurt & cottage cheese, flax meal, and a touch of honey.

I do take a daily vitamin, Omega 3's (2 -3 x a day), and for the eight weeks I'm on this diet a fat burner supplement by Nutrex sold at GNC - Lipo 6 Black for women. I almost forgot WATER, WATER, WATER, all day long!!!

I'll continue to give you ideas on meals & will share some of my favorite receipts too! Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions. This is just an idea for you to see how I'm eating, not something you should follow for yourselves. Your diet needs to reflect the type of exercising you do, have time for, and what your goals and nutrition needs are.

Have a great day!

Easter Sunday Workout

2011-04-24T08:34:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter!

You could take the day off and chill, with no guilt. REALLY!:) Me? Well I took it easy this week with two Zumba classes, gotta play a little.:)

Routine:
Warm-up - Walk the dog & stretch

Circuit 1 minute per station - repeat 2-3x
squats on bosu ball (upside down) with weight
kettle bell clean & press
windmill
bent over rows (db)
alternating db chest press on ball
turkish get ups
alternating lunge with bicep curl and triceps extension
pike on ball
1 legged dead lift

Next week - I'll share my favorite snacks and give you an idea of what my diet looks like.

Spring Break Saturday Routine

2011-04-23T09:46:00.002-04:00

Went out with my girl last night, BFF Shannon.:) We've known each other forever, she's my sister, my other half, the tall, blond, knockout half!!!:) The half that never fails to have an entire meal paid for. (The bonus he didn't talk to us, just left his name. Pretty classy Sam Somerville, who ever you are, well done and thank you!:)

So I cheated on the diet, and I'm paying for it today, feel really lousy. It amazes me how sugar can do that -ugh! I'm moving slowly this morning, drinking lots of water and listening to my new Glee Cast Warblers music, LOVE it.:) I know the workout will totally help me - so let's do it!!!

Routine:
Warm-up
20 minutes on Bike
spiderman lunges with push-ups
inchworms with jump squat

Tornado Jumps (20)
Foot through push-ups (20)
Burpee Jumps (25)
Pull-ups (5+) or Barbarians with straight bar
Box jumps( 10)
Push-up with leg rotation (15-20)
Jump switch lunges(20)
Plank with alternating rows - Renegade row (20)
High knees (50)
Bike 10min

Repeat! Finish with another 20 min. of Cardio & Abs.

Have fun and let me know what you think.

Spring Break Monday Routine

2011-04-18T08:33:00.000-04:00

And the fun of Spring Break continues..... Last night my youngest son was watching me get dressed, and I noticed his gaze was a little long, "Dude, maybe it's not so appropriate that you watch me get dressed." He replies, "Mom, that's how I can learn the human body." Right!!! Where are my anatomy books!!!:) Yes, this is the same boy who told me he does not need to wear underwear on Spring Break or on the weekends!

On a side note - as I was getting dressed I skipped the underwear! Why not! hehehe I did tell the boy and he said, "finally someone gets me!"

Back on track here - let's talk FITNESS. I am not going into the gym this week since it's Spring Break I thought it would be fun to switch it up, by doing some outdoor and home training routines, concentrating on circuit and interval training. We want to burn fat remember.:)

I'm starting my day with a bike ride - 30-60 min and later today I will do one of my favorite workouts by my trainer boy Darrell Spencer.

Boot Camp Circuit Workout
Jumping Jacks
High Knees
Burpee with Push-up
Mountain Climbers
Side Plank with leg lift
Jump Squats
Jump Lunges
Burpee with Push-up
Mountain Crossovers
AB rollout
Rocking Chair Push-ups
Chattrunga run

This routine is done in order with no breaks until the end. It can be done once or up to 3 times and reps for beginners are 10-15, intermediate, 15-20, and advanced 20+. It's a beautiful day - so I'm doing it out on the porch! Have fun! Let me know if you have any questions.

Hey - just get outside and move!

p.s. YES! I ate the marshmallow! It's Spring Break!:)

Two LOVEs

2011-04-17T11:36:00.001-04:00

My first love - Art. My second love - Exercise. Ok, maybe Exercise is my first love, at the moment!:) And of course my TWO LOVES are my BOYS! I haven't been inspired lately for the art and creative side of my true Gemini spirit however with the birth of spring I've decided to pick up the markers and PLAY a little. The boys and I decided to draw on my Create-A-Tees. We had so much fun. It amazes me how they continue to come up with new ideas. My two little motivators just happen to be my biggest fans and continue to encourage me to sell sell sell and be creative, they really want a pool! I always told them the money I make would go towards that! ha! Maybe this is the beginning or rekindling of my creative spirit, I want a pool too!

Speaking of pools, makes you think of summer right? How's your fitness and exercise goals coming along? Ready for the bathing suit dare I say bikini!?!? I started a new routine the first week of April, more fat burning exercises than the heavy lifting I was doing over the winter. I've increased my cardio and yes the diet is "clean" and the key to reaching my goal. Yes, I am celebrating another birthday the end of May so why not try to lose some body fat and take it to the next level, I can't think of a better way to bring in the 42nd year, I'll be turning 41, but have always enjoyed playing up!:)

I thought it might be fun to share with you what I'm doing and we can do this together! Send me your thoughts, post your goals, let's PLAY and totally get ripped for summer, or hell just feel really great about our hot "MOM" bods!:)

Step one - write down your goal, figure out what kind of time you have to commit to your fitness goals, remember there is NO guilt we all do what we can and just to come clean - I'm totally NUTS, so please do NOT feel like you should or have to keep up with me, I've made this MY JOB! hehehe

Remember to always listen to your body - it totally knows when you need rest. I spent ALL day on the couch yesterday, watching soccer, I swear, you can ask my kids!

Step two - weigh in and yes right it down! We are logging everything, yes keeping a food journal too. In your journal cut out a picture of what you want to look like. Here's mine:)

Yeah, that's Tracy Anderson and SHE is SOOOO totally airbrushed!!! WhatEva! We too can be airbrushed - OH I have already! That's right, my modeling pictures for Wilhelmina of PA, come on people my skin isn't that flawless!:)

So you with me?!* Start your journal today! I'll start blogging my routine tomorrow.

TIME

2010-12-30T09:54:00.000-05:00

2010 is the year I realized TIME. I remember when I had my first son, I heard from so many people, "remember this time, it goes by so fast, before you know it your children will be all grown up and leaving you." That comment really bothered me. I was in the moment, tired, changing diapers, are you kidding me? How could this time fly by? I hardly spend time in the past and I'm not the kind of person that dreams about the future. I tend to stay where I am but when I do look back I truly appreciate what they were saying. They were saying hold on, hold on to what is important, stay focused on NOW and on LOVE.

It's been an interesting year for me. I was really on a roll with my business, actually made money last year. But when January came along I started to lose interest. I guess I realized how much time and effort it would take to grow my business the way I thought it should grow. I didn't want it to be a hobby I wanted it to be BIG. I lacked the drive, lost my creative instinct and ultimately stopped. That was really hard, I felt like I had failed but tried to justify it by telling myself it's just a break, I can always go back to it. So I started exercising. Yes, I got into kick butt shape, turned 40, and had so many wonderful times with friends and family.

Time continued to go by and as the year was coming to an end I realized I wasn't truly happy. Something was missing in my life - I lost myself in what I thought I should be doing and actually in doing and feeling for everyone else. I lost me. I have forgotten how I feel and what it is I want. Time does this.... but what is so wonderful about it all, is TIME also allows for discovery. It can be found in every moment. I am not afraid of the future or of failure as long as I stay in the moment and hold on to LOVE. I truly believe we all have these years and they are the ones we never forget because they are the vehicle for truly understanding one's purpose in this ONE life.

In our family Holiday Card we honored our sweet dog Tahoe who passed away in May by reciting a favorite grace by Henry Van Dyke.

"Time is - Too slow for those who wait, Too swift for those who fear, Too long for those who grieve, Too short for those who rejoice. But for those who love, Time is eternity. Hours fly, flowers, die, New days, new ways pass by, LOVE STAYS."

Time is eternity..... eternity is NOW, it means to live in no time, to BE present.

Happy New Year my Friends! May you find your TIME, stay in the moment and LOVE.

Now that I'm 40 - I know...

2010-09-12T10:14:00.001-04:00

As a teenager I was the goody-goody.

In my twenties I raged, had a career and met a boy.

In my thirties I settled down became a wife and a mom.

In my four-ties I am confident, complete, and know it's about celebrating! This really could be the best decade yet.

This is what I know about myself - now that I'm 40:

* I will always wear vans and cargo shorts

* I want to love scotch

* Saying or hearing someone say "BALLS" will always make me laugh

* Life is Art and it makes me happy

* A little piece of dark chocolate every day makes it all good

* Riding my bike gives me peace and freedom

* My Friends are my Joy, Strength, Endurance, Compassion and Heart

* My boys teach me more than I teach them

* I married the right boy who became a man who challenges me and loves me

* To try NOT to have expectations!

* My parents did their best and wow, they love me so much more than I ever knew

* I'm a closet metal head

* I'm addicted to gum and exercise

* I like my gray hair but will continue to dye my hair well into my 60s:)

* I love my body; it is my vessel

* The weird bumps and sun spots I've been finding... well, I'll try to get used to them!

* Cristiano Ronaldo is the prettiest soccer player EVER but Messi is more my type and my next dog's name will be Xabi Alonso

* Yes, I'm a soccer mom!

* I will miss Oprah but Ellen rocks

* Tahoe, my Bernese mountain dog, was THE dog of a lifetime

* I love being tickled

* My family is my core

* My destiny is to work in disaster relief

* Reading is enlightening

* Anything is possible

* Play, play, play

* Give, give, give

* Learn, learn, learn

* Laugh, laugh, laugh

* Forgive, forgive, forgive

* Live each day in the moment!

* Be open to the world

* All I am is love and all there is... is LOVE

We are all one

40's The Number for Me!

2010-05-11T19:59:00.001-04:00

Turning 40 this May has been a huge motivator for me. If you were to ask one of my friends what I was up to this past winter they would have told you that their dear friend Tasha was REALLY busy and quite determined. No, I wasn't busy working on my "little" business or being creative, or working on my taxes/inventory like I should have - I waited to do that until the last minute. I was busy coming up with a plan: a plan to work on my body.

This January, I made a decision to be in the best shape of my life and I figured why not do it at 40? I've always worked out, I was a bit of an athlete as a child, recovered from 4 ACL reconstructions (all on one knee!). To say the least, I've had my share of rehab and have always known that I would need to maintain my health. I studied exercise science/fitness management in school and spent several years as a fitness director and trainer. You know the story: you have kids and the gym membership goes, but slowly you get the time back, especially if you are a stay-at-home mom. It seemed like each year as the kids grew, I dedicated more days to the gym. This year I found myself with more time than ever, with the two boys at school all day. So why not? One thing that totally gets me fired up is not loving who we are and not loving our bodies. As women, we are so hard on ourselves and I've always wondered, "how old do we have to be to accept ourselves, to love our bodies, big, small, curvy, stretch marks, scars, etc..." I constantly lecture my friends on the subject but am one of the biggest offenders. Well my friends 40 is the number for me!

The Plan:
I picked up a journal and marked it as my 40th year companion. I bought a book - Making the Cut by Jillian Michaels. It's a 30-day routine that goes into the science of weight loss, nutrition, and exercise. I love Jillian, she's such a hard-ass and her abs, well - she's hot! I used the book as a reference - I didn't follow the program day-by-day. I made a list of goals, weighed in, took a picture - printed it out and even taped it in the journal, printed a picture of Jillian's abs to tape right next to mine and got started with the science. I figured out how I metabolize food, then worked on how many calories per day I need to function, basal metabolic rate, or BMR. The idea is to get the fuel you need that provides you with enough energy to feel great as you exercise. By increasing your workouts and not your calories you're creating a caloric deficit. The bottom line is you'll lose weight! I used my little journal to write down everything: my daily meals and snacks, my workouts, daily goals, funny things my sons said, grocery store lists, basically anything and everything is in my journal.

The Diet:
I have always been a healthy eater but have struggled with sugar imbalance, so I really took a close look at my diet to see what I could do to fix the dips I seemed to experience weekly. I decided to add more lean proteins, more fruits, veggies and began eating every 2-4 hours. I found the protein supplement and green supplement that I liked, and added that as an after workout and mid-afternoon snack. I dropped the breads, pastas and cheeses - and I limited alcohol. To be honest, the first 2 weeks sucked! I really thought I was starving, but as soon as I got into it I was enjoying every meal, loving my food as much as ever and feeling awesome - absolutely no sugar level issues.

The Exercise Routine:
I found a friend to workout with 2x/week. Lifting 3 times a week, at least one day with trainer Darrell, the other days on my own consulting with Jillian! She's totally ripped and that was my goal - to shred it! I also picked up swimming 2x/week - love swimplan.com for variety. Did spinning and now outside on my bike, cycling at least 2x/week. So basically a six day a week workout schedule (some days I'd double up). I was totally focused and I have become totally addicted to exercise!:)

The Results:
My body has really changed, I lost weight, several inches, dropping a couple sizes and best of all feel great. I have absolutely shredded - Jillian would be so proud:) I totally have come to respect my body, it's my vessel, I want it to carry me through the rest of my life, and putting the right stuff in it and exercising to keep it healthy is the key. I am by far not perfect; I still have the the scars that would make a grown man cry and the wonderful stretch marks - a reminder that I had two healthy pregnancies! Yeah there is plastic surgery and other ways to make the cut if your goal is perfection. I have never been a proponent of that, but understand that if that's what it takes to make you feel good about yourself, go for it. For me I'm accepting the imperfection and am looking forward to aging, on my terms. So I'll continue my routine, adding more good cals and dropping off a day or two of exercise. Now it's about maintaining and feeling good in my new skin - the me that I love.

When I've been asked, "What are you training for...., a triathlon?" I love to reply, "No not a triathlon, not a race, I'm training for......LIFE!!!!!!" I'm planning my 45th and 50th birthdays. Oh the places I will go....:)

Thanks to all my peeps for their support and encouragement, for putting up with my craziness. I promise to back off - just a little!

Darrell Spencer, my Advanced Fitness Trainer, kicked my butt with new and exciting workouts every time. You have made me into your "animal" and I love it and you!

Julie - my crazy-fast-marathon-runner-workout-3x/day-endurance-freak of a friend. Love you girl, our workouts together are awesome. How grateful I am for you my sweet friend.

Jilly - my sweet friend who got me started on cycling, with our matching outfits, and beautiful rides through the country, stopping to take pictures and truly enjoying it all - "That's how we ride!"

Pat - my biker friend, who also kicks my ass - I must really enjoy that! Thanks Pat for always encouraging me and really taking my riding to new places and miles and miles of fun.

My family - my sweet boys for showing my before picture of my jelly belly on the bus! What a great motivator! And my husband who still adores me even though I only talk about exercise and food. You have been the most supportive, never making me feel anything but happy that I have this time for me. Love you B and I do promise to become more interesting and get back to work!:)

Cool Stuff!

2010-03-15T11:26:00.026-04:00

The American Craft Council, Baltimore Show was so much fun. I loved finding finding new artists and seeing some of my favorite creative friends who return to the show each year.

Check out my new ring by Mio Studios, quite the statement. Love this bracelet by Wired, made of totally reclaimed stuff, my cool peacock headband by GALVIN-ized Headware, and the piece I'm saving for is by Pat Flynn, Goldsmith, jewelry doesn't get much cooler.

I am inspired by these amazing artists who create beautiful images of themselves. I love to support them and share them with you!

Art Makes Me Happy

2010-02-18T11:20:00.002-05:00

One of my many passions is appreciating and collecting art. Having an artist as a mother has truly cultivated that appreciation. She has opened my mind and eyes to so many different forms of art, and connected me with artists who have these amazing abilities, to express themselves through their work.

One of my favorite shows I go to with my mom annually is the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore, MD. This show is the largest juried, indoor craft show in the nation, with over 700 leading craft artists. The quality of handmade jewelry, furniture, clothing, etc., is amazing. If you're looking for something unique, or to get inspired, you must go! The retail show is February 25-28th at the Baltimore Convention center.

Some of my favorite Craftsmen who will be there are:
- Michael Bauermeister - really cool wooden vessels;
- Bradford Woodworking - awesome stools and tables;
- Solinglass - stunning glass vases;
- Mio Studio - funky cool jewelry;
- Jacob Albee Goldsmith - beautiful jewelry - I've got my eye on one of his rings!!!
- One Haewonshin - clothing like you've never seen;
- Jacqueline Sanchez - lego art jewelry; and
- Your Secret Admiral - wonderful handmade books.

I'm happy just writing about it!

Soccer Mom?

2010-01-28T20:32:00.002-05:00

So I'm at the gym, listening to my ipod, doing my thing, when one of the fitness consultants asks me what I'm listening to. I say, "Rage Against the Machine." She says, "No way, Soccer Mom listens to Rage Against the Machine!" Well, I'm not exactly sure how to take this "soccer mom" comment. Yeah, I'm a mom - really kind of chose that identity - but what's this soccer mom thing? Yes, my boys play soccer, I go to the games, but never really thought of myself as "Soccer Mom."

Last Friday we are enjoying a family evening together. We play a board game and get bored with that so turn on the TV to watch soccer (well, football, according to the rest of the world). Boys are watching at the same time dribbling their soccer balls around the family room, pointing out players to me - "yeah, mom you would really like this guy." Who? What number is he? Oh he plays for Real Madrid. His name is Cristiano Ronaldo. So I start watching...wow, amazing foot skills, like really unbelievable...he's rated as the third striker in the world, and besides his skills well, um, yeah, he's very likable!

Ok - I think I might be Soccer Mom!

*Check him out on YouTube!

The Rock

2010-01-12T07:57:00.003-05:00

Part of my avoidance tactic to prolong the agony of working in my office, or on my accounting is to clean the house, you know straightening. I give myself 30 minutes to straighten before I really get serious about work. Yesterday, I get busy and low and behold underneath the mess in the mudroom is an enormous rock. Now we've had rocks before, collections of them and I really do get it. I love rocks, and remember on one occasion as a child finding the most beautiful one in Lake Tahoe. I brought it home for my parents, it wasn't quite their anniversary so I saved it, under my bed, in water, it was much prettier in water.

I know this is my youngest son's rock and though I desperately want to throw the rock out, along with all my other clutter, I don't. It really is pretty and I know he loves it, or loved it briefly. For a moment I truly get him and love him more. We'll keep "The Rock" around until spring, then find the perfect spot for it in the garden, where I'll always remember it!

Blogging!!!

2010-01-07T15:46:00.000-05:00

I'm starting a New Years resolution - blogging!!!

What to expect; my blogs will be a way for me to share my products with you but more importantly for me to share my life, my experiences as a mom entrepreneur, a mom, wife, all the job titles that so many of us share. I would love your feedback, thoughts on how I'm doing, what I should be doing etc.

Ok - so let's get started. As you may know I'm a mom, started my little business two years ago. Do I know what I'm doing? Absolutely not! Had a great year last year but had a few moments at the end of December where I thought I'd pay off the credit card and quit.

Quit - haven't done that much in my life, except for algebra class in high school. What is it I'm afraid of? Hummmm - success or failure?

Well - it may take awhile for me to figure that out. In the meantime I'm really having fun doing everything possible to keep me away from my year end paperwork! Guess I should get started.

tasha

Now I'm live!

2009-10-07T14:51:00.000-04:00

So cool to be on blogger - now I'm starting to get the hang of all this technology that's right at my fingertips!

Wow - next step to link it all.